[Event "Baku Training"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "1987.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Otsarev"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B23"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "1987.??.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. f4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bb5+ Nc6 5. Nc3 d4 6. Ne2 Nf6 7. Bxc6+ bxc6 8.
d3 Be7 9. O-O a5 10. Ng3 h5 11. e5 Ng4 12. h3 h4 13. Nxh4 Nxe5 14. fxe5 Bxh4
15. Qf3 Qc7 16. Ne4 Qxe5 17. Qxf7+ Kd8 18. Bf4 1-0

[Event "URS-chT U16"]
[Site "Samtredia"]
[Date "1987.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Alterman, Boris"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B23"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "1987.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. f4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. Nc3 d6 5. Bb5+ Bd7 6. Bxd7+ Qxd7 7. O-O Nc6 8.
d3 Nd4 9. Be3 e6 10. e5 Ne7 11. Ne4 Nef5 12. Bf2 Nxf3+ 13. Qxf3 dxe5 14. fxe5
Bxe5 15. Bxc5 h5 16. Kh1 O-O-O 17. a4 Bb8 18. a5 Qc7 19. Bg1 h4 20. Ra3 Qe5 21.
Rc3+ Bc7 22. Rc5 Rd5 23. b4 Rxc5 24. bxc5 a6 25. Rb1 Qd5 26. Bf2 Bxa5 27. c4
Qc6 28. d4 Rd8 29. Rd1 Kb8 30. Ng5 Qxf3 31. Nxf3 Bc7 32. Kg1 Bf4 33. Nxh4 Ne3
34. Rb1 Nxc4 35. Nf3 Kc7 36. Rb4 Ne3 37. g3 Nd5 38. Rb3 Bc1 39. Ne5 a5 40. Nxf7
Ra8 41. Rb1 Bd2 42. Nd6 a4 43. Rxb7+ Kc6 44. Rb1 a3 45. Ne4 a2 0-1

[Event "URS-chT U16"]
[Site "Samtredia"]
[Date "1987.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Chumachenko, Andrey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1987.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. f4 b6 3. c4 Bb7 4. Nc3 e6 5. Nf3 d6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Nf6 8. Bd3
Nbd7 9. Qe2 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. Kh1 Qc7 12. f5 e5 13. Ndb5 Qd8 14. Nd5 Nxd5 15.
exd5 a6 16. Nc3 Bf6 17. Be3 Rc8 18. Ne4 Nc5 19. Bxc5 bxc5 20. Qd2 Rb8 21. a3 a5
22. g4 h6 23. h4 Bxh4 24. f6 Bc8 25. Qh2 Rb3 26. Bc2 Rxb2 27. Qxh4 Rxc2 28. g5
Qd7 29. fxg7 Qh3+ 30. Qxh3 Bxh3 31. gxf8=Q+ Kxf8 32. Rf2 1-0

[Event "URS-chT U16"]
[Site "Samtredia"]
[Date "1987.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Fish, Gennadij"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B21"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1987.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. f4 Nc6 3. Nf3 g6 4. Bb5 Bg7 5. O-O e6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. d3 Ne7 8. Nc3
O-O 9. Be3 b6 10. Qe1 Qc7 11. Qh4 c4 12. dxc4 Ba6 13. Rfd1 c5 14. Rab1 Qb7 15.
Ne5 Rad8 16. b3 Rxd1+ 17. Rxd1 Nc6 18. Nxc6 Qxc6 19. e5 Bb7 20. Qf2 f6 21. Rd6
Qc8 22. exf6 Bxf6 23. Qd2 Rd8 24. Nb5 a6 25. Rxd8+ Qxd8 26. Qxd8+ Bxd8 27. Nc3
Bc6 28. Kf2 Bf6 29. Na4 Bxa4 30. bxa4 a5 31. g4 Kf7 32. Kf3 Bd8 33. Ke4 Bc7 34.
h3 Kf6 35. Bd2 Kf7 36. f5 Bd8 37. Bf4 Kf6 38. g5+ Ke7 39. f6+ Kd7 40. Bb8 Kc8
41. Ke5 1-0

[Event "URS-chT U16"]
[Site "Samtredia"]
[Date "1987.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Osachuk, Aleksey P"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B23"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1987.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. f4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. Bb5 Nd4 6. Nxd4 cxd4 7. Ne2 Nf6 8.
Bd3 e5 9. fxe5 Ng4 10. Nxd4 Nxe5 11. Nf3 Nxd3+ 12. cxd3 Qb6 13. Qe2 O-O 14. d4
d5 15. d3 Bg4 16. O-O Rae8 17. Kh1 dxe4 18. dxe4 Bxf3 19. Qxf3 f5 20. e5 Qxd4
21. Bf4 Rf7 22. Rad1 Qxb2 23. Qd5 Qb6 24. Rfe1 Qe6 25. Qa5 b6 26. Qb4 Bf8 27.
Qa4 Bc5 28. Bg3 Kf8 29. Bh4 f4 30. Qe4 Rf5 31. Rd8 Rxd8 32. Bxd8 Bf2 33. Re2
Bc5 34. Bf6 Rxf6 35. exf6 Qxe4 36. Rxe4 g5 37. Re6 Kf7 38. Rc6 a5 39. h3 a4 40.
Kh2 Bf2 41. Kh1 a3 42. Rd6 h5 43. Rc6 Bc5 44. Kh2 Bf2 45. Kh1 1/2-1/2

[Event "URS-chT U16"]
[Site "Samtredia"]
[Date "1987.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Odesskij, Ilia"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A52"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "1987.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. e3 Nc6 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Be2 Ngxe5 8.
O-O Nxf3+ 9. Bxf3 Ne5 10. Be2 Re8 11. b3 a5 12. Bb2 Ra6 13. Qd5 Ba7 14. Ne4
Rae6 15. Ng3 d6 16. Qxa5 Bb6 17. Qc3 Rh6 18. Rfd1 Qh4 19. Nf1 Rg6 20. b4 Bg4
21. Bxg4 Rxg4 22. c5 Nf3+ 23. Kh1 Qxf2 24. Ng3 Nxh2 25. Qe1 Nf3 0-1

[Event "URS-chT U16"]
[Site "Samtredia"]
[Date "1987.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Yakubovskiy, Vasiliy"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B23"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "1987.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 e6 4. Nf3 Nge7 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Nxd4 7. Qxd4 Nc6 8.
Qf2 Be7 9. Bd3 O-O 10. O-O d6 11. a3 Bf6 12. Bd2 a6 13. Rae1 Bd7 14. Qf3 Qc7
15. Qh3 g6 16. e5 dxe5 17. fxe5 Bg7 18. Ne4 Nxe5 19. Nf6+ Bxf6 20. Rxf6 Nxd3
21. cxd3 Qb6+ 22. Be3 Qd6 23. Bh6 Rfe8 24. Ref1 Re7 25. Qh4 Bc6 26. Bd2 Rae8
27. R6f2 Qd5 28. Bb4 Rd7 29. Qf6 e5 30. Bd2 Re6 31. Qh4 Qxd3 32. Bg5 Qe4 33.
Qh6 f6 34. Bd2 f5 35. Bb4 Re8 36. Re1 Qd5 37. Rd2 Qe6 38. Rde2 e4 39. Bc3 Qf7
40. Re3 f4 41. Rf1 f3 42. gxf3 exf3 43. Rxe8+ Qxe8 44. Re1 Qf7 45. Kf2 Re7 46.
Qd2 Re2+ 47. Rxe2 fxe2+ 48. Ke3 Qf3+ 49. Kd4 Qd5+ 50. Ke3 Qe4+ 51. Kf2 Qf3+ 0-1

[Event "Dimitrovgrad U18"]
[Site "Dimitrovgrad"]
[Date "1988.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Danislian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B15"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "1988.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6+ exf6 6. c3 Bd6 7. Bd3 Be6 8.
Ne2 Qc7 9. Qc2 g6 10. c4 Na6 11. a3 Qa5+ 12. Nc3 Rd8 13. O-O O-O 14. f4 f5 15.
c5 Be7 16. b4 Qc7 17. d5 cxd5 18. Nb5 Qd7 19. Bb2 Nc7 20. Nxa7 Ra8 21. c6 Qd8
22. Bd4 Bc8 23. Bb6 Qd6 24. Bc5 Qf6 25. Nxc8 Raxc8 26. cxb7 Rb8 27. Bxe7 Qxe7
28. b5 Qe3+ 29. Kh1 Ne6 30. Qe2 Qd4 31. Rad1 Qa4 32. Bc2 Qxa3 33. Rxd5 Rxb7 34.
g4 Re7 35. Qg2 Qa8 36. Rd2 Qa5 37. h3 fxg4 38. hxg4 Qxb5 39. f5 Nc7 40. Rdf2
Qb6 41. Bb1 Qa6 42. Ba2 Qa8 43. Rf3 Qa4 44. Bb3 Qb4 45. Qg3 Ne8 46. Qh4 Qb7 47.
Bd5 Qd7 48. Rd1 Qa4 49. Rdf1 Qd7 50. Rd3 Re2 51. Be4 Qa4 52. Bf3 Re5 53. Bg2
Ng7 54. fxg6 Rh5 55. gxf7+ Kh8 56. Qxh5 Nxh5 57. gxh5 Qh4+ 58. Rh3 Qc4 59. Rhf3
Qh4+ 60. Rh3 Qc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "URS-ch qual"]
[Site "Soviet Union"]
[Date "1988.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Yakovich, Yuri"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B45"]
[WhiteElo "2450"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1988.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. e5 Nd5 8.
Ne4 Qc7 9. f4 Qb6 10. c4 Bb4+ 11. Ke2 Ba6 12. Kf3 f5 13. exf6 Nxf6 14. c5 Qa5
15. Nxf6+ gxf6 16. Bxa6 Qxa6 17. Qd4 Qb5 18. Be3 O-O-O 19. Rhd1 Rhe8 20. Rac1
Ba5 21. Qc4 Qxc4 22. Rxc4 Bc7 23. Rd3 Kb7 24. Bd2 d5 25. cxd6 Rxd6 26. Rxd6
Bxd6 27. Rd4 Be7 28. Rd7+ Kb6 29. g4 c5 30. a4 h6 31. a5+ Ka6 32. Rc7 Bf8 33.
Bc3 Re7 34. Rxc5 Bg7 35. b4 Kb7 36. b5 Rd7 37. Ke3 Rd6 38. a6+ Kb8 39. Ba5 Rd7
40. Rc6 e5 41. fxe5 fxe5 42. Bb4 1-0

[Event "GMA qual"]
[Site "Belgorod"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Arbakov, Valentin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A88"]
[WhiteElo "2400"]
[PlyCount "145"]
[EventDate "1989.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Nc3 d6 7. O-O Qe8 8. b3
Na6 9. Ba3 c6 10. e3 Rb8 11. Rc1 b5 12. cxb5 cxb5 13. Ne2 b4 14. Bb2 Nd5 15.
Nf4 Nac7 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Re1 h6 18. Nd2 Qf7 19. Nc4 Bd7 20. Qf3 Nf6 21. d5
Rb5 22. Red1 Ne4 23. Bxg7 Kxg7 24. Qe2 Nc3 25. Qb2 Kh7 26. Rd2 Rc8 27. a3 Nxd5
28. axb4 Nxb4 29. Qa3 a5 30. Bf1 Rbc5 31. Rcd1 Be6 32. Bg2 Bxc4 33. bxc4 Qxc4
34. Bf1 Qe6 35. h4 h5 36. Kh2 Qe5 37. Bg2 Rc4 38. Kg1 Qc5 39. Qb3 Kg7 40. Qb2+
Qe5 41. Qxe5+ dxe5 42. Rd7 R8c7 43. Bf1 Rc2 44. Bb5 Kf6 45. Ba4 Rxd7 46. Rxd7
Ra2 47. Bb3 Ra3 48. Bc4 Rc3 49. Bb5 Rc5 50. Ba4 e4 51. Rb7 Nd3 52. Rb6+ e6 53.
Bd7 Re5 54. Be8 Rd5 55. Ra6 Ne5 56. Ba4 Nf3+ 57. Kg2 Nd2 58. Ra7 Nf3 59. Ra6
Rc5 60. Bb3 Re5 61. Ba4 Ne1+ 62. Kg1 Nd3 63. Ra7 Rc5 64. Ra6 Rc1+ 65. Kg2 Ra1
66. Bb5 Ne5 67. Ra8 Ra2 68. Ra7 Rb2 69. Rxa5 Ng4 70. Kg1 Rxf2 71. Ra6 Rf3 72.
Kg2 Nxe3+ 73. Kh2 0-1

[Event "GMA qual"]
[Site "Belgorod"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Basin, Leonid"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A88"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "1989.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Nc3 Qe8 8. b3
Na6 9. Ba3 c6 10. Qd3 Rb8 11. e4 fxe4 12. Nxe4 Nxe4 13. Qxe4 Bf5 14. Qe3 Bf6
15. Rad1 Nc7 16. Rfe1 Qd7 17. Rd2 Rbe8 18. Bb2 a6 19. Qh6 Bg7 20. Qe3 Bg4 21.
Ng5 h6 22. Ne4 g5 23. d5 Bxb2 24. dxc6 bxc6 25. Rxb2 Ne6 26. h4 d5 27. hxg5
dxe4 28. Rd2 Qc7 29. Qxe4 Bf5 30. Qxc6 Qxc6 31. Bxc6 Nxg5 32. f4 Rc8 33. Bd5+
e6 34. fxg5 exd5 35. Rxd5 hxg5 36. Ree5 Bg6 37. Rd6 Kg7 38. Rxg5 Rf6 39. Rgd5
Rc6 40. Rxc6 Rxc6 41. Kf2 Re6 42. g4 Kf6 43. Ra5 Ke7 44. Kf3 Kd7 45. b4 Kc7 46.
Rc5+ Kb7 47. a3 Bd3 48. g5 Be2+ 49. Kf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "GMA qual"]
[Site "Belgorod"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Efimov, Igor"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[BlackElo "2395"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "1989.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb5 Nf6 6. N1c3 h6 7. Nd6+ Bxd6 8.
Qxd6 Qe7 9. Qxe7+ Kxe7 10. b3 d6 11. Ba3 a5 12. O-O-O Nb4 13. f3 Bd7 14. Bb2
Rhc8 15. a3 Na6 16. Bxa6 Rxa6 17. a4 Rac6 18. Rd3 Be6 19. Kb1 Nd7 20. Rc1 Nc5
21. Nd5+ Kf8 22. Rd2 f5 23. Re1 fxe4 24. fxe4 Bxd5 25. Rxd5 Ke7 26. Ba3 Rf8 27.
Bxc5 Rxc5 28. Rd2 b5 29. axb5 Rxb5 30. Kb2 Ke6 31. Red1 Rb6 32. Ka3 Rf4 33. Re2
Rb4 34. c4 Rb6 1/2-1/2

[Event "GMA qual"]
[Site "Belgorod"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gorelov, Sergey G"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "36"]
[EventDate "1989.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. a4 a6 8. Na3
Be7 9. Bc4 Be6 10. O-O Rc8 11. Bg5 O-O 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Nd5 Bg5 14. c3 Kh8 15.
Qe2 Bd7 16. Bd3 Be6 17. Bc4 Bd7 18. Bd3 Be6 1/2-1/2

[Event "GMA qual"]
[Site "Belgorod"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Huzman, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C01"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "19"]
[EventDate "1989.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2003"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. c3 Bd6 7. Nbd2 Nge7 8.
O-O Qd7 9. Re1 O-O 10. Qc2 1/2-1/2

[Event "GMA qual"]
[Site "Belgorod"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Taborov, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B07"]
[BlackElo "2385"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1989.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 c6 4. f4 Qa5 5. Qd2 e5 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. Bd3 exd4 8.
Nxd4 g6 9. Nb3 Qc7 10. O-O Bg7 11. a4 b6 12. Be2 O-O 13. Rd1 Ne8 14. Bf3 Rb8
15. Qf2 Nef6 16. Qd2 Ne8 17. Qf2 a6 18. Be3 b5 19. a5 Bb7 20. Rd2 b4 21. Na4 c5
22. e5 c4 23. exd6 Nxd6 24. Nbc5 c3 25. bxc3 Nxc5 26. Bxc5 Nc4 27. Rd3 Rfe8 28.
Bxb7 Rxb7 29. Nb6 Nxb6 30. axb6 Qc6 31. Bxb4 Qxb6 32. Qxb6 Rxb6 33. Rad1 Rbb8
34. Kf2 Bf8 35. Bxf8 Kxf8 1/2-1/2

[Event "GMA qual"]
[Site "Belgorod"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Yakovich, Yuri"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[BlackElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1989.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. Bb3 Bb6 7. Nbd2 Ne7 8. Nc4
Ng6 9. h3 Be6 10. O-O O-O 11. Re1 h6 12. d4 Bxc4 13. Bxc4 Re8 14. Qb3 Qd7 15.
a4 a5 16. Be3 Nxe4 17. Bb5 c6 18. Bd3 exd4 19. Bxd4 Bxd4 20. Bxe4 Rxe4 21. Rxe4
Bf6 22. Rae1 d5 23. R4e3 Rd8 24. Qb6 Ra8 25. Rd1 Ne7 26. Ne5 Qc8 27. Re2 h5 28.
Rde1 Ra6 29. Qc5 Qc7 30. Nf3 Ng6 31. Re8+ Kh7 32. Qe3 Nf4 33. Ne5 Bg5 34. Qf3
Bh6 35. g3 1-0

[Event "GMA qual"]
[Site "Belgorod"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Moldobaev, Emelbek"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A88"]
[WhiteElo "2375"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "1989.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. d4 O-O 6. b3 d6 7. Bb2 Qe8 8. c4
Na6 9. d5 Bd7 10. Nc3 c6 11. Rc1 Rc8 12. Nd4 Qf7 13. Ba3 g5 14. e3 f4 15. exf4
gxf4 16. Nde2 Nh5 17. Bf3 Be5 18. Bxh5 Qxh5 19. Nxf4 Qxd1 20. Rfxd1 Bxf4 21.
gxf4 Rxf4 22. Rd3 Kf7 23. Re3 Rg8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "GMA qual"]
[Site "Belgorod"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tataev, Manach"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A81"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "1989.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. Nbd2 d6 7. c3 Kh8 8. Re1
Nc6 9. e4 e5 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Qb3 f4 12. gxf4 Nh5 13. f5 Nf4 14. Nf1 Nxg2 15.
Kxg2 gxf5 16. exf5 Bxf5 17. Bg5 Qd7 18. Ng1 Be6 19. Qb5 Bd5+ 20. f3 Rxf3 21.
Nxf3 Qg4+ 0-1

[Event "Odessa U20"]
[Site "Odessa"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Janjgava, Lasha"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A86"]
[WhiteElo "2470"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "1989.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "8"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. Nh3 Nc6 7. O-O d6 8. d5
Ne5 9. Qc2 c5 10. b3 a6 11. Bb2 Rb8 12. a4 b6 13. Nf4 Ne8 14. h4 Nc7 15. Rfb1
h6 16. Nd1 Qe8 17. Nh3 Bd7 18. Ne3 Ng4 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Qc3+ Nf6 21. a5 e5 22.
dxe6 Nxe6 23. Nc2 g5 24. hxg5 hxg5 25. Rd1 g4 26. Nf4 Nxf4 27. gxf4 Bc6 28.
Bxc6 Qxc6 29. Ne3 Kg6 30. Qd3 Qe4 31. Qxe4 Nxe4 32. f3 gxf3 33. exf3 Nf6 34.
Rxd6 bxa5 35. Nd5 Kg7 36. Nc7 Kf7 37. Ne6 Rfe8 38. Ng5+ Kg7 39. Rxa5 Rxb3 40.
Ne6+ Kh8 41. Rxc5 Rxf3 42. Rxf5 Rg3+ 43. Kf1 Ne4 44. Rxa6 Nd2+ 45. Kf2 Ne4+ 46.
Ke2 Rh3 47. Rf8+ Rxf8 48. Nxf8 Nc3+ 49. Ke1 Ne4 50. Ne6 Rc3 51. Rc6 Kg8 52. Kd1
Rg3 53. Rc7 Rg2 54. c5 Nc3+ 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Odessa U20"]
[Site "Odessa"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tiviakov, Sergei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "1989.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "8"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. d4 cxd4 6. Bc4 e6 7. cxd4 d6 8. O-O
Be7 9. Qe2 O-O 10. Qe4 dxe5 11. dxe5 Qc7 12. Bd3 g6 13. Bh6 Rd8 14. Nbd2 b6 15.
Rac1 Bb7 16. a3 Rac8 17. h4 Qd7 18. Bb1 Bf8 19. Bxf8 Rxf8 20. Qg4 f5 21. exf6
Nxf6 22. Qg5 Qd5 23. Rfe1 Rcd8 24. Ne4 Nh5 25. Qg4 Nf4 26. Nc3 Qh5 27. Qxh5
gxh5 28. Ng5 Rd7 29. Nxe6 Nxe6 30. Ba2 Ncd4 31. Bxe6+ Nxe6 32. Rxe6 Rg7 33. g3
Rgf7 34. Rc2 Bc8 35. Re5 Bg4 36. f4 Rd8 37. Nd5 Bf3 38. Rd2 Kf8 39. Kf2 Bg4 40.
Ke3 Rfd7 41. Rd3 a5 42. Ke4 Rd6 43. Rc3 Bd7 44. Rc7 Bh3 45. Ne3 Bd7 46. Rxh5
Re8+ 47. Kf3 Bc6+ 48. Ke2 Rde6 49. Kf2 h6 50. Re5 Rxe5 51. fxe5 Be4 52. Ng4 Re6
53. Rc4 Bf5 54. Rf4 1-0

[Event "URS-ch U18"]
[Site "Pinsk "]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sakaev, Konstantin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A85"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "1989.01.18"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f3 d6 5. e4 Bg7 6. e5 Nh5 7. g4 dxe5 8. gxh5
exd4 9. Nd5 e5 10. h4 h6 11. Qe2 O-O 12. Qg2 c6 13. Bxh6 Bxh6 14. Qxg6+ Bg7 15.
h6 Rf7 16. Nh3 cxd5 17. Ng5 Re7 18. Rg1 Nc6 19. cxd5 Qa5+ 20. Kd1 Qxd5 21. hxg7
1-0

[Event "GMA op"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kuzmin, Gennadi P"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C55"]
[BlackElo "2505"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1989.05.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Bb3 a6 7. Re1 d6 8. c3
Be6 9. Nbd2 Bxb3 10. Qxb3 Qd7 11. Nf1 Rfe8 12. Ng3 g6 13. d4 Bf8 14. Bg5 Bg7
15. Rad1 Qc8 16. h3 h6 17. Bc1 b6 18. Nh2 Na5 19. Qc2 c5 20. d5 b5 21. Qe2 Nc4
22. Ng4 Nxg4 23. hxg4 Nb6 24. Be3 Na4 25. f3 c4 26. Qd2 Kh7 27. Kf2 Rh8 28. Rh1
Kg8 29. Bxh6 Nxb2 30. Rdf1 Nd3+ 31. Kg1 Bxh6 32. Rxh6 Qc5+ 33. Kh2 Nf4 34.
Rxh8+ Kxh8 35. Nf5 gxf5 36. g3 fxe4 37. fxe4 Rg8 38. gxf4 Rxg4 39. fxe5 Kg7 40.
e6 fxe6 41. Qe2 Rg6 42. Qf3 Rh6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "GMA op"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Yurtaev, Leonid"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2510"]
[PlyCount "148"]
[EventDate "1989.05.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Bc4 Be7 5. O-O d6 6. Ne2 Nf6 7. d3 Bg4 8. Ng5
O-O 9. f3 Bh5 10. Ng3 Bg6 11. a3 Nh5 12. Nh3 Qd7 13. f4 Nxf4 14. Nxf4 exf4 15.
Bxf4 Bf6 16. Rb1 Ne7 17. Ba2 Kh8 18. Kh1 b5 19. b4 cxb4 20. axb4 Rac8 21. Be3
Be5 22. Ne2 d5 23. exd5 Nxd5 24. Bxd5 Qxd5 25. Bxa7 Rfe8 26. Bc5 Bh5 27. Rf5
Bg4 28. Nf4 Qa2 29. Qxg4 Qxb1+ 30. Bg1 Bd4 31. Ne2 Bxg1 32. Nxg1 Qa2 33. c4 Qa7
34. Rxb5 Rcd8 35. c5 Rxd3 36. h3 Qa1 37. Qe2 Rdd8 38. Qf2 Qa7 39. Ra5 Qc7 40.
Ra1 Rb8 41. Rb1 Qd7 42. Qc2 Qc6 43. Nf3 h6 44. Qc3 Re2 45. Qd3 Qe4 46. Qd1 Re8
47. Qg1 Re6 48. b5 Rxg2 49. Kxg2 Rg6+ 50. Kf2 Qc2+ 51. Ke3 Rxg1 52. Rxg1 Qxc5+
53. Nd4 f5 54. Kd3 Qb4 55. Rc1 f4 56. Ke4 Kh7 57. Kd5 h5 58. h4 Qe7 59. Rb1 f3
60. Rf1 Qf7+ 61. Ke4 f2 62. Ke3 Qe7+ 63. Kxf2 Qxh4+ 64. Ke3 Qg5+ 65. Ke4 h4 66.
Rf5 Qg4+ 67. Rf4 Qg2+ 68. Ke3 g5 69. Rf2 Qg3+ 70. Rf3 Qe1+ 71. Kd3 g4 72. Rf7+
Kg6 73. Rf4 Qg3+ 74. Ke4 h3 0-1

[Event "GMA op"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[BlackElo "2525"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "1989.05.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Bb3 O-O 7. Bg5 a6 8. Nbd2
Ba7 9. Nf1 h6 10. Bh4 g5 11. Bg3 Nh5 12. Ne3 Kg7 13. Qd2 Ne7 14. d4 f5 15. exf5
e4 16. Ng1 Nxf5 17. Ne2 Nxe3 18. Qxe3 Bg4 19. O-O-O 1/2-1/2

[Event "GMA op"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Miles, Anthony John"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A88"]
[WhiteElo "2520"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1989.05.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 f5 2. d4 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 d6 7. Nc3 Qe8 8. b3
Na6 9. Ba3 c6 10. Qd3 Rb8 11. e4 fxe4 12. Nxe4 Bf5 13. Nxf6+ Bxf6 14. Qe3 b5
15. Rac1 Nc7 16. Rfe1 Qd7 17. Rcd1 Bg4 18. Rd3 bxc4 19. bxc4 Bf5 20. Rd2 Qc8
21. Bc1 Qa6 22. Bf1 Qa5 23. h3 Qa4 24. Ng5 e5 25. dxe5 Bxe5 26. f4 Bg7 27. Rxd6
Rbe8 28. Qd2 c5 29. Rxe8 Qxe8 30. Bb2 Bxb2 31. Qxb2 Qe3+ 32. Qf2 Qxf2+ 33. Kxf2
h6 34. Nf3 Rb8 35. g4 Bb1 36. Nd2 Bc2 37. Bg2 Rf8 38. Kg3 Kg7 39. Be4 Bxe4 40.
Nxe4 Rf7 41. Nxc5 1-0

[Event "GMA op"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Campora, Daniel Hugo"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[BlackElo "2500"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "1989.05.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. Bb3 O-O 7. O-O a6 8. Nbd2
Ba7 9. h3 Ne7 10. Re1 Ng6 11. Nf1 Nh5 12. d4 Nhf4 13. Ng3 Qe7 14. Be3 Rd8 15.
Bc2 h6 16. Nf5 Qf6 17. g3 Ne6 18. Nh2 Re8 19. Qh5 Ngf8 20. dxe5 dxe5 21. Bxh6
Qg6 22. Qh4 gxh6 23. Nxh6+ Kg7 24. Nf5+ Kg8 25. Nh6+ Kg7 26. Nf5+ Kg8 1/2-1/2

[Event "GMA op"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Zaichik, Gennadi"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A80"]
[WhiteElo "2500"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1989.05.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. Bg5 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. e3 Bg7 5. h3 Nf6 6. g4 c6 7. gxf5 Bxf5 8. Bd3
Bxd3 9. Qxd3 Nbd7 10. f4 Nb6 11. Nge2 Nc4 12. O-O-O Qa5 13. Kb1 Qb4 14. b3 b5
15. Ka1 Nd6 16. Bxf6 exf6 17. h4 f5 18. h5 Kf7 19. Qd2 a5 20. Nc1 Ne4 21. Nxe4
dxe4 22. Qxb4 axb4 23. Kb1 Rhd8 24. Ne2 c5 25. hxg6+ hxg6 26. Rh7 Rd7 27. c3
bxc3 28. Nxc3 cxd4 29. exd4 Kg8 30. Rh2 Rxd4 31. Rxd4 Bxd4 32. Nxb5 Be3 33. Rh4
Rd8 34. a4 Bf2 35. Rh1 g5 36. fxg5 f4 37. Nc3 e3 38. Ne4 Bg3 39. Rh6 e2 40.
Rg6+ Kf7 0-1

[Event "GMA op"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Lputian, Smbat G"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C08"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "1989.05.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bb5+ Nc6 6. Qe2+ Be7 7. dxc5 Nf6 8.
Nb3 O-O 9. Nf3 a6 10. Ba4 Re8 11. Be3 Ne4 12. O-O-O Bxc5 13. Nfd4 Bd7 14. Nxc5
Nxc5 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16. Rhe1 Rb8 17. Qf1 Qa5 18. Kb1 Qb4 19. Bc1 Ne4 20. Nb3 h6
21. f3 Nd6 22. Bd2 Qa4 23. Bc3 Bf5 24. Rxe8+ Rxe8 25. Re1 Rc8 26. Qf2 Nb5 27.
Bd4 Nxd4 28. Qxd4 Qb5 29. g4 Bg6 30. h4 Qb8 31. h5 Bh7 32. Qe5 Qxe5 33. Rxe5 f6
34. Re2 c5 35. Kc1 f5 36. Re5 fxg4 37. fxg4 Be4 38. Nd2 Bg2 39. Re2 Bh3 40. Re5
Rd8 41. g5 hxg5 42. Rxg5 Kh7 43. Nb3 c4 44. Nd4 Rd6 45. Kd2 Kh6 46. Re5 Rd7 47.
b4 cxb3 48. cxb3 Bg4 49. b4 Rf7 50. a4 Rb7 51. b5 axb5 52. axb5 Bxh5 1/2-1/2

[Event "GMA op"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Dautov, Rustem"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A88"]
[WhiteElo "2535"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1989.05.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 d6 7. Nc3 Qe8 8. b3
Na6 9. Ba3 c6 10. Qd3 Rb8 11. Nd2 Nc7 12. Rac1 b5 13. Bb2 Be6 14. cxb5 cxb5 15.
d5 Bf7 16. b4 Qd7 17. Ba1 g5 18. Nb3 f4 19. Qd2 Qg4 20. Nd4 a6 21. e4 fxe3 22.
fxe3 Bg6 23. e4 Rbc8 24. Nf5 Bxf5 25. Rxf5 h6 26. Bf3 Qh3 27. Ne2 Na8 28. Bxf6
Bxf6 29. Kh1 Rxc1+ 30. Qxc1 Bg7 31. Ng1 Rxf5 32. Qc8+ Kh7 33. Nxh3 Rf8 34. Qg4
Nb6 35. Qh5 Bf6 36. Bg4 1-0

[Event "GMA op"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gheorghiu, Florin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B80"]
[BlackElo "2515"]
[PlyCount "17"]
[EventDate "1989.05.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Nb3 e6 7. Bd3 Be7 8.
O-O a6 9. Be3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch U14"]
[Site "Aguadilla"]
[Date "1989.07.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Spangenberg, Hugo"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B70"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "1989.07.28"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "PUR"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8.
Nb3 Nc6 9. Bg5 a5 10. a4 Nb4 11. Kh1 Be6 12. Nd4 Rc8 13. f4 Bc4 14. Ndb5 Bxe2 (
14... d5 15. Bxc4 Rxc4 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. exd5 Qb8 18. Qe2 Rxf4 19. d6 Rxf1+ 20.
Rxf1 Qd8 21. Rd1 exd6 22. Rxd6 Qe7 23. Qxe7 Bxe7 24. Rd7 Bf6 25. Ne4 Bxb2 26.
c3 Nc6 27. Rxb7 Rd8 28. g3 Ne5 29. Kg2 f5 30. Nf6+ Kf8 31. Nxh7+ Kg8 32. Nd4
Rd6 33. Rxb2 Kxh7 34. Rb5 Nc4 35. Kf2 Rd7 36. Ke2 Re7+ 37. Kd3 Ne5+ 38. Kc2 Ng4
39. Rxa5 Nxh2 40. Rb5 Nf1 41. a5 Ra7 42. Nc6 Rc7 43. Nb4 Ne3+ 44. Kd3 {
Balashov,Y (2590)-Geller,E (2590) Lvov 1978 1-0}) 15. Qxe2 Rc5 $146 (15... Qb6
16. Rad1 Qc5 17. Rd2 Rfe8 18. Qf3 h6 19. Bh4 Qh5 20. Qg3 Rc4 21. Qe1 Qc5 22.
Na3 Rxc3 23. bxc3 Qxc3 24. Nb5 Qc4 25. e5 dxe5 26. fxe5 Nfd5 27. Bg3 Nxc2 28.
Qc1 Rc8 29. e6 {1/2-1/2 (29) Minic,D (2440)-Wagman,S (2235) Reggio Emilia 1981}
) 16. Bh4 Qd7 17. Bf2 Rcc8 18. Bb6 Qg4 19. Rf3 Nc6 20. Rd1 Nd7 21. Bf2 Nb4 22.
Qd2 Nc5 23. Re1 Qd7 24. b3 e6 25. Re2 d5 26. exd5 exd5 27. f5 Rfd8 28. fxg6 (
28. f6 $5 {[%csl Rg7,Rg8]}) 28... hxg6 29. Bxc5 Rxc5 30. Qe1 Rc6 31. Qh4 Re8
32. Rd2 Qg4 33. Qf2 Rec8 34. h3 Qg5 35. h4 Qh6 36. Nxd5 Nxd5 37. Rxd5 Rxc2 38.
Qg3 Rb2 39. Qg5 Rc1+ 40. Kh2 Rcc2 41. Rg3 Re2 42. Kh3 Qxg5 43. hxg5 Be5 44. Rf3
Rb1 45. Rxe5 Rxe5 46. Kg4 Re4+ 47. Kg3 Rb4 0-1

[Event "Wch U14"]
[Site "Aguadilla"]
[Date "1989.07.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Spangenberg, Hugo"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B70"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "1989.07.28"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "PUR"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8.
Nb3 Nc6 9. Bg5 a5 10. a4 Nb4 11. Kh1 Be6 12. Nd4 Rc8 13. f4 Bc4 14. Ndb5 Bxe2 (
14... d5 15. Bxc4 Rxc4 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. exd5 Qb8 18. Qe2 Rxf4 19. d6 Rxf1+ 20.
Rxf1 Qd8 21. Rd1 exd6 22. Rxd6 Qe7 23. Qxe7 Bxe7 24. Rd7 Bf6 25. Ne4 Bxb2 26.
c3 Nc6 27. Rxb7 Rd8 28. g3 Ne5 29. Kg2 f5 30. Nf6+ Kf8 31. Nxh7+ Kg8 32. Nd4
Rd6 33. Rxb2 Kxh7 34. Rb5 Nc4 35. Kf2 Rd7 36. Ke2 Re7+ 37. Kd3 Ne5+ 38. Kc2 Ng4
39. Rxa5 Nxh2 40. Rb5 Nf1 41. a5 Ra7 42. Nc6 Rc7 43. Nb4 Ne3+ 44. Kd3 {
Balashov,Y (2590)-Geller,E (2590) Lvov 1978 1-0}) 15. Qxe2 Rc5 $146 (15... Qb6
16. Rad1 Qc5 17. Rd2 Rfe8 18. Qf3 h6 19. Bh4 Qh5 20. Qg3 Rc4 21. Qe1 Qc5 22.
Na3 Rxc3 23. bxc3 Qxc3 24. Nb5 Qc4 25. e5 dxe5 26. fxe5 Nfd5 27. Bg3 Nxc2 28.
Qc1 Rc8 29. e6 {1/2-1/2 (29) Minic,D (2440)-Wagman,S (2235) Reggio Emilia 1981}
) 16. Bh4 Qd7 17. Bf2 Rcc8 18. Bb6 Qg4 19. Rf3 Nc6 20. Rd1 Nd7 21. Bf2 Nb4 22.
Qd2 Nc5 23. Re1 Qd7 24. b3 e6 25. Re2 d5 26. exd5 exd5 27. f5 Rfd8 28. fxg6 (
28. f6 $5 {[%csl Rg7,Rg8]}) 28... hxg6 29. Bxc5 Rxc5 30. Qe1 Rc6 31. Qh4 Re8
32. Rd2 Qg4 33. Qf2 Rec8 34. h3 Qg5 35. h4 Qh6 36. Nxd5 Nxd5 37. Rxd5 Rxc2 38.
Qg3 Rb2 39. Qg5 Rc1+ 40. Kh2 Rcc2 41. Rg3 Re2 42. Kh3 Qxg5 43. hxg5 Be5 44. Rf3
Rb1 45. Rxe5 Rxe5 46. Kg4 Re4+ 47. Kg3 Rb4 0-1

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

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

[Event "Sochi-B"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ivanov, Jordan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A85"]
[WhiteElo "2300"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "24"]
[EventDate "1989.10.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 016"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1990.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1990.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f3 c5 5. d5 d6 6. b3 Bg7 7. Bb2 O-O 8. Qd2 Nbd7
9. Nh3 Ne5 10. e3 h6 11. Be2 Bd7 12. Nf2 Qe8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sochi-B"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kallai, Gabor"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A87"]
[WhiteElo "2405"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "1989.10.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 016"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1990.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1990.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. b3 d6 7. Bb2 Qe8 8. c4
Na6 9. d5 Bd7 10. Nc3 c5 11. Qd2 h6 12. Rfe1 f4 13. Qxf4 Nxd5 14. Qd2 Nxc3 15.
Bxc3 Bxc3 16. Qxc3 Nc7 17. e4 Bc6 18. Qd2 Kh7 19. e5 d5 20. e6 dxc4 21. Ne5
Bxg2 22. Nf7 g5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sochi-B"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Khenkin, Igor"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2445"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "34"]
[EventDate "1989.10.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 016"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1990.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1990.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. Nc3 e6 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qa5 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Qb3 a6 13. Be2 Nc6 14.
O-O Qc7 15. Qa3 Rc8 16. Rfd1 Na5 17. c4 Qc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sochi-B"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grosar, Aljosa"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B58"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2385"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "1989.10.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 016"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1990.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1990.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nf3 h6 8. O-O
Be7 9. Re1 O-O 10. h3 Be6 11. Bf1 Nb8 12. b3 a6 13. a4 Nbd7 14. Bb2 Rc8 15. Nd2
Nc5 16. a5 Qc7 17. Nc4 Ncxe4 18. Nxe4 Nxe4 19. Rxe4 d5 20. Bxe5 Qc6 21. Rd4
dxc4 22. Bxc4 Rfd8 23. Bd3 f6 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25. Bb2 Bf5 26. Qe2 Bxd3 27. cxd3
Bb4 28. Qg4 Bd2 29. Qe2 Bb4 30. d4 Rd5 31. Ra4 Bxa5 32. Rc4 Qd7 33. Qc2 Qf5 34.
Rc8+ Kh7 35. Qxf5+ Rxf5 36. Bc3 Bxc3 37. Rxc3 Rd5 38. Rd3 Kg6 39. Kf1 Kf5 40.
Ke2 Ke4 41. f3+ Kf4 42. Kf2 h5 43. g3+ Kf5 44. Ke3 Ke6 45. h4 Ra5 46. Ke4 g6
47. Rc3 Rb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sochi-B"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Panchenko, Alexander N"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B58"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2430"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "1989.10.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 016"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1990.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1990.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nf3 h6 8. O-O
Be7 9. Re1 O-O 10. h3 a6 11. Bf1 Qc7 12. Be3 b5 13. a4 b4 14. Nd5 Nxd5 15. exd5
Nb8 16. a5 Nd7 17. Nd2 Bg5 18. Bxg5 hxg5 19. Ne4 f6 20. Bd3 g6 21. Qd2 Rb8 22.
Qe2 Nc5 23. Nxc5 Qxc5 24. Bxg6 Kg7 25. Bd3 Rh8 26. Bxa6 Ra8 27. Bxc8 Rhxc8 28.
Qg4 Qxd5 29. Red1 Qc4 30. Qd7+ Kg6 31. Qxd6 Qxc2 32. Qxb4 Rcb8 33. Qe1 Rxb2 34.
a6 Ra7 35. Rdc1 Qd2 36. Qxd2 Rxd2 37. Rc6 Rad7 38. Kh2 Ra7 39. Kg3 Rd3+ 40. Kh2
Rd2 41. Kg1 Rad7 42. g4 Rd1+ 43. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 44. Kg2 Ra1 45. Kf3 Re1 46. Re6 Kf7
47. Rb6 e4+ 48. Kg3 Rg1+ 49. Kh2 Ra1 50. Rb7+ Kg6 51. a7 Kh6 52. Re7 Kg6 53.
Kg2 Kh6 54. Kg3 Ra3+ 55. Kg2 Ra1 56. Rc7 Kg6 57. Re7 Kh6 58. Re6 Kg6 59. Re7
Kh6 60. Rb7 Kg6 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Sochi-B"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shcherbakov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B58"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2360"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1989.10.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 016"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1990.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1990.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nf3 h6 8. O-O
Be7 9. Re1 O-O 10. h3 Re8 11. Bf1 Bf8 12. b3 a6 13. Bb2 b5 14. a4 b4 15. Nd5
Nxd5 16. exd5 Ne7 17. a5 Bb7 18. Bc4 Rc8 19. Nxe5 dxe5 20. d6 Nd5 21. Bxd5 Bxd5
22. Qxd5 Qxd6 23. Qe4 f6 24. Qe2 Rc6 25. Rad1 Qc7 26. Bc1 Qxa5 27. Qe4 Qc5 28.
Qg6 Qe7 29. Bxh6 Rec8 30. Be3 Rxc2 31. Qf5 R2c6 32. Rd5 Qe6 33. Qe4 Rc3 34.
Red1 Rxb3 35. Rd8 f5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sochi-B"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Tunik, Gennady"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B46"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2470"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1989.10.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 016"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1990.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1990.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f4 Nxd4 7. Qxd4 b5 8. a3
Bb7 9. Bd3 Rc8 10. Qf2 Nf6 11. e5 Nd5 12. Nxd5 Bxd5 13. Be3 Qc7 14. a4 Bc4 15.
O-O Bxd3 16. cxd3 Be7 17. axb5 axb5 18. Ra7 Qc6 19. f5 exf5 20. Qxf5 Qe6 21.
Rb7 b4 22. h3 Qxf5 23. Rxf5 Rf8 24. Bd2 Bc5+ 25. Kh1 Ke7 26. Rf4 Ke6 27. Bxb4
Bxb4 28. Rfxb4 Rc1+ 29. Kh2 Rfc8 30. d4 Rd1 31. Kg3 Rc2 32. Kf3 Rcd2 33. R4b6+
Kf5 34. Rxd7 Rd3+ 35. Kf2 Rxd4 36. Rxf7+ Ke4 37. Rxg7 h5 38. Rg5 Kf4 0-1

[Event "Sochi-B"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Yakovich, Yuri"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2450"]
[PlyCount "28"]
[EventDate "1989.10.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 016"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1990.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1990.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. a4 a6 8. Na3
Be6 9. Bc4 Rc8 10. Bg5 Nb4 11. b3 Be7 12. O-O Rc5 13. Be3 Rc8 14. Bg5 Rc5
1/2-1/2

[Event "Sochi-B"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sorokin, Maxim"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A81"]
[WhiteElo "2420"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "1989.10.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "7"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 016"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1990.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1990.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. c3 c6 5. Nd2 d5 6. Nh3 Be6 7. Nf3 Bg7 8. Nf4
Bg8 9. h4 Ne4 10. h5 g5 11. h6 Bf6 12. Nh5 Kf8 13. Be3 Bf7 14. Qb3 Qc7 15. Ng7
e6 16. Ne5 Nd7 17. Bxe4 fxe4 18. Ng4 Be7 19. Qc2 Nf6 20. Nxf6 Bxf6 21. Qd2 Qe7
22. f3 exf3 23. O-O fxe2 24. Qxe2 Bxg7 25. hxg7+ Kxg7 26. Qg4 h6 27. Bf4 Rhf8
28. Be5+ Kh7 29. Rf6 Bg6 30. Rxe6 Qf7 31. Rf6 Qxf6 32. Bxf6 Rxf6 33. Rf1 Rxf1+
34. Kxf1 Rf8+ 35. Kg1 Bf5 36. Qe2 Be4 37. Qg4 Rf5 38. Qh5 Rf3 39. Qg4 Rf5 40.
Qh5 Kg7 41. Qe8 a6 42. Qe7+ Rf7 43. Qe5+ Kh7 44. Qe6 Bg6 45. Qe5 Bf5 46. Qe8
Kg7 47. Qe5+ Kg6 48. Qe8 h5 49. Qg8+ Rg7 50. Qe8+ Kh6 51. Qh8+ Bh7 52. Qf8 Kg6
53. Qd6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "RSFSR-ch"]
[Site "Kuibyshev"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kharlov, Andrei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2425"]
[BlackElo "2450"]
[PlyCount "15"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "6"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Bd3 e5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Ne2 d5 6. exd5 Qxd5 7. O-O Be7 8.
dxe5 1/2-1/2

[Event "RSFSR-ch"]
[Site "Kuibyshev"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Belikov, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2450"]
[BlackElo "2375"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "6"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 c6 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bxd6 Qxd6 8.
e3 Qg6 9. Qd2 Nd7 10. f3 Nb6 11. Bd3 Qh6 12. Qf2 Ne7 13. Nge2 Nf5 14. Nd1 O-O
15. O-O Be6 16. e4 Ne7 17. Ng3 f5 18. exf5 Nxf5 19. Nxf5 Bxf5 20. Bxf5 Rxf5 21.
Ne3 Rff8 22. Ng4 Qd6 23. Rfe1 Rae8 24. Rxe8 Rxe8 25. Re1 Rxe1+ 26. Qxe1 1/2-1/2

[Event "RSFSR-ch"]
[Site "Kuibyshev"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Doroshkievich, Vladimir K"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2450"]
[BlackElo "2360"]
[PlyCount "34"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "6"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 Nf6 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd3 c6 8. Nf3
Re8 9. Qc2 Nbd7 10. h3 Nf8 11. O-O-O Ng6 12. Be5 Bd6 13. Bxd6 Qxd6 14. g4 Be6
15. g5 Nd7 16. Rdg1 c5 17. h4 c4 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "RSFSR-ch"]
[Site "Kuibyshev"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Makarov, Marat"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B58"]
[WhiteElo "2450"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "34"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "6"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nf3 h6 8. O-O
Be7 9. Re1 O-O 10. h3 Be6 11. Bf1 Qa5 12. Bd2 Qd8 13. Bc1 Qa5 14. a3 Rfc8 15.
Rb1 Nb8 16. Nh4 Nc6 17. Nf3 Nb8 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "RSFSR-ch"]
[Site "Kuibyshev"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Poluljahov, Aleksandr"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2450"]
[BlackElo "2415"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "6"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. Nd2 c6 10. b4 a5 11. bxa5 Qxa5 12. Qc2 c5 13. Nb3 Qd8 14. a4 Nd7 15. a5
Ra6 16. f3 f5 17. Bd2 Kh8 18. Na4 Ng8 19. exf5 gxf5 20. Bd3 Qf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "RSFSR-ch"]
[Site "Kuibyshev"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Sorokin, Maxim"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2450"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "6"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 g6 8. Qc2
Nd7 9. Bd3 Bg7 10. O-O O-O 11. Rfd1 Qe7 12. a3 b6 13. cxd5 cxd5 14. Nb5 Nf6 15.
Nc7 Rb8 16. Rac1 Bb7 17. Ba6 Ne4 18. Bxb7 Rxb7 19. Na6 f5 20. Nd2 Nd6 21. Qd3
1/2-1/2

[Event "RSFSR-ch"]
[Site "Kuibyshev"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Voitsekhovsky, Stanislav"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2450"]
[BlackElo "2335"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "6"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. e3 b5 6. b3 Bg4 7. Bd3 e6 8. O-O Be7
9. h3 Bh5 10. Ne2 Bg6 11. Nf4 Bxd3 12. Nxd3 Nbd7 13. Bd2 O-O 14. Rc1 Rc8 15.
Qe2 c5 16. dxc5 bxc4 17. bxc4 Nxc5 18. Nxc5 Rxc5 19. Bb4 Rxc4 20. Rxc4 dxc4 21.
Bxe7 Qxe7 22. Qxc4 Qb7 23. Rc1 h6 24. Nd4 Rd8 25. Qb3 Qxb3 26. Nxb3 Nd5 27. Rc4
Rb8 1/2-1/2

[Event "RSFSR-ch"]
[Site "Kuibyshev"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Neverov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B07"]
[BlackElo "2450"]
[Annotator "King,D"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "6"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 c6 4. f4 Qa5 5. Bd3 e5 6. dxe5 dxe5 7. f5 Nbd7 8. Qf3
b5 9. Nge2 {I would refer you to CBM 13 for a full discussion of this opening.
While 9...Bb7 turned out well in this game, Hodgson's 9...Ba6 looks more
active.} Bb7 (9... Ba6 10. O-O Nc5 11. Bg5 b4 12. Bxf6 Nxd3 13. cxd3 bxc3 14.
Bh4 cxb2 {-/+; Pein-Hodgson 1988.}) 10. Bd2 Qc7 11. g4 Nc5 12. a4 b4 13. Nd1
Nfxe4 14. Bxe4 Nxe4 15. Qxe4 c5 16. Qc4 Bxh1 17. Bxb4 Be7 18. Ne3 O-O 19. O-O-O
Bf3 20. Nd5 Qb7 21. f6 Bxd5 22. Qxd5 Qxd5 23. Rxd5 gxf6 24. Bxc5 Rfd8 25. Rxd8+
Bxd8 26. b4 h5 27. h3 hxg4 28. hxg4 Kg7 29. Ng3 Bb6 30. Be7 Kg6 31. c4 Bf2 32.
Nf5 Kg5 33. Nd6 Kxg4 34. c5 Kf3 35. c6 e4 36. c7 Bd4 37. Nb5 Be5 38. Bd6 e3 39.
Bxe5 fxe5 40. Nd6 Kf2 0-1

[Event "RSFSR-ch"]
[Site "Kuibyshev"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Obukhov, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A87"]
[WhiteElo "2225"]
[BlackElo "2450"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "6"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. g3 f5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 g6 5. b3 Bg7 6. Bb2 O-O 7. O-O Qe8 8. c4
Na6 9. Nbd2 Rb8 10. Re1 b5 11. Bc3 bxc4 12. bxc4 Bb7 13. Rb1 e6 14. e3 Ne4 15.
Nxe4 Bxe4 16. Rxb8 Nxb8 17. Bf1 Ba8 18. Nd2 c5 19. Bg2 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Qc6+ 21.
Kg1 Nd7 22. Qb3 Nb6 23. Rc1 Rb8 24. Qa3 Qa4 25. Qxa4 Nxa4 26. Ba1 Kf7 27. Kf1
Ke8 28. Ke2 Kd7 29. Kd3 Rb4 30. Nb3 e5 31. f3 Kc6 32. g4 Nb6 33. gxf5 gxf5 34.
dxc5 dxc5 35. e4 fxe4+ 36. fxe4 Bh6 37. Rc2 Bf4 38. Bc3 Ra4 39. Bd2 Nd7 40. Be3
Kd6 41. Rd2 Ke6 1/2-1/2

[Event "RSFSR-ch"]
[Site "Kuibyshev"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Semeniuk, Alexander A"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2340"]
[BlackElo "2450"]
[PlyCount "19"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "6"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. O-O Nge7 5. Nc3 Nd4 6. Nxd4 cxd4 7. Ne2 a6 8.
Ba4 Nc6 9. d3 Bc5 10. f4 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "RSFSR-ch"]
[Site "Kuibyshev"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Shcherbakov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A86"]
[WhiteElo "2425"]
[BlackElo "2450"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "6"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. Nh3 Nc6 7. Rb1 d6 8. d5
Ne5 9. b3 a6 10. a4 c5 11. O-O Rb8 12. Bd2 Bd7 13. Qc2 Ne8 14. Kh1 b6 15. Rbe1
Nc7 16. f4 Nf7 17. e4 b5 18. Nf2 e6 19. dxe6 Bxe6 20. Ncd1 bxa4 21. bxa4 Qd7
22. Qa2 Nh6 23. Nh3 Nf7 24. Nhf2 Nh6 25. Nh3 Nf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "RSFSR-ch"]
[Site "Kuibyshev"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tunik, Gennady"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A90"]
[WhiteElo "2475"]
[BlackElo "2450"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "6"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. Nf3 f5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 d5 5. O-O Bd6 6. c4 c6 7. b3 Qe7 8. Qc2 O-O
9. a4 a5 10. c5 Bc7 11. Nbd2 Ne4 12. Bb2 Nd7 13. Rac1 e5 14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15. dxe5
Bxe5 16. Bxe5 Qxe5 17. e3 Qe7 18. Rfe1 Be6 19. Nf3 h5 20. Nd4 Bd7 21. f3 Ng5
22. h4 Nh7 23. f4 Qe8 24. Nf3 Nf6 25. Ne5 Be6 26. Qb2 Nd7 27. Nxd7 Bxd7 28. b4
axb4 29. Qxb4 Qe7 30. a5 Ra7 31. Ra1 Rfa8 32. Ra3 b5 33. axb6 Rxa3 34. b7 Qe8
1/2-1/2

[Event "URS-ch U20"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Alterman, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "2360"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "32"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "6"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 Nc6 4. Be3 Nf6 5. Nc3 Ng4 6. e5 Bf5 7. Bxc4 e6 8. Nf3
Nxe3 9. fxe3 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. a3 Nb8 12. e4 Bg4 13. d5 Nd7 14. dxe6 Bxe6 15.
Bxe6 fxe6 16. b4 Nxe5 1/2-1/2

[Event "URS-ch U20"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Frolov, Artur"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2475"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "6"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c4 b4 12. Nc2 a5 13. Be2 O-O 14. O-O Bg5
15. Bg4 Bb7 16. Qd3 Ne7 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. b3 Bc6 19. Rfe1 Qb7 20. Bf3 Qb6 21.
Rad1 Rfd8 22. Ne3 a4 23. Nd5 Qc5 24. Be2 axb3 25. axb3 Rd7 26. Qg3 Bd8 27. Rd3
Rda7 28. Red1 Ra1 29. Kf1 h6 30. h4 Bb7 31. Ke1 R8a2 32. Rxa1 Rxa1+ 33. Bd1 h5
34. Qf3 g6 1/2-1/2

[Event "URS-ch U20"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Belikov, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B85"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "6"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 e6 7. Be3 Be7 8.
O-O a6 9. f4 Qc7 10. a4 O-O 11. Kh1 Re8 12. Bg1 Bd7 13. Qd3 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 e5
15. fxe5 dxe5 16. Qg3 Bd8 17. Be3 Kh8 18. Rf2 Be6 19. Raf1 Rc8 20. Bg5 Qb6 21.
Qh4 Qxb2 22. Nd1 Qxc2 23. Bb5 Qxe4 24. Bxe8 Qxh4 25. Bxh4 Nxe8 26. Bxd8 Rxd8
27. Rb2 b5 28. axb5 axb5 29. Nc3 Nc7 30. Re1 Rb8 31. Rxe5 b4 32. Na4 Nd5 33.
Nc5 Rc8 34. Nd3 Rc3 35. Rxd5 Bxd5 36. Rxb4 h6 37. Rd4 Be6 38. h3 Kh7 39. Kh2
Rc2 40. Nf4 Bc8 1/2-1/2

[Event "URS-ch U20"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Danielian, Oganes"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "6"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Be7 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 c6 6. Qc2 g6 7. e3 Bf5 8. Qd2
h5 9. f3 g5 10. Be5 f6 11. Bg3 h4 12. Bf2 Be6 13. e4 Nd7 14. Bd3 Nb6 15. Nge2
Qd7 16. O-O-O O-O-O 17. Qc2 Nh6 18. h3 f5 19. e5 f4 20. Na4 Nxa4 21. Qxa4 b5
22. Qc2 Qc7 23. Kb1 Kd7 24. Nc1 a5 1/2-1/2

[Event "URS-ch U20"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Sakaev, Konstantin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B85"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2370"]
[PlyCount "31"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "6"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Be2 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8.
Be3 a6 9. a4 Nc6 10. f4 Qc7 11. Kh1 Bd7 12. Nb3 b6 13. Bf3 Rfd8 14. Qe2 Be8 15.
Bf2 Nd7 16. Nd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "URS-ch U20"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shchekachev, Andrei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "6"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. c3 Nf6 5. Nbd2 O-O 6. Be2 Nc6 7. O-O e5 8. dxe5
dxe5 9. Bb5 Qe7 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. Qa4 Qc5 12. Qb4 Qb5 13. Qxb5 cxb5 14. a4 Bb7
15. axb5 Nxe4 16. Nxe4 Bxe4 17. Re1 Bd3 18. Nxe5 1/2-1/2

[Event "URS-ch U20"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Maljutin, Evgeni"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B00"]
[WhiteElo "2340"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "6"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 3. Nc3 e6 4. Nf3 Bb4 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bxf6 Qxf6 8.
O-O Bxc3 9. bxc3 d6 10. Nd2 e5 11. f4 Qe7 12. fxe5 dxe5 13. Bb5+ c6 14. Bc4 O-O
15. Rf5 Nd7 16. Qh5 b5 17. Bb3 c5 18. dxc5 Nf6 19. Qf3 Bc8 20. Rxf6 Qxf6 21.
Qxf6 gxf6 22. Bd5 Rb8 23. Rf1 Kg7 24. Nb3 Be6 25. c6 Rbd8 26. Rd1 f5 27. Rd3
fxe4 28. Rg3+ Kf6 29. Bxe4 Bd5 30. c7 Bxe4 31. cxd8=Q+ Rxd8 32. Rh3 Bxc2 33.
Rxh6+ Bg6 34. Rh3 Rd6 35. Re3 Bb1 36. Re2 Rc6 37. Rb2 Bg6 38. Na5 Rxc3 39. Rxb5
Rc1+ 40. Kf2 Rc2+ 41. Kf3 Rxa2 42. Nc6 e4+ 43. Kg3 Ra3+ 44. Kf4 e3 45. Rb2 Bd3
46. Ne5 Bf5 47. Ng4+ Bxg4 48. Kxg4 Ke5 49. Kf3 Kd4 50. Rb7 f5 51. g3 a5 52.
Rd7+ Kc5 53. Re7 Kd4 54. Rd7+ Ke5 55. Re7+ Kd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "URS-ch U20"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Milov, Vadim"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A80"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "6"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. Nc3 d5 3. e4 dxe4 4. f3 e5 5. dxe5 Qxd1+ 6. Kxd1 Nc6 7. Nd5 Kd8 8.
Bg5+ Nge7 9. f4 h6 10. Nxe7 Nxe7 11. Bxe7+ Kxe7 12. c3 Be6 13. Kc2 Kf7 14. Ne2
Bc5 15. Nd4 Bxd4 16. cxd4 c5 17. dxc5 Rhc8 18. Rd1 Rxc5+ 19. Kb1 g5 20. g3 Rg8
21. Bh3 Rgc8 22. Rhg1 Rc2 23. Rg2 Rxg2 24. Bxg2 gxf4 25. gxf4 Bc4 26. a4 Bd3+
27. Ka2 Rc2 28. Bh3 Ke6 29. Rg1 e3 30. Re1 e2 31. Bg2 Rc4 32. Kb3 Rxf4 33. Kc3
Rf1 34. Kd2 Rxe1 35. Kxe1 b6 0-1

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

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

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

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

[Event "URS-qual U18"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Alterman, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A85"]
[WhiteElo "2400"]
[BlackElo "2450"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 d6 4. Nf3 g6 5. Bg5 Bg7 6. Qc2 c6 7. e3 O-O 8. Be2
Qc7 9. O-O h6 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. e4 e5 12. Rad1 Kg7 13. dxe5 dxe5 14. c5 Qa5 15.
Na4 b5 16. cxb6 axb6 17. b3 b5 18. Nc3 Qa3 19. Rd2 Na6 20. Re1 Be6 21. Bf1 f4
22. Nb1 Qe7 23. Qxc6 Nb4 24. Qd6 Nxa2 25. Nxe5 Qxd6 26. Rxd6 Bxb3 27. Rd7+ Bf7
28. Ng4 Rfd8 29. Nxf6 Kxf6 30. e5+ Ke6 31. Rxd8 Rxd8 32. Bxb5 Rd4 33. g3 g5 34.
Na3 Nc3 35. Bc4+ Ke7 36. e6 Bh5 37. gxf4 gxf4 38. Bf1 Re4 39. Rxe4 Nxe4 40. Bc4
Nc5 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "URS-qual U18"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Alterman, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B76"]
[WhiteElo "2450"]
[BlackElo "2400"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2
Nc6 9. O-O-O d5 10. Qe1 e6 11. h4 Qc7 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Nxd5 exd5 14. Qd2 h5
15. Nb5 Qe7 16. Bg5 Qe5 17. c3 Be6 18. Bf4 Qf6 19. Bg5 Qe5 20. Re1 Qb8 21. Bh6
Qd8 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Nd4 Qf6 24. Rd1 Rac8 25. Bb5 a6 26. Be2 Rfe8 27. Nxc6
1/2-1/2

[Event "URS-qual U18"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Frolov, Artur"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2450"]
[BlackElo "2485"]
[PlyCount "25"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 d6 5. e4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. Nd2 a5 10. a3 Nd7 11. Rb1 f5 12. b4 Kh8 13. Qc2 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "URS-qual U18"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tiviakov, Sergei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2500"]
[BlackElo "2450"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb5 Nf6 6. N1c3 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. exf5 Bxf5 12. c3 Bg7 13. Nc2 Be6 14. Nce3
Ne7 15. g3 Nxd5 16. Nxd5 O-O 17. Bg2 a5 18. O-O Rb8 19. Qh5 Qd7 20. Qh4 Bxd5
21. Bxd5 Kh8 22. Rad1 f5 23. Bg2 e4 24. Rd5 Be5 25. Rfd1 Qa7 26. Qh5 Rf6 27.
Rxb5 Rbf8 28. Rf1 a4 29. Kh1 Qg7 30. f4 Rh6 31. Qg5 Rg6 32. Qh5 Rh6 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "URS-ch U20"]
[Site "Simferopol"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Danielian, A."]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A80"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "1990.01.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bg5 d5 4. Bxf6 exf6 5. e3 Be6 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. Qf3 Qd7 8.
a3 g6 9. Nge2 O-O-O 10. b4 Bf7 11. O-O Ne7 12. Nc1 Kb8 13. Nb3 Nc8 14. Nc5 Qe8
15. a4 Bd6 16. Rfb1 Qe7 17. a5 Rhe8 18. N3a4 Rf8 19. a6 b6 20. Nb7 Rde8 21. c4
Qd7 22. c5 Be7 23. Nc3 Bd8 24. Qg3 Ka8 25. Nb5 Re7 26. Rc1 c6 27. cxb6 axb6 28.
Rc2 Be8 29. Rac1 Bc7 30. Nxc7+ Qxc7 31. Qf3 Nd6 32. Qxd5 Nxb7 33. axb7+ Kb8 34.
Qa2 Qxb7 35. d5 Qa7 36. Qxa7+ Kxa7 37. dxc6 Rc7 38. b5 Bf7 39. Ra1+ Kb8 40. Ra6
Ra7 41. c7+ Rxc7 42. Rxb6+ Rb7 43. Rxf6 Rd8 44. Be2 Rbd7 45. h4 Bd5 46. Rd2 Be4
47. Rxd7 Rxd7 48. Bf3 Re7 49. Bxe4 fxe4 50. Kh2 Kc7 51. Kg3 Kb7 52. Kf4 Kc7 53.
f3 exf3 54. gxf3 Kd8 55. e4 Ke8 56. h5 gxh5 57. Rh6 Kf8 58. Rxh5 Rb7 59. Rf5+
Kg7 60. Kg4 Kg6 61. Rc5 Kf7 62. f4 Ke6 63. f5+ 1-0

[Event "URS-ch U20"]
[Site "Simferopol"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Rublevsky, Sergei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D14"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "1990.01.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Bf4 Nc6 5. e3 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bf5 7. Bb5 Rc8 8.
Nf3 e6 9. O-O Nd7 10. Qa4 a6 11. Bxc6 Rxc6 12. Rfc1 Be7 13. Nd1 b5 14. Qb3 Rc4
15. Nd2 Rxc1 16. Rxc1 O-O 17. Qc3 b4 18. Qc6 Bd3 19. Qb7 Nf6 20. Rc7 Bd6 21.
Bxd6 Qxd6 22. f4 Qd8 23. Nf3 Ne8 24. Rd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "URS-ch U20"]
[Site "Simferopol"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Zvjaginsev, Vadim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C41"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1990.01.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. Bc4 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 c6 8. a4
Qc7 9. h3 h6 10. Be3 Re8 11. a5 Bf8 12. d5 Nc5 13. Nd2 Bd7 14. b4 cxd5 15. Nxd5
Nxd5 16. Bxd5 Ne6 17. c4 Nf4 18. Bxf4 exf4 19. a6 Bc6 20. axb7 Bxb7 21. Bxb7
Qxb7 22. Rb1 g5 23. h4 Re6 24. Qh5 Rg6 25. hxg5 hxg5 26. e5 Re8 27. exd6 Rxe1+
28. Rxe1 Qxb4 29. d7 Qd6 30. Ne4 1-0

[Event "Wch U18"]
[Site "Singapore"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Jones, Lee"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A80"]
[WhiteElo "2210"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "1990.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SIN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bg5 g6 4. e3 Bg7 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. f3 Nc6 7. Bf4 Nh5 8. Bg5
Nf6 9. Bf4 a6 10. Nh3 Be6 11. Qd2 h6 12. g4 Qd7 13. Nf2 O-O-O 14. O-O-O Na7 15.
h3 g5 16. Bg3 Kb8 17. Be2 fxg4 18. hxg4 h5 19. Nd3 hxg4 20. Ne5 Qe8 21. fxg4
Nc6 22. a3 Nxe5 23. Bxe5 Qd7 24. Qd3 Rhg8 25. e4 dxe4 26. Qg3 Bxg4 27. Bxg4
Nxg4 28. Bxg7 Rxg7 29. Nxe4 Nf6 30. Nc5 Qd5 31. Rhe1 Rd6 32. Re5 Qg8 33. Rde1
Qc4 34. Rxg5 Rxg5 35. Qxg5 Qxd4 36. Nd3 Rd7 37. Rh1 Ka7 38. Rh4 Qd5 39. Qg1+ b6
40. Qe3 Qa2 41. Rh8 Qa1+ 42. Kd2 Qxb2 43. Rf8 Qxa3 44. Qf3 Qa5+ 45. Ke2 Qd5 0-1

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

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

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

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

[Event "Wch U18"]
[Site "Singapore"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gurevich, Ilya"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B82"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2410"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "1990.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SIN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Bd3 Nf6 7. f4 d6 8. Nf3
Nc6 9. O-O Be7 10. Qe1 O-O 11. e5 dxe5 12. fxe5 Nd7 13. Bf4 Nc5 14. Qg3 Rd8 15.
Bh6 Bf8 16. Bg5 Ne7 17. Rad1 Nxd3 18. cxd3 Bd7 19. Ne4 Bc6 20. h4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch U18"]
[Site "Singapore"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Santos, Carlos Pereira Dos"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C07"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2285"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1990.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SIN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. Ngf3 cxd4 6. Bc4 Qd6 7. O-O Nf6 8.
Nb3 Nc6 9. Nbxd4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. Nxd4 a6 12. Be2 Be7 13. Bf4 Nd5 14. Bg3
Bf6 15. Rad1 Bd7 16. c3 Rc8 17. Bf3 O-O 18. Rfe1 Bxd4 19. Rxd4 Bc6 20. Red1 Nf6
21. Bxc6 Rxc6 22. Kf1 h6 23. Ke2 Rfc8 24. Rd8+ Rxd8 25. Rxd8+ Kh7 26. Kd3 Kg6
27. a4 b5 28. a5 Kf5 29. Rd6 Rxd6+ 30. Bxd6 e5 31. c4 bxc4+ 32. Kxc4 Ke6 33.
Bf8 g6 34. b4 Nd7 35. Bxh6 Kd6 36. b5 1-0

[Event "Wch U18"]
[Site "Singapore"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Tiviakov, Sergei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1990.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SIN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Bg2 Nb6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8.
a3 O-O 9. b4 Be6 10. Rb1 f6 11. d3 Nd4 12. Nd2 Nd5 13. Bb2 c6 14. Nxd5 Bxd5 15.
Bxd5+ Qxd5 16. Bxd4 Qxd4 17. a4 f5 18. b5 c5 19. Qb3+ Rf7 20. Qe6 Qd6 21. Qxd6
Bxd6 22. Rfc1 Kf8 23. Rc4 Ke8 24. Kf1 Kd7 25. a5 Ke6 26. Nb3 Rc7 27. Rbc1 Rac8
28. f3 Be7 29. Kf2 g6 30. f4 Bd6 31. Kf3 h6 32. fxe5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch U18"]
[Site "Singapore"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Tong, Yuanming"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A18"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2360"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "1990.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SIN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. e4 d5 4. e5 d4 5. exf6 dxc3 6. bxc3 Qxf6 7. Nf3 c5 8. d4
h6 9. Bd3 Nc6 10. Bb2 Bd6 11. O-O O-O 12. Qe2 e5 13. Rae1 Re8 14. Qe4 g6 15.
Qe3 Bf5 16. Bxf5 gxf5 17. dxe5 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch U18"]
[Site "Singapore"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Markovic, Ivan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2395"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "1990.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SIN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. Bd3 Ne7 12. Nxe7 Qxe7 13. c4 f5 14. O-O O-O
15. Qh5 Rb8 16. exf5 e4 17. Rae1 Bb7 18. f3 d5 19. fxe4 dxe4 20. Kh1 Bxb2 21.
Nc2 Kh8 22. cxb5 Rg8 23. Be2 axb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch U18"]
[Site "Singapore"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Nielsen, Peter Heine"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A87"]
[WhiteElo "2280"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "1990.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SIN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 d6 7. Nc3 Qe8 8. d5
Na6 9. Nd4 Bd7 10. Rb1 c6 11. b3 Nc7 12. Bb2 c5 13. Nc2 b5 14. cxb5 Nxb5 15.
Nxb5 Bxb5 16. Na3 Bd7 17. Nc4 g5 18. e3 f4 19. e4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch U18"]
[Site "Singapore"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Reinderman, Dimitri"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2225"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "1990.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SIN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Bxf6 gxf6 9. Na3 b5 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. c3 Ne7 12. Nc2 f5 13. exf5 Bxf5 14. Nce3
Be6 15. g3 Nxd5 16. Nxd5 O-O 17. Bg2 a5 18. O-O Rb8 19. Qh5 Qd7 20. Qh4 f5
1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-ch U21"]
[Site "Arnhem"]
[Date "1990.12.21"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Atkinson, Paul"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A58"]
[WhiteElo "2450"]
[BlackElo "2295"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1990.12.21"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2004"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. e3 g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 d6 8. Nf3 O-O
9. O-O Nbd7 10. e4 Nb6 11. Be2 axb5 12. Bxb5 Ba6 13. Qc2 Bxb5 14. Nxb5 Qd7 15.
Nc3 Ng4 16. Rd1 Na4 17. Bd2 Rfb8 18. b3 Nb6 19. h3 Ne5 20. Nxe5 Bxe5 21. a4 Ra7
22. Nb5 Rab7 23. Bc3 Bxc3 24. Qxc3 Na8 25. Rab1 Nc7 26. Na3 Na6 27. Nc4 f6 28.
f4 Nb4 29. e5 Kg7 30. Rb2 Rd8 31. Qf3 fxe5 32. fxe5 Rf8 33. Qg3 Qf5 34. exd6
Nxd5 35. Kh2 e6 36. Re2 Rd7 37. a5 Qf6 38. Rde1 Re8 39. Rf2 Qd8 40. Ref1 Kg8
41. Qe5 Qh4 42. Rd2 Qd8 43. Re1 Kf7 44. Qe4 1-0

[Event "EU-ch U21"]
[Site "Arnhem"]
[Date "1990.12.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Comas Fabrego, Luis"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2365"]
[BlackElo "2450"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "1990.12.21"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2004"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. Nc3 c6 4. d4 Bg4 5. Be2 e6 6. O-O Be7 7. Be3 d5 8. Nd2
Bxe2 9. Qxe2 dxe4 10. Ncxe4 Nbd7 11. Nxf6+ Nxf6 12. Nf3 O-O 13. c4 Qa5 14. b3
Rad8 15. Rad1 Ne4 16. Bc1 Qf5 17. Bb2 Nf6 18. h3 Rfe8 19. a3 Rd7 20. Rfe1 Qa5
1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-ch U21"]
[Site "Arnhem"]
[Date "1990.12.23"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Moldovan, Daniel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B38"]
[WhiteElo "2450"]
[BlackElo "2375"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "1990.12.21"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2009"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. c4 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Nc3 O-O 8.
Be2 b6 9. O-O Bb7 10. f3 Qb8 11. Qd2 Rd8 12. Rad1 d6 13. Qe1 Rd7 14. Qh4 Qf8
15. Kh1 Rad8 16. Rd2 Nxd4 17. Bxd4 Ne8 18. Bxg7 Nxg7 19. f4 f5 20. Bf3 e5 21.
Rdf2 Rf7 22. fxe5 dxe5 23. exf5 Nxf5 24. Qg5 Bxf3 25. Rxf3 Rd4 26. Nd5 e4 27.
Rf4 e3 28. Rxd4 e2 29. Rdf4 exf1=R+ 30. Rxf1 Ng3+ 31. hxg3 Rxf1+ 32. Kh2 Qc5
33. Qd8+ Kg7 34. Qd7+ Rf7 35. Qe8 Qd6 36. Qe4 Rf5 37. Nf4 Qe5 38. Qb7+ Rf7 39.
Qc8 Re7 40. b4 h5 41. Qc6 Qe4 42. Qd6 Re5 43. Qc7+ Re7 44. Qd6 Re5 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-ch U21"]
[Site "Arnhem"]
[Date "1990.12.24"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Zoler, Dan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A87"]
[WhiteElo "2285"]
[BlackElo "2450"]
[PlyCount "142"]
[EventDate "1990.12.21"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2009"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 f5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. b3 d6 4. d4 g6 5. Bb2 Bg7 6. g3 O-O 7. Bg2 Na6 8. O-O c6
9. Nbd2 Rb8 10. Ne1 e5 11. dxe5 Nd7 12. Nd3 dxe5 13. e4 Nac5 14. Nxc5 Nxc5 15.
exf5 Bxf5 16. Ba3 Qa5 17. Bxc5 Qxc5 18. Ne4 Qe7 19. Qe2 Rbd8 20. Rad1 Rd4 21.
Rd3 Rfd8 22. Rxd4 exd4 23. Rd1 a5 24. h4 a4 25. Bf3 axb3 26. axb3 Rf8 27. Qd3
h6 28. Kg2 g5 29. hxg5 hxg5 30. Kg1 Qb4 31. Bg2 Bg6 32. Rd2 g4 33. Re2 Qa3 34.
Qd1 Bf5 35. Re1 Qb4 36. Re2 Ra8 37. Qd3 Ra1+ 38. Kh2 Qf8 39. Qd2 Qd8 40. Qf4 d3
41. Rd2 Qd7 42. Qg5 Qe6 43. Rxd3 Qh6+ 44. Qxh6 Bxh6 45. Rd8+ Kg7 46. Rb8 Ra7
47. Nd6 Bc2 48. Nc8 Ra2 49. Rxb7+ Kf6 50. Rb6 Bf8 51. Rxc6+ Ke5 52. Nb6 Bf5 53.
Nd5 Rxf2 54. Nf4 Rb2 55. Rb6 Bc5 56. Rb8 Rb1 57. Ne2 Bd7 58. Rd8 Ke6 59. Rg8
Rxb3 60. Rxg4 Rb2 61. Nf4+ Kf7 62. Nd3 Bxg4 63. Nxb2 Be2 64. Be4 Bd4 65. Nd3
Kf6 66. Kh3 Be3 67. g4 Kg5 68. Bf5 Bf1+ 69. Kg3 Be2 70. Ne5 Bf4+ 71. Kf2 Bxg4
1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-ch U21"]
[Site "Arnhem"]
[Date "1990.12.26"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Mitkov, Nikola"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2335"]
[BlackElo "2450"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1990.12.21"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2004"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 a6 8. Qd2 b5
9. Qf2 b4 10. Na4 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Bb7 12. Bd3 Be7 13. O-O g6 14. Rae1 O-O 15. Nf3
Rc8 16. b3 Re8 17. h4 Bf8 18. h5 Ne7 19. hxg6 fxg6 20. g4 Bg7 21. Ng5 Rc6 22.
Qh2 Nf8 23. Nf3 d4 24. Nxd4 Rc7 25. Nf3 Nd5 26. Bc5 Rxc5 27. Nxc5 Qb6 28. Qf2
Nxf4 29. Qd4 Nh3+ 30. Kh2 Bxf3 31. Kxh3 Bd5 32. Qf4 Qc7 33. Nxa6 Qb7 34. Rf2
Kh8 35. Qxb4 Qa7 36. Qc5 Qb7 37. Qc7 1-0

[Event "EU-ch U21"]
[Site "Arnhem"]
[Date "1990.12.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kupper, Patrick"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2450"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1990.12.21"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2004"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 c5 3. Nf3 e6 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O d6 7. b3 Nbd7 8. Bb2
Be7 9. d4 cxd4 10. Qxd4 a6 11. Rfd1 Qc7 12. e4 O-O 13. Rac1 Rac8 14. Ba3 Nc5
15. Nd2 Rfd8 16. Bb2 Qb8 17. Qe3 Bc6 18. Qe2 b5 19. cxb5 axb5 20. b4 Ncd7 21.
Nb3 Ne5 22. Nd4 Be8 23. Ncxb5 Ng6 24. a4 d5 25. exd5 Nxd5 26. Rxc8 Rxc8 27. h4
Bxb4 28. Bxd5 exd5 29. h5 Nf8 30. Qg4 g6 31. Nf5 Ne6 32. Nh6+ Kf8 33. Qxb4+ 1-0

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Event "EU-ch U21"]
[Site "Arnhem"]
[Date "1990.12.31"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Djurhuus, Rune"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2405"]
[BlackElo "2450"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1990.12.21"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2004"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 c6 4. f4 Qa5 5. Bd3 e5 6. dxe5 dxe5 7. f5 Nbd7 8. Nf3
b5 9. O-O a6 10. Kh1 c5 11. Re1 c4 12. Bf1 Bc5 13. Bg5 Ng4 14. Bh4 Bb7 15. a4
b4 16. Bxc4 Ndf6 17. Nd5 O-O-O 18. Qe2 h5 19. h3 Nxd5 20. Bxd5 f6 21. Nd2 Bxd5
22. exd5 Nh6 23. Nb3 Qb6 24. Qc4 Nxf5 25. Bf2 1-0

[Event "EU-ch U21"]
[Site "Arnhem"]
[Date "1991.01.02"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Reinderman, Dimitri"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A52"]
[WhiteElo "2450"]
[BlackElo "2245"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "1990.12.21"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2009"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. Bf4 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bb4+ 6. Nc3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 Qe7
8. Qd5 f6 9. exf6 Nxf6 10. Qd3 d6 11. g3 Ne4 12. Bg2 O-O 13. Qe3 Bd7 14. Ng5
Nc5 15. Qxe7 Nxe7 16. Be3 h6 17. Bxc5 dxc5 18. Nf3 Nc6 19. Nd2 Rae8 20. e3 Ne5
21. O-O b6 22. h3 Be6 23. Bd5 c6 24. Bxe6+ Rxe6 25. Rfd1 Nd3 26. f4 Nb2 27.
Rdb1 Na4 28. Kf2 Rd8 29. Nf1 Nxc3 30. Rb3 Ne4+ 31. Kf3 Re7 32. Rc1 Kf7 33. Rb2
Rd3 34. Rb3 Nd2+ 35. Nxd2 Rxd2 36. a3 Red7 37. Rcc3 Ke6 38. h4 h5 39. a4 Ra2
40. Ra3 Rdd2 41. Ke4 g6 42. Rxa2 Rxa2 43. Kf3 Rxa4 44. e4 a5 45. e5 Rb4 46. Rd3
Rxc4 47. Rd6+ Kf7 48. Rf6+ Kg7 49. Rxc6 b5 50. Rc7+ Kf8 51. Ra7 b4 52. Ra8+ Ke7
53. Ra7+ Ke8 54. Ra8+ Ke7 55. Ra7+ Ke8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Gdynia"]
[Site "Gdynia"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Serper, Grigory"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "POL"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. d4 Bb4 4. g3 c5 5. Nf3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Ne4 7. Qd3 Bxc3+ 8.
bxc3 Nc5 9. Qf3 d6 10. Bg2 Nbd7 11. O-O Ne5 12. Qf4 Bd7 13. Nb3 Rc8 14. Qd4 f6
15. Qxd6 b6 16. Qd4 Na4 17. Nd2 Bc6 18. Bh3 Qe7 19. f4 Nf7 20. Qe3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow4"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grabuzov, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C04"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. e4 d5 3. Nd2 Nc6 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nd7 6. c4 dxc4 7. Nxc4 Nb6 8. a3
Bd7 9. Bg5 Be7 10. Be3 Nd5 11. Bd3 f5 12. exf6 Bxf6 13. Qc2 g6 14. O-O Qe7 15.
b4 a6 16. Rae1 O-O 17. Nce5 Rad8 18. Ng4 Nxe3 19. Nxf6+ Rxf6 20. fxe3 Qd6 21.
Ng5 Qe7 22. Ne4 Rxf1+ 23. Rxf1 Rf8 24. Rxf8+ Kxf8 25. Qc3 Qg7 26. Qc5+ Kg8 27.
Qg5 Kh8 28. Nc5 b6 29. Nxd7 Qxd7 30. Qf6+ Kg8 31. Bc4 Nd8 32. Bxa6 b5 33. Bxb5
Qd5 34. e4 1-0

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

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

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

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

[Event "Moscow4"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mesropov, Konstantin Eduard"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D00"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. f4 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. O-O Bd6 8. Ne5
O-O 9. Qe2 Bxd3 10. Nxd3 Ne4 11. Nd2 c4 12. Nf2 f5 13. Ndxe4 fxe4 14. b3 b5 15.
a4 Na5 16. axb5 Nxb3 17. Ra6 Qd7 18. Qa2 Bc7 19. Rxa7 Rxa7 20. Qxa7 Rb8 21. Ba3
Qc8 22. Qa6 Qxa6 23. bxa6 Ra8 24. Ng4 Rxa6 25. Bb4 Ra4 26. f5 Nd2 27. Rd1 exf5
28. Rxd2 Ra1+ 29. Kf2 fxg4 30. g3 h5 31. Kg2 Kf7 32. Rb2 Ke6 33. Bf8 g5 34. Rb7
Kd7 35. Rb5 Ra2+ 36. Kg1 Ra5 37. Rb2 h4 38. gxh4 gxh4 39. h3 gxh3 0-1

[Event "Moscow4"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Utemov, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A84"]
[WhiteElo "2425"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "30"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 e6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 f5 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. O-O Bd6 7. b3 Qe7 8. Bb2 O-O
9. Qc1 b6 10. Ba3 Bb7 11. Bxd6 Qxd6 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. Qa3 Qxa3 14. Nxa3 a6 15.
Rfc1 Nc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow4"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Vaganian, Rafael A"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2585"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. e4 b4 10. Na4 c5 11. e5 Nd5 12. O-O cxd4 13. Re1 g6 14. Bg5 Qa5 15. Nxd4
a6 16. a3 bxa3 17. bxa3 Bg7 18. Bd2 Qd8 19. Nf3 O-O 20. Rc1 Rc8 21. Qe2 Rxc1
22. Rxc1 Qe7 1/2-1/2

[Event "RSFSR-ch playoff"]
[Site "Rybinsk"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kharlov, Andrei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2450"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. dxc5 Bxc5 7. b4 Bb6 8. b5
Na5 9. Bd3 Qc7 10. Qe2 Ne7 11. h4 h6 12. O-O Rc8 13. Bf4 Nc4 14. a4 f5 15. h5
O-O 16. Ra2 Be8 17. Nh4 d4 18. cxd4 Nd5 19. g3 Na5 20. Rc2 Qd8 21. Rxc8 Qxc8
22. Ng2 Nb3 23. Be3 Nxd4 24. Bxd4 Bxd4 25. Bc4 Bxh5 26. Qd3 Qc5 27. Bxd5 Qxd5
28. Nf4 Qd8 29. Kg2 Bf7 30. Rd1 Bb6 31. Qxd8 Rxd8 32. Rxd8+ Bxd8 33. Na3 a6 34.
Nc4 axb5 35. axb5 b6 36. Nd6 Kf8 37. Nxf7 Kxf7 38. Ne2 Be7 39. Nd4 Bc5 40. Nc6
g5 41. Nd8+ Ke7 42. Nc6+ Ke8 43. f3 g4 44. f4 h5 45. Kh2 Be3 46. Kg2 h4 47. Kh2
hxg3+ 48. Kxg3 Bd2 49. Nd4 Kf7 50. Nc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "RSFSR-ch playoff"]
[Site "Rybinsk"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kharlov, Andrei"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2450"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. Bxc4 Nb6 6. Bb3 Nc6 7. Ne2 Bf5 8.
Nbc3 e6 9. O-O Be7 10. a3 Qd7 11. Ba2 O-O 12. Be3 Rfd8 13. Qc1 Bf8 14. Rd1 Ne7
15. Ng3 Bg6 16. Nce4 Nbd5 17. Qd2 Nxe3 18. fxe3 Nf5 19. Qe2 Nxg3 20. Nxg3 c5
21. d5 exd5 22. Rxd5 Qc7 23. e4 Re8 24. h4 h5 25. Rad1 Rxe5 26. Rd7 Qb6 27. Qf2
Be7 28. Nf5 Bxf5 29. exf5 Qf6 30. R1d5 b5 31. Rxe5 Qxe5 32. Bd5 Rf8 33. g3 Bf6
34. b3 Qe8 35. Bc6 Bd4 36. Rxd4 Qxc6 37. Rd1 c4 38. bxc4 bxc4 39. Rc1 Rc8 40.
Qxa7 Qf3 41. Qf2 Qxa3 42. Rc2 Qd3 43. f6 gxf6 44. Kh2 c3 45. Kh3 Rc4 46. Kh2
Re4 47. Ra2 Kg7 48. Rc2 Re1 49. Ra2 Rd1 0-1

[Event "RSFSR-ch playoff"]
[Site "Rybinsk"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Makarov, Marat"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B58"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nf3 h6 8. O-O
Be7 9. Re1 O-O 10. h3 Be6 11. Bf1 Qa5 12. Nb5 a6 13. Nxd6 Bxd6 14. Qxd6 Rfd8
15. Qa3 Qxa3 16. bxa3 Nd7 17. Be3 Na5 18. Red1 Rdc8 19. Rd6 Rxc2 20. Rad1 Rc7
21. g4 Nc6 22. g5 hxg5 23. Nxg5 Nf8 24. R1d2 Re8 25. Kg2 g6 26. Rc2 Rd7 27.
Rxd7 Bxd7 28. Bc4 Ne6 29. Nxe6 Bxe6 30. Bxa6 bxa6 31. Rxc6 Ra8 32. Bg5 Kg7 33.
h4 a5 34. Rc5 f6 35. Rc6 fxg5 36. Rxe6 gxh4 37. Rxe5 a4 38. Rb5 Rc8 39. Rb4 Rc2
40. Rxa4 h3+ 41. Kxh3 Rxf2 42. Kg3 Rxa2 43. Kf4 Rf2+ 44. Ke5 g5 45. Kd5 Kg6 46.
Ra6+ Kh5 47. Ra8 g4 48. e5 g3 49. Rh8+ Kg4 50. Rg8+ Kf4 51. e6 Rd2+ 52. Kc6
Rc2+ 53. Kd7 Rd2+ 54. Ke8 Ra2 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "RSFSR-ch playoff"]
[Site "Rybinsk"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Makarov, Marat"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "17"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nbd2 Nbd7 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. e4 e5 8. exd5
cxd5 9. dxe5 1/2-1/2

[Event "RSFSR-ch playoff"]
[Site "Rybinsk"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sorokin, Maxim"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2500"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "10"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. f3 c6 4. Be3 e5 5. dxe5 dxe5 6. Qxd8+ Kxd8 7. Bc4 Ke8 8.
Nd2 Nbd7 9. Nb3 Nb6 10. Bd3 Be6 11. Nc5 Bxc5 12. Bxc5 Nfd7 13. Bf2 Na4 14. b3
Nac5 15. Bf1 a5 16. a4 Ke7 17. Ne2 f6 18. Nc3 Bf7 19. O-O-O Rhd8 20. Be2 Ne6
21. Rd2 Ndc5 22. Rhd1 Rxd2 23. Rxd2 Rd8 24. Rxd8 Kxd8 25. Bc4 Nd7 26. Nd1 Kc7
27. Ne3 Nd8 28. Bf1 b6 29. Kd2 Nb7 30. g3 Be6 31. Nc4 Nbc5 32. Kc3 Nb7 33. Nb2
Nd6 34. Be3 Bf7 35. Nd3 Bg6 36. Bh3 c5 37. Nb2 Nb8 38. Bf1 Nc6 39. Be2 Nd4 40.
Bd1 Bh5 41. g4 Bf7 42. h4 h5 43. g5 f5 44. Nd3 Nc6 45. exf5 Nxf5 46. Bf2 Bd5
1/2-1/2

[Event "Rio de Janeiro schev"]
[Site "Rio de Janeiro"]
[Date "1991.09.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Mascarenhas, Alberto Pinheiro"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A88"]
[WhiteElo "2280"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "schev"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2003"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 d6 7. Nc3 Na6 8. Rb1
c6 9. d5 Bd7 10. b3 Nc7 11. Bb2 a6 12. b4 Qe8 13. dxc6 Bxc6 14. b5 Bd7 15. a4
Rb8 16. Ba3 Ne6 17. Nd5 Ne4 18. Nd2 N4c5 19. Nb6 Qd8 20. a5 Kh8 21. Nb3 Nxb3
22. Qxb3 Be8 23. e3 Nc7 24. Qd3 Bf7 25. Rfd1 Qe8 26. h4 Be6 27. Bb2 Qf7 28. Bd4
Bf6 29. Bxf6+ Qxf6 30. Bd5 Rfd8 31. Kg2 Bd7 32. Nxd7 Rxd7 33. b6 Ne8 34. Qa3 e6
35. Bf3 Rc8 36. c5 d5 37. Rbc1 Qe7 38. Rd2 Nf6 39. Qb2 Kg8 40. Qe5 Rdd8 41. c6
Nd7 42. Qc7 bxc6 43. Qb7 Qd6 44. Qxa6 Nc5 45. Rxc5 Qxc5 46. b7 Rb8 47. Rb2 Rd7
48. Qa8 Rdxb7 49. Qxb8+ Rxb8 50. Rxb8+ Kg7 51. a6 Qa5 52. Rb7+ Kf6 53. Be2 c5
54. a7 c4 55. Rxh7 e5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Rio de Janeiro schev"]
[Site "Rio de Janeiro"]
[Date "1991.09.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mascarenhas, Alberto Pinheiro"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A56"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2280"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "schev"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2003"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e5 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4 Nbd7 6. Nf3 Be7 7. g4 Nf8 8. g5
N6d7 9. h4 Ng6 10. Be3 h6 11. Rg1 hxg5 12. hxg5 a6 13. Qd2 Ndf8 14. Rb1 Bd7 15.
b4 b6 16. a3 Qc8 17. Be2 Rh3 18. Kd1 Nf4 19. Bxf4 exf4 20. Qxf4 Ng6 21. Qc1 Bg4
22. Ne1 Ne5 23. f4 Bxe2+ 24. Nxe2 Nd3 25. Qc2 Nxe1 26. Kxe1 Rxa3 27. Rh1 Rh3
28. Rxh3 Qxh3 29. bxc5 bxc5 30. Kd2 Bd8 31. Qa4+ Kf8 32. Qc6 Ba5+ 33. Kc2 Rd8
34. Rb8 Qe3 35. Rxd8+ Bxd8 36. Qxd6+ Ke8 37. Qc6+ Kf8 38. Nc3 Ba5 39. Qc8+ Ke7
40. d6+ 1-0

[Event "Rio de Janeiro schev"]
[Site "Rio de Janeiro"]
[Date "1991.09.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Toth, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2240"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "schev"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2003"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. O-O Nge7 5. Re1 a6 6. Bf1 d5 7. d3 h6 8. Nbd2
b6 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Ne4 Bb7 11. d4 cxd4 12. Nxd4 Nxd4 13. Qxd4 Nb4 14. Qe5 Nxc2
15. Bf4 Qd5 16. Qc7 Rc8 17. Nc3 Qc6 18. Qxc6+ Rxc6 19. Bd3 Nxe1 20. Rxe1 Bd6
21. Be3 b5 22. Be4 Rc7 23. Bb6 Rd7 24. Rd1 Bxe4 0-1

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Event "Rio de Janeiro schev"]
[Site "Rio de Janeiro"]
[Date "1991.09.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Cunha, Eduardo Arruda da G"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2320"]
[PlyCount "23"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "schev"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2003"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Qa5+ 10. Bd2 Qd8 11. Bg5 Qa5+ 12. Bd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Rio de Janeiro schev"]
[Site "Rio de Janeiro"]
[Date "1991.09.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Toth, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E38"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2240"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "schev"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2003"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. dxc5 Qa5 6. Bd2 Na6 7. a3 Bxc3 8.
Bxc3 Qxc5 9. e3 O-O 10. Nf3 h6 11. b4 Qe7 12. Be2 d6 13. Rd1 Rd8 14. g4 Nxg4
15. Rg1 e5 16. c5 dxc5 17. Rxd8+ Qxd8 18. Nxe5 Nf6 19. Bc4 Be6 20. Bxe6 fxe6
21. Rxg7+ 1-0

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

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

[Event "Rio de Janeiro schev"]
[Site "Rio de Janeiro"]
[Date "1991.09.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Miranda, Marcio MC"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A88"]
[WhiteElo "2280"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "schev"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2003"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. d4 g6 3. c4 f5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. g3 Bg7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O Na6 8. Qc2
c6 9. b3 Rb8 10. Bf4 Nh5 11. Rad1 Nxf4 12. gxf4 Bd7 13. e3 b5 14. cxb5 cxb5 15.
b4 Kh8 16. Qb3 e6 17. Rc1 Nc7 18. Rc2 Bf6 19. Rfc1 Rg8 20. Ng5 Bxg5 21. fxg5
Qxg5 22. Ne4 fxe4 23. Rxc7 Rg7 24. Rxa7 e5 25. h4 Qxh4 26. Rcc7 Rd8 27. dxe5
dxe5 28. Qc2 Rf7 29. a4 Qg5 30. Qxe4 Bc6 31. Rxf7 Bxe4 32. Rxh7+ Kg8 0-1

[Event "Rio de Janeiro schev"]
[Site "Rio de Janeiro"]
[Date "1991.09.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Miranda, Marcio MC"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E33"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2280"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "schev"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2003"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Ne4 7. Qc2 O-O 8.
Nf3 a5 9. e3 Nc6 10. Bd3 f5 11. b3 Bd7 12. Bb2 Qe7 13. Rc1 Kh8 14. Ne5 Nxe5 15.
dxe5 dxc4 16. Bxc4 Bc6 17. f3 Qh4+ 18. g3 Qh6 19. Rf1 Ng5 20. Qg2 Rfd8 21. h4
Nf7 22. Ke2 Rd7 23. Rfd1 Rad8 24. Qf2 Qg6 25. Rxd7 Rxd7 26. Bd3 h5 27. Bd4 Bd5
28. b4 Nd8 29. bxa5 Nc6 30. Bc3 Qe8 31. e4 fxe4 32. fxe4 Bb3 33. Rb1 Ba4 34.
Qe3 Qe7 35. Qg5 Qxa3 36. Bc4 Nd8 37. Bb4 Bd1+ 38. Rxd1 Qxb4 39. Rxd7 Qxc4+ 40.
Kf2 1-0

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

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

[Event "Sao Paulo op"]
[Site "Sao Paulo"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Rotta, Cassio"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B30"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. O-O Nge7 5. Re1 a6 6. Bf1 d5 7. exd5 Qxd5 8.
Nc3 Qd8 9. b3 Nf5 10. Bb2 Be7 11. Ne4 O-O 12. Ne5 Nxe5 13. Bxe5 Nd4 14. Ng3 Bf6
15. c3 Nc6 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. Ne4 Qe7 18. Qh5 b6 19. Re3 Bd7 20. Rae1 g6 21. Qh6
f6 22. f4 Nd8 23. Rg3 Bc6 24. Bd3 Qg7 25. Qh4 Ra7 26. f5 Bxe4 27. Bxe4 exf5 28.
Bxf5 Nf7 29. Qc4 Kh8 30. Bc2 Ne5 31. Qh4 Rd7 32. d4 cxd4 33. cxd4 g5 34. Qe4
Ng6 35. Rge3 f5 36. Qe6 Nf4 37. Qxb6 Nd5 38. Qxa6 Nxe3 39. Rxe3 Qxd4 40. Qd3
Qa1+ 41. Qf1 Qxa2 42. Bxf5 Qa7 0-1

[Event "Sao Paulo op"]
[Site "Sao Paulo"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ribeiro, Fabiano Pinto"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B93"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2265"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f4 Qc7 7. a4 e5 8. Nf3
Be7 9. Bd3 O-O 10. O-O Be6 11. Kh1 Nbd7 12. f5 Bc4 13. Bg5 Rfe8 14. Rc1 d5 15.
Nd2 Bxd3 16. cxd3 dxe4 17. dxe4 Rac8 18. Nd5 Qxc1 19. Nxe7+ Rxe7 20. Qxc1 Rxc1
21. Rxc1 h6 22. Be3 Nf8 23. h3 Rd7 24. Kg1 Ne8 25. Nc4 Rd3 26. Kf2 Nd7 27. Nd2
Ndf6 28. Ke2 Rd7 29. Rc8 Kh7 30. Rc5 Re7 31. g4 Nd7 32. Rc8 Ndf6 33. Bc5 Rd7
34. Nc4 Nxe4 35. Nxe5 Rc7 36. Rxc7 Nxc7 37. Be3 f6 38. Kd3 Nd6 39. Nc4 Nf7 40.
Kd4 g6 41. Kc5 gxf5 42. gxf5 b5 43. Bf4 Ne8 44. axb5 axb5 45. Kxb5 Ng5 46. Bxg5
fxg5 47. Kc6 Ng7 48. Ne3 h5 49. b4 g4 50. hxg4 hxg4 51. f6 Ne6 52. Nxg4 Kg6 53.
b5 Nd4+ 54. Kc5 Ne6+ 55. Kd6 Nd8 56. Ke7 1-0

[Event "Sao Paulo op"]
[Site "Sao Paulo"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Spangenberg, Hugo"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C13"]
[WhiteElo "2220"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 gxf6 7. Nf3 b6 8.
Bb5+ c6 9. Bc4 Nd7 10. Qd3 Qc7 11. O-O-O Bb7 12. Rhe1 O-O-O 13. Ba6 f5 14. Ned2
Nf6 15. Ne5 Bd6 16. Bxb7+ Kxb7 17. Qf3 Rhf8 18. g3 Nd5 19. Ndc4 Be7 20. Kb1 Bf6
21. Qb3 Ka8 22. Qf3 Qb7 23. Qh5 h6 24. Rd3 Bg7 25. Qf3 Rfe8 26. Rdd1 Re7 27. h3
Rc7 28. g4 f4 29. Nd2 c5 30. dxc5 Rxc5 31. Nd3 Rb5 32. Kc1 Rc8 33. Re4 Bxb2+
34. Nxb2 Nc3 35. Rxf4 Nxa2+ 36. Kb1 Nc3+ 37. Kc1 Rd5 38. Rxf7 Qc6 39. Rf8 Ne2+
40. Kb1 Qxc2+ 41. Ka1 Rxf8 42. Qxf8+ Kb7 43. Qf3 Ka6 44. Qxe2+ Kb7 45. Qe4 Qc3
46. Ndc4 1-0

[Event "Sao Paulo op"]
[Site "Sao Paulo"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gonzalez, Bolivar Ribeiro"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E73"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e5 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4 g6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. Bg5 a6 8. Nf3 Nbd7
9. Nd2 h6 10. Bh4 O-O 11. a3 Qc7 12. g4 Nh7 13. Bg3 f6 14. h4 Rb8 15. Bd3 Nb6
16. h5 g5 17. f3 Bd7 18. Bf2 Nc8 19. Qe2 Na7 20. b4 b6 21. O-O Rb7 22. Rab1
Rfb8 23. Rfc1 Bf8 24. Bc2 Be7 25. Ba4 Nf8 26. Qd1 Bc8 27. Nf1 Nd7 28. Bc6 Nxc6
29. dxc6 Qxc6 30. Nd5 Nf8 31. bxc5 dxc5 32. Rxb6 Qd7 33. Rxf6 Kg7 34. Rf5 Qd6
35. Nfe3 Kh8 36. Nxe7 Qxd1+ 37. Rxd1 Bxf5 38. Nc6 Rc8 39. Na5 Rd7 40. exf5
Rxd1+ 41. Nxd1 Rd8 42. Nb2 Rd2 43. Na4 Rd3 44. Nxc5 Rxf3 45. Ne6 Nxe6 46. fxe6
Kg7 47. Nc6 Rc3 48. Bc5 Kf6 49. e7 Kf7 50. Nd8+ 1-0

[Event "Sao Paulo op"]
[Site "Sao Paulo"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Menna Barreto, Luiz Ney"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2280"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 c6 3. g3 Bg4 4. Bg2 Nd7 5. Nbd2 Ngf6 6. c4 e6 7. O-O Bd6 8. b3
O-O 9. Bb2 a5 10. a3 Qb8 11. Qc2 Bf5 12. Qc3 Ne4 13. Nxe4 Bxe4 14. Ne5 Bxe5 15.
Bxe4 Bf6 16. Bg2 a4 17. Rab1 axb3 18. Qxb3 Qa7 19. e4 dxc4 20. Qxc4 Rfd8 21.
Rfd1 Rac8 22. Qb4 Re8 23. d5 exd5 24. exd5 Re2 25. Rf1 Bxb2 26. Rxb2 Rxb2 27.
Qxb2 cxd5 28. Bxd5 b6 29. Rb1 Nf6 30. Bf3 h6 31. Kg2 Qa5 32. Qb4 Qxb4 33. Rxb4
Rc3 34. a4 Nd7 35. Bg4 Ne5 36. Be2 Rc2 37. Kf1 Rc1+ 38. Kg2 Rc2 39. Kf1 Rc1+
1/2-1/2

[Event "Sao Paulo op"]
[Site "Sao Paulo"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Santos, Renato Andrade"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A57"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2265"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. e3 g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 O-O 8. Nge2
axb5 9. Nxb5 d6 10. a4 Nbd7 11. Ra3 Ne5 12. Ba2 Ba6 13. O-O Bxb5 14. axb5 Rxa3
15. bxa3 Qa5 16. a4 Ra8 17. Bb3 Qb4 18. Bd2 Qa3 19. Nc3 c4 20. Bc2 Nfd7 21. Qa1
Qc5 22. Qb1 Nb6 23. Rd1 Ned7 24. Ne4 Qc7 25. a5 Nxd5 26. b6 Qc6 27. Be1 e6 28.
Bb4 Nxb4 29. Qxb4 d5 30. Ba4 Qb7 31. Nd6 Qb8 32. Bxd7 Bf8 33. Bc6 Bxd6 34. Qb5
Bxh2+ 35. Kf1 1-0

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

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

[Event "Sao Paulo op"]
[Site "Sao Paulo"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Camara, Helder"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E82"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2325"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 b6 7. Bd3 a6 8. Nge2
Nfd7 9. b3 c5 10. O-O Nc6 11. d5 Nce5 12. a4 Nxd3 13. Qxd3 Ne5 14. Qd2 Re8 15.
Rad1 Rb8 16. h3 f5 17. Ng3 fxe4 18. Ngxe4 Nf7 19. Ng5 Nxg5 20. Bxg5 b5 21. axb5
axb5 22. Nxb5 Ba6 23. Qe2 Qd7 24. f4 Rxb5 25. cxb5 Bxb5 26. Qe6+ Qxe6 27. dxe6
Bxf1 28. Kxf1 h6 29. Bh4 Rf8 30. Bxe7 Rxf4+ 31. Ke2 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "URS-YUG U20"]
[Site "Leningrad"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Burovic, Ismet"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2375"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 023 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 c6 4. f4 Qa5 5. Bd2 e5 6. Nd5 Qd8 7. Nxf6+ Qxf6 8.
dxe5 dxe5 9. Nf3 exf4 10. e5 Qg6 11. Bd3 Qxg2 12. Rg1 Qh3 13. Bxf4 Bg4 14. Rg3
Qh5 15. Be2 Nd7 16. e6 Bxe6 17. Ng5 Qxh2 18. Qxd7+ Bxd7 19. Re3+ Be7 20. Bxh2
Kf8 21. Ne4 Be6 22. Nd6 Rd8 23. Rd1 Rd7 24. Bc4 Bg4 25. Rdd3 b5 26. Bb3 Bh5 27.
Nc8 Rxd3 28. Rxd3 Bg4 29. Nxa7 Bf5 30. Rf3 g6 31. Nxc6 Bh4+ 32. Kf1 Bf6 33. Be5
Bxe5 34. Nxe5 Ke7 35. Nxf7 Rf8 36. Re3+ Kf6 37. Nd6 1-0

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

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

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

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

[Event "URS-YUG U20"]
[Site "Leningrad"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ostojic, Nikola"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B38"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2350"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 023 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 c5 3. Nf3 g6 4. e4 Bg7 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 d6 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O
Nc6 9. Be3 Bd7 10. f3 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Bc6 12. Qd2 Nd7 13. Be3 Nc5 14. Rac1 a5 15.
b3 b6 16. Rfd1 Qd7 17. Nd5 Qb7 18. Rb1 Ra7 19. Bf1 Re8 20. Qf2 Raa8 21. a3 Bxd5
22. cxd5 b5 23. Bxc5 dxc5 24. Qxc5 b4 25. Bb5 Red8 26. a4 Rac8 27. Bc6 Qc7 28.
Qe3 e6 29. Rbc1 exd5 30. Bxd5 Bc3 31. g3 Kg7 32. Kg2 Qc5 33. Qe2 Rd7 34. h4 h5
35. f4 Rcd8 36. Qc4 Qe3 37. Rc2 Re7 38. Re2 Qa7 39. Qd3 Red7 40. Qf3 Qc5 41. f5
Be5 42. Rf2 Qd6 43. Qe3 Rc8 44. fxg6 Rc3 45. Rd3 fxg6 46. Rfd2 Qc7 47. Qf3 Rd8
48. Rf2 Rxd3 49. Qxd3 Rf8 50. Rxf8 Kxf8 51. Bc4 Qd6 52. Qe3 Kg7 53. Qa7+ Qc7
54. Qa8 Kh6 55. Qd5 Bf6 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "URS-YUG U20"]
[Site "Leningrad"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Saric, Igor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C06"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2270"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 023 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ne2 cxd4 8. cxd4
f6 9. exf6 Nxf6 10. O-O Bd6 11. Nf3 Qc7 12. Bg5 O-O 13. Bh4 Nh5 14. Qc2 h6 15.
Bg6 Nf4 16. Nxf4 Bxf4 17. Rfe1 Bd7 18. Rad1 Rac8 19. Qe2 Bd6 20. Bg3 Bxg3 21.
hxg3 Rf6 22. Bb1 Be8 23. Nh2 Kf8 24. Qe3 Bh5 25. g4 Bf7 26. g3 g5 27. Nf3 Qb6
28. Ne5 Be8 29. b3 Nxe5 30. Qxe5 Kg7 31. f4 gxf4 32. gxf4 Qc7 33. f5 Bd7 34.
Re3 Kf7 35. Rde1 Qc6 36. fxe6+ Bxe6 37. Qxf6+ 1-0

[Event "URS-YUG U20"]
[Site "Leningrad"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mitkov, Nikola"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2370"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "134"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 023 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 cxd4 8. Nxd4
Bc5 9. Qd2 a6 10. O-O-O Bxd4 11. Bxd4 b5 12. Bg1 Qa5 13. Kb1 b4 14. Ne2 Nc5 15.
Qe3 Ne4 16. Nc1 Ne7 17. Nb3 Qc7 18. Bd3 Bb7 19. Qb6 Qxb6 20. Bxb6 Nc8 21. Bd4
a5 22. Rhe1 Bc6 23. Bg1 Ne7 24. Nd4 Bd7 25. Nb5 O-O 26. Nc7 Rac8 27. Nxd5 exd5
28. Bxe4 Bg4 29. Bf3 Bxf3 30. gxf3 Rc6 31. f5 Rd8 32. f6 Nf5 33. fxg7 Kxg7 34.
Re2 d4 35. Rg2+ Rg6 36. Rxg6+ Kxg6 37. f4 Rd5 38. Kc1 f6 39. exf6 Kxf6 40. Rd3
Rd7 41. c3 bxc3 42. bxc3 Rc7 43. Kc2 dxc3 44. Rxc3 Re7 45. Rc6+ Kf7 46. Rc5 Kg6
47. Rxa5 Re1 48. Bb6 Re2+ 49. Kd3 Rxh2 50. a4 Ra2 51. Ra8 Ne7 52. Ke4 Re2+ 53.
Kf3 Ra2 54. a5 Ra3+ 55. Ke4 Ra4+ 56. Ke5 Nc6+ 57. Kd5 Nxa5 58. Bc7 h5 59. Rg8+
Kf7 60. Rg5 Nc4 61. Rxh5 Ne3+ 62. Ke5 Rb4 63. Rh3 Rb5+ 64. Ke4 Ng4 65. Ra3 Nf6+
66. Kd4 Rb4+ 67. Kc5 Rb1 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "URS-ch U26"]
[Site "Kherson"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Sakaev, Konstantin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2450"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "31"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. e4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 cxd4 8. Nxd4
Bc5 9. Qd2 Bxd4 10. Bxd4 Nxd4 11. Qxd4 Qb6 12. Qxb6 Nxb6 13. a4 Bd7 14. a5 Nc8
15. Bd3 Ne7 16. O-O 1/2-1/2

[Event "URS-ch U26"]
[Site "Kherson"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Timoshenko, Georgy"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2475"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. d4 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8.
f3 h6 9. Bh4 d5 10. e3 Nbd7 11. Nh3 c5 12. cxd5 cxd4 13. Qxd4 e5 14. Qd2 Bxd5
15. Nf2 Be6 16. Bb5 Nc5 17. Qe2 a6 18. Bc4 Bxc4 19. Qxc4 Qd5 20. Qxd5 Nxd5 21.
Ke2 f6 22. Rad1 Rfd8 23. Nd3 Nb3 24. Nc1 Na5 25. Rd3 Ne7 26. Rhd1 Rxd3 27. Nxd3
Rc8 28. Rc1 Rxc1 29. Nxc1 Nc4 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "URS-ch U26"]
[Site "Kherson"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Serper, Grigory"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E39"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "32"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. dxc5 O-O 6. a3 Bxc5 7. Nf3 b6 8. Bf4
Nc6 9. Rd1 Bb7 10. e4 Ng4 11. Bg3 f6 12. Nb5 Nge5 13. Nxe5 fxe5 14. b4 a6 15.
Nc3 Be7 16. Qb2 Rf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "URS-ch U26"]
[Site "Kherson"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Komarov, Dimitri"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2475"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. g3 Nd7 8. Bg2
Qd8 9. O-O Be7 10. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 O-O 12. c5 b6 13. Qc2 Qc7 14. Rac1 Bb7 15.
Rfe1 Rad8 16. b4 Nf6 17. Nxf6+ Bxf6 18. Qc3 Rd7 19. Ne5 Bxe5 20. dxe5 Rfd8 21.
Qa3 b5 22. Qf3 a5 23. a3 Rd3 24. Re3 R3d4 25. Rb1 R8d7 26. h4 Qd8 27. Bf1 R7d5
28. Rbb3 Qc7 29. Qh5 Qd8 30. Bg2 Rd1+ 31. Kh2 Rd7 32. Re4 R1d4 33. Rbe3 Rxe4
34. Rxe4 axb4 35. axb4 Rd4 36. Qg4 Rxe4 37. Qxe4 Qd2 38. f4 g6 39. h5 Kg7 40.
hxg6 fxg6 41. Qf3 h5 42. Qa3 Qd7 43. Qa7 Qc7 44. Qa2 Qd7 45. Kh3 Kh6 46. Be4
Qd4 47. Qb1 Qf2 48. Bxg6 Qe2 49. Be4 Qg4+ 50. Kh2 h4 51. Qd3 Qxg3+ 52. Qxg3
hxg3+ 53. Kxg3 Kg7 54. Kg4 Kf7 55. Kg5 Ke7 56. Kg6 Ba8 57. Bf3 Bb7 58. Bg2 Ba8
59. Bh3 1-0

[Event "URS-ch U26"]
[Site "Kherson"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kharlov, Andrei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A21"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2450"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Bb4 3. Nd5 Ba5 4. b4 c6 5. bxa5 cxd5 6. cxd5 Nf6 7. Qb3 Qxa5 8.
Nf3 d6 9. Ba3 Ne4 10. e3 Nd7 11. Rc1 O-O 12. Qb4 Qxb4 13. Bxb4 Nb6 14. d3 Nxd5
15. Ba3 Nc5 16. Nxe5 dxe5 17. Bxc5 Rd8 18. Be2 b6 19. Ba3 Ba6 20. g4 h6 21. h4
Rac8 22. Kd2 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 e4 24. Rc6 Bxd3 25. Bxd3 Nf4 26. Bd6 Nxd3 27. Ke2 f6
28. f3 Nc1+ 29. Rxc1 exf3+ 30. Kxf3 Rxd6 31. Rc8+ Kh7 32. Rc7 a6 33. Ra7 a5 34.
Rb7 Rd2 35. Rxb6 Rxa2 36. Ra6 h5 37. g5 fxg5 38. hxg5 a4 39. e4 Ra1 40. e5 a3
41. Kf2 Rb1 42. Rxa3 Kg6 43. e6 Kxg5 44. Ra5+ Kh6 45. Re5 Rb8 46. e7 Re8 47.
Kf3 g6 48. Kf4 Kg7 49. Kg5 Kf7 50. Rd5 Rxe7 51. Ra5 Rb7 52. Rc5 Rb2 53. Rc7+
Ke6 54. Kxg6 h4 55. Kg5 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "URS-ch U26"]
[Site "Kherson"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kruppa, Yuri"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C55"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Bb3 h6 7. Nbd2 Re8 8.
Re1 Bf8 9. c3 b5 10. d4 Bb7 11. Nf1 g6 12. Ng3 d6 13. Nh4 d5 14. exd5 Nxd5 15.
Nf3 Bg7 16. dxe5 Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. Bxh6 c5 19. Qg4 c4 20. Bc2 Qb6 21. Bd2
Nf6 22. Qh3 b4 23. Be3 Qc6 24. Ne2 bxc3 25. Nxc3 Re6 26. Rad1 Kg7 27. Bh6+ Kg8
28. Be3 Kg7 29. Bh6+ Kg8 30. Bg5 Qb6 31. Na4 Qb5 32. Bxg6 Bxh2+ 33. Kxh2 Qxg5
34. Bxf7+ Kxf7 35. Qxe6+ Kg6 36. f3 Rh8+ 37. Kg1 Bxf3 38. Re2 Re8 39. Qxc4 Bxe2
40. Qc2+ Kh6 41. Rd6 Qe3+ 42. Kh1 Rh8 0-1

[Event "URS-ch U26"]
[Site "Kherson"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Tiviakov, Sergei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C07"]
[WhiteElo "2520"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. Ngf3 cxd4 6. Bc4 Qd6 7. O-O Nf6 8.
Nb3 Nc6 9. Nbxd4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 a6 11. c3 Qc7 12. Bd3 Bd6 13. h3 Bd7 14. Qf3 O-O
15. Bg5 Bh2+ 16. Kh1 Be5 17. Rae1 Bxd4 18. cxd4 Nd5 19. Qe4 f5 20. Qe2 Qb6 21.
Rd1 Bb5 22. Rfe1 Rfe8 23. Qe5 Bxd3 24. Rxd3 Qc7 25. Qxc7 Nxc7 26. Rb3 Ra7 27.
Rb6 h6 28. Bd2 Kf7 29. Rd6 Raa8 30. Ba5 Nd5 31. Bb6 Rac8 32. Bc5 Rc7 33. f3 Nf6
34. Re3 Nd5 35. Re5 Nf6 36. Re3 Nd5 37. Re5 Nf6 38. Re3 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Event "URS-ch U26"]
[Site "Kherson"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Aleksandrov, Aleksej"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2370"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "36"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[EventCategory "9"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 021 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1991.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Be2
Bb7 9. O-O Be7 10. a3 a5 11. e4 b4 12. axb4 axb4 13. Rxa8 Bxa8 14. e5 bxc3 15.
exf6 Nxf6 16. bxc3 O-O 17. Ne5 c5 18. Ba3 Nd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch U18"]
[Site "Guarapuava"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aleksandrov, Aleksej"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2370"]
[PlyCount "23"]
[EventDate "1991.08.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Bb4 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Qa4+ Nc6 7. Bg5 h6 8.
Bxf6 Qxf6 9. e3 O-O 10. Be2 Be6 11. O-O a6 12. Rac1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch U18"]
[Site "Guarapuava"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Jakubiec, Artur"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A54"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2300"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "1991.08.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d6 3. d4 e5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. d5 Ne7 6. e4 Ng6 7. g3 Be7 8. h4 Bg4
9. Be2 h5 10. Ng5 a6 11. Be3 Bd7 12. f3 O-O 13. Qd2 Qb8 14. a3 c5 15. b4 b5 16.
bxc5 dxc5 17. cxb5 axb5 18. Bxb5 Bxb5 19. Rb1 Rxa3 20. Nxb5 Ra4 21. d6 Bd8 22.
O-O Rb4 23. Rxb4 cxb4 24. Qxb4 Bb6 25. Bxb6 Qxb6+ 26. Kg2 Rb8 27. Qc4 Rb7 28.
Rb1 Qa6 29. Rb4 Nf8 30. Nc3 Qxc4 31. Rxc4 Rd7 32. Rc7 Rxd6 33. Nxf7 Rd2+ 34.
Kf1 Ne6 35. Re7 Nd4 36. Nxe5 Rc2 37. Nd5 Ne2 38. Nxf6+ gxf6 39. Nd7 Nxg3+ 40.
Ke1 Re2+ 41. Kd1 Rf2 42. Nxf6+ Kf8 43. Re5 Rxf3 44. Nxh5 Nxh5 45. Rxh5 Re3 46.
Rf5+ Ke7 47. Rf4 Ke6 48. Kd2 Rh3 49. Ke2 Ke5 50. Rg4 Ra3 51. Kf2 Ra2+ 52. Kg3
Ra3+ 53. Kg2 Ra2+ 54. Kh3 Ra1 55. Rg2 Kf4 56. h5 Rh1+ 57. Rh2 Rg1 58. Rf2+ Kxe4
59. Kh4 Ke5 60. h6 Ke6 61. Kh5 Rh1+ 62. Kg6 Rg1+ 63. Kh7 Ke7 64. Kh8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch U18"]
[Site "Guarapuava"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Jonker, Marc"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2205"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1991.08.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. Nc3 c6 4. f4 Qa5 5. Bd2 Qb6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. Na4 Bxf3 8.
gxf3 Qc7 9. f5 Nbd7 10. Qe2 g6 11. Bh3 Bg7 12. Nc3 a6 13. f4 gxf5 14. Bxf5 e6
15. Bh3 O-O-O 16. O-O-O c5 17. e5 cxd4 18. exf6 dxc3 19. fxg7 cxd2+ 20. Qxd2
Rhg8 21. f5 exf5 22. Rhg1 Ne5 23. Bxf5+ Kb8 24. Bxh7 Nf3 25. Qc3 Nxg1 26. Qxc7+
1-0

[Event "Wch U18"]
[Site "Guarapuava"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vescovi, Giovanni P"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A57"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2260"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "1991.08.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. e3 Bb7 6. Nc3 Qa5 7. bxa6 Bxd5 8. Bd2
Bc6 9. Nf3 d6 10. Bc4 Nxa6 11. e4 Qc7 12. O-O e6 13. Re1 Qb7 14. Bf4 Rd8 15. a3
Be7 16. Rb1 Nc7 17. Qc2 d5 18. Bxc7 Qxc7 19. exd5 exd5 20. Bb5 Kf8 21. Bxc6
Qxc6 22. Ne2 Qb7 23. b4 Qa7 24. Ne5 Rc8 25. Nd4 Qc7 26. Nf5 cxb4 27. Qb3 Bd6
28. Nxd6 Qxd6 29. axb4 g6 30. Qh3 Kg7 31. Qh6+ Kg8 1-0

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

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

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

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

[Event "Wch U18"]
[Site "Guarapuava"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Langier, Daniel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2240"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "1991.08.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2003"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. a4 a6 8. Na3
Be7 9. Bg5 Nxe4 10. Nxe4 Bxg5 11. Nxd6+ Ke7 12. Nac4 Be6 13. Qf3 Nd4 14. Qxb7+
Qd7 15. Qxd7+ Kxd7 16. Bd3 Be7 17. Be4 Bxd6 18. Nxd6 Kxd6 19. Rd1 Rae8 20. c3
Bb3 21. Rd2 Kc5 0-1

[Event "Wch U18"]
[Site "Guarapuava"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Maiwald, Jens Uwe"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2295"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "1991.08.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2003"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O
Re8 9. Rd1 Qe7 10. e4 Nxe4 11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. Qxe4 e5 13. Bg5 f6 14. Bh4 exd4
15. Qxd4 Bc5 16. Qc3 Nf8 17. a3 a5 18. Re1 Qc7 19. Rad1 Qb6 20. h3 a4 21. Bd3
Be6 22. Qc2 Bf7 23. Bg3 Rxe1+ 24. Rxe1 Rd8 25. Nd2 Bg6 26. Bxg6 Nxg6 27. Re2
Bd4 28. Nf3 Qb3 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Wch U18"]
[Site "Guarapuava"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sakaev, Konstantin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2450"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "22"]
[EventDate "1991.08.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e5 4. dxe5 dxe5 5. Qxd8+ Kxd8 6. Bc4 Be6 7. Bxe6 fxe6
8. Nf3 Bd6 9. Be3 Nbd7 10. a3 Ke7 11. h3 a6 1/2-1/2

[Event "WchT U26 08th"]
[Site "Maringa"]
[Date "1991.09.01"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Sepulveda, Luis"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A44"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2280"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "1991.09.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Soviet Union"]
[BlackTeam "Chile"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "URS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CHI"]

1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. e4 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Nf3 Ne7 7. Be2 O-O 8. h4 Bg4
9. Nh2 Bxe2 10. Qxe2 f5 11. h5 f4 12. hxg6 hxg6 13. Bd2 a6 14. a4 Nd7 15. Qg4
Nf6 16. Qe6+ Rf7 17. Nf3 Qd7 18. Qxd7 Nxd7 19. a5 Bf6 20. Ke2 Rh7 21. Na4 Re8
22. Rxh7 Kxh7 23. Rb1 Rb8 24. b4 cxb4 25. Bxb4 Nc8 26. c5 dxc5 27. Nxc5 Nxc5
28. Bxc5 g5 29. d6 g4 30. Nd2 Bd8 31. Nc4 Kg7 32. Nxe5 b5 1-0

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Event "URS-ch58"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ulybin, Mikhail"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C06"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2565"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "1991.11.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "URS-ch"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. c3 c5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. Ne2 cxd4 8. cxd4
f6 9. exf6 Nxf6 10. Nf3 Bd6 11. O-O O-O 12. Bf4 Bxf4 13. Nxf4 Ne4 14. Ne2 Rxf3
15. gxf3 Ng5 16. Kh1 e5 $1 17. dxe5 Nxf3 18. Bxh7+ Kh8 19. Ng1 Ncd4 $1 20. Nxf3
Bg4 21. Nxd4 $8 Bxd1 22. Raxd1 Kxh7 23. f4 (23. Rd3) 23... Qb6 24. f5 (24. Rd2
Qg6 25. f5 Qg4 26. Re1 Qf4 27. Rd3 Re8 28. e6 Kg8 $10 {Kveinis}) 24... Qxb2 $1
(24... Qh6 25. f6 gxf6 26. Nf5 Qh3 (26... Qh5 27. Rd4 $16) 27. Rf4 $16 {Kveinis
}) 25. Rd3 (25. f6 gxf6 26. Rd3 Rg8 $1 (26... fxe5 27. Rg1 $18) 27. Rh3+ Kg7 $8
28. Rg1+ $2 (28. Rg3+ $10) 28... Kf8 29. Ne6+ Kf7 30. Rh7+ Kxe6 31. Rxg8 Qb1+
$19 {Kveinis}) 25... Rc8 $8 26. f6 (26. Rh3+ $6 Kg8 27. f6 Qxd4 28. f7+ Kf8 29.
Rh8+ Ke7 30. f8=Q+ $15 {Kveinis}) 26... Rc1 27. Rh3+ Kg6 28. Rg3+ Kh5 (28...
Kh5 29. Rxc1 Qxc1+ 30. Rg1 Qe3 31. fxg7 Qe4+ 32. Rg2 Qe1+ $10) 1/2-1/2

[Event "URS-ch58"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A90"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "1991.11.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "URS-ch"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 c6 5. Nf3 d5 6. O-O Bd6 7. b3 Qe7 8. a4 a5
9. Ba3 Bxa3 10. Nxa3 O-O 11. Ne5 Nbd7 12. Nd3 b6 13. Qc2 Ba6 14. Rfc1 Rac8 15.
Qb2 Ne4 16. b4 axb4 17. Nxb4 Bb7 18. e3 c5 19. Nd3 cxd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "URS-ch58"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ruban, Vadim"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2575"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "1991.11.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "URS-ch"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd3 Nbd7 8.
Nge2 Re8 9. Qc2 Nf8 10. O-O c6 11. Rae1 Nh5 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Ng3 Nxg3 14. hxg3
Be6 15. f3 Rad8 16. Qf2 Bc8 17. g4 Qg5 18. b4 h5 19. gxh5 Qxh5 20. Qg3 Bf5 21.
Bxf5 Qxf5 22. e4 dxe4 23. fxe4 Qg6 24. Qxg6 Nxg6 25. Rd1 Rd7 26. Kf2 Nf4 27.
Rd2 f6 28. Rfd1 Kf7 29. a4 Ne6 30. d5 cxd5 31. exd5 Ng5 32. Rd4 f5 33. Rc4 Re5
34. b5 Kf6 35. a5 Ne4+ 36. Nxe4+ Rxe4 37. Rxe4 fxe4 38. Ke3 Ke5 39. Rd4 Rxd5
40. Rxe4+ Kd6 41. Rb4 Kc5 42. Rb1 b6 43. a6 Rf5 44. Rc1+ Kxb5 45. Rc7 Kxa6 46.
Rxg7 b5 47. Kd4 Rf4+ 48. Kd3 Kb6 49. g4 a5 50. g5 a4 51. g6 Rg4 52. Rg8 Kc5 53.
g7 Kb4 54. Kc2 Rg2+ 0-1

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

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

[Event "URS-ch58"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Sveshnikov, Evgeny"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2540"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "1991.11.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "URS-ch"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Bd6 8. Bd3
Qe7 9. O-O Nd7 10. c5 Bc7 11. e4 dxe4 12. Bxe4 O-O 13. Re1 Rd8 14. b4 Nf6 15.
Bd3 Bd7 16. Qc2 Be8 17. Rad1 b6 18. a3 a5 19. Rb1 axb4 20. axb4 Ra3 1/2-1/2

[Event "URS-ch58"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Tiviakov, Sergei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C07"]
[WhiteElo "2535"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[Annotator "Ernst,T"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "1991.11.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "URS-ch"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. Ngf3 cxd4 6. Bc4 Qd6 7. O-O Nf6 8.
Nb3 Nc6 9. Nfxd4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 a6 11. Re1 Qc7 12. Bb3 Bd7 13. Qf3 Bd6 14. h3
O-O-O 15. Bg5 Qc5 16. Be3 {In der Partie Kotronias - Kramnik, Gausdal Troll
Masters 1992 folgte 16.De3 16.-Dc7 17.Df3 mit Zugwiederholung.} Qe5 17. g3 Qe4
18. Rad1 $10 Bc6 19. Qxe4 Bxe4 20. Bg5 Bg6 21. c3 Bc5 22. Bf4 Rhe8 23. Be5 Bf8
24. Bc4 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "URS-ch58"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Frolov, Artur"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2470"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "1991.11.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "URS-ch"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. O-O Nge7 5. b3 a6 6. Bxc6 Nxc6 7. Bb2 b5 8. a4
b4 9. d3 d6 10. Nbd2 e5 11. Nc4 Be7 12. Ne1 O-O 13. f4 exf4 14. Rxf4 f5 15.
exf5 d5 16. Ne5 Nxe5 17. Bxe5 Bg5 18. Rf1 Bxf5 19. Nf3 Bg4 20. Qe1 Bxf3 21.
Rxf3 Rxf3 22. gxf3 Qe7 23. f4 Bf6 24. Qe3 Bxe5 25. fxe5 Rf8 26. e6 Rf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "URS-ch58"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Krasenkow, Michal"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2550"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "1991.11.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "URS-ch"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Bb3 Bb6 7. Nbd2 Ne7 8. Nc4
Be6 9. h3 O-O 10. O-O Ng6 11. Re1 c6 12. Nxb6 Qxb6 13. Bc2 h6 14. d4 Rad8 15.
a4 a5 16. b4 axb4 17. cxb4 Rfe8 18. Be3 Qxb4 19. Rb1 Qa5 20. Rxb7 Bc8 21. Rb1
d5 22. Nxe5 Nxe5 23. dxe5 dxe4 24. Bb6 Rxd1 25. Bxa5 Rxb1 26. Bxb1 Rxe5 27. Bc3
Rc5 28. Bxf6 gxf6 29. Bxe4 Ba6 30. Bf3 Kf8 31. Rb1 Bd3 32. Rd1 Bg6 33. Ra1 Bd3
34. Rd1 Bg6 35. Ra1 Bd3 36. Kh2 Rc2 37. Rd1 Be2 38. Bxe2 Rxe2 39. Ra1 Rxf2 40.
a5 Rb2 41. a6 Rb8 42. Kg3 Ke7 43. Kg4 c5 44. Kf5 Ra8 45. a7 Kd6 46. Kxf6 Kc6
47. Kxf7 Kb6 48. Kg6 Rxa7 49. Rb1+ Kc6 50. Kxh6 Ra3 51. Rg1 Kd5 52. Kg5 Ke4 53.
Re1+ Re3 1/2-1/2

[Event "URS-ch58"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Novikov, Igor A"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A90"]
[WhiteElo "2550"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "1991.11.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "URS-ch"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. c4 c6 5. Nf3 d5 6. O-O Bd6 7. Bf4 Bxf4 8. gxf4
O-O 9. e3 Qe7 10. Nbd2 Nbd7 11. Qc2 Ne4 12. Nxe4 fxe4 13. Nd2 Nf6 14. f3 exf3
15. Nxf3 Bd7 16. Ne5 Be8 17. Rf3 Nd7 18. Rh3 h6 19. Ng4 1/2-1/2

[Event "URS-ch58"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aseev, Konstantin N"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2525"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "1991.11.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[SourceTitle "URS-ch"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. O-O Be7 8.
a3 O-O 9. b4 Be6 10. Rb1 f6 11. d3 Nd4 12. Be3 c5 13. Ne4 cxb4 14. axb4 Nxf3+
15. Bxf3 Nd5 16. Bd2 Qd7 17. Nc5 Bxc5 18. bxc5 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Groningen op"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Garcia Ilundain, David"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E38"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2370"]
[PlyCount "36"]
[EventDate "1991.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 026 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. dxc5 Na6 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. Qxc3 Nxc5 8.
f3 d5 9. cxd5 b6 10. Bg5 exd5 11. e3 O-O 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Ne2 Re8 14. Nd4 Qe7
15. Kf2 Na4 16. Qb3 Nc5 17. Qc3 Na4 18. Qb3 Nc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Groningen op"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Fette, Martin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2380"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1991.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 026 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. Nc3 Nge7 5. O-O Nd4 6. Nxd4 cxd4 7. Ne2 a6 8.
Bd3 d5 9. e5 Nc6 10. f4 g5 11. c3 Bg7 12. cxd4 Nxd4 13. b3 gxf4 14. Bb2 Nxe2+
15. Qxe2 Qg5 16. Rac1 Bd7 17. Qf2 Bh6 18. Ba3 Bc6 19. Qd4 Rc8 20. Rf2 Kd7 21.
Bd6 f5 22. Rd1 Ke8 23. Qa7 Qd8 24. Be2 Ra8 25. Qd4 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Groningen op"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nijboer, Friso"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E89"]
[WhiteElo "2490"]
[BlackElo "2465"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "1991.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 026 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 Nbd7 8. Nge2
c6 9. g4 e5 10. d5 cxd5 11. cxd5 h5 12. h3 b5 13. Bg5 Qa5 14. Ng3 Nh7 15. gxh5
Nxg5 16. Qxg5 Bf6 17. Qh6 Bg7 18. Qg5 Bf6 19. Qh6 Bg7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Groningen op"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Petran, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2395"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "1991.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 026 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. g3 e5 2. Bg2 d6 3. c4 g6 4. d4 exd4 5. Qxd4 Nf6 6. Qe3+ Qe7 7. Qxe7+ Bxe7 8.
Nc3 Nc6 9. Nh3 Be6 10. b3 Nd7 11. Nf4 Bf6 12. Bd2 O-O-O 13. Rc1 Bg7 14. O-O
Rde8 15. Rfe1 Nc5 16. Nxe6 fxe6 17. Ne4 Nxe4 18. Bxe4 Ne7 19. Bg2 b6 20. b4 Kd7
1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Oviedo rapid45"]
[Site "Oviedo"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Cueto Chajtur, Johny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A85"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 f5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 b6 5. a3 Bb7 6. d5 Be7 7. Nge2 O-O 8. g3 e5
9. Bg2 d6 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Qc2 Ng4 12. h3 Nh6 13. e4 Bg5 14. f4 exf4 15. Nxf4
Bxf4 16. Bxf4 g5 17. Be3 Ne5 18. exf5 Nxc4 19. Bd4 Ba6 20. Rf2 Ne5 21. Bxe5
dxe5 22. Re1 Nf7 23. f6 Nd6 24. Rxe5 Rxf6 25. Rxg5+ Kh8 26. Rh5 h6 27. Ne4 Rxf2
28. Nxf2 Qf8 29. Ng4 Nf7 30. Nxh6 Nxh6 31. Qg6 1-0

[Event "Oviedo rapid45"]
[Site "Oviedo"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Vazquez, Fermin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B20"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. g3 Nc6 3. Bg2 e6 4. d3 g6 5. f4 Bg7 6. Nf3 Nge7 7. O-O O-O 8. c3 d5
9. Be3 d4 10. Bf2 e5 11. cxd4 exd4 12. Na3 b6 13. Nc2 a5 14. a4 f5 15. e5 Be6
16. Na3 Bd5 17. Ng5 h6 18. Bxd5+ Qxd5 19. Nf3 Nd8 20. Nc4 Rb8 21. Nfd2 Ne6 22.
Qe2 g5 23. Be1 Kh7 24. Nb3 gxf4 25. gxf4 Rg8 26. Bg3 Ng6 27. Qf3 Qxf3 28. Rxf3
Ngxf4 29. Kf1 Nd5 30. Rxf5 b5 31. axb5 Rxb5 32. Nbd2 Ne3+ 33. Nxe3 dxe3 34. Nc4
Nd4 35. Rf7 Kg6 36. Rf4 e2+ 37. Kg2 Rb3 38. Ra3 Rgb8 39. Re4 Rxa3 40. bxa3 a4
41. e6 Re8 42. e7 Nf5 43. Rxe2 Rxe7 44. Rxe7 Nxe7 45. Bd6 Nd5 46. Bxc5 Nf4+ 47.
Kf3 Nxd3 48. Bd6 Kf5 49. Nb6 Ke6 50. Bg3 Nb2 51. Kf4 Bd4 52. Nxa4 Nxa4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Oviedo rapid45"]
[Site "Oviedo"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Bernal Moro, Luis Javier"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2395"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Be2
a6 9. e4 b4 10. e5 bxc3 11. exf6 Nxf6 12. bxc3 Bd6 13. O-O O-O 14. c4 c5 15.
Bb2 Bb7 16. dxc5 Bxc5 17. Qc2 Ne4 18. Rad1 Qe7 19. Ne5 Rfd8 20. Nd3 Ba7 21. Bf3
Rac8 22. Rfe1 f5 23. Re2 Rd7 24. Be5 Rcd8 25. Nb2 Nxf2 26. Rxf2 Bxf3 27. Rxd7
Qxd7 28. c5 Be4 29. Qc3 Qe7 30. Na4 Bc6 31. Nb6 Qg5 32. h3 Qe7 33. Kh2 Bb8 34.
Re2 Be4 35. Bxb8 Rxb8 36. Qe5 Rd8 37. Rxe4 fxe4 38. c6 Re8 39. c7 e3 40. c8=Q
Rxc8 41. Nxc8 Qd7 42. Nb6 Qc6 43. Qxe3 h6 44. a4 a5 45. Qd4 Qc7+ 46. Kg1 Qc1+
47. Kh2 Qc6 48. Nc4 Qxa4 49. Qc5 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Oviedo rapid45"]
[Site "Oviedo"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Danailov, Silvio"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2445"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6 3. b3 Bg4 4. Bg2 Nd7 5. Bb2 e6 6. O-O Ngf6 7. d3 Bd6 8. Nbd2
O-O 9. Qe1 e5 10. e4 Re8 11. h3 Bh5 12. Nh4 a5 13. a3 Bc5 14. Ndf3 Qc7 15. Nf5
Bxf3 16. Bxf3 Nf8 17. Bg2 dxe4 18. dxe4 Ne6 19. c3 Bf8 20. b4 b5 21. Qe2 Nd7
22. Ne3 Nb6 23. h4 Nd8 24. Rfc1 Nb7 25. c4 bxc4 26. Nxc4 Na4 27. Qc2 Nxb2 28.
Qxb2 Rab8 29. Qc3 axb4 30. axb4 Nd8 31. Rab1 Qe7 32. Na5 Rb6 33. Bh3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Oviedo rapid45"]
[Site "Oviedo"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Fernandez, Jose"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2210"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bb5+ c6 8.
Ba4 O-O 9. Ne2 b5 10. Bb3 Bb7 11. O-O c5 12. d5 Nd7 13. Bg5 Nf6 14. f3 c4 15.
Bc2 e5 16. dxe6 Qb6+ 17. Nd4 fxe6 18. Be3 e5 19. Nf5 Qa5 {[#]} 20. Nxg7 Qxc3
21. Bh6 Rad8 22. Qc1 Bc8 23. Nf5 gxf5 24. Qg5+ Kf7 25. Qg7+ Ke6 26. exf5+ Kd6
27. Rad1+ Nd5 28. Be4 1-0

[Event "Oviedo rapid45"]
[Site "Oviedo"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Komljenovic, Davorin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2495"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 c6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Qc2 g6 7. Bg5 Be7 8. e3
Bf5 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Nbd7 11. O-O O-O 12. Rab1 a5 13. Rfd1 Re8 14. Qc2 Ne4
15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. Nd2 Nd6 17. Na4 Nf6 18. Nc5 Ng4 19. Re1 Rac8 20. h3 Nf6 21.
Qc3 Qd8 22. Rbc1 Re7 23. a4 Qc7 24. b4 axb4 25. Qxb4 Nfe4 26. Ndxe4 Nxe4 27.
Nxe4 Rxe4 28. Rb1 Re7 29. Qc5 f5 30. Rec1 Rf7 31. Rb3 Qd7 32. Rcb1 Rc7 33. Qc1
g5 34. a5 f4 35. exf4 gxf4 36. Qd2 Qf5 37. Re1 Rf8 38. Re5 Qg6 39. Rf3 Rg7 40.
g4 fxg3 41. Rxg3 Rxf2 42. Rxg6 Rxd2 43. Rxg7+ Kxg7 44. Re7+ Kg6 45. Rxb7 Rxd4
46. Rc7 Re4 47. a6 Kf5 48. Rb7 Ra4 49. a7 d4 50. h4 c5 51. h5 Kg5 52. Kf2
1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Oviedo rapid45"]
[Site "Oviedo"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ubilava, Elizbar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Qc2 c6 8. h3
h6 9. Rd1 b6 10. Be2 Ba6 11. b3 Qc8 12. O-O b5 13. cxb5 cxb5 14. Qd3 b4 15.
Qxa6 bxc3 16. Qa5 Ne4 17. Rc1 a6 18. Rc2 Qb7 19. Ra1 Rfc8 20. Ne1 Bb4 21. Qa4
Ndc5 0-1

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

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

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

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

[Event "Troll Masters"]
[Site "Gausdal"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Gausel, Einar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2445"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1992.01.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 028 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd2 O-O 8. Be2
Re8 9. O-O-O e5 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Nb5 Bb8 12. dxe5 Nxe5 13. Bc3 a6 14. Nbd4 Ne4
15. Be1 Ng4 16. Bd3 Bd7 17. h3 Ngf6 18. Kb1 Bd6 19. g4 Rc8 20. Qe2 Nc5 21. Bf5
Nfe4 22. Nd2 Be5 23. Nxe4 dxe4 24. Bc3 Na4 25. Ba5 Qe7 26. Qd2 Bxf5 27. Nxf5
Qf6 28. Nd4 b6 29. Bb4 Nc5 30. Rhf1 Red8 31. Qe2 Bxd4 32. Rxd4 Rxd4 33. exd4
Qxd4 34. Bxc5 bxc5 35. Rd1 Qa4 36. Rd6 a5 37. Qd2 h6 38. Rd8+ Rxd8 39. Qxd8+
Kh7 40. Qd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Troll Masters"]
[Site "Gausdal"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Hansen, Lars Bo"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2535"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "1992.01.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 028 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 e6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 Bd6 6. Bg3 Bf5 7. Qb3 Bxg3 8.
hxg3 Qb6 9. e3 Na6 10. Qxb6 axb6 11. Bxa6 Rxa6 12. Kd2 Ne7 13. f3 f6 14. g4 Bd7
15. Nge2 O-O 16. a4 Nc8 17. b3 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Troll Masters"]
[Site "Gausdal"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kotronias, Vasilios"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C07"]
[WhiteElo "2560"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "1992.01.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 028 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. Ngf3 cxd4 5. exd5 Qxd5 6. Bc4 Qd6 7. O-O Nf6 8.
Nb3 Nc6 9. Nbxd4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 a6 11. Bb3 Qc7 12. Re1 Bd7 13. Bg5 O-O-O 14. Qf3
Bd6 15. h3 Qc5 16. Qe3 Qc7 17. Qf3 Qc5 18. Qe3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Troll Masters"]
[Site "Gausdal"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ernst, Thomas"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2535"]
[PlyCount "32"]
[EventDate "1992.01.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 028 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Be3 c5 8.
Qd2 Qa5 9. Rb1 b6 10. Rc1 cxd4 11. cxd4 Qxd2+ 12. Kxd2 O-O 13. Nf3 Rd8 14. Bc4
Nc6 15. d5 e6 16. Bb3 Bb2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Troll Masters"]
[Site "Gausdal"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Emms, John M"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C55"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2430"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "1992.01.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 028 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Bb3 d6 7. c3 Nd7 8. Be3
Nf6 9. h3 d5 10. Nbd2 h6 11. Re1 a6 12. a3 Be6 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Nc4 Nxe3 15.
Rxe3 Bc5 16. Re2 Bxc4 17. Bxc4 b5 18. Ba2 Qd6 19. Qc2 Rad8 20. Rd1 Bb6 21. Rde1
Qxd3 22. Qxd3 Rxd3 23. Nxe5 Nxe5 24. Rxe5 Rd2 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Oakham YM"]
[Site "Oakham"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Djurhuus, Rune"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D14"]
[WhiteElo "2420"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[Annotator "Hertneck,G"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "1992.03.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 030"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Nf3 e6 8. Qb3
Bb4 9. Bb5 O-O 10. O-O Qe7 (10... Bxc3 11. Qxc3 Rc8 12. Rfc1 Qb6 13. Qc5 $1
Nxd4 14. Qxb6 Nxf3+ 15. gxf3 axb6 16. Bd6 $16 {Seirawan,Y-Yusupov,A, Indonesia
1983}) 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Na4 Nh5 13. a3 $1 Ba5 $146 (13... Nxf4 14. axb4 Nd3
15. Nc5 Nxc5 16. bxc5 {+/=/+/- Lautier,J-Khalifman,A, Wijk 1991, 51/383}) 14.
Bg3 Nxg3 15. hxg3 $14 {Khalifman} Rab8 16. Qd1 Rfc8 17. Rc1 Bg4 18. Qd3 f6 19.
e4 (19. Qa6 Bb6 $13) 19... Qd8 $5 (19... dxe4 20. Qxe4 Bf5 21. Qe2 Qd6 $13) 20.
b4 Bb6 21. Rfe1 Kh8 22. exd5 Qxd5 $13 23. Nxb6 axb6 24. Qe4 Bf5 25. Qe3 Rd8 26.
Rc3 Rd6 27. Rec1 h6 28. Rc4 Ra8 29. Qc3 Be4 30. Nd2 Bxg2 31. f3 Bh3 32. Ne4
Rdd8 33. Rxc6 Bf5 34. Nf2 Qxd4 35. g4 Bd3 36. Qxd4 Rxd4 37. R1c3 Bb5 38. Rxb6
Rc4 39. Ne4 Rxc3 40. Nxc3 Bd7 41. Ne4 Rxa3 42. Nc5 Ra7 43. Rd6 Bb5 44. Nxe6 Bc4
45. Nd4 Rb7 46. Nf5 Rxb4 47. Rd8+ Kh7 48. Rd7 Be6 49. Rxg7+ Kh8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Oakham YM"]
[Site "Oakham"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Har Zvi, Ronen"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A65"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2350"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1992.03.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 030"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 c5 7. Nge2 Nc6 8. d5
Ne5 9. Ng3 e6 10. Be2 exd5 11. cxd5 a6 12. O-O b5 13. a3 Rb8 14. b4 Nfd7 15.
Qb3 Nb6 16. Bf2 cxb4 17. axb4 h5 18. Rfc1 Qf6 19. Nf1 h4 20. Qd1 Nbc4 21. Ra2
a5 22. bxa5 b4 23. Rb1 Ba6 24. Na4 b3 25. Rxb3 Rxb3 26. Qxb3 Nxa5 27. Qd1 Bxe2
28. Qxe2 h3 29. Nb6 Nb3 30. Ra3 hxg2 31. Rxb3 gxf1=Q+ 32. Kxf1 Rb8 33. Qe3 Qd8
34. h3 g5 35. Ke2 Ng6 36. Kd2 Nf4 37. h4 Nh3 38. Be1 gxh4 39. f4 $138 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Event "Oakham YM"]
[Site "Oakham"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E86"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1992.03.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 030"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. Nge2 c6 8. Qd2
Nbd7 9. O-O-O a6 10. Kb1 b5 11. Nc1 bxc4 12. Bxc4 Rb8 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Bb3 Ne8
15. f4 Ng4 16. Bd4 Bxd4 17. Qxd4 Qb6 18. Qxb6 Rxb6 19. Rd2 Kg7 20. h3 Ngf6 21.
Rhd1 Rb7 22. Nd3 Re7 23. e5 dxe5 24. Nxe5 Nh5 25. Rf2 Nxf4 26. Nxc6 Rc7 27. Na5
g5 28. h4 h6 29. hxg5 hxg5 30. g3 Nh3 31. Rh2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Oakham YM"]
[Site "Oakham"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B58"]
[WhiteElo "2585"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[PlyCount "26"]
[EventDate "1992.03.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 030"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nf3 h6 8. O-O
Be7 9. Re1 O-O 10. h3 Be6 11. Bf1 Qa5 12. Bd2 Qd8 13. Bc1 Qa5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Oakham YM"]
[Site "Oakham"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Gdanski, Jacek"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B09"]
[WhiteElo "2435"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[PlyCount "23"]
[EventDate "1992.03.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 030"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 c5 6. Bb5+ Bd7 7. e5 Ng4 8. e6
fxe6 9. Ng5 Bxb5 10. Nxe6 Bxd4 11. Nxd8 Bf2+ 12. Kd2 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Event "Dortmund op-A"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Groszpeter, Attila"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2495"]
[PlyCount "29"]
[EventDate "1992.04.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 029"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bb5+ Bd7 8.
Be2 c5 9. Nf3 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qa4 12. O-O O-O 13. Qxa4 Bxa4 14. Rfc1
e6 15. Rab1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund op-A"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Mikhalchishin, Adrian"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2530"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[PlyCount "26"]
[EventDate "1992.04.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 029"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. O-O Nge7 5. c3 d5 6. exd5 Qxd5 7. d4 cxd4 8.
c4 Qd6 9. Nxd4 Bd7 10. Nb3 Nf5 11. c5 Qc7 12. Nc3 O-O-O 13. Qg4 Nfd4 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Dortmund op-A"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Azmaiparashvili, Zurab"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2610"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[PlyCount "26"]
[EventDate "1992.04.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 029"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c6 2. b3 d5 3. Bb2 Bg4 4. g3 e6 5. Bg2 Nf6 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. O-O Bd6 8. d4
O-O 9. Ne5 Bf5 10. Nd2 Qe7 11. a3 Rfd8 12. Ndf3 Be4 13. b4 dxc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund op-A"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Balashov, Yuri S"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2565"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1992.04.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 029"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1992.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1992.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 g6 6. Bg5 Bg7 7. Qc2 h6 8. Bh4 d6
9. Rd1 Nbd7 10. d5 e5 11. e3 O-O 12. Be2 Qe7 13. Nd2 Rfc8 14. O-O Qf8 15. Qb1
a5 16. b3 h5 17. f3 Bh6 18. Bf2 Qe7 19. e4 c6 20. Qb2 c5 21. b4 Ba6 22. bxa5
bxa5 23. Nb5 Bxb5 24. cxb5 Nb6 25. Nb1 Nfd7 26. Bd3 h4 27. Nc3 Bg5 28. Qe2 Nf6
29. g3 Nh5 30. Qe1 Kg7 31. Kg2 Rh8 32. Rh1 Qf6 33. Qe2 Bh6 34. Rhg1 Bg5 35. Bc2
Qe7 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Dortmund op-A"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Glek, Igor Vladimirovich"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C01"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2515"]
[PlyCount "15"]
[EventDate "1992.04.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bd3 Bg4 6. O-O Be7 7. Bg5 O-O 8.
Nbd2 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Event "Olympiad-30"]
[Site "Manila"]
[Date "1992.06.20"]
[Round "11.3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Olafsson, Helgi"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2525"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1992.06.08"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "PHI"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Iceland"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ISL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. e3 g6 8. Nxd5
exd5 9. Bd2 Bg7 10. h4 O-O 11. h5 Nd7 12. Rc1 Rc8 13. b4 c6 14. Bd3 Qe7 15. Bc3
c5 16. bxc5 bxc5 17. O-O Nb6 18. dxc5 Bxc3 19. Rxc3 Rxc5 20. Rxc5 Qxc5 21. hxg6
hxg6 22. Qb1 Qe7 23. Qb4 Qxb4 24. axb4 Nc4 25. Ra1 a6 26. Nd4 Rb8 27. Be2 Kf8
28. Rc1 Ke7 29. Rc2 Kd6 30. Rc3 Ne5 31. b5 axb5 32. Nxb5+ Kd7 33. f4 Nc6 34.
Bg4+ f5 35. Bf3 Ba6 36. Nd4 Nxd4 37. exd4 Rb4 38. Ra3 Bb5 39. Bxd5 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Moscow rapid"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Tseshkovsky, Vitaly"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A57"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2510"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "1992.08.??"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. e3 Bb7 6. Nc3 axb5 7. Bxb5 Qa5 8.
Nge2 Nxd5 9. O-O Nxc3 10. Nxc3 e6 11. e4 Be7 12. Qd3 O-O 13. Qg3 Kh8 14. Bf4
Nc6 15. Rfe1 e5 16. Bxe5 Nxe5 17. Qxe5 Bf6 18. Qxc5 d6 19. Qf5 Qb4 20. Rab1 Be5
21. a4 g6 22. Qd7 Rab8 23. Bf1 f5 24. Qb5 Bxe4 25. Qxb4 Rxb4 26. Nxe4 fxe4 27.
b3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow rapid"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lputian, Smbat G"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D23"]
[WhiteElo "2585"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "1992.08.??"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Qb3 dxc4 5. Qxc4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. g3 Be7 8. Bg2
O-O 9. O-O Nbd7 10. Nc3 Ne4 11. Qe2 Bb4 12. Bd2 Nxd2 13. Nxd2 e5 14. Nb3 Nf6
15. Rad1 e4 16. h3 Re8 17. a3 Bd6 18. Nc5 Qe7 19. g4 Bg6 20. g5 Nd5 21. N5xe4
Nxc3 22. Nxc3 Qxg5 23. f4 Qh6 24. Qf2 Bf5 25. Qg3 Re6 26. Kh1 Rg6 27. Qh2 Re8
28. e4 Rxg2 29. Qxg2 Bxh3 30. Qh2 Bxf1 31. Qxh6 gxh6 32. Rxf1 Rd8 33. e5 Be7
34. Rd1 f6 35. Kg2 Kf7 36. Kf3 Ke6 37. Ke4 f5+ 38. Kf3 h5 39. d5+ cxd5 40. Nb5
Bc5 41. Nc7+ Kf7 42. Nxd5 h4 43. b4 Bb6 44. Ne3 Rxd1 45. Nxd1 Bd4 46. a4 Ke6
47. Ne3 a6 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Moscow rapid"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Vyzmanavin, Alexey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2580"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "1992.08.??"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1997"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O
dxc4 9. Bxc4 Qe7 10. Bd2 a6 11. a4 c5 12. Rae1 b6 13. d5 Ne5 14. Nxe5 Bxe5 15.
e4 exd5 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Bxd5 Bb7 18. Bc3 Bxc3 19. bxc3 b5 20. Qd3 Bxd5 21.
exd5 Qd6 22. axb5 axb5 23. Qxb5 Qxd5 24. Re3 Rab8 25. Qe2 Qc6 26. Re1 h6 27. h3
Rb3 28. Qc4 Qb5 29. Qd5 Rb1 30. Rxb1 Qxb1+ 31. Kh2 Qb8+ 32. g3 Qc7 33. Re5 Rc8
34. c4 Qc6 35. h4 Qxd5 36. Rxd5 Kf8 37. h5 Ke7 38. g4 Ke6 39. f3 Rc7 40. Kg3
Rc6 41. Kf4 f6 42. Ke4 Rc8 43. f4 Rc7 44. g5 hxg5 45. fxg5 fxg5 46. Rxg5 Kf7
47. Kd5 Ra7 48. Kc6 Ra1 49. Rxc5 Rc1 50. Kd6 Kf6 51. Kd5 Rd1+ 52. Ke4 Re1+ 53.
Kd4 Rd1+ 54. Kc3 Rh1 55. Rd5 Ke6 56. Kb4 Rb1+ 57. Kc5 Rb2 58. Rd6+ Ke7 59. Rg6
Kf7 60. Kd5 Rd2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Chalkidiki"]
[Site "Chalkidiki"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Khenkin, Igor"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2570"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "1992.09.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 032"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 e6 5. Nc3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Be2
Bb7 9. O-O Be7 10. a3 a5 11. e4 b4 12. axb4 axb4 13. Rxa8 Qxa8 14. e5 bxc3 15.
exf6 Nxf6 16. bxc3 O-O 17. Ne5 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Chalkidiki"]
[Site "Chalkidiki"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Stohl, Igor"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "1992.09.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 032"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bb5+ c6 8.
Ba4 O-O 9. Ne2 e5 (9... c5 10. O-O Nc6 11. Be3 Qc7 12. Rc1 e6 13. Bf4 Qe7 14.
Qd2 Bd7 15. dxc5 e5 16. Bg5 f6 17. Be3 Be6 18. Bb3 Rad8 19. Bd5 $16 {Kramnik,
V-Moutousis,K,Oakham 1992-CBM 30}) 10. O-O Qe7 $5 {N} (10... Nd7 11. Ba3 Re8
12. Bb3 {Shirov,A-Smejkal,J,BL 91/92} exd4 $1 13. Nxd4 Nf6 14. f3 Qc7 $10 {
Shirov}) 11. Bc2 (11. Qc2 Re8 $1 (11... Be6 12. f4 $36) 12. f3 Nd7 $10 {
/\Nb6,Be6}) 11... Rd8 (11... exd4 12. cxd4 Rd8 (12... c5 $2 13. Ba3) 13. Rb1
$14 {[+]}) (11... Nd7 12. a4 $14) (11... Be6 12. a4 Rd8 {-11...Rd8}) 12. a4 Be6
(12... exd4 13. cxd4 c5 14. Ba3 Nc6 15. Bxc5 Qc7 16. d5 $1 $8 Bxa1 17. Qxa1 Na5
18. Qc3 b6 19. Bd4 Qxc3 20. Nxc3 $44 {[+]}) 13. Ba3 Qe8 (13... Qc7 14. f4 (14.
Bb3 $5 $14 {Kramnik}) 14... exd4 15. cxd4 Bc4 16. e5 Bxe2 17. Qxe2 Rxd4 18. Bd6
$16 {->}) 14. Bd3 (14. f4 exd4 15. cxd4 Bg4 16. e5 Bxe2 17. Qxe2 Rxd4 18. Bb2
$13) 14... Nd7 15. a5 (15. Rb1 $6 Nb6 16. a5 Nc4 $15) (15. f4 exd4 16. Nxd4 $8
(16. cxd4 Bg4 $36) 16... c5 $5 (16... Nb6 17. a5 Nc4 18. f5 $1 $40) 17. Nxe6
Qxe6 18. Qc2 c4 $132) 15... Rac8 16. Rb1 (16. Qc2 $6 c5 $1 17. d5 c4 $15) (16.
Qd2 exd4 17. cxd4 c5 18. d5 Ne5 $13) 16... b5 17. axb6 axb6 18. Qd2 (18. Bd6 $6
{/\Ba6+-} b5 19. Qc2 (19. Qd2 Nb6 $1 20. dxe5 Bxe5 $1 21. Bxe5 Nc4 $17) 19...
Nb6 20. dxe5 Nc4 21. Bxc4 Bxc4 22. f4 f6 $15) (18. f4 $5 exd4 19. Nxd4 Nc5 $8
20. Bxc5 bxc5 21. Nxe6 Qxe6 22. Qe2 (22. Qc2 c4 23. Be2 Rb8 $132) 22... Bxc3
23. Bc4 $44) 18... b5 (18... f5 $6 19. exf5 gxf5 20. Ng3 e4 21. Be2 $36 {׻}) (
18... Ra8 $142 19. Bb2 b5 $13) 19. Qe3 Ra8 20. Bb4 Bf8 $1 21. Rfd1 $6 (21. Bxf8
Qxf8 $10 {/\} 22. f4 $2 exd4 23. cxd4 Ra3 $17 {/\Bc4,Nc5}) (21. Rfc1 Ra2 $13 {
<=>}) 21... exd4 22. cxd4 Ba2 $1 23. Rb2 c5 24. Be1 $5 (24. dxc5 $6 Ne5 25.
Rbd2 $8 (25. Nc1 Nc4 $19) 25... Nxd3 26. Rxd3 Rxd3 27. Qxd3 Bc4 28. Qe3 Ra4 29.
Rb1 Qe5 30. Bc3 (30. f4 Qc7 $1 $17 {/\Rb4-+} (30... Rxb4 $6 31. fxe5 Rxb1+ 32.
Kf2 Rb2 33. c6 $1 $8 Rxe2+ 34. Qxe2 Bc5+ $1 35. Kg3 $8 Bxe2 36. c7 Bf2+ 37. Kf4
$1 (37. Kh3 $2 h5 $3 38. c8=Q+ Kg7 $19) 37... Be3+ 38. Kg3 Bf2+ $10)) 30...
Qxc5 $17) (24. Bxc5 Nxc5 25. dxc5 Bc4 26. Rbd2 Ra3 $36) 24... Ra3 (24... c4 $6
25. Bc2 $8 (25. Nc1 $2 Ba3 $1 $17) 25... Ra3 26. Qf4 $36 {><b5,Ba2}) 25. Ra1 (
25. Qf4 $142 $13) 25... cxd4 (25... c4 26. Nc1 $8 (26. Rbxa2 Rxd3 $17) (26. Nc3
Bb3 $36) 26... cxd3 27. Rbxa2 d2 28. Qxd2 (28. Rxa3 $2 d1=Q $19) 28... Rxa2 29.
Nxa2 Qxe4 30. Nc3 $10) 26. Nxd4 Nc5 $6 $138 (26... Bc4 $1 27. Rxa3 Bxa3 $36)
27. Bxb5 $10 Rxe3 28. Bxe8 Rxe4 {[Stohl]} (28... Rxe1+ 29. Rxe1 Nd3 (29... Bc4
$5 30. Bxf7+ $8 Bxf7 31. Nf3 Nd3 32. Rd1 $10) 30. Rxa2 Nxe1 31. Ra1 Nd3 32. Rd1
$1 Rxd4 33. Bb5 $10) (28... Rxe4 29. Rbxa2 Rdxe8 30. Nf3 Nd3 31. Kf1 $10)
1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Chalkidiki"]
[Site "Chalkidiki"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A57"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1992.09.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 032"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. e3 axb5 6. Bxb5 Qa5+ 7. Nc3 Bb7 8.
Nge2 Nxd5 (8... Bxd5 9. O-O Bc6 10. Qd3 Bxb5 11. Nxb5 Nc6 12. a4 d5 13. e4 dxe4
14. Qg3 e5 15. Nec3 Be7 16. Qxg7 Rg8 17. Qh6 Nd4 18. Nxd4 cxd4 19. Nxe4 Qd5 $1
20. Ng3 Rg6 $44 {[+],Nickoloff,B-Basanta,G,Kingston ch-CA 1992}) 9. O-O Nxc3
10. Nxc3 e6 (10... g6 $5 11. Bc4 (11. a4 $5 $14) 11... Qb4 $1 (11... e6 $2 12.
e4 Qb4 13. Bb5 Bg7 14. Qd6 $1 Bxc3 15. Bg5 c4 16. Qb6 $1 Nc6 17. bxc3 Qa5 18.
Qc5 Qa7 19. Qxc4 $16 {Petrusson,M-Djuric,S,New York op 1989,CBM 12}) 12. Qd3
Bg7 13. Nd5 Qa5 14. e4 Bxd5 15. Bxd5 Nc6 16. Bxc6 dxc6 17. e5 O-O 18. f4 f6 19.
Qc4+ Kh8 20. Be3 {1/2:1/2,Lutz,C-Koch,J,Pau 1988}) 11. e4 (11. a4 Nc6 12. e4
Be7 13. Bf4 Qd8 14. Qd3 O-O 15. Rad1 Nd4 16. Be5 Bf6 17. Bd6 Be7 18. Be5 Bf6
19. Bd6 Be7 20. Qg3 f5 $132 {Shirov,A-Adams,M,Dortmund 1992,CBM 29}) 11... Bxe4
$5 {N} (11... Nc6 12. Be3 Be7 13. f4 Rd8 $6 14. f5 Qc7 15. Bf4 Qb6 16. a4 O-O
17. Bd6 c4+ 18. Kh1 Bxd6 19. Qxd6 $16 {Klarenbeek,H-Bosboom,M,NLD-ch 1992,CBM
30}) 12. Bxd7+ (12. Nxe4 Qxb5 13. Nd6+ Bxd6 14. Qxd6 Ra6 $17) 12... Nxd7 13.
Nxe4 Qa4 $1 (13... Be7 $6 14. Nd6+ (14. Qg4 $5 $36) 14... Bxd6 15. Qxd6 $16)
14. Qf3 (14. Nd6+ Ke7 $10) (14. Qxa4 Rxa4 15. Nc3 Ra6 $132) (14. Qe2 $5 Be7 15.
b3 $14) 14... Ne5 (14... Be7 15. b3 Qa6 16. Rd1 $36) 15. Qf4 $6 (15. Qe2 $142
$13) 15... Nd3 $1 16. Qe3 Rd8 {[+],Nd3} 17. Nc3 (17. b3 Qd4 18. Bd2 Be7 $15)
17... Qc6 {/\c4,Bc5,0-0|^} 18. Qg3 c4 19. a4 h5 (19... f6 {/\Kf7,Bd6} 20. a5
Kf7 21. Ra4 Bd6 22. Qg4 $132) 20. h3 (20. a5 h4 21. Qf3 (21. Qg4 h3 22. gxh3
Bd6 $40) 21... Qxf3 22. gxf3 $13 h3 $17 {/\Ne5-f3}) (20. h4 $5 $132) 20... e5 (
20... h4 21. Qg4 $13) 21. a5 f5 22. a6 f4 $6 (22... Kf7 23. Qg5 Qf6 24. Ra4 $36
) (22... Ra8 23. a7 Kf7 $15 {/\Bc5}) 23. Qf3 $10 Qxf3 24. gxf3 Rh6 (24... Bc5
$6 25. Ra4 {><c4}) 25. Ne4 Ra8 26. a7 Rg6+ 27. Kh2 Rc6 (27... Rb6 28. Ra4 Rb7
29. Rxc4 $10) 28. Rd1 Bc5 (28... Rc7 29. b3 Rcxa7 30. Rxa7 Rxa7 31. bxc4 $14)
29. Nxc5 (29. b3 $2 Bd4 $17) 29... Rxc5 30. Kg2 Rc7 (30... Rc7 31. b3 Raxa7 32.
Rxa7 Rxa7 33. bxc4 Nc5 34. Rd5 $10) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Chalkidiki"]
[Site "Chalkidiki"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Lautier, Joel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A21"]
[WhiteElo "2580"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "1992.09.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 032"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 {Ribli} e5 2. Nc3 d6 3. Nf3 f5 4. d4 e4 5. Ng5 c6 6. g3 $5 Be7 7. Nh3 Nf6
8. Bg2 (8. d5 $6 Nbd7 9. Bg2 Ne5 10. Qb3 Qa5 11. Bf4 Qc5 $13 {Lautier,J-Adams,
M/Biel/1991/}) 8... O-O 9. O-O Kh8 (9... Na6 $5) (9... Na6 $5 {Ribli}) 10. d5
$5 Nbd7 11. b3 Ne5 12. Bb2 Qe8 13. Qd2 Bd7 14. Rad1 a5 15. Nf4 Ng6 16. f3 $5
Nxf4 17. Qxf4 Nh5 $6 (17... Qh5 $13) (17... exf3 {Ribli} 18. exf3 $14) 18. Qd2
e3 (18... exf3 19. exf3 f4 20. g4 Nf6 21. Rfe1) 19. Qxe3 f4 20. gxf4 $1 (20.
Qf2 fxg3 21. hxg3 Qg6 $36) 20... Nxf4 21. Kh1 Nxg2 (21... Bf6 22. Qxf4 Bxc3 23.
Qc1 $1 $16) 22. Kxg2 Qg6+ 23. Kh1 Bf6 24. Qd2 Bf5 25. Rg1 Qf7 26. dxc6 (26. Na4
b5 27. Bxf6 Qxf6 28. cxb5 cxb5 29. Nc3 b4 30. Nb5 $1) 26... bxc6 27. Na4 $1
Rae8 28. Rg3 (28. Rg2 $142) (28. Rg2 $5 {Ribli}) 28... Bg6 29. Rg2 Bxb2 30.
Nxb2 Re6 31. Nd3 d5 $6 (31... a4 $1 32. b4 Rf6 $14) 32. cxd5 cxd5 33. Rc1 d4
34. Rc5 $2 (34. Rg4 $1 $16) 34... Qe7 $2 (34... Qf6 $1 35. Qg5 (35. Rxa5 Re3
$132) 35... Bxd3 36. Qxf6 Rexf6 37. exd3 Rxf3 $10) 35. Rxa5 Re3 36. Qb4 $1 Qf6
(36... Qd8 37. Rd5 $1) 37. Ne5 $2 (37. Ra6 $1 Qf5 38. Qxd4 Rxe2 39. Ra7 $1 (39.
Rxe2 Qxf3+ 40. Rg2 Qf1+ 41. Rg1 (41. Qg1 Be4 $1 $19) 41... Qf3+ $10) 39... Rg8
40. Nf4 $5 Rxg2 41. Kxg2 $16) (37. Re5 $2 {Ribli} Bxd3 38. Rxe3 dxe3 39. exd3
Qxf3 $44) 37... d3 $3 38. Ng4 $2 (38. Ra6 $1 Qd8 $1 (38... dxe2 $2 39. Rxe2 $1)
39. Rd6 Qe7 $1) (38. exd3 Re8 $13) (38. Nxg6+ {Ribli} hxg6 39. exd3 Qxf3 $44)
38... dxe2 $1 39. Nxe3 Qxf3 40. Re5 Qf1+ $4 (40... Rd8 $1 41. Rd5 (41. h4 Qh3+
42. Kg1 Rd1+ 43. Kf2 e1=Q+ 44. Qxe1 Qxh4+) 41... Re8 $1 (41... Qf1+ 42. Rg1
Qf3+ 43. Rg2 $10) 42. Qe1 Qxe3 43. Rdg5 Rc8 $1 44. R5g3 (44. Rxg6 Rc1) 44...
Qe4 $1 45. h3 Rc1 $19) (40... Rd8 $1 $44 {Ribli}) 41. Rg1 Qf2 42. Qe1 Qf3+ 43.
Rg2 $4 (43. Ng2 Be4 44. Qg3 Qf1 45. h3 e1=Q 46. Qxe1 Bxg2+ 47. Kh2 $18) (43.
Ng2 $1 $16 {Ribli}) 43... Bd3 44. Re7 (44. h4 Qh3+ 45. Kg1 h6) (44. a4 Ba6 $5 (
44... h6) 45. b4 Qxe3 $1 46. Rxe3 Rf1+ 47. Rg1 Bb7+) 44... Qf6 $1 $8 (44... h6
45. Qc3 $1 Qf6 (45... Qf1+ 46. Rg1 Qf3+ 47. Ng2) (45... Rf6 46. Re8+ Kh7 47.
Qxd3+) 46. Qxf6 e1=Q+ 47. Nf1 $1) (44... Bb5 45. Qc3 Qf6 (45... Qf1+ 46. Nxf1
exf1=Q+ 47. Rg1) 46. Qxf6 e1=Q+ 47. Rg1 (47. Nf1 $4 Qxe7 $1 48. Qxe7 Rxf1+ 49.
Rg1 Bc6+) 47... Qxg1+ 48. Kxg1 gxf6 49. a4) (44... Qa8 $5 45. Kg1 Rf1+ 46. Nxf1
exf1=Q+ 47. Qxf1 Bxf1 48. Rf2 {/\ Ref7}) 45. Rexg7 (45. Rd7 $4 Qf1+ 46. Nxf1
Rxf1+ 47. Rg1 Be4#) (45. Rgxg7 Qc6+ 46. Kg1 Rf1+ 47. Nxf1 exf1=Q+ 48. Qxf1 Bxf1
49. Rxh7+ Kg8 50. Rhg7+ Kh8 51. Kxf1 Qc1+ $10) 45... Qf1+ 46. Nxf1 exf1=Q+ 47.
Qxf1 Rxf1+ 48. Rg1 Be4+ 49. R7g2 Rf2 50. h3 $1 Rxa2 51. Kh2 Bxg2 52. Rxg2 Ra3
$1 (52... Ra5 53. Kg1) 53. Rb2 (53. Rg3 Ra2+ 54. Kg1 Rb2 55. Kf1 h5 56. Ke1 h4
57. Rf3 Kg7 58. Kd1 Kg6 59. Kc1 Rg2 60. Rd3 Kf5 61. b4 Ke4 62. Rb3 Kd5 $10)
53... Ra5 54. b4 Rb5 55. Kg3 Kg7 56. Kf4 Kf6 57. Ke4 Ke6 58. Kd4 Kd6 59. Kc4
Rh5 60. Rb3 Kc6 61. Rf3 Rh4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Chalkidiki"]
[Site "Chalkidiki"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Psakhis, Lev"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "1992.09.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 032"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Bd2 Nd7 8.
Nxd5 exd5 9. g3 Bd6 (9... Be7 $140 $5 10. Bg2 c5 $10) 10. Bg5 $5 Be7 (10... f6
11. Bf4 $14) 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. Rc1 c6 $6 (12... c5 $5 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. Bh3 (
14. Qb3 Rb8 15. Qa4 d4) 14... O-O 15. Bxd7 Qxd7 16. Rxc5 Qh3 $44 17. Qd4 Rfe8
18. Qh4 $2 Qg2 $19) 13. Bh3 O-O 14. O-O Nf6 15. b4 Ne4 $6 (15... a5 $5 16. Ne5
axb4 17. axb4 Qxb4 18. Nxc6 (18. Rb1 $5 Qa5 19. Qc2) 18... Bxc6 19. Rxc6 $14)
16. Qb3 f5 17. Rc2 $16 Rac8 $8 (17... f4 $2 18. Ne5 fxg3 19. hxg3 c5 20. bxc5
bxc5 21. Nd7 $1 $18 (21. dxc5 $2 Qxe5 22. Qxb7 Nxg3 23. fxg3 Qxg3+ 24. Bg2 Qe3+
$10)) 18. Rfc1 Ba8 19. e3 (19. Ne5 c5 $1 $14) (19. Bg2 $5 Kh8 $1 $8 20. Ne5 c5
21. bxc5 bxc5 22. Bxe4 c4 $1) 19... g6 20. Bg2 Kg7 21. Qb2 Rc7 $8 22. Bf1 (22.
b5 Rfc8 $14) 22... Bb7 23. a4 Rfc8 24. Ne5 (24. a5 b5 25. Ne5 a6 $1 (25... Nd6
26. a6 $5)) 24... a6 $1 $8 25. Bg2 Nd6 26. Qc3 Kg8 $138 (26... b5 $2 27. Bxd5
$1 $18) 27. Qb3 Kg7 28. Qc3 Kg8 29. h4 b5 30. Qc5 (30. h5 g5) 30... Nc4 31.
Qxe7 (31. Nxc4 bxc4 32. Qb6 Rd7 33. Bf3 Qd8) 31... Rxe7 32. Nd3 $16 Rce8 33.
Ra1 Kg7 34. axb5 axb5 35. Ra7 Kf6 36. Nc5 Bc8 37. Rca2 h6 38. Rxe7 Rxe7 39. Ra8
Rc7 40. Bf1 Nd6 (40... Nb6 $6 41. Rb8 Nd7 $2 (41... Nc4) 42. Rxc8 $1 $18) 41.
f3 $1 g5 42. Kf2 Re7 (42... gxh4 $2 43. gxh4 $18) 43. Bd3 (43. hxg5+ hxg5 44.
g4 $5 fxg4 45. e4 dxe4 46. fxe4 Nxe4+ $1 47. Nxe4+ Rxe4 48. Rxc8 Rxd4 49. Rxc6+
Ke7 $10) 43... Rc7 (43... g4 $6) 44. Rb8 (44. e4 $5 fxe4 45. fxe4 dxe4 46.
Nxe4+ Nxe4+ 47. Bxe4) (44. hxg5+ hxg5 45. g4 fxg4 46. e4 Kg7 47. e5 Nc4 $1 48.
fxg4 Bxg4 49. Kg3 Bc8 50. Ra1 Ne3 51. Rh1 Nf5+ 52. Kg4 $2 Nxd4+ 53. Kxg5 Nf3+
54. Kf4 Rf7+ $15) 44... Ke7 45. Ra8 (45. Rb6 Bd7 $1 46. Rb8 Be8 $14) 45... Kf6
46. Bf1 Re7 (46... Kg6 47. Nd3 $5) 47. Bg2 Kg7 48. Bh3 Rc7 $8 (48... Kf6 49. e4
$1 $18) 49. Ke2 Kg6 $1 50. hxg5 hxg5 51. Rb8 g4 $1 52. Bg2 gxf3+ 53. Bxf3
1/2-1/2

[Event "Chalkidiki"]
[Site "Chalkidiki"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C07"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "28"]
[EventDate "1992.09.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 032"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. Ngf3 cxd4 6. Bc4 Qd6 7. O-O Nf6 8.
Nb3 Nc6 9. Nbxd4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. Nxd4 Bd7 12. Bf4 Rc8 13. Be2 Nd5 14.
Bg3 Bc5 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Chalkidiki"]
[Site "Chalkidiki"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D14"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2600"]
[PlyCount "20"]
[EventDate "1992.09.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 032"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bf4 Bf5 7. e3 e6 8. Bd3
Bxd3 9. Qxd3 Bd6 10. Bxd6 Qxd6 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Moscow Alekhine op"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aseev, Konstantin N"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2550"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1992.10.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 033"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 c5 7. e3 (7. b4 b6
8. g3 $5 Bb7 9. Bg2 d6 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Bb2 Rc8 12. d3 $14 {Georgiev,Ki-Lobron,
E Tilburg1 1992 CBM/32}) (7. g3 b6 8. Bg2 Bb7 9. O-O Qe7 10. b4 cxb4 11. axb4
Rc8 12. Bb2 d5 13. d3 dxc4 14. dxc4 Nc6 15. c5 Nb8 16. Rfc1 bxc5 17. bxc5 Nbd7
18. Ra5 Rc7 19. Ne5 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Rac8 21. Nd3 $14 {Djurhuus,R-Pedersen,S
Gausdal Troll 1992 EXP/28}) 7... b6 8. b4 Qe7 9. Be2 d6 (9... Bb7 10. Bb2 Na6
11. b5 Nc7 12. a4 a6 13. O-O d6 14. d4 Ne4 15. Qc2 axb5 16. axb5 f5 17. Nd2 Qg5
18. f4 Qg6 19. Bf3 $14 {Eingorn,V-Stefansson,H Reykjavik 1989 CBM/13}) 10. d4 (
10. O-O e5 11. Bb2 Bg4 12. bxc5 $6 bxc5 13. d3 Nc6 14. h3 Bf5 $10 {Hjartarson,
J-Aseev,K Bad Wörishofen 1991 51/17}) 10... cxd4 11. exd4 Nbd7 12. O-O Bb7 13.
Re1 $14 Rfc8 14. Qb3 Nf8 15. Bf1 Qd8 16. Bb2 Ng6 17. Rad1 Nd7 18. g3 Rc7 19. d5
e5 20. h4 $6 h6 21. Nd2 Nf6 22. Bg2 Rb8 23. Ne4 Nxe4 24. Bxe4 Bc8 $1 25. Qd3
Nf8 26. Rd2 (26. Rc1 Bg4 27. f3 Bh5 28. f4 exf4 29. Qd4 f5 (29... f6 30. gxf4
Ng6 31. Qf2 $14) 30. Bxf5 fxg3 31. Re3 $14) 26... Bg4 27. f3 Bh5 28. f4 exf4
29. Qd4 f6 30. gxf4 Ng6 $1 (30... Bg6 $5 31. Rg2 (31. f5 Bh5 {/\ Nf8-d7 ><e5})
31... Bxe4 32. Rxe4 Kh8 $13) 31. Bxg6 $2 (31. Rg2 $1 Nxh4 (31... Nxf4 32. Rg3
Ne2+ $2 33. Rxe2 Bxe2 34. Qe3 $36) 32. Rg3 $44) 31... Bxg6 32. Rg2 Kh7 33. f5
$6 (33. Kh2 Bf5 34. Reg1 Qf8 $13) 33... Bxf5 34. Qf4 Qd7 35. Rge2 Bd3 36. Re6 (
36. Re7 Qxe7 37. Rxe7 Rxe7 38. Qxd6 Re1+ 39. Kg2 Rbe8 $19) 36... Rxc4 37. Qf3
$2 (37. Qg3 $142) 37... Bc2 38. Bxf6 Rf8 39. Qe2 (39. Re7 Qg4+ 40. Qxg4 Rxg4+
$19) 39... b5 40. Be7 Rff4 0-1

[Event "Moscow Alekhine op"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ehlvest, Jaan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "1992.10.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 033"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 b6 3. Nc3 Bb7 4. a3 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Nf3 Nf6 7. Qa4+ c6 8. Bg5
Be7 9. e3 O-O 10. Bd3 Nbd7 11. Rd1 c5 12. Ne5 h6 13. Bf4 a6 14. Bb1 Re8 15. O-O
b5 16. Qc2 c4 17. f3 Nf8 18. Ne2 N6d7 19. Nxd7 Qxd7 20. e4 b4 21. axb4 Bxb4 22.
Ng3 a5 23. e5 Bc6 24. Nh5 Ra6 25. Qf2 Bb5 26. e6 Raxe6 27. Bf5 Qe7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Alekhine op"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Smirin, Ilia"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E90"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2555"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "1992.10.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 033"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 O-O 6. Nf3 d6 7. h3 e6 8. Bd3 Na6
9. Bg5 h6 10. Be3 Nc7 11. Qd2 Kh7 12. O-O e5 13. Kh2 Nh5 14. g3 a6 15. a4 Rb8
16. Ng1 Bd7 17. a5 b6 18. axb6 Rxb6 19. Nge2 f5 20. exf5 gxf5 21. Rab1 Nf6 22.
f3 h5 23. Bc2 Kg8 24. Nd1 Rb4 25. b3 Qe8 26. Rg1 a5 27. Bh6 Qg6 28. Bxg7 Qxg7
29. Nf2 Ra8 30. Ra1 e4 31. fxe4 Nxe4 32. Nxe4 fxe4 33. Nf4 Qd4 34. Qe2 a4 35.
Qxh5 axb3 36. Rxa8+ Nxa8 37. Qg5+ Qg7 38. Qd8+ Qf8 39. Qg5+ Qg7 40. Qd8+ Qf8
41. Qxd7 bxc2 42. Qg4+ Qg7 43. Qc8+ Qf8 44. Qe6+ Qf7 45. Qxe4 Nb6 46. Qxc2 Nxc4
47. Qc3 Ne5 48. Ra1 Qb7 49. Qa3 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Moscow Alekhine op"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Psakhis, Lev"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A21"]
[WhiteElo "2570"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "34"]
[EventDate "1992.10.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 033"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Bb4 3. Nd5 Bc5 4. e3 Nf6 (4... c6 5. Nc3 (5. d4 cxd5 6. dxc5
Qa5+ 7. Bd2 Qxc5 8. Qg4 g6 9. cxd5 Qxd5 10. Bc4 Nf6 11. Qh4 $44 {Psakhis,
L-Sokolov,I Chalkidiki 1992 CBM/32}) 5... d5 6. cxd5 cxd5 7. d4 exd4 8. exd4
Be7 9. Bb5+ Nc6 10. Nf3 a6 11. Bxc6+ bxc6 12. Ne5 Bb7 $14 {Petursson,
M-Panchenko,AN Bern 1992 CBM/28}) 5. d4 (5. b4 $5 {Kortschnoj,V-Timman,J
Harlingen 1991 CBM/24}) 5... Nxd5 6. cxd5 (6. dxc5 Nf6 7. Nf3 Qe7 $15) 6...
exd4 7. exd4 Bb4+ 8. Bd2 Bxd2+ 9. Qxd2 O-O $10 10. Bc4 d6 11. Ne2 Nd7 12. O-O
Nf6 13. Nc3 a6 14. b4 b5 15. Bb3 Bb7 16. a4 bxa4 17. Rxa4 c6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Alekhine op"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rashkovsky, Nukhim N"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2530"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "1992.10.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 033"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bd3 dxc4 6. Bxc4 c5 7. O-O a6 8. dxc5
Qxd1 9. Rxd1 Bxc5 10. a3 Ke7 11. b4 Bd6 12. Bb2 b5 13. Be2 Bb7 14. Nbd2 Nbd7
15. Nb3 Rac8 16. Na5 Ba8 17. Nd4 Nb6 18. Rac1 Rxc1 19. Rxc1 Rc8 20. Rxc8 Nxc8
21. f3 Na7 22. e4 Nd7 23. Ndb3 f6 24. Kf2 Nc6 25. Nxc6+ Bxc6 26. Bd4 Bc7 27. g3
e5 28. Be3 Bb7 29. Bd1 Bb6 30. Na5 Bc8 31. a4 Bxe3+ 32. Kxe3 Nb6 33. axb5 axb5
34. Be2 Bd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Alekhine op"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Shneider, Aleksandr"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2545"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1992.10.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 033"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O
b6 9. e4 Nxe4 10. Nxe4 dxe4 11. Qxe4 Bb7 12. Bd3 g6 13. b3 Rb8 14. Qe3 c5 15.
Be4 cxd4 16. Qxd4 Bc5 17. Qd3 Nf6 18. Qxd8 Rfxd8 19. Bxb7 Rxb7 20. Bg5 Kg7 21.
Ne5 h6 22. Be3 Bxe3 23. fxe3 Ne4 24. Rfd1 Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1 b5 26. cxb5 Rxb5 27.
Nc4 a5 28. Nd6 Nxd6 29. Rxd6 a4 30. bxa4 Rb1+ 31. Kf2 Rb2+ 32. Kf3 Rxa2 33. Rd4
f5 34. h4 e5 35. Rb4 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Bundesliga 9293"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Huebner, Robert"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D18"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[PlyCount "31"]
[EventDate "1992.10.24"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "GER-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Empor Berlin"]
[BlackTeam "Bayern Muenchen"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O
Nbd7 9. Nh4 Bg6 10. Be2 O-O 11. Nxg6 hxg6 12. Qc2 Qe7 13. Rd1 e5 14. h3 a5 15.
dxe5 Qxe5 16. Bd2 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Bundesliga 9293"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E81"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Shirov,A"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "1992.10.24"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 032"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Empor Berlin"]
[BlackTeam "Hamburger SK"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 c5 7. dxc5 dxc5 8. Qxd8
Rxd8 9. Bxc5 Nc6 10. Ba3 a5 11. Rd1 Be6 12. Nd5 Nb4 $1 {N} (12... Bxd5 $2 $16)
13. Nxe7+ (13. Bxb4 $2 axb4 14. Nxb4 Nd7 $1 15. Rd2 Nc5 $17) 13... Kh8 14.
Rxd8+ (14. Nd5 $5 Nc2+ (14... b5 $5 15. Bxb4 axb4 16. Nxb4 Rxd1+ 17. Kxd1 Bf8
$1 18. Nd5 Rxa2 $1 19. Kc2 $1 Bg7 20. Kb1 $1 Rxb2+ $5 (20... Ra7 $5 $44) 21.
Kxb2 Nxd5+ (21... Nxe4+ $5 22. Kc2 (22. Nc3 $2 Nxc3) 22... Nf2 $10) 22. Kc1 $1
Bh6+ 23. Kb1 Ne3 24. Ne2 Bxc4 25. Ng3 Bxf1 26. Nxf1 Nxg2 $14) 15. Kf2 Nxa3 16.
bxa3 b5 (16... Bf8 $5 17. Rb1 Nd7 $1 $44 {Kramnik,V}) 17. Nh3 bxc4 18. Bxc4
Rac8 19. Bb3 (19. Nb6 $5 Rxd1 20. Rxd1 Rxc4 21. Rd8+ Ng8 22. Nxc4 Bxc4 $13)
19... a4 20. Bxa4 Nxd5 21. exd5 Bxd5 $10) 14... Rxd8 15. Nd5 (15. Bxb4 $2 axb4
16. Nd5 Ra8 17. Nxb4 Nd7 $1 $15) 15... Nc2+ 16. Kd2 (16. Kf2 $5 Nxa3 17. bxa3
b5 (17... Nd7 $5 $44 {Kramnik,V}) 18. Nh3 Rc8 $5 (18... bxc4 19. Bxc4 Rc8 $1
20. Bb3 a4 21. Bxa4 Nxd5 22. exd5 Bxd5 23. Bb3 $140 Bxb3 24. axb3 Rc2+) 19.
Nhf4 (19. Nxf6 $6 Bxf6 20. cxb5 Bd4+ 21. Ke2 Rc1 $1 $44) 19... bxc4 20. Nxe6
fxe6 21. Nb6 Nxe4+ $1 22. Ke3 $1 Rc6 23. Kxe4 Rxb6 24. Bxc4 Rc6 25. Kd3 (25.
Bd3 Bb2 26. a4 Rc1 $10) (25. Bb5 Rc2) 25... Bf8 26. a4 Kg7 $10) 16... Nxa3 17.
bxa3 b5 18. Nh3 (18. Nh3 bxc4 19. Bxc4 Nxd5 20. exd5 Bxd5 21. Bxd5 Rxd5+ 22.
Ke2 $10) 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Bundesliga 9293"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "?.1"]
[White "Gurevich, Mikhail"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2610"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "1992.10.24"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "GER-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Koblenz"]
[BlackTeam "Empor Berlin"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. e4 b4 10. Na4 c5 11. e5 Nd5 12. O-O cxd4 13. Re1 a6 14. Nxd4 Qb8 15. Qh5
g6 16. Qh3 Nxe5 17. Be4 Qd6 18. a3 Bg7 19. axb4 Qxb4 20. Nc2 Qe7 21. b3 O-O 22.
Ba3 Qc7 23. Bxf8 Rxf8 24. Bxd5 Bxd5 25. Nb4 Bb7 26. Rac1 Qa5 27. Nd3 Nxd3 28.
Qxd3 Bd5 29. Red1 Qb4 30. Nc5 a5 31. h3 h5 32. Qe2 Qf4 33. Qe1 Bb2 34. Rc2 Be5
35. Rxd5 exd5 36. Nd7 Qh2+ 37. Kf1 Qh1+ 38. Ke2 Qxg2 39. Nxf8 Kxf8 40. Kd1 Bf6
41. Qe3 Qf1+ 42. Kd2 Kg7 43. Rc1 Qb5 44. Rc2 d4 45. Qd3 Qe5 46. Kd1 h4 47. Rc6
Qd5 48. Rb6 Qc5 49. Rb5 Qa7 50. Ke2 Qa8 51. Rc5 Qa7 52. Rd5 a4 53. bxa4 Qxa4
54. Kf1 Qc6 55. Qe4 Qc1+ 56. Kg2 Qc7 57. Rb5 Qd6 58. Rd5 Qc7 59. Rb5 Qd6 60.
Qd5 Qf4 61. Qf3 Qd6 62. Qe4 Qc7 63. Rd5 Kf8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bundesliga 9293"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?.1"]
[White "Nunn, John DM"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1992.10.24"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "GER-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Muenchen 36"]
[BlackTeam "Empor Berlin"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O h6 9. Bf4 Bd7 10. Nxc6 Bxc6 11. f3 d5 12. Qe1 Bb4 13. a3 Ba5 14. Bd2 Qe7
15. e5 Nd7 16. f4 b5 17. Ne2 Bxd2+ 18. Qxd2 O-O 19. Nd4 Rfc8 20. Bd3 Nc5 21.
Kb1 Bd7 22. g4 Rab8 23. g5 b4 24. gxh6 bxa3 25. b3 g6 26. h4 Na4 27. Rdg1 a2+
28. Ka1 Qa3 29. Qc1 Qb4 30. Ne2 Nc5 31. Rxg6+ Kh8 32. Rg7 Nxb3+ 33. cxb3 Rxc1+
34. Rxc1 Qxb3 35. Rh7+ Kg8 36. Rg1+ Kf8 37. Rh8+ Ke7 38. Rxb8 Qxd3 39. Rc1 Qxe2
40. h7 Qd2 41. h8=Q 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Bundesliga 9293"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "?.1"]
[White "Luther, Thomas"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2465"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "1992.10.24"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "GER-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Sindelfingen"]
[BlackTeam "Empor Berlin"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O h6 9. Be3 Bd7 10. f4 b5 11. Bd3 Be7 12. h3 O-O 13. g4 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 Bc6
15. g5 hxg5 16. Rdg1 Nh5 17. h4 g4 18. Rxg4 f5 19. Rg6 Bf6 20. Bxf6 Rxf6 21.
Rg5 b4 22. Rxh5 bxc3 23. Qxc3 Bxe4 24. Rg1 Rc8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris Immopar rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1992.11.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 033"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. O-O Nge7 5. c3 d5 6. exd5 Qxd5 7. Re1 g6 8. b4
Bg7 9. Bb2 O-O 10. c4 Qh5 11. Bxg7 Kxg7 12. bxc5 Qxc5 13. d4 Qb6 14. Nc3 Rd8
15. Bxc6 Qxc6 16. Qe2 a6 17. Rac1 Qc7 18. d5 f6 19. dxe6 Rd6 20. Nd5 Qd8 21.
Nxf6 Rxe6 22. Ne4 Nc6 23. Qb2+ Kg8 24. Nfg5 Re5 25. f4 Rf5 26. Rcd1 1-0

[Event "Paris Immopar rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1992.11.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 033"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bb5+ $5 c6
8. Ba4 O-O 9. Ne2 b5 10. Bb3 a5 11. O-O Nd7 12. Bg5 Nb6 13. a3 Qc7 14. Qd2 c5
15. Bh6 Bxh6 16. Qxh6 Ba6 $2 (16... Bb7 $132) 17. Nf4 c4 (17... e5 18. Nxg6 $1
hxg6 19. Qxg6+ Kh8 20. Qh6+ Kg8 21. f4 $40) 18. Bc2 e5 19. Ne2 b4 20. axb4 axb4
21. f4 exd4 22. f5 Nd7 23. Nxd4 Qe5 (23... Qb6 24. e5 gxf5 25. Qxb6 Nxb6 26.
cxb4 $16) 24. Nf3 Qg7 (24... Qxc3 25. e5 $1 Nxe5 26. Nxe5 Qxe5 27. f6 $18) 25.
Qxg7+ Kxg7 26. cxb4 Bb7 27. Kf2 $2 (27. Rad1 $16) 27... Nf6 28. Rxa8 Rxa8 29.
Ke3 Re8 30. fxg6 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 10th"]
[Site "Debrecen"]
[Date "1992.11.??"]
[Round "3.3"]
[White "Kurajica, Bojan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2585"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "1992.11.20"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "EU-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bosnia&Herzegovina"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BIH"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. Bd3 dxc4 6. Bxc4 c5 7. O-O a6 8. Bd3
Nbd7 9. Qe2 Qc7 10. Nbd2 Be7 11. b3 cxd4 12. exd4 O-O 13. Ne4 b6 14. Bg5 Bb7
15. Rac1 Qd8 16. h4 h6 17. Nxf6+ Bxf6 18. Be3 e5 19. Bb1 Re8 20. dxe5 Nxe5 21.
Nxe5 Bxe5 22. Qg4 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 10th"]
[Site "Debrecen"]
[Date "1992.11.??"]
[Round "4.3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Eingorn, Vereslav S"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D65"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "1992.11.20"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "EU-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Ukraine"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "UKR"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 Be7 7. e3 O-O 8. Rc1
Re8 9. Qc2 a6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Bd3 c6 12. O-O Ne4 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Na4 Ng5
15. Qd1 Nxf3+ 16. Qxf3 Nb6 17. Nc5 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Event "Pamplona 9293 3rd"]
[Site "Pamplona"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "229"]
[EventDate "1992.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 033"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nc3 a6 4. e4 b5 5. a4 b4 6. Na2 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb7 8. f3 c5
9. Ne2 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Bd6 11. Be3 Ne7 12. Qd2 Nbc6 13. Rd1 Bc5 14. Nb3 Bxe3 15.
Qxe3 Qc7 16. Qc5 Rc8 17. Be2 a5 18. Nac1 O-O 19. O-O Rfd8 20. Bb5 h6 21. Nd3
Rd7 22. Nf2 Rcd8 23. Rxd7 Rxd7 24. Rd1 Rxd1+ 25. Nxd1 Ng6 26. Ne3 Qd8 27. Qc2
Qb6 28. Qf2 Qd8 29. Qd2 Qb6 30. Kh1 Qc7 31. Nc4 Ba8 32. Qd6 Qa7 33. Nc5 Nge7
34. Bxc6 Nxc6 35. b3 Kh7 36. h4 e5 37. Nxe5 Nxe5 38. Qxe5 Bc6 39. h5 Kg8 40.
Qd6 Qa8 41. Kh2 Qc8 42. g4 Qe8 43. Kg3 Qc8 44. Kf2 Kh7 45. Ke3 Kg8 46. Kf2 Kh7
47. Kg3 Kg8 48. f4 Qa8 49. Kf3 Be8 50. f5 Qa7 51. Ke3 Kh7 52. Kd4 f6 53. Ke3
Bf7 54. Kf3 Bg8 55. Ke2 Bf7 56. Kd3 Bg8 57. Kc2 Bf7 58. Kb2 Kg8 59. Ka2 Kh7 60.
Ka1 Kg8 61. Kb1 Kh7 62. Kc2 Bg8 63. Kd2 Bf7 64. Kd3 Bg8 65. e5 fxe5 66. Qxe5
Qa8 67. Ne6 Qf3+ 68. Kc4 Qc6+ 69. Qc5 Bxe6+ 70. fxe6 Qxe6+ 71. Kb5 Qxb3 72.
Kxa5 Qc3 73. Qf5+ Kh8 74. Qf8+ Kh7 75. Qxb4 Qc7+ 76. Qb6 Qc3+ 77. Ka6 Qc4+ 78.
Qb5 Qxg4 79. a5 Qc8+ 80. Qb7 Qc4+ 81. Ka7 Qc5+ 82. Qb6 Qe7+ 83. Ka6 Qe2+ 84.
Qb5 Qe6+ 85. Ka7 Qe7+ 86. Kb6 Qe6+ 87. Qc6 Qe3+ 88. Qc5 Qe6+ 89. Kc7 Qf7+ 90.
Kd8 Qf6+ 91. Kd7 Qf7+ 92. Kc6 Qe8+ 93. Kb7 Qf7+ 94. Qc7 Qb3+ 95. Qb6 Qf7+ 96.
Kc6 Qe6+ 97. Kc5 Qe5+ 98. Kc4 Qe2+ 99. Kc3 Qe1+ 100. Kd3 Qd1+ 101. Ke3 Qe1+
102. Kf3 Qh1+ 103. Kf2 Qh4+ 104. Kg2 Qe4+ 105. Kf1 Qh1+ 106. Ke2 Qxh5+ 107. Kd2
Qd5+ 108. Kc3 Qf3+ 109. Kb2 Qe2+ 110. Ka3 Qd3+ 111. Qb3 Qd6+ 112. Qb4 Qd3+ 113.
Ka2 Qe2+ 114. Ka1 Qe5+ 115. Ka2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Pamplona 9293 3rd"]
[Site "Pamplona"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D34"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2600"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "1992.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 033"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c5 3. c4 e6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. g3 Nf6 7. Bg2 Be7 8. O-O
O-O 9. Bg5 cxd4 10. Nxd4 h6 11. Be3 Re8 12. Rc1 Bf8 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. Na4 Bd7
15. Bc5 Bxc5 16. Nxc5 Bg4 17. Re1 Qa5 18. h3 Bf5 19. Qa4 Qd2 20. Qf4 Qxf4 21.
gxf4 Rab8 22. b3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Pamplona 9293 3rd"]
[Site "Pamplona"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Garcia Ilundain, David"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2435"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "1992.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 033"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. a4 Bb7 8. axb5
cxb5 9. Nxb5 Bxe4 10. Bxc4 Bb4+ 11. Nc3 O-O 12. O-O Bb7 13. Qe2 Be7 14. Rfd1
Nbd7 15. d5 exd5 16. Nxd5 Bxd5 17. Bxd5 Nxd5 18. Rxd5 Bxg5 19. Nxg5 h6 20. Qd2
hxg5 21. Rxd7 Qf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Pamplona 9293 3rd"]
[Site "Pamplona"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "De la Villa Garcia, Jesus Maria"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2475"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1992.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 033"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O h6 9. Bf4 Bd7 10. Nxc6 Bxc6 11. f3 d5 12. Qe1 Bb4 13. a3 Ba5 14. Bd2 d4
15. e5 Qc7 16. exf6 dxc3 17. Bxc3 Bxc3 18. Qxc3 Qf4+ 19. Rd2 Qxf6 20. Qxf6 gxf6
21. Bd3 Rg8 22. Re1 O-O-O 23. g3 f5 24. f4 h5 25. Re3 h4 26. Be2 hxg3 27. hxg3
Rh8 28. Rxd8+ Kxd8 29. Bf3 Bxf3 30. Rxf3 Rh2 31. a4 Rg2 32. b4 Kd7 33. Kb2 b6
34. Kb3 Kc6 35. Rd3 Rg1 36. Kc4 Rb1 37. Rd8 b5+ 38. axb5+ axb5+ 39. Kc3 Rg1 40.
Rd3 Rb1 41. Rd8 Rg1 42. Rd3 f6 43. Kb2 e5 44. fxe5 fxe5 45. Rf3 Kd5 46. Rxf5
Rxg3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Pamplona 9293 3rd"]
[Site "Pamplona"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Lautier, Joel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D18"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2580"]
[Annotator "Lautier,J"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1992.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 033"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Ftacnik Hertneck} d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6
7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O Nbd7 9. Nh4 Bg6 10. Be2 a5 (10... Rc8 $5 {Hertneck} 11. g3
O-O 12. Nxg6 hxg6 13. Qb3 Qb6 14. Rd1 Rfd8 $13 {Yusupov,A-Khalifman,A, Munich
1992}) (10... O-O {Hertneck} 11. Nxg6 hxg6 12. Qc2 Qe7 (12... Qb6 13. Rd1 e5
14. dxe5 Nxe5 15. Na2 Be7 16. b4 $14 {Ivanchuk,V-Khalifman,A/Moscow GMA-op/})
13. Rd1 e5 14. h3 a5 $13 {Kramnik,V-Huebner,R, Bundesliga 1992} (14... a5 {
Ftacnik} 15. dxe5 Qxe5 16. Bd2 {0,5/Kramnik,V-Huebner,R/BL 9293/1992/})) 11.
Nxg6 hxg6 12. Qc2 Qc7 13. g3 (13. h3 $6 g5 $15 {/\ g4.}) 13... e5 14. Rd1 (14.
dxe5 $6 Qxe5 {/\ Qe6-h3}) 14... Rd8 (14... O-O 15. dxe5 Qxe5 $14 (15... Nxe5 $6
16. f4 Ned7 17. e4 $16)) (14... O-O {Hertneck}) 15. Bf3 O-O (15... exd4 16.
exd4 (16. Rxd4 Ne5 $10) 16... O-O (16... Nb6 17. Bf4 Qd7 18. Qe2+ $14) 17. Bf4
Qb6 (17... Bd6 $2 18. Nb5 $18) 18. Be3 $14) 16. Na2 (16. Bg2 exd4 17. exd4 (17.
Rxd4 Ne5 {with the idea Qb6=}) 17... Nb6 18. Bf4 Qd7 19. Na2 Bd6 20. Bd2 Ra8 {
with the idea Nf6-d5=}) 16... Bd6 (16... Be7 $1 17. Bd2 (17. d5 $2 e4 $1 18.
Bg2 Ne5 19. Bxe4 (19. dxc6 Rxd1+ 20. Qxd1 Qxc6 $17) 19... Nxe4 20. Qxe4 cxd5
21. Rxd5 Rxd5 22. Qxd5 Rd8 23. Qb3 (23. Qe4 $2 Rd1+ 24. Kg2 Nd3 $19) 23... Qc6
$17) 17... exd4 18. exd4 Nb8 $1 (18... Rfe8 $6 19. Nc1 $1 $14 {/\ Nb3}) 19. Nc1
Na6 20. Nb3 Nb4 $10) 17. dxe5 (17. Bg2 exd4 18. Rxd4 Nc5 $10) (17. Bg2 {Ftacnik
}) 17... Nxe5 18. Bg2 Be7 19. Bd2 (19. e4 $14 {Hertneck}) 19... Nd5 20. Qb3 $6
(20. h3 $1 $14 {Kramnik : with the idea f2-f4}) (20. h3 {Hertneck /\ f4}) (20.
Be1 {Ftacnik}) 20... Nb4 $1 21. Nxb4 axb4 22. Be1 (22. Bxb4 Qb6 23. Qc3 Qxb4
24. Qxe5 Bf6 $10) 22... c5 23. Qc2 c4 24. Bd5 $8 Rd7 $1 25. Rac1 (25. Kg2 Rfd8
26. e4 Bc5 $13 {/\ Nd3}) 25... Rfd8 26. e4 (26. Bxc4 $5 Qc6 $1 (26... Rxd1 $2
27. Bxf7+ $1 Kxf7 28. Qxc7 Nf3+ 29. Kf1 Nxe1 30. Rxd1 Rxd1 31. Ke2 Rb1 32. Qxb7
$16) 27. Bb3 (27. Rxd7 {Hertneck} Nf3+ 28. Kf1 Nxh2+ 29. Kg1 Nf3+ 30. Kf1 Qxd7
31. Kg2 $13) 27... Nf3+ 28. Kf1 Nxh2+ 29. Kg1 Nf3+ $10) 26... Qa5 $1 {>< a4}
27. Rb1 $6 (27. Kg2 {was better}) 27... Bf6 $1 (27... b3 $2 28. Qc3 $1) 28. Kg2
b3 $1 29. Qe2 (29. Bxa5 $2 {Ftacnik} bxc2 $19) 29... Qxa4 30. Rbc1 $2 (30. Ra1
Qb5 31. Ra5 Qb6 32. Ra4 $1 $15) 30... Qa7 $1 (30... b5 $4 31. Ra1 $18) 31. Bc3
b5 $17 32. Bxe5 (32. h4 $5 {Ftacnik}) 32... Bxe5 33. h4 $2 (33. Rd2 Qc5 34.
Rcd1 $17) 33... Qc5 34. Rd2 Rxd5 $1 35. exd5 Rxd5 36. Rcd1 Rxd2 37. Rxd2 Qc6+
$1 38. Kh2 Bf6 $19 39. h5 gxh5 40. Qxh5 b4 41. Rd5 g6 42. Qf3 (42. Qd1 c3 $19)
42... Kg7 (42... c3 $4 43. Rd8+ $18) 0-1

[Event "Pamplona 9293 3rd"]
[Site "Pamplona"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Magem Badals, Jordi"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2510"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "24"]
[EventDate "1992.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 033"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. O-O Nge7 5. c3 a6 6. Ba4 b5 7. Bc2 Bb7 8. Re1
d5 9. e5 d4 10. Be4 d3 11. a4 c4 12. b3 Nd5 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Pamplona 9293 3rd"]
[Site "Pamplona"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Romero Holmes, Alfonso"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2470"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "23"]
[EventDate "1992.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 033"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. O-O Bd7 5. Re1 Nf6 6. c3 a6 7. Bf1 e5 8. d4
cxd4 9. cxd4 Bg4 10. d5 Nd4 11. Be3 Nxf3+ 12. gxf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Pamplona 9293 3rd"]
[Site "Pamplona"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Yudasin, Leonid"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "1992.12.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 033"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. a4 c6 8. e5 h6
9. exf6 hxg5 10. fxg7 Rg8 11. h4 g4 12. Ne5 Rxg7 13. h5 f5 14. Be2 Qg5 15. Kf1
Bb7 16. axb5 Bxc3 17. bxc6 Nxc6 18. bxc3 Nxe5 19. dxe5 Bd5 20. Qa4+ Kf8 21.
Bxc4 Qd2 22. Bxd5 Qxd5 23. Qd4 Qxd4 24. cxd4 Rd7 25. Ra4 Rad8 26. h6 Rxd4 27.
Rxd4 Rxd4 28. Rh5 Kg8 29. h7+ Kh8 30. Rh6 Re4 31. Rxe6 Kxh7 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "AUT-chT"]
[Site "Austria"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Stohl, Igor"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A25"]
[WhiteElo "2540"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[PlyCount "26"]
[EventDate "1993.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[SourceTitle "TD"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nc6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e3 Nge7 6. Nge2 d6 7. d3 O-O 8. O-O
Bg4 9. h3 Be6 10. Nd5 Qd7 11. Kh2 Rae8 12. Rb1 f5 13. b4 Nc8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Belgrade"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kotronias, Vasilios"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B65"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "1993.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8.
O-O-O O-O 9. f4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Qa5 11. Bc4 Bd7 12. Rd3 Rad8 13. Rg3 Kh8 14. e5
dxe5 15. fxe5 Bc6 16. Qe3 Ng8 17. Bd3 h6 18. h4 b5 19. Kb1 b4 20. Ne2 Rd5 21.
Qe4 Rxd3 22. Qxd3 Qxe5 23. Bxe7 Nxe7 24. Qd4 Qxd4 25. Nxd4 Be4 26. Re1 Bg6 27.
Rge3 Rc8 28. R3e2 Nd5 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Belgrade"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Damljanovic, Branko"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2570"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "34"]
[EventDate "1993.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. c3 Nf6 5. e5 Nd5 6. O-O Bg7 7. d4 cxd4 8. cxd4
O-O 9. Nc3 Nc7 10. Re1 Nxb5 11. Nxb5 d6 12. exd6 exd6 13. d5 Ne5 14. Nxe5 Bxe5
15. Rxe5 dxe5 16. Bh6 Bd7 17. Bxf8 Qxf8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Belgrade"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Tiviakov, Sergei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1993.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Re1 c5 8. e4
Nc6 9. d4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Rc8 11. b3 a6 12. Bb2 d6 13. Rc1 Re8 14. h3 Bf8 15. Rc2
Nxd4 16. Qxd4 Qc7 17. Rd2 Bc6 18. Ba3 Red8 19. Red1 Qb7 20. Qe3 Ne8 21. Bb4 Rb8
22. a4 Rdc8 23. Rd3 Qc7 24. Qd2 Qb7 25. Kh2 Qa8 26. f4 Qb7 27. f5 exf5 28. exf5
Bxg2 29. Qxg2 Qxg2+ 30. Kxg2 a5 31. Ba3 d5 32. Bxf8 dxc4 33. bxc4 Kxf8 34. Rd4
1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Belgrade"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Mozetic, Dejan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D10"]
[WhiteElo "2580"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Hertneck,G"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "1993.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Bf4 Nf6 5. e3 Nc6 6. Nc3 Bg4 $5 (6... a6) 7.
Qb3 (7. Nf3 e6 $10) (7. f3 $5 $14) 7... Na5 8. Qc2 (8. Bb5+ Bd7 9. Bxd7+ (9.
Qa4 Nc6 10. Nf3 a6 11. Bxc6 Bxc6 12. Qb3 e6 13. Ne5 Nd7 $10) 9... Qxd7 10. Qb5
Nc6 11. Nf3 e6 12. O-O Nh5 $6 13. Ne5 Nxe5 14. Bxe5 f6 15. Qe2 g6 16. g4 $1
fxe5 17. gxh5 $14 {Hertneck,G-Kramnik,V/Bundesliga/1993}) 8... a6 9. h3 Bh5 10.
Qa4+ Nc6 (10... b5 $4 11. Bxb5+ axb5 12. Nxb5 e5 (12... Nc6 13. Nc7+ $18 (13.
Nd6+ $2 Kd7 $17))) 11. Qb3 Na5 12. Qa4+ Nc6 13. Qb3 (13. g4 Bg6 14. Nf3 b5 15.
Bxb5 $2 axb5 16. Qxb5 Qd7 17. Ne5 Nxe5 18. dxe5 Ne4 19. Qxd7+ Kxd7 20. Nxd5 Kc6
$17) 13... Ra7 $5 14. g4 Bg6 15. Nf3 e6 16. Ne5 Be7 17. Be2 Nd7 18. Nxd7 Qxd7
19. Rc1 (19. Na4 b5 20. Nc5 Bxc5 21. dxc5 e5 22. Bg3 $14) 19... O-O 20. Na4
Bb4+ 21. Kf1 Bd2 (21... Qe7 22. Nc5 $140 $2 e5 $1 $17) 22. Nc5 Qd8 $6 (22...
Qe7 23. Rd1 Bb4 (23... Nxd4 $4 24. Qb6 $18) 24. Rc1 Bd2 $10) 23. Nxb7 Nxd4 (
23... Nxd4 24. exd4 Rxb7 25. Qxb7 Bxf4 26. Rc3 $14) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Belgrade"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[Annotator "Chekhov,V"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1993.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3
(8. Be2 dxc4 9. Bxc4 a6 10. Qe2 b5 11. Bd3 Bb7 12. O-O Nbd7 13. Rfd1 Qb6 14.
Bg3 Be7 15. a4 b4 16. a5 Qc5 17. Nb1 Qh5 18. Nbd2 Nc5 19. Bc4 $14 {Gurevich,
M-Geller,E/Helsinki/1992/1-0/34}) (8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. a3 Nc6 11. Bd3
Bb6 12. O-O Bg4 13. h3 Bh5 14. b4 a6 15. Rc1 d4 16. g4 Bg6 17. e4 Re8 18. Nd2
$14 {Beliavsky,A-Georgiev,Kir/Biel/1992/ 0,5 (33) Inf 55/414/}) 8... Nc6 9. Rc1
$5 $146 (9. Qc2 Qa5 10. O-O-O Ne4 11. Nb5 a6 12. Nc7 e5 13. Nxd5 Nxf2 14. Ng5
Bf5 15. Qxf2 exf4 16. Qxf4 Ne7 $1 17. Nxe7+ Bxe7 18. Rd5 $1 $10 {Gelfand,
B-Yusupov,A/Linares/1992/ 0,5 (21) Inf 54/406/}) (9. Be2 Re8 $5 (9... dxc4 10.
Bxc4 a6 11. Qc2 b5 12. Bd3 Bb7 13. Ne4 Qa5+ 14. Ke2 Be7 15. Nxf6+ Bxf6 16.
Bxh7+ Kh8 17. Rac1 $1 Rac8 18. Qb1 b4 19. Be4 $16 {Sokolov,I-Cifuentes Parada,
R/Oviedo/1992/ Inf 56/450/}) 10. Bg5 Be7 11. Qc2 h6 12. Bh4 dxc4 13. Bxc4 Nd5
$1 14. Bxe7 Ncxe7 15. O-O Nxc3 16. Qxc3 Qc7 17. Nd4 Bd7 $10 {Sokolov,I-Lobron,
E/Debrecen/1992/ 1:0 (41) Inf 56/450/}) 9... d4 10. Nxd4 (10. Na4 $2 Qa5+ 11.
b4 Nxb4 12. axb4 Bxb4+ 13. Ke2 d3+ 14. Kxd3 Rd8+ 15. Nd4 e5) (10. exd4 $5 Nxd4
11. Nxd4 Qxd4 12. Qxd4 Bxd4 $10) 10... e5 $1 (10... Nxd4 11. b4 $1 Bb6 (11...
Nc6 12. Qxd8 Rxd8 13. bxc5 $14) 12. exd4 Qxd4 13. Qxd4 Bxd4 14. Nb5 $16) 11.
Nb3 (11. Nxc6 Qxd1+ 12. Rxd1 exf4 13. Nd4 fxe3 14. fxe3 Re8 $44) 11... Bxa3 (
11... exf4 12. Qxd8 Rxd8 13. Nxc5 fxe3 14. fxe3 Re8 15. Nd5) 12. bxa3 exf4 13.
Qxd8 Rxd8 14. exf4 Be6 15. f3 $14 b6 16. Kf2 Nd4 (16... Rd7 $5) 17. Nxd4 Rxd4
18. Ke3 Rd7 (18... Rad8 19. Nd5 $1) 19. Be2 Re8 20. Kf2 Rc8 21. Rhd1 (21. Ne4
Nxe4+ 22. fxe4 Rdc7 23. Rc3 Bxc4 24. Rhc1 b5 25. Bxc4 bxc4) 21... Rxd1 (21...
Rdc7 22. Nb5 $14) 22. Rxd1 Kf8 23. Rd4 Ke7 24. g4 g6 25. Bd3 Rc5 26. Ke3 Ne8
27. f5 (27. Nd5+ Bxd5 28. Rxd5 Rxd5 29. cxd5 Kd6 30. Kd4 Nc7 31. Bc4 $14) 27...
gxf5 28. gxf5 Bxf5 29. Nd5+ Ke6 30. Bxf5+ Kxf5 31. Rf4+ Kg6 (31... Ke6 $2 32.
Re4+ Kd7 33. Re7+ Kd8 34. Rxa7 $18) 32. Kd4 Kg7 33. Rg4+ (33. Rg4+ Kf8 34. Rh4
Kg7 35. Rg4+ $10) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Belgrade"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Khalifman, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "24"]
[EventDate "1993.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 Be7 7. e3 Bf5 8. Bd3
Bxd3 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. Qxd3 Nd7 11. O-O O-O 12. Rfd1 Re8 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Event "Cannes m"]
[Site "Cannes"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Lautier, Joel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A21"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[Annotator "Lautier,J"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "1993.02.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 034"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 {Ribli} e5 2. Nc3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Qd2 (5. Qd1 {Ribli} g6 6.
Nf3 Bg7 7. Bg5 $13 {Sokolov,I-Topolov,V Elenite 1992 CBM/32}) 5... Nf6 6. b3 a5
$1 (6... Be6 {Ribli} 7. e4 Be7 (7... a5 8. Bb2 a4 9. Rd1 axb3 10. axb3 g6 (
10... Nd7 11. Nge2 Nc5 12. Nc1 Be7 13. Be2 Bf6 14. O-O O-O 15. f3 Nd4 16. Nd5
Nxe2+ 17. Qxe2 Bxb2 18. Qxb2 c6 19. Nf4 Qb6 20. Qd4 $36 {Anapolsky,S-Sokolov,A
Jurmala 1991 CBM/24}) 11. Bd3 Bg7 12. Nge2 O-O 13. O-O $14 {Lautier,
J-Piasetski,L Manila izt 1990 CBM/19 49/27}) 8. Bd3 O-O 9. Nge2 Nd7 10. Nd5
Nde5 11. Bc2 a5 12. O-O Bxd5 13. cxd5 Nb4 14. Bb2 $14 {
Aleksandria-Pholihroniade Beograd 1992 54/23}) 7. Bb2 a4 8. Rd1 (8. Nxa4 $2 d5
9. c5 (9. cxd5 Ne4 (9... Qxd5 {Ribli} 10. Qxd5 Nxd5 11. O-O-O Be6 $44) 10. Qe3
Rxa4 $1 11. bxa4 Bb4+ 12. Kd1 Qxd5+ $19) 9... Ne4 10. Qc1 Rxa4 11. bxa4 Bxc5
$17) 8... axb3 9. axb3 g6 10. e4 Bg7 11. Bd3 Nd4 $1 (11... O-O 12. Nge2 Nd7 13.
Nd5 (13. O-O Nc5 14. Bc2 {and Nd5 is impossible.}) 13... Ra2 14. Nec3 $14) 12.
Bc2 Nxc2+ 13. Qxc2 O-O 14. Nge2 Nh5 (14... Re8 15. O-O Nxe4 $2 16. Nxe4 Bxb2
17. Nxd6 $1 $16) (14... Ng4 $5 {Ribli}) 15. O-O f5 16. c5 fxe4 (16... f4 $6 17.
f3 Be6 18. cxd6 cxd6 19. Nd5 $16) 17. Nxe4 (17. cxd6 e3 $1 18. fxe3 (18. dxc7
exf2+ 19. Rxf2 Qxc7 20. Rxf8+ Kxf8 $10) 18... Rxf1+ 19. Kxf1 (19. Rxf1 Qxd6 20.
Nb5 Qc6 $10) 19... cxd6 20. Nb5 (20. Ne4 Bxb2 21. Qxb2 Qf8+ 22. Kg1 Qe7 $1)
20... Bxb2 21. Qxb2 Qb6 22. Rxd6 (22. Nxd6 Qxe3 23. Nc4 Qe7 24. Nb6 Ra6 $1 25.
Nxc8 (25. Nd5 Qf8+ 26. Kg1 Be6 $10) 25... Qf8+ 26. Kg1 Qxc8 $10) 22... Qxb5 23.
Rd8+ Kf7 24. Qh8 Qf5+ (24... Bg4 $2 25. Qf8+ Ke6 26. Rd6+ Ke5 27. Qe7+ Kf5 28.
e4#) 25. Ke1 Qb1+ 26. Kf2 Qf5+ $10) (17. Qxe4 Re8 18. Qf3 (18. Qd5+ Be6 19.
Qxb7 Rb8 20. Qc6 Rxb3) 18... Be5 19. cxd6 cxd6 20. Na4 (20. Rd2 Qh4 21. g3 Qb4
$1) 20... Bxb2 21. Nxb2 Ra2 22. Rd2 Qg5) 17... d5 $6 (17... Bxb2 18. Qxb2 Qe7
$1 19. cxd6 Qxe4 20. d7 Qe7 $1 21. dxc8=Q Raxc8 $10) 18. Bxg7 Nxg7 (18... Kxg7
19. c6 $1 {with a check of the Q in case of a pin by Bf5.}) 19. c6 $1 Bf5 20.
N2g3 (20. cxb7 Rb8 21. N2g3 Bxe4 22. Nxe4 Rxb7 23. Nc5 (23. Qc6 Rb6 $1 24.
Qxd5+ Qxd5 25. Rxd5 Rxb3 $10) 23... Rb6 $10) 20... Bxe4 21. Nxe4 Rb8 $1 22. Rd3
bxc6 (22... Ne6 $5 {Ribli}) 23. Qxc6 Rb6 24. Qc3 Re6 25. Nc5 Ree8 (25... Re2
26. b4 (26. Rd2 $14 {Ribli}) 26... Ne6 27. Nxe6 Rxe6 28. b5 Qd6 $10) 26. b4 (
26. Na6 $6 Qd6 27. Nb4 (27. Nxc7 $2 Rc8 28. Rc1 Rf7 $19) 27... Rf5 (27... c6 $2
28. Nxc6 Rc8 29. Rc1 Rf6 30. Ne7+ $18) 28. Qd2 c6 29. Rc1 Rfe5 30. g3 (30. Nxc6
$4 Qxc6 31. Rxc6 Re1+ 32. Qxe1 Rxe1#) 30... Re2) 26... c6 (26... Ne6 $10) 27.
Nb3 $1 Qd6 28. Nd4 Rf6 29. Re3 Ref8 (29... Rxe3 30. fxe3 Rxf1+ 31. Kxf1 Qxh2
32. Qxc6 (32. Nxc6 Nf5) 32... Qh1+ 33. Kf2 Qh4+ 34. Ke2 Qg4+ 35. Kd2 Qxg2+ 36.
Kc3 Qe4 $10) 30. Re2 Nf5 31. Nb3 Nh6 $6 (31... Re6 32. Rxe6 (32. Rfe1 Rfe8 $10)
32... Qxe6 33. Re1 Qf6 $10) (31... Ng7 {Ribli}) 32. h3 Nf7 33. Nc5 {
Threatening Nd7} Ng5 34. Rfe1 (34. h4 Ne6 $10) 34... R6f7 $2 (34... Ne4 $2 35.
Rxe4 $1 dxe4 36. Nxe4 $18) (34... Rf4 $1 35. Qg3 (35. Re7 Qf6 36. Qxf6 R8xf6
$10 (36... R4xf6 $2 37. Nd7)) 35... Ne4 36. Nxe4 dxe4 37. Rxe4 Rxe4 38. Rxe4
Qxg3 39. fxg3 $10) 35. h4 Ne4 36. Nxe4 dxe4 37. Qc4 Qd5 38. Rc1 $1 $16 Rf6 $6 (
38... e3 39. Qxd5 (39. fxe3 $2 Rf1+ 40. Kh2 Rxc1 41. Qxc1 Qd6+) 39... exf2+ 40.
Rxf2 cxd5 41. Rxf7 Rxf7 42. b5 Rb7 43. Rb1 Rb6 (43... Kf7 44. Kf2 Ke6 45. Ke3
Ke5 46. b6 $16) 44. Kf2 Kf7 45. Ke3 Ke6 46. Kd4 Kd6 $16) 39. Qxe4 Qxe4 40. Rxe4
Rxf2 41. Rxc6 Rf1+ 42. Kh2 R8f4 (42... Rb8 43. Rc7 Rb1 44. Ree7 R1xb4 45. Rg7+
Kh8 46. Rxh7+ Kg8 47. Rcg7+ Kf8 48. Rxg6 $18) 43. Rcc4 Rxe4 44. Rxe4 Kf7 (44...
Rb1 45. g4 $1 h6 46. g5 hxg5 47. hxg5 Rb3 48. Kg2 Kf7 49. Kf2 Rb2+ 50. Ke3 Rg2
51. Re5 $18) (44... h5 45. b5 Rb1 46. Re5 Kf7 47. Rg5 $18) 45. Kg3 (45. g4 Kf6
$1 46. Kg3 Rh1 $1 {Preventing 47.Kf4 and 48.g5+.} 47. Kf3 (47. g5+ $2 Kf5 48.
Re7 Rb1 49. Rf7+ Ke5 50. Rxh7 Rb3+ 51. Kg2 Rxb4 $10) 47... h5 $132 {with
counterplay.} (47... Rxh4 $2 48. g5+ Kxg5 49. Rxh4 Kxh4 50. b5 $18)) 45... Rb1
46. Kf4 h5 (46... Kf6 47. g4 Rf1+ 48. Ke3 Rb1 (48... Rh1 49. Kd4 h5 50. Kc5
hxg4 51. Rxg4 Kf5 52. Rc4 $18) 49. Kd3 h5 50. Kc4 $18) 47. Kg5 $1 (47. Ke5 $2 {
should prove difficult to win.} Rg1 48. Kd6 (48. Re2 Rb1) (48. b5 $2 Rb1) 48...
Rxg2 49. Rf4+ Kg7 50. b5 Rb2 51. Kc5 g5 $1 52. hxg5 Kg6 53. b6 Kxg5 54. Rb4
Rc2+ 55. Kd6 Rc8 56. b7 Rb8 57. Kc7 Rf8 58. b8=Q Rxb8 59. Rxb8 h4 60. Kd6 Kg4
61. Ke5 h3 62. Ke4 h2 63. Rh8 Kg3 64. Ke3 Kg2 $10) 47... Rb2 (47... Rg1 48. Re2
{threatening Rb2.} Rb1 49. Rf2+ Kg7 50. Rf6 Rxb4 51. Rxg6+ Kf7 52. Kxh5 $18)
48. g3 $1 Rb3 49. g4 Rd3 (49... hxg4 {would have been more testing. One sample
variation might be:} 50. Rxg4 Rd3 51. Rf4+ Kg7 52. Rc4 Rd5+ (52... Rg3+ 53. Kf4
Rg1 54. Ke5 $18) 53. Kf4 Kf6 54. Ke4 Rh5 55. Kd3 Ke6 (55... g5 56. hxg5+ Rxg5
57. Re4 $18) 56. Rd4 $18) 50. Kh6 $1 hxg4 51. Rf4+ $1 Ke7 52. Rxg4 Rd6 53. Kg7
(53. Rxg6 $2 Rd4 54. h5 Rxb4 55. Kg7 Rf4 $1) 53... Rb6 54. Re4+ Kd8 55. Kf7 (
55. Kf7 Kc7 56. Rg4 Kd7 57. Rxg6 Rxb4 58. h5 Re4 (58... Rf4+ 59. Rf6 $18 (59.
Kg7 $2 Ke7 $1)) 59. Rf6 $1 Re7+ 60. Kg6 $18) 1-0

[Event "Cannes m"]
[Site "Cannes"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Lautier, Joel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E86"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[PlyCount "29"]
[EventDate "1993.02.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 034"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. Nge2 c6 8. Qd2
Nbd7 9. O-O-O a6 10. Kb1 b5 11. Nc1 exd4 12. Bxd4 Rb8 13. Nb3 bxc4 14. Bxc4 a5
15. a3 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Linares 11th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[Annotator "Speelman,J"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1993.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 034"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 c5 4. d5 Nf6 5. Nc3 b5 $5 6. Bf4 Qa5 7. Bd2 b4 8. e5
bxc3 9. Bxc3 Qa6 10. exf6 exf6 11. b3 Be7 12. Bxc4 Qd6 13. Ne2 O-O 14. O-O f5
15. Re1 Nd7 16. Ng3 g6 17. Rxe7 $1 Qxe7 18. d6 $2 (18. Qd2 Qd6 (18... Qh4 $1
19. Re1 Bb7 (19... Nf6) 20. Re3 f4 21. Re4 Rfe8 22. Rxf4 $16 Re1+ 23. Nf1 Qh6
$16) (18... Re8 $2 19. d6 Qf8 (19... Qh4 20. Qd5) 20. Nxf5 $1 $18) 19. Re1 Nb6
$1 (19... Bb7 20. Qh6 $18) 20. Qh6 (20. Be5 Nxc4 21. bxc4 Qa6 $2 (21... Qb6) (
21... Qd8 22. Bc3 f6 (22... Re8 23. Rxe8+ Qxe8 24. Nh5 $1 $18) 23. h4 $36) 22.
Qh6 f6 23. Bc7 $1 Bd7 24. Re7 Rf7 25. Rxf7 Kxf7 26. Qxh7+ $18) 20... f6 21. Re7
Qxe7 (21... Rf7 $2 22. Rxf7 (22. Re8+ Rf8 23. Nh5 $2 gxh5 24. Bxf6 Qxf6 25.
Qxf6 Rxe8) 22... Kxf7 23. Qxh7+ Kf8 24. Qxg6) 22. d6+ Qf7 $1 (22... Qe6 23.
Nxf5 gxf5 24. Bxe6+ Bxe6 25. Bxf6) 23. Bxf7+ (23. Bxf6 $4 Nxc4 $19) 23... Rxf7
$13) 18... Qh4 19. Qd5 Rb8 20. Nxf5 (20. Re1 Bb7 21. Nxf5 Bxd5 22. Ne7+ Qxe7
23. dxe7 Bxc4 24. exf8=Q+ Kxf8 25. bxc4 Nb6 26. g4 $1 Nxc4 27. g5 $44) 20...
gxf5 21. Re1 Qg4 $1 $8 22. f3 Qg6 23. Re7 Bb7 24. Qd3 Nb6 25. Ba1 Nxc4 26. Qc3
f6 27. Qxc4+ Kh8 $2 $13 (27... Rf7 $1 28. d7 Bc6 $19) 28. Kf2 Qh6 $2 29. Bc3
Qg6 30. d7 Rbd8 31. Qxc5 Rg8 32. g3 f4 33. g4 Rdf8 34. Qd4 Qh6 35. h3 Ba6 (
35... Bxf3 $1 36. d8=Q $2 (36. Kxf3 Qxh3+ 37. Ke4 Qg2+ (37... Qh1+ 38. Kd3 (38.
Kf5) 38... Qd1+ 39. Kc4 Qxd4+ 40. Bxd4 $18 f3 41. d8=Q Rxd8 42. Bxf6+ Rg7 43.
Rxg7 $1) 38. Kd3 Qf1+ 39. Kc2 $18) 36... Qh4+ 37. Kxf3 Qxh3+ 38. Kf2 Qg3+ 39.
Kf1 Qh3+ 40. Ke1 Qg3+ $10) (35... Qh4+ 36. Ke2) 36. Kg1 Qh4 37. Qxf4 1-0

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

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

[Event "Linares 11th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A12"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[Annotator "Horn,Pe"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "1993.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 034"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 Nf6 4. b3 Bg4 5. Bb2 e6 6. Be2 Nbd7 7. O-O Bd6 8. h3 (
8. cxd5 cxd5 9. Nd4 Bxe2 10. Qxe2 O-O 11. f4 Rc8 12. Nc3 a6 13. Rfc1 Qe7 14. a3
Rfe8 15. b4 Bb8 $17 {Petrosjan-Mecking, Las Palmas 1975}) 8... Bh5 (8... Bxf3
$6 9. Bxf3 $14) 9. Nc3 O-O 10. cxd5 exd5 {remis in Klinger-Miralles, Luzern
1989} (10... cxd5 $10) 11. Nd4 {Das ist das Problem bei exd5: Weiß kommt zu
einem N-Feld auf f5, das Schwarz noch viel Kopfzerbrechen bereiten wird.} Bxe2
12. Ncxe2 Re8 13. d3 Nf8 14. Qd2 a5 15. a3 Ne6 16. Nf5 Bf8 17. b4 $14 Nd7 18.
Bc3 a4 19. e4 (19. Qb2 $5) (19. Rad1 $5) 19... dxe4 20. dxe4 Nb6 21. Qc2 Qc7
22. Bb2 (22. Rad1 Red8) (22. Neg3 $5 {/\ Nh5}) 22... Nc8 {um den Nf5 zu
beseitigen} 23. Rfd1 Ne7 24. Nfd4 (24. Nd6 $6 Red8 25. e5 Nd5 26. Nf5) 24...
Ng6 25. Nxe6 Rxe6 26. Nd4 Ree8 27. Nf5 (27. g3 $5 Ne5 28. Nf5 g6) 27... Nf4 28.
Rd2 Rad8 $1 29. Rad1 (29. Rxd8 Rxd8 30. Qxa4 Rd2 $17) 29... b5 30. Kf1 (30.
Rxd8 $5 Rxd8 31. Rxd8 Qxd8 32. Nd4 (32. Qxc6 $2 Qd1+ 33. Kh2 Ne2 $19) 32... Qg5
33. g3 c5 (33... Nxh3+ 34. Kg2 Nf4+ 35. Kf1 $16) 34. bxc5 Bxc5 35. Kh2 $13) (
30. Nd4 $5 Rc8 (30... Rd6 $4 31. Nxb5) (30... c5 31. Nxb5 Qb6 32. Rxd8 Rxd8 33.
Rxd8 Qxd8 34. bxc5) 31. Rc1 Qb6 $13) (30. Nh6+ $2 gxh6 31. Qc3 Ne2+ $19) (30.
Qc3 $2 Ne2+ $19) 30... Rxd2 31. Rxd2 (31. Qxd2 $2 Rxe4 32. Qd8 Qxd8 33. Rxd8 f6
$1 (33... Ne6 34. Rc8 $44 {/\ Bxg7,Rxc6})) 31... Ne6 32. Qc3 h5 (32... Qh2 $2
33. Nh6+ $18) 33. g3 (33. Rd3) 33... c5 34. bxc5 Qxc5 35. Nh6+ Kh7 (35... gxh6
$4 36. Qh8#) 36. Qxc5 Nxc5 37. Nxf7 Nxe4 38. Re2 {/\ Rxe4,Ng5+} (38. Rd5 $2 b4
39. axb4 Bxb4 $17) 38... Kg8 39. Ng5 Nd6 40. Rxe8 Nxe8 41. Ne6 Be7 42. Nd4 Nd6
43. Bc1 Bf6 44. Nc2 Nf5 45. g4 hxg4 46. hxg4 Nd4 47. Nxd4 Bxd4 48. f4 Kf7
1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 11th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E86"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "1993.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 034"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. Nge2 c6 8. Qd2
Nbd7 9. O-O-O a6 10. Kb1 b5 11. Nc1 exd4 12. Bxd4 b4 13. Na4 c5 14. Bxf6 Bxf6
15. Qxd6 Be7 16. Qg3 Bh4 17. Qh3 Be7 18. Qg3 Bh4 19. Qh3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 11th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Jussupow, Artur"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[Annotator "Hertneck,G"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "1993.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 034"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c6 3. c4 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. Qb3 Qc7 7. Bd2 e6 8. Na3
$5 (8. Bb5+ Nc6 9. Bb4 Bd6 $1 $10) 8... Nc6 9. Rc1 a6 $146 (9... Ne4 10. Bb5
Nxd2 11. Nxd2 Rc8 12. O-O $14 {Reshevsky,S-Capablanca,J, Baden 1937}) 10. Qa4
$1 Be7 $1 (10... Rc8 $2 11. Ne5 $16) (10... Bxa3 $6 11. Qxa3 Qe7 12. Bb5 Qxa3
13. Bxc6+ bxc6 14. bxa3 $14) 11. Bb5 (11. Ne5 O-O 12. Nxc6 bxc6 {/\ Rfb8~/=
><b2, פa3}) 11... O-O 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Ne5 (13. Qxc6 Qxc6 14. Rxc6 Rfb8 $44)
(13. Rxc6 Qb7 $44) 13... c5 $13 14. O-O Rfc8 15. f3 Qb7 16. Bc3 Bd6 17. Nb1 Qb5
18. Qd1 cxd4 19. Bxd4 Nd7 20. Nxd7 Qxd7 21. f4 f6 22. Rxc8+ Rxc8 23. Nc3 Qb7
24. g4 Bg6 25. f5 Bf7 26. fxe6 Bxe6 27. Rf2 Qf7 28. Rg2 Be5 29. Qf3 Rc4 30. Ne2
Qg6 31. h3 Qb1+ 32. Qf1 Qd3 33. Rf2 Bxd4 34. exd4 h5 35. Nf4 Qe3 36. Kh2 Rxd4
37. Nxh5 Bf7 38. Ng3 Bg6 39. Re2 Rd2 40. Rxd2 Qxd2+ 41. Qe2 Qd4 42. h4 Kh7 43.
Kh3 a5 44. b3 Qc3 45. h5 Be4 46. Kh4 Bb1 47. Qd1 Bxa2 48. Qxd5 Bxb3 49. Qe4+
Kh8 50. Qe8+ Bg8 51. h6 gxh6 52. Qf8 Qc7 53. Qxf6+ Qg7 54. Qd6 Qg5+ 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Linares 11th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[Annotator "Dautov,R"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1993.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 034"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. e3 Be7 8. Bb5+
c6 9. Bd3 Nd7 10. e4 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Qc7 (11... c5 12. O-O O-O 13. Bf4 $14) 12.
O-O c5 13. e5 (13. Be3 O-O 14. Nd2 Rfd8 15. Qe2 Rac8 16. e5 cxd4 17. cxd4 Qc3
18. Ne4 Qb3 19. Rfb1 Qa4 20. Rb2 Bxe4 $2 (20... a6 $142 $13) 21. Bb5 Qxa3 22.
Rxa3 Bxa3 23. Ra2 $16 {Vaganian,R-Makarichev,S URS-ch 1979}) 13... O-O (13...
c4 14. Be2 (14. Bc2 $5) 14... b5 15. a4 b4 16. cxb4 Bxb4 17. Qc2 Rc8 18. Ba3 a5
19. Rfb1 Qb6 20. Bxb4 axb4 21. a5 b3 22. Qxc4 Rxc4 23. axb6 Rb4 24. Nd2 $16 {
Greenfeld,A-Veinger,I Munich zt 1987}) 14. Ng5 (14. Be3 $5 Rfd8 15. Ng5 $14)
14... Bxg5 15. Bxg5 f5 $1 16. exf6 (16. Be7 $5 Nxe5 (16... Rf7 17. Bd6 Qc6 18.
f3 $14) 17. Bxf8 Ng4 18. f4 Rxf8 (18... Ne3 19. Qe2 Nxf1 20. Qxe6+ Kxf8 21.
Qxf5+ Qf7 22. Qxf7+ Kxf7 23. Rxf1 $14) 19. Qe2 Qc6 20. Bb5 Qd6 $44) 16... Nxf6
17. Qe2 Rae8 18. Bb5 (18. Rfe1 Nd5 19. Bd2 cxd4 20. cxd4 Nf4 $10) 18... Bc6 (
18... Re7 19. Bh4 $14) 19. Bxf6 (19. Bxc6 Qxc6 $10) (19. dxc5 Bxb5 20. Qxb5 Ng4
21. g3 Qe5 22. Bf4 Qh5 $36) 19... Bxb5 (19... Rxf6 20. dxc5 bxc5 21. Rad1 $14)
20. Qxb5 gxf6 21. Rfe1 (21. Rad1 $5 Rd8 (21... cxd4 22. cxd4 Rd8 23. d5 $14)
22. Qe2 Rd6 23. dxc5 $5 (23. Rfe1 cxd4 24. cxd4 Kh8 $10) 23... Qxc5 24. Rxd6
Qxd6 25. Rd1 Qc6 26. Rd3 Kh8 $10) 21... cxd4 22. cxd4 Qd6 $10 23. Rad1 (23. Qd3
Qd5 $10) 23... Qxa3 24. d5 e5 25. d6 Kh8 26. f4 (26. d7 Rd8 27. Re4 Qc5 $10)
26... Qc5+ 27. Qxc5 bxc5 28. d7 Rd8 29. fxe5 fxe5 30. Rxe5 Kg7 31. Rg5+ Kf6 32.
Rxc5 Rf7 33. Rc7 a5 34. Ra7 Kg7 35. h4 a4 36. Kh2 a3 37. Rxa3 Rfxd7 38. Re1 Rd4
39. Re7+ Kh8 40. g3 R4d7 41. Ree3 Rd1 42. Kh3 Rh1+ 43. Kg4 Rhd1 44. Kh3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 11th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Salov, Valery"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A21"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1993.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 034"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 {Anand} e5 2. Nc3 Bb4 3. Nd5 Bd6 4. d4 $1 c6 (4... Nc6 5. Nf3 e4 6. Ng5
f5 (6... Nf6 7. a3 $1) 7. c5 $1) 5. dxe5 Bxe5 6. Nf3 d6 7. Nxe5 (7. Nc3 Bxc3+
8. bxc3 $14) 7... dxe5 8. Nc3 Qxd1+ 9. Nxd1 Be6 $2 (9... a5 10. Nc3 Nf6 11. b3
Na6 12. Bb2 Bf5 $1 $10) 10. b3 a5 (10... Nf6 11. Bb2 Nbd7 $14) 11. Bb2 $1 f6
12. Nc3 Na6 13. O-O-O Nh6 14. h3 (14. e3 Ng4 15. Ne4 Nb4 16. h3 $1) 14... Nf7
15. e3 O-O (15... Ke7 16. Ba3+ Nb4 17. Na4 Nd6 $1 $132) 16. Be2 Nb4 17. f4 b5
$1 18. g4 (18. cxb5 cxb5 19. Bxb5 Rfc8 20. Kd2 (20. Kb1 exf4 21. exf4 Bf5+)
20... exf4 21. exf4 Nd6 $1 $132) 18... exf4 (18... bxc4 19. f5 Bc8 (19... Bd5
20. e4) 20. Bxc4 Ba6 21. a3 Bxc4 22. bxc4 Na6 23. Ne4 Rfd8 24. Bc3 a4 25. Ba5
$14) (18... a4 $2 {Anand} 19. a3) 19. exf4 bxc4 20. bxc4 f5 21. a3 Na6 22. Na4
Rab8 23. Rhg1 fxg4 24. hxg4 Rfe8 25. Rd2 Nd8 26. f5 (26. Rg3 Nb7 27. Be5 Rbd8
28. Re3 $1 Nbc5 $2 29. Nxc5 Nxc5 30. Rxd8 Rxd8 31. Bc7 $1 Ra8 32. Bd6 $1 $18)
26... Bf7 27. g5 Nb7 28. g6 hxg6 29. fxg6 Be6 30. Rg5 $1 Rbd8 $1 31. Rxd8 Rxd8
32. Re5 Re8 $1 33. Kd2 (33. Bg4 Nc7 (33... Nac5 $2 34. Nxc5 Nxc5 35. Kc2 $1 Bd7
36. Bxd7 Rxe5 37. Bxe5 Nxd7 38. Bd6 Nf8 39. Kb3 $18) 34. Bf3 Bxc4 35. Bxc6 Rxe5
36. Bxe5 Nd8) 33... Nd6 34. Bd4 Nc7 35. Kc3 Bf5 $1 36. Bd3 (36. Nc5 Bxg6 37.
Bf3 Ncb5+ $1 38. cxb5 Nxb5+ 39. Kc4 Bf7+ 40. Kd3 Rd8 $36) 36... Bxd3 37. Kxd3
Rd8 $2 (37... Ne6 $1 $14) 38. Nc5 Na8 39. Ne4 Nxe4 40. Kxe4 Nc7 (40... Nc7 41.
Bb6 Rc8 42. Bxc7 Rxc7 43. Re8#) 1-0

[Event "Linares 11th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Timman, Jan H"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[PlyCount "163"]
[EventDate "1993.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 034"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 c5 5. d5 Ba6 6. Qc2 exd5 7. cxd5 g6 8. Nc3
Bg7 9. g3 O-O 10. Bg2 d6 11. O-O Nbd7 12. Re1 Re8 13. Bf4 Qe7 14. e4 Ng4 15.
Bg5 f6 16. Bf4 Nge5 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. Rad1 Qd7 19. b3 Re7 20. Bc1 c4 21. bxc4
Rc8 22. Qb1 Rxc4 23. Na2 Rc5 24. Nb4 Bb5 25. Be3 Rc8 26. Bd4 Ree8 27. f4 Nc4
28. Qa1 Rf8 29. Rc1 Na5 30. Rxc8 Qxc8 31. Qb2 Nc4 32. Qc3 Na5 33. Rc1 Qxc3 34.
Rxc3 Bc4 35. Bh3 b5 36. a4 Nb3 37. Be6+ Kh8 38. Bxa7 Nd2 39. axb5 Bxb5 40. Rc7
Ra8 41. Rb7 Bc4 42. Rc7 Bb5 43. g4 g5 44. Nc6 gxf4 45. Nd4 Bd3 46. Bf5 Bxe4 47.
Ne6 Bxf5 48. gxf5 Bh6 49. Kf2 Kg8 50. h4 Nc4 51. Rxc4 Rxa7 52. Rc8+ Kf7 53.
Nd8+ Kg7 54. Ne6+ Kf7 55. Nd8+ Kg7 56. Rc7+ Rxc7 57. Ne6+ Kf7 58. Nxc7 f3 59.
Kxf3 Bd2 60. Ke2 Bf4 61. Ne6 Bc1 62. h5 Ke7 63. Kd3 Bh6 64. Kc4 Be3 65. Kb5 Kd7
66. Ka6 Kc8 67. Nf8 Bh6 68. Ne6 Be3 69. Nf8 Bh6 70. Nxh7 Bg7 71. Kb5 Kd8 72. h6
Bxh6 73. Nxf6 Bf4 74. Kc4 Ke7 75. Ne4 Kf7 76. Kd3 Kg7 77. Ke2 Kh6 78. Kf3 Bh2
79. Kg4 Be5 80. Nd2 Bd4 81. Ne4 Be5 82. Nxd6 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Linares 11th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "1993.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 034"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. e3 g6 8. Bb5+
c6 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. Bd3 Bg7 11. e4 dxe4 12. Bxe4 O-O 13. O-O Nd7 14. Bg5 Qc7
15. Rc1 Rfe8 16. Re1 c5 17. Qc2 Bxe4 18. Rxe4 Qb7 19. Rxe8+ Rxe8 20. dxc5 Nxc5
21. Be3 Ne6 22. b4 h6 23. a4 Rd8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 11th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[PlyCount "198"]
[EventDate "1993.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 034"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c6 2. e4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
Qb3 Bxf3 9. gxf3 e6 10. Qxb7 Nxd4 11. Bb5+ Nxb5 12. Qc6+ Ke7 13. Qxb5 Qd7 14.
Nxd5+ Qxd5 15. Bg5+ f6 16. Qxd5 exd5 17. Be3 Ke6 18. O-O-O Bb4 19. Rd3 Rhd8 20.
a3 Rac8+ 21. Kb1 Bc5 22. Re1 Kd6 23. Rg1 g6 24. Rgd1 Ke6 25. Re1 Bxe3 26.
Rdxe3+ Kf5 27. Re7 Kf4 28. R1e3 a5 29. h3 h5 30. R7e6 Kg5 31. Ra6 d4 32. f4+
Kf5 33. Rxa5+ Kxf4 34. Rd3 Ke4 35. Rd2 g5 36. Ra6 f5 37. Re6+ Kf3 38. Re5 Kf4
39. Re6 h4 40. Rd3 g4 41. Rh6 Kg5 42. Rh7 Rc6 43. a4 Rd5 44. a5 Rcd6 45. Ra7
gxh3 46. Rg7+ Kf4 47. Rh7 Ke4 48. Rxh3 Rxa5 49. Kc2 Rb5 50. Re7+ Kf4 51. Rxh4+
Kf3 52. Rh3+ Kxf2 53. Rd3 Rc6+ 54. Kb1 Rb4 55. b3 f4 56. Re4 Rf6 57. Kb2 f3 58.
Ka3 Rbb6 59. Rdxd4 Rg6 60. Rd2+ Kg3 61. Re3 Rbe6 62. Rc3 Ra6+ 63. Kb2 Rg4 64.
Rd8 Rf6 65. Rd2 Rgf4 66. Ka3 Kg4 67. Rf2 Ra6+ 68. Kb2 Rh6 69. Ka3 Rh1 70. Rd3
Kg3 71. Rc2 Rhh4 72. Re3 Rh2 73. Rc8 Kg2 74. Rg8+ Kf1 75. b4 f2 76. Rb3 Rhh4
77. Rgg3 Rd4 78. Ka4 Rhe4 79. Ka5 Rd2 80. Rh3 Ke2 81. Rh2 Ra2+ 82. Kb6 Re6+ 83.
Kc5 Rc2+ 84. Kb5 Rh6 85. Rg2 Rf6 86. Rh2 Rh6 87. Rg2 Kf1 88. Rg5 Rf6 89. Rc5
Rd2 90. Rc6 Rf4 91. Rc1+ Kg2 92. Rbb1 Rf8 93. Ka5 Ra2+ 94. Kb6 Rf6+ 95. Kc5
Rf5+ 96. Kb6 Re2 97. b5 Re6+ 98. Ka5 Rfe5 99. Ka4 Re4+ 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Dortmund"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dolmatov, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E86"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[Annotator "Konikowski,J"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "1993.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 035"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. Nge2 c6 8. Qd2
Nbd7 9. d5 cxd5 10. Nxd5 $5 (10. cxd5 $142) 10... Nxd5 11. Qxd5 Nb6 12. Qb5 Bh6
13. Bf2 (13. Bxh6 Qh4+ 14. g3 Qxh6 15. Rd1 Qe3 16. Bg2 Be6 17. b3 Rfd8 18. Qa5
Rac8 19. Qd2 (19. Qxa7 $2 Nxc4 20. Qxb7 Nb2 $19) (19. Qc3 Qc5 $1) 19... Qxd2+ (
19... Qc5 20. h4 $5 $13) 20. Rxd2 Kf8 21. Kf2 Ke7 22. f4 Rc7 $13) 13... Bd7 (
13... Be6 14. Nc3 Qc7 15. b3 Rfd8 16. Be2 {/\Rd1+/=}) 14. Qb4 Na4 15. Nc3 (15.
b3 Nc5 16. Bxc5 dxc5 17. Qxc5 b6 18. Qd6 (18. Qxe5 $4 Bg7 $19) 18... Be6 19.
Rd1 Qxd6 20. Rxd6 Rfd8 21. Rxd8+ Rxd8 22. g3 Be3 $44) 15... Nxc3 16. Qxc3 b5 (
16... Qc7 17. Rd1 Be6 (17... Bc6 18. Be2 f5 19. c5 $1 $36) 18. Be2 Rac8 19. O-O
b6 (19... Bxc4 20. Bxc4 Qxc4 21. Qxc4 Rxc4 22. Rxd6 Rc2 23. Rb1 Rfc8 24. Rd7
Rc1+ 25. Rd1 R1c2 26. Rd7 Rc1+ 27. Rd1 R1c2 28. Rd7 $10) 20. b3 Rfd8 $13) 17.
Rd1 (17. cxb5 $5) 17... bxc4 18. Bxc4 Rc8 19. b3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Lautier, Joel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B10"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[Annotator "Konikowski,J"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "1993.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 035"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c6 2. e4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. cxd5 Nf6 (4... Qxd5 5. Nc3 Qd6 (5... Qd8 6.
d4 e6 7. Nf3 Nf6 8. Bf4 Nc6 9. Bc4 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. a3 b6 12. b4 Bb7 13. d5
exd5 14. Nxd5 $16 {Keres-Radovici,Leipzig 1960}) 6. d4 Nf6 7. Nge2 e6 (7... g6
$5) 8. g3 Bd7 9. Bf4 Qb6 10. Bg2 Bc6 11. d5 exd5 12. O-O Bb4 13. Bg5 Nbd7 14.
Nxd5 Nxd5 15. Bxd5 O-O 16. a3 $14 {Sax}) 5. Bb5+ Nbd7 6. Nc3 a6 (6... g6 7. d4
Bg7 8. d6 exd6 9. Qe2+ (9. Bf4 $5) 9... Qe7 10. Bf4 Qxe2+ 11. Ngxe2 Ke7 12. O-O
Nb6 $10 {Nunn-Stean,Hastings 1979/80}) 7. Qa4 Rb8 8. Bxd7+ Bxd7 9. Qb3 (9. Qf4
e6 (9... b5 10. a3 e6 11. Nf3 Nxd5 12. Nxd5 exd5 13. O-O Be7 14. Qe5 O-O 15.
Qxd5 Rb6 16. d4 Rd6 17. Qh5 Bc6 18. Ne5 Ba8 19. Be3 f6 20. Nd3 Rd5 $44 {
Vatter-Lehman,1BL 1988}) 10. Nf3 exd5 11. O-O Be6 (11... Be7 12. Re1 O-O 13. d4
Rc8 14. Qg3 Bf5 15. Bg5 Be6 16. Rad1 Re8 17. Re5 Qd7 18. Rde1 Rxc3 19. bxc3 Ne4
20. R5xe4 dxe4 21. Bh6 Bf8 22. Rxe4 Bxa2 23. Rg4 g6 24. Be3 Bd5 25. h4 a5 $132
{Buecker-Traeger,2BL 1989}) 12. d4 Bd6 13. Qh4 Rc8 14. Ng5 O-O 15. Nxe6 fxe6
16. Qh3 {0,5/Chandler-Speelman,Hastings 1986}) 9... b5 10. d3 Bc8 (10... e6 $5
11. dxe6 Bxe6 12. Qc2 Rc8 13. Qe2 Bb4 14. Bd2 O-O 15. Nf3 Re8 $44) 11. Bf4 Ra8
12. a4 b4 (12... Bb7 13. axb5 Nxd5 14. bxa6 Nxf4 15. Qa4+ Qd7 16. axb7 Nxd3+
17. Kf1 $18) 13. Ne4 (13. Qxb4 $2 e5 $19) 13... Bb7 (13... Nxd5 14. Nd6+ exd6
15. Qxd5 Be6 16. Qc6+ Bd7 17. Qe4+ Qe7 18. Ne2 Qxe4 19. dxe4 Bc6 20. f3 $14)
14. Qxb4 Bxd5 15. a5 Qd7 16. Qb6 Nxe4 17. dxe4 Bxe4 18. Nf3 f6 19. O-O e5 20.
Rac1 (20. Bxe5 $2 Bxf3 $1 21. gxf3 fxe5 22. Rfe1 Be7 23. Rxe5 O-O $19) (20.
Nxe5 $5 fxe5 21. Rfe1 Qc6 (21... Qf5 22. Ra4 $1) 22. Rac1 Qd5 $2 (22... Qxb6
23. axb6 exf4 24. Rxe4+ (24. b7 Kd7 (24... Rb8 25. Rc8+ $18) 25. Rcd1+ Kc7 26.
bxa8=Q Bxa8 27. Re8 Bc6 $19) 24... Kd7 (24... Kf7 25. Rxf4+ Kg6 26. Rc6+ Kg5
27. b7 Rb8 28. Rf7 a5 29. Rc8 Bb4 30. Rxg7+ Kh6 31. Rxh8 Rxh8 32. Rc7 Rb8 33.
f4 Kg6 $13) 25. Rd4+ Ke6 26. b7 Rb8 27. Rc6+ Ke5 28. Rd7 Bb4 29. Rxg7 $13) 23.
Rcd1 Qc6 24. Bxe5 Be7 25. Qe3 Bg6 26. Bxg7 $18) 20... Be7 (20... exf4 21. Rfe1
f5 (21... Qd5 $2 22. Rcd1 $18) 22. Rcd1 Qc8 23. Qd4 (23. Ng5 Be7 24. Nxe4 fxe4
25. Rxe4 Rf8 26. Rd8+ Qxd8 27. Qc6+ Kf7 28. Qe6+ Ke8 29. Qc6+ Qd7 30. Qxa8+ Kf7
31. Rxf4+ Bf6 32. Qxa6 Qc7 33. Rc4 Qe7 $17) 23... Qb7 24. Ng5 Rc8 25. Nxe4 fxe4
26. Rxe4+ Kf7 (26... Be7 27. Qxg7 Qxe4 28. Qxh8+ Bf8 29. Qf6 Qe2 30. Qd4 Be7
31. Qh8+ Bf8 32. Qd4 Be7 33. Qh8+ Bf8 $10) 27. Rxf4+ Kg8 28. Qe3 h6 29. Qe6+
Kh7 30. Rf7 Qc6 31. Qf5+ Kg8 (31... Qg6 32. Qxc8 Qxf7 33. Qxa6 Bc5 34. Qd3+ g6
35. Qc2 Qe7 $13) 32. Rfd7 Rh7 33. Qf7+ Kh8 34. h3 Qf6 $13) 21. Be3 O-O 22. Rfd1
Qg4 23. Ne1 Bf5 (23... Rfb8 $5 24. Qc7 Qe6 (24... Bf8 $2 25. Qc4+ Kh8 26. f3
Bxf3 27. Nxf3 Qxc4 28. Rxc4 Rxb2 29. Rd7 $18) 25. Rd7 Bf8 26. Qc4 (26. Bb6 $2
Rc8 $19) 26... Qxc4 27. Rxc4 Bf5 28. Rdc7 Rxb2 $17) 24. h3 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Dortmund"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Lobron, Eric"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2620"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[Annotator "Konikowski,J"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1993.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 035"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Lobron Ftacnik} d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7.
e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5 (9. exf6 gxh4 10. Ne5 Qxf6 11. a4 h3 12. g3 c5 13. Bxh3
(13. Nxb5 cxd4 $1 14. Nc7+ Kd8 15. Qxd4+ Nd7 (15... Kxc7 16. Qxc4+ Kd8 17. Qd4+
Ke7 18. Rd1 Bg7 19. Qc5+ $18) 16. Nxa8 Bb4+ 17. Ke2 Qxe5+ 18. Qxe5 Nxe5 19.
Rd1+ Ke7 20. Bxh3 Bb7 21. Nc7 Bf3+ 22. Ke3 Bc5+ 23. Kf4 Bxd1 24. Rxd1 Nd3+ $19)
13... cxd4 14. Ng4 Qg7 15. Qf3 dxc3 16. Qxa8 cxb2 17. Rd1 Bb4+ 18. Ke2 c3 19.
Qxb8 O-O 20. Qxb5 c2 21. Qxb4 Ba6+ 22. Ke3 Rc8 23. Rc1 h5 24. Kd2 Qg5+ 25. Ne3
Qd8+ {0-1/Tukmakov-Henkin,Iraklion 1992}) 9... hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. exf6 Bb7
12. g3 c5 (12... Qb6 13. Bg2 O-O-O (13... c5 14. dxc5 Bxc5 15. O-O Bxg2 16.
Kxg2 Qc6+ 17. f3 O-O-O 18. Qe2 Bd4 19. Ne4 $16 {Sokolov,I-Dukic,Yugoslavia 1991
}) 14. O-O Bh6 15. Bxh6 Rxh6 16. Ne4 c5 17. Qd2 Rhh8 18. Qf4 Bxe4 19. Bxe4 cxd4
20. a4 e5 21. Qf3 Qxf6 22. Qa3 $40 {Lechtinsky-Rachman,Dubai 1986}) 13. d5 Nxf6
(13... Nb6 14. dxe6 Bxh1 (14... Qxd1+ 15. Rxd1 Bxh1 16. e7 a6 17. h4 $1 Bh6 18.
f4 b4 19. Rd6 Rb8 20. Nd1 Bxg5 21. fxg5 Nd5 22. Bxc4 Nxe7 23. fxe7 Kxe7 24. Rf6
$44 {Polugaevsky-Torre.Moscow 1981}) 15. e7 Qd7 16. Qxd7+ Nxd7 17. Nxb5 Bxe7
18. fxe7 f6 19. Be3 Kxe7 20. h4 Bf3 21. Bxc4 Rhc8 22. Na3 Rab8 23. b3 a5 24.
Rc1 $16 {Ionov-Oll,Klaipeda 1988}) (13... Ne5 14. Bg2 Nd3+ 15. Kf1 Qd7 16. dxe6
fxe6 17. Qe2 O-O-O 18. Bxb7+ (18. h4 Bh6 19. f4 b4 20. Bxb7+ Kxb7 21. Ne4 Qc6
22. Rh2 e5 $1 $132 {Trassler-Griffits,corr.1982}) 18... Kxb7 19. Qe4+ Qc6 20.
h4 Bd6 21. f4 b4 22. Qxc6+ Kxc6 $13 {Hansen-Bagirov,Moscow 1975}) (13... Bh6
14. Bxh6 Rxh6 15. Bg2 (15. Qd2 {Ribli}) 15... b4 16. Ne4 Nxf6 17. Nxc5 Bxd5 18.
O-O (18. Bxd5 Qxd5 19. Qxd5 Nxd5 20. Rc1 Rc8 21. Rxc4 Nb6 22. Rc1 Na4 23. Nd3
Rxc1+ 24. Nxc1 Nxb2 $10 {Azmaiparashvili-Dolmatov,USSR 1986}) 18... Bxg2 19.
Kxg2 Qb6 20. Qf3 Rc8 21. Ne4 Nxe4 22. Qxe4 Qc6 $10 {ECO}) (13... Qb6 14. Bg2
O-O-O 15. O-O b4 16. Na4 Qb5 17. a3 exd5 18. axb4 cxb4 19. Qd4 (19. h4 Ne5 20.
Re1 Bd6 21. Qd4 Nc6 22. Qxd5 Qxd5 23. Bxd5 Nd4 24. Rad1 {Yusupov-Dokhoian,BRD
1992;24...Nf3!?}) 19... Nc5 20. b3 Nxb3 21. Qxa7 Nxa1 22. Bf4 Kd7 23. Nb6+ (23.
Bxd5 $1 Qxd5 24. Nb6+ Kc6 25. Nxd5 Rxd5 26. Rxa1 Bh6 27. Qe3 Bxf4 28. Qxf4 $16)
23... Kc6 24. Nxd5 Rxd5 25. Rd1 Rhh5 26. Qb8 $6 (26. g4 $5 {Dokhoian}) 26...
Qa5 $17 {Nikolac-Kishnev,Muenchen 1992/93}) (13... Qb6 {Lobron}) 14. dxe6 $146
(14. Bxc4 $5 bxc4 15. Qa4+ (15. Bxf6 {Ftacnik} Qxf6 16. Qa4+ Kd8 17. O-O-O e5
$8 18. f4 $6 (18. Rhe1 $5) (18. Qxc4 $13) 18... exf4 $8 19. d6 Bxh1 $1 20. Qa5+
Kd7 21. Qc7+ Ke6 22. d7 Kf5 $6 23. Rxh1 Qd6 24. Qb7 $2 {Shabalov,A-Mueller,Ka/
Pula/1989/} (24. d8=Q Rxd8 25. Qxf7+ Kg4 26. h3+ Rxh3 27. Rd1 $13)) 15... Qd7
16. Bxf6 Qxa4 17. Nxa4 Rh6 (17... Bxd5 18. Bxh8 Bxh1 19. Bf6 $14) 18. Bg5 Rg6
19. h4 exd5 20. O-O $13) (14. Bg2 {Ftacnik} Be7 15. O-O Nxd5 16. Bxe7 Kxe7 17.
Nxb5 Qb6 18. Nc3 (18. Na3 c3 $1 $8 19. Nc4 Qc7 20. Qc1 $6 Rag8 {/\ Nf4-+} 21.
f4 $8 cxb2 $6 22. Qxb2 $14 {Vladimirov,E-Dzhandzhava,L/Pavlodar/1987/}) 18...
Nxc3 19. bxc3 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Qc6+ 21. f3 Rad8 22. Qe1 Rd3 23. Rf2 Qd5 24. Rb1
$13 {Quist,J-Karolyi jr,T/Dieren op (5)/1988/}) 14... Bg7 (14... Be7 15. exf7+
Kxf7 16. Qxd8 Raxd8 17. Rg1 b4 18. Bxc4+ Kg6 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. Na4 $16) (14...
Bxh1 15. Qxd8+ Rxd8 16. Bxf6 Rh7 17. exf7+ Rxf7 18. Bxd8 Kxd8 19. Nxb5 $18 (19.
Rd1+ {Ftacnik} Kc8 20. Nxb5 $16)) (14... Qxd1+ 15. Rxd1 Bxh1 16. Bxf6 Rh6 (
16... Rxh2 17. Nxb5 fxe6 18. Nc7+ Kf7 19. Be5 Rh5 20. f4 Rc8 21. Rd7+ Kg6 22.
Nxe6 $36) 17. Nxb5 Rxf6 (17... fxe6 {Ftacnik} 18. Nc7+ Kf7 19. Bg5 Rxh2 20.
Nxa8 Bxa8 21. Bxc4 $16) (17... Rc8 {Lobron} 18. Nc7+ Rxc7 19. Rd8#) 18. Nc7+
Ke7 19. Rd7#) 15. Rg1 (15. Qxd8+ $1 {Lobron} Rxd8 16. Rg1 b4 (16... a6 17.
exf7+ Kxf7 18. Bg2 $16) (16... Rxh2 17. Nxb5 fxe6 {-16...fe6}) (16... fxe6 17.
Nxb5 Rxh2 (17... Ne4 18. Bxd8 Bxb2 (18... Kxd8 19. O-O-O+ $18) 19. Rd1 $18) 18.
Bxc4 $16) 17. Na4 $16) 15... Qb6 (15... Qe7 {Lobron} 16. Nxb5 $16) (15... fxe6
{Lobron} 16. Nxb5 $16) 16. Qe2 (16. exf7+ {Ftacnik} Kxf7 17. h4 Rad8 $36 {xKe1}
(17... Rad8 {Lobron} 18. Qc2 Rhe8+ 19. Be2 Bf3 20. Be3 Qc6 $1 $13)) (16. Bxf6 {
Lobron} Qxe6+ 17. Qe2 Qxe2+ 18. Bxe2 Bxf6 19. Nxb5 Bxb2 20. Rb1 c3 $17) 16...
Qxe6 (16... fxe6 {Lobron} 17. h4 $16) (16... O-O-O {Lobron} 17. e7 Rde8 18.
O-O-O $16) 17. Nxb5 Qxe2+ 18. Bxe2 Ne4 (18... Kf8 {Ftacnik} 19. h4 Ne4 $13) 19.
O-O-O (19. Nc7+ Kd7 (19... Kf8 {Lobron} 20. Nxa8 Nxg5 $1 21. Nc7 Bxb2 22. Rd1 (
22. Rb1 c3 $17) 22... Rxh2 23. Rd8+ (23. Nb5 c3 $17) (23. Bxc4 Nf3+ 24. Ke2
Nxg1+ 25. Rxg1 Bd4 26. Rf1 Bc8 $17) 23... Ke7 24. Rb8 Bd4 $17) 20. Nxa8 Nxg5
21. O-O-O+ (21. Rd1+ {Ftacnik} Kc8 $17) 21... Kc8 22. Bg4+ Ne6 23. Rge1 Bxa8
24. h4 Re8 (24... Bd4 $5) 25. Bh5 Re7 26. Bxf7 Rxf7 27. Rxe6 Bf3 28. Rde1 Bd4
29. Re7 Rxe7 30. Rxe7 Bxf2 31. Rf7 Be3+ 32. Kc2 Be4+ 33. Kc3 Bd3 34. b3 Bd4+
35. Kd2 Bb1 36. bxc4 Bxa2 37. Rxa7 Bxc4 $13) (19. Bf4 $5 $13 {Lobron}) 19...
Nxg5 20. Nd6+ Kf8 (20... Ke7 {Lobron} 21. Nxb7 Rab8 22. Na5 $1 $14) 21. Nxb7
Rxh2 22. Rgf1 (22. Nxc5 {Ftacnik} Rxf2 $17) (22. Bxc4 $10 {Lobron} Rxf2 (22...
Rb8 23. Rd7 Rxf2 24. Rf1 Bxb2+ 25. Kd1 Rxf1+ 26. Bxf1 {/\ Bc4=}) (22... Bd4 $2
23. Rh1 $14) 23. Rgf1 Bxb2+ 24. Kb1 Rxf1 25. Rxf1 $10) 22... Bd4 (22... Ne4 {
Ftacnik} 23. Bxc4 Nxf2 24. Rd7 $40) 23. Bxc4 Rb8 24. Bd5 (24. Nd6 {Ftacnik}
Bxb2+ 25. Kc2 Bd4 $36) 24... Bxf2 25. Rd3 Bd4 (25... c4 {Ftacnik} 26. Rc3 Bd4
27. Rc2 $10) 26. Rb3 Kg7 27. Kb1 Rd2 (27... Kg6 {Ftacnik} 28. a4 f5) 28. Kc1
Rh2 29. Kb1 Kg6 30. a4 (30. Nxc5 $2 Rxb3 31. Nxb3 Rxb2+ 32. Kc1 Rxa2 $17) 30...
f5 31. Re1 Kh5 (31... Rbh8 {Ftacnik} 32. Ka2 Rc2 33. Na5 Rhh2 34. Nc4 $13) 32.
Rf1 Re8 (32... Kg4 {Ftacnik} 33. Rf4+) 33. Na5 (33. Rxf5 {Ftacnik} Kg6 34. g4 (
34. Rf1 $1 {Lobron} Re5 35. Bc6 Ree2 36. Nd6 Bxb2 (36... Rxb2+ 37. Rxb2 $10)
37. Be8+ $10) 34... Ree2 $36) 33... Re5 34. Bf3+ (34. Bc6 $15 {Lobron}) 34...
Nxf3 35. Rfxf3 Re1+ (35... Kg5 {Lobron} 36. Nc4 Ree2 {/\ Rc2} 37. Ka2 Rc2 38.
Ne3 (38. Nd6 Bxb2 39. Rxf5+ Kg6 $19) 38... Bxe3 39. Rfxe3 c4 $17) 36. Ka2 Ree2
37. Nc4 Rc2 38. Ne3 Rxb2+ (38... Bxe3 {Lobron} 39. Rfxe3 c4 40. Rb5 $10) (38...
Rce2 $15 {Lobron}) 39. Rxb2 Rxb2+ 40. Ka3 Re2 41. Nxf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Lutz, Christopher"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2550"]
[Annotator "Hansen,Cu"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1993.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 035"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Konikowski Dautov} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Ba6 5. Qc2 Bb7 6. Nc3 c5
7. e4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Nc6 9. Nxc6 Bxc6 10. Bf4 (10. Be2 Qb8 (10... d6 11. Bf4 Be7
12. Rd1 Qb8 13. O-O O-O 14. Rd2 $14 {deFirmian,N-Schussler,H/Thessaloniki OL/
1984/}) (10... Bc5 11. O-O Qc7 12. Kh1 h5 13. f3 h4 14. b4 Bd4 15. Bd2 Nh5 $17
{Farago,S-Grooten/Sas van Gent/1988/}) 11. Be3 (11. O-O $6 Bc5 $15 {Fedorowicz,
J-Miles,A/USA ch/1986/+/Grooten-Miles/Biel/1985/} (11... Qe5 12. Bf3 g5 13. g3
$13 {Farago,I-Greenfeld,A/Beer-Sheva/1987/})) 11... Bc5 12. Bxc5 bxc5 13. O-O
Qe5 14. f3 $10 {Christiansen,L-Miles,A/Linares/1985/}) (10. Bd3 Qb8 11. Qe2 Bd6
12. Nd5 $13 {Solozhenkin-Lau,R/Dusseldorf/1990/}) (10. Bg5 Qb8 11. g3 Nxe4 12.
Nxe4 f5 13. Bg2 Bxe4 14. Bxe4 Qe5 15. f3 fxe4 16. Bf4 $14 {Lputian,S-Psakhis,L/
Sochi/1987/}) 10... Nh5 (10... Bc5 11. Be2 O-O 12. Rd1 a5 13. O-O (13. Bg3 Qc8
$13 {Gelfand,B-Adams,M/Tilburg/1992/} (13... Qe7 {Dautov} 14. e5 Ne8 15. O-O f5
16. exf6 Nxf6 $13 {Adams})) 13... Qe7 (13... Rc8 14. Qd3 Ne8 15. Rd2 f6 16. Nb5
$16 {Gurevich,M-Yudasin,L/Tbilisi/1985/}) 14. Bf3 e5 15. Bc1 a4 {0,5/
Marjanovic-Popovic/Clichy/1986/}) 11. Be3 (11. Bd2 Qb8 12. g3 f5 13. Bd3 Bd6
14. O-O-O f4 $13 {Polugajevsky,L-Arnason,J/Reykjavik/1987/}) 11... Qb8 (11...
Bc5 12. Bxc5 (12. Qd2 Qc7 13. Be2 Bxe3 14. Qxe3 Nf4 15. Bf3 O-O 16. O-O $10 {
Savchenko,S-Pliester,L/Groningen op/1992/}) 12... bxc5 13. g3 O-O 14. Bd3 (14.
Be2 Nf6 15. O-O Qb8 16. Rad1 Rd8 17. f4 $14 {Miles,A-Ribli,Z/BRD/1988/} (17. f4
{Dautov} d6 18. Bf3 Qb7 19. Qe2 $14 {Ribli-Miles/BRD/1988})) 14... Nf6 15.
O-O-O $13 {Bareev,E-Eingorn,V/USSR/1985/}) (11... Bd6 $4 12. Qd1 {1-0/
Christiansen,L-Karpov,A/Wijk/1993/}) 12. O-O-O (12. g3 f5 (12... Be7 13. Bd3
Nf6 14. h3 (14. f3 O-O 15. O-O-O {/\g4}) 14... d6 15. O-O a6 16. Rae1 $14 {
Cramling,P-Csom,I/Ter Apel/1991/}) 13. O-O-O Nf6 14. Bd3 Qb7 15. f3 fxe4 16.
Nxe4 Nxe4 17. fxe4 Bd6 $15 {Lutz,C-Karpov,A/Dortmund/1993/CBM35/} (17... Bd6 {
Dautov} 18. Rhf1 Be5 19. Bf4 Qb8 20. Qe2 O-O 21. Qh5 Rxf4 $1 22. gxf4 Bxf4+ 23.
Kb1 Qe5 24. Qxe5 Bxe5 25. h3 a5 $10 {->Lutz-Karpov/Dortmund/1993})) 12... Bd6
13. g3 {/\f2-f4,Bf1-g2,e4-e5} Be5 (13... f5 {Dautov} 14. Be2 Nf6 15. exf5 $1
Bxh1 16. Rxh1 Qb7 (16... Qd8 17. Rd1 Qe7 18. Nb5 $16) (16... Qc8 17. Bf3 Rb8
18. Nb5 $36) 17. Rd1 Be7 18. g4 O-O 19. g5 Ne8 20. Bd3 $16) 14. Bd3 {/\f2-f4} (
14. f4 $2 Bxc3 15. Qxc3 Bxe4) (14. Bd4 $5 {Dautov} Nf6 (14... Bxd4 15. Rxd4 Qe5
16. Qd2 Nf6 17. f4 Qc5 18. Bg2 e5 19. fxe5 Qxe5 20. Rf1 O-O 21. Rf5 Qe6 22. Nd5
$16) 15. Bxe5 Qxe5 16. f4 Qc7 (16... Qc5 17. Bd3 d6 18. Rhe1 $16) 17. Bg2 $14)
14... Qb7 15. Rhe1 Nf6 (15... O-O 16. f4 Bxc3 17. Qxc3 Bxe4 18. Bxe4 Qxe4 19.
Bc5 $16) 16. f4 (16. Bf4 $1 {Dautov} d6 (16... Bxc3 17. Qxc3 Rc8 18. Bd6 $16) (
16... Bxf4+ 17. gxf4 d6 18. e5 dxe5 19. fxe5 Nd7 20. Ne4 $16) 17. Bxe5 dxe5 18.
Bf1 O-O 19. f3 Rfd8 20. Qf2 $16) 16... Bxc3 17. Qxc3 Rc8 (17... Bxe4 18. Bxe4
Qxe4 (18... Nxe4 19. Qxg7 $16 (19. Qxg7 {Konikowski} Rf8 20. Kb1 Rc8 21. Rd4 h5
22. f5 $1 $36)) 19. Bxb6 $16 {/\Bd4}) (17... Nxe4 {Konikowski} 18. Bxe4 Bxe4
19. Qxg7 Rf8 20. f5 (20. Bd2 a5 21. Bc3 Rc8 22. Rd4 Bg6 23. Qf6 Qf3 $13) 20...
Bxf5 21. Bg5 (21. Bh6 O-O-O 22. Qf6 Rg8 23. Qxf7 Qc6 $132) 21... Rc8 (21... Qc6
22. Rd4 Qa4 23. Re2 Rc8 24. Qf6 Rxc4+ 25. Rxc4 Qxc4+ 26. Kd2 Qd5+ 27. Ke3 Qc5+
28. Kf3 Qc6+ 29. Kf2 Qc5+ 30. Ke1 Qg1+ 31. Kd2 $18) 22. b3 d5 23. Bh6 Kd7 24.
Qf6 Rfe8 25. Qxf7+ (25. Kb2 $5) 25... Re7 26. Qf6 $16) 18. e5 (18. Bd4 Nxe4 (
18... Bxe4 19. Bxf6 Bxd3 20. Rxd3 gxf6 21. Qxf6 Rxc4+ 22. Kb1 Rf8 (22... O-O
23. Qg5+ Kh8 24. Qe7 $16) 23. f5 Qg2 24. fxe6 $1 fxe6 (24... Qc2+ 25. Ka1 Qxd3
26. exf7#) 25. Rxe6+ dxe6 26. Qxe6#) 19. Bxe4 Bxe4 20. Bxg7 Rg8 $132 {/\d7-d5}
(20... Rg8 {Konikowski} 21. Bf6 d5 (21... Rg6 22. Bh4 Rg8 (22... d5 23. Rxe4
$18) 23. b3 d5 24. Qf6 Qc7 25. Kb2 $16) 22. Rxe4 $1 dxe4 23. Qb4 Rg6 24. Bh4 (
24. Qb5+ Kf8 25. Rd7 Qa8 26. Qb4+ Kg8 27. Qe7 Rf8 28. Rxa7 Qe8 $13) 24... f6
25. Rd6 Kf7 (25... f5 26. Qc3 Kf7 27. Qd4 Kg8 28. b3 $44) 26. Qb5 Rc7 27. b3 {
/\Qh5})) (18. b3 {Dautov} b5 $1 (18... O-O $2 19. Bd4 Nxe4 20. Bxe4 Bxe4 21.
Bxg7 $16) 19. c5 Bxe4 20. Bxe4 Qxe4 21. Bd4 Qg6 22. Qa5 O-O 23. Qxb5 Rb8 24.
Qc4 Nd5 $132) 18... Nd5 19. Qd4 Ba4 20. Rd2 b5 $10 21. Kb1 (21. c5 {Dautov}
Nxe3 $1 22. Qxe3 (22. Rxe3 $4 Qh1+ $19) 22... b4 $36) (21. Qxa7 {Dautov} Qxa7
22. Bxa7 bxc4 23. Bc2 (23. Be4 $6 c3 24. bxc3 Rxc3+) 23... Bxc2 24. Rxc2 Ke7
25. Re4 Rc7 26. Bf2 Rhc8 $10) 21... bxc4 22. Bxc4 Bb3 23. Bxd5 (23. Bxb3 $2
Qxb3 $17) 23... Bxd5 24. Qb4 (24. Qxa7 $2 Qb3 25. Rxd5 $8 Qxd5 $17) 24... Qxb4
25. axb4 a6 26. Bc5 Kd8 {/\Kc7-b7} 27. Bb6+ Ke7 {/\d7-d6} 28. Bc5+ Kd8 29. f5
Kc7 30. fxe6 fxe6 31. Rf2 Kc6 32. Rf7 {Hansen,Cu} (32. Rf7 {Dautov} Rhg8 $10)
1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[PlyCount "27"]
[EventDate "1993.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 035"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bb5+ c6 8.
Ba4 O-O 9. Ne2 Be6 10. h4 Bc4 11. Bb3 Bxb3 12. Qxb3 Qb6 13. h5 e5 14. hxg6
1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[PlyCount "21"]
[EventDate "1993.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 035"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Bd3 Bxd3 6. Qxd3 e6 7. O-O Nbd7 8.
Nc3 Bb4 9. Bd2 Bxc3 10. Bxc3 O-O 11. Nd2 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Amsterdam VSB"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1993.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 035"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. e4 b4 10. Na4 c5 11. e5 Nd5 12. O-O cxd4 13. Re1 g6 14. Bg5 Qa5 15. Nxd4
a6 (15... Rc8 16. a3 Be7 17. Bh6 a6 18. Qb3 Qd8 19. Nf3 g5 20. Be4 g4 21. Nd2
Rg8 22. Nc4 Rxc4 23. Qxc4 Nxe5 24. Qe2 $17 {Belov,I-Kaidanov,G/Moscow-B/1987/})
(15... Bg7 16. Bb5 a6 17. Bxd7+ Kxd7 18. Nb3 Qb5 19. Nd4 Qa5 20. Nb3 Qb5 21.
Nac5+ Ke8 22. Rc1 Bc8 23. Ne4 Bxe5 24. Rc5 $40 {Marjanovic,S-Karaklajic,N/
Jugoslavija (ch)/1977/}) 16. Rc1 (16. a3 bxa3 17. bxa3 Bg7 18. Rb1 (18. Bd2 Qd8
19. Nf3 O-O 20. Rc1 Rc8 21. Qe2 Rxc1 22. Rxc1 {0,5/Vaganian,R-Kramnik,V/
Moscow4/1991/}) 18... Rb8 19. Bd2 Qd8 20. Rxb7 Rxb7 21. Bxa6 Qa8 22. Bxb7 Qxb7
23. Nc3 (23. Bb4 Nxb4 24. axb4 $36 {Pinter,J-Kaidanov,G/Budapest Perenyi/1989/}
) 23... O-O 24. Nf3 $10 {Dorfman,I-Novikov,I/Lvov/1988/}) 16... Bg7 17. Nc6
Bxc6 18. Rxc6 O-O 19. Bc4 h6 (19... N5b6 20. Nxb6 Nxb6 21. Bb3 Rfc8 22. Rxc8+
Rxc8 23. Qd4 Qb5 24. h4 $10 {Piket,J-Anand,V/Dortmund (9)/1992/}) 20. Bxd5 Qxd5
(20... hxg5 21. Rd6 (21. Rxe6 fxe6 22. Bxe6+ Kh7 23. Bxd7 Bxe5 $13) 21... Rad8
22. Bxe6 Nxe5 23. Bb3 $10) 21. Qxd5 exd5 22. Bf6 Nxe5 $3 (22... Bxf6 23. exf6
Rfe8 24. Rxe8+ Rxe8 25. Kf1 Re6 26. Rc8+ Kh7 27. Rc7 Rd6 28. Rb7 $36) 23. Bxe5
(23. Rxe5 Rfc8 24. Bxg7 Rxc6 25. Bxh6 g5 26. Bxg5 f6 27. Rxd5 Re8 28. h4 fxg5
$13) 23... Rae8 24. f4 f6 25. Nb6 fxe5 26. Nxd5 exf4 27. Rxe8 Rxe8 28. Rxg6 Kh7
29. Rxa6 Re2 $1 30. Kf1 $1 (30. Nxf4 Bd4+ 31. Kf1 Rf2+) 30... Rxb2 31. Nxf4
1/2-1/2

[Event "Amsterdam VSB"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1993.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 035"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 b6 6. Qb3 a5 7. Ne5 c6 8. a3
Bxc3 9. Qxc3 Bb7 10. d4 d6 11. Nd3 Qc8 12. c5 bxc5 13. dxc5 d5 14. Bf4 Nbd7 15.
Bd6 Re8 16. O-O Ba6 17. Rfe1 Qb7 18. Ne5 a4 19. Rad1 Nxe5 20. Bxe5 Ng4 (20...
Qe7 $14) 21. Bxg7 e5 22. Bf3 f5 23. Bxg4 d4 24. Qc1 fxg4 25. Bf6 Qf7 26. Qg5+
Qg6 27. Qxg6+ hxg6 28. f4 exf4 29. gxf4 Kf7 30. Be5 (30. Bxd4 Bxe2 31. Rd2 Bf3
$13) 30... Rad8 31. Kf2 g5 $1 32. Kg3 (32. Bxd4 Re4 $1 33. Be5 (33. e3 gxf4)
33... Rxd1 34. Rxd1 Rxe2+ 35. Kg3 Re3+ 36. Kf2 (36. Kxg4 $4 Be2+) 36... Re2+
37. Kg1 gxf4 38. Bxf4 Rxb2 $10) 32... gxf4+ 33. Kxf4 Kg6 34. Bd6 (34. Bxd4 Bxe2
35. Rd2 Bf3 36. Rxe8 Rxe8 37. h3 Re4+ 38. Kg3 Re2 $1 39. Rxe2 Bxe2 40. hxg4 Bc4
$10) 34... Re3 35. Rxd4 (35. Kxg4 Bxe2+) 35... Rde8 36. Rc1 (36. Kxg4 Bxe2+ 37.
Rxe2 (37. Kf4 $2 Rf3+ 38. Kg4 Rd3+ 39. Rxe2 Rxd4+ 40. Kf3 Rd3+ 41. Kf2 Rxe2+
42. Kxe2 Rb3 43. Be5 Kf5 44. Bc3 Ke4 45. h4 Kf4 $17) 37... Rxe2 38. Rxa4 Rxb2
$10) 36... Kh5 37. Rc3 (37. Rxa4 Bxe2 38. Kf5 Rf3+ (38... Bd3+ 39. Kf6 R3e6+
40. Kg7 $13) 39. Rf4 Bd3+ 40. Kf6 Re4 $1 41. Rxf3 gxf3 42. Bg3 f2 43. Bxf2 Rf4+
44. Ke5 Rxf2 45. b4 Rxh2) 37... Rxe2 38. h3 Bc8 39. hxg4+ Bxg4 40. Kg3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amsterdam VSB"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2655"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1993.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 035"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Stohl} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2
a6 8. O-O-O h6 9. Be3 Bd7 10. f4 (10. f3 {Stohl} b5 11. Kb1 Ne5 12. Bd3 Qc7 13.
g4 b4 14. Nce2 d5 15. Bf4 dxe4 16. Bxe4 Nxe4 17. fxe4 Rc8 $13 {Anand,V-Kramnik,
V/Amsterdam VSB/1993/}) 10... b5 11. Bd3 Be7 12. Kb1 O-O (12... Rc8 13. h3 Nxd4
14. Bxd4 Bc6 15. Qe3 b4 16. Ne2 O-O 17. g4 Nd7 18. Qg3 Bh4 19. Qg2 Qa5 20. Ng3
Nc5 21. Nh5 e5 22. Be3 Na4 23. g5 exf4 24. gxh6 $40 {Shmuter,L-Grabics,M/
Budapest Spring op/1992/}) (12... Qc7 13. Rhe1 (13. h3 Nxd4 (13... Na5 14. g4
b4 15. Nce2 Nc4 16. Bxc4 Qxc4 17. Ng3 a5 18. Rhf1 Qa6 19. g5 hxg5 20. fxg5 Nh5
21. Nxh5 Rxh5 22. e5 g6 23. exd6 Bxd6 24. Bf4 $16 {Hodgson,Ju-Csom,I/Tel-Aviv/
1988/}) (13... O-O 14. g4 Rfc8 15. Rhg1 Nxd4 16. Bxd4 b4 17. Ne2 e5 18. g5 hxg5
19. fxe5 Nh7 20. exd6 Qxd6 21. h4 g4 22. e5 Qc6 23. Nf4 Nf8 24. Qe2 $40 {
Kavalek,L-Commons,K/USA-ch/1978/}) 14. Bxd4 b4 15. Ne2 e5 16. Be3 Qb7 17. Ng3
O-O 18. Rhf1 Rfc8 19. Qf2 Rc6 20. fxe5 dxe5 21. Nf5 Bxf5 22. Qxf5 Bc5 23. Bxc5
Rxc5 24. g4 $14 {Balashov,Y-Dorfman,I/URS-43ch Erevan/1975/}) 13... Nxd4 14.
Bxd4 e5 (14... b4 15. Ne2 e5 16. Bf2 O-O 17. Bh4 a5 18. Ng3 a4 19. fxe5 dxe5
20. Rf1 Nd5 21. Bxe7 Nxe7 22. Qxb4 Be6 23. Qa3 Rab8 24. Ka1 $13 {Hazai,L-Fries
Nielsen,JO/Copenhagen op/1987/}) 15. Be3 Be6 16. h3 Qa5 17. f5 Bd7 18. Nd5 Qxd2
19. Nxf6+ Bxf6 20. Bxd2 Bc6 21. Bb4 O-O-O 22. c4 Rd7 23. b3 Kb7 24. Kb2 $14 {
Joecks,C-Kas Fromm,R/Hamburg op (5)/1992/}) (12... Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Bc6 (13... b4
14. Ne2 Qb8 15. Ng3 O-O 16. e5 Nd5 17. Ne4 Rd8 18. Qf2 dxe5 19. fxe5 Be8 20.
Rhf1 a5 21. g4 a4 22. h4 Rc8 23. Ka1 b3 24. a3 $13 {Hazai,L-Lobron,E/Rotterdam
EU-Cup f/1988/}) 14. g4 (14. Qe3 b4 15. Bxf6 gxf6 16. Ne2 Qa5 17. Rhf1 Qc5 18.
Qg3 Kf8 19. f5 e5 20. Qh4 a5 21. b3 a4 22. Bc4 Qe3 23. Qh5 Rh7 24. Bd5 $14 {
Kruppa,Y-Shmuter,L/Ukraina-ch Kherson/1990/}) (14. Rhe1 O-O 15. e5 dxe5 16.
fxe5 (16. Bxe5 b4 17. Ne4 Nxe4 18. Bxe4 Bxe4 19. Rxe4 Qxd2 20. Rxd2 Rfd8 21.
Kc1 g5 22. fxg5 Bxg5 23. Bf4 Bxf4 24. Rxf4 $10 {Vooremaa,A-Veingold,A/Tallinn 
(04)/1981/}) 16... Nd5 17. Ne4 Nb4 18. Nf6+ Kh8 19. Be4 Rc8 20. a3 Bxe4 21.
Rxe4 Rxc2 22. Qe3 Nd5 23. Nxd5 exd5 24. Rg4 $40 {Timman,J-Gheorghiu,F/
Amsterdam (6)/1975/}) 14... b4 15. g5 hxg5 16. fxg5 Nd7 17. Ne2 Bxg5 18. Qxb4
Ne5 19. Bxe5 dxe5 20. Bxa6 Qb8 21. Qxb8+ $13 {Hassenrueck-Pytel,K/Dortmund 21/
(365)/1976/}) (12... b4 13. Nce2 O-O 14. h3 Qc7 15. g4 Qb7 16. Ng3 Nxd4 17.
Bxd4 Bc6 18. Rhe1 Rfe8 19. g5 hxg5 20. fxg5 Nd7 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22. Nh5+ Kg6 23.
e5+ Kxh5 24. Qf4 $40 {Short,N-Ljubojevic,L/Amsterdam Euwe-Mem/1988/}) 13. Rhf1
(13. h3 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 Bc6 (14... b4 15. Ne2 d5 16. e5 $16 {Timman,J-Byrne,R/
Haifa ol/1976/}) 15. Qe3 Qc7 16. Rhf1 Rac8 (16... b4 17. Ne2 e5 18. fxe5 dxe5
19. Qg3 Nxe4 20. Qxe5 Qxe5 21. Bxe5 Nc5 22. Bc4 Nd7 23. Bd4 Bf6 24. Bxf6 $10 {
Aseev,K-Shirov,A/URS-sf Daugavpils/1989/}) 17. e5 dxe5 18. Bxe5 Qb7 19. f5 exf5
20. Rxf5 b4 21. Ne2 Bb5 $13 {Aseev,K-Lerner,K/URS-56ch/1989/0.5 (40)}) (13. e5
dxe5 14. Nxc6 Bxc6 15. fxe5 Ng4 16. Qe2 Nxe3 17. Bh7+ Kxh7 18. Rxd8 Rfxd8 19.
Qxe3 Bg5 20. Qe1 Rd4 21. h4 Bd2 22. Qf2 Rd7 23. Qe2 Rad8 24. Ne4 $13 {Zezulkin,
J-Lanka,Z/URS-chT Podolsk/1990/}) 13... Ng4 $5 (13... Nxd4 14. Bxd4 Bc6 15. e5
dxe5 16. fxe5 $1 Nd5 17. Ne4 $40) (13... Qc7 14. Qe1 b4 15. Nce2 Nxd4 16. Nxd4
d5 17. e5 Ne4 18. Bxe4 dxe4 19. Bc1 Qb7 20. f5 exf5 21. Qg3 Kh7 22. Nxf5 Bxf5
23. Rxf5 Rac8 24. Qg4 $13 {Dvoirys,S-Khalifman,A/Moscow Tal/1992/}) 14. Nxc6 (
14. Bg1 Nxd4 15. Bxd4 Nxh2 16. Rh1 Ng4 $13) 14... Bxc6 15. Bg1 Nf6 16. e5 (16.
Qe3 $5 b4 $13 (16... Qc7 $5 $13 {Stohl})) 16... dxe5 17. fxe5 Nd7 18. Bd4 Bc5
19. Be4 (19. Bxc5 Nxc5 20. Qf2 Qe7 $10 (20... Nxd3 $5 {Stohl})) 19... Qc7 20.
Bxc6 Qxc6 21. Rf4 Qc7 $6 (21... Rfd8 22. Qf2 $1 (22. Rg4 Kh8 $1 (22... Nxe5 $2
23. Qxh6 $1 $18)) (22. Bxc5 Nxc5 23. Qxd8+ Rxd8 24. Rxd8+ Kh7 25. Rxf7 b4 $13)
22... b4 $2 23. Bxc5 $16) (21... b4 22. Ne4 (22. Bxc5 bxc3 23. Qxd7 Qxc5 $10)
22... Bxd4 23. Qxd4 Rfd8 (23... Rad8 {Stohl <=>Pe5} 24. Nd6 (24. Re1 a5 $13)
24... f6 $5 $13) 24. Re1 (24. Nd6 f6 $5) 24... a5) (21... Rad8 {Stohl} 22. Qf2
$1 {/\Qg3,Rg4->} (22. Rg4 Kh8 $13 (22... Nxe5 $2 23. Qxh6 $18)) 22... b4 $6 23.
Bxc5 Nxc5 24. Rxb4 $16) 22. Bxc5 Nxc5 23. Qd6 Rac8 (23... Qxd6 24. Rxd6 Rfd8
25. Rfd4 Rxd6 26. Rxd6 Ra7 $1 {/\ Rd7}) (23... Rfc8 {Stohl} 24. Qxc7 Rxc7 25.
Rfd4 Raa7 $5 $132) 24. Qxc7 Rxc7 25. Rfd4 Rb8 $2 (25... Ra7 $5) (25... Rfc8 {
Stohl} 26. a3 $36) 26. b4 $1 Nb7 (26... Nd7 27. Rxd7 Rxc3 28. Rd8+ Rxd8 29.
Rxd8+ Kh7 30. Rd6 $16) 27. Ne4 Kf8 28. Kb2 Ke7 29. a3 Rd8 30. Rxd8 Nxd8 31. Nc5
a5 (31... Nc6 32. Rd6 $1 Nxe5 33. Rxa6 $16) (31... Rc6 32. Rd7+ Ke8 33. Ra7 $18
) (31... Ra7 32. Rd6) 32. c4 $1 axb4 33. axb4 bxc4 34. Kc3 Nc6 (34... Nb7 35.
Kxc4 Nxc5 36. bxc5 f6 37. exf6+ gxf6 38. Rd3 $16) 35. Re1 Na7 36. Kxc4 Kd8 37.
Rd1+ $1 Ke7 (37... Kc8 38. b5 Re7 39. Rd6 Kb8 40. b6 Nc8 41. Rd8 $18) 38. b5
Nc8 39. Kb4 Nb6 $6 (39... Ra7 40. Na4 Rb7 41. Rc1 $18) 40. Rd6 Nd5+ 41. Rxd5 (
41. Rxd5 exd5 42. b6 Rc8 43. b7 (43. Kb5 d4 (43... f6 44. e6 (44. exf6+ gxf6
45. Na6 d4 46. b7 Rd8) 44... Kd6 $1 45. Na6 Rc1 46. e7 Rb1+ 47. Nb4 Re1 48. b7
Kc7 49. Nxd5+ Kxb7 50. Kc5 Re6) (43... f5 $1 44. exf6+ Kxf6) 44. b7 Rb8 45. Kc6
Kd8 46. e6 $1 $18) (43. Na6 Rc1 44. Kb5 Kd7) 43... Rb8 44. Kb5 (44. Kc3 Kd8 45.
Kd4 Kc7 $1 46. Na6+ Kxb7 47. Nxb8 Kxb8 48. Kxd5 Kc7 49. e6 Kd8 $1 50. exf7 Ke7
$10) 44... f6 (44... Rxb7+ 45. Nxb7 Ke6 46. Kb4 (46. Nd8+ Kxe5 47. Nxf7+ Ke4
$13) 46... Kxe5 47. Kc3 $16) 45. e6 (45. exf6+ gxf6 46. Kc6 d4 47. Nd3 (47. Kc7
Rg8 48. b8=Q Rxb8 49. Kxb8 Kd6 50. Nd3 h5) 47... Ke6 48. Kc7 Rg8 49. b8=Q Rxb8
50. Kxb8 h5 51. Kc8 f5 52. g3 (52. Kd8 h4 53. Ke8 Kd5 54. Nf2 Ke5 55. Kf7 (55.
g3 hxg3 56. hxg3 Kf6 57. Kd7 Kg5 58. Ke6 d3 59. Ke5 d2 $10) 55... Kf4 56. Nd1
h3 57. gxh3 Kg5 58. Ke6 Kh4 59. Nf2 d3 60. Kxf5 d2 61. Kf4 d1=Q 62. Nxd1 Kxh3
$10) 52... Kd5 53. Nf2 Ke6 54. Kc7 f4 $1 55. gxf4 Kf5 56. Nd3 Ke4 $10) 45...
Kd6 46. Kb6 d4 47. Ka7 Re8 48. b8=Q+ Rxb8 49. Kxb8 d3 50. Nxd3 Kxe6 51. Kc7 Kf5
$16) 1-0

[Event "Amsterdam VSB"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "1993.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 035"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O h6 9. Be3 Bd7 10. f3 b5 11. Kb1 Ne5 12. Bd3 Qc7 13. g4 b4 14. Nce2 d5 15.
Bf4 dxe4 16. Bxe4 Nxe4 17. fxe4 Rc8 (17... O-O-O $5) 18. b3 f6 $2 (18... Be7
19. Nf5) (18... Bd6 19. Nf5 (19. h4 $5) 19... exf5 20. Qxd6 Qxd6 21. Rxd6 Nxg4
$13) (18... g5 19. Bg3 Bg7 20. Qxb4 a5 $44) 19. h4 Qb7 20. Bxe5 fxe5 21. Nf3
Bc6 22. Ng3 (22. Nxe5 Bxe4 {xc2}) 22... Bc5 23. g5 (23. Nxe5 O-O $132) 23...
O-O 24. Nxe5 (24. Qe2 $5) 24... Bf2 $5 (24... Rf2 25. Qd3 (25. Qe1 Bb5 26. Rd2
Rxd2 27. Qxd2 Qc7) 25... Bb5 26. Nc4 Qf7 27. Rhf1 hxg5 $13) 25. Nxc6 (25. Qd6
Rfe8 $1 (25... Bxg3 $2 26. Qxe6+ Kh7 (26... Kh8 27. Ng6+ Kh7 28. Nxf8+ Rxf8 29.
g6+ Kh8 30. Rhf1 $18) 27. g6+ Kh8 28. Nf7+ Rxf7 29. gxf7 Bxe4 (29... Rf8 30.
Rhg1 Bxh4 31. Rg6 Bxe4 32. Rxh6+ gxh6 33. Qxh6+ Bh7 34. Qxf8+ $18) 30. Rhf1 $1
Rf8 31. Qe8 $18) 26. gxh6 (26. Rd3 Bxg3 27. Rxg3 Bxe4 28. gxh6 Rxc2 $13) 26...
Bxg3 27. Rhg1 Bxe5 28. Qxe5 Re7 $1 29. Rg4 (29. Rxg7+ Rxg7 30. hxg7 Re8 31. Rg1
Qf7 $15) 29... Qc7 30. Qb2 Kh7 $1 31. hxg7 e5) 25... Qxc6 26. Nf5 exf5 27. Qxf2
fxe4 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Lautier, Joel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A27"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1993.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 d6 3. g3 Nc6 (3... g6 4. d4 $5) 4. Nf3 (4. Bg2 $5) 4... g5 $5 (
4... g6 5. d4 exd4 6. Nxd4 Bg7 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. Bg2 $14) 5. d4 g4 6. d5 Nce7 (
6... gxf3 7. dxc6 fxe2 8. Qxe2 bxc6 9. Bg2 $44) 7. Nd2 f5 8. h3 Nf6 (8... h5 9.
hxg4 fxg4 10. Nde4 $14) 9. e4 Bg7 10. exf5 Bxf5 11. hxg4 Bxg4 12. Be2 Bf5 (
12... Bxe2 13. Qxe2 Nf5 14. Nde4 Nd4 15. Qd3 Qd7 16. Nxf6+ Bxf6 17. Ne4 $14)
13. Nf1 Bg6 14. Bg5 Nf5 15. Bd3 O-O 16. Ne3 e4 17. Be2 (17. Nxe4 $2 Nxe3 18.
fxe3 Bxe4 19. Bxe4 Qe8 20. Bxf6 Qxe4 $19) 17... Qe8 18. Qd2 Qf7 19. Nxf5 Bxf5
20. Rh4 Nd7 21. O-O-O Ne5 (21... Nc5 22. b4 $5 Nd3+ 23. Bxd3 exd3 24. g4 $1 Bg6
25. f4 $36) 22. Nxe4 Ng6 23. Bh5 Qd7 24. Bxg6 Bxg6 25. Bh6 Bxh6 26. Qxh6 Rae8
27. Rd4 (27. Re1 $2 Rxf2 $1) 27... Qg7 $5 $10 28. Qxg7+ Kxg7 29. Ng5 Rxf2 30.
Ne6+ Kg8 31. Rdf4 Rxf4 32. Rxf4 c6 33. Kd2 Bf7 34. Ng5 Bg6 35. Ne6 Bf7 36. Ng5
Bg6 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B32"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1993.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb5 d6 6. c4 Be7 7. N1c3 a6 8. Na3
Be6 9. Nc2 Rc8 10. Be3 Bg5 11. Bxg5 Qxg5 12. Qd2 Qxd2+ 13. Kxd2 g6 14. Bd3 f5
15. f3 Nf6 16. Nd5 Bxd5 17. cxd5 fxe4 18. Bxe4 Nb8 19. Ne3 Nxe4+ 20. fxe4 Nd7
21. Rac1 Ke7 22. b4 Rhf8 23. Kd3 a5 24. a3 Ra8 25. Rc7 axb4 26. axb4 Ra3+ 27.
Rc3 Rxc3+ 28. Kxc3 Rf4 29. Kd3 Nf6 30. Rc1 Kd7 31. Rf1 Nxe4 32. Rxf4 exf4 33.
Ng4 Ng5 34. h4 f3 35. g3 Nf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Izeta Txabarri, Felix"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2505"]
[Annotator "Dautov,R"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1993.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 c5 5. g3 Bxd2+ (5... Qb6 6. Bg2 Nc6 7. d5
exd5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. a3 (9. O-O Nde7 10. e4 d6 11. Be3 Qc7 12. a3 Ba5 13. Nbd2
$44) 9... Ba5 10. Bxa5 Qxa5+ 11. Nfd2 Nf6 12. Nc3 d5 (12... O-O 13. Nb3 $14)
13. Nb3 Qb6 14. Na4 Qb5 15. Naxc5 O-O 16. Qd3 $14) 6. Qxd2 (6. Nbxd2 cxd4 7.
Nxd4 Qb6 8. Nb5 $5 {N} (8. N2b3 e5 9. Nf3 d6 $10) 8... a6 (8... d5 $5) 9. Nc3
Qc6 10. e4 d6 11. Bg2 O-O 12. O-O Qc7 13. Kh1 Nc6 14. Rc1 Bd7 15. f4 Rac8 16.
g4 h6 17. Nb3 Rfd8 18. g5 hxg5 19. fxg5 Nh7 $13 {->Yudasin-Izeta/Dos Hermanas/
1993}) 6... Ne4 7. Qd3 (7. Qc2 Qa5+ 8. Nbd2 Nxd2 9. Qxd2 Qxd2+ 10. Kxd2 cxd4
11. Nxd4 Nc6 12. e3 d6 13. Bg2 Bd7 14. Rac1 Ke7 15. Rhd1 Rac8 16. b3 a6 $10 {
Yudasin-Karpov/Madrid/1993}) 7... Qa5+ 8. Nbd2 Nxd2 9. Nxd2 cxd4 10. Qxd4 O-O
11. Bg2 Nc6 12. Qe3 (12. Qd6 $5 Qe5 (12... Qb6 13. Nb3 $14) (12... e5 13. e3)
13. Qxe5 Nxe5 14. O-O d6 15. Rac1 Rd8 16. Rfd1 Kf8 $14) (12. Qd3 $5 d5 13. cxd5
(13. O-O Ne5 14. Qc2 $13) 13... exd5 14. Qxd5 Qb6 $44) 12... d5 13. O-O d4 14.
Qd3 e5 15. a3 f5 16. b4 Qc7 17. Nb3 (17. Bd5+ Kh8 18. Nb3 Ne7 19. Bg2 Rd8 (
19... f4 $5) 20. Rac1 Rb8 21. Rfd1 Be6 22. Nc5 Bf7 $132) 17... e4 18. Qd2 Be6
19. Nxd4 (19. Rac1 Rad8 20. b5 Ne5 21. Nxd4 Bxc4 22. Qb2 Qb6 $10) 19... Nxd4
20. Qxd4 Bxc4 $10 (20... Qxc4 21. Qe3 Qb3 $10) 21. Rfc1 b5 22. a4 Qb6 (22... a6
$10 23. g4 $6 Rad8 24. Qe3 fxg4 25. Bxe4 Qf4 $15) 23. Qxb6 axb6 24. e3 Rac8 (
24... Bd3 25. axb5 Bxb5 26. Bh3 Bd7 $10) 25. axb5 Bxb5 26. Bh3 Bd7 27. Rd1 Rc7
28. Rd6 Rf6 29. Rxf6 gxf6 30. Bf1 Kf7 31. Kg2 (31. Ra6 Rc1 32. Ra7 Ke6 33. Rb7
Ba4 34. Rxb6+ Ke5 35. Kg2 Bd1 36. Ba6 Bf3+ 37. Kh3 Bg4+ 38. Kg2 Bf3+ $10) 31...
Ke7 32. Ra6 Rb7 33. Ra8 (33. h3 Rb8 34. Be2 Kd6 $10) 33... Be8 34. Ba6 (34. Be2
Rc7 35. Rb8 Rc2 36. Rb7+ Kd8 37. Ba6 Bh5 $132) 34... Rc7 35. Rb8 Bh5 36. Rb7
Rxb7 37. Bxb7 Kd6 38. Kh3 h6 39. Bc8 Bg6 40. Kh4 (40. g4 fxg4+ 41. Kxg4 Ke5 $10
) 40... Ke5 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2615"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "1993.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 c6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. e4 b4 10. Na4 c5 11. e5 Nd5 12. O-O cxd4 13. Re1 g6 14. Bg5 Qa5 15. Nxd4
$5 a6 (15... Bg7 $2 16. Bb5 a6 17. Bxd7+ Kxd7 18. Nb3 $1 $16 (18. Nb3 Qb5 19.
Nd4 Qa5 20. Nb3 Qb5 21. Nac5+ Ke8 22. Rc1 Bc8 23. Ne4 Bxe5 24. Rc5 Qb8 25. Rxd5
exd5 26. Nf6+ $16 {Marjanovic,S-Karaklajic,N/JUG-ch/1977/1-0 (30)})) (15... Rc8
16. a3 Be7 17. Bh6 a6 18. Qb3 Qd8 19. Nf3 g5 20. Be4 g4 21. Nd2 Rg8 22. Nc4
Rxc4 23. Qxc4 Nxe5 24. Qe2 Bd6 25. Bd2 Nf3+ 26. Bxf3 $17 {Belov-Kaidanov/
Moskva II (3)/1987/0-1 (30)}) 16. a3 $1 (16. Rc1 Bg7 17. Nc6 Bxc6 18. Rxc6 O-O
19. Bc4 h6 (19... N5b6 20. Nxb6 Nxb6 21. Bb3 Rfc8 22. Rxc8+ Rxc8 23. Qd4 Qb5
24. h4 Nd7 25. Bf6 Bf8 26. Rd1 $10 {Piket,J-Anand,V/Dortmund (9)/1992/0.5 (31)}
) 20. Bxd5 Qxd5 21. Qxd5 exd5 22. Bf6 Nxe5 23. Bxe5 Rae8 24. f4 f6 25. Nb6 fxe5
26. Nxd5 $10 {Piket,Je-Kramnik,V/Amstedam VSB (2)/1993/0.5 (31)}) 16... bxa3 (
16... Bg7 $5 17. axb4 $1 (17. Nf3 O-O 18. Bd2 Qc7 19. Qe2 Bc6 $1 20. axb4 Rfb8
21. Rec1 $2 Nxb4 $1 22. Nd4 Nxd3 23. Qxd3 Nxe5 24. Qc2 Qd6 $1 $19 {Sakaev,
K-Galliamova,A/USSR/1989/}) 17... Nxb4 (17... Qxb4 18. Re4 $1) 18. Bc4 $1 $16)
17. bxa3 Bg7 18. Bd2 Qd8 $1 19. Rb1 (19. Nf3 O-O 20. Rc1 Rc8 21. Qe2 Rxc1 22.
Rxc1 {0,5/Vaganian,R-Kramnik,V/Moscow4/1991/}) 19... Rb8 20. Rxb7 $1 Rxb7 21.
Bxa6 Qa8 22. Bxb7 Qxb7 23. Bb4 $1 (23. Nc3 O-O 24. Nf3 Ra8 25. Qa1 N5b6 $1 $10
{Dorfman,I-Novikov,I/Lvov/1988/}) 23... Nxb4 (23... Bxe5 $2 24. Nc5 $1 Bxh2+ (
24... Nxc5 25. Rxe5 Nxb4 26. axb4 Qxb4 27. Nc6 Qb6 28. Rxc5 $18) 25. Kh1 $1 (
25. Kxh2 Nxc5 26. Bxc5 Qc7+) 25... Nxc5 26. Bxc5) 24. axb4 Qxb4 $1 (24... O-O
25. Nf3 $1 (25. Nc5 Nxc5 26. bxc5 Qc7 27. c6 Bxe5 28. Nf3 $14)) 25. Nc6 Qb7 26.
Qd6 Bf8 27. Nc5 $1 Bxd6 (27... Qc8 28. Ne4 $1 Qa8 29. Qc7 $1 $18) 28. Nxb7 Bc7
(28... Be7 $2 29. Ra1 $1 $18) 29. Nd6+ (29. Rd1 $2 Nxe5 30. Nxe5 Bxe5 $19) (29.
Rc1 $2 Nxe5 30. Nb8 O-O $1 $19) 29... Kf8 $1 (29... Bxd6 $6 30. exd6 O-O 31.
Ra1 Nb8 $1 (31... Nf6 32. Ra7 $18) 32. Na7 Rd8 33. Nb5 Nd7 34. f3 Rb8 35. Nc7
$14 {Pinter,J-Kaidanov,G/Budapest/1989/}) 30. Ra1 (30. Rd1 $5 Bxd6 $1 (30...
Kg7 $2 31. Nxf7 $1 $18) (30... Nc5 31. Ra1 $14) 31. exd6 (31. Rxd6 Nc5) 31...
Kg7 32. Ra1 Rc8 $10) 30... Nxe5 $1 31. Ra8+ (31. Nxe5 Bxd6 32. Ra8+ Kg7 33.
Rxh8 Bxe5 $1 34. Ra8 h5 $1 $10) 31... Kg7 32. Rxh8 Nxc6 (32... Kxh8 $2 33. Nxe5
Bxd6 34. Nxf7+ $18) (32... Bxd6 33. Rd8 Bc7 34. Rc8 Bd6 35. Nxe5 Bxe5 36. g4
$10) 33. Rc8 Bxd6 34. Rxc6 Bf4 35. g4 f5 36. h3 fxg4 37. hxg4 Kf6 38. Kg2 h5
39. Kf3 Bb8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Madrid"]
[Site "Madrid"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E86"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[PlyCount "22"]
[EventDate "1993.06.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 036"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. Nge2 c6 8. Qd2 a6
9. dxe5 dxe5 10. Qxd8 Rxd8 11. Na4 Nbd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Interzonal-16"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2585"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Ambroz,J"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1993.07.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 037"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5
9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. exf6 Bb7 12. g3 c5 13. d5 Nxf6 (13... Nb6 14.
dxe6 Bxh1 15. e7 Qd7 16. Qxd7+ Nxd7 17. Nxb5 $36 {Ionov-Sherbakov,R, Rostov 
(op) 1993}) (13... Bh6 14. Bxh6 Rxh6 15. Qd2 Qxf6 16. O-O-O $14 {
Yusupov-Shirov, Linares 1993}) 14. Bg2 (14. dxe6 Bg7 $1 $13 {Lobron-Kramnik,
Dortmund 1993}) 14... Be7 15. O-O Nxd5 16. Bxe7 Kxe7 17. Nxb5 Qb6 18. Na3 (18.
Nc3 Nxc3 19. bxc3 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Qc6+ 21. f3 Rad8 22. Qe1 Rd3 23. Rf2 Qd5 24.
Rb1 $10 {Quist-Karolyi, Dieren 1988}) 18... Rh4 $5 (18... c3 19. Nc4 Qc7 20.
bxc3 Nxc3 21. Qd2 Bxg2 22. Kxg2 Ne4 23. Qe3 $14 {Van Wely-Dreev, Bern 1993})
19. Qd2 (19. gxh4 Rg8 $1 (19... Nf4 20. Bxb7 Qxb7 (20... Rg8+ 21. Kh1 Qxb7+ 22.
f3 Qxb2 23. Qd6+) 21. f3 $18 (21. Qg4 $2 Ne2+ $1 $19) 21... Qxb2 (21... Rg8+
22. Kh1 Qxb2 23. Qd6+ Ke8 24. Qc6+) 22. Qd6+ $1) 20. Nxc4 Nf4 21. f3 (21. Nxb6
$2 Nh3+ 22. Kh1 Bxg2#) 21... Rxg2+ 22. Kh1 Qc7 $44) 19... Rd4 (19... Rg8 $5 20.
gxh4 (20. Rfd1 Rd4) 20... Nf4 21. Rfd1 Qc7 $40) (19... Nf4) 20. Qg5+ $1 Nf6 21.
Bxb7 Rg8 22. Qe5 Nd7 23. Qe2 Qxb7 24. Nxc4 Rh4 {/\ 25...Rh2!, Rh8} (24... Qd5
25. b3 {/\ Rad1}) 25. f3 Qc7 (25... Rh5 26. Rad1 Rgh8 27. Rf2 $14) (25... Rd4
$143 26. Rad1) 26. Ne3 Kf8 (26... Qe5 27. Rad1) 27. Ng4 $1 Rh5 28. Rad1 $16 Rd5
29. Qe4 Qd6 30. Ne3 Rd4 (30... Nf6 31. Qh4 (31. Rxd5 Rxg3+ $1)) 31. Rxd4 Qxd4 (
31... cxd4 32. Rd1 e5 33. Nf5 $18 Qb8 (33... Qb6 34. Rc1 $1) 34. Qh4 $1) 32.
Rd1 Qxe4 33. fxe4 Ke7 34. Nc4 Nb8 (34... Nf6 $142 35. e5 Nd5 36. Kf2 {/\ h4+/-}
) 35. Kf2 Nc6 36. Rd3 Rg4 37. Nd2 $1 {><a7, c5} a5 38. Rc3 Kd6 (38... Ne5 39.
Rb3 $5) 39. h3 Rg8 40. Nc4+ Ke7 41. Rb3 Rd8 42. Rb5 $18 Rd4 43. Rxc5 Nb4 44. a3
(44. a3 Nd3+ 45. Ke3 Nxc5 (45... Rxe4+ 46. Kxd3) 46. Kxd4) 1-0

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

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

[Event "Interzonal-16"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Lobron, Eric"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D10"]
[WhiteElo "2575"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "18"]
[EventDate "1993.07.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 037"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. e3 a6 7. a3 Bf5 8. Bd3
Bxd3 9. Qxd3 e6 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Event "Interzonal-16"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "23"]
[EventDate "1993.07.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 037"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c6 3. c4 e6 4. Qc2 Nd7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bf4 Ngf6 7. Nc3 Nh5 8.
g3 $5 (8. Bd2) 8... Be7 9. h4 Nxf4 10. gxf4 Nf6 11. O-O-O g6 12. e3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Interzonal-16"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Ambroz,J"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "1993.07.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 037"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4
O-O (8... Nc6 9. Qf4 Rc8 10. Bd2 $5) 9. Qh4 d6 10. Bh6 (10. Bg5 Nbd7 {/\ a6,
Rc8-c5=}) 10... Nbd7 11. b3 (11. Rfd1 Rc8 12. Rd4 $5 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 Ne5 14. Rad1
Nxf3+ 15. exf3 Rc5 $10 {Xi Jun-Antonio, Beijing 1992}) 11... Rc8 12. Bxg7 (12.
Rfd1 Rc5 13. Bxg7 Kxg7 14. Qd4 Qa8 $1 {/^ a1-h8} (14... Kg8 15. Ne1 Bxg2 16.
Nxg2 Ne5 17. Ne3 Re8 18. f3 $14 {Wojtkiewicz-Mascarinas, Manila 1991}) 15. Ne1
Bxg2 $5 (15... a6 16. e4 (16. Bh3 $5 {Dizdarevic-Rajkovic, Ptuj 1991}) 16... b5
17. Nd3 Rcc8 18. cxb5 axb5 19. Qb4 $1 $14 {Ljubojevic-Rechlis, Manila 1990})
16. Nxg2 Kg8 $10) (12. Bh3 $5 {Dizdar-Patrat, Nimes 1991}) 12... Kxg7 13. Qd4
Kg8 14. Rac1 $5 {/\ Nc3-d5} Rc5 $1 15. b4 (15. Rfd1 $5 {/\ Nf3-e1-g2-e3}) 15...
Rc8 (15... Rh5 16. Ne1 $5 (16. h3 $5) 16... Qa8 17. Bxb7 Qxb7 18. Ng2 Ne5 19.
Nf4 Rf5 (19... Nf3+ $2 20. exf3 e5 21. Qxd6 Ne8 22. Qd5 $18) 20. Nfd5 Rc8 21.
Nxf6+ Rxf6 22. Nd5 $16) 16. a3 (16. Nd5 $5 Re8 17. Qd3 $5 e6 18. Nxf6+ (18. Nc3
Bxf3 $5 {/\ Ne5}) 18... Nxf6 19. Rfd1 Re7 $5 $13 (19... Ne4 20. Nd2 $1 $16 (20.
Nd4 f5 21. f3 Nf6 22. Nb3 (22. Nb5 d5 23. Nxa7 Ra8 24. Nb5 Rxa2) 22... d5 $13)
20... Nxd2 $2 21. Bxb7 $18)) 16... Re8 17. e4 Qc7 18. Nd5 Qb8 $1 (18... Nxd5
19. exd5 (19. cxd5 Qxc1 20. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 21. Bf1 Ba6 22. Nd2 Rec8 $36)) 19. Bh3
Rcd8 20. Nd2 (20. a4 $5 {/\ a4-a5}) 20... Ba8 21. Bg2 a6 22. Nb3 Rc8 23. f4
Rcd8 24. Kh1 Nh5 $1 25. g4 $6 (25. f5 $142 e6 $1 (25... e5 $6 26. Qd3 $1 (26.
fxe6 Rxe6 $5 $132) 26... a5 $5 27. Nd2) 26. fxg6 fxg6 27. g4 $5 Ng7 (27... exd5
28. gxh5 dxe4 29. hxg6 hxg6 30. Rc3 $40) 28. Nf6+ Nxf6 29. Rxf6 Rf8 $10) 25...
Nxf4 $1 26. Nxf4 (26. Nxe7+ $5 Rxe7 27. Rxf4 Ne5 28. g5 Rde8 29. Nd2 {/\ Nf1-e3
}) 26... e5 27. Qf2 exf4 28. Qxf4 Ne5 29. Rc3 Qc7 $1 30. Nd2 (30. Rh3 Qe7 $5
31. Qh6 f6) 30... Qe7 31. g5 Rc8 32. Rfc1 b5 $1 $36 33. h4 (33. c5 dxc5 34.
bxc5 (34. Rxc5 Nd3) 34... Red8 $17) 33... Bb7 34. Kh2 (34. cxb5 $142) 34... Rc6
35. cxb5 axb5 36. Bf1 $6 (36. Rxc6 $1 $15 Nxc6 (36... Bxc6 37. Qg3 $5) 37. Nf1
$5 Nd4 38. Rd1) 36... Rec8 $1 $17 37. Rxc6 Rxc6 38. Rxc6 Bxc6 39. Nb3 Qa7 $1
40. Na5 Bd7 41. Be2 Qd4 42. Kg2 Qb2 43. Qf2 (43. Qe3 Bg4) 43... Qxa3 44. Qf6
Qh3+ 45. Kf2 Qxh4+ 46. Ke3 h5 $1 47. Nb7 Qe1 0-1

[Event "Interzonal-16"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Lautier, Joel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2620"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1993.07.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 037"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Bd3 e5 4. Nf3 exd4 5. Nxd4 g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Bg5 (7. O-O
O-O 8. Re1 c6 9. a4 Nbd7) 7... h6 8. Bh4 Nc6 $5 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. O-O (10. f4 $6
g5 $1 11. fxg5 Ng4 12. Qd2 Rg8 $1) 10... g5 $1 11. Bg3 Ng4 12. h3 Ne5 13. Ne2
$5 Nxd3 14. Qxd3 (14. cxd3 $2 Bxb2 15. Rb1 Bg7 16. f4 O-O $15) 14... Bxb2 15.
Rad1 $1 Bg7 16. e5 O-O (16... d5 $2 17. Nd4 Bd7 18. e6 $1 $40) 17. exd6 $6 (17.
f4 $1 Re8 (17... gxf4 18. Bxf4 {/\ Qg3->}) 18. Qf3 Qe7 19. Nd4 $1 dxe5 20. fxe5
(20. Nxc6 Qc5+ 21. Bf2 e4 $1) 20... Be6 21. Qxc6 $13) 17... cxd6 18. Bxd6 Re8
19. c4 Qf6 $1 20. Ng3 Qg6 21. Qb3 (21. Qxg6 fxg6 22. c5 Be6 23. a3 $15) 21...
Be6 22. Qa4 h5 $1 23. Rfe1 $2 (23. f3 f5 $1 $15) 23... h4 24. Nf1 g4 $1 25.
hxg4 Bxg4 26. Qxc6 $1 (26. Rxe8+ Rxe8 27. Qxc6 Re6 $5 28. Rd2 Bc3 $1 29. Rd5
$140 Bf3) 26... Red8 $1 (26... Rec8 27. Qd5 Bxd1 28. Rxd1 $15) 27. f3 Rac8 28.
Qe4 Bf5 29. Qf4 Bh6 30. Qe5 (30. Qh2 Rxc4 31. Ne3 Bxe3+ 32. Rxe3 Rc6 $19) 30...
Rxc4 31. Ba3 Rxd1 32. Rxd1 Bg7 $1 33. Qe2 (33. Qe8+ Kh7 34. Rd8) 33... Rc2 $2 (
33... h3 34. Ne3 (34. g3 Be6 $17) 34... Bd4 $1) 34. Rd2 h3 35. g4 Rxd2 (35...
Rc8 $5) 36. Nxd2 Be6 37. Ne4 f5 $2 38. Ng5 $1 Bd5 39. Nxh3 (39. Qd3 $10) 39...
fxg4 40. fxg4 Bd4+ (40... Qb6+ 41. Nf2 $1 Qb1+ 42. Kh2 Qb8+ 43. Kh3) 41. Kh2
Qe6 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Interzonal-16"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D13"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "21"]
[EventDate "1993.07.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 037"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. Nf3 a6 7. e3 Bg4 8. Be2
Bxf3 9. Bxf3 e6 10. O-O Bd6 11. Bxd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Interzonal-16"]
[Site "Biel"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Khalifman, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[PlyCount "23"]
[EventDate "1993.07.16"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 037"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1993.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 a6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bxc4 e6 6. O-O c5 7. dxc5 Qxd1 8.
Rxd1 Bxc5 9. Nbd2 Nbd7 10. b3 b5 11. Be2 Bb7 12. Bb2 1/2-1/2

[Event "WchT 3rd"]
[Site "Luzern"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1993.10.24"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 038"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Switzerland"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "SUI"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 b6 7. b3 Bb7 8.
Bb2 d6 9. e3 e5 10. Be2 c5 11. O-O Re8 12. Rae1 Ne4 13. Qc2 Ng5 14. Qf5 Nxf3+
15. Bxf3 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 Nd7 17. d4 Qf6 18. Qxf6 Nxf6 19. dxe5 dxe5 20. Rd1 Kf8
21. f3 Re7 22. Rd2 Rd7 23. Rxd7 Nxd7 24. Rd1 Ke7 25. Kf2 f6 26. Ke2 1/2-1/2

[Event "WchT 3rd"]
[Site "Luzern"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1993.10.24"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 038"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "US of America"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "USA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Bd3
g6 (8... Bd6) (8... Qd8) 9. O-O Bg7 10. e4 (10. cxd5 exd5 11. b4) 10... dxc4
11. e5 Qe7 12. Bxc4 O-O 13. Qe2 b6 14. Rfe1 a6 (14... a5 15. Ne4 c5 16. dxc5
bxc5 17. Ned2 $10 {Hulak,K-Lalic,B/Yugoslavia/1989/}) (14... Bb7 15. Ba6 $5)
15. Bd3 Bb7 16. Be4 Ra7 17. Rac1 b5 (17... c5 $2 18. Bxb7 Rxb7 19. Qxa6 $16)
18. Qe3 c5 19. d5 $1 Nxe5 (19... exd5 20. Bxd5 $14) 20. Nxe5 Bxe5 21. dxe6 $1 (
21. Qxh6 exd5 22. Bxd5 Bxd5 23. Nxd5 Qd6 $10) 21... Bxe4 $2 (21... Bg7 22.
exf7+ Qxf7 23. Qxc5 $16) (21... Kg7 $1 $10 {Kramnik}) 22. Nxe4 Bxb2 23. Rxc5
Bg7 (23... Qxe6 24. Rc2 Re7 25. Rxb2 Rfe8 26. Qxh6 f5 27. Rbe2 fxe4 28. Rxe4
Qxe4 29. Rxe4 Rxe4 30. Qxg6+ $16) 24. Rc6 $1 fxe6 25. Nc5 Qf7 $6 (25... e5 26.
Rxg6 $16) (25... Rf6 26. Nxe6 Qd7 27. Rc2 Rb7 28. Nc5 $140 Qf5) 26. Nxe6 Re8
27. Qb3 Kh8 $6 (27... Ree7 $5) 28. g3 Qf5 29. Re2 Rae7 30. Rxa6 Bf6 31. Re3 Kh7
32. Rf3 Qe5 33. Nf4 Qb2 34. Qd3 (34. Qxb2 Bxb2 35. Nxg6 $16) 34... Re4 (34...
Rg7 35. Nxg6 Rd8 36. Qe4 $18) 35. Kg2 Qd4 36. Qxb5 R8e7 $138 1-0

[Event "WchT 3rd"]
[Site "Luzern"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D52"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2705"]
[Annotator "Hansen,LB"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "1993.10.24"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 038"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Ukraine"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "UKR"]

1. Nf3 {Ftacnik} d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Qa5 7. Nd2
Bb4 8. Qc2 O-O (8... e5 $5 9. Nb3 (9. dxe5 $5 Ne4 10. Ndxe4 dxe4 11. O-O-O $1
f6 $5 12. exf6 $1 Qxg5 13. Nxe4 $36 {Lutz,C-Gurevich,M/Munchen/1993/}) 9... Qc7
(9... Qa4 $5 10. cxd5 exd4 11. dxc6 $6 dxc3 12. cxd7+ Bxd7 13. bxc3 Qc6 $1 $17
{Yusupov,A-Kamsky,G/Tilburg rapid/1992/}) 10. Be2 dxc4 11. Bxc4 O-O 12. O-O Bd6
13. h3 Re8 $6 (13... a6 $5 {/\ b5,Bb7 Kramnik}) 14. Rad1 exd4 15. Nxd4 Be5 16.
f4 $1 Bxd4 17. Rxd4 $1 Rxe3 18. Rfd1 $16 {Kramnik,V-Kamsky,G/Linares/1993/}) (
8... e5 {Ftacnik}) 9. Be2 (9. Nb3 Qa4 10. cxd5 Bxc3+ $1 11. bxc3 cxd5 12. Bd3
b6 13. Bxf6 Nxf6 14. c4 dxc4 15. Qxc4 Qxc4 16. Bxc4 {1/2-1/2;Mikhalchishin,
A-Akopian,V/Lvov zt/1990/}) 9... c5 $5 (9... e5) 10. O-O cxd4 11. exd4 $146 (
11. Nb3 Qd8 (11... Qb6 12. Nxd4 (12. exd4 {Ftacnik} dxc4 13. Bxc4 Bxc3 14. bxc3
Qc7 15. Qe2 b6 16. Rac1 Bb7 17. Bd3 Rfe8 18. c4 e5 19. d5 Qd6 20. Rfe1 {
0,5/Bass,L-Lein,A/New York/1983/}) 12... dxc4 13. Bh4 Bxc3 14. Qxc3 Nd5 15. Qc2
Ne5 16. Bg3 Nb4 17. Qc3 Nd5 18. Qc1 Nc6 19. Nxc6 Qxc6 20. Qxc4 Qxc4 21. Bxc4
$14 {^^ Alonso,R-Fuentes,M/Holguin/1991/}) 12. Nxd4 dxc4 13. Ne4 (13. Bxc4 Qa5
14. Ncb5 a6 15. Nb3 Qb6 16. N5d4 Ne5 $10 {Bouwmeester,H-Bergraser/corr.1986/})
13... Be7 14. Bxc4 Nxe4 15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. Qxe4 Nf6 17. Qe5 Qb4 18. Qb5 Qxb5 19.
Bxb5 a6 20. Be2 Bd7 {1/2-1/2;Cramling,P-Hansen,LB/Rilton Cup/1993-94/}) 11...
dxc4 12. Bh4 (12. Bxf6 {Ftacnik} Nxf6 13. Nxc4 Qc7 $10) 12... Nb6 $1 13. Nxc4
Nxc4 14. Bxc4 Bd7 $10 15. Bxf6 gxf6 16. d5 $8 Bxc3 17. dxe6 Bxe6 $1 (17... fxe6
{Ftacnik} 18. bxc3 $14) 18. Bxe6 fxe6 (18... Be5 {Ftacnik} 19. Bf5 $16) 19.
bxc3 Rac8 1/2-1/2

[Event "WchT 3rd"]
[Site "Luzern"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Serper, Grigory"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2575"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Serper,G"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "1993.10.24"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Uzbekistan"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "UZB"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. a3 b4 10. Ne4 a5 11. O-O Nxe4 12. Bxe4 Nf6 13. Bd3 Be7 14. Qe2 $146 O-O
15. e4 c5 16. dxc5 Nd7 $1 (16... Bxc5 $6 17. e5 Bxf3 (17... Nd5 $2 18. Bxh7+
$18) (17... Nd7 18. Ng5 $5 $36 (18. Bxh7+ $6 Kxh7 19. Ng5+ Kg6 20. Qc2+ f5 21.
exf6+ Kxf6 $13)) 18. Qxf3 $14 {^^}) 17. c6 $5 Bxc6 18. Be3 Bb7 19. Rfc1 Qb8 (
19... Bd6 $5 20. axb4 $140 axb4 21. Rxa8 Qxa8 $15) 20. axb4 axb4 21. Rxa8 Bxa8
(21... Qxa8 $2 22. Rc7) 22. Qc2 Rd8 (22... Bd6 $5 23. e5 $140 $6 Nxe5 24. Bxh7+
Kh8 $17) 23. h3 $1 (23. Qc7 $2 Qxc7 24. Rxc7 Nf6 $1 25. Rxe7 (25. Be2 Bd6)
25... Rxd3 {/\ Be4}) 23... h6 24. Qc7 Qxc7 25. Rxc7 Bd6 (25... Nf6 26. Rxe7
Rxd3 27. e5 Bxf3 28. exf6 $10) 26. Rc4 Ne5 (26... Bb7 $5) (26... Ne5 27. Nxe5
Bxe5 28. Be2 Bxb2 29. Rxb4 $10) 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "WchT 3rd"]
[Site "Luzern"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vaganian, Rafael A"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1993.10.24"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 038"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Armenia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ARM"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3
Nc6 9. Rc1 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Qxd1+ 11. Kxd1 b6 12. Ke2 Bb7 13. Nb5 Rfd8 14. Rhd1
Ne8 15. Bd3 h6 16. b4 Be7 17. Be4 Rxd1 18. Kxd1 Nd8 19. Bxb7 Nxb7 20. Nfd4 Bd6
21. Nxd6 Nbxd6 22. Bxd6 Nxd6 23. Ke2 Kf8 24. Rc7 Ke8 25. a4 Kd8 26. Rxa7 Rxa7
27. Nc6+ Kc7 28. Nxa7 Kb7 29. Nb5 Nxb5 30. axb5 Kc7 31. Kd3 Kd6 32. f4 h5 33.
g3 f6 34. Kd4 g6 35. Ke4 Ke7 36. Kd4 Kd6 37. Ke4 Ke7 38. h3 Kd6 39. Kd4 e5+ 40.
fxe5+ fxe5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "WchT 3rd"]
[Site "Luzern"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B65"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "1993.10.24"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 038"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Latvia"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "LAT"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 {Ernst Kortschnoj} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5
e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8. O-O-O O-O 9. f4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Qa5 11. Bc4 Bd7 12. Rd3 $5 (12.
e5) (12. e5 {Kortschnoj} dxe5 13. fxe5 Bc6 14. Bd2 Nd7 15. Nd5 Qc5 (15... Qd8 {
Ernst} 16. Nxe7+ Qxe7 $14) 16. Nxe7+ Qxe7 $14) 12... e5 (12... b5 13. Rg3 bxc4
(13... Kh8 {Kortschnoj} 14. e5 Ng8 15. exd6 $18) 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Qxf6 g6 16.
Rd1 Bc6 17. Qd4 (17. Rxd6 Bxe4 18. Rg5 (18. Nxe4 Qe1+ 19. Rd1 Qxe4 $10) 18...
Qb4 19. Qd4 Rab8 $1 $15) 17... Rac8 18. Rg5 d5 19. exd5 Bxd5 $10 {Shabalov,
A-Inkiov,V Gausdal Troll Masters (5) 1991 24}) (12... Bc6 $5 {Kortschnoj}) 13.
Qe3 (13. Qg1 Be6 14. Bb3 exf4 15. Bxf4 Bxb3 16. cxb3 Rfe8 17. g4 Bf8 18. Bd2
Qe5 $17 {Lanka,Z-Kotronias,V Gausdal International (5) 1991 0-1 40}) 13... Rac8
(13... Ng4 $5) 14. Bb3 Be6 (14... Bc6 {Kortschnoj} 15. Rf1 $14) 15. Bxe6 exf4 (
15... fxe6 {Kortschnoj} 16. Qh3 $16) 16. Bxf4 (16. Bxf7+ $2 Rxf7 17. Bxf4 Ng4
18. Qg3 Rxf4 19. Qxf4 (19. Rd5 Bg5 20. Kb1 Qd8 $19) 19... Bg5 $19) 16... fxe6
17. Qh3 $1 $16 (17. Bxd6 Rxc3 18. Bxe7 (18. bxc3 $2 Bxd6 19. Rxd6 Qa3+ $19)
18... Ng4 $13) 17... Kf7 (17... e5 $2 {Ernst} 18. Qe6+ $18) 18. Kb1 (18. Bxd6
$2 Rxc3 $19) 18... Qc5 19. g4 h6 20. Be3 Qe5 21. Bd4 Qg5 22. Rg1 Nd7 23. Be3
Qg6 24. g5 $1 $40 hxg5 (24... h5 $5 {Kortschnoj}) 25. Bxg5 $3 Bxg5 26. Rxd6 Nc5
(26... Ke7 27. Rxg5 Qxg5 (27... Qf6 28. Nd5+ $18 (28. Qg3 $16 {Kortschnoj})) (
27... Qh6 28. Rxg7+ Kxd6 (28... Ke8 29. Rdxd7 $18) 29. Qd3+ Ke5 30. Rxd7 $18)
28. Qxe6+ Kd8 29. Rxd7#) 27. Qg4 Kg8 (27... Ke7 28. Rdd1 Rcd8 29. h4 $16) 28.
h4 (28. Qxg5 $2 {Ernst} Qxg5 29. Rxg5 Nxe4 $3 $19) 28... Rf4 29. Qxg5 Qxg5 30.
hxg5 Rcf8 (30... Nxe4 31. Nxe4 Rxe4 32. g6 $16 (32. Rd7 {Ernst} Re2 33. c3 $16)
) 31. b4 Nxe4 32. Nxe4 Rxe4 33. a3 Kh7 (33... a5 $5 {Ernst}) 34. Rd7 Kg6 35.
Rxb7 $18 a5 36. Kb2 Rf5 (36... Rf3 $5 {Kortschnoj}) 37. Kb3 Re3+ 38. Ka4 Rff3
39. Kxa5 Rxa3+ 40. Kb6 Rac3 41. Re1 Kxg5 (41... Rxc2 42. Rxe6+ Kxg5 (42... Kf5
$16 {Kortschnoj}) 43. Rxg7+ Kf5 44. Rf7+ Kxe6 45. Rxf3 $18) 42. Rxg7+ Kf6 43.
Rc7 e5 44. b5 Rxc7 45. Kxc7 Ke6 46. Re2 Rc3+ 47. Kb8 Rc4 48. b6 e4 49. b7 Kd5
50. Rh2 e3 51. Ka7 Ra4+ 52. Kb6 Rb4+ 53. Kc7 Rc4+ 54. Kd7 (54. Kd7 Rb4 55. Rh5+
Kc4 (55... Kd4 {Kortschnoj} 56. Rh4+ $18) 56. Rh4+ Kc3 57. Rxb4 $18) 1-0

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

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

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

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

[Event "Alcobendas m"]
[Site "Alcobendas"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B63"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "1993.11.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 d6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8.
O-O-O O-O 9. Nb3 Qb6 10. f3 Rd8 11. Kb1 Qc7 12. Bf4 a6 13. g4 Ne5 14. g5 Nfd7
15. Qg2 b5 16. Bc1 Bb7 17. f4 b4 18. Ne2 Nc4 19. Ng3 d5 20. Qe2 Ndb6 21. exd5
1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Alcobendas m"]
[Site "Alcobendas"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "1993.11.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 5. O-O Bg7 6. Re1 Nh6 7. c3 O-O 8.
d4 cxd4 9. cxd4 d6 10. Nc3 f6 11. b3 Nf7 12. Bb2 Qa5 13. Qc2 (13. Nd2 Be6 14.
Qe2 Rac8 15. Nc4 Qa6) 13... Bd7 14. Nd2 Rac8 15. Nc4 Qa6 16. Rad1 Be6 17. Ne3
Bh6 18. Qb1 $1 Rfe8 19. d5 cxd5 20. Ncxd5 Kf8 21. f4 Nd8 22. f5 Bf7 23. Nc4 Bg7
24. Qa1 Kg8 25. Nxf6+ $5 Bxf6 26. Bxf6 Bxc4 (26... exf6 27. Nxd6 Rb8 28. Nxe8
Bxe8 29. e5 $16) 27. Bh8 e5 28. fxe6 Nxe6 29. bxc4 Rf8 30. e5 $1 dxe5 (30...
Kxh8 31. exd6+ Ng7 32. Re7 $18) 31. Rxe5 Rf7 32. Rde1 Nf8 33. c5 Qc4 34. Rc1
Qb4 35. h3 Qd2 36. Ree1 $2 (36. c6 $1 $16) 36... Rxc5 37. Rxc5 Qf2+ 38. Kh1
Qxc5 39. Bd4 Qc2 40. a3 h5 41. Bg1 Qf5 42. Qa2 Kg7 43. Qb2+ Kh7 44. Re5 Qd3 45.
Re8 g5 46. Qe5 Qf5 47. Qxf5+ Rxf5 48. Re7+ (48. Bxa7 Ra5 $10) 48... Kg6 49.
Rxa7 Ne6 50. Ra6 Re5 51. a4 Kf5 52. Rb6 Re1 53. Rb5+ Kg6 54. Rb6 Kf5 55. Rb5+
Kg6 56. a5 Nf4 57. Rb6+ Kf5 58. Rb5+ Kg6 59. Rb6+ Kf5 60. Rb5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Alcobendas m"]
[Site "Alcobendas"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A70"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1993.11.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. h3 Bg7 8. e4
O-O 9. Bd3 a6 10. a4 Nh5 11. O-O Nd7 12. Bg5 Bf6 13. Be3 Re8 14. Qd2 Qc7 15.
Rfc1 Ne5 16. Be2 Nxf3+ 17. Bxf3 Ng7 18. a5 Be5 19. Na4 f5 20. Nb6 Rb8 21. Nc4
$5 fxe4 22. Bxe4 Bxb2 23. Qxb2 Rxe4 24. f3 Re8 25. Bf4 Nf5 (25... Rd8 26. Nxd6
(26. Qf6 Ne8) 26... Rxd6 (26... Ne8 27. Nxe8 Qxf4 28. Qg7#) 27. Qe5 $18) 26.
Nxd6 $1 Nxd6 27. Qf6 Bf5 (27... Rd8 28. Be5 $18) 28. Bxd6 (28. Bxd6 Qd8 29.
Qxd8 Rbxd8 30. Bxc5 Rxd5 $10) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bundesliga 9394"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1993.11.06"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Hertneck, Gerald"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D10"]
[WhiteElo "2555"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1993.11.06"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "GER-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Muenchen 36"]
[BlackTeam "Empor Berlin"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Bf4 Nf6 5. e3 Nc6 6. Nc3 Bg4 7. Qb3 Na5 8.
Bb5+ Bd7 9. Bxd7+ Qxd7 10. Qb5 Nc6 11. Nf3 e6 12. O-O Nh5 13. Ne5 Nxe5 14. Bxe5
f6 15. Qe2 g6 16. g4 fxe5 17. gxh5 Bg7 18. Rac1 O-O 19. dxe5 Bxe5 20. hxg6 hxg6
21. f4 Bf6 22. Qd3 Rf7 23. Rf3 Rg7 24. Rg3 Rc8 25. Rxg6 Rxg6+ 26. Qxg6+ Qg7 27.
Qxg7+ Kxg7 28. Kf2 Kf7 29. Ke1 e5 30. Kd1 exf4 31. exf4 Rc4 32. Ne2 Bxb2 33.
Rb1 Rb4 34. Kc2 Ba3 35. Rxb4 Bxb4 36. Kd3 Be7 37. f5 Kf6 38. Kd4 Kxf5 39. Kxd5
Kg4 40. Nd4 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Bundesliga 9394"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1994.03.19"]
[Round "10.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kuczynski, Robert"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D48"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2510"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1993.11.06"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "GER-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Empor Berlin"]
[BlackTeam "Erfurt"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 c6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
a6 9. e4 c5 10. d5 c4 11. Bc2 Qc7 12. O-O Bb7 13. dxe6 fxe6 14. Ng5 Nc5 15. e5
Qxe5 16. Re1 Qd6 17. Qxd6 Bxd6 18. Be3 Nd3 19. Bxd3 cxd3 20. Rad1 O-O 21. Rxd3
Bd5 22. Nxe6 Bxh2+ 23. Kxh2 Bxe6 24. Rd6 Rfe8 25. Bd4 Bxa2 26. Rxe8+ Nxe8 27.
Rb6 Bf7 28. Be5 h6 29. f4 Ra7 30. Ne4 Ra8 31. Nc5 a5 32. Rxb5 a4 33. Rb8 Ra7
34. Ne4 Kh7 35. Ng3 a3 36. bxa3 Rxa3 37. Rb7 Kg8 38. Nf5 Ra6 39. g4 Nf6 40. Kh3
Ne8 41. Kh4 Ra5 42. Bc3 Ra6 43. Be5 Ra5 44. Kg3 Ra6 45. Kf2 Nf6 46. Ne3 Ra2+
47. Kf3 Ra6 48. Ke2 Ra2+ 49. Kd3 Ra3+ 50. Kd4 Ra4+ 51. Kd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bundesliga 9394"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1994.03.20"]
[Round "11.1"]
[White "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B65"]
[WhiteElo "2585"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "1993.11.06"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "GER-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Dresden"]
[BlackTeam "Empor Berlin"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8.
O-O-O O-O 9. f4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Qa5 11. Kb1 Rd8 12. h4 Bd7 13. Qd2 Bc6 14. Bd3
Qc7 15. Qe2 a6 16. Rhf1 b5 17. e5 Nd5 18. Nxd5 Bxd5 19. Qg4 dxe5 20. fxe5 Bxg5
21. hxg5 Bc4 22. Qe4 Bxd3 23. cxd3 Rd5 24. Rh1 g6 25. d4 Qd8 26. Qf4 Qf8 27.
Rh4 Rad8 28. Qh2 h5 29. gxh6 Kh7 30. Qf4 R8d7 31. Qf3 f5 32. exf6 Rf5 33. Qc6
Qd6 34. Qxd6 Rxd6 35. Rc1 Rd7 36. Rc6 Rxf6 37. Rxa6 Rf1+ 38. Kc2 Rf2+ 39. Kb3
Re2 40. Rh3 g5 41. g4 Re4 42. Rb6 Rexd4 43. Rxb5 Rxg4 44. a4 Rg1 45. a5 g4 46.
Re3 Rh1 47. a6 Rh3 48. Rxh3 gxh3 49. Rh5 Ra7 50. Rxh3 Rxa6 51. Kc4 Rc6+ 52. Kb5
Rc8 53. b4 e5 54. Kb6 e4 55. b5 Re8 56. Ka7 e3 57. Rh1 e2 58. Re1 Kxh6 59. b6
Kg5 60. b7 Kg4 61. Rxe2 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Event "Bundesliga 9394"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1994.05.09"]
[Round "15.1"]
[White "Dokhoian, Yury"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "2570"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "16"]
[EventDate "1993.11.06"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "GER-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bochum"]
[BlackTeam "Empor Berlin"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c5 3. c4 dxc4 4. e4 cxd4 5. Qxd4 Qxd4 6. Nxd4 Bd7 7. Bxc4 Nc6
8. Nxc6 Bxc6 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Groningen PCA"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Benjamin, Joel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2620"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "1993.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e5 5. a3 Be7 6. d4 exd4 7. exd4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 O-O 9. Nc2 b6 10. Bf4 Ba6 11. b4 Bb7 12. Be2 d6 13. O-O Ne5 14. Ne3 Rc8
15. Rc1 Re8 16. Qd2 Bf8 17. Rfd1 h6 18. Bg3 Re6 19. Qd4 Nc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Groningen PCA"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A28"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "162"]
[EventDate "1993.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e3 Be7 7. Be2 O-O 8.
O-O Be6 9. a3 f5 10. Qc2 Kh8 $1 (10... Bf6 11. Na4 $1 Bf7 12. Bd2 a5 13. Rac1
$14 {Barcza,G-Dely,P/Hungary/1957/}) 11. Na4 $6 (11. Bd2 $5 Nb6 12. b4 Bf6 13.
Bc1 a6 14. Bb2 $14 {Bischoff,K-Veinger,I/Munich zt/1987/CBM03/}) 11... Bd6 12.
b4 (12. Nc5 $5 Bc8 13. b4 $13) 12... Qf6 13. Bb2 Rae8 14. Nc5 Bc8 15. Qc4 (15.
Qb3 $5) 15... Nb6 16. Qc2 Qh6 17. Rfd1 (17. Rad1 $5) 17... Nd5 18. Qc4 $2 (18.
Bf1 $5) 18... Nxe3 $1 19. fxe3 e4 20. dxe4 fxe4 21. Nxe4 Qxe3+ 22. Nf2 Qxe2 23.
Qxe2 Rxe2 24. Bc3 Kg8 25. Kf1 Re3 26. Rac1 Ne7 27. Re1 Nd5 28. Rxe3 Nxe3+ 29.
Kg1 Re8 30. Bd4 Nd5 31. Rd1 b6 32. Nd3 (32. Bxg7 $2 Ne3 $19) 32... Bb7 33. Kf2
Nf6 34. Bxf6 gxf6 35. Nd4 Kf7 36. Nb5 Rd8 37. Nxd6+ (37. Rc1 Bxh2 $19) 37...
Rxd6 38. Rc1 c5 39. Nf4 (39. bxc5 Rxd3 40. cxb6 Rd7 41. bxa7 Ba8 $19) 39... Rc6
40. bxc5 Rxc5 41. Rd1 Rc2+ 42. Kg3 Bc6 43. Rd6 b5 44. Nd5 Rc5 45. Nb4 Rg5+ 46.
Kf4 Bxg2 47. Ra6 h5 48. Rxa7+ Kg6 49. Nd3 Bf1 50. Ke3 Bxd3 51. Kxd3 Rg2 52. Ra5
Rxh2 53. Rxb5 f5 54. Rb1 (54. Ke3 $1 Rg2 (54... Kg5 55. Kf3 Rh3+ 56. Kg2 Rxa3
$15) 55. Kf3 Rg4 56. Rb8 $1 $15) 54... h4 55. Ke3 Rg2 56. Kf3 Rg3+ 57. Kf4 Rg4+
58. Kf3 Kg5 59. Ra1 (59. Rb8 $1) 59... Rg3+ 60. Kf2 Kg4 61. Rb1 h3 62. Rb8 Rg2+
63. Kf1 Rd2 64. Kg1 f4 65. Rg8+ Kf3 66. Rh8 Rd1+ 67. Kh2 Kf2 68. a4 (68. Rb8 $1
) 68... f3 69. a5 Kf1 70. a6 Ra1 71. Ra8 (71. Rb8 $1) 71... f2 72. a7 Ra6 $1
73. Kh1 (73. Kxh3 Rh6+ 74. Kg3 Rg6+ 75. Kh3 Rg7 $19) 73... h2 $1 74. Rb8 (74.
Kxh2 Rh6+ 75. Kg3 Rg6+ 76. Kh3 Rg7 $19) 74... Rxa7 75. Rb1+ Ke2 76. Rb2+ Ke3
77. Rb3+ Ke4 78. Rb4+ Kd3 79. Rb1 Rf7 80. Rf1 Ke2 81. Rxf2+ Kxf2 0-1

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

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

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

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

[Event "Groningen PCA"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B65"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Chekhov,V"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1993.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8.
O-O-O O-O 9. f4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Qa5 11. Bb5 $5 $146 (11. Bc4 Bd7 12. Rd3 Rad8 13.
Rg3 Kh8 14. Rf1 $5 $146 h6 15. e5 dxe5 16. fxe5 Be8 17. Qf4 Nh5 18. Bxh6 $3
Nxf4 19. Bxg7+ Kh7 20. Rxf4 Rg8 21. Rfg4 Rxg7 22. Rxg7+ Kh6 23. Rg8 Kh7 24.
R8g7+ Kh6 25. Rg8 Kh7 {Shirov,A-Kramnik,V/Groningen/1993/0,5 (25)/}) 11... h6 (
11... a6 $6 12. e5 dxe5 13. fxe5 Nd5 (13... Rd8 14. Qh4 $36) 14. Bxe7 Nxe7 15.
Bd3 $36) 12. Bh4 Rd8 13. e5 dxe5 14. Qxe5 Ng4 (14... a6 $6 15. Bd3 b5 (15...
Qxe5 16. fxe5 Nd5 17. Bxe7 Nxe7 18. Bh7+ $18) 16. Ne4 $1 $36) 15. Rxd8+ Qxd8
16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Qd4 $14 b6 18. Be2 Nf6 19. Rd1 Bb7 20. g3 Rc8 21. Qd6 $5 (21.
Nb5 $5 Bd5 (21... Nd5 22. Nxa7 Ra8 23. Nb5 Rxa2 24. Kb1 $14) 22. Kb1 a6 23. Nc3
b5 24. Nxd5 exd5 (24... Nxd5 25. Bf3 $14) 25. Bd3 $14 Qd6) 21... Qxd6 22. Rxd6
Kf8 23. Nb5 Ke7 24. Rd1 Ra8 $8 25. c4 Bc6 26. Nd4 Bd7 27. Kd2 g5 28. Bf3 Rc8
29. b3 Ne8 $1 30. Re1 Kf6 31. Kd3 Nd6 32. Rc1 a5 $1 33. a3 gxf4 34. gxf4 Nf5
$10 35. b4 axb4 36. axb4 e5 (36... Nxd4 37. Kxd4 Kf5 38. Be4+ $1 Kxf4 39. Rf1+
$16) 37. fxe5+ Kxe5 38. Re1+ Kd6 39. Bd5 Nxd4 40. Kxd4 Be6 41. Re5 Rg8 42. c5+
bxc5+ 43. bxc5+ Ke7 44. Bxe6 fxe6 45. Kc4 Kd7 46. Re3 Rg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Groningen PCA"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1993.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. Nc3 c5 4. e4 d6 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Bb7 7. Qe2 e6 8. g3
Nc6 9. Nxc6 Bxc6 10. Bg2 Be7 11. O-O Nd7 12. Re1 Bb7 13. e5 Bxg2 14. exd6 Bxd6
15. Kxg2 O-O 16. Rd1 Be7 17. Bf4 Qc8 18. Bd6 Re8 19. Bxe7 Rxe7 20. Rd6 Qb7+ 21.
Qe4 Nc5 22. Qxb7 Nxb7 23. Rd2 Rd8 24. Rxd8+ Nxd8 25. Rd1 Nb7 26. f4 Kf8 27. Kf3
Ke8 28. Nb5 a5 29. a3 a4 30. Nd6+ Nxd6 31. Rxd6 Rb7 32. Ke3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Groningen PCA"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B65"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "1993.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ernst Boensch} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6
7. Qd2 Be7 8. O-O-O O-O 9. f4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Qa5 11. Bc4 Bd7 12. Rd3 {!? Boensch
} (12. e5 {Boensch -Hauptvariante}) 12... Rad8 (12... b5 13. Rg3 bxc4 14. Bxf6
Bxf6 15. Qxf6 g6 16. Rd1 Bc6 17. Qd4 (17. Rxd6 {Boensch} Bxe4 18. Nxe4 (18. Rg5
Qb4 19. Qd4 Rab8 $1 $17) 18... Qe1+ 19. Rd1 Qxe4 $10) 17... Rac8 18. Rg5 d5 19.
exd5 Bxd5 20. Ne4 (20. f5 $1 $16 {Boensch}) 20... f5 21. Nc3 (21. Nf6+ {Boensch
} Rxf6 22. Qxf6 c3 $17) 21... Rfd8 22. Qf6 Qb6 23. Re1 Qf2 {Shabalov,A-Inkiov,
V/Gausdal Troll Masters (5)/1991/0.5 (24)}) (12... e5 13. Qe3 (13. Qg1 Be6 14.
Bb3 exf4 15. Bxf4 Bxb3 16. cxb3 Rfe8 17. g4 Bf8 18. Bd2 Qe5 19. Re3 Rac8 20.
Kb1 Qd4 21. Qg2 d5 22. e5 Rxe5 23. Rxe5 Qxe5 24. g5 $17 {Lanka,Z-Kotronias,V/
Gausdal International (5)/1991/0-1 (40)}) 13... Rac8 (13... Ng4 $5 {Boensch})
14. Bb3 Be6 15. Bxe6 exf4 16. Bxf4 fxe6 17. Qh3 Kf7 18. Kb1 Qc5 19. g4 h6 20.
Be3 Qe5 21. Bd4 Qg5 22. Rg1 Nd7 23. Be3 Qg6 24. g5 $3 $40 {Shirov,A-Kramnik,V/
Luzern WchT/1993/1-0 (54)}) 13. Rg3 Kh8 (13... e5 14. Qd3 $36) 14. Rf1 (14. e5
{Boensch} dxe5 15. fxe5 Bc6 16. Qe3 Ng8 17. Bd3 Qb6 (17... h6 18. h4 b5 19. Kb1
b4 20. Ne2 Rd5 21. Qe4 Rxd3 22. Qxd3 Qxe5 $44 {Kotronias,V-Kramnik,V Belgrade 
(1) 1993 r 28 -CBM 39}) 18. Qxb6 axb6 19. Re1 Bxg5+ 20. Rxg5 Rd4 $10 {Hodgson,
JM-Kramnik,V Belgrade (5) 1993 0-1 48 -CBM 39}) 14... h6 (14... Bc6 15. f5 $40)
15. e5 {? Boensch} (15. Bh4 $13 {Boensch}) 15... dxe5 (15... hxg5 16. exf6 Bxf6
17. Qd3 Rfe8 18. Ne4 $40) 16. fxe5 (16. Qxe5 Qxe5 17. fxe5 hxg5 18. exf6 gxf6
$17) 16... Be8 17. Qf4 (17. exf6 Rxd4 18. fxg7+ Kh7 (18... Kxg7 19. Bxe7+ $1 (
19. Bf6+ Kh7 20. Rg7+ Kh8 21. Rg5+ Bxf6 22. Rxa5 Bg5+ $17) 19... Kh7 20. Bf6
Rg8 21. Rxg8 Kxg8 22. Bxd4 $16) 19. Bd3+ (19. Bxe7 Rg8 20. Bd3+ f5) (19. gxf8=Q
{Ernst} Bxf8 $17) 19... f5 (19... Rxd3 20. Bxe7 Rg8 21. Rxd3 Rxg7 22. Ne4 $40)
20. gxf8=Q Bxf8 21. Be3 $13) (17. Qh4 {Boensch} Qxe5 $19) (17. Qe3 {Boensch}
Ng4 18. Rxg4 Bxg5 19. Rxg5 hxg5 $17) 17... Nh5 (17... hxg5 $2 18. Qxg5 $18) 18.
Bxh6 $6 Nxf4 (18... Nxg3 19. Bxg7+ Kxg7 20. Qxg3+ Kh8 21. Qh3+ Kg7 22. Qg4+ Kh8
23. Rf3 $18) 19. Bxg7+ Kh7 (19... Kg8 $2 20. Rxf4 $18) 20. Rxf4 Rg8 $6 {
? Boensch} (20... Bc6 21. Rh3+ $1 (21. Rfg4 Bxg2 22. Rxg2 Rg8) (21. Bxf8 Rxf8
22. Rh3+ Kg6 23. Bd3+ Kg5 24. Rhh4 f5 (24... Qxe5 25. Rfg4+ Kf6 26. Rh6#) 25.
exf6 e5 $13) 21... Kg6 (21... Kg8 22. Rg4 $18) 22. Bf6 $1 Bxf6 23. Rxf6+ Kg7 (
23... Kg5 24. Rg3+ Kh5 25. Be2+) 24. Rg3+ Kh7 25. Rf4 Rd1+ 26. Nxd1 Qd8 27.
Bd3+ $18) (20... Qxc3 $3 21. Rxc3 (21. bxc3 Ba3+ 22. Kb1 Rd1#) 21... Bg5 (21...
Kxg7 {Ernst} 22. Rg3+ Kh6 23. Rh3+ Kg6 24. Rg3+ Kh6 $19) 22. Rh3+ Kxg7 23. Rg3
Kh6 24. Rh3+ Kg6 25. Rg3 Rh8 26. Bd3+ Rxd3 27. cxd3 Rh4 $1 28. Rxg5+ Kxg5 $19)
(20... Qb6 $6 21. Ne4 $1) 21. Rfg4 Rxg7 $2 (21... Qxc3 $3 {Boensch} 22. Rxc3
Rxg7 $19) 22. Rxg7+ Kh6 23. Rg8 Kh7 24. R8g7+ 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Groningen PCA"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Dolmatov, Sergey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B65"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "29"]
[EventDate "1993.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8.
O-O-O O-O 9. f4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Qa5 11. Bc4 Bd7 12. e5 dxe5 13. fxe5 Bc6 14. Bd2
Nd7 15. Nd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Groningen PCA"]
[Site "Groningen"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D14"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "21"]
[EventDate "1993.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bf4 Bf5 7. e3 e6 8. Bd3
Bxd3 9. Qxd3 Bd6 10. Bxd6 Qxd6 11. O-O 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Candidates FIDE m5"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Yudasin, Leonid"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "1994.01.16"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Qa4+ Bd7 6. Qh4 Nxc3 7. dxc3 Nc6
8. e4 e5 9. Qxd8+ Rxd8 10. Bc4 f6 11. Be3 Na5 12. Be2 Be6 13. Nd2 b6 14. b4 Nb7
15. f3 h5 16. a3 Bh6 17. Bxh6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates FIDE m5"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Yudasin, Leonid"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Wolff,P"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "1994.01.16"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Nd5 Nxd5 8.
exd5 Ne7 {Perhaps not best.} (8... Nb8 9. c4 Be7 10. Be2 a6 11. Nc3 O-O 12. O-O
f5 13. f4 Bf6 14. g3 Nd7 15. Qc2 exf4 16. gxf4 Bd4+ 17. Kh1 Nc5 18. Bf3 Bd7 19.
Rb1 b5 20. b4 Ne4 21. Nxe4 fxe4 22. Bxe4 bxc4 23. Qxc4 Qf6 24. Rd1 Rae8 25.
Qxd4 Rxe4 26. Qxe4 Bf5 27. Qd4 Bxb1 28. Qxf6 gxf6 29. a3 Be4+ 30. Kg1 Rc8 31.
Bb2 Kf7 {1/2-1/2 Yudasin,L-Kramnik,V Wijk aan Zee (7) 1994}) 9. c3 Nf5 10. a4
g6 $146 11. Bd3 (11. Be2 Bg7 12. O-O O-O 13. Qb3 Re8 14. Qb4 e4 15. Bf4 Be5 16.
Bxe5 Rxe5 17. Rad1 Nh4 18. Kh1 Qg5 19. Rg1 Bg4 20. Bxg4 Qxg4 21. Rde1 Qf4 22.
Qxd6 $4 (22. Nxd6 $1 a5 $1 $8 (22... Rh5 $2 23. Rxe4 Nf3 24. Re8+ $1 {Anand}
Rxe8 25. Qxf4 $18) 23. Qd4 (23. Qxb7 Rf8 24. Qc7 Nf3 25. gxf3 Qxf3+ 26. Rg2 Rg5
27. Reg1 Rxg2 28. Rxg2 Qd1+ $10) 23... Rh5 24. Rxe4 Qxd6 25. Rxh4 Rxh4 26. Qxh4
Qxd5 $10 {/\ 27...Qb3}) 22... Nf5 23. Qc7 e3 24. Rxe3 Qxe3 $1 $19 {Yudasin,
L-Kramnik,V Wijk aan Zee (1) 1994 /\:} 25. fxe3 Ng3+ 26. hxg3 Rh5#) 11... Bg7
12. O-O O-O 13. Qb3 Re8 14. Re1 $14 b6 $6 15. a5 $1 a6 (15... bxa5 16. Qa3 $16)
16. axb6 Rb8 17. Na3 Rxb6 18. Qa4 Ne7 19. Nc4 Rb5 20. Na5 Rb6 (20... Rxd5 21.
Bc4 Be6 {/\ 22...Rxa5} (21... Bd7 22. Qa3 Rc5 23. Be3 $16) (21... Rc5 22. Be3
Rc7 23. Bb6 $16) 22. Nb7 $1 (22. Bxd5 Bxd5 $44) 22... Qb8 23. Bxd5 Bxd5 24.
Nxd6 Bc6 25. Qb4 $16) 21. Qa2 Bf5 22. Bf1 Bc8 23. Bd2 Nf5 24. b4 Bh6 25. Bxh6
Nxh6 26. Qd2 $5 (26. c4 $1 $16 {I think that this is a more precise way to win
the game than the text, although the text should have won too. It is hard to
see what Black will do against the rolling queenside pawns, especially given
that:} Rxb4 $4 27. Qd2 $18) 26... Nf5 27. Nc4 Rb8 28. Ne3 {><a6} Nxe3 29. Qxe3
Qb6 30. Ra5 Qxe3 31. fxe3 $1 {/\Kf2-e2-d2} Re7 32. Rea1 (32. Kf2 Rc7 33. Rc1
Bb7 34. Ke1 Rbc8 35. Kd2 $18) 32... Rc7 33. R1a3 Bb7 34. Bxa6 Bxa6 35. Rxa6
Rbc8 36. Rxd6 Rxc3 37. Rxc3 Rxc3 38. Rc6 Rxe3 39. d6 $4 (39. Rc8+ $1 Kg7 40. b5
Kf6 41. Re8 $1 $18 {Black cannot stop both pawns, e.g.} Rb3 (41... Rd3 42. b6
Rxd5 43. b7) (41... e4 42. b6 Rb3 43. d6 e3 44. Kf1) 42. d6 Rxb5 43. d7) 39...
Kg7 40. b5 Kf6 41. d7+ Ke7 42. Rd6 Kd8 43. Rf6 Kxd7 44. Rxf7+ Ke6 45. Rxh7 Rb3
46. Rb7 Rb2 $14 47. b6 e4 48. Rb8 e3 49. Kf1 Kf6 50. h4 Kg7 51. g4 Kh7 52. Rb7+
Kg8 53. Ke1 Kh8 54. h5 gxh5 55. gxh5 e2 $1 56. h6 Kg8 57. Rg7+ Kh8 58. b7 Rb1+
59. Kxe2 Rb2+ 60. Kd3 Rb3+ 61. Kc4 Rb4+ 62. Kxb4 (62. Kd3 Rb3+ 63. Ke2 Rb2+ 64.
Kf3 Rb3+ 65. Kg4 Rb4+ 66. Kh5 Rb5+ 67. Kg6 Rb6+ 68. Kf5 Rb5+ 69. Ke6 Rb6+ 70.
Kd5 Rb5+ 71. Kd6 Rb6+ 72. Kc5 Rb5+ 73. Kc4 Rb4+ 74. Kc5 Rb5+ 75. Kc6 Rb6+ 76.
Kc7 Rxb7+ 77. Kxb7 $10) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates FIDE m5"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Yudasin, Leonid"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[Annotator "Wolff,P"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1994.01.16"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Ribli} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Qa4+ Bd7 6. Qh4 Nxc3 7.
dxc3 (7. Qd4 f6 8. Qxc3 e5 $1 {This is the Big Novelty of this system, which
has revived interest in it as a way for Gruefeld players to meet the English
Opening.} 9. Nxe5 (9. e3 Nc6 $10 {Novik}) 9... fxe5 10. Qxe5+ Qe7 11. Qxh8 Nc6
$44 12. Qc3 (12. g3 O-O-O 13. Bg2 Nd4 14. O-O Bg7 15. Qxh7 Rh8 16. Qxg6 Bf5 $17
{Novik}) (12. e3 O-O-O 13. Be2 Bg7 14. Qxh7 Qf6 $1 $17 {Novik}) (12. b3 Nb4 $1
13. Kd1 (13. e3 Nc2+ 14. Kd1 Nxa1 15. Qxa1 O-O-O $44) 13... O-O-O 14. Ba3 (14.
Bb2 Bh6 15. Qe5 Bg4 $1 16. f4 Qd7 $17) 14... a5 $1 $44 {Novik}) 12... O-O-O 13.
e3 (13. g3 Bg7 14. Qe3 Qd6 15. Bg2 Nd4 16. O-O Re8 17. Qg5 Re5 $17 {Novik})
13... Bg7 14. Qc4 $2 (14. Qc2 $2 Nb4 15. Qb3 Bf5 16. d3 Qc5 $17) (14. Qb3 $1 $8
Nd4 15. Qd1 Bf5 $1 16. d3 Qb4+ 17. Bd2 Qxb2 18. exd4 Re8+ 19. Be2 Bxd3 20. Be3
(20. O-O Bxe2 21. Qc1 Qxd4 $17) 20... Bxe2 21. Qb1 (21. Qc1 Qb5 $1) 21... Qxb1+
22. Rxb1 Bc4 $44 {Novik}) 14... Nd4 $1 15. Be2 b5 $1 16. Qc3 Nxe2 17. Qa5 Nf4
18. O-O {Belov-Novik, Rostov na Donu open} Nxg2 $1 19. Qa6+ Kb8 20. Kxg2 Qg5+
21. Kh1 Bh3 22. Rg1 Qd5+ {Novik}) (7. Qd4 $5 $14 {Ribli}) 7... Nc6 8. e4 e5 9.
Bg5 (9. Qxd8+ Rxd8 10. Be3 f6 11. Bc4 Na5 $1 12. Be2 Be6 13. Nd2 b6 $10 14. b4
Nb7 15. f3 h5 16. a3 Bh6 17. Bxh6 {1/2-1/2, Kramnik,V-Yudasin,L Wijk aan Zee 
(2) 1994}) 9... Be7 10. Bc4 (10. Qh6 Bxg5 11. Nxg5 Qe7 $1 12. Bc4 (12. Qg7
O-O-O $1 13. h4 h6 14. Nxf7 Rdf8 15. Bc4 Be8 $19) 12... f6 $1 13. Nf3 (13. Bf7+
Kd8 14. Qg7 Rf8 $19) (13. Nf7 Rf8 14. Qxh7 Rxf7 $17) 13... O-O-O 14. Qe3 {
1/2-1/2, Korchnoi,V-Chiburdanidze,M Haninge 1988}) 10... h6 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12.
O-O-O (12. Qxe7+ $5 $13 {Ribli Neverov,V-Krasenkov,M/Moscow op/1990/EXP19/})
12... Qxh4 13. Nxh4 Rd8 (13... Ke7 $2 {Ribli} 14. Bxf7 Bg4 15. f3 g5 16. Ng6+
Kxf7 17. Nxh8+ Rxh8 18. fxg4 $18) 14. Bd5 Ke7 15. Nf3 Kf6 $1 $146 16. Rd3 (16.
Rd2 $5 {Ribli}) 16... Be8 17. Rhd1 b6 18. b4 (18. Ne1 $5 {Ribli} Nb8 19. Nc2
Ke7 20. Ne3 $36) 18... Nb8 19. Kb2 Bb5 $10 20. R3d2 Ba4 21. Bb3 Rxd2+ 22. Nxd2
(22. Rxd2 $5 {Ribli}) 22... Bc6 23. f3 Rd8 24. a4 Ke7 25. Nc4 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Candidates FIDE m5"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Yudasin, Leonid"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "21"]
[EventDate "1994.01.16"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Qa4+ Bd7 6. Qh4 Nxc3 7. dxc3 Nc6
8. e4 e5 9. Bg5 Be7 10. Bc4 h6 11. Bxe7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates FIDE m5"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Yudasin, Leonid"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Chekhov,V"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "1994.01.16"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 039"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Nd5 Nxd5 8.
exd5 Nb8 9. c4 Be7 10. Be2 a6 11. Nc3 O-O 12. O-O f5 13. f4 Bf6 14. g3 $5 $146
(14. Qc2 Nd7 15. Kh1 (15. Qxf5 $6 exf4 16. Qe6+ Rf7 17. Qxd6 Be5 $1 18. Qa3 Qh4
19. Bf3 Bd4+ 20. Kh1 Rf6 21. h3 Ne5 $40) 15... g6 $6 (15... exf4 $1 16. Bxf4
Be5 $1 17. Bd3 g6 18. Rae1 b6 19. Ne2 Qf6 20. Qd2 Bxf4 21. Qxf4 Ne5 $36 {
Pablo,S-Andrianov,N/Moscow/1982/}) 16. g3 $1 Re8 17. Bd2 b6 18. Rae1 Bg7 19. b3
$14 {Tal,M-Cseshkovsky,V/Riga/1979/}) 14... Nd7 15. Qc2 exf4 16. gxf4 $1 Bd4+
$6 (16... Nc5 $5 17. Bf3 (17. Rb1 Ne4 $5 18. Nxe4 fxe4 19. Be3 Bh3 20. Rfe1 Qd7
$13) 17... Bd4+ 18. Kh1 Ne4 $5) 17. Kh1 Nc5 18. Bf3 Bd7 19. Rb1 b5 20. b4 (20.
cxb5 $6 axb5 21. b4 Na4) 20... Ne4 (20... Na4 $6 21. Nxa4 bxa4 22. c5 $16) 21.
Nxe4 fxe4 22. Bxe4 bxc4 23. Qxc4 $5 (23. Bxh7+ $6 Kh8 24. Be4 (24. Qd1 Qf6 25.
Qh5 Qh6 26. Qxh6 gxh6 $13) 24... Qf6 25. Bd2 c3 (25... Rae8 26. Rbe1 Bh3 27.
Bg2 Bxg2+ 28. Kxg2 Qh4 $36) 26. Be1 Rae8 27. Bf2 Bh3 $36) 23... Qf6 (23... Bb5
$6 24. Qxd4 Bxf1 25. Bb2 $18) 24. Rd1 Rae8 25. Qxd4 (25. Bxh7+ $6 Kxh7 26. Qxd4
Re1+ 27. Kg2 Qg6+ $19) (25. Rxd4 $6 Bb5 26. Qc3 Rxe4) (25. Bf3 Bb5 26. Qxd4 (
26. Qc2 Be3 $36) 26... Re1+ 27. Kg2 Qg6+ 28. Kf2 Rxd1 $19) 25... Rxe4 $1 26.
Qxe4 Bf5 27. Qd4 (27. Qg2 Bxb1 28. Bb2 Qg6 $44) 27... Bxb1 28. Qxf6 gxf6 29. a3
Be4+ 30. Kg1 Rc8 $10 31. Bb2 Kf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 12th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[Annotator "Gelfand,B"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1994.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. d5 a5 8. Bg5 h6
9. Bh4 Na6 10. O-O Qe8 11. Nd2 Nh7 12. a3 Bd7 13. Kh1 $5 h5 (13... a4) 14. f3
Bh6 15. b3 Be3 16. Qc2 $5 (16. Rb1) 16... f5 (16... c6 {Illescas,M-Gelfand,B/
Linares/1994/}) 17. exf5 gxf5 (17... Bxf5 18. Bd3 $16) 18. Bf2 (18. Bd3 Nc5)
18... Bxf2 (18... Bd4 19. Rae1 $14 Nc5 $140 20. Bxd4 exd4 21. Bd3) 19. Rxf2 Nf6
20. Rg1 Kh8 (20... Qg6 $2 21. g4 $1 $16) (20... c6 21. Bd3 $1 e4 (21... Qg6 22.
g4 $1) 22. fxe4 Ng4 23. Re2 $16) 21. Qb2 (21. Bd3 Qg6 {/\ Nc5}) 21... Nc5 (
21... c6 22. f4 $5 exf4 $6 23. Rxf4 Qe5 24. Rh4 $16) 22. b4 axb4 23. axb4 Na4
24. Nxa4 Rxa4 25. Bd1 Ra8 (25... Ra7 26. f4 exf4 27. Re2 Qg6 28. Qd4 $16) 26.
f4 exf4 27. Re2 (27. Rxf4 Qe5 $15) 27... Qg6 (27... Qf7 $5 28. Qd4 (28. Rge1
Rae8 $1 29. Rxe8 Rxe8 30. Rxe8+ Bxe8 31. Bxh5 $2 Qe7 $1 32. Be2 $15) 28... Qg7
29. Qxf4 b5 $5 $13) 28. Re7 (28. Qd4 Qh6 $13) 28... Rf7 (28... Kg8 29. g3 $5
$36) 29. Rxf7 Qxf7 30. Qd4 (30. Bxh5 $6 Qg7 31. Bf3 Ng4 $15) 30... Qg7 31. Qxf4
Kh7 $6 (31... Ra1 32. b5 $1 Ng4 33. Bxg4 (33. h3 $5) 33... hxg4 34. Rxa1 Qxa1+
35. Nf1 $16) (31... b5 $142 $1 32. c5 dxc5 (32... Nxd5 33. Qf3 c6 34. cxd6 Nxb4
(34... Qg6 35. Nb3 $36) 35. Nb3 $36) 33. Qxc7 (33. bxc5 Nxd5 34. Qf3 c6 35.
Qxh5+ Qh7 $132) 33... cxb4 $13) 32. Re1 $6 (32. b5 $1 {/\ b5-b6} b6 33. Re1 $16
) 32... Ra1 33. h3 $6 (33. b5 $5 Ng4 34. h3 Ne5 35. Qh4 Be8 36. Nf3 $36) 33...
b5 $1 34. Kh2 (34. c5 $5 dxc5 35. bxc5 Nxd5 36. Qf3 c6 (36... Nf6 37. c6 $13)
37. Nb3 Ra2 38. Qxh5+ Qh6 $13) 34... bxc4 35. Nxc4 (35. Qxc4 $2 Ba4 36. Nb3 Ne4
$17) 35... Nxd5 36. Qh4 Nf6 (36... Qh6 37. Qd4 Qf4+ 38. Qxf4 Nxf4 39. Re7+ Kh6
40. Rxd7 Rxd1 41. Rxc7 $10) 37. Bxh5 Rxe1 38. Be2+ $1 $8 Qh6 39. Qxe1 Ne4 (
39... Qf4+ $5 40. Kg1 (40. Qg3 $2 Qxg3+ 41. Kxg3 Nd5 $17) 40... Bc6 $5 $36 (
40... d5 41. Qd2 $10)) 40. Bf3 Qf4+ 41. Kg1 Be6 (41... Ng5 $5 42. Qe7+ (42. Be2
Bc6 (42... d5 $5) 43. Bf1 $15) 42... Kg6 43. Be2 (43. Qxd7 Nxf3+ 44. gxf3 Qg3+
$1 $19) 43... Bc6 44. Qe3 $10) (41... Be6 42. Be2 Bxc4 $10) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 12th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "1994.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 e6 5. Bg2 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. O-O Be7 8. d4
O-O 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. Bg5 Qb6 12. Rc1 d4 13. Bf4 Bf5 14. Bc7 Qb5
15. Nd2 Bb6 16. Bxb6 axb6 17. Nc4 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Linares 12th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Lautier, Joel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "1994.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 Bb4 8. e4
Bxe4 9. fxe4 Nxe4 10. Bd2 Qxd4 11. Nxe4 Qxe4+ 12. Qe2 Bxd2+ 13. Kxd2 Qd5+ 14.
Kc2 Na6 15. Nxc4 O-O-O 16. Qe5 f6 17. Qxd5 cxd5 18. Na3 Nb4+ 19. Kd2 Kd7 20.
Rc1 Rc8 21. Rc3 b6 22. Bb5+ Kd6 23. Be2 a6 24. h4 Rhf8 25. h5 f5 26. h6 g6 27.
Rhc1 Rc5 28. a5 Na2 29. Rxc5 bxc5 30. Ra1 Nb4 31. Nc2 Nc6 32. Bxa6 Ra8 33. Bb5
Rxa5 34. Rxa5 Nxa5 35. Ne1 Nb7 36. Nf3 Ke7 37. Ng5 Nd6 38. Nxh7 Nf7 39. g4 Nxh6
40. gxf5 gxf5 41. Ke3 e5 42. Bc6 Kd6 43. Bb7 Ng4+ 44. Kf3 e4+ 45. Kf4 Ne5 46.
Ba6 c4 47. Ng5 Nd3+ 48. Ke3 f4+ 49. Kd4 e3 50. Nf3 e2 51. Bb7 Ne5 52. Ne1 Nd3
53. Nf3 Ne5 54. Ne1 f3 55. Ke3 Kc5 56. Kf2 Kd4 57. Nxf3+ Nxf3 58. Kxe2 Ne5 59.
Kd2 Nd3 60. Bxd5 Kxd5 61. b3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 12th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Chekhov,V"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "1994.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. a3 b4 10. Ne4 (10. axb4 Bxb4 11. O-O c5 12. Na2 O-O 13. Nxb4 cxb4 14. b3
Qb6 15. Bb2 Rfc8 $10 {Granda Zuniga,J-Akopian,V/Biel(izt)/1993/ Inf 58/483/})
10... Nxe4 11. Bxe4 Qc7 12. axb4 (12. O-O bxa3 13. bxa3 Bd6 14. Rb1 O-O 15. Qc2
h6 16. Bd2 Rab8 17. Bb4 c5 18. dxc5 Bxe4 19. Qxe4 Nxc5 20. Qg4 Nd3 21. Bxd6
Qxd6 22. Qa4 Qc5 $10 {Gelfand,B-Bareev,E/Linares/1993/ Inf 57/434/}) (12. Qc2
bxa3 13. bxa3 h6 14. Bd2 Bd6 15. Bb4 O-O 16. Bxd6 Qxd6 17. Nd2 Rab8 18. O-O c5
19. Bxb7 {Vyzmanavin,A-Morovic Fernandez,I/Leon/1993/ Inf 57/434/}) 12... Bxb4+
13. Bd2 Bxd2+ (13... c5 14. Bxb4 cxb4 15. Rc1 $14) 14. Nxd2 c5 15. Qc2 Qb6 16.
dxc5 (16. Bxb7 Qxb7 17. dxc5 Qxg2 18. Qe4 Qxe4 19. Nxe4 f5 $132 {Gelfand})
16... Qxc5 (16... Nxc5 $6 17. Bxb7 Nxb7 18. Qa4+ $40) 17. Qxc5 $5 $146 (17. Qa4
Rb8 $1 18. O-O O-O $1 19. Qxd7 Rfd8 20. Bxh7+ {Gelfand,B-Anand,V/Biel(izt)/
1993/1:0 (29) Inf 58/483/} Kf8 $1 21. Qa4 Rxd2 22. Be4 Bxe4 23. Qxe4 g6 $10 {
Gelfand/}) 17... Nxc5 18. Bxb7 Nxb7 19. Ke2 Nd6 20. Ra5 (20. Ra6 Nb5 21. Rc1
Ke7) 20... O-O (20... Ke7 21. Rc1 Rhc8 22. Rxc8 Nxc8 23. Nc4) 21. Rc1 (21. Rha1
Rab8 22. b3 Nb5) 21... Rab8 22. Rc6 $1 $16 Nb5 (22... Rfd8 $2 23. Rxa7 Rxb2 24.
Rxd6 $18) (22... Rb6 23. Rxb6 axb6 24. Ra6 Rb8 25. b4 $14) 23. Ne4 Rfd8 24. b4
Rb7 25. f4 (25. Nc5 Nc3+ $1 26. Kf3 Rxb4) 25... h6 26. g4 Kf8 27. h4 Ke7 28. f5
(28. g5 hxg5 29. hxg5 g6) 28... exf5 $8 29. gxf5 Kf8 (29... f6 30. Nc5 Rbb8 (
30... Nc3+ 31. Kf3 Rxb4 32. Rxa7+ $18)) 30. Kf3 Ke7 (30... Rd5 $2 31. Rc5 $1
Rxc5 32. Nxc5 $18) 31. h5 (31. f6+ $6 gxf6 32. Rxf6 Nc3 $1 33. Rxh6 Nxe4 34.
Kxe4 Rxb4+ $10) 31... Rdb8 32. Ra1 $6 (32. f6+ $5 gxf6 33. Nxf6 Rd8 34. Ne4 $16
) 32... Rb6 $1 33. Rc5 Rd8 34. Rac1 (34. Rg1 $5 Kf8 35. Rgc1) 34... Nd6 $1 35.
Re5+ Kf8 36. Rd5 (36. Rd1 Re8 $1) 36... Nb7 37. Rxd8+ Nxd8 38. Rc8 Ke8 39. Rc7
(39. Rc4 Nc6 40. Nd6+ Kd7 41. Nxf7 Rxb4 $132) 39... a6 40. Ra7 Rxb4 (40... Nc6
$4 41. Nd6+) 41. Rxa6 (41. Nd6+ Kf8 42. Rd7 Rb8) 41... f6 42. Ra8 Ke7 43. Nc3
Kd7 44. Nd5 Rb5 45. e4 Rb7 46. Nf4 (46. Kf4 $5) 46... Nf7 47. Ne6 Ng5+ 48. Nxg5
hxg5 $10 (48... hxg5 49. Rg8 Kd6) 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Linares 12th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B56"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1994.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. f3 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Be3
Be6 9. Nd5 Bxd5 10. exd5 Nb4 11. c4 a5 12. Nd2 Nd7 13. Ne4 f5 14. Nc3 O-O 15.
Be2 Bg5 16. Bf2 Qf6 17. O-O Na6 18. Bd3 Qh6 19. Qe2 Rae8 20. Bc2 Nac5 21. g3 e4
22. f4 Bd8 23. a3 Nf6 24. Kg2 Bb6 25. Bg1 Ncd7 26. Nb5 Bxg1 27. Rxg1 Qg6 28. b4
Rc8 29. Nxd6 Nxd5 30. Nxc8 Nxf4+ 31. Kf1 Qf6 32. Ne7+ Kh8 33. Qd1 Nh3 34. Nd5
Qb2 35. Rg2 f4 36. gxf4 Qe5 37. Ra2 Nb6 38. Qa1 Rxf4+ 39. Ke1 1-0

[Event "Linares 12th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Hertneck,G"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1994.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 Bb4 8. e4
Bxe4 9. fxe4 Nxe4 10. Bd2 Qxd4 11. Nxe4 Qxe4+ 12. Qe2 Bxd2+ 13. Kxd2 Qd5+ 14.
Kc2 Na6 15. Nxc4 O-O-O 16. Qe5 f6 17. Qe3 Kb8 18. Be2 e5 $5 {Rarely seen in
tournament practice.} (18... Qxg2 19. Rhg1 Qxh2 20. Rxg7 Nb4+ 21. Kb3 Nd5 22.
Qf3 Qf4 $13) 19. g3 $146 (19. Kb3 Nc5+ 20. Ka3 Ne6 $13 {Tukmakov,V-Solozhenkin,
E/Schwabisch Gmund/1991}) 19... Qe6 $1 {<-> d} 20. b3 Rd5 (20... Rd4 21. Rad1
Rhd8 22. Rxd4 Rxd4 23. Rd1 Nb4+ {/\ Nd5}) 21. Kb2 (21. Bf3 $6 Nb4+ 22. Kb2 Nd3+
$36) 21... Rhd8 22. Rad1 Nb4 23. Qc3 $1 {/\ Ne3} (23. Bf3 e4 $5) 23... Qe7 24.
Ne3 Rxd1 25. Rxd1 Rxd1 26. Bxd1 g6 $1 27. Qd2 Kc7 28. Nc2 a5 (28... Nd5) 29.
Ne3 Qc5 30. Nc4 b6 31. Kb1 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Linares 12th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D48"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1994.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Ernst Kortschnoj Hansen,Cu} d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7
6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 a6 9. e4 c5 10. d5 c4 11. dxe6 fxe6 12. Bc2 Bb7 (
12... Qc7 {Ernst} 13. O-O Bc5) 13. O-O Qc7 14. Ng5 (14. e5 {Hansen,Cu} Nxe5 15.
Nxe5 Qxe5 16. Re1 Qd6 17. Bg5 (17. Qe2 Be7 18. Qxe6 Qxe6 19. Rxe6 Kf7 $15 {
Ashley,M-Polgar,Zso/New York/1992/}) 17... O-O-O 18. Qe2 Qc6 19. Qxe6+ Qxe6 20.
Rxe6 Bc5 $15 {Greenfeld,A-Pinter,J/Beersheba/1988/}) 14... Nc5 (14... Qc6 {
Hansen,Cu} 15. Qf3 Bc5 16. Qh3 Ke7 17. Nf3 b4 18. Ne2 Nxe4 19. Ned4 Qb6 20.
Bxe4 Bxe4 21. Qg4 Bxd4 22. Qxe4 Bf6 23. Qxc4 $16 {Gligoric,S-Ljubojevic,L/
Linares/1981/}) 15. e5 (15. Qe2 Bd6 16. f4 h6 17. Nh3 Nd3 18. e5 Bc5+ 19. Kh1
Nd5 20. Nxd5 Bxd5 21. b3 O-O 22. bxc4 bxc4 23. Be3 Bxe3 24. Qxe3 {Kragelj,
I-Volzhin,A/Ljubljana op (8/17)/1992/0-1 (35)}) (15. Be3 h6 16. Nh3 Bd6 17. f4
e5 18. fxe5 Bxe5 19. Nf4 O-O 20. Nfd5 Qd6 21. Nxf6+ Rxf6 22. Rxf6 gxf6 23. Qh5
Bd4 24. Qg6+ {Kempinski,R-Royer,S/Cappelle op (02)/1993/1-0 (26)}) (15. f4 h6 (
15... Rd8 16. Qe2 h6 17. Nh3 Nd3 18. e5 Nd5 19. Nxd5 Rxd5 20. Be3 Bc5 21. Nf2
Nxf2 22. Bxf2 Bxf2+ 23. Rxf2 O-O 24. Qg4 {Anikaev,Y-Mikhalchishin,A/USSR 28/
589/1979/1-0 (38)}) 16. e5 hxg5 (16... Nd3 17. Bxd3 O-O-O 18. Nf3 Rxd3 19. Qe2
Bc5+ 20. Kh1 Nd5 21. Ne4 Rf8 22. Ne1 Rd4 23. Nxc5 Qxc5 24. Qg4 {Gligoric,
S-Yusupov,A/Vrbas 30/576/1980/0-1 (42)}) 17. Bg6+ Ke7 18. Qe2 Nfd7 19. f5 Kd8
20. fxe6 Nxe6 21. Bf5 Kc8 22. Rd1 Bc5+ 23. Kh1 Nd4 24. Qg4 {Ftacnik,
L-Panchenko,AN/Sochi/1977/0-1 (30)}) (15. Qf3 {Hansen,Cu} Bd6 16. Qh3 O-O-O 17.
b4 (17. f4 {0,5/Seirawan,Y-Ribli,Z/Skelleftea Wcup/1989/}) 17... cxb3 18. Bxb3
Kb8 19. Be3 h6 20. Nxe6 Nxe6 21. Bxe6 Nxe4 22. Nxe4 Bxe4 23. a4 $16 {Klauser,
M-Pelletier,Y/SWZ-ch/1993/}) 15... Qxe5 16. Re1 Qd6 17. Qxd6 $1 (17. Be3 Qc6
18. Qf3 Qxf3 19. gxf3 Nd3 20. Bxd3 cxd3 21. Rad1 h6 22. Nxe6 Kf7 23. Bc5 Bxc5
24. Nxc5 {Mackay,I-Swan,I/SCO-ch100/1993/1-0 (40)}) 17... Bxd6 18. Be3 $5 (18.
Nxe6 {Hansen,Cu} Nxe6 19. Rxe6+ Kd7 20. Re2 (20. Bf5 Kc7 21. Re1 (21. Bh6 gxh6
22. Rxf6 Raf8 $15 {Herb,P-Speelman,J/French tt/1992/}) 21... Rhe8 $15 {Rieke,
T-Kreuzkamp,R/2.BLW/1990/}) 20... Rae8 $15 {Lakic,N-Stanojoski,Z/ch-YU/1992/})
18... O-O (18... Nd3 19. Bxd3 cxd3 20. Nxe6 Kf7 21. Bc5 (21. Nf4 b4 22. Na4
Bxf4 23. Bxf4 Nd5 24. Bg3 Rac8 25. Rad1 $16) 21... Rhe8 22. Ng5+ Kg6 23. Bxd6
Kxg5 24. Red1 b4 25. Bxb4 Rad8 $16) 19. Rad1 Be7 (19... Rfd8 $2 20. Rxd6 Rxd6
21. Bxc5 $18) 20. Bxc5 Bxc5 21. Nxe6 Rfc8 22. h3 (22. Nxc5 Rxc5 23. Re7 Bc6 24.
b4 Rg5 25. g3 Re8 $13) 22... Bf8 (22... Ba7 23. Nxg7 (23. g4 h6 24. Bf5 b4 $13)
23... b4 24. Re7 $1 (24. Nb1 Bxg2 25. Kxg2 Kxg7 26. Re7+ Kf8 27. Re6 Kf7 28.
Rxa6 (28. Rdd6 Bd4 $1) 28... Bc5 29. Rxa8 Rxa8 30. a3 bxa3 31. bxa3 Bxa3 32.
Rd4 $14) 24... bxc3 25. Rxb7 cxb2 26. Nf5 Rcb8 27. Rc7 $1 $16) (22... b4 23.
Na4 Ba7 24. Nxg7 $1 Bxg2 $1 (24... Kxg7 25. Re7+) 25. Kxg2 Kxg7 26. Re7+ Kh8
27. Rd6 $36) (22... Bb6 {Hansen,Cu} 23. Nxg7 $16) (22... Bb4 $5 {Hansen,Cu}) (
22... Rab8 $5 {Kortschnoj}) 23. g4 h6 (23... b4 24. Na4 Bf3 (24... Rab8 25. Nb6
Rc6 26. Nxc4 $5 Rxc4 27. Bb3 $36) 25. Rd4 Rab8 26. Nxf8 Kxf8 27. Rf4 $18) 24.
f4 Bf3 (24... b4 25. Na4 Bf3 26. Rd4 Rab8 27. Kf2 $16) (24... Re8 {Hansen,Cu}
25. g5 $16) 25. Rd2 (25. Rd4 Re8 26. Kf2 Rxe6 27. Rxe6 Bc5 28. Kxf3 Bxd4 $14)
25... Bc6 (25... b4 26. Na4 c3 27. bxc3 bxc3 28. Rf2 Bd5 29. Nb6 Bxe6 30. Rxe6
Bc5 31. Nxa8 Rxa8 32. Rc6 $16) 26. g5 hxg5 27. fxg5 Nd7 (27... Nh5 $2 {
Kortschnoj} 28. Bg6 Ng3 29. Kh2 $18) 28. Nxf8 (28. Ne4 Ne5 $1 29. Rf1 Nd3) (28.
Rd4 b4 (28... Re8 $5) 29. Rh4 $5 bxc3 30. Bh7+ Kf7 (30... Kh8) 31. Nd8+ $3 Rxd8
32. Rf4+ Nf6 33. g6#) (28. Be4 {Hansen,Cu} Nc5 29. Bf5 Re8 $132) 28... Nxf8 (
28... Rxf8 29. Re6 (29. Rd6 $14 {Hansen,Cu}) 29... Nb8 30. Re7 $16) (28... Kxf8
$2 29. Bh7 g6 $8 30. Rf2+ Kg7 31. Re7+ Kh8 32. Bxg6 $18) 29. Rd6 (29. Re7 Rd8
$1) 29... b4 (29... Bd7 30. Be4 Rab8 31. Bd5+ Kh8 32. Re4 $40) (29... Ra7 $5 {
Hansen,Cu} 30. Bf5 (30. h4 $5) 30... Rcc7 31. Nd5 Bxd5 32. Rxd5 $14) (29... Re8
{Kortschnoj} 30. Rxe8 Bxe8 31. Nd5 $16) 30. Ne4 (30. Nd5 $1 Bxd5 31. Rxd5 c3 (
31... Rd8 $5 $14 {Hansen,Cu}) 32. g6 $1 (32. Bb3 Kh7 $1 (32... Kh8 33. g6 $18))
32... a5 33. Rb5 $1 a4 34. Be4 $1 Rab8 (34... cxb2 35. Bd5+ Kh8 36. Bf7 $18)
35. Bd5+ Kh8 36. Re5 $18) 30... Be8 (30... Nd7 {Hansen,Cu} 31. Ng3 {/\Re7//\Nf5
}) (30... Bxe4 {Ernst} 31. Bxe4 $16) 31. Ng3 Rd8 (31... c3 $5 {Hansen,Cu} 32.
Nf5 cxb2 33. Ne7+ Kh8 34. Nxc8 Rxc8 35. Rd2 $14) 32. Nf5 Rxd6 (32... a5 33. Be4
Rac8 34. Bd5+ Kh7 35. Bxc4 $18) 33. Nxd6 Bg6 $2 (33... Bb5 34. Re4 c3 35. Rxb4
cxb2 36. Rxb2 $16) (33... Bd7 $1 34. Be4 (34. h4 Be6 35. Re4 b3 36. axb3 cxb3
$132) (34. Nxc4 Bxh3 35. Bb3 Kh7 $14) (34. g6 Be6 $1) 34... Rd8 35. Bd5+ Kh7
36. Bxc4 (36. h4 Bf5 $1) 36... Bxh3 37. Rd1 $14) (33... Bf7 $1 {Ernst} 34. Nxf7
(34. Re7 $1 Bd5 35. g6 $16 (35. Nf5 Ne6 36. Rd7 Bf3 37. Kf2 Bh5 $16)) 34...
Kxf7 35. g6+ Kf6 36. Rf1+ Kg5 37. Rf7 Kh6 $1 (37... Rd8 38. Rxg7 Rd2 39. Rg8
$16) 38. Rc7 a5 39. Rxc4 Ra6 $16) 34. Bxg6 Nxg6 35. Nxc4 Rd8 36. Re4 (36. Kh2 {
Kortschnoj} Rd5 37. Rg1 Nh4 $10) 36... b3 (36... Rd1+ 37. Kg2 (37. Kh2 {
Hansen,Cu} Ra1 38. Re6 Nh4 39. Kg3 Nf5+ 40. Kg4 $18) 37... Ra1 38. h4 Rxa2 39.
h5 Nf8 40. g6 $1 a5 41. Re8 a4 42. Kg3 Ra1 43. Nd6 a3 44. Nf5 Rf1 45. Ne7+ Kh8
46. bxa3 bxa3 47. Ra8 $18) 37. axb3 (37. a3 $1 $16 {Hansen,Cu}) (37. a4 $1 $16
{Kortschnoj}) 37... Rd3 38. Kg2 (38. Re3 Rxe3 (38... Rd5 $132 {Hansen,Cu}) 39.
Nxe3 Nf4 40. Kh2 Nd3 41. Nc4 Nc1 42. Kg3 $1 Nxb3 43. h4 $16) 38... Rxb3 39. h4
Nf8 (39... Rb4 $5 {Hansen,Cu} 40. Kg3 $1 (40. h5 Ne5 41. Rxe5 (41. Nd6 Rxb2+
42. Kg3 Rb6 43. Nf5 Rb3+ 44. Kg2 Rb2+ $10) 41... Rxc4 42. Kf3 $14) 40... Ne5
41. Nd6 Rxe4 (41... Rb3+ 42. Kf4 Nd3+ 43. Kf5 $16) 42. Nxe4 Kf7 43. Nc5 a5 44.
h5 $16) 40. Re8 (40. Re8 Kf7 (40... Rb4 41. Rc8 Kf7 $1 (41... g6 $16 {Hansen,Cu
}) (41... Kh7 $14 {Kortschnoj})) 41. Ra8 (41. Nd6+ Kg8 42. g6 Rxb2+ 43. Kf3 Rb6
44. Rd8 a5 45. h5 a4 46. Nf5 Rb3+ (46... Rf6 47. Kg4 Re6 48. Ra8 $18 Rf6 49.
Kg5 Re6 50. Nxg7 $1 $18) 47. Kf4 Rb4+ 48. Kg5 Rb5 49. Ra8 (49. h6 gxh6+ 50. Kf6
Rb6+ 51. Nd6 Rb3 52. g7 Rf3+ 53. Nf5 Rxf5+ 54. Kxf5 Kxg7 55. Ra8 Kf7 56. Ra7+
Ke8 57. Rxa4 $16) 49... a3 50. Kf4 Rb4+ 51. Ke3 Rb3+ 52. Ke2 Rb2+ 53. Ke1 Rb1+
54. Kd2 Rf1 55. Ne7+ Kh8 56. Rxa3 Ne6 57. Ra6 Nf8 58. Ra8 $18) 41... Rb4 42.
Ne5+ Ke6 43. Nd3 (43. Re8+ Kf5 44. Nd3 Rg4+ 45. Kh3) 43... Rd4 44. Nc5+ (44.
Rxa6+ Kd5 $14) 44... Kd5 45. Nxa6 Ne6 $14) 1-0

[Event "Linares 12th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2705"]
[Annotator "Anand,V"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "1994.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Shirov Ftacnik Hertneck,G Bulletin} d5 2. d4 Bf5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 {
The "solid" line. In general White seems to keep a slight edge here and this
game confirms this assessment} (4. Qb3 Nc6) 4... c6 5. Qb3 Qb6 6. c5 Qc7 (6...
Qxb3 {Hertneck,G} 7. axb3 Na6 8. Ra4 {! Shirov} (8. e4 Nb4 9. exf5 (9. Ra4 Nc2+
10. Kd1 dxe4 11. Ng5 (11. Nh4 Nxd4 $1 12. Rxd4 Bxc5 13. Rd2 Nf6 $15 {Swidler,P}
) 11... Nxd4 $1 12. Rxd4 Bxc5 13. Rc4 Bxf2 14. Ngxe4 Rd8+ 15. Ke2 Bb6 (15...
Bd4 $5) 16. Bf4 Ke7 17. Ke1 $14 {Swidler,P}) 9... Nc2+ 10. Kd1 Nxa1 11. fxe6
fxe6 (11... Nxb3 12. exf7+ Kxf7 13. Be3 Nf6 14. Ne5+ Ke8 (14... Ke6 $2 15. g3 (
15. Kc2 $2 Nxc5 $17) 15... a5 16. Bh3+ Ke7 17. Na4 $1 $18) 15. Kc2 Na1+ 16. Kb1
Nb3 17. Ka2 Na5 18. b4 Nc4 19. Nxc4 dxc4 20. Bxc4 $44 {Shirov}) 12. b4 a5 $6 (
12... Nf6 13. Bd3 Nb3 14. Be3 a5 15. b5 a4 $13 {Shirov}) 13. bxa5 $1 Nb3 (13...
Rxa5 14. b4 Ra8 15. Bb2 $16 {>< a1}) 14. a6 $1 Nxc1 15. axb7 Rb8 16. Kxc1 Rxb7
17. Bd3 $16 {>< e6; Shirov,A-Swidler,P/Gausdal/1991}) 8... Bc2 9. e3 (9. Bf4 $5
Bxb3 10. Ra3 Bc4 (10... Bc2 11. Na2 $1 Nf6 12. e3 Nb8 13. Bxb8 Rxb8 14. Rxa7
$14) 11. b3 Nxc5 (11... Nb4 12. Kd1 $1 Bb5 (12... Ba6 13. Ra4 $18) 13. Nxb5
cxb5 14. e3 Nc6 15. Bxb5 $16) 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. Ra1 Bb4 14. Bd2 Ba6 $13) 9...
Nc7 (9... Bxb3 10. Ra3 Bc4 11. Bxc4 dxc4 12. Ne5 Nb4 13. O-O $14) 10. Be2 $1
$14) 7. Bf4 Qc8 (7... Qxf4 {Ftacnik} 8. Qxb7 $16) 8. e3 Nf6 9. Qa4 (9. Nh4 {
Hertneck,G} Bg6 10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. h3 Nbd7 12. Rc1 $6 Be7 13. Qc2 Bd8 $1 14. Bd3
Bc7 $10 {Dzhindzishashvili,R-Kuligowski,A/Lone Pine/1981}) 9... Nbd7 (9... Nh5
10. Be5 Nd7 (10... f6 11. Bxb8 Qxb8 12. h3 $1) 11. h3 Nxe5 $2 12. dxe5 $1 $18)
10. b4 a6 (10... Nh5 11. Be5 f6 12. Bg3 Nxg3 (12... Bg4 {Shirov} 13. b5 Bxf3
14. bxc6 $1) 13. hxg3 e5) (10... Bg4 {Hertneck,G} 11. b5 Bxf3 12. bxc6 $1 $16 {
Shirov}) 11. h3 Be7 12. Qb3 O-O 13. Be2 Be4 $1 {The knight must be eliminated
to achieve e5.} (13... Bd8 {Hertneck,G} 14. O-O Bc7 15. Bxc7 Qxc7 16. a4 {
Shirov} e5 $132) (13... a5 {Ftacnik} 14. b5 b6 15. bxc6 Qxc6 16. Bb5 Qc8 17. c6
Bb4 18. O-O $16) 14. O-O (14. Nxe4 {Shirov} Nxe4 15. O-O Bd8 $10) 14... Bxf3
15. Bxf3 Bd8 16. a4 Bc7 (16... Re8 $1 {Shirov /\ e5} 17. b5 Ba5 $1) 17. Bg5 (
17. b5 {Ftacnik} Bxf4 18. exf4 axb5 19. axb5 Rxa1 20. Rxa1 b6 $10) 17... h6 18.
Bxf6 Nxf6 19. b5 e5 (19... axb5 20. axb5 b6 (20... Rxa1 {Ftacnik} 21. Rxa1 b6
22. bxc6 bxc5 23. Ra7 $16) 21. cxb6 Bxb6 22. Na4) (19... Ba5 20. Ne2) (19...
Ba5 $1 $10 {Shirov Karpov,An}) 20. b6 Bb8 (20... exd4 $1 21. exd4 (21. Ne2 $1 {
Shirov} d3 22. Qxd3 Be5 23. Nd4 $16) 21... Bf4) (20... e4 {Shirov} 21. bxc7
exf3 22. Rfb1 $1 fxg2 23. Kxg2 Qxc7 24. Qxb7 $16) (20... Bd8 {Shirov} 21. dxe5
Nd7 22. Bg4 $1) 21. a5 exd4 (21... e4 22. Be2) (21... Re8 $1) 22. exd4 Bf4 23.
Qc2 $1 (23. g3 Qxh3 24. Bg2 Qh5 25. gxf4 Ng4 26. Rfd1 Qh2+ 27. Kf1 Qxf4) 23...
Qd7 $2 {White is a little better in the long term because of his advanced
queenside but this piece sacrifice is uncalled for} (23... h5 24. Ne2 (24. g3 {
Shirov} Bh6 25. Kg2 $14) 24... Bh6) 24. g3 $1 {Calling Black's bluff} Qxh3 25.
Bg2 Qh5 26. gxf4 Ng4 27. Rfd1 (27. Rfe1 {Shirov} Qh2+ 28. Kf1 Qxf4 $13) 27...
Rae8 (27... Qh2+ 28. Kf1 Qxf4 29. Rd3 $1 {The importance of Qc2 - f2 is
protected}) 28. Rd3 Qh2+ 29. Kf1 f5 (29... Qxf4 {Shirov} 30. Qd2 $16) 30. Qd2 (
30. Rg3 $2 Qxg3) (30. Ne2 $1 $18 {Hertneck,G Shirov}) 30... Rf6 31. f3 (31. Rh3
Rg6 {Ftacnik} 32. Rxh2 Nxh2+ 33. Kg1 Nf3+ $19) (31. Rg3 $1) 31... Re4 32. Nxd5
$6 (32. Ne2 $1 Rg6 (32... Ne3+ 33. Rxe3 Rg6 34. Ng3 {Shirov} Rxe3 35. Qxe3 Qxg3
36. Ra2 h5 37. Qe5 $18) 33. fxe4 (33. fxg4 Rxg4 34. Ng1 Rexf4+ 35. Nf3 $18)
33... Ne3+ (33... Nf2 34. Rg3 Nxe4 $13) 34. Qxe3 (34. Rxe3 {Bulletin} Qxg2+ $19
) 34... Qxg2+ 35. Ke1 Qh1+ 36. Kd2 Qxa1 37. exf5 $18) (32. fxe4 {Bulletin} fxe4
33. Bf3 $1 $18 (33. Ne2 exd3 34. Qxd3 Re6 $132 (34... Qh4 35. Qg3 Qxg3 36. Nxg3
Rxf4+ 37. Kg1 Rxd4 38. Nf5 Rc4 39. Nd6 Rxc5 40. Nxb7 Rc2 41. Rb1 $18) (34...
Re6 35. Ra3 Ne3+ (35... Rxe2 36. Qxe2 Qxf4+ 37. Bf3 $18) 36. Qxe3 Rxe3 37. Rxe3
$18) (34... Rxf4+ 35. Nxf4 Qxf4+ 36. Bf3)) (33. Bf3 $1 {Ftacnik} Rxf4 (33...
Qh3+ 34. Qg2 Nh2+ 35. Kf2 Qh4+ 36. Qg3 $16) 34. Qxh2 Nxh2+ 35. Kg2 exd3 36.
Nxd5 $1 (36. Bxd5+ cxd5 37. c6 bxc6 38. b7 Rf8 39. Rb1 Rb8 40. Kxh2 d2 41. Kg2
Kf7 (41... h5 42. Kf3 h4 43. Ke2 (43. Kg4 g5 $13) 43... h3 44. Na4 d1=Q+ 45.
Kxd1 Rxb7 $1) 42. Kf3 Ke7 43. Ke2 Kd6 44. Na4 $18) 36... Rxf3 (36... Rxd4 37.
Kxh2 cxd5 38. c6 bxc6 39. Rb1 $18) 37. Ne7+ Kf7 (37... Kh7 38. Kxh2 $18) 38.
Nxc6 $1) (33. Nxe4 dxe4 34. Qa2+ Kh8 35. Bxe4 Qxf4+ 36. Bf3 Nh2+ 37. Ke2 Nxf3
$19)) 32... cxd5 33. c6 Rxf4 (33... Rxc6 $2 {Hertneck,G} 34. fxe4 {Shirov} fxe4
35. Rh3 $18) 34. cxb7 (34. c7 {Shirov} Rf8 35. Rc1 Rc8 $13) 34... Re4 $1 (34...
Rf8 $2 {Ftacnik} 35. Rc1 Nf6 36. Rc8 $18) 35. Rc1 (35. b8=Q+ {Hertneck,G} Qxb8
36. fxg4 Qh2 $1 (36... Rxg4 {Shirov} 37. Bxd5+ $18) 37. Rf3 fxg4 38. Rxf6 gxf6
39. b7 Rf4+ 40. Qxf4 Qxf4+ 41. Ke2 $13) (35. fxe4 $2 {Ftacnik} fxe4+ 36. Bf3
Qh1+ 37. Ke2 exf3+ 38. Rxf3 Qxf3+ 39. Ke1 Qf1#) 35... Kh7 (35... Re8 {Ftacnik}
36. Rc8 Rff8 37. Rxe8 Rxe8 38. fxg4 $18) 36. b8=Q (36. Rc7 Qg3 37. b8=Q Nh2+
38. Kg1 Re1+ 39. Qxe1 Qxe1+ 40. Kxh2 Qh4+ $10) (36. Rc8 Qg3 37. b8=Q Nh2+ 38.
Kg1 Re1+ 39. Qxe1 Qxe1+ 40. Kxh2 Qh4+ 41. Bh3 (41. Kg1 {Ftacnik} Qe1+ $10)
41... Qf2+ 42. Kh1 Qe1+ 43. Kg2 Qe2+ $10) 36... Qxb8 37. fxg4 (37. fxe4 {
Ftacnik} fxe4+ 38. Ke1 Rf2 $19) 37... Qh2 (37... fxg4+ $2 {Ftacnik} 38. Kg1)
38. Rf3 $2 (38. Bf3 $5 Qxd2 39. Rxd2 fxg4 40. Rf2 (40. Rd3 Re8 $1) 40... gxf3
41. b7 Rh4 42. Rfc2 $1 Rf8 (42... f2 43. b8=Q Rh1+ 44. Kg2 f1=Q+ 45. Rxf1 Rhxf1
46. Kh2 $18) 43. Rc8 Rh1+ 44. Kf2 $18) 38... Rxg4 (38... fxg4 $4 {Hertneck,G}
39. Rxf6 gxf6 40. Bxe4+ $18) 39. b7 $2 {The final blunder in time trouble} (39.
Rf2 Rfg6 40. Bf3 (40. Bxd5 {Hertneck,G} Qd6 (40... Qh3+ {Ftacnik} 41. Ke2 $18)
(40... Rg1+ 41. Ke2 Qh5+ 42. Bf3 Re6+ 43. Kd3 Rg3 44. Qf4 Qg4 45. Qxg4 fxg4 46.
b7 $18) 41. Rxf5 $1 $18 (41. Bg2 {Shirov} Rxd4 $16)) 40... Qh3+ 41. Ke2 Re6+
42. Kd3) 39... Rfg6 40. Rc2 (40. b8=Q {Hertneck,G} Qxb8 41. Rf2 $13 {Shirov}) (
40. Rf2 {Ftacnik} Rxg2 41. Rxg2 Qh1+ $19) 40... Rxg2 41. Qxg2 Rxg2 42. Rxg2
Qh1+ 43. Kf2 Qb1 (43... Qb1 {Shirov} 44. Kg3 Qxb7 45. Rxf5 Qc7+ $19) 0-1

[Event "Linares 12th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D49"]
[WhiteElo "2695"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1994.02.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
a6 9. e4 c5 10. e5 cxd4 11. Nxb5 axb5 12. exf6 gxf6 13. O-O Qb6 14. Be4 Bb7 15.
Bxb7 Qxb7 16. Nxd4 Rg8 17. f3 Ne5 18. Qe2 Bc5 19. Be3 Rd8 20. Rad1 Nc4 21. Bf2
Qb6 22. b3 Bxd4 23. bxc4 bxc4 24. Rc1 Bxf2+ 25. Rxf2 Rg5 26. Qxc4 Rgd5 27. Qc6+
Qxc6 28. Rxc6 Rd1+ 29. Rf1 R1d2 30. Rf2 Rd1+ 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Amber-blindfold 03rd"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1994.03.28"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A05"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1994.03.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. g3 Nf6 4. d3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O d6 7. Re1 Bg4 8. h3
Bxf3 9. Qxf3 O-O 10. c3 Rb8 11. Qd1 Nd7 12. Be3 b5 13. d4 b4 14. e5 bxc3 15.
bxc3 Qc7 16. exd6 exd6 17. Na3 Rfc8 18. Rc1 Na5 19. Qa4 a6 20. Rb1 Nc6 21. Rxb8
Ncxb8 22. Rb1 Qd8 23. Nc4 cxd4 24. cxd4 Nf8 25. Nb6 Rc7 26. Nd5 Rc8 27. Rb7
Nfd7 28. Qb3 Nc6 29. Nb6 Na5 30. Rxd7 Nxb3 31. Rxd8+ Rxd8 32. axb3 d5 33. Nxd5
Rb8 34. b4 Bf8 35. Bd2 Rc8 36. Kf1 Rc4 37. Bc3 Bxb4 38. Bxb4 Rxd4 39. Ne7+ 1-0

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

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

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

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

[Event "Amber-blindfold 03rd"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1994.04.01"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D24"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1994.03.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. Nc3 a6 5. e4 b5 6. e5 Nd5 7. a4 e6 8. axb5
Bb4 9. Qc2 Nb6 10. Be2 axb5 11. Rxa8 Nxa8 12. O-O Qd7 13. Qe4 Nb6 14. Qg4 Kf8
15. Ne4 Nc6 16. Ng3 Ne7 17. Nh5 Ng6 18. h4 Bb7 19. Bd1 Be7 20. Bc2 b4 21. Ng5
Nd5 22. f4 Bxg5 23. fxg5 c3 24. b3 Nge7 25. Qf3 Nf5 26. Qf2 g6 27. g4 Nxd4 28.
Qxd4 gxh5 29. gxh5 Ke8 30. Qf2 Ba6 31. Rd1 Qb5 32. g6 hxg6 33. hxg6 fxg6 34.
Bxg6+ Kd7 35. Bf7 Qe2 36. Bxe6+ Kxe6 37. Qf5+ Kxf5 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 03rd"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1994.04.02"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "1994.03.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb5 d6 6. N1c3 a6 7. Na3 b5 8. Nd5
Nf6 9. Bg5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Bb7 12. Nc2 Nb8 13. g3 Nd7 14. Nce3 O-O 15.
h4 Nc5 16. Bd3 g6 17. Bc2 a5 18. a3 Bg7 19. h5 Bc8 20. hxg6 fxg6 21. Qe2 Ra7
22. Rh2 Raf7 23. Qxb5 Ba6 24. Qb6 Nd3+ 25. Bxd3 Bxd3 26. Qxd8 Rxd8 27. Rh4 h5
28. Rd1 Ba6 29. g4 hxg4 30. Rxg4 Kh7 31. Rh4+ Kg8 32. c4 Rdf8 33. Rh2 Bc8 34.
Ke2 Rb7 35. b4 axb4 36. axb4 Ra7 37. Nc3 Ra3 38. Nb5 Rb3 39. Rxd6 Rxb4 40. Rxg6
Rb2+ 41. Ke1 Rb1+ 42. Kd2 Rb2+ 43. Kc3 Rbxf2 44. Rxf2 Rxf2 45. Nd6 Rf3 46. Kd2
Rf2+ 47. Ke1 Rf4 48. Nxc8 Rxe4 49. Ke2 Kf7 50. Ra6 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 03rd"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1994.04.04"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "1994.03.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 c5 5. O-O g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4
d6 9. Be3 Nbd7 10. Rac1 Rc8 11. Rfd1 O-O 12. Qh4 Re8 13. b3 a6 14. Bh3 Rc7 15.
Bh6 Rc5 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Qd4 Kg8 18. b4 Rc7 19. Nd5 Nxd5 20. cxd5 Nf6 21. e4
b5 22. Qe3 Bc8 23. Rxc7 Qxc7 24. Rc1 Qb8 25. Bg2 Bd7 26. h3 Rc8 27. Nd4 Rxc1+
28. Qxc1 Qb6 29. Qc3 Ne8 30. a3 Nc7 31. h4 e5 32. dxe6 Nxe6 33. Nxe6 Bxe6 34.
Bf3 h5 35. Kg2 Kf8 36. e5 d5 37. Qd2 Qc7 38. Bxd5 Qxe5 39. Bb7 Qc7 40. Be4 Qe5
41. Qd3 Bc4 42. Qf3 Kg7 43. Bb7 Qd6 44. Kg1 Qd2 45. Qe3 Qd6 46. Kh2 Kh7 47. Qa7
Qf6 48. Qe3 Qd6 49. Qc5 Qe6 50. Kg2 Qd7 51. Be4 Kg7 52. Qe5+ Kg8 53. Qf6 Be6
54. Kh2 Kh7 55. Qf3 Kg8 56. Qc3 Qd1 57. Qe3 Bc4 58. Bb7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 03rd"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1994.04.05"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Nunn, John DM"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "1994.03.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bc4 Nb6 6. Bb3 c4 7. Bc2 g6 8. O-O
Bg7 9. Re1 d6 10. exd6 Qxd6 11. Na3 O-O 12. b3 Be6 13. Ng5 Bd5 14. Qg4 cxb3 15.
axb3 h6 16. Ne4 Qd7 17. Qxd7 Nxd7 18. d4 f5 19. Ng3 e5 20. dxe5 Ndxe5 21. Nb5
Rfd8 22. Bf4 a6 23. Nc7 Rac8 24. Nxd5 Rxd5 25. Rad1 Rcd8 26. Rxd5 Rxd5 27. Rd1
Ra5 28. h4 h5 29. Ne2 Ra2 30. Rc1 Bf8 31. b4 Rb2 32. Kf1 Nc4 33. Bg5 N6e5 34.
Nf4 Kf7 35. Nd3 Nxd3 36. Bxd3 Ne5 37. Be2 Be7 38. Bf4 Bf6 39. Rd1 Rc2 40. g3
Ke6 41. c4 Rb2 42. b5 a5 43. c5 a4 44. Rd6+ Ke7 45. Rb6 a3 46. Rxb7+ Ke6 47.
Rb6+ Ke7 48. Rb7+ Ke6 49. Rb6+ 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Event "Amber-rapid 03rd"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1994.03.27"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2615"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "1994.03.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Qb3 Nd7 8. g3
dxc4 9. Qxc4 e5 10. Bg2 exd4 11. Ne4 Qe7 12. Qxd4 Qb4+ 13. Nc3 Nf6 14. O-O-O
Be6 15. a3 Qa5 16. Qe5 Qxe5 17. Nxe5 Rd8 18. Kc2 Bd6 19. Nd3 O-O 20. e4 Bc4 21.
Rhe1 Ng4 22. h3 Bxd3+ 23. Rxd3 Ne5 24. Rd2 Bc5 25. Red1 Rxd2+ 26. Rxd2 Nc4 27.
Re2 Rd8 28. h4 h5 29. Bh3 Ne5 30. Na4 Bd4 31. f4 Nc4 32. e5 Ne3+ 33. Kd3 b5 34.
Nc3 Bb6+ 35. Ke4 Nc4 36. e6 Kf8 37. exf7 Kxf7 38. Kf3 Rd3+ 39. Kg2 Ne3+ 40. Kh2
Bd4 41. Ne4 Rb3 42. Bd7 Rxb2 43. Rxb2 Bxb2 44. Bxc6 a6 45. Nc5 Bxa3 46. Nxa6
Bd6 47. Bxb5 Ke6 48. Be2 Ng4+ 49. Kh3 Nf6 50. Bc4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 03rd"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1994.03.28"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B39"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2600"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1994.03.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. e4 Bg7 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nc6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Nc3 Ng4 8.
Qxg4 Nxd4 9. Qd1 Ne6 10. Qd2 Qa5 11. Rc1 b6 12. Be2 Bb7 13. f3 h5 14. b3 h4 15.
Nd5 Qxd2+ 16. Kxd2 Bh6 17. Rhd1 Bxe3+ 18. Kxe3 g5 19. b4 d6 20. c5 bxc5 21.
bxc5 dxc5 22. Nc3 Bc6 23. Bc4 Nd4 24. Ne2 e5 25. Ba6 Ba4 26. Rd2 Rh6 27. Bb7
Rb8 28. Bd5 Rc8 29. Nc3 Bd7 30. Bc4 Bc6 31. h3 Rd6 32. Rb2 Ke7 33. Nd1 f5 34.
Nc3 fxe4 35. fxe4 Rf8 36. Bd5 Bd7 37. Bc4 Bc6 38. Bd5 Kd7 39. Bxc6+ Kxc6 40.
Na4 Ne6 41. Nxc5 Nxc5 42. Rbc2 Rd3+ 43. Ke2 Rg3 44. Rxc5+ Kb6 45. Rxe5 Rxg2+
46. Ke3 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Event "Amber-rapid 03rd"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1994.04.06"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Seirawan, Yasser"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D13"]
[WhiteElo "2585"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "1994.03.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. e3 Bg4 7. Nf3 a6 8. Qb3
Bxf3 9. gxf3 Na5 10. Qa4+ Nc6 11. Qb3 Ra7 12. Bd3 e6 13. Rc1 Bd6 14. Bg3 O-O
15. O-O Na5 16. Qc2 Nc6 17. Qe2 Ra8 18. Na4 Rc8 19. Nc5 Bxc5 20. Rxc5 Nd7 21.
Rc3 e5 22. dxe5 Ndxe5 23. Bf5 Ra8 24. f4 d4 25. exd4 Nxd4 26. Qxe5 Re8 27. Qc5
b6 28. Bxh7+ Kxh7 29. Qh5+ Kg8 30. Re3 Qf6 31. Rfe1 Rxe3 32. Rxe3 Rc8 33. Qd5
Nf5 34. Re5 g6 35. b4 b5 36. Kg2 Kg7 37. Re2 Rc4 38. a3 Rc3 39. Ra2 Kg8 40. a4
bxa4 41. Rxa4 Rc2 42. Qa8+ Kg7 43. Qe4 Qc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 03rd"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1994.04.07"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[PlyCount "171"]
[EventDate "1994.03.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "16"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. d5 a5 8. Bg5 h6
9. Bh4 Na6 10. O-O Qe8 11. Nd2 Bd7 12. Kh1 h5 13. b3 Ng4 14. a3 f6 15. Rb1 g5
16. Bg3 f5 17. exf5 Bxf5 18. Nde4 Qg6 19. h3 Bxe4 20. Nxe4 Qxe4 21. hxg4 h4 22.
f3 Qd4 23. Bf2 Qf4 24. Qc1 Qxc1 25. Rfxc1 e4 26. Be3 exf3 27. Bxf3 Bf6 28. b4
Rae8 29. Bd2 axb4 30. axb4 b6 31. Re1 Nb8 32. Rxe8 Rxe8 33. Re1 Rxe1+ 34. Bxe1
Nd7 35. Bd2 Kg7 36. Kg1 Bd4+ 37. Kf1 Kf6 38. Ke1 Ne5 39. Be2 Bg1 40. Kd1 Bh2
41. Bc3 Ke7 42. Kc2 Ng6 43. Bd4 Be5 44. Be3 Bf4 45. Bg1 Ne5 46. Kb3 Kd7 47. Ka4
Bd2 48. Kb5 Ng6 49. Bd4 Nf4 50. Bf3 Nd3 51. Be4 Nxb4 52. Bf5+ Ke7 53. Bb2 Kd8
54. Bf6+ Ke8 55. Bb2 Ke7 56. Bd4 Kd8 57. Bf6+ Ke8 58. Bb2 Kd8 59. Bb1 Kd7 60.
Ba3 c6+ 61. Kxb6 cxd5 62. Bf5+ Ke7 63. Kb5 Na2 64. cxd5 Nc3+ 65. Kc4 Nd1 66.
Kd3 Bf4 67. Ke2 Nc3+ 68. Kf3 Nxd5 69. Bb2 Ne3 70. Bd3 Nd5 71. Be4 Nb6 72. Bd3
d5 73. Bd4 Nd7 74. Bf5 Nb8 75. Bc5+ Kf6 76. Bd4+ Be5 77. Bb6 Nc6 78. Bd7 Nb4
79. Bd8+ Kg6 80. Bf5+ Kh6 81. Be7 Nc6 82. Bf8+ Bg7 83. Bc5 Ne5+ 84. Ke2 Ng6 85.
Bd6 Be5 86. Bxg6 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Yudasin, Leonid"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "1994.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. d3 Bg4 7. Nbd2 Nf6 8.
Nc4 Nd7 9. Ne3 Bxf3 10. Qxf3 Nf8 11. Rd1 Ne6 12. c3 Qd7 13. a4 O-O 14. h4 h5
15. g4 hxg4 16. Qxg4 Rad8 17. h5 gxh5 18. Qxh5 Nf4 19. Qh2 Be5 20. Kf1 Qh3+ 21.
Qxh3 Nxh3 22. Ng4 Bf4 23. Ne3 f6 24. Kg2 Ng5 25. Nf5 Bxc1 26. Raxc1 Kf7 27. f4
Ne6 28. Kf3 Rh8 29. d4 cxd4 30. cxd4 Rh3+ 31. Kg4 Rb3 32. Nh6+ Kg7 33. d5 cxd5
34. exd5 Kxh6 35. dxe6 f5+ 36. Kxf5 Rf8+ 37. Ke5 Re3+ 38. Kd4 Rxe6 39. Rh1+ Kg6
40. Rhg1+ Kf7 41. Rc7 Rd8+ 42. Kc3 Re3+ 43. Kc2 Re2+ 44. Kb3 Rd3+ 45. Ka2 Rd4
46. Ka3 Re3+ 47. b3 Rxf4 48. Rxb7 a6 49. Rh1 Kg7 50. Rh5 Rf6 51. Ra7 Kg6 52.
Rh4 e5 53. a5 e4 54. Rb7 Re1 55. Rb6 e3 56. Kb4 Rd1 57. Rxf6+ Kxf6 58. Re4 Re1
59. Kc5 Kf5 60. Re8 Kf4 61. Re6 e2 62. Kb6 Kf3 63. Rf6+ Ke3 64. Re6+ Kf3 65.
Rf6+ Ke4 1/2-1/2

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Horvath,Ta"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1994.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 041"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nge2 Nf6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12. Nc2 Rb8 13. a3 a5 (13... Ne7 $5)
14. h4 Ne7 $1 15. Nce3 (15. Nxf6+ gxf6 16. Ne3 f5 $13) 15... Nxd5 16. Nxd5 Be6
17. g3 (17. Nxf6+ Qxf6 18. Qxd6 Rfd8 19. Qc5 b4 $5 20. Be2 (20. Qxa5 $2 Qf4 $19
) 20... Rdc8 21. Qxa5 bxc3 22. b4 (22. bxc3 $2 Rb2 $17) 22... c2 (22... Bc4 $5)
23. O-O Qf4 24. Rac1 Qxe4 25. Rfe1 Qxh4 26. Qxe5 $13) 17... Qd7 18. Bg2 Bd8 19.
O-O Bb6 20. Qd2 Rfc8 21. Rfd1 Bxd5 22. Qxd5 b4 23. axb4 axb4 24. Qxd6 Qg4 $1
25. Qd3 (25. Qxe5 $2 bxc3 26. bxc3 Bxf2+ $1 27. Kxf2 Rb2+ 28. Kg1 Qe2 $19)
25... bxc3 26. bxc3 g6 27. Rab1 Rd8 28. Qf3 Rxd1+ 29. Rxd1 Qxf3 30. Bxf3 Rc8
1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vyzmanavin, Alexey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A87"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "1994.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. d4 d6 7. Nc3 Qe8 8. d5 a5
9. Be3 Na6 10. Qc1 Ng4 11. Bd4 Bh6 12. Qd1 c5 13. dxc6 bxc6 14. h3 Nf6 15. Na4
Ne4 16. Nb6 Rb8 17. Nxc8 Qxc8 18. b3 a4 19. Rb1 axb3 20. axb3 Nb4 21. e3 Bg7
22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Ra1 Qe6 24. Ra7 Qf6 25. Qd4 Qxd4 26. Nxd4 Kf6 27. Bxe4 fxe4
28. f3 Rfe8 29. fxe4+ Kg7 30. c5 dxc5 31. Ne6+ Kg8 32. Nxc5 Rbd8 33. Nd7 Ra8
34. Rfa1 Rxa7 35. Rxa7 Kf7 36. Kf2 Ke6 37. Ke2 Rc8 38. Rb7 Na6 39. Ra7 Rd8 40.
Rxa6 Kxd7 41. Kd3 Rb8 42. Kc4 Rb5 43. b4 Re5 44. Kd4 Rb5 45. Ra4 Kd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Vyzmanavin, Alexey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2610"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "1994.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd2 O-O 8.
O-O-O b5 9. e4 b4 10. e5 bxc3 11. Bxc3 Be7 12. exf6 Nxf6 13. Ne5 Bb7 14. c5 Nd7
15. Bd3 h6 16. f4 a5 17. Qe2 Nxe5 18. fxe5 Qc8 19. Bb1 Bg5+ 20. Bd2 Ba6 21. Qf2
f5 22. exf6 Rxf6 23. Qg3 Bxd2+ 24. Rxd2 Qb8 25. Qc3 Qb4 26. Qc2 Qc4 27. Qxc4
Bxc4 28. b3 Ba6 29. Kb2 Kf7 30. Kc3 Ke7 31. Re1 Raf8 32. Bc2 Rf2 33. Red1 Rxd2
34. Rxd2 e5 35. dxe5 Ke6 36. b4 Rf4 37. Rd4 Rxd4 38. Kxd4 axb4 39. Ba4 Bc4 40.
Bxc6 Bxa2 41. Ba4 Bc4 42. c6 Ba6 43. Bb3 Bc8 44. Bxd5+ Ke7 45. Kc5 Bf5 46. Kxb4
Kd8 47. Kc5 Kc7 48. e6 Bg6 49. e7 Be8 50. Be4 Bf7 51. Bf5 Be8 52. Be4 Bf7 53.
Bf3 {In this winning position Vyzmanvin offered a draw, because he incorrectly
thought that with this draw he has won the match.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Vyzmanavin, Alexey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2610"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1994.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd2 O-O 8.
O-O-O e5 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Nb5 Bb8 11. dxe5 Nxe5 12. Bc3 Qe7 13. Bd4 Rd8 14. Kb1
Bg4 15. Be2 a6 16. Nc3 b5 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. Bxg4 Nxg4 19. Qf5 Qe6 20. Qf3 Rac8
21. h3 Nf6 22. Bxe5 Qxe5 23. Rd4 h6 24. Rhd1 Qc7 25. Qf5 Qc5 26. a3 a5 27. Nxd5
Nxd5 28. Rxd5 Rxd5 29. Rxd5 Qc1+ 30. Ka2 Qc4+ 31. Ka1 Qf1+ 32. Ka2 1/2-1/2

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "1994.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. Bd3 Ne7 12. Nxe7 Qxe7 13. c3 f5 14. Nc2 Bb7
15. Ne3 fxe4 16. Nf5 Qf6 17. Bxe4 d5 18. Bxd5 Rd8 19. Qg4 Rxd5 20. Qxg7 Qxg7
21. Nxg7+ Ke7 22. Nf5+ Ke6 23. Ne3 Rd7 24. Ke2 f5 25. f3 f4 26. Nc2 Rg8 27.
Rhg1 Bd5 28. Kf2 Bxa2 29. Nd4+ exd4 30. Rxa2 dxc3 31. bxc3 Rd6 32. Rga1 Kf5 33.
g4+ fxg3+ 34. hxg3 Rgg6 35. g4+ Kf4 36. Rb1 Rge6 37. Rb4+ Kg5 38. Rb1 Rd3 39.
Kg3 Rxc3 40. Rh1 Kg6 41. Rah2 Rf6 42. Rh6+ Kf7 43. Rxh7+ Ke6 44. Rf1 Kd5 45. g5
Rfc6 46. Kg4 b4 47. Rb7 b3 48. f4 a5 49. f5 R6c4+ 50. Kh5 Kc6 51. Rb8 Kc7 52.
Rb5 Kc6 53. Rxa5 Rc1 54. Ra6+ Kc7 55. Rxc1 Rxc1 56. Ra7+ Kc6 57. Ra6+ Kc7
1/2-1/2

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "141"]
[EventDate "1994.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. c3 Nf6 6. Re1 O-O 7. d4 d5 8. exd5
Qxd5 9. c4 Qd6 10. d5 Na5 11. Na3 a6 12. Ba4 b5 13. cxb5 Nxd5 14. Bg5 Rd8 15.
Rb1 axb5 16. Nxb5 Qb6 17. Qe2 Nc6 18. Bb3 Bg4 19. h3 Bxf3 20. Qxf3 Nf6 21. a4
Rd7 22. Rbc1 Rad8 23. Bc4 h6 24. Bh4 g5 25. Bg3 e6 26. b3 Nd5 27. Rcd1 Nd4 28.
Nxd4 Bxd4 29. Bb5 Re7 30. Be5 Bxe5 31. Rxe5 Qc7 32. Re2 Kg7 33. Red2 Rb8 34.
Bc4 Nf4 35. Rd6 Ng6 36. Qc3+ Kg8 37. Qf6 Ree8 38. Rd7 Qf4 39. Rxf7 Qxf6 40.
Rxf6 Nf4 41. Rd7 Rbd8 42. Bxe6+ Nxe6 43. Rxe6 Rxd7 44. Rxe8+ Kg7 45. Rc8 Rb7
46. Rxc5 Rxb3 47. a5 Ra3 48. Rc7+ Kg6 49. Rc6+ Kg7 50. a6 Ra2 51. Rc7+ Kg6 52.
a7 h5 53. g4 hxg4 54. hxg4 Kf6 55. Kf1 Ke5 56. Rf7 Ke6 57. Rf5 Rxa7 58. Rxg5
Ra4 59. Kg2 Kf6 60. Rf5+ Kg6 61. Kg3 Ra3+ 62. f3 Ra1 63. Rb5 Ra6 64. f4 Rc6 65.
Kh4 Rd6 66. f5+ Kg7 67. Kg5 Rd7 68. Re5 Ra7 69. Re7+ Rxe7 70. f6+ Kf7 71. fxe7
1/2-1/2

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B36"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "1994.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. e4 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. Nc3 d6 7. Be2 Nxd4 8.
Qxd4 Bg7 9. Bg5 O-O 10. Qd2 a6 11. O-O Be6 12. Rad1 Qa5 13. b3 b5 14. Bxf6 Bxf6
15. Nd5 Qxd2 16. Nxf6+ exf6 17. Rxd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B25"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "1994.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 040 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O Nc6 5. d3 Nf6 6. e4 O-O 7. Re1 d6 8. Nc3
Bg4 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Bxf3 Rb8 11. Bg2 b5 12. a3 Nd7 13. e5 Nd4 14. exd6 exd6 15.
Nd5 Nb6 16. Ne7+ Kh8 17. Bg5 Qd7 18. Be3 Ne6 19. Nc6 Rbc8 20. d4 Rxc6 21. d5
Rcc8 22. dxe6 fxe6 23. Bf4 e5 24. Be3 d5 25. b4 d4 26. Bg5 c4 27. Qd2 Qf5 28.
h4 Na4 29. Be4 Qf7 30. h5 gxh5 31. Bg2 Nc3 32. Rf1 e4 33. Rae1 Qg6 34. Be7 Rf7
35. Bc5 d3 36. cxd3 cxd3 37. Kh2 h4 38. Qe3 Re8 39. Bd4 Bxd4 40. Qxd4+ Qg7 41.
Qe3 Nd5 42. Qc5 Nf6 43. Bh3 Rg8 44. Qd6 Rc7 45. Rc1 Rxc1 46. Rxc1 hxg3+ 47.
fxg3 e3 48. Be6 d2 49. Rg1 Ne4 50. Qf4 e2 51. Bxg8 e1=Q 52. Bd5 Qf2+ 0-1

[Event "Munich Intel Express blitz '5"]
[Site "Munich"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1994.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "17"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. Bd3 c5
8. dxc5 Bxc5 9. Qe2 Qc7 10. O-O O-O 11. Bg5 Be7 12. Rad1 Bd7 13. Ne5 Rad8 14.
c4 Bc6 15. Bf4 Bd6 16. c5 Bxc5 17. Ng6 Qb6 18. Nxf8 Rxf8 19. Be5 Nd5 20. Bxh7+
Kxh7 21. Qh5+ Kg8 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Qg5+ Kh7 24. Rd3 Ne3 25. fxe3 Be4 26. Qh4+
1-0

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Event "Munich Intel Express blitz '5"]
[Site "Munich"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2815"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "1994.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "17"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. d5 a5 8. Bg5 h6
9. Bh4 Na6 10. O-O Bd7 11. Nd2 Nc5 12. b3 Nfxe4 13. Bxd8 Nxc3 14. Qe1 Rfxd8 15.
Rc1 Nxa2 16. Ra1 Nb4 17. Bd1 e4 18. Rb1 Re8 19. Qe3 f5 20. h4 Rf8 21. g3 Rae8
22. Kg2 Nbd3 23. Rg1 f4 24. gxf4 Rxf4 25. h5 g5 26. Rf1 Rh4 27. Rh1 Rf4 28. Rf1
Ref8 29. f3 Rh4 30. fxe4 Nf4+ 31. Kg1 Ncd3 32. e5 Nxe5 33. Rc1 Rh3 34. Nf3 g4
35. Nxe5 Rxe3 36. Nxd7 Nh3+ 37. Kg2 Rxf1 38. Kxf1 g3 39. Kg2 Nf4+ 0-1

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

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

[Event "Munich Intel Express blitz '5"]
[Site "Munich"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lobron, Eric"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2570"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1994.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "17"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 Bg4 4. O-O Nd7 5. b3 e5 6. Bb2 Bd6 7. d3 Ngf6 8. Nbd2
O-O 9. h3 Bh5 10. Nh4 Re8 11. Nf5 Bf8 12. Qe1 a5 13. a3 Bg6 14. Nh4 Qb6 15.
Nxg6 hxg6 16. e3 Rad8 17. Qe2 Bc5 18. c3 Bd6 19. b4 c5 20. c4 cxb4 21. axb4
Bxb4 22. cxd5 Qa6 23. Nc4 a4 24. Rfb1 Bf8 25. Bc3 b5 26. Na3 Nc5 27. Nxb5 Rc8
28. d4 exd4 29. Bxd4 Nfe4 30. Qa2 g5 31. Bxe4 Rxe4 32. Bxc5 Rxc5 33. Nd4 Ra5
34. Nc6 Rc5 35. Rb8 Qd3 36. Rd8 Rc2 37. Qb1 Rxe3 38. Qb8 Rxg3+ 39. Qxg3 Qe2 40.
Rxf8+ Kxf8 41. Qb8+ Qe8 42. Qxe8+ Kxe8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Munich Intel Express blitz '5"]
[Site "Munich"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B45"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1994.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "17"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Ndb5 Bb4 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8.
Nxc3 d5 9. exd5 exd5 10. Bd3 O-O 11. O-O d4 12. Ne2 Qd5 13. c4 dxc3 14. Nxc3
Qa5 15. Re1 Rd8 16. Qe2 Bg4 17. f3 Nd4 18. Qf1 Bf5 19. Bxf5 Qxf5 20. Rb1 Rac8
21. Be3 Nc2 22. Re2 Nxe3 23. Rxe3 Rd2 24. Re2 Rxe2 25. Nxe2 h6 26. Nd4 Qc5 27.
Qf2 Rd8 28. Ne2 Qc2 29. Nc3 Rd2 30. Qg3 Nd5 31. Re1 Nxc3 32. bxc3 Qxc3 33. Qb8+
Kh7 34. Qxb7 Qd4+ 35. Kh1 Qd7 36. Qxd7 Rxd7 37. h3 Kg6 38. Re4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Munich Intel Express blitz '5"]
[Site "Munich"]
[Date "1994.05.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Comp Fritz 3"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A32"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1994.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "17"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3 e6 4. g3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Qc7 6. Bg2 Qxc4 7. O-O Nc6 8.
Nb3 d5 9. Nc3 Bb4 10. Bg5 Bxc3 11. Rc1 Qg4 12. Be3 Be5 13. Bc5 Bxb2 14. Rc2 Be5
15. f4 Bc7 16. Kh1 Bd7 17. Ba3 Qh5 18. Qd2 Rc8 19. Nc5 Ba5 20. Qd3 Rc7 21. e4
dxe4 22. Nxe4 Nxe4 23. Qxe4 Bb6 24. f5 h6 25. fxe6 Bxe6 26. Qf4 Qg5 27. Qd6 Rd7
28. Qf4 Qxf4 29. gxf4 Nd4 30. Rcc1 Kd8 31. f5 Nxf5 32. Rfd1 Bd4 33. Be4 Bxa2
34. Bc5 Bxc5 35. Rxd7+ Kxd7 36. Rxc5 Nd6 37. Bd3 b6 38. Re5 Bc4 39. Bc2 b5 40.
Kg2 a5 41. Kf3 Ra8 42. Ke3 a4 0-1

[Event "PCA-Wch Candidates m4"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1994.06.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2695"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Knaak,R"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1994.06.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "100 Jahre Schach"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.04.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.04.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 {Mit ihrem letzten Zug
haben sich beide Kontrahenten für eines der schärfsten Eröffnungssysteme
unserer Zeit entschieden.} 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5
Nbd7 11. exf6 Bb7 12. g3 c5 13. d5 Qb6 14. Bg2 O-O-O 15. O-O b4 16. Na4 Qb5 17.
a3 Ne5 $6 {Die alte Hauptvariante war 17...Sb8 und die neue 17...exd5. Der
Textzug wird seit dieser Partie kaum noch gespielt.} 18. axb4 cxb4 19. Qd4 Nc6
20. dxc6 $1 Rxd4 21. cxb7+ Kc7 22. Be3 e5 23. Nc3 $1 {Dieser Zug ist genau wie
das vorangegangene Damenopfer bekannte Theorie.} bxc3 24. bxc3 Bc5 $1 {Erst
hier wird Neuland betreten, aber analysiert wurde dieses Abspiel bereits
vorher. Schwächer} (24... Rd6 $2 25. Rab1 $1 a6 26. Rxb5 axb5 27. Ra1 $1 $18 {
Salow-Illescas (Madrid 1993)}) 25. cxd4 $1 Bxd4 26. Rfb1 Qc5 27. Ra6 Rb8 $2 {
Soweit hatte es wohl auch Kramnik analysiert; vom nächsten Zug wird er aber
total überrascht.} (27... Bxe3 $6 28. Rc6+ Qxc6 29. Bxc6 {bietet nicht viel
mehr Remischancen.}) ({Die beste Verteidigung bestand in} 27... c3 28. Rc6+
Qxc6 29. Bxc6 c2 30. Rc1 Kxc6 31. Rxc2+ Kxb7 {Ob Weiß dieses Endspiel gewinnt,
müsste analysiert werden.}) 28. Bc1 $3 {Ein echter Hammer. Der Läufer kommt
über a3 ins Spiel. 28...Lxf2+ gibt die Deckung des Be5 auf, was sich wie folgt
rächt:} c3 (28... Bxf2+ 29. Kh1 c3 30. Ba3 Qc4 31. Bd6+ Kd7 32. Bxb8 Qxa6 33.
Bxe5 $18) 29. Ba3 Qc4 30. Bd6+ Kd7 31. Bc6+ $1 Ke6 32. Bb5 Bxf2+ (32... Qd5 33.
Bxb8+ $18) 33. Kxf2 Qd4+ 34. Kf1 Qe4 35. Re1 Qh1+ 36. Kf2 Qxh2+ 37. Kf3 Rxb7
38. Bxe5+ Rb6 39. Bc4+ Kd7 (39... Kf5 40. g4+ Kg6 41. Bxh2 $18) 40. Rxa7+ Kc8
41. Rc7+ 1-0

[Event "PCA-Wch Candidates m4"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1994.06.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 042"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Ftacnik} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 c5 (5... d5 $5) 6.
O-O Nc6 7. d4 cxd4 (7... Bxc3 8. bxc3 d6 9. Bf4 $1 (9. dxc5 $6 dxc5 10. Bf4 Qa5
11. Qc2 h6 $13 {Van der Sterren,P-Lobron,E/Wijk m/1993/CBM34/}) 9... Nh5 10.
Be3 (10. Bg5 $5) 10... Qe7 11. dxc5 dxc5 12. Nd2 Nf6 13. Nb3 $16 {
Mikhalchishin,A-Lerner,K/USSR/1982/}) 8. Nxd4 {-> A33} Qe7 (8... d5 9. cxd5
exd5 10. Bg5 $14 {Kasparov,G-Arlandi,E/Cannes sim/1988/CBM08/}) 9. Nc2 Bxc3 10.
bxc3 Rd8 11. Ba3 d6 12. Rb1 (12. Qd2 $1 Qc7 13. Rfd1 d5 14. Ne3 dxc4 15. Bd6
Qb6 16. Rab1 Qa6 17. Qb2 $44 {Ribli,Z-Ernst,Th/Subotica izt/1987/CBM03/}) 12...
Qc7 13. Nd4 $6 (13. Ne3 $5 Na5 $6 14. Qa4 Bd7 $2 15. Bxd6 $1 Qxd6 16. Qxa5 $16)
13... Nxd4 14. cxd4 (14. Qxd4 $5 e5 15. Qd3 $13 (15. Qd3 {Ftacnik} Be6 16. Rxb7
Qxc4 17. Qxc4 (17. Rb4 Qxd3 18. exd3 Rac8 19. c4 d5 $10) 17... Bxc4 18. Rc7 $10
)) 14... Qxc4 15. Qd2 (15. e4 $5 {Ftacnik} Qxa2 (15... Qa6 16. Qb3 e5 $5 (16...
Bd7 17. e5 $1) 17. f4 Re8 (17... exd4 18. e5 Be6 19. Qb2 dxe5 20. Bxb7 Qa5 21.
Bxa8 Rxa8 22. Qb8+ Qd8 23. Qxe5 $16) 18. fxe5 dxe5 19. dxe5 Be6 20. Qxb7 Qxa3
21. exf6 Bxa2 $17) 16. Bxd6 Rxd6 (16... Nxe4 17. Be5 Nd6 18. Qg4 Ne8 19. Be4 $5
f6 $140 20. Qh5 fxe5 21. Bxh7+ Kf8 22. dxe5 $40) 17. e5 Rd7 18. exf6 gxf6 19.
Qg4+ Kf8 20. Rfd1 $36) 15... Qa6 $1 (15... d5 $2 16. Rfc1 Qa6 17. Be7 Re8 18.
Bxf6 gxf6 19. Qh6 $36) 16. Rb3 Rb8 17. e4 Bd7 18. Re1 (18. e5 dxe5 19. dxe5 Bc6
20. Qg5 h6 $17) 18... Ba4 19. Rf3 Rbc8 20. Bf1 (20. Rxf6 $6 {Ftacnik} gxf6 21.
Qh6 Qa5 $19) 20... Bb5 21. Bh3 (21. Bxb5 {Ftacnik} Qxb5 22. Rb3 Qc6 $17) 21...
Qa4 22. d5 Rc2 $1 (22... Nxe4 $2 {Ftacnik} 23. Qf4 Nf6 24. dxe6 Qxf4 25. exf7+
Kxf7 26. Be6+ Kf8 27. Rxf4 $44) 23. Qe3 exd5 24. e5 (24. exd5 Re8 $19) (24.
Rxf6 {Ftacnik} gxf6 25. Bf5 Re2 $5 (25... Bd7 26. Bxd7 Qxd7 27. exd5 $17) 26.
Rxe2 Bxe2 27. Qxe2 Qxa3 $19) 24... d4 (24... dxe5 {Ftacnik} 25. Rxf6 gxf6 26.
Be7 (26. Bf5 Re2 $1 27. Rxe2 Bxe2 28. Qxe2 Qxa3 $19) 26... Re8 27. Bf5 (27.
Bxf6 Qe4 $1) (27. Qh6 Qd4) 27... Re2 28. Rxe2 Bxe2 29. Qxe2 Rxe7 30. Qh5 Rc7 (
30... Kf8 31. Qh6+ Ke8 32. Qxf6) 31. Qh6 Qd1+ 32. Kg2 Qc1 33. Bxh7+ Kh8 34. f4
$10) 25. Qg5 Re2 $1 (25... h6 $1 {Ftacnik} 26. Qh4 (26. Qf5 Re2 27. Qb1 Bc6 $19
) (26. Qf4 Re2 $19) 26... Re2 27. Rb1 Re4 28. Rf4 Rxe5 29. Rxf6 gxf6 $17) 26.
exf6 (26. Rxe2 Qd1+ 27. Bf1 Bxe2 $19) (26. Rb1 {Ftacnik} Rxe5 $17) 26... Rxe1+
27. Bf1 (27. Kg2 $2 {Ftacnik} Bf1+ 28. Kg1 Bxh3#) 27... Rxf1+ 28. Kg2 Rg1+ $1
29. Kh3 (29. Kxg1 {Ftacnik} Qd1+) 29... Bd7+ (29... Bf1+ $5 {Ftacnik} 30. Kh4 (
30. Kg4 Qd7+ $1 (30... d3+ 31. Rf4 Qd7+ $19) 31. Kf4 g6 $19) 30... d3+ 31. Rf4
Qxf4+ 32. Qxf4 Rg2 33. fxg7 (33. g4 h6 34. fxg7 d2 $1 (34... Rxh2+ $2 35. Qxh2
d2 36. Qf4 d1=Q 37. Qxh6 f6 38. Qh8+ Kf7 39. Qxd8 Kxg7 40. Bxd6 $40) 35. Qxd2
Rxh2+ 36. Kg3 Rh3+ 37. Kf4 Rxa3 (37... Bg2 38. g5 hxg5+ 39. Kxg5 Rxa3 $19) 38.
Qc1 Ra4+ 39. Kf3 Bd3 40. Qxh6 Bh7 $19) 33... Rxh2+ 34. Kg5 h6+ 35. Kf6 (35. Kg4
Be2+ 36. f3 d2 $19) 35... Re8 $19) 30. Kh4 g6 (30... d3+ {Ftacnik} 31. Rf4
Qxf4+ 32. Qxf4 Rh1 33. g4 h6 34. fxg7 Bc6 35. f3 $13) 31. Qh6 (31. Rf4 {Ftacnik
} Rh1 $19) 31... d3+ $1 32. Rf4 Qxf4+ 33. Qxf4 (33. gxf4 Rg4+ 34. Kh3 Rg5+ 35.
Kh4 Rh5+ $19) 33... Rh1 34. g4 h6 $1 35. Kh3 (35. Qd4 {Ftacnik} g5+ 36. Kg3
Rg1+ 37. Kf3 Re8 $19) 35... g5 36. Qd4 d2 $1 (36... Rg1 {Ftacnik} 37. f3 d2 $1
38. Qxg1 Ba4 $19) 37. Qxd2 Rg1 38. f3 Bb5 0-1

[Event "PCA-Wch Candidates m4"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2695"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "1994.06.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 042"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Bd3
Qd8 9. O-O Be7 10. a3 O-O 11. Qc2 (11. Qe2 f5 12. b4 (12. Qc2 a6 13. cxd5 cxd5
14. Qb3 Qc7 15. Rfc1 Qd6 16. Bf1 {Ionov,S-Dreev,A/URS-ch58 (04)/1991/}) 12...
Nf6 13. Ne5 {Sher,M-Kishnev,S/Dortmund op-A (08)/1992/}) 11... a6 12. b4 f5 13.
Na4 (13. c5 Bf6 14. a4 g5 15. b5 a5 16. Ne2 Bg7 17. Rab1 Qe7 18. Nd2 f4 19.
exf4 gxf4 20. Rfe1 e5 21. bxc6 bxc6 22. dxe5 Nxe5 23. Nd4 Qf6 24. N2f3 Nxf3+
25. Nxf3 $14 {Kramnik,V-Illescas Cordoba,M (4)/Alcobendas m/1993/1-0 (39)})
13... Bd6 14. Nc5 Qf6 15. Rac1 (15. cxd5 exd5 16. Rac1 g5 $132) 15... g5 16.
Qc3 $1 {xe5} g4 17. Nxd7 Bxd7 18. Ne5 Be8 (18... Bxe5 19. dxe5 Qg5 20. f4 $14)
19. f4 gxf3 $8 (19... h5 20. c5 Bc7 21. a4 $14) 20. Rxf3 Kh8 21. Rh3 Rg8 22.
Rf1 Rg5 23. e4 (23. Nf3 Rh5 24. Rxh5 Bxh5 $132) 23... dxe4 (23... Qg7 $5 24.
exf5 Rxg2+ 25. Kh1 exf5 26. Bxf5 Rg5 $13) 24. Bxe4 Bh5 (24... Qg7 25. Bf3 Bxe5
26. dxe5 Rd8 27. Rh4 $14) 25. Bf3 Bxf3 26. Rfxf3 (26. Nxf3 Rg4) (26. Rxh6+ $2
Qxh6 27. Nf7+ Kh7 28. Nxh6 Rxg2+ 29. Kh1 Be4 $19) 26... Kh7 27. Rf2 (27. Rfg3
Rag8 $15) 27... Bxe5 (27... Rag8 28. Re3) 28. dxe5 Qg7 29. Rd3 Rg8 30. Rdd2 Rg4
31. Rfe2 (31. c5 Re4 32. Rfe2 Rxe2 33. Rxe2 Rd8 $15) 31... Kh8 32. c5 Qg5 33.
Qb3 Qh4 34. Qe3 (34. Qxe6 $4 Rxg2+ 35. Rxg2 Qe1#) 34... R8g7 (34... Re4 35. Qd3
Rxe2 36. Qxe2 $10) 35. Qf3 Kh7 36. Qe3 Qh5 37. Qf3 Qg5 (37... Rxg2+ 38. Qxg2 f4
39. Qxg7+ Kxg7 40. Rg2+ Kf8 41. Rd8+ Ke7 42. Rgg8 Qxe5 43. Rde8+ $10) 38. Qd3
Qf4 (38... h5 $5) 39. Rd1 Rh4 40. g3 Rhg4 41. Kh1 Qg5 (41... Rxg3 42. hxg3 Rxg3
43. Qd7+ Rg7 44. Qd3 (44. Qxe6 $4 Qf3+ 45. Kh2 Qh5#) 44... Rg3 $10) 42. Qe3 Qh5
(42... f4 43. gxf4 Rxf4 44. Qd3+ $15) 43. Qf3 Qg5 44. Re3 h5 $1 (44... f4 45.
Re4 fxg3 46. Rxg4 Qxg4 47. Qxg4 Rxg4 48. Rd7+ Kg6 49. hxg3 Rxg3 50. a4 $10) 45.
Red3 h4 $40 1/2-1/2

[Event "PCA-Wch Candidates m4"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1994.06.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 042"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. e3 Nf6 5. a3 d6 (5... Be7 6. d4 (6. Qc2 O-O 7.
Nd5 d6 8. Bd3 g6 9. Nxf6+ Bxf6 10. Be4 Bg7 11. d3 Ne7 12. Nd2 Rb8 13. Rb1 b5
14. b3 Be6 15. Bf3 a6 16. Bb2 Qd7 17. O-O Rbc8 18. Rbc1 f5 19. Be2 d5 20. cxd5
Bxd5 21. e4 Bb7 22. b4 cxb4 23. Qb3+ Kh8 24. axb4 Nc6 25. exf5 {Ogaard,
L-Fossan,E/NOR-ch (1)/1993/0.5 (49)}) 6... cxd4 7. exd4 exd4 8. Nxd4 d5 (8...
O-O 9. Nc2 b6 10. Bf4 Ba6 11. b4 Bb7 12. Be2 d6 13. O-O Ne5 14. Ne3 Rc8 15. Rc1
Re8 16. Qd2 Bf8 17. Rfd1 h6 18. Bg3 Re6 19. Qd4 Nc6 {Benjamin,Joe-Kramnik,V/
Groningen PCA (02)/1993/0.5 (19)}) 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. Nxd5 cxd5 12.
Bb5+ Bd7 13. Qxd5 Rb8 14. Bxd7+ Qxd7 15. Qxd7+ Kxd7 16. Bf4 Rbc8 17. Rd1+ Ke6
18. O-O Bf6 19. g4 Be5 20. Bxe5 Kxe5 21. Rfe1+ Kf6 22. Rd6+ Kg5 23. Re5+ Kh4
24. Rd7 Rc4 25. Rxf7 {Blees,A-Lau,R/Wijk Sonnevanck (06)/1992/0.5 (36)}) 6. Be2
(6. d4 exd4 7. exd4 Bg4 $10) 6... g6 7. d4 exd4 8. exd4 Bg7 9. Bf4 (9. dxc5
dxc5 10. Qxd8+ Nxd8 11. Nb5 Ne6 (11... O-O 12. Nc7 Rb8 13. Bf4 $36) 12. Nd6+
Ke7 13. Nxc8+ Raxc8 $10) 9... O-O 10. O-O (10. dxc5 dxc5 11. Bd6 Re8 12. Bxc5
Qxd1+ 13. Rxd1 Nd7 (13... Ng4 14. Nb5 $1) 14. Be3 Bxc3+ 15. bxc3 Nde5 $132)
10... Bf5 11. d5 (11. dxc5 dxc5 12. Bd6 Bc2 13. Qxc2 Qxd6 $10) 11... Ne7 12.
Nd2 (12. Qd2 Ne4 13. Nxe4 Bxe4 $10) 12... h6 13. h4 (13. g4 Bc8 14. h4 (14. f3
g5 15. Bg3 Ng6 $132) 14... a6 15. f3 b5 $1) 13... Bc8 14. g3 (14. Nb5 Ne8 15.
Ne4 Nf5) 14... Nf5 {xd4} 15. Nb3 a6 16. a4 Re8 17. Bf3 (17. Bd3 Nh7 18. Qc2 Bd7
$13) 17... Nd7 18. Qd2 Ne5 (18... Qb6 $1 $15) 19. Bxe5 (19. Be2 Nd4 20. Nxd4
cxd4 21. Bxe5 (21. Nd1 d3 $19) 21... dxe5 22. Nd1 e4 $17) 19... Bxe5 20. Bg2
Bd7 (20... Qb6 $5 21. Ra3 Bd7 22. a5 Qb4 23. Qd3 b5 24. axb6 Qxb6 $15) 21. Rae1
Qb6 (21... Bxc3 22. Qxc3 Bxa4 $17) 22. Nc1 Bg7 (22... Qb4 23. Nd3 Bxc3 24. bxc3
Qxc4 $17) 23. b3 Nd4 (23... Qb4 24. Ne4 Qxd2 25. Nxd2 b5 26. axb5 axb5 $17) 24.
Re3 Bf5 $6 (24... Nxb3 25. Nxb3 (25. Qb2 Qb4 $17 (25... Rxe3 26. fxe3 Bxc3 27.
Qxc3 Nxc1 28. Qxc1 Bxa4 $17)) 25... Qxb3 26. Ne4 Qxa4 27. Nxd6 $132) (24...
Rxe3 25. fxe3 Nxb3 $17) 25. Ne4 Bxe4 26. a5 $1 (26. Bxe4 $2 Rxe4 $1 27. Rxe4
Nf3+ $19) 26... Qc7 (26... Qb4 27. Qxb4 cxb4 28. Rxe4 $15 (28. Bxe4 Re7 $2 29.
Bxg6 $1 Rxe3 30. Bxf7+ $1 Kxf7 31. fxe3+ $16)) 27. Rxe4 Rxe4 28. Bxe4 Re8 29.
Bg2 b6 $1 30. axb6 Qxb6 31. Re1 $1 Rxe1+ 32. Qxe1 Nxb3 33. Qe8+ Bf8 34. Qc6 $1
Qb4 (34... Qxc6 $2 35. dxc6 Nxc1 36. c7 $18) 35. Nxb3 Qxb3 36. Qxa6 1/2-1/2

[Event "PCA-Wch Candidates m4"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2695"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "1994.06.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 042"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 e6 4. e4 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Qxd4 7. Bxb4 Qxe4+
8. Be2 c5 (8... Nd7 9. Nf3 c5 10. Bc3 Ne7 11. O-O O-O 12. Bd3 Qc6 13. Re1 Ng6
14. Ng5 e5 15. Qc2 Re8 16. f4 Nxf4 17. Bxh7+ Kf8 18. g3 Ne6 19. Be4 Qb6 20.
Nxe6+ Qxe6 21. Bd5 Qh6 22. Qf2 f6 23. Rad1 Rb8 24. b4 b6 25. Bc6 {Belozerov,
A-Ivanov,Se/St.Petersburg op (5)/1994/0-1 (53)}) (8... Na6 9. Bc3 Ne7 10. Nf3
O-O 11. O-O f6 12. b4 Qf4 13. a3 Ng6 14. Bd3 e5 15. Bd2 Qg4 16. Re1 Qd7 17. Qc2
Rd8 18. Bxg6 hxg6 19. Qxg6 Qf5 20. Qxf5 Bxf5 21. Be3 Nc7 22. Red1 b6 23. Rd2
Ne6 24. Rad1 Rxd2 25. Rxd2 {Malaniuk,V-Matlak,M/Wisla BES (06)/1992/0.5 (25)})
9. Bc3 (9. Bxc5 Qxg2 10. Bf3 (10. Qd4) (10. Qd6) 10... Qg5) 9... f6 (9... Ne7
10. Nf3 O-O 11. O-O f6 12. Bd3 Qf4 13. Re1 Nbc6 14. Nd2 Rd8 15. Ne4 f5 16. g3
Qc7 17. Ng5 e5 18. Qh5 h6 19. Qf7+ Kh8 20. Nf3 Nd5 21. Ng5 Nde7 22. h4 hxg5 23.
hxg5 Be6 24. Qxe6 Nd4 25. Bxd4 $18 {Sokolov,I-San Segundo,P/Madrid (06)/1994/
1-0 (34)}) 10. Nf3 Qf4 11. O-O Nc6 12. Nd2 Nge7 13. Bh5+ (13. Bd3 $5 O-O 14.
Re1) 13... Ng6 (13... g6 $5 14. g3 Qc7 (14... Qf5 15. Bg4 $16) 15. Ne4 (15.
Bxf6 O-O 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 $10) 15... O-O 16. Be2 e5 17. Nxc5 b6 $13 (17... Bh3 18.
Bg4 $5 Bxf1 19. Ne6 Qb6 20. Qxf1 Rfc8 21. c5 Qa6 22. Be2 Qa4 23. Bc4 Kh8 24. b3
Qa3 25. f4 $40)) 14. g3 (14. Qc2 Qh6 $15) 14... Qc7 15. Ne4 O-O (15... b6 16.
Nd6+ Ke7 17. Nb5 $36) 16. Nxc5 Nce5 17. Ne4 (17. Bxg6 Nxg6 18. Qd4 Ne5 $15)
17... Qxc4 (17... Rd8 18. Qb3 Qxc4 19. Qxc4 Nxc4 20. Rfd1 $44) (17... Nxc4 18.
Rc1 $36) 18. Nd6 Qa6 (18... Qc5 19. Rc1 Rd8 20. Ne4 Qb6 21. Qc2 $13) 19. f4 Nd3
20. Rf3 Qb6+ 21. Kh1 Nc5 (21... Nf2+ $2 22. Rxf2 Qxf2 23. Bd4 $18) (21... Qxd6
22. Rxd3 $44) 22. b4 Na6 23. a4 (23. a3 Rd8 24. Rd3 $44) 23... Rd8 (23... Nxb4
24. Bxb4 Qxb4 25. Rb3 Qc5 26. Bf3 Rd8 27. Rd3 $132) 24. Rd3 Nxb4 25. Bxb4 Qxb4
26. Bf3 Qa5 27. Rc1 (27. Nc4 Rxd3 28. Nxa5 Rxd1+ 29. Rxd1 Kf7 30. Rd8 Ke7 31.
Rg8 Kf7 $10) 27... Ne7 $6 28. f5 (28. Nxc8 Raxc8 29. Rxc8 Rxc8 30. Bxb7 Rc4 $17
) (28. Nf5 $1 Nd5 (28... Rxd3 29. Nxe7+ Kf7 30. Qxd3 Kxe7 31. Qxh7 $18) 29.
Ne7+ Kh8 30. Nxd5 exd5 31. Rxd5 Rxd5 32. Qxd5 Qxd5 33. Bxd5 $10) (28. Qe2 Kf8
29. Rcd1 (29. Bxb7 Rxd6 30. Bxa8 Ba6) 29... Qxa4 $1 (29... Qa6 30. Nb5 Rxd3 31.
Qxd3 $16) 30. Rd4 Qb3 $13) (28. Nc4 Rxd3 29. Qxd3 Qc7 30. Rd1 Nc6 $13) (28. Qb3
$5 Qb6 (28... Nd5 29. Rxd5 exd5 30. Bxd5+ Kf8 31. Bg8 $1 Rd7 32. Qe6 $1 Qd8 33.
Bxh7 Rxd6 34. Qg8+ Ke7 35. Qxg7+ Ke6 36. Bg8+ Kf5 37. Re1 $18) (28... Kf8 29.
Rcd1 $5) 29. Qa3 (29. Rxc8 Qxb3 30. Rxd8+ Rxd8 31. Rxb3 Rxd6 32. Rxb7 $14)
29... a5 $8 (29... Qf2 30. a5 a6 31. Ne4 Rxd3 32. Qxd3 Qb2 33. Qd8+ Kf7 34.
Nd6+ Kg6 35. Qe8+ Kh6 36. Qh5#) 30. Rcd1 (30. f5 Qb4 $1 (30... Nxf5 31. Nxf5
exf5 32. Qc5 $1 Qxc5 33. Rxd8+ Qf8 34. Bd5+ $18) 31. Nxc8 Raxc8 (31... Qxa3 $4
32. Rxd8+ Kf7 33. Nd6+ $18) 32. Rxc8 Rxc8 33. Qxb4 axb4 34. fxe6 $10) (30. Nc4
Rxd3 (30... Qc7 31. Qc5 $1 Qxc5 (31... Nc6 32. Rxd8+ Qxd8 33. Rd1 Qc7 34. Qb6
$1 $18) 32. Rxd8+ Kf7 33. Nd6+ $18) 31. Qxd3 (31. Qxe7 Qd8 32. Qxd8+ Rxd8 33.
Nb6 Rb8 34. Rc7 e5) 31... Qc7) 30... Qb4 (30... Rf8 31. Nxc8 Nxc8 32. Rb3 $1
Qf2 33. Rb2 Qa7 34. Rxb7 Qa6 35. Qxf8+ Kxf8 36. Rd8#) 31. Qa2 Ra6 32. Nxc8 Rxc8
33. Rb3 $18) 28... Kf8 (28... exf5 $2 29. Qb3+) (28... Nxf5 29. Nxf5 Rxd3 30.
Ne7+ Kf7 31. Qxd3 Kxe7 32. Qxh7 $40) 29. Bg2 (29. fxe6 Bxe6 30. Nxb7 Rxd3 31.
Qxd3 Qf5 32. Qxf5 Nxf5 $15) (29. Nxc8 Rxd3 30. Qxd3 Rxc8 31. Rxc8+ Nxc8 32.
Bxb7 Qc7 33. Bxc8 Qxc8 34. fxe6 Qxe6 35. Qxh7 Qc6+ 36. Kg1 Qxa4 $17) (29. Qe2
Nxf5 30. Nxf5 exf5 31. Rc5 Qb6 32. Rb5 Qc7 33. Rc5 Qe7 $1) (29. Be4 Qe5 $1 30.
Rc7 exf5 $1 (30... Rxd6 31. Rxd6 Qxe4+ 32. Kg1 Qe3+ 33. Kf1 exf5 34. Rd8+ Kf7
35. Qh5+ Ke6 36. Rxe7+ Kxe7 37. Qe8#)) 29... g6 (29... Nxf5 30. Nxf5 Rxd3 31.
Qxd3 exf5 32. Qd6+ Ke8 (32... Kf7 $2 33. Rc7+ Kg6 34. Qe7 $18) 33. Rxc8+ Rxc8
34. Qe6+ Kd8 35. Qd6+ $10) (29... exf5 30. Qb3) 30. fxg6 (30. fxe6 Bxe6 31.
Nxb7 Rxd3 32. Qxd3 Qg5 $13) 30... hxg6 31. Qb3 $6 (31. Ne4 Rxd3 32. Qxd3 Nd5 (
32... Kg7 33. Qd6 Nd5 (33... Nf5 34. Rc7+ Kh6 35. Qf8+ $18) (33... Nc6 34. Nxf6
Kxf6 35. Qf8+ Kg5 36. Rc5+ $18) 34. Nxf6 Kxf6 35. Qf8+ Ke5 36. Qg7+ $5 Kd6 37.
Qf8+ $10) 33. Nxf6 Nxf6 34. Qd6+ (34. Qxg6 Qf5 35. Qh6+ Kf7 36. Rf1 Qg6) 34...
Kf7 (34... Kg7 $2 35. Qe7+) (34... Kg8 35. Qe7 Nh5 36. Qe8+ Kh7 37. Be4 Qg5 38.
Rc7+ Ng7 39. Qf7 Qh6 40. g4 $18) 35. Rc7+ Bd7 36. Rxd7+ Nxd7 37. Qxd7+ Kf6 $13)
31... Nc6 32. Nc4 (32. Nxc8 Raxc8 33. Qxe6 Qe5 $10) (32. Bxc6 bxc6 33. Nxc8
Raxc8 34. Qxe6 Qe5 35. Qxe5 fxe5 36. Rxd8+ Rxd8 37. Rxc6 $14) 32... Qc7 33.
Rxd8+ Qxd8 (33... Nxd8 $5) 34. Rd1 Qe7 35. Nd6 e5 36. Qe3 Kg7 $6 (36... Bg4 $1
37. Qh6+ Qg7 38. Qxg7+ Kxg7 39. Rb1 Na5 40. Rb5 Rd8 $1) 37. Qc5 Bd7 (37... Kh7
38. Nxb7 Bxb7 39. Qxe7+ Nxe7 40. Bxb7 Re8 41. Rd7 Kh6 $15) 38. Nxb7 (38. Bxc6
Bxc6+ 39. Kg1 Qe6 $17) 38... Qxc5 39. Nxc5 Be8 40. Ne6+ Kf7 41. Nc7 Rc8 42.
Nxe8 Kxe8 43. Rd6 Nd4 44. Rxf6 Ke7 (44... Rc1+ 45. Rf1) 45. Rf1 Rc4 46. Be4 g5
47. Rf7+ $1 Kxf7 48. Bd5+ Kf6 49. Bxc4 e4 50. Kg2 e3 (50... e3 51. h4 $10)
1/2-1/2

[Event "PCA-Wch Candidates m4"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A39"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "1994.06.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 042"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Ftacnik} c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. g3 Qb6 6. Nc2 (6. Nb3
Ne5 7. c5 Qc6 8. f3 e6 9. Qd4 d6 10. Nc3 Ned7 11. cxd6 Bxd6 12. e4 O-O 13. Be3
Rd8 14. Qc4 Qxc4 15. Bxc4 Ne5 16. Be2 Bb4 17. O-O b6 18. Rfd1 Bd7 19. Rac1 Be8
20. a3 Rxd1+ $10 {1/2-1/2/Kovalev,S-Brodsky,M/Kherson/1990/}) (6. Nb5 a6 7. Be3
Qa5+ 8. N5c3 Ng4 9. Qd2 e6 10. Bg2 Nxe3 11. Qxe3 Bc5 12. Qd2 b5 13. Ne4 Qxd2+
14. Nbxd2 Bd4 15. O-O-O f5 16. e3 fxe4 17. exd4 d5 $10 {Miles,A-Schmittdiel,E/
Ostend op/1993/}) 6... d6 (6... Ne5 7. b3 (7. Bg2 $5 Nxc4 8. b3 Ne5 9. Be3 $32)
(7. Ne3 {Ftacnik} Nxc4 8. Nxc4 Qc6 9. e4 Qxe4+ 10. Qe2 Qxh1 11. Nd6+ Kd8 12.
Nxf7+ $18) 7... Qc6 8. f3 e6 (8... d5 $2 9. Nb4) (8... g6 9. Bg2 Bg7 10. O-O
$36) 9. Bb2 Qc7 10. Bg2 Bc5 11. Bd4 d5 12. f4 Bxd4 13. Qxd4 Nc6 14. Qc3 O-O 15.
Nd2 Rd8 16. O-O b5 $1 17. cxb5 Qb6+ 18. e3 Qxb5 19. Rfc1 Bd7 20. Nd4 Nxd4 21.
Qxd4 a5 22. Rc5 Qb7 23. Rac1 Qb4 $132 {Kabatenski,A-Schlosser,P/Munich/1992/})
(6... e6 7. Bg2 Ne5 8. b3 Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Nc3 d6 11. e4 Bd7 12. Kh1 Rfd8 13.
f4 Ng6 14. Bb2 Rac8 15. Qe2 a5 16. Rab1 Bf8 17. Ne3 Bc6 18. Qf2 Nd7 19. Ba1 Nc5
20. Ng4 Qc7 21. Rbd1 b6 22. h4 Qb7 23. Rfe1 Ne7 24. f5 $36 {Hauchard,A-Fayard,
A/FRA-ch/1991/}) 7. Bg2 g6 8. Nc3 Bg7 9. O-O O-O 10. b3 $14 {()} (10. Ne3 {
Ftacnik} Be6 11. Ned5 Bxd5 12. cxd5 Ne5 13. b3 Rfc8 $10 {Barcza-Dely/Hungary/
1953/}) 10... Be6 (10... Qa5 $5 11. Bd2 Qh5 12. e4 $14) 11. e4 $1 (11. Nd5 {
Ftacnik} Bxd5 (11... Nxd5 $2 12. cxd5 Bf5 13. e4 Nd4 14. Be3 $1) 12. cxd5 Ne5
13. Be3 Qa6 14. a4 Rfc8 15. Na3 $14 {Keene,R-Littlewood/England/1971/}) 11...
Bg4 12. Qe1 (12. Qd2 Ne5 $5 $132 (12... Rac8 {Ftacnik} 13. Bb2 a6 $13)) 12...
Rac8 (12... Ne5 13. Be3 $36 {/\f3}) 13. h3 Bd7 14. Be3 (14. Bg5 $5 {Ftacnik}
Qa5 15. Bxf6 (15. Nd5 $1 Qxe1 16. Rfxe1) 15... Bxf6 16. Nd5 $5 Qxe1 (16... Bxa1
$2 17. Nxe7+ Kg7 18. Qxa1+ Qe5 19. Nxc8 $16) 17. Nxf6+ Kg7 18. Nh5+ Kh6 19.
Rfxe1 Kxh5 20. Rad1 $14) 14... Qa5 15. Nd5 $5 (15. Bd2 Qh5 16. g4 $2 Bxg4 17.
hxg4 Nxg4 18. Bf4 Be5 $1 $19) (15. f4 {Ftacnik} a6 16. Rc1 b5 $132) (15. Rd1 $5
{Ftacnik} Ne8 (15... Ng4 16. b4 Bxc3 (16... Nxb4 17. Nd5 $18) (16... Qe5 17.
Bd2 Nf6 18. f4 $16) (16... Nxe3 $5 17. bxa5 Nxc2 18. Qd2 Na3 19. c5 Nd4 20. Nd5
Rxc5 21. Nxe7+ Kh8 22. Qb4 $16) 17. Qxc3 Qe5 18. Bd4 Nxd4 19. Rxd4 $1 Nf6 20.
f4 $16) 16. b4 Qd8 17. c5 Ne5 18. f4 Nc4 19. e5 $1 $16) 15... Qxe1 16. Rfxe1
Ne8 (16... Nxd5 {Ftacnik} 17. exd5 Ne5 18. Bxa7 Nd3 19. Rxe7 Bxa1 20. Rxd7 Bc3
21. Rxb7 $16) (16... Nxe4 $5 {Ftacnik} 17. Bxe4 Bxa1 18. Rxa1 Bxh3 19. Nd4 Kg7
20. Nxc6 bxc6 21. Nf4 (21. Nb4 c5 22. Nd5 $14) 21... Bd7 $14) (16... Rfd8 {
Ftacnik} 17. Bg5 $1 Nxd5 18. exd5 Ne5 19. Bxe7 Re8 20. Bxd6 Bf5 21. Nd4 $1 Nd3
22. Nxf5 Nxe1 23. Ne7+ Rxe7 24. Bxe7 Bxa1 25. d6 Nxg2 26. d7 Ra8 27. Kxg2 f5
28. d8=Q+ Rxd8 29. Bxd8 $18) 17. Rad1 Nc7 (17... e6 {Ftacnik} 18. Ndb4 Nxb4 19.
Nxb4 a5 20. Nd3 $14 {xd6}) 18. f4 $36 (18. Bxa7 $2 Nxd5 19. exd5 Nxa7 $19) (18.
c5 $5 {Ftacnik} Nxd5 (18... dxc5 19. Nxe7+ Nxe7 20. Rxd7 $16) 19. exd5 Nb8 20.
c6 $1 bxc6 21. Bxa7 cxd5 22. Bxb8 Rxc2 (22... Rxb8 23. Rxe7 $16) (22... Rfe8
23. Bxd6 Rxc2 24. Rxe7 Rxe7 25. Bxe7 d4 26. a4 $16) 23. Rxe7 $16) 18... Rfd8
19. Re2 Ne8 $6 (19... Kf8 $14 {/\} 20. c5 dxc5 21. Bxc5 b6 $132) 20. Bxa7 $1 e6
(20... Nxa7 21. Nxe7+ Kf8 22. Nxc8 Nxc8 23. e5 $1 $16 (23. e5 {Ftacnik} dxe5
24. fxe5 $16)) 21. Bb6 exd5 22. cxd5 (22. exd5 Nb8 23. Bxd8 Rxd8 $14) (22. Bxd8
{Ftacnik} Rxd8 23. Rxd5 $13) 22... Ne7 23. Bxd8 $6 (23. Na3 $5 Ra8 (23... Nc7
24. e5 (24. Rc2 Nb5 25. Bxd8 Nxa3 $5 26. Rxc8 Nxc8 27. Rc1 $14) 24... Be8 25.
Nc4 dxe5 26. d6 $16) 24. Bxd8 Rxd8 25. Rc2 $36 {/\Bf1,Nc4}) (23. a4 $5 {Ftacnik
} Nc7 24. e5) 23... Rxd8 24. e5 (24. a4 {Ftacnik}) 24... Kf8 $1 $13 25. Nd4 (
25. e6 fxe6 26. dxe6 Bb5 27. Ree1 d5 {/\Nd6<=>}) 25... Bc8 26. Nb5 (26. e6 {
Ftacnik} Nc7) 26... h6 $1 {/\g5<=>} 27. a4 (27. h4 $2 Bg4) (27. Rc1 $5 {Ftacnik
} dxe5 28. fxe5 Nxd5 29. Rd2 $1 (29. Rxc8 Rxc8 30. Bxd5 Rc5 31. Bc4 Rxe5 $10)
29... Be6 30. Rcd1 Bxe5 31. Bxd5 $16) (27. Rde1 {Ftacnik} g5 28. exd6 Nf5)
27... g5 28. Rde1 gxf4 29. gxf4 (29. exd6 {Ftacnik} Ng6) 29... Bd7 (29... dxe5
30. fxe5 {/\} Nxd5 $2 31. Rd2 Be6 32. Red1 $18) (29... Ng6 $6 30. e6 {/\e7,f5|^
}) 30. Na3 (30. exd6 $6 Nf5 $36) (30. Nxd6 {Ftacnik} Nxd6 31. exd6 Nf5) (30.
Nc7 {Ftacnik} dxe5 (30... Nxc7 31. exd6 Nexd5 32. dxc7 Nxc7 33. Bxb7 $36) 31.
Nxe8 Bxe8 32. fxe5 Rxd5 33. Bxd5 Nxd5 34. Rd2 Bc6 $10) 30... Bf5 31. Nc4 (31.
exd6 $2 {Ftacnik} Ng6 $17) 31... Ng6 (31... dxe5 {Ftacnik} 32. fxe5 Nxd5 33.
Rd2 $1 (33. Bxd5 Rxd5 34. Ne3 Be6 35. Nxd5 Bxd5 $13) 33... Be6 34. Red1 Nec7
35. Nb6) 32. e6 (32. Rf2 $5 {Ftacnik} h5) 32... fxe6 $1 (32... Bf6 $2 33. exf7
Ng7 (33... Kxf7 $2 34. Rxe8 Rxe8 35. Nxd6+ $18) 34. Re8+ $1 Nxe8 35. fxe8=Q+
Rxe8 36. Rxe8+ Kxe8 37. Nxd6+ $18) 33. dxe6 Ne7 34. Rd1 (34. Bxb7 Rb8 35. Bg2
Rxb3 {/\Bd3}) (34. Kh2 {Ftacnik} d5 35. Ne3 Bxe6 36. Nxd5 Bxd5 (36... Nxd5 37.
Rxe6 Nxf4 38. Rf1 Rd4 39. Re4 Rxe4 40. Bxe4 Be5 41. Bxb7 Nd6 42. a5 $1 $18) 37.
Rxe7 Bxb3 $10) 34... d5 35. Ne5 (35. Nb6 Nf6 {/\Rd6,><e6}) 35... Bxe5 $1 (35...
Bxe6 36. Ng6+ (36. Rde1 Nc7) 36... Nxg6 37. Rxe6 Kf7 (37... Nxf4 $2 38. Rf1 $18
) (37... Ne7 $15 {Ftacnik}) 38. Rb6 $16) 36. Rxe5 Bc2 37. Rd4 Bxb3 38. Rb4 Bc2
39. Rxb7 Bxa4 40. Rh5 $6 (40. Ra7 $5 Bc6 41. Rh5 Rd6 42. Rxh6 (42. f5 Ng7 43.
Rxh6 Ngxf5 44. Rf6+ Kg8 $10) 42... Kg7 $1 43. Rh4 Rxe6 $10) 40... Nd6 41. Rc7
Be8 $1 (41... Ndf5 $2 42. Rxf5+ Nxf5 43. Rf7+ $16) 42. Rxh6 (42. Re5 Ndf5 43.
Bf3 Nd4 44. Bg4 Ndc6 45. Re1 Kg7 {/\Kf6=/+}) 42... Kg7 43. Rh5 $2 (43. Rh4 Ndf5
44. Rg4+ Kf6 $10 (44... Kf6 {Ftacnik} 45. Kf2 d4 $17)) 43... Bxh5 44. Rxe7+ Kf6
45. Ra7 $2 (45. Rh7 $1 Bg6 46. Rd7 Rg8 $1 47. Bxd5 $1 Be4+ 48. Kf1 Bxd5 49.
Rxd6 $10) (45. Rd7 Rg8 $1 (45... Rxd7 {Ftacnik} 46. exd7 Ke7 47. Bxd5 $10) 46.
Rxd6 Bf3 $19) 45... Ne4 $19 (45... Kxe6 $6 {Ftacnik} 46. Bxd5+ Kxd5 47. Ra5+
Ke4 48. Rxh5 $10) 46. f5 Kxf5 47. e7 Rg8 $1 48. Rd7 Ke6 (48... Bf3 $2 49. e8=Q
$1) 49. Rd8 Be8 50. Kh2 Nf6 {/\Ke7} 0-1

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2695"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "1994.06.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 041 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. a3 b4 10. Ne4 Nxe4 11. Bxe4 bxa3 12. O-O axb2 13. Bxb2 Nf6 14. Bd3 Be7
15. Qb1 Rb8 16. Rxa7 Qb6 17. Qa2 O-O 18. Rb1 Ra8 19. Rxa8 Rxa8 20. Qc4 Ba6 21.
Qc2 Bxd3 22. Qxd3 Qb5 23. Ne5 Rb8 24. Qxb5 Rxb5 25. Nc4 c5 1/2-1/2

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "1994.06.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 041 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3
Nc6 9. Rc1 a6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. b4 Ba7 12. Be2 d4 13. exd4 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 Qxd4
15. Be3 Qxd1+ 16. Nxd1 Bd7 17. Bf3 a5 18. Bxb7 Bxe3 19. Nxe3 Rab8 20. Bf3
1/2-1/2

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Kasparov,G"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1994.06.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 041"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Fritz3} d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6
8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. exf6 Bb7 12. g3 c5 13. d5 Qb6 14. Bg2
O-O-O 15. O-O b4 16. Rb1 $1 {Uhlmann} Qa6 17. dxe6 Bxg2 18. e7 Bxf1 19. Qd5
Bxe7 (19... Bh6 20. exd8=Q+ Kxd8 {Yermolinsky-Ivanchuk/Podolsk/1986/}) 20. fxe7
Rdg8 21. Ne4 Rg6 22. Rxf1 $2 (22. Qa8+ $1 Nb8 23. Rxf1 (23. Bf4 Qb7 24. Qxb7+
Kxb7 25. Kxf1 Kc6 (25... Nd7 26. Rd1) 26. Rd1 Nd7 (26... Re8 27. Bxb8 Rxb8 28.
Rd8 Rg8 29. Rxg8 Rxg8 30. Nf6 $18) 27. Rd6+ (27. Nd6 $145 $1 Re6 (27... Nf6 28.
Nxf7 {/\ Ne5}) 28. Nxf7 $18 {/\ Nh8,Nd8}) 27... Rxd6 28. Nxd6 Nf6 29. Be5 Rg8
30. Nxf7 Nd5 $13) 23... Qc6 (23... Qb7 24. Qxb7+ Kxb7 25. Bf6 $18) 24. Rd1 $3
Qxa8 25. Rd8+ Kc7 (25... Kb7 26. Rxh8 Re6 27. Nxc5+ $18) 26. Bf4+ Kb6 27. Rxh8
Re6 28. e8=Q Rxe8 29. Rxe8 Qd5 30. Rxb8+ Ka6 (30... Ka5 31. Re8 f5 32. Nxc5 $1
Qd1+ 33. Kg2 Qd5+ 34. Kh3 $18) 31. Nd2 $1 (31. Nd6 c3 32. bxc3 bxc3 33. Nb5
Qd1+ 34. Kg2 Qd5+ (34... c2 35. Nc7+ Ka5 36. Rb5+ Ka4 37. Rxc5 $18) 35. f3
Qxa2+ 36. Kh3 Qe6+ 37. g4 Qe2 $13) (31. f3 f5) (31. Re8 f5 32. Re6+ $2 $18 Ka5
33. Bc7+ Kb5) 31... c3 32. bxc3 bxc3 33. Nb3 c4 34. Nc1 c2 (34... Qd1+ 35. Kg2
Qd5+ 36. f3 Qf5 (36... Qd2+ $145 $1 $16) 37. Re8 Qc2+ 38. Re2 $18) 35. h4 $18)
22... Qc6 23. Qxc6+ Rxc6 24. Rd1 $2 (24. Bf4 $1 Re8 25. Nd6+ Rxd6 26. Bxd6 Kb7
27. Re1 Kc6 28. Bf4 Nf6 29. h4 Nd5 30. Bc1 Kd7 $1 (30... Rxe7 31. Rxe7 Nxe7 32.
h5 Kd5 33. h6 Ng6 34. h7 Ke4 35. Be3 $18) (30... c3 31. bxc3 Nxc3 32. h5 Nxa2
33. Bg5 c4 34. h6 {!RR} (34. Rd1 $1 {?RR} b3 35. Rd8 b2 36. Rxe8 b1=Q+ 37. Kh2
Qf5 38. Rd8 Qxf2+ 39. Kh3 Qf1+ 40. Kg4 Qe2+ (40... f5+ $145 $1 41. Kh4 Qh1#)
41. Kf4 Qf2+ 42. Ke5 Qb2+ 43. Kf5 Qf2+ 44. Bf4 Qc5+ 45. Kf6 $18) 34... c3 35.
h7 b3 (35... c2 36. h8=Q (36. Bh6 $145 $1 Nc3 37. Bf8 Nd1 38. h8=Q c1=Q 39.
Qf6+ Kb7 40. Qd6 $18) 36... Rxh8 37. e8=Q+ Rxe8 38. Rxe8 $13) 36. Bf6 $145 Kd7
37. h8=Q Rxh8 38. Bxh8 Ke8 39. Kg2 c2 40. Bb2 {/\Re3} a5 41. Ba3 $18 {/\Rh1})
31. h5 Rxe7 32. Rd1 (32. Rxe7+ $2 Kxe7 $10) 32... Kc6 33. h6 f5 34. Kg2 c3 35.
bxc3 Nxc3 36. Rh1 Rh7 37. Rh5 Nxa2 38. Be3 c4 39. Rxf5 c3 40. g4 b3 41. g5 b2
42. Rc5+ Kd6 43. Rb5 $18) 24... Re8 25. Nd6+ (25. h4 f6 26. Rd6 Kc7 27. Nxf6 (
27. Bf4 Rxe7 28. Re6+ Kd8 29. Rxc6 Rxe4 30. h5 c3 31. bxc3 bxc3 32. h6 c2 33.
h7 Re8 34. Re6 Rh8 35. Re2 Rxh7 36. Rxc2) 27... Nxf6 28. Rxc6+ Kxc6 29. Bxf6
Kd7 30. g4 Ke6 31. g5 $13) 25... Rxd6 26. Rxd6 f6 27. Bxf6 (27. Bf4 $1 {
Surprising solution! White doesn t take the pawn in order to play with the B!}
Rxe7 28. Kf1 $16 {Garry}) 27... Kc7 28. Re6 Nxf6 29. Rxf6 Rxe7 30. Kf1 Re4 31.
Rf4 Rxf4 32. gxf4 Kd6 33. Ke2 a5 34. a4 c3 35. bxc3 b3 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Candidates FIDE sf2"]
[Site "Sanghi Nagar"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B50"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "27"]
[EventDate "1994.07.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "IND"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 042"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Nxd7 5. O-O Ngf6 6. Qe2 e6 7. b3 g6 $5
$146 (7... Be7 8. Bb2 O-O) 8. d4 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bg7 10. Ba3 (10. Rd1 O-O 11. Ba3
Qb6 12. c4 Rfd8 13. Nc3 a6 $10) 10... Qb6 11. Nc3 (11. Nb5 Nc5 (11... Nxe4 $2
12. Qxe4 Bxa1 13. Nxd6+ Kd8 14. Nxf7+ $18) 12. Nxd6+ (12. e5 Nfe4 13. Bxc5 Qxc5
$13) 12... Qxd6 13. e5 Qc6 14. exf6 Bxf6 15. c3 Ne4 $15) 11... a6 (11... Qxd4
12. Nb5 Qb6 13. Nxd6+ Kd8 14. Nxf7+ Kc7 15. Nxh8 Rxh8 16. Rad1 $16) 12. Rad1
O-O 13. Na4 Qc7 14. c4 (14. c4 Rfd8 15. f4 Rac8 $10) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates FIDE sf2"]
[Site "Sanghi Nagar"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1994.07.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "IND"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 042"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 (3... Nf6 4. Bb5 Nd4 5. e5 $36) 4. Bc4 Be7 (4...
Nf6 $2 5. Ng5 {xf7}) 5. d3 d6 6. Nd2 {xd5} Nf6 7. Nf1 Be6 8. Ne3 O-O (8... Bxc4
$6 9. dxc4 $14 (9. Nxc4 d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 $10)) 9. O-O Nd4 10. a4 a6 11. Ncd5
Nxd5 (11... b5 $2 12. axb5 axb5 13. Rxa8 Qxa8 14. Nxe7+ $18) 12. Bxd5 Rb8 13.
g3 (13. c3 Nc6 14. g3 $14) 13... Bh3 14. Ng2 Qd7 (14... Ne6 15. f4 exf4 16.
gxf4 Nc7 17. Ba2 d5 $13) 15. c3 Ne6 16. f4 exf4 17. gxf4 Nc7 18. Ba2 Qg4 (18...
d5 19. Qf3 Rbd8 $13) 19. Qxg4 Bxg4 20. Rf2 Be6 21. f5 $1 Bxa2 22. Rxa2 b5 23.
Bf4 b4 24. f6 $5 Bxf6 (24... gxf6 $6 25. Ne3 $14 {xf5}) 25. Bxd6 Rfc8 (25...
bxc3 $2 26. e5 $1 cxb2 27. Rfxb2 Rxb2 28. Rxb2 $18) 26. e5 Bd8 27. e6 $6 (27.
Ne3 $14) 27... Bf6 28. exf7+ Kxf7 29. Ne3 bxc3 30. bxc3 Rb1+ $14 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Candidates FIDE sf2"]
[Site "Sanghi Nagar"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D40"]
[WhiteElo "2680"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Gurevich,M"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1994.07.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "IND"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 042"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. d4 d5 6. a3 a6 7. b3 cxd4 (7... Be7
8. Bb2 O-O 9. Bd3 b6 10. O-O cxd4 11. exd4 Bb7 12. Re1 Rc8 $10 {Zakharov,
A-Dvoirys,S/Moscow Tal mem/1992/}) 8. exd4 Be7 9. c5 $5 (9. Bb2 O-O 10. Bd3 Qc7
11. O-O Bd7 12. Re1 Rfe8 13. c5 b6 14. cxb6 Qxb6 15. Na4 $14 {Hoi,C-Agustsson/
Kobenhavn/1989/}) 9... b6 10. cxb6 Nd7 $5 (10... Qxb6 11. Na4 Qa7 12. b4 $14 {
/\Na4-c5}) 11. Bd3 a5 12. Nb5 $5 (12. O-O Ba6 $132) 12... Qxb6 13. Bf4 O-O 14.
O-O Na7 (14... Ba6 $2 15. Nc7 Bxd3 16. Nxa8 $16) 15. Nc7 $5 Rb8 16. b4 $5 Bb7
$5 {/\ 17...e5} (16... axb4 17. axb4 $14 Bxb4 $6 18. Qc2 g6 19. Rfb1 Nc6 20.
Na8 Qb7 21. Ba6 Qxa8 22. Bxc8 $16) 17. bxa5 Qxa5 18. Qe2 e5 $5 (18... Rbc8 $6
19. Nxe6 $1 (19. Rfc1 Bc6 20. Na6 Bb5 $132) 19... fxe6 20. Qxe6+ $16) 19. Bxe5
Nxe5 20. Qxe5 Nc6 21. Qf4 Rbc8 22. Nb5 Ba6 23. a4 Nb4 $132 24. Bf5 $1 Rcd8 25.
Rfe1 Bf6 26. Ne5 Bxe5 (26... Bxb5 27. axb5 Qxb5 28. Rab1 $36) 27. dxe5 Bxb5 28.
axb5 Qxb5 29. Ra3 $5 (29. Rab1 Rb8 30. Rb3 $36 Qc4 31. Bxh7+ (31. Qxc4 dxc4 32.
Rc3 g6 33. Be4 Rfc8 $10) 31... Kxh7 32. Qf5+ Kg8 33. Rh3 Rfe8 34. Qh7+ Kf8 35.
e6 Rxe6 $1 36. Qh8+ Ke7 37. Rxe6+ Kxe6 38. Re3+ Kd7 $17 39. Qxb8 Qc1+ 40. Re1
Qxe1#) (29. e6 fxe6 30. Bxe6+ Kh8 $10) 29... Qc4 $1 (29... g6 30. Rh3 $40) (
29... h6 30. Rb3 Rb8 31. Reb1 $18) 30. Bxh7+ $6 (30. Qg5 h6 $132) 30... Kxh7
31. Qf5+ Kg8 (31... g6 32. Rh3+ Kg8 33. Qf6 $18) 32. Rh3 Rfe8 $8 (32... Qc2 33.
Qh5 f6 34. e6 {/\ 35.Qh8 #}) 33. Qh7+ Kf8 34. Qh8+ Ke7 35. Qxg7 $40 {/\ 36.e6}
d4 $1 (35... Rg8 36. Qf6+ Ke8 37. e6 $18) (35... Kd7 36. e6+ $1 (36. Qxf7+ $6
Re7 37. e6+ Kd6 $13) 36... Kc8 (36... Rxe6 37. Qxf7+ $18) 37. Rc3 $16) 36. e6
Kd6 37. e7 $6 (37. Qxf7 $142 d3 $1 $15) 37... Rd7 $4 {and this is the reward
for bravery} (37... Rxe7 $2 38. Qf6+ Re6 39. Qxd8+ $18) (37... Rc8 $1 {/\38...
Nc6} 38. Rh6+ (38. Qe5+ Kd7 39. Rh6 Rc6 40. Qf5+ Re6 $17) (38. Rh4 Nc6 39. Qg3+
Kd7 40. Qh3+ Kc7 41. Qg3+ Kb7 42. Rb1+ Ka8 $17 {/\43...Na7}) (38. Qf6+ Kd7 39.
Qf5+ Kc7 40. Qa5+ Kb7 41. Rb3 (41. Rh6 Qc5 $17) 41... Qxb3 42. Qb5+ Kc7 $19)
38... Kd7 $5 $13 (38... Kc7 39. Qe5+ (39. Qf6 Qc5 $1 $13 (39... Nc6 40. Qd6+
Kb7 41. Rb1+ Ka8 42. Ra1+ Na7 (42... Kb7 43. Qd7+ Kb6 44. Rb1+ $40) 43. Rxa7+
Kxa7 44. Qb6+ Ka8 45. Qa5+ Kb7 46. Rb6+ Kc7 47. Qa7#)) 39... Kb7 40. Qa5 Qc5 $1
$17 (40... Rc6 $13 41. Qd8 $1 (41. Rb1 $4 Qc1+ $19) (41. Rxc6 Nxc6 42. Rb1+ Kc8
43. Qa8+ Kd7 44. Rb7+ Ke6 $17 45. Qxe8 $4 Qc1#) 41... Rxd8 (41... Qc1 $2 42.
Rf1 (42. Qd7+ Kb6 43. Qxd4+ Kb5 44. Rh5+ Ka4 45. Qa7+ Kb3 46. Rh3+ Kb2 47. Qa3+
$18) 42... Rxd8 43. exd8=Q Qxh6 44. Qxd4 Qd6 $13) (41... Qe2 $2 42. Qd7+ $1 (
42. Rb1 Qxe7 (42... Qd2 43. Qd7+ Rc7 44. Qb5+ $18) 43. Qxe7+ Rxe7 44. Rxb4+ Ka7
45. Ra4+ Kb7 46. Rb4+ $10) 42... Rc7 (42... Kb6 43. Rxc6+ Nxc6 44. Rxe2 $18)
43. Qxc7+ Kxc7 44. Rxe2 $18) 42. exd8=Q Rxh6 43. Qe7+ $1 (43. Qd7+ Qc7 44. Qb5+
(44. Qxd4 Qxh2+ 45. Kf1 Qh1+ 46. Ke2 Qxe1+ 47. Kxe1 Nc2+ $19) 44... Rb6 $17) (
43. Re7+ Ka6 44. Qa8+ Kb5 45. Rb7+ Rb6 $17) 43... Kb6 (43... Ka6 44. Ra1+ Na2
45. Qa3+ Kb7 46. Qxa2 $14) 44. Qd8+ $10 Kb7 (44... Kb5 $4 45. Qg5+ $18) 45.
Qe7+ $1 $10)) 39. Qg4+ (39. Qe5 Rc6 40. Qf5+ Re6 $17) 39... Kc7 $17) 38. Qe5+
Kc6 39. Rh6+ Kb7 40. Qa5 $1 $18 Rdxe7 (40... Nc6 41. Rb1+ Kc8 42. Qa8+ Kc7 43.
Rb7#) (40... Rc7 41. Rb6+ Kc8 42. Rxb4 $18) 41. Rxe7+ Rxe7 42. Qb6+ (42. Qb6+
Kc8 43. Rh8+ Kd7 44. Rd8#) 1-0

[Event "Candidates FIDE sf2"]
[Site "Sanghi Nagar"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[Annotator "Blatny,P"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "1994.07.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "IND"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 042"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik} c5 2. c3 e6 3. d4 d5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Be3 $1 c4 (5... cxd4 $6 {
קd5}) 6. b3 cxb3 7. axb3 Bd6 8. Bd3 Nc6 9. Qf3 {/\Nge2-f4 קd5} (9. Nd2 {
Ftacnik} Be6 (9... Nf6 10. h3 O-O 11. Qf3 Re8 12. Ne2 h6 13. O-O {Blatny,
P-Popovic,P/Brno (8)/1992/0.5 (13)}) 10. Qf3 Nge7 11. Bf4 Bxf4 (11... Ng6 12.
Bxd6 (12. Bg3 Nh4 13. Bxh4 Qxh4 14. Ne2 O-O 15. h3 Rae8 16. O-O f5 17. Ng3 f4
18. Nf5 Bxf5 19. Qxd5+ Be6 20. Qxd6 Rf6 21. Qc5 Rd8 22. Nf3 Qh6 23. Bc4 Kh8 24.
Bxe6 {Turov,M-Chuprov,A/St.Petersburg op (6)/1994/1-0 (45)}) 12... Qxd6 13. Ne2
a5 14. Qg3 Qxg3 15. hxg3 h6 16. O-O O-O 17. Ra3 Rfe8 18. Rfa1 Bg4 19. Kf1 Rab8
20. f3 Bd7 21. Bb5 b6 22. Kf2 Re7 23. Re1 Nb4 24. cxb4 {Le_Bellac,P-Szabolcsi,
J/Budapest FS 11 IM/A(05)/1993/0-1 (33)}) 12. Qxf4 Ng6 13. Qg3 O-O 14. h4 Qf6
15. Ne2 Bf5 16. Bxf5 Qxf5 17. h5 Nge7 18. Qf3 Rfe8 19. O-O Qg5 20. Nf4 a5 21.
Rfd1 Rad8 22. Nf1 Nf5 23. Rd3 Nh4 24. Qg3 {Blatny,P-Kortschnoj,V/Brno (5)/1992/
1-0 (53)}) 9... Nf6 (9... Nge7 {Ftacnik} 10. Ne2 O-O 11. Nd2 a6 12. h4 Be6 13.
Bf4 Bxf4 14. Qxf4 Qd7 15. h5 f6 16. Ng3 Rae8 17. O-O Na7 18. Rfc1 Nb5 19. b4
Qd6 20. Qxd6 Nxd6 21. Ra5 Nc6 22. Rc5 Rc8 23. Re1 Rfe8 24. b5 {Drazic,S-Ortega,
L/Cattolica (5)/1993/1-0 (59)}) 10. h3 h6 (10... O-O {Ftacnik} 11. Bg5 Re8+ 12.
Ne2 Be7 13. O-O h6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Nf4 $14) 11. Ne2 Ne7 12. Ng3 (12. Bf4 $5 {
Ftacnik}) 12... Be6 (12... Ng6 $5 13. Nf5 $140 $2 (13. Bxg6 fxg6 $13) (13. O-O
O-O $10) 13... Bxf5 14. Qxf5 (14. Bxf5 $4 Nh4 $19) 14... Nh4 15. Bb5+ Kf8 $1
$17 {קg2}) 13. O-O Ng6 (13... O-O {Ftacnik} 14. Bf4 Bxf4 15. Qxf4 Qb6 16. Ra3
$13) 14. Nf5 Bxf5 (14... O-O $2 {Ftacnik} 15. Nxd6 Qxd6 16. Bxh6 $16) 15. Qxf5
Nh4 $5 16. Bb5+ Kf8 17. Qc2 g6 18. Bd3 Qd7 (18... Kg7 {Ftacnik} 19. c4 $36) 19.
c4 a6 $6 (19... Nf3+ $1 20. Kh1 (20. gxf3 Qxh3 $40) 20... Ng5 {/\Nh3->>>}) 20.
c5 Bc7 (20... Rc8 $2 {Ftacnik} 21. Qd2 Be7 22. Bxh6+ $16) 21. c6 $5 (21. Nd2 {
><f3}) (21. Nc3 {Ftacnik} Kg7 22. b4 Nf3+ 23. Kh1 Ng5 $132) 21... Qd6 (21...
bxc6 {Ftacnik} 22. Rxa6 Rxa6 23. Bxa6 Qd6 24. Qc5 Qxc5 25. dxc5) 22. Qc5 (22.
g3 bxc6 (22... Nf3+ {Ftacnik} 23. Kg2 Nh4+ 24. gxh4 Qh2+ 25. Kf3 $16) 23. Bf4 (
23. Rc1 Qe6 24. gxh4 (24. Kh2 Nf3+ 25. Kg2 Ng5 26. Bxg5 hxg5 $40) (24. Qxc6
Qxh3 25. gxh4 Bh2+ 26. Kh1 Bg3+ $10 (26... Re8 {/\Re3->#})) 24... Qxh3 $40)
23... Nf3+ 24. Kg2 Nh4+ 25. Kh2 Nf3+ 26. Kg2 Nh4+ $10 27. Kh1 $2 Qe6 28. Kh2 (
28. gxh4 $4 Qxh3+ 29. Kg1 Bxf4 30. f3 Be3+ $19) 28... Bxf4 29. gxf4 Nf3+ 30.
Kg3 Ne1 31. Qe2 (31. Qd1 $2 Nh5+ 32. Kh2 Nxf4 $19) 31... Nh5+ 32. Kh2 Nxd3 33.
Qxd3 Nxf4 34. Qe3 Qd6 $19) 22... Qxc5 23. dxc5 bxc6 24. Rxa6 Rxa6 25. Bxa6 Kg7
26. Bb7 Rb8 27. Bxc6 Rxb3 28. Nd2 (28. Bd4 {Ftacnik} Rd3 $10) 28... Rb4 29. Rb1
Rxb1+ 30. Nxb1 Nf5 31. Bd2 Nd4 (31... Ne4 {Ftacnik} 32. Bb4 Ne7 33. Bb7 Kf6 34.
Nc3 Nxc3 35. Bxc3+ Ke6 $10) 32. Ba4 (32. Bb7 {Ftacnik} Ne4 33. Bb4 Ne6 34. c6
Bb6) 32... Ne4 33. Bb4 Ne6 34. c6 Bb6 35. Nc3 (35. Be1 N4c5 $15) 35... Bxf2+ (
35... Nxf2 36. Nxd5 $10) 36. Kf1 Bc5 (36... Nxc3 {Ftacnik} 37. Bxc3+ d4 38. Ba5
Bg3 39. Ke2 $10) 37. Ba5 $6 (37. Nxd5 $142) (37. Bxc5 {Ftacnik} N4xc5 (37...
Nxc3 $2 38. Bd4+ Nxd4 39. c7 $16) 38. Bd1 Nc7 $15) 37... Nxc3 38. Bxc3+ Kf8 $6
(38... d4 $142 39. Ba5 Bd6 40. Bb3 Kf6 41. Ke2 $15) 39. Bb3 $1 (39. Bf6 {
Ftacnik} Be7 40. Be5 Bd8 41. Bd6+ Kg7 $10) 39... Nc7 (39... d4 $4 40. Bxe6 Bd6
41. Bxd4 fxe6 42. Bc5 $1 $18) 40. Be5 Bb6 41. Bd6+ Kg7 42. g4 (42. Bxc7 Bxc7
43. Bxd5 $10) 42... Kf6 43. h4 Ke6 44. Bf8 h5 45. gxh5 gxh5 46. Bd1 Nb5 47.
Bxh5 (47. Bxh5 {Ftacnik} Na7 $10) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates FIDE sf2"]
[Site "Sanghi Nagar"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A50"]
[WhiteElo "2680"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Gelfand,B"]
[PlyCount "151"]
[EventDate "1994.07.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "IND"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 042"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 {Atlas} Nf6 2. d4 c6 3. Bf4 Qb6 $5 4. Qd2 (4. b3 d5) 4... Ne4 5. Qc2 d5 (
5... Qxd4 $4 6. e3 $18) 6. f3 $1 $146 (6. e3 Bf5 7. Qb3 e6 8. Nc3 Bb4 9. f3
Nxc3 10. bxc3 Be7 11. c5 Qa5 12. Ne2 b6 {Anastasian-Sideif Zade/Azov/1991/}) (
6. cxd5 $2 Qxd4) 6... e5 (6... Qb4+ $2 7. Nc3 Nxc3 8. bxc3 Qxc4 9. e4 $18) (
6... Qa5+ 7. Nd2 Nxd2 8. Bxd2 Qd8 (8... Qb6 9. e3 $14) 9. e4 dxe4 10. Bc3 e3
11. O-O-O $44) (6... Nf6 $142 7. e3 g6 8. Nc3 Bg7 9. Bd3 $5 O-O 10. Nge2 $14)
7. Bxe5 Qa5+ 8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 dxc4 (9... Nd7 10. Bf4 dxc4) 10. e4 b5 11. Ne2
b4 $6 (11... Nd7 $142 12. Bf4 Nb6 13. Ng3 (13. Bd2 $5 Qa4 14. Qb1 Be7 15. Ng3
O-O 16. Be2 $16 {/+/=}) 13... Qa4 $5 $132 (13... Na4 14. Bd2 Be7 15. Be2 O-O
16. O-O $14)) 12. Bf4 (12. cxb4 Bxb4+ 13. Kf2 O-O 14. Qxc4 Nd7 (14... Be6 15.
Qc2 Nd7 16. Bg3 $16) 15. Bf4 (15. Bc7 $5 Nb6 16. Qxc6 $143 $44) 15... Nb6 16.
Qc2 f5 $44 {/+/=}) 12... Na6 (12... Nd7 13. Bd2 $14) 13. Kf2 Be7 (13... b3 14.
Qb1 $16) (13... bxc3 14. Nxc3 Nb4 15. Qd2 Ba6 $14) 14. Ng3 Be6 15. Nf5 Bxf5 16.
exf5 O-O (16... b3 17. Qe4 $18) (16... bxc3 17. Bxc4 O-O {-game}) (16... Qd5
17. Re1 $18) 17. Bxc4 Bf6 (17... bxc3 18. Rhe1 Bf6 19. Be5 Nc7 20. Bxf6 (20.
Re3 $1 $16) 20... gxf6 21. Re3 (21. Re4 $5 Kh8 $13) 21... Nd5 22. Bxd5 Qxd5 23.
Rd1 c5 $14) 18. Rhe1 (18. Qd3 Nc7 19. cxb4 (19. Bd6 bxc3 $1 (19... Rfd8 20.
Bxb4 Bxd4+ 21. Qxd4 $1 $18) 20. Bxf8 Rxf8 $16) 19... Qb6 $14) 18... bxc3 (18...
Nc7 19. Be5 $16) 19. Be5 Bxe5 20. Rxe5 Qa3 (20... Qb6 21. Qxc3 $16) 21. Rc1 (
21. Bxa6 Qxa6 22. Qxc3 Rad8 23. a4 $16) 21... Nc7 22. Qxc3 Qd6 23. Kg1 (23. a4
$5 Rad8 (23... Rab8) 24. Bb3) (23. Be2 Rad8 (23... Nb5 $5) 24. Qc5 Qh6 25. Qxc6
Qh4+ 26. Kf1 Ne8) 23... Rad8 24. a4 Nd5 (24... Qxd4+ 25. Qxd4 Rxd4 26. Rc5 $18
(26. Re7 $18)) 25. Bxd5 cxd5 26. Qc5 Qa6 27. Qb5 Qh6 28. Rd1 Qd6 (28... Qf4 29.
Rxd5 Qe3+ 30. Kh1 Rb8 31. Qf1 $16) 29. Rde1 Qa3 30. Qa5 Rd7 31. Qb5 Qd6 (31...
Rdd8 $142 $138) 32. Rc1 (32. h3 $16) (32. Qc5 $1) 32... h6 (32... Qh6 33. Rc6 (
33. Rce1 Qd6 34. h3 $16) 33... Qd2 34. Qc5 f6 35. Rc8 Rdd8 36. Rxd8 Rxd8 37.
Re7 Rb8 $132) 33. Qc5 Qa6 34. Qb5 Qd6 35. h4 Rfd8 (35... Rb8 36. Qc5 (36. Qc6
Qb4 37. Rxd5 Rxd5 38. Qxd5 Qd2 $132) (36. Qe2 $1) 36... Qf6) 36. Rc5 Qb6 37.
Kh2 Qf6 38. Kg3 (38. Kh3 $5) 38... a6 39. Qc6 (39. Qa5 Qd6 40. Kh3 f6 $1) 39...
Rd6 40. Qc7 R6d7 41. Qc6 Rd6 42. Qb7 R6d7 43. Qb3 Qd6 44. Kh3 Kh7 (44... f6 45.
Re1 (45. Re6 Qf4 46. Qd3 Rb7 47. g3 $140 Rb3 $1) 45... Qf4 46. Qd3 $18) 45. g3
Kg8 46. h5 $2 {xg5} (46. a5 $1 Kh7 (46... Kf8 47. Qc3 $18) 47. Qb6 Qxb6 48.
axb6 Rb7 49. Rc7 Rxc7 50. bxc7 Rc8 51. Re7 a5 52. Rxf7 a4 53. Rd7 a3 54. Rxd5
Rxc7 55. Ra5 $18) 46... Kh8 (46... Qf6 $5) 47. Kg2 Kh7 48. Kh2 Kg8 49. Kh3 Kh8
50. Kh2 Kg8 51. Kg2 Kh7 52. a5 Kg8 53. Qa2 Kh7 54. Kh3 Kg8 55. Kh2 Kh7 56. Kg2
Kg8 57. Kh2 Kh7 58. Kh3 Kg8 59. Qb3 Kh7 60. Kh2 (60. Qb6 $1 $18) 60... Kg8 61.
Kh3 Qf6 $1 (61... Qf8 62. Rexd5 Rb8 63. Qc4 $18) (61... Kh7 62. Qb6 Qxb6 (62...
Kg8 63. Qxd6 Rxd6 64. Rc7 Rf6 65. g4 g6 66. hxg6 fxg6 67. Re6 Rdf8 68. Ree7 $18
) 63. axb6 Rb7 64. Rc7 Rd7 65. Rc8 Rxb6 66. Ree8 g6 67. Rh8+ Kg7 68. Rcg8+ Kf6
69. fxg6 $18) (61... Kf8 62. Qc3 Qf6 (62... Qb8 63. Rc6 Qb1 64. Qc5+ Kg8 65.
Rc8 Kh7 (65... Qf1+ 66. Kg4 Qc4 67. Re8+ Rxe8 68. Rxe8+ Kh7 69. Qf8 $18) 66.
Kg4 $18 (66. Rxd8 Rxd8 67. Rxd5 $18)) 63. Rc6 Qg5 (63... Rd6 64. Rxd6 Qxd6 65.
Qc5 $18) 64. f6 $18) 62. Rcxd5 (62. f4 $5 Kh7 63. Rexd5 Rxd5 64. Rxd5 Rxd5 65.
Qxd5 Qe7 $132) (62. Rexd5 Qg5 63. g4 Rxd5 (63... Qf4 $2 64. Rxd7 Rxd7 65. Rc8+
Kh7 66. Rc4 Rxd4 (66... Re7 67. d5 Qd2 68. Qc2 $18) 67. Rxd4 Qxd4 68. Qxf7 $18)
64. Rxd5 Rxd5 (64... Rf8 $16) 65. Qxd5 Qc1 $132 (65... Qf4 $2 66. Qa8+ Kh7 67.
Qe4 $18)) 62... Qc6 $1 (62... Rxd5 63. Rxd5 Re8 64. Re5 Rd8 65. Qe3 (65. Qa4 $5
Kf8) 65... Qc6 66. Qe4 Qa4 67. Rd5 Re8 68. Qf4 Qd1 69. f6 $40) (62... Qg5 63.
Rxd7 Rxd7 (63... Qxh5+ 64. Kg2 Rxd7 65. g4 Qg5 66. Re8+ Kh7 67. Qb8 g6 68. Qe5
$18) 64. f6 $1 (64. Qb8+ Kh7 65. f6 Qc1 $132) 64... Qxf6 65. Qb8+ Kh7 (65...
Rd8 66. Re8+ Rxe8 67. Qxe8+ Kh7 68. Qe4+ Kg8 69. d5 Qd8 70. Qe5 Qxa5 71. Qe8+
Kh7 72. Qxf7 Qd2 73. Qe6 Qd1 74. Kg4 $18) 66. Qb1+ g6 67. Qe4 Kg7 68. hxg6 Qxg6
69. Rd5 $1 Rxd5 70. Qxd5 Qd3 71. Kg4 $18) 63. Rxd7 Qxd7 64. Qb6 Kh7 65. g4 f6
66. Re4 Qc8 (66... Qd5 67. Qxa6 Ra8 68. Qe6 Qxa5 69. Qf7 Qa1 70. Qg6+ Kh8 71.
Re8+ $16) 67. Re7 (67. d5 $5 Qc1 $1 $8 (67... Rxd5 $2 68. Re7 Qf8 (68... Qc1
69. Rxg7+ Kxg7 70. Qb7+ Kf8 71. Qxd5 Qh1+ 72. Kg3 Qg1+ 73. Kf4 Qc1+ 74. Ke4
Qe1+ 75. Kd4 Qd2+ 76. Kc5 Qxa5+ 77. Kc6 $18) (68... Qc4 69. Qa7 Kh8 70. Kg3 $1
$18) (68... Rd3 69. Qxf6 Rxf3+ 70. Kh4 $18) 69. Rb7 $18) 68. Re7 Qf4 {game}) (
67. Qc5 Qb7 68. Qe7 Qb3 69. Re3 Qd5 $132) 67... Qc1 $3 (67... Qc3 68. Kg3 Rxd4
69. Qb7 Kh8 70. Re8+ Kh7 71. Qb8 $18) 68. d5 (68. Qxd8 Qh1+ 69. Kg3 Qxf3+ $3
$10) (68. Rxg7+ Kxg7 69. Qxd8 Qh1+ 70. Kg3 Qg1+ 71. Kf4 Qc1+ 72. Ke4 Qc6+ $1
73. Qd5 Qc2+ $10) 68... Qf4 69. Kg2 Rc8 $1 (69... Rb8 70. Qxf6 $18) 70. Qxa6
Rc3 71. Qe2 Qc1 72. Qf2 Qd1 73. Re1 Qxd5 74. Ra1 (74. a6 Ra3 75. a7 Qa5 $10)
74... Rd3 75. Ra2 Rxf3 76. Qxf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates FIDE sf2"]
[Site "Sanghi Nagar"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B52"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "1994.07.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "IND"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 042"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Nc6 7. O-O g6 8.
d4 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bg7 10. Nde2 O-O 11. f3 a6 12. a4 Qd8 (12... b6 13. Be3 Qb7 14.
b3 Nd7 15. Rb1 Rfe8 16. Kh1 Rad8 17. Qd2 Nc5 18. Bg5 Ne5 19. Nd5 f6 20. Bh4 g5
21. Bf2 e6 22. Ndc3 a5 23. Qc2 Bh6 24. Rbd1 {Bologan,V-Golubev,M/Biel op (08)/
1993/0-1 (60)}) (12... Qc7 13. Be3 e6 14. Rc1 Nd7 15. Kh1 Nc5 16. Bg1 Nb4 17.
b3 Rad8 18. Rb1 Rd7 19. Qd2 f5 20. exf5 Rxf5 21. Ng3 Rf8 22. Nce4 Ncd3 23. Nf2
Nxf2+ 24. Bxf2 {Brandis,I-Iosif,C/Bucharest-W (02)/1993/1-0 (58)}) (12... Na5
13. b3 e6 14. Ra2 Rfd8 15. Be3 Qe7 16. Rd2 Rd7 17. Qb1 d5 $132 {Khomyakov,
V-Dukaczewski,P/Warszaw op/1993/1-0 (27)}) 13. Be3 Qa5 14. Rc1 (14. Nd5 $5 Nxd5
(14... Nd7 15. b4 $1 Nxb4 16. Nxe7+ Kh8 17. Rb1 $36) 15. exd5 Ne5 (15... Nb4
16. Nd4 Rac8 17. b3 $13) 16. b3 Qb4 17. Nd4 $14) 14... Nd7 15. b3 Nc5 16. Na2 (
16. Nd5 e6 17. b4 Nxb4 18. Nxb4 Qxb4 19. Qxd6 Rfc8) 16... Rac8 17. Rb1 (17. b4
$2 Nxb4 18. Bd2 Ncd3 $1) 17... b5 $1 18. cxb5 (18. b4 Qxa4 19. cxb5 axb5 20.
bxc5 Qxa2 21. cxd6 Rfd8 $15) 18... axb5 19. axb5 Qxb5 (19... Qxa2 20. bxc6 Rxc6
21. Nd4 Rb6 $10) 20. Nac3 Qd3 $1 21. Nd5 (21. Bxc5 Qxd1 22. Rfxd1 dxc5 $10)
21... Rb8 (21... e6 22. Bxc5 Qxd1 23. Rfxd1 dxc5 24. Nb6 Rc7 $10) 22. b4 Nxb4
$1 23. Nxe7+ (23. Rxb4 $2 Rxb4 24. Qxd3 Nxd3 25. Nxb4 Nxb4 $17) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates FIDE sf2"]
[Site "Sanghi Nagar"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "1994.07.??"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "IND"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 042"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 {Ftacnik} c5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Bg2 e6 $2 (5... Nc7) 6.
Nxd5 exd5 7. Qb3 $1 Nc6 (7... Be6 8. Qxb7 Nd7 9. Nh3 Nb6 10. Qa6 Bd6 11. d3 O-O
12. Nf4 Bc8 13. Qa5 Bb7 14. O-O Qe7 15. h4 $16 {Garcia Martinez,S-Farago,I/
Polanica Zdroj/1978/}) 8. Qxd5 $1 (8. Bxd5 $2 Nd4 9. Bxf7+ Ke7 10. Qc4 b5 11.
Qd5 Nc2+ 12. Kd1 Nxa1 $17) 8... Qxd5 (8... Nd4 9. Qxd8+ Kxd8 10. Kd1 $16) (8...
Nb4 {Ftacnik} 9. Qxd8+ Kxd8 10. Kd1 Be6 11. Bxb7 Rb8 12. Be4 Bxa2 13. d3 Bb3+
14. Kd2 a6 15. Nf3 $16) 9. Bxd5 Nb4 (9... Nd4 10. Kd1 $16) 10. Be4 (10. Bb3 {
Ftacnik} b5 11. a3 Bb7 12. f3 Nc6 $44) 10... f5 11. Bb1 g6 (11... b6 {Ftacnik}
12. Nf3 g6 13. a3 Nc6 14. d3 $16) 12. Nf3 Nc6 (12... Bg7 13. a3 Nc6 14. d3 $16)
13. d3 Bg7 14. a3 b6 (14... Na5 15. Ba2 $16) (14... O-O {Ftacnik} 15. Ba2+ Kh8
16. Rb1 $16) 15. Ba2 Bb7 16. O-O Kd7 (16... Nd4 {Ftacnik} 17. Nxd4 Bxd4 18. Rb1
Kd7 19. b4 $16) 17. Rb1 Rhe8 18. Re1 Rac8 19. Bd2 Nd4 (19... Nd8 $5 20. Bc3 $1
$16 (20. Ng5 $2 h6 21. Nf7 Ne6 22. Bxh6 Bxh6 23. Nxh6 Nd4 $13)) (19... a5 {
Ftacnik} 20. Bd5 (20. Bc4 Na7 21. Ng5 h6 $13) 20... Kd6 21. Bc4 Na7 22. Ng5 $16
) 20. Nxd4 cxd4 (20... Bxd4 {Ftacnik} 21. Bc3 b5 22. Rbc1 $16) 21. Bb3 $1 (21.
Rbc1 {Ftacnik} Rxc1 22. Bxc1 Rc8 23. Bb3 $16) 21... a5 22. Kf1 Bc6 23. a4 (23.
Rbc1 {Ftacnik} a4 24. Ba2) 23... Bf8 24. Rec1 (24. Rbc1 {Ftacnik} Bc5 25. Rc2 (
25. Bxa5 $2 bxa5 26. Rxc5 Bg2+ 27. Kxg2 Rxc5 28. Bc4 $10) 25... Rc7 26. Ra1
Rec8 27. Bc4 $16) 24... Re5 25. Rc2 Rc5 26. Rxc5 Bxc5 27. Ra1 Re8 28. Bc4 Kd6
29. b3 Re7 30. h4 Kd7 31. Bf4 Bb4 (31... h5 $5 {Ftacnik} 32. Bg5 Rh7 33. Bf6
$16) 32. Rc1 Bc5 33. Bg8 Rg7 (33... Ba3 {Ftacnik} 34. Rc2 Bc5 35. f3 $16) 34.
Bc4 Re7 (34... h5 {Ftacnik} 35. Bg5 Ke8 $16) 35. Bh6 Re5 36. f3 $1 Re8 37. Kf2
Ke7 (37... Re7 {Ftacnik} 38. h5 $16) 38. Rg1 Bd7 39. Bg5+ Kf8 40. Bh6+ Ke7 41.
Bg5+ Kf8 42. h5 Kg7 (42... gxh5 43. Rh1 Kg7 44. Rxh5 Kg6 45. Bf4 $1 $18 Kxh5 $4
46. Bf7#) 43. h6+ Kf8 44. Bf6 Be6 45. Bxe6 Rxe6 46. Bg7+ Kf7 47. g4 Rc6 48. f4
Ke6 49. Kf3 Rc7 50. gxf5+ gxf5 51. Be5 Rd7 52. Rg7 Re7 53. Kg3 Rd7 54. Kh4 Be7+
55. Kh5 Bd8 56. Rxd7 Kxd7 57. Bxd4 Ke6 58. e4 Bc7 59. Kg5 Bd8+ 60. Kh5 Bc7 61.
Be3 (61. e5 Bd8 62. Bf2 Bc7 63. Bh4 Kd5 64. Bf6 Ke6 65. Kg5 Bb8 66. Bd8 Ba7 67.
d4 Kd7 68. Bf6 Ke6 69. d5+ Kxd5 70. Kxf5 $18) 61... Bd8 62. Bf2 Bc7 63. e5 1-0

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2695"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1994.08.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 043"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Kortschnoj Horvath,T} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6.
Ndb5 d6 7. Bf4 e5 8. Bg5 a6 9. Na3 b5 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Nd5 Bg7 12. c3 f5 13.
exf5 Bxf5 14. Nc2 Ne7 (14... O-O 15. Nce3 Be6) (14... Be6 $5 {Horvath,T} 15.
Nce3 Ne7) 15. Bd3 $5 $146 (15. Nxe7 Qxe7) (15. Nce3 Be6) 15... Nxd5 $6 (15...
Be6 16. Nxe7 Qxe7 (16... Kxe7 17. Be4 $1 d5 $2 18. Nb4) 17. Ne3 $14 (17. Be4
$14 {Horvath} d5 {Kortschnoj} 18. Bxd5 Rd8 19. Bc6+ Kf8 20. Qf3 Bc4 21. Ne3 $16
)) 16. Bxf5 Ne7 17. Qg4 O-O (17... Nxf5 18. Qxf5 O-O 19. Ne3 $14) 18. Rd1 d5 (
18... Nxf5 19. Qxf5 d5 20. Ne3 d4 21. Qg4 $1 $36) 19. Ne3 d4 $6 (19... Ra7) (
19... Qd6 20. Nxd5 Nxd5 21. Qf3 (21. Be4 Qe6 22. Bf5 Qd6) 21... e4 22. Bxe4
Rfe8 23. O-O Rxe4 24. Qxe4 Rd8 $14) 20. Be4 dxe3 $5 (20... Rb8 21. Nf5 Ng6 22.
h4 $40) (20... f5 {Kortschnoj} 21. Nxf5 Nxf5 22. Bxf5 Qf6 23. Be6+ Kh8 24. O-O
$16) 21. Rxd8 exf2+ 22. Kxf2 Raxd8 23. Qe2 (23. Bxh7+ $5 Kxh7 24. Qh4+ Kg8 25.
Qxe7 Rd2+ 26. Kf3 Rfd8 27. Re1 $16) 23... f5 24. Bb7 $1 (24. Bc2 Ng6 $132)
24... Rd7 (24... Rd6 25. Rd1 $1 Rfd8 26. Rxd6 Rxd6 27. g4 $1 Rb6 28. Bg2 $16)
25. Bxa6 Rfd8 26. Qxb5 Rd2+ 27. Kg3 e4 (27... f4+ 28. Kh3 $1 $16) (27... R8d3+
$2 28. Qxd3 Rxd3+ 29. Bxd3 e4 30. Bc4+ Kf8 31. Rd1 $18) (27... Ng6 28. Rf1 Nf4
29. Rxf4 exf4+ 30. Kf3 $18) 28. Re1 Ng6 (28... R8d3+ $2 29. Qxd3 exd3 30. Rxe7
h6 (30... Rxb2 $2 31. Bc4+ Kf8 32. Rf7+ Ke8 33. Rxg7 d2 34. Be2 Rb1 35. Rxh7
d1=Q 36. Bxd1 Rxd1 37. Kf4 $18) (30... Kf8 {Kortschnoj} 31. Rd7 $16) 31. Bc4+
Kh7 32. Rd7 Rxb2 33. Bxd3 Kg6 34. Bxf5+ $1 Kxf5 35. Rxg7 $18) 29. Re2 Be5+ 30.
Kf2 Rd1 (30... Rxe2+ 31. Kxe2 Nf4+ 32. Kf2 Rd2+ 33. Ke1 Rd5 34. Qe8+ Kg7 35. g3
$18) 31. Re1 R8d2+ $2 (31... R1d2+ $5 32. Kg1 Kg7 $1 {/\ Kf6, Nf4}) 32. Kf1
Rxe1+ (32... e3 $2 33. Qb3+ Kg7 34. Qxd1 $18) 33. Kxe1 Rxg2 34. Bc8 f4 (34...
Nf4 {Horvath,T} 35. Qe8+ $18) 35. Bf5 $1 (35. Qd5+ Kg7 36. Qxe4 Rxb2 $132)
35... Bf6 (35... f3 36. Bxg6 $18) 36. Bxe4 Rxh2 37. a4 Ne5 38. a5 f3 39. a6
Rh1+ (39... Bh4+ 40. Kd1 Rh1+ 41. Kc2 Rh2+ 42. Kb3 $18) (39... Re2+ $2 40. Qxe2
$1 $18) (39... f2+ 40. Kf1 Ng4 41. Qe8+ Kg7 42. Qd7+ Kf8 43. Qxg4 $18) 40. Kd2
Rh2+ $138 1-0

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D48"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Kharitonov,A"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1994.08.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 043"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
a6 9. e4 c5 10. d5 Qc7 (10... c4 11. dxe6 (11. Bc2 Qc7 (11... e5 12. O-O Qc7
13. Ne2 Rb8 14. Ng3 h6 15. Bd2 $14 {Karpov,A-Kamsky,G/Las Palmas/1994/0,5 (52)}
) 12. O-O Bc5 13. Qe2 e5 14. Bd2 O-O 15. a3 Ne8 16. b4 Bd4 17. a4 Rb8 18. axb5
axb5 19. Ra5 $14 {Karpov,A-Morovic Fernandez,I/Las Palmas/1994/0,5 (38)}) 11...
cxd3 12. exd7+ Qxd7 13. O-O Bb7 14. Re1 Be7 15. e5 Nd5 16. Qxd3 Nxc3 17. Qxc3
O-O 18. Bg5 Rac8 19. Qe3 Bxg5 20. Nxg5 Rc2 21. b3 $14 {Karpov,A-Lutz,Ch/BRD/
1994/0,5 (45)}) 11. O-O (11. dxe6 fxe6 12. b3 $5 c4 13. bxc4 bxc4 14. Bb1 Bb4
15. Bd2 Qa5 16. Qc1 $14) 11... Bb7 12. dxe6 fxe6 13. Bc2 (13. b3 $5 b4 (13...
Bd6 $2 14. Bxb5) (13... c4 14. bxc4 bxc4 15. Bc2 $14) 14. Na4 Nxe4 15. Re1 $36)
13... c4 14. Ng5 Nc5 15. e5 Qxe5 16. Re1 Qd6 17. Qxd6 Bxd6 18. Be3 O-O 19. Rad1
Be7 20. Bxc5 Bxc5 21. Nxe6 Rfc8 22. h3 (22. Nxc5 Rxc5 23. Re7 Rb8 $1 $13 {
Karpov}) 22... Rab8 $1 (22... b4 23. Na4 Ba7 24. Nxg7 Kxg7 25. Re7+ $18) (22...
Bf8 $6 23. g4 h6 24. f4 Bf3 25. Rd2 Bc6 26. g5 hxg5 27. fxg5 Nd7 28. Nxf8 Nxf8
29. Rd6 $16 {Karpov,A-Kramnik,V/Linares/1994/1:0 (40)}) 23. Nxc5 (23. a3 Ba7
$13) (23. g4 Bf3 24. Rd2 Bb6 $13) 23... Rxc5 24. Re6 b4 25. Na4 Rg5 $1 26. g3
Rh5 27. h4 Bf3 28. Rd4 Bd5 29. Re7 Bf7 30. f4 (30. f4 Rhb5 $15) 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Horvath,Ta"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1994.08.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 043"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik} c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nge2 Nf6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7.
Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12. Nc2 Rb8 13. h4 (13. a3
a5 14. h4 {Kasparov,G-Kramnik,V/PCA Moscow/1994/}) 13... Ne7 (13... Be6 14.
Nce3 a5 15. Qf3 b4 16. Bc4 bxc3 17. bxc3 Rb2 18. g3 a4 19. O-O Be7 20. Rab1 Qb8
21. Rxb2 Qxb2 22. Qd1 a3 23. Qa4 Rc8 {Yurtaev,L-Holmsten,A/Helsinki op (03)/
1992/ 1-0 / 24}) (13... g6 {Ftacnik} 14. Qd2 Bg7 15. h5 Be6 16. Nce3 Ne7 17. g3
Nxd5 18. Nxd5 Rc8 19. Rd1 Rc5 20. Ne3 Rc6 21. b3 Qa8 22. Bh3 $36 {Shmuter,
L-Beshukov,S/Sochi/1993/1-0 (37)}) 14. Nxf6+ (14. Nce3 Nxd5 15. Nxd5 Be6 (15...
Bb7 {Ftacnik} 16. g3 b4 17. c4 Bxd5 18. Qxd5 Qb6 19. Rd1 $14 {Smagin,S-Gorelov,
S/URS/1982/0.5 (37)}) 16. g3 $14) 14... gxf6 15. Qd2 (15. Ne3 {Ftacnik} f5)
15... Bb7 (15... f5 $5 16. Qg5+ (16. h5 Kh8 17. O-O-O fxe4 18. Qxd6 Qxd6 19.
Rxd6 Nf5 20. Rd2 Be6 $13) (16. exf5 Bxf5 17. Ne3 Be6 $10) (16. Bd3 fxe4 17.
Bxe4 d5 18. Qg5+ Ng6 19. Bxg6 fxg6 20. Qxd8 Rxd8 21. O-O-O $14) 16... Ng6 17.
exf5 Qxg5 18. hxg5 Bxf5 19. Nb4 $1 $14 (19. Ne3 Be6 20. O-O-O Rfd8 $13)) 16.
Bd3 d5 17. exd5 Qxd5 18. O-O-O e4 (18... Qxa2 {Ftacnik} 19. Qh6 e4 20. Be2) 19.
Be2 Qxa2 (19... Qxd2+ 20. Rxd2 Rfd8 21. Rhd1 Rxd2 22. Rxd2 Kf8 $14) (19... Qe5
$5 {Ftacnik} 20. Qd6 Nf5 $1) 20. Qh6 Qe6 (20... f5 {Ftacnik} 21. Qg5+ Ng6 22.
h5 $18) (20... Nd5 {Ftacnik} 21. Rh3 $40) 21. Nd4 Qb6 (21... Qe5 22. Rh3 (22.
f4 {Ftacnik} exf3 23. gxf3 (23. Bd3 Ng6 24. Nf5 (24. Bxg6 fxg6 25. Rhe1 Qh5)
24... Qf4+ $1) 23... Ng6 24. Rhg1 Kh8 (24... Rfd8 $2 25. h5 Qh2 26. Nf5 Rxd1+
27. Bxd1 $18) 25. Kb1 Rg8 (25... Qf4 $2 26. Rxg6 $18)) 22... Kh8 (22... Ng6)
23. f4 $1 exf3 24. Bd3 Ng6 25. g3 $1 Be4 26. Bxe4 Qxe4 27. h5 Ne5 28. Qxf6+ Kg8
29. Nf5 $18) 22. Rh3 Kh8 23. Bg4 (23. Rg3 {Ftacnik} Rg8) 23... Rg8 24. Ne6 $5
Rg6 (24... fxe6 25. Qxf6+ Rg7 26. Rd7 Re8 (26... Qc5 27. b4 $18 (27. Rg3 $1 Bc6
28. Bxe6 $18)) 27. Bxe6 (27. Rg3 $18 {Ftacnik}) (27. Rxe7 $6 Rexe7 28. Qf8+ Rg8
29. Qxe7 Qxf2) 27... Nf5 28. Rg3 $1 (28. Rxg7 Nxg7 29. Rg3 Qc7 30. Bf7 Qe5 31.
Qxg7+ Qxg7 32. Rxg7 Rf8 $19) 28... Qxf2 (28... Qxe6 29. Qxe6 Rxe6 30. Rd8+ $18)
29. Rgxg7 Qf1+ 30. Kc2 (30. Rd1 Qxd1+ 31. Kxd1 Nxg7 32. Bb3 e3 33. h5 $18)
30... Ne3+ 31. Kb3 Bd5+ 32. Bxd5 Qd1+ 33. Kb4 Qa4+ 34. Kc5 Rc8+ 35. Rc7 $18) (
24... Rxg4 $2 25. Ng5 $1 {Ftacnik} Rxg5 (25... fxg5 26. Qxb6) 26. hxg5 Kg8 27.
gxf6 $18) (24... Qxf2 {Ftacnik} 25. Rf3 $1 Rg6 26. Qxg6 Qxb2+ 27. Kxb2 Nxg6 28.
Rxf6 fxe6 29. g3 $16) (24... Ng6 {Ftacnik} 25. h5) 25. Qf4 Re8 $2 (25... Bd5
$142 $1 26. Bh5 (26. Ng5 $1 fxg5 27. Qe5+ Rg7 28. Qxe7 f5 29. Qe5 fxg4 30. Rxd5
gxh3 31. Rd7 Rbg8 32. Rxg7 Rxg7 33. Qe8+ $10) (26. Nd4 {Ftacnik} b4 $1 $40)
26... Bxe6 27. Bxg6 Nxg6 (27... Bxh3 $2 28. Rd6 $1) 28. Qxf6+ Kg8 29. Rg3 b4
$19) (25... Rbg8 {Ftacnik} 26. h5 Rxg4 27. Qxf6+ R4g7 28. h6 Qxe6 29. hxg7+
Rxg7 30. Rd8+ Ng8 31. Rxg8+ $1 Kxg8 32. Qd8+) 26. Rd6 $1 (26. h5 $6 {Ftacnik}
Rxg4 27. Qxf6+ Kg8) 26... Nd5 (26... Qa5 $5 {Ftacnik} 27. h5 (27. Nc5 $5 $40)
27... Qa1+ (27... Rxg4 28. Qxg4 fxe6 29. Qxe6) 28. Kc2 Qa4+ 29. Kb1 Rxg4 30.
Qxf6+ Kg8 31. Qxe7 (31. Rg3 e3 32. Rxg4+ Qxg4 33. Qxe7 Bc6 $1 34. Rxc6 $140
Qd1+ (34... Qe4+ $2 35. Kc1 Qxc6 36. Qg5+ $18) 35. Ka2 Qa4+ $10) 31... Bc6 $1
32. Rd8 Qd1+ $1 33. Rxd1 Rxe7) (26... Qa7 {Ftacnik} 27. h5 Rxg4 28. Qxg4 fxe6
29. Rg3 $1 Rg8 (29... Nf5 30. Rxe6 $1) 30. Rd8 $1 $18) 27. h5 $3 (27. Rxb6 {
Ftacnik} Nxf4 28. Nxf4 Rxg4) 27... Nxf4 (27... Qa5 28. hxg6 Qa1+ 29. Kc2 Nb4+
30. cxb4 Rc8+ 31. Nc5 $18) (27... Rg7 {Ftacnik} 28. Qh6) (27... Rxg4 {Ftacnik}
28. Qxg4 Rg8 29. Qxg8+ Kxg8 30. Rxb6 Nxb6 31. Rg3+ Kh8 32. Nc5 $18) (27... fxe6
{Ftacnik} 28. hxg6 Nxf4 29. Rxh7+ Kg8 30. Rxb6) (27... Rxe6 {Ftacnik} 28. hxg6
Nxf4 29. Rxh7+ Kg8 30. gxf7+ Kf8 31. Rh8+ Kxf7 32. Bxe6+ Nxe6 33. Rxb6 $18) (
27... Rgg8 {Ftacnik} 28. Rxd5 $1 Rxe6 29. Bxe6 Qxe6 30. Rd6 $16) 28. hxg6 Qxd6
(28... Nd3+ {Ftacnik} 29. Rhxd3 $1 (29. Kb1 Qxf2 30. Rxh7+ Kg8 31. Rg7+ Kh8 32.
Rh7+ $10) 29... exd3 (29... Qxf2 30. gxf7 $18) (29... Qa5 30. gxf7 Qa1+ 31. Kd2
Qxb2+ 32. Ke1 Qc1+ 33. Bd1 Rf8 34. Rd8 $1) 30. gxf7) (28... Nxh3 {Ftacnik} 29.
gxf7 $1) 29. Rxh7+ Kg8 30. gxf7+ Kxh7 31. fxe8=Q Nxe6 32. Bf5+ $1 Kg7 33. Qg6+
Kf8 34. Qxf6+ $18 Ke8 35. Bxe6 Qf8 $2 (35... e3 {Ftacnik} 36. fxe3 Bxg2 37.
Bf7+ Kd7 38. Be8+ Kc7 39. Qg7+ Kd8 40. Bxb5 Bf3 41. Ba4 $18) (35... Qf8 $2 {
Ftacnik} 36. Bd7+ $18) 1-0

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

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

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "1994.08.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 043"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nc3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8.
Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 Qc7 10. O-O Nc6 11. d5 Ne5 12. Nd2 c4 13. f4 Nd3 14. Nxc4 Nxc1
15. Rxc1 Bg4 16. Bxg4 Qxc4 17. Qe2 Qxe2 18. Bxe2 e5 19. dxe6 fxe6 20. Bc4 Kf7
21. f5 Ke7 22. Bxe6 Rad8 23. Bd5 gxf5 24. Bxb7 Rd3 25. exf5 Bxc3 26. Kh1 Kf6
27. Ba6 Re3 28. Rcd1 Re5 29. Bc4 Re4 30. Be6 Rh4 31. h3 Rd4 32. Rxd4 Bxd4 33.
g4 h5 34. gxh5 Rh8 35. Rf4 Ke5 36. Rh4 Bf2 37. Ra4 Rxh5 38. Kg2 Bd4 39. Kg3
Rg5+ 40. Kf3 Rg1 41. Ra5+ Kf6 42. Rd5 Bb6 43. Rd7 Rg7 44. Rd3 Ke5 45. Rd5+ Kf6
46. Ke4 Rg3 47. Rd7 Rxh3 48. Rf7+ Kg5 49. Rg7+ Kf6 50. Rf7+ Kg5 51. Rg7+ Kf6
52. Rg6+ Ke7 53. Bb3 Rh4+ 54. Kd5 Rf4 55. Re6+ Kf8 56. Rf6+ Ke7 57. Re6+ Kf8
58. Bc2 Rf2 59. Rc6 Ke7 60. Re6+ Kd7 61. Bd3 Rxa2 62. Bb5+ Kc8 63. f6 Rd2+ 64.
Ke4 Rf2 65. Re8+ 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[Annotator "Hansen,Cu"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1994.08.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 043"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. Nc3 c6 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Nb6 8.
Ne5 (8. e3 e6 9. a5 Nxc4 10. Bxc4 Bd6 11. Be2 Qc7 (11... a6 12. Bf3 e5 13. e4
Be6 14. Be3 Qe7 15. O-O O-O 16. Qe2 Rad8 17. d5 {Smejkal,J-Hort,V/BL/1984/1/
2-1/2}) 12. h3 O-O 13. O-O e5 $10 {Portisch,F-Weinzettl,E/Wien op/1986/}) 8...
a5 (8... e6 9. f3 (9. e3 Bd6 (9... Bb4 10. Nd3 (10. Bd2 Nfd7 11. Nd3 Be7 12. e4
Bg6 13. Nf4 e5 14. Nxg6 hxg6 $10 {Razuvaev,Y-Chernin,A/USSR/1985/}) 10... Be7
11. f3 Bg6 12. Be2 O-O 13. O-O Bxd3 14. Bxd3 c5 $10 {Ftacnik,L-Meduna,E/Praha/
1989/}) (9... Nbd7 10. Nd3 Bd6 11. Qb3 Qb6 $10 {Pekarek,A-Meduna,E/Prag chip/
1992/}) 10. Be2 O-O 11. O-O c5 12. a5 cxd4 13. exd4 Nbd5 $10 {Stempin,P-Meduna,
E/Haifa EU-chT/1989/}) (9. Bg5 Be7 (9... h6 10. Bh4 c5 11. a5 cxd4 12. axb6
dxc3 13. Qa4+ Ke7 14. Rd1 $18 {Malanjuk-Meduna/Forli op/1990/}) 10. e3 O-O 11.
Bd3 Nfd7 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Bxf5 exf5 14. Nd3 c5 15. O-O cxd4 16. exd4 $14 {
Georgiev,Kir-Ninov,K/Stara Zagora zt/1990/}) 9... Nfd7 (9... Bb4 10. e4 (10. a5
Nbd5 11. Bd2 Nxc3 12. Bxc3 Nd5 13. Qb3 Qh4+ 14. g3 Qxd4 $17 {Rossiter,
P-Botterill,G/ch-GB/1987/}) 10... Bxe4 (10... Bg6 11. Be3 $16 {Gelfand,
B-Drasko,M/Tallinn/1989/}) 11. fxe4 Nxe4 12. Qd3 Nd5 13. Bd2 Nxd2 14. Qxd2 O-O
15. Be2 c5 16. O-O Rc8 {0,5/Chabanon,JL-Kirov,N/France-Bulgaria/1990/}) (9...
Nbd7 10. e4 Bg6 11. Nc4 Bb4 12. Bg5 Be7 13. Be3 O-O 14. Be2 $14 {Komljenovic,
D-Velikov,P/Torcy op/1991/}) 10. a5 Nxe5 11. axb6 Nd7 12. e4 Bg6 13. Rxa7 Nxb6
14. Rxa8 {0,5/Sosonko,G-Hort,V/BL/1981/} (14. Rxb7 Ra1 15. Kf2 Bd6 16. Qb3 Rxc1
17. Qxb6 O-O $15 {Lutz,C-Meduna,E/Porz/1988/})) (8... g6 9. f3 Nbd7 10. e4 $16
{Petran,P-Hardicsay,P/Elekes Budapest/1992/}) 9. g3 (9. f3 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7
11. e4 Bg6 12. d5 e5 13. dxe6 fxe6 14. Qb3 (14. Be3 Bc5 15. Bxc5 Nxc5 16. Bc4
Qxd1+ 17. Kxd1 $14 {Miles,A-Kirov,N/Capelle la Grande/1994/}) 14... Nc5 15. Qc2
$14 {Kozul,Z-Kirov/Novi Sad/1990/}) 9... e6 10. Bg2 {/\e2-e4} Bb4 11. O-O O-O
12. e3 (12. e4 $2 Bxc3 $17) 12... h6 13. Qe2 Bh7 14. Rd1 {/\e3-e4} Nfd7 15. Nd3
Qe7 (15... Be7 16. e4 $14) 16. e4 e5 (16... Rfd8 17. Bf4 $14) 17. d5 (17. dxe5
Nxe5 18. Nxe5 Qxe5 19. Bf4 Qe6 $15) 17... Rfd8 (17... Bxc3 18. bxc3 {/\Ba3})
18. Be3 Bxc3 19. bxc3 {/\Rdb1} cxd5 20. exd5 Nc4 $1 21. Bxh6 gxh6 22. Qg4+ Qg5
23. Qxc4 Rac8 24. Qb5 (24. Qb3 $2 Bxd3 25. Rxd3 Nc5) 24... Rxc3 25. Ne1 (25. f4
Bxd3 (25... exf4 26. Nxf4 $16) 26. fxg5 Bxb5 27. axb5 b6 28. gxh6 Nc5 $44)
25... b6 26. d6 e4 27. Rd5 Qf6 {/\Rc5 -+} 28. Rad1 e3 29. fxe3 Rxe3 {פc2} 30.
Nd3 Qc3 (30... Bxd3 $5 31. R5xd3 Rxd3 32. Qxd3 Nc5 $10) 31. Nf4 Be4 32. R5d2 (
32. Bxe4 Rxe4 $10) 32... Qc5 $10 33. Qxc5 Nxc5 34. Bxe4 Rxe4 35. Nd5 {/\Nf6+}
Kf8 36. Nxb6 Nxa4 37. Nxa4 Rxa4 38. Rd5 Rd7 39. Kg2 Ra2+ 40. Kh3 a4 41. Ra5 a3
42. g4 Kg7 43. Kg3 Kg6 44. h3 Kg7 45. Kh4 Kg6 46. Ra8 Kh7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D94"]
[WhiteElo "2675"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Hansen,LB"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1994.08.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 043"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Kharitonov} d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 g6 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. Be2 $1 (6. Bd3
{Kharitonov} O-O 7. O-O Bg4 8. h3 Bxf3 9. Qxf3 Qd6 10. Rd1 Nbd7 11. Qe2 Rfd8
12. cxd5 cxd5 13. b3 $14 {Kharitonov,A-Samarin,I/ Moscow/ 1992/1/2-1/2/ 59})
6... O-O 7. O-O dxc4 (7... Bg4 8. cxd5 cxd5 9. Qb3 $14) 8. Bxc4 Bg4 9. h3 (9.
Be2 Nbd7 10. e4 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 e5 12. d5 cxd5 13. Nxd5 Nc5 14. Be3 $14 {Lev,
R-Shvidler,E/Tel Aviv/1994/}) 9... Bxf3 10. Qxf3 Nbd7 11. Rd1 e5 12. d5 (12.
Bb3 {Kharitonov} Qe7 13. dxe5 Qxe5 (13... Nxe5 14. Qe2 Rfd8 15. f4 $5 {Alburt})
14. e4 $14 {Alburt,L - Finegold,B/ New York op/ 1994/ 1:0/ 29}) 12... e4 $5 {
Semenova} 13. Nxe4 (13. Qf4 $5 Qe7 14. dxc6 bxc6 15. Bd2 Nb6 16. Bb3 a5 (16...
Rad8 $13 {Kharitonov}) 17. Rab1 Rfd8 (17... a4 18. Bc2 Rfe8 19. Be1 a3 20. bxa3
Nfd5 21. Nxd5 Nxd5 22. Qg4 Rxa3 23. Bb3 $14 {Razuvaev,Y-Lukov,V/Geneva/1993/})
18. Be1 Nbd5 19. Bxd5 $1 cxd5 20. Nb5 Qb7 21. a4 $14 {Horvath,C-Frendzas,P/
EUCup Balatonbereny/ 1994/}) 13... Nxe4 (13... Ne5 $5 {Kharitonov} 14. Nxf6+
Bxf6 15. Qe2 Nxc4 16. Qxc4 cxd5 17. Rxd5 Qb6 $44) 14. Qxe4 Nb6 (14... Nf6 $6
15. Qf3 cxd5 16. Bxd5 Nxd5 17. e4 $1 Rc8 18. exd5 Rc2 19. Qb3 Qc8 20. Rb1 Rd8
21. Be3 b6 22. Rbc1 $16 {Hutters,T-Schwartzman,G/Groningen op/1993/}) 15. Bb3
cxd5 16. Bxd5 Nxd5 $5 (16... Re8 17. Qf3 Nxd5 18. Rxd5 Qe7 19. Rb1 Rac8 20. b3
(20. Bd2 {Kharitonov} Rc2 21. a4 Bxb2 22. e4 $14 {Muresan,M-Semenova,L (07)/
Bad Kissingen cm/ 1983/1:0/ 46}) 20... Rc2 21. a4 Bc3 22. Qd1 Qe4 23. Rd8 Rxd8
24. Qxd8+ Kg7 25. Ba3 $16 {Marin,M-Flear,G/Szirak izt/1987/}) 17. Rxd5 Qb6 18.
Qd3 $5 $146 (18. Rb1 Rad8 19. Rd2 Qa5 20. b4 Qa4 21. Qc2 Qxc2 22. Rxc2 Rc8 23.
Rxc8 Rxc8 24. Bb2 Rc2 25. Bxg7 Kxg7 26. a4 b6 27. b5 Rc4 28. Ra1 f5 $10 {
Illescas Cordoba,M-Hübner,R/Groningen PCA/1993/}) 18... Rad8 $6 {x Rf8} (18...
Rfd8 $142 $5) 19. e4 $1 Bd4 20. Kh1 $1 Bxf2 21. Bh6 Rxd5 (21... Rfe8 22. Rd1
$36 Rc8 {Kharitonov} 23. Qf3 Bc5 24. Rd7 Be7 $14) 22. exd5 Rd8 23. Rd1 $16 Qd6
(23... Qxb2 24. d6 $16) (23... Bc5 {Kharitonov} 24. Qc3 f6 25. b3 {/\ Qc4,Re1,
Bf4+/-}) 24. Qc3 f6 25. Rf1 Bh4 (25... Qb6 $2 {Kharitonov} 26. d6 $1 (26. Rxf2
$2 Qxf2 27. Qc7 Qe1+ 28. Kh2 Qe5+ $19) 26... Bd4 (26... Rxd6 27. Qc4+ Kh8 28.
Rxf2 $18) 27. Qc4+ Kh8 28. Qf7 f5 29. Re1 Qb5 30. d7 $18) 26. Qb3 $1 Bg5 (26...
Qxd5 $4 27. Rd1 $18) (26... b6 27. Qa4 (27. Bf4 {Kharitonov} Qd7 28. d6+ $16)
27... Bg5 28. Bxg5 fxg5 29. Qxa7 $16) 27. Bxg5 fxg5 28. Qxb7 Qxd5 29. Qxa7 Ra8
30. Qe3 Qxa2 (30... Rxa2 $4 31. Qe8+ Kg7 32. Qf8#) 31. Qxg5 Rb8 (31... Qxb2 $4
32. Qd5+ $18) 32. b4 $1 Qc4 (32... Rxb4 $4 33. Qd8+ Kg7 34. Qf8#) 33. Rf4 Qe6
34. Rd4 $16 Rxb4 $4 (34... Kg7 $16) (34... Qe8 $142 $16 {Kharitonov}) 35. Qd8+
$1 (35. Rxb4 $2 Qe1+ $10) 35... Kg7 36. Qc7+ Kh6 37. Qc1+ $1 (37. Qc1+ $1 g5
38. Rxb4 $18) 1-0

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1994.08.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 043"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 c5 7. d4 Bg7 8.
Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qxa2 12. O-O Bg4 13. Bg5 h6 14. Bxe7
Re8 15. Rxb7 Nc6 (15... Nd7 $5 16. Bb4 Rxe4 17. Re1 Bxf3 18. Bxf3 Rxd4 $15 {
Hultin-Ernst,T/Gausdal Troll Masters/1991/}) 16. Bc5 Rxe4 17. Bd3 Rxd4 $5 $146
(17... Ree8 18. Bb5 Rec8 19. Qd3 Be6 20. Re1 Bd5 $13 {Manso,F-Sanchez Almeyra,
J/San Sebastian/1993/}) 18. Bxd4 Nxd4 19. Be4 Rd8 20. Qb1 Ne2+ 21. Kh1 Qc4 22.
Bxg6 $5 (22. Rb8 Rxb8 23. Qxb8+ Kh7 24. Nd2 Qd4 $13) (22. Rb4 Qe6 $13) 22...
Nc3 (22... fxg6 $2 23. Qxg6 (23. Ne5 Qe6 $5) 23... Ng3+ 24. hxg3 (24. fxg3
Qxf1+ 25. Ng1 Bd7 (25... Rd7 $2 26. Rb8+) 26. Rxd7 Rxd7 27. Qe8+ Kh7 28. Qxd7
Qa1 29. Qf5+ $10) 24... Qxf1+ 25. Kh2 Bd7 26. Ne5 $40 (26. Rxd7 Rxd7 27. Qe8+
Kh7 28. Qxd7 Qxf2 29. Qf5+ $10)) 23. Bxf7+ (23. Qe1 $1 Be6 $1 $44 (23... Rf8 $2
$13 24. Bxf7+ $1 Rxf7 25. Qe8+ Rf8 (25... Bf8 26. Qxf7+ Qxf7 27. Rxf7 Kxf7 28.
Ne5+ $18) 26. Qg6 Qxf1+ 27. Ng1 $18) (23... fxg6 24. Rxg7+ Kxg7 25. Qe7+ Qf7 (
25... Kg8 26. Qxd8+ Kg7 27. Re1 $18) 26. Qxd8 Bxf3 (26... Qxf3 27. Qd4+ (27.
gxf3 $4 Bxf3+ 28. Kg1 Ne2#) 27... Kg8 28. Rb1 $1) 27. Qd4+ Kh7 28. Qxc3 Bd5 29.
f4 $18)) 23... Qxf7 24. Rxf7 Nxb1 25. Rxa7 Nc3 26. h3 (26. Ng1 $5 Rd1 27. Rxd1
Nxd1 28. Ra2 Bb2 29. h3 Be6 30. Ra8+ Kf7 31. f3 Nf2+ 32. Kh2 Be5+ 33. g3 $10) (
26. h3 Bxf3 27. gxf3 Rf8 28. Rg1 Rf7 $10) 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Adianto, Utut"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2520"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1994.08.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 042 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 Bb4 8. Bg5
h6 9. Bh4 c5 10. dxc5 Qa5 11. Qd4 Nc6 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. e4 Bxc5 14. Qxc4 Bg6
15. Qa6 Qxa6 16. Bxa6 Rb8 17. Nd1 Nd7 18. Rc1 Bb4+ 19. Kf2 Nc5 20. Be2 Nxa4 21.
Rxc6 Bc5+ 22. Ne3 O-O 23. Ra1 Rb3 24. Rxa4 Bxe3+ 25. Kg3 Rxb2 26. Bf1 f5 27.
Rxe6 f4+ 28. Kh3 Be8 29. Rxe8 Rxe8 30. Bc4+ Kh7 31. Bd5 Re5 32. Rc4 Rh5 33. g3
Re5 34. Rc7 Rb6 35. Rf7 Kg6 36. Rxa7 Rb8 37. Rd7 h5 38. Be7 Rb2 39. Bf8 fxg3
40. Rxg7+ Kf6 41. Rf7+ Kg6 42. Rg7+ Kf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adianto, Utut"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B38"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2520"]
[PlyCount "137"]
[EventDate "1994.08.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 042 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. e4 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Nc3 d6 8. Be2
O-O 9. O-O Bd7 10. Qd2 Ng4 11. Bxg4 Bxg4 12. f3 Bd7 13. Rac1 Re8 14. Rfd1 Ne5
15. b3 a6 16. a4 Nc6 17. Nd5 Rb8 18. Ne2 b5 19. axb5 axb5 20. c5 dxc5 21. Rxc5
Rb7 22. Qc2 Qa8 23. Rxc6 Bxc6 24. Qxc6 Rc8 25. Nb6 Rxc6 26. Nxa8 Rb8 27. Nb6
Rcxb6 28. Bxb6 Rxb6 29. Rd8+ Bf8 30. Nc3 e6 31. e5 Kg7 32. Ne4 Rb7 33. Nf6 Be7
34. Rg8+ Kh6 35. Ne4 Rd7 36. Kf2 Rd5 37. f4 Rd4 38. Ke3 Rb4 39. Nd2 Bc5+ 40.
Kf3 Be7 41. g3 g5 42. Re8 Bc5 43. fxg5+ Kg6 44. g4 Kg7 45. h4 Bd4 46. h5 h6 47.
g6 fxg6 48. Rxe6 gxh5 49. gxh5 Bc3 50. Ne4 Rxb3 51. Kf4 Bb2 52. Rg6+ Kf8 53.
Nf6 Kf7 54. Nd5 Bc1+ 55. Kf5 Ba3 56. e6+ Kf8 57. Rxh6 Rf3+ 58. Ke4 Rf1 59. Rh7
Re1+ 60. Kf5 Rf1+ 61. Kg4 Rg1+ 62. Kf3 Rf1+ 63. Ke2 Rf5 64. Nc7 Bd6 65. h6 Re5+
66. Kd3 Kg8 67. Rg7+ Kh8 68. Rd7 Bxc7 69. Rxc7 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Vyzmanavin, Alexey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2610"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1994.08.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 042 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 b6 7. Bd3 Ba6 8. b3
Bb4 9. O-O Rc8 10. Bb2 O-O 11. Rfd1 c5 12. cxd5 Bxd3 13. Qxd3 Bxc3 14. Bxc3
Nxd5 15. Bb2 Qe7 16. Rac1 Rfd8 17. h3 Nb4 18. Qb1 a5 19. a3 Nd5 20. Qd3 N5f6
21. Qb5 Ne4 22. dxc5 Rxc5 23. Rxc5 Ndxc5 24. Rd4 Rxd4 25. Bxd4 Qd8 26. b4 axb4
27. axb4 Nd7 28. Qc6 Nef6 29. b5 h6 30. Ne5 Nxe5 31. Bxe5 Nd5 32. e4 Nb4 33.
Qd6 Qxd6 34. Bxd6 Nc2 35. Bc7 Nd4 36. Bxb6 1/2-1/2

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2695"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "1994.08.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 042 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. c3 f5 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 O-O 14. Nce3
Be6 15. Bd3 f5 16. O-O Ra7 17. Qh5 e4 18. Bc2 Qe8 19. Qxe8 Rxe8 20. f3 exf3 21.
Rxf3 Ne5 22. Rg3 Rf7 23. Nf4 Nc4 24. Nxe6 Rxe6 25. Nxf5 Nxb2 26. Rf1 Nc4 27. h4
Rg6 28. Rgf3 Nd2 29. Bb3 Nxb3 30. axb3 Rc7 31. h5 Rg5 32. h6 Rxf5 33. Rxf5 Bxh6
34. R1f3 Bg7 35. Rg5 Kh8 36. Kf1 Rxc3 37. Rxc3 Bxc3 38. Ke2 Be5 39. b4 Bc3 40.
Rg4 d5 41. Kd3 d4 42. Rxd4 Bxd4 43. Kxd4 Kg7 44. Kc5 Kf6 45. Kb6 Ke5 46. Kxa6
Kf4 47. Kxb5 Kg3 48. Kc4 h5 49. b5 h4 50. b6 Kxg2 51. b7 h3 52. b8=Q h2 1/2-1/2

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E61"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1994.08.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 042 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. c4 d6 4. Nc3 Bg4 5. e3 Nf6 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O c5 8. h3
Bf5 9. d5 Ne4 10. Nxe4 Bxe4 11. Ng5 Bf5 12. e4 Bd7 13. Rb1 b5 14. Bf4 Qa5 15.
Nf3 bxc4 16. Bxc4 Bb5 17. Bxb5 Qxb5 18. e5 Qa6 19. exd6 exd6 20. Re1 Nd7 21.
Qe2 c4 22. b3 Nc5 23. bxc4 Na4 24. Qd3 Nb2 25. Qe2 Na4 26. Rb3 Rac8 27. Ra3
Qxc4 28. Qxc4 Rxc4 29. Bxd6 Rd8 30. Nd2 Rd4 31. Nb3 Rxd5 32. Be7 Rd1 33. Rxd1
Rxd1+ 34. Kh2 Rd7 35. Bb4 Nb6 36. Bc5 Bf8 37. Bxf8 1/2-1/2

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B36"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[PlyCount "144"]
[EventDate "1994.08.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 042 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1994.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1994.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. e4 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. Nc3 d6 7. Be2 Nxd4 8.
Qxd4 Bg7 9. Bg5 O-O 10. Qd2 Be6 11. Rc1 Qa5 12. f3 Rfc8 13. b3 a6 14. Na4 Qxd2+
15. Kxd2 Nd7 16. Be3 Rab8 17. Nc3 Ne5 18. Nd5 Nc6 19. Nb6 Rd8 20. Rhd1 Bd4 21.
Bxd4 Nxd4 22. Ke3 Nxe2 23. Kxe2 f5 24. exf5 Bxf5 25. Rd4 Kf7 26. Rcd1 Rf8 27.
g4 Be6 28. a4 Rbd8 29. b4 h5 30. gxh5 gxh5 31. c5 Rde8 32. cxd6 exd6 33. Kf2
Rg8 34. Rh4 Rg5 35. Rxd6 Reg8 36. Rdd4 Kf6 37. Rhf4+ Ke7 38. Rfe4 Rg2+ 39. Ke3
Kf7 40. Rd6 Bf5 41. Re5 Re8 42. Rxe8 Kxe8 43. h4 Rb2 44. Rd4 Kf7 45. Kf4 Be6
46. Ke5 Re2+ 47. Kd6 Rf2 48. Kc7 Rxf3 49. Kxb7 Kf6 50. Kxa6 Ke5 51. Rd2 Rf4 52.
b5 Rxh4 53. a5 Rd4 54. Re2+ Kd6 55. Kb7 Rb4 56. Rd2+ Kc5 57. Re2 Rxb5 58. Rxe6
Rxa5 59. Rc6+ Kd4 60. Rc4+ Kd3 61. Rh4 Rf5 62. Kc6 Ke3 63. Nd5+ Kf3 64. Kd6 Kg3
65. Rh1 h4 66. Ke6 Rxd5 67. Kxd5 h3 68. Ke4 Kg2 69. Ra1 h2 70. Ra2+ Kg3 71.
Ra3+ Kg2 72. Ra2+ Kg3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bundesliga 9495"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "?.1"]
[White "Huebner, Robert"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2620"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "23"]
[EventDate "1994.10.08"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "GER-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bayern Muenchen"]
[BlackTeam "Empor Berlin"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Bd3 e6 6. Nc3 Bg6 7. O-O Nbd7 8. Qe2
Ne4 9. Nd2 Ndf6 10. f3 Nxd2 11. Bxd2 Be7 12. Rfd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bundesliga 9495"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "?.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2600"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "1994.10.08"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "GER-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Empor Berlin"]
[BlackTeam "Dresden"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. d5 a5 8. Bg5 h6
9. Bh4 Na6 10. O-O Bd7 11. Nd2 Qe8 12. b3 Nh7 13. a3 h5 14. f3 Bh6 15. Kh1 Be3
16. Qc2 f5 17. exf5 gxf5 18. Bf2 Bxf2 19. Rxf2 Nf6 20. Rg1 Kh8 21. Qb2 c5 22.
f4 Nc7 23. h3 Qg6 24. fxe5 Qg3 25. Nce4 Nxe4 26. Nxe4 fxe4 27. Rxf8+ Rxf8 28.
e6+ Qg7 29. Qxg7+ Kxg7 30. exd7 Rd8 31. Bxh5 Rxd7 32. Re1 Re7 33. Bf3 e3 34.
Bg4 b5 35. cxb5 Nxb5 36. Be6 Nxa3 37. Rxe3 Nc2 38. Rg3+ Kf6 39. Rf3+ Ke5 40.
Rf5+ Ke4 41. Rf1 Nd4 42. g4 Nxe6 43. dxe6 d5 44. g5 Rxe6 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Event "Bundesliga 9495"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "?.1"]
[White "Gavrikov, Viktor"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "19"]
[EventDate "1994.10.08"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "GER-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Zaehringen"]
[BlackTeam "Empor Berlin"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 e6 6. a3 Be7 7. e4 O-O 8. Be2
d5 9. exd5 exd5 10. O-O 1/2-1/2

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "1.6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "1994.11.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 043 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. d4 e5 6. Nxe5 Nxe5 7. dxe5 Qxe5+
8. Be3 Bd7 9. Na3 O-O-O 10. Qf3 Nf6 11. O-O-O Be7 12. Bf4 Qh5 13. Nb5 Bxb5 14.
Bxb5 Qxf3 15. gxf3 Nd5 16. Bg3 Nb6 17. Bd3 g6 18. Kc2 Rd7 19. Bb5 Rxd1 20. Rxd1
a6 21. Bf1 Re8 22. h4 Bd8 23. h5 Bc7 24. Bh4 Bf4 25. Bd3 Kc7 26. Bg3 Bxg3 27.
fxg3 c4 28. Bf1 Re3 29. hxg6 hxg6 30. Bg2 Nd7 31. Kd2 Rd3+ 32. Ke2 Nc5 33. Bf1
b5 34. Rd2 a5 35. Bg2 g5 36. Bh3 Kd6 37. Bf5 Rxd2+ 38. Kxd2 Ke5 39. Bc2 f5 40.
a3 f4 41. g4 Kd5 42. Ke2 Nd7 43. Bf5 Ne5 44. Be4+ Kc5 45. Kd2 b4 46. axb4+ axb4
47. Kc2 Nf7 48. Kd2 Nd6 49. Bc2 Nc8 50. Be4 Nb6 51. Kc2 Na4 52. Bg6 Nb6 53. Be4
Nd7 54. Kd2 Nf6 55. Ba8 Ne8 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "1.6"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B25"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "36"]
[EventDate "1994.11.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 043 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6. f4 e6 7. Nf3 Nge7 8. O-O
O-O 9. Kh1 b6 10. Be3 Bb7 11. d4 d5 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Nxd5 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Nxd4
15. Bxd4 Bxd5 16. Bxg7 Bxg2+ 17. Kxg2 Kxg7 18. Qxd8 Rfxd8 1/2-1/2

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "2.3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vyzmanavin, Alexey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "1994.11.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 043 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 e6 5. O-O Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Re1 d5 8. cxd5
exd5 9. d4 Nbd7 10. Bf4 c6 11. Qc2 Nh5 12. Bd2 f5 13. Bh3 g6 14. Bh6 Ng7 15.
Rad1 Re8 16. Qb3 Kh8 17. e4 fxe4 18. Nxe4 Kg8 19. Ne5 Nf5 20. Bf4 Rf8 21. Nxd7
Qxd7 22. Be5 Rf7 23. Nd2 c5 24. Nf3 Qc6 25. Bf4 Bf6 26. Bxf5 gxf5 27. Ne5 Bxe5
28. Rxe5 Re8 29. Qe3 Rxe5 30. Bxe5 h6 31. Qf4 Kh7 32. Qh4 Qg6 33. Re1 Qg5 34.
Qxg5 hxg5 35. Rc1 c4 36. f3 Bc8 37. Kf2 Bd7 38. h4 gxh4 39. gxh4 f4 40. Rg1 b5
41. a3 Be6 42. Rg5 a5 43. Bd6 Rb7 44. Re5 Bf7 45. Rf5 Kg6 46. Rg5+ Kh7 47. Bxf4
b4 48. axb4 axb4 49. Rg1 Bg6 50. Rg5 Bf7 51. Bc1 Ra7 52. Ke1 Ra1 53. Kd2 c3+
54. bxc3 bxc3+ 55. Kc2 Bg6+ 56. Kxc3 Rxc1+ 57. Kd2 Rh1 58. Rxd5 Rxh4 59. Ke3
1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "2.3"]
[White "Vyzmanavin, Alexey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2610"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "1994.11.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 043 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. Bd3
Nbd7 9. a3 Bd6 10. h3 O-O 11. O-O Qe7 12. Re1 dxc4 13. Bxc4 e5 14. Ba2 Rad8 15.
f4 e4 16. Rf1 Nb6 17. Bd2 c5 18. Qe2 cxd4 19. exd4 Bb8 20. Rae1 Rxd4 21. Be3
Rd7 22. Bxb6 1/2-1/2

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D18"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "36"]
[EventDate "1994.11.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 043 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O
O-O 9. Nh4 Nbd7 10. h3 Rc8 11. Qe2 Nb6 12. Bb3 Nbd5 13. Bd2 Qe7 14. Rfc1 Rcd8
15. Qf3 Ne4 16. Nxf5 exf5 17. Nxe4 fxe4 18. Bxb4 Nxb4 1/2-1/2

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D19"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "171"]
[EventDate "1994.11.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 043 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O
O-O 9. Qe2 Bg6 10. Ne5 Nbd7 11. Nxg6 hxg6 12. Rd1 Qa5 13. h3 Rad8 14. Bd2 e5
15. Be1 exd4 16. Rxd4 Nb6 17. Bb3 Rxd4 18. exd4 Re8 19. Qd3 Nbd5 20. Bd2 Qb6
21. a5 Qc7 22. Nxd5 Nxd5 23. Bxb4 Nxb4 24. Qxg6 Nd5 25. Qf5 g6 26. Qf3 Qd6 27.
a6 b6 28. g3 Kg7 29. Rc1 Re7 30. Kg2 Nb4 31. Qc3 Kg8 32. Re1 Rxe1 33. Qxe1 Kf8
34. Qc3 Nxa6 35. Qc4 Qd5+ 36. Qxd5 cxd5 37. Bxd5 Nb4 38. Bc4 Nc6 39. d5 Ne5 40.
Bb5 f6 41. f4 Nf7 42. Kf3 Ke7 43. h4 f5 44. Ke3 Nd6 45. Be2 Ne4 46. g4 Nf6 47.
gxf5 Nxd5+ 48. Ke4 Nf6+ 49. Ke5 Nd7+ 50. Kd5 gxf5 51. h5 Kf6 52. Kc6 Nc5 53.
Bc4 Ne4 54. Bd5 Ng3 55. Bf3 Ne4 56. Kb7 Nd6+ 57. Kxa7 Nc4 58. b4 Kg7 59. Be2
Ne3 60. Kxb6 Nd5+ 61. Kc5 Nxf4 62. Bf3 Kf6 63. b5 Ne6+ 64. Kc4 Nd8 65. b6 Kg5
66. Kd5 Nb7 67. Kc6 Nd8+ 68. Kd7 Nf7 69. b7 Ne5+ 70. Kd6 Nxf3 71. b8=Q Kxh5 72.
Qf8 Kg4 73. Qg7+ Kf4 74. Kd5 Ke3 75. Qg3 f4 76. Qh3 Ke2 77. Qg4 Ke3 78. Qg6 Nh4
79. Qe4+ Kf2 80. Qxf4+ Ke2 81. Qxh4 Kd3 82. Qg3+ Ke2 83. Ke4 Kd2 84. Kd4 Ke2
85. Qg2+ Kd1 86. Kd3 1-0

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2810"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1994.11.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 043 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Be2 e6 7. h3 Bh5 8. Be3
cxd4 9. cxd4 Bb4+ 10. Nc3 O-O 11. O-O Qa5 12. Qb3 Nc6 13. a3 Bxc3 14. bxc3 Nd5
15. Rac1 Qc7 16. c4 Nxe3 17. Qxe3 Rfd8 18. Rfd1 Ne7 19. g4 Bg6 20. Ne5 Rac8 21.
d5 b6 22. h4 f6 23. Nxg6 Nxg6 24. dxe6 Qe5 25. Qxe5 fxe5 26. Rxd8+ Rxd8 27. c5
Rc8 28. Rd1 Kf8 29. cxb6 axb6 30. Rd7 Nf4 31. Bd3 Nxe6 32. Bxh7 Nf4 33. Be4
Rc1+ 34. Kh2 Rc3 35. f3 Rxa3 36. h5 Ne6 37. Rd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-31"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.12.02"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Nogueiras Santiago, Jesus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2530"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "28"]
[EventDate "1994.12.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Cuba"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CUB"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. a3 Bd6 10. O-O O-O 11. Bd2 Qe7 12. Rc1 a6 13. Ne4 c5 14. Nxd6 Qxd6
1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-31"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.12.03"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Annageldyev, Orazly"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2440"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1994.12.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Turkmenistan"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "TKM"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e6 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 7. Re1 d6 8. e4 a6
9. d4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Qc7 11. Be3 Nbd7 (11... Qxc4 $2 12. Rc1 Qb4 13. Nb3 $1 {
/\a3+-}) 12. f4 O-O 13. Rc1 Rfe8 14. Bf2 {/\e5+-} (14. f5 Bd8 $5 15. fxe6 fxe6
16. Bh3 Nf8 17. Bf2 N6d7 18. b4 Bf6 19. Nce2 Rac8 20. Qb3 Kh8 21. Qe3 Ne5 22.
Nf4 Qf7 $15 {Schlosser,P-Hoffmann,M/Lippstadt/1991/}) (14. Nd5 $5 exd5 15. cxd5
Qb8 16. Nc6 Bxc6 17. dxc6 Nc5 18. c7 Qxc7 19. e5 dxe5 20. Bxa8 Rxa8 21. b4 exf4
22. Bxf4 Qa7 23. bxc5 Bxc5+ 24. Kg2 Qb7+ 25. Qf3 $14 {Ftacnik,L-Browne,W/San
Francisco/1991/}) (14. g4 Nc5 15. Bf2 e5 $6 16. Nf5 Qd8 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. f5
h6 19. Bh4 Rec8 20. Rc2 Bc6 21. Rd2 Nb7 22. b4 b5 23. Bf1 Qc7 24. g5 hxg5 25.
Bxg5 Nh7 26. Bh4 bxc4 27. Rg2 $40 {Yermolinsky,A-Frias,V/London Lloyds/1994/})
14... h6 $146 (14... h5 $6 15. h3 g6 16. e5 $14) (14... Bf8 15. Qe2 g6 16. e5
Bxg2 17. Kxg2 dxe5 18. fxe5 Nh5 19. Nf3 Rac8 20. b3 Red8 21. Bd4 Bc5 22. Red1
Ng7 23. Bxc5 Nxc5 24. b4 Rxd1 25. Rxd1 Nd7 26. Ne4 $36 {Wojtkiewicz,
A-Felsberger,A/Wien op/1990/}) 15. b3 (15. e5 dxe5 16. fxe5 Nh7 $13) 15... Rac8
16. h3 (16. g4 $5 $13) 16... Qb8 17. g4 Nh7 (17... g5 $6 18. f5 Bf8 19. h4 $36)
(17... e5 18. fxe5 (18. Nde2 $6 b5 $1 $36) 18... dxe5 (18... Nxe5 19. Nd5 $36)
19. Nf5 Bc5 20. Bxc5 Rxc5 21. Nd5 $14) 18. Bg3 Bd8 $1 $132 {/\b5,Bb6,Bc7,d5}
19. a4 Bc7 20. Rc2 Nc5 {/\e5,><b3} (20... d5 $2 21. exd5 exd5 (21... Bxf4 22.
Bxf4 Qxf4 23. dxe6 $16) 22. Nxd5 Bxd5 23. cxd5 $1 {/\} Bxf4 $2 24. Rxc8 Rxc8
25. Nc6 {/\Ne7+-}) 21. Rf2 (21. b4 Nd7 {><c4}) 21... Rf8 (21... Nf8 22. h4 e5
23. Nf5 Ng6 24. fxe5 dxe5 25. Nd5 Rcd8 26. Qf3 $40) 22. h4 Rcd8 23. g5 hxg5 24.
fxg5 (24. hxg5 $5 d5 (24... g6 25. f5 $5 $36) 25. exd5 Nxg5 26. Qh5 $13) 24...
d5 $1 25. Bxc7 Qxc7 26. exd5 (26. cxd5 Qg3 27. Rf3 Qxh4 28. b4 Nxg5 $17) 26...
Qg3 27. Rf3 (27. Nf3 exd5 28. cxd5 Rfe8 $5 $132) 27... Qxh4 28. Rh3 $8 Qxg5 29.
b4 exd5 $5 (29... Nd7 30. Ne4 $40) 30. cxd5 (30. bxc5 dxc4 31. c6 $5 (31. Ne4
Qe5 $1 (31... Bxe4 32. Rxe4 bxc5 (32... Qxc5 $142 $5) 33. Rg4 Rxd4 34. Qc2 $16)
32. Nd6 Qxc5 33. Nxb7 Qxd4+ 34. Qxd4 Rxd4 35. Rb1 $10) 31... Bxc6 32. Ne4 (32.
Nxc6 Rxd1 33. Rxd1 Re8 $15) 32... Bxe4 33. Rxe4 {/\Reh4}) (30. cxd5 Ne6 $5 (
30... Nd7 31. Ne4 Qg6 32. Ree3 $5 {/\} (32. Rg3 Qh6 33. Rh3 $10) 32... Bxd5 33.
Reg3 Bxe4 34. Rxg6 Bxg6 35. Nc6 $16) 31. Nxe6 (31. Rh5 $6 Qf6 (31... Qg3 32.
Rh3 Qg5 $10) 32. dxe6 Rxd4 33. Qc2 g6 $15) (31. Ne4 $2 Qxd5 32. Nf6+ Nxf6 33.
Bxd5 Rxd5 $17) 31... fxe6 32. Ne4 $44 (32. Rxe6 $5 Nf6 $132)) 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Event "Olympiad-31"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.12.11"]
[Round "10.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ehlvest, Jaan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B00"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2600"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "1994.12.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Estonia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "EST"]

1. Nf3 b6 2. e4 Bb7 3. Nc3 e6 4. d4 Bb4 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bxf6 Qxf6 8.
O-O Bxc3 (8... O-O $6 9. e5 Qe7 10. Nb5 $16) 9. bxc3 d5 10. exd5 Bxd5 11. Ne5
O-O 12. Qh5 Qd8 13. c4 Bb7 14. d5 Qd6 (14... exd5 $2 15. Qf5 g6 16. Nxg6 $18)
15. Rae1 exd5 16. Qf5 g6 17. Qh3 Kg7 18. Nxf7 $1 Kxf7 (18... Rxf7 19. Re6 Qf4 (
19... Bc8 20. Rxd6 Bxh3 21. Rxg6+ Kf8 22. gxh3 $16) 20. Rxg6+ Kf8 21. Rxh6 $40)
19. Qxh6 Rg8 20. f4 $6 (20. Re3 d4 (20... Nd7 21. Qh7+ Kf8 (21... Rg7 22. Rf3+
Nf6 23. Bxg6+ Kf8 24. Qh8+ Rg8 25. Rxf6+ $18) 22. Rf3+ Nf6 23. Bxg6 Qe6 24.
cxd5 $1 Bxd5 25. Qh6+ Ke7 26. Re3 Ne4 27. Qh7+ Kd8 28. Bxe4 $18) 21. c5 $1 Qxc5
(21... Qd5 22. Rf3+ Ke7 23. Re1+ Kd8 24. Rf8+ Kd7 25. Bb5+ Nc6 26. Qh7+) (21...
bxc5 22. Bc4+ Bd5 23. Bxd5+ Qxd5 24. Qf4+ Qf5 25. Qxc7+ Qd7 26. Rf3+ Kg7 27.
Qe5+ Kh7 28. Rh3+ $18) 22. Bc4+ $1 Kf6 (22... Qxc4 23. Qf4+ Kg7 24. Re7+ $18)
23. Re6+ Kf7 24. Rfe1 $18) 20... Nd7 21. f5 Rh8 $1 22. fxg6+ (22. Qxg6+ $6 Kf8
$1) 22... Kg8 23. Qf4 Qxf4 $13 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-31"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.12.12"]
[Round "11.2"]
[White "Sturua, Zurab"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2535"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "34"]
[EventDate "1994.12.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Georgia"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GEO"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O
Re8 9. Rd1 Qe7 10. h3 h6 11. b3 dxc4 12. bxc4 e5 13. a4 e4 14. Nd2 Nf8 15. Qb3
Ng6 16. Ba3 Nh4 17. Bf1 Rb8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-31"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.12.13"]
[Round "12.1"]
[White "Zvjaginsev, Vadim"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2585"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "1994.12.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia II"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O
Re8 9. Rd1 b6 10. e4 Nxe4 11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. Qxe4 Qc7 13. Be3 Bb7 14. c5 bxc5
15. dxc5 Bf8 16. Rac1 Nf6 17. Qf4 e5 18. Qg3 Nd5 19. Bg5 Re6 20. Qh4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-31"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1994.12.14"]
[Round "13.2"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B65"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Speelman,J"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "1994.12.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 045"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "England"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ENG"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 {Boensch Ftacnik Hecht Ernst} c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 d6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4
Nf6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8. O-O-O Nxd4 9. Qxd4 O-O 10. f4 Qa5 11. Bc4 Bd7 12.
e5 dxe5 13. fxe5 Bc6 14. Bd2 Nd7 15. Nd5 Qc5 16. Nxe7+ Qxe7 17. Rhe1 Rfd8 18.
Qg4 (18. Bf1 {Boensch} Nf8 19. Qe3 Qh4 20. h3 Ng6 21. c4 Rd4 22. g3 Rxc4+ 23.
Bc3 Qe4 24. Qd2 Qd5 25. Qxd5 Rxc3+ 26. bxc3 Bxd5 $10 {Yudasin,L-Kotronias,V
Moscow olm (04) ISR-GRE 1994 1/2 64 -CBM 45}) 18... Nf8 (18... Nb6 19. Bf1 Qc5
20. Qb4 Qf2 21. Qf4 Qxf4 22. Bxf4 $14 {Tseshkovsky,V-Yudasin,L/URS-ch/1986/1/
2-1/2/42}) 19. Bd3 (19. h4 $5 $146 Qc5 20. Bc3 $1 h5 $2 21. Qe2 $1 Bxg2 22.
Rxd8 Rxd8 23. Bd3 $1 Bh3 $8 24. Qxh5 f5 25. Qf3 Bg4 26. Qxb7 $16 {Sherzer,
A-Rachels,S/USA-ch/1992/1:0/38}) (19. Bf1 Qc5 $1 20. Bc3 Ng6 21. Qg5 Rd5 22.
Rxd5 Bxd5 23. a3 Rc8 24. Qe3 Qc6 25. g3 a6 26. Be2 Ne7 27. Qg5 Qc7 $10 {
Kamsky,G-Anand,V/Linares/1993/0:1/68}) 19... Rxd3 (19... Qc7 {Boensch} 20. Bb4
Bd5 21. Kb1 Rac8 22. Bd6 Qc6 23. b3 b5 24. Re3 Ng6 25. h4 $40 {Tatai,S-Epishin,
V Reggio Emilia (06) 1994 1-0 42 - CBM 45}) 20. cxd3 Qd7 (20... Qc5+ $5 21. Kb1
Qd5 $44) (20... Ng6 {Boensch} 21. Kb1 Qd8 22. Bc3 a5 23. g3 Ne7 24. Bd4 Qd5 25.
Bg1 {Der Plan Bd4-g1 verspricht keinen Vorteil.} a4 26. Qb4 Qd8 27. Bb6 Qd7 28.
Bc5 Nd5 29. Qd4 Qd8 30. Rf1 Qg5 31. Rf2 Rd8 32. Ka1 h6 $10 {Anand,V-Lobron,E
Manila olm (13.06.1) 1992 1/2 52}) 21. Bb4 (21. Kb1 Qxd3+ $6 22. Ka1 $14 {
Ivanchuk,V-Anand,V (07)/Linares m/1992/1:0/51} (22. Ka1 {Boensch} h5 (22... Qf5
23. Qg3 Ng6 24. Bc3 h6 25. Rf1 Qe4 26. Rd2 Bd5 27. b3 Rc8 28. Kb2 a6 29. Rdf2
Rc7 30. Re1 Qh4 31. Qxh4 Nxh4 $10 {Ivanchuk,V-Anand,V (7) Linares m 1992 1-0 51
}) 23. Qe2 (23. Qxh5 Ba4 24. Bc3 Bxd1 25. Rxd1 Qe4 26. Qf3 (26. Qg5 a5 27. Qd2
Ng6 28. g3 Ne7 29. Qd7 Nd5 30. Bd4 Qe2 31. Rc1 b5 32. Bc5 Qd3 33. Qc6 Rd8 34.
Bd6 Kh7 35. Qc5 Kg6 $1 36. h4 Rh8 $1 37. a3 Rh5 $17 {Oll,L-Hodgson,J Groningen
PCA (03) 1993 0-1 46}) 26... Qxf3 27. gxf3 Kh7 28. b4 Kg6 29. a4 Kf5 30. h4 Rc8
31. Kb2 g6 32. Rd4 Rc7 33. a5 $10 {Hracek,Z-Leko,P Brno (8) 1993 1/2 44}) 23...
Qxe2 24. Rxe2 Rd8 25. Rde1 Ng6 26. g3 a6 27. b3 Rd3 28. Kb2 h4 29. Kc2 Rd4 30.
Be3 Rg4 31. Bf2 hxg3 32. hxg3 Ne7 $10 {Almasi,Z-Zolnai,T HUN-ch (09) 1992 1/2
49})) (21. Re3 $5 {Ftacnik}) (21. Re3 {Boensch} Qd5 22. Kb1 Ng6 23. Bc3 (23.
Rg3 Qxe5 24. Bc3 Qb5 25. h4 h5 26. Qe2 Bd5 27. b3 a5 28. Qxh5 a4 29. Rxg6 fxg6
30. Qxg6 Qd7 31. b4 $14 {Stefansson,H-Kotronias,V Reykjavik op (03) 1994 1/2 51
}) 23... Qxg2 24. Qxg2 Bxg2 25. Rg3 Bc6 26. Rdg1 Rd8 27. Kc2 Rd7 28. b3 Kh8 29.
Rg4 Ne7 30. Rd4 Bd5 31. Rf4 Nf5 32. Kd2 Bc6 33. a4 h6 34. Rxf5 exf5 35. Rxg7
Rxd3+ 36. Kxd3 {1/2-1/2 Ivanov,AV-Rachels,S/USA-ch (1) 1989}) 21... Qd5 22.
Bxf8 Rxf8 23. Kb1 Qxg2 24. Qxg2 (24. Qh4 $1 {Ernst} g6 25. Re3 Bd5 26. Rh3 h5
27. Rc1 $14 {Psakhis,L-Greenfeld,A/Tel Aviv/1991} (27. Rc1 {Boensch} Qd2 28. b3
a5 29. Qf6 a4 30. Rg3 axb3 31. Rxg6+ $10 {Psakhis,L-Greenfeld,A Tel Aviv (04)
1991 1/2 37})) (24. Qf4 {Ernst}) 24... Bxg2 25. Rc1 Bc6 26. Kc2 (26. Rc4 Rd8
$146 (26... f5 27. exf6 Rxf6 28. h4 h6 29. Rg1 Kf7 30. h5 Kf8 31. Kc2 Rf5 32.
Rcg4 Rf7 33. Kc3 Bf3 34. Rg6 Rc7+ 35. Kd2 Bxh5 $10 {Georgiev,Ki-Gurevich,D/
Palma de Mallorca/1989/1/2-1/2/59}) 27. Kc2 g6 28. Kc3 Kg7 29. b4 h6 30. Rc5 a6
31. Ra1 g5 32. a4 Bf3 33. Rc7 Kg6 34. d4 Rf8 35. Rf1 g4 36. Kd2 f5 $6 37. exf6
Rxf6 38. Re7 h5 39. Ke3 h4 40. Rf2 Bc6 41. Rf4 $1 $16 {Palac,M-Lisenko,A/
Vinkovci/1993/1/2-1/2/81}) 26... f5 {And finally the two players began to play
their own moves! I must say that this particular variation is a very strange
choice as Black has no winning chances whatsoever. In addition, as the game
shows, white has reasonable winning chances. After all, if a 2700 player such
as Kramnik cannot hold this endgame, what chance has a mere mortal 2500 player?
} 27. exf6 {White would have no winning chances if Black were allowed a passed
f-pawn.} Rxf6 28. Rf1 Rh6 (28... Rxf1 $2 {Boensch} 29. Rxf1 {/\ Kc3-d4-e5 +-})
29. Rf2 Rh3 30. Kc3 h6 (30... Bb5 {Ftacnik} 31. Rd1) 31. Kd4 Kh7 32. b3 g5 33.
Rcf1 Kg6 (33... Bb5 {Ftacnik} 34. Rf7+ Kg6 35. Rxb7 $16) (33... Bd5 $2 {Boensch
} 34. Rf7+ Kg6 35. R1f6+ Kh5 36. Rh7 $18) 34. Rf6+ Kh5 35. Rxe6 Rxh2 36. Rff6 (
36. a4 {Boensch} Kg4 $10) 36... Rxa2 37. Rxh6+ Kg4 38. Re5 Rg2 39. Rg6 Kh4 (
39... Kf4 {Ftacnik} 40. Rf6+ Kg4 41. Ke3 Rg3+ 42. Kd2 Rg2+ 43. Kc3 Rg1 44. d4
$16) 40. Rh6+ Kg4 41. Rg6 (41. Rh8 {Ernst} Kf4 $10) 41... Kh4 {And here most
observers expected the game to end in a draw by three fold repetition after 42.
Rh6+. However, as both Short and Hodgson had lost to Kasparov and Tiviakov by
now, Adams was forced to find a way to fight on.} 42. Re3 g4 43. Ke5 Rf2 (43...
Rd2 {Ernst}) (43... g3 {Ftacnik} 44. d4 $1) 44. d4 Rd2 45. Rh6+ Kg5 46. Rh8 (
46. Rd6 $5 {Boensch}) 46... Bf3 47. Rf8 Bc6 48. b4 b6 (48... a6 {Ernst} 49. Rd8
{/\ 50.d5} (49. Rd8 {Ftacnik} Bf3 50. d5 $16)) 49. Rd8 a5 50. d5 Rxd5+ (50...
Ba4 {Ftacnik} 51. bxa5 bxa5 52. d6 $16) 51. Rxd5 Bxd5 52. bxa5 $4 {[#]
throwing away the win.} (52. Kxd5 Kf4 (52... axb4 53. Ke4 Kh4 54. Kf4 $18) (
52... a4 53. b5 Kf4 54. Ra3 g3 55. Rxa4+ $18 Kf3 56. Kc6 g2 57. Ra1) 53. Re1 $1
(53. Re4+ {Ernst} Kf3 $10) (53. Re6 {Hecht} Kf3 $2 (53... g3 $1 54. Rxb6 (54.
b5 g2 55. Rg6 Kf3 56. Kc6 a4 57. Kxb6 a3 58. Rf6+ Ke2 59. Re6+ Kf2 60. Rf6+ Kg1
61. Kc7 a2 62. Ra6 $10) 54... axb4 (54... a4 55. Rc6 g2 56. Rc1 Ke3 57. b5 Kf2
58. b6 $18) 55. Kd4 g2 56. Rg6 Kf3 57. Kd3 Kf2 58. Rf6+ Ke1 $10) 54. b5 $1 g3
55. Rxb6 g2 56. Rg6 a4 57. Kc4 $18) 53... axb4 $8 (53... Kf3 54. b5 $1 g3 55.
Kc6 g2 56. Kxb6 Kf2 57. Ra1 a4 58. Ka5 $1 $18 (58. Ka5 {Ftacnik} a3 59. Ra2+ (
59. Ka4 $18 {Boensch}) 59... Kf1 60. Rxa3 g1=Q 61. Ra1+ $18)) 54. Kd4 $1 Kf3 (
54... g3 55. Rf1+ Kg4 56. Ke3 g2 57. Rg1 Kg3 58. Rb1 Kh2 59. Kf2) 55. Kd3 $1 g3
(55... Kf2 56. Re2+ $1 Kf3 (56... Kf1 57. Ke3 g3 58. Kf3) 57. Re6 g3 58. Rf6+
Kg2 59. Ke2) 56. Rf1+ Kg2 57. Ke2 Kh2 58. Rb1 g2 59. Kf2 {And the Black have
been blockaded and will shortly run out of moves.} (59. Kf2 b3 60. Rg1 $18))
52... bxa5 53. Kxd5 Kf4 54. Ra3 (54. Re8 {Boensch} g3 55. Rf8+ Ke3 $10 (55...
Kg4 $2 56. Ke4 g2 57. Rg8+ Kh3 58. Kf3 $18)) 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Amber-blindfold 04th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A87"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "1995.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. d4 O-O 6. c4 d6 7. Nc3 Na6 8. Rb1
c6 9. b4 Ne4 10. Bb2 Be6 11. Qb3 b5 12. Nxe4 Bxc4 13. Qe3 fxe4 14. Qxe4 Nxb4
15. Bh3 Kh8 16. Ng5 e5 17. Ne6 Bxe6 18. Bxe6 d5 19. Qg4 e4 20. Rbc1 Qd6 21. Ba3
a5 22. Bd7 h5 23. Qh3 Ra6 24. e3 Rd8 25. Bg4 Ra7 26. Rc2 Rc7 27. Rfc1 Bf8 28.
Be2 Rdd7 29. Bxb4 axb4 30. Qf1 Rf7 31. Qh3 Kg7 32. Bf1 Kh6 33. Be2 Bg7 34. Bf1
Qf6 35. Qg2 Qd6 36. Qh3 Bf6 37. Be2 Bg5 38. Qg2 Bd8 39. h4 Qd7 40. Bf1 Rf6 41.
Qh3 Rf5 42. Be2 Qf7 43. Qg2 Rf6 44. Bf1 Ra7 45. Qh3 Rf5 46. Rb1 Ra4 47. Rbb2
Qf6 48. Qh2 Be7 49. Bh3 Rf3 50. Bg2 Rf5 51. Bh3 Rf3 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Amber-blindfold 04th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A31"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1995.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 d6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Bd7 8. e4
Bg7 9. Nxc6 Bxc6 10. Be3 O-O 11. O-O a6 12. Rc1 Qa5 13. Qe2 Nd7 14. Bd2 Qb6 15.
b3 Rfc8 16. Nd5 Qd8 17. Bg5 Bxd5 18. exd5 Bf6 19. h4 b5 20. cxb5 Rxc1 21. Rxc1
axb5 22. Bh3 b4 23. Bxd7 Bxg5 24. hxg5 Qxd7 25. Rc4 Qb7 26. Qd2 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Amber-blindfold 04th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "1995.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12. Nc2 Bg5 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 a5
15. Bc4 Rb8 16. b3 Kh8 17. O-O g6 18. Qd3 Bd7 19. Raa1 f5 20. Rfd1 Bh6 21. Nde3
Rf6 22. f3 Ne7 23. Kh1 Bf4 24. b4 a4 25. Nd5 Nxd5 26. Bxd5 Qf8 27. g3 Bg5 28.
c4 f4 29. g4 h5 30. gxh5 Qh6 31. b5 Qxh5 32. Rxa4 Bh4 33. Rda1 Bg3 34. Qe2 g5
35. Ra8 Rbf8 36. Rxf8+ Rxf8 37. b6 g4 38. Ne1 gxf3 39. Nxf3 Bg4 40. Ra3 Kg7 41.
Kg1 Rh8 42. b7 Kf6 43. c5 Bxf3 44. Rxf3 Bxh2+ 45. Kf1 Qe8 46. Qa6 Kg5 47. Rb3
Qh5 48. Qe2 f3 49. Rxf3 Bf4 50. Rg3+ Bxg3 51. Qxh5+ Kxh5 52. c6 Kg4 53. Ke2
Rh2+ 54. Kd3 1-0

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

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

[Event "Amber-blindfold 04th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1995.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 Bb4 8. e4
Bxe4 9. fxe4 Nxe4 10. Bd2 Qxd4 11. Nxe4 Qxe4+ 12. Qe2 Bxd2+ 13. Kxd2 Qd5+ 14.
Kc3 O-O 15. Qe3 b5 16. Be2 Nd7 17. Nxd7 Qxd7 18. Bf3 Rac8 19. Rhd1 Qe7 20. Kc2
a6 21. Qe5 Qb4 22. Qc3 Qc5 23. Qd4 Qf5+ 24. Be4 Qh5 25. h4 c5 26. Qe3 b4 27.
Rac1 g6 28. g3 Qe5 29. Qf4 Qg7 30. Bb7 c3 31. b3 Rcd8 32. Bxa6 e5 33. Qg5 Rd4
34. Bc4 Kh8 35. Rxd4 cxd4 36. Qe7 f5 37. Qxb4 e4 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Amber-blindfold 04th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1995.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 e6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. d4
O-O 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. Bg5 Qd7 12. Ne1 d4 13. Nd3 Bb6 14. Bd2 Qe7
15. Nf4 Be6 16. Qa4 Rac8 17. Rac1 Rfd8 18. Rfe1 h6 19. a3 Qd7 20. Nxe6 Qxe6 21.
Qc4 Qf5 22. Qd3 Qe6 23. Qe4 Qb3 24. Qd3 Qe6 25. Bf4 g5 26. Bd2 Ne5 27. Qe4 Rxc1
28. Rxc1 d3 29. e3 Rd7 30. Bc3 Nc4 31. Rd1 Qxe4 32. Bxe4 d2 33. Kf1 Ba5 34. b4
Bb6 35. Ke2 Nxa3 36. Rxd2 Rxd2+ 37. Kxd2 Nb5 38. Be5 a5 39. bxa5 Bxa5+ 40. Kd3
Bc7 41. Bb2 Nd6 42. Bd5 b5 43. f4 gxf4 44. gxf4 b4 45. Bc6 Nf5 46. Bd7 Ne7 47.
Kc4 Bd6 48. h4 h5 49. f5 Bg3 50. e4 Bxh4 51. Kxb4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 04th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1995.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. e3 e6 6. Nge2 Nge7 7. d4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 O-O 9. O-O d5 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. Re1 Nxd4 12. exd4 Qb6 13. Nxd5 exd5 14.
Bxd5 Bxd4 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. Rxe3 Qxb2 17. Rb1 Qf6 18. Rf3 Qe7 19. Re3 Qf6 20.
Rb4 Rd8 21. Rf3 Bf5 22. Rxb7 Rab8 23. Rxb8 Rxb8 24. Be4 Rb5 25. a4 Re5 26. Bxf5
Rxf5 27. Rxf5 gxf5 28. Qd7 a5 29. Kg2 Kg7 30. Qd5 Qc3 31. Kh3 Qb4 32. Qd1 Kg6
33. f4 Kg7 34. Qc2 Kg6 35. Qc8 Kg7 36. Qd7 Qe4 37. Kh4 Qe2 38. Kh3 Qg4+ 39. Kg2
Qe2+ 40. Kg1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 04th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1995.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O O-O 7. Qc2 Re8 8. Rd1
Bxc3 9. Qxc3 Qe7 10. d4 d6 11. b3 Nbd7 12. Bb2 c5 13. dxc5 Nxc5 14. Nd4 a6 15.
f3 Rec8 16. Qe3 Rc7 17. Qg5 h6 18. Qh4 d5 19. cxd5 Bxd5 20. g4 Bb7 21. Qf2 Rd8
22. Rd2 Rcd7 23. Rad1 Qe8 24. Qe1 Nd5 25. Nc2 Nf4 26. Rxd7 Rxd7 27. Rxd7 Qxd7
28. Bf1 f6 29. Bc1 e5 30. Qd2 Qc7 31. Ne1 Nd5 32. e3 b5 33. Kf2 Ne6 34. Qc2 Qb6
35. Bd2 Ng5 36. h4 Ne6 37. Bd3 Kf7 38. Bg6+ Kf8 39. Nd3 a5 40. Be4 Ke7 41. a4
b4 42. Qc4 Qc6 43. f4 Qxc4 44. bxc4 Ndxf4 45. exf4 Bxe4 46. Nc1 Bc2 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 04th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D19"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1995.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O
O-O 9. Qe2 Bg6 10. Ne5 Nbd7 11. Nxg6 hxg6 12. Rd1 Qa5 13. Bd2 Rad8 14. Be1 Nb6
15. Bb3 e5 16. dxe5 Qxe5 17. g3 a5 18. Kg2 Nbd7 19. Qc4 Qe7 20. h3 g5 21. Rac1
Ne5 22. Qe2 g4 23. hxg4 Nexg4 24. Rxd8 Rxd8 25. Rd1 Rxd1 26. Qxd1 g6 27. Qd4
Kg7 28. Bd2 b5 29. axb5 Bc5 30. Qd3 cxb5 31. Qxb5 Qd6 32. Be1 Bb4 33. Qb7 Ne5
34. Nb5 Qd3 35. Bxb4 axb4 36. Nd4 Qd2 37. Ne6+ Kh6 38. Qb8 fxe6 39. Qh8+ Nh7
40. Qxe5 Ng5 41. Qh8+ Nh7 42. Bxe6 1-0

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

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

[Event "Amber-rapid 04th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Nikolic, Predrag"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1995.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Qb3 Qb6 6. Nc3 e6 7. Qxb6 axb6 8. Nh4
Bc2 9. Bd2 h6 10. h3 Nbd7 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Rc1 Bh7 13. g4 b5 14. a3 b4 15.
axb4 Bxb4 16. Nf5 O-O 17. Bd3 Rfe8 18. f3 c5 19. Kf2 cxd4 20. exd4 Nb6 21. Rc2
Rac8 22. Re1 Re6 23. Rec1 Rec6 24. Bb5 Bxf5 25. gxf5 R6c7 26. Bf4 Re7 27. Ne2
Rxc2 28. Rxc2 Ne8 29. Bb8 Bd6 30. Ba7 Nc7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 04th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "1995.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. c3 d6 4. Bg5 Nf6 5. Nd2 O-O 6. Ngf3 c5 7. dxc5 dxc5 8.
Be2 Nc6 9. O-O b6 10. Qc2 Bb7 11. Rfe1 Qc7 12. Bf1 Ng4 13. Bh4 Rad8 14. Bg3
Nge5 15. a4 Qc8 16. Nxe5 Bxe5 17. f4 Bg7 18. Nc4 Qe6 19. a5 b5 20. a6 Bxa6 21.
Rxa6 Nd4 22. cxd4 Bxd4+ 23. Kh1 Qxa6 24. Nd2 Qa2 25. Nf3 Qxb2 26. Nxd4 Qxd4 27.
Bxb5 Qb4 28. Bd3 c4 29. Qxc4 Qxc4 30. Bxc4 Rd4 31. Ba6 Rfd8 32. Kg1 R8d6 33.
Bb5 Rd1 34. e5 R6d4 35. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 36. Kf2 a5 37. Ke2 Rd4 38. Be1 Re4+ 39. Kd1
a4 40. Bd2 a3 41. Kc2 a2 42. Kb2 Rd4 43. Bc3 Rxf4 44. Kxa2 Rf2+ 45. Kb3 Rxg2
46. h3 Rg3 47. Bf1 Rf3 48. Bg2 Rf2 49. Bc6 Rh2 50. e6 fxe6 51. Be5 Rxh3+ 52.
Kc2 Rh5 53. Bd4 e5 54. Be3 Kf7 55. Kd3 Kf6 56. Ke4 Rh4+ 57. Kf3 h5 58. Kg3 Rc4
59. Bf3 h4+ 60. Kf2 g5 61. Be2 Ra4 62. Bd1 Rb4 63. Be2 g4 64. Bf1 Kf5 65. Bd3+
e4 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 04th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Lautier, Joel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2655"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1995.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 c5 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 g6 5. a3 Bg7 6. Rb1 a5 7. e3 d6 8. Nge2 h5
9. h3 O-O 10. O-O e5 11. d3 Rb8 12. Bd2 Be6 13. e4 Qd7 14. Kh2 h4 15. g4 Nh7
16. f4 exf4 17. Bxf4 Be5 18. Kh1 Qd8 19. Bh6 Bg7 20. Be3 Nd4 21. b4 Nxe2 22.
Nxe2 cxb4 23. axb4 b5 24. c5 axb4 25. Rxb4 dxc5 26. Bxc5 Re8 27. Qb1 Qd7 28.
Nd4 Ng5 29. Nxb5 Ra8 30. Qc1 Bh6 31. Nd6 Red8 32. e5 Ra2 33. Be3 Qe7 34. Rb7
Bd7 35. d4 Re2 36. Re1 Rxe1+ 37. Qxe1 Qe6 38. Qxh4 1-0

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Event "Amber-rapid 04th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B08"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1995.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 d6 5. Be2 Nf6 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 Qc7 8. Bf4
Nh5 9. Bg5 e5 10. Qd2 Re8 11. Rad1 Nd7 12. d5 c5 13. Nb5 Qb8 14. a4 a6 15. Nc3
Qc7 16. h3 Rb8 17. Nh2 Ndf6 18. Ra1 b6 19. Nf1 Qd7 20. Rab1 Qe7 21. Bxh5 gxh5
22. Ng3 Qf8 23. b4 Bd7 24. b5 Ra8 25. bxa6 Rxa6 26. Qd3 Rea8 27. Qf3 Ne8 28.
Qxh5 f6 29. Bd2 Qf7 30. Qf3 Bf8 31. Nf5 Kh8 32. Rb2 Be7 33. Nxe7 Qxe7 34. Reb1
Qd8 35. Bh6 Ng7 36. Rb3 Bxa4 37. Nxa4 Rxa4 38. Rxb6 Ra1 39. Bxg7+ Kxg7 40. Rb7+
Kh8 41. Rxa1 Rxa1+ 42. Kh2 1-0

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1995.04.27"]
[Round "1.4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Smirin, Ilia"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[PlyCount "143"]
[EventDate "1995.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. d5 a5 8. h3 Na6
9. Bg5 h6 10. Be3 Nd7 11. Qd2 Kh7 12. g4 Ndc5 13. O-O-O f5 14. exf5 gxf5 15.
Rdg1 Qe7 16. gxf5 Bxf5 17. Rg3 Nb4 18. Bxc5 dxc5 19. Rhg1 Rf7 20. a3 e4 21. Ne1
Be5 22. Re3 Qh4 23. Kb1 Na6 24. Bg4 Bg6 25. Rg2 Bf4 26. Nc2 Raf8 27. Nd1 Bxe3
28. Ncxe3 b6 29. Ka2 Nb8 30. Be6 Re7 31. Ng4 Nd7 32. Nc3 Qg5 33. Qe1 Nf6 34.
Qg1 Nxg4 35. Rxg4 Qf6 36. Qg2 Rxe6 37. dxe6 Qxe6 38. Ka1 e3 39. fxe3 Bd3 40.
Qd5 Qxd5 41. cxd5 Rf3 42. e4 Rxh3 43. e5 Re3 44. d6 cxd6 45. Nd5 Re1+ 46. Ka2
Bg6 47. Nf6+ Kg7 48. Ne8+ Kf8 49. Rxg6 Kxe8 50. Rxd6 h5 51. Rxb6 Rxe5 52. Kb3
Kf7 53. Ka4 Kg7 54. Kxa5 h4 55. Rb7+ Kg6 56. Rb6+ Kg5 57. Rb8 Kg4 58. a4 h3 59.
Rg8+ Rg5 60. Rd8 h2 61. Rd1 Kh3 62. Rh1 Kg2 63. Rxh2+ Kxh2 64. Kb5 Kg3 65. a5
c4+ 66. Kxc4 Rxa5 67. b4 Rh5 68. b5 Kf4 69. b6 Ke5 70. b7 Rh8 71. Kc5 Ke6 72.
Kc6 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1995.04.29"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Jussupow, Artur"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D55"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "1995.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Bd3
Qd8 9. O-O Be7 10. a3 O-O 11. Qe2 a6 12. Rac1 f5 13. Nd2 Nf6 14. f3 Bd6 15. Kh1
e5 16. c5 Bc7 17. dxe5 Bxe5 18. f4 Bc7 19. Nf3 Bd7 20. Nd4 g6 21. Rf3 Qe7 22.
b4 a5 23. Qb2 axb4 24. axb4 Rfe8 25. h3 Kf7 26. b5 Ra5 27. Nb3 Raa8 28. b6 Bb8
29. Ne2 Ne4 30. Ned4 Ra4 31. Qc2 Ra3 32. Rg1 Qh4 33. Bxe4 Rxe4 34. Qb2 Ra4 35.
Ra1 Rb4 36. Nc2 Rbc4 37. Qh8 Rxc2 38. Qh7+ Kf8 39. Qxd7 Qe7 40. Qc8+ Qe8 41.
Qxb7 Re7 42. Qa8 Rc3 43. Nd4 Rexe3 44. Rxe3 Rxe3 45. Nxc6 Re1+ 46. Rxe1 1-0

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

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

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

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

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1995.04.30"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "1995.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. c3 f5 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 Be6 14. g3 O-O
15. Bg2 Rb8 16. O-O Qd7 17. Qh5 f5 18. Rad1 e4 19. f3 Bxd5 20. Rxd5 Ne7 21. Rd2
d5 22. Bh3 Rb6 23. Kg2 Rh6 24. Qg5 Rg6 25. Qh5 Rh6 26. Qg5 Rg6 27. Qh5 1/2-1/2

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1995.04.30"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1995.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. d5 a5 8. h3 Na6
9. Bg5 h6 10. Be3 Nh5 11. Nd2 Nf4 12. Bf1 Nc5 13. Nb3 b6 14. g3 Nh5 15. Nxc5
bxc5 16. Qd2 Kh7 17. Be2 Nf6 18. O-O-O Qe7 19. g4 Nd7 20. h4 Nb6 21. h5 g5 22.
Nb5 Ba6 23. Qc2 Bxb5 24. cxb5 a4 25. a3 Ra7 26. Kd2 Rfa8 27. Ra1 Qd7 28. Rhb1
Bf8 29. Ke1 Be7 30. f3 Kg8 31. Kf2 Kg7 32. Kg2 Kg8 33. Bd2 Kh7 34. Ra2 Kg8 35.
Raa1 1/2-1/2

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1995.04.30"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "1995.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 046 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. d4 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. d5 a5 8. h3 Qe8
9. Be3 Nh5 10. Nd2 Nf4 11. Bf1 f5 12. g3 Nh5 13. exf5 gxf5 14. Be2 Nf6 15. f4
Na6 16. Nf3 exf4 17. Bxf4 Nh5 18. Qd2 Nc5 19. Rg1 Ne4 20. Nxe4 fxe4 21. Nd4
Nxf4 22. gxf4 Qe7 23. Qe3 Qh4+ 24. Kd2 Qxf4 25. Raf1 Qxe3+ 26. Kxe3 Bxh3 27.
Rxf8+ Rxf8 28. Nb5 Rf7 29. c5 dxc5 30. d6 c6 31. Nc7 Kf8 32. Kd2 e3+ 33. Kc1
Be5 34. Bc4 Bxd6 35. Bxf7 Kxf7 36. Na8 e2 37. Re1 Bf1 38. Kd2 Bg3 39. Rxe2 Bxe2
40. Kxe2 h5 41. Kf3 h4 42. Nb6 Be5 43. Nc4 Ke6 44. b3 a4 45. bxa4 b5 46. axb5
cxb5 47. Nd2 c4 48. Ne4 c3 49. Nf2 c2 50. Nd3 Bb2 51. Kg4 c1=Q 52. Nxc1 Bxc1
53. Kxh4 Kd5 54. Kg4 Kc4 55. Kf5 Kb4 56. Ke4 Ka3 57. Kd3 Kxa2 0-1

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

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

[Event "Riga Tal Memorial"]
[Site "Riga"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Gulko, Boris F"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "1995.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "LAT"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 047"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. g3 e6 5. Bg2 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. O-O Be7 8. d4
O-O 9. e4 Ndb4 10. d5 exd5 11. exd5 Nd4 12. Nxd4 cxd4 13. a3 dxc3 14. axb4 Bxb4
15. Qd4 Bd6 16. bxc3 b6 17. Bf4 Bb7 18. Rfe1 Bc5 19. Qd3 a5 20. Be4 g6 21. d6
Bxe4 22. Rxe4 g5 23. Be3 Qxd6 24. Qxd6 Bxd6 25. Bxb6 Ra6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Riga Tal Memorial"]
[Site "Riga"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[PlyCount "27"]
[EventDate "1995.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "LAT"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 047"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. c3 d6 6. Bb3 a6 7. h3 h6 8. Nbd2
Be6 9. Nf1 d5 10. Qe2 O-O 11. Ng3 Re8 12. O-O Bf8 13. Rd1 Qe7 14. Bc2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Riga Tal Memorial"]
[Site "Riga"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Timman, Jan H"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "1995.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "LAT"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 047"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. Re1 Nf6 6. e5 Nd5 7. Nc3 Nc7 8.
Bxc6 dxc6 9. Ne4 b6 10. Nf6+ Kf8 11. Ne4 Bg4 (11... h6 12. b3 Kg8 13. Bb2 Kh7
14. d3 Rf8 15. Qd2 Ne6 16. a4 a5 17. h4 Bb7 18. Qe3 Qc7 19. h5 Rad8 20. Nf6+
exf6 21. exf6 Rde8 22. fxg7 Nxg7 23. hxg6+ fxg6 24. Qd2 {Biyiasas,P-Zaltsman,V/
Lone Pine/1980/1-0 (60)}) 12. d3 (12. h3 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Ne6 14. d3 Qd5 15. Bd2
Rd8 16. Bc3 Bxe5 17. Nxc5 Qxf3 18. Nxe6+ fxe6 19. Bxe5 Qd5 20. Bxh8 c5 21. Re4
Kf7 22. Bc3 b5 23. b3 Rc8 24. Rae1 {Glek,I-Wells,P/Wijk Sonnevanck (04)/1995/
0-1 (40)}) 12... Bxe5 (12... Ne6 13. Ned2 Qd5 14. h3 Bxf3 15. Nxf3 Rd8 16. Qe2
h6 17. Be3 (17. a4 Kg8 18. a5 b5 19. h4 Kh7 20. g3 a6 21. b3 Rhe8 22. Bb2 f5
23. exf6 exf6 24. Qe4 {Durnik,S-Certek,P/SVK-chT (10)/1994/0.5 (74)}) 17... Kg8
18. c4 Qxd3 19. Qxd3 Rxd3 20. Rad1 Rxd1 21. Rxd1 f5 22. exf6 Bxf6 23. Rd7 Kf7
24. Rxa7 {Lutz,C-Piket,J/Wijk op (07)/1995/0.5 (30)}) 13. Nxe5 $5 Bxd1 14. Bh6+
Kg8 (14... Ke8 $2 15. Nxc6 f5 (15... Qc8 16. Nf6#) 16. Raxd1 fxe4 17. Nxd8 $18)
15. Nxc6 Bxc2 (15... Qd7 16. Nf6+ exf6 17. Ne7+ Qxe7 18. Rxe7 Nd5 (18... Bxc2
19. Rxc7 Bxd3 20. Rd1 Re8 21. h4 Bf5 22. Rxa7 $14) 19. Rd7 Bxc2 20. Rxd5 Re8
21. Kf1 Ba4 22. Re1 $16) 16. Nc3 (16. Nxd8 Rxd8 17. b4 $1 Bxd3 $1 (17... cxb4
18. Rac1 Bxd3 19. Rxc7 Bxe4 20. Rxe7 Bc6 21. Rxa7 $14) (17... Ne6 18. bxc5 bxc5
19. Rac1 Bxd3 20. Nxc5 Nxc5 21. Rxc5 $14) 18. bxc5 Bxe4 19. Rxe4 Ne6 $10) 16...
e6 $1 (16... Bxd3 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. Rxe7 Ne8 19. Rae1 Ng7 20. Nd5 $16) 17.
Nxd8 Rxd8 18. Bg5 Kg7 (18... Rxd3 $2 19. Re2 $1 $16) (18... Rd7 19. Bf6) 19.
Bxd8 Rxd8 20. Rac1 Bxd3 21. Red1 e5 (21... c4 22. b3 b5 23. Nxb5 Nxb5 24. bxc4
Nd4 25. Rxd3 Ne2+ 26. Kf1 Rxd3 27. Kxe2 $14) 22. Re1 Re8 23. b3 Nb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Riga Tal Memorial"]
[Site "Riga"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1995.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "LAT"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 047"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8.
Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qxa2 12. O-O Bg4 13. Bg5 h6 14. Be3
Nc6 15. d5 Na5 16. Bc5 Bf6 17. e5 Bxe5 18. Rb4 $5 $146 (18. h3 Rfd8 $5 (18...
Bxf3 19. Bxf3 Rfe8 20. d6 Qc4 21. d7 Qxc5 22. dxe8=Q+ Rxe8 23. Qa4 Nc6 24. Rxb7
{Gelfand,B-Ivanchuk,V/Tilburg/1990/1-0 (62)}) 19. hxg4 Rxd5 20. Bd4 $1 Bxd4 21.
Nxd4 Rad8 $1 22. Qc2 $1 Qxc2 23. Nxc2 Rd2 24. Rfd1 Nc4 $1 $44 {
Strelbin-Nadanian,A/URS/1991/}) 18... Bxf3 19. Bxf3 Rae8 (19... Rac8 20. Bxe7
Rfe8 21. d6 $16) 20. Be3 (20. Ra4 $2 Qb3 21. Rxa5 Qxd1 22. Rxd1 b6 23. Rxa7
bxc5 $17) 20... Bc3 (20... Bg7 $2 21. Ra4 Qb2 22. Rxa5 $18) 21. Ra4 Qb2 (21...
Qb3 22. Bxh6 Qxd1 23. Rxd1 b5 24. Ra3 Bb4 25. Ra2 $16) 22. Qd3 {/\ Rb1} (22.
Bxh6 b5 23. Bc1 Qb3 24. Qxb3 Nxb3 25. Rxa7 Nxc1 26. Rxc1 b4 $17) 22... b5 23.
Bc1 (23. Rb1 $2 Qxb1+ 24. Qxb1 bxa4 25. Bxh6 Rb8 26. Qc2 Rfc8 $17) 23... bxa4
$1 (23... Qb3 $2 24. Rxa5 $18) 24. Bxb2 Bxb2 25. d6 (25. Qb5 Nb3 26. Rd1 (26.
Qxa4 Nd2) 26... a5 27. Qxa4 Rb8 $13) 25... Bf6 (25... exd6 $2 26. Bd5 Kh7 (
26... Bg7 27. Qxg6 $16) 27. Qd2 a3 28. Qxa5 $16) 26. Qb5 (26. Bd5 e6) 26... Nb3
27. d7 Rd8 28. Rd1 (28. Qxa4 Nc5 29. Qxa7 Nxd7 $10) 28... Nd4 29. Qxa4 Nxf3+
30. gxf3 e6 31. Rc1 (31. Qxa7 Kg7 $10) 31... Kg7 32. Kg2 Rb8 33. Qxa7 Rfd8 34.
Qc7 (34. Qxb8 $2 Rxb8 35. Rc8 Rb7 36. d8=Q Bxd8 37. Rxd8 Kf6 $17) 34... Rb5 35.
Rd1 Rf5 36. Rd3 Rh5 37. f4 (37. Rb3 Rd5) 37... Rf5 38. Qd6 Rh5 39. Rd1 Rf5 40.
Rd3 Rh5 41. h3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Riga Tal Memorial"]
[Site "Riga"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Jussupow, Artur"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D18"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "1995.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "LAT"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 047"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O
O-O 9. Nh4 Nbd7 10. Nxf5 {Meist wird 10.f3 oder 10.h3 gespielt.} exf5 11. Qc2 (
11. h3 a5 (11... g6 $5 12. Qf3 h5) 12. Qf3 Nb6 13. Bb3 g6 14. g4 fxg4 15. hxg4
h5 16. gxh5 Nxh5 $13 {Vaganjan-Beljavskij, Reggio Emilia 1987/88, Inf. 45/441})
(11. f3 Qa5 (11... Nb6 12. Bb3 Qd7 13. a5 (13. Qd3 Rad8 14. a5 Nc8 15. Bc2 g6 (
15... Nd6 16. Ra4 Bxc3 17. bxc3 $16 {Aseev-Solozenkin, UdSSR 1988, Inf. 45/
(442)}) (15... Ne7 $5 {Inf. 45/(442)}) 16. Ra4 c5 17. Na2 b5 18. axb6 Nxb6 19.
Ra6 $14 {Aseev, Inf. 42/(442)}) 13... Nbd5 14. Qd3 Be7 15. e4 Nb4 16. Qc4 Rad8
17. Be3 $16 {Jusupov-Ehlvest, Saint John (cm/1) 1988, Inf. 45/442}) (11... Qe7
12. Qc2 g6 13. e4 fxe4 (13... c5 14. Bg5 Bxc3 15. Qxc3 Qd6 16. dxc5 Qxc5+ 17.
Be3 Qc6 18. exf5 Rac8 19. Rfc1 Nb6 20. Bb3 Qxc3 21. Rxc3 Rxc3 22. bxc3 gxf5 23.
Bd4 Nh5 24. Re1 $16 {Aseev-Chalifman, UdSSR 1988, Inf. 45/(442)}) 14. fxe4 Bxc3
15. bxc3 Qxe4 16. Qb3 $44 {Aseev, Inf. 45/(442)}) 12. Qc2 (12. Qb3 Qb6 13. Kh1
Rad8 (13... c5 $5 14. Na2 Ba5 15. Qc2 Rac8 $13 {Aseev, Inf. 46/502}) 14. Ne2 c5
15. Ng3 f4 16. Nf5 cxd4 17. a5 Bxa5 18. exd4 $13 {Aseev-Savcenko, UdSSR 1988,
Inf. 46/502}) 12... c5 (12... Rad8 13. Na2 Bd6 14. Bd2 Qc7 15. Qxf5 Bxh2+ 16.
Kh1 Bd6 17. Nc3 g6 18. Qh3 $14 {Lputjan-Velikov, Saint John (open I) 1988, Inf.
45/443}) 13. Na2 cxd4 14. Nxb4 Qxb4 15. exd4 Nb6 $10 {Jusupov-Chandler,
Linares 1988, Inf. 45/444}) (11. Qf3 g6 12. h3 Qa5 13. Ne2 Rae8 14. b3 Ne4 15.
Ng3 Nd6 $15 {Polugaevskij-Ivancuk, Biel 1989, Inf. 48/(505)}) 11... g6 12. f3
$146 (12. Rd1 Qe7 (12... Qc7 13. Be2 a5 14. Bf3 Nb6 15. g3 Qe7 16. Bd2 Rfd8 17.
Rac1 Qe6 18. Be1 $10 {Mihal'cisin-Bareev, Lvov 1987, Inf. 45/(441)}) 13. Be2
Nb6 $6 {13...a5!?} 14. a5 Nbd5 15. a6 b5 16. Na2 $13 {Mihal'cisin-Beljavskij,
UdSSR 1987, Inf. 45/(441)}) 12... Qb6 {Schwarz drückt auf den Punkt d4, um
e3-e4 zu erschweren. Vielleicht kommt in dieser Stellung auch 12...Sb6 13.Lb3
a5 in Betracht.- Der Rest der Partie ist für mich zu schwer zu verstehen.} 13.
Kh1 Rae8 (13... c5 $5) 14. Qf2 c5 15. Qh4 Rc8 16. Ba2 Rfd8 17. Bd2 Nf8 18. a5
Qa6 19. Rfd1 c4 20. Be1 Re8 21. e4 Bxc3 22. Bxc3 fxe4 23. d5 N8d7 24. Rd4 {
Natürlich ist diese Stellung völlig unklar.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Riga Tal Memorial"]
[Site "Riga"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1995.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "LAT"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 047"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 b6 4. g3 c5 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4
d6 9. b3 O-O (9... Nbd7 10. Nb5 Nc5 11. Rd1 d5 12. cxd5 exd5 $5 $132 {Despite
the isolated pawn Black has good counterplay, he can activate his pie- ces by
e.g. Nce4 and Bc5.}) (9... a6 10. Ba3 $1 $14) 10. Rd1 Nbd7 11. e4 (11. Nb5 Ne4
$1 12. Qe3 a6 13. Nfd4 Ndf6 14. Nc3 Nxc3 15. Qxc3 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Qc7 17. Qf3
Rac8 18. Bb2 Nd7 19. Rac1 Rfd8 20. Qe4 Nf6 21. Qf3 Nd7 22. Qe4 Nf6 {1/2:1/2,
Jurek,J-Bischoff,K/Schwaebisch Gmuend op/1995/}) 11... Re8 $5 $146 {An
interesting new idea, provocing a more advantageous version of the endgame,
arising after 11...a6?!} (11... a6 $6 {><b6 This typical move surprisingly
seriously weakens Black's Queen-side and leads to a difficult endgame with a
lasting advantage for White due to his better pawn structure and central
control.} 12. Ba3 Nc5 13. e5 dxe5 14. Qxd8 $1 Rfxd8 15. Nxe5 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Bf8
(16... Rdc8 17. Na4 $1 Rab8 18. Bxc5 bxc5 19. Rd3 Rb7 20. f4 Kf8 21. g4 Rcc7
22. Rad1 Ke8 23. Rh3 g6 24. f5 $1 $36 {Vaganian,R-Nogueiras,J/Rotterdam WCup/
1989/}) 17. Bxc5 $1 bxc5 18. f4 (18. Na4 $14) 18... Rd6 19. Rxd6 Bxd6 20. Kf3
Bxe5 21. fxe5 Nd7 22. Kf4 Kf8 23. Rd1 Ke7 24. Na4 $14 {Vaganian,R-Huebner,R/
GER-CupT/1993/}) (11... Qb8 12. Ba3 Nc5 13. e5 dxe5 14. Qxe5 Qc8 15. Qe2 $14 {
White is somewhat better, as it's not easy for Black to join his Rooks. His
move 15...a6? with the idea Qc7 has a serious tactical flaw.} a6 $2 16. Na4
Nfd7 (16... Qc7 17. Qe5 $1) 17. Rxd7 Qxd7 18. Nxb6 Qc7 19. Nxa8 Bxa8 20. Rd1
Qa5 21. Bxc5 Qxc5 22. Ne5 $18 {Salov,V-Adams,M/Wijk op/1993/}) (11... Qc8 $5
$132) 12. Ba3 Nc5 13. e5 dxe5 14. Qxd8 (14. Qxe5 Ncd7 $5 (14... Qc8 $10) 15.
Bxe7 Nxe5 16. Rxd8 Raxd8 (16... Rexd8 $2 17. Nxe5 $18) 17. Bxd8 Nxf3+ 18. Bxf3
Bxf3 19. Bxf6 gxf6 $15 {<->d,עg1 Black has an active Bishop and will be the
first to occupy the only open file. Also White's King is caught on the 1-st
rank.}) 14... Rexd8 15. Nxe5 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 (16. Rxd8+ $5 Rxd8 17. Kxg2 Rc8 18.
Rd1 $14 {_|_<->d,() This was maybe a better chance to get more out of the
position. White has the d-file, his King is closer to the center and he plans
to gain more space on the King-side (f4,Kf3,g4-g5 etc.)}) 16... Rdc8 17. Nb5 (
17. Na4 Kf8 $10) 17... Bf8 $1 (17... a6 $2 18. Nd6 Bxd6 19. Rxd6 $16) 18. f4 {
/\Kf3,g4-g5|^} (18. Nd6 Rc7 {/\Nfe4,Rd8<=>}) 18... Nb7 (18... Nce4 $5) 19. Bxf8
Kxf8 20. g4 (20. Nd7+ Ke7 21. Nxf6 gxf6 $132 {This would exchange White's most
active piece and give Black equality, as the Queen-side majority is difficult
to utilize with 4 Rooks on the board.}) 20... Nc5 21. b4 {A double-edged move,
Pc4 could become weak.} (21. Kf3 $5 $14) 21... Na4 22. Rac1 a6 23. Nd6 (23. Nd4
$5 Rc7 24. Kf3 $14 {פa4. Now Black exchanges one of White's strong Knights
and neutralizes the pressure.}) 23... Rc7 24. Kf3 Ne8 $132 25. Ndxf7 $5 {
Retreating Nd6 is not promising, so Kramnik tries to chnge the material balan-
ce. But Black has enough conterplay.} (25. Ne4 Rac8 $132 {/\f6}) 25... Rxf7 26.
Nxf7 Kxf7 27. Rd7+ Kf8 28. Re1 (28. c5 bxc5 29. bxc5 Rc8 30. c6 Nb6 $10) 28...
a5 $1 {With this move Black activates both Ra8 and Na4, holding the position.}
29. a3 (29. bxa5 $6 Nc5 $15) 29... axb4 30. axb4 Nb2 31. g5 (31. Rxe6 Nxc4 {
/\Ra3=} (31... Ra3+ 32. Re3 Rxe3+ 33. Kxe3 Nxc4+ 34. Kd4 $14) 32. g5 {-31.g5})
31... Ra3+ 32. Kg4 Nxc4 33. Rxe6 {/\Rd8+-} Ne3+ 34. Kf3 Nd5+ 35. Ke4 Nec7 $1 {
Joining his Knights. Black is ready to return his Knights for a White Rook, if
he takes the Pb4, the resulting Rook endgame is a clear draw.} 36. Rc6 (36.
Red6 Re3+ 37. Kd4 Rb3 38. Rd8+ Kf7 $10) 36... Re3+ 37. Kd4 Rb3 38. Rdxc7 (38.
Rdxc7 Nxc7 39. Rxc7 Rxb4+ 40. Ke5 Rb2 $10) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Riga Tal Memorial"]
[Site "Riga"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Vaganian, Rafael A"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "1995.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "LAT"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 047"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 e6 6. g3 Qb6 7. Nb3 Ne5 8. e4
Bb4 9. Qe2 d6 10. f4 Nc6 11. Be3 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Qc7 13. Bg2 O-O 14. c5 dxc5 15.
Bxc5 Rd8 16. e5 Na5 17. Bb4 Nxb3 18. axb3 Nd5 19. Qc4 Qxc4 20. bxc4 Ne3 21. Be4
Nxc4 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Riga Tal Memorial"]
[Site "Riga"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B65"]
[WhiteElo "2655"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1995.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "LAT"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 047"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8.
O-O-O Nxd4 9. Qxd4 O-O 10. f4 Qa5 11. e5 dxe5 12. Qxe5 Qxe5 13. fxe5 Nd5 14.
Bxe7 Nxe7 15. Bd3 b6 16. Be4 Rb8 17. Rhe1 Ng6 18. Bxg6 hxg6 19. Nb5 Bb7 20. g3
a6 21. Nd6 Bd5 22. a4 b5 23. axb5 axb5 24. Rd4 Rb6 25. Rb4 Rfb8 26. h4 f6 27.
b3 fxe5 28. Ne4 Rc6 29. Kb2 Rbc8 30. Re2 Kf8 31. Ng5 Rc5 32. Ne4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1995.05.27"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2655"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "1995.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 048"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Dolmatov Horvath,T} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6.
Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 {Modern chess is really
special, in the old days weakness of d5 square and disturbed pawn structure
would hardly attract any black players. Now for a couple of years there is
hardly any event where Sveshnikov variation does not occur.} Bg7 11. c3 (11.
Bd3 {Dolmatov} Ne7 $132) 11... f5 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 {Horvath,T Heute zählt
die Variante als Populärste gegen "Sveshnikov".Weiser Plan ist einfach:fest
halten das Feld "d5" und angreiffen gegen schwarzen Damenflügel.} Be6 (13...
O-O $6 {Dolmatov} 14. Nce3 Be6 15. Bd3 f5 16. Bc2 Rb8 17. Qh5 Qd7 18. g4 $40)
14. g3 (14. Nce3 {Dolmatov} Ne7 $1) 14... O-O (14... Ne7 {Horvath,T} 15. Bg2
Nxd5 16. Bxd5 O-O $5 17. Bxa8 Qxa8 18. f3 d5 19. O-O d4 $44 {
Nevostrujev-Ivanov/Vladivostok/1995/CBM 46/1109}) 15. Bg2 Rb8 16. O-O Qd7 (
16... a5 17. Qh5 {Short,N-Kramnik,V/Novgorod super/1994/} (17. Re1 $5 Qd7 18.
Qh5 f5 19. Rad1 e4 $5 (19... b4 20. Nce3 bxc3 21. bxc3 e4 $132) 20. Nce3 (20.
f3 Bxd5 21. Rxd5 Qa7+ 22. Kh1 Qf2 23. fxe4 $5 Qxc2 24. exf5) 20... Ne5 21. Re2
Ng6 $8 22. Red2 Be5 $13 {Short,N-Kramnik,V/Novgorod/1994/0-1 (41)}) (17. Nf4 $2
exf4 18. Bxc6 d5) (17. Qd2 Qd7 (17... Ne7 18. Nce3 Nxd5 19. Bxd5 Qb6 20. Qd3
Rfe8 21. Rad1 Rbd8 22. Kg2 Qc5 23. Rd2 Bh6 24. Be4 Bc4 25. Bxh7+ Kg7 26. Qf5
Bxf1+ 27. Kxf1 Bxe3 28. fxe3 Qc4+ 29. Kg1 Qe6 30. Rf2 Qxf5 31. Bxf5 $13 {
Papp,Z-Kocsis,G/HUN-chT2 9394/1994/1-0 (48)}) 18. Rad1 f5 19. f4 e4 20. Nce3
Kh8 21. Kh1 b4 22. g4 bxc3 23. bxc3 fxg4 24. Bxe4 Ne7 25. Nxe7 Qxe7 26. Bg2 Qh4
$132 {Gallagher,J-Maeser,F/SWZ-chT/1994/0.5 (46)}) (17. a3 Qd7 (17... Kh8 18.
Qh5 Ne7 19. Nce3 f5 20. Nxe7 Qxe7 21. Rfd1 e4 22. Nd5 Bxd5 23. Rxd5 Be5 24. Qe2
$10 {Schmaltz,R-Pelletier,Y/Altensteig op/1994/}) 18. Qd2 Kh8 19. Rad1 f5 20.
Rfe1 Rfd8 21. Qg5 (21. Kh1 Qf7 22. Nf4 e4 23. Nxe6 Qxe6 24. Ne3 d5 25. Bh3 Ne7
26. f3 Qg6 27. fxe4 fxe4 28. Rf1 b4 29. axb4 axb4 {Todorcevic,GM-Vukic,M/
JUG-chT(Cetinje)/1993/0.5 (44)}) 21... Qf7 22. Nf4 exf4 23. Bxc6 fxg3 24. hxg3
f4 25. Bd5 fxg3 26. fxg3 Bxd5 27. Qxd5 Qxd5 28. Rxd5 Be5 {Smagin,S-Yakovich,Y/
Palma GMA-op (1)/1989/0.5 (48)}) (17. b4 Qd7 18. bxa5 Nxa5 19. Ncb4 f5 20. a4
e4 21. Na6 Rb7 22. axb5 Rxb5 23. Ndc7 Re5 24. Nxe6 Qxe6 25. f4 Rd5 26. Nc7 Rxd1
27. Nxe6 Rxa1 28. Rxa1 Bxc3 29. Rxa5 {0.5/Anand,V-Vyzmanavin,A/Moscow-B/1987/})
17... Qd7 (17... f5 18. Rad1 Kh8 (18... Qd7 19. Rd2 Kh8 20. Rfd1 Bf7 21. Qh4
Bg6 22. Nf4 exf4 23. Rxd6 Qf7 24. Bxc6 fxg3 25. hxg3 f4 26. Bd5 Qf5 27. Nd4
Bxd4 28. Rxd4 fxg3 29. f3 $16 {Anand,V-Nunn,J/Monaco blind (10)/1995/1-0 (44)})
19. Nce3 Ne7 20. Nxe7 Qxe7 21. g4 e4 22. gxf5 Bxa2 23. Kh1 Bf7 24. Qg4 b4 25.
Nd5 Bxd5 26. Rxd5 bxc3 27. bxc3 Bxc3 28. Rfd1 Be5 29. Rxa5 Rb2 30. Qxe4 Rxf2
$10 {Ljubojevic,L-Illescas Cordoba,M/Linares/1995/0.5 (41)}) 18. Rad1 (18. Nce3
f5 19. g4 fxg4 20. Be4 h6 21. Qg6 Rf7 22. f4 gxf3 23. Qh7+ Kf8 24. Rxf3 Rxf3
25. Bxf3 Bg8 26. Nf6 Qf7 27. Nxg8 Qxg8 28. Qxg8+ {1-0/Dvoirys,S-Iskusnyh,S/
Novgorod op (3)/1995/}) 18... f5 (18... Bg4 $2 19. Qg5 f6 20. Nxf6+ Rxf6 21.
Bxc6 Qxc6 22. Qxg4 $18) 19. Nce3 Qf7 20. Qxf7+ Rxf7 21. Rd2 h5 22. Bf3 f4 23.
Nc2 fxg3 24. fxg3 {Ivanchuk,V-Illescas Cordoba,M/Linares (05)/1995/0.5 (35)}) (
16... Ne7 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. Nb4 Rb6 19. f4 (19. Nd5 Bxd5 20. Bxd5 Kh8 21. Qe2
a5 22. b4 a4 23. a3 e4 24. Rac1 $16 {Feher,Gy-Schroter,T/Zalaegerszeg (02)/
1993/1-0 (49)}) 19... f5 (19... Re8 20. f5 Bc4 21. Re1 a5 22. Nc6 Qd7 23. b3
Rxc6 24. Bxc6 Qxc6 25. bxc4 $16) 20. Bd5 $1 a5 21. Bxe6+ Qxe6 22. Nd5 Rb7 23.
Qd2 Kh8 24. a3 Qc8 (24... Rc8 25. Rad1 {xf5}) 25. Rad1 Qc4 26. Rf2 {Short,
N-Illescas Cordoba,M/Madrid (08)/1995/1-0 (42)}) 17. a4 $1 (17. Qh5 f5 18. Rad1
e4 19. f3 Bxd5 20. Rxd5 Ne7 21. Rd2 d5 22. Bh3 Rb6 23. Kg2 Rh6 24. Qg5 Rg6 25.
Qh5 Rh6 26. Qg5 Rg6 27. Qh5 {0.5/Ivanchuk,V-Kramnik,V/Moscow PCA-Intel GP 25'/
1995/}) (17. Qe2 f5 18. Rad1 Kh8 19. Rd2 e4 20. Nce3 Ne5 21. Rfd1 Rbd8 22. a4
Bh6 23. axb5 axb5 24. Rd4 Qg7 25. Kh1 Qg6 $132 {Lhagvasuren,C-Nunn,J/Moscow
olm (01) MON-ENG/1994/0-1 (33)}) (17. Ncb4 Nxb4 18. Nxb4 Rb6 19. Nd5 Rbb8 20.
Re1 Kh8 21. Re4 f5 22. Rh4 Bf6 23. Rh6 $13 {Polovodin,I-Maljutin,E/
Voroshilovgrad op/1989/0.5 (38)}) (17. Qd2 $5 {Dolmatov} f5 18. f4 $14) 17...
b4 (17... bxa4 18. Rxa4 (18. Ncb4 Nxb4 19. Nxb4 a5 $15) 18... a5 (18... Rxb2
19. Rxa6 Bxd5 (19... Ne7 {Horvath,T} 20. Ncb4 $1 (20. Rxd6 $2 Qxd6 21. Nf6+
Bxf6 22. Qxd6 Rxc2 $19) (20. Nxe7+ Qxe7 21. Rxd6 Bc4 $1 (21... Rxc2 $2 22. Rxe6
$16) 22. Ne3 $1 Bxf1 23. Bxf1 $44) (20. Nce3 {Dolmatov} Nxd5 21. Bxd5 $14) (20.
Ndb4 d5 $132) 20... Nxd5 21. Bxd5 Bh3 (21... Rd8 22. Nc6 $16) 22. Re1 (22. Bg2
$2 Bxg2 23. Kxg2 Qb7+ $19) 22... Qf5 23. Nd3 $16) 20. Bxd5 Ne7 21. Ne3 $14) 19.
Nce3 (19. Rh4 Rxb2 20. Qh5 h6 (20... Bf5 $2 21. Bh3 $1) 21. Nce3 f5 $13) (19.
b4 axb4 20. Ncxb4 Nxb4 21. cxb4 Rb5 $14) 19... Rxb2 20. Rc4 $1 Rc8 21. Qh5 $36)
18. Ncxb4 Nxb4 19. cxb4 (19. Nxb4 a5 20. Nd3 {Horvath,T} (20. Nd5 {Dolmatov}
Rxb2 $10) 20... Bc4 $10 (20... Bb3 $2 21. Nc5 $1 $18)) 19... Bxd5 20. Bxd5 Rxb4
21. b3 {[%csl Gd5,Ra6,Rg7] White s strategy is both simple and convincing. Bd5
is a superpower and a6P will be weak forever. Besides, where should black use
his Bg7?} a5 (21... Rd4 22. Qf3 {Horvath,T} Kh8 {/\f5} (22... a5 {Dolmatov} 23.
Rad1 $14)) (21... e4 22. Ra2) 22. Qe2 (22. Qf3 $2 {Dolmatov} e4 23. Bxe4 Bxa1)
22... e4 (22... Bf6 23. Rad1 Bd8 24. Bc4 Qe7 25. f4 Bb6+ 26. Kg2 $40) 23. Rad1
Qe7 (23... Kh8 $5 {Dolmatov} 24. Bxe4 (24. Bc4 f5 25. Rd5) 24... Re8 25. Bf5 (
25. f3 $2 f5 26. Bxf5 Qa7+ 27. Qf2 Bd4 28. Rxd4 Qxd4 $15) 25... Rxe2 26. Bxd7
Rxb3 27. Rxd6 Rbb2 28. Bb5 Red2 $14) 24. Bc4 Kh8 25. Rd5 f5 26. Rfd1 $6 (26. f4
$1 Qc7 27. Rfd1 Rf6 28. Qh5 $40) (26. Rxa5 f4 27. gxf4 Rxf4 28. Ra8+) 26... Be5
27. Rxa5 Rb7 28. Rad5 (28. Bd5 Rc7 29. Ra8 $1 $16) 28... Qf6 29. f4 {[%csl Ye4,
Yf5] Weakening black s pawn structure, even though white s king becomes more
exposed.} exf3 30. Qxf3 Rg7 31. Kh1 Qh6 32. Rg1 Rg6 $6 (32... Rfg8 {Horvath,T}
33. Rxe5 {Dolmatov} dxe5 34. Bxg8 Kxg8 $16) (32... Rg5 {Dolmatov}) 33. Rd3 Rg5
34. a5 Rh5 35. Qf2 f4 (35... Rh3 {Dolmatov} 36. Rf3 f4 37. g4) 36. g4 Rh3 (
36... Rh4 37. g5 Qh5 38. Rxd6 $1 Rxh2+ (38... Bxd6 39. Qd4+) 39. Qxh2 Qxh2+ 40.
Kxh2 Bxd6 41. Rd1 $16) 37. Rf3 Rxf3 38. Qxf3 Bd4 39. Rd1 Be3 40. a6 Qf6 41. Qd5
$2 (41. Qb7 Qh4 $1 42. a7 Qxg4 43. Rf1 Qc8 $1 $10 (43... f3 $2 44. Qxf3 $1 $18)
) (41. Bd5 $18 {Horvath,T}) 41... f3 $1 (41... Bc5 $2 {Dolmatov} 42. b4 Bxb4
43. a7 Qd8 44. Qd4+ $18) 42. Qxd6 Qg7 43. Bd5 (43. Qe6 $2 Qb2 44. Bf1 Bf4 $19)
(43. Bf1 $5) 43... Ba7 44. Qb4 (44. g5 Bb8 45. Qh6 $16) 44... f2 (44... Bb8 45.
Bxf3 $1) 45. Bg2 Re8 46. Rf1 Qe5 {/\Bb8} 47. Bc6 Re7 (47... Bb8 48. Rxf2) (
47... Qe1 {Horvath,T} 48. Qc4 Re2 49. Bg2 $18 (49. Kg2 $2 Qxf1+ 50. Kxf1 Re1+
51. Kg2 Rg1+ $19)) 48. Qd2 Kg7 49. b4 Rf7 50. b5 Bb6 51. Qd5 Qf4 52. Qe4 Qd6
53. Bd5 Re7 $2 (53... Rf4 54. Qe6 Qxe6 55. Bxe6 h5 $1 56. gxh5 Rb4 57. Bd7 Rd4
58. Bc6 Rg4 59. Bg2 Rg5 $10) 54. Qf5 Bc7 $4 (54... Re5 55. Qf7+ Kh6 56. Bg2 $16
) 55. Qg5+ 1-0

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

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

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

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

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1995.05.30"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D52"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Dolmatov,S"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "1995.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 048"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 e6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 Qa5 7. cxd5 (7. Nd2
Bb4 8. Qc2 dxc4 $14) 7... Nxd5 8. Qd2 Bb4 9. Rc1 h6 (9... e5 10. a3 Bxc3 11.
bxc3 Qxa3 12. e4 $44) 10. Bh4 c5 (10... O-O 11. Bc4 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Ba3 13. Rb1
$16) 11. a3 (11. Bd3 cxd4 12. exd4 b6 $17 {Polugaevsky,L-Janosevic,D/Amsterdam/
1970/}) (11. e4 $5 cxd4 12. Qxd4 (12. exd5 $5 dxc3 13. bxc3 Ba3 14. dxe6 Bxc1
15. exd7+ Bxd7 16. Qxc1 Rc8 17. Bd3 Rxc3 18. Qe3+ Be6 19. O-O $16) 12... Nxc3 (
12... N5f6 13. Bc4 $14) 13. bxc3 Ba3 14. Qxg7 $14) 11... Bxc3 12. bxc3 b6 13.
e4 N5f6 14. Bd3 Bb7 15. d5 c4 $1 (15... exd5 $6 16. e5 Ne4 $2 (16... Ng4 17.
Qf4 $40) 17. Bxe4 dxe4 18. Qd6 g5 19. Nxg5 hxg5 20. Bxg5) 16. dxe6 (16. Bb1
exd5 17. e5 Ne4 18. Bxe4 dxe4 19. Qd6 Qc5 $17) 16... cxd3 17. exd7+ Nxd7 18.
Qxd3 g5 19. Bg3 Nc5 20. Qd6 (20. Qd6 Nxe4 21. Qc7 (21. Qe5+ Qxe5 22. Bxe5 O-O)
21... O-O $1 (21... Nxg3 $2 22. Qxb7 O-O 23. fxg3 $1 Rfe8+ 24. Kf2 $16) 22.
Qxb7 Nc5 $44 23. Qd5 (23. Qc6 Rfe8+ $40) 23... Rad8 24. Bd6 Rfe8+ $40) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1995.05.31"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Jussupow, Artur"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1995.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 048"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. b3 Bb4 6. Bb2 c5 7. dxc5 Ne4 8. Qc2 d4
9. exd4 Qxd4 10. Rc1 Nd7 11. Nf3 Bxc3+ 12. Bxc3 Qxc3+ 13. Qxc3 Nxc3 14. Rxc3
Nxc5 15. b4 Ne4 16. Re3 Nf6 17. Be2 Ke7 18. O-O Rd8 19. h3 Bd7 20. Ne5 Rac8 21.
Ra3 a6 22. Bf3 Rc7 23. Rd1 Be8 24. Rxd8 Kxd8 25. Rd3+ Ke7 26. c5 a5 27. a3 axb4
28. axb4 Nd7 29. Nc4 Nb8 30. Nd6 Bc6 31. h4 f6 32. h5 Bxf3 33. Rxf3 Na6 34. Rg3
Kf8 35. Rg4 f5 36. Rd4 Ke7 37. g4 g6 38. hxg6 hxg6 39. g5 e5 40. Rh4 Ke6 41.
Rh6 Rg7 42. Ne8 Rg8 43. Nf6 Rg7 44. Nh5 Rg8 45. Nf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1995.06.02"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C55"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[Annotator "Dolmatov,S"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "1995.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 048"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Hansen,Cu} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Bb3 d5 7.
exd5 Nxd5 8. Re1 (8. h3 $5) 8... Bg4 (8... Bf6 {Hansen,Cu} 9. Nbd2 (9. h3 Re8
10. Nbd2 Na5 11. Nc4 Nxc4 12. dxc4 e4 13. Qxd5 exf3 $10 {Groenegress,W-Seegers,
H/BL 8384 Muenster-Enger [7] 1983/0-1 (58)}) 9... Bg4 10. h3 Bh5 11. Ne4 Nf4
12. Ng3 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Rb8 (13... Ng6 14. Ba4 Qd7 15. Bd2 Be7 16. Bc3 f6 17. Nf5
Rfd8 18. Qg4 Bf8 19. Re4 Rab8 20. Bb3+ Kh8 21. Qxg6 {1-0 Degraeve,J.
M-Slobodjan,R/Montpellier 1993}) 14. Qe4 Ng6 15. c3 Bg5 16. Nf5 $16 {Beliavsky,
A-Agzamov,G/URS 31/(376) 1981}) 9. h3 (9. Nbd2 {Hansen,Cu} f6 10. h3 Bh5 11. c3
Kh8 12. Ne4 Qd7 $10 {Pikula,D-Petronijevic,Z/YUG-chT (Cetinje) 1993 (42)}) 9...
Bh5 (9... Bxf3 10. Qxf3 Nd4 (10... Nb6 11. Nc3 Bg5 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Rxe3 Kh8
$10 {Armas,I-Garcia Palermo,C/BL 8990 Koblenz-Delmenhorst [1] 1990 (36)}) 11.
Qxd5 (11. Qd1 Bc5 (11... Nxb3 12. axb3 f6 (12... Bf6) 13. Nc3 Nb4 14. Be3 f5
15. Bd2 Nc6 16. Nb5 Bf6 17. Be3 Qd7 18. Na3 $10 {Kosten,A-Dreev,A/Reykjavik
Summit 1990/1/2-1/2 (48)}) 12. Nc3 Nxb3 13. axb3 Bd4 14. Bd2 c6 15. Nxd5 cxd5
16. Bc3 Bxc3 17. bxc3 Qc7 18. c4 {1/2-1/2 Gipslis,A-Van Riemsdijk,H/Groningen
op (08) 1990}) 11... Qxd5 12. Bxd5 Nxc2 13. Bd2 Nxa1 14. Rc1 {Hansen,Cu} Rad8
15. Nc3 c6 16. Bf3 Rxd3 17. Be3 Bb4 18. Be2 Rd7 19. Rxa1 Ba5 20. Na4 (20. Rd1
Rxd1+ 21. Bxd1 Rd8 22. Bc2 Bb6 23. Nb1 Bxe3 24. fxe3 g6 $15 {Dizdar,
S-Mikhalchishin,A/Zenica (01) 1989 (42)}) 20... b6 21. Rc1 Rd6 22. Kf1 $10 {
Fossan,E-Emms,J/Gausdal Troll (05) 1992/1/2-1/2 (63)}) 10. g4 Bg6 11. Nxe5 Nxe5
12. Rxe5 c6 13. Qf3 (13. Bxd5 {Hansen,Cu} cxd5 14. Qf3 d4 15. Nd2 Bd6 16. Rd5
$5 f5 17. gxf5 Bf7 18. Rb5 a6 19. Rxb7 Be7 20. f6 Bxf6 21. Qg4 $16 {
Kudzin-Psachis/Graz/1981}) 13... Bf6 (13... Bd6 14. Re2 (14. Re1 $6 Kh8 15. Nc3
$2 Nxc3 16. bxc3 f5 17. g5 f4 18. h4 Bf5 19. Kh1 Qd7 20. Rg1 Rae8 21. Bb2 Re2
$1 $17) 14... Kh8 (14... f5 {Hansen,Cu} 15. Nc3 fxg4 16. Qxg4 {1/2-1/2 Pavlov,
Mirc-Chekhov,V/Halle (03) 1981}) (14... Qh4 15. Bxd5 cxd5 16. Nc3 Kh8 17. Qxd5
Rad8 18. Bg5 Qxh3 19. Qg2 $16 {Nunn,J-Fernandez Garcia,J/Lugano 35/411 1983 
(43)}) 15. Nc3 (15. Bxd5 cxd5 16. Nc3 d4 17. Nb5 Bc5 18. Bf4 (18. Qxb7 a6 19.
Na3 f5 $17) 18... Qd7 19. a4 f5 20. g5 Bf7 21. b4 Bxb4 22. Rb1 Bd5 (22... a5 $2
23. Be5 Bc5 24. Nc7 $16) 23. Qh5 Bf7 24. Qf3 Bd5 {1/2-1/2 Melz,MA-Franzew,GN/
cr ch (15,SF) (FS 99/86) 1986}) 15... Nxc3 16. bxc3 f5 (16... Qh4 17. Bd2 f5
18. Rae1 $16 {Gipslis,A-Fernandez Garcia,J/Jurmala 36/(395) 1983}) 17. Qg2 $14)
14. Re2 Kh8 (14... Qd7 $5 15. Nd2 Rae8 16. Rxe8 Rxe8 17. Ne4 Bd4 $132) (14...
Re8 {Hansen,Cu} 15. Nd2 Rxe2 16. Qxe2 Bg5 $44 {Thomas,I-Hoiberg/Esbjerg II (10)
1988 (40)}) 15. Bxd5 cxd5 (15... Qxd5 16. Qxd5 cxd5 17. Nc3 Rfd8 $16) 16. Nc3
Bxc3 $14 17. bxc3 Rc8 (17... f5 $5 {Hansen,Cu} 18. Qg3 (18. g5 Rc8) 18... Rc8
19. Bd2 $14 {[%csl Rg6][%cal Ya1e1,Yd4h8]}) 18. Ba3 Re8 19. Rxe8+ (19. Rae1 $6
Rxe2 20. Rxe2 f6 $5 (20... Rxc3 $2 21. Qxd5 $16) (20... h6 21. Re5 Qa5 22. Bb4
Qxa2)) 19... Qxe8 20. Qxd5 Rxc3 (20... Qa4 $2 21. Qxb7 $16) 21. Bb4 Rxc2 22.
Re1 Qc8 23. Qxb7 h5 $8 (23... Bxd3 $6 24. Qxf7 Bg6 25. Qxa7 $16) 24. Qxc8+ Rxc8
25. d4 {[%cal Yd4d6]} hxg4 26. hxg4 f5 27. gxf5 (27. Re7 $6 fxg4 28. Rxa7 Rc4
29. Bc5 Be4 $132) (27. g5 $5) (27. d5 {Hansen,Cu} Rc4 $10 (27... fxg4 $2 28. d6
$16 (28. Be7 $5))) 27... Bxf5 28. Bc5 a5 29. Re7 $6 {[%cal Yc5d6,Yd6e5]} (29.
Kg2 $5 $16) 29... Rc6 30. Re5 (30. Ra7 Rg6+ 31. Kf1 Ra6 32. Rxa6 Bd3+ 33. Ke1
Bxa6 $10) 30... Bb1 31. a3 Kg8 32. f3 a4 33. Kf2 Rf6 34. Re8+ $2 (34. Ke3 $5
Ba2 35. d5 Kf7 36. f4 $16 (36. d6 $2 Re6 $10)) (34. d5 {Hansen,Cu} Rf5 35. Re8+
Kf7 (35... Kh7 $6 36. d6 $16) 36. Rf8+ (36. Rd8 Be4 37. Rf8+ Kg6 38. Rxf5 Bxf5
$10) 36... Kg6 $10) 34... Kf7 35. Re7+ Kg6 36. Ke3 (36. d5 {Hansen,Cu} Rf5 $10)
36... Ba2 {[%csl Gd5]} 37. Ra7 Bd5 38. f4 (38. Rxa4 Rxf3+ 39. Kd2 Kf5 $10)
38... Kf5 $14 39. Rxg7 Re6+ 40. Kd3 Kxf4 41. Rf7+ Kg4 42. Rd7 Bb3 43. Bb4 (43.
d5 Re5 44. Kd4 Rxd5+ 45. Rxd5 Bxd5 46. Kxd5 Kf5 $10) 43... Kf3 44. Rf7+ (44. d5
{Hansen,Cu} Re3+ 45. Kd4 $14) 44... Kg4 45. Rd7 Kf3 46. Rf7+ (46. d5 Re5 47. d6
Kf4 (47... Rd5+ $6 48. Kc3 Rd1 49. Re7 Kf4 50. d7 Kf5 51. Ba5 $18) 48. Rc7 Rd5+
49. Kc3 Rd1 $10) 46... Kg4 47. Rf8 Rh6 48. Ke4 Re6+ 49. Kd3 Rh6 50. Bc5 Rh3+
51. Ke4 Rh5 52. Rf4+ Kg3 53. Ke3 Rh6 54. Rf1 Kg4 55. Ke4 Re6+ 56. Kd3 Re8 57.
Kc3 Rb8 58. Rf2 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1995.06.04"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B65"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1995.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 048"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {King} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2
Be7 8. O-O-O Nxd4 9. Qxd4 O-O 10. f4 Qa5 (10... h6 11. h4 hxg5 12. hxg5 Ng4 13.
Be2 e5 14. Qg1 exf4 15. Bxg4 Bxg5 16. Bxc8 Rxc8 17. Rd3 Bh6 $10 {
WiersmaE-Sosonko,G NLD-ch (02) 1995 1/2 29 - CBM 48}) 11. Bc4 Bd7 12. Bb3 {
Mit der Hauptvariante 12.e5 wird es immer schwerer den weit ausanalysierten
und remisverdächtigen Endspielen aus dem Weg zu gehen. Auch in dieser Partie
hat Schwarz keine Mühe auszugleichen.} Bc6 13. h4 $6 $146 (13. Rhf1 h6 14. Bh4
Qh5 (14... e5 15. fxe5 dxe5 $10) 15. Bg3 d5 16. exd5 Rfd8 17. Rfe1 Bxd5 18.
Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Qe5 $10 {- ECO}) 13... h6 14. Kb1 {King Unlike the game
Wiersma-Sosonko, Black would be ill-advised to capture on g5 - the attack down
the h-file would be far too strong. Instead, Kramnik develops the standard
Sicilian play on the queenside, and very nearly wins.} Qc5 15. Qd3 (15. Qxc5
dxc5 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Ba4 Bxc3 18. Bxc6 $10) 15... b5 16. a3 a5 17. f5 b4 18.
Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Qxd6 Qxd6 20. Rxd6 bxc3 (20... Rfc8 $2 21. axb4 axb4 22. Na2 exf5
23. exf5 Bxg2 (23... Be5 24. Rxc6 Rxc6 25. Bd5 Rxa2 26. Bxa2 $16) 24. Rg1 Be5
25. Rd7 $16) 21. Rxc6 a4 22. Bc4 exf5 23. exf5 Rfb8 $6 {Gestattet dem Weißen
die Qualität zu opfern und damit in ein unverlierbares Endspiel abzuwickeln.} (
23... cxb2 24. Rc7 Rad8 $15 (24... Rfc8 $6 25. Bxf7+ Kf8 26. Rxc8+ Rxc8 27. Be6
Rc3 28. Rh3 $10)) 24. b4 $1 axb3 25. Bxb3 Rxa3 26. Rh3 $8 Rba8 27. Rhxc3 Bxc3
28. Rxc3 Ra1+ 29. Kb2 Rf1 30. g4 Rg1 31. Rc4 Rb8 (31... h5 $6 32. g5 (32. gxh5
$2 Rf1 $15) 32... Kh8 $1 (32... Rg4 33. Rc7 (33. g6 $2 Rxc4 34. Bxc4 Kf8 35.
gxf7 $15) 33... Rxh4 34. Rxf7 $1 (34. f6 Rf8 35. g6 gxf6 $17) (34. g6 Rf4 35.
Rxf7 Kh8 $17) 34... Kh8 35. f6 gxf6 (35... g6 36. Rg7 $18) (35... Rg8 36. g6
Rg4 37. fxg7+ Rxg7 38. Rf8+ Rg8 39. Rxg8#) 36. g6 $1 $18) 33. Rc7 f6 34. gxf6
gxf6 35. Rf7 Ra6 36. Be6 $10) 32. Kc3 Kh7 33. Rd4 Rb7 34. h5 Rf1 35. Bc4 Rf3+
36. Bd3 Rb8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1995.06.05"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ehlvest, Jaan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D23"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1995.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 048"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Hansen,Cu} d5 2. d4 e6 3. c4 dxc4 4. Qa4+ Nd7 5. e4 Ngf6 6. Nc3 a6 (
6... c5 7. d5 exd5 8. e5 d4 9. exf6 dxc3 10. Bxc4 Qxf6 11. Bg5 Qg6 12. O-O f6
13. Rad1 c2 14. Rd2 fxg5 15. Ne5 Qf5 16. Nxd7 Bxd7 17. Rxd7 Qxd7 18. Bb5 Rd8
19. Re1+ Be7 20. Qe4 Kf7 21. Bxd7 Rxd7 22. Qf5+ Ke8 23. Qxc5 $16 {Kramnik,
V-Polgar,Zsu/Monaco Amber 25'/1994/1-0 (118)}) 7. Bxc4 Rb8 (7... b5 $2 8. Bxb5)
(7... c6 8. Be2 (8. Qd1 {Hansen,Cu} Be7 (8... c5 {- 44/513}) 9. O-O O-O 10. a4
$1 b6 11. Bd3 Bb7 12. e5 $1 Nd5 13. Nxd5 cxd5 {Kasparov,G-Short,N/London(m/3
rapid) 59/(478)/1993} 14. b4 $1 b5 15. axb5 axb5 16. Bd2 $16 {><b5 Makarichev,S
}) (8. Qc2 c5 (8... b5 9. Bd3 Be7 $2 10. e5 Nd5 11. Nxd5 cxd5 12. Bxh7 $18 {
1-0 Krasenkov,M-Mesropov,K/Moscow4 1991 (21)}) 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. O-O Qc7 11. Qe2
Ng4 12. Bb3 $13 {Knezevic,M-Romanishin,O/Kiev 25/550 1978 (36)}) 8... b5 9. Qc2
Bb7 10. e5 Nd5 11. Nxd5 cxd5 12. O-O Be7 13. Bd3 Rc8 14. Qe2 Nb6 15. b3 h5 16.
Bd2 Kd7 17. Ba5 Rc6 18. g3 Qb8 19. h4 g6 20. Qd2 {1-0/Arbakov,V-Baron
Rodriguez,J/Linares op/1995/}) (7... c5 {Hansen,Cu} 8. dxc5 Bxc5 9. e5 Ng4 10.
Ne4 Qc7 11. Be2 Ngxe5 12. Nxe5 Qxe5 13. Nxc5 Qxc5 14. Be3 Qe7 15. O-O O-O 16.
Rac1 Rd8 17. Rc7 $16 {Taimanov,M-Kots,Y/URS-ch30 Erevan 1962 (27)}) 8. Qc2 b5
9. Bd3 (9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O $2 (10. e5 Nd5 11. O-O c5 $10 {Ivanchuk,V}) (10. a3
{Hansen,Cu} c5 11. dxc5 Bxc5 $10 {Espina,Carlos-Pilnik,Herman/Mar del Plata 
(08) 1942 (33)}) 10... b4 $1 11. e5 bxc3 12. exf6 cxb2 $1 13. fxg7 $6 (13. Bxb2
gxf6 $1 $17) 13... bxa1=N $3 14. gxh8=Q (14. gxf8=Q+ Rxf8 15. Qc3 Rg8 16. Qxa1
Qf6 $17) 14... Nxc2 15. Bg5 Bxf3 (15... f6 $5 16. Qxh7 fxg5 17. Qg6+ Ke7 18.
Qxc2 $17) (15... Qc8 $2 16. Qxh7 Bxf3 17. Bxf3 Nxd4 18. Bh5 $40) 16. Bxd8 Bxe2
17. Bxc7 (17. Rc1 $2 Kxd8 $1 $19) 17... Rb7 18. Bd6 (18. Rc1 $2 Rxc7 19. Qxh7
Bb5 $1 {/\} 20. Rxc2 $2 Nf6 $19) 18... Bxf1 19. Kxf1 Rb6 20. Bxf8 $6 (20. Bc5
$1 Nxc5 21. dxc5 Rc6 22. Qxh7 $15) 20... Nxf8 $17 {Xu Jun-Ivanchuk,V/Luzern/
1993/}) (9. Bb3 c5 10. Bf4 c4 11. Bxc4 bxc4 12. Bxb8 Nxb8 13. d5 Nbd7 $1 $13)
9... Bb7 (9... c5 10. Bf4 Rb6 $13) 10. Bf4 (10. O-O {Hansen,Cu} c5 11. Bf4 Rc8
12. d5 c4 $10 {Opocensky,K-Lundin,E/Buenos Aires ol-fin (12) 1939 (35)}) 10...
Rc8 11. Rd1 c5 12. d5 {[%cal Rd1d8]} c4 13. dxe6 cxd3 14. exf7+ $2 (14. exd7+
Qxd7 15. Rxd3 Qg4 $36) 14... Kxf7 15. Rxd3 {[%csl Rf7][%cal Re4e5,Rd3d8] White
fails to have enough for the sacrificed piece.} (15. Ng5+ Kg8 16. Qb3+ Rc4 $17)
15... Qe8 $1 16. O-O (16. Ng5+ Kg8 17. Qb3+ Rc4 {/\Nc5}) 16... Nc5 17. Re3 Kg8
{[%cal Rb5b4]} 18. Rfe1 (18. e5 Ng4 19. Re2 Qf7 $17) 18... h6 19. e5 Nh5 {
[%csl Rf4]} 20. Bg3 (20. e6 Nxf4 21. e7 Qh5 $19) 20... Ne6 $1 {[%csl Ge6][%cal
Rb5b4] This ends the actuall fight, white has no claim on compensation.} 21.
Qf5 Qf7 22. Qg4 (22. Qxf7+ Kxf7 $19) 22... Nxg3 23. hxg3 h5 24. Qh4 Bc5 25. Rd3
g5 26. Qh1 (26. Nxg5 $2 Qxf2+ 27. Kh2 Qxg2#) 26... g4 27. Ne4 Bxe4 28. Rxe4 Qf5
29. Qh4 Rh6 (29... Qxe4 30. Qf6 Re8 $19) 30. Nd2 (30. Nd2 {Hansen,Cu} Qxf2+ 31.
Kh2 Qg1#) 0-1

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

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

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1995.06.21"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Chernin, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2600"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1995.06.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 047 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 c6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Nb6 8.
Ne5 e6 9. f3 Nfd7 10. a5 Nxe5 11. axb6 Nd7 12. e4 Bg6 13. bxa7 Qb6 14. Be2 Rxa7
15. Rxa7 Qxa7 16. Be3 Bd6 17. O-O O-O 18. f4 f6 19. Bc4 Bf7 20. Qe2 Re8 21. e5
Bf8 22. f5 Qb8 23. Qg4 exf5 24. Bxf7+ Kxf7 25. Qxf5 Nxe5 26. dxe5 1/2-1/2

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1995.06.22"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ehlvest, Jaan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[Annotator "Vaisser,A"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "1995.06.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 047 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e6 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O a6 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4
d6 9. Rd1 Be7 10. b3 Nbd7 11. e4 Qc8 12. Bb2 O-O 13. Qe3 Qc7 14. Nd4 Rfe8 15.
h3 Rac8 16. Re1 Bf8 17. Re2 Qb8 18. Rd1 g6 19. Qd2 Qa8 20. Qe1 Nc5 21. Nc2 Ncd7
22. Na4 $1 b5 23. Bxf6 bxa4 24. Bb2 axb3 25. axb3 Nc5 26. Nb4 $14 Qb8 27. Nd3 (
27. f4 $1) 27... e5 28. Nxc5 dxc5 29. Qc3 Bc6 30. h4 Rcd8 31. Rxd8 Qxd8 32. Rd2
Qa8 33. Qe3 h5 34. f4 Bg7 35. f5 gxf5 36. exf5 Bxg2 37. Rxg2 Rd8 38. Qg5 f6 39.
Qxh5 Qe4 $132 40. Kh2 Qb1 41. Qf3 Rd1 42. Re2 {[#]} e4 $1 43. Qg2 (43. Qxe4 $2
Qxe4 44. Rxe4 Rd2+) 43... Qd3 44. Kh3 Rh1+ $1 45. Kg4 {[#]} Qd1 $2 (45... Rg1
$1 46. Qxe4 Qxg3+ 47. Kh5 Kh7 $1 (47... Qh3 48. Bc1 $8 Kh7 (48... Rxc1 $2 49.
Qe8+ Bf8 50. Qg6+ Kh8 51. Rg2 Qf3+ 52. Rg4 $18) 49. Be3 Rg3 $44) 48. Rc2 (48.
Bc1 $2 Rxc1 49. Rg2 Re1 $1 50. Qb7 Re7 $1 $19 {Ljubojevic}) (48. Rd2 $2 Qh3 49.
Bxf6 $8 Bxf6 50. Rd7+ Kh8 (50... Rg7 $4 51. Rxg7+ Kxg7 52. Qb7+ Kg8 53. Kg6 $1
$18) 51. Rf7 Bxh4 $1 52. Qxh4 Qf3+ $10 53. Kh6 Qe3+ 54. Kh5 Kg8 $1 $19 55. Re7
Qf3+ 56. Kh6 Rh1 $19) 48... Qh3 49. Bc1 Rf1 (49... Re1 $2 50. Qg4) 50. Rg2 $1 (
50. Bf4 $2 Re1 $1 $19) 50... Rxf5+ (50... Rxc1 $2 51. Rxg7+ $1 Kxg7 52. Qe7+
$10) 51. Bg5 Qf3+ (51... fxg5 $2 52. Rf2 $1 $18 (52. Rxg5 $2 Qf3+ $19)) 52.
Qxf3 Rxf3 53. Kg4 Rxb3 54. Bf4 $15) 46. Qxe4 Rh2 47. Qe8+ 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1995.06.23"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C55"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1995.06.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 047 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Bb3 d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8.
h3 a5 9. a3 a4 10. Ba2 Kh8 11. Re1 f6 12. d4 exd4 13. Nxd4 Ndb4 14. axb4 Qxd4
15. c3 Qxd1 16. Rxd1 Bf5 17. Na3 Ne5 18. Nb5 c5 19. bxc5 Bxc5 20. Nd4 Rfd8 21.
Be3 Bg6 22. Rd2 Bf7 23. Bxf7 Nxf7 24. Re2 Bxd4 25. Bxd4 Nd6 26. Bb6 Rdc8 27.
Re7 h6 28. Bd4 b5 29. Rae1 Nf5 30. Rb7 Nxd4 31. cxd4 Rcb8 32. Ree7 b4 33. Rxg7
Rxb7 34. Rxb7 a3 35. bxa3 bxa3 36. Rb1 a2 37. Ra1 Kg7 38. Kf1 Kf7 39. Ke2 Ke6
40. Kd3 Kd5 41. Kc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1995.06.23"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A37"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[Annotator "Tischbierek,R"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "1995.06.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 047 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. a3 a6 6. Rb1 Rb8 7. b4 cxb4 8. axb4
b5 9. cxb5 axb5 10. Nf3 d5 11. d4 e6 12. Bf4 Rb6 13. e4 {[#]} Nf6 (13... dxe4
14. Nxe4 Nxd4 15. Rc1 $1 (15. Nxd4 Bxd4 16. O-O e5 17. Re1) 15... Nxf3+ (15...
Bb7 16. Nxd4 Qxd4 (16... Bxd4 17. Bc7) 17. Qxd4 Bxd4 18. Bc7 Ra6 19. Nd6+ Rxd6
20. Bxb7 Rd7 21. Bc6) 16. Qxf3 e5 (16... Bb7 17. Bc7 Bxe4 18. Qxe4 Qc8 (18...
Qc8 19. O-O $18)) 17. Qc3) (13... Nge7 $5) 14. e5 Ne4 (14... Nd7) 15. Nxe4 dxe4
16. Nd2 O-O (16... Nxd4 17. Nxe4 Bb7 18. Bg5 Qd7 (18... Nc2+ 19. Qxc2 Bxe4 20.
Rd1 $1 $18) 19. Nc5) 17. Be3 f5 (17... Nxd4 $2 18. Nb3 Bxe5 19. Bxd4 Rd6 20.
Bxe5 Rxd1+ 21. Rxd1 $16) 18. exf6 Bxf6 19. Nxe4 (19. d5 exd5 20. Bxb6 Qxb6 21.
Qb3 Ne7 $44 22. Nxe4 $2 Qe6) 19... Bxd4 20. O-O e5 (20... Bxe3 21. fxe3 Rxf1+ (
21... Qxd1 $6 22. Rbxd1 Rxf1+ (22... Ne7) 23. Bxf1 Ne7 24. Rd8+ Kg7 25. Re8 Kf7
26. Bxb5 $1 $16) 22. Qxf1 Qe7 $14) 21. Bg5 (21. Bh6 $16 Re8 (21... Rf7 22. Ng5
(22. Qb3 Qe7 23. Ng5)) (21... Rf5 22. Qb3+ Kh8 23. g4 Rf8 24. Bxf8 Qxf8 25. h3)
22. Bg5 (22. Bg5 Ne7 23. Nf6+)) 21... Ne7 22. Rc1 Bb7 23. Qc2 Rf7 24. Qd2 Qa8
25. Qd3 Nd5 26. Qb3 {[#]} Nc3 $1 27. Rxc3 Bxc3 28. Nf6+ Rbxf6 29. Bxb7 Qxb7 30.
Bxf6 Qf3 31. Qe6 Qxf6 (31... Qxf6 32. Qc8+ Kg7 33. Qxc3 $10) 1/2-1/2

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1995.06.23"]
[Round "3.3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[Annotator "Vaisser,A"]
[PlyCount "132"]
[EventDate "1995.06.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 047 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.09.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.09.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 O-O
8. Qd2 Nc6 9. O-O-O Ne5 10. Nd4 c5 11. Nb5 Qa5 (11... Be6 12. Nxd6 Qb6 13. b4
Bxd6 14. Qxd6 Qxd6 15. Rxd6 cxb4 16. cxb4 Bxa2 17. Bf4 f6 $10) 12. a3 Be6 (
12... a6 13. Nxd6 Rd8 14. Nxc8 Rxd2 15. Nxe7+ Kf8 16. Rxd2 Kxe7 17. Rd5 Nd7 18.
Be2 $44) 13. Nxd6 Qb6 14. f4 $1 (14. b4 Rfd8 15. Bxc5 Qc6 $44 (15... Rxd6 $2
16. Qxd6 $1 $18) 16. f4) 14... Ng4 15. f5 Qxd6 (15... Rad8 16. fxe6 Rxd6 17.
exf7+ Rxf7 18. Bd3 $16) 16. Qxd6 Bxd6 17. Rxd6 Nxe3 18. fxe6 fxe6 (18... Nxf1
19. Rxf1 fxe6 20. Rxf8+ Rxf8 21. Rxe6 Rf2 $13 22. Re7 Rxg2 23. h4 Rh2 24. Rxb7
Rxh4 25. Rxa7 Rh1+ 26. Kd2 h5 27. b4 h4 $13) 19. Bd3 Rae8 (19... Nxg2 $6 20.
Be4 Nf4 21. Bxb7 Rab8 22. Be4 $16) 20. Be4 Re7 21. Re1 Ng4 22. h3 Nf6 23. Bf3
Rfe8 $6 (23... e5 $5) 24. Re5 $1 b6 25. Bc6 Rc8 26. Bb5 Kf7 27. Bc4 Rce8 28. b4
Nd5 29. Rdxe6 (29. Kd2 $5 $18) 29... Rxe6 30. Bxd5 Kf6 31. Rxe6+ Rxe6 32. Bxe6
Kxe6 33. Kd2 c4 34. b5 Kd5 35. Ke3 Ke5 36. h4 h5 37. g3 g6 38. Kf3 Kf5 39. a4
$2 (39. g4+ $1 hxg4+ (39... Ke5 40. gxh5 $2 gxh5 $10) 40. Kg3 Ke5 41. Kxg4 Ke6
42. Kg5 Kf7 43. Kh6 Kf6 44. a4 Kf7 45. Kh7 Kf6 46. Kg8 $18) 39... Ke5 (39... g5
$1 40. hxg5 Kxg5 $10) 40. g4 Ke6 (40... hxg4+ 41. Kxg4 Kf6 42. Kf4 Kg7 43. Kg5
Kf7 44. h5 $1 gxh5 45. Kxh5 Kf6 46. Kg4 Ke5 47. Kg5 $1 Ke4 48. Kf6 Ke3 49. Ke5
Kd2 50. Kd4 $18) 41. gxh5 gxh5 42. Kf4 (42. Ke4 $1 $18) 42... Kf6 43. Ke4 Ke6
44. a5 bxa5 45. Kd4 Kf5 46. Kxc4 Kg4 47. Kb3 Kxh4 48. c4 Kg5 49. c5 h4 50. c6
h3 51. c7 h2 52. c8=Q h1=Q 53. Qd8+ Kf5 54. Qd3+ (54. Qxa5 Qb1+ $10) 54... Ke5
55. Qe3+ (55. c4 Qg1) 55... Kd6 56. Qd4+ Ke6 57. Qc4+ Kd6 58. Qf4+ Ke6 59. Qe3+
Kd6 60. c4 Qb1+ 61. Kc3 Qa1+ 62. Kd2 Qb2+ 63. Ke1 Qb4+ 64. Kd1 Qxc4 65. Qh6+
Kc5 66. Qe3+ Kxb5 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 23rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1995.07.15"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[Annotator "Von Gleich,A"]
[PlyCount "36"]
[EventDate "1995.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 048"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. a3 b4 10. Ne4 Nxe4 11. Bxe4 bxa3 12. bxa3 Bd6 13. Bd2 Rb8 (13... Qc7 14.
Bb4 (14. Qa4 O-O 15. Ba5 Nb6 16. Qc2 h6 17. Nd2 (17. Bb4 c5 18. Bxb7 Qxb7 19.
dxc5 Rfc8 {nebst Nd7 und Ausgleich}) 17... Rfc8 (17... e5 18. dxe5 Bxe5 19. Rc1
$14) (17... Qe7 $1 {visiert die weiße Schwäche a3 an und sichert dadurch
ausreichendes Gegenspiel} 18. O-O Bxa3 (18... Rac8 $2 19. Bb4 Bxb4 20. axb4
Qxb4 $2 21. Rxa7 $18)) 18. Nc4 Bf8 19. Rb1 $16) 14... c5 (14... Bxb4+ 15. axb4
a5 16. bxa5 (16. O-O axb4 17. Rxa8+ Bxa8 18. Qc2 Nf6) 16... Rxa5 17. O-O Rxa1
18. Qxa1 O-O 19. Rc1 c5 20. Bxb7 Qxb7 21. dxc5 Rc8 22. Qa5 Qd5 (22... Qc7 23.
Qxc7 Rxc7 24. c6 $16) 23. e4 Qxe4 (23... Qh5 24. h3 h6 {und Schwarz kann sich
halten}) 24. c6 h6 25. h3 Nf6 26. Qa6) 15. Bxb7 Qxb7 16. dxc5 Bxc5 17. Bxc5
Nxc5 18. Qd4 Qb5 (18... Qb2 $1 19. O-O Qxd4 20. Nxd4) 19. Qxg7 Nd3+ 20. Kd2
O-O-O 21. Nd4 Nc5) 14. Qa4 (14. Rb1 O-O 15. O-O (15. Qc2 Nf6 16. Bd3 c5 $1 17.
dxc5 Bxc5 18. Bxh7+ Nxh7 19. Qxc5 Qd3 $132) 15... Nf6 $10) 14... c5 (14... Qc7
15. Rb1 c5 16. Rxb7 (16. Ba5 Bxe4 (16... Qc8 17. Bxb7 (17. dxc5 Bxe4) (17. Rxb7
Rxb7 18. dxc5 Bxc5 19. Ne5 Bd6 (19... f6 20. Nxd7 Rxd7 21. O-O O-O 22. Rc1 $16)
20. Nxd7 (20. Nc4 Be7 (20... Bb4+ 21. Bxb4 Qxc4 22. Bxb7 Qc1+ 23. Qd1 $18))
20... Rxd7 21. O-O (21. Bc6 Ke7 22. O-O Rc7 23. Rc1 Qb8 24. Bxc7 Qxc7 25. g3
Rc8 26. Qh4+ Kf8 27. Qxh7 Bxa3 28. Rc4 $14) 21... O-O 22. Rd1 f5 23. Bf3 Rff7)
17... Rxb7 18. Rxb7 Qxb7 19. O-O) 17. Bxc7 Rxb1+ 18. Kd2 Bxc7 19. Rxb1 Bxb1 20.
Qxa7 $16 Bb6)) 15. Bxb7 Rxb7 16. dxc5 Bxc5 17. Ba5 Qb8 (17... Qc8 18. O-O O-O
19. Rac1 Nb6 20. Qe4 Rc7 21. Ng5 g6 22. Qh4 (22. Bc3 Bxa3 (22... Nd5 23. Bb2)
23. Nxh7 (23. Qh4 f5 (23... f6 $1 24. Bxf6 Bxc1 $19) 24. Bg7 $3 Kxg7 (24...
Rxg7 25. Rxc8) 25. Rxc7+ Qxc7 26. Nxe6+ $18) 23... f5 24. Qe5 Rxh7 $19) 22...
h5 23. g4 {Der abenteuerlichste Versuch, der zwar objektiv schlecht ist, aber
sehr zur Erheiterung der kiebitzenden Laien - wie Ihrem Berichterstatter-
beitrug.} Be7 24. gxh5 Rxc1 25. hxg6 Rxf1+ 26. Kg2 Rxf2+ $3 (26... Qc6+ $2 27.
e4) 27. Kxf2 fxg6+ $19) 18. Rd1 O-O (18... O-O 19. Rxd7 Qe8 20. Ne5 Bd6 (20...
Rb1+ 21. Ke2 Rxh1 {Diese Stellung wurden von den beiden Kontrahenten über eine
Stunde kontrovers diskutiert, wobei Karpow an die weißen Angriffschancen und
Kramnik an die Verteidigungsfähigkeit glaubte. Einige der rasant vorgeführten
Varianten seien kurz angeführt.} 22. Qc6 (22. Bc3 Qc8 23. Qg4 h5 (23... g6 24.
Nxg6 $3 hxg6 (24... Qxd7 25. Ne7#) 25. Qh4 Qa6+ 26. Kf3 Qc6+ 27. e4 $18) 24.
Qxh5 (24. Qg5 Be7 $3 $17) 24... Be7 (24... Bd6 25. Rxf7 Qxc3 26. Rxf8+ Bxf8 (
26... Kxf8 27. Qf7#) 27. Qf7+ {Weiß hat Minimum Dauerschach, aber Karpow
probierte weiter...} Kh7 28. Qg6+ Kh8 (28... Kg8 $2 29. Qxe6+) 29. Qxe6 $5 Qc2+
30. Kf3 Qd1+ 31. Ke4 {Karpow, und wenn auch hier Dauerschach das
wahrscheinlichste Ergebnis ist, so wurde doch herzhaft weiter gezockt, wobei
die inzwischen vom A-Open herüberkommenden GM s lebhaft mit herum zockten.})
25. Rxe7 Qxc3 26. Kf3 Qc2 27. Kg3 Rf1 28. Ng4 Qf5 29. Qxf5 exf5 30. Ne5 $13) (
22. Nxf7) 22... Rc1 23. Bd2) 21. O-O Bxe5 22. Rfd1 Rxd7 23. Qxd7 Qb8 $14)
1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 23rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1995.07.20"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B32"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[Annotator "Von Gleich,A"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "1995.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 048"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Horvath,T} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb5 d6 6. c4 Be7 7.
Be2 f5 $5 {Der Zug sieht anrüchig aus.} (7... a6 8. N5c3 Bg5 $13) 8. exf5 (8.
O-O $6 {Horvath,T} fxe4 9. N1c3 a6 10. Na3 Nf6 11. Nc2 O-O 12. Bg5 Be6 13. Qd2
Rc8 $15 {Jojic-Sveshnikov/Torcy/1991}) (8. N1c3 {Horvath,T} a6 9. Na3 Nf6 10.
exf5 Bxf5 11. O-O O-O 12. Nc2 Rc8 13. Ne3 Be6 14. Bf3 b5 $13 {Savon-Sveshnikov/
Anapa/1991}) 8... Bxf5 9. Bg5 (9. Bg4 Bxg4 (9... Bxb1 $2 {Horvath,T} 10. Rxb1
a6 11. Nc3 Nf6 12. Bf3 O-O 13. O-O Kh8 14. Be3 Qe8 15. Ne4 $16 {
Petrushin-Cherniaev/Sotschi/1993}) 10. Qxg4 Nf6 11. Qe2 (11. Qd1 $13) (11. Qd1
O-O 12. O-O d5 13. cxd5 Nxd5 14. N1c3 Nxc3 15. Nxc3 Bc5 $10 {
Petrushin-Sherbakov/Russia/1992})) (9. Be3 {Horvath,T} Nf6 10. N1c3 a6 11. Na3
O-O 12. O-O Qe8 (12... Rc8 13. Rc1 Qe8 $13 {Wiersma-Riemens/Ensched/1991}) 13.
Nd5 Nxd5 14. cxd5 Nd4 $1 15. Bxd4 exd4 16. Bd3 $13 {Almasi,Z-Maidla/Debrecen/
1992}) (9. O-O {Horvath,T} Nf6 10. N1c3 a6 11. Na3 O-O 12. Nc2 Rc8 13. Ne3 Be6
14. Ned5 Nd4 15. Be3 $13 {Stitis-Milov/ISL/1992}) 9... a6 (9... Nf6 $6 10. Bxf6
(10. Bh5+ {Horvath,T} Kf8 11. O-O a6 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. N5c3 Qd7 14. Nd5 Bd8 15.
Nbc3 $14 {Belikov-Sherbakov/Kujbisev/1990}) 10... gxf6 $14) 10. Bxe7 Kxe7 11.
N5c3 $14 Nf6 12. O-O (12. Nd2 d5 (12... Nd4 13. O-O Kf7 $14) 13. cxd5 Nxd5 14.
O-O Nf4 (14... Nxc3 15. bxc3 Rf8) 15. Bf3 $14) 12... Qb6 (12... Nd4 $6 {
Horvath,T} 13. Bd3 Be6 14. Kh1 Rf8 15. f4 $14 {Tschurpikov-Shuraev/Voronez/1991
}) 13. b3 (13. g4 $5 {Versucht den Umstand, daß schwarzer K und Q in einer
Springergabel stehen, direkt auszunutzen, jedoch...} Bxb1 (13... Be6 14. g5 Nd7
$17 {Weiß hat nur seinen Königsflügel geschwächt.} 15. Nd5+ Bxd5 16. cxd5 Nd4)
14. g5 Bf5 15. gxf6+ Kf7 $15) (13. Qd2 {Horvath,T} h6 14. Na3 Qd4 15. Rad1 Qxd2
16. Rxd2 Nd4 $10 {Shabtai-Milov/Budapest/1993}) 13... Rhd8 14. Bd3 (14. Nd2 d5
15. g4 dxc4 16. gxf5) 14... Be6 15. Be4 (15. Nd2 $2 {Horvath,T} Qd4) 15... Qd4
(15... Qa5 $5 16. Qd3 Nd4 $1 17. Bxb7 (17. Nd2 $2 Qxc3 18. Qxc3 Ne2+ $19) (17.
Kh1 Nxb3) (17. Nd5+ Bxd5 18. Bxd5 $13) 17... Rab8 18. b4 (18. Be4 Nxb3) 18...
Qxb4 19. Bxa6 Qb2) 16. Qe2 (16. Qxd4 $2 exd4 (16... Nxd4) 17. Nd5+ Bxd5 18.
cxd5 Nb4 $15) 16... Nxe4 17. Nxe4 (17. Qxe4 Qxe4 18. Nxe4 b5 $1 $15 (18... d5 {
Horvath,T} 19. cxd5 Bxd5 20. Nbc3 Bxe4 21. Nxe4 Rd4 $10)) 17... Qxa1 18. Nbc3
Nd4 19. Qd2 Qxf1+ (19... Nxb3 $2 20. Qg5+ Kf8 21. Rxa1 Nxa1 22. Qc1 $16) 20.
Kxf1 h6 (20... Rac8 21. Qg5+ Kf8 22. Qh5 h6 {mit der Idee, b5 folgen zu lassen,
war durchaus beachtenswert.}) 21. Ne2 Nxe2 22. Kxe2 (22. Kxe2 b5 (22... Rac8
23. Qb4) 23. Qb4 bxc4 24. Nxd6 Rxd6 (24... Rab8 25. Nc8+) 25. Qb7+ {Horvath,T}
Rd7 26. Qxa8 cxb3 27. axb3 Bxb3 28. Qxa6 Be6 $14) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 23rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1995.07.21"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Lautier, Joel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Hansen,Cu"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "1995.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 048"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Von Gleich} d5 2. d4 e6 3. g3 {Weicht dem angenommenen Damengambit aus,
mit dem Lautier in letzter Zeit sehr gute Erfolge hatte.} Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O
O-O 6. c4 dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4 Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bf4 a5 (10... Bd6 11. Nc3 (
11. Bg5 Nbd7 12. Nc3 h6 13. Bd2 e5 14. dxe5 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 16. Bxc6 Qxd2
17. Bxb7 Rab8 18. Qxa6 Qxb2 19. Nb5 Qxe2 $10 {1/2-1/2 Birnboim,N-Namyslo,H/
Lugano 1989 op (06) 1989 (33)}) 11... Bxf4 12. gxf4 Qd6 (12... a5 13. e3 Na6
14. Rfd1 Nb4 15. Rac1 Ra6 16. Ne5 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 $14 {1-0 Birnboim,
N-Shterenberg,P/ISR ch 35/584 1982 (42)}) 13. e3 Nbd7 14. Rfc1 Rac8 15. b4 $14
{Vadasz,L-Plachetka,J/Trnava 27/507/1979/}) (10... Nbd7 11. Nc3 (11. Rc1 Rc8
12. Nc3 Nb6 13. Qb3 a5 14. Nb5 Bd5 15. Qd1 c6 16. Nc3 c5 {= Vukic,M-Parma,B/
YUG ch 33/(599) 1982}) (11. Qc2 Bd6 12. Nc3 Bxf4 13. gxf4 Bxf3 14. Bxf3 c6 15.
a5 Re8 16. e3 $14 {Birnboim,N-Kortschnoj,V/Beersheva 1987/1/2-1/2 (60)}) 11...
Nb6 (11... Rc8 12. Rfe1 Nb6 13. Qb3 a5 14. e4 $16 {Kakhiani,K-Bojkovic,N/Sm.
Palanka (Gruzija-Gosa [6]) 1990/1/2-1/2 (51)}) 12. Qb3 (12. Qd3 Nbd5 13. Bg5 (
13. Bd2 Nxc3 14. bxc3 Be4 15. Qe3 b5 16. Ne5 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 c5 18. Nc6 Qc7 19.
Qf3 Rac8 20. axb5 axb5 21. Nxe7+ Qxe7 22. Bg5 $14 {Frendzas,P-Pandavos,E/
Peristeri (09) 1993/1/2-1/2 (60)}) 13... Nxc3 14. bxc3 Be4 15. Qe3 Bc6 16. a5
$14 {Alburt,L-Prandstetter,E/Taxca izt/1985/}) 12... a5 (12... Nbd5 13. Rfd1
Nxf4 14. gxf4 {1/2-1/2 Karlsson,L-Spassov,L/Eksjo (10) 1981}) 13. Nb5 {N} (13.
Rfd1 {N} Ra6 14. Qc2 Nbd5 15. Bd2 (15. Bg5 Nxc3 16. bxc3 Be4 17. Qc1 c5 18. Qe3
Bd5 19. h3 Qc8 20. Rab1 $14 {Birnboim,N-Kosashvili,Y/ISL-ch 1986/1-0 (51)})
15... Nxc3 16. bxc3 Be4 17. Qa2 c5 18. Bg5 Nd5 {= Petrosian-Ivanovic/Vrbas 30/
(505) 1980}) (13. Rfe1 Nbd5 14. Be5 Nxc3 15. bxc3 Ra6 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. e4 $16
{Kachiani Gerchinska-Garcia/Moscow ol (02) 1994 (39)}) 13... Nbd5 14. Be5 Bd6
15. Bxf6 Nxf6 16. Ne5 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Bb4 $10 {Tal,M-Georgadze,T/URS ch 29/425
1979/0-1 (40)}) (10... Nd5 11. Bd2 (11. Nc3 Nxf4 12. gxf4 Nd7 (12... a5 $5 13.
Rfd1 Bd5 $5 (13... Na6 14. d5 $1 exd5 15. Nxd5 $36) 14. Qb5 (14. Nxd5 exd5 15.
Qb5 Na6 16. Qxb7 Nb4 $10) 14... Na6 15. e4 Bc6 16. Qc4 $14 {Hulak,K-Psakhis,L/
Zagreb (zt) 57/475 1993/0-1 (37)} (16. Qe2 $5 Nb4 17. Ne5 Be8 $13)) 13. Qd3 Nf6
14. Rfd1 Qd6 15. e3 $14 {Vukic,M-Cebalo,M/YUG-ch 27/508/1979}) 11... Nd7 12.
Qc2 (12. Re1 a5 13. e4 Nb4 14. Qb3 Bd6 15. Bg5 Qe8 16. Nc3 e5 17. Qd1 exd4 18.
Nxd4 Ne5 {+/= Dlugy,M-Morovic Fernandez,I/Tunis izt 39/(593) 1985}) 12... a5 (
12... N5f6 13. Nc3 b5 14. Rfc1 Rc8 15. axb5 axb5 $14 {Dorfman,J-Geller,E/
URS-ch/1978/}) (12... Nb4 13. Bxb4 Bxb4 14. Rd1 Nf6 15. Nbd2 Qe7 16. Ne5 Bxg2
17. Kxg2 c5 18. dxc5 Qxc5 19. Qxc5 {1/2-1/2 Razuvaev,Y-Geller,E/URS-ch46
Tbilisi 1978}) 13. e4 Nb4 14. Bxb4 axb4 15. Nbd2 Nf6 16. b3 $14 {Dorfman,
J-Razuvaev,Y/URS-ch/1978/}) 11. Nc3 Na6 12. Rac1 (12. Rfe1 Nb4 13. Rac1 Nbd5
14. Ne5 Nxf4 15. Bxc6 Nxe2+ 16. Rxe2 bxc6 17. Nxc6 Qd7 18. d5 $14 {Agzamov,
G-Platonov,I/URS-FL Tashkent ,MCL 06 1980}) (12. Rfd1 Bd5 13. Nxd5 exd5 14. Qb3
Bb4 15. Ne5 h6 16. g4 c6 17. Kh1 Nd7 18. Qg3 g5 19. Bc1 Bd6 20. f4 f6 21. Nxd7
Qxd7 22. e4 {1/2-1/2 Sygulski,A-Sobura,H/dr ch POL Porabka (08) 1986}) (12.
Rae1 $5 Nb4 $6 (12... Bd5 $1 13. Nxd5 exd5 14. Qb5 Qc8 {/\ c6=}) 13. e4 Nd7 {
Kortschnoj,V-Hjartarson,J/St John (m/8) 45/6111/1988/} 14. Re2 $1 (14. Rd1 Nb6
15. Qb3) 14... Nb6 15. Qb3 Kh8 $14) (12. Qd3 Nb4 13. Qb1 Bxf3 14. Bxf3 c6 15.
Rd1 Bd6 $10) (12. Be5 {Von Gleich} Bd5 13. Qd3 c5 14. Ng5) 12... h6 13. Rfe1 {
[%cal Ye2e4]} (13. Be5 {Von Gleich}) (13. Rfd1 {Von Gleich} Bb4 14. Ne5 Bxg2
15. Kxg2 c6 (15... Bd6) (15... Nd5 16. Nd3 Nb6 {gewinnt einen Bauern}) 16. Nd3
Nd5 17. e4 Nxf4+ 18. gxf4 Qh4 19. Ne2 Bd6 20. Qb3 $13) 13... Bb4 14. Be5 {
[%cal Ye5f6,Ye2e4]} (14. Qd3 {Von Gleich} Bd5 15. e4 Bb3 (15... Bc6 $2 16. Ne5)
16. d5) 14... Bxf3 15. Bxf3 c6 16. Red1 (16. e4 Nd7 17. Bf4 Nb6 18. Qd3 c5 $132
{[%csl Rd4,Rf3,Rf4]}) (16. Qb3 {Von Gleich} Nd7 17. Bf4 Qe7 18. e4 e5 19. Be3
exd4 20. Bxd4 Nac5 21. Qc2 Ne6) 16... Qe7 (16... Bd6 $6 {Von Gleich} 17. Bxf6
Qxf6 18. Ne4 Qe7 19. Nxd6 Qxd6 $14) 17. Bf4 {[%csl Gd4][%cal Re2e4,Rf4e3]} (17.
Na2 {Von Gleich} Bd6 18. Bxd6 Qxd6 19. Qb3 Qe7 20. e4 $14 (20. Qb6 $2 Nd5 21.
Qxa5 Nab4) (20. e3 Nd5 21. Kg2 Rfd8 22. Rc4 Rd7 23. Nc3 Ndb4 24. Ne4 e5 25. Nc3
$14)) 17... Nd5 18. Bd2 {[%cal Ye2e4]} Rfd8 19. Qb3 (19. e4 $2 Nb6 {[%csl Rd4]}
) 19... Nf6 20. Be3 (20. Be1 $5 {[%cal Ye2e4]}) 20... Nd5 21. Bd2 Nb6 22. Be3
Nd5 23. Bd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 23rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1995.07.22"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "1995.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 048"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1995.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. e4 b4 10. Na4 c5 11. e5 Nd5 12. Nxc5 Nxc5 13. dxc5 Bxc5 14. O-O h6 15.
Nd2 O-O 16. Ne4 Bd4 17. Nd6 Bc6 18. Bh7+ Kxh7 19. Qxd4 f6 20. a3 fxe5 21. Qe4+
Kg8 22. Qxe5 Qf6 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Miles, Anthony John"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D24"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2600"]
[PlyCount "132"]
[EventDate "1995.08.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 049 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. Nc3 a6 5. e4 b5 6. e5 Nd5 7. a4 e6 8. axb5
Nb6 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Be2 Be7 11. O-O axb5 12. Rxa8 Bxa8 13. Nxb5 O-O 14. Rd1 Na6
15. Nc3 Nb4 16. Qb1 Qd7 17. Ne4 Qa4 18. Bg5 Bxg5 19. Nexg5 Qc2 20. Qxc2 Nxc2
21. Rc1 Nb4 22. Nd2 Rd8 23. Nxc4 h6 24. Nh3 Be4 25. Ne3 Rxd4 26. f3 Bg6 27.
Rxc7 Rd2 28. Nf4 Rxb2 29. Bf1 Bb1 30. Rb7 Nc6 31. Nd1 Rb4 32. Nc3 Nxe5 33. Nfe2
Bc2 34. f4 Ned7 35. Ng3 Rxf4 36. Nb5 Kf8 37. Nd6 Ke7 38. Nb5 Ba4 39. Nc3 Bc6
40. Rc7 Kd6 41. Ra7 Rb4 42. Be2 f5 43. Nf1 g5 44. Ra1 Nd5 45. Rd1 N7b6 46. Ne3
Ke5 47. Ncxd5 Nxd5 48. Nc4+ Kf6 49. Bf1 Rb3 50. Na5 Rc3 51. Rb1 Ba4 52. Ra1 Bc2
53. Nb7 Be4 54. Nd6 Ke5 55. Nc4+ Kd4 56. Rd1+ Kc5 57. Ne5 Rb3 58. Nf7 Rb2 59.
Rc1+ Rc2 60. Rxc2+ Bxc2 61. Nxh6 g4 62. h3 gxh3 63. gxh3 Kd6 64. h4 Ke7 65.
Ng8+ Kf7 66. Nh6+ Kg7 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Miles, Anthony John"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "1995.08.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 049 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bg5 h6 3. Bh4 c6 4. e3 Qb6 5. Qc1 e5 6. c3 exd4 7. cxd4 Be7 8. Bxe7
Nxe7 9. Nc3 Bf5 10. Nf3 Nd7 11. Be2 O-O 12. O-O Bg4 13. Qc2 Rfe8 14. Rac1 Nf5
15. Bd3 Nd6 16. Nd2 Nf8 17. Na4 Qd8 18. Nc5 Qg5 19. Kh1 Rad8 20. Rce1 Bc8 21.
b4 Qf6 22. a3 Ng6 23. Nf3 Bg4 24. Bxg6 Bxf3 25. Bh7+ Kh8 26. Bd3 Re7 27. Be2
Bxe2 28. Qxe2 Rde8 29. Qd3 Nf5 30. Rb1 Nh4 31. Qd1 a6 32. Qg4 Nf5 33. Kg1 Kg8
34. Rfc1 Nd6 35. a4 g6 36. Nd7 Qg7 37. Ne5 h5 38. Qf4 Re6 39. h3 Rf6 40. Qh2
Re7 41. Rc2 g5 42. Rbc1 Rh6 43. Qg3 Ne4 44. Qf3 f6 45. Nxc6 bxc6 46. Rxc6 Qf7
47. Qf5 Kg7 48. Rxa6 Rh8 49. b5 Rd8 50. Rcc6 Red7 51. Re6 Rc7 52. Rac6 Rxc6 53.
Rxc6 Nd6 54. Qc2 Rd7 55. b6 Nc4 56. Qb1 Qe7 57. Qb5 g4 58. hxg4 hxg4 59. g3 Nd2
60. Rc8 Qf7 61. Qxd7 1-0

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

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

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

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

[Event "Horgen"]
[Site "Horgen"]
[Date "1995.10.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ehlvest, Jaan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Dautov,R"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1995.10.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 050"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 e6 2. g3 b6 3. Bg2 Bb7 4. O-O Nf6 5. c4 Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Re1 d5 8. cxd5
exd5 9. d4 Na6 10. Bf4 Qc8 11. Ne5 (11. Rc1 Rd8 (11... c5 12. Be5 Rd8 13. a3
Qd7 14. Bf4 h6 15. dxc5 bxc5 16. Qb3 g5 $6 17. Ne5 Qc8 18. Bd2 Rb8 19. e4 c4
20. Qc2 d4 21. Nd5 $16 {Nogueiras,J-Pogorelov,R/Alcobendas op (03) 1994}) 12.
Ne5 c5 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. e4 Nxe4 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. Qb3 Bd5 17. Qe3 f6 18. Nc4
f5 19. f3 Bf6 20. Be5 Bxe5 21. Nxe5 Re8 22. Qf4 exf3 23. Bxf3 Bxf3 24. Nxf3 Qb7
25. Qxf5 $14 {Ehlvest,J-Wojtkiewicz,A/Haninge 1990}) 11... c5 $5 (11... Rd8)
12. dxc5 Bxc5 (12... Nxc5 $2 13. Nxd5 Bxd5 14. Bxd5 $16) 13. e3 (13. Nxd5 $2
Nxd5 14. Bxd5 Bxf2+ 15. Kxf2 Qc5+ $10) (13. Rc1 $5 Qe6 (13... d4 14. Bxb7 Qxb7
15. Nb5 Rad8 16. Bg5 $16) 14. Nd3 $14) 13... Bb4 $5 (13... Qe6 {/\g5} 14. Nd3
$14 (14. Nf3 Ne4 15. Nd4 Qf6 $132)) 14. Rc1 Qe6 15. Nd3 (15. Nf3 Ne4 16. Nd4
Qf6 $132) 15... Bxc3 16. Rxc3 Ne4 17. Rc1 f6 {/\g5} 18. g4 (18. f3 Nec5 $10 {
ץg2}) (18. b4 $5 Rac8 $1 (18... g5 $2 19. f3 gxf4 (19... Nd6 20. Bxd6 Qxd6 21.
Qb3 $16) 20. Nxf4 Qf7 21. fxe4 dxe4 22. Qg4+ Kh8 23. a3 $16) 19. Qh5 g5 20. Bh3
Qe8 21. Qxe8 Rcxe8 22. b5 Nac5 23. Nxc5 bxc5 24. Bc7 $10) 18... Rac8 19. h3
Rxc1 20. Nxc1 $14 Nac5 21. f3 (21. Ne2 $5 Ba6 22. Nd4 Qf7 23. f3 Ng5 24. Bxg5
fxg5 25. Qd2 $14) 21... Nd6 22. b3 (22. Ne2 $5 Nc4 23. Nd4 Qd7 24. b3 Ne5 25.
Bg3 Re8 26. Qd2 $14) 22... Nf7 23. b4 $2 {[%csl Rc4] ><c4} Nd7 24. Nb3 Nde5 25.
Nd4 Qd7 26. Bg3 Rc8 27. Kh2 (27. f4 {><e4} Nc4 (27... Nc6 $5 28. Nc2 Ne7 {/\Qa4
} 29. Nd4 Nc6 $10) 28. f5 Nfe5 (28... Ng5 $5) 29. Ne6 Qb5 $132) 27... Nd6 $10
28. h4 Re8 29. Qb3 Kh8 30. b5 Ndc4 31. a4 Qf7 32. h5 h6 33. Bf4 Nd7 34. Qc2 Nc5
35. Bf1 Ne5 36. Kg3 (36. a5 Ne6 37. Bxe5 (37. Kg3 bxa5 $15) 37... fxe5 38. Nxe6
Qxe6 (38... Rxe6 $2 39. a6 Ba8 {ץa8} 40. Rc1 Re8 41. Qg6 Qxg6 42. hxg6 d4 43.
e4 $18) 39. Qc7 Qe7 {/\Qh4} 40. Qxe7 Rxe7 41. a6 Bc8 $10) 36... Rc8 37. Qf5 Re8
38. Qc2 Rc8 39. Qf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Horgen"]
[Site "Horgen"]
[Date "1995.10.23"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Timman, Jan H"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B63"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1995.10.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 050"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik Timman} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6
7. Qd2 Be7 8. O-O-O Nxd4 {Frage : Bedeutet das Zugumstellung, um die Variante
8...00 9.f4 Nxd4 zu erreichen?} (8... O-O 9. Nb3 $5 (9. f4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4)) 9.
Qxd4 O-O (9... a6 $5 10. e5 dxe5 11. Qxe5 Bd7 12. Be2 Rc8 13. h4 Qc7 14. Qxc7
Rxc7 $10 {Ferguson,M-Aseev,K London Lloyds (01) 1994 0-1 58 - EXP 43}) 10. e5 {
ANTWORT: Nein! Mitt 10.f4 konnte Weiß die Hauptvariante erreichen, doch Timman
wollte nicht. Er hatte eine Neuerung im 13.Zug vorbereitet!} dxe5 11. Qxe5 Bd7
(11... Qe8 12. h4 Bd7 (12... a6 13. Ne4 Nd5 14. Bxe7 Nxe7 15. h5 Nc6 16. Qg3
Qe7 17. h6 g6 18. f4 e5 19. fxe5 Qxe5 20. Qxe5 Nxe5 21. Nf6+ Kh8 22. Rh4 $16 {
Huebner,R-Timman,J Belfort WCup 1988 1-0 38}) 13. Nb5 Ng4 14. Qd4 Bxb5 15. Bxe7
Qxe7 16. Bxb5 h5 17. Be2 Rfd8 18. Qf4 e5 $10 {Santo Roman,M-Relange,E Cannes
op (05) 1995 1/2 28 - EXP 46}) 12. Qg3 $146 {Ftacnik: Very interesting novelty
in a well known position. Black has to solve the problems of the pin alongside
d file.} (12. Bb5 Qe8 (12... Ng4 13. Bxe7 Nxe5 14. Bxd8 Rfxd8 $10) 13. Bxd7 (
13. f4 a6 14. Bxd7 Nxd7 15. Qc7 Bxg5 16. fxg5 Rd8 17. Ne4 Nb8 18. Rxd8 Qxd8 19.
Qxb7 Qa5 20. a3 Qe5 21. g3 Nd7 {Putzbach,G-Schirm,F/BL2-N 9091 (1990) ;BL2
1991/1-0 (63)}) 13... Nxd7 14. Qg3 Bxg5+ 15. Qxg5 Nf6 16. Rd3 h6 17. Qe5 Qb8
18. Re1 Qxe5 19. Rxe5 Rfd8 $10 {Van der Wiel,J-Leko,P Wiejk (03) 1994 1/2 26})
(12. h4 Rc8 13. Rh3 (13. Ne4 {Ftacnik} Nxe4 14. Qxe4 Bc6 15. Qe5 Qc7 16. Qxc7
Rxc7 17. Bxe7 Rxe7 18. Rh3 f5 19. Ra3 a6 20. Rc3 Bd5 21. f4 Kf7 22. g3 b5 {
Videki,S-Cicak,S/Budapest Spring op ;EXT 95op 1995/1-0 (64)}) 13... Qc7 (13...
Rc5 14. Qe3 Qc8 15. Rxd7 Qxd7 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. Ne4 Re5 18. Bd3 Kh8 19. Qh6
Rxe4 20. Bxe4 f5 21. Bf3 Rc8 {1/2-1/2 Kortschnoj,V-Furman,S/URS-ch25 Riga ;
URS-ch 1958}) 14. Qe1 (14. Qe3 b5 15. Bf4 Qa5 16. Rg3 b4 17. Be5 $40 {Oll,
L-Maki,V Helsinki Opybank 1991 1-0 33}) (14. Qxc7 {Ftacnik} Rxc7 15. Nb5 Bxb5
16. Bxb5 Rfc8 17. Bd3 Nd5 (17... Ng4 18. Bxe7 Rxe7 19. Rd2 Rec7 20. Bf1 Kf8 21.
Rhd3 Ke7 22. Rd4 f5 23. Bb5 Nf6 24. Re2 g6 25. Bd3 Rd7 26. Rxd7+ Nxd7 27. c3 {
Boudre,J-Levacic,D/FRA-chT ;TD 93\08 1993/1-0 (62)}) 18. Bxe7 Rxe7 19. Bf1 Rec7
20. c3 Kf8 21. Kb1 Rd8 22. Rhd3 Rcd7 23. c4 {Prandstetter,E-Trepp,M/Prague
Bohemians ;EXT 87 1987/1/2-1/2 (70)}) 14... Bc6 15. Rg3 Bd6 16. Rgd3 Be5 17.
Re3 Ng4 18. Red3 h6 19. Bd2 b5 20. f3 Bg3 21. Qe2 Nf2 {0-1 Nunn,J-Kramnik,V
Monaco blind (04) 1995 - EXP 46 0-1}) (12. Bd3 {Ftacnik} Ng4 13. Bxe7 Nxe5 14.
Bxd8 Rfxd8 15. Be4 Bc6 16. Rxd8+ Rxd8 17. Rd1 Rxd1+ 18. Kxd1 f5 19. Bxc6 Nxc6
20. Nb5 Kf8 21. Kd2 Ke7 {Gufeld,E-Osnos,V/URS-ch31 Leningrad ;URS-ch 1963/1/
2-1/2 (34)}) (12. Ne4 {Ftacnik} Nxe4 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Qxe4 Bc6 15. Qe5 Rac8
16. Bd3 g6 17. Be4 Bxe4 18. Qxe4 Rc5 19. Rd2 Rfc8 20. Rhd1 b5 21. Kb1 Qf6 {
Margulis,I-Rachels,S/USA-op Los Angeles ;TD 91\09 1991/0-1 (44)}) (12. Be2 {
Ftacnik} Rc8 13. Be3 Bb4 14. Rd3 (14. Bd4 Bc6 15. Bf3 Qa5 16. Bxc6 Rxc6 17. a3
Qxe5 18. Bxe5 Bxc3 19. Bxc3 Rfc8 20. Rd3 Nd5 21. Kd2 Kf8 22. Re1 Rc4 23. f3
Nxc3 24. bxc3 {Enders,P-Kramnik,V/BL 9495 (1994) ;BL 90 1995/0-1 (52)}) 14...
Qe7 15. Rhd1 Bc6 16. a3 Nd7 17. Qg3 Bc5 18. Bxc5 Nxc5 19. Rd6 Ne4 20. Nxe4 Bxe4
21. R1d2 {1/2-1/2 Balashov,Y-Avrukh,B/St.Petersburg op (09) ;CBM 41 1994})
12... Rc8 (12... Nh5 $6 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 (13... Nxg3 14. Bxd8 Nxh1 15. Be7 Bc6 16.
Bxf8 Kxf8 17. f3 $18) 14. Qc7 Nf6 (14... Qg5+ 15. f4 $1 Nxf4 16. h4 (16. Qxd7
$2 Ne2+ 17. Kb1 Nxc3+ 18. bxc3 Rad8 $19) (16. Rxd7 $2 Nd5+ $19) 16... Qh6 (
16... Ne2+ 17. Kb1 Nxc3+ 18. bxc3 $18) 17. Qxd7 Nd3+ (17... Nd5+ 18. Kb1 Rad8
19. Rxd5 Rxd7 20. Rxd7 $16 {Timman}) (17... Rad8 {Ftacnik} 18. Qxd8 Nd5+ 19.
Qg5) 18. Kb1 Nf2 19. Be2 $16) (14... Rfd8 15. Qxb7 $16) 15. Qxb7 (15. Bb5 Rfd8
16. Qxb7 Qb4 $13) 15... Rfb8 {/\ Qb4 ~/=}) 13. Bd3 (13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. Ne4 Be7
15. Bb5 Rc7 $10) (13. Bh6 Nh5 14. Qg4 Rxc3 $1 15. Qxh5 (15. bxc3 Ba3+ 16. Kd2
e5 $19) 15... Rc5 16. Qg4 Bf6 $132 (16... Bg5+ 17. Bxg5 Rxg5 18. Qh4 Rd5 $10))
13... Nh5 (13... Qa5 $2 14. Bxh7+ $1 Kxh7 15. Rxd7 Nxd7 16. Bxe7 Rxc3 (16...
Rfe8 17. Qd3+ $18) 17. bxc3 Qxa2 18. Qd3+ Kg8 19. Qxd7 Qa1+ 20. Kd2 Qxh1 21.
Bxf8 $18) (13... Qc7 14. Qh4 (14. Bf4 {Ftacnik} Qa5 15. Rhe1 $13) 14... h6 15.
Bxh6 gxh6 16. Qxh6 Qa5 17. h4 Rxc3 $1 (17... Qh5 $2 18. Bh7+ Kh8 19. Qxh5 Nxh5
20. Rxd7 $18) 18. bxc3 Qxc3 19. Qg5+ Kh8 20. Qh6+ $10) 14. Bxe7 (14. Bxh7+ $5 {
Ftacnik} Kxh7 15. Qd3+ Kg8 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Qxd7 Qg5+ 18. Kb1 Qxg2 $13) 14...
Qxe7 15. Qe3 (15. Bxh7+ Kxh7 16. Qd3+ g6 17. Qxd7 Qg5+ 18. Qd2 Qxg2 19. Qe3 $10
) 15... Bc6 16. Rhg1 (16. f3 {Ftacnik} a6 17. g4 Nf6 $13) 16... Qc7 17. Qxa7
Qxh2 {Ftacnik: The good ground for later excitement is laid down with the
enhancement of the pawn assymetry.} 18. Qe3 (18. Rh1 {Ftacnik} Qf4+) 18... Qf4
(18... Bxg2 19. Ne2 (19. f3 Qf4 $17) 19... Rfd8 20. f3 $13) 19. g4 Qxe3+ 20.
fxe3 Nf6 21. g5 Nd7 (21... Nd5 {Ftacnik} 22. Nxd5 Bxd5 23. a4 $13) 22. Be4 Ne5
23. Rh1 Bxe4 24. Nxe4 {Ein schwer einzuschätzendes Endspiel. Wer zuerst seine
P mobilisieren kann, steht besser.} Ng4 25. Rdg1 $1 f5 (25... Nxe3 $4 26. Nf6+
$1 gxf6 (26... Kh8 27. Rxh7#) 27. gxf6+ Kh8 28. Rg7 Rxc2+ 29. Kb1 $18) (25...
Ne5 $5) 26. gxf6 Nxf6 27. Nd6 (27. Nxf6+ Rxf6 $17) 27... Rc7 28. e4 Nd7 (28...
e5 29. Rg2 Rd7 30. Rd1 Rfd8 31. Rgd2 $13) 29. Rg5 b6 30. b3 g6 (30... Rc6 31.
Rd1 Rf2 32. Nc4 $13) 31. Rh2 (31. a4 $5 {Ftacnik}) 31... Kg7 32. Rhg2 $6 Rc6
33. Rd2 Kf6 34. Rb5 Ke7 35. Nc4 Rf4 36. a4 Nc5 (36... Rxe4 $2 37. a5 Rc5 (37...
bxa5 38. Rb7 $18) 38. a6 $1 Rxb5 39. a7 Rxc4 40. a8=Q $16) 37. Rxb6 (37. Nxb6
Rxe4 $13) 37... Rxb6 38. Nxb6 Rxe4 39. a5 h5 40. Nc8+ Kf6 41. Nd6 Rf4 42. Nb7
$2 (42. Kb2 h4 43. c3 (43. Ka3 {Ftacnik} g5 44. b4 $16) 43... g5 44. b4 $16)
42... Nxb7 43. a6 Ke7 44. Rd8 $1 {Sehr schön, reicht aber nur zum remis.} (44.
axb7 Rb4 $19) 44... Nxd8 (44... Kxd8 {Am Königsflügel steht der schwarze Opa
viel besser.} 45. a7 Kc7 46. a8=Q $14) 45. a7 g5 46. a8=Q h4 47. Qb8 Nf7 48. b4
h3 49. Qc7+ Kf6 50. Qc3+ e5 51. Qxh3 (51. Qxh3 Rxb4 {Wer steht eigentlich
besser?}) 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Horgen"]
[Site "Horgen"]
[Date "1995.10.25"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Jussupow, Artur"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2680"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[Annotator "Jussupow,A"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "1995.10.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 050"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {King} d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5
8. Bd3 Bb7 9. e4 b4 10. Na4 c5 11. e5 Nd5 12. dxc5 Nxc5 (12... Rc8 13. O-O Nxc5
(13... Bxc5 14. Ng5 Be7 15. Qg4 $4 Rxc1 {0-1/Timoshchenko,G-Kaidanov/Wien/1989}
) 14. Bb5+ (14. Nxc5 Bxc5 15. Ng5 Be7 16. h4 $13 {Kaidanov} (16. Nxh7 g6 (16...
Bc6 $2 17. Qg4 $16 {Nedobora-Ruis/Ibercaja/1994}) 17. Bb5+ Bc6 18. Bxc6+ Rxc6
19. Qa4 Qd7 20. Nf6+ Bxf6 21. exf6 Rc4 $44)) 14... Nd7 15. Bg5 Be7 16. Bxe7
Qxe7 17. Qd4 O-O 18. Qxa7 Bc6 19. Bxc6 Rxc6 20. Qd4 Rfc8 $44 {Piket-Kaidanov/
Ca'n Picafort/1991/-53/(426)}) (12... Qa5 13. O-O Bxc5 (13... Bc6 14. Bc2 Nxc5
(14... h6 15. Nd4 Rc8 16. a3 Qc7 17. Qh5 Qxe5 18. Qxe5 Nxe5 19. Re1 Nd7 20.
Nxc6 Rxc6 21. Be4 N7f6 22. axb4 $16 {Hort-Herbrechtsmeier/Bl/1985}) 15. Nxc5
Bxc5 16. Bd2 (16. Nd4 $16 {ECO}) 16... Qb6 $2 17. Ng5 Bd4 18. Qh5 g6 19. Qf3
$16 {Sardinha-Silva/Portugal/ch/1974/-19/530/ECO}) (13... Nc7 14. Bc2 Rd8 (
14... Nxc5 15. Nxc5 Bxc5 16. Ba4+ Kf8 17. Be3 (17. Ng5 h6) 17... Bxe3 18. fxe3
$36) 15. Bg5 $13 {1/2-1/2/Stohl-Khenkin/Khalhidiki/1992} f6) (13... Nxc5 14.
Nxc5 Bxc5 15. Ng5 Be7 16. Qg4 Bxg5 17. Bxg5 Ba6 18. Bxa6 Qxa6 19. Rfc1 Qd3 20.
a3 O-O 21. axb4 Qg6 22. h3 h6 23. Bd2 Qxg4 24. hxg4 Rfb8 $10 {Hansen,C-Mueller/
Hamburg/1991}) 14. a3 (14. Re1 N5b6 (14... Be7 15. Nd4 O-O 16. Qg4 Rfd8 17. Bh6
Bf8 18. Bg5 Re8 (18... Qxa4 19. Bxd8 Rxd8 20. Qh4) 19. Bb5 $16 {
Thorsteins-Roos/Saint John/1988}) 15. Nxb6 Qxb6 16. Qe2 Rc8 17. a3 Bxf3 18.
gxf3 $15 {Rukavina-Korchnoi/Leningrad/izt/1973/-15/505/ECO}) (14. Nxc5 {
-13.Nc5 Bc5 14.dc Qa5} Nxc5 15. Bc2 Rd8 (15... Ba6 16. Re1 Rd8 17. Bg5 Rd7 18.
Qd4 Nb6 19. Qg4 h5 20. Qh4 Bd3 21. Bxd3 Nxd3 22. Re2 $16 {Aseev-Dokhoian/
Klaipeda/1988/-46/573}) (15... O-O-O $5 {Chernin}) 16. Nd4 Ne7 17. Be3 O-O 18.
Qh5 Ng6 19. f4 $13 {Pinter-Chernin/Hungary/1992/-56/501}) 14... Be7 (14... bxa3
15. Nxc5 Nxc5 (15... Qxc5 16. Rxa3 h6 17. Qe2 Qb6 18. Bb5 Bc6 19. Nd4 Bxb5 20.
Nxb5 $14 {Timoshchenko,G-Smagin/Moscow/1989}) 16. Rxa3 Qb6 17. Ng5 Nxd3 18.
Qxd3 Ne7 19. Be3 Qc6 20. f3 Qd5 21. Qxd5 Bxd5 22. Rxa7 Rxa7 23. Bxa7 Nc6 $10 {
Delchev-Ninov/Bulgaria/30'/ch/1995}) 15. Bd2 O-O 16. Be4 $5 (16. Re1 Rfd8 (
16... Qd8 17. h4 (17. axb4 Nxb4 18. Be4 Bxe4 19. Rxe4 Nd5 {(Radev-Szabo/Albena/
1970/-10/633)} 20. Nd4 $14 {ECO}) 17... Bxh4 18. axb4 Be7 19. Nc5 Nxc5 20. bxc5
Qd7 21. Ng5 Bxg5 22. Bxg5 Bc6 23. Qg4 $16 {Cvitan-Bryson/Debrecen/EM/1992}) 17.
Qb3 Rab8 18. Be4 Bc6 19. axb4 Bxb4 20. Nc3 Qc5 $10 {Uhlmann-Larsen/Monte Carlo/
1968/-5/534/ECO}) 16... Rfd8 (16... f5 $6 17. axb4 Qc7 18. Rc1 Qb8 19. Bb1 Nxe5
20. Nxe5 Qxe5 21. Re1 Qd4 22. Nc5 $16 {Hansen,C-Gurevich/Taastrup/1992/-54/435}
) 17. axb4 Bxb4 18. Bg5 Re8 19. Nc3 Qc7 20. Nxd5 exd5 21. Rc1 Qa5 $10 {
Shneider-Maksimenko/Kherson/1989}) 13. Bb5+ Nd7 14. Bg5 Qa5 {King: Kramnik
correctly decides to delay castling, or indeed, not to castle at all, on
positional grounds.} (14... Be7 $2 {+/=/ECO} 15. Nc5 $16) 15. Bxd7+ (15. Nd4
Ba6 $1 (15... Be7 16. Rc1 Bxg5 17. Bxd7+ Kxd7 18. Nc5+ Ke7 19. Nxb7 Qb6 20.
Nf5+ exf5 (20... Kf8) 21. Qxd5 Bxc1 22. Nd6 Raf8 (22... Rhc8 23. Qxf7+ Kd8 24.
Nb7+ $18) 23. Nxf5+ Ke8 24. Nxg7+ Ke7 25. Nf5+ Ke8 26. O-O $18 Bxb2 27. Rd1 {
1-0/Wells-Muir/Great Britain/ch/1989}) 16. Bc6 Rc8 17. Rc1 b3+ $17 {Hansen,
C-Shirov/Biel/1992}) 15... Kxd7 16. O-O Be7 $5 $146 {King: Kramnik understands
exactly what he has got himself involved  in. The rock solid outpost on d5
ensures that Black's king will not come to any harm, and that is borne out by
the game continuation.} (16... h6 17. Bd2 Bc6 18. b3 Bxa4 19. bxa4 Bc5 20. a3
Rhc8 21. Rb1 Rab8 22. Ne1 $36 {Cvitan-Kharlov/Bern/op/1992}) (16... Bc6 17. b3
Bxa4 18. bxa4 h6 19. Be3 Be7 20. Nd4 Rhc8 21. Qh5 $36 g6 22. Qf3 Ke8 23. Nb5
Qxa4 24. Nd6+ Bxd6 25. exd6 Qd7 26. Bxh6 Qxd6 27. Rfe1 (27. Rad1 Rc3 28. Qe4
Kd7 29. Bd2 (29. Qd4 $5) 29... Rac8 $44 {Cvitan-Shabalov/Biel/op/1992}) 27...
Rc3 28. Qe4 Rac8 29. Rad1 Kd7 30. Qd4 $36 {Balashov-Mariotti/Leningrad/1977/
-24/548}) 17. b3 (17. a3 Rhd8 18. axb4 Qxb4 19. Bd2 Qg4 (19... Qc4 20. Rc1 Qa6
21. Ng5 Ke8 $13) 20. Qb3 Nb6 $13 (20... Rab8 $5)) 17... h6 $1 18. Bxe7 (18. Bd2
Rhc8 $132) 18... Kxe7 19. Nd2 $6 (19. Nb2 Qc7 20. Nc4 Nc3 21. Qd2 Bxf3 22. gxf3
$15) (19. Qd4 $142 Rhd8 20. Qe4 $5 Rab8 21. Qh7 Rh8 $10) 19... Nf4 $1 20. Nc4
Qd5 21. Qxd5 (21. f3 Rhd8 $17) 21... Bxd5 22. Ne3 $15 Rhc8 $6 (22... Rhd8 $5
23. Nb2 Rac8 $15 (23... a5) (23... Ne2+ 24. Kh1 Nc3 $15)) 23. Rfe1 $1 Be4 (
23... Bc6 24. Nb2 Bb5 25. Nec4 $10) 24. f3 Bg6 (24... Bc2) 25. Nc4 $1 Nd3 26.
Red1 $10 Rd8 $10 (26... f6 $1 $10) (26... Rxc4 27. bxc4 Nxe5 $44) 27. a3 $1
bxa3 (27... Rab8 28. axb4 Rxb4 29. Nab2 Nxb2 30. Rxa7+ Ke8 31. Rxd8+ Kxd8 32.
Nxb2 Rxb3 (32... Rb5 33. Nc4) 33. Nc4 Ke8 34. Nd6+ Kf8 $10 35. Ra8+ Ke7 36.
Re8+ Kd7 37. Rg8 Ke7 $10) (27... bxa3 28. Rxa3 f6 $1 $10 (28... a6 $2 29. Nab6
Ra7 30. Rda1 $16) (28... Rab8 29. Nab2 Nxb2 $10 (29... Rd7))) 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Horgen"]
[Site "Horgen"]
[Date "1995.10.28"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B70"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "1995.10.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 050"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. g3 g6 7. Nde2 Bg7 8.
Bg2 O-O 9. O-O Rb8 10. a4 a6 11. Nd5 b5 12. axb5 axb5 13. Be3 b4 14. Ra2 Ng4
15. Bg5 h6 16. Bc1 e6 17. Ne3 b3 18. cxb3 Nge5 19. Bd2 Qb6 20. Bc3 Ba6 21. Qd2
Bxe2 22. Qxe2 Nd4 23. Bxd4 Qxd4 24. Rd1 Qc5 25. Ra6 Rxb3 26. Raxd6 Rxb2 27.
R6d2 Rfb8 28. Rc2 R8b3 29. Rdd2 Rxc2 30. Rxc2 Rb1+ 31. Nf1 Qb6 32. h3 Nc6 33.
Qc4 Nd4 34. Ra2 h5 35. h4 Kh7 36. Kh2 Rb4 37. Qc1 Nc6 38. Ne3 Bh6 39. f4 Rb3
40. Ra3 Rb1 41. Ra6 Qxa6 42. Qxb1 Qe2 43. Nf1 Nd4 44. Qb7 Kg8 45. Qc8+ Bf8 46.
Qc3 Bg7 47. Qe3 Qb2 48. Qd2 Qb3 49. Ne3 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Horgen"]
[Site "Horgen"]
[Date "1995.10.30"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B57"]
[WhiteElo "2795"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[PlyCount "26"]
[EventDate "1995.10.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 050"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nge2 Nf6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 d6 6. Bc4 Qb6 7. Nb3 e6 8.
Bf4 Ne5 9. Be2 Bd7 10. a4 Be7 11. a5 Qc7 12. a6 O-O 13. O-O Rfb8 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Horgen"]
[Site "Horgen"]
[Date "1995.11.01"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "1995.10.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 050"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Tischbierek} d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Bf5 5. Bd3 e6 6. O-O Bg6 7.
Qc2 (7. Ne5 $5) 7... Be7 (7... dxc4 8. Qxc4 Nbd7 $10) 8. Nbd2 Nbd7 9. Bxg6 (9.
e4 $5 dxe4 10. Nxe4) 9... hxg6 10. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Qa5 (11... Nxe4 $5 12. Qxe4
Qa5) 12. Neg5 Qf5 13. Qb3 (13. Qe2 $5 {Weiß behält Kontolle über das Feld d5,
da er auf b7-b5 mit b2-b3 reagieren kann.}) 13... b5 14. Re1 bxc4 15. Qxc4 Qb5
16. Qc2 O-O 17. Bd2 (17. Ne5 Nxe5 18. dxe5 Nd5 19. Ne4 $6 Nb4 $17) 17... Rac8 (
17... a5 {kommt vielleicht in Betracht:} 18. Ne5 (18. a4 Qd5 19. Ne5 Nxe5 20.
dxe5 Nd7 21. Nf3 Nc5 {führt zu einer für Schwarz zufriedenstellenden Stellung.}
) 18... Nxe5 19. dxe5 Nd5 {mit schwer einzuschätzender Stellung.}) 18. b4 $1 {
Weiß verhindert 18...c5. Mit diesem Zug würde Schwarz zwar nicht seine
Bauernstruktur verbessern, aber seine Figuren würden große Aktivität erlangen;
Weiß muß seinen b-Bauern und den Springer auf g5 gedeckt halten. Passiver ist}
(18. Rac1 c5 19. dxc5 Rxc5 (19... Nxc5 20. b4 Nd3 21. Qxc8 Nxe1 22. Qc4 Nxf3+
23. Nxf3 {überläßt dem Weißen einigen Vorteil.}) (19... Bxc5 20. Bc3 {ist
nicht aussichtsreicher für Schwarz.}) 20. Qb1 Rd5 {mit der Absicht Sd7-c5-d3.})
18... Bd8 {Es ist nicht einfach, dem Schwarzen einen Plan zu empfehlen. Auf} (
18... Rfd8 {muß er mit} 19. Nxf7 {rechnen:} Kxf7 20. Ng5+ Kg8 21. Qxg6 Rf8 22.
Nxe6 Rf7 23. Ng5 Rcf8 24. Rac1 $16) (18... a5 19. a4 Qa6 20. bxa5 c5 {sieht
natürlicher aus als der Textzug; der Läufer steht auf b6 nicht sicher.
Andererseits erweist sich die Stellung des Nachziehenden als sehr fest, weil
er Halt auf den weißen Feldern hat; insbesondere ist der Punkt d5 dauerhaft in
seiner Hand.}) (18... Qd5 {kam ebenfalls in Betracht.}) 19. Rac1 Bb6 (19... a5
$2 20. a4 Qf5 21. b5 $16) 20. a4 Qd5 21. Qc4 {Der Zug dient dazu, 21...a5 zu
verhindern.} Rfd8 22. g3 (22. h4 Ng4 $13 {mit der Absicht Sd7-f6. Nach dem
Textzug droht 23.a5 Lc7 24.Dc6:. Der Nachteil des Zuges besteht darin, daß f3
ungedeckt bleibt. Es fällt aber nicht leicht, etwas Besseres zu finden.}) (22.
Rc2 Qf5 {ist nicht überzeugend.}) (22. h3 {nimmt dem Springer g5 ein Feld, das
eventuell nützlich für ihn sein kann.}) 22... Nb8 {Jetzt kann der Springer von
d7 weichen, weil Schwarz Druck gegen den Bauern auf d4 hat, so daß 23.Se5
keinen Erfolg verspricht.} (22... Nf8 $5 23. Be3 N8h7 24. Red1 (24. Nxh7 Qxf3)
(24. a5 Nxg5 25. Nxg5 Bxd4) 24... Nxg5 25. Nxg5 a5 {kam ebenfalls in Betracht.}
) 23. Be3 Ne8 {Der Springer strebt über d6 nach f5. Außerdem muß Weiß Obacht
geben, daß er nicht bei gelegentlichem f7-f6 einen Springer verliert. Diese
Partiephase ist voll schwieriger strategischer Entscheidungen für beide Seiten;
ich habe größte Mühe, den Wert der Züge einzuschätzen.} 24. Qc2 Bc7 (24... a5
$5) (24... Nd6 $5) 25. h4 Qf5 26. Qa2 Qd5 (26... Rd5 27. Ne5 Bxe5 28. dxe5 a6
29. Bf4 $16) 27. Qe2 Bd6 28. Ne5 $5 {Kortschnoj ist des Manövrierens müde und
opfert Material. Ein zaghafteres Gemüt wie ich hätte} (28. Bd2 {gezogen.})
28... f6 (28... Bxe5 29. dxe5 Qxe5 30. Bxa7 $16) (28... Bxb4 29. Ngxf7 Bxe1 30.
Rxe1 $16) 29. Nxg6 $2 (29. Ngf7 {(R.Tischbierek, "Schach" 12/1995, S.32) war
die richtige Fortsetzung:} fxe5 30. Nxd8 exd4 (30... Rxd8 31. dxe5 Qxe5 32.
Bxa7 $16) (30... Bxb4 31. Red1 (31. Nb7 Bxe1 32. Rxe1 exd4 33. Bxd4 $13 {
Tischbierek}) 31... Qxd8 (31... Rxd8 32. dxe5 Qa5 33. Rxd8 Qxd8 34. Bxa7 $16 {
Die Drohung 35.Dg4 ist äußerst lästig für Schwarz.}) 32. dxe5 Qe7 33. Qg4 $16)
31. Bxd4 Rxd8 32. Bxa7 (32. Red1 $5) (32. Rcd1 $5 {In allen Fällen erhält Weiß
starken Druck.})) 29... fxg5 30. hxg5 (30. Bxg5 Nf6 {führt zu Vorteil für
Schwarz.}) 30... Nd7 (30... Bxb4 $5 31. Rb1 (31. Qh5 Nf6) (31. Bd2 Bd6) 31...
Bd6) (30... Qf5 $5 31. Nh4 (31. Qh5 Nf6) 31... Qh3 $17) 31. Bf4 Nf8 32. Nxf8
Kxf8 33. Be5 Bxe5 (33... Bxb4 $5) 34. dxe5 $13 Qd3 (34... g6 35. Red1 Qb3 36.
Rxd8 Rxd8 37. Rxc6 $13) 35. Qh5 Ke7 36. Re3 Qd2 37. Rce1 Rd7 $2 (37... Rd3 $5)
(37... Rd5 $5) (37... Qxb4 {(R.Tischbierek). Alle diese Züge sehen mir recht
gewinnträchtig aus.}) 38. g6 Kd8 39. Qg4 Qd5 40. Rc1 Rcc7 41. Qf4 Qd4 (41... c5
$5) 42. Re4 Qd2 43. Qh4+ Kc8 44. Rcc4 (44. Rec4 $5) 44... Qd1+ 45. Kg2 Qxa4 46.
Qg4 Re7 47. Rc5 Qb3 48. Rd4 Qb1 {Es muß das Ziel des Schwarzen sein, seinen
Springer zu aktivieren, aber dies ist nicht einfach zu erreichen:} (48... Red7
49. Rdc4 {ist nicht günstig für Schwarz.}) (48... Rcd7 {ist auch nicht
genügend zum Sieg:} 49. Rxc6+ Kb7 (49... Nc7 50. Rdd6 $16) 50. Rxe6 (50. Rxd7+
Rxd7 51. Qxe6 (51. Rxe6 Qd5+ 52. Qf3 Qxf3+ 53. Kxf3 Nc7 54. Rd6 (54. Rf6 gxf6
55. exf6 Rd6 56. f7 Rf6+ 57. Kg4 Ne6 58. Kh5 Rxf2 $19) 54... Rxd6 55. exd6 Nd5
{Mir scheint, daß Schwarz gute Gewinnaussichten besitzt.}) 51... Qxe6 52. Rxe6
Nc7 53. Rf6 (53. Rd6 Rxd6 54. exd6 Nd5 $19) 53... gxf6 54. exf6 Ne6 55. f4 Kc6
56. f5 Kd6 57. f7 Rd8 58. f6 Ng5 $19) 50... Qxe6 51. Qxe6 Rxe6 52. Rxd7+ Kb6 (
52... Kc6 53. Rxa7 Rxe5 54. f4 $10) 53. f4 Rxg6 54. Kf3 {läßt den Schwarzen
aber ohne Gewinnchancen.}) 49. Rd6 Qf5 50. Qc4 Qxg6 51. Qa6+ Rb7 52. Qxc6+ Nc7
{Leider ist die Aktivierung des Springers mit dem sofortigen Verlust dieser
Figur verbunden.} 53. Rd8+ Kxd8 54. Qxb7 Ke8 55. Qb8+ (55. Rxc7 Rxc7 56. Qxc7
Qe4+ 57. Kh2 Qh7+ 58. Kg1 Qb1+ 59. Kg2 Qe4+ 60. f3 Qe2+ 61. Kh3 Qxf3 62. Qxa7
Qh1+ $10) 55... Kf7 56. Rxc7 Qe4+ 57. f3 Qe2+ 58. Kh3 Qxf3 59. Rxe7+ Kxe7 60.
Qxa7+ Ke8 61. Qb8+ Kf7 62. Qc7+ Ke8 63. Qc8+ Ke7 64. Qc4 Kd7 65. Qd4+ Ke8
1/2-1/2

[Event "Bundesliga 9596"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "?.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Khalifman, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[PlyCount "21"]
[EventDate "1995.10.14"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "GER-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Empor Berlin"]
[BlackTeam "Duisburg"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d5 6. Qb3 Nc6 7. d4 Ne4 8. Qc2
Nd6 9. cxd5 exd5 10. O-O Bf5 11. Qb3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bundesliga 9596"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "?.1"]
[White "Lutz, Christopher"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B32"]
[WhiteElo "2555"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "1995.10.14"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "GER-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Porz"]
[BlackTeam "Empor Berlin"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb5 d6 6. c4 Be7 7. Be2 f5 8. exf5
Bxf5 9. O-O Nf6 10. Be3 O-O 11. N1c3 a6 12. Na3 Qe8 13. Nd5 Qg6 14. Nxf6+ Qxf6
15. Nb1 Nd4 16. Nc3 Nxe2+ 17. Qxe2 Qg6 18. Rad1 Rae8 19. f3 Kh8 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Bundesliga 9596"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "?.1"]
[White "Rozentalis, Eduardas"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2610"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1995.10.14"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "GER-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Zaehringen"]
[BlackTeam "Empor Berlin"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Be2 e6 7. h3 Bh5 8. c4
Qd8 9. Nc3 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Bxe2 11. Qa4+ Nbd7 12. Ndxe2 Be7 13. O-O O-O 14. Rd1
Qc8 15. Be3 Nb6 16. Bxb6 axb6 17. Qb3 Qc7 18. Rac1 Rfc8 19. Nb5 Qe5 20. Ned4
Bc5 21. a3 Rd8 22. Qc3 Qf4 23. Qf3 Qxf3 24. Nxf3 Ne4 25. Rf1 Rac8 26. b4 Be7
27. Rfd1 Rxd1+ 28. Rxd1 Rxc4 29. Nd2 Nxd2 30. Rxd2 Rc1+ 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2685"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 d5 5. d4 {Bisher spielte Kramnik diese
Variante sehr erfolgreich, aber nur mit Weiss. Sicher hat der weltrangliste
Erster etwas in seiner Tasche.} cxd4 6. Nxd4 dxc4 7. Nxc6 Qxd1+ 8. Nxd1 bxc6 9.
Bg2 Nd5 10. Ne3 e6 11. Nxc4 Ba6 12. b3 Bb4+ 13. Bd2 Ke7 $5 $146 {[#] Diese
Neuerung erleichtert die schwarze Aufgabe.} (13... Bxc4 $6 14. bxc4 Bxd2+ 15.
Kxd2 Ne7 16. Rab1 O-O-O+ 17. Kc3 $14 {Greenfeld,A-Alterman,B/Haifa/1993/INF59
(65)/}) (13... Bxd2+ 14. Nxd2 Nb4 15. Be4 Ke7 16. a3 Nd5 17. Rc1 Rhc8 18. f4 c5
19. Kf2 Rab8 $10 {Gulko,B-Topalov,V/Novgorod/1995/CBM48/INF63,(39)/}) 14. Rc1
Rhc8 $1 {Der Nachziehende soll seine Tuerme auf c8 und auf b8 stellen.} 15.
Bxb4+ Nxb4 16. a3 Nd5 17. e4 Bxc4 $5 (17... Nb6 18. Na5 c5 19. f4 $14) 18. Rxc4
Nb6 19. Rc5 Nd7 20. Rc3 a5 $1 21. Kd2 Ra6 22. f4 f6 23. h4 (23. Bf1 $5) 23...
Rb8 24. Bf1 Rab6 25. Kc2 a4 26. b4 c5 $5 27. b5 {Ribli} (27. bxc5 Rb2+ 28. Kd3
R8b3 $44) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A73"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 Na6 7. Nd2 c5 8. d5 e6
9. O-O exd5 10. cxd5 Nc7 11. a4 Nfe8 12. Nc4 f5 13. f3 Qe7 14. Bf4 g5 15. Bg3
f4 16. Bf2 b6 17. Re1 Ba6 18. e5 Bxc4 19. exd6 Nxd6 20. Bxc4 Qd7 21. Ba2 Rae8
22. Qd3 Kh8 23. Rxe8 Rxe8 24. Rd1 Bf6 25. Bb1 Re7 26. h3 Nce8 27. Bc2 Be5 28.
Re1 Nf6 29. a5 Bd4 30. Re2 Bxf2+ 31. Kxf2 b5 32. b4 Rxe2+ 33. Qxe2 cxb4 34. Qe5
Nde8 35. Ne4 Qxd5 36. Qe7 Nxe4+ 37. Bxe4 Qd4+ 38. Kf1 Qd1+ 39. Kf2 Qd4+ 40. Kf1
Nf6 41. Qf8+ Ng8 42. Qa8 b3 43. Bd5 Qg7 44. Bxb3 $2 {The moves given in the
bulletin look strange.} Qa1+ 45. Kf2 Qd4+ $2 {Instead of giving a perpetual
Black can win easily win the Bb3.} (45... Qb2+ $142 $1 $19) 46. Kf1 Qa1+ $2 (
46... Qd3+ $142 $1 $19) 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Miladinovic, Igor"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2555"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. O-O Nge7 5. c3 a6 6. Be2 d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. d4
cxd4 9. Nxd4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Bd7 11. Bf3 Bc6 12. Nd2 Qc7 13. Nc4 Rd8 14. Rd1 f6
15. Qg4 Kf7 16. Re1 Re8 17. a4 g6 18. Bd2 h5 19. Qg3 Qxg3 20. hxg3 Rd8 21. Na5
Nb4 22. Nxc6 Nxc6 23. Be3 Be7 24. Red1 Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1 Rd8 26. Rxd8 Bxd8 27. b4
Ke8 28. Be4 f5 29. Bxc6+ bxc6 30. Bd4 Bc7 31. Kf1 e5 32. Bc5 Kd7 33. Ke2 g5
1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[Annotator "Shirov,A"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 c6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Bd2
Qe7 9. O-O dxc4 10. Bxc4 b5 $146 (10... e5 {Bagirov,V - Mukhametov,E, Erfurt
1994 - 62/481}) 11. Bd3 Bb7 12. e4 $1 (12. Ng5 h6 13. Nge4 Bxh2+ 14. Kxh2 Ng4+
15. Kg3 (15. Kg1 Qh4 16. Rfe1 f5 17. Ng3 c5 $1 $40) 15... f5 16. f3 fxe4 17.
Nxe4 Ngf6 $13) 12... e5 13. Ne2 c5 $2 14. Ng3 g6 (14... c4 $2 15. Nf5 Qe6 16.
d5 Qxf5 (16... cxd3 17. dxe6 dxc2 18. Nxd6 $18) 17. exf5 cxd3 18. Qxd3 e4 19.
Qxb5 $18) 15. dxe5 Nxe5 16. Bxb5 $16 Nfg4 $8 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. Bc3 Qh4 19. h3 {
[#]} Ne3 20. fxe3 Qxg3 (20... Bxg3 21. Bd3 $16) 21. Bxe5 Qxe5 22. Rf4 Kg7 23.
Rc1 Rac8 24. Qc3 Qxc3 25. Rxc3 Rfd8 26. Ra3 g5 27. Rf2 Rd1+ 28. Kh2 Ra8 29. Bc4
Rd7 30. e5 Be4 31. Ra6 Re7 32. e6 fxe6 33. Rxe6 Rxe6 34. Bxe6 Rd8 35. Bf5 Rf8
36. g4 h5 37. Kg3 $2 (37. Kg1 Bxf5 (37... Bd5 38. e4 $1 Bxa2 39. b4 $18 {Muse})
38. Rxf5 Rxf5 39. gxf5 Kf6 40. e4 a5 41. Kf2 Ke5 42. Ke3 Kf6 43. h4 $1 g4 44.
Kf4 Ke7 45. e5 Kf7 46. e6+ Kf6 47. Ke4 a4 48. Kf4 Kg7 49. Ke5 g3 50. f6+ Kg6
51. e7 Kf7 52. Kd6 g2 53. Kd7 g1=Q 54. e8=Q+ Kxf6 55. Qh8+ $18) 37... h4+ 38.
Kh2 Re8 39. Bxe4 Rxe4 40. Rf5 Kg6 $10 41. Rxc5 Rxe3 42. Rb5 Kf6 43. a4 a6 44.
Rf5+ Kg6 45. b4 Re4 46. Ra5 Rxb4 47. Rxa6+ Kg7 48. a5 Rb3 49. Kg2 Rb2+ (49...
Ra3 $2 50. Ra7+ Kf6 51. Ra8 Kg7 $2 52. a6 Kh7 53. a7 Kg7 54. Kf2 Kh7 55. Ke2
Kg7 56. Kd2 Kh7 57. Kc2 Kg7 58. Kb2 Ra6 59. Kc3 Ra1 60. Kb4 Rb1+ 61. Kc5 Ra1
62. Kc6 $1 Rc1+ (62... Ra2 63. Rd8 Rxa7 64. Rd7+ Rxd7 65. Kxd7 Kf6 66. Kd6 $18)
63. Kd6 Rd1+ 64. Ke6 Ra1 (64... Re1+ 65. Kf5 $18) 65. Rd8 Ra6+ 66. Rd6 Rxa7 67.
Rd7+ $18) 50. Kg1 Rb1+ 51. Kg2 Rb2+ 52. Kf3 Rb3+ 53. Ke4 Rxh3 54. Kf5 Rf3+ 55.
Kxg5 h3 56. Rg6+ Kf7 57. Rh6 Kg7 58. Rg6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B64"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[Annotator "Leko,P"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 051"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Johnson Romero Boensch Kramnik} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5.
Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8. O-O-O O-O 9. f4 h6 10. Bh4 Qb6 $6 (10... e5 {
Romero}) 11. Nxc6 $1 {N A logical novelty.} (11. Nf3 Rd8 12. Qe1 Bd7 13. Bd3
Rac8 14. Rg1 Nb4 15. Kb1 e5 16. g4 exf4 17. g5 $40 {Matulovic,M-Indjic,D
JUG-chT Tivat (08) 1995 1-0 42 - EXP 48}) (11. Bf2 Qc7 (11... Qa5 12. Kb1 Bd7
13. Nb3 Qc7 14. Be2 Na5 15. Nxa5 Qxa5 16. Bf3 Qc7 17. e5 Ne8 18. f5 Bg5 19.
exd6 Qa5 20. Be3 Bxe3 21. Qxe3 exf5 22. Nd5 $16 {Ivanov,AV-Gurevich,D USA-ch 
(07) 1993 1/2 45}) 12. Be2 e5 (12... Rd8 13. Bf3 a6 14. Kb1 d5 $2 15. e5 Nd7
16. Nce2 Nb6 17. b3 Bd7 18. h4 Rac8 19. g4 Nxd4 20. Bxd4 Bb5 21. g5 $40 {
Gruenfeld,Y-Fishbein,A New York op (05) 1994 1-0 34}) 13. Nf5 (13. Ndb5 Qb8 14.
f5 a6 15. Nxd6 $2 Rd8 16. Bc5 Ne8 $19) 13... Bxf5 14. exf5 d5 15. fxe5 (15.
Nxd5 {Boensch} Nxd5 16. Qxd5 Rac8 $1 $10) 15... Qxe5 16. Bg3 Qxf5 17. Nxd5 Ne4
$1 18. Nxe7+ Nxe7 $10 {Ziadinov,R-Gurevich,D Bern op (03) 1995 0-1 26 - EXP 46}
(18... Nxe7 {Romero} 19. Qd7 Qg5+ 20. Kb1 Nf5 {Ziatdinov-Gurevich,D Bern 1995.
And the black knights are becoming dangerous.})) 11... bxc6 (11... Qxc6 12. Bd3
$16) 12. e5 (12. Bxf6 $2 Bxf6 13. Na4 Qb7 14. Qxd6 e5 $1 (14... Rd8 {Boensch}
15. Qa3 Rxd1+ 16. Kxd1 e5 17. f5 $14) 15. fxe5 (15. f5 {Boensch} Rd8 16. Qxd8+
Bxd8 17. Rxd8+ Kh7 $15) 15... Rd8 16. Qxd8+ Bxd8 17. Rxd8+ Kh7 $17) 12... dxe5
13. fxe5 Ne4 (13... Rb8 $2 14. Na4 $1) (13... Rd8 {Boensch} 14. Bd3 Ne4 15.
Nxe4 Bxh4 16. Qf4 $14) 14. Nxe4 Bxh4 15. Qf4 $1 $36 Be7 16. Bd3 {Romero: Now,
the white bishop and knight seem to be stronger than the pair of black bishops.
Kramnik is undeveloped and white's attack looks promising.} Rb8 17. b3 Qc7 (
17... Ba6 18. Nf6+ $1 Kh8 (18... gxf6 19. exf6 Ba3+ 20. Kb1) 19. Qe4 Bxd3 20.
Rxd3 g6 (20... gxf6 21. Qf4 Kh7 22. Rh3 $18) 21. Rh3 Kg7 22. Rxh6 $18) (17...
Qb4 {Boensch} 18. Kb1 a5 $132) (17... Ba6 $5 {Boensch}) (17... Kh8 {Romero} 18.
Kb1 c5 19. Nf6 $16) (17... Qb4 $142 $1 {Romero, Kramnik: This is the only
possibility for counterplay, avoiding the threat Nf6.}) 18. Kb1 $1 (18. Rhf1 f5
$1 19. exf6 Qxf4+ 20. Rxf4 gxf6 $13) 18... c5 {* Romero: Probably there is no
solution.} (18... f6 $2 19. Nd6 $1 fxe5 20. Qe4 Bxd6 21. Qh7+ Kf7 22. Rhf1+ Ke8
23. Bg6+ $18) (18... Rd8 19. Rhf1 Bf8 20. Nd6 $1 $16 (20. Rf3 $18 {Romero /
\Rg3,Nf6,Qh6 and mate.})) (18... f5 {Boensch} 19. Nd6 Rd8 20. Bc4 $16) (18...
Kh8 {Boensch} 19. Nd6 f5 20. g4 $40) 19. Nf6+ $1 Kh8 (19... gxf6 $2 20. Qxh6 (
20. Qg4+ {Boensch} Kh8 21. exf6 Rg8 (21... Bxf6 22. Qe4 $18) 22. Qe4 Rg6 23.
fxe7 Qxe7 24. Qe5+ $18) 20... f5 21. g4 (21. Bxf5 {Romero} exf5 22. Rd3 f4 23.
Rg3+) 21... Qxe5 22. gxf5 Bf6 23. Rhg1+ Bg7 24. f6 $1 $18) (19... Bxf6 $5 20.
Qe4 Rd8 $5 (20... g6 {Boensch} 21. exf6 Bb7 (21... Rd8 {Romero} 22. Qh4 Qe5 23.
Bxg6 Rxd1+ 24. Rxd1 fxg6 25. Rd8+ Kf7 26. Qxh6 $18) 22. Qe3 $1 (22. Qg4 Kh8 (
22... Kh7 23. h4)) 22... Kh7 23. h4 c4 (23... Bxg2 24. h5 Bxh1 25. Rxh1 Rh8 26.
hxg6+ Kg8 27. g7 $18) 24. h5 cxd3 25. hxg6+ Kg8 26. Rxd3 Rbc8 27. Qxh6 Qxc2+
28. Ka1 $18) 21. Qh7+ Kf8 22. exf6 gxf6 23. Bg6 $1 $16) 20. Qe4 {Romero:
forcing 20...g6 which is a very serious weakening of Black's King position;
not only are the advanced g and h pawns targets but the f6 square is now a
permanent outpost for White's pieces.} g6 21. h4 Bb7 22. Qf4 Kg7 23. Ng4 (23.
Rdf1 $5) 23... Rh8 (23... g5 $2 24. hxg5 Bxg5 25. Qf6+ $1 Bxf6 26. exf6+ Kg8
27. Nxh6+ Kh8 28. Ng4+ Kg8 29. Bh7+ Kh8 30. Bg6+ Kg8 31. Nh6+ Kh8 32. Nxf7+ Kg8
33. Rh8#) 24. Rdf1 Rbf8 25. Nf6 {With the threat Ne8]} Qd8 $8 (25... Bxg2 26.
Ne8+ $1 $18) 26. Qg3 {/\Nh5} h5 {Romero: White threatened 9.Nh5+ Kh7 (9...Kg8
10. Bxg6) 10.Nf4 with the double threat of 11.h5 and 11.Nxg6 White threatened
9.Nh5+ Kh7 (9...Kg8 10. Bxg6) 10.Nf4 with the double threat of 11.h5 and 11.
Nxg6} (26... Qd4 27. Nh5+ Kg8 28. Bxg6 $1 $18) (26... c4 $4 {Boensch} 27. Nh5+
Kg8 (27... Kh7 28. Rxf7+ Rxf7 29. Qxg6#) 28. Bxg6 $18) 27. Qg5 {Black is
totally hopeless. White can whatever he want.} (27. Nxh5+ $5 Rxh5 28. Rxf7+
Rxf7 29. Qxg6+ Kf8 30. Qxh5) 27... Rh7 28. Rf4 (28. Nxh5+ $1 Rxh5 29. Rxf7+
Rxf7 30. Qxg6+ Kf8 31. Qxh5 {would have been a much quicker way to win}) 28...
Kh8 29. Rhf1 Bxf6 (29... Qc7 {Boensch} 30. g4 hxg4 31. Rxg4 Rh5 (31... Qd8 32.
h5 Bxf6 (32... Rxh5 33. Rh4 $18) 33. Rxf6 c4 34. hxg6 cxd3 (34... Rh1+ 35. Rg1
$18) 35. g7+ Kg8 36. gxf8=Q+ $18) 32. Qxh5+ gxh5 33. Rg5 $18) 30. Rxf6 Rg8 31.
g3 (31. Rxf7 $2 {Boensch} Qxg5 (31... Rxf7 {Romero} 32. Rxf7 Qxg5 33. hxg5 Bxg2
$132) 32. hxg5 Bxg2 $13) 31... Qe7 32. Qf4 Rgg7 33. Rf2 Bd5 34. Kb2 {Romero:
Black has no useful moves. The queen cannot move because must defend the tacti
cal blow Bxg6.} Bc6 35. Bc4 Bb7 (35... Bd5 {Boensch} 36. Bxd5 exd5 37. e6 fxe6
38. Qe5 Rh6 39. Rf7 $18) 36. Rd2 {The pawn on e5 support the penetration of
the rook.} Rg8 37. Rd6 Qe8 $6 $138 (37... Qc7 $16) 38. Qf2 $18 Be4 39. Qxc5 Qe7
40. Qd4 Bf5 41. Rd7 Qe8 42. Qxa7 Rf8 43. a4 Kg8 44. a5 Qc8 45. a6 Qc6 46. Qc7
Qg2 47. Bxe6 $1 Bxe6 (47... fxe6 {Johnson} 48. Rxe6) 48. Rxe6 1-0

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1995.11.09"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A38"]
[WhiteElo "2395"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 049 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. g3 d6 6. Bg2 Bd7 7. O-O g6 8. Nc3
Bg7 9. Nc2 O-O 10. b3 a6 11. Bb2 Qa5 12. a4 Ng4 13. Qd2 Qh5 14. h3 Nf6 15. Kh2
Ne5 16. Ne3 Bh6 17. f4 Neg4+ 18. Nxg4 Nxg4+ 19. Kh1 Nf6 20. Kh2 Qa5 21. Ne4
Qxd2 22. Nxd2 Bc6 23. Bxf6 exf6 24. Ne4 Bxe4 25. Bxe4 Rab8 26. Rfd1 f5 27. Bf3
Rfd8 28. Rd5 Bf8 29. Rad1 Re8 30. R1d3 h5 31. Kg2 b6 32. Kf2 Kg7 33. h4 Kg8 34.
Re3 Rec8 35. Red3 Re8 36. Re3 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1995.11.11"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B32"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[PlyCount "132"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 049 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb5 d6 6. c4 Be7 7. N1c3 a6 8. Na3
Be6 9. Nc2 Rc8 10. b3 Nf6 11. Bd3 O-O 12. O-O Nd7 13. Bb2 Nc5 14. Ne3 Bg5 15.
Ncd5 Nd4 16. Re1 b5 17. cxb5 axb5 18. Bxd4 exd4 19. Nf5 Bxd5 20. exd5 Bf6 21.
Bxb5 d3 22. Rc1 g6 23. Ng3 Qa5 24. Bxd3 Qxa2 25. Bc4 Qa5 26. Ne4 Nxe4 27. Rxe4
Rfe8 28. Rxe8+ Rxe8 29. g3 Qb6 30. Kg2 Bd4 31. Rc2 Kg7 32. Bb5 Qxb5 33. Qxd4+
Kg8 34. Rc6 Qxb3 35. Rxd6 Qc2 36. Rd7 Qf5 37. Rc7 Qe4+ 38. Qxe4 Rxe4 39. Kf3
Rd4 40. Rc5 Kf8 41. Ke3 Rd1 42. Ke4 Rd2 43. Ke5 Rxf2 44. Rc8+ Ke7 45. Rc7+ Kd8
46. Ra7 Rf5+ 47. Kd6 Rf6+ 48. Kc5 Rf2 49. Kc6 Rxh2 50. Rxf7 Ke8 51. Ra7 Rc2+
52. Kd6 h5 53. Rg7 Ra2 54. Ke6 Re2+ 55. Kf6 Rd2 56. Ke5 Re2+ 57. Kd6 Ra2 58.
Kc6 Ra6+ 59. Kc5 Kf8 60. Rc7 Ra5+ 61. Kc6 Ra6+ 62. Kc5 Ra3 63. d6 Ke8 64. Rg7
Rxg3 65. Kc6 Rc3+ 66. Kd5 Rd3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1995.11.11"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B57"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 049 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 Qb6 7. Ndb5 a6 8.
Be3 Qa5 9. Nd4 Ne5 10. Nb3 Qc7 11. Be2 e6 12. f4 Nc4 13. Bxc4 Qxc4 14. Qf3 Bd7
15. O-O-O Rc8 16. Bd4 b5 17. a3 Be7 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. f5 h5 20. Qg3 b4 21. axb4
Qxb4 22. Rd4 Qb6 23. Rhd1 h4 24. Qg7 Rf8 25. Kb1 a5 26. fxe6 fxe6 27. R1d3 Qc7
28. Nd2 Qc5 29. Nc4 Rc6 30. b3 Qg5 31. Qxg5 fxg5 32. Nb5 Rf1+ 33. Rd1 Rxd1+ 34.
Rxd1 d5 35. exd5 exd5 36. Rxd5 Be6 37. Nbd6+ Kd7 38. Ne5+ Kc7 39. Ne8+ Kb6 40.
Nxc6 Bxd5 41. Nxe7 Bxg2 42. Nf6 Bf3 43. Nf5 1-0

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

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

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1995.11.12"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Lautier, Joel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D32"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 049 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. a3 Bc5 7. e3 O-O 8. Be2
d5 9. cxd5 exd5 10. O-O Bd6 11. b4 Ne5 12. Bb2 a6 13. Qb3 Bc7 14. Rfd1 Qd6 15.
g3 Be6 16. Rac1 Qe7 17. b5 Bd6 18. Bf1 Bg4 19. Be2 Be6 20. Bf1 Rfd8 21. Bg2 Nc4
22. Nxd5 Bxd5 23. Nf5 Qd7 24. Bxf6 Bxg2 25. Qxc4 Qxf5 26. Bxd8 axb5 27. Qh4 Be4
28. Rd4 Ra4 29. Be7 Rxd4 30. exd4 h6 31. Bxd6 Qf3 32. Kf1 Bd3+ 33. Kg1 Be4 34.
Kf1 Bd3+ 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1995.11.12"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2795"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 049 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. d5 a5 8. Bg5 h6
9. Bh4 Na6 10. O-O Qe8 11. Nd2 Nh7 12. a3 f5 13. f3 Bd7 14. b4 axb4 15. axb4
Nxb4 16. Qb3 c5 17. dxc6 Nxc6 18. c5+ Kh8 19. cxd6 Nd4 20. Qxb7 Rb8 21. Qa6 Rc8
22. Bc4 Rc6 23. Qa2 Rxd6 24. Bd5 g5 25. Bf2 g4 26. exf5 gxf3 27. Nxf3 Bxf5 28.
Ne4 Bxe4 29. Bxe4 Nf6 30. Bb7 Ng4 31. Rae1 Qh5 32. Bg3 Nf5 33. Nxe5 Nxg3 34.
Rxf8+ Bxf8 35. Nxg4 Rd1 36. Rxd1 Bc5+ 37. Qf2 Bxf2+ 38. Nxf2 Ne2+ 39. Kh1 Nc3
40. Rd8+ Kg7 41. Bf3 Qb5 42. Rd3 Qb1+ 43. Bd1 Qb2 44. Kg1 Qc1 45. h3 h5 46. Kh2
h4 47. Bf3 Qc2 48. Rd7+ Kf8 49. Ng4 Qc1 50. Rd4 Nb5 51. Rd5 Qf4+ 52. Kh1 Nd4
53. Ne5 Qc1+ 54. Kh2 Qc7 55. Rc5 Nxf3+ 56. gxf3 Qb8 57. Kg1 Qb4 58. Nd3 Qd4+
59. Kg2 Qxd3 60. Rc8+ Kf7 61. Kf2 Qd7 62. Rc2 Qxh3 63. Ke3 Qg3 64. Rc4 h3 65.
Rf4+ Qxf4+ 0-1

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1995.11.12"]
[Round "4.3"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2795"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 049 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. Nc3 d6 6. h3 Bd7 7. Re1 Nf6 8. Bxc6
Bxc6 9. e5 dxe5 10. Nxe5 Rc8 11. d3 O-O 12. Bg5 Re8 13. Qd2 Nd7 14. Nxc6 Rxc6
15. Bh6 Nf8 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Ne4 b6 18. a4 Qd4 19. a5 Ne6 20. axb6 axb6 21. b3
b5 22. Ng5 Nxg5 23. Qxg5 Re6 24. Qd2 Rxe1+ 25. Qxe1 Qb2 26. Qb1 Qxb1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "PCA/Intel-GP"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1995.11.12"]
[Round "4.4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2795"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "1995.11.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 049 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. d5 a5 8. Bg5 h6
9. Bh4 Na6 10. O-O Qe8 11. Nd2 Nh7 12. a3 h5 13. f3 Bd7 14. b3 f5 15. Rb1 Nc5
16. Nb5 Bxb5 17. cxb5 Bh6 18. exf5 gxf5 19. b6 cxb6 20. Nc4 Qg6 21. Be7 Rf7 22.
Bxd6 Rg7 23. Rf2 e4 24. Bxc5 bxc5 25. fxe4 fxe4 26. d6 Nf6 27. Qf1 Nd7 28. Rd1
b5 29. Rd5 bxc4 30. Bxh5 Qe6 31. bxc4 Be3 0-1

[Event "EU-Cup 11th final"]
[Site "Ljubljana"]
[Date "1995.11.30"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Almasi, Zoltan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B65"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[Annotator "Chekhov,V"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1995.11.30"]
[EventType "team-k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "SLO"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Budapest Honved"]
[BlackTeam "Berlin SV Empor"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "HUN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8.
O-O-O O-O 9. f4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Qa5 11. Bc4 Bd7 12. e5 dxe5 13. fxe5 Bc6 14. Bd2
Nd7 15. Nd5 Qc5 16. Nxe7+ Qxe7 17. Rhe1 Rfd8 18. Qg4 Nf8 19. Bd3 Rxd3 (19...
Qc7 $6 20. Bb4 Bd5 21. Kb1 Rac8 22. Bd6 Qc6 23. b3 b5 24. Re3 Ng6 25. h4 f5 26.
Qg5 Rd7 27. h5 Nf8 28. Rd2 Rf7 29. Rf2 h6 30. Qf4 Nh7 31. g4 $16 {Tatai,
S-Epishin,V/Reggio Emilia/1995/1|0/42/}) 20. cxd3 Qd7 21. Bb4 (21. Kb1 $6 Qxd3+
22. Ka1 h5 23. Qxh5 Ba4 24. Bc3 Bxd1 25. Rxd1 Qe4 $15 {Hracek,Z-Leko,P/Brno/
1993/0,5/44/}) 21... Qd5 22. Bxf8 Rxf8 23. Kb1 Qxg2 24. Qxg2 (24. Qh4 g6 25.
Re3 Bd5 26. Rh3 h5 27. Rc1 Qd2 28. b3 a5 $132 {Psakhis,L-Greenfeld,A/Tel Aviv/
1991/0,5/37/}) 24... Bxg2 25. Rg1 $5 {N/} (25. Rc1 Bc6 26. Kc2 (26. Rc4 f5 27.
exf6 Rxf6 28. h4 h6 29. Rg1 Kf7 $132 {Georgiev,Kir-Gurevich,D/Palma de Majorca/
1989/0,5/59/}) 26... f5 27. exf6 Rxf6 28. Rf1 Rh6 29. Rf2 Rh3 30. Kc3 h6 31.
Kd4 Kh7 32. b3 g5 33. Rcf1 Kg6 (33... Bd5 $5) 34. Rf6+ Kh5 35. Rxe6 $16 {
Adams, M-Kramnik,V/Moscow/1994/0,5/54/}) 25... Bc6 26. Kc2 f5 27. exf6 Rxf6 28.
Rdf1 Rh6 29. Rf2 Rh4 (29... Rh3 30. Kc3 h6 31. Rg3 $14) 30. Kc3 Bd5 31. a3 h6
32. b4 (32. Rg3 g5 33. h3 $14) 32... a6 33. a4 (33. Rg3 $5) 33... g5 34. Rgf1
g4 $1 $10 35. Rg1 Kh7 36. Rg3 Bf3 37. Kd4 (37. h3 $5 h5 (37... gxh3 38. Rgxf3
h2 39. Rxh2 Rxh2 40. Rf7+ Kg6 41. Rxb7 $16) 38. a5 Kh6 39. Kd2 gxh3 $1 40.
Rfxf3 h2 41. Rf6+ $10) 37... Rh5 38. h3 Rd5+ 39. Ke3 Re5+ 40. Kd2 h5 41. hxg4
hxg4 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-Cup 11th final"]
[Site "Ljubljana"]
[Date "1995.12.02"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B52"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[PlyCount "21"]
[EventDate "1995.11.30"]
[EventType "team-k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "SLO"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Berlin SV Empor"]
[BlackTeam "Zemun Agrouniverzal"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "SRB"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Nc6 7. d4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Qg4 9. O-O Qxd1 10. Rxd1 Nxd4 11. Rxd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Chess Classics"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 d5 5. O-O O-O 6. Bf4 c6 7. Qc1 Bf5 8. c4
Nbd7 9. Rd1 Rc8 10. Bh6 Bxb1 11. Bxg7 Kxg7 12. Rxb1 Qc7 13. b3 Rfe8 14. Qa3 Qb8
15. Rbc1 e6 16. Ne1 Red8 17. Nd3 a6 18. e3 Ne8 19. f3 Qd6 20. Qb2 Nf8 21. e4
dxe4 22. Nc5 Qe7 23. Nxe4 Nf6 24. Re1 Nxe4 25. fxe4 e5 26. d5 c5 27. Rc3 Rd6
28. Rf3 Rf6 29. Rd3 b6 30. h4 Rd8 31. Bh3 h5 32. Kg2 Nh7 33. Qd2 a5 34. a3 Rfd6
35. Rf3 Rf6 36. Rd3 Rfd6 37. Rf1 Rf6 38. Rb1 Rfd6 39. Qc3 Nf6 40. Re3 Ra8 41.
Re2 Ne8 42. b4 axb4 43. axb4 Rf6 44. bxc5 bxc5 45. Qe3 Ra4 46. Rc2 Qa7 47. Qc3
Qc7 48. Rcb2 Ra7 49. Kh1 Nd6 50. Bg2 Ne8 51. Rb8 Qe7 52. Qe3 Rfa6 53. R8b5 Ra5
54. R1b2 Nd6 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Chess Classics"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5
9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O Nbd7 11. d5 cxd5 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Nxb5 a6 14. Nbd4 Bg7 15.
Bxc4 O-O 16. Re1 Rc8 17. Rc1 Qb6 18. Qd2 Rfe8 19. Nf5 exf5 20. Bxd5 Nf6 21.
Rxc8 Rxc8 22. Bxb7 Qxb7 23. Be5 Ne4 24. Qd4 Bf8 25. Qd3 Bc5 26. Bd4 Rd8 27. Qe3
Bb4 28. Re2 Qd5 29. a3 Bd6 30. h3 Bf4 31. Qd3 Nc5 32. Qc3 Ne6 33. Bf6 Rb8 34.
g3 Bd6 35. Rd2 Qc5 36. b4 Qxc3 37. Bxc3 Bc7 38. Ne5 f4 39. g4 Nf8 40. Nd7 Rb6
1-0

[Event "Chess Classics"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O Nxd4 9. Qxd4 Be7 10. f4 b5 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Be2 Qc7 13. Bf3 Bb7 14. f5
h5 15. Kb1 Qc5 16. Qd2 O-O-O 17. a3 Kb8 18. Qe2 h4 19. Rhe1 Qe5 20. Qf2 Rc8 21.
Nd5 Bd8 22. Nb4 Ba5 23. Qd4 Qxd4 24. Rxd4 Rcd8 25. h3 Rhg8 26. Bg4 e5 27. Rd3
d5 28. exd5 Bxb4 29. axb4 Rxd5 30. Rxd5 Bxd5 31. Re2 Kc7 32. Kc1 Kd6 33. Kd2
Rc8 34. c3 Rc4 35. Rf2 Rc8 36. Kc1 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Chess Classics Final"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. O-O Nge7 5. b3 a6 6. Bxc6 Nxc6 7. Bb2 b5 8. c4
bxc4 9. bxc4 Rb8 10. Bc3 Qc7 11. d3 Rg8 12. Nbd2 g5 13. Ne1 Rg6 14. Nc2 Bd6 15.
Qh5 h6 16. Nf3 Bb7 17. Ne3 Ne5 18. Nxe5 Bxe5 19. Bxe5 Qxe5 20. Rab1 Qd6 21. Ng4
Bc6 22. Rxb8+ Qxb8 23. Nxh6 Qb2 24. Ng4 d6 25. e5 Qd4 26. Qh8+ Ke7 27. exd6+
Qxd6 28. Ne5 Rf6 29. Re1 Be8 30. Qh3 Qd4 31. Qe3 Rf4 32. g3 Rf5 33. g4 Rf4 34.
Ng6+ 1-0

[Event "Chess Classics Final"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd2 O-O 8. Bd3
dxc4 9. Bxc4 e5 10. O-O Qe7 11. Bb3 e4 12. Ng5 Bxh2+ 13. Kxh2 Ng4+ 14. Kg1 Qxg5
15. Qxe4 Ndf6 16. Qf4 Qh4 17. f3 g5 18. Be1 Qh6 19. Qd6 Nxe3 20. Ne4 Be6 21.
Bxe6 Nxe4 22. Bxf7+ Kg7 23. Qe5+ Kxf7 24. fxe4+ Nxf1 25. Bb4 Qh2+ 26. Qxh2 Nxh2
27. Bxf8 Rxf8 28. Kxh2 Ke6 29. Re1 Rf2 30. Kg3 Rxb2 31. Rh1 Rb4 32. Rh6+ Kf7
33. Rxh7+ Ke6 34. Rh6+ Kf7 35. Rd6 Ke7 36. e5 Ra4 37. Kg4 c5 38. Kxg5 Rxd4 39.
Rxd4 cxd4 40. Kf4 Ke6 41. Ke4 d3 42. Kxd3 Kxe5 43. Kc4 Kf4 44. Kc5 Kg3 45. Kd6
Kxg2 46. Kc7 b5 47. Kb7 b4 48. Kxa7 Kf3 49. Kb6 Ke4 50. Kc5 Ke5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Frankfurt west sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Auer"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2085"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8.
e3 d6 9. Nf3 Nbd7 10. Bd3 h6 11. Bh4 c5 12. b4 cxd4 13. exd4 Rc8 14. O-O Bxf3
15. gxf3 Qc7 16. Rac1 Nh5 17. Qd2 e5 18. Bg3 exd4 19. Be4 Ndf6 20. Qxd4 Nxg3
21. hxg3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Frankfurt west sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Beikert, Juergen"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2250"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 e6 6. e3 Be7 7. a3 O-O 8. b4
d5 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Bb2 e5 11. Qc2 Bg4 12. Be2 Qc8 13. h3 Bf5 14. Bd3 Bxd3 15.
Qxd3 Rd8 16. O-O Qe6 17. c5 Nd7 18. Ne2 Bf6 19. Rfd1 Nf8 20. Qc2 Ng6 21. Rd2
Nh4 22. Rad1 Be7 23. Ng3 f5 24. f4 exf4 25. exf4 Qe3+ 26. Kh2 Qxf4 27. Re2 Qc7
28. Be5 Qd7 29. Nh5 Bf8 30. Rd3 Ng6 31. Bd4 Re8 32. Rf2 Re4 33. Qc3 Rae8 34.
Rdf3 Qc7+ 35. Kg1 Nh4 36. Rg3 Re1+ 37. Kh2 Ng6 38. Rxf5 Rd1 39. Bf2 Re5 40.
Rxf8+ Kxf8 41. Qf3+ Kg8 42. Qxd1 Rf5 43. Qd4 Rxh5 44. Kg1 Rf5 45. Re3 Qf7 46.
Bg3 h5 47. Qd1 Kh7 48. Qe2 Qf6 49. Re6 Qa1+ 50. Kh2 Qxa3 51. Rxc6 Qxb4 52. Qe6
Rg5 53. Rc8 h4 54. Qg8+ Kh6 55. Bf2 Qf4+ 56. Kg1 Qf3 57. g3 Qd1+ 58. Kg2 0-1

[Event "Frankfurt west sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Drill, Frank J"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B15"]
[WhiteElo "2065"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. f3 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. Be3 dxe4 6. fxe4 e5 7. dxe5 Qxd1+ 8.
Rxd1 Nd7 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bh4 g5 11. e6 gxh4 12. exd7+ Bxd7 13. Bc4 O-O-O 14. Bxf7
Ne7 15. Nge2 Bg4 16. Rxd8+ Rxd8 17. h3 Bd7 18. O-O Rf8 19. Rf3 Kc7 20. Kf2 b5
21. Ke3 Nc8 22. Bh5 Rxf3+ 23. Bxf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Frankfurt west sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dymmke"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2085"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. Bd3 c5
8. O-O cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bc5 10. Nf3 O-O 11. Qe2 h6 12. c4 b6 13. Bf4 Bb7 14. Rad1
Qe7 15. Ne5 Rfd8 16. a3 a5 17. Rd2 Rd4 18. Be3 Rd6 19. Rfd1 Rad8 20. Bf4 Rd4
21. Be3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Frankfurt west sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Goetsche, Frank"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "1750"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Qe7 5. a3 Bxd2+ 6. Nbxd2 d5 7. e3 O-O 8.
Qc2 b6 9. b4 c5 10. bxc5 bxc5 11. cxd5 cxd4 12. dxe6 dxe3 13. exf7+ Kh8 14.
fxe3 Qxe3+ 15. Be2 Ba6 16. Nc4 Bxc4 17. Qxc4 Nbd7 18. Qd4 Qxd4 19. Nxd4 Rxf7
1/2-1/2

[Event "Frankfurt west sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Haas, Frank Martin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E69"]
[WhiteElo "2260"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O d6 6. c4 Nbd7 7. Nc3 e5 8. e4
c6 9. h3 Re8 10. Re1 exd4 11. Nxd4 Nc5 12. Rb1 a5 13. b3 Bd7 14. Bf4 Qc7 15. a3
Nh5 16. Be3 Qc8 17. Kh2 Be5 18. b4 axb4 19. axb4 Ne6 20. f4 Bg7 21. Nde2 Nf8
22. Qxd6 Be6 23. b5 Bxc4 24. Qb4 Bxe2 25. Rxe2 Ne6 26. bxc6 bxc6 27. e5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Frankfurt west sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hehn, Hartmut"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B22"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Be2 e6 7. Na3 cxd4 8.
Nb5 Qd8 9. Bf4 Na6 10. Qa4 Nd7 11. Nd6+ Bxd6 12. Bxd6 Qb6 13. Ba3 Nc7 14. Ne5
O-O-O 15. Nc4 Qc6 16. Qxc6 bxc6 17. Bxg4 Nb5 18. cxd4 Nb6 19. Ne5 Rxd4 20. O-O
Nxa3 21. bxa3 Nc4 22. Nxc4 Rxc4 23. Bf3 Kd7 24. Rab1 Rc8 25. Rfd1+ Kc7 26. Be2
Ra4 27. Rd3 Rd8 28. Rc3 Rd2 29. Bb5 Rf4 30. Rxc6+ Kd8 31. f3 Rxa2 32. Rd1+ Ke7
33. Rc7+ Kf6 34. Rxa7 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt west sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Horvath"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D03"]
[WhiteElo "2420"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 d5 4. e3 Be7 5. Nbd2 O-O 6. Bd3 c5 7. c3 Nc6 8. Ne5
h6 9. Bf4 Nxe5 10. dxe5 Nd7 11. h4 f6 12. exf6 Rxf6 13. Nf3 Qf8 14. Bc2 Rxf4
15. exf4 Qxf4 16. Qe2 Nf8 17. g3 Qd6 18. Ne5 b5 19. Qh5 Bd7 20. Qf7+ Kh8 21.
Ng6+ Nxg6 22. Qxg6 Kg8 23. Qh7+ Kf7 24. Bg6+ Kf6 25. f4 Bf8 26. O-O-O Ke7 27.
f5 e5 28. f6+ Qxf6 29. Rhf1 Qd6 30. Rf7+ Kd8 31. Qg8 Kc7 32. Bf5 Rd8 33. Bxd7
Rxd7 34. Rxf8 1-0

[Event "Frankfurt west sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Moroder, Thomas"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C24"]
[WhiteElo "2070"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Nc6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. Nd2 O-O 6. Ngf3 d6 7. h3 Be6 8. c3
d5 9. Bb3 h6 10. Bh4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Nd5 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. O-O Rad8 14. Qc2 Nf4
15. Rad1 Bxb3 16. axb3 Rfe8 17. Rfe1 Qe6 18. Ng3 Qf6 19. Re3 Qe6 20. Nh4 Qf6
21. Nf3 Re6 22. d4 exd4 23. Rxe6 Nxe6 24. Nxd4 Ncxd4 25. cxd4 Rxd4 26. Rxd4
Qxd4 27. Nf5 Qe5 28. Ne3 c6 29. Qc3 Qxc3 30. bxc3 Kf8 31. g3 Ke7 32. Nf5+ Kd7
33. f4 c5 0-1

[Event "Frankfurt west sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mrowetz, Josef"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B71"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. f4 Nf6 3. Nc3 c5 4. Nf3 g6 5. Bc4 Bg7 6. O-O O-O 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4
Nc6 9. Qd1 b5 10. Bd5 Bb7 11. a3 b4 12. axb4 Nxb4 13. h3 Nbxd5 14. exd5 e6 15.
dxe6 fxe6 16. Be3 Nh5 17. Rxa7 Rxa7 18. Bxa7 Nxf4 19. Be3 Kh8 20. Rf2 e5 21.
Kh2 d5 22. Bxf4 Rxf4 23. g3 Rf8 24. Qe2 Qb6 25. Nd1 e4 26. Ne1 Rxf2+ 27. Nxf2
Qxb2 28. Ned3 Qb6 0-1

[Event "Frankfurt west sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Niebling, Ferdinand"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B23"]
[WhiteElo "2190"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bc4 e6 6. f5 Nge7 7. fxe6 dxe6 8. d3
O-O 9. O-O a6 10. a4 Nd4 11. Bg5 h6 12. Be3 Nec6 13. Qd2 Kh7 14. Qf2 b6 15. Nd1
Bb7 16. Nxd4 cxd4 17. Bd2 Ne5 18. Bb3 f5 19. exf5 exf5 20. h3 f4 21. Bb4 Rf5
0-1

[Event "Frankfurt west sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Schiffler"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B08"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "32"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. Nf3 d6 4. d4 Nf6 5. Bc4 O-O 6. Bb3 Bg4 7. Be3 Nc6 8. O-O
e5 9. d5 Nd4 10. Bxd4 exd4 11. Qxd4 Bxf3 12. gxf3 Nh5 13. Qb4 Qg5+ 14. Kh1 Qf4
15. Rad1 Qxf3+ 16. Kg1 Nf4 0-1

[Event "Frankfurt west sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Schmalfuss, Konrad"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2045"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Bb7 12. Nc2 O-O 13. h4 Nb8 14. Nce3 Nd7
15. Bd3 Nb6 16. Qf3 Nxd5 17. exd5 e4 18. Qxe4 g6 19. h5 Re8 20. Qf3 Bg7 21.
hxg6 hxg6 22. O-O-O b4 23. c4 Qg5 24. Rd2 a5 25. Qh3 a4 26. Qh7+ Kf8 27. Rh3 a3
28. b3 Qf6 29. Rf3 Qa1+ 30. Bb1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Frankfurt west sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Schoenhof, Timo"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A00"]
[WhiteElo "1840"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nc3 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Bg5 Bb4 6. Qd3 O-O 7. O-O-O Bxc3
8. Qxc3 Ne4 9. Bxd8 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Nxd8 11. e4 d6 12. Bc4 Bd7 13. Bb3 Re8 14.
Rhe1 Nc6 15. f4 Na5 16. Nf3 Nxb3+ 17. cxb3 Bc6 18. Nd2 f6 19. Re3 Re7 20. Rde1
Rae8 21. Kc2 Kf7 22. Kd3 b6 23. g3 a5 24. c4 g5 25. Nb1 gxf4 26. gxf4 Rg8 27.
Rg3 f5 28. Nc3 Rge8 29. Rge3 fxe4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Frankfurt west sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Von Schenk, Georg"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "1605"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. b4 Bb6 7. a4 a5 8. b5 Ne7
9. O-O Ng6 10. Bb3 h6 11. Nbd2 Nh7 12. Nc4 Ng5 13. Be3 Bg4 14. Ncd2 Nxf3+ 15.
Nxf3 Nh4 16. Qe2 Qf6 17. g3 Nxf3+ 18. Kh1 0-1

[Event "Frankfurt west sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Voss, Edgar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D94"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. e3 O-O 6. Be2 c5 7. O-O cxd4 8. exd4
Nc6 9. a3 Bg4 10. c5 Ne4 11. Be3 e6 12. Qd3 f5 13. Nb5 f4 14. Bc1 g5 15. Rd1
Bf5 16. Qb3 g4 17. Ne1 a6 18. Bxf4 axb5 19. Be3 b4 20. axb4 Rxa1 0-1

[Event "Frankfurt west sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Zoeller, Bernd"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B07"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "30"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Qd2 c6 6. Be2 b5 7. a3 Bb7 8. d5 a6
9. h4 h5 10. Nh3 Nbd7 11. Rd1 cxd5 12. exd5 Nb6 13. Bf3 Nc4 14. Qc1 Rc8 15. Rd3
Nd7 0-1

[Event "Frankfurt west sim"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Zweschper, Erich"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "1915"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 e6 3. e4 h6 4. Bxf6 Qxf6 5. Nf3 d6 6. Nc3 a6 7. Qd2 Nc6 8.
O-O-O g5 9. Kb1 Bd7 10. h3 O-O-O 11. d5 Ne5 12. Qd4 Kb8 13. Qb4 Ka7 14. Qa5 Rc8
15. Nd4 Qd8 16. Be2 c5 17. Qxd8 Rxd8 18. Nf3 Ng6 19. g3 b5 20. Rd2 Kb6 21. Nd1
Kc7 22. Ne3 Bg7 23. c3 Bc8 24. Kc2 Bb7 25. a4 c4 26. Ra1 1/2-1/2

[Event "GER sim"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kapr, Klaus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5
Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Ngf6 11. Bd2 Qc7 12. O-O-O O-O-O 13. Ne4 e6 14. Kb1 c5
15. Rh4 $5 Nxe4 16. Qxe4 Be7 17. Bf4 $2 Qb6 18. Rhh1 Nf6 19. Qe2 Nd5 20. Bd2
cxd4 21. Qc4+ Nc7 22. Bf4 Bf6 23. Be5 Bxe5 24. Nxe5 Rd5 25. f4 f6 26. Ng6 Re8
27. g4 e5 28. fxe5 fxe5 29. Rhf1 Kb8 30. Rf7 Rc5 31. Qb3 Rb5 32. Qa3 Nd5 33.
Rf8 Qd8 34. Rxe8 Qxe8 35. Qd6+ Ka8 36. Rf1 Rxb2+ $1 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Amsterdam Euwe Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1996.03.23"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Timman, Jan H"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B14"]
[WhiteElo "2620"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "Blatny,P"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "1996.03.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 {Engqvist Kramnik} c6 2. e4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5
e6 7. Nf3 Be7 8. c5 O-O 9. Bb5 (9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. Bb5 Qc7 11. O-O Ne7 12. Re1
Bd7 13. b4 $14 {Stenger,W-Hoeffelmann,E/PF-chS Bellheim/1994}) 9... h6 (9...
Ne4 10. Bxe7 Nxe7 11. Rc1 b6 12. c6 Qd6 13. O-O a6 14. Qa4 Rb8 15. Bd3 b5 16.
Qc2 Nxc3 17. Qxc3 $36 {Christiansen,L-Khenkin,I/Biel op (05) ;TD 94\02 1994/1/
2-1/2 (43)}) (9... Nd7 10. Bf4 Bf6 11. O-O Re8 12. Bd6 Ne7 13. Qa4 Nf5 14. Be5
Bxe5 15. Nxe5 $14 {Palos,O-Strittmatter,N/Badenweiler op (08) ;GER 04 1988/1-0
(43)}) (9... Bd7 10. Bxc6 Bxc6 11. O-O b6 12. Ne5 Bb7 13. b4 Rc8 14. Qd3 Nd7
15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. Nxd7 Qxd7 17. f4 f6 18. Rae1 $14 {Alberts,G-Richter,B/
VLSBaden 9293 (1993) ;GER 04 1993/1/2-1/2 (47)}) 10. Bxf6 (10. Bf4 Ne4 11. Nxe4
dxe4 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Ne5 Qd5 14. O-O g5 15. Bg3 Kg7 16. Qh5 Bd7 17. Ng4 Rh8
18. Ne3 {1-0 Berg,K-Ostl,A/BL 8687 (1986) ;BL 1987}) (10. Bh4 {Engqvist} Ne4
$10) 10... Bxf6 11. O-O (11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. O-O {+/=/=}) 11... Ne7 $1 12. b4 b6
13. Qd2 bxc5 (13... a5 14. a3) 14. bxc5 Bd7 15. Rab1 Rb8 (15... Bc6 16. Bxc6
Nxc6 17. Rb7 {/\Rfb1}) 16. Rb3 Bxb5 17. Nxb5 a6 18. Nc3 Rxb3 19. axb3 Nc6 {><b4
} 20. Rb1 a5 21. Ne2 Qc7 22. h4 Rb8 23. g4 Rb4 24. Qe3 (24. g5) 24... a4 25.
Kg2 $2 (25. g5 hxg5 26. hxg5 Bxd4 27. Nexd4 Nxd4 28. Nxd4 Qxc5 29. Rd1 axb3 $13
) (25. g5) 25... Nxd4 $1 (25... Qb8 {Engqvist} 26. g5 hxg5 27. hxg5 Be7 28. g6
$1 $13 (28. Nd2 g6 $1 29. Rh1 Bf8 {/\ Bg7 >< d4})) 26. Nexd4 (26. Nfxd4 Qxc5
27. Rc1 Bxd4 28. Qd3 Rxb3 29. Qxd4 Qxd4 30. Nxd4 Rb4 31. Rd1 a3 $17) 26... Bxd4
(26... Qxc5 27. Rd1 (27. Ra1 Bxd4 28. Nxd4 Qxd4 29. Qxd4 Rxd4 30. Rxa4 Rd2 $17)
(27. Rc1 Bxd4 28. Rxc5 Bxe3 29. fxe3 axb3 $19) 27... axb3 $15 (27... axb3 28.
g5 Bxd4 29. Nxd4 b2 $19)) 27. Nxd4 Qxc5 28. Nf3 Rxg4+ $2 (28... Qc2 $142 $1 $19
{Kramnik} 29. Rc1 Qxb3 $36) 29. Kh3 Qxe3 30. fxe3 Rb4 31. Nd2 $1 g5 32. hxg5
hxg5 33. bxa4 Rxa4 34. Kg3 Kg7 35. Nf3 Kg6 36. Ne5+ Kf6 37. Ng4+ Kg7 38. Rb7
Re4 39. Kf3 Kg6 40. Rb6 Kf5 41. Nh6+ Kg6 42. Ng4 Ra4 43. Rb7 Re4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amsterdam Euwe Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1996.03.24"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E91"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "1996.03.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. d4 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 Bg4 7. Be3 Nfd7 8. Rc1
(8. Ng1) (8. h4) 8... a6 (8... e5) (8... c5) 9. d5 (9. O-O c5 10. d5 Bxf3 11.
Bxf3 b5) 9... Bxf3 10. Bxf3 b5 $1 11. cxb5 axb5 12. Qb3 (12. a3 c5) (12. Nxb5
Rxa2 13. b3 $2 c6 $1 14. dxc6 Qa5+) 12... c5 $1 {Ohne diesen Zug sähe es
schlecht aus für Schwarz.} 13. Qxb5 (13. dxc6 Nxc6 14. Qxb5 (14. Nxb5 Qa5+ 15.
Nc3 (15. Bd2 Qb6) 15... Rfb8 $44) 14... Nde5 15. O-O (15. Be2 Rb8) 15... Nxf3+
16. gxf3 Nd4 17. Bxd4 Bxd4 $44 {[%csl Ra2,Rb2,Rf3][%cal Ye7e6,Yd8h4,Yd4b2,
Ya8a2] und die vielfältigen weißen Schwächen (a2, b2, f3) sind genügender
Ersatz für den Bauern.}) 13... Qa5 14. Qxa5 Rxa5 $44 {[%csl Ra2,Rb2] Wie es in
Wolga-Gambit-Strukturen üblich ist, wird Weiß mit seinem Mehrbauern nicht
glücklich.} 15. a3 Nb6 16. Ke2 N8d7 17. Bd2 Rb8 18. Rc2 Na4 19. b4 (19. b4
Nxc3+ 20. Bxc3 Rxa3 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22. bxc5 Nxc5 23. Rd1 (23. e5 Nb3) 23... Kf6
$15 {hätte Schwarz gut noch weiterspielen können.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amsterdam Euwe Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1996.03.26"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Lautier, Joel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D26"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "1996.03.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 e6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 c5 5. Bxc4 Nf6 6. O-O a6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8.
Bd3 Nc6 9. a3 Bd6 10. Qe2 O-O 11. Nbd2 Qc7 12. Ra2 Ne5 13. Nxe5 Bxe5 14. f4 Bd6
15. b4 e5 16. Ne4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 exf4 18. exf4 Bd7 19. Qd3 h6 20. Rd2 Qb6+ 21.
Rff2 Bc6 22. Bxc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amsterdam Euwe Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1996.03.27"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "Gelfand,B"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "1996.03.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 {Ribli Hansen,LB} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Bg5 {
Hansen,LB: A solid continuation, but not without poison.} (6. g3 {Hansen,LB}) (
6. a3 {Hansen,LB}) (6. Ndb5 {Hansen,LB}) 6... Be7 (6... Bb4 {Hansen,LB}) (6...
Qb6 {Hansen,LB}) 7. e3 O-O 8. Be2 Qa5 {Hansen,LB: A new and straightforward
idea. Black prepares d7-d5 with equality. Psakhis empfehlt dieser Zug.} (8...
Qb6 $5) (8... d6 {Hansen,LB} 9. O-O a6 10. Qd2 (10. Rc1 Bd7 11. Nb3 b6 $6 12.
Bxf6 $1 gxf6 13. Qd2 Ra7 14. f4 $16 {Lautier,J - Pinter,J/France/1991/}) 10...
Qc7 11. Rac1 Ne5 12. b3 h6 13. Bf4 b6 14. Bg3 Bb7 15. f4 Ned7 16. b4 Rac8 17.
a3 Qb8 $13 {Kortschnoj,V - Psakhis,L/ Manila ol/1992/}) (8... b6 {Hansen,LB} 9.
O-O (9. Ndb5 {Ribli} d5 $1 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Qxd5 Qxd5 13. Nxd5
Bxb2 $10 {Stangl,M-Alterman,B/Beijing/1995/CBM49/INF64,40/}) 9... Bb7 10. Bxf6
$5 Bxf6 11. Ndb5 Ne7 12. Qb3 d6 13. Rfd1 Nc8 14. Rac1 a6 15. Nd4 Qc7 16. Qc2
Na7 17. Na4 Rac8 18. Qd2 Rfd8 19. b3 Ba8 {1/2-1/2/Lautier,J - de Firmian,N/
Biel/1990/}) (8... d5 {Ribli} 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. Qc2
$14 {Der Anziehende hat einen unbedautenden Vorteil. Stangl,M-Kindermann,S/
Garmisch-Partenkirchen 25'/1994/}) 9. Bh4 Rd8 10. O-O $1 $146 (10. Nb3 Qb6 11.
O-O {Nenashev-Dvoiris,84} d5 $5 $10 (11... d6 {Hansen,LB} 12. Bg3 e5 13. Bh4
Be6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Rc1 a5 $13 {Psakhis})) 10... d5 {Ribli: Dieser Zug ist
fuer derartige Stellungen typisch: Schwarz will im Zentrum die Figuren
tauschen.} 11. cxd5 (11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Qc2 Ba6 $10) 11... Nxd4 (11... exd5 $14)
(11... Nxd5 {Ribli} 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Bxe7 Nxe7 14. Qc2 $14) 12. Qxd4 Nxd5 13.
Bxe7 Nxe7 14. b4 $1 {Hansen,LB: Otherwise Black equalizes through Bd7. Sonst
soll Weiss den Punkt schon jetzt teilen.} Qc7 (14... Rxd4 15. bxa5 $16 (15.
bxa5 {Ribli} Rd8 16. Bf3 $14 {>< b7})) (14... Qb6 15. Qxb6 axb6 16. Bf3 Nc6 17.
Rfd1 (17. Bxc6 bxc6 18. a4 $14) 17... Bd7 18. b5 Na5 19. Rab1 $5 {/\Na4}) 15.
Nb5 Qd7 (15... Qb6 16. Qxb6 axb6 17. Bf3 $14) 16. Qb2 {/\ Rfd1} (16. Qh4 Nf5 $5
(16... Ng6 17. Qg3 e5 18. f4 $5) 17. Qf4 Qe7 18. Nc7 Rb8 19. Nd5 Qd6) 16... Nc6
(16... a6 17. Rfd1 Nd5 18. Nc3 $16) (16... Nd5 17. Rfd1 Qe7 18. Rac1 (18. Nc3
Nf6 (18... Nxc3 19. Qxc3 $14)) (18. e4 Nf4 19. Rxd8+ Qxd8 20. Rd1 Bd7 (20...
Nxe2+ 21. Qxe2 Qe7 22. Qd3) (20... Qg5 21. Bf1 e5 22. h4 Qxh4 (22... Nh3+ 23.
Kh2 Qf4+ 24. g3) 23. g3 Qg5 24. Qxe5 $18) 21. Bf1 Nh3+ (21... Qe7 22. Nd6 Ba4
23. Rd2 $14) 22. Kh1 (22. gxh3 Qg5+ 23. Kh1 Bxb5) 22... Qb6 $1 $10 (22... Bxb5
23. Rxd8+ Rxd8 24. gxh3 Bxf1 25. Kg1 (25. Qc3 h6 $44) 25... Bb5 (25... Bc4 26.
b5 a6 27. a4 axb5 28. axb5) 26. Qe5 a6 27. Qc7 Rd1+ 28. Kg2 g6 (28... h6 29.
Qc8+ Kh7 30. Qxb7 $16) 29. Qxb7 Rd2 30. a4)) 18... Bd7 19. Nc7 Ba4 20. Nxd5 (
20. Nxa8 Bxd1 21. Rxd1 Rxa8) 20... exd5 21. Rd4 $14) (16... Qd2 $4 {Ribli} 17.
Rfd1 $18) 17. Rfd1 (17. Bf3 Qe7 18. Bxc6 (18. Rfd1 $1) 18... bxc6 19. Nd4 Rd6
20. Qc3 Bd7 $14) (17. Bf3 $5 {Hansen,LB}) 17... Qe7 18. Rxd8+ (18. Bf3 $1 Bd7 (
18... Rxd1+ 19. Rxd1 Nxb4 20. Qd4 $18 (20. Qe5)) 19. Nd6 Be8 20. Nxe8 Rxd1+ (
20... Rxe8 21. b5 Na5 22. Qc3) 21. Rxd1 Rxe8 22. b5 Na5 23. Rc1 (23. Qc3 b6 24.
g3 Nb7 $10) 23... b6 24. Qe5 Nb7 25. Bxb7 (25. Rc7 Qb4 26. h3 Nc5 27. Bc6 (27.
Qf4 $1 Qxf4 (27... Qe1+ 28. Kh2 Rf8 29. Bh5 g6 30. Bg4 Nd3)) 27... Rf8) 25...
Qxb7 26. Rc7 Rd8 27. h3 Qb8 28. Qf4 Rf8 29. Qc4 $16) 18... Nxd8 19. Rd1 Bd7 20.
Qd4 $6 (20. Nd6 $1 Bc6 (20... a6 $5 21. Qb3 $16) 21. e4 a6 {/\f6,Nf7} (21...
Bd5 22. Nxf7 (22. Nf5 exf5 23. exd5 Qd6 24. Qc2 g6 (24... Qxb4 25. d6 $16 (25.
Qc7 $5)) 25. Qc5 $16) 22... Bxe4 23. Qe5 Bd5 24. Rxd5 Nxf7 25. Qe4 $16) 22. Qb3
Bd5 (22... f6 23. Bg4) 23. Qg3 (23. exd5 Qxd6 24. dxe6 Qxe6 $14) 23... Bxa2 24.
Rd2 $18) 20... Bxb5 21. Bxb5 h6 {Ribli: Sehr wichtig ist es fuer Schwarz die
Grundlinie zu sichern.} (21... Nc6 22. Bxc6 bxc6 23. Qd6 Qxd6 24. Rxd6 Rc8 25.
Rd7 Kf8 26. Rxa7 Rb8 27. a3 c5 28. Ra4 $14) 22. h3 (22. Qc5 $5 Qxc5 23. bxc5
Rc8 24. Rd7 g5 25. Kf1 Kg7 26. Ba4 $14 (26. a4 a6 27. Be2 Kf8 $10) 26... b6 (
26... b5 27. Bxb5 Rxc5 28. a4 Nc6 29. Ke1 $1 $36 (29. Bxc6 Rxc6 30. Rxa7 $14))
27. Ke2) 22... Nc6 {Ribli: Schwarz wird mit einigen aktiven Zuege das Remis
erreichen.} 23. Bxc6 bxc6 {Hansen,LB: With the b-pawn on b2 or b3 White would
be clarly better due to the weak c6-pawn, but as it is Black can organize
counterplay against the b4-pawn.} 24. Qc4 (24. Qc3 $1 Rb8 25. a3 $14) 24... Rb8
25. a3 (25. Rb1 {Ribli} a5 $10) (25. Qxc6 {Ribli} Rxb4 26. Rd7 Qf6 $10) 25...
a5 26. bxa5 Qxa3 27. a6 (27. Qf4 $5 Rf8 (27... Ra8 28. Rd7 Qa1+ 29. Kh2 Qf6 30.
Qc7 Qxf2 31. a6 Qxe3 32. a7 (32. Rxf7 $5)) 28. Qc7 c5 29. Rd6 (29. Kh2 c4 30.
Rd4 c3 31. Rc4 Ra8) 29... Qa1+ 30. Kh2 Qe5+ 31. g3 (31. f4 Qxe3 32. Rc6 h5 $132
33. Rxc5 h4 34. Rc3) 31... c4 (31... Qf6 32. Kg2) 32. a6 c3 33. a7 c2 34. Rc6
$10) 27... Ra8 28. Qxc6 Rxa6 29. Rd8+ Kh7 30. Qc2+ (30. Qe8 $5) 30... g6 31.
Qc7 Ra7 32. Qb8 Qc1+ 33. Kh2 Qc7+ 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Amsterdam Euwe Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1996.03.30"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "Boensch,U"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1996.03.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik Dokhoian Kramnik} c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nge2 d6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4
Nf6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8. O-O-O Nxd4 (8... O-O 9. Nb3 a5 10. a3 h6 11. Bxf6
Bxf6 12. Qxd6 Qxd6 13. Rxd6 a4 14. Nd2 Be7 15. Rd3 Ne5 16. Rd4 Ng4 17. Bb5 Nxf2
18. Re1 $14 {Timman,J-Piket,J/Amsterdam VSB (01) ;CBM 52_06 1996/1/2-1/2 (57)})
9. Qxd4 a6 (9... O-O {- CBM 50 Survey}) 10. f4 (10. e5 dxe5 11. Qxe5 Bd7 12.
Be2 Rc8 13. h4 Qc7 14. Qxc7 Rxc7 $10 {Ferguson,M-Aseev,K/London Lloyds (01) ;
EXP 43 1994/0-1 (58)}) 10... b5 (10... Qa5 11. e5 dxe5 12. fxe5 Nd5 13. Bxe7
Nxe7 14. Bd3 Nc6 15. Qh4 Nxe5 16. Ne4 f6 17. Rhf1 Qc7 18. Nxf6+ $16 {Adler,
V-Bannik,A/URS/1978/}) (10... O-O {Dokhoian}) 11. Bxf6 (11. Be2 {Dokhoian} Bb7
12. Bf3 Qc7 $5 $13) 11... gxf6 (11... Bxf6 $2 12. e5 $1 (12. Qxd6 {Ftacnik}
Qxd6 13. Rxd6 Bb7 14. Rb6 O-O-O 15. e5 Be7 16. a4 b4 17. Nd1 Kc7 18. Rxa6 Bxa6
19. Bxa6 g5 20. g3 gxf4 21. gxf4 Rd4 22. Rg1 Rxf4 23. Rg7 Bf8 24. Rg3 Rf5 {
0-1 Kiss,Ged-Rotman,D/Budapest FS08 IM-A (08)/1995/ (44)}) 12... dxe5 (12...
Be7 13. exd6 Bf6 14. Qe4 Rb8 15. Nd5 $18) 13. Qe4 (13. Qc5 Bd7 14. Nxb5 axb5
15. Rxd7 $1 $18) 13... Bd7 14. Bxb5 $1 (14. Rxd7 $5 Kxd7 15. Bxb5+ Ke7 16. Rd1
$18) 14... axb5 15. Rxd7 Qa5 (15... Kxd7 16. Rd1+ Ke8 (16... Kc7 {Ftacnik} 17.
Nxb5+ Kb6 18. Rd6+ Qxd6 (18... Kxb5 19. Qc6+ Ka5 20. Qc5+ Ka4 21. b3#) 19. Nxd6
exf4 20. Qb7+ Kc5 21. Qc7+ $18) (16... Ke7 17. Qb4+ Ke8 18. Qxb5+ Kf8 19. Rxd8+
$18) 17. Rxd8+ Rxd8 18. fxe5 Bg5+ 19. Kb1 $18) 16. Rb7 O-O 17. Rxb5 Qa6 18.
fxe5 Bg5+ 19. Kb1 Bd2 20. Qb7 Bxc3 21. Qxa6 Rxa6 22. bxc3 $16 {1-0 Karasev,
V-Aseev,K/St.Petersburg-ch (08) ;CBM 47 1995 (38)}) 12. Bd3 (12. f5 Qc7 13.
fxe6 fxe6 14. Qd2 Qc5 15. Kb1 Bd7 16. Bd3 b4 17. Ne2 a5 18. Nf4 a4 19. Be2 {
1/2-1/2 Dolmatov,S-Aseev,K/Kemerovo1 (07) ;CBM 50 1995}) (12. f5 $5 {Dokhoian})
(12. Be2 {/\f5, Bh5}) 12... Qc7 (12... O-O 13. e5 $1 d5 14. Ne4 $16) 13. Qe3
Qc5 14. Qg3 {+/= Dokoian, = Kramnik} b4 15. Ne2 (15. Qg7 Rf8 16. Ne2 Qh5 (16...
a5 17. Qxh7 a4 $44) 17. Nd4 Qg6 $10) 15... a5 16. Kb1 (16. Qg7 Rf8 17. Qxh7 a4
18. Kd2 $14) 16... Kf8 17. Qh3 h5 18. Rc1 (18. f5 e5 $15 (18... e5 19. Ng3 a4
$132)) 18... d5 $6 (18... a4 {Kramnik} 19. c3 (19. c4 a3 20. b3 f5 21. exf5 Bf6
) 19... Rb8 20. cxb4 Qxb4 21. Rc2 $132) (18... Bd8) 19. exd5 (19. c3 $5 Bb7 20.
f5 e5 $13) 19... Qxd5 (19... f5 $1 20. dxe6 Bxe6 21. c4 $16 (21. Ng3 $6 Bf6 (
21... a4 $5 22. Bxf5 Bxa2+ 23. Kxa2 b3+ 24. Kb1 a3 $40) 22. Bxf5 Qd4 23. c3
Bxa2+ $5 24. Kxa2 b3+ (24... bxc3 $5) 25. Kxb3 Rb8+ 26. Ka2)) 20. f5 (20. Rhd1
f5 21. Ng3 Bb7 22. Be4 Qb5 23. Bxb7 Qxb7 $10) 20... a4 (20... e5 21. Ng3 $14 {
[%csl Ge4]}) 21. Rhe1 Rb8 (21... e5 22. Ng3 (22. c4 Qc5 23. Ng3 $2 a3 24. b3
Qd4 $19) 22... b3 $1 23. Be4 bxa2+ 24. Ka1 Qa5 25. Bxa8 a3 26. Ne4 axb2+ 27.
Kxb2 Qxa8 $44) 22. Nf4 Qd6 23. Qf3 e5 (23... Bb7 24. Be4 Bxe4 25. Qxe4 $16) 24.
Nd5 (24. Nxh5 a3 25. b3 Qd4 26. c3 bxc3 27. g4 $13) 24... Bd8 $2 (24... Bb7 25.
Be4 Bxd5 26. Bxd5 Qb6 27. Rcd1 Bc5 $14) 25. Be4 Qc5 26. c3 $2 (26. Rcd1 $142
$18 {Kramnik: /\ Rd2-Red1}) (26. Qe3 Qxe3 27. Rxe3 $16) 26... bxc3 27. Rxc3 Qd6
28. Rd1 Bb6 29. Nxb6 (29. Rdc1 Bd7 30. Nxb6 Qxb6 31. R3c2 Kg7 $14) 29... Qxb6
30. Rc2 Kg7 31. a3 (31. g4 $1 Bb7 (31... h4 32. Qg2 $5 {Dokhoian} h3 33. Qg3 {
/\ 34.g5}) (31... Kh6 $2 32. g5+ fxg5 33. Rc6+) (31... Rd8 $2 32. Rxd8 Qxd8 33.
gxh5 Qd4 34. h6+) 32. gxh5 Bxe4 33. Qxe4 a3 34. b3 $16) 31... Kh6 32. Rdd2 Bb7
$2 (32... Rd8 33. Rxd8 (33. Rc6 Qg1+ 34. Rc1 Qb6) 33... Qxd8 34. g4 $14 (34.
Qe3+ Kg7 $10)) (32... Rd8 $14) 33. Bxb7 Qxb7 (33... Rxb7 34. Rc6 Qg1+ 35. Rd1
Qxh2 36. Rxf6+ Kg5 37. Qxb7 Kxf6 38. Rd6+ Kg5 39. Qxf7 $18) 34. Rc6 Rhc8 (34...
Qe7 35. Rdd6) 35. Rxf6+ Kg5 (35... Kg7 36. Qg3+ $1 Kxf6 (36... Kf8 37. Qxe5 Re8
38. Qg3 Qe4+ 39. Ka1 $18) 37. Rd6+ Kxf5 (37... Ke7 38. Qxe5+ Kf8 39. Rh6 Qxb2+
$8 40. Qxb2 Rxb2+ 41. Kxb2 Rb8+ 42. Ka2 Kg7 43. Rxh5 $18 (43. Rxh5 Re8 44. g3
Kf6 45. Rh4 Re2+ 46. Kb1 Kxf5 47. Rxa4 Rxh2 48. Rf4+ $16)) 38. Qf2+ Kg5 39.
Qf6+ Kg4 40. h3+ Kg3 41. Qxe5+ Kxg2 (41... Kf2 42. Rd2+ Kg1 43. Qe3+ Kh1 44.
Rd1+ Kh2 45. Qf4+ Kxg2 46. Rd2+ Kg1 47. Qf2+ Kh1 48. Qh2#) 42. Rd2+ Kf3 43.
Rd3+ Kf2 44. Qe3+ Kg2 45. Rd2+ Kh1 46. Qe1#) 36. Rxf7 $2 (36. Qg3+ $142 $1 Kxf6
37. Rd6+ {siehe Variante 35...Kg7}) 36... Qxf3 (36... Qxf7 $2 37. Qe3+ (37.
Qg3+ $2 Kh6 38. Rd6+ Kh7 39. Qg5 Rxb2+ $1 40. Kxb2 Qb3+ 41. Ka1 Qxa3+ 42. Kb1
Rb8+ $19) 37... Kf6 (37... Kxf5 38. Rf2+ Ke6 39. Rxf7 Kxf7 40. Qxe5 $18) 38.
Rd6+ Kg7 (38... Ke7 39. Qxe5+ Kf8 40. Rf6 $18) 39. Qh6+ Kg8 40. Rg6+ $18) 37.
gxf3 Rc3 38. Rg2+ Kf4 $2 (38... Kh4 39. Rf2 Rxa3 $16) 39. f6 Rxf3 40. Re7 Rf8
41. f7 Kf5 (41... Ke3 42. Rxe5+ Kd3 43. Rxh5 $18) 42. Rg8 Kf6 43. Rxe5 (43.
Rxe5 Rxf7 (43... Kxe5 44. Rxf8 Ke6 45. Rh8 Kxf7 46. Rxh5) 44. Rxh5 $18) 1-0

[Event "Amsterdam Euwe Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1996.03.31"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B36"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Anand,V"]
[PlyCount "216"]
[EventDate "1996.03.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Tischbierek} c5 2. c4 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. e4 Nf6 6. Nc3 d6 7.
Be2 Nxd4 8. Qxd4 Bg7 9. Be3 {The first time I played this opening against
Kramnik, he got nothing. It is safe to say that he isn't surprised anymore
when he plays this.} (9. Bg5 O-O 10. Qd2 a6 11. O-O Be6 12. Rad1 Qa5 13. b3 b5
14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Nd5 Qxd2 16. Nxf6+ exf6 17. Rxd2 {1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V-Anand,V 
(02)/Moscow PCA 25' (04) ;EXP 40 1994}) 9... O-O 10. Qd2 Be6 11. O-O a6 12. f3
Qa5 13. Rab1 Rfc8 14. Rfc1 Rab8 15. b4 Qd8 16. c5 {A really crummy position.
Here I decided to first get rid of the a-pawns.} a5 17. a3 axb4 18. axb4 Ra8
19. Bf1 $1 {Getting the B out of range of Ra2.} h5 20. Qe1 Ne8 21. Kh1 Kf8 {
I didn't see much else!} 22. Nd5 $6 (22. Bg1 {Would have been interesting if
only to see if I would have played Kg8}) 22... Bxd5 $1 23. exd5 dxc5 24. bxc5 (
24. Bxc5 Nd6 $10 {/\ Bf6,Kg7}) 24... Qxd5 25. Rd1 Qe5 (25... Qc6 26. Bb5 $1)
26. Rxb7 Rxc5 $1 {I had prepared this move some time ago and Black is out of
danger since all the Ps are on one side.} 27. f4 Qe4 28. Rb4 Qc6 29. Bxc5 Qxc5
30. Rb5 Qc3 31. Qe4 {Kramnik continued blitzing here and I wasn't sure whether
to offer a draw or just continue. I chose the latter.} Rc8 32. Rb7 Bf6 33. f5
$2 {Completely unnecessary.} g5 34. Rbb1 $6 $138 {With a draw offer. I was
about to accept (and if he hadn't played f4-f5, I would have agreed
immediately), but paused. It seemed to me that since Black was in absolutely
in no danger anymore, it wouldn't be out of place to keep playing for until
the time control.} (34. Qd3 $10) 34... Nd6 35. Qd3 Qe5 36. Qe2 (36. Rbc1 $1
Rxc1 (36... Ra8 37. Qf3 $1) 37. Rxc1 Ne4 (37... Kg7 $10) 38. Qd8+ $1 (38. Qf3
g4) (38. Rc2) 38... Kg7 39. Rc8 Nf2+ (39... Kh6 40. Qf8+ Bg7 41. Qxf7) 40. Kg1
Nh3+ 41. Kh1 (41. gxh3 Qe3+ 42. Kg2 Qe4+ $19) 41... Nf2+ $10) 36... Qc5 $1 37.
Re1 (37. Qxh5 Ne4 $36) (37. Qf3 $1 {Tischbierek} g4 (37... Qxf5 38. Qxh5 Ne4
39. Bc4 $5) 38. Qd5 Qxd5 (38... Nxf5 $4 39. Rbc1 Bc3 40. Rxc3 $18) 39. Rxd5 Rc2
$10) 37... h4 38. Qf3 Qxf5 39. Bd3 $2 (39. Qxf5 $1 {I think that White
shouldn't be in danger here.}) 39... Qxf3 40. gxf3 Rc3 41. Rbd1 Ra3 $1 {
Ironically, White's broken P structure, though useful to prevent Black from
creating passed pawns, gives Black' minor pieces excellent squares. The f4
square, especially beckons!} 42. Kg2 Ra5 43. Re2 e6 44. Rc1 Be5 $1 45. Rc6 Ke7
{Now Black's K is out of the last rank and Black can start trying to manoeuvre
his N to d4 or d5.Kramnik later told me that he agreed that White's position
would eventually give, and that he didn't think that he could have saved it.}
46. Ra6 Rd5 47. Ra3 Kf6 48. Rb3 Ra5 49. Rc2 Ra4 50. Re2 Ra5 51. Kh3 Bf4 52. Kg2
Ne8 $1 {The idea is to take the N to h5. White will have to prevent this by
bringing his Rb3 and Bd3 to attack f7. Then I can maybe leave my R on the
third rank to stop White from returning to d3 and b3. At leats that was the
rough outline of my plan.} 53. Rb7 Ra3 $1 54. Bh7 Nd6 $1 {Back, now that I
have achieved my objective. The Bd3 was good in controlling the squares of
entry for my N - b5 and f5 and now I can try to get my N in.} 55. Rb4 Rc3 56.
Rc2 Re3 57. Rf2 Re1 {There is no harm in wasting time in such positions.} 58.
Rb1 Re3 59. Rb4 Kg7 60. Bc2 Ne8 61. Rb3 Re1 62. Rb1 Re5 63. Rb7 (63. Bd3 Nf6 $1
{/\ Nh5, Be3}) 63... Rc5 64. Re2 Nd6 65. Rd7 (65. Bd3 Rc3 $1 {And White can't
stop Nc4 or Nf5}) 65... Kf6 66. Bh7 Nc4 {Mission accomplished} 67. Rd3 Ne5 68.
Rb3 Kg7 69. Be4 Rc1 70. Bb1 Rc8 71. Bc2 $2 {Black has made considerable
progress, but this allows an immediate finish.} h3+ $1 72. Kxh3 Nc6 $1 73. Rc3
Rh8+ 74. Kg2 Nd4 $1 (74... Rxh2+ $4 75. Kf1 Rh1+ 76. Kg2) 75. Rf2 Rxh2+ 76. Kf1
Rh1+ 77. Kg2 Rc1 $22 $19 {[#]} 78. Rc4 (78. Kh3 Rg1 $1 $19) 78... Be3 79. Rxd4
Bxd4 80. Re2 Kf6 81. Kh2 Ra1 82. Kg2 Rg1+ 83. Kh2 g4 $1 84. Rg2 Rc1 85. Kg3 (
85. fxg4 Be5+ $19) 85... gxf3 86. Kxf3 Ke5 87. Re2+ Kd6 88. Rd2 Ke7 89. Re2 Bc5
90. Kg2 Bd6 91. Bb3 Rc3 92. Ba2 Bf4 93. Bb1 Kf6 94. Ba2 e5 {Took some time,
but I realized that Black can afford to advance his Ps on the dark squares!}
95. Rb2 Kg6 96. Rb6+ f6 97. Bb1+ Kg5 98. Rb8 Kg4 99. Rg8+ Bg5 {Now all that
remains is to start pushing the e-pawn.} 100. Rf8 Rb3 101. Bg6 Rb2+ 102. Kf1
Kf3 103. Bh5+ Kf4 104. Bg6 e4 105. Re8 f5 106. Rf8 Rb5 107. Bh7 Kg4 108. Bg6 e3
0-1

[Event "Amsterdam Euwe Memorial"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1996.04.01"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B58"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "27"]
[EventDate "1996.03.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nf3 h6 8. O-O
Be7 9. Re1 O-O 10. h3 Be6 11. Rf1 Qa5 12. Bd2 Qd8 13. Bc1 Qa5 14. Bd2 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Amber-blindfold 05th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5
9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. g3 Bb7 12. Bg2 Qb6 13. exf6 O-O-O 14. O-O c5 15.
d5 b4 16. Rb1 Qa6 17. dxe6 Bxg2 18. e7 Bxf1 19. Kxf1 Qc6 20. exd8=Q+ Kxd8 21.
Nd5 Rxh2 22. Kg1 Rh8 23. Bf4 Bd6 24. Bxd6 Qxd6 25. Qf3 Ne5 26. Qe4 Re8 27. Ne3
Nc6 28. Qf3 Kc7 29. Nxc4 Qd4 30. b3 Qe4 31. Qxe4 Rxe4 32. Kg2 Ne5 33. Ne3 Kd7
34. Rh1 Ke6 35. Rh8 Kxf6 36. Rc8 Nd3 37. Ra8 Rd4 38. Rxa7 Kg6 39. f4 Nc1 40.
Nc4 f6 41. Ra6 Re4 42. Kf3 Re2 43. Ne5+ Kg7 44. Ra7+ Kh6 45. Nd3 Rc2 46. Nxc1
Rxc1 47. Ke4 Kg6 48. f5+ Kh5 49. Rh7+ Kg4 50. Rg7+ Kh3 51. Kd5 Rc2 52. Rg6 Rxa2
53. Rxf6 Rb2 54. Rh6+ Kxg3 55. f6 Rxb3 56. Rg6+ Kh4 57. f7 Rf3 58. Ke6 b3 59.
Rf6 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Amber-blindfold 05th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D16"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Na6 6. e3 Bg4 7. Bxc4 e6 8. h3
Bh5 9. O-O Nb4 10. Qe2 Be7 11. Rd1 O-O 12. g4 Bg6 13. e4 Nd7 14. Ne5 Nxe5 15.
dxe5 Qa5 16. f4 Rad8 17. Be3 h6 18. Kg2 Bh7 19. Rxd8 Rxd8 20. Rd1 g5 21. Rxd8+
Bxd8 22. Qd2 gxf4 23. Bxf4 Bb6 24. Bb5 cxb5 25. Bxh6 Bc5 26. Qd7 Bg6 27. Qc8+
Kh7 28. Bg5 Nd5 29. Qxc5 Nxc3 30. Qxc3 Qxa4 31. Kg3 Qxe4 32. Bf6 b4 33. Qc8
Qe1+ 34. Kf4 Qf2+ 35. Kg5 Qd2+ 36. Kh4 Qh6+ 37. Kg3 Qe3+ 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Amber-blindfold 05th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 e6 5. O-O Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Re1 d5 8. cxd5
exd5 9. d4 Nbd7 10. Bf4 Ne4 11. Qc2 Nxc3 12. bxc3 c5 13. Rad1 Qc8 14. Bh3 Qe8
15. c4 cxd4 16. Nxd4 Nf6 17. Nf5 Bb4 18. Bd2 Bc5 19. Bg2 Ne4 20. Be3 Bxe3 21.
fxe3 Bc8 22. Rxd5 Bxf5 23. Rxf5 Nd6 24. Rd5 Qxe3+ 25. Kh1 Nb7 26. Rh5 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Amber-blindfold 05th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Lautier, Joel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 e6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8.
Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nbd2 Ke7 10. Be2 Nc6 11. b3 b6 12. Ne1 Ne5 13. Bb2 Rd8 14. Rd1
Bd6 15. f4 Neg4 16. Nc4 Bc5 17. Bxf6+ Nxf6 18. Rxd8 Kxd8 19. Nd3 Bd7 20. Nxc5
bxc5 21. Rc1 Bb5 22. Bf3 Rc8 23. Nd6 Rc7 24. Nb7+ Ke7 25. Rxc5 Rd7 26. a4 Bd3
27. Re5 Ng4 28. Rg5 Nxe3 29. Nc5 Rd4 30. Nxd3 Rxd3 31. Rxg7 Nf5 32. Rxh7 Rxb3
33. Bh5 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Event "Amber-rapid 05th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2675"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. d4 cxd4 6. Bc4 Nb6 7. Bb3 d6 8. exd6
Qxd6 9. O-O Be6 10. Na3 Bxb3 11. Qxb3 Qd5 12. Nb5 Rc8 13. Nfxd4 Nxd4 14. Nxd4
e6 15. Bf4 Qxb3 16. axb3 Nd5 17. Be5 a6 18. Rfe1 Rg8 19. Rad1 g6 20. Nf3 h6 21.
Nd2 Be7 22. Ne4 f5 23. c4 fxe4 24. cxd5 Rc5 25. Rxe4 Rxd5 26. Rde1 g5 27. Bc3
Rg6 28. Rxe6 Rxe6 29. Rxe6 Kf7 30. Re4 Rd1+ 31. Re1 Rd5 32. b4 Bf6 33. Kf1 Bxc3
34. bxc3 Rd2 35. Re5 b6 36. g4 Rc2 37. Rf5+ Ke7 38. Rf3 a5 39. Rh3 a4 40. Rxh6
a3 41. Kg2 a2 42. Rh7+ Ke6 43. Ra7 Kd5 44. h4 gxh4 45. g5 Ke6 46. g6 Rxc3 47.
g7 Rc8 48. Rxa2 Kf7 49. Ra7+ Kg8 50. Rb7 Rc6 51. Kh3 Rc4 52. b5 Rf4 53. f3
Rxf3+ 54. Kxh4 Rf5 55. Rxb6 Kxg7 56. Rb8 Kf7 57. b6 Rb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 05th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O h6 9. Be3 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Qc7 11. f4 b5 12. a4 bxa4 13. Qxa4+ Bd7 14. Bb5
Qb7 15. Bxd7+ Qxd7 16. Rd4 Be7 17. Rhd1 O-O 18. e5 Qxa4 19. Rxa4 Ne8 20. Nb5 d5
21. f5 exf5 22. Rxd5 Bg5 23. Bxg5 hxg5 24. c4 g6 25. c5 f4 26. c6 Ng7 27. Nd6
Ne6 28. Rda5 f6 29. exf6 Rxf6 30. Rxa6 Raf8 31. Ne4 R6f7 32. h3 f3 33. gxf3
Rxf3 34. Ra8 Rf1+ 35. Kd2 R1f4 36. Rxf8+ Rxf8 37. Ra7 Rc8 38. Nf6+ Kf8 39. Nd7+
Kg8 40. Ne5 Nd4 41. Ra6 Kg7 42. Kc3 Ne6 43. b4 Kf6 44. Ng4+ Ke7 45. b5 Nc7 46.
Ra7 Kd6 47. Kc4 Rf8 48. b6 Nd5 49. Rd7+ Kxc6 50. Rxd5 Rh8 51. Rb5 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 05th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E22"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qb3 Nc6 5. a3 Be7 6. d4 d5 7. cxd5 exd5 8.
Bf4 O-O 9. e3 a6 10. Bd3 h6 11. O-O Bd6 12. Ne5 Ne7 13. h3 c6 14. Rac1 Qc7 15.
Na4 Bf5 16. Nc5 Bxd3 17. Nexd3 Bxf4 18. Nxf4 Rab8 19. Qc2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 05th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. a3 b4 10. Ne4 Nxe4 11. Bxe4 bxa3 12. bxa3 Bd6 13. Bd2 Rb8 14. O-O O-O
15. Bb4 c5 16. dxc5 Bxc5 17. Bxb7 Rxb7 18. Nd4 Qb6 19. Bxc5 Qxc5 20. Qd2 Qd5
21. Qc3 h6 22. Rac1 Ne5 23. h3 Rfb8 24. Qc5 Qe4 25. Qc2 Qd5 26. Qa4 Qe4 27. Qc2
Qd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 05th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nikolic, Predrag"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A41"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. d4 Bg4 3. c4 e5 4. dxe5 Bxf3 5. exf3 dxe5 6. Qxd8+ Kxd8 7. Nc3 Nd7
8. f4 Bd6 9. fxe5 Bxe5 10. Bd2 Ngf6 11. O-O-O Re8 12. f4 Bd4 13. Nb5 Bf2 14. g3
a6 15. Na3 Be3 16. Bh3 Bxd2+ 17. Rxd2 Re7 18. Rhd1 Ke8 19. b4 g6 20. c5 Nf8 21.
Nc4 Ne6 22. Bg2 c6 23. f5 gxf5 24. Nd6+ Kf8 25. Nxf5 Rc7 26. a3 a5 27. Kb2 axb4
28. axb4 Rb8 29. Ra1 b6 30. cxb6 Rcb7 31. Ra6 Rxb6 32. Rxb6 Rxb6 33. Kc3 c5 34.
bxc5 Rb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 05th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Lautier, Joel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D48"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. O-O a6 10. e4 c5 11. d5 Qc7 12. Bc2 c4 13. dxe6 fxe6 14. Nd4 Nc5 15. Be3
e5 16. Nf5 Ncxe4 17. Nxe4 Nxe4 18. a4 Qc6 19. axb5 axb5 20. Rxa8+ Bxa8 21. Qg4
g6 22. Nh6 Nf6 23. Qg3 Bxh6 24. Bxh6 Kf7 25. f4 exf4 26. Bxf4 Re8 27. Bg5 Re6
28. h3 Kg7 29. Rf2 Qd6 30. Qc3 h6 31. Bh4 b4 32. Qxc4 Re1+ 33. Rf1 Rxf1+ 34.
Kxf1 g5 35. Bf2 Qh2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 05th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D25"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 g6 5. Bxc4 Bg7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Nfd7 8.
Qe2 Nb6 9. Bb3 Nc6 10. Rd1 Bg4 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Qxf3 e6 13. Ne4 Rb8 14. Bd2 Nd5
15. Rac1 Nce7 16. Nc5 Nf5 17. g4 Nfe7 18. e4 Nb6 19. Bg5 Nd7 20. Qg3 Nxc5 21.
dxc5 Qe8 22. Qxc7 Nc6 23. Ba4 Bxb2 24. Rb1 Be5 25. Qd7 Qc8 26. Kg2 Kg7 27. Be3
Na5 28. Rbc1 Rd8 29. Qe7 Qc7 30. Qxc7 Bxc7 31. f4 b5 32. cxb6 Bxb6 33. Bd2
Rxd2+ 34. Rxd2 Be3 35. Rdc2 Bxc1 36. Rxc1 Rb4 37. Be8 Rxe4 38. Rc7 Rxf4 39.
Rxa7 Nc4 40. a4 h5 41. gxh5 gxh5 42. a5 h4 43. a6 Ne3+ 44. Kg1 Rf1+ 45. Kh2
Rf2+ 46. Kg1 Rf1+ 47. Kh2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow PCA-GP Kremlin Stars"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1996.04.27"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D16"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 c6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Na6 6. e3 Bg4 7. Bxc4 e6 8. h3
Bh5 9. O-O Nb4 10. Qe2 Be7 11. Rd1 O-O 12. g4 Bg6 13. e4 Nd7 14. Ne5 Nxe5 15.
dxe5 Qa5 16. f4 h6 17. Kg2 Rad8 18. Be3 Bh7 19. Rxd8 Rxd8 20. Rd1 a6 21. Bb3
Kh8 22. Rd2 b5 23. axb5 cxb5 24. f5 Nc6 25. Rxd8+ Qxd8 26. Bf4 Bc5 27. Be3 Qb6
28. Bxc5 Qxc5 29. Qf2 Qxe5 30. Qb6 Nd4 31. Bd1 Bg8 32. Bf3 f6 33. Ne2 Nxe2 34.
Bxe2 Qxe4+ 35. Bf3 Qc2+ 36. Qf2 Qxf2+ 37. Kxf2 a5 38. fxe6 Bxe6 39. Ke3 b4 40.
Bd1 f5 41. Kf4 fxg4 42. hxg4 Kg8 43. Ke5 Kf7 44. Kd6 Kf6 45. b3 g5 46. Kc5 Ke5
47. Kb5 Kd4 48. Kxa5 Kc3 49. Ka4 Bd5 0-1

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

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

[Event "Moscow PCA-GP Kremlin Stars"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1996.04.27"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C00"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. d3 Nc6 3. f4 e6 4. Nf3 d5 5. Nbd2 Nf6 6. c3 Be7 7. g3 b6 8. e5 Nd7
9. d4 a5 10. Bb5 Qc7 11. O-O Ba6 12. Bxa6 Rxa6 13. a4 O-O 14. Rf2 cxd4 15. cxd4
Qb7 16. Nb1 b5 17. axb5 Qxb5 18. Nc3 Qc4 19. Be3 Nb4 20. Rd2 Qc6 21. Rc1 Qb7
22. g4 f5 23. exf6 Nxf6 24. Ne5 Nc6 25. Rf2 Nxe5 26. fxe5 Nd7 27. Rxf8+ Nxf8
28. Qe2 Rc6 29. Rf1 Bb4 30. Qf3 Rc7 31. Ne2 Rf7 32. Qxf7+ Qxf7 33. Rxf7 Kxf7
34. b3 Nd7 35. Nf4 Nb6 36. Kf1 a4 37. bxa4 Nxa4 38. Ke2 Nb6 39. Kf3 Nc4 40. Bf2
1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow PCA-GP Kremlin Stars"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1996.04.29"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Chernin, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D10"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Bd3 e5 5. Nc3 e4 6. Bc2 Bd6 7. cxd5 cxd5 8. f3
O-O 9. fxe4 Nxe4 10. Nf3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Nd7 12. O-O Re8 13. e4 dxe4 14. Ng5 Nf6
15. Bb3 Be6 16. Nxe6 fxe6 17. Bg5 Kh8 18. Qe1 Bxh2+ 19. Kh1 Bd6 20. Qh4 Be7 21.
Bc2 Qd7 22. Rae1 Rf8 23. Bxf6 Rxf6 24. Rxf6 Bxf6 25. Qxe4 g6 26. Qxe6 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Moscow PCA-GP Kremlin Stars"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1996.04.30"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C55"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2675"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Bb3 d6 7. c3 Na5 8. Bc2
c5 9. b4 cxb4 10. cxb4 Nc6 11. b5 Na5 12. d4 exd4 13. Nxd4 Bd7 14. Nd2 Rc8 15.
Bb2 Ng4 16. a4 Bf6 17. h3 Ne5 18. N4b3 Nac4 19. Nxc4 Rxc4 20. Nd2 Rc7 21. Bb3
Qc8 22. f4 Ng4 23. Bxf6 Ne3 24. Qh5 gxf6 25. Rf3 Rc1+ 26. Rxc1 Qxc1+ 27. Nf1
Nxf1 28. Rxf1 Qe3+ 29. Kh2 Qxe4 30. Rf3 Kh8 31. Qh6 Qe7 32. Re3 Qd8 33. Rg3 Rg8
34. Rxg8+ Kxg8 35. Bc2 f5 36. Qxd6 Qc8 37. Bb3 Be6 38. Bxe6 fxe6 39. Qe7 Qc4
40. Qe8+ Kg7 41. Qe7+ Kg6 42. Qe8+ Kf6 43. Qf8+ Kg6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow PCA-GP Kremlin Stars"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1996.04.30"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nge2 Nf6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O h6 9. Be3 Be7 10. f3 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 b5 12. Kb1 Rb8 13. Qe3 b4 14. Na4 Qc7
15. b3 O-O 16. Bd3 e5 17. Bb2 Bd7 18. Bxa6 Ra8 19. Qe2 Bxa4 20. bxa4 Nd7 21.
Qc4 Nc5 22. Bb5 Qa5 23. c3 bxc3 24. Bxc3 Qa7 25. Rc1 Nxa4 26. Qxa4 Qxa4 27.
Bxa4 Rxa4 28. Rc2 f5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow PCA-GP Kremlin Stars"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1996.04.30"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. Re1 Nf6 6. e5 Nd5 7. Nc3 Nc7 8.
Bxc6 dxc6 9. Ne4 Ne6 10. d3 O-O 11. Be3 b6 12. Qd2 f5 13. exf6 exf6 14. Bh6 a5
15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. Re2 Ra7 17. Rae1 Raf7 18. h4 h5 19. b3 Qc7 20. Ng3 Nd4 21.
Nxd4 cxd4 22. c3 Rd8 23. Re4 dxc3 24. Qxc3 c5 25. Ne2 Bf5 26. Nf4 Qd7 27. Ne6+
Bxe6 28. Rxe6 Qxd3 29. Qxd3 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Moscow PCA-GP Kremlin Stars"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1996.04.30"]
[Round "4.4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B08"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "1996.04.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 052 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nf3 d6 4. Be2 Nf6 5. Nc3 O-O 6. O-O c6 7. h3 Nbd7 8. Bf4
Qa5 9. Qd2 e5 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Bh6 Re8 12. Bxg7 Kxg7 13. a3 Qc7 14. Nh2 Nf8
15. Ng4 Nxg4 16. Bxg4 Bxg4 17. hxg4 Ne6 18. Ne2 Rad8 19. Qc3 Nd4 20. Rfe1 h6
21. Nxd4 exd4 22. Qf3 Qe5 23. Rad1 c5 24. b3 Re6 25. g3 b5 26. Qd3 a6 27. Kg2
Qc7 28. c4 Qc6 29. Rc1 Rde8 30. cxb5 axb5 31. b4 c4 32. Qxd4+ Kg8 33. f3 Rd6
34. Qe3 Red8 35. Re2 Rd3 36. Qxh6 Qf6 37. Rf2 Rxa3 38. Rh1 Qg7 39. Qg5 Rad3 40.
Qxb5 c3 41. Rc1 Rd2 42. Rc2 Rxc2 43. Rxc2 Rd2+ 44. Rxd2 cxd2 45. Qe8+ Qf8 46.
Qd7 Qxb4 47. Kf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1996.05.21"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B52"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2675"]
[Annotator "Azmaiparashvili"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1996.05.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Horvath,T} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Nc6
7. O-O Nd4 {Die bekannte Züge sind 7...-g6 7...-e6 und 7...-Ne5} (7... g6 {
Kramnik-Gelfand,94}) 8. b4 $5 $146 (8. Nxd4 cxd4 9. Nb5 Nxe4 (9... a6 10. Nxd4
Nxe4 11. Re1 Nf6 12. Qf3 e6 13. Nf5 Qc6 14. Qf4 $16) 10. Nxd4 $10 {
Rublevskiy-Sakaev} (10. Qa4 $5 Rc8 11. Qxa7 Rxc4 12. d3 Rc8 13. dxe4 Qxb5 14.
Qxd4 $16 {Dolmatov})) 8... Qg4 9. Kh1 (9. Nxd4 Qxd1 10. Nxd1 cxd4 11. d3 a5 12.
Bd2 axb4 13. Bxb4 $14) 9... Nxf3 (9... Nxe4 {Horvath,T} 10. h3 Qf5 11. Nxd4
cxd4 12. Qa4+ Kd8 13. Nb5 $16) 10. gxf3 Qh3 11. Rb1 $2 (11. bxc5 dxc5 12. Rb1
e6 13. e5 $16) 11... g6 12. bxc5 Bh6 13. Rg1 (13. d4 $5 {Horvath,T} Bxc1 14.
Rxc1 dxc5 15. Nd5 $14) 13... dxc5 14. Rxb7 Bf4 15. Rg2 O-O $1 $44 16. d3 (16.
Rxe7 {Horvath,T} Rfb8 {/\Bd6} 17. e5 Nd7 $44) 16... Be5 17. Nd5 Nxd5 18. cxd5
Rfb8 19. Rxb8+ (19. Rb3 Rxb3 20. axb3 Qh5 $1 $44) (19. Rxe7 $2 {Horvath,T} Bd6
20. Bg5 Kf8 $19) 19... Rxb8 20. f4 Bd4 21. Rg3 Qd7 22. Qc2 e6 $6 (22... Qb5 23.
Kg2 Qb1 24. Qxb1 Rxb1 25. Be3 Rb2 26. Bxd4 cxd4 27. Kf3 f6) 23. dxe6 Qxe6 24.
Kg2 c4 25. Qxc4 Qxc4 26. dxc4 Rc8 27. Bd2 Rxc4 28. Rd3 $1 $14 Kf8 (28... Ra4 $2
29. a3 Bc5 30. Rd8+ Kg7 31. Bc3+) 29. Kf3 Ke8 (29... f5 $5) 30. Ra3 Bb6 31. Be3
Kd7 32. Ra6 $2 (32. h4 $5 h5 33. Ra6 Rb4 34. e5 $16) 32... Rc3 33. h4 $2 (33.
Ke2 Bxe3 34. fxe3 Rc2+ 35. Kf3 Rxh2 36. Rxa7+ $14) 33... Kc6 34. Ke2 (34. Ke2
Kb5 35. Kd2 Kxa6 36. Kxc3 Bd8 37. h5 gxh5 $13) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1996.05.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B57"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "Bologan,V"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1996.05.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Azmaiparashvili Har Zvi} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6
6. Bc4 Qb6 7. Ndb5 Bg4 8. f3 (8. Nd5 {Azmaiparashvili} Qa5+ (8... Qxb5 9. Bxb5
Bxd1 10. Kxd1) 9. b4 Qxb5 (9... Nxd5 10. Qxd5 Qxb4+ 11. Bd2 e6 12. Qxc6+ bxc6
13. Bxb4 cxb5 14. Bxb5+ Kd8 15. f3 Bh5 16. O-O-O) (9... Bxd1 10. bxa5 Nxd5 11.
exd5 Nxa5 12. Kxd1 Nxc4 13. Nc7+ Kd7 14. Nxa8 g6 15. Rb1) (9... Nxb4 10. Nxf6+
gxf6 11. Qxg4 Nxc2+ 12. Ke2 Nxa1 13. Bd2 Qa4 14. Nc7+ Kd8 15. Bb5) 10. Bxb5
Bxd1 11. Kxd1 Nxe4 12. Re1 Nxf2+ 13. Ke2 Ne4 14. Kf3 Nf6 15. Nc7+ Kd7 16. Nxa8
g6) 8... Bd7 9. Qe2 a6 10. Be3 Qa5 11. Nd4 b5 12. Bb3 e6 13. O-O-O b4 14. Nb1 (
14. Nxc6 Bxc6 15. Nd5 $2 exd5 16. exd5 Bb5 17. Qe1 Be7 18. Bd4 Kf8 19. a3 Rc8
20. axb4 Qc7 $17 {Onoprienko V.-Khasin A. Ch Russia (club) Kazan (Russia) 1995.
}) (14. Nd5 {Azmaiparashvili} exd5 15. exd5 Nxd4 16. Bxd4+ Kd8) 14... Be7 15.
g4 (15. Nd2 $5 d5 16. g4 dxe4 17. Nxe4 $14) 15... Nxd4 16. Rxd4 e5 (16... Ba4 {
Azmaiparashvili} 17. Nd2) 17. Rdd1 Be6 18. Nd2 Bxb3 (18... O-O {Azmaiparashvili
} 19. Bxe6 (19. Kb1 Rac8) 19... fxe6 20. Qc4 Kf7) 19. cxb3 $1 (19. axb3 Qa1+
20. Nb1 O-O $40 {there is no any good move for White to avoid the march of the
'a' pawn.}) 19... d5 $6 {Of course it is played in Sicilian style but may be
that was done in the wrong moment. Better was to take the pawn on 'a2'.} (19...
Qxa2 20. Nc4 (20. Kc2 {Azmaiparashvili} Qa5 (20... d5 21. Ra1 Rc8+ 22. Nc4
Rxc4+ 23. bxc4 b3+ 24. Kc3 d4+ 25. Kd3) 21. Nc4 Qc7 22. Kb1 $44) 20... Qxb3 21.
Kb1 O-O 22. g5 Ne8 23. Nb6 Rb8 24. Nd7 Rc8 $13) 20. exd5 $6 (20. Kb1 $1 d4 (
20... Qb5 21. Rhe1 (21. Qxb5+ axb5 22. g5 d4 23. gxf6 dxe3 24. fxe7 Kxe7 $1 $10
) 21... Qxe2 22. Rxe2 dxe4 23. Nxe4 Nxe4 24. fxe4 $16) 21. Nc4 Qc7 22. Bf2 $16)
20... Qxa2 21. Nc4 Qxb3 22. Kb1 {[#]} Rc8 $4 {Just a blunder.} (22... Nd7 23.
d6 Bh4 24. f4 O-O 25. Nxe5 Nxe5 26. fxe5 Qe6 27. Bc5 $13) 23. Rd3 $1 $18 Qxc4
24. Rc1 Qxc1+ 25. Bxc1 Bd6 {Of course the position is completly winning for
White and also it's clear that in this case many roads lead to Rome so it's
dificult to critisize the Whites play.} 26. f4 e4 27. g5 O-O 28. Rd1 (28. Rh3 {
Azmaiparashvili} Rxc1+ 29. Kxc1 Bxf4+ 30. Kb1 Bxg5) 28... Nd7 29. Qxa6 {
I prefer much more to take the "e" pawn after white should not worry about
this pawn which in the game caused his serious problems (Har Zvi).} Bc5 30. Qb5
(30. d6 {Azmaiparashvili} e3 31. Re1 Rfd8 32. Bxe3 Bxe3 33. Rxe3 $18) 30... Rc7
31. d6 Ra7 32. b3 {Again I can not understand why Topalov underestimated
black's "e" it seems after 32.Re1 white is better (Har Zvi).} (32. Qc4 $142 {
Azmaiparashvili} Re8 33. f5) 32... e3 33. Bb2 (33. Rd5 $5 Rfa8 34. Bb2 Rb8 35.
Qc4 Re8 36. Rf5 $18) 33... Re8 34. f5 Bxd6 35. g6 hxg6 36. fxg6 Re6 37. gxf7+
Kxf7 38. Qh5+ Kg8 39. Bxg7 e2 (39... Kxg7 $4 {Azmaiparashvili} 40. Rg1+ Kf6 (
40... Kf8 41. Qh8+ Ke7 42. Rg7+ Kf6 43. Rxd7+ Kf5 44. Rxa7 e2 45. Rf7+ Ke4 46.
Qh4+ Kd3 47. Rf3+ Kd2 48. Qg5+) 41. Qg5+ Kf7 42. Qg8+ Ke7 43. Rg7+ Kf6 44. Rg6+
) 40. Qh8+ (40. Re1 Kxg7 41. Rg1+ Bg3 $8 42. Qg5+ Kf7 43. Qxg3 {With good
winning chances for Topalov.}) 40... Kf7 41. Re1 Ra3 42. Qh5+ Kxg7 43. Rg1+ Bg3
{[#]} 44. Qg4+ {Here Vesselin offered a draw that was imedeatly exepted. But
even in this position after long forced variations which may happent after 44.
Rg3 White is still winning. I am almost sure that this halfpoint the bulgarian
GM was remembering on the closing ceremony.} (44. Qg4+ Kf7 (44... Kf6 {
Azmaiparashvili} 45. Qxg3 e1=Q+ 46. Rxe1 Rxb3+ 47. Qxb3 Rxe1+ 48. Kc2 Re2+ 49.
Kd1 Rxh2 50. Qf3+ Ke7 51. Qe4+ Kd8 $10) 45. Qxg3 e1=Q+ 46. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 47. Qxe1
Rxb3+ 48. Kc2 Rc3+ 49. Kd2 Rc5 $10) (44. Rxg3+ Kf8 45. Qh8+ Ke7 46. Qh4+ Kd6 (
46... Ke8 47. Rg8+ Nf8 48. Qh5+ Ke7 49. Qc5+ Rd6 50. Rg7+ $18) (46... Ke8 {
Azmaiparashvili}) 47. Qxb4+ Kc7 48. Qc3+ Rc6 49. Qd2 Re6 (49... Rca6 50. Qf4+
Kb7 51. Qb4+ Ka7 52. Qd4+ Kb8 53. Re3 e1=Q+ 54. Rxe1 Rxb3+ 55. Kc2 $18) 50.
Qc1+ Kb7 51. Re3 $18) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1996.05.23"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D78"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Hecht,H"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "1996.05.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Bologan} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 c6 6. d4 d5 7. Qb3
Qb6 8. O-O Bf5 9. Ne5 e6 10. Bf4 Nbd7 11. Qxb6 axb6 12. f3 c5 13. dxc5 d4 14.
Nb5 bxc5 15. Nxd7 Nxd7 16. Bd6 Rfc8 17. f4 Rc6 18. a4 Bc2 19. Ra3 Nb6 20. Rc1
d3 21. exd3 Rxd6 22. Rxc2 Rd7 23. a5 Nc8 24. d4 cxd4 25. c5 Ne7 26. Nd6 d3 27.
Rxd3 Rxa5 28. Bxb7 Bf8 29. b4 Ra1+ 30. Kg2 Nf5 31. Bc6 Rd8 32. Rcd2 Rc1 33.
Nxf5 Rxd3 34. Rxd3 gxf5 35. Rb3 Rc2+ {[#]} 36. Kg1 {Bologan: Just losing two
very important tempi.} (36. Kf3 {Bologan} Rxh2 37. Ke3 Be7 38. Bf3 $18) 36...
Bg7 37. Bf3 Rc3 38. Rxc3 Bxc3 {[#] ungleiche L, verbundene Freibauern
blockiert durch sK, den Rest deckt sL ===> remis; einfacher Sachverhalt. 
Bologan: May be Vladimir thought that the ending without rooks on the board
it's also winning for him.But of course it is complete draw.} 39. c6 Bd4+ 40.
Kf1 Bb6 41. Ke2 Kf8 42. Kd3 Ke7 43. Kc4 Kd6 44. Kb5 Kc7 45. Ka6 f6 46. b5 e5
47. Bg2 exf4 48. gxf4 Be3 49. Bd5 h6 50. h3 Bb6 51. Be6 Be3 52. Bd7 Bb6 53.
Bxf5 Be3 54. Be4 Bb6 55. f5 Be3 56. Ka5 Bd2+ 57. Ka4 h5 58. Kb3 h4 59. Kc4 Bf4
60. Kc5 Bd6+ 61. Kd5 Be5 62. Ke6 Bc3 63. Kf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1996.05.25"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "1996.05.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Azmaiparashvili Ftacnik} d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6.
e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. exf6 Bb7 12. g3 c5 13.
d5 Qb6 14. Bg2 O-O-O 15. O-O b4 16. Rb1 Qa6 17. dxe6 Bxg2 18. e7 Bxf1 (18...
Ba8 {Ftacnik} 19. exd8=Q+ (19. Nd5 $2 Qb7 (19... Qe6 20. exf8=Q Rdxf8 21. Ne7+
Kd8 22. f3 Qe5 23. Qd2 Qd4+ 24. Qxd4 cxd4 25. Rbd1 d3 26. b3 Ne5 27. bxc4 Bxf3
28. Rxd3+ Nxd3 29. Rxf3 Ne5 30. Rf5 Ng4 31. c5 Kd7 {1-0 Gual,A-Oms,J/Manresa
op (08) 1995 (64)}) 20. exf8=Q Rhxf8 21. Ne7+ Kc7 22. Bf4+ Ne5 $1 23. Bxe5+ Kb6
{0-1 Peter,A-Thallinger,H/Budapest FS09 IM-B (07)/1995/ (55)}) 19... Kxd8 20.
Ne2 Kc8 21. Qc2 Qe6 22. f3 $1 (22. Nf4 $5 Qg4 23. Rfe1 Bh6 $1 $8 24. Bxh6 Qf3
$10 25. Kf1 Qh1+ 26. Ke2 Qf3+ 27. Kd2 $5 (27. Kf1 $10) 27... Qxf2+ 28. Re2 Qd4+
29. Kc1 $6 Bf3 $3 $15 {0-1 Yermolinsky,A-Shabalov,A/USSR/1986/ (32)}) 22... Bd6
23. Rbd1 Bc6 $1 (23... Be5 24. Qa4) 24. Nf4 $1 (24. Bf4 Be5 $1 $15) 24... Qe3+
25. Qf2 Qxf2+ 26. Rxf2 Be5 27. Nd5 Bxd5 $1 (27... Bd4 $2 {Yermolinsky,
A-Makarov,M/USSR/1986/} 28. Rxd4 $1) 28. Rxd5 Bd4 $10) 19. Kxf1 (19. Qd5 Bh6 (
19... Bxe7 {Ftacnik} 20. fxe7 Rdg8 21. Ne4 Rg6 22. Rxf1 $2 (22. Qa8+ $1 Nb8 23.
Rxf1 Qc6 (23... Qb7 24. Qxb7+ Kxb7 25. Bf6 $18) 24. Rd1 $3 Qxa8 25. Rd8+ Kc7 (
25... Kb7 26. Rxh8 Re6 27. Nxc5+ $18) 26. Bf4+ Kb6 27. Rxh8 Re6 28. e8=Q Rxe8
29. Rxe8 Qd5 30. Rxb8+ Ka6 31. Nd2 $1 $18) 22... Qc6 23. Qxc6+ Rxc6 24. Rd1 $2
(24. Bf4 $1 Re8 25. Nd6+ Rxd6 26. Bxd6 Kb7 27. Re1 Kc6 28. Bf4) 24... Re8 25.
Nd6+ Rxd6 26. Rxd6 f6 27. Bxf6 Kc7 28. Re6 Nxf6 29. Rxf6 Rxe7 30. Kf1 Re4 31.
Rf4 Rxf4 32. gxf4 Kd6 33. Ke2 a5 34. a4 c3 35. bxc3 b3 {1/2-1/2 Kasparov,
G-Kramnik,V (01)/New York PCA 25' (04)/ 1994/}) 20. Bxh6 (20. exd8=Q+ {Ftacnik}
Kxd8 21. Ne4 Bh3 22. Nxc5 Be6 23. Nxe6+ fxe6 24. Qa8+ Qc8 25. Qxa7 Bxg5 26.
Qa5+ Qc7 27. Qxg5 Qe5 $1 $10 {Yermolinsky,A-Ivanchuk,V/Pinsk/1986/0,5/40/})
20... Bd3 21. Qa8+ (21. exd8=Q+ $2 {Ftacnik} Kxd8 $1) (21. Ne4 $5 {Ftacnik}
Bxe4 22. Qxe4 (22. exd8=Q+ $6 Kxd8 23. Qxe4 Rxh6 $17) 22... Rde8 (22... Rxh6 $2
23. Qa8+ Nb8 24. exd8=Q+ Kxd8 25. Qxb8+ $18) 23. Bg7 $1 Rh5 (23... Nxf6 $5) 24.
Rd1 Qb5 $1 25. f4 $2 (25. Qa8+ Nb8 26. Qe4 Nd7 $10) 25... c3 $1 (25... Kc7 $5 {
Beliavsky}) 26. bxc3 {1/2-1/2 Beliavsky,A-Shirov,A/EUCup f Ljubljana (03)/1995/
(40)}) 21... Nb8 22. exd8=Q+ Rxd8 23. Re1 bxc3 (23... Qc6 $5 24. Qxa7 bxc3 25.
bxc3 $44) 24. Bf4 Qb6 (24... Qb7 25. Re7 $3 Qxa8 26. Rc7#) 25. bxc3 Bf5 26. h4
Be6 (26... Qb7 27. Qxb7+ Kxb7 28. Re7+ Rd7 29. Bxb8 Kxb8 30. Rxd7 Bxd7 31. Kg2
Kc7 32. Kf3 Kd6 33. Kf4 {1/2-1/2 Azmaiparashvili,Z-Shirov,A/Madrid (03)/1996/ 
(42)}) 27. Kh2 Rd7 $5 28. h5 Rb7 29. Bxb8 $2 (29. h6 Qb2 30. Kg1 Qxc3 31. Rxe6
$1 fxe6 32. Bxb8 Qf3 33. Bd6+ Kd7 34. Qxb7+ Qxb7 35. f7 $18) 29... Rxb8 30. Qe4
Kc7 $2 31. Rd1 $1 Rh8 32. g4 $14 {1-0 Yermolinsky,A-Gurevich,D/USA-ch/1994/ 
(63)}) 19... Bxe7 (19... bxc3 20. Qd5 Bxe7 21. fxe7 c2 22. exd8=Q+ Rxd8 23. Rc1
c3+ 24. Kg2 cxb2 25. Qa8+ Nb8 26. Rxc2 Qb6 (26... b1=Q 27. Rxc5+ Kd7 28. Qd5+
Qd6 29. Qxf7+ $18 (29. Qxf7+ Qe7 30. Qxe7#)) 27. Bxd8 Kxd8 28. Qd5+ Nd7 29. Rd2
Qb5 30. a4 {1-0 Uhlmann,W-Alexandria,N/Halle (03) ;MCL 03 1981 Dies war die
Stammpartie der Variante 16.Rb1.}) (19... Qc6 20. exd8=Q+ Kxd8 21. Nd5 Rxh2 22.
Kg1 Rh8 23. Bf4 Bd6 24. Bxd6 Qxd6 25. Qf3 Ne5 26. Qe4 Re8 27. Ne3 Nc6 28. Qf3
Kc7 29. Nxc4 Qd4 30. b3 Qe4 31. Qxe4 Rxe4 32. Kg2 Ne5 33. Ne3 Kd7 34. Rh1 Ke6
35. Rh8 Kxf6 36. Rc8 Nd3 37. Ra8 Rd4 38. Rxa7 $16 {1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V-Shirov,A/
Monaco blind (03) ;EXP 52 1996 (59)}) 20. fxe7 Rdg8 21. Ne4 (21. Qd5 Rxg5 $1 (
21... bxc3 $2 22. Qa8+ Kc7 (22... Nb8 23. bxc3) 23. Bf4+ Kb6 24. bxc3+ Ka5 25.
Bc7+ Ka4 (25... Nb6 26. Qc6 Rh5 27. a4 $18) 26. Qd5 Ka3 27. Qxd7 $16) 22. Qxg5
bxc3 23. bxc3 Qg6 $19) 21... Qc6 (21... Qe6 $5) (21... Qe6 22. Nd6+ Kc7 23. Bf4
Kb6 24. Qf3 $40) 22. Nd6+ Kb8 23. Bf4 Rxh2 24. Ke2 $6 {Vielleicht war 24.e8Q
noch besser:} (24. e8=Q+ $5 Rxe8 25. Nxe8+ Ka8 26. Ke2 Qe4+ 27. Be3 Qxe8 (27...
Qg4+ {Azmaiparashvili} 28. Kd2 Qe4 29. Qe2 Qd5+ 30. Kc2 Qe4+ 31. Kd2) 28. Qd5+
Kb8 29. Rd1 Nb6 (29... Kc7 30. Qd6+ $18) 30. Qxc5 {Nun haben wir die gleiche
Stellung wie in der Partie (Zug 31), aber mit dem Unterschied, daß der sK auf
b8 statt auf b7 steht. Dies wirkt sich zum Nachteil für Schwarz aus:} Qa4 31.
Rd8+ Kb7 32. Qe7+ Ka6 33. Bxb6 $18) 24... Ka8 25. Qc2 (25. e8=Q+ {- 24.e8Q}) (
25. e8=Q+ $1 Rxe8+ 26. Nxe8) 25... Nb6 26. Qf5 Nc8 27. e8=Q (27. Qxf7 Rhh8 $1
28. Rd1 (28. Nxc8 Qe4+ 29. Be3 Rxc8) 28... Nxd6 29. Bxd6 Qe4+ 30. Kd2 Rc8 $15)
27... Rxe8+ 28. Nxe8 Qxe8+ 29. Be3 Nb6 30. Rd1 (30. Qf3+ $6 Kb8 $15) (30. Qxc5
{Azmaiparashvili} Qa4 (30... Qd7 31. Rd1 Qg4+ 32. Kd2) 31. Qf8+ Kb7 32. Qxf7+
Ka6 33. Rd1 Qxa2 34. Kf3 Qxb2 35. Bxb6 Qb3+ 36. Ke2 Qc2+ 37. Rd2 Qe4+ 38. Be3
Qg4+ 39. Qf3 Qxf3+ 40. Kxf3 Kb5 (40... c3 41. Rd7 b3 42. Bd4 c2 43. Rxa7+ Kb5
44. Ra1) 41. Rd5+ Ka4 42. Rc5 c3) 30... Kb7 (30... Qc6 31. Rd8+ Kb7 32. Bxc5
$16) 31. Qxc5 {Auch hier macht die schwarze Stellung keinen soliden Eindruck.
Kramnik kann kann knapp die Partie halten.} Qa4 $1 32. Rd2 (32. Qe7+ Ka6 33.
Bxb6 axb6 34. Qe4 Rxf2+ (34... Qxa2 $2 35. Qa8+ Kb5 36. Rd5#) 35. Kxf2 Qxd1 36.
Qxc4+ Ka5 37. Qxf7 $16) 32... c3 $1 33. bxc3 bxc3 34. Rd4 (34. Qxc3 Qg4+ (34...
Qg4+ 35. Kd3 Qf5+ $10)) 34... Qxa2+ 35. Kf3 c2 (35... Qb1 $2 {Azmaiparashvili}
36. Qe7+ Ka6 37. Ra4+ $1 Kb5 38. Ra5+ $1) (35... Qe6 {Azmaiparashvili} 36. Qxc3
Qc6+ 37. Qxc6+ Kxc6 38. Rf4 Rh7 39. Rf6+ Kd7) 36. Rd2 Rh8 37. Rxc2 (37. Qxc2
Qxc2 38. Rxc2 Re8) 37... Qd5+ 38. Qxd5+ Nxd5 39. Rb2+ Nb6 (39... Ka8 40. Bd4
$14) 40. Ke4 $14 Rc8 41. g4 Rc6 42. g5 (42. f4 {Azmaiparashvili} Re6+ 43. Kf3)
42... Re6+ 43. Kf5 (43. Kd3 $5 a5 44. f4 $14) 43... a5 44. Rb5 (44. Bxb6 Rxb6
45. Re2 (45. Rxb6+ Kxb6 46. Kf6 a4 47. Kxf7 a3 48. g6 a2 49. g7 a1=Q 50. g8=Q
Qa2+ $10) 45... Ka6) 44... a4 45. Ra5 Nc4 46. Rxa4 Nxe3+ 47. fxe3 Rxe3 48. Ra5
(48. Kf6 Rf3+ $10) (48. Rf4 {Azmaiparashvili} Re6 49. Rh4 Re1 50. Kf6 Rf1+ 51.
Ke7 Rf5) 48... Kc6 (48... Rf3+ {Azmaiparashvili} 49. Ke4 Rg3 50. Rf5 Kc6 51.
Ke5 Kd7 52. Kf6 Ke8 53. Kg7 Kd7) 49. Kf6 (49. Re5 Rxe5+ 50. Kxe5 Kd7 51. Kf6
Ke8 $10) 49... Rf3+ 50. Ke7 Rf1 51. Ra6+ Kd5 52. Rf6 Rg1 53. Rf5+ Ke4 54. Kf6
Rg4 55. Re5+ Kd4 (55... Kd4 56. Ra5 Rf4+ 57. Rf5 Ke4 (57... Rxf5+ {
Azmaiparashvili} 58. Kxf5 Ke3) 58. Rxf4+ Kxf4 $10) 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1996.05.29"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C07"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "1996.05.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. Ngf3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. exd5 Nxd5 7. N2f3 Be7
8. Bc4 O-O 9. O-O Bf6 10. c3 Nc6 11. Re1 Nxd4 12. Nxd4 Qb6 13. Nf3 Ne7 14. Ng5
Ng6 15. Qh5 Bxg5 16. Qxg5 e5 17. Bd3 Be6 18. Qe3 Qc6 19. Bxg6 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1996.06.01"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C85"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Shirov,A"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1996.05.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 053"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Wedberg} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 {Surprise. Until now Kramnik hasn't
played Ruy Lopez.} a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 {I have been employing} (5... b5 6.
Bb3 Bc5 {recently but knowing that Anand played it against Kasparov in New
York I suspected that Kramnik would analyse it through with Garri and it might
be the reason he chose the Spanish against me.}) 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. Qe1 $5 {
A rare but very tricky line. I definitely didn't react in the best way.} Nd7 {
An interesting alternative which Paul Keres used to play would be} (7... Be6 $5
8. b3 Nd7 9. Bb2 Bd6 10. d4 f6 {.}) 8. b3 c5 9. Bb2 Bd6 10. a4 Qe7 $6 {An
artifitial setup. Simple development like} (10... O-O {is always better.}) (
10... O-O 11. Na3 Re8 (11... b6 12. Nc4 Bb7 13. d3 Qe7 14. Qe2 (14. Ne3 Rae8
15. Nf5 Qd8 16. N3h4 g6 {1/2-1/2 Gavrilakis,N-Lalic,B/Novi Sad olm (04)
GRC-JUB 1990}) 14... Rae8 15. Rfe1 Qd8 16. Bc1 Nb8 17. Ne3 Nc6 $10 {Hickl,
J-Wahls,M/Bern zt (2) 1990/1-0 (84)}) (11... f6 {Wedberg} 12. Nc4 Nb8 13. Nh4
Nc6 14. Nf5 Bxf5 $6 15. exf5 Qd7 16. Qe4 $16 {<=> Blatny,P-Siklosi,Z/Kecskemet
56/(372) 1992}) 12. Nc4 f6 13. d3 (13. Nh4 {Wedberg} Nf8 14. Nf5 Rb8 15. d3 Ne6
16. Nfxd6 cxd6 17. Ne3 Bd7 18. Nf5 Bc6 $10 {Frendzas,P-Sturua,Z/Peristeri (03)
1993/1/2-1/2 (73)}) 13... Nf8 14. Nfd2 Ne6 15. Nxd6 cxd6 16. Nc4 b6 17. Ne3 Bb7
$10 {1/2-1/2 Gullaksen,E-Berzinsh,R/Debrecen EU-chT (8) LAT-NOR 1992 (22)}) 11.
Nc3 $1 {A new and the most logical move. Black would be fine after} (11. Na3 $6
Nb8 $1 {which in fact has already occured in a few games.} (11... Nb8 {Wedberg}
12. Nc4 Nc6 $10) (11... Nf8 12. Nc4 Ng6 13. Qe3 O-O 14. Rfe1 Bd7 $10 {
Ivanovic-Ajanski/Plovdiv/1977})) 11... Nf6 (11... c6 12. d3 $14) 12. d3 $14 Be6
13. Nd2 g5 $6 {Violating all the strategical rules. The f5 weakness will be
pain in neck for a long time. I should have chosen. Wedberg: Preventing f4 and
going for 0-0-0. Its quite logical, but unusual, to castle queenside in this
line. Compare it to the immediate exchange variation, 4.Bxc6, were 0-0-0 is
standard procedure for Black.} (13... Nd7 14. Nc4 O-O {with playable position
although after} 15. Ne3 {White is still slightly better.}) 14. Nc4 O-O-O 15.
Ba3 $1 $16 {Straight attack is the best in the situation. Black finds himself
in severe difficulties as his pieces are badly coordinated.} Nd7 (15... h5 16.
Nxd6+ Qxd6 (16... cxd6 $6 {Wedberg} 17. b4 $40) 17. a5 $40 {/\Na4, b4}) 16. Rb1
Nb8 {Trying to get some air. Otherwise it would be one side play, for example}
(16... Rhe8 17. b4 Bxc4 (17... cxb4 18. Nxd6+ Qxd6 19. Bxb4 $16) 18. dxc4 cxb4
19. Nd5 $16 {etc.}) 17. Nd5 $1 {White could force a slightly better ending
after} (17. Nxd6+ Qxd6 (17... cxd6 $2 18. Nd5 (18. b4 $40) 18... Bxd5 19. exd5
$16 {/\ 20.b4}) 18. Qe3 (18. b4 {Wedberg} cxb4 19. Rxb4 Nc6 20. Rb3 Qd4 21. Rb2
f5 $13) 18... Qd4 19. Ne2 Qxe3 20. fxe3 Nd7 $14 {but it's clear that he
aspires for more. Meanwhile}) (17. b4 cxb4 18. Nxd6+ cxd6 19. Bxb4 Nc6 {
would already give Black certain defensive possibilities.}) 17... Bxd5 18. exd5
Rhe8 (18... f5 $142 {Wedberg}) 19. Qe4 $1 {A very precise move.} (19. Nxd6+
Qxd6 20. c4 c6 $1 {would promise Black counterplay, for example} 21. b4 cxd5
22. bxc5 Qe6 $13 {. Another interesting opportunity was}) (19. b4 $5 cxb4 $8
20. Bxb4 Bxb4 21. Rxb4 Rxd5 22. Qb1 $1 Nc6 23. Rxb7 Qc5 24. Ne3 $14 {.}) 19...
Nd7 $1 {Passive defence like} (19... Qd7 $6 20. Ne3 {is just a hell.}) 20. b4
$1 {White could capture the pawn with} (20. Qxh7 {But I think that after} Rh8
21. Qf5 g4 $1 {Black gets counterchances. I prefer the text.}) 20... cxb4 21.
Nxd6+ {Of course not} (21. Bxb4 $4 Bxb4 22. d6 cxd6 23. Rxb4 d5 $19 {.}) 21...
Qxd6 22. Bxb4 Qg6 $1 {The best practical try. After} (22... f5 23. Qxf5 $1 {
(but not} (23. Qc4 $6 Nb6 $1 24. Bxd6 Nxc4 25. Bxc7 Rd7 $1 {with draw as
indicated by Kasparov}) 23... Qxd5 24. Qxh7 {White would also grab a pawn but
this time without any compensation.}) 23. Qe3 (23. Qxg6 {Wedberg} hxg6 24. d6
Re6 25. dxc7 Kxc7 26. a5 $14) 23... Kb8 24. c4 f5 {[#]Making at least one
active move.} (24... Ka8 25. Ba5 $1 {would not be very promising for example}
b6 (25... Rc8 26. c5 Nf6 27. c6 bxc6 28. dxc6 Nd5 29. Qc5 Ne7 30. Rfc1 $18) 26.
Bc3 {(/\27.a5+/-)} a5 27. Rb5 $1 $16 {/\ 28.Bxa5!}) 25. c5 {The critical
moment. Kramnik opts for a rather forced continuation which poses Black big
practical problems but is objectively still not the strongest. His post-mortem
suggestion} (25. Ba5 {would also be very interesting. Black is then obliged to
play} f4 $1 26. Bxc7+ Kxc7 27. Qa7 Kd6 $1 (27... Rb8 $2 28. c5 $18) 28. Rxb7
Qxd3 29. Qxa6+ (29. c5+ Nxc5 30. Qb6+ Kxd5 31. Rc7 Qc2 $1 $15) 29... Ke7 {
and I think that he is still alive although many people would possibly prefer
White in this position. I personally consider}) (25. Rb2 $1 {to be White's
best. After} f4 (25... e4 $6 26. d4 f4 27. Qb3 $40) 26. Qe4 $1 (26. Qd2 $2 e4
$1 $132) 26... Nf6 (26... Qxe4 27. dxe4 $16) 27. Qxg6 hxg6 28. Rfb1 $16 {
Black has an extremely difficult endgame.}) 25... Nf6 26. d6 Nd5 {Seems
necessary in view of} (26... cxd6 $2 27. c6 $18 {or}) (26... c6 27. d4 $1 $16
Nd5 $140 28. Qb3) 27. Qd2 {Another option would be} (27. Qc1 $5 {Now
variations like} c6 $1 {is surprisingly the way to play it. I fail to
establish White's advantage, for example} (27... cxd6 $2 28. c6 Rc8 29. Ba5 Re7
30. Qc4 $18 {or}) (27... Nxb4 $2 28. dxc7+ (28. Rxb4 c6 $14) 28... Kxc7 29.
Rxb4 $16 {look very dark but}) 28. Ba5 Rd7 29. Qc4 (29. Qb2 Qg7 30. Bc7+ Rxc7
31. dxc7+ Qxc7 $44) 29... Ka7 (29... Ka8 $2 30. Rxb7 Kxb7 31. Rb1+ Ka7 32. Bb6+
Nxb6 33. Rxb6 Ka8 34. Rxc6 $3 Qg8 35. Rxa6+ Ra7 36. d7 Rb8 37. Qxg8 Rxg8 38. c6
Rb8 39. g3 Rxa6 40. c7 $18) 30. Rb2 Qg7 31. Rfb1 Rb8 $10 {I should also
mention that}) (27. dxc7+ Kxc7 28. Ba5+ Kb8 {seems acceptable for Black.})
27... cxd6 $2 {A very big mistake which should have become decisive. Again I
had to play} (27... c6 $1 {with ideas similar to previous variations.}) 28. c6
$1 Rc8 (28... Re7 $2 29. Ba3 $18) (28... b6 $2 29. Ba5 (29. Qa2 {Wedberg} Qg8
30. Qc4 Ka7 31. a5 b5 32. Bc5+ dxc5 33. Qxc5+ Kb8 34. c7+ Nxc7 35. Qb6+ Kc8 36.
Rfc1 Rd7 37. Qxa6+ Kd8 38. Qf6+ Rde7 (38... Ree7 39. Rxb5 Nxb5 40. Qb6+ Ke8 41.
Rc8+ Kf7 42. Rxg8 Kxg8 43. Qxb5 $16) 39. Rxc7 Kxc7 40. Qb6+ Kd7 41. Rc1 {+-})
29... Kc7 (29... Ka7 30. Bxb6+ Nxb6 31. Qe3 Rb8 32. a5 $18) 30. Bxb6+ Nxb6 31.
Qa5 Rb8 32. Qxa6 $18 {The best continuation was probably}) (28... Ka7 29. Ba5
bxc6 30. Bxd8 Rxd8 31. Rb3 $16 {but still it's terrible for Black.}) 29. cxb7
Rc6 30. Rfc1 $2 {Natural but wrong.} (30. Ba3 $1 {would just win the game, for
instance} Qe6 (30... Rc3 31. Rfc1 $1 Rxa3 (31... Rxc1+ 32. Qxc1 Ne7 33. Rb6 Rd8
34. Qc4 {+-}) 32. Qa5 $18 (32. Qa5 {Wedberg} Nc3 33. Rxc3 Rxc3 34. Qxc3 Qe6 35.
Qa5 d5 36. Rb6 {+-})) (30... Re7 31. Qa5 Qg8 32. Rfc1 Rec7 33. Rc4 $18) (30...
Nf4 31. Rfc1 d5 (31... Rxc1+ 32. Rxc1 Qe6 33. Qa5 Ne2+ 34. Kh1 Nxc1 35. Qb6 Rd8
36. Qxd8+ Kxb7 37. Bxc1 {+-}) 32. Rxc6 Qxc6 33. Qb4 Rd8 34. Qe7 Qc7 35. Qf6 {+-
}) 31. Rfc1 Qd7 32. Rxc6 Qxc6 33. Qxg5 $18) 30... Rxc1+ 31. Qxc1 Nxb4 32. Rxb4
Qe6 $1 {Now it's not easy anymore. Black is just in time.} 33. h4 $6 {Kramnik
was already in a time-trouble and he didn't play} (33. Qxg5 {which was his
best practical chance. Still I think that after} f4 $1 {Black gets some
counterplay although I am not completely sure whether it's sufficient.
Meanwhile in case of} (33... Re7 34. a5 f4 $14)) (33. Rb6 Qd5 $1 {or} (33...
Qd5 34. Qc4 Qxc4 35. dxc4 Rd8 $13)) (33. Qc6 d5 34. Qc5 Qe7 35. Qb6 Qc7 {
he has already nothing to worry about.}) 33... Re7 $5 (33... gxh4 $5 {was
possible as well but I wanted to fix a draw.}) (33... gxh4 34. Rxh4 (34. Rb6
Qd5 35. Qc4 Qxc4 36. dxc4 Rd8 $15) 34... Qd7 35. Rb4 d5 36. Qc5 Qc7 37. Qxd5
Qc1+ $10) 34. Qc6 (34. Rb6 $1 Rxb7 (34... gxh4 {Wedberg} 35. Rxd6 $1 Qg8 36.
Rxa6 Rxb7 37. Qc5 {+-}) 35. Qc6 Qe7 36. hxg5 $16) 34... d5 35. Qxe6 (35. Qc5 {
Wedberg} Rxb7 36. Qf8+ $10) 35... Rxe6 36. hxg5 {Here Vladimir offered me draw
and I accepted it thus making him ,as I realised afterwards, the tournament
winner. The position after} (36. hxg5 f4 $1 {is drawn.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 24th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1996.07.05"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[Annotator "Gelfand,B"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "1996.07.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Dolmatov Hazai} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7.
O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 a5 {N/} (10... Nf4 {Dolmatov} 11. Bf1 Bg4
12. h3 Bxf3 $2 13. Qxf3 $14 {Tukmakov,V-Cvitan,O/Zurich/1995/}) (10... f5 {
Dolmatov} 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. f3 Kh8 $13 {Piket,Je-Polgar,J/Aruba/1995/}) 11. Ba3 {
N, which is letting Black equalize by force} (11. bxa5) (11. bxa5 {Hazai})
11... Nf4 12. Bf1 Bg4 $1 (12... axb4 {Hazai} 13. Bxb4 b6 14. a4 $14) (12... b6
{Hazai} 13. bxa5 Rxa5 14. Bb4 Ra8 15. a4 $14) (12... f5 $5 13. g3 fxe4 14. Nxe4
Nh3+ $132 15. Bxh3 Bxh3 16. Nfg5 Bd7 17. c5 Nf5 18. cxd6 cxd6 $13) 13. h3 (13.
c5 f5 14. h3 Bh5) (13. g3 axb4 (13... Nh3+ 14. Bxh3 Bxh3) 14. Bxb4 c5 $1 15.
dxc6 Nxc6 $17) 13... Bxf3 (13... Bd7 14. c5 axb4 15. Bxb4 Nc8 16. a4 f5 17. Nd2
$14) 14. Qxf3 axb4 15. Bxb4 c5 $1 $10 (15... b6 $2 {Hazai} 16. g3 $16) 16. dxc6
Nxc6 17. a3 (17. Rab1 Nxb4 $5 (17... Ne6 18. a4 Nxb4 19. Rxb4 Nc5) 18. Rxb4 Ra3
$5) 17... Ne6 {Hazai: Black has a fine game, because the vital d4 square is in
his hands, and the white bishop on f1 is a bad one.} 18. Nb5 (18. Nd5 Ncd4 (
18... Ned4 $6 19. Qd3) 19. Qc3 Nc5) 18... Ned4 (18... Ncd4 19. Qd1 Nc5 20. Bc3
$14) 19. Qd3 (19. Nxd4 exd4 20. Bd2 (20. Bd3 Nxb4 21. axb4 Qb6 $10) 20... d3 $5
) 19... Nxb4 20. axb4 Qb6 (20... Nxb5 21. cxb5 Qb6 22. Qd5 $14) 21. Nxd4 (21.
g3 $5) 21... exd4 22. Qd2 Ra7 (22... d3 $6 23. Ra5 Rxa5 24. bxa5 Qb3 25. Rc1)
23. Rec1 (23. c5 dxc5 24. bxc5 Qxc5 25. Rec1 Qb6 26. Rcb1 Qc5 $10 27. Rb5 $140
Qxb5) 23... Rfa8 24. Rxa7 (24. Rxa7 Qxa7 25. c5 dxc5 26. Rxc5 (26. bxc5 Rc8)
26... Rd8 $10) 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 24th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1996.07.08"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[PlyCount "32"]
[EventDate "1996.07.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. Re1 e5 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. d3 Qe7 8.
Nbd2 Nf6 9. Nc4 Nd7 10. a4 Nb6 11. Na5 O-O 12. b3 Nd7 13. Nc4 Rd8 14. Ba3 Nf8
15. Qd2 Bg4 16. Qe3 b6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 24th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1996.07.10"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Leko,P"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "1996.07.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Ftacnik} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7.
d4 c5 8. Rb1 $5 {Am gefährlichsten} O-O 9. Be2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qxa2
12. O-O a5 $5 {Die aktuelle Variante} 13. Qc1 (13. Bg5 $5) 13... Bg4 $1 {
Black is trying to combine the counterplay with a pawn and pressure against
the white center.} (13... Qe6 14. Bc4 Qxe4 (14... Qc6 15. Bh6 Nd7 16. d5 Qc7
17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Qb2+ Kg8 19. Rbc1 Qb6 20. Qd2 Qf6 21. Ba2 a4 22. Rfe1 Ne5 23.
Nd4 g5 {0-1 Castillo,A-Cardenas,S/Cordoba op/1991/ (40)}) (14... Qd7 15. Ne5
Qd8 16. Bh6 Nc6 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Nxc6 bxc6 19. Qc3 Kg8 20. Rfd1 a4 21. Ba2 Bd7
22. Qb4 {Lingnau,C-Fogarasi,T/Zalaegerszeg op/1992/1/2-1/2 (62)}) 15. Bxf7+ $1
(15. Bxf7+ {Ftacnik} Rxf7 (15... Kh8 16. Ng5 Qxd4 17. Be6 Nc6 18. Rb3 Bxe6 19.
Nxe6 Qd5 20. Re3 Rfc8 21. Bc3 Bf6 22. Qa1 Qf5 23. Rfe1 Nb4 24. Rf3 Bxc3 25.
Rxc3 Rxc3 26. Qxc3+ Qf6 {0-1 Bonin,J-Greanias,S/New York op (05)/1992/ (38)})
16. Qxc8+ Rf8 17. Qc4+ e6 18. Rb5 (18. Ne5 Qd5 19. Qxd5 exd5 20. Rxb7 Bxe5 $8
21. dxe5 Nc6 22. e6 {Sapis,W-Markowski,D/Koszalin/1992/} (22. e6 Rf6 23. Re1
Re8 24. Rd7 Rfxe6 25. Rxe6 Rxe6 26. Rxd5 $10)) 18... Qc6 19. Rc5 Qa6 20. Qa2
Qd6 21. Re1 Ra6 22. Rxa5 Rxa5 23. Bxa5 Qd5 24. Qxd5 exd5 25. Rb1 Nc6 26. Bc3
Rf7 {Dridi,A-Tsuboi,E/Novi Sad olm (09)/1990/1-0 (70)}) (15. Re1 Qf5 (15... Qc6
16. Rxe7 Bf6 17. Ne5 Bxe7 18. Nxc6 Nxc6 19. Bc3 Bf5 20. d5 Bb4 21. Bf6 Be7 22.
Ba1 {1-0 Bagaturov,G-Kalod,R/Brno-C (03)/1994/ (27)}) 16. Rb5 Qd7 17. Bh6 (17.
Ne5 Qe8 18. Bg5 Nc6 19. Nxc6 bxc6 20. Rxe7 cxb5 21. Rxe8 Rxe8 22. Bxb5 Bf5 23.
Bxe8 Rxe8 24. h3 Bxd4 25. Qd2 Bg7 {1/2-1/2 Kargoll,B-Kalod,R/Brno-C (06)/1994/}
) 17... a4 18. Rd5 Qc6 19. Rc5 Qb6 20. Rxc8 Nc6 21. Bxf7+ Kh8 22. Rxa8 Rxa8 23.
Bxg7+ Kxg7 24. Ba2 a3 25. d5 Nb4 26. Qa1+ Kh6 {1-0 Sjodin,B-Zezulkin,J/
Stockholm op/1992/})) 14. Bc4 (14. Rxb7 Rc8 15. Rc7 Rxc7 16. Qxc7 Bxf3 17. Bxf3
(17. Qd8+ $2 Bf8 18. Bh6 Nd7 $1 19. Qxa8 Bxe2 $19) 17... Qxd2 18. Qb7 Ra6 19.
Qxb8+ Bf8 $10) 14... Qa4 15. Bb5 Qa2 16. Bc4 Qa4 17. Rxb7 $1 {Kramniks
Hausanalyse.} (17. Ng5 {Ftacnik} Na6 18. Nxf7 Rxf7 19. Rxb7 Rc8 20. Bxf7+ Kxf7
21. Bc3 Be2 22. Qf4+ Bf6 23. Ra1 Qc6 24. Rb3 Kg8 25. e5 Bg7 26. Bxa5 Qd5 27.
Rbb1 {1-0 Vaisser,A-Jasnikowski,Z/Cappelle op (04)/1994/ (37)}) 17... Bxf3 $1 {
Ich mußte 50 Minuten überlegen , um seine Analyse zu entkräften. Zuerst konnte
ich gar nicht glauben, daß 17..Bxf3 funktioniert.} (17... Rc8 18. Bb5 Qa2 (
18... Rxc1 19. Bxa4 Rxf1+ 20. Kxf1 Bxf3 21. gxf3 Bxd4 22. Rxe7 $16) 19. Rc7 Na6
20. Bxa6 Rxc7 21. Qxc7 Bxf3 22. Bb7 Rf8 23. Bg5 $18) 18. gxf3 (18. Bb5 $2 Qb3
19. gxf3 Qxf3 $19) 18... Nc6 $3 {Ftacnik: By standard meassures black's move
should be forbidden, but some very fine tactics is at work.} 19. Bb5 (19. Bb3
Qxd4 20. Be3 Qf6 21. Rb6 Nd4 $1) (19. Be3 Nxd4 20. Bxd4 Bxd4 $15) 19... Qxb5
20. Rxb5 Nxd4 21. Rxa5 (21. Qc5 Nxf3+ (21... Rac8 22. Qxe7 Nxb5 23. Bxa5 Nd4
24. Kg2 Nc6 25. Qc5 Nxa5 26. Qxa5 $16) 22. Kg2 Nxd2 23. Re1 a4 $44 (23... a4 {
Ftacnik} 24. Qxe7 a3 (24... Rfe8 25. Qc7 a3 26. Rb7 Rf8 27. e5 a2 28. Ra1 $18)
25. e5 a2 26. Ra1 Nc4 27. Rc5 Rfe8 28. Rxa2 $1 $18)) 21... Ne2+ 22. Kg2 Nxc1
23. Rxc1 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 24th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1996.07.14"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1996.07.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Ftacnik Shirov Kramnik} d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6.
e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. exf6 Bb7 12. g3 c5 13.
d5 Qb6 14. Bg2 O-O-O 15. O-O b4 16. Rb1 Qa6 17. dxe6 Bxg2 18. e7 Bxf1 19. Qd5 (
19. Kxf1 {Ftacnik}) 19... Bxe7 (19... Bh6 {führt gemäß Shirov zum Remis, man
vergleiche seine Anmerkungen zu Beliavsky,A-Shirov,A/EUcup f Ljubljana (03)/
CBM 51 1995 und Azmaiparashvili,Z-Shirov,A/Madrid (03)/CBM 53 1996.
Anscheinend sind Topalov und Kramnik da anderer Meinung.}) (19... Bh6 {Ftacnik}
20. exd8=Q+ (20. Bxh6 Bd3 21. Qa8+ (21. Ne4 $5 Bxe4 22. Qxe4 Rde8 23. Bg7 $1
Rh5 24. Rd1 Qb5 $1 {1/2-1/2 Beliavsky,A-Shirov,A/EUCup f Ljubljana (03)/1995/ 
(40)}) 21... Nb8 22. exd8=Q+ Rxd8 23. Re1 bxc3 24. Bf4 Qb6 (24... Qb7 25. Re7
$1 $18) 25. bxc3 Bf5 26. h4 Be6 (26... Qb7 27. Qxb7+ Kxb7 28. Re7+ Rd7 29. Bxb8
Kxb8 30. Rxd7 Bxd7 31. Kg2 {1/2-1/2 Azmaiparashvili,Z-Shirov,A/Madrid (03) ;
CBM 53_05 1996 (42)}) 27. Kh2 (27. h5 Bd5 28. Qxb8+ Qxb8 29. Bxb8 Kxb8 30. Re7
Rh8 31. Re5 Be6 32. f4 Kc7 $1 33. Rxc5+ Kd6 34. Ra5 Rh6 $13) 27... Rd7 28. h5
Rb7 29. Bxb8 (29. h6 Qb2 30. Kg1 Qxc3 31. Rxe6 $1 fxe6 32. Bxb8 Qf3 33. Bd6+
Kd7 34. Qxb7+ Qxb7 35. f7 $18) 29... Rxb8 30. Qe4 {Yermolinsky,A-Gurevich,D/
USA-ch (10)/1994/1-0 (63)}) 20... Kxd8 21. Ne4 Bh3 22. Nxc5 Be6 23. Nxe6+ fxe6
24. Qa8+ Qc8 25. Qxa7 Bxg5 26. Qa5+ Qc7 27. Qxg5 Qe5 $1 $10 {Yermolinsky,
A-Ivanchuk,V/Pinsk/1986/0,5/40/}) (19... Bd3 {Ftacnik} 20. Bf4 $3 Qb6 21. Na4
Qb5 22. exd8=Q+ Kxd8 23. Re1 $16) 20. fxe7 Bd3 (20... Rdg8 {Kasparov,G-Kramnik,
V (01)/New York PCA 25 (04)/CBM 41 1994 reicht nicht zum Ausgleich.}) (20...
Rdg8 {Ftacnik} 21. Ne4 Rg6 22. Rxf1 $2 (22. Qa8+ $1 Nb8 23. Rxf1 Qc6 24. Rd1 $3
Qxa8 25. Rd8+ Kc7 26. Bf4+ Kb6 27. Rxh8 Re6 28. e8=Q Rxe8 29. Rxe8 Qd5 30.
Rxb8+ Ka6 31. Nd2 $1 c3 32. bxc3 bxc3 33. Nb3 c4 34. Nc1 c2 35. h4 $18) 22...
Qc6 23. Qxc6+ Rxc6 24. Rd1 $2 Re8 25. Nd6+ Rxd6 26. Rxd6 f6 {1/2-1/2 Kasparov,
G-Kramnik,V (01)/New York PCA 25' (04)/1994/ (35)}) 21. Ne4 Bxb1 22. Nd6+ Kc7
23. Bf4 (23. exd8=Q+ Rxd8 24. Nxf7 Re8 25. Bf4+ Kb6 (25... Kc8 {Ftacnik} 26.
Qa8+ Nb8 27. Qxb8+ Kd7 28. Qc7+ Ke6 29. Ng5+ Kf5 30. Qd7+ $18) 26. Qd6+ Ka5 27.
Qxd7 {Mit klarem weißen Vorteil gemäß Shirov. Aber Kramnik gibt die folgende
Variante an:} Re1+ 28. Kg2 Be4+ 29. f3 Bc6 30. Qd8+ Ka4 31. Qd2 Ra1 $17) 23...
Kb6 24. Nxc4+ (24. exd8=Q+ {Ftacnik} Rxd8 25. Nxf7 Qc8 26. Qd6+ Ka5 (26... Kb5
27. Qd1 Qa6 28. Nxd8 $16) 27. Qc7+ Qxc7 28. Bxc7+ Ka4 29. Nxd8 Bxa2 $13) 24...
Kb5 25. Nd6+ Kb6 26. exd8=B+ Rxd8 27. Nc4+ (27. Nxf7 $5 Re8 28. Qd6+ Ka5 29.
Qc7+ (29. Qxd7 $2 {Ftacnik} Re1+ 30. Kg2 Qf1+ 31. Kf3 Qe2+ 32. Kg2 Be4+ 33. Kh3
Qh5#) 29... Qb6 30. Qxd7 Re1+ 31. Kg2 Ka6 $14 (31... Bxa2 $2 {Ftacnik} 32. Bc7
$18)) 27... Kb5 28. Nd6+ Kb6 29. Nc4+ Kb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Novgorod 3rd"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1996.07.20"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1996.07.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 f5 11. c5 Nf6 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. Rc1 Kh8 15. a4
a6 16. a5 Bd7 17. Bd3 Ng8 18. cxd6 cxd6 19. Na4 Rc8 20. Rxc8 Bxc8 21. Nb6 fxe4
22. Rxe4 Bf5 23. Rc4 Rf7 24. Qc2 Bg7 25. Nd2 Bf8 26. h3 Kg7 27. Ne4 Nf6 28. Ng3
Bxd3 29. Qxd3 h5 30. Ne4 Nxe4 31. Qxe4 Kh7 32. Qc2 Bh6 33. Na4 Qf6 34. Rc7 Rxc7
35. Qxc7+ Bg7 36. Nc3 Qf4 37. g3 Qc1+ 38. Kg2 Qc2 39. h4 e4 40. Nb5 Qd2 41.
Nxd6 e3 42. Qf7 exf2 43. Ne8 f1=Q+ 44. Kxf1 Qd1+ 45. Kf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Novgorod 3rd"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1996.07.21"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1996.07.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {HarZvi Tischbierek} d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6
Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 g6 10. O-O Bg7 11. Rc1 O-O 12. Re1 (12. Ne4
{HarZvi} Qe7 13. Bb3 Rd8 (13... b6 14. Ba4 c5 15. Bc6 Rb8 16. Qa4 $14) 14. Qc2
Nf6 (14... e5 $5) 15. Nc5 b6 16. Ne5 $1 Rd6 (16... bxc5 17. Nxc6 Qc7 18. Nxd8
$14) 17. Ncd3 Bb7 18. Ba4 Rc8 19. b4 Nd7 20. f4 $14 {/+/- Dautov,R-Dreev,A
Reggio Emilia 1995 65/412 [Dreev,A]}) (12. e4 e5 13. d5 Nb6 14. dxc6 bxc6 (
14... Nxc4 $2 {HarZvi} 15. Nd5 $16) 15. Be2 Rd8 16. Qc2 Bg4 17. Nb1 Bxf3 18.
Bxf3 Rd6 19. Nd2 h5 20. Nb3 a5 $14 {Van der Sterren,P-Kamsky,G Wijk ann Zee (m/
7) 1994 59/(456)}) (12. Qe2 {HarZvi} Qe7 13. Rfd1 a6 14. a3 (14. e4 b5 15. Bb3
c5 $15) 14... b6 15. e4 Bb7 16. e5 $6 (16. h3) 16... c5 17. d5 b5 18. Ba2 c4
$15 {Van Wely,L-Dreev,A Wijk Ann Zee 1996 65/413 [Dreev,A]}) (12. b4 {HarZvi
this move is considered to be the main move} Qe7 (12... Rd8 13. Qb3 Qe7 14. a4
a5 15. bxa5 Rxa5 16. Rfd1 b6 17. Be2 Bb7 18. Nd2 c5 19. Nc4 Raa8 20. d5 Bxc3
21. dxe6 Qxe6 22. Rd6 $13 {Beliavsky,A-Dreev,A Novosibirsk 1995 65/409 
[Beliavsky,A]}) 13. Qb3 (13. b5 c5 14. Bb3 b6 15. d5 Bxc3 16. Rxc3 Qf6 17. Rc4
e5 $13 {Milovanovic,R-Peng,Zhaoqin Pozarevac 1995 64/(390)}) 13... b6 14. a3 $6
(14. e4) 14... Bb7 15. e4 Rab8 16. Rfe1 Rfe8 17. Rcd1 $2 (17. e5 c5 18. d5 exd5
19. Nxd5 Bxd5 20. Bxd5 Nxe5 21. Nxe5 Bxe5 22. Rxe5 Qxe5 23. Bxf7+ Kg7 24. Bxe8
Rxe8 $10) 17... a6 $3 $15 {with c5 on the next move Van Wely,L-Huzman,A
Amsterdam 1995 64/390 [Huzman,A]}) 12... Qe7 (12... Rd8 $5 13. e4 e5 14. d5 Nb6
15. Bb3 Bg4 $10) 13. e4 Rd8 {HarZvi: normally black does not allow white to
play e5,and play e5 by him self,see annotation to white's 12 move [ 12.e4 ]
this is a strange decision by Kramnik} (13... e5 14. d5 Nb6 15. Bb3 $16) 14. e5
b6 {N/} (14... b5 15. Bd3 Bb7 16. Ne4 c5 17. Nxc5 {1/2-1/2/ Khalifman-Huzman 
(Amsterdam 1995)} Nxc5 18. Rxc5 (18. dxc5 Qc7 $14) 18... a6 19. Rc2 $1 Bxf3 (
19... Ra7 20. Be4 $16) 20. Qxf3 Ra7 21. Re4 Rad7 22. Qe3 $16) 15. Qe2 Rb8 (
15... Bb7 16. Ba6 Rab8 (16... Bxa6 17. Qxa6 {/\Nc3-e4+/-}) 17. Bxb7 Rxb7 18.
Ne4 $16 {><c6}) 16. Bd3 $1 (16. Ba6 $5 c5 17. d5 (17. Bxc8 Rbxc8 18. d5 exd5
19. Nxd5 Qe6 20. Nf4 Qf5) 17... Bxa6 18. Qxa6 exd5 19. Nxd5 Qe6 20. Nc7 Qc6 21.
Nb5 Nf8 22. Nxa7 Qa8 23. Qa3 Ne6 {/\24...b5} 24. Nb5 Qxa3 25. Nxa3 (25. bxa3
Ra8 $44) 25... b5 $44) 16... Bb7 (16... c5 $2 {HarZvi} 17. d5) 17. Be4 {
HarZvi: white got what he should hope in this line,it seems black can not
break with c5,while white enjoyes a big space advantage thanks to the pawn on
e5,just pleasent position to play with white} Nf8 (17... c5 $5 18. Bxb7 (18. d5
exd5 19. Bxd5 (19. Nxd5 Bxd5 20. Bxd5 Nxe5 21. Bxf7+ Kxf7 22. Nxe5+ Qxe5 23.
Qxe5 Bxe5 24. Rxe5 Rd2 $17) 19... Bxd5 (19... Nf8 $10) 20. Nxd5 Qe6 $10) 18...
Rxb7 19. Qe4 (19. d5 exd5 20. Nxd5 Qe6 21. Nf4 Qf5 22. Qa6 Rbb8 23. Nd5 Qe6 24.
Nc7 Qc6 25. Nb5 Nf8 26. Nxa7 Qa8 27. Qa3 Ne6 {/\28...b5} 28. Nb5 Qxa3 29. Nxa3
(29. bxa3 Ra8 $44) 29... b5 $44) (19. Nb5 cxd4 20. Nbxd4 $16 (20. Nd6 Rbb8 21.
Rc7 $16)) 19... Rbb8 20. d5 exd5 21. Nxd5 Qe8 $14) 18. g3 Rbc8 19. a3 Rc7 (
19... c5 20. Bxb7 Qxb7 21. Ne4 Qd5 {Huzman} (21... cxd4 $1 {Tischbierek} 22.
Nd6 Rxd6 23. exd6 (23. Rxc8 Qxc8 24. exd6 Qc6 $44) 23... Rxc1 24. Rxc1 Qd5 25.
Ne1 $1 Qxd6 26. Qa6 $13) 22. Nd6 Rb8 23. Red1 $16) 20. Red1 c5 21. Bxb7 Rxb7
22. Ne4 Rc7 (22... cxd4 23. Nd6 (23. Nxd4 Rd5 24. Nc6 $16) (23. Nxd4 {HarZvi})
23... Rc7 (23... Rbd7 24. Nxd4 $18) 24. Rxc7 (24. Nxd4 Bxe5) 24... Qxc7 25.
Rxd4 $16) 23. dxc5 Rxd1+ 24. Rxd1 bxc5 {/\g6-g5,Nf8-g6} 25. h4 (25. Nd6 {HarZvi
}) 25... Nd7 (25... Rb7 $5 {><b2} 26. Nd6 Rb3 27. Rd3 Rxd3 28. Qxd3 Nd7 29. Nc4
(29. Nc8 Qe8 30. Nxa7 Nxe5 31. Nxe5 Bxe5 32. b3 Bd4 {/\33...e5,34...e4<=>})
29... Nb6 30. Na5 $14) 26. Nd6 Nb6 (26... Rc6 $5 {HarZvi with the idea Nxe5})
27. Nd2 {HarZvi: a very strong move which probably Kramnim had underestimated,
since he could have played 26...Rc6 not allowing this,now white will defend
the e5 pawn with f4 and put the "bad" f3 knight on e4} (27. Qb5 $5 Qd7 (27...
c4 28. Rc1 $14) 28. Qa5 Qc6 $132) 27... Rd7 (27... Bxe5 {HarZvi alomost
working,but almost is not enough} 28. Qxe5 Nd7 29. Qf4 e5 30. Qa4 Qxd6 31. Ne4
{and white takes twice on d7 and give a check on f6 winning}) 28. f4 Rxd6 {
it is clear black position is unpleasent but after this I think losing} (28...
f6 {xe6,g6}) 29. exd6 Qxd6 30. Ne4 Qc6 $2 (30... Bd4+ 31. Kh2 $16 {/\32.b4}) (
30... Qe7 $1 {/\31...Nd5,31...Bd4<=>}) 31. Rd8+ Kh7 32. h5 Qc7 (32... gxh5 33.
Ng5+ Kg6 34. Qd3+ Kf6 (34... f5 35. Nxe6 $18) 35. Rg8 $1 {/\36.Nh7+;36.Qd8+}
hxg5 36. Qd8+ Kf5 37. Qxg5+ Ke4 38. Rxg7 $18) 33. hxg6+ fxg6 34. Rd6 Bd4+ 35.
Kh2 Nd5 36. Rxe6 (36. Qb5 $5 {HarZvi} Nb6 37. b4 $1 {winning}) 36... Qb7 37.
Qg4 Ne7 38. Nd6 Qd7 39. Qe2 Ng8 40. Qe4 Bf6 (40... Bf6 {HarZvi} 41. Ne8 Qd2+
42. Kh3 Qd7 43. g4) 1-0

[Event "Novgorod 3rd"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1996.07.22"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "1996.07.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 f5 11. c5 fxe4 $5 12. Nxe4 (12. Ng5 Nf4 13. Ngxe4 Nf5
$132 {/\ Nf5-d4}) 12... Nf4 13. Bxf4 (13. cxd6 cxd6 14. Bxf4 Rxf4 15. Nfd2 Rf7
16. Nc4 Nf5 17. Bg4 Bf8 $15) 13... Rxf4 14. Nfd2 dxc5 (14... Rf7 $2 15. Nc4 Nf5
16. Bg4 Bf8 17. Rc1 $16) 15. Bc4 Nxd5 16. Nb3 (16. bxc5 $5) 16... c6 17. Nbxc5
Kh8 (17... b5 18. Bxb5 $1 cxb5 19. Qb3 Bg4 $140 20. f3) (17... b6 18. Qa4 $1
Qc7 19. Bxd5+ cxd5 20. Qb3 $16) 18. b5 Rf8 19. Rb1 $44 Nb6 20. Qxd8 Rxd8 21.
Ng5 Rd4 22. Bb3 cxb5 23. Nf7+ Kg8 24. Nd6+ Kh8 25. Nf7+ Kg8 26. Nd6+ Kh8 27.
Nxb5 Rd8 28. Rbd1 Rxd1 29. Rxd1 Bf6 30. Nd6 Be7 31. Ncxb7 Bxb7 32. Nxb7 Kg7 33.
Kf1 Rb8 34. Nd6 Rd8 35. Nb5 Rxd1+ 36. Bxd1 a6 37. Na7 Nd5 38. Nc6 Bd6 39. Be2
Nb4 40. Nxb4 Bxb4 41. Bxa6 Kf6 42. Bb7 Kf5 43. f3 h5 44. Bc8+ Kf6 45. a4 h4 46.
Ke2 Ke7 47. Kd3 Kd6 48. Bb7 Ba5 49. Be4 g5 50. Kc4 Bb6 51. Kb5 Kc7 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Novgorod 3rd"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1996.07.25"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B57"]
[WhiteElo "2695"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "1996.07.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 Qb6 7. Ndb5 a6 8.
Be3 Qa5 9. Nd4 e6 10. O-O Be7 11. Bb3 O-O 12. f4 Bd7 13. f5 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 exf5
15. exf5 Bc6 16. Qd3 Rae8 17. Rad1 Nd7 18. Qg3 Bf6 19. Qxd6 Bxd4+ 20. Qxd4 Nf6
21. Nd5 Bxd5 22. Bxd5 Rd8 23. c4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Novgorod 3rd"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1996.07.26"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B57"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Donev,I"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1996.07.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Huzman HarZvi} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 Qb6
7. Nxc6 $5 bxc6 8. O-O e6 (8... g6 $5 {Diese Fortsetzung führt zur
Drachenvariante.}) 9. Qe2 (9. b3 {HarZvi} Be7 10. Bb2 O-O 11. Qe2 e5 (11... d5
$2 12. exd5 cxd5 13. Bxd5 exd5 14. Qxe7) 12. Kh1 (12. Na4 Qc7 13. Bd3 Nd7 14.
c4 Nb6 15. Nc3 a5 16. Nd1 Nd7 17. Ne3 Nc5 18. Bc2 Re8 19. Rad1 Ne6 20. g3 Qb6
21. Nf5 $6 c5 $1 {Har Zvi: and black position seems very nice Dimitrov,
V-Cabrilo,G 1990}) 12... Qc7 13. Rae1 Nd7 14. Na4 Bb7 (14... Bf6) 15. Bd3 Rfe8
16. c4 $13 {Karpov-Stein,L URS-ch39 Leningrad 1971}) (9. Bf4 {HarZvi}) 9... Nd7
{Har Zvi: probably black does not want to enter 9...Be7 10.e5} (9... Be7 {
HarZvi} 10. e5 dxe5 11. Qxe5 O-O 12. Na4 Qb4 13. b3 Nd5 14. Qe2 Bf6 15. Bd2 Qe7
16. Rad1 Nb6 17. Nc3 Nxc4 18. Qxc4 a5 19. Rfe1 $14 {/+/- Sutovskij,E-Gross,D
Wch under 18 1995}) 10. b3 Be7 11. Bb2 O-O 12. Na4 Qc7 13. f4 {Vermeidet ...
Ne5.} Bb7 (13... d5 14. Bd3 (14. exd5 cxd5 15. Bxd5 $4 Bc5+ $19) 14... Bf6 (
14... g6 {HarZvi} 15. c4 Bf6 16. Bxf6 Nxf6 17. e5 Nd7 18. c5 f6 19. Rae1 {
Prie,E-Miralles,G France-Ch 1989}) 15. c4 Bxb2 16. Qxb2 $14) (13... Bf6 14.
Bxf6 Nxf6 15. e5 $1 $16) 14. Rad1 Rae8 $6 {Wie wir später sehen werden,
entwickelt Kramnik auf e8 den falschen Turm. Das Problem, mit welchem Turm
wohin, kommt im Mitelspiel sehr oft vor. Die Entscheidung ist von den
beiderseitigen Mittelspielplänen abhängig. Um die eigene Intuition zu
verbesern, empfehle ich den Lesern die Partien des ehemaligen Weltmeisters
Capablanca zu studieren. Er hat fast immer die richtige Entscheidung bei der
Turmplazierung getroffen.} (14... d5 15. Bd3 $1 {/\ed5 nebst Bh7,Qh5 und Bg7,
so könnte Topalov die berühmte Kombination Laskers mit dem Doppel Läuferopfer
vorbereiten.} (15. Bd3 {Huzman} Nc5 (15... c5 16. exd5 Bxd5 17. Bxh7+ Kxh7 18.
Qh5+ Kg8 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Qg4+ Kh8 21. Rd3 Nf6 (21... Be4 22. Rh3+ Bh7 23.
Rxh7+ Kxh7 24. Rf3 $18) 22. Rh3+ Nh7 23. Qh5 Be4 24. f5 $18) 16. Qg4 g6 17.
Nxc5 Bxc5+ 18. Kh1 $14 {/\} dxe4 19. Bxe4 f5 20. Qg5 $16)) (14... c5 {Huzman}
15. f5 $16) 15. Rd3 c5 {Not a correct move,after this move white gets a very
pleasent position. Topalov hat zwei Figuren, die ungünstig stehen: Bc4 und Na4.
Er versucht, den Läufer abzutauschen und den Springer zu zentraliesiren.} (
15... d5 16. Rg3 Bf6 (16... Nf6 {Huzman} 17. Bd3 $40) 17. e5 Be7 18. Bd3 $40) (
15... Bf6 {HarZvi} 16. e5 $1 dxe5 17. fxe5 Nxe5 (17... Bxe5 $2 18. Rxd7 Bxh2+
19. Kh1 Qxd7 20. Kxh2 $18) 18. Rxf6 $3 gxf6 19. Rh3 $1 {the threat is simply
Qh5 there is only one defence} c5 20. Qh5 {the simplest way} Be4 21. Qh4 $1 {
with both threats Qxe4 and Qxf6 when black can resign}) 16. Bb5 $1 {A very
strong move both positionally a tactically because now white's threat after
the pin along the a4-e8 diagonal is Rg3. Es droht 17.Bd7 Qd7 nebst 18.Nc5.} Bc6
(16... Rd8 17. Bxd7 Rxd7 18. Qg4 (18. Rg3 {HarZvi} g6 $6 (18... e5 19. c4 $14 {
/+/-}) 19. f5 $40) (18. f5 $40 {Huzman}) 18... g6 19. f5 $40) 17. Bxc6 Qxc6 18.
c4 $1 {Har Zvi: white got his advantage,black has a weak "d" pawn plus white
has some threats over the king's side ><d6 Strategisch richtig. Fixiert den
schwachen Bauern d6 auf der halboffenen d-Linie.} Rd8 19. Rfd1 Rfe8 {Schwarz
versucht sich wieder harmonisch aufzustellen. Kramnik mußte jedoch in der
Zwischenzeit seinem Gegner viel Raum im Zentrum überlassen.} 20. Qf3 $16 {
Es droht e4-e5 mit Druck auf der d-Linie, deshalb weicht die schwarze Dame aus.
} Qc7 21. Qg3 {Der Anziehende bezitzt Raumvorteil. Hinter seinen Bauern (c4,
e4 und f4) gruppiert er seine Figuren neu, um einen Angriff am Königsflügel zu
beginnen.} Nf6 22. Nc3 a6 23. Qh3 {Har Zvi: a very strong move,white has some
idea about an f5 break after which he is looking to have some preasure on the
h3-c8 diagonal,plus he has a very interesting idea,putting all his heavy
pieces in the third rank! ><24.f5} Qc6 24. Rg3 {[%cal Yb2g7,Yg4g7]} Kh8 25. Re1
(25. f5 {Huzman} Bf8) 25... Qc8 26. Ree3 $1 {Der weiße Angriff wird Zug um Zug
stärker. Momentan droht das Turmopfer auf g7.} Rg8 27. Nd1 Rd7 {/\ 28...d5
><28...d5} (27... Rde8 {Huzman} 28. e5 dxe5 29. fxe5 Nd7 30. Nf2 $16) 28. f5 $1
{/\ 29.B:f6 B:f6 30.Q:h7+!} (28. Bxf6 $2 {HarZvi} Bxf6 29. Qxh7+ $4 Kxh7 30.
Rh3+ Bh4 $19 (30... Kg6 31. Reg3+ Bg5 $19)) 28... e5 {[%csl Rd5] Kramnik will
den starken Läufer b2 einschränken. Der große Nachteil dieses Zuges ist die
Schwächung des Feldes d5.} (28... exf5 29. Rg5 (29. exf5 $1 {HarZvi with the
idea Bxf6-Qxh7} Re8 {this is an excellent example of white's idea to put all
his heavy pieces in  the third rank} (29... h6 30. Rxe7 Rxe7 31. Bxf6 Re1+ 32.
Kf2 Rxd1 33. Qxh6#) 30. Rxg7 $3 Kxg7 31. Rg3+ Kh8 32. Qh6 {with mate}) 29...
fxe4 (29... h6 30. Reg3 $16) 30. Bxf6 Bxf6 31. Qxh7+ $3 Kxh7 32. Rh3#) 29. Nc3
$18 {Har Zvi: the knight has nothing more to do on d1,now white wants to
change it with black's one after the h7 square will be very weak} Bd8 30. Nd5
h6 (30... Nxd5 31. Qxh7+ $1 $18 (31. Qxh7+ $1 {HarZvi} Kxh7 32. Rh3+ Bh4 33.
Rxh4#)) 31. Bc1 $1 {Alles läuft nach Plan. Nachdem der Springer seinen starken
Vorposten d5 erreicht, will auch der Läufer b2 am Angriff teilnehmen.} Nxd5 32.
exd5 Bf6 33. Re4 {Mit zwei Ideen: a)Bh6 b)Reg4} Qf8 (33... Kh7 {HarZvi} 34.
Reg4 Rh8 35. Bxh6 gxh6 36. Qxh6+ Kxh6 37. Rh3+ Bh4 38. Rhxh4#) 34. Reg4 {
Die Drohung 35.B:h6 ist nicht abzuwehren. Der junge Bulgarische Großmeißter
hat eine musterhafte, wunderbare Partie zum Thema "Figurenangriff am
Königsflügell bei beiderseitiger kurzer Roschade" durchgefürt.} 1-0

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

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

[Event "Novgorod 3rd"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1996.07.29"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B70"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Gelfand,B"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "1996.07.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Nb3 Nf6 (6... Bxc3+ $5
7. bxc3 Nf6 8. Bd3 O-O 9. O-O d5 10. exd5 Qxd5 11. c4 $10) 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O d6
9. Re1 a6 10. Bf1 b5 11. Bg5 (11. a4 b4 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. exd5 Ne5 $13 {
Masserey,Y-Petursson,M/Horgen/1994/}) 11... h6 12. Bh4 Bb7 (12... e6 $5 {
Adams,M-Miles,A/NED/1996/}) 13. a4 (13. Nd5 $6 g5 14. Bg3 Nxd5 15. exd5 Nb4 {
Emelin=Tkachev,92}) 13... b4 14. Nd5 Nd7 15. Rb1 (15. Ra2 $5) 15... Nb6 16. Qd2
$146 (16. a5 Na4 17. Qd2 g5 18. Bg3 Nxb2 19. Nxb4 Nxa5 20. Nxa5 Qxa5 21. c3 Na4
22. e5 {Nielsen+Ward,90}) 16... Nxa4 (16... g5 17. Bg3 Nxa4 (17... Nxd5 18.
exd5 Ne5 19. a5) 18. Nxb4 Nxb2 (18... Bxb2 19. Nxc6 Bxc6 20. Rxb2 Nxb2 21. Qc3
$18) 19. Nxc6 Bxc6 20. Nd4 $44) 17. Nxb4 Nxb4 (17... Nxb2 18. Nxc6 Bxc6 19. Nd4
Bxd4 20. Qxd4 Na4 21. e5 $44) 18. Qxb4 Bc6 19. e5 (19. Nd4 Bd7 20. f3 a5 21.
Qd2 $10) 19... Qb8 (19... Rb8 $5 20. Qa3 Bxe5 21. Rxe5 dxe5 22. Bxe7 Qc8 23.
Bxf8 (23. Nd2 Re8 $143 $44) 23... Qxf8 24. Bxa6 (24. Qxf8+ Kxf8 25. Bxa6 Be4)
24... Qxa3 25. bxa3 Be4 26. Nd2 $10) 20. Qa3 g5 $6 {Black seriously weakened
their Queen's side. They were still okay after} (20... Bxe5 21. Bxe7 Re8 22.
Bh4 Bb5 23. Bg3 $10) 21. Bg3 dxe5 (21... f5 22. exf6 Bxf6 23. Na5 $14) 22. Nd4
$1 {I guess Vladimir missed this move.} (22. Na5 $5 $16 {Kramnik/}) 22... Bd7 (
22... Qb7 23. Nxc6 (23. Nf5 $5) (23. Nf5 $5) 23... Qxc6 24. Bxe5 Bxe5 25. Rxe5
$16) 23. Qxe7 (23. Nf3 f6 24. Qxe7 Qe8 $13) 23... Qe8 24. Qd6 $1 {This was a
very difficult move White have to make possible for bishop on g3 to enter the
game.} (24. Qa3 f6 $13) 24... e4 (24... f6 25. Bc4+ (25. Bxa6 $5) (25. Bxa6 $5)
25... Kh8 26. Ne6) 25. Qb4 (25. Bc4 $2 Rd8 $1 (25... Bb5 26. Bxb5 axb5 27. Nf5
$16) 26. Qg6 Kh8 27. Qxe4 Qxe4 28. Rxe4 f5 $19) (25. Qd5 Nb6 26. Qc5 Na4 27.
Qb4 {-game}) 25... a5 26. Qd2 f5 27. Bd6 $1 {White had another tempting
possibility but in my opinion the it's more important to put the bishop into
the game immediately.} (27. f3 Qg6 28. fxe4 fxe4 $14) (27. f3 $5 $16) 27... Rf6
28. Ba3 Kh8 29. b3 {this is not the precise move order and could give Black
counter chances} (29. Rbd1 $1 $16 {Was stronger and White would have maximal
centralisation of pieces}) 29... Nb6 30. c4 Qe5 $6 {Black miss their chance to
take the game out of White's control.} (30... a4 $1 {Would force White to make
a choice between small edge and big complications, where both sides had their
chances} 31. b4 (31. Nb5 Bxb5 32. cxb5 axb3 $14 (32... axb3 33. Rxb3 $14))
31... Rd6 32. Bb2 a3 (32... Qe5 33. Rbd1 a3 34. Ba1 Ba4 35. c5 (35. Nxf5 Rxd2
36. Bxe5 Rxd1 37. Bxg7+ Kh7 38. Rxd1 Bxd1 $17) 35... Bxd1 (35... Rd5 36. cxb6
Bxd1 37. Rxd1 Rb8 (37... Rad8 38. Qe3) 38. Qc1 Rxb6 39. Qc8+ Kh7 40. Bc4) 36.
cxd6 Ba4 37. Nb5 $16) 33. Ba1 (33. c5 axb2 34. cxd6 Qe5 $44) 33... a2 34. Rbd1
Ba4 35. c5 (35. Nxf5 Rxd2 36. Bxg7+ Kh7 37. Rxd2 Qe6 38. g4 Nxc4 39. Bxc4 Qxc4
40. Rd6 Ra6 $17) 35... Rxd4 (35... Rd5 36. cxb6 Rad8 (36... Bxd1 37. Rxd1 Rad8
(37... Qd7 38. Bc4 Rxd4 (38... Rd6 $5) (38... Rd6 $5 {Gelfand,B}) 39. Qxd4 Bxd4
40. Rxd4 $18) 38. Qxa2 {/\} Bxd4 39. Rxd4 Rxd4 40. Bxd4+ Rxd4 41. Qa1 Qd8 42.
b7 $18) 37. Rc1 Bxd4 38. Bxd4+ Rxd4 39. Qxa2 $16) 36. Bxd4 Bxd1 37. Bxg7+ (37.
cxb6 Qd7 38. b7 Qxb7 39. Rxd1 Qd7) 37... Kxg7 38. Qc3+ (38. Qd4+ Kg6 39. Rxd1
Qd7 (39... Rd8 $2 40. Qxd8 Qxd8 41. Rxd8 a1=Q 42. cxb6 Qe1 43. b7 e3 $10) 40.
Qxd7 Nxd7 41. Ra1 $13) 38... Kh7 39. Rxd1 Nd5 40. Qd4 Nxb4 41. Qf6 $13) 31.
Rbd1 (31. c5 Nd5 32. Nf3 Qf4 33. Qxd5 Bc6 $132) 31... Rc8 32. Nb5 $16 (32. c5
Rxc5 33. Bxc5 Qxc5 $44) (32. f3 $5) 32... Bxb5 33. Bb2 $1 Qc7 (33... Qe6 34.
cxb5 Rf7 35. Bxg7+ Rxg7 36. Qxa5 $16) (33... Qe7 34. Bxf6 Bxf6 35. cxb5 Bc3 36.
Qe3 Bxe1 37. Qxb6 $18) 34. cxb5 Rff8 35. Rc1 Qe7 36. Rc6 $1 Rxc6 37. bxc6 Bxb2
38. Qxb2+ Kh7 39. Qd4 Qb4 40. Qxb4 (40. Rd1 $5 $18) 40... axb4 41. Rd1 Rc8 42.
Rd6 $18 {Blacks' pieces are extremely passive. That why they are sacrifising a
piece to get some conterplay but it's not enough to save the game.} Kg7 (42...
Rc7 43. Be2 Kg7 44. h3 $18 (44. Bh5) (44. Bh5) (44. Bh5 $18)) 43. g4 fxg4 44.
c7 Na8 45. Rd8 Rxc7 46. Rxa8 Rc3 47. Bc4 e3 (47... Rc1+ 48. Kg2 h5 49. Rb8 (49.
Re8 Re1 50. Bd5 h4 51. h3) 49... h4 50. h3 gxh3+ 51. Kxh3 Rc2 52. Rg8+ Kh6 53.
Rf8 $18) 48. Ra7+ Kf6 49. Ra6+ Kg7 50. Ra7+ Kf6 51. Ra6+ Kg7 52. fxe3 Rxe3 53.
Ra7+ Kf6 54. Ra6+ Kg7 55. Rb6 g3 56. Rxb4 h5 57. Rb7+ Kf6 (57... Kh6 $142 58.
Rb6+ Kg7 59. Rd6 $18) 58. Rf7+ Kg6 59. Rf1 g4 60. Rb1 gxh2+ 61. Kxh2 h4 62. Bf1
1-0

[Event "Novgorod 3rd"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1996.07.30"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "1996.07.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Qc2 c5 6. dxc5 Na6 7. g3 O-O 8. Bg2
dxc4 9. O-O Qa5 10. Ne4 Nxc5 11. Nxf6+ Bxf6 12. Ng5 Bxg5 13. Bxg5 Na4 14. Bd2
Qb5 15. Rfc1 Qxb2 16. Qxb2 Nxb2 17. a4 Bd7 18. a5 Rad8 19. Bb4 Rfe8 20. Bxb7
Bb5 21. a6 Na4 22. Rab1 Rd4 23. Ba5 Bd7 24. Rb4 e5 25. Rcxc4 Rxc4 26. Rxc4 Re6
27. Rc7 Rd6 28. Bc8 Bb5 29. Rxa7 g5 30. Bb7 Kg7 31. Bc7 Rd1+ 32. Kg2 Nc5 33.
Bxe5+ Kg6 34. Bf3 Bxa6 35. Rc7 Ne6 36. Rc6 Bb5 37. Rb6 Bc4 38. h4 gxh4 39. gxh4
Rd2 40. e4 Be2 41. Bxe2 Rxe2 42. Kf3 Re1 43. Rb8 f5 44. exf5+ Kxf5 45. Bc3 Rh1
46. Kg3 Rg1+ 47. Kh2 Rd1 48. Rb7 Rd3 49. Bb2 Nf4 50. Rxh7 Rh3+ 51. Kg1 Ne2+ 52.
Kf1 Nf4 53. Rf7+ Kg4 54. Kg1 Rxh4 55. Rg7+ Kf3 56. Rg3+ Ke4 57. Re3+ Kf5 58. f3
Ng6 59. Rb3 Rh3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Novgorod 3rd"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1996.07.31"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B57"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "1996.07.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 Qb6 7. Nb3 e6 8.
Bf4 Ne5 9. Be2 Bd7 10. Be3 Qc7 11. Qd4 Be7 12. f4 Ng6 13. O-O-O O-O 14. g4 e5
15. Qd2 exf4 16. Bxf4 Rfc8 17. Nd4 Qa5 18. Nb3 Qc7 19. Nd4 Qa5 20. Nb3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Geneve PCA-GP Credit Suisse"]
[Site "Geneve"]
[Date "1996.08.30"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E07"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "1996.08.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. g3 Nbd7 6. Bg2 dxc4 7. O-O Be7 8. e4
O-O 9. Bf4 b5 10. d5 cxd5 11. exd5 Qb6 12. d6 Bd8 13. Be3 Qa6 14. Nxb5 Nd5 15.
a4 Nxe3 16. fxe3 Bb7 17. Qc2 Rc8 18. Rfd1 Qb6 19. Nfd4 Bxg2 20. Qxg2 a6 21. a5
Qc5 22. Qb7 axb5 23. Qxd7 Bg5 24. Kg2 Bxe3 25. Nxe6 fxe6 26. Qxe6+ Kh8 27. d7
Rf2+ 28. Kh1 Rxh2+ 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Geneve PCA-GP Credit Suisse"]
[Site "Geneve"]
[Date "1996.08.31"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Speelman, Jonathan S"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A50"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "153"]
[EventDate "1996.08.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 b6 2. g3 Bb7 3. Bg2 g6 4. d4 Bg7 5. O-O Nf6 6. c4 e6 7. Nc3 Ne4 8. Nxe4
Bxe4 9. Bg5 Qc8 10. Qd2 h6 11. Be3 Qb7 12. Rfd1 d5 13. Rac1 Nd7 14. cxd5 Bxd5
15. b3 Rc8 16. Ne1 Bxg2 17. Nxg2 Nf6 18. Bf4 Nd5 19. Be5 f6 20. Bf4 g5 21. Be3
O-O 22. f3 Nxe3 23. Qxe3 Qd5 24. Qd3 c6 25. Ne3 Qd7 26. Nc4 Rfd8 27. e3 f5 28.
Qe2 Qe7 29. Kg2 Rd7 30. Nb2 c5 31. Na4 Rcd8 32. Nb2 cxd4 33. e4 d3 34. Nxd3 Qf7
35. Nb4 fxe4 36. fxe4 Qe8 37. Rxd7 Qxd7 38. Nc6 Qd2 39. Rc2 Qxe2+ 40. Rxe2 Rd7
41. a4 a5 42. Kf2 Rd3 43. Re3 Rd6 44. Ne7+ Kf7 45. Nc8 Rc6 46. Rf3+ Ke8 47. Na7
Rc2+ 48. Kg1 Bd4+ 49. Kf1 Rxh2 50. Nc6 Bc5 51. Rf6 Kd7 52. Ne5+ Kd6 53. Nc4+
Ke7 54. Rg6 Rf2+ 55. Ke1 Rf6 56. Rg7+ Kf8 57. Rb7 Rf3 58. Nxb6 Bxb6 59. Rxb6
Rxg3 60. Rxe6 Kg7 61. Re5 Rxb3 62. Kf2 Rb4 63. Rxa5 Rxe4 64. Ra6 h5 65. a5 h4
66. Rb6 Ra4 67. a6 g4 68. a7 Ra2+ 69. Kg1 Ra1+ 70. Kg2 Ra2+ 71. Kg1 Rxa7 72.
Rb4 Ra1+ 73. Kg2 h3+ 74. Kh2 Ra2+ 75. Kh1 Rg2 76. Rb7+ Kg6 77. Rg7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Geneve PCA-GP Credit Suisse"]
[Site "Geneve"]
[Date "1996.08.31"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Speelman, Jonathan S"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1996.08.??"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 054 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Bg4 3. Bg2 Nd7 4. d4 e6 5. O-O Ngf6 6. Nbd2 Be7 7. Re1 O-O 8.
e4 c5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. h3 Bh5 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. a3 Qc7 13. Qe2 Rfd8 14. Nf1 a5
15. Ne3 Nb6 16. Ng4 Ncd7 17. Bf4 Qc4 18. Qxc4 Nxc4 19. Nfe5 Ndxe5 20. Nxe5 Nd6
21. g4 Bg6 22. c4 Rac8 23. Rac1 Bf8 24. b4 axb4 25. axb4 Nxc4 26. Nxg6 hxg6 27.
Bxb7 Rd4 28. Be3 Nxe3 29. Rxc8 Nc4 30. Ra1 Nb6 31. Rb8 Rxb4 32. Bc6 g5 33. Ra6
Nd5 34. Rd8 Nb6 35. Ra7 g6 36. Rb7 Nc4 37. Rxb4 1-0

[Event "WDR Match TV g/60"]
[Site "Cologne"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D56"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1996.08.??"]
[EventType "game"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1998"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 Ne4 8. Bxe7
Qxe7 9. Rc1 Nxc3 10. Rxc3 c6 11. Bd3 Nd7 12. O-O dxc4 13. Bxc4 b6 14. Bd3 c5
15. Be4 Rb8 16. Qa4 Bb7 17. Bxb7 Rxb7 18. Rd1 b5 19. Qb3 a5 20. dxc5 Nxc5 21.
Qc2 Na6 22. a3 b4 23. Rc6 Rc7 24. Nd4 bxa3 25. bxa3 Rfc8 26. Rxc7 Qxc7 27. Qe2
Qc4 28. Qf3 Nc7 29. h3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Vienna Millenium"]
[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "1996.08.09"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[Annotator "Shirov,A"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1996.08.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Huebner} d5 2. d4 c6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 {A successful comeback to the
Chebanenko system which I played a lot in 1993-1994 and now in Vienna scored 3
out of 4 with.} 5. c5 {Kramnik has almost never experienced the 4...a6 system
as White and I didn't know what to expect from him. He played} (5. a4 {once.})
5... Bf5 $5 {I used to play 'pure Moldavian'} (5... g6 {, but somehow Black
gets a passive position with it. The text has been well employed by my
countryman Jordi Magem.}) 6. Qb3 Ra7 {against Ivan Sokolov (Yerevan 1996) I
switched to} (6... Qc8 {Huebner sieht natürlicher aus.}) 7. Bf4 Nbd7 8. h3 {
A new move with the idea to avoid} (8. e3 Nh5 $5 {and by exchanging the strong
White's bishop, Black should probably solve his opening problems.} (8... Nh5 {
Huebner} 9. Be2 Nxf4 10. exf4 e6 $10 {Huebner: geschah in der Partie Schön,
W-Pieper Emden,C, NRW II 93/94, Deutschland 1993, GER 07. In der vorliegenden
Partie möchte Weiß den Abtausch seines schwarzfeldrigen Läufers verhindern.}))
8... h6 $5 9. e3 g5 10. Bh2 Bg7 11. Ne5 $5 {Kramnik is being ambitious but
with not such a good development it is a bit risky. I believe that Black
should also be OK after} (11. Be2 Ne4 $5 {but}) (11. Nd2 $5 {could be an
interesting try.}) 11... O-O (11... Ne4 $5 $10 {Huebner}) 12. f3 (12. Bd3 $16 {
Huebner  Huebner: laut V. Kramnik, "Schach" 9/1996, S.13, doch scheint mir
dies etwas übertrieben. Nach} Bxd3 13. Nxd3 Ne4 {mit der Idee, e7-e5
durchzusetzen, sollte Schwarz noch nicht ernsthaft im Nachteil sein.}) 12...
Nxe5 $1 {Otherwise Black stands passively. could be an interesting try.} 13.
Bxe5 Nd7 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. e4 {This pawn advance is not dangerous but} (15. Be2
Qc7 (15... e5 {Huebner} 16. O-O Qf6 17. Rad1 {Huebner: gefolgt von Tf1-f2 und
Le2-f1 mit Aussichten auf einen kleinen Vorteil.}) 16. Kf2 e5 {would also
promise Black a good game.}) (15. O-O-O {Huebner  Huebner: wird von V. Kramnik,
loc. cit., vorgeschlagen, doch hat Schwarz nach 15...e5 keinerlei
Schwierigkeiten. Meines Erachtens sollte Weiß hier die kurze Rochade anstreben:
}) 15... dxe4 16. fxe4 Bg6 17. O-O-O $2 {This bad move was accompannied with a
draw offer but, of course I rejected it because now Black gets a clear
avantage by simple means. White ought to continue} (17. e5 {which I was
planning to answer by} b6 18. cxb6 Qxb6 (18... Rb7 19. O-O-O Rxb6 20. Qa3 $13)
(18... Nxb6 {Huebner} 19. Rd1 (19. O-O-O {Huebner: ist hier offensichtlich zu
riskant.}) 19... a5 (19... Rd7 20. Bxa6 Rxd4 21. O-O {Huebner: sieht nicht
verlockend für Schwarz aus. Nach}) (19... f6 20. Be2 fxe5 21. dxe5 Qc7 22. Rf1
{Huebner: kommt der König des Weißen in Sicherheit.}) 20. Be2 Rd7 {für Schwarz
sehr angenehm; der König des Weißen kommt nicht ohne weiteres in Sicherheit.})
19. Qxb6 Nxb6 20. O-O-O Nd5 $5 {with a roughly equal endgame.}) 17... e5 $1 {
Now White's centre breaks down while the isolated e4 pawn stays as the
weakness. There is also no counterplay White can arrange.} 18. Qc4 (18. dxe5
Qe7 $17) (18. d5 Nxc5 19. Qc4 Nd7 $17) 18... Qf6 $1 {A very precise move. Now
White is forced to exchange pawms before completing the development.} 19. dxe5
(19. d5 Qf4+ 20. Rd2 (20. Kb1 cxd5 $17 (20... cxd5 {Huebner} 21. Qxd5 Nf6))
20... Qe3 21. b4 a5 {is awful for White.}) (19. Be2 {Huebner} exd4 20. Rxd4 Ne5
21. Qb3 Qf2 22. Rhd1 Qxg2 23. Qb6 Raa8 24. Qxb7 Qxh3 {Huebner: sieht ebenfalls
sehr unerfreulich für Weiß aus.}) 19... Nxe5 20. Qd4 Raa8 $1 {I was thinking
about tempting} (20... Qf4+ $5 21. Qd2 Qg3 $17 {but then just decided to bring
my rook into the game first.}) 21. Qe3 Rad8 22. Be2 Qe7 $17 {Black has no
clear winning plan, but as I already stated, White has no counterplay.} 23.
Rhe1 (23. Rxd8 {Huebner} Rxd8 24. Rd1 {Huebner: kam meines Erachtens sehr in
Betracht; schon nach Abtausch eines Turmpaares wird die Deckung des Bauern auf
c5 durch b2-b4 weniger riskant sein.}) 23... Nd7 {Huebner: Jetzt hat Schwarz
schon erheblichen Vorteil.} 24. Qd4+ (24. Na4 $5 {Huebner}) 24... Nf6 25. Qe3 (
25. Qb4 {Huebner: mit der Absicht, Td1-d6 folgen zu lassen, war wohl nicht
aussichtsreicher. Die Fortsetzung} b5 (25... Nxe4 {Huebner} 26. Rxd8 (26. Bf3
Rxd1+ 27. Bxd1 Nxc3 $17) 26... Rxd8 27. Nxe4 (27. Bf3 Nxc5 $19) 27... Qxe4 28.
Qxe4 Bxe4 29. Bxa6 Bxg2 30. Bxb7 Bxh3 31. Rd1 {ist nicht klar;} Rxd1+ 32. Kxd1
Bd7 33. a4 h5 34. a5 h4 35. Ke2 {Huebner: ist dem Schwarzen nicht anzuraten.})
26. Rxd8 (26. Rd6 {Huebner} Rxd6 27. cxd6 Qe5 28. Rd1 c5 {Hubner: nebst b5-b4
ist hoffnungslos für Weiß.}) 26... Rxd8 27. Qa5 Rd4 {ist aber fatal für Weiß.})
(25. Qc4 {Huebner} Qe5 26. Bf3 h5 {Huebner: sieht auch nicht besser für Weiß
aus.}) 25... Qe5 {Huebner: Jetzt ist Weiß gänzlich paralysiert. Seine Lage ist
vermutlich hoffnungslos.} 26. Bf3 h5 27. a3 Rfe8 28. Rxd8 Rxd8 {[#]} 29. Bd1 $2
{Now Black wins easily. The only way was} (29. Rd1 {after which Black should
probably continue} Re8 $17 (29... Rxd1+ {Huebner} 30. Kxd1 Nd5 31. Qd2 Nxc3+
32. Qxc3 Qxc3 33. bxc3 Kf6 34. Kd2 Ke5 35. Ke3 h4 36. Kd3 Kf4 37. Kd4 f6 38.
Kd3 g4 {Huebner: ist hoffnungslos für Weiß.})) 29... Rd4 30. Bc2 Rc4 $1 $19 {
The game is over.} (30... Qxc5 $5 {Huebner} 31. e5 {Huebner: Wenn Weiß der
Dame des Schwarzen erlaubt, nach e5 zurückzukehren, ist seine Stellung
natürlich hoffnungslos.} Nd5 32. Qxg5 Nxc3 33. Qf6+ Kg8 $19) 31. Kb1 Rxc5 32.
Qd2 (32. Bb3 {Huebner  Huebner: wird durch 32...De7 nebst 33...Te5 entkräftet.}
) 32... Rc4 33. Qd8 Nxe4 34. Bxe4 Bxe4+ 35. Nxe4 (35. Ka1 {loses to} Rxc3 $19)
35... Rxe4 $138 {White lost on time but his position is, of course lost anyway.
} 0-1

[Event "Vienna Millenium"]
[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "1996.08.10"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "1996.08.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Hecht Ftacnik} d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7.
Bd3 {Die modernere Fortsetzung gegenüber 7.Be2.} O-O 8. O-O {Die wesentliche
Pointe von 7.Bd3 besteht darin, die Auswahl an schwarzen Systemen zu
reduzieren:} e5 {Nach 7.Be2 0-0 8.0-0 e5 hat Schwarz gute Aussicht auf
Ausgleich. Nun jedoch hat Schwarz Probleme.} (8... dxc4 9. Bxc4 Qe7 {führt zu
Varianten nach 7.Be2 dxc4 8.Bxc4 Qe7.}) (8... b6 {ist hier nicht so gut
spielbar wegen} 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 $2 11. Bxe4 $18) 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. e4 {
Nur so macht der weiße Aufbau Sinn.} (10. Nb5 {Ftacnik} Bb8 11. dxe5 Nxe5 12.
Nxe5 Bxe5 13. h3 a6 14. Nd4 $14) 10... dxe4 (10... exd4 {ist der andere
kritische Zug, vgl. Chernin,A-Savchenko,S/EUcup Gr7 Bratislava; CBM 55.
Allerdings hat es Schwarz auch dort nicht leicht.}) (10... exd4 {Ftacnik} 11.
Nxd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 h6 (12... Nf6 13. Nxd4 Nxd5 14. Bxh7+ Kh8 15. Be4 Nf6 16.
Nf5 Nxe4 17. Qxe4 Qf6 18. Nxd6 Qxd6 19. Bf4 Qb6 20. Rad1 Be6 21. Rd6 Qb5 22.
Be5 Rae8 23. a4 Qc4 24. Rd4 {1-0 Vera,R-Oms Pallise,J/Pamplona op/1995/}) 13.
Nxd4 Qh4 (13... Bxh2+ 14. Kxh2 Qh4+ 15. Kg1 Qxd4 16. Rd1 $16 {^^}) 14. Nf3 (14.
f4 Nf6 (14... Bc5 $2 15. Be3 Re8 16. Bf2 Qxf4 17. Ne6 $1) 15. Nb5 Rd8 16. Nxd6
Rxd6 17. Bd2 Rxd5 18. Be1 Qh5 19. Bc3 Bf5 (19... Ng4 $2 20. h3 Ne3 $2 21. Rae1)
20. Bxf5 Qxf5 21. Qxf5 Rxf5 22. Rad1 Nd5 23. Bd2 {1/2-1/2 Sokolov,I-Morovic
Fernandez,I/Leon (07)/1995/ (48)}) 14... Qh5 15. Bh7+ (15. Qc4 Nc5 16. Bc2 g5
17. b4 Na6 18. Qd3 Qg6 19. Qxg6+ fxg6 20. a3 Bf5 21. Bb3 Rac8 22. Be3 Rc3 23.
Nd4 Be5 24. Nxf5 Rxb3 25. Nd4 Bxd4 26. Bxd4 {1/2-1/2 Orr,M-Kaidanov,G/Dublin
Telecom/1991/ (41)}) 15... Kh8 16. Qf5 Qxf5 17. Bxf5 Nf6 18. Bc2 (18. Bxc8
Rfxc8 19. Rd1 Rc5 20. Be3 Rxd5 21. Rxd5 Nxd5 22. Rd1 Nxe3 23. Rxd6 Ng4 24. h3
Nf6 25. Ne5 Kg8 {Rohde,M-Ramayrat,C/USA-op (03)/1987/1/2-1/2 (52)}) 18... Bg4
19. Bb3 Bxf3 20. gxf3 Nh5 21. Be3 Nf4 22. Rfd1 Rfd8 23. Bc4 {Sokolov,I-Piket,
Je/Nussloch (06)/1996/1-0 (63)}) 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Bxe4 h6 13. Be3 (13. Rd1
exd4 14. Nxd4 Nf6 15. Bf3 Qa5 16. g3 Bg4 17. Bxg4 {1/2-1/2 Dlugy,M-Dreev,A/New
York op (02) ;EXP 16 1990 1/2-1/2 Dlugy,M-Dreev,A/New York op (02) ;EXP 16 1990
}) 13... exd4 14. Bh7+ $1 $146 {In Erwartung des folgenden Endspiels wird der
schwarze König deplaziert.} (14. Bxd4 Nf6 15. Bf5 Qa5 16. Bxc8 Rfxc8 17. Qb3
Qd5 18. Qxd5 (18. Bxf6 Qxb3 19. axb3 gxf6 {mit den Ideen ...Rc2 oder ...Be5
ist befriedigend für Schwarz.}) 18... Nxd5 19. Rad1 Rd8 20. g3 Nb4 {1/2-1/2
Blanco Fernandez,A-Hoffman,A/Capablanca mem (04) ;CBM 48 1995 1/2-1/2 Blanco
Fernandez,A-Hoffman,A/Capablanca mem (04)/1995/}) 14... Kh8 15. Bxd4 Nf6 16.
Bf5 $14 Bxf5 (16... Qa5 17. Bxc8 Rfxc8 (17... Raxc8 18. Qb3 $14) 18. Qb3 Qd5
19. Bxf6 Qxb3 20. Bxg7+ {Hier wirkt sich die Stellung des Kh8 aus !} Kxg7 21.
axb3 $16 Rc2 22. Nd4 Rxb2 $2 23. Nf5+ $18) 17. Qxf5 Qc8 (17... Qd7 18. Qxd7
Nxd7 19. Rad1 Rfd8 20. Bxg7+ Kxg7 21. Rxd6 Ne5 22. Nd4 $1 Rxd6 23. Nf5+ Kf6 24.
Nxd6 $16) 18. Qb5 (18. Qxc8 Raxc8 (18... Rfxc8 19. Bxf6 gxf6 20. Rad1 $14) 19.
Bxf6 gxf6 20. Rad1 Rfd8 $14 {Karpov}) (18. Nh4 $5 {Kramnik}) 18... a6 (18...
Ne4 {Ftacnik} 19. Rac1 $14) 19. Qb6 (19. Qb3 Qe6 20. Qxe6 fxe6 21. Rfe1 Rfe8
$14 {Karpov}) 19... Qc7 (19... Bc7 {Ftacnik} 20. Qb3 Bd8 (20... Ne4 $2 21. Rac1
$18) 21. Ne5 $16) 20. Qxc7 Bxc7 21. Bxf6 gxf6 22. Rfe1 Rfe8 23. Rad1 $14 (23.
g3 $5 {Karpov war möglicherweise noch genauer. Aber auch so behält Weiß einen
kleinen, aber dauerhaften Vorteil. Karpows Endspielführung ist lehrreich.})
23... Rxe1+ 24. Rxe1 {[#] Hecht Dauerhafte Schwäche der schwarzen B-Struktur
führt zu weißem Spiel an diesem Flügel mit S+K-Einsatz dort. Schwarzes
Gegenspiel am D-Flügel. Nach beiderseitiger Freibauernbildung aufregendes
Finale. Weißer Hauptvorteil: die schlechte schwarze K-Stellung, die zu
Mattdrohungen führt.} Rd8 25. g3 Rd7 26. Re2 Kg7 27. Nh4 Rd5 (27... Be5 {
Ftacnik} 28. Kg2 $14) 28. Re7 Rc5 29. Rd7 b5 (29... Kf8 $1 {Ftacnik} 30. b4
Rc1+ (30... Ke8 31. bxc5 Kxd7 32. Nf5 h5 33. Ng7 Kc6 34. Nxh5 Be5 35. h4 Kxc5
36. Ng7 f5 37. Nxf5 $16) 31. Kg2 Ke8 32. Rd3 $14) 30. b4 Rc2 31. Nf5+ Kg6 32.
Ne3 Rc1+ 33. Kg2 Be5 (33... f5 {Ftacnik} 34. Nd5 Be5 35. Ra7 $16) 34. Ra7 Rc6
35. Nd5 Bd6 (35... Rd6 {Ftacnik} 36. Ne7+ Kh5 37. f4 Bc3 38. Kh3 $18) 36. a3
Kf5 37. Ne3+ (37. Rxf7 $2 {Ftacnik} Ke6) 37... Kg6 (37... Ke6 {Ftacnik} 38. g4
$5 (38. Kf3 Be5 39. Ke4 f5+ $1) 38... Bb8 39. Rb7 Bf4 40. Nf5 Rc3 41. Rb6+ Ke5
42. Rxa6 $16) 38. Kf3 Be5 39. Nd5 Kg7 40. Ne7 Rc3+ (40... Re6 $5 {Ftacnik} 41.
Kg4 Bb2 42. h4 Bxa3 43. Nf5+ Kf8 (43... Kg6 44. h5+ Kh7 45. Rxf7+ Kh8 46. Nxh6
Bxb4 47. Kf5 Rc6 48. Kg6 f5+ 49. Kg5 Be1 50. f4 Bxg3 51. Nxf5 Bf2 52. Ne7 Rd6
53. h6 $18) 44. Ra8+ (44. Nxh6 Bxb4 45. Rxf7+ Ke8 46. Kf5 (46. Rb7 Bc5 47. f4
Re7 48. Rb8+ Kd7 49. Nf5 Re8) 46... Re2 47. Kg6 Rxf2 (47... Bc3 48. Ng4 $16)
48. Ng4 Rg2 49. Nxf6+ Kd8 50. g4 $16) 44... Re8 45. Rxa6 Bxb4 46. Rxf6 Re6 47.
Rxe6 fxe6 48. Nd4 $16) 41. Kg4 Rxa3 42. f4 Bc3 43. Kh5 (43. Nf5+ {Ftacnik} Kg6)
43... Bxb4 44. Nf5+ Kg8 45. Ra8+ {[#]} Kh7 (45... Bf8 {Ftacnik} 46. Nxh6+ Kg7
47. Ra7 Kh8 (47... Kh7 48. Rxf7+ Bg7 49. Nf5 $18) (47... Bc5 48. Rxf7+ Kh8 49.
Kg6 $18) 48. Nxf7+ (48. Rxf7 Bxh6 49. Kxh6 Kg8 50. Kg6 Rc3 51. Rxf6 $18) 48...
Kg8 (48... Kg7 49. Nh6+ Kh8 50. Kg6 $18) 49. Kg6 Ra2 (49... b4 {Hecht} 50. Ra8
$18) 50. Ra8 Rxh2 51. g4 Rh7 (51... b4 52. g5 fxg5 53. fxg5 Rf2 54. Nh6+ Kh8
55. Ng4 Rf1 56. Nf6 $18) (51... Rh1 52. Kxf6 Rh7 53. Ne5 b4 54. g5 $18) 52.
Rxf8+ Kxf8 53. Kxh7 Kxf7 (53... b4 54. Nd6 b3 55. Nc4 $18) 54. g5 fxg5 55. fxg5
b4 56. g6+ $18) 46. Ra7 Kg8 (46... Bc3 {Ftacnik} 47. Rxf7+ Kg8 48. Nxh6+ Kh8
49. Kg6 $18) 47. Nxh6+ Kf8 48. Rxf7+ Ke8 49. Kg6 Bc3 (49... Ra2 {Ftacnik} 50.
h4 Bc3 51. Nf5) (49... f5 $5 {[%cal Gc3h8] Hecht}) 50. Nf5 b4 (50... a5 $2 {
Ftacnik} 51. Nd6+ Kd8 52. Nxb5 $18) 51. Rb7 {[#]} Ra2 (51... b3 {Ftacnik} 52.
Nd6+ Kd8 (52... Kf8 $2 53. Kh7 $1 (53. Rf7+ {Hecht} Kg8 54. Nf5 $18 {[%cal
Rf5h6]}) 53... b2 54. Rf7#) 53. Kf5 {[%cal Rf5e6]} Ra2 54. Rxb3 $18) 52. h4 a5
(52... Kd8 {Ftacnik} 53. h5 Kc8 54. Nd6+ Kd8 55. h6 Rh2 56. h7 f5 57. Nxf5 $18)
53. h5 a4 (53... Kd8 54. h6 Kc8 55. h7 Rh2 56. Rg7 {[%cal Rf5h4]} Rxh7 57. Rxh7
a4 (57... b3 {Hecht} 58. Nd6+ Kd8 59. Kf5 $18 {[%cal Rf5e6]}) 58. Nd6+ Kb8 59.
Rb7+ Ka8 60. Rb5 $18) 54. h6 Rh2 55. h7 {[#]} Kd8 (55... a3 {Ftacnik} 56. Nh4 (
56. Nd6+ {Hecht} Kd8 57. Kf5 a2 58. h8=Q+ Rxh8 59. Ke6 Re8+ 60. Nxe8 {[%cal
Rb7b8]} Kc8 61. Nd6+ Kd8 62. Rd7#) 56... f5 57. Rg7 $1 Bxg7 58. Kxg7 a2 59.
h8=Q+ Kd7 60. Kf7 $18) (55... b3 {Ftacnik} 56. Nh4 f5 57. Rg7 Bxg7 58. Kxg7 b2
59. h8=Q+ Kd7 60. Qb8 a3 61. Nxf5 $18) 56. Nh4 f5 57. Rxb4 (57. Rg7 $5 {Ftacnik
} Bxg7 58. Kxg7 $18) 57... Rh3 58. Rxa4 Rxg3+ 59. Kxf5 (59. Kxf5 {Ftacnik} Rh3
60. Ra8+ Kc7 61. h8=Q Bxh8 62. Rxh8 $18) 1-0

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

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

[Event "Vienna Millenium"]
[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "1996.08.12"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[Annotator "Gutman,L"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1996.08.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Hazai} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6
8. d5 Ne7 9. b4 {Weiß will keine Zeit für Vorsichtsmaßnahmen verwenden und
beschleunigt seine Initiative am Damenflügel. Aber...} Nh5 $5 {ergibt erste
Probleme - wie ist auf das "lästige" Springermanöver zu reagieren?} 10. Re1 $5
{Schon 1975 von David Bronstein empfohlen, um auf Nh5-f4 mit Be2-f1 zu
reagieren. Aber auch die Schachideen brauchen ihre Zeit ! Erst 20 Jahre später
nach der Partie I.Sokolov - van Wely, Amsterdam 1995 wurde diese Spielweise
von führenden Großmeistern wie A.Karpov und W.Kramnik mit Begeisterung
angenommen und weiterentwickelt.} f5 $5 {Eine logische Fortsetzung; Schwarz
nimmt unverzüglich den Kampf um das Zentrum auf.} 11. Ng5 $5 {"In Novgorod
1996 folgte noch 11.c5, aber schon einige Tage später nahm Kramnik davon
Abstand und bevorzugte 11.Ng5." A.Huzman.} Nf6 $5 {Eine Fortsetzung der
zentralen Strategie, Schwarz verstärkt den Druck auf den kritischen Punkt e4.
Als vorteilhaft für Weiß gilt 11...Nf4 12.Bxf4 exf4 13.Rc1. Der von Gufeld
gepriesene schwarzfeldrige Läufer verspricht hier kein ausreichendes
Gegenspiel.} 12. Bf3 $5 {Eine Spezialität von W.Kramnik! Eine Alternative ist
verbunden mit dem "befestigendem" Zug 12.f3.} fxe4 $5 {Um so schnell wie
möglich den e7-Springer auf das ideale Feld d4 zu überführen; stark in Frage
kommt aber 12...Kh8, J.Polgar oder 12...c6!?.  This moves tries to simplify
matters in order to obtain equality. Black wants to put a N on d4, but White
gets a stronghold for his  N on e4.} 13. Ngxe4 {Weniger Probleme für Schwarz
stellt 13.Ncxe4 Nf5 14.Nxf6+ Bxf6 15.Ne4 Nd4 16.Be3 Nxf3+ 17.Qxf3 Bg7! (17. ...
Bh418.Qe2 Bf5,Topalow-Gelfand,Novgorod 1996,überzeugt weniger wegen 19.Nd2 Bg5
20.Bxg5 Qxg5 21.c5 und Weiß hat etwas mehr von Spiel ) 18.Qe2 Bf5 19.Bg5 Qd7
mit etwa gleichen Chansen, Epischin-Danailow,Wien 1996.} (13. Ncxe4 {Hazai 
This looks more natural, because the other N may jump to e6.} Nf5 14. Nxf6+ (
14. Bb2 $142 Nxe4 15. Nxe4 {prevents Black from Nd4.}) 14... Bxf6 15. Ne4 Nd4
16. Be3 Nxf3+ 17. Qxf3 Bh4 $1 {against 18.f3.} 18. Qe2 Bf5 19. Nc3 Bg5 20. a3
Bxe3 21. Qxe3 Rf7 22. c5 $10 {1/2 Topalov-Gelfand, Novgorod 1996}) 13... Nf5
14. Bg5 (14. Nxf6+ {Hazai} Bxf6) 14... Nd4 15. Nb5 {Stark in Frage kommt 15.
Be2 Bf5 16.Bd3 Qd7 ,und mit 17.f3!? (IN Simultanpartie Karpow -Vrjola,Helsinki
1996,folgte weniger überzeugende 17.Nxf6+ Bxf6 18.Ne2 Bh4!19.N4g3 Bg4 20.Qd2
Bxe2 21.Bxe2 Rf4 mit guten schwarzen Gegenspiel ) KÖNNTE Weiß etwas besseren
Aussichten behaupten.} (15. Bxf6 {Hazai} Bxf6 16. Be2 (16. Bg4 $2 Bxg4 17. Qxg4
Nc2) 16... a5) 15... Nxf3+ {Eine andere Alternatiwe var mit 15. ...Nxb5 16.
cxb5Qd7 ( 16. ... Bf5 17.a4 ) 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.a4 verbunden, und Weiß hat etwas
mehr von Spiel.} 16. Qxf3 Bf5 17. Qb3 (17. Bxf6 {Hazai} Bxf6 18. Qe3 {looks a
bit better for White because of the bad dark-squared  bishop.}) 17... Bxe4 18.
Rxe4 Qd7 19. Bxf6 Rxf6 {Der Springer ist ewtl. schwarzen Läufer überlegen,aber
Weiß braucht Zeit um Zusammenspiel der Figuren zu organisieren.} 20. Rae1 $5 {
Um 20. ...a5 mit 21.a3 zu beantworten.} Bh6 21. R4e2 {Sofortiges 21.Nc3!?
kommt in Frage.} Rf4 22. g3 $6 {Sinvoller erscheint 22.Nc3 zu sein.  This move
unnecessarily weakens the f3 square.} (22. Nc3 {Hazai} Rd4 23. Ne4 Rf8 24. f3 {
is more to the point.}) 22... Rf7 23. Nc3 Rf3 24. c5 {Auf der Suche nach
Gegenspiel.} (24. Qc2 {Hazai} Raf8 25. Ne4) 24... Qg4 {24. ...Raf8 stellte
grosere Probleme für Weiß.} 25. Re4 {Nun endlich war 25.Ne4!?Rxb3 26.Nf6+ Kg7
27.Nxg4 Rxb4 28.f4 mit interessanten Spiel möglich.} Qf5 26. Qc2 a5 27. R1e2 (
27. a3 {Hazai} axb4 28. axb4 Ra3 29. Nb5 Rad3) 27... axb4 28. Rxb4 Qxc2 29.
Rxc2 Rxc3 30. Rxc3 Bd2 {mit Ausgleich.} 31. Rcc4 Bxb4 32. Rxb4 Ra5 33. cxd6
cxd6 34. Rxb7 Rxd5 35. Rd7 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Vienna Millenium"]
[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "1996.08.15"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Jussupow, Artur"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Jussupow,A"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1996.08.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Hansen,LB} d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 {Hansen,LB:
Interesting! Usually Kramnik plays 5.-,dxc4.} 6. cxd5 {Hansen,LB: The Queens
Gambit exchange variation is much more dangerous for Black with the white N on
e2 instead of f3.} exd5 7. e3 Be7 8. Qc2 O-O 9. Bd3 Re8 10. O-O Nf8 11. Rae1
Ne4 (11... Ng4 {Hansen,LB} 12. Bxe7 Rxe7 13. b4 Qd6 14. b5 c5 $132 {Khalifman,
A-Lputian,S/Erevan/1996/}) 12. Bxe7 (12. Bf4 {Hansen,LB} Bb4 13. h3 Ng6 14. Bh2
Nh4 15. Nxh4 Qxh4 16. f3 Ng5 $132 {Hjartarson,J-Sokolov,A/Reykjavik/1988/})
12... Qxe7 13. Bxe4 dxe4 14. Nd2 f5 (14... b6 $5 {Hansen,LB} 15. Qa4 (15. Qxe4
Ba6 16. Qxe7 Rxe7 17. Ne2 Rd8 18. b3 Bxe2 19. Rxe2 Rxd4 $1 20. Nf3 Rd6 21. Rc2
c5 $15 {Netusil,M-Kacirek,P/Praha/1993/}) 15... a5 $5 16. Qxc6 Bb7 17. Qxb6 Ba6
18. Ndxe4 Bxf1 19. Rxf1 Qb4 20. Nd5 Qxb6 21. Nxb6 Ra6 22. Nd6 Re6 $13 {1/2-1/2/
Arencibia,J-Garcia,Gi/Havanna/1995/}) 15. f3 exf3 16. Nxf3 Be6 17. e4 fxe4 18.
Rxe4 h6 19. Rfe1 (19. Ne2 Qb4 $1 $10 20. a3 Qb3 21. Qd2 Bd5 22. Rxe8 Rxe8 23.
Ne5 Ne6 24. Nc3 Qb6 25. Nxd5 cxd5 (25... Qxd4+ $1 26. Qxd4 Nxd4 $10) 26. Nf3
Nf8 27. Qf2 $6 (27. Rc1 $14) 27... Ng6 28. Nh4 Nxh4 $1 $10 {1/2-1/2 Timman,
J-Yusupov,A/Tilburg (m8) 41/470 1986 (41)}) 19... Rad8 {Hansen,LB: Very cool!
The pin on the e-file is not dangerous.} 20. h3 $5 $146 (20. Re5 Qf7 $10 21. b4
$2 {><c4, b4} (21. a3) (21. b3) 21... Nd7 22. Ra5 $2 (22. R5e3 $142) 22... Bg4
$15 {0-1 Hjartarson,J-Short,N/Dubai (ol) 42/523 1986 (32)}) (20. R1e3 Qf7 21.
Ne5 (21. Qe2 Bc4 22. Qe1 Rxe4 23. Rxe4 Be6 24. h4 Re8 25. Ne5 Qf6 26. Qg3 Qd8
$15 {Semkov,S-Dokhoian,Y/Erevan/1988/}) 21... Qf5 22. Rg3 $2 (22. Rf3 $10) (22.
Qe2 $10) 22... Rxd4 23. Ng4 Kh8 24. Nxh6 gxh6 25. Qc1 Qf6 {-+ Timman,J-Short,N/
Amsterdam (Euwe Memorial) 45/(478) 1988} (25... Qf6 {Hansen,LB} 26. Ree3 Rf4
27. Ne2 Rf5 28. Ref3 Bd7 29. Nf4 Qd4+ 30. Kf1 Kh7 31. Rh3 Rc5 {0-1/Timman,
J-Short,N/Amsterdam/1988/})) (20. Ne5 $5 Qg5 (20... Qb4 21. Qf2) (20... Bf5 $2
21. Nxc6) 21. Qf2 Ng6 22. Nf3 Qf6 $6 (22... Qf5 $1 $13) 23. Qe3 Bf7 24. Ne5 {
/\ 24...Ne5 25.de5 Qe6 26.Qa7 +/- Germanavichus,Sh-Kruopis/USSR 43/(501) 1987})
20... Qd6 (20... Qf7 21. Ne5 Qf5 22. Rf1 $36) 21. R1e3 Bf7 {Is this necessary?
A solid alternative was 21.-,Qb8} (21... Re7 $14) (21... Qb8 $10 {Hansen,LB})
22. Rxe8 Rxe8 23. Rxe8 Bxe8 24. Qb3+ Kh7 (24... Qe6 25. Qxb7 Qe3+ 26. Kh1 Qc1+
27. Ng1 $16) 25. Qxb7 Bh5 26. Ne4 (26. Qa6 Bxf3 27. Qd3+ Ng6 28. Qxf3 Qxd4+ $14
) 26... Qf4 (26... Qg6 27. Nfd2 $16) 27. Qxc6 {Hansen,LB: Safe, but after this
Black is not in any danger.} (27. Ned2 $142 Bxf3 (27... Ne6 $13 {Hansen,LB})
28. Nxf3 Qc1+ 29. Kh2 Ne6 30. Qd7 $16) 27... Bxf3 28. gxf3 Ng6 $132 (28... Qxf3
$4 {Hansen,LB} 29. Ng5+ $18) 29. Nf2 (29. Kf2 $5 $13) 29... Qxd4 30. Qc2 Qd5
31. f4 (31. Kg2 Qxa2 32. h4 Qd5 33. Nh3 Qe5 34. b4 a6 $1 $10) 31... Qf3 $1 (
31... Qxa2 $6 {Hansen,LB} 32. f5 $36) 32. f5 Nf4 33. f6+ Kg8 $10 34. Qc4+ (34.
Qb3+ $2 {Hansen,LB} Qxb3 35. axb3 gxf6 $17) 34... Kh7 35. Qc2+ (35. Qe4+ Qxe4
36. Nxe4 gxf6 $10) 35... Kg8 36. Qc4+ (36. Qc8+ Kh7 $10 (36... Kf7 37. Qd7+
Kxf6 38. Ng4+ Kg5 39. Qxg7+ Kh4 40. Qe7+ Kg3 41. Qe1+ Kxh3 42. Nf2+ Kg3 $10))
36... Kh7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Vienna Millenium"]
[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "1996.08.16"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A24"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[PlyCount "158"]
[EventDate "1996.08.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O e5 7. d3 h6 8. Rb1 a5
9. a3 Re8 10. b4 axb4 11. axb4 e4 12. Ne1 Bf5 13. Nc2 exd3 14. exd3 Qc8 15. Ne3
Be6 16. Bb2 Nc6 17. Ncd5 Bxd5 18. cxd5 Na7 19. Ra1 Nb5 20. Ra5 b6 21. Rxa8 Qxa8
22. Qc2 Re7 23. d4 Na7 24. Ra1 b5 25. Qc6 Qb8 26. Qa6 Nc8 27. Qa8 Qxa8 28. Rxa8
Re8 29. Bf1 Nb6 30. Rxe8+ Nxe8 31. Bxb5 Nf6 32. Bc6 h5 33. Kf1 Ng4 34. h3 Nxe3+
35. fxe3 f5 36. Ke2 Bh6 37. Kd3 Kf7 38. Bc3 Bg5 39. Be1 Kf6 40. Bf2 Kf7 41. Be1
Ke7 42. e4 fxe4+ 43. Kxe4 Nd7 44. Kd3 Nb6 45. Bb7 Bh6 46. Ke4 Nd7 47. Bc6 Bg5
48. Kf3 Nb6 49. Bc3 h4 50. gxh4 Bxh4 51. Kf4 Kf6 52. Ke4 Bg5 53. Bb5 Bc1 54.
Be1 Ke7 55. Bh4+ g5 56. Be1 Kf6 57. Be2 Kg6 58. Bg4 Kf6 59. Bf3 Kg6 60. Kd3 Bf4
61. Ke4 Bc1 62. Bg4 Kf6 63. Be6 Kg6 64. Kd3 Kf6 65. b5 Bf4 66. Kc3 Be3 67. Kd3
Bc1 68. Kc2 Bf4 69. Kb3 Ke7 70. Kb4 Ke8 71. Kb3 Be3 72. Kc3 Ke7 73. Kd3 Bc1 74.
Ba5 Kf6 75. Ke4 Kg6 76. Kf3 Bb2 77. Kg4 Bc1 78. Bf5+ Kf6 79. Be4 Be3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Vienna Millenium"]
[Site "Vienna"]
[Date "1996.08.17"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[PlyCount "34"]
[EventDate "1996.08.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O h6 9. Be3 Be7 10. f3 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 e5 12. Bf2 Be6 13. Bh4 Qa5 14. Bxf6
Bxf6 15. Kb1 Rc8 16. Nd5 Qxd2 17. Rxd2 Bg5 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Event "Olympiad-32"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "1996.09.19"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Huebner, Robert"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2595"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "1996.09.15"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Germany"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 e6 5. O-O Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Re1 d5 8. cxd5
exd5 9. d4 Na6 10. Bf4 c5 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. Rc1 Nfe4 13. Nb5 Ne6 14. Be5 Qd7
15. Nbd4 Rac8 16. Rxc8 Rxc8 17. Bh3 Bc5 18. a3 a5 19. e3 Re8 20. Bg4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-32"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "1996.09.20"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Ye, Jiangchuan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2540"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Makarichev,S"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "1996.09.15"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "China"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CHN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O h6 9. Be3 Be7 10. f4 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 b5 12. Kb1 Bb7 13. Bd3 O-O 14. e5 dxe5
15. fxe5 Nd7 16. Ne4 Bxe4 17. Bxe4 Rc8 18. c3 $5 (18. Qe2 Qc7 19. h4 $40 {
Cseshkovsky,V-Kiselev,S/Kazan(RUS-tch/1995/}) 18... Qc7 19. Qe2 Rfd8 20. Rhf1
Bc5 21. g4 $1 Nf8 22. g5 $1 hxg5 23. Qh5 Qa7 $1 (23... Qe7 24. Rf3 Bxd4 25.
cxd4 Rc4 26. Rh3 (26. Bh7+ $6 Nxh7 27. Rh3 f5 28. Qxh7+ Kf7 $13) 26... f5 27.
exf6 gxf6 (27... Qxf6 $2 28. Qh8+ Kf7 29. Rf3 $18) 28. Qh8+ Kf7 29. Rf1 Rcxd4 (
29... Ke8 30. Rxf6 $18) 30. Bg6+ $3 Kxg6 (30... Nxg6 31. Rh7#) 31. Rh6+ Kf7 32.
Rhxf6+ Ke8 33. Rxf8+ Kd7 34. Qxd4+) 24. Rd3 $1 g6 (24... Bxd4 $2 25. Rh3 f5 26.
Bxf5 $1 exf5 27. Rxf5 $18) 25. Qxg5 Bxd4 26. Rh3 (26. cxd4 $5 Rxd4 27. Rh3 (27.
Qe3 $2 Rcd8 28. Rfd1 Rxd3 $1) 27... Qd7 (27... Rxe4 28. Qh6 f5 29. Qh8+ Kf7 30.
Rh7+ $18) 28. a3 Rxe4 29. Qh6 f5 30. exf6 $18) 26... Bxe5 27. Qxe5 Nh7 28. Bxg6
fxg6 29. Qxe6+ Kg7 30. Qe5+ Kg8 31. Qe6+ Kg7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-32"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "1996.09.21"]
[Round "6.2"]
[White "Vaganian, Rafael A"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1996.09.15"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Armenia"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ARM"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Bg4 3. Bg2 Nd7 4. O-O e6 5. d3 Bd6 6. c4 Ngf6 7. cxd5 exd5 8.
Nc3 c6 9. h3 Bxf3 10. exf3 O-O 11. f4 Re8 12. g4 Nc5 13. g5 Nfd7 14. f5 d4 15.
Ne4 Nxe4 16. dxe4 Nc5 17. Re1 d3 18. b4 Na6 19. a3 c5 20. f4 c4 21. Bd2 c3 22.
Bxc3 Bxf4 23. g6 hxg6 24. fxg6 fxg6 25. Qb3+ Kh7 26. Rad1 Rc8 27. Rf1 Rf8 28.
Kh1 Nc7 29. Rf3 d2 30. Bxd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-32"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "1996.09.24"]
[Round "8.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Illescas Cordoba, Miguel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1996.09.15"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Spain"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ESP"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qb3 c5 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O Qe7 8. d3
h6 9. a3 Ba5 10. e3 Rd8 11. Qc2 a6 12. d4 d5 13. dxc5 Bxc3 14. Qxc3 Qxc5 15. b3
b5 16. Bb2 bxc4 17. bxc4 Bb7 18. Rfc1 dxc4 19. Nd2 Qf8 20. Nxc4 Rab8 21. Qe1
Nd7 22. a4 Nb4 23. Ba3 Bxg2 24. Kxg2 Nd3 25. Qa5 N7c5 26. Rd1 Qe8 27. Bxc5 Qc6+
28. Kg1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-32"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "1996.09.25"]
[Round "9.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Georgiev, Kiril"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2620"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1996.09.15"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. Qc2 dxc4 6. e4 Nc6 7. e5 Nb4 8. Qb1
Nfd5 9. Bxc4 c5 10. dxc5 Qa5 11. O-O Qxc5 12. Nxd5 Nxd5 13. Qe4 Bd7 14. Bd2 Bb5
15. b3 O-O 16. Rfc1 Rfc8 17. a4 Bxc4 18. bxc4 Nb6 19. Qxb7 Rc7 20. Qe4 Rac8 21.
Be3 Qb4 22. Nd2 Nd5 23. Rcb1 Nc3 24. Rxb4 Nxe4 25. Rb2 Nxd2 26. Rxd2 h5 27. Rc1
Rxc4 28. Rxc4 Rxc4 29. Rd7 Rxa4 30. g3 Bb4 31. Rxa7 Rxa7 32. Bxa7 g5 33. h3 Bc3
34. Bb8 g4 35. hxg4 hxg4 36. f3 gxf3 37. Kf2 Kg7 38. Kxf3 Kg6 39. g4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-32"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "1996.09.26"]
[Round "10.2"]
[White "Nikolic, Predrag"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "1996.09.15"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Bosnia&Herzegovina"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BIH"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Bd3
dxc4 9. Bxc4 g6 10. O-O Bg7 11. Rc1 O-O 12. b4 Qe7 13. Qb3 Rd8 14. a4 a5 15.
bxa5 Rxa5 16. Rfd1 b6 17. Nd2 c5 18. d5 Bxc3 19. Rxc3 Nf6 20. dxe6 Bxe6 21.
Rcc1 Ra7 22. Bxe6 Qxe6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-32"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "1996.09.27"]
[Round "11.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[PlyCount "19"]
[EventDate "1996.09.15"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Ukraine"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "UKR"]

1. Nf3 e6 2. c4 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O
Qe7 9. Rd1 dxc4 10. Bxc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-32"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "1996.09.28"]
[Round "12.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Yudasin, Leonid"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2595"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1996.09.15"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Israel"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ISR"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 e6 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 7. Re1 Ne4 8. d4
Nxc3 9. bxc3 Be4 10. Bh3 Bxf3 11. exf3 cxd4 12. cxd4 Nc6 13. Be3 O-O 14. Rc1
Rc8 15. f4 Na5 16. Qd3 g6 17. Bg2 Qc7 18. c5 d5 19. cxd6 Qxd6 20. Qa6 Qd7 21.
h4 Bf6 22. Bf3 Rfd8 23. h5 Nc6 24. Qa4 Ne7 25. Rxc8 Nxc8 26. Qxd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-32"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "1996.09.30"]
[Round "13.2"]
[White "De Firmian, Nick E"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B57"]
[WhiteElo "2575"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "1996.09.15"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 055"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.12.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "US of America"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "USA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 Qb6 7. Ndb5 a6 8.
Be3 Qa5 9. Nd4 e6 10. O-O Be7 11. Bb3 O-O 12. f4 Bd7 13. f5 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 exf5
15. exf5 Bc6 16. Qd3 Rae8 17. Rad1 Bd8 18. Kh1 Nd7 19. Qg3 Bf6 20. Bd5 Qb4 21.
Bxf6 Nxf6 22. Bxc6 bxc6 23. Rxd6 Nh5 24. Qd3 Qxb2 25. Rxc6 Nf6 26. Qxa6 Ng4 27.
h3 Ne3 28. Nd1 Nxd1 29. Rxd1 Ra8 30. Qe2 Rxa2 31. f6 gxf6 32. Qf3 Ra1 33. c3
Rxd1+ 34. Qxd1 Qf2 35. Rc8 Rxc8 36. Qg4+ Kf8 37. Qxc8+ Ke7 38. Qc7+ Ke6 39. Kh2
Qe3 40. Qc6+ Ke7 41. Qc7+ Ke6 42. Qc6+ Ke7 43. Qf3 Qe5+ 44. g3 Kd6 45. Kg2 Kc5
46. Qd3 Qd5+ 47. Qxd5+ Kxd5 48. Kf3 Kc4 49. Ke4 Kxc3 50. Kf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bundesliga 9697"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2660"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "1996.10.12"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "GER-chT"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Empor Berlin"]
[BlackTeam "Solingen"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 c5 5. cxd5 cxd4 6. Qxd4 Nxd5 7. e4 Nxc3 8.
Qxc3 Nc6 9. Bb5 Bd7 10. O-O Qb6 11. a4 Qc5 12. Qd3 Qd6 13. Qe2 a6 14. e5 Qc7
15. Bd3 Nb4 16. Be4 Bc6 17. Bd2 Bxe4 18. Qxe4 Nd5 19. Rfc1 Qd7 20. Rc4 Be7 21.
Qg4 Kf8 22. Rac1 h5 23. Qd4 Qd8 24. h4 g6 25. Bg5 Kg7 26. Qd2 Bxg5 27. Nxg5 Qe7
28. Qe2 b5 29. axb5 axb5 30. Rc6 b4 31. Qf3 Ra2 32. Rd1 Rha8 33. Rc2 Ra1 34.
Kh2 Rxd1 35. Qxd1 Ra7 36. Rc6 Rc7 37. Ra6 Qc5 38. Qe2 b3 39. Ra8 Qd4 40. Nf3
Qf4+ 41. g3 Rc2 42. gxf4 Rxe2 43. Ra7 Rxf2+ 44. Kg3 Rxb2 45. Ng5 Rc2 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "EU-Cup 12th final"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "1996.11.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Epishin, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2620"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "1996.11.21"]
[EventType "team-k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Osijek Forina-Mursa"]
[BlackTeam "Berlin SV Empor"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CRO"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e3 c5 6. Bxc4 a6 7. O-O b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Qe2 Nbd7 11. e4 Qb8 12. a3 O-O 13. Be3 Bd6 14. Bd4 Ng4 15.
h3 Nge5 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. Rfd1 Rd8 18. Qe3 Nxd3 19. Rxd3 Bf8 20. Rad1 Qc7 21.
Qg5 h6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1996.12.09"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B65"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "1996.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Shamkovich Dolmatov} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6.
Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8. O-O-O Nxd4 9. Qxd4 O-O 10. f4 Qa5 11. Bc4 Bd7 12. Rd3 ({
More popular is 12.e5. For instance:} 12. e5 dxe5 13. fxe5 Bc6 14. Bd2 Nd7 15.
Nd5 Qd8 16. Nxe7+ Qxe7 17. Rhe1 Rfd8 18. Qg4 Nf8 19. Bd3 Rxd3 20. cxd3 Qd7 {
and Black has a sufficient compensation for the exchange, Ljubojevic,L-Leko,P/
It Belgrade 1995}) 12... Rad8 13. e5 {N/} (13. Bxf6 $5 {does not promise much}
Bxf6 14. Qe3 Bc6 15. Bb3 Rc8 {Black is Okay}) 13... dxe5 (13... d5 $2 {Dolmatov
} 14. exf6 Bc5 15. Qe5 $18) 14. Qxe5 Qb4 (14... Qb6 {Dolmatov} 15. Rg3 Kh8 16.
Ne4 $16) 15. Rg3 Kh8 ({Or} 15... Qxc4 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Qxf6 g6 {with
satisfactory position} (17... g6 {Dolmatov} 18. Rd1 Qc7 19. Rgd3 $18)) 16. Bd3
(16. Ne4 $6 {is a blank shot in view of} Qxc4 17. Nxf6 (17. Bxf6 $2 gxf6 18.
Nxf6 Ba4 $1 19. b3 Qd4 $1 {winning for Black}) 17... Qxa2 18. Nxd7 (18. Nd5 f6)
18... Qa1+ 19. Kd2 Rxd7+ {wins}) 16... Bc6 17. Rh3 (17. Bxh7 $2 {Dolmatov} Kxh7
18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Rh3+ Kg8 20. Qh5 Qxf4+ 21. Kb1 Qh6 $19) 17... Rfe8 (17...
Bxg2 $6 {is too risky:} 18. Bxf6 Bxh3 (18... Bxf6 $4 19. Rxh7+ Kg8 20. Rh8+
Kxh8 21. Qh5+ Kg8 22. Qh7#) (18... gxf6 19. Rxh7+ Kg8 20. Rg1 {mating}) 19.
Bxg7+ Kg8 20. Bxf8 {wins}) (17... Qd4 $5 {Dolmatov} 18. Bxf6 gxf6 (18... Bxf6
$4 19. Rxh7+ Kg8 20. Rh8+ Kxh8 21. Qh5+ $18) 19. Rxh7+ (19. Qh5 Qxf4+ 20. Kb1
h6 $10) 19... Kg8 20. Rh8+ Kg7 21. Rh7+ Kg8 22. Qh5 f5 $13) 18. Qe2 (18. a3 $6
Qd4 (18... Qd6 19. Rg1) 19. Qxd4 (19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. Rxh7+ Kg8 21. Qh5 g6 22.
Bxg6 fxg6 23. Qxg6+ Bg7 {means the end of attack}) 19... Rxd4 20. Ne2 Bxg2 21.
Bxf6 Bxf6 22. Rxh7+ Kg8 23. Nxd4 Bxh1 24. Ne2 {and now Black is better}) (18.
Rd1 Qd4 $1 {(or 18...Qd6 )} (18... Bd6 $2 {Dolmatov} 19. Qxf6 gxf6 20. Bxf6+
Kg8 21. Bxh7+ Kf8 22. Be4 $1 Bxf4+ 23. Kb1 Rxd1+ 24. Nxd1 $18) 19. Bxh7 $2 (19.
Qxd4 $5 Rxd4 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Rxh7+ Kg8 22. Rh3 Rxf4 23. Rd2 {is favorable
for Black}) 19... Qxe5 20. Bd3+ Nh7 $3 {(that is the point!)} 21. Rxh7+ (21.
Bxh7 Bxg5 {wins}) 21... Kg8 22. fxe5 Bxg5+ 23. Kb1 Rxd3 {and it is all over
for White. So it is understandable that Anand decides not to take risk.}) 18...
h6 19. Rf1 Kg8 20. Bh4 Nd5 (20... Rd4 $5 {Dolmatov}) (20... Nd5 {Dolmatov} 21.
Nxd5 exd5 22. Bxe7 Rxe7 23. Qd2 Qxd2+ 24. Kxd2 d4 25. Rf2 $10) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1996.12.10"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "160"]
[EventDate "1996.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Dolmatov Shamkovich} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2
e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. b4 a5 (9... Nh5 {Dolmatov} 10. Re1 Nf4 11. Bf1 $14)
10. Ba3 axb4 11. Bxb4 Nd7 (11... b6 12. a4 Ne8 13. Nb5 f5 14. Ng5 $6 Bh6 15.
Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6 fxe4 17. Bd2 Bxd2 18. Qxd2 c6 19. Nc3 Nf6 {Black is better,
D. Gurevich-T. Shaked/1996 U.S. Closed 1996}) 12. a4 Bh6 13. a5 (13. Nd2 f5 14.
Nb3 b6 15. a5 Nc5 16. exf5 gxf5 17. Nb5 Ng6 18. Re1 e4 {with mutual chances,
Sokolov,I-Gelfand,B/Koop Tjuchem, Groningen NED 1996}) 13... f5 14. Nd2 Kh8 15.
Bd3 (15. Bf3 Ra6 $5 16. Re1 b6 17. Nb5 Nc5 18. axb6 cxb6 19. Qc2 {White is
slightly better, Bareev,E-Georgiev,V/32nd Chess Olympiad Yerevan ARM 1996})
15... Rf6 (15... Ng8 {Dolmatov} 16. Na4 Qe7) (15... Nb8 $5 {Dolmatov}) (15...
b6 {Dolmatov} 16. axb6 Rxa1 17. Qxa1 Bxd2 $2 18. bxc7 Qxc7 19. Nb5 $16) 16. Na4
Rf7 17. c5 dxc5 18. Bc3 $1 {The big diagonal is more important than c-pawn. If}
(18. Nxc5 Nxc5 19. Bxc5 fxe4 20. Bxe7 (20. Bxe4 {Dolmatov} Bf5 $5 (20... Nxd5
$6 21. Nc4 c6 22. Nxe5 Rf4 23. Re1 Bg7 $14) 21. Bxf5 Rxf5 $10) 20... Qxe7 21.
Nxe4 {Black is no worse}) 18... fxe4 (18... Bg7 {Dolmatov} 19. Nc4 b5 20. axb6
cxb6 21. Nd6 $16) 19. Bxe4 Nf5 20. Nc4 Bg7 (20... Nd6 $5 {Dolmatov} 21. Nxe5
Nxe5 22. Bxe5+ Bg7 23. Bxg7+ Rxg7 24. Nxc5 b6 25. Ne6 (25. axb6 Rxa1 26. Qxa1
cxb6 27. Ne6 Bxe6 28. dxe6 Nxe4 29. Rd1 Qf8) 25... Bxe6 26. dxe6 Nxe4 27. axb6
cxb6 28. Re1 Nc3 29. Qf3 $40) 21. Bxf5 $1 (21. d6 $5 {Dolmatov} Nd4 22. dxc7
Qxc7 23. Re1 Ra6 $13) 21... Rxf5 22. d6 Rb8 (22... b5 $6 {Dolmatov} 23. dxc7
Qxc7 24. Nab6 Nxb6 25. axb6 Rxa1 26. Qxa1 Qe7 27. Qa7 Rf7 28. Qxe7 Rxe7 29. Rd1
$16) (22... Qh4 {Dolmatov} 23. Qd3 $36) 23. dxc7 (23. Rb1 $6 {Dolmatov} b5 24.
dxc7 Qxc7 25. Nd6 bxa4 26. Nxf5 gxf5 27. Rxb8 Qxb8 28. Qxa4) 23... Qxc7 24. Qd6
Qxd6 25. Nxd6 Rf8 26. Rfd1 {Despite Black is a pawn up, White stays better due
to the numerous weaknesses in Black's position. So Topalov decides to create
counterplay at any cost} (26. Rab1 $5 {Dolmatov} Rf4 27. Nb2 b5 28. axb6 Nxb6
29. Nbc4 Nxc4 30. Rxb8 Nxd6 31. Rd1 Rd4 32. Bxd4 exd4 33. Rc1 $16) 26... b5 $5
27. axb6 (27. Nxc8 $5 {Dolmatov} Rfxc8 28. Rxd7 bxa4 29. f4 $5 (29. Rxg7 Kxg7
30. Bxe5+ Kf7 31. Bxb8 Rxb8 32. Kf1 c4 33. Ke2 Rd8 34. Rxa4 c3 35. Rc4 Rd2+ 36.
Ke3 Ra2 37. Rc7+ Kg8 38. Ra7) 29... Rb3 30. Bxe5 Bxe5 31. fxe5 c4 32. e6 $16)
27... Nxb6 28. Nxc5 Bg4 29. f3 Nd7 $1 30. Na6 $1 Rb3 31. Rac1 Be6 32. Nc7 (32.
Ne4 {Dolmatov} Rb6 33. Nc7 Nf6) 32... Bf7 33. Ne4 Nb8 (33... Nf6 {Dolmatov} 34.
Ng5 (34. Bxe5 $6 Nxe4 35. Bxg7+ Kxg7 36. fxe4 Re3 37. Re1 Rxe1+ 38. Rxe1 Rc8
$14)) 34. Ng5 Nc6 35. Rd7 Be8 (35... Kg8 {Dolmatov} 36. Nce6 Bxe6 37. Nxe6 Rf7
38. Rd6 $16) 36. Rxg7 $6 {It looks like better was} (36. Nxe8 Rxe8 37. Rc7 Nd4
38. Kf2) (36. Rd6 {Dolmatov} Nd4 37. Bxd4 exd4 38. Nge6 Rg8 39. Nxg7 Kxg7 40.
Ne6+ Kh8 41. Rc7) 36... Kxg7 37. Nce6+ Kg8 38. Nxf8 Kxf8 39. Nxh7+ Ke7 {
White has an extra pawn and tries to convert the advantage into a victory, but
this is not an easy task.} 40. Ng5 Bd7 41. Bd2 (41. Kf2 {Dolmatov} Bf5 42. Bd2
Nd4) 41... Rb2 42. Ne4 Nd4 43. Re1 (43. Rc7 {Dolmatov} Rb1+ (43... Ke6 44. h4
$5 (44. Nc5+ $6 Kd6 45. Rxd7+ Kxc5 46. Be3 Kc6 47. Rg7 Rb1+ 48. Kf2 Rb2+ $10))
44. Kf2 Rb2 45. h3 $5) 43... Bc6 44. Bg5+ Ke6 45. Nd2 Nc2 46. Rc1 Nd4 47. Re1
Nc2 48. Rd1 Nd4 49. h4 Ne2+ (49... Kd5 {Dolmatov} 50. Kh2) 50. Kh2 Nd4 51. Kh3
Kd5 52. Re1 Ra2 53. Ne4 Rc2 54. Ra1 Bd7+ 55. Kg3 Bb5 (55... Nf5+ {Dolmatov} 56.
Kh2 Nd4 57. Nf6+ Kd6 58. Ra6+ Bc6 59. Kh3 $14) 56. Ra8 Bf1 57. Rd8+ Ke6 58. Bd2
(58. Nd2 $6 {Dolmatov} Bd3 59. Re8+ Kd5) 58... Bd3 (58... Ke7 {Dolmatov} 59.
Rg8 Kf7) 59. Re8+ Kf7 60. Nd6+ Kg7 61. Re7+ Kf8 62. Bg5 Bf1 {Black's
counterplay is quite sufficient for a draw} 63. Rxe5 Rxg2+ 64. Kf4 Re2 65. Ne4
Bg2 66. Be7+ $2 (66. Bh6+ $1 {Dolmatov Fritz} Kf7 (66... Kg8 67. Re7 $16 (67.
Re8+ Kh7 68. Bf8 Rxe4+ 69. fxe4 $18)) 67. Rd5 $3 Nf5 (67... Ne6+ 68. Kg3 Rxe4 (
68... Nf8 69. Nf2 Bf1 70. Rd1 $18) 69. fxe4 Bxe4 70. Ra5 $18) 68. Rd7+ Ne7 $8
69. Bg5) 66... Kf7 67. Bc5 Ne6+ 68. Kg3 Bf1 69. Bf2 Ng7 70. Kg4 Ne6 71. Rd5 Rc2
72. Rd7+ Ke8 73. Nf6+ Kf8 74. Bg3 (74. Be3 {Dolmatov} Rg2+) 74... Rc4+ 75. Ne4
Ke8 76. Ra7 Bd3 77. Bd6 Bxe4 78. fxe4 Rxe4+ 79. Kf3 Re1 80. Kf2 Re4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1996.12.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E71"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "1996.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Shamkovich} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. h3 {This continuation
is becoming more and more popular} O-O 6. Bg5 Na6 7. Bd3 e5 8. d5 c6 9. Nge2
Nc5 ({Another plan begins with} 9... h6 10. Be3 Bd7 11. Qd2 Kh7 12. O-O Nh5 13.
Ng3 Nf4 14. Bxf4 exf4 15. Qxf4 Be5 {Black has a compensation for sacrificed
pawn, Jovanovic,S-Watanabe,A/FSIM March Budapest HUN 1996}) (9... Qb6 $6 {
unlucky innovation} 10. Na4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qd8 12. Bg5 h6 13. Be3 Nh5 14. Qd2 Kh7
15. Nac3 Nb4 16. Bb1 cxd5 17. cxd5 a5 18. g4 $1 {White has better chances in
the midgame, Avrukh,B-Herraiz Hidalgo,H/XII WYCF b18, Cala Galdana ESP 1996})
10. Bc2 cxd5 11. cxd5 a5 12. O-O Bd7 13. a3 a4 $5 14. Qd2 Qb6 15. Rab1 Rfc8 16.
Ng3 Qd8 ({If} 16... Rc7 17. Be3 {the pin is unpleasant}) 17. Bh6 Bxh6 18. Qxh6
Qf8 19. Qe3 Be8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1996.12.12"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A28"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "Shamkovich,L"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "1996.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 Bxc3+ 8.
bxc3 Ne5 9. f4 (9. e3 Ng6 10. Bg3 Ne4 11. Qc2 Nxg3 12. hxg3 d6 {Game is even,
Shchekachev,A-Overeem,M/Lost Boys Antwerp BEL 1996}) 9... Ng6 (9... Nxc4 10.
Nf5) 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. g3 Nf8 (11... O-O 12. Qd2 d6 13. Bg2 {With mutual
chances, Smirin,I-Adams,M/Prelim Gp 1996}) 12. Bg2 Ne6 13. O-O O-O 14. e4 d6
15. Qd2 Nc5 16. Rae1 Rb8 17. Re3 Bd7 18. Nb3 Nxb3 19. axb3 Bc6 {The play is
equal} 20. Qd4 a6 21. Qxf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1996.12.15"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A65"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1996.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Ftacnik Dolmatov} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nge2 O-O 6. f3 c5
7. d5 e6 8. Ng3 exd5 9. cxd5 Nbd7 10. Be2 a6 11. a4 h5 12. Bg5 (12. O-O {
Ftacnik} h4 (12... Nh7 13. Be3 h4 14. Nh1 f5 15. Qd2 Qf6 16. f4 Re8 17. Nf2
Ndf8 18. e5 dxe5 19. fxe5 Qxe5 20. Bxc5 Nd7 21. Nd3 Qf6 22. Bf2 {Brunner,L-Xie
Jun (03)/Shanghai m/1995/0-1 (53)}) 13. Nh1 Nh5 14. Be3 g5 15. Qd2 Nf4 16. Bxf4
gxf4 17. Qxf4 Ne5 18. Qd2 Ng6 19. f4 Bd4+ 20. Nf2 f5 21. Kh1 Qe7 22. Bd3 Qg7
23. exf5 Bxf5 24. Bxf5 Rxf5 25. Nh3 Raf8 {Hansen,SuB-Mortensen,E/DEN-ch (04)/
1993/1/2-1/2 (49)}) 12... Qe8 (12... Qa5 13. Qd2 Re8 14. O-O c4 15. Be3 Ne5 16.
Nh1 Nfd7 17. f4 Nd3 18. Bxd3 cxd3 19. Nf2 Nc5 20. Bxc5 Qxc5 21. Kh1 Bd7 {
with mutual chances, Antonsen,M-Tseshkovsky,V/Politiken Copenhagen DEN 1996}) (
12... Qc7 {Dolmatov} 13. Qd2 Re8 (13... Nh7 {Ftacnik} 14. Bh6 Qd8 15. Bxg7 Kxg7
16. O-O Rb8 17. Rab1 Qa5 18. Rfd1 Qb4 19. Qc2 c4 20. Na2 Qc5+ 21. Kf1 b5 22.
axb5 axb5 23. b3 h4 24. Nh1 h3 25. bxc4 hxg2+ 26. Kxg2 Ne5 {Akhsharumova,A-Xie
Jun/Malaysia iztW (02)/1990/0-1 (57)}) (13... c4 14. O-O Rb8 15. Bh6 h4 16. Nh1
b5 17. axb5 axb5 18. Nf2 b4 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Na4 Nc5 21. Nxc5 Qxc5 {1/2-1/2
Christiansen,L-Fedorowicz,J/San Francisco (11)/1991/}) 14. O-O c4 15. Rab1 Rb8
16. Rfc1 b5 17. axb5 axb5 18. b4 $13) (12... Qb6 $5 {Dolmatov} 13. Qd2 Nh7 14.
a5 Qc7 $132) 13. Qd2 Nh7 (13... Rb8 $5 {Dolmatov} 14. Bh6 Ne5 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16.
f4 Neg4 17. h3 h4 (17... Nh6 18. Bf3 h4 19. Nge2 $16) 18. hxg4 hxg3 19. f5 Rh8
20. O-O-O $40) 14. Bh6 (14. Be3 {Ftacnik} f5 $36) 14... Qe5 (14... Bd4 {
Dolmatov} 15. Bxf8 Qxf8 16. Bd3 Qg7 17. Nge2 $16) (14... f5 {Ftacnik} 15. Bxg7
Kxg7 16. exf5 gxf5 17. O-O $14) 15. Bxg7 Qxg7 16. Nf1 (16. O-O h4 17. Nh1 Qd4+
(17... f5 {Ftacnik} 18. Nf2 b6 $10) 18. Qxd4 cxd4 19. Nb1 a5 (19... f5 20. Nf2
Nhf6 21. Rd1 $14) 20. Rd1 Nc5 {Black is better, Disconzi da Silva,R-Leitao,R/
ch-BRA, Americana 1996}) 16... f5 (16... Qd4 {Dolmatov} 17. Ne3 (17. Qxd4 cxd4
18. Nb1 Nc5 $132) 17... Qxd2+ 18. Kxd2 $16) (16... Rb8 {Dolmatov} 17. Ne3) 17.
exf5 gxf5 18. Ne3 Kh8 (18... Ne5 {Dolmatov} 19. f4 (19. O-O $2 f4 $132) 19...
Ng4 20. Nc4 Qc7 21. h3 Ngf6 22. a5 Bd7 23. O-O Rae8 24. Qd1 $16) (18... Rb8 $5
{Dolmatov} 19. O-O $6 (19. Nc4 Ne5 20. Nxe5 Qxe5 21. O-O) 19... Qd4 20. Rad1 f4
) (18... f4 $2 {Ftacnik} 19. Nc4 Qxg2 20. O-O-O $16) 19. Nc4 Qf6 (19... Qxg2 {
Dolmatov} 20. O-O-O Qg6 21. Qf4 $1 (21. Rhg1 Qf6 22. Qf4 (22. f4 b5 23. axb5 h4
$132) 22... Ne5) (21. Qf4 $1 {Ftacnik} Rf6 22. Rhg1 Qh6 23. Qxh6 Rxh6 24. Bd3
$14)) 20. O-O Rb8 (20... Ne5 {Dolmatov} 21. Nb6 (21. Nxe5 Qxe5 22. Rad1 Rg8 $13
) 21... Rb8 22. f4 Ng4 23. h3 (23. Bxg4 {Ftacnik} hxg4 24. Rae1 $14) 23... Qd4+
24. Qxd4+ cxd4 25. hxg4 dxc3 26. g5 cxb2 27. Rab1 $18) (20... Qd4+ $6 {Ftacnik}
21. Qxd4+ cxd4 22. Na2 $16) 21. Rfe1 b5 22. axb5 axb5 23. Na5 {Ftacnik: Black
has not only enough weak pawns b5,d6,f5,h5, but squares c6,e6 and f4 seem
ideal for white's penetration. Ftacnik: Schwarz leidet nicht nur an vielen
schwachen Bauern b5,d6,f5 und h5, auch die Felder c6,e6 und f4 sind ideal für
weiße Einbrüche.} b4 (23... c4 {Dolmatov} 24. Nc6 Rb6 25. b4 $16 (25. Ra5 $16 {
Ftacnik})) 24. Nb5 Ba6 (24... Rg8 {Ftacnik} 25. Nc6 (25. Na7 Ne5 26. N5c6 Qg7
27. g3 Ng5 $132) 25... Rb6 26. f4 $16) 25. Nc7 {is good for Black} Bxe2 26.
Rxe2 Rg8 (26... Ng5 {Ftacnik} 27. Nc6 Ne5 28. Nxe5 dxe5 29. Qe3 e4 30. Ra6 (30.
f4 Nf3+ 31. gxf3 Qg7+ 32. Rg2 Qxc7 33. Ra6 Rb6 34. Rxb6 Qxb6 35. Rg5 Rg8 36.
fxe4 Rxg5+ 37. fxg5 fxe4 38. Qxe4 $18) 30... Rb6 31. Rxb6 Qxb6 32. Qxg5 Qxc7
33. Qxh5+ Qh7 34. Qxh7+ Kxh7 35. fxe4 $18) 27. Nc6 Rbc8 (27... Ng5 {Ftacnik}
28. Kh1 Rbc8 29. Ne6 Ra8 30. Rae1 Ra2 31. Nf4 $16) 28. Ne6 Ra8 (28... Rg6 {
Dolmatov} 29. Ra7 $18) (28... Ng5 {Ftacnik} 29. Nxg5 Qxg5 30. Qxg5 Rxg5 31. Re6
$18) 29. Rae1 Ra2 30. Nf4 Qg5 (30... Ng5 {Ftacnik} 31. Kh1 Qh6 32. Ne7 $18) 31.
h4 (31. Ne7 $2 {Dolmatov} Ne5) 31... Qg3 (31... Qxh4 {Dolmatov} 32. Ne7 Qg5 33.
Nxg8 $18 (33. Nxg8 {Ftacnik} Ne5 34. Rxe5 dxe5 35. Rxe5 $16)) 32. Re6 (32. Nxh5
Qxh4 33. Nf4 Ng5 $1 {White manoeuvres into a promising position}) 32... Ndf6 (
32... Ndf8 {deserves attention} 33. Nd8 $5 {Here 'wild' complications begin:} (
33. Nxh5 Qxh4 34. Rh6 Ng6 $6) (33. Rxd6 Rg7 (33... Qxh4 34. Ne7 Rg5 35. Qe3 {
White is winning}) 34. Rd8 Qxh4 35. Ne6 Rg8 {with very complex play}) 33... Ng5
(33... Nxe6 {Ftacnik} 34. Nf7+ Kg7 35. Nxh5+ $18) 34. hxg5 Nxe6 35. Nf7+ (35.
Nfxe6 Kh7) 35... Kh7 $5 36. g6+ (36. Nxe6 {in White's favor} Rxb2 37. Qxb2
Qxe1+ 38. Kh2 c4 39. Qd4 {and White should win} (39. Nf4 Qh4+ (39... c3 40. Qc2
Qh4+ 41. Nh3 $1) 40. Nh3 c3 41. Qc2 Rg6 42. Qxf5 Qe1 43. Nxd6 {draw}) 39... h4
$6 40. Nxd6 Qg3+ 41. Kh1 h3 42. Qa7+ Kh8 43. Qd4+ Kh7 44. Qa7+) (36. dxe6 {
and Black has better chances} Rxb2 37. Nxh5 (37. Qxb2 {draw} Qxe1+ 38. Kh2 Qh4+
39. Nh3 d5) 37... Rxd2 38. Nxg3 b3 {draw}) 36... Rxg6 37. Nxg6 (37. dxe6 {wins}
Rxb2 38. Nxh5 Qxg2+ 39. Qxg2 Rbxg2+ (39... Rgxg2+ 40. Kh1 Rh2+ 41. Kg1 Rbg2+
42. Kf1) 40. Kh1 Rf2 41. e7 Rxf3 42. Nf6+ Kg7 43. Nh5+ Kh7 44. Nf6+) 37... Ng5
38. Nxg5+ Kxg6 39. Ne6 Rxb2 40. Nf4+ Kf7 41. Qe3 {and Black is winning}) (32...
Qxf3 $2 {Ftacnik} 33. Ng6+ Rxg6 34. Rxg6 $18) 33. Ne7 ({alternative is} 33.
Rxd6 Qxh4 34. Ne7 (34. Ne5 Nf8 35. Ne6 Kh7 36. Nf7 f4 {and Black can hold})
34... Nf8 35. Nfg6+ Nxg6 36. Rxf6 {wins}) 33... Rga8 $4 {a blunder in a bad
position} (33... Rg7) (33... c4 {Ftacnik} 34. Nxf5 Qxf3 35. Qd4 $18) 34. Nfg6+
{34... Kg7 35. Nxf5+ wins} (34. Nfg6+ {Ftacnik} Kg7 35. Nxf5+ $18) 1-0

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

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

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1996.12.17"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1996.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Dolmatov} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3
c6 8. d5 Ng4 9. Bg5 f6 ({Black should not grab the b-pawn at cost of
development:} 9... Qb6 $6 10. O-O Qxb2 11. Bd2 {with the following 12.Rb1}) 10.
Bh4 c5 11. O-O Nh6 12. Ne1 Nd7 13. Rb1 (13. Nd3 {Dolmatov} g5 14. Bg3 f5 15.
exf5 Nf6 16. Qd2 g4 17. Bh4 Bxf5 $132 {Ioseliani,N-Dolmatov,S/Moscow/1993/})
13... b6 14. a3 g5 (14... Nf7 {Dolmatov} 15. Bg4 h5 16. Be6 g5 17. Qxh5 gxh4
18. f4 $40) (14... Qe7 $5 {Dolmatov} 15. Nb5 Nb8 16. b4 a6 17. Nc3 Nd7 18. bxc5
bxc5 19. Qa4 g5 20. Bg3 f5 21. exf5 Nf6 $132) 15. Bg3 f5 $6 {Black has no
choice but to push the f-pawn, otherwise he has no counterplay. The
disadvantage of this continuation is that the white squares are becoming weak}
16. exf5 Nxf5 (16... Nf6 $142 {Dolmatov} 17. Nf3 Nh5 18. Ne4 Rxf5 19. Nxe5 (19.
Nfd2 Nf4) 19... Nxg3 20. Nc6 Nxe2+) 17. Ne4 h6 18. Nc2 Nf6 19. Bd3 Qe8 (19...
Nxe4 {Dolmatov} 20. Bxe4 g4 21. Qxg4 Ne3 22. Qg6 Nxf1 23. Qh7+ Kf7 24. Rxf1 Rh8
25. Qg6+ Kg8 26. Ne3 $40) (19... Bd7 {Dolmatov} 20. Ne3 Nxe4 21. Bxe4 Nxg3 22.
fxg3 $16) 20. Ne3 Nxe4 21. Bxe4 h5 (21... Nxg3 22. hxg3 a6 23. b4 cxb4 24. axb4
{White is definitely better}) (21... Nxe3 22. fxe3 Rxf1+ 23. Qxf1 {is in
White's favor}) 22. Qd3 (22. Nxf5 {Dolmatov} Bxf5 23. Bxf5 Rxf5 24. f3 Qg6 $10)
22... Qf7 23. f3 (23. h3 {Dolmatov} Nxe3 24. fxe3 $18) 23... Nxe3 24. Qxe3 Bh6
25. Be1 Qg7 26. Bd2 $1 Rf6 27. Qd3 g4 (27... Bd7 $2 {Dolmatov} 28. b4 $16) (
27... a5 {Dolmatov} 28. h3 Ra7 29. g4 $16) 28. Bxh6 Qxh6 29. fxg4 Bxg4 30. Rxf6
Qxf6 31. Rf1 Qg7 32. h3 Bd7 33. Qf3 $1 {The King side is a White's possession}
Be8 (33... h4 {Dolmatov} 34. Qf6 $18) 34. Qf5 Qf7 35. Qg5+ Qg7 36. Qh4 Qh6 $2 (
36... b5 {allowed Black to stay in the game just a little bit longer, for
example:} 37. Rf6 (37. cxb5 Rb8 38. a4 a6 39. bxa6 Rxb2 {with some counterplay}
) 37... Rb8 38. Rxd6 bxc4 39. Rd8 Rxd8 40. Qxd8 Qd7 41. Qb8 {and White is
winning}) 37. Rf6 (37. Qe7 $18 {Dolmatov} Qg7 38. Rf8+ Qxf8 39. Qh7#) 37...
Qe3+ 38. Kh2 Kg7 39. Rf3 1-0

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1996.12.19"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D56"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "1996.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Dolmatov} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4
Ne4 8. Bxe7 Qxe7 9. Rc1 c6 10. Bd3 Nxc3 11. Rxc3 dxc4 (11... Nd7 {Dolmatov} 12.
cxd5 exd5 13. O-O Re8 14. Qb1 Nf6 15. b4 Ne4 16. Bxe4 dxe4 17. Nd2 Be6 $14 {
Nikolic,P-Yusupov,A/Horgen/1994/}) 12. Bxc4 Nd7 13. O-O b6 14. Bd3 (14. Qe2 a5
$6 (14... Bb7 15. Rd1 Rfd8 16. Ba6 Bxa6 17. Qxa6 c5 {equalizing, Benjamin,
J-Yusupov,A/Horgen CS 1994}) 15. Rfc1 Bb7 16. h3 c5 17. Bb5 e5 18. dxe5 Nxe5
19. Nxe5 Qxe5 20. Rd1 {White is better, Epishin,V-Vaganian,R/It, Reggio Emilia
1995}) 14... c5 15. Be4 (15. Bb5 {Dolmatov} Rd8 (15... cxd4 16. Nxd4 Nc5 17.
Bc6 Bb7 18. Qf3 Bxc6 19. Nxc6 Qb7 20. Ne5 Qxf3 21. gxf3 f6 22. Nc6 {1-0
Polugaevsky,L-Andersson,U/Reggio Top16 1991/CBM 22 (50) [Ftacnik]}) 16. Bc6 Rb8
17. Qc2 cxd4 18. Nxd4 e5 19. Nf5 Qf6 20. Rd1 Nc5 $10 {Smyslov,V-Kasparov,G/
Vilnius/1984/}) 15... Rb8 (15... Ba6 $2 {Dolmatov} 16. Bxa8 Bxf1 17. Bc6 Ba6
18. Qa4 Nb8 19. dxc5 bxc5 20. h3 $14) 16. Qa4 (16. Qc2 $5 {Dolmatov} Ba6 (16...
a5 17. Rc1 Bb7 18. Bxb7 Rxb7 19. dxc5 Nxc5 20. Ne5 Qf6 21. Nd3 Rd8 22. Nxc5
bxc5 23. Qe2 Rbd7 24. R3c2 a4 (24... c4 25. g3 e5 26. Kg2 e4 {1/2-1/2
Khalifman,A-Jussupow,A/BL9293 1993/BL 90 (35)}) 25. g3 Rd5 26. Kg2 g6 27. a3 h5
28. Qf3 Qe5 29. Qf4 Qxf4 30. gxf4 Rb8 31. Rxc5 Rxc5 32. Rxc5 Rxb2 33. Rc4 {
1-0 Karpov,A-Jussupow,A/Baden-Baden Hofmann Cup 1995/EXT 95 (51)}) 17. Rd1 Nf6
18. dxc5 Nxe4 19. Qxe4 bxc5 20. b3 $14) 16... Bb7 (16... Nf6 {Dolmatov} 17. Bc6
Nd5 18. Bxd5 exd5 19. dxc5 bxc5 20. Qa3 Be6 21. Rfc1 Rfc8 22. b3 $16) 17. Bxb7
Rxb7 18. Qc2 $1 (18. Qc6 $5 Nb8 19. Qe4 Rc7 20. Rfc1 Rfc8 21. Qf4 c4 {game is
even}) (18. Rd1 {Anand-Kramnik/TV-GER/1996}) 18... Rc8 (18... cxd4 $6 {Dolmatov
} 19. Nxd4) (18... a5 $5 {Dolmatov} 19. Rd1 cxd4 20. Nxd4 Nc5 21. Nc6 Qf6 22.
b3 $14) 19. Rc1 Rbc7 20. b4 e5 (20... c4 {Dolmatov} 21. b5 a6 22. Rb1 $16) 21.
dxc5 $2 (21. bxc5 $142 $1 {Dolmatov} exd4 22. exd4 bxc5 23. Rc4 Nb8 24. Rxc5
Rxc5 25. dxc5 Nc6 (25... Na6 26. c6 Nb4 27. Qa4 Nd3 28. Qa6 $18) 26. h3 $18)
21... bxc5 22. Rc4 (22. h3 {Dolmatov} c4 23. a3 Nb6) 22... e4 $5 23. Qxe4 (23.
Rxe4 cxb4 $1) (23. Nd2 $2 Ne5 24. Rxc5 (24. Rxe4 {Dolmatov} cxb4) 24... Rxc5
25. bxc5 Nd3 {is good for Black}) 23... Qxe4 24. Rxe4 cxb4 25. Re8+ Rxe8 26.
Rxc7 Ne5 {It is important to trade the Knights; Rook ending is drawish} 27.
Nxe5 (27. Rxa7 {Dolmatov} Rc8 $10) (27. Nd4 {Dolmatov} a5 28. Ra7 Rc8 $132)
27... Rxe5 28. Rxa7 h5 29. h3 Rb5 30. g4 hxg4 31. hxg4 g6 32. Kg2 b3 33. axb3
Rxb3 {Now White has just theoretical chances to win the game} 34. g5 Kg7 35.
Kg3 Rc3 36. Re7 Ra3 37. Rd7 Kf8 38. Rc7 Kg7 39. Rc8 Kh7 40. Rc7 Kg7 41. Re7 Kf8
42. Re5 Kg7 43. f4 Rd3 44. Kf3 Rd2 45. Ke4 Rd1 46. Rd5 Re1 47. Rd3 Kf8 48. Ke5
Kg7 49. e4 Re2 50. Rd7 Re1 51. Rc7 Re2 52. Ra7 Re1 53. Ra4 Re2 54. Kd6 Rd2+ 55.
Ke7 Rf2 56. e5 Rf1 57. Ra6 Rxf4 58. e6 (58. Rf6 $2 {Dolmatov} Rf5 59. e6 fxe6
60. Kxe6 Rxg5 61. Rf7+ Kh6 62. Rf1 Ra5 63. Kf6 $10) 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1996.12.21"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1996.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Shamkovich Karpov Dolmatov} d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7
6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O e5 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. e4 exd4 ({Shamkovich: It is
interesting that Kramnik played this position against Karpov few months
earlier Karpov,A-Kramnik,V/Vienna Millenium/1996 and chose..} 10... dxe4 11.
Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Bxe4 h6 13. Be3 exd4 14. Bh7+ Kh8 15. Bxd4 Nf6 16. Bf5 Bxf5 17.
Qxf5 Qc8 18. Qb5 a6 19. Qb6 Qc7 20. Qxc7 Bxc7 21. Bxf6 gxf6 {White has a
better endgame}) 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 h6 13. Nxd4 Qh4 (13... Bxh2+ {is risky
in view of} 14. Kxh2 Qh4+ 15. Kg1 Qxd4 16. Be3 Qxd5 17. Bh7+ Kh8 18. Be4 {
with initiative}) 14. Nf3 Qh5 15. Bh7+ (15. Qc4 {Dolmatov} Nc5 16. Bc2 g5 17.
b4 Na6 18. Qd3 {Orr,M-Kaidanov,G/Dublin/1991/}) 15... Kh8 16. Qf5 {[#]} g5 $5 {
/\ 17...Kg7 Shamkovich: The original lunge. Kramnik chooses to avoid
simplifications, but he doesn't create serious threats. Jeroen Piket in the
game against Ivan Sokolov (Sokolov,I-Piket,J/It Nussloch/1996) continued with .
..} (16... Qxf5 {and after} 17. Bxf5 Nf6 18. Bc2 Bg4 19. Bb3 Bxf3 20. gxf3 Nh5
21. Be3 Nf4 22. Rfd1 {White got an advantage}) (16... Nf6 {Dolmatov} 17. Qxh5
Nxh5 18. Bc2 Nf6 19. Rd1) 17. h4 $5 {/\ 18.g4} ({Karpov could react carefully} 
17. Be3 Ne5 (17... Nb6 $4 18. Bd4+ {wins}) (17... Kg7 {Dolmatov} 18. Bd4+ f6
$13) 18. Qf6+ Kxh7 19. Nxe5 Bxe5 20. Qxe5 {but decided to punish the opponent
immediately}) (17. b3 $5 {Karpov}) (17. Bd2 $5 {Karpov}) 17... Nb6 (17... Ne5
$6 {is dubious} 18. Qf6+ Kxh7 19. Nxe5 (19. Qxd6 $2 Nxf3+ 20. gxf3 Qxf3 {
and now} 21. Qxf8 {is impossible because of} Bh3 {and Black is winning}) 19...
Bxe5 20. Qxe5 Qxh4 21. f4 {with attack}) 18. Qf6+ Kxh7 19. Qxd6 Bg4 20. Nh2 {
interesting play could have occured after} (20. Ne5 Rad8 21. Qb4 Bf5 22. hxg5 {
with unclear position}) (20. hxg5 {Dolmatov} Bxf3 21. gxf3 hxg5 (21... Rad8
$132 {Kramnik}) 22. Kg2 g4 $10) 20... Rad8 (20... Qxh4 {Dolmatov} 21. Qb4 Bh5
22. Qxh4 gxh4 $10) (20... gxh4 $2 {Dolmatov} 21. Nxg4 Qxg4 22. Qxh6+) 21. Qb4
Bf5 22. hxg5 (22. g4 $2 {does not work} Qxh4) 22... Nxd5 (22... hxg5 {Karpov}
23. g4) 23. Qxb7 (23. Qd2 {Karpov} Rg8 24. gxh6 $140 $2 Bh3) 23... hxg5 24. Qb3
$1 {with the idea 24... Rd6 25.Qg3 Rh6 26.f3 Rg8 27.Ng4, refuting the attack.}
({Karpov realized that taking the second pawn is dangerous. It looks like
there is no time for this:} 24. Qxa7 Rd6 $1 {with the following Rh6 gives
Black a dangerous attack. Yet White has a defense:} (24... Rh8 {Karpov} 25. Qa3
Kg6 26. Qg3 Nf6 $36) 25. Nf3 Rh6 26. Nxg5+ Kg8 27. f3 $1 ({of course not} 27.
Nh3 Bxh3 28. Bxh6 Qg4 {wins}) 27... Qh2+ 28. Kf2 Qh4+ 29. Kg1 Qh2+ {draw by
perpetual check}) 24... Rh8 {Kramnik finds another way to continue the attack}
(24... Kg6 {Dolmatov} 25. Qf3 Qh6 26. Qg3 Rh8 27. Bd2 Nf6 $132) 25. Qf3 ({
This is better than} 25. Qg3 Kg6 26. Be3 Nxe3 27. fxe3 Rd2) 25... g4 26. Qg3
Nf6 {Threatening 27... Ne4. Black mobilized all his forces for the final lunge,
so White must find the way to rescue his King} 27. f3 Rd3 {[#] The critical
position of the fierce skirmish /\ 28...Ne4 29.Qf4 g3-+} 28. Nxg4 {At first
glance, White could have continued with 28.fxg4, which seems more promising.
Yet Black has enough resources to maintain the initiative} (28. fxg4 Rxg3 29.
gxh5 Be4 $1 30. Rxf6 Rxg2+ 31. Kf1 Rxh2 32. h6 (32. Rxf7+ $6 Kg8 33. Rxa7 $2 (
33. Rf4 {Right is} Bd3+ 34. Kg1 R8xh5 35. Rg4+ Kf7 36. Rg2 R2h3 {Black has a
full compensation for a pawn}) 33... R8xh5 34. Re7 Rf5+ 35. Ke1 Bd3 {wins}) (
32. Be3 Rh1+ 33. Bg1 Kg7 34. Rf4 f5 35. Ke2 R8xh5 36. Bd4+ Kg6 37. Rxh1 Rxh1
38. Bxa7 Rh2+ 39. Rf2 Rxf2+ 40. Bxf2 f4 {looks drawish}) (32. Rh6+ Kg7 33. Rxh8
Rh1+ 34. Kf2 Kxh8 35. b3 Rxh5 36. Bb2+ Kh7 {game is even}) 32... Bd5 {and
Black is no worse}) 28... Bxg4 (28... Nxg4 {Karpov} 29. fxg4 Rxg3 30. gxh5 Be4
31. Rxf7+ Kg8 32. Rf2 Rxh5 33. Bf4 $16) 29. fxg4 Qg6 {?? Kramnik} (29... Qc5+
$1 {Dolmatov} 30. Be3 (30. Qf2 Qxf2+ 31. Kxf2 (31. Rxf2 Nxg4 32. Rxf7+ $2 (32.
Rf1 $10) (32. Rf1 Kg6 {/\ Rd3-d5-h5}) 32... Kg6 33. Rf1 (33. Rf3 Rd1+ 34. Rf1
Rh1+ 35. Kxh1 Rxf1#) 33... Rd7 34. g3 Rdh7 35. Bf4 Rh1+ 36. Kg2 R8h2+ 37. Kf3
Rxf1+ (37... Kf5 $1 $19) 38. Rxf1 Kf5 $19 39. Bd6 Rc2) 31... Re8 $44) 30...
Rxe3 31. Qf2 Nxg4 32. Qxf7+ Kh6) 30. Qc7 (30. Be3 $1 {Dolmatov} Nxg4 31. Rxf7+
Qxf7 32. Qh4+ $18 (32. Qh4+ {Karpov} Kg7 (32... Nh6 $145 $1 33. Qxh6+ Kg8 34.
Qg5+ Qg7 35. Qxg7+ Kxg7 36. Bxa7 Rc8 $1 $13) 33. Qxg4+ Qg6 34. Bd4+ $18)) 30...
Kg8 (30... Nxg4 $1 {Dolmatov} 31. Rxf7+ (31. Qxf7+ $4 Qxf7 32. Rxf7+ Kg6 33.
Rf1 Rd5 $1 34. Bf4 Rdh5 35. g3 Rh1+ $1 36. Kg2 R8h2+ 37. Kf3 Kf5 $1 $19) 31...
Kg8 32. Rf1 Rh2 $10 (32... Qh5 {Karpov} 33. Qb8+ Kg7 34. Qxa7+ Kg8 35. Qb8+ Kg7
$10)) 31. Bf4 (31. g5 $5 {Karpov}) 31... Rh4 {[#]} (31... Qh7 32. Qc8+ Kg7 33.
Qf5 Qh1+ 34. Kf2 Qh4+ 35. Kg1 (35. Ke2 Rd5 $1 36. Qc2 Qxg4+ {wins}) 35... Qh1+
{draw}) (31... Nxg4 {Karpov} 32. Rae1 $18) 32. Bg3 (32. Qc8+ {Karpov} Kh7 33.
Be5 $6 (33. Qf5) 33... Rxg4 34. Rxf6 Rxg2+ 35. Kh1 $5 Rg1+ $1 (35... Qe4 36.
Qh8+ $1 Kxh8 37. Rh6+ Kg8 38. Rh8#) 36. Rxg1 Qe4+ 37. Rf3 $1 Qxf3+ 38. Rg2 Qd1+
{= Fritz}) (32. Be5 {Karpov} Rxg4 33. Rf2 $18) (32. Rae1 {Karpov} Rxg4 33. Rf2
$18) (32. g5 $18 {Karpov}) 32... Rxg3 {Black must sacrifice the exchange.} ({If
} 32... Rxg4 33. Rxf6 $1 Qxf6 34. Qc8+ {with the winning fork}) 33. Qxg3 (33.
Qb8+ $142 $5 {Dolmatov} Kg7 (33... Kh7 34. Qxg3 Qh6 35. Qd3+ Kg7 36. g5 Rh1+
37. Kf2 $18) 34. Qxg3 Qh6 35. g5 Rh1+ 36. Kf2 Ne4+ 37. Kf3 $18) 33... Qh6 $1 {
The attack is in progress. The threat is 34... Rh1+ 35.Kf2 Ne4+} 34. Qf3 $1 {
It looks like this is the only move} (34. Rf4 {Karpov} Nd5 $1) (34. g5 {
Dolmatov} Rh1+ 35. Kf2 Ne4+ 36. Kf3 (36. Ke3 {Karpov} Nxg3 37. gxh6 Rxf1 38.
Rxf1 Nxf1+) 36... Nxg3 37. gxh6 Rxf1+ 38. Rxf1 Nxf1 39. b4 Kh7 40. Ke4 Kxh6 41.
a4 Kg5 42. b5 {Can Black win?}) 34... Rh1+ 35. Kf2 Qd2+ 36. Kg3 Qd6+ 37. Kf2 (
37. Qf4 Ne4+ 38. Kf3 Nd2+ 39. Kg3 Ne4+ {draw}) 37... Qd2+ 38. Kg3 Qd6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 14th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1997.02.04"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "29"]
[EventDate "1997.02.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 a6 5. a4 e6 6. g3 dxc4 7. Bg2 c5 8. O-O
cxd4 9. Nxd4 Nbd7 10. Nc2 Qc7 11. Qd4 Bc5 12. Qh4 Be7 13. Na3 Ne5 14. Bf4 h6
15. Bxe5 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Linares 14th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1997.02.06"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nikolic, Predrag"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1997.02.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 b6 7. b4 a5 8. Bb2
axb4 9. axb4 Rxa1+ 10. Bxa1 c5 11. e3 Qe7 12. b5 Bb7 13. Be2 d6 14. O-O Nbd7
15. Bb2 Ra8 16. d3 Qf8 17. Nd2 Ra2 18. f4 Qa8 19. g4 Qa5 20. Qxa5 Rxa5 21. Ra1
Rxa1+ 22. Bxa1 h6 23. h4 Ne8 24. Kf2 Kf8 25. g5 hxg5 26. hxg5 f6 27. Bh5 d5 28.
cxd5 exd5 29. Nf3 Nd6 30. Nh4 Ke7 31. Bg4 Nf8 32. Nf5+ Nxf5 33. Bxf5 Ne6 34.
gxf6+ gxf6 35. d4 c4 36. Bxe6 Kxe6 37. Bc3 Bc8 38. Bb4 Bd7 39. Ke2 Bxb5 40. Kd2
Be8 41. Bc3 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Linares 14th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1997.02.09"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E91"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "1997.02.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. d4 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 Bg4 6. Be2 O-O 7. Be3 Nfd7 8. Ng1
Bxe2 9. Ngxe2 c5 10. O-O a6 11. b3 cxd4 12. Bxd4 Nf6 13. Nd5 Nxe4 14. Bxg7 Kxg7
15. Qd4+ Nf6 16. Nxf6 exf6 17. Rad1 Re8 18. Nf4 Nc6 19. Qd2 Qd7 20. Qxd6 Qxd6
21. Rxd6 Rad8 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Linares 14th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1997.02.13"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Shirov,A"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1997.02.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Petursson} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7.
Qd2 a6 8. O-O-O h6 9. Be3 Be7 10. f4 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 b5 12. Kb1 Bb7 13. Bd3 O-O
14. e5 dxe5 15. fxe5 Nd7 16. Ne4 Bxe4 17. Bxe4 {So far nothing new. This
position had already occured in the game Ye Jiangchuan-Kramnik in the last
Olympiad. It was clear however that Kramnik would improve somewhere since he's
decided to repeat the line. The only question is where? Now comes the answer.}
Rb8 $3 {This is a lot stronger than} (17... Rc8 {which let White smoothly
organize a strongest attack in the above-mentioned game. Now Black intends to
comfortably complete his development and try to change bishops. If White plays
c3 one day, Black will get excellent chances by playing b4. I was figuring it
out for about an hour and realized that to go for his exchange is probably the
best way.} 18. Qe2 {Petursson} Qc7 19. c3 (19. h4 Nc5 20. Bxc5 Bxc5 21. g4 g6
22. h5 g5 23. Bd3 Qc6 24. Rhf1 Rfd8 25. c3 Bf8 26. Bc2 Qc4 27. Bd3 Qc6 28. Bc2
Qc4 {1/2-1/2 Tseshkovsky,V-Kiselev,S/RUS-chT Kazan 1995/CBM 51}) 19... Rfd8 20.
Rhf1 (20. h4 Bc5 21. g4 g6 22. h5 g5 23. Rhf1 Nf8 24. a3 Qa7 25. Qf2 Bxd4 26.
cxd4 Qe7 {1/2-1/2 Peng Xiaomin-Thorhallsson,T/Erevan olm 1996/EXT 96ch2 (48)})
20... Bc5 21. g4 Nf8 22. g5 hxg5 23. Qh5 Qa7 {1/2-1/2 Ye Jiangchuan-Kramnik,V/
Erevan olm 1996/CBM 55 (31)}) 18. Ba7 {However it was also clear that Black
would achieve an excellent compensation and also that Kramnik was familiar
with the position. Fortunately I already had something in mind myself.} (18. c3
{Petursson} b4) 18... Nxe5 19. Qc3 $1 (19. Qf4 Bd6 {would be even less
attractive.}) 19... Bd6 20. Qd4 $1 (20. Bxb8 Qxb8 {again would give Black an
easy game meanwhile for White it's not so easy to prevent threats like ...Nc4
and ...Be5}) 20... Bc7 (20... Nc4 $5 {Petursson} 21. Bd3 Qc7 22. Bxc4 Be5 23.
Bxb8 (23. Qc5 $2 Qxc5 24. Bxc5 bxc4 $17) 23... Rxb8 24. Qd7 Qxc4 $44 {/\ Rc8})
21. Qc5 $1 Qc8 22. Rhe1 $1 {This was my idea. I am trying to place my pieces
as well as possible before taking the exchange.} Nc4 (22... Rb7 {I was
planning to answer with} 23. Qg1 $1 {and take the exchange then.}) 23. Bxb8 {
Now there was already no choice as my early intention} (23. b3 $2 {would just
fail to} Bb6) 23... Qxb8 24. g3 {I wanted to defend my kingside pawns as I
thought that I was still fighting for advantage. After} (24. Bd3 {Black would
have two ways to equality i.e.} Rc8 (24... Bd6 25. Qd4 Be5 26. Qe4 f5 27. Qc6
Nxb2 28. Qxe6+ Kh8 29. Qxe5 Qxe5 30. Rxe5 Nxd1 31. Bxf5 Ne3 $11 {is sufficient
too}) 25. Bxc4 (25. Qh5 Bxh2 26. Bxc4 bxc4 27. Rd7 Qf4 $15) 25... Ba5 26. Qh5
Bxe1 27. Bxe6 fxe6 28. Rxe1 Qd6 $11) 24... Be5 25. c3 Rc8 26. Qe7 b4 $1 {
This leads to the draw by force and I must admit that I overlooked the final
combination in my earlier calculations. I mostly expected} (26... Nxb2 $5 {
after which I would have to make a choice between} 27. Kxb2 (27. Rd7 $5 Na4 28.
Qxf7+ Kh8 29. Rc1 {and now Black can do neither} Nc5 $1 (29... Qb6 30. Qg6
Nxc3+ 31. Rxc3 Qg1+ 32. Kb2 Qxh2+ 33. Bc2 Bxc3+ 34. Kb3 $18 {nor}) (29... b4
30. Qg6 Nxc3+ 31. Rxc3 bxc3+ 32. Kc2 Qb2+ 33. Kd1 c2+ (33... Qa1+ 34. Ke2 Qxa2+
35. Ke3 $18) 34. Bxc2 Qxc2+ 35. Qxc2 Rxc2 36. Kxc2 $18 {but}) 30. Qg6 Nxe4 31.
Qxe4 Rc4 (31... Bxc3 32. Rxc3 Rxc3 33. Qd4 $18) 32. Qd3 Bf6 {and his
compensation for the exchange seems reasonable; or}) 27... Bxc3+ 28. Kb1 Bxe1
29. Rxe1 $14 {with the slightly better chances because of the strong bishop. I
should also mention that variations like}) (26... Bf6 27. Qb7 b4 28. cxb4 Nxb2
29. Rc1 Nc4 30. a4 Bg5 (30... Be7 31. Qxe7 Rc7 32. Qxc7 Qxc7 33. Red1 $18) 31.
Qxb8 Nd2+ 32. Ka2 Rxb8 33. Rc7 {are completely disgusting for Black.}) 27. Qxb4
Qc7 $1 {This came as a big surprise. I was counting on} (27... Nxb2 $2 28. Qxb2
Qc7 29. Qc2 Bxc3 30. Re2 $1 $18 {or}) (27... Qxb4 28. cxb4 Nxb2 (28... Bxb2 29.
Kc2 $16) 29. Bb7 Rb8 30. Rd7 Nc4 31. Bxa6 Rxb4+ 32. Kc2 $16) 28. Qb7 {The only
move.} (28. Bb7 $2 {Petursson} Rb8 29. Re4 Nxb2 $1) (28. Bd3 $2 {Petursson}
Nxb2 $1) 28... Na3+ $1 {A beatiful drawish combination.} (28... Qxb7 {Petursson
} 29. Bxb7 Rb8 30. Rxe5 Nxe5 31. Bxa6 $18) 29. Kc1 (29. Ka1 Nc2+ $11 {is the
same story.} (29... Nc2+ {Petursson} 30. Kb1 Nxe1 (30... Na3+ 31. Ka1 Nc2+ $11)
31. Rxe1 Qxb7 32. Bxb7 Bxc3)) (29. bxa3 {Petursson} Rb8) 29... Bf4+ $1 (29...
Qxc3+ {Petursson} 30. bxc3 Rxc3+ 31. Kd2) 30. gxf4 Qxf4+ 31. Rd2 Rd8 32. Red1 {
Again the only move.} (32. Bh7+ $2 Kh8 (32... Kxh7 $4 33. Qe4+) 33. Bd3 (33.
Qg2 {Petursson} Nc4 $19) 33... Nc4 $17) 32... Rxd2 {avoiding the last little
trap} (32... Nc4 $4 33. Qc7 $18) 33. Rxd2 {Draw because of the perpetual after}
(33. Rxd2 Qf1+ 34. Rd1 Qf4+ 35. Rd2 $11 {. Just like in my Olympiad game
against Kasparov, the opponents disagreed about who was finding his way to
draw.} (35. Rd2 {Petursson} Qf1+)) 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Linares 14th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1997.02.15"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[PlyCount "27"]
[EventDate "1997.02.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Bd7 9. O-O Nc6 10. Rc1 O-O 11. Nb3 Ne5 12. Be2 Bc6 13. f3 Qb8 14. a3
1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 14th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1997.02.16"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E59"]
[WhiteElo "2795"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Psakhis,L"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "1997.02.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 {Surprise for Kasparov. Kramnik never played
Nimzo in his life. Gary made now every move after long thoughts.} 4. e3 {
I suspect, that two great K spent a lot time together anylizing 4.Qc2} O-O 5.
Bd3 c5 6. Nf3 d5 7. O-O Nc6 8. a3 Bxc3 9. bxc3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Qc7 11. Ba2 b6 {
Rare move.Normal continuation here} (11... e5 {/\Bg4} 12. h3 b6) 12. Re1 $5 (
12. Qe2 e5 13. d5 e4 14. Nd2 Ne5 15. c4 {[%cal Yf2f4]} Neg4 16. f4 exf3 17.
gxf3 Ne5 18. Kh1 {1-0 Furman,S-Kondratiev,P/Leningrad 1952 (32)}) 12... e5 13.
e4 Bg4 $6 {New and not best move. Clearly stronger} (13... cxd4 $5 14. cxd4
exd4 15. Bg5 (15. e5 Ng4) 15... Bg4 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. h3 Bxf3 18. Qxf3 Qe5 19.
Rad1 Rac8 20. Rd3 Ne7 $13 {1/2-1/2 Knaak-Horvath,Cs/Dresden 1988 (56) with
unclear game.}) 14. dxc5 $1 {Natural 14.d5 will be serious positional mistake-
bishop on a2  could be closed for a long time.} bxc5 15. h3 Rad8 16. Qe2 Bxf3
17. Qxf3 $14 {[%cal Ya2f7,Yc1g5,Ya1b1] Kasparov has clear advandage with two
bishops in open position.} Rd6 18. Bg5 $5 (18. Be3 Qa5) 18... h6 19. Bh4 Rfd8 (
19... Rb8 20. Red1) 20. Rab1 $5 {[%cal Yb1b7]} Ne7 $5 {Kramnik trying to
improve knight's position} (20... Rd3 21. Re3 {[%cal Rh4f6]}) 21. Bc4 Nc8 {
[%cal Yc8b6]} (21... Ng6 $5 22. Bg3 Rd2 (22... Rb8 $6 23. Qf5 {[%cal Rf5g6]}) (
22... Rb6 $5) 23. Qf5 Kh8 $14) 22. Bg3 Nb6 23. Bb5 Re6 24. a4 $1 {White has to
push away knight from b6.} c4 $5 {[%csl Gd3]} (24... a5 $6 $16 {[%csl Rb5]})
25. Qe2 Rd3 26. a5 Nc8 $6 ({Better chances for positive result gives} 26...
Nbd7 $5 {For example:} 27. Rb4 Rxc3 28. Qa2 $1 (28. Qd2 Ra3 29. Rxc4 Qxa5)
28... Nc5 29. Rxc4 Rxc4 30. Bxc4 Rc6 31. Bd5 Nd3 $1 32. Bxc6 Nxe1 33. Bd5 Nd3
$14) 27. Rb4 $1 Rxc3 (27... Nd6 28. Bxc4 Nxc4 29. Qxd3 $18) 28. Rxc4 Rxc4 (
28... Qxa5 $6 29. Qd2 $1 {Maybe Kramnik missed this move when he played 26...
Nc8}) 29. Qxc4 Qb8 (29... Qxc4 30. Bxc4 Rc6 31. Bf1 Rc5 32. a6 {is not great
choice also.}) 30. Qc5 $1 Nd6 31. Bd3 Nd7 32. Qa3 $16 {[%csl Ra7,Re5][%cal
Ye1b1] White's plan is very easy: to play in good time a6, and to attack weak
pawn on a7.} Nf8 33. Rb1 Qc7 34. Rc1 Qd8 35. a6 $1 Ng6 36. Qc5 Re7 37. f3 $1 {
[%cal Yg3f2,Rf2a7]} Ne8 38. Bf1 {Difference between bishops and knights is
very clear now.} Rc7 39. Qe3 Rd7 (39... Rxc1 40. Qxc1 {and Black can't protect
a7 pawn.}) 40. Kh2 $5 {Kasparov shows that he has enough time for his plan and
doesn't need to be in hurry.} Re7 41. Rc6 (41. Rb1 $142 $1 $18 {/\Rb7 Dokhoian}
) 41... Kh7 42. Qc1 {Everything according to rules: Rook ahead of Queen on the
open line.} Nc7 43. Qc3 Qd7 44. Rc5 Qd6 (44... Ne6 45. Rd5 Qc7 46. Bxe5 Nxe5
47. Qxe5 $18) 45. Bf2 Ne6 46. Rd5 Qb8 47. Rb5 Qd6 48. Rb7 {Rook came on b7-
beggining of the end.} Nd4 49. Qb4 {Move by move, Kasparov blackmailed his
opponent with queen exchange.} Qf6 (49... Qxb4 50. Rxb4 Rc7 51. Bxd4 (51. Rb7
Rc1 52. Bxd4 exd4 53. Bb5) 51... exd4 52. Rxd4 $18) 50. Qc5 Nc6 51. Be3 $1 Re6
52. Bc4 Re7 53. Bd5 $18 {With simple but strong moves Kasparov got a
completely winning positions.} Nd4 54. Rxa7 Rxa7 55. Qxa7 Ne7 (55... Nxf3+ 56.
gxf3 Qxf3 57. Qxf7 Nf4 (57... Qe2+ 58. Bf2) 58. Qf5+ Kh8 59. Qf8+ Kh7 60. Bg8+
Kg6 61. Qf5#) 56. Bc4 h5 57. Qc5 {Great positional achievments for Kasparov.}
1-0

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1997.04.01"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1997.04.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 059"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Bd7 {Das ist ein von Morozevich in die Tuernierpraxis eingeführter Zug.
Ribli.} (8... Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qa5 10. Bb5+ Bd7 (10... Nbd7 11. Bxf6 Qxc3+ 12. Kf1
gxf6 13. h4 a6 14. Rh3 Qa5 15. Be2 O-O $146 16. Rc1 $1 Ne5 17. Qb3 {1-0
Stefansson,H-Petursson,M/Reykjavik 1996 (31)}) 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Qb3 a6 13. Be2
Nc6 14. O-O Qc7 15. Rad1 Rc8 16. Qa3 $1 {1-0 Beliavsky,A-Lukacz,P/AUT-chT9697
1997 (23)} (16. Qb2 Nxd4 17. cxd4 Qc2 $11)) 9. O-O (9. e5 $6 Qa5 10. exf6 Qxg5
(10... Bxc3+ $6 11. bxc3 Qxc3+ $2 12. Qd2 Qxa1+ 13. Ke2 {Weiß spielt wie
Andersen vor 150 Jahre.Ribli.} Qxh1 14. fxg7 Rg8 15. Nf5 $40) 11. fxg7 Rg8 12.
O-O Rxg7 13. g3 Nc6 $13 {Die Bauernstruktur von Schwarz ist etwas angegriffen,
aber er hat das Läuferpaar und große Aktivität.Ribli.}) 9... Nc6 10. Rc1 h6 (
10... a6 11. a3 $1 Be7 12. Nf3 $14 Ng4 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Qe2 Qf6 15. Rcd1 h5
16. h3 Nce5 $1 17. Nxe5 Qxe5 18. g3 {1/2-1/2 Azmaiparashvili,Z-Morozevich,A/
Madrid 1996 (31)}) 11. Bf4 $1 $14 {[%csl Rd6][%cal Gf4c7] Weiß hat Raumvorteil
und seine Figuren stehen sehr gesund. Sein Bf4 steht besonders stark.Ribli.}
O-O 12. e5 Qb8 13. Bg3 (13. Bxh6 Nxe5 14. Bf4 Bd6 $13 {Die schwarze
Königsstellung ist ein wenig geschwächt, aber Schwarz hat ein sehr gutes
Springerfeld auf e5.Ribli.}) 13... Nxe5 $8 {Führt zum Qualitätsverlust, ist
aber dennoch die einzig spielbare Möglichkeit.Ribli.} 14. Re1 Bd6 15. Ndb5 {
[%csl Rd6][%cal Gg3b8]} Nxc4 (15... Bxb5 16. Nxb5 Nxc4 17. Nxd6 Nxd6 18. Bxd6
$16) 16. Nxd6 Nxd6 17. Bxd6 Qd8 18. Bxf8 Kxf8 {Weiß hat klaren Vorteil. Es
überrascht mich ein wenig, daß Kramnik diese Stellung nicht gewinnen konnte.
Eine Qualität mehr für nichts sollte sich früher oder später entscheidend
bemerkbar machen. Andererseits hat Schwarz keine Schwächen und einen Bauern
für die Qualität.Ribli.} 19. b4 $6 {Dieser Zug gefällt mir nicht. Da das nur
zu späterem Abtausch führt -was Anands Remischancen erhöht-, sollte Weiß die
Stellung geschlossener halten und langsamer spielen.Ribli.} (19. Qd6+ Qe7 20.
Red1) 19... a6 20. a4 Be8 21. Qxd8 Rxd8 22. Red1 Rb8 $1 $14 {Schwarz muß diese
Türme auf dem Brett halten.Ribli.} (22... Rxd1+ 23. Rxd1 $16) 23. f3 {Das ist
der beste Bauernaufbau, wenn der Gegner Bc6 spielen kann.Ribli.} Bc6 24. b5
axb5 25. axb5 Be8 26. Ra1 g5 $1 {Schwarz hat eine Bauernmajorität am
Königsflügel, das heißt er kann dort aktiv spielen. Es gehen zwar keine
konkreten Drohungen von diesem Zug aus, aber Schwarz gewinnt Raum.Ribli.} 27.
Ra7 Kg7 28. Rda1 Rc8 29. R1a3 Rc7 {[%csl Gc7] Ich glaube, Anand spielt die
besten Züge der ganzen Partie nach dem Qualitätsverlust. Der Turm steht aktiv
auf c7 und verteidigt gleichzeitig Pb7.Ribli.} 30. b6 Re7 31. R3a5 Bc6 {
[%csl Gc6]} 32. Rc5 Re8 (32... Kg6 $4 33. Rxc6 $18) 33. Ne2 Bd5 34. Rc7 Rd8 35.
Kf2 (35. Raxb7 Bxb7 36. Rxb7 $11) 35... Rd6 36. Nc3 Rxb6 37. Nxd5 Rb2+ 38. Kg1
(38. Kg3 Nxd5 (38... exd5 39. Raxb7 Nh5+ 40. Kg4 Rxb7 41. Rxb7 Kg6 42. Rb6+ f6
43. g3 (43. Rd6 Nf4 44. g3 $4 h5#) 43... Ng7 44. f4 (44. Rd6 Nf5) 44... Nf5)
39. Raxb7 $14 {Ich denke aber, daß diese Stellung näher am Remis als am weißen
Gewinn ist.Ribli.}) 38... Rb1+ 39. Kf2 Rb2+ 40. Kg1 Rb1+ 41. Kf2 {Und Remis
durch Zugwiederholung.Ribli.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1997.04.02"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Salov, Valery"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1997.04.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 059"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Bg4 3. Bg2 Nd7 4. c4 e6 5. d4 c6 6. O-O Bd6 7. Qb3 Rb8 8. Nc3
Ngf6 9. Re1 O-O 10. e4 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 e5 12. exd5 exd4 13. Ne2 Re8 14. Bf4 Bxf4
15. Nxf4 Ne5 16. Bg2 Qd6 17. c5 Qxc5 18. Rxe5 Rxe5 19. dxc6 Qa5 20. cxb7 Re1+
21. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 22. Bf1 Qe4 23. Bg2 Qb1+ 24. Bf1 Qe4 25. Bg2 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1997.04.05"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "1997.04.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 059"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O
dxc4 9. Bxc4 b5 10. Be2 Bb7 11. Rd1 Qc7 12. b3 a6 (12... Rac8 13. Rb1 (13. Bb2
Qb8 14. Ne4 Nxe4 15. Qxe4 c5 16. Qh4 c4 17. Rdc1 Nf6 18. d5 Nxd5 19. bxc4 bxc4
20. Bxc4 Be7 21. Qg3 Qxg3 22. hxg3 Nb6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Zvjaginsev,V-Galkin,A/
RUS-ch 1996 (42)}) 13... Rfe8 14. b4 a5 15. a3 axb4 16. axb4 Ra8 $11 {1/2-1/2
Zviaginsev,V-Shabanov,Y/RUS-chT 1996 (28)}) 13. Ne4 (13. Bb2 c5 $11 {>< c3}) (
13. a4 $5 b4 14. Ne4) 13... Nxe4 14. Qxe4 c5 15. Qh4 Nf6 16. Bb2 Qe7 17. dxc5 (
17. dxc5 Bxc5 $11) 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1997.04.09"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1997.04.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 059"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Huebner,R} d5 2. d4 Bf5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c6 5. Qb3 Qb6 6. c5 Qc7 7. Bf4
Qc8 8. Nh4 Bg6 9. Nxg6 hxg6 10. e4 Nf6 11. Bd3 {Es ist mir nicht klar, warum
Weiß auf die erprobte Fortsetzung} (11. exd5 {verzichtet. Nach} Nxd5 (11...
exd5 12. O-O-O {sieht nicht befriedigend für Schwarz aus.}) 12. Nxd5 cxd5 13.
Bxb8 Qxb8 14. Bb5+ Kd8 15. g3 Be7 (15... Qc7 16. O-O b6 17. Rfe1 Be7 18. Re5
Rh5 19. Qf3 Bf6 20. Qxd5+ {1-0: Robatsch-Hertneck, Mannschaftsmeisterschaft
von Österreich 1994/95 (EXP 1995). Es erstaunt mich, daß Salov die Stellung
des Schwarzen für befriedigend hielt. Wohl verbessert er die Spielweise des
Schwarzen, doch ist die unsichere Stellung des schwarzen Königs eine Quelle
steter Gefahr. Weiß besitzt einen ebenso einfachen wie wirksamen Spielplan: er
rückt seine Damenflügelbauern vor. Für Schwarz ist kein Gegenspiel ersichtlich;
die Frage ist nur, ob er sich halten kann: eine unerfreuliche und
unbefriedigende Situation.}) 16. O-O Bf6 17. Rad1 Qc7 18. Rfe1 $16 {ist die
Stellung des Weißen auf jeden Fall bequemer als die des Schwarzen: Van Wely,
L-Salov,V, Amsterdam 1995 (CBM 49).}) 11... dxe4 12. Nxe4 Nxe4 13. Bxe4 Be7 14.
O-O-O Nd7 15. Kb1 Nf6 16. Bf3 Nd5 17. Be5 Bf6 18. Bd6 Be7 19. Be5 Bf6 20. Bd6
Be7 21. Bxd5 cxd5 22. Bxe7 Kxe7 23. Qe3 Qd7 24. Rc1 f6 25. f4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1997.04.10"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "1997.04.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 059"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 e6 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O a6 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4
d6 9. Rd1 Be7 10. b3 Nbd7 11. e4 Qc8 12. Bb2 O-O 13. Qe3 Re8 14. Nd4 Bf8 15. h3
Qc7 16. Re1 g6 17. Rad1 Rad8 18. Qd2 Bg7 19. Nc2 Nc5 20. Ba1 h5 21. Nb4 Qc8 22.
Qf4 Qa8 23. Nd3 Nfd7 24. Nxc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1997.04.11"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1997.04.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 059"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O
dxc4 9. Bxc4 a6 10. Bd2 $6 (10. Rd1 {erscheint mir kritischer.}) 10... c5 11.
Bd3 (11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. a4 b6 13. e4 Qc7 14. h3 Bb7 15. Rfe1 Ncd7 16. Bf1 $6 (
16. Bd3 $11 {Kramnik}) 16... Rac8 17. Rad1 Qb8 18. Qb1 h6 $15 {0-1 Costa,
J-Kramnik,V/Manila olm 1992 (30)}) (11. a4 Qc7 12. Qd3 cxd4 13. exd4 b6 14.
Rac1 Bb7 15. Bb3 Rac8 16. Rfe1 Qb8 17. h3 Rfd8 $11 {1-0 Vyzmanavin,A-Novikov,I/
URS-ch57 Leningrad 1990 (32)}) 11... h6 12. Rad1 (12. Rfd1 $5) 12... cxd4 13.
exd4 Qc7 14. Rc1 Qb8 15. Rfe1 b5 16. Ne4 Bb7 (16... Nxe4 $2 17. Bxe4 Bb7 18.
Bxb7 Qxb7 19. Qc6 Qxc6 20. Rxc6 Be7 21. d5 $16) 17. Nxd6 Qxd6 $11 {Die Drohung
...Bxf3 nötigt Weiß zum Damentausch. Schwarz hat keine Probleme mehr.} 18. Qc7
Qxc7 19. Rxc7 Rab8 (19... Bxf3 $2 {würde zwar die weiße Bauernstellung
ruinieren, hinterläßt jedoch einen geschwächten schwarzen Damenflügel, z.B.}
20. gxf3 Rfc8 21. Rec1 Rxc7 22. Rxc7 Nb6 23. Rc6 Nfd5 (23... Nbd5 24. b3 {/\ a4
}) 24. Ba5 {[%csl Ra6,Rc6] >< a6, c6}) 20. Ba5 Rfc8 21. Rec1 Nd5 22. Rxc8+ Rxc8
23. Rxc8+ Bxc8 24. Ne5 Nb8 25. Be4 f6 26. Bxd5 exd5 27. Bc7 fxe5 28. Bxb8
1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Event "Amber-blindfold 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C13"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Nf3 O-O 8.
Bc4 Nd7 9. Qe2 Be7 10. O-O-O c6 11. h4 b5 12. Bd3 Qc7 13. Kb1 Nf6 14. Nxf6+
Bxf6 15. Qe4 g6 16. h5 Bb7 17. hxg6 hxg6 18. Ne5 Rfd8 19. Qg4 Bxe5 20. dxe5
Qxe5 21. Bxg6 fxg6 22. Rde1 Qf5 23. Qh4 Kf7 24. Qh7+ Kf6 25. g4 Qxg4 26. Qxb7
Rh8 27. Rhg1 Qf5 28. Qxc6 Rhe8 29. Qc3+ e5 30. f4 Rac8 31. fxe5+ Kg7 32. Qd2
Rcd8 33. Qe3 Rc8 34. Rg2 Re7 35. Rf2 Qh5 36. Qf4 Kg8 37. a3 Rce8 38. e6 Rd8 39.
Qf6 Rd1+ 40. Rxd1 Qxd1+ 41. Ka2 Qd8 42. Rh2 Qd5+ 43. b3 Rg7 44. e7 Qf7 45. Rh8+
1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 e6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. dxc5 Qxd1 8.
Rxd1 Bxc5 9. Nbd2 Nbd7 10. Be2 b6 11. Nc4 Bb7 12. b3 O-O 13. Bb2 b5 14. Na5 Bd5
15. Nd4 Rfc8 16. Rac1 e5 17. Nc2 Bb6 18. Nb4 Rxc1 19. Bxc1 Rc8 20. Bd2 Be6 21.
Nbc6 Kh8 22. a4 bxa4 23. bxa4 Nc5 24. Nxe5 Nxa4 25. Nac6 a5 26. Ba6 Ra8 27. Bb5
Nc5 28. Bxa5 Bxa5 29. Nxa5 Rxa5 0-1

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

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

[Event "Amber-blindfold 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Nikolic, Predrag"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2655"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. Qa4 c5 7. cxd5 exd5 8.
dxc5 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 O-O 10. Qb4 h6 11. Be3 Ne4 12. Rd1 a5 13. Qa3 Qe7 14. Rxd5
b6 15. Bc1 Bb7 16. c6 Qxa3 17. Bxa3 Bxc6 18. Rd4 Rfc8 19. c4 Nc3 20. e3 Bxf3
21. Bb2 Nxa2 22. gxf3 Nc5 23. Rg1 g6 24. f4 Nb4 25. Ke2 Nb3 26. Re4 Rd8 27. Bc3
Na2 28. Bd4 Nac1+ 29. Kd1 Nc5 30. Re7 N1b3 31. Bg2 Nxd4 32. exd4 Rxd4+ 33. Ke2
Kf8 34. Rxf7+ Kxf7 35. Bxa8 Rxf4 36. Bd5+ Kg7 37. Ke3 Rh4 38. Rb1 Na4 39. Bc6
Rxc4 40. Bxa4 Rxa4 41. Rxb6 Rb4 42. Ra6 Rb5 43. h4 Re5+ 44. Kf4 Rf5+ 45. Kg3 h5
46. f4 Rb5 47. Kf3 Rb3+ 48. Ke4 Rb4+ 49. Ke5 Rb5+ 50. Ke4 Rf5 51. Ra7+ Kh6 52.
Ke3 Rb5 53. Ke4 Rc5 54. Ra6 Rc4+ 55. Ke5 Rc5+ 56. Ke4 Rb5 57. Ra7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. Bf3 c6 13. Be3 h6 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15.
dxe6 g5 16. h3 f4 17. Bc1 Ng6 18. c5 dxc5 19. bxc5 Qe7 20. Rb1 Rfe8 21. Qb3
Rab8 22. Ba3 Nh4 23. Be2 f3 24. Bxf3 Nxf3+ 25. gxf3 Qxe6 26. Qxe6+ Rxe6 27. Rb3
b5 28. cxb6 axb6 29. Bc5 Nd7 30. Be3 Bf8 31. a4 Bc5 32. Rd1 Bxe3 33. Rxd7 Bd4
34. Ne2 c5 35. Ng3 Ra8 36. Rb7 c4 37. Rb5 Bc5 38. Rb1 Rxa4 39. Nf5 c3 40. Rb8+
Kf7 41. Rb7+ Kf8 42. Rc1 Bd4 43. h4 Rc6 44. hxg5 Rg6 45. f4 exf4 46. Rb8+ Kf7
47. Rb7+ Kf8 48. Kg2 Rxg5+ 49. Kf3 Bc5 50. Nxh6 Ra2 51. Kxf4 Rh5 52. Ng4 c2 53.
Nf6 Rh2 54. Nd7+ Ke8 55. Nxc5 bxc5 56. Ke3 c4 57. Rc7 Rh3+ 58. f3 Ra3+ 59. Kd4
Rh2 60. Rxc4 Rxf3 61. R1xc2 Rxc2 62. Rxc2 Ra3 63. Rc6 Ke7 64. Ke5 Ra5+ 65. Kf4
Rh5 66. Kg4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. a3 Nh6 7. b4 cxd4 8. cxd4
Nf5 9. Bb2 Bd7 10. g4 Nfe7 11. Nc3 h5 12. g5 Nf5 13. Na4 Qd8 14. Bd3 h4 15. Rc1
Be7 16. Rg1 g6 17. Bxf5 exf5 18. Nc5 Rb8 19. Qe2 Be6 20. Qe3 Qb6 21. Qd3 Kf8
22. Bc3 Kg7 23. Nd2 a5 24. b5 Na7 25. a4 Bxc5 26. dxc5 Qxc5 27. Ke2 Nc8 28.
Bxa5 Qa7 29. Bc7 Ra8 30. a5 d4 31. Nc4 Ne7 32. Bb6 Qb8 33. Qxd4 Nd5 34. Nd6 h3
35. Rgd1 Rh5 36. Qc5 Nxb6 37. Qxb6 Rxg5 38. Rc7 Qh8 39. Nxf7 Qh5+ 40. Kd2 Bxf7
41. Rxf7+ Kh6 42. Qf6 Rg2 43. Qg7+ Kg5 44. Ke3 Qg4 45. Rd4 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Andersson, Ulf"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Nbd7 5. Qc2 Be7 6. Bf4 O-O 7. e3 dxc4 8.
Bxc4 c5 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. O-O Qe7 11. e4 e5 12. Bg5 Nb6 13. Nd5 Nbxd5 14. Bxd5
Bb6 15. a4 Bg4 16. a5 Rac8 17. Qb3 Bc5 18. Qxb7 Bxf3 19. gxf3 Rc7 20. Bxf6 gxf6
21. Qb5 Kh8 22. Rac1 Bd4 23. Rxc7 Qxc7 24. Kh1 Rg8 25. a6 Rb8 26. Qa4 Bxb2 27.
Rb1 Bd4 28. Rxb8+ Qxb8 29. Qd7 Bxf2 30. Kg2 Bc5 31. Qxf7 Qf8 32. Qe6 Qg7+ 33.
Qg4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Lautier, Joel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E58"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nf3 d5 7. O-O Nc6 8. a3
Bxc3 9. bxc3 Qc7 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Nh4 Qa5 12. Bb2 c4 13. Bc2 Ne4 14. Qe1 Qd8
15. f3 Nd2 16. Qxd2 Qxh4 17. e4 Be6 18. Rae1 f5 19. a4 fxe4 20. Ba3 Rf7 21.
fxe4 Qh5 22. Rxf7 Bxf7 23. Rf1 dxe4 24. Bxe4 Re8 25. Qf4 Nd8 26. Bf5 Qe2 27.
Qh4 h5 28. Bc1 Bd5 29. Qg3 Rf8 30. Qg6 Rxf5 31. Rxf5 Qe4 32. Rf6 Qe1+ 33. Rf1
Qe2 34. Qg5 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. Nd2 Be7 8.
e3 O-O 9. Be2 b6 10. b4 c5 11. bxc5 bxc5 12. dxc5 Nxc5 13. O-O Ne6 14. Nf3 Nxg5
15. Nxg5 Qa5 16. Nb5 Bd7 17. Nd4 Ne4 18. Nxe4 dxe4 19. Qc2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 e6 5. O-O Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Re1 d5 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. e4 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Nc6 11. d4 Na5 12. Ne5 Bd6 13. f4 Qe8 14. Be3 Rd8 15.
Bf2 c5 16. Qe2 Qa4 17. dxc5 bxc5 18. Rab1 Rc8 19. Qd1 Qxd1 20. Rexd1 Bxe5 21.
fxe5 a6 22. Rb6 Rc7 23. Bf1 h6 24. g4 Ra8 25. Rdd6 Bxe4 26. Rxa6 Rxa6 27. Bxa6
Nc6 28. Bg3 Ne7 29. c4 Nc6 30. a4 Ra7 31. Bb5 Nd4 32. Ra6 Nxb5 33. axb5 Rd7 34.
Rd6 Ra7 35. Ra6 Rd7 36. Rd6 Ra7 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Amber-rapid 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E65"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 O-O 8.
O-O d6 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Bxc6 Rb8 11. Qa4 Bh3 12. Bg2 Bxg2 13. Kxg2 Qd7 14. Rb1
Qxa4 15. Nxa4 Rfc8 16. c5 dxc5 17. Be3 c4 18. Bxa7 Rb4 19. Nc3 e6 20. Bd4 Nd5
21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22. Rfc1 Nxc3 23. Rxc3 Rcb8 24. Rc2 g5 25. a3 Rb3 26. Rxc4 Rxb2
27. Rxb2 Rxb2 28. e3 Ra2 29. Ra4 h5 30. h3 f5 31. Ra7+ Kf6 32. Ra8 g4 33. hxg4
hxg4 34. a4 Ra1 35. a5 Ke5 36. a6 Ke4 37. a7 Ke5 38. Kh2 Ke4 39. Kg2 Ke5
1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. Qc2 c5 8.
dxc5 h6 9. Bd2 O-O 10. e3 Bxc5 11. Be2 b6 12. O-O Bb7 13. Rfd1 Qe7 14. a3 a6
15. Be1 Rfe8 16. Nd4 g6 17. Rac1 Bd6 18. Bf3 Ne5 19. Nce2 Ne4 20. Qb3 Bc5 21.
Nf4 Rad8 22. Be2 Qf6 23. a4 h5 24. a5 Ng4 25. axb6 Bxb6 26. Bxg4 hxg4 27. Nfe2
Ba8 28. Ng3 Rb8 29. Qa3 Bb7 30. Nxe4 Rxe4 31. Bc3 Bc7 32. Ne2 d4 33. Bxd4 Bxh2+
34. Kf1 Qh4 35. g3 Qh3+ 36. Ke1 Rbe8 37. Qd6 R4e6 38. Qd7 R6e7 39. Qd6 Re6 40.
Qf4 Bf3 41. Rc7 Qh7 42. Bc3 Re4 43. Qd6 Bxe2 44. Kxe2 R4e6 45. Qxe6 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "143"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. cxd5 exd5 7. e3 c5 8.
Bb5 Qa5 9. O-O Bxc3 10. Bxd7+ Nxd7 11. bxc3 O-O 12. Be7 Re8 13. Bxc5 Nxc5 14.
dxc5 Qxc5 15. Qb3 b6 16. Rfd1 Be6 17. Nd4 Rac8 18. Rac1 Re7 19. h3 h6 20. Rd2
Qa5 21. Qb2 Rec7 22. Ne2 Rc4 23. Rd4 Rxd4 24. Nxd4 Bd7 25. Nb3 Qa4 26. Rd1 Be6
27. Qd2 Qa3 28. Rc1 Rc4 29. Nd4 Bd7 30. Ne2 Rc5 31. Nf4 Bf5 32. f3 Ra5 33. g4
Be6 34. Rc2 Rb5 35. Kf2 Qe7 36. Kg2 f6 37. Rb2 Rxb2 38. Qxb2 Bf7 39. Kf2 Qe5
40. Ke2 g5 41. Nd3 Qc7 42. Qb4 Kg7 43. Qd4 Qh2+ 44. Nf2 Qd6 45. Qb4 Qxb4 46.
cxb4 d4 47. a3 Bc4+ 48. Kd2 dxe3+ 49. Kxe3 Bf1 50. Ne4 f5 51. gxf5 Bxh3 52. Ng3
Kf6 53. Ke4 Bg2 54. Nh5+ Kf7 55. Ke3 Bh3 56. Ke4 Bg2 57. Ke3 Ke7 58. f4 Bd5 59.
fxg5 hxg5 60. Kd4 Bf7 61. Ng3 Kf6 62. a4 Bb3 63. a5 Bf7 64. axb6 axb6 65. Ke4
Be8 66. Kd5 Bd7 67. Kd6 Bxf5 68. Kc6 Bd3 69. Kxb6 Ke5 70. b5 Kf4 71. Nh5+ Kg4
72. Nf6+ 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Amber-rapid 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O Nbd7 8.
Qc2 c6 9. Rd1 b6 10. b3 Ba6 11. a4 c5 12. Na3 Bb7 13. Qb2 Ne4 14. Be1 Bf6 15.
e3 cxd4 16. Nxd4 Qb8 17. Rac1 Rd8 18. Qb1 a6 19. a5 Be7 20. Nac2 bxa5 21. Bxa5
Rc8 22. Nb4 Nef6 23. cxd5 Bxb4 24. Bxb4 Bxd5 25. Rxc8+ Qxc8 26. e4 Bb7 27. f3
Qc7 28. Be1 Rc8 29. Bf2 h6 30. Bf1 Ne5 31. Be2 g5 32. h3 Ng6 33. Bc4 h5 34.
Nxe6 fxe6 35. Bxe6+ Kg7 36. Bxc8 Qxc8 37. Qc1 g4 38. Qg5 gxf3 39. Bd4 f2+ 40.
Kxf2 Qc2+ 41. Rd2 Qc6 42. Qxf6+ Qxf6+ 43. Bxf6+ Kxf6 44. Rd6+ Kg5 45. h4+ Kh6
46. e5 Kg7 47. e6 Bc8 48. b4 Ne7 49. Kf3 Kf6 50. Kf4 Bxe6 51. Rxa6 Nd5+ 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Amber-rapid 06th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Lautier, Joel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "1997.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 057 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 e6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. dxc5 Qxd1 8.
Rxd1 Bxc5 9. Nbd2 Nbd7 10. Be2 b6 11. Nc4 Bb7 12. b3 O-O 13. Bb2 Bd5 14. Rac1
Rfc8 15. Nfe5 b5 16. Nxd7 Nxd7 17. Nd2 Bb4 18. Nb1 Nb6 19. f3 Rxc1 20. Rxc1 Rc8
21. Rxc8+ Nxc8 22. Ba3 Bxa3 23. Nxa3 b4 24. Nc2 a5 25. Ba6 Nb6 26. e4 Bc6 27.
Kf2 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1997.06.12"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Tsesarsky,I"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "1997.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8.
f3 h6 9. Bh4 d5 10. e3 Nbd7 11. Nh3 c5 12. cxd5 cxd4 (12... Nxd5 13. Bxd8 Nxc3
14. Be7 Rfe8 15. Bh4 Nd5 16. Bb5 g5 17. Bf2 N5f6 18. dxc5 bxc5 19. O-O-O Re7
20. Bg3 a6 21. Bc4 Bc6 {Gurevich,M-Adams,M/Reykjavik tt/1990/} 22. Rd6 $16) 13.
Qxd4 e5 (13... Bxd5 14. e4 g5 $2 (14... e5 $1) 15. exd5 gxh4 16. dxe6 $16 {
1-0 Kahn,E-Koch,T/Budapest IM 1991 (21)}) 14. Qd1 {N} (14. Qd2 Bxd5 15. Nf2 (
15. Bb5 Be6 16. O-O Nc5 17. Qe2 a6 18. Rad1 Qc8 19. Bc4 b5 20. Bxe6 Qxe6 21.
Nf2 Rac8 22. Nd3 e4 23. Nxc5 Rxc5 24. Rd4 (24. Bxf6 Qxf6 25. fxe4 Qe6 $11)
24... exf3 25. gxf3 Nd5 $15 {0-1 Iashvili,A-Shipov,S/Belgrade IKO 1992 (50)}) (
15. b4 e4 16. Bb5 exf3 17. O-O fxg2 18. Rf4 Ne5 (18... Bb7 19. Rd4 Ne5 20. Rxd8
Nf3+ 21. Kf2 Ne4+ 22. Ke2 Nfxd2 23. Rxd2 Nc3+ 24. Kf2 Nxb5 $19) 19. Bxf6 gxf6
20. Qf2 (20. e4 Be6 21. Qxg2+ Kh7 $19) 20... Be6 $17 {0-1 Haila,A-Marttinen,P/
cr Finland 1995 (39)}) 15... Be6 16. Bb5 Nc5 17. Qe2 a6 18. Bc4 Bxc4 19. Qxc4
Qd5 20. Qxd5 Nxd5 $10 {Kramnik,V-Timoschenko,G/URS-chJ Kherson/1991/}) (14.
Bxf6 Nxf6 15. Qxe5 Nxd5 (15... Re8 16. Qd4 Qxd5 (16... Nxd5 17. e4 Rc8 18. Rd1
Qh4+ 19. g3 Qe7 20. Bg2 $14) 17. Be2 Rad8 18. Qxd5 Nxd5 19. e4 $16) 16. e4 Ne3
17. Qc3 Nxf1 18. Rxf1 Qh4+ (18... Rc8 19. Qe3 Qc7 20. Nf4 g5 21. Nh5 Qxh2 22.
Nf6+ Kg7 23. Qd4 Rfd8 24. Nd7+ Kh7 25. Qf6 Qh5 26. Qe5 $11) 19. Rf2 Bc8 20. Kf1
Bxh3 21. gxh3 Rac8 $17 {0-1 Gretarsson,H-Ovseevich,S/WchJM-U14 1991 (76)}) (14.
Qa4 Bxd5 15. Rd1 Qc7 16. Nf2 Qc5 17. Be2 Qxe3 18. Ng4 Qb3 19. Nxf6+ Nxf6 20.
Qa6 $17 {0-1 Kahn-Tangorn/Budapest, SW 1992 (23)}) 14... Bxd5 15. Bb5 (15. Nf2
Be6 16. Bd3 Nc5 17. Bc2 Rc8 (17... Qe7 18. O-O Rfd8 19. Qe2 Rac8 (19... Bb3 20.
Ng4 $14) 20. Rfd1 $14) (17... Qxd1+ 18. Rxd1 Bb3 19. Bxb3 Nxb3 20. Bxf6 gxf6
21. Rd3 (21. Ng4 Kg7 22. Rd6 Rfd8 $15) 21... Nc5 22. Rd6 Ne6 23. Ne4 Kg7 24.
Ke2 Rfc8 25. Rhd1 Rc2+ 26. R1d2 Rac8 27. g4 $14) 18. O-O Bc4 19. Re1 g5 (19...
Qxd1 20. Raxd1 Nd5 21. b4 Ne6 22. Ne4 g5 23. Bg3 Ba2 (23... f6 24. Nd6 Nc3 25.
Nxc8 Nxd1 26. Ne7+ Kf7 27. Nf5 $18) 24. Rd2 $16) 20. Bg3 Qe7 (20... Re8 21. Bf5
Qxd1 22. Raxd1 Rc6 23. b4 Ne6 24. Bxe5 $16 {1/2-1/2 Kiriakov,P-Onischuk,A/
URS-chJ Jurmala 1992 (64)}) 21. Bf5 Rc6 22. Rc1 Bb5 $11) 15... Be6 (15... Nc5
16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. O-O $14) 16. Nf2 (16. Bxd7 Qxd7 17. Bxf6 gxf6 $10) 16... Nc5
17. O-O (17. b4 Qxd1+ 18. Rxd1 a6 19. Be2 (19. bxc5 axb5 20. cxb6 Rfb8 21. Bxf6
gxf6 22. Ne4 Rxa3 23. Nxf6+ Kg7 24. Nd5 Bxd5 25. Rxd5 Rxb6 26. O-O Kf6 $15)
19... Na4 20. Bxf6 (20. Rd6 Nd5 21. Kd2 Rfc8 22. Ne4 Nac3 23. Nxc3 Nxc3 24. Bd3
Nb5 25. Rxb6 Nxa3 26. Rxa6 Rxa6 27. Bxa6 Rc2+ 28. Kd3 Rxg2 29. Bg3 Rb2 $11)
20... gxf6 21. Ne4 Kg7 $11 {Ftacnik,L 1/2-1/2 Mohr,S-Nagatz,F/Bad Lauterberg
1991 (44)}) (17. Qxd8 $5 Rfxd8 18. b4 a6 (18... Ncd7 19. Nd3 g5 20. Bg3 e4 21.
fxe4 Nxe4 22. Bc7 Re8 (22... Rdc8 23. Bc6 $1 $16) 23. Rc1 Rac8 24. O-O $14) 19.
Be2 Ncd7 (19... Na4 $2 20. Ne4 Nxe4 (20... g5 21. Nxf6+ Kg7 22. Nh5+ Kg6 23.
Bg3 Kxh5 24. Bxe5 $16) 21. Bxd8 Rxd8 22. fxe4 $16) 20. O-O-O (20. Rd1 a5 21.
Ne4 g5 22. Nxf6+ Nxf6 23. Bg3 Rxd1+ 24. Bxd1 axb4 25. axb4 Nd5 26. Bxe5 Nxb4
$11) 20... g5 21. Bg3 Nh5 22. Kb2 a5 (22... f5 23. Rd6 Kf7 24. Rhd1 (24. Nd3
Ke7 (24... f4 25. exf4 exf4 26. Bf2 Ke7 27. Rc6 Rac8 28. Rhc1 Rxc6 29. Rxc6
Nhf6 30. Bxb6 Nxb6 31. Rxb6 Bf5 32. Rb7+ Kf8 33. Kc3 Nd5+ 34. Kb3 Bxd3 35. Bxd3
Nxb4 36. Bc4 Nc6 37. Kc3 Na5 38. Rh7 Nxc4 39. Rh8+ Ke7 40. Rxd8 Kxd8 41. Kxc4
Kc7 42. Kc5 $18) 25. Rc6 a5 26. b5 (26. Be1 Nhf6 27. bxa5 bxa5 28. h4 Rab8+ $15
29. Kc2 Bb3+ 30. Kc1 Ba4 31. Rc4 Bb3 32. Rc3 Nd5 33. Rc6 Ba4 $17) 26... Nxg3
27. hxg3 Rh8 28. Rc7 Kd6 29. Rhc1 Bd5 $15) 24... Nxg3 (24... f4 25. exf4 exf4
$19) 25. hxg3 Ke7 26. e4 (26. Rc6 a5 27. Rdd6 Nf8 28. Rxd8 Rxd8 29. Bd3 Rd6 30.
Rxd6 Kxd6 31. e4 f4 32. gxf4 exf4 $11) 26... fxe4 27. Nxe4 a5 28. b5 (28. Bb5
axb4 29. axb4 Ra2+ $15) 28... Nc5 29. Rxd8 Na4+ 30. Kc2 (30. Ka1 Rxd8 31. Rh1
Nc5 32. Nxc5 bxc5 33. b6 (33. Rxh6 $1 Rd2 34. b6 Ra2+ 35. Kb1 Rxe2 36. Rxe6+
Kd7 (36... Kxe6 37. b7 Re1+ 38. Kc2 Re2+ 39. Kc3 Re3+ 40. Kc4 $18) 37. Re7+ $1
(37. b7 Kc7 38. Re7+ (38. Rb6) 38... Kb8 39. f4 gxf4 40. gxf4 Rxg2 41. fxe5 c4
42. e6 Re2 43. a4 c3 44. Kc1 Ka7 45. Kd1 Rd2+ 46. Kc1 (46. Ke1 Rd6) 46... Re2
$11) 37... Kc8 38. f4 gxf4 39. gxf4 Rxg2 40. fxe5 Re2 41. e6 c4 42. Rc7+ Kb8
43. e7 c3 44. Rd7 $18) 33... Rb8 34. Rxh6 Rxb6 35. Bc4 Rd6 36. Bxe6 Rxe6 $11)
30... Rxd8 31. Rxd8 (31. Rh1 Rh8) 31... Kxd8 $11) 23. b5 f5 24. Rd6 Kf7 25. f4
Nxg3 26. hxg3 Ke7 27. Rdd1 Rh8 28. g4 fxg4 29. Nxg4 gxf4 30. exf4 exf4 31. Nxh6
Nf6 $11) 17... Nb3 18. Qxd8 Raxd8 19. Rad1 Rxd1 20. Rxd1 Nd5 21. Ng4 (21. e4
Ne3 22. Rd3 Rc8 23. Rxe3 Rc1+ 24. Nd1 Rxd1+ 25. Re1 Rd2 26. Re2 Rd1+ 27. Re1 (
27. Kf2 Nd4) 27... Rd2 $11) 21... f6 22. Bc6 (22. Bc4 Nc7 23. Bxe6+ (23. Rd7
Bxc4 24. Rxc7 b5 25. Rxa7 h5 (25... Rd8 26. Rxg7+ $18) 26. Nxe5 fxe5 27. Re7
$17) 23... Nxe6 24. Rd6 (24. Rd7 h5 25. Nf2 g5 26. Re7 Nec5 $19) 24... Nec5 25.
f4 exf4 26. exf4 Re8 27. Kf1 $11 (27. Bxf6 h5)) 22... Nc7 23. Be1 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1997.06.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "1997.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. b3 c5 7. Bd3 Nc6 8. O-O
cxd4 9. exd4 b6 10. Bb2 Bb7 11. Rc1 Nb4 12. Bb1 Rc8 13. Ne5 Nc6 14. Nxc6 Rxc6
15. Qe2 Re8 16. Nd1 Bf8 17. Ne3 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1997.06.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B57"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Gofshtein,L"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "1997.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 Qb6 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8.
O-O g6 9. e5 (9. Qe2 Bg4 10. Qe1 (10. Qd3 Bg7 11. Be3 Qxb2 12. Rab1 Qa3 13. Rb7
Qa5 14. e5 dxe5 15. Ne4 O-O $17 {Rigo-Finegold,New-York,1993}) 10... Qc5 11. b3
Bg7 12. Na4 Qh5 13. Bb2 Be6 14. Bxe6 fxe6 15. e5 Ng4 16. h3 Bxe5 17. Bxe5 Nxe5
18. f4 $16 {Madl-Varga,Budapest 1997}) (9. h3 Bg7 10. Re1 O-O 11. Bb3 Bb7 12.
e5 dxe5 13. Rxe5 e6 14. Re1 c5 15. Qe2 Rfc8 $15 {Martinez.S-Spragett.K,1993}) (
9. Bb3 Bg7 10. Bf4 Nd7 11. Bg5 a5 12. Qf3 Ne5 13. Qg3 Ba6 14. Rfe1 Qc7 15. Rad1
$14 {Prie-Tukmakov,France 1991}) 9... dxe5 10. Qe2 Qd4 (10... Qc7 $143 11. f4
e4 12. Nxe4 Nxe4 13. Qxe4 Bg7 14. c3 O-O 15. Be3 $14) (10... Bg7 11. Qxe5 O-O
12. Qxe7 Bf5 13. Bb3 Rae8 14. Qd6 h5 15. Bg5 Ne4 16. Nxe4 Rxe4 17. Bf6 c5 18.
Qxb6 axb6 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Rfe1 $44 {Rcegler-Kozul,1997 Portoroz}) 11. Be3 (
11. Rd1 $2 Bg4 $1) 11... Qd6 $146 (11... Qh4 12. g3 $6 (12. f4 $1 $40) 12...
Qh5 13. f3 Bg7 14. Bc5 Nd7 15. Ba3 Nb6 16. Bb3 O-O 17. Bxe7 Re8 18. g4 Qh3 19.
Bg5 h5 $15 {Toloza-Ricardi,1997 Mar del-Plata}) 12. Rad1 Qc7 13. f4 $1 Bg4 (
13... Bg7 $2 14. fxe5 Qxe5 15. Bb6 $1 $18) 14. Qf2 (14. Nb5 Qb7 $1 $17 (14...
cxb5 $2 15. Bxb5+ Bd7 16. fxe5 Qxe5 17. Bxd7+ Nxd7 18. Qf3 O-O-O 19. Bd4 $18))
14... e4 (14... Bxd1 15. fxe5 Qxe5 16. Bd4 Qd6 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18. Qc5 $18) 15.
Rde1 Bf5 $1 (15... Bg7 $6 16. h3 Bd7 17. Bd4 $16) 16. h3 h5 $11 17. Bd4 Bg7 18.
b3 O-O 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. Nxe4 Bxe4 21. Rxe4 Qb6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1997.06.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A87"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1997.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. d4 O-O 6. c4 d6 7. Nc3 Qe8 8. d5 a5
9. Be3 Na6 10. Qc1 Ng4 11. Bf4 Bd7 12. Rd1 Nc5 13. h3 Nf6 14. Bh6 c6 15. Nd4
Rc8 16. dxc6 Bxc6 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Nxc6 bxc6 19. b3 Qd7 20. e3 Rb8 21. Rb1 Rb6
22. Ne2 Kf7 23. Qc3 Ra8 24. Nd4 Qc8 25. Qe1 Ra7 26. a3 Ne6 27. Qc3 Nc5 28. Qe1
Ne6 29. Rdc1 Nc5 30. Rd1 Ne6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1997.06.20"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B72"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1997.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Baburin,A} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. h3 {
A rare move, which is usually played to avoid a theoretical battle.} g6 {
Baburin: Going into the Dragon Variation must be a good way of dealing with 6
h3, since in the Dragon that move is hardly useful. Black decides to play a
Dragon-type position. The drawback of this is the impossibility to play the
most common set up in the Dragon against 6.h3 and 7.Bc4, which is b7-b6, Bb7,
Nbd7, because Black`s Knight is already on c6. However, the plan Nc6-a5 was
consedered to be enough too.} (6... e6 7. g4 a6 8. Bg2 Qc7 9. a4 Be7 10. Nde2
$6 Rb8 11. g5 Nd7 12. h4 b5 $15 {Brodskij M.-Tukmakov/Helsinki/1992}) (6... e5
7. Nde2 h6 8. g4 Be6 9. Bg2 Ne7 $5 10. f4 exf4 11. Bxf4 Ng6 12. Bg3 Be7 $13 {
Berescu-Leko/Mamaia/1991}) 7. Be3 Bg7 8. Bc4 O-O 9. Bb3 Na5 10. Qd2 $146 {
Surprisingly, but this seems to be a new move in the position. The main idea
is to exchange the bishops on h6 and keeping the possibility to castle long.
And although both ideas are very typical for Dragon, 10.Qd2 was never played
before.} (10. O-O b6 11. Qd3 Bb7 12. Bg5 Nxb3 13. axb3 a6 14. Rfe1 h6 $11 {
Polgar,J-Topalov/Novgorod/1996}) 10... Bd7 (10... b6 11. Bh6 Bxh6 $5 12. Qxh6
Bb7 13. f3 (13. Qe3 Rc8 $13) 13... Qc7 $13) 11. Bh6 Rc8 12. Bxg7 Kxg7 13. Qd3
a6 14. f4 $14 e5 (14... Rc5 $5) 15. Nde2 Qb6 16. O-O-O Bb5 17. Qf3 (17. Nxb5
Qxb5 $11) 17... Bxe2 18. Qxe2 Nxb3+ 19. axb3 exf4 20. Rhf1 Qa5 (20... Qe3+ 21.
Qxe3 fxe3 22. Rxd6 Rc6 23. Rxc6 bxc6 24. Re1 $16) (20... Nh5 21. Rf3 Rfe8 22.
Qd2 Re6 23. Nd5 Qd8 24. Nxf4 Nxf4 25. Qxf4 Qe7 $11) ({Baburin: Perhaps, Black
should have tried to hold on to the f-pawn for a while after} 20... Nh5 $5 {
Baburin,A}) 21. Rxf4 Qa1+ $2 (21... Rc6 $142 $14) 22. Nb1 Nd7 (22... Rc6 23. e5
dxe5 24. Ra4 $18) 23. Rxd6 Nc5 24. Qe3 $18 a5 (24... Qa2 25. Rf3) 25. e5 b5 26.
Rh4 Kg8 (26... h5 27. Rxh5 gxh5 (27... Nxb3+ {Baburin,A} 28. Qxb3 gxh5 29. Qg3+
Kh7 30. Qg5 $18) 28. Qg5+ Kh7 29. Rh6#) 27. Rd5 Ne6 28. Qh6 {Baburin: Here
occupying the vulnerable h6-square decides the game at once. Black's pieces
are far away from its king and cannot save it.} Rxc2+ 29. Kxc2 Rc8+ 30. Nc3 1-0

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1997.06.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2795"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Gofshtein,L"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1997.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nge2 Nf6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O h6 9. Be3 Be7 10. f4 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 b5 12. Kb1 Bb7 13. Bd3 O-O 14. e5 dxe5
15. fxe5 Nd7 16. Ne4 Bxe4 17. Bxe4 Rb8 (17... Rc8 $6 18. c3 $1 Qc7 19. Qe2 Rfd8
20. Rhf1 Bc5 21. g4 Nf8 22. g5 $1 $40 {Ye Jiangchuan-Kramnik,Erevan 1996}) 18.
c3 $1 (18. Ba7 Nxe5 19. Qc3 Bd6 20. Qd4 Bc7 21. Qc5 Qc8 $44 {Shirov-Kramnik,
Linares 1997} 22. Bxb8 Qxb8) 18... Qc7 (18... b4 19. Bc2 bxc3 20. Qxc3 Qc8 21.
Qd3 g6 22. Qg3 Kg7 23. Rhf1 {Threatening 24.Rf7}) 19. Bc2 $1 Rfd8 (19... Nxe5
20. Rhe1 (20. Qf4 Bd6 21. Rhe1 Ng6 22. Qg4 e5) 20... Bd6 (20... Nc6 21. Qd3 f5
(21... g6 22. Rxe6) 22. Rxe6 {with the idea 23.g4}) 21. Qe2 f6 (21... Nc4 22.
Qd3 $36) 22. Qe4 $36) (19... b4 20. Qd3 g6 21. Qg3 bxc3 22. Bxc3 Kg7 23. Rhf1
Bb4 (23... Rfc8 24. Rxf7+) 24. Rf6 $1 $18) 20. Qf4 $1 Nf8 21. Rhf1 Bg5 22. Qf2
{with the double threat 23.h4 and23.Bc5} Rd7 23. Bc5 Rc8 24. Bd6 Qd8 25. Rd4 $2
(25. g3 h5 (25... Qe8 26. Qb6 Ra8 27. Be4 $18) 26. h4 Bh6 27. Rd4 {With the
idea g4} f5 28. Bb3 $1 $18 {with the threat 29.Qf5 and 29.Bf8}) 25... Qe8 $1 {
black's queen helps out with the defence.} 26. h4 Be7 27. g4 Bxd6 28. exd6 Rc6
29. g5 $6 (29. Rfd1 Qd8 (29... e5 30. Qe2 $1) 30. Qg3 $36) 29... e5 30. Rd5 (
30. gxh6 exd4 (30... Rcxd6 $2 31. Rxd6 Rxd6 32. hxg7 Kxg7 33. Rg1+ Kh8 34. Qg3
$18) 31. Qg2 Qe5 32. Qxc6 Qxd6 33. Qxd6 Rxd6 34. hxg7 Ne6 $11) 30... Rcxd6 31.
Rxd6 Rxd6 32. Bb3 Ne6 33. g6 $6 (33. gxh6 Nf4 34. Qe3 (34. hxg7 Rg6 35. Re1 Qb8
) 34... Qb8 35. hxg7 Rg6 36. h5 Rxg7 37. h6 Rg6 $1 (37... Rg5 38. Rg1 Qd8 39.
Qa7 $1 $16) 38. h7+ Kxh7 39. Bc2 Qd6 $44) 33... f6 34. h5 $6 (34. Qf5 $5) 34...
Qd7 35. Qf3 (35. Qf5 $5) 35... Kf8 {now black's king comes into the game.} 36.
Qa8+ Nd8 37. Qe4 Ke7 38. a3 Qh3 39. Rd1 Rxd1+ $6 (39... Qxh5 40. Rxd6 (40. Qb4
Nb7 41. Rxd6 Nxd6 42. Qc5 Qxg6+ 43. Ka2 Qe8 $19) 40... Kxd6 41. Qd5+ (41. Qa8
Qxg6+ 42. Ka2 Qe8 43. Qxa6+ Qc6 44. Qa7 Qb7 $17) (41. Qb4+ Kd7 $17) (41. Bc2
Nc6) 41... Kc7 $1 (41... Ke7 $2 42. Qc5+ Ke8 43. Bf7+ Nxf7 44. Qc6+ Ke7 45.
Qb7+ Ke6 46. Qc8+ $1 (46. Qxf7+ Kf5) 46... Kd6 (46... Kd5 47. Qb7+ $11)) 42.
Qc5+ (42. Qf7+ Nxf7 43. gxf7 Qh1+ 44. Ka2 Qa8 $19) 42... Nc6 43. Bc2 Qg4 $19)
40. Bxd1 Qe6 41. Bg4 Qc6 {after 42.Qe3 white has good counterplay.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "Novgorod"]
[Date "1997.06.23"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "151"]
[EventDate "1997.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 a6 5. a4 e6 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. cxd5 exd5 8. e3
Be7 9. Bd3 O-O 10. Qc2 Re8 11. O-O Nf8 12. Rae1 Be6 13. Ne5 N6d7 14. Bxe7 Qxe7
15. Nxd7 Qxd7 16. f4 f6 17. a5 Qc7 18. b4 Re7 19. Na4 Rae8 20. f5 Bf7 21. Qd2
Qd6 22. Nc5 g5 23. Bc2 Kg7 24. g3 h5 25. Kf2 Nh7 26. Kg2 Kh8 27. Qf2 Kg8 28. h3
Kh8 29. Re2 Rg8 30. Bb3 Rge8 31. Rfe1 h4 32. g4 Nf8 33. Kg1 Nd7 34. e4 Nxc5 35.
bxc5 Qc7 36. e5 Qxa5 37. e6 Bg8 38. Ra2 Qc3 39. Qe3 Qxe3+ 40. Rxe3 Kg7 41. Kf2
Kf8 42. Ke2 Ra8 43. Kd2 Ke8 44. Kc3 Kd8 45. Kb4 Kc7 46. Rc3 Ree8 47. Ka5 Ra7
48. Rb2 Rd8 49. Ba4 Re8 50. Re3 Rc8 51. Rb6 Re8 52. Bb3 Rd8 53. Bd1 Raa8 54.
Reb3 Ra7 55. Bf3 Kc8 56. Re3 Kc7 57. Rb4 Raa8 58. Bg2 Kb8 59. Bxd5 Rxd5 60. e7
Bf7 61. e8=Q+ Bxe8 62. Rxe8+ Ka7 63. Re7 Rb8 64. Rf7 Rdd8 65. Rxf6 Re8 66. Re6
Rxe6 67. fxe6 Re8 68. d5 cxd5 69. Rb6 Rc8 70. Kb4 a5+ 71. Kb5 a4 72. c6 bxc6+
73. Rxc6 Kb7 74. Rb6+ Kc7 75. Rc6+ Kb7 76. Rb6+ 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 25th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1997.07.05"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "1997.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Horvath,T} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7.
Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12. Nc2 Bg5 (12... Rb8 13.
h4 g6 14. h5 Bg5 15. Nce3 Be6 16. Qf3 a5 17. g3 b4 18. Bc4 bxc3 19. bxc3 Ne7
20. hxg6 fxg6 21. Qg4 $1 Bxd5 22. Bxd5+ Nxd5 23. Nxd5 Rf7 24. O-O $16 {
Korneev-Filippov/Ekaterinburg/1997}) 13. Be2 {Horvath: Nach meiner Meinung
kann Weiß nur mit 13.a4 um Eröffnungsvorteil kämpfen.} (13. a4 {More ambitious
than 13. Be2.} bxa4 14. Rxa4 a5 15. Bc4 Rb8 16. b3 Kh8 17. Nce3 g6 18. O-O f5
19. exf5 gxf5 20. Qh5 Bd7 21. Kh1 $6 Be8 22. Qh3 f4 23. Bd3 Qd7 24. Qxd7 Bxd7
25. Nc4 f3 {0,5:0,5 Hamdouchi-Cherniaev/Cannes/1997}) 13... Ne7 14. Ncb4 (14.
Nce3 {Horvath,T ist auch gefahrlos.}) 14... a5 15. Nxe7+ Qxe7 16. Nd5 Qb7 17.
Qd3 (17. O-O Be6 $11) 17... b4 18. cxb4 axb4 19. Qb3 (19. O-O Be6 20. Rfd1 Ra5
21. Qb3 Bxd5 $11 {Meyers-Kalinitschew/Muenster/1991}) (19. Qg3 {Horvath,T} Bd8
20. O-O Bb6 21. a3 bxa3 22. bxa3 Be6 $10 {Kamsky-Lautier/CBM/47}) 19... Be6 20.
Bc4 (20. O-O $6 {Horvath,T} Bxd5 21. Qxd5 Qxd5 22. exd5 $15) 20... Rac8 21. O-O
(21. Qd3 Qc6 22. b3 Bxd5 23. Qxd5 Qxd5 24. Bxd5 Bd8 $11) (21. h4 $6 Bd8 $15)
21... Qc6 22. Rac1 Bxd5 (22... Bxc1 $2 23. Ne7+ $18) 23. exd5 Qc5 24. Rc2 g6
$15 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 25th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1997.07.09"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Huebner, Robert"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2580"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "31"]
[EventDate "1997.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. b3
b6 9. Bc3 Bb7 10. Nbd2 Nbd7 11. Ne5 c5 12. Rc1 cxd4 13. Bxd4 Nxe5 14. Bxe5 Rc8
15. Qc2 Ba3 16. Bb2 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 25th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1997.07.11"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D55"]
[WhiteElo "2695"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1997.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 h6 7. Bxf6 Bxf6 8. Rc1
c6 9. Bd3 Nd7 10. O-O dxc4 11. Bxc4 e5 12. h3 exd4 13. exd4 Nb6 14. Bb3 Re8 15.
Re1 Bf5 16. g4 Be6 17. Bxe6 Rxe6 18. Rxe6 fxe6 19. Qe2 Qe7 20. Re1 Re8 21. Qc2
Qf7 22. Ne4 Rd8 23. Nc5 Bxd4 24. Nxd4 Rxd4 25. Nxe6 Rd6 26. Qe4 Rd5 27. f4 Nd7
28. Nd8 Qf6 29. Qe8+ Kh7 30. Qe4+ Kg8 31. Qe8+ Kh7 32. Qe4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 25th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1997.07.12"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1997.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 a5 10. Ba3 axb4 (10... Nd7 11. bxa5 Rxa5 12. Bb4 Ra8 13. a4 Bh6 14.
a5 f5 15. Nd2 Kh8 16. Ra2 Nf6 17. c5 Bxd2 18. cxd6 cxd6 19. Rxd2 Nxe4 20. Nxe4
fxe4 21. Qb1 b6 $1 $17 {1/2-1/2 Panno Oscar-Fiorito Fabian/Ch Argentina,
Argentina 1995 (34)}) 11. Bxb4 Nd7 12. a4 Bh6 13. a5 f5 14. Nd2 Kh8 15. Bd3 Rf6
(15... Ng8 16. Qc2 Rf7 17. Na4 fxe4 18. Nxe4 Ndf6 19. Nac3 Bf5 20. Ng3 Bxd3 21.
Qxd3 $14 {1/2-1/2 Pelletier,Y-Renet,O/EU-chTM 1997 (32)}) 16. Na4 Rf7 17. c5
dxc5 18. Bc3 fxe4 19. Bxe4 Nf5 20. Nc4 Nd6 $1 $146 (20... Bg7 {Kramnik-Topalov,
Las Palmas96}) 21. Nxe5 Nxe5 22. Bxe5+ Bg7 23. Bxg7+ Rxg7 {[%cal Ya8a5,Yd6e4]}
24. Nxc5 $8 b6 25. Ne6 Bxe6 26. dxe6 Nxe4 27. axb6 cxb6 (27... Rb8 $5 28. Qxd8+
(28. Re1 Nd6 $17) 28... Rxd8 29. Rfe1 Nd6 30. Rad1 cxb6 31. e7 Re8 32. Rxd6
Rgxe7 $11) 28. Re1 Nc3 (28... Nf6 29. e7 $1 Qe8 30. Rxa8 Qxa8 31. Qd8+ Rg8 32.
Qd4 Qc6 33. e8=Q $11) 29. e7 (29. Rxa8 Qxa8 30. Qd4 Nb5 31. Qxb6 Nc7 $15) 29...
Nxd1 30. exd8=B Rxd8 31. Rexd1 Rxd1+ 32. Rxd1 $11 Rb7 33. Kf1 b5 34. Rb1 Kg7
35. Ke2 Kf6 36. Kd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 25th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1997.07.13"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "1997.07.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 060"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.09.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Horvath,T} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7.
Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. c3 f5 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 Be6
14. Nce3 Ne7 15. g3 Nxd5 16. Nxd5 O-O 17. Bg2 Rb8 18. O-O a5 19. Qh5 Qd7 {
Horvath: Eine andere Möglichkeit ist :} (19... Kh8 {Horvath,T} 20. Rad1 f5 $13
{nicht aber} (20... Qd7 $4 21. Nf6 $1 $18)) 20. Qh4 (20. f4 f5 (20... Bxd5 {
Horvath,T} 21. Bxd5 b4 $10) 21. Rad1 e4 22. Rd2 $14 {Horvath P.-Rogozenko/
Budapest/1995} (22. a3 $2 Qb7 23. Ne3 Qa7 24. Rfe1 b4 $17 {Fogarasi-Horvath Cs.
/Budapest/1992})) 20... Bxd5 21. Bxd5 Kh8 (21... b4 $2 22. c4 Kh8 23. Rad1 f5
24. c5 $1 $16 {Czebe-Nemeth/Budapest/1993}) 22. g4 $146 {Trying to prevent
f7-f5.} (22. Rad1 f5 23. Qh3 Qe7 24. Rfe1 e4 25. Re2 Be5 26. f4 exf3 27. Bxf3
Qg5 $11 {Short-Lautier/Linares/1995}) 22... f5 $1 {Otherwise after 23.Be4
White has a huge advantage.} 23. gxf5 (23. g5 {Horvath,T} e4 24. Rae1 Be5 $13 {
Beshukov-Chernyaev/Orel/1992}) 23... Qxf5 24. Be4 Bf6 {Thanks to this tactical
trick Black can hold the balance.} 25. Bxf5 Bxh4 26. Be4 Rf4 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1997.09.29"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1997.09.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 061"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. Bd3 Ne7 12. Nxe7 Qxe7 13. c4 f5 14. O-O O-O
15. Qf3 bxc4 16. Nxc4 d5 17. exd5 e4 18. Qe3 Bb7 19. Rfd1 Bxd5 20. Nb6 Rad8 21.
Nxd5 Rxd5 22. Bxa6 Rxd1+ 23. Rxd1 Bxb2 24. Rd5 Qf6 25. Bc4 Rd8 26. Rxd8+
1/2-1/2

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1997.09.30"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2680"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "1997.09.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 061"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. Nc3 c5 4. e4 d6 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Bb7 7. Qe2 Nc6 8.
Nxc6 Bxc6 9. Bg5 Nd7 10. O-O-O h6 11. Be3 e6 12. Bd4 e5 13. Be3 Be7 14. Kb1 O-O
15. f3 a6 16. Nd5 Bxd5 17. Rxd5 Qc7 18. g3 Nf6 19. Rd2 b5 20. Bh3 bxc4 21. Rc1
d5 22. exd5 Rfd8 23. d6 Rxd6 24. Qxc4 Qxc4 25. Rxc4 Nd5 26. Bf2 Nc3+ 27. Kc2
Rxd2+ 28. Kxd2 Nxa2 29. Rc8+ Rxc8 30. Bxc8 Nb4 31. Kc3 a5 32. Bb7 Bd8 33. Be4
g6 34. g4 Kf8 35. Kc4 Ke8 36. h4 Kd7 37. h5 gxh5 38. Bf5+ Kc7 39. gxh5 Bg5 40.
Kb5 Nc6 41. Bb6+ Kd6 42. Bc5+ Kc7 43. Bb6+ Kd6 44. Be4 Nd4+ 45. Kxa5 f5 46. Ba8
Be3 47. Ka4 e4 48. fxe4 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1997.10.03"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "1997.09.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 061"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 dxc4 7. Nxc6 Qxd1+
8. Nxd1 bxc6 9. Bg2 Nd5 10. Ne3 e6 11. Nxc4 Ba6 12. b3 Bb4+ 13. Bd2 Ke7 14. Rc1
Rhc8 15. Bxb4+ Nxb4 16. a3 Nd5 17. Na5 c5 18. e4 Nf6 19. e5 Nd5 20. Kd2 Rab8
21. b4 f6 22. Bxd5 exd5 23. Rxc5 Rxc5 24. bxc5 Rb2+ 25. Kc3 Rb5 26. exf6+ Kxf6
27. Nb3 d4+ 28. Nxd4 Rxc5+ 29. Kb2 Rd5 30. Nb3 Bb5 31. Rc1 g5 32. Rc8 h5 33.
Nc5 Kf5 34. Rf8+ Kg4 35. Ne4 Kh3 36. Rh8 Kxh2 37. Rxh5+ Kg2 38. Nc3 Rf5 39. g4
Rxf2+ 40. Kb3 Bd7 41. Rxg5 Be6+ 42. Kb4 Rf4+ 43. Ka5 Rxg4 44. Rxg4+ Bxg4 45.
Ka6 Kf3 46. a4 Ke3 47. Nb5 Bd1 48. a5 Be2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1997.10.04"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Onischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C08"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Donev,I"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1997.09.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 061"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Ngf3 Nf6 6. Be2 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8.
dxc5 Bxc5 9. Nb3 Bb6 10. Bg5 O-O 11. c3 Re8 12. Bh4 h6 13. Re1 g5 14. Bg3 Ne4
$1 15. Nfd4 f5 $5 {[%cal Yf5f4] Es droht einerseits den Bg3 mittels f5-f4 zu
fangen und gleichzeitig wird der starken Ne4 unterstützt, andererseits
schwächt er dauerhaft den eigenen König.} 16. Bh5 $1 Rf8 17. h3 Nxg3 (17... f4
18. Bh2 a5 (18... Nxd4 19. Nxd4 Qf6 {[%cal Yb6f2,Yf6d4]} 20. Qb3 $1 Qe5 21.
Rad1 $16) 19. a4 Qf6 $14) 18. fxg3 Qd6 19. Qd3 Ne5 20. Qe3 Nc4 21. Qe7 (21. Qf2
Bd7 22. Re2 f4 $36) 21... Qxe7 22. Rxe7 Nd6 (22... Nxb2 23. Bf3 $1 (23. Rae1
Na4 $15) 23... Rd8 24. Re5 $1 (24. Rae1 g4 (24... Kf8 25. Rh7) 25. Re8+ Rxe8
26. Rxe8+ Kf7 27. Re2 gxf3 28. Rxb2 Bd7 $17) 24... Nd3 25. Rxd5 (25. Bxd5+ Kh8
26. Re3 Rxd5 27. Rxd3 $15) 25... Be6 26. Rxd8+ Rxd8 27. Rd1 $11 (27. Bxb7 $2
Bxb3 28. axb3 Rxd4 $1 $19)) 23. g4 fxg4 24. hxg4 (24. Bxg4 Bxg4 25. hxg4 Rae8
26. Rae1 $11) 24... Ne4 25. Rf1 Nf6 26. a4 (26. Kh1 $1 Bd8 27. Re5 Nxh5 (27...
Nxg4 28. Rxf8+ Kxf8 29. Re8+ Kg7 30. Rxd8 $18) (27... Bxg4 28. Bxg4 Nxg4 29.
Rxf8+ Kxf8 30. Rxd5 $11) (27... Bd7 28. Nf5 Nxh5 29. gxh5 $11 {/\g4}) 28. Rxf8+
Kxf8 29. gxh5 $11) 26... a5 (26... Bxg4 27. Rxf6 $1 Bxh5 28. Rxh6 $16) (26...
Nxg4 $2 27. Rxf8+ Kxf8 28. Re8+ Kg7 29. Bxg4 $19) 27. Rf3 Ra6 28. Kh1 Bd8 29.
Re1 Nxh5 30. gxh5 Rxf3 31. gxf3 Kf7 32. Nc5 Rb6 33. Nd3 Bf6 34. Ne5+ Kg7 (34...
Bxe5 35. Rxe5 Rxb2 36. Rxd5 $15) 35. b3 Rd6 36. Kg2 Rd8 37. Ng4 Bxd4 38. cxd4
Bxg4 39. fxg4 Kf6 40. Re5 Kf7 41. Kf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1997.10.05"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "1997.09.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 061"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 e6 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 7. Re1 d6 8. e4 a6
9. d4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Qc7 11. f4 $5 {A move, which fits in White's plan, but has
not been made in this position before. Other less usual alternatives are:} (11.
Nd5 $2 exd5 12. exd5 O-O 13. Nf5 Re8 14. Bg5 Bc8 15. Nxg7 Kxg7 16. Qd4 Nbd7 17.
b4 h6 18. Bf4 Nf8 19. Rac1 Ng6 20. Bd2 Bd7 21. Bc3 Bd8 22. Rxe8 Bxe8 23. f4 Bd7
24. h3 h5 25. Kh2 a5 26. b5 Be7 27. Bf3 Rh8 28. Re1 Bd8 29. Kg2 Qc8 30. Rh1 Bf5
{0-1,Bosboom,M-Wojtkiewicz,A/Wijk Sonnevanck/1993/}) (11. Qd3 O-O 12. b3 Nbd7
13. Bb2 Rad8 14. Rac1 Rfe8 15. h3 Bf8 16. Qe3 Qb8 17. Re2 g6 {Now the position
ressembles the 7.d4 cd4 8.Qd4 d6 9.e4 line, with the Qe3,Nd4 follow-up.} 18.
Rd1 Bg7 19. Qd2 Ba8 20. Nc2 Bf8 21. Nd4 Bg7 22. Bc1 Nc5 23. Qe1 Rc8 24. Bb2 Bb7
25. Qd2 Qa8 26. Rde1 Red8 27. Qe3 $13 {1/2,Miles,A-Olafsson,H/Thessaloniki olm/
1984/}) (11. Bg5 Nbd7 12. Rc1 O-O 13. Rc2 (13. Bh3 Rfe8 14. b4 h6 15. Bf4 Bf8
16. Nd5 Qd8 17. a3 exd5 18. cxd5 Rxe4 19. Nc6 Rxe1+ 20. Qxe1 Qe8 21. Qd2 Ne5
22. Bg2 Rc8 23. Qd4 Nxc6 {0-1,Sunye Neto,J-Hjartarson,J/Manila izt/1990/})
13... Rfe8 14. Qe2 Rad8 15. b3 Qb8 16. Bc1 Bf8 17. Bb2 Nc5 18. Qd1 Qa8 19. Rce2
Ng4 20. Rd2 Nf6 21. Rde2 Ng4 22. h3 Ne5 23. Rd2 Qb8 24. f4 Ng6 25. Nc2 Ba8 $132
{Lechtynsky,J-Stluka,P/Klatovy op/1996/}) (11. Qe2 O-O 12. Bd2 Nbd7 13. Rac1
Rfe8 14. h3 Rac8 15. b3 Qb8 16. Kh2 g6 17. Bh6 Qa8 18. Qb2 Ne5 19. Qd2 Qb8 20.
Bg5 Ned7 21. Bh6 Ba8 {1/2,Lechtynsky,J-Velickovic,S/Pamporovo/1981/}) ({
The most played move is} 11. Be3 Nc6 $5 $132 (11... Nbd7 12. f4 (12. Rc1 Rc8
13. f4 Qb8 14. Qe2 Nc5 15. Bf2 Qa8 16. g4 h6 17. h3 g6 18. Bg3 Kf8 19. Rcd1 Rc7
20. Kh2 Ncd7 21. e5 dxe5 22. fxe5 Nh7 23. Rf1 Kg7 24. Nd5 $1 $40 {Sakaev,
K-Ionescu,C/Pardubice op/1997/}) 12... Rc8 13. Bf2 $5 O-O 14. Rc1 Qb8 15. e5
Ne8 16. Qe2 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Qb7+ 18. Nf3 dxe5 19. fxe5 Nc7 20. Red1 Rfd8 21. Qe4
Qb8 22. Nd4 Ne8 23. Nc6 Rxc6 24. Qxc6 Nxe5 25. Rxd8 Qxd8 26. Qe4 $14 {
Schlosser,P-Leko,P/Capablanca mem-A/1997/}) (11... O-O 12. Rc1 {/\} Nc6 $2 13.
Nd5 $1 $18)) 11... O-O (11... Qxc4 $5 12. e5 Bxg2 13. exf6 Bxf6 14. Nf5 Qc5+
15. Kxg2 Qxf5 16. Qxd6 $44) 12. Be3 Nc6 $5 {Tukmakov,V (2570)-King,D (2515)
Moscow GMA-qual f 1990 (7) 1/2 A relatively untested idea, probably stemming
from the problems Black has been lately having in this line with the customary
development Nbd7 (see games above).Leko was maybe also inspired by a short game
} 13. Rc1 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 Rac8 $146 (14... Nd7 15. b3 Rad8 16. Qe2 Bf6 17. Bxf6
Nxf6 18. h3 Qb8 19. Red1 Ba8 20. Rd4 b5 21. Rcd1 bxc4 22. bxc4 Qb4 23. Qd2 Rc8
24. Nd5 Nxd5 25. cxd5 Qa3 $132 {Arsovic,G-Cosma,I/Belgrade TRAKO/1995/}) 15. b3
Rfe8 16. a4 Nd7 $13 {A very typical Hedgehog pawn structure and position. In
the game Kramnik seizes space on both flanks and puts pressure on Black, but
Leko manages to retain sufficient flexibility and counterchances.} 17. Rc2 Bf8
(17... Bf6 $6 18. Rd2 Bxd4+ 19. Rxd4 $36 {[%csl Rd6] ><d6}) 18. Rd2 Nb8 $5 19.
Bf2 Bc6 (19... Nc6 20. Qe2 $14 {[%csl Rb6][%cal Re2e3] /\Qe3,><b6}) 20. g4 $5 {
()>>} Qb7 21. Bf1 (21. g5 b5 $132) 21... Nd7 22. g5 (22. b4 $6 Qb8 {[%csl Rb4,
Rc4,Rf4][%cal Yd6d5] ><c4,f4,b4,/\d5 seems to be overambitious.}) 22... Nc5 23.
Bg2 (23. Qb1 g6 $13 {[%cal Rf8g7] /\Bg7}) (23. Qc2 $5 {[%cal Rb3b4] /\b4+-})
23... b5 $132 24. axb5 (24. cxb5 $143 axb5 25. axb5 (25. a5 $2 b4 $17) 25...
Bxb5 26. b4 Nd7 $5 $15 {[%csl Rb4] ><b4}) 24... axb5 25. b4 Na6 (25... Nd7 $2
26. Bf1 $1 bxc4 27. b5 Bxb5 28. Rb2 $18) 26. cxb5 Bxb5 27. Nxb5 Qxb5 28. Bf1 $1
Qb7 29. b5 Nc5 30. Qf3 Red8 31. f5 d5 $1 $11 {Black got in both typical
breaks-b6-b5 and d6-d5, and achieved full equality. But the position still
remains quite sharp.} (31... exf5 32. Qxf5 {[%cal Rf1c4,Rc4d5] /\Bc4-d5|^}) 32.
exd5 (32. fxe6 Nxe4 $1 33. exf7+ Qxf7 34. Qxf7+ Kxf7 $11) 32... exd5 33. Bd4
Ne4 34. Rg2 Bc5 35. Qe3 Bxd4 (35... Qe7 $6 36. f6 $36) 36. Qxd4 Nd6 37. g6 Nxf5
$1 (37... hxg6 $143 38. fxg6 fxg6 39. Rxg6 Nf5 40. Qe5 $40) 38. gxh7+ Kh8 (
38... Kxh7 $2 39. Bd3 g6 40. Bxf5 $18) 39. Qf4 g6 (39... Nd6 $5 40. Bd3 Qb6+
$13) 40. Bd3 Qb6+ 41. Rf2 $1 (41. Kh1 Qd4 (41... Re8 $5 {[%csl Rh1] עh1}) 42.
Qxd4+ Nxd4 $15) 41... Qf6 (41... Ng7 42. Re7 $19 (42. Qxf7 $2 Rf8)) 42. Re5 (
42. Bxf5 gxf5 (42... Qxf5 $4 43. Qd4+ $18) 43. Qxf5 Qxf5 44. Rxf5 Rd7 $11)
42... Rc1+ 43. Kg2 Nh4+ 44. Kh3 Qxf4 45. Rxf4 Rc3 $1 46. Kxh4 $8 (46. Rd4 $2
Nf3 $19) (46. Re3 Nf5 47. Ref3 Nd6 $15) 46... Rxd3 47. Rxf7 {After a long
fight White has won a pawn. But now Black has an unusual tactical resource-he
practically forces stalemate and saves the game.} Rb3 48. Rb7 (48. Kg5 Rxb5 49.
Kxg6 Rb6+ $11) 48... d4 $1 49. Kg5 d3 50. Kxg6 Rxb5 $1 (50... d2 $2 51. Rd5 $18
(51. Rbe7 Rf3 52. Re8+ Rf8 53. Rxf8+ Rxf8 54. Rd5 Rb8 $1 $11)) 51. Rbxb5 ({
Similar is} 51. Rexb5 d2 52. Rd5 d1=Q 53. Rxd1 Rd6+ $1 $11) 51... d2 (51...
Rd6+ $2 52. Kf7 d2 53. Rb8+ Kxh7 54. Rh5+ Rh6 55. Rh8+ $18) 52. Rbd5 d1=Q $8 (
52... Rxd5 $4 53. Re8#) 53. Rxd1 Rd6+ $1 54. Rxd6 (54. Kg5 Rxd1 $11) 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1997.10.08"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E39"]
[WhiteElo "2820"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Dokhojan,Y"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1997.09.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 061"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1997.11.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. dxc5 O-O 6. a3 Bxc5 7. Nf3 Nc6 8.
Bg5 Nd4 9. Nxd4 Bxd4 10. e3 Qa5 11. exd4 Qxg5 12. Qd2 Qxd2+ 13. Kxd2 b6 14. b4
d6 15. Bd3 Rd8 16. f3 h5 17. h4 Kf8 18. Rhe1 Bd7 19. Rab1 $6 (19. f4 $142 {
/\Reb1,a3-a4-a5}) 19... Rac8 20. Rec1 e5 21. Nb5 Bxb5 22. cxb5 exd4 23. Rc6 Nd5
24. Rbc1 Rxc6 25. bxc6 Nc7 26. Re1 $6 (26. g4 $142 $1 $16) 26... Re8 27. f4
Rxe1 28. Kxe1 Ke7 29. Be2 g6 30. f5 Kf6 31. fxg6 fxg6 32. Kd2 Kf5 33. g3 Ke4
34. a4 Na8 35. Bd3+ 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1997.11.12"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Anand,V"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1997.11.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{The previous day, I had lost to Lautier in a game that, as Kramnik once said
about one of his own games, "If I publish a book about my best games, this
game will not be in it!" Coincidentally, I found myself playing the same
Kramnik with Black the next day!} 1. Nf3 {Lutz} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 c6
{The Semi-Slav, which used to be Kramnik's mainstay for many years. This year
he seems to have lost interest in it, - he has played everything under the sun,
from the QGD to the KID - but I was still feeling nervous about playing it
against him!} 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 {The most dangerous continuation against the
Moscow variation. 6.Bxf6 has lost some of it's sting - Black has done quite
well recently here. Vlad plays the Moscow variation himself as Black, so this
didn't come as a surprise.} dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5 9. Be2 Bb7 10. e5 $1 (10.
O-O Nbd7 {Is more common.}) 10... Nh5 {Maybe Black will have to look at 10...
Nd5 in the future.} (10... Nd5 $5 {Lutz}) 11. a4 $1 {An excellent move -
White's idea is to force Black to play a6 and thereby deprive him of the
Na6-c7 manoeuvre. Lutz: Eine starke Neuerung, die mit einem überraschenden
Opfer verbunden ist. In der Folge stütze ich mich auf die Kommentare von V.
Anand in "Schach" 1/98 und NIC 8/97 sowie auf die Kommentare von Oscar de la
Riva in "Jaque" Nr. 463} (11. Nxg5 Nxg3 12. Nxf7 Kxf7 13. fxg3 Kg8 14. O-O Na6
$1 {/\ Nc7}) (11. O-O {Lutz 1-0 Piket,J-Dreev,A/Groningen 1991/CBM 27/[Ftacnik]
(25)}) (11. Ne4 {Lutz} Bb4+ 12. Kf1 Nd7 (12... Qd5 $5 {De la Riva}) 13. Nfxg5
Ng7 14. Nh3 Nf5 15. Bg4 Nxg3+ 16. hxg3 $16 {1-0 Relange,E-Buturin,V/Ubeda op
1997/EXP 56 (34)}) 11... a6 {By now, I had guessed his idea, but couldn't
completely believe it and anyway I didn't see anything better than a6, so I
took a deep breath!} 12. Nxg5 $1 Nxg3 13. Nxf7 Kxf7 14. fxg3 {Lutz: Weiß hat
nur einen Bauern für die Figur, aber der König des Schwarzen ist exponiert,
außerdem liegt er weit in der Entwicklung zurück.} Kg8 $1 (14... Ke8 {I don't
think Black can hope to escape to the queen side and this was a sample
variation I saw during the game. Once again, observe how the absence of
Nb8-a6-c7 changes the evaluation of the position!} 15. O-O Kd7 16. Rf7+ Be7 17.
Bg4 Kc7 18. Bxe6 Rf8 19. Rg7 Kb6 20. d5 $16) (14... Nd7 $2 {Wrong order!} 15.
Bh5+ $1 Ke7 (15... Kg7 16. O-O $1) (15... Kg8 $4 16. Qg4+ Qg5 17. Qxe6+ $18)
16. O-O Nxe5 17. dxe5 Qxd1 18. Raxd1 Rh7 19. Ne4 $18) 15. O-O Nd7 {Basically
Black wants to play 16...Qe7 against 16.Bg4 and meet 16.Bh5 with 16...Rh7, so
15...Nd7 seems like the best thing to do!} (15... c5 $5 {Lutz: wird von De la
Riva vorgeschlagen. Die schwarze Stellung ist zu unterentwickelt, als daß
dieser Zug funktionieren könnte :} 16. Qc2 Bg7 17. Qg6 {Lutz: und Schwarz wird
nicht lang überleben.}) 16. Bg4 (16. Bh5 Rh7 17. Qg4+ Qg5) (16. Bxc4 {Lutz}
bxc4 17. Qg4+ Bg7 18. Qxe6+ Kh7 19. Qf5+ {führt zum Dauerschach. (De la Riva)})
16... Qe7 17. Ne4 {Here I was struck by the fact that White has only a pawn
for a piece and still has the better position! The problem for Black is that
his bishops are awful. I dreamt for a second about how nice a B on d5 would
look, but had to return to the position on hand! Lutz: Das Hauptproblem der
schwarzen Stellung sind seine passiven Läufer.} (17. Qc2 {Lutz} Rh7 $5 18. Qg6+
Kh8 19. Bxe6 Qg5 {Lutz: und Schwarz verteidigt sich. (De la Riva)}) 17... Rh7 {
Lutz: Wie Anand analysiert, funktioniert 17...c5 nicht :} (17... c5 {The move
I spent a long time on, but in the end I decided that Black had to grovel a
bit longer.} 18. Nd6 Bd5 (18... cxd4 19. Rf7 $1 {Kramnik (Kramnik)} (19. Nxb7
Nxe5 $1 $13) 19... Qxf7 20. Nxf7 Kxf7 21. Bf3 $1 Bd5 22. Bxd5 exd5 23. Qf3+ Ke6
24. Rf1 $18) 19. Bf3 $1 (19. Rf7 Qd8 $1 (19... Qg5 20. Rxd7 $18) 20. Qc2 Qg5
21. Rxd7 (21. Raf1 Bxd6 22. exd6 Qxg4 23. R1f4 Qg5 24. Rxd7 cxd4) (21. Bf3 Bxd6
(21... Nxe5 22. dxe5 Bxd6 23. Rf4) 22. Rxd7 Bxf3 23. gxf3 Bf8) 21... Qxg4)
19... cxd4 (19... Bg7 20. Nf5 $1 $16 {So that Black can't play Qe6} (20. Bxd5
exd5 21. Nf5 Qe6 22. Qg4 Rh7) (20. Nf5 $1 {Lutz} Qe8 21. Bh5 Qd8 22. Nxg7 Kxg7
23. Qg4+)) 20. Bxd5 exd5 21. Qg4+ Bg7 $8 22. Rf7 $40 {White regains his piece
with a raging attack to boot.}) 18. Nd6 Rb8 {Vlad now sank into thought for a
long time - I imagined that he was trying to decide which of several promising
continuations to go for. As it turned out, he had spent a long time on many
lines, and didn't find anything convincing. Then he saw a move which
discourages Black's "only" resource - c6-c5 and decided to go for it.} 19. b4
$2 {What on earth is this move? I hadn't even considered it. After the
surprise faded, I realized that White was going to squash Black if I didn't do
something about it.  Incidentally, it is difficult to imagine that this pawn
move is going to be the cause of White's defeat!! Lutz: Die kritische Stellung
der Partie ist erreicht. Mit dem Textzug möchte Kramnik ...c5 verhindern.
Schwarz kann diesen Zug aber unter Bauernopfer durchsetzen.} (19. axb5 cxb5 20.
Nxb7 Rxb7 21. Rxa6 Rb6 22. Rxb6 (22. Ra8 Rb8 23. Ra7 $44) 22... Nxb6 23. Rf6
$16 {Kramnik, Kasparov} Kh8 (23... Qd8 24. Bxe6+ Kh8 25. Qg4 Bg7 (25... Be7 26.
Rg6 Bg5 27. Rg8+ Qxg8 28. Bxg8 Kxg8 29. h4 $18) 26. Rf7 $18) 24. Bxe6 $1 Bg7
25. Rg6 $16) (19. Qc2 $5 {Lutz Lutz: ist weniger überzeugend.} Rg7 20. Bh5 Qg5
(20... c5 21. Nf7 $5) 21. Bf7+ Kh8) 19... h5 $1 {If White plays Bh5, Black
hardly has a move left. Befreit den Bf8.} 20. Bh3 (20. Bxh5 Qg5 {After Bxd6,
Black can hardly be worse.}) (20. Bf3 h4 21. g4 Bh6 $15) 20... Bh6 $1 21. Kh1 {
Lutz: Dieser prophylaktische Zug nimmt ...Be3+ aus der Stellung, somit ist der
Ph5 bedroht.} Bg5 {Taking some vital squares from the White Rf1. He can't play
Rf4 or Rf6 anymore, so Black can play Nf8 eventually. What a relief it is to
get one bishop out. Now, if my other bishop could only get out...!} 22. Qc2 {
Here I saw that he wanted to "triangulate" his queen to e4. I then saw a
variation which led to White playing 26.Nxg5; I didn't see a defence and was
about to play 22...Nf8 when a crazy idea occured to me - was it actually
possible to ignore a knight poised on g5 after capturing a piece of mine?? I
spent some time checking this and decided to go for it.} (22. Ra3 c5 $1 23.
bxc5 (23. Nxb7 {Lutz} cxb4) 23... Bd5) 22... Rg7 {We both the next few moves
quickly.} (22... Nf8 {A distressing alternative. Black wants to change a pair
of rooks and this doesn't help any.} 23. Ra3 $1 $44 {/\ Raf3}) 23. Qe2 Ba8 $1 {
Lutz: Mit einer überraschenden Idee verbunden.} (23... Rh7 $2 24. Qe4 $1 $16 (
24. Qe4 {Lutz "mit klarem weißen Vorteil" gemäß Anand. Nach} Nf8 {ist mir die
Sache aber nicht so klar, da Schwarz im nächsten Zug ...c5 spielen will, z.B.}
25. Ra3 c5 26. Nxb7 Qxb7 27. Bxe6+ Nxe6 28. Qg6+ Kh8 29. Qxe6 cxd4 $17 {
Lutz: Allerdings ist Anands Textzug stärker.})) 24. Qxh5 Rf8 25. Ne4 (25. axb5
cxb5 $1 {/\ Bd5}) 25... c5 $1 26. Nxg5 Bd5 $3 {Finally the bishop gets out.
Unbelievably, Black is already better. Vlad was short of time and instead of
taking his last chance (27.Bxe6) decided to try something else. Lutz: Schwarz
gibt die Figur zurück und steht besser ! Dagegen wäre 26...Rxg5 schlecht
gewesen.} (26... Rxg5 27. Bxe6+ Kg7 28. Qh4 {I couldn't find a way out and
this was confirmed afterwards - White is winning.} cxd4 29. Bxd7 Rxf1+ 30. Rxf1
Rxe5 31. Qxd4 $18) 27. Nf3 $2 (27. Bxe6+ $1 Bxe6 28. Rxf8+ Nxf8 29. Ne4 Rh7 30.
Qd1 (30. Qe2 cxd4 $17) 30... Rxh2+ $1 31. Kxh2 Qh7+ 32. Kg1 Qxe4 $17) (27.
Rxf8+ $6 Nxf8 28. Bxe6+ Nxe6) 27... cxb4 {Capturing the pawn which advanced so
audaciously on move 19. White is already lost - the bishop on h3 is dead and
the queenside passers will decide the issue.} 28. axb5 axb5 29. Nh4 Qg5 $1 {
In his hurry, Vlad had overlooked this and now it's over. Lutz: Die schwarzen
Bauern am Damenflügel entscheiden. Ironischerweise ist es nun der weiße Läufer,
der nicht mitspielt.} 30. Rxf8+ Nxf8 31. Qe8 Rf7 {Stopping Rf1} 32. Nf3 Qg6 $1
(32... Qe3 $2 33. Bg4 $1) 33. Qxb5 b3 34. Rf1 Qd3 35. Kg1 Qe3+ 36. Kh1 c3 $1 (
36... Rb7 $4 {I considered this, but smelt a rat and decided to stick with 36..
.c3.} 37. Bxe6+ $1 $18) 37. Bxe6 $1 {I thanked my intuition for choosing 36...
c3 over 36...Rb7 and continued...} Bxe6 38. d5 Rxf3 $1 39. gxf3 {Seven passed
pawns! Lutz: Wie Anand hervorhob, befinden sich 7 Freibauern auf dem Brett !} (
39. Rxf3 c2 $19 40. Qf1 Qxf3 41. gxf3 b2) 39... Bh3 40. Qc4 Bxf1 {Either pawn
move wins, but why try something pretty on move 40?} 41. Qg4+ Kh7 42. e6 Ng6
0-1

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1997.11.13"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C43"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1997.11.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nxd7 Bxd7 7. O-O Bd6 8.
Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 O-O 10. Qh5 f5 11. Rb1 b6 12. Qf3 c6 13. Bf4 Qc7 14. Bxd6 Qxd6
15. Rfe1 Rae8 16. Rxe8 Rxe8 17. c4 Qa3 18. h4 Qxa2 19. Rf1 dxc4 20. Bxf5 Bxf5
21. Qxf5 c3 22. Qd3 Qd5 23. Qxc3 Re4 24. Qg3 Rxd4 25. Qb8+ Qd8 26. Qxa7 h6 27.
Qa2+ Kh8 28. g3 b5 29. Qe6 Qd5 30. Qxd5 Rxd5 31. Ra1 Rc5 32. Ra2 Kh7 33. Kf1
1/2-1/2

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1997.11.14"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2565"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1997.11.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e6 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 7. Re1 d5 8. cxd5
exd5 9. d4 O-O 10. dxc5 bxc5 11. Nh4 Qd7 12. e4 Nxe4 13. Nxe4 dxe4 14. Qxd7
Nxd7 15. Bxe4 Bxe4 16. Rxe4 Bf6 17. Nf3 Rfb8 18. Rb1 Rb4 19. Rxb4 cxb4 20. Be3
Nb6 21. Bd4 Bxd4 22. Nxd4 Rc8 23. Re1 Kf8 24. Re5 Rc4 25. Nf5 g6 26. Ne3 Rc1+
27. Kg2 b3 28. axb3 Rb1 29. g4 h6 30. Rb5 Rxb2 31. h4 Kg7 32. h5 Rb1 33. hxg6
fxg6 34. f4 Rc1 35. Kf3 Rc3 36. Ke4 Rc7 37. Ra5 Re7+ 38. Kf3 Rc7 39. b4 Kf7 40.
Ra3 Kg7 41. Rd3 Nc4 42. Nxc4 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1997.11.17"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "132"]
[EventDate "1997.11.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Stohl} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 O-O 5. d4 d6 6. Be2 Nc6 (6... e5 {
Stohl: Kramnik used to play Petrosjan's} 7. d5 {earlier, scoring two wins over
Kasparov.}) 7. O-O e5 8. d5 Ne7 9. b4 {Nowadays very popular, especially due
to Kramnik. To learn something about this line it's more or less enough to
study his games against the King's Indian in the last 2 years.} Nh5 (9... a5 {
Stohl} 10. Ba3 (10. bxa5 c5 {Stohl: has somehow fallen into oblivion.}) 10...
axb4 11. Bxb4 Nd7 12. a4 Bh6 13. a5 f5 14. Nd2 Nf6 15. c5 Bxd2 16. Qxd2 Nxe4
17. Nxe4 fxe4 18. Bc3 Nf5 19. Ra4 Nh4 20. Rxe4 g5 21. Rb4 Ng6 22. cxd6 cxd6 23.
Rb6 Nf4 24. Bb4 Rf6 25. Rc1 $16 {Kramnik,V-Van Wely,L/Monaco bl/1997/}) 10. Re1
{Stohl: Ivan Sokolov's move, which has radically gained popularity and
replaced all the other alternatives as} (10. g3 {Stohl}) (10. Nd2 {Stohl or}) (
10. c5 {Granda Zuniga,J (2605)-Nunn,J (2615) Amsterdam Donner 1995 (9) 1-0
Stohl: The idea of 10.Re1 is to prepare the f1 square for White's B in case
it's attacked by Nf4. Sokolov was most probably inspired by Granda, but wanted
to avoid the unpleasant consequences of the Bg4 pin.}) 10... f5 {Stohl:
Probably the best.} (10... a5 {Stohl} 11. bxa5 ({Harmless is} 11. Ba3 $6 Nf4
12. Bf1 Bg4 13. h3 Bxf3 14. Qxf3 axb4 15. Bxb4 c5 16. dxc6 Nxc6 17. a3 Ne6 18.
Nb5 Ned4 19. Qd3 Nxb4 20. axb4 Qb6 21. Nxd4 exd4 22. Qd2 Ra7 23. Rec1 Rfa8 24.
Rxa7 {1/2,Kramnik,V-Gelfand,B/Dortmund/1996/}) 11... Rxa5 12. Nd2 Nf4 13. Bf1
c5 14. a4 Ra6 15. Ra3 $1 g5 16. g3 Nh3+ 17. Bxh3 Bxh3 18. Qh5 Qd7 19. Qxg5 h6
20. Qe3 f5 21. Qe2 f4 22. Nb5 Kh7 23. gxf4 exf4 24. Kh1 $14 {Kramnik,
V-Kasparov,G/Novgorod/1997/}) ({Stohl: The prophylactic} 10... h6 {Stohl} 11.
c5 Nf4 12. Bf1 g5 13. Nd2 f5 14. Nc4 {seems too slow.}) ({Stohl: Black can
also play first} 10... Nf4 {Stohl} 11. Bf1 {and then one of the abovementioned
moves.} f5 $143 $6 12. Bxf4 exf4 (12... fxe4 13. Bxe5 $1 exf3 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15.
g3 $16 {[%csl Rf3,Rg7] ע,f3}) 13. e5 a5 $5 (13... dxe5 $143 14. Nxe5 a5 15. c5
axb4 16. Bc4 $1 $40) 14. bxa5 Rxa5 15. Qd2 dxe5 16. Nxe5 g5 17. Rad1 {[%csl
Gd5,Ge5][%cal Gd1d4,Ge1e4] [+]|^}) 11. Ng5 (11. c5 {Stohl} fxe4 12. Nxe4 Nf4
13. Bxf4 Rxf4 14. Nfd2 dxc5 15. Bc4 Nxd5 16. Nb3 c6 17. Nbxc5 Kh8 18. b5 Rf8
19. Rb1 Nb6 20. Qxd8 Rxd8 21. Ng5 Rd4 22. Bb3 cxb5 23. Nf7+ Kg8 24. Nd6+ Kh8
25. Nf7+ Kg8 26. Nd6+ Kh8 27. Nxb5 Rd8 28. Rbd1 $44 {Kramnik,V-Gelfand,B/
Novgorod/1996/ Stohl: The second act of the theoretical duel in this line.})
11... Nf6 (11... Nf4 {Stohl} 12. Bxf4 exf4 13. Rc1 Bf6 (13... fxe4 14. Ncxe4
Nf5 15. Bg4 $1 $14) 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6 Bxc3 16. Rxc3 fxe4 17. Bf1 e3 18.
fxe3 fxe3 19. Rcxe3 c6 20. Qd2 d5 21. cxd5 cxd5 22. Qd4 Qd6 23. Qc5 {Kramnik,
V-Shirov,A/Tilburg/1997/} Qxc5 24. bxc5 b6 $14 {Stohl: gives Black drawing
chances.}) 12. Bf3 (12. f3 $143 {Stohl} c6 13. Be3 Bh6 $1 14. Bd2 Kg7 {[%cal
Yf6h5,Yh5f4] /\Nh5-f4<=>}) 12... c6 {Act 3:} (12... fxe4 $6 {Stohl} 13. Ngxe4
Nf5 14. Bg5 Nd4 15. Nb5 $1 Nxf3+ 16. Qxf3 Bf5 17. Qb3 $1 Bxe4 18. Rxe4 Qd7 19.
Bxf6 Rxf6 20. Rae1 $16 {Kramnik,V-Gelfand,B/Vienna/1996/}) 13. Be3 {Stohl:
Kramnik's new move} ({Stohl: But also the older continuation is interesting-} 
13. Bb2 {Stohl} h6 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6 fxe4 16. Bxe4 $5 d5 17. cxd5 cxd5 18.
Bc2 e4 $5 $132 (18... Qd6 19. Na4 $1 $36)) 13... f4 (13... cxd5 {Stohl} 14.
cxd5 h6 15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6 fxe4 17. Nxe4 Nxe4 18. Bxe4 d5 19. Bc2 e4 (19...
b6 $1) 20. Rc1 d4 $2 21. Bd2 e3 22. fxe3 d3 23. Bb3 Qd6 24. Qg4 Be5 25. Rf1 $1
Bxh2+ 26. Kh1 Qg3 27. Qd4 Qe5 28. Rf7 $18 {Kramnik,V-Polgar,J/Linares/1997/}) (
13... h6 {Stohl} 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6 {Stohl: can lead to the same position,
Piket's idea} g5 $6 16. exf5 (16. h3 f4 17. Bc1 Ng6 18. c5 dxc5 19. bxc5 Qe7
20. Rb1 Rfe8 21. Qb3 Rab8 22. Ba3 Nh4 23. Be2 f3 24. Bxf3 Nxf3+ 25. gxf3 Qxe6
26. Qxe6+ Rxe6 27. Rb3 b5 $17 {Kramnik,V-Piket,J/Monaco bl/1997/}) 16... Nxf5
17. b5 $36 {is not very impressive.}) 14. Bc1 h6 {Stohl: Gelfand chooses a
continuation which gave Black good results lately.} (14... cxd5 $143 {Stohl}
15. cxd5 (15. exd5 $6 e4 16. Rxe4 $15 (16. Bxe4 $2 h6 $1 $19)) 15... h6 16. Ne6
Bxe6 17. dxe6 {Stohl: only opens the positon for White's ^^, also Pe6 is
stronger than it seems:} Nc6 18. Nd5 Re8 19. Qb3 Kh7 20. Bb2 {/\} Rxe6 21. Nc7
$16) 15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6 Nc8 17. b5 $1 $146 {Stohl: An important novelty.} (
17. Qb3 Qe7 18. c5 Re8 19. Be2 Kh7 20. Ba3 (20. b5 $146 Qxe6 21. Bc4 Qe7 22.
Ba3 dxc5 23. bxc6 bxc6 24. Na4 $44 Nd6 25. Bxc5 Qc7 26. Bxd6 Qxd6 27. Red1 Qe7
28. Qc2 Rad8 29. Nc5 Rxd1+ 30. Rxd1 Rd8 31. Rxd8 Qxd8 32. Ne6 Qa5 33. Kf1 Qb4
34. g3 Qa3 35. Bb3 Qd6 36. Ke2 Nd7 37. Qc4 Nb6 38. Qc3 fxg3 39. hxg3 Bf6 40.
Qa5 Qe7 41. Qc3 Qd6 {1/2-1/2 Iskusnyh,S-Fedorov,A/RUS-Cup01 Chigorin mem 1997})
(20. Bc4 {Stohl} b5 $1 $15) 20... Qxe6 21. Bc4 Qe7 22. Rad1 b5 23. cxb6 Nxb6
24. b5 Nxc4 25. Qxc4 c5 26. Nd5 Nxd5 27. Rxd5 Bf8 28. Bb2 Reb8 29. a4 a6 30.
Bc3 axb5 (30... axb5 31. axb5 {1/2-1/2 Krasenkow,M-Shulman,Y/Vilnius 1997/CBM
60/[Shulman]}) 31. axb5 {1/2-1/2 Krasenkow,M-Shulman,Y/Vilnius 1997/CBM 60/
[Shulman]}) 17... Qe8 (17... Re8 18. bxc6 bxc6 19. c5 Rxe6 20. Qb3 Qe8 21. Be2
Nd7 22. Ba3 Rb8 23. Qa4 $44 (23. Qc4)) (17... Qe7 $142 $1 {Stohl} 18. bxc6 bxc6
19. c5 $1 (19. Qa4 $143 Nb6 20. Qxc6 Rfc8 21. Qb5 Qxe6 $15) 19... dxc5 20. Ba3
Nb6 {Stohl: Here we see the difference-Pc5 is protected for a while.} 21. Na4
Nxa4 22. Qxa4 Qxe6 23. Bxc5 Rfd8 24. Be2 Kh8 $13 {[%cal Rf6d7,Rd7b6] /\Nd7-b6
Stohl: Black's situation is certainly far less dangerous, than in the game.}) (
17... c5 $143 $6 {Stohl} 18. Nd5 Re8 19. Nxf6+ Bxf6 20. Bg4 h5 21. Bh3 $36 {
[%csl Ge6,Rg8][%cal Yg2g3] Stohl: White has protected his pawn and wants to
open and attack the >> with g3. Black's pieces lack coordination.}) (17... Nb6
{Stohl} 18. bxc6 bxc6 19. Ba3 $5 (19. c5 dxc5 20. Ba3 Qe7 {-17...Qe7}) (19. Qb3
$5 Qe7 20. Ba3 {/\} Qxe6 $6 21. Bxd6 $1 $36) 19... c5 (19... Nxc4 $2 20. Qb3
$18) 20. Nb5 $142 $1 {/\} (20. Nd5 Re8 21. Nxf6+ Bxf6 $5 (21... Qxf6 22. Qxd6
Bf8 $5 $11 (22... Nxc4 23. Qxc5 Nxa3 (23... Rac8 $2 24. Qxa7 Ra8 25. Qf7+ $16)
24. Qxa3 Qxe6 25. Bd1 $1 Bf8 26. Qa4 $36 {[%csl Gd1,Rf7,Rf8,Rg7,Rg8,Rh7] >>K^-}
)) 22. Bg4 Nxc4 23. Qd5 Qa5 $1 24. Qxc4 Qxa3 25. Rab1 Rab8 $15) 20... Nxc4 $6
21. Qb3 a6 22. e7 $1 Qxe7 23. Qxc4+ d5 24. Qc1 $1 axb5 25. Bxc5 $16 {Stohl:
It's unbelievable how strong the seemingly helpless Pe6 can be.}) 18. bxc6 bxc6
19. c5 $1 Qxe6 (19... dxc5 20. Ba3 Qxe6 {Stohl: Now White's N gets to c5 with
strong pressure} 21. Na4 {-see game}) 20. Ba3 dxc5 {Stohl: Now White's N gets
to c5 with strong pressure} (20... Rd8 $142 $5 {Stohl /\d5} 21. Qd3 $142 $5 (
21. Qa4 dxc5 $132 {[%cal Yc8b6] /\Nb6}) (21. Qc2 d5 $1 22. exd5 cxd5 $5 23.
Qxg6 Ne7 $13 {[%cal Re5e4] /\e4}) (21. Qe2 d5 22. exd5 cxd5 (22... Nxd5 23. Bb2
$36) 23. Qxe5 Qxe5 24. Rxe5 Ne4 25. Rxd5 Rxd5 26. Nxd5 Bxa1 27. Bxe4 Rb8 28. c6
$44) (21. cxd6 $143 Nxd6 $15) 21... d5 (21... Rd7 22. Qa6 $1 dxc5 23. Na4 $16)
22. exd5 cxd5 23. Rad1 Ne7 24. c6 $1 Nxc6 25. Nxd5 Kh7 26. Nxf4 Rxd3 27. Nxe6
Rxa3 28. Bxc6 Rc8 $14) 21. Na4 $16 {[%cal Ga3f8,Gf3d1,Gd1b3,Gb3g8,Ya4c5,Yc5e6,
Yc5d7] The white have more than enough compensation for sacrifised material
because of strong bishop's pressure on the diagonals a3-f8,b3-g8 in
combination with strong knight on "c5".The black have no counterplay and can
just defend a lot of weakness in their position.} Nb6 22. Nxc5 Qf7 {Stohl: /
\Rfd8,Bf8} 23. Qc1 $1 {[%cal Gf3d1,Gd1b3] Stohl: A great move, activating the
still passive Bf3. It's clear now White's plan has triumphed and Black is
fighting for bare survival.} Qc4 (23... Rfc8 24. Bd1 Qe8 25. Bb3+ Kh7 26. Rd1
$36 {[%cal Gd1d6]}) (23... Nc4 $2 {Stohl} 24. Bd1 $18 {loses at least an
exchange.}) 24. Bd1 Qxc1 25. Rxc1 $16 {+-Exchange of queens doesn't help the
black as it is easy for the white to win weak pawns of the black now.} Rfc8 {
Stohl: Black of course wants to have at least a pawn for his suffering.} 26.
Bb3+ Kh7 27. Ne6 {[%csl Rc6,Re5]} a5 $1 {[%csl Rb3][%cal Ya8a7,Ya5a4] ׫} (
27... Nfd7 $5 {[%cal Yc6c5,Yg7f6] Stohl /\c5,Bf6}) 28. Nxg7 Kxg7 29. Be6 Nbd7 (
29... Nfd7 30. Red1 Ra7 (30... Rc7 31. Bd6 (31. Rd6 c5) (31. Rd6 $40 {Stohl})
31... Rcc8 32. Rb1 Kf6 33. Bxd7 Nxd7 34. Rb7 $18) 31. Bc5 Rb8 32. Bxd7 Rxd7 33.
Bd6 $18 {[%cal Gd6e5,Gd6b8,Gc1c6]}) (29... Rc7 $2 {Stohl} 30. Bd6 $18) 30. Red1
Ra7 31. Bb2 {[%cal Gb2e5,Ge6c8]} (31. f3 $5 $16 {Stohl}) 31... Rcc7 ({Stohl:
More active was} 31... Rb8 $1 {Stohl} 32. Ba1 Rb6 33. Rd6 Rab7 {[%cal Rc6c5] /
\c5}) 32. f3 {[%cal Gd1d6]} Kf8 {Stohl: Now White regains his pawn with
interest. But passive defense was also quite dreary-} (32... Rab7 33. Ba3 $16 {
[%csl Ra5,Rc6,Re5][%cal Gd1d6]}) (32... c5 {Stohl} 33. Rd6 Rab7 34. Bc3 a4 35.
Rcd1 {[%csl Ra4,Gc3,Rc5,Re5,Ge6] ^^,׫}) 33. Rd6 Rab7 (33... g5 {Stohl} 34.
Rcxc6 $16 {Stohl: Gelfand prefers to give up his K-side pawns to retain some
hope for counterplay.}) 34. Ba3 (34. Bc3 $143 $6 {Stohl} Ke7 35. Rcd1 Nd5 $1
$15) 34... c5 35. Bxd7 {White start to win pawns,transforming positional
advantage in material.} Nxd7 36. Rxg6 Kf7 (36... h5 37. Rh6 $18) 37. Rxh6 $18
c4 38. g3 $1 (38. Rd6 $5 Nf8 {[%cal Yf8e6,Ye6d4]} (38... c3 39. Rc2 (39. Rd3 {
Stohl} c2 40. Kf2 Rb1 41. Ke2 $18 {Stohl: reliably checks the passed pawn.})
39... Rb1+ 40. Kf2 Nf8 41. Rd3 $18) 39. Rd5 Ne6 40. Bd6 $18) 38... fxg3 (38...
c3 39. gxf4 exf4 40. Bd6 $18) 39. hxg3 c3 40. Rc2 (40. Rh2 $6 {this very
passive plan gives the black chances for counterplay.} Rc6 41. Rhc2 Rbc7 42.
Kf2 Nf6 43. Ke2 Nh5 $132) (40. Rd6 {Stohl} c2 41. Rd3 Rb1 42. Kf2 $18) 40...
Nf8 {Stohl: Th only chance. From now on Gelfand defends tenaciously and with
help from White manages to save a hopeless position.} 41. Bd6 $1 (41. Rd6 $2 {
Stohl} Ne6 42. Rd3 Nd4 $19) (41. Bxf8 {Stohl} Kxf8 $132 (41... Rb1+ $5 42. Kf2
Kxf8 $44)) 41... Rb1+ (41... Rb2 42. Bxc7 (42. Rc1 $1 {Stohl} Rcb7 (42... c2
43. Bxc7 Rb1 44. Rc6 Rxc1+ 45. Kg2 $18) 43. Rh2 Rxh2 44. Kxh2 Rb2+ 45. Kh3 $18)
42... Rxc2 43. Bxe5 Ne6 44. Kf1 $18 {[%csl Rc3][%cal Gf1d1]}) (41... Rc4 $142
$5 {Stohl} 42. Rhh2 $1 (42. Bxe5 $2 Rb1+ 43. Kf2 Rb2 $1 44. Rxb2 cxb2 45. Rb6
Nd7 46. Rb7 b1=Q $11) 42... Nd7 43. Kf2 Ke6 44. Ba3 $16) 42. Kf2 Rb2 43. Bxc7
Rxc2+ 44. Ke3 Rxa2 (44... Ng6 45. Bxa5 $18) 45. Bxe5 c2 (45... Ra3 {Stohl} 46.
Rc6 {-45...c2}) 46. Rc6 Ra3+ (46... Ne6 {Stohl} 47. f4 Ra3+ 48. Ke2 $18 {/\}
Rxg3 $2 49. f5) 47. Ke2 Ra2 48. Kd2 Ne6 {[%cal Ye6g5,Yg5f3,Yg5e4]} 49. f4 (49.
Rxc2 $4 Rxc2+ 50. Kxc2 Ng5 51. Kb3 (51. f4 {Stohl} Nxe4 52. g4 Nf2 53. g5 Kg6
$11) (51. Kd3 Nxf3 52. Bf4 Kf6 $11) 51... Nxf3 52. Bf4 Nh2 $11) 49... c1=Q+ $1
{Stohl: Gelfand eliminates the central pawn.} (49... Ra4 50. Kd3 Ra3+ 51. Kxc2
Rxg3 52. f5 Rg2+ 53. Kd3 $18) (49... a4 $2 {Stohl} 50. g4 $18 {Stohl: and
White's pawns decide.}) 50. Kxc1 Ra4 51. Kd2 Rxe4 52. Bc3 $1 {[%csl Re4][%cal
Gc3a5,Gd2d3]} Ke7 (52... Nxf4 $2 53. Rf6+ $18) 53. Kd3 $1 Ra4 54. f5 Nd8 (54...
Ng5 55. Bf6+ (55. Rg6 {Stohl} Nf7 56. g4 $18) 55... Kd7 56. Bxg5 $1 Kxc6 57. f6
Rb4 (57... Ra3+ 58. Ke4 $18) 58. f7 Rb8 59. Be7 $18) 55. Ra6 (55. Bf6+ $142 {
Stohl} Kd7 56. Rc4 Rxc4 (56... Ra3+ 57. Rc3 $18) 57. Kxc4 Nf7 58. Kd5 $18 {
Stohl: and Black can't blockade White's pawns.}) 55... Nf7 56. Ra7+ (56. Rxa5
$2 {Stohl} Rxa5 57. Bxa5 Kf6 $10) (56. Re6+ $142 $5 {Stohl} Kf8 57. Re4 Ra3 58.
g4 {[%csl Gf5,Gg4] Stohl: o^f,g}) 56... Ke8 57. Ra8+ Ke7 58. Ra7+ Ke8 59. Rxa5
Rg4 {Stohl: An amazing endgame. Suddenly the blockade is very real and White
has problems achieving any progress.} (59... Rxa5 $2 {Stohl} 60. Bxa5 Ke7 61.
Bc3 $1 $18) 60. Be1 Ke7 {Stohl: Lákavé bolo} (60... Nd6 $143 {[%cal Rg4g5]
Stohl /\Rg5} 61. Rd5 (61. Ke3 $2 Rxg3+ $1 62. Bxg3 Nc4+ $11) 61... Kd7 62. Bf2
$1 (62. Ke3 $2 Re4+ 63. Kf2 Kc6 64. Ra5 Kb6 $1 65. Bd2 Rd4 66. Ra2 Rd5 $1 $11 {
Stohl: and White loses a pawn.} (66... Nxf5 $2 67. Be3 $18)) 62... Rg5 (62...
Kc6 63. Rc5+ Kd7 64. Ke3 $18) 63. Bc5 Kc6 (63... Rxg3+ 64. Kd4 Rg4+ 65. Ke5
Re4+ 66. Kf6 Kc6 67. Rxd6+ $18 {_|_}) 64. Rxd6+ Kxc5 65. Rd8 $18) (60... Ng5 {
Stohl} 61. Ra6 $1) 61. Bf2 (61. Ra6 $1 Ng5 (61... Nd6 $1 {Stohl} 62. f6+ Kd7
63. Kc2 $5 (63. Bf2 Rg6 64. f7 Nxf7 $1 $11) 63... Nf7 $14 {Stohl: it's
difficult to say if White can win this position.}) (61... Rg5 62. Bb4+ Kd7 63.
Ra7+ Ke8 64. Re7+ Kf8 65. Re4+ Kg8 66. g4 Kh7 67. Ke3 $1 Nh6 68. Kf3 Nxf5 69.
Kf4 $1 Kg6 70. Re6+ $18) 62. Rg6 Kf7 63. Kc2 $1 {[%cal Ge1d2] Ilic} Rc4+ $8 64.
Bc3 Ne4 65. Kd3 $18) (61. Ke3 Ng5 {[%cal Yg4e4]}) 61... Ng5 $1 $11 {[%csl Rg3]
[%cal Ye7f7,Yg5e4] Stohl: Now it's a draw!} 62. Ra6 (62. Ke2 Ne4 63. Kf3 Nxf2
64. Kxf2 Kf6 65. Kf3 Rb4 $11) (62. Ke3 {Stohl} Re4+ 63. Kd2 Rg4 $11) (62. Rb5 {
Stohl} Kf7 {[%cal Rg5e4] Stohl: /\Ne4}) 62... Kf7 63. Ke2 (63. Rg6 {Stohl} Nh3
$1 $10) 63... Ne4 {[%csl Rf5,Rg3]} 64. Ra5 (64. Ke3 {Stohl} Nxf2 $1 {Stohl:
Draws immediately} (64... Nxg3 $143 65. Kf3 Rg5 66. Bxg3 Rxf5+ $11) 65. Kxf2
Rg5 66. f6 Kg6 $1 (66... Rf5+ 67. Ke3 Rxf6 $4 68. Rxf6+ Kxf6 69. Kf4 $18) 67.
Kf3 Rf5+ 68. Ke4 Rg5 $11) 64... Rg5 65. Kf3 Nxf2 66. Kxf2 Kf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1997.11.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Lautier, Joel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "1997.11.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 b6 8. Be2
Bb7 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. b4 c6 12. O-O a5 13. bxa5 Rxa5 14. a4 c5 15.
Qb3 Na6 16. Rfb1 Nb4 17. Na2 Nxa2 18. Rxa2 Ba6 19. Bxa6 Rxa6 20. Qb5 Qa8 21.
dxc5 bxc5 22. Qxc5 Rxa4 23. Rxa4 Qxa4 24. h3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1997.11.20"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Georgiev, Kiril"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D71"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "1997.11.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8.
e3 Qa5 9. Ne2 cxd4 10. exd4 O-O 11. O-O Nc6 12. Qb3 Rd8 13. d5 Ne5 14. Bg5 Re8
15. Nd4 Bd7 16. Rab1 b6 17. Bf4 Rac8 18. Bxe5 Bxe5 19. Nc6 Qxc3 20. Qxc3 Bxc3
21. Nxa7 Ra8 22. Nc6 Rxa2 23. Rxb6 Rb2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Belgrade Investbank"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1997.11.21"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Baburin,A"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1997.11.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qa4+ Bd7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 Nc6 7. d4 Bg7 8.
e4 O-O 9. e5 Be6 10. exf6 Bxc4 11. fxg7 Kxg7 12. Bxc4 Nxd4 13. Nxd4 Qxd4 14.
Be2 {This position is yet another example of how unusual material correlations
arise as a result of opening play. It is hard to assess this position and as I
am using this game just as an example of one particular theme I would like to
use the assessment, very popular among commentators - 'unclear'! Of course,
two extra pawns is a valuable addition to the black queen, but White has no
weaknesses and can target Black's pawns.} Rad8 15. O-O Qe5 16. Be3 Rd7 17. Rfe1
Qa5 18. a3 Rfd8 19. Bg4 f5 20. Bf3 e5 21. Bg5 (21. Bxb7 $1 c5 22. Bc6 Rd6 (
22... f4 23. Bxd7 Rxd7 24. Bc1 c4 25. h3 $1 $18 {Anand; /\ Re2, Bd2}) 23. Bb5
a6 24. Bf1 $18) 21... e4 22. Be2 c6 23. Bxd8 Qxd8 24. Red1 b5 25. Rxd7+ Qxd7
26. Rd1 Qe6 27. g3 a5 28. Rd2 e3 29. Rd3 exf2+ 30. Kxf2 Qe5 31. Bf3 Qc5+ 32.
Kf1 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-Cup 13th final"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "1997.12.28"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A39"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "1997.12.28"]
[EventType "team-k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Yerevan"]
[BlackTeam "Kazan Sberbank-Tatarstan"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ARM"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 c5 4. Nf3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O Nc6 8.
Nc3 Ng4 9. e3 d6 10. b3 Nxd4 11. exd4 Nh6 12. Bxh6 Bxh6 13. Re1 Bg7 14. Rc1 Rb8
15. b4 Be6 16. d5 Bf5 17. Qd2 a5 18. a3 axb4 19. axb4 Qb6 20. Ne4 Qd4 21. Qxd4
Bxd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-Cup 13th final"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "1997.12.29"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "1997.12.28"]
[EventType "team-k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Kazan Sberbank-Tatarstan"]
[BlackTeam "Azov Ladya"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Bb4 {Die sogenannte Ragozin-Variante des
Damengambits, in der Schwarz nach lebendigem Figurenspiel strebt. Das ganze
System ist nach meiner Meinung etwas riskant f�r Schwarz. Ribli.} 5. Qa4+ {
Kramnik w�hlt eine Nebenvariante. Die prinzipielle Fortsetzung ist 5.cxd5
exd5 6.Bg5.} Nc6 6. a3 Be7 (6... Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 Bd7 (7... O-O 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bh4
Bd7 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Qc2 b5 12. e3 Rb8 13. Bd3 Qe7 14. O-O Rfe8 15. Nd2 Na5
16. Nb3 Nb7 17. Rfe1 {1-0 Bertok,M-Krstev,K/JUG-ch 1961 (36)}) 8. cxd5 (8. Qc2
O-O 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Bg5 Re8 11. e3 h6 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. Be2 Bf5 14. Qa2 Rad8
15. O-O Rd6 16. c4 dxc4 17. Qxc4 Be4 $13 {Yepez,O-Ortega,R/Panamerican 1966/
1-0 (63)}) 8... exd5 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bxf6 (10. Bh4 g5 11. Bg3 Ne4 $13) 10... Qxf6
11. e3 (11. Qb3 Qd6 12. e3 (12. Qxb7 Rb8 13. Qa6 Bf5 (13... Nxd4 14. Qxd6 Nxf3+
15. gxf3 cxd6 $10) 14. e3 O-O 15. Be2 Rb2 16. O-O Rfb8 $44) 12... Bf5 $13)
11... O-O 12. Be2 a6 13. Qb3 Qd6 14. O-O b5 15. Ne1 Na5 16. Qb4 Qxb4 17. cxb4
Nc4 {1/2-1/2 Jelling,E-Hector,J/Bellinge 1991}) 7. cxd5 (7. e3 O-O 8. Qc2 dxc4
9. Bxc4 Bd6 10. b4 e5 11. b5 exd4 12. bxc6 dxc3 13. Qxc3 bxc6 14. Bb2 Rb8 15.
h3 Qe7 16. O-O c5 17. Rae1 Be6 18. Nd2 Rfd8 19. f4 Qd7 20. Re2 Bf8 21. Qc2 Bxc4
22. Nxc4 Qd3 23. Qxd3 Rxd3 24. Bxf6 gxf6 25. Rc2 {1/2-1/2 Puc,S-Sokolov,V/
Sarajevo 1958 (28)}) 7... exd5 8. Bf4 O-O 9. e3 Bf5 10. Ba6 $5 {Eine orginelle
Art, den L�ufer zu entwickeln.} (10. Be2 $10 {lenkt in eine normale
Damengambitstellung, aber der schwarze Springer steht auf c6 nicht gl�cklich.
}) 10... bxa6 11. Qxc6 Rb8 $13 12. b4 (12. Bxc7 Qc8 13. Nd1 (13. Nxd5 Nxd5 14.
Qxd5 Rb5 15. Qc6 Rxb2 16. Rc1 (16. O-O Rc2 $19) 16... Bxa3 17. O-O Rb7 18. Rc3
(18. Rc4 Bd3) 18... Bb4 19. Rcc1 Bd3 20. Rfd1 Be2 $17) 13... Rb6 (13... Rb7 14.
Rc1) 14. Qc1 (14. Qc3 Ne4) 14... Rb7 15. Bf4 Qe6 16. O-O Rc8 17. Nc3 Ne4 $44
18. Nd2 Nxc3 19. bxc3 Bd8) 12... Rb6 13. Qa4 Nh5 14. Bg3 (14. Be5 Bg4 $13) (14.
Bxc7 Qxc7 15. Nxd5 Qb7 16. Nxb6 axb6 $13 {Schwarz hat zwei Leichtfiguren gegen
Turm und zwei Bauern.}) 14... Rh6 {Strategisch Schwarz steht sehr schlecht.
Praktisch alle seine Bauern am Damenfl�gel sind schwach. Andererseits
besitzt er das L�uferpaar und gro�e Initiative am K�nigsfl�gel.} 15.
O-O (15. Ke2 $5 {Ein auf den ersten Blick sonderbarer Zug, aber der Koenig
steht hier keineswegs schlechter als in der Partie auf g1.} Bg4 $13) 15... Nxg3
16. hxg3 Bd6 17. Rfe1 (17. Nxd5 Bxg3 (17... Be4 $5 18. Nc3 (18. Nf4 Bxf4 19.
exf4 Bxf3 20. gxf3 Qc8 21. g4 Qd8 22. g5 (22. Kg2 Qxd4 (22... Qh4 $2 23. Rh1
$16) 23. f5 c5) 22... Rh4) 18... Bxf3 19. gxf3 Qc8 20. g4 Qd8 21. Rfc1 Qh4 22.
Kf1 Qh3+ 23. Ke2 Rf6 24. Qc6 Bxb4) 18. fxg3 Qxd5 19. Ne5 Be4 20. Nxf7 $1 Rxf7
21. Qe8+ $18) 17... Be4 18. Nxe4 (18. Nd2 Bf5 19. Nf3 Be4 $10) 18... dxe4 19.
Nd2 f5 $1 20. Qxa6 (20. Nc4 Qg5 21. Qd1 Rh5 22. Rc1 Qh6 23. Kf1 Rh1+ 24. Ke2
$14 {Wenn Wei� den schwarzen Angriff abwehren kann, hat er gute Aussichten
im Endspiel.}) 20... Qg5 21. Qe2 {Gegen 22...Qh5 gerichtet.} (21. Qc4+ $5 Kh8
22. Qe2 {In einigen Varianten macht dies einen gro�en Unterschied wegen der
schwachen schwarzen Grundreihe.}) 21... Rh5 22. Nc4 $2 (22. Nf1 Qh6 23. f4 exf3
24. Qxf3 Rh1+ (24... f4 25. exf4 Bxf4 26. Qb3+ Kh8 27. gxf4 Rh1+ 28. Kf2 Qxf4+
29. Ke2) 25. Kf2 Qe6 $44) 22... Qh6 23. f4 exf3 24. Qxf3 {#} Bxg3 $3 $17 {
Dieser sch�ne Zug bietet dem Schwarzen Vorteil. Die Aufstellung der
schwarzen Schwerfiguren ist so �berzeugend, da� Wei� die Dame abgeben
mu�.} 25. Qxg3 f4 26. Qg4 (26. exf4 Rxf4 27. Re8+ {H�tte Wei� 21.Qc4 Kh8
22.Qe2 gespielt - w�re jetzt Matt, aber in diesem Fall h�tte Schwarz
nat�rlich anders spielen m�ssen.} Kf7 28. Qxf4+ Qxf4 29. Rf1 Rh1+ $19)
26... fxe3 27. Qxh5 $8 Qxh5 28. Nxe3 (28. Rxe3 Qf7 29. Rc3 (29. Rc1 Qf2+ 30.
Kh2 Rf4 $19) 29... Qf2+ 30. Kh2 Qh4+ 31. Kg1 (31. Rh3 Qxd4 32. Rc1 Qf4+ $19)
31... Qxd4+ $19) 28... Qh4 {Turm und Springer bieten keine ausreichende
Kompensation f�r die Dame. Fr�her oder sp�ter setzt sich der schwarze
Materialvorteil durch.} 29. Re2 Qxd4 30. Rd1 Qc3 31. Nd5 Qxa3 32. Kh2 (32. Nxc7
Qxb4 $19) 32... h6 33. Re3 Qa6 (33... Qb2) (33... Qa4) 34. Nxc7 Qc4 35. Nd5 Kh7
{Der schwarze K�nig befindet sich in Sicherheit, damit kann der Angriff
beginnen.} 36. Red3 Qh4+ 37. Rh3 Qg4 38. Rd2 Rf5 39. Rhd3 Qh4+ 40. Rh3 Qc4 {
Ich glaube, da� die letzte Phase der Partie in Zeitnot gespielt wurde. In
diesem Fall mu� zun�chst mit bescheidenen Z�gen und Zugwiederholungen 
(wie Barejev spielte) die Zeitkontrolle erreicht werden, bevor ein konkreter
Plan zu Realisierung des Vorteils gefunden werden kann.} 41. Rhd3 Qh4+ 42. Rh3
Qe4 $19 {Nach diesem Zug gibt es f�r Wei� keine Verteidigung mehr.} 43. Re3
(43. Rhd3 Rh5+ 44. Kg3 (44. Kg1 Qe1#) (44. Rh3 Rxd5 $19) 44... Rg5+ 45. Kh3
Rxg2 46. Rxg2 Qxd3+ $19) (43. Nc3 Qf4+ $19) 43... Rh5+ 44. Kg1 Qb1+ 45. Kf2
Rxd5 $1 {und Wei� gab wegen 46.Rxd5 Qa2+ mit Turmgewinn auf. Eine sch�ne
Partie, die Barejev in Kramniks Stil spielte. Ribli.} 0-1

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Shirov,A"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Hecht Hansen,Cu Stohl} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6.
Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 ({Stohl: Earlier Kramnik used to play} 7... Be7 8. O-O-O O-O
9. f4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Qa5 11. Bc4 Bd7 {but currently he prefers the text
alternative.}) 8. O-O-O h6 9. Be3 (9. Bf4 {Stohl} Bd7 10. Nxc6 Bxc6 11. f3 d5
12. Qe1 Bb4 13. a3 Ba5 14. Bd2 Rc8 $1 15. Qg3 d4 16. Be3 Bc7 17. f4 Nh5 18. Qg4
Qf6 19. Rxd4 Bxf4 20. Bxf4 Qxf4+ 21. Qxf4 Nxf4 22. g3 Ng6 23. Kd2 Ne5 24. Be2
Ke7 $15 {Karpov,An-Salov,V/Buenos Aires Sicilian 1994}) 9... Be7 10. f3 ({
Stohl: More aggresive and popular is} 10. f4 {Stohl} Nxd4 (10... Qc7 $5 11. Bd3
b5 $13) 11. Bxd4 b5 12. Kb1 $1 (12. Bd3 b4 $5 13. Na4 Rb8 14. e5 dxe5 15. Bxe5
Bd7 $1 $132) 12... Bb7 13. Bd3 O-O (13... b4 $5 $132) 14. e5 dxe5 15. fxe5 Nd7
16. Ne4 Bxe4 17. Bxe4 Rb8 $1 18. c3 $1 (18. Ba7 Nxe5 19. Qc3 Bd6 20. Qd4 Bc7
21. Qc5 Qc8 22. Rhe1 Nc4 23. Bxb8 Qxb8 24. g3 Be5 25. c3 Rc8 26. Qe7 b4 27.
Qxb4 Qc7 28. Qb7 Na3+ 29. Kc1 Bf4+ $1 30. gxf4 Qxf4+ 31. Rd2 Rd8 32. Red1 Rxd2
33. Rxd2 Qf1+ 34. Rd1 Qf4+ {1/2,Shirov,A-Kramnik,V/Linares 1997}) 18... Qc7 19.
Bc2 Rfd8 20. Qf4 Nf8 21. Rhf1 Bg5 22. Qf2 Rd7 23. Bc5 Rc8 24. Bd6 $40 {
Kasparov,G-Kramnik,V/Novgorod 1997}) 10... Nxd4 11. Bxd4 e5 $5 {Stohl:
Strategically very committal. Hansen,Cu: It is remarkable that Kramnik avoids
the main line which goes on with:} (11... b5 $142 $5 {Stohl} 12. Kb1 (12. h4 {
Hansen,Cu} Qa5 {As far as I know this line has given black quite reasonable
results.}) 12... Rb8 13. Qe3 $6 (13. Ba7 $5 Rb7 14. Be3) 13... b4 14. Na4 Qc7
15. b3 O-O 16. Bd3 e5 17. Bb2 Bd7 18. Bxa6 Ra8 19. Qe2 Bxa4 20. bxa4 Nd7 21.
Qc4 Nc5 22. Bb5 Qa5 23. c3 bxc3 24. Bxc3 Qa7 25. Rc1 Nxa4 26. Qxa4 Qxa4 27.
Bxa4 Rxa4 28. Rc2 f5 {1/2,Kasparov,G-Kramnik,V/Moscow PCA act 1996}) 12. Be3 (
12. Bf2 {Stohl} Be6 13. Bh4 Qa5 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Kb1 Rc8 16. Nd5 Qxd2 17. Rxd2
Bg5 {1/2,Leko,P-Kramnik,V/Vienna 1996}) 12... Be6 13. Kb1 (13. g4 {Stohl} Qa5
14. a3 Rc8 $1 (14... b5 15. h4 b4 16. Nd5 Bxd5 17. exd5 Rb8 18. Kb1 Bd8 $6 19.
axb4 Rxb4 20. Qc3 O-O 21. Bd2 Ra4 22. b4 Qc7 23. Kb2 $1 Nxd5 24. Qxc7 Bxc7 25.
Kb3 Nb6 26. Be3 a5 27. c3 axb4 28. Bxb6 {1-0,Shirov,A-Lutz,C/Munich 1993}) 15.
Kb1 $142 $14 (15. h4 $2 Rxc3 $1 16. Qxc3 Qxc3 17. bxc3 d5 $36)) 13... Rc8 14.
h4 $5 {Hansen,Cu: Black has to think about where to place his K. If he castles
king-side white might get a strong attack with g4-g5. And if there is no
attack the chasing of Nf6 to a less good square could well give white complete
control over d5.} Qa5 {/\15..Rxc3 16.Qxc3 Qxa2+ 17.Kc1 0-0 ~/=} 15. a3 {
/\g4,Be2,g5,><d5} (15. Nd5 {Stohl} Qxd2 16. Rxd2 (16. Nxf6+ gxf6 $1 17. Rxd2 f5
$10) 16... Nxd5 17. exd5 Bd7 {[%cal Yf7f5] /\f5<=>}) 15... b5 $1 $146 (15...
Rxc3 16. Qxc3 Qxc3 17. bxc3 d5 18. exd5 (18. Bd3 Bxa3 $44) (18. Kb2 dxe4 $15)
18... Nxd5 19. Bd2 $16 Bxa3 {Stohl} (19... O-O 20. Bc4 Nxc3+ 21. Bxc3 Bxc4 22.
Bxe5 $16) 20. Bc4 $36 {/\} Ne3 $6 (20... O-O 21. Bxd5 Bxd5 22. Bc1 $1 $16) (
20... Nxc3+ 21. Bxc3 Bxc4 22. Bxe5 $16) 21. Bxe6 $1 Nxd1 22. Bd5 Nf2 23. Re1 $1
$16 {[%csl Re5][%cal Re1e5,Rd2e3] /\Be3,Re5,פf2}) (15... O-O $2 {Stohl} 16.
Nd5 $16) 16. g4 $5 (16. Nd5 Qxd2 17. Rxd2 (17. Nxf6+ gxf6 18. Rxd2 f5 $15)
17... Nxd5 18. exd5 Bd7 $11) 16... Rxc3 {Stohl: This sacrifice represents a
radical solution. Hansen,Cu: In principle white did not yet threaten 16. g5
because of 16. - hxg5 17.hxg5? Rxh1. But black has no way to improve his
position before the positionally necessary exchange-sacrifice. In fact one
could ask if black did not play the exchange-sac one move to late. If black
had played without b7-b5, white in the game continuation could not have
exchanged his weak c3-P with c3-c4 which could well improve blacks chances
considerably.} (16... b4 $143 {Stohl} 17. Nd5 Bxd5 18. exd5 Qa4 19. Qxb4 $1
Qxc2+ 20. Ka2 O-O 21. Bxa6 Rb8 22. Rd2 Qc7 23. Qc3 Qd8 24. Rc1 $16 {De la
Villa Garcia,J-Ubilava,E/Leon 1994}) (16... Nd7 $6 {Stohl} 17. Nd5 $16 {
[%csl Ra6,Rb5] _|_׫}) ({Interesting is} 16... Rb8 $5 {[%cal Rb5b4] Stohl /\b4}
17. Nd5 Qxd2 18. Nxf6+ Bxf6 19. Rxd2 Be7 20. Be2 Bc4 21. h5 Kd7 22. Rhd1 Rhc8
23. Bxc4 bxc4 24. Rd5 Rb5 25. a4 Rxd5 26. Rxd5 Kc6 27. b3 Bg5 28. Bxg5 hxg5 29.
bxc4 Kd7 $11 {Hartman,C-Murugan,K/Wrexham 1996/1/2 (43)}) 17. Qxc3 Qxc3 18.
bxc3 d5 {Hansen,Cu: Blacks has solved a number of his problems. He has
regained control over d5. His problem with finding a safe place for his K is
solved because the Qs have been exchanged. The question is whether whites
weakened P-structure is enough compensation for the exchange.} 19. exd5 (19. g5
$2 hxg5 20. hxg5 Rxh1 21. gxf6 Rxf1 $1 22. Rxf1 Bxf6) 19... Nxd5 20. Bd2 O-O (
20... e4 21. fxe4 Bxg4 22. Re1 Nb6 23. Be3 $16) (20... Nb6 21. Re1 (21. c4 $5
Nxc4 22. Bxc4 Bxc4 23. Bb4 {Anand}) (21. Re1 $1 {Stohl} f6 (21... Bxa3 22. Rxe5
O-O 23. g5 $16) 22. f4 Bxg4 23. fxe5 f5 24. Be3 $16) (21. Bc1 O-O {[%cal Yb6a4,
Yf8c8] /\Na4,Rc8|^})) (20... Bxa3 $142 $5 {Stohl} 21. c4 (21. Re1 $143 O-O $5
22. Rxe5 Rc8 $13) 21... bxc4 22. Bxc4 Ne3 $1 (22... O-O $6 {-20...0-0}) 23.
Bxe3 (23. Bxe6 Nxd1 24. Bb3 Nf2 $13 {Compared to the line above,Black's N can
go to h3 later on.}) 23... Bxc4 24. Bc1 $5 $14 {White is better, but his
technical task is much more difficult, than in the game.}) 21. c4 {Exchanging
whites weakest P} bxc4 22. Bxc4 Rb8+ {Hansen,Cu: This move was criticised by
Kramnik after the game. However I don't see any improvement.} (22... Nc3+ 23.
Bxc3 Bxc4 24. Bxe5 $16) (22... Bxa3 23. Bxd5 (23. Rhe1 $6 {Stohl} Rc8 24. Bb3
Nc3+ $5 25. Bxc3 Bxb3 $14) 23... Bxd5 24. Bb4 $1 $14) 23. Bb3 (23. Ka2 $143 $6
{Stohl} Ne3 $5 24. Bxe3 (24. Bxe6 Nxd1 25. Bb3 Nf2 $132) 24... Bxc4+ 25. Ka1
Bxa3 $14) 23... Bxa3 24. Rhe1 f6 (24... Bd6 {Stohl} 25. Ka2 $5) 25. Re4 $5 (25.
Ka2 Bf8 (25... Bc5 $5 26. Ba5 Nf4 $14) 26. Re3 Kf7 27. Rd3 Rb5 $14) 25... Bc5
26. Ra4 Nc7 27. Kb2 $3 (27. Ka2 Bxb3+ 28. cxb3 Rd8 $44) (27. Ka2 $5 $16 {
Stohl leads to the exchange of B and was probably even better.}) 27... Kh7 (
27... Bxb3 28. cxb3 Rd8 29. Kc2 Nb5 30. Be1 Nd4+ 31. Kb2 $16) (27... Kf8 $142
$5 {Stohl}) 28. Be1 $1 Bd5 (28... Bxb3 29. cxb3 Bd4+ 30. Bc3) 29. Rd3 {/\Ba5
Stohl: White has developed his R and consolidated his position, therefore
Kramnik decides to change the material balance in this endgame again.} Bc6 30.
Rc4 $1 (30. Ra1 $2 {Stohl} Bb5 $36) 30... Ne6 31. Bf2 $1 Bb5 $2 {Hansen,Cu:
This seems a very strange decision to me. I think black could have tried:} (
31... Bxf2 32. Rxc6 Nc5 (32... Nd4 {Hansen,Cu} 33. Rxa6 Bxh4 {+/-/+/=}) 33. Rd5
$16 (33. Rd5 {Stohl} Rb5 34. Ka3 $5 $16)) 32. Rxc5 Nxc5 (32... Bxd3 {Stohl} 33.
cxd3 {-32...Nc5} (33. Rc6 $2 Nf4 $1 $17)) 33. Bxc5 Bxd3 34. cxd3 {/\h5 Stohl:
White's active ^^ and Black's inactive K give White very good winning chances.
His first task is to liquidate the a-pawn. [#] Hecht:  Deutlicher weißer
Vorteil mit zwei Läufern gegen Turm + Bauer Die Kommentare gehen auf A.Shirov
zurück. Ich habe eine Endspielmedaille vergeben: Grund: Materialverteilung
sowie eine gute startegische wie taktische Leistung zweier Weltklassespieler.}
h5 35. Kc3 Rc8 $138 (35... hxg4 $142 36. fxg4 g6) (35... g5 $2 {Stohl} 36. hxg5
h4 37. gxf6 Rc8 (37... h3 38. Bg1) 38. Kb4 Rxc5 39. Kxc5 h3 40. Bd5 $18) (35...
Kg6 $142 $5 $16 {Stohl}) 36. Kb4 Rb8+ (36... a5+ {Stohl} 37. Kb5 Rb8+ 38. Ka4 {
[%cal Rb3e6,Ra4a5] /\Be6,Ka5+-}) 37. Ka4 Kg6 $2 (37... hxg4 38. fxg4 g6 $16)
38. Be6 $1 $18 {Hansen,Cu: /\ 39. Bf5+ + 40. gxh5. At this point it becomes
clear that whites bishops will have strong enough squares to keep the K-side
intact while white can play actively with his K} Rh8 39. Bf2 Kh6 (39... Re8 {
Stohl} 40. Bf5+ Kh6 41. g5+ $1 fxg5 42. Be3 g6 43. Bxg5+ Kg7 44. Be4 $18 {
[%csl Ra6,Re5,Rg6,Rh5] ק}) 40. Ka5 hxg4 (40... g5 {Stohl} 41. Be3 $1 $18 {
keeps Black's K in his box.}) 41. fxg4 g6 {Hecht: zu spät!} (41... Ra8 {Stohl}
42. Be3+ Kh7 43. h5 {[%cal Ye6f5,Yf5e4] /\Bf5-e4+-}) 42. g5+ $1 (42. Kxa6 {
Stohl} Rd8 43. Bc4 (43. Be3+ $143 $6 Kg7 44. Bc4 f5) 43... f5 44. g5+ Kh5 45.
d4 $1 Rxd4 46. Be2+ Rg4 47. Kb5 f4 48. Bxg4+ Kxg4 49. Kc4 e4 50. Be1 $18) 42...
Kg7 (42... fxg5 43. Be3 $18) 43. Kxa6 $1 (43. d4 $2 exd4 $1 44. Bxd4 (44. gxf6+
Kxf6 45. Bxd4+ Kxe6 46. Bxh8 Kf5 $11) 44... Rxh4 45. gxf6+ (45. Bxf6+ Kh7 $11)
45... Kh7 46. Bc5 Rf4 47. Be7 g5 $11) 43... Rd8 (43... fxg5 44. hxg5 Rh2 (44...
Rh5 {Stohl} 45. Be3 $18 {[%cal Ya6d6,Ye6d5,Yd5e4] /\Kb6-c6-d6,Bd5-e4}) 45. Bc5
Rd2 46. Bc4 $18) 44. Bc4 f5 45. Kb7 e4 46. d4 $3 {[#] Hecht:  Der weiße
Freibauer ist bei den starken Läufern mehr wert als die verbundenen Freibauern.
} (46. Kc7 Ra8 $132) (46. Bb6 Re8 $132) (46. dxe4 $143 $6 {Stohl} fxe4 {o^e<=>}
) 46... f4 47. d5 e3 48. Be1 f3 49. Kc7 $1 Rf8 (49... Rxd5 {Stohl} 50. Bxd5 f2
51. Bc3+ Kh7 52. Bc4 $18) 50. d6 Rf4 (50... f2 {Stohl} 51. Bc3+ {[%cal Rd6d7] /
\d7}) (50... e2 {Stohl} 51. d7 f2 52. Bxf2 Rxf2 53. d8=Q {[%cal Rd8g8] /\Qg8#})
51. Bc3+ Kh7 (51... Kf8 52. d7 Rxc4+ 53. Kd6 $18 (53. Kd6 {Hecht} Rxc3 54.
d8=Q+ Kg7 55. Qf6+ $18)) 52. Bd3 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Timman, Jan H"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[Annotator "Yudasin,L"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. e4 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Bd3 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. c3 Nc6 (6... Nbd7) 7. Re1
(7. h3 e5 8. Re1) 7... e5 8. h3 Bd7 $5 (8... Re8 9. Na3 (9. d5)) 9. Nbd2 (9.
Na3 $5 Nh5 10. Nc2) 9... Nh5 10. Nb3 (10. d5 Ne7 {/\Nf4,f5}) (10. dxe5 Nf4 (
10... Nxe5 $10) 11. Bf1 dxe5 12. Nc4 Ne6 13. Ne3 $14) 10... a5 11. a4 Re8 $10
12. Bg5 Qc8 13. Qd2 exd4 14. Nbxd4 (14. cxd4 Nb4 15. Bf1 (15. Bb1 f5 $5 (15...
Nf6 $132 {/\Bc6})) 15... Nf6 $132) (14. Nfxd4 $5) 14... Ne5 (14... Nf6 $10) 15.
Nxe5 (15. Bf1 Nxf3+ 16. Nxf3 Nf6 17. Bd3 Bc6 18. Qf4 Nh5 19. Qh4 h6 20. Bd2 Qd8
) 15... dxe5 16. Nb5 $1 $36 Be6 17. Bf1 Nf6 18. Qc2 (18. Rad1 Bb3 19. Ra1 Rd8
20. Qe3 c6) 18... Nd7 {/\Bf8,c6,/\Nc5} 19. Na3 $1 Bf8 (19... Nc5 20. Bc4 $14 (
20. Nc4 f6 21. Be3 Bf8 22. b4 $36)) 20. Nc4 Bc5 $5 {/\f6,Nb6} (20... f6 21. Be3
Bc5 22. Bxc5 Nxc5 23. b4 Bxc4 24. Bxc4+ Ne6 $10) 21. Nxa5 (21. Reb1 f6 22. Bd2
Kg7 (22... b6 23. b4 Be7 $14) 23. b4 axb4 24. cxb4 Bd4 25. Bc3 Bxc3 26. Qxc3
Nb6 $2 27. Nxb6 (27. Na5 $14) 27... cxb6 28. Qe3 $16) 21... f6 22. Bc1 (22. Bh6
Rxa5 23. b4 Ra8 24. bxc5 Nxc5) 22... Rxa5 23. b4 Ra8 24. bxc5 Nxc5 25. Be3 Nb3
26. Rab1 Na5 $10 27. c4 $1 Qd7 $1 {/\Qf7} 28. c5 (28. Rb5 Qf7 29. Rc1 Bd7)
28... Qf7 29. Qc3 $6 (29. Rb5 $1 Bd7 (29... Reb8 $14) 30. c6 Bxc6 (30... bxc6
31. Rc5 Kg7 (31... Reb8 $1 32. Bd2 (32. Qc3 Qb3 $4 (32... Nb7 33. Bc4 Be6 34.
Bxe6 Qxe6 35. Rxc6 Nd6 $14) 33. Qd2) 32... Nb3 (32... Qb3 $1 $10) 33. Bc4 Be6
34. Bxe6 Qxe6 35. Rxc6 Qd7 36. Be3 $16) 32. Rb1 Be6 33. Qc3 Nb3 34. Rxc6 Re7
35. Qb4 $16) 31. Rxa5 Rxa5 32. Bc4 Re6 33. Qb3 Bxa4 (33... Bd7 34. Qxb7 $16)
34. Qxb7 Bc6 35. Qb8+ Be8 36. Rd1 $40) 29... Bc4 $1 30. c6 {30...b6= Yudasin}
1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.24"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2605"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Khalifman,A"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Kramnik's zweite Niederlage.} 1. d4 {Ftacnik} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3
Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3 Nc6 9. Qc2 Qa5 10. O-O-O Be7 11. Kb1
a6 12. Nd2 Qb6 (12... b5 13. Nb3 Qb6 14. cxd5 exd5 15. Bg5 Be6 16. Bxf6 Bxf6
17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. Rxd5 Rac8 19. Bd3 Nb4 20. Bxh7+ Kh8 21. axb4 Rxc2 22. Bxc2
Rd8 23. Rhd1 Rxd5 24. Rxd5 {0-1 Van Wely,L-Huzman,A/NLD-ch op 1994/EXT 94ch 
(50)}) 13. Nb3 Na5 (13... dxc4 14. Bxc4 Qa7 15. Ne4 Nxe4 16. Qxe4 g6 17. Bd6
$16 {Gelfand}) (13... Bd7 14. g4 {Gelfand}) 14. Nxa5 Qxa5 15. cxd5 (15. Qa4 Qb6
{Gelfand}) 15... exd5 (15... Nxd5 $2 16. Nxd5 exd5 17. Bc7 b6 18. Qc6 {Gelfand}
) 16. Be5 Be6 17. Bd3 (17. Qd2 Qb6 18. Bd4 Qb3 19. Qc2 Qxc2+ 20. Kxc2 Ne4 $10 {
Gelfand}) 17... Rac8 18. Qd2 d4 $6 {Ftacnik: !? Very interesting novelty, that
gives air to the Be6 on the diagonal a2-g8. White will have to defend very
carefully. Dieses Bauernopfer überzeugt mich nicht. Schwarz bekommt Spiel,
aber ist es wirklich genug?} (18... Kh8 19. Ne4 (19. Bd4 b5 20. Ne4 Qxd2 21.
Nxd2 Ng4 22. Rdf1 f6 $10) (19. f3 b5 $132 (19... Nd7 {Ftacnik} 20. Bd4 f6 21.
Qc2 Bg8 22. Bf5 Rc7 23. Qc1 Ne5 24. b4 Bxb4 25. axb4 Qxb4+ 26. Qb2 Qe7 {
Van Wely,L-Pigusov,E/ST Lee Cup 4th 1997/1/2-1/2 (55)})) 19... Qxd2 20. Nxd2
Nd7 21. Bd4 f6 22. Nf3 Nc5 (22... Bd6 $5) (22... Bd6 $5 {Ftacnik}) 23. Bxc5 $1
$14 {1/2-1/2 Gelfand,B-Short,N/Novgorod 1996/CBM 54/[Gelfand] (36)}) (18...
Rfd8 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. Ne4 Qb6 21. Nxf6+ gxf6 22. Bc2 $5 $13 {Gelfand}) (18...
Nd7 {Ftacnik} 19. Bd4 Nb8 20. Ne2 Qxd2 21. Rxd2 Nc6 22. Bc3 Rfd8 23. Rhd1 b5
24. Nf4 Bg5 25. Bc2 Bxf4 26. exf4 g6 27. Bb3 {1-0 Van Wely,L-Van der Sterren,P/
Lost Boys 1997/(64)}) 19. Bxd4 Rfd8 20. Rc1 (20. f3 {Ftacnik} Ne8 (20... g6 $6
21. Bxf6 Bxf6 22. Ne4 Qxd2 23. Nxf6+ $16) 21. Qc2 g6 $13) 20... g6 21. Rhd1 Ne8
22. f3 (22. Ne2 $6 {Ftacnik} Qd5 $11) 22... Nd6 23. e4 Nc4 24. Bxc4 (24. Qf2 {
Ftacnik} Nxa3+ 25. bxa3 Bxa3 26. Nd5 Rxc1+ 27. Rxc1 Bxd5 $19) 24... Rxc4 25.
Qf2 (25. Ne2 Qxd2 26. Rxd2 Bg5 27. f4 Bxf4 28. Nxf4 Rcxd4 29. Rxd4 Rxd4 30.
Nxe6 fxe6 $13) 25... Rdxd4 (25... Rdc8 $1 {Ftacnik} 26. Ne2 (26. f4 Bxa3 27.
bxa3 Qxa3 28. Rc2 (28. Rd2 $2 Rb4+ 29. Rb2 Rcc4 30. Bc5 (30. Ne2 Qd3+) 30...
Rxc3 31. Bxb4 Ba2+ $1 $19) 28... Qb3+ 29. Kc1 (29. Rb2 Qxd1+ 30. Nxd1 Rc1#)
29... Qa3+ 30. Kd2 Rd8 $14) 26... Qa4 27. Rxc4 Bxc4 28. Nc3 Qb3 $14) 26. Rxd4
Bc5 27. Ne2 (27. Rcd1 {Ftacnik} Rxd4 28. Rxd4 Qb6 29. Rd8+ (29. Ne2 Bc4 $1 $19)
29... Qxd8 30. Qxc5 Qd3+ 31. Kc1 Qf1+ 32. Nd1 Qxg2 33. Qf2 $11) 27... Qb6 {
Ftacnik: Even a brilliant player like Kramnik could not guess, that his attack
will whiter away and white king could march to b6!} ({Vielleicht muß Schwarz
dem Vorschlag von Fritz folgen:} 27... Bxd4 28. Nxd4 Rxc1+ 29. Kxc1 Qc7+ 30.
Kd2 (30. Qc2 {Ftacnik} Qxh2 31. Nxe6 Qg1+ 32. Qd1 Qe3+ 33. Qd2 Qg1+ 34. Kc2
fxe6 $11) 30... Qxh2 $11 {Weiß steht minimal besser, aber die Partie sollte
Remis enden.}) 28. Rcd1 (28. Rcxc4 $2 {Ftacnik} Bxc4 29. f4 Bxe2 $19) 28... Qb3
29. R1d2 Rxd4 30. Rxd4 {Ftacnik: White is fighting for the control of the
center, the queen on d4 would be quite dominating.} (30. Nxd4 {Ftacnik} Qa2+
31. Kc2 (31. Kc1 Bb3 32. Rd3 Qa1+ 33. Kd2 Qxb2+ 34. Ke3 Qxa3 $15) 31... Bxa3
32. Kd3 Bc4+ (32... Qc4+ 33. Ke3 Bc5 34. Qe2 $16) 33. Ke3 Bc5 $14) 30... Kg7 (
30... Bxd4 {Ftacnik} 31. Qxd4 Qa2+ 32. Kc1 $16) 31. Nf4 (31. Kc1 $5 {Ftacnik}
Qa2 32. Nc3 Qa1+ 33. Kc2 Qh1 34. Rd1 Qxd1+ 35. Nxd1 Bxf2 36. Nxf2 $18) 31...
Qa2+ 32. Kc2 (32. Kc1 $5 {Ftacnik} Bb3 33. Nh5+ $3 (33. Nd3 Bb6 $1 34. f4 Ba5
35. Rb4 $13) 33... Kh6 (33... gxh5 34. Qg3+ Kf8 35. Qb8+ Kg7 36. Qe5+ $18) 34.
Qd2+ g5 (34... Kxh5 35. g4+ Kh4 36. Qh6#) 35. Rd6+ Bxd6 36. Qxd6+ Be6 37. g4
$18) 32... Bb3+ 33. Kc3 Be6 {Ftacnik: It is a pitty for black, that his king
can be attacked too. The danger lurking severely restrains his attacking
potential.} (33... Ba4 {Ftacnik} 34. Nh5+ $1 gxh5 35. Qg3+ Kf8 36. Rxa4 $18) (
33... Bb6 {Ftacnik} 34. Nd5 Ba5+ 35. Rb4 $1 (35. Nb4 Ba4 $17) 35... Bxd5 36.
Qd4+ f6 37. Qxd5 Bxb4+ 38. axb4 $18) 34. Qc2 (34. Nxe6+ {Ftacnik} Qxe6 35. b4
$16) 34... Bxd4+ 35. Kxd4 Bd7 36. Kc5 $18 {Ftacnik: A horrific picture for
black, his queen is trapped on a2 and the king is marching towards black pawns.
Jetzt ist die Partie verloren.} Qa1 (36... f6 {Ftacnik} 37. Nd5 $16) 37. Nd5
Be6 (37... Qg1+ {Ftacnik} 38. Kd6 Bc6 39. Qc3+ Kh6 40. Qe3+ Qxe3 41. Nxe3 $18)
38. Qc3+ Kh6 (38... Kg8 {Ftacnik} 39. Ne7+ $1 Kf8 40. Kd6 Qd1+ 41. Nd5 Kg8 42.
Ke7 Bxd5 43. Qc8+ $18) 39. Qe3+ Kg7 40. Qd4+ Kh6 41. Kb6 Qf1 (41... Bxd5 {
Ftacnik} 42. exd5 Qf1 43. Qd2+ Kg7 44. d6 Qb5+ 45. Ka7 Qd7 46. Qc3+ Kg8 47. Qc7
$18) (41... Bc8 {Ftacnik} 42. Qd2+ g5 43. Qc3 $18) 42. Qd2+ Kg7 (42... g5 {
Ftacnik} 43. Nc7 Kg6 44. Kxb7 $18) 43. Kxb7 {Ftacnik: White's triumph is
complete, his king has done the "impossible".} (43. Nc7 {Ftacnik} Bc8 44. Ne8+
Kg8 45. Ka7 $19) 43... Qb5+ (43... Bxd5+ {Ftacnik} 44. exd5 Qb5+ 45. Ka7 $18)
44. Nb6 f6 45. Qd6 Bf7 46. b4 g5 47. a4 (47. a4 {Ftacnik} Qf1 48. Nd7 $18) 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.25"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Salov, Valery"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2680"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. d4 {Nach 3.Nc3 ist auch die überraschende Antwort 3...
Nd4 möglich.} cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. g3 (6. Bg5) (6. Bf4) (6. a3) (6.
Ndb5) 6... Qb6 7. Nb3 (7. Ndb5) 7... Ne5 8. e4 {Diese ganze Variante erinnert
mich an die Sizilianische Verteidigung.} Bb4 9. Qe2 d6 10. f4 Nc6 11. Be3 Bxc3+
(11... Qc7 12. Bd2 (12. Bg2 Bxc3+ 13. bxc3 {Durch Zugumstellung haben wir
wieder eine Partiestellung erreicht.})) 12. bxc3 Qc7 {Weiß hat das Läuferpaar
und Raumvorteil, während Schwarz keine Schwächen zu beklagen hat. Der
Doppelbauer auf der c-Linie könnte Weiß jedoch Probleme verursachen. Dies ist
eine theoretische Grundstellung einer Variante, die meiner Meinung nach als
Ganze dem Anziehenden keinen Vorteil verspricht. Die vorliegende Partie ist
ein weiterer Beweis für die Richtigkeit dieser Einschätzung.} 13. Bg2 O-O 14.
c5 {Weiß befreit sich vom Doppelbauern und öffnet die Stellung.} (14. O-O b6 {
Der schwarz Plan ist einfach: Er beendet die Entwicklung und greift die weißen
Bauern am Damenflügel an. Am Königsflügel hat Weiß etwas Initiative, aber
Schwarz kann sich gut verteidigen.}) 14... dxc5 (14... d5) 15. Bxc5 Rd8 16. e5
Na5 17. Bb4 (17. Qb5 Nxb3 18. axb3 Bd7 19. Qc4 (19. Qb4 Bc6 20. Bd6 Qd7 21. O-O
Bxg2 22. Kxg2 Qc6+ 23. Rf3 Ne4 24. Rd1 b5 25. c4 a6 26. c5 a5 27. Qd4 Nxc5 28.
Qc3 b4 29. Qc4 Rac8 30. Ra1 Qa8 31. f5 exf5 32. Qf4 Ne6 {-+ Azmaiparashvili,
Z-Arnason,J/Reykjavik open 1990}) 19... b5 20. Qd4 Bc6 $15 {Smejkal,J-Lau,R/
Porz/1992/}) (17. Bd4 Nxb3 18. axb3 Nd5 (18... Rxd4 19. cxd4 Qc3+ 20. Kf2 Qxd4+
21. Kf3 Qc3+ $11 (21... Nd5 22. Rhd1 Qb6 $44)) 19. Rc1 Nxf4 20. gxf4 Rxd4 21.
Be4 Rd8 22. Rg1 g6 23. h4 Bd7 24. h5 Be8 {0-1 Vukanovic,S-Palac,M/Ljubljana op
1997 (36)}) (17. exf6 Nxb3 18. axb3 Qxc5 19. Qe5 Qb6 20. Qg5 Qe3+ 21. Kf1 Qd3+
22. Kg1 $2 (22. Kf2 $10 {van der Wiel,J}) 22... Qg6 23. fxg7 Qxg5 24. fxg5 Rd3
25. Rc1 Bd7 26. Bf1 Re3 27. Kf2 Re5 $17 {Uhlmann,W-van der Wiel,J/Baden_Baden
II 1992}) 17... Nxb3 18. axb3 Nd5 19. Qc4 (19. Bxd5 exd5 20. Qe3 Bf5 $1 {
Und Schwarz bekommt gutes Spiel auf den weißen Feldern.} (20... b6 21. O-O Bf5
22. Rf2 a5 23. Bd6 Qc6 24. Rc1 a4 25. bxa4 Rxa4 26. Bb4 h5 $36 {Casafus,
R-Bellon Lopez,J/Buenos Aires/1994/}) 21. Bc5 b6 22. Bd4 Qd7 $1 23. O-O Rac8 {
0-1 Filippov,V-Khalifman,A/Anibal op4th 1997 (38)}) 19... Qd7 $5 $11 {Schwarz
möchte die Damen auf dem Brett halten und die Entwicklung mit dem einfachen 20.
..b6, 21...Bb7 beenden. Natürlichdroht jetzt auch 20...Ne3.} (19... Qxc4 20.
bxc4 Ne3 $5 {[%csl Ge3]} (20... Nxb4 21. cxb4 Rd4 (21... Kf8 22. Ke2 Rd4 23.
Rhc1 $14) 22. Rd1 Rxd1+ 23. Kxd1 $14 {[%csl Rc8,Gg2] Weiß steht etwas aktiver
und droht 24.Kc2, 25.Rd1.}) 21. Be4 Nxc4 (21... Nxc4 {1/2-1/2 Vaganian,
R-Kramnik,V/Tal mem 1995}) 22. O-O Ne3 23. Rfc1 Nd5 24. Bc5 b5 25. Bxa7 Bb7 26.
Bg2 h6 27. Bd4 Rxa1 28. Rxa1 Ra8 29. Rb1 Bc6 30. Bf1 Ra3 31. Bxb5 {1/2-1/2
Morovic Fernandez,I-Izeta Chavarri,F/Ponferrada open 1991}) (19... Qb6 20. Bc5
$14) 20. Qd4 (20. Bxd5 exd5 $5 $15 {Und die weißen Felder im weißen Lager sind
schwach.} (20... Qxd5 21. Qxd5 Rxd5 $11)) 20... Nxb4 (20... b6 21. Bd6 $14 (21.
c4 $2 Nxb4 22. Qxd7 Bxd7 $19)) 21. Qxd7 (21. Qxb4 $2 Qd2+ $17 {[%csl Re1]})
21... Bxd7 22. cxb4 Bb5 (22... Bc6 23. Bxc6 bxc6 24. Ke2 Rd4 25. Rhc1 Rxb4 26.
Rxc6 Rxb3 27. Rxa7 $11) 23. Bxb7 Rab8 24. Ba6 {Und in dieser ausgeglichenen
Stellung einigte man sich auf remis.Ribli.} (24. Ba6 Bxa6 25. Rxa6 Rxb4 (25...
Rd7 26. Ke2 (26. O-O Rxb4 27. Rfa1 $11) 26... Rxb4 27. Rd1 $11) 26. Rxa7 Rxb3
27. O-O g6 28. Rf2 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.26"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 (9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12. Nc2 Bg5 13. a4 bxa4 14.
Rxa4 a5 15. Bc4 Rb8 16. b3 Kh8 17. O-O g6 18. Kh1 Bh6 19. Qe2 Bd7 20. Raa1 f5
21. exf5 gxf5 22. f4 Bg7 23. Rad1 Ne7 $11 {Polgar,J-Kramnik,V/Wijk aan Zee
1998/46/0-1/ [Khalifman]}) 9... gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. Bd3 (11. c3) 11... Ne7 12.
Nxe7 Qxe7 13. O-O O-O 14. Qf3 $5 (14. c3) (14. c4) 14... f5 15. exf5 d5 (15...
Bb7 16. Be4 d5 17. Bxd5 e4 18. f6 Bxf6 19. Qg3+ Bg7 20. Bxb7 Qxb7 21. c3 $14)
16. Qxd5 Bb7 17. Qb3 e4 (17... Rfd8 18. Rfd1 Rd4 19. Bf1 Rb4 20. Rd7 $1 $16) (
17... Qg5 18. f3 $16) 18. Be2 Qg5 $8 (18... Qe5 19. Nc4 $1 $16) (18... Qf6 19.
c3 Qxf5 20. Nc2 $16) (18... Rad8 19. Rad1 Qg5 20. Nc4 $1 $16) 19. Rad1 $1 (19.
Nc4 e3 $3 20. Nxe3 (20. f3 $2 Bd5 21. Qxe3 Qxe3+ 22. Nxe3 Bd4 23. Kf2 Rfe8 $19)
20... Rae8 21. h4 (21. g3 Bd4 22. h4 $8 Qh6 23. Rad1 Bxe3 24. fxe3 Rxe3 25. Rd6
Rxe2 (25... Rxb3 $1 26. Rxh6 Rxg3+ 27. Kf2 Rg2+ 28. Ke1 f6 $1 $19 {צh6}) 26.
Rxh6 Rg2+ 27. Kh1 Rf2+ 28. Kg1 Rg2+ $11 {Anand}) 21... Qxh4 22. Rfe1 (22. Rfd1
Bh6 $1) 22... Bd4 $40 (22... Re4 {/\23... Rb4} 23. g3 $2 Qh1+ $3 24. Kxh1 Rh4+
25. Kg1 Rh1#) 23. Bf1 Be5 $1) 19... e3 20. f3 (20. g3 $2 Rae8 21. Nc4 exf2+ 22.
Rxf2 Rxe2 $1 23. Rxe2 Qg4) 20... Be5 (20... Kh8 21. Nc4) (20... Rad8 21. Nc4) (
20... Qxf5 21. c4 $1) 21. Nc4 $1 (21. Qb4 Kh8 $40) 21... Bf4 (21... bxc4 $2 22.
Qxb7 Qh4 23. f4 Bxf4 24. g3 $18) 22. Rd4 $8 (22. Nd6 $2 Qh6) 22... Bd5 {!!?} (
22... Rad8 $142 $1 23. Rfd1 Bd5 $1 24. Rxd5 (24. Rxf4 Qxf4 25. Qxe3 Qxf5 $15)
24... Rxd5 25. Rxd5 Qh4 26. Nxe3 (26. g3 Bxg3 27. Qxe3 Qxh2+ 28. Kf1 Qh3+)
26... Qxh2+ 27. Kf1 Qh1+ 28. Kf2 Qh4+ $11 29. g3 $4 Bxg3+ $19) 23. Rxf4 (23.
Rxd5 Qh4 24. g3 Bxg3 25. hxg3 Qxg3+ 26. Kh1 Qh3+ 27. Kg1 Kh8 $5 28. Qc3+ f6 29.
Nxe3 Rg8+ 30. Ng4 Qg3+ 31. Kh1 Qh3+ $11) (23. g3 Bxc4 24. Bxc4 bxc4 25. Qxc4 e2
$1 $19) 23... Qxf4 (23... Bxc4 $2 24. Qxe3 $1 Rfe8 25. Qc1 $18) 24. Qxe3 Qxf5 (
24... Qxe3+ 25. Nxe3 $16) 25. Bd3 Qf6 (25... Qe6 26. Qg5+ $1 Kh8 27. Qh4 $16 f5
28. Qd4+ Kg8 29. Ne3 $1 Rad8 30. Nxf5 $1) 26. Nb6 Rad8 27. Nxd5 Rxd5 28. Qe4
Qd4+ (28... Rh5 $6) 29. Qxd4 Rxd4 30. Re1 $14 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.27"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Khalifman,A"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Auch diese Partie ist von Kramnik kaum gespielt. Es ist erstaunlich, daß er
sich mit Remis begnügt.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. d4 Nxc3
6. bxc3 g6 7. e3 Bg7 8. Bd3 O-O 9. O-O Qc7 10. Qe2 Rd8 11. Rd1 b6 12. Bb2 Nc6
13. Rac1 Bb7 14. e4 e6 15. h4 (15. Qe3 Rac8 16. h4 h6 17. Be2 Qe7 18. h5 g5 19.
Ba3 Bf8 20. dxc5 Qf6 21. e5 Qf4 22. Qxf4 gxf4 {Portisch,L-Kasparov,G/Madrid
rapid 1988/EXT 88/1/2-1/2 (69)}) 15... Rac8 16. h5 Qf4 17. hxg6 hxg6 18. Bb1
Na5 19. Re1 Qg4 20. Rcd1 cxd4 21. cxd4 Nc4 22. Bc1 b5 23. g3 Re8 24. Kg2 f5 25.
Ng5 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.02.01"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "1998.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 {Eine kleine Überraschung. Kramnik spielt nicht seine Hauptwaffe -
die Slawische Verteidigung. Ribli.} 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Nc6 6.
Qa4 {Das ist die beste Möglichkeit für Weiß. Sonst (z.B. nach 6.0-0) kann
Schwarz mit späterem ...b7-b5 seinen Mehrbauern verteidigen, was zu unklaren
Verwicklungen führt.} Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Bd6 $5 $146 {Eine nach meiner Meinung gut
vorbereitete Neuerung Kramniks. Schwarz plant ...e6-e5 und erlangt nach
folgendem Tauschen im Zentrum die Majorität am Damenflügel, was ihm gleiche
Chancen bietet.} (7... Nd5 8. Bxb4 Ndxb4 9. O-O Rb8 10. Nc3 a6 11. Ne5 O-O 12.
Nxc6 Nxc6 13. Bxc6 bxc6 14. Qxc6 (14. Qxc4 Rxb2 15. Rab1 Rb6 16. Na4 (16. Qc5
h6 $5 (16... Re8 17. a4 Rxb1 $6 18. Rxb1 Qd6 19. Qxd6 cxd6 20. Ne4 d5 21. Nd6
Rf8 22. Rb8 Bd7 23. Rb7 Rd8 24. Rc7 Be8 25. Nb7 Ra8 26. a5 {1-0 Kachiani
Gersinska,K-Klovans,J/Schoeneck 1996 (43)}) 17. Rfd1 Rxb1 18. Rxb1 Qd6 19. Ne4
Qd5 20. Qxd5 cxd5 21. Nc5 Re8 22. Rb8 Kf8 23. f4 Ke7 24. Kf2 g5 25. Ke3 gxf4+ {
1/2-1/2 Khalifman,A-Ivanov,S/St.Petersburg-ch 1996 (46)}) 16... Rb5 17. Nc3 {
1/2-1/2 Kochyev,A-Lau,R/Dortmund-C (04)/1991}) 14... Qxd4 15. Rfd1 Qe5 16. Rd2
Rb4 17. Rad1 Bb7 18. Qd7 Qc5 $13 {~~ Rashkovsky,N-Ivanov,S/Russia (ch) 1995})
8. O-O (8. Qxc4 O-O 9. O-O) (8. Bg5) (8. Nc3 O-O 9. e4 e5 10. dxe5 (10. d5 Nd4
$15 {[%csl Gd4]}) 10... Nxe5 11. Nxe5 Bxe5 12. Qxc4 $11) (8. Bc3 O-O 9. Nbd2 $5
a6 10. Qxc4 $14) (8. Na3 $6 Bxa3 (8... O-O $6 9. Nxc4 $14) 9. bxa3 Qd5 $15)
8... O-O 9. Qxc4 e5 10. dxe5 (10. d5 $5 Ne7 11. Nc3 c6 12. dxc6 Nxc6 13. Rfd1
$14) (10. Nc3 $6 exd4 11. Nxd4 Nxd4 12. Qxd4 Bxg3 13. Qxd8 Rxd8 14. hxg3 Rxd2
15. Rfd1 Rxd1+ 16. Rxd1 Kf8 $15) 10... Nxe5 11. Nxe5 (11. Qc2) 11... Bxe5 {
Schwarz hat eine feste Stellung und der weiße Katalanischläufer wird mit ...
c7-c6 gestoppt.} 12. Bc3 Qe7 $5 $11 {Der Partiezug ist noch stärker als der
sofortige Läufertausch. Schwarz hat keinerlei Eröffnungsprobleme. Es ist
interessant, daß Kramnik dank seiner Neuerung 7...Bd6 so leicht ausgleichen
kann.} (12... Bxc3 13. Nxc3 c6 14. Rfd1 $14) 13. Bxe5 (13. Bb4 Bd6 (13... Qe6
14. Qc2 (14. Qxe6 Bxe6 15. Bxf8 Bxb2 $15)) 14. Bxd6 Qxd6 15. Nc3) 13... Qxe5
14. Nc3 c6 {Wir haben eine strategisch interessante Stellung:  Schwarz
unterbindet die Aktivität des katalanischen Läufers auf g2 mit seinem
Bauernaufbau b7-c6. Aber das bedeutet zugleich, daß seine Bauernmehrheit am
Damenflügel nicht beweglich ist, während Weiß später mit e4 und f4 Raum im
Zentrum und am Königsflügel gewinnen kann.} 15. Rfd1 Be6 16. Qb4 {[%csl Gb4]
[%cal Rb4b7]} Rab8 {Schwarz verteidigt den Bauern mit dem Turm und seine Dame
steht aktiv im Zentrum.} (16... Qc7 $11) 17. Rd2 (17. Rac1 a5 18. Qd6 Qxd6 19.
Rxd6 Rfd8 $11) 17... a5 $5 {Schwarz attakiert die weiße Dame, die beste Figur
im weißen Lager.} 18. Qb6 (18. Qd6 Qxd6 19. Rxd6 Rfd8 20. Rad1 Rxd6 21. Rxd6
Kf8 $11) 18... Nd7 {Leider muß Weiß seine aktive Damenstellung aufgeben und
tauschen.} 19. Qd4 (19. Qa7 Qc5 20. Qxc5 Nxc5 21. Rad1 Rfe8) 19... Qxd4 20.
Rxd4 Rfd8 21. Rad1 Kf8 {Und in dieser gleichen Stellung wurde Remis gegeben.
Schwarz spielt einfach 22...Ke7 und 23...Nc5. Weiß hat keinen Vorteil. Ribli.}
1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Hoogovens Blitz"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.19"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Timman, Jan H"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "1998.01.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

 0-1

[Event "Hoogovens Blitz"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2575"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "1998.01.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

 0-1

[Event "Hoogovens Blitz"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.19"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1998.01.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bg5 c6 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. Nbd2 Nf6 5. Bxf6 exf6 6. e3 Nd7 7. c4 dxc4 8.
Bxc4 Bd6 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O f5 11. g3 Nf6 12. Re1 Re8 13. Nc4 Bb4 14. Rf1 Bh3
15. a3 Bxf1 16. Bxf1 Bf8 17. Nce5 Ne4 18. Qb3 Qc7 19. Nxf7 g6 20. Nd6+ Kg7 21.
Nxe8+ Rxe8 22. Bd3 Nf6 23. Rc1 Bd6 24. Bb1 Qe7 25. Qc4 Nd5 26. Re1 Qf6 27. Kg2
g5 28. Qd3 Rf8 29. e4 fxe4 30. Qxe4 Rh8 31. Qg4 h5 32. Qd7+ Be7 33. Re6 Rd8 34.
Rxf6 Rxd7 35. Rg6+ Kf7 36. Ne5+ 1-0

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

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

[Event "Hoogovens Blitz"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A35"]
[WhiteElo "2675"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "1998.01.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nd4 4. Ne5 Nc6 5. Nf3 Nd4 6. e3 Nxf3+ 7. Qxf3 g6 8.
d4 Bg7 9. Qd1 cxd4 10. exd4 Nh6 11. Bd3 d6 12. O-O O-O 13. h3 Nf5 14. d5 Bd7
15. Re1 Re8 16. Bg5 h6 17. Bd2 Rc8 18. Rc1 a6 19. b3 Qb6 20. Ne4 Qa7 21. b4 e6
22. dxe6 Rxe6 23. Nc3 Bd4 24. Qf3 Bc6 25. Nd5 Bxd5 26. cxd5 Rxc1 27. dxe6 Rxe1+
28. Bxe1 fxe6 29. Qe4 Be5 30. g4 Ne7 31. Bd2 Qd4 32. Bxh6 Qxe4 33. Bxe4 d5 34.
Bd3 Kf7 35. Bd2 Bd6 36. b5 axb5 37. Bxb5 e5 38. f3 Bc5+ 39. Kg2 Nc8 40. h4 Nd6
41. Bd3 e4 42. fxe4 dxe4 43. Be2 Bd4 44. Bf4 Ke6 45. h5 gxh5 46. gxh5 Nf5 47.
h6 Kf6 48. Bg4 Ne3+ 49. Bxe3 Bxe3 50. h7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens Blitz"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.19"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1998.01.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. Bb3 h6 7. h3 Be6 8. Ba4
Bb6 9. d4 exd4 10. cxd4 d5 11. e5 Ne4 12. O-O O-O 13. Nc3 Ne7 14. Re1 c5 15.
Nxe4 dxe4 16. dxc5 exf3 17. cxb6 fxg2 18. Qxd8 Rfxd8 19. bxa7 Rxa7 20. Bb5 Rxa2
21. Rxa2 Bxa2 22. Kxg2 Bd5+ 23. Kg3 Nf5+ 24. Kf4 Nd4 25. Bd3 Be6 26. Be4 Bxh3
27. Bxb7 Bc8 28. Be4 Ne6+ 29. Kg3 Nc5 30. Bc2 Be6 31. Be3 Rc8 32. Rc1 Nd7 33.
Bh7+ Kxh7 34. Rxc8 Nxe5 35. Rc7 Nd3 36. Bd4 g5 37. Rb7 h5 38. b4 h4+ 39. Kh2
Ne1 40. Be3 Nf3+ 41. Kg2 h3+ 42. Kxf3 Bd5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens Blitz"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.19"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A25"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1998.01.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nc6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. d3 Nf6 6. Rb1 O-O 7. b4 a6 8. e3 d6
9. Nge2 Be6 10. Nd5 Rb8 11. O-O Qd7 12. Nec3 Ne7 13. Nxf6+ Bxf6 14. a4 Bg7 15.
b5 axb5 16. axb5 Bh3 17. Bxh3 Qxh3 18. Qf3 Qd7 19. Bd2 c6 20. e4 f5 21. Bg5
fxe4 22. Qxe4 Nf5 23. Kg2 h6 24. Bd2 Rbd8 25. bxc6 bxc6 26. Ne2 d5 27. cxd5
cxd5 28. Qb4 Kh7 29. Qb7 Qe8 30. Qb4 e4 31. dxe4 dxe4 32. Bc3 e3 33. Bxg7 Qc6+
34. Kg1 exf2+ 35. Rxf2 Kxg7 36. Qb7+ 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Hoogovens Blitz"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1998.01.19"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "1998.01.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 062 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.03.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O Be7 9. f4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 b5 11. Be2 Bb7 12. f5 e5 13. Qd3 b4 14. Bxf6 bxc3
15. Bxg7 Rg8 16. f6 Bxf6 17. Bxf6 cxb2+ 18. Kb1 Qxf6 19. Rhf1 Qe6 20. Bh5 Rf8
21. Rxf7 Rxf7 22. Rf1 O-O-O 23. Bxf7 Qd7 24. Bd5 Qb5 25. Qxb5 axb5 26. Bxb7+
Kxb7 27. Rf7+ Kc6 28. Rxh7 d5 29. exd5+ Kxd5 30. Kxb2 Kd4 31. g4 e4 32. Re7 Ke3
33. h4 Kf4 34. g5 Rh8 35. g6 Rxh4 36. g7 Rg4 37. Kc3 Kf3 38. Kd4 b4 39. Kc4 Ke3
40. Kxb4 Kd2 41. c4 e3 42. Kb5 e2 43. c5 Rxg7 44. Rxe2+ Kxe2 45. Kb6 Kd3 46. c6
Kc4 47. c7 Rxc7 48. Kxc7 Kb4 49. Kb6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 15th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1998.02.22"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Donev,I"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "1998.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 064"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Kostakiev,D Anand} Nc6 {Der ukrainische Großmeister ist in der
Erröffnung immer für eine Überraschung gut. Die ganze Variante ist eine
Spezialität eines anderen, russischen Großmeisters, Alexandar Morozewitsch.
Nach dieser hochwertigen Partie wird die Variante bestimmt größere Popularität
erreichen.} 2. d4 d5 3. Bf4 Bg4 4. e3 (4. Nbd2 {Kostakiev,D Hort,V-Dueckstein,
A/CSSR 1968/Inf 05/1-0}) 4... e6 5. c4 Bb4+ $1 {Schwarz entwickelt seine
Figuren mit Tempo. Diese Fortsetzung ist seit 69 Jahren bekannt und wird nun
zum ersten Mal auf solch hoher Ebene von zwei Super-Großmeistern gespielt.} 6.
Nc3 Nf6 (6... Nge7 7. Rc1 (7. c5 {Kostakiev,D 1/2-1/2 Mirnic,M-Bukal,V/Open,
Zagreb CRO 1998 (34)}) (7. h3 Bh5 8. Rc1 (8. a3 {1/2-1/2 Rausch,S-Daus,P/
Dresden op 1996/EXP 53 (23)}) 8... O-O 9. a3 (9. Bd3 {0-1 Berebora,F-Chetverik,
M/Budapest Spring op 1996/EXP 52 (40)}) 9... Bxc3+ {Akesson,R-Morozevich,A/
London Lloyds 1994/EXP 43/0-1 (51)}) 7... O-O 8. h3 (8. Bd3 Ng6 9. h3 Bh5 $5
10. Bh2 Nh4 11. g4 Nxf3+ 12. Qxf3 Bg6 13. Bxg6 hxg6 14. cxd5 $1 exd5 15. Kf1
$14 {0-1 van Wely,L-Morozevich,A/Tilburg 1993/Inf 59/[Morozevich,A]}) 8... Bxf3
9. Qxf3 Ng6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Bd3 Nxf4 12. Qxf4 Ne7 13. O-O c6 14. Qh4 f5 15.
Ne2 Qe8 16. Qg3 Ng6 17. Kh1 Qe7 18. Nf4 Nh4 19. Ne6 Bd6 20. Qg5 Qxe6 21. Qxh4
Rf6 22. Qh5 Raf8 23. Rfe1 Rh6 24. Qg5 Qf7 25. f4 Be7 {0-1 Menchik,V-Colle,E/
Karlsbad 1929/HCL 03}) 7. Rc1 (7. Qb3 {Kostakiev,D 0-1 Schmidt,R-Baumhus,R/2.
BL-W 1988/Inf 87 (14)}) (7. h3 {Kostakiev,D} Bh5 8. Rc1 {1/2-1/2 Treppner
Gerd-Thiel Thomas/Bundesliga (2nd) West 1997 (10)}) (7. Be2 {Kostakiev,D
Marschner,J-Alscher,H/BL2-N 8081 1981/BIG 80/1-0 (44)}) 7... O-O {Die
Eröffnungsphase ist vorbei. Die weiße Bauernstruktur ist leicht besser - wegen
der Versperrung des Pc7 durch den Nc6. Andererseits hat der Nachziehende
leichten Entwicklungsvorsprung. Man kann sagen, daß die Stellung im
dynamischen Gleichgewicht ist.} (7... Ne4 {Kostakiev,D 1-0 Duer,W-Brandner,S/
OST-BL 1989/Inf 89 (11)}) (7... dxc4 {Kostakiev,D} 8. Bxc4 Nd5 9. Bg3 {Cebalo,
M-Kovacevic,B/Open, Bled SLO 1998/1/2-1/2 (42)}) 8. h3 (8. a3 Bxc3+ 9. Rxc3
dxc4 (9... Qe7 10. Bg5 Rad8 11. h3 Bh5 12. Be2 dxc4 13. Qa4 {1/2-1/2 Gawehns,
K-Baumhus,R/BL2-W 1995/BL2}) 10. Bxc4 Nd5 11. Bxd5 exd5 12. h3 Bh5 13. O-O Rc8
14. g4 Bg6 15. Qa4 a6 16. Rfc1 h5 17. Qd1 hxg4 18. hxg4 Re8 19. b4 Re7 20. Bg3
Nb8 21. a4 f6 22. Nh4 Bh7 23. Nf5 Bxf5 24. gxf5 Nc6 25. Rxc6 bxc6 26. Rxc6 Qd7
27. Qc2 Re4 28. Kg2 Kh7 29. a5 Ree8 30. Bf4 Qe7 31. Bd6 Qd7 32. Bg3 Qe7 33.
Rxa6 Qxb4 34. Qc5 {Cebalo,M-Kutuzovic,B/CRO-Cup 1996/1-0 (56)}) (8. a3 $5 {
Kostakiev,D 1/2-1/2 Gawehns,K-Baumhus,R/BL2-W 1995/BL2 (12)}) (8. Be2 $5 {
Kostakiev,D} dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nd5 $11) 8... Bxf3 9. Qxf3 {[#]} Qe7 $1 {Das beste
Feld für die schwarze Dame. Von e7 bereitet sie e6-e5 vor und schielt
gleichzeitig zum abgeschwächten weißen Damenflügel hinüber.} (9... Bxc3+ $142 {
Kostakiev,D} 10. Rxc3 Ne4 11. Rc1 e5 12. dxe5 Qe7 $132 {[2NN=2BB]} 13. a3 (13.
Be2 $4 Qb4+ $19) 13... Nxe5 14. Bxe5 Qxe5 15. Rc2 d4 $1 $132) 10. Bg5 (10. Bd3
e5 $1 11. dxe5 Nxe5 12. Bxe5 Qxe5 $11) 10... Bxc3+ (10... Rfd8 {Kostakiev,D}
11. cxd5 $16) 11. Rxc3 (11. bxc3 $2 Qa3 12. Rc2 Ne4 $1 $17) 11... Qb4 {Die
Partie ist gerade einmal elf Züge alt, und schon haben wir eine
spannungsreiche Stellung vor uns.} 12. Bxf6 Qxb2 13. Rb3 ({Anand: Wandering
over the board I thought of a move that totally facinated me.} 13. Qg3 $5 {
A rook sacrifice of great creativity.} Qxc3+ 14. Kd1 g6 15. Qg5 {[%csl Yg7]
[%cal Yg5h6]} Qa1+ (15... Qb2 16. Bd3 Qc3 17. Ke2 dxc4 18. Be4 Qa5 19. d5 $18)
(15... Nb4 16. g4 $1 Nd3 17. Bxd3 Qxd3+ 18. Ke1 $18) 16. Ke2 Qb1 $1 17. g4 Qe4
18. Kd2 Nxd4 $1 (18... Qf3 $4 19. Be2 h6 20. Qh4 $18 (20. Bxf3 hxg5 21. h4 $18)
) 19. exd4 e5 $1 20. Qe3 Qb1 $1 $13 (20... Qxe3+ 21. fxe3 exd4 22. exd4 dxc4
23. Bxc4 $16)) 13... Qc1+ 14. Qd1 Qxd1+ 15. Kxd1 dxc4 16. Rxb7 gxf6 17. Kd2 (
17. Kc2 $142 $1 Rab8 18. Rxb8 Rxb8 19. Bxc4 Kf8 20. Kc3 Ke7 21. Rd1 $14 {
/\d4-d5}) 17... Rab8 $1 18. Rxc7 Na5 {[#]} 19. Kc2 (19. Kc3 Rb1 $44 {Und Weiß
muß sich Gedanken um die Zukunft seines Rh1 machen.} (19... a6 $140 {Kostakiev,
D} 20. Rc5 Rb5 (20... Nb7 21. Rc6 $1 $16) 21. Rxb5 axb5 22. Kb4 Nb7 23. Kxb5
$18)) 19... Rb4 (19... Rfc8 $5 {Kostakiev,D} 20. Rxa7 Nc6 21. Ra4 Nb4+ 22. Kc1
c3 23. Be2 $14) 20. Rxa7 Ra4 {[#]} 21. Rxa5 $1 {Ein korrektes Qualitätsopfer.
Sonst ist nicht zu erkennen, wie Weiß vorwärts kommen sollte.} Rxa5 22. Bxc4 {
Kostakiev: B and 1 P (and 1/2 P - for the spoiled pawn structure on f6 &f7!)
is not a sacrifice. It is simply gaining material. In favour to Black's RR are
the opened files a,b,c,d in their possessions. They have big chances to get a
draw.} h5 (22... Rc8 {Kostakiev,D} 23. Kb3 Rb8+ (23... Rxc4 24. Kxc4 Rxa2 25.
Rf1 $14) 24. Kc3 Ra7 25. Rd1 $14) 23. h4 {[/\Xh5]} (23. Rd1 {Kostakiev,D} Rc8
24. Kb3 Rb8+ (24... Rxc4 25. Kxc4 Rxa2 26. Rf1 $14) 25. Kc3 Ra3+ 26. Bb3 $14)
23... Rc8 24. Kd3 {[#]} (24. Kb3 {Kostakiev,D} Rb8+ 25. Kc3 Kf8 26. Rd1 Ra7 27.
Rd2 Rc7 28. Rc2 Ke7 29. g3) 24... Rxc4 $1 {Das Turmendspiel mit Minusbauer ist
mit einiger Vorsicht zu halten.} ({Nach} 24... Kf8 25. Rb1 (25. Rd1 {Kostakiev,
D} Ra3+ 26. Bb3 Ke7 27. d5 f5 28. Ke2 e5 29. d6+ Kd7 30. Rd5 f6 31. f4 Rca8 32.
fxe5 fxe5 33. Rxe5 R8a5 34. Re7+ Kxd6 35. Rh7 f4 36. exf4 $18) 25... Ra3+ 26.
Bb3 $14 {wäre Schwarz zur Passivität verurteilt.}) 25. Kxc4 Rxa2 {Kostakiev:
Now the two super grandmasters are giving us a serial of R/R endgame's lessons,
proving finaly that Black has his chances to save the game! Dank seines
aktiven R kann Schwarz Remis halten.} 26. Rf1 {[#]} f5 {Far not identical but
similar endgames are known by the classical games Duras-Capablanka 1913 New
York, and Capablanka-Eits. 1930/1931 Hastings. In both Capa won, but his
opponents missed their chances.} (26... Kf8 {Kostakiev,D} 27. Kb3 Re2 28. g3
Ke7 29. Kc4 Ra2) 27. d5 Kf8 {[#]} 28. dxe6 (28. g3 {Kostakiev,D} Ke7) (28. d6 {
Kostakiev,D} Ke8 29. Kd4 f6 $11) 28... fxe6 29. Kd4 Ke7 30. Ke5 Ra4 31. f3 Ra5+
(31... Rxh4 $2 32. Ra1 $18 {[%cal Ya1a7]}) 32. Kf4 Ra2 33. Rb1 (33. Kg3 {
Kostakiev,D}) (33. g3 {Kostakiev,D} Kf6 34. e4 Re2) 33... Kf6 (33... Rxg2 34.
Ke5 Re2 35. Rb7+ Kd8 (35... Kf8 36. Kf6) 36. Kxe6 Rxe3+ 37. Kxf5 Rxf3+ 38. Kg5)
34. Kg3 Re2 $1 {[%cal Ye2g2,Ye2e3] Es ist merkwürdig wie sich der Nachziehende
mit seinem Turm aktiv verteidigt. Von e2 greift er gleichzeitig die schwachen
Bauern g2 und e3 an.} 35. Rb3 e5 36. Rb6+ Kg7 37. Rb3 Kf6 38. Ra3 Kg6 39. Kh3
Kf6 40. g4 {Sonst kann Weiß seine Stellung nicht verstärken.} (40. g3 {
Kostakiev,D} Re1 41. f4 e4 $11) 40... hxg4+ 41. fxg4 fxg4+ 42. Kxg4 Kg6 43. h5+
(43. Kf3 Rh2 44. Ke4 Rxh4+ 45. Kxe5 Kf7 $11 {CD}) 43... Kh6 44. Ra6+ Kh7 45.
Ra3 (45. Kf3 Rh2 46. h6 Rh4 $11) 45... Kh6 46. Kf5 e4 47. Kxe4 Kxh5 48. Kf5
Rf2+ 49. Ke6 Re2 $1 50. Kf5 (50. Ke5 {Kostakiev,D} Kg6 51. e4 Kf7 52. Ra7+ Kg6
53. Rd7 Re1 54. Rc7 Rd1 $11) 50... Rf2+ 51. Ke5 Kg6 52. e4 Rb2 53. Ra7 Rb5+ 54.
Ke6 Rb6+ 55. Ke7 (55. Kd5 Rb5+ 56. Kc4 Rb1 $11) 55... Rb5 $1 56. Ra6+ Kg5 57.
Re6 Kf4 58. Kf6 {Jetzt hat der Nachziehende nur drei Fortsetzungen, die zum
Remis führen: 58...Rb8, 58...Rg5 und die - von allen am einfachste -
Partiefortsetzung...} Rh5 $1 {GM Ivanchuk führte in diesem Endspiel eine
mustergültige Verteidigung vor.} 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Linares 15th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1998.02.25"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1998.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 064"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. Bf3 c6 13. Be3 cxd5 (13... h6 14. Ne6
Bxe6 15. dxe6 g5 16. exf5 Nxf5 17. Qd3 Nxe3 18. Rxe3 Qe7 19. Rd1 Rad8 20. Ne4
$16 {1-0Kramnik,V-Nijboer,F /Hoogovens 1998(29)}) (13... f4 14. Bc1 h6 15. Ne6
Bxe6 16. dxe6 Nc8 17. b5 Qe8 18. bxc6 bxc6 19. c5 $1 Qxe6 20. Ba3 dxc5 21. Na4
$44 {/+/- Kramnik,V-Gelfand,B Belgrad1997}) 14. cxd5 h6 15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6
fxe4 17. Nxe4 Nxe4 18. Bxe4 d5 19. Bc2 (19. Bc5 dxe4 20. Qxd8 Rfxd8 21. Bxe7
Re8 22. Bc5 $5 b6 23. Be3 Rxe6 24. a4 $44) 19... b6 $1 {Kramnik} (19... e4 20.
Rc1 {[%cal Re4e3,Re3c5,Re3e4,Rc2b3]} d4 21. Bd2 e3 (21... d3 22. Bb3 Bd4 23.
Be3 Bxe3 24. Rxe3 Qd4 25. Qd2 Rac8 26. Rce1 Rf4 27. g3 $18) 22. fxe3 d3 23. Bb3
Qd6 24. Qg4 Be5 25. Rf1 $1 $16 {1-0 Kramnik,V-Polgar,J/Linares14th 1997 (37)})
(19... d4 20. Bd2 d3 21. Bb3 Qb6 22. Be3 Qxb4 23. Rc1 Rfd8 24. Bc5 Qh4 25. Re3
e4 26. Rc4 $16) 20. Qg4 (20. Ba4 $5 Qd6 21. Bd7 (21. Qd2 Kh7 (21... Qxe6 22.
Bxh6 Bxh6 23. Qxh6 Nf5 24. Qf4 $14) 22. Bd7 Nf5 $11) 21... Qxb4 22. Rc1 $44)
20... Rf6 21. Bb3 (21. Ba4 h5 22. Qh3 Qd6 23. Bd7 Qxb4 24. Bg5 Rf5 25. Rab1 Qd6
26. Qh4 $44) 21... Qd6 22. Rad1 Rd8 23. b5 {[%cal Ge3c1,Gc1a3]} (23. Rxd5 Nxd5
24. Rd1 Qxe6 25. Bxd5 (25. Qxe6+ Rxe6 26. Rxd5 (26. Bxd5 $4 Kh7 $19) 26... Rxd5
27. Bxd5 Kf7 28. Kf1 Ke7 29. Bxe6 Kxe6 $17 {[%cal Ye6c4]}) 25... Qxd5 26. Rxd5
Rxd5 27. Qc4 Rfd6 28. h4 Kh7 $11) 23... Qxe6 24. Qxe6+ (24. Qa4 Rd7 25. f4 exf4
$1 (25... e4 26. Bc1 $1 $16 {[%cal Ge1e4,Gb3e6,Gd1d7] 1-0 Gligoric,S-Nataf,I
Cannes 98(47)}) 26. Bd4 Qd6 27. Bxf6 Bxf6 $44) 24... Rxe6 25. Bc1 {[%cal Gc1a3]
} Kf7 26. Ba3 $14 e4 27. g3 (27. Re2 {[%cal Ge2d2]}) 27... Rd7 28. Bxe7 Kxe7
29. Rxd5 Rxd5 (29... Rc7 30. Rd2 Re5 31. Rde2 $16) 30. Bxd5 Bc3 31. Re2 Re5 32.
Bxe4 $16 g5 33. a4 Kd6 {[%cal Yd6b4]} (33... Kf6 $5) 34. Kg2 Kc5 35. f4 gxf4
36. gxf4 Re6 37. Kf3 Rd6 (37... Kb4 $5) 38. Kg4 (38. Bf5 $1 {Dolmatov} Rd2 $140
39. Re7 Rxh2 40. Rxa7 $16) 38... Rd2 $11 39. Rg2 Kd4 40. Bc6 Rxg2+ 41. Bxg2 Bd2
42. Bf3 Bc1 43. Bd1 Bd2 44. Bc2 Bc1 45. f5 Ke5 46. Kh5 Kf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 15th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1998.02.26"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1998.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 064"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Manor,I} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7.
Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. c3 Bg7 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 O-O
14. Nce3 Be6 15. Bd3 f5 16. O-O (16. Qh5 {Manor,I} Ne7 (16... e4) (16... Qd7))
(16. Bc2 {Manor,I} f4 17. Qh5 Rf7) 16... Ra7 $6 {In my opinion Black has two
plans in this sharp position. One is to concentrate his pieces and play on the
kingside and the other one (less popular nowdays), is to push the pawns on the
queenside, starting with 16. ... Rb8!?. With the move 16. ... Ra7 Black shows
his intention for the first plan, but in that case a vital question is who
will bring first his queen on the kingside. 16. ... Ra7 allows White to play
17.Qh5. Later in his game against Anand from the same tournament Kramnik found
a way to place his Queen on g5 first.} (16... e4 17. Nf4 Bf7 18. Bc2 Be5 19.
Nfd5 Qg5 $13 {Anand-Kramnik, Linares, 1998}) 17. Qh5 (17. a4 {Manor,I} f4 (
17... e4 18. Nf4 Bf7 19. axb5 axb5 20. Bxb5 Rxa1 21. Qxa1 Ne7 $16) 18. Qh5 h6 (
18... Bh8 19. Bxh7+ Rxh7 20. Qg6+ $18) (18... Bf6 19. Bf5 $16) 19. Qg6 Re8 20.
Nf6+ $18) 17... Raf7 (17... e4 18. Bc2 Qe8 19. Qxe8 Rxe8 20. f3 exf3 21. Rxf3
$14 {Ivanchuk-Kramnik, London PCA rapid, 1994}) 18. g4 e4 19. Bc2 (19. Nf4 Bd7
20. Bc2 fxg4 21. Bxe4 Be5) 19... fxg4 (19... Ne5 {Manor,I} 20. Nf4 $16) (19...
Ne7 {Manor,I} 20. Nf4 Qd7 21. gxf5 Nxf5 22. Nxe6 Qxe6 23. Bb3 $18) (19... Bxd5
{Manor,I} 20. Nxd5 Ne5 21. Nf4 $14 Qd7) 20. Bxe4 Be5 21. Qh6 $2 (21. h3 $142 $5
gxh3 22. f4 Qe8 $5 23. Kh1 $16) 21... Kh8 22. Kh1 (22. Qxe6 Qh4 23. Nxg4 (23.
f4 {Manor,I} gxf3 24. Ng4 Rg7 $19) 23... Rg7 $40) 22... Bxd5 23. Nxd5 (23. Bxd5
Bf4 $1 24. Qh5 (24. Qe6 Qh4 $19) 24... Rf6 25. Nxg4 Rf5 $19) 23... Ne7 24. Qh4
$8 (24. Nxe7 Qxe7 $17) 24... Nxd5 (24... Qd7 $5 $13) 25. Qxd8 Rxd8 26. Bxd5 Rf5
(26... Rf6 {Manor,I} 27. Kg2 Rdf8 28. f3 gxf3+ 29. Rxf3 Rxf3 30. Bxf3 Bxh2 31.
Bb7 $11) 27. Rad1 Rdf8 (27... Rh5 28. f4 gxf3 29. Rf2 (29. Rd2 Bxh2 $15) 29...
Rf8 30. Rd3 Rxh2+ 31. Rxh2 Bxh2 32. Kxh2 f2 33. Bg2 f1=Q 34. Bxf1 Rxf1 35. Rxd6
Rf2+ 36. Kg3 Rxb2 37. Rxa6 $11) 28. Kg2 Rh5 29. Rh1 Rf6 30. Rd3 Rhf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 15th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1998.02.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2825"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1998.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 064"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. d4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 g6 7. e4 Bg7 8.
Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qxa2 12. O-O Bg4 13. Bg5 h6 14. Be3
Nc6 15. d5 Ne5 16. Rxb7 e6 17. Re1 Bxf3 18. gxf3 Rfd8 19. d6 Qa5 {Ftacnik:
Black is solving his opening problems with the help of the unprotected
position of Re1.} 20. Rf1 $146 (20. Bd2 Qa2 21. Be3 Qa5 22. Bd2 Qa2 23. Be3 {
1/2-1/2 Lautier,J-Illescas Cordoba,M/Hoogovens 1997/CBM 57 [Ftacnik]}) 20...
Bf8 (20... Qa3 {Ftacnik} 21. f4 $1 Rxd6 22. Qc1) (20... g5 {Ftacnik Avrukh,B}
21. f4 gxf4 (21... Ng6 $2 22. f5 $1 exf5 23. Qb3 Ne5 24. Rb5 $18) 22. Bxf4 Rab8
(22... Qa3 23. d7 $16) 23. Rxb8 Rxb8 24. Qc1 $1 $16) (20... Rd7 {Ftacnik} 21.
Rxd7 (21. Rb5 $2 Qd8 22. Bc5 Qh4 $40) 21... Nxd7 22. Qc1 $1 $16) 21. d7 (21.
Rb5 Qa2 (21... Nxf3+ {Ftacnik} 22. Kh1 $18) 22. Rxe5 Bxd6 $19) 21... Qa2 $1 {
/\22... R:d7; ץe2} 22. Re1 (22. Bb5 {Ftacnik} a6 23. f4 axb5 24. fxe5 Qa6 25.
Rc7 $13) 22... Qa5 $1 23. Rf1 (23. Kf1 $2 Nxf3 24. Bxf3 Qa6+) (23. Bd2 {Ftacnik
} Qc5 $15) 23... Qa2 24. Bb5 a6 $8 25. Bd4 (25. Ba4 Nxf3+ 26. Kg2 Nh4+ $13 {
Dokhoian}) 25... Bg7 $8 26. Bxe5 $11 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 15th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1998.03.01"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "1998.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 064"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Manor,I} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7.
Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. c3 Bg7 (11... fxe4 $2 {Manor,I}
12. Bxb5 $1 axb5 13. Nxb5 $16) 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 O-O (13... Be6 14. g3 $1 (
14. Nce3 Ne7 15. g3 Nxd5 16. Nxd5 O-O $11) 14... O-O 15. Bg2 $14) 14. Nce3 Be6
15. Bd3 f5 16. O-O (16. Bc2 Kh8 (16... Ne7 $2 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. Bxf5 $1) 17.
Qh5 e4 18. Rd1 Ne5 19. O-O Bf7 20. Qh3 Qg5 $13 {Martin Gonzales - Komarov,
Benasque, 1995}) 16... e4 (16... Rb8 $5 17. Qh5 Qd7 $13 {David-Manor, Bikurei
Haitim, 1997}) (16... Ra7 {Manor,I} 17. Qh5 Raf7 (17... e4 18. Bc2 Qe8 19. Qxe8
Rxe8 20. f3 exf3 21. Rxf3 Ne5 22. Rg3 Rf7 23. Nf4 Nc4 24. Nxe6 Rxe6 25. Nxf5
Nxb2 26. Rf1 Nc4 27. h4 Rg6 28. Rgf3 Nd2 29. Bb3 Nxb3 30. axb3 Rc7 31. h5 Rg5
32. h6 Rxf5 33. Rxf5 Bxh6 34. R1f3 Bg7 35. Rg5 Kh8 36. Kf1 Rxc3 37. Rxc3 Bxc3
$11 {Ivanchuk-Kramnik, London, PCA,1994}) 18. g4 e4 19. Bc2 fxg4 20. Bxe4 Be5
21. Qh6 Kh8 22. Kh1 Bxd5 23. Nxd5 Ne7 $11 {Svidler ,P- Kramnik, Linares, 1998})
(16... Ne7 {Manor,I} 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. Bc2 Rac8 19. Bb3 Kh8 20. Bxe6 Qxe6 21.
Qb3 Qg6 22. Nd5 Rc4 23. f4 Bh6 24. Qc2 exf4 25. Rf2 Re8 26. Raf1 Rce4 27. Qd3
R8e5 28. Nxf4 {Lutz-Salai, Erevan olm, 1996}) 17. Nf4 (17. Bc2 $2 f4 18. Bxe4
fxe3 19. Qh5 exf2+ 20. Kh1 (20. Rxf2 {Manor,I} Rxf2 21. Qxh7+ Kf8 22. Kxf2 Ra7
23. Kg1 Rf7 $17) 20... Rf7 $19 {Bestagno-Kuntz, Cagnes, 1989}) 17... Bf7 18.
Bc2 Be5 19. Nfd5 Qg5 (19... f4 {Manor,I} 20. Qg4+ (20. Nf5 $2 Bg6) 20... Bg6
21. Bxe4 fxe3 22. Bxg6 exf2+ (22... hxg6 23. Qxg6+ Bg7 24. fxe3 $13 (24. Nxe3
$13) (24. Qe6+ $13)) 23. Rxf2 hxg6 24. Qxg6+ Bg7 25. Raf1 $13) 20. f4 exf3 21.
Qxf3 Bh5 22. Qf2 (22. Qh3 f4 23. Nc7 $1 {Kramnik} (23. Qd7 Ra7 24. Qxc6 fxe3
25. Rxf8+ Kxf8 26. Qb6 Bxh2+ 27. Kxh2 Qh4+ 28. Kg1 Qf2+ $11) 23... fxe3 24.
Nxa8 Rxf1+ 25. Rxf1 $16) 22... f4 23. h4 Qd8 24. Nf5 Bg6 25. Nd4 (25. Nh6+ {
Manor,I} Kg7 26. Bxg6 hxg6 27. Ng4 $13) 25... Nxd4 (25... Bxc2 {Manor,I} 26.
Nxc2 (26. Ne6 Qc8 27. Nxf8 Bf5 (27... Be4 $2 28. Nf6+ Bxf6 29. Qxf4 Qxf8 30.
Qxe4 Rc8 31. Qe6+ Kg7 32. Rxf6 $18) 28. Nxh7 Bxh7 29. Nxf4 Qg4 $17) 26... Ne7
27. Nxe7+ Qxe7 $13 28. Nd4) 26. cxd4 $6 (26. Bxg6 Ne6 (26... Nf5 27. Bxf5 Rxf5
$14) 27. Be4 $14) 26... Bxc2 (26... Bxd4 $2 {Manor,I} 27. Qxd4 Bxc2 28. Rxf4
$16) 27. dxe5 dxe5 28. Qc5 Rf7 $15 (28... Rc8 $2 {Manor,I} 29. Ne7+) (28... Bg6
$2 {Manor,I} 29. Ne7+) (28... Rf7 {Manor,I} 29. Nb4 (29. Nxf4 exf4 30. Qxc2
Qxh4 $15) 29... Bg6 30. Qxe5 (30. Nc6 Qc7 $1 31. Rac1 Re8 $17) 30... Qxh4 31.
Nd5 Raf8 32. Rae1 $44) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 15th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1998.03.02"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B57"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Gofshtein,L"]
[PlyCount "148"]
[EventDate "1998.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 064"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 Qb6 7. Ndb5 a6 (
7... Bg4 8. f3 Bd7 9. Qe2 a6 10. Be3 Qa5 11. Nd4 b5 12. Bb3 e6 13. O-O-O b4 14.
Nb1 (14. Nd5 $5 exd5 15. exd5 Nxd4 16. Bxd4+ Kd8 $13 {Kramnik}) 14... Be7 $13 {
Topalov-Kramnik 1996,Dos Hermanas}) 8. Be3 Qd8 (8... Qa5 9. Nd4 Ne5 (9... Nxe4
$6 10. Qf3 f5 (10... Nxc3 $2 11. Nxc6 $18) 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. O-O-O d5 13. Nxd5
$1 cxd5 14. Bxd5 Rb8 15. Bc6+ Kf7 16. Bxe4 e6 17. Rd5 $1 $16 {Bednarskij-Minev,
Bern 1975}) 10. Nb3 Qc7 11. Be2 e6 12. f4 Nc6 $132 {Christiansen-Yermolinsky,
USA 1997}) 9. Nd4 Ng4 (9... e6 10. Bb3 Qc7 11. f4 Be7 12. Qf3 O-O 13. O-O Nxd4
14. Bxd4 b5 15. e5 dxe5 16. fxe5 Nd7 $13 {Movsziszian K-LernerK,1997 Germany})
10. Nxc6 (10. O-O Nce5 11. Bb3 Nxe3 12. fxe3 g6 $2 (12... e6) 13. Nf3 Nxf3+ 14.
Qxf3 Be6 15. Ba4+ $18 {Velimirovic-Vukovic,Belgrade 1988}) 10... bxc6 11. Qf3 (
11. Bf4 e5 12. Bg3 Be7 13. Qe2 O-O 14. O-O $14 {Ginsburg-Shmuter,1990
Simferopol}) (11. Bg5 Qb6 $6 (11... h6 12. Bh4 Ne5 13. Bb3 g5 14. Bg3 Bg7 $13)
12. Qd2 h6 13. Bh4 Qxb2 14. Rb1 Qa3 15. Nd5 $1 $14 {Tompa-Csom,Budapest 1976})
(11. Bd2 g6 12. h3 Nf6 13. Bg5 Bg7 14. Qd2 O-O 15. O-O-O Qb6 16. Rhe1 Rb8 $132
{De Firmian-Polgar.S,1995 Bermuda}) 11... Ne5 12. Qe2 e6 $146 (12... g6 13. f4
Nxc4 14. Qxc4 Bg7 15. Bd4 Bxd4 16. Qxd4 O-O $14 {Todorovic-Vykovic Kladovo 1990
}) 13. O-O-O Be7 (13... Nxc4 $6 14. Qxc4 $36) 14. Bd4 (14. Bb3 $5 a5 15. f4 Ba6
16. Qd2 $13) 14... Qc7 15. Bxe5 dxe5 16. Na4 O-O 17. Rd3 Qa5 18. b3 Rb8 19. Qd2
Qxd2+ 20. Kxd2 g6 21. Rd1 Kg7 22. Ke2 a5 23. Rc3 Bb4 24. Rcd3 Be7 25. g3 h5 26.
h4 {White coudnot impruve his pozition} f5 $6 27. Rc3 Bb4 28. Re3 Kf6 29. f4
exf4 30. e5+ $5 (30. gxf4 $5 $14) 30... Kf7 31. gxf4 Be7 32. Red3 $1 (32. Rh3
Rd8 33. Rxd8 Bxd8 $132) 32... Bxh4 33. Nc5 Be7 34. Rd6 $1 Bxd6 35. exd6 $16 Rd8
36. d7 Ke7 37. dxc8=N+ Rbxc8 38. Rxd8 $6 (38. Rg1 $5 Kf6 39. Nxe6 $16) 38...
Rxd8 39. Nxe6 Rh8 40. Ng5 (40. Kf3 h4 41. Kg2 h3+ 42. Kh2 Rh4 $132) 40... h4
41. Nh3 Kf6 42. Kf2 Rd8 43. Bd3 $14 a4 $5 44. Ng5 (44. bxa4 Ra8) 44... a3 $1 (
44... axb3 45. axb3 $16) 45. Nf3 c5 $5 46. Ng5 Rd4 47. Kf3 Rd7 48. Ke3 Rd8 49.
Nf3 Re8+ 50. Kf2 Rd8 51. Nxh4 {[%csl Yb2,Yd2][%cal Yc5c4]} c4 $3 52. bxc4 (52.
Bxc4 Rd2+) 52... Rb8 53. c5 Rb2 54. c6 Ke7 $8 55. Nxg6+ Kd6 56. Ne5 Rxa2 57.
Nc4+ Kc7 (57... Kxc6 $11) 58. Kg3 (58. Bxf5 $4 Rxc2+ $1 $19) 58... Ra1 (58...
Rxc2 $2 59. Nxa3 Rc3 $2 60. Nb5+) 59. Nxa3 Rxa3 60. Kh4 Kxc6 61. Kg5 $11 Ra5
62. Bxf5 Kd6 63. Kg4 Ke7 64. Bd3 Rc5 65. Kf3 Kd6 66. Ke4 Rh5 67. c4 Rh4 68. Kf5
Kc5 69. Ke5 Rh3 70. Ke4 Rh4 71. Be2 Rh2 72. Kf3 Kd4 73. Bf1 Rh1 74. Kf2 Rh8
1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 15th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1998.03.03"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Hansen,Cu"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "1998.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 064"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Ftacnik} Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. d4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 g6 7.
e4 Bg7 8. Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qxa2 12. O-O Bg4 13. Be3
Nc6 14. d5 Bxf3 (14... Ne5 {Ftacnik} 15. Rxb7 Rfb8 16. Rxe7 Rb2 17. Bd4 Rxe2
18. Bxe5 Bxf3 19. gxf3 Bxe5 20. Rxe5 $16) 15. Bxf3 Ne5 (15... Na5 {Ftacnik})
16. Be2 (16. Rxb7 {Ftacnik} a5 (16... e6 $5 17. dxe6 (17. Be2 exd5 18. exd5
Rfd8 19. d6 Qe6 20. Bc5 Bf8) (17. d6 Qa6 18. Rc7 Nxf3+ 19. gxf3 Be5 20. Bc5
Rfd8) 17... Qxe6 18. Rxa7 Nxf3+ 19. Qxf3 (19. gxf3 Rxa7 20. Bxa7) 19... Rxa7
20. Bxa7 Re8 21. Re1 f5 22. Qe3 fxe4 23. f3 {1/2-1/2 Chernin,A-Azmaiparashvili,
Z/Vidmar mem12th/1997/ (30)}) 17. Rxe7 a4 18. Bd4 Nxf3+ 19. gxf3 Bxd4 20. Qxd4
a3 21. Kg2 Qb2 22. Qxb2 axb2 23. Rb1 Rfb8 24. d6 Kf8 {1/2-1/2 Bacrot,
E-Illescas Cordoba,M/Pamplona9798 1998 (39)}) (16. Bc5 {Ftacnik} Bf6 17. Rxb7
Rfb8 18. Bxe7 Rxb7 19. Bxf6 Re8 20. h4 Qa3 21. Bxe5 Rxe5 22. Qd4 Qb2 23. Qc4
Re8 24. Qc6 Qb5 {Krasenkow,M-Azmaiparashvili,Z/Erevan olm/1996/96ch2/0-1 (73)})
16... Nc4 17. Bg5 Nd6 (17... Rfe8 {Ftacnik} 18. Rxb7 Nd6 19. Rb4 a5 20. Ra4 Qb2
21. Bc1 Qb6 22. Be3 Qb2 23. Bc1 Qb6 24. Qd3 {1/2-1/2 Sakaev,K-Notkin,M/RUS-ch
1996/ (31)}) 18. Bxe7 $1 $146 {Gelfand} (18. Bd3 {Ftacnik} Rfe8 19. Re1 e5 (
19... Rad8 $5 20. h3 $5) 20. Bd2 $1 b5 $6 (20... Rec8 21. Bb4 Nc4 22. Be7 $44)
(20... a5 $5 21. Re2 Qa3 22. Be3 $5 $44) 21. Bxb5 Nxb5 22. Rxb5 a5 23. d6 $1 {
><d5} (23. Rb7 a4 24. Qf3 Rf8 $5 25. Bb4 Rab8) 23... Red8 24. Rd5 Rd7 25. Qc1
Bf8 (25... a4 26. Qc6 Rdd8 27. d7 $16) 26. Bg5 $2 (26. Qc3 $1 Rb8 27. Qxe5 Rb1
28. Rf1 $1 {Kramnik,V} Rdb7 29. Bc1 Qc2 30. Rdd1 $16) 26... Qa4 27. Red1 Ra6 $1
$11 {1/2-1/2 Gelfand,B-Illescas Cordoba,M/Dos Hermanas/1997/ (31)}) 18... Nxe4
19. Bf3 $1 $16 {After this move black is in serious trouble} (19. Rb4 {Ftacnik}
Nc3 20. Bc4 Qxc4 $1 $11) 19... Nd2 (19... Nc3 $2 {Ftacnik} 20. Qb3 Qxb3 21.
Rxb3 Rfe8 22. d6 $16) 20. Qe2 (20. Bxf8 {Ftacnik} Bxf8 21. Rxb7 Nxf1 22. Qxf1 (
22. d6 Nd2) 22... Bd6 $11) 20... Rfe8 (20... Nxf3+ {Ftacnik} 21. Qxf3 Rfb8 22.
d6 b6 23. Qe4 f5 24. Qf3 Qe6 25. Rfe1 Qd7 26. Qd5+ Kh8 $13) 21. d6 {White must
be better due to the dangerous pawn on d6. Black can claim counterplay with a
pawn, but the proximity to the promotion square plays an important role.} (21.
Rxb7 {Ftacnik} Qa5 22. Rd1 Rab8 23. Rxb8 Nxf3+ 24. Qxf3 Rxb8 25. d6 Qe5 26. Qe3
$1 $16) 21... Nxf3+ 22. Qxf3 Bf8 (22... Rab8 {Ftacnik} 23. Rxb7 Rxb7 24. Qxb7
Bf8 25. Qc6 Rb8 26. d7 Bxe7 27. Qc8+ $14) 23. Rxb7 a5 (23... Bxe7 24. Rxe7 Rxe7
$2 25. Qxa8+ $18) 24. h4 (24. Bxf8 {Ftacnik} Rxf8 25. Re7 Rae8 26. Rfe1 Qa4 27.
Qf6 Qc6 $13) 24... a4 25. Rd1 (25. Bxf8 {Ftacnik} Rxf8 26. d7 Qe6 $11) 25...
Qe6 26. Bg5 (26. d7 {Ftacnik} Rxe7 27. d8=Q Rxd8 28. Rxd8 Rxb7 29. Qxb7 Qe1+
30. Kh2 Qe5+ 31. g3 Qf6 32. Rd2 a3 $11) 26... h6 27. d7 (27. Bf4 {Ftacnik} Red8
28. d7 a3 $132) 27... hxg5 28. dxe8=Q Rxe8 29. hxg5 a3 30. g3 $1 {A very good
move. White moves his K away from the first rank, so the a-pawn will never
queen with check. This means the following tactics should have worked in
whites favour Strange slip of attention, white must be better if he can stop
the march of black's a pawn.} (30. Ra7 $1 {Ftacnik} Bc5 (30... Be7 31. Qc3 Rc8
32. Qe1 Qxe1+ 33. Rxe1 Bc5 34. Rd7 $14) (30... a2 $2 31. Ra1 Qe1+ 32. Rxe1
Rxe1+ 33. Kh2 a1=Q 34. Qxf7+ Kh8 35. Qxf8#) 31. Ra5 Qb6 32. Ra8 Rxa8 33. Qxa8+
Kg7 34. Qf3 $16) 30... a2 31. Kg2 (31. Ra7 {Ftacnik} Bg7 32. Ra8 a1=Q 33. Rdxa1
Bxa1 34. Rxa1 $14) 31... Rd8 32. Re1 $2 {The obvious but not the best move} (
32. Ra7 $1 {After this move I believe that black - if he plays very precise -
can get whites g5-P for the a2-P but even that should not be enough to draw}
Rxd1 33. Qxd1 Qe4+ (33... Bg7 $2 34. Ra8+ Kh7 35. Qh1+ {Another positive
side-effect of the manouvre g2-g3 and Kg1-g2}) 34. Qf3 Qe6 35. Qa8 $18 {
and white has achieved his ideal position. He controls the /^ a8-h1 and has Q
and R behind the a2-P}) (32. Rxd8 {Ftacnik} a1=Q 33. Rbb8 Qe7 (33... Qg7 $6)
34. Qd5 $11) 32... Qc4 (32... Qxe1 $4 {Ftacnik} 33. Qxf7+ Kh8 34. Qh7#) 33. Ra7
Rd3 $1 {Now blacks R is very active. White has great problems coordinating the
defence of f2 with winning or neutralising the a2-P} 34. Qa8 Rd2 {[%cal Yd2f2,
Gd2a2]} 35. Qf3 (35. Re8 {Ftacnik} Qc5 36. Rxf8+ Qxf8 37. Rxa2 Qxa8+ 38. Rxa8+
Kg7 $11) 35... Rd3 36. Qa8 Rd2 37. Ra4 $2 (37. Re4 $145 Qc5 38. Rf4 $18) 37...
Qc5 38. Rf1 Qc2 39. Ra7 Qb3 40. Qf3 $2 (40. Qe8 {Ftacnik} Qd5+ 41. Kg1 Rb2 42.
Ra8 Qc5 $14) (40. Rc7 $142 Qa3 41. Rc8 Qxa8+ 42. Rxa8 $18 {Kramnik}) 40...
Qxf3+ 41. Kxf3 Bc5 (41... Bg7 $2 {Ftacnik} 42. Ra8+ Bf8 43. Ra1 $18) 42. Ra8+
Kg7 43. Ra1 (43. Ke4 {Ftacnik} Bxf2 44. Ra1 Bxg3 45. R1xa2 Rxa2 46. Rxa2 Bd6
47. Ra7 Kf8 $11) (43. Kg2 {Ftacnik} Bd4 $11) 43... Rxf2+ 44. Kg4 Rd2 {Ftacnik:
The drawing idea becomes clear, white g5 pawn is too weak.} 45. Ra4 (45. R1xa2
{Ftacnik} Rd4+ 46. Kf3 Rd5 47. Kf4 Be7 $11) 45... Bb6 46. R1xa2 Rd5 47. Kh4 Bd8
48. Rg4 Rd1 49. Rh2 (49. Kh3 {Ftacnik} Rd5 $11) 49... Kg8 50. Re4 Rd5 51. Re8+
Kg7 52. Rb2 Bxg5+ 53. Kg4 Rd4+ 54. Kh3 (54. Kxg5 $4 {Ftacnik} f6#) 54... Rd7
55. Rbb8 Bf6 (55... Bf6 {Ftacnik} 56. Rh8 Be5 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 15th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1998.03.06"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1998.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 064"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{After both sides avoiding main lines in the opening, a fairly even position
arises. But Shirov is the more vigilant and takes full advantage of his
opponents small inaccuracies. As usual Shirov plays the ending brilliantly.} 1.
e4 {Cifuentes,R Hansen,Cu} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 {Hansen,Cu: Kramnik lost against
Shirov as black in his favorite Rauser-Sicilian in Wijk aan Zee i January,
which must be the reason for his unexpected choice of the Ruy Lopez.} 3. Bb5
Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Be7 (5... Nd6 {is the Berlin defence proper.}) 6. dxe5 {
Shirov avoids main lines - and preparations.} (6. Qe2 {This leads to the
famous position with the K:s N fianchettoed on b7, championed by the great
Emmanuel Lasker. Kramnik is getting his inspiration from the best of sources.}
Nd6 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. dxe5 Nb7) 6... O-O (6... d5 $5 {Cifuentes,R} 7. exd6 (7.
Nd4 Bd7 $13) (7. Nc3 Nxc3 8. bxc3 O-O 9. Re1 Bg4 $6 (9... Na5 $5 $11) 10. h3
Bh5 11. Rb1 Na5 12. Bf1 Bg6 13. Nd4 c5 14. Ne2 Bf5 15. Nf4 Be6 16. Bd3 c4 17.
Be2 Qd7 18. Bf3 Rad8 19. Qe2 Qc6 20. Rd1 $14 {Romanishin-Knezevic, USSR 1979})
7... Nxd6 8. Bxc6+ bxc6 9. Bf4 O-O 10. Nbd2 $14) 7. Re1 (7. Qd5 {The
alternative.} Nc5 8. Be3 a6 (8... Ne6 {Cifuentes,R} 9. Nc3 a6 (9... f6 10. exf6
Bxf6 11. Bd3 Ne7 12. Qe4 g6 13. Bc4 $14) 10. Ba4 b5 11. Bb3 Rb8 $1 (11... Bb7
12. Rad1 d6 13. exd6 $1 (13. Qe4 Na5 14. Bd5 Bxd5 15. Nxd5 Nc4 16. Bc1 dxe5 17.
Nb6 cxb6 18. Rxd8 Rfxd8 19. b3 Nd6 20. Qxe5 Bf6 $44 {Sax-Rivas, Thessaloniki 
(ol) 1988}) 13... Bxd6 14. Qh5 Ne7 15. Ng5 $1 Nxg5 16. Bxg5 $16) 12. Rad1 Na5
$11) (8... b6 9. Nc3 Rb8 10. Rad1 Qe8 11. Rfe1 a6 12. Bf1 Kh8 13. Qd2 Bd8 14.
Nd5 Ne6 15. c4 b5 16. cxb5 axb5 17. b4 Ne7 18. Nc3 c6 19. Ne4 Bc7 20. Nd6 $16 {
Nunn-Speelman, Hastings 1987/88}) 9. Bxc5 axb5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Nc3 b4 12. Nb5
Ra5 13. a4 b6 14. Rfe1 Ba6 (14... Nd8 15. Qc4 Ne6 16. c3 bxc3 17. b4 Ra8 18.
Nbd4 Bb7 19. Nf5 Qd8 20. Qxc3 $14 {Lanka-Asanov, USSR 1979}) 15. Rad1 Nb8 16.
b3 Re8 $13 {1/2-1/2 Polgar,J-Smyslov,V/VAM 1997/CBM 62 (31)}) (7. Qe2 {
Cifuentes,R} Nc5 8. Nc3 d6 9. Rd1 Bg4 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. h3 Bd7 12. Nd4 Qe8 13.
f4 a5 14. b3 f5 15. Ba3 d5 16. Bb2 Ne6 17. Nxe6 Bxe6 18. Qf2 g5 19. fxg5 f4 20.
Rd3 Qh5 $44 {Odeev-Nikitin, USSR 1989}) 7... d5 8. exd6 Bxd6 9. Nbd2 Bf5 $146 {
This position looks very drawish, but these fine gentlemen shows us that there
are always chances if you just play on. Hansen,Cu: This seems to me a
illogical move. The P-structure is symmetrical, blacks only problem is that
white might be able to win some time by attacking Ne4. Black does not have any
P-weaknesses, though white might be slightly more active. Why not get rid of
the main weakness - Ne4 ? :} (9... Nxd2 $1 {Simple and probably best.} 10. Bxd2
Qf6 (10... Be7 11. Bc3 {1/2-1/2 Russek,G-Fedorov,V/New York op 1992/TD 92\05})
(10... Bg4 $11 {Hansen,Cu}) (10... Bg4 11. Bc3 Bf4 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Qxd8 Rfxd8
14. Ne5 Bxe5 15. Rxe5 $14) 11. Bc3 Qh6 12. h3 Bf5 13. Bxc6 bxc6 14. Nd4 Bd7 (
14... Bxh3 $1 {Cifuentes,R} 15. gxh3 Qxh3 16. Nf3 Qg4+ 17. Kf1 Qh3+ $11) 15.
Qf3 Qg6 $11 {Djurhuus,R-Vladimirov,E/Gausdal Int 1990/TD 90\05/1/2-1/2 (91)} (
15... Qg6 16. Qe4 Rfe8 17. Qxg6 hxg6 18. Rxe8+ Rxe8 19. Re1 Rb8 20. a3 $14 {
Djurhuus-Vladimirov, Gausdal 1990})) 10. Nc4 $1 {[%csl Re4][%cal Yc4d6] With
no central pawns and no secure central squares to plant the N:s on, exchanging
a N for a B is a good thing. This explains White's initial reluctance to play
Bxc6. Hansen,Cu: Now white is threatening to get the ^^ and the not
sufficiently supported N on e4 could still give problems} (10. Bd3 Nxd2 11.
Bxf5 Nxf3+ 12. Qxf3 Nd4 $11) (10. Nxe4 Bxe4 11. Rxe4 $4 Bxh2+ $19) 10... Bb4 (
10... Bc5 11. Be3 Qf6 {looks reasonable.}) 11. c3 Qxd1 12. Rxd1 Bc5 13. Be3 Ne7
(13... Bxe3 14. Nxe3 Be6 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16. Nd4 $14) 14. Re1 {[%cal Re3c5]} Bxe3
$6 {Simplifying into a problematic ending.} (14... Nd5 {The threat a6 followed
by b5 is handy in some lines, so Black could try to keep Nc4 in place.} 15.
Bxc5 (15. Rad1 Nxe3 16. Nxe3 Be6 $11) (15. Bd4 c6 16. Ba4 Nb6 17. Nxb6 Bxb6 18.
Bxb6 axb6 19. Bc2 Nd6 20. Bxf5 Nxf5 $11) 15... Nxc5 16. Ne3 (16. Re5 Be6 17.
Nd4 $6 c6 $15) (16. Nd4 Bd3 17. Rad1 a6 18. Nb6 Nxb6 19. Bxd3 Nxd3 20. Rxd3
Rfe8 $11) (16. Nce5 f6 17. Rad1 Rad8 18. Nd7 Nxd7 19. Rxd5 Ne5 $11) 16... Nxe3
17. Rxe3 $14 {Whits is quite comfortable in this position. The immediate
threat is Re5. But moves like Nd4, Rae1 and even b4 are are also troublesome.
I don't see a clear way for Black to reach equality here.}) 15. Nxe3 {White
has a slight but nice initiative here. All Blacks minor pieces are targets.}
Nd6 {Allowing White the advantage of B against N in an open position. But
there was no way to avoid it.} (15... Bg6 16. Nh4 {also gives White B for N.} (
16. Ne5 $14 {Hansen,Cu}) (16. Ne5 {Cifuentes,R})) (15... Bc8 16. Nf1 Bf5 17.
Nh4 {is even worse.}) (15... Be6 16. Nd4 $16) 16. Nxf5 Nexf5 17. Ba4 $16 {
[%cal Ya4e8] Hansen,Cu: Whites bishop is clearly stronger that a N in this
open position. And black has certain problems opposing white on the <->e
because Ba4 controls e8} g6 (17... c6 {Hansen,Cu} 18. g4 $5) 18. Re2 b5 {
Clearly a concession, but Black must oppose on the e-file, else White would
chase Nf5 away and penetrate to e7.} (18... h5 $5 {Hansen,Cu /\c7-c6, Tfe8}) (
18... c6 {[%csl Rd6]}) (18... Rad8 $142 {Kramnik} 19. Z0 Nc8 20. Z0 Nb6 21. Z0
Rfe8 22. Z0 Nd6) 19. Bc2 Rfe8 20. Rae1 Rxe2 (20... Ng7 {Cifuentes,R} 21. Ne5
$14) 21. Rxe2 a5 (21... Re8 22. Rxe8+ Nxe8 23. Bxf5 gxf5 24. Nd4 Nd6 25. Nc6 a6
26. Kf1 $16) (21... Kf8 {Cifuentes,R} 22. Ne5) (21... a6 {Cifuentes,R}) 22. Re5
$1 {[%csl Rc7][%cal Ye5c5] Black has many - probably too many - weaknesses for
White to probe. /\Bxf5//\g2-g4//\Re5-c5} b4 (22... h5 {Hansen,Cu} 23. Bxf5 gxf5
24. Rc5 $16) 23. Rc5 $1 {An excellent commanding post for the R.} bxc3 24. Rxc3
Nb5 (24... Ra7 $5) 25. Rc4 {[%csl Ra5,Rc7]} (25. Rc5 $6 {Cifuentes,R} Nfd4 26.
Nxd4 Nxd4 27. Rxc7 Rb8 28. b3 a4 $1 $132) 25... Rd8 26. Kf1 Ne7 27. a4 Nd6 28.
Rxc7 $18 Nd5 29. Rc5 Nb4 30. Bb3 Nd3 (30... Rc8 {Cifuentes,R} 31. Rxc8+ Nxc8
32. Ne5 Nd6 33. Ke2 $16) 31. Rxa5 Nxb2 32. Rd5 $1 {[%csl Rb2] Adding hurt to
injury. Now the N on b2 is doomed.} Rb8 33. Nd2 Rb6 34. Ke2 Ra6 35. Rd4 Nb7 36.
Ne4 Rb6 37. Bd5 Kg7 38. Kd2 Nd6 39. Nc3 Nf5 40. Rf4 Kf6 41. a5 1-0

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

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

[Event "Linares 15th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1998.03.08"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2825"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Kostakiev,D"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "1998.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 064"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 4376]} 1. d4 {Ftacnik} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6.
Qxc3 b6 7. Nf3 Bb7 8. Bg5 d6 9. Nd2 Nbd7 10. f3 h6 11. Bh4 Rc8 12. e4 c5 13.
Bd3 d5 $1 $146 (13... cxd4 14. Qxd4 Ne5 15. Be2 (15. O-O Ng6 16. Bf2 Qe7 17.
Rfe1 Rfd8 18. Bf1 Nd7 19. a4 a5 {Gerstner,W-Farago,I/BL2-S9697 1997/BL2-S/1/
2-1/2 (51)}) 15... Ng6 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. Qxf6 gxf6 18. g3 d5 19. exd5 exd5 20.
Kf2 Ne5 $14 (20... Rfd8 $14 {1/2-1/2 Hoang Than Trang-Eperjesi,L/It (cat.2)
Budapest (Hungary) 1994 (24)}) (20... Rfd8 {Ftacnik} 21. Rhd1 Ne5 22. b3 dxc4
23. Nxc4 Bd5 24. Nd2 Be6 25. Ne4 Bxb3 26. Nxf6+ Kg7 27. Nh5+ Kf8 {1/2-1/2
Hoang Than Trang-Eperjesi,L/Budapest FS07 IM 1994/EXT 94 (37)}) 21. cxd5 $14 {
1/2-1/2 Hoang Than Trang-Lin Ye/Izt (w) Kishinev (Moldova) 1995 (23)} (21. cxd5
Bxd5 22. Rac1 Rfd8 23. Rhd1 Be6 24. Ne4 Kg7 {Hoang Than Trang-Lin Ye/Kishinev
izt-W 1995/EXT 95/1/2-1/2 (80)})) (13... Nxe4 $2 {Ftacnik} 14. Bxe4 Qxh4+ 15.
g3 $18) 14. exd5 (14. e5 g5 (14... Ne4 $1 {Ftacnik} 15. Bxd8 (15. Nxe4 Qxh4+
16. g3 Qh5 17. Nd6 cxd4 18. Qxd4 Qxe5+ 19. Qxe5 Nxe5 $15) 15... Nxc3 16. Be7
Rfe8 17. bxc3 (17. Bd6 dxc4 18. Nxc4 Nd5 $15) 17... Rxe7 18. cxd5 Bxd5 $15) 15.
Bf2 dxc4 16. Bxc4 Nd5 $15) (14. Bg3 $6 {Ftacnik} dxe4 15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16. Bxe4
Bxe4 17. fxe4 Nf6 $19) (14. dxc5 {Ftacnik} Nxe4 15. Nxe4 Qxh4+ 16. g3 Qe7 17.
Nd6 Rxc5 18. Nxb7 Rc7 $17) 14... exd5 15. O-O {[#]} (15. cxd5 {Ftacnik} Re8+
16. Kf1 g5 17. Bf2 Nxd5 $17) 15... cxd4 (15... dxc4 $5 16. Nxc4 cxd4 $15) 16.
Qxd4 Nc5 (16... dxc4 $5 17. Bxc4 Re8 $132) 17. Bxf6 (17. Bf5 $5 {Ftacnik} Ne6 (
17... dxc4 $2 18. Bxf6 Qxf6 19. Qxf6 gxf6 20. Bxc8 $16) 18. Bxe6 fxe6 19. Rad1
(19. Rfe1) 19... Qc7 $14) 17... Qxf6 18. Qxf6 gxf6 19. Bf5 $14 {Kasparov must
be better, but the damage is limited due to the active black pieces.} Rcd8 20.
Rfe1 (20. b4 $6 {Ftacnik} dxc4 21. Nxc4 Nb3 22. Rae1 Ba6 $15) 20... Ba6 (20...
d4 $6 {Ftacnik} 21. Re7 $14) 21. Rac1 (21. Re7 {Ftacnik} dxc4 22. Ne4 Nxe4 23.
Bxe4 Rfe8 24. Rxa7 Bc8 25. Rc7 f5 26. Bc2 b5 $11) 21... dxc4 22. Nxc4 Nb3 (
22... Rd5 $5 {Ftacnik} 23. Bb1 Rfd8 $13) 23. Rc3 Nd4 24. Bh3 (24. Bb1 {Ftacnik}
Rfe8 25. Kf2 Rxe1 26. Kxe1 Re8+ $132) (24. Bd3 Nb5 (24... b5 $142 25. Ne3 b4
26. Bxa6 bxc3 27. bxc3 $44 {Kramnik}) 25. Rb3 Nd4 26. Rc3 Nb5 $11) 24... Rfe8
25. Kf2 Rxe1 26. Kxe1 Re8+ 27. Kd2 Ne2 (27... Rd8 {Ftacnik} 28. Ke3 $1) (27...
f5 $1 28. Ne3 $8 f4 29. Nc2 $11 {Kramnik}) 28. Re3 (28. Rc2 {Ftacnik} Nf4 $1
$11) 28... Rd8+ 29. Kxe2 Bxc4+ $11 30. Ke1 Kf8 31. Bf5 {True sign of a poor
form, black would still have to labour for the half point after more exact 31.
Rc3.} (31. Rc3 {Ftacnik} Re8+ (31... b5 32. b3 $1 Rd3 33. Rxd3 Bxd3 34. Kd2 $16
) 32. Kf2 Re2+ 33. Kg3 Be6 34. b4 $14) 31... Re8 32. Rxe8+ Kxe8 33. Kd2 Ke7 34.
Ke3 Bd5 35. Kd4 Kd6 36. Be4 Be6 (36... Bxe4 {Ftacnik} 37. Kxe4 Ke6 38. g4 $16)
37. Bd3 Bc8 38. Bc4 Ke7 (38... Be6 {Ftacnik} 39. Bxe6 fxe6 40. g4 $1 $14) 39.
Ke4 (39. Kd5 {Ftacnik} Be6+ 40. Kd4 Bc8) 39... Bb7+ 40. Bd5 Bc8 41. Kd4 Bd7 42.
Kc4 (42. Bb7 {Ftacnik} Kd6 $11) 42... Be8 43. b4 Bd7 (43... Kd6 {Ftacnik} 44.
Kd4 f5 $1 $11) 44. f4 f5 {Ftacnik: White will bot be able to penetrate with a
king any further.} 45. Bf3 Kd6 46. Bh5 f6 47. Bd1 Bc6 48. g3 Bd7 49. Bc2 Ke6
50. a4 Kd6 51. a5 Ke6 52. Kd4 $14 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 15th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1998.03.09"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Gershon,A"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1998.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 064"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.06.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 b6 7. d4 Bb7 8.
Bg5 d6 9. Nd2 Nbd7 (9... h6 10. Bh4 Nbd7 11. f3 d5 12. cxd5 exd5 13. e3 Re8 14.
Bf2 c5 15. Bb5 a6 16. Bd3 cxd4 17. Qxd4 Nc5 18. O-O Nxd3 19. Qxd3 Nd7 20. Qd4
$14 {1/2-1/2 Lerner,K-Almasi,Z/Vienna op 1996 (29)}) 10. f3 d5 $146 (10... c5
11. e4 cxd4 (11... h6 12. Bh4 Re8 13. Bd3 cxd4 14. Qxd4 Ne5 15. Bc2 Ng6 16. Bf2
d5 17. e5 Nd7 18. f4 Rc8 19. O-O dxc4 20. Rad1 Ndf8 21. Nxc4 $16 {1/2-1/2
Sokolov,I-Cvetkovic,S/JUG-chT Cetinje 1991 (38)}) 12. Qxd4 Qc7 13. Be2 d5 14.
exd5 exd5 15. O-O Rac8 16. Rfe1 Rfe8 {1/2-1/2 Hillarp Persson,T-Stefansson,H/
VISA ch-Nordic, Reykjavic ISL 1997}) (10... h6 11. Bh4 d5 (11... c5 12. e3 d5
13. dxc5 bxc5 14. Bd3 Qb6 15. Bf2 a5 16. b3 {In the game this move wasn't good
because the e3 pawn isn't defended. ( 0-0 instead of Bf2).} (16. O-O {-game})
16... Rfc8 17. O-O Ba6 18. Rab1 Qc6 19. Rfc1 Nb6 20. cxd5 exd5 21. Bf5 Nfd7 22.
b4 axb4 23. axb4 Qd6 24. Bg3 Qe7 25. bxc5 Rxc5 26. Qd4 $16 {1-0 Hauchard,
A-Tondivar,B/Interteam ch, Antwerp BEL 1998 (43)}) (11... Rc8 12. e4 e5 (12...
c5 13. Bd3 d5 14. exd5 exd5 15. O-O cxd4 16. Qxd4 Nc5 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18. Qxf6
gxf6 19. Bf5 Rcd8 20. Rfe1 Ba6 21. Rac1 dxc4 22. Nxc4 Nb3 23. Rc3 Nd4 24. Bh3
$14 {Kasparov,G-Kramnik,V/It, Linares ESP 1998/1/2-1/2 (52) -Played in the
preivous round}) 13. Bd3 Nxe4 $5 14. Bxd8 Nxc3 15. Bh4 e4 16. Bc2 (16. fxe4
Nxe4 17. Bxe4 Bxe4 18. Nxe4 Rfe8 $19) 16... exf3 17. bxc3 Rce8+ 18. Kd1 fxg2
19. Rg1 Re3 20. Bf5 Bc6 21. a4 Nb8 22. Kc2 g6 23. d5 Bd7 24. Bxd7 Nxd7 25. Rxg2
Rfe8 26. Rf1 Nc5 $15 {0-1 Ivanchuk,V-Karpov,A/Moscow blitz 1993 (32)}) 12. e3
c5 13. cxd5 exd5 14. Bb5 Ne4 15. Bxd8 Nxc3 16. bxc3 Rfxd8 17. Kf2 Rac8 18. Rac1
Rc7 19. Nb3 Bc6 20. Bxc6 Rxc6 21. Rhd1 c4 22. Nd2 b5 23. e4 $14 {Hoang Than
Trang-Stummer,A/Budapest FS09 IM-B 1994/1-0 (51)}) 11. e3 c5 12. dxc5 bxc5 (
12... Nxc5 $6 13. cxd5 Bxd5 (13... exd5 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15. Qxf6 gxf6 16. b4 Ne6
17. Bd3 Rfe8 18. Kf2 $14) 14. e4 Bb7 15. e5 h6 16. exf6 hxg5 17. fxg7 Re8 18.
Bb5 Rc8 19. Rd1 $16) 13. Bd3 Qb6 (13... h6 $6 14. Bh4 Qb6 15. Bf2 a5 16. b3 $14
{And white is able to prevent the blocking of the queen side pawns}) 14. O-O h6
15. Bh4 a5 16. Bf2 (16. b3 a4 17. Rab1 (17. b4 $4 cxb4 $19 {[%csl Ge3]}) 17...
axb3 18. Qxb3 Qxb3 19. Rxb3 Ba6 $11 {[%cal Rd7e5]}) 16... a4 17. Rfe1 {/\ 18.
cd5 ed5 19.e4: Creating space for manoeuvring : xc4 openong lines for rooks
and bishops etc.} Rfe8 18. Rab1 (18. cxd5 exd5 19. e4 dxe4 20. Nxe4 Nxe4 21.
Bxe4 Bxe4 22. fxe4 Rab8 $15 {[%csl Gb2,Ge4]}) 18... Ba6 19. Qc2 {By retreating
his queen to c2 Kramnik reduces black's tactical possibilities and puts some
pressure on a4 but he also gives black an important square (e5) forthe knights.
I think white should have waited a bit with the retreat since black will have
difficulties with finding good positions for his pieces.} (19. Bf1 $5 {[%cal
Gf2g3,Rg3b8]}) 19... Ne5 20. Bf1 Qc6 21. Bg3 Ned7 (21... Nxc4 $2 22. Nxc4 Bxc4
23. Bxc4 dxc4 24. Qxc4 {[%csl Ga4,Gc5][%cal Gg3b8,Gb1c1] And black doesn't
have the 'b' file to create counterchances}) 22. Bf2 Ne5 23. h3 {[%cal Gf3f4]}
Nfd7 24. f4 $2 (24. Bg3 $16 {Kramnik}) 24... Nxc4 $1 (24... Ng6 25. g3 Z0 26.
Bg2 Z0 27. g4 {Kramnik}) 25. Nxc4 Bxc4 26. Bxc4 dxc4 27. Qxc4 Rab8 {As opposed
to take the pawn on his 21st move, now black has the control over the b file
which guarantees him a sufficient counterplay .} 28. Re2 Rb3 29. Rd1 Nb6 30.
Qc1 e5 31. e4 exf4 32. Qxf4 Nc4 33. e5 Qe6 (33... Nxb2 $2 34. Rd6 $1 Qb5 35. e6
$1 fxe6 (35... Qxe2 36. exf7+ Kh8 37. f8=Q+ Rxf8 38. Qxf8+ Kh7 39. Qf5+ $18)
36. Qg4 (36. Rexe6 $2 Rxe6 37. Rxe6 Nd3 38. Qe4 Rb1+ 39. Kh2 Rh1+ $1 40. Kg3
Qb8+ 41. Kh4 Qd8+) 36... Rxa3 37. Rexe6 Ra1+ 38. Kh2 Qb8 (38... Rf8 39. Re7 $18
) 39. Bg3 $18) 34. Bxc5 (34. Bxc5 Rxb2 35. Re4 Rc2 (35... Nxe5 36. Bf2 $13) 36.
Bd6 $11) 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Event "Amber-blindfold 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 f5 11. Ng5 Nf4 12. Bxf4 exf4 13. Rc1 Bf6 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15.
dxe6 Bxc3 16. Rxc3 fxe4 17. Bg4 Nc6 18. Rxe4 Ne5 19. g3 g5 20. h4 Kh8 21. Qd4
fxg3 22. Rxg3 gxh4 23. Rg2 Qf6 24. Qe3 Rae8 25. f4 Nxg4 26. Rxg4 Rg8 27. Rxg8+
Rxg8+ 28. Kf2 Qb2+ 29. Qe2 Qb1 30. Qe1 Qxa2+ 31. Re2 Qa3 32. Re3 Qb2+ 33. Re2
Qd4+ 34. Kf3 Qd3+ 35. Re3 Qg6 36. Qc3+ Qg7 37. f5 Qxc3 38. Rxc3 Kg7 39. c5 Kf6
40. cxd6 cxd6 41. Ke4 Rg1 42. Rc7 Re1+ 43. Kf4 Rf1+ 44. Ke4 Re1+ 45. Kf4 Rf1+
46. Ke4 Re1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.20"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. Qc2 c5 7. O-O cxd4 8. Nxd4
Nc6 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. b3 Ba6 11. Bb2 Rc8 12. Nd2 d4 13. Rfe1 c5 14. e3 e5 15.
Nf3 Bd6 16. Rad1 Re8 17. exd4 cxd4 18. Ng5 g6 19. f4 Bc5 20. Qd2 Qb6 21. fxe5
Bb4 22. Qf2 Bxe1 23. Rxe1 d3 24. Bd4 Qd8 25. Nxf7 Ng4 26. Qf4 Qa5 27. Rf1 Rf8
28. e6 Qh5 29. Qxg4 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.21"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3
Nc6 9. Qc2 Qa5 10. O-O-O Be7 11. g4 dxc4 12. Bxc4 e5 13. g5 exf4 14. gxf6 Bxf6
15. Nd5 Ne7 16. Nxf6+ gxf6 17. Rhg1+ Kh8 18. e4 b5 19. Bd5 Nxd5 20. exd5 Bd7
21. Kb1 b4 22. Rd4 Rg8 23. Rxg8+ Rxg8 24. Qd2 Bf5+ 25. Ka2 Rd8 26. Qxb4 Qxb4
27. axb4 Rxd5 28. Rxd5 Be6 29. Ka3 Bxd5 30. Nd4 Kg7 31. b5 Kg6 32. Nc6 Kg5 33.
Nxa7 Ba8 34. b6 Kg4 35. Nb5 Kf3 36. Nd6 Kxf2 37. b7 Bxb7 38. Nxb7 Ke3 39. Nd6
f3 40. Nf5+ Kd3 41. Ng3 f2 42. b4 f5 43. h4 f4 44. Nf1 Ke2 45. Nh2 f1=Q 46.
Nxf1 Kxf1 47. b5 f3 48. b6 f2 49. b7 Kg2 50. b8=Q f1=Q 51. Qg8+ Kh3 52. Qxh7 f5
53. h5 Qd3+ 54. Kb2 Qd2+ 55. Kb3 Qd3+ 56. Kb2 Qd2+ 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Amber-blindfold 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.26"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "134"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. Re1 e5 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. d3 Ne7 8.
Be3 b6 9. a4 a5 10. Nbd2 f6 11. Nc4 Be6 12. Nfd2 O-O 13. b4 axb4 14. a5 bxa5
15. Bxc5 Bh6 16. Qb1 Qc7 17. Ra4 Bxd2 18. Nxd2 Rfb8 19. Qa1 Qd8 20. Rb1 Kf7 21.
h4 Ng8 22. Nc4 b3 23. Rxb3 Rxb3 24. cxb3 Qxd3 25. Nd6+ Kg7 26. b4 Rb8 27. Rxa5
Rd8 28. Ra7+ Kh8 29. Rc7 Rxd6 30. Bxd6 Qxd6 31. Qa7 Qd1+ 32. Kh2 Qh5 33. Rxc6
Qxh4+ 34. Kg1 Bb3 35. Rc7 Qh5 36. f3 Qh4 37. Qf2 Qxf2+ 38. Kxf2 Ba4 39. Rc5 Kg7
40. b5 Ne7 41. Rc7 Bxb5 42. Rxe7+ Kg8 43. g3 g5 44. Ke3 Bc4 45. f4 exf4+ 46.
gxf4 gxf4+ 47. Kxf4 Bf7 48. Kf5 Kg7 49. Rc7 h6 50. Ra7 h5 51. Rb7 h4 52. Kg4
Kf8 53. Kxh4 Bg6 54. Rb4 Ke7 55. Kg4 Kf8 56. Kf4 Kf7 57. Rb6 Kg7 58. Rb7+ Kf8
59. Ke3 Bf7 60. Kd4 Kg7 61. Rb1 Kf8 62. Kc5 Ke7 63. Rb7+ Ke6 64. Kd4 Bg6 65.
Rb6+ Ke7 66. Kd5 Bf7+ 67. Kc5 Be8 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Amber-rapid 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8.
f3 h6 9. Bh4 d5 10. e3 Nbd7 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Bxd8 Nxc3 13. Bh4 Nd5 14. Bf2 c5
15. Bb5 Rfd8 16. Ne2 cxd4 17. Nxd4 Nc5 18. O-O Nc7 19. Bc4 e5 20. Nf5 Ba6 21.
Bxa6 N7xa6 22. Ne7+ Kf8 23. Nc6 Re8 24. b4 Re6 25. bxc5 Rxc6 26. cxb6 axb6 27.
e4 Nc5 28. Rfc1 Rac8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nikolic, Predrag"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[Annotator "Kostakiev,D"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 b6 7. d4 Bb7 8. e3
Ne4 9. Qc2 d6 10. Bd3 f5 11. b4 Nd7 12. Bb2 a5 (12... Ng5 13. d5 (13. Nh4 $5)
13... Nxf3+ 14. gxf3 Ne5 $132 {0-1 Lynge,M-Wells,P/Copenhagen Politiken 1996 
(26)} (14... Ne5 {Finkel,A} 15. O-O-O Nxd3+ 16. Qxd3 e5 17. f4 $16)) (12... Rf6
$5) (12... Qe7 $5 {Knaak,R-Adamski,J/Polanica Zdroj 1975/1-0 (47) Finkel,A}) (
12... c5 {Finkel,A} 13. O-O Rc8 (13... Qe7 {+/= Saeed,S-Qi,J/Taxco (izt) 1985 
(17)}) 14. Nd2 {Chekhov,V-Vaisser,A/USSR 1982 (52)}) (12... Rf6 $5 {1-0
Chekhov,V-Mozaliov,S/RUS-Cup02 1998/CBM 63/[Finkel,A]}) 13. O-O axb4 $146 (
13... Rf6 {Chekhov,V-Rashkovsky,N/USSR 1980/1-0 (40)}) (13... Ng5 {1/2-1/2
Arlandi,E-Guerra,J/Luzern olm 1982 (25)}) 14. axb4 {Opening the a-file gets
White a lot of play} Qe7 15. Nd2 Rxa1 (15... Qh4 16. f3 Rxa1 17. Bxa1 Nxd2 18.
Qxd2 $11) 16. Rxa1 Nxd2 17. Qxd2 Ra8 18. Rxa8+ Bxa8 {[^^ > N+B]} 19. f3 Nf6 20.
Qe1 Bc6 21. Qa1 Qd8 22. d5 {It seems that White worses his P's structur (the P
b4 is weak), but as a compensation White receives from one side the central
P's control (e4,d4) and from the other side he is attempting to open diagonals
for his 2 BB. This manner is a kind of positional P's structur sacrifise for
another positional advantage. Here specificaly the presence of QQ is in favor
of Black's defense. As Capablanka used to say Q+N is stronger than Q+B. in
many endgames occasions. (But let us underline- not always!).} (22. b5 $5) (22.
Qe1 $14) 22... exd5 23. cxd5 (23. Bxf6 $5 Qxf6 24. Qxf6 gxf6 25. cxd5 Bxd5 26.
Bxf5 $11) 23... Bxd5 $14 (23... Nxd5 $5) 24. Bxf5 Qe7 25. Qe1 Bf7 (25... Be6
26. Bc2) 26. Bc2 c5 27. bxc5 bxc5 28. Qc3 Ne8 29. e4 Qg5 30. Qe1 h6 31. Qf2 Bg6
32. h4 Qe7 33. Qg3 Bf7 34. Kh2 $11 d5 35. exd5 Bxd5 $11 36. Qf2 Bf7 37. Kg1 Nc7
38. Qg3 Ne8 39. Be5 c4 40. Qf4 Qe6 41. Qe4 (41. Kh1 Qe7 $14) 41... Nf6 42. Qd4
Ne8 43. Ba4 Nf6 44. Qd8+ Ne8 45. f4 Kh7 46. Bd7 Qd5 47. Qe7 Nf6 48. Bf5+ Kg8
49. Kh2 h5 (49... Ne8 $14) 50. Kg3 $11 (50. Qc7 $142) 50... Ne4+ 51. Kh2 Nf6
52. Qc7 Ng4+ $6 $16 {[#] may be (+)'s fever!} (52... Ne8 $142 53. Qc8 $14) 53.
Kg3 $6 $14 (53. Bxg4 $142) 53... Nf6 $16 (53... Qa8 54. Bxg4 hxg4 55. Qd7 $14)
54. Qc8+ Ne8 55. Bd7 Kf8 (55... Qd2 56. Kh2 $14) 56. Kh2 Ke7 57. Bc6 (57. Bxe8
{^-}) 57... Qe6 58. Qb7+ Kf8 59. Bf3 $11 (59. Bxe8 Qxe8 $11) 59... Qe7 {[#]}
60. Qc8 $2 $15 (60. Qxe7+ $142 Kxe7 (60... Kxe7 61. Kg1 $11) 61. Kg3 $11) 60...
Qxh4+ (60... Be6 61. Qa6 Qxh4+ 62. Kg1 Qe1+ 63. Kh2 Bf7 64. Qc8 $15) 61. Kg1
Qe1+ 62. Kh2 Qh4+ $11 (62... h4 $5 $15 63. Bd5 Bxd5 64. Qc5+ $11) 63. Kg1 Qe1+
$11 (63... Qe7 $17 64. Qf5 Nf6 65. Qc8+ Qe8 66. Qa6 Ng4 67. Bxg4 hxg4 68. Qa3+
$15 {^-}) 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Amber-rapid 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.17"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Sadler, Matthew D"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D34"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 e6 3. c4 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Nf6 7. O-O Be7 8. Nc3
O-O 9. Bg5 cxd4 10. Nxd4 h6 11. Be3 Re8 12. Rc1 Bf8 13. Nb3 Be6 14. Bc5 Bxc5
15. Nxc5 Rc8 16. Nxe6 fxe6 17. e3 Qd7 18. Qa4 a6 19. Rfd1 Qf7 20. Rd2 Ne5 21.
Qd1 Rf8 22. h3 Kh8 23. Rdc2 Rcd8 24. Ne2 Nc4 25. b3 Nd6 26. Nf4 Kg8 27. Qd4 Rd7
28. Nd3 Nf5 29. Qb4 Qe7 30. Qxe7 Rxe7 31. Ne5 Rfe8 32. h4 Kh7 33. Bh3 Nd6 34.
Bf1 Nf7 35. Bd3+ Kg8 36. Ng6 Rd7 37. Rc7 Red8 38. Nf4 Ne5 39. Bf1 Kf7 40. Bh3
Nfg4 41. h5 Ke7 42. Kf1 Kd6 43. Rxd7+ Kxd7 44. Ke2 Re8 45. Rd1 Kd6 46. e4 Nf6
47. Bg2 Ned7 48. Kf1 Nb6 49. exd5 Nbxd5 50. Bh3 a5 51. a4 Re7 52. Bg2 Rc7 53.
Bh3 Re7 54. Rd3 Re8 55. Rd1 Re7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Kostakiev,D"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{If the novelty 21.Nc4!? will find adherents, it should be most probably
because of the missed possiblility 25.Qe1!? (+/=).} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4
cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6
Bxf6 11. c3 O-O (11... Rb8 {inf 71/157}) 12. Nc2 Bg5 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 a5
15. Bc4 Rb8 16. b3 Kh8 17. O-O f5 (17... g6 {inf 71/158}) 18. exf5 Bxf5 19.
Nce3 Bg6 (19... Be6 20. Qd3 Qd7 21. Bb5 (21. Rd1 Qf7 {0-1 Alybaev D-Razvaliaev
N/Ch URS (team) (corr.), corr. 1994 (25)}) 21... Qb7 {Karatekin,T-Orton
William R/Ch World (juniors) (under 1995/1-0 (55)}) 20. Be2 Bf7 21. Nc4 $146 (
21. Bf3 {Kindermann,S-Birnboim,N/Munich 1987/1/2-1/2 (49)}) (21. Bc4 $5 $146
Be6 22. Qe2 $14) 21... Nd4 22. cxd4 Bxd5 23. dxe5 Bxc4 (23... dxe5 24. Nxa5 Rf4
25. Bc4 $16) 24. Bxc4 dxe5 {[#]} 25. Qe2 $6 (25. Qe1 $5) 25... Qc7 26. Rfa1 Be7
(26... Bh4 $6 27. f3 $140 (27. g3 Be7 28. Qe4 Bc5 29. R1a2 Qb6 $11) 27... Qc5+
28. Kh1 Bd8 $14) 27. f3 $1 $11 {^-} (27. Rxa5 $6 Bc5 $15) (27. Qh5 $6 Bc5 28.
R4a2 $142 (28. R1a2 $6 Qb6 (28... e4 29. Rxa5 $16) 29. Rxa5 Rxf2 30. Kh1 Qxb3
$1 $19) 28... e4 29. Re1 a4 $1 30. bxa4 (30. Rxe4 axb3 31. Rb2 Qa7) 30... Bxf2+
31. Rxf2 Rxf2 32. Kxf2 Qxc4 $15) 27... Bb4 28. Rd1 (28. Bd3 $5) 28... Rf4 29.
Raa1 Rbf8 30. Bd5 Rd4 31. Kh1 Rd8 32. Be4 Qc3 33. Rab1 Rxd1+ 34. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 35.
Qxd1 Qe1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.20"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. d4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 g6 7. e4 Bg7 8.
Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qxa2 12. O-O Bg4 13. Be3 Nc6 14. d5
Na5 15. Bg5 Qa3 16. Bd2 Bc3 17. Bc1 Qd6 18. e5 Qd7 19. Bd2 Bxf3 20. Bxf3 Bxd2
21. Qxd2 Nc4 22. Qe2 b5 23. e6 Qd6 24. exf7+ Kg7 25. Rxb5 Ne5 26. Be4 Rxf7 27.
Ra5 Rf6 28. g3 a6 29. Bg2 Raf8 30. Kh1 h5 31. Ra4 Ng4 32. f4 e5 33. dxe6
1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.21"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O
dxc4 9. Bxc4 a6 10. Rd1 b5 11. Be2 Qc7 12. e4 e5 13. g3 Re8 14. a3 Bb7 15. dxe5
Nxe5 16. Bg5 Nxf3+ 17. Bxf3 Be5 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Bg4 Rad8 20. Bf5 Bc8 21. Bxc8
Qxc8 22. Rac1 Qe6 23. Rxd8 Rxd8 24. Nd1 c5 25. Qxc5 Qb3 26. Ne3 Qxb2 27. Qc8
Rf8 28. Qg4+ Kh8 29. Rc8 1-0

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

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

[Event "Amber-rapid 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.25"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Lautier, Joel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E58"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nf3 d5 7. O-O Nc6 8. a3
Bxc3 9. bxc3 Qc7 10. cxd5 exd5 11. a4 Re8 12. Ba3 c4 13. Bc2 Ne4 14. Bxe4 Rxe4
15. Nd2 Re8 16. e4 dxe4 17. Re1 Bf5 18. Nxc4 Rad8 19. Ne3 Bc8 20. Qh5 Qa5 21.
Qxa5 Nxa5 22. d5 b6 23. Bb4 Nb7 24. a5 f5 25. axb6 axb6 26. Ra7 b5 27. g3 Nd6
28. Bxd6 Rxd6 29. Rb1 Bd7 30. Rba1 Rc8 31. Rb7 g5 32. Raa7 Rd8 33. c4 bxc4 34.
Nxc4 Rxd5 35. Nb6 Rd1+ 36. Kg2 Be6 37. Rg7+ Kf8 38. Rxh7 e3 39. Kf3 exf2 40.
Kxf2 R1d2+ 41. Ke1 Rd1+ 42. Ke2 R1d2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 07th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1998.03.26"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "1998.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 063 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.04.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8.
Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qxa2 12. O-O Bg4 13. Bg5 h6 14. Be3
Nc6 15. d5 Bxf3 16. Bxf3 Ne5 17. Rxb7 e6 18. Qe2 Nxf3+ 19. Qxf3 exd5 20. exd5
a5 21. Rfb1 Qc2 22. Bf4 Qc3 23. Qxc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "WCC cand"]
[Site "Cazorla"]
[Date "1998.05.24"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D89"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1998.05.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 065"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.08.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.08.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 324]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7
7. Bc4 O-O 8. Ne2 c5 9. O-O Nc6 10. Be3 Bg4 11. f3 Na5 12. Bd3 cxd4 13. cxd4
Be6 14. Rc1 Bxa2 15. Qa4 Bb3 {The popularity of this variation can not be
compared with the continuation 15...Be6. The pieces remain hanging a bit in
the air, but the latest experience shows, that black can get away with it.} (
15... Be6) 16. Qb4 b6 (16... Qb6 17. Qxe7 Nc6 18. Qc5 Qxc5 19. Rxc5 Rfd8 20. d5
Ne5 21. Rc3 Ba4 22. Nd4 Nxd3 23. Rxd3 Rac8 24. Rb1 b5 {1/2-1/2 Wessman,
R-Einarsson,H/Reykjavik op 1990 (40)}) 17. Bg5 {The atractivity of black's
idea lays in the fact, that white has to play active and well. Otherwise the
first player runs the danger, that initiative and better chances will land in
black hands.} (17. Rc3 Be6 18. Rfc1 (18. Bg5 Re8 (18... f6 19. Bf4 $13) 19. Bb5
(19. Rfc1) 19... Bd7 20. Ba6 $2 (20. Bxd7 Qxd7 21. Rfc1 Qd6 $1 22. Qa4 a6 $15)
20... Nc6 21. Qc4 b5 $1 (21... Bc8 $5 22. Bb5 Nxd4 23. Bxe8 Be6 $1 24. Qd3
Nxe2+ 25. Qxe2 Bxc3 $19) 22. Qc5 (22. Bxb5 Na5 23. Qd5 Bxb5 24. Qxb5 Bxd4+ 25.
Be3 Bxc3 26. Nxc3 Rb8 $19) 22... Qb6 23. Qxb6 $8 axb6 24. Bb7 Nxd4 {0-1 Timman,
J-Hellers,F/Sigeman and Co/1997/ (30)}) 18... Qd6 19. Qxd6 exd6 20. Ba6 d5 21.
Nf4 Rad8 22. Nxe6 fxe6 23. Rd3 {1/2-1/2 Alexandrova,O-Blazkova,P/EU-chJW U16/
1994/ (27)}) (17. d5 Qd6 $1 {This move has a lion share in the revitalisation
of the whole black system. The exchange of the queens neutralizes white's
pressure and the "a" pawn can later get a chance to show it's teeth.} 18. Qxd6
(18. Bd2 $6 Rfd8 $1 19. Qxd6 (19. Ba6 Qxb4 20. Bxb4 e6 $1 21. Be7 $8 Rd7 22. d6
Be5 23. Bb5 Bxd6 $1 24. Bxd7 Bxe7 $17) 19... exd6 20. Bg5 Rdc8 21. Ba6 Rc5 $1
$17 22. Rxc5 bxc5 (22... dxc5 $5) 23. Rc1 (23. Bd2 Bc4 $1) 23... Rb8 $1 24. Bd2
Rb6 25. Bxa5 $8 (25. Bd3 $2 Nb7 {/\ a5-a4}) 25... Rxa6 26. Bc3 Bh6 $1 {0-1
Jussupow,A-Anand,V/Wijk cm2 1994/ (60)}) 18... exd6 19. Rc7 (19. Nd4 Ba4 20.
Rc7 Bxd4 21. Bxd4 Nb3 22. Bf6 Rfc8 {0-1 De Rover,Y-Aubel,J/NLD-chJM U20 1996 
(35)}) (19. Ba6 Ba4 $1 $13) 19... Ba4 (19... Rfc8 20. Rfc1 Rxc7 21. Rxc7 Bf6
22. Bf4 Bd8 23. Rc1 Be7 24. Ba6 Ba4 25. Nd4 Kf8 26. Rc7 {1-0 Lukacs,P-Monda,L/
Budapest Spring op 1990 (33)}) 20. Nc3 Bxc3 21. Rxc3 Nb3 22. Bc2 Rfc8 23. Rxc8+
Rxc8 24. Bxb3 Bxb3 25. Ra1 Rc7 26. Bf4 Rd7 27. Rc1 {1/2-1/2 Peckford,W-Wolff,P/
North Bay op 1996 (30)}) 17... f6 18. Bf4 (18. Be3 Bf7 19. Ba6 Qd6 20. Qb2 Rab8
21. d5 $6 b5 $1 22. Bxb5 a6 23. Qc3 Rxb5 $17 {0-1 Ahlander,B-Hellers,F/Malmo/
1994/ (31)}) 18... e5 19. Be3 {Kramnik choses a compact move with the support
of the center, but white will squeeze out little from the position.
Interesting alternative was} (19. Bg3 $5 exd4 20. Nxd4 (20. Bc7 Qd7 21. Nxd4)
20... f5 (20... Bf7 $2 21. Bc7 $16) 21. Bd6 (21. Nxb3 Qxd3 22. Nxa5 bxa5 $15)
21... Bxd4+ 22. Qxd4 Nb7 23. e5 $13) 19... exd4 20. Nxd4 Bf7 21. Ba6 (21. Rfd1
Rc8 $15) 21... Re8 22. Rfd1 Qe7 {Shirov has little reason to undertake great
risk with black pieces in the first game, the queens on the board could have
created wild complications.} (22... Qb8 23. Nb5 (23. Nc6 Nxc6 24. Rxc6 Rd8 25.
Rdc1 Qe5 26. Bc4 $15) 23... Bf8 24. Nd6 Nb7 25. Nxe8 Bxb4 26. Nxf6+ Kg7 27. Nd7
Qe8 28. Bd4+ Kh6 29. Be3+ g5 30. Bxb7 Rd8 31. Bc6 $13) 23. Qxe7 (23. Qc3 Qe5
24. Qc7 Red8 25. Be2 $13) 23... Rxe7 24. Nc6 (24. Kf2 h5 (24... Rd8 25. Nf5 $1)
25. g3 Rd8 $15) 24... Nxc6 (24... Re6 $6 25. Nxa5 bxa5 26. Bc4 $14) 25. Rxc6 {
Black accepted draw offer, even though his position is more pleasant. White
could not hope for more, than the compensation for the sacrificed pawn.} (25.
Rxc6 Rae8 (25... f5 $6 26. Bg5 Re6 27. Rc7 $13) 26. Kf2 h5 $15) 1/2-1/2

[Event "WCC cand"]
[Site "Cazorla"]
[Date "1998.05.25"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C43"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "1998.05.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 065"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.08.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.08.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Blatny,P} e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nxd7 Bxd7 7.
O-O Bd6 8. Nc3 (8. Re1 $2 Bxh2+ $11) (8. c4 {is another theoretical
continuation.}) 8... Nxc3 (8... Qh4 {is now recommended by the theory since
the Kamsky-Karpov match game. Perhaps something new has been found?} 9. g3 (9.
h3 Bxh3 10. gxh3 Qxh3 $11) 9... Nxc3 10. bxc3 (10. Qe1+ Qe7 11. Qxc3 O-O 12.
Qb3 Bc6 $11) 10... Qg4 $1 11. Re1+ Kd8 $1 (11... Kf8 12. Be2 Qf5 13. Rb1 {
/\ c4 +/= L.Chritiansen} (13. c4 $6 dxc4 14. Bxc4 h5 $5 {activating the R from
his initial position.} 15. h4 Re8 16. Rxe8+ Bxe8 17. Be3 b5 18. Qd3 Qxd3 $11 {
Magem Badals-Illescas, Pamplona 1995/1996})) 12. Be2 (12. Qxg4 Bxg4 $11) 12...
Qf5 13. Rb1 b6 14. c4 dxc4 15. Bxc4 Re8 16. Be3 Bc6 $11 {Kamsky-An.Karpov,
Elista 1996 (m6)}) 9. bxc3 O-O (9... Qh4 10. Re1+ Kd8 (10... Kf8 11. g3 $1) 11.
h3 $1) 10. Qh5 f5 11. Rb1 b6 12. Re1 (12. Qf3 $5 {was also tried by the
players before:} c6 13. Bf4 Qc7 14. Bxd6 Qxd6 15. Rfe1 Rae8 $11 {
Shirov-Kramnik, Belgrade 1997}) (12. c4 {Blatny,P} dxc4 13. Bxc4+ Kh8 14. Bg5
Qe8 15. Qh4 Qg6 16. Bd3 Rae8 17. c4 h6 18. Be3 Qf7 19. Bf4 Qf6 20. Qxf6 Rxf6
21. Bd2 {Palac,M-Fridman,D/EU-chTM 1997/EXP 57/1/2-1/2 (59)}) 12... c6 (12...
Qf6 13. Qf3 c6 14. Bf4 b5 15. Qg3 Bxf4 16. Qxf4 Rac8 (16... Rf7 {-
Shirov-Anand, Groningen, (m/2) CBM 63}) 17. h4 g6 18. Re3 Kg7 19. Rbe1 {
White has the total control over the opened <-> e, and he can exploit the
weaknesses of the dark squares.} Rf7 20. Re5 (20. Rg3 $142 {/\ h5 +/= is
interesting}) 20... h5 $1 21. R5e3 Kh7 22. Kf1 Kg7 23. Kg1 Kh7 24. Kf1 Kg7 $11
{Solozhenkin-Kochyev, St.Petersburg-ch 1998 Black can passively hold his
position, because a breakthrough is not easy to find.}) 13. Bg5 Qc7 14. c4 (14.
Be7 Rfe8 (14... g6 {Blatny,P} 15. Qh4 Rfe8 $11) 15. Bxd6 Qxd6 $11 16. Bxf5 $4 (
16. h3 {Blatny,P} Re7 17. f4 g6 18. Qh4 Rae8 19. Rxe7 Rxe7 20. Kf1 Re8 21. Re1
Qa3 22. Rxe8+ Bxe8 23. Qd8 Kf7 {1/2-1/2 Geller,E-Jussupow,A/URS-ch47 1979/
URS-ch}) 16... g6) 14... Be8 (14... dxc4 $6 {allows White the penetration after
} 15. Bxc4+ Kh8 16. Bf7 $1 Bxh2+ 17. Kh1 $44) 15. Qh3 (15. Qh4 {Blatny,P} dxc4
16. Bxc4+ Bf7 $11) 15... dxc4 16. Bxc4+ (16. Bxf5 $6 h6 17. Be6+ Bf7) 16... Bf7
17. Be6 (17. Bxf7+ {Blatny,P} Qxf7 18. Qb3 Qxb3 19. axb3 Rae8 $11) 17... Bxe6
18. Rxe6 Rae8 {and Black has fully equalized.} 19. Qb3 (19. Rbe1 $5 {Blatny,P}
Rxe6 20. Rxe6 $11) 19... Rxe6 (19... Bxh2+ $5 {Blatny,P}) 20. Qxe6+ Rf7 21.
Qe8+ Rf8 22. Qe6+ Rf7 23. Qe8+ Rf8 1/2-1/2

[Event "WCC cand"]
[Site "Cazorla"]
[Date "1998.05.27"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D88"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Hansen,Cu"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1998.05.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 065"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.08.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.08.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 O-O 8.
Ne2 c5 9. O-O Nc6 10. Be3 Bg4 11. f3 Na5 12. Bxf7+ Rxf7 13. fxg4 Rxf1+ 14. Kxf1
cxd4 15. cxd4 e5 16. d5 Nc4 17. Qd3 {It seems this move was played the first
time between to unknown players at the olympiad in  Moscow 1994.} Nxe3+ 18.
Qxe3 Qh4 19. h3 Bh6 20. Qd3 Rf8+ 21. Kg1 Qf2+ 22. Kh1 {Black has no targets to
attack in this middlegame position} Qe3 $1 {However in the endgame both Pe4
and Pa2 could become weak.} 23. Qxe3 Bxe3 24. Rd1 Rf2 25. Ng1 Kf7 26. Rd3 Bb6
27. Rf3+ Ke7 28. Rxf2 Bxf2 29. Nf3 Kd6 30. g3 (30. Ng5 b5 $1 (30... Ke7 31.
Nxh7 Be3 32. g3 b5 33. Kg2 a5 34. Kf3 Bc1 35. Ke2 b4 36. Kd3 a4 37. Kc2 $16) (
30... Bd4 31. Nxh7 b5 32. h4 a5 33. h5 gxh5 34. gxh5 b4 35. Ng5 a4 36. h6 b3
37. axb3 axb3 38. h7 b2 39. h8=Q b1=Q+ 40. Kh2 Qg1+ 41. Kh3 Qh1+ 42. Kg4 Qxg2+
43. Kf5 $18) 31. Nf7+ (31. Nxh7 a5 $17 {[%csl Rh1]}) 31... Kc5 32. Nxe5 Kd4 $1
33. Nc6+ Kxe4 34. d6 Kd5 35. d7 Bb6 36. d8=Q+ Bxd8 37. Nxd8 a5 38. Nb7 (38. Nf7
b4 39. Ng5 a4 40. Nf3 Kc4 41. Kg1 Kc3 $19) 38... a4 39. Kg1 Kc6 40. Nd8+ Kd5
41. Nb7 $11) 30... Bxg3 31. Kg2 Bf4 32. Kf2 $6 (32. Ne1 $142 Z0 33. Nd3) 32...
Kc5 33. Ke2 b5 34. Kd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "WCC cand"]
[Site "Cazorla"]
[Date "1998.05.28"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C43"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "1998.05.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 065"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.08.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.08.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {King Hansen,Cu Blatny,P Hecht} e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5.
Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nxd7 Bxd7 7. O-O Bd6 8. c4 (8. Nc3 {King} Nxc3 9. bxc3 O-O 10. Qh5
f5 11. Rb1 b6 12. Re1 c6 13. Bg5 Qc7 14. c4 Be8 15. Qh3 dxc4 16. Bxc4+ Bf7 17.
Be6 Bxe6 18. Rxe6 Rae8 19. Qb3 Rxe6 20. Qxe6+ Rf7 21. Qe8+ Rf8 22. Qe6+ Rf7 23.
Qe8+ Rf8 {1/2-1/2 Shirov,A-Kramnik,V/WCC Cand final 1998}) 8... c6 9. cxd5 cxd5
10. Qh5 (10. Nc3 {King} Nxc3 11. bxc3 O-O $1 $146 12. Qh5 g6 $1 13. Qxd5 Qc7
14. Bh6 Rfe8 15. h4 Be6 16. Qf3 Qxc3 17. Qf6 Bf8 18. Bxf8 Rxf8 19. Rfd1 Qa5 20.
Be4 Qd8 21. Qxd8 Raxd8 $10 {Tiviakov,S-Yusupov,A/Groningen/1994/CBM 45}) 10...
O-O 11. Qxd5 Bc6 {This positional P sacrifice gives Black excellent chances
for equalization. The o^ d4 can easily be blockaded, and his pieces are very
active. This looks as a good strategy on a match against a brilliant attacking
player, as Shirov.} 12. Qh5 g6 13. Qh3 Ng5 {King: Theory hasn't yet
crystallised on this position. Artur Jussupow is the big expert on the
variation. His latest try in this position was:} (13... Qb6 {Polgar,J-Jussupow,
A/Madrid/1995/CBM 47}) (13... Rc8 {is perhaps not the most important move in
this position.} 14. Bxe4 $142 (14. Bh6 Re8 15. Nd2 Bd7 (15... Nxd2 $5 16. Bxd2
Bf8 17. Bc3 b5 $44 {Ivanchuk}) 16. Qf3 Qh4 17. g3 Nxd2 18. Bxd2 Qxd4 19. Bc3
Qg4 20. Qxg4 {1/2:1/2 Ivanchuk-Jussupow,A/Linares/1993/} (20. Qf6 Rxc3 $1 {
This is a positional exchange sacrifice, after Which White loses the |^, and
Black's position remains a tough nut to crack.} 21. Qxc3 (21. bxc3 Be5 22. Qh4
Qxh4 23. gxh4 Bxc3 24. Rac1 Ba5 $44) 21... Bc6 $44 {Jussupow,A})) 14... Bxe4
15. Nc3 Bf5 (15... Re8 16. Be3 (16. Bg5 $5 Qxg5 17. Nxe4 Qe7 18. Rae1 $16 {
Yusupov}) 16... Bf5 17. Qf3 Bb8 18. Rfe1 b5 19. g4 {Timman-Jussupow,A/ Linares/
1993/} b4 (19... Rxc3 {Blatny,P} 20. bxc3 Be4 21. Qh3 h5 22. gxh5 Re6 23. f3 {
Timman,J-Jussupow,A/Linares 1993/1-0/CBM 34 (36)}) 20. Nd5 Re4 $1 21. gxf5 Qxd5
22. Rec1 $14 {Timman}) 16. Qf3 Re8 $14 (16... Qh4 17. g3 Qxd4 18. Rd1 Qb6 19.
Nd5 $16)) (13... Bb4 $5 {is a fresh idea} 14. Nc3 ({After} 14. Be3 $5 {King
Black still has to prove he has enough for the pawn.}) 14... Bxc3 15. Bxe4 {
King} Bxd4 16. Bxc6 bxc6 {is indeed even.}) (13... Qb6 {Blatny,P} 14. Nc3 Qxd4
15. Bxe4 Bxe4 16. Qh4 (16. Rd1 Qe5 $10 {>< Kg1} 17. Re1 $2 Bxg2 $1 $17) 16...
f5 17. Nb5 (17. Bh6 {King} Rfe8 18. Rad1 Qc5 19. Nxe4 Rxe4 20. Qf6 Be5 21. Qe6+
Kh8 22. Qd7 Rg8 23. g3 Qc6 24. Qf7 Qf6 25. Rd7 Qxf7 26. Rxf7 Bxb2 27. Rb1 Re2
28. Kf1 Rc2 29. Be3 Be5 30. Rbxb7 Re8 31. Rxh7+ Kg8 32. Rxa7 Rxa2 33. Rad7 Ra1+
34. Kg2 Rd1 35. Rxd1 Kxh7 36. Rd7+ Kg8 37. Kf3 Bf6 38. h4 Re7 $4 39. Rd6 Rf7
40. Bg5 {1-0 Palac,M-Marciano,D/Cannes op 1998}) 17... Qf6 18. Qxf6 Rxf6 19.
Bg5 Re6 20. Nxd6 Rxd6 21. Rad1 $11 {1/2-1/2 Polgar,J-Jussupow,A/Madrid 1995/
CBM 47/[Ernst]}) 14. Bxg5 (14. Qh6 Be7 $44) (14. Qe3 Ne6 15. Nc3 Bf4) 14...
Qxg5 15. Nc3 Rfe8 {Hansen,Cu: Blacks strong bishops (^^) compensate for whites
(weak) ekstra d4-P} 16. d5 {With tactical means White liquidates for a
slightly better _|_.} (16. Rae1 $2 Rxe1 17. Rxe1 Qd2 $1) (16. Rad1 Bf8 $44) (
16. Rae1 $5 {Blatny,P}) 16... Bxd5 17. f4 Qd8 (17... Bxf4 $4 {is a serious
blunder because of} 18. Nxd5 Be3+ 19. Nxe3 Rxe3 20. Rf3 $18) 18. Nxd5 Bc5+ 19.
Kh1 Qxd5 20. Rac1 $1 {/\ Bc4 With opposite coloured Bs with heavy artillery on
the board the attacking player has better chances, because the defender cannot
exchange the attacking B.  Hansen,Cu: White gave back his extra-P in the hope
of getting attacking chances with f4-f5 and Bd3-c4} Be3 (20... Re3 $5 {leads
to immense complications:} 21. Bc4 $1 Qd4 22. Bxf7+ $1 (22. Qh4 Be7 23. Qf2 Rd8
24. f5 g5) (22. Qh6 Bf8) (22. Qh4 $11 {Blatny,P}) 22... Kg7 $1 23. g3 Kxf7 (
23... Qe4+ 24. Qg2 Qxg2+ 25. Kxg2 Re2+ 26. Kf3 Rxb2 27. Rxc5 Kxf7 28. Rc7+ Kg8
29. h4 Rxa2 30. Rd1) 24. Qxh7+ Kf6 25. Qxb7 Rd8 26. Qc6+ Bd6) 21. Bc4 Qf5 ({now
} 21... Qe4 $2 {is only playing with the fire, and get burned after} 22. Bxf7+
$1 Kxf7 23. Rc7+ Re7 (23... Kf6 24. Qxh7 Qe6 25. Re1 $18) 24. Qxh7+ Kf6 25.
Rxe7 Qxe7 26. Qxe7+ Kxe7 27. Re1 $18) 22. Qxf5 gxf5 {/+/= Hansen,Cu: White can
hope for some advantage - by putting pressure on f7 or f5. However black does
not seem to be in serious trouble} 23. Rcd1 Rad8 (23... Rac8 {Blatny,P} 24. Bb3
Rcd8 25. g3 $14) 24. g3 Bd4 25. b3 Bf6 $6 {Hansen,Cu: A strange move. Looking
at the game continuation it seems to me that blacks bishop has nothing to do
on f6 but should stay in the /^ a7-g1. White of course would like to get his
Rs to the seventh rank. But blacks K could cover e7(Kf8) and his B c7 (Bb6)} ({
King: Perhaps I'm missing something, but I don't quite see how White makes
progress after} 25... Kg7 26. Bb5 (26. Rfe1 {King} Rxe1+ 27. Rxe1 Kf6 $14 {
Black will have to take care in view of the f7 and f5 pawns, but still, a draw
is most likely.}) (26. Rf3 {King} Rd6 27. Rfd3 Red8) 26... Re6 {was simple and
good.}) (25... Rd6 $5 {[%cal Ye8d8,Yd4b6,Yg8f8] Hansen,Cu /\Red8, Bb6}) 26. Bb5
Rxd1 (26... Re3 27. Rxd8+ Bxd8 28. Rd1) 27. Rxd1 Rd8 (27... Re7 28. Bd7 $1 Re2
29. Bxf5 Rxa2 30. Rd7 $16) 28. Rc1 $1 {White has to avoid the exchange of Rs,
otherwise the position is dead draw. Hansen,Cu: It would be fare more
important for white to get a R to the seventh rank than trying to win P-f5} (
28. Rxd8+ {Blatny,P} Bxd8 29. Bd3 Kg7 $14) 28... Rd5 (28... a6 29. Bf1 (29. Bc4
Rd7) 29... Rd7 30. Bh3 Re7 31. Bxf5 Kg7) 29. a4 Bd8 $6 {Black wants to
activate his B, but now the second P falls.} (29... a6) 30. Rc8 Kg7 31. Rb8 $1
$16 Bb6 {Hansen,Cu: Black has spend a lot of time getting his B back to the
right /^ a7-g1 and seems to be just in time to get counterplay against whites
pawn on the K-side h2-g3-f4} (31... b6 32. Rb7 {/\ Bc4 +/-}) (31... a6 $142) (
31... b6 {Blatny,P ץd8}) 32. Rxb7 (32. h4 {Blatny,P} Rd1+ 33. Kg2 Rd2+ 34. Kf1
Bf2 $11) 32... Rd1+ 33. Kg2 Rd2+ 34. Kh3 (34. Kh1 {Blatny,P} Rd1+ 35. Kg2 Rd2+
$11) 34... Bg1 {/\Rh2#} 35. g4 Bxh2 $2 (35... h5 $5 36. gxh5 Rxh2+ 37. Kg3 Rxh5
38. Bc4 Rh8) (35... fxg4+ 36. Kxg4 Rxh2 37. Bc4) (35... Rxh2+ 36. Kg3 fxg4 37.
Bc4 $1 $16 (37. Kxg4 Rh6 $11 (37... Rg2+ {Blatny,P} 38. Kh5 Rf2 {_|_}) (37...
Rh6 $1 $11 {[%cal Yh6f6] Hansen,Cu Peter Heine Nielsen.} 38. Bc4 Rf6 (38...
Rg6+ 39. Kf3 Rf6 $11) 39. b4 h5+ $11)) (37. Bc4 $2 h5)) 36. gxf5 h5 $2 (36...
Bxf4 37. Kg4 (37. Rxa7 $4 h5 $1 $19) 37... Be5 (37... Rd4 38. Bc4) 38. Bc4 (38.
Rxa7 Rd4+ 39. Kh3 (39. Kh5 $4 Bf6) 39... Rf4) 38... a5 39. Rxf7+ Kh6) 37. Kh4 (
37. Rxa7 {Blatny,P} Bxf4 $19) 37... Bxf4 (37... Kh6 {Blatny,P} 38. Rxf7 (38.
Rxa7 $6 Bxf4 39. Ra6+ Bd6) 38... Rd6 39. Rxa7 Bxf4 40. Be2 $16) 38. Kxh5 $18 {
Hansen,Cu: Now black cannot both defend a7 and f7.} Kf6 39. Bc4 (39. Rxa7 $142
{Blatny,P} Be3 40. Rb7) 39... Kxf5 (39... Be3 40. Rxf7+ Ke5 41. Re7+ Kf4 42. f6
$18) 40. Rxf7+ Ke4 41. Rxa7 Be5 {/\Kf5 <=>} 42. Bf1 Rf2 (42... Kf5 {Hansen,Cu}
43. Bh3+) 43. Bh3 Rf8 44. Be6 Rf1 (44... Rf6 {Blatny,P} 45. Bf7 $18) 45. Rd7 (
45. a5 {Blatny,P} Rh1+ 46. Kg5 Bf4+ 47. Kg4 Rg1+ 48. Kh4 Rh1+ 49. Bh3 Be5 $18)
45... Rh1+ 46. Kg6 Rg1+ 47. Kf7 (47. Kh6 {Blatny,P} Bf6 $18) 47... Rg7+ 48. Ke8
Rxd7 49. Kxd7 {[#] Hecht Due to the idea-rich conduct of the play by both
sides, this endgame earns a Medal. Kramnik demands the most from his opponent
by putting up the best possible defense. [#] Hecht Dieses Endspiel verdient
wegen der ideenreichen Spielführung beiderseits eine Medaille. Kramnik
verlangt seinem Gegner durch bestmögliche Verteidigung das äußerste ab.} Bc3
50. Kc6 Ke5 51. Bg8 Be1 52. Kb6 $1 (52. Kb5 Kd6 53. a5 Kc7 $11) 52... Bf2+ 53.
Ka6 (53. Kb5 {Hecht} Kd6 54. b4 Kc7 55. a5 Be1 56. Ka4 Bd2 57. b5 Be3) 53...
Kd6 54. a5 Kc7 (54... Kc6 {Blatny,P} 55. b4 $18) (54... Be1 {Hecht} 55. Kb6 Kd7
56. a6) 55. b4 Kc6 (55... Bd4 {Blatny,P} 56. b5 $18) 56. b5+ Kc5 (56... Kc7 {
Hecht} 57. b6+ {See the difference between this and the variation as the 53rd
move? There the king only succeeded in getting as far as a4, so that the move
b6 remained a dream. Here the king stands at a6, which wins. Sehen Sie den
Unterschied zur Variante zum 53. Zug? Dort gelangte der König nur bis nach a4,
so daß b6 ein Traum bleibt. Hier steht der König schon auf a6, was gewinnt.})
57. b6 Kb4 (57... Be3 {Hecht} 58. Bf7 Bf2 59. Be8 Be3 60. Kb7 {[%cal Ra5a6,
Ra6a7]}) 58. b7 Bg3 59. Kb6 Bf2+ 60. Kc6 Ba7 61. a6 Ka5 62. Bc4 Bb8 63. Bf1 (
63. Bf1 {Blatny,P} Ba7 64. Kc7 $18) 1-0

[Event "WCC cand"]
[Site "Cazorla"]
[Date "1998.05.30"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D89"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Hecht,H"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "1998.05.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 065"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.08.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.08.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8.
Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O Bg4 11. f3 Na5 12. Bd3 cxd4 13. cxd4 Be6 14. Rc1
Bxa2 15. Qa4 Bb3 16. Qb4 b6 17. Bg5 f6 18. Bh4 (18. Bf4 e5 {Kramnik-Shirov/WCC
Cand-f (01)/1998/}) 18... Qd6 (18... Bf7 19. d5 e6) 19. Qxd6 exd6 20. d5 {
/\ Ne2-d4-e6} f5 (20... Ba4 {Sakaev}) (20... Rac8 {Sakaev}) 21. exf5 gxf5 22.
Ng3 Bb2 23. Nxf5 Bc4 (23... Bxc1 24. Rxc1 $36 Rae8 $140 (24... Rac8 $140 $2 25.
Ne7+) 25. Nh6+ Kg7 26. Rc7+ Kxh6 27. Rxh7#) 24. Ne7+ Kh8 25. Bxc4 Rf4 26. Bg5
Rxc4 27. Rce1 Rc2 28. Nf5 (28. f4 $1 {/\ f4-f5-f6+-}) 28... Nc4 29. Re6 Rf8 30.
Nxd6 (30. g4 $1 $16 {Dolmatov}) 30... Nxd6 31. Rxd6 Re8 32. Rd1 Ree2 33. Kh1
Rxg2 34. Rd8+ Kg7 35. Bf4 Bf6 36. Ra8 Bg5 37. Be5+ Bf6 38. Bf4 Bg5 39. Rxa7+
Kg6 40. Ra8 Kf7 41. Ra7+ Kg6 42. Bb8 h5 43. Rb7 Be3 44. Re7 Bc5 45. Re6+ Kg5
46. Re4 Kf5 47. Bf4 Rge2 48. Rxe2 Rxe2 49. Bg3 Re8 50. Kg2 Rd8 51. Kh3 Rd7 52.
d6 h4 53. Rd5+ Ke6 54. Re5+ Kf6 55. Kxh4 Rh7+ 56. Rh5 Rxh5+ 57. Kxh5 {[#] Due
to the strong black b-pawn, White can't keep his d6 pawn. After its fall, the
draw with two-versus-one passed pawns is unavoidable. [#] Wegen des starken
schwarzen b-Bauern kann Weiß den Bd6 nicht halten. Danach ist das Remis bei
2-1 Freibauern unvermeidlich.} b5 {[%cal Yb5b4,Yb4b3,Yc5d4,Yc5a3]} 58. d7 Ke7
59. Be5 Kxd7 60. Bb2 (60. Kg6 $5 b4 (60... Bd6 61. Bxd6 Kxd6 62. Kf5 Kd5 63.
Kf4 Kc4 (63... Kd4 64. h4 b4 65. h5 b3 66. h6 b2 67. h7 b1=Q 68. h8=Q+ Kc4 (
68... Kc5 69. Qe5+ {followed by Qe4+ or Qb8+ nebst De4+ oder Db8+}) 69. Qc8+
Kd4 70. Qd7+ Kc3 71. Qc6+ Kd2 72. Qd5+ Kc3 73. Qc5+ Kd2 74. Qe3+ $18) 64. Ke3
Kc3 65. h4 {and the h-pawn queens with check. und h8D erfolgt mit Schach} b4
66. h5 b3 67. h6 b2 68. h7 b1=Q 69. h8=Q+ Kc4 70. Qd4+ Kb5 71. Qd3+ $18) 61. f4
b3 {aber:} (61... Bd6 $1 $11) 62. Bb2 Bd6 63. Kg5 {and White can play on. und
Weiß kann noch spielen}) 60... Ke6 61. Kg6 Bd6 62. h4 b4 63. h5 (63. Bc1 b3 64.
f4 Bxf4) 63... Bf4 {[%cal Yf4d2,Yd2c3]} 64. h6 Bxh6 65. Kxh6 Kf5 (65... Kf5 66.
Bc1 b3 67. Kh5 b2 68. Bxb2 Kf4 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "WCC cand"]
[Site "Cazorla"]
[Date "1998.05.31"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C48"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Tsesarsky,I"]
[PlyCount "36"]
[EventDate "1998.05.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 065"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.08.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.08.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. Bb5 Nd4 5. Bc4 Bc5 6. Nxe5 d5 (6... Qe7 7.
Nf3 (7. Nd3 d5 8. Nxd5 Qxe4+ 9. Ne3 Bb6 10. f3 Qh4+ 11. Nf2 O-O 12. O-O $6
Nxf3+ $1 13. Qxf3 Bxe3 14. Qxe3 $1 Qxc4 $132 {1/2-1/2 Keitlinghaus,L-Blatny,P/
Lazne Bohdanec 1995 (30)}) 7... d5 8. Bxd5 Bg4 9. d3 c6 10. Bb3 Nd7 11. Bg5 $16
{1/2-1/2 Bernstein O-Rubinstein A/Vilna 1912 (22)}) 7. Bxd5 (7. Nxd5 Nxd5 8.
Qh5 (8. Bxd5 Qg5 9. Bxf7+ Ke7 10. Bh5 Qxe5 11. O-O (11. c3 Qxe4+ $19) (11. d3
Nxc2+ $1 12. Qxc2 Qxh5 $17) 11... g6 $17) 8... g6 (8... Nxc2+ 9. Kd1 (9. Kf1 g6
$19) 9... g6 $19) 9. Nxg6 Nxc2+ 10. Kf1 (10. Kd1 Nce3+ $3 11. fxe3 (11. Ke2
Nxc4 $19 12. Nxh8 Nf4+) (11. dxe3 Nf6+ $19) 11... Bg4+ $1 12. Qxg4 Nxe3+ 13.
Ke2 Nxg4 14. Nxh8 Qd4 $19) 10... Qf6 $1 11. f3 (11. Qe5+ Qxe5 12. Nxe5 Nxa1 $19
) (11. Qe2 Nf4 $19 (11... hxg6 12. exd5+ Kf8 $19)) 11... hxg6 12. Qxd5 Rh5 {
0-1 Spangenberg,H-Tkachiev,V/Villa Martelli 1997}) (7. exd5 $1 Qe7 $2 (7... O-O
8. O-O Qd6 9. Re1 Re8 10. Nd3 Bg4 11. Rxe8+ Rxe8 12. Qf1 Nxc2 13. Rb1 Bb6 $17)
8. O-O Bf5 9. d3 (9. Re1 Bxc2 10. Nxf7 Bxd1 11. Rxe7+ Kxe7 12. Nxh8 Bh5 $19)
9... O-O-O 10. Re1 Rhe8 11. Bf4 $16) (7. Bd3 O-O $17) 7... Nxd5 8. Nxd5 (8.
exd5 Qg5 $19) 8... O-O (8... Qg5 {Was recommended by Ilya Tsesarsky in CBM -
60 , but my analyse was wrong...} 9. Nxc7+ $8 (9. d3 Qxg2 10. Nxc7+ Ke7 11.
Nd5+ Kf8 12. Rf1 Bh3 13. Ne3 Nxc2+ 14. Qxc2 Bxe3 15. Qe2 Bd4 16. Nf3 Qxf1+ 17.
Qxf1 Bxf1 18. Kxf1 Bb6 $17) 9... Kf8 (9... Ke7 10. Kf1 (10. O-O Bh3 11. Nd5+
Kf8 12. Ne3 Qxe5 13. c3 $18 (13. gxh3 Bd6 14. f4 Qxe4 15. c3 Ne6 16. d3 $18))
10... Qxe5 11. Nxa8 $16) 10. Kf1 $8 (10. O-O Bh3 11. Nd7+ Bxd7 12. d3 Qg6 13.
Nxa8 Bh3 14. g3 Bg4 15. f3 (15. Be3 Bxd1 16. Raxd1 Qd6 $19) 15... Nxf3+ 16. Kg2
(16. Kh1 Nxh2 $19) 16... Nh4+ 17. Kh1 Bxd1 $19) 10... Qxe5 11. Nxa8 Qxe4 (11...
Qb8 12. c3 Nc6 13. d4 Bd6 14. e5 Be7 15. Bf4 (15. d5 Nxe5) 15... Qxa8 16. d5
$18) 12. d3 Qc6 13. Be3 b6 14. b4 (14. c3 Bb7 15. Rg1 Nf5 16. Bxc5+ bxc5 17.
Qb3 g6 18. Qa3 Kg7 $17) 14... Bb7 15. Rg1 $18) 9. c3 Re8 10. cxd4 Bxd4 11. O-O
(11. Qa4 Bxe5 12. d4 Bd6 $11 (12... c6 13. dxe5 cxd5 $11)) 11... Rxe5 (11...
Bxe5 12. d4 Bxh2+ (12... Bd6 13. Nc3 Qh4 14. e5 $16) 13. Kxh2 Rxe4 14. Ne3 Rxd4
15. Qf3 $16) 12. d3 (12. Nc3 $44) 12... c6 13. Nf4 (13. Nc3 b6 14. Bf4 Re6 15.
Qd2 Ba6 16. Rad1 Qd7 $44) 13... b6 14. Qc2 (14. Qa4 Bb7 (14... b5 15. Qc2 c5
16. Nd5 Bb7 17. Nc3 (17. Bf4 Rxd5 18. exd5 Qxd5 $19) 17... a6 18. Ne2 (18. Bf4
Re8 19. Ne2 c4 20. Rad1 cxd3 21. Rxd3 (21. Qxd3 Bxb2 22. Qb3 Qe7 23. Qxb2 Qxe4
24. f3 Qxe2 $17) 21... Bxe4 22. Nxd4 Qf6 23. g3 (23. Be3 Qg6 $19) 23... Qxd4
24. Rxd4 Bxc2 $11) (18. Be3 Rc8 (18... c4 19. dxc4 Bxe3 20. fxe3 bxc4 21. Rad1
Qg5 22. Qf2 f6 23. Rd4 $16) 19. Rad1 Qh4 20. Ne2 Bxe3 21. fxe3 c4 22. Rf4 Qe7
23. Ng3 cxd3 24. Qxd3 $44) 18... c4 19. Nxd4 (19. dxc4 Bxe4 20. Qd1 Bc5 $44)
19... Qxd4 20. Bf4 Ree8 21. Rad1 cxd3 22. Qxd3 Qxb2 23. f3 Rac8 $11 (23... Qxa2
24. Qd7 $16)) 15. Ne2 Bc5 16. Bf4 Re8 17. Rad1 $14) 14... Rc5 15. Qe2 (15. Qa4
$5) 15... Ba6 16. Be3 Qd6 17. Rac1 $6 (17. Bxd4 Qxd4 18. Rac1 $16) 17... Rxc1
18. Rxc1 Be5 (18... Be5 19. Qd2 Rd8 (19... Bxf4 20. Bxf4 Qxd3 21. Qxd3 Bxd3 22.
Rxc6 Bxe4 $11) 20. Rd1 Bxf4 (20... g5 21. Nh3 Bxh2+ 22. Kh1 g4 (22... h6 23. d4
$16) 23. Nf4 Qh6 24. Nh3 Qg6 25. Kxh2 Rxd3 26. Qe2 gxh3 27. Rg1 Qd6+ 28. f4 Kf8
29. gxh3 Qe6 $132) 21. Bxf4 Qxd3 22. Qxd3 Rxd3 23. Rxd3 Bxd3 24. f3 $11)
1/2-1/2

[Event "WCC cand"]
[Site "Cazorla"]
[Date "1998.06.02"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D78"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1998.05.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 065"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.08.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.08.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 800]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 c6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Nc3 d5 6. Qb3 O-O 7. Bg2
Qb6 8. O-O Bf5 9. Ne5 e6 10. Bf4 (10. Be3 Nbd7 11. h3 h5 12. Qa3 a5 13. Rac1
Qb4 14. f4 {1/2-1/2 Pigusov,E-Tseitlin,M/EUCup f/1994/}) 10... Nbd7 (10... h6
$5) 11. Qxb6 axb6 12. f3 Nxe5 (12... c5 13. dxc5 d4 14. Nb5 bxc5 15. Nxd7 Nxd7
16. Bd6 Rfc8 17. f4 Rc6 18. a4 Bc2 19. Ra3 Nb6 20. Rc1 d3 21. exd3 Rxd6 22.
Rxc2 Rd7 {Kramnik,V-Gelfand,B/Dos Hermanas/1996/1/2-1/2 (63)}) 13. Bxe5 (13.
dxe5 $6 Nd7 14. e4 dxe4 15. fxe4 Bg4 16. h3 Bh5 17. g4 g5 $15) 13... g5 (13...
c5 $2 14. e4 dxe4 15. fxe4 $18) (13... dxc4 $4 14. e4 $18) 14. e4 Bg6 15. b3 {
This new move will hardly have a great impact on the evalaution of this
position. White supports his nice center, but this gives black the chances to
prepare better for the tactical advanture.} (15. cxd5 exd5 (15... cxd5 16. Rad1
$14) 16. Rad1 b5 17. a3 (17. exd5 $6 b4 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Ne4 Bg7 $132) (17.
Bxf6 $6 Bxf6 18. exd5 Rfd8 $132) 17... dxe4 (17... Rfd8 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. exd5
cxd5 20. Nxb5 $16) 18. fxe4 Nd7 (18... Ng4 $5 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Rfe1 $14) 19.
Bd6 Rfe8 20. e5 Nb6 (20... f5 $5) 21. d5 $1 Rac8 (21... Bxe5 22. dxc6 Bxd6 23.
Rxd6 $16) (21... cxd5 22. Nxd5 Nxd5 23. Rxd5 $16) 22. Bh3 Ra8 23. Bc7 Nxd5 $2 (
23... Nc4 24. dxc6 bxc6 25. Bd7 Nxb2 26. Bxe8 Rxe8 27. Rd6 Bxe5 28. Rxc6 Bd4+
$132) 24. Nxd5 cxd5 25. Rxd5 {Mikhalevski,V-Vydeslaver,A/ISR-ch/1996/1-0 (57)})
15... Rfd8 16. Rfd1 (16. exd5 exd5 17. Rfe1 dxc4 18. bxc4 Ne8 $11) (16. Bc7 $2
Nxe4 $1 $17) 16... dxe4 17. fxe4 (17. Nxe4 Nxe4 18. Bxg7 Nc3 19. Bf6 Nxd1 20.
Bxd8 Rxd8 21. Rxd1 $11) 17... Ng4 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Bf3 {White's center is
very solid, but black is well prepared to attack it effectively.} (19. Rd3 f5
$11) 19... h5 (19... Ne3 20. Rd2 f5 21. Kf2 f4 22. h4 h6 23. gxf4 gxf4 24. Rg1
$14) 20. Rd2 Ne5 21. Bg2 (21. Kf2 f5 $132) 21... c5 22. d5 (22. Rad1 cxd4 23.
Rxd4 Rxd4 24. Rxd4 Kf8 25. Rd6 b5 26. cxb5 Rc8 27. Nd1 Rc2 28. a4 Ke7 $44)
22... Nc6 $1 {The tactics can serve strategical purposes very well, black
knight aims for the excellent d4 square.} (22... exd5 23. Nxd5 h4 24. gxh4 gxh4
25. Rf1 $14) 23. Rad1 (23. Re1 $5 e5 (23... Nd4 24. e5 exd5 25. cxd5 (25. Nxd5
Bc2 26. Rf1 Rxa2 27. Rdf2 Rf8 (27... Rd7 28. Nxb6 Re7 29. Bd5 Rxe5 30. Rxf7+
Kh6 31. Nd7 $16) 28. Nxb6 Bxb3 $11) 25... b5 26. h4 $14) 24. Rf2 Nd4 $13) (23.
Nb5 e5 $1) 23... Nd4 24. e5 exd5 25. cxd5 (25. Nxd5 Bc2 26. Rf1 Rxa2 27. Rdf2
Rf8 $11) 25... Re8 26. Re1 (26. Na4 $5 Rxe5 27. Nxb6 Rd8 (27... Rae8 28. Nd7
Ne2+ 29. Kh1 Nc3 30. Nxe5 Nxd1 31. Rxd1 Rxe5 32. d6 $18) 28. Na4 Rexd5 29. Bxd5
Rxd5 30. Kf2 Bc2 31. Rf1 $14) 26... Nc2 27. Ree2 Nd4 28. Re1 Nc2 29. Rxc2 $5 {
Kramnik, lagging in the match can afford to take some risks. The central pawns
can become dangerous, but black has ways to eliminate them.} (29. Ree2 Nd4 $11)
29... Bxc2 30. d6 Bf5 $1 (30... Rad8 31. Nb5 Bf5 32. Nc7 Rf8 33. Bxb7 $13) 31.
Bxb7 (31. Nb5 $2 Rxa2 32. Bxb7 Rd2 $17) 31... Rad8 32. Bc6 {If white doesn't
play aggressively enough he can easily become worse.} (32. Kf2 f6 33. exf6+
Kxf6 34. Rd1 (34. Nd5+ Kf7 35. Re7+ Rxe7 36. dxe7 Rd6 $19) 34... Ke6 $17) 32...
Re6 (32... Bd7 33. Bxd7 Rxd7 34. Kf2 Kg6 35. Nd5 $13) 33. Bd5 Rdxd6 (33... Ree8
34. Bc6) 34. Bxe6 (34. Bxe6 Rxe6 35. Nd5 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "WCC cand"]
[Site "Cazorla"]
[Date "1998.06.03"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "36"]
[EventDate "1998.05.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 065"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.08.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.08.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 288]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Qe2 {This was a
shock for Kramnik as well as for the fans, but honestly: "Do you know any
safer method to make the coveted draw with white?"} Qe7 6. d3 Nf6 7. Nc3 Qxe2+
8. Bxe2 g6 (8... Be7 9. O-O Nc6 (9... O-O 10. Re1 Re8 11. Bg5 Kf8 12. Bf1 c6
13. Ne4 Nxe4 {1/2-1/2 Ivanovic,B-Gulko,B/Manila izt/1990/}) 10. Nb5 Kd8 11. Bd2
Bd7 12. Rfe1 h6 13. h3 Re8 14. Bf1 a6 15. Nc3 Bf8 16. Rxe8+ Bxe8 17. a3 Bd7 18.
Re1 Be6 19. g3 Kd7 20. Bg2 Re8 21. Ne2 {1/2-1/2 Forintos,G-Kholmov,R/Moscow/
1975/}) (8... c6 9. O-O Na6 10. Re1 Nc7 11. Nd4 Ne6 12. Bf3 Bd7 13. Be3 d5 14.
Re2 Bb4 15. Na4 O-O 16. Nxe6 Bxe6 17. Bc5 Bxc5 18. Nxc5 Bc8 19. Rae1 b6 20. Nb3
Bd7 21. Re5 Rfe8 22. Rxe8+ {1/2-1/2 Ivanovic,B-Jussupow,A/Erevan olm/1996/}) 9.
Nd4 (9. O-O Bg7 10. Nb5 Na6 11. d4 O-O 12. c3 Bg4 13. Re1 Rfe8 14. Bf4 Nd5 15.
Bd2 {1/2-1/2 Hazai,L-Petran,P/HUN-ch/1979/}) 9... a6 (9... Bg7 10. Ndb5 Kd8 11.
Bg5 Be6 12. Bf3 $14) 10. h3 (10. Bg5 $5 Nbd7 11. O-O-O Bg7 12. Rhe1 O-O 13. Bf3
$14) 10... Bg7 11. g4 Bd7 $1 {Black needs to finish his development and
combine it with exchange of active white pieces.} (11... Nc6 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13.
Bf3 $14) 12. Bf3 Nc6 13. Nxc6 (13. Be3 $2 Nxg4 $1 14. Nxc6 Nxe3 15. fxe3 Bxc6
$17) 13... Bxc6 (13... bxc6 $6 14. Be3 $14) 14. Bxc6+ bxc6 15. Bd2 h5 16. g5 (
16. Rg1 $2 hxg4 17. hxg4 Nxg4 $17) 16... Nd5 17. Nxd5 cxd5 18. O-O-O Kd7 {
The position is pretty equal, but it was still possible to try a bit longer.} (
18... Rb8 19. c3 Kd7 $11) (18... Kd7 19. f4 {/\ f4-f5}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "WCC cand"]
[Site "Cazorla"]
[Date "1998.06.04"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D70"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "1998.05.24"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 065"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.08.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.08.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Sakaev} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 {Kramnik must go for it and he used the free
day to prepare a less played but nevertheless quite venomous side-line against
the Gruenfeld.} d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nb6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Be3 O-O 8. Qd2 ({
The short burst of popularity 3.f3 enjoyed in the middle of the eighties was
connected with} 8. f4 {But gradually satisfactory measures for Black were
found:} Nc6 9. d5 Na5 (9... Nb8 $5 10. a4 e5 11. a5 (11. f5 $5) 11... exf4 12.
Bxf4 (12. axb6 $6 fxe3 13. Rxa7 Bxc3+ 14. bxc3 Qh4+ 15. g3 Qxe4 $40) 12... N6d7
13. Nf3 Re8 $132) 10. Bd4 e5 11. Bxe5 Bxe5 12. fxe5 Qh4+ 13. g3 Qe7 14. Qd4 Rd8
15. b4 Nac4 $1 16. Nf3 Bg4 17. Bxc4 Bxf3 18. O-O Qxb4 19. e6 fxe6 20. Rxf3 Qxc4
21. Qf6 exd5 22. Qe6+ Kh8 23. Qe5+ Kg8 {1/2,Shishkin,V-Dvoirys,S/Moscow
Alekhine mem op/1996/}) 8... e5 $5 {Not a novelty, but the main move is} (8...
Nc6 9. O-O-O (9. d5 $6 Ne5 10. Bg5 c6 $14) (9. Rd1 f5 $5 $132) 9... e5 (9... a5
{Sakaev} 10. h4 a4 11. h5 e5 12. d5 Na5 $5) 10. d5 Nd4 11. f4 (11. Nb5 Nxb5 12.
Bxb5 Bd7 13. Be2 c6 14. dxc6 Bxc6 $11) 11... c5 12. fxe5 Bg4 $5 13. Re1 Bxe5
14. h3 Bd7 {Risky, but maybe more promising is} (14... Qh4 $5 {e.g.} 15. Bf2
Qh5 16. Bd3 Rac8 17. Kb1 f5 $5 $132 {[%csl Rh5] a hoci ma cierny damu mimo hry,
jeho protihra je dostatocne realna. and despite the misplaced Qh5 Black has
counterplay.}) 15. Nf3 Nxf3 16. gxf3 Qe7 {The ECO says Black is better here,
but objectively the position is at best unclear.} (16... Na4 17. Nxa4 Bxa4 18.
f4 Bg7 19. h4 c4 (19... Rc8 20. h5 c4 21. Bd4 Bxd4 22. Qxd4 Qc7 23. Qf6 Qd8 24.
Qc3 Qd6 25. Bh3 Qxf4+ 26. Kb1 Rce8 27. Qxc4 b5 28. Qd4 Qf3 29. e5 $16 {Yrjola,
J-Ebeling,M/FIN-ch/1988/}) 20. h5 c3 21. bxc3 Bxc3 22. Qxc3 Rc8 23. Bc4 b5 24.
hxg6 fxg6 25. Rxh7 Qf6 26. Qxf6 Rxc4+ 27. Kb2 Rxf6 28. Reh1 {1-0,Laine,
H-Holmsten,A/Tampere op/1989/}) (16... Re8 $5 17. h4 Qf6 18. Be2 h5 19. Bg5 Qg7
20. Bf4 Bd4 21. Kb1 Rac8 22. Rc1 a6 23. Be3 Bf6 24. Bd3 Kh7 25. f4 Bxc3 26.
bxc3 f5 27. exf5 Bxf5 28. Bxf5 gxf5 29. Rhg1 $36 {Bykhovsky,A-Liss,E/Tel Aviv
ASA/1996/}) 17. Bh6 (17. Bd3 f5 $5 18. exf5 Bxf5 19. Bh6 Rf7 20. Re2 $2 Bxd3
21. Qxd3 Qh4 22. Bd2 Qd4 $17 {Barbero,G-Stohl,I/HUN-chT/1997/}) (17. h4 h5 18.
Bd3 Na4 19. Nxa4 Bxa4 20. f4 c4 21. fxe5 cxd3 22. Bd4 Rac8+ 23. Kb1 Bc2+ 24.
Ka1 Rc4 25. Bc3 Ra4 26. Re3 b5 27. Rxd3 Bxd3 28. Qxd3 b4 29. b3 bxc3 30. bxa4
Qxe5 $17 {Enevoldsen,H-Bolbochan,J/Dubrovnik olm/1950/}) 17... Rfe8 18. f4 Bd4
19. Bd3 $13) 9. d5 $8 c6 10. h4 (10. d6 $143 $6 Be6 11. b3 N8d7 {[%csl Rd6]
><d6}) ({Interesting is} 10. O-O-O cxd5 11. exd5 f5 $5 (11... N8d7 $143 $6 12.
g4 $1 $40 {Varga,Zo-Ivacic/Ljubljana op/1994/}) 12. h4 $5 $13 {with a position,
which is very difficult to evaluate.}) (10. Rd1 {Sakaev}) (10. g4 $6 {Sakaev}
cxd5 11. exd5 e4 $1) 10... h5 $1 $146 (10... cxd5 11. exd5 N8d7 $6 (11... h5
$142) (11... f5 $5 {Sakaev} 12. h5 (12. O-O-O $6 Na6 13. h5 (13. Nh3 Bd7 14.
Ng5 Rc8) 13... gxh5 14. Nh3 (14. Rxh5 Bd7 15. g4 $6 Rc8 16. gxf5 Bxf5 17. Bd3
Nc4) 14... Bd7 15. Ng5 Rc8 16. d6 (16. Rxh5 Na4 17. d6 Nxc3 18. bxc3 Qa5) 16...
f4 17. Bxb6 Qxg5 18. Bxa7 e4 $40) 12... gxh5 13. Rxh5 (13. Nh3 N8d7 14. Ng5 (
14. g4 hxg4 15. fxg4 Nf6) 14... Nf6) 13... N8d7 14. Bh6 Nf6 15. Rg5 Ne8 16. f4
e4 17. O-O-O Qf6 18. Bxg7 Nxg7 19. Nge2 $14) 12. h5 Nf6 13. hxg6 fxg6 14. O-O-O
Bd7 15. g4 Rc8 16. Kb1 Nc4 17. Bxc4 Rxc4 18. Nge2 e4 $6 19. g5 exf3 20. gxf6
Qxf6 21. Nd4 h5 22. Rhf1 Bg4 23. Qd3 Rcc8 24. Ka1 $16 {Karasev,V-Zdrojevskij,W/
Leningrad/1990/}) 11. Be2 {Prevents a possible Bf5 by preparing g4.} ({But
maybe} 11. Rd1 $5 {would have saved a tempo.}) 11... cxd5 (11... cxd5 12. exd5
Bf5 $2 13. g4 $16) 12. exd5 N8d7 (12... Qd6 {Sakaev} 13. O-O-O $1) (12... Na6 {
Sakaev} 13. g4) (12... f5 $5 {Sakaev}) 13. d6 (13. g4 $2 hxg4 14. fxg4 Nf6 $17)
13... Nf6 14. Bg5 Re8 $6 {This logical move will give White tactical chances
connected with a later d7 advance with tempo.} ({Safer was} 14... Bd7 $5 $132 {
[%cal Yd7c6,Yd8d7] /\Bc6,Qd7}) ({Even} 14... Be6 $13 {immediately was better.})
(14... Be6 {Sakaev} 15. g4 Qd7 (15... hxg4 16. fxg4 Qd7 17. h5 (17. Bb5 Qc8)
17... Nh7 (17... Qc6 18. Bf3 e4 19. h6 exf3 20. hxg7 Ne4 21. Bf6 $1 $18) (17...
Bxg4 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Ne4 Bd8 20. hxg6 fxg6 21. Qh6 Bxe2 22. Qxg6+ Qg7 23.
Qxg7+ Kxg7 24. Nxe2 Rc8 25. N2c3 $16)) 16. Bxf6 (16. Bb5 Qc8 17. Rc1 (17. gxh5
Nxh5 18. Be7 (18. Rc1 f6 $15) 18... Nc4 19. Bxc4 Qxc4 20. Nge2 Rfe8 $15) 17...
hxg4 18. Ne4 Qd8 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. h5 $13) 16... Bxf6 17. Ne4 (17. gxh5 Bf5 $13
) 17... Qd8 18. gxh5 Bxh4+ 19. Kf1 g5 (19... Nd5 $5) 20. Rxh4 gxh4 21. Qh6 f6 (
21... Nd5 $5) 22. Nh3 Bxh3+ 23. Kf2 f5 24. Rg1+ Bg4 25. Qg6+ Kh8 26. Qh6+ $11)
15. Rd1 (15. g4 $6 {Sakaev} e4 $1) 15... Be6 (15... Bd7 16. Nb5 $1 $36 {/\}
Nbd5 $2 17. Nc7 $18) 16. Nh3 (16. Nb5 $6 Nbd5 17. Bc4 a6 $1 {Kramnik,V (2770)
-Shirov,A (2700) Fontys Tilburg 1997 (2) 1-0 leads nowhere, so Kramnik decides
to finish his development. Shirov probably remembered his loss with Kramnik
last year, where he didn't find any suitable weapon against an advanced passed
pawn. (on e6) This time he decides to act fast.}) 16... Nc4 (16... Bxh3 {Sakaev
} 17. Rxh3 a6) 17. Bxc4 Bxc4 18. b3 (18. d7 Re7 19. Bxf6 (19. b3 $2 Be6) 19...
Bxf6 20. Ne4 (20. Nd5 $2 Bxh4+) 20... Bg7 {is inconclusive, as} (20... Bxh4+ $5
21. g3 Be6 22. Qh6 $5 Bxg3+ 23. Nxg3 Rxd7 $13) 21. Nc5 $2 e4 $1 22. fxe4 b6 $17
{doesn't work for White.}) 18... Ba6 $6 {Now there is no turning back.} ({
After the objectively maybe better} 18... Be6 19. Nf2 $36 {[%csl Gd6] o^d6 the
passed pawn is a powerhouse.} (19. Nf2 {Sakaev} Qd7 20. O-O (20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21.
Nfe4 Bd8 $1 (21... Bg7 22. Nd5 Bxd5 23. Qxd5 $16) 22. Nd5 Kg7) 20... Rac8 (
20... Nh7 21. Nfe4 f6 22. Be3 b6 $16) 21. Nfe4 $16)) 19. Nd5 $2 {A serious
tactical mistake, after which the sharp complications turn in Black's favour.}
(19. d7 $142 $1 {That leaves the speculative} Qxd7 $5 (19... e4 20. dxe8=Q+
Qxe8 21. Kf2 $18) (19... Rf8 20. Nd5 b6 (20... Bb5 21. Qb4 $5) 21. Nxf6+ (21.
Nf2 {Sakaev} Bb7 22. Nxf6+ Bxf6 23. O-O $18) 21... Bxf6 22. Qd6 $18) (19... Re7
20. Nd5 $1) ({Best is} 19... Re6 20. Nd5 $16 {[%cal Rd5c7,Yg5f6,Yh3g5] /\Bf6,
Ng5,Nc7!} e4 $6 21. Nhf4 e3 22. Nxe3 Re7 23. Nfd5 Nxd5 24. Qxd5 Bf6 25. Bxf6
Rxe3+ 26. Kf2 $18) 20. Qxd7 Nxd7 21. Rxd7 e4 22. Nxe4 (22. Nd5 $5 exf3+ 23.
Ne7+ Kh7 (23... Kf8 24. Kf2) 24. gxf3 f6 25. Be3 Rad8 $16 {If White wants to
avoid such complications, he has the simpler}) 22... f5 23. Nhf2 fxe4 24. Nxe4
Bb5 25. Rxb7 Bc6 26. Rc7 Bxe4 27. fxe4 Rxe4+ 28. Kd1 $16 {with a clear extra
pawn.}) (19. Nf2 $16 {Sakaev}) 19... e4 $1 20. Nxf6+ {Logical. Other solutions
are also insufficient, e.g.} (20. d7 exf3+ $1 21. dxe8=Q+ Qxe8+ 22. Qe3 (22.
Ne3 $2 Ne4) 22... Nxd5 23. Rxd5 fxg2 24. Rg1 Qc6 $5 $40) (20. Ne7+ Rxe7 (20...
Kh7 $5) 21. dxe7 Qxe7 22. Qd6 Qe8 $1 $17 {->~/=}) (20. f4 $2 e3 $1 21. Nxe3 Qb6
$19) 20... Bxf6 21. d7 Qb6 $3 ({Nonsense was, of course,} 21... Rf8 $2 22. fxe4
$18) ({A weaker, but playable possibility is} 21... Re6 $5 22. Bxf6 (22. Nf4 $6
e3 $1 23. Qb4 Qb6 $1 24. d8=Q+ (24. Qxb6 $2 Bc3+) 24... Rxd8 25. Rxd8+ Bxd8 26.
Qxb6 Bxb6 27. Nxe6 Ba5+ 28. Kd1 e2+ 29. Kc2 e1=Q 30. Rxe1 Bxe1 31. Nc5 Bf1 $15
{[%csl Ge1,Gf1] |^_|_^^}) 22... exf3+ 23. Kf2 Re2+ $1 (23... Rxf6 $6 24. gxf3 {
[%csl Gd7] o^d7}) 24. Qxe2 fxe2 25. Bxd8 exd1=Q 26. Rxd1 Rxd8 {mu neslubuje
viac, ako delbu bodu po} 27. a4 Kf8 28. Ng5 Ke7 29. Re1+ Kf8 30. Rd1 $11) (
21... e3 $13 {Sakaev}) 22. dxe8=Q+ (22. Bxf6 exf3+ 23. dxe8=Q+ Rxe8+ $19) 22...
Rxe8 {Black has fantastic piece play. White can barely save himself from mate,
but a dreary endgame awaits him.} 23. Qe3 $8 (23. f4 e3 $19 {[%cal Rb6b4,Rb6a5]
/\Qa5,Qb4}) (23. Be3 Bxh4+ $1 24. Nf2 exf3 $19) (23. Qd7 Bc3+ (23... Bb5 $5 $40
) 24. Rd2 Bb5 25. Qd5 e3 {/\} 26. Bxe3 Qxe3+ 27. Kd1 Be2+ 28. Kc2 Bxd2 $19 {->}
) 23... Bxg5 24. Qxb6 Bxh4+ 25. Kd2 (25. Nf2 exf3+ 26. Kd2 Re2+ 27. Kc3 axb6
28. Rxh4 Rxf2 $19) (25. Qf2 exf3+ 26. Kd2 Bxf2 27. gxf3 Be3+ 28. Kc2 Be2 $19 {
In both cases three pawns are too much for the exchange.}) 25... axb6 26. fxe4
$8 Rxe4 27. Kc2 Rg4 $17 {[%csl Ga6,Rg2,Gh4] _|_^^,><g2 Black has a huge
advantage and is close to winning.} 28. Rd2 (28. Rhg1 Bb5 {[%cal Rb5c6] /\Bc6})
28... Be7 $1 (28... Bb5 $143 $2 29. Nf2 Rf4 30. Nd3 $13 {enables either
repetition, or advantageous exchanges.}) 29. Rg1 Kg7 (29... Bb5 $5 $17) 30. Nf2
(30. a4 b5 {also doesn't keep the Ba6 out of play for long.}) 30... Rf4 (30...
Rg3 $143 31. Ne4 Re3 32. Nd6 $15) 31. Nd3 Re4 32. Rgd1 $6 (32. Nf2 Re6 $17 (
32... Re3 $5 $17)) ({A better chance to offer resistance was} 32. a4 $5 b5 (
32... Bg5 33. Rf2 Be3 34. Re1 (34. Re2 {Sakaev} f5 35. Rd1 f4 36. Ree1)) 33.
Re1 (33. a5 b4) 33... Rxe1 34. Nxe1 bxa4 35. bxa4 Bb4 36. Rd1 $17) 32... Bb5
33. a4 Bc6 34. Re1 $6 {The last mistake, after which White is dead lost. But
even after} (34. Nf2 Re3 {[%cal Re3g3] /\Rg3 or}) (34. Rf1 Bg5 35. Rdf2 f5 $19
{he could hardly save the game in the long run.}) 34... Rxe1 35. Nxe1 Bb4 36.
Re2 Bxe1 37. Rxe1 Bxg2 38. Kd2 (38. Rg1 Be4+ 39. Kd2 f5 40. Ke3 h4 41. Kf4 Kf6
42. b4 Bd5 $22) 38... h4 39. Ke3 Bd5 40. b4 (40. Kf4 {Even simpler is} Kf6 $1 (
40... Bxb3 41. Rb1 Bxa4 42. Kg4 (42. Rxb6 Bc6 43. Kg4 f5+ 44. Kxh4 Kf6) 42...
Bd7+ 43. Kxh4 b5 $19) 41. Kg4 g5 $19) 40... h3 41. Re2 f5 (41... g5 $19) 42.
Rd2 Be4 (42... Bg2 $5 43. Kf2 g5 44. Rd7+ Kf6 45. Rd6+ Ke5 46. Rxb6 f4 $19) 43.
Kf4 Bg2 44. Rd7+ (44. Kg3 g5) 44... Kf6 45. Rh7 (45. Rd6+ Ke7 46. Rxg6 h2)
45... g5+ 46. Kg3 f4+ 47. Kg4 Ke5 48. b5 {White has had enough. Black's K will
annihilate the remaining pawns and then help the advance of his own infantry.}
0-1

[Event "Dortmund sim"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1998.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gerke, Dieter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B92"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "1998.06.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2006"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.11.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.11.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. O-O
O-O 9. Kh1 Nc6 10. f4 b5 11. Bf3 Bb7 12. a4 b4 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. exd5 Na5 15.
Nxa5 Qxa5 16. Bd2 Qc5 17. Qe1 a5 18. fxe5 Bxd5 19. Bxd5 Qxd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund sim"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1998.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Linker, Walter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A04"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "1998.06.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2006"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.11.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.11.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 f5 2. g3 b6 3. Bg2 Bb7 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 e6 6. Nbd2 Be7 7. Re1 O-O 8. e4
fxe4 9. dxe4 Nc6 10. b3 Bc5 11. Nc4 Ng4 12. Ne3 Nxe3 13. Bxe3 Bxe3 14. Rxe3 Qf6
15. Qe1 e5 16. c3 Nd8 17. Nd2 Ne6 18. Rd1 d6 19. Rf3 Qg6 20. Rxf8+ Rxf8 21. Qe3
a5 22. h4 Ba6 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Chess Classics Giants"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1998.06.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E34"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "1998.06.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 065 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.09.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.09.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 Qxd5 6. Nf3 Qf5 7. Qxf5 exf5 8.
a3 Bd6 9. Nb5 Be6 10. e3 Nc6 11. Bd2 Ne4 12. Bd3 a6 13. Nxd6+ cxd6 14. Ke2 Kd7
15. Rhc1 Rhc8 16. Be1 Ne7 17. Ng1 b5 18. f3 Nf6 19. Bh4 Nfd5 20. Bxe7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Chess Classics Giants"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1998.06.18"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A38"]
[WhiteElo "2825"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1998.06.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 065 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.09.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.09.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. g3 g6 6. Bg2 Bg7 7. Nc3 O-O 8.
Nc2 d6 9. O-O Be6 10. b3 Qd7 11. Bb2 Bh3 12. Ne3 Bxg2 13. Kxg2 Rfd8 14. Qd2 e6
15. Rfd1 d5 16. cxd5 exd5 17. Ncxd5 Nxd5 18. Nxd5 Qxd5+ 19. Qxd5 Rxd5 20. Rxd5
Bxb2 21. Rad1 Kf8 22. e3 Bf6 23. Rd7 Rb8 24. f4 Ke8 25. Kf3 Rd8 26. Rxd8+ Bxd8
27. e4 f6 28. h4 Bb6 29. h5 Nd4+ 30. Kg4 Kf7 31. hxg6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Chess Classics Giants"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1998.06.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1998.06.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 065 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.09.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.09.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Be6 11. Ne5 f6 12. Bg4 Bc8 13. Bxc8 Rxc8 14. Nf3 c5 15.
Qe2 cxd4 16. Nxd4 Re8 17. Rd1 Bf8 18. Be3 Rxc4 19. Nxe4 Rxe4 20. a3 Nc6 21.
Nxc6 bxc6 22. Qd3 Re8 23. Bxa7 Rce4 24. Be3 f5 25. b4 Qh4 26. b5 d4 27. Qc4+
Kh8 28. Rxd4 cxb5 29. Qxb5 Qf6 30. Rdd1 f4 31. Bd4 Qe6 32. Qd3 f3 33. Be3 fxg2
34. a4 Qh3 35. Qc3 Rc8 36. Qd2 h6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Chess Classics Giants"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1998.06.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A57"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1998.06.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 065 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.09.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.09.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Nd2 g6 5. e4 bxc4 6. Bxc4 d6 7. b3 Bg7 8. Bb2
O-O 9. Ngf3 e5 10. dxe6 Bxe6 11. O-O Nc6 12. Re1 Re8 13. Bb5 Qb6 14. a4 Rad8
15. Nc4 Qc7 16. Rc1 Re7 17. Bxc6 Qxc6 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. e5 Bg7 20. exd6 Ree8
21. h3 h6 22. Nfe5 Qa6 23. Qf3 Bxe5 24. Rxe5 Bxc4 25. Rxe8+ Rxe8 26. d7 Rd8 27.
Rxc4 Rxd7 28. Rxc5 Rd3 29. Qa8+ Kg7 30. Qb8 Qf6 31. Qe5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Chess Classics Giants 1st pl"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1998.06.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A35"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1998.06.19"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 065 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.09.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.09.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nd4 4. g3 Nxf3+ 5. exf3 Nf6 6. d4 e6 7. Bg2 d5 8.
cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. O-O c4 11. f4 Be7 12. Qf3 O-O 13. Qxd5 Qc7 14. f5
Rd8 15. Qe4 Bf6 16. Rd1 Qb6 17. g4 Bd7 18. g5 Ba4 19. Be3 Bxd1 20. Rxd1 Re8 21.
Qxb7 Qxb7 22. Bxb7 Rab8 23. Bd5 Rxe3 24. fxe3 Bxg5 25. Re1 Rxb2 26. Bxc4 Kf8
27. Kh1 Rc2 28. e4 Rc1 29. Bb3 Rc4 30. Rc1 Ra4 31. Bxa4 Bxc1 32. Bb3 Bb2 33.
Kg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Chess Classics Giants 1st pl"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1998.06.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "1998.06.19"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 065 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.09.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.09.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Be6 11. Ne5 f6 12. Bg4 Bxg4 13. Nxg4 dxc4 14. Nxe4 f5
15. Nd2 fxg4 16. Nxc4 c5 17. a3 Nc6 18. dxc5 Qxd1 19. Rxd1 Bxc5 20. Be3 Bxe3
21. Nxe3 h5 22. Rd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Chess Classics Giants 1st pl"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1998.06.19"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1998.06.19"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 065 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.09.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.09.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 b6 7. b4 Bb7 8.
Bb2 d6 9. e3 a5 10. Be2 axb4 11. axb4 Rxa1+ 12. Bxa1 Nbd7 13. O-O Qe7 14. Bb2
Ra8 15. d4 c5 16. Nd2 Qf8 17. f3 d5 18. dxc5 bxc5 19. b5 Nb6 20. Qc2 Nfd7 21.
Bd3 h6 22. Ra1 Rxa1+ 23. Bxa1 Qa8 24. Bb2 Na4 25. Bc1 Nab6 26. Qc3 f6 27. Be2
Qa4 28. Qb3 Qxb3 29. Nxb3 Nxc4 30. Bxc4 dxc4 31. Na5 Ba8 32. Nxc4 Bd5 33. Nd6
Kf8 34. e4 Bb3 35. Ba3 Ba4 36. f4 e5 37. g3 g6 38. f5 Ke7 39. Nb7 Bxb5 40. fxg6
Kf8 41. Nd6 Bd3 42. h4 h5 43. g4 Be2 44. gxh5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Chess Classics Giants 1st pl"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1998.06.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C24"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "1998.06.19"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 065 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.09.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.09.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 c6 4. Nf3 d5 5. Bb3 Bd6 6. Nc3 dxe4 7. Ng5 O-O 8.
Ncxe4 Nxe4 9. Nxe4 Bf5 10. O-O Na6 11. Nxd6 Qxd6 12. Qf3 Be6 13. Qg3 Bxb3 14.
axb3 Nb4 15. c3 Nxd3 16. Rd1 Rad8 17. Bg5 f6 18. Be3 a6 19. Rd2 Rfe8 20. Rad1
e4 21. Qxd6 Rxd6 22. f3 f5 23. fxe4 fxe4 24. Rf1 Rd5 25. Re2 Rb5 26. b4 a5 27.
bxa5 Rxb2 28. Rxb2 Nxb2 29. Rb1 Nc4 30. Rxb7 Nxe3 31. a6 Rf8 32. h3 Nd5 33. c4
e3 34. cxd5 cxd5 35. a7 e2 36. Re7 Rf1+ 37. Kh2 Ra1 38. Rxe2 Rxa7 39. Kg3 Kf7
40. Kf4 Kf6 41. Re8 Ra4+ 42. Ke3 h5 43. Rf8+ Ke6 44. Re8+ Kd6 45. Rd8+ Ke6 46.
Re8+ Kf5 47. Rf8+ Kg5 48. Rd8 Ra3+ 49. Ke2 Ra5 50. Kf3 Kh4 51. Rb8 Ra3+ 52. Kf2
Ra2+ 53. Kf3 d4 54. Rg8 g5 55. g3+ Kxh3 56. Rxg5 Ra3+ 57. Ke4 d3 58. Rxh5+ Kxg3
59. Rd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Chess Classics Giants 1st pl blitz"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1998.06.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1998.06.19"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 065 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.09.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.09.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. Qa4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Bd6 8.
Qxc4 O-O 9. Bc3 Qe7 10. Ne5 Bxe5 11. dxe5 Nd5 12. O-O Rd8 13. Na3 Nxc3 14. Qxc3
Bd7 15. Nc2 Be8 16. b4 a5 17. a3 axb4 18. axb4 Rxa1 19. Rxa1 Rb8 20. Be4 f6 21.
exf6 Qxf6 22. Qc5 Rd8 23. Rb1 b6 24. Qc4 Nd4 25. Nxd4 Rxd4 26. Qc2 Bg6 27. Bxg6
Qxg6 28. Qxg6 hxg6 29. b5 Rd5 30. Rc1 Rxb5 31. Rxc7 Re5 32. e3 b5 33. Rb7 g5
34. g4 Re4 35. h3 Re5 36. Kf1 Kh7 37. Ke2 Kg6 38. f3 Kf6 39. Kf2 Rc5 40. Kg3
1/2-1/2

[Event "Chess Classics Giants 1st pl blitz"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1998.06.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E34"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1998.06.19"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 065 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.09.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.09.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 Qxd5 6. e3 c5 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8.
Qxc3 Nbd7 9. Nf3 cxd4 10. Nxd4 O-O 11. f3 Nb6 12. e4 Qd8 13. Be2 e5 14. Nc2 Re8
15. O-O Be6 16. Rd1 Qc8 17. Qxc8 Raxc8 18. Ne3 Na4 19. Bb5 Bb3 20. Bxe8 Bxd1
21. Bxf7+ Kxf7 22. Nxd1 Nc5 23. Nc3 Nb3 24. Rb1 a6 25. Be3 Na5 26. Rd1 Nc4 27.
Bc1 Nxa3 28. bxa3 Rxc3 29. Bb2 Rb3 30. Bxe5 Rxa3 31. Rc1 b5 32. Rc7+ Kg6 33.
Rb7 Rb3 34. Bd6 a5 35. Bf8 Nh5 36. Kf2 Rb2+ 37. Ke3 Rxg2 38. Rxb5 Rxh2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Chess Classics Giants 1st pl blitz"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1998.06.19"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A35"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "1998.06.19"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 065 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.09.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.09.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. e3 Bg7 5. d4 d6 6. d5 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 Na5 8. e4
Nf6 9. e5 dxe5 10. Nxe5 O-O 11. Be2 Nd7 12. Nxd7 Bxd7 13. O-O b6 14. Bh6 Re8
15. Qd2 Nb7 16. Rfe1 Nd6 17. Bf1 f6 18. Bf4 Nf7 19. g3 e5 20. dxe6 Bxe6 21.
Qxd8 Raxd8 22. Rad1 Rxd1 23. Rxd1 g5 24. Bc1 Bg4 25. f3 Bxf3 26. Rd2 Re1 27.
Bb2 Ne5 28. Kf2 Rb1 29. h3 h5 30. a4 a5 31. Ba3 Kf7 32. Rb2 Ra1 33. Rb3 Bd1 34.
Bb2 Bxb3 35. Bxa1 Bxa4 36. Bg2 Bc6 37. Bf1 Bd7 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 26th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1998.06.26"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "1998.06.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 066"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 b6 7. b4 a5 8. Bb2
axb4 9. axb4 Rxa1+ 10. Bxa1 c5 11. e3 d6 12. Be2 e5 13. d3 Re8 14. O-O Nc6 15.
bxc5 bxc5 16. h3 Bd7 17. Qd2 Qb6 18. Nh4 Ra8 19. Bc3 Qb3 20. Ra1 Rxa1+ 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 26th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1998.06.28"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "1998.06.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 066"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Qc2 dxc4 {
Nutzt den Nachteil von 7.Qc2 aus - der Pc4 ist ungedeckt. Die entstehende
Variante ist schon länger bekannt, wurde aber nicht häufig von Schwarz
gespielt. Mir scheint sie aber durchaus spielbar, wenn sie auch nicht so
flexibel ist wie die Stellungen nach 7...Nd7.} (7... Nd7 8. e4 dxe4 9. Qxe4 {
wurde in der Vergangenheit häufiger gespielt.}) 8. e3 b5 9. a4 Bb7 10. axb5
cxb5 11. Nxb5 Bb4+ 12. Nc3 O-O 13. Be2 Nd7 14. O-O Rfc8 {Als Kompensation für
seinen geschwächten Damenflügel hat Schwarz das Läuferpaar und kann eventuell
mit ...e6-e5 die Stellung öffnen.} 15. Rfc1 $146 (15. Rfd1 a5 16. Nd2 Nb6 17.
Bf3 Nd5 18. Nde4 Qe7 19. Na4 Rab8 20. Nec5 Bc6 21. Rdc1 Bb5 22. h3 Qd8 23. Be2
c3 24. Nxc3 Nxc3 25. bxc3 Bxc5 26. dxc5 Rxc5 27. Bxb5 Rbxb5 28. Ra4 Qc7 29. c4
Rb6 {Lacrosse,M-Novikov,I/Antwerpen op 1996/EXT 96op2/1/2-1/2 (41)}) (15. Nd2
Nb6 16. Bf3 Nd5 17. Rfc1 a5 18. Qd1 Qe7 19. Be2 Nb6 20. Nf3 Bd5 21. Ne5 Bd6 22.
Nf3 Qb7 23. Nxd5 exd5 24. Nh4 a4 25. Bg4 Rcb8 26. Bf5 a3 27. bxa3 Bxa3 28. Rcb1
Be7 29. Rxa8 Rxa8 {Bjerke,R-Agdestein,S/NOR-ch 1986/EXT 86ch/1/2-1/2 (52)})
15... a5 16. Na4 Rab8 17. Qd1 e5 $1 {Schwarz nutzt die Gelegenheit, um unter
Bauernopfer seine Stellung zu befreien.} (17... Bd5 18. Nd2 {drängt Schwarz in
die Defensive.}) 18. Rxc4 ({Nach} 18. dxe5 $6 Nxe5 19. Nxe5 Qxe5 {ist der Pc4
wegen des geschwächten weißen Königsflügels indirekt gedeckt :} 20. Rxc4 (20.
Bxc4 Bd6 21. g3 Qe4 $17) 20... Rxc4 21. Bxc4 Bd6 22. g3 Qe4 $17) 18... Rxc4 19.
Bxc4 (19. Bxc4 Bxf3 20. Qxf3 Qxf3 21. gxf3 exd4 22. exd4 Nb6 23. Nxb6 Rxb6 {
beläßt Weiß mit einem nur noch symbolischen Mehrbauern, daher erfolgte der
Remisschluß.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 26th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1998.06.29"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[Annotator "Golod,V"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1998.06.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 066"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b5 7. cxb5 (7. c5
Nd5 8. Qc2 Bb7 (8... f5 $5) 9. Nh3 $6 (9. e4 $5) 9... f5 10. f3 $2 Qh4+ 11. g3
Qxd4 $17 (11... Qe7 $2 12. Bg2 Nf6 $13 {1/2-1/2 Schandorff,L-Sammalvuo,T/KS
open, Copenhagen DEN 1998 (43)})) 7... c6 8. Bg5 (8. f3 cxb5 9. e4 a6 10. Bd3
Nc6 11. Ne2 Bb7 12. Bc2 {[%cal Gc3d3]} d6 13. O-O Rc8 14. Qd3 Qc7 15. Bb1 $14 {
0-1 Stefansson,H-Greger,R/Politiken Cup, Copenhagen DEN 1998 (52)}) 8... cxb5
9. e3 Bb7 (9... h6 10. Bh4 (10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. Bxb5 Bb7 $44) 10... Bb7 11. Rc1
a6 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. Qc7 Bd5 14. Ne2 Bc4 15. Ng3 Bxf1 16. Nxf1 Qd8 17. Nd2 Nc6
18. Qxd8 Rfxd8 19. Ke2 Kf8 20. Rc2 Ke7 21. Rhc1 Rdb8 22. Nb3 Ra7 23. Rc5 Kd6
24. g4 $14 {1/2-1/2 Horvath,C-Winants,L/AKN Open, Haarlem NED 1998 (32)}) 10.
f3 (10. Nf3 {is the main line.See comments to Georgiev,K-Nikolic,Pr Bosnia 1998
}) 10... h6 (10... a6 11. Bd3 Nc6 12. Ne2 Rc8 13. O-O Ne4 14. Bxd8 Nxc3 15.
bxc3 Rfxd8 16. Rfb1 Ne7 17. a4 Nd5 18. axb5 axb5 19. Be4 (19. Ra7 $5) 19... f5
20. Bxd5 Bxd5 21. Rxb5 Bc4 22. Rb2 Bxe2 23. Rxe2 Rxc3 {1/2-1/2 Drasko,M-Barlov,
D/JUG-ch 1995}) 11. Bxf6 (11. Bh4 $5) 11... Qxf6 12. Nh3 Rc8 13. Qd2 a6 14. Bd3
d6 (14... d5 {[%cal Ge6e5]} 15. f4 {[%csl Rb7,Rc5,Re5]}) 15. O-O Nd7 16. Rad1 {
[%cal Gd3b1,Gf3f4,Ge3e4]} Nb6 (16... e5 $142 $5 17. Bb1 (17. dxe5 Nxe5 $36) (
17. d5 Bxd5 18. Bxb5 Nb6 $1 19. Be2 Bb3 $1 $15) 17... Nb6 (17... d5 $5)) 17. f4
$1 {[%cal Gd3b1,Ge3e4]} Rc7 (17... Nc4 $5 18. Qe2 d5 19. Nf2 Qe7) 18. Bb1 {
[%cal Ge3e4]} Nc4 19. Qe2 Rac8 20. e4 Qe7 {[%cal Ge6e5]} 21. f5 {[%cal Gf5f6] /
\f6} (21. e5 $5 $40 {[%cal Gh3f2,Gf2g4,Ge2d3]}) 21... exf5 $8 22. Rxf5 Re8 {
[%csl Re4]} (22... d5 23. e5 Nd6 24. Rff1 $1 (24. Rf4 Ne4 {[%cal Gc7c1]}) 24...
Ne4 25. Nf4 {[%cal Gf4d5] /\N:d5} (25. Nf2)) 23. Nf2 Bc8 24. Rf3 {[%cal Gf3g3,
Ge2h5]} a5 $5 25. Rg3 {[%cal Ge2h5]} f5 (25... Qh4 $5) 26. Qh5 f4 $5 (26...
fxe4 $2 27. Bxe4 {[%csl Rg8]}) (26... Nxb2 $1 27. Rf1 f4 28. Rf3 {[%cal Gh5b5,
Gf3f4]} (28. Rg6 $5) 28... Nc4 {[%cal Gc4d2]} 29. Ba2 $13) 27. Rc3 $1 {[%csl
Re8][%cal Gb2b3,Yc3c7,Gh5b5]} (27. Rf3 Nxb2 (27... Ne3 28. Re1 {[%csl Rb5,Rf4]}
) 28. Re1 (28. Rf1 Nc4 $1) 28... Nc4 $1 29. Qxb5 Bd7 30. Qh5 Qf6 {[%csl Rd4]})
27... b4 (27... Be6 $5 28. b3 Bf7 $8 (28... b4 $2 29. Rxc4 Bxc4 30. bxc4 bxa3
31. Ba2 $18 {[%cal Gd1d3]}) 29. Qxb5 Rb7 (29... Nxa3 30. Qxa5 Rxc3 31. Qxc3
Nxb1 32. Rxb1 $16) 30. bxc4 $1 Rxb5 31. cxb5 $14) 28. Rxc4 $1 Rxc4 29. Ba2 Be6
30. Bxc4 (30. d5 $4 Bf7) 30... Bxc4 31. Qxa5 d5 $1 32. e5 (32. exd5 $4 Qe1+ 33.
Rxe1 Rxe1#) 32... Rb8 $1 (32... bxa3 $5 33. Qxa3 Qxa3 34. bxa3 Ra8 35. Ra1 Ra4
{[%csl Ra3,Rd4]}) 33. axb4 f3 $1 {[%csl Rg1]} 34. Qc5 $1 (34. gxf3 Qg5+ 35. Kh1
(35. Ng4 h5) 35... Qe3 $40) (34. Qa3 $2 Be2 $1 35. Re1 Qg5 36. g3 Rc8 $1 {
[%csl Rg1][%cal Gc8c1]}) 34... Qg5 35. g3 Kh8 $5 (35... Kh7 $142 $1) 36. b3 $6
(36. Qd6 Rg8 $1 {[%cal Gc4e2] /\37...Be2 38.Ra1 Rc8!(Rc1)} 37. e6 Be2 (37...
Re8 $5) 38. Ra1 Qd2 $1 (38... Rc8 $2 39. Qf4 $1) 39. Qc5 (39. Qxd5 Rc8 $1 40.
h3 Rc1+ 41. Rxc1 Qxc1+ 42. Kh2 Qf1 43. Qa8+ Kh7 44. Qe4+ $11) 39... Qxb2 40.
Re1 (40. Rc1 Re8 $1) 40... Qd2 41. Ra1 (41. Rb1 Qe3 $1 42. Qxd5 $140 $2 Rc8 $1
43. h4 (43. e7 $8) 43... Bd3 $1 $19 (43... Rc1+ $2 44. Rxc1 Qxc1+ 45. Kh2 Qf1
46. Qa8+ Kh7 47. Qe4+ $11)) 41... Qb2 $11) 36... Bxb3 37. Rd3 $6 (37. Rb1 Ba2 (
37... Bc4 $5) 38. Ra1 (38. Rd1 Bb3) (38. Rc1 Bc4) 38... Bc4 $13 (38... Qd2 $5))
37... Bc4 38. Rd1 (38. Rxf3 $4 Qc1+ 39. Kg2 $140 Qf1#) 38... Qe3 $1 {[%cal
Gb8a8,Ga8a2]} 39. Qd6 $1 Ra8 40. Qc6 $1 (40. b5 $2 Bd3 $3 $19 {[%csl Gf5][%cal
Ga8a2] /\Ra2}) 40... Ra2 41. Qc8+ Kh7 (41... Kh7 42. Qf5+ Kg8 43. Qe6+ Kf8 44.
Qc8+ Kf7 45. Qd7+ (45. Qf5+ $4 Ke7 $19) (45. e6+ $4 Kg6 46. Qe8+ Kh7) 45... Kg6
46. Qe6+ Kh7 $8 47. Qf5+ $11) 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 26th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1998.07.03"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "1998.06.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 066"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. a3 Nc6 11. cxd5 Qxd5 12. Nc3 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Bf5 14. Bf4 Na5
15. Re1 Bd6 16. Ne5 Rad8 17. a4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 26th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1998.07.04"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A57"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[Annotator "Leko,P"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "1998.06.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 066"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Hecht} Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Nd2 bxc4 5. e4 c3 $1 {Khalifman} (5...
g6 6. Bxc4 d6 7. b3 Bg7 8. Bb2 $14 {1-0 Khalifman,A-Leko,P/Ubeda 1997/CBM 58 
(46)}) 6. bxc3 g6 7. Nc4 d6 (7... Nxe4 8. Qe2 Bg7 (8... Nf6 $4 9. Nd6#) 9. Qxe4
Bxc3+ 10. Bd2 Bxa1 11. Ba5 Qxa5+ $8 12. Nxa5 Bc3+ 13. Kd1 Bxa5 14. h4 $1 $36 {
Kramnik} (14. d6 Nc6 15. Bb5 O-O $132)) 8. Bd3 Bg7 9. Nf3 (9. Ne2 $5 O-O 10.
O-O $13) 9... O-O 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Bd2 Nb6 12. Na5 $2 c4 $1 13. Bc2 (13. Nxc4
Nxc4 14. Bxc4 Nxe4 $17) 13... Qc7 $1 {-/+/-+} 14. Re1 $1 (14. Nc6 $6 e6) (14.
Qe2 Nbxd5 15. Nxc4 (15. exd5 Qxa5) 15... Ba6 16. Bd3 Rfc8 17. exd5 (17. Nxd6
Nxc3 18. Bxc3 Bxd3 19. Qxd3 Qxc3) 17... Bxc4 18. Bxc4 Qxc4 19. Qxe7 Nxd5 (19...
Rd8 $5) 20. Qxd6 Nxc3 21. Bxc3 Bxc3 $19) 14... Nbxd5 15. Nxc4 (15. exd5 $2 Qxa5
16. Rxe7 Nxd5 $19) 15... Nxc3 (15... Ba6 $5 16. Nxd6 $1 Nxc3 17. Bxc3 Qxc3 18.
Nxf7 $1 Rxf7 19. Bb3 Bc4 20. Bxc4 (20. Rc1 $2 Bxb3) 20... Qxc4 21. Ne5 Qe6 22.
Nxf7 Kxf7 $15 (22... Qxf7 23. e5)) (15... Qxc4 16. exd5 Nxd5 17. Bb3 Qc5 18.
Bxd5 Qxd5 19. Rxe7 Bg4 20. Bf4 $15) 16. Bxc3 Qxc4 17. Bb2 (17. Bd4 $6 Bg4)
17... Bb7 $5 (17... Bg4 18. Bb3 Qa6 19. h3 Bxf3 20. Qxf3 Nd7 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22.
Rac1) 18. Bb3 Qa6 19. e5 $1 Ne4 (19... Ng4 $6 20. exd6 $1 Bxb2 21. dxe7 Rfe8
22. Bxf7+ $1 Kxf7 23. Qb3+ $13) (19... dxe5 20. Nxe5 e6 21. Nxf7 Qc6 22. f3
Rxf7 23. Bxe6 $13) 20. Rb1 $1 Rac8 (20... Rad8 21. e6 $1 f5 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23.
Qd4+ Nf6 24. Bc4 Qc6 25. Qxa7) (20... Rab8 $5 21. Bd5 $1 (21. e6 f5) (21. exd6
Qxd6) 21... Bxd5 22. Qxd5 Nc5 23. exd6 Qxd6 24. Qxd6 exd6 25. Bxg7 Kxg7 26.
Rbd1 $15) 21. exd6 Qxd6 22. Bxf7+ $2 (22. Qxd6 exd6 23. Bxg7 Kxg7 24. Be6 $3
Rc7 25. Rxb7 $1 Rxb7 26. Bd5 Nc5 (26... Rb2 27. Rxe4) 27. Bxb7 Nxb7 28. Re7 $15
) 22... Rxf7 23. Bxg7 Qxd1 24. Rexd1 Nxf2 $1 25. Kxf2 Bxf3 26. gxf3 Rc2+ 27.
Kg3 Kxg7 {[#] Hecht: Bei der Abwicklung in dieses Doppelturmendspiel (also zu
24...Sxf2) schrieb Leko, vom dem die meisten Anmerkungen stammen ("SCHACH" 8/
98, Seiten 20-25): "Nun ist Schwarz wieder obenauf! Das einzige Problem
bestand darin, die Zeitnot unbeschadet zu überstehen. Dann ist es vorbei! So
dachte ich zumindest - und dies erwies sich als teurer Fehler!"} 28. Rb3 $5
$132 {Versucht, etwas Gegenspiel aufzubauen.} (28. a4 Rc3 $19 {mit Bauernminus
und passiver Position.}) 28... Rxa2 29. Rd7 Ra5 (29... e6 $2 30. Rxf7+ Kxf7 31.
Rb7+ $15) 30. h4 h6 31. Rc3 e6 32. Rd6 Kf6 33. Re3 Re7 34. Re4 g5 35. Rc6 {
Hecht:Bislang alles folgerichtig. Doch nun unterlaufen uns in Zeitnot einige
Ungenauigkeiten.} Re5 $2 $138 (35... gxh4+ $142) (35... gxh4+ {Hecht}) 36. Ra4
$138 (36. Rxe5 $1 Kxe5 37. hxg5 hxg5 38. Kg4 (38. Kg4 {Hecht: und ich bin mir
nicht sicher, ob Schwarz noch gewinnen kann.} Re8 (38... Kd5 39. Ra6 Rf7 40.
Kxg5 Rxf3 41. Rxa7 e5 42. Kg4 $11 {Die ENDSPIEL-CD bestätigt das. Der weiße
König befindet sich auf der kurzen Seite und der Turm ideal auf der a-Linie. 
Das reicht. (Hecht)}) 39. Ra6 Ra8 40. Kxg5 $11 {da der Ta8 keine Wartezüge hat
(Hecht)})) 36... gxh4+ 37. Rxh4 h5 38. Ra6 Rg7+ 39. Kf2 Rb7 40. Rha4 Rb2+ {
Die Zeitkontrolle war geschafft und ich wähnte mich endgültig auf der
Siegerstarße. Ich fühlte mich auch noch sehr frisch und konnte einfach nicht
glauben, daß noch irgendetwas schiefgehen könnte. All das "half" mir, in
meiner Konzentration nachzulassen und das Endspiel nicht mehr gebührend ernst
zu nhemen!} 41. Kg3 Rg5+ (41... Ree2 $5 42. Rxa7 (42. Rf4+ Kg5) 42... Rg2+ 43.
Kf4 e5+ 44. Ke4 Rbe2+ 45. Kd5 Rd2+ $19) 42. Kh3 (42. Kh4 $2 Rh2#) 42... Rb3 43.
Kh4 $1 Rf5 {Hecht:Ich berechnete auch:} (43... Re5 $5 44. Rf4+ Rf5 45. Re4 (45.
Rxf5+ $5 {Hecht} Kxf5 46. Kxh5 Rb7 $1 (46... Rxf3 47. Kh4 $11 {[%cal Ra6a7]})
47. Kh4 Kf4 48. Kh5 (48. Kh3 Kxf3 {[%cal Rb7h7]}) 48... Kxf3 49. Rxe6 a5 50.
Ra6 Rb5+ 51. Kh4 Rf5 $1 $19 {Sie erinnern sich an das Endspiel Herrera-Vazquez
mit vertauschten Farben? Dies soll nur ein Schlaglicht sein (Hecht).}) 45...
Rb6 46. Rxa7 Rxf3 47. Kxh5 Kf5 48. Rh4 e5 $19) (43... Rxf3 $2 44. Rxe6+ $1 Kxe6
45. Ra6+ $1 (45. Kxg5 $2 Rf5+) 45... Kf5 46. Ra5+ Kf4 47. Ra4+ $11) 44. f4 $5 {
[#]} (44. Re4 Rb6 45. Rxa7 Rxf3 46. Kxh5 Kf5 47. Rh4 e5) 44... Rb7 $2 {Aus
irgend einem seltsamen Grund ging ich davon aus, das Endspiel mit 43...Tf5
verdorben zu haben und glaubte nicht mehr an den Sieg. Das Problem liegt darin,
daß sich Weiß auf das naheliegende 44...Tf3? wunderschön mit 45.Txe6+ retten
kann. Danach remisiert Weiß dieses eigentlich verlorene Endspiel, weil sein
König auf patt steht.} (44... Rf3 $2 45. Rxe6+ $3 Kxe6 46. Ra6+ Kd5 47. Ra5+
Ke4 48. Ra4+ Ke3 49. Ra3+ Kf2 50. Ra2+ Kg1 {[#] Analysediagramm} 51. Rg2+ Kf1
52. Rg1+ Ke2 53. Re1+ Kd3 54. Rd1+ Kc3 55. Rd3+ Kb4 56. Rd4+ $11) (44... Re3 $1
45. Rxa7 (45. Rc4 Rb5 $19) 45... Rf3 46. Rf7+ Kg6 $3 {die Pointe!} (46... Kxf7
$2 47. Ra7+ Kf8 48. Ra8+ $11) 47. Rg7+ Kxg7 48. Ra7+ Rf7 $19) 45. Re4 Re7 46.
Rea4 {Nun sieht es so aus, als ob Weiß die Stellung halten könnte, doch wenn
ich nicht völlig zusammengebrochen wäre, hätte ich es meinem Gegner doch etwas
schwerer machen können als in der Partie.} Rb5 $6 47. Rxa7 Rxa7 48. Rxa7 Rb4
49. Kg3 Rb3+ 50. Kg2 Kf5 51. Ra5+ Kxf4 52. Rxh5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 26th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1998.07.05"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Almasi, Zoltan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "1998.06.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 066"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. c3 f5 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 O-O 14. Nce3
Be6 15. Bd3 f5 16. Qh5 e4 17. Bc2 Ne7 18. Nf4 Bf7 19. Bb3 Qd7 20. O-O Be5 21.
Bxf7+ Rxf7 22. Nfd5 Nxd5 23. Nxd5 Qe6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Villarrobledo op"]
[Site "Villarrobledo"]
[Date "1998.08.22"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gomez, Paulo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1998.08.??"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bg5 c6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. e3 Be7 8.
Bd3 h6 9. Bh4 Ne4 10. Bg3 Ndf6 11. Qc2 Bf5 12. Be5 Nxc3 13. Bxf5 Nce4 14. O-O
O-O 15. Bxf6 Nxf6 16. Ne5 Bd6 17. f4 Bxe5 18. fxe5 Ne4 19. Bxe4 dxe4 20. Qxe4
Qd5 21. Qxd5 cxd5 22. Rac1 Rac8 23. Kf2 Rc6 24. Rxc6 bxc6 25. Rc1 Rb8 26. b3
Rb6 27. Kf3 Kf8 28. e4 dxe4+ 29. Kxe4 Ke7 30. g4 Ke6 31. Rxc6+ 1-0

[Event "Villarrobledo op"]
[Site "Villarrobledo"]
[Date "1998.08.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Buenafe Moya, Javier"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B25"]
[WhiteElo "2220"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "158"]
[EventDate "1998.08.??"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6. f4 e6 7. Nf3 Nge7 8. O-O
O-O 9. Be3 b6 10. d4 Ba6 11. Re1 Qc7 12. a4 Rad8 13. Nb5 Qb8 14. c3 Bb7 15. Bf2
a6 16. Na3 Qc7 17. Rc1 Nb8 18. Qe2 Nd7 19. b4 Rfe8 20. e5 cxb4 21. cxb4 Qb8 22.
Nc4 Nc8 23. Ng5 Bxg2 24. Kxg2 h6 25. Nf3 b5 26. Na5 Na7 27. d5 Nb6 28. Qe3 Nbc8
29. Nc6 Nxc6 30. dxc6 Qc7 31. axb5 axb5 32. Nd4 dxe5 33. Nxb5 Qb8 34. c7 Qxb5
35. cxd8=Q Rxd8 36. Qc3 Qb7+ 37. Qc6 Qxc6+ 38. Rxc6 exf4 39. b5 Ne7 40. Ra6 Rd2
41. Kf3 fxg3 42. Bxg3 Rb2 43. Rb6 Nd5 44. Rb8+ Kh7 45. Be5 Bxe5 46. Rxe5 Kg7
47. h3 Rb3+ 48. Ke2 g5 49. h4 gxh4 50. Kf2 h3 51. Rh5 Kg6 52. Rh4 Kg5 53. Rd4
Nf4 54. b6 Rb2+ 55. Ke3 Nd5+ 56. Kf3 h2 57. Rd1 Rxb6 58. Rxb6 Nxb6 59. Rh1 f5
60. Rxh2 Nd5 61. Ra2 e5 62. Ra5 e4+ 63. Kg3 Nf6 64. Rb5 h5 65. Ra5 h4+ 66. Kh3
Nh5 67. Rb5 Nf4+ 68. Kh2 Kg4 69. Rb8 e3 70. Re8 Kf3 71. Rf8 e2 72. Re8 Nd3 73.
Kh3 e1=Q 74. Rxe1 Nxe1 75. Kxh4 f4 76. Kg5 Ke3 77. Kg4 f3 78. Kf5 f2 79. Ke5
f1=Q 0-1

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

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

[Event "Villarrobledo op"]
[Site "Villarrobledo"]
[Date "1998.08.22"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kolev, Atanas"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2550"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "1998.08.??"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O h6 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Bf4 d5 11. Qe3 Be7 12. Be2 O-O 13. Qg3 Kh8 14. h4 a5
15. Qe3 Ba6 16. g4 Bxe2 17. Qxe2 Bb4 18. f3 Bxc3 19. bxc3 Qe7 20. g5 Nh5 21.
Be5 f6 22. gxf6 Nxf6 23. Rhg1 Qa3+ 24. Kd2 Rad8 25. Ke1 dxe4 26. fxe4 Rxd1+ 27.
Qxd1 Qxa2 28. Rg2 Qc4 29. Qd4 Qxd4 30. cxd4 Ra8 31. Bxf6 gxf6 32. Kd2 a4 33.
Kc1 Rg8 34. Rf2 Rg1+ 35. Kb2 Kg7 36. Ka3 Ra1+ 37. Kb2 Re1 38. Rf4 h5 39. Ka3 e5
40. dxe5 fxe5 41. Rf5 Rxe4 42. Rxh5 Kg6 43. Rh8 Rc4 44. h5+ Kg7 45. Re8 Kf6 46.
h6 Rh4 47. Rc8 e4 48. Rxc6+ Ke5 49. Kb2 e3 50. Kc3 Kd5 51. Ra6 a3 52. Kd3 a2
53. Rxa2 e2 54. Kxe2 Rxh6 55. Kd2 Kc5 56. Ra5+ Kb6 57. Rg5 Rc6 58. Kc1 Rd6 59.
Kb2 Rc6 60. c3 Rd6 61. Kb3 Rc6 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Villarrobledo op"]
[Site "Villarrobledo"]
[Date "1998.08.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2795"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1998.08.??"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. d3 Nf6 7. h3 Nd7 8.
Nc3 O-O 9. Be3 e5 10. a3 a5 11. Nd2 Qe7 12. Nc4 b5 13. Nd2 Rd8 14. a4 b4 15.
Ncb1 Ba6 16. Nb3 c4 17. Nxa5 Nb8 18. Nd2 cxd3 19. Nac4 dxc2 20. Qxc2 Nd7 21.
Rfd1 c5 22. Na5 Qe6 23. Ndc4 Bf8 24. Rd5 Nb6 25. Rxe5 Bxc4 26. Rxe6 Bxe6 27.
Nc6 Rdc8 28. Ne5 Bg7 29. f4 b3 30. Qf2 Rxa4 31. Rxa4 Nxa4 32. f5 Bxf5 33. Nxf7
Bxe4 34. Nh6+ Kh8 35. Qf7 Bxb2 36. Bg5 Bd4+ 37. Kh1 1-0

[Event "Villarrobledo op"]
[Site "Villarrobledo"]
[Date "1998.08.23"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Chernin, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2610"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1998.08.??"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 b5 7. a4 c6 8. e5 h6
9. exf6 hxg5 10. fxg7 Rg8 11. g3 Bb7 12. Bg2 Nd7 13. O-O Bxc3 14. bxc3 Rxg7 15.
Qb1 a6 16. Nd2 Qc7 17. axb5 cxb5 18. Bxb7 Qxb7 19. Nxc4 Qc6 20. Ne5 Nxe5 21.
dxe5 Kf8 22. Rd1 Rg6 23. Rd6 Qxc3 24. Rdxa6 Rxa6 25. Rxa6 Qxe5 26. Ra5 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1998.10.23"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D86"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1998.10.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 O-O 8.
Ne2 Nc6 9. O-O b6 10. Be3 Bb7 11. Qd2 Qd7 12. Bb5 a6 13. Bd3 Na5 14. Rab1 Rad8
15. c4 f5 16. exf5 gxf5 17. Rbd1 e5 18. dxe5 Bxe5 19. c5 Qd5 20. f3 Nc4 21.
Bxc4 Qxc4 22. Qxd8 Rxd8 23. Rxd8+ Kf7 24. Rd2 bxc5 25. Bf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1998.10.24"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2795"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Anand,V"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1998.10.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{I had drawn 7 times with White against Vlady before this game!} 1. e4 {
Blatny,P. Hecht} e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7.
O-O Be7 8. Re1 {In general, the lines with c4 work better directly, so this
was the first hint that I didn't intend to play c4 today.} Bg4 9. c3 f5 10. Qb3
O-O 11. Nbd2 Na5 {11...Kh8 is the other critical line, and Shirov played it
against Ivanchuk in Dortmund. This this line (11...Na5) has a good reputation
theoretically speaking, so I expected this.} 12. Qa4 Nc6 13. Bb5 Nxd2 14. Nxd2
Qd6 {Thus far, my game against Yusupov, but now a new twist.} 15. h3 $3 {
My second, Ubilava suggested this before continuing Nb3-c5. We soon realized
that there is a huge difference between Bg4 and Bh5.   Blatny,P: 'Anand hat
seine fruehere Partie gegen Jussupow offensichtlich sehr tief analysiert und
eine starke Neuerung gefunden. Der Bauer auf h2 wird nicht geschlagen und Lh5
haengt mit Schach, wie wir weiter sehen werden!'} (15. Nb3 Bh4 16. Rf1 f4 (
16... Qg6 $5 {This strong move forces White to react quickly} 17. Bf4 Bh3 18.
g3 {White will have some for the exchange here.} (18. Bg3 f4 $1)) 17. f3 Bf5
18. Nc5 Qg6 19. Qd1 Bh3 20. Qd2 Rae8 21. Nd3 a6 22. Bxc6 bxc6 23. Ne5 Rxe5 24.
dxe5 Be6 {It's quite difficult for White to use his extra exchange and Black
can still develop a kingside attack, so I decided to force a draw.} 25. Qd4 Bh3
26. Qd2 Be6 27. Qd4 {- Anand,V-Yusupov,A Linares 1993}) 15... Bh5 (15... Bh4
16. hxg4 fxg4 17. Rf1 $1 {I think Black doesn't have enough here. White copes
with the immediate sacrifices easily.} (17. Re2 Rae8) 17... Bxf2+ $140 18. Rxf2
Rxf2 19. Kxf2 Rf8+ 20. Ke2 Qg3 {The only trap that White must avoid is:} 21.
Kd1 $1 $18 {Two pieces are probably enough!} (21. Bxc6 $4 Rf2+ $1 22. Kd1 Qd3
23. Bxd5+ Kf8 24. Qb4+ Ke8 25. Bf7+ $1 Kd7 26. Qa4+ b5 27. Qxb5+ Qxb5 $19)) 16.
Nb3 Bh4 (16... f4 {Blatny,P} 17. Bxc6 {/\Re5}) (16... Nd8 {Blatny,P} 17. Bf4 $1
Qxf4 18. Rxe7 c6 19. Bd3 {<->7}) 17. Nc5 Bxf2+ $2 {'?!' Blatny,P. Blatny,P:
'Schwarz hat den wichtigen Unterschied gegenueber oben genannten Partie nicht
entdeckt. Das Opfer funktioniert jetzt nicht mehr.'} (17... Rae8 $2 18. Bg5 $1
$18) (17... f4 18. Re6 $1 (18. Nxb7 Qg6 19. Kf1 (19. Bxc6 Bf3) 19... Bxf2 $1
20. Bxc6 Bxe1 $19) 18... Qd8 19. Nd3 $1 (19. Nxb7 $2 Bxf2+ 20. Kxf2 (20. Kh1
Qh4 21. Bxc6 (21. Bf1 f3 22. Qxc6 fxg2+ 23. Bxg2 Bf3 $19) 21... Bf3 $1) 20...
Qh4+ 21. Kg1 f3 22. Qc2 (22. Bxc6 Qg3 23. Qc2 f2+ 24. Kf1 Qxg2+ $1 25. Kxg2
f1=Q+ $19) 22... f2+ 23. Kf1 Qg3 $19) (19. f3 $5 Bxf3 (19... Qg5 20. g4 $1) 20.
gxf3 Qg5+ 21. Kh1 Qg3 22. Qc2 Qxh3+ 23. Qh2 Qxf3+ 24. Qg2 $14) (19. Bf1 {
A good defensive move.} Qc8 20. Bd2 $14) 19... f3 20. g3 $16) (17... Nd8 {
Not pretty, but Black has to grovel a bit since his attack will not work.} 18.
Bf1 $1 {Qd7} c6 (18... b6 19. Nd3 Ne6 20. Qb4 $1 $16) 19. Nd3 Ne6 20. b3 $1 $16
) 18. Kxf2 Qh2 19. Bxc6 bxc6 (19... f4 20. Bxd5+ Kh8 21. Nd3 $1 f3 22. Nf4 Rxf4
(22... fxg2 23. Bxg2 Rxf4+ 24. Bxf4 Rf8 25. Re4 $18) 23. Bxf4 Qxg2+ 24. Ke3 $18
) 20. Qxc6 f4 {Black has nothing else.} 21. Qxd5+ Kh8 (21... Bf7 22. Qf3 (22.
Qg5 {Is also possible.}) 22... Bh5 23. Qxh5 {Transposes}) 22. Qxh5 f3 {In my
preparation, I had analysed 23.Qxf3, but during the game, I noticed that White
has 23.Bxh6 .} (22... Qg3+ 23. Kf1 f3 24. gxf3 {Quite simple - the knight on
c5 and the queen on h5 control all the keysquares.} Rxf3+ 25. Ke2 $18) 23. Qxf3
$1 {Actually, this is quite a safe line, so I decided to stick to it.} (23. Bh6
$1 {This seems to be correct.} fxg2+ 24. Ke3 Qg3+ (24... g1=Q+ 25. Rxg1 Qf2+
26. Kd3 Rf3+ 27. Qxf3 $1 Qxf3+ 28. Be3 $18 {Similar to the game.}) 25. Kd2 g1=Q
{At this point, I decided that23.Qxf3 was much more sensible. After I played
it, I realized that 26.Bxg7+ was winning for White.} (25... Rf2+ 26. Re2 g1=Q
27. Rxg1 Qxg1 28. Bxg7+ Kxg7 29. Qe5+ $18) 26. Bxg7+ $1 (26. Rxg1 $2 Rf2+ 27.
Qe2 Rxe2+ 28. Kxe2 Re8+ $19) 26... Kg8 27. Rxg1 Rf2+ 28. Qe2 Rxe2+ 29. Kxe2
Re8+ 30. Be5 $18) 23... Rxf3+ 24. Kxf3 Rf8+ 25. Ke2 Qxg2+ (25... Re8+ $1 {
More accurate.} 26. Be3 Qxg2+ 27. Kd3 Qxb2 28. Bc1 $1 Qb5+ 29. c4 Qc6 30. Rxe8+
Qxe8 31. Be3 $18) 26. Kd3 Qxh3+ 27. Kc2 $1 (27. Be3 {My original intention,
but at the board, I changed my mind.} Rf2 $1 {This complicates matters a bit.})
27... Qg2+ (27... Qf5+ 28. Nd3 $18) 28. Bd2 Qg6+ 29. Re4 $1 (29. Nd3 Rf3 30.
Re3) 29... h5 (29... Re8 30. Rg1 $1 $18) 30. Rae1 Re8 31. Kc1 Rxe4 32. Nxe4 $1
{This finishes it - after Ng5, Black's pawns are firmly blockaded.  Hecht:
'Der Springer gelangt nach g5, wonach die schwarzen Freibauern keine Gefahr
mehr darstellen. Dagegen geht es dem schwarzen König an den Kragen.'} h4 33.
Ng5 Qh5 34. Re3 Kg8 35. c4 {Kramnik resigned.} 1-0

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

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

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1998.10.26"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1998.10.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5
9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. g3 Bb7 12. Bg2 Qb6 13. exf6 O-O-O 14. O-O Bh6 {
Eine ungebrächliche Nebenvariante zu 14...c5.} (14... c5) 15. Bxh6 Rxh6 16. Qc1
$146 {Eine Neuerung, deren Schlagkraft allerdings nicht überwältigen kann. 16.
Ne4!? ist wohl der kritische Zug.} (16. a4 {0-1 Wells,P-Lukacs,P/Budapest 1994/
CBM 40/[Ftacnik] (30)}) (16. Ne4 {1-0 Beliavsky,A-Palac,M/Bled 1996/CBM 51 ext/
[Beliavsky] (37)}) (16. Qd2 {0-1 Van Hecke,E-Kuijs,M/Vlissingen 1998/EXT 99 
(37)}) 16... Rdh8 17. Ne4 (17. h4 c5 $5) 17... c5 {Nun leitet die Partie in
ein Endspiel über.} (17... Qxd4 $2 18. Rd1 {nebst Nd6+.}) (17... Rxh2 18. Nd6+
Kb8 {und Weiß hat verschiedene Möglichkeiten:} 19. Nxb7 $1 (19. a4 Ba8 $5 $13 (
19... Qxd4 20. Rd1)) (19. Nxf7 c5 20. f3 Qc7 $13) (19. Qf4 Qc7 20. a4 Nxf6 21.
axb5 Nd5 $36) 19... Kxb7 20. a4 {mit weißem Angriff.}) 18. Qf4 (18. h4 cxd4 19.
Qf4 e5) 18... Rxh2 19. Nd6+ Qxd6 $1 20. Bxb7+ (20. Qxd6 $2 Rxg2#) 20... Kc7 21.
Qxd6+ Kxd6 {Das Endspiel ist ungefähr ausgeglichen.} 22. a4 b4 23. Rfd1 Nxf6
24. Bf3 (24. Rac1 Nd5 {schließt den Bb7 aus.}) 24... Nd5 {Schwarz plant c3} 25.
Rac1 c3 26. dxc5+ Kxc5 27. bxc3 Nxc3 28. Rd7 {Der Kc5 sieht gefährdet aus,
allerdings hält der Nc3 alles unter Kontrolle und der Pb4 ist gefährlich.} R2h7
29. Rxa7 f5 30. Ra6 e5 31. Rc6+ Kd4 32. Rc2 {Es droht Rd2 matt!} Kd3 33. Rb2 e4
34. Bg2 Ne2+ 35. Kf1 Nd4 36. Rd6 Rb8 37. Rb1 b3 (37... Kc2 $5 {gibt Weiß
einige Probleme.}) 38. Rd1+ Kc2 39. R1xd4 b2 40. Rc6+ Kb3 41. Rd1 Ka3 42. Rc3+
Rb3 43. Rxb3+ Kxb3 44. Ke2 Rc7 45. Rb1 Ka2 46. Rxb2+ Kxb2 47. g4 {Weiß rettet
sich ins Unentschieden.} fxg4 48. Bxe4 Rc4 49. Ke3 Rxa4 50. Kf4 Kc3 51. f3
1/2-1/2

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1998.10.28"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1998.10.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Be6 11. Be3 Bf5 12. Qb3 c6 13. c5 Nxc3 14. bxc3 Nc2 15.
Qxb7 Nxa1 16. Rxa1 Qe8 17. Qa6 f6 18. Ne1 Qc8 19. Qxc8 Bxc8 20. Bf4 Bd8 21. Nc2
Re8 22. Bd3 a5 23. Ne3 Ra7 24. Nf5 Bxf5 25. Bxf5 a4 26. Kf1 Ba5 27. Rc1 a3 28.
Rc2 g6 29. Bd3 Rb7 30. Bc1 Rb1 31. g3 Reb8 32. Ke2 R1b2 33. Kd2 Kf7 34. Be2 f5
35. Kd3 g5 36. Bd1 Kf6 37. h3 h6 38. Bf3 Kg6 39. g4 Bc7 40. gxf5+ Kf6 41. Re2
Rxe2 42. Bxe2 Bf4 43. Bxa3 Ra8 44. Bb2 Rxa2 45. Kc2 Kxf5 46. Bf3 Ra6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1998.10.29"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E60"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[Annotator "Leko,P"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "1998.10.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 e5 4. dxe5 Nh5 5. Nh3 Nc6 6. Bg5 Be7 7. Bxe7 Qxe7 8.
Nc3 Qxe5 9. g4 Ng7 10. f4 Qe7 11. Nd5 Qd8 12. Qd3 O-O 13. Qc3 Ne8 14. g5 Ne7
15. Nf6+ Nxf6 16. gxf6 Nf5 17. e4 Re8 18. Ng5 c5 19. O-O-O Nd4 20. e5 d6 21.
Nf3 Bg4 22. Nxd4 Bxd1 23. Nb5 dxe5 24. fxe5 Ba4 25. Nd6 Re6 26. Bg2 Rxd6 27.
exd6 Qxd6 28. Bxb7 Re8 29. b3 Qf4+ 30. Kb2 Re3 31. Rd1 h5 32. Qa5 Re2+ 33. Ka3
Qf2 34. Qd8+ Be8 {[#]} 35. Rd2 $1 (35. Ra1 Qe3 36. Bc6 Qc3 $1 $19) 35... Rxd2
36. Qxe8+ Kh7 37. Qxf7+ Kh6 38. Ka4 Rxa2+ 39. Kb5 Qe3 (39... Rb2 $5 {laut Fritz
}) 40. Bd5 {Mit seinen letzten verbleibenden Sekunden erinnert sich mein
Gegner an die goldene Regel: Zentralisation!!} Qxb3+ 41. Kc6 Ra6+ {Später
überprüfte ich die Sache mit dem Computer und er fand den gleichen Gewinn in
wenigen Minuten.} (41... Qb8 $6 42. Kd7 $1 {und der Kampf beginnt von neuem.})
42. Kd7 (42. Kc7 $2 Qb6+ $19) 42... Qh3+ $1 {Alles läuft genau nach meinem
Plan!} 43. Be6 (43. Ke7 Qxh2 {[%cal Rh2c7]} 44. Qf8+ (44. Qg7+ Kg5 45. f7 Qc7+
46. Ke8 Rb6 {nebst Matt}) 44... Kg5 45. f7 Qc7+ 46. Ke8 Qc8+ 47. Ke7 Qxf8+ 48.
Kxf8 Rf6 $19) 43... Qd3+ 44. Ke8 {Ich hatte hauptsächlich mit Ld5 gerechnet:} (
44. Bd5 Kg5 $1 45. Qe7 (45. h4+ Kf5) 45... Rxf6 46. h4+ Kf5 {deswegen muß die
schwarze Dame auf d3 stehen!} 47. Qxc5 Kg4 $19) 44... Qd6 45. Qe7 {Der letzte
Trick bestand in} (45. Qg7+ Kg5 46. h4+ Kxh4 47. Qe7 {Es kostete mich viel
Bedenkzeit, darauf den Gewinn zu finden:} Qxe7+ (47... Qxe6 $2 48. f7+) 48.
Kxe7 Ra1 49. f7 (49. Bf5 Re1+) 49... Rf1) 45... Qxe6 (45... Qxe6 46. f7 Qc8+
47. Qd8 Re6+ 48. Kf8 Qxd8#) 0-1

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1998.10.30"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C24"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "1998.10.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 c6 4. Nf3 d5 5. Bb3 Bd6 ({Also possible is} 5... Bb4+
{The idea is to provoke} 6. c3 {after which White cannot attack the [+] by Nc3.
} Bd6) 6. Nc3 (6. exd5 Nxd5 {See Malishov-Birnboim, ISR-ch Jerusalem 1996 CBM
56.} (6... cxd5 $6 {creates target for the white pieces:} 7. O-O Be6 (7... O-O
8. Bg5) 8. Bg5 $142 {White has to attack ><d5.} (8. Re1 {attacking ><e5 is not
that promising:} Nbd7 9. Nc3 h6 $1 10. Bd2 a6 $13 {/\ 0-0} (10... O-O $143 11.
Nb5 $1 {Here we understand the idea behind the modest Bd2.} Bb8 12. Bb4 $1 Re8
13. Nd6 Bxd6 14. Bxd6 $14 {Ortel-Pinter, Budapest 1977}) (10... g5 $5 11. Ba4 (
11. Nb5 Bb8 12. Bb4 {is now not so frightening in view of} Qb6) 11... Kf8 $1
$13)) 8... Nbd7 9. Nc3 {- 6.Nc3 Be6})) 6... dxe4 $1 (6... Be6 $6 7. Bg5 $1 Qa5
(7... Nbd7 8. O-O (8. exd5 {is premature on account of} cxd5 9. Bxd5 Bxd5 10.
Nxd5 Qa5+ 11. Nc3 Ba3 $1) 8... d4 9. Bxe6 fxe6 10. Ne2 $14 {and Black's P
structure is irrevisibly corrupted.}) 8. O-O ({Or simply} 8. Bxf6 gxf6 9. O-O
$14 {with weaknesses in the black camp.}) 8... Nbd7 9. exd5 (9. Re1 O-O 10. Nh4
$14 {/\ Qf3 Nf5 Nunn}) 9... cxd5 10. Re1 O-O 11. Qd2 $14 {Nunn-Murey, Luzern 
(ol) 1982}) (6... d4 7. Ne2 c5 (7... Na6 $6 8. c3 dxc3 9. bxc3 O-O 10. O-O Nc5
11. Bc2 Bg4 12. Ng3 $16 {Nunn-Kortchnoi, Johannesburg 1981}) 8. Ng3 Nc6 9. O-O
O-O (9... h6 $5) 10. c3 Ne7 11. Bg5 Ng6 12. Nf5 Re8 13. Nxd6 Qxd6 14. cxd4 cxd4
15. Nd2 Bd7 16. Nc4 Qa6 17. g3 b5 $1 18. Na3 Bh3 19. Re1 Qb6 $11 {
Chigvintsev-Kharitonov, RUS-ch Novosibirsk 1996}) 7. Ng5 (7. dxe4 Na6 {In this
symmetrical position Black has nothing to fear.} 8. Be3 (8. Bg5 h6 9. Bxf6 $6 {
giving up the ^^ in an opened position is a bad idea.} Qxf6 10. h3 Nc5 11. O-O
O-O $15 (11... g5 12. Nd2 h5 13. Qf3 {(Heinemann-Raetsky, Erfurt 1993)} Qxf3 $1
14. Nxf3 g4 15. hxg4 hxg4 16. Nd2 Nxb3 17. Nxb3 Ke7 $15 {^^ Raetsky})) (8. O-O
Nc5 9. h3 O-O 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bh4 g5 12. Bg3 Qe7 13. Qe2 Nxb3 (13... Nh5 $15)
14. axb3 Nh5 15. Nd2 Nf4 16. Bxf4 exf4 17. Rfe1 f6 18. Nc4 Bc7 19. e5 Bf5 $15 {
^^ Shur-Raetsky, Baku 1990}) 8... O-O (8... Qe7 {was also good for
equalization after} 9. Nd2 Bc5 10. Qe2 Bxe3 11. Qxe3 Be6 12. Bxe6 Qxe6 13.
O-O-O Nd7 14. Nb3 Qe7 15. Rd2 Nb6 16. Qg3 O-O $11 {Honfi-Kholmov, Kecskemet
1975}) 9. Qe2 (9. Nd2 $6 Ng4 $1 $15) (9. O-O Qe7 10. Qe2 Nc5) 9... Qe7 $13 {
/\ Nc5 Raetsky}) 7... O-O 8. Ncxe4 Nxe4 9. Nxe4 (9. dxe4 {gives Black even
chances:} Bb4+ 10. c3 (10. Bd2 $2 Qxg5) 10... Qxd1+ 11. Kxd1 Bc5 $11) 9... Bf5
$1 10. Qf3 (10. O-O Na6 11. Qf3 Bg6 $5 (11... Bxe4 $11) 12. Be3 Kh8 13. Rad1 $6
Be7 14. d4 f5 {Black grabs the |^ in the [+].} 15. Nc3 e4 16. Qg3 Bh5 17. f3 f4
$1 18. Qh3 Bg6 19. Bc1 e3 $17 {Bereziuk-Raetsky, Erfurt 1993}) (10. Ng3 Bg6 11.
h4 h6 12. Qg4 Kh8 13. h5 Bh7 14. Nf5 Qf6 15. Nxd6 Qxd6 16. Bd2 (16. O-O f5)
16... a5 17. a3 Nd7 18. O-O-O Nc5 $15 {Nevednichy-Raetsky, Luzern 1994}) 10...
Bxe4 (10... Bg6 $143 11. h4 Bxe4 (11... h6 12. Qg4 Kh8 13. Bd2 Bh7) 12. dxe4
Nd7 13. c3 (13. a3 Nc5 14. Ba2 Kh8) 13... Nc5 14. Bc2 Qe7 15. Bg5 f6 16. Bd2 {
White has the microscopical advantage of the ^^.} Kh8 17. O-O Ne6 18. g3 a5 (
18... b5 $14) 19. a4 Rfd8 20. Rfd1 Bc5 $14 {Kir.Georgiev-Alterman,
Recklinghauser Schachtage 1998}) 11. dxe4 Nd7 12. c3 (12. O-O Nc5 13. Bc4 b5
14. Bd3 (14. Be2 Qh4) 14... Ne6 15. c3 Bc5 $11) 12... a5 13. a4 (13. O-O {
allows} a4 14. Bc2 Nc5 $11) 13... Nc5 14. Bc2 b5 $5 ({Simple and good was also
} 14... Ne6 15. O-O Qe7 $11) 15. O-O Qc7 16. Rd1 Rab8 17. axb5 cxb5 18. g3 b4
19. cxb4 Rxb4 20. Bd2 Rxb2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1998.10.31"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1998.10.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 Bb4 8. e4
Bxe4 9. fxe4 Nxe4 10. Bd2 Qxd4 11. Nxe4 Qxe4+ 12. Qe2 Bxd2+ 13. Kxd2 Qd5+ 14.
Kc2 Na6 15. Nxc4 O-O 16. Qe5 Rab8 {Dies ist ein listiger Zug, der bisher
vielleicht nicht genügend gewürdigt worden ist. Wenn Weiß die Damen auf d5
tauscht, so ist es nützlich, daß der b-Bauer in dem entstehenden Endspiel
schon gedeckt ist (nach Sc4-d6 oder Sc4-a5). Für den Fall, daß Weiß den
Damentausch meidet, kann Schwarz nach b7-b5, a4xb5 zu einem heftigen Angriff
kommen, indem er mit dem Turm auf b5 zurückschlägt.} 17. Be2 Nb4+ (17... f6 {
kommt auch in Betracht; Weiß dürfte gezwungen sein, die Damen zu tauschen:} 18.
Qxd5 (18. Qe3 Nb4+ {gefolgt von b7-b5 sieht zu gefährlich für Weiß aus.}) 18...
cxd5 19. Nd6 (19. Na5 Rfc8+ 20. Kd2 Nc5 {sieht ungünstig für Weiß aus.}) (19.
Nd2 Rfc8+ 20. Kb3 Nc5+ 21. Kb4 {war aber vielleicht solider als der Textzug.})
19... Nb4+ 20. Kb1 (20. Kb3 {überläßt dem Schwarzen Vorteil:} Nc6 21. Rad1 a6
22. Bg4 f5 23. Bxf5 exf5 24. Rxd5 $17) (20. Kc3 Nc6 21. Nb5 {sieht aber
folgerichtiger aus.}) 20... a6 21. Ra3 Nc6 22. Rc1 Nd4 23. Bf1 Rfd8 24. Rd3 e5
25. Rxd4 exd4 26. Nf5 g6 27. Nxd4 $11 {Sergejev,R-Haba,P/EU-chTM 1997/1/2-1/2 
(105). Seinem Naturell gemäß wählt van Wely eine schärfere Fortsetzung.}) 18.
Kc3 (18. Kb3 b5 19. axb5 Rxb5 20. Qxd5 cxd5 21. Ne3 Rb7 22. Kc3 Nc6 {mit etwa
ausgeglichenem Spiel geschah in der Partie Malaniuk,V-Milov,L/Simferopol/
Alushta 1992. Der Textzug scheint nicht mehr zu versprechen; im folgenden hat
Weiß keine Wahl.}) 18... b5 19. Rhd1 f6 (19... Qxe5+ 20. Nxe5 Nd5+ 21. Rxd5
cxd5 (21... b4+ 22. Kb3 cxd5 23. Nd7 a5 24. Nxb8 Rxb8 25. Rc1 {ist
hoffnungslos für Schwarz.}) 22. axb5 Rfc8+ 23. Nc6 Rb7 24. Kd4 Rcc7 25. Kc5 {
gefolgt von Ta1-a6 und b5-b6 sieht gefährlich für Schwarz aus.}) (19... Qxg2
20. Rg1 Qh3+ 21. Rg3 Nd5+ 22. Kc2 Qf5+ (22... Qh6 23. Nd6 {mit starkem Angriff
für Weiß.}) 23. Qxf5 exf5 24. axb5 {ist ebenfalls ungünstig für Schwarz.}) 20.
Qg3 (20. Qe3 $2 {scheitert an} bxc4) (20. Qd6 Qxd6 21. Nxd6 Nd5+ 22. Rxd5 b4+ {
ist hier nicht opportun für Weiß.}) 20... Qe4 21. Ne3 Nd5+ 22. Nxd5 cxd5 23.
Bd3 Rfc8+ 24. Kd2 Qb4+ 25. Ke2 bxa4 26. Kf1 Rb6 27. Qe3 Qb3 28. Rd2 g6 29. Qd4
Qb4 30. Be2 Qxd4 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1998.11.04"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Sadler, Matthew D"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D56"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Donev,I"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "1998.10.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 1999"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1998.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 Ne4 8. Bxe7
Qxe7 9. Rc1 (9. cxd5 Nxc3 {Für Spieler die die theoretischen Varianten
vermeiden möchten, empfehle ich diese Neuerung. Die Stellung ist wieder
ausgeglichen, aber dafür weniger erforscht.} 10. d6 $146 (10. bxc3 exd5 11. Qb3
Rd8 $11 {In der Hauptvariante hat der Nachziehende kein Problem seinen
Damenläufer zu entwickeln. Das Spiel ist vereinfacht und ausgeglichen.}) 10...
cxd6 (10... Qxd6 11. bxc3 c5 $11) (10... Nxd1 11. dxe7 Re8 12. Rxd1 $14) 11.
bxc3 e5 $11) 9... Nxc3 10. Rxc3 c6 {Einerseits ein nützlicher Zug,
andererseits wartet Schwarz ab, um nicht die Entwicklung des weißen Läufers
durch dxc4 zu beschleunigen.} 11. Bd3 dxc4 {Falls nun 12.Bxc4, so hätte Weiß
ein Tempo verloren.} 12. Rxc4 Nd7 13. O-O e5 {Das ist die beste Idee, um den
Läufer c8 ins Spiel zu bringen.} 14. dxe5 Nxe5 15. Re4 Nxf3+ (15... f6 $2 16.
Nxe5 fxe5 17. f4 $16) 16. Qxf3 Be6 {[%cal Ye6a2]} 17. Bc4 Rad8 18. Bxe6 fxe6 {
Schwarz hat einen schwachen Bauer auf e6 bekommen, aber dafür sind seine
Schwerfiguren besser plaziert.} 19. Qe2 ({Interessant ist auch:} 19. Qg4 {
um den Druck gegen den schwachen e6 Bauer zu verstärken.} Rd6 20. Rd4 {1/2-1/2
Matamoros Franco,C-Sion Castro,M/Elgoibar 1997/CBM 63 (20)}) 19... Rd5 {
Diese Stellung ist schon einige Male in der Praxis vorgekommen. Die Stellung
ist objektiv ausgeglichen, obwohl in der Praxis die Partien mit verschiedenen
Ergebnissen beendet wurden.} (19... Rd5 20. b4 (20. Rd1 Qf6 21. Red4 Rfd8 22.
Qc4 a5 23. h3 R8d6 24. Qc3 Qd8 25. g3 b6 26. R1d2 Qd7 27. a3 Kf8 28. b4 axb4
29. axb4 e5 30. Rxd5 Rxd5 31. Rxd5 Qxd5 32. Qc2 e4 33. Qa4 c5 34. bxc5 bxc5 35.
Qb5 Ke7 36. Kg2 h5 37. h4 Kf6 38. Kg1 g6 39. Kg2 Kg7 40. Kg1 {1/2-1/2 Ionov,
S-Jussupow,A/Oviedo 1993/CBM 38 ext (40)}) 20... Qd6 21. Qc4 Kh8 22. h3 e5 23.
f4 exf4 24. exf4 Rd2 25. Rf2 Rd1+ 26. Kh2 Qf6 27. Qc5 b6 28. Qe3 Qd6 29. Rf3 c5
30. bxc5 Qxc5 31. Qxc5 bxc5 32. Re7 Rd4 33. Rg3 Rg8 34. f5 Rf4 35. Rf7 a5 36.
Rg6 c4 37. Rc6 Rf2 38. a4 Rf4 39. Kg3 Rd4 40. Ra7 Rb8 41. Rxa5 Rd3+ 42. Kh2 c3
43. Rc7 Rf8 44. Rb5 h5 45. a5 Rf6 46. Rbc5 Ra6 47. f6 Rxf6 48. Rxh5+ Kg8 49.
Rhc5 Ra6 50. Rg5 Kf8 51. Rgxg7 Rxa5 52. Rh7 Kg8 53. Rcg7+ Kf8 54. Rb7 Kg8 55.
Rhe7 Rf5 56. Rb3 Rf2 {1-0 Andersson,U-Rivas Pastor,M/Hastings 1981/MCD (56)})
1/2-1/2

[Event "Kosmos m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1998.11.27"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2815"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1998.11.27"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 067 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Re1 Nxd3 10. Qxd3 Nf6 11. c5 O-O 12. Nc3 c6 13. Bf4 Bg4 14. Rxe7 Qxe7
15. Bd6 Qd8 16. Bxf8 Qxf8 17. Ne5 Re8 18. b4 Bc8 19. b5 Nd7 20. Nf3 f6 21. a4
Qe7 22. a5 a6 23. bxc6 bxc6 24. Na4 Qe4 25. Qxe4 dxe4 26. Nd2 Nf8 27. Nc4 Be6
28. Nd6 Rb8 29. Nb6 f5 30. Re1 g6 31. f3 exf3 32. gxf3 Kg7 33. f4 Rd8 34. Kf2
Kf6 35. h4 h6 36. Re5 g5 37. hxg5+ hxg5 38. fxg5+ Kxg5 39. Rxf5+ Bxf5 40. Nf7+
Kf4 41. Nxd8 Ke4 42. Nxc6 Ne6 43. Nb4 Kxd4 44. c6 Nc7 45. Ke2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Kosmos m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1998.11.27"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E36"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2815"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "1998.11.27"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 067 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 dxc4 7. Qxc4 b6 8.
Nf3 Ba6 9. Qc2 Nbd7 10. Bg5 O-O 11. e4 Bxf1 12. Rxf1 h6 13. Bxf6 Nxf6 14. O-O-O
Rc8 15. Kb1 Qe7 16. Rfe1 Rfd8 17. Ne5 c5 18. d5 exd5 19. exd5 Qc7 20. Nc6 Rd7
21. Ne7+ Rxe7 22. d6 Qxd6 23. Rxd6 Rxe1+ 24. Rd1 Re7 25. f3 Rce8 26. Rd2 Nd7
27. Ka2 Nf8 28. Qa4 Rc8 29. h4 c4 30. Rc2 Rec7 31. Rc3 Ne6 32. Qd1 b5 33. Qd6
Rd8 34. Qa6 Rd5 35. Re3 Kh7 36. g4 Rd2 37. Rc3 Nc5 38. Qxb5 Rb7 39. Qxb7 Nxb7
40. Rxc4 Rd7 41. f4 h5 42. gxh5 Kh6 43. Ra4 Nd6 44. Ra5 Ne4 45. Re5 Nf6 46. b4
Nxh5 47. f5 f6 48. Rc5 Ng3 49. b5 Kh5 50. a4 Kxh4 51. a5 Kg4 52. Kb3 Nxf5 53.
Kb4 g5 54. b6 axb6 55. axb6 Ne7 56. Rb5 Rb7 57. Ka5 Nc8 58. Rb4+ Kh5 0-1

[Event "Kosmos m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1998.11.27"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C00"]
[WhiteElo "2815"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "1998.11.27"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 067 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d3 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. g3 Nc6 5. Bg2 Nf6 6. Ngf3 Be7 7. O-O Qc7 8. Re1
b6 9. Nf1 dxe4 10. dxe4 Ba6 11. e5 Rd8 12. Bd2 Ng4 13. c3 O-O 14. Qa4 Bxf1 15.
Qxg4 Bxg2 16. Bh6 g6 17. Kxg2 Rfe8 18. Re4 Rd3 19. Rae1 Bd8 20. h4 Ne7 21. h5
Nf5 22. Bg5 Qd7 23. Bf6 Rd1 24. Rxd1 Qxd1 25. Re1 Qd3 26. hxg6 fxg6 27. Qa4 Rf8
28. Qxa7 Bxf6 29. exf6 Rxf6 30. Qb8+ Rf8 31. Qxb6 Ng7 32. Re3 Qd5 33. c4 Qxc4
34. Qb3 Qg4 35. a4 Qf5 36. a5 c4 37. Qxc4 Qxa5 38. b4 Qb6 39. Ng1 Qd8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Kosmos m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1998.11.27"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E37"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2815"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1998.11.27"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 067 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Ne4 7. Qc2 e5 8.
cxd5 Qxd5 9. f3 Nf6 10. e4 Qxd4 11. Qxc7 Nc6 12. Ne2 Qc5 13. b4 Nxb4 14. Qxc5
Nd3+ 15. Kd2 Nxc5 16. Rb1 O-O 17. Ke3 Be6 18. Bb2 Rfd8 19. Bxe5 Rd3+ 20. Kf2
Ncxe4+ 21. Kg1 Nd2 22. Ra1 Nxf1 23. Nf4 Rd2 24. Rxf1 Bc4 25. Rc1 Nd7 26. Bc3
Ra2 27. h4 b5 28. Rh3 f6 29. Rd1 Ne5 30. Rg3 Bf7 31. Rd6 Rxa3 32. Bd4 Ra4 33.
h5 h6 34. Bxe5 fxe5 35. Nd3 Rd4 36. Rxd4 exd4 37. Rg4 a5 38. Rxd4 a4 39. Rb4 a3
40. Nc1 Bc4 41. Rb1 a2 0-1

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

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

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

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

[Event "Kosmos m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1998.11.27"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A31"]
[WhiteElo "2815"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1998.11.27"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 067 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. g3 d6 6. Bg2 Bd7 7. Nc3 g6 8.
Nxc6 bxc6 9. c5 d5 10. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Bxe4 Bg7 13. O-O O-O 14. Qa4
Qc8 15. Rd1 a5 16. Bg5 Rb8 17. Qxa5 Rxb2 18. Rab1 Rxb1 19. Rxb1 Bf5 20. Qe1 Qe6
21. Bxf5 Qxf5 22. Bxe7 Re8 23. Rd1 Bf8 24. Rd8 Rxd8 25. Bxd8 Qxc5 26. Qe2 Qd5
27. Bf6 c5 28. Bc3 c4 29. Qe5 Qxe5 30. Bxe5 Bb4 31. Kf1 f5 32. Ke2 Kf7 33. Bf4
Ke6 34. Bd2 Ba3 35. Bc3 Kd5 36. f3 h5 37. h3 Bd6 38. g4 hxg4 39. hxg4 fxg4 40.
fxg4 Ke4 41. a4 Bc7 42. a5 Bxa5 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Kosmos m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1998.11.27"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2815"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "1998.11.27"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 067 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 d5 3. e3 c6 4. Bd3 Bg4 5. f3 Bh5 6. Ne2 e6 7. Nf4 Bg6 8. Nxg6
hxg6 9. c4 dxc4 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. Bxc4 Bd6 12. Nc3 Qh4+ 13. Ke2 Nd7 14. Ne4 Qe7
15. a3 Bc7 16. b4 Nb6 17. Bb3 Nd5 18. f4 f5 19. Bxd5 exd5 20. Nc5 Bxf4 21. Qg1
O-O 22. Nd3 Bd6 23. Qf2 f4 24. Kd2 fxe3+ 25. Qxe3 Qxe3+ 26. Kxe3 Rae8+ 27. Kd2
Re4 28. Kc3 Rfe8 29. Rae1 Rxe1 30. Rxe1 Rxe1 31. Nxe1 Bxh2 32. Nd3 Bd6 33. a4
Kf7 34. Kd2 Ke6 35. Ke3 Kf5 36. Kf3 Kg5 37. a5 Kf5 38. Nc5 b6 39. axb6 axb6 40.
Nd3 Kg5 41. Ke3 Kg4 42. Kf2 b5 43. Ke2 Kg3 44. Kf1 Be7 45. Kg1 Bg5 46. Kf1 Be3
47. Ne5 Bxd4 48. Nxc6 Bc3 49. Na7 Bxb4 50. Nxb5 Ba5 51. Nd4 Kf4 52. Ke2 Ke4 53.
Nf3 Bd8 54. Ne1 Bf6 55. Nd3 g5 56. Nf2+ Kd4 57. Nd3 Kc3 58. Nf2 Be5 59. Nd3 Bd4
60. Ne1 g4 61. Nd3 Bf6 62. Nf4 Kc4 63. Nd3 Kd4 64. Nf2 g3 65. Kd2 Be7 66. Nd3
1/2-1/2

[Event "Kosmos m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1998.11.27"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2815"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "1998.11.27"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 067 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 O-O 8. Be2
b6 9. O-O Bb7 10. Bb2 c5 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Rad1 Rc8 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. Nh4 g6
15. Nf3 Qe7 16. Rfe1 a6 17. h3 Rfd8 18. Bf1 Bb8 19. Ne2 Ne4 20. Nf4 Ndf6 21. g3
d4 22. Bg2 Qf8 23. Qc1 Re8 24. Qa1 Bxf4 25. exf4 a5 26. a3 Bd5 27. b4 axb4 28.
axb4 Bb3 29. Rc1 Nd5 30. bxc5 Ra8 31. Qb1 Nec3 32. Bxc3 Ba2 33. Qd3 dxc3 34.
Ne5 Qxc5 35. Bxd5 Bxd5 36. Rxc3 Qa5 37. Rec1 Be6 38. Ng4 Bxg4 39. hxg4 Rad8 40.
Qf3 Qd5 41. Kg2 Qxf3+ 42. Kxf3 h6 43. Rc6 Kg7 44. R1c3 Rd5 45. Re3 Red8 46.
Rcc3 R8d7 47. Kg2 Ra7 48. Re5 Rad7 49. Rce3 R5d6 50. f5 g5 51. Ra5 Kf6 52. Rea3
Kg7 53. Ra1 Rd4 54. Kh3 Rd2 55. Kg2 R2d4 56. R5a4 Rxa4 57. Rxa4 Rd3 58. Ra6 Rb3
1/2-1/2

[Event "Kosmos m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1998.11.27"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A39"]
[WhiteElo "2815"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "1998.11.27"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 067 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. g3 g6 6. Bg2 Bg7 7. Nc3 O-O 8.
O-O Ng4 9. e3 d6 10. Nde2 Qa5 11. Nd5 Qc5 12. Bd2 e6 13. b4 Qxc4 14. Rc1 Qxa2
15. Nec3 Qc4 16. Nc7 Rb8 17. N3d5 Qa2 18. Nc3 Qc4 19. N3d5 Qa2 20. Nc3 Qc4 21.
Nb1 Nxf2 22. Rxf2 Qd3 23. b5 Ne5 24. Rc3 Bd7 25. Rxd3 Nxd3 26. Rf1 Rfc8 27. Bc3
1-0

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

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

[Event "Kosmos m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1998.11.28"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2815"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1998.11.27"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 067 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Be2
Bb7 9. O-O a6 10. e4 c5 11. d5 exd5 12. e5 Ne4 13. Nxd5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Qxd5 15.
Qxd5 Bxd5 16. Rd1 Rd8 17. Bf3 f5 18. Be3 Be7 19. Nd3 c4 20. Nf4 Bf7 21. Bb6
Rxd1+ 22. Rxd1 O-O 23. Nd5 Bxd5 24. Rxd5 g6 25. a4 bxa4 26. Be2 Rc8 27. Bd4 a3
28. f3 c3 29. bxc3 Nxc3 30. Bxa6 Nxd5 31. Bxc8 Kf7 32. Ba6 Ke6 33. Bc4 Kd6 34.
Kf1 Bf6 35. Bf2 Nb4 36. Be1 Kc5 37. Bg8 h6 38. Ke2 Nc2 39. Bd2 Nd4+ 40. Kd3 Nc6
41. Kc2 Nb4+ 42. Kb1 a2+ 43. Bxa2 Nxa2 44. Kxa2 h5 45. Kb3 Kd4 46. Kc2 Kd5
1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Kosmos m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1998.11.28"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D26"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2815"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "1998.11.27"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 067 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 e6 5. Bd3 dxc4 6. Bxc4 c5 7. O-O Nc6 8. Qe2
a6 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. a3 b5 11. Bd3 Bb7 12. b4 Be7 13. Bb2 O-O 14. Nbd2 Qb6 15.
Nb3 a5 16. bxa5 Nxa5 17. Bd4 Qd8 18. Nxa5 Rxa5 19. Rfd1 Qa8 20. Bxb5 Rxa3 21.
Rxa3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Kosmos m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1998.11.28"]
[Round "16"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2815"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "1998.11.27"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 067 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8.
f3 h6 9. Bh4 d5 10. e3 Nbd7 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Bxd8 Nxc3 13. Bh4 Nd5 14. Bf2 c5
15. Bb5 Rfd8 16. e4 Ne7 17. Ne2 Bc6 18. Ba6 b5 19. a4 bxa4 20. dxc5 Ne5 21. Nd4
Rab8 22. Bg3 f6 23. O-O-O Kf7 24. f4 Ng4 25. f5 e5 26. Bc4+ Ke8 27. Nxc6 Nxc6
28. Rxd8+ Kxd8 29. Re1 h5 30. h3 Nh6 31. Rd1+ Kc7 32. Rd6 Na5 33. Bd5 Nb3+ 34.
Kd1 Nd4 35. Ra6 Rxb2 36. Rxa7+ Kb8 37. Rxa4 Rxg2 38. Rxd4 Rxg3 39. Rb4+ Kc8 40.
c6 Nxf5 41. Be6+ Kc7 42. exf5 Kxc6 43. h4 Kc5 44. Rb7 Rg4 45. Ke2 Kc6 46. Ra7
Kb6 47. Rd7 Kc5 48. Ke3 Kc6 49. Rf7 e4 50. Kd4 Kb6 51. Bd5 Rxh4 52. Rxg7 Rh2
53. Bxe4 Rd2+ 54. Ke3 Rd6 55. Rh7 Kc5 56. Rxh5 Ra6 57. Rh2 Ra3+ 58. Kf4 Ra4 59.
Rc2+ Kd6 60. Rd2+ Ke7 61. Rd5 1-0

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

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

[Event "Kosmos m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1998.11.28"]
[Round "18"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E34"]
[WhiteElo "2815"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1998.11.27"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 067 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 Qxd5 6. Nf3 Qf5 7. Qxf5 exf5 8.
a3 Bd6 9. Bg5 Nbd7 10. e3 c6 11. Bd3 h6 12. Bh4 g6 13. Nd2 Be7 14. f3 Nd5 15.
Nxd5 Bxh4+ 16. g3 Bxg3+ 17. hxg3 cxd5 18. Rc1 Kd8 19. e4 fxe4 20. fxe4 dxe4 21.
Nxe4 f5 22. Nd6 Ke7 23. Nb5 a6 24. Nc7 Rb8 25. Nd5+ Kd6 26. Nf4 g5 27. Ng6 Re8+
28. Kd2 Nf6 29. Rxh6 Ng4 30. Rh5 Rg8 31. Rxg5 Be6 32. Re1 Nh6 33. Nf4 Bd7 34.
Rh5 Ng4 35. Bxf5 Nf6 36. Rh6 Rbf8 37. Bxd7 Kxd7 38. Ng6 Re8 39. Ne5+ Ke6 40.
Ng4+ Kf5 41. Nxf6 1-0

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

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

[Event "Kosmos m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1998.11.28"]
[Round "20"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2815"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "1998.11.27"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 067 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8.
f3 h6 9. Bh4 d5 10. e3 Nbd7 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Bxd8 Nxc3 13. Bh4 Nd5 14. Bf2 f5
15. Bb5 c6 16. Bd3 c5 17. Ne2 Rac8 18. O-O cxd4 19. Nxd4 Ne5 20. Be2 Nc4 21.
Rfc1 Ncxe3 22. Nxe6 Rfe8 23. Rxc8 Bxc8 24. Nd4 Bd7 25. Bxe3 Nxe3 26. Rc1 Rd8
27. Kf2 f4 28. g3 Nf5 29. Nxf5 Bxf5 30. Ke1 fxg3 31. hxg3 Rd7 32. b4 Kf7 33.
Rc4 g5 34. f4 Be6 35. Rc6 Re7 36. Kf2 gxf4 37. gxf4 Kg7 38. Bd3 Bd5 39. Rd6 Bb3
40. f5 Rf7 41. Rg6+ Kf8 42. Rxh6 Ke7 43. Ke3 Rf6 44. Rh7+ Rf7 45. Rh4 Kd6 46.
Kd4 Rf6 47. Rg4 Bf7 48. Rg7 a5 49. b5 a4 50. Be4 Be8 51. Rb7 Rf8 52. Rxb6+ Kc7
53. Re6 Bxb5 54. Ke5 Bd7 55. Re7 Kd8 56. f6 Re8 57. Kd6 Bb5 58. Bf5 Rf8 59. f7
Rh8 60. Be6 Ba6 61. Ra7 Bc8 62. Bxc8 1-0

[Event "Kosmos m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1998.11.28"]
[Round "21"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2815"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1998.11.27"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 067 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. cxd5 exd5 7. e3 Be7 8.
Bd3 Ne4 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. O-O O-O 11. Qc2 Ndf6 12. Rae1 Bf5 13. Ne5 Nxc3 14.
Qxc3 Bxd3 15. Nxd3 Ne4 16. Qc2 Nd6 17. b3 Rae8 18. Qd2 f6 19. Re2 h5 20. f3 Qf7
21. Rfe1 Rd8 22. Nf2 Rfe8 23. Qb2 Re7 24. e4 dxe4 25. fxe4 Qg6 26. Qd2 Nb5 27.
d5 Red7 28. Qb4 a5 29. Qc5 Qg5 30. a4 Nc7 31. Qxa5 cxd5 32. e5 d4 33. Nd3 Nd5
34. exf6 Qxf6 35. Rf2 Qd6 36. Qc5 Qxc5 37. Nxc5 Rc7 38. Ne6 Re7 39. Nxd8 Rxe1+
40. Rf1 Re2 41. Rf2 Re1+ 42. Rf1 Re7 43. Rd1 Nc3 44. Rd3 Kf8 45. Kf1 Ke8 46.
Rxd4 Ne4 47. Nxb7 Rf7+ 48. Ke1 Re7 49. Kf1 Rf7+ 50. Ke2 Re7 51. Kf1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Kosmos m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1998.11.28"]
[Round "22"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2815"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1998.11.27"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 067 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O
dxc4 9. Bxc4 b5 10. Bd3 Bb7 11. a3 a6 12. b4 a5 13. Rb1 axb4 14. axb4 Qe7 15.
e4 e5 16. dxe5 Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. Ne2 Qe6 19. f4 Bc7 20. e5 Ra2 21. Bb2 Nd5
22. Bxh7+ Kh8 23. Bf5 Bb6+ 24. Kh1 Qh6 25. Be4 Ne3 26. Qb3 Nxf1 27. Rxf1 Ra7
28. Rf3 Bc8 29. f5 Qd2 30. Ng3 Bf2 31. Nf1 Qe1 32. Bd3 Rd7 33. e6 fxe6 34. fxe6
Rxf3 35. exd7 Bxd7 36. gxf3 Be6 37. Qc3 1-0

[Event "Kosmos m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1998.11.28"]
[Round "23"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2815"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1998.11.27"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 067 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. cxd5 exd5 7. e3 Be7 8.
Qc2 Nh5 9. h4 Ndf6 10. Bd3 h6 11. Bxf6 Nxf6 12. O-O-O Ng4 13. Kb1 Be6 14. g3
O-O 15. Rhf1 Rc8 16. Ne2 c5 17. dxc5 Rxc5 18. Qd2 Qb6 19. Ned4 Bf6 20. Nb3 Rc7
21. Qa5 Qxa5 22. Nxa5 Ne5 23. Nxe5 Bxe5 24. Rc1 Rfc8 25. Rxc7 Rxc7 26. Rc1 Bc8
27. Nb3 g6 28. Rxc7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Kosmos m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1998.11.28"]
[Round "24"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "2815"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "34"]
[EventDate "1998.11.27"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "24"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 067 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.01.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 e6 4. Nbd2 Nf6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. e4 e5 8. cxd5
cxd5 9. exd5 O-O 10. O-O exd4 11. Ne4 Nxe4 12. Bxe4 Nf6 13. Qxd4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4
Re8 15. Qd3 Qf6 16. Be3 Bf5 17. Qd2 Be4 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "EU-Cup 14th final"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1999.01.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2726"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "1999.01.11"]
[EventType "team-k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Warszawa Polonia"]
[BlackTeam "Zemun Agrouniverzal"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "POL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "SRB"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8.
Re1 Bg4 9. c3 f5 10. Qb3 O-O 11. Nbd2 Na5 12. Qa4 Nc6 13. Bb5 Bh4 14. g3 Bf6
15. Bxc6 bxc6 16. Qxc6 Re8 17. Ne5 Bxe5 18. dxe5 Ng5 19. f4 Re6 20. Qc5 Ne4 21.
Nxe4 dxe4 22. Be3 a6 23. Qc4 Qd7 24. Rac1 Rd8 25. Rc2 Qf7 26. Rd2 Rxd2 27. Bxd2
Rb6 28. Qxf7+ Kxf7 29. b4 Rc6 30. Kf2 Rh6 31. h4 Rc6 32. Ke3 Bh5 33. Kd4 Ke7
34. c4 Bf7 35. Rc1 Rb6 36. Kc5 Be8 37. Be3 Rc6+ 38. Kd5 Rg6 39. Bc5+ Kd7 40.
Rc3 Bf7+ 41. Kd4 h6 42. a4 Rg4 43. b5 axb5 44. a5 e3 45. Rxe3 g5 46. e6+ Bxe6
47. cxb5 gxf4 48. gxf4 Rxf4+ 49. Ke5 Rc4 50. Rd3+ Kc8 51. Kxe6 Rxc5 52. Rd5 Rc4
53. Rxf5 Re4+ 54. Kd5 Rxh4 55. a6 Ra4 56. Rf8+ Kd7 57. Rf7+ Kc8 58. Rf8+ Kd7
59. Ra8 Ra1 60. a7 Rd1+ 61. Ke4 Re1+ 62. Kf3 Ra1 63. b6 cxb6 64. Rh8 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 14th final"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1999.01.12"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B74"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "1999.01.11"]
[EventType "team-k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "St Petersburg"]
[BlackTeam "Zemun Agrouniverzal"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "SRB"]

1. e4 {Schulz,A} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 {Interesting moment. With such move
order White tries to avoid Sveshnikov variation, but now Black has a pleasant
choice between other lines, where the Knight on c3 could be placed a bit
premature.} g6 (3... e5 4. Bc4 Be7 5. d3 d6 6. Nd2 Bg5 7. h4 Bh6 8. Qh5 (8. g4
Bf4 9. Nd5 Nge7 10. Nxf4 exf4 11. Bb5 O-O 12. Bxc6 Nxc6 13. Nb3 d5 {0-1
Kupreichik,V-Kramnik,V/Moscow olm 1994/CBM 45 (42)}) 8... g6 9. Qd1 Nf6 10. h5
Bg4 11. f3 Bd7 12. Bd5 Nxh5 {=+ 0-1 Fedorov,A-Morozevich,A/Kishinev 1998/CBM
64 (12)}) 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 {Choosing Dragon, Black avoided Maroczy
variation and also in the main lines of the Dragon, White has limited
possibilities, due to the fact that Black didn't play d7-d6 yet.} 6. Be3 Nf6 7.
Nb3 {Black achieved his aim - White proved to be unprepared for the main lines.
} O-O 8. Be2 d6 9. O-O Be6 (9... a6) 10. f4 {Schulz,A: 'Das ist das
Hauptabspiel in der Klassichen Variante.'} Rc8 (10... Qc8 11. Kh1 Rd8 12. Bg1
d5 13. e5 Ne4 14. Bd3 f6 15. exf6 Nxc3 16. bxc3 Bxf6 17. f5 {~ Kotronias-Agnos,
Peristeri 95}) ({In alten Zeiten dachte man, Schwarz m�sse sich gegen f4-f5
stemmen:} 10... Qc8 {Schulz,A}) ({oder dem Le6 ein aktives Ausweichfeld
er�ffnen.} 10... Na5 {Schulz,A Das sind die beiden Hauptvarianten.}) 11. Kh1
(11. f5 $2 {Schulz,A} Bd7 {-/+} 12. g4 $2 Ne5 {$140 13...Rxc3 14.bxc3 Nxe4 -+})
(11. Bf3 {Schulz,A ist die Alternative.}) 11... Na5 (11... a6 $5 {Schulz,A} 12.
Bf3 (12. f5 $2 Bd7 13. g4 $2 Ne5 14. g5 Rxc3 15. bxc3 Nxe4 {-+ wie oben.})
12... Na5) 12. Nxa5 $6 (12. f5 Nc4 (12... Bc4) (12... Bd7 $2 13. Bxa7) 13. Bd4
Bd7 14. Bxc4 Rxc4 15. Qd3 {+=}) 12... Qxa5 13. Bd4 Bc4 {= Black has achieved
everything. The position is equal.} 14. a3 e5 15. fxe5 (15. Be3 exf4 16. Bxf4
Bxe2 17. Qxe2 d5 {=}) 15... dxe5 16. Bf2 Be6 17. Bd3 Nh5 18. Re1 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-Cup 14th final"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1999.01.13"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Smirin, Ilia"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2652"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "150"]
[EventDate "1999.01.11"]
[EventType "team-k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Zemun Agrouniverzal"]
[BlackTeam "Petah-Tikva Elitzur"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "SRB"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ISR"]

{[%mdl 36]} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O
Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. b4 a5 10. Ba3 b6 11. bxa5 Nh5 12. Re1 (12. Nb5 Rxa5 13. Bb4
Ra8 (13... Ra6 14. Nd2 Nf4 15. a4 f5 16. Re1 Nxe2+ 17. Qxe2 fxe4 18. Nxe4 Nf5
19. Qd3 Nd4 20. Bc3 Nb3 21. Ra3 Na5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Van Wely,L-Smirin,I/Elista
1998/CBM Extra 66 (97)}) 14. Qb3 $6 Nf4 15. Bd1 f5 16. Bc2 g5 $1 17. Nd2 Ne2+
18. Kh1 f4 19. Rfe1 $5 Nd4 20. Nxd4 exd4 $36 {1-0 Krasenkow,M-Zaitsev,I/
Koszalin 1997/Inf 70/[Krasenkow,M] (58)}) 12... f5 (12... Nf4 13. Bf1 f5 14.
Nd2 g5 15. Nb3 bxa5 16. c5 Rf6 17. g3 Nfg6 18. Nd2 f4 19. Be2 Qd7 20. Nc4 Rb8
21. Qa4 Qh3 22. Bf1 Qh5 23. cxd6 cxd6 24. Bxd6 $16 {0-1 Shomoev,A-Arakelov,I/
Ch Russia (juniors) (under 1998 (61)}) 13. Bb4 $1 $146 {White are fixing
pawn`s structure on the Queen`s side and it lets them to start tipycal plan
with c4-c5.Moreover,Black had weak squares b6 and c6 now.} (13. Bc1 Rxa5 14. a4
Nf4 15. Bf1 fxe4 16. Nxe4 Bg4 17. Bd2 Ra8 18. Ra3 h6 19. h3 Bd7 20. a5 g5 21.
Qc1 bxa5 22. Bxa5 Kh8 23. Bb4 Rc8 24. Ba5 Qe8 25. Nh2 Qg6 $132 {1/2-1/2 San
Segundo,P-Bacrot,E/Escaldes 1998/CBM 68_07 (68)}) 13... bxa5 14. Ba3 {[%cal
Gc4c5]} Nf6 15. Bd3 $1 (15. Nd2 Bh6 16. Bd3) 15... fxe4 16. Nxe4 Bg4 17. Nxf6+
Rxf6 18. Be4 $14 Nf5 19. Qd3 (19. h3 Bxf3 20. Qxf3 Nd4 21. Qe3 $14) 19... Rf7
20. Rab1 Bh6 21. c5 Qf6 22. cxd6 cxd6 23. Rb6 $16 {[%csl Ra5,Rd6]} Rd8 24. Rf1
$1 {This strong move takes away all counterplay and Black are doomed to
passive defence.} Qe7 25. h3 Bxf3 26. Bxf3 Bf8 27. g3 (27. Rfb1 Nd4 28. Be4 Qh4
$132) 27... Nd4 28. Be4 Qc7 29. Ra6 Rc8 30. Kg2 (30. Rc1 Qxc1+ 31. Bxc1 Rxc1+
32. Kg2 Rc2 33. Qxd4 exd4 34. Bxc2 Rc7 35. Rc6 Rb7 36. Bb3 d3 37. Rc3 d2 38.
Rd3 Bh6 39. h4 $14 {[%cal Gf2f4] /+/-}) 30... Qd8 31. Bb2 Rc5 (31... Bg7 32.
Bc3 (32. Qd2 Ra8 33. Rxa8 Qxa8 34. Rc1 $36) 32... Rc5 33. Rb1 Qf8 34. Rb2 $16)
32. Bxd4 exd4 33. Qxd4 Rb5 34. Rc6 $2 {Being short of time,White are changing
their active Rook. They had to do it with passive one instead.} (34. Rb1 $1 Bg7
35. Qd2 $16 {/+-}) 34... Rb4 35. Rc4 (35. Qd3 Rb2 $132) 35... Bg7 36. Qd3 Rb2
$132 {[%cal Yf7f2,Yb2f2,Yd8b6,Yb6f2]} 37. Rc2 Qb6 38. Rc8+ Bf8 39. Rc2 Bg7 40.
Bf3 Bd4 {[%csl Rf2]} 41. h4 Kg7 42. Rd2 Rxd2 43. Qxd2 Qb4 44. Qe2 Qb2 45. Qxb2
Bxb2 $14 {/+/-} 46. Re1 (46. Rd1 Ba3 47. Be4 Bc5 $132) 46... Bd4 47. Re4 Bc5
48. g4 Rb7 {[%cal Yb7b2,Yb2f2,Yc5f2]} 49. g5 (49. Re2 a4 {[%cal Ya4a3,Yb7b2]})
49... Rb2 50. Re7+ Kg8 51. Re2 Rxe2 $11 52. Bxe2 Kg7 53. Bb5 h6 54. Be8 hxg5
55. hxg5 Bb4 56. Kf3 Bd2 57. Kg4 Be1 58. f4 Bd2 59. Kf3 Bc1 60. Ke4 Bd2 61. Kf3
Bc1 62. Kg4 Bd2 63. f5 gxf5+ 64. Kxf5 Bb4 65. Ke6 Bc5 66. Ke7 Bb4 67. Kd8 Bc5
68. Kc7 Bb4 69. Kb6 Kf8 70. Bh5 Kg7 71. Kb5 Kf8 72. Bd1 Kg7 73. Bc2 Kf8 74. Ka4
Kg7 75. a3 Bc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2636"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "1999.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Cifuentes} d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3
Bb4 8. e4 Bxe4 9. fxe4 Nxe4 10. Bd2 Qxd4 11. Nxe4 Qxe4+ 12. Qe2 Bxd2+ 13. Kxd2
Qd5+ 14. Kc2 Na6 15. Nxc4 O-O 16. Qf3 Qc5 17. Be2 Nb4+ 18. Kb1 Rad8 19. Rc1 Rd4
{'N!' Cifuentes. Dieser Zug wurde von mir in den Kommentaren zur Partie
Beljavskij-Shirov, Invetsbanka 1997, empfohlen. Dort geschah} (19... Qg5 $6 20.
Qg4 Qc5 (20... Qxg4 21. Bxg4 Rd4 22. Be2 Rfd8 23. Ra3 {führt zu etwas besserem
Spiel für Weiß.}) 21. Ra3 Rd4 22. Qh5 {Nach anderen Damenzügen kann Schwarz
die Diagonale g6-b1 für seine Dame erobern:} (22. Qf3 Qg5 23. Rb3 Qg6+ 24. Ka1
a5 {mit gutem Spiel für Schwarz.}) 22... Qd5 ({Nach} 22... Qxh5 23. Bxh5 Rfd8
24. Be2 {scheint mir die Stellung etwas angenehmer für Weiß zu sein. Der
Textzug verdient meines Erachtens nicht den herben Tadel, den ihm Z. Ilic in
"New in Chess" 8/1997, S.54 zukommen läßt.}) 23. Qxd5 {Dies ist ein recht
guter Augenblick für den Damentausch; Weiß kann seine Figuren in aktive
Positionen bringen. Eine andere sinnvolle Fortsetzung gibt es ohnehin nicht.}
exd5 (23... cxd5 {ist nicht besser:} 24. Rb3 Nc6 25. Nd6 Na5 26. Rb5 Rxa4 27.
Bd1 a6 28. Rbc5 b6 29. Bxa4 bxc5 30. Rxc5 Rd8 31. Nxf7 {mit Gewinnstellung für
Weiß.}) (23... Rxd5 24. Rb3 c5 25. Bf3 {ist natürlich nicht empfehlenswert für
Schwarz.}) ({Nach} 23... Nxd5 24. Rb3 b6 25. a5 {verliert die Bauernstellung
des Schwarzen ebenfalls ihre Stabilität.}) 24. Nd6 (24. Rb3 c5 25. Nd6 b6 26.
Re3 {kam meines Erachtens stark in Betracht.}) 24... b6 ({Aktives Vorgehen ist
nicht zu empfehlen. Nach} 24... Rd2 25. Re3 d4 26. Re4 d3 27. Bf3 {hat Schwarz
die Kompaktheit seiner Bauernstellung mit eigener Hand zerstört und wird
Material verlieren.}) 25. Re3 g6 26. Re7 a6 {Schwarz möchte offenbar den
Verlust seines b-Bauern vermeiden, doch ist die Stellung, die nach} (26... a5
27. Rb7 f5 28. Rxb6 Rd8 29. Nb7 Rb8 30. Bf3 {entsteht, nicht einfach
einzuschätzen. Wenn Weiß sich nicht auf den b-Bauern stürzen darf, so ist 26...
a5 jedenfalls vorzuziehen, denn die Verankerung des Springers auf d4 ist
nützlich. Andrerseits scheint der Textzug dem Schwarzen ein befriedigendes
Spiel zu gewähren.}) 27. Rf1 {Es kam in Betracht, den zentral aufgestellten
Turm auf d4 zu beseitigen. Nach} (27. Rd1 Rxd1+ 28. Bxd1 f5 29. Kc1 {halte ich
die Stellung des Weißen für vorteilhaft.}) 27... f5 28. g4 {Dies ist die
konsequente Fortsetzung des mit dem letzten Zuge eingeleiteten Planes. Weiß
will die Stellung öffnen, um mit allen Figuren zum Angriff zu kommen; Schwarz
sollte dies nicht zulassen.} Rd8 (28... f4 29. g5 {Die Folge} Rd8 {war jedoch
vielleicht noch etwas genauer als der Textzug, denn} 30. Nf7 Kf8 31. Rb7 Re8 {
sieht unerfreulich für Weiß aus.}) (28... Rf6 $2 {wird von Z. Ilic in "New in
Chess" 8/1997, S.55 vorgeschlagen. Er analysiert:} 29. Re8+ {ist jedoch viel
stärker als 29.Td7?:} Kg7 30. Rd8 Re6 31. gxf5 Rxe2 32. f6+ Kh6 33. Nf5+ gxf5
34. f7 {und Weiß gewinnt.}) 29. Re6 fxg4 $2 ({Richtig war} 29... f4 {Diese
Stellung vermag ich nicht einzuschätzen.}) 30. Ne8 Nd3 $6 ({Zäher war} 30... g5
31. Re5 {ist stärker:} h6 32. Bxg4 Rf4 {Sonst dringt der Turm des Weißen mit
entscheidender Kraft auf der f-Linie ein.} 33. Nf6+ Kf7 34. Rxf4 gxf4 35. Rf5 {
mit technischer Gewinnstellung für Weiß.}) 31. Nf6+ Kf7 32. Rxc6 $18 {Jetzt
ist die Bauernstruktur des Schwarzen zerstört, und Weiß gewinnt mühelos.} Nf4
33. Bxa6 Rxa4 34. Nxg4 Rxa6 35. Rxf4+ Ke7 36. Ne5 Rd6 37. Rc7+ Ke6 38. Nd3 {1-0
}) 20. Ra3 Rfd8 21. g4 (21. Ne3 {Cifuentes} Qg5 22. Rd1 Qg6+ (22... Rxd1+ 23.
Bxd1 Rd2) 23. Ka1 e5 $13) (21. Rac3 {Cifuentes} Qg5 22. Ka1 (22. Qg3) 22... e5)
21... Qg5 {'©!' Cifuentes.} 22. Rb3 a5 23. h4 Qg6+ (23... Qxh4 {Cifuentes} 24.
Nxa5 Qe7 25. Rc4) 24. Ka1 Nc2+ 25. Ka2 Nb4+ 26. Ka1 Nc2+ ({Die Fortsetzung} 
26... Qh6 27. Qh1 b5 28. axb5 cxb5 29. Na3 {verspricht dem Schwarzen keinen
Vorteil.}) 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.19"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1999.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ke8 10. h3 Ne7 11. Re1 {Eyeing the K on e8.} Nd5 12. Ne4
Nb4 $146 (12... c5 13. a3 h6 14. c4 Nb6 15. b3 Bf5 16. g4 Be6 17. Kg2 Rd8 18.
Be3 Nd7 19. Rad1 $14 {1/2-1/2 Schmid,L-Bisguier,A/Tel Aviv 1964/EXT 99 (30)})
13. Re2 Bf5 14. Nd4 (14. Bd2 $5 {would have bred more life into the position}
Nxc2 $140 15. Rc1 Nb4 16. Nd6+ $1 cxd6 17. exd6+ Be6 18. Bxb4 Rd8 19. Rd1 $36)
14... Bxe4 15. Rxe4 c5 16. a3 (16. Nb5 Nxc2 17. Nxc7+ Kd7 18. Nxa8 Nxa1 19. Ra4
a6 20. Rf4 Be7 21. Nb6+ Ke6 $15) 16... cxd4 17. axb4 Bxb4 18. Rxd4 Be7 {
White has a microscopic advantage, but Black is alright with careful play.} 19.
Be3 a6 20. Rad1 h5 21. c3 Rd8 22. Rxd8+ Bxd8 23. f4 f5 24. exf6 Bxf6 25. Kf2 g6
26. Kf3 Ke7 27. Bd4 Bxd4 28. Rxd4 a5 29. Rd5 b6 30. Ke4 a4 31. Re5+ Kf6 32. f5
gxf5+ 33. Rxf5+ Kg6 34. Rd5 Rf8 35. Ke3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.20"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Reinderman, Dimitri"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A42"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2542"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1999.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 36]} 1. d4 {Hansen,Cu} g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. c4 d6 4. Nc3 e5 {Wenn Schwarz
nicht die Königsindische Verteidigung (mit ...Nf6) spielen möchte, scheint mir
dies die beste Fortsetzung zu sein. Schwarz hat keine Angst vor 5.dxe5 dxe5 6.
Qxd8~~ Kxd8, denn er kontrolliert stark das Feld d4. Nach 5.d5 kann Schwarz
sofort 5...f5 spielen. Ribli.} 5. Nge2 {Weiß hält die Spannung.} exd4 6. Nxd4
Nc6 7. Be3 (7. Nxc6 $5) 7... Nge7 8. Nxc6 {Hansen,Cu: 'The normal quiet
continuation - if white does not want to play 8. h4 - is:'  Wenn Weiß auf c6
nehmen möchte, wäre dies im 7. Zug genauer gewesen, denn dort hätte Schwarz
nur mit dem Bauern wiedernehmen können, während ihm jetzt zwei Möglichkeiten
zur Verfügung stehen.} (8. Be2 {Hansen,Cu} O-O 9. O-O f5 10. Nxc6 Nxc6 11. exf5
Bxf5 12. Qd2) 8... Nxc6 {[%csl Yd4] Dies scheint mir logischer, als die
Alternative 8...bxc6. Schwarz hat eine etwas passive, aber sehr gut
verteidigungsfähige Stellung ohne Schwächen.} (8... bxc6 9. Bd4 O-O (9... f6
10. c5 d5 11. Be2 O-O 12. O-O Be6 13. Bf3 dxe4 14. Bxe4 f5 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16.
Bf3 Qxd1 17. Raxd1 Rfd8 18. h4 {1/2-1/2 Georgiev,K-Seirawan,Y/Novi Sad 1990/TD
(53)}) 10. Bxg7 Kxg7 11. Qd4+ f6 12. c5 dxc5 13. Qxc5 Qd6 14. Qxd6 cxd6 15.
O-O-O $14 {1-0 Polugaevsky,L-Azmaiparashvili,Z/Reykjavik 1990/CBM 18 ext (53)})
9. Qd2 Be6 {Hansen,Cu: 'Black tries to use whites early exchange on c6 to wait
with the freeing f7-f5'} (9... O-O 10. Be2 f5 11. O-O (11. exf5 Bxf5 12. O-O
Qf6 13. Rfd1 Rae8 14. Rac1 Kh8 15. b3 b6 16. Nd5 Qf7 17. h3 a5 18. Bf1 Bc8 19.
a3 Nd8 20. b4 axb4 21. axb4 Ne6 22. Rc2 {1/2-1/2 Petrosian,A-Ermenkov,E/
JUG-chT2 1994/EXT 97 (22)}) 11... fxe4 12. Nxe4 Bf5 13. Nc3 Qf6 14. Rad1 Rac8
15. Rfe1 Kh8 16. Bf3 (16. h3 $5) 16... Ne5 17. Bxb7 Nxc4 18. Bd4 $1 {1/2-1/2
Shipov,S-Matulovic,M/Belgrade 1992/CBM 31/[Ribli] (24)}) 10. Be2 Qd7 (10... Ne5
11. b3 Ng4 12. Bxg4 Bxg4 13. Bd4 $14) 11. O-O (11. O-O-O O-O-O) 11... O-O 12.
Rad1 Rad8 $5 (12... b6 $6 {Dieser Zug ist überflüssig, denn 13.c5 droht nicht.}
13. f4 Rad8 14. Qc2 Rfe8 15. Bf2 f5 16. e5 $14 {[%csl Rd7] Die schwarze Dame
steht unglücklich in der d-Linie. (Babula,V. - Horvath,Jo. Zalakaros 1998).})
13. Bh6 {Es ist logisch, daß Weiß die beste schwarze Figur tauscht.} (13. Rfe1
f5 14. Bg5 Rde8 15. exf5 Bxf5 16. Nd5 Be6 17. Be3 Ne7 18. Nxe7+ Rxe7 19. b3 b6
20. Bf3 Bg4 21. Bd5+ Kh8 22. f3 Bf5 23. Bd4 {1-0 Yakovich,Y-Kanstler,B/
Uzhgorod 1987/EXT 97 (70)}) (13. Nd5 f5 14. exf5 Bxf5 15. Bh6 Nd4 16. Bxg7
Nxe2+ 17. Qxe2 Qxg7 18. Rfe1 c6 19. Nc3 Qf7 20. b3 Rde8 21. Qd2 Rxe1+ 22. Rxe1
Re8 23. Rd1 Qf6 24. h3 h5 {1-0 Sergeev,V-Moehring,G/Ceske Budejovice 1994/EXT
97 (53)}) (13. c5 dxc5 14. Qxd7 Rxd7 15. Rxd7 Bxd7 16. Bxc5 Re8 $11) 13... f6 (
13... f5 $5 {Hansen,Cu} 14. Bxg7 Qxg7 {seems to be one tempo better than the
game}) 14. Bxg7 (14. Be3 f5 $11) 14... Qxg7 15. b3 (15. f4 f5 $11 (15... Kh8 {
Hansen,Cu and white has to play b2-b3 anyway to be able to continue Be2-f3}) (
15... f5 16. exf5 Bxf5 17. Bf3)) 15... Kh8 (15... f5 $11) (15... Rde8 $11) 16.
Nd5 {[%csl Yd5]} (16. f4 $1 {Hansen,Cu} f5 17. exf5 Bxf5 18. Bf3 $16 {[%csl
Rb7][%cal Yf3b7] In this case black would find it more difficult than in the
game to put the N or Q on d4 because b7 is hanging}) 16... f5 $11 17. exf5 (17.
Nf4 Bc8 $11) 17... Bxf5 18. f4 (18. b4 Rde8 19. b5 Nd8 {[%csl Yc5][%cal Gd8e6,
Ge6c5]}) 18... Rde8 {[%csl Ge8,Gf8] Schwarz hat eine ideale Turmaufstellung
und wenngleich seine Stellung ein wenig passiv ist, kann Weiß nicht
vorankommen.} 19. Rfe1 h5 $5 {Hansen,Cu: 'Stopping g2-g4-g5 and Nf6'  Ein
interessanter Zug. Schwarz hat keine Angst vor der Schwächung seines
Königsflügels und sichert den Läufer auf f5.} (19... Re4 $11 {[%csl Yd4]}) (
19... Re6 $11 {[%cal Gf8e8,Ge8e1]}) 20. Bf3 {[#]} Nd4 $1 {'<=>!' Hansen,Cu.}
21. Rxe8 (21. Qxd4 $4 Rxe1+ $19) 21... Nxf3+ 22. gxf3 {[%csl Rf3,Rf4]} Rxe8 23.
Kf2 c6 {'!?' Hansen,Cu. Der stolze d5-Springer muß weichen.} (23... b6 $5 {
[%cal Ye8f8,Yf8f7,Yf5c8,Yc8b7] Hansen,Cu keeps the P-structure intact but also
allows white to keep his N on d5. However black has a good plan in Re8-f8-f7
and Bc8-b7 with pressure against f4 or maybe just Bc8-b7 to keep control of
the e-<->}) 24. Ne3 (24. Nc3 Qe7 $15 {[%cal Re7h4,Rh4f2]}) 24... Qe7 {[%csl
Rf2][%cal Re7h4,Rh4f2]} 25. Ng2 {Der Springer verteidigt von g2 die weiße
Königsstellung.} Rd8 {[%cal Gd6d5] Hansen,Cu: 'Passive but it protects d6 and
avoids exchange of Rs'} 26. Qd4+ {[%cal Rd4h8,Rd4a7]} Kh7 27. Qxa7 (27. Re1 $5
{Hansen,Cu} Qf7 28. Qxa7 c5 29. Qb6 $16) 27... c5 $44 {[%csl Ra7,Rf2] Die
weiße Dame ist vom Kampf am Königsflügel abgeschnitten.} 28. Qa5 (28. Re1 {
Hansen,Cu} Qg7 $1 $132 {A big difference compared to 27.Te1!?}) 28... Qf6 (
28... Re8 $6 29. Re1 $14) 29. Qd2 {Weiß besitzt einen Mehrbauern, aber der
Materialvorteil ist kaum zu verwerten, denn seine Bauern am Königsflügel sind
schwach.} Bh3 {[%csl Rf3,Rf4] '!' Hansen,Cu. Hansen,Cu: 'White has only a
dobled-P more and black is quite active'} 30. Qe3 Rd7 {[%cal Gd7e7,Ge7e3] Der
Turm bereitet die Besetzung der e-Linie vor.} 31. Kg3 (31. Re1 $5 $14 {[%cal
Ge1e8]}) 31... Bxg2 32. Kxg2 Re7 $11 33. Qd2 Re6 {'!' Hansen,Cu. Hansen,Cu:
'Covering d6 and making active use of the open e-<->'} 34. Re1 {Und hier wurde
in gleicher Stellung Remis vereinbart.} (34. Re1 Rxe1 35. Qxe1 Qxf4 36. Qe7+
Kh6 37. Qxb7 Qg5+ {'=' Hansen,Cu.} 38. Kf1 Qc1+ $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2609"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Donev,I"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1999.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Be2
Bb7 9. Bxf6 {Ein feiner Eröffnungszug - der Abtausch auf f6 darf erst nach dem
Entwicklungszug Lb7 gemacht werden. Im Falle eines Abtausches vor dem Zug Lb7
hätte der schwarze Läufer sich später (nachdem Abtausch cxd5 exd5) auf das
bessere Feld e6 entwickeln können. Durch die Aufgabe des Läuferpaars strebt
Weiß danch, den Vorstoß c5 zu vermeiden und wie wir später sehen werden in
einem günstigen Moment selber den Bauer e3-e4 vorzuziehen.} Bxf6 10. cxd5 exd5
11. O-O (11. b4 c5 12. bxc5 bxc5 13. Rb1 Qa5 14. Qd2 cxd4 15. exd4 Ba6 16. Nd1
Re8 17. Ne3 Bd8 18. Qxa5 Bxa5+ 19. Kd1 Re6 20. Bb5 Rb6 21. a4 Bb7 22. Ke2 Nc6
23. Rhc1 Rd8 24. Rc5 Rd6 25. Rbc1 Bb4 26. Kf1 Nd8 27. Ne5 Ne6 28. Nf5 $2 Rd8
29. R5c2 Ba3 30. Ra1 Bf8 31. Rd1 g6 32. Ne3 Bg7 33. Nc6 Bxc6 34. Rxc6 Nxd4 35.
Rxb6 axb6 36. Ke1 Kf8 37. Rc1 Ne6 38. Kd2 Bd4 39. Bc6 Nc5 40. Rb1 Ne4+ $2 (
40... Rd6) 41. Kd3 Bc5 42. Nxd5 Nxf2+ 43. Kc4 Ng4 44. Nxb6 Bxb6 45. Rxb6 Ne5+
46. Kc5 Nxc6 47. Kxc6 Rd2 48. a5 Rxg2 49. a6 Rxh2 50. a7 Ra2 51. Rb8+ Kg7 52.
a8=Q Rxa8 53. Rxa8 f5 54. Kd5 Kf6 55. Ra1 h5 56. Kd4 h4 57. Rh1 g5 58. Ke3 Kg6
59. Kf3 Kh5 60. Ra1 Kg6 61. Ra6+ Kf7 62. Ke3 Kg7 63. Kd4 h3 64. Ke3 Kh7 65. Kf3
Kg7 66. Kg3 g4 67. Rb6 Kf7 68. Kf4 Kg7 69. Ra6 Kf7 70. Ra5 Kg6 71. Rb5 Kh6 72.
Rb6+ Kg7 73. Ra6 Kf7 {1/2-1/2 Safin,M-Donev,I/Plovdiv 1988 (73)}) 11... c6 (
11... Re8 12. b4 c6 13. Qb3 Nd7 14. b5 c5 15. Nxd5 Bxd4 16. Rad1 Be5 17. Bc4
Nf8 18. Rd2 Rc8 19. Nxb6 Qxb6 20. Bxf7+ Kh8 21. Bxe8 Bxf3 22. Qf7 Nh7 23. gxf3
Qb8 24. Bc6 Bxh2+ 25. Kg2 Ng5 26. Qb7 Bc7 27. Rd7 Nh7 28. Rfd1 Nf6 29. Qxb8 {
1-0 Cserna,L-Donev,I/Ruse 1984 (29)}) 12. Re1 Nd7 13. Qb3 Re8 14. Rad1 (14. e4
Nf8 (14... c5 $1) 15. Rad1 Ne6 16. exd5 cxd5 17. Bb5 Re7 18. Qa4 $2 a6 19. Bf1
b5 20. Qb4 Rb8 21. Re3 Ba8 22. g3 a5 23. Qb3 b4 24. Ne2 Bc6 25. Ne5 Bb5 26. Nf4
Nxf4 27. Bxb5 Bxe5 (27... Nh3+ 28. Kg2 Nxf2) 28. dxe5 Nh3+ 29. Kg2 Rxb5 30.
Kxh3 Qc8+ $2 (30... d4) 31. Kg2 Qc4 32. Qxc4 dxc4 33. Rd8+ Kh7 34. Rc8 b3 35.
a3 Rbxe5 36. Rxe5 Rxe5 37. Rxc4 Re2 38. Ra4 Re5 39. Rc4 Kg6 40. Rc3 a4 41. Rc4
Re2 42. Rxa4 Rxb2 43. Rb4 Kf6 44. a4 Ke6 45. a5 Ra2 {1/2-1/2 Miatovic,D-Donev,
I/Elenite BG-ch hf 1986 (45)}) 14... Nf8 15. Bf1 {Weiß hat alle Figuren
harmonisch im Zentrum entwickelt und bereitet den typischen Zentralvorstoß
e3-e4 vor.} Ne6 16. g3 Qc7 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (16... Ng5 17. Nxg5 hxg5 18. h3 Bc8
19. Bg2 Be6 20. Qa4 Bd7 {1/2-1/2 Ristic,N-Mirkovic,S/Igalo 1994/EXT 97 (20)}) (
16... Rc8 17. Bg2 g6 18. Rd2 Bg7 19. Qd1 Qc7 20. b4 c5 21. bxc5 bxc5 22. Ne2
Qa5 23. dxc5 {1/2-1/2 Rajkovic,D-Unzicker,W/BL9192 1992/GER-chT (23)}) 17. e4
Rad8 (17... dxe4 18. Nxe4 Be7) 18. e5 Be7 19. h4 {Bereitet Bh3 vor, von wo er
die Diagonale h3-c8 kontrolliert und um in einem günstigen Moment den Springer
zu tauschen.} c5 20. Bh3 (20. dxc5 Qxc5 (20... Nxc5 21. Qc2 Ne4) (20... d4 21.
cxb6 axb6 22. Nb5 Qc6 23. Bg2 Nc5)) 20... Bf8 21. Ne2 Bc8 22. Kh2 g6 23. a3 Bg7
24. Qc2 Qe7 25. Qd2 Qf8 26. Nf4 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.24"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "34"]
[EventDate "1999.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Rc1
Bb7 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Bd3 c5 12. O-O Nd7 13. Bf5 g6 14. Bxd7 cxd4
15. Bc6 Bxc6 16. Nxd4 Bb7 17. Qa4 Qe7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.25"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D87"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "1999.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 O-O 8.
Ne2 c5 9. O-O Nc6 10. Be3 Bd7 11. Rb1 a6 12. dxc5 Qc7 13. Nd4 Na5 14. Be2 Rfc8
15. f4 e5 16. fxe5 Qxe5 17. Bd3 Qe7 18. Nb3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.26"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Blatny,P"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "1999.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8.
Re1 Bg4 9. c3 f5 10. Qb3 O-O 11. Nbd2 Na5 12. Qa4 Nc6 13. Bb5 Bh4 $5 {Schwarz
provoziert eine Schwächung der weissen Königstellung durch g3 und opfert
gleichzeitig einen Bauer für Initiative.} (13... Nxd2 {--> Anand-Kramnik/
Tilburg/1998/, analysiert in CBM 68.}) 14. g3 ({Natürlich nicht} 14. Nxh4 $2
Qxh4 15. g3 (15. Nxe4 fxe4 {und der schwarze Angriff wird schnell sehr
gefährlich.}) 15... Qf6 {[%csl Rf2,Rf3,Rg2,Rh3][%cal Gf8f2,Gf4g3,Gf5f4] mit
guten Angriffsmöglichkeiten auf der f-Linie. Durch das provozierte g3 sind
jetzt viele wichtige Punkte auf dem weissen Königsflügel stark geschwächt.})
14... Bf6 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16. Qxc6 Re8 17. Ne5 $1 Bxe5 18. dxe5 Ng5 ({Nach} 18...
Rxe5 {kann Weiss mit} 19. f3 $5 {einen Bauern opfern und er bekommt nach
forciertem} Nxd2 20. Bxd2 (20. Rxe5 $4 Nxf3+) 20... Rxe1+ 21. Rxe1 Bxf3 22. Bg5
$5 {die Initiative.Schwarz muss genau antworten mit} ({Interessant ist auch} 
22. Re6 Be4 23. Bg5 Qb8 24. Be3 $1 {aber nach dem richtigen} d4 $1 (24... Qd8
$2 25. Bd4 {und Schwarz ist ganz geklemmt. Weiss droht mit dem einfachen aber
sehr effektiven Plan Te5, De6+, Df7 usw. Nach z.B.} a6 {sieht es so aus:} 26.
Re5 Rb8 27. Qe6+ Kh8 28. Qf7 {[%csl Rg7][%cal Ge5e8,Gd4g7,Gf7g7]} Qf8 29. Qxc7
Rc8 (29... Rxb2 $4 30. Re8 {mit Matt.}) 30. Qe7 Rb8 31. Qxf8+ Rxf8 32. Re7 Rg8
33. Kf2 {mit leichtem technischen Gewinn. Weiss macht sich einfach einen
Freibauer auf dem Damenflügel. Schwarz ist an den g7 auf ewig gefesselt, man
sieht auch die total unterschiedliche Stärke beider Läufer.}) 25. Qc4 $1 Kh8
26. Bxd4 Qxb2 {muss man sich mit Dauerschach nach} 27. Bxg7+ Kxg7 28. Re7+ Kh6
29. Qe6+ Kh5 $8 30. Qf7+ $8 (30. Rxh7+ $4 Kg4 31. Qg6+ (31. Rh4+ Kf3 32. Rf4+
Ke3 $19) 31... Kf3 32. Qh5+ Ke3 33. Qh6+ Ke2 34. Qa6+ Bd3 35. Re7+ Kd2 36. Qh6+
Kc2 $19) 30... Kg4 $8 (30... Kg5 $4 31. Qg7+ Kh5 32. Qxh7+ Kg4 33. Qh4+ Kf3 34.
Qf4+ Ke2 35. Qf2+ $18) 31. Rxe4+ $8 fxe4 32. Qf4+ Kh5 33. Qf5+ ({Das
Damenendspiel nach} 33. Qh4+ Kg6 34. Qxe4+ Kg7 35. Qxa8 Qb1+ 36. Kg2 Qxa2+ {
bringt Weiss nur unnötige Risiken.}) 33... Kh6 34. Qf6+ {begnügen.}) 22... Qb8
$8 (22... Qf8 $2 23. Re7 $40) (22... Qc8 $2 23. Re7 a5 (23... Qf8 24. Qe6+ Kh8
25. Rxg7 $3 $18) 24. Bh6 $3 Ra6 25. Rxg7+ (25. Re8+ $2 Kf7) 25... Kh8 26. Qc5
$1 Rxh6 27. Rxc7 $18) 23. Qe6+ Kh8 24. Re5 $5 (24. Qxf5 Be4 25. Qf2 {mit
weiterem Le3-d4 ist nur minimal besser für Weiss.}) 24... Qb6+ $140 25. Be3
Qxe6 26. Rxe6 {und obwohl Weiss einen Bauern weniger hat, kann er einen
kleinen aber dauernden Endspielvorteil behalten. Auf jeden Fall kann er ohne
Risiko auf Gewinn spielen.}) 19. f4 Nh3+ $1 $146 {Eine starke Neuerung von
Kramnik. Gegen Shirov nur wenige Tage zuvor bei Europa-Cup Finale hat er ohne
Erfolg} (19... Re6 {versucht.} {Nach} 20. Qc5 {ist jetzt} Nh3+ {nicht mehr so
stark, weil Weiss wird mit dem Angriff gegen Te6 (z.B. nach Sb3-d4) ein
wichtiges Tempo gewinnen.} (20... Ne4 {-->Shirov-Kramnik in diesem CBM.}) {
Eine Variante zur Illustration des Unterschieds ist} 21. Kg2 Rb8 22. Nb3 d4 $5
(22... Reb6 23. e6 $18) (22... Rbb6 23. Nd4 $18) 23. Nxd4 (23. c4) 23... Rxb2+
(23... Rbb6 24. c4 Rbd6 $1 (24... Qa8+ 25. Qd5 $18) 25. exd6 $1 Rxe1 26. Be3 $8
Rxe3 (26... Rxa1 $4 27. dxc7 Qc8 28. Qd5+ $18) 27. dxc7 Qc8 28. Qd5+ Kh8 29.
Qd8+ Re8 30. Qxc8 Rxc8 31. Re1 g5 32. Re7 gxf4 33. b4 f3+ 34. Nxf3 f4 35. Ne5
f3+ 36. Kf1 Bf5 37. g4 Rg8 38. Nf7+ Kg7 39. Nd6+ Kf6 40. Rf7+ Ke5 41. Nxf5 Rxg4
42. Ke1 f2+ 43. Ke2 Rxc4 44. Ne3 Rc3 45. Kd2 Rc6 46. b5 $18) 24. Bxb2 Qa8+ 25.
Nc6 $8 Rxc6 26. Qd5+ Kh8 27. Rad1 $1 Bxd1 28. Rxd1 {und Weiss gewinnt.}) 20.
Kg2 Rb8 21. c4 $1 {Weiss hat die gegnerischen Angriffsmöglichkeiten richtig
beurteilt und "zieht die Notbremse" zum Remis.} ({Jetzt wäre} 21. Nb3 {wegen
der bedrohten Stellung des weissen Königs sehr riskant:} Rb6 22. Qc5 d4 $1 {
und wir sehen den grossen Unterschied gegenüber der oben angeführten Variante!
Es droht tödlich Da8, die weisse Antwort ist also erzwungen:} 23. c4 (23. Nxd4
$4 Qa8+ $19) (23. cxd4 $2 Qa8+ 24. d5 Rd8 25. Qc4 Rxd5 {(droht Tb4)} 26. Nd4
Kh8 $19 {und Weiss wird mattgesetzt.}) 23... Kh8 24. Nxd4 (24. Qxd4 $6 Bf3+ $1
({Nicht aber} 24... Qa8+ 25. Qd5 c6 26. Qd6 (26. Qc5 $2 Rb5 $3 27. Qd4 Rd8 $1
$19 (27... c5+ $4 28. Qd5 $18)) 26... Rd8 27. Nc5 $1 {der einzige Weg zum
Blockierung der Diagonale a8-h1} Rxd6 28. exd6 {und alles bleibt noch sehr
unklar.}) 25. Kf1 Qa8 $1 26. Nd2 Rd6 $3 27. Qe3 Rxd2 $3 28. Qxd2 (28. Bxd2 Bg4
$1 $19) 28... Rd8 $1 29. Qc2 Be2+ $3 30. Kxe2 Qg2+ 31. Ke3 Qxc2 {und 32...Td3#}
) 24... Rd6 $3 25. Be3 (25. exd6 Rxe1 26. Be3 cxd6 {und Schwarz gewinnt.})
25... Qa8+ 26. Nc6 Rxc6 27. Qxa7 Rxc4+ 28. Qxa8 Rc2+ 29. Kf1 Rxa8 30. Rac1 (30.
e6 Bf3 31. Rec1 Rxh2 32. Bg1 Rh1 33. Ke1 Rd8 {mit Matt.}) 30... Rxh2 $19 {
und Schwarz gewinnt.}) 21... dxc4 22. Nxc4 (22. Qxc4+ $2 Kh8 {und Weiss hat
grosse Probleme mit der Verteidigung gegen die vielen Drohungen von Schwarz.})
22... Qd3 23. Ne3 ({Ganz schlecht wäre das passive} 23. Nd2 Kh8 $1 24. Qc4 {
, weil Schwarz am einfachsten} Qd8 {spielt, und mit Zugumstellung sind wir bei
der Position nach 22.Dxc4.}) {Schwarz muss jetzt Dauerschach mit} 23... Rxb2+ {
forcieren, anders zB. nach} (23... Kh8 {kommt einfach} 24. Nxg4 fxg4 25. Qe4 {
[%csl Rh3] und Weiss gewinnt. Der Springer h3 ist in dem Endspiel ganz "im
Abseits".}) 24. Bxb2 Qd2+ 25. Kh1 Nf2+ 26. Kg1 ({Nicht aber} 26. Kg2 $4 Nd1+
27. Kg1 Qxe1+ 28. Nf1 Qf2+ 29. Kh1 Qxf1#) 26... Nh3+ 27. Kh1 Nf2+ 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.29"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "1999.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. c3 Bg7 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 O-O 14. Nce3
Be6 15. Bd3 f5 16. O-O Ra7 17. a4 {A relatively new idea. It seems that after
the "old" move 17.Qh5 Black has good attacking prospects.} (17. Qh5 Raf7 18. g4
(18. f4 Ne7 19. Nxe7+ Qxe7 20. Kh1 e4 21. Bc2 b4 22. g4 bxc3 23. bxc3 Kh8 24.
gxf5 Bxf5 25. Rab1 Qa7 26. Nxf5 Rxf5 27. Qe2 Rxf4 28. Rxf4 Rxf4 29. Bxe4 Qe7
30. Bf3 {1/2-1/2 Asrian,K-Rogozenko,D/Elista 1998/CBM 66 ext (30)}) 18... e4
19. Bc2 Ne5 20. Nf4 Bd7 21. Bb3 fxg4 22. Ne6 Bxe6 23. Bxe6 Qf6 24. Bxf7+ Rxf7
25. h3 Qe6 26. hxg4 Rf6 27. Kg2 Nd3 28. Qh4 Nf4+ 29. Kg1 h5 30. g5 Nh3+ 31. Kh1
Rf3 32. Qxh5 Nxf2+ 33. Kg2 Rh3 34. Qe2 Qe5 35. Rg1 Rh2+ 36. Kf1 Nh3 37. Qg4
Nxg1 38. Kxg1 Rxb2 $19 {0-1 Svidler,P-Kasparov,G/ICC m1 1998/CBM 64 ext (50)})
17... Ne7 (17... bxa4 18. Rxa4 a5 $14) (17... b4 $6 18. Qh5 (18. cxb4 $5) 18...
e4 19. Nf4 Bf7 20. Bc4 $14 {Golubev - Nechaev, Donetzk (zt.) 98}) 18. Nxe7+
Rxe7 (18... Qxe7 19. axb5 axb5 20. Rxa7 Qxa7 21. Bxb5 Qc5 22. Ba4 $16) 19. axb5
axb5 20. Bxb5 d5 21. Nc2 $6 {After this move Black is OK.} (21. Ra6 $1 {
White should´ve tried this. In my opinion Black still has to prove the
equality.} f4 $140 22. Rxe6 Rxe6 23. Qxd5 Qxd5 24. Nxd5 {/\25.Bc4.} Kh8 25. f3
{and White has better chances.}) 21... Rb7 22. Bc6 (22. Na3 $6 Qc7 $5 $44 {
/\ 23. ... Rfb8.}) 22... Rxb2 23. Ra8 Qd6 24. Ra6 Qc5 25. Nb4 Qxc3 (25... Rd8
$5 26. Nd3 Qc4 27. Ra4 Qxc6 28. Nxb2 Qxc3 $13) 26. Bxd5 Qxb4 27. Bxe6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.30"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2714"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "24"]
[EventDate "1999.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d3 Nf6 6. d4 Be7 7. Bd3 O-O 8.
O-O Bg4 9. Nbd2 c5 10. h3 Bh5 11. dxc5 dxc5 12. Ne4 Nc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.31"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D49"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1999.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
a6 9. e4 c5 10. e5 cxd4 11. Nxb5 Nxe5 (11... axb5 12. exf6 gxf6 {wurde in den
letzten Jahren häufiger angewandt, aber nach} 13. O-O Qb6 14. Qe2 Ba6 15. Rd1
$1 {(Gelfand-Shirov, Linares 1997) hat Schwarz doch einige Probleme. Darum
wählt Kasparov die alte Hauptvariante.}) 12. Nxe5 axb5 13. Bxb5+ (13. O-O Qd5 {
ist die andere wichtige Variante.}) 13... Bd7 14. Nxd7 Qa5+ 15. Bd2 Qxb5 16.
Nxf8 Rxf8 {Dieser Zug wurde u.a. von Kasparovs heutigem Sekundanten, Yuri
Dokhoian, gespielt. Gegenüber der Alternative 16...Kxf8 kann der weiße Läufer
kein Schach auf b4 geben. Eventuell kann Schwarz auch ...Kd7 nebst ...Rfc8 (...
Rfb8) spielen.} (16... Kxf8 17. a4 Qxb2 $13 (17... Qd3 $2 18. Bb4+)) 17. a4 (
17. b3 Kd7 $5) 17... Qc4 {Die schwarze Dame verhindert die weiße Rochade.} 18.
b3 Qd3 19. Qf3 (19. Qe2 Qxb3 $13 {Ibragimov,I-Lukacs,P (Budapest 1992)}) 19...
Qe4+ $1 (19... Qxf3 20. gxf3 $14 {gemäß Todorovic. Der doppelte f-Bauer
kontrolliert wichtige Felder, besonders das Feld e4.}) 20. Qxe4 Nxe4 21. b4 (
21. Bb4 Rg8 22. Ke2 Kd7 $11 {Sokolov,I-Todorovic,GM (Vrnjacka Banja 1990)})
21... Ke7 22. f3 Nc3 $11 23. Bxc3 dxc3 24. Ke2 Rfd8 25. Rhd1 c2 26. Rdc1 $146 (
26. Rxd8 Rxa4 27. Rc8 Rxa1 28. Rxc2 Rb1 {1/2-1/2 Tkachiev,V-Morovic Fernandez,
I/Porec 1998/EXT 99 (28)}) 26... Rd4 27. Rxc2 Rxb4 28. a5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogovens 5'"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.18"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1999.01.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 b6 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O g6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Qxd4 Bg7 8. Nc3
d6 9. Rd1 Nbd7 10. Be3 O-O 11. Qh4 Rc8 12. Rac1 a6 13. b3 Rc7 14. Bh6 Qa8 15.
Bxg7 Kxg7 16. Qd4 b5 17. cxb5 axb5 18. Nxb5 Rxc1 19. Rxc1 Qxa2 20. Nc3 Qa3 21.
Rb1 Rc8 22. Nd2 e5 23. Qa4 Qxa4 24. Nxa4 Bxg2 25. Kxg2 d5 26. Nf3 d4 27. b4 Nd5
28. Rb2 f6 29. h4 Kf7 30. Rd2 Nxb4 31. Nxd4 Nc5 32. Nb5 Ke7 33. Nd6 Rc6 34.
Nxc5 Rxc5 35. Ne4 Rc4 36. f3 Nc6 37. Ra2 f5 38. Ng5 h6 39. Nh3 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Hoogovens 5'"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1999.01.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bg7 6. h3 b6 7. Nc3 Nh6 8. Be3
f6 9. d4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Bd7 11. Qe2 e5 12. Nf3 Nf7 13. O-O Qe7 14. a4 O-O 15. a5
b5 16. Nd2 Nd8 17. Nb3 Ne6 18. Rfd1 Rfc8 19. f3 Be8 20. Qf2 c5 21. Nd5 Qf8 22.
Nc1 f5 23. exf5 gxf5 24. f4 exf4 25. Nxf4 Nxf4 26. Bxf4 Bxb2 27. Rb1 Bg7 28.
Rb3 Rc6 29. Re3 Rg6 30. Nd3 Bd4 31. Ne5 Rg7 32. Bh6 f4 33. Rxd4 cxd4 34. Re4
Bg6 35. Rxf4 Qd6 36. Bxg7 Kxg7 37. Nxg6 hxg6 38. Rf7+ Kg8 39. Rf6 Qe7 40. Rxg6+
Kh7 41. Qf5 Rf8 42. Qh5# 1-0

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

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

[Event "Hoogovens 5'"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2714"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "1999.01.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 d5 3. Nc3 e6 4. d4 dxc4 5. Bg5 Bb4 6. Qa4+ Nc6 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8.
bxc3 Qd5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Qc2 f5 11. g3 b6 12. Bg2 Bb7 13. O-O O-O-O 14. Nh4
Qd7 15. e4 fxe4 16. Bxe4 Na5 17. Bxb7+ Kxb7 18. Rfe1 Qc6 19. Qe2 Rhe8 20. Qh5
f6 21. Qxh7 e5 22. dxe5 Nb3 23. Rab1 Rxe5 24. Rxe5 fxe5 25. Qe7 Qe4 26. Qxd8
Qxb1+ 27. Kg2 Qe4+ 28. Kh3 Qd3 29. Qxd3 cxd3 30. Nf5 Kc6 31. Kg4 Nd2 32. Ne3
Ne4 33. Nd1 Kd5 34. f3 Nd6 35. h4 Ke6 36. h5 Kf6 37. Ne3 d2 38. Nd5+ Kf7 39.
Ne3 Nc4 40. Nd1 Kf6 41. Kh4 Nxa3 42. g4 Nc4 43. g5+ Kg7 44. Kg4 Nd6 45. f4 exf4
46. Kxf4 a5 47. Ke3 Nc4+ 48. Kd4 b5 49. Kc5 a4 50. Kb4 c5+ 51. Kxb5 a3 52. Kxc4
a2 0-1

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

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

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

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

[Event "Hoogovens 5'"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.18"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1999.01.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. g3 d5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
Bd2 O-O 9. Bg2 Bxc3 10. bxc3 e5 11. Nb5 a6 12. Bc1 Be6 13. c4 Ne7 14. Nd6 Nbc6
15. O-O b6 16. Ba3 Ra7 17. c5 bxc5 18. Ne4 c4 19. Ng5 Qxd1 20. Rfxd1 Rc8 21.
Nxe6 fxe6 22. Rac1 Nd4 23. Kf1 Nb5 24. Bxe7 Rxe7 25. a4 Nd4 26. e3 Nb3 27. Rc3
a5 28. Ke1 Rec7 29. Bf1 Kf7 30. Rd6 Ke7 31. Rb6 e4 32. Rb5 h6 33. h4 g6 34. Be2
Kf6 35. Bf1 Rc6 36. Be2 R6c7 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Event "Hoogovens 5'"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.18"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A12"]
[WhiteElo "2609"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1999.01.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. b3 Bg4 3. Bb2 Nd7 4. e3 c6 5. c4 e6 6. Be2 Ngf6 7. O-O Bd6 8. d3
O-O 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. Nd4 Bxe2 12. Qxe2 g6 13. Rad1 a5 14. Nc2 Bf8
15. Nf3 Bg7 16. Qd2 Nc5 17. Bd4 Ne6 18. Be5 c5 19. Qc3 Rc8 20. h3 b5 21. Qb2
Qe7 22. Rfe1 Nd7 23. Bxg7 Nxg7 24. a4 Rb8 25. axb5 Rxb5 26. Qa3 Ne6 27. d4 Reb8
28. dxc5 Qxc5 29. Qxc5 Ndxc5 30. Ncd4 Rb4 31. Nc6 Rxb3 32. Nxb8 Rxb8 33. Rxd5
Nb3 34. Rd7 Ra8 35. Nd4 Nexd4 36. exd4 a4 37. Ree7 a3 38. Ra7 Rd8 39. Rxa3 Nxd4
40. Raa7 Nc6 41. Red7 Rf8 42. Rac7 Nd8 43. f4 Ne6 44. Rc4 h5 45. g4 hxg4 46.
hxg4 Kg7 47. Kf2 Ra8 48. Re4 Ra2+ 49. Kf3 Ra3+ 50. Re3 Ra4 51. Rxe6 1-0

[Event "Hoogovens 5'"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.18"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1999.01.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 068 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.03.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. Qc2 dxc4 7. Qxc4 a6 8. Qc2
Nc6 9. Be3 Nd5 10. O-O Nxe3 11. fxe3 e5 12. dxe5 Nb4 13. Qe4 Qd5 14. Qf4 Qc5
15. Nd4 Nd5 16. Bxd5 Qxd5 17. Nc3 Qa5 18. e4 c6 19. Nf5 Bb4 20. Nd1 Bxf5 21.
exf5 Rae8 22. Nf2 Bd2 23. Qf3 Qxe5 24. e4 Ba5 25. Kg2 Bb6 26. Rae1 Bxf2 27.
Rxf2 Rd8 28. Qf4 Rfe8 29. Qxe5 Rxe5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 16th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1999.02.21"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1999.02.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 070"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. d4 e6 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Bg2 Ndb4 8. e3
cxd4 9. exd4 Nxd4 10. O-O Nxf3+ 11. Qxf3 Be7 12. Rd1 Qa5 13. a3 O-O 14. Bf4 Nc6
15. b4 Qf5 16. b5 Na5 17. Bc7 Qxf3 18. Bxf3 Nb3 19. Rab1 Nc5 20. a4 a5 21. b6
f6 22. Bd6 Bxd6 23. Rxd6 e5 24. Bd5+ Kh8 25. Rb5 Nd3 26. Be4 Nb4 27. Nd5 Nc6
28. Nc7 Rb8 29. Kg2 f5 30. Bxc6 bxc6 31. Rxe5 f4 32. gxf4 Rxb6 33. Ne6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 16th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1999.02.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "1999.02.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 070"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8.
Re1 Bg4 9. c3 f5 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. Qb3 Na5 12. Qb5 c6 13. Qa4 Bd6 14. Be2 Qc7
15. Ne5 Bxe2 16. Rxe2 b5 17. Qc2 c5 18. Nf1 cxd4 19. cxd4 Qxc2 20. Rxc2 Nc4 21.
Nd3 Rac8 22. f3 Nf6 23. Bg5 h6 24. Bxf6 Rxf6 25. Rac1 Re8 26. b3 Nb6 27. Kf2
1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 16th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1999.02.23"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2714"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1999.02.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 070"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 d5 3. Nc3 c6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 e5 $5 {
Schwarz spielt ...e5, ohne daß die Rochade bereits geschehen ist. Dadurch
ergeben sich für beide Seiten einige neue Möglichkeiten.} (7... O-O 8. O-O e5
9. cxd5 cxd5 10. e4 {führt zu weißem Vorteil.}) 8. cxd5 cxd5 9. Nb5 $5 {
Es wäre interessant zu wissen, was Ivanchuk auf 9.e4 geplant hat bzw. warum
Kramnik dies nicht gespielt hat. Gemäß 'Theorie' steht Weiß dann besser:} (9.
e4 dxe4 (9... exd4 10. Nxd5 Nxd5 11. exd5 Qa5+ 12. Bd2 Qxd5 13. O-O $44 {
Ftacnik}) 10. Nxe4 Bb4+ (10... Nxe4 11. Bxe4 exd4 12. O-O Nf6 13. Bg5 Qc7 14.
Bxf6 Qxc2 15. Bxc2 gxf6 16. Nxd4 $16 {Browne}) 11. Kf1 $16 {1/2-1/2 Browne,
W-Kortschnoj,V/San Francisco 1995/CBM 46/[Ftacnik] (22)}) 9... Bb4+ $5 $146 (
9... Bb8 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Nxe5 Bxe5 12. Bd2 (12. f4 $6 Bb8 13. Bd2 O-O $6 (
13... a6 $1 14. Nd4 O-O $11 {Tsesarsky}) 14. Rc1 Bd7 15. Nc7 Bxc7 16. Qxc7 Qxc7
17. Rxc7 $14 {1-0 Tsesarsky,I-Kaganskiy,G/Israel 1998/CBM 65/[Tsesarsky] (55)})
12... O-O 13. Bc3 $14) 10. Bd2 (10. Kf1 $6 e4 11. Nc7+ Ke7 12. Nxa8 exd3 13.
Qxd3 b6 {und der Na8 geht verloren.}) 10... Bxd2+ 11. Nxd2 {Kritisch erscheint
11.Qxd2:} (11. Qxd2 $5 e4 (11... exd4 12. Qb4 $16) (11... O-O 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13.
dxe5 Ng4 14. f4 $16) 12. Qb4 Qe7 $5 (12... Qb6 13. Nd6+ Kf8 14. Bb5 Kg8 (14...
exf3 15. Nxc8+ $18) 15. Ng5 a6 16. Rc1 $16) (12... exd3 13. Nd6+ Kf8 14. Nxc8+
Ke8 15. Nd6+ Kf8 16. Nf5+ Kg8 17. Ne7+ Kf8 18. Nc6+ $18) 13. Nc7+ (13. Nd6+ Kf8
$17) 13... Kd8 14. Qxe7+ Kxe7 15. Nxa8 exd3 16. Nc7 a6 17. Ne5 Nb6 18. Rc1 $16
{Momentan kommt der weiße Springer nicht raus, aber ich sehe auch nicht, wie
Schwarz an ihn heran kommt.}) 11... O-O 12. Rc1 (12. dxe5 Nxe5) 12... e4 13.
Be2 Nb6 $11 {E scheint mir, als hätte Schwraz seine Probleme jetzt gelöst.} 14.
Qc7 Qxc7 15. Nxc7 Rb8 16. f3 Bd7 17. Nb5 (17. fxe4 dxe4 18. O-O Rbc8 $11 {
/\ ...Nbd5}) 17... exf3 18. gxf3 Na4 {Schwarz wickelt zum Unentschieden ab.}
19. b3 Bxb5 20. Bxb5 Rfc8 21. Rxc8+ Rxc8 22. Bxa4 Rc1+ 23. Kf2 Rxh1 24. Nf1 Kf8
25. Kg2 (25. Kg2 Rxf1 26. Kxf1 Ke7 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 16th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1999.02.25"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E34"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "1999.02.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 070"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 Qxd5 6. Nf3 Qf5 7. Qxf5 exf5 8.
a3 Be7 9. Bg5 Be6 10. e3 c6 11. Bd3 Nbd7 12. O-O h6 13. Bh4 a5 14. Rac1 O-O 15.
Ne2 g5 16. Bg3 Ne4 17. Nc3 Nxc3 18. Rxc3 Nf6 19. Rcc1 Rfd8 20. Rfd1 Rac8
1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 16th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1999.02.26"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D21"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "1999.02.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 070"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 c5 5. Bxc4 a6 6. d5 $146 b5 (6... Nf6 7.
dxe6 Qxd1+ 8. Kxd1 Bxe6 9. Bxe6 fxe6 10. Ng5 Kd7 11. Nc3 $14) 7. Bb3 exd5 (7...
c4 8. dxe6 $1 Bxe6 (8... cxb3 $4 9. exf7+ Ke7 10. fxg8=N+ Rxg8 11. Qxb3 $18) (
8... Qxd1+ 9. Bxd1 Bxe6 10. Nd4 Bd5 (10... Bd7 11. Bf3 Ra7 12. O-O $36) 11. O-O
Nf6 12. Nc3 Bb7 $11)) 8. Qxd5 (8. Bxd5 Ra7 9. e4 Nf6 10. O-O Nxd5 11. exd5 Bd6
$15 {[%csl Rd5]}) 8... Qxd5 9. Bxd5 Ra7 10. e4 Nf6 $11 11. O-O (11. Nc3 b4 12.
Ne2 Nxd5 13. exd5 Rd7 (13... Bb7 14. Nf4 (14. Bf4 Nd7 15. O-O-O) 14... Bd6 15.
O-O O-O $11) 14. Bf4 Bd6 15. Rd1 Bb7 16. O-O O-O $15 {[%csl Rd5]}) 11... Nxd5
12. exd5 f6 $1 13. Nc3 (13. Bf4 Nd7 14. Re1+ Kf7 $11) 13... Kf7 14. Bf4 Nd7 15.
Rfd1 Bb7 16. Rac1 Ra8 17. a4 b4 18. Ne4 Re8 19. Nd6+ (19. Nd6+ Bxd6 20. Bxd6
Rc8 {/\21...Rhd8} (20... Re2 21. Bxc5 Rc8 (21... Rxb2 22. Bd4 Re2 23. Rc7 $16)
22. Bxb4 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Rxb2 24. Ba3 (24. Bc3 Ra2 $11) 24... Ra2 $11 25. Rc7
$140 Ra1+ 26. Bc1 Ke7 $15)) 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Linares 16th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1999.03.01"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2694"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1999.02.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 070"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Bd3 d5 6. Qe2 Qe7 7. O-O Nd6 8.
Re1 Qxe2 9. Rxe2+ Be7 10. Nc3 Be6 11. Nd4 Kd7 12. Nxe6 fxe6 13. Nb5 Nxb5 14.
Bxb5+ c6 15. Bd3 Bf6 16. c3 c5 17. Bb5+ Nc6 18. d3 Rhe8 19. Bf4 a6 20. Bxc6+
Kxc6 21. Rae1 Kd7 22. Be5 Rf8 23. f4 Rae8 24. g3 Bxe5 25. Rxe5 Rf5 26. c4 Rxe5
27. Rxe5 dxc4 28. Rxc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 16th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1999.03.02"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Blatny,P"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "1999.02.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 070"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nxf7 $5 {Obwohl diese Opfer vieleicht nicht
hundertprozentig korrekt ist, kann man Topalov's Mut nur loben. Im heutigen
Spitzenschach mit sehr exzessiven Hausvorbereitungen spielt das
Überraschungsmoment eine immer grössere Rolle. Mir persönlich ist diese Art
von "wirklichem" spielerischen Schach viel sympathischer als die Wiederholung
von langen häuslichen Analysen. Psychologisch gesehen hat Weiss durch diese
"Provokation" im 4. Zug einen kleinen Vorteil (und das sogar gegen Kramnik,
den wahrscheinlich besten Kenner von Russisch!).} Kxf7 5. Nc3 {Ein Blick in
die Datenbank zeigt, dass ein paar schlechtere Züge Schwarz sehr schnell eine
Katastrophe bringen können, auch nach "originellen" Fortsetzung von "Erfinder"
Cochrane:} (5. Bc4+ Ke8 (5... Be6 6. Bxe6+ Kxe6 7. d4 Kf7 8. Qf3 Nc6 9. c3 Be7
10. Bf4 Re8 11. Nd2 Kg8 {Schwarz hat zwar hier die Entwicklung des
"Problemturms h8" optimal gelöst und seinen König in relative Sicherheit durch
die künstliche Rochade gebracht, aber im weiteren Verlauf nutzt Weiss sein
starkes Bauernzentrum und einige gegnerische Fehler zur langsamen "Erstickung"
der schwarzen Stellung.} 12. O-O-O Nd7 $6 (12... a5 $5) (12... Qd7 {/\b5}) 13.
h4 $1 Nf8 14. Qg3 Ng6 $2 (14... Ne6 $142) 15. Bg5 Qd7 16. f4 d5 $6 (16... Nh8
$5 {[%cal Gh8f7,Ge7f8]}) 17. f5 Bxg5 18. Qxg5 Nf8 19. e5 h6 20. Qf4 Nd8 21. g4
Qa4 22. Kb1 c5 23. g5 hxg5 $6 24. hxg5 $18 {Majdanics,I-Duzs,J/Aggtelek 1993/
EXT 97 und Weiss gewann einige Zuege spaeter.}) 6. O-O Nc6 (6... c5 7. h3 Qc7
$6 (7... Nc6) 8. f4 Nc6 9. Nc3 a6 10. a4 Qe7 $6 11. Nd5 $5 Qd8 $2 (11... Nxd5
$142 12. exd5 $140 Qf7 $1) 12. d4 $6 {Damalige Befehl lautete: Zeit ist
wichtiger als Material...} cxd4 (12... Nxd4 $142) 13. e5 $6 Nxd5 (13... dxe5
14. Nxf6+ gxf6 15. Qh5+ Kd7 16. fxe5 Nxe5 {gefolgt von Kc7, Ld6 und Ld7 sollte
Schwarzen zum Gewinn reichen.}) 14. Bxd5 dxe5 15. Bxc6+ bxc6 16. Qh5+ Kd7 17.
fxe5 Kc7 18. Rf7+ Kb8 19. e6 Bd6 20. Bg5 Qb6 21. a5 Qc5 $4 (21... Qb5 $1) 22.
b4 $4 (22. Bf4 $3 Qb4 23. c3 $1 dxc3 24. bxc3 $18) 22... Qe5 $4 (22... Qc3 $1
$19) 23. Bf4 $1 Qxe6 $4 (23... Qxf4 $8 24. Rxf4 Bxf4 25. Re1 {und wegen der
schlecht koordinierten schwarzen Figuren behaelt Weiss einige Gewinnchancen.})
24. Qc5 $1 {Endlich ist diese Komödie der Irrtümer zu Ende!} Qxf7 25. Bxd6+ {
1-0 Cochrane,J-Mohishunder/Calcutta 1848/EXT 99 (25)}) 7. d4 Bg4 8. f3 Bh5 9.
Bg5 Be7 10. Re1 Bf7 11. Qd3 Na5 $6 (11... Bxc4 12. Qxc4 d5 $17) 12. Bb3 $6 (12.
Bxf7+ Kxf7 13. b4 Nc6 14. b5 $44) 12... Nxb3 13. axb3 h6 (13... c6) 14. Bxf6
Bxf6 15. e5 dxe5 16. Qb5+ Kf8 $6 (16... Qd7 $17) 17. dxe5 Bh4 18. g3 Qd4+ $6
19. Kg2 Be7 20. Nc3 Bc5 (20... Qb4) 21. Re2 Kg8 $2 22. Qxb7 Kh7 23. Rd1 $16 {
Hornetz,B-Eske,A/Polch 1993/GER, nach beideseitigen Fehlern Remis im 34. Zug.})
5... c5 {Ein prophylaktischer Zug, Kramnik versucht den Aufbau eines starken
weissen Bauernzentrums zu verhindern. Die Alternativen geben ihm Recht:} (5...
Be7 6. Bc4+ Be6 7. Bxe6+ Kxe6 8. f4 Nc6 (8... Re8 $5 9. d4 Kf7 10. e5 $140 dxe5
11. fxe5 Kg8 $1 12. O-O $1 (12. exf6 Bb4+ 13. Kf2 Qxf6+ $40) 12... Nd5 13. Ne4
$44 (13. Qg4 Nxc3 14. bxc3 (14. Bh6 $4 Qxd4+ $19) 14... Qd5 $15)) 9. d4 d5 $6
10. f5+ Kd7 $2 (10... Kf7 11. e5 Ne4 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Be3 $44) 11. e5 Bb4 12.
O-O $1 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Ne4 14. Qg4 $1 Kc8 (14... h5 15. Qxg7+ Kc8 16. f6 $18) 15.
f6+ Qd7 $2 (15... Kb8 16. Qxg7 b5 (16... Rg8 17. Qxg8 $1 Qxg8 18. f7 Qf8 19.
Bh6 $18) 17. f7 Kb7 18. Ba3 $18) 16. fxg7 $18 {Montavon,G-Pichl,U/Leipzig 1998/
EXT 99}) (5... c6 6. d4 Be7 7. Bc4+ Be6 (7... d5 8. exd5 cxd5 9. Nxd5 Be6 10.
Ne3 Bxc4 11. Nxc4 Nc6 12. c3 $13) 8. Bxe6+ Kxe6 9. O-O Kd7 $6 (9... Rf8 $142 {
[%cal Ge6f7,Gf7g8]}) 10. e5 Ne8 11. Bf4 Kc7 12. Ne4 (12. d5 $1 $44) 12... Qd7 (
12... d5 $1) 13. exd6+ Bxd6 14. Nxd6 Nxd6 15. d5 c5 $6 (15... Rf8 16. Bg3 $44)
16. Re1 Re8 $6 17. Qd2 $36 Na6 $4 18. Qa5+ $18 {Jepson,C-Muller,P/Hallsberg
1991/EXT 97}) 6. Bc4+ Be6 {Fast erzwungen,} ({nach} 6... Ke8 $6 {ist die
weitere schwarze Entwicklung sehr erschwert und der König bleibt im Zentrum,
was ziemlich gefährlich sein kann.}) 7. Bxe6+ Kxe6 8. d4 Kf7 $5 (8... cxd4 9.
Qxd4 Nc6 10. Qc4+ $44) 9. dxc5 Nc6 10. Qe2 $5 (10. cxd6 Bxd6 {gefolgt von Te8
und Schwarz hat seine Figuren schneller mobilisiert als Weiss.}) 10... Qd7 11.
Be3 {Meiner Meinung nach ist hier der Bauer wichtiger als eine Tempo, also} (
11. cxd6 $142 Bxd6 12. Qc4+ $13) 11... dxc5 12. f4 Re8 13. e5 Ng4 14. Rd1 Qf5
15. O-O h5 $1 ({Interessant, aber auch ein bißchen riskant war} 15... Nb4 16.
Bc1 $1 Be7 (16... Nxc2 $2 17. Ne4 $1 ({Staerker als} 17. h3 h5) 17... Nd4 18.
Qc4+ Kg6 (18... Ne6 19. Ng3 $18) 19. Ng3 b5 $8 20. Qd5 Nf6 $8 21. Qb7 (21. Qxd4
cxd4 22. Nxf5 Kxf5 23. exf6 gxf6 $11) 21... Re7 (21... Qd7 $4 22. f5+ $18) 22.
Qa8 Qg4 (22... Re8 23. Qxa7 Re7 24. Qxc5 $18) 23. f5+ Kf7 24. exf6 gxf6 25.
Qd5+ $18) 17. Ne4 h5 18. h3 Nh6 19. a3 Na6 (19... Nc6 20. Qc4+ Kg6 (20... Qe6
$4 21. Ng5+ Bxg5 22. fxg5+ $18) 21. Ng3 Qf7 (21... Qc8 22. f5+ Kh7 23. Bxh6 $18
) 22. e6 Qf6 (22... Qf8 23. Qe4+ Nf5 24. Rd5 Ncd4 25. Nxf5 Nxf5 26. g4 $18) 23.
Qe4+ Nf5 24. Rd5 Ncd4 25. Nxf5 Nxf5 26. g4 hxg4 27. hxg4 Rh4 28. Qxf5+ Qxf5 29.
gxf5+ Kh6 (29... Kf6 $2 30. b4 $18) 30. Rd7 $18 {_|_}) 20. Qc4+ Kf8 21. Ng3 Qg6
22. Rd3 {mit unangenehmen Drohung f5.}) ({Auch} 15... Nxe3 16. Qxe3 Qxc2 {
geht nicht} (16... Nd4 17. Ne4 Kg8 18. c3 $16) {wegen} 17. Rd7+ (17. Ne4 Rd8)
17... Re7 (17... Kg8 18. f5 $3 Nxe5 (18... Rxe5 19. Qf4 $1 {[%csl Rc2,Rf7]
[%cal Gf5f6]} Be7 20. Rd2 $18) 19. Rd5 $16) 18. f5 $3 Qxb2 (18... Rxd7 19. e6+
Ke7 20. exd7+ Kxd7 21. Rf2 $18) 19. Rd2 Qa3 (19... Qb6 $2 20. e6+ Kg8 (20...
Ke8 21. Nd5 Qd8 22. f6 $18) 21. Nd5 Qa5 22. f6 $18) (19... Qb4 20. e6+ Kg8 (
20... Ke8 21. Nd5 Qg4 22. f6 $18)) 20. f6 gxf6 (20... Re6 21. Qh3 $1 Nd4 22.
Rxd4 cxd4 23. fxg7+ Kxg7 24. Qxe6 $18) 21. Qg5 $1 Nxe5 22. Qxf6+ Ke8 23. Qxh8
Ng6 24. Qf6 Bh6 (24... Bg7 25. Qd6 $18) 25. Qf5 $1 {mit entscheidendem
Mattangriff.}) 16. Bc1 Nd4 17. Qc4+ Kg6 (17... Qe6 $5 18. Qa4 (18. Qd3 Be7 19.
Ne4 Rd8 $17) 18... Kg8 19. h3 Nh6 (19... b5 20. Nxb5 Ne2+ 21. Kh1 Ng3+ 22. Kg1
Ne2+ 23. Kh1 Rb8 (23... Ng3+ $11) 24. Rf3 $13) 20. Qxa7 b5 21. a4 $13 (21. Rd2
Nhf5)) 18. h3 Nh6 19. Nb5 a6 (19... Qxc2 $4 20. Rxd4) (19... Nxc2 $5 20. Nxa7 (
20. Nd6 Bxd6 21. Rxd6+ Kh7 22. Qxc5 Qe4 $17) 20... Be7 21. Nb5 $15) 20. Nxd4
cxd4 21. Qxd4 Rc8 $6 (21... Qxc2 $142 22. Rf2 (22. Qb6+ Qc6) 22... Qc6 (22...
Qf5 23. Be3 $15) 23. Qd3+ (23. f5+ Nxf5 24. Qf4 Nh6 $17) 23... Nf5 24. Be3 h4
$17 {_|_}) 22. Qb6+ Kh7 23. Qxb7 Rxc2 24. Be3 (24. Qxa6 $2 Bc5+ $1 (24... Qe4
25. Qd3 Rxg2+ 26. Kh1 Qxd3 27. Rxd3 Re2 28. Rd2 (28. Bd2 Nf5 {[%csl Rg3][%cal
Gh5h4,Gh4g3,Gf5g3]}) 28... Re3 $13) 25. Kh2 Qe4 26. Rd2 (26. Qd3 $4 Rxg2+ 27.
Kh1 Rg1+ 28. Kh2 Qxd3 $19) (26. Bd2 Rd8 $19) 26... Rxc1 27. Rxc1 Qxf4+ 28. Kh1
Qxd2 29. Rxc5 Qe1+ 30. Kh2 Rd8 $1 {[%csl Rh2][%cal Gh6g4,Gd8d1,Ge1h4]} 31. Qa4
Rd2 $19) 24... Qg6 (24... Re2 $5 25. Bd4 Qe4 (25... Re4 26. Qxa6 Rxf4 $13) 26.
Qxe4+ Rxe4 $15) 25. Rc1 $1 Rxc1 (25... Nf5 $5 26. Bf2 $1 (26. Rxc2 Nxe3) 26...
Rxc1 {-- Partie}) 26. Rxc1 Nf5 27. Bf2 h4 28. Rc7 (28. Rc6 Qh5 $132) 28... Ng3
29. Kh2 Nf1+ 30. Kg1 Qb1 31. Bxh4 Bc5+ $1 (31... Bc5+ 32. Rxc5 Ng3+ 33. Kh2 (
33. Kf2 $4 Ne4+ $19) 33... Nf1+ $11) 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Linares 16th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1999.03.05"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2714"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "1999.02.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 070"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3
Nc6 9. Rc1 a6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Bd3 Ba7 12. O-O d4 13. exd4 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 Qxd4
15. Be3 Qh4 16. Bxa7 Rxa7 17. Qa4 Qxa4 18. Nxa4 Be6 19. Be2 Re8 20. Rfe1 Kf8
21. h3 b5 22. Nc5 Bd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 16th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1999.03.06"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D88"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1999.02.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 070"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Ftacnik} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7.
Bc4 c5 8. Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O Bg4 11. f3 Na5 12. Bxf7+ Rxf7 13. fxg4
Rxf1+ 14. Kxf1 cxd4 15. cxd4 e5 16. d5 Nc4 17. Qd3 Nxe3+ 18. Qxe3 Qh4 {If
White manages to consolidate his position (transpose his knight to f3 and
start his d-pawn), he will be obviously better. Black should urgently create
counterplay.} 19. h3 (19. Qg3 Rf8+ 20. Kg1 Qxg3 21. Nxg3 Bh6 22. Rf1 Be3+ 23.
Kh1 Rc8 24. h4 Rc2 25. Rf3 Bc5 {0-1 Tuchtfeld,J-Stephan,A/OLNN 1993 (42)}) (19.
Kg1 $5 {Ftacnik} Qxg4 20. Rc1 Bh6 21. Qxh6 Qxe2 22. h3 $36) 19... Bh6 (19... b6
20. Kg1 Bf8 21. Kh1 Bc5 22. Qd3 Qf6 23. Ng1 Qf2 24. Nf3 Bd6 25. Qa6 Rf8 26. Ng5
Qe3 27. Ne6 Qc3 28. Rg1 Rf7 29. Ng5 Re7 30. Rf1 {1-0 Nenashev,A-Conquest,S/
Open, Groningen NED 1997 (36). The game shows how White can fulfil his plan if
Black plays inaccurately.}) 20. Qd3 Rf8+ 21. Kg1 Qf2+ 22. Kh1 Qe3 $1 {The
exchange of queens is favourable for Black as his king becomes safe and his
queenside pawn advantage becomes important.} 23. Qc4 (23. Qxe3 Bxe3 24. Rd1 Rf2
25. Ng1 Kf7 26. Rd3 Bb6 27. Rf3+ Ke7 28. Rxf2 Bxf2 29. Nf3 Kd6 $11 {1/2-1/2
Kramnik,V-Shirov,A/WCC cand Cazorla 1998 (33)}) 23... b5 $1 (23... Rf2 $2 24.
d6+) 24. Qxb5 Rf2 25. Qe8+ Bf8 $1 $146 {An important improvement comparing to}
(25... Rf8 26. Qe6+ Kh8 27. g5 $1 Bxg5 28. Qxe5+ Bf6 29. Qd6 Bg7 30. Ng1 Qxe4
31. Rc1 $16 {1/2-1/2 Van Wely,L-Shirov,A/EUCup final/Belgrade/1999 (44)}) 26.
Qe6+ (26. d6 $5 {Ftacnik} Qxe2 27. d7 Qxe4 28. Rg1 Rf3 29. Qe6+ Kh8 30. g5 Be7
31. gxf3 Qxf3+ 32. Rg2 Qf1+ 33. Kh2 Qf4+ $11) 26... Kh8 27. d6 Qxe2 (27... Qxe4
28. Rg1 Bxd6 29. Qxd6 Qxe2 {is also a draw}) 28. Qxe5+ Bg7 {'!' Ftacnik.
Ftacnik: 'Kasparov's opening preparation goes to the mindbogling depths. The
world champion knows enough about this long line to be sure not to lose the
game.'} (28... Kg8 {Ftacnik} 29. Qd5+ Kg7 30. d7 Be7 31. d8=Q Bxd8 32. Qxd8
Qxe4 (32... Rf1+ 33. Kh2 $1) 33. Qc7+ $14) 29. Qe8+ Rf8 30. d7 Qd3 31. e5 h6 {
'!' Ftacnik.} 32. e6 Kh7 33. Rg1 Rf3 {'!' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'The main
equalizing idea is connected with the perpetual check to the white king.'} 34.
Qb8 Rxh3+ 35. gxh3 Qe4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 16th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1999.03.07"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2781"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "1999.02.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 070"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Re1 Nxd3 10. Qxd3 c6 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Qb5+ Qd7 13. Qb3 O-O 14. Ne5 Qd8
15. f3 Nd6 16. Nc3 Be6 17. Bf4 Re8 18. Rad1 Qb6 19. Nxd5 Qxb3 20. Nxe7+ Rxe7
21. axb3 Bxb3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 16th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1999.03.09"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C48"]
[WhiteElo "2716"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Tsesarsky,I"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "1999.02.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 070"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 4352]} 1. e4 {Hecht} e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. Bb5 Nd4 5. Ba4 c6 6.
Nxe5 d6 7. Nd3 b5 (7... d5 $2 8. e5 (8. Nxd5 $1 Nxd5 (8... Nxe4 9. Nc3 Qh4 (
9... Nxc3 10. bxc3 (10. dxc3 Qa5 11. Be3 Nf5 12. Bb3 Nxe3 13. Qe2 Bc5 14. Nxc5
Qxc5 15. Qxe3+ Qxe3+ 16. fxe3 $14) 10... Qe7+ 11. Kf1 Ne6 12. Qf3 $16) 10. O-O
Bd6 (10... Bg4 11. Qe1 $1 (11. f3 $2 Bd6 12. h3 Nxc3 13. dxc3 (13. Qe1+ Nce2+
$19) (13. Re1+ Kf8 14. dxc3 Nxf3+ $19) 13... Nxf3+ $19) 11... Bf3 (11... Nf3+
12. gxf3 Bxf3 13. Nxe4 O-O-O 14. Bxc6 Qh3 15. Nf4 Qg4+ 16. Ng3 Bxc6 17. d3 g5
18. Ng2 Qf3 19. Ne3 $18) 12. Qe3 Bd6 13. g3 Qh3 14. Ne1 $18) 11. g3 Nxc3 (11...
Nxg3 12. hxg3 Bxg3 13. Qe1+ $1 $18) 12. dxc3 Nf3+ 13. Qxf3 Qxa4 14. Re1+ Be6
15. b3 $16) 9. exd5 b5 10. Bb3 Qe7+ 11. Kf1 Nxb3 12. axb3 cxd5 13. Nf4 Bb7 14.
d4 $16) 8... Ne4 9. O-O b5 10. Bb3 a5 11. a4 b4 12. Ne2 Nxb3 13. cxb3 Ba6 14.
Ndf4 d4 (14... g5 15. Nh3 Nc5 16. d4 Ne6 (16... Bxe2 $6 17. Qxe2 Nxb3 18. e6 $1
(18. Bxg5 Nxd4 19. Qd3 Qb6 20. Be3 c5 21. Bxd4 cxd4 $16) 18... Qf6 19. Bxg5 $16
) 17. Be3 c5 18. dxc5 d4 (18... Rc8 19. Rc1 g4 20. Nhf4 Nxf4 21. Nxf4 Bxf1 22.
Kxf1 $16) 19. Nxd4 Nxd4 20. Qxd4 Bxf1 21. Qxd8+ Rxd8 22. Kxf1 h6 $132) 15. d3
Nc5 16. Ng3 $132 {1-0 Movsesian,S-Lalic,B/Elista RUS 1998 (23)}) 8. Bb3 a5 9.
a3 d5 (9... Qb6 $2 $16 10. Nf4 {[%csl Gc1][%cal Gd2d3] 1-0 Najer,E-Gutov,A/
Moscow 1999/CBM 70_07/[Tsesarsky] (27)}) (9... Ba6 10. Ba2 (10. Nf4 b4 11. Nce2
Nxb3 12. cxb3 Nxe4 13. Qc2 Nc5 14. d4 Nd7 15. Qxc6 Bxe2 16. Nxe2 Rc8 17. Qd5
Be7 18. O-O $16) 10... b4 11. Ne2 Qb6 (11... Nxe2 12. Qxe2 bxa3 13. bxa3 Qe7
14. f3 Rb8 15. Rb1 Rxb1 16. Bxb1 $16) 12. axb4 axb4 13. Bc4 $1 $16 {1-0
Olaizola Ortega,L-Lezcano Jaen,P/Linares ESP 1998 (30)}) (9... Nxb3 $5 10. cxb3
Be7 11. O-O O-O 12. Nf4 Ba6 13. Re1 b4 14. axb4 axb4 15. Na4 Re8 16. d3 Bf8 $14
{1-0 Yin Hao-Stern,R/Rotterdam NED 1998 (65)}) 10. e5 Ne4 11. O-O Nc5 12. Nxc5
Bxc5 13. Kh1 O-O 14. Ne2 a4 15. Ba2 f6 16. Nxd4 (16. exf6 $2 Qxf6 17. Ng3 Qh4
18. d3 (18. c3 Bg4 19. f3 Bd6 20. fxg4 Bxg3 21. h3 Nc2 $1 22. Rb1 Rxf1+ 23.
Qxf1 Re8 $19) 18... Bg4 19. f3 Bd6 20. Bg5 Qxg5 21. Ne4 Qh6 22. Nxd6 Bxf3 23.
gxf3 Qxd6 $17) 16... Bxd4 17. c3 Bxe5 18. d4 $11 Bb8 (18... Bd6 $11) 19. Bb1 {
Almost complete symmetry!} Ra7 20. Qf3 {[%cal Gc1f4]} (20. Qh5 g6 21. Qf3 g5) (
20. Bd3 Re7 21. Re1 $11) 20... g5 $1 {[%csl Rf4]} 21. Qh5 Qe8 $15 22. Qxe8 Rxe8
23. Bd3 (23. Be3 Rae7 24. Bd3 Kg7 (24... Bg4 25. h3 Bh5 26. Rae1 (26. g4 Bg6
27. Bxg6 hxg6 28. Kg2 Bd6 (28... f5 29. Bxg5 Re2 30. Rab1 Bd6 (30... Rc2 31.
Rfe1 Rxe1 32. Rxe1 Rxb2 33. Re8+ $18) 31. Kf3 Rc2 32. gxf5 gxf5 33. Rfc1 Ree2
34. Rxc2 Rxc2 35. Rg1 Kf7 36. Bc1 $14) 29. Kf3 Kf7 30. Rh1 $11) 26... Kg7 27.
Bd2 Be2 28. Bxe2 Rxe2 29. g4 Bf4 30. Rxe2 Rxe2 31. Bxf4 gxf4 $19) 25. Bd2 (25.
Rfe1 Bf4 $17)) 23... Bg4 24. Bd2 Be2 (24... Rae7 25. Rfe1 (25. Rae1 Be2 $17 {
[%csl Rf1]}) 25... Be2 26. Bf5 {Like in this game.}) 25. Rfe1 Rae7 26. Bf5 $1
Kg7 (26... Bd6 27. Kg1 c5 28. Be3 Bc4 29. dxc5 Bxc5 30. Bd7 $3 Rxd7 31. Bxc5
$11) 27. Kg1 h5 28. g3 $1 {[%csl Gf4] f4 is very important square!} (28. h3 Bd6
{[%cal Gc6c5]} 29. Be3 Bc4 30. g4 (30. g3 Bxg3 $17) 30... hxg4 (30... h4 31.
Kg2 Bf4 32. Kf3 $11) 31. hxg4 Bf4 32. Kg2 Bxe3 33. Rxe3 Rxe3 34. fxe3 Rxe3 $17)
28... Bd6 29. Be3 Bg4 30. Bd3 Bf3 31. Bd2 Be4 32. Bxe4 Rxe4 33. Rxe4 Rxe4 34.
Re1 g4 (34... Rxe1+ 35. Bxe1 Kg6 36. f3 g4 37. Kf2 Kf5 38. Bd2 c5 39. dxc5
Bxc5+ 40. Be3 $11) 35. Kg2 f5 36. f3 Rxe1 (36... gxf3+ 37. Kxf3 Kg6 (37... h4
38. Rf1 Kg6 (38... hxg3 39. hxg3 $11) 39. Bf4 Bxf4 40. gxf4 $11) 38. Re2 $11)
37. Bxe1 {Hecht: '[#] Gleichfarbige Läufer mit dem schlechten weißen Läufer.'}
f4 (37... Kf6 38. f4 h4 39. Kf2 h3 40. Ke3 c5 41. Kd3 Ke6 (41... b4 42. cxb4 (
42. dxc5 bxa3 43. bxa3 Bxc5 $19) 42... cxb4 43. axb4 (43. Bxb4 Bxf4 44. gxf4 g3
$19) 43... Ke6 44. Kc2 $1 (44. Bd2 Kd7 45. Kc2 Kc6 46. b3 a3 47. Kb1 Kb5 48.
Ka2 Bxb4 49. Be3 Be1 50. Bg1 Kb4 51. Be3 Bxg3 $19) (44. b5 Kd7 45. Ke3 Kc7 46.
Ba5+ Kb7 47. Kf2 (47. Bd8 Bb4 48. Ke2 Bc3 $19) 47... Bc7 48. Bxc7 Kxc7 49. Ke3
Kb6 50. Kd3 Kxb5 51. Kc3 Ka5 $19) 44... Kd7 45. b3 a3 46. Kb1 Kc6 47. Ka2 Kb5
48. Kxa3 $11) 42. Bf2 cxd4 43. Kxd4 (43. Bxd4 Kd7 (43... Bxf4 $4 44. gxf4 g3
45. Bg1 $18)) 43... Bb8 44. Kd3 Kd7 45. Be3 Kc6 46. Bf2 Bd6 47. Be3 Bc5 48. Bd4
$11 (48. Bxc5 Kxc5 49. Kd2 Kc4 50. Kc2 d4 51. cxd4 Kxd4 52. Kd2 Kc4 53. Kc2 b4
54. axb4 Kxb4 55. Kd2 Kb3 56. Kc1 a3 57. bxa3 Kxa3 58. Kc2 Kb4 (58... Ka2 59.
Kc3 Kb1 60. Kd4 Kc2 61. Ke5 Kd2 62. Kxf5 $18) 59. Kd3 Kc5 60. Kc3 $11)) 38. Bd2
$1 (38. h3 $2 h4 $1 39. hxg4 fxg3 $17) (38. gxf4 $2 Bxf4 $17 {[%csl Rb2]})
38... fxg3 39. hxg3 Kg6 40. fxg4 hxg4 {Hecht: '[#]'} 41. Bf4 (41. Be1 {Hecht}
Kf5 42. Kf2 Ke4 43. Ke2 c5 44. dxc5 (44. Bf2 cxd4 45. cxd4 Bc7 $19 {[%csl Rd4]
[%cal Rc7b6]}) 44... Bxc5 45. Bd2 Bd6 46. Be1 Be5 47. Bf2 b4 48. axb4 (48. Be1
b3 49. Bf2 Bxc3 $19) (48. cxb4 Bxb2 49. b5 Bxa3 50. Ba7 (50. b6 Bd6 51. b7 d4
$19) 50... d4 51. b6 Bc5 $19) 48... Bxc3 49. bxc3 a3 $19) 41... Be7 (41... Bxf4
42. gxf4 Kf6 43. Kf2 $11) 42. Kf2 c5 (42... Kf5 43. Ke3 c5 44. dxc5 Bxc5+ 45.
Kd3 Bb6 46. Bd6 Bf2 $11 (46... d4 47. cxd4 Ke6 48. Be5 Kd5 49. Ke3 Kc4 50. Ke4
Kb3 51. d5 $16)) 43. dxc5 (43. Ke3 {Hecht} c4 44. Ke2 Kf5 45. Ke3 Bd8 $22 {
Ist das wahr?!} 46. Kf2 (46. Bb8 Bg5+ 47. Ke2 Bc1 {[%csl Rb2]}) (46. Bh6 Bc7
47. Bf4 Bxf4+ 48. gxf4 g3 49. Kf3 g2 50. Kxg2 Kxf4 51. Kf2 $11) 46... Ke4 47.
Ke2 Be7 48. Be3 Bd6 49. Bf2 $11 {Der Läufer pendelt zwischen f2 und e1;
ansonsten zwischen e3 und d2.}) 43... Bxc5+ 44. Be3 Bd6 45. Bf4 Bc5+ 46. Be3
Bf8 (46... Bd6 47. Bf4 $11) 47. Bf4 Kf5 48. Ke3 Bg7 (48... Bc5+ 49. Kd3 $11)
49. Kd3 Bf6 50. Bb8 Ke6 51. Bf4 Bg7 52. Bb8 d4 53. cxd4 Kd5 54. Ba7 Bh6 55. Bb8
Bg7 (55... Bc1 56. Kc3 Be3 57. Be5 Bc1 $11) 56. Ba7 Bf8 57. Bb8 b4 58. axb4
Bxb4 59. Bf4 Be1 60. Be5 Bf2 61. Kc3 Be1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 16th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1999.03.10"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2694"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1999.02.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 070"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.06.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 e6 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 7. d4 {Already in
itself a small surprise, as Kramnik in this position almost exclusively played
7.Re1.} cxd4 8. Qxd4 O-O 9. Rd1 ({Less promising is} 9. Bf4 Nc6 $1 (9... d6 10.
Qd2 Qc8 11. Rac1 Rd8 12. Rfd1 a6 13. Qe3 Qc7 14. Bh3 Qc5 15. Nd5 $1 Bxd5 16.
cxd5 Qxe3 17. Bxe3 Nxd5 18. Rxd5 $3 exd5 19. Bxb6 Rf8 20. b4 f5 21. Be3 Nd7 22.
Rc7 Rad8 23. Nd4 Bf6 24. Ne6 g6 25. Bg2 d4 26. Bh6 $18 {Nikolic,P-Van Wely,L/
NLD-ch Rotterdam/1998/}) 10. Qd2 Na5 11. b3 d5 $11) 9... Nc6 {Black opts for a
slightly different setup, as the classical "Hedgehog" position can't already
be reached so easily.} (9... d6 10. b3 Nbd7 (10... a6 $6 11. Ba3 $36) 11. e4 a6
$6 (11... Qc8 $142 $5 $13) 12. Ba3 Nc5 13. e5 dxe5 14. Qxd8 $1 Rfxd8 15. Nxe5
$16) 10. Qf4 Qb8 11. b3 Rd8 {In this sub-variation Black intends to realize a
d7-d5 push at a suitable moment, so he avoids the typical, but rather passive}
(11... d6 12. Bb2 Rd8 13. Rd2 a6 14. Rad1 h6 15. h4 Ra7 $6 16. g4 $1 Ne5 17. g5
hxg5 18. hxg5 Ng6 19. Qd4 Bxf3 20. Bxf3 Ne8 21. Qe3 d5 22. Na4 b5 23. cxd5 bxa4
24. dxe6 Rxd2 25. exf7+ Kxf7 26. Rxd2 $40 {Konopka,M-Behrens,H/BL2-N/1993/})
12. Bb2 h6 $5 $146 {A potentially useful move, which prevents a possible
Ng5-e4 and guards Black from possible back-rank mates after the position opens.
} (12... a6 $6 {><b6} 13. Rac1 Qxf4 14. gxf4 Na5 15. Na4 $1 Rab8 16. Be5 d6 17.
Bc3 Nd7 18. Nd4 Bf8 19. Nxb6 $1 Nxb3 20. Nxd7 Nxd4 21. Bxd4 Rxd7 22. Rb1 d5 23.
cxd5 exd5 24. Bh3 Re7 25. Rb6 Rbe8 26. e3 a5 27. a4 $16 {Cebalo,M-Hulak,K/
JUG-chT/1989/}) (12... Na5 13. Qxb8 Raxb8 14. Nb5 d5 $5 (14... a6 $6 15. Nd6
Bc6 16. Ne5 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Rf8 18. g4 Nc6 19. g5 Nxe5 20. Bxe5 Nh5 21. Ne4 Rb7
22. Bd6 Bxd6 23. Rxd6 Rc8 24. Rad1 Rcc7 25. c5 $1 $16 {Stangl,M-Kholmov,R/Brno/
1991/}) 15. cxd5 a6 16. Nc3 Nxd5 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. Rac1 $14 {1/2,Panno,O-Keres,
P/Amsterdam ct/1956/}) ({The most played alternative is the immediate} 12...
Qxf4 13. gxf4 Na5 (13... d6 $143 $6 14. Nd4 Rac8 15. f5 $1 Nxd4 16. Bxb7 Rc7
17. fxe6 fxe6 18. Bg2 Nc6 19. Nb5 Rcc8 20. Bxc6 Rxc6 21. Nd4 Rcc8 22. Nxe6 Re8
23. e3 {1-0,Hergott,D-Chow,A/Toronto/1998/}) {Maybe the most best is} 14. Nd4
$5 (14. Rac1 d5 15. cxd5 Nxd5 16. Nxd5 Bxd5 17. Ne5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 f6 19. Rxd8+
Rxd8 20. Nd3 Rd7 21. Rc8+ Kf7 22. Kf3 Nb7 23. Bc3 Nd6 24. Ra8 Nb5 25. Bb2 Rd8
26. Rxd8 Bxd8 27. Nb4 Bc7 28. Nc6 $14 {/=Sanguineti,R-Bolbochan,J/Buenos Aires/
1958/ A very similar position arose in our game. Despite the fact White's R is
better placed on the c-file (Kramnik had to lose a tempo to get it there)
White's advantage remains very small and careful defence should neutralize it.}
) ({N moves promise White somewhat more:} 14. Ne5 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 d6 16. Nf3 Ne8
(16... Rac8 $142 $132) 17. Rd2 Rac8 18. Rad1 Nc6 19. Ba3 d5 20. Bxe7 Nxe7 21.
e4 Nf6 22. exd5 exd5 23. Ne5 Kf8 24. Nxd5 Nexd5 25. cxd5 Ne4 26. Rd4 $16 {
Najdorf,M-Unzicker,W/Moscow/1956/}) (14. Ne1 Rac8 15. Nc2 d5 $6 16. cxd5 Nxd5
17. Bxd5 exd5 18. Rac1 Bf6 19. Nb4 d4 20. Ncd5 Nc6 21. Nxf6+ gxf6 22. Nxc6 Rxc6
23. Rxc6 Bxc6 24. Bxd4 Bb5 25. Kf1 h5 26. f3 f5 27. Kf2 $16 {Panno,O-Schweber,
S/Buenos Aires/1968/}) (14. Ng5 h6 15. Bxb7 Nxb7 16. Nge4 Nxe4 17. Nxe4 f5 18.
Nc3 Bf6 19. Rab1 d5 20. cxd5 Bxc3 21. Bxc3 Rxd5 22. Rxd5 exd5 23. Be5 Nc5 24.
Rd1 Rd8 25. h4 Kf7 26. Kg2 Ne6 27. e3 Rd7 28. Rc1 Nf8 29. Kf3 Ne6 30. Rc6 d4
31. exd4 Nxd4+ 32. Bxd4 Rxd4 33. Rc7+ Kg6 34. Rxa7 Rd2 $132 {Lengyel,L-Pachman,
L/Venice/1967/}) 14... Bxg2 (14... d5 $143 $6 15. cxd5 Nxd5 16. Nxd5 Bxd5 17.
Nf5 $1 Bf8 18. Bxd5 exd5 19. Rd3 $1 f6 20. Rad1 Rac8 21. Ne3 Kf7 22. Rxd5 Rxd5
23. Rxd5 Rc7 24. Rd3 Nb7 25. Kg2 $16 {Karpov,A-Andersson,U/Marostica m/1989/})
15. Kxg2 d5 16. cxd5 Nxd5 17. Nxd5 Rxd5 18. e4 Rdd8 19. Rac1 a6 20. f5 Bg5 21.
Rb1 exf5 22. Nxf5 g6 23. h4 gxf5 24. hxg5 fxe4 25. Bf6 $44 {|^,Benko,P-Saidy,A/
New York/1969/}) ({Black can of course even now play} 12... d6 $14) 13. Rd2 (
13. Rac1 $5 {See the practical examples above-the R is usefully placed on c1.}
Qxf4 14. gxf4 $14 {/\} Nh5 15. e3 g5 16. fxg5 hxg5 17. Ne5 Nf6 18. Nb5 $36)
13... Qxf4 14. gxf4 Na5 15. Rad1 (15. Rc1 d5 16. cxd5 Nxd5 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 $132)
15... d5 16. cxd5 Nxd5 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. Ne5 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Rxd2 20. Rxd2 Kf8
21. Rc2 (21. Bc3 $5 Ke8 (21... Rd8 22. Bxa5 bxa5 23. Rc2 $36 {[%csl Ra5,Ra7] ק
}) (21... Rc8 22. Bxa5 bxa5 23. Rd7 $36) 22. Bxa5 $14) 21... Ke8 {[%mdl 256]
White still has a slight advantage due to his more active pieces, but by
careful defence Leko manages to shake off the pressure without making any
significant positional concessions.} 22. Kf3 (22. Rc7 Bd6 $1 {/\} 23. Rxf7 $4
Bxe5 $19) 22... Rd8 23. Nd3 (23. Rc7 f6 24. Ng6 Rd7 $11) 23... f6 24. b4 Nb7
25. a4 Rd5 $5 (25... Kd7 26. e4 $5 Rc8 27. Rxc8 Kxc8 28. f5 $14 {><g7}) 26. Rc7
(26. b5 Kd7 {/\g5,Rh5<=> Black has activated his pieces and has nothing to
fear.}) 26... Rd7 27. Rc8+ Rd8 28. Rc7 Rd7 29. Rc8+ Rd8 30. Rxd8+ (30. Rc3 $5 {
/\} Rd5 31. e4) 30... Kxd8 $11 31. b5 Nc5 32. Nxc5 $8 Bxc5 33. e4 Ke7 34. f5 (
34. Kg4 $2 Bxf2) 34... h5 $1 {Despite the potential vulnerability of Black's
Pa7 and Pg7 the _|_ is an easy draw, as White has no way to penetrate.} 35. Bc1
Bd6 36. h3 (36. Bf4 $2 exf5 37. exf5 Bxf4 38. Kxf4 Kd6 $19) 36... Kf7 37. Ke2
g6 38. fxg6+ (38. fxe6+ Kxe6 $11) 38... Kxg6 39. Kd3 f5 40. f3 (40. Be3 Kf6 {
/\e5,f4}) 40... Kf6 41. Be3 f4 42. Bf2 e5 (42... e5 43. a5 Bc7 44. Kc4 Ke6 $11)
1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris Arthur Andersen sim 30'"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1999.03.14"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Cosson, Jeoffray"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B05"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2185"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1999.03.14"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Nb6 5. Be2 Nc6 6. exd6 exd6 7. c4 Bg4 8.
O-O Be7 9. b3 O-O 10. Nbd2 Bf5 11. Ba3 Bf6 12. Bb2 Re8 13. Re1 Nd7 14. Nf1 Nf8
15. Ne3 Ne7 16. g4 Be4 17. g5 Neg6 18. gxf6 Qxf6 19. Nd2 Nh4 20. Nxe4 Rxe4 21.
Nf1 Rae8 22. Ng3 Rxe2 23. Rxe2 Qf3 24. Qf1 Rxe2 25. Nxe2 Ne6 26. Ng3 1-0

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

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

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

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

[Event "Paris Arthur Andersen sim 30'"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1999.03.14"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karr, Jean Philippe"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2347"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "1999.03.14"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 dxc4 7. Nxc6 Qxd1+
8. Nxd1 bxc6 9. Ne3 e6 10. Bg2 Nd5 11. Nxc4 Ba6 12. b3 Bb4+ 13. Bd2 Ke7 14. Rc1
Rac8 15. Bxb4+ Nxb4 16. a3 Nd5 17. Na5 c5 18. O-O Rhd8 19. Bf3 Ke8 20. Rc2 Rc7
21. Rfc1 Rdc8 22. e4 Nb6 23. Rc3 Ke7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris Arthur Andersen sim 30'"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1999.03.14"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "NN"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "31"]
[EventDate "1999.03.14"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O e6 7. e4 d6 8. d4
cxd4 9. Nxd4 Ne5 10. f4 Ned7 11. Re1 h6 12. e5 Bxg2 13. exf6 Bb7 14. Rxe6+ fxe6
15. Qh5+ g6 16. Qxg6# 1-0

[Event "Paris Arthur Andersen sim 30'"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "1999.03.14"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Silva, S."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1999.03.14"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. e3 Bb7 8. b4
a5 9. Bb2 axb4 10. axb4 Rxa1+ 11. Bxa1 d6 12. Nf3 Nbd7 13. Be2 Ne4 14. Qb3 f5
15. O-O g5 16. Qb2 Qa8 17. d5 e5 18. Bd3 Qd8 19. Bxe4 fxe4 20. Nd2 Nf6 21. Qc2
Qd7 22. Nxe4 Nxe4 23. Qxe4 Qf5 24. Qxf5 Rxf5 25. e4 Rf8 26. c5 Ba6 27. Rc1 Bd3
28. cxd6 cxd6 29. f3 Ra8 30. Bc3 Ra2 31. b5 Ra4 32. Bd2 h6 33. Rc6 Ra2 34. Be3
Ra1+ 35. Kf2 Ra2+ 36. Kg3 Bxb5 37. Rxd6 Kg7 38. Rxb6 Bf1 39. Kg4 Bxg2 40. Bc5
Ra8 41. Re6 Rb8 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Be2
Bb7 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. b4 c6 12. Qb3 a5 13. bxa5 Rxa5 14. Rb1 Nd7
15. O-O Be7 16. a4 Bd6 17. e4 dxe4 18. Nxe4 Bc7 19. Rfe1 Nf6 20. Bd3 c5 21.
dxc5 Nxe4 22. Bxe4 Bxe4 23. Rxe4 Rxc5 24. g3 Qf6 25. Kg2 Rc3 26. Qd1 Qc6 27.
Qe2 Rc2 28. Qe3 Rc3 29. Qe2 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Event "Amber-blindfold 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2726"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. d4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 g6 7. e4 Bg7 8.
Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qxa2 12. O-O Bg4 13. Be3 Nc6 14. d5
Na5 15. Bg5 Qa3 16. Bd2 Bc3 17. Bc1 Qd6 18. e5 Qd7 19. Bd2 Rfc8 20. Bxc3 Rxc3
21. Qd4 Bxf3 22. Bxf3 Rc4 23. Qe3 b6 24. e6 Qd6 25. exf7+ Kg7 26. Rfe1 Rf8 27.
Qxe7 Qxe7 28. Rxe7 Rxf7 29. d6 Rd4 30. Rc1 Rxd6 31. Rxf7+ Kxf7 32. Rc7+ Kg8 33.
Rxa7 Nc6 34. Rb7 Nd4 35. Be4 Ne6 36. g3 Nc5 37. Rb8+ Kg7 38. Bf3 Rf6 39. Be2
Ne4 40. Rb7+ Rf7 41. Rxb6 Nxf2 42. Bc4 Rc7 43. Kxf2 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Amber-blindfold 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.24"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "140"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. Qa4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Nd5 8.
Bxb4 Ndxb4 9. a3 b5 10. Qd1 Nd5 11. e4 Nb6 12. Nc3 a6 13. O-O O-O 14. Qd2 Bb7
15. Rad1 Qe7 16. h4 Rad8 17. Qe3 b4 18. axb4 Nxb4 19. Rd2 Nd3 20. Rfd1 a5 21.
Ne5 Nb4 22. Bf1 Ba6 23. h5 f6 24. Nf3 Bb7 25. Ra1 a4 26. Be2 Bc6 27. Rad1 Ra8
28. Ra1 Ra5 29. Ne1 Bb7 30. Ra3 h6 31. g4 Rd8 32. Na2 Nxa2 33. Rxa2 c5 34. Nf3
cxd4 35. Nxd4 Raa8 36. Ra1 Qc5 37. Rad1 a3 38. bxa3 Rd6 39. Nc2 Qxe3 40. Nxe3
Rxd2 41. Rxd2 Bxe4 42. Rd6 Nd5 43. Rxe6 Nf4 44. Rxe4 Nxe2+ 45. Kf1 Nc3 46. Rxc4
Rxa3 47. Rc8+ Kh7 48. Rc7 Nb5 49. Rb7 Nd6 50. Rd7 Ra6 51. Nd5 Kg8 52. Ne7+ Kf8
53. Ng6+ Kg8 54. Kg2 Nf7 55. f4 Ra8 56. Kf3 Re8 57. Ne7+ Kf8 58. Nf5 Rd8 59.
Ra7 Re8 60. Nh4 Nh8 61. Rc7 Re7 62. Rc5 Re8 63. Rc3 Nf7 64. Ng6+ Kg8 65. Rc7
Nh8 66. Re7 Rxe7 67. Nxe7+ Kf7 68. Nf5 Kf8 69. Ke4 Nf7 70. Kd5 Nd8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.26"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nikolic, Predrag"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2633"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 c5 5. O-O g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4
d6 9. Rd1 Nbd7 10. Qh4 h6 11. Be3 Rc8 12. Rac1 g5 13. Qd4 O-O 14. Qd3 Bxf3 15.
exf3 Ne5 16. Qe2 Nxc4 17. Bd4 e5 18. Nb5 Qd7 19. b3 Qxb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.27"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2691"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3
Nc6 9. Rc1 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Qxd1+ 11. Kxd1 Bd7 12. Ke2 Rfd8 13. Rhd1 Ne7 14. Nb5
Ned5 15. Bxd5 Bxb5+ 16. Bc4 Rxd1 17. Kxd1 Bxc4 18. Rxc4 Bb6 19. Ke2 Nd5 20. Be5
f6 21. Bd4 Bd8 22. b3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.28"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Lautier, Joel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D26"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2596"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 e6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. Qe2 cxd4 7. exd4 Be7 8.
O-O Nc6 9. Rd1 O-O 10. Nc3 Na5 11. Bd3 b6 12. Bg5 Bb7 13. Ne5 Rc8 14. Rac1 Nd5
15. Qh5 g6 16. Nxg6 fxg6 17. Bxg6 hxg6 18. Qxg6+ Kh8 19. Qh5+ Kg8 20. Qg6+ Kh8
21. Rd3 Bxg5 22. Rh3+ Bh4 23. Qh6+ Kg8 24. Qg6+ 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Amber-rapid 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.17"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2571"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Nc7 7. d3 e5 8. O-O
Be7 9. Nd2 O-O 10. Nc4 f6 11. f4 exf4 12. gxf4 Be6 13. f5 Bf7 14. Qb3 b5 15.
Bxc6 bxc4 16. dxc4 Rb8 17. Qa4 Qd4+ 18. Kh1 Rb4 19. Qd1 Bxc4 20. Bf4 Rb6 21.
Bg2 Nb5 22. Na4 Ra6 23. b3 Bf7 24. Bb7 Ra5 25. Qd2 Nd6 26. Bg2 Ra6 27. Be3 Qxd2
28. Bxd2 Rc8 29. Rfc1 c4 30. Bb4 cxb3 31. axb3 Bxb3 32. Nc5 Rxa1 33. Rxa1 Bf7
34. e4 Nb7 35. Na6 Bxb4 36. Nxb4 a5 37. Nd3 Rd8 38. Nf2 Rd7 39. Bf1 Bb3 40. Bb5
Rc7 41. Ra3 Bc2 42. Kg2 Rc5 43. Bd3 Nd6 44. Kf3 Bxd3 45. Nxd3 Rb5 46. Ra4 Kf7
47. h4 g6 48. fxg6+ hxg6 49. Kf4 Ke7 50. e5 fxe5+ 51. Nxe5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. a4 Nc6 8. Qe2
Qc7 9. Nc3 Bd6 10. Bd2 O-O 11. d5 exd5 12. Nxd5 Nxd5 13. Bxd5 Rd8 14. h3 Bh2+
15. Nxh2 Rxd5 16. Bc3 Be6 17. Nf3 Rad8 18. a5 h6 19. Rfc1 Qe7 20. Rd1 Rxd1+ 21.
Rxd1 Bd5 22. Rd2 Bxf3 23. Rxd8+ Qxd8 24. Qxf3 Nxa5 25. Qg4 f6 26. Qa4 b6 27.
Bxa5 bxa5 28. Qc4+ Kh8 29. Qxc5 Qd2 30. Qc8+ Kh7 31. Qxa6 Qc1+ 32. Qf1 Qxb2 33.
Qd3+ Kh8 34. Qd8+ Kh7 35. Qxa5 Qe2 36. Qf5+ Kh8 37. g4 Kg8 38. Qd5+ Kh7 39. Kg2
Qb2 40. h4 Qc1 41. h5 Qb2 42. Kf3 Kh8 43. Kg3 Kh7 44. f4 Qe2 45. Qe4+ Kh8 46.
Qa8+ Kh7 47. Qf3 Qd2 48. Qf2 Qd1 49. e4 Qd3+ 50. Qf3 Qd2 51. Kh3 Qe1 52. Qd3
Qh1+ 53. Kg3 Qg1+ 54. Kf3 Qh1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2632"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. d4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 g6 7. e3 Bg7 8.
Bd3 O-O 9. O-O Qc7 10. Qe2 Nc6 11. Ba3 b6 12. Rab1 Rd8 13. Be4 Bb7 14. dxc5
Bxc3 15. Rfc1 Bf6 16. h4 Qd7 17. Ng5 Ne5 18. Rd1 Qc7 19. f4 Bxe4 20. Nxe4 Nd7
21. Nxf6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2726"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Bf6 14. Bf4 Rc8 15.
cxd5 Qxd5 16. Nd2 Qd7 17. Nb3 Rce8 18. Nc5 Qc8 19. Qa4 a5 20. Bf3 Rxe1+ 21.
Rxe1 Nd8 22. Ne4 Bxe4 23. Rxe4 b6 24. Qc4 Ne6 25. Bg4 Qb7 26. Bf3 b5 27. Qe2
Nxf4 28. Rxf4 Qb6 29. Rf5 b4 30. axb4 axb4 31. Rb5 Qa6 32. Rxb4 Qa1+ 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Amber-rapid 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2619"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O
dxc4 9. Bxc4 a6 10. Rd1 b5 11. Be2 Qc7 12. e4 e5 13. g3 Re8 14. a3 Bb7 15. dxe5
Nxe5 16. Bg5 Nxf3+ 17. Bxf3 Be5 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Bg4 Rad8 20. Rac1 Bc8 21.
Bxc8 Qxc8 22. Rxd8 Rxd8 23. Nd5 Qe6 24. Ne3 c5 25. Nf5 Kh8 26. Rd1 Rxd1+ 27.
Qxd1 Qe8 28. Qd2 c4 29. Qh6 Qg8 30. f4 Bxb2 31. e5 Qg6 32. Qf8+ Qg8 33. Qe7 Qg6
34. Qd8+ 1-0

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

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

[Event "Amber-rapid 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.26"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Nikolic, Predrag"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2633"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Qb3 Nbd7 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 Be7 8. e3
O-O 9. Be2 dxc4 10. Qxc4 Nd5 11. Bg3 Nxc3 12. Qxc3 Nf6 13. O-O Ne4 14. Qc2 Nxg3
15. hxg3 Bd7 16. Ne5 Rc8 17. Rfd1 Be8 18. a3 Bd6 19. b4 Qe7 20. Rac1 Bd7 21.
Qe4 Rfd8 22. g4 Be8 23. g3 Bc7 24. Bd3 g6 25. Bc4 Kg7 26. Be2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.27"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E37"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2691"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Ne4 7. Qc2 c5 8.
dxc5 Nc6 9. e3 Qa5+ 10. Bd2 Nxd2 11. Qxd2 dxc4 12. Bxc4 Qxc5 13. Rc1 Qa5 14.
Rc3 O-O 15. Nf3 Rd8 16. Qc2 Ne5 17. Nxe5 Qxe5 18. Bd3 f5 19. O-O Bd7 20. Rc1
Bc6 21. b4 Rd7 22. Rc5 Rd5 23. Be2 Rxc5 24. Qxc5 Qxc5 25. Rxc5 Rd8 26. f3 Kf8
27. Kf2 Ke7 28. Ke1 Kd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 08th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "1999.03.28"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Lautier, Joel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D56"]
[WhiteElo "2596"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "1999.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 069 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.05.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 Ne4 8. Bxe7
Qxe7 9. Rc1 Nxc3 10. Rxc3 c6 11. Bd3 Nd7 12. O-O e5 13. dxe5 dxc4 14. Bxc4 Nxe5
15. Nxe5 Qxe5 16. Qb3 b5 17. Be2 Be6 18. Qc2 Bd5 19. Bf3 Bxf3 20. gxf3 Qg5+ 21.
Kh1 Qh5 22. Qe4 Rae8 23. Qxc6 Re6 24. Qb7 Re7 25. Qc6 Re6 26. Qb7 Re7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas 10th"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1999.04.06"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1999.04.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 071"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4
d6 9. Rd1 Nbd7 {Botvinnik,M-Lilienthal,A Moscow 1936 1-0 A slightly modified
Hedgehog setup. Black posts his dark-squared B more actively on the long /^,
on the other hand it's not so easy for him to control d5, as e7-e6 would
seriously weaken ><d6. A good illustration of the strength of this outpost is
the classical game} 10. Be3 ({In a later round Kramnik tried a similar
strategy as in the game mentioned above and managed to get an unpleasant pull:
} 10. b3 O-O 11. Bb2 Rc8 12. Rac1 (12. Qe3 Re8 13. Rac1 a6 14. Ba1 Rc5 $1 {
[%csl Gd5][%cal Gc8c5]} 15. a4 Qa8 16. Ne1 Rf5 17. Bxb7 Qxb7 18. f3 h5 19. Ng2
Rc5 20. Bb2 Rcc8 21. Ba3 Nc5 22. Rb1 Ne6 23. Qd3 Nc7 24. Nf4 b5 $11 {Karpov,
A-Kasparov,G/WCh London Leningrad/1986/}) 12... Rc5 $142 $5 {[%csl Gd5][%cal
Gc8c5]} (12... a6 13. Qd2 Rc7 $6 14. Ne1 Bxg2 (14... Qa8 15. Nd5 $5 $14) 15.
Nxg2 Qa8 16. Ne3 Re8 17. Ncd5 Rc6 18. a4 Qb7 19. Bd4 Rcc8 20. Nxf6+ Bxf6 21.
Nd5 Bxd4 22. Qxd4 Qc6 23. Qh4 f6 24. Rc3 Kg7 25. Qd4 Qc5 26. Qd2 $36 {Kramnik,
V-Polgar,J/Dos Hermanas/1999/}) 13. Ne1 Bxg2 14. Nxg2 Nd5 15. Qd2 Nxc3 16. Bxc3
Bxc3 17. Rxc3 Nf6 18. f3 Qc7 19. e4 b5 20. Rdc1 Rc8 21. Ne3 Qa5 {Andersson,
U-Portisch,L/Reykjavik/1991/} 22. R3c2 $11 {These two games demonstrate a
typical resource in Black's fight for the d5-square: the Rc5 maneuvre.}) 10...
O-O 11. Qh4 Rc8 12. Rac1 {Necessary prophylaxis.} (12. Bh3 $143 $2 Bxf3 13.
exf3 Ne5 14. Kg2 Rxc4 15. Rd4 Rxc3 16. bxc3 Qa8 17. Kf1 Nxf3 18. Bg2 Nxh4 19.
Bxa8 Nf5 20. Bb7 Nxd4 21. cxd4 Rb8 22. Ba6 Nd5 23. Rc1 h5 24. Ke2 e6 25. a3 b5
26. Rc8+ Rxc8 27. Bxc8 Nxe3 28. fxe3 d5 29. Ba6 Bf8 $19 {Topalov,V-Kasparov,G/
Wijk aan Zee 5'/1999/}) 12... a6 13. b3 Rc7 $5 {[%cal Yd8a8,Yf8c8] An
interesting idea, which appeared lately in top-level games. Black ignores
White's "threat" Bh6 and intends to activate his Q via a8, thus connecting his
R.} (13... Re8 14. Bh3 $5 (14. Bh6 Bh8 15. Bh3 Bxf3 16. exf3 Rc5 17. Bg2 $5 (
17. g4 Ne5 18. Qg3 Rc8 19. Be3 Bg7 20. f4 Ned7 21. Qf3 h6 22. Qb7 Nc5 23. Qg2
Rb8 24. f5 g5 25. f4 $36 {Arsovic,G-Timoshenko,G/Belgrade/1995/}) 17... Rh5 18.
Qf4 Bg7 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Qd4 Kg8 21. Nd5 a5 22. f4 Nxd5 23. cxd5 Nc5 24. Rc3
Rf5 25. a3 Rf6 26. Bh3 Kg7 27. b4 axb4 28. axb4 $16 {Piven,I-Ikonnikov,V/
Werfen/1991/}) (14. Ng5 $143 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 Qc7 16. Kg1 Qb7 17. Nf3 Rc7 18. g4
Rcc8 19. g5 Nh5 20. Nd5 e6 21. Nf4 Nxf4 22. Qxf4 Bf8 23. Bd2 b5 $132 {Tisdall,
J-Stohl,I/Manila olm/1992/}) 14... Rc7 (14... b5 $6 15. cxb5 axb5 16. Nxb5 Rxc1
17. Rxc1 Bxf3 18. exf3 Ne5 19. Bg2 Qa5 20. a4 Nd5 21. Qe4 Nxe3 22. Qxe3 Bf6 23.
f4 Ng4 24. Qe2 h5 25. h3 Nh6 26. Nxd6 $18 {Wojtkiewicz,A-Gallagher,J/Chicago/
1989/}) 15. Bh6 Bxf3 16. exf3 Rc5 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Qd4 h5 19. Na4 Ne5 20. Bg2
Ra5 21. f4 Ned7 22. Nc3 Rc5 23. b4 Rc7 24. Nd5 e5 25. Qb2 Nxd5 26. Rxd5 Qf6 27.
Qd2 exf4 28. gxf4 Nf8 29. Rxd6 $16 {Wojtkiewicz,A-Palkovi,J/Stara Zagora zt/
1990/}) 14. g4 $146 {[%mdl 8] Kramnik tries a new idea , as he realizes the
stereotyped} (14. Bh6 Qa8 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. Qd4 {promises very little.} b5 $1 (
16... Rfc8 $6 {loses valuable tempos:} 17. Qe3 Re8 18. Bh3 b5 19. cxb5 Bxf3 20.
exf3 axb5 21. Nxb5 Rxc1 22. Rxc1 Nd5 (22... Qxa2 23. Bxd7 Nxd7 24. Nxd6) 23.
Qd4+ N7f6 24. a4 h5 25. f4 e5 26. fxe5 dxe5 27. Qa7 $18 {Kolbus,D-Vadasz,L/
Budapest/1996/}) 17. cxb5 axb5 18. Nxb5 Rxc1 19. Rxc1 Qxa2 20. Nc3 Qa3 21. Rb1
Rc8 22. Nd2 e5 23. Qa4 Qxa4 24. Nxa4 Bxg2 25. Kxg2 d5 26. Nf3 d4 27. b4 Nd5 $15
{[%csl Gd4,Gd5,Ge5] [+],(),Topalov,V-Kramnik,V/Wijk aan Zee 5'/1999 /}) 14...
h6 $1 {[%mdl 4] Karpov reacts in a model way, utilizing the unprotected g4 to
prepare <=> on the other ised of the board.} 15. h3 (15. Bxh6 Bxh6 16. Qxh6
Nxg4 17. Qh4 Ngf6 $15 {[%cal Yg8g7,Yf8h8] /\Kg7,Rh8}) 15... g5 16. Qg3 b5 $1
17. h4 $8 (17. cxb5 $4 Rxc3 18. Rxc3 Ne4 $19) (17. Nd5 Bxd5 18. cxd5 Ne4 $17 {
[%csl Rg3] ף}) 17... bxc4 (17... gxh4 $6 18. Qxh4 bxc4 19. Bxh6 $36) 18. hxg5
hxg5 19. b4 $1 Qa8 (19... Ne4 20. Nxe4 Bxe4 21. Nxg5 Bxg2 22. Qxg2 {[%cal
Rg2h3,Re3d4,Gh1h8] /\Qh3,Bd4,-><->h}) 20. Bxg5 (20. Nxg5 Bxg2 21. Qxg2 Qxg2+
22. Kxg2 Rb8 (22... Nxg4 $2 23. Nd5 $16) 23. a3 a5 $5 $132 {/\} 24. b5 Nxg4 25.
Nd5 Nxe3+ 26. fxe3 Rxb5 $17) 20... Re8 21. Be3 Nf8 (21... Ne4 $5 22. Nxe4 Bxe4
23. Bd4 e5 $15) 22. a4 Ne4 23. Nxe4 Bxe4 24. Bd4 Bxf3 (24... Bxd4 $6 25. Rxd4
Bxf3 26. Bxf3 Qc8 27. Be4 $40) 25. Bxf3 Qb8 {[%csl Rb4] ><b4} 26. Bd5 (26. Bxg7
Kxg7 27. Bd5 Qxb4 28. Qc3+ Qxc3 29. Rxc3 Rec8 30. Rdc1 $11) 26... Qxb4 27. Bxg7
Kxg7 28. Qf4 e6 (28... e5 29. Rxc4 exf4 30. Rxb4 Rxe2 31. Rxf4 $14) 29. Be4 (
29. Bxc4 $2 Rec8 30. Qg5+ Ng6 31. Bxa6 (31. Bd3 Rxc1 $19) 31... Rxc1 32. Rxc1
f6 33. Qxg6+ (33. Qe3 Qxg4+ 34. Kf1 Qh3+ $3 $19) 33... Kxg6 34. Bd3+ Kg5 35.
Rxc8 Qxg4+ $17) 29... c3 (29... e5 $6 30. Qg5+ Ng6 31. Rb1 Qc5 32. Rd5 $44) 30.
Qxd6 $8 (30. Rxd6 $2 Ng6 $19 {loses at least a piece.}) 30... Rc4 $11 31. f3 (
31. Qxb4 Rxb4 32. f3 Rc8 $5 $15) 31... Qxd6 32. Rxd6 a5 33. Bd3 (33. Ra6 Rc5
34. Kf2 Rb8 35. Bc6 Rb2 36. Bb5 Ng6 37. Ke3 e5 {/\Nf4|^}) (33. Bd3 Rxa4 34.
Rxc3 Ng6 $11 {[%cal Yg6e5,Yg6f4] /\Ne5,Nf4}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas 10th"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1999.04.07"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C43"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "1999.04.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 071"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. dxe5 d5 5. Nbd2 Nxd2 6. Qxd2 Be7 7. Bb5+ c6
8. Be2 O-O 9. O-O f6 10. c4 fxe5 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Nxe5 Nc6 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14.
b3 c5 15. Ba3 Bb7 16. Rac1 Rc8 17. Bg4 Rc7 18. Rce1 d4 19. Qd3 Bd6 20. Bc1 Kh8
21. f4 Re7 22. Rxe7 Qxe7 23. Bd2 Be4 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Dos Hermanas 10th"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1999.04.10"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2673"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "26"]
[EventDate "1999.04.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 071"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4
b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bf4 Nc6 11. Rd1 Nb4 12. Qc1 Rc8 13. Nc3 Nbd5 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Dos Hermanas 10th"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1999.04.13"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2691"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1999.04.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 071"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3
Nc6 9. Qc2 Qa5 10. Rd1 Be7 11. Nd2 e5 12. Bg5 d4 13. Nb3 Qb6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15.
Nd5 Qd8 16. Bd3 g6 17. exd4 Nxd4 18. Nxd4 exd4 19. O-O Bg7 20. Rde1 Be6 21. Nf4
Bd7 22. Be4 Rb8 23. Nd3 Qc7 24. b3 Rfe8 25. Qd2 a5 26. Qf4 Qxf4 27. Nxf4 Bf8
28. a4 Bb4 29. Re2 Kg7 30. Rd1 Bc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas 10th"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1999.04.14"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2677"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "1999.04.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 071"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. g3 b6 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O g6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Qxd4 Bg7 8. Nc3
d6 9. Rd1 Nbd7 10. b3 O-O 11. Bb2 Rc8 12. Rac1 a6 13. Qd2 Rc7 14. Ne1 Bxg2 15.
Nxg2 Qa8 16. Ne3 Re8 17. Ncd5 Rc6 18. a4 Qb7 19. Bd4 Rcc8 20. Nxf6+ Bxf6 21.
Nd5 Bxd4 22. Qxd4 Qc6 23. Qh4 f6 24. Rc3 Kg7 25. Qd4 Qc5 26. Qd2 Ne5 27. Nf4
Kf7 28. Rdc1 a5 29. Rd1 Ng4 30. e4 Ne5 31. Kg2 Qc6 32. f3 g5 33. Nd3 Nxd3 34.
Rxd3 g4 35. Qh6 Kg8 36. Qf4 gxf3+ 37. Rxf3 Qd7 38. e5 dxe5 39. Rxd7 exf4 40.
gxf4 Kf7 41. Re3 Rc6 42. Kf3 f5 43. Re5 Kf6 44. Rb7 Rd6 45. Ke3 Red8 46. Rbxe7
Rd3+ 47. Kf2 Rd2+ 48. Kg3 R8d3+ 49. Re3 Rxe3+ 50. Rxe3 Rd4 51. h3 h6 52. Rf3
Kf7 53. Kh4 Kg6 54. Rg3+ Kf6 55. Rf3 Kg6 56. Kg3 Kf7 57. Rc3 Ke6 58. Kf3 Kf6
59. Re3 Rd2 60. Kg3 Rd4 61. Rf3 Kf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas 10th"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1999.04.16"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2716"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "34"]
[EventDate "1999.04.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 071"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Qe2 Qe7 6. d3 Nf6 7. Bg5 Nbd7 8.
Nc3 Qxe2+ 9. Bxe2 h6 10. Bd2 Nb6 11. Nb5 Nbd5 12. c4 c6 13. Nbd4 Nc7 14. Ba5 b6
15. Bc3 c5 16. Nc2 Be7 17. Ne3 O-O 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dos Hermanas 10th"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1999.04.17"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "1999.04.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 071"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. e4 d6 (4... Qa5+ 5. Nc3 d6 6. d5 $5 Bxc3+ 7.
bxc3 Nf6 8. Qc2 Nxe4 9. Bd3 Nf6 10. O-O O-O 11. Bg5 Kg7 12. Rae1 Qd8 13. Re3
$146 Nbd7 14. Rfe1 Re8 15. h3 Ng8 16. Bh4 Ndf6 17. Ng5 Bd7 18. Rg3 Rf8 19. Nxh7
$1 Kxh7 20. Bxg6+ Kh8 21. Bd3 Nh5 22. Rg5 Ng7 23. Qd1 f6 24. Rh5+ {1-0,Pigusov,
E-Ivanov,A/St.Petersburg/1999/}) 5. Be2 {Kramnik, maybe surprised by his
opponent's opening choice, plays a relatively harmless move.} ({More ambitious
is} 5. Nc3 $142 Nc6 6. Be3 {-A42}) 5... Nc6 6. d5 $8 (6. Be3 $2 Bg4 $1 $36 {
[%csl Rd4] ><d4}) (6. dxc5 $6 dxc5 7. Qxd8+ Kxd8 $11 {/=/+}) 6... Nd4 7. Nxd4
cxd4 ({Also quite playable is} 7... Bxd4 $5 8. O-O Nf6 (8... e6 9. Nd2 exd5 10.
Nf3 Bg7 11. Qxd5 Nf6 12. Qd3 O-O 13. Bf4 Re8 14. Nd2 Nd7 15. Rab1 Bxb2 16. Rxb2
Qf6 17. Bxd6 Qxb2 18. Nf3 Qf6 19. Rd1 Qe6 20. Ng5 Qf6 21. Nf3 Qg7 22. h4 f6 23.
h5 Qf7 24. hxg6 hxg6 25. e5 Nxe5 26. Nxe5 fxe5 27. Bxc5 b6 $17 {Lau,
D-Chochulski,A/OLNW/1992/}) 9. Nd2 Nd7 10. Kh1 O-O 11. f4 b5 $5 12. cxb5 a6 13.
Rf3 axb5 14. Bxb5 Ba6 15. Bxa6 Rxa6 16. Rh3 Qc7 17. Nf3 Bg7 18. Qe1 Rfa8 19. a3
Qb7 20. Qh4 Nf6 21. e5 dxe5 22. fxe5 Ra4 23. Qf2 Ng4 24. Qxc5 Rc8 25. Qg1 Qxd5
$44 {|^, Kaiszauri,K-Svensson,G/SWE-ch/1977/}) 8. O-O (8. Na3 $5 Qa5+ (8... Qb6
9. Nc2 Nf6 10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. Nxd4 Nxd5 12. Nb5 Nb4 13. Nc7+ Kd8 14. Nxa8 Nc2+
15. Kd1 Nxa1 16. Be3 b6 17. Kc1 Bb7 18. Nxb6 axb6 19. f3 Kc7 20. Kb1 Nb3 21.
axb3 f5 22. exf5 gxf5 23. Bd3 $14 {Jansson,B-Svensson,G/SWE-ch/1977/}) 9. Bd2
Qb6 10. Bd3 Nf6 11. O-O O-O 12. b4 a6 13. h3 Nd7 14. f4 Qd8 15. Nc2 e5 16. f5
b6 17. Qg4 a5 18. a3 Ra7 $13 19. Bg5 Bf6 20. Bh6 Bg7 21. Bg5 Bf6 22. Bh6 Bg7
23. Bg5 {1/2,Trifunovic,P-Forintos,G/EU-chT Hamburg/ 1965/}) 8... Qb6 (8... e6
$6 {Prematurely opening the position, when Black is still undeveloped.} 9. Na3
Ne7 10. Nb5 exd5 11. cxd5 f5 12. Nxd4 fxe4 13. Bb5+ Kf8 14. Ne6+ Bxe6 15. dxe6
Qb6 16. Bd7 h5 17. Be3 Qxb2 18. Qxd6 Be5 19. Qc5 b6 20. Qc4 Bf6 21. Rab1 Qa3
22. Bd4 Kg7 23. Bxf6+ Kxf6 24. Qd4+ Kg5 25. Rb3 Qxa2 26. Rg3+ Kh6 27. Qf6 {
1-0,Chernin,A-Shirazi,K/New York/1989/}) (8... e5 9. dxe6 $5 fxe6 10. Qa4+ Qd7
11. Qb3 Ne7 12. Na3 O-O 13. Bg5 h6 14. Bh4 g5 15. Bg3 Ng6 16. Nb5 Nf4 17. Bxf4
Rxf4 18. g3 Rf8 19. Rad1 a6 20. Nxd4 Kh8 21. Nc2 Qc7 22. Qb4 Be5 23. Ne3 Qc5
24. Qd2 Bd7 25. Ng4 Bc6 26. b4 Qa7 27. Nxe5 dxe5 28. Qd6 Rf6 29. Qxe5 {1-0,
Sofieva,A-Mukhim,G/Leningrad/1990/}) 9. Nd2 Nf6 {Black's N belongs on f6, on
e7 it's misplaced.} 10. Rb1 {[%cal Yb2b4] /\b4|^<<} a5 $1 11. b3 O-O 12. a3 $1
$146 {Certainly more logical, than} (12. Bb2 $143 $6 e5 13. Ba3 Bh6 $1 $36 14.
c5 dxc5 15. Nc4 Qc7 16. d6 Qc6 17. Nxe5 Qxd6 18. Nc4 Qc7 19. Bf3 Be6 20. e5 Nd7
21. Re1 Bg7 22. Rc1 Rab8 23. Bg4 Bxg4 24. Qxg4 b5 25. e6 Nf6 26. exf7+ Qxf7 {
0-1,Hartoch,R-Tal,M/Wijk aan Zee/1973/}) 12... e5 13. b4 (13. dxe6 fxe6 14. b4
axb4 15. axb4 e5 $15 {[%csl Gd4,Ge5] (),[+]}) 13... axb4 14. axb4 Bd7 15. Bd3 (
15. c5 $6 dxc5 16. bxc5 Qxc5 17. Rxb7 Ba4 18. Qe1 Bc2 $36) 15... Qc7 16. Nb3 b6
$11 {/=/+ Black has stabilized his central and << position (by preventing c5)
and now can turn his sights to active play on the >>. His position is more
pleasant, although one can't speak aboout some sizeable advantage.} 17. Bd2 Nh5
18. Rc1 (18. Qc2 $5 $11 {[%cal Rc4c5] /\c5}) 18... Ra3 $1 19. Ra1 (19. c5 dxc5
20. bxc5 Ba4 $17) 19... Rxa1 20. Nxa1 (20. Qxa1 f5 $5 $36) 20... Nf4 ({
Overoptimistic is} 20... f5 $2 21. exf5 Nf6 22. fxg6 e4 23. gxh7+ Kh8 24. Bc2
Qxc4 25. Bb3 $16) (20... b5 $6 21. cxb5 Qb6 22. Qe2 Rb8 23. Nb3 Bxb5 24. Bxb5
Qxb5 25. Qxb5 Rxb5 26. Ra1 $36 {[%csl Gb4] o^b}) 21. Bxf4 exf4 22. Nc2 Ba4 $5 (
22... Ra8 23. Qd2 Be5 24. Ra1 Rxa1+ 25. Nxa1 Qa7 26. Qb2 $132 {[%csl Rd4] /
\Nc2,><d4}) 23. Qd2 Bxc2 24. Qxc2 Ra8 25. Qb2 Qa7 26. Rd1 Be5 $15 {[%csl Rd3,
Ge5][%cal Ga8a1] ^-,<->a Black has a slight edge, but it's somewhat academical,
as he has no realistic chances of preparing an effective pawn break.} (26... f3
$5 27. gxf3 Qe7 28. Ra1 {<=>} Qg5+ 29. Kf1 $11) (26... Qa3 27. Qxa3 Rxa3 28.
Kf1 Rb3 29. b5 $11 {[%csl Rb6][%cal Yf1e2,Yd1a1,Ya1a6] /\Ke2,Ra1-a6}) 27. f3
Qa4 28. Rd2 Ra7 29. Rc2 h5 30. Kf1 Qe8 (30... g5 31. h3 $11) 31. c5 $5 $132 {
White doesn't want to sit and wait.} (31. Rc1 {[%cal Rc1a1] /\Ra1=} Qa8 $15)
31... bxc5 32. bxc5 dxc5 33. Rxc5 Qa8 34. Rc1 Ra2 35. Qb3 Kg7 (35... Rd2 36.
Rd1 $11) 36. Rd1 Qa5 37. Qb5 Qa3 38. d6 $5 {[%mdl 256] Again active defence by
White.} (38. Qe8 $2 Qb2 39. Qxe5+ Kh7 $19) (38. Kg1 $5 {/\} Rd2 39. Rxd2 Qc1+
40. Bf1 Qxd2 41. Qd3 $11) 38... Bxd6 (38... Qxd6 $142 39. Bc4 Ra7 $15 {/=
gives Black more chances.}) 39. e5 Bb4 40. e6 $1 $11 Ra1 (40... fxe6 $2 41.
Qe5+ Kf7 42. Bc4 $40 {suddenly turns the tables, Black's pieces have wandered
too far from his K.}) 41. Qe5+ f6 42. Qc7+ Be7 (42... Kh6 43. Qxf4+ Kh7 44.
Qc7+ $11) 43. Rxa1 Qxa1+ 44. Ke2 Qa2+ (44... Qa3 45. Qxf4 $11) 45. Kf1 Qxe6 46.
Qxf4 Bd6 (46... Qd5 47. Qe4 $11) 47. Qxd4 Bxh2 48. Qe4 Qf7 49. g4 (49. Bc4 $6
Qa7 $36) (49. g4 h4 50. f4 Bg3 51. Kg2 {/\Kh3=,><g6 and Black has no way of
improving his position, as Q exchanges lead to a dead draw.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Siemens Giants"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1999.06.29"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2781"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "1999.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. cxd5 Nxd3 10. Qxd3 Qxd5 11. Re1 Bf5 12. g4 Bg6 13. Nc3 Nxc3 14. Qxc3 Qd6
15. Qe3 Kf8 16. Ne5 f6 17. Qf3 Rd8 18. Bf4 Qd5 19. Qxd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Siemens Giants"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1999.06.29"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Tsesarsky,I"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "1999.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 256]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 d6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. Bg5 e6 7.
Qd2 a6 8. O-O-O h6 9. Be3 Be7 10. f3 Nxd4 11. Qxd4 b5 12. Kb1 Bb7 (12... Rb8
13. Qa7 (13. g4 b4 14. Ne2 e5 15. Qd3 Be6 16. h4 Qa5 17. c4 bxc3 18. Nxc3 O-O
19. g5 Rfc8 20. Bd2 Qa3 $17 {0-1 Kiss,G-Jovanovic,S/Budapest FS09 IM 1996 (26)}
) 13... Nd7 14. Bd3 Qa5 15. Ne2 O-O 16. Nd4 Rb7 17. Nc6 Rxa7 18. Nxa5 Rc7 $11)
(12... Qa5 13. e5 (13. g4 b4 14. Ne2 e5 15. Qb6 Qxb6 16. Bxb6 Be6 17. Ng3 g6
18. Bd3 Nd7 19. Bf2 Nc5 20. h4 Kf8 21. h5 Bg5 (21... Nxd3 22. Rxd3 a5 $11) 22.
Be2 $14 (22. Nf1 $11 {1/2-1/2 Narings,N-Werle,J/Dutch Open, Dieren NED 1997 
(57)})) (13. a3 Bb7 14. h4 Rc8 15. Be2 h5 16. e5 dxe5 17. Qxe5 O-O 18. Rd3 Bc6
19. Rhd1 Qc7 20. Qxc7 {1/2-1/2 Dutreeuw,M-David,A/Antwerp BEL 1999 (20)}) 13...
dxe5 14. Qxe5 Bb7 15. Bd3 O-O $11 (15... Rc8 16. Bd4 O-O 17. Be4 Bxe4 18. Nxe4
Rfd8 19. Qg3 Ne8 $11 {0-1 Yudasin,L-Greenfeld,A/Rishon le Zion 1996 (31)})) 13.
h4 Rc8 (13... d5 14. exd5 Nxd5 15. Nxd5 Qxd5 16. c4 bxc4 17. Bxc4 Qxd4 18. Bxd4
O-O $11 {1/2-1/2 Gipslis,A-Lerner Konstantin Z/Yurmala (Latvia) 1983 (50)}) (
13... Qa5 14. Qd2 Rc8 15. Bd3 Nd7 16. Qe1 Ne5 17. h5 Qc7 18. Rc1 Bf6 19. Qg3 b4
(19... Nc4 20. Bxc4 Qxc4 21. Qxd6 Bxc3 22. bxc3 Rd8 (22... Qxc3 23. Bd4 Qc6 24.
Qxc6+ Rxc6 25. Bxg7 Rg8 26. Bxh6 Rxg2 27. Bf4 $16) 23. Qc5 Rc8 24. Qxc4 Rxc4
25. Rcd1 Ke7 26. Rd3 e5 27. Rhd1 Bc6 28. Bb6 Rc8 29. Kb2 $14) 20. Nd1 Qa5 {
1/2-1/2 Lanka,Z-Varga,P/Cannes 1995 (20)}) 14. Be2 d5 (14... Qa5 15. Bd3 (15.
Qa7 Qc7 16. Bd3 Nd7 17. g3 (17. Ne2 Nc5 $19 {[%csl Ra7]}) 17... Bf6 18. Bf4
Bxc3 19. bxc3 e5 20. Bd2 Nc5 $19 {[%csl Ra7]}) 15... b4 16. Qa7 Qc7 17. Na4
$132) 15. exd5 Nxd5 (15... Bxd5 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Bd3 (17. Qxg7 Bf6 18. Qg3
Rxc2 19. Kxc2 Nxe3+ 20. Kb1 Nxd1 21. Rxd1 Qb6 $11) 17... Bf6 18. Qe4 Qc7 19.
Bf2 Nf4 (19... Nc3+ 20. bxc3 Qxc3 21. Kc1 Qb2+ 22. Kd2 Qxa2 23. Ke2 $16) 20.
Bg3 Be5 $11) 16. Nxd5 (16. Qxg7 Bf6 $19) 16... Bxd5 17. Qxg7 Bf6 18. Qg4 Bxa2+
$1 $11 19. Kxa2 Qa5+ 20. Kb1 Bxb2 {Lasker's combination.} 21. Kxb2 Qc3+ 22. Ka2
Qxc2+ 23. Ka1 Qc3+ 24. Ka2 Qc2+ 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Siemens Giants"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1999.06.30"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E34"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[Annotator "Golod,V"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "1999.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 Qxd5 6. e3 $5 ({Another
options is:} 6. Nf3 $5 {-see comments to Golod,V-Psakhis,L/Tel-Aviv,1999/CBM
71(1-0)(Golod,V)(67)}) 6... c5 $5 {Is the main line.Besides,black has two
options:} (6... e5 $5 {-see comments to Sakaev,K-Pigusov,E/St. Petersburg,1999/
CBM71(1/2-1/2)(Golod,V) (41)}) ({and} 6... O-O) 7. Bd2 $5 {[%mdl 4]} ({Another
alternative is:} 7. a3 {-see comments to Bareev,E-Gelfand,B/Novgorod,1997/CBM
60(1/2-1/2)(Tsesarsky)(30)}) 7... Bxc3 8. Bxc3 {Much less common than 8.bxc3,
which was popular in the 1930s.} cxd4 (8... Nc6 {is the first(!!!) game in
this variation.} 9. Ne2 O-O 10. Nf4 Qd6 11. dxc5 Qxc5 {+/=/=; 1/2-1/2
Gruenfeld,E-Gerschenkron,A/Wien 1934/EXT 99(30)}) 9. Bxd4 Nc6 10. Bc3 {Now
this move better than:} (10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Ne2 (11. Nf3 $143 Bd7 12. Be2 Rc8
13. Qd2 Qxd2+ 14. Kxd2 Ke7 $11 {1/2-1/2 Ibanez,E-Hansen,S/Badalona 1995/CBM 49
ext (49)}) 11... Bd7 12. a3 Qe5 13. Nc3 f5 (13... Nd4 $5 {-see comments to
Bareev,E-Gelfand,B/Novgorod,1997/CBM 60(1/2-1/2)(Tsesarsky)(30)}) 14. O-O-O
O-O-O 15. g3 Kb8 16. Be2 Ne7 17. Qd3 {[#]} Qc7 $11 {-see comments to Kasparov,
G-Anand,V/New York,1995/CBM 49(1/2-1/2)(De Firmian)(29)}) 10... e5 $5 ({
Good enough:} 10... Qc5 $5 11. Rc1 O-O (11... Bd7 $143 12. a3 Rc8 13. Nf3 Ne7
14. Bd3 Ned5 15. Bd2 Qxc2 16. Bxc2 O-O 17. O-O {+/=/=; Georgiev,K-Shaked,T/Las
Vegas USA,1999(1-0)(101)}) 12. Nf3 Nd5 13. Bd2 Qxc2 14. Rxc2 e5 $5 (14... Rd8
15. a3 h6 16. Bb5 Bd7 17. Bc4 Nb6 18. Bb3 Ne7 {+/=/=;1/2-1/2 Dreev,A-Adams,M/
Las Vegas USA 1999 (51)}) 15. Rc5 Rd8 16. Bc4 Nb6 17. Bb3 Re8 18. Ng5 Re7 19.
f3 Nd7 20. Rc1 Nf6 21. Bc2 h6 22. Ne4 {Kasparov,G-Anand,V/Frankfurt,1999(rapid)
; (1/2-1/2)(22)}) 11. Nf3 Bg4 12. Be2 O-O 13. O-O (13. Qb3 $6 Qxb3 14. axb3
Rfe8 15. Bb5 Nd7 16. Bxc6 bxc6 17. Ra5 f6 {1/2-1/2 Finegold,B-Smyslov,V/London
1988/TD (17)}) 13... Rfe8 $5 $146 {[%csl Re5,Ye8] Besides this move:} (13... e4
$6 {-see comments to Gelfand,B-Speelman,J/Las Vegas,1999/CBM 72(1-0)(Golod,V)
(53)}) (13... h6 $6 14. b3 Rac8 15. Qb2 Rfe8 16. Rac1 Qe6 17. Rfd1 Ne4 18. Be1
Ng5 19. Nxg5 hxg5 20. f3 Bh5 21. g4 Bg6 22. Bg3 $14 {1-0 Sakalauskas,
V-Ostrowski,L/Koszalin 1998/EXT 99 (44)}) (13... Rac8 14. Rfd1 Qc5 15. Rac1 Qe7
(15... e4 $143 16. Nd4 Nxd4 17. Rxd4 Bxe2 18. Qxe2 $14 {1/2-1/2 Keres,
P-Petrovs,V/Buenos Aires 1939/HCL (48)}) 16. a3 h6 17. Rd2 {+/=/=;1/2-1/2 Cruz,
O-Melngailis,T/Buenos Aires 1939/HCL (38)}) ({and} 13... Bh5 $5 14. Rfd1 Qc5
15. Qb3 Qe7 16. Qa3 Qxa3 17. bxa3 e4 18. Nd4 Bxe2 19. Nxe2 Rfe8 $11 {1/2-1/2
Bronstein,D-Smyslov,V/Parnu 1947/MCL (25) - was checked in the previous games.}
) 14. Rfd1 Qc5 ({Worse is:} 14... Qe6 {in view of:} 15. Ng5 $36) 15. Rac1 $5 {
+/=/=} ({After:} 15. h3 Bxf3 (15... Bh5 $143) 16. Bxf3 e4 17. Be2 Nd5 18. Rac1
Nxc3 19. Qxc3 Qxc3 20. Rxc3 Re7 (20... Rad8 $6 21. Rxd8 Rxd8 22. Bb5 {+/=/+/-})
21. Bb5 Ne5 22. Rd4 f5 {white has a slight advantage in the endgame.}) 15...
Qe7 16. h3 Bh5 17. Qa4 $5 {[%cal Ga4h4]} ({Dubious:} 17. Qf5 {because of:} Bg6
18. Qg5 Qe6 {[%csl Ra2][%cal Gf6e4]} (18... h6 $143 19. Qh4 Ne4 20. Qxe7 Rxe7
21. Be1 $14) 19. Qh4 Ne4 $11 {[%csl Ra2,Rc3]} (19... Qxa2 $4 20. Bc4 Qa4 21.
Bxf7+ $18 {[%csl Ra4]})) 17... a6 ({Senseless:} 17... e4 18. Nd4 Bxe2 (18...
Nxd4 $2 19. Bxh5 {+/=/+/-}) 19. Nxe2 $14) 18. Qh4 Bg6 $6 {After this move
white has a extra possibility-19.Nd2} ({In my opinion slightly better is:} 
18... Red8) 19. Nd2 {[%cal Gd2c4,Ge2f3]} Rad8 20. Bf3 e4 ({Insufficiently for
equality-} 20... Nd5 21. Qxe7 Rxe7 22. Nb3 Nxc3 23. Rxd8+ Nxd8 24. Rxc3 $14 {
_|_}) 21. Bxf6 $5 ({After:} 21. Be2 Nd5 22. Qxe7 Rxe7 23. Nb3 Nxc3 24. Rxd8+
Nxd8 25. Rxc3 Kf8 {white has a slight advantage in the endgame.}) 21... Qxf6 (
21... gxf6 $143 22. Be2 $14) 22. Qxf6 gxf6 $14 {_|_} 23. Be2 Nb4 {[%csl Ra2,
Rd3][%cal Gb4a2,Gb4d3]} 24. a3 ({Senseless:} 24. Rc7 {in view of:} b5) 24...
Nd3 25. Bxd3 Rxd3 ({Badly:} 25... exd3 {because of:} 26. Rc7 {/\Rdc1+/-}) 26.
Nb1 {/\27.Rd3 exd3 28.Nd2} Rb3 (26... Red8 27. Rxd3 Rxd3 (27... exd3 $2 28. Nd2
$16) 28. Kf1 {+/=/+/-}) 27. Rd2 {[%csl Yd2][%cal Gc1c3]} f5 28. Rc3 Rb6 29. Rc7
$6 (29. g3 $5 {(against- 29...f4)} Re7 30. Kf1 {+/=/+/-}) 29... f4 $1 30. Nc3 (
30. exf4 $4 e3 {[%csl Rb1]} 31. fxe3 (31. Rd1 $143 e2 32. Re1 $8 Bxb1 $19)
31... Bxb1 $19) 30... fxe3 31. fxe3 Kg7 32. b4 (32. g4 $5 {/\Kf2-g3}) 32...
Ree6 {[%cal Gb6c6]} 33. Rdd7 ({Good enough:} 33. Rcd7 Rbc6 $140 34. Ne2 $14 {
[%cal Ge2f4,Ge2d4]}) 33... Rbc6 34. Ne2 ({Apparently better is:} 34. Nd5 $5)
34... Red6 $1 {[%csl Ra3,Re3][%cal Gd6d3]} 35. Rxb7 Rd3 36. Nf4 (36. Kf2 Rxa3
$11) ({Dubious:} 36. a4 {in view of:} Rxe3 37. b5 Rf6 $1 (37... Rc2 $2 38. Nd4
Re1+ 39. Kh2 $16) 38. Nd4 Ra3 $36) 36... Rxd7 (36... Rxe3 $2 37. Nxg6 Kxg6 38.
Rxf7 $16) 37. Rxd7 Rc3 {[%csl Ra3,Re3]} 38. Kf2 (38. a4 $6 Rxe3 39. Ne6+ Kf6
40. Nc5 Rc3 $132) 38... Rxa3 39. g4 Ra2+ 40. Kg3 Ra3 {[%csl Re3]} 41. Nd5 ({
Right away draw after:} 41. Nxg6 hxg6 42. Kf4 a5 43. b5 Rb3 44. Rb7 a4 45. Kxe4
a3 46. Ra7 Rxb5 47. Rxa3) 41... h5 42. gxh5 Bxh5 43. Kf4 Bg6 44. Ne7 $6 ({
Slightly better is:} 44. Ra7) ({or} 44. h4) 44... Kf6 45. Nxg6 Kxg6 46. Kxe4 a5
$11 47. Rd6+ Kg7 48. b5 Rb3 49. b6 (49. b6 a4 50. Rd4 (50. Kd4 $6 a3 $140 51.
Kc5 $4 (51. b7 $11) 51... a2 52. Rd1 Rb1 $19) 50... Rxb6 51. Rxa4 Rh6 {[%csl
Rh3]}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Siemens Giants"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1999.06.30"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1999.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8.
Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qxa2 12. O-O Bg4 13. Be3 Nc6 14. d5
Na5 15. Bg5 Qa3 16. Bd2 Bc3 17. Bc1 Qd6 18. e5 Qc7 $5 {An interesting novelty.
Black wants to provoke d5-d6, considering that it will be easier to fight
against a single passed pawn than against White's strong pawn center.} (18...
Qd7 {was played once at the top level after we discussed it in CBM69 but in a
blindfold game:} 19. Bd2 Rfc8 ({or} 19... Bxf3 20. Bxf3 Bxd2 21. Qxd2 Nc4 22.
Qe2 b5 23. e6 Qd6 24. exf7+ Kg7 25. Rxb5 Ne5 26. Be4 Rxf7 27. Ra5 Rf6 28. g3 a6
29. Bg2 Raf8 30. Kh1 h5 31. Ra4 Ng4 32. f4 e5 33. dxe6 {1/2-1/2 Kramnik,
V-Ivanchuk,V/7th Amber rapid 1998}) 20. Bxc3 Rxc3 21. Qd4 Bxf3 22. Bxf3 Rc4 (
22... Rac8 23. Qxa7 Rxf3 24. gxf3 Qxd5 $44 {1/2-1/2 Van Wely,L-Shirov,A/Wijk
aan Zee 1999 (42) - CBM69}) 23. Qe3 b6 24. e6 Qd6 25. exf7+ Kg7 26. Rfe1 Rf8
27. Qxe7 Qxe7 28. Rxe7 Rxf7 29. d6 Rd4 30. Rc1 Rxd6 31. Rxf7+ Kxf7 32. Rc7+ Kg8
33. Rxa7 Nc6 {1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V-Shirov,A/8th Amber Blindfold 1999 (42)
Kasparov wasn't probably quite happy with the positions arising and decided to
improve Black's play.}) 19. d6 (19. Bd2 $2 Bxf3 20. Bxf3 (20. Rc1 Bxe2 21. Qxe2
Qxe5) 20... Bxe5) 19... exd6 20. exd6 Qd7 21. Bf4 (21. Bd2 {doesn't work now
in view of} Bxd2 22. Qxd2 Bxf3 23. Bxf3 Nc4) 21... Rfe8 {Black's pieces are
active and the white d6 pawn has no enough support. White's compensation for
the sacrificed pawn is only enough to equalize.} 22. h3 Bf5 23. Bb5 (23. Rc1
Rac8) 23... Nc6 24. Rc1 Bf6 25. Qd2 a6 (25... Be4 26. Ng5 $1) 26. Bxc6 bxc6 27.
Nd4 {[%cal Yd4b3,Yb3c5]} Be4 28. Nb3 Bd5 {[%csl Gd5]} 29. Nc5 Qa7 {[%cal Ya8d8,
Ya6a5,Ya5a4,Ya4a3,Ya3a2,Ya2a1]} 30. Qa5 Bd4 {Black gives up an exchange to
eliminate the white passed pawn.} (30... Reb8 $6 {[%cal Yb8b5]} 31. Rfe1 {
[%cal Ge1e8]}) 31. d7 Red8 32. Bc7 Bxc5 33. Bxd8 Bd6 34. Bf6 Qxd7 35. Bb2 {
[%cal Ra5c3]} Rf8 36. Rfe1 {Even if White captures the a6 pawn, Black's strong
d5 bishop fully compensates his minimal material deficit. I would not be
surprised if it turned out that Kasparov had this final position at home long
before the present game.} (36. Qc3 f6) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Siemens Giants"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1999.06.30"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "1999.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O
dxc4 9. Bxc4 b5 10. Be2 Bb7 11. a3 a6 12. Rd1 c5 13. dxc5 Nxc5 14. b4 Nce4 15.
Nxe4 Bxe4 16. Qd2 Be7 17. Bb2 Rc8 18. Qxd8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Siemens Giants"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1999.07.01"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2781"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Blatny,P"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "1999.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 128]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7.
O-O Be7 8. c4 Nb4 9. cxd5 Nxd3 10. Qxd3 Qxd5 11. Re1 Bf5 12. g4 Bg6 13. Nc3
Nxc3 14. Qxc3 Kf8 $6 (14... Qd6 $142) (14... f6 $142) 15. Bf4 c6 16. Rxe7 $3 {
[%mdl 512] Kramnik hat dem Plan von Karpov "geglaubt", aber Anand fand (sehr
wahrscheinlich mit kräftiger Unterstützung seines "elektronischen" Helfers)
einen forcierten Gewinn.} Kxe7 17. Qb4+ Kd8 $6 (17... c5 18. dxc5 Kd8 (18...
Qxf3 19. c6+ Kd8 20. Qd4+ Ke8 21. Re1+ Kf8 22. Bb8 $3 $18) 19. c6 $1 b6 (19...
bxc6 20. Qb7 $18) 20. Re1 Re8 21. c7+ Kd7 22. Qa4+ (22. c8=Q+ Raxc8 23. Qa4+ b5
24. Qxa7+ Kd8 25. Qb6+ Kd7 26. Ne5+ Rxe5 27. Bxe5 $18) (22. Ne5+ $18) 22... b5
23. Ne5+ Rxe5 24. Rxe5 Qh1+ 25. Kxh1 bxa4 26. Rd5+ Ke7 27. Ra5 $18) 18. Qxb7
Rc8 (18... Qxf3 19. Bc7+ $1 Ke8 (19... Kd7 20. Re1 $1 Be4 $8 21. Ba5+ Ke8 22.
Qxc6+ Ke7 (22... Kf8 23. Bb4+ Kg8 24. Qxa8+ Bxa8 25. Re8#) 23. Rxe4+ $18) (
19... Ke7 20. Bg3+ Kd8 (20... Ke6 21. Re1+ Be4 22. Qxc6+ $18) (20... Kf6 21.
Bh4+ Ke6 22. Qe7+ Kd5 23. Qe5+ Kc4 24. Rc1+ $18) 21. Qxa8+ Ke7 22. Qb7+ Kd8 23.
Qc7+ Ke8 24. Re1+ Be4 25. Qxc6+ $18)) 19. Bg5+ f6 20. Qxg7 $18 fxg5 21. Qxh8+
Kc7 22. Qe5+ Qxe5 23. dxe5 h6 24. Re1 Re8 (24... Rb8 $142 25. b3 Rb4 {und die
weisse Realisierung des Vorteils wird schwieriger als in der Partie.}) 25. h4
gxh4 26. Nxh4 Bf7 27. Nf5 1-0

[Event "Siemens Giants"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1999.07.01"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "McShane,L"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1999.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 d6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O h6 9. Be3 Bd7 10. f3 b5 11. Nxc6 Bxc6 12. Ne2 Qc7 13. Kb1 Bb7 14. h4 Rc8
15. Rh3 (15. g4 {Continuing with the natural kingside attack, fails to} Nxe4 $1
16. fxe4 Bxe4 {attacking h1 and c2}) 15... h5 {Preventing g4, but now if Black
castles kingside g4 may turn out to be even stronger, opening lines
immediately.} 16. Nd4 Nd7 17. Bg5 {Inconveniencing Be7} g6 18. Rh1 d5 19. exd5
Bxd5 20. Bf4 Qb7 ({Perhaps better is} 20... Qb6 {guarding d6 and thus
preventing White's Bd6 as in the game.}) 21. Nb3 Bg7 22. Bd6 $1 {Keeping the
king in the middle.} Qc6 23. Ba3 Nb6 24. Bd3 Nc4 25. Bxc4 bxc4 (25... Qxc4 26.
Rhe1 {threatening Qxd5, is awkward.}) 26. Nd4 Qb6 27. Qg5 {Kasparov has
managed to shut out the black bishops and start to work his own on a3, with a
crude threat on e7.} Bf8 28. Bxf8 Rxf8 {Now Black's dark squares are loose.}
29. Rhe1 Rb8 30. b3 Rd8 31. Ne2 $1 {On f4 or c3 it will put further pressure
on the d5 bishop that glues Black's position together} cxb3 32. axb3 Rd7 33.
Kb2 {Calmly stopping any nonsense on b3.} Qd8 34. Qf4 Qc7 $2 {A blunder, but
with White's knight coming to c3 and then eyeing up d6 and f6 via e4 Black is
in big trouble on the dark squares anyway.} 35. Rxd5 $1 exd5 (35... Qxf4 36.
Nxf4 Rxd5 37. Nxd5) 36. Nd4+ {36...Re7 37.Qxc7 or 36...Kd8 37.Ne6+ both win.}
1-0

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

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

[Event "Siemens Giants"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1999.07.02"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E16"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[Annotator "Tyomkin,D"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "1999.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Nbd2 Bb7 (5... d5 6. Bg2 Be7 7. O-O
O-O 8. b3 (8. cxd5 exd5 9. Ne5 c5 $142 $10) 8... Bb7 9. Bb2 a5 10. a3 c5 11.
cxd5 exd5 12. Qc2 Na6 13. Rac1 h6 14. Rfd1 Qc8 15. Nh4 $14 {0-1 Veingold,
A-Gavrikov,V/Keres mem rapidplay 1999 (38)}) 6. Bg2 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. b3 d5 9.
cxd5 exd5 10. Ne5 Nbd7 (10... c5 11. Bb2 (11. dxc5 bxc5 12. Bb2 Re8 (12... Nbd7
13. Rc1 Nxe5 14. Bxe5 Qb6 15. Qc2 Rfe8 16. e3 Rac8 17. Rfd1 Nd7 18. Bb2 Bf6 19.
Bxf6 Nxf6 20. Qf5 a5 21. Qf4 a4 {1/2-1/2 Yermolinsky,A-Ivanov,A/Eastern op 1997
}) 13. Rc1 Na6 14. Qc2 Bd6 15. Ndf3 Qe7 16. e3 Rac8 $15 {Lautier,J-Gelfand,B/
FIDE WCh KO g/25+10 1999/1/2-1/2 (66)}) 11... Nc6 12. Nxc6 Bxc6 13. Rc1 {
/\ 14.dc5 bc5 (14...Bc5 15.b4) 15.Bf6+/-} Bb5 $146 (13... Bb7 14. dxc5 Bxc5 (
14... bxc5 $2 15. Bxf6 $16) 15. Nf3 Ne4 16. Ne5 (16. Nd4 Qf6 $10 17. e3 $140
Ba6) 16... Qe7 17. Nd3 $14 {1/2-1/2 Browne,W-Huebner,R/San Francisco 1995 (38)}
) (13... Rc8 14. dxc5 Bxc5 15. Nf3 Ne4 16. Nd4 Bd7 17. e3 $14) 14. dxc5 Bxc5
15. Nb1 Ba6 16. a3 Re8 17. Re1 Ne4 18. e3 Qg5 19. f4 Qe7 20. Be5 Bb7 21. b4 Bd6
22. Bxd6 Qxd6 23. Nc3 Nxc3 24. Rxc3 a5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Ivanchuk,V-Nisipeanu,L/
FIDE WCh KO 1999 (29)}) 11. Bb2 c5 12. Nxd7 Qxd7 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. e4 Rad8 $146
(14... Rfd8 15. exd5 Bxd5 16. Nc4 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 (17. Qxd7 Nxd7 18. Kxg2 Nb6 $11
) 17... Qb7+ 18. Qf3 Qxf3+ 19. Kxf3 Nd5 20. Rfd1 Nb4 21. Rxd8+ Rxd8 22. Re1 Bf8
23. a3 Nc6 24. Re2 $14 {1-0 Topalov,V-Gelfand,B/8th Amber Blindfold 1999 (48)})
(14... dxe4 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Nxe4 Qxd1 17. Nxf6+ gxf6 18. Rfxd1 Bxg2 19. Kxg2
$16 {[%csl Ra7,Rc5]}) 15. exd5 Bxd5 16. Nc4 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Nd5 (17... Qb7+ 18.
Qf3 {with the semilar ending,as Topalov-Gelfand.}) 18. Qf3 $14 {White is
slightly better because of better pawn structure on the queenside,and stronger
bishop(which black may exchange right now). But this advantage is too small to
beat Anand,even in rapid game.} Nb6 (18... Bf6 19. Bxf6 Nxf6 20. Rad1 $14 {
[%cal Gc4e3,Ge3f5] Black exchanged his passive bishop,but on other hand it was
very good defender-pawn "c5" and the kingside became vulnerable.}) 19. Rad1 Qc7
20. Ne3 Rxd1 21. Rxd1 Rd8 22. Nf5 $6 {White still could fight for advantage by
not changing rooks:} (22. Re1 $142 {[%csl Rg7][%cal Ge3f5,Ye1e4]} Bf8 23. Nf5
f6 (23... Qd7 24. Re4 $1 {[%cal Rf5g7,Ye4g4]} f6 25. Nh6+ $1 gxh6 26. Bxf6 {
[%cal Re4g4]} Bg7 27. Re7 $18) 24. Qg4 (24. Re4 Nd5 $11 (24... Rd2 25. Bc3 Rxa2
$140 26. Nxg7 $1 Bxg7 27. Re8+ $18)) 24... Qc6+ 25. Kg1 Kh8 $1 {and black
keeps the safe position.} (25... g6 26. Re6 $1 Rd1+ 27. Qxd1 Qxe6 28. Ne3 $14 {
[%csl Ra7,Rc5,Rf6]})) 22... Rxd1 23. Qxd1 f6 24. Qg4 g6 25. Nxe7+ Qxe7 26. Qf3
Kf7 27. Qc6 Nd7 $11 28. Bc3 f5 29. Kg1 Qe6 30. Qa8 (30. Qxe6+ Kxe6 31. Kf1 Kd5
32. Ke2 Nf8 $11 {[%cal Gf8e6]}) 30... a6 31. Qh8 h5 32. Qg7+ Ke8 33. Qh8+ Ke7
34. Qg7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Siemens Giants"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1999.07.02"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[Annotator "Baburin,A"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1999.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. cxd5 exd5 7. e3 Be7 8.
Bd3 O-O 9. Qc2 Re8 10. O-O Nf8 {Both players are experts in the Carlsbad pawn
formation and therefore this game is particularly interesting. It must be said
though that Kasparov usually plays on White's side of this system, where he
prefers to put his knight on e2, followed by f2-f3.} 11. Rab1 a5 12. a3 Ng6 13.
b4 Bd6 {Kasparov chooses plan, which works very well for Black in practice.
Black wants to play either ...h6, exchanging the g5-bishop, or ...Bg4, pushing
the f3-knight to a less active square. Note that Black did not include ...axb4,
axb4 (which is also possible), hoping that it would make it harder for White
to advance his b-pawn (then the a3-pawn could be taken).} 14. Rfe1 ({Perhaps,
more critical is} 14. b5 {but on practice Black did well in this position:} Bg4
(14... h6 15. Bxh6 (15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. bxc6 bxc6 17. e4 Nf4 $1 18. e5 Qe6 $13)
15... gxh6 16. Bxg6 fxg6 17. Qxg6+ Kh8 18. bxc6 bxc6 19. Qxh6+ Nh7 {and Black
stood better and eventually won in the game Moehring-A.Panchenko, Sochi 1979.})
(14... Bxa3 $6 {leads Black with vulnerable pawns after} 15. bxc6 bxc6 16. Qa4
Be7 17. Qxc6) 15. bxc6 bxc6 16. Rb7 $2 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Qc8 18. Rfb1 Qh3 $19 {
Kharitonov-A.Panchenko, Vilnius 1978.}) ({Black is Ok after} 14. e4 dxe4 15.
Nxe4 Be7) 14... axb4 15. axb4 Bg4 16. Nh4 Bd7 17. h3 Ra3 18. e4 $146 ({It's
not clear whether this new move is better than} 18. Nxg6 hxg6 19. b5 {which
happened in the game Spiess,G-Gabriel,C GER-CupT 1992. Although White
eventually lost after} Qa5 20. Rec1 Bb4 21. Rb3 cxb5 22. Bxf6 gxf6 23. Qb2 $2
Rxb3 24. Qxb3 Rc8 25. Ne2 Rxc1+ 26. Nxc1 Bc6 {I am sure that it's possible to
improve upon his play.}) 18... Bf4 $1 19. Nxg6 (19. Bxf6 $6 {This keeps the
balance; it would be risky for White to play} Qxf6 20. Nxg6 hxg6 21. e5 Qg5 $36
) 19... Bxg5 20. Ne5 dxe4 21. Nxe4 Nxe4 22. Bxe4 g6 $11 23. Nc4 Ra7 24. b5 Bf4
25. bxc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Siemens Giants"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "1999.07.02"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1999.06.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O
dxc4 9. Bxc4 a6 10. Rd1 b5 11. Be2 Qc7 12. Ne4 Nxe4 13. Qxe4 Be7 {Dieser neue
Zug wurde zuerst von Gelfand angewandt. Die Idee ist, der weißen Dame das Feld
h4 zu verwehren. Häufiger wurde 13...Nf6 und 13...e5 gespielt.} (13... Nf6 14.
Qh4 c5 15. e4 cxd4 16. Bg5 e5 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Qxf6 $40 {1-0 Bareev,E-Dreev,A/
Elista 1998/CBM 65/[Hecht] (58)}) (13... e5 14. Qh4 Re8 15. Bd3 h6 16. Bc2 exd4
17. Qxd4 Bf8 18. b3 Nf6 19. Qh4 g5 20. Qg3 Qxg3 21. hxg3 $13 {1/2-1/2 Karpov,
A-Anand,V/Lausanne 1998/CBM 63/[Ftacnik] (55)}) 14. Bd2 (14. a4 Bb7 15. Qc2
Rfc8 16. Bd2 b4 17. a5 c5 18. Be1 Qb8 19. Qb1 Nf6 20. dxc5 Bxc5 21. Nd2 Bd5 22.
Bf3 Bd6 23. h3 Be5 24. Bxd5 Nxd5 25. Nf3 Bf6 26. e4 Nf4 27. Ra4 Be7 28. b3 Qb5
29. Bd2 Ne2+ 30. Kh1 Rd8 $36 {1-0 Karpov,A-Gelfand,B/Monte Carlo 1999/CBM 69
ext (56)}) 14... Bb7 15. Rac1 c5 16. Qb1 Qb6 17. dxc5 Nxc5 18. Bc3 Be4 19. Qa1
b4 {Bevor Weiß selbst b2-b4 spielt.} 20. Bd4 Rac8 21. Nd2 Bd5 $11 {Schwarz hat
keine Probleme mehr.} 22. b3 f6 23. Bf3 Bxf3 24. Nxf3 Rfd8 25. Qb1 Qb7 26. Bxc5
Rxd1+ 27. Rxd1 Rxc5 28. Nd2 Rd5 29. Nc4 f5 30. Rxd5 Qxd5 31. f3 Bf6 32. Kf2 Kf7
33. Ke2 Ke7 34. Qd3 Qc5 35. Kf1 g6 36. h3 h5 37. Ke2 Qc7 38. f4 Qc6 39. Kf2
Bh4+ 40. Kf1 Bf6 41. Kf2 Bh4+ 42. Kf1 Bf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 27th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1999.07.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2701"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "1999.07.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Be6 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. cxd5 Bxd5 14. Nd2 Na5
15. Bd3 b6 16. Qc2 h6 17. Bb2 Bb7 18. Ne4 b5 19. a4 a6 20. axb5 axb5 21. Bxb5
f5 22. Nc5 Bxc5 23. dxc5 Qd5 24. c6 Nxc6 25. Qd3 Ne5 26. Qxd5+ Bxd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 27th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1999.07.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1999.07.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. Bd3 cxd4 8.
exd4 Be7 9. Ne5 O-O 10. Be3 Bd7 11. Nc3 Nc6 12. Rc1 Rc8 (12... Bd6 13. Bf4 Qe7
14. Ne4 Nxe4 15. Bxe4 $36) 13. a3 Bd6 14. Nxd7 (14. Bf4 Qe7 15. Ne4 Nxe4 16.
Bxe4 Rfd8 17. Qd3 f5 $5 (17... h6 18. Bh7+ $140 Kh8 19. Nxf7+ Qxf7 20. Bxd6 Be8
21. Bc5 g6 $19) 18. Bxc6 Bxe5 19. Bxe5 (19. Bxd7 Rxc1 20. Bxe6+ (20. Bxc1 Qxd7
$17) 20... Qxe6 21. Bxc1 Bxd4 $15) 19... Bxc6 $11) 14... Qxd7 15. Qf3 Ne7 16.
Bg5 Ned5 $11 17. Bxf6 Nxf6 18. d5 Nxd5 19. Nxd5 Rxc1 (19... exd5 $4 20. Bf5 $18
) 20. Bxh7+ Kxh7 21. Qh5+ Kg8 22. Nf6+ gxf6 23. Qg4+ Kh7 24. Qh4+ Kg7 25. Qg4+
Kh7 26. Qh4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 27th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1999.07.12"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D18"]
[WhiteElo "2656"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "36"]
[EventDate "1999.07.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O
O-O 9. Qb3 Qb6 10. Ne5 c5 11. a5 Bxa5 12. Rxa5 Qxa5 13. Qxb7 cxd4 14. exd4 Qb6
15. Qxa8 Qxd4 16. Nc6 (16. Nxf7 Qxc4 17. Nd6 Qc6 18. Qxc6 Nxc6 {führt
ebenfalls zu einer ausgeglichenen Stellung, obwohl Weiß gewann in der Partie
Kestutis,K-Wessman,R/Helsinki 1990/EXT 97 (42)}) 16... Qxc4 17. Ne7+ (17. Nxb8
Qc7 18. Na6 (18. Nb5 Qb6 {ist nicht günstiger für Weiß.}) 18... Qb6 {überläßt
dem Schwarzen Vorteil.}) 17... Kh8 18. Nxf5 exf5 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 27th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1999.07.16"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C24"]
[WhiteElo "2708"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "1999.07.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Bc5 4. Nf3 d6 5. c3 Bb6 6. Nbd2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Bb3
Re8 9. Re1 Be6 10. Bc2 h6 11. h3 Nbd7 12. d4 Qc7 13. Nf1 Rad8 14. Ng3 Nf8 15.
Be3 Ng6 16. Qc1 Bc8 17. a3 d5 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. dxe5 Nxe4 20. Nxe4 dxe4 21.
Bxe4 f5 22. Bxb6 axb6 23. Bc2 Rxe5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 27th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "1999.07.17"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E37"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2771"]
[PlyCount "36"]
[EventDate "1999.07.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Ne4 7. Qc2 c5 8.
dxc5 Nc6 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Nf3 Bf5 11. b4 d4 12. g4 Bg6 13. Qc4 d3 14. Bg2 Qf6
15. Ra2 Ne5 16. Qb5+ Nc6 17. Qc4 Ne5 18. Qb5+ Nc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "1999.08.03"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Tiviakov, Sergei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C43"]
[WhiteElo "2611"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1999.07.31"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nxd7 Bxd7 7. O-O Bd6 8.
c4 c6 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Qh5 O-O 11. Qxd5 Bc6 12. Qh5 g6 13. Qh3 Ng5 14. Qg4 Ne6
15. Bh6 Re8 16. d5 Bxd5 17. Bb5 Bc6 18. Bxc6 bxc6 19. Nd2 Qb8 20. h3 Qxb2 21.
Nc4 Qb8 22. Rab1 Qc7 23. Nxd6 Qxd6 24. Rfd1 Qe7 25. Qe4 Rac8 26. Bd2 Qf6 27.
Qc4 c5 28. Be3 Nd4 29. Rb7 Rcd8 30. Rc1 a6 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "1999.08.06"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A32"]
[WhiteElo "2676"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "1999.07.31"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. g3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 Nc6 8.
Bc3 O-O 9. O-O d5 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Bd4 Qa5 13. Nc3 Rd8 14. Qc1
Ba6 15. Rd1 Rac8 16. Qc2 Bf8 17. a3 c5 18. Be5 Nxc3 19. Bxc3 Qb5 20. Bf3 Bb7
21. Bxb7 Qxb7 22. Qa4 a6 23. Qc4 Qb5 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "1999.08.09"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "1999.07.31"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Re1 Nxd3 10. Qxd3 c6 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Qb5+ Qd7 13. Qb3 O-O 14. Nc3 Nxc3
15. bxc3 Rd8 16. Ba3 Bf6 17. Re3 Qc6 18. Be7 Re8 19. Rae1 Bxe7 20. Rxe7 Bd7 21.
h3 f6 22. Qa3 a6 23. Nd2 Rxe7 24. Rxe7 Re8 25. Nf1 Rxe7 26. Qxe7 Qe6 27. Qd8+
Qe8 28. Qb6 Bc6 29. Ne3 h5 30. Qc7 Qe4 31. g3 Qb1+ 32. Kg2 Bb5 33. Qc8+ Kh7 34.
Qf5+ Qxf5 35. Nxf5 g6 36. Ne3 g5 37. h4 Kg6 38. f3 Bc6 39. Kf2 Kf7 40. a3 Ke6
41. Ke2 Bb5+ 42. Kd2 Bc6 43. Kc2 Ba4+ 44. Kb2 Bb5 45. Kc2 Be2 46. f4 gxh4 47.
gxh4 Bb5 48. Kb3 Bd3 49. Kb4 b6 50. Kb3 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "1999.08.10"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D28"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "1999.07.31"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nc6 7. Qe2 a6 8. Rd1
b5 9. d5 exd5 (9... Nxd5 10. e4 bxc4 11. exd5 Nd4 12. Nxd4 cxd4 13. Rxd4 Bc5 (
13... Bb7 14. Nc3 Bb4 (14... Bc5 15. Rxc4 $16) 15. Qxc4 Bxc3 16. bxc3 $1 (16.
Qa4+ Qd7 17. Qxd7+ Kxd7 18. dxe6+ Kxe6 19. bxc3 $16) 16... exd5 17. Ba3 $1 $40
{/+-}) 14. Rxc4 Qxd5 (14... Bb6 15. Rg4 Qxd5 16. Nc3 $16) 15. Nc3 Qf5 16. g4
$18) 10. Bxd5 Nxd5 11. e4 Bd6 (11... Qe7 $5 12. Rxd5 Be6 (12... Bg4) 13. Rd1
Bg4 $132) (11... Bg4 12. exd5+ (12. Rxd5 Qf6) 12... Qe7 13. Qc2 (13. Qxe7+ Nxe7
14. a4 b4 $1 $132 (14... Rd8 15. axb5 axb5 16. Nc3 b4 17. Nb5 $16)) 13... Bxf3
(13... Ne5 14. d6 Qe6 15. d7+ $1 Kd8 16. Ng5 $40) 14. gxf3 Ne5 (14... Nd4 15.
Rxd4 cxd4 16. Qc6+ $18) 15. Qe4 Rd8 16. a4 $36) 12. exd5+ Ne7 13. a4 $1 b4 14.
Nbd2 O-O 15. Nc4 Re8 16. Bg5 (16. Ng5 $5 h6 17. Ne4 (17. Nxd6 Qxd6 18. Ne4 Nxd5
$1) 17... Nf5) 16... a5 17. Re1 Ba6 18. Qe4 Bxc4 19. Qxc4 Qc7 20. Bxe7 (20. Re4
Ng6 21. Rae1 Rxe4 22. Rxe4 (22. Qxe4 h6 23. Be3 c4 $132) 22... Ne5 23. Nxe5
Bxe5 $11) 20... Bxe7 21. b3 Bf6 22. Rxe8+ Rxe8 23. Rd1 Rd8 $11 24. g3 g6 25.
Kg2 Qd6 26. Qe4 Bc3 {Preventing White`s Knight from moving to c4 Black
completely equalize the game} 27. Rd3 Kg7 28. h4 h5 29. Rd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "1999.08.12"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E37"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2708"]
[Annotator "Golod,V"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1999.07.31"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 $5 ({Another line is:} 5. cxd5 $5
) 5... Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Ne4 7. Qc2 e5 $5 {Rare move! Besides,black has few
options:} (7... c5 $5 {-see comments to Daschian,N-Landa,K/Moscow,1999/CBM 70
(1/2-1/2)(Golod,V)(34)}) (7... Nc6 $5) ({and} 7... O-O $5) 8. cxd5 ({
Interestingly:} 8. dxe5 $5 Bf5 9. Nf3 $5 {Atalik,S} (9. Qb3 $6 Na6 10. cxd5 c6
$1 {[%csl Re1][%cal Gd8a5]} 11. Nf3 Qa5+ 12. Bd2 Nxd2 13. Nxd2 Rd8 $40 {
0-1 Gaborit,J-Hauchard,A/Pau 1989/EXT 97 (25)}) 9... Ng3 $140 $2 10. e4 Bxe4 (
10... Nxe4 11. Bd3 $16) 11. Qa4+ b5 12. Qxb5+ c6 13. Qb7 Nxh1 14. Qxa8 Bxf3 $8
(14... Qb6 $2 15. Be3 Qxb2 16. Bd4 Qb3 17. Nd2 $18) 15. gxf3 O-O (15... Qb6 $2
16. Be3 Qxb2 17. Bd4 Qxd4 18. Qxb8+ Ke7 19. Qd6+ Ke8 20. Qxc6+ Ke7 21. Qc7+ Ke8
22. Ra2 $18) 16. cxd5 Qxd5 17. Qxa7 $16) ({After:} 8. e3 exd4 9. cxd5 Nf6 10.
Qa4+ c6 11. Qxd4 Qxd5 12. Nf3 O-O 13. Bc4 Qxd4 14. Nxd4 c5 {-equality.
Pelletier,Y-Marinelli,T/Mitropa Cup 1995/CBM 46(1/2-1/2)(41)}) 8... Qxd5 9. e3
{Another alternative is:} (9. f3 Nf6 $5 (9... Nd6 10. dxe5 Qxe5 11. e4 Nc6 12.
Bd3 Be6 13. Ne2 Qa5+ 14. Kf2 O-O-O $13 {1/2-1/2 Grigorian,K-Kortschnoj,V/
Moscow 1973/URS-ch (37)}) 10. e4 Qxd4 11. Qxc7 Nc6 12. Ne2 Qc5 13. b4 $2 (13.
Nc3 $5) 13... Nxb4 $1 14. Qxc5 Nd3+ 15. Kd2 Nxc5 $17 {Kramnik,V-Kasparov,G/
Moscow,1998(blitz g/5)(0-1)(41)}) 9... exd4 10. Nf3 {'!' Nikolic,Pr.} Nd6 {
Is the best move!} ({Dubious:} 10... Qc6 {because of:} 11. Nxd4 $1 (11. Bd3 Nd6
) 11... Qxc2 12. Nxc2 $14 {1/2-1/2 Kasparov,G-Nikolic,P/Barcelona 1989/Inf 47/
677(Nikolic,Pr)(37)}) ({and} 10... dxe3 $6 11. Bxe3 {with strong initiative
behind pawn.}) 11. Nxd4 Bd7 $1 {/\Nc6} ({Badly:} 11... O-O $2 {in view of:} 12.
Qxc7 Nc6 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. Bd2 a5 15. Rd1 Ne4 16. Bc1 $16 {1-0 Forintos,
G-Sydor,A/Cienfuegos 1975/EXT 98 (31)}) 12. b3 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (12. f3 $5
Nc6 13. Nxc6 Bxc6 14. Be2 (14. e4 $6 {Atalik,S} Qe6 15. Be2 f5 16. exf5 Nxf5 {
><d4}) 14... f5 $1 15. a4 $1 {><b5} O-O-O 16. b4 $13 {1-0 Atalik,S-Kotronias,V/
Mangalia,1992/Inf 55/549(Atalik,S)(29)}) ({and} 12. Bd2 {-see comments to
Atalik,S-Shaked,T/New York,1998/CBM 64(1/2-1/2)(Kostakiev,D)(14)-was checked
in the previous games.}) ({Dubious:} 12. b4 {in view of:} a5 {(Atalik,S)}) ({
Also dubious:} 12. Qxc7 {because of:} Nc6 $44 {[%csl Rc7]}) 12... Nc6 $5 ({
After:} 12... c5 $6 13. Nf3 Bf5 14. Qc3 {[%csl Rg7][%cal Gc1b2] white has a
big advantage.}) 13. Bb2 Nxd4 ({Worse is:} 13... O-O {in view of:} 14. Nxc6 $5
(14. O-O-O Nxd4 15. Bxd4 {-transfers to-13...Nxd4} (15. Rxd4 $5)) 14... Bxc6
15. Rd1 $14) 14. Bxd4 {[%csl Rc7,Rg7]} O-O 15. O-O-O {[%csl Rd5][%cal Gd4g7]} (
15. Qxc7 $6 Bc6 $44 {[%csl Rc7,Re1]}) 15... Bf5 $1 {Differently badly.} 16.
Bxg7 {This is continuation better than other moves:} (16. Qc3 $6 Rad8 $5 (16...
Ne4 $5) 17. Bxg7 $140 $2 Qxd1+ 18. Kxd1 Ne4+ $17 {[%csl Rc3,Rf2]}) (16. Bd3
Bxd3 17. Qxd3 (17. Rxd3 $2 Qxg2) 17... Rad8 $11) 16... Bxc2 17. Rxd5 Bxb3 $8 {
[%csl Rd5,Rg7]} (17... Be4 $2 18. Rg5 $18) 18. Rg5 $5 ({After:} 18. Bxf8 Bxd5
19. Bxd6 cxd6 20. Bd3 {white has a slightly positional advantage in the
endgame.}) ({Also after:} 18. Rd3 Kxg7 19. Rxb3 Rad8 {-equality.}) 18... Ne4 $8
({Badly:} 18... Rfe8 $2 {in view of:} 19. Be5+ Kf8 20. Bd3 $16 {[%csl Rh7]})
19. Bxf8+ (19. Rg4 $2 f5 {[%csl Rg4]} (19... Nxf2 $5) 20. Bxf8+ (20. Rxe4 $143
fxe4 21. Bxf8 Rxf8 $17 {[%csl Rf2]}) 20... fxg4 $17 {[%csl Rf2,Rf8]}) 19...
Nxg5 20. Be7 {+/=/=} Ne4 $1 (20... Ne6 $6 21. Bf6 $14 {[%csl Gf6][%cal Gf6d8,
Gf6h8]}) 21. f3 $140 Re8 22. Bh4 {[%csl Rf2,Yh4]} Nd6 23. e4 (23. Kd2 $143 c5
$11) 23... f5 $1 24. exf5 Nxf5 25. Bf2 Rd8 {[%cal Gd8d1]} 26. Be2 a5 $5 {
Black's plan is:a4,Rd6-c6} 27. g4 ({Can be recommended:} 27. Re1) 27... Nd4 28.
Bd1 (28. Bd1 a4 $5 (28... Bc4 $143 29. Re1 Kf7 30. Re4 $14) 29. Bxd4 Rxd4 30.
Bxb3+ axb3 31. Kb2 Rd2+ 32. Kxb3 Rd3+ 33. Kb4 Rxf3 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o."]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "1999.08.13"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2708"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "34"]
[EventDate "1999.07.31"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bg7 6. h3 b6 7. Nc3 e5 8. Be3
Ne7 9. Qd2 h6 10. Nh2 Be6 11. O-O-O Qd7 12. Kb1 O-O-O 13. Qe2 f5 14. exf5 gxf5
15. f4 Rhe8 16. Qd2 Qb7 17. fxe5 Bxe5 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o. g/15+10"]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "1999.08.14"]
[Round "5.5"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2708"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "1999.07.31"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. Nc3 Nc7 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. h3 g6 8.
O-O Bg7 9. Re1 O-O 10. d3 Ne6 11. Ne4 f5 12. exf6 exf6 13. Rb1 b6 14. b3 a5 15.
a4 Ra7 16. Bb2 Re7 17. Qd2 Nd4 18. Nxd4 cxd4 19. Ng3 c5 20. Rxe7 Qxe7 21. Re1
Qd6 22. Bc1 f5 23. Qf4 Qd7 24. Nf1 Bb7 25. f3 Bf6 26. Qg3 Qd8 27. Re6 Be7 28.
Bh6 Rf6 29. Re2 Bd5 30. Bg5 Kf7 31. Bxf6 Bxf6 32. Nd2 Bh4 33. Qh2 Bg5 34. f4
Bf6 35. g3 h5 36. Nc4 Bb7 37. Kf2 Qd5 38. Ke1 Qd8 39. Kd2 Bd5 40. Ne5+ Kg7 41.
Qg1 g5 42. Kc1 Qd6 43. Qe1 g4 44. hxg4 fxg4 45. Rh2 Bxe5 46. fxe5 Qh6+ 47. Kb2
Kf7 48. e6+ Bxe6 49. Qe5 Qe3 50. Qxh5+ Ke7 51. Qg6 Kd6 52. Rh6 Qe1 53. Qxg4
Qc3+ 54. Kb1 Qe1+ 55. Ka2 Kd7 56. Qg7+ Kd6 57. Qb7 Qb4 58. Qb8+ Kd7 59. Rh7+
Kc6 60. Qc7+ 1-0

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o. g/15+10"]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "1999.08.14"]
[Round "5.6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A28"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2708"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "1999.07.31"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. a3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. d3 Be7 7. e3 Be6 8. Be2
O-O 9. O-O a5 10. Qc2 Kh8 11. Rb1 f5 12. Rd1 Qe8 13. Bd2 Qg6 14. Be1 Rad8 15.
Nb5 e4 16. Nfd4 Nxd4 17. Nxd4 Bc8 18. b4 axb4 19. axb4 c6 20. Bf1 Bf6 21. dxe4
fxe4 22. Nb3 Bg4 23. Rdc1 Bg5 24. Qc5 h6 25. Nd2 Rf6 26. Nc4 Re8 27. b5 Rfe6
28. bxc6 bxc6 29. Na5 Be7 30. Qc4 Bg5 31. Qb3 Rf6 32. Nc4 Qf7 33. Qb7 Qg6 34.
Qb2 Qf5 35. Qa3 Ref8 36. Rc2 Bh5 37. Rbc1 Be8 38. Nd6 Qg6 39. Nxe8 Qxe8 40. Bc4
Qg6 41. Re2 Rf5 42. Bd2 Be7 43. Qa2 Rg5 44. g3 Rh5 45. Ree1 Qf5 46. Ba5 Qh3 47.
f4 exf3 48. Qf2 Nf6 49. Bf1 Qe6 50. Qxf3 Rxa5 0-1

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

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

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

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

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o. g/25+10"]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "1999.08.14"]
[Round "5.3"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B25"]
[WhiteElo "2708"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[Annotator "Donev,I"]
[PlyCount "155"]
[EventDate "1999.07.31"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 {Es ist keineswegs zufällig,
dass diese sizilianische Variante die Bezeichnung "geschlossen", trägt. Weiß
muss sich um Stabilität seiner Zentralbauern bemühen und die Öffnung von
Linien bzw. Diagonalen am Damenflügel und im Zentrum vermeiden,um sich an den
Königsflügel zu halten.} d6 6. Be3 {In den letzten zwei Jahren hat der
Englische Großmeister gegen einige Weltspitzen Großmeister (Kasparov, Anand,
Topalov, Ivanchuk...) den geschlossenen Sizilianer gespielt, wobei seine
Lieblingsvariante die frühe Entwicklung des Damenläufers (B26) ist. Einer der
grössten Fachmänner diese Variante ist der jugoslawische Großmeister
Ljubojevic.} e5 {Kontrolliert fest den Vorposten d4 und bereitet die
Entwicklung des Königspringers Nge7 vor.} 7. Qd2 Nge7 8. f4 Nd4 9. Nf3 O-O 10.
O-O {Weiß hat seine Kräfte im Zentrum sehr harmonisch entwickelt. Jetzt kann
er die Türme auf der f- Linie verdoppeln (Rf2, Raf1) und allmählich den
Angriff am Königsflügel vorbereiten.} exf4 11. Bxf4 Nxf3+ 12. Rxf3 Qb6 $1 $146
{[%mdl 8] Die schwarze Dame übt einen unangenehmen Druck auf den schwachen
b2-Bauern aus. Dadurch wird der weisse Turm für lange Zeit an b1 gebunden um
den Bauern b2 zu decken.} 13. Rb1 Be6 14. Bh6 {Jetzt ist es höchste Zeit den
schwarzfeldrigen Läufer abzutauschen. Auf diese Weise wird nicht nur eine
starke schwarze Figur abgetauscht, die einen starken Druck auf der großen
Diagonale (a1-h8) ausübt, sondern auch die schwarzen Felder um den König
abschwächt.} Rae8 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. Kh1 f6 $1 {Ein typischer Zug für eine
solche Stellungsart. Nach dem Abtausch des schwarzfarbigen Fiancetoläufers
stellt der Nachziehende seine Bauern am Königsflügel am besten auf
schwarzfarbige Felder.} 17. a3 d5 18. b4 cxb4 19. Rxb4 Qc7 20. Nb5 Qd7 21. Nd4
Bg8 22. Re3 Nc6 23. Nxc6 Qxc6 24. h4 b6 25. Kh2 Qc5 26. d4 Qd6 27. exd5 Bxd5
28. Bxd5 Qxd5 29. c4 Qf7 30. d5 Rxe3 31. Qxe3 Re8 32. Qd3 Qe7 33. Rb2 Qe1 34.
Qd2 Qxd2+ (34... Qf1 $15 {/\Re1}) 35. Rxd2 Kf7 36. a4 Re4 37. a5 (37. Rc2 Rd4 {
/\Ke7} 38. c5 Rxd5 39. c6 Rd8 40. c7 Rc8 $19) 37... Rxc4 38. axb6 axb6 39. Rb2
Rd4 40. Rxb6 Rxd5 {Das ist ein theoretisches Remisendpiel, aber Kramnik
probiert trotzdem zu gewinnen.} 41. Rb7+ Kg8 42. Kg2 h5 43. Kf3 Re5 44. Ra7 Kf8
45. Rb7 Re7 46. Rb6 Kf7 47. Ra6 Rd7 48. Rb6 Ke7 49. Ra6 Rd6 50. Ra5 Ke6 51. Ra3
Ke5 52. Re3+ Kf5 53. Ra3 Rd5 54. Re3 g5 55. hxg5 fxg5 56. Ra3 g4+ 57. Ke3 Re5+
58. Kf2 Rc5 59. Ra4 Rc2+ 60. Kg1 Re2 61. Kf1 Rd2 62. Kg1 Ke5 63. Ra5+ Rd5 64.
Ra4 Rd1+ 65. Kf2 Rd2+ 66. Kg1 Kf5 67. Rf4+ Ke5 68. Ra4 Rd4 69. Ra5+ Ke4 70.
Rxh5 Kf3 71. Ra5 Rd1+ 72. Kh2 Rd2+ 73. Kg1 Rg2+ 74. Kh1 Re2 75. Kg1 Kxg3 76.
Ra3+ Kf4 77. Rb3 g3 78. Rb8 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE-Wch k.o. g/25+10"]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "1999.08.14"]
[Round "5.4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2708"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1999.07.31"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 072"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 b6 7. e3 Bb7 8.
Be2 c5 9. b4 d6 10. Bb2 e5 11. O-O Re8 12. d3 Nbd7 13. Rfe1 a5 14. bxc5 bxc5
15. d4 Ne4 16. Qc2 cxd4 17. exd4 Ng5 18. Nxg5 Qxg5 19. d5 f5 20. Rab1 Nc5 21.
Bc3 Bc8 22. Rb6 Rd8 23. Rb5 f4 24. Bf1 Bf5 25. Qd1 Rdc8 26. Rxa5 Rxa5 27. Bxa5
h5 28. Bb4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich clock sim"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "1999.09.03"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bucher, Denis"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2329"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1999.09.03"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. Bd3 Be6 12. O-O Bxd5 13. exd5 Ne7 14. c3 Bg7
15. Qh5 e4 16. Bc2 Qc8 17. Bb3 O-O 18. Nc2 a5 19. a3 Re8 20. Rae1 Ng6 21. f4
exf3 22. Rxe8+ Qxe8 23. Qxf3 f4 24. Re1 Qd8 25. Qg4 Qb6+ 26. Kh1 Kh8 27. Qe2
Rg8 28. Rf1 Qb8 29. Qf2 Re8 30. Re1 Bf6 31. Re2 Kg8 32. Qe1 Rxe2 33. Qxe2 Qb6
34. Qd2 Be5 35. Qe2 Kf8 36. Qe1 Ne7 37. Qg1 Qb7 38. Qd1 Qb6 39. Qg1 Qb7 40. Qd1
Qb6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich clock sim"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "1999.09.03"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Jenni, Florian"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C13"]
[WhiteElo "2399"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1999.09.03"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Nf3 O-O 8.
c3 Nd7 9. Bd3 e5 10. Nxf6+ Qxf6 11. dxe5 Nxe5 12. Nxe5 Qxe5+ 13. Qe2 Re8 14.
O-O-O Qg5+ 15. Qd2 Qa5 16. Bc4 Be6 17. Bxe6 Rxe6 18. Qd8+ Re8 19. Qd5 Qxd5 20.
Rxd5 Rad8 21. Rhd1 Rxd5 22. Rxd5 Kf8 23. Kd2 Ke7 24. Ke3 f6 25. Rd4 Rb8 26. Kf4
b5 27. h4 c6 28. g4 g6 29. f3 a5 30. g5 Rf8 31. Kg4 Ke6 32. c4 Ke5 33. Re4+ Kd6
34. Kg3 Rf7 35. cxb5 cxb5 36. Rd4+ Ke5 37. Rf4 f5 38. h5 Re7 39. Rh4 a4 40. f4+
Kd5 41. hxg6 hxg6 42. a3 Re4 43. Rh6 Re6 44. Rh4 Re4 45. Rh6 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Zuerich clock sim"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "1999.09.03"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gallagher, Joseph G"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2521"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "1999.09.03"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Na6 8. Re1
c6 9. Rb1 exd4 10. Nxd4 Nc5 11. f3 a5 12. Be3 a4 13. Nc2 Qe7 14. Qd2 Be6 15.
Rbd1 Ne8 16. Bd4 f6 17. Bf1 Qf7 18. Ne3 Nd7 19. Ne2 Bh6 20. f4 Nc5 21. Qc2 f5
22. exf5 gxf5 23. g3 Ne4 24. b3 axb3 25. axb3 c5 26. Bb2 Bg7 27. Bxg7 Qxg7 28.
Bg2 N8f6 29. Nc3 Nxc3 30. Qxc3 Rad8 31. Rd2 Ne4 32. Qxg7+ Kxg7 33. Bxe4 fxe4
34. Red1 Bh3 35. Kf2 Ra8 36. Rb1 Ra6 37. Nd5 Rfa8 38. Nc3 Bf5 39. Ke3 Ra1 40.
g4 Rxb1 41. Nxb1 Ra1 42. Nc3 Re1+ 43. Kf2 e3+ 44. Kxe1 exd2+ 45. Kxd2 Bxg4 46.
Ne4 b6 47. Kc3 Bd7 48. b4 cxb4+ 49. Kxb4 Kf7 50. Nxd6+ Ke6 51. Ne4 Kf5 52. Nc3
Kxf4 53. Nd5+ Kf3 54. Nxb6 Be8 55. Nd5 Bf7 56. Kc5 Ke4 57. Nf6+ Kf3 58. Nd5 Ke4
59. Nf6+ Kf3 60. Kd4 Bxc4 61. Kxc4 Kg2 62. h4 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Zuerich clock sim"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "1999.09.03"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Pelletier, Yannick"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2479"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "1999.09.03"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2000"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.11.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Qc2 c5 8. dxc5
Nxc5 9. O-O-O Qa5 10. Kb1 Bd7 11. Ne5 Ba4 12. Nxa4 Nxa4 13. cxd5 Nxd5 14. Nc4
Qb4 15. Be5 b5 16. a3 Nac3+ 17. Ka1 Qc5 18. Bxc3 Nxc3 19. Qxc3 bxc4 20. Qxc4
Qf5 21. Bd3 Qxf2 22. Qe4 Qh4 23. Qxh4 Bxh4 24. Bc4 Rfd8 25. Kb1 Kf8 26. Kc2 Ke7
27. Rxd8 Rxd8 28. Rd1 Rc8 29. b3 Bf6 30. Rd3 h5 31. Kd2 Rc5 32. Ke2 Be5 33. h3
Bd6 34. a4 Re5 35. Kf1 Rf5+ 36. Ke2 h4 37. Rd4 Bg3 38. Rd2 a5 39. Bb5 Kf6 40.
Rc2 g5 41. Bd3 Rf2+ 42. Kd1 Rxc2 43. Bxc2 Bd6 44. Bd3 Ke5 45. Bb5 f5 46. Ke2 g4
47. Bd7 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "EU-Cup 15th final"]
[Site "Bugojno"]
[Date "1999.10.30"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Azmaiparashvili, Zurab"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2681"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "26"]
[EventDate "1999.10.29"]
[EventType "team-k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Kiseljak"]
[BlackTeam "Zemun Agrouniverzal"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "BIH"]
[BlackTeamCountry "SRB"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3
d5 9. Nbd2 Nbd7 10. O-O O-O 11. Re1 c5 12. e4 dxe4 13. Nxe4 Bb7 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-Cup 15th final"]
[Site "Bugojno"]
[Date "1999.10.31"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D19"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2698"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1999.10.29"]
[EventType "team-k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "BIH"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Zemun Agrouniverzal"]
[BlackTeam "Sarajevo Bosna"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "SRB"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BIH"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O
Nbd7 9. Qe2 Bg6 10. e4 O-O 11. Bd3 Bh5 12. e5 Nd5 13. Nxd5 cxd5 14. Qe3 h6 15.
Ne1 Bxe1 (15... f5 16. exf6 Qxf6 17. Bb5 Rf7 (17... Nb8 18. Nd3 a6 19. Nxb4
axb5 20. a5 {+= Gelfand-Lautier, Horgen 1994, Inf. 61/396.}) 18. Nd3 Bd6 {
~ Hertneck, siehe Z. Ribli, Slawisch D16-19 (Informatormonographie), D 19/140.}
) 16. Rxe1 ({Unklar sind die Folgen des Abspiels} 16. Qh3 Qa5 17. Bxh6 Bd2 18.
Be3 Bxe3 19. fxe3 g6 20. g4 Qd2 21. Rad1 Bxg4 22. Qxg4 Qxe3+) 16... Bg6 17. Be2
Rc8 18. Bd2 Nb8 (18... Qb6 19. Bc3 a5 20. Qd2 Qa7 21. Bb5 Nb8 22. Rec1 Nc6 23.
Bxc6 Rxc6 24. Bxa5 Rxc1+ 25. Rxc1 Ra8 26. Bb4 {1/2-1/2 Kavalek,L-Hermann,M/FRG
1982/GER-chT (26)}) 19. a5 Qe7 20. Rec1 Qd7 21. Bb4 Rxc1+ 22. Rxc1 Rc8 23. Bd6
Rxc1+ 24. Qxc1 Nc6 25. Qc5 a6 26. b4 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Internet Chess Club g/3,5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.17"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Grandma"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E44"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "game (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Nge2 Bb7 6. a3 Be7 7. Nf4 O-O 8. Bd3
d6 9. O-O Nbd7 10. b3 c5 11. d5 e5 12. Nfe2 Re8 13. Ng3 Bf8 14. f4 exf4 15.
exf4 a6 16. Bb2 b5 17. Nce4 Nxe4 18. Nxe4 Be7 19. Qh5 g6 20. Qh3 f5 21. Nd2 Bf6
22. Bxf6 Qxf6 23. Rae1 Qd4+ 24. Kh1 Nf6 25. cxb5 Ng4 26. Qf3 Ne3 27. Rf2 Bxd5
28. Bc4 Nxc4 0-1

[Event "Internet Chess Club g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.04"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A39"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "game (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 O-O 8.
O-O Nxd4 9. Qxd4 d6 10. Qd3 Bf5 11. e4 Be6 12. b3 Nd7 13. Bd2 Nc5 14. Qe2 a6
15. Rab1 Rc8 16. Rfd1 Qc7 17. Nd5 Bxd5 18. exd5 Rfe8 19. Be3 a5 20. Rdc1 Ra8
21. h4 h5 22. Bf3 e5 23. dxe6 Rxe6 24. Bd5 Re7 25. Qc2 Kh7 26. Bg5 Re5 27. Bf4
Re7 28. Rd1 Rae8 29. Bf3 Re6 30. Rd5 f5 31. Rbd1 Re1+ 32. Kg2 Rxd1 33. Qxd1 Be5
34. Be3 Ne4 35. Bxe4 fxe4 36. c5 Re6 37. cxd6 Rxd6 38. Rxd6 Bxd6 39. Qd5 Be5
40. Qxe4 Bg7 41. a4 Qf7 42. Qc4 Qd7 43. Qb5 Qc7 44. Bb6 Qc2 45. Be3 Qe4+ 46.
Kg1 Be5 47. Kh2 Bxg3+ 48. Kxg3 Qg4+ 49. Kh2 Qxh4+ 50. Kg1 Qg4+ 51. Kf1 Qd1+ 52.
Kg2 Qg4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Internet Chess Club g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.05"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Repkova, Eva"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B66"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "game (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O h6 9. Be3 Be7 10. f3 Nxd4 11. Qxd4 b5 12. g4 Bb7 13. h4 d5 14. exd5 Nxd5
15. Nxd5 Bxd5 16. Be2 Bxh4 17. Kb1 Bf6 18. Qb4 Be7 19. Qd4 Qa5 20. a3 b4 21.
Qxg7 Rf8 22. Rxd5 Qxd5 23. Rd1 Qb7 24. a4 b3 25. c3 Qc6 26. Bxh6 Qxa4 27. Qh7
Qa2+ 0-1

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

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

[Event "Internet Chess Club g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.15"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Repkova, Eva"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B09"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "game (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Bd3 Na6 7. O-O c5 8. d5
Bg4 9. Bc4 Nc7 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Nd7 12. a4 a6 13. Kh1 Rb8 14. a5 b5 15.
axb6 Nxb6 16. Qe2 Nxc4 17. Qxc4 Rb4 18. Qe2 Qd7 19. f5 Rfb8 20. fxg6 hxg6 21.
Qf3 Rf8 22. b3 f5 23. Qg3 fxe4 24. Bb2 Rxf1+ 25. Rxf1 Qe8 26. Ba3 Bxc3 27. Qxc3
Nxd5 28. Qe1 Rd4 29. Bb2 e3 30. Bxd4 cxd4 31. Qd1 e5 32. Qd3 Nf4 33. Qxa6 Qd7
34. Qa8+ Kg7 35. Qe4 Qf5 36. Rxf4 Qxf4 37. Qb7+ Qf7 38. Qe4 Qf1+ 39. Kh2 e2 0-1

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Event "Internet Chess Club m1 g/3'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.12"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2726"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Bg5 12. Nc2 Rb8 13. a4 bxa4 14. Ncb4
Nxb4 15. Nxb4 Bd7 16. Qxd6 Be7 17. Qxe5 O-O 18. Bxa6 Re8 19. Qd5 Bxb4 20. cxb4
Qb6 21. O-O Bc6 22. Qa5 Qxb4 23. Qxb4 Rxb4 24. Rfc1 Bxe4 25. Rc4 Rxc4 26. Bxc4
Bc6 27. b3 axb3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Internet Chess Club m1 g/3'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.12"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2726"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Rb8 12. Nc2 Bg5 13. a4 bxa4 14. Ncb4
Nxb4 15. Nxb4 Bd7 16. Bxa6 O-O 17. O-O Qc7 18. Bd3 Ra8 19. Ra3 Ra5 20. Qe2 Kh8
21. Rfa1 Qa7 22. Bc2 Ra8 23. Qd1 Be7 24. Bxa4 Rxa4 25. Rxa4 Bxa4 26. b3 Bxb3
27. Rxa7 Rxa7 28. Qb1 Ra8 29. g3 Be6 30. Nd5 Bxd5 31. exd5 Rd8 32. Qb7 Bf6 33.
Qxf7 h6 34. Qe6 e4 35. c4 Bd4 36. Qxe4 Bc5 37. Kg2 Rf8 38. f4 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m1 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2713"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qa4+ Bd7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 Nc6 7. d4 Bg7 8.
e4 O-O 9. e5 Be6 10. exf6 Bxc4 11. fxg7 Kxg7 12. Bxc4 Nxd4 13. Nxd4 Qxd4 14.
Be2 c6 15. O-O Qb4 16. a3 Qb3 17. a4 Rad8 18. a5 Rd7 19. Ra3 Qc2 20. b4 Rfd8
21. h3 Rd4 22. b5 cxb5 23. Bxb5 Rc8 24. Ba4 Qf5 25. Bb2 Kg8 26. Bd1 Rd2 27. Bg4
Qe5 28. Ba1 Rcd8 29. Nb1 Qd6 30. Rb3 Ra2 31. Bc3 Qd5 32. Rb4 Rxa5 33. Bf3 Qd3
34. Rxb7 Rb5 35. Rxb5 Qxb5 36. Nd2 a5 37. Ra1 a4 38. Ne4 h6 39. h4 f5 40. Ng3
Qc5 41. Ne2 a3 42. Rc1 Rd3 43. Ba1 Qd6 44. Nc3 Kf7 45. Be2 Rd2 46. Bf1 Qd4 47.
Ne2 Qxh4 48. Bc3 Rd8 49. g3 Qe4 50. Nf4 a2 51. Ba1 Qb1 52. Bc4+ Ke8 53. Ne2
Rd1+ 54. Kg2 Rxc1 0-1

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

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

[Event "Internet Chess Club m1 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B67"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O Bd7 9. f3 b5 10. Nxc6 Bxc6 11. Kb1 Be7 12. Bf4 b4 13. Ne2 e5 14. Be3 d5
15. Ng3 d4 16. Bf2 g6 17. f4 Nxe4 18. Nxe4 Bxe4 19. fxe5 Rc8 20. Bd3 Bxg2 21.
Rhg1 Bd5 22. b3 h5 23. Bxa6 Ra8 24. Bb5+ Kf8 25. Qxd4 Qa5 26. Qxd5 Qxa2+ 27.
Kc1 Kg7 28. Bd4 Rhd8 29. e6+ Kh7 30. Qxh5+ gxh5 31. Bd3+ 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m1 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B63"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Qb6 8.
Nb3 Be7 9. O-O-O O-O 10. f3 Rd8 11. Nb5 Rd7 12. Qe1 a6 13. N5d4 Nxd4 14. Nxd4
Qc7 15. Kb1 b5 16. h4 Bb7 17. h5 h6 18. Bc1 Rc8 19. Bd3 Qb6 20. Be3 Qd8 21. g4
Rdc7 22. g5 hxg5 23. Bxg5 Nd7 24. Bxe7 Qxe7 25. Qg3 Qf6 26. h6 g6 27. Qxd6 e5
28. Qxf6 Nxf6 29. Ne2 Kh7 30. Rdg1 Nh5 31. a3 Rd8 32. Rg5 Re7 33. b4 Bc6 34.
Kb2 Be8 35. Rh4 f6 36. Rg1 g5 37. Rh2 Bg6 38. Rgh1 Nf4 39. Nxf4 exf4 40. a4
bxa4 41. Ra1 g4 42. fxg4 Rg8 43. Rf1 Rb8 44. Ka3 Reb7 45. Rxf4 Rxb4 46. Rh1
R4b6 47. Rhf1 Rc8 48. Rxf6 Rc3+ 49. Ka2 Rb7 50. g5 a3 51. Rb1 Bf7+ 52. Rxf7+
Rxf7 53. e5+ Rxd3 54. cxd3 Kg6 55. Rh1 Rd7 56. h7 1-0

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

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

[Event "Internet Chess Club m1 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.08"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2713"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. g3 Bg7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O Nc6 8.
Nxd5 Qxd5 9. d3 Qb5 10. Rb1 Be6 11. b3 Rad8 12. Be3 Bd5 13. Qd2 Qb4 14. Rfc1
Qxd2 15. Nxd2 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Rd7 17. b4 Nd4 18. Kf1 c6 19. Ne4 Rfd8 20. a4 a6
21. Bf4 e5 22. Bg5 Re8 23. Nc5 Rc7 24. Bd2 h6 25. f3 Bf8 26. Kf2 f5 27. Nb3
Nxb3 28. Rxb3 Rd7 29. Be3 Rd5 30. Bc5 e4 31. dxe4 fxe4 32. f4 Bg7 33. Be3 h5
34. Rc5 Bf8 35. Rc4 Kf7 36. Bc5 b5 37. Rc2 Bxc5+ 38. bxc5 Kf6 39. Ke3 Kf5 40.
axb5 axb5 41. Ra3 Kg4 42. Ra7 Re6 43. Rh7 Kh3 44. Rh8 Kxh2 45. g4 Kg3 46. gxh5
Rxh5 47. Rg8 Rh3 48. Rc1 Kg4+ 49. Kd4 Kxf4 50. Rf1+ Kg5 51. Rd8 Rg3 52. Rd6 Re8
53. Rxc6 Rg2 54. Ke3 Rg3+ 55. Kd4 Rg2 56. Ke3 Rg3+ 57. Kd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Internet Chess Club m1 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.08"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D88"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2713"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8.
Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O Bd7 11. Rb1 cxd4 12. cxd4 a6 13. Bd3 b5 14. d5 Ne5
15. Bd4 e6 16. Bc2 exd5 17. exd5 Re8 18. h3 Rc8 19. Bb3 Bf5 20. Rc1 Rxc1 21.
Nxc1 Nf3+ 22. Qxf3 Bxd4 23. Rd1 Be4 24. Qg3 Be5 25. Qe3 Qd6 26. Kh1 Bf4 27. Qc3
Qd7 28. Ne2 Rc8 29. Qxc8+ Qxc8 30. Nxf4 g5 31. f3 Bc2 32. Rc1 gxf4 33. Rxc2 Qd7
34. Rd2 Qd6 35. a4 b4 36. a5 Kf8 37. Re2 Qc5 38. Kh2 Qd4 39. Re4 Qc5 40. Rc4
Qxa5 41. d6 Ke8 42. Rd4 Kd7 43. Rd5 Qa3 44. Bc2 b3 45. Bf5+ Kd8 46. d7 f6 47.
Rd1 Qc5 48. Be6 b2 49. Ba2 Qc1 0-1

[Event "Internet Chess Club m1 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.08"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D90"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2713"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Bd2 Nb6 6. Nf3 Bg7 7. Bg5 O-O 8.
Rc1 h6 9. Bh4 c5 10. dxc5 N6d7 11. e3 Nc6 12. Be2 g5 13. Bg3 Nxc5 14. O-O Bf5
15. Nd5 Ne4 16. Nc3 Nxg3 17. hxg3 Qxd1 18. Rfxd1 Rfd8 19. Rxd8+ Rxd8 20. a3 Kf8
21. Kf1 g4 22. Ne1 h5 23. b4 Ne5 24. Nb5 a6 25. Nd4 Rc8 26. Rxc8+ Bxc8 27. Nb3
Ke8 28. Nc2 Kd8 29. Ke1 Kc7 30. Nbd4 Nc6 31. Kd2 Nxd4 32. Nxd4 Kd6 33. a4 e5
34. Nb3 f5 35. a5 Be6 36. Kc3 f4 37. e4 fxg3 38. fxg3 Bd7 39. Nc5 Bc6 40. Bc4
Bf6 41. Kd3 h4 42. gxh4 Bxh4 43. Ke2 Bg5 44. Bd5 Bxd5 45. exd5 Kxd5 46. Kd3 Be7
0-1

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

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

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

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

[Event "Internet Chess Club m1 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.08"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2713"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qa4+ Bd7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 a6 7. g3 Bg7 8.
Bg2 Nc6 9. O-O e5 10. d3 O-O 11. Qh4 Ng4 12. Qxd8 Rfxd8 13. Bg5 f6 14. Bd2 f5
15. Rfc1 Nf6 16. Rab1 e4 17. dxe4 Nxe4 18. Be1 Nxc3 19. Bxc3 Bxc3 20. Rxc3 Be6
21. a3 Rd6 22. Kf1 Rad8 23. Ke1 Bd5 24. Rbc1 Be4 25. Nh4 Bxg2 26. Nxg2 Nd4 27.
h4 c5 28. Nf4 c4 29. Rxc4 Nb3 30. Nd3 Nxc1 31. Rxc1 Rc6 32. Rxc6 bxc6 33. Kd2
Kf7 34. Kc3 a5 35. Kc4 Rd5 36. a4 Ke7 37. f3 Kd8 38. b4 Kc7 39. e4 fxe4 40.
fxe4 Rh5 41. Nc5 axb4 42. Kxb4 Re5 43. Kc4 g5 44. hxg5 Kd6 45. Nb7+ Ke7 46. a5
Rxg5 47. a6 Rxg3 48. Kc5 h5 49. Na5 Kd7 50. a7 Rg8 51. Nxc6 Kc7 52. Ne5 h4 53.
Nf3 h3 54. e5 Ra8 55. Kd5 Rxa7 56. Ke4 Ra2 57. e6 Kd8 0-1

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

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

[Event "Internet Chess Club m1 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.08"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C13"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8.
Bc4 Be7 9. Qe2 c6 10. O-O-O b5 11. Bd3 Qc7 12. Kb1 h6 13. h4 Bb7 14. Rhe1 b4
15. Ba6 Bxa6 16. Qxa6 Qb6 17. Qc4 Rc8 18. d5 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m1 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.08"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Qc7 5. O-O Nd4 6. Bd3 Nxf3+ 7. Qxf3 e6 8.
Re1 d6 9. b3 a6 10. Bb2 b5 11. Nd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 Bb7 13. a4 Be7 14. axb5 Bxd5
15. Qg3 Bf6 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. bxa6 Ke7 18. Be4 Bxe4 19. Rxe4 Qc6 20. Rea4 Rhg8
21. Qh3 Ra7 22. g3 Rga8 23. Qxh7 Rxa6 24. Rxa6 Rxa6 25. Rxa6 Qxa6 26. h4 f5 27.
Qh6 Qa1+ 28. Kg2 Qd1 29. Qg5+ Kd7 30. h5 Qxc2 31. h6 Qe4+ 32. Kh2 f4 33. Qxf4
Qg6 34. Qh4 Qh7 35. Qf6 Kc6 36. g4 d5 37. Kg3 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m1 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.08"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O Be7 9. f4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 b5 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Be2 Qa5 13. e5 fxe5 14. fxe5
d5 15. Bh5 Rf8 16. Nxd5 exd5 17. Qxd5 Ra7 18. Qc6+ Bd7 19. Rxd7 Rxd7 20. e6 Qc7
21. exd7+ Qxd7 22. Qxa6 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m1 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.08"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C13"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 gxf6 7. Nf3 b6 8.
g3 Bb7 9. Qe2 Nd7 10. Bg2 f5 11. Nc3 c6 12. O-O-O Qc7 13. Rhe1 O-O-O 14. Ne5
Nxe5 15. dxe5 h5 16. f4 h4 17. Rxd8+ Qxd8 18. Rd1 Qe8 19. g4 fxg4 20. Qxg4 h3
21. Bxh3 Rh4 22. Qg3 Qh8 23. Bg2 Qh6 24. Kb1 Qg6 25. Be4 Qxg3 26. hxg3 Rh3 27.
Ne2 Rh2 28. Re1 Kc7 29. Kc1 Bc5 30. Kd1 Ba6 31. Bd3 Bb7 32. Rf1 Bf2 33. Be4 Ba6
34. Bd3 Bb7 35. Be4 Ba6 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Internet Chess Club m1 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.08"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C09"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Ngf3 Nc6 6. Bb5 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Bd7 8.
Qe2+ Be7 9. N2f3 Nf6 10. O-O O-O 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Ne5 Rc8 13. Qa6 Qb6 14. Qxb6
axb6 15. Bg5 Rfd8 16. Rfe1 Kf8 17. Nxd7+ Rxd7 18. Nf5 Bd8 19. Rad1 h6 20. Be3
c5 21. c3 Bc7 22. a4 Ra8 23. b3 Rdd8 24. h3 Re8 25. g4 Re6 26. Rd3 Kg8 27. Kg2
Kh7 28. Red1 g6 29. Nxh6 Rxe3 30. Rxe3 Kxh6 31. Re7 Bd8 32. Rxf7 g5 33. Rb7 Kg6
34. Re1 c4 35. bxc4 dxc4 36. Re6 Rxa4 37. Rb8 Kf7 38. Rc6 Be7 39. Rbxb6 Nd5 40.
Rb7 Nxc3 41. Rbc7 Nd5 42. Rxc4 Ra3 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/3'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.16"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B70"]
[WhiteElo "2494"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nge2 g6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Nde2 Nf6 7. g3 O-O 8.
Bg2 Rb8 9. a4 a6 10. O-O b5 11. axb5 axb5 12. Nd5 d6 13. c3 b4 14. c4 Nd7 15.
Rb1 e6 16. Ne3 b3 17. Qxd6 Nde5 18. c5 Qxd6 19. cxd6 Nd3 20. Rd1 Ba6 21. Nf4
Ncb4 22. Nxd3 Bxd3 23. Ra1 Rfd8 24. Ra4 Bc2 25. Rd2 Bb1 26. Ra1 Ba2 27. f4 e5
28. fxe5 Bxe5 29. Nc4 Bg7 30. e5 Rbc8 31. Bf1 Nc6 32. Rd5 Nb4 33. Rd2 Rc5 34.
Rf2 Nc6 35. Bg5 Rd7 36. Bh3 Rb7 37. e6 Rxg5 38. exf7+ Kf8 39. Re1 Rxf7 40. d7
Rxf2 41. Re8+ Kf7 42. Nd6+ 1-0

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

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

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2531"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 d5 6. d3 Be7 7. Nge2 O-O 8. cxd5
exd5 9. O-O d4 10. exd4 cxd4 11. Ne4 Bf5 12. Bd2 Qd7 13. Rc1 Rfe8 14. Re1 Nxe4
15. dxe4 Bg4 16. f3 Be6 17. Nf4 Rad8 18. Nd3 f6 19. a3 Ne5 20. Bf1 Bf8 21. Bb4
Bxb4 22. axb4 Qe7 23. Nxe5 fxe5 24. Qa4 b6 25. Bd3 Rf8 26. Rf1 Bh3 27. Rf2 Qg5
28. Qd1 Qe3 29. Rcc2 Rc8 30. Bf1 Rxc2 31. Qxc2 Bxf1 32. Kxf1 d3 33. Qc4+ Kh8
34. Qd5 h6 35. Kg2 Rc8 36. Qd7 Rc1 37. Qe8+ Kh7 38. Qxe5 Qxf2+ 39. Kxf2 d2 40.
Qf5+ Kh8 41. Qf8+ Kh7 42. Qf5+ Kh8 1/2-1/2

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

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

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2531"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "149"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Qc2 Na6 8. O-O
d5 9. cxd5 Nb4 10. Qa4 Nbxd5 11. Bd2 c5 12. Rfd1 Qe8 13. Qxe8 Rfxe8 14. Rac1
Red8 15. dxc5 Bxc5 16. Nxd5 Bxd5 17. b4 Bf8 18. Ne5 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Ne4 20. Be1
Rxd1 21. Rxd1 Rc8 22. Rd7 f6 23. Nd3 a5 24. bxa5 bxa5 25. Bxa5 Ra8 26. Bb4 Bxb4
27. Nxb4 Nc3 28. Rd2 Ra4 29. Rc2 Ra3 30. Kf1 Kf7 31. Ke1 f5 32. f3 Kf6 33. Kd2
Nb5 34. Rb2 Ra8 35. Nc2 Nd6 36. Kd3 g5 37. a3 h5 38. Rb4 g4 39. a4 Rd8 40. Kc3
Rc8+ 41. Kb3 gxf3 42. exf3 e5 43. Rb6 Ke7 44. Ne3 Rc1 45. a5 Ra1 46. a6 Kd7 47.
Kb2 Ra4 48. Kb3 Ra1 49. Nd5 e4 50. fxe4 fxe4 51. Nc3 e3 52. Kc2 Ne4 53. Nxe4 e2
54. Nc5+ Kc7 55. Rb7+ Kc6 56. Nd3 Rxa6 57. Re7 Ra2+ 58. Kc3 Kd6 59. Re3 e1=Q+
60. Nxe1 Rxh2 61. Kd4 h4 62. Nf3 Ra2 63. Nxh4 Ra4+ 64. Kd3 Kd5 65. Ke2 Kc6 66.
Kf3 Kd5 67. g4 Ra7 68. Nf5 Rf7 69. Kf4 Rf8 70. Re5+ Kc6 71. g5 Kc7 72. Re7+ Kc6
73. g6 Rg8 74. g7 Kc5 75. Ke5 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D06"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2531"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 c5 3. c4 cxd4 4. cxd5 Nf6 5. Qxd4 Qxd5 6. Nc3 Qxd4 7. Nxd4 Bd7
8. e4 Nc6 9. Nxc6 Bxc6 10. f3 e6 11. Be3 Bd6 12. Rc1 a6 13. Be2 Ke7 14. Kf2 Nd7
15. g3 Rac8 16. Rhd1 Rhd8 17. Rd2 Bc5 18. Rcd1 Bxe3+ 19. Kxe3 f6 20. f4 Nc5 21.
Rxd8 Rxd8 22. Rxd8 Kxd8 23. Kd4 Nd7 24. e5 fxe5+ 25. fxe5 Bg2 26. b4 Nb8 27. b5
axb5 28. Bxb5 Nc6+ 29. Bxc6 Bxc6 30. Kc5 Kc7 31. h4 h5 32. Ne2 Bf3 33. Nd4 b6+
34. Kb4 Bd5 35. a4 Kb7 36. Kb5 Kc7 37. a5 bxa5 38. Kxa5 Bc4 39. Kb4 Bd5 40. Kc5
Ba2 41. Ne2 Bb1 42. Nf4 Kd7 43. Nxh5 g6 44. Nf6+ Ke7 45. g4 Bc2 46. h5 gxh5 47.
gxh5 Bf5 48. Kc6 Kf7 49. Kd6 Kg7 50. Ke7 Kh6 51. Kf7 Bh3 52. Ke7 Bf5 53. Kd6
Kg5 54. Kc5 Bd3 55. Kd4 Be2 56. Kc5 Bd3 57. Kd4 Be2 58. Ne4+ Kh6 59. Ng3 Bxh5
60. Kc5 Bg4 1/2-1/2

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

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

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

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

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D06"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2531"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3 cxd4 4. Nxd4 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nb4 7. Bb5+ Bd7 8.
O-O e5 9. a3 exd4 10. Bxd7+ Qxd7 11. axb4 Bxb4 12. Nd2 O-O 13. Qh5 Nc6 14. Nf3
d3 15. Rd1 Rad8 16. Be3 Rfe8 17. h3 h6 18. Nh4 Rxe4 19. Nf5 Qe6 20. Qf3 Rd5 21.
g4 Rc4 22. Bxa7 Nxa7 23. Rxa7 d2 24. Ne3 Rc1 25. Kg2 Rxd1 26. Nxd1 Qd7 27. Ra8+
Bf8 28. Rb8 g6 29. Qa3 Rd6 30. Qf3 Rc6 31. Ne3 Kg7 32. Nd5 Re6 33. Qc3+ f6 34.
Qf3 d1=Q 35. Qxd1 Qc6 36. Qb3 Re7 37. Qf3 Rd7 38. Nc3 Qxf3+ 39. Kxf3 Bd6 40.
Rc8 Be5 41. Ke3 Bd4+ 42. Ke2 Bxc3 43. bxc3 h5 44. gxh5 gxh5 45. Rc5 Kg6 46. Rb5
Re7+ 47. Kd3 h4 48. c4 f5 49. f4 Re1 50. Rxb7 Kh5 51. c5 Rh1 52. c6 Rxh3+ 53.
Kd4 Rh1 54. Ke5 Kg4 55. Rg7+ Kf3 56. Kxf5 Rc1 57. c7 Rc5+ 58. Ke6 Kxf4 59. Kd6
Rc1 60. Rh7 Kg3 61. Kd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2531"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qa4 Bb7 6. Bg2 c5 7. dxc5 bxc5 8. O-O
Be7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Bf4 d6 11. Rad1 Qb6 12. Qb5 Rd8 13. Ng5 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 Qc7
15. Nge4 a6 16. Qa4 Nc6 17. Nxf6+ Bxf6 18. Ne4 Be5 19. Bxe5 Nxe5 20. Qc2 f5 21.
Nd2 Qb7+ 22. Nf3 g5 23. Kg1 Nxf3+ 24. exf3 Qxf3 25. Rfe1 Kf7 26. Re3 Qg4 27.
Rde1 Re8 28. Qa4 f4 29. Re4 e5 30. Qc6 Rad8 31. Qxa6 h5 32. Qb7+ Rd7 33. Qd5+
Kf6 34. f3 Qe6 35. Rd1 Qxd5 36. Rxd5 Ra8 37. a3 Rb8 38. Re2 Rb3 39. Kf2 Ke6 40.
Red2 g4 41. R5d3 Rdb7 42. Rxd6+ Kf5 43. fxg4+ hxg4 44. gxf4 Kxf4 45. Re2 Rxb2
46. Rf6+ Kg5 47. Rc6 Rxe2+ 48. Kxe2 Kf4 49. Rf6+ Ke4 50. Kf2 Rb3 51. Rd6 Rc3
52. a4 Rxc4 53. a5 Ra4 54. a6 Ra3 55. Rg6 Kf4 56. Rc6 Ra2+ 57. Kg1 e4 58. Rxc5
Rxa6 59. Rc3 Ra2 60. Rb3 e3 61. Kf1 Kf3 0-1

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E81"]
[WhiteElo "2531"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 Nbd7 7. Bd3 c5 8. Nge2
cxd4 9. Nxd4 a6 10. O-O e6 11. Bf2 b6 12. Re1 Bb7 13. Rc1 Rc8 14. Bf1 Qc7 15.
Qd2 Qb8 16. Rcd1 Rfd8 17. b3 Ne5 18. Na4 Ba8 19. Nxb6 Qxb6 20. Nxe6 Qxf2+ 21.
Qxf2 fxe6 22. Qa7 g5 23. Qxa6 Bc6 24. Rxd6 Rxd6 25. Qxc8+ Bf8 26. c5 Rd7 27. b4
Kf7 28. Qb8 Ng6 29. Qb6 Ne5 30. Qb8 Ng6 31. Rc1 Rb7 32. Qa8 Ne5 33. b5 Rxb5 34.
Qxc6 Nxc6 35. Bxb5 Nd4 36. a4 Ne8 37. Rc4 Nc7 38. c6 Bd6 39. Kf2 Ndxb5 40. axb5
Nxb5 41. g3 Ke7 42. Ke3 Bc7 43. f4 gxf4+ 44. gxf4 e5 45. f5 Nd4 46. Rc1 Kd6 47.
Rg1 Bb6 48. Kd3 Nxf5 49. Rb1 Nd4 50. Rxb6 Nxc6 51. Kc4 Kc7 52. Kc5 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2531"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Qc2 c5 8. d5
exd5 9. Ng5 Na6 10. cxd5 h6 11. h4 d6 12. Nce4 g6 13. Nh3 Nb4 14. Qd2 Nxe4 15.
Bxe4 Re8 16. a3 Bf8 17. Bxg6 Nxd5 18. Bb1 Nf6 19. O-O Qd7 20. Nf4 Qg4 21. Kh2
Bg7 22. f3 Qd7 23. e4 d5 24. exd5 Rad8 25. Ba2 Qb5 26. Rf2 c4 27. d6 Qc5 28.
Qc2 Rxd6 29. Ng2 Rd3 30. Qxc4 Qxf2 31. Qxf7+ Kh7 32. Bb1 Qxf3 33. Bxd3+ Qxd3
34. Qxb7 Ng4+ 35. Kh3 Nf2+ 36. Kh2 Ng4+ 37. Kh3 Qf5 38. Bf4 Re2 0-1

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D98"]
[WhiteElo "2531"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "146"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. Nc3 d5 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 Nfd7 8.
Be3 Nc6 9. Rd1 Nb6 10. Qc5 Bg4 11. Be2 Qd6 12. e5 Qxc5 13. dxc5 Nd7 14. e6 Bxe6
15. Ng5 Rfd8 16. Nxe6 fxe6 17. O-O Bxc3 18. bxc3 Nf6 19. Rb1 Rab8 20. Rfc1 b6
21. h3 Nd5 22. Bg5 bxc5 23. Rxb8 Rxb8 24. Bg4 Kf7 25. Re1 Nd8 26. c4 Nf6 27.
Bf3 Rb4 28. Rd1 Ke8 29. Bf4 Rxc4 30. Bxc7 Nf7 31. Bc6+ Kf8 32. Bb8 a5 33. a4
Nd5 34. Bb5 Rc2 35. Re1 c4 36. Rxe6 c3 37. Rc6 Rd2 38. Bc4 c2 39. Bxd5 Rd1+ 40.
Kh2 c1=Q 41. Rxc1 Rxc1 42. Ba7 Ra1 43. Bc6 Rb1 44. Be3 Nd6 45. Bd2 Rb2 46. Bxa5
Rxf2 47. Bb6 Rc2 48. Bd5 Nc4 49. Bc5 g5 50. Be6 h6 51. Bb4 Ne3 52. a5 Rxg2+ 53.
Kh1 Rb2 54. Bc5 Rb5 55. Bb6 Nd5 56. Bd8 Nf4 57. Bg4 e5 58. a6 Rb1+ 59. Kh2 Ra1
60. Bc8 e4 61. Bb6 Ra2+ 62. Kh1 Nd5 63. Bc5+ Kg7 64. Bb7 e3 65. Bxd5 e2 66. Bf2
Rxa6 67. Bf3 Rf6 68. Kg2 Re6 69. Be1 Kg6 70. Kf2 h5 71. Bxe2 Rb6 72. Bd3+ Kf7
73. Bd2 Kf6 0-1

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2531"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "141"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. Qc2 c6 8. O-O
Nbd7 9. b3 b6 10. Nc3 Ba6 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Rfe1 Rc8 13. Qb2 Ne4 14. Nxe4 dxe4
15. Ne5 f5 16. Bf4 Bf6 17. Qa3 Nb8 18. Rad1 Be7 19. Qb2 Bb7 20. f3 Nd7 21. fxe4
Bxe4 22. Bxe4 fxe4 23. d5 Bc5+ 24. Kg2 Nxe5 25. Qxe5 exd5 26. Rxd5 Qe8 27. Red1
Qc6 28. Rd7 Qg6 29. Rxa7 Rce8 30. Qd5+ Kh8 31. Rf1 Qg4 32. Qc4 Rf5 33. h3 Qg6
34. b4 b5 35. Qxc5 Rxc5 36. bxc5 h5 37. Be3 Qe6 38. Bd4 Re7 39. Rxe7 Qxe7 40.
Rc1 e3 41. c6 Qa3 42. Rc5 Qxa2 43. Kf3 Qf7+ 44. Kxe3 Qc7 45. Be5 Qc8 46. c7 b4
47. Rb5 Kh7 48. Rb8 Qe6 49. c8=Q Qxe5+ 50. Kd3 Qd5+ 51. Kc2 Qa2+ 52. Kd1 Qa1+
53. Qc1 Qd4+ 54. Qd2 Qa1+ 55. Qc1 Qd4+ 56. Kc2 Qe4+ 57. Kb3 Qd5+ 58. Qc4 Qe5
59. Qd3+ g6 60. Rb7+ Kh6 61. Qd2+ Qg5 62. Qxg5+ Kxg5 63. Rxb4 Kf5 64. h4 Ke5
65. Rb5+ Ke4 66. Rg5 Ke3 67. Rxg6 Kxe2 68. Rg5 Kf3 69. Kc4 Kf2 70. Kd5 Kf3 71.
Ke5 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2531"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qa4 Bb7 6. Bg2 c5 7. dxc5 bxc5 8. O-O
Be7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Bf4 d6 11. Rad1 a6 12. Ng5 Bxg2 13. Kxg2 Qc7 14. Nge4 Nxe4
15. Nxe4 e5 16. Bc1 Nc6 17. Nc3 Qb7 18. Nd5 f5 19. Qxc6 Qxc6 0-1

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A60"]
[WhiteElo "2531"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 e6 3. c4 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Nf3 O-O 8. Qd2
Re8 9. g3 Na6 10. Bg2 Nc7 11. O-O b5 12. a3 h6 13. Bf4 Bb7 14. Nh4 b4 15. axb4
cxb4 16. Na4 Ncxd5 17. Nf5 Bf8 18. Rfe1 Rb8 19. Rad1 Ne4 20. Qd4 Nxf4 21. gxf4
Bc6 22. b3 d5 23. Qxa7 Qf6 24. Nd4 Bxa4 25. Qxa4 Nc3 26. Qc6 Qxc6 27. Nxc6 Rbc8
28. Na7 Rc7 29. Ra1 Ree7 0-1

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2531"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O
h6 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Bxe4 e5 12. Rd1 exd4 13. Nxd4 Nf6 14. Bf5 Qc7
15. h3 Bh2+ 16. Kf1 Be5 17. Be3 Re8 18. Rd2 Bxd4 19. Rxd4 Qh2 20. Bxc8 Raxc8
21. Rad1 Qh1+ 22. Ke2 Qxg2 23. Qf5 Ne4 24. Qg4 Qxg4+ 25. hxg4 Nf6 26. Kf3 b6
27. g5 hxg5 28. Bxg5 Nh7 29. Bh4 Nf8 30. Rd6 f6 31. c5 bxc5 32. Rc1 Re5 33. Bg3
Rd5 34. Ke4 Re8+ 35. Kf3 Ne6 36. Kg2 Nd4 37. Rxd5 cxd5 38. Rxc5 Rd8 39. Rc7 a5
40. Rc5 a4 41. Ra5 Ne2 42. Rxa4 d4 43. Kf1 d3 44. Ke1 Rc8 45. Kd2 Rc2+ 46. Kxd3
Rxb2 47. Bd6 Nc1+ 48. Ke3 Nxa2 49. Ra8+ Kf7 50. Ra7+ Ke6 51. Bf8 g5 52. Ra6+
Kf7 53. Bc5 Nc3 54. Bd4 Nd5+ 55. Ke4 Rb5 56. Rd6 Nf4 57. Rxf6+ Ke7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2531"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Qb3 dxc4 8.
Qxc4 Nd7 9. g3 e5 10. Bg2 exd4 11. Qxd4 Qxd4 12. Nxd4 Bc5 13. O-O-O Nf6 14. e4
Ng4 15. Rhf1 Nxh2 16. Rfe1 Bg4 17. Rd2 O-O-O 18. Nb3 Rxd2 19. Nxd2 Bxf2 20. Rf1
Nxf1 0-1

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A57"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2531"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Nd2 g6 5. e4 d6 6. cxb5 a6 7. a4 Bg7 8. Ngf3 O-O
9. Ra3 e6 10. dxe6 Bxe6 11. Be2 d5 12. O-O dxe4 13. Ng5 Bd5 14. Nc4 h6 15. Nh3
axb5 16. axb5 Nbd7 17. Nf4 Bxc4 18. Bxc4 Nb6 19. Ba2 c4 20. Be3 Nfd5 21. Nxd5
Nxd5 22. Bxc4 Nxe3 23. Rxe3 Re8 24. Bd5 Rb8 25. Bc6 Qxd1 26. Rxd1 Red8 27.
Rxd8+ Rxd8 28. g4 f5 29. b6 Bxb2 30. b7 Kf7 31. gxf5 gxf5 32. Bd7 Be5 33. Bxf5
Kf6 34. Bxe4 Rd2 35. Rf3+ Kg7 36. Rf5 Bd6 37. h4 Rd4 38. f3 Rd2 39. h5 Bh2+ 40.
Kf1 Bg3 41. Rb5 Rd8 42. Ke2 Bf4 43. Rf5 Bb8 44. Rc5 Kf6 45. Rc8 Ke7 46. Ke3
Ba7+ 47. Kf4 Rf8+ 48. Ke5 Bb8+ 49. Kd5 Rd8+ 50. Kc6 Rd6+ 51. Kc5 Rd8 52. Rxb8
Rxb8 53. Kc6 Rd8 54. Bf5 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2531"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8.
cxd4 Nc6 9. Bc4 b5 10. Be2 Bb4+ 11. Bd2 Qa5 12. d5 exd5 13. exd5 Ne7 14. O-O
Bxd2 15. Nxd2 O-O 16. Bf3 Nf5 17. Nb3 Qd8 18. Rc1 Nd6 19. Nd4 Bd7 20. Qd2 Qf6
21. Rc7 Rfd8 22. Nc6 Bxc6 23. dxc6 Nc4 24. Qe2 Nd2 25. Rc1 Nxf3+ 26. Qxf3 Qxf3
27. gxf3 Rdc8 28. Rb7 a6 29. Kg2 Kf8 30. f4 a5 31. Rxb5 Ra6 32. Rbc5 Ke7 33.
Kf3 Kd6 34. c7 Ra7 35. Ke4 Raxc7 36. Rxc7 Rxc7 37. Rxc7 Kxc7 38. Kd5 Kb6 39. a4
f5 40. Kd6 g6 41. Kd5 Kb7 42. Kc5 Kc7 43. Kb5 Kd6 44. Kxa5 Kc5 45. Ka6 Kc6 46.
a5 Kc7 47. Kb5 Kb7 48. h4 Ka7 49. Kc5 Ka6 50. Kd6 Kxa5 51. Ke6 Kb4 52. Kf6 Kc4
53. Kg7 Kd4 54. Kxh7 Ke4 55. Kxg6 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2531"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 a6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nf6 7. Bb3 cxd4 8.
exd4 Be7 9. Ne5 O-O 10. Nc3 Nc6 11. Be3 Nb4 12. Qf3 Qd6 13. Qg3 Nbd5 14. Rae1
Rd8 15. Qf3 Bd7 16. g4 Be8 17. g5 Nxe3 18. fxe3 Nd5 19. Nxf7 Bxf7 20. Qxf7+ Kh8
21. Ne4 Qb6 22. Qh5 Nxe3 23. Rxe3 Qxd4 24. Qe2 Rf8 25. Rd1 Qe5 26. g6 Rf4 27.
Kh1 Raf8 28. Nd6 Qf6 29. Nf7+ Kg8 30. Rxe6 Qh4 31. Rxe7 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A68"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2531"]
[PlyCount "152"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f4 O-O 6. Nf3 c5 7. d5 e6 8. Be2 exd5
9. cxd5 Bg4 10. O-O Re8 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Bxf3 Nbd7 13. Re1 a6 14. a4 Rc8 15. Be3
Qa5 16. Bf2 c4 17. Re2 Qb4 18. Kh1 Nc5 19. Bxc5 Qxc5 20. e5 dxe5 21. fxe5 Nd7
22. Ne4 Qb4 23. e6 Ne5 24. exf7+ Nxf7 25. d6 Rcd8 26. Rd2 Ne5 27. Ng5 h6 28.
Bd5+ Kh8 29. Nf7+ Nxf7 30. Bxf7 Rf8 31. Bxg6 Rf6 32. Be4 Rfxd6 33. Rxd6 Rxd6
34. Qg4 Rf6 35. Rd1 Qf8 36. Bf3 b5 37. axb5 axb5 38. Rd7 Rf7 39. Rd5 Re7 40.
Qg3 Qe8 41. Rd1 Bxb2 42. Qh4 Bg7 43. Bc6 Qf8 44. Bxb5 c3 45. Bd3 Qf6 46. Qc4
Re8 47. Bc2 Qf2 48. Be4 Qf4 49. Bd3 Qg3 50. Qg4 Re1+ 51. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 52. Kh2
Be5+ 53. g3 Qf2+ 54. Kh1 Qe1+ 55. Kh2 Qd2+ 56. Be2 c2 57. Qc8+ Kg7 58. Qb7+ Kf6
59. Qc6+ Bd6 60. Qf3+ Ke5 61. Qh5+ Qg5 62. Qe8+ Kd4 63. Qa4+ Kc3 64. Qc4+ Kd2
65. Qd3+ Ke1 66. Qc3+ Qd2 67. Qxd2+ Kxd2 68. Kg2 c1=Q 69. Kf3 Qc3+ 70. Ke4 Qxg3
71. Kf5 Qxh3+ 72. Kf6 Qe3 73. Kg6 Qe5 74. Kf7 Be7 75. Kg6 Qf6+ 76. Kh7 Bf8 0-1

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2531"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 a6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nf6 7. Bb3 b5 8. a4
Bb7 9. axb5 axb5 10. Rxa8 Bxa8 11. Nc3 b4 12. Ba4+ Nbd7 13. Nb5 Be7 14. dxc5
Bxc5 15. Nd6+ Ke7 16. Nc4 Nb6 17. Nxb6 Qxb6 18. Bd2 Rd8 19. Qe2 Be4 20. Rc1 Bd3
21. Qe1 Ne4 22. h3 Nxd2 23. Nxd2 Bb5 24. Bxb5 Qxb5 25. Nc4 Kf8 26. Qe2 Be7 27.
b3 Bf6 28. Rc2 Bc3 29. Ra2 Qd5 30. Kh2 Qd1 31. Qxd1 Rxd1 32. Ra8+ Ke7 33. Ra7+
Kf6 34. f4 h5 35. g4 h4 36. Kg2 Kg6 37. Rb7 f5 38. gxf5+ Kxf5 39. Rb5+ Ke4 40.
Rb6 Kd3 41. Rd6+ Kc2 42. Rxd1 Kxd1 43. Kf3 Kc2 44. Na5 Kd3 45. e4 Bd4 46. f5
exf5 47. exf5 Kc3 48. Kg4 Bb6 49. Nc6 Kxb3 50. f6 gxf6 51. Kf5 Bd8 52. Nxd8 Kc3
53. Nb7 b3 54. Nc5 b2 55. Na4+ Kb3 56. Nxb2 Kxb2 57. Kxf6 Kc3 58. Kg5 Kd4 59.
Kxh4 Ke5 60. Kg5 Ke6 61. Kg6 Ke7 62. Kg7 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D06"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2531"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 c5 3. c4 cxd4 4. cxd5 Nf6 5. Qxd4 Qxd5 6. Nc3 Qxd4 7. Nxd4 Bd7
8. g3 Nc6 9. Ndb5 Rc8 10. Bg2 a6 11. Na3 b5 12. Nc2 e5 13. O-O h6 14. Rd1 Bc5
15. Be3 Bxe3 16. Nxe3 Nd4 17. Rd2 b4 18. Ncd5 Bb5 19. Nxf6+ gxf6 20. Nd5 Nxe2+
21. Kh1 Nd4 22. Nxf6+ Kf8 23. Ng4 Rc5 24. Nxe5 Rxe5 25. Rxd4 a5 26. Bf3 Kg7 27.
Kg2 Rc8 28. Rd2 a4 29. Rad1 a3 30. bxa3 bxa3 31. Rb1 Bc4 32. Rb4 Be6 33. Bg4 f5
34. Bf3 Rc3 35. Ra4 Rb5 36. Rd6 Re5 37. Raa6 Bxa2 38. Ra7+ Kf8 39. Rxh6 Kg8 40.
Rha6 Bf7 41. Rxa3 Rxa3 42. Rxa3 Kg7 43. Ra7 Kf6 44. Ra6+ Kg7 45. Rb6 f4 46.
gxf4 Rf5 47. Kg3 Rf6 48. Rb7 Rg6+ 49. Bg4 Kf8 50. f5 Rd6 51. Kf4 Rd4+ 52. Kg5
Rd5 53. h4 Kg7 54. h5 Kg8 55. h6 Rd4 56. h7+ Kh8 57. f3 Bd5 58. Rd7 Rd3 59. Kh6
Bc4 60. Rc7 Rd6+ 61. Kg5 Bf7 62. f4 Rg6+ 63. fxg6 Bxg6 64. f5 Bxh7 65. Kh6 Bg8
66. f6 Be6 67. Rh7+ 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2531"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. d4 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8.
Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 Nd7 10. O-O b6 11. Re1 Nf6 12. Bd3 cxd4 13. cxd4 Bb7 14. d5 Nd7
15. Bg5 h6 16. Bh4 Rc8 17. Bb5 Nf6 18. Nd4 Nxe4 19. Nc6 Bxc6 20. Bxc6 Nf6 21.
Qf3 Qd6 22. Bg3 Qd8 23. Rbd1 Kh7 24. d6 e5 25. d7 Rxc6 26. Qxc6 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E91"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2531"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 c6 7. O-O Bg4 8. Be3
Nbd7 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Bxf3 Qc7 11. Rc1 e5 12. d5 a5 13. a3 Rfc8 14. b4 axb4 15.
axb4 Ra3 16. c5 Bf8 17. dxc6 bxc6 18. cxd6 Qxd6 19. Qxd6 Bxd6 20. Nb5 Bxb4 21.
Nxa3 Bxa3 22. Rc4 Be7 23. Rb1 c5 24. Bg4 Nxg4 25. hxg4 Nf8 26. Rb7 Bd6 27. g3
Ne6 28. Rd7 Rc6 29. Kg2 Kg7 30. g5 Ra6 31. Kh3 Kf8 32. Kg4 Ke8 33. Rb7 Nd8 34.
Rb3 Ne6 35. f4 exf4 36. gxf4 Ra2 37. f5 Rg2+ 38. Kf3 Rg3+ 39. Kf2 Nxg5 40. Rb6
Nh3+ 41. Ke2 Nf4+ 42. Kd2 Rg2+ 43. Kd1 Nd3 44. Rc2 Rxc2 45. Kxc2 Nb4+ 46. Kb3
Kd7 47. Rb7+ Ke8 48. f6 Nc6 49. Rb6 Kd7 50. Kc4 Kc7 51. Ra6 Kb7 52. Ra1 Be5 53.
Rf1 h5 54. Kd5 h4 55. Bxc5 h3 56. Bd6 Bd4 57. Rf3 h2 58. Bxh2 Ba1 59. Bd6 Nd8
60. e5 Ne6 61. Ra3 Bd4 62. Rb3+ 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2531"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O exd4 8. Nxd4
Re8 9. f3 c6 10. Kh1 Nbd7 11. Bg5 h6 12. Bh4 Qc7 13. Qd2 a5 14. Rfd1 Nc5 15.
Rac1 Kh7 16. Bf1 a4 17. Nc2 Re6 18. Bg3 Bf8 19. Nd4 Re8 20. b4 axb3 21. axb3
Nh5 22. Bf2 Bg7 23. Qc2 Bd7 24. b4 Ne6 25. Nb3 Be5 26. g3 Nf6 27. Bg2 g5 28.
Ne2 Kg7 29. Nd2 Ra3 30. Nf1 Rea8 31. Rd2 g4 32. f4 Ba1 33. Ne3 Nf8 34. Qd1 h5
35. Nc2 Bc3 36. Nxc3 Rxc3 37. Bd4 Rxc4 38. e5 dxe5 39. fxe5 N6h7 40. e6+ Rxd4
41. Nxd4 Bxe6 42. b5 c5 43. Nxe6+ fxe6 44. Qc2 Rc8 45. Qb2+ Nf6 46. b6 Qe7 47.
Qe5 Ng6 48. Qd6 c4 49. Qxe7+ Nxe7 50. Rd6 c3 51. Bxb7 Rb8 52. Bg2 Ned5 53. Rxe6
Rxb6 54. Rxb6 Nxb6 55. Rxc3 Nbd5 56. Rc5 Ne7 57. Kg1 Ng6 58. Kf2 h4 59. Ke3
hxg3 60. hxg3 Ne7 61. Be4 Kh6 62. Kf4 Neg8 63. Bf5 Ne7 64. Bxg4 Ned5+ 65. Kf3
Ne7 66. Be6 Ng6 67. g4 Kg7 68. g5 Nh7 69. Rc7+ Kh8 70. Kg4 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m2 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dlugy, Maxim"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D26"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2531"]
[PlyCount "192"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nc6 7. Qe2 cxd4 8.
Rd1 Be7 9. exd4 O-O 10. a3 b6 11. Nc3 Bb7 12. d5 exd5 13. Nxd5 Nxd5 14. Bxd5
Qc7 15. Bg5 Bxg5 16. Nxg5 h6 17. Ne4 Qe5 18. Qf3 Nd4 19. Rxd4 Qxd4 20. Bxb7
Rab8 21. Nc3 Rfe8 22. g3 Rbd8 23. Rd1 Qe5 24. Bd5 Rd7 25. Kg2 Rde7 26. Bc4 Qc5
27. Bb3 Qe5 28. Nd5 Re6 29. Nf4 Rf6 30. Rd2 g5 31. Re2 Qxe2 32. Qxe2 Rxe2 33.
Nxe2 Rd6 34. Bc4 Rd2 35. b3 Kg7 36. Kf3 f5 37. Ke3 Ra2 38. a4 Kf6 39. f4 Ra1
40. Bd5 Rd1 41. Nc3 Re1+ 42. Kf2 Rc1 43. Ne2 Rc2 44. Bc4 Rb2 45. Ke3 Rb1 46.
Nc3 Rh1 47. Nd5+ Kg6 48. Bd3 Rxh2 49. Ne7+ Kf6 50. Nxf5 gxf4+ 51. Kxf4 Rd2 52.
Be4 h5 53. Ne3 Rb2 54. Bc2 Ra2 55. Bd1 Rf2+ 56. Ke4 Rh2 57. g4 Rh4 58. Kd5 Rh3
59. Ke4 hxg4 60. Bxg4 Rg3 61. Nd5+ Kf7 62. Bh5+ Ke6 63. Ne3 Kd7 64. Kd4 Rg5 65.
Bf3 Kc7 66. Bd5 Kd6 67. Nc4+ Kc7 68. Na3 Rg4+ 69. Kc3 Rg3+ 70. Kb2 Kd6 71. Bc4
Kc5 72. Nc2 Rg2 73. Kc3 Rg3+ 74. Bd3 a5 75. Nd4 Re3 76. Nf5 Re5 77. Ng3 Re3 78.
Ne4+ Kd5 79. Nf6+ Kc5 80. Nd7+ Kc6 81. Nf6 Kc5 82. Ng4 Rg3 83. Ne5 Rh3 84. Nd7+
Kc6 85. Nf8 Kd6 86. Kd4 Rh4+ 87. Be4 Rh3 88. Kc4 Rh4 89. Kd3 Kc5 90. Ng6 Rh3+
91. Kc2 Kb4 92. Bd5 Rh2+ 93. Kd3 Rh3+ 94. Kc2 Rh2+ 95. Kd3 Rh3+ 96. Kc2 Rh2+
1/2-1/2

[Event "Internet Chess Club m3 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "ICClover"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B31"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. Re1 e5 6. c3 Nge7 7. d4 exd4 8.
cxd4 cxd4 9. Bf4 a6 10. Ba4 O-O 11. Bd6 b5 12. Bb3 Bb7 13. e5 Na5 14. Nbd2 d3
15. Ne4 Bxe4 16. Rxe4 Nxb3 17. axb3 Re8 18. Qxd3 Nf5 19. Bc5 Rc8 20. b4 a5 21.
Qxb5 axb4 22. Bxb4 Rb8 23. Qe2 Qb6 24. Bc3 d5 25. exd6 Nxd6 26. Rxe8+ Rxe8 27.
Qd3 Ne4 28. Bd4 Bxd4 29. Qxd4 Qxd4 30. Nxd4 Rb8 31. b3 Rb4 32. Ra4 Rb6 33. f3
Nc5 34. Ra1 Rb4 35. Rd1 Kg7 36. h3 h5 37. Rc1 Nxb3 38. Nxb3 Rxb3 39. Rc4 Rb2
40. h4 Kf6 41. Kh2 Ke5 42. Kg3 Kf6 43. Rf4+ Ke6 44. Re4+ Kf6 45. Rf4+ Kg7 46.
Rc4 Rd2 47. Re4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Internet Chess Club m3 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "ICClover"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B70"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. g3 g6 7. Nde2 Bg7 8.
Bg2 O-O 9. O-O Rb8 10. a4 a6 11. h3 b5 12. axb5 axb5 13. Nd5 b4 14. Ra2 Bd7 15.
b3 Ne8 16. Bb2 Bxb2 17. Rxb2 e6 18. Ne3 e5 19. Ra2 Be6 20. Qd2 Nc7 21. Rfa1 Nb5
22. Ra6 Ncd4 23. Nxd4 Nxd4 24. Kh2 Qc7 25. Ra7 Rb7 26. Rxb7 Qxb7 27. Ra4 Rb8
28. f4 Bd7 29. Ra5 Qc7 30. Ra2 Bc6 31. Nc4 f6 32. Ne3 Kg7 33. fxe5 fxe5 34. Ng4
Rf8 35. Qxb4 h5 36. Ne3 Nf3+ 37. Kh1 h4 38. Nc4 hxg3 39. Nxd6 Nh4 40. Qc5 Qe7
41. Ra7 Bd7 42. Nf5+ Nxf5 43. Qxe7+ Nxe7 44. Rxd7 Kf6 45. Rd3 Rc8 46. c3 g5 47.
Rxg3 Ng6 48. Kh2 Nf4 49. b4 Rd8 50. Bf1 Rd2+ 51. Kg1 Rd1 52. Kf2 Rc1 53. b5
Rc2+ 54. Kg1 Rc1 55. Kf2 Rc2+ 56. Kg1 Rc1 57. Kf2 Rc2+ 58. Kg1 Rc1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Internet Chess Club m3 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "ICClover"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 a5 10. Ba3 Nd7 11. bxa5 Rxa5 12. Bb4 Ra6 13. a4 f5 14. a5 Nc5 15.
Bxc5 dxc5 16. Nd2 Bh6 17. Nb3 b6 18. axb6 cxb6 19. d6 Rxa1 20. Nxa1 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m3 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "ICClover"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 c6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O
Qe7 9. c5 Bc7 10. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Bxe4 f5 13. Bd3 g6 14. Re1 Re8 15.
Rxe6 Qxe6 16. Bc4 Nf6 17. Bxe6+ Bxe6 18. Bd2 Bd5 19. Ne5 Bxe5 20. dxe5 Rxe5 21.
Bc3 Re6 22. f3 Rae8 23. Qd2 Kg7 24. b4 h6 25. b5 g5 26. bxc6 Bxc6 27. h4 Kg6
28. hxg5 hxg5 29. Rd1 Re2 30. Qd4 R8e6 31. Qd8 Ne8 32. Rd6 g4 33. Rxe6+ Rxe6
34. fxg4 fxg4 35. Qh4 Re4 36. Qh8 Bd5 37. Kf2 Bf7 38. a3 Rc4 39. Bd4 Rc2+ 40.
Kg3 Re2 41. Kxg4 Rxg2+ 42. Kf4 Rg5 43. Qh3 Rd5 44. Qg4+ Kh7 45. Ke4 b6 46. Qh3+
Rh5 47. Qd7 Kg8 48. c6 Rh4+ 49. Ke3 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m4 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bosboom, Manuel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2444"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 h6 4. Bf4 c5 5. e3 b6 6. Nbd2 Bb7 7. h3 cxd4 8. exd4
d6 9. c3 Nbd7 10. Bd3 Be7 11. Qe2 Qc7 12. O-O O-O 13. Rfe1 Rfe8 14. a4 a6 15.
Bg3 Bf8 16. Ne4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 Bxe4 18. Qxe4 Nf6 19. Qd3 Qb7 20. Bh4 Nd5 21. Qe4
b5 22. axb5 axb5 23. Bg3 Ra6 24. b3 Rxa1 25. Rxa1 Qc6 26. Qd3 Qxc3 27. Qxc3
Nxc3 28. Ra6 Rd8 29. Rb6 g5 30. h4 g4 31. Ne1 Ne2+ 32. Kf1 Nxd4 33. Nd3 e5 34.
Nb4 Rc8 35. Ke1 f5 36. h5 Kf7 37. Rb7+ Ke6 38. Na6 f4 39. Bh4 Kd5 40. Rf7 Ke4
41. Nc7 d5 0-1

[Event "Internet Chess Club m4 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bosboom, Manuel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A47"]
[WhiteElo "2444"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 b6 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O Be7 6. b3 O-O 7. Bb2 c5 8. e3
cxd4 9. exd4 d5 10. Nbd2 Nc6 11. a3 Rc8 12. Qe2 Re8 13. Rfe1 Bf8 14. Rad1 g6
15. Ne5 Bg7 16. h3 Rc7 17. Qe3 Ne7 18. c4 Qa8 19. Ndf3 Nf5 20. Qe2 Nd6 21. g4
Rec8 22. Ng5 dxc4 23. d5 c3 24. Bxc3 Rxc3 25. Nexf7 Nxf7 26. Qxe6 Rf8 27. d6
Bxg2 28. Nxf7 Rxf7 29. d7 Nxd7 30. Rxd7 Rcf3 31. Red1 Bf8 32. Rd8 R3f6 0-1

[Event "Internet Chess Club m4 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.06"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bosboom, Manuel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B38"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2444"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 c5 7. O-O cxd4 8. Nxd4
Nc6 9. Be3 Bd7 10. Qd2 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Bc6 12. f3 a5 13. b3 Nd7 14. Bf2 Nc5 15.
Rab1 Qc7 16. Rfc1 Rfc8 17. Nd5 Bxd5 18. Qxd5 Ne6 19. Be3 Qc6 20. Qd2 Nc5 21.
Bf1 h5 22. Rc2 Qe8 23. Re1 Kh7 24. g3 Qh8 25. Bg2 h4 26. f4 Kg8 27. g4 h3 28.
Bf3 g5 29. f5 Be5 30. Bxg5 f6 31. Be3 Kf7 32. Kh1 Ke8 33. Rg1 Kd7 34. Qd5 Qg8
35. g5 fxg5 36. Rxg5 Qxd5 37. exd5 Bf6 38. Rg6 Rh8 39. Bg4 Raf8 40. Bh6 Rf7 41.
Re2 Nd3 42. Be3 Ne5 43. Bb6 Rh4 44. Rxe5 dxe5 45. c5 Rg7 46. Be2 Rxg6 47. fxg6
Rf4 48. Bb5+ Kc8 49. c6 bxc6 50. dxc6 Rd4 51. Ba6+ 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m4 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.13"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bosboom, Manuel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B23"]
[WhiteElo "2444"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nge2 Nf6 4. g3 d5 5. exd5 Nd4 6. Bg2 Bg4 7. h3 Bf3 8.
O-O Nxe2+ 9. Nxe2 Bxg2 10. Kxg2 Qxd5+ 11. Kh2 Rd8 12. d3 e6 13. Nf4 Qc6 14. Be3
h5 15. Qe2 Bd6 16. a4 h4 17. Rae1 Kd7 18. Bd2 Kc8 19. a5 g5 20. Bc3 hxg3+ 21.
fxg3 gxf4 22. Bxf6 fxg3+ 23. Kg1 Rxh3 24. Qg2 Qxg2+ 25. Kxg2 Rh2+ 26. Kf3 Rg8
27. Rg1 Rf2+ 0-1

[Event "Internet Chess Club m5 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.13"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Rustemov, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2539"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Qb6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. a3 Bb5 7. c4 dxc4 8. Nc3 Nc6
9. a4 Ba6 10. a5 Nxa5 11. Qa4+ Nc6 12. d5 exd5 13. Nxd5 Qd8 14. Nc3 Nge7 15.
Bg5 Qb6 16. Bxc4 Qxb2 17. Bxa6 Qxc3+ 18. Bd2 Qb2 19. O-O Qb6 20. Bc4 h6 21. Qa2
O-O-O 22. Rfb1 Qc7 23. Ba6 Rxd2 24. Nxd2 Nb4 25. Qxf7 bxa6 26. Nc4 Nec6 27.
Qe8+ Kb7 28. e6 g5 29. Rd1 Bg7 30. Qg6 Bxa1 31. Rd7 Qxd7 32. exd7 Rd8 33. Qd6
Bd4 34. Kf1 a5 35. Qe6 a4 36. Na3 Nd3 37. g3 Nde5 38. Qxh6 g4 39. h4 Rxd7 40.
h5 Rf7 41. Qe6 Rxf2+ 42. Ke1 Nf3+ 43. Kd1 Rd2+ 44. Kc1 Bb2+ 45. Kb1 Bxa3 46. h6
Rb2+ 47. Ka1 Nd2 48. h7 Nb3+ 49. Qxb3+ Rxb3 50. h8=Q Bb2+ 51. Ka2 Nb4+ 0-1

[Event "Internet Chess Club m5 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.13"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Rustemov, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2539"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Qb6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. a3 Bb5 7. c4 dxc4 8. Nc3 Nc6
9. a4 Ba6 10. a5 Qb4 11. Bd2 cxd4 12. Nd5 exd5 13. Bxb4 Bxb4+ 14. Nd2 c3 15.
Bxa6 cxd2+ 16. Kf1 bxa6 17. Qg4 Nge7 18. Qxg7 Rg8 19. Qxh7 Nxe5 20. g3 Rc8 21.
Kg2 N5g6 22. Rhd1 Rc2 23. Kf1 Rxb2 24. h4 Bc3 25. Rab1 Rxb1 26. Rxb1 d3 27. Qh5
Bxa5 28. Qg4 Ne5 29. Qa4+ N5c6 30. Qa3 Rg4 31. h5 Rb4 32. Rd1 Rc4 33. h6 Kf8
34. Kg2 Rc1 35. Rxc1 dxc1=Q 36. Qxc1 d2 37. Qa1 Bc3 38. Qxc3 d1=Q 39. Qh8+ Ng8
40. Qg7+ Ke7 41. h7 Nf6 42. h8=Q Nd7 43. Qh4+ Kd6 44. Qxf7 Qd3 45. Qhf4+ Nce5
46. Q7f5 a5 47. Qxd3 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m5 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.13"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Rustemov, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C01"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2539"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. h3 Bh5 6. Qe2+ Qe7 7. Be3 Nc6 8.
Nc3 Nf6 9. O-O-O O-O-O 10. g4 Bg6 11. Nh4 Ne4 12. Nxg6 hxg6 13. Nxe4 Qxe4 14.
Rg1 Re8 15. Bg2 Qe6 16. Qb5 Rd8 17. c4 Nb4 18. c5 Nc6 19. Rd3 a6 20. Qa4 Be7
21. Rgd1 Rhe8 22. Bf1 Nb8 23. Rb3 c6 24. Bf4 Rd7 25. Re3 Qf6 26. Be5 Qxf2 27.
Re2 Qf3 28. Qc2 Bg5+ 29. Kb1 f6 30. Bxb8 Rde7 31. Rxe7 Rxe7 32. Bd6 Re3 33. a3
Bf4 34. Bxf4 Qxf4 35. Ka2 f5 36. gxf5 gxf5 37. Bd3 g6 38. Qd2 Qf3 39. h4 Kb8
40. Bc2 Re2 41. Qd3 Qf2 42. Kb1 Ka7 43. h5 gxh5 44. Qxf5 Qe3 45. Qxh5 Re1 46.
Rxe1 Qxe1+ 47. Qd1 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m5 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.13"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rustemov, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2539"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. f3 c5 4. d5 e6 5. c4 exd5 6. cxd5 Be7 7. Ne2 O-O 8. Nec3
Nh5 9. g4 Bh4+ 10. Ke2 Nf6 11. Rg1 Re8 12. Nd2 b5 13. Nxb5 Ba6 14. a4 Qa5 15.
Ra3 Bxb5+ 16. axb5 Qxb5+ 17. Rd3 Nxd5 18. Nb1 Nb4 19. g5 Nxd3 20. Qxd3 Qxd3+
21. Kxd3 Bf2 22. Rg4 Nc6 0-1

[Event "Internet Chess Club m5 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.13"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rustemov, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2539"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. Bg5 Be7 7. Qa4+ Qd7 8.
Qxd7+ Nbxd7 9. e3 a6 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 Bxd5 12. Bf4 c5 13. Be2 cxd4 14.
exd4 O-O 15. Rc1 Rfc8 16. O-O b5 17. Ne5 Nb6 18. Nd3 Bc4 19. Rfd1 Nd5 20. Be5
Bg5 21. Rc2 Bb3 22. Rxc8+ Rxc8 23. Rb1 Be7 24. Kf1 f6 25. Bg3 Nb6 26. Rc1 Rxc1+
27. Nxc1 Bd5 28. Nd3 Nc4 29. f3 a5 30. Ke1 g5 31. Bf2 Kf7 32. Nc5 b4 33. axb4
axb4 34. Bxc4 Bxc4 35. b3 Bb5 36. Kd2 h5 37. Ke3 f5 38. f4 gxf4+ 39. Kxf4 Bc6
40. g3 Bd5 41. Be1 Bf6 42. Ke3 Bg5+ 43. Kd3 Bc6 44. Bxb4 Bb5+ 45. Kc3 Be3 46.
Nd3 Bg1 47. h4 Ke8 48. Bd6 Kd7 49. Be5 Be3 50. Bf4 Bg1 51. Kd2 Kc6 52. Be5 Bxd3
53. Kxd3 Kb5 54. d5 exd5 55. Bd4 Bh2 56. Bf2 f4 57. gxf4 Bxf4 58. Kd4 Kc6 59.
b4 Bc7 60. b5+ Kxb5 61. Kxd5 Bd8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Internet Chess Club m5 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.13"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rustemov, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A41"]
[WhiteElo "2539"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 c5 5. O-O cxd4 6. Nxd4 Qb6 7. Nb3 Nc6 8.
Nc3 Bxc3 9. bxc3 Nf6 10. c4 O-O 11. Bb2 Be6 12. Bxf6 exf6 13. Qxd6 Rad8 14. Qf4
Kg7 15. c5 Qa6 16. e3 Bd5 17. Rfd1 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Ne5 19. Qe4 h5 20. Rd6 Rxd6
21. cxd6 Qxd6 22. Qxb7 h4 23. Nd4 f5 24. Rd1 Qf6 25. gxh4 Qxh4 26. Ne6+ Kg8 27.
Rd4 Ng4 28. Qf3 Qxh2+ 29. Kf1 fxe6 0-1

[Event "Internet Chess Club m5 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.18"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Rustemov, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2539"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Qb6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Be2 cxd4 7. cxd4 Bb5 8. Nc3
Bb4 9. O-O Bxc3 10. bxc3 Bxe2 11. Qxe2 Qa6 12. Qd1 Ne7 13. a4 O-O 14. Ba3 Nbc6
15. Ng5 h6 16. Nh3 Rfe8 17. Nf4 Na5 18. Nh5 Ng6 19. f4 Rac8 20. Bb4 Nc4 21. Rf3
Qc6 22. a5 b6 23. a6 Rc7 24. g4 Qd7 25. Qe1 Ne7 26. Qf2 Nc6 27. f5 Nxb4 28.
cxb4 Rec8 29. Rf1 exf5 30. gxf5 b5 31. Rg3 Kf8 32. Rxg7 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m5 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.21"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Rustemov, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2539"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Qb6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Be2 cxd4 7. cxd4 Bb5 8. Nc3
Bxe2 9. Nxe2 Bb4+ 10. Bd2 Nc6 11. O-O Bxd2 12. Qxd2 Nge7 13. Ng3 O-O 14. Rac1
Rac8 15. Rc3 Na5 16. b3 Rxc3 17. Qxc3 Rc8 18. Qd2 Nac6 19. Rc1 Qb4 20. Nf1 a5
21. Rc2 Qxd2 22. N1xd2 Kf8 23. Kf1 Ke8 24. g4 Kd7 25. Ke2 h5 26. h3 hxg4 27.
hxg4 f6 28. exf6 gxf6 29. Nf1 e5 30. dxe5 fxe5 31. Rd2 e4 32. Ng5 Rg8 33. Nxe4
Kc7 34. Nf6 Rg6 35. Nxd5+ Nxd5 36. Rxd5 Rxg4 37. Ne3 Rg7 38. Rd2 Rf7 39. f4 Kb6
40. Kf3 Kc5 41. Rc2+ Kd4 42. Ng4 Rf8 43. Rd2+ Kc3 44. Rd7 Kb2 45. Rxb7 Kxa2 46.
Ke4 Re8+ 47. Ne5 Nb4 48. f5 Kxb3 49. f6 Rf8 50. f7 a4 51. Nc6 a3 52. Nxb4 Rxf7
53. Rxf7 Kxb4 54. Kd3 a2 55. Rb7+ Ka3 56. Kc2 a1=N+ 57. Kc3 Ka2 58. Rb6 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m5 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.21"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Rustemov, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2539"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Bd7 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Be2 Nge7 7. O-O Rc8 8. Na3
cxd4 9. cxd4 Nf5 10. Nc2 Be7 11. Bd3 Qb6 12. Bxf5 exf5 13. Bg5 Be6 14. Qd2 O-O
15. Bxe7 Nxe7 16. Nb4 Rc4 17. Nd3 Rfc8 18. Nc5 Qb4 19. Qxb4 Rxb4 20. b3 Rb6 21.
g3 h6 22. h4 f4 23. gxf4 Ng6 24. Nxe6 fxe6 25. f5 exf5 26. Rac1 Rbc6 27. Rxc6
Rxc6 28. Kh2 Rc2 29. Kg3 Kf7 30. h5 Nf8 31. Nh4 Ke6 32. Ng2 Rd2 33. Nf4+ Kd7
34. Nxd5 Rxd4 35. Nf4 Ne6 36. Nxe6 Kxe6 37. f4 Rd2 38. Rf2 Rd3+ 39. Kg2 a5 40.
Rc2 Kd7 41. Rf2 b5 42. Rf3 Rd2+ 43. Kh3 Rxa2 44. Rg3 Rb2 45. Rxg7+ Ke6 46. Rg6+
Kd5 47. Rxh6 Ke4 48. Rg6 Kxf4 49. e6 Rxb3+ 50. Kh2 a4 51. h6 Rb2+ 52. Rg2 a3
53. h7 a2 54. h8=Q a1=Q 55. Qd4+ Kf3 56. Qxb2 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m5 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.21"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rustemov, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E65"]
[WhiteElo "2539"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 c5 5. O-O Nd7 6. c4 Ngf6 7. Nc3 O-O 8. d5
a6 9. a4 Ne8 10. a5 b6 11. axb6 Nxb6 12. Nd2 Nf6 13. Qc2 Rb8 14. b3 e6 15. dxe6
fxe6 16. Bb2 d5 17. Rad1 Qc7 18. e3 Bb7 19. Ne2 Rbc8 20. Nf4 Qf7 21. h4 Nbd7
22. Nf3 Ne4 23. Bxg7 Kxg7 24. Ng5 Nxg5 25. hxg5 Nb6 26. Qb2+ Kg8 27. Qe5 Rfe8
28. Bh3 Nd7 29. Qxe6 Rcd8 30. Qxf7+ Kxf7 31. Nxd5 Ne5 32. f4 Nc6 33. Kf2 Na5
34. Nf6 Rh8 35. Nd7 Bc8 36. Ne5+ Ke7 37. Bxc8 Rxc8 38. Rd7+ Ke6 39. Rfd1 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m5 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.21"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Rustemov, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E67"]
[WhiteElo "2539"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 Nbd7 7. Nc3 a6 8. h3
c5 9. e4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nc5 11. Bg5 Ne6 12. Be3 Rb8 13. Rc1 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 Be6
15. Nd5 Bxd5 16. exd5 b5 17. c5 dxc5 18. Bxc5 Nd7 19. Bd4 Bxd4 20. Qxd4 Qb6 21.
Qxb6 Nxb6 22. Rc7 Rfd8 23. Re1 Nxd5 24. Bxd5 Rxd5 25. Rexe7 Rf8 26. Kf1 Rd2 27.
Re2 Rfd8 28. Rc6 Rd1+ 29. Kg2 R1d2 30. Kf1 Rd1+ 31. Kg2 R1d2 32. Rxd2 Rxd2 33.
Rxa6 Rxb2 34. a4 bxa4 35. Rxa4 h5 36. h4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Internet Chess Club m6 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Zarnicki, Pablo Adrian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2497"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qb3 a5 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 b6 7. O-O Bb7 8. d4
Bxc3 9. Qxc3 d6 10. b3 Nbd7 11. Bb2 Qe7 12. Rad1 Ne4 13. Qc1 Ndf6 14. Ne1 Nd7
15. f3 Nef6 16. e4 e5 17. Nc2 a4 18. Ne3 axb3 19. Nf5 Qd8 20. dxe5 dxe5 21.
axb3 Qe8 22. Bh3 g6 23. Qh6 gxf5 24. Bxf5 Ra2 25. Rxd7 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club m6 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.07"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Zarnicki, Pablo Adrian"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B52"]
[WhiteElo "2497"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. c4 Nc6 6. O-O g6 7. d4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Bg7 9. Be3 Nf6 10. f3 O-O 11. Nc3 e6 12. Qd2 d5 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. cxd5
exd5 15. exd5 Nxd5 16. Nxd5 Qxd5 17. Qxd5 cxd5 18. Rad1 Rfe8 19. Bd4 Bh6 20.
Rfe1 a6 21. Kf2 Rac8 22. Bc3 Red8 23. Rd3 Bg7 24. Bxg7 Kxg7 25. Re2 Kf6 26. f4
Rc6 27. Kf3 h5 28. g3 Rcd6 29. Rc2 Kf5 30. h3 Ke6 31. Re2+ Kd7 32. Red2 Ke6 33.
Re2+ Kf6 34. Rc2 g5 35. g4 hxg4+ 36. hxg4 gxf4 37. Kxf4 Re8 38. g5+ Kg6 39. Rd4
Re1 40. Rcd2 Rf1+ 41. Kg3 Rf5 42. b4 Rxg5+ 43. Kf4 Rf5+ 44. Kg4 Re5 45. Kf4 f6
46. a4 Kf7 47. b5 axb5 48. axb5 Ke6 49. Rb4 Rb6 50. Ra2 Kd6 51. Rb1 Rh5 52. Ra6
Kc5 53. Ra8 d4 54. Rc1+ Kxb5 55. Rb1+ Kc6 56. Rc8+ Kb7 57. Rb8+ Kxb8 58. Rxb6+
Kc7 59. Rxf6 Rh3 60. Ke4 d3 61. Rf1 Kc6 62. Rd1 Kc5 63. Rxd3 Rxd3 64. Kxd3
1/2-1/2

[Event "Internet Chess Club m6 g/5'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "1999.12.18"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Zarnicki, Pablo Adrian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A35"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2497"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "1999.12.??"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. e3 g6 5. d4 cxd4 6. exd4 d5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
Bc4 Nxc3 9. Qb3 e6 10. bxc3 Na5 11. Bb5+ Bd7 12. Qa4 Nc6 13. O-O a6 14. Be2 Bg7
15. Qa3 Qe7 16. Qb3 Na5 17. Qb6 Qd8 18. Qb4 f6 19. c4 Kf7 20. d5 e5 21. Bd2 b6
22. c5 Bf8 23. d6 Nc6 24. Qb3+ Kg7 25. cxb6 Bxd6 26. Rfd1 Rb8 27. Be3 Qe7 28.
Qd5 Nd4 29. Nxd4 exd4 30. Qxd4 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2000.01.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2000.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 075"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. O-O
d5 9. Qc2 O-O 10. Rd1 Nbd7 11. Bf4 Rc8 12. Nc3 c5 13. cxd5 Nxd5 14. Nxd5 exd5
15. dxc5 Rxc5 16. Qd2 Nf6 17. Be5 Qd7 18. Bd4 Rc7 19. Rac1 Rxc1 20. Rxc1 Rc8
21. Ne5 Qe6 22. Rxc8+ Qxc8 23. Nd3 Ne4 24. Qb2 Bxd3 25. exd3 Nf6 26. h3 h6 27.
b4 Qe6 28. Qc3 Ne8 29. a4 Bf6 30. Kh2 Qd7 31. a5 Kh7 32. Bxf6 Nxf6 33. Qe5 Qd8
34. a6 Kg8 35. d4 b5 36. Bf3 Kf8 37. Kg2 Kg8 38. h4 Qb6 39. Bxd5 Nxd5 40. Qxd5
Qxa6 41. Qd7 Qg6 42. Qe8+ Kh7 43. d5 a5 44. bxa5 b4 45. d6 b3 46. d7 Qc6+ 47.
Kh2 Qf3 48. Qe1 Qd3 49. a6 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2000.01.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2748"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[PlyCount "31"]
[EventDate "2000.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 075"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Bd3 d5 6. Qe2 Qe7 7. O-O Nd6 8.
Qd1 Qd8 9. Nc3 c6 10. Re1+ Be7 11. Qe2 Bg4 12. b3 Nd7 13. Bb2 Nc5 14. Na4 Bxf3
15. Qxf3 Nxd3 16. Qxd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2000.01.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2683"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2000.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 075"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8.
cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. a3 Nc6 11. Bd3 Be7 12. O-O Bf6 13. Qb3 Qb6 $6 14.
Qxd5 $1 {White opens up an attacking plan against black king in which both
white bishops play a prominent role.} Rd8 (14... Qxb2 15. Rab1 Qc3 16. Rfc1
Qxa3 17. Bxh7+ Kxh7 18. Bd6 $18) 15. Qe4 g6 (15... h6 16. Qh7+ Kf8 17. Rab1 $16
) 16. Bg5 $1 Qxb2 (16... Bf5 $2 17. Qh4 Bxd3 (17... Bxg5 18. Nxg5 $18) 18. Bxf6
Rd6 19. Rfd1 $18) 17. Bc4 Kg7 (17... Bf5 $2 18. Qh4 Rd6 (18... Kg7 19. e4 $18)
19. e4 Bc8 20. Rab1 $18) 18. Qh4 h5 (18... Rd6 19. Qf4 Rd7 20. Bh6+ Kg8 21.
Rab1 $18) 19. Bxf7 $1 {[%mdl 128] It is no secret, that f7 square is rather
vulnerable for black. White's combination is rather refreshing, black defences
are falling to pieces.} Bxg5 (19... Kxf7 20. Rab1 Qxa3 21. Bxf6 Rd6 22. Be5 $18
) 20. Nxg5 Qf6 (20... Ne5 21. Be6 $18) 21. e4 Rd4 (21... Nd4 22. f4 Nc2 23. e5
Qf5 24. Ra2 Ne3 25. Re1 $18) 22. Rae1 (22. f4 $2 Rxe4 $1) 22... Bd7 (22... Bf5
23. Qg3 Bxe4 24. Nxe4 Qxf7 25. Ng5 $18) 23. f4 Rf8 24. Ba2 (24. e5 Qe7 25. e6
Bc8 $18) 24... Qd6 (24... Rd2 25. Bd5 $18) 25. Kh1 (25. Bd5 Qxa3 26. f5 Qd6 $16
) 25... Qxa3 26. Bb1 Qe7 27. Qg3 Kh6 (27... Rh8 28. e5 h4 29. Qe3 $16) 28. Nf3
Rb4 29. Nh4 $1 {Despite Short's best efforts kingside structure remains as
weak as ever. Black king is very insecure and black has no defense.} Be8 (29...
Qf7 30. e5 $18) (29... Rg8 30. Nf5+ Bxf5 31. exf5 $18) 30. e5 Rxb1 31. Rxb1 Nd4
32. Qg5+ $1 (32. Qg5+ $1 Qxg5 33. fxg5+ Kg7 34. Rxb7+ Kg8 35. Rf6 $18) 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2000.01.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2000.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 075"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O Nxd4 9. Qxd4 Be7 10. f4 b5 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. e5 d5 13. Kb1 Bb7 14. f5
fxe5 15. Qxe5 Bf6 16. Qg3 Qe7 17. fxe6 fxe6 18. Be2 h5 19. Bf3 O-O-O 20. h4 b4
21. Ne2 e5 22. Nc1 Kb8 23. Nb3 Qc7 24. Bxh5 Rxh5 25. Qg6 Rxh4 26. Qxf6 Rf4 27.
Qg6 d4 28. Rh7 Be4 29. Qxe4 Rxe4 30. Rxc7 Kxc7 31. Nc5 Re3 32. Ne6+ Kd7 33.
Nxd8 Kxd8 34. Kc1 Ke7 35. Rd3 Re2 36. Rd2 Re1+ 37. Rd1 Re2 38. Rd2 Re4 39. Rd3
Ke6 40. c3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2000.01.20"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Lputian, Smbat G"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E07"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2000.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 075"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Hecht} d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. g3 {Eine seltene Zugfolge -
die traditionellen Alternativen sind 5.Bg5 und 5.Bf4.} Nbd7 (5... O-O 6. Bg2
dxc4 7. Ne5 Nc6 {Das ist die prinzipielle Alternative, hier opfert Schwarz
einen Bauern (nach 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.Nxc6 ist der c4P nicht zu halten) und bekommt
aktives Gegenspiel.}) 6. Bg2 O-O (6... dxc4 7. Nd2 (7. Qa4) 7... Nb6 8. Nxc4
Nxc4 9. Qa4+ $14) 7. O-O {Mit dieser Fortsetzung opfert Weiß den Pc4.} (7. Qb3)
(7. b3) 7... dxc4 8. e4 a6 {Kramnik spielt diese Variante mit beiden Farben.
In zwei früheren Partien spielte er bereits 8...c6, was - meiner Meinung nach
- die beste Fortsetzung ist.} (8... c6 $5 9. a4 e5 $5 10. dxe5 Ng4 11. Bf4 Qa5
12. e6 (12. Qd4 Rd8 13. Qxc4 Ndxe5 14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15. Qb3 b6 16. Rfd1 Bg4 {
0-1 Hudecek,J-Stern,R/Pardubice 1996/CBM 55 ext (42)}) (12. Qd2 Bb4 13. e6 fxe6
14. Bd6 Bxd6 15. Qxd6 Nde5 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. Qd4 Rd8 18. Qe3 Nd3 19. e5 Qxe5 {
0-1 Hausner,I-Kramnik,V/Germany 1993/GER-chT (49)}) 12... fxe6 13. Qe2 (13. Ng5
Nde5 14. Qe2 h6 15. Nh3 Bd7 16. Kh1 Be8 17. Bd2 Bh5 18. f3 Nf6 19. Nf4 Bf7 20.
Ncd5 Qd8 21. Nxe7+ Qxe7 22. Bc3 Ned7 {0-1 Skatchkov,P-Evseev,D/Tula 1999/EXT
2000 (50)}) 13... Nge5 14. Nd4 Nd3 $1 15. Nxe6 Rf6 16. Bc7 Qb4 17. Nd4 (17. Nf4
Qxb2 18. Qxb2 Nxb2 19. e5 $132) 17... Bc5 $1 {0-1 Topalov,V-Kramnik,V/Linares
1997/Inf 69/[Kramnik,V] (33)}) (8... c5 9. d5 $36) 9. a4 Rb8 (9... c5 10. d5
exd5 11. exd5 (11. e5 $5) 11... Nb6 12. Ne5 Bd6 13. f4 a5 14. h3 Re8 15. Nb5
Bxe5 16. fxe5 Rxe5 17. Bf4 Rxd5 18. Qe2 Rd7 19. Qf2 Nbd5 20. Be5 Ra6 21. Qxc5
Re6 22. Bd4 Ne4 23. Bxe4 Rxe4 24. Rae1 Rxe1 25. Rxe1 Re7 26. Rxe7 Nxe7 27. g4
Nc6 {0-1 Mochalov,E-Nielsen,P/Minsk 1993/CBM 36 (59)}) 10. a5 {Schwarz möchte
b7-b5 ziehen, um den Pc4 zu verteidigen. Weiß hingegen muss diesen Spielplan
durchkreuzen.} (10. Nd2 b5 11. e5 Nd5 12. Bxd5 exd5 13. Nxd5 Bb7 14. Nxe7+ Qxe7
15. Nf3 Qe6 16. Be3 Qd5 {0-1 Gruenberg,R-Stelting,T/GER-N chT 7879 1979/EXT 99
(16)}) 10... b5 11. axb6 Nxb6 (11... cxb6 $6 12. Bf4 Ra8 13. Nd2 $14 (13. d5
$36 {Ftacnik})) 12. Qe2 {Weiß hat dank seines starken Bauernzentrums
Raumvorteil, zudem besitzt Schwarz einen Doppelbauern auf der c-Linie.
Prinzipiell hat Weiß ausreichende Kompensation für den Bauern.} Bb7 (12... c5
13. Bf4 Rb7 14. Rfd1 $14 {Taimanov}) 13. Rd1 Bb4 14. Ne5 {Endlich macht sich
Weiß daran, den Pc4 zurück zu gewinnen - mit besserem Spiel.} a5 {[%cal Gb7a6,
Ga6e2]} 15. Na2 $146 (15. Bg5 h6 16. Bf4 Qe7 17. Na4 Nxa4 18. Rxa4 c3 19. bxc3
Bxc3 20. Rc4 Bb4 21. Nc6 Bxc6 22. Rxc6 Rfc8 23. Qc4 $44 {1/2-1/2 Ulibin,
M-Aseev,K/Elista 1994/CBM 44/[Moiseev] (37)}) (15. Bf4 Nfd7 16. Nf3 Rc8 17. Na2
Bd6 18. Bd2 Ra8 19. Nc3 Bb4 20. Bg5 Qc8 21. Na2 c5 22. Rac1 cxd4 23. Nxb4 axb4
24. Nxd4 Qc5 25. Be3 Qe7 26. Nb5 Ra2 {1/2-1/2 Skatchkov,P-Brodsky,M/Nizhnij
Novgorod 1998/EXT 2000 (46)}) 15... Ra8 (15... Be7 $5 {Mit 16.Nc3 könnte Weiß
Zugwiederholung anstreben. Es ist fraglich, ob er hier mehr hat.}) 16. Bg5 Be7
17. Nxc4 {Weiß hat keine Angst vor der möglichen Fesslung auf der Diagonalen
a6-f1.} (17. Nc3 $5) 17... Ba6 {Schwarz muss das Spiel verkomplizieren, sonst
muss er sich in eine passive Stellung ohne Gegenspiel fnden.} 18. b3 a4 $13 19.
Bxf6 (19. Nc3 axb3 20. Rxa6 Rxa6 21. Ne5 Qa8 $19 (21... Ra3 22. Nc6 Qd7 23.
Nxe7+ Qxe7 24. e5 Qb4 $17)) 19... axb3 (19... Bxf6 20. Nb4 $14) 20. Qg4 Bxf6
21. Nxb6 cxb6 (21... Rb8 22. e5 Be7 23. Nb4 $5 (23. Na4 bxa2 24. Rxa2 Bc4 $44)
23... Bxb4 24. Rxa6 Rxb6 25. Rxb6 cxb6 26. d5 $36) 22. e5 Be7 23. d5 {[%mdl 64]
Weiß verscmäht das Schlagen auf a8, sondern opfert Material für aktives Spiel.}
(23. Bxa8 Qxa8 24. Nc3 b2 25. Rab1 (25. Ra2 Rc8) 25... Qc6 {[%cal Ga6b7,Gb7h1,
Rc6c3]} 26. Ne4 Bb7 27. f3 Qc2 $13) 23... exd5 24. Bxd5 bxa2 25. Rxa2 {Weiß
hat eine Figur weniger, aber Schwarz muss etwas Material zurückgeben.} (25.
Bxf7+ Rxf7 26. Rxd8+ Rxd8 $19) 25... Qb8 26. Bxa8 Qxa8 27. Rd7 (27. Rda1 $2 Qc8
$19) 27... h5 28. Qf4 (28. Qxh5 Qc6 29. Rxe7 Qc1+ 30. Kg2 Bf1+ 31. Kf3 Qd1+ $19
) 28... Re8 29. Ra1 {[%cal Ga1a8]} Qc8 (29... b5 $5 30. Qd4 Qc6 31. Rxa6 Qxa6
32. Rxe7 Rxe7 33. Qd8+ Kh7 34. Qxe7 Qe6 $15) 30. e6 $1 fxe6 31. Rc7 Qd8 $2 (
31... Qa8 $5 32. Qa4 Bf6 (32... Qd8 33. Qc6 Bc8 34. Ra8) 33. Ra7 (33. Qxa6 Bxa1
34. Ra7 Qf3 35. Qxa1 e5 $15) 33... Qc8 (33... Qxa7 34. Qxe8+ Kh7 35. Qxh5+ $11)
34. Qxa6 Bxa1 35. Qxa1 e5 36. Qb1 Qc6 37. Qf5 Rf8 38. Qxe5 Qc1+ 39. Kg2 Qc6+
$11) 32. Rxa6 Rf8 33. Qc4 $16 {Schwarz behält nur einen Bauern für die
Qualität. Die weißen Figuren stehen sehr aktiv.} Qd1+ 34. Qf1 Qxf1+ 35. Kxf1 {
[%mdl 4096]} Bc5 {Hecht: '[#] '} 36. f4 g5 (36... e5 {Hecht} 37. Raa7) (36...
Bd4 {Hecht} 37. Rd7 e5 (37... Bf6 38. Rxb6 e5 39. f5 (39. Ke2 exf4 40. gxf4 $16
{und wir hätten ein nettes Gegenstück zur Nr. 41. Ein Gewinnweg müsste erst
noch gefunden werden. Im Falle von g6 hätte Weiß immerhin den Hebel f5.}) 39...
Bg5 40. Rxg7+ Kxg7 41. Rg6+ Kh7 42. Rxg5 Kh6 43. h4 Ra8 44. Rg6+ Kh7 45. Re6
Ra1+ 46. Kg2 Ra2+ 47. Kh3 Rf2 48. Rxe5 Kg7 $14) 38. Raa7 Kh8 39. Rxg7 exf4 40.
Rgf7 Rxf7 41. Rxf7 fxg3 42. hxg3 $18 {[%csl Rh5][%cal Rf7f5]}) 37. Raa7 Bd4 38.
Rd7 Bh8 39. Ra4 e5 40. f5 Rxf5+ 41. Ke2 Bg7 42. Ra6 b5 43. Rb6 g4 44. Ke3 Kh7
45. Ke4 Rg5 46. Rxb5 Kg6 47. Rbb7 Bf6 48. Rh7 h4 (48... Rf5 {Hecht} 49. Rh6+
Kxh6 50. Kxf5 Bg7 (50... Bd8 51. Rd7 Ba5 52. Rd6+ Kh7 53. Kg5 $18) 51. Rb6+ Kh7
52. Kg5 {[%csl Rg4,Rh5]}) (48... Bd8 {Hecht} 49. Rbg7+ Kf6 50. Rd7 Kg6 51.
Rhg7+ Kh6 52. Rgf7 Ba5 (52... Rg8 53. Rd6+ Kg5 54. Rf5#) (52... Kg6 53. Rf2 Ba5
54. Ra2 $18)) 49. Rxh4 Bg7 50. Ra7 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2000.01.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Timman, Jan H"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2655"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2000.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 075"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d3 Nc6 4. g3 Nge7 5. Bg2 g6 6. h4 h6 7. c3 Bg7 8. O-O e5
9. a3 a5 10. Be3 d6 11. d4 cxd4 12. cxd4 Bg4 13. d5 Nd4 14. Bxd4 exd4 15. Qd3
Qb6 16. Nbd2 O-O 17. Nc4 Qc5 18. Rac1 Bxf3 19. Bxf3 a4 20. h5 Rac8 21. Qd2 d3
22. Ne5 Qd4 23. Nxd3 Rxc1 24. Rxc1 gxh5 25. Bxh5 Qxe4 26. Nf4 Nf5 27. Qc2 Qe5
28. b4 axb3 29. Qxb3 b5 30. Qd3 Nd4 31. Kg2 Qg5 32. Rh1 Qf5 33. Qxf5 Nxf5 34.
Rb1 Nd4 35. Ne2 Ra8 36. Nxd4 Bxd4 37. Rxb5 Rxa3 38. Rb7 Ra7 39. Bxf7+ Kg7
1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2000.01.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nikolic, Predrag"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2659"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2000.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 075"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 Be7 7. e3 c6 8.
Bd3 Ne4 9. Bf4 f5 10. O-O O-O 11. h3 Re8 12. Qc2 Nf8 13. Ne5 Bg5 14. Bxg5 Qxg5
15. f4 Qe7 16. Bxe4 dxe4 17. Rfd1 Be6 18. d5 cxd5 19. Nxd5 Qh4 20. Qf2 Qxf2+
21. Kxf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2000.01.24"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2000.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 075"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Bc5 6. Nb3 Ba7 7. c4 Nc6 8. Nc3
Nge7 9. O-O O-O 10. Qe2 e5 11. Be3 Nd4 12. Bxd4 exd4 13. Nd5 d6 14. Rad1 Nc6
15. Kh1 Be6 16. f4 Re8 17. Qh5 g6 18. Qh6 Bxd5 19. exd5 Nb4 20. f5 Qe7 21. f6
1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2000.01.25"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E91"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2633"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2000.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 075"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 c5 7. d5 e6 8. O-O Re8
9. Bf4 exd5 10. exd5 Bg4 11. h3 (11. Qd2 a6 12. a4 Qc7 13. h3 Bxf3 14. Bxf3
Nbd7 15. Rfe1 Rxe1+ 16. Rxe1 Re8 17. Rxe8+ Nxe8 18. Bd1 Ne5 19. Qe2 Qb6 20. Kf1
h5 21. Ne4 Qc7 22. b3 Kf8 23. Bc2 Qe7 24. Bg5 f6 25. Bd2 $14 {1-0 Sosonko,
G-Larsen,B/Brussels 1987/CBM 02 (78)}) 11... Bxf3 12. Bxf3 a6 {We get often
the same pawn structure in Averbakh system.I can recommend to study following
games: Polugaevsky,L-Uhlmann,W,Amsterdam,1970; Uhlmann,W-Gligoric,S,Hastings
1970/71; Kaidanov,G-Kamsky,G, USA championship 1993} 13. g4 {A risky desicion.
Later on Black used it to their favour and won battle over e5 square.} (13. Qd2
Qb6 14. Rfe1 Nbd7 15. Rac1 Rxe1+ 16. Rxe1 Re8 17. Re2 Kf8 18. b3 Rxe2 19. Nxe2
Ne8 20. Nc1 Ne5 21. Be2 Qd8 22. Nd3 Nxd3 23. Bxd3 Qf6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Khechen,
N-Ostos,J/Luzern 1982/EXT 97-B (36)}) 13... Qb6 14. Qc2 h6 $1 {[%cal Yg6g5]}
15. b3 Nbd7 16. Bg2 Re7 17. Rae1 Rae8 18. Rxe7 Rxe7 19. Kh1 Ne8 20. Bd2 Qd8 21.
a4 Nef6 22. f4 Re8 23. Qd3 Nh7 $1 24. Kh2 (24. Ne4 $1 Ndf6 25. Ng3 Nd7 26. a5
$14) 24... Qe7 25. Re1 Qd8 26. Rxe8+ $6 Qxe8 27. a5 Nhf6 28. Bf3 Qe7 29. Qe2
Qd8 30. Nd1 Ne8 31. Nf2 Kf8 32. g5 (32. Nd3 {[%cal Gb3b4]} Bd4 33. b4 cxb4 34.
Bxb4 Nc5 $132) 32... hxg5 33. fxg5 Bd4 $132 {[%cal Yd7e5]} 34. Ne4 b6 35. axb6
Qxb6 36. Qd1 Ne5 37. Be2 Ng7 $1 38. Ng3 Bf2 39. Ne4 (39. Ne4 Bd4 $11) (39. Bf4
Bxg3+ 40. Bxg3 Nf5 $15 {[%cal Yf5d4]}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2000.01.27"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2658"]
[Annotator "Finkel,A"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2000.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 075"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 {Very solid
variation,quiet suprising for the Polgar's agressive style!This line was
played oftenly on the highest level and proved to be very good way to play for
a draw.} 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3 d5 9. Nbd2 Nbd7 10. O-O O-O 11. Re1 c5 12. e4 dxe4
13. Nxe4 Bb7 ({Another good alternative is} 13... Nxe4 14. Rxe4 Bb7 15. Re3 Bf6
16. dxc5 Nxc5 17. Ne5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Qc7 19. Qf3 Rad8 $11 {Karpov,A-Anand,V/
Siemens Giants 1999}) 14. Ned2 ({Nothing promises} 14. Nfg5 cxd4 15. Bxd4 Qc7
16. Nxf6+ Bxf6 17. Bxb7 Qxb7 18. Ne4 Be7 $1 19. Qf3 Rab8 20. Qh5 e5 21. Bb2 f6
22. Rad1 {1/2-1/2 Ivanchuk,V-Ljubojevic,L/Tilburg 1989}) 14... Re8 $5 {Black
doesn't want to take on d4 and defends the bishop to prevent d5 in the nearest
future.} (14... Rc8 15. Qe2 cxd4 16. Nxd4 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Qc7 18. Kg1 Rfe8 19.
Rad1 a6 20. N4f3 Qb7 $11 {Levitina,I-Maric,A/Shanghai ctW 1992}) (14... a6 $6
15. Qe2 cxd4 16. Nxd4 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Qc7 18. N2f3 Qb7 19. b4 Rfc8 20. Rac1 Bf8
21. Kg1 $14 {[%csl Rd7] Kasparov,G-Ivanchuk,V/Tilburg 1989}) 15. Qe2 Qc7 16.
Rad1 Rad8 17. dxc5 {White has just run out of usefull moves and he finally
takes on c5.} Bxc5 {Keeping square e5 under control.but also after} (17... Nxc5
$5 18. Ne5 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Rd6 $11 {black is doing o'kay.}) 18. Ng5 (18. b4 Bf8
19. a3 a5 20. Rc1 axb4 21. axb4 Ra8 $11) 18... Bxg2 19. Kxg2 h6 $5 (19... Qb7+
20. Qf3 Qxf3+ 21. Kxf3 Nb8 22. Nge4 Nxe4 23. Nxe4 Be7 $11) 20. Nge4 Be7 21. f4
$5 Nxe4 22. Nxe4 (22. Qxe4 Bf6 $11) 22... f5 $1 $11 (22... Nc5 $2 23. Qg4 $1 {
[%csl Rg7]} g6 24. Nf6+ Bxf6 25. Bxf6 Nd3 26. Rf1 $1 Qc6+ 27. Qf3 $14) 23. Nf2
(23. Nd2 Bf6 24. Bxf6 Nxf6 25. Nf3 Ne4 26. Qe3 Rxd1 27. Rxd1 Rd8 $11) 23... Bf6
24. Bxf6 Nxf6 25. Rxd8 Qxd8 {Black has the only weakness in his position-pawn
e6,which he easily defends,and slightly exposed position of white king gives
him sufficient counterchanses.} 26. Rd1 Qc7 27. Qe5 Qb7+ 28. Kg1 Kf7 29. Rd6
Qf3 30. Qe1 Qb7 31. Qe5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2000.01.28"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2659"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "Finkel,A"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2000.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 075"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 Bb7 8. Nc3
d5 9. cxd5 exd5 10. O-O O-O {In this position white was usually putting the
knight one e5 and only after that was starting to think!Kortchnoi tries
different plan,which however proves to be insufficient to get opening
advantage.} 11. Nh4 $5 (11. Ne5 Nbd7 (11... Na6 $5 12. Bf4 c5 13. Rc1 Re8 14.
dxc5 Nxc5 15. Nf3 Rc8 16. Nb5 $14 {Naumkin,I-Szekely,P/Catania op 1994}) 12.
Rc1 Re8 13. Nb5 c5 14. Bf4 Nh5 15. Bh3 Nxe5 16. Bxe5 Bf8 $132 {Maric,
A-Chiburdanidze,M/FIDE Candidates W 1997}) (11. Rc1 Na6 12. Ne5 (12. Bg5 c5 13.
Qc2 h6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Rfd1 Qe7 16. e3 Rfd8 17. Ne2 Nb4 $13 {Granda Zuniga,
J-Vaganian,R/Wijk 1989}) 12... c5 (12... Re8 13. Bg5 Ne4 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. e3
c5 16. Nd3 cxd4 17. exd4 Rac8 $13 {Gyimesi,Z-Farago,I/HUN-ch 1999}) 13. dxc5
bxc5 14. Bf4 Rc8 15. e3 Nc7 16. Ng4 Ne4 $11 {Epishin,V-Dautov,R/Brno Morava-A
1991}) 11... g6 $1 {[%csl Gf5] Black is not afraid to weaken his kingside.He
oftenly plays g6 later in this kind of position,and white can't take an
advantage of this early advance.} 12. Bg5 Ne4 13. Bxe7 (13. Nxe4 $6 dxe4 14.
Bxe7 Qxe7 {[%csl Rh4]} 15. Rc1 Bd5 $5 16. Rc3 c6 $5 $13 {[%cal Gb8d7,Gf7f5]})
13... Qxe7 14. Rc1 Na6 15. Qd3 (15. Nf3 $5 Rad8 16. e3 c5 17. Ne5 Nc7 18. Qc2
f6 19. Nd3 Ne6 $132) 15... c5 16. Nf3 Rad8 17. Qe3 f5 18. Qh6 $6 {Dubious
decision,letting black to sieze the initiative.} (18. Ne5) 18... Rd6 19. dxc5 (
19. Nb5 $6 Re6 20. Nxa7 g5 {[%csl Rh6]} 21. Qh5 Kg7 22. Ne5 Rh6 23. Qf3 Nd2 $15
) 19... bxc5 20. Nxe4 fxe4 (20... dxe4 $5 21. Ng5 Rfd8) 21. Ng5 Qg7 $6 22.
Qxg7+ (22. Qh4 h6 23. Nh3 g5 24. Qh5 Rdf6 $5 $15 {[%csl Rh3,Rh5]}) 22... Kxg7
23. Rfd1 Rfd8 24. f3 h6 (24... exf3 $6 25. Bxf3 {[%csl Rc5,Rd5][%cal Gf3b7]} h6
26. Nh3 g5 27. Nf2 $14 {[%cal Gf2d3]}) 25. Nh3 e3 26. Nf4 Bc6 27. Kf1 {
Threatening Nd3} (27. Nd3 $6 Bb5 28. Nxc5 $2 Nxc5 29. Rxc5 Bxe2 30. Re1 d4 $1
31. Rxe2 d3 $19 {[%cal Gd3d1]}) 27... Bb5 $8 (27... d4 $6 28. Nd3 Rd5 (28...
Bb5 29. Nxc5 Nxc5 30. Rxc5 d3 31. exd3 Bxd3+ 32. Ke1 $16) 29. f4 {[%cal Gg2c6]}
R5d6 30. Nxc5 Nxc5 31. Rxc5 d3 $1 32. Rxd3 $1 Rxd3 33. Bxc6 $1 $14 {[%csl Re3]
[%cal Gf1g2,Gg2f3]}) 28. a4 (28. Nd3 c4 (28... Bxd3 29. Rxd3 d4 30. f4 Nb4 31.
Rdd1 d3 32. exd3 Nxd3 33. Rc2 $13) 29. Nb2 cxb3 (29... Nb4 $5) 30. axb3 Nb4 31.
Rc7+ R8d7 32. Rxd7+ Rxd7 33. Rc1 $11) 28... Be8 29. Nd3 c4 30. bxc4 Bxa4 31.
Re1 dxc4 32. Ne5 $5 ({Deserved attention} 32. Rxc4 $5 Bb5 33. Rc3 {[%csl Ra6]
and black knight on a6 is out of play:} Bxd3 34. exd3 Rxd3 35. Rxe3 $11) 32...
Bb5 33. Nxc4 Re6 34. Bh3 Re7 35. Rc3 {[%csl Re3][%cal Gc3e3] Now the game is
drawn by force.} Rc7 36. Rec1 Rxc4 37. Rxc4 Bxc4 38. Rxc4 Rd1+ 39. Kg2 Rd2 40.
Kf1 Rd1+ 41. Kg2 Rd2 42. Kf1 Rd1+ 43. Kg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2000.01.29"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2851"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2000.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 075"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8.
h3 $6 {This loss of a tempo was considered necessary (and the whole 7.Nf3
system dubious therefore) before the seventies, when it was discovered that
Black's ..Bg4 threat is not worth such extraordinary measures. After that 7.
Nf3 became very popular but 8.h3 was completely forgotten. Why does Kramnik
come back to this harmless line? In recent years he tried many systems against
Kasparov's Gruenfeld but didn't achieve any real success. Now he just tries to
avoid "theoretical" lines. But it is hardly possible to upset Garry this way 
(which way it is possible, nobody knows!). In the present game White managed
to pose Black some problems but Kasparov solved them quite easily.} O-O 9. Be2
{Other options seen in practice:} (9. Bc4 Nc6 (9... Qc7 10. Bb3 Nc6 11. Be3 b6
12. Qc2 Na5 13. Bd5 Bb7 14. Bxb7 Nxb7 15. Rc1 Rac8 16. O-O Rfd8 {1/2-1/2
Blocher,J-Dreher,A/AUT-chT9697 1997}) 10. Be3 cxd4 (10... Qa5 $5) 11. cxd4 b5
12. Bd5 Bb7 13. Rc1 Rc8 14. O-O (14. Bxc6 $142 Rxc6 15. Rxc6 Bxc6 16. d5) 14...
e6 15. Bb3 Na5 16. Rxc8 Qxc8 17. d5 Nxb3 18. Qxb3 exd5 19. Bxa7 dxe4 20. Nd4
Rd8 21. Rd1 Bd5 22. Qxb5 Bxa2 23. Qa4 Bd5 {Rack,M-Schnitzspan,L/Wiesbaden op
1988/1/2-1/2 (76)}) (9. Be3 Qa5 (9... Nd7 $6 10. Bd3 e6 11. O-O cxd4 12. cxd4
b6 13. Bg5 f6 14. Bd2 Ne5 15. Bb4 Nxd3 16. Bxf8 Nxf2 17. Rxf2 Bxf8 18. Rc1 Bb7
19. Qd3 Kh8 20. Kh1 Bd6 21. Qe3 e5 22. dxe5 Bc5 23. Rxc5 bxc5 24. exf6 {
Luczak,A-Schinzel,W/Warszawa Cup5-A 1979/1-0 (41)}) (9... b6 10. Qc2 cxd4 11.
cxd4 Bb7 12. Rd1 Nc6 13. Be2 Rc8 14. Qb1 Qd6 15. O-O Qb4 16. d5 Qxb1 17. Rxb1
Na5 18. Rfc1 Rxc1+ 19. Rxc1 Rc8 {Sepulveda,P-Santos,F/Pan American-ch 1996/1/
2-1/2 (55)}) (9... b5 10. Rb1 (10. Bxb5 $5 Qa5 11. Qb3) (10. Be2 $5 {-see game}
) 10... a6 11. Bd3 Nc6 12. Bc2 Na5 13. O-O Nc4 14. Bc1 Qa5 15. Bb3 Qxc3 16.
dxc5 Bb7 17. Qe2 Ne5 18. Ba3 Nd3 19. c6 Bxc6 20. Rfc1 Nxc1 21. Rxc1 Qf6 22. Qe3
Rac8 23. e5 Qf5 24. Nd4 Qd7 25. Bxf7+ Kh8 26. Be6 Bh6 27. Bxd7 Bxe3 28. Rxc6
Bxf2+ 29. Kh2 Rcd8 30. Ne6 Rxd7 31. Nxf8 Rd3 32. Bc5 Bg3+ 33. Kh1 Rc3 34. Bf2
Rxc6 35. Bxg3 Kg8 36. Nd7 Kf7 37. Bf2 Ke6 38. Nc5+ Kxe5 39. Nd3+ Ke4 40. Nc5+
Kd5 41. Nd3 a5 {0-1 Calderin,R-Arencibia,W/CUB-ch 1988}) 10. Qd2 Nc6 11. Rd1 (
11. Be2 $6 cxd4 12. Nxd4 (12. cxd4 Qxd2+ 13. Kxd2 Rd8) 12... Rd8 13. Rd1 Be6
14. O-O Nxd4 15. cxd4 Qxa2 16. Qxa2 Bxa2 17. d5 Rdc8 18. Rc1 a5 19. Bb5 Bb3 20.
Bd7 Rxc1 21. Rxc1 a4 22. Bc8 Bb2 23. Bxb7 Bxc1 24. Bxc1 {Heinrich,C-Sperlich,S/
Dortmund op 1987/0-1 (46)}) 11... b6 12. Be2 Rd8 13. O-O Ba6 14. Bxa6 Qxa6 15.
Bh6 cxd4 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. cxd4 Qa5 18. d5 Qxd2 19. Rxd2 Nb4 20. a3 Na6 {
1/2-1/2 Idigoras Guisasola,G-Marini,L/ARG-ch 1955}) 9... b5 {Combining
fianchetto with active queenside play. However, is it really "active play" or
just a weakening move? Surprisingly enough,} (9... Nc6 {didn't bring Black any
success in the few games played with this move:} 10. Be3 Qa5 {is probably the
best but has not yet been seen in practice. For example,} (10... b6 11. O-O
cxd4 12. cxd4 Bb7 (12... h6 13. Qd2 Kh7 14. Rac1 Bb7 15. d5 Na5 16. Qb4 Rc8 17.
Rxc8 Bxc8 18. Rc1 Bd7 19. Nd4 Re8 20. Bb5 Be5 21. f4 Bd6 22. Qc3 e5 23. dxe6
Bxb5 24. Nxb5 {Pandorf,H-Schmitt,K/RLPF-op Polch 1990/0-1 (49)}) 13. Rc1 Rc8
14. Qa4 (14. Qd2 e6 15. Bg5 Qe8 16. Bb5 a6 17. Ba4 b5 18. Bb3 Ne7 19. Qb4 Nc6
20. Qd6 h6 21. d5 hxg5 22. dxe6 f6 23. Qd7 Ba8 24. Rc5 Kh8 25. Bd5 Ne5 26. Rxc8
Qxc8 27. Nxe5 fxe5 28. Bxa8 Qxa8 29. Rd1 Qxe4 30. e7 Rxf2 31. Kxf2 Qf4+ 32. Kg1
{1-0 Koka,O-Feller,C/Bern op 1996}) 14... Na5 15. Nd2 Bc6 16. Qb4 e6 17. f3 Re8
18. Bb5 Bxb5 19. Rxc8 Qxc8 20. Qxb5 Qc3 21. Qxe8+ {1-0 Bobak,S-Dudik,C/It,
Debrecen HUN 1998}) (10... cxd4 11. cxd4 Qa5+ 12. Bd2 Qa3 13. d5 Ne5 14. Nxe5
Bxe5 15. O-O Bxa1 16. Qxa1 f6 17. Rb1 Qd6 18. Bb4 Qd8 19. Bc4 Kg7 20. e5 a5 21.
Ba3 b5 22. Bxb5 Rb8 23. exf6+ exf6 24. Bxf8+ Qxf8 25. a4 {Bannik,A-Ilivitsky,G/
URS-ch21 Kiev 1954/1-0 (52)}) 11. O-O Qxc3 12. Rc1 Qa3 13. Rxc5 Qxa2 $13) (9...
b6 {is probably the most logical to underline that 8.h3 has been just a loss
of time.} 10. O-O Bb7 11. e5 cxd4 12. cxd4 Na6 13. Qa4 Nc7 14. Ba3 Qe8 15. Qb3
Qd7 16. Rad1 Bd5 17. Bc4 Rac8 18. Nd2 Bh6 19. Bxd5 Nxd5 20. Ne4 Qc6 21. Qg3
Rfe8 22. Qh4 Bg7 23. Rd3 f5 {0-1 Gawlikowski,S-Taimanov,M/Szczawno Zdroj 1950 
(33)}) 10. Be3 Bb7 11. Qd3 cxd4 12. cxd4 Nd7 13. O-O Nb6 {The whole plan
connected with 9...b5 is now clear.} 14. Qb1 $1 {An unusual but strong move.
It is not easy now for Black to defend his b5 pawn.} Na4 $5 {Black retorts to
tactical means.} (14... a6 15. a4 bxa4 {doesn't lose a piece at once but White
obtains a more than sufficient compensation for the pawn:} 16. d5 (16. Ra2 $44)
16... Bxa1 17. Qxa1 {/\18.Rb1} (17. Bxb6 Qd6 18. Be3 Bg7 19. Qxb7 Rfb8 20. Qc6
Qxc6 21. dxc6 a3 $13) 17... Rb8 18. Bh6 $16) 15. Qxb5 Nc3 16. Qxb7 Nxe2+ 17.
Kh1 Nxd4 {The pin along the d-file looks dangerous but White can't eventually
win more than a pawn, which will be insufficient for winning the game.} 18.
Rad1 (18. Bxd4 {yields nothing in view of} Bxd4 19. Rad1 (19. Nxd4 Qxd4 20.
Qxe7 Rfe8 $11) 19... Qb6 20. Qxe7 Bxf2 21. Rd6 Bc5 $11 (21... Qe3)) 18... e5
19. Nxe5 {White looks for more than} (19. Nxd4 exd4 20. Bxd4 Bxd4 21. Qb4 Rb8
22. Qxd4 Qxd4 23. Rxd4 $14 {and it is very difficult for him to make use of
his extra pawn in the four-rook endgame.}) 19... Bxe5 20. f4 Bg7 (20... Rb8 21.
Qa6 Rb6 {doesn't work in view of} 22. Qxa7 Bb8 23. Qa4 $18) 21. e5 Qb6 $1 {
Liquidates to an endgame, which is even less promising for White than that
after 19.Nxd4} 22. Qxb6 axb6 23. Bxd4 Rxa2 24. Bxb6 Re8 {[%cal Yf7f6] If the
pawns are on the same flank, realization of an extra pawn is generally
possible with knights on the board (or if the strong side has a knight against
a bishop). With each side having only a bishop, the endgame usually ends in a
draw.The text move prepares the exchange of another pawn pair.} 25. Bd8 Ra6 {
Again threatening 26...f6} 26. Bc7 Rae6 (26... f6 {did work now owing to the
possibility} 27. Rd6 Re6 $1 {but Black needn't hurry with ...f7-f6}) 27. g4 g5
$1 (27... f6 28. f5 Rc6 {was good, too, but with the text move Black simply
wins the e5 pawn.}) 28. f5 (28. fxg5 Bxe5 {is also a dead draw}) 28... Rc6 29.
Rd7 Bxe5 30. Re1 f6 31. Bxe5 Rxe5 32. Rxe5 fxe5 33. Re7 h5 34. Kg2 hxg4 35.
hxg4 Rc4 36. Kf3 Rf4+ 37. Kg3 e4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2000.01.30"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2646"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "2000.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 075"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.04.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3
d5 9. Nbd2 Nbd7 10. O-O O-O 11. Re1 c5 12. e4 dxe4 13. Nxe4 Nxe4 14. Rxe4 Bb7
15. Re3 Nf6 16. Ne5 cxd4 17. Bxd4 Qc7 18. Bxb7 Qxb7 19. Qf3 Qxf3 20. Rxf3 Rac8
21. Rd1 Rfd8 22. Rfd3 Kf8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 17th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2000.02.28"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Khalifman, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E59"]
[WhiteElo "2656"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "Wells,P"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2000.02.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nf3 d5 7. O-O Nc6 8. a3
Bxc3 9. bxc3 Qc7 (9... dxc4 10. Bxc4 Qc7 11. Bd3 (11. Bb5 $5) (11. Be2) (11.
Bb2) (11. Ba2)) 10. Bb2 {If white declines to contest the main line, then
black's 9th move, delaying the capture on c4 has the distinct advantage of
restricting white's options.} ({For this reason at least} 10. cxd5 exd5 11. a4
{remains the critical choice.}) 10... dxc4 11. Bxc4 e5 12. Be2 ({The main
alternative here is} 12. h3 {putting a stop to black's intended ...Bg4. The
line seems to have had its heyday in the 1950s. A comparison can be made with 
( in the main line move order ) 11 Ba2 e5 12 h3 which I discussed in CBM 71 -
cf. Y.Yakovich - M.Sosnicki, Swidnica 1999. A couple of examples:} e4 (12...
Rd8 {looks weaker with the bishop still on c4. Black is running into Ng5 at
some stage.}) (12... Bf5 $5 13. Qe2 (13. Bb5 e4 14. Nh4 Be6 (14... Bd7 $5) 15.
c4 cxd4 16. exd4 Rad8 (16... a6 $142 17. d5 axb5 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. dxe6 fxe6
20. Qg4+ Kh8 21. Qxe4 bxc4 22. Qxc4 $11 {-Taimanov ( Quoted in 'NCO' 1999.)})
17. d5 Ne5 18. Qb3 Bd7 19. Qg3 $1 $40 Rfe8 20. Bxd7 Rxd7 21. Nf5 Ng6 22. Qg5
Qf4 23. Bxf6 gxf6 24. Qxf6 Qe5 25. Nh6+ Kf8 26. Ng4 $16 {1-0 Taimanov,
M-Antoshin,V/Moscow 1957/URS-ch (41)}) 13... Rfe8 14. Rfd1 Rad8 15. a4 e4 16.
Nd2 Nd5 17. Nb3 cxd4 18. Nxd4 $5 Nxd4 19. Rxd4 Ne7 20. Bb5 Nc6 21. Bxc6 Qxc6
22. Qb5 Rxd4 23. cxd4 Bd7 24. Qxc6 Bxc6 25. a5 {[%csl Yd4][%cal Yd4d5] 1-0
Hort,V-King,D/BL8586 1986/GER-chT (49) with a minimal advantage for white,
which he exhibited really fine technique to convert.}) 13. Nd2 $1 {another
advantage of the move h3 - white does not have to reckon with the irritating ..
.Ng4.} Ne7 14. Be2 $5 cxd4 $6 15. cxd4 Be6 16. Qb1 Bd5 17. Rc1 Qd7 18. a4 $14 {
1-0 Brinck Claussen,B-Kolarov,A/Lugano 1968/MCD (41)}) 12... Rd8 {An
interesting choice. Theory is less than crystal clear here, not least because
the position reached at move 17 here has been subject to quite a variety of
assessments.} ({Arguably simpler is} 12... Bg4 $5 {the point being that after}
13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. c4 Nxf3+ 15. Bxf3 {looks fairly harmless, but may still be
better than} (15. gxf3 Bh3 {when white's rook faces a more restricted choice,
and worse still no possibility to contest the d-file so quickly} 16. Re1 Rad8
17. Qc2 Qc6 18. Qc3 $6 (18. Kh1 Ng4 19. e4 Rd2 20. Qxd2 Nxf2+ 21. Kg1 Nxe4 22.
fxe4 Qg6+ 23. Kh1 Qxe4+ 24. Bf3 Qxf3+ 25. Kg1 Qg4+ {1/2-1/2 Navarovszky,
L-Flesch,J/HUN-ch20 1965/MCD (25)}) 18... Rd2 $1 19. e4 Rfd8 20. Kh1 Nh5 21.
Rab1 Qg6 $1 22. Rg1 Rxe2 23. Rxg6 hxg6 24. f4 Red2 25. Rg1 R8d3 26. Qe5 Rd1 27.
Qe8+ Kh7 28. Qa4 Bg4 $1 {0-1 Rubin-Shakarov/corr 1975 (28)}) 15... Rfd8 16. Qe2
Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Ne8 18. h4 Qe7 19. h5 h6 20. Rfd1 b6 21. Qg4 f6 22. Rd5 Nc7 23.
Rf5 Rd6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Yusupov,A-Ehlvest,J/Riga Tal 1995/CBM 47 (30)}) 13. Qc2
Bg4 {Seems to be better than the immediate} (13... e4 14. Nd2 Bf5 15. Nb3 b6
16. c4 cxd4 17. exd4 Ne7 18. Qc3 Rac8 19. Rac1 $14 {[%csl Gb2,Ge2] 1/2-1/2
Yusupov,A-Beliavsky,A/Groningen 1994/CBM 45 (32)}) 14. dxe5 {Now the
possibility of ...e4 needed to be addressed. Only the extraordinarily original
Granda Zuniga has been willing to venture the alternative} (14. Kh1 $5 {
but in principle white should really avoid the exchange of white-squared
bishops.}) 14... Nxe5 15. c4 Nxf3+ 16. gxf3 Bh3 17. Rfd1 Qc6 $5 {The whole
position is complex and none to easy to assess. A few general comments: 1)
White's bishop pair is still generally an asset, and his b2 piece in
particular looks strong.  2) The doubling of the f-pawns of course potentially
weakens white's king-side. In general, if black handles the position carefully,
this seems to be a more significant factor than the half-open g-file.  3) The
combination of pressures bearing down on g7 strongly indicates that black is
right to head for the defensive formation with ...Ne8 and ...f6 ( see note to
move ___). 4) The open d-file is also an important factor - not just in terms
of who will control it, but how many rooks will remain on the board. The text
move looks good since white has to be alert to knight moves facilitating a ...
Qg6+. Also d5 is covered and ...Ne8 prepared.} (17... Rxd1+ 18. Rxd1 Rd8 19.
Rb1 (19. Rc1 Qc6 20. Kh1 Qe6 21. e4 h6 22. Rg1 Nh5 23. Qc3 Rd4 24. Qe3 Qe5 $1 {
[%csl Gb2,Rf4] An instructive moment where the moves speaks more eloquently on
such themes as blockade, the relative worth of the pieces, and outposts than I
could hope to do.} 25. Bf1 (25. Qxh6 Nf4 $44) 25... Bxf1 26. Rxf1 Nf4 27. Rg1
b6 28. a4 Nh3 29. Rf1 Nf4 30. Rg1 Nh3 31. Rf1 Nf4 {1/2-1/2 Taimanov,M-Kholmov,
R/Erevan 1962/URS-ch (31)}) 19... Qc6 (19... Qd7 20. Kh1 Bf5 21. e4 Bg6 22. Qc3
Ne8 23. Qe5 Qd2 $6 24. Rd1 Qa5 25. Rd7 Ra8 26. Kg2 h6 27. Qd5 $16 Qa4 28. Bd1 {
1-0 Taimanov,M-Sliwa,B/Moscow 1956 (28)}) 20. Kh1 Bg4 (20... h6 21. Rg1 Qe6 22.
Qc3 Kf8 23. e4 b6 24. Qe3 g5 $6 {Given the consequences of allowing the queen
to f4 in Vaiser - Kolev, this while perhaps not actually bad, looks like an
overreaction.} 25. Bxf6 Qxf6 26. f4 {[%csl Rg5,Rh3]} Be6 27. fxg5 hxg5 28. Rxg5
Qd4 29. Qf4 {Of course, without queens black would have no problems.} Bxc4 30.
Bxc4 Qxc4 31. Kg2 Qe6 32. Qh4 Re8 33. Kg1 {[%cal Gg5h5,Gh5h8] At issue is
simply relative king security.} c4 (33... Rd8 $5 34. Rh5 Qg6+ 35. Rg5 Qe6 $11 {
(?)}) 34. Rh5 Qg6+ 35. Kf1 f6 36. Rh6 Rxe4 37. f4 Qg7 38. Rh8+ Kf7 39. Qh5+ Ke6
40. Re8+ {1-0 Jussupow,A-Van der Sterren,P/Germany 1998/GER-chT (40)}) 21. Kg2
Bc8 22. Rg1 b6 23. Qc3 Qe6 24. Kh1 Kf8 25. e4 h6 26. Qe3 Bb7 27. Qf4 {1/2-1/2
Vaisser,A-Kolev,A/Elista 1998/CBM 66 ext (27) Looks '+/=', but it is not easy
to progress.}) 18. Qc3 (18. Rxd8+ Rxd8 19. Kh1 Ne8 (19... Rd6 $5 {looks looser}
20. Qc3 Nh5 21. Qe5 (21. Rg1 $5) 21... Bg4 22. e4 f6 23. Qc3 Nf4 24. Bf1 Rd3 $1
25. Bxd3 Bxf3+ 26. Kg1 Qd7 27. Kf1 Nxd3 {0-1 Lim,S-Tisdall,J/Hastings 1976 (27)
}) 20. Rg1 f6 21. Bc3 Be6 22. Rg3 Qd7 23. Qe4 b6 24. Rg1 Qf7 {[%csl Rc4] Here
with just one pair of rooks on the board, black also seems well able to
neutralise the pressure, and start to exploit white's weakness on c4.} 25. Qf4
Kf8 26. Qe4 h6 27. Qf4 Rd7 28. a4 Nd6 29. Rd1 Ke7 30. a5 Nxc4 31. Rxd7+ Kxd7
32. Qb8 Kc6 33. a6 Kb5 34. Qb7 Qg6 $17 {0-1 Schoen,W-Hall,J/2.BLW9697
Wattenscheid-KKS Koeln 1997/BL2-W (40)}) 18... Ne8 19. Kh1 Be6 ({Or similarly} 
19... f6 20. e4 Be6 21. Qe3 Bf7 22. Rg1 Rd7 23. Rg2 Bg6 24. Rag1 Rad8 {This
all bears an uncanny resemblance to the main game, and just goes to confirm
the view that black's position is more than comfortable.} 25. Bc3 b6 26. h4 Qe6
27. Rh2 Bh5 $1 {Again this could have served as a model for Kramnik. White's
king-side aspirations are stopped in their tracks.} 28. Rg3 Nd6 29. Rhg2 Kh8
30. Kh2 Rf8 31. Ba1 Re8 32. Bf1 Nb7 33. Rg1 Rde7 34. Bh3 Qd6 35. Kh1 Na5 36.
Qc3 Nc6 37. Qe3 Ne5 38. Bxe5 Qxe5 39. Rd1 Bf7 40. Bf1 h6 $17 {0-1 Ibragimov,
I-Alexandrov,A/Kherson 1991 (49)}) 20. Rg1 f6 {[%csl Ge8,Gf6][%cal Ge6d5,Yb2f6,
Ge8g7,Ge8f6][%mdl 4] This is the key defensive formation. The f6 pawn blunts
the b2 bishop, while the knight on e8 is supremely well placed to neutralise
white's hopes of an attack on the g-file. In this task it can be supported by
the bishop which can re-route to g6 or h5 as required. The game seems to
suggest that placing all bets on the g-file and abdicating the d-file to
black's rooks is risky indeed.} 21. Rg3 Rd7 22. Rag1 Rad8 23. Bc1 Bf5 24. e4
Bg6 25. h4 Nc7 {Already safe enough on g7 to aspire after a more active role.}
26. Bf1 Ne6 27. Rh3 {[%cal Yh4h5]} Bh5 $1 28. Rhg3 Kh8 29. Qe3 Nd4 30. Bg2 Re8
31. Rh3 Qa4 {White is virtually paralysed, and the threat to penetrate with
the queen is surprisingly hard to parry.} 32. Bf1 Qd1 33. Bg2 Qc2 34. f4 Ne2
35. Rf1 Rd1 {[%csl Rc1,Ge2,Gh5] On the one hand a picture of domination, but
also of economy of force. Each of black's pieces works to the maximum.} 0-1

[Event "Linares 17th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2000.02.29"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D18"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "2000.02.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O
O-O 9. Nh4 Nbd7 10. Nxf5 exf5 11. Qc2 Nb6 12. Bb3 Qd7 13. a5 Nbd5 14. f3 Rfe8
15. Nxd5 Nxd5 16. e4 Nf6 17. Qc4 Bf8 18. exf5 Rad8 19. Kh1 Re7 20. Qc2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 17th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2000.03.01"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2851"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "Blatny,P"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "2000.02.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 8]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7.
O-O Be7 8. c4 Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 (10. a3 Nc6 11. cxd5 Qxd5 12. Nc3 Nxc3 13.
bxc3 Bf5 14. Bf4 Na5 15. Re1 (15. Bxc7 b6 16. c4 Nxc4 17. Qb3 Be6 18. Bxc4 Qxc4
19. Qxc4 Bxc4 20. Rfe1 Rfe8 21. Nd2 Be6 22. Ne4 Rec8 23. Rec1 Bd5 24. Nd6 Bxd6
{1/2-1/2 Lytchak,B-Simon,H/NRW-Liga II 9899 1999/EXT 2000}) 15... Bd6 16. Ne5
Rad8 17. a4 {1/2-1/2 Ivanchuk,V-Kramnik,V/Dortmund 1998/CBM 66}) 10... b6 $146
(10... Bg4 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Rb1 Rb8 14. Re1 Bf6 15. Bf4 Ne7 16. h3
Be6 17. c5 b6 18. cxb6 axb6 19. Bd3 h6 20. Qc2 $14 {Krieger,H-Reimer,E/Brocco
op 1990/EXT 97/0-1 (58)}) (10... Nf6 11. a3 Nc6 12. c5 Ne4 13. Qc2 Bg4 14. Be3
Nxc3 15. Qxc3 Bf6 16. h3 Bh5 17. b4 h6 18. b5 Ne7 19. g4 Bg6 20. h4 $36 {
Leyva,H-Charon,M/Havana op 1992/EXT 2000/1-0 (45)}) (10... Be6 11. Bf4 $14) 11.
a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. cxd5 Qxd5 14. Re1 Bb7 15. Bd3 Rae8 $1 16. Qc2 (16. c4
Qh5 17. d5 Bd6 18. dxc6 (18. Bb2 Rxe1+ 19. Qxe1 Ne7 $11) 18... Rxe1+ 19. Qxe1
Bxc6 {[%cal Rf8e8,Re8e1]} 20. Be3 Bxf3 21. gxf3 Qxh2+ (21... Re8 $5) 22. Kf1
Re8 23. Ke2 Bf4 $13) 16... h6 (16... Qh5 17. Rb1 Nxd4 $1 18. cxd4 (18. Nxd4 Bd6
$40) 18... Bxf3 19. gxf3 Bd6 $40) 17. Bh7+ (17. Rb1 Bf6 18. Bf4 Qd8 19. Qd2 {
/\Bh6} Rxe1+ 20. Rxe1 Re8 21. Rxe8+ Qxe8 22. Bxc7 Qe7 {[%csl Ra3,Rc7][%cal
Re7c7,Re7a3]} 23. Qe3 $16 Qxc7 $4 24. Qe8#) 17... Kh8 18. Be4 Qd8 $2 (18... Qh5
$142 19. Ne5 Bd6 20. Bf3 Qh4 21. Nxf7+ (21. g3 Qf6) 21... Kg8 22. Nxh6+ Kh8 23.
Nf7+ $11 Kg8 24. Rxe8 $4 Qxh2+ 25. Kf1 Qh1+ 26. Ke2 Rxe8+ $19) 19. Bb2 $2 (19.
Qa4 $1 a6 (19... Qa8 20. d5 Na5 21. Bxh6 $1 gxh6 (21... Bxd5 22. Bxd5 Qxd5 23.
Bxg7+ Kxg7 24. Qg4+ Kh7 25. Re5 $18) 22. Qd4+ Kg8 23. Bc2 $40) 20. Bxc6 b5 21.
Bxb5 axb5 22. Qxb5 Bxf3 23. gxf3 Bd6 24. Rxe8 Rxe8 25. Be3 Re6 26. Qh5 $16)
19... Bf6 20. c4 Na5 21. Bxb7 Nxb7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 17th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2000.03.03"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2000.02.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. g3 f5 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Bg2 Be6 14. c3 O-O
15. O-O Rb8 16. Nc2 a5 17. Qe2 Ne7 18. Rad1 f5 19. Nce3 Kh8 20. a3 Qd7 21. Nxe7
Qxe7 22. Nd5 Qf7 23. Rd2 e4 24. Rfd1 Be5 25. f4 exf3 26. Qxf3 Bxd5 27. Rxd5 Qg7
28. Rf1 f4 29. g4 Rg8 30. h3 h5 31. Qe4 Qf6 32. Bf3 Rg7 33. Rf2 Qh4 34. Rdd2
Rbg8 35. Rh2 Re7 36. Rde2 b4 37. axb4 axb4 38. Rhg2 bxc3 39. bxc3 Ra7 40. Ra2
Rag7 41. gxh5 Rxg2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 17th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2000.03.04"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2000.02.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 c6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 Bb4 8. e4
Bxe4 9. fxe4 Nxe4 10. Bd2 Qxd4 11. Nxe4 Qxe4+ 12. Qe2 Bxd2+ 13. Kxd2 Qd5+ 14.
Kc2 Na6 15. Nxc4 b5 ({Nach} 15... O-O-O {ist Kramniks Fortsetzung} 16. Qe3 Nc5
17. Be2 Qxg2 18. Rhg1 Qxh2 19. Rxg7 Rd3 20. Rh1 $16 {unangenehm für Schwarz.})
16. axb5 Nb4+ 17. Kc3 (17. Kb3 cxb5 18. Kxb4 bxc4 19. Qxc4 Rb8+ 20. Ka3 (20.
Ka4 Qd6 $5 $40) 20... Qa5+ 21. Qa4+ {1/2,Bareev,E-Khalifman,A/Ubeda/1997/})
17... cxb5 18. Rd1 (18. Nb6 Qc5+ 19. Kb3 Nc6 $1 (19... Rb8 $2 20. Qxb5+ Qc6 21.
Kxb4 Rxb6 22. Rc1 $1 Qd7 23. Rc7 $1) 20. Qxb5 Qe3+ 21. Kc2 (21. Bd3 $2 O-O $1
$17) 21... Qf2+ 22. Kc3 (22. Be2 $2 O-O) 22... Qd4+ {1/2,Shirov,A-Chalifman,A/
Ter Apel/1997/}) 18... Qc5 {Bisher wurde nur das im folgenden diskutierte
Damenopfer versucht; der Textzug wurde von einigen als Alternative
vorgeschlagen.} (18... bxc4 19. Rxd5 Nxd5+ 20. Kd2 {Dies scheint mir stärker
zu sein als der von Topalov gegen Anand gespielte Zug 20.Kc2; Weiß versucht,
seinen König sofort am Königsflügel in Sicherheit zu bringen. 'N!?' Stohl.} (
20. Kc2 {Kortschnoj} O-O 21. Qe4 Rfc8 22. h4 Rc5 23. Rh3 Rac8 24. Ra3 a5 25.
Kc1 h5 26. Qd4 {1/2-1/2 Topalov,V-Anand,V/Dos Hermanas 1997/CBM 59 [Huebner]
'~~' Stohl. Stohl: '1/2,Topalov,V-Anand,V/Dos Hermanas/1997/'}) 20... O-O 21.
Qe5 (21. Qxc4 Rab8 {genügt vielleicht auch, überläßt dem Nachziehenden aber
unnötig viel Gegenspiel.}) 21... Rac8 (21... Rfd8 $2 22. Bxc4 Nb6+ 23. Kc3 Rac8
24. b3) 22. Be2 Rfd8 (22... c3+ $5 23. bxc3 Nxc3 $14) 23. Rc1 Nb6+ (23... Nf4+
24. Ke3 Nxg2+ 25. Kf2 Nh4 26. Rxc4 $18 {Schwarz kann seinen a-Bauern nicht
halten.}) (23... c3+ 24. bxc3 Nxc3+ 25. Ke1 (25. Bd3 {Kortschnoj} Nd5 26. Rb1
$14) 25... Nd5 26. Rxc8 Rxc8 27. Bf3 Nf6 28. g4 {ist ebenfalls hoffnungslos
für Schwarz.}) 24. Ke1 Rd5 25. Qe3 Rb5 26. Rc2 g6 (26... h5 $5 {Kortschnoj})
27. g4 Rcc5 28. Rd2 Nd5 29. Qe5 Rb3 30. h4 h6 31. Kf2 a5 32. Bf3 Rd3 33. Re2
Rb3 34. Qd6 Nb4 35. Be4 Nd3+ 36. Kf1 Re5 37. Qc7 Rc5 38. Qd8+ Kg7 39. Qd4+ e5 (
39... Kg8 {Kortschnoj} 40. Bxg6 $1 fxg6 41. Rxe6 $18) 40. Qd6 Rbb5 41. Bxd3 {
1-0 Salov,V-Illescas Cordoba,M/Dos Hermanas 1997/CBM 59/[Huebner,R] (41)} (41.
Bxd3 {Kortschnoj} cxd3 42. Rf2 d2 43. Qf6+ $18)) 19. Qe5 Nd5+ 20. Rxd5 b4+ ({
Die Fortsetzung} 20... Qxd5 21. Nd6+ Kf8 22. Qxd5 exd5 23. Bxb5 $16 {ist nicht
angenehmer für Schwarz.}) 21. Kb3 Qxd5 22. Be2 O-O 23. Qxd5 exd5 24. Na5 Rfe8
25. Bf3 Rac8 26. Rd1 {Ich zitiere aus "Schach" 4/2000, S.12: "Das vorliegende
Endspiel ist einer konkreten Analyse nicht leicht zugänglich. Kramnik meint,
daß Weiß etwas besser steht, Schwarz sich aber bei genauem Spiel behaupten
sollte. Wo Shirov fehlgegriffen habe, ließe sich erst nach einer gründlichen
Analyse verläßlich sagen." Ich beurteile die Aussichten des Schwarzen weniger
optimistisch und möchte mich nicht darauf einlassen, diese Stellung als
Nachziehender zu verteidigen.} Re3+ 27. Ka4 b3 28. Rxd5 g6 29. Rd7 Rc2 30. Ka3
Kg7 31. Rxa7 h5 32. h3 h4 33. Rb7 Rc5 34. Kb4 Rf5 35. Rc7 g5 36. Nxb3 Rf4+ 37.
Rc4 Rxc4+ 38. Kxc4 f5 39. Nd4 Kf6 40. b4 Re1 41. b5 Ke5 42. Nc6+ Kd6 43. b6
Rc1+ 44. Kb5 g4 45. b7 Rb1+ 46. Nb4 Kc7 47. hxg4 fxg4 48. Be4 1-0

[Event "Linares 17th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2000.03.05"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Khalifman, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2656"]
[Annotator "Donev,I"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2000.02.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. d4 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Be2
Bb7 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. O-O c5 12. dxc5 Bxc3 13. bxc3 bxc5 14. Rb1
Qc7 15. Ne5 (15. Qb3 Bc6 16. Qa3 Nd7 17. Rb3 Rab8 18. Rfb1 $14) 15... Nd7 $146
(15... Re8 $142 $5 16. Nd3 Nd7 17. Qa4 Re4 18. Qa3 Bc6 19. Nf4 Ra4 20. Qb3 Rb8
21. Qc2 {1/2-1/2 Timman,J-Vaganian,R/Riga 1995/CBM 47 (21)}) 16. Nxd7 Qxd7 17.
Qb3 Bc6 18. Qa3 {[%cal Ya3c5,Ya3a7]} Qe7 19. Bf3 $1 $14 {Der Springerabtausch(
Nf3-Ne5-Nd7) war für den Anziehenden günstiger, weil im Endspiel die Schwäche
der c5+d5 Bauern spürbarer wird und das Feld f3 wurde für den weißen Läufer
geräumt. Der Plan des Anziehenden ist leicht zu erkennen. Alle Kräfte gegen
des Bauer d5 zu konzentrieren und im günstigen Moment c3-c4 durchzuführen.}
Rfd8 20. Rfd1 Rac8 21. h3 Kf8 22. Rd2 {Weiß droht Rbd1 nebst c3-c4!} d4 $1 {
[%mdl 4356] Statt sich passiv zu verteidigen, vertraut Khalifman auf seine
Endspieltechnik. Er opfert einen Bauern, aber er bekommt aktives Gegenspiel
und im Turmendspiel gute Remismöglichkeiten.} 23. Bxc6 Rxc6 24. cxd4 cxd4 25.
Qxe7+ Kxe7 26. Rb7+ Kf8 27. exd4 Rc4 28. Re2 (28. d5 Rc5 29. d6 Rc6 30. d7 a6
$1 $11 {nebst Ke7 fällt der weiße Freibauer bald.}) 28... Rcxd4 29. Rxa7 Rd1+
30. Kh2 R1d2 31. Rxd2 Rxd2 32. Kg3 g5 33. Kf3 Kg7 34. Ke3 Rb2 35. g4 Kg6 36.
Ra6+ f6 37. f4 gxf4+ 38. Kxf4 h5 {Je mehr Bauern abgetauscht sind, um so
leichter wird die schwarze Aufgabe, das Remis zu erreichen.} 39. a3 hxg4 40.
hxg4 {Damit steht eine theoretische Remisstellung auf dem Brett.} Rf2+ 41. Ke3
Ra2 42. Ra5 Ra1 43. a4 Re1+ 44. Kf3 Rf1+ 45. Kg3 Rg1+ 46. Kh3 Rh1+ 47. Kg2 Ra1
48. Kf2 Ra3 49. Kg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 17th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2000.03.07"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "Blatny,P"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2000.02.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. cxd5 Nxd3 10. Qxd3 Qxd5 11. Re1 Bf5 12. Ne5 g6 13. f3 $13 (13. Qf3 h5 (
13... Qxd4 14. Nc3 Qxe5 15. Bf4 Qa5 16. b4 Qa3 17. Nd5 Qxf3 18. gxf3 Bd8 19.
fxe4 Be6 20. Nxc7+ Bxc7 21. Bxc7 f6 22. a3 Rc8 23. Rac1 Kf7 {1/2-1/2 Beliavsky,
A-Smyslov,V/Reggio Emilia8687 1986/CBM 04}) 14. Bf4 O-O-O 15. Nc3 Nxc3 16. Qxc3
Bd6 17. Bg5 Rde8 18. Bf6 Rhg8 19. Nc4 Bf4 20. Be5 Bxe5 21. dxe5 Kb8 22. Rac1
Rc8 $14 {Grosar,A-Puljek Salai,Z/Ljubljana op 1992/TD/1-0 (45)}) (13. g4 Bh4
14. Re2 Bxf2+ 15. Rxf2 Nxf2 16. Qe3 Bxb1 17. Nxg6+ Be4 18. Nxh8 Nxg4 19. Qc3
Qd6 20. Qd2 f5 21. h3 Qg3+ {0-1 Rogulj,B-Forintos,G/AUT-chT2S 9697 1997/EXT 99}
) 13... Nf6 14. Qe3 O-O-O $1 (14... Qd6 $5) 15. Nc3 Qxd4 16. Qxd4 Rxd4 17. Be3
Rb4 18. b3 Be6 19. Bf2 $1 {[%csl Gb4,Ge7][%cal Ge5f7,Ge5d3,Gd3b4]} Bd6 $1 20.
Nd3 Rd8 21. Nxb4 (21. Red1 Bxb3 22. axb3 Rxb3 23. Ne2 Rxd3 24. Rxd3 Bxh2+ 25.
Kxh2 Rxd3 26. Rxa7 Rd2 27. Bh4 Nd5 $15) 21... Bxb4 22. Rec1 (22. Rac1 Rd3 23.
Re3) 22... Bxc3 23. Rxc3 Nd5 24. Rd3 b6 25. Rad1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 17th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2000.03.08"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D23"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2851"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2000.02.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Ftacnik} Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. g3 d5 4. d4 $5 {Although this move
objectively doesn't promise White that much it's a relatively fresh new idea.
Previously Kramnik has played this position with the Ns on c3 and c6 many
times.} ({White is not interested in playing against Maroczy-like structure
after e.g.} 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. Nc3 Nc7 7. d3 e5 8. O-O Be7 9. Nd2 Bd7
10. Nc4 O-O 11. Bxc6 Bxc6 12. Nxe5 Be8 13. Qb3 Bf6 14. Ng4 Bd4 15. e3 Bxc3 16.
Qxc3 b6 17. f3 Bb5 18. Nf2 Qd7 19. e4 Ne6 20. Be3 a5 21. Rad1 Rad8 22. Rd2 Qc6
23. Rc1 Qb7 $44 {Piket,J-Kasparov,G/Kasparov Chess GP/2000/}) 4... dxc4 (4...
cxd4 5. Bg2 (5. Nxd4 $6 e5 6. Nf3 d4 7. Bg2 Nc6 {gives Black an extra tempo
compared to the quite playable lines E01, where he gets his pawn to e5 in 2
moves.}) (5. cxd5 Qxd5 6. Qxd4 Nc6 $11 {is innocuous.}) 5... dxc4 (5... Qa5+ 6.
Nbd2 Nc6 7. O-O e5 $2 8. Nb3 Qd8 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 $1 Ndb4 11. Nxc6 Nxc6
12. Bxc6+ bxc6 13. Qxd4 Qxd4 14. Nxd4 c5 15. Nc6 Kd7 16. Ne5+ Ke6 17. Nd3 Bd6
18. Be3 c4 19. Nc5+ Bxc5 20. Bxc5 Rd8 21. Bb4 Bb7 22. Bc3 f6 23. Rfd1 Bc6 24.
Ba5 $16 {Topalov,V-Shirov,A/Amber rapid/1999/}) (5... Nc6 6. Nxd4 Qb6 7. Nxc6
bxc6 8. O-O e6 9. Nc3 Bb4 10. Be3 Qa5 11. Bd4 O-O 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. cxd5 cxd5
14. e4 Bxc3 15. bxc3 dxe4 16. Qg4+ Kh8 17. Bxe4 Rb8 18. c4 f5 19. Qf4 Ba6 20.
Bf3 Qc5 21. Rfd1 Rb2 22. Rd2 $14 {׻,Loeffler,S-Podlesnik,B/Bled op/2000/}) 6.
Nxd4 (6. Qa4+ $6 Nc6 7. O-O (7. Nxd4 Qxd4 8. Bxc6+ Bd7 9. Bxd7+ Qxd7 10. Qxc4
Rc8 $17) 7... Bd7 (7... Nd7 $5 8. Qxc4 Nb6 9. Qb5 a6 10. Qh5 g6 11. Qh4 Bg7 12.
Bh6 O-O 13. Bxg7 Kxg7 14. Ng5 h6 15. Ne4 f5 16. Nc5 Qd6 17. Rc1 e5 18. Nd2 e4
19. b4 Nd5 20. Nc4 Qc7 21. f4 Ncxb4 22. a3 Nc6 23. Nb3 Nc3 24. Bf1 b5 25. Ncd2
Qb6 26. Kh1 Be6 {0-1,Ionescu,M-Vlad,D/Drobeta/1993/}) 8. Qxc4 e5 9. Ng5 Qe7 10.
b3 Na5 11. Qd3 Bc6 12. Ba3 Qd7 13. Bxf8 Rxf8 14. Bxc6 Nxc6 15. Nxh7 Nxh7 16.
Qxh7 O-O-O 17. Nd2 Rh8 18. Qe4 f5 19. Qg2 e4 20. Rfc1 Kb8 $17 {[%csl Gd4,Ge4,
Gf5] ->[+],Horvath,Ju-Karsa,L/HUN-chT/1995/}) 6... e5 7. Nb5 $44) (4... e6 {
leads to Tarrasch-like positions, Kasparov stopped playing this 15 years ago.})
5. Qa4+ Bd7 6. Qxc4 Bc6 $146 {A logical novelty, which however cost kasparov a
lot of time.} (6... cxd4 7. Nxd4 Nc6 8. Bg2 Rc8 9. O-O a6 10. Nc3 e6 11. Nxc6
Bxc6 12. Rd1 Qa5 13. Bf4 Qb4 14. Rd4 Qxc4 15. Rxc4 Be7 16. Bxc6+ Rxc6 17. Rxc6
bxc6 18. Rc1 Kd7 19. e4 c5 20. f3 Kc6 21. Kf1 Nd7 22. Ke2 $14 {[%csl Ra6,Rc5]
ק_|_,Liepnieks,A-Brasket,C/Forth Worth/1951/}) 7. dxc5 ({Risky is} 7. Qxc5 Na6
(7... e6 8. Qc2 Bxf3 9. exf3 Nc6 10. Bb5 Rc8 $44) 8. Qc2 Nb4 9. Qb3 e6 $32 {/\}
10. a3 Rc8 $1 $40) 7... Bd5 (7... Qd5 $5 8. Qxd5 Nxd5 9. Bd2 e6 10. Bg2 Bxc5
$132 {/\} 11. Ne5 Nb4 12. Nxc6 N8xc6 13. Na3 Rd8 $36 {[%cal Gd8d1,Rc5f2,Yc6d4]
<->d,/\Bf2,Nd4} 14. Rc1) 8. Qa4+ Bc6 9. Qc4 Bd5 10. Qc2 e6 (10... Be4 11. Qc3
$5 e6 (11... Nc6 12. Nbd2 $14) 12. Bg5 Nbd7 13. b4 $14) 11. Bg2 Be4 12. Qc4 Bd5
13. Qh4 {Ftacnik: 'Kramnik is one of the few people brave enough to play for
win against Kasparov in the moment, when move repetition was on hand. White
has probably lost too much time to have real aspiration for opening advantage.'
} (13. Qc3 Ne4 $11) 13... Bxc5 14. Nc3 Bc6 15. O-O Be7 $6 {This move loses
time and causes Black problems.} (15... Nbd7 $142 16. Rd1 (16. b4 Be7 17. b5 $4
Bxf3 18. Bxf3 Nd5 $19) 16... Qb6 17. e3 Be7 $11) 16. Rd1 Qa5 (16... Nbd7 $143
17. Ne5 $1 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Qc7 (18... Nd5 19. Qa4 N5b6 20. Qg4 $40) (18... O-O $2
19. Nxd7 Nxd7 20. Qa4 $18) 19. Nxd7 Nxd7 20. Qa4 $32 {|^}) 17. Bd2 Nbd7 18. g4
$5 {A very demanding move, White uses his lead in development to create
dangerous complications.} (18. Rac1 $14 {promises White some advantage, but
this didn't seem enough to Kramnik.}) (18. Rab1 $5 {/\b4-b5|^ Kramnik}) (18.
Ne4 $6 Qb6 {[%csl Rh4] ףh4 leads nowhere}) 18... h6 19. Qg3 Qa6 20. h4 Qc4 21.
Bf4 Qb4 ({Perhaps less risky was} 21... O-O $5 22. Rac1 Qb4 23. Rd2 Rfd8 (23...
e5 24. Nxe5 Nxe5 25. Bxe5 Qxg4 26. Bxf6 Qxg3 27. fxg3 Bxf6 28. Bxc6 bxc6 29.
Ne4 $16)) (21... g5 22. hxg5 hxg5 23. Be5 (23. Nxg5 Bxg2 24. Kxg2 e5 25. Bxe5
Nxe5 26. Qxe5 Qxg4+ 27. Qg3 Rg8 28. f4 Qxg3+ 29. Kxg3 Nh5+ 30. Kf3 Nxf4 $11)
23... Bxf3 24. Bxf3 Nxe5 25. Qxe5 Qc5 26. Qxc5 Bxc5 27. Na4 $16) 22. a3 $1 Qxb2
23. Nd4 {[%cal Rd1b1] /\Rdb1} g5 $1 {[%mdl 320] Black's Q is in grave danger,
but Kasparov defends resourcefully and creates great tactical complications.} (
23... Bxg2 24. Rdb1 $1 (24. Na4 Qxa1 25. Rxa1 Bd5 26. Nb5 O-O 27. Nac3 Nc5 28.
f3 $14) 24... Ne4 25. Rxb2 Nxg3 26. Kxg2 Bf6 27. Rd1 e5 28. Ndb5 $5 (28. Bxg3
exd4 29. Nd5 $16) 28... exf4 29. Nc7+ Kd8 30. Nxa8 $18) 24. Nxc6 (24. Rdb1 $143
gxf4 25. Qh3 (25. Qd3 $2 Ne5) 25... Bxg2 26. Kxg2 Qd2 27. Rd1 Qb2 28. Na4 Qxa1
29. Rxa1 Rg8 $36) (24. hxg5 {Ftacnik} hxg5 25. Bxg5 Bxg2 26. Kxg2 Qb6 $13)
24... gxf4 (24... bxc6 25. hxg5 hxg5 26. Bxg5 $16) 25. Qd3 bxc6 $8 (25... Nc5
$2 26. Qd4 Nb3 27. Qe5 Nxa1 28. Nxe7 $18 {/\} Kxe7 29. Nd5+) 26. Bxc6 $6 (26.
Rdb1 $142 $1 Ne5 (26... Qxa1 27. Rxa1 Nxg4 28. Bxc6 Rd8 29. Rb1 $1 Bxh4 30. Rb7
Nge5 31. Qb5 $40) 27. Qd4 (27. Bxc6+ $2 Kf8 28. Qh3 Qxa1 29. Rxa1 Nxc6 $17)
27... Qc2 28. Qxe5 O-O 29. g5 Ng4 (29... Nd7 $145 $1 {(Dokhoian)}) 30. Qxf4
Qxc3 31. Qxg4 $14 {[%csl Rg8] עg8}) 26... O-O 27. Bxa8 Ne5 $1 (27... Rxa8 $2
28. Rdb1 Ne5 29. Rxb2 Nxd3 30. Rb7 $1 Kf8 (30... Bc5 $145 $1 {(Dokhoian)} 31.
exd3 Nxg4 32. Ne4 Bb6 $44) 31. exd3 Nxg4 32. Kg2 $16) 28. Qd4 Rxa8 29. Qxe5 Rc8
30. Rac1 Nd5 {This leads to a draw practically by force.} ({An interesting
alternative was} 30... Rc5 $5 31. Qd4 (31. Qxf4 Rxc3 32. Rxc3 Qxc3 33. Rc1 Qh3
34. Rc8+ Kg7 35. g5 Qg4+ $15) 31... Nxg4 (31... e5 $2 32. Qb4 $18) 32. Qxf4
Bxh4 $1 $36) 31. Nxd5 (31. Rb1 Qxc3 32. Rxd5 Qh3 $15) 31... Qxe5 32. Nxe7+ Kg7
(32... Kh7 33. Nxc8 Qxe2 34. g5 Qg4+ 35. Kf1 f3 $44) 33. Rxc8 Qxe2 34. Rg8+ Kf6
35. Rd7 Qe1+ 36. Kg2 Qe4+ 37. Kh2 Qc2 $1 $11 38. Kg2 (38. g5+ hxg5 39. hxg5+
Ke5 $11) 38... Qe4+ 39. Kh2 Qc2 40. g5+ hxg5 41. Rxg5 {/\Ng8#} Qxf2+ (41...
Qxf2+ 42. Kh3 Qf3+ $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 17th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2000.03.09"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2000.02.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {King} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5
a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. Bd3 Ne7 12. Nxe7 Qxe7 13. O-O O-O 14.
c4 (14. c3 {is the alternative. The game move begins a direct attack on
Black's queenside.}) 14... f5 15. Qf3 {This move exerts a big pressure on the
Black's position. The main threat is 16.exf5.} Re8 {'!?' King. This is
probably the only playable alternative to the main 15. ... bxc4.} (15... bxc4
16. Nxc4 d5 17. exd5 e4 18. Qe3 Bb7 19. d6 $1 (19. Rfd1 Bxd5 20. Nb6 Rad8 21.
Nxd5 Rxd5 22. Bxa6 {leads only to a draw.}) 19... Qf6 20. Bc2 f4 21. Qh3 Rac8
22. Bb3 (22. b3 {In the practice Black had good results after it, but the
evaluation of this wild position remains very unclear.}) 22... Rc5 23. Rad1 Rg5
24. d7 $2 (24. Rd2 $1 {[%cal Rd2g2] defending on g2!} Rd8 $1 $13 {and only
future practice can help to understand this extremely complicated position.} (
24... Bd5 $2 25. Nb6 Bxb3 26. Nd7 Qe6 27. Qxe6 Bxe6 28. Nxf8 Bxf8 29. d7 $18) (
24... Qg6 25. d7 $16)) 24... e3 $1 $132 {[%csl Rg2] 0-1 Moraru,M-Rogozenko,D/
Bucharest Fest EM 1998/ (42)}) 16. Rfe1 b4 (16... f4 17. Qh5 (17. cxb5 Qg5 18.
h3 (18. Qe2 Re6 $1 19. bxa6 Rg6 20. g3 h5 $44 {Ochoa de Echaguen,F}) 18... d5
$1 19. exd5 f5 $44 {Pons,B-Vallejo/Menorca 1993/}) 17... b4 18. Nc2 Rb8 19. b3
Rb6 20. h3 Kh8 21. a3 bxa3 22. Rxa3 Rg8 23. Kf1 Bf8 24. b4 Rg5 25. Qf3 d5 26.
exd5 Rh6 27. c5 Rxg2 28. Kxg2 Qg5+ 29. Kh2 Bxh3 30. Qxh3 Rxh3+ 31. Kxh3 Qh5+
32. Kg2 f3+ 33. Kg3 Bh6 34. Re4 f5 35. Rh4 Qg5+ 36. Kxf3 Qxh4 37. Ke2 Qg4+ 38.
Ke1 Qf4 39. d6 Qc1+ 40. Ke2 e4 {0-1 Egger,J-Sosa Macho,J/Rancagua 1993/Juniors
(40)}) 17. Nc2 f4 {King: 'Before forcing the knight back to c2, Kramnik
cleverly threw in ...Re8 to drag White's rook to e1. Why? Because the knight
might want to re-route via e1 in some positions, and now it takes a move
longer.'} 18. Be2 ({I wonder why White decided to decline the pawn sac} 18.
Nxb4 {If} Qb7 (18... Qg5 {(King) threatening ...Bg4} 19. h3 (19. Qe2 Re6 20.
Kh1 Rh6 $40) 19... h5 ({If that fails Black can always play more modestly by
recovering the pawn:} 19... Rb8) 20. Nd5 Bg4 21. hxg4 hxg4 22. Qe2 Re6 $40) 19.
Nd5 $16 (19. Nd5 Qxb2 20. Nc7)) 18... Rb8 19. b3 Kh8 20. Qh5 {King: 'Black
could easily slip into a passive position if he isn't careful. The next move
is brilliant:'} d5 {[%cal Rb8b6,Rb6h6,Re8g8,Gh6h2,Gg8g2] This positional pawn
sacrifice cleans the 3rd rank for the Rook. '!' King.} 21. cxd5 Rb6 {King:
'The third rank has been cleared for the rook to swing across to attack the
king. The pawn sacrifice has transformed Black's position.'} 22. Rad1 a5 (22...
Rh6 23. d6 $5 (23. d6 $1 {King} Rxd6 24. Rxd6 Qxd6 25. Rd1 $16 {Compare this
with the game - here the b-pawn is unprotected.})) 23. d6 {White decides to
return the extra pawn, opening the d-file and exchanging one Rook pair.
Otherwise Black has an easy play on h- and g-files, while despite his extra
pawn is more difficult for White to create counterplay. King: 'Shirov takes no
chances and simplifies to an equal ending.'} Rxd6 24. Rxd6 Qxd6 25. Rd1 (25.
Qxf7 Rf8 (25... Rd8 26. Qa7 Qd2 27. Qxa5 {[%cal Ra5d8]}) 26. Qa7 (26. Qd5 Qb6 {
[%cal Rc8b7]} 27. Qb5 $140 Qxb5 28. Bxb5 Rd8 $44) (26. Qc4 {King} Be6 27. Qd3
Qxd3 28. Bxd3 Rc8 $44 {White's knight is still very poorly placed - it lacks
solid protection.}) 26... Qd2 $44) 25... Qg6 26. Qxg6 hxg6 27. Bc4 Be6 28. Bxe6
Rxe6 29. Rd5 Rc6 $132 30. Ne1 Rc1 31. Kf1 f5 32. f3 Bf6 $1 33. Kf2 (33. Rxa5 $4
Bh4 $19) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 17th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2000.03.10"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A43"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Alterman,B"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2000.02.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 d6 6. Bb5+ Bd7 7. a4 O-O 8. O-O
Bxb5 $5 {Most common here} (8... e6 9. Bxd7 Qxd7 10. dxe6 fxe6 11. e5 dxe5 12.
Nxe5 Qxd1 13. Rxd1 Nd5 14. Nxd5 Bxe5 15. Ne3 Nc6 16. c3 Rad8 17. Re1 Na5 18.
Ng4 Bf4 19. Bxf4 Rxf4 20. f3 $14 {Giaccio,A-Malbran,G/Buenos Aires 1999/EXT
2000/1/2-1/2 (100)}) 9. axb5 Nbd7 10. Qe2 Ne8 11. Bf4 $146 (11. Nd2 Nc7 12. Nc4
a6 13. bxa6 Rxa6 14. Bg5 Nb6 15. Rxa6 Nxa6 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Nxb6 Re8 18. Re1
Nc7 19. g3 $16 {Bellon Lopez,J-Borgo,G/Cutro 1997/EXT 2000/1/2-1/2 (41)}) 11...
Nc7 {Black prepared a7-a6 to open position in the Queenside and to create a
countreplay.} 12. Rfd1 a6 13. bxa6 Nxa6 14. e5 {[%cal Ge5d6] Breakthrough in
the centre promise for white some initiative.} dxe5 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. Bxe5 Bxe5
17. Qxe5 Qd6 $1 {[%mdl 256]} 18. Qg5 {Most typical looks} (18. Qxd6 exd6 19.
Nb5 Rfd8 20. c3 $14 {[%csl Ra6][%mdl 48] With some pressure in the centre.})
18... Nc7 19. Ne4 Rxa1 20. Rxa1 f6 21. Nxd6 fxg5 22. Nxb7 {Looks that White
deserve an advantage but next strong black's moves secure a draw.} Rb8 23. Na5
$6 {More chances was after} (23. Nxc5 Rxb2 24. Rc1 Nxd5 25. Nd3 Ra2 26. c4 Nc7
$14 {[%csl Ga2][%cal Gg8f7,Gf7f6]} (26... Rd2 27. Ne1 $1 Nf4 28. Kf1 {[%cal
Gc4c8]}) (26... Nf4 27. Nxf4 gxf4 28. c5 Kf7 29. c6 Ra8 30. Kf1 Ke6 31. Ke2 {
[%cal Ge2f3]})) 23... Rxb2 24. c4 Rc2 25. h3 Ne8 26. Nc6 (26. Nc6 Kf8 27. Ne5
Nd6 28. Ra8+ Kg7 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Internet Chess Club g/3'"]
[Site "ICC INT"]
[Date "2000.03.14"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C02"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2528"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2000.03.??"]
[EventType "game (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Nh6 6. Bd3 cxd4 7. cxd4 Nf5 8. Bxf5
exf5 9. Nc3 Be6 10. Ne2 Be7 11. Nf4 Qa5+ 12. Bd2 Qa6 13. Qe2 Qxe2+ 14. Kxe2 Kd7
15. h4 Rac8 16. Rac1 g6 17. Kd3 h6 18. a3 Rcg8 19. b4 a6 20. Rb1 Na7 21. a4 Rc8
22. Rhc1 Rc4 23. Nxe6 Rxc1 24. Nf8+ Rxf8 25. Rxc1 Nc6 26. Rb1 b5 27. axb5 axb5
28. Bxh6 Rh8 29. Bg5 Bxb4 30. Ra1 Ba5 31. Bf6 Rc8 32. Ke2 Bc3 33. Rd1 b4 34.
Kd3 Rb8 35. Rb1 Ra8 36. Bg5 Ra3 37. Ke2 Ra2+ 38. Ke3 Ra3 39. Ke2 Bxd4 40. Bd2
Bc3 41. Bc1 Ra2+ 42. Ke3 d4+ 43. Kf4 Rxf2 44. Kg3 Rf1 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D18"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2633"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Nh4 e6 7. Nxf5 exf5 8. e3
Bb4 9. Bxc4 O-O 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Qc2 (11. h3 a5 (11... g6 $5 12. Qf3 h5 (12...
Qa5 13. Ne2 Rae8 14. b3 Ne4 15. Ng3 Nd6 $15 {Polugaevskij-Ivancuk, Biel 1989,
Inf. 48/(505)})) 12. Qf3 Nb6 13. Bb3 g6 14. g4 fxg4 15. hxg4 h5 16. gxh5 Nxh5
$13 {Vaganjan-Beljavskij, Reggio Emilia 1987/88, Inf. 45/441}) (11. f3 Qa5 (
11... Nb6 12. Bb3 Qd7 13. a5 (13. Qd3 Rad8 14. a5 Nc8 15. Bc2 g6 (15... Nd6 16.
Ra4 Bxc3 17. bxc3 $16 {Aseev-Solozenkin, UdSSR 1988, Inf. 45/(442)}) (15... Ne7
$5 {Inf. 45/(442)}) 16. Ra4 c5 17. Na2 b5 18. axb6 Nxb6 19. Ra6 $14 {Aseev,
Inf. 42/(442)}) 13... Nbd5 14. Qd3 Be7 15. e4 Nb4 16. Qc4 Rad8 17. Be3 $16 {
Jusupov-Ehlvest, Saint John (cm/1) 1988, Inf. 45/442}) (11... Qe7 12. Qc2 g6
13. e4 fxe4 (13... c5 14. Bg5 Bxc3 15. Qxc3 Qd6 16. dxc5 Qxc5+ 17. Be3 Qc6 18.
exf5 Rac8 19. Rfc1 Nb6 20. Bb3 Qxc3 21. Rxc3 Rxc3 22. bxc3 gxf5 23. Bd4 Nh5 24.
Re1 $16 {Aseev-Chalifman, UdSSR 1988, Inf. 45/(442)}) 14. fxe4 Bxc3 15. bxc3
Qxe4 16. Qb3 $44 {Aseev, Inf. 45/(442)}) 12. Qc2 (12. Qb3 Qb6 13. Kh1 Rad8 (
13... c5 $5 14. Na2 Ba5 15. Qc2 Rac8 $13 {Aseev, Inf. 46/502}) 14. Ne2 c5 15.
Ng3 f4 16. Nf5 cxd4 17. a5 Bxa5 18. exd4 $13 {Aseev-Savcenko, UdSSR 1988, Inf.
46/502}) 12... c5 (12... Rad8 13. Na2 Bd6 14. Bd2 Qc7 15. Qxf5 Bxh2+ 16. Kh1
Bd6 17. Nc3 g6 18. Qh3 $14 {Lputjan-Velikov, Saint John (open I) 1988, Inf. 45/
443}) 13. Na2 cxd4 14. Nxb4 Qxb4 15. exd4 Nb6 $10 {Jusupov-Chandler, Linares
1988, Inf. 45/444}) 11... g6 12. f3 (12. Rd1 Qe7 (12... Qc7 13. Be2 a5 14. Bf3
Nb6 15. g3 Qe7 16. Bd2 Rfd8 17. Rac1 Qe6 18. Be1 $10 {Mihal'cisin-Bareev, Lvov
1987, Inf. 45/(441)}) 13. Be2 Nb6 $6 {13...a5!?} 14. a5 Nbd5 15. a6 b5 16. Na2
$13 {Mihal'cisin-Beljavskij, UdSSR 1987, Inf. 45/(441)}) 12... Qb6 {Schwarz
drückt auf den Punkt d4, um e3-e4 zu erschweren. Vielleicht kommt in dieser
Stellung auch 12...Sb6 13.Lb3 a5 in Betracht.} 13. Kh1 Rae8 (13... c5 $5) 14.
Qf2 Re7 (14... c5 15. Qh4 Rc8 16. Ba2 Rfd8 17. Bd2 Nf8 18. a5 Qa6 19. Rfd1 c4
20. Be1 Re8 21. e4 Bxc3 22. Bxc3 fxe4 23. d5 N8d7 24. Rd4 {Natürlich ist diese
Stellung völlig unklar. 1/2-1/2 Jussupow,A-Kramnik,V/Riga 1995/CBM 47/(24).})
15. e4 $1 fxe4 ({Auch die Fortsetzung} 15... Bxc3 16. bxc3 fxe4 17. Bh6 {
überläßt dem Weißen das bessere Spiel.}) 16. Nxe4 $6 ({Unklar sind die
Konsequenzen von} 16. fxe4 Bxc3 17. bxc3 Nxe4 18. Qh4 Rfe8 ({Die Folge} 18...
Qd8 19. Ba3 c5 20. Rae1 {gibt dem Weißen eine gefährliche Initiative in die
Hand.}) 19. Ba3 c5 20. Rxf7 Rxf7 21. Bxf7+ Kxf7 22. Qxh7+ Ke6 23. Qxg6+ Ndf6
24. Rf1 (24. Re1 Kd7) 24... Qa6) 16... Nd5 17. Bg5 f6 18. Bh6 Rfe8 19. a5 Bxa5
20. Nd6 Rb8 21. Bf4 Bb4 $2 ({Am sichersten sieht die Fortsetzung} 21... Ra8 22.
Nxb7 Qxb7 23. Rxa5 N7b6 $11 {mit gleichem Spiel aus.}) (21... Kh8 22. Bxd5 cxd5
23. Rfc1 Qd8 24. Nb5 Ra8 25. Bd6 Rf7 (25... Rg7 26. Bc7 Bxc7 27. Nxc7 {kostet
die Qualität, denn} Nc5 28. Nxa8 Nb3 29. Rxa7 Nxc1 30. Qc2 {ist unzuträglich
für Schwarz.}) 26. b4 Bb6 27. Qa2 Nf8 {führt ebenfalls zu befriedigendem Spiel
für Schwarz.}) 22. Nf5 Re6 $6 ({Schwarz konnte besseren Widerstand leisten.
Nach} 22... gxf5 23. Bxb8 Nxb8 24. Qg3+ Kf7 25. Qxb8 Qxd4 26. Bxd5+ cxd5 27.
Rxa7 Bd6 28. Qxd6 Qxa7 29. Qxd5+ Kg7 30. Qxf5 Qf2 31. Qg4+ Kh8 32. Qc8+ Kg7 33.
Qc1 $16 {ist die technische Aufgabe des Weißen noch nicht einfach; am besten
war aber wohl}) (22... Rbe8 23. Nxe7+ Rxe7 {usw.}) 23. Bxb8 Nxb8 24. Ne3 Rd6
25. Qg3 Nd7 26. Bb3 $18 Qxd4 27. Bxd5+ cxd5 28. Nf5 Qb6 29. Nxd6 Bxd6 30. Qe1
1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.17"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A31"]
[WhiteElo "2692"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 d6 7. Bg2 Bd7 8. O-O
Bg7 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. e4 Qa5 11. Bd2 O-O 12. Nd5 Qd8 13. Ne3 h5 14. Bc3 Qc8 15.
Re1 Rb8 16. e5 dxe5 17. Bxe5 Rb7 18. Qd4 Bh3 19. Bh1 Rd8 20. Qc5 Rb6 21. Qxe7
Re8 22. Qxa7 Rb7 23. Qd4 Qe6 24. Nc2 Rbe7 25. Qc3 Qf5 26. Nd4 Qxe5 27. Rxe5
Rxe5 28. Bxc6 Rd8 29. Nf3 Rc5 30. Bb7 Rb8 31. Qa3 Nd7 32. Qa6 Rf5 33. Be4 Rf6
34. Qa7 Bf8 35. Qd4 Bc5 36. Qd2 Bg4 37. Rf1 Rd6 38. Qc3 Nf6 39. Ng5 Bd4 40. Qa3
Nxe4 41. Nxe4 Re6 42. Ng5 Rf6 43. Qd3 Bxb2 44. Rb1 Bf5 45. Ne4 Rfb6 46. a4 Rb4
47. a5 Ra4 48. Rxb2 Ra1+ 49. Kg2 Bxe4+ 50. Qxe4 Rxb2 51. Qe8+ Kh7 52. Qxf7+ Kh6
53. Qf8+ Kh7 54. Qf7+ Kh6 55. c5 Rb5 56. Qf8+ Kh7 57. Qf7+ Kh6 58. Qf6 Raxa5
59. Qh8+ Kg5 60. f4+ 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2709"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 (1. d4 d6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 Nd7 5. Nf3 e5 6. Be2 Ne7 7. O-O O-O
8. Re1 Nc6 9. Bg5 f6 10. Be3 Kh8 11. d5 Ne7 12. b4 f5 13. Ng5 Nf6 14. f3 h6 15.
Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6 Qc8 17. Nd5 Neg8 18. exf5 gxf5 19. Qd3 Ne8 20. c5 Qxe6 21.
cxd6 cxd6 22. Qb3 Ngf6 23. Rad1 $44 {1-0 Gokhale,J-Myo,Z/Kuala Lumpur 1993/EXT
98 (46)}) 1... Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6
8. d5 Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. f3 Kh8 13. Be3 Ne8 $146 (13...
Neg8 14. c5 Bh6 15. exf5 Bxf5 (15... gxf5 16. f4 Ng4 17. Bxg4 fxg4 18. Nce4 $16
{1-0 Piket,J-Polgar,J/Aruba (m/3) 1995/ (27)}) 16. Qd2 a5 17. a3 Nh5 18. g3 Qe7
19. cxd6 cxd6 20. bxa5 Rxa5 21. Nb5 Raa8 22. Rac1 Rac8 23. Rxc8 Rxc8 24. Nxd6
Bxg5 25. Nxc8 Bxe3+ 26. Qxe3 Bxc8 27. f4 Nhf6 28. d6 Qxd6 29. fxe5 Qe6 30. Qd4
Qd5 31. Qc3 Ne4 32. Qxc8 $18 {1-0 Har Zvi,R-Gabrielsen,S/Gausdal 1996/CBM 54
ext (35)}) 14. Rc1 c6 $2 (14... h6 15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6 Qc8 17. Nd5 (17. c5
Qxe6 18. Nb5 (18. cxd6 Nxd6) 18... d5) 17... Qxe6 18. Qd2 $44) 15. c5 $1 Ng8 (
15... h6 16. cxd6 (16. Ne6 Bxe6 17. dxe6 (17. cxd6 Qxd6 18. Bc5 Qd7 19. dxe6
Qxe6 $13) 17... d5 $36) 16... Nxd6 (16... Qxd6 17. Bc5 Qf6 18. d6 hxg5 19. d7
$18) 17. Ne6 Bxe6 18. dxe6 Rf6 19. Qd2 (19. Qb3 Qg8 20. Bc5 Qxe6 21. Qxe6 Rxe6
22. Red1 Nec8 23. b5 $44) 19... Rxe6 20. Red1 $44) 16. exf5 $1 gxf5 17. f4 (17.
dxc6 bxc6 18. cxd6 h6 19. Nh3 Nxd6 20. Bc5 Rf6 21. Qa4 $16) 17... Ne7 18. cxd6
Nxd6 19. dxc6 (19. fxe5 Bxe5 20. Bd4 Bf6 (20... Ng6 21. Nf3 Bxd4+ 22. Qxd4+ Qf6
23. dxc6 bxc6 24. Na4 $16) 21. Bf3 $16) 19... Nxc6 20. Bc5 exf4 21. Bxd6 Qxg5 (
21... Bd4+ 22. Qxd4+ Nxd4 23. Be5+ Kg8 24. Bc4+ Ne6 25. Nxe6 Bxe6 26. Bxe6+ Rf7
27. Nd5 $18) 22. Bxf8 Bxf8 23. Bf3 $1 {[%cal Ge1e8]} 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "Gofshtein,L"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 4100]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7.
Qd2 a6 8. O-O-O Be7 9. f4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 b5 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Be2 Qc7 13. f5 (
13. Bh5 Qc5 14. Qxc5 dxc5 15. f5 {[#]} b4 16. Ne2 (16. Na4 Rb8 17. Rhf1 (17.
Rhe1 Rg8 $11 (17... O-O 18. b3 Rb7 19. Bf3 Bd7 20. Nb2 Rc7 21. g4 $14 {0-1
Kroeger,F-Van Laatum,G/Hastings ENG 2000/The Week in Chess 273 (39)})) 17...
Rg8 $11) 16... e5 (16... exf5 17. Bf3 $1 $44) 17. Ng3 (17. b3 Bb7 18. Ng3 c4
19. bxc4 Bc6 $11) 17... c4 $1 18. Be2 c3 $132 {1/2-1/2 Lautier,J-Pelletier,Y/
Biel 1997/CBM 60/(41)}) (13. Bf3 Bb7 14. f5 (14. Kb1 Qc5 15. Qd2 O-O-O 16. Rhe1
Kb8 $11 {Brodsky,M-Poluljahov,A/MK Cafe Koszalin/1997}) 14... h5 15. Kb1 Qc5
16. Qd2 O-O-O 17. a3 $13 {1/2-1/2 Leko,P-Kramnik,V/Frankfurt 1996/EXT 98 (36)})
13... Qc5 14. Qxc5 (14. Qd3 Ra7 15. Bh5 {1/2-1/2 Hracek,Z-Epishin,V/Erevan (06)
1996}) (14. fxe6 Qg5+ $5) 14... dxc5 15. Rhf1 $146 {The idea of this novelty
is to not hasten with fxe6} ({Main line is} 15. fxe6 fxe6 16. Bh5+ Kf8 17. e5 (
17. Rhf1 $6 Ra7 (17... Kg7 18. Rd3 Rd8 $11 {1/2-1/2 Horvath,A-Blehm,P/Oropesa
del Mar ESP 1998 (79)}) 18. e5 f5 19. g4 Kg7 20. gxf5 (20. Rd3 $6 c4 21. Rh3
Rf8 22. gxf5 Rxf5 $15 {1/2-1/2 Tseitlin,M-Epishin,V/St.Petersburg 1997/CBM 59 
(65)}) 20... exf5 21. Nd5 Bg5+ 22. Kb1 $11) 17... f5 18. g4 {but after strong}
Ra7 $1 {Black equalize} (18... b4 19. Ne2 Bg5+ (19... Ra7 20. gxf5 exf5 21. Nf4
$16 {Palac-Smirin,euch-tm 1997}) 20. Kb1 Ke7 21. gxf5 exf5 22. Rhg1 Bh6 $132 {
Perunovic,Milos-Izoria,Zviad/Moscow (6) 1998 (48)}) 19. gxf5 exf5 20. Nd5 Bg5+
21. Kb1 Be6 22. Rhg1 Rd7 $5 (22... Rg8 23. Nf4 $1 $16 Bxf4 (23... Bf7 24. Bxf7
Kxf7 (24... Rxf7 $2 25. Ne6+) 25. Rd7+ $1 Rxd7 26. e6+ Kf6 (26... Ke7 27. exd7
Kxd7 28. h4) 27. exd7 Rd8 28. Rxg5 $1 Kxg5 29. Ne6+ $18) (23... Bc4 24. e6 Rag7
25. Bf7 Bxf4 26. Bxg8 Rxg1 27. Rxg1 Bxh2 28. Rg2 Bd6 29. b3 $16) 24. Rd8+ Ke7
25. Rdxg8 Bxg8 26. Rg7+ $16 {Short-Yermolinsky 1997}) 23. Rxg5 Rxd5 24. Rxf5+ (
24. Rxd5 Bxd5 25. Rxf5+ Ke7 $132) 24... Ke7 25. Rg5 (25. Rxd5 Bxd5 26. Rf6 Rg8
$132) 25... Rg8 26. Rxg8 Rxd1+ 27. Bxd1 Bxg8 28. Bg4 Be6 $44 {1/2-1/2 Grischuk,
A-Grosar,A/Batumi 1999/CBM 74/(48)}) 15... Ra7 {Natural continuation in this
variation} (15... b4 16. Na4 $14) 16. a4 $5 ({Now} 16. fxe6 fxe6 17. Bh5+ Kf8
18. e5 f5 19. g4 Bg5+ 20. Kb1 Kg7 $11 {leads to wellknown position}) (16. g3
Rd7 $132) 16... b4 17. Nb1 {[%cal Gb1d2,Gd2c4]} Rd7 (17... Rg8 18. g3 $14) 18.
Rxd7 Kxd7 19. Nd2 (19. Bh5 Rf8 20. Nd2 Bd6 21. g3 Ke7 22. Nc4 Bc7 $11) 19... h5
$1 {[%csl Rh5] Seems unnecessary, but this move is quite good.} ({After} 19...
Rd8 {[%cal Gd7e8]} 20. Bh5 {White have a little advantage} (20. g3 Ke8 21. Nc4
Bb7 22. Bd3 Rd4 $11) 20... Ke8 (20... exf5 21. exf5 Ke8 22. Be2 Bd6 23. g3 $14)
21. fxe6 Bxe6 22. Be2 Bc8 23. g3 $14 {[%csl Rf6,Rf7]}) 20. Nc4 Kc7 {Good place
for K} 21. b3 exf5 {Kramnik decided to open position for his par BB, but
remains with weaknesses in the kingside} (21... Bb7 22. Bf3 h4 $11) 22. exf5 {
[%csl Rf6,Rf7,Rh5]} Bd6 $6 $14 ({More accurately was} 22... h4 23. Ne3 Bd6 24.
Nd5+ Kb8 25. h3 (25. Nxf6 Bxh2 26. Bc4 Bg3 27. Ne4 Bb7 28. Nxc5 Bxg2 29. Nxa6+
Ka8 30. Rg1 h3 $19) 25... Bb7 26. Bf3 Be5 $11) 23. Nxd6 Kxd6 24. Rf4 (24. Bc4
$5 Ke5 25. g3 (25. Bxf7 Bxf5 26. Re1+ Be4 $11) 25... Bxf5 (25... a5 26. Rd1 {
[%cal Gd1d5]} Bb7 27. Rd7 $16) 26. Bxa6 $14) 24... a5 (24... h4 $6 25. Kd2 Bb7
26. Bf3 (26. c3 bxc3+ 27. Kxc3 h3 (27... Bxg2 28. Bxa6 Ke5 29. Rf2 Be4 30. Re2
Kxf5 31. Kc4 Rb8 32. Bb5 Ke5 33. Kxc5 $16) 28. g3 $16)) (24... Ke5 25. Rc4 $1)
25. g3 Ke5 26. Rh4 $2 $11 (26. Bd3 $1 {Was keep advantage} Rg8 (26... h4 $2 27.
Re4+ $1 Kd6 28. Rxh4 Rxh4 29. gxh4 Ke7 (29... Ke5 30. h5 Bxf5 31. h6 $18) 30.
Kd2 Kf8 31. Ke3 Kg7 32. Kf4 Kh6 33. Bc4 Kh5 34. Ke4 Kxh4 35. Kd5 Bxf5 36. Kxc5
Bxc2 37. Kb6 $18) 27. Re4+ Kd6 28. Rh4 (28. Re2 Rg4 29. Re8 Bb7 30. Rd8+ $14)
28... Rg5 29. Be2 Bxf5 30. Rxh5 Bg6 31. Rh8 $14) (26. Rc4 $2 Ba6 $1 27. Rxc5+
Kd4 $17) 26... Bxf5 27. Rxh5 (27. Bxh5 Bg6 28. Be2 Rxh4 29. gxh4 Be4 30. h5 f5
31. Kd2 (31. h6 f4 32. Bd3 Bxd3 33. cxd3 Kf6 34. Kd2 Kg6 35. Ke2 Kxh6 36. Kf3
Kg5 $19) 31... f4 32. h6 (32. Bd3 f5 33. h4 Kf6 34. Bb5 Kg7 35. c3 (35. Be8 f3
$17) 35... Kh6 $17) 32... Kf6 (32... Bg6 33. Bc4 Kf6 34. h4 Be4 35. Bd3 Bxd3
36. Kxd3 Kg6 37. Ke4 Kxh6 38. Kxf4 Kh5 39. Kg3 Kh6 40. Kg4 Kg6 41. Kf4 (41. h5+
$2 Kh6 42. Kf5 Kxh5 43. Kf6 Kg4 $19) 41... Kh5 42. Kg3 Kh6 $11) 33. Bd3 Bxd3
34. Kxd3 Kg6 35. Ke4 Kxh6 36. Kxf4 Kg6 37. h3 (37. Ke5 Kg5 38. h3 Kh4 39. Kf6
Kxh3 40. Kxf7 Kg4 41. Ke6 Kf4 42. Kd5 Ke3 43. Kxc5 Kd2 44. Kb5 Kxc2 45. Kxa5
Kxb3 $19) 37... Kh5 38. Kf5 Kh4 39. Kf6 Kxh3 40. Kxf7 Kg4 41. Ke6 Kf4 42. Kd5
Ke3 43. Kxc5 Kd2 44. Kb5 Kxc2 45. Kxa5 Kxb3 46. Kb6 Kc4 47. a5 b3 48. a6 b2 49.
a7 b1=Q+ 50. Kc7 Qh7+ $19) 27... Rxh5 28. Bxh5 {[%csl Ye5]} Bg6 29. Be2 (29.
Bxg6 fxg6 30. Kd2 Kd4 31. h4 f5 32. Ke2 Kc3 33. Kd1 c4 34. bxc4 Kxc4 35. Kd2
Kd4 $19) 29... f5 (29... Be4 30. Kd2 f5 31. Ke3 $1 (31. h4 f4 32. gxf4+ Kxf4
33. h5 Kg5 34. c3 f5 35. cxb4 cxb4 36. Bd1 f4 $17 {[%csl Rb3,Rh5]}) 31... Bxc2
32. Bc4 Kf6 33. Kf4 $44) 30. Kd2 f4 $1 {Just in time.} 31. g4 (31. gxf4+ Kxf4
32. h4 Be4 33. c3 f5 $17) 31... Ke4 ({After} 31... f5 $5 {Topalov should find
the only move} 32. Bd3 $1 {[%cal Gd3g6]} (32. gxf5 $2 Bxf5 33. Bd3 Bg4 34. h4
Kd4 35. Bg6 f3 36. Bd3 f2 (36... Bh3 37. h5 $16) 37. Bf1 Ke4 38. Bg2+ Kf4 39.
Bf1 Kg3 40. Ke3 Bf3 41. Bc4 Bh5 42. Bf1 Bg6 $19) (32. g5 $2 f3 33. Bxf3 Kf4 34.
Bd5 Kxg5 35. c3 Kf4 $17) 32... c4 (32... Kf6 33. gxf5 Bxf5 34. Bxf5 Kxf5 35.
Ke2 (35. Kd3 Kg5 36. Ke2 Kg4 37. Kf2 Kh3 38. Kf3 (38. Kg1 Kh4 39. Kg2 Kg4 $11)
38... Kxh2 39. Kxf4 Kg2 40. Ke3 Kf1 41. Kd2 Kf2 42. c3 Kf1 43. cxb4 cxb4 44.
Kd1 $11 (44. Kd3 Ke1 45. Kc4 Kd2 46. Kb5 Kc3 47. Kxa5 Kxb3 48. Kb5 Kc3 49. a5
b3 50. a6 b2 51. a7 b1=Q+ $19)) 35... Kg4 36. Kf2 Kh3 37. Kf3 Kxh2 38. Kxf4 Kg2
39. Ke4 Kf2 40. c4 Ke2 41. Kd5 Kd3 42. Kxc5 Kc3 43. Kb5 Kxb3 44. c5 Ka3 45. c6
b3 46. c7 b2 47. c8=Q b1=Q+ $11) 33. bxc4 (33. Bxc4 fxg4 $17) 33... Be8 34.
Bxf5 Bxa4 35. h4 Kf6 (35... Be8 36. h5 Bxh5 37. gxh5 Kxf5 38. h6 Kg6 39. c5 a4
40. c6 a3 41. c7 a2 42. c8=Q a1=Q 43. Qg4+ Kxh6 44. Qxf4+ Kg6 45. Qxb4 $16) 36.
Bd3 Be8 37. g5+ Kg7 38. c5 a4 39. c6 Bxc6 40. h5 a3 41. h6+ Kg8 42. Bc4+ Kh7
43. Bd3+ Kh8 44. Bc4 $11) 32. h4 f3 33. Bd3+ Kf4 34. Bxg6 fxg6 35. h5 Kg3 (
35... gxh5 36. gxh5 Kg3 37. h6 f2 38. h7 f1=Q 39. h8=Q $11) 36. hxg6 f2 37. g7
f1=Q 38. g8=Q Qf4+ 39. Ke2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nikolic, Predrag"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2659"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 e6 3. c4 b6 4. Nc3 Bb7 5. a3 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bg5 Be7 8.
Qa4+ c6 9. e3 O-O 10. Bd3 c5 11. Rd1 c4 {Equalizing is not such an easy task
in this position, advance of the queenside pawns starts an ambitious plan.} (
11... Nbd7 12. Ne5 (12. O-O Ne4 13. Bxe4 dxe4 14. dxc5 Nxc5 15. Rxd8 Bxd8 16.
Qc2 {1/2-1/2 Khalifman,A-Naumkin,I/Riga/1988/ (16)}) 12... h6 (12... Nxe5 13.
dxe5 Nh5 14. Ba6 Bxa6 15. Rxd5 Qe8 16. Bxe7 Qxa4 17. Nxa4 Rfe8 18. Rd7 Bb5 19.
Rc7 Bxa4 20. g4 Rec8 (20... Bc6 21. Rg1 Bf3 22. Kd2 Rec8 23. Rd7 Bc6 24. Rd6
Re8 25. Bh4 Bf3 26. gxh5 Bxh5 27. f4 {1/2-1/2 Gelfand,B-Yudasin,L/Bugojno/1999/
(35)}) 21. Rxc8+ Rxc8 22. gxh5 f6 23. Rg1 Kf7 24. Bd6 Re8 25. f4 Bc2 26. Kd2
Be4 27. Kc3 {1-0 Khalifman,A-Huebner,R/Munich/1992/ (48)}) 13. Bf4 (13. Nxd7
Nxd7 14. Bf4 cxd4 15. exd4 Nf6 16. O-O Bd6 17. Be5 Ng4 18. Rfe1 Bxe5 19. dxe5
d4 20. Bh7+ Kxh7 21. Rxd4 Qg5 22. Rxg4 Qd2 {1/2-1/2 Christiansen,L-Ivanov,A/
USA-ch/1993/ (50)}) 13... a6 14. Bb1 Re8 15. Nxd7 Nxd7 16. dxc5 Nxc5 17. Qc2
Bf6 18. Qh7+ Kf8 19. O-O Ne6 20. Ba2 {1-0 Bareev,E-Gligoric,S/Moscow/1989/ (48)
}) 12. Bb1 a6 (12... Re8 13. Qc2 Nbd7 14. a4 $14) 13. Ne5 b5 (13... Nbd7 14.
Nc6 $14) 14. Qc2 Ne4 (14... g6 15. h4 $40) 15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. f3 (16. Nxe4 dxe4
17. Nf3 f5 18. Nd2 Nd7 $11) 16... Nf6 17. e4 dxe4 (17... Nbd7 18. Nxd7 Nxd7 19.
e5 $14) 18. fxe4 Nbd7 (18... a5 $2 19. O-O b4 20. Nd5 Bxd5 21. exd5 $16) 19.
Nxd7 Nxd7 20. O-O {White chances are slightly better, since his mobile center
is more dangerous than black's queenside majority.} g6 (20... f6 21. Rfe1 $14)
21. Qf2 Rae8 22. Qg3 Nf6 (22... f6 23. Qc7 Ba8 24. Bc2 $14) 23. Rfe1 Nh5 24.
Qf2 Qg5 $6 (24... f6 $5) 25. Kh1 (25. g3 f6 $14) 25... Re7 26. Rf1 f6 27. d5 $1
Qe5 (27... Rfe8 28. Qb6 $16) 28. Qb6 Rd7 29. a4 $1 {[%mdl 32] Undermining of
the pawn structure is very unpleasant for black with uncoordinated pieces.}
bxa4 (29... Rb8 30. axb5 Bxd5 (30... axb5 31. Qxb5 Qc7 32. Qa4 $18) 31. Qf2 Be6
32. Rxd7 Bxd7 33. bxa6 $18) 30. Nxa4 Qd6 31. Ba2 (31. Qd4 $1 Rc7 32. Nb6 $18)
31... Rc8 32. g4 (32. Qd4 $1 $18) 32... Ng3+ $1 {Black had nothing to lose
with this courageous jump, his only chance is definitely in counterplay.} 33.
hxg3 Qxg3 34. Qg1 (34. Qe6+ Rf7 35. Rd2 Qh3+ 36. Kg1 Qg3+ 37. Rg2 Qe3+ 38. Kh2
Qh6+ 39. Kg3 Qe3+ 40. Rf3 Qe1+ 41. Kh2 $18) 34... Qh3+ 35. Qh2 Qxg4 36. Nb6 (
36. Nc3 Rf7 37. Rd4 $18) 36... Qxe4+ 37. Qg2 (37. Kg1 Qe3+ 38. Qf2 Qg5+ $11)
37... Qh4+ 38. Kg1 Re7 39. Nxc8 Re4 (39... Bxc8 40. Rf3 Re5 41. Rg3 $18) 40.
Nd6 $2 {In rapid tempo Kramnik misses a chance to punish black for all his
sins despite spirited defense.} (40. Ne7+ $1 Kh8 (40... Kf7 41. Nc6 Bxc6 (41...
Rg4) 42. dxc6 Rg4 43. Bxc4+ Kg7 44. Bd5 $18) 41. Nxg6+ hxg6 42. Qh2 $18) 40...
Rg4 41. Nxb7 (41. Rf2 Qh5 42. Re1 Bxd5 $14) 41... Rxg2+ 42. Kxg2 Qg4+ 43. Kf2
Qf4+ 44. Ke2 (44. Kg1 Qg3+ $11) 44... Qe5+ (44... Qe5+ 45. Kf3 Qf5+ 46. Kg2
Qg4+ $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A35"]
[WhiteElo "2646"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Nc2 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 d6 8.
g3 Be6 9. Nd4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Nf6 11. Bg2 Qb6 12. Bg5 O-O 13. O-O Qxd4 14. cxd4
Bxc4 15. Bxb7 Rab8 16. Bf3 Kg7 17. Rfb1 h6 18. Bd2 g5 19. h3 Rfc8 20. a4 Be6
21. g4 Bd5 22. Rxb8 Rxb8 23. Bxd5 Nxd5 24. e4 Nf4 25. Bxf4 gxf4 26. Kg2 Rb4 27.
Kf3 e5 28. dxe5 dxe5 29. a5 Rb3+ 30. Kg2 a6 31. Ra4 Rb5 32. Ra3 f6 33. Kf3 Kg6
34. Kg2 h5 35. gxh5+ Kxh5 36. Kf3 Kg5 37. Kg2 f5 38. exf5 e4 39. h4+ Kxf5 40.
h5 Kg4 41. f3+ exf3+ 42. Rxf3 Rxa5 43. h6 Rh5 44. Ra3 Rxh6 45. Ra5 Rb6 46. Ra2
Rd6 47. Kf2 Rh6 48. Ra5 Rf6 49. Ra2 Kf5 50. Kf3 Ke5 51. Rd2 Ke6 52. Rd4 a5 53.
Re4+ Kd6 54. Ra4 Rf5 55. Kg4 Ke6 56. Re4+ Kf6 57. Rc4 Kg6 58. Kf3 Kg5 59. Rc5
Rxc5 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Lautier, Joel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2755"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "Tsesarsky,I"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 256]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bd3 Nbd7 6. O-O Be7 7.
Nc3 dxc4 8. Bxc4 b5 9. Bd3 b4 10. Ne4 Bb7 11. Nxf6+ Nxf6 12. e4 O-O {[%cal
Gc6c5] If Black will promote c6-c5 - it will be equal position. White try to
prevent this promotion.} 13. Qe2 ({Another continuation} 13. e5 {also doesn't
bring to White any advantage:} Nd7 14. Be4 {[%cal Ge4b7]} Rb8 (14... h6 $5 15.
Be3 Qb8 16. Rc1 Rc8 (16... c5 $2 17. dxc5 Bxe4 18. Qxd7 $16) 17. Re1 (17. Qa4
$5 Qc7 18. Rfd1 a5 $13) 17... c5 18. d5 $5 (18. dxc5 Nxc5 19. Bxb7 Qxb7 $11)
18... exd5 19. Bxd5 (19. Bf5 $6 Nf8 $1 20. Bxc8 Qxc8 21. Nd2 $5 {[%cal Gd2b3]}
(21. Nd4 Qd7 $1 $15) 21... Ne6 $44 {0-1 Milov,Vadim-Gurevich,Mikhail/Neuchatel
op (5) ;CBM 53 1996 (41)}) 19... Nb6 20. Bxb7 Qxb7 {(/\21...c4)} 21. b3 $11) (
14... Qb8 $6 15. Bg5 $40) 15. Qc2 (15. Be3 c5 16. Bxb7 Rxb7 17. d5 exd5 18.
Qxd5 Rc7 19. e6 Nb6 20. exf7+ Rxf7 21. Qxd8+ Bxd8 22. Rac1 Rf5 $11 {1/2-1/2
Gelfand,Boris-Anand,Viswanathan/Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee (12) ;CBM 63 1998 (30)})
15... h6 16. Be3 c5 17. Bxb7 Rxb7 18. Rfd1 Qc8 19. dxc5 Nxc5 20. Rac1 Rd8 $1
$11 {Karpov-Antunes, Tilburg 1994}) 13... c5 $11 {That should take place - is
happened.} 14. dxc5 Nd7 (14... Bxc5 15. e5 Nd5 16. Bxh7+ $18) (14... Rc8 15.
Rd1 Qc7 16. c6 $1 Bxc6 17. Nd4 Ba8 18. e5 Nd7 19. Bf4 {Lautier-Piket, Monaco m/
7 1996.}) 15. c6 (15. Be3 Nxc5 16. Bxc5 Bxc5 17. Ba6 Rb8 (17... Bxa6 18. Qxa6
Qf6 19. Rac1 Bb6 20. Rc2 h6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Rabar,Braslav-Bronstein,David I/
Gothenburg Interzonal (13) ;IZT 1955 (27)}) 18. Rad1 Qb6 19. Bxb7 Rxb7 20. Ne5
Bd4 21. Nc4 Qc5 22. Rc1 Rc7 23. h3 e5 $11 {Fox,Maurice-Steiner,Lajos/Bradley
Beach (3) ;HCL 1929/0-1 (57)}) (15. Ba6 Bxa6 16. Qxa6 Nxc5 17. Qe2 Qd3 18. Re1
Rfd8 19. Bf4 Qxe2 20. Rxe2 Nd3 $11 {1-0 Van Wely,Loek-Akopian,Vladimir/EU-ch
Rapid-30' ;CBM 55 ext 1996 (48)}) 15... Bxc6 16. Rd1 $146 {[%cal Gd1d8]
Kramnik tries to improve White play and maybe took into account only Queen
moves.} ({After} 16. Be3 {White can recieve a little advantage, for example:}
Qb8 (16... Qa5 17. Nd4 Bb7 18. Nb3 Qd8 19. Rfd1 Qb8 20. Na5 Nc5 21. Bc4 Qc7 22.
Nxb7 Qxb7 23. f3 $14 {Kozma,Julius-Rakay,Kvetoslav/SVK-ch Hlohovec (12) ;MCD
1975/1-0 (60)}) (16... Nf6 17. Rfd1 Qa5 18. Nd2 Rac8 19. Nb3 Qc7 20. Rac1 Qb8
21. Ba6 Bb7 22. Bxb7 Qxb7 23. f3 $14 {Kharkova,Elena-Bacrot,Etienne/Formia op 
(9) ;EXT 99 1994/1-0 (71)}) (16... Bb7 17. Rfc1 $5 (17. Rac1 Qa5 $1 (17... Qb8
18. Bb5 (18. g3 Rc8 19. Bf4 e5 20. Rxc8+ Bxc8 21. Bg5 Bf8 22. Rd1 Nb6 23. Bb5
Bb7 24. Bd8 $14 {1-0 Chekhov,Valery A-Bagirov,Vladimir/URS-ch58 Moscow (6) ;
URS-ch 1991 (46)}) (18. Nd4 Rc8 19. Rxc8+ Qxc8 20. Rc1 Qd8 21. Bb5 Bxe4 22. Bc6
Bxc6 23. Nxc6 Qe8 24. Qb5 Bf8 25. Qb7 Nb6 26. g3 Nd5 27. Bxa7 Rc8 $11 {Chekhov,
Valery A-Novikov,Igor A/URS-ch58 Moscow (8) ;URS-ch 1991/1/2-1/2 (60)}) 18...
Nf6 19. Nd4 $16 {Chekhov}) 18. Bb5 (18. Rfd1 Rac8 (18... Nc5 19. Bxc5 Bxc5 20.
e5 Bxf3 21. Qxf3 g6 22. Bc4 Rad8 $11 {Ruzele,D-Novikov,I/EU-chT 1992/EU-chT/1/
2-1/2 (72)}) 19. Bb1 Rxc1 20. Rxc1 Rc8 21. Rd1 {1/2-1/2 Yermolinsky,
Alex-Akopian,Vladimir/WchT 4th Luzern (6) ;CBM 62 1997}) 18... Nf6 $5 (18...
Rad8 19. Nd4 Bf6 20. f3 a6 21. Bc4 Nc5 22. Rfd1 $14 {Stohl,I-Novikov,I 
(Ostrava 1994).}) 19. Nd4 Rac8 20. Nc6 Rxc6 $1 21. Bxc6 Ba6 22. Qd1 Bxf1 23.
Qxf1 Bd6 $11) 17... Qb8 (17... Bd6 18. Rd1 $5 (18. Bd4 Qb8 19. a3 a5 20. g3 Rd8
21. axb4 axb4 22. Rxa8 Qxa8 23. b3 Rc8 $11 {1/2-1/2 Savon,Vladimir A-Vaganian,
Rafael A/URS-ch38 Riga (9) ;URS-ch 1970 (33)}) 18... Qb8 19. Rac1 Ne5 20. Nxe5
Bxe5 21. h3 Rd8 22. Rc2 $11) 18. Nd4 {Im Falle von} (18. g3 $6 Rc8 (18... a6 $5
) 19. Bf4 Rxc1+ 20. Rxc1 Qd8 $11 {1/2-1/2 Pinter,Jozsef-Pelletier,Yannick/
FRA-chT France ;CBM 71 1999 (38)}) (18. Bb5 $5 Nf6 19. Nd4 $14 {[%csl Rc6]})
18... Bd6 19. Bb5 $1 $14 {[%csl Rc6]}) 17. Rac1 Bb7 18. g3 (18. Nd4 Nc5 $1 (
18... Rd8 19. Bb5 Bxe4 (19... Bd6 20. Nc6 Bxh2+ 21. Kh1 Bxc6 22. Bxc6 Bf4 23.
Bxa8 Bxe3 24. Qxe3 Qxa8 25. Rc7 $16) 20. Nc6 Bxc6 21. Bxc6 Nf6 22. Bxa8 Qxa8
23. Bc5 $16 {1-0 Thinius,Marco-Von Gleich,Alexander/Bundesliga 9293 ;GER-chT
1993 (41)}) 19. Nc6 Bxc6 20. Bxc5 Bxc5 21. Rxc5 Qd6 22. Rfc1 Rad8 23. Bb1 Bb7
24. e5 $14) 18... Rc8 19. Bf4 e5 20. Rxc8+ Bxc8 21. Bg5 Bf8 22. Rd1 $14 {
1-0 Chekhov,V-Bagirov,V/Moscow 1991/URS-ch (46)}) (16. Nd4 $6 Bb7 17. Bb5 Nc5
$5 (17... Ne5 $5 18. Rd1 Qb6 19. Bf4 $132) 18. Nc6 (18. Rd1 Qb6 19. e5 Rfd8
$132) 18... Bxc6 19. Bxc6 Rc8 20. Bb5 Qd4 $132 {Peng,Zhaoqin-Gurevich,Mikhail/
Lost Boys op (3) ;CBM 67 1998/0-1 (59)}) 16... Nc5 $5 {Lautier doesn't afraid
of phantoms.} (16... Qa5 17. Nd4 Bb7 18. Nb3 $14) 17. Ne5 (17. Bc2 Qa5 $5 18.
Bd2 (18. Ne5 Bb5 $132) 18... Na4 19. Nd4 Bb7 $11) 17... Bb7 18. Bf4 {White had
to agree to change Bd3 with Black N. In this case it will be very difficult
for White to fight for advantage.} (18. Bc2 Ba6 (18... Qa5 19. Nc4 Qb5 20. e5
Rfd8 21. Be3 $11) 19. Rxd8 Bxe2 20. Rxa8 Rxa8 21. Nc6 Bd6 22. Be3 a5 23. e5 Bf8
$11) 18... Qa5 19. Nc4 Qa6 $5 20. Nd6 (20. Rac1 Nxd3 $11) 20... Nxd3 21. Nxb7 {
[%cal Ge2a6]} Qxb7 22. Rxd3 Rfd8 $11 23. Rad1 {[%csl Rb4] Kramnik tries to use
the only defect in Black position - Pb4} Rxd3 24. Rxd3 Rd8 25. Rxd8+ Bxd8 26.
Qd3 Be7 27. Kf1 h6 28. Qc4 Qd7 29. Ke2 {Kramnik brought his king to the center,
but it is not enouph for advantage.} a5 30. Be3 {If White will change Queens -
Black position will be bad. But this cahge is impossible} Bf6 31. b3 Qd6 32. g3
Qe5 33. Qc8+ Kh7 34. Qc2 Kg8 35. Qc8+ (35. f4 Qh5+ 36. Kd3 Qf3 37. Qe2 Qh1 38.
Bb6 Qc1 39. Qc2 Qf1+ 40. Qe2 Qc1 $11) 35... Kh7 36. Qc2 Kg8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.24"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2559"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "Golod,V"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 d6 $5 (
7... Bb7 {It's main line,other lines are:}) (7... c5) ({and} 7... Ba6) 8. f3 ({
Another alternative is:} 8. e3 {See comments to Ivanov,S-Yudasin,L/St.
Petersburg,1996/CBM56(1/2-1/2)(Shipov,S) (63)}) 8... Nbd7 ({Another options is:
} 8... c5) 9. e4 ({Repeatedly was checked in the previous games:} 9. Nh3) 9...
c5 ({Weakly:} 9... e5 {in view of:} 10. d5 Bb7 11. Bd3 Qe8 12. Ne2 h6 13. Be3
$14 {Seefeldt,M-Baitinger,M/Muenster,1990(1-0)(42)}) 10. dxc5 $146 {In my
opinion this novelty a little dubious, because of black gets a strong pawn
chain in the centre.} ({Also dubios:} 10. Bd3 Ba6 11. Nh3 h6 12. Bh4 $6 (12.
Be3 $142) 12... Rc8 13. Rc1 cxd4 14. Qxd4 Nc5 15. Bc2 e5 $15 {Hillarp Persson,
T-Aagaard,J/Copenhagen, 1997(0-1)(39)}) ({Can be recommended:} 10. Nh3 $5 h6 (
10... Ba6 $5) (10... Bb7 $5) 11. Be3 Qc7 12. d5 exd5 13. cxd5 Rb8 14. Be2 Re8
15. Nf2 $14 {Lazarev,V-Vehi Bach,V/Biel,1997(1-0)(29)}) 10... bxc5 11. Nh3 ({
After:} 11. Qd2 {[%csl Yd2][%cal Gg1e2,Ge2c3,Yd2g5]} Qb6 {[%csl Rb2][%cal
Ga8b8] black has a strong pressure in <->b}) 11... h6 ({It deserves attention:
} 11... d5) 12. Bxf6 $6 {[%mdl 16384] After this positional inaccuracy white
are getting in trouble,probably could be recommended: 12.Bf4 e5 13.Be3=} ({
After:} 12. Bh4 {again possibly:} d5 $36 (12... Nxe4 $2 13. Bxd8 Nxc3 14. Be7
Re8 15. Bxd6 Na4 16. b3 $14)) 12... Nxf6 13. O-O-O {[%cal Ge4e5]} ({Probably
better is:} 13. Rd1 {/\Be2,0-0}) 13... e5 {[%csl Gc8,Rh3]} 14. g4 ({
Senselessly:} 14. Qd2 {in view of:} Bxh3 15. gxh3 Ne8 $15 {[%csl Rd6,Yd8,Ye8]})
({A little bit better is:} 14. Nf2) 14... Rb8 15. Nf2 ({From my point of view
more logiccaly:} 15. g5 hxg5 16. Nxg5 Nh5 17. h4 {=/=/+}) 15... Rb6 {[%cal
Yb6d6] Black's plan is:Be6,Qe7or Qc7,Rfb8 <->b} 16. Rd2 ({Probably could be
recommended:} 16. h4) 16... Qe7 $15 17. Nd1 ({However better is:} 17. h4) 17...
Be6 18. Bd3 {/\Bc2(><b3)} Rfb8 {[%csl Rb3][%cal Gb6b3]} 19. Bc2 Qb7 20. Re1 Nh7
$1 {It's the best move, black's knight is tending on ideal " parking "d4.} 21.
Re3 $2 ({It is necessary:} 21. Ba4 Qa6 $140 22. Bb5) 21... Qa6 $1 $17 {[%csl
Rc4][%mdl 2048] Against 22.b3(קa3)} 22. Bd3 Bd7 {[%csl Rd4][%cal Gh7g5,Gg5e6,
Gh7f8,Gf8e6,Ge6d4]} 23. Bf1 Ng5 24. Red3 Ne6 25. Ne3 Nd4 {[%csl Rc3,Rf3][%cal
Gb6b3] Full domination,white doesn't have space for any movement.} 26. Nd5 $2 (
{Also loses right away:} 26. Kb1 $2 Rb3 27. Qc1 Nxf3 $19) (26. Rf2 $8 Be6 {
[%csl Rc4][%cal Gb6b3]} 27. Kd1 {-/+/-+}) 26... Rb3 {[%csl Rc3]} 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.26"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. g3 Nd7 8. Bg2
dxc4 9. O-O Bd6 $6 {Normaler ist 9...Be7. Auf d6 ist der Läufer verschiedenen
Anfeindungen ausgesetzt.} 10. Nd2 Nb6 (10... Qxd4 $4 11. e3 $18 {und Weiß
gewinnt durch die Springergabel 12.Sxc4 oder 12.Sde4 den Läufer d6. Falls} Qd3
$2 12. Be4 {und die Dame geht verloren.}) 11. e3 O-O 12. Nce4 Qe7 13. Nxd6 Qxd6
14. f4 $1 $14 {Verhindert das befreiende ...e6-e5. Weiß hat Raumvorteil und
Schwarz hat nicht einmal das Läuferpaar als Kompensation.} Bd7 15. Qc2 Rfc8 16.
Nxc4 Nxc4 17. Qxc4 a5 18. a3 Ra7 19. Rfd1 b6 20. Rac1 a4 21. e4 Qe7 22. e5 g6
23. Rc3 Kg7 24. Qb4 Qxb4 25. axb4 b5 {Eine derartige Stellung ist das
Albtraumszenario in der Moskauer Variante: Schwarz bleibt auf seinem
schlechten Läufer und seinem Raumnachteil sitzen.} 26. Kf2 Kf8 27. g4 Ke7 28.
Rh3 Rh8 29. Rc1 Ra6 30. Be4 Rb6 31. Rcc3 Rc8 $2 (31... Kf8 $16 {, um ggf. den
König nach g7 und den Turm nach c8 zu bringen. Weiß mus dann noch zeigen, wie
er weiter kommt.}) 32. Rxh6 $18 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.27"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Be6 11. Be3 Bf5 12. Rc1 dxc4 13. Bxc4 c6 14. Ne5 Nxc3
15. bxc3 Nd5 16. Qf3 Be6 17. Bd2 f6 18. Nd3 Qd7 19. Bb3 Bg4 20. Qg3 Kh8 21. c4
Bd6 22. Nc5 Bxc5 23. dxc5 Ne7 24. Bf4 Rfe8 25. Bd6 Be2 26. Rfe1 Nf5 27. Qh3 g6
28. Qc3 Re6 29. f3 Rae8 30. Bg3 Nxg3 31. hxg3 Qe7 32. Qd4 Kg7 33. g4 Bxc4 34.
Rxe6 Bxe6 35. Re1 Qd7 36. Qxd7+ Bxd7 37. Rd1 Re7 38. Kf2 b6 39. cxb6 axb6 40.
a4 Kf8 41. Bc4 Be8 42. Rd6 Ra7 43. Rxf6+ Kg7 44. Re6 Rxa4 45. Bb5 Ra2+ 46. Kg3
Ra8 47. Bxc6 Bxc6 48. Rxc6 Rb8 49. Rc7+ Kg8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.28"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D56"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2696"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 Ne4 8. Bxe7
Qxe7 9. Rc1 c6 10. Bd3 Nxc3 11. Rxc3 dxc4 12. Bxc4 Nd7 13. O-O b6 14. Bd3 c5
15. Be4 Rb8 16. Qc2 Bb7 17. Bxb7 Rxb7 18. h3 Re8 19. Rd1 a5 20. Rd2 cxd4 21.
Nxd4 Nc5 22. Nc6 Qf8 23. Ne5 Rc8 24. Rd4 Qe7 25. a3 Rbc7 26. b4 axb4 27. axb4
Nb7 28. Rxc7 Rxc7 29. Qd3 f6 30. Ng6 Qe8 31. f4 Rc8 32. Qe4 Rd8 33. Qxb7 Rxd4
34. Ne7+ Kf7 35. exd4 Qxe7 36. Qxb6 Kg6 37. Qc5 Qb7 38. Qc2+ Kf7 39. Qb1 Qb6
40. Qb2 e5 41. fxe5 fxe5 42. Qf2+ Ke7 43. dxe5 Qxb4 44. Qa7+ Kf8 45. Qa8+ Ke7
46. Qd5 h5 47. Kh1 h4 48. Qd1 Ke6 49. Qe2 g5 50. Qe3 Qb1+ 51. Kh2 Qf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2633"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "Hansen,Cu"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. h3 c5 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. Be2 c4 {this configuration is not very normal in
Queens-gambit positions. However with an extra pair of Ns on c3 and f6 it is
quite well-known and considered clearly better for white. Maybe this is why
the idea c5-c4 in this variation for a long time was not taken seriously} 11.
O-O b5 {[%csl Gb5,Gc4,Gd5,Re2] black will now obviously build up on the Q-side
while whites only chance of putting some pressure on black would be to play
e3-e4. But how ? Blacks position is much easier to play. Whites whitesquared B
clearly belongs in the /^ b1-h7 but even in games where the B is on c2 -
Kortjnoj-Lputian Corustournament 2000 - it is not easy for white to
demonstrate any advantage} 12. Qc2 Bb7 13. Rad1 Rc8 14. Ne5 f6 15. Nf3 {
White would claim that the move f6 has weakend e6} (15. Nxd7 Qxd7 $15) 15...
Nb6 16. g4 $6 {White has to try and do something on the K-side} (16. Nd2 $5 {
[%cal Ye2g4,Yg4f5] With ideas such as Bg4-f5 and sometimes maybe even e3-e4 -
trying to equalize !} f5 17. Nf3 {[%cal Yf3e5]} (17. g4 $5)) 16... Bc6 17. Kg2
b4 {[%cal Rc6a4]} 18. Rc1 Be8 {[%cal Ye8g6,Yg6e4] The way white has played the
move f7-f6 has been a great help for black} 19. Qd2 g5 $5 20. Bg3 Bg6 {Black
has choosen a very original setup on the K-side. Whites Nf3 and Be2 are so far
away from being able to control f5 that he can allow himself such luxury} 21.
Bd1 (21. Nh2 $5 {[%cal Yf2f3,Yf1f2,Yh2f1]} Qd7 {[%cal Rc4c3]}) 21... Be4 22.
Kh2 (22. Bc2 f5 $36) 22... Qd7 23. Ne1 c3 {[%csl Rd2]} 24. Qe2 (24. bxc3 bxc3
25. Qe2 Ba3) 24... cxb2 25. Qxb2 Rxc1 26. Qxc1 Qb5 {[%cal Rb5f1]} 27. Rg1 Rc8 {
[%cal Rc8c1]} 28. Qa1 a5 {Simple chess. Black still has a P-majority on the
Q-side, and whites counterplay is nowhere in sight} 29. f3 Bg6 30. Rg2 Rc3 31.
Bc2 Nc4 32. Bxg6 hxg6 33. Nc2 Nxe3 34. Nxe3 Rxe3 35. Qc1 Re2 36. Qc7 a4 37. Be5
Kf7 38. Bd6 b3 39. axb3 axb3 40. Bxe7 Rxe7 41. Qc3 Qc4 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.17"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2692"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nb5 Nf6 6. Bf4 Bb4+ 7. N1c3 O-O 8.
Bd6 Bxd6 9. Nxd6 Ne8 10. e3 Qb6 11. Rb1 Ne5 12. Nxe8 Rxe8 13. Be2 d6 14. O-O
Bd7 15. Qd2 Rad8 16. Rfd1 Bc6 17. b4 d5 18. c5 Qc7 19. Nb5 Bxb5 20. Bxb5 Ng4
21. g3 Rf8 22. Rbc1 Nf6 23. Bd3 Rc8 24. Qb2 Qe7 25. a4 a5 26. bxa5 Rxc5 27.
Rxc5 Qxc5 28. Qxb7 Qxa5 29. Qb5 Ra8 30. Qxa5 Rxa5 31. Rc1 g5 32. Bb5 Ne4 33.
Rc6 Ra7 34. f3 Nf6 35. g4 h5 36. h3 hxg4 37. hxg4 Kg7 38. Kf2 Nd7 39. Kg3 Ne5
40. Rc5 Kf6 41. f4 Ng6 42. Rc6 Ne7 43. Rc1 Ng6 44. Ra1 Ra5 45. Rf1 gxf4+ 46.
exf4 Ra7 47. g5+ Kg7 48. f5 exf5 49. Rxf5 Ne7 50. Rf6 Rc7 51. Kf4 Rc2 52. Ke3
Ng6 53. a5 Ra2 54. a6 Nf8 55. Be8 d4+ 56. Kd3 Ra3+ 57. Kc2 d3+ 58. Kd2 Ne6 59.
Rxf7+ Kg8 60. a7 Ng7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2709"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. d4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 g6 7. e4 Bg7 8.
Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qxa2 12. O-O Bg4 13. Be3 Nc6 14. Rxb7
{A rarer continuation than} (14. d5) {,probably undeservedly underestimated.}
14... e6 $146 {A move recommended by Makarychev. However, it didn't show its
worth in the present game.} (14... Rab8 {was mostly tried in practice:} 15.
Rxb8 (15. Rc7 Rfc8 16. Rxc8+ Rxc8 17. Re1 (17. h3 Bxf3 18. Bxf3 Rd8 {- 15.Rb8})
17... Nb4 18. h3 Bxf3 19. Bxf3 Nc2 20. Qd2 Qa6 21. Rd1 Nxe3 22. Qxe3 Qb6 23. e5
a5 24. Ra1 Rc4 25. Qe4 Qa7 26. Qd5 Rxd4 {1/2-1/2 Schandorff,L-Akesson,R/SWE v
DEN, Skaenninge DEN 1998}) 15... Rxb8 16. h3 Bxf3 17. Bxf3 Rd8 (17... e6 18. d5
Ne5 19. Bg5 h6 20. Be7 Rb2 21. d6 Rd2 22. Qb1 Qa4 23. Qb8+ Kh7 24. Qc7 Qd4 25.
Bg4 Kg8 26. Qc8+ Kh7 27. Qc7 Kg8 28. Qc8+ Kh7 29. Qc7 {1/2-1/2 Wells,P-Rowson,
J/Agency Int, London ENG 1998}) 18. d5 Ne5 19. Qc1 Nc4 $1 20. Bg5 (20. Bxa7 $6
Qxa7 21. Qxc4 Bd4 22. Qe2 Rb8 $36 {^- Stohl,I}) 20... Re8 21. Re1 e6 $1 22. Re2
Qb3 23. dxe6 (23. Rc2 $5 exd5 24. exd5 Nd6 25. Rc6 Be5 26. Bf4 Qb4 $1 $132 {
Stohl,I}) 23... Rxe6 $10 24. Rc2 Nd6 25. Rc6 h5 26. Be3 {1/2-1/2 Khalifman,
A-Stohl,I/Deutschland Inf 71/491 1997}) (14... Bxf3 15. Bxf3 Nxd4 $140 $4 16.
Bxd4 Rfd8 17. Qa1 $18) (14... Rfd8 {is less convincing in view of} 15. d5 e6
16. Bg5 $1 ({better than} 16. Rxf7 exd5 17. exd5 Rxd5 18. Rxg7+ Kxg7 19. Qe1
Ne5 20. Bd4 Rxd4 21. Nxd4 Bxe2 22. Nxe2 Re8 23. Nc3 Qf7 24. Qa1 Kg8 25. Ne4 Qg7
26. Rd1 Rf8 27. f3 h6 28. Qa4 Qe7 29. h3 Kg7 30. Rd5 Rf5 {Bewersdorff,O-Roesch,
A/BL2-O 1994/1/2-1/2 (52)}) 16... f6 (16... Rd6 17. h3 Bxf3 18. Bxf3 Ne5 19.
Be7 Rd7 20. Rxd7 Nxd7 21. d6 $14 {Stohl,I}) 17. Qc1 $5 Qxe2 (17... fxg5 18. Bc4
Qa4 19. Bb3 (19. dxc6 Qxc6 20. Rxg7+ Kxg7 21. Qc3+ e5 22. Nxe5 Qf6) 19... Qxe4
(19... Nd4 20. Qxg5 $1 Ne2+ 21. Kh1 Qa6 22. Qe7 Ng3+ 23. hxg3 Qxf1+ 24. Kh2 Qa1
25. e5 $18) 20. Nxg5 Qe5 21. dxc6 $16) 18. Bh6 Bh8 19. Re1 Qa6 (19... Qd3 20.
Qxc6) 20. dxc6 Rd6 $13 {This line needs further investigation.}) 15. d5 exd5 (
15... Rfd8 {-14...Rfd8}) 16. exd5 {In this system of the Gruenfeld White's
passed d-pawn, supported by his rook on the 7th rank and his dark-squared
bishop, is usually an important factor in White's favour outweighing Black's
a-pawn.} Ne5 17. d6 a5 18. h3 Be6 (18... Bxf3 19. Bxf3 Nxf3+ 20. Qxf3 a4 21. d7
a3 22. Bc5 Rfd8 23. Be7 $18 {-White comes first!}) 19. Nxe5 Bxe5 20. Bf3 Rad8 (
20... Rfd8 $2 21. Rb5 $1 Rxd6 22. Qb1 $18) (20... Rab8 21. d7 $1 Rfd8 22. Rxb8
Bxb8 23. Bc6 Qb2 {[%cal Yb2e5]} 24. Qa1 $1 (24. Bd4 Qb4 25. Bf6 $4 Qf4) 24...
Qxa1 25. Rxa1 Bc7 26. Bg5 Rxd7 27. Bxd7 Bxd7 28. Rc1 $16) 21. d7 {[%cal Re3c5]}
a4 22. Bc5 a3 23. Re1 $1 f6 24. Re2 $2 {A wrong idea. White eliminates the
main enemy but loses his d7 pawn, too. Of course, it is difficult to calculate
variations accurately in a rapid game.} (24. Bxf8 Kxf8 25. Re3 {[%cal Yb7a7]
was very strong.}) 24... Qc4 25. Bxa3 Rf7 26. Rd2 Qa6 $2 ({After} 26... Bc7 $1
{White can't save his d7 pawn:} 27. Rc2 Rdxd7 $1 28. Rxc4 (28. Qc1 Qa6) 28...
Rxd1+ 29. Bxd1 Bxc4 $11) 27. Bc1 (27. Bc5 {was possible}) 27... Bf4 28. Rd4 Be5
29. Rd3 Qa1 30. Bc6 Qa6 31. Be4 Bf5 $2 {A mistake. Black weakens his pawn
structure and the position of his king thus creating a second weakness in his
camp (White's d7 pawn is the first one). Now his position must be lost.
Perhaps Black simply overlooked White's reply...} (31... Kg7) 32. Bxf5 $1 gxf5
(32... Qxb7 33. Be6 Qc6 34. Bxf7+ Kxf7 35. Ba3 {was probably better but
hopeless enough.}) 33. Qf3 Qa1 34. Rd1 Qa4 35. Bh6 $2 (35. Qd5 $18 {was
winning at once. After the text move Black just takes the d7 pawn although
White maintains the better chances thanks to the unsafe position of the black
king.}) 35... Rfxd7 36. Rbxd7 Rxd7 37. Rc1 Qe4 $2 (37... Rd8 {and Black can
fight on. After the text move the back king is turned out of his haven.}) 38.
Rc8+ Kf7 39. Qh5+ Ke6 40. Qe8+ Re7 41. Qg8+ Kd7 42. Rc1 Bc7 43. Rd1+ Kc6 44. g3
(44. Qa8+ Kc5 45. Be3+ {lead to an immediate mate but even now, with his bare
king, Black has little chances to survive.}) 44... Kb7 45. Ra1 Kb6 (45... Re8
46. Qxh7 $18) (45... Bb8 46. Qb3+ Kc8 47. Qc3+ Bc7 48. Bf4 $18) 46. Be3+ Kc6
47. Qa8+ (47. Qc8 $1 $18) 47... Kd7 48. Rd1+ Bd6 49. Qf8 Qc2 50. Rd4 Qb1+ 51.
Kh2 Kc7 52. Rc4+ {The second part of the game was a comedy of errors, which is
usual for "active" chess.} 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A43"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[Annotator "Alterman,B"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 8192]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Bg5 Ne4 5. Bh4 Bb7 6. Qd3 f5 $146
7. Nbd2 c4 8. Qd4 Na6 9. c3 {Kramnik doesn't like position after} (9. Nxe4 fxe4
10. Qxe4 Nb4 11. Rd1 Nxd5 $1 12. c3 (12. Rxd5 Qa5+ 13. c3 Qxa2 $5 {With
unclear game.} (13... e6 $4 14. Qf4 $18 {[%csl Rf7][%cal Gf3e5]}))) 9... Nxd2
10. Qxd2 Qb6 $1 {[%csl Gd5,Re4][%cal Ga6c7,Ga6c5]} 11. O-O-O (11. g4 $6 fxg4
12. Ne5 Qd6) 11... g6 12. Qd4 (12. Bg3 Bg7 $15 {[%cal Gb5b4,Gg7b2]}) 12... Rg8
(12... Qxd4 13. Nxd4 Nc7) 13. e4 Bg7 $5 {[%mdl 2048] Sharp, temping, but
probably not the best. After} (13... Bh6+ 14. Bg5 Qxd4 15. Rxd4 Bxg5+ (15...
fxe4 16. Bxh6 exf3 17. gxf3 $13) 16. Nxg5 h6 17. Nh3 fxe4 18. b3 $13 {the
position is unclear.}) 14. Qxb6 axb6 15. exf5 gxf5 16. Re1 Nc5 {[%mdl 128]} 17.
Rxe7+ Kf8 18. Nd4 (18. Ne5 Bh6+ 19. Kb1 Rg7 20. Rxg7 Bxg7 21. f4 Bxd5 $17)
18... Rxa2 19. Nxf5 $6 {[%mdl 64] Too active. Better was} (19. Kb1 $1 Ra5 (
19... Ra8 $1) 20. Nxf5 Nb3 {And now!} 21. Be2 $3 Ra1+ 22. Kc2 Rxh1 23. Re8+ $3
Kxe8 24. Bh5+ Kf8 25. Be7#) 19... Bxd5 20. Nd6 (20. Kb1 $1 Ra8 21. Nd6 Nb3 22.
Kc2 Be6 23. f4 $36) 20... Ra1+ 21. Kc2 Bh6 22. Re8+ Kg7 23. Rxg8+ (23. Nf5+ Kg6
24. Rxg8+ Bxg8 25. Ne7+ Kg7 26. Nf5+ $11) 23... Bxg8 24. Nf5+ Kg6 25. Nxh6 $4 {
[%mdl 8192] Last mistake. Perpetual check was possible after} (25. Ne7+ $11)
25... Nb3 $1 {[%mdl 64]} 26. Bxc4 Bxc4 27. Rxa1 Nxa1+ 28. Kb1 Nb3 29. Ng4 Kh5
$1 {[%cal Rh5g4,Rh5h4]} 30. Nf6+ Kxh4 31. Nxh7 Bd3+ 32. Ka2 Nc1+ 33. Ka3 Bxh7
0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Nikolic, Predrag"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2659"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 b5 7. Qd3 Nbd7 8. e4
b4 9. Na4 Qa5 {Anhand der Partien in dieser Variante schließe ich darauf, dass
Schwarz keine Probleme hat. Schwarz kommt zu ...c6-c5. Außerdem ist das Feld
c3 geschwächt.} 10. b3 c5 11. e5 $5 {Da Weiß sowieso die Entwicklung des
Läufers nach e2 folgen läßt, ist es vielleicht genauer, erst 11.Be2 zu spielen,
um noch ...Bb7 herauszukitzeln.} (11. Be2 $5 Bb7 12. e5 Nd5 13. O-O Be7 14. Bd2
O-O 15. Rfc1 Rfc8 16. Qb5 Qxb5 17. Bxb5 N5b6 $11 18. dxc5 Nxc5 19. Nxb6 axb6
20. Nd4 Ne4 21. Be3 Rxc1+ 22. Rxc1 Nc3 23. Rc2 Bc5 24. Bf1 Be4 25. Rd2 Nxa2 26.
Nb5 Nc3 27. Nc7 Rc8 28. Ba6 Rb8 29. Bc4 h6 30. Bxc5 bxc5 31. f3 Bb7 32. Rd7 Kf8
33. h4 h5 34. Kf2 g6 35. Ke3 Nb1 36. Bxe6 fxe6 37. Nxe6+ Ke8 38. Rh7 Bc6 39.
Nxc5 Rb5 40. Ne6 Rxe5+ {0-1 Piket,J-Van Wely,L/Monte Carlo 1999/CBM 69 ext (40)
}) (11. Bg5 cxd4 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Nxd4 Bb7 14. Nb5 Nc5 15. Nxc5 Bxc5 16. Rc1
Qb6 17. Rxc5 Qxc5 18. Nd6+ Ke7 19. Nxb7 Qb6 20. e5 fxe5 21. Be2 Rac8 22. Qe4
Rc1+ 23. Bd1 Qd4 24. Qxd4 exd4 25. Na5 $13 {1/2-1/2 Filippov,V-Kharlov,A/
Kemerovo 1995/CBM 50 (88)}) 11... Nd5 12. Be2 cxd4 (12... Bb7 {würde zu
Piket-Van Wely führen. Aber Schwarz hat besseres.}) 13. Qxd4 Ba6 14. Bd2 Be7
15. a3 $6 {Weiß startet eine Initative am Damenflügel, aber schon bald wird er
nicht mehr die Gesier los, die er rief. Er sollte mit 15.Qe4 kleine Brötchen
backen.} (15. Qg4 $6 Bxe2 $1 (15... g6 16. Qe4 O-O 17. O-O) 16. Qxg7 (16. Kxe2
Qb5+) 16... O-O-O 17. Kxe2 Qb5+ 18. Ke1 Qd3 $40) (15. Qe4 $11 {nebst 0-0
sollte zum Ausgleich führen.}) 15... Bxe2 16. Kxe2 Qb5+ $1 (16... O-O $11 {
würde zu problemlosen Ausgleich für Schwarz führen. Aber Kramnik wählt eine
ehrgeizigere Fortsetzung.}) 17. Qc4 Qb8 {Nun hängen der Pe5 und der Pa3. Das
Problem ist jedoch die Fesselung des Nd7. Kramnik muss erkannt haben, dass
Schwarz sich aus dieser Fesselung befreien kann, ohne das Weiß in der
Zwischenzeit etwas erreichen kann.} 18. Qc6 bxa3 {Es wird sich als erstaunlich
schwierig erweisen, diesen Bauern wieder zurückzugewinnen.} 19. Rhc1 a5 $1 {
So einfach ist das: Schwarz bereitet ...Qa7 vor.} 20. Kf1 $2 (20. Nc5 $5 {
sollte noch zum Ausgleich genügen.} Qc8 (20... Ra7 21. Nxd7 Rxd7 22. Qc8+ Qxc8
23. Rxc8+ Rd8 24. Rxd8+ Kxd8 25. Bc1 $11) 21. Qxc8+ Rxc8 22. Nb7 O-O 23. Rxc8
Rxc8 24. Nxa5) 20... Qa7 21. Nd4 (21. Nc3 Nb4 22. Qc4 O-O $36) 21... O-O 22.
Nb5 Qa6 23. Qxa6 (23. Qxd7 Rab8 $17) 23... Rxa6 $17 24. f4 Bb4 $1 25. Rc2 Rb8
26. Nxa3 (26. Nd4 Bxd2 27. Rxd2 Nxf4 $17) 26... Bxd2 27. Rxd2 Rxb3 28. g3 Rc6
29. Nc2 $2 Rxc2 $19 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2646"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 {Eine kleine Überraschung - der
holländische Großmeister spielt sehr selten die Wiener Variante mit Schwarz.
(ich habe nur eine Partie gegen Sokolov,I. aus dem Jarhe 1997 gefunden.)} 5. e4
Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7. Bxc4 {Die alte Variante 7.e5 wird nur noch selten gespielt
und bietet Weiß keinen Vorteil. Wenn es etwas gegen die Wiener Variante gibt,
dann muss man es mit diesem Läuferzug versuchen.} cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3
Qa5 10. Bb5+ {Die Alternative - 10.Bxf6 Qxc3+ 11.Kf1 gxf6 - bietet Weiss
weniger Hoffnungen auf Eröffnungsvorteil, oder - was ist auch gefährlich für
Schwarz - Karpovs Fortsetzung - 10.Nb5.} Bd7 (10... Nbd7) 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Qb3
a6 (12... O-O) 13. Be2 Nc6 14. O-O Qc7 {Schwarz hat keine Angst davor, mit dem
König in der Mitte zu bleiben. Und in der Tat, der schwarze König steht
wahrscheinlich besser in der Mitte als z.B. nach kurzer Rochade am
Königsflügel.} (14... O-O) 15. Rab1 (15. Qa3) (15. Rad1) 15... Na5 16. Qa3 Rc8
{Strategisch steht Schwarz ausgezeichnet - der weiße Pc3 ist eine positionelle
Schwäche, der Na5 findet einen guten Stützpunkt auf c4. Das einziges Problem
von Schwarz ist die etwas unsichere Königsstellung.} 17. c4 {Weiß verteidigt
seine Schwäche natürlich nicht, sondern geht mit dem c-Bauern voran. Es ist
bemerkenswert, dass Van Wely - mit Weiß - eine interessante Partie gegen
Rustemov (1999) spielte, in der Schwarz mit 17...Qc5 fortsetzte.} (17. Rfd1 $1
Qxc3 $2 (17... Qc5 $5 18. Qc1 $5) 18. Qd6 $1 Qc7 19. Nf5 exf5 20. Qxf6 O-O $2
21. Rd3 f4 22. Rd5 h6 23. Qxh6 f5 24. Rb6 $1 (24. Qg6+ Kh8 25. Rd3 fxe4 26. Rd5
$1 Bf5 27. Rxf5 Rxf5 28. Qxf5 f3 29. gxf3 $16) 24... Bc6 25. Rxa5 Qh7 (25...
Qxb6 26. Qg6+ Kh8 27. Ra3 $18) 26. Qxf4 {1-0 Kasparov,G-Hjartarson,J/Tilburg
1989/CBM 15/[ChessBase] (26)}) 17... Nxc4 (17... Qc5 18. Qc3 Ke7 $5 (18... e5
19. Nb3 Nxb3 20. axb3 a5 21. Rfd1 Be6 22. h3 $5 O-O $6 (22... Ke7 $11) 23. Qg3+
Kh8 24. Qh4 $14 {1-0 Khalifman,A-Polgar,J/Las Vegas 1999/CBM 72/[Ribli] (44)})
19. Kh1 e5 $1 20. Nc2 Nxc4 $1 (20... Bc6 $2 21. Bd3 {1-0 Van Wely,L-Rustemov,A/
Polanica Zdroj 1999/CBM 73/[VanWely/Cifuentes] (60)}) 21. Bxc4 Qxc4 22. Qxc4
Rxc4 23. Ne3 Rxe4 24. Rxb7 Rd8 25. Rd1 (25. Ra7 Kf8 $1) 25... Ke8 26. Nd5 Rd4
$1) 18. Bxc4 Qxc4 19. Rfd1 Qc3 (19... Qc5 20. Qf3) 20. Qd6 $146 {Natürlich
muss Weiß nach Möglichkeit versuchen, die Damen auf dem Brett zu halten, sonst
kommt Schwarz in ein Endspiel ohne besondere Probleme.} (20. Qxc3 Rxc3 21. Rxb7
Bc8 22. Ra7 O-O 23. Ne2 $36 Rc2 24. Nf4 Kg7 {1/2-1/2 Eingorn,V-Yudasin,L/USSR 
(ch) 1988/Inf 46/[Eingorn,V] (30)}) (20. Nb3 Rg8 $1 21. Kh1 Bc6 22. Rbc1 Qh3
$13) 20... Qc7 21. Qb4 (21. Qa3 Qc3 $11) 21... Rg8 {[%cal Gg8g1][%mdl 2048]}
22. Qd2 (22. Qxb7 $5 e5 (22... Qxb7 23. Rxb7 $14) 23. Qxc7 Rxc7 24. Rb8+ Rc8
25. Rxc8+ Bxc8 26. Nc6 Bd7 27. Rb1 $14) 22... Rg5 $1 $13 {[%cal Gg5a5]} 23. h3
Ba4 24. Rdc1 Rc5 25. Ne2 (25. Rxc5 Qxc5 26. Rxb7 Qc1+ (26... Rd8 27. Qb4 $11)
27. Qxc1 Rxc1+ 28. Kh2 Rc4 $17) 25... Rxc1+ 26. Rxc1 Bc6 $15 {Schwarz kann
zufrieden sein - er hat einen Bauern mehr und Weiß hat keine Drohungen. Im
Gegenteil, Schwarz hat einen starken Bc6 und gute Chancen, die Herrschaft über
die d-Linie zu übernehmen.} 27. Ng3 Rd8 28. Qh6 Qe5 29. Qxh7 Rd2 $36 {[%csl
Gc6,Gd2,Ge5] Die schwarzen Figuren koordinieren gut. Weiß hat zwar materielles
Gleichgewicht erreicht, aber das ist auch schon alles, woran er sich freuen
kann, seine Stellung ist passiv.} 30. Qh8+ Ke7 31. Qh6 Qb2 {[%csl Rf2][%cal
Ra2g2]} 32. Rf1 Bb5 33. e5 $1 {In schwieriger Stellung findet Weiß die einzige
Chance zu Gegenspiel zu kommen.} Bxf1 (33... f5 $5 34. Qh4+ Kd7 35. Qf6 Bxf1
36. Nxf1 Rd1 37. Qxf7+ Kd8 38. Qxe6 Qb5 $19) 34. Qxf6+ Ke8 35. Nxf1 Rd1 36.
Qh8+ Kd7 37. Qf6 $2 (37. Qh5 $1 {[%cal Rh5d1,Rh5f7][%mdl 256] Auf h5 steht die
Dame ausgezeichnet - sie greift gleichzeitig den Pf7 und den Rd1 an.} Qc1 (
37... Rxf1+ 38. Kxf1 Qb1+ 39. Ke2 Qxa2+ 40. Ke3 $11) 38. Qxf7+ Kc8 39. Kh2 $1
Rxf1 40. Qf8+ Kd7 41. Qd6+ Ke8 42. Qxe6+ Kf8 43. Qf6+ Kg8 44. Qd8+ $11) 37...
Qb5 $1 $19 {Die Dame steht ausgezeichnet auf b5 - der Nf1 hängt, und Weiß hat
kein Dauerschach.} (37... Qe2 38. Qxf7+ Kd8 39. Qf8+ Kc7 40. Qe7+ Kb6 $19) 38.
Qxf7+ Kd8 39. Qf8+ Kc7 40. Kh2 Qxf1 (40... Rxf1 $2 41. Qd6+ Kc8 42. Qf8+ Kd7
43. Qd6+ $11) 41. Qe7+ {Weiß kann noch ein paar Schachs geben, aber es gibt
kein Dauerschach - der Rd1 kommt seinem König zu Hilfe.} Rd7 42. Qc5+ Kb8 43.
Qf8+ Ka7 44. Qc5+ b6 {Die siebte Reihe ist verteidigt, nun gewinnt Schwarz
leicht.} 45. Qc6 Rf7 46. f3 Rg7 (46... Rg7 47. Qc2 Qe1 48. Qb2 Rg5 $19) 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Lautier, Joel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2632"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 e6 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4
O-O 9. Rd1 Nc6 10. Qf4 Qb8 11. e4 d6 12. b3 a6 13. Qe3 b5 14. cxb5 axb5 15. Bb2
Ra5 16. Rac1 Ba8 17. Nd4 Rc8 18. Nxc6 Bxc6 19. Nd5 Bxd5 20. exd5 e5 21. a3 b4
22. Rxc8+ Qxc8 23. axb4 Ra2 24. Qc3 Qf5 25. Rc1 g6 26. h3 Bd8 27. Ra1 Bb6 28.
Bf3 Bd4 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.24"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E70"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2559"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Bg5 O-O 6. Qd2 c5 7. d5 e6 8. Bd3 Re8
9. Nge2 exd5 10. exd5 Nbd7 11. f4 a6 12. O-O b5 13. cxb5 Qb6 14. Kh1 Ng4 15.
Ng3 h6 16. Bh4 axb5 17. h3 Ne3 18. Rfe1 c4 19. Be4 b4 20. Rxe3 bxc3 21. bxc3 f5
22. Rae1 fxe4 23. Nxe4 Rf8 24. Rg3 Kh7 25. Be7 Rf5 26. Nxd6 Nf6 27. Nxf5 Bxf5
28. Rge3 h5 29. d6 Qc6 30. Bxf6 Bxf6 31. Re7+ Kh6 32. Rf7 Bh4 33. Qd4 Rg8 34.
Qa7 Rh8 35. Ree7 g5 36. Rf6+ Bg6 37. Rxg6+ Kxg6 38. Re6+ Kf5 39. Qf7# 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.26"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. c3 f5 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 O-O 14. Nce3
Be6 15. Bd3 f5 16. Qh5 (16. O-O) (16. Bc2) 16... e4 17. Bc2 Ne7 18. Bb3 (18.
Nf4 Bf7 19. Bb3 Qd7 20. O-O Be5 21. Bxf7+ Rxf7 22. Nfd5 Nxd5 23. Nxd5 Qe6 {
1/2-1/2 Almasi,Z-Kramnik,V/Dortmund 1998/}) (18. Rd1 Rc8 $1 19. Bb3 Ng6 20. g3
Be5 21. f4 exf3 22. O-O f4 $132 {0-1 Kindermann,S-Van Wely,L/Germany 1998/ (41)
}) 18... Kh8 19. Nf4 (19. Nxe7 Qxe7 20. Nd5 Bxd5 21. Bxd5 Rac8 $11 {Hodova,
L-Flaisigova,P/Plzen 1998}) 19... Bxb3 20. axb3 Qd7 21. Ned5 (21. Rd1 Be5 22.
Ned5 $11) 21... Nxd5 22. Nxd5 f4 $1 23. g3 (23. Nb6 Qc6 24. Nxa8 Bxc3+ 25. Kf1
(25. bxc3 Qxc3+ 26. Ke2 Qb2+ $19) 25... Bxb2 26. Rb1 Rxa8 $17) 23... f3 24. Rd1
Rae8 25. O-O Re5 26. Qh4 Qf7 $15 27. Nf4 Bf6 28. Qh6 Rg8 (28... Rd8 $17 {
is more precise}) 29. Kh1 Rd8 30. Rfe1 d5 (30... Bg5 31. Qh5 Qg8 $17) 31. Qh3
Bg5 32. Qg4 (32. Nd3 Re6 $17 {[%cal Re6h6]}) 32... Rg8 33. c4 Bh6 34. Qh4 Bg5
35. Qg4 bxc4 (35... dxc4 36. Rd7 Be7 $17) 36. bxc4 Bh6 (36... dxc4 37. Rd7 Be7
$17) 37. Qh4 Bg5 38. Qg4 Bh6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.27"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. g3 Bb4 8. Bg2
Ne4 9. Bxe4 Bxe4 10. O-O Bg6 11. Nxc4 O-O 12. Qb3 a5 13. Rd1 Nd7 14. Bf4 Qe7 (
14... Nb6 $6 15. Na2 Qd5 16. Rdc1 Nxc4 17. Nxb4 axb4 18. Rxc4 b5 19. Rxb4 Qxb3
20. Rxb3 bxa4 21. Rb4 Bc2 22. Rc4 Bb3 23. Rxc6 Rfc8 24. Rac1 Rxc6 25. Rxc6 f6
26. Bd6 $16 {1-0 Wiedenkeller,M-Matulovic,M/Banja Luka 1987/EXT 97 (51)}) 15.
Na2 Rfd8 16. Nxb4 Qxb4 17. Qc3 c5 18. Qxb4 axb4 19. dxc5 Nxc5 20. Nb6 Bc2 21.
Rdc1 Nb3 22. Nxa8 Nxa1 23. Nb6 Rd1+ 24. Rxd1 Bxd1 25. Kf1 Nc2 26. Bd6 Nd4 27.
Ke1 Bxe2 28. Bc5 Nb3 29. Bxb4 Bf3 30. Nc4 f6 31. Nd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 09th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2000.03.28"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A47"]
[WhiteElo "2696"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "2000.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. e3 Be7 5. b3 O-O 6. Bb2 b6 7. Nbd2 Bb7 8. Bd3
c5 9. O-O cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nc6 11. Nxc6 Bxc6 12. Qe2 Nd7 13. cxd5 Bxd5 14. Rfd1
Bf6 15. Ne4 Bxb2 16. Qxb2 Qe7 17. Nc3 Bb7 18. Be4 Nf6 19. Bxb7 Qxb7 20. Rd4
Rfd8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Frankfurt SC Comp m"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "2000.06.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Comp Fritz/Primergy K800"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A10"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[Annotator "Knaak,R"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2000.06.17"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.07.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 f5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. b4 Bg7 5. Bb2 d6 6. d4 c6 {Spätestens hier ist
das Buch verlassen.} 7. Bg2 d5 8. Nbd2 (8. c5 $5) 8... dxc4 $1 {Eine
Überraschung; in Stellungen des Stonewall-Typs ist die Aufgabe des Zentrums
fast immer schlecht. Aber halt: Hier steht noch nicht Pe6 und Fritz wird
dieses Feld gleich für die Aktivierung des Bc8 nutzen.} 9. Nxc4 Be6 10. Qc2 (
10. Ne3 $5) 10... Bd5 {Damit ist der gefährliche Bg2 neutralisiert.} 11. O-O
Be4 12. Qb3 Qd5 13. Rfc1 (13. Qc3 {gefällt mir besser.}) 13... Nbd7 14. Na5 Rb8
15. a4 Bh6 $1 16. Rf1 g5 $5 {Sehr interessant von Fritz gespielt. Falls Weiß
hier noch Vorteil hat, so ist er nach dem nächsten Zug garantiert weg.} 17. b5
$6 g4 18. Ne1 Bd2 $1 {Visiert die beiden weißen Springer an.} 19. Qxd5 Bxd5 20.
Bxd5 Nxd5 21. Nc4 Bxe1 22. Rfxe1 {Das Endspiel ist völlig gleich; die weißen
Figuren stehen etwas harmonischer, aber der Bb2 ist nicht viel wert.} h5 23. e4
fxe4 24. Rxe4 Rh7 25. Rae1 cxb5 26. axb5 N7f6 27. R4e2 Nc7 28. b6 (28. Re5 $5)
28... axb6 29. Nxb6 Nd7 $1 {Fritz macht seinen b-Bauern frei und steht schon
ein wenig besser.} 30. Nc4 b5 31. Ne3 Nf6 32. Rd1 Rd8 33. Rc1 e6 34. Rc5 b4 35.
Kg2 Rd6 36. h3 Ncd5 37. Nc4 gxh3+ 38. Kxh3 Ra6 39. Bc1 Rb7 40. Bf4 $5 {Kramnik
will seinen schlechten Läufer unbedingt loswerden.} Nxf4+ 41. gxf4 Rd7 42. f5
Rxd4 43. Rxe6+ Rxe6 44. fxe6 Ne4 45. Rc6 Nxf2+ 46. Kg2 Ne4 47. Ne3 Nd6 48. Rb6
Rd3 (48... Ke7 49. Rxb4 $1 Rxb4 50. Nd5+ Kxe6 51. Nxb4 $11) 49. Kf2 b3 50. Rb8+
{Nun muss Fritz doh noch seinen König ziehen; es ging doch auch ganz gut ohne?}
Ke7 51. Ke2 Rd4 52. Rxb3 Kxe6 53. Rd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Frankfurt SC Comp m"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "2000.06.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Comp Fritz/Primergy K800"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A27"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2000.06.17"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 076 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.07.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.07.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 f5 4. d4 e4 5. Ng5 Bb4 6. Nh3 Nf6 7. e3 Bxc3+ 8.
bxc3 d6 9. Nf4 O-O 10. h4 Qe7 11. c5 Nd8 12. Qb3+ Ne6 13. Bc4 Re8 14. Ba3 Kh8
15. Bxe6 Bxe6 16. Qxb7 d5 17. Rb1 Bf7 18. Rb3 Rec8 19. c6 Qd8 20. Qa6 Nh5 21.
Nxh5 Bxh5 22. Rb7 Qf6 23. O-O h6 24. Bc5 Kh7 25. Bxa7 Qxh4 26. Rfb1 Bf3 27. Qf1
Re8 28. Bb8 Raxb8 29. Rxb8 Re6 30. Rf8 Rg6 31. Rxf5 Rxg2+ 32. Qxg2 Bxg2 0-1

[Event "Fujitsu Siemens Giants"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "2000.06.22"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D23"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2000.06.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 078"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. g3 d5 4. d4 dxc4 (4... cxd4 5. Bg2 Nc6 (5... dxc4 $142
6. Nxd4 e5 7. Nb5 $44) 6. Nxd4 Qb6 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. O-O e6 9. Nc3 Bb4 10. Be3
Qa5 11. Bd4 O-O 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. cxd5 cxd5 14. e4 Bxc3 15. bxc3 dxe4 16. Qg4+
Kh8 17. Bxe4 Rb8 18. c4 $14 {Loeffler,S-Podlesnik,B/Bled op/2000/} Bb7) 5. Qa4+
Bd7 6. Qxc4 Bc6 7. Bg2 $146 {[%mdl 8] To keep the tension Kramnik comes up
with a novelty compared with his game with Kasparov.} (7. dxc5 Bd5 8. Qa4+ Bc6
9. Qc4 Bd5 10. Qc2 e6 11. Bg2 Be4 12. Qc4 Bd5 13. Qh4 Bxc5 14. Nc3 Bc6 15. O-O
{Kramnik,V-Kasparov,G/Linares/2000/} Nbd7 16. Rd1 Qb6 17. e3 Be7 $11) 7... cxd4
8. O-O Qd5 (8... Nbd7 $5 $11) 9. Na3 $5 (9. Qxd4 e6 $5 (9... Qxd4 10. Nxd4 Bxg2
11. Kxg2 a6 (11... e6 12. Nb5 Na6 13. Be3 $36) 12. Nc3 $32) 10. Nc3 Qxd4 11.
Nxd4 Bxg2 12. Kxg2 Bc5 13. Ndb5 Na6 $11) 9... a6 {This costs time.} (9... e6
10. Qxd5 Bxd5 (10... Nxd5 11. Nxd4 Bxa3 12. bxa3 Nc3 13. Bb2 $36 {/\} Bxg2 14.
Kxg2 Na4 15. Nb5 $16) 11. Nb5 Na6 12. Nfxd4 Bxg2 13. Kxg2 Be7 $11 {/+/=}) 10.
Rd1 $1 e6 (10... Qxc4 11. Nxc4 Nbd7 12. Rxd4 $14) 11. Rxd4 Qxc4 12. Nxc4 Bc5
13. Rd1 Nbd7 14. Bf4 O-O 15. Rac1 $32 {[%csl Rd6] +/= White's forces are more
active and he can invade via d6. But Black's defences are still solid.} Rac8 (
15... Rfd8 16. Bd6 $14 {/\} (16. Bc7 Rdc8 17. Bd6 Ba7 {[%cal Rf6e4] /\Ne4<=>})
16... Ba7 17. Be7 Re8 18. Bxf6 Nxf6 19. Nd6 Re7 20. Ne5 $36) 16. Bd6 Bxd6 17.
Nxd6 Rb8 18. Nd4 (18. Ng5 $5 h6 (18... Bxg2 19. Kxg2 h6 20. Nge4 $36) 19. Nge4
(19. Bxc6 $2 bxc6 20. Ngxf7 Rxb2 $1 $15) 19... Nd5 20. Nc3 $14) 18... Bxg2 19.
Kxg2 Ne5 20. Rc5 (20. Rc7 Nd5 21. Rxb7 Rxb7 22. Nxb7 Rb8 23. e4 Rxb7 24. Nb3 $5
(24. exd5 Rxb2 25. dxe6 fxe6 $11) 24... Rb5 25. exd5 exd5 $11 {[%cal Re5c4,
Ya6a4] /\Nc4,a5-a4<=>}) 20... Nd5 $1 {[]} (20... Rfd8 $2 21. Nxe6 $18) (20...
Ned7 21. Rc7 $16) 21. e4 b6 22. Rcc1 Nb4 23. a3 (23. f4 $5 Ng4 (23... Ned3 24.
Rc3 Nxb2 25. Rd2 Na4 26. Rc4 a5 27. a3 b5 28. N6xb5 $16) 24. Rd2 Nxa2 25. Rc7
$36) 23... Rbd8 $1 (23... Nbd3 $2 24. f4 $1 Nxb2 (24... Nxc1 25. fxe5 Rbc8 (
25... Na2 26. Nc6 Ra8 27. Ra1 $18) 26. Nxc8 Rxc8 27. Nc6 $1 $18) 25. fxe5 Nxd1
26. Rxd1 $16) 24. Nb7 (24. Nxe6 fxe6 25. axb4 Ng4 26. h3 (26. Rc2 $2 Rxf2+ $1
27. Rxf2 Ne3+ $15) 26... Nxf2 (26... Rxf2+ 27. Kg1 $18) 27. Rd2 e5 $1 {/\Rf6}
28. Ra1 Rf6 29. Rxa6 Nxh3 $11 30. Rxb6 $6 Ng5 $36) (24. axb4 Rxd6 $11) 24...
Rd7 25. axb4 Rxb7 26. h3 (26. Nc6 $14) (26. b5 $5 axb5 27. Nxb5 $14 {[%cal
Gc1c8,Gd1d8] <->c,d}) 26... g5 27. f4 (27. Nc6 $142) 27... gxf4 28. gxf4 Ng6
29. Ne2 Rbb8 30. Rd6 (30. Kf3 $5 Rfd8 31. Ke3 $14) 30... Rfd8 $11 31. Rcd1 Rxd6
32. Rxd6 Rc8 $1 33. Rxb6 (33. Rxb6 Rc2 34. Kf3 Nh4+ 35. Ke3 (35. Kf2 Rxb2)
35... Ng2+ 36. Kd3 Ne1+ $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Fujitsu Siemens Giants"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "2000.06.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B45"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "Golod,V"]
[PlyCount "185"]
[EventDate "2000.06.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 078"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. e5 Nd5 8.
Ne4 Bb7 $5 (8... Qc7 $5 {It's main line.See comments to Hector,J-Ziegler,A/
Goteborg,1999/CBM 69 (1-0) (Golod,V)(37). Besides:8...Qa5;8...f5;8...Qh4;  8...
Ba6; 8...Be7;8...Qb6;8...c5 and 8...h6-was checked in the previous games.}) 9.
Be2 (9. c4 $5 {See comments to Khachian,M-Halkias,S/Yerevan,2000/CBM 78 (0-1)
(Golod,V)(39)}) 9... c5 $5 {/^a8-h1,/\Qc7(קe5)} 10. O-O {With the idea c4 and
Nd6.} ({Dubious immediately:} 10. c4 {in view of:} Ne3 $1 11. Bxe3 Bxe4 12. f3
Bc6 $11) 10... Qc7 11. c4 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8] New attempt of white to get
advantage in this position.} ({After:} 11. f4 {black has two equals options:11.
..c4 or 11...f5}) (11. Nd6+ $5 {See my comments to three games: 1)Kasparov,
G-Leko,P/Linares,1999/CBM 70  (1/2-1/2)(48); 2)Svidler,P-Illescas Cordoba,M/
Dos  Hermanas,1999/CBM 71(1/2-1/2)(26) 3)Anand,V-Leko,P/Dortmund,1999/CBM 72 
(1/2-1/2)(29).}) 11... Ne3 $140 ({Very perilously:} 11... Qxe5 {because of:}
12. cxd5 Qxe4 13. Bf3 Qb4 $8 (13... Qc4 $2 14. dxe6 {[%csl Rb7,Rd7][%cal Gd1d7]
} d5 15. b3 $16) 14. Bd2 $1 Qb6 (14... Qxb2 $4 15. Rb1 {[%csl Rb7]}) 15. Bc3 {
with strong pressure of white.}) ({Too passive move:} 11... Nb6 12. Nd6+ Bxd6
13. exd6 Qc8 (13... Qc6 14. Bf3 Qc8 15. Bxb7 Qxb7 16. Qg4 $14) 14. Be3 $14 (14.
Qb3 $5 {[%cal Gb3g3] Fritz,6})) 12. Nd6+ ({Black equalizes after:} 12. Bxe3 $6
Bxe4) 12... Bxd6 {Now black has a forced transfer to slight worse endgame.} (
12... Qxd6 $2 13. exd6 Nxd1 14. Rxd1 $16 {and white's plan is:Be3,a3 and b4.})
13. exd6 Qc6 (13... Nxd1 $4 14. dxc7 $18 {[%csl Rd1]}) 14. Bf3 $8 Nxd1 ({Badly:
} 14... Qxf3 15. Qxf3 Bxf3 16. Bxe3 Be2 17. Rfc1 Rc8 18. f3 Rc6 (18... Bd3 19.
Rc3 Bf5 20. Ra3 $16) 19. Kf2 Bd3 20. Rc3 Bg6 (20... Rxd6 $4 21. Rd1) 21. Rb3 $1
O-O $140 22. Rb7 $16) 15. Bxc6 Bxc6 16. Rxd1 {[%mdl 4096] +/=/=} O-O {[%csl
Rc5][%cal Yf8c8,Yc8c5]} 17. Be3 Rfc8 18. Rac1 ({Senselessly:} 18. Bxc5 $2 {
because of:} Ba4 $1 {[%csl Ga4,Rc5,Gc8,Rd1]} (18... Bxg2 $143 19. b4 $13) 19.
b3 (19. b4 Bxd1 20. Rxd1 a5 21. a3 axb4 22. axb4 Ra2 $15 {[%csl Rc4][%cal
Ga2c2,Gc8a8]}) 19... Rxc5 20. bxa4 Rxc4 $15) 18... Rab8 19. Rd2 {[%csl Yd2]} ({
Leads to equality:} 19. b3 a5 {[%cal Ga5a4]} 20. Bxc5 Bxg2 21. Ba7 Rb7 22. Kxg2
Rxa7) 19... Be4 $5 {[%csl Rc5,Yc8] /^b1-h7} 20. f3 Bg6 21. Rc3 $5 {[%csl Ra7,
Rc5][%cal Gc3a3,Ga3a5,Ga5c5,Ga3a7]} Rb6 {[%mdl 256]} ({Leads to same position:
} 21... a6 22. Ra3 Rc6 23. Ra5 Rbc8) 22. Ra3 a6 23. Ra5 Rbc6 24. b4 $5 {
Non-standard,but necessary sacrifice of pawn.} ({After:} 24. Rd1 {/\Rc1-c3-a3
black has a easy protective move:} Rb8 {[%csl Rb2]}) 24... cxb4 25. c5 b3 $1 {
In my opinion it's sound decision.} ({A little worse is:} 25... Rb8 26. Rb2 b3
27. Rxb3 Rxb3 28. axb3 Bd3 29. Kf2 {+/=/=}) 26. axb3 Rb8 27. Rb2 Bd3 {[%csl
Yb8,Yc6,Yd3] /^a6-f1} 28. b4 f6 29. Ra3 Bc4 30. f4 $5 {[%csl Yf4][%cal Yf4e5,
Yf4g5] Against advance e5 or g5.} h6 {[%cal Gg7g5]} 31. Bd4 Kf7 32. h4 {
[%csl Yf4,Yh4][%cal Yh4g5,Yf4g5]} h5 $5 $11 33. Kf2 Rcc8 34. Ke1 {In endgame
stage K must take part in the struggle!} Rb7 35. Kd2 Bb5 36. Kc3 {[%csl Rb4,
Yc3][%cal Yc3b4]} Rbb8 37. Ra1 f5 {Not obligatory,prophylactic move.From my
point of view slightly better is:} (37... Kg6 $5 {[%cal Gg6f5]}) 38. Rba2 {
[%cal Ga5a6,Ga2a6]} Rc6 39. Re1 g6 40. Ra5 {+/=/=} Rb7 41. Rea1 Rb8 42. Be5 Rb7
43. Re1 {White's plan is: Re3-g3-g5 and perhaps g4.} Rb8 44. Re3 Rb7 45. Rg3
Rb8 46. Ra1 Be2 47. Re1 Bb5 ({Quite dubious:} 47... Bg4 48. Kc4 {/\Ra3-a5 and
so on.}) 48. Bd4 Rbc8 ({It deserves attention:} 48... a5 $5 49. bxa5 Ba4 {
[%csl Rg3][%cal Gb8b3]} 50. Kc4 (50. Kd2 $143 Rb4 $44) 50... Rb5 51. Ra3 Rxa5
52. Kb4 Rca6 53. Rea1 Rb5+ 54. Kc4 Rba5 {+/=/=}) 49. Kd2 $5 {[%csl Yd2]
Against black's idea:Be2-g4.} Ra8 50. Ra1 ({Badly right away:} 50. Rg5 {
because of:} a5 $36) 50... Rb8 51. Rg5 Re8 52. Re1 Rcc8 53. Re3 Rc6 54. g4 $5 {
[%mdl 512] It's only chance play to win.} fxg4 ({Good enough:} 54... hxg4 $5
55. h5 gxh5 (55... Rg8 $2 56. h6 {[%cal Gh6h7]} Rcc8 57. Re1 $16 {[%cal Ge1h1]}
) 56. Rg7+ Kf8 57. Rh7 $44 (57. Bf6 $2 a5 58. Re1 $140 h4 $1 $19) (57. Rxd7 $2
Rxc5 $17)) 55. f5 exf5 ({Another alternative is:} 55... gxf5 56. Rxh5 $44) 56.
Rxe8 Kxe8 57. Rxg6 f4 ({Weakly:} 57... Bc4 {in view of:} 58. Ke3 $1 {with
obvious advantage of white.}) 58. Rg5 {[%csl Rh5]} f3 ({Loses:} 58... Bc4 $2
59. Rxh5 $140 Be6 {because of:} 60. Rh7 Kf8 61. h5 {/\Rg7;h6-h7-h8.}) 59. Ke3
Kf7 {[%cal Gc6c8,Gc8e8]} 60. Rxh5 Rc8 61. Rf5+ Ke6 62. Re5+ Kf7 63. Kf4 Re8 64.
Rf5+ ({Most probably draw after:} 64. Rxe8 Kxe8 65. Kxg4 Bc6) 64... Ke6 65.
Kxg4 Rg8+ 66. Kf4 Bc6 $14 67. Re5+ Kf7 68. h5 Rg2 {[%cal Gf3f2]} 69. Re7+ Kf8
70. Re1 Rh2 71. Kg5 Re2 {[%mdl 256]} 72. Rf1 Kf7 73. h6 Rg2+ 74. Kf5 Rh2 75.
Be3 Rh5+ 76. Kg4 Kg6 77. Rxf3 {Desperate attempt play to win.} (77. Kg3 $5 {
+/=/=}) 77... Bxf3+ 78. Kxf3 Rd5 {[%csl Yd5]} 79. Ke4 Rd1 80. Bd4 {[%cal Gc5c6]
} Rc1 {[%csl Yc1]} 81. Bg7 ({Also draw after:} 81. Be3 Rc4+ 82. Kd5 Rxb4 83. c6
Rb5+ 84. Bc5 dxc6+ 85. Kxc6) 81... Rc4+ 82. Kd5 Rxb4 83. Bd4 (83. c6 $4 Rb5+
84. Kc4 dxc6 $19 85. d7 $140 Rd5) 83... Rb5 84. Kc4 Kxh6 85. c6 dxc6 86. Bc5
Rb7 87. Bd4 a5 {Of course,black doesn't have any chances to win in this
endgame,but this game was played in rapid chess.} (87... Kg6 $144 88. Kc5 Kf7
89. Kxc6 Rb4 90. Bc5 Rb8 91. Kc7 Rg8 92. d7 Ke6 $11) 88. Kc5 a4 89. Kxc6 Rb4
90. Be5 Rb1 91. d7 Rc1+ 92. Kb7 Rd1 93. Kc7 {Please pay your attention to the
fantastic work of the white king.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Fujitsu Siemens Giants"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "2000.06.23"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D07"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2748"]
[PlyCount "124"]
[EventDate "2000.06.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 078"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bf4 Bxf3 6. gxf3 Bd6 7. Bg3 Nge7 8.
e3 Qd7 9. Qc2 f5 10. Bxd6 Qxd6 11. O-O-O O-O 12. f4 a6 13. Kb1 Nd8 14. Rg1 c6
15. Ne2 Nf7 16. Nc1 Nc8 17. Rg3 Qe7 18. c5 Qc7 19. Be2 Kh8 20. Rdg1 Rg8 21. Nd3
Ne7 22. h4 g6 23. h5 Rg7 24. hxg6 Nxg6 25. Rh1 Rag8 26. Rgh3 Nf8 27. Qd1 Qe7
28. Bh5 Nd8 29. a3 Nd7 30. Ka2 Nf6 31. Ne5 Nd7 32. Bg6 Nf8 33. Bh5 Nd7 34. Nf3
Nf6 35. Ng5 Ne4 36. Nxe4 dxe4 37. f3 exf3 38. Bxf3 Rf8 39. e4 Rf6 40. exf5 exf5
41. d5 Qxc5 42. Qe2 cxd5 43. Qe5 Qd6 44. Bxd5 Nc6 45. Qxd6 Rxd6 46. Bb3 Nd4 47.
Bc4 Rc7 48. Bd3 Re7 49. Rh5 Rf6 50. Rg5 Ne6 51. Rxf5 Rxf5 52. Bxf5 Nxf4 53. Rh4
Nd5 54. Rh6 Rf7 55. Be4 Nf6 56. Bf3 Kg7 57. Rh2 Kg6 58. Rg2+ Kf5 59. Rh2 Kg5
60. Rg2+ Kf4 61. Bd1 h5 62. Bxh5 Re7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Fujitsu Siemens Giants"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "2000.06.23"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2851"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2000.06.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 078"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. g3 d5 4. cxd5 {Kramnik has already essayed his pet move
4.d4 against Kasparov in Linares this year, now he goes for a line with a
drawish reputation.} Nxd5 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. d4 (6. Nc3 Nc7 {-A34} (6... g6 {-A34}))
6... cxd4 7. Nxd4 Ndb4 8. Nxc6 Qxd1+ 9. Kxd1 Nxc6 10. Nc3 {The only attempt to
keep the position alive, exchanging the Bg2 immediately is too sterile.} (10.
Bxc6+ bxc6 11. Be3 e5 12. Nc3 Bb4 13. Kd2 Be6 14. Rhc1 O-O 15. a3 Be7 16. Na4
Rfb8 17. Bc5 Bg5+ 18. Be3 Be7 19. Bc5 Bg5+ 20. Be3 $11 {1/2,Stohl,I-Timman,J/
BL 9900/2000/}) 10... Bd7 11. Be3 O-O-O $5 (11... e6 12. Rc1 Be7 13. Kc2 O-O
14. Rhd1 Rfd8 15. Kb1 Na5 16. Ne4 Bb5 17. Rxd8+ Rxd8 18. Bc5 (18. Rc7 $5 $36)
18... Kf8 19. Bxe7+ Kxe7 20. Rc5 a6 21. Nc3 Bc6 $11 {1/2,Keres,P-Kortschnoj,V/
Moscow/1963/}) (11... Rc8 12. Rc1 g6 13. f4 Bg7 14. Ke1 O-O 15. Kf2 Be6 (15...
e5 $6 16. Rhd1 Be6 17. Nb5 Bxa2 18. Bc5 Rfd8 19. Bxc6 bxc6 20. Nxa7 Rxd1 21.
Rxd1 Ra8 22. b4 exf4 23. gxf4 Bb3 24. Rd7 Bd5 25. Rc7 $16 {Smirin,I-Alterman,B/
Dresden/1998/}) 16. Rhd1 Rfe8 17. Nd5 Bf5 18. Rc5 e6 19. Nc3 e5 20. Bxc6 exf4
21. gxf4 $132 {1/2,Andersson,U-Farago,I/Rome/1986/}) (11... e5 12. Rc1 O-O-O
13. Kc2 Bf5+ 14. Be4 (14. Kb3 Be6+ 15. Ka4 Nd4 16. Nb5+ Kb8 17. Rc7 Rd7 18.
Bxd4 exd4 19. Rhc1 Be7 20. Rxb7+ Rxb7 21. Bxb7 Kxb7 22. Rc7+ Kb6 23. Rxe7 Rd8
$36 {Speelman,J-Alburt,L/London m 1986/}) 14... Bxe4+ 15. Nxe4 Be7 16. Rhd1
Rxd1 17. Rxd1 Rd8 18. Rxd8+ Kxd8 19. Kb3 Kd7 20. Kc4 Ke6 21. f3 f5 22. Nc3 a6
23. Bb6 Nb8 24. a4 Nd7 25. Nd5 g6 26. e4 Nf6 $11 {Andersson,U-De la Villa
Garcia,J/Szirak/1987/}) (11... g6 12. Rc1 Bg7 13. f4 O-O 14. Ke1 e5 $6 15. Kf2
exf4 16. gxf4 Be6 17. b3 Rad8 18. Ne4 Bd4 19. Nc5 Bxe3+ 20. Kxe3 Rfe8 21. Kf2
Nb4 22. a3 Nd5 23. Nxe6 fxe6 24. e3 Re7 25. Rhd1 Red7 26. Rd4 $14 {Andersson,
U-Leko,P/Ter Apel/1996/}) (11... Rd8 12. Ke1 g6 13. Rc1 Bg7 14. f4 O-O 15. Kf2
e5 {[%csl Rd5,Rd6]} 16. Rhd1 exf4 17. gxf4 Rfe8 18. Ne4 Bg4 19. Rd6 Rxd6 20.
Nxd6 Re7 21. h3 Be6 22. b3 $36 {Tkachiev,V-Fominyh,A/FIDE Wch Groningen/1997/
All these games show Black must very carefully consider e5, which wekens d6
and d5.}) 12. Ke1 $146 (12. Kc2 e5 (12... g6 $142 $5) 13. Rad1 Nd4+ 14. Kb1 Bc5
15. Ne4 Be7 16. f4 f6 17. Bxd4 exd4 18. Rxd4 Bc6 19. Rxd8+ Rxd8 20. Rc1 Kb8 21.
Bf3 Bxe4+ 22. Bxe4 g6 23. Bd3 $14 {/+/-,Kengis,E-Hegeler,F/Gausdal/1991/}) (12.
Kc1 g6 13. Rd1 Bg7 14. Bxc6 Bxc6 15. Bxa7 Bxc3 16. bxc3 Rxd1+ 17. Kxd1 Rd8+ 18.
Ke1 Rd5 $44 {1/2,Milos,G-Morovic Fernandez,I/Santiago/1989/}) 12... e5 $5 {
Kasparov plays this active move before White gets to f4 and Kf2 and also
before commtting his B to g7 (from f8 it protects d6).} (12... g6 13. Rc1 Bg7
14. f4 (14. Nb5 Kb8 15. Bf4+ Be5 $11) 14... Kb8 15. Bc5 Bd4 $5 $11) 13. Rc1 Kb8
14. f4 f5 $1 {[%mdl 256] Active defence.} (14... Bd6 15. Nb5 Bb4+ 16. Kf2 a6
17. Nc3 $14) 15. fxe5 (15. Kf2 e4 16. Rhd1 g6 $11) 15... Nxe5 16. Bf4 Re8 17.
Rd1 Bc6 $132 (17... Kc7 18. Bxe5+ Rxe5 19. Bxb7 $14) 18. Bxc6 bxc6 19. Rd7 g5
$1 20. Bxe5+ (20. Rd8+ Rxd8 21. Bxe5+ Bd6 22. Bxh8 Rxh8 23. Rf1 Rf8 $11) 20...
Rxe5 21. Rf1 (21. Rd8+ Kc7 22. Ra8 Kb7 23. Rd8 Kc7 $11) 21... Bb4 22. Rf7 Rhe8
23. Rf2 Ra5 24. Kf1 (24. R7xf5 $2 Rxa2 $17) 24... Ree5 $5 (24... Bxc3 25. bxc3
Rxa2 26. R2xf5 (26. Rxh7 g4 $11) (26. R7xf5 g4 $11) 26... h6 $5 $13 (26...
Raxe2 27. Rxg5 R2e7 28. Rgg7 $14)) 25. Rxh7 g4 26. Rf7 (26. e4 Bxc3 (26... fxe4
$6 27. a3 $16) 27. bxc3 Rxe4 28. Rd2 Rd5 29. Rb2+ Rb5 $11) 26... Bxc3 27. bxc3
Rxa2 28. R7xf5 Raxe2 $1 $11 29. Rf8+ Re8 30. Rxe8+ Rxe8 31. Rf4 Rg8 32. Ke2
1/2-1/2

[Event "Fujitsu Siemens Giants"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "2000.06.23"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2000.06.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 078"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. c3 f5 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 O-O 14. Nce3
Be6 15. Bd3 f5 16. Qh5 e4 17. Bc2 Ne7 18. Nf4 Bf7 19. Bb3 d5 20. Qg5 Ng6 21.
Qxd8 Raxd8 22. Nexd5 Nxf4 23. Nxf4 b4 24. Ne6 Bxe6 25. Bxe6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Fujitsu Siemens Giants"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "2000.06.24"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "Hecht,H"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2000.06.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 078"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. c3 f5 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 O-O 14. Nce3
Be6 15. Bd3 f5 16. a4 b4 17. O-O bxc3 18. bxc3 Kh8 19. Rb1 e4 20. Nf4 Bd7 21.
Bc4 Be5 22. Ne6 Bxe6 23. Bxe6 Qg5 24. Bd5 Rac8 25. Nc4 Ne7 26. Nxe5 dxe5 27. c4
Ng6 28. Kh1 Rcd8 29. Rb6 Rf6 30. a5 Nf4 31. g3 Nxd5 32. cxd5 f4 33. Qe2 Rxd5
34. Qxe4 Rd8 35. h4 Qf5 36. Qxf5 Rxf5 {[#]} 37. g4 Rf7 38. Rxa6 Rd2 (38... e4
39. Re6 Rd4 40. a6 Ra4 {sieht wegen der Möglichkeit e3, falls der Tf1 zieht,
mit Blick auf den Bg4 zäher aus.}) 39. Re6 Re2 40. a6 Ra2 41. Kg2 e4 42. Rxe4
Rxa6 {Jetzt ist die Situation ungleich schlechter, weil der Bf4 zu schwach ist.
} 43. Rd1 Ra3 44. Rdd4 f3+ 45. Kg3 Ra1 46. Rf4 1-0

[Event "Fujitsu Siemens Giants"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "2000.06.24"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2000.06.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 078"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 c6 3. c4 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bd3 Nbd7 6. O-O Bd6 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Qc2
e5 {Diese Variante führt mehr oder weniger forciert zu einem schlechteren
Endspiel für Schwarz, in dem die Remisaussichten aber sehr groß sind.} 9. cxd5
cxd5 10. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Bxe4 h6 13. Be3 exd4 14. Bh7+ Kh8 15. Bxd4
Nf6 16. Bf5 {Kramnik hatte diese Stellung schon einmal auf dem Brett,
allerdings auf der anderen Seite, gegen Karpov. Er erlitt damals eine
Niederlage und strebt nun natürlich mit Weiß den ganzen Punkt an. Allerdings
verteidigt Shirov sich besser als damals Kramnik.} Qa5 (16... Bxf5 $6 17. Qxf5
Qc8 18. Qb5 a6 19. Qb6 Qc7 20. Qxc7 Bxc7 21. Bxf6 gxf6 22. Rfe1 Rfe8 23. Rad1
$14 {1-0 Karpov,A-Kramnik,V/Vienna 1996/CBM 55/[Lutz] (59)}) 17. Bxc8 Rfxc8 18.
Qb3 Qd5 19. Bxf6 (19. Rfd1 Qxb3 20. axb3 Ne4 21. Bxa7 (21. Rxa7 $146 Rxa7 22.
Bxa7 Rc2 23. Bd4 $14 {1-0 Solozhenkin,E-Komarov,D/Reggio Emilia 1998/CBM 69/
[Lutz] (45)}) 21... Rc2 22. Ra4 Bc5 23. Bxc5 Rxa4 24. bxa4 Nxc5 25. h4 Nxa4 26.
Rd7 Rxb2 27. Rxf7 Kg8 28. Rc7 b5 29. Nd4 {1/2-1/2 Tkachiev,V-Relange,E/
Hastings Premier 9798 1998/CBM 63/[Lutz]}) 19... Qxb3 20. axb3 $146 {Kramnik
verzichtet auf den Mehrbauern und nutzt das gewonnene Tempo, um seine Figuren
zu aktivieren. Im Vergleich zur Partie Karpov-Kramnik (s.o.) ist jedoch der
weiße Damenflügel schwach, so dass Shirov keine Probleme hat, das
Unentschieden zu sichern.} (20. Bxg7+ Kxg7 21. axb3 Be7 $1 $44 {1/2-1/2 Bareev,
E-Dreev,A/Elista 1998/CBM 65/[Lutz] (25) Schwarz stellt den Läufer nach f6 und
hat Kompensation. Für Weiß ist es sehr schwer, den Mehrbauern zu verwerten.})
20... gxf6 21. Rfd1 Rd8 22. g3 Bc5 23. Kg2 Bb6 24. Rac1 Rxd1 25. Rxd1 Rc8 26.
Rd2 Rc5 27. Nh4 h5 28. f4 Rb5 {Der schwache weiße Damenflügel macht sich
bemerkbar.} 29. Rd3 Rc5 30. Rd2 Rb5 31. Rd3 Rc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Fujitsu Siemens Giants"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "2000.06.25"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2748"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2000.06.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 078"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. Nc3 e5 5. O-O d6 6. d3 Be7 7. h3 O-O 8. Bc4
h6 9. a3 Re8 10. Nh2 Be6 11. Nd5 Bf8 12. Nxf6+ Qxf6 13. Ng4 Qg6 14. Bxe6 fxe6
15. c3 Rad8 16. Qe2 Be7 17. b4 b6 18. bxc5 bxc5 19. Qc2 Rb8 20. Be3 h5 21. Nh2
Rb6 22. Nf3 Reb8 23. Qa4 Qe8 24. Rac1 Bf8 25. d4 Nxd4 26. Qd1 Nxf3+ 27. Qxf3
Rb3 28. Qg3 Rxa3 29. f4 exf4 30. Rxf4 Be7 31. Rf3 Kh7 32. Bg5 Bxg5 33. Qxg5 Qg6
34. Qh4 Rab3 35. Rg3 Qf7 36. Rf3 Qe8 37. Kh2 Rb1 38. Rxb1 Rxb1 39. e5 d5 40.
Qf2 Qg6 41. Qxc5 Qe4 42. Qd6 Rb2 43. Rg3 Qf4 44. Qxe6 Rb6 45. Qe7 Rg6 0-1

[Event "Fujitsu Siemens Giants"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "2000.06.25"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2851"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2000.06.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 078"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Bg5 12. Nc2 Rb8 13. a3 {It's amazing
that Kasparov is not going for the main line 13.a4. That might be a sign that
Black is doing fine there. In this case the system with early 12. ... Bg5 and
13. ... Rb8 is not worse than more popular Black's set-ups in 9.Nd5 line.} a5 (
13... O-O {I always thought this move is more precise, but it may be a
subjective approach. Interesting what Kasparov had here in mind, as the
earlier practice couldn't show anything for White.} 14. h4 {This can be the
move to emphasise the drawback of 13. ... 0-0. The future practice will give
an answer.} (14. Ncb4 Bb7 15. h4 Bh6 16. g4 Bf4 $13) 14... Bh6 15. g4 Bf4 16.
Qf3 Be6 17. Nxf4 Qf6 18. Nb4 Nxb4 19. axb4 exf4 $13) 14. Bd3 Ne7 15. Nxe7 Qxe7
16. Qe2 {This set-up (Bd3 and Qe2) is the most logical after Black's 13. ...
a5.} O-O {Interesting novelty. Black hopes to get initiative after Bxb5.} (
16... Bd7 17. b4 a4 (17... axb4 18. Nxb4 O-O 19. Nd5 Qe6 20. O-O $14) 18. Ne3
Bxe3 19. Qxe3 O-O 20. c4 bxc4 21. Bxc4 Rfc8 22. Rc1 Be6 23. Bxe6 Rxc1+ 24. Qxc1
Qxe6 25. O-O Rc8 26. Qd2 Qb3 27. Rc1 Rxc1+ 28. Qxc1 h5 29. h4 g6 30. f3 Kg7 31.
Kf2 Qa2+ 32. Kf1 Qb3 33. Ke2 Qa2+ 34. Kf1 Qb3 35. Ke2 Qa2+ 36. Kf1 {1/2-1/2
Korneev,O-Illescas Cordoba,M/Cala Galdana 1999}) (16... Qb7 17. O-O O-O 18. b4
a4 19. c4 $14 {1-0 De Firmian,N-Sutovskij,E/Essen 1999 (42)}) 17. O-O (17. Bxb5
f5 18. Bc4+ (18. a4 fxe4 19. Qxe4 Bb7 (19... Bf5 20. Qe2 $13) 20. Qc4+ Kh8 (
20... d5 21. Qe2 $13) 21. O-O Rf4 22. Qe2 Rbf8 $44 {Black has enough
compensation, as White cannot easily use his extra pawn and Black is ready for
an active play.}) 18... Kh8 19. b4 fxe4 20. O-O Bb7 21. Rad1 $13 {Black's
position looks promising, although a creative play is required.}) 17... Bd7 18.
b4 {Fixing the weakness on b5. I would say that White is slightly better, as
his play is easier, but Black's position is quite solid.} axb4 (18... a4 19. c4
bxc4 20. Bxc4 $14) 19. Nxb4 Rfc8 20. c4 {White must play it anyway soonet or
later. His plan is to advance a-pawn and try to use the fact that black Bishop
on g5 cannot defend the queenside.} bxc4 21. Bxc4 Be6 22. Bd5 Qd7 23. Qa6 (23.
Rfb1 $142 Bg4 (23... Rc3 24. a4) (23... Qa4 $2 24. Bxe6 fxe6 25. Qg4) 24. Qa6
$14) 23... Rc3 24. Rfd1 (24. Rfb1) 24... Bg4 25. Rdb1 Rbc8 {Black succeeded to
neutralize White's positional factors by getting very good dynamic. The
position remains very unclear, but one can say that Black improved the
position of all pieces, while White didn't advance his a-pawn yet.} 26. a4 (26.
Bb7 $5 {Here or on the next move White could've tried to bring the Knight into
play.} Rb8 27. Nd5) 26... h5 {Naturally Black is looking for counterplay on
the kingside. 26. ... h5 is also a defending move: Black needs "Luft" for his
King anyway.} 27. a5 (27. Bb7) 27... Bh4 28. Qb7 {understandable desire to
swap Queens.} (28. f3 Rxf3 (28... Bxf3 29. gxf3 Rxf3 30. Ra2) 29. gxf3 (29. Bb7
Rcc3 30. Nd5 Rc2 {is just winning for Black}) 29... Bxf3 {and Black has at
least perpetual, although probably not more than that.} 30. Rb2 Qg4+ 31. Kf1
Qh3+ 32. Kg1) 28... R3c7 (28... R8c7 {this is probably more precise than the
game (see comments to 31.Nc6).} 29. a6 Bh3 30. gxh3 Qxh3 31. Qb6 R7c5 $1) 29.
a6 (29. Qa6) 29... Bh3 $1 {threatening first of all Qg4.} 30. gxh3 (30. f3 $13)
30... Qxh3 31. Qb6 $2 (31. Nc6 $1 {last chance to defend was to keep away
black Rooks. By the way, that's why on the move 28 was better to leave one
Rook on c3.} Qg4+ (31... Bxf2+ $2 {loses, as the King walks to the queenside}
32. Kxf2 Qxh2+ 33. Ke3 Qg3+ 34. Kd2 Qf2+ 35. Kc3 Qe3+ 36. Kb4 Qc5+ 37. Ka4) 32.
Kf1 Qh3+ 33. Ke2 (33. Kg1 Qg4+ $11) 33... Qg4+ 34. Kd2 Qf4+ 35. Kc3 Bxf2 $13)
31... Bg5 $2 (31... Rc5 $1 {Very strong move, which cuts white Queen from
defending f2. The threat Bxf2 followed by Rc2 looks decisive.} 32. Nd3 (32. a7
Bxf2+ 33. Kxf2 Rc2+ 34. Nxc2 Rxc2+ 35. Ke1 Qc3+ 36. Kf1 Qf3+ {and mate.}) (32.
Qb7 Bxf2+ 33. Kxf2 Rc2+ $19) (32. Rf1 {doesn't help either} Bxf2+ $1 $19) (32.
Bc6 Qg4+ 33. Kf1 Qf3 $19) 32... Qxd3 33. Rf1 Qf3 34. Ra2 Rc1 {with a very
strong attack.} 35. Ra1 Qg4+ $1 (35... R8c5 {strange enough, but this seem to
achieve nothing as the pawn on c5 is in Wj\hite's favour:} 36. Qxc5 $1 Qg4+ 37.
Kh1 Rxa1 38. Rxa1 Qf3+ 39. Kg1 dxc5 40. Ra2 {the Rook is well placed on a2,
and the difference with the other line is that the pawn on c5 stands bad,
because the Queen doesn't control the square a7 after Qe3:} Qg4+ 41. Kf1 Qh3+
42. Kg1 Bxf2+ 43. Rxf2 $11 Qe3 44. a7) 36. Kh1 Rxa1 37. Rxa1 Qf3+ 38. Kg1 Rc2
39. Rf1 Bxf2+ 40. Qxf2 Rxf2 41. Rxf2 Qe3 42. Kg2 (42. Bxf7+ Kh7 43. Bd5 h4 $19)
42... Kh7 $1 43. Ra2 Qa7 {and Black must be winning.}) 32. Nd3 (32. a7 Bf4 33.
a8=Q Bxh2+ 34. Kh1 $11) 32... Qg4+ ({There was no point to complicate things
with} 32... Qxd3 $2 33. a7 Qh3 34. Qb3 $1 $18 (34. Qxc7 Qg4+ 35. Kf1 Qh3+ 36.
Ke1 Rxc7 37. a8=Q+ Kh7 {and although White is a Rook up, Black has some
chances.})) 33. Kf1 Qh3+ 34. Kg1 Qg4+ 35. Kf1 Qh3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Fujitsu Siemens Giants"]
[Site "Frankfurt"]
[Date "2000.06.25"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2000.06.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 078"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. d4 d5 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. g3
Nbd7 9. Bg2 dxc4 10. Qe2 Nb6 11. O-O Be7 12. Rd1 Nfd5 13. e4 Nb4 14. Be3 O-O
15. a3 Na6 16. d5 exd5 17. exd5 Qe8 18. Bxb6 axb6 19. Re1 Bf6 20. Qxc4 b5 21.
Rxe8 bxc4 22. Rxa8 Rxa8 23. dxc6 bxc6 24. Bf1 Nc5 25. Bxc4 Na4 26. Ne4 Bxb2 27.
Rb1 Nc3 28. Nxc3 Bxc3 29. Rb7 Rxa3 30. Rxf7 Kh7 31. Rc7 Bf6 32. Rxc6 g5 33. Kg2
Kg6 34. Bd5 Kf5 35. f3 Ke5 36. Be6 Rd3 37. Bc8 Rd2+ 38. Kh3 Kd4 39. Kg4 Rxh2
1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2000.07.07"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2660"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2000.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 078"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Ftacnik} d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5
8. Bg3 b5 9. Be2 Bb7 10. h4 g4 11. Ne5 h5 12. O-O Nbd7 13. Qc2 Nxe5 14. Bxe5
Bg7 $5 {Mit diesem Zug waren zuletzt die schwarzen Hoffnungen verbunden, die
gefährliche Khalifman-Variante 10.h4 zu entschärfen. Schwarz strebt die kurze
Rochade an. Im gegensatz dazu hatte Schwarz in der älteren Variante 14....Tg8
Probleme mit dem König gehabt.} 15. Rad1 (15. b3 $5 cxb3 16. axb3 O-O 17. Rad1
Nh7 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. g3 Rc8 20. f3 f5 21. exf5 exf5 22. fxg4 Qc7 23. Kh2 fxg4
24. Ne4 $44 Rce8 25. Bd3 Qe7 26. Nc5 Nf6 27. Rde1 Qxe1 28. Rxe1 Rxe1 29. Nxb7
Nd5 30. Qd2 Re3 31. Nd6 Kf6 32. Be4 Rxb3 33. Bxd5 cxd5 34. Qh6+ Ke7 35. Qg7+
Kxd6 36. Qxf8+ Kc6 {1-0 Goldin,A-Novikov,I/New York 2000/CBM 76 ext (36)})
15... O-O 16. Bg3 $5 {Dieser Zug erscheint gefährlicher als 16.f3. Weiß deckt
seine Karten am Königsflügel noch nicht sofort auf.} (16. f3 {1/2-1/2 Van Wely,
L-Lautier,J/Monaco 2000/CBM 75/[Lutz] (24) Lutz}) 16... Nh7 {'?!' Ftacnik.
Ftacnik: 'The knight moves in a wrong direction, it belongs to the center.'
Auf dem ersten Blick ist es nicht so leicht zu erkennen, welche Vorteile die
Springerstellung auf h7 (gegenüber d7) bietet. Aber Akopian plant ...f7-f5 und
dann verhindert der Sh7, dass Weiß ggf. seinen Springer nach g5 stellt.} (16...
Nd7 $5 {in Verbindung mit ...c6-c5 sieht nach einer sinnvollen Alternative aus.
} 17. e5 c5 (17... f5 18. exf6 Qxf6 $13) 18. Ne4 Bxe4 19. Qxe4 Qb6 20. d5 exd5
21. Qxd5 Rad8 22. Qe4 Nxe5 $1 23. Bxe5 Qe6 24. f4 gxf3 25. Rxd8 Rxd8 26. Qxf3
Bxe5 27. Qxh5 Bd4+ 28. Kh1 Rd5 29. Qf3 Re5 30. Bd1 Re3 31. Qa8+ Kg7 {0-1
Goldin,A-Khenkin,I/New York 2000/CBM 76 ext (31)}) 17. e5 f5 18. exf6 Qxf6 {
Jetzt will Schwarz am Königsflügel Gegenspiel suchen.} 19. f3 ({Kramnik gab
gemäß SCHACH 8/2000} 19. b3 $5 {zu bedenken. Dieser Zug hätten den Vorteil,
dass das Feld d3 für den Läufer geräumt werden würde.}) 19... Qf5 20. Qd2 Qg6
21. fxg4 hxg4 22. Qe3 Rf5 23. Ne4 c5 $1 {"Ehe er sich mit Ne4-c5 seinen Bb7
kaltstellen lässt, gibt Akopian den Merhbauern für aktives Spiel zurück." (R.
Tischbierek, SCHACH 8/2000)} 24. Nxc5 Bd5 25. a4 Raf8 26. axb5 Rf3 $1 {Ftacnik:
'Black comes up with a phantastic attacking idea, Kramnik has to play exact
moves. ' Der Höhepunkt der Partie, jetzt wird's taktisch.} 27. gxf3 gxf3 28.
Kh2 Nf6 $2 {Der entscheidende Fehler.} (28... Bh6 $1 {war richtig:} 29. Qe5 (
29. Qf2 Nf6 {"mit genügend schwarzen Gegenchancen" lt. Kramnik. In der Tat hat
Schwarz nach z.B.} 30. Bxf3 Bxf3 31. Qxf3 Ng4+ 32. Kh1 Rxf3 33. Rxf3 Qc2 34.
Re1 Qxb2 {wegen des offenen weißen Königs keine Probleme.}) (29. Qc3 Bf4 30.
Rg1 Ng5 31. Bxf4 Rxf4 32. Kg3 Rf5 {"und der schwarze Angriff dringt durch" 
(Kramnik/Tischbierek)}) 29... Bg7 30. Qe3 {mit Zugwiederholung wird von
Kramnik als das Beste für Weiß angegeben.} (30. Qc7 fxe2 31. Rxf8+ Nxf8 32. Re1
Bxd4 $40)) 29. Bxf3 Bxf3 30. Qxe6+ Kh8 31. Rxf3 $1 {Weiß gibt die Qualität
zurück, um den gefährlichen weißfeldrigen Läufer zu eliminieren.} Qc2+ 32. Rf2
Qxd1 {Ftacnik: 'The outcome of the combination is somewhat dangerous position
for white, but he has some extra material.'} 33. Kg2 Qxd4 34. Qe5 Qd5+ (34...
Nh7 35. Rxf8+ Nxf8 36. Qxd4 Bxd4 37. Na4 Nd7 38. Bf2 Bxf2 39. Kxf2 Kh7 40. Ke3
$18) 35. Qxd5 Nxd5 36. Rxf8+ Bxf8 37. Na4 {'!' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'This
original endgame is very dangerous for black, since white king is very strong
and pawn on a7 a perfect target. '} Bg7 38. Kf3 Nb6 39. Nxb6 axb6 40. Ke4 Bxb2
41. Kd5 {"Auf 41...c3 holt sich Weiß zunächst mit 42.Be5+ nebst Kc4 den
gegnerischen Pc3 ab, bevor er durch den Gewinn des b-Bauern selbst den
entscheidenden Freibauern bildet." (Tischbierek)} 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2000.07.08"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E59"]
[WhiteElo "2649"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "2000.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 078"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nf3 d5 7. O-O Nc6 8. a3
Bxc3 9. bxc3 Qc7 10. Bb2 dxc4 11. Bxc4 e5 12. Be2 e4 13. Nd2 Rd8 14. Qc2 Bf5
15. Nb3 cxd4 16. cxd4 Rd6 17. Rfc1 Re8 18. Nc5 Qe7 19. Qb3 Nd8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2000.07.09"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D18"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "2000.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 078"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Nh4 e6 7. Nxf5 exf5 8. e3
Bb4 9. Bxc4 O-O 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Qc2 g6 12. f3 Rc8 13. Kh1 Nb6 (13... c5 14. d5
Nb6 15. Ba2 c4 16. e4 fxe4 17. fxe4 Ng4 18. Qe2 Ne5 19. Be3 a6 20. Bd4 Bd6 21.
Rad1 Nbd7 22. b3 cxb3 23. Bxb3 Qa5 24. Qb2 Rfe8 25. h3 {1/2-1/2 Lautier,
J-Sakaev,K/Las Vegas 1999/CBM 72 (25)}) 14. Bb3 c5 15. a5 cxd4 16. axb6 {
Der Textzug führt zu einem forcierten Remis.} ({Nach} 16. exd4 Nbd5 {hat
Schwarz sicher keine Probleme.}) 16... dxc3 17. bxa7 cxb2 18. Qxb2 Bc3 19.
Bxf7+ {Ohne diese überraschende Möglichkeit wäre Weiß natürlich verloren.} Rxf7
(19... Kg7 $2 20. Qxb7 Bxa1 21. Be6+ Rc7 22. a8=Q {brächte den Schwarzen in
Schwierigkeiten.}) (19... Kh8 20. a8=Q Qd3 21. Rg1 Rxa8 22. Rxa8 Bxb2 23. Rxf8+
Kg7 24. Rc8 Bxc1 25. Rc7 Qxe3 26. Rgxc1 {ergab ebenfalls eine ausgeglichene
Stellung.}) 20. Qxc3 Rxc3 21. a8=Q Qxa8 22. Rxa8+ Kg7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2000.07.10"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2755"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2000.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 078"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bg7 6. h3 Nf6 7. Nc3 Nd7 8.
O-O e5 9. Be3 O-O 10. Qd2 Re8 11. Nh2 Qe7 12. Bh6 Bh8 13. Ng4 Nf8 14. Bg5 f6
15. Nh6+ Kg7 16. Be3 Ne6 17. Ne2 Ng5 18. Ng4 h5 19. Nh2 Rd8 20. Qc3 Ne6 21. f4
Nd4 22. Rae1 Kh7 23. Nf3 Be6 24. fxe5 fxe5 25. Ng5+ Kg8 26. Nxe6 Nxe6 27. Qb3
Kh7 28. Rf2 Rf8 29. Ref1 Bg7 30. Kh2 b6 31. Ng1 Nd4 32. Qa4 b5 33. Qa3 a5 34.
Qc3 a4 35. Nf3 Ne6 36. b3 Kg8 37. Qd2 axb3 38. cxb3 Rad8 39. Qc3 g5 40. g3 Rd7
41. h4 gxh4 42. Nxh4 Rxf2+ 43. Rxf2 Qd6 44. Rd2 Nd4 45. Qc1 Bf6 46. Bxd4 Bxh4
47. Bxc5 Qh6 48. gxh4 Qf4+ 49. Kh1 Rg7 50. Qd1 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2000.07.12"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Comp Deep Junior"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Finkel,A"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2000.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 078"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. e3 $1 {The exclaimaition mark is not for the strength of the move
itself,if we would want to do this the ?! mark would be more suitable,but we
must not forget that the game was played against the computer,that's why this
move deviating from long theoretical variations and keeping the position
closed is ideal weapon against it.} Nf6 3. Bd3 e6 4. f4 Be7 5. Nf3 c5 6. c3 O-O
$6 (6... Nc6 7. O-O O-O 8. Nbd2 Ng4 9. Qe1 f5 10. b3 Nf6 11. Bb2 b6 12. Ne5
Nxe5 13. fxe5 Ne4 14. Nxe4 fxe4 15. Rxf8+ Qxf8 $11 {Leiskau,R-Keuth,G/
Bruchkoebel MVT 1993}) 7. Nbd2 Ng4 $6 {The following idea is typical
''computar chess''.I think that player of master strength would never come up
with such an antipositional idea,while we are taking about the computer
program,whose playing strength is about 2700!Black closes the center giving
white an opportunity to deveop the attack without any effort or counterplay.} (
7... b6 8. Qe2 (8. Ne5 Ba6 9. Nc6 Qc7 10. Nxe7+ Qxe7 11. Bxa6 Nxa6 $11) 8...
Bb7 9. Ne5 Qc8 10. a4 $5 Ba6 11. Bb5 Bxb5 12. axb5 a6 $11) 8. Qe2 c4 $6 9. Bc2
f5 10. Rg1 $14 {[%csl Rg8][%cal Gh2h3,Gg2g4,Ge2g2]} Nc6 11. h3 Nf6 12. g4 Ne4
$6 (12... b5 $5 13. Qg2 g6 14. Ng5 $1 {[%cal Gg4f5,Gg5h7]} (14. gxf5 $6 exf5
15. Nh4 Kf7 16. Ndf3 Ke8 $13) 14... Qe8 $1 (14... Ne4 $6 15. h4 b4 16. gxf5
exf5 17. Ndxe4 dxe4 18. Nxh7 $1 $18 {[%csl Rg6,Rg8]}) (14... b4 $2 15. Nxc4 $1
$16 {[%csl Rc6]}) (14... Bd7 $2 15. gxf5 exf5 16. Nxh7 $1 $18) 15. Ndf3 b4 (
15... h6 16. Nxe6 Bxe6 17. gxf5 Bf7 18. fxg6 $16) 16. Bd2 $36) 13. Qg2 g6 14.
Qh2 {[%cal Gh3h5]} Kh8 15. h4 Nxd2 (15... fxg4 16. Nxe4 gxf3 17. Ng5 Bxg5 18.
hxg5 $14 {[%csl Rh7][%cal Gc1d2,Ge1f2,Gg1g3,Gg3h3,Ga1h1]}) 16. Bxd2 fxg4 17.
Ng5 $40 Qe8 (17... h6 18. h5 e5 $1 19. hxg6 $1 Bxg5 20. fxg5 Qxg5 21. e4 Qxg6
22. Bxh6 $18 {[%cal Ge4d5]}) 18. h5 $1 gxh5 19. Rxg4 $1 $18 Rf6 (19... e5 20.
Rh4 exf4 21. Rxh5 Bxg5 22. Rxh7+ Kg8 23. Rh8+ Kf7 24. Qh5+ Ke6 25. Qxe8+ Rxe8
26. Rxe8+ $18) (19... hxg4 20. Qxh7#) 20. Rh4 Rh6 21. O-O-O a5 22. Rh1 b5 23.
Bd1 $1 (23. Rxh5 Rxh5 24. Qxh5 Qxh5 25. Rxh5 $18) 23... Ra7 24. Bxh5 Qf8 25. e4
$1 Bd8 (25... dxe4 26. Bg6 $1 {[%csl Rh7]} Rxh4 27. Qxh4 Bxg5 28. fxg5 $18) 26.
f5 b4 27. Bg6 $1 Rxh4 28. Qxh4 bxc3 29. bxc3 Bf6 30. Qxh7+ $1 Rxh7 31. Rxh7+
Kg8 32. Bf7+ Qxf7 33. Rxf7 (33. Rxf7 Bxg5 34. Rc7 $18 {[%cal Gc7c8,Gc7c6]}) 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2000.07.13"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2762"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2000.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 078"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 b6 7. e3 Bb7 8.
Be2 d6 9. O-O Nbd7 10. b4 a5 11. Bb2 Qe7 12. d4 axb4 13. axb4 Rfc8 14. Rxa8
Rxa8 15. d5 Nf8 16. Rd1 Bc8 17. Nd4 e5 18. Nb3 Bd7 19. f3 Qd8 20. Nd2 Ng6 21.
Bf1 h6 22. e4 Nh7 23. c5 bxc5 24. bxc5 f5 25. Ba3 Rc8 26. cxd6 cxd6 27. Qb4 Qg5
28. Qxd6 Nf6 29. Bc5 Kh7 30. exf5 Bxf5 31. Nc4 e4 32. Be3 Qh5 33. Qg3 exf3 34.
gxf3 Nh4 35. Nd2 Rc2 36. Be2 Nxd5 37. Bd4 Bg6 38. Qg4 Nf5 39. Qxh5 Bxh5 40. Bd3
Bg6 41. Bxc2 Nxd4 42. Bxg6+ Kxg6 43. Kf2 Ne6 44. Ne4 Nef4 45. Ra1 Nh5 46. Ra6+
Kf7 47. Nd6+ Ke7 48. Nf5+ Kf7 49. Ne3 Ndf4 50. Ng4 Nd5 51. Ne3 Ndf4 52. Nf5 Nd5
53. Ke1 Ndf6 54. Kd2 Nd5 55. Ra5 Ke6 56. Ne3 Ndf4 57. Rf5 Ke7 58. Ng4 Ke6 59.
Re5+ Kf7 60. Ke3 Kg6 61. Ke4 Nh3 62. Ra5 Ng5+ 63. Ke3 Ne6 64. Ne5+ Kf6 65. Nd3
1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2000.07.14"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2000.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 078"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Be6 11. Ne5 f6 12. Nf3 Kh8 13. a3 Nxc3 14. bxc3 Nc6 15.
Nd2 f5 16. Re1 Bf6 17. Bf3 Bg8 18. cxd5 Bxd5 19. Nb3 b6 20. Bf4 Ne7 21. Be5 c6
22. Bxf6 Rxf6 23. Nc1 Ng6 24. Nd3 h6 25. Ne5 Nh4 26. Bxd5 Qxd5 27. f3 c5 28.
dxc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2000.07.15"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Huebner, Robert"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[Annotator "Knaak,R"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2000.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 078"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. Bb3 cxd4 8.
exd4 Nc6 9. Nc3 Be7 10. Re1 O-O {Die Variante gilt als gut spielbar für
Schwarz; auch in Partien von Kasparov, Anand und Kramnik hat sie sich bewährt.
Die bisher gespielten Züge Bg5, Bf4 und a3 konnten die schwarze Stellung nicht
erschüttern.} 11. h4 $5 {Ein neuer und zudem unerwarteter Zug.} Na5 ({Auf} 
11... b5 {würde} 12. d5 {folgen.}) 12. Bc2 b5 13. Qd3 Bb7 14. h5 {Nun stellt
15.Bg5 schon eine Drohung dar.} Bxf3 {Nimmt das Bauernopfer an; stattdessen kam
} (14... Nc4 $5 {in Frage.}) 15. Qxf3 Qxd4 16. Bf4 {Es fällt mir schwer in der
Folge Verbesserungsvorschläge für Schwarz zu unterbreiten.} b4 17. Rad1 Qc4 ({
In Schach war folgende Variante zu sehen:} 17... Qc5 18. Re5 Qc6 19. Qg3 bxc3
20. Bh6 Ne8 21. Bxg7 Nxg7 22. h6 Bf6 23. hxg7 (23. Rg5 $2 Rfd8 $1) 23... Bxe5
24. gxf8=Q+ Kxf8 25. Qxe5 cxb2 26. Qxb2 {Weiß hat hervorragende Aussichten.})
18. Bd3 Qc6 19. Ne4 Nd5 20. Be5 f5 {Nach diesem Zug wird deutlich, dass Weiß
mehr als Kompensation für den Bauern hat, denn der Bauer e6 wird zu schwach.} (
{Etwas besser sieht} 20... f6 {aus. Nach} 21. Bd4 {käme Weiß auch schnell zu
Druck gegen den Pe6.}) 21. Qg3 Rf7 22. Nd2 {Auf dem Weg nach d4!} Nb7 23. Nf3
Nc5 24. Nd4 Qb6 ({Auch nach} 24... Qc8 25. Bc4 Ne4 26. Qb3 {besitzt Weiß
deutlichen Vorteil.}) 25. Nxf5 $1 exf5 (25... Nxd3 26. Nh6+ (26. Rxd3 exf5 27.
Rxd5) (26. Nxe7+ Nxe7 27. Rxd3) 26... Kf8 27. Nxf7 Qxf2+ 28. Qxf2 Nxf2 29. Kxf2
Kxf7) 26. Bc4 Nf6 27. Bc7 $1 {Die zusätzliche Drohung Txe7 entscheidet nun
sofort und Schwarz gibt daher auf.} 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2000.07.16"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Khalifman, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2667"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "29"]
[EventDate "2000.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 078"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.10.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4
Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bg5 Bd5 11. Qd3 Be4 12. Qd1 c5 13. dxc5 Qxd1 14. Rxd1 Bxc5
15. Nc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "WDR Match TV g/60"]
[Site "Cologne"]
[Date "2000.08.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B47"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Knaak,R"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2000.08.14"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 079"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Während die Fernsehpartien des WDR in den letzten Jahren eher durch feine,
aber schwer durchschaubare positionelle Leistungen glänzten, bekamen die
Zuschauer in diesem Jahr einen flotten Angriff zu sehen. Die scharfe
Eröffnungsvariante hatte daran naturgemäß einen hohen Anteil und möglich wurde
sie erst dadurch, dass Kramnik überraschend mit dem Königsbauern eröffnete.} 1.
e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Be2 Qc7 6. Nc3 a6 7. O-O b5 {In
dieser recht selten gespielten Variante kennt sich Kramnik jedenfalls gut aus.}
8. Nxc6 {Am besten.} dxc6 9. Be3 Bb7 10. f4 c5 $6 {Schwarz sollt stattdessen
mit 10...Le7 die Entwicklung fortsetzen.} 11. f5 $1 {'!?' Ftacnik. Warum
sollte Weiß auch warten, der Entwicklungsvorsprung ist ja offensichtlich.} Rd8
(11... Nf6 12. fxe6 fxe6 13. Bh5+ Nxh5 14. Qxh5+ g6 15. Qg4 $16 {1/2-1/2 Stein,
L-Taimanov,M/Yerevan/1962/ (76)}) (11... exf5 12. Bf4 Qb6 13. a4 c4+ 14. Kh1
Nf6 15. axb5 Rd8 16. Qe1 Bb4 17. Qg3 Bxc3 18. bxc3 O-O 19. Bc7 Qxb5 20. Bxd8
Rxd8 21. Rxf5 Nxe4 22. Qc7 {1-0 Gaprindashvili,N-Hindle,O/Hastings/1964/ (32)})
(11... b4 $6 {Ftacnik} 12. fxe6 fxe6 13. Bf4 Qc6 14. Bh5+ g6 15. Be5 bxc3 16.
Bxh8 $18) (11... Bd6 $5 {Ftacnik} 12. fxe6 fxe6 (12... Bxh2+ 13. Kh1 fxe6 14.
Bxb5+ axb5 15. Qh5+ g6 16. Qxh2 $16) 13. Bh5+ g6 14. Bg4 $40) 12. Qe1 Nf6 (
12... b4 {Ftacnik} 13. fxe6 fxe6 14. Rxf8+ $5 Kxf8 15. Na4 Bxe4 16. Nxc5 Bf5
17. Qxb4 $14) (12... Bd6 13. Qh4 $36) 13. fxe6 fxe6 14. Bf4 {'!' Ftacnik.} e5 (
14... Qc6 15. Bf3 c4 16. e5 Nd5 17. Nxd5 exd5 18. Bg5 $14) 15. Bg5 Be7 16. a4 {
'!' Ftacnik.} c4 $6 {Danach wird der weiße Vorteil noch deutlicher.} ({
Notwendig war} 16... b4 {, was allerdings positionell nicht gut aussieht. Nach}
17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Nd5 Bxd5 19. exd5 Qd6 20. Bc4 (20. Bh5+ g6 21. Bg4 O-O 22.
Be6+ $14) 20... O-O 21. Qe4 {ist aber ein Gewinn für Weiß nicht leicht zu
erzielen.}) 17. axb5 axb5 18. Kh1 {'!' Ftacnik.} b4 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 (19... bxc3
20. Bh5+ g6 21. Bxh8 $18) 20. Nd5 Bxd5 21. exd5 Qc5 22. Bh5+ (22. Ra6 $5 {
Ftacnik} O-O 23. Rc6) 22... Ke7 23. Qg3 {Die Drohung ist Txf6 und die Dame
dringt auf g7 ein.} g6 {'?' Ftacnik.} ({Auch nach} 23... Ra8 24. Rad1 Qd6 25.
Rxf6 $1 Qxf6 26. d6+ Kd8 27. Qe3 {steht Weiß auf Gewinn.}) (23... Rhg8 $5 {
Ftacnik} 24. Ra6 Qxd5 (24... Rd6 25. Rxf6 $1 Kxf6 (25... gxf6 26. Qxg8 Rxa6 27.
Qe8+ Kd6 28. Qd8#) 26. Qf3+ Kg5 27. h4+ Kh6 28. Rxd6+ Qxd6 29. Bf7 g6 30. Bxg8
$18) 25. Bg4 Rd6 26. Ra7+ $40) 24. Rxf6 $1 {Ftacnik: 'It is only just that
white get's the chance to finish the game with the help of a masterful direct
attack.'} Kxf6 (24... Qxd5 25. Qh4 $18) 25. Rf1+ Kg7 26. Bxg6 $1 hxg6 27. Qxe5+
Kg8 ({Nach} 27... Kh6 {gewinnt} 28. Rf4) 28. Qe6+ Kh7 29. Rf7+ Kh6 30. Qh3+ Kg5
31. Qg3+ Kh5 32. Qe5+ (32. Qe5+ {Nach} Kh6 33. Rf4 {ist die schon erwähnte
weiße Gewinnstellung entstanden. Schwarz gibt daher auf.}) 1-0

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Kasparov +2-0=13"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2000.10.08"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2849"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "2000.10.08"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 080"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 {Nice choice of opening! Hardly expected by
Kasparov.The Berlin offers both simplification and reasonable chances if White
goes astry. Furthermore it´s an opening less suited for computer analysis,
which lately has been Kasparovs preferred battle ground.} 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6
6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Bd7 $5 {As an extra twist
Kramnik chooses the latest black try. This move carries an immediate idea.
Black wants to bring the K to the Q-side as soon as possible.} 10. b3 ({Instead
} 10. h3 h6 11. Bf4 {is another way of developing the B, but} b6 12. a4 a5 13.
Rad1 Kc8 14. b3 Bb4 15. Ne4 Be6 16. c4 c5 17. g4 Ne7 18. Ne1 Bd7 19. Ng3 g5 20.
Be3 Ng6 21. Nd3 Bc6 {gave Black a reasonable position in 1/2-1/2 Shirov,
A-Almasi,Z/Polanica Zdroj 2000/CBM 79 (40)}) 10... h6 11. Bb2 Kc8 12. h3 ({
In his next game with white Kasparov chose} 12. Rad1) 12... b6 13. Rad1 Ne7 $1
{Black wants to play c5, Bc6 and Kb7, but first he prevents Nd5 from White.}
14. Ne2 Ng6 15. Ne1 {Aiming for f4-f5. But it´s a slow plan and more
importantly it´s impossible to realise. The move is a sign that White has
nothing from the opening.} h5 {Sometimes this is dubious due to the weakening
of g5, but here Black can easily cover g5 with Be7. Kramnik plays it to create
a white square blockade on f5. A typical strategy in the Berlin to hem White´s
K-side P majority.} 16. Nd3 (16. Nf3 Be7 {works, since} 17. e6 $6 {fails to}
Bxe6 18. Bxg7 Rg8 19. Bb2 Bxh3 $17) (16. f4 Ne7 {/\Nf5, h4}) 16... c5 17. c4 a5
18. a4 {Else Black plays a4 with counter play on the Q-side.} h4 19. Nc3 Be6 (
19... Bc6 $2 20. f4 $1 Ne7 21. f5 Rh5 22. f6 $36) 20. Nd5 Kb7 21. Ne3 Rh5 {
The important square to cover is f5.} 22. Bc3 (22. f4 Ne7 $11) 22... Re8 23.
Rd2 Kc8 24. f4 Ne7 25. Nf2 Nf5 {The position is to blocked to give either side
any real chances.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Kasparov +2-0=13"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2000.10.10"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2849"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2000.10.08"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 079"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8.
Be3 {Kramnik has already tried the classical 7.Bc4, 7.Bb5+, also 8.h3!?, but
his main weapon was 8.Rb1. The text was successfully employed by Kasparov
himself in the early eighties.} Qa5 (8... Nc6 $6 9. Rc1 cxd4 (9... Qa5 10. d5
$1 Bxc3+ $2 11. Rxc3 Qxc3+ 12. Bd2 $16) 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qxa2 12. d5 $40)
(8... O-O $144) 9. Qd2 Bg4 {Kasparov played this lately with success, the more
usual move is} (9... Nc6 10. Rb1 $5 (10. Rc1 cxd4 11. cxd4 Qxd2+ 12. Kxd2 O-O
13. d5 (13. Bb5 f5 14. exf5 Bxf5 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16. Rxc6 Rfb8 17. Kc3 Rb6 18.
Rxb6 axb6 19. Kb2 Be4 20. a3 e6 21. Rc1 Bf8 22. Rc3 Bd5 23. Bf4 b5 24. Be5 Be7
25. h4 Rf8 26. Rc7 Rf7 27. Rc8+ Rf8 $11 {Seirawan,Y-Mecking,H/Sao Paulo m/1992/
}) 13... Rd8 14. Ke1 (14. Bd3 $2 Nb4) 14... Na5 15. Bd2 (15. Bg5 Bd7 16. Bd3
Rdc8 17. Ke2 e6 $11) 15... b6 16. Bb4 Bf8 17. Ne5 e6 18. Bxa5 bxa5 19. Bc4 Rd6
$5 20. Nc6 exd5 21. Bxd5 Bb7 22. Ke2 Re8 $11 {Zakharevich,I-Yandemirov,V/
Smolensk/1992/}) 10... a6 (10... O-O $5 11. Rb5 cxd4 12. Rxa5 dxe3 13. Qxe3
Nxa5 14. h4 Be6 15. h5 Rfc8 16. e5 Nc4 17. Bxc4 Rxc4 18. hxg6 hxg6 19. Ng5 Rac8
20. Nxe6 Rxc3 21. Qg5 Rc1+ 22. Kd2 Rxh1 23. Nxg7 Rd8+ 24. Ke2 Kxg7 25. Qxe7
Rdd1 $11 {Dautov,R-Svidler,P/Istanbul olm/2000/}) (10... cxd4 11. cxd4 Qxd2+
12. Kxd2 O-O 13. d5 Rd8 14. Bd3 Na5 15. Bc5 e6 $5 16. Be7 Rd7 17. d6 a6 $13)
11. Rc1 cxd4 12. cxd4 Qxd2+ 13. Kxd2 e6 $5 ({The idea of Rb1-c1 is clear after
} 13... O-O $6 14. d5 Rd8 15. Ke1 $36 Nb4 $2 (15... Na5 $2 16. Bb6) 16. Bd2 $16
) (13... f5 14. e5 Be6 15. Bc4 Bxc4 16. Rxc4 O-O 17. g3 Rfd8 18. Rb1 Rd7 $5
$132 (18... Nxe5 19. Nxe5 Bxe5 20. Rxb7 Bf6 21. Rb6 g5 22. Kd3 Kf7 23. f3 $36 {
Dautov,R-Rytshagov,M/EU-chT Pula/ 1997/})) 14. Bc4 O-O 15. Rhd1 Bd7 16. Ke1 Na5
17. Be2 Rfc8 18. Bd2 Nc6 19. d5 exd5 20. exd5 Nd4 21. Nxd4 Bxd4 22. Bf4 Bc3+
23. Bd2 Be5 24. h3 Rxc1 25. Rxc1 Rc8 26. Rxc8+ $11 {1/2,Huebner,R-Ftacnik,L/
Istanbul olm/2000/}) 10. Rb1 {[%cal Rb1b5] /\Rb5} ({Kasparov convincingly met} 
10. Rc1 Bxf3 $1 (10... O-O $6 11. Ng5 $1 {is weaker-} h6 12. h3 Bh5 {fails to}
13. Nxf7 Rxf7 14. g4 $16 {and the B sortie thus loses sense.}) 11. gxf3 e6 12.
d5 exd5 13. exd5 Nd7 14. c4 Qb6 $1 15. Bh3 (15. Be2 Qd6 16. Kf1 f5 17. Kg2 O-O
18. Bf4 Be5 19. Bxe5 Nxe5 20. f4 Nc6 21. Rce1 Nd4 $36 {Mirovshchikov,S-Votava,
J/Pardubice op/ 2000/}) 15... f5 16. O-O Qd6 17. Bf4 Be5 18. Rfe1 O-O-O 19.
Bxe5 Nxe5 20. Qc3 Rhe8 21. Re3 Qf6 22. f4 Nd7 23. Bg2 Qxc3 24. Rcxc3 Nf6 25.
Bf3 Rxe3 26. fxe3 Rd6 27. Ra3 Kb8 28. Rb3 Ra6 29. a3 Ne8 30. e4 fxe4 31. Bxe4
Nd6 $17 {[%csl Gd6,Re4] _|_,ץ,Yermolinsky,A-Kasparov,G/Wijk aan Zee/1999/}) (
10. Ne5 $6 Bxe5 11. dxe5 Nc6 {/\Rd8|^}) 10... a6 (10... Bxf3 $143 11. gxf3 cxd4
12. cxd4 Qxd2+ 13. Kxd2 Nc6 14. d5 O-O-O 15. Ba6 $1 bxa6 16. Rhc1 Rd6 17. Ke2
Kc7 18. Bc5 Kd7 19. Rb7+ Kc8 20. Bxd6 Kxb7 21. dxc6+ Kb6 22. Bxe7 Rc8 23. Bc5+
Kb5 24. Bxa7 Rxc6 25. a4+ {1-0,Rivas Pastor,M-Georgiev,K/Plovdiv/1984/}) (10...
b6 11. Bb5+ Nd7 (11... Bd7 12. Bd3 {gives White an extra tempo compared with
the 7.Be3 and 8.Qd2 line.}) 12. Ng5 $5 {/\} h6 13. f3 $36 {is not ideal either.
}) 11. Rxb7 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (11. Rb3 $143 $6 b5 12. d5 Bxf3 $1 (12... Nd7
13. c4 b4 14. Qc2 Qc7 15. Nd2 Nb6 16. f4 a5 17. Bd3 a4 18. Rb1 g5 19. f5 Be5
20. h3 Bg3+ 21. Kf1 Bh5 22. e5 Qxe5 23. Ne4 $44 {Timman,J-Ivanchuk,V/Linares/
1992/}) 13. gxf3 c4 14. Rb4 Qa3 15. Bd4 Bxd4 16. Qxd4 O-O 17. Qd2 Nd7 $15 {
->,עe1}) 11... Bxf3 (11... Nc6 12. Bc4 {only transposes, as} O-O 13. Bd5 Rac8
14. O-O Bxf3 15. gxf3 cxd4 16. cxd4 Qxd2 17. Bxd2 Nxd4 18. Bb4 $1 {is a worse
version of the _|_ Black could have achieved later on.}) 12. gxf3 Nc6 13. Bc4
$1 {[%csl Gb7,Gc4,Ge3] White's idea is getting clear-although d4 falls, he
still has an active ^^ and a R on the 7-th.} O-O (13... e6 14. O-O $1 (14. e5
cxd4 15. cxd4 Qxd2+ 16. Kxd2 Bxe5 $1 {[%cal Rc6a5] /\Na5} 17. dxe5 $2 O-O-O+
$15) (14. Bxe6 Nd8 $1 15. Bd5 Nxb7 16. Bxb7 Rb8 17. Bc6+ Ke7 $17) 14... cxd4
15. cxd4 Qxd2 16. Bxd2 Nxd4 17. Kg2 $36) (13... cxd4 14. cxd4 Qxd2+ 15. Kxd2
Nxd4 16. f4 Nf5 $5 17. Rb6 Nxe3 18. fxe3 $32 {|^}) 14. O-O {/\d5} (14. Bd5 Rac8
15. Bxc6 Rxc6 16. O-O (16. Ke2 Rfc8 $1 $36 {[%csl Re2] ע}) 16... cxd4 17. cxd4
Qxd2 18. Bxd2 Bxd4 19. Rxe7 Rc2 $11) 14... cxd4 15. cxd4 Bxd4 $1 (15... Qxd2
16. Bxd2 Nxd4 17. Kg2 Rfc8 18. Rc1 e6 $14 {White can try to realize his
advantage without any risk.} 19. Bxa6 $6 Rxc1 20. Bxc1 Bf8 $1 {is insufficient,
without the a-pawns White has nothing.} (20... Rxa6 $2 21. Rb8+ Bf8 22. Bh6 $18
)) (15... Qh5 $2 16. Bd5 Qxf3 17. Qd1 $1 $16) 16. Bd5 {Kramnik played this
move quickly, White still needs his ^^.} (16. Bh6 Bg7 $1 (16... Rfc8 $2 17. Qf4
Ne5 18. Rxe7 $1 Rxc4 19. Qf6 $18) (16... Qxd2 17. Bxd2 Ne5 18. Be2 $14 {
and Black's seemingly active pieces are exposed.}) 17. Bd5 Bxh6 (17... Qxd2 18.
Bxd2 Ne5 19. Bb4 $36) 18. Qxh6 Nd4 19. Qe3 Nf5 20. Qg5 Qd8 $5 21. f4 (21. exf5
Qxd5 22. Rxe7 Rae8 $11) 21... e6 $1 $132) 16... Bc3 $6 {Agressive, Black
continues to avoid the _|_, but more circumspect was} (16... Qxd2 17. Bxd2 Rfc8
(17... Ne5 18. Bb4 e6 19. Bxf8 exd5 20. f4 $1 Nd3 (20... Nf3+ 21. Kg2 dxe4 22.
Ba3 $16) 21. Bh6 dxe4 22. Rfb1 $16) 18. f4 (18. Rc1 Ne5 19. Rbc7 (19. Rb3 Rxc1+
20. Bxc1 Rc8 21. Bh6 a5 $1 {/\e6<=>}) 19... Rxc7 20. Rxc7 Rb8 21. Kg2 Rb2 22.
Bh6 Rxf2+ $11) 18... e6 19. Bb3 Ra7 $11 {/+/=} (19... Rab8 $11 {/+/=})) (16...
Bxe3 $143 17. Qxe3 $36 {/\} Nb4 $2 18. Qc3 e6 19. Bxe6 Qg5+ 20. Kh1 $18) 17.
Qc1 $1 (17. Qc2 Rac8 $1 18. Bxc6 (18. Bb6 Qa3 $11) 18... Rxc6 19. Rxe7 Qh5 20.
Qd1 g5 (20... Qh3 $5 $44) 21. f4 Qh3 22. Qe2 (22. fxg5 Rc7 $1 23. Qd6 (23. Rxc7
$2 Be5 $19) 23... Qg4+ $11) 22... Bf6 23. Rb7 Rc2 $1 $11 24. Qxc2 Qg4+) 17...
Nd4 {The idea behind 17.Qc1! is} (17... Rac8 18. Bb6 Qb4 19. a3 Qb2 20. Qxb2
Bxb2 21. a4 $14 {with an unpleasant _|_ as above.}) 18. Bxd4 (18. Qd1 $143 e6
19. Bxd4 exd5 20. Bxc3 Qxc3 21. exd5 Rad8 $44 {/+/=}) 18... Bxd4 19. Rxe7 $36 {
[%csl Ge7,Rf7] ^-,><f7,Re7} Ra7 $1 20. Rxa7 Bxa7 {Black has exchanged the
dangerous R and wants to activate his B on the neighboring diagonal.} 21. f4 {
White can't let Black establish a dark-square blockade, but interesting was} (
21. Qg5 $5 {/\Bf7} Qc7 22. Rc1 Qb6 23. Qh4 {/\Rc6->}) 21... Qd8 22. Qc3 (22.
Qc4 Qh4 (22... Qd7 23. e5 Rd8 (23... Rc8 24. e6 $16) 24. e6 $1 $16) 23. e5 a5 {
[%csl Rf2][%cal Yg8g7] /\Kg7,Rb8,><f2}) 22... Bb8 23. Qf3 (23. Qg3 Qd6 24. f5
Qxg3+ (24... Qf6 25. f4 {[%cal Rg3g5] /\Qg5+/-}) 25. hxg3 gxf5 26. exf5 Rd8 27.
Bb3 Kg7 $1 (27... Rd2 $143 28. Rc1 {/\} Ba7 29. f6 $1 $40 {[%csl Rf7] ><f7})
28. Rc1 Kf6 $14 {White has similar techical problems as in the game.}) 23...
Qh4 24. e5 g5 {It seems now Black wins back the pawn and draws easily, but
Kramnik has an unpleasant surprise up his sleeve.} 25. Re1 $1 Qxf4 (25... gxf4
$143 26. e6 fxe6 27. Rxe6 $40 {עg8}) 26. Qxf4 gxf4 27. e6 fxe6 28. Rxe6 Kg7
29. Rxa6 {[%csl Rb8,Gd5][%mdl 4096] _|_^-} Rf5 (29... Rd8 30. Ra5 Bc7 31. Rb5
$1 (31. Ra7 Rxd5 32. Rxc7+ Kg6 $44) 31... Rb8 32. Bb7 $14 {[%cal Ya2a4,Yg1e4] /
\a4,Kg2-f3}) (29... f3 $2 30. Ra3 $16 (30. Ra8 $16)) 30. Be4 Re5 $6 {Only
forces a useful move f3.} (30... Rb5 $142 31. a4 (31. Kg2 Rb2 32. Kf3 Be5 {/\}
33. Ra7+ Kf6 34. Bxh7 Rxf2+ $1 35. Kxf2 Bd4+ 36. Kf3 Bxa7 $11) 31... Rb2 32. a5
Be5 $14 {gives Black very good drawing chances.}) 31. f3 Re7 ({More active was
} 31... Rb5 $1 32. a4 (32. Kg2 Rg5+ 33. Kf1 Rh5 {leads nowhere.}) 32... Rb2 33.
a5 Ra2 $14) 32. a4 Ra7 $6 $138 (32... Ba7+ $142 33. Kg2 Be3 {activates the B
and it's difficult to say if White can convert his advantage:} 34. a5 Re5 35.
Ra8 h5 36. a6 Ra5 {In the game White's R will be more actively placed,
protecting the Pa6 sideways.}) 33. Rb6 (33. Rxa7+ $2 Bxa7+ {is a clear draw-}
34. Kg2 Bb6 35. Kh3 h5 36. Kg2 Kf6 37. Kf1 Ke5 38. Bg6 h4 39. Kg2 Bd8 $11)
33... Be5 34. Rb4 Rd7 (34... Bd6 35. Rc4 Rc7 36. Bc6 $1 $14 {Kasparov
allegedly overlooked this, he can't force the R off.}) 35. Kg2 $1 {W} (35. a5
$2 Bc3 36. Ra4 Rd1+ 37. Kg2 Ra1 $11) 35... Rd2+ 36. Kh3 h5 (36... Ra2 $5 37.
Rb7+ (37. Kg4 Rxh2 38. Kf5 Rb2 $5 $14) 37... Kf6 38. Rb6+ Kg7 39. Ra6 h5 $14 {
/+/-}) 37. Rb5 Kf6 38. a5 Ra2 39. Rb6+ Ke7 $2 {[%mdl 8192]} ({Although White
has made substantial progress in the preceding moves, there is still no forced
win after} 39... Kg7 40. a6 Bd4 41. Rg6+ (41. Rd6 Be3 42. Kh4 Ra5 $1 $16 {
is similar.}) 41... Kf8 (41... Kf7 $2 42. Rd6 Ra4 43. Rxd4 $18) 42. Re6 Ra5 $16
) 40. Bd5 (40. Bd5 Rxa5 (40... Re2 41. Re6+ Kd7 42. a6 $18) 41. Re6+ Kd7 42.
Rxe5 Kd6 43. Rxh5 Rxd5 44. Rxd5+ Kxd5 45. Kg4 $18) 1-0

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Kasparov +2-0=13"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2000.10.12"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2849"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2000.10.08"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 080"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Bd7 {Kramnik shows confidence in his new weapon. The
question is what Kasparovs sessions in front of the computer has unearthed.}
10. b3 h6 11. Bb2 Kc8 12. Rad1 {A refinement over game 1, where h3 first was
played.} b6 $146 {[%mdl 8] Black goes for his main plan of creating a fox-hole
for his K on b7.} (12... a5 13. h3 b6 14. a4 Bb4 15. Ne2 Re8 16. Nf4 g6 17. g4
Ng7 18. Rd3 Ne6 19. Nxe6 Bxe6 20. Nd4 $14 {1-0 Shirov,A-Krasenkow,M/Polanica
Zdroj 2000/CBM 79 no vc (27)}) (12... Ne7 $5 {to meet Ne2 with Ng6 has yet to
be tested.}) 13. Ne2 c5 14. c4 {In the more dynamic lines with a subsequent e6
this is just a lost tempo, so White could try to do without this move.} (14.
Nf4 $5 Bc6 (14... c4 $6 15. bxc4 $16) 15. Nd5 (15. Rfe1 Bxf3 16. gxf3 Be7 17.
e6 Bd6 $13) 15... Ne7 (15... Nd4 16. Nxd4 Bxd5 17. Ne2 Bc6 18. f4 $36) (15...
Kb7 16. Rfe1 Ne7 (16... Re8 17. c4 Ne7 18. e6 $16) (16... Rd8 17. c4 Ne7 18.
Ne3 Rxd1 (18... Re8 $5) 19. Rxd1 $14 {[%cal Yd1d8]}) 17. Nxe7 Bxe7 18. e6 $36)
16. Nxe7+ (16. c4 Kb7 {is the game.}) 16... Bxe7 17. e6 $5 Bxf3 (17... fxe6 18.
Rfe1 $36) 18. gxf3 fxe6 19. Rfe1 Bf6 20. Bxf6 gxf6 21. Rxe6 $14) 14... Bc6 15.
Nf4 $5 {Kasparov has achieved a more active setup than in game 1. But Black is
still without any real weaknesses. Whites main idea is to try to push e6 at
the right moment.} Kb7 (15... Bxf3 $5 {strengthens the position of Nf5 by
taking away the possibility g4, but it gives up some white square control.} 16.
gxf3 Be7 (16... c6 17. Rfe1 $14 {[%cal Ye5e6]}) 17. e6 (17. Nd5 Re8 18. Ne3 Nh4
19. f4 g6 20. Rd3 Kb7 21. Rfd1 Rad8 $11) 17... Bd6 $5 18. Rd5 Nd4 (18... fxe6
19. Nxe6 Re8 20. Nxc7 Kxc7 21. Rxf5 $14) 19. Bxd4 Bxf4 (19... cxd4 20. Rxd4 g5
21. Nh5 $14) 20. Rf5 cxd4 21. Rxf4 fxe6 22. Rxd4 Rf8 23. Re1 Rxf3 24. Rxe6 Rf7
$11) 16. Nd5 (16. Rfe1 {has been suggested as an improvement, but} Bxf3 $5 17.
gxf3 Be7 {seems OK for Black} 18. Rd7 (18. e6 Bd6 19. Nh5 (19. Rd5 $2 Nh4 $17)
19... fxe6 20. Rxe6 Rhe8 $132) 18... Rad8 19. e6 fxe6 20. Rxd8 Bxd8 21. Nxe6
Bf6 $11) 16... Ne7 17. Rfe1 Rg8 $5 {[%mdl 256] Prophylaxis against a later e6
by White. Kramnik has chosen to play in a very restrained fashion, reminicent
of the the way Wilhelm Steinitz used to play. His basic idea was that without
weaknesses you can always defend.} (17... Bxd5 $6 18. cxd5 Rd8 19. d6 cxd6 20.
exd6 Nc6 21. d7 Kc7 22. Be5+ $16) (17... Rd8 18. Ne3 Re8 19. e6 $5 fxe6 20. Ne5
$36) 18. Nf4 (18. e6 {The logical follow up to the previous play, but it
doesn´t seem to deliver anything.} fxe6 19. Nxe7 (19. Rxe6 Rd8 $132) 19... Bxe7
20. Rxe6 (20. Ne5 Bf6 21. Nxc6 Bxb2 22. Rxe6 Rae8 23. Rde1 Rxe6 24. Rxe6 Rf8
$13) 20... Bxf3 21. gxf3 Bd6 $11) 18... g5 $1 {Black activates his R and stops
White´s intended push with the e-P.} 19. Nh5 Rg6 20. Nf6 Bg7 {Black is slowly
getting his pieces out. The worst seems to be over for him.} 21. Rd3 Bxf3 {
Clearing c6 for the N.} 22. Rxf3 Bxf6 23. exf6 Nc6 24. Rd3 Rf8 25. Re4 Kc8 {
Now Black is ready for positive action, like starting to exchange R:s, so the
pressure is on White to do something.} 26. f4 $6 (26. h4 $142 Nd4 27. Bxd4 cxd4
28. Rdxd4 Rxf6 29. hxg5 hxg5 {With a very slight advantage for White. Ulf
Andersson would be very happy with White here. Even though a draw is the
likely result.}) 26... gxf4 27. Rxf4 Re8 $132 {Now it´s an open game. The N is
in no way inferior to the B.} 28. Bc3 Re2 29. Rf2 Re4 30. Rh3 a5 31. Rh5 (31.
Bd2 $6 Ne5 {[%cal Ye5g4]}) 31... a4 32. bxa4 $5 {Active play, but also a sign
that White is under pressure. The situation is clearly dangerous for White
when he loses his Q-side P:s.} Rxc4 33. Bd2 Rxa4 34. Rxh6 Rg8 (34... Rxh6 $5
35. Bxh6 c4 $132) 35. Rh7 Rxa2 36. Rxf7 Ne5 37. Rg7 Rf8 38. h3 c4 (38... Nd3
39. f7 Kd7 (39... Nxf2 40. Rg8 Kd7 41. Rxf8 Ke7 42. Rd8 $16) 40. Rg8 Ra1+ 41.
Kh2 Nxf2 42. Rxf8 Ke7 43. Rc8 $14) 39. Re7 Nd3 40. f7 Nxf2 41. Re8+ Kd7 42.
Rxf8 Ke7 43. Rc8 (43. Rd8 Kxf7 44. Kxf2 c3 $11) 43... Kxf7 44. Rxc7+ Ke6 45.
Be3 Nd1 46. Bxb6 $14 c3 47. h4 $6 (47. Kh2 $142) 47... Ra6 48. Bd4 Ra4 $11 49.
Bxc3 Nxc3 50. Rxc3 Rxh4 51. Rf3 Rh5 52. Kf2 Rg5 53. Rf8 Ke5 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Kasparov +2-0=13"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2000.10.14"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2849"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "147"]
[EventDate "2000.10.08"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 080"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 c5 5. Bxc4 a6 6. O-O Nf6 7. dxc5 Qxd1 8.
Rxd1 Bxc5 9. Nbd2 Nbd7 (9... b6 $1) 10. Be2 b6 (10... b5 11. a4 $1) 11. Nb3 (
11. Nc4) 11... Be7 12. Nfd4 Bb7 13. f3 $1 O-O 14. e4 Rfc8 15. Be3 Kf8 16. Nd2
$1 {[%mdl 4] Kramnik was not planning a quick draw, this novelty improves on
the older game. If white king remains on g1 black does not have the chance to
cope easily with the attack of white pawns on the kingside.} (16. Kf2 Ne5 17.
Nd2 Rc7 18. N4b3 Rc6 19. Rac1 Rac8 20. Rxc6 Rxc6 21. h3 (21. g4 h6 22. h4 g5 $1
$11 23. hxg5 $140 hxg5 24. Bxg5 Nfxg4+ 25. fxg4 Bxg5) 21... Ke8 22. Bd4 Nfd7
23. Rc1 Rxc1 24. Nxc1 f6 {1/2-1/2 Bareev,E-Rublevsky,S/Elista/1996/ (45)})
16... Ne5 (16... Rc7 $5 17. Nc4 Rac8 18. b3 b5 19. Na5 Ba3 $1 (19... Ba8 20. a4
$1) 20. Nxb7 Rxb7 $13) 17. N4b3 $1 Rc6 18. Rac1 (18. f4 Ned7 19. Nc4 Rac8) (18.
Bd4 Nfd7 19. f4 Ng6 20. Be3 (20. g3 e5 $1) 20... e5 $1 21. f5 Nf4 $132) 18...
Rac8 19. Rxc6 Rxc6 20. g4 $1 h6 (20... Rc2 21. Bxb6 Nc6 22. Rb1 Nd7 23. Be3 Bf6
24. Kf2 Rxb2 25. Rxb2 Bxb2 26. Nc4 $14 {xa6}) 21. h4 Bc8 $1 (21... Nh7 22. f4
Nd7 23. e5 $14) 22. g5 (22. Nd4 Rc7 23. g5 hxg5 24. hxg5 Nfd7 25. f4 Nc6 26.
Rc1 Bc5 $1) 22... hxg5 23. hxg5 Nfd7 $1 24. f4 Ng6 25. Nf3 (25. Nd4 Rc7 26. Bh5
e5 $1) (25. Bh5 e5 $1 $132) 25... Rc2 $2 {Kasparov is impatient and with this
move he exposes himself to the great danger of losing.} (25... Ke8 $5 26. Nfd4
Rc7 27. Bh5 Ngf8) (25... Rc7 26. f5 exf5 27. exf5 Nge5 28. Nxe5 Nxe5 29. Bf4 f6
$11) 26. Bxa6 $1 Bxa6 27. Rxd7 Rxb2 (27... Re2 28. Bxb6 Rxb2 (28... Nxf4 $2 29.
Ra7 Bb5 30. Nbd4 Rg2+ 31. Kh1 Be8 32. Rc7 Rg4 33. Nh2 Rh4 34. Ndf3 $18) 29. Ra7
Bb5 30. Nfd4 Be8 31. Bc7 $16) 28. Ra7 Bb5 29. f5 $1 exf5 30. exf5 Re2 $1 31.
Nfd4 $1 (31. Bxb6 Ne5 32. Nbd4 Nxf3+ 33. Nxf3 Bc6 34. Rc7 (34. Nd4 Rg2+ 35. Kf1
Be4) 34... Bxf3 (34... Be8 35. Bd4 $1) 35. Rc8+ Bd8 36. Rxd8+ Ke7 37. Rg8 Re5
$11) 31... Re1+ (31... Rxe3 32. Nxb5 Bxg5 33. fxg6 $18) 32. Kf2 Rf1+ 33. Kg2
Nh4+ 34. Kh3 Rh1+ 35. Kg4 Be8 36. Bf2 $1 Ng2 37. Ra8 $2 $138 {The time trouble
is enemy even for the great players, Kramnik is dropping part of his
significant advantage.} (37. Nf3 Bd6 38. Bxb6 Bc6 (38... Ne1 39. Ne5 $1 f6 (
39... Bxe5 40. Bc5+ Kg8 41. Ra8) 40. Ng6+ Kg8 41. Bf2 Nd3 42. Bd4 $40) 39. Na5
(39. Nbd4 $4 Ne3#) 39... Bd5 40. Rd7 Rf1 41. Rxd6 Bxf3+ 42. Kg3 Be4 43. Rd4 $1
$16) 37... Rf1 38. Kf3 Nh4+ $2 $138 {Kasaprov is paying back with
antipositional check at the edge of the board.} (38... Nf4 $1 39. Nd2 Rd1 40.
Nc4 Nd5 $14) 39. Ke2 Rh1 (39... Rxf2+ 40. Kxf2 Bxg5 41. Rb8 $18) 40. Nb5 Bxg5 (
40... Nxf5 41. Nc7 Nd6 42. Bg3 $18) 41. Nc7 Ke7 42. Nxe8 $1 (42. Rxe8+ $6 Kd7
43. Bxb6 Rh2+ 44. Kd3 Rxa2 $14) 42... Nxf5 43. Bxb6 Kd7 $1 44. a4 (44. Nd4
Nxd4+ 45. Bxd4 Rh8 46. Nc7 Rxa8 47. Nxa8 Kc6) (44. Nc5+ $5 Kc6 45. Ra6 $1 $16)
44... Rh3 (44... Bf4 45. Nd4 Nxd4+ 46. Bxd4 g5 $16) 45. Nc5+ Kc6 46. a5 Re3+ (
46... Nd4+ 47. Kf1 Bf4 48. Rc8+ Kb5 49. Ne4 $16) 47. Kd1 Re7 $2 {The win would
not be easy for white after the most exact move 47..Bf4!, as Kramnik's pieces
are rather poorly coordinated.} (47... Bf4 $1 48. Rc8+ Kb5 49. Ne4 $5 (49. Nc7+
Bxc7 50. Rxc7 Re7 $14) 49... Rxe4 50. Rc5+ Ka6 51. Rxf5 g5 52. Nc7+ Bxc7 53.
Bxc7 Re7 54. Bb6 g4 55. Rf4 f5 56. Rxf5 Rg7 $1 $14) 48. Rc8+ Kb5 49. Ne4 $6 (
49. Nc7+ Kc4 50. Ne4 $1 Rxe4 (50... Be3 51. Ne8+ Kd3 52. N8d6 $18) 51. Ne6+ Kb5
(51... Kd3 52. Nxg5 (52. Nc5+ Ke3 53. Nxe4+ Kxe4 54. a6 $18) 52... Rf4 53. Rd8+
Kc3 54. a6 $18) 52. Nxg5 Rf4 53. Nxf7 Ne3+ 54. Bxe3 Rxf7 55. Rc5+ Ka6 56. Rg5
$18) 49... Rxe4 (49... Bf4 50. Rc5+ Ka6 51. Rxf5 Rxe4 52. Rxf7 $18) 50. Rc5+
Ka6 51. Nc7+ Kb7 52. Rxf5 Be3 $1 (52... Bf6 $2 53. Rb5 Kc6 54. a6 $18) 53. Bxe3
(53. Rb5 Bxb6 54. axb6 g5 55. Nd5 g4 $132) (53. Nb5 Ka6 (53... Re7 54. Bxe3
Rxe3 55. Kd2 Re7 56. Nd4 $18) 54. Bxe3 Rxe3 55. Kd2 Re7 56. Nd4 $18) 53... Rxe3
54. Rxf7 Re5 $1 (54... Rg3 55. Ke2 Rg6 56. a6+ Kb6 57. Rf8 $1 $18) 55. a6+ $2 {
The challenger is doing maximum to let his great opponent slip away. Not
realizing huge advantage will be bother Kramnik for some time.} (55. Nd5+ Ka6
56. Nb4+ Kb5 (56... Kxa5 57. Nc6+ $18) 57. Rf4 $1 g5 58. Rg4 Re7 59. a6 Rh7 60.
Re4 Rf7 61. Ke2 Rf8 $1 (61... Ka5 62. a7 $1) (61... Rd7 62. Kf3 Rh7 63. Kg4
Rh4+ 64. Kf5) 62. Kd3 Rf3+ (62... Rg8 63. Kc3 g4 64. Re5+ Kb6 65. Kc4 g3 66.
Re6+ Kc7 67. Nd5+ Kd7 68. Re1 $18) 63. Re3 $1 Rf7 (63... Rf4 64. Re5+ Kxb4 65.
Re4+ $18) 64. Kc3 $18) 55... Kb6 56. Rxg7 (56. Rf8 Ra5 57. Rc8 Kc6 $1 58. Ne8+
(58. Na8+ Kd6) 58... Kb6 59. Nc7 Kc6 $11) 56... Ra5 57. Kd2 Ra1 58. Kc2 Rh1 $2
$138 59. Kb2 $2 {Not a comedy of errors, after Kasparov's blunder and weak
answer by Kramnik the board has witnessed the last act of true greek drama.
Now the position is definitely drawn.} (59. Rg8 $1 Ra1 (59... Rh2+ 60. Kd3 Rh3+
61. Ke2 Rh2+ 62. Kf3 $18) 60. Nd5+ Kc5 (60... Ka7 61. Nb4 $18) 61. Rg5 $1 $18)
59... Rh8 $1 60. Kb3 Rc8 61. a7 Kxa7 62. Kb4 Kb6 63. Nd5+ Ka6 64. Rg6+ Kb7 65.
Kb5 Rc1 66. Rg2 Kc8 67. Rg7 Kd8 68. Nf6 Rc7 69. Rg5 Rf7 70. Nd5 Kd7 71. Rg6 Rf1
72. Kc5 Rc1+ 73. Kd4 Rd1+ 74. Ke5 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Kasparov +2-0=13"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2000.10.15"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2849"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2000.10.08"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 080"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. Nc3 g6 7. O-O Bg7 8.
Qa4 (8. d3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bxc3 10. Rb1 $44) 8... Nb6 (8... O-O 9. Qc4 (9. Qb5 Qb6
$1 10. Qxb6 Nxb6 11. d3 c4 12. dxc4 Nxc4 $13 {Ljubojevic,L-Ivanchuk,V/Monaco
blind/1993/}) 9... Nxc3 10. dxc3 b6 11. Ng5 Qc7 $10 {Hertneck,G-Miles,A/
Dortmund/1986/}) 9. Qb5 (9. Qh4 O-O (9... h6 $5) 10. d3 f6 11. Bh6 e5 (11... g5
12. Qh5 Qe8 13. Qxe8 Rxe8 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. Rfc1 $14 {>< c5}) 12. Ne4 Qe7 13.
Rac1 Nd7 14. a3 Rb8 (14... b6 $2 15. b4 $1) 15. e3 (15. Rc2 {/\ Rfc1}) 15...
Bxh6 16. Qxh6 f5 17. Neg5 Nf6 18. h3 Bd7 19. Nd2 Rbc8 20. Rfe1 b6 21. f4 {
1-0 Krasenkow,M-Brynell,S/Malmo/1995/ (42)}) 9... Nd7 {Novelty in a well known
position, achieving equality against Kasparov is not easy.} (9... c4 10. Na4 (
10. Ne5 Bxe5 11. Bxc6+ bxc6 12. Qxe5 f6 13. Qe4 Qd6 14. Rd1 Bf5 15. Qf3 Qe6 16.
Re1 Kf7 {1/2-1/2 Lobejko,R-Schmidt,W/Koszalin 1998/ (24)}) 10... O-O 11. Nxb6
axb6 12. Qxc4 Be6 13. Qh4 Bxa2 14. d3 e5 15. Bg5 Qd7 16. Be3 Nd4 17. Nxd4 exd4
18. Bd2 Bd5 19. Bb4 {1/2-1/2 Myreng,S-Catalan,T/Gausdal/1982/ (61)}) (9... Bd7
$5 10. Qxc5 Rc8 $13) 10. d3 O-O 11. Be3 Nd4 (11... Qb6 12. Rab1 $1) 12. Bxd4 (
12. Qc4 $5 Nxf3+ (12... b5 13. Nxb5 Nxe2+ 14. Kh1 $14) 13. exf3 $1 (13. Bxf3
Ne5 $1) 13... Ne5 14. Qxc5 Nxd3 15. Qb5 $14) 12... cxd4 13. Ne4 (13. Na4 $5)
13... Qb6 $1 {The exchange of the queens will diminish the danger from active
white pieces.} (13... Nb6 14. Nc5 $14) 14. a4 (14. Qxb6 Nxb6 15. Nc5 Rd8 16.
Rfc1 Rb8 $11) 14... a6 (14... Qxb5 15. axb5 Nb6 16. Ra5 Rd8 17. Rfa1 Rd5 18. b4
a6 19. Nc5 $14) 15. Qxb6 (15. Qc4 $5 a5 16. Rfc1 $14) 15... Nxb6 16. a5 (16.
Nc5 $5) 16... Nd5 17. Nc5 Rd8 18. Nd2 (18. Ra4 e5) 18... Rb8 (18... e6 $1 19.
Nc4 Rb8 (19... Bf8 $6 20. Nb3 $14)) 19. Nc4 $6 {The only truly interesting
moment from the Kasparov's perspective. After this unprecise move the hope for
advantage will completely vanish.} (19. Ra3 $1 e6 20. Rb3 Bf8 21. Rc1 $14 (21.
Nxa6 Ra8 22. Bxd5 exd5 23. Nc7 Rxa5 24. Rb5 $14)) 19... e6 20. Rfc1 Bh6 $1 21.
Rcb1 (21. Rc2 $2 Nb4 $19) 21... Bf8 22. Nb3 Bg7 $1 (22... Nb4 23. Nb6 e5 (23...
Bd7 24. Nxd7 Rxd7 25. Rc1 $14) 24. Rc1 Bg4 25. Kf1 $14) 23. Bxd5 Rxd5 (23...
exd5 $6 24. Nb6 Re8 (24... Bg4 25. f3) 25. Re1 Bg4 26. f3 Bf5 27. Kf2 $14) 24.
Nbd2 (24. Nb6 Rb5 25. Nd2 e5 $11) 24... e5 {Kasparov has quicky accepted the
offered draw.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Kasparov +2-0=13"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2000.10.17"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2849"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2000.10.08"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 080"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 c5 5. Bxc4 a6 6. O-O Nf6 7. a4 (7. Bb3)
7... Nc6 8. Qe2 cxd4 9. Rd1 Be7 10. exd4 O-O 11. Nc3 Nd5 12. Bb3 Re8 13. h4 $5
$146 {The ambitious new move in a well know position, Kramnik comes with new
ideas nearly in each game.} Ncb4 (13... Bxh4 14. Nxh4 Nxc3 15. Qg4 (15. bxc3
Qxh4) 15... Nxd1 16. Bh6 Qf6) (13... Nxc3 14. bxc3 Bxh4 15. Qe4 $44) 14. h5 b6
(14... Bd7 15. Ne5 Bc6) 15. Ne5 Bb7 16. a5 $1 (16. Qg4 Rc8 17. Bd2 Nf6 18. Bxe6
$5 Nxg4 19. Nxf7 Qxd4 20. Ng5+ Kh8 21. Nf7+ $11) 16... b5 $6 {Kasaprov's
reaction is dubious, as the weakness of c5 square will not be compensated with
the pressure along the b file.} (16... bxa5 17. Ba4 Rf8 18. h6 g6 19. Nd7 Re8
20. Qe5 Nf6 21. Nc5 Bc6 22. Nxe6 $1 $16) (16... Rc8 $5) 17. h6 g6 18. Ne4 Nc7
$2 (18... Rc8 $5) (18... Nc6 19. Qf3 Rf8 20. Bxd5 exd5 21. Nxc6 Bxc6 22. Nc5
$16) 19. Nc5 (19. Bd2 $5 Bd5 (19... Qxd4 20. Ng5 $40) 20. Bxd5 Ncxd5 21. Rac1
f6 22. Bxb4 Nxb4 23. Nc6 Nxc6 24. Rxc6 Bf8 (24... Qd5 25. Rd6 $1) 25. d5 $1 $40
) 19... Bd5 20. Ra3 $5 Nc6 21. Bxd5 (21. Bf4 Nxd4 22. Rxd4 Bxc5 23. Nc6 Qf6) (
21. Nb7 $6 Qc8 22. Nxc6 Bxc6) (21. Nxc6 $5 Bxc6 22. Bc2 $14) 21... Qxd5 22.
Ncd7 Rad8 $1 {Precise defense in endangered position, black is keeping afloat
thanks to the vigorous resistance.} (22... f6 23. Rad3 $1 fxe5 24. dxe5 Qc4 (
24... Qa2 25. Rc3 $16) 25. Nb6 $16) (22... Nxd4 $2 23. Qg4 $18) 23. Nxc6 (23.
Nb6 $2 Nxd4 $1) (23. Rc3 Rxd7 24. Nxd7 (24. Nxc6 Bd6) (24. Rxc6 f6 $1 25. Nxd7
Qxc6 26. Nb6 Nd5 $15) 24... Qxd7 25. Qc2 Nd5 26. Rxc6 Nb4 27. Rc7 Qd8 28. Qc3
Nd5 $19) 23... Rxd7 24. Nxe7+ Rexe7 25. Rc3 f6 26. Be3 Kf7 27. Rdc1 Qb7 28. Rc5
Nd5 29. Qf3 (29. Rc8 Re8 30. Rxe8 Kxe8 $13) 29... Nb4 $1 30. Qe2 Rc7 $5 {
Psychologically interesting moment, Garry hopes to take over the initiative
even at the cost of a free passed pawn for white. After the repetition Nd5 his
defensive chances would seem excellent.} (30... Qe4 31. Rc8 Re8 (31... Nd3 32.
R1c3 Nf4 33. Qg4) 32. Rxe8 Kxe8 33. Rc8+ Rd8 34. Rc7 Rd7 35. Rc8+ $11) (30...
Nd5 $11) 31. Bf4 Rxc5 32. dxc5 e5 33. Qd2 $1 Nc6 $6 (33... Qe4 34. Be3 Nc6 35.
f3 Qf5 $11) 34. Qd5+ Kf8 35. Be3 Qd7 36. Qf3 Kf7 (36... Qe6 $1 37. Rd1 e4 $1
38. Qf4 g5 39. Qd6 Kf7 $13) 37. Rd1 e4 $1 38. Qe2 (38. Rxd7 $2 exf3 39. Rxe7+
Kxe7 40. gxf3 Nxa5 $17) 38... Qf5 39. Rd6 Re6 40. Rd7+ Re7 41. Rd6 Re6 42. Qd1
g5 $2 {Hard pressed Kasparov remains his own worst enemy. After the finish of
the time trouble phase he regained a breath in several games and immediatelly
played a second rate move!} (42... Rxd6 43. Qxd6 (43. cxd6 Ke8 44. Qb3 g5 45.
Qg8+ Kd7 46. Qa8 Qd5 $11) 43... Qe6 44. Qc7+ Ne7 45. Bd4 Qd5 $11) 43. Qh5+ $2
Ke7 (43... Kf8 44. g4 Qe5 45. Bf4 $1 gxf4 46. Qxe5 Rxe5 47. Rxf6+ Ke8 48. Rxc6
$18) 44. Qd1 Kf7 $2 (44... Ke8 $1 45. Rd7 Re7 46. Rxe7+ Nxe7 47. Qd6 Qd7 $11)
45. Rd7+ $1 {[%mdl 128] Now it is Kramnik's turn to play well and he choses a
line promising great advantage.} Kg6 (45... Re7 $2 46. Qb3+ Kf8 (46... Kg6 47.
Qg8+ Kh5 48. Rxe7 Nxe7 49. Qf7+ Ng6 50. Qxh7 Qg4 51. Qg7 Nh4 52. Qf7+ Kxh6 53.
Qxf6+ Kh5 54. Qh8+ Kg6 55. Qe8+ Kh6 56. g3 Nf3+ 57. Kf1 Qh3+ 58. Ke2 Ng1+ 59.
Kd2 Nf3+ 60. Kc3 $18) 47. Rd6 Rc7 48. Bd4 Nxd4 49. Rd8+ Ke7 50. Qg8 Ne2+ 51.
Kf1 Ng3+ 52. Ke1 $18) (45... Ne7 46. c6 $1 Rxc6 47. Qh5+ $18) 46. Rg7+ (46. Rc7
$5 Qe5 (46... Kxh6 47. Qd7 Ne7 48. c6 Qd5 49. b4 $16) 47. Rg7+ Kxh6 48. Qd7 Qf5
(48... Ne7 49. Rf7 $1 Kg6 50. Qe8 Kf5 51. Qh8 Ng6 52. Qxh7 Re7 53. Rxe7 Qxe7
54. g4+) 49. Rxh7+ Qxh7 50. Qxe6 Qc7 51. Qxe4 Qd7 $132) 46... Kxh6 47. Qd7 Re5
(47... Ne5 48. Rxh7+ $1 Qxh7 49. Qxe6 Kg6 50. Qxa6 Qh5 51. Qxb5 $18) 48. Qf7
Rd5 49. Kh1 {This move got enough praise, but it is not the best line. White
is avoiding checks after the jump of the knight along the route Ne5-f3, but
the opponent was nearly in zugzwang and 49.b4! would win.} (49. Kh2 Ne5 50.
Bxg5+ fxg5 51. Qxf5 Nf3+ 52. gxf3 Rxf5 53. Ra7 Rxc5 54. Rxa6+ Kh5 $11) (49. b4
$1 Nxb4 (49... Nd8 50. Rxh7+ Qxh7 51. Qxd5 $18) (49... Ne5 50. Bxg5+ fxg5 51.
Qxf5 Nf3+ 52. gxf3 Rxf5 53. Ra7 $18) 50. Kh2 Nc6 51. g4 $18) (49. Rxh7+ Qxh7
50. Qxd5 Qc7 (50... Nxa5 51. Qd8 $1) 51. Qxe4 Qd7 $1 $132 (51... Nxa5 $2 52. f4
$1 $40)) (49. Qf8 Rd1+ 50. Kh2 Rd8 $1) 49... Nd8 (49... b4 50. b3 $1 (50. g4 $2
Rd1+ 51. Kh2 Nd4 $3 (51... Ne5 $2 52. Bxg5+ fxg5 53. Qxf5 Nf3+ 54. Qxf3 exf3
55. Ra7 $18) 52. f4 (52. gxf5 Nf3+ 53. Kg3 Rg1+ 54. Kh3 Rh1+ $11) 52... Nf3+
53. Kg3 Rg1+ 54. Kf2 Rxg4 55. Qf8 Rg2+ 56. Kxg2 Qg4+ 57. Kf1 Qh3+ 58. Ke2 Qg2+
59. Bf2 Ng1+ 60. Ke1 Nf3+ $11)) 50. Rxh7+ (50. Qf8 Rd1+ 51. Kh2 Ne6 52. Rxg5+ (
52. Bxg5+ $2 Qxg5 $19) 52... Nxf8 53. Rxf5+ Kg6 54. c6 $1 Rd8 (54... Kxf5 55.
c7 $18) (54... Ne6 55. Rc5 $1 Rd8 56. c7 Rc8 57. Rc6 $18) 55. Rd5 Rc8 56. Rd6
Kf7 57. c7 Rxc7 58. Rxa6 $16) 50... Qxh7 51. Qxd5 Kg6+ $1 (51... Qc7 $4 52. Qd6
$18) 52. Kg1 Qc7 53. Qg8+ Kf5 54. Qd5+ Kg6 55. Qxe4+ Kg7 56. Qa8 $2 {Pitty the
Kramnik, his impatience will cost him half a point. After the transfer of the
bishop to c3 black would have enormous problems.} (56. Qd5 $1 Nc6 57. Bd4 Kg6 (
57... Nxd4 58. Qxd4 Qxa5 59. c6 $18) 58. Bc3 $18) (56. Bd4 Qd7 57. Bc3 $16)
56... Qd7 57. Kh2 (57. Qxa6 Qd1+ 58. Kh2 Qh5+ 59. Kg3 f5 $40) 57... Qd3 58. g3
(58. Qxa6 Qh7+ 59. Kg3 Qh4+ 60. Kf3 f5 (60... Qh5+ 61. Ke4 Qg6+ 62. Kd4 Qc2 $1
63. b3 (63. Qxb5 Ne6+ 64. Kd5 Nc7+ $19) 63... Qxb3 64. Ke4 f5+ 65. Kxf5 Qd5+
66. Kg4 Qxg2+ $11) 61. g3 Qe4+ 62. Ke2 f4) (58. Qa7+ Nf7 59. Qxa6 Qh7+ 60. Kg3
Qh4+ 61. Kf3 Ne5+ 62. Ke2 Qc4+ 63. Kd2 Qd3+ 64. Kc1 Qf1+ $11) 58... Nf7 59. Qb7
Kg6 60. Qxa6 Ne5 61. Qa8 (61. Qb7 g4 $11 (61... Ng4+ 62. Kh3 Qf5 $11)) 61...
Ng4+ (61... Qe2 $2 62. Qe4+ Kg7 63. Kg2 Nd3 64. g4 $16) 62. Kh3 Qf5 $1 {
Kasparov has saved his skin again in a very bad position due to the combined
strength of the queen and knight.} 63. Qg8+ (63. Kg2 Nxe3+ 64. fxe3 Qc2+ 65.
Kf1 (65. Kh3 $4 g4+ $1 66. Kxg4 Qf5+ 67. Kh4 Qh5#) 65... Qd1+ $11) 63... Kh6
64. Qh8+ (64. Kg2 Qd5+ 65. f3 Ne5 $132) 64... Kg6 65. Qe8+ Kh6 66. Qh8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Kasparov +2-0=13"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2000.10.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A32"]
[WhiteElo "2849"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "21"]
[EventDate "2000.10.08"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 080"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 e6 6. g3 Qc7 7. Qd3 Nc6 8.
Nxc6 dxc6 9. Bg2 e5 10. O-O Be6 11. Na4 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Kasparov +2-0=13"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2000.10.21"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2849"]
[Annotator "Golod,V"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2000.10.08"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 080"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Kramnik has entered in a match 4:3 before 8-th party.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3.
Nc3 Bb4 {This opening is applied in a match for the first time.} 4. Qc2 O-O 5.
a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8. f3 h6 9. Bh4 d5 10. e3 Nbd7 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12.
Bxd8 Nxc3 13. Bh4 Nd5 14. Bf2 c5 {It's main line.} ({Also it deserves
attention:} 14... f5 $5 {/\e5-e4 See comments to Gelfand,B-Tiviakov,S/Elista,
1998/CBM 65 (1/2-1/2)(Golod,V)(23)}) 15. Bb5 $5 ({Slightly worse is:} 15. e4 {
See comments to Teplitsky,Y-Gershon,A/Bermuda,1999/CBM 69 (1/2-1/2)(Golod,V)
(27)}) 15... Rfd8 $5 {Besides black has a two options:} (15... N5f6 $6 {
You can see comments to Kramnik,V-Adams,M/Linares,1999/CBM 70(1-0)(Golod,V)(38)
}) ({and} 15... Rad8 $5 16. Ne2 cxd4 17. Nxd4 a6 (17... e5 $5 18. Nc6 (18. Nf5
$5) 18... Bxc6 19. Bxc6 Nc5 20. Rd1 (20. Ke2 $5) 20... Ne7 21. Bb5 Rxd1+ 22.
Kxd1 Rc8 23. Re1 a6 24. Bf1 b5 $11 {Jelen,I-Podlesnik,B/Krsko,1997(1/2-1/2)(45)
}) 18. Be2 Nc5 19. O-O Na4 20. Rab1 Rc8 21. Rfd1 Rfd8 22. Rd2 Ne7 $6 (22... b5
$5 {Finkel,A} 23. Rbd1 Ndb6 24. Bh4 g5 25. Bg3 Nc4 26. Bxc4 bxc4 $132) 23. Rbd1
$14 {See comments to Jelen,I-Farago,I/Ljubljana,1997/CBM58 (1-0)(Finkel,A)(61)}
) 16. e4 (16. Ne2 $143 cxd4 17. Nxd4 Nc5 (17... a6 $5 18. Ba4 Rac8 19. Ke2 Nc5
20. Bc2 a5 21. Rhd1 Ba6+ 22. Ke1 g6 $11 {Arlandi,E-Jenni,F/Charleville,2000
(0-1)(61)}) 18. O-O Nc7 19. Bc4 e5 20. Nf5 Ba6 21. Bxa6 N7xa6 $11 {Topalov,
V-Kramnik,V/Monte Carlo,1998 (1/2-1/2)(28)}) 16... Nc7 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8] The
large hopes were assigned to this strong novelty.} ({Was checked in the
previous games:} 16... Ne7 17. Ne2 cxd4 $1 (17... Bc6 $6 18. Ba6 b5 19. a4 bxa4
20. dxc5 Ne5 21. Nd4 $14 {Kasparov,G-Kramnik,V/Moscow,1998(1-0) (61)}) 18. Nxd4
a6 19. Be2 (19. Bxd7 Rxd7 20. O-O-O Rad8 21. Nb3 Nc8 22. Rxd7 Rxd7 23. Rd1
Rxd1+ 24. Kxd1 f5 $11 {Pogorelov,R-Kolev,A/Salou,2000(1/2-1/2)(41)}) 19... Nc5
20. b4 Na4 21. O-O e5 22. Nb3 Nc3 23. Rfe1 Nxe2+ 24. Rxe2 Rd6 25. Rd2 {1/2-1/2
Anand,V-Karpov,A/Monte Carlo,1999 (25)}) 17. Bxd7 {It's best move.Differently,
after:} (17. Ba4 cxd4 18. Bxd4 e5 19. Be3 Ne6 {black has a small advantage.} (
19... Nc5 $5 20. Bxc5 bxc5 21. Ne2 Ne6)) 17... Rxd7 18. dxc5 f5 $1 {In it all
sense-16...Nc7.} ({Much more poorly same idea with inclusion preliminary:} 
18... bxc5 19. Bxc5 f5) 19. cxb6 $6 {According to Shipov,S this move is a
mistake. He writes that White could to equalize (as a minimum) with the help:}
(19. e5 $1 {[%csl Gb7,Yf3,Yg2]} Rd5 20. cxb6 (20. Ne2 $143 bxc5 21. Rc1 Na6 22.
Bg3 Rad8 23. Nc3 Rd2 24. Rd1 Rxd1+ 25. Nxd1 Bc6 $15) 20... Rxe5+ 21. Ne2 Ba6 (
21... axb6 $6 22. Bd4 $1 Rb5 23. O-O e5 $140 24. a4 {[%csl Rb6,Re5]}) 22. O-O-O
Nd5 (22... Bxe2 $4 23. bxc7 Bxd1 24. Rxd1 {[%csl Gc7,Rg8][%cal Gd1d8]} Rd5 25.
Rxd5 exd5 26. Bxa7 $18) 23. Nd4 axb6 24. Rd2 $11) 19... axb6 20. Ne2 ({Shipov
makes the following comments in "Club Kasparov":} 20. e5 $2 Ra5 21. Bg3 Rad5
$15) (20. exf5 exf5 21. Be3 {[%cal Ge1f2]} Nd5 22. Bd2 f4 $36 {[%cal Gd5e3]}) (
20. Bxb6 $5 fxe4 21. fxe4 Bxe4 22. Nf3 $11) 20... fxe4 21. fxe4 ({Shipov.
"Dubious:} 21. O-O {because of:} exf3 22. gxf3 Rd2 $1 {"}) 21... Bxe4 22. O-O
$6 {Shipov." Again oversight.Now white get in a strip of difficulties.It was
necessary:} (22. Bxb6 $5 Nd5 (22... Bxg2 $143 23. Rg1) 23. Bc5 Bxg2 24. Rg1 Bh3
$13 {[%cal Gh3f5] "}) 22... Rd2 {[%csl Rg2]} 23. Nc3 $6 ({Shipov."Can be
recommended:} 23. Rfe1 Rxb2 24. Bd4 $1 Rc2 (24... Rb3 $2 25. Nc1) 25. Bxb6 Nd5
26. Bf2 {=/=/+ "}) 23... Bb7 24. b4 ({Senselessly:} 24. Rad1 {because of:} Rxb2
$1 25. Rd7 Rc8 {and impossibly:} 26. Na4 Rc2 $140 27. Nxb6 {in view of:} Rf8 $1
{[%csl Rf2][%cal Gb7a6]}) 24... Rf8 $1 {Shipov."Probably,it's the best way to
support the initiative.Differently,at black there are no problems:} (24... b5
$6 25. a4 bxa4 26. Rxa4 Rc2 27. Rxa8+ Bxa8 28. Nd1 $11) (24... Nd5 $6 25. Ne4
$1 Rc2 26. Nd6 Bc6 27. b5 Bd7 28. a4 $11 {[%csl Ga4,Gb5,Rd7]}) (24... Rc2 $2
25. Rac1 $11 (25. Rfc1 $2 Rxa3 $17 {[%csl Ra1,Rc1]})) (24... e5 $2 25. a4 Ne6
26. Rfd1 $14 {"}) 25. Ra2 ({Much better is:} 25. a4 Rc2 26. Nd1 (26. Rac1 $4
Rfxf2) 26... Nd5 27. a5 $132) 25... Rxa2 26. Nxa2 Nd5 {[%csl Gb7,Rg2][%cal
Gd5f4]} 27. Bd4 Ra8 $1 {[%csl Ra3]} ({Shipov."Leads to equality:} 27... Nf4 28.
Rf2 b5 29. Nc3 Bc6 30. Bc5 Rf7 31. Bd6 g5 32. Ne2 $11 {"}) 28. Nc3 $6 $138 ({
Shipov:"Is a possibe continuation of the play:} 28. Rf3 g5 {[%cal Gd5f4]} 29.
Nc3 Nf4 30. Re3 Rxa3 (30... Bxg2 $6 31. a4) 31. g3 Ra1+ 32. Kf2 Nh3+ 33. Ke2
Kf7 34. Bxb6 Rh1 35. Rd3 $132 {"}) 28... Nxc3 29. Bxc3 Rxa3 30. Bd4 {[%mdl
4096]} b5 31. Rf4 $1 {[%csl Rg2,Rg7][%cal Gf4g4,Gg4g7,Yg4g2]} Rd3 $2 ({Also
weakly:} 31... g5 $6 {Shipov.} 32. Rf6 Ra2 33. Rg6+ $1 Kf8 34. Rxe6 Rxg2+ 35.
Kf1) ({and} 31... Rb3 {Shipov.} 32. Rg4 (32. Be5 $2 h5 {[%csl Rg4][%cal Yh5g4]}
) 32... g5 33. h4 Rxb4 34. hxg5 h5 35. Rf4 {[%csl Rg8][%cal Gg5g6,Gg6g7]} Rb1+
36. Kf2 Rc1 37. g6 Rc2+ 38. Ke3 Rxg2 39. Rf7 Bd5 40. Rg7+ Kf8 41. Bf6 e5 42.
Bxe5 $11) (31... h5 $1 {[%csl Rg4][%cal Gh5g4] Shipov.} 32. g4 h4 (32... Bf3 $5
33. gxh5 Bxh5) 33. g5 Ra2 34. Rxh4 Rg2+ 35. Kf1 Rxg5 {keeping quite good
chances of a prize.}) 32. Rg4 g5 ({Leads to draw:} 32... Rd1+ 33. Kf2 Rd2+ 34.
Ke3 Rxg2 35. Rxg2 Bxg2 36. Be5 $11) 33. h4 Kf7 34. hxg5 hxg5 35. Kf2 $1 {
[%cal Gd4e3]} Rd2+ $6 ({A little bit better:} 35... Kg6 36. Ke2 Rb3 37. Be3
Rb2+ 38. Kf1 {[%csl Rg5]} Kf5 39. Rxg5+ Ke4 40. Bc5 Bd5 {=/=/+}) 36. Ke3 Rxg2
37. Rxg2 Bxg2 38. Be5 $1 {Shipov:"And only here champion has reflected. But
late! The position is perfect draw. To punch blockade of white on point" e5
and g3" black be not capable. Therefore,drawn game!"} 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Kasparov +2-0=13"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2000.10.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2849"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2000.10.08"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 080"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 h6 {Not Bd7 this time. A sensible change given Kasparovs
prowess in preparing against sitting ducks.} 10. Rd1+ {White loses some
flexibility with this check. He later will have to move the R to bring out Ra1.
} ({But} 10. h3 Bd7 {would have been a nice trick luring Kasparov away from
improving on game 3, where he played without h3.}) 10... Ke8 11. h3 a5 12. Bf4
({Kasparov refrains from the double edged} 12. g4 Ne7 13. Kg2 {after which
Black gets reasonable play with both} Ng6 ({and} 13... h5 14. Kg3 Ng6 15. Bg5
Be6 16. Re1 Be7 $13 {1/2-1/2 Sutovski,E-Wedberg,T/Sweden 1998 (35)}) 14. Kg3
Be7 15. Re1 Be6 16. Nd4 $6 Rd8 17. Nxe6 (17. Nf5 Bxf5 18. gxf5 Bh4+ 19. Kf3 Ne7
$17 {Ghinda,M-Sturua,Z/Komotini 1993}) 17... fxe6 $17) (12. Ne2 Bc5 13. g4 Ne7
14. Nf4 Be6 15. Nh5 Rg8 16. Nd4 Nd5 17. Nxe6 fxe6 18. c4 Nb6 19. b3 a4 {
with play resembling the game at hand.0-1 Neurohr,S-Mokry,K/Germany 1994/
GER-chT2 (62)}) 12... Be6 13. g4 Ne7 14. Nd4 Nd5 15. Nce2 Bc5 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (
15... h5 {Pointless when White can exchange Be6.} 16. Nxe6 fxe6 17. c4 Nb6 18.
b3 hxg4 19. hxg4 a4 20. Kg2 $14 {1-0 Galkin,A-Yarovik,Y/Novgorod 1999/CBM 69
ext (41)}) 16. Nxe6 fxe6 17. c4 Nb6 18. b3 a4 {Black is active. White´s
counter activity on the other side is long in coming.} 19. Bd2 Kf7 20. Bc3 Rhd8
21. Rxd8 Rxd8 22. Kg2 Rd3 23. Rc1 (23. f4 g6 $11) 23... g5 24. Rc2 axb3 25.
axb3 Nd7 26. Ra2 Be7 27. Ra7 Nc5 28. f3 Nxb3 29. Rxb7 Nc1 30. Nxc1 Rxc3 31. Ne2
Rc2 32. Kf1 Rxc4 33. Rxc7 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Kasparov +2-0=13"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2000.10.24"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E54"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2849"]
[Annotator "Knaak,R"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2000.10.08"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 079"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Seit 1985 war der Weltmeistertitel in der Hand von Gary Kasparov. Nach der
Tradition der Schachwelt in über 100 Jahren wird Weltmeister, wer den
amtierenden Titelträger in einem Weltmeisterschaftsmatch besiegt. Genau dies
gelang - etwas überraschend - Vladimir Kramnik. Der 25-jährige Russe geht
damit als 14. Weltmeister in die Schachgeschichte ein. Bei seinem 8,5:6,5-Sieg
ließ er Kasparov nicht zur Entfaltung kommen. Dessen scheinbar schwaches Spiel
war wohl in Wirklichkeit der Stärke des neuen Weltmeisters geschuldet.} 1. d4
Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 {Zu Nimzoindisch kam Kasparov erst, als er sowohl mit
Grünfeldindisch als auch mit dem Angenommenen Damengambit Schwierigkeiten
hatte.} 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 c5 7. O-O cxd4 8. exd4 dxc4 9. Bxc4 b6 {
Dieses System nennen Insider auch Karpov-Variante. In der Tat hat der
Exweltmeister dieses System in den 70-er Jahren populär gemacht. Für Karpov
war es die Hauptwaffe gegen Nimzoindisch mit 4.e3.} 10. Bg5 Bb7 11. Re1 Nbd7
12. Rc1 Rc8 13. Qb3 {Diesen aggressiven Aufbau habe ich früher selbst gespielt;
Schwarz spielt nun am sichersten 13...Bxc3.} Be7 {Das wurde zunächst getadelt,
doch wahrscheinlich zu Unrecht.} (13... Bxc3 14. Rxc3 h6 15. Bh4 {Ob Weiß hier
Vorteil hat, ist sehr fragwürdig.} Bd5 (15... Qe8 $5) 16. Ne5) (13... Ba5 $6 {
Das gab ich in ECO Band E 2. Auflage als zum Ausgleich führend an; wohl ein
Irrtum.} 14. Ne5 Qc7 (14... Nxe5 15. dxe5 Qd4 16. Bxe6 Ng4 17. Be3 Nxe3 18.
Bxc8 Ng4 19. Bxb7 Qxf2+ 20. Kh1 Qh4 21. h3 $16 {1-0 Knaak,R-Espig,L/
Fuerstenwalde 1981/MCD (57)}) 15. Bxe6 fxe6 16. Qxe6+ Kh8 17. Nf7+ Rxf7 18.
Qxf7 Rf8 19. Qe7 Ng4 (19... Qb8 20. Bh4 Bxc3 21. bxc3 $14 {1-0 Knaak,R-Spassov,
L/Sochi 1980/MCD (64)}) 20. f4 Qc6 21. d5 $1 {(Fritz)} (21. Re2 Bxc3 22. Rxc3
Qd5 23. Rd2 Rf7 $11 {(ECO)}) 21... Qc5+ 22. Qxc5 Nxc5 23. Be7 $1 Rc8 24. Bxc5
bxc5 25. Re7 $16) 14. Bxf6 {Vielleicht ist ja dieser viel gelobte Zug gar
nicht so gut.} (14. Ne5 $5 Nxe5 15. dxe5 Nd7 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Nb5 Rc5 $2 (
17... Qg5 $5 18. Qg3 Qxg3 19. hxg3 Ba6 20. Nd6 (20. a4 $5 Bxb5 21. Bxb5 Rxc1
22. Rxc1 Nxe5 23. Rc7 $13) 20... Bxc4 21. Rxc4 Rxc4 22. Nxc4 Rc8 $11) 18. f4
Rfc8 $2 19. Nxa7 Rd8 20. Nb5 Nxe5 21. fxe5 Rd2 22. Bf1 $18 {1-0 Shulman,
Y-Smagin,S/St Petersburg 1994/EXT 98 (36)}) 14... Nxf6 ({Hier würde} 14...
Bxf6 {die in der Partie folgenden Verwicklungen vermeiden.} 15. Nb5 Bxf3 $1 (
15... Ra8 $2 16. Nd6 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Bxd4 18. Nxf7 Qf6 19. Bxe6 Qxf3 20. Ng5+ {
mit großem weißen Vorteil.}) 16. Qxf3 a6 17. Nd6 (17. Na7 Rc7 (17... Bg5) 18.
Nc6 Qc8 19. Bd3 Nb8 20. d5 exd5 21. Bf5 Qb7 22. Nb4 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Rd8 24. Rd1
Bxb2 25. Nxd5 {und Fritz sieht trotz Minusbauern einen kleinen Vorteil für
Weiß.}) 17... Rc7 18. Nxf7 (18. Bxa6 $2 Rxc1 19. Rxc1 Nb8) 18... Rxf7 19. Bxe6
Nf8 20. Rxc7 (20. Bb3 Kh8 21. Bxf7 Rxf7 22. Rcd1 Rd7 23. Re4 $13) 20... Qxc7 {
und Vorteil für Weiß ist nicht in Sicht.}) 15. Bxe6 $1 {Ein typisches Motiv,
und sogar schon gespielt worden.} fxe6 $2 {Schwarz muss nicht schlagen.} (15...
Rc7 $142 16. Ng5 (16. Bc4 $5 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Bd6 $13) 16... Bd6 {droht 17...Bf4}
(16... Qxd4 $1 $13) 17. Nb5 $1 (17. Rcd1 h6 18. Nxf7 Rcxf7 $13) 17... Re7 18.
Nxd6 Qxd6 19. Bc4 Qf4 20. Qg3 Qxg3 21. hxg3 Rd7 22. Red1 $16 {/+/= Diese
Stellung gilt es gegen die Partiestellung nach z.B. 21.Nd6 abzuwägen, um zu
bewerten, ob 15...Rc7 wirklich besser gewesen wäre.}) 16. Qxe6+ Kh8 17. Qxe7
Bxf3 18. gxf3 Qxd4 {Es ist noch nicht so schlimm für Schwarz, Weiß versucht
nun sofort die Schwäche der gegnerischen Grundreihe auszunutzen.} 19. Nb5 $1
Qxb2 $2 ({Auch} 19... Qf4 $6 {ist schwach:} 20. Rxc8 Rxc8 21. Nd6 Qxf3 $2 (
21... Ra8 22. Nf7+ (22. Ne8 Nxe8 23. Qxe8+ Qf8 24. Qxf8+ Rxf8 25. Re7 $14)
22... Kg8 23. Nd8 (23. Qe6 Rf8 24. Nd8+ Kh8 25. Qe7 Nd5 26. Ne6 Nxe7 27. Nxf4
$14) 23... Qg5+ 24. Kf1 Qg6 $14) 22. Nxc8 Qg4+ 23. Kf1 Qh3+ 24. Ke2 Qxc8 25.
Kd2 $18 {1-0 Hazai,L-Danielsen,H/Valby 1994/EXT 98 (32)}) (19... Qd2 $5 20.
Rxc8 Rxc8 21. Nd6 Rb8 $14) 20. Rxc8 Rxc8 21. Nd6 Rb8 ({Nach} 21... Ra8 {Aber}
22. Ne8 $1 (22. Nf7+ Kg8 {kann von weißer Gewinnstellung noch keine Rede sein.}
23. Qe6 (23. Nd8 h6 24. Ne6 Nh5 (24... Ne8 $6 25. Re4 $1) (24... Nh7 $5 25. Qb7
Re8 26. Qd7 Rb8 27. Qxa7 Re8 28. Qd7 Rb8 29. f4 Qf6) 25. Qb7 Re8 26. Qd7 Rb8
27. Qxa7 Re8 28. Qd7 Rb8) 23... h6 $1 24. Nxh6+ Kh7 {Nun kann Weiß mit
Springerzügen einen kleinen Vorteil behaupten, aber es geht nicht} 25. Qh3 $2 {
weil nach} (25. Ng4 $16) 25... gxh6 26. Re7+ Kg6 27. Qg3+ Kf5 {kein Turm auf
b8 hängt; Weiß hat nur Dauerschach.}) 22... Ng8 23. Qd7 h6 24. Kg2 $18) 22.
Nf7+ Kg8 23. Qe6 Rf8 {Das verliert sofort.} ({Nach} 23... h5 {kann Weiß jedoch
ebenfalls gewinnen:} 24. Ng5+ Kh8 25. Qf5 $1 {und das Eindringen des weißen
Turmes über e7 oder auch e6 bringt die Entscheidung.} Qxa2 (25... Kg8 26. Re7)
(25... h4 26. h3 Qxa2 27. Re7 Qa3 28. Rf7 Kg8) 26. Qg6 Qa3 27. Re6 Kg8 28. h4
$18) 24. Nd8+ Kh8 25. Qe7 1-0

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Kasparov +2-0=13"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2000.10.26"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2849"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2000.10.08"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 080"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. a4 Bb7 8. d3
O-O 9. Nc3 Na5 10. axb5 Nxb3 11. cxb3 axb5 12. Rxa8 Bxa8 13. Nxe5 d5 14. Bg5
dxe4 15. dxe4 Qxd1 16. Rxd1 b4 17. Bxf6 bxc3 18. bxc3 gxf6 19. Nd7 Bd6 20. Nxf8
Kxf8 21. f3 h5 22. h4 Ke7 23. Kf2 Bb7 24. c4 Be5 25. Rd2 Bc8 26. Rd5 Be6 27.
Ra5 c5 28. Ke3 Bd4+ 29. Kd3 f5 30. b4 fxe4+ 31. Kxe4 Bf2 32. bxc5 Bxh4 33. c6
Kd6 34. Rxh5 Bf2 35. g4 Kxc6 36. Rh2 Bc5 37. Rc2 f6 38. Rh2 Bxc4 39. Rh6 Bd5+
40. Kf5 Bxf3 41. g5 Kd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Kasparov +2-0=13"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2000.10.28"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E55"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2849"]
[Annotator "Wells,P"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2000.10.08"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 080"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 {Having struggled a little with both the
Grunfeld and the QGA, Kasparov switched to the Nimzo and showed it a greater
tolerance! His loss in Game 10 led most to expect a change, but there is a
rich variety of possible black defences in the Rubinstein.} 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5
6. Nf3 c5 7. O-O dxc4 8. Bxc4 Nbd7 {A deviation from Game 10, where the
position in the centre was immediately clarified. Stylistically, not to
mention 'politically' it seemed strange to see Kasparov playing like Karpov,
who was for many years the specialist in that particular IQP version!} 9. a3 {
By far the most forcing, and I am surprised to find, clearly the second most
popular choice behind 9 Qe2. The idea of course is that at this stage, black
cannot happily take on c3, since any subsequent capture on d4 will be
re-captured with the c-pawn, when white has a strong centre with no weaknesses.
Since the game follows a very critical course, the assessment of 9 a3 will be
seriously influenced by the ultimate consensus concerning Kramnik's
compensation after move 12.} ({The main line} 9. Qe2 {used to be likely to
introduce one of the sharpest and most tactical skirmishes within the entire
Nimzo Indian complex, but nowadays there is a growing tendency for either side
to deviate earlier, eg.} b6 (9... a6 $5) 10. d5 (10. Rd1 {is the quieter
alternative - one recent example:} cxd4 11. exd4 Bxc3 12. bxc3 Qc7 $1 (12...
Bb7 13. Bd3 Qc7 14. c4 $14) 13. Bd2 Bb7 14. Bd3 Rfe8 15. Re1 {This loss of
tempo seems quite a strong case for 8...Nbd7 provided such a straightforward
IQP type position can be reached.} Rac8 16. a4 Bd5 17. Ne5 Nxe5 18. dxe5 Nd7
19. Qh5 g6 (19... Nf8 $5) 20. Qh4 Bc4 (20... Nxe5 $2 21. Bf4 Qxc3 22. Bxe5 Qxd3
23. Qf6 $40) 21. Bc2 Qb8 $6 22. Bg5 Bd5 23. Re3 $6 (23. Qh6 Kh8 24. Re3 $18)
23... Nxe5 24. Rh3 h5 25. Bf6 Nd7 26. Rg3 $40 {1-0 Hillarp Persson,T-Ionescu,C/
Batumi 1999/CBM 74/[Wells] (42)}) 10... Bxc3 11. dxe6 Be5 (11... Ne5 12. exf7+
Kh8 13. bxc3 Bg4 14. e4 $1 Qe7 15. Re1 b5 {[%cal Yc4f7]} 16. Bxb5 {[%csl Rf7]}
Nh5 17. Bg5 $1 Qe6 (17... Nxf3+ 18. gxf3 Qxg5 19. fxg4 Nf4 20. Qf3 Rxf7 21. Qg3
$14) 18. Qe3 Bxf3 19. gxf3 Qxf7 $5 20. Be2 Ng6 $5 $44 {This huge complexity is
now more often found in correspondence chess!})) 9... cxd4 {Looks best. As
discussed above black would like to execute the 'standard exchange' on d4,
after which he can further take on c3, and in this case a3 would represent
something of a tempo loss.} (9... Bxc3 $6 10. bxc3 $14 {[%csl Yc3,Yd4,Ye3]
[%cal Gc5d4,Gc3d4] would merely strengthen white's centre for no compensation,}
) ({but} 9... Ba5 {is a legitimate alternative. However, a3 'for free'
represents a reasonable partial gain of tempo after 10 Qe2 for instance.}) 10.
axb4 {Of course!} (10. exd4 Bxc3 11. bxc3 Qc7 {would lead to a typical set-up
where a3 represents a costly loss of time.}) (10. Qxd4 {looks largely for the
peacefully inclined!}) 10... dxc3 11. bxc3 {This structure, which is almost
exclusively a child of the Nimzo-Indian, offers both sides interesting
possibilities in comparison with the more standard backward pawn set-up with
c3/d4. White has chances to make use of the a-file, while black may find a use
for the move ...e5, one manifestation of the fact that white does not here
have the grip over the e5 square characteristic of other variations. Black's
main weapon however, is that it is his move, by which he can immediately force
a concession} Qc7 {[%csl Rc3][%cal Gc7c3]} 12. Be2 $5 {White has a chioce of
concession to make - he can acquiesce in a slight misplacement of his pieces,
or he can sacrifice a pawn. Of course the latter is the critical course - what
is unclear to me is to what extent this formed a part of Kramnik's preparation.
Clock times reveal little here - his 13th was played at speed, his 14th only
after considerable thought.} (12. Qb3 b6 $5 {This looks perhaps the most
promising way of exploiting the queens sally to the queen-side.} (12... Nb6 13.
Be2 e5 14. c4 Be6 15. Bb2 Nxc4 16. Rfc1 {might give white a tiny edge}) 13. Be2
Bb7 14. c4 (14. h3 Ne5 $1 $132 {[%cal Gb7g2]}) 14... Ng4 $1 15. g3 {[%cal
Gb7h1] with promising-looking counterplay.}) (12. Qe2 Nb6 13. Bd3 e5 $1 14. e4
Be6 {[%csl Rc4][%cal Ge6c4] enabled black to set up a very comfortable
blockade in 0-1 Villeneuve,A-Kosten,A/Torcy 1991/TD (79)}) 12... Qxc3 $1 {
Right in principle - any other move fully vindicates 12 Be2. Right in terms of
the match situation - Kasparov was trailing by two points and having
difficulty making a real impact with white. Also, to my mind unrefuted by any
of the subsequent analysis, for all that white's compensation makes a pleasing
visual impression. In any case, White would like to play c4 next, and the
other move  tried in the position enabled him to do this without inconvenience.
} (12... e5 13. c4 b6 14. Bb2 Bb7 15. Qb3 Rfe8 16. Rfd1 a5 17. c5 $1 axb4 18.
cxb6 Nxb6 19. Rxa8 Bxa8 20. Bxe5 $1 Qc6 21. Bf1 $14 {1/2-1/2 Garcia Gonzales,
G-Balashov,Y/Leningrad 1977/MCL (95) - white has a distinct plus, based upon
the bishop pair and extra central pawn.}) 13. Ba3 $5 $146 {In fact the first
new move, since 12...Qxc3 has already been encountered in correspondence chess.
The bishop is likely to be headed for b2 which in spite of the loss of time
involved is much the most offensive square.} ({The alternative} 13. Bd2 Qc7 14.
Qb1 Nd5 15. Rc1 Qb8 {gets white's pieces into the fray one move quicker, but
to less daunting squares. Like Kramnik's choice, it offers compensation, but
nothing really concrete.} 16. Bd3 $6 (16. e4 Nf4 17. Bb5 Ne5 $5) (16. Qe4 $5) (
16. g3 $5 {[%cal Yd2f4,Ye3e4]}) 16... h6 17. e4 Nf4 18. Bc3 b5 19. Bf1 a6 20.
Qb2 f6 21. g3 Ng6 22. Bg2 e5 23. Qa2+ Kh8 24. Bd2 Nb6 25. Be3 Nc4 $15 {1-0
Schlosser,F-Kayser,F/corr WT/M 1991 (76)}) 13... Nd5 $1 14. Qb1 $1 {As in the
previously quoted game this seems to be the correct formation for white's
major pieces - from a1,b1,c1 they get maximum use out of the open files and
diagonals. strange is that this move took a lot of time, whereas 13 Ba3 did
not. 13...Nd5 is a strong move, but not perhaps an especially difficult one.} (
14. e4 Nf4 15. b5 Re8 16. Bd6 e5 17. Ra3 Qc1 $5) 14... Qf6 15. Bd3 h6 16. b5
Rd8 17. Bb2 (17. Nd2 $5 {was suggested by Shipov, but his antidote also looks
to deny white any clear route to a plus viz:} a5 $5 (17... Nc3 $6 18. Qc2 Ne5
19. Bh7+ $1 Kh8 20. Ne4 Nxe4 21. Bxe4 $32 {[%csl Ya3,Ye4][%cal Ya3e7,Ye4b7]})
18. Ne4 Qh4 19. Rd1 $5 {Wells} (19. Rc1 Ne5 20. Be2 b6 21. Bd6 Ng6 22. Bg3 Qe7)
(19. Nd6 $6 Ne5 20. Bh7+ (20. f4 {Wells} Nxd3 $1 (20... Rxd6 21. Bxd6 Ng4 22.
h3 Ngxe3 23. Rf3) (20... Ng4 $4 21. Bh7+) 21. Qxd3 b6 22. f5 Nf6 $13) 20... Kh8
21. f4 (21. Qe4 Qxe4 22. Bxe4 Nc3 23. f4 Rxd6 24. fxe5 Rd7 $17 {-Wells}) 21...
Rxd6 22. Bxd6 Ng4 $17) 19... f5 (19... Ne5 20. Be2 $13) 20. Nd6 Ne5 (20... Nc3
$2 21. Qb3) 21. Qb2 $13) 17... Qe7 18. Ra4 $40 {[%csl Gf6][%cal Yd3h7,Yb2g7,
Ya4g4,Yg4h4,Gf7f6,Gd7f8,Gc8d7,Gd7e8] Several commentators have suggested that
white's position looks really imposing, and noted that Kasparov himself said
he would have enjoyed a crack at the white pieces! True, one might have
expected to find the players on opposite sides of such a principled battle
between all-out attack on the king, and  defence/conversion of the material.
Still, while it can hardly be denied that white has compensation, I am a
little surprised by the general acclaim for white's chances. I regard myself
as a keen, even on occasions incautious investor of material, but I am not
sure how enthusiatically I would adopt the white cause - in principal white's
superiority on the dark squares ( black's absence of dark-squared bishop ) is
relatively easily blunted by the move ...f6 ( + possibly ...e5 ). This of
course creates white square hazards in turn, but black is not so far away from
moves such as ...Ne7, and Bd7-e8 which would serve to cover these in turn. I
do not want to overstate the case - I strongly suspect that white is not worse
- but I believe that Kasparov's play has been 'correct per se', rather than
just ' correct for the occasion'.} Nc5 {Again looks the right decision.} (18...
e5 $6 19. Rc1 N7b6 20. Ra5 {[%csl Ra7,Re5] seems merely to boost white's
prospects of compensation on both sides of the board.}) 19. Bh7+ Kh8 20. Rh4 $5
{Again commentators regard this as tempting, but due to white's decision to
switch in a moment to holding the queenside suggest that 20 Rc4 might have
been better.} ({In view of what I said above about the role of the move ...f6,
the really striking thing for me is the unpromising nature of the apparently
logical} 20. Rg4 {This really succeeds in opening up the dark squares, but
nonetheless the concrete tactics still favour black after} e5 $1 (20... Nf6 $6
21. Bxf6 $1 Qxf6 (21... gxf6 22. Rh4 $40) 22. Rf4 Qe7 23. Ne5 $18 {[%csl Rf7,
Rg6]}) (20... f6 $6 21. Nh4 $40) 21. Rg3 $5 (21. Rxg7 $2 Kxg7 22. Nxe5 Nf6 $17)
(21. Bf5 $5 Bxf5 22. Qxf5 f6 $13) 21... e4 $1 (21... f6 22. Nh4 $40) (21... Nf6
22. Nxe5 $1 Nxh7 $140 23. Rxg7 Kxg7 24. Nc6+) 22. Bd4 (22. Rxg7 $2 Nf6 23. Rg5
(23. Rxf7 Qxf7 24. Bxe4 Qg7 $17) 23... hxg5 24. Nxg5 Rd5 $17) (22. Bxe4 $6 Qxe4
23. Bxg7+ Kh7 24. Bd4 (24. Qa1) 24... Qxb1 25. Rg7+ Kh8 26. Rxf7+ Kg8 27. Rg7+
Kf8 28. Rxb1 Ne6 $17) (22. Ne5 $6 Nf6 $1 (22... Kxh7 $2 23. Nc6 bxc6 24. Rxg7+
Kh8 25. Rxf7+ Kg8 26. Rxe7 Nxe7 27. Ba3) 23. Bg6 Be6 {and again black defends.}
) (22. Qa1 Nf6) (22. Bxg7+ Kxh7 23. Bd4 Nf6 24. Qa1 Nh5) 22... Nf6 23. Bxc5
Qxc5 24. Bxe4 Nh5 $1 $17) ({Therefore,indeed, attention must switch to} 20. Rc4
$5 {In comparison with the game, white has the e5 square for his knight, and
more squares on the a1-h8 diagonal, but not the weakness on g6 to aim at. It
is still a matter of debate which counts for more.} Bd7 21. Ne5 $6 (21. Ba3 $5
b6 22. Ne5 $44) 21... Bxb5 22. Rh4 Bxf1 23. Rxh6 Bd3 $1 {Shipov} 24. Bxd3+ Kg8
25. Bh7+ Kf8 {and again black escapes.}) 20... f6 $1 {[%csl Gf6,Rg6][%cal
Yb2f6]} 21. Rc4 {This clearly is a big psychological moment. It is not that
white necessarily gives up any hope of a king-side attack ( the g6 square is
not running away ), but coming after a very long thought it clearly represents
a belief that all immediate attempts were found wanting, as well as a switch
into 'defensive mode' on the queenside which reveals a lack of false pride and
speaks volumes for Kramnik's pragmatic common sense. Indeed, analysis has yet
to unearth anything approaching a knock-out punch:} (21. Rh3 Bd7 22. Nh4 Be8
23. Ng6+ Bxg6 24. Qxg6 Qe8 $1 $15) (21. Rc1 $5 Bd7 (21... b6 $5) 22. Ba3 $5 b6
23. Bd3 $1 {[%csl Ra7] is a sensible try which again stresses the positional
over the 'all-out attack'. I suspect white has enough for the pawn in such a
case, although not more.}) (21. Rh5 Bd7 22. Nh4 Be8 23. Ng6+ Bxg6 24. Qxg6 Qe8
{is a now familiar story.}) (21. Rg4 Bd7 22. Nh4 {[%csl Rg6]} Be8 $1 $15) (21.
Qg6 $5 {is a great idea of Shipov's, intending} Bd7 $1 22. Ne5 $5 {but
unfortunately} fxe5 (22... Be8 23. Rxh6 $1 fxe5 24. Qg3 $1 Nf6 25. Bxe5 {
leaves black strangely in deep trouble}) 23. Bxe5 Nd3 24. Ba1 e5 $19 {is a
jolt back to reality.}) 21... Bd7 22. Ba3 (22. Nh4 {is as usual best met by}
Be8 $1 {but Kasparov was apparently concerned by white's compensation after
the simple} 23. Ng6+ Bxg6 24. Bxg6 $13 {Of course, this would clearly
vindicate white's 21st, since c4 is much the best square for complementing the
bishop pair in such a case.}) 22... b6 23. Be4 $2 {Kramnik apparently either
missed or underestimated black's reply which takes advantage of the 'time-out'
to liquidate black's backward pawn on a7.} ({Necessary to the efficient
execution of his intended holdng operation on the queen-side was to keep this
pawn backward by} 23. Bd3 $1 {preparing to meet} a6 {with} 24. bxa6 Rxa6 25.
Bxc5 bxc5 26. Rxc5 $1 Rb6 27. Qc1 {and full equality.}) 23... a6 $1 {Good
reflexes! Both players were by now short of time.} 24. bxa6 Rxa6 25. Bxc5 (25.
Qb2 Rxa3 26. Qxa3 Bb5 {would not be an improvement from Kramnik's point of
view.}) 25... bxc5 26. Rfc1 Ra5 $17 27. Qb2 (27. Nh4 {is no longer
well-supported, and can by now be simply side-stepped by} Qd6 $1) 27... Rb5 28.
Qa3 Nb6 $5 {Tricky indeed, but probably the simple} (28... Rc8 {is objectively
better.}) 29. R4c3 (29. Rxc5 $2 {loses very artistically to} Bc6 $1 $19 {
[%csl Rg1][%cal Rd1g1,Rd8d1]}) 29... Rb4 30. Nd2 $1 {A difficult move - it is
easy to see that the desirability of the knight performing the dual role of
defending e4, and covering c4, much more problematic to understand that it is
not simply too vulnerable here.} f5 $6 $138 (30... Bc6 $1 {would have been
stronger. Black retains some winning chances after either} 31. Rxc5 ({or} 31.
Bxc6 Rxd2 32. Rd3 Rdb2 33. Rcd1 (33. Be4) 33... Rb1 $17) 31... Rxe4 $1 32. Qa5
(32. Nxe4 Bxe4 $17) 32... Rxd2 33. Qxd2 Bd5 34. f3 {and white's defence will
not be easy, but black has some way to go to coordinate fully.}) 31. Bf3 $6
$138 {The position is simply too difficult to play to expect perfection in
mutual zeitnot.} (31. Rxc5 $1 Rxe4 32. Nxe4 fxe4 33. Qb4 Na4 34. R5c4 Qxb4 35.
Rxb4 {[%csl Re4] is quite a different story structurally. White is fine here.})
31... Na4 $6 {Again time-trouble causes Kasparov to prioritise the tricky over
the solidly founded.} ({Better} 31... Rc8 $1 $17) 32. Rxc5 $1 Rb2 33. Nc4 $1
Qxc5 $11 {A fascinating struggle, and about as close as Kramnik came to losing
in the match. Theoretically the jury is still out. At the moment white's
compensation looks sufficient, but not more. If something concrete is found,
then black would have to think twice about 8...Nbd7 since after 9 a3 the play
is quite impressively forcing.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Kasparov +2-0=13"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2000.10.29"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2849"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "27"]
[EventDate "2000.10.08"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 080"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 h6 10. h3 Ke8 11. Ne4 c5 12. c3 b6 13. Re1 Be6 14. g4
1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Kasparov +2-0=13"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2000.10.31"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2849"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2000.10.08"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 080"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4
d6 9. Rd1 Nbd7 10. Be3 (10. b3 O-O 11. Bb2 Rc8 12. Rac1 a6 13. Qd2 Rc7 14. Ne1
Bxg2 (14... Qa8 $142 15. Bxb7 Qxb7 $11) 15. Nxg2 Qa8 16. Ne3 Re8 17. Ncd5 Rc6
18. a4 Qb7 19. Bd4 Rcc8 20. Nxf6+ Bxf6 21. Nd5 Bxd4 22. Qxd4 $36 {Kramnik,
V-Polgar,J/Dos Hermanas/1999/}) 10... Rc8 11. Rac1 O-O 12. Qh4 a6 13. Ne1 $146
{Technically this is a new move, but Kramnik's second Illescas came up with
the idea a move later-see below. Also above we see Kramnik himself testing Ne1
in a different version of the A30 line.} (13. b3 Re8 (13... h5 $6 14. Bg5 (14.
h3 $5 Rc7 15. g4 $36) 14... b5 15. cxb5 axb5 16. Qb4 Bc6 17. e4 Qb6 18. Nd4 Ba8
19. Qxb5 Qa7 20. Qe2 Rc5 21. Be3 Qa5 22. Ndb5 Rcc8 23. Nd5 $16 {Gavrikov,
V-Christiansen,L/SUI-chT/1996/}) (13... Rc7 14. Ne1 $5 (14. Bh6 Qa8 15. Bxg7
Kxg7 16. Qd4 b5 $5 (16... Kg8 17. Qe3 Re8 18. Bh3 Rc5 19. Nd4 Rh5 20. g4 Re5
21. Qd2 e6 22. f3 Rc5 23. Nc2 Ne5 24. Ne1 Rd8 25. g5 Ne8 26. a4 $14 {(),
Yermolinsky,A-Ehlvest,J/Stratton Mountain/2000/}) 17. cxb5 axb5 18. Nxb5 Rxc1
19. Rxc1 Qxa2 20. Nc3 Qa3 21. Rb1 Rc8 22. Nd2 e5 23. Qa4 Qxa4 24. Nxa4 Bxg2 25.
Kxg2 d5 {Topalov,V-Kramnik,V/Wijk aan Zee 5'/1999/}) 14... Bxg2 (14... Qa8 15.
Bh3 Re8 16. Nd3 $14) 15. Nxg2 Re8 16. Nf4 Qb8 17. Nfd5 Rcc8 18. Bg5 (18. a4 $5
$14) 18... Qb7 19. a4 Kh8 20. g4 Nxd5 21. Nxd5 e6 22. Nf6 Nxf6 23. Bxf6 d5 24.
Rc3 Bxf6 25. Qxf6+ Kg8 26. Rcd3 Qe7 27. Qxe7 Rxe7 $11 {Illescas Cordoba,
M-Gelfand,B/Pamplona/1999/}) 14. Bh3 (14. g4 b5 $5 15. cxb5 Nxg4 16. Bd4 Ngf6
17. a4 Nc5 18. bxa6 Bxa6 19. Nd2 Ne6 20. Be3 h5 21. h3 d5 22. Nc4 d4 $5 $13 {
Filippov,V-Nikolic,P/ECC Neum/2000/}) 14... Rc7 15. Nd5 $146 (15. Bh6 Rc5 16.
Ng5 b5 $132) 15... Nxd5 16. cxd5 Nf6 17. Rxc7 Qxc7 18. Qc4 Qd8 19. Ng5 Qa8 20.
Bxb6 Bxd5 21. Qd3 h6 22. Nf3 Qb7 23. Ba5 Be4 24. Qe3 Qb5 $13 {Van der Sterren,
P-Cvitan,O/BL 9899/1999/}) 13... Bxg2 14. Nxg2 Re8 15. b3 Qc7 $1 {Compared
with the game Illescas-Gelfand Kasparov gets his Q faster to b7 to start his
<=>.} 16. Bg5 (16. Nf4 Qb7 (16... e6 $5 $11) 17. Nfd5 b5 $11) (16. Bh6 $5 Qc5
17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Ne3 Qh5 19. Qd4 Qe5 $11) 16... Qb7 17. Ne3 b5 $11 18. Ned5 $6
{White wrecks his pawns and Black already can start thinking about more than
equality.} (18. Ncd5 $142) 18... bxc4 19. bxc4 h5 $1 {A useful prophylactic
move.} 20. Qf4 (20. Rb1 $6 Qc6 {[%csl Rc4] ><c4}) 20... Qc6 21. Bxf6 (21. Nxf6+
$2 exf6 $1 (21... Nxf6 22. Nd5 $11) 22. Bh6 (22. Qxd6 fxg5 23. Qxd7 Qxd7 24.
Rxd7 Rxc4 $19) 22... g5 23. Qxd6 Bxh6 24. Qxd7 Qxd7 25. Rxd7 Rxc4 $19 {[%cal
Gc8c1] with a deadly pin on the c-file.}) 21... Nxf6 22. Nxf6+ Bxf6 23. Nd5 Bb2
$1 $15 24. Rb1 (24. Rc2 Bg7 $15 (24... Qa4 $2 25. Rdd2 Be5 26. Qh4 {[%cal
Rd5b6,Rd5e7] /\Ne7,Nb6})) 24... Bg7 25. Qg5 Kf8 26. Rdc1 e6 27. Nf6 (27. Nb6 $5
Rb8 28. c5 Bd4 (28... d5 29. Qd2 $13) 29. cxd6 Qxd6 30. Nc4 Qd5 $15) 27... Red8
28. h4 Qa8 {[%cal Rc8c5] /\Rc5-+} 29. c5 $5 {[%mdl 4096] White simplifies into
a tenable _|_.} (29. Qf4 Rc5 30. Nh7+ Kg8 31. Ng5 Rf5 $15) 29... Rxc5 30. Rxc5
Bxf6 $8 (30... dxc5 $4 31. Qxc5+ Rd6 32. Qxd6#) 31. Qxf6 dxc5 32. Kh2 $1 {
Prepares the activation of the R.} Kg8 33. Rb6 {[%cal Rb6e6] /\Re6=} Re8 (33...
Rd1 34. e4 (34. f3 Qc8 35. Qe5 Rd8 36. g4 hxg4 37. fxg4 c4 38. h5 Rd5 $17)
34... Qc8 35. Qe5 $1 Rd8 36. Kg2 (36. g4 $2 hxg4 37. h5 f6 38. Qxf6 Qc7+ $18)
36... c4 37. g4 hxg4 38. h5 gxh5 39. Qg5+ Kf8 40. Rxa6 $1 (40. Rb7 Rd7 41. Qh6+
Ke7 42. Qg5+ f6 43. Qg7+ Kd6 $19) 40... c3 41. Ra7 Rd7 42. Qf6 $1 Kg8 $8 43.
Qg5+ $11) 34. Qf3 $1 Qxf3 {Otherwise White regains the P with a clear draw.}
35. exf3 Rc8 36. Rxa6 c4 37. Rd6 c3 38. Rd1 Ra8 39. Rc1 Rxa2 (39... Ra3 40. Kg2
Kg7 41. f4 Kf6 42. Rc2 $8 (42. Kf3 $2 c2+ 43. Ke2 Rxa2 44. Kd3 Kf5 45. Rxc2
Rxc2 46. Kxc2 Ke4 47. Kd2 Kf3 48. Ke1 f6 49. Kf1 e5 50. fxe5 fxe5 {[%cal Re5e3]
/\e4-e3-+}) 42... Ke7 43. Kf3 Kd6 44. Ke4 Kc5 45. Kd3 Kb4 46. Re2 $11) 40. Rxc3
(40. Kg2 $2 Ra3 41. Kf1 Kg7 42. Ke2 Kf6 43. Kd3 c2+ $1 44. Kxc2 Ra2+ 45. Kd3
Rxf2 46. Ke3 Rg2 47. Kf4 e5+ 48. Ke4 Rxg3 49. Rc6+ Kg7 $19) 40... Rxf2+ 41. Kg1
Ra2 $11 {/=/+ With the pawn on f2 it would be an elementary draw, now White
still has to be careful, as Black may create a dangerous passed e-pawn.} 42.
Rc7 Kf8 43. Rb7 Ke8 44. Rb8+ Ke7 45. Rb7+ Kf6 46. Kf1 (46. f4 $142 $1 {[%csl
Rf7] and Black can't make any progress, his K is tied to the Pf7.}) 46... e5 $1
47. Rb6+ Kf5 48. Rb7 Ke6 (48... f6 {-50...f6}) 49. Rb6+ Kf5 50. Rb7 f6 51. Rg7
(51. Rf7 $5 {/\} g5 52. hxg5 Kxg5 53. Rg7+ $11) 51... g5 $1 $36 52. hxg5 fxg5 {
[%cal Rg5g4] /\g4} 53. Rg8 (53. Rh7 Kg6 54. Re7 Kf6 55. Rh7 g4 {can lead to
the same position.}) 53... g4 54. Rf8+ Ke6 55. Re8+ Kf5 ({Afterwards Kasparov
claimed a win with} 55... Kf6 $142 $1 {but Kramnik's team came up with} 56.
fxg4 (56. Rf8+ Ke7 57. Rf5 Ke6 58. fxg4 hxg4 59. Rg5 Ra4 60. Kf2 Kf6 {
eventually leads to the same position}) (56. f4 $2 exf4 57. Rf8+ Kg5 58. Rxf4
Ra3 $1 59. Kg2 Rxg3+ 60. Kxg3 h4+ $19) 56... hxg4 57. Rg8 Kf5 58. Kg1 (58. Rb8
$5 $15) 58... Rd2 ({Black brings his R closer to a square from which it can be
protected} 58... Ke4 59. Rxg4+ Kf3 60. Rg8 e4 61. Rf8+ $11) 59. Rg7 Ke4 60.
Rxg4+ Kf3 61. Rg6 $1 {[]} (61. Rg8 e4 62. Rf8+ Ke2 63. Kg2 (63. g4 e3 64. g5
Rd5 $19) 63... e3 64. g4 Rd4 $1 65. Kg3 Kd2 66. Re8 e2 67. Kf2 $5 Rf4+ 68. Kg3
Rf8 $1 69. Rxf8 e1=Q+ $19) 61... e4 62. Rf6+ Ke2 63. g4 e3 64. g5 Rd5 65. g6 {
Compared with the line above the Pg6 is protected and White draws after} Kd2
66. Re6 Rg5+ 67. Kh2 e2 68. Rd6+ Ke1 69. Re6 $11) 56. Rf8+ Kg6 57. Rg8+ Kf5
1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Kasparov +2-0=13"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2000.11.02"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2849"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2000.10.08"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 080"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.01.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4
b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Be4 11. Qc1 Bb7 12. Bf4 Bd6 13. Nbd2 Nbd7 14. Nb3 Bd5 15.
Rd1 Qe7 16. Ne5 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Nd5 18. Nc6 Nxf4+ 19. Qxf4 Qe8 20. Qf3 e5 21.
dxe5 Nxe5 22. Nxe5 Qxe5 23. Rd2 Rae8 24. e3 Re6 25. Rad1 Rf6 26. Qd5 Qe8 27.
Rc1 g6 28. Rdc2 h5 29. Nd2 Rf5 30. Qe4 c5 31. Qxe8 Rxe8 32. e4 Rfe5 33. f4 R5e6
34. e5 Be7 35. b3 f6 36. Nf3 fxe5 37. Nxe5 Rd8 38. h4 Rd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris sim"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2000.11.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Desportes, Gerard"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D36"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2000.11.11"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2001"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2000.11.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. d4 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Qc2 Be7 7. Bg5 g6 8. e3
Bf5 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Nbd7 11. O-O O-O 12. Rab1 a5 13. a3 Re8 14. b4 axb4
15. axb4 Ne4 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Nd2 Ra3 18. Ndxe4 dxe4 19. Qc2 Nf6 20. Rb3 Raa8
21. h3 b5 22. Rbb1 Rad8 23. Qb3 Kh8 24. Ra1 g5 25. Ra6 g4 26. h4 Rd6 27. Rfa1
Kg7 28. g3 Nh5 29. Ra7 Qf6 30. Qd1 Qf5 31. Rc7 Rf6 32. Qe2 Qg6 33. Ra6 Rd8 34.
Raa7 Rf3 35. Qa2 Rd6 36. Re7 Nxg3 37. fxg3 Rxg3+ 38. Kh2 Rh3+ 39. Kg2 Rf6 40.
Nxe4 Qf5 41. Rxf7+ 1-0

[Event "Budapest RWE Gas m"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "2001.01.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2001.01.02"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 544]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7.
bxc3 c5 8. Be3 Qa5 9. Qd2 Nc6 10. Rc1 cxd4 11. cxd4 Qxd2+ 12. Kxd2 O-O 13. d5
Rd8 14. Ke1 Ne5 {A rare continuation. It is not advised to exchange White's
poorly placed f3 knight, after which the f2 pawn can move forward gaining a
tempo.} (14... Na5 {is the main line - see Kramnik-Van Wely.}) 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 {
[%mdl 4096]} 16. f4 Bd6 ({After} 16... Bg7 {White can easily prepare e4-e5,
which cuts the g7 bishop off, e.g.} 17. Kf2 Kf8 18. Bc4 (18. Rc7 Rd7 19. Rc2 f5
20. Bd3 fxe4 21. Bxe4 b6 22. d6 Bb7 $11) 18... Bd7 19. Bb3 b5 (19... a5 20. Bb6
a4 21. Bc4 $16) 20. e5 {[%csl Gd5,Ge5,Rg7]} (20. Rc7 $5 a5 21. Rhc1) 20... a5
21. a3 Rdc8 22. Bd2 Ke8 23. Rxc8+ Bxc8 $16 {1/2-1/2 Jezidzic,G-Ivanovic,Z/
CRO-chT Makarska 1994}) 17. Kf2 {[%cal Ge4e5]} (17. e5 $2 Bb4+ 18. Kf2 Rxd5)
17... e5 {This was Black's idea; however, White's protected passed pawn
guarantees him the better prospects.} 18. Bc5 $1 {[%mdl 544] This bishop
exchange brings White the following benefits: first, the blockading bishop is
replaced by a less suitable piece (the rook); second, the white rook can now
invade to c7. The loss of the f4 pawn is a factor of minor importance. Such a
deep positional pawn sacrifice is Kramnik's pet method of play.} Bxc5+ ({
I would prefer} 18... exf4 19. Bxd6 Rxd6 {although after} 20. Kf3 g5 $140 21.
h4 {White is clearly better.}) 19. Rxc5 exf4 20. Kf3 {Not just recapturing the
pawn - the king is going to support his own pawns!} Bd7 (20... g5 21. h4 {
opens up the file for the h1 rook. The pawn will be recaptured anyway as after}
h6 22. hxg5 hxg5 23. Rh5 f6 24. e5 {the black position breaks down.}) 21. Bd3
Rac8 22. Rhc1 g5 ({After} 22... Rxc5 23. Rxc5 Rc8 24. Rxc8+ Bxc8 25. Kxf4 {
[%cal Yf4e5,Ye5d6,Yd6c7] White must win the bishop endgame, e.g.} f6 (25... Kf8
26. Ke5 Ke7 27. d6+ Kd8 28. Kf6 Be6 29. a4 {and White wins by means of e4-e5,
Kf6-g7-f8 and Bd3-b5-e8 (of course, if ...a7-a6 then a4-a5 etc.)}) 26. e5 Kf7 (
26... fxe5+ 27. Kxe5 Kf7 28. Kd6 Z0 29. Kc7) 27. e6+ $1 Ke7 28. h4 $18 {
[%cal Yh4h5]}) {The text move enables the white rook to invade to the 7th rank.
} 23. Rc7 {[%cal Rc7d7]} Rxc7 (23... Re8 24. R1c2 {[%cal Rc7d7,Rc7b7]}) 24.
Rxc7 Ba4 {A desperate attempt to get some "counterplay"} (24... Bc8 25. e5 {
[%cal Yf3e4]}) 25. Kg4 $1 {Before capturing the b7 pawn White activates his
king.} h6 26. Rxb7 Rd7 27. Rb4 Bd1+ 28. Kf5 Kg7 29. h4 $1 f6 30. hxg5 hxg5 (
30... fxg5 31. e5 Rxd5 32. Rb7+ Kf8 33. Kf6 Rd8 34. Bc4 $18) 31. e5 $1 fxe5 32.
Kxe5 {The plan started with White's 20th move has been completed! His king has
reached this dominant position, which, together with the passed d5 pawn,
brings White an easy win, in spite of the limited pawn material.} f3 (32...
Re7+ 33. Kf5 Rd7 34. Be4 Kh6 35. Rb1 Bh5 36. Rh1 $18) 33. gxf3 Bxf3 34. d6 Rd8
35. Bf5 (35. Ra4 $18) 35... Bc6 (35... Re8+ 36. Be6 Bc6 37. Kf5 Rd8 38. d7 $18)
36. d7 $1 Rf8 37. Rd4 (37. Rd4 Rd8 38. Kd6 $18) 1-0

[Event "Budapest RWE Gas m"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "2001.01.02"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2001.01.02"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Bd7 10. b3 Kc8 11. Bb2 Be7 12. Rfe1 a5 13. h3 h5 14. Ne4
a4 15. Neg5 Be6 16. Nxe6 fxe6 17. Re4 axb3 18. axb3 Rxa1+ 19. Bxa1 Rd8 20. Kf1
Rd1+ 21. Re1 Rd5 22. Ke2 Ra5 23. Kd3 Bc5 24. Bc3 Ra2 25. Rf1 Kd7 26. Ng5 Be7
27. Ne4 Nh4 28. g3 Nf3 29. Rd1 Ke8 30. Ke3 Ng5 31. Nxg5 Bxg5+ 32. Kd3 Ra8 33.
Ke4 Ra2 34. Kd3 Ra8 35. Rf1 Be7 36. f4 g6 37. Ke4 Ra2 38. Rf2 b5 39. g4 hxg4
40. hxg4 c5 41. Kd3 Kf7 42. Rh2 Kg8 43. Rh1 Ra8 44. f5 gxf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Budapest RWE Gas m"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "2001.01.03"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2001.01.02"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. O-O
d5 9. Qc2 Nbd7 10. Rd1 O-O 11. Bf4 Rc8 12. Nc3 dxc4 13. Nd2 c5 14. dxc5 Bxc5
15. Nde4 Nxe4 16. Nxe4 cxb3 17. Qb2 bxa2 18. Rxa2 Bc4 19. Rxa7 Bd5 20. Nxc5
bxc5 21. e4 Bc6 22. Rd6 Ra8 23. Qa3 Rxa7 24. Qxa7 Qc8 25. Bf1 Nf6 26. Ba6 Qe8
27. f3 Bb5 28. Qxc5 Bxa6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Budapest RWE Gas m"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "2001.01.03"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2001.01.02"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Bd7 10. Rd1 Kc8 11. Ng5 Be8 12. Nge4 b6 13. b3 c5 14. Bb2
Nd4 15. Rd2 Kb7 16. Nd5 Rd8 17. c4 Bc6 18. Bxd4 cxd4 19. Rxd4 Ba3 20. Rd2 Rhe8
21. Re1 f6 22. exf6 Bb4 23. f7 Rxe4 24. Rxe4 Bxd2 25. Re7 Bxd5 26. Re8 Bxf7 27.
Rxd8 Bc3 28. Rd3 Bf6 29. f4 Bg6 30. Rd1 h5 31. Kf2 Bc2 32. Rd2 Bb1 33. Kf3 a5
34. g3 Bc3 35. Re2 Bf5 36. Re7 Kc6 37. Ke2 Bf6 38. Re3 Kc5 39. Kd2 Kb4 40. Kc1
Ka3 41. Re2 a4 42. bxa4 Kxa4 43. Re8 Kb4 44. Rh8 g6 45. Rh7 c6 46. Rc7 Be4 47.
h3 Kxc4 48. g4 hxg4 49. hxg4 c5 50. Kd2 b5 51. Rf7 Bc3+ 52. Ke3 Bb1 53. f5 gxf5
54. g5 b4 55. g6 f4+ 56. Rxf4+ Bd4+ 0-1

[Event "Budapest RWE Gas m"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "2001.01.04"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2001.01.02"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e6 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4
Nc6 (8... d6 {is the more usual Hedgehog move, the N on d7 doesn't obstruct
the Bb7. Also in this game Black will later transfer his N to d7.}) 9. Qf4 O-O
10. Rd1 (10. e4 d6 11. b3 a6 12. Rd1 Qc7 {enables Black to save a tempo in
compratison with the game.}) 10... Qb8 11. e4 {White decides to increase his ()
in the [+]. Black's position is very solid and can withstand piece pressure:} (
11. b3 Rd8 12. Bb2 h6 13. Rd2 (13. Rac1 $5) 13... Qxf4 14. gxf4 Na5 15. Rad1 d5
16. cxd5 Nxd5 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. Ne5 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Rxd2 20. Rxd2 Kf8 21. Rc2 Ke8
22. Kf3 Rd8 23. Nd3 f6 24. b4 Nb7 25. a4 Rd5 26. Rc7 Rd7 $11 {Kramnik,V-Leko,P/
Linares/1999/}) 11... d6 12. b3 a6 13. Bb2 (13. Qe3 b5 14. cxb5 axb5 15. Bb2
Ra5 16. Rac1 Ba8 17. Nd4 Rc8 18. Nxc6 Bxc6 19. Nd5 $1 Bxd5 20. exd5 e5 21. a3
$14 {Lautier,J-Kramnik,V/Monte Carlo rapid/2000/}) (13. Ba3 $5 Ne5 14. Qe3
Nxf3+ 15. Bxf3 Nd7 16. Rd2 Rc8 17. Rad1 Nc5 18. Bg2 Bc6 {Shalimov,V-Budnikov,O/
Kharkov/2000/} 19. Nd5 Bf8 20. Nb4 Bb7 21. Nd3 $14) 13... Qc7 14. h3 (14. Rac1
Ne5 (14... Rfd8 $2 15. Nd5 exd5 16. cxd5 $16 {Santos,L-Nogueira,N/Lisbon/1994/}
) 15. Nd4 $14 {leads to a similar position as in the game.} (15. Nxe5 dxe5 16.
Qf3 Rfd8 $11 {[%csl Rd4,Re4] /=/+,><e4,d4})) 14... Rac8 15. Qe3 Ne5 $1 {
Black manoeuvres his N to a better square, it's difficult for White to exploit
the loss of time, as the position still remains closed.} 16. Nd4 h6 17. Rd2 (
17. g4 $6 Ng6 18. Qg3 Nd7 $15 {[%csl Rf4,Rh4] ><h4,f4}) 17... Rfe8 18. Kh1 Ned7
19. f4 (19. Re1 d5 $1 20. e5 Ne4 21. Nxe4 dxe4 $36 {/\} 22. Bxe4 Bb4 $17) 19...
Bf8 20. Rf1 (20. g4 $5 {[%cal Ye3g3,Yh3h4,Yg4g5] /\Re1,Qg3,h4,g5+/=}) 20... Qb8
21. g4 Nh7 22. Rdf2 {White will not have any attacking chances on the <->f, he
should have preferred other ways of stroming Black's >>.} (22. h4 $142 $5 g6
23. g5 $14) 22... Ba8 23. Qg3 g6 $13 24. f5 $6 {[%csl Re5] ><e5} Bg7 25. Nce2 (
25. fxg6 $142 fxg6 26. Qe3 Ne5 $11 {/=/+}) 25... Nc5 26. fxg6 fxg6 27. Qe3 e5
$1 {[%csl Re4] ><e4} 28. Nc2 b5 $1 $36 {[%csl Rc4][%mdl 4] ><c4 A typical
Hedgehog break, White's centre is under pressure.} 29. cxb5 $2 (29. Na3 bxc4
30. Nxc4 Nxe4 $1 31. Bxe4 d5 $40) (29. Nc3 $5 bxc4 30. bxc4 Ng5 $15 {/~~} (
30... Qxb2 $2 31. Rb1 $14)) 29... Nxe4 $1 30. Bxe4 $8 Rxc2 $17 31. Nc3 (31. Ng3
Rxf2 32. Rxf2 d5 $19) 31... Rxf2 32. Rxf2 Ng5 $5 (32... axb5 33. Kh2 b4 34. Nd5
$17) 33. Bg2 ({Probably the last chance was} 33. bxa6 $5 Nxe4 34. Nxe4 Qb5 $40
(34... Qb4 35. Re2 d5 36. Qc5 $14) (34... d5 35. Nf6+ $8 Bxf6 36. Qxh6 d4+ 37.
Kg1 Bg7 38. Qxg6 Bd5 39. Rf5 $132)) (33. Bxa8 Qxa8+ 34. Kh2 d5 $17) 33... Bxg2+
34. Kxg2 (34. Rxg2 axb5 35. Nd5 Rf8 $40) 34... Qb7+ 35. Kg1 axb5 $19 {[%csl
Gd6,Ge5,Rg1] [+],->} 36. h4 Ne6 37. Ne4 Qe7 38. g5 Nf4 $138 (38... hxg5 $142
$19) 39. gxh6 $2 (39. Nxd6 $1 Qxd6 40. Rxf4 Qd1+ 41. Kg2 Rd8 42. Rf2 $17) 39...
Bxh6 40. Qg3 Qe6 41. Kh2 d5 42. Ng5 (42. Nc5 Qd6 $19) 42... Bxg5 43. hxg5 (43.
Qxg5 Qh3+ 44. Kg1 Qe3 45. Qg4 Rf8 $19) 43... Re7 44. Rc2 (44. Bxe5 Nh5 $19)
44... Qf5 (44... Rh7+ 45. Kg1 Qb6+ 46. Qf2 (46. Rf2 Ne2+) 46... Nh3+ $19) 0-1

[Event "Budapest RWE Gas m"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "2001.01.04"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C26"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2001.01.02"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 ({The symmetrical} 2... Nc6 {is the other main line}) 3. g3
d5 4. exd5 Nxd5 5. Bg2 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bd6 7. Nf3 O-O 8. O-O Nd7 9. d4 {White has
some advantage in the [+], but his << is weakened.} h6 (9... c5 $5 {-
Finkel-Lev, Kfar-Sava ISR 2000}) 10. Re1 exd4 11. cxd4 Nb6 {Black wants to
control the vital >< c4 and d5 squares.} (11... Re8 {allows White to grab the
|^ in the [+]} 12. Rxe8+ Qxe8 {after} 13. c4 $1 c5 14. Bb2 Nb6 15. Rc1 Be6 {
provoking d5, which was in the air anyway.} 16. d5 Bg4 17. h3 Bxf3 18. Qxf3 Qd7
19. Bf1 Re8 20. Ba1 $14 {with a strong o^ on d5 and ^^, Lima-Rubinetti, Sao
Paulo, zt 1993.}) 12. Ne5 (12. Nd2 Bb4 (12... c6 13. Ne4) 13. Rb1 a5 (13... Bc3
{is also enough for equalization:} 14. Ba3 Bxd2 15. Qxd2 Nc4 16. Qc3 Nxa3 17.
Qxa3 Qxd4 $11) 14. Bb2 (14. a3 {is too optimistic:} Bc3 15. Re3 Bxd2 16. Bxd2
Qxd4 17. Qe1 Nc4 18. Bc3 Qc5 $15 {Stripunsky-Kazhgaleyev, Komercni Banka op
1996}) 14... Na4 15. Ba1 Nc3 16. Bxc3 Bxc3 17. Bxb7 Rb8 18. Bxc8 Rxb1 19. Qxb1
Qxc8 20. Rd1 Bxd4 $11 {wins back the P.}) (12. a4 a5 (12... c6 {allows White
to chase the N.} 13. a5 Nc4 14. Qd3 Nxa5 15. Bd2 b6 16. Bxa5 bxa5 17. Ne5 Bxe5
18. Rxe5 $14) 13. Ne5 (13. Nd2 c6 14. Ne4 (14. c4 $2 Bb4) 14... Be7 $11) 13...
c6 14. Ba3 Bxa3 15. Rxa3 Be6 $11) 12... c6 {/\ Be6} 13. c3 (13. a4 a5 14. Qd3
Be6 (14... Nd5 15. Nc4 Bb4 16. Bd2 Qf6 17. Re5 Rd8 18. c3 Bf8 19. Rb1 $14 {
Soltis-Kobese, San Francisco Mechanics 1998}) 15. Ba3 Bxa3 16. Rxa3 Re8 $11 {
and Black has nothing to fear.}) (13. Qh5 Qf6 14. c4 Bxe5 15. dxe5 Qe6 {>< c4}
16. c5 Nd5 {The N is very well-posted here.} 17. h3 f5 18. Bd2 Qf7 19. Qh4 Be6
$13 {Bruestkern-Meissner, Oberliga Nord 1991}) 13... Be6 14. Qh5 $6 (14. a4 {
as in the previous moves was required.} Bxe5 15. Rxe5 Bd5 $11) 14... Re8 (14...
Bd5 $15 {exchanges the important fianchettoed B in order to put pressure on
the weakened light squares.}) 15. Bf4 Nd5 16. Bd2 Nf6 17. Qd1 Bd5 18. Qc2 $2 {
This simply loses a vital P.} (18. f3 c5 19. Bf4 (19. c4 $2 cxd4 $1) 19... cxd4
20. cxd4 Rc8 $15) (18. Rb1 $1 {was the best move to use the b <->.} Bxg2 (18...
Qc7 19. c4 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Bxe5 21. Rxe5 Rxe5 22. Bf4 Nd7 23. dxe5 Nxe5 24. Qh5
f6 $1 (24... Re8 25. Re1) 25. Bxe5 fxe5 26. Re1 Qf7 $11) 19. Kxg2 Bxe5 20. dxe5
Qd5+ 21. Qf3 Qxd2 22. Red1 Qxa2 23. exf6 Qe2 $11) 18... Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Bxe5 20.
dxe5 Qd5+ 21. f3 (21. Kg1 Ng4 $1 $17) 21... Rxe5 22. c4 Qe6 23. Rxe5 Qxe5 {
Now Black is a healthy P up.} 24. Re1 Qc5 25. Be3 Qa3 26. Bc1 Qf8 $2 {This is
too passive.} (26... Qb4 27. Bd2 Qd6 28. Bf4 Qd7 $17 {keeps the extra P for
Black.}) 27. Qb2 $1 {with double attack on b7 and h6!} Re8 28. Rxe8 Qxe8 29.
Bxh6 $1 $11 gxh6 30. Qxf6 {The Q _|_ is drawish.} Qe2+ 31. Kg1 Qxc4 32. Qxh6
Qd4+ 33. Kg2 c5 34. Qg5+ Kf8 35. Qg4 $1 Qd2+ 36. Kf1 Qd1+ (36... Qxa2 37. Qc8+
Kg7 38. Qxc5 Qxh2 39. Qxa7 Qxg3 40. Qxb7 $11) 37. Kf2 Qd2+ 38. Kf1 Qxa2 39.
Qc8+ Kg7 40. Qxc5 Qxh2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Budapest RWE Gas m"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "2001.01.06"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "257"]
[EventDate "2001.01.02"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. O-O
d5 9. Qc2 Nbd7 10. Rd1 Rc8 11. Bf4 c5 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. Qb2 O-O 14. Nc3 Ng4 15.
e3 e5 16. Bg5 f6 17. Bh4 g5 18. Nxd5 e4 19. Nd4 Qe8 20. Nf5 Qe6 21. b4 Qxf5 22.
bxc5 Qe6 23. cxb6 Nxb6 24. h3 Ne5 25. Qa3 Nf3+ 26. Bxf3 exf3 27. g4 Nxc4 28.
Qe7 Qf7 29. Bg3 Rcd8 30. Rd4 Qxe7 31. Nxe7+ Kf7 32. Nc6 Rxd4 33. Nxd4 Nd2 34.
Bd6 Rd8 35. Bb4 Ne4 36. Rc1 Rc8 37. Rxc8 Bxc8 38. Nxf3 h5 39. Nh2 hxg4 40. hxg4
Ke6 41. f3 Nd6 42. Kf2 Nc4 43. Nf1 Ne5 44. Bc3 Nd3+ 45. Kg3 Nc1 46. Bd2 Nxa2
47. e4 a5 48. Bxa5 Nc1 49. Kf2 Nd3+ 50. Ke3 Ne5 51. Bc3 Nc4+ 52. Kf2 Bb7 53.
Ng3 Nd6 54. Ba1 Ne8 55. Nh5 Ba6 56. Ke3 Bb5 57. Bc3 Ba6 58. Ng3 Bb5 59. Kd4 Ba6
60. Kc5 Bd3 61. Kd4 Bb5 62. Bb4 Ba6 63. Nf5 Be2 64. Ke3 Ba6 65. Nd4+ Kd7 66.
Bf8 Bc4 67. Kd2 Bf1 68. Ke3 Ba6 69. Nf5 Bb5 70. f4 gxf4+ 71. Kxf4 Ba6 72. Bb4
Ke6 73. Nd4+ Kf7 74. Nf3 Ng7 75. Bc3 Ne6+ 76. Ke3 Bb7 77. Bb2 Ng5 78. Nd2 Ke6
79. Kf4 Nh3+ 80. Ke3 Ng5 81. Bc3 Bc6 82. Ba5 Bb7 83. Bd8 Bc6 84. Bc7 Bb7 85.
Bf4 Nf7 86. Nf3 Ba6 87. Nd4+ Ke7 88. Nf5+ Ke6 89. Ng7+ Ke7 90. Kd4 Be2 91. Nf5+
Ke6 92. Ne3 Ba6 93. Nd1 Be2 94. Nf2 Bf1 95. Ke3 Ba6 96. Kf3 Bb5 97. Ke3 Ba6 98.
Bc7 Bb5 99. Kf4 Ba6 100. Nd1 Ng5 101. Nc3 Bb7 102. Bb6 Bc6 103. Bd4 Nh3+ 104.
Kg3 Ng5 105. Kf4 Nh3+ 106. Ke3 Ng5 107. Bc5 Bb7 108. Ba3 Bc6 109. Bc1 Bb7 110.
Bd2 Bc6 111. Be1 Bb7 112. Bh4 Nf7 113. Kf4 Bc6 114. Ne2 Bb7 115. Nd4+ Ke7 116.
Nf5+ Ke6 117. Ng7+ Ke7 118. Nh5 Ke6 119. Nxf6 Bc6 120. Nh5 Bb7 121. Ng3 Nd6
122. Bd8 Nc4 123. Bc7 Nd2 124. g5 Nb3 125. g6 Kf6 126. Nf5 Kxg6 127. Nd6 Bc6
128. e5 Nd4 129. Bb6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Budapest RWE Gas m"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "2001.01.06"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "124"]
[EventDate "2001.01.02"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Bd7 10. Rd1 (10. b3 {has been the subject of a bunch of
recent games, most notably the Kasparov-Kramnik games from the match.}) (10. h3
h6 11. Bf4 {in Shirov,A-Almasi,Z/Polanica Zdroj 2000/CBM 79 (40) proved that
the B is not that effective on f4.}) 10... Kc8 11. Ng5 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8] An
hungarian recipe. White gains a vital tempo and also clears the way for the
K-side Ps.} Be8 12. b3 ({Also interesting is} 12. Nge4 b6 13. h3 Kb7 14. g4 Nh4
15. f4 c5 16. Kf2 Ng6 17. b3 h6 18. Be3 Bc6 19. Nd5 $14 {1-0 Acs,P-Cvek,R/
Charleville 2000/CBM 79 ext (61)}) 12... b6 13. Bb2 Be7 14. Nge4 Kb7 15. Rd3
Rd8 16. Rad1 Rxd3 17. Rxd3 h5 18. Bc1 $1 $14 {[%cal Yc1g5] The g5-square is
always a problem for Black when he has played h5.} f6 19. exf6 gxf6 {This type
of position occurs sometimes in the Berlin when Black feels forced to play f6.
It gives White excellent winning chances.} 20. Ne2 c5 21. Bb2 Rf8 22. Nf4 Bc6
23. f3 Nh4 24. Nd5 f5 25. Nef6 Bd6 26. g3 Ng6 27. Nxh5 $16 Re8 28. Kf2 Ne5 29.
Bxe5 Bxe5 30. Nhf4 Bd4+ 31. Kf1 a5 32. c3 Bg7 33. c4 Bd4 34. a4 Rh8 35. h4 Rg8
36. Kg2 Re8 37. Kf1 Rg8 38. Ne2 Bxd5 39. cxd5 Be5 40. f4 Bd6 41. Kf2 $18 Kc8
42. Kf3 Kd7 43. Nc3 Be7 44. Nd1 Rf8 45. Ne3 Rf6 46. Nc4 Bd6 47. Re3 Rh6 48.
Ne5+ Kc8 49. Nf7 Rf6 50. Ng5 Kd7 51. Re6 Rf8 52. h5 b5 53. axb5 c4 54. bxc4 a4
55. Re2 Bb4 56. Rb2 Bc3 57. Rc2 Bh8 58. Ra2 Ra8 59. Nf7 Bc3 60. h6 Ke7 61. Ne5
a3 62. h7 Bb2 1-0

[Event "Budapest RWE Gas m"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "2001.01.07"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E42"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2001.01.02"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Nge2 cxd4 6. exd4 O-O 7. a3 Be7 8.
Nf4 d5 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Ncxd5 exd5 11. Bd3 Nc6 12. O-O Bg5 13. Re1 Bxf4 14.
Bxf4 Qf6 15. Be5 Nxe5 16. Rxe5 Be6 17. Qd2 Rad8 18. Rae1 h6 19. R1e3 Bd7 20. h3
Qd6 21. Qa5 Qb6 22. Qxb6 axb6 23. Be2 Be6 24. f4 g6 25. Bd3 Bc8 26. Re7 Kg7 27.
Bb5 Kf6 28. Rc7 Rd6 29. Rec3 Rdd8 30. Re3 Rd6 31. a4 Rdd8 32. Kf2 Rd6 33. g4
Rdd8 34. Kg3 g5 35. f5 h5 36. Ree7 hxg4 37. hxg4 Kg7 38. Kf3 Kf6 39. Ke3 Kg7
40. Kd3 Kf6 41. Kc3 Kg7 42. Kb4 Kf6 43. Ka3 Kg7 44. b4 Kf6 45. a5 bxa5 46. bxa5
Kg7 47. Kb4 Kf6 48. Kc5 Kg7 49. Be2 Rde8 50. Rxe8 Rxe8 51. Bf3 1-0

[Event "Budapest RWE Gas m"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "2001.01.07"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B45"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "266"]
[EventDate "2001.01.02"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Ndb5 Bb4 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8.
Nxc3 d5 9. exd5 exd5 10. Bd3 O-O 11. O-O d4 12. Ne4 Bf5 13. Bg5 Bxe4 14. Bxe4
h6 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Re1 Rfe8 17. Qf3 Qxf3 18. Bxf3 Rxe1+ 19. Rxe1 Rc8 20. Kf1
Kf8 21. Be4 b6 22. f4 Ne7 23. Re2 f5 24. Bf3 g5 25. fxg5 hxg5 26. h3 Kf7 27.
Ke1 Kf6 28. Rd2 Ke5 29. Kd1 Ng6 30. g3 Rh8 31. Bg2 f4 32. Rd3 fxg3 33. Rxg3 Kf5
34. Kd2 Ne5 35. Bf1 Kf4 36. Rb3 Nf3+ 37. Ke2 g4 38. hxg4 Rh2+ 39. Kd1 Kxg4 40.
Ba6 Kf4 41. Bb7 Ne5 42. Kc1 Rf2 43. Rh3 Rf1+ 44. Kd2 Rf2+ 45. Kc1 Kg4 46. Bc8+
Kg5 47. Kb1 Rf1+ 48. Ka2 Rc1 49. Kb3 d3 50. Rh2 Nf3 51. Rg2+ Kf4 52. Kc3 Ne1
53. Rd2 dxc2 54. Ba6 Rd1 55. Rxc2 Nxc2 56. Kxc2 Rd6 57. Kc3 Ke5 58. Bb5 Rd5 59.
Ba6 Rc5+ 60. Kb3 Kd4 61. Bb7 Rh5 62. Bc6 Rh3+ 63. Kc2 Kc4 64. Bd7 Rh2+ 65. Kb1
Re2 66. Bg4 Rf2 67. Be6+ Kd3 68. Bb3 b5 69. Bg8 a5 70. Be6 Kd4 71. Bg8 Kc5 72.
Be6 b4 73. axb4+ Kxb4 74. Bg8 a4 75. Be6 Kc5 76. Ka2 Kb4 77. Kb1 Re2 78. Bg8
Re5 79. Bf7 Rb5 80. Ka2 Rb7 81. Bd5 Rc7 82. Be6 Re7 83. Bg8 Re2 84. Kb1 Re3 85.
Ka2 Re4 86. Bd5 Rd4 87. Bf7 Rd2 88. Kb1 Kc5 89. Be8 Kb4 90. Bf7 Rd7 91. Be6 Rc7
92. Ka2 Rc2 93. Kb1 Rc6 94. Bf7 a3 95. bxa3+ Kxa3 96. Bd5 Rc5 97. Be6 Rc3 98.
Bd5 Kb4 99. Kb2 Rd3 100. Be6 Rd2+ 101. Kc1 Kc3 102. Kb1 Rd1+ 103. Ka2 Re1 104.
Bg8 Re8 105. Bf7 Ra8+ 106. Kb1 Ra7 107. Be6 Ra5 108. Bf7 Rf5 109. Be6 Rf2 110.
Bg8 Rf1+ 111. Ka2 Rh1 112. Bf7 Rg1 113. Be6 Rg3 114. Bf7 Kc2 115. Be6 Rg5 116.
Ka3 Kc3 117. Ka4 Rc5 118. Bf7 Rc7 119. Be6 Rc5 120. Bf7 Re5 121. Bg8 Re8 122.
Bf7 Rb8 123. Ka5 Rb1 124. Ka4 Rb8 125. Ka5 Kd4 126. Ka4 Kc5 127. Ka3 Kd4 128.
Ka2 Kc3 129. Be6 Rb6 130. Bf7 Rb7 131. Be6 Rb5 132. Bf7 Rb8 133. Be6 Rb6 0-1

[Event "Budapest RWE Gas m"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "2001.01.08"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A43"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Tsesarsky,I"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2001.01.02"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 (1... g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. e4 e6 6. Bd3 exd5 7. cxd5 a6
8. a4 Nh6 9. Nf3 {-see comments to the game 0-1 Magai,V-Degraeve,J/Istanbul
2000/EXT 2001 (38) [Tsesarsky]}) 2. c4 c5 3. d5 exd5 4. cxd5 d6 5. Nc3 g6 6. e4
Bg7 {The idea of this variation, or, if you want, this moves order idea, is to
delay Ng8 development.} 7. Nf3 a6 ({Dubious looks} 7... Bg4 $6 8. Qb3 $1 (8.
Be2 Bxf3 9. Bxf3 Nd7 10. O-O a6 11. a4 Ne7 12. a5 $14 {1-0 Waldner,
A-Regenfelder,E/St Veit 1995/EXT 98 (37)}) 8... Bxf3 9. gxf3 Qe7 10. Nb5 $1 {
[%csl Rb7][%cal Gb5d6]} (10. Bf4 Nd7 11. Qxb7 Rb8 12. Qc6 Bxc3+ 13. bxc3 Qf6
14. Bh3 Qxf4 (14... Qxc3+ 15. Kf1 Qxa1+ 16. Kg2 $18) 15. Qxd7+ Kf8 16. O-O Nf6
17. Qxa7 Kg7 18. Bg2 $14 {1/2-1/2 Kanko,I-Kivijarvi,J/FIN 1999/EXT 2000 (52)})
10... Na6 11. Bf4 Be5 12. Bxe5 dxe5 (12... Qxe5 13. Nc3 $16 {[%csl Ra6,Rb7]
[%cal Gf1a6]}) 13. Nc3 $16) ({Badly also} 7... Nd7 $6 8. Bf4 Ngf6 9. Bxd6 Qb6
10. e5 Qxb2 11. Qc1 $1 $16 {1-0 Arlandi,E-Cacco,C/San Marino 1998/EXT 2000 (21)
}) 8. h3 {This move's idea is to restrict Bc8, but if White doesn't play a2-a4,
Black plays b7-b5 without difficulties and starts counterplay on the queenside.
} (8. Bg5 Qa5 9. Qc2 Nf6 10. Nd2 b5 11. Be2 Nbd7 12. O-O O-O $14 {1/2-1/2
Hoerrmann,K-Kalker,P/Friedrichshafen 1983/GER (13)}) ({Worth of attention also
} 8. Bf4 Bg4 (8... b5 9. e5 dxe5 10. Nxe5 Nf6 11. Be2 O-O 12. O-O Bb7 (12...
Nfd7 13. Nxd7 (13. Nd3 Bb7 14. Bf3 c4 15. Nb4 Ne5 16. Bxe5 Bxe5 17. Nc6 Bxc6
18. dxc6 Ra7 19. a4 b4 $15 {0-1 Hoang Than Trang-Borocz,I/Budapest 1998/CBM 63
ext (40)}) 13... Nxd7 14. Qd2 $14 {[%csl Gd5]}) 13. Bf3 Qc8 14. Qc2 Nh5 15.
Bxh5 gxh5 16. Rad1 $14 {1/2-1/2 Hoang Than Trang-Varga,Z/Budapest 1997/CBM 62
ext (49)}) 9. Be2 $5 Bxf3 10. Bxf3 Nd7 11. Bxd6 Qb6 12. e5 Nxe5 13. Qa4+ Nd7
14. Ne4 f5 15. Bxc5 Qxb2 16. O-O fxe4 17. Rab1 b5 18. Qxe4+ Qe5 19. Qb4 {
With very strong attack for sacrificed material 1-0 Gelfand,B-Lobron,E/
Amsterdam 1988/CBM 09 (29)}) (8. a4 {-mainline}) 8... b5 {Of course. It is not
necessary to wait for a2-a4.} 9. Bd3 Ne7 $5 {This move's idea is to leave
a1-h8 big diagonal open for Bg7.} ({Interesting is also - and, in my opinion,
better is} 9... Nf6 {-this position was played not once and promises covenient
future for Black. For example:} 10. O-O O-O 11. a3 (11. Re1 Nbd7 12. a4 b4 13.
Nb1 a5 {-see commented game 1-0 Psakhis,L-Spraggett,K/Barcelona 1993/CBM 38 
(52) [Stohl]}) (11. Bf4 Re8 12. Re1 Bb7 {see commented game 0-1 Dautov,
R-Lobron,E/Essen 1999/CBM 71 (56) [Dautov]}) 11... Re8 12. Re1 Nbd7 {-see
commented game 0-1 Ibragimov,I-Batsanin,D/Novgorod 1997/CBM 60 (40) [Stohl]}) {
Otherwise, Black played 9...Ne7. Probably Kramnik prepared something on 9...
Nf6...} 10. O-O O-O 11. Bf4 h6 {[%mdl 4] The 9...Ne7 move's idea is deeper
than not to obstruct the a1-h8 diagonal! Ne7 will jump on g6 after g6-g5
promotion.} 12. Re1 g5 13. Bh2 Ng6 {[%csl Re5]} 14. e5 $5 {White doesn't want
to wait for the next move Rf8-e8.} Nxe5 15. Nxe5 dxe5 16. Bxe5 Bxe5 17. Rxe5 {
Certain development advantage, Pd5 and weakened Kg8 makes impression of a big
advantage, but it is not true.} Nd7 $132 18. Re1 Nf6 19. Qf3 (19. d6 $5 Ra7 20.
Qd2 Re8 21. Rxe8+ Nxe8 22. Ne4 c4 23. Bc2 Bf5 24. Qd4 Rd7 25. Rd1 Bxe4 26. Qxe4
Kf8 {[%csl Rd6]} 27. Qe5 f6 28. Qe4 Rxd6 29. Re1 $44) 19... Qd6 20. a4 $5 ({
Another possibility was} 20. Rad1 $5 Bd7 $1 ({Not} 20... Bb7 $2 21. Ne4 Nxe4
22. Qxe4 {with strong initiative:} f5 23. Qe6+ Qxe6 24. dxe6 Rae8 25. Re5 Re7 (
25... f4 26. Bg6 $18) 26. Bxf5 $16) 21. Ne4 Nxe4 22. Qxe4 f5 23. Qe7 (23. Qe5
Qxe5 24. Rxe5 Rae8 $11) 23... Rf6 24. Re5 Qxe7 25. Rxe7 Rd6 26. Re5 Kf7 $11)
20... c4 21. Bc2 Bd7 22. Ne4 ({Or} 22. Rad1 Rae8 23. Rxe8 Rxe8 24. axb5 axb5
$11) 22... Nxe4 23. Qxe4 f5 24. Qe7 Qxe7 (24... Rf6 $2 25. Qxd6 Rxd6 26. axb5
$16) 25. Rxe7 Rad8 (25... Rf7 $2 26. Rxf7 Kxf7 27. axb5 $16) 26. axb5 Bxb5 27.
Ba4 {Position is simlified, and opponents will agree to draw very soon.} (27.
Rd1 Rf6 $11) 27... Rf7 (27... Rxd5 28. Bxb5 axb5 29. Raa7 $11) 28. Re5 Rfd7 29.
Bxb5 axb5 30. Ra5 Rxd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Budapest RWE Gas m"]
[Site "Budapest"]
[Date "2001.01.08"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B45"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Golod,V"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2001.01.02"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Ndb5 Bb4 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8.
Nxc3 d5 9. exd5 exd5 10. Bd3 O-O 11. O-O d4 12. Ne4 Bf5 13. Bg5 Bxe4 14. Bxe4
h6 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 {This variation idea is to simplify position by pieces
exchange and though Black has isolated Pd4 and N against strong B, Black has
enough resourses to finish the game draw. Of course, the main evaluation of
this variation position is +/=. Here White can play:} 16. Re1 {[%mdl 4]} ({or} 
16. Qf3 {(it's another mainline)} Qxf3 17. Bxf3 Rac8 (17... Ne5 18. Be4 (18.
Bxb7 Rab8 19. Be4 Rxb2 20. Rfb1 Rxb1+ 21. Rxb1 $14 {1/2-1/2 Bragin,A-Markov,J/
Podolsk ch club 1993/ (40)}) 18... Rac8 19. Rfe1 b6 20. Rad1 Rfd8 21. Bb7 Rc7
22. Rxe5 Rxb7 23. Kf1 $16 {[%csl Rd4] 1-0 Stean,M-Tompa,J/Graz Stu tt(6) 1972/
(43)}) 18. Rfe1 Rfd8 19. Rad1 g6 (19... Kf8 20. Kf1 $14 {1/2-1/2 Xie,J-Polgar,
Z/Jaen (m/8) 1996/ (28)}) 20. Rd2 {1/2-1/2 Benjamin,J-Christiansen,L/
Philadelphia World ,EXT 1989/ (20)}) ({Worth of attention} 16. Qd3 $5 {played
in two following games last and this year:} Rad8 (16... Rfe8 17. f4 Re7 18. g3
Rae8 19. Rfe1 Kf8 20. Re2 Nb8 21. Rae1 $14 {1-0 Grafl,F-Pecnik,L/Halkidiki GRE
2000/The Week in Chess 310 (35)}) 17. Rad1 Ne5 18. Qb3 b6 19. Qa4 Rfe8 20. Rfe1
$14 {1-0 Zapata,A-Lima,D/Santos BRA 2001/The Week in Chess 326 (34)}) 16...
Rac8 {Except of this move black has various moves with R:} (16... Rad8 17. Qf3
(17. Qd3 Ne5 18. Qb3 b6 19. Re2 g6 20. Rae1 Kg7 21. Qb5 Rfe8 22. Bd3 Nxd3 23.
Qxd3 $14 {1/2-1/2 Kudrin,S-Chandler,M/London Lloyds 1987/ (30)}) 17... Qd6 (
17... Qxf3 18. Bxf3 d3 19. cxd3 Rxd3 20. Rad1 Rxd1 21. Rxd1 Rd8 22. Rd5 $14 {
1/2-1/2 Aseev,K-Sorokin,M/Saint Petersburg zt (7) 1993/ (51)}) 18. Qg3 Qxg3 19.
hxg3 Rd6 20. Kf1 g6 21. Rad1 Rfd8 22. Bxc6 Rxc6 23. c3 $14 {1/2-1/2 Leko,
P-Timman,J/Wijk aan Zee NED 2001/The Week in Chess 324 (52)}) (16... Rfe8 17.
Qf3 Qxf3 (17... Re6 18. Qxf6 Rxf6 19. Rad1 (19. Bd3 $14 {1/2-1/2 Mokry-van
Riemsdijk/Moscow ol 1994/ (32)}) 19... Re8 20. Kf1 Kf8 21. Bf3 $14 {1-0
Sorokin,M-Van Riemsdijk,H/San Martin 1993/ (67)}) 18. Bxf3 Rxe1+ 19. Rxe1 Rc8 (
19... Rd8 20. Kf1 Kf8 21. Ke2 Re8+ 22. Kd1 Rc8 23. Kd2 $14 {1/2-1/2 Ninov,
N-Manolov,I/Bankia tt ,EXT 1992/ (43)}) 20. Kf1 Kf8 21. Be4 b6 22. f4 Ne7 23.
Re2 f5 24. Bf3 $14 {Leko,P-Kramnik,V/Budapest HUN 2001/The Week in Chess 322/
0-1 (133)}) (16... Rfd8 17. Qh5 Rd7 18. Rad1 Rad8 19. Qf5 Qxf5 20. Bxf5 Rd6 21.
Bd3 {1-0 Terentiev,V-Li/Ekaterinburg 1997/EXP 57/ (46)}) 17. Qh5 $146 b6 $5 {
Black replaces Pb7 from white square where maybe attacked by white B.} ({
Possible also:} 17... Rfe8 18. Qf5 Qxf5 19. Bxf5 Rcd8 20. Rad1 g6 21. Be4 $14)
18. Rad1 (18. Qf5 $5 Qxf5 19. Bxf5 Rc7 20. Rad1 Rd8 21. f4 $14) 18... Rfd8 19.
Qf5 {Black can't avoid QQ excange...} Qxf5 20. Bxf5 Rc7 21. Rd2 (21. Re2 g6 22.
Bd3 Kg7 23. g3 {Here black can realise the same plan, like in this game:} Na5
$132 {[%cal Ga5b7,Gb7c5]}) 21... g6 22. Bd3 Kg7 23. g3 Na5 $1 {[%cal Ga5b7,
Gb7c5] Black neutralizes White pressure easile.} 24. Kg2 Nb7 25. Rde2 Kf8 26.
f4 Nc5 27. Kf3 Na4 $1 (27... Nxd3 $6 28. cxd3 $14) 28. Rb1 (28. b3 $2 Nb2 $1
29. Bb5 (29. Be4 f5) 29... Rc3+ 30. Kf2 d3 31. Re8+ Rxe8 32. Rxe8+ Kg7 33. Bxd3
Nxd3+ 34. cxd3 Rxb3 $17) 28... Rd5 (28... Nc5 $11) 29. Rd2 (29. g4 Re7 30. Rxe7
Kxe7 31. h4 b5 32. g5 hxg5 33. hxg5 Kd6 $11) 29... Kg7 30. Be4 Rdd7 31. Bd3 Rd5
32. Be4 Rdd7 33. Bd3 Rd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2001.01.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Timman, Jan H"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B50"]
[WhiteElo "2629"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "29"]
[EventDate "2001.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Bc4 Be7 5. d3 Nf6 6. Bg5 O-O 7. Bxf6 Bxf6 8.
Nd5 Nc6 9. a3 Rb8 10. c3 b5 11. Ba2 Be6 12. Qd2 a5 13. a4 b4 14. Bc4 Bxd5 15.
Bxd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2001.01.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2001.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 1]} 1. d4 {Ftacnik} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6.
bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8. Be3 Qa5 9. Qd2 Nc6 10. Rc1 cxd4 11. cxd4 Qxd2+ 12. Kxd2
O-O 13. d5 Rd8 14. Ke1 Na5 {This (theoretically harmless) line has been
discussed in detail in CBM73, in annotations to Yermolinsky-Kudrin. I supposed
there that Alex Yermolinsky had probably prepared a novelty. Was it what
Kramnik played in this game?} 15. Bg5 Bd7 (15... Kf8 16. Bd3 f5 17. Rc7 $5 ({
A new idea by A.Yermolinsky, which is better than} 17. Ke2 fxe4 18. Bxe4 Bd7
19. Rhd1 Ba4 20. Rd2 Bb5+ 21. Ke1 Nc4 22. Rdd1 Nd6 {1/2-1/2 Yermolinsky,
A-Kudrin,S/ch-USA prelim A 1999 (46)}) 17... Rd7 18. Rc2 h6 $5 {This is a pawn
sacrifice, which looks quite risky for Black.} (18... Nc6 19. Bb5 fxe4 20. dxc6
Rd5 21. Bc4 Rf5 22. Rd2 $14 {Yermolinsky,A-Casella,M/Los Angeles 2000}) ({if} 
18... Rd8 {then the white rook stands better on c2 than on c1, e.g.} 19. Ke2
fxe4 20. Bxe4 Bd7 21. Rhc1 $36) 19. Be3 (19. Bd2 b6) 19... b6 20. exf5 Bb7 $44
{A.Yermolinsky}) 16. Bd3 Rdc8 17. Ke2 e6 18. Be3 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8] A very
interesting novelty. White is now threatening 19.Rxc8, after which Black must
give up either the a7 pawn (19...Rxc8) or the c-file (19...Bxc8).} (18. Bd2
exd5 $1 19. exd5 Re8+ 20. Be3 a6 21. Rc7 Rad8 22. Rb1 Bg4 23. h3 Bxf3+ 24. Kxf3
Rxd5 25. Be4 Rde5 26. Bxb7 Rf5+ 27. Ke2 Nxb7 28. Rbxb7 Bd4 {1/2-1/2 Chekhov,
V-Schmidt,W/Prague Bohemians 1989 (32)}) 18... exd5 19. exd5 b6 {'?' Ftacnik.
Protecting the a7 pawn; however, White now captures the c-file.} (19... Rd8 $5)
(19... Ba4 {Ftacnik} 20. Rxc8+ Rxc8 21. Bxa7 Rd8 22. Rc1 Bf8 23. Bb6 Rxd5 24.
Rc8 Nc6 25. Ra8 (25. Be4 Rd6 26. Bc5 Rd8 27. Rxd8 Nxd8 28. Bxf8 Kxf8 $11) 25...
Bb5 26. Bxb5 Rxb5 27. Be3 Kg7 28. Nd4 Ra5 {1/2-1/2 Weeks,C-Easton,A/Bristol
1991/ (28)}) 20. Ba6 {Ftacnik: 'Kramnik seems to believe, that white's chances
in this position are preferable. He recently won a first game with 8.Be3, 9.
Qd2 also against Leko in Budapest match.'} Rd8 ({After} 20... Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Rd8
{'?' Ftacnik.} (21... Bf5 $5 {Ftacnik} 22. Nd4 $14) 22. Rc7 {White attacks the
black queenside pawns while Black can't easily capture the d5 pawn because of
the weakness of his 8th rank.}) 21. Rhd1 Bc8 (21... Ba4 $5 {Ftacnik} 22. Rd3 b5
(22... Rd7 23. Ra3 b5 24. Rc5 Nb7 25. Bxb7 Rxb7 26. Rd3 $14) 23. d6 Nc4 24. d7
Bb2 25. Re1 Bc2 26. Rd5 Be4 27. Rdd1 Bc2 28. Bg5 $14) 22. Bxc8 (22. Bb5 Bd7)
22... Raxc8 23. Rxc8 Rxc8 {[%mdl 4096] It seems that Black has simplified the
position and equalised; however, White proves that his passed pawn is an
important factor.} 24. Nd4 $1 {[%csl Ra7][%cal Yd4b5,Yd4c6]} Bf8 $2 {Black
prevents 25.Nc6 but allows 25.Nb5, which turns out much more dangerous for him.
} (24... Rc7 25. Nb5 Rd7 26. Rc1 $1 h6 27. d6 $16 {[%cal Rc1c7]} a6 $140 28.
Rc7 Rd8 29. Bxb6 axb5 30. d7 $18) (24... a6 $142 25. Nc6 (25. d6 Rd8 26. Ne6
fxe6 27. Bxb6 Nb7 28. Bxd8 Nxd8 $13) 25... Nxc6 26. dxc6 Kf8 (26... Be5 27. f4
Bc7 28. Kf3 $14) 27. Rc1 b5 28. Bf4 $14) (24... Bxd4 {Ftacnik} 25. Bxd4 Rc2+
26. Kd3 Rxa2 27. d6 $16) 25. Nb5 $1 a6 {'?!' Ftacnik.} (25... Rc2+ {Ftacnik}
26. Rd2 Rxd2+ 27. Bxd2 a6 28. Bxa5 bxa5 29. Nc7 Bd6 30. Nxa6 Kg7 31. h3 Kf6 32.
Kd3 $16) 26. d6 $1 {This is what Black probably overlooked. Ftacnik: 'The free
d pawn turns into decisive piece, black fights with huge problems.'} Rc2+ (
26... axb5 27. d7 Rd8 28. Bxb6 Nc6 29. Bxd8 Nxd8 30. Rd5 {[%cal Rd5b5,Rd5e5,
Re5e8] and thanks to the 31.Re5 threat White wins the b5 pawn and the game.})
27. Kd3 Rxa2 28. d7 Nb7 (28... Nc6 29. Na7 $18) (28... Be7 29. Nc3 Ra3 (29...
Rb2 30. Bc1 Rxf2 31. Re1 $18) 30. Bxb6 Nc6 31. Kc2 Bf6 32. Nd5 $18) 29. Nc3 Rb2
(29... Ra3 30. Kc2 Be7 31. Bxb6 $18) 30. Nd5 {[%cal Re3b6,Re3d4,Rd5f6] Now
Black has a lot of possibilities but none of them provides sufficient defense.
The white pieces dominate the board.} Rb5 $6 (30... f5 {was the best chance
but after} 31. Bxb6 Kf7 32. d8=Q Nxd8 33. Bxd8 Rxf2 34. Rd2 Rxd2+ 35. Kxd2 {
the endgame, though not easy, must be winning for White}) 31. Kc2 {Maintaining
all the threats while the f2 pawn is not attacked anymore.} Bc5 32. Bh6 {
The most accurate move but} (32. Nc7 {was good enough:} Ra5 33. d8=Q+ Nxd8 34.
Rxd8+ Kg7 35. Ne8+ Kf8 36. Bg5 $1 $18) 32... f6 33. Nc7 (33. Nc7 Ra5 34. d8=Q+
Nxd8 35. Rxd8+ Kf7 36. Rd7+ Be7 37. Be3 $18) 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2001.01.16"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2746"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2001.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. Bd3 Ne7 12. Nxe7 Qxe7 13. O-O O-O 14. c3 (
14. c4 {is a sharper alternative.}) 14... f5 15. Nc2 Rb8 16. exf5 e4 {One of
the main positions in the 10. ... Bg7-line. White has a better structure, but
as usual Black tries to use the dynamiv factor and fight for activity.} 17. Be2
{This is rather passive. On the other hand after the main 17.Re1 Black has
good chances to equalize as well:} (17. Re1 Bxf5 18. Nb4 a5 (18... Qb7 $143 19.
Bc2 a5 20. Nd5 Rfe8 21. Qd2 Bg6 22. Rad1 b4 23. cxb4 axb4 24. Bb3 $14 {1-0
Motylev,A-Yagupov,I/St Petersburg 2000 (41)}) 19. Nd5 (19. Nc6 $2 Qb7 $17)
19... Qe5 (19... Qe8 $5) 20. Bc2 Bg6 21. f4 (21. Qd2 $5) 21... Qe6 22. Ne3 b4
23. g4 bxc3 24. b4 Rxb4 25. f5 Qe5 26. Qd5 Rd4 27. Qxe5 Bxe5 $13 {1/2-1/2
Vavra,J-Glaser,H/W-ch18 sf04 corr8994 (56)}) 17... Bxf5 18. Nb4 Qg5 $1 19. Kh1
(19. Qxd6 Rbd8 20. Qg3 (20. Qxa6 Bh3 21. g3 Bxf1 22. Bxf1 Qd2 $17) 20... Qd2
$132) 19... Be5 $1 20. a4 a5 $5 {Very nice play by Kramnik.} 21. Nc6 bxa4 22.
f4 (22. Nxb8 Rxb8 {Black's activity compensate the slight loss of material.}
23. Qc2 a3 (23... e3 24. Qxa4 Rxb2 25. f4 Qg6 26. Bf3 Bxc3 27. Qe8+ Kg7 28.
Qxe3 $14 {/+/-}) 24. bxa3 (24. Rxa3 e3 25. f4 (25. Qa4 Rxb2 26. f4 Bxf4 27.
Qxf4 Qxf4 28. Rxf4 Rxe2 29. Kg1 (29. Ra1 Bd7 $17) 29... Be4 $17) 25... Bxf4 26.
Qa4 Rxb2 $17) 24... Rc8 $44 25. Qc1 Qh4 26. g3 Qf6 27. Kg2 Rxc3 28. Qd2 Rf3 $36
) 22... exf3 23. Rxf3 Be4 24. Nxb8 Rxb8 $36 {Black achieved maximum activity
and had a better position.} 25. Rxa4 d5 {He would rather keep the Bishop than
taking on f3!} 26. b4 Qh4 $2 {That's a pity - it spoils a very nice game by
this loss of time.} (26... Qh6 $1 27. g3 (27. Qg1 Bxf3 28. Bxf3 (28. gxf3+ $142
Kh8 $17) 28... Re8 $19) 27... Bxc3 $17 (27... Bxg3 28. Qg1 Kh8 29. Qxg3 Rg8 30.
Qe1 Qe3 31. Qf1 Bxf3+ 32. Bxf3 Rg1+ 33. Qxg1 Qxf3+ 34. Qg2 Qd1+ 35. Qg1 Qf3+
$11)) 27. g3 $1 (27. Qg1 Bxf3 28. Bxf3 Bxc3 $17 {[%cal Gb8e8,Ge8e1] /-+.} (
28... Re8 29. g3) 29. g3 Qf6) 27... Qh6 (27... Bxg3 $2 28. Qg1 $1 {Probably
Kramnik missed this, otherwise I cannot explain his 26th move.}) 28. Bd3 Bxf3+
(28... Bxg3 29. Ra2 {[%cal Ga2g2]}) 29. Qxf3 {White consolidated and is out of
danger.} Qc1+ 30. Kg2 Qd2+ 31. Qe2 Qxc3 32. Rxa5 Rxb4 33. Ra2 {A pawn up does
not really matter, so Black decided to call it a day.} Rb2 34. Rxb2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2001.01.17"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Tiviakov, Sergei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E59"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2597"]
[Annotator "Wells,P"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2001.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {McShane} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 c5 7. O-O
Nc6 8. a3 Bxc3 9. bxc3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Qc7 {McShane: 'A complex position arises
out of the opening where White has the bishop pair and more central pawns
while Black has a less fragile pawn structure, and the possibility of
incarcerating the c1 bishop behind its own pawns.'} 11. Bb2 e5 {It is
noteworthy for what comes later in section 4, that even in this rather old,
well-established variation the imperative is on black to attack white's centre,
even though this is likely to accelerate the opening of the position. At the
risk of anticipating John Watson's remarks somewhat, it might help to see it
not just as a question of opening the position or not, but as black striking
and making sufficient mess to both try and create good squares for his knights
and also to PREVENT WHITE FROM OPENING THE POSITION ON HIS OWN TERMS. Because,
lets face it, if black sits back and does nothing special, white will organise
the e4 advance and improve the scope of the bishop pair at his own civilised
pace!!} 12. h3 $5 {Unusual, but the line has a definite logic. Why does white
so often retreat the c4 bishop voluntarily when as here the ...Na5 move with
which black will force it back, seems to have both positive and negative
points and while aimed at the light squares is also potentially neglectful of
the centre?} e4 13. Nd2 Na5 14. Ba2 Bf5 (14... c4 $5 15. f3 Bxh3 $5 16. Nxe4
Nxe4 17. fxe4 $13) 15. c4 {[%cal Ga2c4,Yb2f6] '!' McShane. A common problem in
these lines: opening up one bishop's diagonal blocks in the other.} Rfe8 16. d5
Nd7 {McShane: 'Black now hopes to prove that the a2 bishop is restricted, in
the long term to place a knight on d6 and advance b7-b5. But Kramnik has moves
in-between...'} 17. f4 $1 {[%csl Ge5][%cal Yb2g7,Yg2g4,Gd7e5,Yf4e5][%mdl 32]
Contests the e5 square and the b2-g7 diagonal. Logical: focus attention on
that 'uncontested bishop'.  McShane: 'Now the threat of g2-g4 and f4-f5
trapping the bishop forces Black to capture en passant.'} (17. f3 {McShane} Ne5
$1 {and Black sacrifices a pawn but can maintain a stronghold in the centre.})
17... exf3 {Funny old rule this en passant, although one suspects Vlad had it
covered! Probably the capture is pretty much forced - e5 is a big point in
black's defence. Still, the f-file is a huge asset too, f7 can be a bit moist,
and white is perfectly well equipped in this case for a light square
discussion too.} 18. Qxf3 Bg6 19. h4 {[%csl Rg6] '!' McShane. McShane:
'Kramnik is a fantastic player with the initiative and drives his advantage
forward ruthlessly. This one forces a weakness.'} h5 (19... Ne5 20. Qg3 $36)
20. Bb1 $1 {[%csl Rf7] The bishop finds a new home. OK, in general we shall be
looking at positions where the proud possessor of the bishop pair is not the
one initiating exchanges of bishops, but here we are already in the realm of
the familiar 'transfer of advantages': from 'bishop pair' to 'direct attack'
in the course of which 'exchanging key defenders' is quite legitimate.} Qd6 21.
Bc3 {[%csl Ra5] The down side of ...Na5.} b6 22. Ne4 Rxe4 {'?!' McShane.} ({
Its understandable that black didn't like the look of} 22... Qe7 $5 {but the
problem with the exchange sac is that despite an improvement in the condition
of black's knights, white's initiative ( and bishop pair ) survive pretty much
in tact.}) (22... Bxe4 {McShane} 23. Qxf7+) ({But} 22... Qe7 {McShane: may be
a lesser evil although} 23. Ng5 Qxe3+ 24. Qxe3 Rxe3 25. Bxg6 fxg6 26. Rf7 $1 {
promises a big initiative with a rook on the seventh rank.}) 23. Bxe4 Nxc4 24.
Qf4 Qxf4 25. Rxf4 Nxe3 26. Bf3 {McShane: 'Black has two pawns for the exchange,
but the bishop pair and passed pawn make White's job easier. Even so, Kramnik
doesn't waste time in pressing home his advantage.'} Nc2 27. Ra2 Re8 28. g4 $1
{Attack before material. Whatever we may come on to say later, there is no
disputing that healthy bishops thrive on open lines!} hxg4 29. Bxg4 Ne5 30. d6
$1 Nxg4 31. Rxg4 Re6 32. h5 Bd3 33. d7 Rd6 34. Rxg7+ Kf8 35. h6 Nd4 36. Rag2
Bg6 37. Rf2 $1 Nf5 38. h7 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2001.01.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2849"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2001.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ke8 10. h3 Be7 {Highly unusual. Normally Black avoids
exchanging the black squared Bs. Here he invites it whole-heartedly.} 11. Bg5 {
The thematic response.} (11. Bf4 Be6 12. g4 Nh4 13. Nxh4 Bxh4 14. Kg2 Be7 15.
a3 Rd8 16. Rad1 h5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Jenni,F-Mantovani,R/SUI 1999/EXT 2001 (76)})
11... Bxg5 $146 {[%mdl 8] Kramniks idea is to put the K on e7, connecting the
Rs and then to contain the white P majority along the diagonal e6-f5-g4.} (
11... Bb4 {cat and mouse} 12. Ne4 Be6 13. c3 Bf8 14. g4 Ne7 15. Nd4 Bd5 16. Nd2
c5 17. Nb5 Kd7 18. Bf4 Kc6 $13 {0-1 Van den Doel,E-Miles,A/Groningen 1997/CBM
62 ext (29)}) 12. Nxg5 h6 13. Nge4 b6 14. Rfd1 (14. Rad1 Ba6 15. Rfe1 Ke7 {
with an OK position for Black.}) 14... Ne7 (14... Ba6 15. a4 {is a bit
unpleasant for Black.}) 15. f4 Ng6 16. Rf1 h5 17. Rae1 Bf5 18. Ng3 Ne7 $1 {
Cautious play.} (18... Bxc2 $6 {allows White to expand} 19. f5 Nf8 20. Rf2 Bd3
21. Rd2 Ba6 22. e6 $5 {prevents Rd8 and allows White to develop his attack.} h4
(22... fxe6 23. fxe6 $40 {[%cal Yg3f5]}) (22... f6 23. h4) 23. Nge2 {[%cal
Ye2f4,Ye2d4]} Bxe2 (23... Rh6 24. Nd4 Bb7 25. Ne4 $36) (23... fxe6 24. fxe6 Rd8
25. Rxd8+ Kxd8 26. Nd4 $16) 24. exf7+ Kxf7 25. Rdxe2 $14 {[%cal Ye2e7,Ye7c7,
Ye7f7]}) 19. Nxf5 Nxf5 20. Kf2 Nd4 21. Rc1 (21. Rd1 $5 Rd8 (21... Nxc2 22. Rd2
Nb4 23. Rfd1 $36) 22. Rd2 {is Kasparovs suggestion for an improvement in his
express commentary at www.kasparovchess.com.}) 21... Rd8 22. Rfd1 Ke7 23. Ne4 (
23. g3 $5) 23... h4 $1 24. b4 Rh5 $2 {Threatening Rf5.} (24... Nf5 $142) 25.
Ng5 {Not the best.} (25. g4 $1 {Both players seem to have missed this rather
simple combination - so strong was their delusion that g4 was unplayable that
they reportedly missed it in the post mortem as well. It wasn´t missed on ICC
though. The waves of discussion went high when 25.Ng5 came up on the screens.
"Kasparov missed a win in one" was the typical reaction.} Rhh8 (25... hxg3+ $2
26. Nxg3 Rxh3 27. Rxd4 Rxd4 28. Nf5+ $18) 26. f5 {With a tremendous position
for White. No doubt Kasparov would have won this and shaken a few ghosts from
his shoulders at the same time.}) 25... Rhh8 (25... f6 26. c3 fxg5 27. cxd4
gxf4 28. Rxc6 $16) 26. Rd3 Ne6 27. Nxe6 Kxe6 28. Rcd1 Rd5 29. c4 Rxd3 30. Rxd3
$16 {This ending is difficult for Black.} a5 31. bxa5 Ra8 32. Ra3 Kf5 33. Kf3
Ra6 $1 34. c5 f6 $2 (34... bxc5 $142) 35. Re3 $1 Rxa5 36. e6 Ra8 37. e7 Re8 38.
a4 Kg6 39. Re6 Kf7 40. Rxc6 $6 (40. f5 $1 {was the right path} Rxe7 41. Rxc6
bxc5 42. a5 $18) 40... Ra8 $1 41. cxb6 cxb6 42. Rxb6 Rxa4 43. Re6 Ke8 44. Re4
Ra3+ 45. Re3 Rxe3+ 46. Kxe3 f5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2001.01.20"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E55"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2001.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 c5 7. O-O dxc4 8. Bxc4
Nbd7 9. a3 cxd4 10. axb4 dxc3 11. bxc3 Qc7 12. Qb3 Nb6 13. Be2 e5 14. Ra5 Be6
15. Qc2 Nbd7 16. c4 b6 17. Ra6 Rfc8 18. Nd2 Nb8 19. Ra3 a5 20. Bb2 Nc6 21. b5
Ne7 22. f4 Nd7 23. Nf3 Bf5 24. Qc3 Ng6 25. Ng5 Nc5 26. Bf3 Ra7 27. e4 Bd7 28.
fxe5 Be6 29. Bh5 h6 30. Nxe6 Nxe6 31. Qg3 Qc5+ 32. Kh1 Qxc4 33. Raf3 Qxb5 34.
Bxg6 fxg6 35. Qxg6 Qe8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2001.01.21"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2001.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 1]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. Bxc6 {This
was hot in the 1860s.} bxc6 7. Nxe5 d5 (7... Re8 8. Nf3 d5 9. e5 d4 10. O-O Ng4
11. Bf4 dxc3 12. Nxc3 Ba6 13. h3 Nxf2 14. Rxf2 Bxd3 15. Qd2 Bxf2+ 16. Qxf2 $16
{1-0 Rodriguez,A-Ramon,V/Santa Fe de Bogota 1988/EXT 2001 (25)}) 8. Bg5 $146 {
[%mdl 8] The scope for improvement is quite vast. The line hasn't been played
in top level games for ages. Ivanchuk is following the trend of picking up
forgotten lines. Very sensible given the level of information available these
days.} (8. Nxc6 $6 Qe8 9. Nd4 dxe4 10. Be3 Ba6 11. dxe4 Nxe4 12. Nd2 Rb8 13.
Qc2 f5 $36 {0-1 Mayet,C-Anderssen,A/Berlin 1865/EXT 99 (27)}) (8. O-O dxe4 9.
d4 Bd6 10. Nxc6 Qe8 11. Na5 Qb5 12. Nb3 Bg4 13. Qd2 Bxh2+ $19 {0-1 Neumann,
G-Anderssen,A/Berlin 1864/EXT 99 (18)}) 8... Re8 9. f4 {Somehow White must try
to support his claims in the centre. Black just wants to tear everything down.
A P more or less is not so important for Black at this stage.} (9. Nxc6 $6 {
cannot work} Qd6 10. Na5 Ng4 $1 $40) 9... dxe4 10. d4 Bb6 11. Nd2 (11. O-O c5
$36) 11... c5 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. Qe2 h6 (13... Bb7 14. O-O-O Qe7 15. Ng4 Rad8
$13) 14. Bh4 g5 $5 {[%mdl 32] Enterprising play. Kramnik sticks with the
initiative come what may.} 15. fxg5 hxg5 16. Bg3 {Black has unpinned the N,
but he has also weakened his Ks defence.} e3 17. Nb3 Bb6 18. Qf3 Be6 19. Rd1 g4
20. Qe2 (20. Qf1 e2 $1 $13) 20... Qe7 21. Nc6 Qf8 22. Nbd4 (22. O-O $2 Bc4 $1
23. Qxc4 e2+ $17) 22... Qc5 23. Ne5 (23. Be5 Bc4 24. Qxe3 Nh7 $1 $13 {[%cal
Ye8e1]}) 23... Nh5 $2 {Dropping the ball completely. Now White should win.} (
23... Bxa2 $5 24. Nxg4 (24. O-O Rxe5 25. Rxf6 Re4 26. Bf4 (26. Rf4 Rxf4 27.
Bxf4 Qh5 $13) 26... Qf8 $1 27. Qxg4+ Qg7 $13) 24... Qg5 25. Nxf6+ Qxf6 $13) 24.
Nxe6 Rxe6 25. Qxg4+ Ng7 26. Nxf7 $2 {A tempting mistake. But now Black gets a
new avenue for the attack against the white K - the f-file.} (26. Qf3 $1 Qf8
27. Nd7 Qc8 28. Be5 $18) 26... Rf8 $1 (26... Kxf7 27. Qf3+ $18) 27. Ng5 e2 $1 {
It's getting difficult for White - especially in time pressure.} 28. Rd4 (28.
Nxe6 exd1=Q+ 29. Kxd1 Qd5+ 30. Nd4 c5 $17) 28... Rg6 29. h4 Qf5 $1 30. Qxf5 (
30. Qxe2 Bxd4 31. cxd4 Rc6 $19) 30... Nxf5 31. Bf2 Nxd4 32. cxd4 Re8 33. a3 Rc6
$17 34. Kd2 Rf6 35. Nf3 Rg6 36. Ng5 Rd6 37. Nf3 c5 38. Re1 $2 (38. Kd3 $142)
38... Ba5+ 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2001.01.22"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Fedorov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C24"]
[WhiteElo "2575"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2001.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 c6 (3... Nc6 {is the other popular possibility here})
4. Nf3 Be7 5. O-O d6 6. Bb3 Nbd7 7. c3 Nf8 $5 {Black' Philidor type of setup
involves a N manoeuvre to g6, so why to castle first?} (7... O-O) 8. Re1 ({or} 
8. Nbd2 Ng6 9. d4 O-O 10. Re1 {- 8.Re1 transposing to the game.}) 8... Ng6 9.
Nbd2 O-O 10. d4 $14 {White grabs the |^ in the [+], but Black can safely hold
the vital e5 P.} h6 (10... Qc7 11. Nf1 {with the same manoeuvre via g3.} h6 12.
Ng3 Re8 {/\ Bf8, Be6} 13. h3 Bd7 {The B is not well-placed here.} (13... Bf8)
14. Be3 Rad8 15. Qd2 Bf8 16. Rad1 {The position resembles to some Ruy Lopez
games.} Bc8 17. d5 $1 $14 (17. c4 {allows} exd4 {after which the B on b3 is
passive.} 18. Bxd4 Be7 $11) (17. Qc2 {is not a real improvement of the
position.} a6 18. a4 c5 19. dxc5 dxc5 20. Bc4 Ne7 21. Nd2 Nc6 22. Nb3 b6 23.
Rxd8 Nxd8 24. f3 Bd7 $11 {Hecht-Hess, Bundesliga 1981})) 11. Nf1 Re8 12. Ng3
Bf8 13. h3 {The symmetry is almost perfect, but the b3 B is dominant to the f8
one, as the d4 P to the d6.} Qc7 14. Be3 b6 $6 (14... Be6 {is the logical
developing move.} 15. Bxe6 (15. Bc2 {drives the B into passivity.} Rad8) 15...
Rxe6 16. d5 (16. c4 exd4 17. Nxd4 Re5 18. Qc2 Rae8 {with pressure on the
semi-opened e <->.}) 16... cxd5 17. exd5 Ree8 18. Qb3 $14 {and White has some
chances on the <<, where his P majority is.}) 15. Bc2 Ba6 {It is unusual to
see a B here, but at first sight it looks OK.} 16. b3 Rad8 17. Qb1 $1 {
avoiding the freeing move 17...d6-d5} (17. Qd2 d5 $11) 17... Bb7 {So Black has
realized, that the B didn't do much on a6.} (17... d5 $6 {is now answered by}
18. exd5 exd4 19. Bxd4 Rxe1+ 20. Nxe1 Nxd5 21. Bxg6 fxg6 22. Qxg6 $16) 18. a4 {
Now Black can hardly improve his pieces, so} d5 $5 {Otherwise Black is pushed
slowly but surely to the wall.} 19. exd5 exd4 20. Bxd4 Rxe1+ 21. Nxe1 {
Otherwise White cannot win the P.} (21. Qxe1 Nxd5 22. Bxg6 fxg6 23. Qe6+ Kh7
24. Re1 c5 $11) 21... Nxd5 22. Bxg6 (22. c4 Ndf4) (22. Nf3 Ndf4) 22... fxg6 23.
Qxg6 {White has won a P, but Black has got active pieces and ^^ in an opened
position.} (23. Nf3 c5 $15) 23... c5 (23... Nf4 $5 {deserved attention as well,
for example:} 24. Qg4 $1 (24. Qf5 Rd5 25. Qc2 c5 26. Be3 Rd8 27. Bxf4 Qxf4 $44
{^^}) (24. Qc2 c5 25. Be3 Nd5 26. Bd2 (26. Nf5 Qe5 $44) (26. Nf1 c4 $44) 26...
c4 $44) 24... Bc8 25. Qf3 (25. Nf5 $2 g6) 25... Be6 26. Be3 Nd5 27. c4 Nxe3 28.
Qxe3 Bf7 $14 {and Black has many defensive resources because of his ^^.}) 24.
Qe6+ (24. Nf5 $5 {was an alternative to fight with rook and 3 pawns versus two
pieces.} cxd4 (24... Ne7 $2 {is out of question.} 25. Nxh6+ Kh8 26. Qh5 $1 cxd4
(26... Rd5 27. Be5 $18) 27. Nf7+ Kg8 28. Ng5 $18) 25. Nxh6+ Kh8 26. Nf7+ Kg8
27. Nxd8 Qxd8 28. Qe6+ Kh8 29. cxd4 Nf4 30. Qf7 Qb8 $14) 24... Qf7 (24... Kh7
$5 25. Be5 (25. Qe4+ g6 $1 26. Be5 Qe7 27. Nh5 (27. c4 Re8 $1) 27... Nxc3 28.
Nf6+ Kg7 29. Nd5+ Kh7 30. Qxg6+ Kxg6 31. Nxe7+ Bxe7 32. Bxc3 Bg5 $44 {and the
black pieces are extremely active again.}) 25... Bd6 $5 (25... Qe7 26. Qxe7
Nxe7) 26. Bxd6 (26. Nf3 Bxe5 27. Nxe5 Rd6 28. Qf5+ g6) 26... Rxd6 27. Qe5 (27.
Qf5+ g6 28. Qc2 Re6) 27... Rd7 28. Qxc7 Nxc7 $44 {<-> d}) 25. Qxf7+ Kxf7 26.
Be5 Ne7 $1 27. c4 ({Activating the R by} 27. a5 $14 {immediately looks a bit
stronger}) 27... Nc6 28. Bc3 Bc8 29. a5 bxa5 30. Bxa5 Rd7 31. Bc3 Rb7 {>< b3}
32. Rb1 Be6 33. Rb2 Nd4 34. Bxd4 cxd4 35. Nf3 Ba3 36. Ra2 (36. Re2 {was the
other possibility to eliminate Black's ^^.} Rxb3 37. Rxe6 Rxf3 38. Ra6 Rb3 39.
Rxa7+ Kg6 40. Ne4 Kf5 41. f3 $14) 36... Rxb3 37. Nxd4 Rd3 38. Nxe6 Kxe6 {
Black's pieces are active, and his remote o^ on the a <-> secures him the draw.
} 39. Ne4 (39. Kf1 a5) 39... a5 40. f3 Bb4 41. Kf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2001.01.23"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2001.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Huebner,R} d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 {Morozevich has
enriched the Slav with many original (or well-forgotten!) ideas. The example
from round 3 is characteristic:} (5... c5 $5 6. d5 ({Less ambitious is} 6. e4
cxd4 7. Qxd4 $14 {_|_ with a pleasant endgame.}) 6... Bf5 7. e3 e6 8. Bxc4 exd5
9. Nxd5 Nc6 $1 $146 10. O-O (10. Qb3 Qd7 11. Nxf6+ gxf6 12. Bd2 Rg8 13. Bc3
O-O-O 14. Bxf7 Rxg2 15. Nh4 Ne5 16. Nxf5 Nd3+ 17. Kf1 Rxf2+ 18. Kg1 Kb8 19. Qe6
Rxf5 20. h4 Bd6 21. Rf1 Rg8+ {0-1,Van Wely,L-Morozevich,A/Wijk aan Zee/ 2001/})
10... Bd6 11. b3 Be4 12. Nc3 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Be5 14. Bb2 Qd2 15. Nd1 Bxb2 16. Ra2
O-O 17. Rxb2 Qb4 18. Rc2 {Lesiege,A-Shabalov,A/Elbow Beach GM-A/2001/} Rad8 $36
) 6. Ne5 Nbd7 ({Just now the line} 6... e6 7. f3 Bb4 8. e4 Bxe4 9. fxe4 Nxe4
10. Bd2 Qxd4 11. Nxe4 Qxe4+ 12. Qe2 Bxd2+ 13. Kxd2 Qd5+ 14. Kc2 Na6 15. Nxc4 {
is again in a crisis thanks to} O-O 16. Qe5 Rab8 17. a5 $1 $14 {after this
move Black finds it difficult to equalize:} f6 18. Qxd5 cxd5 19. Ne3 Rbc8+ 20.
Kb1 Nc5 21. Ra3 f5 22. Be2 Ne4 23. Rd1 Rc7 24. Nc2 Kf7 25. Nd4 Nd6 26. a6 b6
27. Re3 Re8 28. Re1 Ne4 29. Nb5 Rd7 30. Rc1 Nc5 31. Nd4 Ra8 32. b4 $16 {
Anand,V-Khalifman,A/FIDE WCh New Delhi/ 2000/}) 7. Nxc4 Nd5 $5 {[%cal Ye7e5]
This move has previously occured only twice in the games of the relatively
unknown Yugoslav player Misailovic. Black's idea is the same as after the more
usual 7...Qc7-to realize the e5 advance, even if it's connected with
sacrifices.  Huebner,R: 'Für diesen Zug habe ich kein Vorbild gefunden. Er ist
nicht unplausibel; Schwarz bereitet e7-e5 vor.'} (7... Qc7 8. g3 e5 9. dxe5
Nxe5 10. Bf4 Nfd7 11. Bg2 f6 (11... g5 $6 12. Ne3 $1 gxf4 13. Nxf5 O-O-O 14.
Qc2 Ng4 15. a5 fxg3 16. hxg3 a6 17. Ra4 Ndf6 18. Ne4 Nxe4 19. Bxe4 h5 20. Kf1
Kb8 21. Kg2 Be7 22. Nxe7 Qxe7 23. Bf3 $16 {Kasparov,G-Morozevich,A/Wijk aan
Zee/2000/}) 12. O-O Nc5 $5 {was Morozevich's original preference, but the
clever} 13. Ne3 $1 {causes Black problems:} Bg6 14. b4 Ne6 15. b5 Rd8 16. Qb3
Bf7 17. Bxe5 fxe5 18. bxc6 bxc6 19. Rab1 Bc5 20. Qb7 Qxb7 21. Rxb7 O-O 22. Bxc6
Nd4 23. Be4 a5 24. Kg2 Bb4 25. Ncd5 Nxe2 26. Nxb4 axb4 27. Rxb4 Rd4 28. Rxd4
exd4 29. Nd5 Rd8 30. Kf3 d3 31. Nb4 Nc3 32. Bxd3 Na2 {Lastin,A-Skatchkov,P/
RUS-chT Bor/2000/} 33. Rd1 $1 $16) ({A somewhat passive, but solid alternative
is} 7... Nb6 $5 8. Ne5 e6 9. f3 Nfd7 $11 {/+/=}) 8. g3 $146 {After some
thought Kramnik chooses a solid developing move.  Huebner,R: 'Dies ist die
natürlichste Reaktion.'} ({The most principled is} 8. f3 e5 $1 {Logical and
better is the less greedy} 9. e4 $142 (9. Nxe5 Bb4 10. Bd2 Qh4+ 11. g3 Qxd4 $17
) (9. Nxd5 cxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 (10... Bb4+ $5 11. Kf2 Nxe5 $44) 11. dxe5 Rc8 12.
e3 Bb4+ 13. Bd2 O-O $1 $36 14. a5 $2 Rc2 15. Bc3 Rxb2 16. Qd4 Qe7 17. Rd1 Qh4+
18. Qxh4 Bxc3+ 19. Rd2 Rxd2 {0-1, Jovanovski,V-Misailovic,N/YUG-chT Nis/ 1994/}
) (9. dxe5 $4 Qh4+ $19) 9... Nxc3 (9... exd4 $2 10. exd5 dxc3 11. Qe2+ Qe7 12.
Nd6+ $18) 10. bxc3 Be6 {Huebner,R: 'führt zu einer etwa ausgeglichenen
Stellung.'} (10... Bxe4 $6 11. fxe4 Qh4+ 12. Ke2 (12. Kd2 $5) 12... Qxe4+ 13.
Be3 $16 {is very speculative.}) 11. Rb1 $14 {[%csl Gc3,Gd4,Ge4,Gf3] [+]}) (8.
e3 e6 (8... e5 9. Nxd5 cxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. dxe5 $16 {is not ideal now.}) 9.
Bd3 (9. Qb3 $5 $13) 9... Bxd3 10. Qxd3 c5 $1 $11 {is too tame.} (10... Bb4 11.
O-O O-O 12. Bd2 N5f6 13. Ne4 Bxd2 14. Ncxd2 Qa5 15. b4 Qd5 16. Nc3 Qh5 17. Nde4
Rfd8 18. Nxf6+ Nxf6 19. Qc4 h6 20. h3 $14 {Milovanovic,S-Misailovic,N/YUG-chT
Nis/1995/})) (8. Nxd5 cxd5 9. Ne3 Be6 $11 {[%csl Re3,Re6] פe3,ץe6 both the B
and N are misplaced}) 8... e5 9. Bg2 {Huebner,R: 'Dies ist natürlich eine
solide, ruhige Fortsetzung. Von den anderen drei plausiblen Möglichkeiten sind
die beiden ersten nicht kräftig:'} (9. dxe5 Nc5 (9... Nxc3 $5 10. bxc3 Nc5 $44
{/\} 11. Nd6+ (11. Qxd8+ {Huebner,R} Rxd8 {fährt Schwarz mit Lf5-c2 fort und
dürfte ausreichendes Gegenspiel für den geopferten Bauern besitzen.}) 11...
Bxd6 12. exd6 Qf6 $36 {also deserves attention.}) (9... N7b6 10. Nxb6 (10. Nd6+
Bxd6 11. exd6 Qxd6 {ergibt ausgeglichenes Spiel.}) 10... Nxc3 11. Qxd8+ Rxd8
12. bxc3 axb6 13. Be3 Bc5 14. Bxc5 bxc5 15. Bg2 {mit Endspielvorteil für Weiß.}
) 10. Nxd5 cxd5 11. Ne3 Be6 $13 {/\d4|^}) (9. Nxe5 $2 Nxe5 (9... Nxc3 {Huebner,
R} 10. bxc3 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Qa5 {mit besserer Stellung für Schwarz.}) 10. dxe5
Nb4 11. e4 Qxd1+ 12. Kxd1 Bg4+ 13. Be2 Rd8+ 14. Bd2 Nd3 $17) (9. Nxd5 Be4 $5 (
9... cxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. dxe5 $14) 10. Nc3 $5 (10. f3 Bxd5 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12.
dxe5 Qb6 $36 {Huebner,R: 'mit gutem Spiel für Schwarz.'}) 10... Bxh1 11. dxe5
$44 (11. f3 $5 $13)) 9... Nxc3 $6 (9... exd4 $142 $1 10. Qxd4 (10. Nxd5 cxd5
11. Bxd5 Nc5 (11... Bb4+ $5 12. Bd2 Nc5 $13 {/=/+}) 12. Bg2 (12. Qxd4 $2 Be6
13. Ne3 Nb3 14. Qe4 Nxa1 15. Bxb7 Rc8 $19 {is bad, the Na1 escapes via b3.})
12... Be6 {[%cal Ye6d5] /\Bd5() causes Black no problems whatsoever, it's
White who has to be careful.}) 10... Qf6 $11 (10... Nb4 $5 $132)) 10. bxc3 exd4
$6 {Leads to serious problems.} (10... Be6 $5 11. Qd3 $5 (11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12.
dxe5 Qxd1+ (12... Qa5 13. Rb1 $1 $36) 13. Kxd1 Bc5 $32 {[%csl Ra4,Rc3,Re5] ~~,
ק}) 11... Qc7 12. O-O Rd8 13. e3 $14) 11. Qxd4 $1 $36 {[%csl Rd6][%cal Rc1f4]
[%mdl 2048] /\Bf4,Nd6} (11. cxd4 {[%csl Gd4] [+] was also playable, but the
text is concrete and more dangerous, White's pieces are well coordinated.}) (
11. cxd4 {Huebner,R Nach} Nb6 12. Nxb6 Bb4+ 13. Bd2 Qxb6 {hat Schwarz eine
völlig befriedigende Stellung.}) 11... Nc5 {[%cal Rc5b3] /\Nb3} (11... Nb6 12.
Ne3 {/\a5|^} (12. Ne3 {Huebner,R} Qxd4 13. cxd4 Be6 14. a5 {überläßt dem
Weißen das bequemere Spiel.})) (11... Qf6 12. Ba3 $5 $32 {|^} (12. e4 {Huebner,
R beantwortet.})) 12. Qe3+ (12. Qe5+ $143 Be6 {ףe5} 13. Ba3 (13. Bf4 Qe7 14.
Nd6+ Qxd6 15. Qxd6 Bxd6 16. Bxd6 Nb3 {/\0-0-0<=>}) 13... Qb8 (13... Qf6 {
Huebner,R ist nicht besser für Weiß.}) 14. Qe3 Nb3 $11) 12... Ne6 {Black wants
to finish his development with Bc5...} (12... Be6 13. Ba3 Qe7 14. Ne5 $36 {
/\Nc6}) (12... Be7 13. Ba3 $16) 13. a5 {[%cal Gg2a8,Ra5a6] White is ambitious
and wants to profit from his pressure on the long /^.} (13. O-O {was also good:
} Bg6 (13... Bc5 14. Qe5 Bg6 15. Bh6 $5 (15. Bh3 Qe7 16. Be3 $1 $16 (16. Bxe6
$6 f6 $1 $11)) 15... O-O 16. Bxg7 Bxf2+ 17. Rxf2 Nxg7 18. Raf1 $40) (13... Bc2
14. Ba3 $1 Bxa3 15. Nxa3 Bxa4 16. Rfb1 {[%csl Ra4] ץa4} Qe7 (16... O-O 17.
Rxb7 $16) 17. Nc4 Bb5 18. Nb6 $16) 14. a5 $1 (14. Bh3 $6 Qd5 $13) 14... Bc5 15.
Qf3 $36 {[%cal Ra5a6,Rc4e5] /\a6,Ne5} a6 {and the weak queenside gives White a
permanent advantage.} 16. Be3 $16 {[%csl Ra6,Rb7,Rc6] ׫}) 13... Bc2 (13... Bc5
14. Qf3 {/\a6+/-} (14. Qe5 $5)) 14. Ba3 $5 (14. O-O Bc5 (14... Bb3 15. a6 $1
Bxc4 16. axb7 $18) 15. Qf3 (15. Qe5 {Huebner,R} O-O {hat Schwarz nichts zu
fürchten.}) 15... f5 $5 (15... Bb3 16. Nd2 $16) (15... O-O 16. a6 $16) 16. a6
Be4 17. Qh5+ g6 18. Qh3 Qd5 19. axb7 Rb8 20. Na5 Bb6 21. c4 $36) 14... Bxa3 15.
Nxa3 Bb3 $5 {Black must close the long /^ as soon as possible.} (15... Ba4 16.
a6 $1 (16. Qe4 Qxa5 17. Nb1 b5 18. Qxc6+ Ke7 $14 {/~~}) (16. Nc4 Bb3 $132)
16... bxa6 17. Nc4 Bb5 18. Ne5 $1 {/\c4} O-O 19. c4 Qd4 (19... Nd4 20. O-O-O $1
$18) 20. Qxd4 (20. O-O $5 $16 {/+-}) 20... Nxd4 21. cxb5 Nc2+ 22. Kd2 Nxa1 23.
Rxa1 $16 {/+-}) 16. a6 Bd5 17. axb7 (17. Rd1 $2 bxa6 {/\} 18. c4 Qa5+) 17...
Rb8 18. f3 $1 {[%cal Rc3c4] Renews the threat c4.} (18. Rd1 $6 Rxb7 19. O-O Qe7
$11) 18... c5 19. O-O $2 {After White's natural move his |^ loses most of its
momentum.} (19. Bh3 $142 $1 Qg5 (19... O-O 20. Rd1 Rxb7 21. Bxe6 fxe6 22. c4
Qa5+ 23. Kf2 $16 {/\} Bxf3 24. exf3 Rb2+ 25. Kg1 {[%cal Yh2h4,Yh1h2] /\h4,Rh2+-
}) (19... Rxb7 20. c4 Qf6 (20... Qa5+ 21. Kf2 Re7 22. cxd5 Nd4 23. Nc4 $5 $18)
(20... Qg5 21. Qxg5 (21. f4 Qf6 22. O-O Bc6 $14 {/\} 23. f5 $2 Qd4) 21... Nxg5
22. Bc8 $1 Rb8 23. cxd5 Rxc8 24. h4 $18) (20... Re7 21. cxd5 Nd4 22. Qf4 Rxe2+
23. Kf1 $18) 21. O-O Bc6 22. Bxe6 Qxe6 23. Qxc5 $16 {-> Not only has White an
extra pawn, but Black's K stays stuck in the [+], because} Re7 24. Nb5 O-O 25.
Ra6 $18 {loses on the spot.}) 20. Nc2 Rxb7 21. Bxe6 Qxe3 22. Bxf7+ Bxf7 23.
Nxe3 $16) 19... Rxb7 20. Rfd1 Rd7 21. c4 (21. Nb5 a5 $13 (21... O-O {Huebner,R}
22. Rxa7 Rxa7 23. Nxa7 Qa8 24. Bh3 {, und Weiß hat einen gesunden Mehrbauern,
obwohl natürlich nicht klar ist, ob dies zum Sieg genügt.}) ({Nach} 21... a5
22. Bh3 O-O 23. Bxe6 Bxe6 24. Rxd7 Qxd7 25. Qxc5 Rc8 26. Qe5 f6 27. Qd6 Qxd6
28. Nxd6 Rxc3 29. Rxa5 h6 30. Ra8+ Kh7 31. Ra7 Kg8 32. h4 {ist die
Verteidigungsaufgabe des Schwarzen nicht angenehm.})) (21. Bh3 O-O 22. Bxe6
Bxe6 23. Rxd7 Qxd7 24. Qxc5 Qd2 $132 {Huebner,R: 'führt zu nichts.'}) (21. Rd3
O-O 22. Rad1 Bc6 $11) 21... Bc6 22. Rxd7 Bxd7 (22... Qxd7 $6 23. Nc2 (23. Bh3 {
Huebner,R} Qd4 24. Nc2 {ist fatal für Schwarz.}) 23... O-O 24. Bh3 $36 {
[%csl Ra7,Rc5] ><c5,a7}) 23. Nc2 ({Kramnik still wants more than} 23. Bh3 O-O
24. Bxe6 Bxe6 25. Qxc5 Qd2 26. Kf2 $14) 23... Bc8 $1 {By protecting the P
indirectly Black wins a tempo to put it to the safe square a6.} (23... Qb6 $143
$2 24. Qa3 $16) 24. Qd3 $6 ({This was the last chance for} 24. Bh3 $142 O-O 25.
Bxe6 Bxe6 26. Qxc5 Qd2 27. Nd4 Qe3+ 28. Kg2 $14) (24. f4 {Huebner,R} O-O 25.
Bd5 {sieht plausibler aus.}) 24... Qxd3 25. exd3 a6 26. f4 Ke7 $11 {[%mdl 4096]
The fact that Black had no time to castle now helps him in the _|_.} 27. f5 {
[%csl Rf5] Limits the Bc8, but creates a potential ><.} (27. Kf2 $11) 27... Nc7
28. Ra5 Kd6 29. d4 {'?!' Huebner,R.} (29. Be4 Re8 30. Kf2 $11 (30. Ne3 Bb7 31.
Bxb7 Rxe3 32. Be4 $11)) (29. Ne3 {Huebner,R: war sicherer.}) 29... cxd4 30.
Nxd4 (30. c5+ Ke5 31. c6+ Kf6 32. Nxd4 Rd8 $15 {[%csl Rf5] ><f5}) 30... Re8 31.
Kf2 $2 (31. f6 $142 $5 g6 (31... gxf6 32. c5+ $44) 32. Nf3 h6 33. Kf2 {[%csl
Rf7] ><f7 and it's doubtful Black has more than repetition after} Ke6 34. Rc5
Kd6 35. Ra5 $11) ({aber} 31. Nf3 {Huebner,R: zur Verhinderung von Te8-e5 war
angezeigt.}) 31... Re5 $1 $36 {[%csl Ga6,Rc4] This exchange enhances the role
of the distant passed pawn.} 32. Rxe5 (32. Ra1 Kc5 $1 $17 (32... Bxf5 33. Bb7
a5 34. Nb3 $11)) 32... Kxe5 33. Ke3 Kd6 $1 {Morozevich is already plying for a
win, he must first blockade the c-pawn.} (33... f6 34. c5 Bxf5 35. Nc6+ $11)
34. Kd3 (34. f6 g6 $15 {/-/+}) 34... a5 35. Kc3 Bd7 (35... f6 $5 $15) 36. Bb7
f6 (36... Ke5 37. Bc6 Bxf5 38. Nb3 $11 {is still premature.}) 37. g4 {Sooner
or later this ugly move will be necessary.} (37. Bf3 Na6 $14 (37... a4 $5 $15 {
doesn't solve White's problems.})) 37... Ba4 $138 (37... a4 $5 38. Kb4 (38. Nf3
Kc5 39. Nd2 Kb6 40. Bf3 Na6 $36) 38... Ke5 $15) 38. h3 Bd7 39. Nb3 a4 40. c5+
Ke5 41. Nd2 $2 {Passive, White loses time and his <=> will be ineffective.} (
41. Nd4 $8 {the N comes to this square only 3 moves later!} a3 (41... Kf4 $2
42. c6 Be8 43. Ne6+ $18) 42. Nc2 $132) 41... Nd5+ $1 42. Kc4 (42. Bxd5 Kxd5 43.
Kb4 a3 $19) 42... Ne7 43. Nf3+ (43. Kb4 Kf4 44. Ka5 a3 {/\} 45. Kb6 Ba4 $1 $19)
43... Kf4 44. Nd4 Kg3 45. c6 (45. Ne6 Kxh3 46. Nxg7 (46. Nf8 Bb5+ $1 47. Kxb5
a3 $19) 46... Kxg4 $19) 45... Nxc6 $1 $19 {Liquidates White's last trump,
Black's P will be too strong.} 46. Nxc6 (46. Bxc6 Bxc6 47. Nxc6 Kxh3 $19) 46...
Kxh3 47. Nd4 (47. Nb8 a3 (47... Be8 $143 48. Bf3) 48. Kb3 (48. Kc3 Bb5 49. Bf3
Kg3 50. Bd1 Kf4 $22) 48... Bb5 49. Kxa3 (49. Bf3 Kg3 50. Bd1 Ba4+ $1 $19) 49...
Kxg4 {[%csl Rf5,Gf6,Gg7,Gh7] and after the fall of Pf5 White's pieces are too
far to cope with the united passed P.}) 47... Kxg4 48. Be4 (48. Ne6 $2 Kxf5 49.
Nxg7+ Kg6 $19) 48... Kf4 49. Bc2 a3 50. Kc3 (50. Ne6+ Ke5 51. Kb3 Ba4+ $19) (
50. Kb3 Ke3 {/\Ba4}) (50. Bb1 h5 $19) 50... h5 51. Ne6+ Ke5 52. Nxg7 h4 53. Bd1
(53. Nh5 Bxf5 $19) 53... h3 54. Bf3 (54. Nh5 Bc6 55. Ng3 h2 {/\Kf4-+}) 54...
Bxf5 55. Nh5 Bg6 56. Kb3 (56. Ng7 Be4 $19) 56... Bxh5 57. Bxh5 h2 58. Bf3 Kf4
59. Bh1 Ke3 60. Kxa3 f5 61. Kb3 f4 {[%cal Rf4f1]} 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2001.01.25"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2001.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3
Nc6 9. Qc2 Qa5 10. Nd2 Bb4 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Nxd5 exd5 13. Bd3 g6 14. Rc1 Be7
15. O-O Bf6 16. Nb3 Qb6 17. Nc5 Qxb2 18. Qa4 Qb6 19. Bd6 Be7 20. Bxe7 Nxe7 21.
Nd7 Bxd7 22. Qxd7 Qb3 23. Qxe7 Qxd3 24. Rfd1 Qb3 25. Rb1 Qa4 26. Rxd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2001.01.26"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[PlyCount "29"]
[EventDate "2001.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. d4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 g6 7. e4 Bg7 8.
Bb5+ Nc6 9. O-O cxd4 10. cxd4 O-O 11. Be3 Bg4 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Rc1 Qa5 14.
Rxc6 Qxa2 15. Rc7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2001.01.27"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2001.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {[%mdl 4]} c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. dxc5 e6 5. Bf4 (5. Be3 {
Sutovsky-Dautov, Julian Borowski Essen 2000 CBM 77}) (5. Nf3 {- Prasad-Prakash,
Chalapathi 2000 CBM 77}) 5... Bxc5 6. Bd3 (6. Qg4 $143 Ne7 7. Nd2 Ng6 8. Nb3
Qb6 9. Nh3 Nc6 10. Bd3 $2 (10. c3) 10... Qb4+ $1 {Now White's popsition
collapses.} 11. c3 Ncxe5 $1 {This is the winning move.} 12. Qg3 Nxd3+ 13. Qxd3
Nxf4 14. Nxf4 Bxf2+ 15. Kxf2 Qxf4+ 16. Ke2 {0:1 Hamdouchi-Khenkin, Anderlecht
rapid 1998}) 6... Nc6 7. Nf3 {We have reached a French type of position.} f6 $1
{Black wants to attack the [+] without hesitation.} (7... Nge7 8. O-O (8. c3
Ng6 9. Bg3 f6 {Soon or later Black has to eliminate White's stronghold on e5.}
10. Nbd2 O-O 11. Nb3 Bb6 12. exf6 {White couldn't hold >< e5 any longer.} gxf6
{The black [+] has a bright future.} 13. Nh4 f5 14. Qh5 Qf6 15. f4 e5 16. Nxg6
{1/2:1/2 Ibragimov-Urban, Groningen op 1997}) 8... Qc7 9. Bg3 Nb4 10. Nc3 a6
11. Re1 Bd7 12. Bf1 b5 13. a3 (13. a4 Rb8 14. axb5 axb5 15. h3 O-O 16. Qd2 Rfc8
$15 {Kavalek-Augustin, CSR-ch Jablonec 1962}) 13... Nbc6 14. Bd3) (7... Qb6 {
wins the P b2 P, but it is connected with the well-known risk.} 8. O-O Qxb2 9.
Nbd2 Qb6 10. Ng5 {is the other way of aggression.} (10. c4 {wants to open up
the position in order to make profit from the lead of development.} Nge7 11.
Rb1 Qc7 12. Bg3 Bd7 13. cxd5 Nxd5 14. Ne4 {>< d6} Be7 15. Nd6+ Bxd6 16. exd6
Qc8 17. Ne5 O-O (17... Nc3 $2 {is hunting for material instead of solving the
problem of his K.} 18. Qg4 $1 Nxe5 (18... Nxb1 19. Qxg7 Rf8 20. Bf4 $1 $18 {
/\ Bh6}) 19. Qxg7 Rf8 (19... Ng6 20. Rbc1 $18) 20. Rb3 Nxd3 21. Rxc3 $16) 18.
Qh5 $44 {and White has an -> for the P, Bliumberg-Poplavsky, Odessa-ch 2000.})
10... g6 11. c4 Nge7 12. Rb1 Qd8 13. Qf3 Nd4 14. Qh3 h5 15. Nb3 Nxb3 16. axb3
Nf5 17. Bxf5 exf5 {(De Vreugt-Oosterom, NED-chT 2000)} 18. cxd5 $1 Be7 (18...
Qxd5 19. Rbd1 Qc6 20. Rd8+ $1 $16) 19. Qe3 (19. Nxf7 $5 Kxf7 20. Rbd1 $44 {
and the phalanx of the central pawns is dangerous for Black.}) 19... Qxd5 20.
Rfd1 Qc6 (20... Qb5 21. e6 $1 $40) 21. Rd6 Qc7 (21... Qb5 22. e6 $1 f6 23. Nf7
$44) 22. Rc1 (22. e6 $5 Bxg5 (22... Bxd6 $2 23. exf7+ $18) 23. exf7+ Kxf7 24.
Qe5 Re8 25. Rf6+ Bxf6 26. Qxc7+ Re7 $11) 22... Qa5 23. e6 f6 24. Nf7 $44 {
with a wonderful compensation for the sacrificed material.}) 8. Nbd2 (8. O-O g5
$5 {is a brave, but risky decision.} 9. Bg3 (9. b4 gxf4 10. bxc5 fxe5 {with a
mighty P chain for Black.} 11. Bb5 Qf6 12. c4 e4 13. cxd5 exd5 14. Qxd5 exf3
15. Re1+ Nge7 16. Bxc6+ bxc6 17. Qh5+ Kf8 18. Nd2 Rg8 19. Qxf3 Bg4 20. Qb3 Rg7
$19 {Henris-Khenkin, CERA Bank op 1998}) (9. Nxg5 $143 {doesn't seem to be
correct:} fxg5 10. Qh5+ Kf8 11. Bxg5 Qc7) 9... g4 10. Nfd2 fxe5 11. Qxg4 Nf6
$13) 8... fxe5 (8... g5 $5) 9. Bxe5 (9. Nxe5 $2 Qf6 $17) 9... Nf6 10. Qe2 {
Black has to keep >< e5 at any rate.} (10. Bg3 Bd6 11. O-O O-O 12. Bxd6 Qxd6
13. Re1 Qf4 (13... e5 $2 {is punished by} 14. Nc4 $1) 14. c3 e5 $11 {and Black
was successful.}) 10... O-O 11. O-O-O $2 {Now the white K will be exposed to
many threats.} ({In a positional position, like that, where the main question
is the blockade of >< more natural is} 11. O-O Bd6 (11... Nxe5 12. Nxe5 Bd6 13.
c3 {- 11...Bd6 12.c3}) (11... Ng4 $5 12. Bg3 e5 13. h3 $1 {Now Black is losing
material.} Nh6 (13... e4 14. Nxe4 dxe4 15. Bxe4 $16) 14. Nxe5 $1 (14. Bxe5 Re8
15. Bb5 Nf7) 14... Qg5 15. Nxc6 Qxg3 16. Ne7+ Kh8 17. Nxc8 Raxc8 18. Nb3 Bb6
19. c3 $16 {and Black's -> is beaten back.}) 12. c3 $1 (12. Bxd6 Qxd6 13. Rfe1
{allows the freeing move} e5 $1 14. Nxe5 Re8 {The pin on the e <-> solves
Black's problem.} 15. f4 Ng4) 12... Nxe5 (12... Ng4 $2 13. Bxd6 Qxd6 14. Bxh7+
$16) (12... Nh5 $6 13. Ng5 $1 {Suddenly White changes the course, and exploits
the weaknesses of the >>.} (13. Bxd6 Qxd6 14. Ng5 g6 15. g3 {is again met by}
e5) (13. g3 $5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Nf6 15. Nb3 $14 {however keeps control over the
vital ><e5 and d4.}) 13... Qxg5 14. Bxd6 Nf4 15. Bxf4 Qxf4 (15... Rxf4 16. Nf3)
16. Bc2 $1 {defending against e5 by attacking d5.} (16. Rae1 e5) 16... Ne5 (
16... e5 $2 17. Qd3 $1 $18 {with double ->.}) 17. Rad1 Ng4 18. Nf3 $16 {
and White will take control over >< e5 again.}) 13. Nxe5 Qc7 (13... Nd7 14.
Ndf3 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Qh4 (15... Qg5 16. Rfe1 $14) 16. g3 $14) 14. Ndf3 (14. Rae1
Bxe5 15. Qxe5 Qxe5 16. Rxe5 $14) 14... Nh5 {/\ Nf4} 15. g3 $14 {and the
"French" B remains passive.}) 11... a5 $1 {Black immediately begins an -> on
the <<.} 12. Nb3 Bd6 13. Kb1 (13. Bxd6 Qxd6 14. Rhe1 e5 $1 {The same motif of
the pin on the e <-> again.} (14... a4 15. Nbd4 a3 16. b3 Nxd4 17. Nxd4 Qxh2
18. g3 Qh5) 15. Nxe5 Re8 16. Nc4 (16. f4 Bg4) 16... Qb8 $1 17. Ne3 a4 $17 {
/\ a3}) 13... Bxe5 14. Nxe5 a4 15. Nc1 (15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. Nd4 Qb6 $17) 15... a3
16. b3 {Now Black has always serious mating threats on b2.} Qa5 $1 17. c4 $6 {
opening up the << helps only for Black.} (17. Qe3 Nxe5 18. Qxe5 Ng4 $1 19. Qh5
h6 $1 $17 (19... Nf6 20. Qe5)) (17. Nxc6 bxc6 18. Qe1 Qc7 $17 {and Black's
central pawns will move ahead.}) 17... dxc4 18. Nxc4 Qc7 $17 19. Rhe1 (19. Rd2
Nd5) 19... Nd5 20. Qd2 Ncb4 {The dark squares on the << are terribly weakened.}
21. Ne2 (21. f4 b5 $19) 21... Rxf2 (21... b5 {was also tempting.} 22. Ne3 Rxf2
23. Nxd5 Nxd5 $17) 22. Be4 b5 23. Qd4 (23. Ne3 Bb7 24. Nxd5 Nxd5 25. Bf3 (25.
Bxd5 Bxd5) 25... Rxe2 $1 26. Bxe2 Nc3+ 27. Ka1 Nxd1 $19) 23... Rxe2 $1 {
liquidating for a very good _|_.} 24. Rxe2 bxc4 25. Bxd5 (25. bxc4 Rb8 $19)
25... Nxd5 26. bxc4 Ba6 27. Rc1 Nf4 28. Rd2 e5 29. Qe3 Bxc4 30. Ka1 Qf7 $19 31.
g3 Nd3 $5 {Perhaps this was not so necessary.} (31... Ng6 $19) 32. Rxd3 (32.
Qe4 Re8 33. Qxc4 Nxc1 34. Qxc1 e4 $19) 32... Bxd3 33. Qxd3 h6 34. Qb3 Qxb3 35.
axb3 {The R _|_ is lost because of the bad K.} Kf7 36. Rc6 a2 37. h4 Ra3 38. b4
e4 39. Rc4 e3 40. Re4 Kf6 41. g4 h5 $1 {clearing the way for the K.} 42. gxh5
Kf5 43. Re7 Kf4 44. b5 Rb3 45. Rf7+ Ke4 46. Re7+ Kd3 47. Rd7+ Kc2 48. Rc7+ Kd2
({or} 48... Rc3 49. Rxg7 Kb3 $19) 49. Kxa2 Rxb5 50. Rxg7 e2 51. Rd7+ Kc2 52.
Rc7+ Kd3 53. Re7 Rxh5 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2001.01.28"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2632"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2001.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.03.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. Nf3 d6 4. c3 Nf6 5. Bd3 O-O 6. O-O c5 7. h3 Qc7 8. Re1
Nfd7 9. Bg5 Nc6 10. Na3 h6 11. Be3 a6 12. Qd2 Kh7 13. b4 b5 14. bxc5 dxc5 15.
Nc2 Bb7 16. Bf4 e5 17. Bg3 c4 18. Bf1 Rad8 19. Rad1 Rfe8 20. d5 Nc5 21. Bh4 f6
22. Ne3 Na7 23. Ng4 Rd6 24. Qc2 Nc8 25. Nd2 Nb6 26. Ne3 Rd7 27. Be2 Bc8 28. Bg3
h5 29. Ndf1 Bh6 30. Bh2 Rd6 31. h4 Nba4 32. f3 Bd7 33. Kh1 Rc8 34. g3 Qa5 35.
Rc1 Bh3 36. Bg1 Rd7 37. Kh2 Bxf1 38. Bxf1 Nd3 39. Bh3 Nxe1 40. Rxe1 Rcd8 41.
Bxd7 Rxd7 42. Nd1 b4 43. cxb4 Qxb4 44. Re2 c3 45. Be3 Rb7 46. Bxh6 Kxh6 47. Re3
Kg7 48. Rd3 Qc4 49. d6 Qc6 50. d7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Lyon m 5'"]
[Site "Lyon"]
[Date "2001.03.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bonnet, Edouard"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2155"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2001.03.10"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 e6 5. Bd3 Nbd7 6. O-O Bd6 7. Nc3 dxc4 8.
Bxc4 b5 9. Bd3 Bb7 10. Qe2 O-O 11. Rd1 Qc7 12. Bd2 a6 13. Rac1 Rfe8 14. a4 Qb6
15. axb5 cxb5 16. e4 e5 17. Be3 exd4 18. Bxd4 Bc5 19. Bb1 Rad8 20. Bxc5 Nxc5
21. Rxd8 Qxd8 22. e5 Bxf3 23. gxf3 Nfd7 24. f4 Qh4 25. Qe3 Qg4+ 26. Qg3 Qxg3+
27. hxg3 f6 28. b4 Nb3 29. Ba2 1-0

[Event "Lyon m 5'"]
[Site "Lyon"]
[Date "2001.03.10"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Bonnet, Edouard"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2155"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2001.03.10"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Bg5+ Ke8 10. Nbd2 h6 11. Bf4 Be6 12. Rfe1 Rd8 13. Rad1 Nd4 14.
Nxd4 Rxd4 15. Be3 Rd7 16. f4 b6 17. c3 a5 18. a3 c5 19. Ne4 Be7 20. Rxd7 Kxd7
21. Rd1+ Kc6 22. Kf2 Rd8 23. Rxd8 Bxd8 24. Kf3 Kb5 25. g4 Bd5 26. f5 Kc4 27.
Kf4 Kb3 28. Nd2+ Kxb2 29. c4 Bg5+ 30. Kg3 Bxe3 31. cxd5 Bxd2 32. f6 Bc3 33. e6
Bxf6 0-1

[Event "Lyon m 5'"]
[Site "Lyon"]
[Date "2001.03.10"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bonnet, Edouard"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2155"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2001.03.10"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. O-O Ngf6 5. Re1 a6 6. Bf1 g6 7. c3 Bg7 8. d4
O-O 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bh4 b5 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. h3 e5 13. a4 Qb6 14. d5 c4 15. axb5
axb5 16. Rxa8 Rxa8 17. b3 cxb3 18. Qxb3 Ba6 19. Qb4 Qc5 20. Ra1 Qxb4 21. cxb4
Nb6 22. Ra5 Nfd7 23. Be7 Bf8 24. Bxf8 Kxf8 25. Ne1 Ke7 26. f3 f5 27. Bd3 f4 28.
Nc2 g5 29. Na3 Bb7 30. Rxa8 Bxa8 31. Nxb5 Nb8 32. Nc7 Bb7 33. Nb3 Bc8 34. Na5
Kd8 35. Nb5 Ba6 36. Kf2 Kd7 37. Ke2 Na4 38. Kd2 Nb6 39. Kc3 Ke7 40. Kc2 Kd7 41.
Na7 Bxd3+ 42. Kxd3 Na6 43. N7c6 Kc7 44. Nc4 Nd7 45. Kc3 Ndb8 46. Ne7 Nd7 47.
Nf5 h5 48. Nfxd6 Nb6 49. Nxb6 Kxd6 50. Nc4+ Kd7 51. Nxe5+ Ke7 52. Nd3 1-0

[Event "Lyon m 5'"]
[Site "Lyon"]
[Date "2001.03.10"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Bonnet, Edouard"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2155"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2001.03.10"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 h6 10. Bf4 Be6 11. Rad1+ Kc8 12. Ne4 b6 13. Ng3 c5 14. Rd2
Kb7 15. Rfd1 Nxg3 16. Bxg3 Be7 17. Kf1 a5 18. a3 Kc6 19. Ke2 b5 20. Bf4 Rhd8
21. Rxd8 Bxd8 22. Ke3 Be7 23. Nd2 b4 24. a4 Rd8 25. Ke2 c4 26. Nf3 Rxd1 27.
Kxd1 Kd5 28. Kd2 c5 29. h4 Bd7 30. b3 cxb3 31. cxb3 c4 32. Kc2 cxb3+ 33. Kxb3
Bc5 34. Bg3 Be6 35. Kc2 Kc4 36. Nd2+ Kd5 37. Kd3 Bf5+ 38. Ke2 Bc2 0-1

[Event "Lyon sim"]
[Site "Lyon"]
[Date "2001.03.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aberlenc, Thomas"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D18"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2001.03.11"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Nbd7 8. O-O
Be7 9. Qe2 O-O 10. Rd1 Qc7 11. h3 Nb6 12. Bb3 a5 13. e4 Bg6 14. Ne5 Bh5 15. g4
Bg6 16. Bf4 Qc8 17. Rac1 Qe8 18. Bg3 Nfd7 19. Nxg6 hxg6 20. d5 Nc5 21. Ba2 exd5
22. exd5 cxd5 23. Nxd5 Nxd5 24. Bxd5 Rc8 25. Re1 Nxa4 26. Rxc8 Qxc8 27. Qxe7
Nxb2 28. Bd6 Qc3 29. Qxf8+ Kh7 30. Re8 1-0

[Event "Lyon sim"]
[Site "Lyon"]
[Date "2001.03.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Barati, K."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2001.03.11"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 e6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c6 7. Qc2 Nbd7 8. h3
Re8 9. a3 Nf8 10. Bd3 h6 11. O-O Bd6 12. Bxd6 Qxd6 13. Rad1 b6 14. e4 dxe4 15.
Nxe4 Nxe4 16. Bxe4 Bb7 17. c5 Qc7 18. Ne5 f6 19. Nc4 Ba6 20. cxb6 axb6 21. Rfe1
Rad8 22. Ne3 Bb7 23. d5 exd5 24. Nxd5 Rxd5 25. Bxd5+ 1-0

[Event "Lyon sim"]
[Site "Lyon"]
[Date "2001.03.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bouvard, E."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E10"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2001.03.11"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. d4 Nc6 4. a3 d5 5. Nc3 dxc4 6. e4 Be7 7. Bxc4 Ng4 8. h3
e5 9. hxg4 Bxg4 10. dxe5 Qxd1+ 11. Nxd1 Bxf3 12. gxf3 Nxe5 13. Be2 O-O-O 14. f4
Nd3+ 15. Bxd3 Rxd3 16. Ke2 Rhd8 17. Nc3 R3d4 18. Rxh7 g6 19. Rxf7 R4d7 20. Be3
c6 21. Rg1 Rg8 22. f5 Rgd8 23. fxg6 Kc7 24. g7 Rg8 25. e5 b5 26. e6 1-0

[Event "Lyon sim"]
[Site "Lyon"]
[Date "2001.03.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Combaniere, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E67"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2001.03.11"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. g3 c6 5. d4 O-O 6. Bg2 d6 7. O-O Nbd7 8. Qc2
e5 9. Rd1 Qc7 10. b3 exd4 11. Nxd4 Re8 12. h3 d5 13. cxd5 cxd5 14. Bf4 Qc5 15.
Rac1 a6 16. Nxd5 Qxc2 17. Rxc2 Nxd5 18. Bxd5 Nf6 19. Bg2 Re7 20. Rdc1 Be6 21.
Nxe6 fxe6 22. Rc8+ Rxc8 23. Rxc8+ Kf7 24. e4 Rd7 25. Bf3 h5 26. Kg2 Ne8 27. e5
Bf8 28. Rb8 b5 29. Bc6 1-0

[Event "Lyon sim"]
[Site "Lyon"]
[Date "2001.03.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Fleurian, JP."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C92"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2001.03.11"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Bf8 12. d5 Nb8 13. Nf1 Nbd7 14. Ng3 g6 15.
Bg5 h6 16. Be3 c5 17. dxc6 Bxc6 18. Nh4 Kg7 19. Qd2 Ng8 20. Nf3 Nc5 21. Bc2 Qc7
22. b4 Ne6 23. a4 Rec8 24. Rec1 Kh7 25. axb5 axb5 26. Rxa8 Rxa8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Lyon sim"]
[Site "Lyon"]
[Date "2001.03.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Guigay, Joel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D63"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "2001.03.11"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Rc1 Nbd7 7. Nf3 Bb4 8.
cxd5 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 exd5 10. Bd3 Qe7 11. O-O b6 12. c4 Qe6 13. cxd5 Nxd5 14. e4
Nb4 15. d5 Qd6 16. Bb1 Ba6 17. Re1 Nc5 18. Rc3 f6 19. Bh4 Bb5 20. Nd4 Bd7 1-0

[Event "Lyon sim"]
[Site "Lyon"]
[Date "2001.03.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Guilloux, Yves"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2001.03.11"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 c6 3. c4 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bd3 Nbd7 6. O-O dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. e4 a6 10. a4 Qb6 11. Nc3 b4 12. Ne2 c5 13. a5 Qd8 14. d5 exd5 15. e5 Ne4
16. Nf4 Qe7 17. Bc2 Ng5 18. Nxg5 Qxg5 19. Nxd5 Qd8 20. e6 Ne5 21. Ba4+ Nc6 22.
exf7+ Kxf7 23. Qf3+ 1-0

[Event "Lyon sim"]
[Site "Lyon"]
[Date "2001.03.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Houze, C."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D51"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2001.03.11"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. Bg5 e6 7. e3 Be7 8. Bd3
Nbd7 9. O-O O-O 10. a4 Re8 11. Qe2 Nf8 12. Ne5 N6d7 13. Bxe7 Rxe7 14. f4 f5 15.
g4 Nf6 16. h3 Ne4 17. Bxe4 dxe4 18. Rad1 Nd7 19. gxf5 exf5 20. Nd5 Re6 21. Kh2
Nxe5 22. dxe5 Qh4 23. Rg1 Rh6 24. Nf6+ Kf8 25. Rd8+ Kf7 26. Qc4+ Ke7 27. Rxg7+
1-0

[Event "Lyon sim"]
[Site "Lyon"]
[Date "2001.03.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kerrigan, Kevin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2001.03.11"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 Be7 7. e3 c6 8.
Bd3 O-O 9. Qc2 Re8 10. O-O Nf8 11. Rab1 Ne4 12. Bf4 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Ng6 14. Bg3
b6 15. e4 dxe4 16. Bxe4 Bb7 17. Ne5 Nxe5 18. Bxh7+ Kh8 19. Bxe5 Bd6 20. Bxd6
Qxd6 21. Be4 Re6 22. Rfe1 Rae8 23. Re3 f5 24. Bxf5 Rxe3 25. fxe3 Rxe3 26. Qd2
Qe7 27. Rf1 Ba6 28. Rc1 Re2 29. Qf4 Re1+ 30. Kf2 Re2+ 31. Kg1 Re1+ 32. Kf2 Re2+
33. Kg1 Re1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Lyon sim"]
[Site "Lyon"]
[Date "2001.03.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kleczewski, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E40"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2001.03.11"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 O-O 7. cxd5 exd5 8.
Bd3 Re8 9. Ne2 a6 10. O-O c6 11. f3 Nbd7 12. Ng3 c5 13. Kh1 b6 14. e4 dxe4 15.
fxe4 cxd4 16. cxd4 Nf8 17. e5 Ng4 18. Nf5 h5 19. Nd6 Qh4 20. Bf4 Nf2+ 21. Rxf2
Qxf2 22. Bg3 Qxd4 23. Bh7+ Kxh7 24. Qxd4 1-0

[Event "Lyon sim"]
[Site "Lyon"]
[Date "2001.03.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Libaert, Patrick"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D42"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2001.03.11"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. c4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. d4 e6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Nf3 Be7 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
Bd3 O-O 9. O-O Nc6 10. Re1 Re8 11. a3 b6 12. Nxd5 exd5 13. Qc2 Bd7 14. Bxh7+
Kh8 15. Bf5 Rc8 16. Bxd7 Qxd7 17. Qd3 Bf6 18. Bf4 Re6 19. Rxe6 Qxe6 20. Re1 Qd7
21. h3 Re8 22. Re3 Rxe3 23. Bxe3 Qe7 24. b4 Qd7 25. Kh2 Qe8 26. g4 Kg8 27. h4
Qe4 28. Qxe4 dxe4 29. g5 Be7 30. Nd2 f5 31. gxf6 Bxf6 32. Kh3 Nxd4 33. Bxd4
Bxd4 34. Nxe4 Kf7 35. Kg4 a6 36. a4 b5 37. axb5 axb5 38. Nd6+ 1-0

[Event "Lyon sim"]
[Site "Lyon"]
[Date "2001.03.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Manisse, Pierre Damien"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B18"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2001.03.11"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Nc5 Qc7 6. Nf3 Nd7 7. Bd3 Bxd3 8.
Nxd3 e6 9. O-O Ngf6 10. c4 Be7 11. Bf4 Qa5 12. b4 Qh5 13. a4 O-O 14. h3 Rfc8
15. Re1 h6 16. Qb3 a6 17. a5 Bf8 18. Nc5 b6 19. axb6 Nxb6 20. Nxa6 Nbd7 21. Ra5
Qg6 22. Ne5 Nxe5 23. Bxe5 Nd7 24. Bg3 Qf6 25. Rd1 Be7 26. c5 Bd8 27. Ra2 Qf5
28. b5 cxb5 29. Qxb5 Nf6 30. Qd3 Qd5 31. Nb4 Qb7 32. Rxa8 Rxa8 33. Rb1 Qc8 34.
Qf3 Ra4 35. Nc6 Nd5 36. Rb8 Qxc6 37. Rxd8+ Kh7 38. Qxf7 Rxd4 39. Be5 1-0

[Event "Lyon sim"]
[Site "Lyon"]
[Date "2001.03.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Marek, Yves"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2001.03.11"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. b3 Bb4 7. Bd2 O-O 8. Bd3
Re8 9. O-O Bf8 10. Qc2 g6 11. Rad1 b6 12. e4 dxe4 13. Nxe4 Qc7 14. Nxf6+ Nxf6
15. Bg5 Nd7 16. Rfe1 Bb7 17. Bh4 Bd6 18. Bg3 Bxg3 19. hxg3 e5 20. dxe5 Nxe5 21.
c5 Rad8 22. Be4 Rxd1 23. Rxd1 Nd7 24. cxb6 axb6 25. Nd4 c5 26. Bxb7 Qxb7 27.
Nb5 Re7 28. a4 Nf8 29. Nc3 Rd7 30. Rxd7 Qxd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Lyon sim"]
[Site "Lyon"]
[Date "2001.03.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Molignier, C."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C41"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2001.03.11"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Bg4 4. dxe5 Nc6 5. exd6 Bxd6 6. Bb5 Nge7 7. Be3 a6 8.
Be2 h6 9. h3 Bh5 10. Nbd2 Bg6 11. O-O Ne5 12. Nxe5 Bxe5 13. Nc4 Nc6 14. Nxe5
Nxe5 15. f4 Nc6 16. f5 Bh7 17. Qxd8+ Rxd8 18. Rad1 O-O 19. Rxd8 Rxd8 20. Rd1
Re8 21. Kf2 Rxe4 22. g4 g6 23. Bf3 Re8 24. Bxc6 bxc6 25. Rd7 Rc8 26. Bd4 Kf8
27. Bf6 Ke8 28. Rd1 Kf8 29. b4 h5 30. c4 hxg4 31. hxg4 1-0

[Event "Lyon sim"]
[Site "Lyon"]
[Date "2001.03.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Oriot, Patrice"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2001.03.11"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 5. O-O Ne7 6. b3 f6 7. e5 Ng6 8. Bb2
Be7 9. exf6 Bxf6 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. Nc3 e5 12. d3 O-O 13. Ne4 Qe7 14. Nfd2 d5
15. Ng3 Bd7 16. Re1 Rae8 17. Ndf1 Nf4 18. f3 Qg5 19. Qd2 h5 20. Qe3 h4 21. Qxc5
hxg3 22. hxg3 Nh5 23. Qxa7 Re7 24. Qe3 Qg6 25. Qf2 Nf6 26. a4 e4 27. dxe4 dxe4
28. Nh2 Rfe8 29. Nf1 Rf8 30. Nh2 Rfe8 31. Nf1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Lyon sim"]
[Site "Lyon"]
[Date "2001.03.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Polat, Ferit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E91"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "2001.03.11"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 Nc6 7. d5 Nb8 8. O-O
e5 9. Be3 h6 10. Nd2 Nbd7 11. b4 a6 12. c5 b5 13. c6 Nb6 14. a4 bxa4 15. Nxa4
Ne8 16. Nxb6 cxb6 17. b5 a5 18. Nc4 Rb8 19. Qd2 Kh7 20. Nxb6 f5 21. Nxc8 Rxc8
22. f3 f4 23. Bf2 g5 1-0

[Event "Lyon sim"]
[Site "Lyon"]
[Date "2001.03.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Polat, Julian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C55"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2001.03.11"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bb4+ 5. c3 Ba5 6. b4 Bb6 7. a4 a6 8. a5
Ba7 9. O-O d6 10. Nbd2 Bg4 11. Re1 O-O 12. h3 Bh5 13. Nf1 Re8 14. Ng3 Bxf3 15.
Qxf3 Qe7 16. Bg5 Kf8 17. Nf5 Qd8 18. Qg3 h6 19. Bxh6 Re7 20. Qxg7+ Ke8 21. Qxf6
Kd7 22. Nxe7 Nxe7 23. Qxf7 1-0

[Event "Lyon sim"]
[Site "Lyon"]
[Date "2001.03.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Regnault, Alexandre"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B52"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2001.03.11"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. O-O Nc6 6. Re1 g6 7. c3 Bg7 8.
d4 cxd4 9. cxd4 Nf6 10. Nc3 O-O 11. h3 Rfd8 12. Bg5 h6 13. Be3 d5 14. e5 Ne4
15. Rc1 e6 16. Nh2 Nxc3 17. bxc3 Ne7 18. Ng4 Nf5 19. Bf4 Qe7 20. Qd2 g5 21. Bh2
Rac8 22. f4 Rc6 23. fxg5 hxg5 24. Rf1 Kf8 25. Rf3 Rdc8 26. Rcf1 Ke8 27. Bg3 Kd8
28. Bf2 Kc7 29. Be3 Kb8 30. Bxg5 Qc7 31. Ne3 Nxe3 32. Qxe3 Rxc3 33. Qxc3 Qxc3
34. Rxc3 Rxc3 35. Rxf7 Rc7 36. Be7 Rc1+ 37. Kh2 Bh6 38. g4 Be3 39. g5 Bxd4 40.
Bd6+ Kc8 41. g6 Rc2+ 42. Kg3 1-0

[Event "Lyon sim"]
[Site "Lyon"]
[Date "2001.03.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Rouler, Charly"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D13"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2100"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2001.03.11"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 c6 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. Bf4 Bd6 7. e3 Nc6 8. Bd3
O-O 9. O-O a6 10. Rc1 h6 11. Bb1 Qc7 12. Ne5 Bd7 13. Bg3 Rac8 14. f4 Qb8 15.
Bh4 Bxe5 16. fxe5 Nh7 17. Qd3 g6 18. Rf3 Be8 19. Rcf1 Qc7 20. Rh3 Qd7 21. Bf6
Nxf6 22. exf6 1-0

[Event "Lyon sim"]
[Site "Lyon"]
[Date "2001.03.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Wulfson"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A56"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2001.03.11"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 d6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. e4 Ne5 6. f4 Bg4 7. Qc2 Ng6 8. h3
Bd7 9. Nf3 e5 10. f5 Ne7 11. g4 Nc8 12. Be3 Be7 13. O-O-O Nb6 14. Rg1 Qc7 15.
Be2 h6 16. h4 h5 17. g5 Ng4 18. Bd2 O-O-O 19. Rdf1 Kb8 20. b3 Rdf8 21. Ne1 g6
22. Bxg4 hxg4 23. Rxg4 Rh5 24. Ng2 Rfh8 25. Rg3 a6 26. Nd1 Nc8 27. Nde3 Na7 28.
Ng4 R5h7 29. Nf6 Bxf6 30. fxg6 Rg7 31. gxf6 Rxg6 32. Rxg6 fxg6 33. f7 Qd8 34.
Bh6 Rf8 35. Bxf8 Qxf8 36. Qf2 b5 37. Qf6 bxc4 38. Qxd6+ Qxd6 39. f8=Q+ Kc7 40.
Qxd6+ Kxd6 41. Rf6+ 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D55"]
[WhiteElo "2632"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. e3 O-O 8. Qb3
c6 9. Rd1 Nd7 10. Bd3 Qe7 11. O-O g6 12. Rfe1 Bg7 13. cxd5 cxd5 14. Rc1 a6 15.
e4 dxe4 16. Nxe4 b5 17. d5 exd5 18. Nc3 Qd6 19. Qxd5 Qxd5 20. Nxd5 Bb7 21. Be4
Rae8 22. Ne7+ Rxe7 23. Bxb7 Rxe1+ 24. Nxe1 Bxb2 25. Rc2 Bg7 26. Bxa6 b4 27. Nd3
Bc3 28. a3 bxa3 29. Rxc3 a2 30. Ra3 Rb8 31. Rxa2 Rb1+ 32. Ne1 Rxe1+ 33. Bf1 Ne5
34. Re2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. d4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 g6 7. Bg5 Bg7 8.
Qd2 Qa5 9. Rc1 h6 10. Bh4 Bf5 11. e3 Nc6 12. Be2 O-O 13. O-O Rfd8 14. Qb2 Qb6
15. Qa3 Qa5 16. Qxa5 Nxa5 17. Bxe7 Rdc8 18. Bxc5 Be6 19. Bb4 Nc4 20. e4 a5 21.
Be7 g5 22. d5 Bd7 23. Rfe1 b5 24. Nd4 Be5 25. Nf5 Bxf5 26. exf5 f6 27. Red1 Kf7
28. d6 Ke8 29. Bxf6 Bxf6 30. d7+ Ke7 31. dxc8=N+ Rxc8 32. Rd5 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.19"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3
Nc6 9. Qc2 Qa5 10. Nd2 Bb4 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Bd3 d4 13. O-O Bxc3 14. Nc4 Qh5
15. bxc3 Nd5 16. Bg3 dxe3 17. Rae1 Be6 18. fxe3 Rad8 19. Nd6 Ne5 20. Bxh7+ Qxh7
21. Qxh7+ Kxh7 22. Bxe5 f6 23. e4 Nb6 24. Bg3 Na4 25. e5 f5 26. Bh4 Rd7 27. Re3
f4 28. Ref3 Bd5 29. Rh3 Be6 30. Be7+ Bxh3 31. Bxf8 Be6 32. Ne4 Kg8 33. Ng5 Kxf8
34. Nxe6+ Ke7 35. Nxf4 Rd2 36. Rf3 Nc5 37. h4 Ne6 38. Kh2 Ra2 39. Nxe6 Kxe6 40.
Rg3 Kf7 41. e6+ Kxe6 42. Rxg7 Rxa3 43. Rxb7 Kf5 44. Rb5+ Kg4 45. Rb4+ Kh5 46.
g3 Ra1 47. Kh3 a5 48. g4+ Kh6 49. Rb6+ Kg7 50. h5 a4 51. Ra6 a3 52. Kh4 a2 53.
Kg5 Kh7 54. Ra7+ Kg8 55. Kg6 Kf8 56. g5 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.20"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[PlyCount "27"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. O-O Na6 8. Re1
c6 9. Bf1 Bg4 10. Be3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Ng4 12. Qxg4 exd4 13. Bg5 Qxg5 14. Qxg5 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.22"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Almasi, Zoltan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Ne7 6. O-O Nbc6 7. Nxc6 Nxc6 8.
Be3 Be7 9. Nd2 O-O 10. c3 b5 11. a4 Rb8 12. axb5 axb5 13. b4 Bf6 14. Ra3 Ne5
15. Be2 d6 16. f4 Nc6 17. Bd3 Bd7 18. Qe2 Qc7 19. Nf3 e5 20. f5 Qb7 21. Bc2 Ra8
22. Rxa8 Rxa8 23. Bb3 Ne7 24. Bg5 Qc7 25. Rc1 Bc6 26. Rd1 Ra3 27. Bxf6 Rxb3 28.
Bxe7 Qxe7 29. Qd3 h6 30. Qxd6 Qa7+ 31. Kh1 Bxe4 32. Qxe5 Bxf3 33. gxf3 Qf2 34.
Qe4 Kh7 35. f6+ g6 36. Qd5 Kh8 37. Rg1 Rb2 38. Rxg6 Qxh2# 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.23"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E08"]
[WhiteElo "2679"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. Qc2 c6 8. O-O
Nbd7 9. Bf4 b6 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Rc1 Bb7 12. Nbd2 Rc8 13. Qd1 h6 14. Rxc8 Qxc8
15. Rc1 Qa8 16. Ne5 Rc8 17. Nxd7 Nxd7 18. Nf3 a5 19. Ne5 Nxe5 20. Bxe5 Ba6 21.
Rc2 a4 22. Bf1 b5 23. Qc1 Rc4 24. b3 axb3 25. axb3 Ba3 26. Qd2 Bb4 27. Qc1 Ba3
28. Qd2 Bb4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.24"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2712"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Na6 8. Re1
c6 9. Bf1 exd4 10. Nxd4 Ng4 11. h3 Qb6 12. hxg4 Qxd4 13. g5 f5 14. Bf4 fxe4 15.
Qxd4 Bxd4 16. Rxe4 Bxc3 17. bxc3 Nc5 18. Rd4 Ne6 19. Bxd6 Nxd4 20. Bxf8 Nc2 21.
Rc1 Ne3 22. fxe3 Kxf8 23. e4 a5 24. Kf2 a4 25. Ke3 a3 26. Rb1 Ra5 27. Kf4 Kg7
28. Be2 h6 29. gxh6+ Kxh6 30. e5 Kg7 31. Bd3 Kf7 32. Rh1 Kg7 33. Rb1 Kf7 34. g4
g5+ 35. Kxg5 Rxe5+ 36. Kf4 Rc5 37. Rb3 Kf6 38. Rxa3 Rg5 39. Be2 Re5 40. Bf3 Rc5
41. Ra4 Be6 42. Rb4 b5 43. Be2 Re5 44. Rb2 bxc4 45. Bf3 Ke7 46. Kxe5 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.25"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D55"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. e3 O-O 8. Qb3
c6 9. Rd1 Nd7 10. Bd3 g6 11. O-O Bg7 12. Rfe1 a6 13. a4 f5 14. cxd5 cxd5 15.
Rc1 g5 16. Qa3 Nb8 17. b4 Qd6 18. Qb2 Nc6 19. b5 Nb4 20. Bf1 a5 21. Nb1 Bd7 22.
Nbd2 Rfc8 23. Ne5 Be8 24. Be2 Qd8 25. Nd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.27"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2566"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. d5 Na6 8. Nd2 c6
9. a3 Bd7 10. b4 cxd5 11. cxd5 Nc7 12. O-O a5 13. b5 Be8 14. Rb1 Nd7 15. Nc4
Nc5 16. Be3 f5 17. Bxc5 dxc5 18. b6 Na6 19. Nxa5 Nb8 20. Nc4 Nd7 21. Bd3 Rf6
22. Qb3 Ra6 23. a4 Nxb6 24. Nxe5 c4 25. Bxc4 Nxc4 26. Nxc4 b5 27. axb5 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.28"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D56"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 Ne4 8. Bxe7
Qxe7 9. Rc1 Nxc3 10. Rxc3 c6 11. Bd3 dxc4 12. Bxc4 Nd7 13. O-O b6 14. Bd3 c5
15. Be4 Rb8 16. Qa4 Bb7 17. Bxb7 Rxb7 18. Qc2 a5 19. Rd1 Re8 20. h3 e5 21. dxe5
Nxe5 22. Nxe5 Qxe5 23. Rcd3 Rbe7 24. Rd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.29"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8.
Be3 Bg4 9. Qa4+ Bd7 10. Qa3 cxd4 11. cxd4 O-O 12. Rc1 Nc6 13. d5 Ne5 14. Nxe5
Bxe5 15. Be2 f5 16. Bc5 Rf7 17. exf5 Bxf5 18. O-O b6 19. Bb4 Bd6 20. Rc6 Bd7
21. Bc4 Rc8 22. Bxd6 exd6 23. Qxd6 Bxc6 24. Qxd8+ Rxd8 25. dxc6 Rc8 26. Rc1 Kf8
27. Bxf7 Kxf7 28. f4 Ke6 29. Kf2 Kd6 30. Ke3 Rxc6 31. Rxc6+ Kxc6 32. Kd4 Kd6
33. g4 h5 34. f5 hxg4 35. fxg6 Ke6 36. Ke4 Kf6 37. Kf4 Kxg6 38. Kxg4 b5 39. Kf4
a5 40. Ke4 b4 41. Kd3 a4 42. Kc4 b3 43. axb3 axb3 44. Kxb3 Kg5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2632"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Na6 8. Re1
c6 9. Rb1 exd4 10. Nxd4 Re8 11. Bf1 Qb6 12. Na4 Qc7 13. f3 Bd7 14. Nc3 d5 15.
cxd5 Nxd5 16. exd5 Rxe1 17. Qxe1 Bxd4+ 18. Be3 Qb6 19. Bxd4 Qxd4+ 20. Kh1 Re8
21. Qg3 Nb4 22. Rd1 Qe5 23. d6 Qxg3 24. hxg3 f5 25. Rd2 b5 26. Kg1 Kf7 27. a3
Nd5 28. Nxd5 cxd5 29. Rxd5 Ke6 30. Rd2 Rd8 31. Kf2 Bc6 32. Ke3 Rxd6 33. Rxd6+
Kxd6 34. Kd4 a5 35. b4 axb4 36. axb4 h6 37. Bd3 Be8 38. Bc2 Bf7 39. Bd3 Be8 40.
Bf1 Bc6 41. f4 Be8 42. Bd3 Bc6 43. Be2 Be8 44. g4 fxg4 45. Bxg4 g5 46. fxg5
hxg5 47. g3 Bc6 48. Be2 Bd7 49. Ke4 Ke6 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "181"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8.
cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. a3 Nc6 11. Bd3 Bb6 12. O-O Bg4 13. h3 Bh5 14. b4 Re8
15. Ra2 d4 16. g4 Qd5 17. Rb2 Bg6 18. Bxg6 hxg6 19. b5 Na5 20. Nxd4 Nc4 21. Rb3
g5 22. Bg3 Bxd4 23. exd4 Nd2 24. Qxd2 Qxb3 25. Qxg5 f6 26. Qh5 Re4 27. g5 Qxb5
28. Qg6 Qe8 29. Qf5 Qe6 30. Qb5 Rxd4 31. Qxb7 Rad8 32. gxf6 gxf6 33. Kh2 R4d7
34. Qf3 Rh7 35. h4 Kh8 36. Rc1 Rf8 37. Rc6 Qf7 38. Qc3 Qg6 39. a4 Rh5 40. Qd4
Rh7 41. a5 Rg7 42. a6 Kh7 43. Rd6 Rff7 44. Rd5 f5 45. Rd6 Qh5 46. Qd3 Rg6 47.
Rd5 Qg4 48. Rc5 Qe4 49. Qb3 Qe6 50. Qc2 Qxa6 51. Rxf5 Rxf5 52. Qxf5 Qe6 53. Qd3
Qg4 54. Qd5 a6 55. Qe5 Qe6 56. Qc5 Rf6 57. Be5 Rf3 58. Kg1 Rf5 59. Qc7+ Qf7 60.
Qc2 Qg6+ 61. Bg3 a5 62. Qe4 Rf7 63. Qc4 Qb1+ 64. Kh2 Qf5 65. Qc6 Qg6 66. Qc4
Qh5 67. Qe4+ Qf5 68. Qc6 Rf6 69. Qb7+ Kg6 70. Qa8 Rf7 71. Qg8+ Rg7 72. Qe8+ Kh7
73. Qc6 Rd7 74. Qc4 Kg7 75. Qc6 Kf7 76. Qc4+ Ke7 77. Bf4 Qe6 78. Qc5+ Kf7 79.
Qxa5 Qd5 80. Qa6 Qf3 81. Qa2+ Rd5 82. Bg3 Kg6 83. Qc2+ Kg7 84. Qc7+ Kg6 85.
Qc6+ Kf7 86. Qb7+ Kg6 87. Qa8 Kh7 88. Qb7+ Kg6 89. Qc6+ Kf7 90. Qa8 Rd3 91.
Qxf3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.19"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A79"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nf3 g6 7. Nd2 Bg7 8. e4
O-O 9. Be2 Re8 10. O-O Na6 11. f3 Nc7 12. a4 Nd7 13. Kh1 b6 14. Nc4 Ne5 15. Ne3
f5 16. f4 Nf7 17. exf5 gxf5 18. Bd3 Nh6 19. Qc2 Qf6 20. Bd2 Bd7 21. Rf3 Kh8 22.
Raf1 Re7 23. Rh3 Qf7 24. Nc4 Qg6 25. Rg3 Ng4 26. h3 h5 27. Ne3 Nxe3 28. Rxg6
Nxc2 29. Bxc2 Ne8 30. Rg5 Nf6 31. Bxf5 Bxf5 32. Rxf5 Rae8 33. Kh2 Kh7 34. Kg3
a6 35. Kh4 Kg6 36. g4 hxg4 37. hxg4 b5 38. axb5 axb5 39. Rg5+ Kf7 40. Nxb5 Rh8+
41. Rh5 Nxh5 42. Nxd6+ Kf8 43. gxh5 Bf6+ 44. Kg4 Rg7+ 45. Kf5 Bxb2 46. Rh1 Rd7
47. Ke6 Re7+ 48. Kf5 Rd7 49. Be3 Bd4 50. Bxd4 cxd4 51. Ke5 d3 52. Nf5 d2 53. h6
Kf7 54. Rd1 Re8+ 55. Kd4 Re2 56. h7 Rd8 57. Ng3 Rf2 58. Ne4 Rxf4 59. Rxd2 Rh4
60. Rf2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.20"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Bd7 10. b3 Kc8 11. Bb2 Be7 12. Rad1 a5 13. h3 h5 14. g3
Ra6 15. Bc1 Re8 16. Bg5 Bb4 17. Rd3 Ne7 18. Bxe7 Bxe7 19. Kg2 Bf5 20. Re3 Bxc2
21. Ne4 a4 22. Rc1 axb3 23. axb3 Bxe4 24. Rxe4 c5 25. Rf4 Rf8 26. g4 hxg4 27.
Rxg4 g6 28. h4 b5 29. Ng5 Ra3 30. Rg3 Kb7 31. Rf3 Kb6 32. Nh7 Re8 33. Rxf7 Rxb3
34. Rg7 Bxh4 35. Rxg6+ c6 36. f4 c4 37. Rh1 Rd8 38. Rxh4 Rd2+ 39. Kh1 Rb1+ 40.
Rg1 Rxg1+ 41. Kxg1 c3 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.22"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Almasi, Zoltan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E48"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Nge2 Re8 8.
O-O c5 9. a3 cxd4 10. axb4 dxc3 11. Nxc3 Bg4 12. f3 Bh5 13. Be2 d4 14. Qxd4
Qxd4 15. exd4 Nc6 16. Bb5 a6 17. Bxc6 bxc6 18. Bf4 Bg6 19. Ra5 Red8 20. Rd1 Nd5
21. Nxd5 Rxd5 22. Rc5 Rxc5 23. bxc5 Bc2 24. Re1 Bb3 25. Re7 h6 26. h4 a5 27.
Kf2 a4 28. Kg3 Bd5 29. Bc1 Rb8 30. Kf2 Rb4 31. Re8+ Kh7 32. Ke3 Rb3+ 33. Kd2
Rb4 34. Kd3 Rb3+ 35. Kc2 Rb4 36. Kd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.23"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2679"]
[PlyCount "160"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. O-O
d5 9. Qc2 Nbd7 10. Rd1 O-O 11. a4 c5 12. Nc3 Bb7 13. cxd5 Nxd5 14. Nxd5 exd5
15. Bc3 Re8 16. a5 Rc8 17. Qb2 Bf8 18. axb6 axb6 19. Ra7 Bc6 20. Nh4 cxd4 21.
Bxd4 Nc5 22. Nf3 Ra8 23. Ne5 Bb7 24. Rxb7 Nxb7 25. Bc3 Ba3 26. Qd2 Qc7 27. Bxd5
Rxe5 28. Bxe5 Qxe5 29. Bxb7 Re8 30. Bc6 Re6 31. b4 g6 32. Bd5 Re7 33. e4 Qb2
34. Qxb2 Bxb2 35. Bc6 Ba3 36. b5 Bc5 37. Kg2 f5 38. exf5 Re2 39. fxg6 Rxf2+ 40.
Kh3 hxg6 41. Rd7 Kf8 42. Be4 Rf7 43. Rd8+ Kg7 44. Kg4 Rf6 45. Rc8 Rd6 46. h4
Re6 47. Bd5 Rd6 48. Rc7+ Kf6 49. Rf7+ Ke5 50. Bf3 Be3 51. Re7+ Re6 52. Rd7 Bc5
53. Rc7 Rd6 54. Rc6 Rd4+ 55. Kg5 Rd3 56. Kg4 Rd4+ 57. Kh3 Rd3 58. Be2 Rd6 59.
Kg4 Rd2 60. Kf3 Rd6 61. g4 Rf6+ 62. Kg3 Bf2+ 63. Kh3 Rd6 64. g5 Rd4 65. Rxg6
Rxh4+ 66. Kg2 Bd4 67. Rc6 Re4 68. Bf3 Re1 69. g6 Rg1+ 70. Kh2 Rg5 71. Kh3 Kf4
72. Be2 Rg3+ 73. Kh2 Bg1+ 74. Kh1 Bd4 75. Kh2 Bg1+ 76. Kh1 Bd4 77. Re6 Rh3+ 78.
Kg2 Rg3+ 79. Kh2 Re3 80. Rxe3 Kxe3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.24"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D56"]
[WhiteElo "2712"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 Ne4 8. Bxe7
Qxe7 9. Rc1 Nxc3 10. Rxc3 c6 11. Bd3 dxc4 12. Bxc4 Nd7 13. O-O b6 14. Bd3 c5
15. Be4 Rb8 16. Qc2 b5 17. Rc1 b4 18. Rd3 Nf6 19. Bc6 cxd4 20. Rxd4 e5 21. Rd2
Bb7 22. Bxb7 Rxb7 23. h3 g6 24. Qc6 Rfb8 25. Qd6 Kg7 26. Qxe5 b3 27. Qxe7 Rxe7
28. a3 Ne4 29. Rd3 a5 30. Rc4 Rb6 31. Nd4 Reb7 32. f3 Nd6 33. Ra4 h5 34. Rc3
Nb5 35. Rc5 Nxd4 36. Rxd4 Rb5 37. Rcc4 Re7 38. Kf2 f5 39. a4 Rbe5 40. Rc3 Rb7
41. Rdd3 Rb4 42. Rxb3 Rxa4 43. Rb6 Ra2 44. Rd7+ Kh6 45. Rbb7 Re8 46. h4 Rh8 47.
Kg3 a4 48. Rd3 Rc8 49. Kh3 Ra1 50. Rdd7 Rh8 51. Ra7 Re1 52. Re7 Re2 53. Rab7
Re1 54. Rb4 Ra8 55. Kg3 Re2 56. Rbb7 Rh8 57. Rb6 Rf8 58. Kh3 Re1 59. Ree6 Rg8
60. Rb4 Ra8 61. Rbb6 Rg8 62. Ra6 Re2 63. Rab6 Re1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.25"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 b5 6. cxb5 Bxb5 7. Bg2 c5 8. O-O
Bc6 9. Ba3 Na6 10. Nbd2 Be7 11. dxc5 Bxc5 12. Bxc5 Nxc5 13. Rc1 Nb7 14. e4 O-O
15. Nd4 Rc8 16. Nxc6 dxc6 17. Qe2 Qc7 18. Rc2 Rfd8 19. Rfc1 h6 20. h3 Nd7 21.
Nf3 Qb6 22. e5 c5 23. Nd2 Na5 24. Nc4 Nxc4 25. Rxc4 Qc7 26. b4 Qxe5 27. Qxe5
Nxe5 28. Rxc5 Rxc5 29. bxc5 Rc8 30. c6 Rc7 31. f4 Nd7 32. Rd1 Nb6 33. Rd8+ Kh7
34. Kf2 g6 35. Ke3 Kg7 36. Kd4 Kf6 37. Re8 Re7 38. Rb8 Rc7 39. Rb7 Rxb7 40.
cxb7 Nd7 41. Bc6 Nb8 42. Kc5 Ke7 43. Bb5 f6 44. h4 g5 45. fxg5 fxg5 46. h5 e5
47. Kd5 Kd8 48. Kxe5 Kc7 49. Kf6 Kxb7 50. Kg6 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.27"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2566"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O
dxc4 9. Bxc4 b5 10. Be2 Bb7 11. Rd1 Qc7 12. h3 a6 13. e4 e5 14. dxe5 Nxe5 15.
Nd4 Ng6 16. Nf5 Bh2+ 17. Kh1 Be5 18. Be3 Nf4 19. Bc5 Rfd8 20. Bf1 g6 21. Nd4
Nd7 22. Be7 Re8 23. Bg5 Nf8 24. Nf3 Bg7 25. g3 N4e6 26. Be3 b4 27. Na4 c5 28.
Bg2 Rac8 29. Rac1 Qa5 30. b3 Nd4 31. Qd2 Bxe4 32. Nxd4 Bxg2+ 33. Kxg2 cxd4 34.
Bh6 Bxh6 35. Qxh6 Ne6 36. h4 Rxc1 37. Qxc1 Qd5+ 38. Kg1 Qf3 39. Re1 d3 40. Nb2
Rd8 41. Re3 d2 42. Qd1 Qxd1+ 43. Nxd1 Rc8 44. Rd3 Rc2 45. Kf1 Rxa2 46. Ke2 Nc5
47. Rxd2 Rxd2+ 48. Kxd2 Nxb3+ 49. Kd3 Na5 50. Kd4 Nb7 51. Kd5 b3 52. Nb2 Kg7
53. Kc6 Nd8+ 54. Kb6 Kf6 55. Kxa6 Ke5 56. Kb5 Ke4 57. Kc4 Kf3 58. Nd3 b2 59.
Nxb2 Kxf2 60. Kd4 Kxg3 61. Ke5 Kxh4 62. Kf6 h5 63. Nd3 Kg3 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.28"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "152"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. Bb3 cxd4 8.
exd4 Nc6 9. Nc3 Be7 10. Re1 O-O 11. Bf4 Na5 12. d5 Nxb3 13. Qxb3 exd5 14. Rad1
Be6 15. Qxb7 Bc5 16. Be5 Qa5 17. Nd4 Bxd4 18. Rxd4 Nd7 19. Bd6 Nc5 20. Qc7 Qxc7
21. Bxc7 Rfc8 22. Bg3 Ne4 23. Nxd5 Bxd5 24. Rxd5 Nxg3 25. hxg3 Rc2 26. Red1 g6
27. R1d2 Rc1+ 28. Kh2 h5 29. g4 h4 30. g5 Kg7 31. R5d4 Rc5 32. Rxh4 Rxg5 33.
Rf4 Ra7 34. g3 a5 35. Rfd4 Rb5 36. b3 Rc5 37. Kg2 Rb7 38. Rd5 Rxd5 39. Rxd5 a4
40. Rd3 axb3 41. axb3 Kf6 42. Kf3 Ke5 43. Ke3 g5 44. Kd2 Ke4 45. f3+ Ke5 46.
Re3+ Kd5 47. Kc2 f5 48. f4 gxf4 49. gxf4 Kd4 50. Re5 Rc7+ 51. Kb2 Rf7 52. b4
Kc4 53. Ka3 Rf6 54. Rc5+ Kd4 55. Re5 Kc4 56. Rc5+ Kd4 57. Kb3 Ke3 58. Rc4 Rb6
59. Ka4 Kd3 60. Kb3 Ke3 61. Ka4 Kd3 62. Rc5 Ke4 63. Ka5 Rb8 64. Rc4+ Kd3 65.
Rc1 Ke3 66. Rf1 Ke2 67. Rc1 Ke3 68. Rf1 Ke2 69. Rb1 Ke3 70. b5 Kxf4 71. b6 Ke3
72. Rb3+ Ke4 73. Ka6 f4 74. Ka7 Rf8 75. Rb4+ Ke3 76. b7 f3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 10th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2001.03.29"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "128"]
[EventDate "2001.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 081 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Be6 11. Ne5 c5 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. d5 Bc8 14. a3 Na6 15.
f4 f6 16. Ng4 Bxg4 17. Bxg4 f5 18. Be2 Bf6 19. g3 Bd4+ 20. Kg2 Nc7 21. Rb1 a5
22. b3 Qf6 23. Qc2 Ne8 24. b4 axb4 25. axb4 b6 26. bxc5 bxc5 27. Bd2 Rf7 28.
Rb3 Rfa7 29. Rfb1 Ra2 30. Qd1 h6 31. Rb8 Kh7 32. Rxa8 Rxa8 33. Qc2 Nd6 34. Rb3
Qe7 35. Bc1 Qc7 36. Kf1 Ra4 37. Ra3 Rxa3 38. Bxa3 Qa5 39. Bc1 Qa1 40. Kg2 g6
41. Bf1 h5 42. Be2 Ne8 43. h3 Nf6 44. Kh2 e3 45. Kg2 Qa5 46. Qd3 Qe1 47. Bxe3
Ne4 48. Bxd4 cxd4 49. Qf3 Nxg3 50. Bf1 Ne4 51. Bd3 Qd2+ 52. Kg1 Qe1+ 53. Kg2
Kg7 54. Bxe4 fxe4 55. Qa3 Qd2+ 56. Kg1 Qe1+ 57. Kg2 Qd2+ 58. Kg1 Qxf4 59. Qa7+
Kg8 60. Qxd4 Qg3+ 61. Kf1 Qxh3+ 62. Ke2 Qg2+ 63. Ke3 Qf3+ 64. Kd2 e3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Kortschnoj-B"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2001.04.28"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Hug, Werner"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A04"]
[WhiteElo "2470"]
[BlackElo "2802"]
[Annotator "Hecht,H"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2001.04.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 083"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.07.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.07.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. g3 Nc6 3. Bg2 g6 4. c3 Bg7 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4 d5 7. O-O e6 8. Nc3
Nge7 9. e3 O-O 10. b3 b6 11. Qe2 a5 12. Rd1 Ba6 13. Qd2 Nf5 14. Bf1 Bxf1 15.
Kxf1 Qd7 16. Ba3 Rfc8 17. Rac1 Rab8 18. Qe2 Nb4 19. Bxb4 axb4 20. Na4 Nd6 21.
Nd2 Rc6 22. Nb2 Ra8 23. Nd3 Rxc1 24. Rxc1 Rxa2 25. Nxb4 Ra3 26. Kg2 Bf8 27. Nd3
Qb5 28. Rc2 Ne4 29. Nxe4 dxe4 30. Nc1 Qxe2 31. Rxe2 Ra1 {[#] Weiß laboriert an
seinem schlechten Springer und würde ihn wohl gern unter Bauernverlust und
Übergang ins Turmendspiel abtauschen.} 32. Rc2 (32. Na2 $5 f5 33. Rc2 Rb1 34.
b4 {und der Übergang ins Turmendspiel wäre nicht das schlechteste für Weiß.})
32... Rb1 33. Rc6 b5 (33... Ba3 34. Ne2 Rxb3 35. g4 $132 {[%csl Re4][%cal
Ge2g3]}) 34. g4 Rb2 35. Kg3 Bb4 36. Kf4 f5 37. g5 $2 (37. Ke5 $142 Rxf2 (37...
Kf7 38. Rxe6 Rc2 39. gxf5 gxf5 40. Rf6+ Ke8 41. Rxf5 Rxc1 42. Kxe4 $14) 38.
Kxe6 fxg4 39. Ke5 Rxh2 40. Kxe4 g3 41. Kf3 Be1 $19 {[%cal Rh2d2,Rg3g2]}) 37...
Rxf2+ (37... Rc2 $1 {[%csl Rc1,Rf4]} 38. Rxc2 Bd6#) 38. Ke5 Kf7 39. h4 Be7 40.
Ra6 Rf3 41. Ne2 Rxe3 42. Nf4 Rxb3 43. Rxe6 e3 44. Kd5 b4 45. Rb6 Rb2 46. Nd3 e2
47. Re6 (47. Ne5+ Kg8 (47... Ke8 48. Rb8+ Bd8 49. Nc6 e1=Q 50. Rxd8+ Kf7 51.
Ne5+ Qxe5+ 52. Kxe5 Re2+ 53. Kd6 $13) 48. Rb8+ Bf8 $19) 47... Ra2 48. Ne5+ Kf8
49. Nd7+ Ke8 50. Nf6+ Kf7 51. Nxh7 Ra5+ 0-1

[Event "Zuerich Kortschnoj-B"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2001.04.28"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B14"]
[WhiteElo "2643"]
[BlackElo "2802"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2001.04.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 083"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.07.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.07.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. e3 Nf6 4. d4 cxd4 5. exd4 d5 6. Nc3 e6 7. Bg5 Be7 8. c5
O-O 9. Bb5 h6 10. Bh4 Ne4 11. Bxe7 Nxe7 12. Rc1 b6 13. c6 Nd6 14. O-O Qc7 15.
Ne5 f6 16. Ng4 a6 17. Bd3 Qxc6 18. Bb1 Qe8 19. Qd3 f5 20. Nxh6+ Kh7 21. Ng4 Kg8
22. Ne5 a5 23. Rfe1 Ba6 24. Qh3 Rc8 25. Re3 Rf6 26. Rce1 Rh6 27. Qf3 Ne4 28.
Qf4 g5 29. Rg3 Qh5 30. Nf3 Nxg3 31. Qxg3 g4 32. Ne5 Qg5 33. f4 Qh4 34. Nd7 Qxg3
35. hxg3 Nc6 36. Rd1 Kf7 37. Rd2 Rch8 38. Nxb6 Rh1+ 39. Kf2 Rf1+ 40. Ke3 Re1+
41. Kf2 Rhh1 0-1

[Event "Zuerich Kortschnoj-B"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2001.04.28"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2802"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2001.04.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 083"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.07.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.07.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8.
Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qxa2 12. O-O Bg4 13. Bg5 h6 14. Be3
Nc6 15. d5 Bxf3 16. Bxf3 Ne5 17. Rxb7 a5 18. Rxe7 a4 19. Bd4 Nxf3+ 20. gxf3
Bxd4 21. Qxd4 a3 22. d6 Qe2 23. Kg2 a2 24. Ra1 Rab8 25. d7 Rb1 26. d8=Q Qf1+
27. Kg3 Qg1+ 28. Kh3 Qf1+ 29. Kg3 Qg1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Kortschnoj-B"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2001.04.28"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Jenni, Florian"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C48"]
[WhiteElo "2471"]
[BlackElo "2802"]
[Annotator "Tsesarsky,I"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2001.04.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 083"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.07.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.07.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 {Rue Lopez?} 4. Nc3 {No...} Nd4 5. Nxd4 exd4 6.
e5 dxc3 7. exf6 {This variation leads to simple equal position without NN,
with the only open line - "e" and to draw...} Qxf6 ({Badly is} 7... cxd2+ $2 8.
Bxd2 Qxf6 9. O-O Be7 10. Bc3 Qg5 11. Re1 (11. Qd3 $6 O-O (11... c6 $2 12. Rae1
O-O 13. Re5 $1 $16 {1-0 Levitina,I-Savchenko,S/URS 1970/MainBase/ (19)}) 12.
Rae1 (12. f4 Qh4 13. g3 Qh5 14. Rae1 Bc5+ 15. Kh1 b6 $17 {[%cal Gc8b7]}) 12...
Bf6 $15) (11. Bd3 $6 O-O 12. Kh1 b6 13. f4 Qh6 14. Be4 c6 15. f5 d5 $17 {
1-0 Schuler,D-Maedel,K/Bad Homburg 2000/EXT 2001 (44)}) 11... O-O 12. Re5 f5 (
12... Qf6 13. Bd3 Qd6 (13... g6 14. Qe2 Bd6 15. Rh5 Qe6 16. Rxh7 $18 {1-0
Milev,Z-Fuderer,A/Amsterdam 1954/EXT 2001 (72)}) 14. Qh5 f5 (14... h6 15. Rae1
Bf6 16. Rd5 Qf4 17. Rf5 Qh4 18. Bxf6 Qxh5 19. Rxh5 gxf6 20. Re3 $18) 15. Rd1
$18 (15. Rae1 Bf6 16. Bc4+ Kh8 17. Re8 $18 {1-0 Vorontsov,N-Dervishi,E/Moscow
1994/CBM 44 ext (18)})) 13. Qd5+ Kh8 14. f4 Qf6 15. Rae1 c6 16. Rxe7 $16 (16.
Qd2 Bd8 17. Re7 Qxe7 18. Rxe7 Bxe7 19. Qe3 Bd8 20. Qe5 Rg8 21. Bd3 $44 {
1-0 Appleberry,M-Carrion,M/New York 1994/CBM 40 ext (74)})) 8. Qe2+ (8. bxc3
Qe5+ (8... c6 9. Be2 (9. Ba4 d5 10. d4 Bd6 $15 {[%csl Ra4,Rc2,Rc3] 0-1
Vorgers-Damasco,R/Moscow 1994/EXT 99 (15)}) (9. Qe2+ Be7 10. Ba4 O-O 11. d4 d5
{[%csl Ra4,Rc2,Rc3] 0-1 Ramsauer,M-Keller,M/Regensburg 1997/EXT 2001 (52)})
9... d5 10. O-O Bd6 11. d4 O-O 12. Be3 (12. Bd3 Qh4 13. g3 Qh3 14. Qe2 Bg4 15.
f3 Rfe8 16. Qg2 $11 {1/2-1/2 Papista,A-Horvath,J/HUN 1998/EXT 2000 (25)}) 12...
Re8 13. Qd2 Bf5 14. Rfe1 (14. Rfb1 b5 15. a4 a6 16. Bd3 h6 17. Ra2 $132 {
0-1 Dobkin,Y-Pfeiffer,G/Moscow 1956/MCD (49)}) 14... Qg6 15. Bd3 Be4 16. f3 Bf5
17. Bxf5 Qxf5 18. Qd3 Qh5 19. h3 b5 $15 {0-1 Lindblom,P-Prameshuber,A/
Amsterdam 1954/EXT 2001 (40)}) 9. Be2 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. d4 Qf6 12. Bd3 d6 13.
Rb1 Rb8 $132 {1/2-1/2 Vajda,A-Sandor,B/Budapest 1952/MCL (31)}) (8. dxc3 {
-mainline.}) 8... Be7 ({Or} 8... Qe7 9. bxc3 (9. dxc3 c6 10. Bd3 Qxe2+ 11. Kxe2
d5 12. Bf4 Be6 13. Rhe1 Kd7 14. Rad1 Bd6 15. Bxd6 Kxd6 16. c4 $11 {1/2-1/2
Bronstein,D-Vasiukov,E/Tbilisi 1973/MCD (33)}) 9... c6 10. Bd3 d5 11. Qxe7+
Bxe7 12. O-O O-O $11 {0-1 Moskvitin,V-Kazakov,V/St Petersburg 1997/EXT 2000 
(41)}) 9. dxc3 O-O ({Black equalizes easily also in case of} 9... c6 10. Bd3 d5
11. Be3 O-O 12. Bd4 Qe6 13. O-O c5 14. Qxe6 Bxe6 15. Be3 Rfd8 $11 {1-0
Bramkamp,R-Lengyel,B/Dortmund 1990/EXT 97 (41)}) 10. O-O ({Or} 10. Be3 Re8 11.
O-O-O c6 12. Bd3 d5 13. Qd2 Bf5 14. Bxf5 Qxf5 $11 {0-1 Turcan,M-Maslanka,R/
Bratislava 1989/EXT 2001 (32)}) 10... d5 11. Bd3 Rd8 12. Bf4 Qxf4 (12... c5 13.
Rfe1 Be6 14. Qh5 $11) 13. Qxe7 Be6 14. g3 Qd6 15. Qh4 (15. Qxd6 Rxd6 16. Rfe1
$11) 15... h6 16. Rfe1 Re8 17. a3 Bd7 (17... c5 18. Rad1 $11) 18. Qb4 c5 $2 $16
{We only can guess, why Kramnik put this mistake, which factor was overlooked
by him...} ({Equal endgame after} 18... Qxb4 19. axb4 $11) 19. Rxe8+ Rxe8 20.
Qxb7 Bc6 (20... Rb8 21. Qxa7 Rxb2 22. c4 $16) 21. Qa6 $1 {Jenni wants to win!}
({After} 21. Qxa7 {Black makes draw by perpetuum Q attack.} Ra8 22. Qb6 Rb8 23.
Qa5 Ra8 $11) 21... c4 22. Bf1 ({Badly is} 22. Bf5 $2 Qc5 $1 {[%csl Rf5][%cal
Gd5d4,Gc6h1] Threatening d5-d4 and Qd5} 23. Rd1 (23. Rc1 {[%cal Gb2b4]} d4 24.
cxd4 (24. Bg4 dxc3 25. bxc3 Qd5 $17) 24... Qd5 $19) 23... Rb8 24. b4 cxb3 25.
cxb3 Qxc3 $11) 22... Qc5 23. Rd1 ({Worth of attention strong} 23. Rb1 $1 {
with the idea b2-b3!} Ba8 24. b3 $1 (24. b4 $6 Qe7 $1 {Black avoids c4xb3
taking!} 25. Bg2 Qe2 26. Qa4 (26. Qxa7 Qxc2 27. Rf1 Qxc3 $15) 26... Re7 27. b5
Qd2 28. b6 Qxc3 29. bxa7 Re1+ 30. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 31. Bf1 Qe4 32. Bg2 (32. f3 $4
Qe3+ 33. Kg2 d4 34. Kh3 $8 Qxf3 35. Qe8+ Kh7 36. Be2 Qg2+ $19 {[%csl Rh3]})
32... Qe1+ 33. Bf1 Qe4 $11) 24... cxb3 (24... Re6 25. Qa4 cxb3 26. Rxb3 $16)
25. Rxb3 Bc6 26. c4 $16) 23... g6 24. b4 $2 $132 {Now Black equalizes by force.
} ({Still was quite strong} 24. Rb1 $5 $16) 24... cxb3 25. cxb3 Qxc3 26. Qd3 (
26. b4 Qc2 {[%csl Rd1]} 27. Rd4 Re1 $132) 26... Qb2 (26... Qxd3 27. Bxd3 (27.
Rxd3 Re1 $15) 27... d4 $11) 27. b4 d4 28. b5 (28. Qxd4 Qxa3 $11) 28... Be4 29.
Qxd4 Qxa3 30. Bg2 Bxg2 31. Kxg2 Qe7 32. Ra1 Qb7+ 33. Kg1 Qxb5 34. Qxa7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Kortschnoj-B"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2001.04.28"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Spassky, Boris Vasilievich"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D59"]
[WhiteElo "2802"]
[BlackElo "2551"]
[PlyCount "25"]
[EventDate "2001.04.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "15"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 083"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.07.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.07.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 b6 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. O-O Nbd7 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 Bxd5 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Qe2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Kortschnoj KO"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2001.04.29"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Unzicker, Wolfgang"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2432"]
[BlackElo "2797"]
[Annotator "Rabinovich,Al"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2001.04.29"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 083"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.07.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.07.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 d5 8. Nc3
$6 {Rare continuation.8.cd5 is clearly better chance for white to fight for
opening advantage.The move in the text gives white at least nothing from the
opening.White finds himself uncapble to defend the c4-pawn and forced to
exchange on d5,after what black is ready to open the c-file and has a
promising position.} (8. cxd5 exd5 9. O-O O-O 10. Ne5 Ne4 11. Be3 Bb7 12. Qc2
Bf6 13. Nd2 Nxd2 14. Qxd2 Nd7 15. Nd3 Re8 16. Rac1 Nf8 17. Rc2 a5 18. h4 $14 {
[%cal Gf1c1,Gc1c7] 1-0 Pushkov,N-Loginov,V/Elista RUS 2001/The Week in Chess
339 (54)}) (8. Ne5 O-O 9. O-O Bb7 10. Bc3 Na6 11. Bb2 c5 12. cxd5 Nxd5 13. Nc3
Nxc3 14. Bxc3 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 Qd5+ 16. Nf3 Bf6 17. Qd3 $1 {[%cal Ge2e4]} Qb7 18.
dxc5 Nxc5 19. Qe3 $11 {1/2-1/2 Bykhovsky,A-Psakhis,L/Ramat Aviv ISR 2000 (26)})
8... c6 $1 {Very presice move.After 8...0-0 white can play 9.cd5 and enter the
8.cd5 variation.} 9. Ne5 (9. O-O Nbd7 10. Qc2 Rc8 (10... dxc4 $5 $15) 11. e4
dxc4 12. Rfd1 O-O 13. Bf4 h6 14. h3 Bb4 15. Nd2 b5 16. bxc4 bxc4 17. a3 Be7 18.
Na4 c5 19. d5 exd5 20. exd5 $13 {1-0 Shariyazdanov,A-Prasad,D/Guntur, AP 2000/
CBM 77 (59)}) 9... Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 (10... Qxd7 $5 11. cxd5 cxd5 {[%cal
Gb8c6]}) 11. O-O (11. Rc1 Rc8 12. e4 $6 (12. cxd5 $5 {The game,probably.})
12... dxc4 13. Qe2 (13. bxc4 Bxc4 (13... e5 $5 $36) 14. Qa4 b5 15. Qxa7 c5 $17
{[%csl Ra7]}) 13... Nb8 $1 {Very nice move,holding an extra pawn.} 14. bxc4
Qxd4 15. Nb1 $17 {0-1 James,D-Rowson,J/Birmingham ENG 2001/The Week in Chess 
(26)}) 11... Rc8 {[%cal Gd5c4] Forcing white to exchange on d5.} 12. cxd5 cxd5
$15 {[%csl Rg2] Really harmless line for black.} 13. a4 $6 {[%csl Rb3,Rb4]} (
13. a3 $142 O-O 14. Re1 Nf6 15. b4 Bc4 16. Bf4 $11) 13... Nf6 14. Rc1 O-O 15.
Re1 (15. Bg5 h6 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Qd2 Qe7 $17 {[%csl Rb3][%cal Ge7b4,Gb4d4,
Gb4b3,Gb4a3]}) 15... Qd7 16. Rc2 Rc6 17. Na2 (17. Qb1 Rfc8 18. b4 Rc4 19. b5
Bb7 $17 {[%cal Gc4d4,Gf6e4,Ge7b4,Gb4a3] The pin is very unpleasant for white.})
17... Rxc2 18. Qxc2 Rc8 {Black pieces take control all over the board.The B on
g2 which is usually one of white active pieces ,is out of the game.In addition
to that black controls the c-file and his bishops are placed very well.} 19.
Qb1 Ne4 $1 $17 20. Bxe4 $6 {White exepts the sacrafise.Black easily returns
the pawn and entering the winning ending.} (20. Bf4 $142 Bf6 21. Be5 Bxe5 22.
dxe5 Nc3 23. Nxc3 Rxc3 $17 {[%csl Rb3,Re5,Rg2]}) 20... dxe4 21. Qxe4 Bb7 22.
Qd3 Rd8 23. Be3 (23. Nb4 Qxd4 24. Qxd4 Rxd4 25. Nd3 Be4 $17 {[%csl Ge4,Ge7]})
23... e5 $17 24. d5 $6 (24. Rc1 exd4 25. Bf4 Bc6 {[%cal Gd7d5,Gf2f3,Gc6a4,
Gd5a2]} 26. f3 {With chances to hold the position.}) 24... Qxd5 25. Qxd5 Bxd5
26. Rb1 (26. Nc1 {[%cal Ge1d1]} Be6 $19 {[%cal Gd8c8,Gc8c3,Gc3c2]}) 26... Be4
27. Ra1 Bc2 28. b4 Rd1+ (28... Bxa4 $2 29. Nc3 Be8 30. Rxa7 Bxb4 31. Bxb6 Rd2
32. Ra8 Kf8 33. e4 $1 $11) 29. Rxd1 Bxd1 30. a5 {White prefers to loose the
pawn,but to leave pawns only on the K-side.} (30. Nc3 Bb3 31. b5 Bb4 32. Bd2 f6
$19 {[%cal Gg8f7,Gf7e6,Gb4c3,Gb3a4,Ga4b5]}) 30... Bxe2 31. axb6 axb6 32. Nc3
Bc4 33. b5 Bb4 34. Na4 Bxb5 35. Nxb6 f6 $19 {Now it is just the question of
technic.Black has a pare of bishops and an extra pawn,it is clearly enough.The
only thing black should be aware of is not to exchange too many pawns.} 36. Nd5
Bd6 37. Bd2 (37. f4 $142) 37... Kf7 38. Bb4 Bb8 39. Ba5 {White is trying by
force to exchange the dark-square bishops,that can make his difence easier,but
he falls in to the trap....} Bc4 40. Bc7 $4 (40. Ne3 $142 {And hope for
opponent mistakes.}) {[%tqu "En","Should black play 40...Ba7 or may be black
has something better?","","","b8c7","Very nice.Now white knight is in the trap.
",10]} 40... Bxc7 41. Nxc7 Ke7 {[%csl Ga6,Gb5,Gc4,Gd5,Ge6]} 42. Na8 Kd6 43. Nb6
Bb3 {[%csl Ga4,Gc4,Gd5]} 44. f3 (44. Nc8+ Kd7 45. Na7 {[%cal Gb3c4,Gb3a4]} Ba4
{[%csl Gb5,Gc6]} 46. f4 Kc7 $19 {[%csl Ra7][%cal Gc7b7]}) 44... Kc7 0-1

[Event "Zuerich Kortschnoj KO"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2001.04.29"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Unzicker, Wolfgang"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2432"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2001.04.29"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 083"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.07.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.07.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Be2
Bb7 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. O-O Nd7 12. b4 c6 13. Qb3 Re8 14. Rfd1 Nf8
15. a4 a5 16. bxa5 Rxa5 17. Rab1 Nd7 18. Ne1 Ba6 19. Bxa6 Rxa6 20. Nd3 Qa8 21.
h3 Be7 22. Re1 Bd6 23. e4 dxe4 24. Nxe4 Bf8 25. Nc3 Ra5 26. Rxe8 Qxe8 27. Re1
Qb8 28. Qc4 Qa8 29. Rc1 Qa6 30. Qxa6 Rxa6 31. Re1 Ra8 32. Kf1 Bd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Kortschnoj KO"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2001.04.29"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2628"]
[BlackElo "2797"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2001.04.29"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 083"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.07.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.07.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Bg4 3. Bg2 Nd7 4. c4 e6 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Nc3 Ngf6 7. O-O c6 8.
d3 Bc5 9. Qb3 Bb6 10. Na4 O-O 11. Nxb6 axb6 12. Qc2 Qe7 13. b3 b5 14. Bb2 b4
15. Nd4 c5 16. h3 cxd4 17. hxg4 Nxg4 18. Bxd4 Qg5 19. Qc7 Qh5 20. Rfc1 Rad8 21.
Qf4 Rfe8 22. Rc7 Nf8 23. Bf3 Qh2+ 24. Kf1 Nh6 25. Rxb7 Ne6 26. Qe5 Ng4 27. Qf5
Nh6 28. Qe5 Ng4 29. Qf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Kortschnoj KO"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2001.04.29"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A56"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2628"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2001.04.29"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 083"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.07.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.07.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e5 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4 g6 {A passive system, if allowed
Black plans h5 and Bh6, exchanging his bad B. But this costs time and doesn't
fully compensate the weakening of Black's >>, as well as White's () and
chances to play on both flanks.} ({More usual is} 5... Be7 {later Black can
return to idea of the B-swap with 0-0, Ne8 and Bg5.}) 6. Be2 {White has more
than one way to get a comfortable position.} (6. Bd3 h5 $6 (6... Bg7 $142) 7.
Nge2 Bh6 8. Bxh6 Rxh6 9. Qd2 Rh8 10. O-O-O a6 11. Kb1 Qe7 12. Rdf1 Nbd7 13. g3
b6 14. Bc2 $1 Bb7 15. Ba4 O-O-O 16. Nc1 $1 h4 17. Nd3 Rh7 18. f4 hxg3 19. hxg3
Rdh8 20. Rxh7 Rxh7 21. Qe2 Kc7 22. Qf3 Ne8 23. Bxd7 Kxd7 24. fxe5 dxe5 25. b4
$1 cxb4 26. Na4 $40 {Stohl,I-Robatsch,K/AUT-chT2/1996/}) 6... a6 (6... h5 7.
Nf3 $142 (7. g3 Bh6 8. f4 (8. Bxh6 Rxh6 9. Qd2 Rh8 10. f4 h4 $132) 8... Nbd7 9.
Nf3 Qe7 10. Qc2 h4 11. Bd2 a6 12. O-O-O exf4 13. gxf4 Nh5 14. e5 Nxf4 15. exd6
Nxe2+ 16. Nxe2 Qxd6 17. Bxh6 Rxh6 18. Qd2 Rh8 19. Nc3 Nf6 20. Nxh4 Bg4 21.
Rde1+ Kf8 $13 {Amura,C-Gonzalez Rodriguez,J/Matanzas/1992/}) 7... Bh6 (7... a6
8. O-O Be7 9. a3 h4 10. b4 Nbd7 11. Ne1 Nh5 12. Nd3 b6 13. Be3 Kf8 14. Rb1 Kg7
15. Qd2 g5 16. g3 Nf8 17. Qd1 $1 $18 {Dely,P-Koberl,F/HUN-ch Budapest/1965/})
8. Bxh6 Rxh6 9. Qd2 Rh8 10. O-O-O {[%cal Yf3e1,Ye1d3] /\Ne1-d3+/=}) ({More
often, but without great practical success Black plays} 6... Nbd7 7. g4 $5 (7.
Bg5 a6 8. a4 Be7 9. Bd2 O-O 10. Bh6 Re8 11. g4 $5 Kh8 12. Bd2 Ng8 13. h4 Bxh4
14. Qc1 Be7 15. a5 Ndf6 16. g5 Nd7 17. Na4 f6 18. gxf6 Ngxf6 19. Qc2 Ng8 20.
Ra3 Bg5 21. Nh3 Bxd2+ 22. Qxd2 $40 {Psakhis,L-Mestel,A/WChT U26 Graz/1981/})
7... h5 8. g5 Nh7 9. h4 Bg7 10. Nb5 Nb6 11. Be3 a6 12. Nc3 Rb8 13. a3 Nd7 14.
b4 b6 15. Rb1 Qc7 16. Bd3 f6 17. Nge2 fxg5 18. hxg5 Qd8 19. Qd2 O-O 20. Kd1 Rf7
21. Kc2 Rb7 22. Ng3 Ndf8 23. Be2 $36 {(),Azmaiparashvili,Z-Pons Sastre,S/
ESP-chT Cala Galdana/1994/}) 7. Bg5 $5 {A clever move, White tries to force
some concessions on the >> or prevent the aforementioned h5, Bh6 plan.} h6 (
7... Bg7 8. Qd2 (8. Nf3 $142 $5 h6 9. Bd2 $14) 8... h6 9. Be3 Ng4 10. Bxg4 Bxg4
11. f3 Bc8 12. h4 $6 (12. g4 $13) 12... f5 13. g3 b5 $1 14. cxb5 axb5 15. Nxb5
fxe4 16. fxe4 Qd7 17. Nc3 Qg4 18. Nge2 Ba6 19. Rg1 Nd7 20. O-O-O Nf6 21. a3 h5
22. Rg2 O-O 23. Re1 Nxe4 24. Nxe4 Qxe4 25. Nc3 Qg4 $17 {Buj,P-Rossetto,H/
Buenos Aires/1958/}) (7... Be7 8. Nf3 O-O 9. Bh6 Re8 10. h3 $14) 8. Be3 h5 9.
Nf3 h4 $6 {Too ambitious.} (9... Bh6 $14 {can lead to a position we've already
mentioned above in the line with 6...h5.}) 10. Bg5 $1 Be7 {Loses a pawn, but
is hardly much worse than} (10... h3 11. g3 $16 {with a clear advantage.}) 11.
Bxh4 Bg4 $6 {Now White just remains with an extra pawn for no compensation.} (
11... Nxe4 $2 12. Bxe7 Nxc3 13. Bxd8 Nxd1 14. Bf6 $18) (11... Nxd5 $142 12.
Qxd5 (12. Nxd5 Bxh4 $13 {[%cal Yb8d4] /\Nc6-d4<=>}) 12... Bxh4 13. Nxe5 $1 Qe7
(13... O-O 14. Nxg6 Bxf2+ $5 15. Kxf2 Be6 16. Qxb7 fxg6+ 17. Ke1 $16) (13...
dxe5 $2 14. Qxe5+ $18) 14. Nf3 Be6 15. Qd2 Nc6 $16 {<=> was a better chance.})
12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Nd2 $1 Bc8 $8 {Otherwise Bg4 exchanges the B.} 14. Bg4 Nd7
15. g3 Bg5 16. h4 Bh6 17. Qe2 (17. Bh3 $142 $5 $16 {/+- prevents even the
following move.}) 17... f5 $5 18. Bf3 (18. exf5 $143 Nf6 {/\gf5+/=}) 18... Nf6
19. h5 gxh5 (19... Bxd2+ 20. Kxd2 g5 21. exf5 Bxf5 22. g4 $18) 20. Bxh5+ Kf8
21. Bf3 {White wants to play it safe.} (21. Bg6 $5 fxe4 22. Ndxe4 Kg7 23. Nxf6
Qxf6 24. Bd3 $40 {[%cal Rc3e4,Ye1g2] /\Ne4,Kf1-g2}) 21... Kg7 22. Kf1 f4 $5 {
Black rightly tries to keep the position closed.} (22... Bxd2 23. Rxh8 Qxh8 24.
Qxd2 $16 {/+-}) 23. Kg2 fxg3 (23... Bd7 $142 $1 $16 {/\Qe8-g6 is more in
keeping with the previous move and gives more chances to hold out.}) 24. fxg3
Bd7 25. Nf1 Qe8 26. Ne3 Qg6 (26... Bxe3 27. Qxe3 Qg6 28. Raf1 $16) 27. Nf5+ $1
$40 {[%mdl 1056] White prefers a huge strategical advantage to a material one.
After he returns the pawn in the ^- position his B will be a powerful
attacking piece.} Bxf5 28. exf5 Qxf5 29. Ne4 {[%csl Gf3,Rh6]} Qg6 (29... Nxe4
30. Bxe4 Qg5 31. Rh4 $40 {/\} Qd2 32. Qxd2 Bxd2 33. Rg4+ Kf8 34. Rf1+ Ke8 35.
Rg7 $18) 30. Nxf6 (30. Nxd6 $2 Bf4 $132) 30... Qxf6 31. Be4 Raf8 32. Raf1 Qg5
$8 (32... Qe7 33. Qg4+ Bg5 34. Rxf8 Rxh1 35. Rf5 $18) 33. Rh5 Qd2 $8 {Black's
moves are all forced, but even the _|_ is hopeless.} 34. Qxd2 Bxd2 35. Rxf8
Rxf8 (35... Rxh5 36. Rb8 a5 37. Rxb7+ Kf8 38. Rd7 Rh6 39. Kf3 Ke8 40. Ra7 $18)
36. Rh7+ Kg8 37. Rxb7 Be3 38. Rb6 Rf2+ 39. Kh3 a5 40. Kg4 $1 {The ><d6 won't
run away, White first improves his position.} a4 (40... Rf6 41. Bf5 Kf8 42. Be6
Ke7 43. Ra6 Bd2 44. Ra7+ Ke8 45. Rd7 e4 46. Rxd6 e3 47. Bd7+ $18) 41. a3 Kf7 (
41... Rf6 42. Bc2 $5 $18) 42. Rxd6 $18 Rxb2 43. Ra6 Rb3 44. Kf5 $1 Rxa3 45.
Ra7+ (45. Ra7+ Ke8 (45... Kg8 46. Kg6 Kf8 47. d6 Ke8 48. Bc6+ $18) 46. d6 {
/\Bc6,Ke6+-}) 1-0

[Event "Zuerich Kortschnoj KO"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2001.04.29"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2827"]
[BlackElo "2797"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2001.04.29"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 083"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.07.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.07.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Bd7 10. Rd1 Kc8 11. Ng5 {Kasparov tries the new idea that
gave Leko a win against Kramnik in Budapest this year.} Be8 12. Nge4 (12. b3 b6
13. Bb2 Be7 14. Nge4 Kb7 15. Rd3 Rd8 16. Rad1 Rxd3 17. Rxd3 h5 18. Bc1 $14 {
1-0 Leko,P-Kramnik,V/Budapest 2001/CBM 81/[Wedberg] (62)}) 12... b6 13. h3 (13.
b3 c5 14. Bb2 Nd4 15. Rd2 Kb7 16. Nd5 Rd8 17. c4 Bc6 18. Bxd4 cxd4 19. Rxd4 Ba3
$13 {0-1 Leko,P-Kramnik,V/Budapest 2001/CBM 81 (56)}) 13... Kb7 14. g4 Ne7 $146
{[%cal Ye7g6,Ye7d5,Gc6c5,Re7c6,Rc6d4][%mdl 8] A more flexible post than h4.} (
14... Nh4 15. f4 c5 16. Kf2 Ng6 17. b3 h6 18. Be3 Bc6 19. Nd5 $16 {1-0 Acs,
P-Cvek,R/Charleville 2000/CBM 79 ext (61)'}) 15. Bf4 (15. f4 c5 16. f5 {
would be nice if it worked, but Black can strike back before it gets in any
way dangerous. In this line it´s quite obvious that the move Rd1 dont mix well
with the idea f4-f5.} Nc6 17. Bf4 Nd4 18. Rac1 h5 $36 {[%csl Rg1][%cal Ye8c6]})
15... h5 16. f3 c5 17. Kf2 Nc6 18. Nd5 Nd4 19. c3 Ne6 20. Bg3 (20. Be3 $2 hxg4
21. hxg4 Rh2+ $17) 20... Bc6 21. Rd2 (21. f4 $5 Rd8 22. c4 $13) 21... hxg4 22.
hxg4 c4 $1 $11 23. Kg2 Rd8 24. Rad1 Ba4 25. Re1 Bc6 26. Red1 Ba4 27. Re1 Bc6
1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Kortschnoj KO"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2001.04.29"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D48"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2827"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2001.04.29"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 083"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.07.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.07.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {McShane} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e3 a6 6. Bxc4 b5 7. Bd3
c5 8. a4 b4 9. Ne4 Nbd7 {Man beachte, dass nun mit Zugumstellung aus dem
angenommenen Damengambit eine Variante aus dem Semi-Slawisch entstanden ist.
Die "normale" Zugfolge zu dieser Stellung ist 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3
e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 a6 9.a4 b4 10.Ne4 c5.} 10. Nxf6+ (10.
Ned2) 10... Nxf6 11. O-O (11. dxc5) (11. b3) 11... Bb7 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. Qe2
Qd5 14. Rd1 Qh5 15. h3 Rd8 16. Nd4 Qd5 17. Nf3 Ke7 $15 18. e4 $5 {Man kann
festhalten, dass die Eröffnung alles andere als ein Erfolg für Weiß gewesen
ist. Um seinen Figuren Luft zu geben, entschließt sich Kramnik daher zu einem
Bauernopfer, dass von unerwartetem Erfolg gekrönt ist.} Nxe4 19. Be3 Bxe3 20.
Qxe3 Qc5 21. Qe1 Nf6 22. Rac1 Qb6 23. Ne5 Rd4 $2 {Nun wendet sich das Blatt
dramatisch.} ({Nach} 23... Nd5 {muss Weiß erst noch die Kompensation für den
Bauern nachweisen.}) 24. Bxa6 $1 {Eine starkes Figurenopfer, aber es ging auch
prosaischer:} (24. Nc4 Rxc4 (24... Qc5 $2 25. Ne3 {nebst Nf5+.}) 25. Rxc4 $16 {
mit einer Mehrqualität, aber noch gewissen technischen Schwierigkeiten.}) 24...
Rxd1 (24... Bxa6 {McShane} 25. Rxd4 Qxd4 26. Nc6+) 25. Rxd1 Bxa6 (25... Qxa6
26. Qxb4+ Ke8 27. Rd6 Nd5 (27... Qa7 28. Qb5+ (28. Rb6 {McShane and Rb8 when
the bishop moves is decisive.}) 28... Ke7 29. Rb6 Rb8 30. Qc5+ Ke8 31. Rxe6+
$18) 28. Rxa6 Nxb4 29. Rb6 $18) 26. Qxb4+ {'!!' McShane.} Qxb4 27. Nc6+ Kf8 28.
Rd8+ Ne8 29. Nxb4 $18 {McShane: 'Kasparov is a piece for a pawn up but the
bishop is very short of squares and the a-pawn is a huge threat. Kramnik has a
winning position.' Für das Figurenopfer hat Weiß zwei schnelle Freibauern aum
Damenflügel, gegen die die eingeklemmten schwarzen Figuren machtlos sind.} Be2
(29... Ke7 30. Nc6+ Kf6 31. b4 $18 {, und die weißen Bauern laufen durch.}) (
29... Bc4 30. Rc8 Bd5 31. Nxd5 exd5 32. a5 $18) 30. f3 {McShane: 'Preventing
Bh5 and adding the option of Kg1-f2'} h5 31. b3 $1 {McShane: 'A quiet move to
take the last square away from the bishop. Once material is equal again the
pawns can advance at leisure.'  Die einfachste Lösung. Der Be2 wird einfach
abgeklemmt.} Rh6 32. Kf2 Rg6 33. Kxe2 Rxg2+ 34. Kd3 Rg3 35. a5 Rxf3+ 36. Kc4
1-0

[Event "Astana"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2001.05.20"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2712"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2001.05.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 36]} 1. d4 {Winants. Ftacnik} Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 {Das ist eine kleine
Überraschung - Kramnik spielt selten die Katalanische Verteidigung.} d5 4. Bg2
Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 {Auf Großmeisterebene wird dieser Zug oft gespielt.
Er bringt Schwarz in die Nähe des Ausgleichs.} 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4 {Winants:
'L'une des grandes variantes du début catalan. Les Blancs contrôlent la grande
diagonale vers b7 et disposent d'un avantage d'espace.'} Bd7 {Winants: 'La
méthode consacrée : Les Noirs y projettent de contrecarrer l'action du Bg2
puis d'éliminer le pion central via c5.'} 9. Qxc4 (9. Rd1) 9... Bc6 10. Bg5 {
Natürlich spielt ein so starker Spieler wie Kramnik nicht 10.Nc3?. Danach
könnte sich Schwarz mit 10...b5! bereits Vorteil verschaffen, denn nach dem
Zug der Dame würde b5-b4 mit Tempo folgen.} Bd5 11. Qc2 (11. Qd3 c5) 11... Be4
12. Qd1 {Es ist schwer zu beurteilen, welcher Zug besser ist - 12.Qc1 oder der
Textzug.} (12. Qc1) 12... c5 {Winants: 'Tout cela figure dans les manuels
théoriques. Les Noirs ont pratiquement égalisé.'} 13. dxc5 (13. Nbd2 Bc6 14.
dxc5 (14. Nb3 Nbd7 $11) 14... Bxc5 15. Nb3 Be7 16. Qxd8 Rxd8 17. Na5 Bd5 18.
Ne5 $1 {1/2-1/2 Ribli,Z-Donev,I/Austria 1996/CBM 57 ext/[Donev] (53)}) 13...
Bxc5 {Dieser Zug ist - natürlich - viel logischer als der Damentausch auf d1.
Es ist interessant, dass Kramnik in dieser Stellung selbst schon einmal 13..
Qxd1?! gespielt hat.} (13... Qxd1 $6 14. Rxd1 Bxc5 15. Nc3 $14 {1/2-1/2
Khalifman,A-Kramnik,V/Dortmund 2000/CBM 78 (15)} (15. Nc3 Bc6 16. Ne5 $14)) (
13... h6 $5) 14. Qxd8 Rxd8 {Winants: 'La partie semble s'acheminer vers une
nullité ennuyeuse, mais il n'en est rien car les Noirs doivent encore résoudre
quelques problèmes de développement.'} 15. Nbd2 {Mit diesem Springerzug
gewinnt Weiß ein Tempo.} Bc6 {Winants: 'Ce Fou prend la case naturelle du Nb8'}
(15... Bd5 $2 16. e4 Bc6 17. e5 h6 18. Bh4 $16) 16. Nb3 Nbd7 {Ftacnik:
'Achieving any advantage for white in this tough variation is quite a
challenge.'} (16... Bb4 $5 17. Rfc1 Nbd7 18. Bd2 Bxd2 19. Nfxd2 Bxg2 20. Kxg2
Rdc8 $1 (20... Ne5 21. Nc4 Nxc4 22. Rxc4 Ne8 23. Rac1 Kf8 24. Rb4 Rab8 25. Nc5
$14 {1-0 Savchenko,S-Stefansson,H/2 IECC, Ohrid 2001 (38)}) 21. Nc4 Rab8 22.
Nca5 g5 23. Kf1 Kf8 24. Ke1 {1/2-1/2 Savchenko,S-Pigusov,E/Ohrid 2001/CBM
84_01 (24)}) (16... Be7 $5 17. Na5 ({Supposons :} 17. Rfc1 {Winants} Bd5 18.
Nfd4 Nc6 19. Nxc6 bxc6 20. Na5 {Et les Blancs conservent quelques atouts.})
17... Bd5 18. Ne1 {'?!' Winants.} Bxg2 19. Nxg2 Nc6) 17. Rfc1 (17. Nxc5 Nxc5
$11 {Weiß hat zwar das Läuferpaar, aber der Pa4 ist schwach; zudem
kontrolliert Schwarz die wichtigsten Felder.}) (17. Bxf6 {Ftacnik} gxf6 18.
Rfd1 (18. Nxc5 {Ftacnik} Nxc5 19. a5 Nb3 20. Ra3 Bd5 $15) 18... Bb4 $11) 17...
Bb6 (17... Bb4 $5 {[%csl Gb4]}) (17... Ba7 $5) 18. Nfd2 $5 {'!' Winants. Weiß
hat nichts besseres - er muss seinen katalanischen Läufer gegen den starken
Bc6 abtauschen.} (18. a5 {Ftacnik} Ba7 19. e3 h6 20. Bxf6 Nxf6 21. Nfd4 Bxg2
22. Kxg2 Nd5 23. Nc5 Rdc8 $15) 18... Bxg2 19. Kxg2 $11 {Weiß hat nur eine
mikroskopische kleine Initiative - Schwarz hat keine Schwächen. Ich möchte
aber an dieser Stelle darauf hinweisen, dass Kramnik in solch "langweiligen"
Stellungen vielleicht der stärkste Spieler der Welt ist. Winants: 'Menaçant
déjà de s'infiltrer sur la septième traverse via a5, puis Rc7.'} Rdc8 {Winants:
'[#]'} (19... Rac8) 20. Bxf6 {'!' Winants. Winants: 'Kramnik prépare le siège
des pions de l'aile Dame (b7 et a6) : Donc cet échange qui permet de jouer
avec deux pièces mineures contre une sur les cases blanches.'} Nxf6 (20... gxf6
21. Ne4 $14) 21. Nc4 Bc7 22. Nc5 {[%csl Gc4,Gc5]} Rab8 $6 {Dieser Zug ist ein
wenig passiv. Winants: 'Un choix difficile :'} (22... b5 $5 $11 23. Nd2 Bd6 24.
Ndb3 Kf8) (22... b6 {Winants échouait sur le sacrifice du Cavalier :} 23. Nxa6
$3 {On voit de quelles pointes sont émaillées des coups d'apparences anodines.}
Rxa6 24. Nd6 Bxd6 ({Si} 24... Rd8 {Winants} 25. Rxc7 Rxd6 26. Rc8+ {et le mat
du couloir}) ({ou} 24... Raa8 {Winants} 25. Nxc8 Rxc8 26. Rc6 {avec un clouage
décisif.}) 25. Rxc8+ Bf8 26. Rd1 h5 27. Rdd8 Nh7 28. Ra8 Rxa8 29. Rxa8 Nf6 30.
b4 {Et le pion passé gagnera bientôt une qualité.}) ({Cependant} 22... b5 $5 {
Winants valait peut-être mieux.}) 23. b4 {Winants: 'Les Noirs sont réduits а
l'expectative. Remarquez comment les Cavaliers blancs parviennent а dominer le
Fou des Noirs.'} Kf8 24. Rab1 {Winants: 'Pour effectuer une percée sur b5.'}
Ke7 (24... b5 25. Nxa6 {'!?' Ftacnik.} bxc4 26. Nxb8 Bxb8 27. b5 $16 {[%csl
Ga4,Gb5]}) 25. b5 Bd8 {Winants: 'Il ne lui reste que la huitième rangée !'} (
25... axb5 26. Rxb5) 26. Nd3 {Winants: 'Vers l'avant-poste e5.'} axb5 27. Rxb5
$14 {[%csl Gb5,Gc1,Gc4,Gd3] Weiß hat eine aktive Figurenstellung und
Initiative am Damenflügel.} b6 $6 (27... Nd7 $1 28. a5 Rc7) (27... Nd7 {
Winants Offrait de meilleures possibilités. Le coup choisi affaiblit c6
inutilement.}) 28. Nde5 {Winants: 'La tâche des Noirs se complique : Il faut
maintenant tenir compte de toute une série de petites menaces désagréables :
Le doublement des Tours sur la colonne -b-, le sacrifice sur f7, la fourchette
sur c6 etc.'} Kf8 $2 {[%mdl 8192] Ftacnik: 'Gelfand makes a serious mistake
and the punishment will be severe. In the endgame without a pawn black 's
chances for survival are not great.' Winants: 'Une faute dans une position
difficile. [#]'} (28... Ne4 $5 29. Rd1 {[%cal Rd1d7,Rd7e7]} f6 (29... Rb7 30.
Rd4 $16) 30. Rd7+ Ke8 (30... Kf8 31. Rxd8+ Rxd8 32. Nc6 $16) 31. Rd4 Nc3 32.
Nd6+ Ke7 (32... Kf8 $4 33. Nd7+ $18) 33. Nxc8+ Rxc8 34. Rd7+ $5 (34. Rc4 Rxc4
35. Nxc4 Nxb5 36. axb5 $11) 34... Ke8 35. Rb4 g5 $132 (35... fxe5 36. Rxg7 $36)
36. Rxd8+ Kxd8 37. Nd3 $11) 29. Nxb6 $1 {Mit diesem Zug gewinnt Weiß einen
Bauern. Winants: 'Première récolte !'} Rxc1 {Winants: 'Le moindre mal : Si'} (
29... Bxb6 {Ftacnik} 30. Rxb6 Rxb6 31. Rxc8+ Ke7 32. Ra8 $16) 30. Nbd7+ {
[%cal Rd7b8,Rd7f8]} Nxd7 (30... Ke8 {Ftacnik} 31. Nxb8 Bc7 32. Nd3 $16) 31.
Nxd7+ Ke8 32. Nxb8 $16 {[%mdl 4096] Weiß hat einen Bauern mehr, und sein
a-Freibauer ist stark. Aber die Realisierung des Materialvorteils ist nicht
leicht, weil Schwarz mit seinen Turm und Läufer einige Gegenchancen hat.} Rc8
33. Na6 Rc2 {Winants: 'Pour conduire la Tour derrière le pion passé.'} (33...
Ra8 {Ftacnik} 34. Nc5 $16) 34. e3 Ra2 {[%csl Ga2][%cal Ga2h2,Ga2a4] Der
schwarze Turm steht aktiv auf a2. Er kontrolliert gleichzeitig den a-Bauern
und die weißen Bauern am Königsflügel. Ohne Springer und Läufer wäre dieses
Endspiel übrigens theoretisch Remis.} 35. Nc5 {Winants: 'Sans les pièces
mineures, les Noirs auraient encore de bonnes chances nullité. D'ailleurs la
façon dont Kramnik parvient а forcer le gain en harcelant continuellement le
Fou se révèle particulièrement instructive.'} Bc7 (35... Be7 $2 36. Rb8+ Bd8
37. Nb7 $18) 36. Rb7 Kd8 (36... Bd6 37. Ne4 Be7 38. Ra7 $16) 37. Rb4 Ke7 (37...
Bd6 38. Nb7+ Kc7 39. Nxd6 Kxd6 40. Rb7 $18 {[%cal Rb7h7]} Rxa4 41. Rxf7 Rg4 42.
f4 $18) 38. Ne4 f5 39. Rb7 {Winants: 'Voilà : la Tour doit abandonner la case
a2.'} Rc2 (39... fxe4 40. Rxc7+ Kf6 41. Rc4 (41. Ra7 $16) 41... Kf5 42. h3 $16)
(39... Kd7 $2 {Winants} 40. Nc3 Rc2 41. Nb5 {Et gagne.}) 40. Ng5 h6 41. Nf3 {
[%cal Gf3d4] Winants: 'Vers d4 puis b5'} Kf6 42. Nd4 Rc4 43. Nb5 (43. Nb3 $16 {
[%cal Ga4a5]}) 43... Be5 (43... Bd8 {Ftacnik} 44. Rf7+ Kg6 45. Ra7 $18) 44. f4
(44. a5 $16) 44... Bc3 {Winants: '[#]'} (44... Rc2+ {Ftacnik} 45. Kf3 Ba1 46.
h4 $18) 45. Rf7+ $1 {Ftacnik: 'Kramnik is right to exchange rooks, with light
pieces the proces of advantage conversion will be much easier.'} Kxf7 (45...
Kg6 46. Ra7 $16 (46. Rc7 $18 {Ftacnik})) 46. Nd6+ {[%cal Rd6c4,Rd6f7]} Ke7 47.
Nxc4 {[%csl Ga4] Wenn sich an beiden Flügeln Bauern befinden, ist der Läufer
gewöhnlich wertvoller als der Springer. Hier aber hat Weiß einen Mehrbauern
und dank seines entfernten Freibauerns gute Gewinnchancen.} Kd7 48. Kf3 Kc6 49.
e4 {Winants: 'Ouvre un second front pour prendre la défense а contre-pied.'}
Kc5 50. Ne5 fxe4+ (50... Kb4 51. Nd7 Kxa4 52. Nc5+ $16) (50... Bxe5 {Ftacnik}
51. fxe5 fxe4+ 52. Kxe4 Kc4 53. a5 Kb5 54. Kd4 $18) 51. Kxe4 Kb4 52. Nc6+ Kxa4
{Winants: 'Les Noirs ont éliminé le danger а l'aile Dame, mais les problèmes
surgissent de l'autre côté de l'échiquier.'} 53. Nd4 Kb4 (53... Bxd4 54. Kxd4
$18) 54. Nxe6 {[%csl Rb4] Weiß hat einen Bauern mehr, aber das Material ist
reduziert. Das Hauptproblem für Schwarz besteht darin, dass sein König
hoffnungslos weit von seinen Bauern entfernt ist.} Kc4 (54... Kb5 55. Kf5 Kc6
56. Kg6 $18) 55. g4 Bf6 56. h3 {Winants: 'Zugzwang !'} Bb2 (56... Kb5 {Winants}
57. Kd5) (56... g6 {Winants} 57. g5 hxg5 58. fxg5 Be7 59. h4 {puis Nf4}) 57. h4
Bc3 58. f5 Bb2 {Winants: '[#]'} 59. Nxg7 $1 $18 {Ftacnik: 'The march of white
pawns is unstoppable, due to their ability to queen they are more valuable
than the knight.' Nach diesem Springeropfer ist Schwarz verloren - die weißen
Bauern gewinnen. Winants: 'Une conclusion élégante !'} (59. g5 $18 {Ftacnik})
59... Bxg7 60. g5 1-0

[Event "Astana"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2001.05.21"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Sadvakasov, Darmen"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2585"]
[BlackElo "2797"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2001.05.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nxc6 Qf6 6. Qd2 bxc6 {Kramnik
decides to go for this rare theoretical line.The main line starts with 6...dc.}
7. Nc3 Ne7 (7... d6 8. Bd3 Ne7 9. O-O Qh4 10. Na4 Bb6 11. Qg5 (11. Kh1 $5)
11... Qxg5 12. Bxg5 f6 13. Bd2 Kf7 14. Nxb6 axb6 15. a4 Ba6 16. a5 Bxd3 17.
cxd3 bxa5 18. Rxa5 Rhb8 $11 {1/2-1/2 Sadvakasov,D-Timoscenko,G/Istanbul 2000/
EXT 2001 (45)}) 8. Bd3 O-O 9. O-O Ng6 10. Na4 (10. Kh1 Bd4 11. f4 Bxc3 12. bxc3
d6 13. e5 dxe5 14. fxe5 Qxe5 15. Ba3 Rd8 16. Rae1 Qd5 17. c4 Qd4 18. Qb4 Be6
19. Bb2 c5 20. Qa3 Qd6 21. Qc3 Qd4 22. Qa3 Qd6 23. Qc3 {1/2-1/2 Borgo,
G-Skembris,S/Bozen 1998/CBM 65 ext (23)}) 10... Bd6 11. g3 Re8 $146 (11... a5
12. c3 Ne5 13. f4 Nxd3 14. Qxd3 Ba6 15. c4 Qe6 16. b3 Be7 17. Bb2 f5 18. Qd4
Rf7 19. e5 d5 20. cxd5 cxd5 21. Rfc1 c6 22. Nc5 Bxc5 23. Qxc5 $14 {1-0 Grosar,
K-Krivec,J/Porec 1998/EXT 99 (45)}) 12. Qe3 Bb7 13. Bd2 $6 (13. f4 Bf8 (13...
c5 14. c4 $14 {[%cal Ya4c3]}) 14. Bd2 d5 15. e5 Qe7 16. b4 {The whole game
revolves around the square c5. If white manages to control and blockade it, he
will have a better position.} f6 17. Nc5 Bc8 18. Rae1 fxe5 19. Bxg6 hxg6 20.
fxe5 $14) 13... Ne5 14. Bc3 (14. Be2 {[%cal Gf2f4]} Qe6 $132 {[%cal Ye5c4,
Ye5g4]} 15. Nc5 $2 Bxc5 16. Qxc5 {[%tqu "En","Please enter a move for black.",
"","","b7a6","",8]} Ba6 $1 17. Qe3 (17. Bxa6 Nf3+ 18. Kg2 Nxd2 19. Rfe1 Nxe4
20. Qd4 c5 21. Qd3 Qf5 $17) 17... Bxe2 18. Qxe2 Qc4 $17) 14... Qf3 $1 $11 15.
Qxf3 Nxf3+ 16. Kg2 Ne5 17. Bxe5 (17. Be2 $6 c5 18. f3 Bc6 $15) 17... Rxe5 18.
f4 Ree8 19. e5 Bf8 (19... c5+ $6 20. Kf2 Bf8 21. Nc3 {[%csl Yd5][%cal Yd3e4]})
20. Rae1 d6 21. Re3 Re7 22. Be4 {[%cal Ye3a3]} dxe5 ({Worse is} 22... Rae8 $6 {
as after} 23. Rfe1 g6 24. Bf3 Bg7 25. Rb3 Ba8 26. Ra3 $1 dxe5 27. Nc5 {[%csl
Ra8] black's light squares bishop may be in trouble.}) 23. fxe5 g6 24. Bf3 $6 (
{The most precise way to equality was} 24. Nc5 Rxe5 25. Nxb7 Rb8 26. Ree1 $1 {
This move was probably overlooked by Sadvakasov.} Rxb7 27. Bxc6 Rxe1 28. Bxb7
$11) 24... Re6 {[%csl Gc5][%cal Gf8c5]} 25. Rd1 (25. Rb3 $6 Ba6) 25... Rae8 26.
Rd7 Rxe5 27. Rxe5 Rxe5 28. Rxc7 Re7 {Kramnik managed to exploit white's
inaccuracy and capture white's central pawn in exchange for one of his double
pawns. However with careful defense white should hold the position.} 29. Rxe7
Bxe7 {=/+^^} 30. Kf2 f5 31. c4 Kf7 32. c5 $1 a5 33. a3 ({White's king
shouldn't "rush" into the center, because after} 33. Ke3 Ke6 34. Kd4 {white
will get an annoying check} Bf6+ {and will have to go back...}) 33... Ke6 34.
b4 axb4 35. axb4 Ke5 (35... Bg5 $6 36. Nb2 {[%csl Rc6][%cal Gb2c4,Gc4a5]}) 36.
Ke3 Bg5+ 37. Kd3 Ba6+ 38. Kc2 (38. Kc3 $142 Bb5 39. Nb6 {and white shouldn't
be worse because of the weakness of Pc6.}) 38... Kd4 39. Nc3 $2 {A fatal
mistake after which white's position can not be saved.} (39. Bxc6 Kc4 40. Bd7
$1 (40. Nb2+ Kxb4 41. Nd3+ Kc4 42. Be8 Kd4 $17) 40... Kxb4 41. c6 {and a draw
is the most likely result.}) 39... Bd3+ 40. Kb3 Bc4+ 41. Kc2 Bd3+ 42. Kb3 Bd2
43. Nd1 (43. Ne2+ Ke3 44. Nf4 Bb5 45. Bd1 (45. Ne6 Kxf3 46. Nd4+ Kg2 47. Nxb5
f4 $1 48. Nd6 f3 49. Ne4 Be1 $19) 45... Kf2 46. Ne6 Be3 $19) 43... Be4 44. Be2
Bd5+ 45. Ka4 g5 46. b5 Kxc5 47. bxc6 Bxc6+ 48. Kb3 Kd4 {The difference between
the kings is amazing!} 49. Bf1 Be1 {The black pieces are totally dominating.}
50. Be2 g4 $1 51. Ba6 h5 52. Kc2 Be4+ 53. Kc1 Bf3 54. Bc8 f4 55. gxf4 h4 56. f5
g3 57. hxg3 hxg3 {[%mdl 4096] The main "chess" reason for white's loss in this
game was the fact that he was playing "without a king".} 0-1

[Event "Astana"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2001.05.22"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2722"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2001.05.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Be4 7. f3 Bg6 8. Qb3
Qb6 9. Nxg6 hxg6 10. Bd2 Nbd7 11. O-O-O Qxb3 12. axb3 Bd6 13. h3 Nh5 14. Bd3
Ng3 15. Rhe1 O-O-O 16. cxd5 exd5 17. e4 dxe4 18. fxe4 f6 19. Re3 Nh5 20. Rf3 g5
21. e5 fxe5 22. Bxg5 Nhf6 23. Bf5 Kc7 24. Ne4 Be7 25. dxe5 Nxe5 26. Bf4 Rxd1+
27. Kxd1 Rd8+ 28. Kc2 Nxe4 29. Bxe5+ Bd6 30. Bxg7 Rg8 31. Bxe4 Rxg7 32. g4 Be7
33. Kd3 Kd6 34. Kd4 a6 35. Bd3 Rg8 36. Bc4 Rf8 37. Rxf8 Bxf8 38. g5 Bg7+ 39.
Ke4 Bxb2 40. Kf5 b5 41. Bd3 a5 42. h4 a4 43. bxa4 bxa4 44. Bc4 a3 45. Ba2 Bd4
46. Kg6 Kc5 47. h5 Kb4 48. Kf5 c5 49. Ke4 Bb2 50. h6 Bc1 51. Kf5 c4 52. Ke6 Bb2
53. g6 c3 54. g7 c2 55. g8=Q c1=Q 1/2-1/2

[Event "Astana"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2001.05.24"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2827"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2001.05.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8.
Be3 Qa5 9. Qd2 Nc6 10. Rc1 cxd4 11. cxd4 Qxd2+ 12. Kxd2 O-O 13. d5 Rd8 14. Ke1
Na5 15. Bg5 Bd7 16. Bd3 Rdc8 17. Ke2 e6 18. Rxc8+ Rxc8 19. Rc1 {For some
reasons Kramnik decided not to play his famous} (19. Be3 {this time. However,
the text move doesn't bring White any advantage. The endgame arising is
approximately equal.}) 19... Rxc1 20. Bxc1 exd5 21. exd5 b5 {Of course, Black
must make use of his main trump, the queenside pawn advantage.} 22. Bf4 ({Or} 
22. Be3 a6 23. Nd2 (23. Bd4 Bxd4 24. Nxd4 Kf8 25. Ke3 Ke7 26. Nf3 f6 27. Kd4
Kd6 28. Nd2 f5 29. f4 Be8 30. Nf1 Bf7 31. Ne3 Bxd5 $1 32. Nxd5 Nc6+ 33. Ke3
Kxd5 34. h4 Kc5 35. h5 Nb4 {0-1 Tatai,S-Ftacnik,L/Dortmund 1981/MCD (35)})
23... f5 $1 {it is useful not to allow the white knight to e4} 24. Bb6 Nb7 25.
Nf3 Be8 26. Ng5 Bf7 27. Nxf7 Kxf7 28. f3 Ke7 29. Bc7 Nc5 30. Bc2 Kd7 31. Bf4 a5
{The advance of Black's queenside pawns compensates White's pair of bishops.}
32. Kd2 a4 33. Kc1 b4 34. Kb1 b3 35. axb3 axb3 36. Bd1 Bd4 37. Be2 b2 38. Bb5+
Ke7 39. h3 Nb7 40. Bc6 Nd6 41. Bd2 Kf6 42. Bb4 Be5 43. f4 Bxf4 44. Kxb2 Ne4 {
1/2-1/2 Likavsky,T-Brendel,O/Ohrid 2001/CBM 84 (62)}) 22... Nc4 (22... Kf8 {
is possible, too:} 23. Bd6+ Ke8 24. Ne5 Nb7 25. Bb8 a6 26. Nxd7 Kxd7 27. f4 Bf8
28. Be5 Nc5 29. Bc2 Be7 30. Ke3 f6 31. Bc3 Kd6 32. f5 g5 33. Kd4 Bd8 34. Be1
Bb6 35. Bg3+ Kd7 36. h3 Ne6+ 37. Ke4 Nc5+ 38. Kd4 Ne6+ 39. Ke4 Nc5+ {1/2-1/2
Caessens,R-Fette,M/Groningen 1988/EXT 97 (39)}) 23. Bxc4 bxc4 24. Be5 Bf8 25.
Nd2 Bb5 26. Ne4 f5 27. Nc3 Bd7 28. Ke3 {[%cal Re3d4] If now the white king
comes to the central d4 square, White will obtain some winning chances.
However...} Bc5+ 29. Bd4 Bb4 30. Be5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Astana"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2001.05.25"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2797"]
[Annotator "Finkel,A"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2001.05.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bg5 c6 3. Nf3 h6 4. Bh4 Qb6 5. b3 (5. Qc1 g5 (5... Bf5 6. c4 e6 7.
Nc3 Be7 8. Bg3 Nf6 9. e3 (9. c5 Qd8 10. e3 O-O 11. h3 Nbd7 12. b4 Ne4 13. Nxe4
Bxe4 14. Nd2 Bg6 15. Qc3 Bh4 16. Bd6 Re8 17. Bd3 Bxd3 18. Qxd3 e5 19. O-O a6
20. a4 e4 21. Qe2 Re6 $11 {1-0 Hodgson,J-Turner,M/Kilkenny IRL 1999 (38)}) 9...
Nbd7 (9... O-O 10. Be2 Ne4 11. Nxe4 Bxe4 12. O-O Nd7 13. Nd2 Bg6 14. c5 Qd8 15.
b4 a6 16. Nb3 Bf6 17. Na5 $14) 10. c5 Qd8 11. Be2 Ne4 12. Nxe4 Bxe4 13. b4 Bxf3
14. gxf3 Bh4 15. f4 Bxg3 16. hxg3 b6 17. g4 bxc5 18. bxc5 Qa5+ 19. Qd2 Qxd2+
20. Kxd2 Ke7 21. Rhb1 Rhb8 22. Rb3 Kd8 23. Ba6 Kc7 24. Rab1 $16 {Hodgson,
J-Abdulla,A/Scarborough 1999/CBM 71}) (5... Bg4 6. Nbd2 Nd7 7. e3 e6 8. c4 Be7
9. Bg3 Ngf6 10. Bd3 Bxf3 11. Nxf3 Qa5+ 12. Nd2 $14) 6. Bg3 g4 7. Ne5 Qxd4 8. c4
Bg7 9. e3 Qc5 10. Nd2 Nd7 11. Nd3 $14) 5... Bf5 6. e3 e6 (6... Qa5+ 7. Qd2
Qxd2+ 8. Kxd2 g5 9. Bg3 Nf6 10. Bd3 Ne4+ 11. Bxe4 Bxe4 12. Ne1 Nd7 13. f3 Bh7
14. Nd3 e6 15. Nc3 Rg8 16. e4 f6 $11 {Thorfinnsson,B-Markowski,T/Reykjavik ISL
2000/The Week in Chess}) (6... Nd7 7. Bd3 Bxd3 8. Qxd3 Ngf6 9. O-O e6 10. Nbd2
Be7 11. c4 O-O $132) 7. Bd3 Bxd3 8. Qxd3 Be7 9. Bxe7 Nxe7 10. c4 Nd7 (10... O-O
11. c5 Qc7 12. b4 a6 13. Nc3 Nd7 $11 {[%cal Ge6e5]}) 11. Nc3 O-O 12. O-O Qa6 (
12... Rad8 13. Rfd1 dxc4 14. bxc4 e5 15. a4 $6 exd4 16. exd4 Ng6 {[%cal Gd7e5]}
(16... Nc5 17. dxc5 Rxd3 18. cxb6 Rxc3 19. Rd7 $16) 17. Ne4 Qa6 (17... Nde5 18.
Nxe5 Nxe5 $11) 18. Qb3 b6 19. a5 $5 $14 {Agdestein,S-Olafsson,H/Reykjavik 2000/
CBM 79}) (12... Rfd8 13. Rfd1 Nf6 14. Rac1 Ng6 15. h3 Qb4 16. Qb1 Qe7 $11 {
Adams,M-Dautov,R/Pula 1997/CBM 57}) 13. Rfd1 (13. a4 Rfd8 14. Rfd1 Rac8 15. a5
c5 16. Nb5 Nc6 17. Qc3 cxd4 18. exd4 Nf6 19. Qe1 Ne4 $15 {Rozentalis,E-Sulypa,
A/Bad Wiessee 1999/EXT 2001}) 13... Rfd8 (13... Rac8 14. Rac1 Rfd8 15. cxd5
Qxd3 16. Rxd3 cxd5 17. Rdd1 Nf5 $11 {Gerber,R-Tukmakov,V/Geneve 1999/CBM 68}) (
13... Nb6 14. Rdc1 dxc4 15. Qf1 Nd7 16. bxc4 c5 17. d5 Rad8 18. Rab1 $14 {
Hodgson,J-Adianto,U/Amsterdam 1996/CBM 55}) 14. Rab1 $6 {Of course this move
is not a mistake, but rook has nothing to do b1 that's why deserves attention
14.Rac1 with Qb1 on the next move as was played by Hodgson.} (14. Rac1 Nf5 15.
Qb1 Ne7 16. e4 dxe4 17. Nxe4 Qa5 18. c5 Qc7 19. Nd6 b6 20. b4 $14 {Hodgson,
J-Sergejev,R/Pula 1997/CBM 57}) 14... b6 15. Qf1 (15. e4 $5 dxe4 16. Qxe4 Nf6
17. Qe2 Nf5 $11) 15... Rac8 16. Rd2 $6 {[%csl Rd2] White starts to play
without plan and suddenly finds himself in inferior position. Morozevich can't
admit that there is no chanse to get an opening advantage and the draw is the
most logical rsult after such opening varition.} Nf6 17. Ne5 $6 (17. cxd5 Qxf1+
18. Kxf1 Nexd5 {[%csl Rc3]} 19. Nxd5 (19. Rc2 Nb4 20. Rd2 c5 $15) 19... cxd5
20. Rbb2 Rc1+ (20... Ne4 21. Rdc2 $11) 21. Ne1 Rdc8 22. Rbc2 $11) 17... dxc4
18. Nxc4 $6 (18. bxc4 $5 c5) 18... Ned5 $15 {White pieces lack coordination
and black siezes the initiative.} 19. Rc2 $2 {Missing 21th move of black. It
was time to simplify a position with} (19. Nxd5 cxd5 20. Ne5 Qxf1+ 21. Rxf1 Ne4
$15 {and although black's chanses are preferable the player of Morozevich's
level should hold this endgame without too many problems.}) 19... Nxc3 20. Rxc3
c5 21. dxc5 b5 $1 $19 {[%cal Gf6e4,Ge4d2] There is no satisfactory defense
against Ne4-d2} 22. Ne5 (22. Nd6 Rxd6 23. cxd6 Rxc3 $19) 22... Ne4 23. Rd3 Nd2
24. Rxd8+ (24. Rxd2 Rxd2 25. b4 Qxa2 $19 {[%cal Ga2d5]}) (24. Qd1 Rxd3 25. Nxd3
Nxb1 26. Qxb1 Qc6 $19 {[%cal Gc6e4,Gc8d8]}) 24... Rxd8 25. Rd1 (25. Qd1 Qxa2
26. Rc1 (26. Nc6 Nf3+ $1 27. gxf3 Rxd1+ 28. Rxd1 Qxb3 29. Rd8+ Kh7 30. Nxa7 Qa3
(30... Qa4 $5) 31. Nxb5 Qxc5 32. Rb8 Qg5+ $19) 26... Qb2 $1 27. c6 Nf3+ 28.
Nxf3 Rxd1+ 29. Rxd1 Qc2 $19) 25... Nxf1 26. Rxd8+ Kh7 27. c6 (27. Kxf1 Qxa2 28.
Nxf7 Qb1+ 29. Ke2 Qc2+ $19) 27... Qa5 $1 {[%cal Ga5e1]} 0-1

[Event "Astana"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2001.05.26"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2712"]
[BlackElo "2797"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2001.05.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. O-O Nbd7 10. Bg3 c5 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Nxd5 exd5 13. b3 a6 14. Rc1 Re8
15. Re1 Nf6 16. Bh4 Ne4 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Rc2 a5 19. Qc1 Rec8 20. Rd1 a4 21. h3
axb3 22. axb3 Qf6 23. Qb2 Nd6 24. Ne5 Rc7 25. Be2 Ne4 26. Bf3 Ng5 27. Bg4 Qe7
28. Rdc1 Bc8 29. Bxc8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Astana"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2001.05.28"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Sadvakasov, Darmen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2585"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2001.05.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Ftacnik} d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. a4
Nc6 8. Qe2 Qc7 9. Rd1 Bd6 10. dxc5 {'!' Ftacnik.} Bxc5 11. b3 O-O 12. Bb2 e5
13. Nc3 $1 $146 {[%cal Gc3d5] Ftacnik: 'The novelty in a well known position,
white would gladly save a tempo usually used for a modest prophylactic move h3.
'} (13. h3 Qe7 (13... e4 14. Nfd2 (14. Ng5 h6 (14... Qe7 15. Nd2 Bf5 16. Nf1
Bg6 17. Ng3 Bb4 18. h4 Rfd8 19. Nh3 h6 20. Nf4 Bh7 21. Ngh5 Ne8 22. g3 Qc5 23.
Nd5 Bf5 24. Nhf4 $36 {1-0 Pigg,H-Wikman,B/FIN-ch corr 1997/Corr 2000 (36)}) 15.
Bxf6 hxg5 16. Bb2 Ne5 17. Nc3 Nxc4 18. Qxc4 Be6 19. Nd5 Qc6 20. Rac1 Rad8 21.
Qc3 f6 22. Nxf6+ gxf6 23. Rxd8 Rxd8 24. Qxf6 $18 {1-0 Zhukova,N-Skripchenko,A/
Belgrade YUG 2000 (37)}) 14... Ne5 15. Nc3 Nxc4 16. bxc4 Re8 17. Nd5 Nxd5 18.
cxd5 Bd7 19. Rdc1 Rac8 20. Rc4 Bf5 21. Nb3 Qd6 22. Rxc5 Rxc5 23. Ba3 b6 24.
Bxc5 bxc5 25. Qc4 Rd8 26. Rd1 Be6 27. Nxc5 Bxd5 28. Qd4 $18 {1-0 Magerramov,
E-Flear,G/Montpellier op-A 1999 (37)}) 14. Nc3 e4 $5 (14... Be6 15. Nd5 Nxd5
16. Bxd5 Bxd5 17. Rxd5 Rad8 18. Rad1 e4 (18... Bd6 19. Qc4 Bc7 20. e4 h6 21. g3
Kh7 22. Kg2 f6 23. Nh4 Rf7 24. Rxd8 $14 {Panczyk-Radulov/Polanica Zdroj/1982/0.
5 (36)}) 19. Ne5 Rxd5 20. Rxd5 Rd8 21. Nxc6 bxc6 22. Re5 Qd6 23. Rxe4 Qd1+ 24.
Qxd1 $16 {Pinter,J-Radulov,I/Baile Herculane zt/1982/1-0 (49)}) 15. Nd2 Bf5 16.
Nf1 Rad8 17. Ng3 Bg6 18. Rxd8 Rxd8 19. Rd1 Nb4 20. Rxd8+ Qxd8 21. Nb1 Ne8 22.
Nd2 Nd6 23. Qg4 b5 24. axb5 axb5 25. Bf1 f5 $11 {1-0 Lutz,C-Huebner,R/Munich
1993/CBM 36/[Ftacnik] (32)}) 13... e4 $6 (13... Nb4 14. Ng5 (14. Rac1 e4 15.
Ng5 Bg4 16. f3 exf3 17. gxf3 Rae8 $1) 14... Bg4 15. f3 Bf5 $13) (13... Bg4 $5)
(13... Qe7 $5) 14. Ng5 Bd6 $2 (14... Bg4 15. Nd5 Bxe2 16. Nxc7 Bxd1 17. Nxa8
Bh5 (17... Bc2 18. Rc1 Nb4 19. Ba3 Nd3 20. Rxc2 Bxa3 21. Nb6 Ne5 $11) 18. Bxf6
(18. Nc7 Be7 19. Rc1 Rc8 20. Nxa6 (20. Nce6 $36)) 18... Bg6 $1 {'!?' Ftacnik.}
(18... gxf6 19. Nxe4 Be7 20. Nb6 $18) 19. Bxg7 (19. Bb2 Rxa8 20. Rd1 Be7 21.
Nh3 Rd8 22. Rxd8+ Nxd8 (22... Bxd8 23. Nf4 $16) 23. Nf4 Bf5 $14) 19... Kxg7 20.
Nc7 Kf6 21. Nh3 Rd8 22. Nf4 Na5 $132) (14... Qe7 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. Rxd5 b6 17.
Nxh7 Kxh7 18. Qh5+ Kg8 19. Rg5 $18) 15. Nd5 $1 (15. h3 $5 $16) 15... Nxd5 16.
Rxd5 {'!' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'White piees are dangerously grouping on the
squares leading to the black's king.'} (16. Qh5 {Ftacnik} Bf5 17. Bxd5 Bg6 $14)
16... Bxh2+ 17. Kh1 Be5 (17... h6 18. Qh5 (18. Nxe4 Be5 19. Rad1 Bxb2 20. Qxb2
Be6 $11) 18... Be5 19. Nxf7 Rxf7 20. Bxe5 Qe7 21. Rad1 Be6 $14) 18. Qh5 Bf5 $2
(18... h6 19. Rxe5 (19. Nxf7 Rxf7 20. Bxe5 (20. Rxe5 Nxe5 21. Bxe5 Qe7 22.
Qxf7+ Qxf7 23. Bxf7+ Kxf7 24. Rc1 $16) 20... Qe7 (20... Nxe5 21. Rxe5 $18))
19... Nxe5 20. Nxf7 Rxf7 (20... Nxf7 21. Qg6 $18) (20... Nxc4 21. Nxh6+ Kh7 22.
Nf7+ Kg8 23. Qh8+ Kxf7 24. Qxg7+ Ke6 25. Qxc7 Nxb2 26. Qb6+ Kf7 (26... Ke7 27.
Qd4 Rxf2 28. Kg1 Re2 29. Kf1 $18) 27. Rc1 $18) 21. Bxe5 Qe7 22. Qxf7+ (22. Qg6
Qh4+ 23. Bh2 Qf6 (23... Qxf2 24. Rd1 $18) 24. Qxf6 gxf6 25. Bf4 Bg4) 22... Qxf7
23. Bxf7+ Kxf7 24. Rc1 $16) 19. Nxf7 $1 Rxf7 (19... Bxb2 20. Rxf5 g6 (20...
Bxa1 {Ftacnik} 21. Ng5+ (21. Ne5+ {Ftacnik} Kh8 22. Ng6#) 21... Kh8 22. Qxh7#)
21. Nd8+ (21. Qh6 gxf5 22. Nd8+) 21... Kg7 22. Ne6+ $18) (19... Qxf7 20. Rxe5
$18) 20. Qxf5 {'!' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'The fight of the two players very
different in strength is resulting in an early decision.'} g6 (20... Bxb2 21.
Rd7 $18 Kh8 22. Qxf7 Qe5 23. Rad1 $18) (20... Rxf5 21. Rd8#) (20... Kh8 21.
Bxe5 $18) 21. Bxe5 1-0

[Event "Astana"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2001.05.29"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2722"]
[BlackElo "2797"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2001.05.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Bd7 10. h3 h6 11. b3 Kc8 12. Bb2 b6 13. Rad1 Ne7 14. Ne2 (
14. Rd2 $5 c5 15. Rfd1 Be6 16. Ne2 g5 17. h4 g4 18. Nh2 h5 $13 {0-1 Anand,
V-Kramnik,V/Mainz 2001/CBM 84 (27)}) 14... Ng6 15. Ng3 $146 {[%cal Yg3h5][%mdl
8] A new try. The threat is Nh5 with a bind on Black's K-side.} (15. Ne1 h5 16.
Nd3 c5 17. c4 a5 18. a4 h4 19. Nc3 Be6 20. Nd5 Kb7 21. Ne3 Rh5 22. Bc3 Re8 23.
Rd2 Kc8 24. f4 Ne7 25. Nf2 Nf5 {1/2-1/2 Kasparov,G-Kramnik,V/London 2000/CBM
80/[Wedberg] (25)}) 15... Nf4 $1 (15... h5 $2 16. Ng5 Be7 (16... Be8 17. e6 $36
) 17. Nxf7 $1 Rf8 18. Rfe1 Nf4 (18... Be6 19. Nd6+ $18) 19. e6 Bxe6 20. Ne5 $36
{[%cal Ye5c6,Ye5g6,Ye1e6]}) 16. Nd4 (16. Rfe1 c5 17. Re4 Ne6 $13) 16... a5 17.
a4 b5 $5 18. Kh2 $6 {Odd move.} (18. Bc1 $5 Ne6 (18... Ng6 19. f4 $36) (18...
Nd5 19. Nxb5 $16) 19. Nxe6 Bxe6 20. f4 $36) 18... bxa4 $1 19. bxa4 Nd5 20. Rd3
{[%cal Yf2f4,Yf4f5,Ye5e6]} Nb6 $1 {Kramnik is making the most of his activity.
White would like to get in a few free moves like f4, f5 and e6, but there is
no time.} 21. Re1 (21. f4 $5) 21... Nxa4 22. Ba1 c5 23. e6 fxe6 24. Nxe6 Bd6 (
24... c4 $5 25. Rf3 Bb4 26. Re2 Bxe6 27. Rxe6 c3 $13 {[%csl Ra1]}) 25. Nxg7 (
25. Bxg7 Rg8 26. Bxh6 $2 Rg6 $19) 25... Rf8 $132 26. Kg1 c4 27. Rdd1 Bb4 28.
Re3 Ra6 29. Ne4 Rc6 30. Nh5 c3 31. Nhg3 Re6 32. Rde1 Rfe8 33. Nh5 Rf8 34. Nxc3
$4 (34. f4 Bc6 (34... Nc5 35. Nxc3 Rxe3 36. Rxe3 Ne6 37. Re4 $13) 35. g4 $13)
34... Rc6 $19 35. Nxa4 Bxe1 36. Rxe1 Rxc2 37. Bd4 Bxa4 38. Re5 Bd7 $2 (38...
Rd8 39. Be3 c5 40. Bxc5 Bc6 $19) 39. Rxa5 Rf5 40. Rxf5 Bxf5 41. Be3 Bg6 $15 (
41... Bg6 42. Nf6 h5 43. g4 hxg4 44. h4 $132) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Astana"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2001.05.31"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2001.05.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Qc7 8.
g3 e5 9. dxe5 Nxe5 10. Bf4 Nfd7 11. Bg2 g5 12. Ne3 (12. Nxe5 gxf4 {1/2-1/2
Birjukov,S-Haimi,A/Lahti 1997/EXT 99 (12)}) ({Nach} 12. Bxe5 Nxe5 13. Qd4 f6 (
13... Nxc4 14. Qxh8 O-O-O {wurde laut Schachwoche 4/2000, S.12, von G.Kasparov
befürchtet, doch sehe ich nach} 15. Qf6 {keine ansprechende Fortsetzung für
Schwarz.}) 14. O-O Be7 {dürfte Weiß kaum Vorteil haben. Der Textzug gefällt
mir weit besser, weil Weiß den wichtigen weißfeldrigen Läufer des Gegners
eliminiert.}) 12... gxf4 13. Nxf5 O-O-O 14. Qc2 Nc5 {Dies ist eine Neuerung
gegenüber der berühmten Partie Kasparov-Morozevich, Wijk aan Zee 2000, in der
14...Sg4 geschah. Der Textzug ist stärker und dürfte zum Ausgleich genügend
sein. Zur Erinnerung sei die Fortsetzung der genannten Partie
Kasparov-Morozevich mit einigen Anmerkungen wiedergegeben:} (14... Ng4 15. a5
fxg3 (15... a6 16. Ra4 h5 17. Rxf4 Qxa5 18. O-O {mit Vorteil für Weiß.}) (15...
Bc5 16. O-O (16. Ne4 Bb4+ {ist weniger überzeugend.}) 16... fxg3 17. hxg3 a6 (
17... Bxf2+ 18. Rxf2 Nxf2 19. Kxf2 {ist nicht genügend für Schwarz; der
Springer auf f5 steht zu stark.}) 18. Ne4 Bf8 19. Rfd1 {mit Vorteil für Weiß.})
16. hxg3 a6 17. Ra4 Ndf6 18. Ne4 Nxe4 ({Bessere Möglichkeiten, die Nachteile
der Bauernstruktur durch dynamisches Figurenspiel auszugleichen, bot meines
Erachtens die Fortsetzung} 18... Nd5 19. Bh3 Ne5 20. Nc5 Kb8) 19. Bxe4 h5 20.
Kf1 Kb8 21. Kg2 Be7 22. Nxe7 Qxe7 23. Bf3 Ne5 ({Die Fortsetzungen} 23... Qg5
24. Rb4 {oder}) (23... Qe6 24. Qc3 ({Ungenügend ist die Fortsetzung} 24. Rxh5
Rxh5 25. Bxg4 Qd5+ 26. Bf3 Qf5) 24... f6 25. Rd4 {bewahren den Schwarzen auf
die Dauer auch nicht vor Bauernverlust. Seine Stellung ist strategisch
verloren.}) 24. Bxh5 $18 {1-0 Kasparov,G-Morozevich,A/Wijk aan Zee 2000/CBM 75/
[Huebner,R] (45). (45)}) (14... Bb4 {gefällt mir besser. Auf} 15. gxf4 {folgt}
Nc4 16. Qb3 (16. e3 Nc5 {überläßt dem Schwarzen eine beachtliche Initiative.})
16... Bxc3+ 17. Qxc3 Qxf4 {mit genügendem Gegenspiel für Schwarz.}) 15. O-O ({
Auf} 15. gxf4 {folgt} Nc4 {mit starkem Gegenspiel.}) (15. b4 f3 {ist ebenfalls
nicht besonders attraktiv für Weiß.}) 15... Ne6 16. Rad1 Bc5 (16... Bb4 {
ist weniger genau:} 17. Na2 {, und auf} Bc5 {folgt} 18. b4) 17. Ne4 Bb4 {
Schwarz hat seine Figuren harmonisch und aktiv aufgestellt. Seine
Bauernstruktur am Königsflügel ist zwar zerrissen; dafür hat Weiß Löcher am
Damenflügel. Ich habe zwar das Gefühl, daß Weiß doch eine Kleinigkeit besser
stehen sollte; aber er gibt sich alsbald mit remis zufrieden.} 18. Qc1 fxg3 19.
hxg3 Rxd1 20. Rxd1 Rd8 21. Bh3 Kb8 22. Kg2 a5 23. b3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Astana"]
[Site "Astana"]
[Date "2001.06.01"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2827"]
[BlackElo "2797"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2001.05.20"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "KAZ"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 h6 10. h3 Bd7 11. b3 Ke8 {Definitely a big surprise - the
K takes a step in the "wrong" direction. Kramnik wants to prove the
versatility of the Bd7 move. Here the idea is not to bring the K to safety but
to release the R via d8.} 12. Bb2 Rd8 13. Rad1 Ne7 {This has become a standard
manouvre in the Berlin since Zoltan Almasi introduced it six years ago against
Peter Leko in Wijk aan Zee.} (13... Bb4 14. Ne2 $1 (14. Ne4 Be6 15. g4 Bd5 $132
) 14... Be6 15. Nf4 $36 {The exchange of R:s on d1 proves to be of little
value here.}) 14. Rfe1 Ng6 {Kramniks play is slow but constructive. Eventually
he is going to get the pieces to the right squares and then start exchanging
to reach the right kind of ending. But he is playing against one of the
strongest attacking players in the history of chess...} (14... Bf5 15. Nd4 Bg6
16. e6 $16) 15. Ne4 Nf4 {Black seems to be on the right track to a very safe
setup with Ne6, Be7 and then Bc8. But Kasparov is not very impressed by all
this.} 16. e6 $3 {[%mdl 5] Kasparov himself doesn't give this move even a
single ! so I have to give it two to compensate. It's a beautiful move
refuting Black's setup. White's play is also a nice model for treating the
type of slow build-up practised by Kramnik here.} Nxe6 17. Nd4 $16 {Black has
a slight material plus, but White has all the activity and the K on e8 is
trapped in the middle of it. Clearly Black is in grave trouble here.} (17. Be5
Rc8 18. Nh4 {followed by f4-f5 was even stronger according to Kasparov.}) 17...
c5 $6 {This move cost Kramnik one hour on the clock leaving only 18 minutes
for the rest of the game. A sign of the problems facing Black here.} ({The
best chance was} 17... Rh7 18. f4 c5 19. Nf3 (19. Nxe6 $5 Bxe6 20. Bf6 Rxd1 21.
Rxd1 Bd6 22. Bh4 $14) 19... Bc6 20. Rb1 {The key move according to Kasparov,
but it looks a bit passive.} Bxe4 21. Rxe4 g6 22. g4 Rd5 (22... Be7 23. f5 $18)
(22... Bg7 23. f5 $18) 23. c4 (23. Kg2 Kd8 $13) 23... Rd3 24. Ne1 Rd2 $5 {
Black sacs a piece and goes for activity.} (24... Rxh3 25. f5 $16 {Kasparov})
25. f5 gxf5 26. gxf5 Bg7 27. Bc1 (27. Bxg7 Rxg7+ 28. Kh1 (28. Kf1 Rd4 $17)
28... Rf2 $11) 27... Bd4+ 28. Kh1 Rd1 29. fxe6 f5 (29... Rg7 30. exf7+ Kxf7 $11
) 30. Re2 Rg7 31. Kh2 Bg1+ 32. Kh1 Bd4 $11) 18. Nf5 Rh7 19. Bf6 Rc8 20. Bxg7 $5
(20. f4 $1 {keeping the pressure was better according to Kasparov} Bc6 21. Nfg3
$40 (21. Bh4 c4 $1 22. bxc4 Bxe4 23. Rxe4 Bc5+ $13)) 20... Bxg7 21. Nxg7+ Rxg7
22. Nf6+ Ke7 23. Nxd7 Rd8 {Black has survived the first wave, but White is
still slightly better on the board and much better on the clock.} 24. Ne5 Rxd1
25. Rxd1 Nf4 (25... Nd4 26. c4 $14) 26. Kh1 $1 Rg5 (26... Nxg2 $4 27. Rg1 $18)
(26... Rxg2 $4 27. Nd3 $18) 27. Ng4 Rd5 28. Re1+ Kf8 29. Nxh6 Rd2 30. Re5 $1 {
[%cal Ye5f5]} Rxf2 $2 (30... Rxc2 $142 31. Rf5 Rxf2 32. Ng4 Rxg2 33. Rxf4 Rxa2
$14) 31. Rf5 Kg7 32. Ng4 Rxg2 33. Rxf4 Rxc2 34. Rf2 $18 Rc3 35. Kg2 b5 36. h4
c4 37. h5 cxb3 38. axb3 Rc5 39. h6+ Kf8 40. Nf6 Rg5+ 41. Kh1 1-0

[Event "Champions Club m 5'"]
[Site "Kasparovchess INT"]
[Date "2001.06.05"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2827"]
[BlackElo "2797"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2001.06.19"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "NET"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 082 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.07.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.07.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. Nc3 Bb7 5. a3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. e3 g6 8. Nxd5
exd5 9. Bb5+ c6 10. Bd3 Bg7 11. b4 O-O 12. Bd2 Nd7 13. Rb1 Re8 14. O-O Nf6 15.
Qc2 Ne4 16. Rfc1 Rc8 17. Be1 Nd6 18. a4 a6 19. Nd2 Rc7 20. Nb3 b5 21. Nc5 Bc8
22. Ra1 Rce7 23. Bc3 Nc4 24. Ra2 Qd6 25. axb5 axb5 26. Ra8 Nb6 27. Ra2 h5 28.
Rca1 h4 29. Qd1 h3 30. g3 Nc4 31. Bf1 Bh6 32. Ra8 Bf5 33. Rxe8+ Rxe8 34. Bd2
Qf6 35. Bc1 Bg7 36. Ra6 Kh7 37. Qf3 Kg8 38. g4 Qg5 39. Bxh3 Bxd4 40. Kh1 Ne5
41. Qg3 Nxg4 42. Rxc6 Bxc5 43. Rxc5 Qh5 44. Bg2 Nf6 45. f3 Ne4 46. Qc7 Nxc5 47.
bxc5 Bh3 0-1

[Event "Champions Club m 5'"]
[Site "Kasparovchess INT"]
[Date "2001.06.06"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2827"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2001.06.19"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "NET"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 082 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.07.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.07.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 a6 5. Bd3 Bg4 6. Nbd2 e6 7. b3 Nbd7 8. Bb2
Bd6 9. Qc2 Qb8 10. O-O O-O 11. h3 Bh5 12. Ng5 h6 13. Ngf3 e5 14. cxd5 cxd5 15.
dxe5 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Bxe5 17. Bxe5 Qxe5 18. Rac1 Qe7 19. Qb2 Rfc8 20. Bf5 Rd8 21.
Rfe1 Ne8 22. Nf1 Nd6 23. Ng3 Qg5 24. Bd3 Bg6 25. Bxg6 Qxg6 26. Red1 Ne4 27. Ne2
Qd6 28. Nf4 Nf6 29. Rd2 Rd7 30. Rcd1 Rad8 31. Qd4 Qc7 32. Qb2 Qc6 33. Rc2 Qb6
34. Qd4 Qd6 35. Rdc1 Qe7 36. Rc8 Qd6 37. Nd3 Rxc8 38. Rxc8+ Rd8 39. Rc2 Ne4 40.
Qe5 Qxe5 41. Nxe5 f6 42. Nf3 Rd7 43. Nd4 Kf7 44. f3 Nd6 45. Kf2 h5 46. g4 hxg4
47. hxg4 g6 48. Rc5 Ne8 49. Ke2 Nc7 50. Kd3 Ke8 51. b4 Rh7 52. a4 Kd7 53. b5
axb5 54. Nxb5 Nxb5 55. axb5 Ke6 56. Kd4 Rh1 57. Rc3 Rf1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Mainz CC sim2"]
[Site "Mainz"]
[Date "2001.06.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Beutel, Jens"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C81"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "2001.06.23"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5
Be6 9. Qe2 Be7 10. Nbd2 Nc5 11. Rd1 O-O 12. c3 Nxb3 13. Nxb3 Qd7 14. Nfd4 Nd8
15. Nxe6 fxe6 16. Be3 Nb7 17. Nd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Mainz CC sim2"]
[Site "Mainz"]
[Date "2001.06.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Depner, Jochen"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E73"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2001.06.23"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Bg5 O-O 6. Qd2 Nbd7 7. Be2 c5 8. Nf3
cxd4 9. Nxd4 Nc5 10. f3 Ne6 11. Be3 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 Ne8 13. Bxg7 Nxg7 14. O-O Bd7
15. Kh1 Rc8 16. Rad1 Be6 17. b3 Qa5 18. Nd5 Qd8 19. Ne3 Qc7 20. f4 f5 21. Bd3
Rf7 22. exf5 Bxf5 23. Nxf5 gxf5 24. Rde1 Kh8 25. Re3 e5 26. fxe5 dxe5 27. Qf2
f4 28. Rh3 Nf5 29. Bxf5 Rxf5 30. Qxa7 Rg8 31. Rd3 Qc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Mainz CC sim2"]
[Site "Mainz"]
[Date "2001.06.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Eidam, Horst"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2001.06.23"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nf3 d6 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. d5 a5 8. Bg5 h6
9. Be3 Ng4 10. Bd2 Nd7 11. h3 Ngf6 12. Be3 Nc5 13. Nd2 Bd7 14. O-O Kh7 15. b3
b6 16. a3 Ng8 17. b4 Nb7 18. Qc2 Ne7 19. Nb3 h5 20. c5 bxc5 21. bxc5 a4 22.
cxd6 cxd6 23. Nd2 Bh6 24. Bxh6 Kxh6 25. Nc4 Qc7 26. Rac1 Nc5 27. f4 f6 28. fxe5
fxe5 29. Qd2+ Kh7 30. Qg5 Ng8 31. Kh2 Nb3 32. Rxf8 Rxf8 33. Rf1 Rxf1 34. Bxf1
Na5 35. Nxa5 Qxa5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Mainz CC sim2"]
[Site "Mainz"]
[Date "2001.06.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gypser, Andreas"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2210"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2001.06.23"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3
Nc6 9. Be2 dxc4 10. Qc2 a6 11. Bxc4 Be7 12. O-O b5 13. Bd3 Bb7 14. Ne4 h6 15.
Rfd1 Qb6 16. Nd6 Bxd6 17. Bxd6 Rfd8 18. Bg3 Rac8 19. Qe2 Na5 20. Be5 Nb3 21.
Bxf6 gxf6 22. Rab1 Nc5 23. Bc2 Be4 24. Bxe4 Nxe4 25. h3 Rxd1+ 26. Rxd1 Rd8 27.
Rc1 Nd6 28. Nd4 Rc8 29. Qg4+ Kh7 30. Rd1 Rg8 31. Qf3 f5 32. Qc6 Qxc6 33. Nxc6
Nc4 34. Rd7 Kg7 35. b3 Nxa3 36. Ne5 Rf8 37. Ra7 Nb1 38. Rxa6 Nd2 39. b4 Rc8 40.
g4 fxg4 41. hxg4 Rc1+ 42. Kg2 Nc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Mainz CC sim2"]
[Site "Mainz"]
[Date "2001.06.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kropp, Volker"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A31"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2104"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2001.06.23"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 d6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 g6 6. g3 Nc6 7. Bg2 Bd7 8. O-O
Bg7 9. Nxc6 Bxc6 10. e4 O-O 11. Be3 Qc8 12. Rc1 b6 13. Re1 h5 14. Nd5 Bxd5 15.
exd5 Re8 16. Qd2 h4 17. Bg5 hxg3 18. hxg3 Qd7 19. Re2 Rac8 20. b4 Rc7 21. Bf4
Nh5 22. Be3 Rec8 23. Qd3 Nf6 24. Bd4 Kf8 25. Rec2 Bh6 26. Be3 Bxe3 27. Qxe3 Kg7
28. a3 Kh7 29. Qd3 Kg7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Mainz CC sim2"]
[Site "Mainz"]
[Date "2001.06.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Miklos, Robert"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2001.06.23"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. d4 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. Kh1 Ne8 10. Ne1 f5 11. exf5 gxf5 12. f4 Ng6 13. fxe5 dxe5 14. Be3 f4 15.
Bc5 Nd6 16. Bd3 Bf5 17. Bxf5 Rxf5 18. Bxd6 cxd6 19. Ne4 Rc8 20. Rc1 Qe7 21. Nf3
Bf6 22. c5 dxc5 23. d6 Qf8 24. Qd5+ Kh8 25. d7 Rb8 26. Rxc5 Rh5 27. Nxf6 Ne7
28. Qe6 Rh6 29. Rxe5 Nc6 30. Rf5 Ne7 31. Rxf4 1-0

[Event "Mainz CC sim2"]
[Site "Mainz"]
[Date "2001.06.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Oldigs, Adolf"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B52"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "2001.06.23"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Nxd7 5. O-O Ngf6 6. Re1 e5 7. c3 h6 8.
d4 cxd4 9. cxd4 Be7 10. Nc3 a6 11. Be3 O-O 12. h3 b5 13. a3 Rc8 14. Rc1 Re8 15.
d5 Nc5 16. Nh2 Ncxe4 17. Nxe4 Nxe4 18. Qf3 Ng5 19. Qg4 Rxc1 20. Rxc1 Rf8 21.
Rc6 f5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Mainz CC sim2"]
[Site "Mainz"]
[Date "2001.06.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Quist, Sven Roy"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B17"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2205"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2001.06.23"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Bc4 e6 6. Nf3 Ngf6 7. Nxf6+ Nxf6
8. Qe2 Bd6 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bh4 Qa5+ 11. c3 Nd5 12. O-O b5 13. Bb3 O-O 14. Ne5 Qc7
15. Rfe1 a6 16. Bg3 Bb7 17. Nd3 a5 18. Bc2 Bxg3 19. hxg3 Ba6 20. Nc5 Ra7 21. a4
Qb6 22. Bd3 Rb8 23. Qe4 Nf6 24. Qf4 Bc8 25. Re2 b4 26. c4 Nd7 27. Rd1 Rba8 28.
Bc2 Ba6 29. Nxd7 Rxd7 30. b3 Rad8 31. Red2 Bb7 32. Qe4 g6 33. Qe3 Kh7 34. f4
Qc7 35. c5 Re7 36. Be4 Qd7 37. Kf2 f5 38. Bf3 Qe8 39. g4 Qf7 40. Rh1 Rf8 41. g3
Qg7 42. Qe5 Rd7 43. Rh2 h5 44. gxh5 gxh5 45. Rxh5+ Kg8 46. Rg5 Qxg5 47. fxg5
1-0

[Event "Mainz CC sim2"]
[Site "Mainz"]
[Date "2001.06.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Rotermund, Verena"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C56"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2001.06.23"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. e5 Ne4 6. O-O Be7 7. c3 d5 8. exd6
Nxd6 9. Bd5 Na5 10. Nxd4 c6 11. Bf3 O-O 12. Re1 Bf6 13. Bf4 Nac4 14. Nd2 Nb6
15. N2b3 Nf5 16. Nxf5 Bxf5 17. Bd6 Re8 18. Rxe8+ Qxe8 19. Nc5 Nc4 20. Nxb7 Qd7
21. Qa4 Qxb7 22. Qxc4 Qxb2 23. Rd1 Be6 24. Qxc6 Rc8 25. Qa6 Rxc3 26. Be5 Qa3
27. Qb7 Rc8 28. Bxf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Mainz CC sim2"]
[Site "Mainz"]
[Date "2001.06.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Schmitt, Hans Walter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2001.06.23"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 c6 2. c4 d5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 Be7 7. O-O b6 8. e4
dxe4 9. Nxe4 Nxe4 10. Bxe4 Bb7 11. Re1 Nf6 12. Bc2 Qc7 13. Bg5 Rd8 14. Qd3 h6
15. Bh4 Nh5 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Ne5 Qg5 18. h4 Qxh4 19. Re4 Qf6 20. Rae1 Rd6 21.
Qh3 Nf4 22. Qa3 Rd8 23. Qxa7 Ba8 24. Qxf7+ 1-0

[Event "Mainz CC sim2"]
[Site "Mainz"]
[Date "2001.06.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Schneider, Joerg"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A61"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2001.06.23"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nf3 g6 7. Nd2 Nbd7 8. e4
Bg7 9. Nc4 Nb6 10. Ne3 O-O 11. Bd3 a6 12. O-O Qc7 13. a4 Nbd7 14. f4 h5 15. Kh1
Qd8 16. Bd2 Re8 17. Qf3 Ng4 18. Nxg4 hxg4 19. Qxg4 c4 20. Bc2 Qb6 21. Rab1 Nf6
22. Qh4 Qd4 23. Rbd1 Bg4 24. Bc1 Bxd1 25. Rxd1 Qc5 26. Rf1 b5 27. f5 gxf5 28.
Bh6 Qd4 29. Bxg7 Kxg7 30. Qg5+ Kf8 31. Qxf5 Ke7 32. axb5 Rh8 33. h3 axb5 34.
Nxb5 Qxb2 35. e5 Qxe5 36. Qxe5+ dxe5 37. d6+ Ke6 38. Nc7+ Kxd6 39. Nxa8 Ng4 40.
Rf3 Rxa8 41. hxg4 Ra1+ 42. Kh2 Rc1 43. Bh7 c3 44. Rf2 Kd5 45. Rxf7 e4 46. g5 c2
47. Rc7 e3 48. Bd3 Kd6 49. Rc8 e2 50. Bxe2 1-0

[Event "Mainz CC sim2"]
[Site "Mainz"]
[Date "2001.06.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Zemke, Christine"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2001.06.23"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 a6 6. O-O c5 7. Bd3 Nc6 8. a3
Bd7 9. Nc3 Qc7 10. Qe2 Be7 11. dxc5 Bxc5 12. b4 Bd6 13. Bb2 Ne5 14. Nxe5 Bxe5
15. Rac1 Bxh2+ 16. Kh1 Qb8 17. f4 Bg3 18. Qf3 Bh4 19. Qh3 g5 20. Ne4 Nxe4 21.
Bxe4 e5 22. Bf5 Bxf5 23. Qxf5 Qd8 24. Rfd1 1-0

[Event "Mainz CC Champions Duel"]
[Site "Mainz"]
[Date "2001.06.26"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2794"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2001.06.26"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 (1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. d4 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 c5 7. O-O dxc4
8. Bxc4 cxd4 9. exd4 a6 10. a4 Nc6 11. Bg5 Be7 12. Re1 Bd7 13. Qe2 Re8 14. Rad1
Nd5 15. Bd2 Bf6 16. Qe4 Nxc3 17. Bxc3 Qc7 18. Ne5 Nxe5 19. dxe5 Be7 20. Rd3
Bxa4 21. Rh3 g6 22. Bxe6 fxe6 23. Qxa4 Bc5 24. Bd4 Rf8 25. Bxc5 {1/2-1/2
Speelman,J-Schlosser,P/Lippstadt GER 2000 (25)}) 1... d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 e6
4. e3 Nf6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. a4 cxd4 8. exd4 Nc6 9. Nc3 Be7 10. Bg5 O-O
11. Re1 Bd7 (11... b6 12. d5 $36) 12. Qe2 Re8 (12... Nb4 $5) 13. Rad1 Nd5 (
13... h6 14. Bc1 Na5 15. Bd3 Bb4 16. Bc2 Rc8 17. Qd3 Bc6 18. Ne5 Bd5 19. Re3
Bb3 20. Rg3 Bxc2 21. Bxh6 Nh5 22. Qf3 Kh7 23. Qxh5 g6 24. Qf3 f6 25. Ne4 Be7
26. Rxg6 Rg8 27. Ng5+ {1-0 Stanojevic,B-Govedarica,R/Novi Sad 1988/EXT 97 (27)}
) (13... Nb4 14. Ne5 Qc7 15. Qf3 Bc6 16. Qh3 Bd5 17. Nxd5 exd5 18. Bb3 Qb6 19.
Rc1 Nc6 20. Bc2 h6 21. Bf4 {1-0 Demkovich,A-Le Thi Phuong Lien/Budapest 1997/
CBM 59 ext (21)}) 14. Bd2 (14. Bxd5 exd5 15. Bxe7 Rxe7 $11 {Bertok - Keres,
Leipzig (ol) 1960}) 14... Bf6 (14... Ncb4 15. Ne5 $14) (14... Nxc3 15. Bxc3 Na5
16. d5 $1 Nxc4 17. Qxc4 $36) 15. Ne4 Nxd4 (15... Bxd4 $2 16. Bg5 Qb6 17. a5 $1
Qa7 18. Nd6 Rf8 19. Nxd4 Nxd4 20. Qg4 $1 $18) 16. Nxd4 Bxd4 17. Bg5 (17. Nd6
Rf8 $1 18. Nxb7 Qc7 $17) (17. Qd3 $5 Qb6 18. a5 Qa7 19. Bc1 $44 {[%csl Ra7]})
17... Qb6 18. a5 Qa7 19. Nd6 Rf8 (19... Bc6 $2 20. Nxe8 Rxe8 21. Bxd5 $1 Bxd5
22. Qd2 $18) (19... Reb8 $2 20. Qf3 Nf6 21. Bxf6 Bxf6 22. Nxf7 $18) 20. Bxd5
exd5 21. Be7 Be6 $1 (21... Rfb8 22. Qd2 (22. Nxf7 Bxf2+ 23. Qxf2 Qxf2+ 24. Kxf2
Kxf7 25. Rxd5 $11) 22... Bc5 23. b4 (23. Nxf7 Bxf2+ 24. Qxf2 Qxf2+ 25. Kxf2
Kxf7 26. Rxd5 $11) 23... Bxd6 24. Bxd6 Re8 25. Bc5 Qb8 $11) 22. Qf3 (22. Bxf8
Rxf8 23. Qf3 Bxb2 $44) 22... Bxb2 (22... Rfb8 23. Rxe6 fxe6 24. Qf7+ Kh8 25.
Qxe6 $36) 23. Rb1 (23. Bxf8 Rxf8 24. Rxe6 fxe6 25. Qe2 Be5 $1 $19) (23. Rxe6
fxe6 24. Qe2 Be5 $1 $19) 23... Qd4 (23... Bd4 24. Rxb7 (24. Bxf8 Rxf8 25. Nxb7
$14) 24... Qc5 $132) 24. Bxf8 (24. Rxe6 $5 fxe6 25. Qe2 Qe5 26. Rxb2 Qxe2 27.
Rxe2 Rf4 28. g3 Ra4 $132) 24... Rxf8 25. Nxb7 Bc3 26. Re3 $2 (26. Rec1 $1 Bd2 (
26... Bb4 27. Qe2 (27. h3 $16) (27. Rc6 $16) 27... Ra8 28. Rc6 $16) 27. Rd1 $16
) 26... Bg4 $1 27. Qg3 Bf5 28. Rf1 Bd2 $44 29. Nd6 Bg6 $15 30. Rf3 (30. Re8 $5)
30... Bxa5 31. h4 $6 (31. Nf5 Qe4 32. Nd6 $11) 31... Bc7 32. Nf5 (32. Rc1 Qb6 (
32... Bb8 $5 33. Rc6 a5 34. Rfc3) 33. Rb3 $11) 32... Bxg3 33. Nxd4 Bxh4 34. Ra3
Bf6 (34... Be7 $142 35. Ra4 (35. Rxa6 Bd3 36. Ra5 Bxf1 37. Kxf1 $15) 35... Bd3
$17) (34... Bf6 35. Rd1 Ra8 36. Nc6 $15) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Mainz CC Champions Duel"]
[Site "Mainz"]
[Date "2001.06.26"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2794"]
[BlackElo "2797"]
[PlyCount "27"]
[EventDate "2001.06.26"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Re1 Nf6 7. Nxe5 Be7
8. Qe2 Be6 9. d3 Nd7 10. Nc3 Nxe5 11. Qxe5 O-O 12. Bf4 Rc8 13. Qe3 b6 14. Qg3
1/2-1/2

[Event "Mainz CC Champions Duel"]
[Site "Mainz"]
[Date "2001.06.27"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2794"]
[BlackElo "2797"]
[Annotator "Atlas,V"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2001.06.26"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 h6 10. h3 Bd7 11. b3 Kc8 12. Bb2 b6 13. Rad1 Ne7 14. Rd2
c5 15. Rfd1 Be6 16. Ne2 g5 17. h4 g4 18. Nh2 h5 19. Rd8+ Kb7 20. Rxa8 Kxa8 21.
Rd8+ Kb7 22. Nf4 Ng6 23. g3 c4 24. bxc4 $2 {A decisive mistake, allowing Black
to conclude the game in style:} Nxf4 $1 25. gxf4 {[%tqu "En","White's pieces
are poorly coordinated. How can Black exploit it?","Use the shaky position of
the enemy rook.","Try to disclose the white king.","g4g3","This pawn thrust
spells a quick end for White.",6]} g3 $1 {[%csl Rd8,Rf2,Rg1,Rh2][%cal Gf8c5,
Gh8d8]} 26. Nf1 (26. fxg3 Bc5+ 27. Rd4 Bxd4+ 28. Bxd4 Rd8 {is hopeless for
White.}) 26... gxf2+ 27. Kh2 ({If} 27. Kxf2 {then} Bc5+ {winning.}) (27. Kg2 {
fails to} Rg8+ 28. Kf3 Bg4+ 29. Kg2 Bd1+ 30. Kxf2 Bc5+) 27... Bxc4 0-1

[Event "Mainz CC Champions Duel"]
[Site "Mainz"]
[Date "2001.06.27"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2794"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "2001.06.26"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 a6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bxc4 e6 6. O-O c5 7. Bb3 Nc6 8. Nc3
cxd4 9. exd4 Be7 10. Bg5 O-O 11. Qd2 h6 (11... Nb4 12. Ne5 h6 13. Bh4 Nbd5 14.
Bxf6 Nxf6 15. Rad1 Qc7 16. f4 Rd8 17. Qe3 b5 18. f5 Qb6 19. fxe6 Bxe6 20. Ng6
Ra7 $15 {0-1 Colas,J-Sansas,A/FRA-ch21 corr 1956/Corr 2000 (37)}) (11... Na5
12. Bc2 b5 13. Qf4 Bb7 14. Rad1 g6 15. Bh6 Nh5 16. Qg4 f5 17. Qh3 Rc8 18. d5 $1
$16 {1-0 Tkachiev,V-Lesiege,A/New Delhi/Theran 2000/CBM 81/[Huzman] (39)}) 12.
Bf4 (12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Rad1 Na5 14. Bc2 b5 15. b3 Bb7 16. Ne4 Rc8 17. Bb1 Bxe4
18. Bxe4 Nc6 19. Rfe1 Ne7 20. Bb1 Nd5 21. Qd3 g6 $17 {1/2-1/2 Gelfand,B-Shirov,
A/New Delhi IND 2000/ (72)}) (12. Bxh6 gxh6 13. Qxh6 Re8 14. Qg5+ Kh8 15. Qh6+
Kg8 $11 (15... Nh7 16. d5 exd5 17. Bxd5 $44)) 12... Re8 13. Rad1 (13. d5 exd5
14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. Bxd5 Bb4 $11) 13... Bf8 (13... Na5 $5 14. Bc2 Nc4 15. Qc1 (
15. Qe2 b5) 15... b5 16. Ne5 Bb7 $132) 14. Ne5 Ne7 15. Qd3 $1 Ned5 16. Bc1 (16.
Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Bc2 f5 18. Bd2 $14) 16... b5 17. Qg3 Bb7 $1 (17... Nh5 18. Qf3
Nhf6 19. Ne4 $36) 18. Bxh6 (18. Nxd5 Bxd5 19. Bxh6 Ne4 20. Qg4 Nf6 21. Qg5 Bxb3
22. axb3 Kh7 23. Bxg7 Bxg7 24. Rd3 Bh6 25. Rh3 Ng8 $17) 18... Nxc3 19. bxc3 Ne4
20. Qg4 Nf6 (20... Nxc3 21. Rd3 Ne4 (21... Rc8 22. Bg5 $16) 22. Rh3 (22. Rf3
Nf6 (22... Nd6 23. Rh3 $40) 23. Rxf6 Qxf6 24. Bg5 Qf5 25. Qxf5 exf5 26. Bxf7+
Kh7 27. Rb1 {[%cal Gb1b3,Gb3h3]} Be7 28. Bxe8 Rxe8 29. Bxe7 Rxe7 $44) 22...
Qxd4 (22... Nf6 23. Qh4 gxh6 24. Rg3+ Bg7 25. Qxh6 Nh5 26. Qxh5 $18) 23. Qh5 (
23. Bf4 Nxf2 24. Rxf2 Bc5 25. Rh8+ (25. Re3 Qa1+ 26. Qd1 Qxd1+ 27. Bxd1 $11)
25... Kxh8 26. Qh5+ Kg8 27. Qxf7+ $11) 23... g6 24. Nxg6 Bxh6 25. Qxh6 Qg7 $11)
21. Qg5 Qe7 $1 (21... Ne4 22. Qh5 $16) 22. Rd3 Ne4 23. Qg4 (23. Qxe7 Rxe7 24.
Bc1 Rc7 25. Bb2 Rac8 26. Rc1 Bd6 27. f3 Nf6 $44) 23... Nf6 24. Qg5 (24. Qh3
gxh6 25. Rg3+ Kh8 26. Rg6 Be4 $1 $19) (24. Qh4 $1 gxh6 25. Rg3+ Kh8 26. Bc2 Bg7
27. Bg6 $1 Rf8 28. Bxf7 $1 Be4 $1 29. Re1 (29. Bg6 Qb7) 29... Bh7 30. Bxe6 $44)
(24. Qf4 gxh6 25. Rg3+ Kh8 26. Bc2 Bg7 27. Bg6 Rf8 28. Bxf7 Be4 29. Re1 Bh7 30.
Bxe6 Nh5 $1 31. Nf7+ Rxf7 32. Qxf7 Qxf7 33. Bxf7 Nxg3 34. hxg3 Rc8 $15) 24...
Ne4 25. Qg4 Nf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Mainz CC Champions Duel"]
[Site "Mainz"]
[Date "2001.06.29"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D29"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2794"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2001.06.26"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. Bb3 Nbd7 8. Qe2
b5 9. a4 Bb7 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Qxa8 12. Nc3 b4 13. Nb5 Qb8 14. e4 cxd4 (
14... Bxe4 15. Ng5 Bd5 (15... Be7 16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. d5 $44) 16. Bxd5 Nxd5 17.
Nxe6 (17. Re1 Qb6) 17... fxe6 18. Qxe6+ Kd8 (18... Be7 19. Qxd5 Qxb5 20. Re1
$40) 19. Qxd5 Qxb5 20. Bg5+ Kc7 21. Ra1 $40) (14... Nxe4 15. Ng5 Bc6 16. d5 $1
Bxb5 17. Qxe4 Nf6 18. Qe3 Bxf1 19. Nxf7 Qxh2+ 20. Kxh2 Ng4+ 21. Kg1 Nxe3 22.
Nxh8 $16 {1-0 Jussupow,A-Polgar,J/Moscow 1994}) 15. Nbxd4 Bd6 (15... Nc5 $2 16.
Bc4 Be7 17. Bb5+ Nfd7 18. Rd1 $16 {Huebner-Georgiev,Kir Moskva 1994}) 16. Bxe6
(16. Rd1 O-O 17. Nxe6 fxe6 18. Bxe6+ Kh8 19. Qd3 (19. Bxd7 Nxd7 20. Qd3 Rf6 {
Huebner}) 19... Nxe4 20. Bxd7 Bxh2+ 21. Nxh2 Nxf2 22. Qd6 Nxd1 23. Qxd1 Rd8 24.
Bg5 Rxd7 25. Qxd7 Qa7+ {0-1, Sutter-Raetzky (Biel 1995)}) 16... fxe6 17. Nxe6
h6 (17... Ne5 18. Nxe5 Bxe5 19. f4 Qa7+ 20. Be3 Ba6 21. Ra1 $16 {Uhlmann,
W-Balcerowski,W/Bad Liebenstein 1963 (21)}) (17... g6 18. Re1 $1 (18. e5 Bxe5
19. Nfg5 Bxh2+ 20. Kh1 Be5 21. f4 h6 22. Nh3 Bd6 23. Nc5+ Kf8 24. Nxd7+ Nxd7
25. Qe6 Rh7 26. f5 g5 27. Rd1 Be5 28. Rxd7 Rxd7 29. Qxd7 Qc8 30. Qd2 Qc6 $44 {
1/2-1/2 Nechaev,A-Zakharchenko,A/Yalta 1996/EXT 98 (44)}) (18. Bh6 Ke7 19. Neg5
Rc8 20. Bg7 Rc5 21. Qd3 Bxh2+ 22. Nxh2 Rxg5 23. Re1 Kf7 24. Nf3 Rxg2+ 25. Kxg2
Kxg7 $17 {0-1 Campos Moreno,J-Adianto,U/Moscow 1994/CBM 44 ext (36)}) (18. Qc4
Qc8 19. Ng7+ Kf8 20. Qe6 Kxg7 21. Qxd6 Qc5 22. Qf4 Re8 23. Be3 Qe7 24. Re1 Qxe4
25. Qd6 Qd5 26. Qxb4 Ne5 27. Rc1 Kg8 28. Qf4 Nd3 {0-1 Campos Moreno,J-Magem
Badals,J/Barbera del Valles 1995/EXT 97 (28)}) 18... h6 19. Qc4 Ng4 20. e5 $1
Ngxe5 21. Nxe5 Nxe5 22. Nc5 Bc8 23. Qd4 O-O 24. Bxh6 Re8 25. Ne4 Rd8 26. Qd5+
Kh7 27. Bf4 Bb7 28. Ng5+ Kh6 29. Qe6 {1-0 Frieditis,G-Pohla,H/corr URS-1chT 
(FS-67/156) 1967 (29)}) 18. Nxg7+ (18. Qc4 Bxe4 19. Nxg7+ Kf8 20. Ne6+ Kg8 $17)
(18. Re1 Bxe4 (18... Kf7 19. Qc4 Kg6 20. Qd3 (20. e5 Bxe5 21. Nxe5+ Nxe5 22.
Nf4+ Kh7 23. Qc2+ Be4 24. Rxe4 Nxe4 25. Qxe4+ g6 $15) 20... Ne5 $17) 19. Nd2 (
19. Qc4 Nb6 20. Nxg7+ Kf8 21. Qd4 (21. Ne6+ Ke7 22. Qb3 Qg8 $19) 21... Kxg7 22.
Rxe4 Rd8 $17) 19... Bd5 $1 $17) (18. e5 Bxf3 19. Qxf3 Nxe5 $17) 18... Kf7 19.
Nf5 Bxe4 20. Nxh6+ (20. Nxd6+ Qxd6 21. Rd1 Qc5 $17) (20. Qc4+ Bd5 $17) 20...
Kg7 21. h3 {'?' Tischb.. '?' Jussupow,Kindermann. Jussupow,Kindermann: ein nur
durch Nervositaet zu erklaerender Fehlgriff, der Schwarz in Vorteil bringt.} (
21. Qd2 $142 Rh7 {[%cal Yg7h8]} (21... Kf8 22. Rd1 Bc7 23. Ng4 Bxf3 24. gxf3
Bxh2+ 25. Kg2 Be5 $17) (21... Bxf3 22. Nf5+ (22. Qxd6 Qxd6 23. Nf5+ Kh7 24.
Nxd6 Rg8 $17 (24... Rg8 {Jussupow,Kindermann} 25. g3 $17)) 22... Kg6 {'!?'
Jussupow,Kindermann.} (22... Kf8 $1) (22... Kf8 {Jussupow,Kindermann} 23. Qxd6+
Qxd6 24. Nxd6 Rg8 25. Bh6+ Ke7 26. Nf5+ $44) 23. Qg5+ (23. Nxd6 Ne4) 23... Kf7
24. Qg7+ Ke6 25. Re1+ {'~~' Jussupow,Kindermann.} (25. Nxd6 Qg8 $17) (25. Nd4+
{Jussupow,Kindermann} Kd5 26. Nxf3 Bxh2+ 27. Kh1 $13) 25... Be5 (25... Kd5 $13
{Jussupow,Kindermann}) 26. Nd4+ Kd5 27. Nxf3 Bxh2+ 28. Kf1 $13) 22. h3 Bxf3 (
22... Kh8 23. Ng5 $1) 23. Nf5+ (23. gxf3 Kh8 $17) 23... Kh8 24. Qxd6 (24. Nxd6
Bxg2 $1 25. Kxg2 Qg8+ 26. Kf3 (26. Qg5 Rg7) 26... Qb3+ 27. Kf4 (27. Ke2 Re7+) (
27. Qe3 Rxh3+) 27... Rh4+ 28. Kg5 Qxh3 $19) 24... Qxd6 (24... Qg8 25. Ng3 (25.
Qg3 Qxg3 26. fxg3 $15) 25... Qd5 26. Qxd5 Bxd5 27. Bd2 b3 28. Bc3 $11) 25. Nxd6
Rg7 26. g3 Rh7 27. h4 Re7 $36) 21... Rxh6 22. Bxh6+ Kxh6 $17 23. Rd1 Bxf3 24.
Qxf3 Be5 25. Qe3+ Kg7 26. Qg5+ Kf7 27. Qf5 Nf8 28. b3 (28. g4 $5 Bh2+ 29. Kh1
Qe5 $17) 28... Bc3 29. g3 (29. g4 Qe5 $19) 29... Qe5 30. Qxe5 Bxe5 31. f4 Bc3
32. Kg2 (32. g4 $5 Ne4 33. Kf1 Nd2+ 34. Ke2 Nxb3 35. Kd3 Nc5+ 36. Kc4 Ne4 37.
f5) 32... Ne4 (32... N8d7 $5 33. g4 Nc5 34. g5 Nfe4 $19) 33. g4 Nd2 $19 34. f5
(34. Kf2 Nxb3 35. Ke3 Nc5 $19) 34... Nxb3 35. g5 Nc5 (35... Nd2 36. Rc1 Kg8 $19
{[%cal Yb4b2]}) 36. Kf3 b3 37. h4 b2 38. h5 Bd2 39. Rb1 (39. g6+ Kg7 40. Rb1
Bc1 41. Ke2 Ne4 42. Kd3 Nd2) 39... Bc1 40. Ke2 (40. h6 Na4 41. g6+ Nxg6 42.
fxg6+ Kxg6 $19) 40... Nb3 41. Kd3 Nd2 42. Rxb2 Bxb2 43. Kxd2 Kg7 44. Kd3 Bc1
45. g6 Nd7 46. Ke4 Nf6+ 47. Ke5 Nxh5 0-1

[Event "Mainz CC Champions Duel"]
[Site "Mainz"]
[Date "2001.06.29"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2794"]
[BlackElo "2797"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "2001.06.26"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. a4 Bb7 8. d3
O-O 9. axb5 axb5 10. Rxa8 Bxa8 11. Nc3 b4 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. Bxd5 d6 14. c3 bxc3
15. bxc3 Ne7 16. Bxa8 Qxa8 17. d4 exd4 18. cxd4 Bb6 19. Qc2 h6 20. Re1 Re8 21.
Bd2 Ng6 22. h3 d5 23. e5 Nf8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Mainz CC Champions Duel"]
[Site "Mainz"]
[Date "2001.06.30"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2794"]
[BlackElo "2797"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2001.06.26"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Qb6 {A surprise from Kramnik. This is
the first time he uses the queen sortie. Black will go later back to c7 with
the queen, but white knight was forced to leave its central position on d4, so
4. ... Qb6 has its advantages and drawbacks.} 5. Nb3 Nf6 6. Nc3 e6 7. a3 {
A possible move, but probably not the strongest one. 7.a3 has the logical idea
to prevent Bb4 and also sometimes Nb4, but it is a loss of a tempo and in this
game Kramnik demonstrated its drawbacks. Later in the play-offs Anand
wasbetter prepared and chose a more ambitious way.} (7. Qe2 Bb4 8. Bd2 O-O 9.
a3 Be7 10. O-O-O d6 (10... d5) 11. g4 a6 12. g5 Nd7 13. h4 Qc7 14. f4 b5 15.
Kb1 $16 {1-0 Anand,V-Kramnik,V/Mainz (blitz) 2001/ (28)}) (7. Bd3 {is
considered main move by theory.}) 7... Be7 8. f4 d6 9. Qf3 a6 10. Bd3 O-O 11.
g4 {A typical play in this kind of positions - the advance of the g-pawn is
rather a way to get more space than a direct attack against black king.
However, Black has a solid sicilian position and White must be careful not to
end up with a broken pawn structure.} Nd7 12. Be3 Qc7 13. g5 b5 14. h4 {
Although White has space advantage, he might soon have a problem with the king.
After long castle the pawn on a3 will help Black to open the b-file. Probably
Anand decided already to castle kingside later. But he chose an unfortunate
moment later on, so maybe this was the right time to play 14.0-0.} (14. O-O-O
b4 15. axb4 Nxb4 16. Kb1 $13) (14. O-O $5) 14... b4 15. Ne2 (15. axb4 Nxb4 $15)
15... bxa3 16. bxa3 Rb8 17. O-O $2 {[%mdl 64] A tactical blunder. Now Black
wins a pawn.} Nce5 $1 (17... Nde5 {is posible as well of course.}) 18. fxe5
Nxe5 19. Qg3 Nxd3 20. cxd3 Rxb3 21. Rfc1 Qd7 {A pawn up with no weaknesses
should be enough for a win. But in this rapid match and particulary in this
game Anand produced some miracles.} 22. Nf4 Bb7 23. Rcb1 Qb5 24. Rxb3 Qxb3 25.
Qe1 Qa4 26. Qd1 Qd7 {Hoping to create an attack against the weakened white
kingside.} (26... Qxd1+ 27. Rxd1 $17 {Black's task in endgame is still not
very easy (speaking about a technical win) - White has some initiative on the
queenside thanks to the fact that black bishops are closed and the rook is
passive as well.}) 27. Qg4 d5 28. Nh5 Qd6 29. e5 {This is probably another
blunder, intending to play 30.Bd4 after 29. ... Qxe5. But it happened to be
not so bad after all...} (29. Nf6+ {brings nothing:} Kh8) 29... Qxe5 30. Qd4 (
30. Bd4 Bc5 $1 $19) 30... Qxd4 $6 {Black is winning after this too, but White
has some chances to escape thanks to activity of his pieces. Apparently
Kramnik does everything right. However even in endgame White keeps the
initiative and does not have to worry about the king any longer.} (30... f6 31.
gxf6 gxf6 32. Qg4+ Kf7 33. Bd4 f5 (33... Bc5 $2 34. Qg7+ Ke8 35. Bxc5 Qxa1+ 36.
Kg2 Qb2+ 37. Kh3 $18) 34. Bxe5 fxg4 {must be winning as well.}) (30... Bd6 $1
31. Qxe5 Bxe5 32. Rb1 (32. Rc1 Rc8) 32... Bc6 $19 {was probably the easiest
way.}) 31. Bxd4 f6 32. Rc1 Rf7 $6 (32... Bd8 $142) 33. gxf6 gxf6 34. Rb1 $1 {
In spite of considerable material advantage, Black has big technical problems
to convert it into a win. White has the initiative and in many cases several
engames can arise with drawish tendentions (different-coloured bishops, rook
endgame with extra marginal pawns for Black, which are sometimes theoretically
drawn as well).} Bxa3 35. Nxf6+ Kf8 36. Rb3 Bd6 37. Rb6 e5 (37... Rxf6 38. Rxd6
Rg6+ 39. Kf2 {and being two pawns doawn White has chances to save the game
thanks to a much stronger bishop and control over dark squares.}) 38. Rxd6 exd4
39. Nxd5 Bxd5 $2 {After this final mistake is a theoretical draw.} (39... Ke8
$17) 40. Rxd5 Rf4 41. h5 {Black loses his d-pawn which means a draw.} Kg7 42.
Kg2 Kf6 43. Kg3 Rf5 44. Rxd4 Kg5 45. Rd6 a5 46. h6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Mainz CC Champions Duel"]
[Site "Mainz"]
[Date "2001.06.30"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2794"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2001.06.26"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. dxc5 Qxd1 8.
Rxd1 Bxc5 9. Be2 Nc6 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. b3 Rd8 12. Bb2 Bd7 13. Nc4 Be8 14. Nfe5
Rxd1+ 15. Rxd1 Rd8 16. Rxd8 Nxd8 17. Bf3 Be7 18. Nb6 Bc5 19. Bd4 Bxd4 20. exd4
Kf8 21. Kf1 Bb5+ 22. Ke1 Ne8 23. a4 Bc6 24. Bxc6 bxc6 25. Nbd7+ Ke7 26. Nb8 Nc7
27. Nexc6+ Nxc6 28. Nxc6+ Kd6 29. Nb4 e5 30. dxe5+ Kxe5 31. Kd2 Kd4 32. Nc2+
Kc5 33. g3 g6 34. Kd3 Nd5 35. Ne3 Nb4+ 36. Kc3 f5 37. Nc2 Nd5+ 38. Kd3 h6 39.
f4 h5 40. Kd2 h4 41. gxh4 Nxf4 42. Ne1 Kd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Mainz CC Champions Duel"]
[Site "Mainz"]
[Date "2001.07.01"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2794"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2001.06.26"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. Bb3 cxd4 8.
exd4 Nc6 9. Nc3 Be7 10. Re1 O-O 11. Bf4 Na5 12. Bc2 b5 13. d5 exd5 14. Qd3 (14.
Bg5 Nc6 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Nxd5 g6 17. Nxf6+ Qxf6 18. Be4 Bf5 19. Bxc6 Qxc6 {
1/2-1/2 Yevseev,D-Yakovich,Y/Samara RUS 2000 (19)}) 14... Nc6 (14... g6 15.
Rxe7 Qxe7 16. Bg5 Qd6 17. Qd4 Nh5 18. Nxd5 Nc6 19. Qd2 f6 20. Bb3 Kh8 21. Be3
Bg4 $19 {0-1 Illescas Cordoba,M-Anand,V/Leon m 1997/ (37)}) 15. Bc7 Qd7 16. Ne5
Nxe5 17. Bxe5 g6 18. a4 (18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Nxd5 Bg7 20. a4 bxa4 21. Bxa4 Qd8
22. Bc6 {1/2-1/2 Kasparov,G-Anand,V/Wijk aan Zee A sp 1999/[Poldauf] (22)})
18... Bb7 19. axb5 axb5 20. Qxb5 (20. Nxb5 Ne4 21. Nd4 Bc5 $11) 20... Qxb5 21.
Nxb5 Rxa1 22. Rxa1 Rc8 23. Bd3 (23. Nc3 Ng4 24. Bd4 Rc4 25. Rd1 Bf6 $11) (23.
Bc3 Ne4 24. Bxe4 dxe4 25. Ra7 Ra8 $11) 23... Nd7 24. Bc3 Nc5 25. Bf1 Ba6 26.
Nd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Mainz CC Champions Duel"]
[Site "Mainz"]
[Date "2001.07.01"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2794"]
[BlackElo "2797"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "2001.06.26"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8.
Re1 Bg4 9. c4 Nf6 10. Nc3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Nxd4 12. Qd1 Ne6 13. Bf5 dxc4 14. Qa4+
c6 15. Bxe6 fxe6 16. Qxc4 O-O 17. Qxe6+ Rf7 18. Be3 Qd6 19. Qxd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Mainz CC Champions Duel playoff"]
[Site "Mainz"]
[Date "2001.06.26"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2795"]
[Annotator "McShane,L"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2001.06.26"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Qb6 {Often the idea of these systems
with an early ...Qb6 in the Sicilian is to provoke White to retreat the
d4-knight. If the queen is later kicked back to c7, Black argues that the
knight was better placed on d4, so nothing was lost.} 5. Nb3 Nf6 6. Nc3 e6 7.
Qe2 Bb4 {Again, by playing this Black intends to make White's development more
awkward.} 8. Bd2 O-O 9. a3 Be7 10. O-O-O d6 11. g4 {Noticeably, Anand does not
waste time with Be3, recognising that here Black's queen blocks the path of
the b-pawn, as Kramnik wants to play b7-b5-b4 to prise open the queenside,
based on the weakness a3.  Anand wants to forge forward with his own attack,
and with kings on opposite sides of the board every tempo counts.} a6 12. g5
Nd7 13. h4 Qc7 14. f4 b5 15. Kb1 b4 16. axb4 Nxb4 17. f5 $1 {White must hurry
through on the kingside, and now threatens f5-f6, aand perhaps g5-g6. It is
always vital to consider the order of pawn advances during a pawn storm, for
example h4-h5 and g5-g6 might here be met by f7xg6, h5xg6, h7-h6. Anand's
advance is harder to deal with.} Rb8 18. Bf4 exf5 19. exf5 Ne5 20. Bh3 Re8 21.
g6 hxg6 {Perhaps} (21... Bf6 $142 $5 22. gxh7+ (22. h5 h6 $5) 22... Kh8) 22.
Bxe5 dxe5 23. fxg6 {Now the light square weaknesses are fatal.} fxg6 24. h5 Bf5
$6 (24... g5 {looks pretty gruesome, but was probably a better try.}) 25. hxg6
$3 Bxh3 (25... Bxc2+ 26. Qxc2 $1 Nxc2 27. Be6+ Kf8 28. Rh8#) 26. Rxh3 Bg5 27.
Ne4 Bf4 28. Nbc5 {28...Bh6 can block the h-file, but nothing can block the
a2-g8 diagonal.} 1-0

[Event "Mainz CC Champions Duel playoff"]
[Site "Mainz"]
[Date "2001.06.26"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2794"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2001.06.26"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 084"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. Bb3 Nbd7 8. Qe2
b5 9. e4 Bb7 10. d5 c4 (10... e5 11. a4 c4 12. Bc2 Bc5 13. axb5 axb5 14. Rxa8
Qxa8 15. b3 Ba6 16. Bb2 Qb8 17. Nbd2 O-O 18. Ra1 Qd6 19. bxc4 bxc4 {[#]} 20.
Nxe5 Nxe5 21. Bxe5 Qxe5 22. Rxa6 Nxd5 23. Nxc4 $16 {1-0 Kazhgaleyev,
M-Dunnington,A/Paris 1996/EXT 97 (35)}) 11. dxe6 (11. Bc2 e5 12. a4 Bd6 (12...
Bc5 13. Nc3 Qb6 14. axb5 axb5 15. Rxa8+ Bxa8 16. b3 cxb3 17. Bxb3 O-O 18. Bb2
Bb7 19. Bc2 Ba6 20. Bd3 Rb8 21. Nd1 Bd6 22. Ne3 Re8 23. Nf5 Bf8 24. Rc1 $36 {
1-0 Khenkin,I-Jonkman,H/Haarlem 1998/EXT 99 (52)}) 13. Nc3 b4 14. Nd1 a5 15.
Ne3 Nb6 16. Nd2 c3 17. bxc3 bxc3 18. Ndc4 Nxc4 19. Nxc4 Bb4 20. Nxe5 $16 {
1/2-1/2 Khenkin,I-Sadler,M/Isle of Man 1995/EXT 98 (53)}) 11... fxe6 12. Bc2
Bd6 {Black has achieved a very convenient 'merano-type" position.} (12... Bc5
13. Ng5 (13. b3 cxb3 14. Bxb3 Nxe4 15. Nbd2 Ndf6 16. Bxe6 Qe7 17. Nxe4 Nxe4 18.
Bb3 O-O-O 19. Be3 Kb8 20. Rac1 Bd6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Kaplun,L-Pohla,H/Beltsy 1977/
MCD (48)}) 13... e5 14. Ne6 Qb6 15. Nxg7+ Kf7 16. Nf5 Nf8 17. Nd2 Ng6 18. Nxc4
$16 {0-1 Flohr,S-Thomas,G/Ujpest 1934/HCL (34)}) (12... Qc7 13. e5 Nd5 14. Ng5
Nc5 15. Qh5+ g6 16. Bxg6+ hxg6 17. Qxg6+ Kd7 18. Nf7 Be7 19. Nxh8 Rxh8 20. Qg7
Qb8 21. Rd1 Nd3 $17 {0-1 Neiman,E-Borges Mateos,J/Mislata op 2000/Ajelibre (25)
}) 13. b3 $6 (13. Rd1 $142 Qb8 14. h3 O-O 15. a4 Bc5 16. Nbd2 Nh5 17. Nxc4 Ndf6
18. Nce5 Ng3 19. Qe1 Ngxe4 20. Be3 Rc8 21. Bxe4 Bxe4 22. Bxc5 Rxc5 23. Nd7 Nxd7
24. Qxe4 $16 {1-0 Gruenberg,H-Loeffler,S/BL9495 1995/GER-chT (39)}) 13... Ne5
$1 14. Nbd2 $2 (14. bxc4 Nxf3+ 15. Qxf3 Be5 $19) (14. Rd1 Nxf3+ 15. Qxf3 O-O
$36) 14... c3 15. Nb1 (15. Nxe5 cxd2 16. Bb2 Qc7 $19) 15... Nxf3+ 16. Qxf3 b4
$17 {[%csl Rb1]} 17. a3 a5 18. Qh3 e5 (18... Qe7 $17) (18... Kf7 $17) 19. axb4
axb4 20. Rxa8 Bxa8 21. Qe6+ Qe7 22. Qc8+ Qd8 23. Qa6 (23. Qe6+ Be7 $5 24. Qxe5
O-O 25. Qe6+ Kh8 26. Rd1 Qe8 $44) 23... O-O 24. Rd1 Ng4 $1 25. Qxd6 Qh4 26. Qc5
(26. Qe6+ $142 Kh8 27. Qb6 Qxh2+ 28. Kf1 Bb7 29. f3 (29. Rd8 Ba6+ 30. Qxa6 Rxd8
$19) 29... Ba6+ 30. Rd3 (30. Bd3 c2 $19) 30... Qh1+ 31. Qg1 Rxf3+ 32. gxf3
Qxf3+ 33. Ke1 Qxe4+ 34. Be3 Bxd3 35. Bxd3 Qxd3 36. Qxg4 Qxe3+ 37. Kd1 (37. Kf1
Qf4+ $19) 37... Qd4+ $19) 26... Qxh2+ 27. Kf1 Rxf2+ (27... Bxe4 28. Bxe4 Qh1+
29. Ke2 Rxf2+ 30. Qxf2 Qxd1+ 31. Kxd1 Nxf2+ 32. Kc2 Nxe4 33. Kd3 Nf2+ 34. Kc4
$132) (27... Bb7 28. Bd3 Qh1+ 29. Ke2 Rxf2+ 30. Qxf2 Qxd1+ 31. Kxd1 Nxf2+ 32.
Kc2 $15) 28. Qxf2 Nxf2 29. Kxf2 Qh4+ 30. Kf3 Qh5+ (30... h5 $5 $19) 31. Ke3
Qg5+ 32. Kf2 Qh4+ 33. Kf3 h5 34. Rf1 Qg4+ 35. Ke3 Qxg2 (35... Qg3+ 36. Ke2
Qxg2+ 37. Rf2 Qg4+ 38. Ke1 Bxe4 $19) 36. Bd3 Qg3+ (36... h4 $19) 37. Ke2 Qg4+ (
37... Qg2+ 38. Rf2 Qg4+ 39. Ke1 Bxe4 $19) 38. Ke3 Qg3+ {Anand has accepted the
draw that guaranteed him an overall victory in the match.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2001.07.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2711"]
[BlackElo "2802"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2001.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 085"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 {Das ist interessant - bis jetzt spielte
Kramnik diese Variante auch mit Weiß.} 4. Qb3 (4. g3) (4. Qc2) 4... c5 5. g3
Nc6 6. a3 Ba5 {Schwarz schlägt (noch) nicht auf c3. In der Folge muss Weiß
aber immer mit Bxc3 rechnen.} (6... Bxc3 7. Qxc3) 7. Bg2 O-O 8. O-O d5 (8...
Qe7 9. d3 h6 10. e3 Bxc3 11. Qxc3 e5 12. b4 d6 13. Bb2 Re8 14. b5 Nb8 15. d4 e4
16. Nd2 Bf5 17. f3 cxd4 18. exd4 e3 19. Rae1 Nbd7 20. Ne4 d5 {1/2-1/2 Votava,
J-Berzinsh,R/Olomouc 1997/CBM 61 (34)}) (8... d6 9. d3 Qe7 10. Bd2 Rd8 11. Qa4
Bd7 12. Rab1 Be8 13. Rfc1 h6 14. Qd1 Rac8 15. Qe1 b6 16. e4 Ng4 17. Qd1 Bxc3
18. bxc3 Nf6 19. Qe2 $14 {Dzindzichasvili,R-Salov,V Manila izt 1990 CBM/19 49/
17}) 9. d3 h6 {Schwarz verhindert das mögliche Bg5.} 10. Bf4 (10. Na4 Qe7 (
10... b6 11. Bf4 Bd7 12. Nc3 Bxc3 13. Qxc3 d4 14. Qc2 Re8 15. Ne5 Nxe5 16. Bxe5
Ng4 (16... Rc8 $5) 17. Bxa8 Qxa8 18. Bf4 e5 19. Bc1 f5 20. f3 {1-0 Ehlvest,
J-Romanishin,O/Terrassa 1991/CBM 24/[Ribli] (30)}) 11. Qc2 d4 12. Rb1 (12. e3
e5 13. exd4 exd4 14. Bd2 Bxd2 15. Nxd2 (15. Qxd2 $5) 15... Bd7 16. Rfe1 Qd6 17.
b3 Rae8 {0-1 Nikolac,J-Kurajica,B/Cro Cup 2001/[1/2] (31)}) 12... Rd8 13. e3 e5
14. exd4 exd4 15. Bd2 Bxd2 16. Qxd2 Rb8 17. Qf4 b5 18. Rfe1 Qf8 19. Nd2 bxa4
20. Bxc6 {1-0 Milos,G-Van Riemsdijk,H/Buenos Aires 1990/CBM 20 ext (53)}) (10.
e3 b6 11. Rd1 Bb7 12. cxd5 exd5 13. Ne2 Qe7 14. Qa4 a6 15. b4 cxb4 16. Ned4
Rfc8 17. Bb2 bxa3 18. Bxa3 Qd7 19. Bb2 b5 20. Qb3 Nxd4 21. Bxd4 $44 {1-0
Ivanov,I-Lobo,R/USA 1990/EXT 2000 (43)}) 10... Re8 11. Na4 (11. Ne5 Nxe5 (11...
Nd4) 12. Bxe5 Nd7 (12... Ng4) 13. Bd6 d4 14. Na4 Bb6 15. Qc2 e5 16. b4 cxb4 17.
axb4 Bc7 18. c5 a6 19. f4 Rb8 20. Qa2 Bxd6 21. cxd6 Nf6 22. fxe5 Rxe5 23. Nc5
Qxd6 {1/2-1/2 Filippov,V-Kiriakov,P/Krasnoiarsk 1998/EXT 2000 (23)}) 11... b6 {
Dieser natürliche Zug führt zu Ausgleich.} (11... e5 12. cxd5 Nd4 13. Nxd4 cxd4
14. Bc1 Bg4 $13) (11... dxc4 12. Qxc4 e5 13. Be3 e4 $13 (13... Nd4)) 12. Ne5
Bd7 (12... Bb7 $2 13. Nxc5 $16) 13. e3 $6 (13. Nc3 $5 Bxc3 14. bxc3 (14. Qxc3
d4 15. Qc2 Rc8 $11 (15... Nxe5 $6 16. Bxe5 Ng4 17. Bxa8 Qxa8 18. Bf4 e5 19. Bc1
f5 $44)) 14... Nxe5 15. Bxe5 Bc6 16. cxd5 Bxd5 17. Bxd5 exd5 18. Bxf6 Qxf6 19.
Qxd5 Rad8 $11) 13... g5 $1 {Ein ausgezeichneter Zug! Schwarz schwächt - von
sich aus - seine Königsstellung, aber das hat keine Bedeutung. Wichtiger ist,
dass Weiß den Ne5 abtauschen muss. Danach bekommt Schwarz gutes Figurenspiel
und der weiße Bf4 Probleme.} (13... Rc8 $11) 14. Nxc6 Bxc6 15. Be5 Ng4 $15 {
[%csl Re5]} 16. Bc3 (16. cxd5 Bxd5 (16... Bxa4 $6 17. Qxa4 Nxe5 18. dxe6 $13 {
[%cal Rb2b4,Rb4a5]}) 17. Bxd5 Qxd5 18. Qxd5 exd5 19. Bc3 Bxc3 20. Nxc3 Rad8 $15
) 16... Bxc3 17. Nxc3 dxc4 18. dxc4 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Qe7 {[%cal Ge7b7,Gb7g2][%mdl
32] Auf den ersten Blick wirkt die Stellung ausgeglichen. Zwar ist die
Bauernstruktur in der Tat symmetrisch, aber Schwarz kann sich am Königsflügel
etwas Initiative verschaffen.} 20. Ne4 (20. Qc2 f5 21. Qe2 (21. e4 $6 f4 $36)
21... Qb7+ 22. f3 Ne5 $15 {[%cal Gg5g4]}) (20. Ne2 Qb7+ 21. f3 f5 22. h3 Nf6
$15) 20... f5 21. h3 Ne5 22. Qc3 Nd7 23. Nd2 Rad8 24. Rad1 Nf6 (24... e5 25. e4
$1 (25. Nf3 $6 e4 $15) 25... f4 26. Nf3 $11 {[%cal Gf3e5]}) 25. Nf3 (25. Qe5
Rd6 26. Nf3 Red8 27. Rxd6 Rxd6 $15 {Schwarz kontrolliert die d-Linie. In der
Folge kann er Nd7 und e6-e5 ziehen.}) 25... Rxd1 26. Rxd1 e5 {[%csl Ge5,Gf5,
Gg5]} 27. Qc2 (27. Qd2 Qb7 $15 {[%cal Gb7g2]}) (27. Ng1 Qb7+ 28. Kh2 Kf7 $15) (
27. Ne1) 27... e4 28. Ng1 {[%cal Gg1e2,Ge2c3]} Rd8 29. Ne2 Rxd1 30. Qxd1 Qd7
31. Qxd7 {Weiß muss die Damen tauschen.} Nxd7 {[%mdl 4096] Schwarz hat
Raumvorteil, und sein Springer bekommt einen ausgezeichneten Posten auf e5.
Ich muss hier anmerken, dass der weiße P auf a3 nicht glücklich steht - eine
Bauernstruktur a2-b2-c4 wäre besser.} 32. b3 {Früher oder später muss Weiß so
spielen, aber seine Bauern am Damenflügel sind schwach.} Ne5 {[%csl Ge5][%cal
Ge5d3]} 33. Nc3 Kf7 34. g4 $6 {Weiß möchte sich vom positionellen Druck am
Königsflügel befreien. Seine Stellung ist schwer zu halten, aber anstelle der
Partiefortsetzung hätte eine passive Verteidigung vielleicht bessere
Rettungschancen versprochen.} (34. Nb5 a5 $5 (34... Nc6 35. g4 fxg4 36. hxg4
Ke6 37. f4 exf3+ 38. Kxf3 Ke5 $15) 35. a4 (35. Nd6+ $2 Ke6 36. Nc8 a4 $19)
35... Nf3 36. g4 (36. Nd6+ Ke6 37. Nc8 Nd2 38. Nxb6 Nxb3 39. Kf1 Nd2+ 40. Ke2
Nf3 {[%cal Rf3g1,Rg1h3]} 41. Kf1 Ne5 $17 {Anschließend kann Schwarz Kd6-Kc6
ziehen, und Weiß verliert Material.}) 36... Nd2 37. Nd6+ Ke6 38. Nxf5 Nxb3 39.
Nxh6 Nd2 40. Nf5 Nxc4 $17) 34... fxg4 35. hxg4 Nxg4 36. Nxe4 (36. Nb5 a5 37.
Nd6+ Ke6 38. Nxe4 Ne5 39. Nc3 Nd3 40. Nd5 Nc1 41. Nxb6 Nxb3 $17) 36... Ke6 37.
Nc3 Ne5 38. f4 (38. Nb5 $142 Nc6 39. Kg3 h5 40. f4 gxf4+ 41. Kxf4 h4 42. Kg4
Ke5 43. Kxh4 Ke4 $17) 38... gxf4 39. exf4 Nc6 40. Nb5 h5 $1 $17 {Der entfernte
schwarze Freibauer entscheidet die Partie.} (40... a5 41. Kf3 h5 (41... Nd4+
42. Nxd4+ cxd4 43. Ke4 $11) 42. Ke4 h4 43. Nc7+ $17) 41. Kg3 (41. Kf3 $2 Nd4+
42. Nxd4+ cxd4 43. Ke4 h4 $19) 41... a5 42. Nc7+ Kf5 43. Nd5 Nd4 44. Kh4 (44.
b4 cxb4 45. axb4 a4 46. Nc3 a3 $19) (44. Nxb6 Nxb3 45. Nd7 (45. Nd5 Nd2 46.
Ne3+ (46. Nb6 h4+ 47. Kxh4 Kxf4 $19) 46... Ke4 47. f5 Kxe3 48. f6 Ne4+ $19 {
[%cal Re4f6,Re4g3]}) 45... h4+ 46. Kxh4 Kxf4 $19) 44... Nxb3 45. Kxh5 Nd2 46.
Nxb6 Kxf4 47. Na4 (47. Kg6 Ke5 $19) 47... Ne4 $1 $19 (47... Nb3) (47... Ne4 $1
48. Kg6 Ke5 49. Kf7 Kd4 50. Ke6 Kxc4 51. Ke5 Kb3 52. Nb6 Nd2 $19 {[%cal Rc5c4]}
) 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2001.07.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E48"]
[WhiteElo "2802"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2001.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 085"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Nge2 Re8 8.
O-O Bf8 9. a3 a5 10. Kh1 Na6 11. f3 c5 12. Nf4 Nc7 13. dxc5 Bxc5 14. e4 dxe4
15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16. Bxe4 Qxd1 17. Rxd1 Nb5 18. Nd3 Bf8 19. Bf4 Nd6 20. Bd5 Be6
21. Bxe6 Rxe6 22. Nc5 Rf6 23. Be5 Rf5 24. Bxd6 Bxd6 25. Nxb7 Be7 26. Nd6 Rc5
27. Rab1 Rd8 28. b4 axb4 29. axb4 Re5 30. Nc4 Rxd1+ 31. Rxd1 Rb5 32. Ne3 Bxb4
33. Rb1 Rb8 34. Nd5 Bd6 35. Rxb8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2001.07.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2744"]
[BlackElo "2802"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2001.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 085"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Qd2 Be7 8. f3
O-O 9. O-O-O a6 10. g4 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 b5 12. Kb1 Qc7 13. g5 Nd7 14. h4 b4 15.
Na4 Bb7 16. b3 d5 17. exd5 Bxd5 18. Qe3 Rfc8 19. Bd3 Nc5 20. Nxc5 Bxc5 21. Be4
Bxd4 22. Rxd4 a5 23. Rhd1 g6 24. Qe2 Qg3 25. Bxd5 exd5 26. Rxd5 Qxh4 27. Qd2
Qg3 28. f4 Qc3 29. Qxc3 Rxc3 30. f5 gxf5 31. Rxf5 Ra7 32. Rd2 Kg7 33. Kb2 a4
34. a3 axb3 35. axb4 bxc2 36. Rxc2 Rxc2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2001.07.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2802"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2001.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 085"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 a6 {Dieses Manöver ist hier
nicht besonders wirksam. Üblich ist} (5... e6 {Nach den weiteren Zügen} 6. Bd3
Bxd3 7. Qxd3 {würde man wohl kaum auf den Zug} a6 {verfallen; die Stellung
nach diesem Zuge entsteht aber in der Partie.}) 6. Bd3 Bxd3 7. Qxd3 e6 8. O-O
Be7 9. e4 O-O ({Nach} 9... dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 (10... c5 {wird mit} 11. Qb3 {
beantwortet}) 11. Qxe4 Nd7 12. Bf4 {hat Weiß leichten Vorteil. Laut V. Kramnik
("SChach" 9/2001, S.8) ist es wichtig, daß dem Schwarzen hier die Möglichkeit
zu Dd8-a5-a6 mit Druckspiel gegen den Bauern auf c4 fehlt.}) 10. Rd1 b5 ({Nach
} 10... dxe4 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Qxe4 Nd7 13. Bf4 {entsteht eine ganz ähnliche
Stellung wie sie in der vorigen Anmerkung gezeigt wurde. Weiß steht bequemer.})
11. c5 (11. cxd5 cxd5 12. e5 Nfd7 13. a4 bxa4 {führt laut Kramnik ("Schach" 9/
2001, S.8) zu etwa gleichem Spiel.} (13... b4 14. Ne2 {ist dagegen seiner
Meinung nach sehr vorteilhaft für Weiß.})) 11... dxe4 ({Auf} 11... b4 {folgt
laut Kramnik} 12. e5 bxc3 13. exf6 Bxf6 (13... cxb2 {scheitert an} 14. fxe7
bxa1=Q 15. exd8=Q Rxd8 16. Qc2 {, und Weiß gewinnt.}) 14. Qxc3 Qc7 15. g3 Nd7
16. Bf4 {mit Vorteil für Weiß. Freilich scheint es mir, daß Schwarz nach} Qb7 {
gefolgt von Lf6-d8-c7 noch nicht zu verzweifeln braucht.}) 12. Nxe4 Nxe4 ({Nach
} 12... Nbd7 {schlägt Kramnik} 13. Nc3 {vor} ({oder auch} 13. Bf4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4
Rc8 15. a4 {In der Tat ist die Schwäche des Bauern auf c6 stets lästig für
Schwarz.})) 13. Qxe4 Qd5 14. Qxd5 {Nach anderen Zügen folgt 14...Sd7, und
Schwarz hat keinerlei Probleme.} cxd5 ({Nach} 14... exd5 15. Re1 Bf6 (15... Re8
16. a4 {ist ebenfalls sehr lästig für Schwarz.}) 16. Bg5 Bxg5 17. Nxg5 Nd7 18.
Re7 Nf6 19. Rae1 Rae8 20. Nf3 Ne4 21. Ra7 Ra8 22. Rxa8 Rxa8 23. Ne5 Rc8 24. f3
Nf6 25. Re3 {hat Weiß die prächtigsten Gewinnaussichten.}) 15. Bf4 Nc6 ({Auf} 
15... f6 {folgt} 16. Re1 Kf7 17. Re2 Re8 18. Bxb8 Raxb8 19. b4 {mit Vorteil
für Weiß.}) 16. Ne5 Nb8 ({Nach} 16... Nxe5 17. Bxe5 Rfc8 18. b4 ({Zu unklarem
Spiel führt die Folge} 18. a4 b4 19. a5 f6 20. Bg3 e5) 18... Kf8 (18... a5 {
scheitert an} 19. a4) 19. a4 {dürfte Schwarz nicht überleben.}) (16... Rfc8 17.
Nxc6 (17. Nd7 Ra7 {bringt nichts ein.}) 17... Rxc6 18. b4 Bf6 19. a4 {führt zu
ähnlichen Bildern.}) ({Schwarz hat andere Möglichkeiten als den Textzug, um
Springertasusch zu vermeiden.} 16... Na7 17. Nd7 Rfe8 18. Nb6 Rad8 19. Bc7 {
kostet die Qualität. Nach} Nc6 20. Bxd8 Rxd8 {schlägt Kramnik ("Schach" 9/2001,
S.8)} 21. b4 (21. Rac1 Bf6 22. Kf1 Kf8 23. Rd3 {sollte auf die Dauer zum
Erfolg führen;} Bxd4 24. Rxd4 Nxd4 25. c6 Nxc6 26. Rxc6 Ke7 27. a4 {überlebt
Schwarz nicht.}) (21. Kf1 {ist weniger genau; Schwarz kann} Nxd4 {antworten.})
21... Bf6 22. a4 {vor, doch scheint mir nach} Bxd4 23. axb5 axb5 24. Ra3 e5 {
die Sache nicht so klar zu sein.}) (16... Na5 {kam dagegen in Betracht; nach}
17. Bd2 ({nach} 17. b3 f6 {erreicht Schwarz sein Ziel, nämlich die dauerhafte
Blockade des c-Bauern mit dem Springer;}) (17. b4 Nc4 {ist ebenfalls recht
unklar.}) 17... Nc4 18. Nd3 Nxd2 19. Rxd2 Bf6 20. Ne1 Rfc8 21. Nf3 h5 {hat
Schwarz gute Überlebensaussichten.}) 17. Rd3 {Dieser Zug bereitet vor allem
die Möglichkeit vor, die Türme auf der e-Linie zu verdoppeln, die wichtig ist,
falls Schwarz f7-f6 spielt.} (17. c6 Bd6 18. Rdc1 Ra7 {sieht nicht gesund für
Weiß aus.}) (17. a4 f6 18. axb5 fxe5 19. Bxe5 Nd7 20. bxa6 Nxe5 {(Kramnik) ist
ganz selbstmörderisch.}) 17... Rc8 (17... f6 {war konsequent. Nach} 18. Nf3 Nc6
(18... Kf7 19. Bxb8 Rfxb8 20. Re1 Rc8 {ist vielleicht auch gar nicht so
schrecklich für Schwarz}) 19. Re1 Kf7 20. Rde3 Nxd4 ({Auf} 20... Nd8 {folgt}
21. Bc7 Re8 22. Bb6 {mit andauerndem Druck.}) 21. Nxd4 Bxc5 22. Rd3 Bxd4 23.
Rxd4 e5 24. Bxe5 fxe5 25. Rxd5 {schätzt Kramnik das Endspiel als kaum haltbar
für Schwarz ein, doch scheint mir nach} Rfe8 {der Schwarze über ansehnliche
Remisaussichten zu verfügen, zum Beispiel} 26. Rdxe5 Rxe5 27. Rxe5 Rc8 28. Kf1
Rc1+ 29. Re1 Rc2 30. Rb1 b4 {(Vgl. "Schach" 9/2001, S.9).}) (17... g5 18. Bg3
f6 19. Nf3 g4 20. Bxb8 Rfxb8 (20... gxf3 21. Bf4 fxg2 22. Bh6 Rf7 23. Re1 {
ist verderblich für Schwarz.}) 21. Nd2 {wird ebenfalls von Kramnik untersucht,
aber eine solche Mißhandlung der Bauernstruktur verdient natürlich kein
Vertrauen.}) 18. Re1 Bf6 $6 {Schwarz erreicht den Abtausch des Läufers gegen
den gegnerischen Springer, doch muß er eine böse Schwächung seines
Königsflügels dafür in Kauf nehmen. Es gab eine Vielzahl anderer Möglichkeiten:
} (18... a5 19. Rb3 b4 20. a3 Na6 ({In Betracht kommt auch} 20... Bf6 21. axb4
axb4 22. Rxb4 Bxe5 23. Bxe5 Nc6 24. Rb5 f6 25. Bd6 Nxd4 26. Rb7 e5 27. b4 Nf5 {
und Schwarz dürfte sich halten können.}) 21. Nd7 {wird von Kramnik angegeben,
doch ist die Lage nach} Ra7 22. Nb6 Rc6 23. axb4 Nxb4 {schwer zu durchschauen.}
) (18... Bd8 {mit der Absicht Ld8-c7xe5 gefällt mir persönlich in dieser
Stellung für Schwarz am besten.}) 19. Ng4 Nc6 20. Nxf6+ gxf6 21. Bg3 {Weiß
beeilt sich, den wunden Punkt f6 anzugreifen. Nach} (21. Bd6 Kh8 {nebst
Tc8-g8-g6 hat Schwarz nichts zu befürchten (Kramnik, loc. cit.).}) 21... Kg7 {
Kramnik gibt diesem Zug ein Fragezeichen; er hält ihn für den entscheidenden
Fehler in der Partie. Ich bin der Meinung, daß erst der folgende Zug die
Partie verdirbt.} (21... f5 {wird von Kramnik ebenfalls verworfen, denn} 22.
Be5 ({Nach} 22. Bh4 Kg7 23. Rg3+ Kh6 24. Bf6 Rg8 {ist laut Kramnik, wenn ich
seine Angaben richtig deute (denn er gibt keine Stellungsbewertung an), die
Lage nicht deutlich. Mit 23.Tee3 an Stelle von 23.Tg3+ kann Weiß jedoch in die
Variante überlenken, die Kramnik in seiner Anmerkung zum 22. Zuge von Schwarz
als günstig für den Anziehenden beurteilt. Ich bespreche die Angelegenheit
dort weiter.}) 22... Nxe5 23. Rxe5 {führt seiner Meinung nach zu klarem
Vorteil für Weiß.}) (21... h6 {war laut Kramnik das richtige Verfahren. Er
gibt folgende Varianten ("Schach" 9/2001, S.25):} 22. Bf4 (22. Bh4 f5 23. Bf6
Kh7 24. h4 (24. Rg3 Rg8) 24... Kg6 25. Be5 Nxe5 26. Rxe5 {Schwarz steht besser
als in der oben unter 21...f5 angegebenen Variante, doch hat auch hier Weiß
beträchtlichen Vorteil.}) 22... Kh7 23. Ree3 (23. Rh3 $6 Nxd4 24. Bxh6 Kg6 25.
Be3 Nf5) 23... Rg8 24. Rh3 Rg6 25. Bd2 Kg7 26. Rh5 {mit der Absicht h2-h3,
g2-g4 und f2-f4-f5; ich glaube aber, daß Weiß nach} f5 {Mühe haben wird,
diesen Plan zu verwirklichen.}) 22. Bh4 Ne7 $2 {Schwarz durfte den prächtigen
Blockadeposten mit dem Springer nicht aufgeben.} ({Das mutige} 22... f5 {
war angewiesen:} 23. Ree3 (23. Rg3+ Kh6 24. Bf6 ({Nach} 24. Bg5+ Kg7 {kann
Weiß nicht auf andere Weise weiterkommen, als den Läufer doch nach f6 zu
bringen.}) 24... Rg8 25. Ree3 Rg4 26. Rh3+ Kg6 27. f3 Kxf6 28. fxg4 fxg4 {
mit unklarer Stellung.}) 23... f4 (23... Rg8 {was Kramnik hier als einziges
angibt, ist jetzt ungenau, weil nach} 24. Rg3+ Kh6 25. Bf6 Rg4 26. Rh3+ Kg6 27.
f3 Kxf6 28. fxg4 fxg4 29. Rxh7 {der d-Bauer des Weißen gedeckt ist; er steht
auf Gewinn.}) 24. Re1 (24. Rf3 {wird mit} e5 {beantwortet.}) ({Nach} 24. Rh3
Kg6 25. g3 Rg8 26. gxf4 Kf5+ 27. Kf1 f6 {ist mir unklar, wer besser steht.})
24... Kg6 {Ich sehe keinen nennenswerten Vorteil für Weiß.}) 23. g4 Ng6 (23...
Nc6 {gewährt keinen Ausgleich mehr:} 24. Rf3 f5 25. Rf4 (25. gxf5 Nxd4 26. Rg3+
Kf8 27. fxe6 Nxe6 28. f4 {ist laut Kramnik nicht klar; in der Tat whrt sich
Schwarz mit} Re8 29. Bf6 Nxf4) 25... fxg4 26. Rxg4+ Kh6 27. Rf4 Rg8+ 28. Kf1
Kh5 29. h3 (29. Bf6 $2 Rg4) 29... h6 30. Bf6 Kg6 31. Ke2 {(Kramnik, "Schach" 9/
2001, S.9).}) (23... h5 {wird auch noch von Kramnik analysiert:} 24. Rf3 ({
Er gibt auch} 24. gxh5 {an;} Nf5 25. Bg3 $16 {lautet seine Einschätzung, doch
scheint mir die Sache nach} Rc6 26. Kg2 Rh8 27. Kf3 Rxh5 {gar nicht klar zu
sein.}) 24... hxg4 25. Rf4 $16 {aber auch hier kann Schwarz mit} Kh7 26. Bxf6
Nf5 27. Rxg4 Rg8 28. f3 Rg6 {Widerstand leisten: Weiß kann den Bauern auf d4
nicht halten.}) 24. Bg3 a5 $6 {Jetzt kann Weiß den Springer an der Rückkehr in
bewohnte Gegenden hindern.} (24... Ne7 {war zäher. Nach} 25. Rf3 Nc6 (25... a5
26. Bh4 Ng8 27. Ree3 {sieht nicht vertrauenerweckend für Schwarz aus.}) 26. Bh4
f5 27. Rf4 fxg4 28. Rxg4+ Kh6 29. Rf4 Rg8+ 30. Kf1 Kh5 31. h3 {geht das Spiel
in eine schon oben angegebene Variante über; Weiß hat erheblichen Vorteil.})
25. Bd6 h5 {Schwarz öffnet das Spiel. Er will das Feld f5 für seinen Springer
freikämpfen; aber er beschleunigt damit seinen Untergang.} 26. gxh5 Nh4 27.
Rg3+ Kh6 28. Be7 Nf5 29. Bxf6 Nxg3 30. fxg3 {Die Stellung des Schwarzen ist
strategisch verloren.} Rg8 31. Kg2 Kxh5 32. h3 Kg6 33. Rf1 Kh7 34. g4 b4 35.
Kg3 b3 36. a3 Rac8 37. h4 Rg6 38. h5 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2001.07.16"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2794"]
[BlackElo "2802"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "2001.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 085"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nf6 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Re1 Be6 11. c5 Bg4 12. Be2 (12. Be3 Re8 (12... Bxc5 13. dxc5
d4 14. Bxd4 (14. Bd2 dxc3 15. Bxc3 Nd5 16. Rc1 Nf4 17. Be4 Qxd1 18. Rcxd1 Rfe8
19. h3 Bh5 20. Rd7 Bxf3 21. Bxf3 Rxe1+ 22. Bxe1 Ne5 23. Bxb7 Nxd7 24. Bxa8 $16
{1/2-1/2 Computer \-Computer \/It (open) Debrecen (Hungary) 1998 (69)}) 14...
Nxd4 15. Bxh7+ Nxh7 16. Qxd4 Bxf3 17. Qxd8 Rfxd8 18. gxf3 Ng5 19. Re7 Rac8 20.
Re3 Rd2 21. Ne4 {1/2-1/2 Short,N-Smyslov,V/Hastings 1988/CBM 11 (21)}) 13. h3
Bh5 14. g4 Bg6 15. Bb5 Bf8 16. Bxc6 bxc6 17. Ne5 Ne4 18. Nxc6 Qh4 19. Qf3 Nxc3
20. bxc3 Be4 21. Qg3 Qxg3+ 22. fxg3 a5 {1/2-1/2 Zuckerman,B-Soltis,A/Chicago
1974/MCD (22)}) 12... Ne4 (12... Re8 13. h3 (13. Ne5 Nxe5 14. dxe5 Bxe2 15.
Rxe2 Nd7 16. Nxd5 Bxc5 17. b4 c6 18. bxc5 cxd5 $15) 13... Bh5 14. Be3 Ne4 15.
Qb3 Nxc3 16. bxc3 Rb8 $11) 13. Be3 (13. Bf4 Bf6 14. h3 Bxf3 15. Bxf3 Bxd4 16.
Nxe4 dxe4 17. Bxe4 Qf6 $11) 13... Bf6 14. h3 (14. Qb3 Nxc3 15. bxc3 Rb8 $11)
14... Bh5 15. Qa4 Re8 16. Rad1 a6 17. a3 (17. a3 Ng3 18. fxg3 (18. Bd3 Bxf3 19.
gxf3 Nh5) 18... Rxe3 19. g4 Bg6 20. Qb3 Be4 21. g5 $1 (21. Qxb7 Qe8 22. Kf1 Rb8
23. Qxa6 Rxb2 24. Nxe4 dxe4 25. Bb5 exf3 26. Bxc6 Bxd4 27. Rxe3 fxg2+ 28. Bxg2
Rf2+ $1 29. Kg1 Bxe3 30. Kh1 Rxg2 $1 31. Kxg2 Qe4+ $19) 21... Bxf3 (21... Bxg5
22. Nxg5 Qxg5 23. Nxe4 Rxe4 24. Qxb7 $18) 22. gxf6 Bxe2 (22... Be4 23. Qxb7 Na5
24. Qb4 Nc6 25. Qa4 Qxf6 26. Nxe4 Rxe4 27. Bf3 Rxe1+ 28. Rxe1 Qxd4+ 29. Qxd4
Nxd4 30. Bxd5 $16) 23. Rxe2 Rxe2 24. Nxe2 Qxf6 25. Qxb7 Re8 (25... Rb8 26. Qxc7
Rxb2 27. Qc8+ Nd8 28. Rf1 Qe7 29. Nf4 $16) 26. Nc3 Rb8 27. Qxc7 Rxb2 28. Qc8+
Nd8 29. Kh1 Qg5 30. Qg4 $16) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2001.07.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A79"]
[WhiteElo "2802"]
[BlackElo "2711"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2001.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 085"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. Nd2 Bg7 8. e4 {
The Classical line is not played too often nowadays, with aggressive lines
like f4 and Bb5+ or h3 and Bd3 being more popular.} O-O 9. Be2 Re8 10. O-O Na6
11. f3 Nc7 12. a4 Nd7 13. Kh1 b6 {Topalov has this year in a rapid game
against Kramnik revived this line, in which the relevant games were played
about 20 years ago.} 14. Ra3 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8] This otherwise typical
manoeuvre for the Classical line is here a novelty. Later on however the R
will find no scope on the 3-rd rank.} (14. Nc4 Ne5 15. Ne3 f5 (15... Rb8 16.
Qc2 $14) 16. f4 Nf7 17. exf5 gxf5 18. Bd3 Nh6 19. Ne2 $5 (19. Qc2 Qf6 $5 (19...
Rf8 20. Bd2 a6 21. Rf3 Rb8 22. Rg3 Qh4 23. Rg5 Ng4 24. Nxg4 fxg4 25. Ne4 Ne8
26. g3 Qh6 27. f5 Bb7 28. Rf1 $40 {Dydyshko,V-Lukov,V/Polanica Zdroj/1983/})
20. Bd2 Bd7 21. Rf3 Kh8 22. Raf1 Re7 23. Rh3 Qf7 24. Nc4 Qg6 (24... Nxd5 $5 25.
Nxd6 Qe6 $13 {Kramnik}) 25. Rg3 Ng4 26. h3 h5 $1 27. Ne3 Nxe3 28. Rxg6 Nxc2 29.
Bxc2 Ne8 30. Rg5 Nf6 31. Bxf5 Bxf5 32. Rxf5 Rae8 $44 {Kramnik,V-Topalov,V/
Monaco act/2001/}) (19. Qh5 Rf8 (19... Qf6 20. Nb5 Re7 $13 {Kramnik}) 20. Bd2
Qf6 21. Rf3 Qg6 22. Qh4 Qf6 23. Qh3 Ba6 24. Bc2 Kh8 25. Rg3 Rae8 26. Rg1 Bc8
27. Ncd1 Qf7 28. Rg5 $1 $40 {Rytov,B-Beliavsky,A/Vitebsk/1970/}) 19... Qh4 20.
Ng3 Rf8 (20... Ng4 $142 $5 21. Nxg4 Qxg4 $132) 21. Qc2 Ng4 22. Nxg4 Qxg4 23.
Ra3 Kh8 24. Be2 Qh4 25. Nh5 Bd4 26. Be3 Nxd5 27. Bxd4+ cxd4 28. Qd2 Bb7 29. Bf3
{1-0,Taimanov,M-Ree,H/Wijk aan Zee/1970/}) 14... Qe7 (14... Ne5 15. f4 Nd7 16.
Nc4 {/\} Nf6 17. e5 $1 dxe5 18. d6 $36) 15. Nb5 (15. Nc4 Ne5 (15... Ba6 16. Bf4
Bxc4 17. Bxc4 $14) 16. Ne3 {also was interesting, as here after} f5 (16... a6
$5) 17. f4 Nf7 18. exf5 $14 {the R can be useful on a3.}) 15... Nxb5 16. Bxb5 (
16. axb5 f5 $13 {and the weakness on a7 is rather abstract, while Black has
concrete [+]<=>.}) 16... Rd8 (16... a6 17. Bc6 Rb8 18. Rb3 $1 Rf8 19. Nc4 Ne5
20. Nxb6 Qc7 21. a5 Nxc6 22. dxc6 Qxc6 23. Nd5 $16) 17. a5 (17. Nc4 Ne5 18.
Nxe5 Bxe5 $132) 17... a6 $5 18. Bc6 (18. Bxd7 Bxd7 19. axb6 (19. Nc4 b5 20. Nb6
Ra7 $11 {/=/+}) 19... Bb5 20. Re1 Rab8 $132) (18. axb6 Nxb6 19. Bc6 Bb7 (19...
Rb8 $143 {-18.Bc6}) 20. Bxb7 Qxb7 21. Qc2 (21. f4 f5 $13) 21... Rf8 $5 $132)
18... Rb8 19. axb6 Nxb6 20. b3 $1 ({Aggressive, but double-edged was} 20. f4
Nd7 (20... Bb7 21. Bxb7 Qxb7 22. f5 $36) 21. Qc2 Rb4 $132) 20... Be5 $5 {
[%cal Re7h4] /\Qh4 A provocative move, Black lures White's f-pawn forward.} (
20... f5 21. exf5 gxf5 22. Re1 $14 {[%cal Ge1e8] <->e}) (20... Bb7 21. Bxb7
Qxb7 22. Nc4 $14) (20... Nd7 21. Nc4 Ne5 22. Bf4 $14) 21. f4 (21. Nc4 Nxc4 22.
bxc4 Rb1 $11) 21... Bg7 (21... Bd4 $142 $5 22. f5 Nd7) 22. f5 Nd7 23. Bxd7 $1 (
23. Nc4 Ne5 24. Nxe5 Bxe5 25. Qf3 Qh4 $5 (25... Qf6 26. fxg6 $14) 26. g3 Qf6
$132) 23... Bxd7 24. Qf3 Bd4 25. f6 Qf8 26. Nc4 (26. g4 $6 Qh6 27. Nc4 Qh4 {
[%csl Rh1] ׻}) 26... Bb5 27. Be3 Bxe3 28. Qxe3 h5 $1 {Black must first free
his K from back-rank mates, then he can open the position.} 29. h4 (29. h3 $5
$14 {was possibly stronger, as later on in some lines the pawn will be en
prise on h4.}) 29... Kh7 30. Rfa1 (30. e5 dxe5 31. Qxe5 Re8 32. Qf4 Re2 33. Rd1
Rbe8 $13) 30... Bxc4 (30... Re8 31. Rxa6 $1 Bxa6 32. Rxa6 Rbd8 33. Qf4 $16) 31.
bxc4 Rb4 32. Rc3 (32. Qe2 Qh6 {[%cal Rh6f4] /\Qf4} 33. g3 Rdb8 $132 {and White
must beware of surprises on the 2-nd rank.}) (32. Ra4 $5 Rdb8 33. Rxb4 cxb4 $1
(33... Rxb4 34. Rxa6 Rxc4 35. Ra7 $36) 34. Rxa6 b3 35. Rb6 b2 (35... Qd8 36.
Rxb3 Rxb3 37. Qxb3 Qxf6 38. Qg3 Qf1+ $11) 36. Qb3 Rxb6 37. Qxb6 Qc8 38. Qxb2
Qxc4 $11) (32. Rxa6 Rxc4 $132) 32... Re8 $1 33. Rxa6 Rb1+ 34. Kh2 Rf1 $11 35.
Rca3 {White already had no suitable way to protect his Pf6, so Kramnik decides
to force a draw.} (35. Qg3 $2 Rxe4 $36) 35... Rxf6 36. e5 Rf5 $1 {The most
accurate.} (36... Rxe5 $143 37. Qxe5 dxe5 38. Rxf6 e4 39. g3 Qe7 40. Rf2) 37.
e6 $8 (37. Rxd6 $2 Rexe5 38. Qxc5 $8 Qe7 39. Rh3 Re1 $19 {->}) 37... fxe6 38.
Ra7+ Kg8 39. Qg3 Qf6 (39... g5 40. dxe6 Rxe6 41. hxg5 $14) 40. Ra8 Rxa8 41.
Rxa8+ Kg7 (41... Kf7 42. Ra7+ Ke8 43. Qb3 Qxh4+ 44. Kg1 Qe1+ 45. Kh2 $11) 42.
Ra7+ Kg8 (42... Kh6 43. Qe3+ g5 44. dxe6 Qe5+ $11) (42... Kg8 43. Ra8+) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2001.07.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B84"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2802"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2001.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 085"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 d6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Be2 Be7 8.
Qd2 O-O 9. f4 a6 10. O-O-O Nd7 11. g4 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 b5 13. a3 Bb7 14. g5 Rc8
15. Rhg1 e5 16. Be3 exf4 17. Bxf4 Nc5 18. Qe3 Qc7 19. e5 dxe5 20. Bxe5 Qb6 21.
Kb1 Na4 22. Qxb6 Nxb6 23. Bg4 Rce8 24. Bd6 Nc4 25. Bxe7 Rxe7 26. Rge1 Re3 27.
Kc1 g6 28. Bd7 Rxe1 29. Rxe1 Rd8 30. Bg4 Rd4 31. h3 Rf4 32. a4 b4 33. Ne2 Rf2
34. Nd4 Rf4 35. Ne2 Rf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2001.07.20"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2802"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "2001.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 085"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3
d5 9. Nbd2 Nbd7 10. Qc2 O-O 11. e4 Bb7 12. O-O Rc8 13. Rfe1 a5 14. a3 h6 15.
Bb2 Qc7 16. Rad1 Rfd8 17. Qb1 Qb8 18. e5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2001.07.21"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2802"]
[BlackElo "2794"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2001.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 085"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Ftacnik. McShane} d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6
7. Bb3 cxd4 8. exd4 Nc6 9. Nc3 Be7 10. Bg5 O-O 11. Qd2 Na5 (11... Nb4 12. Ne5
h6 13. Bh4 Nbd5 14. Bxf6 Nxf6 15. Rad1 Qc7 16. f4 Rd8 17. Qe3 b5 18. f5 Qb6 19.
fxe6 Bxe6 20. Ng6 Ra7 21. Rfe1 Bxb3 22. Nxe7+ Rxe7 23. Qxe7 Bxd1 24. Rxd1 Rxd4
$19 {0-1 Colas,J-Sansas,A/FRA-ch21 corr 1956/Corr 2000 (37)}) (11... h6 12. Bf4
(12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Rad1 Na5 14. Bc2 b5 15. b3 Bb7 16. Ne4 Rc8 17. Bb1 Bxe4 18.
Bxe4 Nc6 19. Rfe1 Ne7 20. Bb1 Nd5 21. Qd3 g6 $15 {1/2-1/2 Gelfand,B-Shirov,A/
New Delhi/Theran 2000/CBM 81/[Hecht] (72)}) 12... Re8 13. Rad1 Bf8 14. Ne5 Ne7
15. Qd3 Ned5 16. Bc1 b5 17. Qg3 Bb7 18. Bxh6 Nxc3 19. bxc3 Ne4 20. Qg4 Nf6 21.
Qg5 Qe7 22. Rd3 Ne4 23. Qg4 Nf6 24. Qg5 Ne4 25. Qg4 Nf6 {1/2-1/2 Kramnik,
V-Anand,V/Mainz GER 2001 (25)}) (11... Nd5 12. Bxe7 Ncxe7 13. Rac1 b6 14. Nxd5
Nxd5 15. Bxd5 Qxd5 16. Rc7 a5 17. Rfc1 Bb7 18. Qf4 Rad8 19. a3 h6 20. h3 Ba8
21. Ra7 Rd7 22. Rxd7 Qxd7 23. Rc7 Qd5 24. Ra7 Qc6 25. Rc7 Qd5 26. Ra7 Qc6 {
1/2-1/2 Sundararajan,K-Arnold,L/Budapest HUN 2001/ (26)}) 12. Bc2 b5 (12... Nc4
$6 {Huzman} 13. Qe2 b5 $140 $2 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Qe4 $18) 13. Qf4 Ra7 {'!?'
McShane. McShane: 'White's isolated queen's pawn guarantees him an initiative.
Black aims to exchange pieces and soak up the initiative, hence this
prophylactic move.'} (13... Bb7 14. Rad1 g6 15. Bh6 Nh5 16. Qg4 f5 17. Qh3 Rc8
18. d5 $1 $16 {1-0 Tkachiev,V-Lesiege,A/New Delhi/Theran 2000/CBM 81/[Huzman] 
(39)}) 14. Rad1 Bb7 {'?!' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'Combined with the move 13...Ra7
this natural move makes a very strange impression. '} (14... Nc4 15. Qh4 $1 (
15. Ne5 Nxb2 16. Nc6 Nxd1 17. Nxd8 Nxc3 18. Qf3 Rxd8 19. Qxc3 Rad7 $44) (15. b3
{Ftacnik} Na3 16. Bd3 b4 $13) 15... g6 (15... h6 16. Bxh6 gxh6 17. Qxh6 Nxb2
18. Ng5 Nxd1 19. Bh7+ Kh8 20. Bf5+ Kg8 21. Nce4 $1 $18) 16. Ne5 (16. d5 Nxd5
17. Be4 Ne5 $1) 16... Nd5 17. Bxe7 (17. Ne4 f6) 17... Qxe7 18. Qg3 (18. Qxe7
Rxe7 19. Nxc4 bxc4 20. Rfe1 Bb7 $11) 18... Nxc3 19. bxc3 Rc7 $132) (14... Rc7 {
Anand} 15. d5 $5 exd5 (15... Nxd5 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 (16... Rxe7 17. Bxh7+ $1 Kxh7
18. Qh4+ Kg8 19. Ng5 $18) 17. Rxd5 Rxc3 18. Bxh7+ $18) 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Rxd5
Rd7 (17... Bd7 18. Rfd1 $16) 18. Rfd1 $36) 15. d5 $1 {[%mdl 68] McShane: 'This
thematic move opens more lines for the White pieces.'} Bxd5 (15... Nxd5 16.
Bxh7+ (16. Qd4 {McShane} Nc6 17. Qh4 g6 18. Nxd5 exd5 19. Rfe1 {with huge
compensation for the sacrificed pawn.}) (16. Nxd5 {Ftacnik} Bxd5 (16... Bxg5 {
Ftacnik} 17. Nxg5 Bxd5 18. Bxh7+ $18) 17. Rxd5 $1 $18) 16... Kxh7 17. Qh4+ Kg8
(17... Kg6 18. g4 $1 $18) 18. Rxd5 $1 Bxd5 19. Bxe7 Qxe7 20. Ng5 Qxg5 21. Qxg5
$16) (15... exd5 16. Qh4 h6 (16... g6 17. Rfe1 $18 (17. Ne4 $1 $18 {Ftacnik}))
17. Bxh6 gxh6 18. Qxh6 $18 {[%cal Gf3g5,Gd1d4,Gd4h4]}) 16. Nxd5 exd5 $2 (16...
Nxd5 $142 17. Rxd5 {'!' McShane. '!' Ftacnik.} (17. Qh4 g6) (17. Qe4 g6 18. Bh6
Bf6 (18... Re8 19. Qd4 $18) 19. Bxf8 Qxf8 $44 {/+/=}) 17... exd5 (17... Qxd5
18. Bxe7 (18. Qh4 {McShane wins the bishop, as Qxh7 and Bxe7 are both
threatened.}) 18... Rxe7 19. Qh4 $18) 18. Bxh7+ Kxh7 19. Qh4+ Kg8 (19... Kg6
20. Ne5+ Kf5 21. Qg4+ Kxe5 22. Bf4+ Ke4 (22... Kd4 {McShane} 23. Bd6+ Kd3 24.
Rd1+ Kc2 25. Qe2#) (22... Kf6 {McShane} 23. Re1 Nc4 {to stop Be5 mate} 24. Bg5+
Kg6 25. Bxe7+ {wins.}) 23. Bc7+ Kd3 24. Rd1+ Kc2 25. Qe2#) 20. Bxe7 Qxe7 21.
Ng5 Qxg5 {McShane: 'otherwise Black is mated.'} 22. Qxg5 Rd7 23. Rd1 (23. h4 d4
24. h5 Rd6 $44 {/+/=}) 23... Rc8 (23... d4 24. Qc5 Rfd8 25. b3 $16 {[%csl Ra5]}
) 24. Kf1 $16) 17. Qh4 (17. Rfe1 $5 {Ftacnik}) 17... h5 {'!' Ftacnik. Ftacnik:
'Excellent defensive move full of orignality, but despite this spirited idea
black position is quite shaky.'} (17... h6 18. Bxh6 gxh6 19. Qxh6 {[%cal Gf3g5,
Rf3d4,Rd4f5,Rd1d3,Rd3h3,Gd1d4,Gd4h4]} Rc7 (19... Re8 20. Rd4 Bf8 21. Rg4+) (
19... Nc4 20. Rd4 $18) 20. Nd4 $1 Rxc2 (20... Re8 21. Rd3 $18) 21. Rd3 Ng4 22.
Rg3 Qd7 23. Qh5 $18) (17... g6 18. Rfe1 $18) 18. Rfe1 {'!' Ftacnik.} (18. Nd4
$5 Ne4 (18... Rc7 19. Bb1 Re8 20. Nf5 $44) 19. Bxe7 Qxe7 20. Qxh5 $16) (18.
Bxf6 $2 {Ftacnik} Bxf6 19. Qxh5 g6 20. Qxd5 Qxd5 21. Rxd5 Bxb2 $11) 18... Nc6 (
18... Qc8 {[%cal Yc8g4]} 19. Nd4 Qg4 20. Qxg4 hxg4 21. Bd2 $1 (21. Bf5 Rc7 22.
Bxg4 Nc4 23. Nf5 Bd8 $132 {[%cal Yf6g4,Yc4b2]}) 21... Bd8 (21... b4 22. Rxe7
Rxe7 23. Bxb4 $18) 22. Bb4 Re8 23. Rxe8+ Nxe8 24. Bf5 $16) (18... Rc7 {Ftacnik}
19. Nd4 Nc4 20. Nf5 Nxb2 21. Rc1 Re8 $13) 19. g4 $1 Qd6 (19... Rc7 20. gxh5 Nh7
(20... Ne5 21. Rxe5 Rxc2 22. Nd4 Rc4 23. b3 $18) 21. Bxh7+ $1 Kxh7 22. h6 g6
23. Rxe7 $1 Nxe7 24. Bf6 $18) (19... Re8 $142 20. Bxf6 (20. gxh5 $5 Nh7 21.
Bxh7+ Kxh7 22. Qf4 Kg8 23. h6 $40) 20... Bxf6 21. Qxh5 Re6 (21... g6 22. Bxg6
Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 fxg6 24. Qxg6+ Kf8 25. Re6 $18) 22. Rxe6 fxe6 23. Re1 Qd7 24.
Bf5 Nd8 25. Re2 $16 {/+-}) (19... Rd7 {McShane: is also a plausible defence,
but after} 20. gxh5 Ne4 21. Bxe4 dxe4 22. Rxd7 Qxd7 23. Qxe4 {White has a
healthy advantage}) (19... Nxg4 $2 {McShane} 20. Qxh5 $18 {wins.} f5 21. Rxd5
$1 Qxd5 22. Bb3 $16) 20. gxh5 Qb4 (20... Nh7 21. Bf4 $1 Qc5 (21... Qb4 22. Qg3
Qxb2 23. Bxh7+ Kxh7 24. Ne5 Nd8 25. Nd7 $1 $18) 22. Bxh7+ Kxh7 23. Qg4 d4 24.
Ne5 $36) 21. h6 {'!' Ftacnik. Ftacnik: 'Kramnik very correctly insists, that
in order to attack one does not necessarily needs queens on the board.'} Qxh4
22. Nxh4 Ne4 (22... gxh6 23. Bxh6 Rc8 (23... Rd8 {Ftacnik} 24. Nf5 $16) 24. Kh1
(24. Nf5 {McShane} Bc5 25. Kh1 $1 {wins after} Bxf2 26. Rg1+ $1) 24... Kh8 (
24... Bf8 25. Rg1+ Kh8 26. Bg5 $1 Nh7 27. Be3 $16) 25. Nf5 Ng4 26. Bg7+ Kg8 27.
Re2 $18 {[%cal Gd1g1]}) 23. hxg7 Rc8 (23... Rd8 $5 {Ftacnik} 24. Bxe7 Rxe7 25.
Nf5 Re5 26. Bxe4 dxe4 27. Rxd8+ Nxd8 28. Ng3 f5 29. f3 $16) 24. Bxe7 Nxe7 25.
Bxe4 dxe4 26. Rxe4 Kxg7 27. Rd6 $1 {/\28.Re7 McShane: 'White's initiative
continues into the endgame.'} (27. Rxe7 Rxe7 28. Nf5+ Kf6 29. Nxe7 Kxe7 30. Rd3
Rc2 31. Rb3 $16) 27... Rc5 (27... Rc2 $1 28. Rg4+ Kh7 29. Rd3 (29. Nf3 Rxb2 30.
Ng5+ Kg7 $13) 29... Ng6 $16) 28. Rg4+ Kh7 29. Nf3 $1 {Ftacnik: 'The Anand's
main worry is not so much the missing pawn, but rather a coordination of white
pieces.'} Ng6 (29... Rc2 30. Ng5+ Kg7 31. Ne6+ Kf6 32. Nd8+ Kf5 33. Rg7 $18)
30. Ng5+ Kg7 31. Nxf7 (31. h4 $5) 31... Rxf7 (31... Kxf7 32. Rdxg6 $18) 32.
Rdxg6+ (32. Rgxg6+ $1 Kf8 33. Rc6 $1 $18) 32... Kh7 (32... Kf8 33. Rxa6 Rc2 34.
Ra8+ Ke7 35. Ra7+ Kf8 36. Rxf7+ Kxf7 37. Rb4 $18) 33. R6g5 Rxg5 (33... Rc1+ 34.
Kg2 Kh6 35. f3 Rc2+ 36. Kg3 Rxb2 37. f4 $18) 34. Rxg5 Rc7 35. a3 b4 (35... Rc2
36. b4 $18) 36. axb4 Rc1+ 37. Kg2 Rb1 38. Ra5 Rxb2 39. Ra4 $1 {[%cal Gg2b7]}
1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2001.07.22"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2802"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "2001.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 085"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Bc4 Ne5 8.
Be2 Qg6 9. O-O d6 10. f4 Qxe4 11. Bf2 Bxd4 12. cxd4 N5g6 13. g3 Bh3 14. Bf3 Qf5
15. Re1 d5 16. Qb3 O-O 17. Nc3 c6 18. Qxb7 Rfb8 19. Qc7 Qf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Kramnik online sim"]
[Site "Internet"]
[Date "2001.09.05"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aslan777"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "1354"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2001.09.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "NET"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 Be7 4. Nbd2 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Bd3 Nfd7 7. Bxe7 Qxe7 8.
c3 Nc6 9. O-O f5 10. exf5 exf5 11. Re1 Qd8 12. Qc2 Ne7 13. Qb3+ Kh8 14. Ng5 Qe8
15. Ne6 Rb8 16. Nxc7 Qf7 17. Qxf7 Rxf7 18. Nb5 Nf6 19. Nxd6 Rf8 20. Rxe7 h6 21.
Rae1 Kh7 22. Nxc8 Rbxc8 23. Bxf5+ 1-0

[Event "Kramnik online sim"]
[Site "Internet"]
[Date "2001.09.05"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Brignone, Francis"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B38"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "1728"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2001.09.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "NET"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 c5 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 O-O 7. Be2 Nc6 8.
Be3 b6 9. O-O Bb7 10. f3 Rc8 11. Qd2 Ne5 12. b3 Re8 13. f4 Neg4 14. e5 Nxe3 15.
Qxe3 Bf8 16. Rad1 Nh5 17. Bxh5 gxh5 18. e6 d6 19. exf7+ Kxf7 20. Ne6 Qd7 21. f5
Bg7 22. Nd5 Bf6 23. Qh6 Kg8 24. Rd3 Bxd5 25. Rg3+ 1-0

[Event "Kramnik online sim"]
[Site "Internet"]
[Date "2001.09.05"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Green, Andrew"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2012"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2001.09.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "NET"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Nbd2 O-O 5. a3 Be7 6. e3 b6 7. Bd3 Bb7 8. O-O
Na6 9. b4 c5 10. dxc5 bxc5 11. b5 Nc7 12. a4 d5 13. Bb2 Rc8 14. Qc2 h6 15. Rfd1
Re8 16. h3 Na8 17. a5 a6 18. b6 Bd6 19. e4 dxe4 20. Nxe4 Nxe4 21. Bxe4 Bxe4 22.
Qxe4 Nxb6 23. axb6 Qxb6 24. Rab1 Qc6 25. Qg4 Bf8 26. Ne5 Qa4 27. Nd7 g6 28.
Nf6+ Kh8 29. Nxe8+ Kh7 30. Rd7 Rxe8 31. Rxf7+ Bg7 32. Rxg7+ Kh8 33. Rg8+ Kh7
34. Qxg6# 1-0

[Event "Kramnik online sim"]
[Site "Internet"]
[Date "2001.09.05"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Heshammarei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C24"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "1717"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2001.09.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "NET"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. O-O Be7 7. Re1 Bg4 8.
h3 Bxf3 9. Qxf3 Nf6 10. Bb5 Qd6 11. Nd2 O-O 12. Bxc6 Qxc6 13. Qxc6 bxc6 14.
Rxe5 Bd6 15. Re1 Rfe8 16. Rxe8+ Rxe8 17. Kf1 Nd5 18. a3 Be5 19. Nc4 Bf6 20. c3
Rb8 21. Bd2 h6 22. d4 Be7 23. b4 Bd6 24. Na5 Re8 25. Nxc6 a6 26. c4 Nf6 27. Re1
Re4 28. Rxe4 Nxe4 29. Ke2 Nxd2 30. Kxd2 Bf4+ 31. Kd3 Bc1 32. a4 Ba3 33. a5 Kf8
34. b5 axb5 35. a6 bxc4+ 36. Kxc4 1-0

[Event "Kramnik online sim"]
[Site "Internet"]
[Date "2001.09.05"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "LaraA"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A57"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "1939"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2001.09.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "NET"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Nf3 g6 5. cxb5 a6 6. b6 a5 7. Nc3 Ba6 8. e4 Bxf1
9. Rxf1 d6 10. e5 dxe5 11. Nxe5 Qxb6 12. Qa4+ Nfd7 13. Nc4 Qb4 14. a3 Qxa4 15.
Nxa4 Na6 16. Bf4 e6 17. O-O-O e5 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. Bxe5 Bh6+ 20. Kc2 O-O 21. d6
f6 22. Bc3 Nb8 23. d7 Nc6 24. Nxc5 Rf7 25. Rfe1 1-0

[Event "Kramnik online sim"]
[Site "Internet"]
[Date "2001.09.05"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "MvdStokker"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B23"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "1735"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2001.09.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "NET"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. e5 Nc6 7. Qa4 Ng8 8.
Bf4 Qa5 9. Qxa5 Nxa5 10. Nd5 Kd8 11. O-O-O Bh6 12. Ng5 Bxg5 13. Bxg5 h6 14. Bd2
Nc6 15. Bc3 Rb8 16. e6 f6 17. Nf4 Ke8 18. Nxg6 Rh7 19. exd7+ Bxd7 20. Nf8 Kxf8
21. Rxd7 Rg7 22. g3 e5 23. Rxg7 Kxg7 24. Bg2 Nge7 25. Rd1 Rd8 26. Rxd8 Nxd8 27.
Bb4 Kf7 28. Bxe7 Kxe7 29. Bd5 b6 30. Kd2 Kd6 31. c4 Kc5 32. Kc3 f5 33. b4+ Kd6
34. f3 h5 35. h3 a6 36. g4 fxg4 37. fxg4 hxg4 38. hxg4 Ne6 39. Bxe6 Kxe6 40. g5
Kf5 41. c5 bxc5 42. bxc5 Kf4 43. g6 e4 44. g7 e3 45. g8=Q Kf3 46. c6 e2 47. Qg1
1-0

[Event "Kramnik online sim"]
[Site "Internet"]
[Date "2001.09.05"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Oldfart"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "1569"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2001.09.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "NET"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8.
h3 Nc6 9. Be3 Qa5 10. Bd2 Qa3 11. d5 Bxc3 12. dxc6 Bxa1 13. Qxa1 bxc6 14. Qxh8+
Kd7 15. Ne5+ Kc7 16. Nc4 Qxa2 17. Qe5+ Kd8 18. Ba5+ Ke8 19. Qh8+ Kd7 20. Bd3
Bb7 21. Qc3 Ba6 22. O-O Rb8 23. Ra1 Qb3 24. Ne5+ Ke8 25. Bxa6 Qxc3 26. Bxc3 1-0

[Event "Kramnik online sim"]
[Site "Internet"]
[Date "2001.09.05"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Slford"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "1613"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2001.09.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "NET"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 5. d3 d6 6. e5 g6 7. exd6 Bxd6 8.
Nbd2 Nf6 9. Nc4 O-O 10. Bg5 Be7 11. O-O Bb7 12. Qd2 Re8 13. Nfe5 Nd5 14. Bxe7
Qxe7 15. Na5 Rab8 16. Nexc6 Bxc6 17. Nxc6 Qf6 18. Nxb8 Rxb8 19. b3 Rd8 20. Kh1
a6 21. f4 Rd6 22. Rae1 Kg7 23. Re5 a5 24. Qxa5 Rc6 25. Qd2 Rd6 26. a3 Qd8 27.
a4 Qb6 28. h3 Nb4 29. Qc3 f6 30. Rxc5 Rc6 31. Rxc6 Nxc6 32. b4 Nd4 33. Qc5 Qd8
34. a5 Kf7 35. a6 f5 36. a7 Ne2 37. Qe3 Nd4 38. a8=Q Qxa8 39. Qxd4 Qc8 40. c4
Ke7 41. Qc5+ Qxc5 42. bxc5 Kd7 43. d4 Kc6 44. Re1 Kd7 45. d5 exd5 46. cxd5 Kd8
47. d6 Kd7 48. Re7+ 1-0

[Event "Kramnik online sim"]
[Site "Internet"]
[Date "2001.09.05"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Verbal Kint"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D14"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "1604"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2001.09.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "NET"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c3 c5 3. Nf3 cxd4 4. cxd4 d5 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bf4 Bf5 7. e3 e6 8. Bb5
Nd7 9. O-O Rc8 10. Rc1 a6 11. Bd3 Bxd3 12. Qxd3 Nf6 13. Na4 Bd6 14. Bxd6 Qxd6
15. Nc5 Rc7 16. Nxb7 Rxb7 17. Qxa6 Rc7 18. Ne5 O-O 19. Rxc6 Rxc6 20. Qxc6 Qb8
21. Qc2 Rc8 22. Nc6 Qc7 23. Rc1 Kf8 24. b4 Nd7 25. b5 Nb8 26. Qc5+ Ke8 27. Nxb8
Qxc5 28. dxc5 Rxb8 29. c6 Kd8 30. c7+ 1-0

[Event "Kramnik online sim"]
[Site "Internet"]
[Date "2001.09.05"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vsturgeon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "1581"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2001.09.??"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "NET"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2002"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2001.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nc6 4. Bxc6+ bxc6 5. O-O g6 6. h3 Bg7 7. Re1 Qc7 8.
c3 Bd7 9. d4 cxd4 10. cxd4 c5 11. Nc3 cxd4 12. Nd5 Qb7 13. Nxd4 Nf6 14. Bg5
Nxd5 15. exd5 f6 16. Nc6 Bxc6 17. dxc6 Qc7 18. Bf4 e5 19. Qd5 O-O-O 20. Bd2
Rdf8 21. Ba5 Qf7 22. Qb5 d5 23. Qa6+ Kb8 24. c7+ 1-0

[Event "Botvinnik Memorial m"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.12.01"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2802"]
[BlackElo "2838"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "2001.12.01"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 a6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nf6 7. dxc5 Qxd1 8.
Rxd1 Bxc5 9. Nbd2 O-O 10. Be2 Rd8 (10... Nbd7 11. Nb3 Be7 12. Nfd4 Nb6 13. Na5
Nbd5 14. f3 Bd8 15. Nab3 e5 16. Nc2 Bb6 17. Kf1 Be6 18. e4 Ne7 19. Bg5 Rac8 20.
Ne3 Ng6 21. Nd5 Bxd5 22. exd5 Rfd8 23. Rac1 {1/2-1/2 Skomorokhin,R-Hoang Than
Trang/Budapest 1994/EXT 97 (23)}) (10... Nc6 11. b3 b6 12. Bb2 Rd8 13. a3 Bb7
14. b4 Be7 15. Nd4 Nxd4 16. Bxd4 b5 17. Nb3 Rd7 18. Na5 Be4 19. f3 Bc2 20. Rdc1
Ba4 21. Nc6 $16 {1-0 Malaniuk,V-Galinsky,T/Minsk op 1997 (48)}) 11. Ne5 (11. b3
b6 12. Bb2 Bb7 13. Nc4 (13. Ne5 Nbd7 14. Bf3 Bxf3 15. Ndxf3 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Nd5
17. Nd3 Be7 18. e4 Nb4 19. Nxb4 Bxb4 $11 {1/2-1/2 Ruck,R-Rublevsky,S/Ohrid MKD
2001/ (27)}) 13... Rxd1+ 14. Rxd1 Nbd7 15. Nfe5 Nxe5 16. Bxe5 Bd5 17. Bf3 Rc8
18. Bxf6 Bxf3 19. Rd8+ Rxd8 20. Bxd8 Bd5 21. Bxb6 Bxc4 22. Bxc5 Bd3 $11 {
1/2-1/2 Baburin,A-Yakovich,Y/Port Erin IOM 2001/ (42)}) (11. a3 a5 12. Nb3
Rxd1+ 13. Bxd1 Be7 14. Bd2 Nc6 15. Rc1 Bd8 16. Nc5 Ne7 17. Ne5 b6 18. Na4 Ba6
19. f3 Rc8 20. Rxc8 Bxc8 21. e4 {1/2-1/2 Schandorff,L-Rublevsky,S/Panormo GRE
2001/ (21)}) (11. Nb3 Rxd1+ 12. Bxd1 Be7 13. Ne5 Nbd7 14. Nxd7 Bxd7 15. Bf3 Rb8
16. Bd2 b6 17. Bc3 a5 18. Rd1 Ba4 19. g4 Rd8 20. Rxd8+ Bxd8 $11 {1/2-1/2
Arencibia,W-Ibragimov,I/Anibal Open ESP 2001 (30)}) 11... Be7 $1 {A very
useful move preventing White from gaining an important tempo by attacking the
Bc5 with one of his Ns} 12. b3 (12. Bf3 Ra7 (12... Nbd7 13. Nd3 (13. Nxd7 Rxd7
14. b3 Nd5 15. Nc4 (15. Bb2 b5 $11) 15... Bf6 16. Bb2 Bxb2 17. Nxb2 $16)) 13.
b3 (13. a4 b6 14. Ndc4 Rxd1+ 15. Bxd1 Nfd7 $11) 13... b5 14. Bb2 Bb7 $11) (12.
Ndc4 Rxd1+ 13. Bxd1 Nbd7 14. Bf3 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Bd6 (15... Nd5 16. Bd2 f6 17.
Nc4 Rb8 18. e4 Nb4 19. Nb6 e5) 16. Nc4 Bc7 17. Bd2 e5 (17... Rb8 18. Rc1 Bd7
19. Na5 $36) 18. Bc3 e4 19. Be2 Be6 $11) 12... Nd5 13. Bb2 f6 14. Nd3 (14. Nec4
b5) 14... Nc6 15. e4 Nb6 {[%cal Ye6e5]} 16. e5 f5 17. Rac1 Bd7 18. Nf3 (18. Nc5
Bxc5 19. Rxc5 Be8 $11) (18. Nf3 Nd5 19. Nc5 Bxc5 20. Rxc5 Nf4 21. Bf1 Be8 $132
{[%cal Ye8h5]}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Botvinnik Memorial m"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.12.02"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B41"]
[WhiteElo "2838"]
[BlackElo "2802"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "143"]
[EventDate "2001.12.01"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 {The first surprise, Kramnik used to play different
Sicilians earlier (Sveshnikov, Rauzer).} 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. c4 {Also
Kasparov avoids his usual repertoire. Until now he played exclusively} (5. Nc3
Qc7 {and only now chose between} 6. Be2 {and} (6. Bd3)) 5... Nf6 6. Nc3 Qc7 {
Black is not interested in the unclear complications after} (6... Bb4 7. Bd3
Nc6 8. Nxc6 dxc6 9. e5 Qa5 $5 10. exf6 Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 Qxc3+ 12. Bd2 Qxd3 13.
fxg7 Rg8 $13) 7. a3 d6 $6 {Rare and rather passive. Black voluntarily limits
his Bf8, which still could have found scope on c5 or even d6. Therefore more
flexible is} (7... Nc6 {or}) (7... b6) ({Also interesting is} 7... Nxe4 $5 8.
Nxe4 (8. Nxe6 dxe6 9. Nxe4 Be7 $11) 8... Qe5 9. Bd3 $5 (9. Qd3 d5 $11) 9...
Qxd4 10. O-O $44 {when White's lead in development gives him the initiative.})
8. Be3 b6 9. Rc1 Nbd7 10. Be2 Bb7 11. f3 Be7 12. O-O O-O $14 {Kasparov,G (2838)
-Kramnik,V (2809) Botvinnik mem 5' Match blitz 2001 (6) 1-0 A typical Hedgehog
position, which until now occured in Kramnik's practice mostly with White.
White has the usual () and can prepare advances on both flanks, but Black is
not devoid of <=> and his position has no obvious >< points. These positions
can arise also from different openings-the English or the Nimzoindian-see the
6-th blitz game of the match.} 13. Kh1 Rac8 14. b4 {[%mdl 4] |^<< White sets
his sights on Black's << and shows why this version of the Hedgehog is not too
fashionable nowadays-Kasparov demonstrates White's ideal plan.} Qb8 15. Qd2 Bd8
{[%cal Yd8c7,Yd6d5] /\Bc7,d5 A typical manoeuvre, Black still can't play d5
due to the ><a6 and intends to enhance the strength of the central break. But
after the game Kasparov criticised the whole concept.} 16. Rc2 Re8 {More
consistent was} (16... Bc7 17. Bg1 Kh8 $5 {[%cal Yf8g8,Yg7g4] /\Rg8, g5-g4<=>
This idea has been introduced already by Fischer in 1970.}) 17. Na4 Bc7 18. Bg1
{Protects h2.} Rcd8 19. Rb1 $1 $36 Ba8 {Black must defend against c5 and
postpone any active intentions.} (19... d5 20. exd5 exd5 21. c5 b5 22. c6 $5 (
22. Nb2 Ne5 $132) 22... Bf4 23. Qd3 bxa4 24. cxb7 $16) 20. Qc1 h6 21. Nb2 (21.
c5 b5 $1 22. c6 Ne5 $13 {therefore White first improves his pieces.}) 21... Nf8
22. Nd3 Ng6 23. a4 Qc8 24. b5 {Tempting, but probably not the best.} ({
Kasparov afterwards indicated} 24. a5 $1 bxa5 25. b5 $36 {/\} Bb6 $2 26. Nxe6
$1 $16) 24... a5 25. Nc6 (25. e5 Nxe5 26. Nxe5 dxe5 27. Nc6 (27. c5 $5 $13)
27... Bxc6 28. bxc6 e4 $132) 25... Bxc6 26. bxc6 e5 $1 {[%mdl 256] Good
defence, maybe Garri relied upon} (26... Ne7 27. e5 $1 dxe5 28. c5 $16 {
and the whole << is in White's hands. Kramnik realizes he must keep the
position closed.}) 27. Bxb6 Ne7 28. c5 ({More circumspect and without any risk
was} 28. Be3 $5 Nxc6 29. Rcb2 $36) 28... d5 29. Bxc7 Qxc7 30. Rb7 Qxc6 31. Rb5
Ng6 32. exd5 Nxd5 33. Nf2 $6 (33. Rxa5 $142 e4 $5 34. fxe4 Rxe4 35. Bf3 Rxa4
36. Rxa4 Qxa4 37. c6 $14 {still forces Black to fight for equality.}) 33...
Ngf4 34. Bf1 (34. Rxa5 Qc7 35. Rb5 Nc3 $1 $13 {also costs White an exchange
and leads to a similar position as in the game.}) 34... Ne6 35. Rxa5 Qc7 $1 36.
Rb5 (36. Ra6 $143 Nb4 $17) (36. Qe1 $143 Ne3 $1 $17) 36... Nd4 37. Rc4 (37.
Rcb2 $5 Nxb5 38. axb5 $44) 37... Nxb5 38. axb5 Rb8 {The o^ are too dangerous
and Kramnik is more than willing to give his N for the, which leads to an
approximately equal _|_.} 39. b6 (39. Ng4 Rxb5 40. Nxh6+ Kf8 41. Nf5 $44) (39.
Rc2 $5 $13 {keeps the tension, but can hardly aspire for an advantage.}) 39...
Nxb6 40. cxb6 Qxb6 41. Qe1 Rec8 42. Rxc8+ Rxc8 43. Ng4 Re8 44. Bd3 $2 {Weakens
the back rank and causes problems.} (44. g3 $11) (44. h3 $11) 44... Qd4 45. Be4
(45. Qe4 Qa1+ 46. Bb1 Rd8 $36) 45... f5 $1 {The visibly disconcerted Kasparov
overlooked this tactical thrust, which enables Black's R toi reach the <->a
after all.} 46. Bxf5 Ra8 47. Bb1 Qb2 48. h4 Ra1 49. Kh2 Qxb1 (49... Rxb1 50.
Qxe5 $15 {is similar.}) 50. Qxe5 Qh1+ 51. Kg3 Qe1+ 52. Qxe1 Rxe1 $15 {[%mdl
4096] Black had to exchange Q, otherwise he couldn't avoid a perpetual. The
resulting _|_ gives him some winning chances, e.g., in the game
Vidmar-Alekhine, Sam Remo 1930 the World Champion realized his advantage.
Kasparov defends more actively, but also slips at a crucial moment.} 53. Kf4
Re2 54. Ne3 g6 55. g4 Kf7 56. h5 $5 g5+ (56... gxh5 57. gxh5 Rh2 58. Kg4 $11 {
[%csl Rh6][%cal Re3f5] /\Nf5 will tie down at least one piece to the defence
of the ><h6.}) 57. Ke4 Ke6 (57... Kf6 58. f4 gxf4 (58... Rf2 59. Nd5+ $132 {
is the important difference.}) 59. Kxf4 Rf2+ 60. Kg3 Ra2 61. Nf5 Kg5 62. Nd4 {
is insufficient to win.}) 58. f4 $6 (58. Kd4 $5 $15 {[%cal Re3f5] /\Nf5}) 58...
Rf2 $1 59. Nd5 (59. f5+ $142 Kd6 $15 {/-/+}) 59... gxf4 60. Nxf4+ Kf6 61. Ke3
Ra2 62. Nd3 Ra3 {Here already Black probably spurns his first chance:} (62...
Kg5 63. Ne5 (63. Nf2 Kh4 $19) 63... Ra6 64. Kf3 Re6 65. Nc4 Re1 $1 (65... Kh4
66. Ne3 Rf6+ 67. Nf5+ Kg5 68. Kg3 Ra6 69. Nh4 {/\Nf3=}) 66. Ne3 Rb1 67. Ke4
Rb4+ 68. Ke5 (68. Kf3 Ra4 69. Kg3 Rf4 70. Kg2 Kh4 71. Nf5+ Kxg4 72. Nxh6+ Kxh5
73. Kg3 Rf8 $19) 68... Ra4 69. Kd5 Kf4 70. Nf5 Ra6 $19) 63. Ke4 Ra1 ({And now} 
63... Kg5 $1 64. Ne5 Ra7 65. Kf3 Re7 66. Nc4 Re1 {transposes to the above note.
}) 64. Kf4 Ra4+ 65. Kf3 Ra3 66. Ke4 Rb3 $2 (66... Kg5 $1 $19) 67. Nc5 Rb4+ 68.
Kf3 Rb5 ({White saves the game even after} 68... Kg5 69. Ne4+ Kh4 70. Kf4 $1 (
70. Nf6 $2 Ra4 71. Ne4 Ra1 72. Nf2 Ra3+ 73. Kf4 Ra7 $19) 70... Rb1 71. Ng3 $11)
69. Ne4+ Ke5 70. g5 $1 $11 Rb4 (70... Rb3+ 71. Kg4 Kxe4 72. gxh6 Ke5 73. h7 Rb8
74. Kg5 $11) 71. Nf2 {/\Nd3} (71. g6 $2 Rb3+ $19) 71... Rf4+ 72. Kg3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Botvinnik Memorial m"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.12.04"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2802"]
[BlackElo "2838"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "2001.12.01"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 b6 8. Qb3
Bb7 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Rd1 Re8 12. a3 c6 13. Bd3 Nd7 14. O-O g6 15.
Bb1 Bg7 16. e4 Ba6 17. Rfe1 Bc4 18. Qc2 dxe4 19. Rxe4 Rxe4 20. Qxe4 Bb3 21. Bc2
Nf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Botvinnik Memorial m"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.12.05"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C80"]
[WhiteElo "2838"]
[BlackElo "2802"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "2001.12.01"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5
Be6 9. Be3 Bc5 10. Qd3 O-O 11. Nc3 Nb4 12. Qe2 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Bxe3 14. Qxe3 Nc6
15. a4 Na5 16. axb5 axb5 17. Nd4 Qe8 18. f4 c5 19. Nxe6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Botvinnik Memorial m 30'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.12.07"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2802"]
[BlackElo "2838"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2001.12.07"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 a6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nf6 7. Bd3 b6 8. dxc5
Bxc5 9. a3 Bb7 10. Qe2 O-O 11. Nbd2 Nbd7 12. b4 Be7 13. Bb2 a5 14. bxa5 Rxa5
15. Bb5 Qb8 16. a4 Rc8 17. Rfc1 Ra7 18. Rxc8+ Qxc8 19. Rc1 Qa8 20. Nd4 Nc5 21.
Nc4 Nd5 22. e4 Nf4 23. Qg4 Ng6 24. Nxb6 Qd8 25. Nc4 Nxa4 26. Bxa4 Rxa4 27. Qd1
Rb4 28. Ba3 Rxc4 29. Rxc4 Bxa3 30. Qb3 Ba6 31. Ra4 Bc5 32. Rxa6 Qxd4 33. Ra8+
Nf8 34. Qc2 g6 35. g3 Kg7 36. Kg2 e5 37. Ra4 Qd6 38. Qc4 Ne6 39. Qd5 Qb8 40.
Ra8 Qb2 41. Ra2 Qc3 42. Qd2 Qb3 43. Qd5 Qb8 44. Ra8 Qc7 45. Ra6 Bd4 46. Qc6 Qe7
47. Ra8 Qf6 48. Qc2 Ng5 49. Ra3 Qe6 50. h4 Qh3+ 51. Kg1 Ne6 52. Rb3 Qg4 53. Qd3
Nc5 54. Qf3 Qxf3 0-1

[Event "Botvinnik Memorial m 30'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.12.07"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E34"]
[WhiteElo "2838"]
[BlackElo "2802"]
[Annotator "Golod,V"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2001.12.07"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 Qxd5 6. e3 c5 7. Bd2 Bxc3 8.
Bxc3 cxd4 9. Bxd4 Nc6 10. Bc3 O-O 11. Nf3 Rd8 $5 {Besides,black has two
principales moves:} (11... b6 $5 {/\Bb7(/^a8-h1).See comments to game Shipov,
S-Short,N/ Port Erin,1999/  CBM 74 (1-0)(Golod,V)(43)}) ({and} 11... Qc5 $5 {
See comments to game Dao Thien Hai-Adams,M/New Delhi,2000/CBM 81 (1/2-1/2)
(Golod,V)(31)}) 12. Be2 Qe4 $5 ({Is a possible continuation of the play:} 12...
Qc5 $5 {You can see comments to game: Bareev,E-Sakaev,K/Moscow,2001/CBM 86 
(1-0)(Golod,V)(25)}) 13. Qb3 ({Leads to absolute equality:} 13. Rc1 $6 Qxc2 14.
Rxc2 Nd5 $11 15. O-O Nxc3 16. Rxc3 {1/2-1/2 Onischuk,A-Anand,V/Bastia,2000(16)}
) 13... Nd5 (13... b6 $143 14. O-O Bb7 15. Rfd1 Qg6 16. Qa3 Ne8 17. Ba6 $1 $14
{Keatinge Clay,A-Falconer,N/Concord,1995(0-1)(72)}) 14. Bd2 ({It is not
necessary to exchange the bishop "c3":} 14. O-O $6 Nxc3 15. Qxc3 Qb4 16. Qc2
Qe7 17. a3 Bd7 $11 {Touzane,O-Anand,V/Moscow,2001 (1/2-1/2)(46)}) 14... Qg6 $5
$146 {[%csl Rg2][%cal Gg6g2]} ({Was checked in the previous game:} 14... b6 $5
15. Bd3 (15. Qc4 $143 Nf6 {/\16...Qxc4 and 17...Ne4 ץd2.}) 15... Qg4 16. O-O
Bb7 17. h3 Qh5 18. Qb5 $13 {Ivanchuk,V-Gelfand,B/Monaco,2001 (1-0)(33)}) 15.
O-O $140 e5 {[%cal Gc8h3]} 16. Rfd1 e4 ({Now senselessly:} 16... Bh3 {in view
of:} 17. Ne1 {[%csl Ye1][%cal Ye1g2]} (17. Nh4 $6 Qg5 18. Bc4 e4 19. Qxb7 Nce7
20. Bxd5 (20. Ba5 $2 Rdb8 21. Rxd5 Qxh4 $17 {[%csl Rb7,Rd5]}) (20. g3 $143 Rdb8
21. Qa6 Rxb2 $36) 20... Nxd5 21. Ba5 Qxh4 22. gxh3 $13 (22. Bxd8 $4 Qg4 23. Kf1
$8 Qxg2+ 24. Ke1 Nxe3 $1 25. Qxa8 (25. fxe3 Bg4 26. Qb5 Qg1+ 27. Kd2 (27. Qf1
Qxe3+ {[%csl Re1]}) 27... Rxd8+ {[%csl Rd1]}) 25... Qf1+ 26. Kd2 Qd3+ 27. Ke1 (
27. Kc1 Qc2#) 27... Nc2#))) 17. Ne1 Qf5 {[%csl Yf5][%cal Yf5d5] Black once
again protect knight "d5"(against 18.Ba5 עg8).} ({It deserves attention:} 
17... Rb8 $5 {[%cal Gc8e6]}) 18. Bc3 Rb8 {[%csl Yb8][%cal Yb8b7,Gc8e6]} 19. g4
$1 {Very strong positional decision! Now knight of white at once enters in
game.} Qe6 20. Ng2 {[%cal Ge2c4]} Nxc3 21. Rxd8+ Nxd8 22. Qxc3 Nc6 23. Rd1 ({
Pretty dubiously:} 23. b4 {[%cal Gb4b5] (with purpose to bring down the knight
of black with poin "c6" and to open <->c) because of:} Qe5 {[%csl Rb4,Rc7,Ye5]
[%cal Ye5c7]} 24. Qxe5 Nxe5 25. h3 Be6 {=/=/+}) 23... Qe7 24. Nf4 Be6 $11 ({
Weakly:} 24... Kh8 25. b4 {[%csl Rh8][%cal Gb4b5]}) ({and} 24... h6 {[%csl Yh7]
in view of:} 25. Nh5 $1 f5 (25... f6 $2 26. Qc4+ Kh8 27. Ng3 {[%csl Re4]}) 26.
Ng3 $36 {[%csl Re4,Rf5]}) 25. b4 {Now this move not so is dangerous for black,
as earlier.} ({Also equality after:} 25. Nxe6 Qxe6 {[%csl Rg4]} 26. Qc4 Qe7 {
[%cal Gb8d8]} 27. Bf1 Re8 $11) 25... Qxb4 ({Much worse is:} 25... Nxb4 $2 26.
Nxe6 fxe6 27. Qe5 $14 {[%csl Re4]}) 26. Qxb4 Nxb4 27. Nxe6 fxe6 28. Bc4 {
/^a2-g8} Kf7 29. Rd4 Nd3 30. Rxe4 $6 (30. Bxd3 $142 exd3 31. Rxd3 Ke7 32. Rc3 {
<->c} Rd8 33. Kf1 $11 {[%cal Gf1e2]}) (30. Rxe4 $6 {After this inaccurate move,
black has a advantage in the endgame! That confirms the following variants:}
Nc5 31. Rd4 (31. Re5 $143 Rc8 32. f4 a6 $5 $15 {[%csl Ya6][%cal Ya6b5] /\Rc6
and Nd7(צe5)} 33. f5 $140 Kf6 34. Bxe6 Rc6 (34... Kxe5 $5 35. Bxc8 b5 36. g5
b4 {[%csl Ga6,Gb4][%cal Ga6a5]}) 35. Rd5 Nxe6 36. fxe6 Rc1+ 37. Kf2 Rc2+ 38.
Kg3 Kxe6 39. Ra5 $15) 31... b5 $1 32. Bb3 (32. Be2 Ke7 {[%csl Rd6][%cal Ye7d6,
Ga7a5]}) 32... a5 33. Bc2 (33. Kf1 $143 Nxb3 34. axb3 Ra8 {[%cal Ga5a4]}) 33...
b4 34. Rd6 Rc8 $15) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Botvinnik Memorial m 30'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.12.07"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2802"]
[BlackElo "2838"]
[Annotator "Hecht,H"]
[PlyCount "124"]
[EventDate "2001.12.07"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. a4 e6 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. a5 h6 8. Bxf6
Nxf6 9. c5 g6 10. Qc2 Bg7 11. e4 dxe4 12. Nxe4 Nxe4 13. Qxe4 Qd5 14. Qc2 e5 15.
Bc4 Bf5 16. Qe2 Qe4 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. Qxe4 Bxe4 19. dxe5 Rd8 20. f3 Bd5 21. Rc1
Bxc4 22. Rxc4 Rd5 23. f4 Ke7 24. O-O Rhd8 25. h3 Rd4 26. Rfc1 Ke6 27. R1c3 g5
28. Rxd4 Rxd4 29. Rb3 Rxf4 30. Rxb7 Rc4 31. Rb6 Rxc5 32. Rxa6 Kxe5 33. b4 Rb5
34. Rxc6 Rxb4 35. Rxh6 Ra4 36. Ra6 Kf4 37. Rf6+ Ke5 38. Ra6 Kf4 39. Rf6+ Ke5
40. Rxf7 Rxa5 41. Kf2 Ra3 42. Rf3 Ra4 43. Kg3 Ke6 44. Rf8 Rb4 45. Kf3 Ra4 46.
g4 Ra3+ 47. Kg2 Ra2+ 48. Kg3 Ra3+ 49. Rf3 Rxf3+ 50. Kxf3 {[#] Schwarz verfügt
über genügend Raum, um bei 2-1 Bauern auf einem Flügel bequem auf verschiedene
Art und Weise das Remis zu halten. Schwarz hält remis mittels Fernopposition.}
Kf7 {logisch und feinsinnig...} ({...es geht aber auch anders} 50... Ke5 51.
Kg3 (51. Ke3 Kd5 52. Kd3 Ke5 53. Ke3 $11 (53. Kc4 Kf4 54. Kd4 Kg3 55. Ke4 (55.
Ke5 $4 Kxh3 56. Kf5 Kh4 $19) 55... Kxh3 56. Kf3 $11)) 51... Kf6 52. h4 gxh4+
53. Kxh4 Kg6 $11) 51. Ke3 Ke7 52. Kd3 Kd7 53. Ke2 Ke6 54. Kf3 Kf7 55. Ke3 Ke7
56. Kd3 Kd7 57. Kc3 Kc7 58. Kd2 Kd6 59. Ke3 Ke7 60. Kf2 Kf6 61. Kg3 Kg7 62. Kf3
Kf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Botvinnik Memorial m 30'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.12.08"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A10"]
[WhiteElo "2838"]
[BlackElo "2802"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2001.12.07"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 b6 3. Nf3 Bb7 4. g3 Bb4 5. Bg2 Bxc3 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. O-O O-O 8.
d3 d6 9. e4 Nd7 10. Re1 e5 11. a4 a5 12. d4 Ng6 13. Ba3 Re8 14. Qc2 Nf6 15. Nd2
Qd7 16. f3 Ba6 17. Bf1 h6 18. Bd3 Nh7 19. Nf1 Ng5 20. Qd1 exd4 21. cxd4 f5 22.
h4 fxe4 23. hxg5 exd3 24. Qxd3 Qf7 25. gxh6 Bxc4 26. Qc3 Bxf1 27. Rxf1 Re2 28.
Rf2 Rae8 29. Raf1 R8e3 30. Qc1 Rxf2 31. Qxe3 Rc2 32. Bc1 Qa2 33. Rf2 Rxf2 34.
Qxf2 Qxa4 35. Qe3 Qd1+ 36. Kf2 Qc2+ 37. Ke1 Qh2 38. Qg5 Qh1+ 39. Kf2 Qh2+ 40.
Ke1 Qh1+ 41. Kf2 Qh2+ 42. Ke1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Botvinnik Memorial m 30'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.12.08"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2802"]
[BlackElo "2838"]
[Annotator "Finkel,A"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2001.12.07"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 cxd4 5. O-O Nf6 6. Nxd4 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 {
The arising position is just similiar to gruenfeld defense with reversed
colours. An additional tempo is hardly enough for more than equality.} 8. Bg5 (
8. Nc3 Be7 9. f4 exf4 10. gxf4 g6 11. Nd4 (11. Kh1 Nc6 12. Be3 O-O 13. Nd4 Ng4
14. Nxe6 fxe6 15. Bg1 Nh6 16. e4 dxe4 17. Nxe4 Qc7 18. c3 $1 $14 {Romanishin,
O-Ulybin,M/Moscow (ol) 1994/1/2-1/2 (69)}) 11... Bc5 $5 $146 (11... Bg4 12. Qd3
(12. h3 $1 Bh5 $140 13. Nb3 {[%csl Rd5]}) 12... Nc6 13. h3 {1/2-1/2 Krasenkov,
M-Horvath,J/Budapest Noviki-A 1989}) 12. Na4 Bxd4+ 13. Qxd4 Nc6 14. Qc3 $6 d4
$1 15. Bxc6+ $142 (15. Qa3 {Koniushkov,I-Ulibin,M/RUS-Cup6 1997/0-1(49)}) 15...
bxc6 16. Qxc6+ Kf8 $1 (16... Bd7 17. Qc4 $16) 17. Nc5 Bf5 $44) 8... Nbd7 9. e4
{The most fashionable plan.} (9. Nc3 $5 h6 $6 (9... Be7 $5) 10. Bxf6 Nxf6 11.
Qd3 $1 {[%cal Yd3b5,Ga1d1] @} Qd7 (11... Rc8 12. Rad1 d4 13. Qb5+ Nd7 14. Nd5
Rxc2 15. Rc1 $16 {Simic,R-Horvath,J/JUG-chT Igalo 1994}) 12. Rad1 d4 13. Ne4
Rc8 14. c3 dxc3 15. Qf3 Qe7 16. Nxc3 e4 17. Qe3 $16 {/+- Anikaev,Y-Totsky,L,
Smolensk,1991/1-0}) (9. e3 h6 10. Bxf6 Nxf6 11. Qe2 Be7 12. Nc3 Qc8 13. Rad1 e4
14. Nd4 Bd7 15. f3 $13 {Lputian,S-Rublevsky,S/New Delhi/Theran 2000}) 9... dxe4
10. Nc3 (10. Bxe4 $6 Qc7 11. Bg2 Be7 12. Nc3 a6 13. Re1 O-O $11 {Nehse,
G-Prudnikova,S/Halle-W 1987/0-1(38)}) 10... Be7 (10... Qc7 $5 $146 11. Nxe4
Nxe4 12. Bxe4 h6 13. Bd2 Be7 $11 {Savchenko,S-Rublevsky,S/Luzern 1997/CBM 62})
(10... h6 11. Bxf6 Nxf6 12. Qe2 Qc7 13. Rfd1 Bg4 14. Qb5+ Bd7 15. Qe2 Bg4 16.
Nd5 Nxd5 17. Qxg4 Nf6 18. Qe2 $14 {Podzielny,K-Schischke,R/Germany 1996/GER})
11. Nxe4 (11. Bxf6 Nxf6 12. Nxe4 Qc7 13. Re1 (13. Qf3 Rb8 14. Qc3 Rc8 15. Nxf6+
Bxf6 16. Qb4 b6 17. Rfe1 Qe7 $11 {Van de Mortel,J-Hracek,Z/NED 2000}) (13.
Nxf6+ Bxf6 14. c3 Rd8 15. Qf3 b6 16. Rfd1 O-O 17. Qc6 Qxc6 18. Bxc6 Bg5 $15 {
^^_|_ Csom,I-Forintos,G/HUN-chT 1993}) 13... O-O 14. Qe2 Nd7 15. Rad1 Rac8 16.
c3 Rfd8 17. Qe3 h6 18. h4 a5 $13 {Romanishin,O-Rublevsky,S/Istanbul 2000})
11... Nxe4 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Bxe4 Nf6 $5 {White bishop is extremly strong over
the diagonal a8-h1 and Kasparrov finds a plan to neutralize it with f5-e4.} (
13... Rb8 14. Qd3 h5 15. Qe3 b6 16. f4 h4 17. fxe5 hxg3 18. hxg3 Nxe5 19. Nd4
$13 {Gross,G-Loeffler,S/Germany 1997/GER-chT}) 14. Bg2 O-O 15. Re1 Qc7 16. Qe2
Nd7 17. c4 $5 Rac8 {The pawn is poisoned. Both after} (17... Qxc4 $6 18. Qxc4
Bxc4 19. Na5 Be6 20. Bxb7 Rab8 21. b4 $1 f6 22. a3 Nb6 23. Rac1 $14) ({and
after} 17... Bxc4 $6 18. Rac1 {[%cal Gc1c7]} Rac8 19. Qd1 $5 {[%cal Gb3d2,
Gb2b3]} b5 20. Nd2 Qd8 (20... Nb6 $2 21. b3 Rfd8 22. Bh3 $18) 21. Nxc4 Rxc4 22.
Rxc4 bxc4 23. Qd5 $14 {white manages to get better chanses.}) 18. Nd2 f5 19. b3
e4 $11 20. Nf3 {White doesn't want to take risks: indeed, after} (20. f3 Ne5
21. fxe4 f4 22. gxf4 Rxf4 23. Qe3 Rcf8 $44 {[%csl Rh2][%cal Ge5g4] black's
initiative fully compensates him for the lack of pawn.}) 20... Nf6 21. Nd4 Bd7
22. Qe3 Ng4 23. Qf4 Ne5 $5 ({Black didn't face any problems also after} 23...
Qxf4 24. gxf4 Nf6 25. Rad1 (25. f3 Rce8 26. Rad1 Re7 $11) 25... Nh5 26. Ne2 Bc6
$11 {but Kasparov's desire to keep the queens is quiet understandable.}) 24.
Rad1 Rce8 25. Nc2 Bc6 26. Nb4 Qe7 27. Nxc6 (27. Nd5 Bxd5 28. Rxd5 Qf6 29. Red1
Nd3 30. Qd2 Rd8 $13) 27... bxc6 28. Qe3 Rd8 29. h3 h6 30. f4 {This move is
just a draw offer.} exf3 31. Rxd8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Botvinnik Memorial m 30'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.12.08"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E44"]
[WhiteElo "2838"]
[BlackElo "2802"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2001.12.07"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 b6 5. Nge2 Bb7 6. a3 Be7 7. d5 O-O 8. Ng3
Re8 9. Be2 Bf8 10. e4 d6 11. O-O Nbd7 12. Be3 c6 13. Qd2 Rc8 14. dxe6 fxe6 15.
f4 Qe7 16. Rad1 Rcd8 17. Kh1 Qf7 18. Qc2 Kh8 19. b4 e5 20. Nf5 d5 21. exd5 cxd5
22. Nb5 Qg6 23. Bf3 Rc8 24. Qb1 e4 25. Nh4 Qf7 26. Be2 a6 27. Nc3 dxc4 28. Qb2
b5 29. Nf5 Nd5 30. Nxd5 Qxf5 31. Nc3 Nf6 32. h3 Rcd8 33. Rxd8 Rxd8 34. Rd1
Rxd1+ 35. Bxd1 Qd7 36. Be2 Bc6 37. Qc1 g6 38. Qg1 Bg7 39. Bd4 Kg8 40. Be5 Nd5
41. Bxg7 Qxg7 42. Nxd5 Bxd5 43. Qc5 Qa1+ 44. Kh2 Bf7 45. Bg4 Kg7 46. Qc7 Qf6
47. Bd1 h5 48. a4 Qd4 49. Bc2 e3 50. f5 e2 51. fxg6 e1=Q 52. Qxf7+ Kh6 0-1

[Event "Botvinnik Memorial m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.12.09"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2802"]
[BlackElo "2838"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2001.12.09"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. e3 Bb7 5. Bd3 d5 6. b3 c5 7. O-O cxd4 8. exd4
Be7 9. Nbd2 O-O 10. Bb2 Nc6 11. Qe2 Re8 12. Rad1 Bf8 13. Rfe1 g6 14. Bb1 Bg7
15. Ne5 Rc8 16. Ndf3 Nd7 17. Ng4 h5 18. Ne3 Ne7 19. h3 Nf6 20. Ne5 Nf5 21. Nf1
Nd6 22. Ne3 Nf5 23. Nf1 Ne4 24. Bxe4 dxe4 25. Ne3 Qc7 26. Nxf5 exf5 27. Bc1 Qe7
28. Qe3 Qd8 29. Qg3 h4 30. Qf4 Re6 31. c5 b5 32. a4 bxa4 33. Nc4 axb3 34. Nd6
Bd5 35. Nxc8 Qxc8 36. Qxh4 a5 37. Bb2 a4 38. Ra1 Ra6 39. Qf4 Bf6 40. Ra3 Kg7
41. Rea1 Qc6 42. Qb8 e3 43. f3 Qe6 44. Qb5 e2 45. Re1 Qe3+ 46. Kh2 Re6 47. Qxa4
Bh4 48. Qb4 Qf2 49. Raa1 Bg3+ 50. Kh1 Bxf3 51. d5+ Kh7 52. Rg1 Re4 53. Qb7
Bxg2+ 54. Rxg2 e1=Q+ 55. Rg1 Qf3# 0-1

[Event "Botvinnik Memorial m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.12.09"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2838"]
[BlackElo "2802"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2001.12.09"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. g3 Be7 8. Bg2
O-O 9. O-O Na6 10. Qc2 Re8 11. Rd1 h6 12. Bf4 Bf8 13. Rac1 c6 14. Ne5 Nc7 15.
e4 Ne6 16. Be3 Rc8 17. Qb3 dxe4 18. Nxe4 Nd5 19. Nc3 Nxe3 20. fxe3 Rc7 21. Rd3
g6 22. Rf1 Bg7 23. Rdd1 Qa8 24. Rd2 Bxe5 25. dxe5 Nc5 26. Qd1 Ba6 27. Rf4 Rce7
28. b4 Ne6 29. Ne4 Nxf4 30. Nf6+ Kg7 31. exf4 Rf8 32. Rd6 Qc8 33. Qa1 Re6 34.
Bh3 Bc4 35. Bxe6 Bxe6 36. g4 Qc7 37. Qc3 c5 38. f5 gxf5 39. gxf5 Bxf5 40. e6
Kg6 41. Qg3+ Kxf6 42. exf7+ Kxf7 43. Rf6+ Kxf6 44. Qxc7 cxb4 45. axb4 Rf7 46.
Qd6+ Kg7 47. Qe5+ Kg6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Botvinnik Memorial m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.12.09"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2802"]
[BlackElo "2838"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2001.12.09"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 a6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nf6 7. Bd3 cxd4 8.
exd4 Be7 9. Nc3 b5 10. a4 bxa4 (10... b4 11. Ne4 Bb7 12. Nc5 $5 (12. Qe2 O-O
13. Bg5 (13. Neg5 $6 Nc6 14. Rd1 Qd6 15. Be3 Na5 16. Ne5 Qd5 17. f3 h6 18. Ne4
$14 {1-0 Huebner,R-Brunner,L/Biel 1993/CBM 37/[Huebner,R] (41)}) (13. Bf4 Qd5
14. Nxf6+ (14. Nfg5 Nbd7 15. Rac1 h6 16. Nxf6+ Nxf6 17. Nf3 Rfc8 $1 18. Rxc8+
Rxc8 19. Bxa6 Bxa6 20. Qxa6 Ra8 $11 {0-1 Filippov,V-Yakovich,Y/Gistrup 1996/
CBM 55/[Kanstler] (65)}) 14... Bxf6 15. Rfd1 Rc8 16. Rac1 Rxc1 17. Rxc1 Nc6 18.
Qe4 g6 19. Qxd5 exd5 20. Ne5 Nxd4 21. Nd7 Bd8 22. Bd6 a5 23. f4 $44 {1-0
Malaniuk,V-Yakovich,Y/Novgorod 1995/CBM 49 ext (44)}) (13. Rd1 Nbd7 14. Ned2 a5
15. Bb5 Nb6 16. Nb3 Bd5 17. Nc5 $14 {1-0 Karpov,A-Short,N/Linares 1995/Inf 63/
[Karpov,An] (52)}) 13... Nbd7 14. a5 Nxe4 15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. Bxe4 Nf6 17. Bxb7
Qxb7 18. Rfc1 Rfc8 19. Ne5 Nd7 20. Nc4 Rc6 21. Ne3 Rac8 22. Rxc6 Qxc6 23. h3
Nf6 {1/2-1/2 Goldin,A-Mikhalchishin,A/Belgrade 1988/TD (23)}) 12... Bxc5 13.
dxc5 Qc7 14. Bg5 Ng4 15. Re1 h6 16. Bf5 hxg5 17. Bxg4 Qxc5 18. Bxe6 O-O 19. Rc1
Qa5 20. Re5 Bxf3 21. Bxf7+ Rxf7 22. Rc8+ Kh7 23. Qc2+ {1-0 Meister,
P-Mikhalchishin,A/BL9394 1994/GER-chT (23)}) 11. Qxa4+ (11. Ne5 Bb7 12. Qxa4+
Nfd7 13. d5 exd5 14. Bf5 g6 15. Re1 gxf5 16. Nxd7 Qxd7 17. Bg5 f6 18. Bxf6 O-O
19. Rxe7 $16 {0-1 Nickoloff,B-Livshits,R/Toronto 1995/EXT 98 (38)}) 11... Bd7
12. Qc2 Nc6 $5 {[%mdl 512] Black deside to sacrifise pawn.Idea is to finish
development "bustro" and organise pressure to pawns b2 and d4.} (12... O-O 13.
Ne4 h6 14. Ne5 $36) 13. Rxa6 Nb4 (13... Rxa6 14. Bxa6 Qb6 15. Bb5 $1 Nxd4 16.
Nxd4 Qxd4 17. Bg5 Qc5 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Bxd7+ Kxd7 20. Qa4+ Ke7 21. Ne4 $40)
14. Rxa8 Qxa8 15. Qe2 Nxd3 16. Qxd3 O-O (16... Bc6 $142 $1 17. Re1 O-O $44) 17.
Ne5 Rd8 (17... Bc8 $5 {[%cal Yc8b7,Yc8a6]} 18. Qg3 Rd8 19. Bh6 Ne8 $44) 18.
Nxd7 Rxd7 19. Be3 $14 Qb8 20. Qe2 Rb7 21. Rb1 h6 (21... Rb3 $5) 22. h3 Rb4 23.
Na2 $1 Rb3 24. Nc1 Rb5 25. Nd3 Nd5 26. Rc1 Bf6 27. Rc5 Be7 28. Rc4 (28. Rxb5 $5
Qxb5 29. Qc2 $14 {[%cal Gb2b3,Gc2c4]}) 28... Ra5 29. Rc1 Ra8 30. Ne5 Bd6 31.
Nc4 Bc7 32. Qd3 Qb5 $44 33. Qc2 Nxe3 34. Nxe3 (34. fxe3 Qg5 $44 {[%cal Yg5g3]})
34... Bb6 35. Rd1 Rd8 36. Qc3 Qe2 37. Qc2 (37. Qb4 $5 Qa6) 37... Qb5 38. Qc3
Qe2 39. Qc2 Qb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Botvinnik Memorial m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.12.09"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2838"]
[BlackElo "2802"]
[Annotator "Dautov,R"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2001.12.09"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Eigentlich ist es nicht üblich, Blitzpartien zu kommentieren, dennoch dürfte
in diesem Fall eine Ausnahme erlaubt sein. Die Partie wurde auf höchstem
Niveau gespielt und ist eröffnungstheoretisch wichtig.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3.
Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 {Ohne zu übertreiben kan man behaupten,
daß dies z. Zt. die sicherste Fortsetzung für Schwarz ist.} 7. a3 c5 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. dxc5 Nxc5 11. Be5 {Schwarz plante 11...Bf6. Weiß
versucht, diese Drohung zu entschärfen und plant den Übergang ins Endspiel.} (
11. Be2 Bf6 12. Be5 Bxe5 $2 (12... Bg4 $1 $11) 13. Nxe5 Be6 14. Nf3 Qb6 15. Qd4
Nb3 16. Qxb6 axb6 17. Rd1 $14 {Gurevich,M-Golod,V/Cappelle la Grande 1999})
11... Bf6 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. Qd4 ({Nach} 13. Rc1 {kann Schwarz seinen
Entwicklungsvorsprung folgendermaßen zur Geltung bringen:} Ne6 14. Rc2 Rd8 15.
Rd2 d4 $1 16. Nxd4 Nxd4 17. Rxd4 Be6 18. Be2 Rxd4 19. Qxd4 Qxd4 20. exd4 Rd8
21. Bf3 b6 $11 {Yakovich,Y-Nielsen,P/Bergen 2000}) 13... Qxd4 14. Nxd4 {
Auf den ersten Blick hat Weiß ein angenehmes Endspiel erreicht. Wegen seines
Entwicklungsrückstandes wird er die Deisolierung des Bd5 nicht verhindern
können.} Bd7 $1 {Ein genauer Zug: zuerst wird ein Turm entwickelt, erst dann
folgt Nc5-e6.} (14... Ne6 15. Be2 (15. Rd1 $14) 15... Nxd4 16. exd4 Be6 17. Kd2
$14 {/\Bf3, Rc1}) 15. f3 (15. Be2 Rac8 16. O-O Ne6 $11) (15. Kd2 Ne4+ $11)
15... Rfc8 16. Kd2 Ne6 $11 17. Bd3 Nxd4 18. exd4 {Schwarz hat sein Ziel
erreicht, sein Isolani wird ihm keine Sorgen mehr bereiten. Die Stellung ist
totremislich.} f6 19. h4 g6 20. Rac1 Kf7 21. Rc5 b6 22. Rxc8 (22. Rxd5 $4 Ke6
23. Be4 Bc6 $19) 22... Rxc8 23. h5 Kg7 24. f4 Bf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Botvinnik Memorial m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.12.09"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2802"]
[BlackElo "2838"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2001.12.09"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8.
Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Be2 Ke7 10. b3 Nbd7 11. Bb2 b6 12. Nbd2 Bb7 13. Rfd1 Rhc8 14. Ne1
Ke8 15. Nc4 Bd5 16. Bf3 b5 17. Nd2 Bf8 18. Be2 Ne4 19. Nxe4 Bxe4 20. f3 Bb7 21.
Kf2 Nb6 22. e4 Nd7 23. Nd3 Rc2 24. Rac1 Rac8 25. Rxc2 Rxc2 26. Rc1 Rxc1 27.
Bxc1 Nc5 28. Ke3 Nxd3 29. Kxd3 e5 30. Bd2 Bc6 31. b4 Bd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Botvinnik Memorial m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.12.09"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E38"]
[WhiteElo "2838"]
[BlackElo "2802"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2001.12.09"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. dxc5 O-O 6. a3 Bxc5 7. Nf3 Qc7 8.
Bg5 Be7 9. e4 d6 10. Be2 a6 11. O-O Nbd7 12. Nd4 b6 13. Rac1 Bb7 14. Be3 Rfe8
15. f3 Ne5 16. Na4 Rab8 17. Qd2 Ng6 18. Kh1 Nd7 19. b4 Bf8 20. Rfd1 Rbd8 21.
Nb3 Ba8 22. Qe1 Bc6 23. b5 Ba8 24. bxa6 Qa7 25. Nc3 Qxa6 26. Nb5 Rc8 27. c5 Qa4
28. Qb4 Qxb4 29. axb4 bxc5 30. Nxd6 Bxd6 31. Rxd6 c4 32. Rxc4 Rxc4 33. Bxc4
Nde5 34. Bf1 f5 35. Nc5 fxe4 36. fxe4 Nf8 37. h3 Nf7 38. Ra6 Ne5 39. b5 Ned7
40. Ra7 Nxc5 41. Bxc5 Bxe4 42. b6 Bc6 43. Rc7 Ba4 44. b7 Nd7 45. Rc8 Kf7 46.
Bd6 h6 47. Be2 g6 48. Bd3 Rg8 49. Rxg8 Kxg8 50. Bxg6 1-0

[Event "Botvinnik Memorial m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.12.09"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2802"]
[BlackElo "2838"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2001.12.09"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 a6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nf6 7. Bb3 Nc6 8. Nc3
cxd4 9. exd4 Be7 10. Re1 O-O 11. Bf4 Na5 12. d5 Nxb3 13. Qxb3 Nxd5 14. Rad1
Nxf4 15. Rxd8 Rxd8 16. Rd1 Nd5 17. Ne5 (17. Nxd5 exd5 18. h3 b5 19. Rxd5 Be6
20. Rxd8+ Rxd8 21. Qc2 {1/2-1/2 Gelfand,B-Shirov,A/New Delhi IND 2000/The Week
in Chess 318 (21)}) 17... Bf6 18. Nc4 {[%cal Gc4b6]} Rb8 $1 (18... Nxc3 19.
Rxd8+ Bxd8 20. Nb6 $1) 19. Na5 $6 (19. Nxd5 exd5 20. Ne3 Be6 (20... d4 21. Nd5
Be5 22. Re1 Bd6 $11) 21. Nxd5 Bxb2 22. Qxb2 Rxd5 23. Rxd5 Bxd5 $11) (19. Nb6
Nxb6 20. Qxb6 Bd7 21. Ne4 Be7 $11 {/=/+}) 19... Bd7 20. Ne4 (20. Nxd5 exd5 21.
Rxd5 b6 22. Nc4 Be6 $17 {[%csl Rg1][%cal Ye6b3]}) 20... Be7 21. Nc4 Bb5 $17 22.
Ne5 Be8 23. h3 b5 24. Qg3 Rbc8 {Well organised Black pieces dominate on the
position.} 25. Kh1 a5 26. h4 a4 27. Ng5 h6 28. Ngf3 Nf6 29. Rxd8 Rxd8 30. Qf4
Rd1+ 31. Kh2 Bd6 $19 {[%cal Yd6h2]} 32. g3 {[%mdl 4]} Bc6 $1 33. g4 Rd3 $1 34.
Kg1 Bxf3 0-1

[Event "Botvinnik Memorial m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.12.09"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A32"]
[WhiteElo "2838"]
[BlackElo "2802"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2001.12.09"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. g3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Qc7 6. Nc3 a6 7. Bg2 Qxc4 8.
O-O Nc6 9. Nb3 d5 10. Bf4 Qb4 11. Re1 Be7 12. e4 dxe4 13. Bc7 e3 14. Rxe3 O-O
15. h3 Na7 16. Rc1 Nb5 17. a3 Nxc3 18. Rcxc3 Qa4 19. Qc1 Qd7 20. Be5 Nd5 21.
Red3 Nxc3 22. Qxc3 Qb5 23. Bxg7 Qxd3 24. Qxd3 Kxg7 25. Nc5 Rd8 26. Qe3 Rb8 27.
Qe5+ Kh6 28. Qxb8 Bxc5 29. Qc7 Rd1+ 30. Kh2 Bxf2 31. Qf4+ 1-0

[Event "Botvinnik Memorial m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.12.09"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2802"]
[BlackElo "2838"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2001.12.09"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 a6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nf6 7. Bd3 cxd4 8.
exd4 Be7 9. Ne5 Nc6 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. Be3 Nd5 (11... O-O 12. Qc2 Qc7 13. Nd2 h6
14. Rac1 Bb7 15. Ne4 $1 $146 (15. Be2 a5 16. Rfd1 Rfc8 17. Nb3 Ba6 18. Bf3 a4
19. Nc5 Bb5 20. g3 {1/2-1/2 Huzman,A-Yakovich,Y/Pula 1997/CBM 57 ext (20)})
15... Nd5 16. Qe2 Rfd8 17. Rfd1 a5 18. Nc5 Nxe3 19. fxe3 Bd6 20. h3 (20. Qh5 {
Gelfand,B} Bxc5 21. Qxc5 Rd5 22. Qc3 $14) 20... a4 21. Be4 Ra5 22. Nxb7 Qxb7
23. Rxc6 $6 {1/2-1/2 Gelfand,B-Anand,V/Biel 1997/Inf 70/[Gelfand,B] (32)} (23.
Bxc6 $1 $16)) 12. Nc3 O-O 13. Rc1 {[%csl Rc6]} Nxe3 $6 (13... a5 $5 14. Ne4 Ba6
) 14. fxe3 c5 $2 (14... Bg5 $5 15. Qf3 e5 $132) 15. dxc5 Bxc5 16. Bxh7+ Kxh7
17. Qh5+ Kg8 18. Qxc5 $16 {/+-} Bb7 19. Rcd1 Rc8 20. Rxd8 Rxc5 21. Rd7 (21.
Rfd1 $5) 21... Bc8 22. Rd6 a5 23. e4 Bb7 24. Rfd1 g5 25. Rb6 Bc6 26. Rd6 Rc8
27. Kf2 {[%cal Gf2d4]} Kg7 28. Ke3 Be8 29. Rb7 Kf6 30. Ra6 $1 {[%csl Ra5]} Kg7
31. Rba7 $18 Rb8 32. Rxa5 Rxa5 33. Rxa5 Rxb2 34. Rxg5+ Kf6 35. h4 Rc2 36. e5+
Ke7 37. Kd3 Rb2 38. h5 Rb4 39. g3 Rb2 40. Rg4 f5 41. exf6+ Kxf6 42. Ne4+ Ke7
43. h6 1-0

[Event "Botvinnik Memorial m 5'"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2001.12.09"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E18"]
[WhiteElo "2838"]
[BlackElo "2802"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2001.12.09"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. Nc3 Bb7 5. a3 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. g3 Be7 8. Bg2
O-O 9. O-O Na6 10. Qc2 c5 11. Rd1 Nc7 12. dxc5 bxc5 13. Nh4 Rb8 14. Nf5 d4 15.
Bxb7 Rxb7 16. Bg5 Ne6 17. Nxe7+ Rxe7 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Qf5 Kg7 20. Ne4 Rc7 21.
Rd3 c4 22. Rf3 Ng5 23. Rf4 Nxe4 24. Rxe4 Re8 25. Rg4+ Kf8 26. Rd1 Qd7 27. Qf4
Rxe2 28. Rxd4 Qc6 29. Rd1 Rd7 30. Rf1 Qe6 31. Qb8+ Qe8 32. Qb4+ Qe7 33. Qxc4 f5
34. Rf4 Qe6 35. Qc3 Re5 36. Rc4 f6 37. Rc8+ Kg7 38. Rc7 Rxc7 39. Qxc7+ Qf7 40.
Rc1 Re1+ 41. Kg2 Rxc1 42. Qxc1 Qb7+ 43. Kg1 Qf3 44. Qe3 Qd1+ 45. Kg2 Kg6 46. b4
a6 47. h4 h5 48. Qb6 Qe2 49. a4 f4 50. a5 Qd2 51. gxf4 Qxf4 52. Qxa6 Qg4+
1/2-1/2

[Event "FRA-chT1"]
[Site "France"]
[Date "2002.02.01"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Tregubov, Pavel V"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A84"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2626"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2002.02.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2003"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Paris NAO"]
[BlackTeam "Clichy"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FRA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "FRA"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e3 f5 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. Nge2 Bd6 7. Qc2 O-O 8. f3
Kh8 9. O-O a6 10. c5 Bc7 11. Bd2 Nbd7 12. b4 b6 13. Na4 bxc5 14. bxc5 a5 15.
Rab1 g6 16. Nb6 Bxb6 17. cxb6 Bb7 18. Nc3 c5 19. dxc5 Nxc5 20. Be2 Rc8 21. Qb2
d4 22. exd4 Qxd4+ 23. Kh1 Nd3 24. Bxd3 Qxd3 25. Bh6 Rf7 26. Nb5 Rc2 27. Qe5 Qe2
28. Qxe2 Rxe2 29. Nd6 Kg8 30. Nxf7 Kxf7 31. Rfd1 Rxa2 32. Rd8 1-0

[Event "FRA-chT1"]
[Site "France"]
[Date "2002.02.03"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Tkachiev, Vladislav"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2634"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2002.02.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2003"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Cannes"]
[BlackTeam "Paris NAO"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FRA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "FRA"]

1. c4 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. a3 d6 6. Rb1 e6 7. d3 Nge7 8. Bd2 b6
9. b4 Bb7 10. b5 Na5 11. Nf3 a6 12. O-O O-O 13. Qc2 axb5 14. Nxb5 Nac6 15. Rb3
Na5 16. Rbb1 Nac6 17. Rb3 d5 18. cxd5 Nxd5 19. Nc3 Na5 20. Rbb1 c4 21. Nxd5
Bxd5 22. Bb4 cxd3 23. Qxd3 Re8 24. Bc3 Ba2 25. Qxd8 Raxd8 26. Rb2 Bxc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Einstein m 5'"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2002.03.01"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Howell, David"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2237"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "2002.03.01"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 086 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ke8 10. b3 Bb4 11. Bb2 Bxc3 12. Bxc3 c5 13. Rad1 h6 14. h3
Be6 15. Bb2 b6 16. Rd2 Ne7 17. c4 Nc6 18. Bc3 Ke7 19. Rfd1 a5 20. a4 Rad8 21.
Rxd8 Rxd8 22. Rxd8 Kxd8 23. Kf1 Bf5 24. Ne1 g5 25. Ke2 Ke7 26. Ke3 Ke6 27. f4
g4 28. hxg4 Bxg4 29. Nf3 Bf5 30. Nd2 Ne7 31. Kf3 h5 32. Ne4 Bg4+ 33. Kf2 Nf5
34. Ng5+ Ke7 35. Ne4 Bd1 36. Nd2 Ke6 37. Ke1 Bc2 38. Ke2 Nh4 39. g3 Ng6 40. Kf3
Bd1+ 41. Ke4 Bc2+ 42. Kf3 Kf5 43. Nf1 Bd1+ 44. Kf2 Bxb3 45. Ne3+ Ke4 46. f5
Nxe5 47. Bxe5 Kxe5 48. Nd5 Bxc4 49. Nxc7 Bb3 50. Na8 Bxa4 51. Nxb6 Bb5 52. Ke3
a4 53. Kd2 Kxf5 54. Kc3 Kg4 55. Nd5 Kxg3 56. Nf6 h4 57. Ne4+ Kg2 58. Nxc5 h3
59. Ne4 h2 60. Nd2 h1=Q 61. Kb4 Qe1 62. Kxb5 Qxd2 63. Kxa4 f5 0-1

[Event "London Einstein m 5'"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2002.03.01"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Howell, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2237"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2002.03.01"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 086 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. Bg5 a6 7. Bb3 h6 8. Bh4
d6 9. Nbd2 Be6 10. Qe2 Ba7 11. Nc4 Qe7 12. Ne3 Na5 13. Bc2 Nc6 14. O-O g5 15.
Nxg5 hxg5 16. Bxg5 Kg7 17. f4 Bxe3+ 18. Qxe3 Ng4 19. Qg3 f6 20. Bh4 Rg8 21. f5
Bf7 22. Qxg4+ Kh7 23. Qh3 Bh5 24. Bxf6 Qxf6 25. Qxh5+ Qh6 26. Qxh6+ Kxh6 27.
Rf3 Rg4 28. h3 Rg5 29. Kh2 Rag8 30. g4 Rf8 31. Kg3 Rgg8 32. h4 Ne7 33. g5+ Kh5
34. Bd1 1-0

[Event "London Einstein m 5'"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2002.03.01"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Howell, David"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2237"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2002.03.01"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 086 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 h6 10. b3 a5 11. Bb2 Ke8 12. Rfe1 Bb4 13. h3 Ne7 14. Re2
Bxc3 15. Bxc3 Nd5 16. Bb2 Nf4 17. Re4 Ne6 18. Nd4 Nxd4 19. Rxd4 c5 20. Rd2 Be6
21. f4 h5 22. Rad1 a4 23. Ba3 axb3 24. axb3 b6 25. Ra1 Ke7 26. Bb2 Rxa1+ 27.
Bxa1 Ra8 28. Bc3 Ra2 29. Kf2 Bf5 30. e6 f6 31. Rd7+ Kxe6 32. Rd2 Rxc2 33. Rxc2
Bxc2 34. b4 cxb4 35. Bxb4 c5 36. Bc3 b5 37. Ke3 b4 38. Ba1 Kd5 39. Kd2 Bf5 40.
h4 c4 0-1

[Event "London Einstein m 5'"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2002.03.01"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Howell, David"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2237"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2002.03.01"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 086 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Bb3 O-O 7. h3 d5 8. Qe2 h6
9. Nbd2 dxe4 10. dxe4 Qe7 11. Nf1 Be6 12. Ng3 Rad8 13. O-O Rfe8 14. Be3 Bxe3
15. Qxe3 Na5 16. Bxe6 Qxe6 17. b3 Nc6 18. Rfd1 Rd7 19. c4 Red8 20. Rd5 Qe8 21.
Rxd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. d4 c5 5. g3 Ne4 6. Qd3 Qa5 7. Qxe4 Bxc3+ 8.
Bd2 Bxd2+ 9. Nxd2 Nc6 10. dxc5 b6 11. Bg2 Bb7 12. Qe3 Nb4 13. O-O Nc2 14. Qg5
Bxg2 15. Nb3 Qa4 16. Qxg7 Rf8 17. Kxg2 Nxa1 18. Rxa1 bxc5 19. Rc1 d6 20. Nd2
O-O-O 21. Ne4 Qc6 22. f3 f5 23. Nf6 Qc7 24. Qxc7+ Kxc7 25. Nxh7 Rg8 26. h4 Rb8
27. b3 a5 28. Ng5 Kd7 29. Rc3 a4 30. f4 axb3 31. axb3 Rb6 32. Re3 Re8 33. Kf2
e5 34. fxe5 dxe5 35. Rf3 Rf8 36. Ne4 Rc6 37. g4 f4 38. h5 Ke6 39. Rd3 Rg8 40.
Kf3 Rb8 41. e3 Rf8 42. Rd5 Rb8 43. Rxc5 Rcb6 44. Ng5+ Kf6 45. exf4 Rxb3+ 46.
Ke4 exf4 47. Kxf4 R3b6 48. Rc7 R8b7 49. Ne4+ 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.17"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2703"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3
d5 9. Nbd2 Nbd7 10. Qc2 c5 11. dxc5 bxc5 12. O-O O-O 13. Rfe1 Bb7 14. cxd5 Nxd5
15. Rad1 Nxc3 16. Qxc3 Qc7 17. Nc4 Nb6 18. Qe5 Rac8 19. Na5 Ba6 20. Rc1 Nd5 21.
Qxc7 Rxc7 22. Nd2 Bg5 23. f4 Bf6 24. Ndc4 Bd4+ 25. e3 Bc3 26. Red1 Bxa5 27.
Bxd5 Bb4 28. Bf3 Bxc4 29. Rxc4 Rcc8 30. Kf2 Rfd8 31. Rcc1 Kf8 32. Bb7 Rb8 33.
Be4 Ke7 34. Ke2 h6 35. Rxd8 Rxd8 36. Bd3 f5 37. h3 Kf6 38. a3 Bxa3 39. Ra1 Bb4
40. Rxa7 g5 41. Ra6 Ke7 42. g4 fxg4 43. hxg4 gxf4 44. exf4 Bc3 45. g5 hxg5 46.
fxg5 Rd5 47. g6 Rg5 48. Ra7+ Kd6 49. Rf7 Rg3 50. Rf8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Almasi, Zoltan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2644"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 c5 15.
d5 c4 16. Nf5 Qc7 17. Nh2 Reb8 18. Ng4 Bc8 19. a3 a5 20. Nxf6+ Nxf6 21. Qf3 Nd7
22. Bd2 Nc5 23. g4 Bd7 24. Kh2 Na6 25. Rg1 Ra7 26. g5 Be8 27. Be3 Nc5 28. Bd2
Na6 29. Be3 Nc5 30. Bd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2713"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qb3 Nc6 6. Nbd2 d5 7. Qa4 Bb7 8. Bg2
Bd6 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Nc4 dxc4 11. Ne5 Bxe5 12. Bxc6+ Bxc6 13. Qxc6+ Kf8 14.
dxe5 Qd5 15. Qxd5 Nxd5 16. Bd2 c5 17. O-O-O Nc7 18. Kc2 Ke7 19. Kc3 Rhd8 20.
Bg5+ f6 21. exf6+ gxf6 22. Bf4 Nd5+ 23. Kxc4 Ke6 24. a4 a6 25. e4 Nxf4 26. gxf4
b5+ 27. axb5 axb5+ 28. Kxc5 Rdc8+ 29. Kb4 Rc4+ 30. Kb3 Rxe4 31. Rhe1 Raa4 32.
Re3 Rab4+ 33. Kc2 Kf5 34. Rd5+ Kxf4 35. Rxe4+ Kxe4 36. Rh5 Kf3 37. Rf5+ Rf4
1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C48"]
[WhiteElo "2742"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nd4 5. Nxd4 exd4 6. e5 dxc3 7. exf6 Qxf6
8. dxc3 Bc5 9. O-O O-O 10. Bxd7 Bxd7 11. Qxd7 Rad8 12. Qb5 b6 13. Qc4 Qf5 14.
b4 Bd6 15. Be3 Rfe8 16. g3 Qxc2 17. Rac1 Qf5 18. Rcd1 h5 19. Rd5 Qf3 20. Rfd1
Re4 21. R1d4 Rde8 22. Rxe4 Rxe4 23. Rd4 Rxd4 24. Qxd4 f6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2659"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Bd3
dxc4 9. Bxc4 g6 10. O-O Bg7 11. Qc2 O-O 12. Ne4 Qe7 13. Bb3 e5 14. Nc3 Kh8 15.
Rad1 b6 16. d5 Bb7 17. h4 Nc5 18. d6 Qd7 19. h5 Nxb3 20. axb3 g5 21. e4 Rad8
22. Ne2 Qe6 23. Ng3 Rxd6 24. Nf5 Rdd8 25. Nh2 c5 26. Ng4 a5 27. Nge3 Rfe8 28.
Nd5 Rd7 29. Nfe3 Red8 30. Qe2 f5 31. exf5 Qc6 32. Ne7 Qf6 33. Ng6+ Kh7 34. Rxd7
Rxd7 35. Qb5 Rd4 36. b4 Rxb4 37. Qd7 Bc6 38. Qc7 g4 39. Ne7 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Nd5 Bc5 6. d3 h6 7. Bg2 d6 8. Nd2
O-O 9. Nxf6+ Qxf6 10. Ne4 Qg6 11. Nxc5 dxc5 12. O-O Rd8 13. Be3 Nd4 14. a3 a5
15. Bxd4 exd4 16. b3 Re8 17. Re1 Qg5 18. Rb1 c6 19. b4 axb4 20. axb4 cxb4 21.
Rxb4 Ra2 22. Bf3 Qa5 23. Rb1 g5 24. Qc1 Qc3 25. Qxc3 dxc3 26. g4 h5 27. h3 hxg4
28. hxg4 f5 29. gxf5 Bxf5 30. Rxb7 Bxd3 31. Rc1 Bc2 32. Bxc6 Rxe2 33. Bd5+ Kf8
34. c5 Rb2 35. c6 Ke8 36. Ra1 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.24"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D13"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2697"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bf4 e6 7. e3 Nh5 8. Be5
f6 9. Bg3 Qb6 10. a3 Bd7 11. Bd3 Na5 12. b4 Nc4 13. Bxc4 Nxg3 14. hxg3 Qc6 15.
Nxd5 Qxc4 16. Nf4 Bb5 17. Nd2 Qc3 18. Qh5+ Ke7 19. Qxb5 Qxa1+ 20. Ke2 Qxh1 21.
Qxb7+ Ke8 22. Qc6+ 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.26"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C85"]
[WhiteElo "2717"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. d3 Nd7 8.
Nbd2 O-O 9. Nc4 f6 10. Nh4 Nc5 11. Nf5 Bxf5 12. exf5 Qd5 13. Qg4 Rfe8 14. Re1
e4 15. Ne3 Qe5 16. Nf1 Bf8 17. Ng3 Rad8 18. h4 Qd4 19. dxe4 Qc4 20. Be3 Nxe4
21. b3 Qxc2 22. Rec1 Qd3 23. Rd1 Qxd1+ 24. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 25. Qxd1 Nxg3 26. Qd3 Ne4
27. Qc4+ Kh8 28. Qf7 Rd8 29. f3 Nc3 30. Qxc7 Rd1+ 31. Kf2 Kg8 32. Qc8 Rd5 33.
Bc5 Rxc5 34. Qe6+ Kh8 35. Qf7 Ne4+ 36. fxe4 Rc2+ 37. Kf3 Rc3+ 38. Ke2 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.27"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2548"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Ba6 5. e3 c5 6. Nc3 Be7 7. d5 exd5 8. cxd5
Bxf1 9. Kxf1 d6 10. g3 O-O 11. Kg2 Nbd7 12. Re1 a6 13. a4 Ne8 14. e4 Bf6 15.
Bf4 Ne5 16. Nxe5 dxe5 17. Be3 Nd6 18. a5 Nc4 19. axb6 Nxe3+ 20. Rxe3 Qxb6 21.
Na4 Qb5 22. Rb3 Qc4 23. Nb6 Qxe4+ 24. f3 Qf5 25. Nxa8 Rxa8 26. Rxa6 Rd8 27. Qd3
Qd7 28. d6 Qe6 29. d7 Qe7 30. Rc6 e4 31. fxe4 Bd4 32. Rb8 Rxb8 33. Rc8+ Qd8 34.
Qa6 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.28"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15.
a4 c5 16. d5 c4 17. Bg5 h6 18. Be3 Nc5 19. Qd2 h5 20. Ra3 Nfd7 21. Rea1 Bg7 22.
Bg5 Bf6 23. Bh6 Qe7 24. Qc1 Nb6 25. axb5 axb5 26. Ra5 Qd7 27. Bg5 Bg7 28. Bh6
Bf6 29. Bg5 Bg7 30. Bh6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d5 e6 6. h3 exd5 7. exd5 Nh6 8. Qe2+
Kf8 9. Bf4 f5 10. Ng5 Nf7 11. Qd2 Qe7+ 12. Be2 Ne5 13. O-O h6 14. Ne6+ Bxe6 15.
dxe6 Nbc6 16. Nc3 Qxe6 17. Nd5 Rd8 18. Be3 Kg8 19. Rae1 Kh7 20. b4 cxb4 21. f4
Nd7 22. Bf3 Qf7 23. Nxb4 Nxb4 24. Qxb4 Nc5 25. Bd5 Qc7 26. Bxc5 dxc5 27. Qxb7
Qxb7 28. Bxb7 Rhe8 29. Bd5 Bc3 30. Rxe8 Rxe8 31. Rb1 Re1+ 32. Rxe1 Bxe1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.17"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2703"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 b6 4. Bd3 Bb7 5. O-O d5 6. b3 Be7 7. Bb2 O-O 8. c4
dxc4 9. bxc4 c5 10. Nbd2 Nc6 11. Rc1 Qc7 12. Qe2 Rad8 13. Rfd1 Rfe8 14. Nb3
cxd4 15. exd4 Qf4 16. Qe3 Bd6 17. h3 Nb4 18. Bb1 Bxf3 19. Qxf3 Qh2+ 20. Kf1 e5
21. dxe5 Bxe5 22. Rxd8 Rxd8 23. Bxe5 Qxe5 24. g3 Qe7 25. c5 bxc5 26. Rxc5 Nbd5
27. Kg2 g6 28. Rc4 Kg7 29. Rd4 Qe5 30. Bd3 Rd6 31. Bc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Almasi, Zoltan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2644"]
[PlyCount "149"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qb3 Nc6 6. Nbd2 Na5 7. Qc3 c5 8. dxc5
bxc5 9. e4 d6 10. a3 Bb7 11. b4 Nc6 12. Bg2 Be7 13. b5 Qa5 14. Qd3 Ne5 15. Nxe5
dxe5 16. O-O O-O 17. a4 Rfd8 18. Qc2 Rd7 19. Nb3 Qc7 20. Bd2 Qd6 21. Be3 Qc7
22. Rfd1 Rad8 23. f3 Rxd1+ 24. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 25. Qxd1 Nd7 26. Qd3 Bd6 27. Bd2 Be7
28. Bf1 h6 29. Be3 Bd6 30. Nc1 Be7 31. Ne2 Kf8 32. a5 Ke8 33. Bd2 Bf8 34. a6
Ba8 35. Nc1 Be7 36. Nb3 Nb6 37. Ba5 Qb8 38. Qe3 Qd6 39. Bd3 Nd7 40. h4 Nb6 41.
Kg2 Nd7 42. Be1 Qc7 43. Bf2 Qd6 44. Kf1 Qc7 45. Ke2 Qd6 46. Qd2 Qc7 47. Kd1 Nb6
48. Kc2 Nd7 49. Be3 Nb6 50. Qf2 Nd7 51. g4 Qd6 52. Qg3 f6 53. g5 fxg5 54. hxg5
Bxg5 55. Bxg5 hxg5 56. Qxg5 Qf8 57. Be2 Qf6 58. Qd2 Qf8 59. Qe3 Kd8 60. Nc1 Kc7
61. Nd3 Qe7 62. Bf1 Kb6 63. Bh3 Kc7 64. f4 Kb6 65. fxe5 Qf7 66. Kc3 Qe7 67. Qf4
g5 68. Qg4 Nf8 69. Kc2 Qd8 70. Qf3 Qe7 71. Qf6 Qxf6 72. exf6 Bxe4 73. Kd2 Bxd3
74. Kxd3 Nd7 75. f7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. b3 Bf8 14. d5 c6 15. c4
Nb6 16. Bd3 Nfd7 17. Ba3 cxd5 18. cxd5 f5 19. exf5 Nxd5 20. Ne4 N7f6 21. Nfg5
Nf4 22. Bc1 Nxd3 23. Qxd3 Nxe4 24. Nxe4 d5 25. Ng3 e4 26. Qd2 d4 27. Bb2 Bc5
28. Rac1 Bb6 29. Qf4 Qd5 30. Rc2 e3 31. fxe3 Rac8 32. Rd2 Rxe3 33. Rxe3 dxe3
34. Re2 Rc2 35. Qg4 Rxb2 36. f6 g6 37. f7+ Qxf7 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2742"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Qc7 8.
g3 e5 9. dxe5 Nxe5 10. Bf4 Nfd7 11. Bg2 g5 12. Nxe5 gxf4 13. Nxd7 O-O-O 14. Qd4
Qxd7 15. Qxf4 Bd6 16. Qc1 a5 17. O-O Be5 18. Nb5 Qe7 19. Na7+ Kb8 20. Nxc6+
bxc6 21. Qxc6 Ka7 22. Qb5 Bc8 23. Qxa5+ Ba6 24. Rac1 Rc8 25. b4 Bc7 26. Qf5
Rhe8 27. b5 Bb7 28. Bxb7 Kxb7 29. Qd5+ Kb8 30. b6 Bxb6 31. Rb1 Qe6 32. Qxe6
Rxe6 33. a5 Rcc6 34. e3 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Piket, Jeroen"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2659"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Nbd2 d5 6. Bg2 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. b3
c5 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Bb2 Nc6 11. a3 Be7 12. Rc1 Rc8 13. b4 dxc4 14. Qa4 Nb8 15.
b5 Qd7 16. Nd4 Rc5 17. Nxc4 e5 18. Nb3 Rxb5 19. Rfd1 Qe6 20. e3 Nfd7 21. Ncd2
Nc5 22. Nxc5 Rxc5 23. Rxc5 bxc5 24. Bc3 Bd3 25. Qxa7 c4 26. a4 Nc6 27. Bxc6
Qxc6 28. Qxe7 Re8 29. Qb4 h5 30. h4 Qe6 31. Qb5 f6 32. a5 Kh7 33. a6 Ra8 34.
Ra1 Ra7 35. e4 Be2 36. Qb7 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C01"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 Be7 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. c3 h6 8. Bh4
Nh5 9. Bg3 O-O 10. Nbd2 Nxg3 11. hxg3 Re8 12. O-O Bf6 13. Qb3 b6 14. Rae1 Rxe1
15. Rxe1 Be6 16. Qc2 Qd6 17. b4 Ne7 18. Ne5 c5 19. bxc5 bxc5 20. Ndf3 c4 21.
Bh7+ Kh8 22. Nh4 Rb8 23. Nf5 Bxf5 24. Bxf5 Bxe5 25. dxe5 Qa3 26. g4 Rb2 27. Qc1
Rxa2 28. Qe3 Ra1 29. Rxa1 Qxa1+ 30. Kh2 Qa5 31. g3 Qb6 32. Qf4 g5 33. Qd2 a5
34. Bd7 Kg7 35. f4 gxf4 36. gxf4 d4 37. f5 f6 38. cxd4 Nd5 39. Be6 c3 40. exf6+
Kh7 41. Qe1 Qc7+ 42. Kg2 Nxf6 43. Qc1 a4 44. g5 hxg5 45. d5 c2 46. d6 Qc6+ 47.
Kg1 Qc5+ 48. Kf1 Ne4 49. Ke2 Qb5+ 50. Kf3 Qd3+ 51. Kg2 Qg3+ 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.24"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2697"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 b6 7. b4 Bb7 8.
Bb2 d6 9. g3 Nbd7 10. Bg2 c5 11. O-O Qe7 12. d3 Rfc8 13. b5 d5 14. a4 a6 15. e4
Qf8 16. Rfe1 axb5 17. axb5 Rxa1 18. Bxa1 Ra8 19. Bb2 dxc4 20. Qxc4 Ne8 21. Qb3
Nd6 22. Nd2 Ra5 23. Bc3 Rxb5 24. Qa4 e5 25. Nc4 Bc6 26. Bh3 h6 27. Bxd7 Bxd7
28. Nxe5 Be8 29. Qa2 Qe7 30. Nc4 Qe6 31. f4 Bc6 32. Re2 h5 33. Kf2 h4 34. Ke1
Qh6 35. Kd2 Qe6 36. Kc1 Qh6 37. Kc2 hxg3 38. hxg3 Qh5 39. Kd2 Qh6 40. Qa7 Rb3
41. Kc2 Rxc3+ 42. Kxc3 Nb5+ 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.26"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2717"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 b6 3. e4 Bb7 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. Ne2 Nb4 6. O-O Nxd3 7. Qxd3 d6 8.
Nbc3 Nf6 9. d5 Be7 10. Nd4 Qd7 11. a4 c5 12. dxc6 Bxc6 13. b3 O-O 14. Ba3 Bb7
15. Ndb5 Rfd8 16. Rad1 Qc6 17. Qg3 Nxe4 18. Nxe4 Qxe4 19. Nxd6 Bxd6 20. Bxd6
Qg6 21. Bc7 Rxd1 22. Rxd1 Rc8 23. a5 b5 24. Qxg6 hxg6 25. Rd8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.27"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A28"]
[WhiteElo "2548"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. e4 Bc5 5. Nxe5 Nxe5 6. d4 Bb4 7. dxe5 Nxe4 8.
Qd4 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Be7 10. Qg4 Kf8 11. Qf3 d6 12. Bf4 h5 13. Bd3 g5 14. exd6 Bf6
15. Bd2 Qxd6 16. O-O Bg4 17. c5 Bxf3 18. cxd6 Bc6 19. dxc7 Rc8 20. Be3 b6 21.
a4 Rxc7 22. a5 Bd5 23. axb6 axb6 24. Ra6 Rxc3 25. Rxb6 Rxd3 26. Rxf6 g4 27. Rh6
1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 11th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2002.03.28"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2002.03.16"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 087 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.05.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5
9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. g3 Rg8 12. h4 Rxg5 13. hxg5 Nd5 14. g6 fxg6 15.
Qg4 Qe7 16. Bg2 Kd8 17. Qxg6 Qb4 18. Qc2 Qa5 19. O-O N7b6 20. Ne4 Kc7 21. Nf6
Qb4 22. Qg6 Nxf6 23. exf6 Bd7 24. Rae1 Qxb2 25. Qf7 Re8 26. Bh3 Bd6 27. Bxe6
Qxd4 28. Rd1 Qc5 29. Bxd7 Rf8 30. Qg7 Nxd7 31. f7 Ne5 0-1

[Event "Eurotel Trophy"]
[Site "Prague"]
[Date "2002.04.29"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Hracek, Zbynek"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2596"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "2002.04.28"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 089"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. c3 O-O 7. Nbd2 a6 8. Bxc6
bxc6 9. Nc4 h6 10. b4 Ba7 11. Qe2 c5 12. Na5 cxb4 13. cxb4 Bd7 14. Bd2 Rb8 15.
a3 c5 16. h3 cxb4 17. Bxb4 Nh5 18. Qd2 Qf6 19. Kh2 Nf4 20. Ng1 Qg6 21. f3 Be3
22. Qc2 Rfc8 23. Nc4 d5 0-1

[Event "Eurotel Trophy"]
[Site "Prague"]
[Date "2002.04.29"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Hracek, Zbynek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2596"]
[Annotator "Gershon,A"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2002.04.28"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 089"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb7 6. Bg2 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 c5 8. O-O
O-O 9. Bxb4 cxb4 10. Qd3 d5 {an attempt to solve all the problems immediately.
However, by closing his 'b7' bishop black allows white a very unpleasant
domination.} ({the more common is:} 10... d6 {in all lines white gets a small
but steady edge.} 11. Nbd2 {and now:} Re8 (11... Qe7 12. e4 e5 13. Ne1 $1 {
A very strong knight transfer} Re8 14. Nc2 a5 15. Rfe1 Nbd7 16. Rad1 Rad8 17.
Nf1 $14 {1-0 Chuchelov,V-Villeneuve,A/Le Touquet 1993/EXT 97 (29)}) (11... a5
12. Nh4 Bxg2 13. Nxg2 Nc6 14. Ne4 a4 15. Ne3 Nxe4 16. Qxe4 Qd7 17. d5 Na5 18.
dxe6 fxe6 19. Nc2 $14 {1-0 Van Wely,L-Gelfand,B/Monte Carlo 1999/CBM 69 ext 
(88)}) 12. Rad1 Nbd7 13. Nh4 Bxg2 14. Nxg2 e5 15. e4 Nf8 16. Ne3 Ne6 17. dxe5
dxe5 18. Nd5 Nc5 19. Qb1 a5 $14 {1/2-1/2 Dautov,R-Nikolic,P/Moscow RUS 2001/
The Week in Chess 369 (42). (41)}) 11. Nbd2 Qe7 12. Rfc1 Nbd7 13. Ne5 Nxe5 (
13... dxc4 14. Ndxc4 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 {[%csl Rc6] the weakness of c6 is extremely
important here, determining whites advantage.}) (13... Rfc8 {was worth
considering}) 14. dxe5 Nd7 {[%csl Re5]} 15. cxd5 exd5 ({an attempt to win a
pawn fails to:} 15... Nxe5 16. Qe3 exd5 (16... Ng4 17. Qd4 $16 {[%cal Gd5d6]})
17. f4 Ng6 18. Qxe7 Nxe7 19. Rc7 {winning}) 16. f4 Nc5 17. Qd4 {[%csl Rd5]} Ne6
18. Qf2 Rfc8 $6 ({better was:} 18... g6 {preventing white from gaining more
space.}) 19. f5 $1 Nf8 20. Qd4 $14 {white has a complete domination now} Rc5 $1
{black must fight for the 'c' file.} 21. Nf3 ({the pawn, of course, is
untouchable:} 21. Qxb4 $4 Rxc1+ 22. Rxc1 Qxb4) 21... Rac8 22. Re1 Rc3 23. Kh1 {
Prophylaxis.. white is removing the king from potential dangers on the g1-a7
diagonal.} Re8 24. f6 gxf6 $2 (24... Qc5 25. Qg4 Ne6 26. Ng5 g6 {with an
approximate equality}) 25. exf6 Qe4 26. Rad1 {black king will be weak even in
the endgame.} Re6 (26... Rc2 $142 27. Qxe4 dxe4 (27... Rxe4 28. Nd4 $16) 28.
Nd4 Rc5 29. Rf1 $14 {/+/-}) 27. Rf1 Ba6 28. Qxe4 Rxe4 (28... dxe4 29. Nd4 (29.
Ng5 {leads only to a draw} Re5 30. Nxe4 Bxe2 31. Nxc3 bxc3 32. Rde1 c2 $1 33.
Rc1 Bxf1 34. Bxf1 Rc5 35. Bd3 Nd7 $11) 29... Re5 30. Nf5 $16) 29. Nd4 Re5 30.
Nf5 $1 {[%cal Gf5h6] after this black's position is falling apart} Ng6 (30...
Bxe2 31. Nh6+ Kh8 32. Nxf7+ Kg8 33. Nxe5 $18) 31. Rxd5 (31. Nh6+ Kf8 32. Rxd5 {
-the game}) 31... Rxd5 32. Bxd5 {[%csl Rf7]} Ne5 33. Nh6+ Kf8 34. Rf5 Re3 (
34... Nd7 35. Nxf7 Bxe2 36. Ng5 $18) 35. Rg5 {[%cal Gg5g8]} Ng6 (35... Ke8 36.
Rg8+ Kd7 37. Nxf7 Nxf7 38. Bxf7 {black's position is hopeless}) 36. Bxf7 Rxe2
37. Bxg6 Bb7+ 38. Kg1 Rg2+ 39. Kf1 Rxh2 40. Bh5 {the mate is inevitable} 1-0

[Event "Eurotel Trophy"]
[Site "Prague"]
[Date "2002.04.30"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[Annotator "Golod,V"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2002.04.28"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 089"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Nf3 Bb7 8.
e3 d6 9. b4 {[%mdl 4]} (9. b3 {See comments to Georgiev,K-Kacheishvili,G/
Istanbul,2000/CBM 80(0-1)(Golod,V)(37)}) 9... Nbd7 10. Bb2 c5 ({Was checked in
the previous meeting of the same contenders:} 10... Ne4 11. Qb3 $5 {See
comments to Kramnik,V-Karpov,A/Dos Hermanas,1997/CBM 59(1-0)(Kramnik,V) (35)} (
11. Qc2 f5 {See comments to Chekhov,V-Mozaliov,S/Moscow,1998/CBM 63(1-0)
(Finkel,A)(36)})) 11. Be2 Qe7 $5 ({Also deserves attention:} 11... Ne4 {
See comments to Hort,V-Timman,J/Tilburg,1979(1/2-1/2)(Timman,J)(34)}) ({and} 
11... Rc8 12. dxc5 bxc5 $6 (12... dxc5 $142) 13. b5 e5 14. O-O Ne4 15. Qd3 f5
16. Rad1 Ndf6 17. Nd2 $14 {Browne,W-Ljubojevic,L/Mar del Plata,1981(0-1)(51)})
12. O-O Rfc8 $5 ({Is a possible continuations of the play:} 12... Rfd8 $5 {
See comments to Gurevich,M-Rozentalis,E/Belfort,1997/CBM 62(1/2-1/2)(Ribli,Z)
(46)}) ({and} 12... a5 $6 {See comments to Timman,J-Karpov,A/Hoogeveen,1999/
CBM 74(1-0)(Ftacnik,L)(45)}) 13. dxc5 dxc5 $146 {From my point of view, this
move is much better than} (13... bxc5 14. b5 e5 15. a4 Qe6 16. a5 {[%csl Ga5,
Gb5,Gc4]} Rab8 17. Rfd1 h6 18. Nd2 $14 {Timman,J-Kortschnoj,V/Hilversum,1982
(1-0)(27)}) 14. Rfd1 {<->d} Ne8 $1 {[%mdl 256] It is necessary to place PP on
on black squares for restriction Bb2.} 15. b5 {Now white closes a queen side
and receive advantage in space.} f6 {[%csl Rb2,Ye8,Yf6,Yg7]} 16. a4 {[%cal
Ga4a5]} a5 $1 {[%mdl 256]} 17. bxa6 {Otherwise black can exchange rooks on
<->d and achieve complete equality.} Rxa6 18. a5 Rca8 19. Qd2 {[%csl Rd7]} ({
After:} 19. axb6 Rxa1 (19... Nd6 $5 {[%csl Rb6][%cal Gd6e4]}) 20. Rxa1 (20.
Bxa1 $5) 20... Rxa1+ 21. Bxa1 Nxb6 {white has a minimal positional advantage.})
19... Bc6 20. Bc3 {Vladimir Kramnik does not want to exchange all rooks.} bxa5
21. Rxa5 Nb6 $5 {[%csl Yb6][%cal Ga4c3,Yb6a4]} 22. Rb1 $6 ({Can be recommended:
} 22. Ne1 Na4 $140 23. Rxa6 Rxa6 24. Ba1 {+/=/=} (24. Ba5 $143 {[%csl Rd8]} Qa7
25. Bd8 $13)) 22... Rxa5 23. Bxa5 Na4 $1 {[%csl Ra5][%cal Ge7a7]} 24. Rd1 ({
Also equality,after:} 24. Qe1 Qa7 25. Bd2 Nd6 $11 {[%cal Gd6e4]}) 24... Qa7 25.
Bc3 $11 ({Hardly it was necessary to continue a game:} 25. Bd8 Qb7 $13 {
[%csl Rd8]}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Eurotel Trophy"]
[Site "Prague"]
[Date "2002.04.30"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[Annotator "Gershon,A"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2002.04.28"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 089"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.08.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Ftacnik. Cifuentes Parada} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+
6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3 d5 9. Nbd2 {White is coming black to this line now,
after the main lines have proven to be ok for black.} Nbd7 10. O-O O-O 11. Re1
c5 12. e4 dxe4 (12... dxc4 $143 {Cifuentes Parada} 13. Nxc4 Bb7 (13... cxd4 $6
{Cifuentes Parada} 14. Nxd4 Rc8 15. e5 Nd5 16. Bxd5 $1 exd5 17. Nf5 Nc5 (17...
dxc4 {Cifuentes Parada} 18. Qg4 Bg5 19. Rad1 h5 20. Qxh5 g6 21. Qh3 gxf5 22. e6
Bf6 23. e7 Bxc3 24. exd8=Q Rfxd8 25. Re7 $18) 18. Ncd6 Rc7 19. Qg4 $1 (19. Qxd5
{Cifuentes Parada} Nd3) 19... g6 20. Nh6+ Kg7 21. Ndf5+ Kh8 22. e6+ f6 23. Nf7+
Rxf7 24. exf7 Ne4 $8 25. Rxe4 $1 dxe4 26. Rd1 $18 Qf8 (26... Bd3 {Cifuentes
Parada} 27. Qxe4 $18) 27. Nxe7 Rxc3 (27... Qxe7 {Cifuentes Parada} 28. Qe6 $1
$18) 28. Qe6 Kg7 29. Nd5 Rf3 30. Qxe4 Rf5 31. Nc7 Bc8 32. Ne8+ Kh8 33. Nd6 Re5
34. Qf4 Re6 35. Nxc8 Qxc8 36. Qh6 {1-0, Van Wely,L-Lautier,J/ Monaco rapid 1999
}) 14. e5 Nd5 15. Bd2 Rc8 16. a4 $1 a6 17. Qe2 Ba8 18. Rac1 cxd4 19. Nxd4 Nc5
20. Red1 Qd7 21. h4 {/\Bg5} h6 22. Qg4 $14 {Kasparov,G-Zarnicki,P/Buenos Aires
1997}) 13. Nxe4 Bb7 14. Nfg5 ({the other main alternative is:} 14. Ned2 {
is giving white a small edge.} a6 (14... cxd4 15. Nxd4 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Qc7 17. b4
Rfd8 18. Qe2 Rac8 19. Rac1 Nb8 20. a3 Rd7 21. N2f3 $14 {1/2-1/2 Psakhis,
L-Pogorelov,R/Moscow RUS 2002/The Week in Chess 379 (25)}) (14... Re8 $1 {
Cifuentes Parada} 15. Qe2 Qc7 16. Rad1 Rad8 17. dxc5 Bxc5 18. Ng5 Bxg2 19. Kxg2
h6 20. Nge4 Be7 21. f4 Nxe4 22. Nxe4 f5 $1 $11 {Kramnik,V-Polgar,J/Wijk aan
Zee 2000}) 15. Qe2 cxd4 16. Nxd4 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Qc7 18. N2f3 Qb7 19. b4 Rfc8 20.
Rac1 Bf8 21. Kg1 Rc7 22. a3 Re8 23. Bb2 $14 {1-0 Kasparov,G-Ivanchuk,V/Tilburg
1989/CBM 15 (41)}) 14... cxd4 15. Bxd4 Nxe4 {Going into immediate
simplifications.} ({the main move is;} 15... Qc7 {after which black doesn't
have any real problems} 16. Nxf6+ Bxf6 17. Bxb7 Qxb7 18. Qf3 (18. Ne4 Bxd4 19.
Qxd4 Rad8 20. Rad1 Qc7 (20... Qa8 {Cifuentes Parada} 21. Qc3 Nb8 22. Nf6+ {
1/2-1/2 Kasparov,G-Karpov,A/Moscow 1984/MainBase (22)} (22. Qf3 $5 {Cifuentes
Parada})) 21. Qd6 Qxd6 22. Nxd6 Nb8 23. Nb7 Rxd1 24. Rxd1 Rc8 25. Kf1 {1/2-1/2
Lautier,J-Gelfand,B/Pamplona 1999/CBM 75 (25)}) 18... Qc7 19. Bxf6 Nxf6 20. Ne4
Nxe4 21. Rxe4 Rad8 22. Rd1 Rxd1+ 23. Qxd1 Rd8 $11 {1/2-1/2 Gyimesi,Z-Almasi,Z/
Budapest 2000/EXT 2001 (37)}) 16. Nxe4 Qc7 17. Nc3 $1 Rad8 $2 {Black is
missing a simple move, which will hand the initiative to white for a very long
time.  Ftacnik: 'The first independent move of Kramnik is a serious positional
mistake, Karpov is wittily gaining advantage of bishop's pair. '} ({much
better was:} 17... Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Bf6 $14 (18... Qc6+ $11 {Ftacnik})) 18. Nd5 $1
{Keeping Bg2 alive and creating a strong passed pawn} Bxd5 (18... exd5 {Ftacnik
} 19. Rxe7 dxc4 (19... Qd6 {Ftacnik} 20. Qe2 Bc6 21. Rd1 $16) 20. Qg4 g6 21.
Qh4 h5 22. Bd5 $1 Bxd5 23. Rxd7 Qxd7 24. Qf6 $18) 19. cxd5 e5 (19... Bc5 {
Ftacnik} 20. Bb2 exd5 21. b4 Bd6 22. Rc1 Qb8 23. Qxd5 $14) 20. Rc1 Qb8 (20...
Bc5 {Ftacnik} 21. Bxc5 bxc5 22. d6 Qa5 23. Qc2 $16) (20... Qd6 {Ftacnik} 21.
Bb2 Qf6 22. Rc7 $16) 21. Bb2 $16 {White's position is clearly better. All his
pieces are well placed. A pawn on d5 gives white a very important control over
'c6' and with it the 'c' file.} Bc5 (21... Rc8 22. Rxc8 Rxc8 23. Bh3 {the
advantage of a bishop pair - they hit much further than knights}) (21... Bb4 {
Ftacnik} 22. Re2 f5 23. Rc6 $16) 22. a3 {Removing the block from the 'c' file.}
a5 23. Rc4 {Trying to provoke b5 which would considerably weaken the 'c' file.}
f5 {black cannot just sit and wait for white's invasion. He's trying to block
one long diagonal , thus reducing white's pressure on the queen side. '?!'
Ftacnik.} (23... b5 $6 {[%csl Rc5,Rc6]} 24. Rc2) (23... Qd6 $5 {Ftacnik} 24.
Qa1 Rfe8 25. Rd1 $14) 24. b4 {'!' Ftacnik.} axb4 25. axb4 Bd6 26. Qd2 e4 (26...
b5 {Ftacnik} 27. Rc6 Nb6 28. Bf1 $14) 27. Rc6 {Ftacnik: 'White has a dangerous
free "d" pawn, excellent pieces and bishop's pair, the defence is not a
grateful task for black. '} Rde8 ({a natural} 27... Be5 {is very strongly met
with} 28. d6 $1 Kh8 29. Rd1 $16) (27... b5 {Ftacnik} 28. Rd1 $1 (28. Bd4 {
Ftacnik} Ne5 29. Bxe5 (29. Rb6 {Ftacnik} Qc7 30. Rxb5 Nd3 $15) 29... Bxe5 30.
Rd1 Bd6 $11) 28... Rf7 (28... Ne5 $2 {Ftacnik} 29. Bxe5 Bxe5 30. d6 $18) 29.
Bd4 $14) 28. Bd4 Ne5 $2 {Black has probably missed white's 30th move. After
this his position becomes hopeless, especially when playing Karpov.} (28... Be5
29. Be3 $16) (28... b5 {Ftacnik} 29. Qg5 Rf7 30. Bc5 $16) (28... Rf7 $5 {
Ftacnik} 29. Rec1 $14) 29. Rxb6 Qd8 (29... Nc4 {Ftacnik} 30. Rxb8 Nxd2 31. Rb6
Rd8 32. Rd1 Nc4 33. Rc6 $18) 30. Rxd6 Qxd6 31. Bc5 Qd7 32. Bxf8 Rxf8 {Now it's
time to begin pushing the pawns.} 33. Qd4 {Improving the queen} Qd6 (33... Nd3
{Ftacnik} 34. Ra1 Qd6 35. Ra7 $18) 34. b5 Rb8 (34... Rc8 $5 {with the idea
Nd7-b6, doesn't work due to:} 35. Rb1 Nd7 36. b6 $1 Rb8 37. b7 Nc5 38. Rb5 Nxb7
39. Qa7 $18) (34... Nd7 35. Rc1 $18) 35. Rb1 Rb6 {Now, when all black pieces
are tied, Karpov opens a second front.} (35... Nc6 {Ftacnik} 36. Qc4 Ne5 37.
Qb3 Nd3 38. Bf1 $16) 36. h3 h6 (36... g6 {Ftacnik} 37. Rb4 $16) 37. g4 $1 {
[%csl Re4,Rf5] Ftacnik: 'Karpov is very correctly opening up the position. In
case white bishop manages to enter the play blockading the two passed pawns
will become unmanagable.'} fxg4 (37... g6 {[%csl Rg8] would weaken the king
too much}) 38. Qxe4 gxh3 39. Bxh3 {Black must take care of his 8th rank now}
Rb8 40. Be6+ Kh8 {and white can push the pawns now! Black is lost} 41. b6 Nd7
42. Bxd7 Qxd7 43. Qe6 Qb7 (43... Qxe6 44. dxe6 Kg8 45. b7 Kf8 46. f4 g6 47. Kf2
Ke7 48. Rb6 Kd8 49. e7+ Kxe7 50. Rxg6 {is easily won}) 44. Rc1 $1 Qa6 ({
of course not:} 44... Qxb6 45. Rc8+ Kh7 46. Qg8+ Kg6 47. Rxb8) 45. Rc6 Rf8 46.
Qe7 Rg8 (46... Qa1+ 47. Kg2 Rg8 48. b7 {is same like in the game}) 47. b7 Qb5
48. Rc8 Qb1+ 49. Kh2 Qb2 50. Kg2 Qb4 {A blunder, but black could have resigned
as well.} 51. Qxb4 1-0

[Event "FRA Cup final"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2002.05.25"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2638"]
[Annotator "Lutz,C"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2002.05.25"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Paris NAO"]
[BlackTeam "Montpellier"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FRA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "FRA"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Qc2
g6 9. cxd5 {Kramnik wählt den Übergang in die Karlsbader Bauernstruktur. In
dieser Form sollte der weiße Aufbau nicht viel versprechen, aber Kramnik hofft
wohl auf sein besseres Stellungsverständnis.} exd5 10. Bd3 Bg7 11. O-O O-O 12.
b4 {Weiß geht zum üblichen Minoritätsangriff b2-b4-b5 über.} Qd6 13. Rab1 a6 $5
{Vallejo wählt einen interessanten Aufbau am Damenflügel, der allerdings mit
gewissen Risiken behaftet ist.} (13... Nb6 {ist der Standardplan.} 14. a4 (14.
b5 c5 $11) 14... Be6 15. a5 Nd7 {mit einer ausgeglichenen Stellung. Schwarz
hält seine Bauern flexibel und spielt ggf. ...b7-b6, so dass auch ...c6-c5
einmal möglich ist.}) 14. Rfc1 b5 {Die Pointe des schwarzen Aufbau besteht
darin, dass er das Feld c4 für seinen Springer hat. Nachteilig ist natürlich
der rückständige Bauer auf c6. Der normale Plan dagegen betseht im
Bauernvorstoß e3-e4, aber Kramnik spielt anders.} 15. Ne2 (15. e4 Nb6 $5) 15...
Bb7 16. h4 h5 17. Nf4 Bh6 18. g3 {Kramnik versucht erst einmal seine Figuren
auf gute Felder zu stellen, ehe er zu Aktivitäten übergeht. Schwarz muss auf
die schwachen Felder e5 und g5 aufpassen.} a5 $5 {Schwarz sucht eine Klärung
am Damenflügel.} (18... Nb6 19. Qc5 $5 {/\} Qxc5 20. bxc5 Nd7 (20... Nc4 21.
Bxc4 dxc4 22. Ne5 $36) 21. Nxd5 cxd5 22. c6 $16) 19. a4 {Weiß hält konsequent
dagegen.} (19. a3 $6 axb4 20. axb4 {würde Schwarz keine Probleme geben, da die
a-Linie geöffnet und der Pb4 schwach wäre.}) 19... axb4 20. axb5 Rfc8 21. bxc6
Rxc6 22. Qb2 {Formal gesehen hat Schwarz nun zwei isolierte Bauern auf b4 und
d5. Aber Weiß ist nicht richtig in der Lage, diese anzugreifen.} Bf8 23. Ng5 (
23. Rxc6 Bxc6 24. Bc2 Nb6 25. Nd3 Nc4 {/\} 26. Qxb4 $2 Qf6 $19) 23... Be7 (
23... Nb6 $5) 24. Rxc6 Bxc6 25. Bc2 Nb6 26. Nd3 Nc4 27. Qxb4 Qd8 $11 {Durch
den indirekten Abtausch des Pb4 gegen den Ph4 entasteht eine ausgeglichene
Stellung.} 28. Qc3 Bxg5 29. hxg5 Qxg5 30. Ne5 (30. Ne5 Nxe5 31. dxe5 Bd7)
1/2-1/2

[Event "Barcelona sim"]
[Site "Barcelona"]
[Date "2002.06.19"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Alsina Leal, Daniel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E49"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2101"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2002.06.19"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 088 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Nge2 c5 8.
O-O b6 9. a3 Bxc3 10. bxc3 Ba6 11. Bxa6 Nxa6 12. f3 Re8 13. Ng3 Nc7 14. Qd3 Ne6
15. Bb2 Qc7 16. Rac1 Qb7 17. Rce1 Rad8 18. Kh1 Qc6 19. Qd2 Nc7 20. Nf5 Re6 21.
dxc5 bxc5 22. c4 Qd7 23. Qc2 g6 24. Nh6+ Kg7 25. cxd5 Ncxd5 26. Ng4 Qe7 27. e4
Kg8 28. exd5 Rxe1 29. Nxf6+ Kf8 30. Nxh7+ Kg8 31. Nf6+ Kf8 32. Qf2 1-0

[Event "Barcelona sim"]
[Site "Barcelona"]
[Date "2002.06.19"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Arribas, Alberto"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E01"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2002.06.19"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 088 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 d5 4. g3 Nc6 5. Bg2 Bd6 6. O-O h6 7. Nc3 O-O 8. b3
Bb4 9. Bb2 Bxc3 10. Bxc3 Ne4 11. Bb2 Re8 12. a3 Nd6 13. Qc2 Qe7 14. Rad1 Bd7
15. Ne5 dxc4 16. bxc4 f6 17. Nxd7 Qxd7 18. e4 Qe7 19. c5 Nf7 20. f4 Rad8 21.
Kh1 Nb8 22. d5 exd5 23. exd5 Na6 24. Bd4 b6 25. d6 Qd7 26. cxb6 Qxd6 27. bxa7
c6 28. Bb6 Qe6 29. Bxd8 Nxd8 30. a8=R Nc7 31. Raxd8 1-0

[Event "Barcelona sim"]
[Site "Barcelona"]
[Date "2002.06.19"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Castells Briones, Miquel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C01"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2084"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "2002.06.19"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 088 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bd3 c6 6. Nge2 Ne7 7. O-O O-O 8.
Ng3 Nd7 9. Bg5 Qc7 10. a3 Bd6 11. Qh5 Ng6 12. Nf5 Re8 13. Rae1 Rxe1 14. Rxe1
Nf6 15. Bxf6 Bxf5 16. Bxf5 gxf6 17. Re3 Kg7 18. Rh3 Rh8 19. Qh6+ Kg8 20. Re3
Qd8 21. Ne2 Bf8 22. Qh5 Qd6 23. g3 b6 24. h4 Qd8 25. Qf3 Bh6 26. Rc3 Qd6 27.
Qg4 Kf8 28. Kf1 Rg8 29. Bxg6 hxg6 30. Qc8+ Kg7 31. Qxc6 Qd8 32. Rf3 Re8 33. Nc3
Bd2 34. Ne2 Qe7 35. Qb5 Qe6 36. Ng1 Re7 37. Qe2 Bc1 38. Qxe6 fxe6 39. Ne2 Bd2
40. Rd3 Bh6 41. Rc3 Kf7 42. Rc8 Bd2 43. a4 Rd7 44. f4 Bb4 45. Ng1 Bd6 46. Nf3
Kg7 47. Ke2 Kf7 48. b3 Bb4 49. c3 Bd6 50. Ke3 Ke7 51. Rh8 Kf7 52. Rh7+ Ke8 53.
Rxd7 Kxd7 54. g4 Ke7 55. c4 Kf7 56. cxd5 exd5 57. h5 gxh5 58. gxh5 Kg7 59. Nh4
Bf8 60. Nf5+ Kh7 61. Kf3 Bb4 62. Ne3 Bc3 63. Nxd5 Bxd4 64. Ke4 Bb2 65. Kf5 Kh6
66. Nxf6 Bc3 67. Ke6 1-0

[Event "Barcelona sim"]
[Site "Barcelona"]
[Date "2002.06.19"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Eguia Cambero, Ignacio Javier"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2002.06.19"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 088 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 6. d3 d6 7. c3 Bb6 8. Nbd2
O-O 9. h3 Be6 10. Re1 Ne7 11. Nf1 Ng6 12. Ng3 c6 13. d4 Qc7 14. Bg5 Nd7 15. d5
Bxh3 16. gxh3 f6 17. Bd2 Nc5 18. Bc2 Qd7 19. Kh2 cxd5 20. Be3 Qf7 21. Qxd5 Qxd5
22. exd5 Ne7 23. Nd2 Nxd5 24. Bxc5 Bxc5 25. Bb3 Kh8 26. Bxd5 Bxf2 27. Re2 Bxg3+
28. Kxg3 Rab8 29. Ne4 f5 30. Nxd6 f4+ 31. Kf3 Rbd8 32. Nf7+ Rxf7 33. Bxf7 Rd3+
34. Ke4 Rxh3 35. Rd1 g6 36. Rd7 f3 37. Rf2 Rh4+ 38. Kxe5 Rh5+ 39. Ke4 Rh4+ 40.
Kxf3 1-0

[Event "Barcelona sim"]
[Site "Barcelona"]
[Date "2002.06.19"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Munoz Munoz, Teresa"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2002.06.19"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 088 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. g3 Nc6 5. Bg2 g6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Bg7 8.
Ndb5 O-O 9. O-O b6 10. Bf4 Bb7 11. Bd6 Ne8 12. Bxf8 Bxf8 13. Qd2 a6 14. Nd4 Qc7
15. Rac1 Bg7 16. Nxc6 Bxc6 17. Nd5 Qd6 18. Rfd1 exd5 19. Bxd5 Bxd5 20. Qxd5
Qxd5 21. Rxd5 d6 22. b3 Rc8 23. Rcd1 Bb2 24. e3 Kf8 25. Kg2 Ke7 26. R5d2 Bc3
27. Rd3 Bb2 28. g4 Ke6 29. Rd5 Rc6 30. h3 Nf6 31. R5d2 Bc3 32. Rd3 Bb2 33. R3d2
Bc3 34. Rd3 Bb2 35. R3d2 Ke5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Barcelona sim"]
[Site "Barcelona"]
[Date "2002.06.19"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Pages de Garriga, Berta"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D70"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2002.06.19"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 088 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 g6 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nb6 6. h3 Bg7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Be2
N8d7 9. Bg5 a6 10. Qd2 Qe8 11. O-O c5 12. d5 Nf6 13. Rfe1 e6 14. Qf4 Nbd7 15.
Qc7 h6 16. Bf4 exd5 17. exd5 Qd8 18. d6 b5 19. Rad1 Qxc7 20. dxc7 Bb7 21. Rd6
Rac8 22. Red1 Kh7 23. Rxd7 Nxd7 24. Rxd7 Bc6 25. Rd2 Rfe8 26. Bf1 h5 27. Nd5
Kg8 28. Nb6 Bf6 29. Nxc8 Rxc8 30. Rd6 Bxf3 31. Rxf6 Bb7 32. Rb6 1-0

[Event "Barcelona sim"]
[Site "Barcelona"]
[Date "2002.06.19"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Paquico Rodriguez, Ivan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D25"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2069"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2002.06.19"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 088 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bg4 5. Bxc4 e6 6. Qb3 Qc8 7. Ne5 Bf5 8.
Nc3 Be7 9. d5 O-O 10. e4 Nxe4 11. Nxe4 Bxe4 12. dxe6 f6 13. Nd7 Re8 14. O-O Nc6
15. Qe3 Bf5 16. Bd2 Kh8 17. Bc3 Qd8 18. Qf3 Bg6 19. h4 Rg8 20. h5 Be8 21. Rad1
Bxd7 22. Rxd7 Qf8 23. Rxc7 Rb8 24. h6 gxh6 25. Rxe7 Nxe7 26. Qxf6+ Qxf6 27.
Bxf6+ Rg7 28. Rd1 Rf8 29. Bc3 Kg8 30. Rd7 Re8 31. Rxb7 Nf5 32. Bxg7 Nd6 33. Bf6
Nxc4 34. Rg7+ Kh8 35. Rg4# 1-0

[Event "Barcelona sim"]
[Site "Barcelona"]
[Date "2002.06.19"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Recuero Guerra, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C01"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2020"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2002.06.19"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 088 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Bd3 Bd6 6. O-O O-O 7. Bg5 Nbd7 8.
Nbd2 Re8 9. c3 c6 10. Qc2 Nf8 11. Rae1 Rxe1 12. Rxe1 h6 13. Bh4 Be6 14. Ne5 c5
15. dxc5 Bxe5 16. Rxe5 N8d7 17. Re1 Nxc5 18. Nf3 Nxd3 19. Qxd3 Rc8 20. Nd4 Bd7
21. f3 Qb6 22. Qd2 Re8 23. Rxe8+ Nxe8 24. Qe2 Qa6 25. Qxa6 bxa6 26. Bg3 a5 27.
Kf2 a4 28. Ke3 f6 29. Bb8 a6 30. Nc2 Kf7 31. Kd4 Be6 32. Nb4 Ke7 33. Nxa6 Bd7
34. Nb4 1-0

[Event "Barcelona sim"]
[Site "Barcelona"]
[Date "2002.06.19"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ruiz Diez, Julio Cesar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D61"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2234"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2002.06.19"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 088 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Qc2 c5 8. Rd1
cxd4 9. Nxd4 h6 10. Bh4 a6 11. Be2 dxc4 12. Bxc4 Qe8 13. Be2 Ne5 14. Bg3 Nc6
15. Nxc6 Qxc6 16. Bf3 Qb6 17. Qb3 Qxb3 18. axb3 a5 19. O-O Ra6 20. Bc7 Ne8 21.
Bd8 Bxd8 22. Rxd8 Nd6 23. Rxf8+ Kxf8 24. Ra1 Bd7 25. Kf1 Ke7 26. Ke1 b6 27. Na4
Bxa4 28. bxa4 Ra7 29. Rc1 b5 30. axb5 Nxb5 31. Ra1 Kd6 32. Ra4 Kc5 33. h4 Kb6
34. h5 Rc7 35. Kd2 Nd6 36. Be2 e5 37. Bd3 f6 38. f3 Rd7 39. Ke2 Rc7 40. Ra3 Rc1
41. Ra4 Rc7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Barcelona sim"]
[Site "Barcelona"]
[Date "2002.06.19"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Sarda, R."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2002.06.19"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 088 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 a6 6. e3 Nc6 7. a3 Bd7 8. Qc2
Bd6 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Nxd5 Qf5 13. Qxf5 Bxf5 14. O-O-O
Be4 15. Nc3 Bh7 16. Bd3 O-O 17. Bxh7+ Kxh7 18. h4 Ne7 19. Ne4 f6 20. g3 Nd5 21.
Rhe1 Be7 22. Kc2 b5 23. Nc5 Nb6 24. Ne6 Rf7 25. e4 a5 26. d5 Rc8 27. Nfd4 b4
28. axb4 Bxb4 29. Re2 Nc4 30. f4 a4 31. Nc6 Bc5 32. Nxc5 1-0

[Event "Barcelona sim"]
[Site "Barcelona"]
[Date "2002.06.19"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Setien, Q."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C55"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2002.06.19"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 088 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Re1 d6 7. c3 Bg4 8. h3
Bh5 9. Nbd2 Re8 10. Nf1 h6 11. Ng3 Bg6 12. Nh4 Bh7 13. Nhf5 Na5 14. Bb5 c6 15.
Ba4 b5 16. Bc2 Bf8 17. Qf3 Rc8 18. a4 a6 19. axb5 axb5 20. b4 Nb7 21. Bb3 Rc7
22. Be3 c5 23. Ra7 Bg6 24. Rea1 Nd7 25. Bd5 Qc8 26. Nh4 Nb6 27. Bb3 Bh7 28. Nh5
Nd8 29. Bxh6 Ne6 30. bxc5 dxc5 31. Qg4 c4 32. dxc4 bxc4 33. Bc2 Qd8 34. Rxc7
Nxc7 35. Bxg7 Bg6 36. Nxg6 fxg6 37. Qxg6 Re6 38. Bf6+ 1-0

[Event "Barcelona sim"]
[Site "Barcelona"]
[Date "2002.06.19"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Tudela Martinez, Pedro"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2002.06.19"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 088 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. Re1 d6 6. e5 dxe5 7. Nxe5 Bd7 8.
Bxc6 Bxc6 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Nc3 Nf6 11. d3 O-O 12. Rb1 Rb8 13. b3 Nd5 14. Na4
Qa5 15. Bd2 Qd8 16. Nxc5 Bc3 17. Ne4 Bg7 18. Qc1 Nb4 19. a3 Nd5 20. Bh6 Qa5 21.
b4 Bxh6 22. Qxh6 Qxa3 23. Ng5 Nf6 24. Re4 a5 25. g3 Rxb4 26. Rbxb4 axb4 27. Kg2
c5 28. Rf4 1-0

[Event "Barcelona sim"]
[Site "Barcelona"]
[Date "2002.06.19"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vila Antunez, Ximo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E16"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2002.06.19"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 088 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Bxd2+ 7. Qxd2 d6 8.
O-O O-O 9. Nc3 Nbd7 10. d5 e5 11. Ne1 a5 12. Nc2 Nc5 13. e4 Nfd7 14. Ne3 Nb8
15. f4 Nba6 16. fxe5 dxe5 17. Nf5 Bc8 18. g4 Nb7 19. Rf3 Nd6 20. b3 Bd7 21. Rh3
a4 22. Rf1 Nxf5 23. exf5 f6 24. d6 Rb8 25. Bd5+ Kh8 26. Rff3 Bxf5 27. gxf5 1-0

[Event "Barcelona sim"]
[Site "Barcelona"]
[Date "2002.06.19"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vilaregut, P."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C60"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2002.06.19"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 088 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nge7 4. O-O g6 5. c3 Bg7 6. d4 exd4 7. cxd4 O-O 8.
d5 Ne5 9. Nxe5 Bxe5 10. Nc3 a6 11. Bd3 c6 12. Bh6 Re8 13. Bg5 Qc7 14. Kh1 cxd5
15. Rc1 Bxh2 16. Nxd5 Qe5 17. f4 Bxf4 18. Bxf4 Qxb2 19. Nc7 Qxa2 20. Nxe8 d5
21. Nf6+ Kg7 22. Be5 dxe4 23. Bc4 Qa5 24. Ng4+ 1-0

[Event "Leon Man+Comp"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2002.06.21"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[Annotator "Dautov,R"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2002.06.21"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3
Nc6 9. Rc1 a6 10. b4 Bd6 11. Bg5 a5 $5 $146 {Mit dieser Neuerung leitet Anand
das Spiel in taktisches Fahrwasser.} ({Nach dem ruhigen} 11... Be7 12. c5 h6
13. Bh4 Nd7 {konnte Weiß seinen Druck nicht ausbauen:} 14. Bg3 b6 15. cxb6 Nxb6
16. Be2 Bb7 17. O-O Qd7 18. Na4 Nxa4 19. Qxa4 Rfc8 20. Qb3 Qd8 21. Ne5 Nxe5 22.
Bxe5 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Rc8 $11 {Sakaev,K-Lutz,C/Istanbul 2000}) 12. b5 (12. cxd5 $6
axb4 13. dxc6 bxc3 14. Bxf6 gxf6 {ist für Weiß nicht erstrebenswert.}) (12. c5
$6 axb4 13. axb4 Be7 14. b5 Nb4 $132 {><c5}) 12... Ne5 13. Nxe5 (13. cxd5 $2
Nxf3+ 14. Qxf3 Bxa3 $17) (13. c5 $2 Nxf3+ 14. Qxf3 Bxc5 15. Nxd5 exd5 16. Rxc5
Qd6 17. Rc3 Ne4 $17) 13... Bxe5 14. c5 {Wie so oft in dieser Variante setzt
Weiß auf seine Bauernmajorität auf dem Damenflügel.} (14. cxd5 $6 exd5 15. Be2
Qd6 $36 {><a3}) 14... a4 $1 {Ein guter Konter! Anand verhindert Nc3-a4 und
räumt das Feld a5 für seine Dame.} 15. f4 $1 ({Zum Ausgleich führt} 15. Bd3 Qa5
16. Qd2 Bd7 17. f4 (17. O-O $2 Bxb5 $1 18. Bxb5 Bxc3 19. Qxc3 Qxc3 20. Rxc3 Ne4
$15 {kostet Weiß einen Bauern.}) 17... Bxc3 18. Qxc3 Rfc8 19. O-O Ne4 20. Bxe4
dxe4 $11) 15... Bxc3+ 16. Rxc3 e5 $1 (16... Qa5 $2 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Qd4 $16)
17. Bxf6 $1 (17. fxe5 $4 Qa5 $19 {/\Ne4}) 17... Qxf6 18. fxe5 Qh4+ (18... Qxe5
19. Qd4 $14) 19. g3 Qe4 20. Rg1 Qxe5 21. Qd4 $14 {Trotz des aktiven und
logischen Spiels ist Schwarz der vollständige Ausgleich noch nicht gelungen.}
Qh5 22. h4 Bg4 23. Bd3 Bf3 24. Kf2 Be4 $1 {Dieses Bauernopfer ist erzwungen,
Schwarz braucht die offene d-Linie für sein Gegenspiel.} 25. Bxe4 dxe4 26. Qxe4
Rad8 27. Rc2 $2 ({Chancenreicher war} 27. Qc2 $1) 27... Rfe8 28. Qf3 Qg6 29.
Rgc1 Qd3 $11 30. c6 bxc6 31. bxc6 Qxa3 32. c7 Rc8 33. Rc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leon Man+Comp"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2002.06.21"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[Annotator "Gershon,A"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "2002.06.21"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. O-O
d5 9. Qc2 {White has problems finding any advantage in main lines, so he tries
to search for imporvments in side lines. For now, unsuccesfully.} (9. Ne5 Nfd7
10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Bc3 {would have led to the main}) 9... Nbd7 10. Rd1 O-O 11.
Bf4 Rc8 12. Nc3 Qe8 $1 {an imprtant move. Black removes his Q away from the
'd' file, enabling him to open up the center against white's Q.} 13. a4 $146 {
The latest attempt to get any advantage in this line.} ({so far, only:} 13. e4
{has been tested} dxc4 14. bxc4 (14. Nd2 e5 15. dxe5 Ng4 16. Nxc4 Bxc4 17. bxc4
Bc5 18. Rd2 Ndxe5 19. Na4 Bb4 20. Re2 b5 21. Nb2 Ba3 22. cxb5 cxb5 23. Qb3 Bc5
$11 {1/2-1/2 Ftacnik,L-Landa,K/Kaskady SVK 2002/The Week in Chess 400 (76)})
14... Bxc4 15. Nd2 Ba6 16. Qa4 Bd3 17. Ndb1 Bxb1 18. Raxb1 a5 19. Qb3 b5 20. e5
a4 21. Qb2 Nd5 $15 {0-1 Tkachiev,V-Gelfand,B/Shenyang 2000/CBM 79 (43)}) ({
an attempt to defend the pawn doesn't help} 13. Nd2 c5 {and the knight is
needed on f3.}) 13... dxc4 14. bxc4 Bxc4 15. Ne4 {White's point. In the cost
of a pawn white wants to get a bishop pair, with the belief that his activity
will win him back the pawn. It's true, but black will be able to exchange too
many pieces in the process.} Nxe4 16. Qxc4 Bd6 $1 (16... Ndf6 17. Ne5 c5 18.
Qd3 Nd6 19. Rdc1 {and white's domination more than compensates for the pawn.})
17. Ne5 f5 {[%cal Gg7g5] the point of Bd6. black threatens g5 now, so white
must spend an important tempo.} 18. h4 c5 19. Bxe4 (19. Rac1 Rc7 $1 {and black
is fine.} ({but not:} 19... cxd4 20. Qxc8 Qxc8 21. Rxc8 Rxc8 22. Nxd7 Nc3 23.
Rd2)) 19... cxd4 20. Qxd4 (20. Qxd4 Bxe5 21. Bxe5 Nxe5 22. Qxe5 fxe4 23. Rd6
Qf7 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leon Man+Comp"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2002.06.22"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[Annotator "McShane,L"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2002.06.21"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 3]} 1. Nf3 {Huzman} d5 2. d4 e6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 c5 5. Bxc4 Nf6 6. O-O
a6 7. Bb3 cxd4 8. exd4 Nc6 9. Nc3 Be7 10. Bg5 O-O 11. Qd2 {A new but natural
looking move. In these positions with an isolated queen's pawn, White must use
his lead in development to create pressure, whereas Black aims to soak this up
and eventually exploit the weakness of the pawn.} Na5 (11... Nd5 {Huzman} 12.
Bxe7 Ncxe7 13. Rac1 b6 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. Bxd5 Qxd5 16. Rc7 a5 (16... Bb7 {
Huzman} 17. Rfc1 Rad8 18. Qf4 Rd7 19. h3 h6 20. Rxd7 Qxd7 21. Ne5 Qd6 22. Rc3
f6 23. Ng6 Rd8 $11 {1/2-1/2 Cheparinov,I-Husnutdinov,D/Oropesa del Mar 2001/
EXT 2002 (33)}) 17. Rfc1 Bb7 18. Qf4 Rad8 19. a3 h6 20. h3 Ba8 $11 {1/2-1/2
Sundararajan,K-Arnold,L/Budapest 2001/CBM 83 ext (26)}) (11... Nb4 {Huzman} 12.
Ne5 h6 13. Bh4 Nbd5 14. Bxf6 Nxf6 15. Rad1 Qc7 16. f4 Rd8 17. Qe3 b5 18. f5 Qb6
19. fxe6 Bxe6 20. Ng6 Ra7 21. Rfe1 Bxb3 22. Nxe7+ Rxe7 23. Qxe7 Bxd1 24. Rxd1
Rxd4 $19 {0-1 Colas,J-Sansas,A/FRA-ch21 corr 1956/Corr 2000 (37)}) (11... h6 {
Huzman} 12. Bf4 Re8 13. Rad1 Bf8 14. Ne5 (14. Be5 {Huzman} Nxe5 15. Nxe5 b5 16.
Qf4 Qc7 17. Rc1 Qe7 18. Ne4 Nxe4 19. Qxe4 Bb7 20. Qg4 Rad8 $15 {0-1 Bluvshtein,
M-Lesiege,A/Montreal CAN 2002/The Week in Chess 404 (56)}) 14... Ne7 15. Qd3
Ned5 16. Bc1 (16. Nxd5 {Huzman} Nxd5 17. Bc2 f5 18. Qg3 Nxf4 19. Qxf4 Bd6 20.
Rfe1 $16 {1-0 Barsov,A-Lesiege,A/Montreal CAN 2002/The Week in Chess 404 (79)})
16... b5 17. Qg3 Bb7 18. Bxh6 Nxc3 19. bxc3 Ne4 20. Qg4 Nf6 21. Qg5 Qe7 22. Rd3
Ne4 23. Qg4 Nf6 24. Qg5 Ne4 25. Qg4 Nf6 {1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V-Anand,V/Mainz GER
2001 (25)}) 12. Bc2 b5 13. Rad1 (13. Qf4 {Huzman} Ra7 (13... Bb7 {Huzman} 14.
Qh4 g6 15. d5 Bxd5 16. Ne4 Bxe4 17. Bxe4 Ra7 18. Rad1 Nd5 19. Rfe1 f6 20. Bh6
Re8 21. Qg4 Bf8 22. Bxg6 hxg6 23. Qxg6+ Bg7 24. Rxd5 $18 {1-0 Pert,N-Ganguly,S/
Torquay ENG 2002/The Week in Chess 405 (31)}) 14. Rad1 Bb7 15. d5 $1 Bxd5 16.
Nxd5 exd5 $2 17. Qh4 h5 18. Rfe1 Nc6 19. g4 $1 Qd6 20. gxh5 Qb4 21. h6 Qxh4 22.
Nxh4 Ne4 23. hxg7 Rc8 24. Bxe7 Nxe7 25. Bxe4 dxe4 26. Rxe4 Kxg7 27. Rd6 $1 $18
{1-0 Kramnik,V-Anand,V/Dortmund 2001/CBM 85/(39)}) 13... Nc4 (13... Bb7 {Huzman
} 14. Qf4 b4 15. d5 bxc3 16. Qh4 h5 17. dxe6 Qc7 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Qxh5 g6 20.
exf7+ Rxf7 21. Qxg6+ Kf8 $13 {0-1 Epishin,V-Hort,V/Hoogeveen 2001/CBM 84 ext 
(39)}) 14. Qf4 Ra7 $5 {[%cal Ya7c7,Yc7d7]} ({If} 14... Nxb2 15. Bxf6 $1 Bxf6
16. Qe4 $1 {[%csl Ra8,Rh7][%cal Ye4a8,Ye4h7] threatening mate and the rook on
a8, wins.}) (14... Bb7 {is also playable, but Anand plans to swing the rook
across instead.}) 15. Ne5 Rc7 (15... Nxb2 {Huzman} 16. Nc6 Nxd1 $1 (16... Qd7 {
Huzman} 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. Qh4 h6 19. Ne4 $1 $18) 17. Nxd8 (17. Qh4 {Huzman} h6
18. Bxh6 Nxc3 19. Bxg7 Ne2+ 20. Kh1 Kxg7 21. Qg5+ Kh8 22. Qh6+ $11) 17... Nxc3
18. Qf3 Rxd8 19. Qxc3 Rad7 $44) 16. Nxc4 bxc4 (16... Rxc4 $2 {Huzman} 17. Qh4
g6 (17... h6 {Huzman} 18. Bxh6 gxh6 19. Rd3 $1 Nh7 20. Rg3+ Ng5 (20... Bg5 {
Huzman} 21. Qxh6 f5 22. h4 $18) 21. Qxh6 f5 22. h4 $16) 18. Ne4 Nd5 19. Bb3 f6
20. Bh6 f5 21. Ng5 Rc7 22. Rfe1 $16) 17. Bxf6 {'!' Huzman.} (17. d5 {Huzman}
Nxd5 18. Bxe7 Rxe7 19. Qxc4 Bb7 20. Be4 Rd7 $11) 17... Bxf6 18. d5 $1 {[%csl
Gd5] Maintaining an edge, as Black's pieces are not well placed to deal with
this advance.} e5 (18... Bxc3 {Huzman} 19. dxe6 $1 (19. d6 {Huzman} Rc5 20.
bxc3 Bb7 $13) 19... Qe7 20. bxc3 Bxe6 21. Rd6 (21. Rfe1 $5 {Huzman}) 21... Bc8
22. Rfd1 $14) (18... exd5 {Huzman} 19. Nxd5 Rb7 20. Rfe1 $1 $16) 19. Qf3 {
'!' Huzman.} Rb7 (19... g6 {Huzman} 20. d6 Rb7 21. d7 $1 Rxd7 22. Rxd7 Bxd7 23.
Rd1 $16) (19... Be7 {Huzman} 20. Qe4 f5 21. Qxe5 Bd6 22. Qd4 $16) 20. Qe4 g6
21. Qxc4 Rxb2 22. Bb3 {[%csl Rb2][%cal Yc3a4] '+/-!' Huzman. Now Black is
further inconvenienced by the threat of Nc3-a4, trapping the rook.} Bg5 {
'[]' Huzman.} 23. d6 Be6 24. Qa4 (24. Qxa6 {Huzman} Bg4 $1 (24... Bxb3 {Huzman}
25. axb3 Rxb3 26. Ne4 $16) 25. Na4 Bxd1 (25... Be2 {Huzman} 26. Qc6 Rxb3 27.
axb3 Bf4 28. Nc5 $18) 26. Nxb2 Bg4 27. Nd3 $16) 24... Bxb3 {'?' Huzman.} (24...
Bd7 {Huzman} 25. Qxa6 $16 (25. Qa3 $5 {Huzman} Rd2 26. Ne4 Rxd1 27. Rxd1 $16))
(24... Bf5 {Huzman} 25. Qa3 Rd2 26. Nd5 $1 $16 Be4 27. Rxd2 Bxd2 28. Ne7+ Kg7
29. Qxa6 Qd7 $16) 25. axb3 {[%csl Gd1,Gd6] The d-pawn is now extremely strong.
Nevertheless, Kramnik must continue to play with energy to prevent it being
blockaded and rounded up.} Qb6 26. Qg4 {'!' Huzman.} Bf4 (26... Qxb3 {Huzman}
27. Qxg5 Qxc3 28. d7 f6 29. Qg4 Rbb8 (29... Qc7 {Huzman} 30. Qe6+ Kg7 31. Qe7+
$18) (29... Rd2 {Huzman} 30. Rxd2 Qxd2 31. Rd1 $18) 30. Qe6+ Kg7 31. d8=Q Rfxd8
32. Rxd8 Rxd8 33. Qe7+ $18) (26... Qd8 {Huzman} 27. Qc4 Qd7 (27... Rc2 {Huzman}
28. Qd3 Rb2 29. Ne4 $16) 28. Ne4 $16) 27. Nd5 Qd8 (27... Qxd6 28. Nxf4 Qb4 29.
Nd5 $1 {[%csl Rg4,Rg8][%cal Yd5f6] and White will regain the queen with a
winning fork on f6.}) 28. Nxf4 exf4 29. d7 Rxb3 30. Qxf4 {[%csl Gd7] The pawn
ties Black down completely, and Kramnik closes in.} Rb8 31. Rfe1 Qb6 32. h4 {
[%csl Rg8][%cal Yh4h6]} h5 {White threatened to advance the pawn to h6,
creating mate threats on g7, but now there are additional possibilities to
sacrifice a rook on g6.} 33. Rd6 Qc5 34. Qf6 Qf5 (34... Qc7 35. Re7 Rbd8 {
and now for instance} 36. Qe5 {threatening Rxg6+} Qc2 37. Rxa6 {and White will
win easily.}) 35. Qxf5 gxf5 {Black's kingside is now damaged beyond repair.}
36. Rxa6 Rfd8 37. Rd6 {[%csl Rf5,Rh5] It won't take Kramnik long to mop up the
kingside.} 1-0

[Event "Leon Man+Comp"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2002.06.22"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[Annotator "Dautov,R"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2002.06.21"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Cifuentes} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5
Bxc5 8. a3 Nc6 9. Qc2 Qa5 10. O-O-O Be7 11. g4 dxc4 12. Bxc4 e5 13. g5 exf4 14.
gxf6 Bxf6 15. Nd5 Ne7 16. Nxf6+ gxf6 17. Rhg1+ Kh8 18. e4 {'!' Cifuentes. Mit
diesem Zug verhindert Weiß den unangenehmen Läuferausfall Bc8-f5 und plant
seine Aktivität (Rd1-d6, Qc2-b3) nach der Prophylaxe Kc1-b1 wiederaufzunehmen.}
(18. Nd4) (18. Qe4) 18... b5 {'[]' Cifuentes. Die Standardantwort, Schwarz
startet sein Gegenspiel ohne Vorbereitung.} (18... Bh3 19. Kb1 Rac8 20. Qb3 {
><f7 Short}) (18... Be6 19. Bxe6 fxe6 20. Qb3 $36 Qc7+ (20... Qa6 {Cifuentes}
21. Kb1 Rad8 22. e5 $44) 21. Kb1 Qc6 22. Rge1 e5 23. Rc1) 19. Bd5 Nxd5 (19...
Rb8 $2 {Cifuentes} 20. Qc5 $1) (19... Be6 {Cifuentes} 20. Bxa8 Rc8 21. Qxc8+
Nxc8 22. Kb1 b4 23. Nd4 bxa3 24. Nc6 $1) 20. exd5 b4 ({Nach} 20... Bd7 $6 21.
Kb1 b4 22. Rd4 $1 {entwickelt Weiß einen gefährlichen Angriff:} bxa3 23. Rxf4
$1 {/\Qh7} f5 24. Rh4 Rab8 25. Qc4 $1 Rxb2+ 26. Ka1 $18) (20... Bg4 $6 21. Qe4
Qc7+ 22. Kb1 Rfe8 23. Qd4 Bf5+ 24. Ka1 Qd6 25. Ng5 Re7 26. Ne6 Qe5 27. Rge1
Qxd4 28. Nxd4 Rxe1 29. Rxe1 $16 {Mamedyarov,S-Tregubov,P/Dubai 2002}) 21. axb4
Qa1+ (21... Qxb4 22. Rd4 Qd6 23. Qc6 $14 {Short}) 22. Kd2 Qa6 23. Qc6 (23. Nd4
$2 Rd8 24. b5 Qb6 25. Qe4 Bb7 $40 {Akopian,V-Short,N/Groningen 1996}) 23... Rd8
(23... Bb7 $5) 24. Kc3 (24. Qxa8 $2 {Cifuentes} Qc4 $1) 24... Bb7 25. Qxa6 Bxa6
26. Rd4 Rac8+ 27. Kd2 (27. Kb3 $2 {Cifuentes} Rxd5 $1) 27... Bb7 28. Rc1 {
'!' Cifuentes.} Rxc1 29. Kxc1 Kg7 (29... Bxd5 $2 {Cifuentes} 30. Kd2 $1 Kg7 31.
Ne1 f5 32. Nd3 Kf6 33. Nxf4 Ke5 34. Ke3 Rd7 35. b5 Be6 36. Nxe6 Kxe6 37. Rxd7
Kxd7 38. Kd4 Kd6 39. f4 $18) (29... Rxd5 {Cifuentes} 30. Rxd5 Bxd5 31. Nd4 Kg7
32. Nf5+ {see game}) 30. Nh4 {Eine Neuerung im 30. Zug - so was sieht man
selten, selbst in unserer informationsüberfüllten Zeit! Die
Stellungseinschätzung bleibt jedoch "alt", Schwarz remisiert mühelos.} (30. Ne1
Rxd5 31. Rxd5 Bxd5 32. Nd3 f3 33. Kd2 Bc6 34. Nf4 f5 35. Ke3 Kf6 36. h4 Ke5 37.
Nd3+ Kd5 38. Kf4 Ba4 39. Ne5 f6 40. Nxf3 Bc2 $11 {Van Wely,L-Short,N/Wijk aan
Zee 1997}) 30... Rxd5 31. Rxd5 Bxd5 32. Nf5+ Kf8 33. Kd2 Ke8 {'!' Cifuentes.} (
33... Be6 $5 34. Nd6 (34. Nd4 {Cifuentes} Bd5 35. Nb5 a6 36. Nc7 Bb7 37. Kc3
Ke7 38. b5 a5 39. Kb3 $1 Kd6 40. Na6 Kd5 (40... Bxa6 {Cifuentes} 41. bxa6 Kc6
42. Ka4 Kb6 43. a7 $18) 41. Ka4 Kd4 42. Kxa5 Bf3 43. b4 Kd3 44. Nc5+ Ke2 45. b6
Kxf2 46. b5 $1 Bd5 (46... Kg2 {Cifuentes} 47. h4 Bd5 48. Nd3 $1 Bb7 49. Nxf4+
Kg3 50. Nd3 $18) 47. b7 Bxb7 48. Nxb7 f3 49. Nd6 Ke1 50. b6 f2 51. b7 f1=Q 52.
b8=Q $16) 34... Bd7 $11 {Short}) (33... a6 {Cifuentes} 34. Kc3 Be6 35. Nd4 Ke7
36. b5 axb5 37. Kb4 Kd6 38. Nxb5+ Kd5 39. Kc3 $16) 34. Kd3 Kd7 35. Kd4 Be6 36.
Ke4 Bxf5+ {'=!' Cifuentes.} 37. Kxf5 Kc6 38. Kxf4 (38. h4 {Cifuentes} Kb5 39.
Kxf6 Kc4 40. h5 Kd3 41. h6 Ke2 42. Kg7 Kxf2 43. Kxh7 f3 44. Kg8 Ke1 45. h7 f2
46. h8=Q f1=Q $11) (38. f3 $5 {Cifuentes} Kd5 $1 (38... Kb5 {Cifuentes} 39. h4
Kc4 $1 (39... Kxb4 {Cifuentes} 40. h5 Kc4 41. h6 Kd3 42. Kxf4 $1 Kc2 43. Kf5
Kxb2 44. Kxf6 a5 45. Kg7 a4 46. Kxh7 a3 47. Kg8 $18) 40. h5 h6 $1 41. Kxf6 Kd4
$1 (41... Kxb4 $2 {Cifuentes} 42. Kg7 Kb3 43. Kxh6 a5 44. Kg5 a4 45. h6 Kxb2
46. h7 $18) 42. Kg7 Ke3 43. Kxh6 Kxf3 44. Kg5 Ke3 45. h6 f3 46. h7 f2 47. h8=Q
f1=Q 48. Qe5+ Kd2 $11) 39. b5 Kc4 40. h4 h5 41. Kxf4 Kd3 $1 (41... Kxb5 {
Cifuentes} 42. Kf5 Kc4 43. Kxf6 Kb3 44. Kg5 Kxb2 45. Kxh5 a5 46. Kg4 a4 47. h5
a3 48. h6 a2 49. h7 a1=Q 50. h8=Q+ Ka2 51. Qxa1+ Kxa1 52. Kf5 Kb2 53. f4 Kc3
54. Ke5 $1 Kd3 55. f5 Ke3 56. f6 Kf3 57. Kd6 $18) 42. Kf5 Ke3 43. Kxf6 Kxf3 44.
Kg5 Ke4 45. Kxh5 f5 46. Kg6 f4 47. h5 f3 48. h6 f2 49. h7 f1=Q 50. h8=Q $11)
38... Kb5 39. Kf5 Kxb4 40. Kxf6 Kb3 41. f4 Kxb2 42. f5 a5 43. Kxf7 a4 44. f6 a3
45. Kg8 a2 46. f7 a1=Q 47. f8=Q Qa2+ 48. Kxh7 {, und die assistierenden
Computer beschlossen, daß die Stellung remislich ist.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leon Man+Comp"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2002.06.23"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2002.06.21"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. dxc5 Qxd1 8.
Rxd1 Bxc5 9. Nbd2 O-O 10. Be2 Rd8 11. b3 b6 12. Bb2 Bb7 13. Rac1 Nbd7 14. Nc4 (
14. a3 Rac8 15. b4 Be7 16. Nc4 Nd5 17. Nd4 Rc7 18. g3 Rdc8 19. e4 N5f6 20. f3
Ne8 {1/2-1/2 Tunik,G-Makarov,M/St Petersburg 1996/CBM 56 ext (20)}) 14... Rac8
15. Kf1 Bd5 16. Nce5 Nxe5 17. Nxe5 a5 (17... b5 18. Nd3 Be7 19. f3 $14) (17...
Bb7 $5 18. Nd3 Be7 19. Bd4 Nd7 $11) 18. Ba6 Ra8 (18... Rc7 19. Nd3 Bd6 20. Rxc7
Bxc7 21. Rc1 $14) 19. Bb5 Rac8 20. h3 Be4 21. Rxd8+ Rxd8 22. f3 Bg6 (22... Bb7
23. e4 (23. Ke2 Nd5 24. Nc4 $140 Nc7 25. Nxa5 bxa5 26. Rxc5 Nxb5 $19) 23... Rd2
24. Nd3 Bc6 (24... Nxe4 25. fxe4 Bxe4 26. Nxc5 bxc5 27. Rxc5 $18) 25. Bxc6 Rxd3
26. Ke2 $14) 23. e4 $1 {[%csl Rg6]} Rd2 24. Nd3 h6 25. Bxf6 gxf6 26. Nxc5 bxc5
27. a4 Rb2 $8 (27... f5 28. exf5 Bxf5 29. Rxc5 $16) 28. Rxc5 Rxb3 29. Bc6 (29.
Be2 $5 f5 30. exf5 Bxf5 31. Rxa5 $16) 29... f5 30. Rxa5 $6 (30. exf5 Bxf5 31.
Rxa5 Rb2 $16) 30... fxe4 31. fxe4 Rb4 32. e5 Be4 $1 $14 33. Bxe4 Rxe4 {[%csl
Re5]} 34. Kf2 Kg7 35. Kf3 Rb4 36. Ra7 Rb3+ 37. Kf4 Rb2 38. Kf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leon Man+Comp"]
[Site "Leon"]
[Date "2002.06.23"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "2002.06.21"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ke8 10. h3 Be7 {Kramnik again tries the idea he played
against Kasparov in Wijk aan Zee,} 11. Bg5 Bxg5 12. Nxg5 h6 13. Nge4 b6 14.
Rfd1 Ke7 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8]} ({More natural than} 14... Ne7 {played by Kramnik
against Kasparov.} 15. f4 Ng6 16. Rf1 h5 17. Rae1 Bf5 18. Ng3 Ne7 $13 {1/2-1/2
Kasparov,G-Kramnik,V/Wijk aan Zee 2001/CBM 81/[Wedberg] (46)}) 15. Kh2 (15. g4
{doesn´t quite do the trick.} Nh4 16. f4 Ng6 17. Rf1 (17. Ne2 h5 18. Nd4 Bd7)
17... h5 $36) 15... h5 16. Ne2 Re8 17. Nf4 Kf8 {Castling by hand solves all
the problems for Black in this game.} 18. Nxh5 (18. Nd3 Ba6 $15) 18... Rxe5 19.
Nhg3 Be6 20. Rd2 $11 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris Grand Prix du Senat 3rd"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2002.06.29"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2653"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2002.06.29"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. a4 e6 6. Bg5 a5 7. e3 Be7 8. Be2 O-O
9. O-O Na6 10. Ne5 Nb4 11. Qb3 Nd7 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Nd3 dxc4 14. Qxc4 e5 15.
Nxb4 Qxb4 16. Rfd1 exd4 17. Rxd4 Qxb2 18. Rb1 Qa3 19. Ne4 Qe7 20. Nd6 Nf6 21.
Qc5 Nd7 22. Qc3 Nf6 23. Qc5 Nd7 24. Qc3 Nf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris Grand Prix du Senat 3rd"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2002.06.29"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2653"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[Annotator "Gershon,A"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2002.06.29"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 Bb7 (7...
c6 {leads to the main lines.}) 8. Nc3 d5 9. O-O O-O 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Bf4 Na6
12. Qc2 Re8 13. Rfd1 {white is taking measures to prevent black from playing
c5, or at least make it difficult.} (13. Qb2 Qc8 14. Rfd1 Qe6 15. Rac1 h6 16.
a3 c5 17. Be3 Ne4 18. Ne1 Bf6 19. Nxe4 dxe4 20. Qb1 cxd4 21. Bxd4 Bxd4 22. Rxd4
Nc5 23. Rc3 Qe5 $15 {0-1 Roeder,M-Aseev,K/Berlin 1992/EXT 98 (48). (48)}) 13...
c6 14. a3 (14. Qb2 Nc7 15. b4 Ne6 16. Be5 Nh5 17. Bh3 Bf8 18. Bg4 Nf6 19. Bxf6
Qxf6 20. Qb3 Rad8 21. Bh3 Ba8 22. Bg2 $14 {1-0 Salov,V-Hjartarson,J/Rotterdam
1989/CBM 13 (55)}) 14... Nc7 15. Bxc7 $6 (15. b4 Ne6 16. Be5 {was better.})
15... Qxc7 16. b4 Bd6 {after white has exchange his dark bishop, black has a
clear and natural plan of playing on the K side.} 17. e3 Qe7 {[%cal Ga7a5]} 18.
Qb3 Rad8 {over protecting d5. Now c5 becomes an option.Black is by no means
worse.} 19. Ne1 {preventing c5, but...} h5 $1 {white forces are disorganized,
and Kramnik begins a thematic attack on the kingside.} 20. b5 (20. h4 {[%csl
Rg4]} Ng4 $17) 20... h4 21. bxc6 hxg3 22. hxg3 (22. cxb7 gxf2+ 23. Kxf2 Qxe3+
24. Kf1 Ng4 {[%cal Ge3f2,Gg4h2] with a mate on next move}) 22... Bxc6 23. Nc2
Ng4 $1 {[%csl Rf2,Rg1][%cal Ge7f6,Gf6h6] black goes after white's king, and a
pawn doesn't matter.} 24. Nxd5 (24. Bxd5 Bxd5 25. Nxd5 (25. Qxd5 Bxg3 $19)
25... Qg5 {white king is doomed.}) 24... Qg5 25. Nf4 Bxf4 $1 {leading to a
forced win} 26. Bxc6 $8 (26. exf4 Qh6 27. d5 $8 Re2 $1 $19) (26. gxf4 Qh4 $19)
26... Qh6 27. Bg2 Bxg3 $1 28. fxg3 Qh2+ 29. Kf1 Qxg3 30. Rd2 (30. Kg1 Qf2+ 31.
Kh1 Rd6 $19) 30... Rd6 {white is helpless against all the threats to his king.}
0-1

[Event "Paris Grand Prix du Senat 3rd"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2002.06.30"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Fressinet, Laurent"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2606"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "136"]
[EventDate "2002.06.29"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. O-O a6 6. Ba4 Be7 7. Re1 b5 8. Bb3
d6 9. Bd5 Nxd5 10. exd5 Ne5 11. Nxd4 O-O 12. Bf4 Bb7 13. Ne2 Nc4 14. Nbc3 Bf6
15. Rb1 Re8 16. Qd3 Bxc3 17. Nxc3 Qf6 18. Bd2 Qg6 19. Qxg6 hxg6 20. Bf4 b4 21.
Re4 Rxe4 22. Nxe4 Bxd5 23. Nd2 Nb6 24. Re1 Be6 25. Nf3 a5 26. b3 Nd5 27. Bd2 c5
28. Ng5 Bf5 29. Ne4 Bxe4 30. Rxe4 a4 31. Re1 axb3 32. axb3 Ra2 33. Rc1 Kf8 34.
Kf1 Ke7 35. Ke2 Kd7 36. Kd3 Ne7 37. g4 Nc6 38. f4 Ra8 39. h4 Rh8 40. Rh1 d5 41.
Be3 Kd6 42. Rh2 Re8 43. Bd2 Re4 44. h5 gxh5 45. Rxh5 Nd4 46. Rh7 Nf3 47. Be3
Ne1+ 48. Kd2 Nxc2 49. Kxc2 Rxe3 50. Rxg7 Ke6 51. Rg8 Re2+ 52. Kd3 Rb2 53. Re8+
Kd7 54. Re5 Rxb3+ 55. Kc2 Rc3+ 56. Kb2 Kd6 57. Rf5 Rg3 58. g5 c4 59. Rxf7 Rg2+
60. Kc1 b3 61. Rb7 d4 62. g6 Ke6 63. Rb4 Rc2+ 64. Kb1 d3 65. f5+ Kf6 66. Rb6+
Kxf5 67. g7 Rg2 68. Rc6 d2 0-1

[Event "Paris Grand Prix du Senat 3rd"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2002.06.30"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Fressinet, Laurent"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E91"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2606"]
[Annotator "Tsesarsky,I"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2002.06.29"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 090"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.09.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 g6 2. e4 d6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 a5 {This variation
became popular last 3 years. Black delays temporarily usual e7-e5 move.} 7. O-O
(7. Bg5 Bd7 (7... Na6 8. O-O h6 9. Bh4 Bg4 10. Nd2 Bxe2 11. Qxe2 $14 {Schatzl,
F-Gampersberger,H/Graz op-B 1996/1-0 (62)}) 8. Qd2 a4 9. Bh6 Nc6 10. h4 Bxh6
11. Qxh6 Ng4 12. Qd2 h5 13. Ng5 Kg7 $132 {Malay,S-Dimitrov,M/BUL-ch sf 1992/
1-0 (42) (18)}) 7... Na6 8. e5 {Cannot be recommended.This forward move leads
to prosaic PP exchange: e4 for e7 or c7.} ({Interesting is} 8. Be3 Qe8 9. Nd2
e5 10. d5 Bd7 11. b3 h5 12. f3 Kh7 13. Qe1 Qe7 14. a3 Bh6 15. Bd3 Bxe3+ 16.
Qxe3 h4 17. Rab1 $14 (17. Qg5 $2 Nxd5 $17 {0-1 Pelletier,Y-Podzielny,K/Essen
2000/CBM 77 (43)})) ({Standard} 8. Re1 {is nod bad as well:} Nd7 9. Be3 e5 10.
Qd2 Re8 11. Bf1 Nb4 12. Rad1 Nc6 13. b3 exd4 14. Nxd4 Nde5 15. f3 Nxd4 16. Bxd4
Bd7 17. Be3 Bc6 18. Nd5 $14 {Lipsanen,E-Sammul,J/Kaleva op 1989/1-0 (51)}) (8.
Bf4 Qe8 9. Qd2 $5) (8. h3 e5 9. dxe5 {leads to equal position.} dxe5 10. Be3
Nd7 11. a3 Nac5 12. b4 Ne6 13. c5 axb4 14. axb4 Rxa1 15. Qxa1 Nd4 16. Qa2 Nb8
$132 {1/2-1/2 Kocsis,L-Istratescu,A/Sovata 1998/EXT 99 (18)}) ({Interesting is
} 8. Bg5 $1 {preventing e7-e5 and creating Nf6's pin.} Qe8 9. Qd2 e5 10. dxe5
dxe5 11. Rfe1 c6 (11... Qe6 $5) 12. Qd6 Be6 13. Nxe5 Rd8 14. Qa3 Nb4 15. Rac1
Ra8 16. Nf3 Nd7 17. Be3 Bg4 18. Qb3 Bxf3 19. gxf3 $16 (19. Bxf3 $2 Ne5 (19...
Nd3 20. Qxb7 N7e5 $1 $17) 20. Rcd1 Qe6 21. Be2 $16 {0-1 Lautier,J-Fressinet,L/
Paris 2002/CBM 90_01 (38)})) 8... Ng4 (8... Nd7 9. Bf4 ({Worth of attention} 9.
exd6 cxd6 $14) 9... Qe8 10. Qd2 dxe5 11. dxe5 (11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Bxe5 Bxe5 13.
dxe5 Be6 14. Nd5 b6 15. Rfd1 $14 {0-1 Rodgaard,J-Istratescu,A/Elista 1998/CBM
66 ext (29)}) 11... Ndc5 {-see commented game  1/2-1/2 Ftacnik,L-Istratescu,A/
Krynica 1998/CBM 67/[Huzman] (29)}) 9. exd6 cxd6 {This position is quite
similar to Alekhine defence.} 10. h3 Nf6 11. Be3 d5 12. c5 Bd7 {[%cal Gb7b6,
Gd7c6]} 13. Qb3 Bc6 14. Ne5 {[%cal Ge5c6]} Nd7 15. Nxc6 bxc6 {White recieves
pair of BB, but Pb7 was moved to c6, so Pd5 now is protected and Black can
play e7-e5.} 16. Qa4 $6 {[%csl Rc6][%cal Ga4c6] Inaccurance.} (16. Na4 $142 e5
17. Qd1) 16... Qc7 {[%cal Gc7c6]} 17. Qd1 {White recognizes previous
non-precise move.} e5 18. Na4 exd4 19. Bxd4 Bxd4 20. Qxd4 Rfe8 {[%csl Re2]
[%cal Ge8e2]} 21. Bxa6 ({Badly is} 21. Nb6 $2 Rxe2 22. Nxa8 Qb7 23. Nb6 Re4 24.
Qd2 Ndxc5 25. Qxa5 Rb4 $17 {[%csl Rb6]}) 21... Re4 22. Qd1 Rxa6 23. Re1 Qe5 $11
{Eventually Black equalized, but White continues to play...} 24. Qd2 Nf6 25.
Nc3 Rd4 $1 26. Rxe5 (26. Qc2 Qg5 $132) 26... Rxd2 27. Re2 Rd4 28. b3 Ra7 29.
Rd1 Rxd1+ 30. Nxd1 Ne4 31. Nb2 Nc3 (31... Nxc5 32. Rc2 Ne6 33. Rxc6 Rc7 $11)
32. Re8+ Kg7 33. Rc8 Ra6 34. a4 Kf6 35. Nd3 Ke6 (35... Ne2+ 36. Kf1 Nd4 {
[%csl Rb3]} 37. Rb8 Kf5 $132) 36. Rc7 Ne2+ 37. Kf1 Nd4 38. Rb7 Ra8 39. Rb6 Re8
$6 (39... Kf5 $132) 40. b4 $1 axb4 41. Nxb4 Rc8 $4 $18 {Terrible mistake. Now
white Pa4 became very strong.} (41... Ra8 $1 42. Nxc6 Nxc6 43. Rxc6+ Ke5 44.
Rc7 Ke6 $11) 42. a5 {[%csl Ya5][%cal Ga5a8]} Kd7 43. a6 Rc7 44. g4 g5 45. Kg2
Ne6 46. Nd3 f6 47. Kg3 Ra7 (47... Nd4 48. Nb4 Ne6 (48... Kc8 49. f4 Kd7 50. f5
h5 51. Kf2 hxg4 52. hxg4 Nb5 53. Rb8 $18) 49. a7 $1 $18 {-see below.}) 48. Nb4
$1 Nxc5 (48... Rc7 49. a7 $1 Rxa7 50. Rxc6 Ra3+ 51. f3 d4 52. Rd6+ Ke7 53. Nd5+
Kf7 54. c6 (54. Rd7+ Kf8 55. c6 $18)) 49. Rxc6 Nd3 (49... Ne6 50. Rb6 d4 51.
Kf3 $18) 50. Rxf6 1-0

[Event "RUS-The World"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2002.09.08"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2722"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2002.09.08"]
[EventType "schev (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 091"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "The World"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nf6 9. h3 Nb4 10. Be2 dxc4 11. Bxc4 O-O 12. Nc3 Nbd5 13. Bg5 c6 14. Re1 Be6 15.
Qb3 Rb8 16. Rad1 (16. Rac1 Nc7 17. Bxe6 Nxe6 18. Bh4 Nf4 19. Rcd1 N4d5 $11 {
1/2-1/2 Matulovic,M-Kurajica,B/Umag 1972/MCD (42)}) (16. Nxd5 cxd5 17. Bd3 h6
18. Bf4 Bd6 19. Be5 Ne4 20. Rac1 Qa5 21. Bxd6 Nxd6 22. Qc3 Qxc3 23. Rxc3 Rbc8
24. Ne5 Rxc3 25. bxc3 Rc8 26. Rc1 b5 27. Rc2 {1/2-1/2 De Groot,A-Daw,G/WT/
M\532 1991 (27)}) (16. Ne5 Re8 17. Rad1 Qd6 18. Bh4 (18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Ne4 Qd8
20. Nc5 Qd6 21. Qf3 Bxe5 22. Rxe5 Nc7 23. Bxe6 Nxe6 24. Qg3 h6 25. Ne4 Qe7 $11
{1/2-1/2 Tsvetkov,A-Gottardi,G/Memorial Konstantinopolsky (corr.), cor 1997 
(33)}) 18... Qb4 19. Qc2 Rbd8 20. Bd3 h6 21. Bg3 Qa5 22. Nc4 Qa6 23. Nxd5 Nxd5
24. Rxe6 $1 $16 {1-0 Hulak,K-Toth,B/Budva 1981/MCD (32)}) 16... Re8 17. Bh4 {
[%cal Gf3g5]} h6 18. Ne5 Qb6 $1 19. Qxb6 axb6 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Nxd5 cxd5 22.
Bb3 {This endgame is similar to the endgame from the game Leko,P-Adams,M
Dortmund 2002. But in our position the pair of bishops gives Black good
possibilities to equalise the game.} g5 23. Ng4 {After this move the drawing
result of the game becames obvious.} (23. Re3 $5) 23... Bxg4 24. hxg4 (24.
Rxe8+ Rxe8 25. hxg4 Re4 26. Bxd5 Rxg4 $11) 24... Rxe1+ 25. Rxe1 Bxd4 26. Rd1
Bxb2 27. Rxd5 Rc8 $1 28. Rd7 Rc1+ 29. Kh2 Rc7 $1 30. Bxf7+ Kg7 31. Rxc7 Be5+
32. g3 Bxc7 33. Bd5 Kf6 34. Bxb7 Ke5 {[%mdl 4]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-The World"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2002.09.08"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2711"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2002.09.08"]
[EventType "schev (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 091"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "The World"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 c5 5. Bxc4 a6 6. O-O Nf6 7. Bb3 Be7 8. Qe2
cxd4 9. Rd1 Nc6 10. Nc3 O-O 11. Nxd4 Qc7 12. Nxc6 Qxc6 13. e4 b5 (13... Rd8 14.
Bg5 h6 15. Bh4 Qe8 16. e5 Rxd1+ 17. Rxd1 Nd7 18. Bxe7 Qxe7 19. Bc2 Nf8 20. Ne4
Bd7 21. Nd6 Bc6 22. Be4 $16 {1/2-1/2 Ruck,R-Eliet,N/Charleville 2000/CBM 79
ext (39)}) 14. Bg5 h6 (14... b4 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Nd5 exd5 17. Bxd5 Qb5 18.
Qxb5 axb5 19. Bxa8 Bg4 20. f3 Rxa8 21. fxg4 Bxb2 22. Rab1 Bc3 23. Rbc1 h5 24.
Rc2 hxg4 25. Kf2 Ra6 26. Rd5 $16 {1-0 Lputian,S-Lazarev,V/Nareto 1999/EXT 2000
(56)}) (14... Ra7 15. Rac1 Qe8 16. Bc2 e5 17. Bb3 Bg4 18. Qe3 Qb8 19. Rd3 Bh5
20. h3 Bg6 21. Rcd1 Rb7 22. Bxf6 Bxf6 23. Nd5 $16 {1-0 Pinter,J-Savchenko,V/
Dortmund 2000/EXT 2001 (41)}) (14... Bb7 15. Rac1 Qe8 16. e5 (16. a4 b4 17. e5
Nd7 18. Ne4 Bxe4 19. Bxe7 Qxe7 20. Qxe4 Nc5 21. Qxb4 Rab8 22. Qxc5 Qxc5 23.
Rxc5 Rxb3 24. Rd2 g5 $1 $14 {1/2-1/2 Khenkin,I-Volzhin,A/Stockholm SWE 2002/
The Week in Chess 374 (41)}) 16... Nd7 17. Bf4 Nc5 18. Bc2 Qc6 19. Qg4 b4 20.
Ne2 Rfd8 21. Bg5 Rxd1+ 22. Rxd1 Bxg5 23. Qxg5 Nd7 24. Nd4 Qc8 25. h4 h6 $11 {
0-1 Georgiev,V-Sorokin,M/Linares 1999/CBM 68 ext (37)}) 15. Bh4 (15. Bxf6 Bxf6
16. Rac1 Qb6 17. e5 Bg5 18. Rc2 Bb7 19. Ne4 Bxe4 20. Qxe4 $14 {/=}) 15... Bb7
16. Rac1 Qe8 17. e5 Nd7 18. Bxe7 (18. Bc2 Bxh4 19. Qd3 g6 20. Qxd7 Qxd7 21.
Rxd7 Bc6 $11) 18... Qxe7 19. Ne4 $5 (19. Bc2 Rfd8 $11) 19... Nxe5 (19... Bxe4
20. Qxe4 Nc5 21. Qb4 Rac8 22. Bc2 $16) 20. Nd6 Ng6 21. Qg4 Rad8 $6 ({I didn't
find enough compensation for the sacrifising pawn after} 21... Kh7 22. Nxb7 (
22. h4 Rad8 $17) (22. Bc2 Bd5) 22... Qxb7 23. Bc2 f5 24. Qg3 Rad8 $17) 22. Nxf7
$1 Rxd1+ (22... Kxf7 $2 23. Qf5+ Qf6 24. Bxe6+ Ke7 25. Rc7+ $18) 23. Rxd1 Kxf7
24. Qf5+ Kg8 (24... Qf6 25. Rd7+ Ne7 26. Qxf6+ gxf6 27. Rxb7 Rc8 28. g3 $14)
25. Qxg6 Bd5 $1 $14 26. Bxd5 exd5 27. Qd3 (27. Qxa6 Qe2 28. Rf1 Qxb2 29. Qe6+
Kh8 30. Qxd5 b4 $14) 27... Rd8 28. Qd4 Qf6 29. Qxf6 gxf6 30. Kf1 Kf7 31. Ke2 (
31. Rc1 $5 Ke6 32. Rc6+ Rd6 33. Rc8 Ke5 34. Ke2 $14) 31... Ke6 32. Kd3 Kd6 33.
Re1 h5 $1 34. Re3 h4 $1 $11 35. Rh3 Rg8 36. g3 hxg3 37. fxg3 Rc8 38. Rh7 Rc1
39. Ra7 Rd1+ 40. Kc2 (40. Kc2 Rh1 41. h4 Ke5 42. Rxa6 Rh2+ 43. Kd3 Rg2 $11)
1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-The World"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2002.09.09"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "2697"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2002.09.08"]
[EventType "schev (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 091"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "The World"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5
Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bf4 Ngf6 12. O-O-O Be7 13. Kb1 O-O 14. Ne4 Nxe4
15. Qxe4 Nf6 16. Qe2 Qd5 17. Ne5 Qe4 18. Qxe4 Nxe4 19. Rhe1 Nf6 20. g4 Rfd8 21.
f3 Rac8 22. c3 Kf8 23. Kc2 Nd5 24. Bc1 c5 25. dxc5 Rxc5 26. f4 b5 27. a3 Kg8
28. g5 hxg5 29. fxg5 b4 30. Nd3 Rcc8 31. axb4 Bxb4 32. Bd2 Be7 33. Ra1 Rc7 34.
g6 fxg6 35. hxg6 Rcd7 36. Rxe6 Bf6 37. Rd1 Nc7 38. Re3 Nd5 39. Rh3 Ne7 40. Rg1
Rd6 41. Rg2 a5 42. Nc5 Rb6 43. Bf4 Rb5 44. Ne4 Rf5 45. Bd6 1-0

[Event "RUS-The World"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2002.09.09"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Golod,V"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2002.09.08"]
[EventType "schev (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 091"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "The World"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8.
e3 d6 9. f3 Nbd7 10. Bd3 c5 11. Ne2 h6 {Besides,white has two principales
moves:} (11... Rc8 {See comments to Grigore,G-Pinter,J/Budapest,2000/CBM 78
(0-1)(Golod,V)(41)}) ({and} 11... cxd4) 12. Bh4 Rc8 13. O-O cxd4 {This
decision is connected to the subsequent idea.} ({Is a possible continuations
of the play:} 13... Ba6 {See comments to Bareev,E-Leko,P/Dortmund,2002/CBM 90 
(1-0)(Golod,V)(37)}) (13... d5 14. cxd5 Nxd5 $140 15. Qe1 $1 {+/=/= See
comments to Chabanon,J-Levin,F/Bad Endbach,1995/CBM 47(1-0)(Baburin,A)(49)}) (
13... Re8) ({and} 13... Qe7) 14. Qxd4 ({After:} 14. exd4 {black equalizes:} d5
15. Qb3 e5 16. cxd5 exd4 17. Qd1 Ne5 $11 {Savon,V-Anapolsky,S/Orel,1994(1/2-1/
2)(88)}) 14... e5 $5 {[%mdl 4] In it essence of Boris Gelfand's idea 
(temporary sacrifice of the pawn "d6").} ({Also it deserves attention:} 14...
Ne5 15. b3 $5 (15. Rad1 $143 Ba6 $132 {[%csl Rc4]}) (15. e4 $143 Ba6 16. b3
Nxd3 17. Qxd3 {[%csl Rd6]} d5 $1 (17... b5 $2 18. cxb5 Qb6+ 19. Nd4 Bxb5 20.
Qxb5 Qxd4+ 21. Bf2 Qb2 22. Qd3 {+/=/= Farago,I-Adamski,J/Polanica Zdroj,1974
(1-0)(50)}) 18. e5 $140 $2 (18. Bxf6 $142) 18... dxc4 19. Qxd8 Rfxd8 20. exf6
cxb3 $17 {[%csl Re2,Rf1][%cal Gd8d2,Gb3b2]})) 15. Qxd6 $146 {Interestingly,
that this move is applied for the first time.} ({Was checked in the previous
game:} 15. Bxf6 $2 Qxf6 16. Qg4 Nc5 17. Bc2 d5 18. cxd5 Bxd5 19. Nc3 Be6 $15 {
Zezelj,V-Rezan,S/Zadar,2000(0-1)(52)}) 15... Nc5 16. Qxd8 $8 Rcxd8 ({Of course,
badly:} 16... Rfxd8 $2 {because of:} 17. Bf5 {[%csl Rc8]}) 17. Bf5 Rd2 {
[%csl Rb2,Re2] This move is much better,than:} (17... Nb3 18. Bxf6 $1 (18. Rae1
$6 g5 19. Bg3 Rfe8 $44) 18... gxf6 19. Rae1 Nd2 (19... Rd2 $143 20. Ng3 Rxb2
21. Nh5 {[%csl Rf6]}) 20. Rf2 Nxc4 21. Ng3 $14) 18. b4 Rxe2 19. bxc5 bxc5 ({
It is even not necessary to consider:} 19... Rxe3 $2 {because of:} 20. cxb6
axb6 21. Bf2 {[%csl Rb6]}) 20. Rfe1 (20. e4 $6 Bc8 $1 $11) 20... Rxe1+ 21. Rxe1
{[%csl Gf5,Gh4]} Bc8 {[%csl Yc8,Gf5] It is necessary to exchange this bishop.}
({Pretty dubiously:} 21... Rd8 {because of:} 22. e4 {[%csl Rc5][%cal Gh4f2]}
Ba6 (22... Rd3 $2 23. Rb1 {[%csl Rg8]}) 23. Bf2 {with obvious advantage of
white in the endgame.}) 22. Bd3 $6 ({Can be recommended:} 22. Bxc8 Rxc8 23. Rd1
Rc6 (23... g5 $143 24. Bg3 $16) 24. e4 {and white keep a positional advantage
of white in the endgame.}) 22... Rd8 23. Bf1 Be6 $11 {For last moves the
position of black was obviously improved.} 24. Rb1 $6 (24. Bg3 $142) 24... Rd6
$1 {[%csl Ra3,Rc4][%cal Gd6a6,Ga4c4,Ga6a3,Ya6a4]} 25. a4 ({It is rather risky
to translate the rook in point " a5":} 25. Rb5 Nd7 26. Ra5 g5 27. Bg3 a6 {
[%csl Ra5][%cal Yg8f8,Yf8e7,Ye7d8,Yd8c7,Yc7b6]}) 25... Ra6 26. Rb8+ Kh7 27.
Bd3+ e4 28. Bc2 {[%csl Yc2,Rh7][%cal Yc2a4,Gc2h7]} (28. fxe4 $2 {is refuted by:
} Nd7 29. e5+ g6 {[%csl Ra4,Rb8,Re5]}) 28... Bxc4 $6 ({It was much better:} 
28... g5 29. Bf2 {[%csl Yf2][%cal Yf2e3]} (29. Bg3 $143 Bxc4 30. fxe4 (30. Be5
$2 Bd3 $17) 30... Ng4 $1 $15 {[%csl Re3]}) (29. fxe4 $4 Nd7 {[%csl Rb8,Rh4]})
29... Bd7 {[%csl Ra4] =/+/=}) 29. Bxf6 gxf6 30. Bxe4+ Kg7 31. Rc8 {After this
move Boris Gelfand is agreed for draw,because of next variants:} (31. Bc2 Rd6 {
[%cal Gd6d2]} 32. Rc8 Rd2 33. Be4 Rd1+ 34. Kf2 Rd2+ $11 {[%csl Rg2]}) (31. Rc8
{[%csl Rc5]} Rxa4 32. Rxc5 a5 33. Bd5 {[%csl Rf7][%cal Gc5c7]} Bxd5 34. Rxd5
$11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-The World"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2002.09.09"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2678"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2002.09.08"]
[EventType "schev (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 091"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "The World"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 {In der Variante 4...dxc4 5.Qa4+ Nbd7
besitzt Schwarz auch gute Ausgleichchancen.} 5. O-O O-O 6. d4 dxc4 {Schwarz
spielt die klassische Variante. Er nimmt den Bauern und während Weiß ihn
zurückgewinnt, kann er die Entwicklung des Damenflügels beenden.} 7. Qc2 a6 8.
a4 {Dieser Zug ist viel populärer in der letzten Zeit als die klassische
Fortsetzung 8.Qc2, die auch nicht schlecht ist. Mit dem Textzug verhindert
Weiß die Möglichkeit b7-b5 (und Bb7), aber der Textzug schwächt das Feld b4.}
Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bg5 Bd5 11. Qc2 Be4 12. Qd1 c5 13. dxc5 {Dieser genügsame
Zug bietet Weiß keinen Vorteil. Nach meiner Meinung ist die Fortsetzung 13.
Nbd2 chancenreicher.} Bxc5 {Großmeister Kramnik spielt diese Variante mit
beiden Farben. Das Nehmen des c5-Bauern ist logischer als sein früherer Zug 13.
..Qxd1.} (13... Qxd1 {Dieser Zug gefällt mir nicht, er bringt den weißen Turm
mit Tempo ins Spiel.} 14. Rxd1 Bxc5 15. Nc3 {1/2-1/2 Khalifman,A-Kramnik,V/
Dortmund 2000/CBM 78 (15)} (15. Nc3 Bc6 16. Ne5 $14)) 14. Nc3 Bc6 {Die
Bauernstellung ist symmetrisch - Weiß hat einige Initiative, aber Schwarz kann
das (leicht) neutralisieren.} 15. Ne5 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 h6 $146 {[%mdl 4] Schwarz
wartet mit seiner weiteren Entwicklung - zuerst "befragt" er den g5-Läufer.} (
16... Bd4 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Nf3 {1/2-1/2 Akopian,V-Georgiev,K/Epinal 2002/CBM
86 ext (18)}) 17. Bxf6 $6 {Dieser Zug ist zu optimistisch - es wäre sicherer
die Damen zu tauschen.} (17. Qxd8 Rxd8 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Nd3 (19. Nf3 Nc6 $11 {
[%cal Gc6b4]}) 19... Nd7 $11 (19... Be7 $11)) 17... Qxf6 18. f4 {Weiß
befestigt seinen e5-Springer - der Nachteil des Zuges ist, dass sein
Königsflügel geschwächt wird.} (18. Nf3 Bb4 $15 (18... Nc6 19. Ne4 Qe7 20. Nxc5
Qxc5 $15 {[%csl Yb4]})) (18. Nd3 Bd4 $15) 18... Qe7 (18... Rd8 {18...Nc6? wäre
ganz schlecht wegen 19.Nd7.} 19. Qb3 Qe7 $11) 19. Ne4 $6 {Dieser Springerzug
gefällt mir nicht - es wäre besser zuerst die Schwerfiguren ins Spiel bringen.}
(19. Qb3 $5 $11) 19... Rd8 20. Qb3 Bd4 $15 {[%csl Gd4] Der d4B steht aktiv und
die weißen Springer haben keine Stützpunkte im Zentrum.} 21. Nf3 (21. Nc4 Nc6
$15) (21. Nd3 Nc6 $15) 21... Nc6 22. a5 $2 {[%csl Ra5][%mdl 16384] Mit diesem
Zug schwächt Weiß ohne Not seinen a-Bauern. Wir können in diesem Fall nur
sagen - das ist Rapidschach...} (22. Rfd1 Na5 23. Qa2 Qb4 $15) (22. Rac1 $15)
22... Rd5 $1 $17 {[%cal Gd5b5,Gb5b2,Ga8d8,Gd8d1,Rd5a5] Mit diesem einfachem
Zug bekommt Schwarz eine starke Initiative - der a5P hängt, er kann auf der
d-Linie verdoppeln und in einigen Varianten (später in der Partie) wird Rb5
möglich.} 23. Qa3 (23. Nxd4 Rxd4 (23... Nxd4 24. Qc4 Rad8 $15 {[%cal Gd4f5,
Gf5e3]}) 24. Nc3 Rad8 $17 (24... Qc7 $17)) (23. Ra4 Rad8 $17 (23... Rxa5 $4 24.
Nxd4 $18) (23... Nxa5 24. Rxa5 Rxa5 25. Nxd4 $14)) 23... Qxa3 24. Rxa3 Ba7 $5 {
Schwarz nimmt nicht auf b2 (was auch vorteilhaft für ihn wäre) - er spielt
stattdessen auf dauerhaften positionellen Druck.} (24... Bxb2 25. Rb3 Bd4 (
25... Bf6 26. Nxf6+ gxf6 27. Rxb7 Nxa5 $15) 26. Rxb7 Nxa5 $17) 25. Rfa1 Rb5 26.
R1a2 $2 {Nach diesem Zug verliert Weiß die Qualität.} (26. b3 Rd8 $17 {[%csl
Ra1,Ra3,Ga7,Gc6][%cal Gd8d1,Gb5b3,Gb5a5] Schwarz hat ausgezeichnetes
Figurenspiel.}) 26... Nb4 $19 (26... Nb4 27. Ra1 Nc2 $19 {[%cal Rc2a1,Rc2a3]})
0-1

[Event "RUS-The World"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2002.09.10"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2681"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2002.09.08"]
[EventType "schev (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 091"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "The World"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. O-O
d5 9. Qc2 Nbd7 10. Rd1 Rc8 11. a4 c5 12. Na3 Bb7 13. Qb2 Ne4 14. Be1 O-O 15.
Rac1 Bf6 16. b4 Ba8 17. e3 cxd4 18. exd4 dxc4 19. Nxc4 Ng5 20. Nxg5 Bxg5 21. f4
Bf6 22. Bxa8 Rxa8 23. Ne5 Rc8 24. Nc6 Qe8 25. b5 Nb8 26. Nxa7 Rxc1 27. Qxc1 Qd7
28. Nc6 Rc8 29. Bf2 Nxc6 30. bxc6 Rxc6 31. Qb1 Qd5 32. Qb5 Qf3 33. Qd3 Qd5 34.
Qb5 Qxb5 35. axb5 Rd6 36. Rc1 Rd5 37. Rb1 Bxd4 38. Bxd4 Rxd4 39. Rc1 g5 40.
fxg5 Rd5 41. h4 Rxb5 42. Rc8+ Kg7 43. Kg2 h5 44. gxh6+ Kxh6 45. g4 Rb3 46. Rc7
Kg7 47. h5 Kf6 48. Rc8 Kg5 49. Rg8+ Kh6 50. Rh8+ Kg7 51. Rb8 f6 52. Rb7+ Kh6
53. Rf7 Kg5 54. Rg7+ Kf4 55. h6 Rb2+ 56. Kh3 Rb3+ 57. Kh2 Rb2+ 58. Kh3 Rb3+ 59.
Kh2 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-The World"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2002.09.10"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Smirin, Ilia"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2676"]
[Annotator "Tsesarsky,I"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2002.09.08"]
[EventType "schev (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 091"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "The World"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 {Ftacnik} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O
Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 a5 11. bxa5 f5 12. Nd2 (12. c5 Nf4 $2 {-see
commented game 1-0 Sherbakov,R-Loskutov,O/Smolensk 2000/CBM 77[Huzman,A] (42)})
12... Nf6 {Smirin's favourite variation.} 13. c5 (13. f3 Rxa5 14. Nb3 Ra8 15.
c5 f4 {-see detailed commented game 0-1 Radjabov,T-Smirin,I/Dos Hermanas 2001/
CBM 83_01[Tsesarsky,I] (56)}) 13... Rxa5 14. cxd6 cxd6 15. a4 {Ftacnik: 'The
typical position from King's Indian defense; white can very quickly increase
his pressure against the d6 pawn, but on the other flank black is coming with
some real counterplay.'} ({Another continuation} 15. Nc4 {brouhgt to White
good position in the next games:} Ra6 16. Ne3 $5 (16. Nd2 Ra8 17. a4 Bh6 18.
Ba3 Bxd2 19. Qxd2 Nxe4 20. Nxe4 fxe4 21. Bd1 Rf6 (21... Bf5 22. Bb4 Qb6 23. g4
Bd7 24. a5 Qc7 25. Rxe4 Bb5 26. Rc1 Qd8 27. f4 Rxf4 28. Rxf4 exf4 29. Qd4 $16 {
[%csl Rg8][%cal Gb4c3,Gc3h8]}) 22. Rxe4 Qa5 23. Qxa5 Rxa5 24. Rc1 Bf5 (24...
Kf8 $2 25. Rxe5 $1 Bd7 (25... dxe5 26. Rxc8+ Kf7 27. Rc7 $18) 26. Rc7 Ke8 27.
Re1 Kd8 28. Rxb7 $16 {1-0 Ulko,J-Shchekachev,A/Moscow RUS 2002/The Week in
Chess 379 (70)}) 25. Rb4 $14 {[%csl Ga3,Gd1]}) 16... Ra8 17. f3 f4 18. Nc4 g5
19. Rb1 Ra6 20. Qb3 Nd7 21. Ba3 Rf6 22. Nb5 $16 {1-0 Rychagov,A-Bragin,A/
Voronezh RUS 2002/The Week in Chess 398 (58)}) 15... Bh6 {The only difference
between this position and one from the game Ulko,J-Shchekachev,A is Ra5
instead of Ra8.} 16. Ba3 Bxd2 17. Qxd2 fxe4 {Right decision.} ({In case of} 
17... Nxe4 18. Nxe4 fxe4 19. Bb4 (19. Bxd6 Rxd5 20. Bxe7 Rxd2 21. Bc4+ Kg7 22.
Bxd8 Rfxd8 23. Rxe4 R8d4 $15) 19... Ra8 20. Bd1 $1 {White leaves with
advantage:} (20. Bb5 Rf4 21. g3 Rf6 22. Rxe4 Bd7 $11) 20... Bf5 21. g4 Bc8 22.
Rxe4 b6 23. f4 $1 {Opening a1-h8 diagonal.} Rxf4 24. Rxf4 exf4 25. Qd4 $1 {
[%csl Rg8][%cal Gb4c3]} Qc7 26. Bf3 Bb7 27. Kh1 Rc8 28. Rd1 g5 (28... Qc4 29.
Bxd6 $16) 29. Qf6 $16) 18. Bb5 ({Interesting was} 18. Bb4 $1 Ra8 19. Bd1 Bf5
20. h3 h5 21. Qh6 $1 (21. a5 $5) 21... Rf7 (21... Qb6 22. Nb5 Nfxd5 23. Bxd6
Bxh3 {[%csl Rf2]} 24. Ra2 Be6 (24... Bf5 25. Bb3 $16) 25. Rd2 $16) 22. Bb3 Qb6
23. Nb5 Ne8 24. Bd2 Nf6 25. Be3 Qd8 26. Rac1 $14) (18. Bd1 {Ftacnik} Bf5 19.
Bb4 $13) 18... Bf5 19. h3 Ra8 20. g4 Bc8 21. Nxe4 (21. g5 {Ftacnik} Nh5 22.
Nxe4 Nf5 23. Qc3 Nf4 $13) 21... Nxe4 22. Rxe4 Bd7 23. Bf1 $2 $17 {Unnecessary
P sacrifice. Ftacnik: 'With two second rate moves Kramnik will quickly fall
into distinct disadvantage, while 23.Bxd6!? and the piece sacrifice seemed
very dangerous for black.'} ({Better was} 23. Bxd7 Qxd7 24. f4 {with equal
position:} Rxf4 25. Rxf4 exf4 26. Qxf4 Qxa4 27. Qf6 Qa7+ 28. Kh2 Qe3 29. Bb2
Qe2+ 30. Kg3 Qe3+ 31. Kh2 Qe2+ $11) (23. Bxd6 $5 {Ftacnik} Bxb5 24. Bxe5 $1 (
24. Bxe7 $2 {Ftacnik} Qxe7 $19) 24... Be8 (24... Bd7 {Ftacnik} 25. Bb2 $18) 25.
Bb2 (25. d6 {Ftacnik} Nc6 26. Bb2 Qh4 27. Rae1 $14) 25... Nxd5 26. Re6 $13)
23... Bxa4 {Kramnik overlooked something...} 24. Bb4 {'?!' Ftacnik.} (24. Qb4
Be8 25. Qxb7 (25. Ree1 {Ftacnik} Rf6 26. Bg2 Bf7 27. Red1 $11) 25... Bf7 26.
Ree1 Bxd5 $17) 24... b5 25. Ra3 Rc8 26. Rc3 (26. f4 $2 Rc2 27. Qe1 Qb6+ 28. Kh1
Nxd5 $19) 26... Qb6 27. Bg2 (27. Rxc8 Rxc8 $17) 27... Rxc3 28. Bxc3 Bb3 29. Re1
({Or} 29. Re3 Bc4 $17) 29... Bc4 30. Ba5 Qb7 31. Rd1 Rf4 32. Bc3 Bb3 ({
Interesting was} 32... Kf7 33. Qb2 b4 34. Bxb4 Bxd5 35. Bxd5+ Nxd5 36. Qa2 Rxb4
37. Rxd5 Kg7 $17) 33. Bxe5 $2 $19 {Kramnik overlooked the 34th strong move of
black.} (33. Rb1 Bxd5 34. Bf1 Rf3 35. Rxb5 Qc6 (35... Rxh3 36. Rxd5 Rxc3 37.
Rxd6 Rc6 38. Rd7 Rc7 39. Rd8+ Kf7 40. Qh6 $16 {[%csl Rf7]}) 36. Ba5 Be4 37. Rb6
Qc5 38. Rxd6 Rxf2 39. Qxf2 Qxd6 40. Qe3 $17) 33... dxe5 34. d6 Qd7 $1 35. Rc1 (
35. dxe7 Rd4 $19) 35... Bc4 36. Qb4 Nc8 37. Qc5 Nxd6 38. Qxe5 Rf8 39. Rd1 Nf7
0-1

[Event "RUS-The World"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2002.09.11"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2755"]
[Annotator "Huebner,R"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2002.09.08"]
[EventType "schev (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 091"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "The World"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Qc7 8.
g3 e5 9. dxe5 Nxe5 10. Bf4 Nfd7 11. Bg2 g5 12. Nxe5 gxf4 13. Nxd7 O-O-O 14. Qd4
Qxd7 15. Qxf4 Bd6 16. Qc1 (16. Qh6 Qe6 (16... Be5 $5) 17. Qxe6+ Bxe6 18. a5 a6
19. Be4 $14 {1/2-1/2 Stern,R-Lamprecht,F/Germany 2000/CBM 75 ext (42). (41)})
16... Kb8 17. O-O Qe7 $6 {Eine plausible Fortsezung besteht in} (17... h5 18.
h4 Qe6 19. Rd1 Rhg8 {mit Ausgleich.}) 18. a5 $6 (18. b4 {lohnte einen Versuch:}
Bxb4 {Wenn Schwarz b4-b5 zuläßt, bekommt Weiß mit dem Springer Zugang zum Feld
d5 und Angriff zu seinem Mehrbauern.} 19. Qf4+ Qd6 (19... Ka8 {scheitert an}
20. Na2) 20. Qxf5 Bxc3 21. Rab1 {, und die Stellung des Schwarzen ist äußerst
unbequem.}) 18... a6 19. Ra4 Bc7 20. Ne4 {Es ist schwer, dem Weißen etwas
Besseres zu raten; die Schwäche des Bauern auf a5 sichert dem Schwarzen
genügend Gegenspiel.} Rd5 21. Rc4 Rxa5 22. Nc5 Bc8 23. Qc2 Rb5 24. e3 {Mir
gefällt nach 24...h5 eher die Stellung des Schwarzen etwas besser.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-The World"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2002.09.11"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2002.09.08"]
[EventType "schev (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 091"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "The World"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Bd7 10. b3 Kc8 11. Bb2 Be7 12. Rad1 a5 13. a4 h5 14. Rd3
b6 15. Rfd1 Be6 16. Ne4 c5 17. c4 Kb7 18. Nfg5 Bxg5 19. Nxg5 Rae8 20. g3 Rhf8
21. Nxe6 fxe6 22. f4 Kc8 23. Kg2 Rd8 24. Kf3 Rxd3+ 25. Rxd3 Rd8 26. Rxd8+
1/2-1/2

[Event "Bahrain Brains m"]
[Site "Manama"]
[Date "2002.10.04"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Comp Deep Fritz"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2002.10.04"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "BHN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2003"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 h6 10. b3 Ke8 11. Bb2 Be7 12. Rad1 a5 13. a4 h5 14. Ne2
Be6 15. c4 Rd8 16. h3 b6 17. Nfd4 Nxd4 18. Nxd4 c5 19. Nxe6 fxe6 20. Rxd8+ Kxd8
21. Bc1 Kc8 22. Rd1 Rd8 23. Rxd8+ Kxd8 24. g4 g6 25. h4 hxg4 26. Bg5 Bxg5 27.
hxg5 Ke8 28. Kg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bahrain Brains m"]
[Site "Manama"]
[Date "2002.10.06"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Comp Deep Fritz"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2002.10.04"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "BHN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2003"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. dxc5 Qxd1 8.
Rxd1 Bxc5 9. Kf1 b5 10. Be2 Bb7 11. Nbd2 Nbd7 12. Nb3 Bf8 13. a4 b4 14. Nfd2
Bd5 15. f3 Bd6 16. g3 e5 17. e4 Be6 18. Nc4 Bc7 19. Be3 a5 20. Nc5 Nxc5 21.
Bxc5 Nd7 22. Nd6+ Kf8 23. Bf2 Bxd6 24. Rxd6 Ke7 25. Rad1 Rhc8 26. Bb5 Nc5 27.
Bc6 Bc4+ 28. Ke1 Nd3+ 29. R1xd3 Bxd3 30. Bc5 Bc4 31. Rd4+ Kf6 32. Rxc4 Rxc6 33.
Be7+ Kxe7 34. Rxc6 Kd7 35. Rc5 f6 36. Kd2 Kd6 37. Rd5+ Kc6 38. Kd3 g6 39. Kc4
g5 40. h3 h6 41. h4 gxh4 42. gxh4 Ra7 43. h5 Ra8 44. Rc5+ Kb6 45. Rb5+ Kc6 46.
Rd5 Kc7 47. Kb5 b3 48. Rd3 Ra7 49. Rxb3 Rb7+ 50. Kc4 Ra7 51. Rb5 Ra8 52. Kd5
Ra6 53. Rc5+ Kd7 54. b3 Rd6+ 55. Kc4 Rd4+ 56. Kc3 Rd1 57. Rd5+ 1-0

[Event "Bahrain Brains m"]
[Site "Manama"]
[Date "2002.10.08"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Comp Deep Fritz"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C45"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2002.10.04"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "BHN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2003"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nxc6 Qf6 6. Qd2 dxc6 7. Nc3 Ne7
8. Qf4 Be6 9. Qxf6 gxf6 10. Na4 Bb4+ 11. c3 Bd6 12. Be3 b6 13. f4 O-O-O 14. Kf2
c5 15. c4 Nc6 16. Nc3 f5 17. e5 Bf8 18. b3 Nb4 19. a3 Nc2 20. Rc1 Nxe3 21. Kxe3
Bg7 22. Nd5 c6 23. Nf6 Bxf6 24. exf6 Rhe8 25. Kf3 Rd2 26. h3 Bd7 27. g3 Re6 28.
Rb1 Rxf6 29. Be2 Re6 30. Rhe1 Kc7 31. Bf1 b5 32. Rec1 Kb6 33. b4 cxb4 34. axb4
Re4 35. Rd1 Rxd1 36. Rxd1 Be6 37. Bd3 Rd4 38. Be2 Rxd1 39. c5+ Kb7 40. Bxd1 a5
41. bxa5 Ka6 42. Ke3 Kxa5 43. Kd4 b4 44. g4 fxg4 45. hxg4 b3 46. Kc3 Ka4 47.
Kb2 f6 48. Bf3 Kb5 49. g5 f5 50. Kc3 Kxc5 51. Be2 0-1

[Event "Bahrain Brains m"]
[Site "Manama"]
[Date "2002.10.10"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Comp Deep Fritz"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D34"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2002.10.04"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "BHN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2003"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Nf6 7. O-O Be7 8. Nc3
O-O 9. Bg5 cxd4 10. Nxd4 h6 11. Bf4 Bg4 12. h3 Be6 13. Rc1 Re8 14. Nxe6 fxe6
15. e4 d4 16. e5 dxc3 17. exf6 Bxf6 18. bxc3 Qxd1 19. Rfxd1 Rad8 20. Be3 Rxd1+
21. Rxd1 Bxc3 22. Rd7 Rb8 23. Bxc6 bxc6 24. Rxa7 Rb2 25. Ra6 Bd2 26. Rxc6 Bxe3
27. fxe3 Kf7 28. a4 Ra2 29. Rc4 Kf6 30. Kf1 g5 31. h4 h5 32. hxg5+ Kxg5 33. Ke1
e5 34. Kf1 Kf5 35. Rh4 Kg6 36. Re4 Kf5 37. Rh4 Kg5 38. Kg1 Kg6 39. g4 hxg4 40.
Rxg4+ Kf5 41. Rc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bahrain Brains m"]
[Site "Manama"]
[Date "2002.10.13"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Comp Deep Fritz"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D57"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2002.10.04"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "BHN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2003"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 Ne4 8. Bxe7
Qxe7 9. cxd5 Nxc3 10. bxc3 exd5 11. Qb3 Rd8 12. c4 dxc4 13. Bxc4 Nc6 14. Be2 b6
15. O-O Bb7 16. Rfc1 Rac8 17. Qa4 Na5 18. Rc3 c5 19. Rac1 cxd4 20. Nxd4 Rxc3
21. Rxc3 Rc8 22. Rxc8+ Bxc8 23. h3 g6 24. Bf3 Bd7 25. Qc2 Qc5 26. Qe4 Qc1+ 27.
Kh2 Qc7+ 28. g3 Nc4 29. Be2 Ne5 30. Bb5 Bxb5 31. Nxb5 Qc5 32. Nxa7 Qa5 33. Kg2
Qxa2 34. Nc8 Qc4 35. Ne7+ 1-0

[Event "Bahrain Brains m"]
[Site "Manama"]
[Date "2002.10.15"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Comp Deep Fritz"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2002.10.04"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "BHN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2003"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3
d5 9. Ne5 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nd2 O-O 12. O-O Rc8 13. a4 Bf6 14. e4 c5 15.
exd5 cxd4 16. Bb4 Re8 17. Ne4 exd5 18. Nd6 dxc4 19. Nxf7 Kxf7 20. Bd5+ Kg6 21.
Qg4+ Bg5 22. Be4+ Rxe4 23. Qxe4+ Kh6 24. h4 Bf6 25. Bd2+ g5 26. hxg5+ Bxg5 27.
Qh4+ Kg6 28. Qe4+ Kg7 29. Bxg5 Qxg5 30. Rfe1 cxb3 31. Qxd4+ Nf6 32. a5 Qd5 33.
Qxd5 Nxd5 34. axb6 axb6 0-1

[Event "Bahrain Brains m"]
[Site "Manama"]
[Date "2002.10.17"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Comp Deep Fritz"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E19"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2002.10.04"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "BHN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2003"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Ne4 8. Qc2
Nxc3 9. Qxc3 c5 10. Rd1 d6 11. b3 Bf6 12. Bb2 Qe7 13. Qc2 Nc6 14. e4 e5 15. d5
Nd4 16. Bxd4 cxd4 17. Bh3 g6 18. a4 a5 19. Rab1 Ba6 20. Re1 Kh8 21. Kg2 Bg7 22.
Qd3 Rae8 23. Nd2 Bh6 24. f4 Qc7 25. Rf1 Kg8 26. Rbe1 Qd8 27. Kg1 Bb7 28. Re2
Ba6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bahrain Brains m"]
[Site "Manama"]
[Date "2002.10.19"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Comp Deep Fritz"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D68"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2002.10.04"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "BHN"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2003"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2002.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd3 Nbd7 8. O-O
dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Rc1 Nxc3 12. Rxc3 e5 13. Bb3 exd4 14. exd4
Nf6 15. Re1 Qd6 16. h3 Bf5 17. Rce3 Rae8 18. Re5 Bg6 19. a3 Qd8 20. Rxe8 Nxe8
21. Qd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B67"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2699"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O Bd7 9. f3 Be7 10. Kb1 b5 11. Nxc6 Bxc6 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Qxd6 Qxd6 14.
Rxd6 Rc8 15. Ne2 Ke7 16. Rd3 Rhd8 17. Nc1 a5 18. a3 b4 19. axb4 axb4 20. Rxd8
Rxd8 21. Be2 h5 22. Nd3 Rd4 23. h4 Bb5 24. g3 b3 25. Re1 Bxd3 26. Bxd3 Be5 27.
f4 Bd6 28. Re3 bxc2+ 29. Kxc2 Bc5 30. Rf3 Ra4 31. e5 Bd4 32. Be2 g6 33. Rb3 Bf2
34. Rf3 Be1 35. Bd3 Kf8 36. Re3 Bf2 37. Rf3 Be1 38. Kd1 Ra1+ 39. Ke2 Bb4 40.
Bb5 Ra2 41. Rb3 Ba3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.12"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E46"]
[WhiteElo "2734"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nge2 d5 6. a3 Be7 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
Bd2 Nd7 9. g3 b6 {Kramnik is transfering the game into queen's indian pawn
structure with a feeling, that nothing much can endanger him.} 10. Nxd5 exd5
11. Bg2 Nf6 (11... c6 12. Rc1 Bb7 13. O-O Nf6 14. Bb4 $13) 12. O-O Ne4 13. Rc1
Bb7 (13... Bf5 14. Nf4 Re8 15. Bb4 $13) 14. Qc2 Rc8 (14... Nxd2 15. Qxd2 Re8
16. Nf4 c6 $11) 15. Rfd1 Bd6 16. Bb4 $5 {[%mdl 32] The original strategical
solution, for which Ponomariov in the end got the coveted point from the world
champion of the company Braingames.} Qf6 (16... c5 17. dxc5 bxc5 18. Be1 Qe7
19. Nc3 $14) (16... Bxb4 17. axb4 Qd6 18. b5 a5 19. bxa6 Bxa6 20. Nf4 $14) 17.
Nc3 Nxc3 (17... Bxb4 18. axb4 $14) (17... c5 18. dxc5 Bxc5 (18... bxc5 19. Ba5
(19. Nxe4 dxe4 20. Bc3 Qe6 $11) 19... Qe6 20. Qb3 $14) 19. Bh3 Rc7 20. Qe2 Rd8
$11) 18. Qxc3 (18. bxc3 Ba8 19. Bxd6 Qxd6 $11) 18... c6 (18... c5 19. dxc5 Be5
(19... Qxc3 20. Bxc3 Rxc5 21. e4 Rfc8 22. exd5 $16) 20. Qb3 Rfd8 21. Bc3 $16)
19. Bxd6 Qxd6 20. b4 Rc7 21. a4 (21. b5 Rfc8 (21... c5 22. dxc5 Rxc5 (22...
bxc5 23. Bxd5 $1 Bxd5 24. e4 $16) 23. Qd3 Rd8 $14) 22. Bh3 Re8 23. bxc6 Rxc6
24. Qb4 $14) 21... Bc8 22. a5 (22. b5 Bg4 23. Re1 Rfc8 $11) 22... Ba6 23. Ra1
Bb5 (23... Bc4 24. axb6 axb6 25. Bf1 (25. e4 Re8 26. Re1 Rce7 $11) 25... b5 26.
Ra6 $14) 24. Rdc1 Re8 25. axb6 axb6 26. Bf1 $1 {White is keeping small
advantage, but for winning chances he has to eliminate the strong black bishop.
} (26. Ra3 h6 27. Rca1 Rce7 28. Bf1 $14) 26... Bxf1 27. Kxf1 Rb8 28. Ra6 Qd7
29. Kg1 h6 30. Qa3 Rcc8 (30... Qc8 31. Qa2 Qe6 32. Ra1 $14) 31. h4 (31. Ra1 $14
) 31... Qf5 32. Ra7 g5 33. h5 $1 {Due to the passivity of black rooks
Ponomariov has achieved serious progress, exact move 33.h5! is for black very
unpleasant.} (33. hxg5 $2 hxg5 34. Qa6 Kg7 35. Qf1 $11) 33... Qf3 34. Qd3 Kh8 (
34... Qxh5 35. Qf5 Qg6 36. Qxg6+ fxg6 37. Rd7 Ra8 38. Rd6 b5 39. Rxg6+ Kh7 40.
Rgxc6 Rxc6 41. Rxc6 Ra4 42. Rc5 Rxb4 43. Rxd5 $16) 35. Qa6 (35. Ra3 $5 Rc7 36.
Qa6 Qxh5 37. Rac3 Qg6 38. b5 c5 39. dxc5 $16) 35... Kg7 $6 (35... Qxh5 36. Rb7
Ra8 37. Qxb6 Qf3 38. b5 Ra2 39. Rf1 Kg7 40. bxc6 Rc2 (40... Qf6 41. Qb3 Qxc6
42. Rxf7+ Kxf7 43. Qxa2 $16) 41. c7 Qf5 42. Qd6 Qe6 43. Rb6 $16) 36. b5 $1 c5 (
36... Qf6 37. bxc6 Rxc6 38. Rxf7+ Kxf7 39. Qa7+ Qe7 40. Qxe7+ Kxe7 41. Rxc6 b5
42. Rxh6 b4 43. Ra6 b3 44. Ra1 $18) 37. dxc5 bxc5 38. Qg6+ {This move was
nearly for sure overlooked by Kramnik, under duress even the best players are
committing nice mistakes.} (38. Qg6+ Kf8 39. Qxh6+ Kg8 40. Qxg5+ Kf8 (40... Kh8
41. Ra6 $18) 41. h6 $18) 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5
Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Ngf6 11. Bf4 e6 12. O-O-O Be7 13. Ne4 {This leads to
quick simplifications after which White's chances are minimal.} (13. Kb1 {
is the more complex main line.} O-O (13... Qb6 {Hamdouchi-Bareev, Cap d'Agde-A
2002 CBM 92}) 14. c4 (14. Ne5 Qa5 (14... Rc8 15. Qf3 Qa5 16. c4 Rfd8 17. Rd3
Qa6 $1 {- Glek-Bareev, RUS-ch St Petersburg 1998 CBM 67}) 15. Ne4 {-
Topalov-Bareev, Candidats semifinal Dortmund 2002 CBM 90}) 14... b5 $5 {
- Vescovi-Macieja, FIDE World Cup-A 2002 CBM 92} (14... Qa5 {-
Galliamova-Chiburdanidze, Europa-Tartarstan m 2001 CBM 85})) 13... Nxe4 14.
Qxe4 Nf6 (14... a5 15. Kb1 a4 16. Ne5 Nf6 17. Qe2 {- Yegiazarian-Haroutjunian,
ARM-ch Yerevan 2001 CBM 86}) 15. Qd3 (15. Qe5 $6 {The Q is only vulnerable
here.} O-O 16. Kb1 a5 17. Rhg1 Qd5 18. Qxd5 cxd5 {Now the P structure clearly
favors Black and White has no attacking chances.} 19. g4 Ne4 20. Rg2 b5 21. Ne5
Rfc8 $15 {Westerinen-Rogers, Troll Masters Gausdal 1996}) (15. Qe2 Qd5 (15...
Qa5 16. Kb1 O-O 17. Ne5 c5 $2 18. Ng6 $3 Rfe8 {was the safe try!} (18... fxg6
$6 {accepting the sacrifice allows White a wonderful firework!} 19. Qxe6+ Kh8
20. hxg6 Rae8 21. Bxh6 $1 {The second sacrifice...} gxh6 22. Qe3 $1 Ng4 (22...
Ng8 23. Rxh6+ Kg7 24. Rh7+ Kxg6 25. Qe4+ $18) 23. Rxh6+ $1 {The third was easy.
..} Kg7 24. Rh7+ Kxg6 25. Qe4+ $18 {Smolkov-Rumiantsev, St Petersburg 2002}))
16. c4 Qe4 {- 15.Qd3}) 15... Qd5 (15... a5 16. c4 O-O 17. Kb1 b5 {Black wants
to create a stronghold for his N on d5.} 18. Ne5 (18. c5 $5 Nd5 19. Bd2 Nb4 {
/\ Qd5}) 18... bxc4 19. Qxc4 Nd5 20. Nxc6 Qd7 {Black is happy to sacrifice the
weak c P, because he has good play on the opened lines against the enemy K.}
21. Bd2 a4 22. Rhe1 Bf6 23. Ne5 Qb7 24. Rc1 Rfb8 25. Rc2 {(A.Rodriguez-Lobron,
Luzern ol (Men) 1982)} Rc8 26. Qd3 Rxc2 27. Qxc2 Rb8 28. Rc1 Nb6 $44) 16. c4
Qe4 $11 {This _|_ is about equal, but it contains some venom, as we will see
it.} 17. Qxe4 ({avoiding the _|_ may lead to problems only for White:} 17. Qd2
b5 18. Rde1 Qh7 19. c5 Nd5 20. Be5 a5 21. Qc2 Qxc2+ 22. Kxc2 {and the strong
blockading N on d5 is a super-power.} Bf6 23. Nd2 Nb4+ 24. Kb1 Nd3 $15 {
Jonkman-Grant, Mondariz zt 2000}) 17... Nxe4 18. Be3 Nd6 $6 {This is a bit
careless, although it looks logical to provoke c4-c5 weakening >< d5.} (18...
O-O-O 19. Ne5 Rhf8 20. Rhe1 (20. d5 {leads only to unnecessary exchanges.} Bd6
21. Nd3 exd5 22. cxd5 c5 23. Rh4 Rfe8 $11 {Jonkman-Grooten, Leeuwarden op 1997}
)) (18... Nf6 19. Ne5 Bd6 20. f3 Rd8 21. Kc2 a6 22. g4 Nd7 23. Nd3 {This type
of _|_ is not so easy for Black from a practical point of view.} Rc8 24. a4 O-O
25. f4 f6 26. Rhe1 Rfe8 27. Bd2 c5 28. dxc5 Nxc5 29. Nxc5 Bxc5 30. Bc3 Kf7 31.
Rd7+ Re7 32. Rxe7+ Bxe7 $11 {L.Bronstein-Tempone, ARG-ch Buenos Aires 1983})
19. b3 (19. d5 {is again useless because of} Nxc4 20. dxe6 Nxe3 (20... fxe6 21.
Bd4 O-O 22. Rhe1) 21. exf7+ Kxf7 22. fxe3 Rhd8 $11) 19... Bf6 20. g4 b5 $1 {
This is Black's main idea to take control over the light squares.} (20... Rd8
21. Kc2 $14) 21. Nd2 {White wants to keep the structure.} (21. c5 $6 Nc8 {
/\ Ne7-d5 is the right route for the N for a revival.} (21... Ne4 $6 {The N is
only vulnerable here and cannot find his way to d5.} 22. Kc2 b4 23. a3 a5 24.
Ra1 Ke7 25. axb4 $1 (25. Kd3 $14) 25... axb4 26. Ra4 $1 Rxa4 27. bxa4 Ra8 28.
Kb3 Nc3 29. a5 $16) 22. Nd2 Ne7 23. Ne4 Nd5 24. Nd6+ Ke7 $11) 21... Kd7 (21...
Ke7 $2 22. f4 $1 $16) 22. Kc2 (22. c5 $6 {is still anti-strategy:} Ne8 23. Ne4
Nc7 24. Nd6 Rhf8 25. Bf4 Nd5 26. Be5 a5 $11) 22... Bd8 23. Nf3 Bf6 (23... bxc4
24. Ne5+ Kc7 25. bxc4 f6 (25... Bf6 26. Bf4 Bxe5 27. Bxe5 f6 28. Bg3 Kd7 29.
Kd3 $16) 26. Ng6 Re8 27. Bf4 $16) 24. Ne5+ Kc7 25. c5 $5 {Finally White
decides for this advance, the main idea is the control of the d <->, and space
advantage on both flanks.} (25. Bf4 $14 {keeping the tension was also possible.
}) 25... Bxe5 26. dxe5 Nc8 (26... Nb7 {The N is far from d5 here.} 27. Rhg1 $14
) 27. Rh3 $1 Ne7 28. Rf3 Rhf8 29. Rd6 $1 a5 (29... Nd5 30. Bd2 a5 $14) 30. g5
$1 {widening the battlefront for the B.} hxg5 (30... Nf5 {is met by a
promising positional exchange sacrifice eliminating the strong blockader.} 31.
Rxf5 $1 exf5 32. gxh6 gxh6 33. Rxh6 $1 (33. Bxh6 Rh8 34. Rf6 Kd7 $1) 33... Rh8
34. Rf6 Kd7 (34... Rxh5 35. Rxf7+ $18) 35. h6 $16 {and Black's pieces are
still rather passive.}) 31. Bxg5 Nf5 (31... Nd5 {is impossible because of} 32.
h6 $18) 32. Rd1 {The d <-> is in White's hands, but it is not easy to improve
the position.} a4 (32... Rh8 33. Rfd3 Raf8 34. Rd7+ Kc8 $14) 33. b4 Kc8 $2 {
Now White will penetrate on the d <->.} (33... Rh8 34. Rfd3 Raf8 {connecting
both rooks was much better.} 35. Rd7+ Kb8 $14) 34. Rfd3 Ra7 35. Rd8+ Rxd8 36.
Rxd8+ Kb7 {Now the black R remains very passive.} 37. Kc3 Ka6 38. Kd3 $1 Rc7
39. Ke4 Kb7 40. Rd1 Kc8 41. Rd8+ Kb7 42. Kf4 $1 Rc8 43. Rd7+ Rc7 44. Rd3 Kc8 (
44... Rc8 45. Bd8 $16) 45. Rd8+ Kb7 {[#]} 46. Bf6 $3 {[%mdl 512] This is a
beautiful sacrifice in order to create a lethal o^!} g6 (46... gxf6 47. exf6
Rc8 (47... Nh4 48. Kg4 $1 Nf5 49. Kg5 $18 {/\ h6}) 48. Rxc8 Kxc8 49. Kg5 Kd7
50. h6 Nxh6 51. Kxh6 e5 52. Kh7 $1 {The fight for the reserve tempo begins.} e4
(52... Ke6 53. Kg7 a3 54. f3 $22 $18) 53. Kg7 Ke6 54. a3 $22 $18) 47. hxg6 fxg6
48. Kg5 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Krasenkow, Michal"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2633"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "159"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {[%mdl 32] Kramnik nowadays regularly plays 1.e4. Is this a deception
before his match against Leko?!} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 {Open Ruy Lopez? No, thanks...}
3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Bb3 O-O (6... Ba7 7. Nbd2 d6 8. h3 O-O 9. Nf1
d5 {- Y.Gonzales-F.Gomez, CUB-ch Holguin City 2002 CBM 89}) 7. O-O (7. Nbd2 {
can also be met by the push in the [+].} d5 8. Qe2 (8. exd5 Nxd5 9. Ne4 Ba7 10.
O-O {- 7.0-0}) 8... Be6 9. O-O (9. h3 Nh5 10. Nf1 h6 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. d4 Nf6
13. dxe5 Nxe4 14. Be3 Bxe3 15. Qxe3 Re8 $11 {Rybak-Jaracz, POL-ch (Women) 1994}
) 9... Re8 10. Re1 h6 11. h3 Qd7 12. Nf1 dxe4 {This exchange followed by the
occupation of the d <-> equalizes easily.} 13. dxe4 Bxb3 14. axb3 Rad8 15. b4
Ba7 16. Ng3 Qd3 $11 {Zaichik-A.Ivanov, World op Philadelphia 2000}) 7... d5 8.
exd5 (8. Nbd2 Ba7 9. h3 (9. exd5 Nxd5 {- 8.exd5}) (9. Re1 Re8 10. exd5 {- 8.ed}
) 9... Re8 (9... dxe4 10. dxe4 Qe7 11. Nh2 Be6 12. Qf3 Bxb3 13. axb3 Rad8 14.
Nc4 {White has some pressure on the light squares, especially on f5, but the d
<-> is in Black's hands.} h6 15. Re1 Qe6 16. Nf1 Rd7 17. Ng3 Rfd8 18. Nf5 Rd3
19. Qe2 Kh7 20. Rf1 b5 21. Nce3 Bxe3 22. Bxe3 R3d7 {1/2:1/2 Beshukov-J.Geller,
Krasnodar 2001}) 10. Re1 h6 11. Qe2 dxe4 12. dxe4 Nh5 13. Nf1 Qf6 14. N3h2 Nf4
15. Qf3 Ne7 {/\ Neg6} 16. Be3 Neg6 17. Bxa7 Rxa7 18. Ne3 Nh4 19. Qg3 c6 $13 {
Varini-Mikac, Portoroz op 1997}) 8... Nxd5 9. h3 {against Bg4.} (9. Nxe5 {
is harmless.} Bxf2+ 10. Rxf2 Nxe5 11. Qh5 Nxd3 12. Rxf7 Be6 13. Rxf8+ Qxf8 14.
Be3 Nxe3 15. Bxe6+ Kh8 16. Qe2 Qf4 17. Nd2 Rd8 18. Nf3 c5 19. b3 h6 $11 {
Lakos-Jaracz, EU-ch U20 Girls 1995}) (9. Nbd2 Ba7 (9... Bg4 $5 {is the real
question.} 10. h3 Bh5 11. Ne4 Ba7 12. Re1 f6 {/\ Bf7 neutralizing the pressure
on the a2-g8 /^.} (12... Bg6) 13. Be3 Bxe3 14. fxe3 Bf7 15. Qd2 Qe7 $5 (15...
h6 16. d4 f5 17. Nc5 e4 18. Ne5 Nxe5 19. dxe5 Ne7 {(Svidler-Ernst, Peer Gynt
Gausdal 1991)} 20. Bxf7+ Rxf7 (20... Kxf7 21. e6+) 21. Nd7 $14)) 10. Nc4 (10.
Re1 Nf4 $142 $5 {looks crisper.} (10... Re8 11. Nc4 $142 {- 10.Nc4} (11. d4 {
again allows the pin by} Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 13. Nf1 e4 14. Ng3 Bg6 15. Nh2 Qd6 16.
Ng4 Nf4 17. Bxf4 Qxf4 18. Ne3 Na5 {/\ c5 freeing the passive B.} 19. Bc2 c5 20.
d5 Rad8 21. Qg4 Qxg4 22. hxg4 b5 23. Rad1 Bb8 24. Nef5 Bxg3 25. Nxg3 Nc4 $11 {
Dolmatov-Salov, SU-FL Irkutsk 1986}))) (10. Ne4 Kh8 11. h3 h6 12. Ng3 Be6 13.
Re1 Qd6 14. Nh4 (14. Qe2 Rfe8) 14... Rad8 15. Qf3 {(Tkachiev-A.Ivanov, New
York op 1995)} Nde7 $11 {fighting for >< f5 and targeting >< d3.}) 10... f6 (
10... Re8 11. Re1 (11. Ng5 h6) 11... f6 $5 (11... Bg4 $6 12. h3 Bh5 {is simply
met by} 13. g4 {and >< e5 falls.} Bg6 14. Ncxe5 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 $16) (11... Qf6
$6 {runs into} 12. d4 $1 e4 (12... Bg4 13. Ncxe5 Nxe5 14. dxe5 Bxf3 15. Qxf3
Rxe5 16. Rxe5 Qxe5 17. Bd2 $16) 13. Ncd2 Bf5 14. Bxd5 exf3 15. Bxf3 $16 {
with a clear P up for White, Svidler-Steingrimsson, Gausdal Int 1991.}) 12. d4
{This is now stronger than before because of the pin on the e <->.} exd4 (12...
e4 13. Nfd2 f5 14. Ne3 Nce7 15. f3 $16 {successfully blowing up Black's [+],
Gerthold-Zoebish, AUT 1998.}) 13. Nd6 $1 (13. Rxe8+ Qxe8) 13... cxd6 14. Bxd5+
Kh8 $14) 11. d4 (11. Ne3 Be6 $11) (11. Be3 $5 Be6 (11... Nxe3 12. fxe3 Kh8 (
12... Be6 13. Ncxe5 Bxe3+ 14. Kh1 $14) 13. d4 {Now Black has problems with his
entombbed B on a7.} Bg4 14. Qe1 e4 15. Nfd2 (15. Nh4 Ne7 $1 (15... Qd7 16. Qf2
$14 {Berzinsh-Jirka, Friendship 2001})) 15... b5 16. Na3 f5 17. Qg3 Qd7 18. Bd1
Bxd1 19. Raxd1 $14 {and the d4 P in the [+] keeps the black pieces passive.})
12. Bxa7 Rxa7 13. Ne3 Kh8 $11) 11... exd4 12. Re1 $5 (12. cxd4 Be6 {Black can
blockade the isolani on d5.} 13. Re1 Bf7 14. Ne3 Nce7 $11 {Belmonte-Bulgarini,
Santiago 1994})) 9... Nb6 $6 {The N is usually badly placed here.} (9... Ba7
10. Re1 Be6 (10... Re8 {is again met by the standard plan} 11. d4 $1 e4 12. Ng5
Bf5 (12... e3 13. Bxe3 Rxe3 14. Rxe3 Nxe3 15. Qh5 $18) 13. Nxf7 $1 {
(Felgaer-Jirka, Yerevan 2000)} Qd7 (13... Kxf7 14. Qh5+ $18) 14. Qh5 $1 $16) (
10... Qd6 11. Nbd2 (11. Qe2 Bf5 $5 $13) 11... Nf4 12. Nc4 (12. Ne4 Qxd3) 12...
Qxd3 (12... Qg6 13. Bxf4 exf4 14. Nce5 $16) 13. Bxf4 Qxd1 14. Raxd1 exf4 15.
Nce5 {and White has a lead of development.} Nxe5 16. Nxe5 (16. Rxe5 $14) 16...
Bf5 17. Nxf7 Rxf7 18. Re7 Bg6 19. Rdd7 Raf8 20. Rxc7 $14) 11. Qe2 $5 (11. Ng5
Bf5 12. Qf3 Nde7 $13) 11... Re8 (11... f6 12. d4 $14) 12. Ng5 $14) 10. Re1 $1 (
10. Ng5 Bf5 11. Ne4 Be7 $13) 10... h6 (10... a5 $5 {/\ a4 is met by} 11. a4 {
securing the a2-g8 /^ for the B.} (11. Nbd2 a4 12. Bc2 Re8)) 11. Nbd2 (11. Nxe5
$143 {is always answered by} Bxf2+ $1 12. Kxf2 Nxe5 13. d4 Qh4+ 14. Kf1 (14.
Kg1 Nd3) 14... Ng6 15. Qf3 Be6 $1 16. Re4 (16. Qxb7 Rae8 $44) 16... Qd8 $11)
11... Qxd3 12. Nxe5 Qg3 13. Qf3 Qxf3 14. Ndxf3 {White has now serious threats
against >< f7.} Ne7 $6 {[#]} (14... Nxe5 {was the lesser evil, although after}
15. Nxe5 Bd6 16. Ng6 Rd8 17. Ne7+ Kf8 18. Nxc8 Raxc8 19. Be3 $14 {White has a
strong ^^ in an open position.}) 15. Nd3 ({missing the "small combination a la
Capablanca"} 15. Nxf7 $1 Rxf7 16. Rxe7 $1 (16. Ne5 $2 Bxf2+ 17. Kf1 Ned5 18.
Re2 (18. Nxf7 Bxe1) 18... Bc5+ $19) 16... Bxe7 17. Ne5 $16 {winning a P.})
15... Bd6 16. Bf4 $14 Ng6 {By this way Black can finish his development, but
the weakness of d6 remains a long-lasting one.} 17. Bxd6 cxd6 18. Re4 {/\ Rd4}
(18. Nb4 {activating the N was the alternative.} a5 19. Nd5 $16) 18... a5 (
18... Bf5 19. Rb4 $16) 19. Rd4 Rd8 20. Rd1 d5 (20... a4 21. Bc2 a3 22. b3 $16)
21. Nc5 $16 Ne7 22. a4 Re8 23. R4d2 Nd7 (23... Nc4 24. Bxc4 dxc4 {Black has
changed the P structure, but now the penetration on the d <-> is nasty.} 25.
Rd8 Bf5 26. Rxe8+ Rxe8 27. Nxb7 $18) 24. Nxd7 Bxd7 25. c4 $5 {White usually
fights against the isolated P not exchanging it, but this activates the white
pieces dramatically.} (25. Re1 Kf8 26. Nd4 $16 {looks more thematic, although
>< a4 may pose some problems for White.}) 25... dxc4 26. Rxd7 cxb3 27. Rxb7
Rab8 28. Rdd7 {The penetration on the 7-th rank wins a P at least.} Nc6 (28...
Rxb7 29. Rxb7 $16) 29. Rxf7 Rxb7 30. Rxb7 Re4 31. Rxb3 Rxa4 {If Black can
exchange the pawns on the <<, the _|_ is drawish.} 32. Rb6 Rc4 33. g3 (33. b3
Rc2 34. Kh2 Rc3 35. Rb7) 33... a4 34. h4 Nd4 35. Ne5 (35. Kg2 Nxf3 36. Kxf3)
35... Rc5 36. Rb8+ Kh7 37. Nd7 Rb5 38. Ra8 Ne2+ 39. Kg2 Rxb2 40. h5 {Even in
endgames there are chances for a mating ->!} (40. Rxa4 Nc3 41. Ra7 Nd1) 40...
Nc3 41. Ne5 {/\ Ng6 and mate!} Rb5 42. f4 Ne4 (42... Rd5 43. g4 {/\ Ng6}) 43.
g4 $1 {White concentrates only to the >>.} (43. Ng6 {allows Black to sacrifice
the exchange.} Rxh5 44. g4 Kxg6 45. gxh5+ Kxh5 46. Rxa4 Nd6 (46... Nf6 47. Kf3
Kg6 48. Ra5) 47. Kf3) 43... Nf6 (43... Rb2+ 44. Kf3) 44. Ng6 $18 Ng8 {The N is
now more or less paralyzed.} 45. Nf8+ Kh8 46. Ng6+ Kh7 47. Kf3 Rb3+ 48. Ke4 a3
49. Nf8+ Kh8 50. Ng6+ Kh7 51. g5 $1 hxg5 52. fxg5 Rb4+ 53. Kf5 Rb5+ 54. Kg4
Rb4+ 55. Kf5 Rb5+ 56. Kg4 Rb4+ 57. Nf4 a2 58. Rxa2 Ne7 59. Ra8 Ng8 {and the N
has to return again!} 60. Ra7 Kh8 61. Ra8 Kh7 62. Rf8 Kh8 63. Kf3 Rb3+ 64. Ke4
Rb4+ 65. Ke5 Rb5+ 66. Nd5 Ra5 67. Rd8 Kh7 68. g6+ Kh8 69. h6 $1 Ra7 70. Ne3
gxh6 71. Nf5 {Total domination!} Ra5+ 72. Kf4 Ra4+ 73. Kf3 Ra3+ 74. Kg4 Ra4+
75. Kh5 Ra7 76. Rf8 Rb7 77. Kh4 Rb4+ 78. Kg3 Rb6 79. Ne7 Kg7 80. Rf7+ {and
mate!} 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.16"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2723"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. Bd3 Be6 12. O-O Bxd5 13. exd5 Ne7 14. c3 Bg7
15. Qh5 e4 16. Bc2 O-O 17. Rae1 Qc8 18. Bb3 {The move 18.Bb3 was in fact
White's first attempt to treat this position. What can be more natural than
protecting pawn d5 and preparing Na3-c2? In the first game with 18.Bb3
Sznapik-Krasenkow, Slupsk 1992, Black won quite easy and 18.Bb3 lost
popularity to 18.Kh1. That quiet king move turned out to keep all options open
and as a consequence always more players started to use 18.Kh1. I can also
mention that in Chess Informant 71 Bogdan Lalic even considered the move 18.
Lb3 to be doubtful, probably being very impressed by the reply 18...a5.
However, after Dortmund 2002, when Leko impressed everyone with 18...Rb8 after
18.Kh1, it became clear that White players will try to find again alternatives
to 18.Kh1. When after Dortmund 2002 Ponomariov won against Anand by using 18.
Bb3, one could guess that this line will soon become the main one.} a5 {
This is stronger than 18...Ng6, when after 19.Nc2! White's position is
preferable. Such an evaluation was proved in games Acs-Malakhatko, Yerevan
2001 and Ponomariov-Anand, Mainz 2002.} 19. Qg5 Qb7 {A good novelty,
recommended by the way in comments of Kunte-Hossain, in ChessBase Magazine 85.
The tactical background is that 20.Nxb5 doesn't work well for White and leads
to equality in the best case for him. From b7 the queen protects e7 and b5,
keeps an eye on d5 and supports further advances of queenside pawns.
Connecting rooks is another advantage of queen's move.} (19... Ng6 20. Nxb5 a4
21. Bd1 Qc5 22. c4 $1 {In this complicated position White's chances are
preferable, Bruzon-Handke, Oropesa der Mar 1999.}) 20. f3 {Undoubtly most
principled reply. According to White's plan in this line, he breaks the
opponent's pawn center.} (20. Nxb5 Qxb5 21. Qxe7 a4 22. c4 ({both} 22. Bd1 Qxd5
{or}) (22. Bc2 Qxb2 {lead to advantage for Black.}) 22... Qe8 $5 23. Qxe8 Rfxe8
24. Bc2 Bxb2 {is equal. Black's next move might be Rec8.}) 20... h6 $1 {
Such apparently non-important moves play a big role, since it forces White to
choose now best square for the queen. This is not an easy task, since all
queen's moves have advantages and drawbacks, as we'll see.} 21. Qg3 {Three
rounds later in the same tournament Shirov opted for 21.Df4.} (21. Qh5 {
From h5 the queen doesn't attack d6, which is very important, of course, but
on the other hand h5 is traditionally a good square for the queen. And it also
keeps pawn f5 under attack.} a4 22. Bc2 b4 23. Nc4 bxc3 ({less clear is} 23...
Qxd5 24. Ne3 Qe5 25. fxe4) 24. fxe4 (24. bxc3 Bxc3 25. fxe4 Bxe1 26. exf5 (26.
Rxe1 Qb4) 26... Qa7+ 27. Kh1 Qd4 28. Qxh6 Qh4 $19) 24... fxe4 25. bxc3 (25.
Rxe4 cxb2 26. Rg4 Qxd5 27. Qxh6 Ng6 $1) 25... f5 26. Ne3 Qb2 $1 {indirectly
protecting pawn f5 as well. Now White must find something, since the natural
moves doesn't bring anything and even can end up badly, for instance:} 27. Re2
$6 (27. Qh4 Rf7) 27... Qxc3 28. Nxf5 $2 Nxf5 29. Rxf5 Rxf5 30. Qxf5 Bd4+ 31.
Kh1 Qa1+) 21... a4 (21... Nxd5 22. fxe4 fxe4 23. Rf5 $1 {[%cal Gf5a5,Gf5h5] is
much better for White, who controls both the f-file and the 5th rank.} ({
possible, but weaker is} 23. Rd1 Ne7 24. Rxd6 a4 25. Bc2 b4 26. Nc4 bxc3 27.
bxc3 Rac8 28. Ne5 f5)) 22. Bc2 b4 {Black logically advances his pawns and now
Shirov comes with a highly interesting piece sacrifice.} ({Either here or at
the previous move Black had an alternative - a typical positional pawn
sacrifice:} 22... Ng6 23. fxe4 f4 {trying to create a blockade on the dark
squares.}) 23. Nc4 $5 ({After} 23. cxb4 {Black can choose between} Qxb4 ({or} 
23... Nxd5 24. fxe4 f4 25. Qh4 Nxb4 26. Bb1 Nc6) 24. fxe4 f4 $1 25. Rxf4 Ng6
26. Rff1 Bxb2 {in both cases with approximately equal chances.}) ({The direct} 
23. fxe4 {doesn't work because of the intermediate} f4 $1 24. Rxf4 {and take
the knight only now:} bxa3 $19) 23... Qxd5 24. fxe4 ({The more natural} 24.
Nxd6 {gives Black a lot of options:} Rfd8 (24... bxc3 $5 25. fxe4 (25. bxc3
Rfd8 26. Rd1 Qc5+ 27. Kh1 Qxc3 $17) 25... Qc5+ ({better is} 25... Qd4+ 26. Kh1
f4 27. Qxf4 Ng6 28. bxc3 Qc5) 26. Kh1 f4 27. Qd3 $1 (27. Qxf4 $2 Ng6 28. Qg3
Be5 $19) 27... Be5 28. Nf5 {and White still has hopes to continue the attack.}
(28. Nc4 cxb2 29. g3 f3 $5 $17)) ({bad is} 24... Qxa2 $2 25. fxe4 Qxb2 26. exf5
Qxc2 27. f6 $18) 25. Rd1 Qxa2 26. fxe4 Qxb2 27. exf5 Qxc3 (27... Qxc2 28. f6
Ng6 29. fxg7 Qxc3 30. Qf2 Qxg7 31. Nf5 {and White still has the attack.}) 28.
f6 Qxg3 29. hxg3 Nc8 $1 {Thanks to his queenside pawns Black is better in
endgame even being a piece down:} 30. Be4 Ra6 31. Nxc8 Bxf6 32. Rxd8+ Bxd8 {
Black is certainly not worse, to say the least. Besides those powerful pawns
on the queenside, the knight c8 is completely out of play.}) (24. Ne3 Qxa2 25.
fxe4 f4 $1 {keeping the diagonal b1-h7 closed.}) 24... Qxc4 25. exf5 Nd5 (25...
Nxf5 {The computer likes to take on f5, without understanding that} 26. Rxf5
Qxa2 27. Qd3 {gives White a dangerous attack, thanks to the presence of
opposite-coloured bishops. Only after} (27. Rf4 Qxb2 28. Qd3 f5 {gives Black
better chances to defend.}) 27... Rfe8 28. Ref1 $16 {the machine is having a
second-thought... White is clearly having a strong initiative.}) 26. f6 Nxf6 {
Actually after taking the knight on c4 (24...Qxc4), Black couldn't keep the
extra piece and had to return it one way or another by force. So in fact that
wasn't a real piece sacrifice, but only a way to get a slight, but stable
advantage. In the arising positions Black should be able to hold a draw with a
precise play, but as the game showed, some inaccuracies might easily spoil it
and lead to a loss.} 27. Rxf6 Rae8 ({White keeps same slight plus after} 27...
Qc5+ 28. Kh1 Qg5 29. Qd3 Rfe8 30. Rff1 (30. Rxe8+ Rxe8 31. Rf1 bxc3 32. bxc3
$14) 30... Rxe1 31. Rxe1 bxc3 32. bxc3 $14) 28. Ref1 Re2 $6 ({Better was} 28...
bxc3 29. Rxh6 (29. bxc3 Qc5+ 30. Kh1 Re3 (30... Qg5 $4 31. Qd3) 31. R6f3 (31.
Qf4 Qe5 {and Black should easily escape in endgame.} (31... Bxf6 $4 32. Qxh6))
31... Qc4 {and Black succeeds to use tactical ideas in order to annihilate
White's initiative.} (31... Rxc3 32. Bxa4 Qc4 $14)) 29... Qc5+ 30. Kh1 Qe3 31.
Bh7+ (31. Qxe3 Rxe3 $11 32. Rxd6 $6 cxb2 33. Bxa4 $2 Rc8 34. Rdd1 Rec3 $1 $19)
31... Kh8 {is a draw}) 29. Bd3 Qc5+ 30. Kh1 Re3 31. R6f3 Rxf3 32. Qxf3 {
In spite of material equality, Black's position is in fact very unpleasant due
to the presence of opposite-coloured bishops and White's attack (weak diagonal
b1-h7 and pawn f7). On top of that all Black's pawns are weak and he has no
counterplay at all.} bxc3 33. bxc3 Qe5 (33... Qxc3 $2 34. Qf5 $18) (33... Bxc3
34. Qe4 f5 35. Qxa4 $16) 34. c4 Kh8 {This is a very strange move, since now
the presence of queen and bishop on the diagonal b1-h7 will be even more
dangerous. Kramnik obviously was in time-trouble, otherwise he wouldn't have
succeeded to lose so quickly. The position is of course clear worse, but not
lost yet.} (34... f5 35. Bxf5 Qb2 36. a3 Qc3 $16) 35. Bc2 Qa5 $2 {this is just
bad.} (35... Qe6 $8 36. Bxa4 (36. Qd3 Qg6) 36... Qxc4 $16) 36. Qd3 f5 37. Qxd6
$18 {Now the c-pawn will play the decisive role.} Qc3 38. Bd3 Qd2 39. c5 Qxa2
40. c6 Rg8 41. Qg6 Rf8 42. c7 Qg8 43. Qc6 Rc8 44. Ba6 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2712"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 e5 4. Bc4 d6 5. d3 Be7 6. O-O (6. Nd2 {Is another
popular line.}) 6... Nf6 7. Ng5 O-O 8. f4 Bg4 {This logical move can be
reasonable alternative to the main 8...exf4} (8... exf4 9. Bxf4 h6 10. Nf3 Be6
{is the main line. The practice shows, that white has good chances to fight
for the opening adventage here.} 11. Nd5 (11. Qd2 d5 $1 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Bxd5
Bxd5 14. Rae1 Re8 15. Kh1 Bxf3 16. Rxf3 Nd4 $11 {0.5-0.5 Drozdov,I-Landa,K/
Noyabrsk 1995}) 11... Bxd5 12. exd5 Nb4 (12... Na5 13. Nh4 $1 Nxc4 14. dxc4 Qd7
15. Bd2 Qg4 16. Nf5 Rfe8 17. Rf3 Kh7 18. Qf1 $36 {1-0 Kovalev,A-Sveshnikov,E/
Rowy 1999}) 13. Bd2 Nbxd5 14. Nh4 Nc7 15. Nf5 d5 16. Bb3 $36 {-see comments to
Macieja,B-Bobras,P/POL-ch 59th Warsaw 2002[Postny]}) 9. Qe1 exf4 (9... Nd4 $6
10. fxe5 dxe5 11. Qh4 $1 h6 12. Nxf7 Rxf7 13. Bxf7+ Kxf7 14. Qxg4 Nxc2 15. Rb1
Qd4+ 16. Kh1 Qxd3 17. Bxh6 $2 (17. Qe2 $16) 17... gxh6 18. Rbd1 Qa6 19. Nd5 Rd8
20. Rf3 Rxd5 21. exd5 Nd4 $13 {0.5-0.5 Gdanski,J-Tomczak,R/POL-ch 59th Warsaw
2002}) 10. Bxf4 Nd4 11. Qd2 Qd7 (11... h6 12. Nh3 $5 Qd7 13. Bg3 {[%cal Gh3f4]}
Bxh3 14. gxh3 Qxh3 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. Bxd5 $44 {[%csl Gd5,Rf7][%cal Gc2c3,Gf1f7]}
) 12. a4 (12. h3 Bh5 13. Kh2 b5 14. Bb3 Nxb3 15. axb3 b4 16. Ne2 d5 17. e5 Ne8
{[%cal Ge8c7,Gc7e6]} 18. Nf3 Nc7 19. Bg5 f6 20. exf6 Bxf6 21. Bxf6 Rxf6 22.
Nfg1 Qd6+ {0.5-0.5 Nikolenko,O-Neverov,V/Czestochowa op 1992}) 12... h6 13. Nf3
(13. Nh3 {is not actual now:} Bxh3 14. gxh3 Qxh3 15. Kh1 Nh5 16. Nd5 Bg5 $1 {
[%csl Rg3][%cal Gh5g3]}) 13... Nxf3+ 14. gxf3 Be6 (14... Bh3 $6 15. Rf2 Be6 $2
16. Bxh6 gxh6 17. Qxh6 $18 {[%cal Gf2g2]}) 15. Kh1 {[%cal Gf1g1]} Kh7 {[%csl
Rh6][%cal Gh7h6]} 16. Bb5 $6 {After this move black is out of danger.} (16.
Rae1 $142 $1 Bd8 (16... Rfe8 $4 17. Bb5) 17. Bb5 $1 Qc7 18. d4 $14) 16... Qd8
17. d4 cxd4 18. Ne2 (18. Qxd4 Nh5 19. Be3 Bf6 20. Qd3 Be5 $1 21. f4 $140 Bxc3
22. Qxc3 f5 $1 23. Bd3 Bd7 $1 $15 {[%cal Gd7c6]}) 18... Nh5 19. Bg3 Nxg3+ (
19... a6 $1 20. Bd3 Nxg3+ 21. hxg3 Qb6 22. a5 Qc5 $15) 20. hxg3 Bg5 (20... Bg5
21. f4 Bf6 22. Nxd4 a6 23. Be2 $11) (20... a6 $142 {-19...a6}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "193"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Rb8 12. Nc2 Bg5 13. a3 {Not a bad move,
but with precise play Black is able to neutralize White's slight initiative
after it.} (13. a4 bxa4 14. Ncb4 {is the only way to fight for advantage})
13... Ne7 (13... a5 14. Bd3 Ne7 15. Nxe7 Qxe7 16. Qe2 O-O 17. O-O Bd7 18. b4
axb4 19. Nxb4 Rfc8 20. c4 $14 {1/2-1/2 Kasparov,G-Kramnik,V/Frankfurt (rapid)
2000 (35)}) (13... O-O {must be enough for equality as well.}) 14. Nxe7 (14.
Ncb4 {was an interesting alternative:} Nxd5 15. Nxd5 (15. Qxd5 $5 Bb7 $140 16.
Qd3 O-O 17. Be2 f5 18. Bf3) (15. exd5 Qb6 16. a4 O-O 17. axb5 axb5 18. g3 e4
19. Bg2 Bd7 20. O-O (20. h4 $5) 20... e3 21. fxe3 Bxe3+ 22. Kh1 f5 23. Nc6 Rbe8
24. Bf3 g5 25. b4 g4 $36 {1/2-1/2 Lanka,Z-Jelen,I/Ljubljana 1994 (31)}) 15...
O-O 16. Bd3 $5 Be6 17. Bc2) 14... Qxe7 $1 (14... Bxe7 {is also possible,
although so many moves with a single piece - Bf8-e7xf6-g5-e7 - is not
attractive.} 15. Nb4 Qb6 16. a4 $36 (16. Nd5 Qb7 17. a4 Bd8 18. axb5 axb5 $11)
16... Qb7 17. Qd5 Qxd5 18. exd5 $36 (18. Nxd5 bxa4 {[%csl Rb2]})) 15. Nb4 (15.
a4 Qb7) 15... Qd7 $5 {A safe way to avoid unnecessary complications.} (15...
Qb7 16. Qxd6 $5 {The queen on d6 and knight b4 look very powerful against
Black's king. However, things are far from clear. For instance:} Qxe4+ 17. Be2
Qxg2 (17... Rb7 18. f3 $1 {[%csl Ra6][%cal Gd6c6]}) 18. Rf1 Rb7 19. Nxa6 $140
Rd7 $1 20. Bxb5 Qe4+ $13) (15... Bb7 16. Nd5 $11 {/+/=}) 16. Bd3 (16. a4 $6 a5
17. Nd5 (17. Bxb5 Rxb5 18. axb5 axb4 $17) 17... bxa4 18. Qc2 (18. Qxa4 Qxa4 19.
Rxa4 Rxb2 20. Rxa5 Rb1+ $17) 18... O-O $17) 16... O-O 17. O-O Qb7 18. a4 (18.
Bc2 $11) 18... a5 19. Nd5 bxa4 20. Qxa4 Be6 21. Bc4 (21. Qxa5 Bxd5 22. exd5
Qxb2 {like in the game, this is slightly better for Black, but not enough to
convert into a full pawn.}) 21... Qxb2 22. Ra2 Qb7 23. Qxa5 Qc6 24. Ra4 Ra8 25.
Qb5 Qxb5 26. Bxb5 Rxa4 27. Bxa4 Bxd5 28. exd5 Ra8 29. Rb1 g6 30. Bc6 Ra3 31. c4
Rc3 32. g3 (32. Bb5 Bd8 $15) 32... Rxc4 33. Rb8+ Kg7 34. Rb7 Rc3 {In the next
part of the game Kramnik tried hardly to convert the extra pawn. Although it
might appear that at some stage he was close to do so, in fact Polgar never
had real problems to hold. The very end of the game is a study-like position.}
35. Be8 Rf3 36. Ba4 Ra3 37. Be8 Rf3 38. Ba4 e4 39. Kg2 Ra3 40. Be8 Rf3 41. Ba4
Bd2 42. Rb3 Rf5 43. Bc6 Be1 44. Rb2 Bc3 45. Re2 Bd4 46. Bd7 Re5 47. Bc6 Re7 48.
Ra2 Bc5 49. Re2 h5 50. h4 Kf6 51. Ra2 Re5 52. Re2 Kg7 53. f4 Re7 54. Ra2 Kf6
55. Kf1 Kf5 56. Kg2 Kg4 {It might seem that Black achieved something by coming
with the king on g4, but White easily drives it back (the path on the light
squares might prove dangerous for Black, imagine a check from c8 now, when
after a forces ...f5 White mates with Ba6-e2).} 57. Ba4 Rb7 58. Bd1+ Kf5 59.
Re2 e3 60. Kf3 Kf6 61. Rc2 Rb4 62. Be2 Kg7 63. Rc1 Rb2 64. Rd1 Kf6 65. Rd3 Ke7
66. Rd1 Kd8 67. Ra1 Kd7 68. Rd1 Ra2 69. Bb5+ Kc7 70. Be2 f5 71. Rd3 Rd2 72.
Rxd2 exd2 73. Bd1 Kb6 74. Ke2 Ka5 75. Bc2 Bg1 76. Kxd2 Bh2 77. g4 Bxf4+ 78. Ke2
hxg4 79. h5 gxh5 80. Bxf5 Kb4 81. Bg6 h4 82. Bf5 g3 83. Kf3 Kc4 84. Bh3 Be5 85.
Ke4 Bf6 86. Bf1+ Kc3 87. Bg2 Kc4 88. Bf1+ Kc5 89. Bg2 Be7 90. Bf1 Bd8 91. Bg2
Kc4 92. Bf1+ Kc3 93. Bg2 Kd2 94. Kf3 Kd3 95. Kg4 Ke3 96. Kh3 Bf6 97. Bh1 {
White bishop has enough squares on the "long" diagonal, so there is no
zugzwang.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.20"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8 14. cxd5 Qxd5
15. Bf4 Rac8 16. h3 $5 $146 {A strong prophylactic move. It is very difficult
for Black to found a useful move now.} (16. c4 Qe4 17. Be3 Bf6 18. Ra2 b6 19.
h3 Na5 20. g4 (20. Bf1 Qc6 21. d5 Qd6 22. Nd4 Bd7 23. Qd3 c6 24. dxc6 Nxc6 $15
{0-1 Nedev,T-Gustafsson,J/Halkidiki 2002/CBM 92 no vc (85)}) 20... Bg6 21. g5
Be7 22. Ne5 Bd6 23. Nxg6 (23. Bd3 Qh4 24. Nxg6 hxg6 25. Qg4 Qxg4+ 26. hxg4 Bf4
27. Rae2 Bxe3 28. fxe3 c5 29. Kf2 Nc6 30. Kg3 cxd4 31. exd4 Rxe2 32. Rxe2 Nxd4
$17 {1/2-1/2 Svidler,P-Gelfand,B/Moscow 2002/CBM 91/[Huzman] (36)}) 23... hxg6
24. c5 Bf8 25. Bg4 Rcd8 26. Rae2 Qc6 $1 27. cxb6 {1/2-1/2 Anand,V-Adams,M/
Linares ESP 2002/(27)}) (16. Bd3 Bxd3 17. Qxd3 h6 18. c4 Qd7 19. Rad1 Bd6 20.
Be3 Rcd8 21. Qc3 Qf5 22. d5 Ne5 23. Nxe5 {1/2-1/2 Nedev,T-Pavasovic,D/Bled
2002/EXT 2003 (23)}) 16... Bf6 $6 (16... Be4 $5 17. Nd2 Bxg2 18. Bg4 $1 (18. c4
Qf5 19. Bg4 Qxf4 20. Bxc8 Rxc8 21. Kxg2 Qxd4 $44) 18... f5 (18... Bh1 $5 19. f3
f5 20. Bh5 g6 21. Kxh1 gxh5 22. Qb1 $1 $44) 19. Be2 b5 20. a4 (20. c4 Qxd4 21.
Be3 Qd6 22. Kxg2 f4 23. Ne4 Qg6+ 24. Ng3 Rcd8 25. Qb3 Qf7 26. Bh5 g6 27. Bf3
bxc4 28. Qb5 Nb8 29. Bxa7 fxg3 30. fxg3 Rd2+ 31. Re2 c6 32. Rxd2 cxb5 33. Bd5
$16) 20... a6 21. axb5 axb5 22. c4 Qxd4 23. Be3 Qd6 24. Kxg2 f4 25. Ne4 Qxd1
26. Rexd1 fxe3 27. cxb5 Nb4 $11) 17. Nh2 $1 Qa5 18. Bd2 (18. Ng4 Qxc3 19. Nxf6+
gxf6 20. Be3 Rcd8 $132 {[%csl Rd4]}) 18... Rcd8 19. Bf3 h6 (19... Qa6 20. Ng4
Be7 21. Ne3 Bd3 22. Nd5 Bd6 23. Bf4 $36) 20. Ng4 Bxg4 21. hxg4 Bg5 22. Bxg5
hxg5 (22... Rxe1+ 23. Qxe1 Qxg5 24. Rb1 $16) 23. Rxe8+ ({White missed good
opportunity to get advantage after} 23. Qc1 $1 {[%csl Rg5][%cal Gc1g5]} Rxe1+
24. Qxe1 Kf8 25. Rb1 Re8 26. Qc1 $1 $16) 23... Rxe8 24. Qd3 Nd8 $1 $14 25. g3
c6 26. Kg2 Ne6 27. Rb1 Re7 28. c4 Qc7 29. Rh1 Nf8 (29... g6 30. d5 cxd5 31.
cxd5 Qd6 32. Qc3 $36 {[%cal Gc3h8,Gh1h8,Gc3c8]}) 30. Qf5 Rd7 31. d5 cxd5 32.
Bxd5 Qd8 33. a4 ({The obvious move} 33. Rh5 $1 {was probably the best option
for White.} Qe7 (33... b5 34. Qxg5 (34. Qe5 $5 bxc4 35. Rxg5 g6 36. Bxc4 Rd4
37. Ba2 $16) 34... Qxg5 35. Rxg5 bxc4 36. Bxc4 $16) 34. c5 (34. Rxg5 g6 35. Qf4
Qxa3 $14) (34. Qxg5 Qxa3) 34... g6 35. Qxg5 Qxg5 36. Rxg5 Kg7 37. c6 bxc6 38.
Bxc6 Rd6 39. Rc5 $16 {and White has an extra pawn and good chances to win the
game.}) 33... b6 34. a5 (34. Rh5 $5 $16) 34... bxa5 $14 35. Ra1 Qf6 $1 36. Rxa5
Rc7 {[%cal Yf8e6,Ye6c5]} 37. Qxf6 gxf6 38. Kf3 Ne6 39. Ke3 (39. Ke4 Kf8 40. Kf5
Ke7 $14) 39... Kf8 40. f4 gxf4+ 41. gxf4 Nc5 42. Rb5 a6 43. Rb8+ Ke7 44. Ra8
Kd6 45. Kf3 Ke7 46. Kg3 Rd7 47. Rc8 Nd3 {Now Black is threatening by manouevre
Rd8-d6 to exchange the rooks.} 48. Be4 Nb4 $11 49. c5 (49. Rb8 Rd4) 49... Rd8
50. Rc7+ Rd7 51. Rc8 Rd8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.21"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2624"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Nbd2 d5 6. Bg2 Be7 7. cxd5 exd5 8.
Ne5 O-O 9. O-O Bb7 10. b3 c5 11. Bb2 Re8 12. Rc1 Na6 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. e3 Qb6
15. Re1 Rad8 16. Qf3 Nc7 17. g4 Ne6 18. h4 h6 19. Qg3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.23"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A58"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 g6 6. Nc3 Bxa6 7. g3 d6 8. Bg2
Nbd7 9. Nf3 Bg7 10. Rb1 O-O 11. O-O Qa5 12. Bd2 Rfb8 13. Qc2 Ne8 14. Rfe1 {
White wants to make as many useful moves as possible before changing the
structure on the << and thus limits Black's <=>.} (14. a4 $5 Qc7 (14... c4 15.
Nb5 Qb6 16. Be3 Nc5 17. Qxc4 Bxb5 18. axb5 Qxb5 19. Qxb5 Rxb5 20. Nd4 Rb7 21.
b4 Na4 22. Rb3 $16 {Gustafsson,J-Szieberth,A/Budapest/2001/}) (14... Qb6 15. b3
Nc7 16. Rfd1 $14) 15. b3 Ra7 16. Rfe1 Nef6 17. h3 Rab7 18. e4 Ne8 19. Bf1 (19.
Na2 $5 $14 {[%cal Yd2c3] /+/-,/\Bc3}) 19... Bxf1 20. Kxf1 Qc8 21. Kg2 c4 22.
Nb5 cxb3 23. Qxb3 Nc7 24. Qc2 Nxb5 25. Qxc8+ Rxc8 26. Rxb5 Rxb5 27. axb5 Rb8
28. Rb1 Nc5 $132 {Drasko,M-Cmiel,T/Porz/1991/}) (14. b3 Qa3 $142 $1 (14... Nc7
15. a4 Qb6 16. Rfd1 (16. Rfe1 {-14.Rfe1}) 16... Qa7 (16... Bb7 17. e4 Na6 18.
Na2 Rc8 19. Be3 Nb4 20. Nxb4 Qxb4 21. Bh3 Rd8 22. Bd2 Qb6 23. Be3 Qa5 24. Bd2
Qa7 25. Be3 Qa5 26. Bd2 Qa7 27. Bc3 Bxc3 28. Qxc3 Nf6 29. Qe3 $14 {Shaidullina,
S-Pogonina,N/RUS-chW Elista/2002/}) 17. e4 Rb6 18. Bg5 Re8 19. Na2 e6 20. Nc3
$6 (20. dxe6 $5 Nxe6 21. Be3 $16) 20... exd5 21. Nxd5 Nxd5 22. exd5 Re2 $44 {
Gustafsson,J-Fogarasi,T/Budapest/2001/}) 15. Bc1 Qa5 16. Bb2 (16. Bd2 $11)
16... c4 17. Rfd1 Nc5 18. Ba1 Rb4 19. Nd2 cxb3 20. axb3 Nc7 21. Bf1 Bc8 22. e4
Qa7 $44 23. Na4 Nxa4 24. Bxg7 Kxg7 25. bxa4 Rxa4 26. Qc3+ Kg8 27. Rdc1 Ne8 28.
Nc4 Ra2 29. Nb6 Rb8 $11 {Epishin,V-Krivoshey,S/Graz op/2001/}) 14... Nc7 {
[%cal Yc7b5] /\Nb5} 15. a4 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8] Doesn't allow Black to exchange
the important Nc3, which cements the <<.} (15. e4 Nb5 16. Nxb5 Qxb5 17. Bf1 (
17. Bc3 Qd3 18. Rbc1 Bxc3 19. bxc3 Qxc2 20. Rxc2 Bc4 21. Ra1 Bd3 $15 {Varga,
Z-Fogarasi,T/Budapest/2000/}) 17... Qb7 18. Bxa6 Qxa6 19. a3 Qa4 $44 20. b3 $6
Qxa3 21. Bc3 Bxc3 22. Qxc3 Qb4 23. Qe3 f6 $15 {Krstev,R-Jacimovic,D/Skopje op/
1998/}) 15... Qb6 16. b3 {The pawn sacrifice is the point of the previous move.
} (16. e4 $6 Qb3 $1 $44) 16... Bxc3 17. Bxc3 Nxd5 18. Ne5 $1 {Connects
strategy with tactics. White gets a better P-structure.} Nxe5 $8 {Otherwise
Black loses material, or heavily compromises his position.} (18... N7f6 19. Nc4
(19. Bxd5 $16) 19... Qa7 20. Bxf6 $16) (18... dxe5 19. Bxd5 $16) 19. Bxd5 Bb7 {
A difficult choice-give your opponent a permanent advantage, or a dangerous
attack?} (19... Nc6 20. Qe4 Bb7 21. Qf4 Nd8 22. a5 $40) 20. Bxb7 Rxb7 21. Bxe5
dxe5 22. Rec1 $14 {/+/-} f6 23. Qe4 (23. Qxc5 $2 Qxc5 24. Rxc5 Rxa4 $11) 23...
Kg7 24. Rc3 Rab8 25. Qc2 Qe6 (25... Rc7 $2 26. b4 $18 {[%csl Ga4,Gb4] o^a,b})
26. a5 Kf7 (26... Rb5 $5 27. Rxc5 (27. Ra1 Qd6 28. a6 Ra8 $14) 27... Rxb3 28.
Rxb3 Qxb3 29. Qxb3 Rxb3 30. Rc7 $14 {/+/-}) 27. Ra1 Rxb3 28. Rxb3 Qxb3 29. Qxc5
Qb2 30. Qc4+ Kg7 31. Qa2 $5 {White decides to go for further simplification,
but even a major piece _|_ was promising.} (31. Ra2 Qd4 $16 (31... Qb1+ 32. Kg2
Qb7+ 33. f3 $16)) 31... Qxa2 32. Rxa2 $16 {[%mdl 4352] White has transposed
into an ideal R_|_, he supports his o^ from behind. But despite this it's not
easy to demonstrate a forced win, Topalov continues to defend tenaciously.} Ra8
33. a6 Ra7 34. Kg2 Kf7 (34... e4 35. Kf1 Kf7 36. Ke1 (36. Ra4 $5) 36... Ke6 37.
Kd2 $16) 35. Kf3 Ke6 36. g4 Kd6 (36... Kd5 37. h4 Kc6 38. Ke4 $16) 37. h4 h6
38. g5 ({Even after} 38. h5 {Black retains drawing chances:} gxh5 $142 (38...
g5 $6 {loses time and keeps more vulnerable P on the board:} 39. Ke4 e6 40. Ra3
Kd7 41. Kd3 Kc6 42. Kc4 Kb6 43. e4 Kc6 (43... Rc7+ 44. Kb4 Ka7 45. Rf3 Rf7 46.
Kc5 $18) 44. Rf3 Rf7 45. a7 Rxa7 (45... Kb7 46. Kc5 Kxa7 47. Kd6 $18) 46. Rxf6
Kd6 47. Rxh6 Rf7 48. Rg6 $18) 39. gxh5 e6 (39... f5 40. e4 e6 41. Ra5 $16 {/+-}
) 40. Ke4 Kc6 41. Ra3 (41. Kd3 Kb5 $1 $11) 41... Kb6 (41... Kd6 $5) 42. Rf3 Rf7
43. Rg3 Kxa6 44. Rg6 Kb5 45. Rxh6 Kc6 46. Rg6 Kd6 $14 {[%cal Yf6f5] /=,/\f5})
38... hxg5 39. hxg5 f5 (39... Kc6 40. Ke4 Kb6 41. gxf6 exf6 42. Kd5 {[%cal
Rd5e6] /\Ke6+-}) 40. e4 (40. Ke3 e6 41. Ra5 Kc7 42. f3 Kb8 $14) 40... e6 41.
Ra5 Kc7 42. Ke3 Kb8 43. Rxe5 {This seems to be premature.} (43. f3 $5 {keeps
the tension, White's K strives to enter via c5, e.g.} f4+ (43... Kc7 44. Kd3
Kb6 45. Rxe5 Rd7+ 46. Kc4 Rd6 47. Rb5+ Kxa6 48. Kc5 $1 Rd3 49. Rb6+ Ka7 50.
Rxe6 Rxf3 51. e5 $18 {[%csl Ge5,Gg5] o^e,g}) 44. Kd3 (44. Ke2 $5 $16) 44...
Rd7+ (44... Kc7 45. Kc4 Kb6 46. Kb4 $22 $18) 45. Kc4 (45. Kc3 Rd6 46. Ra3 Rc6+
47. Kb4 Ka7 48. Kb5 Rc8 49. Rd3 Rd8 $5 50. Rc3 Rb8+ 51. Ka5 Rc8 $1 $14) 45...
Rd4+ (45... Rd6 $6 46. Ra3 Ka7 47. Kc5 Rd1 48. Kc6 {[%cal Ra3a5] /\Ra5} Rg1 49.
Kd7 Rxg5 50. Kxe6 $18) 46. Kc5 (46. Kc3 Rd6 {-45.Kc3}) 46... Rd3 47. Rb5+ Ka7
48. Rb7+ Kxa6 49. Rg7 Rxf3 50. Rxg6 $14 {/+/-}) 43... Rxa6 44. Rc5 (44. exf5
exf5 45. Re7 Kc8 46. Kf4 (46. Rf7 Re6+ 47. Kf3 Kd8 $11) 46... Kd8 47. Rf7 Re6
48. Rf6 Ke7 49. Rxe6+ Kxe6 50. Ke3 Kd5 51. Kd3 Ke5 52. Ke3 f4+ 53. Kd3 Kf5 54.
f3 Kxg5 55. Ke4 $11) 44... Kb7 45. Kf4 Kb6 46. Rc8 fxe4 47. Kxe4 (47. Rg8 Kc6
48. Rxg6 Kd7 $5 $14 (48... Kd5 49. Rg8 $1 Ra2 50. Rd8+ Kc6 51. Kg3 Ra7 52. Kg4
Ra2 53. Rf8 $16)) 47... Kb7 48. Rg8 (48. Rc3 Ra5 (48... Ra4+ 49. Ke5 Ra5+ 50.
Kf6 Rf5+ 51. Kxg6 Rxf2 52. Re3 $18) 49. f4 Rb5 50. Rh3 Kc7 51. Rh6 Kd6 52. Rxg6
Rb4+ 53. Kf3 Ke7 {leads only to the game position anyway.}) 48... Kc6 49. Rxg6
Kd6 50. f4 (50. Rg7 Ra4+ 51. Ke3 e5 52. Rg6+ Ke7 $14) 50... Ra4+ 51. Kf3 Ke7
52. Rg7+ Kf8 53. Rb7 Rc4 $2 {Only this can be identified as the losing mistake.
} ({After} 53... Ra1 $1 {Black's position is holding:} 54. Kg4 (54. g6 $2 Rg1)
(54. Ke4 Re1+) 54... Rg1+ 55. Kh5 Rf1 56. Kh6 (56. Rb8+ Kg7 $11) (56. Rb4 Kg7
$11) 56... Rxf4 57. Rb8+ Ke7 58. g6 Rh4+ 59. Kg5 (59. Kg7 e5 $132) 59... Rh1
60. g7 Rg1+ 61. Kh6 Rh1+ 62. Kg6 Rg1+ 63. Kh7 Rh1+ 64. Kg8 e5 65. Rb5 Rh5 66.
Ra5 Ke8 $11 {and because the Pe5 shields Black's K from frontal checks, White
has no way to extricate his K from g8.}) 54. g6 $1 $18 Rc1 (54... Rc5 55. Rf7+
{[%cal Rf3g4] /\Kg4+-} (55. Kg4 $143 Rf5)) 55. Kg4 Rc5 (55... Rg1+ 56. Kh5 Rg2
(56... Kg8 57. Re7 $18) 57. Kh6 Rh2+ 58. Kg5 Rf2 59. f5 $1 (59. Rf7+ Ke8 (59...
Kg8 60. Re7 $18) 60. Kh6 Rh2+ 61. Kg7 $18) 59... Rxf5+ (59... exf5 60. g7+ Kg8
61. Kf6 $18) 60. Kh6 Rf6 61. Kh7 $18) 56. Rf7+ Ke8 (56... Kg8 57. Rf6 Rc6 58.
Kg5 $18 {[%cal Rf4f5,Yg5h6,Yg6g7] /\,f5,Kh6,g7}) 57. f5 $1 (57. f5 exf5+ 58.
Rxf5 Rc1 (58... Rxf5 59. Kxf5 Ke7 60. Ke5 Ke8 61. Ke6 Kf8 62. Kf6 $18) 59. Kg5
Rh1 (59... Ke7 60. g7 $18) 60. g7 Ke7 61. Kg6 Rg1+ 62. Kh7 Rh1+ 63. Kg8 $18 {
and White has reached a simple Lucena position.}) 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.24"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2668"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8.
f3 d6 9. e4 c5 10. dxc5 bxc5 11. O-O-O Nc6 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Ne2 e5 14. Qd2 Nd4
15. Qh6 Kh8 16. h4 Rb8 17. Nxd4 cxd4 18. Rd2 Rg8 19. h5 Ba6 20. Bd3 Rb6 21. Rc2
Rb3 22. Rd1 Qe7 23. Bf1 Qe6 24. Bd3 Rc8 25. Kb1 Rcb8 26. Ka1 Qe7 27. g4 Bc8 28.
Rg2 Bd7 29. Rdd2 Rg8 30. Ka2 Rb6 31. Rdf2 Be6 32. Rg1 Rc6 33. b3 Rb6 34. Rfg2
Rbb8 35. f4 Bd7 36. g5 fxg5 37. fxg5 Rg7 38. Qf6 Qxf6 39. gxf6 Rxg2+ 40. Rxg2
h6 41. b4 Rg8 42. Rxg8+ Kxg8 43. b5 Bg4 44. a4 Kf8 45. a5 Ke8 46. a6 Kd8 47. b6
Bd7 48. c5 dxc5 49. Bc4 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.25"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Timman, Jan H"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B46"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2594"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 Qc7 8.
Qe2 Bd6 9. Qg4 Ne7 10. Qxg7 Rg8 11. Qxh7 Be5 12. Qh5 Rxg2 13. Ne2 d5 14. f4 Bd6
15. Bd2 Rb8 16. O-O-O c5 17. e5 Qb6 18. Bc3 d4 19. exd6 dxc3 20. Qh8+ Rg8 21.
Qxc3 Nd5 22. Qe5 Kd7 23. f5 Bb7 24. fxe6+ fxe6 25. Rhf1 Qxd6 26. Rf7+ Kc6 27.
Qxd6+ Kxd6 28. Bh7 Rg2 29. Nf4 Rxh2 30. c4 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2003.01.26"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E34"]
[WhiteElo "2688"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "29"]
[EventDate "2003.01.11"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.04.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 Qxd5 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Qxc5 8.
Bd2 Nc6 9. Rc1 O-O 10. a3 Bxc3 11. Bxc3 Nd5 12. Nf3 Nxc3 13. Qxc3 Qxc3+ 14.
Rxc3 Bd7 15. Bd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "FRA-chT Gp-A"]
[Site "France"]
[Date "2003.02.01"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dorfman, Josif D"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B82"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2003.01.31"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 094"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Paris NAO"]
[BlackTeam "Monaco"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FRA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "FRA"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Bd3 Nf6 7. f4 d6 8. Qe2
Nc6 9. Nf3 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. Kh1 Nd7 12. b3 Nc5 13. Bb2 Bd7 14. Qf2 Rac8 15.
Qg3 f6 16. Be2 b5 17. a3 b4 18. axb4 Nxb4 19. Nd4 Qb7 20. Bg4 Nxc2 21. Nxc2
Qxb3 22. Na3 Qxb2 23. Rfb1 Qd2 24. Rd1 Qb2 25. Rdb1 1/2-1/2

[Event "FRA-chT Gp-A"]
[Site "France"]
[Date "2003.04.05"]
[Round "6.2"]
[White "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2688"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2003.01.31"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 095"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.07.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.07.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Clichy"]
[BlackTeam "Paris NAO"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FRA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "FRA"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. Bg5 Be7 7. e3 O-O 8. Rc1 c5
9. cxd5 cxd4 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. Nxd4 exd5 12. Be2 Nc6 13. Ncb5 Ne5 14. O-O a6
15. Nc3 b5 16. Qb3 Nc4 17. Rfd1 Qe7 18. Kh1 Rad8 19. Bf3 Be5 20. Nce2 Bb8 21.
g3 g6 22. Bg2 h5 23. h4 Be5 24. Nf4 Rd6 25. Rc2 Rfd8 26. a4 bxa4 27. Qxa4 Bf6
28. b3 Ne5 29. Kg1 Ng4 30. Rd3 Be5 31. Qa5 R6d7 32. Bh3 Rc7 33. Rxc7 Bxc7 34.
Qa1 Nf6 35. Bg2 Ne4 36. Qd1 Nc5 37. Rc3 Bb6 38. Qc2 Qd6 39. Qd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 20th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2003.02.22"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2847"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "2003.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 094"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 a6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nf6 7. Bd3 Nbd7 8. Re1
b6 9. e4 cxd4 10. e5 Nd5 11. Nxd4 Nc5 12. Bf1 Bb7 13. Nd2 Be7 14. Qg4 O-O 15.
N2f3 Kh8 16. Ng5 h6 17. Ngf3 a5 18. Qh5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 20th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2003.02.23"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2734"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2003.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 094"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. h3 Bg7 6. d3 Nf6 7. Nc3 Nd7 8.
Be3 e5 9. Qd2 h6 10. O-O Qe7 11. a3 Nf8 12. b4 Ne6 13. Na4 b6 14. Nh2 f5 15. f3
f4 16. Bf2 h5 17. bxc5 b5 18. Nb2 g5 19. d4 exd4 20. Nd3 Nxc5 21. Nxc5 Qxc5 22.
Rfd1 Be6 23. Qb4 Qb6 24. a4 c5 25. Qxb5+ Qxb5 26. axb5 Kf7 27. Ra5 Rhb8 28. Nf1
Be5 29. Rda1 d3 30. Rxa7+ Kf6 31. Rxa8 Rxa8 32. Rxa8 dxc2 33. Rf8+ Kg6 34. Re8
Kf7 35. Rf8+ Kg6 36. Re8 Bc4 37. Rxe5 c1=Q 38. Rxc5 Qxf1+ 39. Kh2 Qxf2 40. Rxc4
g4 0-1

[Event "Linares 20th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2003.02.24"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2629"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2003.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 094"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. g3 Nd7 8. Bg2
dxc4 9. O-O Be7 10. e3 O-O 11. Qe2 e5 12. Qxc4 Nb6 13. Qb3 Be6 14. dxe5 Qxf3
15. Bxf3 Bxb3 16. axb3 Nd7 17. Be2 Nxe5 18. Rfd1 Rfd8 19. Rxd8+ Bxd8 20. Rd1
Bb6 21. Na4 Rd8 22. Nxb6 Rxd1+ 23. Bxd1 axb6 24. Kf1 Kf8 25. Ke2 Ke7 26. f4 Nd7
27. e4 f6 28. b4 b5 29. Kd3 Nb8 30. Bg4 Kd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 20th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2003.02.25"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "32"]
[EventDate "2003.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 094"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Qc7 5. O-O Nd4 6. Re1 a6 7. e5 Nxb5 8.
exf6 Nxc3 9. fxg7 Bxg7 10. dxc3 d6 11. Ng5 Bf5 12. a4 Qc6 13. Qe2 Bf6 14. Ne4
Bxe4 15. Qxe4 Qxe4 16. Rxe4 d5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 20th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2003.02.28"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2624"]
[Annotator "Finkel,A"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2003.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 094"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Ftacnik} e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3
cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bc5 9. Qd2 O-O 10. O-O-O a6 11. Qf2 $5 {A rare move. Usually
white plays 11. h4 here with complicated struggle. The idea behind 11.Qf2 is
very simple and logical- white intends to develop a bishop to d3 followed by
Qh4 later on.} Nxd4 12. Bxd4 Qc7 13. Bd3 (13. Bxc5 Nxc5 14. Bd3 f6 15. exf6
Rxf6 16. g3 Bd7 17. Qd4 $14 {Schmid,G-Janka,H/Koetzting 1988}) (13. g4 $5 b5
14. Bd3 b4 15. Qh4 h6 16. Ne2 f6 17. Bxc5 Nxc5 18. exf6 Rxf6 19. g5 $36 {
Kosmol,H-Uiess,H/ICCF-Cup corr 1994}) 13... b5 {This is Radjabov's last
opportunity to exchange the queens off and to jump into slightly worse endgame.
} (13... Bxd4 14. Qxd4 b5 (14... Qc5 15. Ne2 b6 (15... Qxd4 16. Nxd4 Nc5 17.
Rhe1 $14) 16. Kb1 Bb7 17. c3 Bc6 18. Bc2 Bb5 19. Qd2 Bxe2 20. Qxe2 Rfd8 21. f5
$14 {Hossain,E-Vakhidov,T/Dhaka 2003}) 15. Rhe1 Qb6 16. Qxb6 Nxb6 17. Ne2 b4
18. Nd4 a5 19. b3 $14 {Pedzich,D-Aaberg,A/Copenhagen 1991}) 14. Qh4 {This is
white's idea - to create a couple weaknesses on the King side and to push
pawns to open up a position of the black king. Ftacnik: 'Kramnik is trying for
a new solution in a well known variation with the preparation of the kingside
attack.'} (14. Ne2 Be7 15. Kb1 Bb7 16. Rhe1 Rae8 17. Qg3 f5 18. exf6 Bxf6 19.
Qh3 $14 {Moreda,L-Kovacevic,B/Nova Gorica 2001}) 14... h6 (14... g6 {Ftacnik}
15. Ne2 Bb7 16. Kb1 $14) 15. Ne2 f6 (15... Bb7 16. g4 $1 {[%csl Rg8][%cal
Gg4g5]} (16. Kb1 {Ftacnik} Rac8 17. g4 $14) 16... f6 17. g5 fxe5 18. gxh6 $1
$18 exd4 $140 19. hxg7 Rf6 20. Qh7+ Kf7 21. g8=Q#) 16. Qg4 {At this point it's
pretty obvious that Kramnik won the theoretical discussion. White has
developed very dangerous initiative on the kingside, while Radjabov is
deprived of any counterplay on the other part of the board.} Bxd4 (16... f5 17.
Qf3 (17. Qg6 {Ftacnik} Rf7 18. h3 Nf8 19. Qh5 $14) 17... Qb6 18. Qe3 $1 $16 {
[%csl Rg8][%cal Gh1g1,Gg2g4] Next g2-g4 will be coming soon with very
unpleasent threats over the g-file.}) 17. Nxd4 (17. Qxe6+ {Ftacnik} Kh8 (17...
Rf7 18. Nxd4 Nxe5 19. Qe8+ Rf8 20. Bh7+ Kxh7 21. Qxf8 $16) 18. Qf5 (18. Nxd4
Nxe5 19. Qxd5 Nxd3+ 20. Rxd3 Qxf4+ $11) 18... Be3+ 19. Kb1 g6 20. Qxg6 (20. Qh3
Nxe5 21. Qxe3 Nxd3 22. Qxd3 Bf5 $11) 20... Nxe5 21. fxe5 fxe5 22. Nc3 $14)
17... Nc5 (17... fxe5 $2 {Ftacnik} 18. Qxg7+ Kxg7 19. Nxe6+ Kf7 20. Nxc7 $18)
18. Qg6 {Forcing black to take on d3.} Nxd3+ 19. Rxd3 Qc4 $2 {Ftacnik: 'Only
the youth has the ability to feed the hope into desperate counterattack on the
queenisde. In fact white's advantage after the correct and logical move 19...
Qf7! would be rather symbolic.'} (19... fxe5 20. Nxe6 Bxe6 21. Qxe6+ Qf7 22.
Qxe5 (22. Qxf7+ {Ftacnik} Kxf7 23. fxe5 Ke6 24. Re1 Rf2 $11) 22... Qxf4+ (22...
Rad8 {Ftacnik} 23. g3 $14) 23. Qxf4 Rxf4 24. Rxd5 Rf2 25. Rd2 Raf8 26. Re1 $1
$16) (19... Qf7 $1 {Ftacnik} 20. Qxf7+ (20. Qg3 fxe5 21. fxe5 Qf4+ 22. Qxf4
Rxf4 23. Rdd1 Bd7 $11) 20... Rxf7 21. exf6 Rxf6 (21... gxf6 $2 22. Re1 $16) 22.
g3 g5 23. fxg5 hxg5 24. Nf3 Rg6 $11) 20. Rhd1 Ra7 {It is fruitless to attempt
to win a pawn after} (20... fxe5 21. fxe5 Qxa2 22. Ra3 Qc4 23. Rg3 $1 Qc7 24.
Nxe6 Bxe6 25. Qxe6+ Kh8 26. Rc3 Qf7 27. Qxf7 Rxf7 28. Rxd5 $16 {and white
emerges with a pawn up.}) (20... Qxa2 {Ftacnik} 21. Rg3 Qa1+ 22. Kd2 Qa5+ 23.
Ke2 Rf7 24. exf6 $16) 21. Kb1 Qc7 22. f5 $1 $16 {'!' Ftacnik. Ftacnik:
'Kramnik is ready with all the pieces and thus it makes no sense to wait with
direct attack. '} Qb6 $6 (22... Qf7 23. Qxf7+ Raxf7 24. fxe6 Re7 25. Re3 Bxe6
26. Rde1 $16) 23. Rh3 $1 {[%csl Rg8] Preparing Rh6. Black has no defense
against white's mating attack.} fxe5 24. Rxh6 $1 Rf6 (24... exd4 25. Qh7+ Kf7
26. f6 Ke8 27. fxg7 $18) 25. Qe8+ {Ftacnik: 'White even got few words of
criticism for this solution, since the banal continuation of the attack via h
file was winning more quickly. In reality is the choice of world champion very
safe and convincing despite few more moves.'} (25. Qh7+ {Ftacnik} Kf8 (25...
Kf7 26. fxe6+ Bxe6 (26... Ke8 27. Rxf6 gxf6 28. Qg8+ Ke7 29. Nf5#) 27. Rxf6+
Kxf6 28. Rf1+ Ke7 (28... Kg5 29. h4+ Kg4 30. Qg6+ Kxh4 31. Nf3#) 29. Nxe6 $18)
26. Qh8+ Kf7 (26... Ke7 27. Qxg7+ Rf7 28. Qg5+ Kd6 29. fxe6 $18) 27. Rh7 $18
Ke7 28. Rxg7+ Rf7 29. Rxf7+ Kxf7 30. fxe6+ Bxe6 31. Rf1+ Ke7 32. Qxe5 $18)
25... Rf8 26. Rh8+ Kxh8 27. Qxf8+ Kh7 28. Nf3 $18 ({Another possibility was} 
28. Rd3 $5 exf5 29. Qxc8 exd4 30. Qxf5+ Kg8 (30... g6 31. Rh3+ Kg7 32. Qe5+ $18
) 31. Qc8+ {and the black king has no escape - Rf3 or Rh3 is coming next.})
28... Qc7 29. fxe6 {The queen with the knight is the best combination of
pieces in the mating attack. Espacially when they are attacking king which is
left alone!} e4 30. Ng5+ (30. Rxd5 $5) 30... Kh6 31. h4 Kh5 32. Qf5 g6 33. g4+
Kxh4 34. Rh1+ Kg3 35. Rg1+ Kh4 36. Qf6 1-0

[Event "Linares 20th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2003.03.01"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "2003.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 094"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. Bd3 Be6 12. O-O Bxd5 13. exd5 Ne7 14. c4 e4
(14... Bg7 {usually leads to transposition after} 15. Qd2 e4 ({Another
approach with Black is to delay e5-e4:} 15... bxc4 16. Nxc4 O-O)) 15. Be2 Bg7
16. Qd2 b4 $5 {A rare move, which brought Black good results in the practice,
though. Its logic is clear - instead of taking on c4 and helping the opponent
to bring his a3-knight into play, Black is preparing a "dark-square" strategy.}
(16... bxc4 17. Nxc4 O-O {is equal according to theory. Undoubtly Leko had an
improvement in mind, but Kramnik deviates first.}) 17. Qxb4 Rb8 ({The next
game is an example of a typical attack. Black doesn't care about the
sacrificed pawn, but starts an initiative on the kingside, since White will
need quite a lot of time to bring his pieces into play:} 17... O-O 18. Rab1 f4
19. Qd2 Ng6 20. f3 (20. Nc2 f3 $1 21. gxf3 Qh4 $40) 20... e3 21. Qe1 Qg5 22.
Kh1 {The king will slowly, but firmly run out of air on h1.} Kh8 23. Nc2 Be5
24. Bd3 f5 25. Qe2 Rf6 26. Rg1 Rg8 27. b4 Nh4 28. b5 Rh6 29. h3 axb5 30. cxb5
Qh5 31. Rbf1 Rg3 32. Nxe3 fxe3 (32... Nxg2 {was a direct win:} 33. Rxg2 Rxh3+
34. Kg1 Rh1+ 35. Kf2 Qh4+) 33. f4 Nxg2 34. Qxh5 Rxh5 35. Bxf5 e2 36. Rc1 Rxf5
37. Rc8+ Kg7 38. b6 e1=Q 39. Rxe1 Nxe1 40. b7 Nf3 41. Rc7+ Kh6 42. Rc1 Rh5 {
0-1 Koch,J-Horvath,C/Bischwiller 1999}) 18. Qa4+ Kf8 {White cannot protect
pawn b2, so Black will soon restore material equality.} 19. Rab1 (19. c5 {
is understandable for White - opening files and getting square c4. However,
Black is doing fine.} Nxd5 (19... dxc5 20. Bxa6 Rb4 21. Qc2 Qd6 22. Bc4 Be5 23.
g3 Rxb2 {1/2-1/2 Dabrowska,K-Zezulkin,J/Polanica Zdroj 1997 (52)}) 20. Bc4 dxc5
21. Rad1 Bd4 22. Nc2 Nb6 23. Qxa6 Kg7 24. b4 Qf6 25. bxc5 Bxc5 26. Bb3 f4 27.
Qa5 Rbc8 {1/2-1/2 Kosteniuk,A-Mikhalevski,V/Biel 2002 (46)}) 19... Bxb2 (19...
Rg8 20. Qc2 Ng6 {This is somewhat similar to the game Koch-Horvath, given
above - Black relies on his kingside attack. On the other hand having no
connection between rooks is a substantial difference. The king is surely
better off on h8 than on f8.} 21. c5 $2 (21. Kh1 $13) 21... Bd4 $1 {and Black
was better in Rodriguez Cespedes,A-Moreno Carnero,J/Cala Galdana 1999.}) 20.
Nc2 $5 $146 {A logical novelty - the knight goes to c6.} (20. Qc2 $13 {1/2-1/2
Nijboer,F-Kuijf,M/NED 1991/ (50)}) 20... Ng6 (20... a5 {prevents White's idea
Nb4, but Black can hardly allow himself such moves - White has a development
advantage and can start the play in the center with} 21. f3 $36) 21. Nb4 Qf6
22. Nc6 (22. Nxa6 Rc8 {White's extra pawn doesn't play a significant role for
the moment. More important is that the knight will need two more moves to come
to c6, meanwhile Black will increase the pressure on the kingside.}) 22... Re8
23. f4 {Otherwise Black can choose between ...f4 or ...Nf4.} Bd4+ 24. Kh1 Kg7
25. Bh5 Bc5 {It's a pity they agreed to draw here. The position is full of
possibilities. Both sides have strong pieces - White, the knight on c6, Black,
the bishop on c5. Difficult to say who is better, in my opinion Black's
position contains a big potential thanks to the control over dark squares, a
passed pawn on e4 and chances to attack White's king.} (25... Bc5 26. Rb7 $13)
1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 20th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2003.03.02"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2847"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2003.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 094"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Nb8 11. Nbd2 Nbd7 12. Nf1 Re8 13. Ba2 c6 14. Ng3 Bf8 15.
Nf5 d5 16. d4 c5 17. dxc5 Nxc5 18. exd5 e4 19. N3d4 Bxd5 20. Bxd5 Qxd5 21. Bg5
Nfd7 22. Qg4 Ne5 23. Qg3 Ne6 24. Rad1 Nxg5 25. Qxg5 Qb7 26. Ng3 Nc4 27. Ndf5
Re6 28. b3 Nxa3 29. Rxe4 Rxe4 30. Nxe4 Qxe4 31. Nh6+ Kh8 32. Nxf7+ Kg8 33. Nh6+
Kh8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 20th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2003.03.03"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C96"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2734"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2003.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 094"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Nd7 12. Kh1 $146 {Kramnik comes up with not
easily understandable novelty, as the king's retreat to corner comes ahead of
the queenside development.} (12. Nbd2) (12. dxc5 dxc5) (12. d5) (12. a4) 12...
Bb7 13. d5 (13. Nbd2 cxd4 14. cxd4 Rc8 $13) 13... f5 14. exf5 (14. Nbd2 $5 Qc8
(14... fxe4 15. Nxe4 h6 (15... Nc4 16. Nfg5 $16) 16. b4 cxb4 17. cxb4 Nc4 18.
Qd3 Qb6 19. Ng3 Nf6 20. Bxh6 Bxd5 21. Bxg7 $18) 15. b3 Nf6 16. c4 bxc4 17. bxc4
f4 $13) 14... Nc4 15. Nbd2 Nxd2 (15... Bxd5 16. Nxc4 (16. Be4 Ncb6 17. Bxd5+
Nxd5 18. Ne4 N7b6 19. a4 bxa4 20. c4 Nb4 $17) 16... Bxc4 17. a4 Rb8 18. axb5
axb5 19. b3 Bf7 20. Ra7 $13) (15... Ncb6 16. Ne4 Bxd5 17. Neg5 Bxg5 18. Nxg5
Qf6 19. Be4 Bxe4 20. Nxe4 Qxf5 21. Qxd6 $11) 16. Qxd2 Nf6 17. Ng5 Bxd5 18. f4
$1 Qc7 (18... exf4 19. Qxf4 Qd7 20. Ne6 Rfe8 21. Qg3 Bf8 22. Bg5 $14) (18... e4
$2 19. Nxe4 Bxe4 20. Bxe4 Nxe4 21. Qd5+ Kh8 22. Rxe4 $16) 19. Ne6 Bxe6 20. fxe6
Nh5 (20... Rae8 21. a4 c4 22. axb5 axb5 23. Qd1 Qc6 24. f5 (24. fxe5 dxe5 25.
Rxe5 Bd6 26. Re1 Bg3 $15) 24... e4 25. Be3 d5 $11) 21. Qd5 (21. fxe5 dxe5 22.
Qd1 Nf6 23. Bg5 Rad8 $11) 21... Rad8 {Ponomariov is defending with a great
deal of souverenity, white's only trumph is the pawn e6.} (21... Nxf4 22. Bxf4
exf4 23. Qh5 (23. a4 Rab8 24. axb5 Rxb5 25. Rxa6 Rxb2 26. Be4 g6 27. Rea1 $13)
23... g6 24. Bxg6 hxg6 25. Qxg6+ Kh8 $11) 22. f5 (22. fxe5 $2 dxe5 $19) 22...
Ng3+ 23. Kh2 Nxf5 24. Rf1 Nh4 (24... g6 25. Be4 Qc8 26. a4 b4 27. cxb4 cxb4 28.
Bg5 Qc5 $13) 25. Bg5 Ng6 (25... Kh8 $2 26. Bxh4 $1 Bxh4 27. Qe4 g5 $8 28. Rxf8+
Rxf8 29. Rd1 $16) 26. h4 (26. Bxg6 hxg6 27. a4 Kh7 28. Bxe7 Qxe7 29. axb5 axb5
$11) 26... Nf4 (26... Kh8 27. Bxg6 hxg6 28. Rf7 Rxf7 29. exf7 Rf8 30. Rf1 $11)
27. Bxf4 exf4 28. g3 $5 {White is still trying to complicate matters, he can
force drawn at any moment with the move Qh5.} (28. Qh5 g6 29. Bxg6 hxg6 30.
Qxg6+ Kh8 31. Qh6+ $11) 28... f3 (28... fxg3+ 29. Kxg3 Kh8 30. Qh5 g6 31. Bxg6
Bf6 32. Bf7 $36) 29. Rxf3 (29. Qh5 g6 30. Bxg6 $11) 29... Rxf3 30. Qxf3 Rf8 31.
Qd3 (31. Qh5 g6 32. Bxg6 $11) 31... g6 32. Rf1 (32. h5 $2 Rf2+ 33. Kg1 (33. Kh3
c4 34. Qe4 d5 35. Qxd5 Rxc2) 33... c4 34. Qe4 Qc5 $19) 32... Qc8 33. Rxf8+
1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 20th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2003.03.05"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A25"]
[WhiteElo "2629"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "25"]
[EventDate "2003.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 094"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. e3 Nc6 4. a3 g6 5. d4 exd4 6. exd4 Bg7 7. Nf3 d5 8. Bg5
h6 9. Qe2+ Kf8 10. Be3 Kg8 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Nxd5 Qxd5 13. Qb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 20th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2003.03.06"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C90"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2003.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 094"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bb7 7. d3 Be7 8. Re1
O-O 9. Nbd2 Re8 10. c3 Bf8 11. Nf1 h6 12. Ng3 d6 13. a3 Na5 14. Bc2 c5 15. b4
Nc6 16. d4 cxd4 17. cxd4 exd4 18. Bb2 Rc8 19. Bb3 g6 20. h4 Bg7 21. h5 Nxh5 22.
Nxh5 gxh5 23. Bd5 Ba8 24. Bxc6 Rxc6 25. Bxd4 Rc4 26. Qd3 Bxd4 27. Nxd4 Qf6 28.
Rad1 h4 29. a4 Rxb4 30. axb5 axb5 31. Qd2 Ra4 32. Nxb5 Raxe4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 20th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2003.03.08"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2624"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2003.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 094"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. Nc3 Bb7 5. a3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Qc2 Nxc3 8.
bxc3 c5 9. e4 Nd7 10. Bf4 Be7 11. d5 exd5 12. exd5 O-O 13. Rd1 g5 14. Be3 g4
15. Ng1 f5 16. h3 Bg5 17. hxg4 Bxe3 18. fxe3 Qg5 19. Bd3 Rae8 20. Ne2 Qxe3 21.
c4 Qg3+ 22. Kd2 Qxg4 23. Rh3 Qg5+ 24. Kc3 Re3 25. Rxe3 Qxe3 26. Qd2 Qxd2+ 27.
Kxd2 Bc8 28. Nf4 Ne5 29. Re1 Re8 30. Kc3 Bd7 31. Bc2 Kg7 32. Nh5+ Kg6 33. Ng3
Kg5 34. Rf1 Rf8 35. Ne4+ Kg6 36. a4 Nf7 37. Nd2 Re8 38. Nf3 Nd6 39. Bd3 Kf6 40.
Ra1 Re3 41. Kd2 Re7 42. a5 Rg7 43. axb6 Rxg2+ 44. Ke3 axb6 45. Rb1 h5 46. Rxb6
Ke7 47. Ra6 f4+ 48. Kxf4 Rg4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 20th"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2003.03.09"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[Annotator "Erenburg/Schluricke"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2003.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2006"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.11.24"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.11.24"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 {Diese Variante war bis vor kurzem nicht so populär.
Die Hauptidee dieser Fortsetzung besteht darin, das Sweschnikow-System zu
vermeiden, in welchem Schwarz in letzter Zeit recht gute Resultate erzielte.
Aus diesem Grund wurde diese Variante zu einem häufigen Gast in der modernen
Praxis, auch bei Turnieren auf höchster Ebene.} e5 4. Bc4 d6 5. d3 Be7 6. O-O {
[%mdl 4]} (6. Nd2 {ist die Alternative.}) 6... Nf6 {Am besten. Von
zweifelhaftem Ruf sind 6...Be6?! und 6...Bg4?!:} (6... Be6 $6 {Gershon} 7. Nd5
$1 Nf6 8. Ng5 $1 Bxd5 9. exd5 Nb8 10. f4 (10. Bb5+ Nbd7 11. Ne6 fxe6 12. dxe6
O-O 13. exd7 a6 14. Bc4+ d5 15. Bb3 Qxd7 16. f4 e4 17. c4 dxc4 18. Bxc4+ Kh8
19. dxe4 $16 {Frolov,D-Aleksandrov,D/ St Petersburg 1997/ 1-0 (42)}) 10... exf4
$6 (10... Nbd7 $142) 11. Bxf4 $16 O-O 12. Qe2 Nbd7 (12... h6 $142 $16) 13. Rae1
Re8 14. Nxf7 $1 Kxf7 15. Qe6+ Kf8 16. g4 $1 $18 {Volokitin,A-Kozul,Z/ Portoroz
2001/ 1-0 (20)}) (6... Bg4 $6 {Kupreichik} 7. h3 Bh5 8. Nd5 Nf6 9. Ne3 Nd4 10.
g4 Bg6 11. c3 Nxf3+ 12. Qxf3 Qd7 (12... O-O $142 $14) 13. g5 Nh5 14. Nd5 Bd8
15. Qg4 a6 16. a4 f5 $6 (16... h6 $142 $16) 17. exf5 Qxf5 18. Qg2 Bf7 19. f4
$18 O-O 20. fxe5 Qxe5 21. Bd2 $18 {1-0 Kupreichik,V-Vaulin,A/ Tula 2002 (21)})
7. Ng5 $1 {Die prinzipiellste Fortsetzung. Damit gewinnt Weiß die Zeit zum
Hebel f2-f4 und bekommt gefährliches Spiel auf der halboffenen f-Linie.} O-O 8.
f4 {Die Ausgangsstellung dieser Variante.} exf4 {[%mdl 32768] Hier hat Schwarz
eine Vielzahl von Möglichkeiten:} ({Eine sehr logische Folge und auch eine der
Haupterwiderungen ist} 8... h6 {, welche häufig über Zugumstellung zur
Partiefortsetzung führt. Schwarz vertreibt den weißen Springer aus seiner
aktiven Stellung und erhält so das Feld e6 für seinen weißfeldrigen Läufer.} {
Viel beliebter ist aber} 9. Nf3 (9. Nh3 $5 {Die Idee dieses Zuges ist, die
f-Linie für den Turm offen zu halten.} Bg4 {kommt ebenfalls in Betracht.} (9...
exf4 10. Bxf4 Ne5 11. Bxe5 dxe5 12. Nd5 Be6 13. Nxf6+ Bxf6 14. Bxe6 Qd4+ 15.
Kh1 (15. Nf2 {Atlas} fxe6 16. c3 Qd6 17. Qe2 $14) 15... fxe6 16. c3 Qd6 17. Qe2
Rad8 18. Rf3 Be7 19. Rxf8+ Bxf8 20. Nf2 c4 21. Rd1 Qb6 22. h3 $14 {Atlas,
V-Nataf,I/ AUT-chT 2000/ 1/2-1/2 (43)}) 10. Qe1 Bxh3 11. gxh3 exf4 12. Bxf4 Nh5
13. Be3 Bg5 14. Kh1 Ne5 15. Bb3 Qd7 16. Bxg5 hxg5 17. Qe3 Nf4 18. Qg3 Qxh3 19.
Qxg5 Ne6 20. Qg3 Qxg3 21. hxg3 Nd4 22. Nd5 Rae8 23. Rad1 Nec6 24. c3 Nxb3 25.
axb3 f5 $11 {Landa,K-Kozlov,V/ Vladivostok op 1990/ 1/2-1/2 (64)}) 9... exf4 ({
Auf} 9... Be6 $6 {gelang es Weiß nach} 10. f5 $1 {in Vorteil zu kommen:} Bxc4
11. dxc4 Nd4 12. Qd3 a6 13. a4 Qd7 14. a5 Bd8 15. Nd2 $1 Rb8 16. Nd5 Nxd5 17.
exd5 $1 $16 {Kovalev,A-Votava,J/ Passau op 1995/ 1-0 (53)}) {Nach} 10. Bxf4 {
führt} Be6 {zur Partie.}) ({Meines Erachtens hat Schwarz keinerlei Probleme im
Abspiel} 8... Bg4 {und erreicht recht mühelos eine gleiche Stellung.}) 9. Bxf4
h6 (9... Na5 {ist eine äußerst logische Fortsetzung. Schwarz beabsichtigt, den
starken weißfeldrigen Läufer des Gegners zu tauschen, der häufig unangenehme
Drohungen gegen seinen Königsflügel aufstellt. Doch nach dem Tausch auf c4
wird Weiß eine recht bequeme Bauernstruktur erhalten, die ihm erlaubt, ernsten
Druck in der d-Linie auszuüben.}) 10. Nf3 Be6 (10... Ng4 $6 {räumt Weiß einen
bequemen Vorteil ein:} 11. h3 $1 (11. Nd5 $5 Nge5 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 (12... dxe5 13.
Be3 $16 {[%cal Gd1h5]}) 13. Qd2 $14) 11... Nge5 12. Nxe5 dxe5 13. Be3 Bd6 $6 (
13... Nd4 $142 $5 14. Qh5 Be6 $1 15. Bxe6 fxe6 16. Rxf8+ Bxf8 $14) 14. Qh5 Be6
15. Nd5 $40 (15. Bxh6 $1 {Comp Fritz8} gxh6 $140 16. Qxh6 {[%cal Gf1f3,Yf3g3]}
Be7 17. Rf3 Bh4 18. Nd5 $18 {[%cal Rd5f6]}) 15... Rc8 $2 (15... Nd4 $2 16. Nf6+
$1 gxf6 17. Bxh6 Re8 18. c3 $18) (15... Be7 $142 $16) 16. Rf3 $18 {[%cal Gd5f6]
} (16. Nf6+ $1 $18) 16... Nb4 17. Ne7+ Qxe7 18. Rg3 Bxc4 19. Rxg7+ Kxg7 20.
Bxh6+ {1-0 Delchev,A-Fernandez Siles,L/ Albacete op 2003 (20)}) 11. Nd5 $1 {
Kramnik wählt die aggressivste Fortsetzung.} (11. Qd2 {gestattet Schwarz den
Durchbruch} d5) 11... Bxd5 (11... Qd7 12. Qd2 Bxd5 13. exd5 $143 $6 (13. Bxd5
$142 $5 Nxd5 14. exd5 Nb4 15. c4 b5 (15... Qf5 16. d4 $16) 16. a3 Na6 17. Rae1
$14 {und die weißen Chancen sind vorzuziehen.}) 13... Nb4 14. Rae1 Rae8 15. a3
Nbxd5 16. Bxh6 gxh6 17. Qxh6 Qf5 18. Ng5 Qg6 19. Nxf7 $2 (19. Qxg6+ fxg6 20.
Ne6 Rf7 21. Ng5 Rff8 22. Ne6 $11) 19... Qxf7 20. Rf3 Qh7 $17 {Mitkov,
N-Kurajica,B/ Oberwart op 1991/ 0-1 (44)}) 12. exd5 $1 {Das ist die einzige
Methode, um Vorteil zu kämpfen. Danach hat Schwarz einige Schwierigkeiten, die
weiße Initiative zu neutralisieren.} ({Nach} 12. Bxd5 Nxd5 13. exd5 {gleicht
Schwarz mit} Ne5 $1 {aus.} {Im Fall von} 14. Nxe5 ({Auf} 14. Qd2 {erwidert
Schwarz} Ng6 {und erreicht gleiches Spiel.} 15. Bg3 Bf6 16. Rae1 (16. c4 Re8
17. Rae1 Qd7 18. d4 cxd4 19. Nxd4 Rxe1 20. Rxe1 Be5 $11 {Al Modiahki,
M-Shariyazdanov,A/ Dubai op 2000/ 1/2-1/2 (44)}) 16... Qd7 (16... Qb6 {Illescas
} 17. c4 Rfe8 18. b3 Rxe1 19. Rxe1 (19. Qxe1 $5 a5 20. h4 $36) 19... a5 {
Polgar,J-Illescas Cordoba,M/ Madrid 1995/ 0-1 (40)} 20. Qc2 $14) 17. c4 b5 18.
b3 a5 19. d4 bxc4 20. bxc4 cxd4 21. Nxd4 Bxd4+ 22. Qxd4 Rac8 23. h3 f6 24. Qe4
Ne5 25. Bxe5 fxe5 26. Rxf8+ Rxf8 27. c5 Qa7 28. Qe3 Qxc5 29. Qxc5 dxc5 30. Rxe5
c4 {1/2-1/2 Vouldis,A-Krasenkow,M/ Kavala op 2001 (30)}) 14... dxe5 15. Bxe5
Qxd5 $11 {ist die Stellung erneut absolut gleich.} 16. Bc3 Rae8 $11 {Podlesnik,
B-Sveshnikov,E/ Ljubljana 2002/ 0-1 (53)}) 12... Na5 ({Die prinzipiellste
Erwiderung auf} 12... Nb4 {lautet} 13. Bd2 $1 ({Der Punkt ist, dass Weiß nicht
sofort mit} 13. Nh4 $6 {einen Angriff auf den schwarzen König einleiten kann,
da Schwarz die starke Riposte} Nfxd5 $1 {hat.}) {Ich glaube, dass Schwarz in
dieser Stellung vor ernsten Problemen steht. Nach} 13... Nbxd5 14. Nh4 $1 {
ist seine Stellung sowohl nach 14...Nb6 als auch nach 14...Nc7 unangenehm:} Nc7
(14... Nb6 15. Nf5 $40 Nxc4 $6 (15... d5 $142 16. Qe1 $1 dxc4 $2 (16... Bd6
$142 {Sutovsky} 17. Qh4 Ne8 18. Qg4 $1 $44 {->}) 17. Nxe7+ Kh7 $2 (17... Kh8
$142 18. Rxf6 gxf6 19. Bxh6 $16) 18. Rxf6 $1 $18 gxf6 19. Qe4+ Kh8 20. Bc3 $1
Qd6 21. Nf5 {1-0 Tiviakov,S-Ledger,S/ Catalan Bay op 2003 (21)} (21. Rf1 $1 $18
{Comp Fritz8})) 16. dxc4 $16 Nh7 17. Bf4 (17. Qg4 {Sutovsky} Bg5 18. Qg3 $16 {
/\ h4 >< d6} (18. Rad1)) 17... Bf6 18. Bxd6 Re8 19. Qg4 Bd4+ 20. Kh1 Qg5 21.
Qf3 Bxb2 22. Rab1 Bf6 23. Rxb7 $16 {Smirin,I-Avrukh,B/ ISR-ch Tel Aviv 2002/
1-0 (33)}) 15. Nf5 d5 16. Bb3 $44 Kh7 17. c3 Ng8 18. Qf3 Bg5 19. Be1 Ne7 20. h4
Nxf5 21. Qxf5+ g6 22. Qh3 Be7 23. h5 a5 24. Bd2 g5 25. d4 $16 {Macieja,
B-Bobras,P/ POL-ch Warsaw 2002/ 1-0 (46)}) 13. Nh4 $1 {Der direkte Weg für den
Springer zum idealen Vorposten f5.} Nxc4 {Es wurde auch 13...Qd7?! und 13...
b5?! versucht, aber Schwarz konnte den Angriff in beiden Fällen nicht parieren.
} ({Zu erwägen ist jedoch} 13... g5 $5 {, das bisher noch nicht gespielt wurde,
z.B.:} 14. Nf5 $5 gxf4 15. Nxh6+ (15. Re1 Re8 16. Bb5 Bf8 17. Bxe8 Nxe8 18. Qd2
Qg5 $1 $14) (15. Rxf4 Kh7 $16) 15... Kh7 16. Nf5 Rg8 17. Qe1 {Meyer,CD} (17.
Rxf4 $5 Rg6 $1 (17... Rg5 18. Qf3 Nxc4 19. dxc4 Bf8 20. Rf1 $44) 18. Qf3 Nxc4
19. dxc4 Bf8 20. Rf1 Bg7 21. Qe3 $13) 17... Rg5 18. Nxe7 Re5 19. Qh4+ Kg7 20.
Rxf4 Qxe7 21. Raf1 Nh5 $1 22. Qg4+ Qg5 23. Rxf7+ Kh6 $13 {unklar, z.B.} 24. Qd7
Qe3+ 25. R1f2 (25. Kh1 $4 Ng3+ $1 $19) 25... Qe1+ 26. Rf1 Qe3+ $11) (13... Qd7
$6 {Meyer,CD} {Einfach und stark ist dagegen} 14. Bd2 $142 $1 {, und Weiß
erhält seine erwünschte Druckstellung:} (14. Bxh6 $6 {ist zu übermütig!} Nxc4 (
14... gxh6 15. Nf5 Nxc4 {ist nur Zugumstellung.}) 15. Nf5 gxh6 16. dxc4 Rfe8 $2
{Schwarz revanchiert sich für das provokante Opfer auf schlimme Weise.} (16...
Kh8 $142 $1 {wäre hingegen der Härtetest:} 17. Nxh6 Nh7 $1 18. Qd3 Bg5 19. Qc3+
f6 20. Nf5 Rae8 21. h4 Re5 $13 {/ =/+}) 17. Nxh6+ Kg7 (17... Kh7 $142 {Comp
Fritz8} 18. Qd2 Rg8 {[%cal Gg8g6]} 19. Nxg8 Rxg8 $16) 18. Qd2 $18 {Gallagher,
J-Heidrich,M/ BL0203 GER-chT 2003/ 1-0 (32)}) 14... Nxc4 15. dxc4 $16 {-> 14...
Qd7?! - Kovalev,A-Sveshnikov,E/ Rowy op 1999}) (13... b5 $6 14. Nf5 $1 bxc4 15.
Bxh6 gxh6 16. Nxh6+ Kh7 17. Nf5 cxd3 $2 (17... Rh8 $142 18. Qe1 Nxd5 19. Qe4
$44) 18. Qxd3 Kh8 19. Rae1 $1 $18 {Sutovsky,E-Smirin,I/ ISR-ch Tel Aviv 2002/
1-0 (24)}) 14. dxc4 Nxd5 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8] Diese Neuerung ist eine Verstärkung.
} ({Der vormals gespielte Ausgleichsversuch mit} 14... Qd7 $6 {scheiterte:} 15.
Bd2 $1 Qg4 (15... Ng4 $143 16. Nf5 Ne5 17. Qh5 $16 {/ +-}) 16. Nf5 $16 Rfe8 {
Kovalev,A-Sveshnikov,E/ Rowy op 1999/ 1-0 (52)} 17. Bxh6 $1 $16) 15. Qxd5 (15.
Ng6 {Meyer,CD} fxg6 16. Qxd5+ Kh7 17. Rae1 Qd7 18. c3 Rae8 $11) 15... Bxh4 16.
Rad1 $1 $14 {Meines Erachtens sind die weißen Chancen leicht besser, doch
Schwarz kann mit genauem Spiel Remis erreichen.} (16. Bxd6 {Meyer,CD} Be7 17.
Be5 $14) 16... b6 $1 (16... Qb6 {Meyer,CD} 17. Bxd6 Rad8 18. b4 (18. Qe5 Rfe8
19. Qf4 Bf6 20. Bc7 Rxd1 21. Bxb6 Bd4+ 22. Kh1 Ree1 23. Qxf7+ $11 {Dauerschach}
) 18... cxb4+ (18... Qxb4 19. Qf5 Qxc4 20. Bxf8 Rxf8 21. Rd7 $14 Bf6 22. Rxb7
Bd4+ 23. Kh1 Qxa2 24. c3 g6 25. Qf3 Bg7 26. Rc7 Qa5 27. Rxf7 Rxf7 28. Qxf7+ Kh7
29. c4 Qc3) 19. c5 Qb5 20. Qe4 Bg5 21. Bxf8 Rxf8 22. Rf5 $14) 17. Bxd6 (17. Qf3
{Meyer,CD} Bf6 (17... Be7 18. Qg3 Bh4 19. Qg4 Bf6 20. Bxd6 Re8 21. Bxc5 Qc8 22.
Qxc8 Raxc8 23. Bd4 Bxd4+ 24. Rxd4 $14) 18. Bxd6 Bd4+ 19. Rxd4 cxd4 20. Bxf8
Qxf8 21. Qd5 Re8 (21... Rd8 {Leko} 22. Rxf7 Rxd5 23. Rxf8+ Kxf8 24. cxd5 Ke7
25. Kf2 Kd6 26. Kf3 Kxd5 $11) 22. Qxd4 Re2 $11) 17... Be7 18. Be5 Bg5 $5 (18...
Qxd5 {Leko} 19. cxd5 $14) 19. Bd6 (19. Qf3 $5 Qe7 20. Rfe1 {Meyer,CD} (20. Rde1
{Leko} Rae8 (20... Qd7 $5) 21. Qg3 $1 Qd7 $1 22. h4 Rxe5 23. Qxe5 Bxh4 $132)
20... Rfe8 21. Qg3 Rad8 $11) 19... Be7 20. Bf4 Bf6 $1 21. c3 (21. Qf3 {Meyer,CD
} Qc8 22. c3 Qe6 (22... Qf5 23. Bxh6 Qxf3 24. Rxf3 Bxc3 25. Rxc3 gxh6 26. Rg3+
Kh7 27. Rd7 Rad8 28. Rgd3 Rxd7 29. Rxd7 $16) (22... Re8 23. Bxh6 Qe6 24. Rd5
Bxc3 25. bxc3 gxh6 $14) 23. Rd5 $14 (23. Bxh6 Qxc4)) 21... Qxd5 $5 22. cxd5
Rad8 23. Bxh6 $5 (23. Rfe1 {Meyer,CD} Rd7 24. Be5 Bxe5 25. Rxe5 c4) 23... Bxc3
24. bxc3 gxh6 25. Rfe1 (25. c4 {Meyer,CD} Rfe8 $11) (25. Rf6 $5 {Leko} Kg7 26.
Rc6 $11) 25... Rd7 26. c4 a6 $1 27. a4 b5 $1 $11 28. axb5 axb5 29. cxb5 Rb8 30.
d6 Rxb5 31. Re7 Rbb7 32. Rxd7 Rxd7 33. Kf2 Kg7 34. Kf3 Kf6 $11 35. Rd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Almasi, Zoltan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B35"]
[WhiteElo "2676"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "136"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O 8.
Bb3 a5 9. a4 Ng4 10. Qxg4 Nxd4 11. Qh4 d6 12. Nd5 Re8 13. Rd1 Nxb3 14. Bb6 Qd7
15. cxb3 Ra6 16. Bd4 Qd8 17. O-O Be6 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Nf4 Qc8 20. Rd3 Rc6 21.
Qg3 f6 22. Ne2 Bf7 23. Nd4 Rc1 24. Qe3 Rxf1+ 25. Kxf1 Qd7 26. Rc3 Rc8 27. f3
Rxc3 28. Qxc3 e5 29. Ne2 d5 30. exd5 Qxd5 31. b4 axb4 32. Qxb4 Qb3 33. Qxb3
Bxb3 34. Nc3 b6 35. Kf2 f5 36. g3 Kf6 37. f4 g5 38. fxe5+ Kxe5 39. Ke3 h5 40.
Kf3 f4 41. gxf4+ gxf4 42. Ne2 Bd5+ 43. Kf2 Bc6 44. b3 f3 45. Ng1 Kd4 46. b4
Bxa4 47. Kxf3 Kc4 48. Kf4 Kxb4 49. Ke3 Bd1 50. Nh3 Kc3 51. Nf4 b5 52. Nd5+ Kc4
53. Nb6+ Kc5 54. Nd7+ Kd6 55. Nf6 Ke5 56. Nd7+ Kf5 57. Nc5 Bc2 58. Na6 Kg4 59.
Nb4 Bf5 60. Kf2 Kf4 61. Ke2 Bg4+ 62. Kd2 Kf3 63. Nd5 Kg2 64. Kc3 Kxh2 65. Kb4
h4 66. Kxb5 Kg3 67. Ne3 h3 68. Kc5 Be2 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B82"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. f4 a6 8. Qf3
Qc7 9. O-O-O Bd7 10. Nb3 Rc8 11. Kb1 b5 12. Bd3 Nb4 13. g4 Bc6 14. g5 Nd7 15.
Qf2 g6 16. Rhf1 Bg7 17. f5 Ne5 18. Bb6 Qd7 19. Be2 Qb7 20. Na5 Qb8 21. f6 Bf8
22. a3 Nxc2 23. Kxc2 Bxe4+ 24. Kb3 Ba8 25. Ba7 Qc7 26. Qb6 Qxb6 27. Bxb6 h6 28.
Nxb5 Kd7 29. Bd4 Bd5+ 30. Ka4 axb5+ 31. Bxb5+ Bc6 32. Bxe5 Bxb5+ 33. Kxb5 Rc5+
34. Kb6 Rxe5 35. Rc1 Rxa5 36. Rc7+ Kd8 37. Rfc1 Rc5 38. R1xc5 dxc5 39. Kc6 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2723"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 cxd4 8. Nxd4
Bc5 9. Qd2 O-O 10. O-O-O a6 11. Qf2 Bxd4 12. Bxd4 b5 13. Be3 Bb7 14. Bd3 Nb4
15. Bd4 Rc8 16. Kb1 Qa5 17. a3 Nc6 18. f5 Ndxe5 19. Bb6 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.18"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Nd5 Nxd5 8.
exd5 Nb8 9. c4 Be7 10. Bd3 a6 11. Nc3 O-O 12. O-O f5 13. f3 Nd7 14. Kh1 Bg5 15.
b4 a5 16. a3 axb4 17. Bxg5 Qxg5 18. axb4 Rxa1 19. Qxa1 Qe3 20. Be2 b5 21. Qc1
Qxc1 22. Rxc1 bxc4 23. Nb5 Bb7 24. Nxd6 Bxd5 25. Bxc4 Bxc4 26. Rxc4 e4 27. fxe4
fxe4 28. Kg1 e3 29. Re4 Nf6 30. Rxe3 Rd8 31. Re6 Rb8 32. Re7 Rxb4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.20"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 a6 5. Nc3 b5 6. b3 Bf5 7. Ne5 h6 8. g4 Bh7
9. Bg2 e6 10. O-O Be7 11. f4 Nfd7 12. cxd5 Nxe5 13. d6 Qxd6 14. dxe5 Qc7 15.
Ne4 O-O 16. Bb2 Nd7 17. Rc1 c5 18. g5 hxg5 19. Nxg5 Bxg5 20. Bxa8 Rxa8 21. fxg5
Nxe5 22. Qd4 f6 23. Qf4 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.21"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
Be7 9. Qd2 h5 10. O-O-O Nbd7 11. Kb1 Rc8 12. Bd3 b5 13. h3 h4 14. f4 Qc7 15.
Rhe1 Nb6 16. Bxb6 Qxb6 17. Nd5 Bxd5 18. exd5 Rh5 19. fxe5 dxe5 20. Be2 Rf5 21.
Bf3 Rd8 22. Qe2 Qc7 23. Rd3 Kf8 24. Rc3 Qd7 25. Re3 Bd6 26. Nd2 Rf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.22"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2699"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Qc7 5. O-O Nd4 6. Re1 a6 7. Bf1 e5 8. h3
Nxf3+ 9. Qxf3 d6 10. a4 Be6 11. b3 Be7 12. Bc4 Qa5 13. Bb2 O-O 14. Re2 Bxc4 15.
bxc4 Qb4 16. Nd1 Qxc4 17. Ne3 Qe6 18. a5 Rfb8 19. c4 b5 20. axb6 Rxb6 21. Bc3
Rb3 22. Ree1 Qd7 23. Qd1 Qb7 24. Qc2 Bf8 25. Ng4 Nxg4 26. hxg4 Rb8 27. Ra2 Qc8
28. f3 Be7 29. Rea1 Qe6 30. Qd3 Qh6 31. Rxa6 Qh4 32. Qf1 h5 33. Qe1 Qg5 34.
gxh5 Qxh5 35. Ra8 Rxa8 36. Rxa8+ Kh7 37. Ra1 Bg5 38. Qf2 Qh6 39. Re1 Qe6 40.
Qg3 Bh6 41. Qh3 Qxh3 42. gxh3 Ra3 43. Rb1 Ra2 44. Rb2 Rxb2 45. Bxb2 Bxd2 46.
Kf1 Kg6 47. Ke2 Ba5 48. Bc1 f5 49. Kf1 f4 50. Ke2 Kg5 51. Kf1 Bc3 52. Kg2 Kf6
53. Kf1 Bb4 54. Ke2 Kg5 55. Kf1 Kh4 56. Kg2 Bc3 57. Ba3 Bd4 58. Bc1 Be3 59. Bb2
Bd2 60. Ba1 Kg5 61. Kf1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.23"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2678"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 Be7 8. dxc5
O-O 9. Qd2 Nxc5 10. a3 b6 11. Bb5 Bb7 12. O-O Rc8 13. Rad1 Qc7 14. Qe1 Rfd8 15.
Bxc6 Bxc6 16. Nd4 g6 17. Bf2 Bf8 18. Bh4 Re8 19. Kh1 a6 20. Bf6 Nd7 21. Qh4
Nxf6 22. exf6 Qd8 23. f5 exf5 24. Nxf5 Re6 25. Nd4 Rd6 26. Qf4 b5 27. Rde1 Bb7
28. Re3 Qb6 29. Nce2 a5 30. Ng3 b4 31. axb4 axb4 32. Nh5 Qd8 33. Nf5 d4 34. Re7
Rb6 35. Rfe1 Qd5 36. R1e2 Qxf5 37. Qxf5 gxf5 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.25"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "150"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4
d6 9. Rd1 Nbd7 10. b3 Rc8 11. Bb2 O-O 12. Rac1 Ne4 13. Qe3 Nxc3 14. Bxc3 Nf6
15. Ne1 Qd7 16. Bd4 Rfd8 17. Qd2 Bxg2 18. Nxg2 Qb7 19. Ne3 Ne4 20. Qd3 Nc5 21.
Qb1 Bh6 22. f4 Ne6 23. Ng4 Bf8 24. Be3 f5 25. Nf2 Bg7 26. Qd3 Nc5 27. Qd5+ Qxd5
28. cxd5 Nd7 29. Nd3 Bc3 30. Kg2 Nf6 31. Nf2 Bb2 32. Rb1 Ba3 33. Bc1 Bxc1 34.
Rbxc1 Rxc1 35. Rxc1 Nxd5 36. e4 fxe4 37. Nxe4 h6 38. Kf3 Kf7 39. h4 Rd7 40. h5
gxh5 41. Rh1 Kg6 42. f5+ Kg7 43. Rxh5 Rc7 44. Rh2 Rc1 45. Rd2 Nf6 46. Re2 Rf1+
47. Nf2 Kf7 48. g4 Rg1 49. Rc2 h5 50. gxh5 Rg5 51. Rc7 Rxf5+ 52. Ke2 Ra5 53. a4
Nxh5 54. Ne4 Ke6 55. Rb7 Nf4+ 56. Ke3 Nd5+ 57. Kd4 Nb4 58. Nc3 Nc6+ 59. Kd3 Rh5
60. Nb5 Rh3+ 61. Kc2 Rh2+ 62. Kc3 Rh3+ 63. Kc2 Rxb3 64. Rc7 Rxb5 65. axb5 Nd4+
66. Kd3 Nxb5 67. Rc1 Kd5 68. Rb1 Nd4 69. Kc3 Kc5 70. Re1 e5 71. Kd3 a5 72. Rc1+
Kd5 73. Rc8 b5 74. Ra8 Nc6 75. Kc3 a4 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.26"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A58"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2668"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 g6 6. Nc3 Bxa6 7. g3 d6 8. Bg2
Nbd7 9. Nf3 Bg7 10. Rb1 O-O 11. O-O Qa5 12. Bd2 Rfb8 13. Qc2 Ng4 14. a4 Nge5
15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. b3 Qd8 17. Rfe1 Ra7 18. h3 Rab7 19. Na2 Qc8 20. f4 Nd7 21.
Kh2 Nb6 22. e4 Nxa4 23. e5 Nb6 24. Nc3 Ra7 25. Rbd1 Rba8 26. Ne4 Bb7 27. exd6
Bxd5 28. dxe7 Rxe7 29. Qxc5 Qxc5 30. Nxc5 Rxe1 31. Bxe1 Bxg2 32. Kxg2 h5 33.
Bf2 Ra2 34. Kf3 Rc2 35. Rd8+ Bf8 36. Nd3 Rc6 37. b4 Kg7 38. b5 Re6 39. Bd4+ f6
40. f5 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.27"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2570"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8.
f3 h6 9. Bh4 d5 10. e3 Re8 11. Bd3 Nbd7 12. Ne2 c5 13. cxd5 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Nxd5
15. Bxd8 Nxc3 16. Bh4 Ne5 17. Bf1 Nd5 18. Bg3 Ng6 19. Kf2 Red8 20. Rd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Almasi, Zoltan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C97"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2676"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 Rd8 13. b3 Bd7 14. Bb2 Rac8 15.
Rc1 Nc6 16. d5 Na5 17. c4 Rb8 18. Bc3 b4 19. Bb2 g6 20. Nf1 Nh5 21. Ng3 Ng7 22.
Qd2 Nb7 23. Nh2 Rf8 24. f4 Bh4 25. Nhf1 f6 26. Rcd1 Nd8 27. f5 Nf7 28. Bc1 Qc8
29. Qe2 Kh8 30. Qg4 Bg5 31. Bxg5 Nxg5 32. Ne3 Nf7 33. Qe2 Nh6 34. Rf1 Qd8 35.
Qd2 Ng8 36. h4 Qe7 37. Kf2 Nh6 38. Rh1 gxf5 39. Ngxf5 Ngxf5 40. Nxf5 Bxf5 41.
Qxh6 Bg4 42. Rdf1 Rg8 43. Ke1 Rg6 44. Qe3 Rbg8 45. g3 Qg7 46. Rhg1 a5 47. Kd2
Bd7 48. Rf3 Ra8 49. Rgf1 Bh3 50. Rg1 Bg4 51. Rf2 Bd7 52. Qf3 a4 53. bxa4 Bxa4
54. h5 Rh6 55. Kd1 Be8 56. Rh1 Rxa2 57. g4 Ra1+ 58. Kd2 Qg5+ 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qa5 7. Bd2 b6 8.
Bg2 Bb7 9. O-O O-O 10. Qb3 Qa6 11. Bg5 Ne4 12. d5 d6 13. Rad1 Re8 14. Bf4 Nd7
15. dxe6 Rxe6 16. Bh3 Re7 17. Nh4 Bc6 18. Nf5 Ree8 19. f3 Nef6 20. Nxd6 Rxe2
21. Rf2 Rxf2 22. Kxf2 Nf8 23. Bg5 Ne8 24. Nf5 Ng6 25. Re1 h6 26. Bc1 Rd8 27.
Bf1 Qb7 28. Rd1 Rd7 29. Be2 Ne5 30. Qc2 Nf6 31. Bf4 Ng6 32. Bc1 Ne5 33. Rxd7
Qxd7 34. Bf4 Qe6 35. g4 Nxc4 36. Qd1 Bd5 37. Qa4 g6 38. Nxh6+ Kg7 39. Qxa7 Ne4+
40. fxe4 Qxe4 41. Qc7 Qg2+ 42. Ke1 Qh1+ 43. Kf2 Qg2+ 44. Ke1 Qh1+ 45. Kf2
1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B54"]
[WhiteElo "2723"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 d6 6. g4 Nge7 7. Be3 a6 8. f4
b5 9. Bg2 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Nc6 11. Qb6 Qxb6 12. Bxb6 Rb8 13. Be3 g5 14. fxg5 Ne5
15. h3 Be7 16. b3 Rg8 17. O-O-O Bxg5 18. Bxg5 Rxg5 19. Rxd6 h5 20. Rd2 hxg4 21.
hxg4 Rxg4 22. Rh8+ Ke7 23. Kb2 Rg3 24. Bf1 Rg1 25. Bd3 Nc6 26. a4 b4 27. Nd5+
exd5 28. exd5 Bg4 29. Rh6 Ne5 30. d6+ Kd7 31. Bxa6 Bf3 32. Rf6 Bc6 33. Rf5 Re8
34. Rd4 Rg4 35. Rxg4 Nxg4 36. Rxf7+ Kxd6 37. Rf4 Re4 38. Rxe4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.18"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. O-O
d5 9. Qc2 Nbd7 10. Rd1 Rc8 11. a4 O-O 12. a5 b5 13. c5 Ne4 14. Be1 f5 15. Nc3
Qc7 16. Na2 Rce8 17. Nb4 Bc8 18. a6 Bf6 19. Nd3 Qb8 20. Nb4 Qc7 21. Nd3 Qb8 22.
Qa2 e5 23. e3 Re6 24. Rac1 Rfe8 25. Nb4 exd4 26. exd4 Nf8 27. Bh3 g6 28. Nd3
Qc7 29. Nfe5 Qg7 30. f3 Ng5 31. Bg2 Bd7 32. Bc3 R6e7 33. Re1 Nge6 34. f4 g5 35.
Kh1 gxf4 36. gxf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.20"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E46"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nge2 d5 6. a3 Bd6 7. c5 Be7 8. b4 b6
9. Ng3 c6 10. Be2 a5 11. Rb1 Nbd7 12. O-O axb4 13. axb4 Ba6 14. Re1 Qc8 15. Qc2
Bxe2 16. Ngxe2 bxc5 17. bxc5 Qa6 18. Bd2 Rfb8 19. f3 Rxb1 20. Rxb1 e5 21. Kf2
Re8 22. Rd1 exd4 23. exd4 Bd8 24. Bf4 Qc4 25. Qd3 Qb4 26. Qb1 Qc4 27. Qd3 Qb4
28. Na2 Qa4 29. Nec3 Qa3 30. Bc1 Qa7 31. g3 Ba5 32. Bg5 h6 33. Bxf6 Nxf6 34.
Ne2 Be1+ 35. Kxe1 Qxa2 36. Rd2 Qa1+ 37. Rd1 Qa2 38. Rd2 Qa1+ 39. Rd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.21"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 e5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nxe5 Nxe4 7. Nxe4 Qd4
8. Qe2 Qxe5 9. f4 Qxf4 10. d4 Qh4+ 11. g3 Qe7 12. O-O f5 13. Nd6+ Kd7 14. Qxe7+
Bxe7 15. dxc5 Bxd6 16. Rd1 Ke8 17. cxd6 Be6 18. Bg5 Kd7 19. Re1 h6 20. Be7 g5
21. Re5 Rhg8 22. a4 b6 23. b4 a6 24. Rc1 f4 25. c4 fxg3 26. hxg3 a5 27. c5 axb4
28. cxb6 Rxa4 29. Rce1 Bd5 30. Bf6 b3 31. b7 Rb4 32. Re7+ Kxd6 33. Rh7 c5 34.
Rxh6 Rxb7 35. Be5+ Ke7 36. Rd1 b2 37. Rb1 Ra8 38. Rxb2 Rxb2 39. Bxb2 Ra2 40.
Bf6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.22"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C96"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2699"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3
d6 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Nd7 12. dxc5 dxc5 13. Nbd2 Bb7 14. Qe2 Re8 15.
b3 Bf8 16. Rd1 Qc8 17. Nf1 c4 18. Ne3 Nf6 19. b4 Nc6 20. Nd5 Nxd5 21. exd5 Nd4
22. cxd4 exd4 23. Qd2 d3 24. Bxd3 cxd3 25. Qxd3 Rd8 26. Ng5 g6 27. Bb2 Rxd5 28.
Qe3 Qd8 29. Rxd5 Qxd5 30. f3 Qd6 31. Rc1 Be7 32. Qc3 f6 33. a3 h6 34. Ne4 Bxe4
35. fxe4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.23"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2678"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Be3 Bd6 7. h3 Nd7 8.
Nbd2 O-O 9. O-O c5 10. Nc4 b5 11. Ncd2 Nb8 12. a4 b4 13. Nb3 Qe7 14. Na5 Bd7
15. Nd2 Nc6 16. Nxc6 Bxc6 17. Qe2 Rae8 18. f3 Bd7 19. Rfc1 Be6 20. c3 a6 21.
cxb4 cxb4 22. Nc4 f5 23. a5 Qd7 24. Nxd6 cxd6 25. Bb6 Qb5 26. Rc7 fxe4 27. fxe4
Rc8 28. Rac1 Rxc7 29. Rxc7 Rf7 30. Qc2 b3 31. Qc6 Rxc7 32. Qxc7 Qd7 33. Qb8+
Kf7 34. Kh2 h6 35. Bc7 d5 36. Bxe5 dxe4 37. dxe4 Bc4 38. Qb4 Qc6 39. Qd2 Be6
40. Qd4 Qd7 41. Bxg7 Qxd4 42. Bxd4 h5 43. Kg3 Bc4 44. Kh4 Be2 45. Kg5 Ke6 46.
Bc3 Bd1 47. Kf4 Be2 48. g4 hxg4 49. hxg4 Bd1 50. g5 Bh5 51. Ke3 Bg6 52. Kd4 Kd6
53. Ke3 Bh7 54. Bf6 Kc5 55. Kd3 Bg6 56. Be7+ Kc6 57. Kd4 Kd7 58. Bf6 Kc6 59.
Bg7 Bh7 60. Ke5 Bg6 61. Bf8 Bh7 62. Bb4 Bg6 63. Kf6 Bxe4 64. g6 Bd5 65. Ke7 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.25"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. g3
Nbd7 9. Bg2 dxc4 10. Qe2 Be7 11. O-O O-O 12. Rd1 Qc7 13. Qxc4 e5 14. b4 Nb6 15.
Qb3 exd4 16. exd4 Qd7 17. b5 Nbd5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. bxc6 bxc6 20. Bd2 Bf6 21.
Rac1 Rac8 22. Ba5 Rfe8 23. Qd3 Bd8 24. Bd2 Bf6 25. Rc2 Ne7 26. Bb4 Nd5 27. Ba5
Bd8 28. Bd2 Bf6 29. Rdc1 Ne7 30. Rc4 Red8 31. Be3 Nd5 32. Bf3 Qe6 33. Kg2 Nxe3+
34. Qxe3 Qd6 35. d5 c5 36. Rxc5 Rxc5 37. Qxc5 Qxc5 38. Rxc5 Be5 39. a4 Kf8 40.
Ra5 Bd4 41. Rb5 Ke7 42. Rb4 Bc5 43. Rc4 Kd6 44. h4 Rb8 45. Rf4 Ke7 46. Re4+ Kd6
47. Rf4 Ke7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.26"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2668"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8.
f3 h6 9. Bh4 d5 10. e3 Re8 11. Bd3 Nbd7 12. Ne2 c5 13. cxd5 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Nxd5
15. Bxd8 Nxc3 16. Bh4 Ne5 17. Bf1 Nd5 18. Bg3 Ng6 19. Kf2 Red8 20. Bc4 Rac8 21.
Rac1 Nde7 22. Be2 e5 23. Nb3 Bd5 24. Nd2 Be6 25. Rxc8 Rxc8 26. Bd3 Nf5 27. Ke2
Nxg3+ 28. hxg3 Ne7 29. g4 f6 30. Ne4 Kf8 31. Rd1 Bb3 32. Rd2 Rc1 33. Nd6 Nc8
34. Nf5 Ne7 35. Nd6 g6 36. Ba6 f5 37. gxf5 gxf5 38. Bd3 Be6 39. Nb5 a5 40. Nd6
Kg7 41. Rc2 Rg1 42. Kf2 Rd1 43. Ke2 Rg1 44. Kf2 Rd1 45. Ke2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 12th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2003.03.27"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ljubojevic, Ljubomir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2003.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 093 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 Nf6 8.
O-O-O Bb4 9. f3 d5 10. a3 Bxc3 11. Qxc3 dxe4 12. fxe4 Nxe4 13. Qd3 Nc5 14. Qc4
Nd7 15. Nxc6 Qxc6 16. Qg4 g6 17. Be2 O-O 18. Bh6 Re8 19. Rhf1 f5 20. Qd4 e5 21.
Bc4+ Kh8 22. Qh4 Nf6 23. Bg5 Ng8 24. Bf7 Rf8 25. Bd5 Qc7 26. Qb4 Re8 27. Qb3 h6
28. Bxg8 hxg5 29. Bf7 Rf8 30. Bxg6 Kg7 31. Bh5 Rh8 32. g4 Rh6 33. Rde1 Be6 34.
Qe3 Kf6 35. h4 Rg8 36. gxf5 Bc4 37. Bg6 Rxh4 38. Rg1 Rf4 39. Qg3 Rxf5 40. Bxf5
Kxf5 41. Qc3 Rg7 42. Rg3 e4 43. Rge3 Re7 44. Kb1 Bb5 45. Qh8 Rh7 46. Qd4 Bc6
47. Rf1+ Kg4 48. Rxe4+ 1-0

[Event "St Petersburg-Paris NAO"]
[Site "Internet"]
[Date "2003.05.28"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Khalifman, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2789"]
[Annotator "Golod,V"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2003.05.28"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 096"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.09.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.09.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "St Petersburg"]
[BlackTeam "Paris NAO"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "FRA"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8.
f3 h6 9. Bh4 d5 10. e3 Re8 (10... Nbd7 $5 {It's main line.}) 11. Nh3 $5 {
Comments to this part of the game(11-20 moves) you can find in annotations to:
Kramnik,V-Tiviakov,S/Las Vegas,1999/CBM 72 (1-0)(Golod,V)(42)} Nbd7 12. cxd5
exd5 13. Be2 c5 14. O-O Qe7 15. Bf2 c4 16. b3 b5 17. bxc4 bxc4 18. Bd1 Bc6 19.
Bc2 Nb6 20. Qa5 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8] White prevents the progress "a5".} ({The
games,which have reached this position were continued as follows:} 20. a4 $5
Qd7 $6 {[%csl Ra4]} ({Can be recommended:} 20... a5 $5) (20... g5 $6 {[%cal
Gc6d7,Gd7h3] (weakness /^e5-h8; Kg8)} 21. Kh1 $5 $14 {[%csl Yg1][%cal Yh3g1]
You can see comments to Golod,V-Shariyazdanov,A/Neum,2000/CBM 79(1-0)(Golod,V)
(33)}) 21. a5 Nc8 $8 (21... Na4 $4 {is refuted by:} 22. Qa3 $18 {[%csl Ra4]})
22. Bh4 $1 {/\Nf2} Nh7 23. Nf2 $14 {See comments to Kramnik,V-Tiviakov,S/Las
Vegas,1999/CBM 72(1-0)(Golod,V)(42)}) 20... Qd7 {[%cal Gc6a4]} 21. a4 $14 {
This move is directed against Ba4.} Nc8 {Black don't have any clear plan,they
wait and prepare for active actions on the part of White.} 22. Nf4 {It is
necessary to improve an location of the knight.} Nd6 23. Ne2 Reb8 24. Rfb1 {
<->b} Rxb1+ {Black had no other worthy alternative:} (24... Qe7 25. Nc3 $5 {
and absolutely not clearly,what to do further?}) 25. Rxb1 Nb7 ({Hardly is
better:} 25... Qe7 26. Nc3 Re8 27. Nd1 {[%csl Yd1][%cal Gf2g3,Yd1e3]}) 26. Qd2
{[%csl Rb7][%cal Ye2c3]} Qe7 ({Pretty dubiously:} 26... a5 $6 {[%csl Rb4][%cal
Yf6e8,Ye8c7,Yc7a6,Ya6b4] in view of:} 27. Nc3 {[%cal Ge3e4]} Nd6 $140 28. e4 $1
dxe4 29. d5 $16) 27. Qb4 {For White it is certainly favourable to exchange QQ.}
Nd6 (27... Qxb4 $143 28. Rxb4 {/\Nc3 and e4}) 28. Nc3 {It's ideal "parking"
for White's knight.} Re8 29. Re1 {[%csl Yb4,Yc2,Yc3,Ye1,Yf2][%cal Ge3e4] All
White's pieces are located ideally.} Qd8 {The rather doubtful decision,but is
very difficult to give good advice.} 30. Bh4 ({It was a much better:} 30. Qc5
$1 {[%csl Ra7,Gc5,Rc6]} Qd7 $140 {[%cal Yd7a7,Yd7d6]} 31. Bh4 {[%csl Rd5,Yf6]
[%cal Gh4f6]} g5 32. Bg3 Re6 33. Be5 $16) 30... Nb7 31. Bg3 ({A little
prematurely:} 31. e4 $6 dxe4 {[%csl Rd4]} (31... a5 $143 32. Qb2 g5 (32... dxe4
$2 {is refuted by:} 33. d5 $1 Bxd5 34. Rd1 {[%csl Rb7,Rd5,Yf6][%cal Gh4f6,
Gc3d5]}) 33. Bf2 $16) 32. Qxc4 Na5 33. Qc5 exf3 34. Rxe8+ Bxe8 35. gxf3 $14)
31... Nh5 32. Bf2 {[%cal Ge3e4]} a5 {In my opinion,this move is better,than:} (
32... Nf6 $6 33. e4 $1 a5 (33... dxe4 $2 34. fxe4 {[%csl Rc4,Gd4,Ge4]}) 34. Qb2
dxe4 35. Bxe4 {+/=/+/-}) 33. Qa3 (33. Qb2 $143 {[%csl Rd4][%cal Yb2d4]} Nd6 34.
e4 $140 Nf4 $14) 33... Nf6 34. Bg3 (34. e4 $6 dxe4 35. Bxe4 (35. fxe4 $2 Ng4
36. d5 Nxf2 37. Kxf2 (37. dxc6 $4 Qb6 {[%csl Gb6,Gf2,Rg1][%cal Gf2h3]} 38. Kf1
Ng4 $19) 37... Qh4+ {[%csl Re1]} 38. Kf1 Bd7 $15) 35... Nd5 $14) ({In this
position I would accept the following decision:} 34. h3 $5 {[%csl Rg4,Yh3]
[%cal Yh3g4,Ge3e4] +/=/+/-}) 34... Nh5 35. Bf2 Nf6 36. Bg3 {In interests of
his team Alexsander Khalfman decided to repeat moves.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "FRA Cup final"]
[Site "Senat"]
[Date "2003.06.07"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Degraeve, Jean Marc"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2789"]
[BlackElo "2550"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2003.06.07"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 094 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.07.09"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.07.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Bc4 d6 5. d3 Be7 6. O-O Nf6 7. Ng5 O-O 8. f4
Bg4 9. Qe1 exf4 10. Bxf4 Nd4 11. Qd2 Qd7 12. Be3 h6 13. Nf3 Nxf3+ 14. gxf3 Be6
15. Kh1 Kh7 16. Bxe6 Qxe6 17. Rae1 Qh3 18. Qg2 Qxg2+ 19. Kxg2 a6 20. f4 Rac8
21. Bf2 Rfd8 22. Bh4 b5 23. b3 Ng8 24. Bg3 Rd7 25. a4 b4 26. Nd5 Rc6 27. Ne3
Bf6 28. e5 dxe5 29. fxe5 Bd8 30. Nc4 Bc7 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 31st"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2003.07.31"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2648"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2003.07.31"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 097"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. Bd3 Ne7 12. Nxe7 Qxe7 13. c4 f5 14. O-O O-O
15. Qf3 {A critical line against 10...Bg7. Since Anand's novelty against
Kasymdzhanov from 2002 Black is facing big problems here.} d5 {Just like that.
Black sacrifices a weak pawn in order to use later either square d6 or the
sixth rank for his pieces. It is amazing that a similar idea, although in a
latter situation was used by Kramnik in his game versus Shirov.} (15... Re8 16.
Rfe1 b4 17. Nc2 f4 18. Be2 Rb8 19. b3 Kh8 20. Qh5 d5 21. cxd5 Rb6 22. Rad1 a5
23. d6 Rxd6 24. Rxd6 Qxd6 25. Rd1 Qg6 26. Qxg6 hxg6 27. Bc4 Be6 28. Bxe6 Rxe6
29. Rd5 Rc6 30. Ne1 Rc1 31. Kf1 f5 32. f3 Bf6 33. Kf2 {1/2-1/2 Shirov,
A-Kramnik,V/Linares 2000}) (15... f4 16. cxb5 d5 17. exd5 f5 {would be nice
too, but White has} 18. d6 $1) 16. cxd5 f4 $146 (16... fxe4 17. Bxe4 Qd6 (17...
Ra7 18. Qd3 (18. g4 Qg5 19. Bf5 e4 $1) 18... f5 19. d6 Qf6 $44 {1-0 Egger,
J-Enhbat,T/Manila 1992 (57)} (19... fxe4 20. dxe7 exd3 21. exf8=R+ Kxf8)) (
17... f5 18. d6) 18. g4 Bh6 (18... f5 19. gxf5 Qf6 20. Nc2 Bxf5 21. Qxf5 Qxf5
22. Bxf5 Rxf5 23. Ne3 Rf4 24. Rac1 $16 {1-0 Bakre,T-Ortiz,W/Roque Saenz Pena
1997 (61)}) (18... h5 19. h3 Bh6 20. Nc2 hxg4 21. hxg4 f5 22. gxf5 Ra7 23. Kh1
Rh7 24. Rg1+ Bg7+ (24... Kh8 25. Rg6 {[%cal Gh1g2]}) 25. Kg2 Rh4 26. Kf1 Rf7
27. Rg4 $18 {1-0 Vukovic,Z-Parezanin,D/Herceg Novi 1999 (43)}) 19. Nc2 Kh8 20.
Kh1 Bf4 21. Ne3 Qh6 22. h3 $16 {1-0 Sprenger,J-Sclacmender,J/Cappelle la
Grande 2002 (36)}) 17. Rfc1 Kh8 18. Nc2 Bd7 {Both sides are improving their
pieces and in the end it turned out that White achieves more.} (18... Rg8 $5
19. Be2 Bf8 20. Ne1 Qd8 $5 {[%cal Gf8d6]} (20... Qh4 21. Qh5 Qe7) 21. Qh5 (21.
Nd3 Bd6) 21... f5 $5 {[%cal Gf8d6,Ya8a7,Ya7g7]}) 19. Ne1 Rg8 20. Be2 Bf8 21.
Nd3 $1 {[%cal Gg1f3,Gf3d4,Gd4b5,Gb5a3,Ga3c2,Gc2e1,Ge1d3] One third of all
White's moves were made by this knight. With his last move White in fact also
offers a queen "sacrifice".} Re8 (21... Bg4 22. Qxg4 Rxg4 23. Bxg4 $16 {
White has a huge advantage. The control over light squares and open c-file
must be enough for a relatively easy win.}) 22. Rc7 $16 Qd8 23. Rac1 Rg6 (23...
Bg4 24. Qxg4 Rxg4 25. Bxg4 $16) 24. Qh5 Bd6 25. Ra7 Qe7 26. h3 $18 {[%cal
Ge2g4]} f5 (26... Reg8 27. Bg4 Bxg4 28. Qxg6 Rxg6 29. Rxe7 Bxh3 (29... Bxe7 30.
hxg4 $18) 30. Rxf7 $18) 27. exf5 Rf6 28. Nc5 Rc8 (28... Bxc5 29. Rxc5 Qxc5 30.
Rxd7 Re7 31. Rd8+ Kg7 32. Qg5+ Kf7 33. Qg8#) 29. Rxd7 Rxc5 30. Rxe7 Rxc1+ 31.
Kh2 (31. Kh2 Bxe7 32. Qe8+ Bf8 33. d6 $18) 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 31st"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2003.08.01"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2003.07.31"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 097"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. Bd3 Be6 12. O-O Bxd5 13. exd5 Ne7 14. Re1
Bg7 15. c3 (15. Rb1 {is another plan - to play for c2-c4. Rb1 is needed tp
protect pawn b2 after Black's ...e4.}) 15... O-O 16. Qh5 (16. Nc2 Re8 (16... e4
17. Bf1 Ng6 18. Qh5 Qd7 19. Rad1 Rae8 20. Nd4 Bxd4 21. Rxd4 Re5 22. Qh3 Qe7 23.
c4 bxc4 24. Bxc4 Kh8 25. Qc3 Rg8 26. Re3 Rg7 27. Rh3 f4 $36 {0-1 Djingarova,
E-Vijayalakshmi,S/Szeged 1994 (35)}) 17. Qh5 e4 18. Bf1 Nxd5 19. Qxf5 Re5 20.
Qh3 Nf4 21. Qg4 Ne6 22. f4 exf3 23. Qxf3 Ng5 24. Qb7 Ne4 25. Nb4 (25. Rxe4 Rb8
26. Qc6 Rb6) 25... Re7 26. Qc6 d5 {1/2-1/2 Inarkiev,E-Babula,V/Pardubice 2003})
16... e4 17. Bf1 $146 {This is the main difference to the main lines and the
idea behind 14.Re1. Ideally the bishop is better placed on the diagonal b1-h7,
but on the other hand on square c2 it stays on knight's way.} Re8 18. Rad1 (18.
Nc2 Nxd5 19. Qxf5 Re5 {transposes to the above-given Inarkiev-Babula}) 18...
Qc8 19. Nc2 Ng6 20. Nb4 (20. Nd4 Bxd4 21. Rxd4 Re5 $13) 20... Ne5 (20... f4 $5
{[%cal Gf7f5]}) 21. Nc2 Ng6 22. Nb4 Ne5 23. h3 Rb8 24. Nc2 Ng6 {The position
is totally new and neither of the opponents wanted to take any risk to be the
first explorers...} 25. Nb4 Ne5 (25... f4 26. Nc6 Rb7 {[%cal Gf7f5,Yb7f7]} 27.
a4 $36) 26. Nc2 Ng6 27. Nb4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 31st"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2003.08.02"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2574"]
[Annotator "Golod,V"]
[PlyCount "178"]
[EventDate "2003.07.31"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 097"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8.
f3 h6 9. Bh4 d5 10. e3 Nbd7 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Bxd8 Nxc3 13. Bh4 Nd5 14. Bf2 c5
15. e4 Nf4 $6 {Besides Black has two options:} (15... Ne7 $5 {You can see
annotations to games: Teplitsky,Y-Gershon,A/Bermuda,1999/CBM 69 (1/2-1/2)
(Golod,V)(27) and Gurevich,M-Lutz,C/Essen,2001/CBM 83(1/2-1/2)(Golod,V)(45)}) (
{and} 15... N5f6) 16. Be3 {+/=/= This move leads to quieter game. Now White
can hope only for the minimal advantage.} ({Can it was necessary to decide on
the more active continuation:} 16. Bb5 $5 Rad8 $140 17. Ne2 $1 {You can see
comments to games: Sokolov,I-Hansen,C/Malmo,2001/CBM 84(1-0)(Golod,V)(41) and
Gustafsson,J-Emms,J/Germany,2003/CBM 93(1/2-1/2)(Golod,V)(38)}) 16... Ng6 17.
Rd1 $146 ({The game,which have reached this position were continued as follows:
} 17. Ne2 Rac8 18. Rd1 Rfd8 {and,already here, the contenders is agreed for
draw: Xu Jun-Anand,V/Hyderabad,2002(18)}) 17... cxd4 $1 ({After:} 17... Rfd8
18. Ne2 {[%csl Ye2][%cal Ye2d4] White has an additional opportunity: to take
"Nd4" in future.}) 18. Bxd4 {From this move I shall use also comments of
Grandmaster Sergei Shipov to this game in the site : www.worldchessrating.ru/ 
Further I shall designate comments of grandmaster Sergei Shipov - S.S.} Nde5 ({
S.S."Opening of game by a way:} 18... f5 $2 {here unsuccessfully in view of":}
19. Bc4 {[%csl Gc4,Re6,Rg8]}) 19. Nh3 {Vladimir Kramnik had a choice between
it and another continuation:} (19. Ne2 Nc6 $5 (19... Rfd8 $143 20. Nc3 Nc6 21.
Be3 Rxd1+ 22. Kxd1 Rd8+ 23. Kc1 {+/=/=}) 20. Bc3 Rfd8 $11) 19... Rac8 $5 {
[%csl Rc2][%cal Gc8c2]} 20. Bc3 {[%csl Yc3] It is necessary to take under the
control point "c2".} Rfd8 21. Be2 Rxd1+ 22. Kxd1 Nc4 $1 {[%csl Yb2,Rc3,Gc8,Re3]
[%cal Gc4e3,Gc4a3,Yb2a3,Yb2c3] Differently,White will keep advantage of two
bishops in endgame.} 23. Bxc4 Rxc4 $11 24. Ke2 f6 25. Rd1 {[%csl Rd7,Rd8] <->d}
Rc7 {S.S. "On a board - equality! But, certainly, up to a drawn game still far.
Vladimir,as in anything it happened, continues to struggle. Arkadij continues
to defend a position".} 26. g3 ({Senselessly:} 26. Rd8+ {because of:} Kf7 {
[%csl Rd8][%cal Yg6e7,Ye7c6] /\Ne7-c6 and Black expel or exchange this rook.})
26... Kf7 27. Nf2 Nf8 $5 {[%cal Yc7d7]} ({Is a possible continuation of the
play:} 27... Ne7 $5 {and Black's plan is: Nc6,Bc8 and Rd7<->d.}) 28. Ke3 Rd7
29. Nd3 ({S.S. "On:} 29. Rc1 {Black can play:} e5 $5 {and then Ne6 with easy
game".}) 29... Ba6 $5 {[%csl Rd1,Gd7] This move is compels of White ,early or
late, to exchange the rooks.} ({Now after:} 29... e5 $5 {White has two
possible ways to continue a game:} 30. f4 (30. Bxe5 $5 Rxd3+ 31. Rxd3 fxe5 $13)
30... exf4+ 31. gxf4 Re7 32. e5 $11) 30. f4 {[%csl Ge4,Gf4] S.S."Capture of
space and restriction of the Black's knight".} h5 ({I can not recommended in
this position:} 30... Bxd3 31. Rxd3 $140 Rxd3+ 32. Kxd3 {[%csl Ra7,Rb6][%cal
Gd3c4,Gc4b5]} Nd7 33. Kc4 a6 34. a4 $14) 31. Rd2 Ke8 ({It deserves attention:} 
31... Bb5 {[%csl Yb5][%cal Yb5d7] /\Ng6-e7}) 32. Bb4 Ng6 33. Ne1 Rxd2 34. Kxd2
h4 {S.S." Basically, the correct direction of actions - than is less pawns,
the less problems".} 35. Nf3 hxg3 36. hxg3 Kd7 $138 ({Probably,after:} 36...
Ne7 $6 37. Nd4 $1 Kd7 $140 38. Bxe7 Kxe7 39. Nc6+ Kd6 40. Nxa7 Kc7 41. a4 Kb7
42. Nb5 Bxb5 43. axb5 Kc7 44. e5 $1 {[%csl Yb2] White has a some chances to
win the PP endgame.}) 37. Ke3 Bb7 $11 {Black don't have any clear plan, they
wait and prepare for active actions on the part of White.} 38. Nd2 a5 $2 {
[%csl Ra5,Rb6] Unessential move.Now the contender has an object for attack on
queen side.} (38... Nh8 $2 {[%cal Yh8f7] is refuted by:} 39. Bf8 {[%csl Rf6,
Rg7,Rh8]}) ({It was necessary:} 38... Ne7 $11) 39. Bc3 Ne7 40. Bd4 {White
wants to worsen a location of the Black's knight:} Nc8 {and only then to play:}
41. g4 {S.S. " It is already serious.Black has a weakness on both flanks. I
already have believed in this moment in a future victory of the champion... "}
Ba6 ({Hardly is better:} 41... a4 42. g5 $36 {[%csl Ra4,Rb6,Gd2,Gd4,Rf6,Rg7]})
42. b3 Ke7 43. a4 b5 $1 {S.S. "Here and up to the end of game Arkadij plays in
protection perfectly.The passive defense is already too dangerous:} (43... Kd7
44. g5 Ke7 45. Nc4 Bxc4 46. bxc4 {[%csl Ra5,Rb6,Yc8] and chronic weakness of
pawns of queen side, and also passivity of Black's knight should have an
effect".}) 44. Bc5+ Kd7 45. axb5 Bxb5 46. Bf8 {Differently,Black will withdraw
the knight from point "c8" - Ne7 and will cover a /^a3-f8.} g6 47. Nf3 {
White's idea is: to create of additional weakness in camp of the contender: 48.
Bg7 Ke7 49.g5 (קg6).} Ke8 ({S.S. "Also leads to endgame without pawn":} 47...
Na7 48. Nh4 g5 49. fxg5 fxg5 50. Nf3 Nc6 51. Bg7 {[%csl Rg5,Yg7][%cal Yg7e5,
Gf3g5]} (51. Nxg5 $2 Ne5 $11 {[%csl Rg4]} 52. Kf4 $140 $4 Ng6+ {[%csl Rf4,Rf8]}
)) 48. Bc5 a4 {Black lose of the pawn, but get rid of weakness "Pa5".} 49. Nd4
{[%csl Rb5,Gd4,Re6][%cal Gd4b5,Gd4e6]} Bd7 50. bxa4 Bxa4 ({Unexpectedly at
once loses a game:} 50... e5 $4 51. fxe5 fxe5 {[%csl Rg4]} 52. Nf3 $1 Bxa4 (
52... Bxg4 53. Nxe5 {[%csl Rg4,Rg6][%cal Ga4a5]} Bd7 54. a5 $18 {[%cal Ga5a6,
Ga6a7]}) 53. g5 {[%csl Rg6][%cal Gf3e5,Ge5g6]} Bd1 (53... Bb3 54. Nxe5 Bf7 55.
Kf4 $22) 54. Nxe5 Bh5 55. Kd4 {[%cal Yd4d5,Yd5e6,Ye6f6]} Ne7 $140 56. Bxe7 Kxe7
57. Kd5 $22 $18) 51. Nxe6 $14 Bd7 52. Nc7+ Kf7 53. g5 {[%csl Rg6] S.S. "The
fixing of pawn "g6" - perhaps, sole way to struggle for a victory".} fxg5 54.
fxg5 Ne7 55. Bxe7 {It is sole practical chance to win a game.} Kxe7 {[%csl Re5]
S.S. "On the first sight, this endgame rather difficult for Black. However, it
keeps.For this purpose it is necessary to make many - many exact moves! The
main idea - the struggle for a point "e5". If the White's king can penetrate
on this point, it will be equivalent to a victory".} 56. Nd5+ Kd6 57. Kd4 Be6
58. Nf4 Bf7 59. Nd3 {After some moves,from a hopelessness, Vladimir Kramnik
will be compelled to play: "e5".} Ke6 60. Nc5+ Kd6 61. Nb7+ Kc7 $8 {
Differently,White will occupy a point "e5".} 62. Nc5 Kd6 63. Nd3 Ke6 64. Kc5
Be8 65. Kc4 Bf7 66. Kd4 {[%csl Yd4][%cal Yd4c5,Yc5c4,Yc4d4] S.S. "Triangle of
the king - method of psychological influence on the contender" :)} Kd6 67. Nf4
Be8 68. e5+ {White had no other worthy alternative.} Kc6 $1 {[]} ({Loses a
game right away:} 68... Ke7 $4 69. Kd5 (69. e6 $2 Kd6 $11) 69... Bf7+ 70. e6 {
/\Ke5 and Nd5+ with easy win.}) 69. Ke4 Kc5 {[%csl Yc5][%cal Yc5d5] []} (69...
Kc7 $4 {is refuted by:} 70. Kd5 {[%cal Yd5e6]} Kd7 71. e6+ Ke7 72. Ke5 $18 {
[%cal Gf4d5,Ye5f6]}) 70. Ne6+ Kc4 $1 {Again Black make a only move.} (70... Kc6
$4 71. Ng7 {/\72.e6 and 73.Ke5 +-}) 71. Nc7 ({Immediately leads to drawn game:
} 71. Ng7 Bc6+ 72. Kf4 Kd5 $22 {[%csl Rg7]} 73. Nf5 (73. e6 Kd6 {[%csl Re6]
[%cal Yc6d5]}) 73... gxf5 74. Kxf5 Bd7+ 75. Kf6 Be6 76. g6 Bg8 $11 {[%csl Yd5,
Yg8]}) 71... Bc6+ 72. Kf4 Kc5 $1 {[%csl Yc5][%cal Yc5d6] Again it is necessary
to take under the control point "d6".} 73. Na6+ Kb6 {S.S."Surprisingly, but
fact - to keep a defense on queen side, Black's king should maneuver on the
large space of a board, up to fields c4 and b6.} 74. Nb4 ({S.S."The sacrifice
of knight did not conduct to the purpose":} 74. e6 Kxa6 75. Ke5 Kb6 76. Kf6 Kc5
77. Kxg6 Kd6 78. Kf6 (78. Kf7 Bd5 {[%csl Yd5,Yd6,Re6,Rf7]}) 78... Be8 79. e7
Bh5 $11 {[%csl Yd6,Yh5]}) 74... Be8 75. Ke4 (75. e6 $2 Kc5 {[%cal Yc5d6]} 76.
Nc2 Kd5 $11 {[%csl Re6]}) 75... Bf7 76. Nd3 ({Nothing changes,after:} 76. Kd4
Kb5 77. Nd5 Kc6 78. Nf4 Kd7 {[%csl Yd7,Yf7]}) 76... Kc6 77. Nf4 Kd7 78. Kd4 Ke7
79. Kc5 Kd7 80. Kd4 ({On:} 80. Kb6 {is quite enough for drawn game:} Ba2 81.
Nxg6 $140 Ke6 {[%csl Re5,Ge6,Rg5,Yg6][%cal Ge6f5,Gf5g6,Yg6e5]}) 80... Ke7 81.
Nd5+ Ke6 82. Ke4 Kd7 83. Nf4 Ke7 84. Kd4 Kd7 {S.S. "The defense of Black is
impenetrable!".} 85. e6+ Bxe6 86. Ke5 Bf5 $11 87. Kf6 Ke8 88. Nxg6 Bb1 {
Drawn game is inevitable.} 89. Kg7 Bc2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 31st"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2003.08.03"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2774"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2003.07.31"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 097"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. exf5 Bxf5 12. c3 Bg7 13. Nc2 O-O 14. Nce3
Be6 15. Bd3 f5 16. O-O Ra7 17. a4 Ne7 18. Nxe7+ Rxe7 19. axb5 axb5 20. Bc2 d5
21. Bb3 f4 22. Nxd5 Rd7 23. Nb4 Rxd1 24. Bxe6+ Kh8 25. Raxd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 31st"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2003.08.04"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2003.07.31"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 097"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. f3 Be7 8. Qd2
Nc6 9. O-O-O O-O 10. g4 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 b5 12. g5 Nd7 13. h4 Qc7 14. a3 Ne5 15.
Be2 Nc6 16. Be3 b4 17. axb4 Nxb4 18. h5 Rb8 19. Kb1 e5 20. Nd5 Nxd5 21. exd5
Bf5 22. Bd3 Bxd3 23. Qxd3 Rb4 24. Rhg1 Rfb8 25. Bc1 Qb7 26. Qa3 Rb5 27. Qa2 f5
28. gxf6 Bxf6 29. b3 Rxd5 30. h6 g6 31. Qa4 Rxd1 32. Rxd1 d5 33. Bb2 d4 34. f4
Qb5 35. Qxb5 Rxb5 36. fxe5 Bxe5 37. Bxd4 Rd5 38. c3 Bxd4 39. cxd4 Rh5 40. d5
Kf7 41. d6 Ke8 42. Re1+ Kd8 43. Re7 Rxh6 44. Rg7 g5 45. Rxg5 Rg6 46. Ra5 Rxd6
47. Kc2 Ke8 48. b4 Rb6 49. Kd3 Kf7 50. Ke3 Kg6 51. Kf3 h5 52. Kg3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 31st"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2003.08.06"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2648"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2003.07.31"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 097"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Qa4+ Nc6 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd2 dxc4 8.
Bxc4 Bd6 9. Nb5 Be7 10. O-O a6 11. Nc3 Bd6 12. Qc2 e5 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5
Bxe5 15. f4 Bd6 16. Bd3 Kh8 17. Kh1 b5 18. Ne4 Bf5 19. Nxf6 Bxd3 20. Qxd3 Qxf6
21. Bc3 Qe6 22. e4 f6 23. b3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 31st"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2003.08.07"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B47"]
[WhiteElo "2574"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2003.07.31"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 097"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 a6 6. f4 Nxd4 {Mit diesem
Springertausch möchte Schwarz im folgenden die exponierte Damenstellung auf d4
ausnutzen.} (6... Qc7) 7. Qxd4 Qc7 8. Be3 {Das ist die traditionelle
Fortsetzung, aber die Alternative 8.a4 kommt auch stark in Betracht.} (8. a4
Nf6 9. Be3 Ng4 10. Bd2 Qc5 $1 11. Qxc5 Bxc5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Luther,T-Lutz,C/
France 2003/CBM 95/[Ribli] (25)}) 8... b5 9. Be2 Bb7 10. Bf3 {Dieser Läuferzug
kommt - nach meiner persönlichen Meinung - zu früh. Ich glaube, die kurze
Rochade gibt Weiß mehr Chancen auf Eröffnungsvorteil.} (10. O-O $5 Rc8 11. Rfd1
(11. Rad1) 11... Nf6 (11... b4 $5 12. Na4 Nf6) 12. e5 Nd5 13. Nxd5 Bxd5 14. a4
{Diese Variante bietet Weiß einige Aussicht auf Initiative.}) 10... Rc8 11. O-O
Ne7 {Die Idee des Springerzugs ist, dass im folgenden der Springer nach c6
gehen kann. Auf diese Weise nutzt Schwarz aus, dass Weiß 10.Bf3 gespielt hat.
Bei Be2 muss Schwarz hingegen immer mit dem Motiv Bxb5 rechnen. Allerdings
muss bemerkt werden, dass der Läuferzug 10.Bf3 auch den Vorteil hat, dass
jetzt nach 11...Nf6 12.e5 mit überlegener weißer Stellung folgt.} (11... h5 12.
Rad1 Nf6 13. h3 h4 $5 14. Rf2 Bc5 15. Qd3 Bxe3 16. Qxe3 b4 $11 17. Na4 O-O 18.
Nb6 Rcd8 19. e5 Bxf3 20. Qxf3 Ne8 21. Qe3 d5 22. Na4 g6 23. Qc5 Qxc5 24. Nxc5
a5 25. Rd3 Ng7 {1/2-1/2 Dvoirys,S-Tregubov,P/St Petersburg 1998/CBM 67/[Ribli]
(45)}) 12. Kh1 (12. Rf2 Ng6 13. g3 Bc5 14. Qxc5 Qxc5 15. Bxc5 Rxc5 16. Rd1 Ke7
17. Rfd2 Rd8 18. Kf2 Nf8 {1/2-1/2 Schlosser,M-Sinowjew,J/Voitsberg 1995/CBM 49
ext (45)}) (12. Rad1 Nc6 13. Qd3 (13. Qd2 Na5 14. b3 d5 $36) 13... Be7 14. Kh1
$11 {Auf diese Weise erhalten wir mit Zugumstellung unsere Partiefortsetzung.})
12... Nc6 13. Qd3 Be7 14. Rad1 d6 15. a4 b4 (15... bxa4 $2 16. Nxa4 $16) 16.
Ne2 O-O 17. b3 (17. c4 bxc3 18. Nxc3 Nb4 $11) 17... a5 (17... Rfd8 18. Ng3 Nb8
19. Rf2 d5 20. e5 Nd7 21. Bd4 Bc5 22. Rfd2 Bxd4 23. Qxd4 {1-0 Hansen,
S-Mortensen,E/Copenhagen 1999/CBM 71 ext (40)}) 18. Rf2 {[%cal Gf2c2][%mdl 4]
Mit diesem prophylaktischen Zug verteidigt Weiß den c2-Bauern und bereitet 19.
Nd4 vor.} Rfe8 $11 (18... Bf6 19. Ng3 $13 (19. Qxd6 $4 Rfd8 $19) (19. Nd4 Nxd4
20. Bxd4 Bxd4 21. Qxd4 Rfd8 $15)) 19. Nd4 {[%cal Gd4b5]} Nxd4 20. Bxd4 e5 21.
Be3 (21. fxe5 dxe5 22. Bb2 Red8 $17) 21... Qc6 (21... exf4 22. Bxf4 $11) 22. f5
{[%mdl 32] Weiß muss die Stellung geschlossen halten.} Qc3 23. Qe2 {Weiß muss
die Damen auf dem Brett halten.} (23. Qxc3 Rxc3 24. Bb6 Bd8 25. Rxd6 Bxb6 26.
Rxb6 Re3 27. Rf1 Bxe4 28. Bxe4 Rxe4 $15) 23... Rc6 {[%cal Ge8c8,Gc8c2]} 24. Rd3
Qa1+ 25. Rd1 Qc3 26. Rd3 Qa1+ 27. Rd1 {Und Remis mit Zugwiederholung.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 31st"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2003.08.08"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2774"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "2003.07.31"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 097"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qa5 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Bxd7+ Nxd7 13. O-O a6 14.
Rb1 Qc7 15. Qg4 h5 16. Qh3 Ke7 17. f4 h4 18. Qf3 Rac8 19. e5 Qxc3 20. exf6+
Kxf6 21. Qxc3 Rxc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 31st"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2003.08.09"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[Annotator "Erenburg,S"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "2003.07.31"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 097"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 {Some black players prefer this continuation to}
(3... Nf6 {, because of} 4. Bb5) 4. Bc4 d6 5. d3 Be7 6. Nd2 {White decides to
transfer the knight to e3 via f1 immediately, while there is another
theoretical line:} (6. O-O) 6... Nf6 7. Nf1 Nd7 ({In my opinion, more
principal is} 7... Bg4 8. f3 Be6 9. Ne3 O-O 10. O-O Rb8 (10... Nd7 11. Ncd5 (
11. Ned5 Nb6 12. Nxb6 Qxb6 13. Nd5 Bxd5 14. Bxd5 Nb4 15. Bc4 Rad8 16. f4 exf4
17. Rxf4 d5 18. exd5 Nxd5 19. Rf5 {1-0 Kasparov,G-Babula,V/Prague 2001/ (54)})
(11. g3 Nb6 12. Ncd5 (12. f4 Nxc4 13. dxc4 exf4 14. gxf4 f5 15. exf5 Bc8 16.
Ncd5 Nd4 17. b3 Nxf5 18. Bb2 Nxe3 19. Nxe3 Bf6 {1/2-1/2 Svidler,P-Lautier,J/
Biel 2001/ (25)}) 12... Nxc4 13. dxc4 g6 14. Bd2 f5 15. exf5 gxf5 16. f4 Bf6
17. Qh5 Qd7 18. Nxf6+ Rxf6 19. fxe5 dxe5 20. Ng4 fxg4 21. Rxf6 Qxd2 22. Rxe6
Qe3+ 23. Kh1 Qe4+ 24. Kg1 Qe3+ 25. Kh1 {1/2-1/2 Grischuk,A-Nedev,T/Panormo
2001/ (25)}) 11... Nb6 12. Nxb6 axb6 13. Nd5 Na5 14. a4 Nxc4 15. dxc4 Bd7 16.
Nc3 Bc6 17. Qd3 Qd7 18. b3 Rae8 19. Be3 Kh8 20. Rad1 Qe6 21. Nd5 {1-0 Hracek,
Z-Antic,D/Herceg Novi 2001/ (38)}) 11. a3 Nd7 12. g3 Nb6 13. Ba2 Bg5 14. f4
exf4 15. gxf4 Bf6 16. Kh1 Bxc3 17. bxc3 Bxa2 18. Rxa2 d5 {0-1 Kutuzovic,
B-Shariyazdanov,A/Zadar 1998/ (40)}) 8. Nd5 Nb6 9. Nxb6 {Other moves don't
promise anything special:} (9. Nfe3 Nxc4 10. Nxc4 Be6 $11) (9. Nxe7 Qxe7 10.
Bb3 Nd4 $11) 9... axb6 (9... Qxb6 10. Ne3 $14) 10. c3 {covering the d4 square.}
O-O 11. Ne3 Bg5 {It is important to change the dark-squared bishop.} 12. O-O
Bxe3 {Black changes his dark-squared bishop, as his pawns are located on the
dark squares. So after this exchange, black will remain with good
light-squared one, which, probably, he will succeed to trade for white's one.
Thus, he will not allows white to get the advantage of pair of bishops. Other
logical possibilities are:} (12... Kh8 {0-1 Anand,V-Ivanchuk,V/Moscow 2001/CBM
86/[Ftacnik] (42)}) (12... Be6 $5 13. Bb3 (13. Bd5 Bxd5 14. exd5 Ne7 15. c4 b5
$11) 13... Re8 $13) 13. Bxe3 Qe7 {preparing the trade of light-squared bishops
on e6. While immediate} (13... Be6 {gives white good chances to get an edge:}
14. a3 (14. Bxe6 $5 fxe6 15. Qb3 d5 (15... Re8 16. f4 $14) 16. f4 $14) 14...
Qd7 15. Qb3 Bxc4 16. Qxc4 Kh8 17. Qb5 Ra6 18. d4 Qe7 19. dxc5 (19. d5 $5 Nb8
20. b4 $16) 19... bxc5 20. b4 $14 {1/2-1/2 Kurnosov,I-Smirnov,P/56th ch-RUS,
Krasnoyarsk RUS 2003 (94)}) 14. f4 {This breakthrough is the only white's plan
of developing the initiative. He is going to open the game, using the fact,
that he has a pair of bishops.} exf4 $1 ({It is dangerous to play} 14... Be6 {
, due to} 15. f5 $1 Bxc4 16. f6 $5 (16. dxc4 $16 {[%csl Rb6,Rd6][%cal Yd1b3,
Gb3b6,Gd1d6,Gf5f6] and black's pawn on the queenside are fixed and weak.})
16... Qe6 $1 (16... gxf6 17. dxc4 $16) 17. Qh5 {[%cal Gh5g5]} (17. dxc4 $5)
17... gxf6 18. dxc4 Kh8 19. Qh4 $14) 15. Bxf4 Be6 16. Bxe6 Qxe6 $1 {covering
the b3 square and preparing d6-d5.} (16... fxe6 {looks logically, but after}
17. Qb3 {black faces serious problems with defending of all his weaknesses}) {
According to a well-known fact, rook and bishop cooperate better, than rook
and knight. Therefore, white goes on the trade of queens.} 17. Qb3 Qxb3 18.
axb3 Rad8 19. Bg3 {opening the "f" line for a rook.} Rd7 {Black prepares to
provide the breakthorugh d6-d5, which will equlize the chances of the
opponents.} (19... d5 $2 20. Bc7) 20. Rf5 Rfd8 ({Interesting was} 20... Ne7 21.
Rf3 d5 22. exd5 Nxd5 23. b4 cxb4 24. c4 Ne7 25. Re1 Nc6 26. Rfe3 f6 $13) 21. b4
{White has to do somethinng active before black solves all his problems with
d6-d5. The transfer of the king to the center was too slow, and didn't promise
anything:} (21. Kf2 Ne7 22. Rf3 d5 23. exd5 (23. e5 d4 $1) 23... Nxd5 $11)
21... Ne7 $1 {The following variations can explain why the opponents agreed
for a draw:} (21... Ne7 22. Rf3 cxb4 (22... d5 23. exd5 Nxd5 24. Bf2 $14) 23.
c4 (23. Bf2 bxc3 24. bxc3 b5 $11 {[%cal Gd6d5]}) 23... Nc6 24. Rf5 Ne5 25. Rd1
f6 26. b3 b5 $11 27. d4 $140 $2 bxc4 $1 28. dxe5 dxe5 29. Rxd7 Rxd7 $17) (21...
cxb4 22. Rd5 $1 (22. Rb5 bxc3 23. bxc3 d5 24. exd5 Rxd5 25. Rxd5 Rxd5 26. Ra8+
Rd8 27. Rxd8+ Nxd8 28. c4 (28. Bc7 Ne6 29. Bxb6 Nf4) 28... Nc6 29. Kf2 $14 b5
30. cxb5 Nd4 31. b6 Kf8) 22... bxc3 (22... f6 23. c4 {[%cal Yg3f2]}) 23. bxc3
f6 24. Rb1 Ne7 25. Rdb5 d5 26. Rxb6 dxe4 27. dxe4 Rd1+ 28. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 29. Kf2
Rd7 30. c4 $14) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 31st"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2003.08.10"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2650"]
[Annotator "Golod,V"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2003.07.31"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 097"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2003.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2003.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 2] For a victory in Dortmund 2003, Vladimir Kramnik should necessarily
win this game.In cases of Black's win or drawn game Viorel Bologan became the
winner of tournament.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6.
Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8. e3 d6 9. Ne2 c5 $146 {Novelty on the early stage of the
game! Black's idea is very simple: to exchange the pawns on point "d4" on next
move (this idea has no the special sense,after 10.Rd1) and also to not define
a position of Nb8.} (9... Nbd7 $5 {It's main line. You can see comments to
Kacheishvili,G-Polgar,J/Batumi,1999/CBM 74(0-1)(Golod,V)(33)}) 10. dxc5 $5 {
Probably,it's most basic continuation.} ({After:} 10. Rd1 Qe7 (10... Ne4 $2 {
is refuted by:} 11. Bxd8 Nxc3 12. Nxc3 cxd4 (12... Rxd8 $142 13. dxc5 bxc5 14.
Nb5 $16 {[%csl Rc7,Rd6][%cal Gb5c7,Gb5d6]}) 13. Be7 (13. Rxd4 $143 Rxd8 14. Nb5
d5 $1 {[%cal Gb8c6]}) 13... dxc3 14. Bxf8 Kxf8 15. b3 $16 {[%csl Rc3][%cal
Gd1c1]}) 11. dxc5 dxc5 {White have lost the opportunities to make castle in
the long party.}) 10... dxc5 ({It was dubiously:} 10... bxc5 {because of:} 11.
Rd1 {[%csl Gc3,Gd1,Rd6,Rf6,Gg5]}) 11. Qc2 {[%csl Yc3][%cal Ge2c3] The queen
concedes the her place to the knight.} h6 {Preventive move.It is rather
difficult to continue a game without this move.} 12. Bh4 Qe7 $5 13. O-O-O $140
Rd8 {<->d Black can not create threats to the White's king, and consequently
Viorel Bologan prefers to exchange a rooks.} 14. Rxd8+ Qxd8 15. Nc3 $14 {
[%csl Yf1,Gh4] White has a more preferable position,at the expense of
advantage of two bishops.} Nbd7 16. f3 Ne5 {Black's idea is: Ng6 with the
purpose to remove the bishop from a diagonal "d8-h4".} 17. Bg3 Nc6 {Already
there is no sense to play "Ng6", because the B has left from a /^d8-h4.} 18.
Be2 Qe7 19. Bh4 $5 {[%csl Rg8][%cal Gg2g4] White's idea is: g4 (capture of
space and preparation for attack on the Black's king).} Ne5 {[%csl Yb7,Ye5,Rf3]
Black, in turn, prevent progress "g4".} 20. Rd1 Rd8 21. Nb5 $5 {White's knight
provokes movements of pawn "a7" with the purpose to create of weakness in camp
of the contender.} Nc6 (21... Rxd1+ $6 22. Qxd1 {[%csl Ra7,Rd6]}) 22. Rf1 ({
It deserves attention:} 22. Rxd8+ Qxd8 $140 23. Qd2 Qxd2+ 24. Kxd2 $14 {
with obvious positional advantage in endgame.}) 22... g5 $5 {Viorel does not
want to think only about defence,he searches a counterplay.} 23. Bg3 (23. Bf2
$5 {[%cal Gh2h4]}) 23... Nh5 24. Bf2 Ng7 {[%csl Yg7][%cal Gf7f5] Here Black's
knight reliably covers the king and also opens a road for Pf7.} 25. Rd1 f5 26.
Qa4 Rxd1+ {Black fairly do not want to move the Pa7:} (26... a6 $6 27. Nc3 {
[%csl Rb6] /\Qb3,Na4(קb6)}) 27. Qxd1 {[%csl Rd6]} Ne8 {[%csl Ye7,Ye8][%cal
Ye8d6,Ye7d6] The game of Black corresponds to the requirements of a position.}
28. h4 Kg7 29. Kb1 ({Can be recommended:} 29. hxg5 hxg5 $140 30. Qh1 {<->h ; /
\Qh5 or Qh2} Nf6 (30... Qf7 $143 {[%csl Yf7][%cal Yf7h5]} 31. Qh2 {[%csl Yf2]
[%cal Yf2e1,Ye1c3]} a6 {קb6} 32. Nc3 Qf6 33. Na4 Qd8 34. Bg3 $1 {+/=/+/-}) 31.
Qh2 e5 32. Qg3 {[%csl Rg5,Rg7]} Kg6 $14) 29... e5 30. hxg5 hxg5 31. Ka1 $6 ({
From my point of view,it was much better:} 31. Nc3 Nf6 32. Nd5 Qd6 33. Qc2 {
[%csl Rf5]}) ({or} 31. Be1 $5 {and White's plan is: Nc3-d5 and Bc3 (/^a1-h8)})
31... Bc8 $1 {Chess Express #53: "Bologan has time to reposition his bishop
with Bb7-c8-e6,which strengthens the king side and attacks c4".} 32. g3 {
[%cal Gf3f4]} Be6 33. f4 {And nevertheless it was not necessary to hasten with
this move:} (33. Nc3 $5 {/\Nd5 +/=/=}) 33... Qd7 34. Qxd7+ ({Leads to more
complex game:} 34. Qc2 g4 35. Be1 a6 36. Nc3 Nf6 $13) 34... Bxd7 35. Be1 Nf6 $1
$11 {[%csl Re4,Yf6][%cal Yf6e4] It is necessary to improve an location of the
knight.} 36. fxe5 Ne4 37. b3 Nxe5 38. Nc3 {It was last move in the game. I
join to numerous congratulations to Viorel Bologan with a brilliant victory in
Dortmund 2003!} (38. Nxa7 $2 {is refuted by:} g4 $17 {[%csl Ye1,Ge4,Ge5,Rg3]
[%cal Ge5f3,Gf3e1,Ye1g3]}) ({After:} 38. Nc3 {the contenders is agreed for
draw, because of next variants:} Bc6 39. Nxe4 Bxe4 40. Bc3 Kf6 41. Kb2 Ke6 42.
Kc1 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Cap d'Agde-A"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "2003.10.24"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "2003.10.24"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. c3 Be7
8. Bd3 O-O 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. Qe2 Qd5 12. h4 Bd7 13. Be4 Qh5 14. O-O-O
Bc6 15. Kb1 Bxe4+ 16. Qxe4 Qd5 17. Rhe1 Qxe4+ 18. Rxe4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Cap d'Agde-A"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "2003.10.24"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Azmaiparashvili, Zurab"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2693"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "141"]
[EventDate "2003.10.24"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Qa4+ Nd7 8.
Nxd5 Bxd5 9. Bg5 Be7 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Rc1 O-O 12. Rxc7 Nc5 13. Rxe7 Nxa4 14.
Kd2 Rfc8 15. Ng5 Bb3 16. g3 Rc2+ 17. Ke3 Bd5 18. f3 Nxb2 19. Bh3 h6 20. Nxf7
Nc4+ 21. Kf2 Rf8 22. Nxh6+ gxh6 23. Bxe6+ Bxe6 24. Rxe6 Rd8 25. Rg6+ Kh7 26.
Rc6 Nxa3 27. Rxc2 Nxc2 28. Rc1 Nxd4 29. Rc7+ Kg8 30. Rxa7 Rb8 31. Ke3 Ne6 32.
Ke4 b5 33. Kd5 Rb6 34. Ra3 Kf7 35. f4 b4 36. Rb3 Rb8 37. Kc4 Rc8+ 38. Kxb4 Nd4
39. Rd3 Nxe2 40. Rd7+ Kg6 41. Rd6+ Kh5 42. g4+ Kxg4 43. Rxh6 Nxf4 44. Rh7 Rc2
45. Rg7+ Kf5 46. Rh7 Kg6 47. Rh8 Nh5 48. Rg8+ Kf7 49. Rd8 Rxh2 50. Rd1 Nf4 51.
Rf1 Rh4 52. Kc5 Kf6 53. Kd4 Kf5 54. Ke3 Ke5 55. Kf3 Nd5 56. Re1+ Kf5 57. Rf1
Rh3+ 58. Kg2+ Kg4 59. Rf8 Ne3+ 60. Kf2 Nf5 61. Ke2 Kf4 62. Kd2 Ke4 63. Re8+ Kd5
64. Rd8+ Nd6 65. Ke2 Ke5 66. Rd7 Nf5 67. Rd8 Ra3 68. Re8+ Kf4 69. Rf8 Re3+ 70.
Kd2 Re5 71. Kd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Cap d'Agde-A"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "2003.10.25"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2003.10.24"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nf3 Be7 8. Bc4
O-O 9. O-O Be6 10. Bb3 b5 11. Qe2 h6 12. a3 Nbd7 13. Nh4 Re8 14. Nf5 Bf8 15.
Rfd1 Qc7 16. Qf3 Kh7 17. Nd5 Bxd5 18. Bxd5 Nxd5 19. Rxd5 Nf6 20. Rd2 Re6 21. g4
Qb7 22. Ng3 Rc8 23. h4 g6 24. g5 Ne8 25. h5 Ng7 26. hxg6+ fxg6 27. gxh6 Nh5 28.
Nxh5 gxh5 29. Qf5+ Rg6+ 30. Kh1 Qe7 31. f3 Qf6 32. Qxh5 Rg3 33. Rf2 d5 34. Rg1
Rxg1+ 35. Kxg1 d4 36. Bg5 Qg6 37. Qxg6+ Kxg6 38. Rg2 Kh7 39. Bf6 Bd6 40. Bg7 a5
41. Kf1 a4 42. Ke1 Rb8 43. Kd1 b4 44. axb4 Rxb4 45. Kc1 Rb7 46. Rg5 a3 47. bxa3
Bxa3+ 48. Kd2 Bb2 49. Rxe5 d3 50. Rg5 dxc2 51. Kxc2 1-0

[Event "Cap d'Agde-A"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "2003.10.25"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B92"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2703"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2003.10.24"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Bg5
Nbd7 9. a4 b6 10. Bc4 Bb7 11. Qe2 O-O 12. O-O Qc7 13. Rfd1 h6 (13... Rfc8 14.
Nd2 h6 15. Bxf6 Nxf6 16. Bb3 Bf8 17. Nf1 Bc6 18. f3 b5 19. Ne3 Qb6 20. Kh1 bxa4
21. Nxa4 Qb7 22. Qd2 Rd8 {1/2-1/2 Karpov,A-Balashov,Y/Riga 1970/ (53)}) 14.
Bxf6 Nxf6 15. Nd5 Nxd5 (15... Bxd5 16. Bxd5 Rac8 17. Qxa6 Nxd5 18. exd5 f5 19.
c3 Bg5 20. Qe2 Ra8 21. Qb5 Rfc8 22. Kf1 Kh7 23. a5 bxa5 24. Nxa5 {1-0 Schmid,
L-Niephaus,W/Nuremberg 1959/ (31)}) 16. Bxd5 Bxd5 17. Rxd5 {Kramnik playes for
a small but lasting advantage due to the weakness on d5 and a chance of
transferring a knight to it.} b5 18. c3 (18. axb5 axb5 19. Rxa8 Rxa8 20. Rxb5
Ra2 21. c4 (21. c3 Qxc3 $1 $15) 21... Ra4 22. Nd2 Bg5 23. b3 Ra2 24. Rd5 Qb6
$11) 18... Qc4 (18... bxa4 19. Rxa4 Rfb8 (19... f5 20. exf5 Qc8 21. g4 h5 22.
h3 $16) 20. Nc1 $14) 19. Qc2 (19. Qxc4 bxc4 20. Nd2 Rfc8 21. Rb1 Rab8 $11)
19... Rfb8 (19... bxa4 20. Na5 Qc7 21. Rxa4 $16) 20. Nd2 (20. Na5 Qc7 21. b4
bxa4 22. Rxa4 Rb5 $14) 20... Qc6 21. a5 Rc8 (21... b4 22. c4 Bg5 23. Nf3 b3 24.
Qc3 $16) 22. Qd3 Rab8 (22... b4 $5 23. c4 (23. cxb4 Rab8 24. b5 Rxb5 25. Rxb5
axb5 26. Nf1 Bg5 $14) 23... Qb7 24. Rc1 $14) 23. g3 Qb7 (23... b4 24. c4 Qb7
$14) 24. Nf1 Rc4 (24... Bg5 25. Rxd6 Rd8 26. Rd5 $16) 25. b3 Rc6 26. Ne3 (26.
h4 Qc7 $1 27. Rc1 Qxa5 $15) 26... g6 {[%mdl 32] Gelfand is not alert enough
and he doesn't fight proerly against the positional thread of Nd5.} (26... Bg5
$1 27. Nf5 (27. Nd1 Qc7 28. Ra2 $11) (27. Nc2 Rbc8 $17) 27... Qc7 28. Rxd6 Rxc3
29. Qd5 Rc5 30. Rd7 Rxd5 31. Rxc7 Rd3 32. h4 Bd8 33. Ra7 Rxb3 34. Rxa6 b4 $11)
(26... Rbc8 $5 27. c4 bxc4 28. bxc4 Qa7 $13) 27. h4 h5 $6 (27... Rbc8 $1) 28.
Qd2 Bf8 29. Nc2 $1 (29. Qe1 Bh6 30. Nc2 Rbc8 31. Rd3 Rc5 32. Nb4 $16) 29... Rc5
(29... Rbc8 30. Rd3 f5 $5 (30... R6c7 31. Nb4 Qxe4 32. Nd5 $16) 31. exf5 e4 32.
Re3 Rc5 33. fxg6 Bh6 34. Qxd6 Bxe3 35. Qe6+ Kh8 36. Nxe3 $18) 30. Nb4 Rbc8 (
30... Rxd5 31. Nxd5 Bg7 32. Rd1 $16) 31. Rd3 $1 (31. Rxc5 dxc5 32. Nd5 Be7 $14)
31... Kh7 (31... Qxe4 32. Nxa6 R5c6 33. Nb4 Rc5 34. Nd5 Qf5 35. a6 $16) 32. Nd5
Bh6 33. Qd1 Rf8 34. Nf6+ Kg7 35. Qf3 b4 $2 {In a rapid chess a tedious defense
is even more difficult, black burns the bridges and goes under.} (35... Qe7 $1
36. Nd5 Qe6 37. Rad1 (37. Nb4 Qxb3 38. Nxa6 Rc4 39. Rxd6 Rxc3 40. Qf6+ Kg8 $11)
37... f5 38. Kg2 $14) 36. cxb4 Qxb4 (36... Rc6 37. Rad1 Qxb4 38. Nd7 Rfc8 39.
Qf6+ Kg8 40. Rf3 $18) 37. Nd7 f5 (37... Rxa5 38. Rxa5 Qxa5 39. Nxf8 Kxf8 40.
Rxd6 $18) 38. Nxf8 Kxf8 39. Rxd6 1-0

[Event "Cap d'Agde-A"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "2003.10.26"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B82"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2003.10.24"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. O-O Qc7 7. Nc3 d6 8. f4
b5 9. a3 Bb7 10. Be3 Nbd7 11. Qf3 Nc5 12. Rae1 Be7 13. Kh1 O-O 14. Bg1 Rfe8 15.
Qh3 Bf8 16. Nf3 Nxd3 17. cxd3 h6 18. Rc1 Qd7 19. Bd4 e5 20. fxe5 dxe5 21. Bxe5
Qxh3 22. gxh3 Nd7 23. Bd4 Rad8 24. Ne2 f5 25. Ng3 fxe4 26. dxe4 Bxe4 27. Nxe4
Rxe4 28. Rc6 a5 29. Kg2 Be7 30. Bc3 b4 31. axb4 axb4 32. Re1 bxc3 33. Rxe4 cxb2
34. Re1 Bf6 35. Rd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Cap d'Agde-A"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "2003.10.26"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "31"]
[EventDate "2003.10.24"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. O-O Be7 7. e5 Ne4 8.
Nxd4 O-O 9. Nf5 d5 10. exd6 Bxf5 11. dxe7 Nxe7 12. Bb3 Nc5 13. Nc3 Nxb3 14.
cxb3 Qxd1 15. Rxd1 Rad8 16. Bf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Cap d'Agde-A"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "2003.10.26"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D56"]
[WhiteElo "2664"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "31"]
[EventDate "2003.10.24"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 Ne4 8. Bxe7
Qxe7 9. Qc2 Nxc3 10. Qxc3 dxc4 11. Bxc4 b6 12. O-O Bb7 13. Be2 Rc8 14. Rac1 Nd7
15. Rfd1 c5 16. dxc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Cap d'Agde KO"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "2003.10.27"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2722"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2003.10.27"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. Qc2 c5 7. cxd5 exd5 8. e4
$1 {Kramnik very correctly opens up the center with a bang, since black is ill
prepared for the early opening of the files with 6...c5.} (8. Bf4 Bd6 9. Bxd6
Qxd6 10. e3 O-O 11. Be2 Nbd7 12. dxc5 bxc5 13. O-O Rac8 14. Rfd1 Qe7 15. Rd2
Rfd8 16. Rad1 Nb6 {1/2-1/2 Umanskaya,I-Rakitskaja,M/St Petersburg 2003/ (43)})
8... cxd4 (8... dxe4 9. Bb5+ Bc6 10. Ne5 (10. Qa4 Bxb5 11. Nxb5 Nbd7 12. Ne5 a6
13. Qb3 Nxe5 14. dxe5 axb5 15. exf6 Qd3 16. Qc3 O-O-O 17. Bg5 Rd5 18. Bh4 g5
19. Bg3 Bd6 {1/2-1/2 Farago,I-Frick,C/Germany 1997/ (31)}) 10... Bxb5 11. Qb3
Qe7 12. Qxb5+ Nbd7 13. Qc6 Qd8 14. Nxd7 Nxd7 15. O-O Be7 16. dxc5 Rc8 17. Qa4
Rxc5 18. Rd1 Qc8 19. Be3 Ra5 20. Qd4 Nf6 $11 {0-1 Ryskin,A-Aseev,K/Sochi 1993/
(34)}) 9. Bb5+ Nbd7 (9... Bc6 10. Nxd5 Bxb5 11. Nc7+ Ke7 12. Nxb5 $18) 10. e5
$5 {Taking a risky path in a fight for the whole pointy, other would be
tempted to be satisfied with more conservative 10.Nxd4.} (10. Nxd4 dxe4 (10...
Nxe4 11. Nc6 Bxc6 12. Bxc6 Rc8 13. Nxe4 dxe4 14. Qxe4+ Qe7 15. Be3 $14) 11. Nc6
Bxc6 12. Bxc6 Rc8 13. Nxe4 Be7 14. Nxf6+ Bxf6 15. Qe2+ Qe7 16. Bxd7+ Kxd7 17.
Be3 Rhd8 18. O-O $14) 10... dxc3 11. exf6 Qc7 (11... Qxf6 $5 12. O-O (12. Bg5
Qd6 13. O-O f6 14. Rfe1+ Kd8 15. Be3 $13) 12... h6 (12... cxb2 13. Bxb2 Qd6 14.
Rfe1+ Kd8 15. Ng5 Qf4 16. Qc1 $18) 13. Re1+ (13. bxc3 Bd6 14. Qa4 O-O-O 15. Be3
Ne5 $11) 13... Kd8 14. bxc3 Bd6 $13) 12. Qe2+ Kd8 13. fxg7 (13. Bxd7 Kxd7 14.
Ne5+ Kd8 15. Bg5 g6 16. Bf4 Bd6 17. Nxf7+ Qxf7 18. Bxd6 cxb2 19. Be7+ Kd7 20.
Qxb2 Qe6+ $11) 13... Bxg7 14. O-O Re8 (14... a6 15. Bxd7 Kxd7 16. bxc3 Qxc3 17.
Rb1 $40) (14... cxb2 15. Bxb2 Re8 16. Qd2 Bxb2 17. Qxb2 Qf4 18. Rfe1 Rg8 19.
Qe2 $40) 15. Bg5+ $1 f6 16. Be3 {[%mdl 128] For all her suffering black has
only won a pawn and the king remained in the center.} a6 (16... cxb2 17. Qxb2
Re7 18. Rfe1 Nc5 19. Bd4 $36) 17. Bxd7 (17. Bd3 Ne5 $1 18. Nxe5 fxe5 $11) 17...
Kxd7 (17... Qxd7 $2 18. Bxb6+ Kc8 19. Qc2 Qc6 20. Bd4 $18) 18. Nd4 (18. bxc3
Re4 (18... Qxc3 19. Rfc1 Qa5 20. Nd4 Re4 21. Qh5 $18) 19. Nd2 $1 (19. Nd4)
19... Rh4 20. g3 Ra4 21. Qh5 $16) 18... Re4 (18... cxb2 19. Qg4+ $5 (19. Qxb2
f5 20. Rac1 Qd6 21. Qc2 Bxd4 22. Bxd4 Re4 $11) 19... Kd8 20. Rab1 Bc8 21. Qh5
$14) 19. bxc3 Qe5 (19... Rae8 20. Qh5 Kd8 21. Rfb1 $1 $14) 20. Rfb1 $1 b5 (
20... Qc7 21. Nf5 Bf8 22. Qh5 $18) 21. a4 {Now the defender can claim no
compensation for the horrendous suffering, white must be winning.} Bh6 (21...
Bc6 $2 22. axb5 axb5 23. Nxc6 $18) 22. axb5 a5 (22... Bxe3 23. fxe3 Rxe3 24.
Qg4+ f5 25. Nxf5 Re4 26. Qh5 $18) 23. Qf3 (23. Re1 $16) 23... Bxe3 24. fxe3 Rg8
(24... Rxe3 25. Qg4+ Kd8 26. Qg8+ Qe8 27. Qxh7 $18) 25. Qh3+ Reg4 (25... Ke8
26. Qxh7 Qg5 27. Qh3 Rxe3 28. Re1 $18) 26. Rxa5 Kd6 (26... Ke8 27. Rb2 $18) 27.
Ra2 Bc8 (27... Qe4 28. Rf1 Bc8 29. Qf3 $18) 28. Qf3 Rh4 (28... Re4 29. Rf2 Rxe3
30. Qxf6+ Qxf6 31. Rxf6+ Ke5 32. Rh6 Rxc3 33. Nc6+ Ke4 34. Rxh7 $18) 29. g3 Re4
30. b6 Rxe3 31. b7 $1 {Nice tactical shot, that aims to shorten the burden of
poor black king.} Re1+ (31... Rxf3 32. b8=Q+ Ke7 33. Ra7+ Bd7 34. Rxd7+ Kxd7
35. Rb7+ $18) 32. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 33. Kg2 Bxb7 34. Qxf6+ Kc5 (34... Kd7 35. Qf7+ $18
) 35. Re2 (35. Nb3+ Kb5 36. Ra5+ Kc4 37. Qd4+ Kxb3 38. Qb4+ Kc2 39. Ra2+ Kc1
40. Qb2+ Kd1 41. Qc2#) 35... Qb1 (35... Qxc3 36. Rc2 (36. Ne6+ Kc4 37. Qe7 $18)
36... Qxc2+ 37. Nxc2 $18) 36. Ne6+ Kb5 37. Qf7 Ka5 38. Qc7+ (38. Qc7+ Ka6 39.
Nc5+ Ka7 40. Nxb7 $18) 1-0

[Event "Cap d'Agde KO"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "2003.10.27"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B21"]
[WhiteElo "2722"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2003.10.27"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. f4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nc6 6. Bb5 Bd7 7. O-O Nf6 8. d3
a6 9. Nxf6+ gxf6 10. Ba4 Nd4 11. Bxd7+ Qxd7 12. Be3 Nf5 13. Qe2 O-O-O 14. Bf2
Qc7 15. Nd2 Qxf4 16. Ne4 Qc7 17. c3 Bd6 18. b4 Bxh2+ 19. Kh1 Bg3 20. bxc5 Rhg8
21. Kg1 Bh2+ 22. Kh1 Bg3 23. Rab1 Rg6 24. Bxg3 Nxg3+ 25. Nxg3 Qxg3 26. Qb2 Rh6+
27. Kg1 Qh2+ 28. Kf2 Qf4+ 29. Ke2 Qe5+ 30. Kd2 Qg5+ 31. Ke2 Qxg2+ 32. Rf2 Qxf2+
33. Kxf2 Rh2+ 34. Ke3 Rxb2 35. Rxb2 h5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Cap d'Agde KO"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "2003.10.29"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2732"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2003.10.27"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Bc4 d6 5. d3 Be7 6. Nd2 Bg5 7. Nf1 Bxc1 8.
Rxc1 Nge7 9. Ne3 O-O 10. O-O Be6 11. f4 exf4 12. Rxf4 Ng6 13. Rf2 Qg5 14. Qd2
Nge5 15. b3 Nd4 16. Rcf1 Nxc2 17. Rf4 Nxe3 18. Qxe3 Ng6 19. R4f3 Qxe3+ 20. Rxe3
a6 21. a4 Ne7 22. h3 Rad8 23. Rb1 Rd7 24. Rf1 h6 25. Kh2 Rb8 26. Rg3 Nc6 27.
Rf6 Nd4 28. Rxh6 g6 29. Rh4 Kg7 30. Bxe6 Nxe6 31. Nd5 b5 32. Rf3 Rh8 33. Rxh8
Kxh8 34. axb5 axb5 35. b4 Ra7 36. Rf2 Kg7 37. Rb2 Ra3 38. bxc5 Nxc5 39. d4 Nxe4
40. Rxb5 Rd3 41. Rb4 g5 42. Nc7 Nf6 43. Nb5 g4 44. Kg1 g3 45. Kf1 Nd5 46. Rb2
Nf4 47. Ke1 d5 48. Rc2 Rb3 49. Nc3 Nxg2+ 50. Ke2 Nf4+ 51. Kf1 Ra3 52. Ne2 Ra1+
53. Rc1 g2+ 54. Kf2 Nd3+ 0-1

[Event "Cap d'Agde KO"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "2003.10.29"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E39"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2732"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2003.10.27"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. dxc5 O-O 6. Nf3 Na6 7. Bd2 Nxc5 8.
a3 Bxc3 9. Bxc3 h6 $5 $146 {[%csl Yg5][%cal Yh6g5] Black is covering the g5
square, but in some cases it may become just a loss of tempo.} (9... b6 $6 10.
Ng5 $1 $36 {- see the classic game Reshevsky,S-Euwe,M/Amsterdam 1950 [Ftacnik]}
) (9... d6 10. e3 Bd7 11. b3 Nfe4 12. Be2 e5 13. O-O Bf5 $11 {1-0 Feletar,
D-Palac,M/Pula 2000/CBM 75 (40)}) (9... Nce4 10. Bxf6 (10. Bd4 b6 11. e3 Bb7
12. Be2 Qe7 13. O-O Rfd8 14. Rac1 d6 15. b3 $14 {1/2-1/2 Baburin,A-Leroy,A/
Gifhorn 1992/EXT 2001 (59)}) 10... Nxf6 11. e4 d6 12. Bd3 e5 13. O-O Bg4 14.
Nd2 (14. Ne1 Qc7 15. b3 Rac8 16. f3 Be6 17. Rf2 Nd7 $11 {1-0 Jacimovic,
D-Pinter,J/Elista 1998/CBM 66 ext (54)}) 14... Nd7 15. f3 Be6 16. Kh1 a5 $11 {
0-1 Jacimovic,D-Crisan,A/Tekija 2001/EXT 2002 (48)}) 10. e3 a5 {This move is
typical, but does not prevent from white to play b2-b4.} ({More solid is} 10...
b6 {[%cal Gc8b7]}) 11. b4 Nce4 12. Bd3 (12. Bb2 $6 axb4 13. axb4 Rxa1+ 14. Bxa1
Qe7 $132) 12... Nxc3 13. Qxc3 b6 14. O-O Bb7 (14... d5 15. c5 $14) 15. Be2 Ne4
16. Qd4 d6 17. Nd2 Ng5 $2 {Grischuk needed only a win in order to stay in the
tournament, therefore he avoids the exchange. However, after this move, white
is getting strong pressure.} ({After} 17... Nxd2 18. Qxd2 Qg5 19. f3 d5 {
black can equalize, but no more.}) 18. f4 Nh7 (18... e5 19. Qd3 $16) 19. Rfb1 {
Forcing black to make a concession on the queenside.} a4 20. Rd1 Qc7 21. Nb1 $1
{Transfering the knight to an active outpost.} Rfd8 22. Nc3 $16 Bc6 23. e4 Nf6
$6 ({The last practical chance was} 23... e5) 24. Qe3 Bb7 (24... Qb7 25. Bf3
$16) 25. Rac1 Rd7 $6 ({Probably more stubborn was} 25... Ne8 {, but of course,
black's position is very unattractive.}) 26. e5 $1 $18 {Typical strike in the
centre, which yields white the decisive advantage.} dxe5 27. fxe5 Ne8 28. Nb5 (
28. Rxd7 Qxd7 29. Qxb6 Qd2 30. Rd1 Qxc3 31. Qxb7 Qe3+ 32. Kf1 $18) 28... Qc6
29. Bf3 Rxd1+ 30. Rxd1 Qc8 31. Nd6 {The decisive invasion.} Nxd6 32. exd6 Bxf3
33. Qxf3 Ra7 34. c5 $1 bxc5 35. Qe3 Rd7 36. Qxc5 {White could get nice
connected passed pawns, but the move in the text is even more convincing.} Qb7
37. b5 Kf8 38. Rc1 Rd8 39. Qc7 Qb8 40. b6 1-0

[Event "Cap d'Agde KO"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "2003.10.30"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B85"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "2003.10.27"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. a4 Nc6 8. Be3
Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. f4 Qc7 11. Qe1 Bd7 12. Qg3 Rac8 13. Kh1 d5 14. e5 Nxd4 15.
Bxd4 Ne4 16. Qe3 Bc5 17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. Rfd1 Bxd4 19. Qxd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Cap d'Agde KO"]
[Site "Cap d'Agde"]
[Date "2003.10.30"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2003.10.27"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 098"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.02.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 3]} 1. e4 {Cifuentes,R} c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5
6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. Bd3 Be6 12. c3 Bg7
13. Qh5 O-O 14. O-O (14. exf5 {Cifuentes,R} Bxd5 15. f6 h6 $1 (15... e4 $5 16.
fxg7 Re8 17. Be2 Re5 18. Qh6 b4 $1 (18... Qg5 19. Qxg5 Rxg5 20. Nc2 Be6 21. Ne3
Kxg7 22. a4 b4 $11) 19. Nc2 (19. Nc4 Bxc4 20. Bxc4 bxc3 21. bxc3 Rc5 (21... d5
22. Qxc6 Rc8 23. Qxa6 Rxc4 $44) 22. Bb3 Na5 23. O-O Nxb3 24. axb3 Rxc3 $11)
19... bxc3 20. bxc3 Be6 $142 (20... Qg5 $6 {Según Glavina este orden es
impreciso.} 21. Qxg5 Rxg5 22. O-O (22. O-O-O $5 {intentando aprovechar el
orden de jugadas de Van Wely.} Bxa2 23. Rxd6 Rc5 24. Kd2 $14) 22... Be6 23.
Rfd1 Rc5 24. Rxd6 Rxc3 25. Ne3 Nb4 $1 26. a4 Nc2 27. Nxc2 {1/2-1/2 Anand,V-Van
Wely,L/Wijk aan Zee NED 2003 (27)}) 21. Ne3 Qg5 22. Qxg5 Rxg5 23. Kd2 Rb8 24.
Rhb1 Rxb1 25. Rxb1 Ra5 26. Rb6 Rxa2+ 27. Ke1 Ra1+ $11) 16. fxg7 (16. Qf5 e4 17.
fxg7 Re8 18. Bc2 Re5 19. Qf4 Qg5 $11) 16... Kxg7 17. Nc2 (17. Qf5 Qg5 $1) 17...
Be6 18. Ne3 d5 19. h4 Qf6 20. Bf5 Bxf5 21. Nxf5+ Kh7 22. Rd1 Rad8 23. Rh3 Qg6
24. Qxg6+ fxg6 25. Ne3 d4 26. Nc2 Rf4 $15 {1/2-1/2 Anand,V-Ivanchuk,V/Linares
ESP 2002 (49)}) (14. Nc2 $2 {Cifuentes,R} fxe4 15. Bxe4 f5 16. Nf6+ Rxf6 17.
Bxc6 Rc8 18. Bb7 Rb8 19. Bxa6 Rb6 20. Nb4 Qa8 21. a4 Bf7 $1 22. Qf3 Rxa6 $17 {
Akvist-Joksik/Reggio Emilia 1976-77}) 14... f4 {Thanks to Anand's efforts,
this position became fashionable lately and I suspect it will be even more
popular in the near future, since it appears to be like a promising attempt
for White to fight for advantage in Sveshnikov Sicilian, especially because
other tries have failed so far. Actually I believe that due to the relatively
new type of positions, the present game probably opens a new and wide field
for further developments in the theory of Sveshnikov Sicilian.} 15. Rfd1 {
Leaving the other rook on a1 in order to support the advance a2-a4.} (15. Nc2 {
allows the immediate ...f5. However, the arising positions need more practical
tests for the final verdict, since most of the evaluations are based on old
and rather poorly analized games.} f5 {The positional threat now is 16...Bxd5
17.exd5 Ne7, so White should probably bring the second knight to b4, when many
interesting variations need to be checked more carefully. For instance:} 16.
Ncb4 Nxb4 17. Nxb4 a5 18. exf5 (18. Nc2 Qd7 $13) 18... Bf7 19. Qh3 Qd7 20. Nc2
(20. Nc6 Qxc6 (20... Bc4 $2 21. Bxc4+ bxc4 22. Qf3 Ra6 (22... d5 23. Qxd5+ Qxd5
24. Ne7+ $18) 23. Qd5+ Kh8 24. Nxa5 $16 {1-0 Tolnai,T-Thallinger,G/Caorle 1989
(47)}) 21. f6 e4 22. fxg7 Kxg7 {is good for Black.}) 20... d5 {is considered
to be fine for Black because of the game Klovans-Timoscenko, 1974, which
continued:} 21. Rad1 Ra6 22. Qg4 (22. a4 Rh6 23. Bxb5) 22... Rh6 23. Qe2 f3 24.
gxf3 Qe7 25. f4 e4 26. Bxb5 Bh5 27. f3 Qc5+ 28. Ne3 exf3 29. Qd3 f2+ 30. Kxf2
Bxd1 31. Rxd1 Kh8 {and in some sources this position is evaluated as winning
for Black. In the game actually Black blundered and White won pretty soon.
While I doubt that the evaluation of the present position is so clear, White's
earlier play can certainly be improved several times, the most noticeable
possibilities are 22.a4 (instead of 22.Qg4) and 30.Rxf2 (instead of 30.Kxf2).
Anyway, it seems to me that after 15.Nc2 f5 Black should be doing fine one way
or another, and that's why in the modern practice White was trying exclusively
to place a rook on d1 (instead of 15.Nc2) and prevent 15...f5.}) (15. Rad1 {
Anand used this move several times, connecting it with the next g2-g3. As
mentioned before, White needs a rook on d1 in order to prevent Black from
playing f7-f5.} Kh8 $13 {/=} (15... f5 16. exf5 (16. Bc2 $5) 16... Bxd5 17. f6
Rxf6 18. Bxh7+ Kf8 19. Rxd5 Ne7 20. Qf3 Nxd5 21. Qxd5 $44)) 15... Rb8 {Black
has a lot of other options.} (15... Ne7 {'!?' Cifuentes,R.} 16. Nxe7+ (16. Nc2
Bxd5 17. exd5 f5 $132) 16... Qxe7 17. Nc2 Qd7 (17... Kh8 {Cifuentes,R} 18. Nb4
Qd7 19. h3 a5 20. Nd5 Bxd5 21. exd5 f5 22. a4 bxa4 23. Bc2 Rab8 24. Bxa4 Qc7
25. Qe2 e4 26. Bc6 Be5 27. Kh1 Rg8 28. Rg1 Rxg2 $1 29. Rxg2 f3 30. Qf1 fxg2+
31. Qxg2 Rg8 (31... Rxb2 $1) 32. Qf1 Qf7 33. c4 Qh5 34. Ra3 f4 35. f3 (35. Bd7
f3) 35... Bd4 $19 {Pitl,G-Wendt,J/Budapest 2003}) (17... Qd7 18. Qe2 Kh8 19. a4
$6 bxa4 20. Bxa6 f3 $1 21. gxf3 Bh6 22. Ne3 Rg8+ 23. Kh1 Bf4 24. Rg1 Qe7 25.
Rxg8+ Rxg8 26. Rg1 Rxg1+ 27. Kxg1 Bh3 28. Ng2 Qg5 29. Qf1 Bc1 $17) 18. h3 (18.
Qe2 {Cifuentes,R} Kh8 19. a4 $6 bxa4 20. Bxa6 f3 $1 21. gxf3 Bh6 22. Ne3 Rg8+
23. Kh1 Bf4 24. Rg1 Qe7 25. Rxg8+ Rxg8 26. Rg1 Rxg1+ 27. Kxg1 Bh3 28. Ng2 Qg5
29. Qf1 Bc1 $17) 18... Kh8 $13) (15... f5 $6 16. exf5 (16. Bc2 $5) 16... Bxd5
17. f6 Bh6 {An interesting idea, designed to keep the light-squared bishop on
the board. However, White can achieve an advantage thanks to the somewhat
exposed king's position on g8.} (17... Rxf6 18. Bxh7+ Kf8 19. Rxd5 Ne7 20. Be4
$44) 18. Qxh6 Ra7 19. Bxb5 $1 (19. Bxh7+ Rxh7 20. Qg5+ Kh8 21. Rxd5 f3 $1 $36)
19... Rxf6 (19... Bxg2 20. Rxd6 (20. Bc4+ $18) 20... Qxd6 21. f7+ {[%cal Gh6d6,
Gf7g8]}) 20. Qh5 Bf7 21. Qg5+ Rg6 22. Qxd8+ Nxd8 23. Bd3 $16 {[%cal Gd3e4]}) (
15... Kh8 $5 16. Nc2 $140 f5 (16... Rg8 17. a4 bxa4 18. Rxa4 a5 $13) 17. exf5
Bxd5 18. f6 Bh6 $1 19. Qxh6 Ra7 $13 20. Bxb5 Rxf6 21. Qh5 Bxg2 $1 22. Kxg2 axb5
$132 {[%csl Rg2]}) 16. Nc2 Qd7 17. h3 $1 {It's important to keep the queen on
h5 in order to prevent Black from taking on d5. Later in the game it turned
out that this move is also useful to avoid back rank problems.} (17. Qe2 Bxd5
18. exd5 Ne7 $11) 17... a5 (17... f5 {'!' Cifuentes,R. also doesn't fully
solve the opening problems:} 18. Ncb4 Nxb4 19. Nxb4 a5 20. exf5 $1 (20. Nc2 $6
{1-0 Pfaffel,T-Steiner,P/Austria 1995 (40)} d5 $1 {Cifuentes,R} 21. exf5 (21.
exd5 Qxd5 $15) 21... Bf7 22. Qg4 Qc6 $44) 20... Bf7 (20... Bxf5 {'?!'
Cifuentes,R. runs into} 21. Nc6 $1 {'!!' Cifuentes,R.} Qxc6 {Cifuentes,R} (
21... Rbe8 {Cifuentes,R} 22. Bxb5 $14) (21... Qxc6 22. Bxf5 h6 23. Qg6 Rf6 24.
Qh7+ Kf8 25. Be4 Qe8 26. Bd5 $16) 22. Bxf5 h6 23. Qg6 Rf6 24. Qh7+ Kf8 25. Be4
Qe8 26. Bd5 $16) 21. Qh4 axb4 22. f6 $36 {1/2-1/2 Hawley,M-Kolenbrander,J/
EU-chT1 corr7281 (32)} Bg6 {Cifuentes,R} 23. fxg7 (23. Bxg6 $2 Bxf6 $1) 23...
Qxg7 24. Bxg6 Qxg6 25. cxb4 Kh8 26. Qg4 (26. Rd5 Rf5 $1) 26... Qe4 $1 27. Qh4
$36) 18. Na3 $1 $146 {[%csl Rb5] Anand comes up with a move, which attacks the
newly created weakness on b5, but which in fact is designed in the end to
target the weak pawn on d6.  Starting with this moment White convincingly
increases the positional advantage.} (18. Be2 f5 19. exf5 Rxf5 20. Qf3 Rg5 {
was good for Black in Ratti,R-Cramling,D/Groningen 1978.}) 18... b4 {A natural
continuation, but maybe it was better to protect the pawn instead of allowing
White to establish a knight on b5.} (18... Na7 $5 {This retreat is quite
typical for Sveshnikov Sicilian. The knight goes to the "ugly" square a7, but
on the other hand White's last move was also Nc2-a3, so both knights
"compensate" each other. Now Black threatens 19...Bxd5 20.exd5 f5.} 19. Bc2 $14
(19. c4 $5)) 19. Nb5 $1 {The knight will prove to be very strong on b5.} bxc3
20. bxc3 $14 {White has a stable advantage and earlier improvements must be
found for Black.} Ne7 (20... Rb7 21. a4 Ne7 22. Bc4 $14) 21. Ndc7 $1 {
Unexpected way to catch Black's bishop on e6.} Rbc8 22. Nxe6 fxe6 23. a4 {
Here Black needs to do something out of ordinary, otherwise he will slowly die
without getting any counterplay. In the game Kramnik's defensive plan failed
to succeed.} Kh8 24. Bc2 {[%csl Rd6]} Rc6 25. Rd2 Nc8 26. Rad1 Qe7 27. Bb3 {
All White's pieces are perfectly placed. There is no doubt about the
evaluation - White has a huge positional advantage. Probably Black should try .
..f3 at some moment to complicate matters, although it is unclear how to
follow up after the simple g3.} Rf6 28. c4 {The start of decisive breakthrough.
} Rh6 (28... Bf8 29. c5 Rxc5 30. Nxd6 Nxd6 31. Rxd6 Qxd6 32. Rxd6 Bxd6 33. Qe8+
Bf8 34. Bxe6 $18 {is practically the same as the game.}) 29. Qf3 Bf8 30. c5 $1
{No wonder there is a tactical way for White to convert his advantage.} Rxc5 (
30... dxc5 31. Rd7 (31. Rd8 $5 {[%cal Gd1d7]}) 31... Qg5 32. Rf7 Be7 33. Rd7
Kg8 (33... c4 34. Na7 Rd6 35. Rfxe7 (35. Rc7 $5) 35... Nxe7 36. Rxd6 cxb3 37.
Qxb3 Rg6 38. Qf3 $16 {[%csl Re5,Re6,Rh8]}) 34. Na7 Kxf7 35. Nxc6 $18) 31. Nxd6
Nxd6 32. Rxd6 Qxd6 33. Rxd6 Bxd6 34. Qd3 {[%csl Rc5,Rd6,Rh6,Rh8] Total lack of
coordination between Black's pieces. White is winning.} Rc6 35. Qb5 Rc1+ 36.
Kh2 Rf6 37. Qe8+ Bf8 38. Bxe6 f3 {This obviously cannot change anything now.
Black has no pieces for attack, so white king finds a path to enter into
Black's camp without any real danger for White.} (38... Rc2 39. Qd8 Kg7 40.
Qd7+ Kh8 41. Bf5 Bg7 42. Qe8+ Rf8 43. Qh5 h6 44. Qg6 Kg8 45. Qh7+ Kf7 46. Bg6+
Kf6 47. Bh5 $18) 39. g4 Rf1 40. Kg3 Rg1+ 41. Kh4 Kg7 (41... Rh6+ 42. Kg5 Rg6+
43. Kf5 $18) 42. g5 Rf4+ 43. Kh5 Rg2 44. Bf5 Rxf5 45. exf5 Rxf2 46. Qxe5+ 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2693"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 1]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7.
Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. h3 Ne5 11. f3 Nbc6 12. Bf2 Be6 13. Qd2 Nxd4 14.
Bxd4 Qa5 15. a3 O-O 16. h4 Ng6 17. hxg5 hxg5 18. b4 Qc7 19. Ne2 {Logical first
new move in the game.} (19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. O-O-O Rh8 21. Rxh8 Rxh8 22. Kb2 f6
23. g3 Ne5 24. f4 gxf4 25. gxf4 Nc4+ 26. Bxc4 Qxc4 {1/2-1/2 Anand,V-Ponomariov,
R/Mainz 2002/ (40)}) {[#]} 19... f6 $6 {Kramnik's plan of closing the kingside
and then opening the centre to get to White's king looks logical. On the other
hand it weakens the white squares, which combined with open h file turns out
to be a big problem. Black could probably have got away with} (19... Be5 $5 20.
Bxe5 (20. c3 f6) 20... dxe5 21. Qxg5 Qxc2 22. Rc1 Qb3 $1 23. Rh6 Rfc8 24. Rxg6+
fxg6 25. Qxg6+ Kf8 26. Qh6+ Kf7 27. Qh5+ Kf6 28. Qh6+ $11) 20. Bb2 Bf7 21. Nd4
d5 22. exd5 Qe5+ {The queen rushes to the center, where she also defends white
squares.} (22... Bxd5 23. Bd3 (23. O-O-O Rad8 24. Bd3 $14) 23... Nf4 24. Bh7+
Kf7 25. Qf2 $14) (22... Qg3+ $2 23. Kd1 Rfd8 24. c4 $18) 23. Be2 (23. Kf2 $5
Qxd5 (23... g4 $6 24. c4 g3+ 25. Kg1 $18) 24. c4 Qd7 25. Qc2 Rfd8 $14) 23...
Qxd5 24. O-O-O Rfc8 $2 {Much better move must have been the other rook
centralisation.} (24... Rfd8 $5 25. Qe3 $14) 25. Bd3 Ne5 (25... a5 $5 {Shipov}
26. Be4 Qc4 27. Bxb7 axb4 28. axb4 Ra2 $5 29. Bxc8 Rxb2 30. Be6 $1 Bxe6 31.
Nxe6 $1 $18) 26. Be4 Qa2 (26... Qd7 27. Bf5 e6 28. Nxe6 $1 Bxe6 29. Qxd7 Bxd7
30. Bxd7 Nxd7 31. Rxd7 $18) 27. Nf5 {Akopian had missed 29.Nc6! in a sharp
tactical variation beginning with the courageous 27.Bxb7!?} (27. Bxb7 $5 Nc4
28. Qc3 Nb6 29. Nc6 $1 (29. Bxc8 $2 Na4 30. Ne6 Nxc3 31. Rd8+ Be8 32. Bxc3 Qc4
33. Rxe8+ Kf7 34. Bd7 Rxe8 35. Nxg5+ fxg5 36. Bxe8+ Kxe8 37. Bxg7 $11) 29...
Na4 30. Nxe7+ Kf8 31. Nxc8 Nxc3 32. Rd8+ Be8 33. Bxc3 $18) 27... Nc4 28. Qc3
Rc7 $2 (28... Qxb2+ 29. Qxb2 Nxb2 30. Nxe7+ $1 (30. Kxb2 Rc7 $11) 30... Kf8 31.
Nxc8 Rxc8 (31... Nxd1 32. Bxb7 $1 Nf2 (32... Rxc8 33. Bxc8 Ne3 34. Bxa6) (32...
Rb8 33. Rxd1 Rxb7 34. Rd8+ Be8 35. Rxe8+ Kxe8 36. Nd6+ $18) 33. Rf1 Rb8 34. Nd6
$18) 32. Rd7 $1 (32. Kxb2 $2 f5+) 32... Na4 (32... Nc4 33. Bxb7 Re8 34. Rxf7+
Kxf7 35. Bd5+ $18) 33. Bxb7 Rc3 34. Rh7 $1 Kg8 35. Rxg7+ Kxg7 36. Bd5 $18) {[#]
} 29. Rh7 $3 {[%mdl 128] Really shocking move for the world champion, he goes
down without any real resistance.} Qxb2+ (29... Kxh7 30. Nxe7+ Kh6 31. Rh1+ Bh5
32. g4 $18) (29... Bf8 30. Rdh1 $18) ({The toughest defense must have been} 
29... Nxb2 $1 30. Rxg7+ Kf8 31. Qxb2 Qxb2+ 32. Kxb2 e6 33. Rxf7+ (33. Rh7 $1
exf5 34. Bxf5 $18) 33... Kxf7 34. Bxb7 Rb8 35. Nd6+ Ke7 36. Bxa6 $18) 30. Qxb2
Nxb2 31. Rxg7+ Kf8 32. Rh1 $1 {A phantastic opening of the event.} 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B77"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2617"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 {Switching to Dragon is fully justified here for
two reasons. First of all White won't be able to play the system with long
castle and bishop on f1 (traditionally representing the most unpleasant plan
against Dragon in the last decade). Secondly, like in the present game Black
has an additional possibility to avoid main lines with Bc4.} 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4
Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O (7... d6 8. f3 Qb6 {is less attractive for Black.} 9.
Nf5 $5 $36) 8. Bb3 {A rather sad necessity. If Black would have had the pawn
on d6 instead of castle, then White could play 8.f3, followed by 9.Qd2 and
0-0-0, leaving the bishop on c4 for the moment.} (8. f3 $6 Qb6 $1 $132) 8... d6
9. f3 Bd7 10. Qd2 Nxd4 {After White's early retreat with the bishop to b3 this
is the most optimal decision for Black - he gets sufficient chances in all
lines.} 11. Bxd4 b5 12. a4 (12. O-O-O a5 13. e5 dxe5 14. Bxe5 Bc6 $14 {/=.
With a precise play Black equalizes in the endgame}) (12. h4 {is the most
principled answer. After} a5 13. h5 (13. a4 bxa4 14. Nxa4 Be6 $11) 13... a4 {
Black gets reasonable chances in complication, though.}) 12... a6 {A rare, but
natural continuation.} (12... b4 {Black has a safe equality after this 
(although in the game he could hardly complain either).} 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. Bxg7
(14. exd5 Bxd4 15. Qxd4 a5 $11) 14... Kxg7 15. exd5 Qb6 $11) (12... bxa4 {
is another playable option.}) 13. O-O Bc6 14. axb5 axb5 15. Na2 $1 {With the
knight on b4 White can claim a slight plus.} Bb7 16. Nb4 Nd7 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18.
Rae1 {In this position White can combine two possible plans. One is to use
square d5 and some pressure in the cente, eventually forcing Black to take on
d5 and then get a target on e7. The second possible idea is to advance the
f-pawn and try to create some attack on the kingside. Neither of these should
bring Black any real problems, because he is able to prevent them or get
counterplay. However, Kramnik succeeded to implement an unexpected third idea
to conquer the a-file and obtain a slight, but lasting advantage.} Qb6+ 19. Kh1
Nf6 20. Bd5 Rac8 {Black keeps the other rook on f8 in hope that it might be
useful there. It is true that on the a-file Black had no perspectives at all,
but one could hardly guess that White will soon take over the control of
a-file.} (20... Rfc8 $5 $14 {/=}) 21. Re3 $1 {Does the rook go to g3 or h3?}
Rc5 22. Ra3 $1 $14 {[%cal Ga1e1,Ge1e3,Ge3a3] No, it goes back to the a-file!
So White conquered the a-file by transferring the rook a1 to a3 via e3. It's a
rare case of reaching something out of nothing.} Rd8 23. Rfa1 Rd7 24. Bxb7 Qxb7
25. c3 Rc4 26. Qe3 Qc8 27. Ra5 {[%csl Rb5] Black still has a very solid
position with only one weakness on b5. But it's pretty unpleasant to sit and
wait in passivity. However, this was probably the right thing to do.} Rb7 28.
Ra8 Qd7 29. Qd3 Qc7 30. g3 {Improving the position on the kingside and
unexpectedly provoking Black to start activity there.} h5 $5 {It is well-known
that Loek is not a "sitting duck". One doesn't need to provoke him twice.} (
30... Rb8 31. R8a7 Rb7 $14) 31. Kg2 Qc5 32. Qd2 h4 {Basically, White did
nothing after doubling on the a-file. But Loek didn't wish to see if White can
break his position or not and starts an interesting play himself.} 33. g4 Nxe4
$5 {It's amazing that now Black is trying to do the same - to create something
out of nothing. Apparently there are no real motifs for such sacrifice,
nevertheless Black will get three pawns for the knight and have a certain
initiative.} 34. fxe4 Rxe4 35. Nd5 (35. Kf3 $5 f5 36. g5 Rg4 $13 {[%csl Rg5]
[%cal Ge7e5,Ge5e4]}) (35. h3 $6 Qe5) 35... Rxg4+ 36. Kh3 Re4 $2 {A sad blunder.
} (36... f5 $8 $13 37. Rh8 $2 Kxh8 38. Qh6+ Kg8 39. Ra8+ Kf7 40. Qh7+ Ke6 41.
Qg8+ Ke5 {The only moves for Black, but enough to escape with the king and win.
}) 37. Rh8 $1 f6 (37... Kxh8 38. Qh6+ Kg8 39. Ra8+ {with mate.}) 38. Rxh4 (38.
Qh6+ Kf7 39. Rh7+ Ke6 40. Qxg6 $18) 38... Rxh4+ 39. Kxh4 e6 40. Nb4 Rb8 41. Kg3
d5 42. Kg2 {Back home. Two pawns for the knight are obviously not enough. The
initiative is lost as well.} Rh8 43. Nd3 Qb6 44. Nf4 g5 45. Qd4 (45. Qd4 $1
Qxd4 46. Nxe6+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.13"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2679"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "36"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bg7 6. h3 b6 7. Nc3 e5 8. O-O
Ne7 9. a4 a5 10. Nd2 Be6 11. Ne2 O-O 12. f4 f5 13. fxe5 fxe4 14. Nxe4 Bxe5 15.
Bg5 Qc7 16. Qd2 Nf5 17. Rae1 Bd5 18. Bf4 Nd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.14"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B97"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2747"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qb6 8. Qd2
Nc6 9. O-O-O Qxd4 10. Qxd4 Nxd4 11. Rxd4 Be7 12. Na4 Bd7 13. Nb6 Rd8 14. Nxd7
Rxd7 15. Be2 h6 16. Bh4 Nh5 17. Bxh5 Bxh4 18. Rhd1 Bf2 19. R4d3 Ke7 20. Kb1 Rc8
21. Bg4 Rc4 22. Bf3 g6 23. b3 Rcc7 24. Be2 Rd8 25. g4 Bc5 26. Rh3 Rh8 27. Kb2
Rcc8 28. a3 Rcd8 29. b4 Bf2 30. a4 d5 31. Rf3 Bb6 32. exd5 Rxd5 33. Rxd5 exd5
34. Rd3 Bc7 35. Bf3 Bxf4 36. h3 b6 37. Kb3 Kf6 38. Bxd5 Re8 39. c3 a5 40. bxa5
bxa5 41. Rf3 g5 42. Kc4 Re3 43. Rxe3 Bxe3 44. Kb5 Ke5 45. Bxf7 Kd6 46. c4 Bf2
47. Be8 Ke7 48. Bc6 Kd6 49. Bb7 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.15"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bg7 6. h3 b6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Nc3
O-O 9. Bf4 Ne8 10. Qd2 f6 11. e5 fxe5 12. Bxe5 Bxh3 13. Bxg7 Nxg7 14. Rfe1 Be6
15. Ng5 Bd5 16. Nxd5 cxd5 17. Ne6 Nxe6 18. Rxe6 Rf6 19. Qe2 Kf8 20. Re1 Rxe6
21. Qxe6 Qd6 22. Qh3 Kg8 23. Re6 Qf4 24. Rxe7 Qc1+ 25. Kh2 Qf4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.17"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Zhang, Zhong"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2639"]
[Annotator "Hecht,H"]
[PlyCount "155"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 b6 7. e3 Bb7 8.
Be2 d6 9. O-O Nbd7 10. b4 c5 11. Bb2 Re8 12. d4 Ne4 13. Qb3 Rb8 14. Rad1 Qc7
15. Nd2 Nef6 16. Rc1 a5 17. Rfd1 e5 18. Bf1 axb4 19. axb4 h6 20. Ba1 Rec8 21.
Bb2 Re8 22. dxc5 dxc5 23. Nb1 cxb4 24. Qxb4 Nc5 25. Nc3 Rbd8 26. Rb1 Bc6 27.
Ba1 Rxd1 28. Rxd1 Rd8 29. Nb5 Bxb5 30. Bxe5 Qxe5 31. Rxd8+ Be8 32. Qxb6 Qe7 33.
Rc8 Nfd7 34. Qc7 Kf8 35. g3 Ne6 36. Qc6 g6 37. Bh3 f5 38. Bg2 Kg7 39. Bd5 Nec5
40. Qa8 Bf7 41. Qa1+ Qf6 42. Qa7 Qa6 43. Qxa6 Nxa6 44. f3 Nac5 45. Kf2 Kf6 46.
Rc6+ Be6 47. Ke2 Ke5 48. f4+ Kf6 49. Kd2 Ke7 50. Bf3 Nb3+ 51. Kc3 Na5 52. Ra6
Nxc4 53. Rxe6+ Kxe6 54. Kxc4 {[#] The bishop cannot display its true strength
in endings with pawns on one wing, especially since the queening square of the
h-pawn is of the wrong colour for it. Black should keep his forces close
together and above all place the knight on a safe square which gives it a good
field of action. The greatest enemy for Black is zugzwang, by means of which
White can gain space.   [#] Der Läufer kann in Endspielen mit Bauern auf einem
Flügel nicht seine wahre Stärke ausspielen, zumal das Umwandlungsfeld des
h-Bauern nicht zur Felderfarbe des Läufers passt. Schwarz sollte seine Steine
auf engem Raum zusammenhalten und insbesondere den Springer auf ein sicheres
Feld bei großem Aktionsradius stellen. Der grösste Feind des Schwarzen ist der
Zugzwang, mit dessen Hilfe Weiß Raum gewinnen könnte.} g5 {This could have
been omitted. Das konnte erst einmal unterbleiben.} (54... Nf6 $1 55. Kd4 Kd6 {
[%csl Yg4,Yh5][%cal Yg4h2,Yh5g3]} 56. h3 g5 57. g4 (57. Bb7 Nh5) 57... gxf4 58.
exf4 fxg4 59. hxg4 Ke6 {and in my opinion Black has nothing to fear. und
Schwarz kann m.E. nichts passieren.}) 55. Bd5+ Kf6 $6 {Heading into danger,
since space is conceded and the knight will also have to make do with poorer
squares. Begibt sich in Gefahr, weil Raum aufgegeben wird und der Springer
gleichzeitig auf schlechtere Felder zu stehen kommt.} (55... Kd6 $1 56. Kd4 Nf6
57. Bb7 gxf4 58. exf4 Ng8 $14) 56. Bc6 Nf8 57. Kd5 Ng6 58. Kd6 Ne7 59. Bb7 Ng6
60. Bf3 Nf8 61. Bd5 Ng6 62. Bc6 Nf8 63. Bd7 Ng6 64. h3 h5 $5 (64... Nf8 $1 65.
Bb5 Ng6 {and it is impossible to see how White can progress. e.g. und es nicht
zu erkennen, wie Weiß Fortschritt machen kann. z.B.} 66. Bd3 Nf8 67. g4 gxf4
68. exf4 fxg4 69. hxg4 Ne6 $11) 65. fxg5+ Kxg5 66. h4+ Kg4 (66... Kf6 {is a
small step to the edge of a dangerous precipice. ist ein sehr schmaler Grad
mit großer Absturzgefahr.} 67. Be8 (67. Ba4 f4 68. gxf4 Nxf4 69. Bc2 $1 {
[%csl Yf5,Yg6] and here the e-pawn could be decisive. und hier könnte der
e-Bauer entscheiden} (69. exf4 Kf5 $11) 69... Ng2 70. e4 Nxh4 71. e5+ $18)
67... Ne5 {[%csl Re3][%cal Re5g4,Re5c4]} 68. Kd5 Ng4 69. Kd4 Nh2 {[%csl Rg3]
[%cal Rh2f1]} 70. Bxh5 Nf1 71. e4 fxe4 72. g4 Ng3 73. g5+ (73. Be8 Nf5+ 74.
gxf5 Kxf5 $11 {[%cal Gf5f6,Gf6g7,Gg7h8]}) 73... Kf5 74. Bd1 Kf4 75. g6 Nf5+ 76.
Kc3 Ke5 77. h5 Kf6 $11) 67. e4 $1 Kxg3 68. exf5 Nh8 {This really seems to lose
the game. Das scheint wirklich zu verlieren.} ({Another narrow path to a draw
may have been Ein weiterer schmaler Remispfad war wohl} 68... Nxh4 $1 69. f6
Kf4 70. f7 (70. Ke7 Kg5 71. Kf7 Ng6 72. Kg7 Ne5 $11) 70... Ng6 71. Ba4 (71. Bh3
h4 72. Ke6 Kg5 73. Bf1 Kh6 74. Kf6 Nf8 75. Bh3 Nh7+ 76. Ke7 Kg7 77. Bd7 Nf8 78.
Bf5 h3 79. Bxh3 Ng6+ 80. Ke8 Nf8 81. Bf5 Kh8 $1 $11 {is a further nice little
draw. ist ein weiteres nettes Remisspielchen}) 71... h4 72. Bc2 Nf8 73. Ke7 h3
$11) 69. Ke7 Kxh4 70. Kf6 Kg4 71. Kg7 Kg5 72. f6 h4 73. Bc8 (73. Be6) 73... Kh5
74. Bf5 Kg5 75. Be6 Ng6 (75... Kh5 76. Kxh8 Kg6 77. f7 $18) 76. f7 $18 Nf4 77.
Bc8 Nh5+ 78. Kh7 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.18"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2714"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8.
f3 h6 9. Bh4 d5 10. e3 Nbd7 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Bxd8 Nxc3 13. Bh4 Nd5 14. Bf2 c5
15. e4 Nf4 16. Be3 Ng6 17. Ne2 f5 18. exf5 exf5 19. O-O-O Rae8 20. Bf2 Ba6 21.
Nc3 Bxf1 22. Rhxf1 Nf4 23. dxc5 Nxc5 24. Bxc5 bxc5 25. g3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.19"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B85"]
[WhiteElo "2720"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. Be2 Be7 8. a4
Nc6 9. O-O O-O 10. f4 Qc7 11. Kh1 Re8 12. Bf3 Rb8 13. Qe1 $5 e5 14. Nde2 exf4
15. Nxf4 Be6 16. Bh5 $5 {An attempted improvement on an old Dolmatov's game.
The threat is to take on e6 and if 16...Rf8 the bishop will return to e2
winning a tempo.} (16. Be2 Ne5 17. a5 Qc6 18. Ra4 Bd8 19. Qa1 Bc4 20. Bg1 Rc8
21. Nd3 Be6 22. Nb4 Qd7 23. Rd1 Bg4 24. Bxg4 Qxg4 25. Nbd5 {1-0 Dolmatov,
S-Ftacnik,L/Manila 1990/ (40)}) 16... Nxh5 17. Nxh5 Qa5 18. Nf4 Bc4 19. Nd3 (
19. Nfd5 $5 Bd8 20. Rf4 Nb4 $13) 19... Qd8 $1 (19... Ne5 20. Qg3 $5 (20. Rd1)
20... Qd8 21. Rad1 Bh4 22. Qf4 g5 23. Qf5 Be6 24. Qf6 Qxf6 25. Rxf6 Ng4 $11)
20. b3 (20. Qf2 Bh4 21. Qf4 Ne5 $11) 20... Bxd3 21. cxd3 Bf6 (21... Nb4 22. Qg3
Bf6 23. d4 $14) 22. Rc1 Nb4 23. Qd2 d5 24. Bc5 Bg5 $2 {Kramnik choses a very
risky strategy, while the sensible exchanges in the center promissed good
chance for the equality.} (24... Bxc3 25. Rxc3 Nc6 26. Qf4 f6 (26... Qd7 $2 27.
Bd6 Rbd8 28. exd5 Qxd6 29. Qxf7+ Kh8 30. dxc6 bxc6 (30... Rf8 31. c7 $1 $18)
31. Qc4 $16) 27. Bd6 Ra8 $1 (27... d4 28. Rc5 $14) 28. exd5 Ne5 29. Bxe5 Rxe5
30. Qg4 $14) 25. Qf2 $1 Nxd3 (25... Bxc1 26. Bxb4 Bg5 27. Qxf7+ Kh8 28. Nxd5
$16 {gives white too much for the exchange.}) 26. Qxf7+ Kh8 27. Bd4 Bh6 28.
Rcd1 dxe4 29. Ba7 $1 Re7 $2 {[%mdl 256] Black faces unpleasant problems, but
alternatives were probably better than the game move.} (29... Ra8 30. Nxe4 b5
$1 (30... Rxe4 31. Rxd3 Qe7 32. Rd7 Qxf7 33. Rdxf7 $16) (30... Rxa7 31. Rxd3
Qb8 32. Nd6 $18) 31. Bg1 Rxe4 32. Rxd3 Qe8 $14) (29... Rf8 30. Qxf8+ Qxf8 31.
Rxf8+ Rxf8 32. Nxe4 Rd8 (32... Ne5 33. g3 g6 34. Nd6 $1 $14) 33. g4 Bf4 34. Kg2
Rd7 35. Nf2 Ne5 36. Rxd7 Nxd7 37. Nd3 $14) 30. Qf5 Ra8 (30... g6 $2 31. Qh3 $18
) 31. Nxe4 Rd7 (31... Rxa7 $4 32. Qf8+ $18) 32. Bb6 Qe8 (32... Qe7 33. Nc3 $1
Ne5 34. Rde1 $18) 33. a5 $1 Kg8 (33... Qc8 34. Nf6 gxf6 35. Rxd3 Rxd3 36. Qxd3
Bg7 37. b4 $16) 34. Qg4 (34. Rf3 $1 {Black is so constrained, that that Adams
could already have won with a mighty idea of hitting the d3 knight.} Ne5 35.
Rxd7 Nxd7 36. Nd6 $18) 34... Kh8 35. Rf8+ Qxf8 36. Qxd7 Ne5 37. Qxb7 g6 (37...
Ng4 38. Bc5 Qg8 39. Rf1 $18) 38. h3 Bg7 39. Nd6 h5 40. b4 Qg8 {The defender
has no compensation for his suffering, whiet controls the board.} 41. Bc5 Qb8
42. Qe4 Kh7 43. Rd5 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.20"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B92"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Bg5
Be6 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. Qd3 Nc6 11. O-O-O Be7 12. Kb1 O-O (12... Nd4 13. Nxd4 exd4
14. Nd5 Bxd5 15. exd5 O-O 16. Qf3 $1 $14 {was the idea of Kramnik, when white
can proceed with Bd3 and advance of the kingside pawns.}) 13. Nd5 Bg5 14. h4 $1
{Kramnik is rushing his activity, since the slower method might not bring him
anything.} (14. g3 a5 $5 15. a3 a4 16. Nd2 Bxd5 17. Qxd5 Nd4 18. Bd3 Bxd2 19.
Rxd2 $11) 14... Bxh4 15. g3 (15. f4 exf4 16. Nxf4 Bxb3 17. Qxb3 Bg5 $1 18. Nd5
(18. Ne6 $2 fxe6 19. Qxe6+ Kh8 $19) 18... b5 19. Bg4 $11) 15... Bf6 (15... Be7
16. f4 a5 17. c3 a4 18. Nd2 a3 19. b3 $14) 16. Qf3 Bg5 $5 (16... h6 17. Nxf6+
Qxf6 18. Qxf6 gxf6 19. Rxd6 $14) 17. Qh5 h6 18. f4 Bf6 19. Nd2 $5 {White was
unhappy about this move, but alternative 19.c3 was much slower and bearable
for black.} (19. c3 Bxd5 20. exd5 Ne7 21. Nd2 exf4 22. gxf4 Ng6 23. Rdg1 Qe7
24. f5 (24. Bd3 Qe3 $1 $15) 24... Rae8 25. Bd1 Qe3 $11) 19... Nd4 20. Bc4 (20.
Bd3 Bxd5 21. exd5 Re8 22. Ne4 (22. c3 Nb5) 22... exf4 23. gxf4 Rxe4 $3 (23...
Nb5 24. Rde1 Kf8 25. Qf5 $16) 24. Bxe4 Qb6 25. c3 Nb5 26. Kc2 Qc5 27. Rh3 Qc4
$13) 20... Rc8 $1 (20... b5 21. Bd3 $1) 21. c3 Nb5 (21... b5 22. Bd3 Nc6 23. f5
Bxd5 24. exd5 Na5 25. Ne4 $13) 22. f5 Bxd5 23. Bxd5 Rxc3 $3 {[%mdl 64] Anand
understands the dangers on the kingside so he bravely sacrifices material for
the strong counterplay.} (23... Qb6 24. Ka1 Qe3 25. Nc4 Rxc4 26. Bxc4 Qxe4 27.
Bd5 $16) 24. Qg6 $1 (24. bxc3 Nxc3+ 25. Kc2 Nxd5 $1 26. exd5 Qa5 (26... Qb6 $6
27. Rb1 (27. Nb3 $6 Rc8+ 28. Kb1 Rc3 29. Qe2 e4 $11) 27... Qc5+ 28. Kd1 $16)
27. Qf3 Rc8+ 28. Kb1 Rc3 $11) (24. a4 Na3+ $1 25. Ka2 Rxg3 26. bxa3 Qa5 $40)
24... Qb6 25. Rxh6 $1 {Kramnik was contemplating the dangerous move 25.a4, but
the tactics is favouring black. Running short of time white obeyed his
intuition and took a draw.} (25. a4 Na3+ 26. Ka2 Rc2 (26... Nc4 $5 27. Bxc4
Rxc4 28. Nxc4 Qc5 29. Qg4 Qxc4+ 30. Kb1 Rc8 $15) 27. Nb3 Qf2 28. Kxa3 Rxb2 29.
Rxh6 (29. Ra1 b5 $1 $19) 29... Ra2+ 30. Kb4 Qb6+ 31. Kc4 Qc7+ 32. Kb4 a5+ $1 (
32... Qb6+ $11) 33. Kb5 Qd7+ 34. Kb6 (34. Kc4 Qxa4+ 35. Kd3 Qb5+ 36. Bc4 Qxc4+
37. Kxc4 fxg6 $19) 34... Bd8+ 35. Ka7 b5+ $19) (25. Nb3 Qf2 $1 (25... Rxb3 26.
Bxb3 Qe3 27. Qg4 Nd4 $11) (25... Qe3 $17) 26. Rd2 Qf3 $1 $17) (25. Rxh6 $1 Na3+
26. Ka1 Nc2+ 27. Kb1 Na3+ $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.22"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Timman, Jan H"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2578"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[Annotator "Gershon,A"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qa4 Bb7 6. Bg2 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. O-O
O-O 9. Nc3 Be7 10. Bf4 a6 (10... Na6 {is the main move here, but it leads to
very drawish positions.Looks like black wanted to keep more life in the
position}) 11. Rfd1 d6 12. Rac1 (12. Rd2 Qc7 13. Rad1 Rd8) 12... Nh5 $1 {
The most accurate way to finish development.} (12... Qc7 13. Qb4 Ne8 14. Na4
$14) 13. Be3 Qc7 14. Qc2 Nf6 {Black is delaying the development of the b8N,
which will go to either d7 or c6, in accordance with the situation on the
board.} 15. Bf4 Rd8 16. Qd2 Ne4 ({of course not} 16... Nc6 $2 17. Nd5 exd5 18.
cxd5 $16) 17. Nxe4 Bxe4 18. Bg5 {Forcing more simplifications} (18. b4 Qb7 $11)
18... Nc6 (18... Bxg5 19. Nxg5 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 (20. Qd3 h6 $1 21. Qh7+ Kf8 22.
Qh8+ Ke7 23. Qxg7 hxg5 24. Qxg5+ Kd7 25. Kxg2 Nc6 $19) 20... Qb7+ $11) 19. Bxe7
Nxe7 20. Qf4 $1 Bxf3 21. Qxf3 Rac8 22. Qb7 {The endgame is absolutely equal} a5
23. e3 Qxb7 24. Bxb7 Rc7 25. Bf3 {[%csl Rb6,Rd6]} Kf8 26. Rc3 Nc8 27. Be2 Ke7
28. Kf1 Na7 (28... d5 29. cxd5 Rxc3 30. bxc3 Rxd5 31. Rxd5 exd5 32. c4 dxc4 33.
Bxc4 $14 {thanks to the B white has a slight edge}) 29. Rb3 Rb8 30. Rbd3 Rd8
31. Rb3 Rb8 32. Rbd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.23"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B92"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. O-O
O-O 9. Kh1 Nc6 10. f4 b5 11. Bf3 Na5 12. Nxa5 Qxa5 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. exd5 exf4
15. Bxf4 Bf5 16. Bg4 Bxg4 17. Qxg4 Qd8 18. c3 Bf6 19. a4 Qc7 20. Bg3 Be5 21.
Bxe5 dxe5 22. Qe2 Rab8 23. axb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.24"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2706"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 1]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Qc2
Nxc3 8. bxc3 c5 9. e4 Nc6 10. Be3 Be7 11. d5 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8] Logical move,
that is rather unpleasant for black.} (11. Bd3 cxd4 12. cxd4 Rc8 13. Qe2 O-O
14. O-O Na5 15. Rfd1 Kh8 16. Qa2 Rc3 17. a4 f5 18. Ne5 fxe4 19. Bb5 a6 20. Bf1
Bd5 {1/2-1/2 Shamkovich,L-Morris,W/Gausdal/1982/ (37)}) (11. Qa2 O-O 12. Rd1
Qc7 13. Bd3 Na5 14. O-O c4 15. Bc2 f6 16. d5 e5 17. Nh4 g6 18. Ba4 f5 19. d6
Bxd6 20. exf5 gxf5 21. Bh6 Rf6 22. Bg5 Rf7 23. Qd2 Be7 {0-1 Hansen,
H-Carstensen,J/Copenhagen 2000/ (38)}) 11... exd5 12. Rd1 d4 (12... O-O 13.
exd5 Na5 14. Bd3 $1 g6 15. c4 b5 16. cxb5 c4 17. Be2 $16) 13. cxd4 O-O (13...
cxd4 14. Nxd4 Nxd4 (14... Qc7 15. Bb5 Rc8 16. Nf5 $1 $16) 15. Rxd4 Qc8 16. Bb5+
Kf8 17. Qd3 $14) 14. d5 $1 {Sokolov is showing ambitions, otherwise he could
have accepted safe equality with} (14. dxc5 Qc7 15. cxb6 (15. Bd3 Rfc8 16. cxb6
axb6 17. Qb3 Ne5 18. Nxe5 Qxe5 $11) 15... axb6 16. a4 Bc5 17. Bxc5 Nb4 18. Qc3
bxc5 $11) 14... Nd4 (14... Na5 15. Bd2 Bd6 16. Bxa5 bxa5 17. Bd3 $16) 15. Qb2 (
15. Nxd4 cxd4 16. Bxd4 Bxa3 $1 17. Bxg7 Bb4+ 18. Ke2 Re8 19. f3 Bxd5 $13) 15...
Re8 (15... Nxf3+ 16. gxf3 Re8 17. f4 Bf8 18. Bg2 $13) 16. Bxd4 (16. Nxd4 cxd4
17. Bxd4 Qxd5 $1 18. f3 (18. exd5 $2 Bb4#) (18. Bxg7 Qxe4+ 19. Be2 Bxa3 $19)
18... Qa5+ $15) 16... cxd4 17. Bb5 Bxa3 $1 (17... Rf8 18. Nxd4 $16) 18. Qxd4 (
18. Qxa3 Rxe4+ 19. Kf1 Qxd5 20. Bd3 Rf4 $44) 18... Bc5 19. Qd3 Bb4+ 20. Kf1 Rf8
{Kramnik chooses somewhat controversial retreat with the rook. Black has two
bishops and crucial majority on the queenside, but his kingside is potentially
vulnerable.} (20... Re7 21. Nd4 (21. e5 $6 Rc7 $15) 21... a5 22. g3 Rc7 23. Nc6
Bxc6 24. Bxc6 Rb8 25. f4 $14) 21. Nd4 Qc8 22. h4 $5 Bc5 (22... Bd6 23. Nf5 Qc7
24. Bc6 $1 $14) 23. h5 Qg4 (23... a6 24. Ba4 (24. Bc6 a5 (24... Bxd4 25. Bxb7
Qxb7 26. Qxd4 h6 27. Rh3 $14) 25. h6 g6 26. Bxb7 Qxb7 $13) 24... b5 25. Bb3 Qd7
26. Nf5 Rfe8 27. Qg3 $16) 24. Nf3 Rad8 (24... a6 25. Rh4 Qc8 26. Ba4 b5 27. Bc2
$14) 25. Rh4 Qc8 26. Bc4 (26. h6 $5 g6 27. Bc4 a5 (27... a6 28. Qc3 f6 29. d6+
Kh8 30. Rf4 $18) 28. Ng5 $14) 26... b5 $2 {In order to activate pieces black
is sacrificing half his proud queenside pride.} (26... h6 27. e5 a5 28. d6 $14)
27. Bxb5 Bb6 (27... f5 28. h6 fxe4 29. Qxe4 g6 30. Qe5 Rf7 31. Rc4 $16) 28. h6
g6 (28... Qc5 29. Rd2 g6 30. Bc4 $16) 29. Qb3 Qc5 30. Qb2 f6 31. Rf4 (31. Nd4
$1 a6 32. Bc6 $16) 31... Bc7 $2 {The defense remains a difficult topic even
for best players.} ({Much better was to hold the position with} 31... Qd6 $1
32. g3 Bc5 33. Nd2 Rf7 34. Nb3 Bb6 $14) 32. Rc1 Qb6 33. Rxc7 $1 Qxc7 34. Rxf6
Rxf6 (34... Bc8 35. d6 $1 Rxd6 36. Rxf8+ Kxf8 37. Qh8+ Ke7 38. Qg7+ Kd8 39.
Qf8#) 35. Qxf6 Rf8 (35... a6 36. Ba4 $18) (35... Qc1+ 36. Ne1 $18) 36. Qb2 Rc8
37. d6 $1 Qc1+ (37... Qf7 38. Ng5 Qf8 39. d7 $18) 38. Qxc1 Rxc1+ 39. Ke2 {
Despite spare exchange black is unable to stop running white pawns.} Rc8 (39...
Rc2+ 40. Kd3 Rc8 41. Ng5 $18) 40. Ng5 a6 41. Ba4 (41. Ba4 Bc6 42. Bxc6 Rxc6 43.
e5 Rb6 (43... Kf8 44. Nxh7+ $18) 44. d7 Rb8 45. Ne6 $18) 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2004.01.25"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2722"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2004.01.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Ne5
d5 9. Bc3 O-O 10. Nd2 c5 11. dxc5 Bxc5 12. O-O Bb7 13. e3 Be7 14. Rc1 Nbd7 15.
Nxd7 Qxd7 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. cxd5 exd5 18. Ne4 Be5 19. Qd3 Rad8 20. Ng5 g6 21.
Nf3 Bf6 22. Rfd1 Rc8 23. Nd4 Rxc1 24. Rxc1 Rc8 25. Rd1 Qc7 26. Ne2 Qc2 27. Nf4
Qxa2 28. Nxd5 Bxd5 29. Bxd5 Rc7 30. Bc4 Qa3 31. e4 b5 32. Bxb5 Rc3 33. Qd7 Qxb3
34. e5 Be7 35. Be2 Qe6 36. Qxe6 fxe6 37. Rd7 Kf8 38. Rxa7 Rc2 39. Kf1 Rc1+ 40.
Kg2 Rc2 41. Kf3 g5 42. Ra8+ Kg7 43. Bd3 Rc5 44. Ke4 Rc6 45. f4 gxf4 46. gxf4
Kf7 47. Ra4 Bd8 48. Bc4 Ke7 49. Kd3 Bc7 50. Ra8 Bd8 51. Ra7+ Bc7 52. Bb5 Rc5
53. Kd4 Rd5+ 54. Kc4 Kd8 55. f5 Rd4+ 56. Kc5 Rd5+ 57. Kc4 Rd4+ 58. Kxd4 Bb6+
59. Kd3 Bxa7 60. f6 Bg1 61. h3 Bc5 62. Ke4 Ba3 63. h4 Bb2 64. Kf4 h6 65. Bc4
1/2-1/2

[Event "GER-Kramnik"]
[Site "Brissago"]
[Date "2004.01.29"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Huebner, Robert"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2604"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2004.01.29"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 b5 4. Bg2 d5 5. O-O Bb7 6. b3 Nbd7 7. c4 bxc4 8. bxc4
dxc4 9. Na3 c3 10. Nb5 Bb4 11. Qb3 a5 12. Nxc3 c5 13. a3 c4 14. Qb2 Bxc3 15.
Qxc3 Qc8 16. Bf4 O-O 17. Rfc1 Nb6 18. Rab1 Ra6 19. Rb5 Be4 20. Rxa5 Nbd5 21.
Qe1 c3 22. Rc5 Qa8 23. Nh4 Bxg2 24. Nxg2 Ne4 25. Rb5 Rxa3 26. Ne3 Qa6 27. Rbb1
Nxe3 28. Bxe3 Ra2 29. Ra1 Qxe2 30. Rxa2 Qxa2 31. Bf4 Qd5 32. f3 Nd2 33. Bxd2
cxd2 34. Qxd2 Qxf3 35. Qf4 Qxf4 36. gxf4 Rd8 37. Kf2 h6 38. Ke3 Rd5 39. Rc2 Rh5
40. Kf3 Rh3+ 41. Ke4 f5+ 42. Ke5 Re3+ 43. Kd6 Kf7 44. Rf2 g5 45. Kc5 Re4 46.
fxg5 hxg5 47. Kc4 Kf6 48. Kd3 g4 49. Rf1 Kg5 50. Ra1 e5 51. dxe5 Rxe5 52. Ra8
Kf4 0-1

[Event "GER-Kramnik"]
[Site "Brissago"]
[Date "2004.01.29"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bischoff, Klaus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2561"]
[Annotator "Finkel,A"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2004.01.29"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. e4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 a6 8. Qd2 b5
9. a3 cxd4 {Black has tried many different moves in this position, but none of
them seems to be sufficient for equality.} (9... Qb6 10. Ne2 c4 11. g4 h5 12.
gxh5 Rxh5 13. Ng3 Rh8 14. f5 $5 $36 {Kasparov,G-Radjabov,T/Linares 2003}) (9...
Bb7 10. Bd3 Qb6 11. Qf2 Rc8 12. O-O g6 13. dxc5 Bxc5 14. Bxc5 Qxc5 15. Ne2
Qxf2+ 16. Kxf2 Nc5 17. Ned4 $14 {Potkin,V-Volkov,S/Istanbul 2003}) 10. Nxd4
Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Nb8 $5 {Interesting attempt.} (11... Bc5 12. Bxc5 Nxc5 13. Qf2
Qe7 14. Bd3 O-O 15. O-O Bd7 16. Rae1 Nxd3 17. cxd3 $14 {Lejarre,L-Boukobza,A/
Avoine 2003}) 12. Bd3 Nc6 13. Bf2 {Probably the most dangerous continuation
for black, even though also after} (13. Ne2 $5 b4 (13... Nxd4 14. Nxd4 Bc5 15.
c3 f6 16. O-O O-O 17. Qe3 $14) 14. axb4 Bxb4 15. c3 Nxd4 16. Nxd4 Bc5 17. O-O (
17. Bc2 Qb6 18. Ba4+ Bd7 19. Bxd7+ Kxd7 20. f5 Rhb8 $132) 17... Qb6 18. Qf2 O-O
19. b4 Bxd4 20. Qxd4 Qxd4+ 21. cxd4 Rb8 22. Rfb1 $14 {white keeps better
chances.}) 13... Bd7 14. O-O Be7 15. Ne2 b4 16. a4 (16. c3 $5 bxc3 (16... bxa3
17. b4 O-O 18. Rxa3 a5 19. Rb3 $14) 17. Qxc3 a5 18. Qd2 O-O 19. Rac1 $14) 16...
Na5 17. f5 $6 {I guess Kramnik overestimated his chances after the e6 break,
otherwise he would've tried the more subtle} (17. Nd4 $1 Nc4 18. Qc1 Bc5 19. b3
Na5 20. f5 $36 {[%cal Gc1f4] with very unpleasent pressure.}) 17... exf5 (17...
Nc4 $6 18. Qf4 Nxb2 19. Qg3 Bf8 20. fxe6 Bxe6 21. Nf4 $36) 18. Nd4 (18. Qf4 O-O
19. Bxf5 Bxf5 20. Qxf5 Qc8 21. Qd3 Nc4 22. Qd4 Bg5 23. Rad1 Re8 $15) 18... g6
19. e6 (19. Qe2 Qc8 20. Rae1 Nc6 21. Nxc6 Qxc6 22. a5 O-O $15) 19... fxe6 20.
Qe2 Nc6 (20... Qc8 21. Rae1 Nc6 22. Nxe6 Bxe6 23. Qxe6 Qxe6 24. Rxe6 Kd7 25.
Rfe1 Bd6 $15) 21. Nxe6 Bxe6 22. Qxe6 Qd6 23. Qe2 O-O 24. Bxa6 Bf6 25. Rad1 Ne5
(25... Ne7 $5 26. Bb5 Bxb2 27. Rfe1 Bf6 28. Qe3 $44) 26. Bb5 (26. Bb5 Ng4 27.
Bg3 Qc5+ 28. Kh1 Ne3 29. Bf2 (29. Bd6 Qa7 30. Bxf8 Rxf8 31. Rf3 Nxd1 32. Qxd1
Qc5 33. Rd3 Rd8 34. b3 Kg7 $15) 29... d4 30. Bxe3 dxe3 31. Rd5 $132) 1/2-1/2

[Event "GER-Kramnik"]
[Site "Brissago"]
[Date "2004.01.29"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dautov, Rustem"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2616"]
[Annotator "Dautov,R"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2004.01.29"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Huzman} e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O
Be7 8. c4 Nf6 {Eine solide alte Fortsetzung, heutzutage wird meistens 8...Nb4
gespielt.} (8... Nb4 9. Be2 O-O) 9. Nc3 O-O 10. h3 Nb4 11. Be2 dxc4 12. Bxc4 c6
13. Re1 Nbd5 14. Bg5 Be6 15. Qb3 Rb8 {Eine wichtige Stellung in der der
Variante 8...Nf6. Weiß steht aktiv, dafür ist die schwarze Stellung sehr fest.}
16. Bh4 $5 $146 {Ein neuer Zug. Weiß droht Nf3-g5 und plant gleichzeitig die
Überführung des Läufer nach e5.} (16. Rad1 Re8 17. Bh4 h6 18. Ne5 (18. Bg3 {
Huzman} Bd6 19. Be5 Nxc3 20. bxc3 Bxc4 21. Qxc4 Nd5 22. Qb3 b5 $11 {1/2-1/2
Lutz,C-Dautov,R/Baden Oos GER 2004/(70)}) 18... Qb6 {'!' Huzman.} 19. Qxb6 axb6
20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Nxd5 cxd5 $11 {Leko,P-Kramnik,V/RUS-The World rapid 2002} 22.
Bb3 {Huzman} g5 23. Ng4 $11 {1/2-1/2 Leko,P-Kramnik,V/Moscow 2002/CBM 91/
[Huzman] (34)}) (16. Rac1 Nc7 $11 17. Bxe6 {Huzman} Nxe6 18. Bh4 Nf4 19. Rcd1
N4d5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Matulovic,M-Kurajica,B/Umag 1972/MCD (42)}) (16. Ne5 Re8 17.
Rad1 {Huzman} Qd6 18. Bh4 (18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Ne4 Qd8 20. Nc5 Qd6 21. Qf3 Bxe5
22. Rxe5 Nc7 23. Bxe6 Nxe6 24. Qg3 h6 25. Ne4 Qe7 $11 {1/2-1/2 Tsvetkov,
A-Gottardi,G/Memorial Konstantinopolsky (corr.), cor 1997 (33)}) 18... Qb4 19.
Qc2 Rbd8 20. Bd3 h6 $11 {1-0 Hulak,K-Toth,B/Budva 1981/MCD (32)}) (16. Nxd5
Bxd5 (16... cxd5 {Huzman} 17. Bd3 h6 18. Bf4 Bd6 19. Be5 Ne4 20. Rac1 Qa5 21.
Bxd6 Nxd6 22. Qc3 Qxc3 23. Rxc3 Rbc8 24. Ne5 Rxc3 25. bxc3 Rc8 26. Rc1 b5 27.
Rc2 {1/2-1/2 De Groot,A-Daw,G/WT/M\532 1991 (27)}) 17. Bxd5 (17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18.
Bxd5 Qxd5 19. Qxd5 cxd5 $11) 17... Nxd5 18. Bxe7 Nxe7 19. Qa3 Nc8 $11) 16... h6
{Diese Antwort ist naheliegend, aber in Frage kam auch die sofortige
Entlastung in Zentrum mittels 16...Nxc3.} (16... Re8 17. Ng5 $14) (16... Nxc3
$5 17. bxc3 (17. Bxe6 Ncd5 18. Bf5 Qb6 $11) 17... Bxc4 18. Qxc4 Re8 19. Re2 b5
20. Qb3 Nd5 21. Rae1 f6 22. Bg3 (22. c4 bxc4 23. Qxc4 Qd7 $11) 22... Rc8 23. a4
a6 24. c4 bxc4 25. Qxc4 a5 26. Re6 Qd7 27. Qe2 Kf8 $11) 17. Bg3 Bd6 18. Be5 {
Weiß droht nun 19.Bxf6.} Nc7 $2 {Spätestens hier müßte ich auf c3 zugreifen,
mit einer etwa ausgeglichenen Stellung. Der fehlerhafte Textzug gibt die
Kontrolle über das wichtige Feld d5 auf und verhilft Weiß zu einem kleinen,
aber langfristigen Vorteil.} (18... b5 $6 19. Bxd5 Nxd5 20. Bxd6 Qxd6 21. Ne4
Qc7 22. Nc5 $16) (18... Nxc3 $1 19. Bxe6 (19. bxc3 Bxc4 20. Qxc4 Nd5 21. Qb3 b5
$11) 19... Ncd5 20. Bf5 Re8 21. Rad1 Qc7 $11) (18... Bxe5 $5 {Huzman} 19. dxe5
$140 (19. Nxe5 Re8 $1 (19... Nc7 20. Bxe6 Nxe6 21. Nxf7 Nxd4 (21... Rxf7 22.
Rxe6 Qxd4 23. Re7 Nd5 24. Rxf7 Kxf7 25. Rd1 $16) 22. Nxd8+ Nxb3 23. axb3 Rfxd8
24. Rxa7 Rd2 25. Re7 Rxb2 26. Raxb7 Rxb7 27. Rxb7 $16) 20. Rad1 Nc7 21. Bxe6
Rxe6 $11) (19. Rxe5 Nd7 20. Ree1 N7b6 $11) 19... b5 20. Bxd5 (20. Bf1 Ne3 $1
$19) (20. Nxd5 Nxd5 21. Be2 Qb6 22. Rad1 Rbd8 23. Nd4 Nf4 $11) (20. exf6 bxc4
21. Qxc4 Nxf6 22. Qe2 Bd5 $11) 20... Nxd5 21. Ne4 Qb6 22. Rac1 Rbd8 23. Nc5 Nc7
$1 24. Qc2 Bd5 25. Nh4 $14 {[%cal Gh4f5]}) 19. Bxe6 (19. Re2 {Huzman} Bxc4 20.
Qxc4 Re8 21. Rae1 Ncd5 $14 {/=}) 19... Nxe6 20. Rad1 $14 {Mit der klaren
Absicht d4-d5.} Nf4 {Schwarz hat nicht viele Möglichkeiten, den unangenehmen
Vorstoß d4-d5 zu verhindern. Die Alternative 20...Nc7 gefiel mir nicht wegen
21. Nh4! nebst Nf5.} (20... Re8 $6 21. d5 cxd5 22. Nxd5 Bxe5 23. Nxe5 Nxd5 24.
Rxd5 $36 Qc8 $14 {Huzman}) (20... Nc7 21. Nh4 $1 Nfd5 22. Nf5 Bxe5 23. dxe5 {
'+/-' Huzman.} Qg5 24. Nxd5 Nxd5 25. Qf3 $14) 21. Bxf4 {Eine verlockende Idee:
Kramnik will den schwarzen Läufer auf f4 "fangen" und zum Tausch auf e5
zwingen. Nicht weniger gut war jedoch die Alternative 21. Qa4!?} (21. Nh4 $6
N6h5 $11) ({Huzman: White missed opportunity to create pawns weaknesses due to
resistance Qa4-Bf4.} 21. Qa4 $5 {'!' Huzman.} a6 22. Bxf4 Bxf4 23. d5 {'!'
Huzman.} Qc7 24. dxc6 bxc6 25. b3 (25. Ne4 $14 {[%csl Ra6,Rc6] Huzman}) 25...
a5 26. Qc4 $14 {Dank der Schwächen a5 und c6 hat Weiß einen langfristigen
Vorteil}) 21... Bxf4 22. Ne5 Qc7 {Außer 23.g3 beabsichtigte Weiß den
Qualitätsgewinn 23.Ng6. Die Alternative 22...Nd5 führte zu einer passiven und
schlechteren Stellung.} (22... Nd5 23. Nxd5 cxd5 24. g3 $1 Bxe5 (24... Bg5 25.
h4 Bf6 26. Ng4 $16 {/\Ne3}) 25. Rxe5 Qd7 26. Kg2 Rfd8 27. Rde1 $14) 23. Qc2 $6
{Nach dieser Ungenauigkeit kann ich die Stellung endgültig ausgleichen.
Prinzipiell und stark war 23.g3!} (23. Ng6 $2 Bh2+ 24. Kh1 Rfe8 25. g3 Bxg3 26.
fxg3 Rxe1+ 27. Rxe1 Qxg3 $15) (23. g3 $1 Bxe5 24. dxe5 Nd7 25. f4 (25. e6 Nc5
26. exf7+ Qxf7 $11) 25... Nc5 $1 (25... Qb6+ $6 26. Qxb6 Nxb6 27. Kf2 $16) 26.
Qc4 $1 $14 {Weiß steht mit seinen aktiven Figuren und dem starkem Bauernduo e5
und f4 ohne Zweifel besser.} (26. Qc2 Qb6 27. Qf2 Rbd8 $11) 26... Qb6 27. Kh1
Ne6 $5 (27... a5 $5 {/\Qb4} 28. a3 $14) (27... Rbd8 28. f5 $14) 28. f5 (28. Qe2
Rbd8 29. Ne4 Nd4 30. Qf2 Rd5 $132) (28. b3 $6 Qf2 29. Ne4 Qf3+ 30. Kh2 Rbd8
$132) 28... Ng5 29. Kg2 Qxb2+ (29... Rbd8 30. h4 Nh7 $14) 30. Re2 Qa3 31. h4
Nh7 32. Rd7 $36) 23... Rbd8 $11 24. Qf5 Bxe5 25. dxe5 Nd5 {In dieser Stellung
ließ Kramnik seine Uhr 40 Minuten laufen. Er konnte sich das leisten, denn
sein Zeitvorteil war erheblich. Nach Klarheit an den anderen Brettern suchend,
wollte sich Vladimir die Möglichkeit offen lassen, mit 26.Ne4 auf Gewinn zu
spielen.} 26. Nxd5 {Hier beschloß er, Remis zu forcieren, denn sein Vorteil
gegen R. Hübner wurde zu diesem Zeitpunkt offensichtlich.} ({Den Gewinnversuch
26.Ne4 braucht Schwarz nicht zu befürchten:} 26. Ne4 $5 Ne7 27. Qh5 Qa5 $1 (
27... Rxd1 28. Rxd1 Rd8 $2 29. Rxd8+ Qxd8 30. Nd6 Ng6 31. Nxf7 $1 $16) 28. a3 (
28. Nd6 $4 Rxd6 $19) (28. f4 Qb6+ 29. Kh2 Rxd1 30. Rxd1 Qxb2 $15) 28... Ng6 $15
) 26... Rxd5 27. Rxd5 cxd5 28. e6 Rd8 $1 (28... fxe6 29. Qxe6+ Qf7 30. Qxf7+
Kxf7 31. Rc1 Re8 $11) 29. e7 Re8 30. Qxd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "GER-Kramnik"]
[Site "Brissago"]
[Date "2004.01.29"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lutz, Christopher"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C90"]
[WhiteElo "2597"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2004.01.29"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d3
d6 9. c3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. Nbd2 Nc6 12. Nf1 Re8 13. h3 h6 14. Ng3 Be6 15. d4
cxd4 16. cxd4 exd4 17. Nxd4 Nxd4 18. Qxd4 Rc8 19. Bb3 d5 20. e5 Nd7 21. Qd1 Nc5
22. Be3 Nxb3 23. axb3 d4 24. Bxd4 Qd5 25. Ne4 Red8 26. Nd6 Bxd6 27. exd6 Qxd6
28. Bc3 Qxd1 29. Rexd1 Rxd1+ 30. Rxd1 Bxb3 31. Rd6 Ra8 32. Ba5 Kh7 33. f3 Rc8
34. Bc3 Bc4 35. Bd2 Ra8 36. b4 Be6 37. Kf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 21st"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2004.02.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2663"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "2004.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nxc6 Qf6 6. Qf3 Qxf3 7. gxf3 bxc6
8. Nd2 Ne7 9. Nb3 Bb6 10. a4 a5 11. Be3 Bxe3 12. fxe3 d6 13. O-O-O Be6 14. Nd4
Bd7 15. Rg1 g6 16. Rd2 c5 17. Nb5 O-O-O 18. Nc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 21st"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2004.02.20"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C99"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2004.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 cxd4 13. cxd4 Nc6 14. a3 exd4 15.
Nb3 Ne5 16. Nbxd4 Re8 17. Bf4 Bf8 18. Rc1 h6 19. Bb3 Qb6 20. Be3 Qb7 21. Nxe5
1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 21st"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2004.02.21"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2656"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "2004.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. a3 Nc6 11. cxd5 Qxd5 12. Nc3 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Na5 14. Re1 Bd6
15. Nd2 Bd7 16. Bf3 Qf5 17. Be4 Qg4 18. Bf3 Qg6 19. Nf1 Rae8 20. Ne3 b5 21. Bd2
Nc4 22. Nxc4 bxc4 23. Be3 Rb8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 21st"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2004.02.22"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2722"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "2004.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Bc4 Be7 5. d3 d6 6. Nd2 Bg5 7. Nf1 Bxc1 8.
Rxc1 Nge7 9. Ne3 O-O 10. O-O Ng6 11. Ncd5 Nce7 12. Nxe7+ Qxe7 13. c3 Be6 14.
Re1 Rac8 15. b3 Qf6 16. g3 Ne7 17. Kg2 Qg6 18. Bxe6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 21st"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2004.02.23"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2831"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2004.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. Nc3 Bb7 5. a3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Qc2 Nxc3 8.
bxc3 Be7 9. e4 O-O 10. Bd3 c5 11. O-O Qc7 12. Qe2 Nd7 13. Bb2 Rac8 14. Nd2 Rfd8
15. Rfd1 Nf6 16. a4 cxd4 17. cxd4 Bb4 18. Nf3 Qe7 19. h3 h6 20. Qe3 a5 21. Rdc1
Ne8 22. Ne5 Nf6 23. Nf3 Ne8 24. Ne5 Nf6 25. Nc4 Rc6 26. Qg3 Nh5 27. Qe3 Nf6 28.
Rc2 Rdc8 29. Rac1 Qd8 30. Qe2 Bf8 31. Qe3 R8c7 32. Qe2 Rc8 33. Ne5 R6c7 34. f3
Nh5 35. Rxc7 Rxc7 36. Rxc7 Qxc7 37. Qc2 Qd8 38. Bf1 Bd6 39. Qf2 Qg5 40. h4 Qf4
41. g4 Ng3 42. Nd3 Nxe4 43. fxe4 Qxe4 44. Qg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 21st"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2004.02.26"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2004.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
Nbd7 9. Qd2 b5 10. O-O-O h5 11. Nd5 Bxd5 12. exd5 g6 (12... Nb6 13. Bxb6 Qxb6
14. Na5 (14. Kb1 g6 15. Bd3 Bh6 16. Qe1 (16. Qe2 O-O 17. h4 b4 18. g4 Be3 19.
Nd2 Bxd2 20. Qxd2 Nxd5 21. Ka1 Qe3 22. Be4 Qxd2 23. Rxd2 Ne3 24. Bxa8 Rxa8 25.
Re1 {1-0 Seps,M-Kradolfer,C/Scuol 2001/ (45)}) 16... O-O 17. Qh4 Kg7 18. Rhe1
a5 19. a3 Rfb8 20. Nd2 Bxd2 21. Rxd2 Qc5 22. Qf2 Qxf2 23. Rxf2 Ra7 24. Rd2 Rc7
25. Be2 Nd7 26. Bd1 Nc5 27. b3 f5 {0-1 Sanchez,J-Chiong,L/Quezon City 1999/ 
(67)}) 14... Rc8 15. Kb1 Rc5 16. c4 bxc4 17. Nxc4 Qb7 18. Bd3 Be7 19. Ne3 g6
20. Rc1 Nd7 {1-0 Leyva,R-Quesada,R/Holguin 1999/ (39)}) 13. Kb1 Nb6 $6 {
Topalov will learn to regret this standard move, since Kramnik comes out with
a strong new idea.} (13... Bg7 14. Na5 Qc7 15. Nc6 Nb6 16. Bxb6 Qxb6 17. Bd3
Rc8 18. Be4 $14) 14. Qc3 $1 Be7 (14... Rc8 15. Bxb6 $18) (14... Nbxd5 15. Rxd5
$1 Rc8 16. Qd2 Nxd5 17. Qxd5 Bh6 18. Bxh6 Rxh6 19. Bd3 $16) 15. Qc6+ Nbd7 16.
Bb6 $3 {[%mdl 64] The situation is geting more serious, since tactics works
miraculously for white.} Qxb6 (16... Qc8 17. Bc7 Ra7 (17... O-O 18. Bxd6 Bxd6
19. Qxd6 Rd8 20. Na5 $16) 18. Bxd6 Qxc6 19. dxc6 Bxd6 20. Rxd6 Ke7 21. Rxd7+
Nxd7 22. cxd7 Rxd7 23. Be2 $16) 17. Qxa8+ Nb8 (17... Bd8 18. Qc6 $18) 18. Na5
$1 Nfd7 (18... O-O 19. Nc6 Nxd5 20. Nxb8 Nc7 21. Qc6 $16) 19. Nc6 Bg5 20. Qa7
Nxc6 (20... Qxa7 21. Nxa7 Nb6 22. Nc6 $16) 21. Qxb6 Nxb6 22. dxc6 Ke7 23. Rd3
Rc8 $2 {Serious innacuracy drags black into difficult position, much stronger
move 23...Nc4! promised chances for survival.} (23... d5 24. Ra3 Ra8 25. c7 $1
Kd7 26. Rxa6 $1 Rxa6 27. Bxb5+ Kxc7 28. Bxa6 $18) (23... Nc4 $1 24. g3 Rc8 25.
f4 exf4 26. Bg2 Ne5 27. Re1 h4 $14) 24. Ra3 Na4 (24... Rxc6 25. Rxa6 $18) (
24... Ra8 25. c7 Kd7 26. Rxa6 $1 $18) 25. c4 $1 Rxc6 26. Be2 (26. cxb5 $4 Rc1#)
26... Rb6 27. cxb5 axb5 28. Bxb5 $1 {Kramnik is ruthless in the endgame and
black notices with horror that knight on b2 would be trapped.} Rxb5 (28... Nxb2
$2 29. Rb3 $1 $18) 29. Rxa4 f5 30. Rd1 Be3 (30... d5 31. Ra7+ Ke6 32. Ra6+ Kf7
33. a4 $18) 31. a3 d5 (31... Bd4 32. b4 g5 33. Ra8 $18) 32. b4 d4 33. Ra5 $1
Rxa5 34. bxa5 Kd6 35. Kc2 e4 (35... Kc5 36. Rb1 e4 37. a6 d3+ 38. Kd1 Kc6 39.
Rb7 $18) 36. fxe4 fxe4 37. Re1 $1 {There is no defense against transfer into
pawn ending.} (37. Re1 $1 Kc5 38. Rxe3 dxe3 39. Kd1 Kb5 40. Ke2 Kxa5 41. Kxe3
$18) 1-0

[Event "Linares 21st"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2004.02.27"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B92"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2663"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "2004.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. O-O
O-O 9. Kh1 Nc6 10. f3 Be6 11. Be3 d5 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Nxd5 Bxd5 14. c3 Rc8 15.
Qe1 Na5 16. Rd1 Nxb3 17. axb3 Qa5 18. Qg3 Be6 19. b4 Qa2 20. Bc1 Bf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 21st"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2004.02.28"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2004.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. c3 Bg7 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 O-O 14. Nce3
Be6 15. Bd3 f5 16. O-O Ra7 17. a4 Ne7 18. Nxe7+ Rxe7 19. axb5 axb5 20. Bc2 (20.
Bxb5 d5 21. Nc2 (21. Ra6 Kh8 $1) 21... Rb7 22. Bc6 Rxb2 23. Ra8 Qd6 24. Ra6 Qc5
25. Nb4 Qxc3 26. Bxd5 Qxb4 27. Bxe6+ {1/2-1/2 Svidler,P-Kramnik,V/Wijk aan Zee
1999}) 20... Kh8 $146 {Kramnik improves on a line which was considered
harmless for Black anyway. On the other hand with 20...Kh8 Black keeps more
fighting options, since after 20...d5 there are practically no possibilities
to play for a win.} (20... d5 21. Bb3 f4 22. Nxd5 Rd7 23. Nb4 Rxd1 24. Bxe6+
Kh8 25. Raxd1 {(1/2-1/2 Anand-Kramnik, Dortmund 2003)} Qe7 26. Bd5 e4 27. Rfe1
e3 28. Bf3 Qc5 $11 {Golubev-Rogozenko, Germany 2003.}) 21. Ra6 (21. Bb3 f4 22.
Bxe6 Rxe6 23. Nd5 f3 $1 $132) (21. Nd5 Ref7 (21... Bxd5 $5 22. Qxd5 e4 23. Qxb5
Be5 $44)) 21... e4 $5 {Sacrificing the d6-pawn. In Linares-2004 Vladimir could
claim a patent on this idea, since he did a similar sacrifice against Leko.
Kramnik certainly analyzed the present position and Shirov understandible
avoids the principled continuation. But if not taking on d6, then 21.Ra6 plays
in Black's favour and now White quickly funds himself under pressure.} 22. Nd5
(22. Rxd6 Qb8 $5 $44 {[%cal Gg7e5]}) 22... Ree8 $15 23. Nf4 (23. f4 $2 Qc8 $1 {
[%csl Ra6][%cal Gc8c5]}) (23. Qd2 f4 $1 24. Nxf4 (24. Bxe4 Bc8 {[%csl Ra6]
[%cal Ge8e4]}) 24... Qg5 25. g3 Be5 26. Kh1 Bg4 $17) (23. Re1 Be5 $15 {[%cal
Gf8g8]}) (23. Bb3 f4 $15) (23. Ra7 Qb8 $1 $15) 23... Bc4 24. Re1 Be5 25. g3 Qg5
(25... Bxf4 26. gxf4 Rg8+ 27. Kh1 Rg6 $13) 26. Ng2 f4 $5 (26... Re7 $15) 27.
Bxe4 fxg3 28. fxg3 Qf6 29. Ra1 b4 (29... d5 {leads to unnecessary
complications:} 30. Bxh7 $1 (30. Bd3 Qf2+ 31. Kh1 Qxb2 $15) 30... Kxh7 31. Ra7+
Kh6 (31... Rf7 32. Rxf7+ Qxf7 33. b3 {[%csl Rc4]} Rf8 $13) 32. Qd2+ Qg5 33.
Ra6+ $1 (33. Rh7+ $2 Kg6 $1) 33... Bf6 34. Rxf6+ Rxf6 35. Qxg5+ Kxg5 36. h4+ $1
(36. Rxe8 $4 Rf1#) 36... Kg4 37. Rxe8) ({Also not very attractive is} 29...
Qf2+ 30. Kh1 Qxb2 31. Qh5 Re7 32. Nh4 $132) 30. Bd5 Qf2+ ({Kramnik missed} 
30... Bxd5 $1 31. Qxd5 Bxc3 $1 32. Rxe8 ({not} 32. bxc3 $2 Rxe1+ 33. Rxe1 Qf2+
34. Kh1 Qf1+ 35. Rxf1 Rxf1#) 32... Bd4+ 33. Kh1 Rxe8 {White loses pawn b2.
Even if there are chances to escape, this was clearly a better continuation
for Black than the game.}) 31. Kh1 Bxd5 32. Qxd5 bxc3 (32... bxc3 33. bxc3 Bxc3
34. Rxe8 Rxe8 35. Qc6 Bxa1 36. Qxe8+ $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 21st"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2004.02.29"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2656"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2004.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Bb3 O-O 7. O-O d6 8. h3 h6
9. Re1 Ba7 10. Nbd2 Nh5 11. Nf1 Qf6 12. Be3 (12. Ne3 Nf4 {- Hamdouchi-Tkachiev,
Cap d'Agde 2000 CBM 80}) 12... Nf4 {This is one of the main lines in the
Italian game where Black wants to build up some pressure on the dark squares
of the >>.} 13. Kh2 {/\ Ng1, g3 chasing away the the intruder N.} (13. Bxf4 $6
{is clearly premature.} Qxf4 14. Qd2 Qf6 15. Kh2 Ne7 {Black has a strong ^^
now.} 16. Ng3 Ng6 17. Nh5 Qe7 18. d4 Kh8 19. Bc2 Nh4 20. Nxh4 Qxh4 21. Ng3 Qg5
$11 {Tsilidis-Vouldis, Athens 2001}) (13. Bc2 {looks a bit passive.} Be6 14. d4
Ne7 15. h4 g5 {Black bravely opens fire on the >>.} 16. hxg5 hxg5 17. N3h2 Kg7
18. Ng4 Bxg4 19. Qxg4 Rh8 {<-> h} 20. dxe5 dxe5 21. Bxa7 Rxa7 22. Ne3 Raa8 $15
{P.Nikolic-Chandler, 1982}) (13. N1h2 Qg6 14. Bxf4 exf4 15. Kf1 h5 16. d4 {
White has got a nice [+] at the expence of the ^^.} Re8 17. Bc2 Qh6 18. h4 Bd7
19. Kg1 (19. Qd3 $6 {runs into the tactical motif} Nb4 20. Qd2 Nxc2 21. Qxc2
$13 {Iosif-Kogan, Oakham 1990})) (13. d4 $5 g5 $5 {here looks a bit better
than before, because g5-g4 is a threat attacking >< d4.} (13... Na5 14. Bc2 Nc4
15. Bc1 $14 {and the c4 N has to retreat as well.}) (13... Ne7 $5 14. Ng3 (14.
N1h2 Neg6 15. Bc4 h5 16. Bf1 {This slow plan cannot be dangerous for Black.}
Re8 17. d5 Qe7 $13 {Domont-Jenni, SUI-ch 2003}) (14. Kh2 Be6 15. Ng1 Bxb3 16.
axb3 Ne6 {The N has to retreat anyway.} 17. Nf3 Ng6 18. d5 Bxe3 19. Rxe3 Ng5
$15 {Beshukov-Korneev, RUS-Cup Novgorod 1997}) 14... Neg6 {It is a pity that
only one N can stand on f4!} 15. Bc2 {/\ Nf5 disturbing the harmony of the
black pieces.} c6 (15... Be6 16. Nf5) 16. Nf5 Bb8 17. Qd2 Be6 18. Kh2 Rd8 19.
g3 $14 {and White has got everything that he wanted from the opening, Roy
Chowdhury-Azorov, Wch U20 2002.}) (13... Re8 14. Ng3 g6 (14... Qg6 15. Kh1 $14
{Z.Almasi}) 15. Bxf4 $1 (15. a4 a5 $1 $13 (15... h5 16. Bc2 Kh8 (16... a5 $5)
17. a5 Rg8 18. Ra4 $1 h4 19. Nf1 Bd7 20. Rc4 g5 21. dxe5 Qe6 {Z.Almasi-Acs,
1999 HUN-ch} 22. Rxc6 $1 bxc6 23. Bb3 d5 24. exd5 cxd5 25. N3h2 $14)) 15...
Qxf4 (15... exf4 $6 {is strongly met by the central blow} 16. e5 $1 dxe5 17.
Ne4 Qe7 18. dxe5 $16) 16. Nf5 $1 {The good old trap again!} Bxf5 17. g3 Qxe4
18. Rxe4 Bxe4 19. Nd2 (19. dxe5 Nxe5 20. Nxe5 Rxe5) 19... Bf5 20. g4 $1 Bd7 21.
Qf3 $16 {and Black has no real compensation for the Q.} (21. Ne4 Kg7 22. Qf3 f5
$15)) 14. Ng3 (14. Bxf4 $6 gxf4 $17) (14. dxe5 {This exchange usually helps
for Black.} dxe5 15. Bxf4 gxf4 $1 (15... Qxf4 16. Qd2 Qf6 17. Ne3 $14 {putting
pressure on the weakened light squares.}) 16. Qe2 Qg6 17. Kh1 Kh8 $13 {<-> g,
^^}) 14... g4 15. dxe5 (15. Bxf4 $6 gxf3 $15) (15. hxg4 Bxg4 $132) 15... dxe5
16. Bxf4 gxf3 17. Be3 fxg2 18. Bxa7 Rxa7 $11) (13. Bxa7 Rxa7 14. Kh2 (14. Ng3 {
The N here disturbs the g3 plans.} Ne7 15. Re3 Be6 16. Qf1 {White's plan looks
rather sophysticated.} Raa8 17. Bc2 c5 18. Rd1 Nc6 $11 {Kim-Garcia Vicente,
1998}) (14. d4 {is less logical after exchanging the dark-squared bishops.}) (
14. Ne3 Be6 (14... Qg6 $6 15. Kh2 Ra8 16. Ng1 {This is the typical manoeuvre,
the white N retreats in order to force the retreat of the opponent's one.} Kh8
17. g3 Ne6 18. Bc2 f6 19. h4 Qe8 20. h5 Ne7 21. d4 $16 {Kaidanov-Lane,
Hastings B 1989}) (14... Ne7 15. d4 (15. Kh2 {- 14.Kh2}) 15... Neg6 16. Ng4 Qe7
17. Bc4 {/\ Bf1, g3} Ra8 18. Bf1 h5 19. Ne3 Qf6 20. Kh2 $14 {Miljanic-I.
Sokolov, BIH-chT 2002}) (14... Ra8 {- 12...Be3 13.Ne3 Nf4}) 15. Kh2 (15. Bxe6
fxe6) 15... Raa8 $1 {The R is badly placed on a7, it was time to improve it's
position.} (15... Bxb3 16. axb3 Raa8 17. g3 $1 {and Black has to give up his
stronghold on f4.} Ne6 18. Nd5 $16 {Kuczinsky-Macieja, Poland 1995} (18. Kg2 {
is a beginning of a slow plan.} Rae8 19. h4 Qg6 20. Rh1 Qh5 21. b4 Ne7 22. Nd2
Qxd1 23. Raxd1 f5 $11 {Fernandez Garcia-Narciso Dublan, 2000})) 16. Ng1 (16. g3
$2 {is bad because of} Nxd3) (16. Bxe6 $6 {is not logical from strategical
point of view, it opens the f <-> and the e6 P covers the previous targets d5
and f5.} fxe6 17. a4 (17. Ng1 Qg6 18. g3 Nh5 19. Qe2 Rf7 20. Rf1 Raf8 21. Ng4
Nb8 {/\ Nd7-f6, the N is usually bad on c6.} 22. b4 Nd7 $15 {Nevednichy-Z.
Almasi, 1998}) 17... Rad8 18. Rf1 d5 {Black already grabs the |^ in the [+].}
19. exd5 exd5 20. d4 e4 21. Ne1 Ne7 $15 {Hawelko-Yusupov, 1986}) (16. Nd5 Bxd5
17. exd5 Ne7 {is not a good change of P structure for White.}) 16... Rad8 (
16... Ne7 17. g3 Bxb3 18. axb3 Ne6 {The black knightes are pushed back, White
has to prepare for the advance f4 or d4.} 19. Rf1 Qg6 20. Nf3 Rad8 21. Nh4 Qg5
22. Nhf5 Rfe8 23. f4 $16 {Sivokho-P.Svidler, Leningrad 1990}) 17. g3 Bxb3 18.
axb3 Ne6 (18... Ng6 19. Rf1 Nce7 20. f4 exf4 21. gxf4 d5 {Black has to find
some counterplay in the [+].} 22. Ng4 Qe6 23. f5 Qd6+ 24. Kh1 Ne5 25. f6 Nxg4
26. Qxg4 Ng6 27. fxg7 Kxg7 28. Ne2 {+/= Zaitshik-Anand, Moscow B 1987}) 19. Rf1
$5 {/\ f4 looks more determinate.} (19. Kg2 Ne7 20. Qf3 (20. Nf3 h5 $5) 20...
Qg6 (20... Qxf3+ {The _|_ cannot be worse for Black.} 21. Nxf3 Nc5 (21... f5)
22. d4 (22. b4 Nxd3 23. Red1 d5 $1) 22... exd4 23. Nxd4 Rfe8) 21. Nf5 Qf6 {
+/=/= V.Ivanov-Rausis, Moscow 1994} 22. Nxe7+ Qxe7 23. Qg4 Qd7 24. b4 (24. Kh2
Nc5 25. Qd1 f5) 24... f5 $1 25. exf5 Rxf5 $17)) 14... Ne7 15. Ne3 Ra8 (15... g5
$6 {weakens the >>, but cannot strengthen the position of the f4 N for long.}
16. Ng1 (16. d4 $14) 16... c6 17. g3 Nfg6 18. Kg2 $14 {Bojkovic-Izeta, 1986})
16. Ng1 (16. a4 {/\ a5} Be6 17. Bxe6 Nxe6 $11 {Karpov} (17... fxe6 18. Ng1 Qg6
$5 (18... Rad8 19. g3 Nfg6 20. Rf1 (20. Ng4 Qf7) 20... d5 21. Qe2 {Black's
advance in the [+] is not decisive at all.} Nc6 22. Ng2 Rf7 23. h4 Rdf8 (23...
Rfd7 24. Rad1 (24. Nf3 Rf7 25. Nge1 {/\ h5, Nh4} a5 $13) 24... dxe4 $6 {
This helps only for White.} 25. Qxe4 Qf5 26. Ne3 $16 {with a much better P
structure for White because of the doubled pawns.}) (23... dxe4 24. dxe4 (24.
Qxe4 Qf5) 24... Rfd7 25. Nf3 Rf7 26. Nd2 Rfd7) 24. Rad1 (24. b4 Nb8) 24... Nge7
{The N on g6 was out of play.} 25. f4 $1 $14 {Karpov} (25. h5 g5 $1 {forces
White to take on g6.} (25... g6 26. Nh3 $1 Qf3 (26... g5 27. f4 $1 gxf4 28.
gxf4) 27. Qxf3 Rxf3 28. hxg6 Nxg6 29. Ne3 d4 30. Nc2 {(Karpov-Yusupov, Bugojno
1986)} dxc3 31. bxc3 Rd8 32. Ne1 (32. Ne3 Rf7 33. Rd2 Rfd7 $11) 32... Rf7 33.
f4 b6 34. Ng2 a5 $14) 26. hxg6 (26. Nh3 Qf3) (26. f4 exf4 27. gxf4 dxe4 28.
dxe4 gxf4) 26... Nxg6 27. Qh5 Qg5 $1 $13) 25... d4 $5 26. Nf3 exf4 27. Nxf4 e5
28. Nd5 Qd6) 19. g3 Nh5 $11 {followed by the pressure on the f <-> looks
acceptable.})) 16... Kh8 17. g3 Ne6 18. Rf1 $5 {looks again more to the point.}
(18. Qf3 Qg6 19. h4 f5 $13 {Tisseyre-Flear, 1993})) (13. Ng3 g6 {taking
squares from the g3 N.} (13... g5 $5 {is an aggressive try strengthening the
position of the N on f4, but it weakens the light squares.} 14. Nh2 Qg6 15. d4
{White comes first in the [+].} (15. Qd2 Ne7 16. d4 h5 17. Bc2 Kg7 18. dxe5
dxe5 19. Bxa7 Rxa7 20. Qe3 $14 {Svetushkin-Rogozenko, Cupa Dinamo Brasov 1998})
15... Kh8 16. Bc2 f6 {Black builds up a defensive wall on the dark squares but
seriously weakens the light ones.} 17. Nf5 Bxf5 18. exf5 Qh5 19. Ng4 Kg7 20.
Bb3 Na5 21. dxe5 fxe5 22. f6+ $142 {immediately is the precise move order.} (
22. Bxf4 gxf4 23. f6+ Rxf6 24. Nxf6 Qxd1 25. Raxd1 Kxf6 $14 {and it is not so
easy to open the lines for the rooks, Svetushkin-Pilgaard, Ubeda op 1999.})
22... Rxf6 (22... Kh8 23. Bc2 $16) 23. Nxf6 Qxd1 24. Raxd1 Kxf6 25. Bc2 $16) (
13... Bxe3 14. fxe3 Ne6 15. Rf1 $14 {with some pressure on the f <-> and d4
will also come.}) 14. d4 $1 {It is important to advance in the [+] first, now
the a7 B begins to suffer.} (14. Nh2 $5 {/\ Qf3} Bxe3 (14... Be6 $6 15. Qf3 $1
Qh4 16. d4 $1 {- Alekseev-Golod, Maccabia GM 2001 CBM 83 ext} (16. Rad1 $6 Bxb3
17. axb3 Bxe3 18. fxe3 Ne6 $11)) (14... h5 {can again be met by} 15. Qf3 $5 (
15. Ne2 Bxe3 {1/2:1/2 S.Kudrin-Gulko, USA-ch 1989})) (14... Nd8 $5 {/\ Nde6
bringing the other N to the >>.} 15. d4 Nde6 {strengthening the stronghold on
f4.} 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. Bxa7 Rxa7 18. Qf3 h5 {White's knights have no good
squares.} 19. Rad1 a5 20. Bc4 Ra8 21. Qe3 Ng5 22. Ne2 Be6 $11 {
Kurnosov-Kayumov, Alushta 2002}) 15. fxe3 Qg5 $11 {Golod}) (14. Rf1 h5 15. Nh2
Be6 16. Bxa7 Bxb3 17. axb3 Rxa7 18. Ne2 Nxe2+ 19. Qxe2 Raa8 $11 {and the
tension is vanished, Sigurpalsson-Hjartarson, Iceland 1995.}) 14... h5 $5 (
14... Nd8 $2 {/\ Nde6 but there is no time for that.} 15. Bxf4 $1 Qxf4 (15...
exf4 16. e5 dxe5 17. Ne4 Qe7 18. Nxe5 $16) 16. Nf5 $1 (16. Qc1 Qxc1 17. Raxc1
Re8 {This _|_ cannot be bad for Black, because of the ^^.} 18. dxe5 dxe5 19.
Rcd1 Nc6 20. a4 Kg7 21. Nf1 Nb8 22. Ne3 Bxe3 23. Rxe3 Nd7 24. a5 Nc5 25. Bc2 f6
26. b4 Ne6 27. Bb3 Nf8 28. Ba4 Re7 29. Red3 Be6 $11 {Tseshkovsky-Levin, Le
Touquet op 1998}) 16... gxf5 17. g3 Qxe4 18. Rxe4 fxe4 19. Nd2 $16 {is much
worse for Black than in case of 14...Na5, see the following note.}) (14... Na5
$5 15. Bc2 (15. Bxf4 exf4 $1 (15... Qxf4 {is met by the typical blow} 16. Nf5
$1 {and the Q is trapped, although it is not the end of the world.} gxf5 17. g3
Qxe4 18. Rxe4 fxe4 19. Nd2 Nxb3 20. Qxb3 $14) 16. Nf1 Nxb3 17. axb3 Re8 $13 {^^
}) 15... Nc4 16. Bc1 $14 {and soon the c4 has to leave as well.}) (14... Re8 {
- 13.d4 Re8 14.Ng3 g6}) 15. Bc2 (15. Bxf4 $6 {is useless because of} Qxf4 {
and the Q cannot be trapped anymore.}) 15... Re8 16. a3 {/\ b4 opening a new
front on the <<.} (16. a4 a5) 16... Nd8 $5 (16... Bd7 17. b4 $14) (16... b5 17.
b4 Bb7 18. d5 (18. Bxf4 Qxf4 $13) (18. Qd2 $2 Nxh3+) (18. Kh2) 18... Ne7 19. a4
$14 {with somr Ruy Lopez Arkhangelsk reminiscences.}) 17. d5 $1 {kills the d8
N!} (17. Kh2 {White wants to consolidate things on the >>, but this was not so
necessary, it is not easy for Black to create a real -> there.} Nde6 18. h4 $5
(18. Nf1 Ng5 19. Ng1 $6 {looks very passive.} exd4 20. cxd4 Nxe4 21. f3 Ng5 22.
Qd2 Rxe3 $17) 18... Nf8 $1 19. Ng5 Nh7 {just in time!} 20. Ne2 $1 Bg4 $1 (20...
Nxg5 21. hxg5 Qxg5 22. g3 Bg4 23. Qd2 Bxe2 24. Qxe2 $16) 21. Bxf4 (21. f3 {
can be met by the aggressive} Nxg2 $5 22. Kxg2 Nxg5 23. Ng1 Nxf3 24. Nxf3 exd4
25. cxd4 Bxd4 26. Bxd4 Bxf3+ 27. Qxf3 Qxd4 28. Rf1 Re7 $11 {and Black has
three pawns for the B.}) 21... Bxe2 22. Rxe2 Qxf4+ 23. g3 Qf6 24. Nxh7 Kxh7 {
The ^- makes the situation fairly drawish.} 25. Rd2 Kg7 26. Kg2 Rad8 27. f4
exd4 28. cxd4 c5 29. d5 c4 $11 {Tolnai-Lukacs, HUN-chT 1998}) 17... Bd7 18. c4
a5 19. b3 $14 {preparing for a further advance on the <<.}) 13... Be6 (13...
Ne7 {is the other typical plan improving the N's place.} 14. Ng1 Be6 15. Bc2 (
15. g3 Nfg6 16. Qf3 Qxf3 17. Nxf3 {In the _|_ White cannot get anything.} Bxb3
18. axb3 f5 $15 {Jessel-Korneev, Cergy Pontoise op 2003 rapid}) 15... d5 16.
Qf3 {1/2:1/2 Atlas-Flear, Geneve op 1991}) 14. d4 (14. Bxe6 {helps again for
Black, the doubled pawns are advantagous for him.} fxe6 15. Bxa7 Rxa7 16. Ne3
Raa8 17. Ng1 Qg6 $1 $15 {Nevednichy-Z.Almasi, Krynica zt 1998}) 14... Bxb3 15.
axb3 Ng6 (15... exd4 {unnecessarily gives up the [+].} 16. cxd4 Rfe8 17. Ng3
$14 {Nevednichy-Moldovan, Andorra la Vella op 2002}) (15... Ne7 16. Qd2 $14 (
16. g3 Ne6 {There is a nasty pressure against >< d4.} 17. dxe5 {This exchange
cannot yield a big advantage for White.} dxe5 18. Bxa7 Rxa7 19. Qe2 (19. Ne3
Ng5 20. Kg2 Qxf3+ 21. Qxf3 Nxf3 22. Kxf3 Rd8 23. Red1 (23. Rad1 Raa8 24. Nd5
Nxd5 25. exd5 f6 26. g4 $14 {with only a slight advantage for White in the R
_|_.}) 23... Raa8 24. Nc4 f6 25. b4 (25. Na5 b6 26. Nb7 $2 Rdb8 27. Rd7 Ng6 $1)
25... Kf7 26. Na5 Rxd1 27. Rxd1 b6 28. Nc4 Ke6 29. Ke3 Nc6 30. h4 h5 31. f4 g6
32. Rf1 f5 $1 $14 {Nevednichy-Marin, ROM chT 1999}) 19... Rd8 20. Ne3 Ng5 21.
Nxg5 hxg5 22. Kg2 Raa8 23. Red1 Qc6 24. Qc4 Qxc4 25. Nxc4 f6 26. b4 Kf7 27. Na5
Rxd1 28. Rxd1 b6 $14 {and White's advantage is again microscopical,
Nevednichy-De Vreugt, Valle d'Aosta op 2002.})) 16. Ng3 (16. d5 Nce7 17. Bxa7
Rxa7 18. Ne3 Nh4 $11 {and despite of White's space advantage in the [+] Black
has good counterchances by f7-f5.}) 16... Nh4 (16... exd4 $5 17. cxd4 d5 {
changing the subject was interesting, too.} 18. exd5 (18. e5 Qe6 $13) 18... Nb4
$13) 17. Nxh4 Qxh4 18. Nf5 Qf6 19. dxe5 {If White has to give up the tension
in the [+], then Black has already achieved something.} (19. Qf3 $5 {/\ Nh6})
19... Qxe5+ (19... dxe5 20. Bxa7 Rad8 $5 {is funny!}) 20. f4 Qf6 21. Bxa7 Rxa7
22. Qg4 Raa8 23. Ne3 (23. Re3 Kh7 24. Rg3 Rg8 {White has no real continuation
of the ->.} 25. Ne3 Ne7 26. Rf1 Rad8 27. Qh5 Rgf8 $11) 23... Ne7 24. Qf3 (24.
Qg3 Qg6 $11) 24... Qg6 25. Ra5 (25. f5 Qg5 $11) 25... f6 26. b4 Rae8 27. b5
axb5 28. Rxb5 b6 29. c4 Kh7 30. Nd5 Nxd5 31. cxd5 {The P srtucture is not bad,
but the R on b5 is out of play.} Re7 32. Rb3 Ra8 33. Rbe3 Ra4 34. Qe2 Rd4 35.
b3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 21st"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2004.03.02"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2722"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2004.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. Bd3 Be6 12. O-O Bxd5 13. exd5 Ne7 14. Qh5 e4
15. Be2 Bg7 16. c3 Rc8 $146 {In this concrete situation this move is a novelty.
Kramnik transfers the rook to c5 before castling.} (16... O-O 17. Nc2 Rc8 (
17... f4 18. Qg5 {is the main line, where White keeps a slight plus}) 18. Ne3 (
18. Rad1 Rc5 19. Ne3 f4 20. Nf5 Ng6 21. Rfe1 Re8 22. f3 e3 23. Bd3 $14 {
/= 1/2-1/2 Shirov,A-Grischuk,A/Cap d'Agde 2003 (47).}) 18... f4 19. Nf5 Ng6 (
19... Rc5 {would transpose to the Leko-Kramnik game!}) 20. f3 e3 21. g3 b4 {
and Black had good play in Sadvakasov,D-Eljanov,P/Kharkov 2003.}) (16... b4 {
is an old move first played by Sveshnikov in 1982 and then rediscovered by
Leko in 2003. There are just two games available with it.}) 17. Nc2 Rc5 18. Ne3
(18. Rad1 $2 Nxd5) (18. f3 {The plan with f3 is less impressive when the
bishop left the diagonal b1-h7.} O-O 19. fxe4 fxe4 20. Ne3 Qb6 21. Kh1 Rxc3 22.
bxc3 Qxe3 $13) 18... f4 19. Nf5 O-O (19... Nxf5 $2 20. Qxf5 $16) 20. a4 $14 (
20. Rad1 Ng6 {transposes to Shirov-Grischuk, given above.}) 20... Nxf5 (20...
b4 21. cxb4 Rc2 22. Bxa6 $16) (20... Nxd5 {this is risky, but not entirely
clear:} 21. b4 (21. axb5 Qf6 $1 $13 {[%cal Gf4f3]}) 21... Rxc3 22. Nxg7 f3 23.
Nf5 Qf6 $44) 21. Qxf5 Qe7 22. axb5 axb5 23. Qxf4 Rxd5 24. Rfd1 {White is
better thanks to weaknesses in Black's pawn structure. Even if the position
has drawish tendencies, Blac's task might be unpleasant. The only chance for
Black to avoid a long suffering is to create some counterplay on the kingside.}
Re5 (24... Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1 b4 26. cxb4 $14 Be5 27. Qf5 Bxb2 28. b5 $16) 25. Qe3
{After a long thought Leko comes with an interesting plan. He allows Black to
have the initiative on the kingside, but considers that it won't fully
compensate the loss of a pawn.} (25. Ra6 $5) 25... f5 26. Qb6 {The logical
follow-up of the previous move.} f4 27. Qxd6 Qg5 28. f3 e3 29. Ra7 Kh8 30. Qd7
$2 {The completely wrong plan, missing some counterplay ideas.} (30. Rd7 $1 {
[%csl Rh7][%cal Ge2d3,Gd7h7]} Rg8 31. Bd3 {It is not easy for Black to create
counterplay as long as White keeps pressure on pawn h7. Besides, White is very
well centralized and keeps everything under control. Everywhere the position
is close to draw, but the same thing - Black faces unpleasant defence. However,
according to Kramnik Black always had a good position in the game.} e2 (31...
Qh4 $2 32. Rxg7 $18 {[%csl Re5]}) 32. Re1 Qh4 33. Rxe2 Rxe2 34. Bxe2 Qe1+ 35.
Bf1 Qe3+ 36. Kh1 Qf2 37. Qd3 Qxb2 38. Rc7 $16) 30... Rg8 31. Qh3 $2 {A
terrible mistake, which unexpectedly completely changes the evaluation from
slightly better to almost lost.} (31. Kh1 {was necessary. Then the postion is
unclear:} Qg6 32. Bd3 Qh5 $13 {[%cal Ge3e2]}) 31... Qg6 $1 {[%cal Gg6c2] Now
suddenly Black obtains a strong initiative. It turns out that the queen on h3
is not stable (Black has ...Rh5), while the weaknesses of the light squares on
the queenside can be exploited by Black.} 32. Rad7 {Black wins by force after
this, but the position was difficult anyway.} (32. Bd3 e2 $19) (32. Rd3 Rh5 33.
Qg4 Rg5 34. Qh3 Bf8 $19) (32. Kh1 Qc2 (32... Rh5 33. Qg4 Rg5 34. Qh3 Bf8 35.
Bd3) 33. Re1 Rd5 $17 {[%cal Gd5d2]}) (32. Raa1 Rh5 (32... Qc2 33. Bd3 Qf2+ 34.
Kh1 h6 35. Ra6 h5 36. Bf5 h4 37. Qg4 $18) 33. Rd6 Bf6 34. Rxf6 Rxh3 35. Rxg6
Rxg6 36. Ra8+ Kg7 37. Ra7+ Kf8 (37... Kh6 38. Bd3 Rxf3 $140 39. Bxg6 e2 40. Ra1
) 38. Ra8+ Ke7 39. Ra7+ Kd8 $17) (32. Rc1 Rh5 33. Ra6 Bf6 34. Rxf6 Rxh3 35.
Rxg6 Rxg6 $17) (32. Re1 Rh5 33. Ra6 Bf6 34. Rxf6 Rxh3 35. Rxg6 Rxg6 36. Bxb5
Rxf3 $17) 32... Rh5 $19 33. R7d6 (33. Qg4 Rg5 34. Qh3 Bf8 35. Bf1 e2 $19) 33...
Bf6 34. Rxf6 Qc2 $1 35. Qxh5 Qxe2 36. g4 Qf2+ 0-1

[Event "Linares 21st"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2004.03.03"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2831"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "2004.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 a6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nf6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8.
Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Ne5 Ke7 10. Be2 Bd7 11. Bf3 Nc6 12. Nxc6+ Bxc6 13. Bxc6 bxc6 14.
Bd2 Rhb8 15. Rc1 Bd6 16. Bc3 Nd5 17. Rc2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares 21st"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2004.03.05"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "2004.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.06.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Bc4 d6 5. d3 Be7 6. O-O Nf6 7. Ng5 O-O 8. f4
Bg4 9. Qe1 exf4 10. Bxf4 Nd4 11. Qd2 Qd7 12. h3 Bh5 13. g4 h6 14. gxh5 hxg5 15.
Bxg5 Qxh3 16. Qg2 Qxg2+ 17. Kxg2 Nxc2 18. Rac1 Nd4 19. h6 Rae8 20. Bd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.20"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2709"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3
Nbd7 9. Qd2 b5 10. O-O-O Qc7 11. g4 Nb6 12. g5 Nfd7 13. Na5 Rc8 14. Kb1 Be7 15.
Nd5 Bxd5 16. exd5 Nxd5 17. Qxd5 Qxa5 18. Bd3 Qc7 19. h4 Qc6 20. Be4 Qxd5 21.
Bxd5 Rc7 22. h5 h6 23. g6 fxg6 24. hxg6 Nf6 25. Be6 Rc6 26. f4 Bd8 27. fxe5
dxe5 28. Bf7+ Ke7 29. Bd2 Bb6 30. Rde1 e4 31. Bg5 hxg5 32. Rxh8 g4 33. Rb8 g3
34. Rb7+ Kd6 35. Bb3 Bc7 36. a4 Kc5 37. axb5 axb5 38. c4 bxc4 39. Ba4 e3 40.
b4+ Kd6 41. Rd1+ Nd5 42. Rb5 Ke6 43. Rbxd5 Rd6 44. Rxd6+ Bxd6 45. Bb5 Bxb4 46.
Bxc4+ Ke5 47. Kc2 Bd2 48. Rg1 Kf4 49. Bd5 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.21"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B92"]
[WhiteElo "2716"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "138"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. O-O
O-O 9. Be3 Be6 10. Qd2 Nbd7 11. a4 Rc8 12. a5 Qc7 13. Rfc1 Nc5 14. Nxc5 dxc5
15. f3 c4 16. Na4 Nd7 17. Bf1 Rfd8 18. Qe1 Qc6 19. Kh1 h6 20. Rd1 Kf8 21. Bd2
Qb5 22. b4 Qc6 23. c3 Bg5 24. Bxg5 hxg5 25. h3 f6 26. Qe3 Ke7 27. Kh2 Bf7 28.
Be2 Be6 29. Rd2 Bf7 30. Bd1 Rb8 31. Bc2 Nf8 32. Rad1 Rxd2 33. Rxd2 Rd8 34. Nb6
Rxd2 35. Qxd2 Be6 36. Bd1 Ng6 37. g3 Nf8 38. Kg2 Qc7 39. Be2 Nd7 40. Nd5+ Bxd5
41. Qxd5 b5 42. Qg8 Qa7 43. Qxg7+ Kd8 44. Qg8+ Kc7 45. Kf1 Qe3 46. Qe6 Qxc3 47.
Qxa6 Qxb4 48. Qa7+ Kd6 49. a6 c3 50. Qe3 Qd4 51. Qxd4+ exd4 52. Ke1 Kc7 53.
Bxb5 Ne5 54. f4 gxf4 55. gxf4 Ng6 56. e5 fxe5 57. f5 Nf8 58. h4 e4 59. a7 Kb7
60. Bc6+ Kxa7 61. Bxe4 Nd7 62. Ke2 Nf6 63. Bf3 Kb6 64. h5 Kc5 65. Kd3 Kd6 66.
h6 Ke5 67. Bd1 Kxf5 68. Kxd4 Kg5 69. Kxc3 Kxh6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.22"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2722"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. Bd3 Be6 12. O-O Bxd5 13. exd5 Ne7 14. Re1
Bg7 15. c3 Qc8 16. Nc2 O-O 17. a4 e4 18. Bf1 bxa4 19. Ne3 Qb7 20. Nc4 Qxd5 21.
Qxd5 Nxd5 22. Red1 Nc7 23. Rxd6 a3 24. Nxa3 Rfd8 25. Nc4 f4 26. Rc6 Ne6 27. Re1
a5 28. Rxe4 Rd1 29. Rd6 Rb1 30. Rd5 a4 31. g3 Bxc3 32. Nb6 a3 33. Nxa8 axb2 34.
Rb5 Ra1 35. Rc4 Nd4 36. Rb8+ Kg7 37. Rxc3 Ne2+ 38. Kg2 Nxc3 39. Rxb2 Rxa8 40.
Rb3 Ne4 41. Rb4 f3+ 42. Kxf3 Nd2+ 43. Kg2 Nxf1 44. Kxf1 h5 45. Kg2 Kg6 46. Kh3
Ra2 47. Rf4 f6 48. Kh4 Rb2 49. h3 Ra2 50. f3 Rf2 51. g4 hxg4 52. Rxg4+ Kh6 53.
Kg3 Ra2 54. h4 Ra5 55. Rf4 Kg6 56. Kg4 Rb5 57. Ra4 Rc5 58. Ra6 Rb5 59. f4 Rc5
60. f5+ Rxf5 61. h5+ Rxh5 62. Rxf6+ Kxf6 63. Kxh5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.23"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2732"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bc1
Nf6 9. Bc4 e6 10. Bb3 Nc6 11. Be3 Be7 12. f4 O-O 13. Qf3 e5 14. Nxc6 bxc6 15.
fxe5 Ng4 16. e6 Ne5 17. Qh3 Bh4+ 18. g3 Bg5 19. Bxg5 Nf3+ 20. Ke2 Nxg5 21.
exf7+ Kh8 22. Qh5 d5 23. h4 Nxf7 24. Raf1 Nd6 25. Rxf8+ Qxf8 26. Rf1 Qe7 27. e5
Bh3 28. Rf4 Re8 29. Kd3 Bf5+ 30. Rxf5 Nxf5 31. Qxf5 Rf8 32. Qh5 Qc5 33. Ne2 Qf2
34. Kd2 Rf3 35. Qg4 Qe3+ 36. Ke1 Qf2+ 37. Kd1 Qe3 38. Ke1 Qf2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.25"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Nb8 11. Nbd2 Nbd7 12. Nf1 Re8 13. Ng3 c6 14. Nf5 Bf8 15.
Nh2 d5 16. Bg5 h6 17. Bh4 g6 18. Ne3 dxe4 19. dxe4 Bg7 20. Nhg4 h5 21. Nxf6+
Bxf6 22. Qf3 Qe7 23. Bxf6 Nxf6 24. Rad1 Rad8 25. Rxd8 Rxd8 26. Qg3 Kh7 27. Qh4
c5 28. c3 c4 29. Bc2 Nd5 30. Qxe7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.26"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B83"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[PlyCount "36"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be2 Nf6 7. O-O Be7 8.
Be3 O-O 9. f4 d6 10. Qe1 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 e5 12. Be3 exf4 13. Bxf4 Be6 14. Qg3
Rfd8 15. Kh1 Ne8 16. Bb5 Nf6 17. Be2 Ne8 18. Bb5 Nf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.27"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2663"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. f3 b5 8. g4 b4
9. Nce2 e5 10. Nf5 g6 11. Nfg3 h6 12. Bg2 Be6 13. h3 h5 14. Qd2 Nbd7 15. O-O d5
16. g5 h4 17. gxf6 d4 18. Bg5 hxg3 19. Nxg3 Nxf6 20. f4 d3 21. Qxd3 Qb6+ 22.
Kh1 Rd8 23. Bxf6 Rxd3 24. cxd3 Rxh3+ 25. Bxh3 Bxh3 26. fxe5 Qe3 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.28"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2617"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Bc4 d6 5. d3 Be7 6. O-O Nf6 7. a3 O-O 8. h3 a6
9. Ba2 Be6 10. Nd5 Nd4 11. Ne3 Bxa2 12. Rxa2 d5 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Nxe5 Nxe3 15.
fxe3 Qd5 16. Nc4 b5 17. b3 bxc4 18. dxc4 Qd7 19. exd4 cxd4 20. c3 Bc5 21. b4
Ba7 22. c5 d3 23. Rd2 Rad8 24. Rf3 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.30"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2714"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 e6 5. O-O Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. b3 d5 8. e3
dxc4 9. bxc4 c5 10. Bb2 Nc6 11. Qe2 Nb4 12. Ne1 Bxg2 13. Kxg2 Qd7 14. Rd1 Rfd8
15. d3 a6 16. a3 Nc6 17. a4 Qb7 18. Kg1 Rd7 19. f4 Rad8 20. Nf3 Ng4 21. h3 Nh6
22. Kh2 f6 23. Rd2 Nb4 24. d4 Nf7 25. Rfd1 Bf8 26. Ba1 Qc6 27. f5 exf5 28. d5
Qc7 29. Nh4 Nd6 30. Qf1 Re7 31. Re1 Qd7 32. Rf2 Rde8 33. Nxf5 Nxf5 34. Rxf5 Nc2
0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.31"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B41"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2747"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. Bd3 Nc6 8.
Nde2 O-O 9. O-O Ne5 10. Bf4 d6 11. h3 Bd7 12. a3 Bc5 13. b4 Ba7 14. c5 Bb8 15.
Bxe5 dxe5 16. Nc1 b6 17. Nb3 Ba7 18. Bxa6 bxc5 19. bxc5 Qe7 20. Rc1 Bc6 21. Qe2
Rab8 22. Bb5 Bxe4 23. Nxe4 Nxe4 24. Na5 Bxc5 25. Nc6 Qg5 26. Qxe4 Rxb5 27. h4
Qd2 28. Qc4 Bxa3 29. Qxb5 Bxc1 30. Qc5 Bb2 31. Ne7+ Kh8 32. Ng6+ hxg6 33. Qxf8+
Kh7 34. Qxf7 Bd4 35. Qxe6 Qf4 36. Qh3 e4 37. g4 Bc5 38. h5 g5 39. Qg2 Bd4 40.
Re1 e3 41. fxe3 Bxe3+ 42. Kh1 Qc4 43. Rxe3 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.04.01"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Rc1
Bb7 9. Bg2 d5 10. Ne5 Na6 11. cxd5 exd5 12. O-O c5 13. Be3 Re8 14. Nd3 Qd7 15.
Na4 cxd4 16. Bxd4 Ne4 17. Nf4 Bf8 18. Nc3 Rad8 19. e3 Nb4 20. Bh3 Qe7 21. Nb5
Nc6 22. Bb2 d4 23. Nxd4 Nxf2 24. Rxf2 Qxe3 25. Bg2 Nxd4 26. Bxb7 Bc5 27. b4
Ne2+ 28. Qxe2 Qxf2+ 29. Qxf2 Bxf2+ 30. Kxf2 Rd2+ 31. Kf3 Rxb2 32. Bd5 Kf8 33.
Bb3 Rxh2 34. Nd5 Rh5 35. g4 Rh3+ 36. Kg2 Rd3 37. Rc7 Rd8 38. Nf4 R3d7 39. Rc6
Rd6 40. Rc7 R6d7 41. Rc6 Rd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.20"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2709"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. e3 g6 8. Bb5+
c6 9. Bd3 Bg7 10. Na4 Qc7 11. O-O Nd7 12. e4 Nf4 13. Bc2 O-O 14. Be3 Rad8 15.
Nc3 c5 16. Qc1 Nh5 17. Rd1 cxd4 18. Nb5 Qb8 19. Bxd4 Ne5 20. Bxe5 Bxe5 21. Nxe5
Qxe5 22. Nc3 Nf6 23. Qe3 Ng4 24. Qg3 Qxg3 25. hxg3 Ne5 26. Nb5 Rxd1+ 27. Rxd1
Rc8 28. Bb3 Ba6 29. Nd6 Rc5 30. f4 Nd3 31. f5 Nxb2 32. Rd2 Nd3 33. fxe6 fxe6
34. Bxe6+ Kf8 35. e5 Nxe5 36. Ne4 Rc1+ 37. Kh2 Re1 38. Nc3 Nf3+ 39. gxf3 Rxe6
40. Ne4 Re7 41. Kg2 Bb7 42. Rd8+ Kg7 43. Kf2 Rc7 44. Nd6 Bc6 45. Rb8 Rd7 46.
Ne4 Rd3 47. a4 Ra3 48. Ng5 h6 49. Ne6+ Kf6 50. Nd4 Bxa4 51. f4 Bd1 52. Rd8 Rd3
53. Rd6+ Kf7 54. Rd7+ Ke8 55. Rd5 Bg4 56. Re5+ Kd7 57. Rd5+ Kc8 58. Rd6 h5 59.
Rc6+ Kb7 60. Rc4 a6 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.21"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2716"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 a5 10. h3 a4 11. Rd1+ Ke8 12. a3 h6 13. Bf4 Be6 14. Ne4
Ra5 15. g4 Bd5 16. Re1 Ne7 17. e6 Bxe4 18. exf7+ Kxf7 19. Rxe4 Ng6 20. Bxc7 Rb5
21. Ne5+ Nxe5 22. Bxe5 Bc5 23. Bc3 Ra8 24. Rd1 Bf8 25. Rd7+ Kg8 26. Kg2 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.22"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2722"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Bc4 Be7 5. d3 d6 6. Nd2 Bg5 7. h4 Bh6 8. Qh5
Qd7 9. Nd5 Rb8 10. c3 b5 11. Bb3 Nce7 12. Ne3 c4 13. dxc4 Bxe3 14. fxe3 Nf6 15.
Qf3 O-O 16. O-O Ba6 17. cxb5 Qxb5 18. Bc4 Qc6 19. Bxa6 Qxa6 20. c4 h5 21. b3
Ng4 22. Bb2 Qb6 23. c5 dxc5 24. Nc4 Qe6 25. Rad1 Rfd8 26. Ba3 Ng6 27. Qf5 Rxd1
28. Rxd1 Qxf5 29. exf5 Nxh4 30. e4 g6 31. fxg6 Nxg6 32. Bxc5 Nf6 33. Nd6 Nf4
34. Rd2 a5 35. g3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.23"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2732"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. d4 d5 4. e3 a6 5. Bd3 Bg4 6. Nbd2 e6 7. O-O Nbd7 8. b3
Be7 9. Bb2 Rc8 10. c5 Bf5 11. Qc2 Bxd3 12. Qxd3 a5 13. a3 b5 14. b4 a4 15. Ne5
O-O 16. f4 Ne8 17. Ndf3 f6 18. Nxd7 Qxd7 19. g4 e5 20. dxe5 Qxg4+ 21. Kh1 fxe5
22. Nxe5 Qf5 23. Qxf5 Rxf5 24. Rg1 Bf6 25. Rae1 Bxe5 26. Bxe5 Nf6 27. Bxf6 Rxf6
28. e4 dxe4 29. Rxe4 Kf7 30. Rd1 Rc7 31. Kg2 Re7 32. Rxe7+ Kxe7 33. Kg3 Ke6 34.
Kg4 Rg6+ 35. Kf3 Kf5 36. Re1 Re6 37. Rg1 Rh6 38. Rg5+ Kf6 39. Kg3 Rg6 40. Rxg6+
Kxg6 41. Kg4 Kf6 42. f5 g6 43. fxg6 Kxg6 44. h4 h5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.25"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Bc4 d6 5. d3 Be7 6. Nd2 Bg5 7. h4 Bxd2+ 8.
Bxd2 Nf6 9. O-O Bg4 10. f3 Be6 11. Nd5 O-O 12. f4 Ng4 13. g3 exf4 14. Nxf4 Bxc4
15. Qxg4 Ne5 16. Qh5 Be6 17. Nxe6 fxe6 18. Bc3 Nc6 19. Rxf8+ Qxf8 20. Rf1 Qe7
21. Kg2 b5 22. Rf2 b4 23. Bd2 Rf8 24. Rxf8+ Qxf8 25. c3 bxc3 26. bxc3 Qf7 27.
Qxf7+ Kxf7 28. Bf4 e5 29. Be3 h5 30. Kf3 Ke6 31. Ke2 a6 32. Kd2 Kd7 33. Kc2 Na5
34. c4 Nc6 35. Kc3 Kc7 36. a3 Kb6 37. Kb3 Nb8 38. Bg5 Nc6 39. Be3 Nd8 40. Kc3
Nc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.26"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Bc4 d6 5. d3 Be7 6. O-O Nf6 7. Bd2 O-O 8. Nd5
Nxd5 9. Bxd5 Kh8 10. a3 f5 11. h3 a5 12. Rb1 a4 13. exf5 Bxf5 14. b4 axb3 15.
Rxb3 Ra7 16. Be3 Qe8 17. Qb1 Nd8 18. Nd2 Be6 19. Bxe6 Nxe6 20. Rxb7 Rxa3 21.
Qb6 Nd8 22. Rb8 Ra2 23. Ne4 Qc6 24. Qb3 Ra8 25. Rb6 Qc7 26. Rb1 Nc6 27. Rb7 Qc8
28. Qd5 Ra6 29. Nxd6 Bxd6 30. Qxd6 Qf5 31. Qxc5 Nd8 32. R7b6 Ra8 33. Rb8 Rxb8
34. Rxb8 h6 35. Qd5 Ne6 36. Rxf8+ Nxf8 37. c4 Ng6 38. Qe4 Qf6 39. c5 Ne7 40. d4
exd4 41. Bxd4 Qg5 42. f4 Qh4 43. Qe5 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.27"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2663"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Qd2
Be7 9. f3 O-O 10. O-O-O Nbd7 11. g4 Qc7 12. Kb1 b5 13. g5 Nh5 14. Nd5 Bxd5 15.
exd5 Nb6 16. Rg1 Rac8 17. Na5 Nxd5 18. Qxd5 Qxa5 19. Rg4 Qc7 20. Bd3 Qc6 21.
Qxc6 Rxc6 22. a4 bxa4 23. Rxa4 d5 24. Rxa6 Rc7 25. c3 g6 26. Ra5 Rb8 27. Rxd5
Rxc3 28. Rxe5 Ba3 29. Bd4 Rcb3 30. Rd2 Nf4 31. Bc4 R3b4 32. Rc2 Nd3 33. Ree2
Ra4 34. b3 Bf8 35. Re3 Nf4 36. Be5 Rba8 37. bxa4 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.28"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2617"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "154"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 b6 7. b4 a5 8. Bb2
axb4 9. axb4 Rxa1+ 10. Bxa1 c5 11. g3 cxb4 12. Qxb4 Nc6 13. Qc3 Ba6 14. Bg2 b5
15. cxb5 Bxb5 16. d3 Qa5 17. Qxa5 Nxa5 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Nd4 Ba4 20. Kd2 Rc8
21. Ra1 Nb3+ 22. Nxb3 Bxb3 23. Ra3 Rc2+ 24. Ke3 Ba2 25. f4 e5 26. f5 d5 27. Bf3
Rb2 28. h4 h6 29. Ra7 Kg7 30. Ra5 d4+ 31. Kf2 Bb1 32. Be4 Bc2 33. Ra7 Bd1 34.
Bf3 e4 35. Bxe4 Bxe2 36. Ke1 Bg4 37. Ra4 Rb1+ 38. Kd2 Rd1+ 39. Kc2 Rg1 40. Rxd4
Rxg3 41. Rd8 Rh3 42. Kd2 Rxh4 43. Ke3 Rh2 44. d4 h5 45. d5 Re2+ 46. Kf4 Rf2+
47. Kg3 Rf1 48. d6 Bxf5 49. d7 Bxe4 50. Re8 Rf3+ 51. Kh2 Rf2+ 52. Kg3 Rf3+ 53.
Kh2 Rd3 54. d8=Q Rxd8 55. Rxd8 Kh6 56. Rg8 Bg6 57. Kg3 Kg5 58. Kf3 h4 59. Rb8
f5 60. Rb4 Bh5+ 61. Kg2 f4 62. Rb8 Kg4 63. Rg8+ Bg6 64. Rh8 Be4+ 65. Kf2 h3 66.
Rg8+ Bg6 67. Rh8 Bh5 68. Rg8+ Kh4 69. Rb8 f3 70. Rb4+ Bg4 71. Kg1 Kg3 72. Rb2
Bf5 73. Rg2+ Kf4 74. Rb2 Ke3 75. Kf1 Bd3+ 76. Ke1 Kf4 77. Rd2 Kg3 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.30"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2714"]
[PlyCount "154"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Bd3 c5 7. c3 Nxe4 8.
Bxe4 Nf6 9. Bc2 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Bc5 11. Ba4+ Bd7 12. Bg5 Bxa4 13. Qxa4+ Qd7 14.
Qxd7+ Nxd7 15. O-O-O h6 16. Bh4 Be7 17. Bxe7 Kxe7 18. Rhe1 Rhd8 19. Nf5+ Kf8
20. Nd6 Rab8 21. Re4 Nf6 22. Red4 Ne8 23. Nc4 Rxd4 24. Rxd4 Rc8 25. Ne5 f6 26.
Nd3 Ke7 27. Ra4 a6 28. Rb4 Nd6 29. a4 Rc7 30. Kc2 e5 31. a5 g5 32. b3 e4 33.
Nb2 Rc5 34. Rd4 Rf5 35. Rd2 e3 36. fxe3 Ne4 37. Re2 Rxa5 38. g4 Ra1 39. Kd3
Nc5+ 40. Kc4 Nd7 41. Nd3 Rd1 42. Nc5 Nb6+ 43. Kb4 Nd5+ 44. Ka3 Nxc3 45. Rc2
Nb5+ 46. Kb4 Nd6 47. Ka5 Rg1 48. e4 Rxg4 49. Re2 Nb5 50. Rd2 Nc3 51. Rd7+ Ke8
52. Rxb7 Nxe4 53. Nxa6 Rg2 54. b4 Rxh2 55. b5 g4 56. Rg7 Ra2+ 57. Kb6 Ng5 58.
Nb4 Rd2 59. Kc6 Kf8 60. Ra7 g3 61. b6 Rb2 62. Kb5 Ne4 63. Rd7 Nc3+ 64. Kc4 Na2
65. Nxa2 g2 66. Rd1 Rxa2 67. Rb1 Rc2+ 68. Kd3 Rb2 69. Rxb2 g1=Q 70. b7 Qg3+ 71.
Kc4 Qb8 72. Rb3 Ke7 73. Kd5 Kd7 74. Ke4 Qe5+ 75. Kd3 Qd5+ 76. Kc2 Qxb3+ 77.
Kxb3 Kc7 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.03.31"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C48"]
[WhiteElo "2747"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Na4 Nd4 8.
Nxc5 Nxb5 9. a4 Nd4 10. Nxd4 dxc5 11. Nb5 Ne8 12. f4 c6 13. Nc3 exf4 14. Bxf4
Nc7 15. Be3 Ne6 16. Ne2 Nd4 17. Bxd4 cxd4 18. Qe1 Qd6 19. Qh4 Qe5 20. Rf3 Bd7
21. Raf1 c5 22. b3 Rae8 23. Nf4 f6 24. Nh5 Rf7 25. Ng3 Qd6 26. Nf5 Bxf5 27.
Rxf5 Rfe7 28. Rh5 h6 29. Qg4 Kh8 30. Qg6 b6 31. Rxf6 Qxf6 32. Rxh6+ gxh6 33.
Qxf6+ Kh7 34. a5 Rb7 35. axb6 axb6 36. h3 Ree7 37. e5 Rf7 38. Qd6 Rfd7 39. Qc6
Re7 40. Qe4+ Kg7 41. Qg4+ Kf7 42. Qf5+ Kg7 43. Kh2 Rf7 44. Qg4+ Kh7 45. e6 Rg7
46. Qf5+ Kg8 47. g4 Rbe7 48. Qf6 Kh7 49. Kg3 Re8 50. Kf4 Reg8 51. Ke5 Rg5+ 52.
Kd6 R5g6 53. Qf5 R8g7 54. Kd5 Re7 55. h4 Kg7 56. Kd6 Ra7 57. g5 h5 58. Qf3 b5
59. Qc6 c4 60. Qb6 Rf7 61. Qxd4+ Kh7 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 13th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2004.04.01"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2004.03.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 099 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. a4 Rb8 8. c3
d6 9. d4 Bb6 10. axb5 axb5 11. Na3 O-O 12. Nxb5 exd4 13. cxd4 Bg4 14. Ba4 d5
15. e5 Ne4 16. Be3 f6 17. Qc2 Nb4 18. Qb3 Ba5 19. Nd2 c6 20. Na7 Bf5 21. Nxe4
Bxe4 22. f3 Bg6 23. Qa3 fxe5 24. Nxc6 Nxc6 25. Bxc6 Bb4 26. Qa7 e4 27. Qa2 Kh8
28. Qxd5 Qc7 29. fxe4 Bf7 30. Qd7 1-0

[Event "Bonn sim"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2004.05.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carriere, Mathieu"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C01"]
[WhiteElo "2764"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2004.05.02"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.07.06"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.07.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 Be6 8.
Qf3 Nge7 9. Nh3 Qd7 10. Ng5 O-O-O 11. O-O h6 12. Nxe6 fxe6 13. Re1 Rdf8 14. Qh3
Nf5 15. Rb1 g5 16. Qh5 Nce7 17. a4 Nh4 18. Qe2 Rf6 19. Ba3 b6 20. Bb5 c6 21.
Ba6+ Kd8 22. Qe5 Rhf8 23. Qb8+ Nc8 24. Bxf8 1-0

[Event "Bonn sim"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2004.05.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Czaeczine, Anne"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B50"]
[WhiteElo "2764"]
[BlackElo "2153"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2004.05.02"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.07.06"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.07.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 Nf6 4. Be2 Nc6 5. d3 g6 6. O-O Bg7 7. Nbd2 e5 8. Nc4
b5 9. Ne3 O-O 10. a4 b4 11. Nc4 h6 12. Qc2 Re8 13. Be3 Qe7 14. Nfd2 Nd7 15.
Rae1 Kh7 16. Kh1 f5 17. exf5 gxf5 18. f4 Rb8 19. Bf3 Nd8 20. Bf2 bxc3 21. bxc3
Qf6 22. fxe5 dxe5 23. Bg3 Nf7 24. Bh5 Re7 25. d4 Nb6 26. Nxe5 Nxe5 27. Rxe5 1-0

[Event "Bonn sim"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2004.05.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Duppel, Tina"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2764"]
[BlackElo "2201"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2004.05.02"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.07.06"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.07.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c6 3. c4 e6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bd3 Bd6 6. Nc3 Nbd7 7. e4 dxe4 8. Nxe4
Nxe4 9. Bxe4 O-O 10. O-O e5 11. dxe5 Nxe5 12. Nxe5 Bxe5 13. Bxh7+ Kxh7 14. Qh5+
Kg8 15. Qxe5 Qd3 16. b3 Bf5 17. Be3 Rfe8 18. Qc7 Qd7 19. Qxd7 Bxd7 20. Rfd1 Bf5
21. Rd2 b6 22. h3 Rad8 23. Rad1 Rxd2 24. Rxd2 c5 25. g4 Be6 26. Kg2 f6 27. Bf4
Kf7 28. Kg3 Bc8 29. Be3 Ke7 30. h4 Rd8 31. Rxd8 Kxd8 32. h5 Kd7 33. Kf4 Ke6 34.
g5 Bb7 35. gxf6 Kxf6 36. Bd2 Bg2 37. Bc3+ Kf7 38. Be5 a6 39. a4 Bf1 40. Ke3 Bh3
41. Bc7 Bg4 42. f3 Bxh5 43. Bxb6 Bg6 44. Kd2 Ke6 45. Bxc5 Bf5 46. Be3 Kd6 47.
b4 Kc6 48. b5+ Kb7 49. Kc3 Bd7 50. Kb4 axb5 51. axb5 1-0

[Event "Bonn sim"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2004.05.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Helm, Leonie"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B85"]
[WhiteElo "2764"]
[BlackElo "2190"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2004.05.02"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.07.06"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.07.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Qc7 6. Be2 a6 7. O-O Nf6 8.
Be3 Be7 9. f4 d6 10. a4 O-O 11. Qe1 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 e5 13. Be3 exf4 14. Bxf4 Be6
15. Qg3 Kh8 16. e5 dxe5 17. Bxe5 Qc5+ 18. Kh1 Rg8 19. Bf3 Nd7 20. Bf4 g5 21.
Bd2 Bd6 22. Ne4 Bxg3 23. Nxc5 Be5 24. Nxe6 fxe6 25. Rfe1 Rac8 26. c3 Rc7 27.
Bg4 Rc6 28. Rad1 Rd6 29. Be3 Rxd1 30. Rxd1 Nf8 31. Rd8 h6 32. Bc5 Bg7 33. Rb8
h5 34. Bxh5 Nd7 35. Rxg8+ Kxg8 36. Be3 Bf6 37. Bf3 b6 38. Be2 a5 39. Bb5 Nc5
40. b4 Nb7 41. Ba6 1-0

[Event "Bonn sim"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2004.05.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Paehtz, Elisabeth"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B92"]
[WhiteElo "2764"]
[BlackElo "2385"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2004.05.02"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.07.06"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.07.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Bg5
Nbd7 9. a4 b6 10. Bc4 Bb7 11. Qe2 O-O 12. O-O Qc7 13. Rfd1 h6 14. Bxf6 Nxf6 15.
Nd5 Nxd5 16. Bxd5 Rac8 17. c3 Bxd5 18. Rxd5 Qc4 19. Qxc4 Rxc4 20. Nd2 Rc6 21.
Kf1 g6 22. Ke2 Kg7 23. Kd3 Rfc8 24. g3 Kf6 25. c4 Bd8 26. b3 Ke6 27. f4 f5 28.
Re1 Bf6 29. Nf3 fxe4+ 30. Rxe4 Rc5 31. fxe5 dxe5 32. Nd4+ Ke7 33. Ne2 Rxd5+ 34.
cxd5 Kd6 35. Nc3 h5 36. Rc4 Kd7 37. Ne4 Bd8 38. Rxc8 Kxc8 39. Nd6+ 1-0

[Event "Bonn sim"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2004.05.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Schulze, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2764"]
[BlackElo "2035"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2004.05.02"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.07.06"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.07.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Be7 7. O-O Be6 8.
Re1 f5 9. Ne5 Bf7 10. Nxf7 Kxf7 11. f3 Nd6 12. c3 c6 13. Bf4 Qd7 14. Nd2 Rf8
15. Qe2 g6 16. Qf2 Na6 17. Bxa6 bxa6 18. Nb3 Nc4 19. Nc1 g5 20. Be5 Nxe5 21.
Rxe5 Bd6 22. Nd3 Kg7 23. Re2 Rae8 24. Rae1 Rxe2 25. Qxe2 Qc7 26. g3 Rf7 27. Kg2
Re7 28. Qd1 Kf6 29. Rxe7 Qxe7 30. Qe1 Qxe1 31. Nxe1 c5 32. dxc5 Bxc5 33. Nd3
Bd6 34. g4 a5 35. a4 f4 36. Kf1 Ke6 37. Ke2 Kd7 38. Nc1 Bc5 39. Nb3 Bb6 40. Kd3
Kc6 41. Nd4+ Kd6 42. Nc2 Kc5 43. Na1 Kc6 44. h3 Kc5 45. b4+ axb4 46. Nb3+ Kc6
47. cxb4 a6 48. Nd4+ Kd6 49. Nc2 Kc6 50. Nd4+ Kd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "FRA-chT poule haute"]
[Site "Belfort"]
[Date "2004.05.08"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Akopian, Vladimir Eduardovic"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2693"]
[BlackElo "2764"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "2004.05.08"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Clichy"]
[BlackTeam "Paris NAO"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FRA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "FRA"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Nb8 11. Nbd2 Nbd7 12. Nf1 Re8 13. Ng3 Nc5 14. Ba2 Ne6 15.
Nf5 Bf8 16. Nh2 Kh8 17. Ng4 Nxg4 18. Qxg4 Qf6 19. h4 c6 20. h5 Bc8 21. Bxe6
Qxe6 22. Qh4 f6 23. Re3 Qf7 24. Rf3 d5 25. Be3 Be6 1/2-1/2

[Event "FRA-chT poule haute"]
[Site "Belfort"]
[Date "2004.05.10"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2774"]
[BlackElo "2764"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "2004.05.08"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Cannes"]
[BlackTeam "Paris NAO"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FRA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "FRA"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Nb8 11. Nbd2 Nbd7 12. Nf1 Re8 13. Ne3 g6 14. Ng5 Rf8 15. h4
c6 16. Ng4 Nxg4 17. Qxg4 Nf6 18. Qe2 1/2-1/2

[Event "FRA-chT poule haute"]
[Site "Belfort"]
[Date "2004.05.10"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Almasi, Zoltan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2764"]
[BlackElo "2631"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2004.05.08"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2005"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Paris NAO"]
[BlackTeam "Monaco"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FRA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "FRA"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Nb8 11. Nbd2 Nbd7 12. Nf1 Re8 13. Ne3 c6 14. Nf5 Bf8 15.
Nh2 d5 16. Qf3 Qc7 17. Bg5 Re6 18. Qg3 g6 19. Nf3 c5 20. Nh6+ Bxh6 21. Bxh6 c4
22. Ba2 dxe4 23. Ng5 Rd6 24. dxc4 bxc4 25. Rad1 Rxd1 26. Rxd1 Rc8 27. b3 Nc5
28. Qc3 e3 29. Qxe3 Nd5 30. Qd2 f6 31. b4 Na4 32. Ne4 Qe7 33. c3 Kf7 34. Qc2
Nab6 35. a4 Bc6 36. a5 Ba4 37. Qd2 Bxd1 38. axb6 Rd8 39. Bxc4 1-0

[Event "FRA Cup"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2004.05.23"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Malakhov, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2764"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2004.05.22"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 100 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.07.06"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.07.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Bd2 Qb6 6. Nf3 c6 7. Bc4 Bf5 8.
Qe2 e6 9. O-O-O Bb4 10. Ne5 Nbd7 11. Nxd7 Nxd7 12. d5 Bxc3 13. Bxc3 cxd5 14.
Rxd5 O-O-O 15. Rdd1 Nf6 16. f3 h5 17. b3 Qc5 18. Kb2 Rhg8 19. a4 Nd5 20. Bd4
Qa5 21. g4 Bg6 22. Rhg1 hxg4 23. fxg4 Rh8 24. Bxg7 Rh3 25. Bd4 Qc7 26. Be5 Qc5
27. Rg3 Rxg3 28. Bxg3 Ne3 29. Rxd8+ Kxd8 30. Qd2+ Ke7 31. Bb5 Qxc2+ 32. Qxc2
Nxc2 33. Bf2 b6 34. Kc3 Na3 35. Bd3 Nb1+ 36. Kc2 Na3+ 37. Kc3 Nb1+ 38. Kc2 Na3+
39. Kd2 Nb1+ 40. Ke3 Nc3 41. Bh4+ Ke8 42. Bxg6 fxg6 43. Kd4 Ne2+ 44. Ke5 Kf7
45. Bg5 Ng1 46. Ke4 Ne2 47. Be3 Kf6 48. Kf3 1-0

[Event "Dortmund Gr-B"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2004.07.22"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C85"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2591"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2004.07.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. d3 Nd7 8.
Nbd2 O-O 9. Nc4 Re8 10. b3 Bd6 11. Bb2 c5 12. a4 b6 13. Nfd2 Nf8 14. Qh5 f6 15.
f4 exf4 16. Nxd6 cxd6 17. Rxf4 Ng6 18. Rf3 Be6 19. Raf1 d5 20. Rg3 d4 21. Bc1
Bf7 22. Rh3 Nf8 23. Qh4 b5 24. Nf3 bxa4 25. bxa4 Qd7 26. a5 c4 27. Qf2 Rad8 28.
Nh4 cxd3 29. cxd3 Re5 30. Bd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund Gr-B"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2004.07.23"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[Annotator "Gershon,A"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2004.07.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3
d5 9. Ne5 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nd2 O-O 12. O-O Nf6 13. e4 b5 14. exd5 {
A new breeze in a well known position. Leko, however, proves this to be not
dangerous.} (14. Re1 dxe4 15. Qc2 {has been tested many times before, but
black does not experience any problems here.}) 14... exd5 15. Re1 {White's
idea is that he deprived black of the simplifying idea: dxe4, and wants to
exploit his spatial advantage.} Rb8 16. c5 Bc8 $1 {The bishop has nothing more
to do on 'a6', and is transferred to the K's side.} (16... b4 {is pseudo
active, enabling white to open lines on the Q side in the future} 17. Bb2 {
[%cal Ga2a3]}) 17. Nf3 Ne4 18. Ne5 {the only way to fight for initiative.} (18.
Bb2 f6 $11) 18... Nxc3 19. Qd3 Qc7 (19... Ne4 20. Nxc6 Qc7 21. Nxb8 Qxb8 22.
Bxe4 dxe4 23. Qxe4 {[%csl Gc5,Gd4] White pawns, supported by the rooks would
be very difficult to cope with here.}) 20. Qxc3 Re8 {Whtie has some visual
advantage, due to a bit more space, however, Black easily throws back White
pieces, and equalizes.} 21. a4 ({In their later game of the tournament (Blitz,
in the tiebreaks), Kramnik played:} 21. b4 {followed by a draw offer, which
was accepted.}) 21... b4 {not allowing the opening of an 'a' file.} 22. Qf3 Bf8
(22... f6 $143 $2 23. Qh5 $1 g6 (23... Bb7 24. Qf7+ Kh8 25. Ng6+ hxg6 26. Re3 {
[%cal Ga1e1,Gg3g4] In order to prevent mate, Black is forced to give back a
piece, leaving White with a strategically won position.} Rf8 27. Qxe7 Qxe7 28.
Rxe7 $16 {[%csl Rb7]}) 24. Nxg6 hxg6 25. Qxg6+ Kf8 26. Bf3 {[%cal Gf3h5] and
Black has no defence from Bh5}) 23. Re3 f6 {before White builds up pressure
along the 'e' file, it's time to swap some pieces.} 24. Nd3 (24. Qh5 {does not
work now} g6 25. Nxg6 Rxe3 26. fxe3 hxg6 27. Qxg6+ Qg7 $17) 24... Rxe3 25. fxe3
a5 $1 {The last finesse, not allowing white to fixate a weakness on b4} 26. e4
Be6 27. Qf4 (27. Nf4 dxe4 28. Nxe6 (28. Qxe4 Bxb3 29. Qxc6 Qxc6 30. Bxc6 Rd8 {
White loses one of his pawns by force now} 31. Rb1 Bf7 32. Ne2 Bc4 33. Kf2 Bxe2
34. Kxe2 Rxd4 $17)) 27... Qd8 28. e5 Rb7 29. exf6 Qxf6 30. Qxf6 {Neither side
can win here.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund Gr-B"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2004.07.24"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2663"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Gershon,A"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2004.07.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3
d5 9. Ne5 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nd2 O-O 12. O-O Rc8 13. e4 b5 (13... c5 {
is the main alternative to the game line, leading to forced variations.}) 14.
Re1 bxc4 ({an alternative to the text is:} 14... dxe4 15. Bxe4 bxc4 16. bxc4 c5
17. d5 exd5 18. Bxd5 Nb6 19. Ba5 $14) 15. bxc4 dxc4 {Black has just won a pawn,
and hopes to be able to begin exchanges in the center while white is busy
winning it back. White, on the other hand, has the better placing for his
piceces, and a better pawn structure, unless, of course, black is able to
carry out the c6-c5 break in the right moment. The middlegame plans of both
sides will be based upon those basic lines.} 16. Qa4 $1 {an important move.
Before developing the queen to c2, white drives black bishop to b5 first, so
he will be able to play a4 with a tempo.} Bb5 17. Qc2 Re8 18. a4 Ba6 19. a5
$146 {A new move, according to my database. Rad1 is what's mainly played here
by white. The nature of this move is rather a waiting one: white gives black a
move to play, and react accordingly.} Nf6 $6 (19... Bf8 {seems to be more
flexible than the game.If} 20. Rad1 {the game would have transposed into the
main lines. However, white is not obliged to play Rad1}) 20. Rad1 Bf8 21. Nf3 {
Very much in Viorel's style: the knight goes to the kingside, aiming for black
king.} (21. Nf1 {[%cal Gf1e3] is the more solid and positional approach. The
knight goes to e3, where he can both support the 'd5' pawn (after ...c5 d5),
and put pressure on 'c4'.}) 21... Rb8 {[%cal Gf8b4] preparing Bb4 if the
position is opened up.} 22. Ng5 {with an immediate threat of e4-e5} (22. Ne5 {
is just a shot in the air:} Qc7 {[%cal Gc6c5] the knight is missplaced on e5})
22... Nd7 {admitting the mistake.} (22... h6 23. e5 hxg5 24. exf6 Qxf6 (24...
gxf6 25. Bxc6 Bb7 26. d5 $1 $36 (26. Bxe8 $140 $2 Qd5 27. Bxf7+ Kxf7 28. Qh7+
Bg7 29. Qh5+ Kg8 30. Kf1 Qg2+ 31. Ke2 Qe4+ $11)) 25. d5 e5 26. dxc6 {with a
nice initiative for the pawn.}) 23. h4 h6 24. d5 $5 {White's play is very
inspired.} (24. Nf3 Bb4 $11) 24... hxg5 (24... cxd5 $142 {would be the most
straighforward reaction} 25. exd5 (25. Nxf7 Kxf7 26. exd5 e5 $17) 25... hxg5
26. dxe6 Rxe6 27. Rxe6 fxe6 28. Bc6 Bc8 29. Qe2 $5 (29. hxg5 Qc7 30. Qe4 Nc5
$17) (29. Qa4 gxh4 30. Bxd7 Bxd7 31. Qxd7 (31. Rxd7 Rb1+ $19 {[%cal Gd8a8]})
31... Qxd7 32. Rxd7 Rb3 $19) 29... Qe7 30. hxg5 {[%cal Gg5g6,Ye2h5]} Rb3 (30...
Qf7 31. g6 Qxg6 32. Bxd7 Bxd7 33. Rxd7 {the pawn doesn't matter much here,
whereas White's active pieces ensure his an unpleasant initiative.}) 31. Qxc4 (
31. Bxd7 Bxd7 32. g6 Rxc3 33. Qh5 {is losing to the surprising:} Rxg3+ $1 34.
fxg3 (34. Kh2 Rxg6 $19) 34... Qc5+ $19) 31... Nc5 32. Bb4 Rxb4 33. Qxb4 {
with both sides having their chances.}) 25. dxc6 Re7 26. hxg5 Bb5 {Black
defends tenaciously} (26... Qc7 27. cxd7 Rxd7 28. g6 $1 fxg6 29. Bh3 $36) 27.
e5 {gaining more space, and opening more diagonals for his pieces. White
clearly has the upper hand here.} (27. cxd7 Rxd7 28. Rxd7 Bxd7 29. g6 {is much
less effective now, than after 27...Qc7} fxg6 30. e5 Bc5 $132 {[%cal Gd8f8,
Gf8f5]}) 27... Qe8 {black must do something about the pin, even in a cost of a
tempo.} 28. cxd7 $6 ({much more energetic was:} 28. Bb4 $1 Bxc6 $8 (28... Nxe5
29. Bxe7 (29. Rxe5 Rc7 30. Bxf8 Kxf8 31. Qh7 $16) 29... Nd3 30. Bxf8 Nxe1 31.
Rxe1 Kxf8 (31... Qxf8 32. g6 $16) 32. Qh7 $16) 29. Bxe7 Bxg2 30. Bxf8 Bf3 31.
Bd6 Bxd1 32. Rxd1 Rb5 33. Qxc4 Rxa5 34. Qc6 $16) 28... Rxd7 29. Rxd7 Bxd7 30.
g6 {Thanks to this move, white still keeps the edge, after ruining black's
pawn stracture.} fxg6 31. Bd4 {[%csl Ra7]} Rc8 (31... a6 32. Qxc4) (31... Rb5
32. Qxc4 Rxa5 33. Qc7 $16) 32. Bxa7 {White's 'a' pawn is much more dangerous
than Black's 'c' pawn, since it's supported by a pair of strong bishops, and
black has worries on the kingside as well.} Ba4 33. Qc3 Qb5 {[%cal Gf8b4]} 34.
Bh3 {a tempting move, but White shouldn't have removed the bishop from its
fantastic position on the long diagonal.} (34. Ra1 Bb4 35. Qd4 Qxa5 36. Qg4 $1
$36 {[%csl Re6,Rg6,Rg7]}) 34... Qd5 35. Bg2 Qd3 $1 {of course, Kramnik does
not give his opponent another chance.} 36. Qa1 $2 {I suspect white was
experiencing some time pressure.} (36. Qd4 $1 $16 {[%cal Gd4g4] and white has
a clear edge}) 36... Bc6 {Now Black exchages the light squared bishops, both
reducing the potential of the passed 'a' pawn, and making it harder for White
to attack the weaknesses on kingside.} 37. Bxc6 Rxc6 38. Be3 c3 39. Qa4 Qa6 $1
{not a trivial move, driving the queen away from such an active position.
However, there was no other satisfying way to stop the 'a' pawn:} (39... Ra6
40. Bb6 $1 {[%csl Ra6]}) (39... Rc4 40. Qe8) (39... Rc8 40. a6) 40. Rc1 Rc4 $1
{Finally, black's problems seem to be over.} 41. Qe8 c2 42. Qxg6 Qc6 {[%cal
Gf8a3]} 43. a6 Qxa6 44. Rxc2 Qa1+ $6 {Allowing white another shot to play for
a win} (44... Rxc2 45. Qxc2 Qa1+ {is an immedite draw.}) 45. Kg2 $6 (45. Kh2 $1
Rxc2 46. Qxe6+ Kh8 47. Qf5 Qa2 48. Qxf8+ {with a slight edge for white, with
no risk.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund Gr-B"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2004.07.25"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2591"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "173"]
[EventDate "2004.07.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 {Kramnik is well known to
be a solid player, playing for a draw on many ocations with openings such as
the Berlin Ruy, and the Sveshnikov. Yet this year we saw a new addition to his
repertoire, the Najdorf. His results so far have not been very good, his only
win being in Monaco on a blindfold game against Vallejo. Probably faced with a
young GM, Kramnik tries to go for the kill! That said, I find this a very
dubious decision, the sharp long variations of the Najdorf make Karjakin feel
like a fish in the water! (it means he feels confortable....)} 6. Be3 {The
English Attack... Basically everyone plays this stuff now, but there is
nothing wrong with "good ol'" lines such as Be2, f4 and a4!? to try to deviate
from the masses of theory 6. Be3 has accumulated.} e5 (6... Ng4 {Was Kramnik's
choice against Akopian in Corus this year, but he suffered quite a crushing
defeat...}) (6... e6 {This was Vlad's choice against Adams also in Corus this
year... but he lost yet again... perhaps the Najdorf is just not for Kramnik? :
)}) 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3 Nbd7 9. g4 {Again, this is the hot line, to throw g4 in
before Qd2... chess if filled with very subtle detalis! White's score with
this order is extremely good} Nb6 {Despite this move being rather illogical at
first sight (it blocks the b pawn) it has some other ideas, like a quick jump
to c4, for instance...} (9... b5 10. g5 b4 {Is the other main line, which is
very sharp}) 10. g5 Nh5 11. Qd2 Rc8 (11... Be7 {allows} 12. Qf2 {which is
another famous game from this year, Leko-Kasparov from Linares, which was
drawn at the end, although Leko was better at a certain point. This lines is
very sharp and easy to prepare against, so perhaps Vlad didnt want to test
Sergey's preparation}) 12. O-O-O Be7 13. Kb1 O-O 14. Rg1 Qc7 $5 {Before
Linares, for some reason, 14... g6 was almost religiously played, yet 14...
Qc7 seems much more logical} 15. Qf2 Nc4 16. Bxc4 Qxc4 17. f4 $146 {This
deviates from Vallejo Pons - Kasparov, Linares 2004 which ended in a draw,
although Kasparov was winning easily in many variations, as he himself claimed}
Nxf4 {Forcing the exchange of the knight is quite logical (knights on the rim
are dim... or so they say)} 18. Bxf4 exf4 19. Qxf4 Rfe8 $2 {I think, this is
the start of Kramnik's troubles, since this move is connected with a strange,
slow and bad plan. Just looking at the position will reveal that white is
trying to slaughter blacks king, and black is probably aiming to do the same.
Yet chess (thank Caissa!) is much more complex then that. For now, though, b5
looked logical, since the R is well placed on f8 for the time being} (19... f5
{Trying to give air to his bishops, was an interesting try, yet it failed to}
20. Nd4 $1 {When blacks pieces feel rather unconfortable}) (19... f6 {is even
worse, since} 20. g6 h6 21. Nd4 $16 {Leaves him with gaping holes on the light
squares}) (19... b5 {was much more logical} 20. h4 f5 $5 21. Nd4 b4 22. Nd5 $1
Bxd5 23. exd5 Qxd5 24. Rge1 {Leaves white with compensation for the pawn, but
perhaps no more then that.}) 20. h4 Bf8 {This maneouvre is too slow. The whole
plan of sitting and waiting is dubious at least. White's breakthroughs on the
k-side aren't that far off. Karjakin seized his chance, and rams his h pawn
forward, threatening g6} 21. h5 g6 22. h6 $1 {Quite instructive, it is much
more important to kill the black bishop, and leave some big wholes on the
k-side, then to open the h file:} (22. hxg6 $6 hxg6 {Any Dragon fan should
know this: it is not easy to rip your k-side defenses apart, if there is no
dragon slayer to get your g7 bishop! In the normal dragon, the dark square
bishop takes care of that functionality, here, even if white gets Rh1, Qh3 AND
Qh7+, it is still not easy to see a way in.} (22... fxg6 {Is also quite good
for black, defending through the 7th rank})) 22... Qb4 {The queen rushes back
to d8} 23. Qf6 Qb6 24. Nd4 $1 {A good move, black is very solidly placed, and
his bishops are doing an excellent job protecting their king. They must be
eliminated! That said, the N wasn't really doing much at b3...} Qd8 25. Qf3 {
Of course, keeping the Qs on! Try not to exchange when you have a space
advantage} Be7 {Hitting the base of whites strong k-side pawn chain, its time
for white to crash into blacks base} 26. Nxe6 fxe6 27. Qg4 {Another
possibility was to swing the rook in first, but this looks good enough} Kh8 {
Allowing the e6 to fall, although it was safer to play} (27... Bf8 28. Rdf1 b5
{Since white is still not crashing through anywhere}) 28. e5 {Sergey forces
black to push his d-pawn forward, so he can gobble it up later!} d5 29. Qxe6
Bxg5 30. Qf7 (30. Qxd5 $2 {This would have been a lazy move} Qxd5 31. Rxd5 Bxh6
{And white can at most claim a minimal advantage}) 30... Bxh6 $2 {Huh?! what
is THIS?! After this move it seems white can go on auto-pilot right into 1-0.
Much better was} (30... Re7 31. Qf2 Rxe5 32. Qd4 Bf6 33. Nxd5 Rf5 34. Qe4 {
When black is still inferior, but holding}) 31. Rh1 $1 {Obviously} Rc7 (31...
Bg7 32. Rxh7+ $1 {Was mate}) 32. Qf3 $1 {The strongest move} (32. Qxd5 {
Was also good, black cant exchange queens} Qg5 (32... Qxd5 33. Nxd5 $18) 33.
Qd6 $1 {This goes into a probably won endgame, but if you are not so sure} (33.
Rdg1 $16 {Keeps up the pressure with good winning chances}) 33... Rce7 34. Qf6+
Kg8 35. Ne4 Qxe5 36. Qxe5 Rxe5 37. Nf6+ Kg7 38. Nxe8+ Rxe8 39. Rd7+ Kg8 40.
Rxb7 {And this endgame should be won for white}) 32... Bg7 33. Nxd5 Rd7 (33...
Bxe5 34. Nxc7 Qxc7 {Is not very pleasant for black, since pushing his passed
pawns would be suicide, leaving his King out in the open, on the other hand,
white is not "crashing through" anywhere, so it was interesting to look at
this for black.}) 34. e6 $6 {Karjakin loses the thread a bit, why not Rxh7+
without losing the e pawn?} (34. Rxh7+ $1 Kxh7 35. Nf6+ Bxf6 (35... Qxf6 36.
Rh1+ Kg8 37. exf6 Rf7 38. Qg2 $1 Rxf6 39. Qxb7 {Should be even easier for
white then the previous variation}) 36. Qh3+ Kg8 37. Rxd7 Qxd7 38. Qxd7 Rxe5
39. Qc8+ Kg7 40. Qxb7+ Re7 41. Qb4 {should be easily winning, since white has
the Queen AND a passed pawn, contrary to the game'sendgame}) 34... Rxe6 35.
Rxh7+ Kxh7 (35... Kg8 {Seemed better, remember my comment on the powerful B on
g7, defending the k-side against all intruders? well this seems to be the case
here:} 36. Rhh1 (36. Qb3 Rdd6 $1 37. Rhh1 Qd7 {And black is far off from ok,
but is holding}) 36... Re5 37. c4 {When black is inferior, but far from lost})
36. Qh3+ Kg8 37. Qxe6+ Rf7 {Thing is, black is close to zugzwang here} 38. a4
$6 {a3 was better, not allowing b5 ideas} (38. Qxg6 $4 {Is of course met by}
Qxd5 $19 {Always watch your back!}) 38... g5 39. Ka2 {Cunning move, with the
idea that Qxd1 will no longer be check} Kf8 $6 {Going into a pretty bad
endgame for black, when he could still have created some counterplay} (39... b5
$1 {This move, which 20 moves ago was supposed to be played, is sitll good :)}
40. axb5 (40. Qxa6 $2 bxa4 41. Qxa4 $2 {Is met with} Qb8 {Forcing} 42. Qb3 (42.
Nc3 Ra7 43. Rd8+ Qxd8 44. Qxa7 Bxc3 {Also promises nothing}) 42... Ra7+ 43. Kb1
Qxb3 44. cxb3 {With a likely draw}) 40... axb5 41. Kb1 Kf8 {And, as in the
previous variations, black is not toast yet}) 40. Nf6 $1 {A brilliant
tactician like Karjakin will never pass an opportunity like this!} Bxf6 (40...
Qxf6 $2 41. Qc8+ Ke7 42. Qxb7+ Ke8 43. Qc8+ Ke7 44. Qd8+ Ke6 45. Qd5+ Ke7 46.
Re1+ {Is totally winning for white}) 41. Rxd8+ Bxd8 {We have arrived at a very
interesting endgame! Black's defensive resources are the passed g-pawn, and
the possibility for a fortress position. Since black's king is still on f8,
far from the Q-side, whites winning chances are quite high. White is probably
winning in this position, but only a very big piece of analysis could prove
that statement right orwrong!} 42. Qc8 $1 Ke8 43. b4 {Marching them up} Rg7 {
Perhaps not the best} (43... Rd7 {Was interesting, cutting the Q from the g4
square although after} 44. c4 {Blacks position isn't so fun, since} g4 {
is met by} 45. c5 $1 g3 46. c6 bxc6 47. Qxc6 {And whites queen dominates the
board to an extent to pick the a6 pawn AND stop the g pawn}) 44. Qg4 b6 {
it seemsthis accelerates defeat, but it was VERY hard to recommend something
for black. His main problem is lack of moves. Sure, he would love to play Kd8
right now, to pass to the Q-side, but theres that detail of the bishop
blocking the way... Also, whites win is still not trivial} (44... Bf6 {Comes
then as a logical move, yet this is met by} 45. Qe6+ $1 Be7 46. Qe4 $1 {
And the b7 falls}) 45. Qe2+ Kf8 46. Qf1+ Ke7 47. Qe2+ {A normal repetition of
moves... giving your opponent the hope of you repeating for a third time and
giving you a draw is an effective and cruel psychological torture :)} Kf8 48.
Qxa6 g4 49. Qc8 Ke8 50. Qc6+ Kf8 51. Kb3 g3 52. Qg2 Rg5 {Kramnik sets his last
hopes to stop the pawns on his 4th rank} 53. c4 Kg7 54. Kc2 (54. c5 bxc5 55.
bxc5 (55. a5 Kg6 $1 {also seems drawn}) 55... Rxc5 {is drawn}) 54... Kh6 55.
Kd3 Be7 56. b5 (56. c5 bxc5 57. b5 Bd8 {Was not so easy, since the root back
from b6 to g1 is cut off}) 56... Bc5 $6 (56... Bb4 $1 {Was much better, since
now both c5 and a5 are being controlled by the bishop, and white can't afford
to lose the 3 pawns for just blacks bishop and b pawn} 57. Ke2 $1 {Continuing
whites march of the king to stop the g pawn, seems like the best try}) 57. a5
$1 {A nice little combination, netting the B and the game} bxa5 58. b6 Bxb6 59.
Qh1+ $1 {The point} Kg6 60. Qc6+ Kh5 61. Qxb6 g2 62. Qg1 Rg3+ 63. Kd4 $2 {
(??) This move, recommended by Illescas, is extremely weak. Much better is} (
63. Kd2 $1 {And here, the win is easier} Kh4 64. c5 Kh3 65. c6 Rg6 (65... Rg7
66. Qe3+ $18) (65... Rg8 66. c7 {Pins the rook to the 8th file}) 66. c7 Rd6+
67. Ke3 Re6+ 68. Kf4 Rf6+ 69. Ke4 Rc6 70. Qe3+ Kh2 71. Qf4+ Kh1 72. Qh4+ Kg1
73. Qd8 $18) 63... Kg4 $1 {Kramniks defensive strategy is best, he wishes to
defend the g pawn with his king, leaving his rook to battle the c pawn and
whites king single-handedly. I must admit, that im sceptical that there is no
win for white here. Yet, I am unable to find one. Perhaps Kd4 was really
extremely bad?} (63... a4 $2 64. c5 a3 65. c6 a2 66. c7 a1=Q+ 67. Qxa1 g1=Q+
68. Qxg1 Rxg1 69. c8=Q {Would have led to a Q vs R endgame, which is of course
won, but Karjakin would have had to show Kramnik his technique! On the other
hand, black's king is already in the edge... making white's task easier.}) 64.
c5 Kh3 65. c6 Rg4+ 66. Kd5 Rg3 67. Kc4 (67. c7 Rc3 68. Kd6 Rd3+ 69. Ke5 Rc3 {
Leads to the same type of positions of the game}) 67... Rg4+ 68. Kb5 (68. Kd3
Rg7 $1 {And again I can't find a winning idea, although perhaps this was the
best try. The difference with this and Kd2, is that white is quite some tempos
down, and cant go running with his queen as easily.}) 68... Rg5+ 69. Kb6 Rg6 $1
70. Kb7 Rg3 $1 {The point, the Rook CAN stop the c pawn from queening
single-handedly, while it ties the queen down to g1} 71. c7 Rb3+ {This
position is now drawn, there is no way for white to progress} 72. Ka6 Rc3 73.
Kb6 Rb3+ 74. Kxa5 Rc3 75. Kb6 Rb3+ 76. Kc6 Rc3+ {The King is just harassed
with checks, and the queen can't help} 77. Kd7 Rd3+ 78. Kc8 Rg3 $1 {This move
draws, since whites queen is pinned down, and any K move will lead to more
checks} 79. Kd7 Rd3+ 80. Ke6 Rc3 81. Kd6 Rd3+ 82. Ke5 Rc3 83. Kf5 Rxc7 {
Now the draw is obvious} 84. Qe3+ Kh2 85. Qf4+ Kh1 86. Qxc7 g1=Q 87. Ke4 {
A heart-breaking draw for many observers, Im sure, but you also have to be
amazed by Kramnik's defensive capacity.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund Gr-B"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2004.07.26"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D55"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2663"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2004.07.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Bxe7 Qxe7 8.
Rc1 b6 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. e3 Be6 11. Bd3 Rc8 12. O-O c5 13. e4 Nc6 14. dxc5 Nb4
15. Bb1 Rxc5 16. a3 Rxc1 17. Qxc1 Na6 18. Qe3 Nc7 19. e5 Bg4 20. Nd4 Ne6 21. h3
Nxd4 22. Qxd4 Be6 23. Rc1 g6 24. Rc3 Qd8 25. Bd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund Gr-B"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2004.07.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "2004.07.22"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 102"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.09.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ne7 10. h3 Ng6 11. Bg5+ Ke8 12. Rad1 Bd7 13. a3 h6 14. Be3
Be7 15. Rd2 b6 16. Rfd1 Rd8 17. Ne2 c5 18. Nc3 Bc6 19. Nd5 Rd7 20. c4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund-B playoff"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2004.07.27"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2004.07.27"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ne7 10. h3 Ng6 11. Bg5+ Ke8 12. Rad1 Be6 13. Nd4 Bc4 14.
Rfe1 Bb4 15. Nf5 Bxc3 16. bxc3 Rg8 17. a3 h6 18. Bc1 Be6 19. Nd4 Ne7 20. f4 h5
21. Kf2 Rd8 22. Be3 b6 23. Rd2 c5 24. Nxe6 Rxd2+ 25. Bxd2 fxe6 26. g4 hxg4 27.
hxg4 Rh8 28. Kg3 Kf7 29. c4 Rd8 30. Bc3 Nc6 31. Rf1 Nd4 32. Rf2 Nc6 33. Rf1 Nd4
34. Rf2 Nc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund-B playoff"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2004.07.27"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2663"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2004.07.27"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ne7 10. Re1 Ng6 11. h3 h6 12. a3 Bd7 13. Be3 b6 14. Rad1
Kc8 15. Kh2 Be7 16. Ne4 Re8 17. Bd2 Bf8 18. Bc3 c5 19. g4 Bc6 20. Kg3 Kb7 21.
h4 f6 22. h5 Nxe5 23. Bxe5 fxe5 24. Nh4 Rad8 25. Rxd8 Rxd8 26. Ng6 Bd6 27.
Nxd6+ cxd6 28. f4 e4 29. f5 d5 30. Ne5 Re8 31. Kf4 Kc7 32. c3 Bb7 33. b4 d4 34.
cxd4 cxd4 35. Rd1 e3 36. Rxd4 e2 37. Rc4+ Kd6 38. Rd4+ Bd5 0-1

[Event "Dortmund-B playoff"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2004.07.27"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2591"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "2004.07.27"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 a6 6. O-O c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8.
Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Be2 Ke7 10. b3 b6 11. Ne5 Bb7 12. Nd2 {/\13.Nd3 Bd6 14.Nc4+/-}
Ne4 13. Nxe4 Bxe4 14. Bb2 f6 15. Nd3 Bxd3 16. Bxd3 $14 Nd7 17. Rfd1 a5 18. Kf1
h6 19. Ke2 Rhd8 20. Bb5 Nf8 21. f4 Rxd1 22. Rxd1 Rd8 23. Rc1 Nd7 24. a3 g5 25.
g3 f5 26. Rc4 {[%cal Gb3b4]} gxf4 27. Rxf4 (27. exf4 Nf6 28. b4 axb4 29. axb4
Bd6 30. Bc6 b5 $1 $11) (27. gxf4 Rg8 28. Kf3 Rg1 $132) 27... Nf6 28. Rh4 h5 (
28... Ne4 29. Bd3 Nf2 $1 30. Bc2 Ng4 31. e4 Ne3 32. Bd3 (32. Bb1 Rd1 33. Bd3
Rg1 $132) 32... Nd1 33. Be5 Nf2 $1 $132) 29. b4 axb4 30. axb4 Bd6 31. Bc6 Ng4
$2 (31... e5 $5 32. Rc4 Ke6 33. Bb7 b5 34. Rc8 Rd7 35. Bc6 Ra7 36. Bxb5 Rb7 $11
) 32. Rxh5 $2 (32. b5 $1 Be5 (32... Bc5 33. Rxh5 Nxe3 34. Rh7+ Kf8 35. Bf6 Rb8
36. Be5 Rd8 37. Bf4 $18) (32... Bb4 33. Bc1 $18 {[%csl Rh5]}) 33. Ba3+ Bd6 34.
Bxd6+ Rxd6 35. Rxh5 $16) 32... Bxb4 33. Rh7+ Kd6 34. Bb5 Bc5 (34... Ra8 $1 35.
Bc4 (35. Rd7+ Kc5 36. Bd3 Nxh2 $17) 35... b5 36. Bb3 Bc5 $17) 35. h3 Ne5 (35...
Nxe3 36. Bf6 $1 $16 {[%cal Gf6e7]}) 36. Ra7 Rg8 37. Kf2 Rh8 (37... Bxe3+ $6 38.
Kxe3 Rxg3+ 39. Kd4 Nf3+ 40. Ke3 Ne5+ 41. Kd2 Rxh3 $13) (37... Kd5 38. Ra1 Ke4
39. Ra4+ Kd5 40. Bf1 $14) 38. Ra1 $2 (38. Bf1 $142 $14) (38. Rd7+ Nxd7 39. Bxh8
$14) 38... Kd5 $2 (38... Ng4+ $1 39. hxg4 Rh2+ 40. Kf3 Rxb2 $17) 39. Bf1 (39.
Rd1+ Ke4 40. Ba4 $1 Nd3+ 41. Rxd3 Rxh3 42. Rb3 $1 $18) 39... Bd6 40. Bg2+ (40.
Rc1 $1 Bb8 41. Ba3 $1 Ke4 42. Rd1 $18) 40... Kc4 41. Rd1 Bb8 42. Bf1+ Kb3 43.
Bd4 Rc8 44. Rb1+ Ka2 45. Rb2+ (45. Rxb6 Rc2+ 46. Ke1 Nf3+ 47. Kd1 Rc8 48. Ba6
$1 Rd8 49. Bc4+ Ka3 50. Bxe6 $16) 45... Ka3 46. Rxb6 Rc2+ 47. Be2 (47. Ke1 $5
Bc7 48. Ra6+ Kb4 49. Kd1 Rf2 50. Be2 $16) 47... Nd3+ $2 (47... Nc6 48. Bg7 Bc7
49. Ra6+ Kb3 50. g4 fxg4 51. hxg4 Nb4 52. Ra1 $16) 48. Kf1 Rc1+ 49. Kg2 Rc2 50.
Kf1 Rc1+ 51. Bd1 $1 Rxd1+ (51... Nb4 52. Rxb8 Rxd1+ 53. Ke2 Rc1 54. g4 $18) 52.
Ke2 Rh1 (52... Rc1 53. Kxd3 Bc7 54. Rxe6 Bxg3 55. Rf6 Rd1+ 56. Kc4 Rc1+ 57. Kd5
Rh1 58. Rxf5 Rxh3 59. Kc4 Bc7 60. Rf7 Ba5 61. Ra7 Ka4 62. Bc3 $18) 53. Kxd3
Bxg3 54. Kc4 Rc1+ 55. Bc3 Ka2 56. Ra6+ Kb1 57. Kb3 Rxc3+ 58. Kxc3 e5 59. Rf6 f4
60. Kd3 fxe3 61. Kxe3 Kc2 62. Rg6 Be1 63. Rg4 1-0

[Event "Dortmund-B playoff"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2004.07.27"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2004.07.27"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3
d5 9. Ne5 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nd2 O-O 12. O-O Nf6 13. e4 b5 14. exd5 exd5
15. Re1 Rb8 16. c5 Bc8 17. Nf3 Ne4 18. Ne5 Nxc3 19. Qd3 Qc7 20. Qxc3 Re8 21. b4
1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund-B playoff"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2004.07.27"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2591"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "179"]
[EventDate "2004.07.27"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ne7 10. h3 Ng6 11. Ne4 h6 12. b3 Ke8 13. Bb2 a5 14. a4 Nf4
15. Rfe1 Bb4 16. c3 Be7 17. Rad1 Ne6 18. c4 Bb4 19. Re3 Bd7 20. Nh4 Rd8 21. Nf5
Bc8 22. Rxd8+ Kxd8 23. Rd3+ Ke8 24. g4 Bf8 25. Bc1 b6 26. Nfg3 c5 27. Be3 Bb7
28. f4 h5 29. f5 h4 30. fxe6 hxg3 31. exf7+ Kxf7 32. Ng5+ Ke8 33. Bf4 Be7 34.
Rxg3 Bxg5 35. Bxg5 Kd7 36. e6+ Kxe6 37. Re3+ Kf7 38. Re7+ Kg6 39. h4 Bf3 40.
Rxc7 Re8 41. Kf2 Bxg4 42. Rc6+ Kf5 43. Rxb6 Re2+ 44. Kg3 Rc2 45. Rb5 Rc3+ 46.
Kf2 Bd1 47. Rxa5 Bxb3 48. Rxc5+ Ke4 49. a5 Rxc4 50. Rb5 Rc2+ 51. Ke1 Bc4 52.
Rb7 Ra2 53. Ra7 g6 54. Kd1 Kd3 55. Rd7+ Ke4 56. Bd8 Ra3 57. Kc2 Bd5 58. Rd6 Kd4
59. Bb6+ Ke5 60. Rd8 Ra4 61. Rh8 Ke4 62. Rh6 Kf5 63. Kc3 Rc4+ 64. Kd3 Ra4 65.
Rh8 Bg2 66. Rf8+ Kg4 67. Bd8 Be4+ 68. Kc3 Bd5 69. Rf6 Kh5 70. Rd6 Bb7 71. Kb3
Ra1 72. Kb4 Rb1+ 73. Kc5 Ra1 74. Kb6 Bc8 75. Ka7 Rb1 76. Rb6 Ra1 77. Rb5+ Bf5
78. a6 Kg4 79. Rb6 Rd1 80. Bg5 Be4 81. Kb8 Rf1 82. Bf6 Re1 83. a7 Bf3 84. Bd8
Ra1 85. Rxg6+ Kh5 86. Rg5+ Kh6 87. Rb5 Kg6 88. Rb7 Rd1 89. Bb6 Bxb7 90. Kxb7
1-0

[Event "Dortmund-B playoff"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2004.07.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bologan, Viktor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A31"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2663"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2004.07.27"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 d6 {Although
Hedgehog set-ups are nowadays popular, in this concrete position the text-move
is hardly ideal. More active and flexible continuations are deservedly more
popular:} (6... Bb4 7. Bd3 Nc6 {or especially}) ({the main move} 6... Qc7 $5 {
Black postpones the deployment of his Bf8, it can be sometimes effectively
developed not only to e7, but also b4 or even d6.}) 7. Be2 Nbd7 $6 {While
Black's previous move was still more or less a matter of taste, this already
prematurely commits the N and allows White to use the most effective plan in
this modification of the Hedgehog.} (7... Be7 $142 {Here it's more difficult
to employ the motif from the game, e.g., after} 8. O-O O-O 9. Be3 b6 (9... Qc7
10. f3 Nbd7 11. Qd2 Re8 12. Rfc1 b6 13. a4 h5 14. a5 bxa5 15. Nb3 h4 16. Nxa5
h3 17. g3 Ne5 {Black shows a similar plan, as in the note to move 15, but his
position is already compromised.} 18. Nd1 $1 $36 (18. Na4 Bd7 19. Nb6 Rab8 20.
Nxd7 Qxd7 21. Ra2 Red8 22. b4 d5 23. exd5 Bxb4 $13 {Kovalevskaya,E-Koneru,H/
FIDE WChw Elista/2004/})) 10. a4 Bb7 11. f3 {Black can play} Nc6 $1 $132) 8.
Be3 b6 9. O-O Bb7 10. f3 Be7 11. a4 $1 ({White shouldn't hesitate with this
move:} 11. Qd2 O-O 12. a4 Rc8 13. a5 Ne5 $5 14. axb6 Nxc4 15. Bxc4 Rxc4 16. Nb3
Rb4 17. Na5 Ba8 18. Na4 Rb5 19. Nc3 Rb4 20. Na4 Rb5 21. Nc3 $11 {1/2,Adams,
M-Van Wely,L/Tilburg/1997/}) 11... O-O (11... d5 12. cxd5 exd5 13. Nf5 $16) (
11... Qb8 12. a5 Bd8 13. axb6 Bxb6 14. Na4 Ba7 15. b4 O-O 16. Qd2 Rd8 17. Rfc1
Nc5 18. Rcb1 Qc8 19. Nb3 Nxa4 20. Bxa7 Rxa7 21. Rxa4 e5 22. Qe3 Ra8 23. Na5 Bc6
24. Ra3 $16 {Izoria,Z-Tosic,M/Yerevan zt/2000/}) (11... Rc8 12. a5 Ne5 $2 13.
axb6 {/\} Nxc4 14. Qa4+ $18) 12. a5 $36 {[%csl Ra6,Rd6][%mdl 32] A very
dangerous strategic plan, White disrupts his opponent's << and creates
permanent targets for his pieces on a6 and d6.} bxa5 (12... d5 13. exd5 exd5
14. Nxd5 Bxd5 15. cxd5 Nxd5 16. Bf2 N7f6 17. Nc6 Qe8 18. Nxe7+ Qxe7 19. Bc4
Rfd8 20. Qe1 b5 21. Bb3 Qb4 22. Qxb4 Nxb4 23. Rfd1 Nd3 24. Bb6 Rd7 25. Rd2 $16
{Stohl,I-Varga,Z/CRO-chT2/1998/}) 13. Nb3 Rb8 14. Nxa5 Ba8 15. Qd2 Qc7 (15...
Re8 {is a modern wrinkle, but it can hardly substantially change the
evaluation of the position.} 16. Kh1 $5 (16. Ba7 Rc8 17. Bf2 Rb8 18. Kh1 Nc5
19. Rfb1 Rb4 $6 20. Nd1 Qb8 21. Be1 Ra4 22. Rxa4 Nxa4 23. b4 Nb6 24. Nc3 Nbd7
25. Qa2 $16 {Short,N-Cvitan,O/EU-chT Leon/2001/}) 16... Qc7 17. Rfc1 Ne5 18.
Bd4 h5 19. b4 h4 20. b5 h3 21. g3 axb5 22. cxb5 Qd8 {Agrest,E-Nisipeanu,L/
EU-chT Batumi/1999/} 23. Qd1 $1 $16 {[%csl Rh3][%cal Rd1f1] /\Qf1,><h3 Agrest})
16. Rfc1 Nc5 $6 {Losing another tempo in an inferior position puts Black on
the brink of defeat.} (16... Ne5 17. Na4 Bc6 18. b4 Bxa4 19. Rxa4 Nfd7 20. Raa1
Rfc8 21. Nb3 Ra8 22. g3 h5 23. Kg2 Qb8 24. Rab1 Nf6 25. Nd4 Qb7 26. c5 d5 27.
Bf4 Ng6 28. e5 Ne8 29. Bd3 Nxf4+ 30. gxf4 $1 $40 {Ivanchuk,V-Adams,M/Dortmund/
1992/}) ({Better is the patient} 16... Rfc8 $142 $14 {, when White shouldn't
be too impetuous:} 17. b4 d5 $5 18. Nxd5 exd5 19. cxd5 Qd6 20. Nc6 Bxc6 21.
Rxa6 Qxb4 22. Qxb4 Rxb4 23. dxc6 Nf8 24. c7 Ne8 25. Bf4 g5 26. Bg3 Nxc7 {
Cvetkovic,S-Cabrilo,G/Igalo/1994/} 27. Rac6 Nfe6 28. Bc4 Nf4 29. Ba6 $44 {/=})
17. b4 $1 Ncd7 (17... Rxb4 18. Nb5 axb5 19. Qxb4 bxc4 20. Nxc4 Nfd7 21. Qa5
Qxa5 22. Nxa5 f5 23. exf5 Rxf5 24. Nb3 $16 {/+/=,Ibragimov,I-Ermenkov,E/Chania/
1993/ Sacrificing the exchange perhaps gives Black more chances to fight for a
draw, but with good technique White should convert his advantage-the position
still isn't too simplified to create -> chances.}) 18. b5 $5 {[%csl Rd6]
Kramnik flexibly changes his plan and doesn't play against the ><a6 anymore.
Black's misplaced forces (e.g. Ba8) offer him a welcome opportunity to use the
b5-square and decisively increase his pressure against d6.} ({Black is in
trouble even if White quietly improves his position with} 18. Na4 Rfd8 19. Qe1
Re8 20. Rab1 Bd8 21. Kh1 h6 22. Qd2 Ne5 23. Bf1 g5 24. Bd4 Ng6 25. Qe3 Nd7 26.
c5 $1 dxc5 27. Nxc5 Nxc5 28. Bxc5 Qe5 29. Nc4 $16 {Doettling,F-Vuckovic,A/
Bundesliga 0304/2004/}) ({However, White has also an effective tactical
solution:} 18. Nd5 $1 exd5 (18... Qd8 19. Nxe7+ Qxe7 20. Bf4 e5 21. Be3 h6 22.
Rd1 Ne8 23. c5 $18 {Rausis,I-Freckmann,M/Baden-Baden/1993/}) 19. cxd5 Qd8 20.
Nc6 Qe8 21. Rxa6 $5 $16) 18... Nc5 $8 (18... axb5 19. Nxb5 Qd8 20. Nxd6 $16)
19. bxa6 $1 Nxa6 $2 {Very natural, even more so in a blitz game. However, now
White will gain more time by attacking the unprotected N and Black's defence
will collapse.} ({The last chance to resist was the tactical} 19... Qb6 $142 $5
20. a7 (20. Nb5 Qxa6 21. Rd1 $14) 20... Qxa7 21. Nc6 Qb7 22. Nxe7+ (22. Nxb8
Nb3 23. Qc2 Nxc1 24. Qxc1 Qxb8 $8 25. Ra7 $36) 22... Qxe7 23. Rcb1 $36 {/\} Nb3
$2 24. Rxa8 $1 $18) 20. Nb5 Qd7 (20... Qd8 21. Nb3 Bb7 (21... Nc5 22. Nxc5 dxc5
23. Qxd8 Rfxd8 24. Ra7 $16) 22. Rd1 $16) 21. Nb3 Bb7 (21... Nc7 22. Ra7 (22. e5
$6 dxe5 $1 $13) 22... Rfc8 (22... Rb7 23. Rxb7 Bxb7 24. e5 $1 $18) 23. Rca1 $16
(23. Bf4 $16)) 22. Rd1 Rfd8 ({Slightly better, but insufficient to save the
game was} 22... Qc8 23. Nxd6 (23. Na5 $5 $16) 23... Bxd6 24. Qxd6 Bxe4 25. Nd4
$1 $40) 23. Ba7 $1 Ra8 24. Bb6 $18 Rdb8 25. Nxd6 $6 ({An cleaner solution was} 
25. c5 $1 {/\} d5 26. e5 Ne8 27. N3d4 $18) (25. e5 Qc6 $1 26. Ba7 $16) 25...
Bxe4 $2 {Now the tactics work for White.} (25... Bd5 26. Bd4 $5 Bxd6 (26...
Qxd6 $2 27. e5 $18) 27. cxd5 Rxb3 28. Rxa6 $16) (25... Bxd6 $142 26. Qxd6 Qxd6
27. Rxd6 Ne8 $1 28. Rd2 (28. Rdd1 Bc6 $5 (28... Bxe4 29. c5 Bc2 30. Rdc1 Bxb3
31. Bxa6 $16) 29. c5 Nxc5 30. Rxa8 Bxa8 31. Bxc5 Rxb3 32. Rd8 Bc6 $14) (28. Rd3
Bxe4 29. fxe4 Rxb6 30. c5 Rbb8 $14) 28... Bxe4 29. fxe4 Rxb6 30. Nc5 Rc6 31.
Nd7 $5 $36) 26. Nxe4 Qxd2 27. Nexd2 Rxb6 28. c5 $1 (28. c5 Rc6 29. Bb5 $18 {
nets White at least a piece.}) 1-0

[Event "Dortmund final"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2004.07.29"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2727"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2004.07.29"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Be3 c5 8.
Rc1 Qa5 9. Qd2 O-O 10. Nf3 cxd4 11. cxd4 Qxd2+ 12. Nxd2 Rd8 13. Nf3 $5 {
A relatively new idea. White aims to a well-known theoretical position but
with a very important difference...} (13. Nb3) (13. Bb5) 13... Nc6 (13... Bg4
$5 {needs further tests. Here is one game:} 14. d5 Nd7 15. Nd4 Nb6 16. Nb5 Rdc8
17. Rxc8+ Rxc8 18. Be2 (18. f3 Bd7 19. Nxa7 Rc2 $1 20. Bxb6 Ba4 $1 $40) (18. h3
Bd7 19. Nxa7 Rc2 $40) 18... Bd7 19. O-O Rc2 20. Bd3 Rxa2 21. Nxa7 Na4 22. Nb5
Rb2 23. Rc1 f5 24. Nc7 fxe4 25. Bxe4 Nc3 26. Bf3 b5 27. Ne6 Bxe6 28. dxe6 b4
29. h4 b3 30. h5 Ra2 31. hxg6 b2 32. gxh7+ Kh8 {0-1 San Segundo Carrillo,
P-Mamedyarov,S/Leon 2001/CBM 86 (32).}) 14. d5 {Here it is! Normally this
position arises after the move sequence Kxd2 and Ke1. In the present game,
however, White has kept his right to castle!} Na5 15. Bg5 Bd7 16. Bd3 Rdc8 (
16... f5 {now looks too risky.}) 17. O-O {This is the difference; however,
Black defends well.} e6 18. Bd2 b6 19. Ba6 Rd8 {[%csl Rd5] It is essential for
Black to keep both pairs of rooks to have the a7 pawn and the 8th rank under
control.} 20. d6 e5 $1 {[%csl Rd6][%cal Yd7e6,Yd7e8]} 21. Bxa5 (21. Rc7 Be6 (
21... Bf8 $2 22. Bg5) 22. Bb4 Bxa2) 21... bxa5 22. Bb7 Rab8 23. Bd5 Be8 24. Rc7
Rxd6 25. Rxa7 a4 $11 {The position has equalised: Black's bishop pair is
compensated by White's more active pieces.} 26. h4 Rd7 27. Rxd7 Bxd7 28. Rc1
Bf6 (28... Rc8 $2 29. Rxc8+ Bxc8 30. Ng5) 29. Rc7 Be8 30. Ra7 h5 31. g3 Kf8 32.
Ng5 Bxg5 33. hxg5 Rc8 34. Kg2 Rc3 35. Rb7 Rc2 36. Kf3 Rc3+ 37. Ke2 Rc2+ 38. Ke3
Rc3+ 39. Kd2 Rf3 40. Ke2 Rc3 41. Ra7 Rc2+ 42. Kf3 Rc3+ 43. Kg2 Rc2 44. Rb7 Rc3
45. Ra7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund final"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2004.07.30"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2727"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2004.07.29"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ne7 10. h3 Ng6 11. Bg5+ Ke8 12. Rad1 Bd7 13. Rd2 Be6 14.
Rfd1 Be7 15. Ne2 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Bxg5 17. f4 Be7 18. Nd4 Bc5 19. Kh2 Bxd4 20.
Rxd4 f6 21. Nd3 b6 22. g4 g6 23. f5 gxf5 24. Nf4 c5 25. Nxe6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund final"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2004.07.30"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2727"]
[PlyCount "31"]
[EventDate "2004.07.29"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Be3 c5 8.
Rc1 Qa5 9. Qd2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qxd2+ 11. Bxd2 O-O 12. Nf3 Bg4 13. Rc7 Bxf3 14.
gxf3 Bxd4 15. Rxb7 Nc6 16. Ba6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund final"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2004.07.30"]
[Round "1.4"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C83"]
[WhiteElo "2727"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2004.07.29"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5
Be6 9. Nbd2 Nc5 10. c3 Be7 11. Bc2 d4 12. cxd4 Nxd4 13. Nxd4 Qxd4 14. Nf3 Qxd1
15. Rxd1 O-O 16. Bg5 Bxg5 17. Nxg5 h6 18. Bh7+ Kh8 19. Nxe6 Nxe6 20. Be4 Rad8
21. g3 Rfe8 22. Bc6 Re7 23. a4 Nd4 24. axb5 axb5 25. Bxb5 Nf3+ 26. Kg2 Rb8 27.
Be2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund final"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2004.07.30"]
[Round "1.5"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C50"]
[WhiteElo "2727"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2004.07.29"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Nc3 d6 6. O-O O-O 7. Na4 Bb6 8.
Nxb6 axb6 9. c3 h6 10. h3 Bd7 11. Ba4 Re8 12. Bb3 Be6 13. Bc2 d5 14. a3 dxe4
15. dxe4 Bc4 16. Re1 Qxd1 17. Rxd1 Na5 18. Nd2 Be6 19. b4 Nc4 20. Nxc4 Bxc4 21.
a4 Red8 22. Be3 Ne8 23. f4 exf4 24. Bxf4 Be6 25. e5 Kf8 26. Be3 Rxd1+ 27. Rxd1
h5 28. Kf2 g6 29. Kf3 Ng7 30. g4 Bc4 31. Bh6 Kg8 32. Bg5 c6 33. Rd7 Bd5+ 34.
Kg3 hxg4 35. hxg4 Rb8 36. Be3 Ne6 37. Bxb6 Kg7 38. Bd3 Bb3 39. a5 Ba4 40. Bc4
Ng5 41. Be3 c5 42. Rc7 Ne4+ 43. Kf3 1-0

[Event "Dortmund final"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2004.07.30"]
[Round "1.6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2727"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "2004.07.29"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 O-O 8.
h3 c5 9. Be3 Qa5 10. Bd2 e6 11. Be2 Nc6 12. O-O Rd8 13. a4 Qc7 14. Bg5 Rd7 15.
Rc1 h6 16. Be3 Qd8 17. Bb5 1-0

[Event "Dortmund final"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2004.07.30"]
[Round "1.7"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2727"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Finkel,A"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2004.07.29"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 g6 (4... Nd4 5. e5 Nxb5 6. Nxb5 Nd5) 5.
h3 (5. Qe2 $5) 5... Bg7 (5... Nd4 6. e5 Nxb5 7. Nxb5 Nd5 8. Qe2 Nc7 9. d4 Nxb5
10. Qxb5 cxd4 11. Bg5 $1 h6 12. Bf4 $14 {Egin,V-Tukmakov,V/URS/1979}) 6. e5 Ng8
7. Bxc6 dxc6 8. O-O {Back in the seventies white didn't hurry with the castle:}
(8. d3 $5 Nh6 (8... b6 9. a4 a5 10. Bf4 h5 11. Ng5 Bf5 12. Qf3 Qc8 13. O-O-O
$16 {Grigorov,J-Popov,P/Sofia 1989}) 9. g4 $1 f5 10. exf6 exf6 11. Qe2+ $1 Qe7
12. Qxe7+ Kxe7 13. Be3 $14 {Kuzmin,G-Timoscenko,G/Baku 1977}) 8... Nh6 9. Ne4
b6 10. d4 $5 Nf5 $5 11. dxc5 (11. c3 Qd5 12. Re1 cxd4 13. cxd4 O-O 14. Nc3 Qd7
15. g4 Nh6 16. Bf4 Kh8 17. Qd2 Ng8 18. Rad1 $14) 11... Ba6 12. Re1 $2 {Serious
mistake after which white is on defensive till the end of the game.} (12. Qxd8+
$142 Rxd8 13. Re1 $16) 12... Qxd1 13. Rxd1 Be2 14. Re1 $6 {I can understand
Svidler who didn't want to give up an exchange at such an early stage, bit it
was worth a try.} (14. Bf4 Bxd1 15. Rxd1 Rd8 16. Rxd8+ Kxd8 17. g4 Nh6 18. Nd4
Kd7 19. a4 Rd8 $15) 14... Bxf3 15. gxf3 Nd4 $15 {[%csl Rc2,Rf3]} 16. Rd1 Nxf3+
17. Kg2 Nxe5 18. Be3 O-O (18... f5 19. Ng5 Nc4 20. Bd4 $15) 19. b3 $6 {It was
better to take on b6 with good chances to save the game.} (19. cxb6 axb6 20.
Bxb6 Nc4 21. Bd4 Nxb2 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Rd7 Rfe8 24. Rc7 Rac8 25. Rxc8 Rxc8 26.
a4 $132) 19... f5 20. Ng5 f4 21. Bd4 bxc5 22. Bxc5 (22. Bc3 f3+ 23. Kg3 Rf5 24.
Ne6 Bf6 25. Nxc5 Nd7 26. Ne4 Bxc3 27. Nxc3 Nf6 28. Rd3 Rf8 $17) 22... f3+ 23.
Kh1 (23. Kg3 $2 Nd3 $1 24. cxd3 Be5+ 25. Kh4 Rf4+ 26. Kg3 Rf5+ 27. Kg4 h5+ 28.
Kh4 Rf4+ 29. Kg3 h4+ 30. Kh2 Rf5+ 31. Kh1 Bxa1 $19) 23... Rf5 24. Ne4 Rh5 25.
Kh2 Ng4+ 26. Kg3 Bxa1 27. hxg4 Be5+ 28. Kxf3 Rf8+ (28... Rh3+ $5) 29. Ke2 Rh4
30. Bxe7 (30. f3 Rh2+ 31. Nf2 Bg3 32. Rd7 h5 33. gxh5 gxh5 34. Rxe7 h4 $19)
30... Rxg4 31. f3 $1 (31. Bxf8 Rxe4+ 32. Kf3 Rf4+ $19) 31... Rg2+ 32. Kf1 Rxc2
(32... Rg3 $5 33. Nxg3 Rxf3+ 34. Ke2 Rxg3 35. Rd7 $17) 33. Bxf8 Kxf8 34. Rd7
Rxa2 35. Rxh7 Bg7 $1 36. Ng5 $6 (36. Rh4 Rb2 37. Rg4 Rxb3 (37... Kf7 38. Nd6+
Kf6 39. Ne4+) 38. Rxg6 Rb6 39. Rg5 $15) 36... Kg8 37. Rh4 Ra5 38. Ne6 Rf5 39.
Kf2 (39. Nxg7 Kxg7 (39... Rxf3+ 40. Ke2 Rf6 41. Nh5 gxh5 42. Rxh5 $11) 40. Ke2
Rb5 41. b4) 39... Bf6 40. Rc4 c5 41. Ra4 (41. Ke3) 41... Kf7 42. Nc7 Bd4+ 43.
Kg2 (43. Ke2 Re5+ 44. Kd2 Re3 45. Nb5 Rxf3 46. Nxd4 cxd4 47. Rxd4 Rxb3 48. Rd7+
Kf6 49. Rxa7 Rf3 50. Ke2 Rf4 51. Ra5 g5 52. Ra1 $11) 43... Rg5+ 44. Kf1 Rg3 45.
Ke2 Rg2+ 46. Ke1 $2 {[%csl Re1]} (46. Kd3 Rf2 47. Ke4 Re2+ 48. Kd5 $15) 46...
Kf6 47. Nb5 Ke5 48. Rxa7 Kf4 {[%csl Re1][%cal Gf4e3,Ge3d3]} 49. b4 Rb2 $1 50.
Nxd4 cxd4 51. Rg7 Ke3 52. Kd1 d3 53. Re7+ Kxf3 54. Rd7 Ke4 55. Re7+ Kf4 56. Rd7
Rxb4 57. Rxd3 Re4 0-1

[Event "Dortmund final"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2004.07.30"]
[Round "1.8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2727"]
[PlyCount "29"]
[EventDate "2004.07.29"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. Nf3 d6 4. Bc4 c6 5. Bb3 Nf6 6. Qe2 O-O 7. O-O a5 8. a4 b6
9. Rd1 Ba6 10. Qe1 Qc7 11. e5 dxe5 12. dxe5 Nd5 13. e6 fxe6 14. Ng5 Rf6 15.
Nxe6 1-0

[Event "Dortmund final"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2004.07.31"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2782"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2004.07.29"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Nb8 11. Nbd2 Nbd7 12. Nf1 Re8 13. Ne3 Nc5 14. Ba2 Ne6 15.
Nf5 Bf8 16. Ng5 Bc8 17. Qf3 h6 18. Nxe6 Bxe6 19. Bxe6 fxe6 20. Ne3 c5 21. Bd2
Ra7 22. a4 Rf7 23. axb5 axb5 24. Qe2 Qb6 25. Ng4 Nh7 26. Qe3 Nf6 27. Nxf6+ Rxf6
28. Ra2 b4 29. Rea1 Rf7 30. Qg3 Kh7 31. Qg4 Qd8 32. Be3 Qf6 33. h4 b3 34. cxb3
Rb8 35. Ra8 Rfb7 36. Rxb8 Rxb8 37. Ra7 Rxb3 38. Qh5 Qg6 39. Qf3 Kg8 40. h5 Qf6
41. Qe2 Rb8 42. g3 d5 43. Kg2 d4 44. Bc1 c4 45. dxc4 d3 46. Qe3 Rc8 47. Qxd3
Bc5 48. Be3 Bxa7 49. Bxa7 Qf7 50. Bb6 Qxh5 51. b4 Ra8 52. Ba5 Qg4 53. c5 h5 54.
c6 h4 55. c7 Kh7 56. Bb6 Rf8 57. Bc5 Rf3 58. Qb1 Rxg3+ 59. fxg3 Qxg3+ 60. Kf1
Qf3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund final"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2004.08.01"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B49"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2004.07.29"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Qc7 5. Nc3 e6 6. Be2 {Now it's very
fashionable to react to practically any Sicilian (Scheveningen, Najdorf,
Paulsen...) with an English Attack set-up. Kramnik as a relative newcomer to 1.
e4 and rightly famous for his technique, rather than attacking chess doesn't
always oblige. However, in the Armenia-ROW event Anand had quite a few
problems with} (6. Be3 Nf6 7. Qd2 a6 8. O-O-O Bb4 9. f3 Na5 $6 {Possibly this
is the culprit and Vishy will take up the more usual} (9... Ne5) 10. Kb1 $1 (
10. Nb3 Nxb3+ 11. axb3 d5 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Bd4 Qa5 14. Kb1 O-O 15. Bc4 Bxc3
16. bxc3 Ne7 17. Qf2 Nc6 18. Bc5 Re8 19. Qe3 e5 20. Bb6 Qa3 21. Bc5 Qa5 22. Kb2
Qc7 23. Bb6 Qe7 24. Qc5 $36 {Akopian,V-Anand,V/ARM-ROW Moscow/2004/}) 10...
Bxc3 11. bxc3 b5 12. Bf4 Qb6 13. Nb3 Nc4 14. Qd4 d5 15. Bxc4 Qxd4 16. cxd4 dxc4
17. Na5 Nd7 18. Bc7 O-O 19. d5 exd5 20. exd5 Nf6 21. Rhe1 Bd7 22. Be5 Rfe8 23.
Kb2 $16 {Leko,P-Anand,V/ARM-ROW Moscow/2004/}) 6... a6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Be3 Bb4 {
The road to the Scheveningen was still open, but Anand insists on the Paulsen,
which he recently plays more often.} (8... Be7 9. f4 d6 {-B84,85}) 9. Na4 {
[%csl Rb6][%cal Gf2a7] The only way to fight for an advantage is to target the
weakened dark squares.} Bd6 $5 ({The pawn is too poisoned to contemplate the
masochistic} 9... Nxe4 $2 10. Nxc6 Qxc6 $8 (10... dxc6 11. Qd4 $18) 11. Nb6 Rb8
12. Qd4 Be7 (12... Bf8 13. c4 $44 {/+/-}) 13. Bf3 d5 14. c4 $36) ({Another
weaker move is} 9... b5 $143 $6 10. Nxc6 dxc6 11. Bc5 $1 bxa4 (11... Bxc5 12.
Nxc5 $14 {[%csl Rc5] ><c5}) 12. Bxb4 c5 13. Ba3 Nxe4 14. Bf3 $36) (9... O-O {
was played already 30 years ago and still can't be considered completely
refuted. Possibly the most unpleasant is} 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. f4 (11. Nb6 Rb8 12.
Nxc8 Rfxc8 13. Bxa6 Rf8 $1 $13 {[%cal Rf6e4,Rb4d6] /\Bd6,Ne4}) (11. c4 $5 $44)
11... d5 12. e5 {[%cal Yc2c4] /\c4+/=}) ({Currently the most often played move,
even amongst the top players as Anand himself is} 9... Be7 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11.
Nb6 Rb8 12. Nxc8 Qxc8 13. Bd4 {Perhaps this line seemed to him simply too
passive for such an important game, Black must accurately defend a slightly
worse position after} O-O (13... c5 14. Be5 Rb6 15. b3 $5 (15. Qd3 d6 16. Bc3
O-O 17. b3 d5 18. e5 Nd7 19. f4 c4 $5 20. bxc4 Rc6 21. Qh3 Nb6 22. Bd3 g6 $132)
15... O-O (15... Nxe4 16. Bxg7 Rg8 17. Be5 $14 {[%csl Re8] עe8}) 16. Bd3 $14 {
[%csl Gd3,Ge5] ^^}) 14. e5 Nd5 15. c4 Nf4 16. Bf3 $5 (16. g3 c5 17. Bc3 Nh3+ (
17... Nxe2+ $142 18. Qxe2 Qc6 $11 {/+/=}) 18. Kg2 Ng5 19. Qd3 f5 20. Rad1 Rb7
21. Bf3 $1 Nxf3 22. Qxf3 $14 a5 $6 23. a4 $1 Ra7 24. Rd3 Rd8 25. Rfd1 Qa6 26.
b3 $36 {[%csl Ra5,Rd7] ><a5,d7,Ponomariov,R-Anand,V/Mainz act m/2002/}) 16...
Qc7 17. Re1 Ng6 18. c5 f6 19. exf6 Bxf6 20. Be4 Nf4 21. Bxf6 Rxf6 22. Qc2 h6
23. Rad1 Nd5 24. g3 a5 25. a3 Rff8 26. Re2 Qd8 27. Rd4 $14 {Kasparov,G-Anand,V/
Linares/2002/}) 10. g3 {The main move, which is also the strongest.} (10. Nb6
Rb8 $1 {is OK for Black:} (10... Bxh2+ 11. Kh1 Qxb6 12. Nxe6 $1 Qxb2 13. Nxg7+
Kf8 14. Nf5 $40) 11. g3 (11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Nxc8 Rxc8 13. Bxa6 Bxh2+ 14. Kh1 Ra8
15. Be2 Bf4 $36 {׻ The vulnerability of White's K plays a more significant
role, than the still sleeping <<P.}) 11... Ne5 12. f4 Qxb6 13. fxe5 Bxe5 14.
Nf5 Qc7 15. Nxg7+ Ke7 16. Bd3 Rg8 17. Nh5 Ng4 18. Qf3 f6 $13 {[%csl Ge7]
Mozaliov,S-Tregubov,P/Smolensk/1997/ and the Ke7 is safe in the centre.}) (10.
Nxc6 bxc6 11. g3 {allows Black to play the strong} c5 $1 12. Qd3 Bb7 13. Rad1
Be7 $132 {[%cal Yd7d5] /\d5[+]}) 10... b5 (10... Be7 11. c4 $1 {is
advantageous for White, as in the line 9...Be7 10.c4!? Nxe4 the move g3 is
useful (the Ph2 is not en prise, also White sometimes has Bf4). Thus taking
the P is much more risky and also the Hedgehog is uncomfortable:} d6 12. f3 Bd7
13. Rc1 O-O 14. Nxc6 Bxc6 15. Nb6 Rad8 16. b4 Qb8 17. b5 Be8 18. a4 Nd7 19.
Nxd7 Rxd7 20. Qb3 Qc7 21. Rfd1 Rd8 22. Bd4 Ra8 23. Qc3 $16 {(),Kasparov,
G-Polgar,J/Linares/1997/}) ({Also playing with fire is} 10... Nxe4 $6 11. Bf3
Nf6 12. Nb6 $1 Rb8 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. Nc4 Be7 15. Bf4 Qa7 16. Nd6+ $1 Kf8 17. c4
Ne8 18. Nxe8 Kxe8 19. Bxb8 Qxb8 20. Rb1 $16 {Bologan,V-Granda Zuniga,J/
Aeroflot Moscow/2003}) 11. Nb6 ({The move-order is important:} 11. Nxc6 $6 Qxc6
12. Nb6 {allows} Bb7 $1 13. Nxa8 Qxe4 $15) 11... Rb8 ({Nobody has dared to play
} 11... Qxb6 $2 12. Nxe6 $40 {[%cal Re6g7] /\Ng7 yet, the attack is too strong.
}) 12. Nxc8 Rxc8 13. a4 {The main continuation.} ({There are only a few
examples with} 13. c4 $5 {, so we can only presume what Anand had on his mind.
Perhaps it was} b4 $5 (13... Nxd4 14. Bxd4 bxc4 15. Rc1 Qb8 16. Bxc4 a5 17. Qe2
e5 $2 18. Be3 O-O 19. Bg5 Be7 20. Rfd1 Rc7 21. b3 Qb6 22. Bxf6 Bxf6 23. Rd5 a4
24. Rcd1 axb3 25. Bxb3 Qa7 26. Qf3 Re8 27. Rd6 Re7 28. h4 Qb7 29. Qf5 Qa7 30.
h5 {[%csl Gb3,Rf6] 1-0,Svidler,P-Macieja,B/Bundesliga 0203/2002/ For the final
few moves Black was just a helpless spectator.}) 14. c5 $1 (14. Nxc6 $143 Qxc6
15. Bd3 h5 16. Bd4 Bc5 17. Bxc5 Qxc5 18. a3 a5 19. axb4 axb4 20. Qd2 h4 21. Qe2
Rh5 22. Kg2 Ke7 $17 {[%csl Rd3] ץd3,Gomez Anadon,D-Korneev,O/Zaragoza/2004/})
14... Bxc5 15. Bxa6 Bxd4 16. Bxd4 Ra8 17. Bb5 O-O $5 (17... Nxe4 18. Qg4 Qb7
19. Bxc6 Qxc6 20. Qxg7 Rf8 21. Rac1 Qd5 22. Be3 Nd2 23. Bxd2 Qxd2 24. Rfd1 $36
{Gara,T-Lakos,N/HUN-chW Budapest/2003/}) 18. Bxf6 gxf6 $132 {[%csl Rf6,Rg8]
[%cal Yc7e5] and despite the ׻ Black seems to have enough play on the dark
squares and in the [+] to hold the balance}) 13... Nxd4 14. Bxd4 e5 15. Be3 Bc5
{Black can't let White keep the ^^, this is more important than any other
considerations.} 16. Bxc5 {Anand faced this position already once before:} (16.
axb5 $5 Bxe3 17. fxe3 axb5 18. Bxb5 O-O $44 {[%csl Re3,Re4] ק} 19. Rxf6 (19.
Bd3 Qb6 20. Qc1 Ra8 $11 {<=> was more logical-Anand.}) 19... gxf6 20. Bxd7 $6 (
20. c4 $44) 20... Ra8 $1 $15 {Shirov,A-Anand,V/FIDE Wch Teheran/2000/}) (16.
Qd3 Bxe3 17. Qxe3 O-O (17... bxa4 $6 18. Bxa6 Rb8 {is risky due to} 19. Rxa4
Qxc2 20. Rc4 $1 Qxb2 21. Qc5 $36 {[%csl Re8] עe8}) 18. c3 {Now Black
shouldn't change Q, as in the _|_ White has the <->a and pressure against ><b5.
Probably the best is} Qc6 $5 (18... Qc5 19. Qxc5 Rxc5 20. f3 Rb8 21. axb5 axb5
22. Ra5 Kf8 23. Kf2 Ne8 24. Rd1 Ke7 25. c4 Nc7 26. b4 Rc6 27. cxb5 Rcb6 28. Ke3
f6 29. Ra7 R8b7 30. Rxb7 Rxb7 31. Kd2 Ne6 32. Ra1 Nd4 33. Ra8 Nxe2 34. Kxe2
Rxb5 35. Ra4 $14 {Dolmatov,S-Beshukov,S/Novgorod/1999/}) 19. axb5 axb5 20. Ra5
Rb8 21. f3 (21. Bd3 b4 $5 $132) 21... d5 22. exd5 Nxd5 23. Qf2 Rfd8 24. Rd1 Nc7
25. Bd3 Ne6 $11 {Shirov,A-De la Riva Aguado,O/Andorra m 5'/2001/}) 16... Qxc5
17. Bd3 (17. axb5 axb5 18. Ra5 Rb8 {is possibly more accurate, now White
doesn't have to go for the game position, but can try} 19. Qd3 $5 (19. Bd3 {
-17.Bd3}) 19... O-O 20. c3 Qc6 21. Bf3 Rfe8 22. Rfa1 Re6 23. R1a3 Ne8 24. Rb3
Nc7 25. Qe3 $14 {Galkin,A-Beshukov,S/St Petersburg/1997/ Although Black didn't
lose the game in the end, the defence is unpleasant and a maximum of his
efforts is a draw. All in all a type of position Anand was most probably
trying to avoid with his 9-th move (and one in which he finally landed anyway).
}) 17... Rb8 ({The alternative is} 17... O-O 18. axb5 axb5 19. Ra5 Rb8 20. c3 (
20. c4 Qb4 21. Rxb5 Rxb5 22. cxb5 d5 $1 23. exd5 e4 24. Bc2 Rb8 25. d6 Rd8 26.
Qe2 Rxd6 27. Ra1 g6 28. Ra6 Rd2 29. Qe1 Qd4 30. Ra4 Qd6 31. Ra6 Qd4 32. Ra4 Qd6
{1/2,Berkes,F-Varga,Z/HUN-ch Heviz/2003/}) 20... Ne8 21. Qg4 Nc7 22. Rd1 Qb6
23. Raa1 Qc6 24. Bf1 d6 25. Qe2 Rfd8 26. Ra7 Ra8 27. Rda1 $14 {Stambulian,
A-Beshukov,S/Krasnodar/2001/ Here the same applies, as to the above-mentioned
Beshukov game: he drew it with careful defence, but White's position is
certainly more pleasant.}) 18. axb5 axb5 19. Ra5 Qb4 $5 ({Macieja's novelty,
designed to avoid the above lines with} 19... O-O {-17...0-0}) 20. Qa1 O-O 21.
Rd1 ({The immediate} 21. Qa3 {allows Black's Q to sidestep the swap with} Qd2
$13 (21... Qd4 $5 $132)) 21... Rfe8 $146 {[%mdl 8]} ({Anand perhaps didn't like
} 21... Qe7 22. Rxb5 $5 (22. Qa3 b4 23. Qb3 h5 24. h4 Qd6 25. Kg2 Rfc8 26. f3
Kf8 27. Qa4 Qd4 28. Qb3 Qd6 29. Kf1 Kg8 $11 {Black has no problems, as he has
managed to push his P to b4, where it's less vulnerable. White later
overreaches with} 30. Ke2 Qc7 31. Qa4 $6 d5 $1 32. Ra7 Qd6 33. Ba6 Rc7 34. Rxc7
Qxc7 35. exd5 e4 $44 {|^,Jakovenko,D-Macieja,B/EU-ch Batumi/2002/}) 22... Rxb5
23. Bxb5 Nxe4 24. Qa4 $5 (24. Rxd7 Qc5 25. Qf1 Nf6 $11 (25... Qxc2 26. Qe2 Qc1+
27. Rd1 Qc5 $11)) 24... Qc5 (24... Nf6 25. c4 $14 {/\} e4 26. Qa3 $1) 25. Qxe4
Qxb5 26. b4 $14) 22. Qa3 $1 (22. c3 Qb3 $5 {[%cal Yb5b4] /\b4<=>}) 22... Qxa3
23. bxa3 Ra8 $6 {[%mdl 512] Did Black really have to sacrifice a P already?} (
23... b4 $5 24. a4 {[%cal Rd1b1,Ra5b5]} Ra8 {Black shouldn't allow Rb1,
followed by Rb5.} 25. Rxa8 Rxa8 26. Ra1 (26. Bb5 Rc8 $5 {/\} 27. Rb1 Rxc2 28.
Rxb4 Ra2 29. Bc4 Ra1+ 30. Kg2 g5 $11 {/+/=}) 26... Ra5 27. f3 d5 28. exd5 Nxd5
29. Bc4 Nc3 30. Bb3 Kf8 $11 {and the blockade seems good enough to hold the
position.}) 24. Rxa8 Rxa8 25. Rb1 $1 {[%mdl 4352] This wins a P and Black gets
precisely into a position he was trying to avoid. However, Anand masters the
defence in a tough _|_ very well.} (25. Bxb5 $6 Rxa3 26. f4 $5 (26. Bxd7 Kf8
$11 {/=/+}) 26... exf4 27. e5 Ng4 28. gxf4 g5 29. Be2 (29. Bxd7 Ne3 30. Rd4
Nxc2 31. Rc4 Ne1 $11) 29... Ne3 30. Rxd7 gxf4 31. Bh5 Nxc2 32. Bxf7+ Kf8 $11)
25... Rxa3 26. Rxb5 Kf8 27. Rxe5 $14 {White will have some problems activating
both his B and his K, but it's clear only he can play for a win without the
slightest risk.} d6 28. Rb5 {[%cal Re4e5]} Nd7 $8 {Black must prevent e5.} 29.
Bc4 {[%csl Rf7] Targets f7.} Rc3 30. Bb3 Nc5 {[%cal Yg7g5]} 31. h4 $1 {An
important move in such positions, otherwise Black would gain () on the >> with
g5.} Ke7 (31... Nxe4 $2 32. Rb7 $16) 32. Kg2 h5 33. Rb6 g6 34. Kf1 Nxb3 $5 {
A serious, but well-judged decision. Black was running out of constructive
moves, so rather than wait for Kramnik to improve his pieces, Anand pins his
hopes to the drawish tendencies of R_|_.} (34... Rf3 35. Bd5 Rc3 36. Rb2 Kf6
37. Ke2 Ke7 (37... Ra3 38. Rb6 Ke7 39. Rc6 $36 {[%cal Re4e5] /\e5}) 38. Ra2 $1
{[%csl Rc3][%cal Ra2a7,Re4e5,Re2d2] /\Ra7,e5,Kd2,צc3} Nd7 39. Ra7 $5 $16 {/\}
(39. Kd1 $16) 39... Rxc2+ 40. Kd3 Rc1 41. Bxf7 $16) 35. cxb3 Rc2 36. Kg2 Rc3
37. Rb8 Ke6 38. b4 (38. Rb5 $5 $14 {is less committal, but the technical
problems remain.}) 38... Rb3 39. b5 Ke5 $1 {Black seeks active <=>.} 40. Rb7 {
Now Black draws, but} (40. f3 Rb2+ (40... Kd4 $6 41. Rf8 $16) 41. Kf1 (41. Kh3
f5 (41... Rb3 $143 $6 42. b6 $1) 42. exf5 (42. b6 fxe4 43. b7 Kd4 44. fxe4 Ke3
45. Rd8 Rxb7 46. Rxd6 Kxe4 47. Rxg6 Rb5 $11) 42... Kxf5 (42... gxf5 43. Rh8
Rxb5 44. Rxh5 $14) 43. b6 Kf6 $14) 41... f5 $132 {is hardly much better,
White's K is too passive.}) (40. Re8+ Kf6 {only repeats moves.} (40... Kd4 $2
41. Re7 $16)) 40... Kxe4 41. Rxf7 Ke5 $1 {[%csl Gd6] An accurate move, now the
R has to return and the o^d6 can advance without the necessity to give up the
>> P.} (41... Rxb5 $143 $6 42. Rf6 d5 (42... g5 $2 43. Re6+ Kf5 44. Rh6 $1 $18)
43. Rxg6 d4 44. Rg5 $14) 42. Rb7 d5 43. Rb6 Kf5 44. Kf1 Rb2 45. f3 d4 46. Ke1
d3 47. Kd1 Ke5 $1 {Only now the K supports the o^.} (47... Ke5 48. Rxg6 (48.
Kc1 Rc2+ $11 49. Kb1 $2 Rc5 $36) 48... Kd4 49. g4 (49. Kc1 Rc2+ $11) (49. b6
Ke3 50. Re6+ Kxf3 $11) 49... Ke3 (49... Rxb5 {[%cal Rb5b1] /\Rb1=}) 50. Re6+
Kxf3 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund final"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2004.08.01"]
[Round "2.3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "2004.07.29"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 Re8 10. a3 Bc5 11. Nc3 d6 12. Nd5 h6 13. c3 Ba7 14. Be3 Bxe3 15. Rxe3
Nd7 16. Ba2 Ne7 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. Nh2 Nf6 19. Ng4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund final"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2004.08.01"]
[Round "2.4"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2782"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2004.07.29"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 2]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3
Be6 8. f3 h5 9. Nd5 Bxd5 10. exd5 Nbd7 11. Qd2 g6 12. Na5 $5 Qc7 13. Be2 {
White is pursuing active plan of advancing the queenside pawn majority.} (13.
c4 Bg7 14. Be2 O-O (14... h4 15. O-O Nh5 16. Rfd1 Nf4 17. Bf1 b6 18. Nc6 Kf8
19. b4 Bf6 20. a4 h3 21. g3 Ng2 22. Bxg2 hxg2 23. Ra3 Kg7 24. a5 {1-0 Horvath,
A-Papp,G/Balatonlelle 2004/ (33)}) 15. O-O b6 16. Nc6 Nb8 17. Nxb8 Raxb8 (17...
Rfxb8 18. Rac1 Qd7 19. Bd3 Kh7 20. f4 e4 21. Be2 Qf5 22. h3 b5 {1/2-1/2 Jenni,
F-Hort,V/Basel 2004/ (62)}) 18. Rac1 Nd7 19. Rfd1 a5 20. Bd3 f5 21. Kh1 Rbe8
22. Bc2 f4 23. Bf2 e4 24. Bxe4 Rxe4 25. fxe4 Ne5 {1/2-1/2 Bonnet,E-Guidarelli,
L/Paris 2002/ (48)}) 13... Bg7 (13... Ng8 14. O-O Bh6 15. b4 Bxe3+ 16. Qxe3 Ne7
17. c4 Nf5 18. Qf2 Nd4 19. Bd3 f5 20. f4 b6 {1/2-1/2 Apicella,M-Gerard,N/St
Quentin 2001/ (27)}) 14. O-O-O Rc8 {Kramnik will learn to regret his
reluctance to ask Anand for his dark squared bishop with 14...Nb6!?} (14... Nb6
$5 15. Bxb6 Qxb6 16. Qc3 (16. Nc4 Qc5 17. Kb1 Rc8 18. Rhe1 b5 $13) 16... O-O
17. Rhe1 Rac8 $13) 15. Kb1 O-O (15... Nb6 16. c4 O-O 17. Rhe1 $14) 16. Rc1 e4 (
16... Rfe8 17. c4 Nc5 18. b4 Ncd7 19. g4 h4 $13) 17. f4 Nc5 18. Nb3 (18. b4 $2
b6 $1 19. Nb3 (19. Nc6 Nxd5 20. Qxd5 Na4 21. c4 Qxc6 $17) 19... Nxb3 20. cxb3 (
20. axb3 Nxd5 $1 $19) 20... Qb7 $15) 18... Na4 19. c3 (19. c4 $5 Ng4 20. Bxg4
hxg4 21. Nd4 $14) 19... Rfe8 {It might have made sense to fight the future
mobility of the c pawn with 19...b5!?} (19... b5 $5 20. c4 Qd7 21. Bd4 Qf5 $13)
20. Rhf1 Nb6 21. c4 Ng4 22. f5 (22. Bxg4 hxg4 23. Bxb6 Qxb6 24. f5 e3 25. Qe2
a5 $13) 22... Nxe3 (22... Nxh2 23. Rh1 Ng4 24. Bxg4 hxg4 25. Qf2 g3 (25... Nxc4
26. f6 $18) 26. Qf4 gxf5 27. Bd4 f6 28. Nd2 Re7 29. Qxg3 $16) 23. Qxe3 Nd7 (
23... a5 24. Nxa5 Na4 25. b4 Qe7 26. Qb3 Qe5 27. f6 Bxf6 28. Rxf6 Qxf6 29. Qxa4
Qf2 30. Qd1 $14) 24. g4 $1 {[%mdl 32] Black is strong on dark squares, but his
light ones are burning hot. Any opening of the kingside will greatly expose
black's king.} (24. fxg6 fxg6 25. g4 h4 26. Qg5 Ne5 27. Qxh4 Qb6 28. Qg5 $16)
24... Qb6 (24... h4 25. g5 gxf5 26. Rxf5 Ne5 27. Rf4 $16) (24... hxg4 25. fxg6
Nf6 26. Rg1 (26. Rxf6 Bxf6 27. gxf7+ Qxf7 28. Bxg4 Rc7 29. Rf1 Qg6 30. Be6+ $14
) 26... fxg6 27. Bxg4 Nxg4 28. Rxg4 Qf7 29. Nd2 $16) 25. Qh3 Nc5 (25... hxg4
26. Bxg4 $18) 26. fxg6 fxg6 27. gxh5 Nxb3 28. axb3 Qd4 29. Rc2 {It becomes
obvious that success favours white with his domination on light squares.} Rf8 (
29... g5 30. h6 Be5 31. Bg4 Rc7 32. Qh5 $18) 30. Rd1 Qf6 31. Bg4 1-0

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Leko +2-2=10"]
[Site "Brissago"]
[Date "2004.09.25"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "2004.09.25"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 {Kramnik wants to build up the Russian Game as an
unbreakable wall, similarly to the Ruy Lopez Berlin against Kasparov.} 3. Nxe5
d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4 Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5
11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8 14. cxd5 Qxd5 15. Bf4 Rac8 16. h3 Be4 $1 (
16... h6 17. c4 $16) (16... Bf6 17. Nh2 $1 Qa5 18. Bd2 (18. Ng4 Qxc3 19. Nxf6+
gxf6 20. Be3 Rcd8 $132 {Huzman}) 18... Rcd8 (18... Ne7 19. Ng4 (19. Bf3 Rcd8
20. Ng4 (20. Bxb7 c5 (20... c6 $5) 21. Ng4 Bxg4 22. hxg4 cxd4 23. cxd4 Qc7 $11)
20... Bxg4 21. hxg4 $1 h6 {(Shirov-Bologan, Corus Wijk aan Zee 2004 CBM 99)}
22. Bxb7 $1 {winning the P was simple!} c5 23. dxc5 $5 (23. Be4 cxd4 24. cxd4
Qb6 25. Rb1 Qxd4 26. Ba5 Qxd1 27. Rexd1 Rxd1+ 28. Rxd1 $14) 23... Qxc5 24. Qa4
$1 $16 {Huzman}) 19... Bxg4 20. Bxg4 Rcd8 $14 {and White has at least the ^^
in an opened position.}) 19. Bf3 h6 (19... Qa6 20. Ng4 Be7 21. Ne3 Bd3 22. Nd5
Bd6 23. Bf4 $36) 20. Ng4 Bxg4 21. hxg4 Bg5 22. Bxg5 hxg5 (22... Rxe1+ 23. Qxe1
Qxg5 24. Rb1 $16) 23. Qc1 $1 (23. Rxe8+ Rxe8 24. Qd3 Nd8 {1/2:1/2
Timman-Karpov, Corus Wijk aan Zee 2003} 25. g3 c6 26. Kg2 Ne6 27. Rb1 Re7 28.
c4 $14 {Kramnik-Anand, Corus Wijk aan Zee 2003 CBM 93}) 23... Rxe1+ 24. Qxe1
$14 {/\ Rb1 Anand}) 17. Be3 (17. Nd2 $5 {deserves attention.} Bxg2 18. Bg4 $1 (
18. c4 Qf5 19. Bg4 Qxf4 20. Bxc8 Rxc8 21. Kxg2 Qxd4 $44) 18... f5 (18... Bh1 $5
19. f3 f5 20. Bh5 g6 21. Kxh1 gxh5 22. Qb1 $1 $44) 19. Be2 b5 20. c4 (20. a4 a6
21. axb5 axb5 22. c4 Qxd4 23. Be3 Qd6 24. Kxg2 f4 25. Ne4 Qxd1 26. Rexd1 fxe3
27. cxb5 Nb4 $11 {Huzman}) 20... Qxd4 21. Be3 Qd6 22. Kxg2 f4 23. Ne4 Qg6+ 24.
Ng3 Rcd8 25. Qb3 Qf7 26. Bh5 g6 27. Bf3 bxc4 28. Qb5 Nb8 29. Bxa7 fxg3 30. fxg3
Rd2+ 31. Re2 c6 32. Rxd2 cxb5 33. Bd5 $14) 17... Na5 $1 {[%mdl 8] Kramnik's
strong novelty is based on a positional Q sacrifice after which Black wants to
bulid up a fortress.} (17... Rcd8 18. Nd2 (18. c4 Qf5 $132) 18... Bg6 19. Qa4
$5 {/\ Bf3} (19. Bf3 Qd7 20. Qa4 (20. Qb3 Na5 $11) 20... Ne5 $1 21. Qxd7 Nxf3+
22. Nxf3 Rxd7 23. Ne5 Rd5 24. Nxg6 fxg6 25. a4 Kf7 26. Reb1 {1/2:1/2
Leko-Bologan, Dortmund rapid 2004})) 18. c4 (18. Nd2 $5 {was the last chance
to avoid the "fortress" position.} Bf5 (18... Bxg2 $2 19. c4 Qc6 20. d5 Bxd5 (
20... Qg6 21. Bh5) 21. cxd5 Qxd5 22. Qa4 $18) (18... Bg6 19. c4 Qd8 20. Bg4 Ra8
21. Qa4 Nc6 22. Rad1 Bf6 23. d5 Ne5 24. Be2 b6) 19. Qa4 (19. c4 Qd7) 19... Bd7
20. Bf3 (20. Qc2 Bf5) 20... Bxa4 21. Bxd5 c6 22. Bf3 Bb5 $13) 18... Nxc4 $1 19.
Bxc4 Qxc4 20. Nd2 Qd5 21. Nxe4 Qxe4 22. Bg5 Qxe1+ 23. Qxe1 Bxg5 24. Qa5 (24.
Qb4 $5 b6 25. d5 Be7 26. Qa4 a5 27. Re1 Kf8 $44) 24... Bf6 $1 25. Qxa7 (25. Rd1
a6 26. d5 Be5 $44 {and it is very difficult to find a breakthrough here.})
25... c5 $1 {Even this was a home preparation of Kramnik.} 26. Qxb7 Bxd4 27.
Ra2 c4 {The o^ c4 is very strong.} 28. Re2 (28. a4 g6 (28... c3 29. Re2 $1 (29.
Rc2 Rb8 30. Qc6 Rec8 31. Qd7 (31. Qe4 Rc4 $1 32. Kh2 (32. Qf4 Re8) 32... Rxa4
33. Rxc3 Bxc3 $11) 31... Rd8 32. Qf5 g6 $11) 29... g6 (29... c2 30. Rxe8+ Rxe8
31. Qc6 $18) 30. Rxe8+ Rxe8 31. Kf1 $16) 29. a5 (29. Rc2 c3) 29... c3 30. Rc2
Rb8 31. Qd7 Re1+ 32. Kh2 Be5+ 33. f4 (33. g3 Rb2) 33... Rb2 $11) 28... Red8 $1
29. a4 (29. Rd2 Bf6 30. Rxd8+ Rxd8 31. Qc6 c3 32. a4 h6 33. a5 Rd2 34. a6 Bd4
35. a7 Bxa7 36. Qxc3 Rxf2 $11) 29... c3 30. Qe4 Bb6 $1 31. Qc2 $6 {White
pushes it too hard.} (31. Rc2 Ba5 (31... Rd2 $4 32. Rxc3 $18) 32. g3 g6 33. Kg2
Rd2 $11) 31... g6 32. Qb3 Rd6 33. Rc2 Ba5 34. g4 Rd2 35. Kg2 Rcd8 36. Rxc3 (36.
Rc1 Rb2 37. Qc4 Rdd2 38. Qc5 Bb6 39. Qxc3 Rxf2+ 40. Kg3 Rfe2 41. Qc8+ Kg7 42.
Rc3 Rg2+ 43. Kf4 Rb4+ 44. Kf3 Rf2+ 45. Kg3 Rb1 $132) 36... Bxc3 37. Qxc3 R2d5
$15 {The roles have been changed, now it is Black who can try to win.} 38. Qc6
Ra5 39. Kg3 Rda8 40. h4 R5a6 41. Qc1 Ra5 42. Qh6 Rxa4 (42... R8a6 43. Qd2 Rxa4
44. h5) 43. h5 (43. f3 R4a5 44. Qd2 (44. h5 g5 45. Qf6 h6 $17) 44... Ra2 $15)
43... R4a5 {[#] /\ g5} 44. Qf4 $4 {This blunder loses the game.} (44. hxg6 $1 {
was the only chance for a draw.} hxg6 45. g5 Rf5 46. f4 {building up the
fortress.} Ra4 47. Qh4 Kf8 (47... Rfxf4 48. Qxf4 Rxf4 49. Kxf4 Kg7 (49... Kf8
50. Ke4 Ke8 (50... Ke7 51. Ke5 $11) 51. Kd4 Kd8 52. Ke4 $11) 50. Ke5 $11) (
47... Re4 48. Kf3 $11) 48. Qh8+ $1 (48. Kf3 $2 Raxf4+ (48... Ke7 49. Qe1+ Kf8)
49. Qxf4 Ke7 $3 (49... Rxf4+ $2 50. Kxf4 Ke7 51. Ke5 $11) 50. Qxf5 gxf5 51. Ke3
Kd6 $19) 48... Ke7 49. Qb8 $1 Raxf4 (49... Rfxf4 50. Qe5+ $11) 50. Qc7+ $1 {
The black K has to retreat.} (50. Qxf4 $2 Rxf4 51. Kxf4 Kd6 $1 $19) 50... Kf8 (
50... Ke6 51. Qc6+ Ke5 52. Qc5+ $11) 51. Qxf4 Rxf4 52. Kxf4 $11 {and the P _|_
is draw!}) 44... g5 $1 45. Qf6 h6 $1 $19 {Probably this move was overseen by
Leko. The Q can be trapped on h6!} 46. f3 (46. f4 Ra3+ $1 47. Kf2 Ra2+ 48. Kf1
(48. Kf3 R8a3+ 49. Ke4 Ra4+ $19) 48... Rc8 $19) 46... R5a6 47. Qc3 Ra4 $1 {
The f3 P will soon or later fall and the P _|_ is already lost.} 48. Qc6 (48.
Qf6 R8a6) 48... R8a6 49. Qe8+ Kg7 50. Qb5 R4a5 51. Qb4 Rd5 52. Qb3 (52. f4 Rd3+
53. Kf2 Ra2+ 54. Ke1 Rh3 $19) 52... Rad6 53. Qc4 Rd3 54. Kf2 Ra3 55. Qc5 (55.
f4 Rd2+ 56. Ke1 Rh2 $19) 55... Ra2+ 56. Kg3 Rf6 $1 {/\ Ra4-f4} 57. Qb4 Raa6 58.
Kg2 Rf4 59. Qb2+ Raf6 60. Qe5 Rxf3 61. Qa1 Rf1 62. Qc3 R1f2+ 63. Kg3 R2f3+ 64.
Qxf3 Rxf3+ 65. Kxf3 Kf6 0-1

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Leko +2-2=10"]
[Site "Brissago"]
[Date "2004.09.26"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "2004.09.25"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 Re8 10. Nc3 Bb4 11. Ng5 Rf8 12. a3 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Na5 14. Ba2 c5 15.
f4 exf4 16. e5 Nd5 17. Bxd5 Qxg5 18. Bxb7 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Leko +2-2=10"]
[Site "Brissago"]
[Date "2004.09.28"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "2004.09.25"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8 14. cxd5 Qxd5
15. Bf4 Rac8 16. c4 Qe4 17. Be3 Qc2 18. d5 Na5 19. Nd4 Qxd1 20. Rexd1 Bd7 21.
Bd2 Bf6 22. Bxa5 Bxd4 23. Rxd4 Rxe2 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Leko +2-2=10"]
[Site "Brissago"]
[Date "2004.09.30"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2004.09.25"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 {In the 2-nd game Leko opted for 9...Re8} 10. a3 {This variation
is very popular these days, it's main idea is to avoid the Marshall Gambit and
play a complicated middlegame. It is hard to believe that it can yield any
substancial advantage for White, at least from theoretical point of view.} Nd7
(10... Na5) (10... Nb8 {are the other main continuations.}) 11. Nc3 Nd4 $5 {
[%mdl 4]} (11... Kh8 {looks a bit slow, it is not so easy to execute f7-f5
with a success.} 12. Be3 (12. Bd2 Nc5 13. Bd5 {White's main trumph is the d5
square.} Bf6 14. b4 Ne6 15. a4 Qd7 16. Qb1 $14 {Navara-Blatny, Kunzak 2001})
12... f5 13. exf5 Rxf5 14. Ne4 Nc5 15. Bd5 Nxe4 16. dxe4 Rf8 17. a4 {White
retains some pressure on the\<<.} Qd7 18. c3 Rae8 19. axb5 axb5 20. Qd3 $14 {
Lanka-Emms, Paris 1990} Rxf3 21. gxf3 Qxh3 22. Qxb5 $16) (11... Nc5 12. Ba2 Qd7
13. Nd5 Rae8 14. Be3 Bd8 15. c3 Kh8 16. Bxc5 dxc5 17. Ne3 {White has got some
pressure on the light squares, the black ^^ has no future.} g6 18. Bd5 $14 {
Z.Almasi-Blatny, Austria 2001}) 12. Ba2 $5 $146 (12. Nxd4 exd4 13. Ne2 c5 14.
Ng3 g6 $13 {Black has a solid position.} 15. Bh6 Re8 16. Qd2 Rc8 {/\ c4} 17.
Ba2 (17. Bd5 Bxd5 18. exd5 Nb6 $132 {>< d5}) 17... Bf6 18. Bd5 Rc7 (18... Bxd5
$5 19. exd5 Rxe1+ (19... Nb6 20. Rxe8+ Qxe8 21. Ne4) 20. Rxe1 Nb6 $132) 19. a4
b4 20. Bxb7 Rxb7 21. b3 a5 22. Rf1 Bh4 $5 23. Ne2 d5 $1 24. exd5 Nb6 25. Nf4
Bg5 $1 $11 {Grischuk-Beliavsky, Tripoli 2004}) 12... Nxf3+ (12... c5 13. Nd5
$14) 13. Qxf3 Bg5 {Exchanging the passive B favours Black in this P structure.}
(13... Kh8 $5 {/\ f5}) 14. Bxg5 Qxg5 15. Nd5 c6 (15... Kh8 $5 {There is no
need to defend the c P.} 16. Nxc7 Rac8 17. Nd5 Rxc2 $132) 16. Ne3 g6 17. Rad1 {
/\ d4 gaining space in the [+].} Rad8 18. c3 (18. d4 exd4 19. Rxd4 Ne5 $15)
18... c5 $1 {otherwise d4 comes and White gets the control in the [+].} 19. Bd5
{White wants to make profit from the weakness of >< d5.} (19. Nd5 Kg7 $132 {
/\ f5}) (19. d4 c4 $5 $13) 19... Bc8 $1 {Now the e3 N cannot get to d5, the
square is engaged by the white B.} (19... Bxd5 20. Nxd5 Kg7 (20... f5 $6 {
founders on tactics:} 21. Nc7 $1 Qe7 22. exf5 $16) 21. d4 Nf6 $14) 20. b4 Nb6
21. c4 $5 {White wants to create some weaknesses on the <<.} (21. Bb3 Be6 $11)
21... Nxd5 (21... Kg7 $5) 22. Nxd5 Be6 (22... f5 23. bxc5 dxc5 24. cxb5 axb5
25. Rc1 $1 $14 {>< c5}) 23. bxc5 dxc5 24. Rb1 Rb8 $1 (24... Bxd5 $6 25. exd5 {
Now the protected o^ is strong.} Rb8 26. Qe4 $14 (26. Rb2 $14)) (24... f5 $6 {
is again met by} 25. Nc7 $1 (25. Rbc1 Rd7 $36) 25... Bc8 26. cxb5 (26. exf5
Bxf5 27. Rxe5 Qd2 $132) 26... axb5 27. Qe3 $5 (27. Rxb5 {allows Black's
counterplay after} fxe4 28. Qxe4 Bxh3 29. Re3 Rd4 30. Qc6 e4 31. Rxh3 Qc1+ 32.
Kh2 Qf4+ 33. Rg3 Qh6+ $11) 27... Qxe3 (27... f4 28. Qf3) 28. Rxe3 f4 29. Ree1
$1 Rxd3 30. Rxb5 $14 {with somewhat better _|_ for White.}) 25. cxb5 (25. Nc7
bxc4 26. Rxb8 (26. Nxe6 $2 Rxb1 $1 (26... fxe6 27. Rxb8 Rxb8 28. dxc4 $14) 27.
Rxb1 fxe6 $15) 26... Rxb8 27. Nxe6 fxe6 28. dxc4 {and despite of Black's
doubled pawns the _|_ is fairly drawish.}) 25... Bxd5 $6 {This is inaccurate.}
(25... axb5 $142 26. Nc7 (26. Rec1 Rfc8 $11) 26... b4 $5 $132 (26... Rb7 27.
Nxb5 (27. Nxe6 fxe6 28. Qe2 Qf4 $11) 27... Rfb8 28. a4 (28. Nc3 $2 Rxb1 29.
Nxb1 Rb3 $15) 28... Bd7 $11)) 26. exd5 axb5 27. d6 $1 (27. Qe4 Rfd8 (27... Rfe8
28. d6) 28. Rb3 (28. Qxe5 Qxe5 29. Rxe5 Rd6 $11) 28... b4 29. axb4 cxb4 30.
Qxe5 Qxe5 31. Rxe5 f6 $1 (31... Kf8 32. Kf1) (31... Rb5 32. Kf1 Rbxd5 33. Rxd5
Rxd5 34. Ke2 Re5+ (34... Rb5 35. d4 $16) 35. Kd2 $14) 32. Re7 (32. Re4 Rxd5)
32... Rxd5 $11) 27... b4 $1 {Black has to create a o^ as well.} 28. a4 (28. Rb3
$5 Rfd8 (28... bxa3 29. Rxa3 Rfd8 30. Ra7 $14) 29. Qd5 bxa3 (29... Qf6 30. Qxc5
$14) 30. Rxa3 Rb6 31. Qxc5 Rbxd6 32. Rxe5 $14) (28. axb4 cxb4 29. Qd5 Qf6 30.
Rxe5 Rfd8 31. Qc5 Rbc8 $1 $11) 28... Rfd8 29. Qd5 Qf6 30. Qxc5 (30. Rxe5 Rxd6 (
30... b3 31. Qxc5) 31. Qxc5 Rxd3 32. Rxb4 Qxe5 33. Qxe5 Rxb4 $11) 30... Qxd6 $1
{Black gives up the P but liquidates for a drawish R _|_.} 31. Qxd6 (31. Rxe5
Qxc5 (31... Qxd3 32. Rxb4) 32. Rxc5 Rxd3 (32... Ra8 33. Rxb4 $14) 33. Rb5 Ra8
34. R5xb4 Ra3 35. Rb8+ Rxb8 36. Rxb8+ Kg7 {is a theoretically drawish _|_,
although in practice it can be difficult.}) 31... Rxd6 32. Rxe5 b3 $1 (32...
Rxd3 33. Rb5 Ra8 34. R5xb4 Ra3 35. Rb8+ Rxb8 36. Rxb8+ Kg7 {leads again to the
well-known R _|_.}) 33. Rb5 Ra8 $1 34. R1xb3 Rxa4 35. Rb6 Rd7 {The d P is not
a remote o^ so the _|_ is theoretically drawn.} 36. Rf6 (36. Rb7 Ra1+ (36...
Rxb7 $2 37. Rxb7 Ra1+ 38. Kh2 Kg7 39. Kg3 Ra3 40. Rd7 $16) 37. Kh2 Rd5 $1 38.
Re7 Rd1 $11) 36... Ra1+ 37. Kh2 Rd1 38. Rf3 h5 39. h4 Rd2 40. g3 Kg7 41. Kg2
Rd1 42. Re3 Kh7 43. Kf3 Rd2 {and White cannot improve his position.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Leko +2-2=10"]
[Site "Brissago"]
[Date "2004.10.02"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "137"]
[EventDate "2004.09.25"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 $1 {This is the first time that Leko plays 1.d4 and c4 in his life! His
preparation for the match deserves credit.} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7
5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. a3 Nc6 11. Bd3
Bb6 12. O-O Bg4 13. h3 Bh5 14. b4 Re8 15. Rc1 a6 $142 {This is the main line
these days.} (15... d4 $6 16. g4 Bg6 17. Bxg6 hxg6 18. b5 $1 Ne7 (18... dxe3 $2
{The tactical skirmish leads to White's favour:} 19. bxc6 e2 20. Qxd8 exf1=Q+
21. Kxf1 Raxd8 22. cxb7 a6 (22... f6 $2 23. Rb1 $1 {/\a4-a5} g5 24. Bg3 Rd7 (
24... Rb8 25. Bxb8 Rxb8 26. a4 Kf7 27. Rb5 $18) 25. b8=Q Rxb8 26. Bxb8 $18 {
Lima-Milos, Sao Paulo 1993 CBM 36}) 23. Nd2 $1 $16 {/\ Nc4 Dautov-P.Nielsen,
GER-chT 2000}) 19. exd4 (19. Nxd4 Nd5 20. Qf3 $5 $14 {holding the extra P.} (
20. Ne2 $2 {runs into the tactical blow} g5 21. Bg3 Nxe3 $1 {and Black has
solved all of his problems.} 22. Qxd8 Raxd8 23. Rfe1 (23. fxe3 $6 Rxe3 $36)
23... Nd5 $11 {Dreev-Geller, Helsinki 1992})) 19... Qd5 20. a4 (20. Qd3) 20...
a6 21. Re1 $14 {and although Black successfully blockades the d o^, it is
still an extra one, Gagunashvili-Sammalvuo, Plovdiv 2003.}) (15... a5 $6 16. g4
Bg6 17. Bxg6 hxg6 18. b5 Ne7 (18... Na7 19. Qd3 Qd7 20. Rfd1 {and the isolated
P is in a big worry.} Rad8 21. Bg5 f6 22. Qxg6 $1 Qe6 23. Bf4 Nxb5 24. Rb1 $16
{Lputian-Geller, New York op 1990}) 19. Be5 Qd7 20. Bd4 Bxd4 21. Nxd4 {White
has blockaded the isolani, and has a small but durable advantage.} Nc8 22. Qc2
Re7 23. Qc5 Qd8 24. Rfd1 $14 {Tunik-Kharitonov, Elista 1995}) 16. Bxa6 $1 {
This variation leads to a slightly better _|_.} (16. g4 Bg6 17. Bxg6 hxg6 18.
Qd3 (18. Rc3 d4 19. Rd3 Qd5 20. exd4 Re4 $44 {and Black has a good
compensation because of the weakened light squares, Van Wely-Kasparov, Wijk
aan Zee 2001.}) 18... d4 19. e4 Bc7 (19... Qf6 20. Bg3 Rac8 21. Rfe1 {The d4
o^ is blockaded by the Q, but still it is a good blockade.} Ba7 22. Kg2 Bb8 23.
Bxb8 Rxb8 24. Rc5 Rbd8 25. e5 Qe7 26. e6 $14 {Timoshenko-Vanderstricht, Metz
op 2002}) 20. Bxc7 Qxc7 21. Rfe1 Qf4 22. Kg2 Rad8 (22... Re7 23. Rc2 Rae8 24.
Rce2 Qf6 $11 (24... Kh8 $2 {simply loses a P after} 25. Nxd4 Ne5 26. Qe3 Qxe3
27. Rxe3 Nc4 28. Rc3 b5 29. f3 $16 {Gyimesi-Van den Doel, Tel Aviv 2001})) 23.
Rc2 Kh7 24. Qd2 $1 {White still has some slight edge in the _|_ because of the
blockade of the o^ d4.} Qxd2 (24... Qf6 25. Ng5+ Kg8 26. f4 $14) 25. Nxd2 g5 $1
26. Rc5 f6 27. h4 {(Tregubov-San Segundo, Ohrid 2001 CBM 84)} gxh4 $1 28. Rh5+
Kg6 29. Rxh4 d3 30. f4 Nd4 $11 {Dautov}) (16. Rc2 d4 17. e4 (17. g4 Bg6 18.
Bxg6 hxg6 19. Nxd4 Bxd4 20. exd4 Qxd4 $11 {is completely equal,
Gyimesi-Lechtynsky, Pardubice op 2002.}) 17... Bc7 18. Bxc7 Qxc7 19. Rc5 Bxf3
20. Qxf3 Qe7 $11) 16... Rxa6 17. b5 Rxa3 18. bxc6 bxc6 (18... Bxf3 19. Qxf3 (
19. gxf3 $6 bxc6 20. Rxc6 Re6 21. Qc1 Rxc6 22. Qxc6 Ra8 23. Rb1 Ba5 24. Rd1 Rc8
25. Qxd5 Bc7 $11) 19... bxc6 20. Rxc6 Re6 21. Rxe6 fxe6 22. Be5 $14) 19. Rxc6
Ra7 $1 {Black has to sacrifice the d5 P.} (19... Re6 $2 20. Rxe6 $1 (20. Qc1 $5
Rxc6 (20... Ra8 $2 21. Rxe6 fxe6 22. Qc6 Bf7 23. Ng5 $16) 21. Qxc6 Bxf3 22.
gxf3 Ra8 (22... h6 23. Rb1 Ba7 24. Rb5 (24. Rb7 $14) 24... d4 25. Rd5 $36) 23.
Rb1 Ba5 24. Rb5 $1 (24. Rd1 Rc8 25. Qxd5 Bc7 $1 26. Qb3 (26. Qxd8+ $2 Rxd8 27.
Rxd8+ Bxd8 $11) 26... Qe8 27. Bg3 Bxg3 28. fxg3 g6 $14 {Dreev-Kir.Georgiev,
Sarajevo 2001 CBM 84}) 24... Rc8 (24... d4 $4 25. Rd5 Qf8 26. Bd6 $18) 25. Qxd5
{and White has finally won the d P reaching the critical _|_.} Bc7 26. Qxd8+
Bxd8 $14 {Dautov}) 20... fxe6 21. Qc1 Ra6 (21... Qa8 $2 {founders on} 22. Ng5
$1 $16 {Atalik} (22. Qb2 Bxf3 23. Qxb6 Ra6 24. Qc7 Be4 25. Be5 Ra7 {and Black
has parried all the threats.} 26. Qb6 Ra6 27. Qb5 Ra7 28. Rc1 h6 $11 {
Atalik-Short, Ohrid 2001})) 22. Qc6 Qe8 23. Rc1 Qxc6 24. Rxc6 Bxf3 25. gxf3 d4
26. e4 $1 $16 {Atalik}) 20. Rd6 $1 (20. Qb3 {gives Black an easier play.} Bxf3
21. gxf3 (21. Rxb6 Be2 22. Rb8 Qd7 23. Rb1 Bc4 24. Rxe8+ Qxe8 25. Qb8 Ra8 $11)
21... Bc7 22. Rxc7 Rxc7 23. Bxc7 Qxc7 24. Qxd5 Qe5 25. Rd1 Qxd5 26. Rxd5 g6 {
with a theoretically drawish R _|_ 4 versus 3 on the same flank,
Malakhatko-Pigusov, Ohrid 2001.}) 20... Rd7 21. Qxd5 Rxd6 $1 (21... Bxf3 22.
gxf3 Rxd6 23. Qxd6 Qxd6 24. Bxd6 $14) 22. Qxd6 Qxd6 23. Bxd6 Bxf3 {Black gives
up the ^^ in order to worsen White's P formation.} (23... Rd8 {looks also
possible defending the position with the ^^.} 24. Bf4 (24. Bg3 Bc5 25. Rc1 Bf8
26. Nd4 Bg6 27. Rc7 h6 28. h4 Re8 29. Nb5 Rb8 30. Nc3 Re8 31. Kh2 Bf5 32. Nb5
Rc8 33. Ra7 Bc5 $14 {Karpov-Anand, Moscow rapid 2002 CBM 91}) 24... Bg6 25. Rc1
Be4 26. Rc4 Bd5 27. Rb4 Bc5 28. Rb5 Rc8 29. Nd2 Be6 30. Ne4 Bf8 31. Bd6 $1 {
and White has exchanged the ^^, after which his advantage became real.} f5 32.
Bxf8 fxe4 33. Bc5 $16 {Istratescu-Malakhatko, Patras op 2002}) 24. gxf3 Bd8 {
/\ Bf6 reaching the long /^.} 25. Rb1 Bf6 {[%mdl 4096]} 26. Kg2 $14 {Kramnik
believed his technique will be enough to hold this position, but his nerves
were not strong enough...By the way this is the first new move in the game!} (
26. Rb5 g6 27. f4 Rd8 28. Bb4 h5 29. Kg2 Rd1 30. Ba5 Kg7 31. f5 gxf5 32. Rxf5
Kg6 33. e4 Bd8 34. Bc3 Rd3 35. Be5 Bh4 36. Bf4 $14 {Gritsak-Kruppa, UKR-chT
Alushta 2002}) 26... g6 27. f4 Kg7 28. Rb7 Re6 29. Rd7 Re8 30. Ra7 (30. Kf3 Rd8
) 30... Re6 31. Bc5 Rc6 32. Ra5 Bc3 33. Rb5 Ra6 $6 (33... Rc8 {was easier.})
34. Rb3 $1 {Leko's _|_ technique is excellent, as usual.} Bf6 35. Rb8 $1 (35.
e4 Rc6) 35... h5 (35... Bc3 36. Bf8+ Kf6 37. e4 $16) 36. Rb5 Bc3 (36... Ra8)
37. Rb3 Bf6 38. e4 Ra5 (38... Rc6) 39. Be3 Ra4 (39... Ra8 40. e5 Be7 41. Rb7
Kf8 42. Kf3 $16 {/\ f5,Kf4}) 40. e5 Be7 41. Rb7 Kf8 42. Rb8+ Kg7 43. Kf3 Rc4
44. Ke2 Ra4 45. Kd3 Bh4 46. Bd4 $1 Ra3+ 47. Kc2 Ra2+ 48. Kd3 Ra3+ 49. Kc4 Ra4+
50. Kd5 Ra5+ 51. Kc6 Ra4 52. Kc5 Be7+ 53. Kd5 Ra5+ 54. Ke4 Ra4 55. Rc8 {
Finally all the white pieces have reached their best position. Now comes the
breakthrough.} Bh4 56. e6+ Bf6 {[#]} (56... Rxd4+ 57. Kxd4 Bxf2+ 58. Ke5 fxe6
59. Kxe6 Bd4 60. f5 $18) 57. e7 $1 Rxd4+ 58. Ke3 Bxe7 (58... Rd1 $4 59. e8=N+
$18) 59. Kxd4 {White has won the exchange by a brilliant _|_ play, but the
position is still not winning.} Bh4 $6 {The is the first step on the road for
decline.} (59... f5 $1 {was the clear-cut solution and Black can build up an
unbreakable wall.} 60. Rc7 (60. Ke5 Bf6+ 61. Ke6 Bb2 $11) 60... Kf6 $1 ({
but not} 60... Kf7 $2 61. Ke5 $1 Kf8 62. Ke6 $18) 61. Rc6+ (61. Kd5 Bf8 62. f3
Be7 63. Rc6+ (63. Ra7 Bb4) (63. Rb7 Bf8) 63... Kf7 64. Ke5 Bd8 $11) (61. Rxe7
Kxe7 62. h4 (62. Ke5 h4) 62... Kd6 63. f3 Ke6 64. Kc5 Ke7 65. Kc6 Ke6) 61...
Kf7 62. Ke5 Bd8 (62... Bf8 $4 63. Rf6+ Kg7 64. Rxf8 $1 $18) 63. f3 (63. Rd6 Bc7
$1 (63... Be7 64. Rd7 Kf8 65. Rxe7 Kxe7 66. h4 $1 Kf7 67. Kd6 Kf6 68. Kd7 Kf7
69. f3 $18) 64. Kd5 (64. h4 $4 Ke7) 64... Bxd6 65. Kxd6 h4 $1 66. Kd7 Kf6 $11 {
/\ g5}) 63... h4 (63... Ba5 $11 {- 59...Bh4}) 64. Kd6 Be7+ 65. Kd7 (65. Ke5 Bd8
$11) 65... Bf6 $11) 60. f3 f5 $1 (60... Bf6+ $2 61. Kd5 Bb2 62. Rc2 Ba1 63. f5
$1 gxf5 64. f4 $1 Kf6 65. Ra2 Bc3 66. Kc4 Be1 67. Kd4 Kg6 68. Rg2+ Kf6 69. Rc2
Kg6 70. Ke5 $18) 61. Rc7+ Kf6 (61... Kf8 $2 62. Ke5 $1 (62. Kd5 Bf6 63. Ke6 Bb2
) 62... Kg8 (62... Be7 63. Ke6) 63. Ke6 Kf8 64. Rc8+ Kg7 65. Re8 $1 $18) 62.
Kd5 Bg3 $4 {This is the losing move!} (62... Be1 $1 {was still enough for a
draw, because the B can reach the long /^ again.} 63. Rc6+ Kf7 64. Ke5 Ba5 $1
65. Rf6+ (65. Rc8 Bb6) 65... Kg7 66. Ke6 Bc3 $1 (66... Bd8 67. Rf7+ Kg8 68. Rd7
Bh4) 67. Rf7+ Kg8 68. Rd7 (68. Ke7 Bb2 $11) (68. h4 Bd4 69. Rd7 Bc3 $11 (69...
Bg7 $4 70. Rxg7+ $1 $18)) 68... Bb2 $11) 63. Rc6+ $18 Kg7 64. Ke5 h4 (64... Bh4
65. Ke6 $18) 65. Rc7+ Kh6 66. Rc4 $1 Kg7 67. Ke6 Bh2 68. Rc7+ Kh6 69. Kf7 1-0

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Leko +2-2=10"]
[Site "Brissago"]
[Date "2004.10.03"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "2004.09.25"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. Nbd2 Nc6 13. c3 Qd7 14. Nf1 d5 15. Bg5
dxe4 16. dxe4 c4 17. Ne3 Rfd8 18. Nf5 Qe6 19. Qe2 Bf8 20. Bb1 h6 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Leko +2-2=10"]
[Site "Brissago"]
[Date "2004.10.05"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D16"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Prie,E"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2004.09.25"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 {Un pion en d5 de nouveau mais ce sera une Slave ! le
premier amour de Kramnik.... Après tout, Leko ne peut pas s'être "improvisé"
complet joueur de 1.d4 du jour au lendemain !} 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 e6
{Une vieille variante qui, au vu des parties dans ma base, avec un score très
flatteur en faveur des Noirs, mériterait bien le nom de "défense vietnamienne".
..ou d'un de leurs entraîneurs, probablement d'origine soviétique !} 6. e3 c5 {
Une séquence qui m'évoque fortement deux lignes de la Slave "Caméléon" : 4...
a6 5.a4 e6 6.e3 (6.Fg5 est plus courant mais 6...a5 ! Bacrot) c5! 7.Cc3 Cc6
sans cette fois prendre en c4 (ou d4) où les Blancs accepteraient volontiers
de rendre leur temps d'avance а condition de pouvoir remettre leur pion a sur
sa case de départ ! Et encore 4...a6 5.g3 dxc4 6.a4 e6 7.Fg2 c5!} 7. Bxc4 {
Ici les Noirs ont un temps de moins par rapport а un Gambit Dame accepté : le
coup a2-a4 des Blancs, obligatoire dans la Slave classique pour reprendre le
pion c4 mais cédant la case b4. Ce qui pourrait se justifier si les Noirs
avaient joué eux-mêmes a7-a6 par l'espoir de profiter du "trou" en b6, en
poussant a4-a5, mais, précisément, ce n'est pas le cas...et peut а nouveau
imaginer, ici, que "les Blancs accepteraient volontiers de rendre leur temps
d'avance а condition de pouvoir remettre leur pion a sur sa case de départ !"}
Nc6 8. O-O cxd4 9. exd4 Be7 10. Be3 O-O 11. Ne5 Nb4 12. a5 Bd7 $1 13. d5 exd5
14. Nxd5 Nbxd5 15. Bxd5 Nxd5 16. Qxd5 Bc8 $1 17. Rfd1 Qxd5 18. Rxd5 Be6 19. Rb5
Bf6 20. Nf3 b6 $1 {Et enfin révélée la profondeur de la compréhension et de la
préparation de Kramnik.} 21. axb6 (21. axb6 axb6 22. Re1 (22. Rxa8 Rxa8 23. h3
Bd8 24. Bxb6 $2 Rb8) 22... Rfb8 23. Rxb6 Rxb6 24. Bxb6 Bxb2 {est archi-Nulle})
1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Leko +2-2=10"]
[Site "Brissago"]
[Date "2004.10.07"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C89"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[Annotator "Knaak,R"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2004.09.25"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Auch wenn diese Partie nicht glücklich für Kramnik verlief - das prinzipielle
Zulassen des Marshall-Angriffs erwies sich später als glückliche Wahl, denn
Leko wich dem Klassischen Spanier fortan aus und stand jeweils nach der
Eröffnung unter Druck.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6.
Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d4 Bd6
13. Re1 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3 15. Re4 g5 16. Qf1 $5 {Dies ist zwar kein neuer Zug,
aber in den Kreisen der Spitzengroßmeister kam er so gut wie nicht vor.} Qh5 {
Auch der Übergang ins Endspiel ist spielbar, doch vermutlich kann Weiß einen
kleinen Vorteil behaupten.} 17. Nd2 Bf5 18. f3 {Dieser Zug ist mehr dazu da
der Dame ein Feld auf f2 zu verschaffen als den Turm dauerhaft auf e4 zu
etablieren. Im Moment ist die Annahme des Qualitätsopfers praktisch
ausgeschlossen. Nach} Nf6 (18... Bxe4 $2 19. fxe4 Nb6 20. e5 {nebst Ne4 steht
Weiß prächtig.}) 19. Re1 (19. a4 $5 {(Shipov)}) 19... Rae8 20. Rxe8 Rxe8 {
Wie es scheint hat sich diese Stellung mit einer gewissen Logik nach 16.Qf1
ergeben. Allerdings war Lekos Zeit bereits recht knapp, während Kramnik noch
in der Vorbereitung war.} 21. a4 $5 (21. Bd1 Qg6 22. Be2 $13) 21... Qg6 $1 {
Weiß hat nun ein Problem: er möchte Ne4 spielen, aber vorher auf b5 tauschen -
Schwarz macht da jedoch nicht mit.} 22. axb5 {Kramnik ließ hinterher verlauten,
dass es keine gründliche Überprüfung von 22.axb5 gab und er am Brett
entscheiden wollte, ob der Zug okay ist. Wegen Lekos bereits sehr knapper
Bedenkzeit entschied Kramnik das Risiko einzugehen, ohne die Varianten
gründlich durchzurechnen.} ({Spielt Weiß gleich} 22. Ne4 Nxe4 23. fxe4 Bxe4 24.
Bxg5 $1 {so folgt} (24. axb5 $2 Bd3 $1) 24... bxa4 $1 {und Weiß kann nicht
zurückschlagen. Nach} 25. Bc4 Bd5 {hat Weiß zwar die bessere Bauernstruktur,
doch sein König steht zu offen.}) 22... Bd3 23. Qf2 $2 ({Weiß musste hier mit} 
23. Qd1 Be2 24. Qe1 Bd3 25. Qd1 {ein Remis durch Zugwiederholung akzeptieren.})
23... Re2 24. Qxe2 ({Auch} 24. bxa6 {reichte nicht mehr zum Remis:} Rxf2 25.
Kxf2 Qh5 26. Kg1 Bxg3 $1 27. hxg3 Qh3 28. a7 Qxg3+ 29. Kh1 g4 $1 30. a8=Q+ Kg7
31. Qb7 Qe1+ 32. Kg2 gxf3+ 33. Nxf3 Qf1+ 34. Kg3 Nh5+ 35. Kh4 Qh1+ 36. Kg4 Qg2+
37. Kxh5 Qh3+ 38. Nh4 Be2+ 39. Kg5 Qg4#) 24... Bxe2 25. bxa6 Qd3 $3 26. Kf2 (
26. a7 Qe3+ 27. Kg2 Bxf3+ $1 28. Nxf3 Qe2+ 29. Kg1 Ng4 30. a8=Q+ Kg7 31. Qxc6 (
31. Bxg5 Qf2+ 32. Kh1 Qxf3+ 33. Kg1 Qf2+ 34. Kh1 Qxh2#) 31... Qf2+ 32. Kh1 Qf1+
33. Ng1 Nf2#) 26... Bxf3 $1 27. Nxf3 Ne4+ 28. Ke1 Nxc3 $1 {Trotz knapper
Bedenkzeit findet Leko die starken Züge.} 29. bxc3 Qxc3+ 30. Kf2 Qxa1 31. a7 $6
({Mit} 31. Bxg5 {hätte Weiß noch kämpfen können.} Qxa6 32. Bd1 $17) 31... h6
32. h4 g4 0-1

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Leko +2-2=10"]
[Site "Brissago"]
[Date "2004.10.09"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "32"]
[EventDate "2004.09.25"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 Bb7 8. Bg2
d5 9. cxd5 exd5 10. O-O O-O 11. Bf4 Na6 12. Qc2 Re8 13. Rfd1 c6 14. Ne5 h6 15.
a3 Nc7 16. e4 Ne6 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Leko +2-2=10"]
[Site "Brissago"]
[Date "2004.10.10"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[Annotator "Knaak,R"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2004.09.25"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 6. c3 b5 7. Bc2 d5 8. exd5
{Ich schätze, dass dieser Zug als Überraschung für eine Partie gut war, aber
keinen neuen Trend setzen wird.} (8. d4 {ist üblich und wird wohl die
Hauptvariante bleiben.}) 8... Qxd5 9. a4 $146 b4 10. d4 exd4 11. Bb3 Qd8 {
Am sichersten.} (11... Qd6 12. Re1+ Kf8 $13) 12. Re1+ Be7 13. Nxd4 (13. cxd4
$11) 13... Nxd4 14. Qxd4 Qxd4 15. cxd4 {Das Endspiel hat sich mehr oder
weniger forciert ergeben; Schwarz hat zwar noch Entwicklungsprobleme, doch er
sollte diese lösen können und damit ausgleichen.} Bb7 16. Bg5 h6 $2 (16... Rd8
{ist naheliegend. Kramnik war ja offensichtlich vertraut mit diesem Endspiel;
was hatte er hier geplant?} 17. Nd2 Rxd4 18. Rac1 Kd8 19. Be3 Rd7 20. Bxf7 Bd5
21. Bxd5 Nxd5 22. Ne4 (22. Nc4 $5) 22... Kc8 {Beide Springer stehen hier
hervorragend; ob Weiß ein kleines Plus hat?}) 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Nd2 Rg8 19. g3
Rd8 20. Rac1 $16 Rd7 {Weiß steht klar besser und verfügt über mehrere
verheißungsvolle Fortsetzungen. Neben dem Partiezug und den beiden Zügen, die
ich hier analysiere kommen auch 21.h4 und 21.f4 gut in Frage. Denn in der
Partie konnte Leko seinen schlechten Turm g8 über g5 aktivieren.} 21. Nc4 $2 {
Dieser Zug vergibt praktisch den gesamten Vorteil, weil nun der Rg8 ins Spiel
gelangt.} (21. a5 Kd8 22. Ba4 Rxd4 23. Nb3 $1 (23. Rxe7 Kxe7 24. Nb3 Rd7 25.
Re1+ Kd8 26. Bxd7 Kxd7 27. Nc5+ Kc6 $1 (27... Kc8 $6) 28. Rc1 Ba8 29. Nxa6+ Kb5
30. Nxc7+ Ka4 $13) 23... Re4 24. Red1+ Kc8 25. Rd7 Bd8 26. Nc5 $16) (21. Bc4
Rxd4 22. Nb3 Re4 23. Na5 (23. Rxe4 Bxe4 24. Bxa6 Kd7 25. Rd1+ Kc6 26. Bc4 $16)
23... Rxe1+ 24. Rxe1 $16) (21. h4 $5) (21. f4 $5) 21... Rg5 $1 22. Ne3 (22. f4
Rgd5 23. Bc2 Rxd4 24. Bf5 {Weiß gewinnt eine Qualität, steht aber wohl nicht
besser.}) 22... Kf8 23. h4 Ra5 24. d5 $6 ({Fritz würde} 24. Bd1 {spielen, aber
nach} Bd5 $1 25. Nxd5 (25. Bg4 Be6 26. Bxe6 fxe6 27. Rc6 Rd6 28. Rxc7 Rxd4)
25... Raxd5 26. Be2 a5 27. Bb5 R7d6 28. Rxc7 Bd8 $14 {/= sollte Schwarz keine
große Mühe haben, um das Remis zu sichern.}) 24... Rc5 $11 25. Rcd1 c6 26. Nf5
cxd5 27. Rd4 Rdc7 28. Red1 Rc1 29. Bxd5 Rxd1+ 30. Rxd1 Bc8 31. Be4 Bxf5 32.
Bxf5 b3 33. Rd3 Rc4 34. Bd7 Rb4 35. Bc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Leko +2-2=10"]
[Site "Brissago"]
[Date "2004.10.12"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "34"]
[EventDate "2004.09.25"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qa4 Bb7 6. Bg2 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. O-O
O-O 9. Nc3 Be7 10. Bf4 a6 11. Rfd1 d6 12. Qc2 Qc7 13. Rac1 Rd8 14. Qd2 Nh5 15.
Bg5 Nf6 16. Bf4 Nh5 17. Bg5 Nf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Leko +2-2=10"]
[Site "Brissago"]
[Date "2004.10.14"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[Annotator "Prie,E"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2004.09.25"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 {Après avoir "frisé la correctionnelle" sur une variante
d'Archangelsk dans la 10ème, heureusement conclue par une Nulle en 35 coups,
le hongrois a senti qu'il était temps de changer de 1er coup contre le pion
Roi...} 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5
Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bf4 Qa5+ 12. Bd2 Qc7 13. O-O-O Ngf6 14. Ne4
O-O-O 15. g3 Nxe4 16. Qxe4 Bd6 17. Kb1 Rhe8 (17... Nf6 {Retomberait dans la
grande variante archi-analysée dont les finales sont réputées difficiles pour
les Noirs et où il faut aller chercher bien après le 20ème coup pour trouver
quelque chose de nouveau.} 18. Qe2 Rhe8 19. c4 c5 20. Bc3 (20. dxc5 Qxc5 21.
Be3 Qf5+ 22. Ka1 Bb8 23. Nd4 Qg4 24. Qc2 Qe4 $1 $11 {Agopov,M-Grischuk,A EU-Ch
Clubs Izmir 2004 0-1 (43)}) 20... Qc6 21. Rh4 Rd7 {Fressinet,L-Chabanon,J Top
16 Belfort 2004 1/2 (38)}) 18. Qh7 {Une Nouveauté !} (18. Qe2 f5 19. Bc1 Nf6
20. Rd3 Ng4 21. a3 Qf7 22. Bf4 Qc7 23. Bxd6 Rxd6 24. Rhd1 Qf7 25. Ne5 Qxh5 26.
c4 $44 {Grischuk,A-Belov,V ACP Blitz 2004 1/2 (51)}) 18... Rg8 19. c4 c5 20. d5
Nf6 21. Qc2 exd5 22. cxd5 Qd7 (22... Nxd5 $2 23. Qf5+ Kb8 24. Qxd5) 23. Bc3 {
Une position typiquement d'avantage "kramnikien" -fort pion passé, espace,
meilleure finale et meilleures pièces- que Leko va pourtant défendre avec
maestria...} Rde8 24. Bxf6 gxf6 25. Qd3 f5 26. Nd2 b5 $1 27. Rhe1 Kb8 28. Qc3
Rxe1 29. Rxe1 c4 30. Nf3 f4 $1 {jusqu'à créer un dangereux contre-jeu.} 31. g4
$1 Bc7 $1 (31... Rxg4 32. Qh8+ Kb7 33. Qxh6 Qf5+ 34. Kc1 Qxd5 $2 35. Rd1 Qxf3
36. Qxd6 Rg8 37. h6 {est très dangereux, tout comme}) (31... Qxg4 32. Qf6 Qd7
33. Nd4) 32. Qd4 Qxg4 33. Qe4 $2 (33. Qc5 $1 Qd7 (33... Qxf3 34. Re8+ Rxe8 (
34... Bd8 $2 35. Qxb5+ Ka8 36. Qc6+ Kb8 37. Qd6+ Kb7 (37... Kc8 38. Qxd8+) 38.
Qd7+ Ka6 (38... Bc7 39. Qc6#) (38... Kb6 39. Qxd8+) 39. Qc8+ Kb5 40. Qc6+ Ka5
41. Qc5+ Ka6 42. Qxc4+ Kb7 43. Qc6+ Kb8 44. Rxg8 Qd1+ 45. Qc1 $18) 35. Qxb5+
Bb6 36. Qxe8+ Kb7 37. Qc6+ Ka6 38. Qa4+ Ba5 39. Qc6+)) 33... Qxh5 34. Nd4 Qg6
$1 {Suivi d'une proposition de Nulle tout а fait généreuse, avec 2 pions de
plus, bien sûr immédiatement acceptée. Est-ce le fait d'avoir été sous
pression toute cette partie ? De ne pas s'être rendu compte, comme souvent
dans ces cas là que la situarion s'était retournée ? Un problème de temps ?
Une question psychologique ? A 1 Nulle du titre, la Nulle de la prochaine
partie, avec les Blancs, étant, déjà, comme assurée dans sa tête ? Difficile а
dire. Toujours est-il qu'après le forcé} (34... Qg6 35. Nf5 {Seul coup pour
éviter l'échange de Dames, et bien que rien ne soit encore très clair, il
pouvait certainement "forcer son talent" pour tenter le KO.} (35. Nxb5 $2 Re8)
(35. Qxg6 fxg6 36. Nxb5 Bb6 37. d6 Bxf2)) 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Leko +2-2=10"]
[Site "Brissago"]
[Date "2004.10.16"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A73"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Kapengut"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2004.09.25"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Hazai} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 {Hazai: 'Kramnik doesn't want to leave
the decision for the last game. The Benoni is a rare guest in top-level chess,
but it may lead to a sharp tactical battle.'} 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6
7. Nd2 {Leko never played the Modern Benoni with White before. I bet the idea
of his playing 7.Nd2 belonged to his coach Arshak Petrosian who used this
system long ago. I couldn't recollect this opening occurred at the World
Championship Matches after Botvinnik-Tal. By the way, twenty years ago, the
then World Champion Anatoly Karpov invited me to assist him in preparing the
Modern Benoni against Garry Kasparov, but his young opponent didn't risk
playing it.} Bg7 8. e4 O-O 9. Be2 Na6 {Very often Black played immediately 9...
Ne8 with the idea f7-f5. After the last move, Kramnik didn't define his own
plan keeping the illusion about choosing the main line of the seventies after
10.0-0 Nc7 11.a4 Re8.} 10. O-O Ne8 {Hazai: '/\ f5 eliminating White's central
P, after which it is not easy to find a clear-cut plan for White, there is no
breakthrough by e4-e5.'} 11. Nc4 Nac7 ({The immediate} 11... f5 $5 {was
possible.}) 12. a4 f5 {'!' Hazai. This position was popular in the 80-90 years.
However, in last time it was played rare enough. The author of this comments
saw as his basic task to make the current condition of it clearly for readers
of CBM. Hazai: 'The champion's choice of opening was very clever.'} ({Black
would trade the dangerous knight after} 12... b6 {but Kramnik choose a more
aggressive continuation.}) 13. exf5 $5 {Hazai: 'Kramnik has never played
Benoni with Black, but for Leko the entire opening structure is new since he
adopted 1.d4 right for the Wch match.'} (13. f3 Qe7 14. Bf4 g5 15. Bg3 f4 16.
Bf2 b6 17. Re1 Ba6 18. e5 Bxc4 19. exd6 Nxd6 20. Bxc4 Qd7 21. Ba2 Rae8 22. Qd3
Kh8 23. Rxe8 Rxe8 24. Rd1 $132 {Kramnik,V-Ivanchuk,V/Belgrade 1995}) ({Hazai:
The positional P sacrifice} 13. Bf4 {has been played before and this position
has been reached by transposition  Hazai: 'gave more chances for an advantage,
but it also looks riskier.'} g5 $5 (13... fxe4 14. Qd2 Qf6 (14... Bf5 {(Hazai)
provoking the following "weakening move"} 15. g4 Bc8 (15... e3 16. fxe3 Bxc3
17. bxc3 Be4 18. Bh6 Ng7 19. Bd3 Bxd5 20. e4 $14) 16. Nxe4 Qe7 17. Ncxd6 Bd4 (
17... Rxf4 18. Qxf4 Nxd6 19. Nxd6 Nxd5 20. Bc4 Be6 21. Qg3 Rd8 22. Ne4 Bxb2 23.
Rae1 $14) (17... Bxb2 18. Rab1 $14) 18. Bg3 Nxd6 19. Nxd6 Nxd5 20. Bc4 Be6 21.
Rae1 $16 {and the opening of the position clearly favours White.}) 15. Bg5 Qf7
(15... Qf5 {Hazai} 16. f3 $1 Bd4+ 17. Be3 Bxc3 18. bxc3 Qxd5 19. fxe4 Rxf1+ 20.
Rxf1 $14) (15... Qd4 {Hazai} 16. Qc2 Nxd5 17. Be3 $16) 16. Rad1 {'?!' Hazai.
Hazai: 'as we will see this weakens >< a4!'} (16. f3 $1 {(Hazai) White wants
to open up the position for his better developed pieces.} exf3 17. Rxf3 Bd4+
18. Be3 $14) 16... Bf5 17. g4 (17. f3 $5 {Hazai} exf3 18. Rxf3 Qd7 19. Rdf1 Nf6
) 17... Bd7 18. Nxe4 Bxa4 19. Ncxd6 Nxd6 20. Nxd6 Qd7 21. Ra1 Qxd6 (21... b6 $5
{[%cal Ga4b3]}) 22. Rxa4 Bd4 $15 {Gyimesi,Z-Chatalbashev,B/Bled SLO 2002} (
22... Be5 $17 {(Hazai) Gyimesi-Chatalbashev, Bled op 2002})) 14. Bd2 Bd4 (14...
f4 15. Bg4 $16) 15. exf5 (15. Kh1 f4 16. Bg4 Nf6 17. Bxc8 Rxc8 18. Qf3 Nd7 {
Hazai: '(F.Portisch-Szalanczy, Zalakaros op 1992)'} 19. g3 (19. Ne2 {Hazai} Ne5
20. Nxe5 Bxe5 21. Bc3 $16 {Finally Black has blockaded the vital e5 square,
but his position is still worse.}) 19... Ne5 20. Nxe5 Bxe5 21. Qh5 Kh8 22. Rg1
$14 {Portisch,F-Szalanczy,E/Zalakaros op 1992}) 15... Bxf5 16. Qc1 h6 (16... g4
17. Bh6 $14) 17. Ne3 Ng7 (17... Bg6 18. Bg4 $14) 18. Ra3 $1 $14 Qf6 19. Nxf5
Nxf5 20. Kh1 Rae8 21. Bh5 Ne3 22. Bxe3 Rxe3 (22... Bxe3 $2 23. Qc2 $1 Re7 24.
Ne4 $16) 23. Rb3 b6 24. a5 b5 (24... bxa5 25. Rb7 Re7 26. Rxa7 $14) 25. Be2 Re5
26. Nxb5 (26. Bxb5 g4 27. Bd7 $14) 26... Rxe2 27. Nxc7 Rxf2 (27... Bxf2 28. Ne6
) 28. Rf3 Rxf3 29. Rxf3 Qe7 $15 {Farago,I-Szalanczy,E/Wien 1990}) 13... Rxf5 {
Hazai: 'Attacking >< d5 with all of his pieces.'} (13... gxf5 $6 14. Bf4 Rb8
15. Ra3 a6 16. a5 Nb5 17. Nxb5 axb5 18. Nb6 b4 19. Rg3 Kh8 20. b3 Nf6 21. Bd3
Ng4 22. Nxc8 Rxc8 23. Bxf5 $1 $18 {Schneider,A-Higatsberger,M/Budapest
Statisztika 1991}) (13... Bxf5 14. Bf4 $1 {[#]} (14. Bf3 Na6 15. Ne4 Bxe4 16.
Bxe4 Qh4 17. f4 Bd4+ 18. Kh1 Ng7 19. g3 Qf6 20. Bd2 Rae8 21. Qc2 $6 (21. Qf3)
21... Nb4 22. Bxb4 cxb4 23. Rae1 Re7 24. Bg2 Rfe8 $11 {Bagirov,R-Kotsur,P/Abu
Dhabi UAE 2001}) (14. Ra3 Na6 (14... Qh4 $5) 15. g4 Bc8 16. Ne4 b6 17. Rf3 Nac7
18. Rxf8+ Bxf8 19. Bf4 (19. g5 $5 $14) 19... Bb7 20. Bf3 Bxd5 21. Ncxd6 Bxd6
22. Nxd6 Bxf3 23. Qxf3 Nxd6 24. Rd1 Nce8 25. Bxd6 Nxd6 26. Rxd6 Qxd6 27. Qxa8+
$11 {Kopecky,B-Krisko,D/CSR-ch23 corr 1989}) (14. Ne3 Bd7 15. Bd2 (15. Qc2 $6
Na6 16. Bxa6 bxa6 17. Nc4 Rb8 18. Bd2 Bf5 19. Ne4 Qh4 20. f3 Bd4+ 21. Kh1 Nf6
$5 22. Ncxd6 Be5 23. g3 Bxg3 {Blasovszky,I-Szalanczy,E/Budapest 1993} 24. Bg5
$5 Qxg5 25. Nxg5 Bxc2 26. hxg3 Nxd5 $15) (15. Bg4 $6 Nf6 16. Bxd7 Qxd7 17. Qd3
Rae8 18. Bd2 Nh5 19. g3 Rf3 20. Kg2 Nf4+ $1 21. gxf4 Qh3+ 22. Kh1 Re5 $1 $19 {
Kudrashov,A-Pavlenko,O /1972}) 15... b6 16. Rb1 Qh4 17. g3 Qe7 18. Bf3 Bh3 19.
Bg2 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Nf6 21. Qc2 Qd7 22. Qd3 Rae8 $15 {Tasic,B-Vaisman,V/FRA-chT
1995}) (14. Be3 Na6 $5 (14... Bd7 15. Qd2 b5 16. axb5 Nxb5 17. Nxb5 Bxb5 18.
Na5 Qb6 19. Ra2 Bxe2 20. Qxe2 Nc7 21. Nc4 Qb5 22. Qg4 $5 (22. Ra5 Qd7 $11)
22... Qb4 $5 (22... h5 $6 {[%csl Rg6]} 23. Qe4 Rae8 24. Qd3 Rf5 25. Ra5 Qb4 26.
Bd2 Qb8 27. Nxd6 Rxd5 28. Qxg6 Re6 29. Qf7+ $18 {Dlugy,M-Gurevich,D/USA-ch
Estes Park 1987}) (22... Bd4 $6 {[%csl Rc4]} 23. Rc1 Bxe3 24. fxe3 Rf6 25. e4
Raf8 26. Raa1 $14) 23. Rfa1 (23. h3 Kh8 24. Nxd6 Nxd5 $132) 23... Rae8 24. Ra4
Qb3 25. Qd1 $5 (25. Nxd6 $140 Rxe3 $5 26. fxe3 Qxe3+ 27. Kh1 Bxb2 $44) 25...
Rb8 $132) (14... Qe7 $5 15. Qd2 (15. Qb3) 15... Qf7 (15... b6 $5 16. Rae1 Rb8
17. Bf3 Qd7 18. Bg5 {1/2-1/2 Halasz,T-Palkovi,J/Hungary 1993}) (15... Rd8 16.
Rad1 Nf6 17. Bg5 Rfe8 18. Rfe1 Qf8 19. Bd3 $14 Bxd3 20. Qxd3 Ng4 21. Qf3 Rxe1+
22. Rxe1 Re8 23. Qxf8+ Kxf8 24. Rxe8+ Nxe8 25. Ne4 Bd4 26. b3 b6 27. h3 Ne5 28.
Ncxd6 $16 {Lukacs,P-Szalanczy,E/Budapest 1990}) 16. Rad1 (16. Rfd1 Rd8 17. Nb5
$14) 16... Rd8 17. Rfe1 (17. Bg5 Bf6 18. Bh6 Bg7 19. Bg5 Bf6 20. Bh6 Bg7 21.
Bg5 {1/2-1/2 Ftacnik,L-Romanishin,O/Szirak 1986}) (17. g4 $5 Bxc3 $140 18. bxc3
Be4 19. Bh6 Ng7 20. Ne3 Bf3 21. c4 $16) 17... a6 18. Nb6 $5 (18. a5 Nb5 19.
Nxb5 axb5 20. Na3 b4 21. Nc4 Nc7 $11) 18... Nf6 19. Bg5 $1 Na8 (19... Rfe8 20.
f3 Qf8 21. g4 $1 $16) 20. Nc4 Nc7 21. Qf4 $14 Qd7 (21... h6 $5 22. Bxh6 $140 $6
Nfxd5 $13 {AK}) 22. Ne3 (22. Nb6 {>=} Qf7 23. Rc1 {/\ b4+/-}) 22... Rde8 $8 23.
Nxf5 (23. g4 $2 Rxe3 $1 $13) 23... gxf5 24. Bd3 Ng4 $1 25. Rxe8 Nxe8 26. h3 Ne5
27. Bc2 Nc7 $14 {Damljanovic,B-Magerramov,E/Palma de Mallorca 1989[Damljanovic,
B]}) 15. Qd2 Nb4 16. g4 $5 Bc8 $8 (16... Bd7 $2 17. Nxd6 $1 Nxd6 18. Bxc5 $16)
17. f3 (17. a5 $1 Rb8 18. Nb5 a6 19. Nbxd6 $1 Nxd6 20. Bxc5 $16) 17... b6 $1
18. Bg5 Qd7 19. a5 $6 (19. Ne3 $14) 19... b5 $1 20. Nxb5 $1 (20. Ne3 a6 $17)
20... Qxb5 21. Nb6 $1 Qxe2 22. Qxe2 axb6 23. axb6 Rb8 24. Ra7 $1 Rxb6 $5 (24...
Nxd5 $2 25. Qc4 Be6 26. Re7 $1 $18) (24... Be5 25. f4 Bd4+ 26. Kg2 $13) (24...
Bb7 $1 25. Qe6+ (25. Be7 $1 Rf7 $15) 25... Kh8 26. Rxb7 $5 Rxb7 27. Be7 Rg8 $17
(27... Rxe7 $2 28. Qxe7 Nxd5 29. Qxf8+ $1 $18)) 25. Be7 Nxd5 $8 (25... Rf7 26.
Bd8 $1 $18) 26. Qc4 $1 (26. Bxf8 Kxf8 27. Qc4 Nec7 $5 $13) 26... Be6 27. Bxf8 {
Ftacnik,L-Rogers,I/Thessaloniki (ol) 1984} Kxf8 $1 28. Re1 Rb4 29. Qa2 Rxb2 30.
Qa4 $1 (30. Qc4 Bd4+ 31. Kh1 Nf4 $1 $17) 30... Rb4 31. Qc6 Rb6 32. Qa8 Bd4+ 33.
Kh1 c4 $5 $44 {Rogers,J}) 14... Bd3 $5 (14... Bxc3 15. bxc3 Be4 16. Bg3 Bxd5
17. Qd2 {->׻}) (14... Be4 15. Qd2 Bxc3 16. bxc3 Bxd5 17. Bh6 $44) (14... Qd7
$5 {/\ Rd8,Qf7}) (14... Bd7 15. Bg3 (15. Bxd6 Nxd6 16. Nxd6 Bxa4 $11) 15... b5
16. Nxd6 b4 17. Nce4 Bxb2 18. Nxc5 Bxa1 19. Qxa1 $40) (14... Bd4 $5 15. Bg3 (
15. Ne3 Bc2 16. Nxc2 Rxf4 17. g3 Bxc3 $5 18. gxf4 Bxb2 19. Rb1 Qf6 $44 {/+/=})
15... Qf6 16. Qd2 a6 (16... Rd8 $142 17. Rae1 a6 $132) 17. Nb6 Rb8 18. Rae1 (
18. a5 $5 Be5 $8 19. Bxe5 Qxe5 {/\Qd4} 20. Rad1 $36) 18... Na8 (18... Be5 $5
19. Bxe5 $140 Qxe5 20. Bxa6 $2 Qd4 $19) 19. Nc4 Nac7 (19... b5 20. Na5 b4 21.
Nd1 $16) 20. Bf3 $1 $16 b5 21. Na5 b4 (21... bxa4 22. Nxa4 Bxb2 23. Nc6 $40)
22. Nd1 {/\Nc6} (22. Ne4 $5 Bxe4 23. Rxe4 Bxb2 (23... Nxd5 $2 24. Rxd4 $18) 24.
Nc6 Ra8 25. Bh4 Qc3 26. Qg5 $40) 22... Bd7 $8 23. Nc6 (23. b3 $5 $16 {/\Re2,
Ne3-c4}) 23... Bxc6 24. dxc6 Rd8 (24... c4 $2 25. Re4 $18) (24... d5 25. Ne3
$16) 25. Ne3 (25. Bg4 $4 h5 $19 {[%csl Rg3] Plachetka,J-Horvath,C/Stary
Smokovec 1991}) 25... d5 (25... Bxb2 26. Nd5 Nxd5 27. Qxd5+ $40 {/\Re6}) 26.
Ng4 Qxc6 27. Re7 Rd7 $8 28. Be5 $3 {/\Nh6#} Rxf3 $8 29. Rxd7 Qxd7 30. Nh6+ $1
Kf8 31. Bxd4 $1 cxd4 32. gxf3 $16 {Stohl,I}) (14... g5 $5 15. Bg3 Bd4 16. Ne3
$1 Bg6 (16... Bxe3 17. fxe3 Qe7 18. Qd2 h6 19. Bd3 $16) 17. Bd3 Bxd3 (17...
Bxe3 18. Bxg6 $5 (18. fxe3 Rxf1+ 19. Qxf1) 18... Bxf2+ 19. Rxf2 hxg6 20. Qd3) (
17... Qf6 18. Nc2 (18. Ne4 Qe7 $1) (18. Qd2 $5 {/\ Nc2}) 18... Bxc3 19. bxc3
Qxc3 20. Bxg6 hxg6 21. Ne3 $44) 18. Qxd3 Ng7 (18... Nf6 19. Nf5 $16) 19. Ne4
Nce8 20. Nc2 $1 Bf6 (20... Bxb2 21. Rab1 Bf6 22. Rxb7 $16) (20... h5 21. Nxd4
cxd4 22. f4 $1 $16) 21. Rae1 {/\b4} Nh5 (21... Nf5 22. Nxc5 dxc5 (22... Nxg3
23. Ne6 $18) 23. Qxf5 Bxb2 24. Qe6+ Rf7 25. d6 $16) 22. Nxf6+ Rxf6 (22... Qxf6
23. b4 {/\ Re6}) 23. Re4 Neg7 24. b4 b6 25. Rfe1 Qf8 (25... Qd7 $2 26. Re7 Qxa4
27. Ra1 $18) 26. Qd2 h6 (26... Nf4 27. h4 h6 28. Ne3 Ngh5 29. Ng4 $16) 27. Ne3
Nf5 (27... Re8 28. Ng4 Rg6 $16) 28. Nxf5 (28. Ng4 Rg6 $5) 28... Rxf5 29. Re7
Nxg3 (29... Nf4 30. Bxf4 Rxf4 31. R1e6 $18) 30. hxg3 Rf7 31. R7e6 Rf6 32. Rxf6
Qxf6 33. Re6 $16 {Ftacnik,L-Kindermann,S/Altensteig 1987 [Ftacnik,L]}) 15. Bg3
$1 Bxc4 16. Bxc4 Nf6 {[%cal Gf6h5,Gh5g3,Gh5f4] /\Nh5} (16... Bd4 $6 17. Ne2 $16
) 17. Be2 $1 {[%csl Rd6,Re6] 1/2-1/2 Bischoff,K-Kotsur,P/Hamburg 2001} (17. Qb3
Nh5 18. Qxb7 Rb8 19. Qxa7 Nxg3 (19... Rxb2 20. Nb5 Nxb5 21. Bxb5 Bd4 22. Kh1
Qf6 $132) 20. hxg3 Rxb2 21. Rac1 Rf7 22. Qa5 Qf8 23. Ne2 Be5 24. Qe1 Qh6 25.
Rb1 $14 {Sznapik-Vaisman,V/Sandomierz 1976}) (17. Qd3 $6 Nh5 18. Rae1 Kh8 19.
b3 $6 (19. Ne4 $5 Nxg3 20. Qxg3 Be5 21. Qb3 b6 22. g3 {/\ f4,Ng5 >< e6}) 19...
a6 20. Ne4 (20. Re2 $5 {/\ Rfe1}) 20... Nxg3 21. Qxg3 b5 22. axb5 axb5 23. Bd3
Nxd5 24. Qxd6 Nc3 25. Qg3 (25. Qxd8 Rfxd8 26. Nxc3 Rxd3 27. Nxb5 Rxb3 28. Nd6
$15) 25... Nxe4 (25... c4 26. bxc4 Ra3 27. Ng5 $1 {/\ 28.Ne6,/\ 28.Qh4 h6 29.
Nf7} (27. Qd6 Qxd6 28. Nxd6 b4 29. c5 Na4 30. Bc4 Nxc5 31. Nf7+ $11)) 26. Rxe4
c4 27. bxc4 (27. Bc2 $2 c3 $17 {Novikov,I-Romanishin,O/Lvov 1987}) 27... Ra3
28. Rd1 Bd4 29. Rf4 $1 bxc4 30. Rxf8+ Qxf8 31. Qh4 Rxd3 32. Rxd3 Bxf2+ 33. Qxf2
Qxf2+ 34. Kxf2 cxd3 35. Ke3 $11 {Novikov,I}) 17... Re8 {[%cal Gf6e4] /\Ne4<=>}
(17... Qd7 $6 18. Rb1 Rad8 19. b4 Na6 20. Nb5 $1 cxb4 21. Nxd6 $16 Qc7 22. Rc1
Qe7 23. Re1 Rxd6 24. Bxa6 Qd8 (24... Rxd5 25. Rxe7 Rxd1+ 26. Rxd1 bxa6 27. Rxa7
$18) 25. Bxd6 Qxd6 26. Bc4 $18 {Dlugy,M-Gurevich,M/Philadelphia 1988}) (17...
Kh8 $6 18. Qb3 (18. Rb1 Qd7 19. b4 Nh5 $6 20. Bxh5 gxh5 21. bxc5 $1 Bxc3 22.
Rxb7 Qc8 23. Qb3 Bg7 24. Bxd6 $18 {Novikov,I-Kozlov,V/Naberezhnie Chelni 1988})
18... Rb8 19. Rfe1 Re8 20. Bf3 Qd7 21. Rxe8+ Nfxe8 22. h3 $1 b6 (22... b5 $140
$2 23. Bg4 $16) 23. Bg4 $14 {Kaplun,L-Izhnin,A/Kherson 1990}) (17... a6 18. Qd2
(18. Bf3 Re8 19. Qb3 (19. Qd2 Qd7 20. Qf4 Re5 $1 21. Qc4 Ree8 $11 {Baburin,
A-Borovicky/USSR 1988}) 19... Rb8 20. a5 Qe7 (20... Qd7 $6 21. Qb6 $16) 21. Qb6
Bf8 22. Bh4 (22. h3 Na8 $14) 22... Na8 23. Qb3 Qg7 24. Rfe1 g5 25. Bg3 g4 26.
Rxe8 Nxe8 27. Be4 b5 28. Bf5 Nac7 29. Re1 $16 {Schmidt,T-Sirota,A/EU-ch GT299
corr 1988}) 18... Rb8 19. Bf3 b5 20. axb5 axb5 21. b4 (21. Rfe1) 21... cxb4 22.
Ne2 Nh5 $1 $132 23. Bxh5 (23. Nd4 Nxg3 24. hxg3 Qf6 25. Nc6 Ra8 26. Rxa8 Rxa8
27. Nxb4 Qc3 $17) 23... Bxa1 24. Rxa1 gxh5 25. Qxb4 Qf6 26. Rd1 Ra8 27. h4 (27.
h3 $1 $13) (27. Qxd6 $2 Ra1 $1 28. Nc1 Qxd6 29. Bxd6 Rc8 $1 30. Be5 Rb1 31. d6
Ne6 $19) 27... Ra2 28. Nc3 (28. Qxd6 Qxd6 29. Bxd6 Rxe2 30. Bxc7 Rfxf2 31. d6
Rxg2+ 32. Kh1 Rd2 $19) 28... Rxf2 29. Qxd6 (29. Bxf2 $2 Qxf2+ 30. Kh2 Rf4 $19)
29... Rf1+ 30. Rxf1 Qxf1+ 31. Kh2 Ne8 32. Qe6+ Qf7 $44 {Vilela,J-Vera,R/
Matanzas (m4) 1989/[Vera,R]}) 18. Qd3 (18. Qc2 $5 {[%cal Ga1b1,Gb2b4] /\Rab1,b4
}) 18... a6 19. Rab1 (19. Rad1 b5 $1 20. axb5 axb5 21. Nxb5 Nxb5 22. Qxb5 Ne4
23. Bf4 Bd4 $15) 19... b5 $1 20. axb5 axb5 21. Nxb5 Nxb5 22. Qxb5 Ne4 23. Bf4
$6 (23. Qd3 Nxg3 $44) 23... Bd4 $1 $36 24. Bg4 Nxf2 $1 25. Be6+ Kh8 26. g3 (26.
Rxf2 $2 Bxf2+ 27. Kxf2 Rf8 28. Kg3 Rxf4 $1 $19 {Karpman,V-Moskalenko,V/USSR
1988}) 26... Rf8 27. Qe2 Nh3+ 28. Kg2 Nxf4+ 29. Rxf4 Rxf4 30. gxf4 Qf6 $17 {
Moskalenko,V}) 14. Bg4 {Hazai: 'It is not clear that chasing away the
vulnerable R is really important.'} (14. a5 {Hazai} Bxc3 15. bxc3 Nxd5 (15...
Rxd5 16. Qb3) 16. Bg4 Nxc3 17. Qc2 Nb5 18. Bxf5 Bxf5 $44 {with a nice
compensation for the sacrificed exchange.}) (14. Bf3 {(Hazai) now an in the
next move came into consideration.} Qh4 15. Ne4 Rxd5 16. Qxd5+ Nxd5 17. Bg5 $13
) 14... Rf8 $146 {Hazai: 'This is the first new move from theoretical point of
view.'} (14... Rf7 15. Bf3 b6 {Hazai: '/\ Bb7 >< d5'} 16. Ne4 h6 17. Re1 Bb7
18. Ng3 Nf6 {Hazai: 'The last passive piece joints the attack against >< d5.'}
19. Qd3 (19. Ne3 {Hazai: 'Now both white knights look passive.'} Qf8 20. Qd3
Nd7 $1 21. Qxg6 {'?' Hazai. Hazai: 'founders on'} Ne5 22. Qh5 Rxf3 $1 {'-/+!'
Hazai. Hazai: 'Socha-Yudasin, Gdynia 1987'} 23. Nef5 Rxf5 (23... Rxg3 $5 24.
hxg3 Kh7 $15) 24. Nxf5 Kh7 25. Ra3 Qe8 26. Qd1 (26. Nxg7 $4 Nf3+ $1 $19 {
Socha,C-Yudasin,L/Gdynia Dreszer-mem 1987}) 26... Qg6 27. Nxg7 Qxg7 28. Rg3 Qf7
29. Bxh6 $5 $13) 19... Nfxd5 (19... Bxd5 20. Bxd5 Nfxd5 21. Qxg6 $14) 20. Qxg6
Ne7 21. Qxd6 Bxf3 22. gxf3 Ned5 23. Ra3 {Hazai: '(Stepanov-Maiorov, corr. 2002)
'} (23. f4 Nb4 24. Qg6 Qd3 25. Re4 Qd1+ 26. Kg2 Nc2 27. Ne3 Nxe3+ 28. fxe3 Qc2+
29. Kg1 Qd1+ $11) 23... Nb4 (23... b5 $1 24. Qxd8+ Rxd8 25. axb5 Nxb5 $15) 24.
Qg6 Qf6 25. Qxf6 $6 Rxf6 26. Re7 Rd8 27. Bxh6 $6 (27. Bd2 Rf7 28. Rxf7 Kxf7 29.
Bxb4 Rd1+ 30. Kg2 cxb4 31. Rb3 Nd5 32. Nf5 $14) 27... Bxh6 28. Rxc7 Rd1+ 29.
Kg2 Nd5 $44 {Stepanov,K-Maiorov,O/corr 2002/[Stepanov,K]}) 15. Bxc8 {Hazai:
'This is not forced at all.'} (15. Bf3 $5 {(Hazai) is similar to the previous
note.}) (15. Ne4 {Hazai} Bxg4 16. Qxg4 Nf6 {and Black can get rid of his
passive N.}) 15... Rxc8 16. Qb3 (16. Na5 {(Hazai) leads nowhere after} Rb8) (
16. Ne4 {Hazai} Qh4 17. f3 Rf5 $13) 16... b6 (16... Bxc3 {Hazai} 17. bxc3 Nxd5
18. Bh6 Rf7 19. Rad1 {and White opens up the position with a great effect.})
17. Nb5 $6 {Opening the a-file and relieving some pressure on d5 Leko created
many pawn islands and Black got a chance to use it.} (17. Bd2 Qh4 18. Rae1 (18.
Rad1 $6 Rf5 19. h3 Rd8 20. Ne2 Rb8 21. Bc3 b5 $5) 18... Qh5 19. Re3 Bxc3 $5 20.
Rxc3 Rf7 21. Re1 Nxd5 (21... Rd8 22. Rh3 Qxd5 23. Rd3 Qf5 24. Rf3 Qd7 25. Bg5
Rb8 26. Rxf7 Qxf7 27. Re7 Qd5 $44) 22. Rh3 Qf5 23. Rf3 Qd7 24. Rxf7 Qxf7 25.
Qd3 (25. Rxe8+ $6 Rxe8 26. Nxd6 Re1+ $1 27. Bxe1 Qe6 $15) 25... Ndc7 26. Bg5 d5
27. Ne5 Qf5 28. Qxf5 gxf5 29. Nc6 Ra8 $44) 17... Nxb5 (17... Ra8 {Hazai} 18. a5
) 18. axb5 {[%csl Ra7,Rb5,Rd5,Rd6] Leko had gotten two sets of minor pieces
off the board and his Nc4 was an admirable beast with a target on d6. Leko
also got the a-file to work with, but the weak b5 pawn needed constant
protection. Hazai: 'White can organize his counterplay on the semi-opened a
<->.'} Rc7 19. Bd2 {Hazai: '/\ Bc3 because White has to eliminate the strong
fianchettoed B. However he has to reckon with the manoeuvre Ng7-f5.'} Rcf7 20.
Bc3 Qd7 (20... Bh6 $5 21. Rae1 Ng7 22. Re4 (22. Bxg7 $140 $6 Bxg7 23. Qg3 {
[%csl Rd6]} Bd4 $5 $36 {[%csl Rf2][%cal Gd4g1,Gf8f2]}) 22... Nf5 23. Qa4 Qa8 {
[%csl Rd5]} 24. Rd1 Nd4 {[%csl Rd5,Rd6,Rf2]} 25. Bxd4 cxd4 26. Nxd6 Rd7 27. Nc4
Qxd5 $132) (20... Qh4 $5 {Hazai} 21. f3 (21. Bxg7 Nxg7 {/\ Nf5-d4}) (21. g3 Qe4
) 21... Bd4+ 22. Kh1 Qg5 23. Bxd4 cxd4) 21. f3 {'!' Hazai.} (21. Qa4 Rf4 22.
Bd2 Rd4 23. Bc3 Rg4 {[%cal Gg4g2]} (23... Rxd5 $140 $6 24. Qa2 $1) 24. f3 Bd4+
25. Bxd4 Rxd4 26. Rfd1 Nc7 27. Rxd4 cxd4 28. Qd1 Qxb5 29. Qxd4 Qb4 $132) 21...
g5 $5 {Black went to work pressing his advantage on the kingside. Kramnik
played for a win here and came very close to achieving it. Hazai: 'Kramnik
grabs the |^ on the >> threatening with g5-g4.'} (21... Nf6 {Hazai} 22. Bxf6 (
22. Rfe1 Nxd5 23. Rad1 Nxc3 24. bxc3 d5 25. Ne5 Bxe5 26. Rxe5 c4 27. Qb4)) 22.
Ne3 {Hazai: 'The N is not well-placed here.'} (22. h3 Rf4 23. Ra4 Bxc3 24. bxc3
Nc7 25. Rxa7 Qxb5 26. Rb1 Qxc4 27. Qxc4 Rxc4 28. Rxc7 Rb8 29. Rb3 b5 30. Rd7 b4
31. cxb4 cxb4 $14) 22... Rf4 {Covering d4 and g4.} (22... Re7 $6 23. Rfe1 Nf6
24. g4 Rfe8 25. Nf5 Rxe1+ 26. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 27. Bxe1 Qe8 (27... Nh5 28. Bc3 $16) (
27... Ne8 28. Bc3 $16) 28. Qd1 h5 29. h3 $16) 23. Rfe1 (23. Ra4 $6 {Hazai} a5
$1 {and Black solves his problem of weak a P at once.}) 23... h5 $5 (23... Bd4
{Hazai} 24. Bxd4 Rxd4) 24. Qc2 (24. Qa2 $5 {Hazai} Qxb5 (24... R4f7 25. Qb1 $3
$16) 25. Qxa7 g4) 24... Qf7 {Covering g6 and increasing the kingside pressure.
Hazai: 'Black cannot allow the penetration Qg6.'} (24... Qxb5 $140 $2 25. Rxa7
$18) (24... g4 $6 {(Hazai) immediately is strongly met by} 25. fxg4 hxg4 26.
Qg6) 25. h3 (25. Ra3 Bd4 26. Bxd4 cxd4 27. Nc4 g4 28. Nd2 Ng7 29. Rea1 (29. Qd3
Nf5 30. Re4 Rxe4 31. Qxe4 Ne3 $11) 29... Qxd5 30. Rxa7 d3 31. Qc6 R4f5 32. b3
Qc5+ $132) 25... Bd4 26. Bxd4 {[#]} Rxd4 (26... cxd4 $5 {It was an interested
point, which had the advantage of keeping the pieces on the board, although it
seemed as an interesting drawing line.} 27. Nc4 g4 28. Re6 $5 (28. fxg4 hxg4
29. Qd3 (29. hxg4 {Hazai} d3 $1 30. Qxd3 Rxc4 31. Qxc4 Qf2+ 32. Kh2 Qh4+ $11 {
and draw by perpetual checks.}) 29... Ng7 30. hxg4 Qxd5 31. Re7 Rxg4 32. Ne3
Rf2 $1 33. Nxd5 Rgxg2+ $11) 28... gxf3 29. Rg6+ (29. Nxd6 Nxd6 30. Rg6+ Kh8 31.
Rh6+ $11) 29... Ng7 30. Nxd6 f2+ 31. Kf1 Qe7 32. Rh6 R4f5 $5 33. Qe4 $1 Qxe4
34. Nxe4 d3 35. Rg6 Kh8 $5 (35... Rxd5 36. Rxa7 (36. Nf6+ $6 Kf7 $1) 36... Rf7
37. Nf6+ Rxf6 38. Rgxg7+ Kf8 39. Rgd7 Rxd7 40. Rxd7 Rf5 41. Rxd3 Kg7 42. b3
Rxb5 43. Kxf2 $16) 36. Rd1 (36. Rxa7 $6 Re8 $15) 36... Rf4 37. Ng5 Nf5 38. Rxd3
Rd4 39. Rh6+ Kg8 40. Rg6+ $11) 27. Nf5 $5 {Getting the pieces off the board
left White with an equal endgame. The threats against d4 and h6 forced the
exchanges. Hazai: 'Leko wants to liquidate to a R _|_, which usually gives
excellent drawing chances for the defender.'} (27. b3 {Hazai} Ng7 28. Qc3 {
/\ Nc2}) 27... Qxf5 28. Qxf5 Rxf5 29. Rxe8+ Kf7 {Black's rooks looked the more
menacing, but with so many pawn targets in the black camp there should be many
ways for White to draw.} 30. Rb8 (30. Re2 Rfxd5 31. Rxa7+ Kf6 32. Ra6 Rd2 33.
Kf2 Rxe2+ 34. Kxe2 Rd4 35. Rxb6 Ke5 36. Rb8 Rb4 37. Kd3 Kf4 38. b6 Kg3 39. b7
Kxg2 40. f4 $1 g4 41. hxg4 h4 42. Rh8 $11) 30... Rdxd5 {This allowed an
immedate drawing continuation thanks to the trapped position of the black king.
} (30... Rd2 $5 {Hazai} 31. Rxa7+ Kf6 32. Rxb6 Rfxd5 {/\ Rxb2, Rdd2}) 31. Rxa7+
Ke6 32. Re8+ Kf6 {Hazai: '- 30.Rb8'} 33. g4 $2 {It was a curious decision,
which created a handful of weaknesses. Hazai: 'Many annotators plead guilty
this move...'} ({After} 33. Rh7 {the black king would be locked up. Hazai:
'was no doubt easier:'} h4 (33... Kg6 34. Rb7 Rd2 35. b3 Rfd5 36. Rxb6 {
'=' Hazai. Hazai: 'Shipov'} R2d3 37. Kf2 Rxb3 38. Re6+ Kf5 39. Rexd6 Rxd6 40.
Rxd6 Rxb5 41. Rd5+ $11) (33... Rde5 $2 34. Rh6+ Kg7 35. Rxe5 Rxe5 36. Rxd6 $14)
(33... g4 34. Rf8+ Kg6 35. Rxf5 Rxf5 36. hxg4 hxg4 37. fxg4 Rd5 38. Rb7) 34.
Ree7 {'=' Hazai.} (34. Rhh8 Rd1+ 35. Kh2 (35. Kf2 Rfd5 36. Rhf8+ Kg7 37. Rg8+
Kh7 $11) 35... Re5 (35... Rfd5 36. Rhf8+ Kg7 37. Rg8+ Kh7 $11) 36. Rhf8+ Kg6
37. Rg8+ Kh6 $11) (34. g4 $5 Kg6 35. Rb7 Rf7 36. Re6+ Kg7 37. Rxb6 Rxf3 38.
Rexd6 Rxd6 39. Rxd6 c4 40. Rd5 Kg6 41. b6 Rg3+ 42. Kf2 Rb3 43. Rd6+ Kf7 44. Rc6
$11) 34... Rd1+ (34... c4 35. Rhf7+ Kg6 36. Rg7+ $11) (34... Rde5 35. Rhf7+ Kg6
36. Rg7+ $11) 35. Kh2 Re5 36. Rhf7+ Kg6 37. Rg7+ Kh6 38. Rh7+ $11) 33... hxg4
34. hxg4 Rd1+ {'!' Hazai.} (34... Rfe5 {Hazai} 35. Rf8+ $11) 35. Kf2 Re5 36.
Rh8 Rd2+ {Hazai: 'repeating moves in order to reach the 40-th move.'} 37. Kg3 (
37. Kf1 $2 {(Hazai) is too passive.} Ke6 38. Rb7 Rxb2 39. Rxb6 Kd5 40. Rd8 Re6
41. Rg8 Ke5 42. Rxg5+ Kf4 43. Rf5+ Kg3 $1 $19) 37... Ree2 (37... Ke6 $5 {
Some annotators thought this move was stronger but White kept chances to draw.}
38. Rb7 $5 ({} 38. Rh6+ $6 Kd5 39. b3 Rd3 40. Rg7 Rxb3 41. Rgg6 Rxb5 42. Rxd6+
Kc4 43. Rxb6 Rxb6 44. Rxb6 Kd5 $17) (38. b3 $6 Kd5 39. Rb7 Ree2 40. Rh1 Rd3 41.
Rh5 (41. Rxb6 Ree3 42. Rf1 Rxb3 43. Rb8 c4 $17) 41... Re5 42. Rxb6 Rxb3 43. Rh7
c4 44. Rg7 (44. Rf7 Rb4 45. Rd7 Kc5 46. Rbxd6 Rxb5 $17) 44... Rb4 45. Rg6 Kc5
46. Rgxd6 Rxb5 47. Rbc6+ Kb4 48. f4 Re3+ $17) 38... Ree2 39. Re8+ Kd5 40. Rxe2
Rxe2 41. b3 Re3 42. Rg7 Rxb3 43. Rxg5+ Kd4 $5 (43... Ke6 44. Rg6+ Ke5 45. Rh6 (
45. Rg5+ Kf6 46. Rd5 Ke6 47. Rd2 Rxb5 $17) 45... Rxb5 46. f4+ Kd5 47. g5 c4 48.
Kf2 Rb2+ 49. Ke3 Rb3+ 50. Kf2 Ke4 51. Rxd6 b5 52. g6 Rf3+ 53. Ke2 Rxf4 54. Kd2
b4 55. Rb6 Rf2+ 56. Ke1 Rg2 57. Rxb4 Kd3 58. Rb6 c3 59. Rd6+ Kc2 60. Kf1 Rg5
61. Kf2 Kc1 62. Kf3 c2 63. Kf4 Rc5 64. g7 $11) 44. Rg6 d5 $5 45. g5 (45. Rxb6
c4 46. g5 c3 47. Rc6 Rxb5 48. g6 Kd3 49. f4 $11) 45... Rxb5 46. Rf6 Rb1 47. g6
Ra1 (47... Ke5 48. Rc6 c4 49. Kf2 Rb2+ 50. Kf1 $11) 48. Rxb6 c4 49. Rc6 c3 50.
f4 Ke4 51. f5 Kxf5 52. Kf2 $11) 38. Rf8+ Kg6 39. Rg8+ Kf6 40. Rf8+ Ke6 41. Re8+
Kd5 42. Rxe2 {No more mate and a pair of rooks left the board. The problem was
that the black king was very active.} Rxe2 43. Rg7 {Hazai: 'is only a
repetition of moves.'} Re5 (43... Rxb2 $5 44. Rxg5+ Ke6 (44... Kd4 {(Hazai) -
38.Rf8}) 45. Rg6+ Ke7 46. f4 Rxb5 47. Kf3 (47. f5 c4 $17) 47... c4 48. Rg7+ Kf6
49. Rb7 Rb1 50. Ke4 b5 51. Kd4 Rd1+ 52. Kc3 Rd3+ 53. Kc2 Rf3 54. f5 d5 55. Rxb5
Ke5 $17) 44. Rb7 c4 (44... Kc4 45. Rxb6 d5 (45... Rd5 46. Rb8 Kb4 47. Kf2 Rd2+
48. Ke3 Rxb2 49. f4 $11) 46. f4 Re3+ 47. Kf2 gxf4 48. Rd6 Rg3 49. b6 Rxg4 50.
b7 Rg8 51. Rb6 Rb8 52. Kf3 d4 53. Kxf4 $11) 45. Rxb6 (45. Kf2 {Hazai} Kc5 $19)
45... Re2 (45... Re3 $5 {Preventing f4} 46. Rb8 Rb3 47. Rg8 Rxb2 48. Rxg5+ Kd4
49. Rg6 d5 50. g5 Rxb5 51. Rc6 c3 52. g6 Rb4 53. g7 (53. f4 Rc4 54. g7 c2 55.
g8=Q c1=Q $13) 53... Rb8 54. Rc7 Rg8 55. Kf4 Kd3 56. Ke5 c2 57. Kf6 Kd2 58. Kf7
c1=Q 59. Rxc1 Rxg7+ 60. Kxg7 Kxc1 61. f4 $11) 46. f4 $1 {The key move. Hazai:
'Leko's defence is again on the top! This beautiful, thematic P sacrifice
creates another dangerous o^ for White.'} Re3+ 47. Kf2 gxf4 48. Rb8 {'!' Hazai.
} (48. g5 {Hazai} Rg3 $1 (48... Rb3 49. Rb8 {- 48.Rb8}) 49. Rb8 Rxg5 50. b6 Rg3
$1 (50... Rg7 51. Kf3 Rg3+ 52. Kxf4 Rh3 $3 {losing the tempo deliberately!} (
52... Rb3 53. b7 Rxb2 54. Ke3 $22 $11) 53. b7 (53. Rc8 Rb3 54. Rb8 Kd4 $19)
53... Rb3 $22 $19 {and a mutual zugzwang position has arisen!}) 51. Rf8 Rb3 52.
Rxf4 Kc5 $19 {looks more to the point.}) 48... Rb3 {Hazai: '[#] This is the
critical position of the entire R _|_.'} (48... Rg3 {Hazai} 49. Rf8 (49. b6
Rxg4 50. Rf8 {- 49.Rf8}) 49... Rxg4 50. b6 Rg7 (50... Kc6 51. Rc8+ Kxb6 52.
Rxc4 $11) 51. Rxf4 Kc5 (51... Rb7 52. b3 $1 cxb3 53. Rb4 Kc5 54. Rxb3 Rxb6 55.
Ra3 $11) 52. Rf3 d5 (52... Kb4 53. Rf5 Rb7 54. Ke3 Rxb6 55. Kd4 $11) 53. b3 $11
) 49. b6 $2 {[#]} (49. g5 $1 {Hazai: '- 48.Rb8' Hazai: 'would have led to a
draw, although the variations are very difficult.'} Ke5 (49... Rxb2+ 50. Kf3
Ke5 {Hazai: 'Now probably both P moves draw.'} 51. b6 (51. g6 {Hazai} Rb3+ 52.
Kg4 $1 Rg3+ 53. Kh5 c3 (53... Kd5 54. b6 Kc6 55. Rc8+ Kxb6 56. Rxc4 $11) (53...
f3 54. b6) 54. Re8+ $1 {has to be played immediately in order to drive away
the K from f5.} (54. b6 c2 55. Re8+ (55. Rc8 c1=Q $3 {This is a phantastic
motif, Black wants to improve the mating threat.} 56. Rxc1 Kf5 $1 {This is the
point, now the white K is in trouble.} 57. Kh4 Rxg6 58. Kh3 Rg3+ 59. Kh4 Rb3
60. Rc6 (60. Rc8 Rxb6 61. Rf8+ Ke4 62. Kg4 d5 63. Rxf4+ Kd3 $19) 60... d5 61.
Rd6 Ke4 62. Kg4 (62. Re6+ Kf3 63. Rd6 Kg2 64. Rxd5 f3 65. Rg5+ Kf1 66. Rg6 f2
67. Rf6 Kg2 68. Rg6+ Kh2 69. Rf6 Rb4+ 70. Kh5 Kg3 71. Rg6+ Kh3 72. Rf6 Rb5+ $19
) 62... Rg3+ 63. Kh4 (63. Kh5 Rg7 64. Rg6 Rf7 65. Kg4 f3 66. b7 Rxb7 67. Re6+
Kd3 $19) 63... Rg7 $19) 55... Kf5 56. Rf8+ Ke6 $1 57. Re8+ Kd7 58. Re1 Kc6 59.
Rc1 Rg2 60. Kh6 f3 61. g7 Kxb6 62. Kh7 f2 63. g8=Q Rxg8 64. Kxg8 d5 $19) 54...
Kd5 (54... Kd4 55. b6 c2 56. Rc8) (54... Kf5 55. Rf8+ Ke4 56. Re8+ Kd3 57. b6
c2 58. Rc8) 55. Rc8 f3 56. Rxc3 f2 57. Rxg3 f1=Q 58. g7 Qf7+ 59. Kh6 Qg8 60.
Rf3) 51... c3 52. Re8+ Kf5 53. Rf8+ Kxg5 54. Rxf4 c2 55. Rc4 Kf5 56. Ke3 Ke5
57. Kd3 Rxb6 58. Rxc2 $11) (49... Rg3 {Hazai} 50. b6 Rxg5 51. Rf8 Rg7 52. Rxf4
$11 {- 48...Rg3}) (49... Ke4 {Hazai} 50. g6 Rxb2+ 51. Ke1 $11) 50. b6 Rxb2+ 51.
Kf3 c3 (51... Rb3+ {Hazai} 52. Kg4 f3 (52... c3 53. Re8+ Kd4 54. g6 c2 55. Rc8
$11) 53. Kg3 c3 54. Rc8 $11) 52. Re8+ Kf5 (52... Kd4 {Hazai} 53. g6) 53. Rf8+
Kxg5 54. Rxf4 Rxb6 55. Rc4 Rb3 56. Ke4 Kf6 57. Kd5 {'=' Hazai.} Ke7 58. Rc7+
Kd8 59. Rc6 $11) 49... Ke4 $6 (49... Rxb2+ $1 {must have been considered
strongly by Kramnik.} 50. Kf3 c3 51. b7 (51. Kxf4 $2 Rxb6 $1 $19) (51. Rc8 $6
Kd4 52. Rc6 d5 53. g5 c2 54. g6 Rb3+ 55. Kg4 (55. Kxf4 $140 $2 Rc3 $19) 55...
Rxb6 $1 56. Rxc2 Rxg6+ 57. Kxf4 Rf6+ $19) 51... Kd4 52. Rd8 Rxb7 53. Rxd6+ Kc5
54. Rd1 Rf7 $1 (54... Kc4 $6 55. Kxf4 c2 56. Rc1 Kd3 57. g5 Rb1 58. Rxc2 $11)
55. g5 Kc4 56. g6 Rg7 57. Rd6 c2 58. Rc6+ Kb3 $19) 50. Re8+ {[#] Hazai: 'This
is the next critical point of the _|_.'} (50. g5 $2 Rxb2+ 51. Ke1 c3 $19) 50...
Kd3 $2 {Hazai: 'Now the K on the third rank allows the Kf3 plan. White will
give his R for the P, while the g P will make a draw promoted by his own K.'} (
{missing probably the win after} 50... Kd4 $1 {(Hazai) Now the third rank
remains opened for the R and the white K is cut off.} 51. Re2 (51. g5 Rxb2+ 52.
Kf3 Rxb6 53. g6 Rb7 54. Kxf4 (54. Re1 c3 55. Rd1+ Ke5 56. Re1+ Kf5 57. Re4 Rc7
58. g7 Rxg7 59. Rxf4+ Ke6 60. Rc4 Rh7 61. Kg2 Rf7 62. Rxc3 Ke5 $19) 54... c3
55. Kf5 c2 56. Rc8 Rb5+ 57. Kf6 Rc5 58. Rxc5 dxc5 59. g7 c1=Q 60. g8=Q Qf4+ {
and Black will exchange the Q.} 61. Ke7 Qe5+ $19) 51... f3 $1 52. Rd2+ Ke4 $1
53. Rxd6 Rxb2+ 54. Kg3 c3 $1 55. Rc6 f2 56. Kg2 c2 57. b7 (57. g5 Rb1 58. Kxf2
c1=Q 59. Rxc1 Rxc1 60. g6 Rc8 $19) 57... Kd3 58. Rd6+ (58. g5 Rxb7 59. Kxf2 Rb1
60. Kf3 c1=Q 61. Rxc1 Rxc1 62. Kf4 Kd4 63. Kf5 Kd5 64. Kf6 Kd6 65. g6 Rf1+ $19)
58... Ke2 59. Re6+ Kd1 60. Rd6+ Kc1 61. Rc6 Kb1 $19) 51. Re2 $1 {Hazai: 'Now
the R manoeuvre saves the game!'} d5 (51... Kd4 {Trying to reestablish the f3
threat that moment, a tempo behind, didn't seem to work.} 52. b7 Rxb7 53. Kf3
Rf7 54. g5 d5 55. g6 Rg7 56. Rg2 Ke5 57. Rg5+ Ke6 58. Kxf4 $11) (51... Rxb6 {
Hazai} 52. Kf3 d5 {- 51...d5}) 52. Kf3 {This position seems to be a draw.} d4
53. g5 c3 (53... Rxb6 54. Rh2 Rg6 55. Kxf4 Rg8 56. Kf5 Ke3 57. Rh3+ Ke2 58.
Rh2+ Kf3 (58... Kd1 59. g6 Kc1 60. Rh4 Kxb2 61. Rxd4 c3 62. Rb4+ $11) 59. Rh3+
Kg2 60. Rh4 Rd8 61. g6 d3 62. Rg4+ Kf2 63. Rf4+ Ke3 64. Re4+ $11) 54. bxc3 dxc3
55. Rg2 {Hazai: 'This is the point of the R manoeuvre, White creates a so
called Tarrasch R.'} Rb2 (55... c2 56. Rxc2 Kxc2+ 57. Kxf4 Rxb6 58. Kf5 $11)
56. b7 Rxb7 57. Kxf4 Rb2 58. Rg1 c2 59. Rc1 Rb1 60. Rxc2 Kxc2 61. g6 Kd3 62.
Kf5 Rb5+ 63. Kf6 Rb6+ 64. Kf7 Rxg6 65. Kxg6 {Hazai: 'This was a real fighting
game!'} 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Leko +2-2=10"]
[Site "Brissago"]
[Date "2004.10.18"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[Annotator "Knaak,R"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2004.09.25"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 103"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2004.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 2] Welche Fehler hat Leko in der letzten, entscheidenden Partie
gemacht? Meine Analyse besagt: 7...e6, 17...Nf4 und 24...Nf4.} 1. e4 c6 2. d4
d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. h4 h6 5. g4 Bd7 6. Nd2 {Ich bin nicht sicher, ob diese
Neuerung wirklich gut ist.} c5 {Ohne den geht es nicht.} 7. dxc5 (7. c3 $2 Nc6
{und Weiß hätte Probleme mit der Deckung des Pd4.}) 7... e6 $6 {In Folge
dieses Zuges gibt Schwarz einfach das Läuferpaar auf, vor allem aber ist nun
die Bedrohung von g4 durch den Bd7 nicht mehr da und Weiß kann sich bequem
entwickeln.} ({Nach} 7... Nc6 8. f4 (8. Nb3 Nxe5 9. Qxd5 Bxg4 10. Bb5+ Nc6 11.
Bxc6+ bxc6 12. Qxc6+ Bd7 $13) 8... e6 9. Nb3 Bxc5 10. Nxc5 Qa5+ 11. c3 Qxc5 {
wäre eine Stellung auf dem Brett, die Kramnik in der Partie vermieden hat.}) ({
oder} 7... Qc7 {muss sich Weiß um den Pe5 kümmern.}) 8. Nb3 Bxc5 {Ohne diesen
Zug würde Schwarz den Bauern so schnell nicht zurückbekommen.} 9. Nxc5 Qa5+ 10.
c3 Qxc5 {Hier sehe ich relativ deutlichen Vorteil für Weiß, der im Unterschied
zum Winawer-Franzosen keinen Doppelbauern auf der c-Linie hat. Im Gegensatz
dazu haben Kramnik und Leko verlauten lassen, dass Schwarz hier
zufriedenstellend steht.} 11. Nf3 (11. Be3 {/\ 12.f4 (Fritz)}) 11... Ne7 12.
Bd3 $6 {Dieser Zug leistet eigentlich wenig und verhindert Ne7-g6 nicht.
Sicher hat Kramnik das auch gesehen, aber ich vermute stark, dass er die Idee
d5-d4 nicht richtig gewürdigt hat. Ein Indiz dafür ist, dass 12.Bd3 recht
schnell kam, danach fing Kramnik an länger zu überlegen.} ({Ich weiß nicht,
was gegen} 12. h5 {spricht. M.E. steht Weiß auf beiden Flügeln besser.}) 12...
Nbc6 {/\ d5-d4, Ne7-g6 Man muss erwähnen, dass es für Weiß nichts bringt, wenn
er auf Ne7-g6 mit Bd3xg6 reagiert.} 13. Be3 Qa5 14. Qd2 $1 {Weiß ist
eigentlich überhaupt nicht am Damentausch und am Tausch seines
schwarzfeldrigen Läufers interessiert, doch nur so lassen sich die beiden
Drohungen d5-d4 und Ne7-g6 gleichzeitig abwehren.} (14. Qc2 $6 Rc8 $1) 14...
Ng6 (14... d4 $5 15. cxd4 {Schwarz hat das schöne Feld d5, aber ob das
ausreicht, um einen ganzen Bauern zu kompensieren, halte ich für fraglich.
Dennoch war diese aktive Spielweise aus nachträglicher Sicht wohl angeraten.})
15. Bd4 $1 (15. Bxg6 fxg6 $11) 15... Nxd4 ({Wenn Schwarz an dieser Stelle
nicht die Damen tauschen will, so kommt auch} 15... Qc7 {in Frage.} 16. Qe3
Nxd4 17. cxd4 ({Allerdings kann Weiß auch} 17. Qxd4 {spielen.} Ne7 18. Qe3 Nc6
19. O-O-O $13) 17... Qb6 $13) 16. cxd4 {Der Verlauf der Partie nach dem 10.
Zug war nicht günstig für Weiß und Schwarz hat hier nahezu ausgeglichen.} Qxd2+
(16... Qb6 {kam auch gut in Frage.}) 17. Kxd2 $14 Nf4 $2 {Vermutlich ist der
Springerzug schlecht, wenn Schwarz nicht im nächsten Zug den Bd3 tauschen darf
(und das ist m.E. der Fall).} (17... Ne7 $142 {/\ Nc6, f6} 18. Rac1 (18. Ke3
Nc6 19. Nd2 (19. g5) 19... f6 20. f4 $13) 18... a6 19. h5 Nc6 20. Ke3 f6 {
(Shipov)}) 18. Rac1 $1 h5 {Stattdessen konnte Schwarz fast zwangsläufig in ein
N/B-Endspiel gehen; dessen Ergebnis ist auch maßgeblich für die Bewertung von
17...Nf4 bzw. 18...h5.} (18... Nxd3 $6 19. Kxd3 Bb5+ 20. Ke3 Kd7 21. h5 Rac8
22. Nh2 $1 {Dieser Springerzug verhindert praktisch das reine N/B-Endspiel.
Ich habe auch 21.Nh4 analysiert, aber dann kann Schwarz beide Türme tauschen
und vermutlich remis halten.} Rhf8 (22... Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Rc8 $2 24. Rxc8 Kxc8
25. f4 Kd7 26. g5 hxg5 (26... Ke7 27. gxh6 gxh6 28. Ng4 $18) 27. fxg5 Ke7 28.
h6 gxh6 29. gxh6 Kf8 30. Kf4 Kg8 31. Kg5 Bd3 (31... Be2 32. Kf6 Bh5 33. Nf1 Kh7
34. Ne3 Kxh6 35. Ng2 $18) 32. Kf6 $18) 23. f4 a5 24. Nf3 $16 {Weiß kann g5
oder f5 spielen; der Gewinn ist noch weit.}) 19. Rhg1 Bc6 (19... Nh3 20. Rg3 $1
(20. Rg2 Nf4 21. Rg3 Bc6 {Das wäre die Idee von 19...Nh3 - wenn Weiß auf h5
schlägt, gewinnt Schwarz ein Tempo mit Nxh5.}) 20... Nxf2 21. gxh5 {Das ist
eine schwierige Stellung für Schwarz.}) (19... Rc8 {würde die Situation von
Schwarz nicht verbessern; ich gebe eine "Fritz-Variante" an:} 20. Rxc8+ Bxc8
21. gxh5 Nxh5 22. Ke3 Bd7 23. Rc1 Kd8 24. Ng5 Rf8 25. Be2 g6 26. Bxh5 gxh5 27.
Nh7 Rg8 28. Nf6 Rg6 29. Rh1 Rh6 30. f4 Bb5 31. Rg1 Rg6 32. Rg5 $18) 20. gxh5
Nxh5 (20... Kf8) 21. b4 $1 $16 {Von jetzt an steht nur noch die Frage, ob der
erhebliche weiße Vorteil auch zum Gewinn ausreicht.} a6 22. a4 $1 Kd8 {Dies
wurde kritisiert, doch Weiß ist auch bei anderen Zügen nahe an einer
Gewinnstellung.} (22... Bxa4 23. Rc7 Bb5 24. Bb1 $1 Bd7 (24... O-O 25. Rg5 Nf4
(25... g6 26. Bxg6 fxg6 27. Rxg6+ Kh8 28. Ng5 $18) 26. Ke3 Ne2 27. Bd3 Bxd3 28.
Kxd3 Nf4+ 29. Ke3 Ng6 30. h5 Nh8 31. h6 g6) (24... b6 25. Ng5 O-O 26. Bh7+ Kh8
27. Bc2 Be8 28. Bd1 Nf4 (28... g6 29. Bxh5 gxh5 30. Ra1)) 25. Ng5) (22... Ke7
$5 23. b5 axb5 24. axb5 Bd7 25. Rc7 b6 26. Ke3 Ra3 27. Rb7 Rc8 28. Rb1 {/\ Ne1}
(28. Rd1 Rcc3 29. Ne1) 28... Nf4 29. Kxf4 Rxd3 30. Ra1 $1 Rcc3 31. Raa7 Rxf3+
32. Kg4 Ke8 33. Rxd7 $16) 23. Ng5 Be8 24. b5 $5 (24. Ke3 g6 25. Rc2 Rc8 $1 (
25... Ng7 $2 26. Rgc1 Rxh4 27. Rc7 Rh1 28. Rxh1 Kxc7 29. Bxg6 $18) 26. Rxc8+
Kxc8 27. b5 Ng7 28. bxa6 bxa6 29. Bxa6+ Kb8 30. Bd3 Rxh4 31. Nf3 Rh3 32. a5 $16
) 24... Nf4 $6 {Definitiv der letzte Fehler.} (24... axb5 25. Bxb5 {Besser
gefällt mir} b6 {was auch Ra7 vorbereitet.} (25... Nf4 $6 {Schwarz kann sich
in einigen Varianten in ein Doppelturmendspiel retten, aber seine Figuren
stehen so passiv, dass eine Rettung fraglich ist.} 26. Ke3 Ng6 (26... f6 27.
Nf7+ $1 Bxf7 28. Rxg7 Ng2+ 29. Rxg2 fxe5 30. dxe5 Be8 31. Bxe8 Kxe8 32. Rg4 $18
{Hier steht Schwarz zu passiv.}) 27. Bxe8 Kxe8 28. Nxe6 fxe6 29. Rxg6 Kf7 30.
Rg4 Rh7 (30... Rhc8 31. Rcg1 Rg8 32. a5 Rxa5 33. Rc1) 31. Rc7+ Kf8 32. Rxb7
Rxa4 33. Rf4+ Ke8 34. Rbf7 Ra3+ 35. Ke2 Ra4 36. Kf3 Rb4 37. Rf8+ Kd7 38. R4f7+
Kc6 39. Rc8+ Kb5 40. Rb7+ Ka4 41. Rxb4+ Kxb4 42. Kg4 $18) 26. Ke3 (26. Rc3 Nf4
27. Rg4 Ng6 28. Rf3 (28. Nxe6+ fxe6 29. Bxe8 Kxe8 30. Rxg6 Rxh4 31. Rxe6+ Kf8
$13) 28... Ra7 29. Bxe8 Kxe8 30. Nxe6 Rh7) 26... Ra7 $1 27. Rb1 (27. Bxe8 Rxe8
28. Rc6 Rxa4 29. Nxf7+ Kd7 30. Rgc1 Ra3+ 31. Kd2 Ra2+ 32. Ke1 Rea8 33. Rxb6
R8a7) (27. Rc3 Bxb5 28. axb5 Ke7 29. Rgc1 Rd8 30. Rc7+ Rd7 31. Rxd7+ Rxd7 32.
Rc6 Rb7) 27... g6 (27... Bxb5 28. Rxb5 Ke7 29. Rxb6 Rc8) 28. Bxe8 Rxe8 29. Rxb6
Ng7) 25. b6 $3 $18 {Nun ist Schwarz chancenlos.} Nxd3 (25... Rc8 26. Rxc8+ Kxc8
27. Rc1+ Kb8 28. Rc7 $18) 26. Kxd3 Rc8 27. Rxc8+ Kxc8 28. Rc1+ Bc6 29. Nxf7
Rxh4 30. Nd6+ Kd8 31. Rg1 Rh3+ 32. Ke2 Ra3 33. Rxg7 Rxa4 34. f4 Ra2+ (34...
Rxd4 35. f5 $1 exf5 36. e6 Re4+ $8 37. Nxe4 fxe4 38. Rc7 $1 $18) 35. Kf3 (35.
Kd3 {gewinnt auch:} Ra3+ 36. Kc2 Ra2+ 37. Kb3 Rf2 38. f5 exf5 39. Nxb7+ Bxb7
40. Rxb7 Re2 41. Rf7 $18) 35... Ra3+ 36. Kg4 Rd3 (36... Ra1 37. Rh7 Rg1+ 38.
Kf3 Rf1+ 39. Ke3 {/\ 40.f5+-}) 37. f5 $1 Rxd4+ 38. Kg5 exf5 39. Kf6 Rg4 40. Rc7
Rh4 41. Nf7+ (41. Nf7+ Ke8 42. Rc8+ Kd7 43. Rd8#) 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Bruzon Batista, Lazaro"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2652"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[Annotator "Gershon,A"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2005.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. d4 e6 4. e3 Bb7 5. Bd3 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. O-O Bd6 8. Nc3
O-O 9. b3 a6 10. Bb2 Nbd7 11. Rc1 Qe7 12. Ne2 Ne4 13. Ng3 f5 14. Rc2 Rf7 15.
Re1 $146 {This novelty doesn't change the general assessment of this position,
that black is more than OK here.} (15. Qa1 $2 {Too careless - white is moving
all his pieces away from the kingside, leaving the king to survive on his own}
Re8 16. Rfc1 c6 17. Re1 g6 18. Ree2 h5 19. Nf1 h4 20. Ne1 Rh7 21. f3 Ng3 $1 $19
22. hxg3 hxg3 23. f4 Qh4 24. Nxg3 Qh2+ 25. Kf2 Nf6 26. Nf1 Ng4+ 27. Kf3 Qg1 28.
Rf2 Qxf1 29. e4 dxe4+ {0-1 Adler,J-Jenni,F/Switzerland 2003/EXT 2004}) (15. Qe2
g6 16. Rfc1 c6 17. Ne1 a5 18. Nf1 Re8 19. f4 g5 20. g3 Rg7 21. Kh1 Qf7 22. Ng2
Ndf6 23. Nd2 gxf4 24. Nxf4 Nxg3+ $1 25. hxg3 Bxf4 26. Nf1 (26. gxf4 Rxe3 $19)
26... Bxg3 $19 27. Bxf5 Ne4 28. Qf3 Nf2+ 29. Rxf2 Bxf2 30. Qxf2 Bc8 31. Ng3
Bxf5 32. Rxc6 (32. Nxf5 Qh5+ 33. Nh4 Re4) 32... Be4+ {0-1 Mamedjarova,
Z-Chiburdanidze,M/Calvia ESP 2004/The Week in Chess 520}) 15... g5 {Whereas
white doesn't have any clear line of play, black's game is straightforward.
However, black's last move is, perhaps, a bit too straightforward.} (15... g6
$5 {[%cal Gh7h4] was worth considering. Now black will find it hard to develop
his attack on the kingside.}) 16. Nd2 Raf8 17. Qe2 g4 ({Black had an
interesting option to continue his attack:} 17... h5 $5 18. Qxh5 (18. Nxh5 Rh7
19. Nf1 Rh8 $1 $36 {[%cal Ge7h7]}) 18... Bxg3 19. fxg3 (19. hxg3 Rh7 20. Qg6+ (
20. Qe2 Qd6 21. Bxe4 dxe4 $40) 20... Rg7 (20... Kh8 {[%cal Gf8f6]} 21. Bxe4
fxe4 22. Rxc7 $18) 21. Qh5 Ndf6 (21... Qf6 22. Rxc7 Rh7 23. Qxh7+ Kxh7 24.
Rxd7+ Rf7 25. Rxf7+ Qxf7 26. Nf3 $16) 22. Qf3 Nxd2 23. Rxd2 Ne4 24. Rc2 (24.
Bxe4 fxe4 25. Qe2 Rh7 $17) 24... Rh7 25. Rec1 Qd6 {[%cal Gd6h6,Gf5f4]} 26. Kf1
f4 27. exf4 gxf4 $40) 19... Rh7 20. Qe2 (20. Qg6+ Rg7 21. Qh5 Ndf6 22. Qe2 Rh7)
20... Ndf6 {[%cal Gh7h2,Yf6g4]} 21. Nxe4 (21. Bxa6 Rxh2 $1 22. Kxh2 Qh7+ 23.
Kg1 Nxg3 $19) 21... fxe4 22. Bxa6 Rxh2 $1 23. Kxh2 (23. Bxb7 Qh7 $19) 23...
Bxa6 24. Qd1 (24. Qxa6 Qh7+ 25. Kg1 Ng4 $19) 24... Qh7+ 25. Kg1 Bc8 26. Ba3 (
26. Rf2 Ng4 27. Rxf8+ Kxf8 28. Kf1 Qh1+ 29. Ke2 Qxg2#)) 18. Bxe4 $1 {after
this precise move, black hardly has winning chances anymore.} fxe4 (18... dxe4
19. Nc4 $14) 19. Qxg4+ Kh8 20. f4 Bc8 (20... exf3 21. Nxf3 Rg7 22. Qh4 ({
of course not} 22. Nf5 $4 Rxg4 23. Nxe7 Rxf3 $19 (23... Bxe7 24. Rxc7)) 22...
Qxh4 23. Nxh4 Bxg3 24. hxg3 {[%csl Rc7]} c6 25. Ba3 Rff7 26. e4 $1 $16) 21. Qg5
{Now the game will quickly reach a dead drawn position} Qxg5 22. fxg5 Rg7 23.
Rec1 Kg8 24. Nb1 (24. Ndxe4 dxe4 25. Nxe4 Bb7 26. Nxd6 cxd6 27. Ba3 Rxg5 28.
Bxd6 Rf7 $15) 24... b5 25. Nc3 Nb6 26. Nce2 Rxg5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "2005.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. f3 b5 8. g4 h6
{Lately Black has been trying to do without this prophylactic move,} (8... Nfd7
{was played more often.}) 9. Qd2 b4 $5 {A flank action before finishing
development is always something, which should be considered very carefully and
the reputation of this alternative was not the best. However, modern chess is
a very concrete game, Topalov has a novelty up his sleeve...} (9... Nbd7 10.
O-O-O Bb7 11. h4 b4 12. Na4 {is the older main line, which gradually loses
it's popularity - Black risks more, than White in the arising razor-sharp
positions, for example after} ({The older} 12. Nce2 d5 13. Bh3 dxe4 {is OK for
Black.}) 12... Qa5 13. b3 Nc5 14. a3 Nxa4 15. axb4 Qc7 16. bxa4 d5 17. e5 Nd7
18. f4 Nb6 {recent practice favours White due to} 19. Rh3 $5 Nxa4 20. Bf2 Rc8
21. Be1 $14 ({or even} 21. c4 $5 dxc4 22. Qc2 $36)) 10. Na4 {Just as in the
line from the above note, White initially focused his attention on} (10. Nce2 {
However, here the situation is different and this retreat is far from
exhausted - actually it was tested in Wijk a few rounds later.} e5 11. Nb3 $142
({More active, but paradoxically less promising is} 11. Nf5 d5 12. O-O-O (12.
exd5 Qxd5 13. Bg2 Bb7 14. O-O Nbd7 15. Rfd1 g6 16. Nfg3 Bc5 17. Nf1 Qxd2 18.
Rxd2 e4 19. fxe4 Nxg4 20. Bxc5 Nxc5 21. Nf4 O-O 22. Nd5 a5 23. a3 b3 24. Rad1
Kg7 $11 {Kovacevic,A-Ilincic,Z/YUG Cup Herceg Novi/2000/}) 12... Qa5 ({Black
should open the [+] himself instead of letting White do it, after} 12... Be6
13. Kb1 Nbd7 14. exd5 Bxd5 15. Bg2 Rc8 16. Nc1 Qc7 {Korneev,O-Vera,R/Sevilla
op/2001/} 17. f4 $1 $36 {is pretty annoying.}) 13. Kb1 dxe4 14. fxe4 Be6 15.
Nc1 Nbd7 16. Qg2 Qc7 $13 17. g5 $6 hxg5 18. Bxg5 Qc6 19. Bxf6 Nxf6 20. Nd3 Rd8
21. Re1 g6 22. Nxe5 Qc7 23. Ng4 Nxg4 24. Qxg4 Bxa2+ $1 $40 {Balogh,C-Antal,G/
HUN-ch U20/2001/}) 11... a5 (11... d5 {is less played, but perhaps also
possible:} {The critical line is} 12. O-O-O $5 (12. exd5 Qxd5 13. Qxd5 Nxd5 14.
Bf2 a5 15. O-O-O Bb7 16. Ng3 Nf4 17. Bb5+ Bc6 18. Rhe1 f6 19. Nd4 Bxb5 20. Nxb5
Na6 21. Nf5 g6 22. Nfd6+ (22. Nbd6+ Bxd6 23. Rxd6 Kf7 $5 $13) 22... Bxd6 23.
Rxd6 O-O 24. Bg3 Nh3 25. Rc6 Nb8 26. Rc7 Na6 $11 {Schwartz,Y-Rashkovsky,N/Bern/
2001/}) 12... d4 (12... Be6 13. g5 $1 hxg5 14. Bxg5 d4 15. Bg2 Be7 16. f4 Ng4
17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. fxe5 Nf2 19. Nexd4 Nxd1 20. Rxd1 Ra7 21. Nc5 Rc7 22. Nd3 Rxh2
23. Nf3 Rh6 24. Nxb4 Rd7 25. Nd5 Qc5 26. Nd4 $16 {Colovic,A-Palac,M/
Saint-Vincent/2001/}) 13. Nexd4 $5 exd4 14. Nxd4 $32 {()|^}) 12. Rd1 $142 $1 (
12. Ng3 a4 13. Nc1 {again gives Black a choice:} Qa5 (13... d5 14. Bb5+ Bd7 15.
Bxd7+ Qxd7 16. g5 (16. exd5 Nxd5 17. Nd3 Nc6 18. Nc5 Bxc5 19. Bxc5 Nf4 20.
O-O-O Qxd2+ 21. Rxd2 Ne6 22. Bd6 f6 23. Ne2 Kf7 $11 {Socko,B-Ibrahimov,R/
EU-chT Plovdiv/2003/}) 16... hxg5 17. Bxg5 dxe4 18. Bxf6 Qxd2+ 19. Kxd2 e3+ (
19... gxf6 20. fxe4 Bh6+ $132) 20. Kxe3 gxf6 21. h4 Ke7 22. Nd3 Nc6 23. f4 a3
24. b3 Rd8 25. h5 {Fedorov,A-Solak,D/EU-ch Istanbul/2003/} Ke6 $13) 14. Bc4 Be6
15. Bxe6 fxe6 16. Nd3 Nc6 17. O-O Be7 18. Qg2 g5 $5 19. c3 bxc3 20. Rac1 Nb4
21. Nxb4 Qxb4 22. Rxc3 d5 23. Qc2 d4 24. Rc4 Qb5 25. Bd2 Kf7 26. Nh1 Nd7 27.
Nf2 Nb6 $132 {Svidler,P-Ilincic,Z/EU-Cup Chalkidiki/2002/}) ({An interesting
idea is blockading the << with} 12. c4 $5 {, but Black should be able to cope
after} a4 (12... Nc6 13. Rd1 Be6 14. Ng3 a4 15. Nc1 g6 16. h4 h5 17. g5 Nd7 18.
Be2 Be7 19. O-O Qa5 20. b3 Nc5 21. f4 exf4 22. Rxf4 axb3 23. axb3 Qa1 24. Nf5
Nxe4 25. Rxe4 gxf5 26. Rf4 Qc3 27. Bf3 $36 {Iordachescu,V-Lutz,C/Calvia olm/
2004/}) 13. Nbc1 Nc6 (13... Qa5 14. Ng3 g6 15. Bd3 $6 (15. h4 $142) 15... Nbd7
16. O-O Nc5 17. Be2 Be6 18. Nd3 Nxd3 19. Qxd3 Be7 20. h3 {Nyysti,S-Szabo,K/
Budapest/2004/} Nd7 $1 {/\Bg5=/+}) 14. Ng3 Nd7 15. Nd3 Qa5 16. Be2 Nc5 17. O-O
Be6 18. Rac1 g6 $13 19. f4 $6 Nxd3 20. Qxd3 exf4 21. Bxf4 Ne5 22. Qd2 Bg7 23.
h3 b3 24. axb3 Qxd2 25. Bxd2 axb3 $36 {Kuznetsov,V-Shtyrenkov,V/Alushta/2004/})
12... a4 (12... Qc7 13. Ng3 g6 14. h4 h5 $6 (14... Be6 $142) 15. Bg5 Nbd7 16.
Bb5 Be7 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. gxh5 Ke7 19. hxg6 fxg6 20. h5 $36 {Nijboer,F-Nielsen,
P/Wijk aan Zee B/2005/}) 13. Nbc1 Nc6 14. Ng3 Qa5 15. Nf5 Bxf5 16. gxf5 d5 $5
17. exd5 O-O-O 18. Bc4 Bc5 19. Bxc5 Qxc5 20. Nd3 Qxc4 21. dxc6 e4 22. Qxb4 Qxc6
23. Qc5 Qxc5 24. Nxc5 Rxd1+ 25. Kxd1 Rd8+ 26. Ke2 exf3+ 27. Kxf3 a3 $5 $14 {
<=>,Zhigalko,A-Svidler,P/EU-Cup Rethymnon/2003/}) 10... Nbd7 (10... e5 $6 11.
Nf5 $36 {[%csl Rb6] ><b6}) (10... d5 11. e5 Nfd7 12. f4 $14 {is Ilincic's
favourite, but transposing so abruptly into a French P-structure is
discouraging for most Sicilian players. White can activate his Na4 after b3
via b2 and should be better.} Bb7 13. Bd3 Qa5 14. b3 Nc6 15. Qf2 Rb8 16. f5 $1
Ncxe5 17. fxe6 fxe6 18. O-O Bd6 19. Qh4 Nf8 20. Nxe6 Nxe6 21. Bb6 Qxb6+ 22.
Nxb6 Bc5+ 23. Kg2 $40 {Sammalvuo,T-Ilincic,Z/Budapest/2004/}) 11. O-O-O (11.
Qxb4 d5 12. Qd2 dxe4 $15) (11. Nc6 Qc7 12. Nxb4 d5 $5 $36 {[%csl Ra4,Rb4][%cal
Rc7a5] /\Qa5,פ}) 11... Ne5 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8] An interesting and promising
novelty, previous attempts were not too encouraging:} (11... d5 12. exd5 Nxd5
13. Bc4 Bb7 $6 {[%csl Re6] ><e6} ({Safer was} 13... N7f6 $142) 14. Rhe1 Ne5 15.
Bb3 Qc7 16. Bf2 Be7 17. Kb1 Ng6 18. Bg3 (18. Rxe6 $1 fxe6 19. Nxe6 Qd7 20. Qe1
$1 $40 {Z.Almasi}) 18... Qa5 19. Nxe6 $5 fxe6 20. Rxe6 $32 {|^} Rd8 21. Qe1 O-O
22. Rxg6 $16 {Almasi,Z-Movsesian,S/Budapest/2003/}) (11... Qa5 12. b3 d5 $2 {
failed tactically to} (12... Nc5 $2 13. Nc6 Qc7 14. Bxc5 $16) (12... Bb7 $142
$132) 13. e5 $1 Ng8 (13... Nxe5 14. Nxe6 $1 {[%csl Ra5][%cal Re3b6] /\Bb6+-,
ףa5}) 14. f4 Qc7 15. Kb1 g5 16. f5 Nxe5 17. fxe6 fxe6 18. h4 gxh4 19. g5 hxg5
20. Bxg5 Nf7 21. Bh3 e5 22. Ne6 Bxe6 23. Bxe6 d4 24. Rdf1 $18 {->,Leko,
P-Movsesian,S/Budapest/2003/}) 12. Qxb4 ({A more recent try of a better
prepared opponent was} 12. b3 $5 {However, this novelty is also far from clear
and the final result of the Anand-Topalov game was only indirectly influenced
by the opening battle.} d5 (12... Bd7 $5 {/\} 13. Nb2 Qa5 (13... d5 $5 $13) 14.
a4 (14. Kb1 $2 Nxf3 $1 15. Nxf3 Nxe4 $17) 14... d5 $13) 13. Bf4 Bd6 (13... Ng6
$5 14. Nc6 Nxe4 $5 (14... Qd7 15. Ne5 Nxe5 16. Bxe5 $36) 15. fxe4 Qf6 16. e5
Qxf4 17. Qxf4 Nxf4 18. Nb6 Bb7 19. Nxa8 Bxa8 20. Nb8 $5 (20. Nd4 Ng6 $44) 20...
a5 $13 {[%csl Re5,Gf4] ><e5}) 14. Bxe5 Bxe5 15. Nc6 Qc7 16. Nxe5 Qxe5 17. Qxb4
dxe4 18. Nb6 Rb8 19. Kb1 Qc7 20. Qa4+ Kf8 21. Nxc8 Rxc8 22. Qc4 Qxc4 23. Bxc4
a5 24. Ba6 Rb8 25. fxe4 h5 (25... Nxe4 $5 26. Rd4 Nc5 $14 {/<=>}) 26. gxh5 Nxe4
27. Rd4 Nf6 28. Be2 Nxh5 29. Rh4 g6 30. Rg1 Ke7 31. Ra4 Ra8 32. Bf3 Ra7 33. Rg5
$36 {Anand,V-Topalov,V/Linares/2005/}) 12... Bd7 {[%csl Ra4,Rb4,Gd7,Re6] פa4,
Qb4 The Bd7 covers the traditionally vulnerable Pe6 and targets the sidelined
Na4.} 13. Nb3 $6 {[%mdl 64] The surprised Kramnik loses control and reacts
badly in a volatile position, full of tactics.} (13. Nc3 $142 {Even the
"silicon friend" indicates this after some thought as the best option, as
Black can't immediately trap White's Q. The annotator had to face this very
move himself only 3 days after Kramnik-Topalov!} Qc7 $5 {[%cal Rd6d5] /\d5-+} (
13... d5 $143 $6 14. Qb7 Rb8 15. Qxa6 Bb4 16. Ndb5 $32 {->}) 14. Bf4 ({
Deserving attention is} 14. Qb3 $5 Rb8 15. Qa3 Nc4 16. Bxc4 Qxc4 17. Nb1 $5 d5
18. Nd2 Qc8 $13 (18... Qc7 $5 $44)) 14... g5 15. Bg3 h5 $1 16. h4 $6 (16. gxh5
$142 Nxh5 17. Be2 Nf4 $44) 16... hxg4 17. Bxa6 $2 (17. fxg4 Nfxg4 $15) 17...
Rxa6 18. hxg5 Rxh1 19. Rxh1 Rb6 $1 20. Ndb5 Bxb5 21. Bxe5 (21. Nxb5 $2 Nd3+ 22.
Kb1 Qxc2+ $1 $19) 21... Bd7 22. Qa5 dxe5 23. gxf6 gxf3 $17 {/-+} 24. Nd1 Bc6 $6
25. Nf2 $2 $138 (25. Qc3 $8 $17) 25... Bb4 $1 {Balinov,I-Stohl,I/Betriebsliga
Vienna/2005/ In the end White's Q didn't escape its fate!}) 13... Rb8 $6 {
This is possibly not ideal.} (13... Nxf3 $142 14. Nb6 Rb8 $15) ({or} 13... a5
$5 14. Qa3 Nxf3 $36 {were promising alternatives.}) 14. Qa3 $2 {[%mdl 8192]
After this resigned move White goes under without a trace.} (14. Nb6 Nc6 (14...
Nxf3 $5 {-13...Nf3}) 15. Qa4 Rxb6 16. Bxb6 Qxb6 17. Qxa6 Qe3+ 18. Nd2 Ne5 19.
h4 (19. Qa8+ Ke7 20. h4 g6 {[%cal Rf8g7] /\Bg7->}) 19... Be7 $17) (14. Bb6 $142
Rxb6 (14... Nxf3 15. Qa5 $13) 15. Qxb6 (15. Nxb6 Nc6 $17 {-14.Nb6}) 15... Bxa4
16. Qxa6 Bd7 {Although White's P are in front of his K and Black's minor
pieces should prevail in the long run, the game is far from decided. Black
still hasn't finished developing his >> and White can create complications with
} (16... Bxb3 $6 {is perhaps possible, but quite risky after} 17. Bb5+ $44) 17.
f4 $5 $132 {/=/+}) 14... Nxf3 {[%csl Re4,Rg4] ><g4,e4 White's centre is
falling apart and he also lacks piece coordination.} 15. h3 Nxe4 16. Be2 (16.
Bg2 Ne5 $1 {/\} 17. Bxe4 Nc4 $19) 16... Ne5 17. Rhe1 (17. Bxa6 Qc7 {[%cal
Rc7c6,Rd6d5] /\Qc6,d5-+}) 17... Qc7 $19 {[%csl Ra4,Rb3,Ge4,Ge5] פ Black is
already a healthy P up, just compare his N with White's.} 18. Bd4 Nc6 19. Bc3
d5 20. Nbc5 Qa7 (20... Qa7 21. b4 $8 Nxc3 22. Qxc3 Nxb4 {[%cal Rb4a2] /\Na2}
23. Kd2 Bxa4 24. Nxa4 Be7 $1 $19 {[%cal Re7g5] /\Bg5}) 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2728"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "2005.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Bg5 12. Nc2 O-O 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 a5
15. Bc4 Rb8 16. b3 Kh8 17. Qe2 $5 {(V.Iordachescu)} (17. h4 Bh6 18. Qe2 Be6 $11
) 17... f5 (17... g6 18. h4 $5 Bxh4 19. g3 $44) (17... Bd7 18. Ra1 Ne7 19. Nxe7
Bxe7 20. O-O Be6 21. Na3 Bxc4 22. bxc4 $1 f5 23. exf5 Rxf5 24. Rfd1 Rc8 25. Rd5
Rf6 26. Nc2 $16 {1-0 Ivanchuk,V-Leko,P/Monaco 2004 (40)}) 18. h4 {This was the
idea behind delaying castle short with 17.Qe2. The bishop is chased from the
diagonal c1-h6.} Bf6 (18... Be7 19. exf5 Bxf5 20. Nce3 Be6 21. Qc2 Qd7 22. Qe4
$14 {/= Iordachescu,V-Malakhatko,V/Ohrid 2001 (59)}) (18... Bh6 19. exf5 Bxf5
20. g4 Bxc2 21. Qxc2 Bf4 22. Qe4 $16 {[%cal Gc4d3]}) 19. exf5 Bxf5 20. Nce3 Bd7
(20... Be6 {0-1 Arzumanian,G-Kuznetsov,V/Pardubice 2004 (36)} 21. Qc2 $1 $14 {
/=}) 21. Bd3 (21. Qc2 e4 $5 (21... Ne7 22. Ra2 Bc6 23. Qe4 Nxd5 24. Nxd5 Bxd5
25. Bxd5 Qc7 26. Bc4 Bd8 27. g3 {1/2-1/2 Nisipeanu,L-Volzhin,A/Dubai 2002}) 22.
Qxe4 Ne5 (22... Re8 $5 {Nisipeanu; Stoica}) 23. Ra1 (23. Ra3 {1/2-1/2 Ivanchuk,
V-Shirov,A/Izmir 2004 (66)} Re8 $44) 23... Re8 24. Nxf6 Qxf6 25. Qd4 Bc6 26.
Bd5 Rb4 27. Qd2 Bxd5 28. Qxd5 Rxb3 (28... Nf3+ $2 29. Ke2 Qxc3 30. Kxf3 $18 {
1/2-1/2 Charbonneau,P-Radjabov,T/Mallorca 2004 (70)}) 29. O-O (29. Qxb3 $2 Nd3+
$19) 29... Rxc3 $11) (21. Ra2 e4 $132) 21... Ne7 22. Nxe7 (22. Ra3 Qe8 (22...
Be6 $5) 23. Be4 Nxd5 24. Nxd5 Bd8 25. g3 {1/2-1/2 Arzumanian,G-Oleksienko,M/
Alushta 2004}) 22... Qxe7 23. Nd5 (23. Rxa5 $4 e4 $18 {[%cal Gf6c3]}) 23... Qf7
24. Rxa5 (24. Qe4 g6 25. h5 Bg5 $1 $132 {[%csl Rf2]}) 24... Bd8 25. Ra7 Qxd5
26. Rxd7 Rxb3 27. Qg4 $11 Bf6 28. Qf5 Qg8 29. O-O Rxc3 30. Rxd6 (30. h5 $6 Bh4)
30... Bxh4 31. Qxe5 Bxf2+ $5 32. Rxf2 Rc1+ 33. Kh2 (33. Bf1 Rxf2 34. Kxf2 Qf8+
35. Kg3 Rxf1 $15) 33... Rxf2 34. Rh6 Rcf1 35. Rxh7+ Qxh7+ 36. Bxh7 Kxh7 {
Black cannot make progress because of the exposed position of his king.} 37.
Qh5+ Kg8 38. Qe8+ Rf8 39. Qe6+ R1f7 40. Kg3 Rd8 41. Kg4 Kf8 42. Kg5 Rf6 43. Qb3
Rdd6 44. Qb8+ Kf7 45. Qb3+ Rde6 46. g4 Kg8 47. Kh4 Kh7 48. Qd3+ Rg6 49. Qf5
Ref6 50. Qe4 Rc6 51. Kg3 Rc3+ 52. Kh4 Rc5 53. Kg3 Rh5 54. Qb1 Ra5 55. Qe4 Ra1
56. Qf5 Rg1+ 57. Kf2 Rh1 58. Kg3 Rg1+ 59. Kf2 R1xg4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.18"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C99"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2685"]
[Annotator "Wedberg,T"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2005.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 cxd4 12. cxd4 Bb7 13. d5 Rc8 14. Nbd2 Qc7 15.
Bd3 Nd7 16. Nf1 Nc5 (16... f5 {This is the main idea in this line and it is
best played immediately.} 17. Ng3 (17. exf5 Nc5 18. Ng5 (18. Bb1 Nc4 19. a3 Bf6
20. Ne3 e4 $132 {0-1 Moreno Carnero,J-Kuzmin,A/Port Erin 2003/CBM 096 ext (40)}
) 18... Nxd3 19. Qxd3 Qc4 20. Qg3 Qxd5 $13 {1-0 Ivanov,A-Alonso,R/Linares 1992/
CBM 033 ext (44)}) 17... f4 18. Nf5 Rxf5 (18... Bd8 19. b3 Nc5 20. Bb2 Rxf5 21.
exf5 Nxd3 22. Qxd3 Qc2 23. Qxc2 Rxc2 24. Ba3 $14 {1-0 Solovjov,S-Kuzmin,A/St
Petersburg 2004/CBM 102 (38)}) 19. exf5 Nf6 20. Ng5 Bxd5 21. Be4 $1 Bxe4 22.
Nxe4 Nxe4 23. Rxe4 Qc2 24. Qd5+ Kf8 25. Bd2 $14 {1-0 Hermansson,E-Ong,K/
Gothenburg 2004/CBM 101 ext (39)}) (16... Nc4 {is logical given the problems
with Na5, but Black is cramped after:} 17. b3 Ncb6 18. Ng3 {1-0 Velimirovic,
D-Mihos,T/Athens 2000/EXT 2001 (39)}) 17. b3 $1 {[%csl Ra5] The offside N on
a5 is the main weakness in Black's position.} (17. Bb1 Na4 18. Ng3 g6 19. h4
Qxc1 $5 20. Qxc1 Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Nxb2 $13 {0-1 Golubev,M-Mahesh Chandran,P/Paris
2004/CBM 101 ext (46)}) 17... f5 {Make or break - this has to be played.} (
17... Nxd3 18. Qxd3 Ba8 19. Ne3 Nb7 20. b4 $16 {[%csl Rb7] 1-0 Szelag,
M-Sendera,J/Lubniewice 2003/EXT 2004 (30)}) 18. exf5 Bf6 $146 (18... Bxd5 19.
Be2 Bxf3 20. Bxf3 Nc6 21. Ne3 Kh8 22. Nd5 Qd8 23. Be3 $16 {was terrible for
Black in 1-0 Sax,G-Tseshkovsky,V/Wijk aan Zee 1989/CBM 011 (40)}) 19. Be4 Qf7 (
19... Nxe4 20. Rxe4 Qf7 21. Ne3 {and Black is completely without play.}) 20.
Ng3 Nxe4 21. Nxe4 Qxd5 {Optically Black has a lot going for him here: pair of
B:s on good diagonals, centre P:s and a centralized Q. So what does the world
champion see for White here?} 22. Bd2 $1 {He sees a misplaced N on a5 and two
centre P:s that are fairly weak at the moment. He has also seen White's
overweight on the K-side which can be an important trump if handled well.} (22.
Nxd6 $2 e4 $17) (22. Ba3 Qxd1 23. Raxd1 Bxe4 24. Rxe4 Nb7 25. Re2 a5 $1 $13)
22... Nc6 23. Bg5 $1 {Winning the d6-P and putting pressure on Black to find
compensation.} Nb4 (23... Nd4 24. Nxd4 exd4 25. Bxf6 gxf6 26. Qd2 Rce8 (26...
d3 27. Re3 $16) 27. f3 $16 {[%csl Rd4,Rd6,Rf6][%cal Ya1d1] Solid White
advantage due to Black's weak P:s.}) 24. Bxf6 gxf6 25. Nxd6 Qxd1 26. Rexd1 Bxf3
27. gxf3 Rc3 28. a4 $5 {[%mdl 128] Aggressive move, but to win in chess you
have to set problems for your opponent that he cannot handle.} (28. Kg2 Nd3 29.
Ne4 Nf4+ 30. Kg3 Rc6 (30... Rc7 31. Rd6 $1 $36) 31. Rd7 Rf7 32. Rad1 $14) 28...
Rxb3 $2 (28... Rxf3 29. axb5 axb5 30. Kg2 Rxb3 31. Kh2 Kg7 32. Rg1+ Kh6 33. Rg4
Rb2 34. Ne4 (34. Ra7 Rxf2+ 35. Kg3 Rf4 36. Nf7+ Rxf7 37. Rxf7 Nd5 $14) 34...
Nc6 35. Rag1 {Strong attack for White, but is it winning? Not clear.}) 29. axb5
axb5 30. Kh2 Kg7 31. Rg1+ Kh6 32. Rg4 Nc6 (32... Rb2 33. Ra7 Rxf2+ 34. Kg3 $18)
33. Rag1 Kh5 $2 {The final mistake.} (33... Rb4 $1 34. Nxb5 Rd8 35. Nc7 $14)
34. Rg7 h6 35. Ne4 Rxf3 36. R1g4 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.20"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[Annotator "Gershon,A"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2005.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qa4 Bb7 6. Bg2 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. O-O
O-O 9. Nc3 Be7 10. Bf4 a6 11. Rfd1 d6 12. Qb4 {An interesting novelty -
forcing black to open up. Leko is trying to improve on their previous game in
the match} ({in the Brissago match Leko tried:} 12. Qc2 Qc7 13. Rac1 Rd8 14.
Qd2 Nh5 15. Bg5 Nf6 16. Bf4 Nh5 17. Bg5 Nf6 {1/2-1/2 Leko,P-Kramnik,V/Brissago
SUI 2004/The Week in Chess 519}) 12... Nc6 (12... Ne8 $2 13. c5 $1 {[%csl Rb7]
[%cal Gb4b7]} dxc5 14. Qb3 {[%csl Rb6][%cal Gd1d8]} Qc8 (14... Bd6 15. Rxd6
Nxd6 16. Rd1 $18) 15. Qxb6 $16) 13. Qa3 d5 14. Qa4 Qc8 15. cxd5 (15. Rac1 dxc4
16. Qxc4 b5 17. Qd3 Rd8 18. Qb1 Rxd1+ 19. Nxd1 Qd7 $11) 15... b5 {An important
intermediate move, allowing black to regain the pawn.} 16. Qc2 (16. Qb3 $2 Na5
17. Qc2 b4 18. Qa4 bxc3 19. Qxa5 cxb2 20. Rab1 Nxd5 $15) 16... Nb4 17. Qd2
Nbxd5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Rac1 Qe8 {White's more active pieces, and Black's
queen side weaknesses make white's position slightly preferable. However,
Kramnik defends with precision.} 20. Nd4 {[%cal Gd4f5]} Rd8 ({after} 20... Bb4
21. Qd3 e5 22. Nf5 Rd8 (22... exf4 $2 23. Qd4 $1 {the point} f6 24. Bxd5+ Bxd5
25. Qxd5+ Kh8 26. Qd4 $16) 23. Bg5 f6 24. Qb3 {white retains some pressure}) ({
an attempt to keep the bishops} 20... h6 {was worth considering:} 21. Nf5 exf5
({much weaker is:} 21... Nxf4 22. Bxb7 Nh3+ 23. Kg2 Rd8 24. Bc6 $1 Rxd2 25.
Rxd2 $1 $16) 22. Bxd5 Rd8 23. Bxb7 Rxd2 24. Rxd2 Bb4 {Black has no problems
here.}) 21. Bg5 h6 22. Bxe7 Qxe7 23. Qa5 {[%csl Ra6]} Rc8 {The rook has done
its role on the 'd' file. Now it's time to fight for the 'c' file.} 24. Nb3 Nf6
$1 {Very consistently Kramnik neutralizes white's pressure. With every piece
disappearing from the board, white's initiative evaporates.} 25. Bxb7 Rxc1 26.
Rxc1 Qxb7 {Now the draw becomes inevitable.} 27. Qd2 Rc8 28. Rxc8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.21"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B41"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2005.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. Bd3 Nc6 8. a3
Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 d6 10. O-O Ne5 11. f4 Nxd3 12. Qxd3 e5 13. fxe5 dxe5 14. Bg5 h6
15. Bh4 exd4 16. e5 dxc3 17. Qxd8+ Kxd8 18. exf6 g5 19. Bg3 Be6 20. Rac1 Bxc4
21. Rfe1 Kd7 22. Re7+ Kc6 23. Rc7+ Kd5 24. Rd1+ Ke6 25. Rxc4 Rac8 26. Bc7 Kxf6
27. Rxc3 Rhe8 28. Rf3+ 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.22"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2005.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Bg5 12. Nc2 O-O 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 a5
15. Bc4 Rb8 16. Ra2 (16. b3) 16... Kh8 17. Nce3 {This move has been always
concidered harmless, but in this impressive game Ponomariov shows that White
has plenty of hidden ideas.} (17. O-O f5 18. exf5 Bxf5 $11) (17. h4 Bh6 18.
Nce3 Bxe3 19. Nxe3 Ne7 $11 20. b3 f5 21. exf5 Nxf5 22. Nxf5 Bxf5 23. O-O Be4
24. Bd5 Bxd5 25. Qxd5 Qxh4 26. Rxa5 Qf6 27. Ra6 e4 28. Rxd6 Qxc3 29. Qxe4 Qxb3
{1/2-1/2 Asrian,K-Khalifman,A/Bled 2002}) 17... g6 ({In order to avoid the
game continuation Black can play} 17... Bxe3 18. Nxe3 Ne7 19. O-O f5 $14 {/=})
18. h4 $1 {White takes full advantage of the rook on h1.} (18. O-O f5 $11)
18... Bxh4 (18... Bh6 $6 19. h5 $16) (18... Bxe3 $6 19. Nxe3 $16) 19. g3 Bf6 ({
Better is} 19... Bg5 {with complicated position:} 20. f4 (20. b3 {[#]} Bxe3 21.
Nxe3 Be6 (21... f5)) (20. b4 $5) 20... exf4 21. gxf4 Bh4+ 22. Kf1 f5 $13 23. b3
(23. b4 fxe4 24. Rah2 g5 25. b5 Ne5 26. Qd4 Rb7 $13 {0-1 Holmsten,A-Filippov,V/
Polanica Zdroj 1999 (36)}) 23... fxe4 24. Rah2 g5 25. Ng2 Rb7 26. Nxh4 gxh4 27.
Rxh4 Rg7 (27... Qe8 28. Bb5 Bf5 29. Bxc6 Qxc6 30. Qd4+ Rg7 31. Ne7 Qb5+ 32. Ke1
e3 33. Rh5 $18 {1-0 Maus,S-Birnboim,N/Tel Aviv 1987 (54)}) 28. Qh5 Bf5 29. Qh6
e3 $13 {1/2-1/2 Stangl,M-Kindermann,S/Altensteig 1987 (53)}) 20. b3 $1 Bg7 21.
f4 {[%cal Ga2h2]} exf4 22. gxf4 Re8 (22... Ne7 $2 23. Rah2 h6 $2 24. Rxh6+ Bxh6
25. Qd4+ f6 26. Nxf6 Nc6 27. Rxh6+ {1-0 Saheli,N-Raghavi,N/Bikaner 2004}) (
22... f5 23. Rah2 h6 24. Qf3 fxe4 25. Qg2 $18) 23. Qf3 (23. Rah2 $5 h6 (23...
h5 $2 24. Rxh5+ gxh5 25. Qxh5+ Kg8 26. Qh7+ Kf8 27. Rg1 $18) (23... Rxe4 24.
Rxh7+ Kg8 25. Qc2 $18) 24. Qf3 Kg8 25. Qg2 $40) 23... Kg8 (23... h6 24. Rah2
Ne7 $2 25. Rxh6+ Bxh6 26. Rxh6+ Kg7 27. Qh1 $1 Rh8 28. Rxh8 Qxh8 29. Qxh8+ Kxh8
30. Nxe7 $18 {1-0 Maki,V-Holmsten,A/Vammala 1999/EXT 2000 (58)}) 24. Rah2 h5
25. Rxh5 $5 ({After the simple} 25. Qg2 $1 {planning f4-f5 White has a strong
attack.}) 25... gxh5 26. Qxh5 Re6 {The analysis below shows that this
complicated poition is equal. Most likely it must end with perpetual check.}
27. Qh7+ (27. Rg1 Kf8 28. Rxg7 $1 Kxg7 29. Nf5+ Kg8 30. Nh6+ Kg7 (30... Rxh6 $2
31. Qxh6 $18) 31. Nf5+ $11 {(Kramnik)}) (27. Nf5 Rxe4+ 28. Kd1 Bxf5 29. Qxf5
Re6 30. Qh7+ Kf8 31. Rg1 Rg6 32. Rxg6 fxg6 33. Nc7 Qxc7 34. Qg8+ Ke7 35. Qxg7+
Kd8 36. Qg8+ Ke7 37. Qf7+ $11 {(Shipov)}) 27... Kf8 28. Rg1 (28. Kf2 Rg6 29.
Nf5 Ne5 $1 (29... Rb7 $2 30. Nxg7 Rxg7 31. Qh8+ Rg8 32. Qh6+ Ke8 33. Nf6+ Ke7
34. Nxg8+ Qxg8 35. Rg1 Qd8 36. Rg7 $18) 30. fxe5 Qg5 31. Nf6 Qd2+ 32. Kf1 Qf4+
33. Ke1 Qc1+ 34. Kf2 Qc2+ 35. Kf1 {is also a draw}) 28... Rg6 29. Rxg6 fxg6 30.
f5 (30. Nc7 d5 $1 (30... Ne7 31. Ned5 $1 Nxd5 32. Bxd5 Qxc7 33. Qg8+ Ke7 34.
Qxg7+ Kd8 35. Qg8+ $11) 31. Nexd5 Ne7 32. e5 $1 ({Black wins after} 32. f5 $2
gxf5 33. Nxe7 Bxc3+ $1 34. Ke2 Qd2+ $19) 32... Bg4 33. f5 $1 Bxf5 34. Nxe7 Qxc7
35. Qg8+ Kxe7 36. Qxg7+ Kd8 37. Qg8+ Kd7 38. Qd5+ {and again Black cannot
avoid the draw:} Kc8 39. Ba6+ Rb7 40. Qg8+ Kd7 41. Qd5+ Ke7 42. Qxb7 Qxb7 43.
Bxb7 Ke6 $11) 30... Qg5 (30... Rb7 31. Ne7 Kxe7 (31... Nxe7 32. f6 Nd5 $1 33.
fxg7+ Rxg7 34. Qh8+ Rg8 35. Qh6+ Ke8 36. Bxd5 Rf8 37. Qxg6+ Kd7 $11) 32. Qxg7+
Ke8 33. Qxg6+ Kd7 34. Qg7+ Ke8 $11) 31. Nf4 $8 $11 Ne7 (31... Qxf4 $4 32. Qg8+
Ke7 33. Nd5+) (31... Bxc3+ 32. Ke2 Nd4+ $2 (32... Ke8 33. Qg8+ Kd7 34. Qe6+ Kc7
35. Nfd5+ Kb7) 33. Kd3 $18) 32. Nxg6+ Ke8 (32... Nxg6 $2 33. Qg8+ Ke7 34. Nd5+
$18) 33. Nd5 Qg1+ 34. Kd2 Qg5+ 35. Ke1 Bf6 36. Ngxe7 Bxe7 (36... Qh4+ 37. Kf1
Bxe7 (37... Qxh7 38. Nxf6+ $1 Kxe7 39. Nxh7 $16) 38. Qg6+ Kd8 39. Qg8+ Kd7 40.
Qe6+ Kd8 41. Qg8+ $11) 37. Qh8+ Kd7 (37... Bf8 38. Nf6+ Ke7 39. Nd5+ Ke8 40.
Nf6+ $11) 38. f6 Qg3+ (38... Bd8 $2 39. Bb5+ $1 (39. Qg7+ Qxg7 40. fxg7 Bb7 41.
Ke2 Bg5 42. Kf3 $11) 39... Rxb5 40. Qg7+ Qxg7 41. fxg7 $18 {(Ponomariov)}) 39.
Ke2 Qg2+ 40. Ke3 Qg3+ 41. Ke2 Qg4+ 42. Kf2 {In spite of players combativity
the draw is inevitable.} Bd8 43. Bf1 (43. Be2 Qxe4 44. Bf3 Qg6 {is a draw as
well.}) 43... Kc6 44. Qxd8 Qh4+ 45. Kg1 ({White loses after} 45. Ke3 $2 Qe1+
46. Be2 Qxe2+ $1 {This wins, everything else loses.} 47. Kxe2 Bg4+) 45... Qg3+
1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.23"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2786"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2005.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12. Nc2 Bg5 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 a5
15. Bc4 Rb8 16. b3 Kh8 17. O-O f5 18. exf5 Bxf5 19. Nce3 Bg6 $11 20. Re1 $5 {
Introduced by IM Savanovic, with the previously known idea for such positions
Nf1-g3.} (20. Qe2 e4 $11) (20. Be2 Bf7 $11) (20. Bd3 Bxd3 21. Qxd3 Bxe3 22.
fxe3 (22. Nxe3 $2 Rxb3 23. Qc4 Qb6 $17) 22... Rxf1+ 23. Qxf1 Rxb3 24. Rc4 Rb5
$11) 20... Rb7 (20... Bxe3 21. Nxe3 $14) (20... Qd7 {with the idea ...Bd8 is
also a playable alternative}) (20... e4 $5 21. Nf1 Ne5 22. Ng3 Bh4 23. Nxe4
Bxe4 24. Rxe4 Bxf2+ 25. Kh1 Qg5 26. Be2 Bc5 27. Rf4 Ng6 (27... Rxf4 28. Rxf4
Re8 29. b4 axb4 30. cxb4 Ng6 31. Rf1 Ba7 32. b5 Bc5 (32... Rxe2 33. Qxe2 Qxd5
34. Qe8+ Qg8 35. Qxg8+ Kxg8 36. Ra1 Bc5 37. Ra6 Ne5 38. b6 Nd7 39. b7 $16) 33.
Bf3 Nh4 34. Nc7 Re5 35. Be4 g6 36. Qa1 $18 {1-0 Wiersma,E-Sill,T/Bad Wiessee
2003 (38)}) 28. Rf3 Rbe8 (28... Nh4 29. Rg3 $16) 29. Rxf8+ Rxf8 30. Rxa5 Nh4
31. Bf3 $2 (31. g3 Nf5 $44 {Black has sufficient compensation for a draw. For
instance:} 32. Ra2 Nxg3+ 33. hxg3 Qxg3 34. Bg4 Bf2 35. Qf1 Qxg4 36. Rxf2 Qh4+ {
and White can't escape perpetual:} 37. Kg2 Qg4+ 38. Kh2 Qh4+ 39. Kg1 Qg5+ 40.
Qg2 Qc1+ 41. Kh2 Qh6+ 42. Kg3 Qg5+ 43. Kh2 Qh6+ 44. Kg1 Qc1+ 45. Rf1 Rxf1+ 46.
Qxf1 Qg5+ 47. Qg2 Qc1+ $11) 31... h6 $17 (31... Nxf3 $2 32. gxf3 h6 33. Ra1 $16
{1-0 Dominguez,L-Ramirez Alvarez,A/Buenos Aires 2003 (44)}) (31... h5 $5) 32.
Ra2 (32. Ra1 $2 Rxf3 $19) 32... Nxf3 33. gxf3 Rxf3 $17) 21. Bd3 $146 {A
novelty that fails to impress, since it leads to a forced draw.} (21. Nf1 Rbf7
22. Ra2 Bh4 23. Ng3 e4 $5 $132 {[%cal Gc6e5] 1/2-1/2 Wiersma,E-Ris,R/Dieren
2003 (27)}) 21... Bxd3 22. Qxd3 Bxe3 (22... Rxb3 23. Qc4 Bxe3 24. fxe3 {
is the same as the game}) 23. fxe3 (23. Qxe3 Rxb3) 23... Rxb3 24. Qc4 Rb2 25.
Qxc6 Qg5 26. Nf4 {The only move, which means that after 21.Bd3 everything is
forced.} (26. g3 $2 Qh5 27. Rh4 Qf3 $19) 26... exf4 27. Rxf4 (27. exf4 Qg4 $11)
27... Rfb8 {It looks like all moves were known by both opponents from their
home preparation. Here is probably where the preparation ended, so why playing
any further? Typical case for the modern chess.} (27... Rfb8 28. Ref1 Rb1 29.
Qxd6 Rxf1+ 30. Rxf1 Qxe3+ 31. Kh1 Qe8 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.25"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2679"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2005.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. Bd3 Be6 12. c3 Bg7 13. Qh5 O-O 14. O-O fxe4
$5 (14... f4 $13) 15. Bxe4 f5 16. Nf4 exf4 17. Bxc6 Rc8 18. Qe2 (18. Qf3 b4 $5)
(18. Bb7 Rb8 $1) 18... Be5 (18... Qf6 19. Bb7 Rce8 20. Qf3 (20. Qd3 $5) 20...
b4 21. cxb4 Qxb2 22. Rab1 Qxa2 $13 {0-1 Ramaswamy,A-Haznedaroglu,K/Abu Dhabi
2004 (30)}) 19. Qf3 (19. Bb7 Rc5 $5) 19... b4 $1 $146 {A recommendation from
CBM 103. It simplifies and opens up even more the position, which should be
enough to hold the balance.} ({Previously Black failed to solve the problems
after} 19... Kh8 20. Nc2 {For instance:} Qh4 (20... Rc7 21. Rfd1 Rg7 22. Bd5
Bxd5 23. Rxd5 Rfg8 24. Ne1 Qc7 25. Rd3 Qc4 26. a3 a5 27. Rad1 Qe4 28. Kf1 Qc4
29. Qd5 Qe4 30. R1d2 Qc4 31. Qxc4 bxc4 32. Rd5 $16 {1-0 Balinov,I-Bhend,E/
Zuerich 2003 (48)}) (20... Rg8) 21. Nd4 Bf7 22. Bd5 b4 23. Rac1 bxc3 24. bxc3
Bh5 25. Qd3 Rc5 26. Bf3 Bf7 27. Rfd1 Bc4 28. Qb1 Qg5 29. a4 Rc7 30. Rc2 Rg7 31.
Rb2 Rfg8 32. Kh1 Rg6 33. Rb8 Qh4 34. Rxg8+ Bxg8 35. Kg1 Rh6 36. h3 $16 {
1-0 Hort,V-Muse,M/Bad Neuenahr 1987 (47)}) 20. cxb4 (20. Nc2 bxc3 21. bxc3 Qb6
22. Nd4 Bxd4 23. Bd5 Rfe8 24. Bxe6+ Rxe6 25. Qd5 Bxf2+ $1 26. Rxf2 Qe3 $11)
20... Bxb2 21. Bd5 (21. Rad1 Bxa3 22. Bd5 Bxd5 23. Rxd5 Bxb4 24. Qb3 Qe7 25.
Qxb4 f3 $11) 21... Qf6 (21... Bxd5 22. Qxd5+ Kh8 23. Rad1 Bxa3 24. Qb3 f3 $14 {
/=}) 22. Rad1 Rc3 23. Rd3 Bxd5 (23... Rfc8 24. Nb1 Rc1 25. Rdd1 $5) 24. Qxd5+
Qf7 25. Qf3 Rfc8 26. Nb1 Rc1 27. Nd2 {White solved the problem of his knight
only partially, since it still will be very passive on f1.} (27. Rdd1 Qxa2)
27... Rxf1+ (27... Be5 $5 28. Ra3 R1c2 29. Qd3 $14 {[%cal Gd2f3]}) 28. Nxf1 Be5
(28... Qxa2 29. Rd2 $5 $36) 29. Ra3 (29. a3 Qc4 {[%cal Gc4e4]} ({Black does
not have compensation after} 29... Rc1 30. Qa8+ Kg7 31. Qxa6) 30. Rd1 Qc3 31.
Qh5 Rf8 $1 $11) 29... Qc4 {Black's activity compensates the inferior pawn
structure. That is enough for Black to keep the balance.} 30. Qh5 Qf7 (30...
Qxb4 31. Qxf5 Qxa3 32. Qxc8+ Kg7 33. Qe6 Qd3 $14 {/=}) 31. Qf3 Qc4 32. Qb7 Rc7
33. Qa8+ Rc8 34. Qxa6 Qxa6 35. Rxa6 Rc2 $11 36. Ra3 (36. g3 Bd4 37. Rxd6 Bxf2+
38. Kh1 fxg3 39. hxg3 Rxa2 40. Rd5 Rb2 41. Rxf5 Kg7 42. b5 Kg6 43. Rd5 h5 $11)
36... Rb2 37. Rb3 Rxa2 38. g3 fxg3 39. hxg3 Bd4 40. Ne3 Kf7 (40... Bxe3 41.
fxe3 Ra6 42. Kf2 Kf7 43. b5 Rb6 44. Kf3 d5 45. Kf4 Ke6 46. Rb1 Kf6 $11) 41. b5
Bb6 42. Kf1 Ke6 43. Nc4 Bxf2 44. b6 d5 45. b7 Ba7 46. Rb6+ Kd7 47. Rd6+ Kc7
1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.26"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2005.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. a3 Nc6 11. cxd5 Qxd5 12. Nc3 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Bf5 14. Re1 Rfe8
15. Bf4 Rac8 16. Nd2 Na5 17. Bf3 Qd7 18. Nf1 Bd6 19. Rxe8+ Rxe8 20. Bxd6 cxd6
21. Ne3 Be4 22. h3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.28"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B09"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[Annotator "Tyomkin,D"]
[PlyCount "134"]
[EventDate "2005.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{This game was the last chance of the World Champion Kramnik to fight for the
top places in Corus 2005, but Corus simply isn't his tournament. And this game
was one of the most interesting (there were many!) and intensive games of
Corus 2005!} 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 c5 6. e5 Nfd7 7.
exd6 cxd4 {7...0-0 is the main continuation here, black also tried 7...exd6
but without much success.} 8. Nb5 {Kramnik definitely did not prepare this,
while Grischuk probably spent some time on this variation at home.} (8. Nxd4
O-O 9. Be3 Nf6 (9... e5 $5) 10. Be2 exd6 (10... Qxd6 $142 $1) 11. O-O Re8 12.
Qd2 Nbd7 13. f5 $36 {1/2-1/2 Sax,G-Sapi,L/Hungary 1974/MCD (40)}) 8... O-O 9.
Nc7 Nc5 $146 {This move definitely changes the evaluation of the whole line.} (
9... exd6 10. Nxa8 Nc6 (10... Re8+ 11. Be2 Nc6 12. O-O Nc5 13. Bb5 Bg4 14. h3
Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Qxa8 16. f5 Ne5 17. Qd5 $16 {1/2-1/2 Weber,A-Pleyer,R/Passau
1997/EXT 2001 (52)}) 11. Be2 Nc5 12. O-O $16 {1-0 Gonzalez Custodio,R-Medina,J/
Ceuta 1993/EXT 97 (26)}) 10. Nxa8 {[%mdl 1024]} (10. Nxd4 exd6 (10... Qxd6 11.
Ndb5 Qxd1+ 12. Kxd1 a6 13. Nxa8 axb5 $44) 11. Nxa8 Re8+ {with a strong
intiative - the white king will stay in the centre here more likely.}) 10...
Qxd6 11. Bd3 Nc6 12. O-O Be6 {Grischuk had some other tempting moves, and I am
not sure he chose the best one.} (12... Nxd3 13. cxd3 (13. Qxd3 Bf5 $15) 13...
Bf5 $44) (12... Nb4 $5) 13. Ng5 Bd5 14. f5 $1 {Aggresive move by the World
Champion - it opens files and diagonals on the kingside, as well as white
intends Bf4.} Rxa8 15. fxg6 (15. Qg4 Ne5 $15) 15... hxg6 16. Qg4 {[%cal Gg4h4,
Gg4h3]} Nxd3 17. cxd3 f6 18. Nf3 (18. Ne4 f5 $1 19. Nxd6 fxg4 20. Nxb7 Nb4 {
[%cal Gb4c2,Yd5b7] and black is definitely not worse in this ending.}) 18...
Bf7 (18... f5 19. Qh3 {[%cal Gf3g5]}) 19. Nh4 Ne5 (19... Nb4 $5 20. Bd2 (20.
Nxg6 $2 f5 $17) (20. Rf3 f5 21. Qg5 Qf6 {and black looks good here.}) 20...
Nxd3 21. Nxg6 f5 22. Qf3 Qxg6 23. Qxd3 Bd5 $15 {[%cal Ge7e5]}) 20. Qg3 Qd7 $2 {
Alex was already in some time trouble her... Qe6 was a better move - the black
queen is closer to the kingside in that case, which is important in variations
mentioned below.} (20... Qe6 21. Bf4 (21. Bd2 Qg4 22. Qxg4 Nxg4 {[%cal Gg4e5]})
21... g5 22. Bxg5 (22. Bxe5 gxh4 {and no Qf2 move as in the Qd7 line.}) 22...
fxg5 23. Nf5 Bf6 {the black queen on e6 is very useful again!} 24. h4 g4 $1 25.
Rae1 Bg6 26. Qxg4 Qxf5 $1) 21. Bf4 g5 22. Bxg5 $6 {Kramnik plays this game
aggresively - he wanted to win this game badly to come back in the tournament..
. But it seems like 22.Bxe5 guarantees white some advantage, while the game
line allows black to escape.} (22. Bxe5 $142 gxh4 23. Qf2 {[%csl Yd4][%cal
Yf2f7]} Rd8 24. Rac1 $14 Bg6 25. Rc7 Qd5 26. Bf4 Bxd3 (26... e5 27. Rxg7+ Kxg7
28. Bh6+ Kxh6 29. Qxh4+ Kg7 30. Qxf6+ Kh7 31. Rf3 $16 {black must give up a
queen for white rook to stop white's attack here.}) 27. Rd1 Be4 28. Qxh4 {
and white must be better here, however black still has some couunterplay.})
22... fxg5 23. Nf5 Bg6 {23...Bf6 doesn't help, unlike in the 20...Qe6
variation.} (23... Bf6 24. h4 (24. Rae1 Ng6 25. Nh6+ (25. Qh3 Qd5 {and no
danger for black.}) 25... Kg7 26. Nxf7 Kxf7 27. Qxg5 Kg7 {and black is safe.})
24... Be6 25. hxg5 Bh8 26. Nh6+ Kh7 27. Rae1 Ng6 28. Qh2 Kg7 29. Qh3 $3 Nf4 30.
Qg3 Ng6 31. Qg4 $1 Nf8 32. Qe4 $16 {[%cal Rf1f8]}) 24. Nxg7 Nf7 25. Rxf7 $1 {
The only way to save the white knight - Kramnik definitely saw this blow when
playing 22.Bxg5.} Kxf7 26. Qe5 Bxd3 (26... Qd6 27. Rf1+ Kg8 28. Qxd6 exd6 29.
Nf5 Re8 {and I don't see more than a draw for white here.}) 27. Rd1 Rg8 {
it seems like black escapes by 27...Qb5 move.} (27... Qb5 28. Qxd4 e5 29. Qxd3
Qxd3 30. Rxd3 Kxg7 31. Rd7+ Kf6 32. Rxb7 Rc8 $1 33. Rxa7 Rc1+ 34. Kf2 Rc2+ 35.
Kf3 g4+ $1 36. Kg3 Rxb2 {and probably this is just a draw.}) 28. Rxd3 Rxg7 29.
Rxd4 Qe6 30. Qxe6+ {White can keep queens on the board, however this doesn't
give white real winning chances.} (30. Qg3 Rg6 $1 {and black looks safe.})
30... Kxe6 {This rook ending must be objectively a draw, although white wins a
pawn in many lines.} 31. Rb4 b6 32. Ra4 a5 (32... Rg8 33. Rxa7 Rc8 34. b4 Rc2 {
very close to a draw here too.}) 33. b4 axb4 $2 {Grischuk attempts to screw it
up.} (33... Kf5 $1 34. bxa5 bxa5 35. Rxa5+ e5 36. Rb5 (36. h3 Rc7 $11 {[%cal
Gc7c2]}) 36... Ra7 37. Rb2 g4 38. Kf2 Ra3 {and this is just a dead draw.}) 34.
Rxb4 Kf5 35. Rxb6 e5 36. a4 Ke4 37. Rb3 Ra7 38. Ra3 $18 Ra5 {Just compare this
position with the position which arises at the end of 33...Kf5 where black has
a rook on a3 and white pawn is still on a2.... Now black is in trouble.} 39. h3
Kf4 (39... Kd4 40. Kf2 Kc5 41. Kf3 Kb4 42. Ra1 $18) 40. Kf2 Ke4 41. g3 g4 $1 {
the best chance!} (41... Kd4 42. Kf3 e4+ 43. Ke2 e3 44. Rd3+ Kc5 45. Rxe3 Rxa4
46. Re5+ $18) 42. hxg4 $1 (42. h4 Kd4 43. h5 e4 44. h6 Rf5+ 45. Kg2 e3 46. h7
Rf2+ $1 47. Kg1 Rf8 48. a5 Ke4 $1 (48... e2 49. h8=Q+ Rxh8 50. Kf2 $18) 49. a6
e2 $11 {and no h8Q with a check as in the 48...e2 line.}) 42... Kd4 (42... Kd5
43. Ke3 $18) 43. g5 Kd5 44. Ke3 Ke6 45. Ke4 Kf7 46. Kd3 $2 {Very strange that
Kramnik with his super endgame technique failed to find the following simple
way to win ...} (46. Kf5 Kg7 47. g4 Kf7 48. g6+ Kg7 49. Ra2 $1 {Zugzwang!} Kg8
50. Kf6 e4 51. Rb2 Ra6+ 52. Kg5 e3 (52... Rxa4 53. Rb8+ Kg7 54. Rb7+ Kg8 55.
Kh6 Ra8 56. Re7 {-see the main line how to win this ending with two pawns "g"
of white.}) 53. Kh6 Ra8 54. a5 Re8 55. Re2 Re6 56. a6 Rxa6 57. Rxe3 Ra8 58. g5
Rb8 59. Re6 $1 {to prevent the following stalemate idea.} (59. g7 Rb6+ 60. g6
Rxg6+ $1) 59... Rd8 60. g7 Rc8 61. Rf6 Rd8 62. Rf8+ Rxf8 63. gxf8=Q+ Kxf8 64.
Kh7 $18) 46... Kg6 47. Kc4 Kxg5 48. Kb4 Ra6 $1 {And again Alex finds the most
resistant move.} (48... Ra8 49. a5 e4 50. Kc4 $1) 49. a5 e4 50. Kc4 (50. Kb5
Re6 51. Re3 Re5+ 52. Kb4 Re6 $11) 50... Rd6 $3 (50... Kg4 51. Kd4 Kf5 52. Ke3
Rg6 53. Ke2 Ra6 54. Ra4 $1 {Zugzwang!} Ke5 55. Ke3 Kf5 56. g4+ $1 Kxg4 57. Kxe4
$18) 51. a6 (51. Kc5 {Mueller,Karsten} Rd3 (51... Ra6 $2 52. Kd4 Kf5 53. Ke3
$18) 52. Ra4 (52. Ra1 Kg4 (52... e3 $2 53. a6 e2 54. a7 Rd1 55. a8=Q e1=Q 56.
Qg8+ $18) 53. a6 Kxg3 54. a7 Rd8 $11) 52... e3 53. Re4 Kf5 54. Re8 Kf6 55. Kc4
Ra3 56. Kb4 Kf7 57. Re5 Kf6 58. Re4 Rd3 59. a6 Rd6 60. Kb5 Rd3 61. a7 Ra3 62.
Kb6 Rb3+ 63. Kc7 Rc3+ 64. Kb7 Rb3+ $11) 51... e3 52. a7 (52. Kb5 Re6 53. a7 e2
54. Ra1 (54. a8=Q e1=Q 55. Qg8+ Kh6 56. Qh8+ Kg6 57. Qg8+ {white doesn't have
more than a perpetual check here - the white rook can't join the attack.})
54... Re8 55. Re1 Re5+ 56. Kb4 Re4+ 57. Kc5 Re5+ 58. Kc6 Re6+ $11 {when white
king goes to d-file, black will move the rook to a-file.}) 52... e2 53. a8=Q
e1=Q 54. Ra5+ {White starts checking first and has an extra pawn, but the
existence of this pawn actually allows black to save the game - the black king
will hide behind this pawn.} (54. Qg8+ Rg6 55. Qd8+ Rf6 56. Ra5+ Kg4 $1 {
[%cal Ge1a5]} 57. Qd4+ Kh3 58. Rh5+ Kg2 59. Qxf6 Qe2+ {[%cal Ge2h5]}) 54... Kg4
55. Qg8+ Kf3 $1 (55... Kh3 56. Rh5+ Kg2 57. Qa8+ $18) 56. Qf7+ Kg2 $1 (56...
Kxg3 $4 57. Rg5+) 57. Ra2+ Kg1 58. Qa7+ Kf1 59. Qf7+ Kg1 60. Qa7+ Kf1 61. Ra1 {
But even here black has a defense!} Rd1 62. Qf7+ Kg1 63. Qa7+ Kf1 64. Rxd1 Qxd1
{This ending is a draw, but Kramnik makes it easy for black - after the next
of white black has a perpetual or wins the g-pawn.} 65. Qd4 Qa4+ 66. Kd3 Qb3+
67. Qc3 Qd5+ (67... Qd5+ 68. Ke3 Kg2 $1) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.29"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B26"]
[WhiteElo "2674"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2005.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6. Be3 Rb8 7. Qd2 b5 8. f4 b4
9. Nd1 Qb6 10. Nf3 Nh6 11. a3 a5 12. axb4 axb4 13. h3 f5 14. O-O O-O 15. Bf2 e6
16. Ne3 Nf7 17. Nc4 Qc7 18. Rfe1 Rd8 19. exf5 exf5 20. c3 bxc3 21. bxc3 d5 22.
Nce5 Nfxe5 23. fxe5 Nxe5 24. Nxe5 Bxe5 25. Qg5 Bb7 26. Ra7 Rd7 27. c4 Qd6 28.
cxd5 Bf6 29. Qf4 Qxf4 30. gxf4 Rbd8 31. Re6 Bxd5 32. Rxd7 Bxe6 33. Rxd8+ Bxd8
34. Bxc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2005.01.30"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[PlyCount "21"]
[EventDate "2005.01.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.04.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Bg5 Bg7 5. Qd2 h6 6. Bh4 g5 7. Bg3 Nh5 8. Nge2
e6 9. O-O-O Nc6 10. f3 Nxg3 11. hxg3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bonn exh"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2005.03.05"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Steinbrueck, Peer"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C90"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[Annotator "Fischer,J"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2005.03.05"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. h3
Na5 9. c3 Nxb3 10. Qxb3 Bb7 11. d3 O-O 12. Be3 c5 13. Nbd2 Qc7 14. Rac1 Rfe8
15. Qc2 d5 16. Bg5 Rad8 17. Rcd1 h6 18. Bh4 dxe4 19. dxe4 c4 20. Bg3 Bc5 21.
Bh4 g5 22. Bg3 Nh5 23. Nf1 Nf4 24. Bxf4 exf4 25. N1h2 Qb6 26. Ng4 $2 {Der
Moment, in dem der Ministerpräsident - wie im Interview erwähnt - an seiner
letzten Chance vorbeigeht. Der Textzug verliert einen Bauern. Besserwar} (26.
Rxd8 Rxd8 27. b4 cxb3 28. axb3 a5 29. e5) ({oder} 26. e5 Kg7 27. Qe2 Rxd1 28.
Rxd1 Rd8 29. Rxd8 Qxd8 30. b4 Ba7 {obwohl Schwarz auch hier in beiden
Varianten klar im Vorteil ist.}) 26... Rxd1 27. Rxd1 Bxe4 28. Qd2 Bxf3 29. gxf3
Qe6 30. Qd7 Kg7 31. Kg2 Qxd7 32. Rxd7 Re2 33. Rc7 Be7 34. Rc6 h5 35. Nh6 Re5
36. Rxa6 f6 37. Ra7 Kxh6 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B41"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2711"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. Qd3 d5 8. exd5
exd5 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O dxc4 11. Qxc4 Ba5 12. Rd1 b5 13. Qb3 b4 14. Na4 Re8 15.
Bg5 Qe7 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. Qd5 Bc7 18. Qxa8 Bb7 19. Qa7 Nc6 20. Qc5 Nxd4 21.
Qxe7 Nxe2+ 22. Qxe2 Rxe2 23. Re1 Rd2 24. Rad1 Rc2 25. Rc1 Rxc1 26. Rxc1 Be5 27.
b3 Bd5 28. Rc5 Be4 29. Ra5 Bd3 30. Nc5 Be2 31. Nxa6 Bc3 32. Nc7 Kg7 33. Nd5 Bd2
34. Ra8 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.20"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C26"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 d5 4. exd5 Nxd5 5. Bg2 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Nc6 7. Ne2 Be6 8.
O-O Bd5 9. d3 Bxg2 10. Kxg2 Qd5+ 11. f3 O-O-O 12. c4 Qe6 13. Be3 Bb4 14. Rb1 f5
15. Rb3 b6 16. c5 Bxc5 17. Bxc5 bxc5 18. Rb5 c4 19. Rc5 Nb4 20. Qd2 cxd3 21.
Qxb4 dxe2 22. Rb1 $2 (22. Re1 e4 23. Rxe2 {offered more resistance.}) 22... Qb6
23. Rb5 Rd1 24. Rxb6 axb6 25. Kf2 e1=B+ 26. Qxe1 Rxe1 27. Rxe1 Re8 28. g4 fxg4
29. fxg4 Kd7 30. Re3 Rf8+ 31. Ke2 Rf4 32. h3 Kd6 33. Rd3+ Rd4 34. Rf3 Re4+ 35.
Kd2 Rf4 36. Re3 b5 37. Ke2 Kd5 38. Rb3 c6 39. a3 e4 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.21"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Nb8 11. Nbd2 Nbd7 12. Nf1 Re8 13. Ne3 Nc5 14. Ba2 h6 15.
Nh2 Bc8 16. b4 Ne6 17. Nf5 Bf8 18. Ng4 c6 19. Bd2 Kh7 20. Qf3 Nxg4 21. hxg4 Qf6
22. Qh3 Nf4 23. Qh2 g6 24. Ne3 Be6 25. Bb1 d5 26. g3 dxe4 27. dxe4 Rad8 28. Bc3
Qg5 29. f3 Bd6 30. Kh1 c5 31. gxf4 exf4 32. Nf5 Bf8 33. Rg1 Rc8 34. Bd2 Qf6 35.
c3 gxf5 36. gxf5 Bc4 37. Bxf4 Qxc3 38. Qg3 (38. Qh5 $1 Qxa1 (38... Be2 39. Bd3
$1) 39. f6 {with the threat Qg4 and Qg8# wins immediately}) 38... Qg7 (38...
Bd6 {should be considered}) 39. Qxg7+ (39. Qh4 Qxa1 (39... Qc3 40. Qh5 $1) 40.
f6 {once again with the deadly threat Qg4 and Qg8#, winning}) 39... Bxg7 40. f6
Bf8 41. e5+ Kh8 42. Bf5 Be6 43. Bxe6 Rxe6 $2 44. Rg4 $2 (44. Ra2 {and there is
no good defence against Ra2 with mate to follow}) 44... cxb4 45. axb4 Rc4 46.
Rd1 Re8 47. Rd7 h5 (47... Rxb4 48. Rxf7 h5 49. Rg6 Rxf4 50. e6 Rxf3 51. e7 {
also wins}) 48. Rg5 Rxf4 49. Rxh5+ Kg8 50. Rd1 Rg4 51. fxg4 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.22"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2786"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 Nc6
8. Qd2 O-O 9. O-O-O Ne5 10. Kb1 a6 11. Be2 Be6 12. Nd4 Nc4 $2 13. Qd3 {
threatening Nxe6} Nxe3 14. Nxe6 fxe6 15. Qxe3 e5 16. Bd3 c6 17. h4 Rf6 18. g3
d5 19. Qxe5 Rxf2 20. Rhf1 Rf6 21. Qh5 g6 22. Qe2 Qd6 23. h5 Raf8 24. hxg6 hxg6
25. Rh1 {Now Black is losing} Kf7 26. c4 Ke8 27. cxd5 c5 28. g4 Kd8 29. g5 Rf4
30. Rh6 Bxg5 31. Rxg6 Bf6 32. Rh6 Qe5 33. c3 Qxe2 34. Bxe2 Rf2 35. Bg4 b5 36.
d6 Rg8 37. Bh3 b4 38. Rh7 bxc3 39. bxc3 Rg3 40. Re1 Be5 (40... Bg7 41. d7 Rf8 {
would have put up a little more resistance}) 41. Rd7+ Kc8 42. Rf7+ Rxh3 43.
Rxf2 Bxd6 44. Kc2 Kd7 45. Ree2 Kc6 46. Rf6 Kc7 47. Ree6 Rh2+ 48. Kd3 Rh3+ 49.
Kc4 Rh4+ 50. Kb3 c4+ 51. Ka4 Rh2 52. Rxd6 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.24"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B32"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2686"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb5 a6 6. Nd6+ Bxd6 7. Qxd6 Qf6 8.
Qd1 Qg6 9. Nc3 Nge7 10. h4 h5 11. Rh3 d5 12. Rg3 Bg4 13. f3 dxe4 14. fxg4 Rd8
15. Bd2 f5 16. Re3 hxg4 17. Kf2 Rxh4 18. Rc1 Qd6 19. Ke1 Rh1 20. Qe2 Nd4 21.
Qf2 f4 22. Nxe4 Qg6 23. Ng3 fxg3 24. Rxg3 Qe4+ 25. Kd1 Nef5 26. Rd3 g3 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.25"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2709"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Bd3 c5 7. O-O Nxe4 8.
Bxe4 Nf6 9. Bg5 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Be7 11. Bf3 O-O 12. a4 a6 13. Re1 Qc7 14. c3 Re8
15. Qb3 Rb8 16. g3 Bd7 17. a5 Bc5 18. Rad1 Qxa5 19. Bf4 Bxd4 20. Bxb8 Bxf2+ 21.
Kxf2 Rxb8 22. Rd4 Qf5 23. Red1 e5 24. g4 Nxg4+ 25. Rxg4 Bc6 26. Rd5 h5 27. Re4
Re8 28. c4 Qh3 29. Kg1 Re6 30. Qd1 f5 31. Bg2 Rg6 32. Re2 Qf3 33. Rf2 Qe4 34.
Kh1 Qh4 35. Rxf5 Rxg2 36. Kxg2 Qxc4 37. Rfxe5 h4 38. Kh3 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.26"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C96"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Nd7 12. d5 Nb6 13. Nbd2 f5 14. exf5 Bxf5 15.
Bxf5 Rxf5 16. Ne4 Qd7 17. b3 Raf8 18. Nh2 Qd8 19. Nf1 Qa8 20. Ne3 Rf4 21. f3
Qe8 22. Bd2 Qg6 23. c4 Nb7 24. Kh1 b4 25. a3 a5 26. Ng4 R4f5 27. Be3 Nd7 28.
Re2 h5 29. Ngf2 Bh4 30. Nd3 Nf6 31. Bg1 Nxe4 32. Rxe4 Bg3 33. axb4 axb4 34. Ra6
R5f6 35. Bf2 Nd8 36. Ra8 Nf7 37. Rxf8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.27"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B09"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be3 c6 7. Bd3 Na6 8. a3 c5
9. d5 Rb8 10. Qe2 Nc7 11. a4 a6 12. a5 b5 13. axb6 Rxb6 14. Na4 Rb4 15. Bd2 Rb8
16. O-O e6 17. dxe6 Nxe6 18. f5 gxf5 19. exf5 Nc7 20. Qf2 Ncd5 21. Qh4 Nb4 22.
Bg5 Nxd3 23. cxd3 Rb4 24. d4 cxd4 25. Bd2 Rc4 26. Bg5 Bb7 27. Rf2 Re8 28. b3
Rb4 29. Nd2 a5 30. Nb2 d3 31. Qh3 h6 32. Bh4 Qb6 33. Nxd3 Re3 34. Nf3 Rxd3 35.
Bxf6 Bxf6 36. Re1 Re4 37. Rxe4 Bxe4 38. Qg4+ Kf8 39. Qxe4 Rd1+ 40. Ne1 Bc3 41.
Qa8+ Ke7 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.29"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. c3 Nf6 6. Re1 O-O 7. h3 Qb6 8. Na3
d6 9. d4 cxd4 10. cxd4 d5 11. e5 Ne4 12. Be3 Bf5 13. Rc1 Rfc8 14. Qa4 Bd7 15.
Qb3 e6 16. Bd3 Qxb3 17. axb3 Nb4 18. Bxe4 dxe4 19. Rxc8+ Rxc8 20. Nd2 Nd3 21.
Ra1 Rc1+ 22. Rxc1 Nxc1 23. Nab1 Bc6 24. Nc3 b5 25. Ncxe4 Nxb3 26. Nxb3 Bxe4 27.
Nc5 Bc6 28. Bd2 Kf8 29. f4 Ke8 30. Kf2 Bf8 31. g4 Be7 32. Ba5 Bh4+ 33. Ke3 Be7
1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.30"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2696"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. g3
Nbd7 9. Bd2 Be7 10. b3 O-O 11. Bg2 dxc4 12. bxc4 e5 13. Qb3 Rb8 14. Rd1 Qc7 15.
O-O Rfd8 16. Bc1 Nf8 17. Bb2 exd4 18. exd4 Ne6 19. d5 Nc5 20. Qc2 Bd6 21. Ba3
Rbc8 22. dxc6 bxc6 23. Ne2 Ne6 24. Bxd6 Rxd6 25. Rxd6 Qxd6 26. Rd1 Qe5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.31"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D16"]
[WhiteElo "2679"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 dxc4 5. a4 e6 6. e3 c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8. exd4
Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Bg5 Nc6 11. Re1 Bd7 12. Rc1 Rc8 13. Ba2 Nb4 14. Bb1 Bc6 15.
Ne5 g6 16. h4 Nbd5 17. Qd2 Nxc3 18. Rxc3 Qd5 19. Rg3 Rfd8 20. Rf3 Be8 21. Bxf6
Bxf6 22. Rxf6 Qxd4 23. Qg5 Qd2 24. Qxd2 Rxd2 25. b3 Rcd8 26. Rf3 Kg7 27. Rfe3
R2d4 28. g3 Rb4 29. Rc3 Rd5 30. Bc2 Kf6 31. f4 Rd2 32. Nf3 Rd6 33. Be4 a5 34.
Kf2 b5 35. axb5 Rxb5 36. Ra1 Rb4 37. Bc2 Rd5 38. Ke3 h6 39. Be4 Rdb5 40. Nd4
Rb8 41. Rxa5 Rd8 42. Rc4 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2711"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Bg5 12. Nc2 O-O 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 a5
15. Bc4 Rb8 16. b3 Kh8 17. O-O f5 18. exf5 Bxf5 19. Qe2 Bg6 20. Rd1 Qc8 21.
Nce3 e4 22. Bb5 Ne5 23. Rxa5 Nd3 24. Rf1 Bd8 25. Ba6 Qc6 26. Ra3 Bg5 27. Bc4
Ne5 28. Ra6 Qd7 29. b4 Bh4 30. Ra2 h6 31. Bb3 Qe8 32. Qa6 Qe6 33. Qa7 Bh7 34.
Qd4 Qg6 35. Kh1 Rb7 36. Nf4 Qe8 37. Ne6 Rf6 38. Qd5 Rb8 39. Qxd6 Nd3 40. Ng4
Rg6 41. Ne5 Nxe5 42. Qxe5 Bg8 43. Nf4 Rc6 44. Qxe8 Rxe8 45. Ba4 Bxa2 46. Bxc6
Rc8 47. Bb7 Rc7 48. Ng6+ Kg8 49. Nxh4 Rxb7 50. Nf5 Rd7 51. Ne3 Rd2 52. h4 Kf7
53. Kh2 Ke6 54. Kg3 Ke5 55. Rd1 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.20"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C80"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2713"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5
Be6 9. Nbd2 Nc5 10. c3 d4 11. Bxe6 Nxe6 12. cxd4 Ncxd4 13. a4 Bb4 14. axb5
Nxf3+ 15. Nxf3 axb5 16. Rxa8 Qxa8 17. Ng5 Qc6 18. Qg4 Qc4 19. Qf5 Nd8 20. Rd1
Qc6 21. Nxh7 Be7 22. Qh5 g6 23. Qh3 Ne6 24. Be3 Qc2 25. Rc1 Qxb2 26. f4 Qa3 27.
Kf2 Qa2+ 28. Kf1 Qa3 29. Kf2 Qa2+ 30. Kf1 Qa3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.21"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8.
e3 d6 9. f3 Nbd7 10. Bd3 c5 11. Ne2 Rc8 12. b4 h6 13. Bh4 d5 14. bxc5 dxc4 15.
Qxc4 bxc5 16. O-O cxd4 17. Qxd4 Nc5 18. Bc4 Qxd4 19. Nxd4 Nd5 20. Bf2 Nc3 21.
Rfc1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.22"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2786"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 h6 10. Rd1+ Ke8 11. h3 Ne7 12. Be3 Ng6 13. a3 Be7 14. Rd2
a6 15. Re1 Nh4 16. Nxh4 Bxh4 17. Ne2 Be7 18. Nf4 h5 19. e6 Bd6 20. e7 Kxe7 21.
c4 Bxf4 22. Bxf4+ Be6 23. Bg5+ Kf8 24. b3 Kg8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.24"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C57"]
[WhiteElo "2686"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Nd4 5. Bc4 d6 6. Ng5 d5 7. exd5 h6 8. Nf3
Bg4 9. Be2 Bxf3 10. Bxf3 Bb4 11. O-O O-O 12. d3 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Nxf3+ 14. Qxf3
Qxd5 15. Qxd5 Nxd5 16. Bb2 f6 17. c4 Nf4 18. Rfe1 Kf7 19. Rab1 b6 20. a4 Ne6
21. a5 g5 22. Bc3 h5 23. f3 Rg8 24. Re3 Rab8 25. Rbe1 b5 26. d4 bxc4 27. dxe5
f5 28. g4 f4 29. Re4 hxg4 30. fxg4 Rh8 31. Kg2 Rhd8 32. Rxc4 c5 33. Rce4 Rd7
34. Rh1 Kg6 35. Ree1 Rbd8 36. Rhf1 Kf7 37. h3 Ke7 38. Rh1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.25"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2709"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 a5 7. O-O O-O 8. Nc3
Nc6 9. a3 Bxc3 10. Bxc3 Nd5 11. Bd2 b5 12. e4 Nb6 13. Be3 Bb7 14. Qc2 Ne7 15.
Rad1 Qe8 16. d5 Ra6 17. Rfe1 h6 18. Bf4 exd5 19. Bxc7 dxe4 20. Nd4 Qd7 21. Bxb6
Rxb6 22. Bxe4 Rd6 23. Bxb7 Qxb7 24. Nf5 Nxf5 25. Qxf5 Rxd1 26. Rxd1 Re8 27. h4
g6 28. Qd5 Re1+ 29. Kg2 Qxd5+ 30. Rxd5 b4 31. Rxa5 b3 32. Rb5 Re2 33. Rb4 Rxb2
34. Rxc4 Ra2 35. a4 Kf8 36. Rb4 b2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.26"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "143"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12. Nc2 Bg5 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 a5
15. Bc4 Rb8 16. Ra2 Be6 17. O-O Qd7 18. b3 Kh8 19. Qe2 f5 20. exf5 Bxf5 21.
Nce3 Bg6 22. Rd1 Bd8 23. Bb5 Qb7 24. Ba4 Ne7 25. Nxe7 Bxe7 26. Rad2 Bf7 27. c4
Qc8 28. Nd5 Bg5 29. Ra2 Qc5 30. g3 Rb7 31. h4 Bd8 32. Rad2 Bg6 33. h5 Bf5 34.
Nc3 Rbf7 35. Rd5 Bg4 36. Rxc5 Bxe2 37. Rxd6 Be7 38. Rxe5 Bxd6 39. Rxe2 Rf5 40.
Ne4 Bc7 41. g4 Rf4 42. Bd7 R4f7 43. Bf5 Re7 44. c5 Rb8 45. Re3 Rd8 46. Kg2 Bf4
47. Rf3 Be5 48. c6 Bc7 49. Nc5 g6 50. hxg6 hxg6 51. Bd7 Bb6 52. Rc3 Kg8 53. Rc4
Kf7 54. Rf4+ Kg8 55. Na4 Bc7 56. Rd4 Re5 57. Nc3 Rc5 58. Nd5 Be5 59. Rd3 Kg7
60. f4 Bb8 61. Kf3 Rh8 62. Ke4 Rh1 63. f5 Re1+ 64. Kf3 gxf5 65. gxf5 Rf1+ 66.
Ke2 Rcc1 67. f6+ Kf7 68. c7 Rfe1+ 69. Kf2 Rf1+ 70. Ke2 Rfe1+ 71. Kd2 Red1+ 72.
Ke2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.27"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. d3 Nf6 6. Nc3 O-O 7. h3 d6 8. Bxc6
bxc6 9. e5 Nd5 10. Re1 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Be6 12. Bf4 Qd7 13. Qd2 f6 14. exd6 exd6
15. Bh6 Rae8 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. c4 d5 18. cxd5 Qxd5 19. Qf4 c4 20. Re3 cxd3 21.
Rxd3 Qc5 22. Qd4 Qxd4 23. Nxd4 Bd5 24. Ra3 Rf7 25. Rc1 Re4 26. c3 c5 27. Nc2
Re2 28. Ra5 Rc7 29. Ne3 Bf7 30. Rc2 Re1+ 31. Kh2 f5 32. Kg3 Be6 33. c4 g5 34.
Nd5 f4+ 35. Kf3 Rf7 36. Rxc5 h5 37. g4 fxg3+ 38. Kxg3 h4+ 39. Kg2 Bf5 40. Rc3
Be4+ 41. f3 Re2+ 42. Kf1 Rxa2 43. Ne7 Kh6 44. Re5 Rxf3+ 45. Rxf3 Bxf3 46. Re6+
Kh5 47. Re3 g4 48. Re5+ Kh6 49. hxg4 Bxg4 50. Nf5+ Kg5 51. Ne3+ Kf4 52. Nxg4
Kxg4 53. Kg1 a5 54. Re4+ Kf3 55. Rxh4 Kg3 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.29"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B46"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 d5 8.
O-O Qc7 9. Qe2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Bd6 11. f4 Ne7 12. Kh1 O-O 13. e5 Bb4 14. Rf3 Bxc3
15. bxc3 c5 16. Rh3 h6 17. Qh5 f5 18. exf6 Rxf6 19. Re1 c4 20. Bf1 Ng6 21. Qg4
Raf8 22. Rf3 e5 23. f5 Bc8 24. Kg1 Bxf5 25. Qg3 Bxc2 26. Rxf6 Rxf6 27. h4 Be4
28. h5 Nf4 29. Qg4 Qf7 30. Bxc4 Bf5 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.30"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E21"]
[WhiteElo "2696"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. Nc3 Bb7 4. d4 e6 5. g3 Bb4 6. Bd2 O-O 7. Bg2 c5 8. dxc5
Bxc5 9. O-O Nc6 10. Rc1 h6 11. Bf4 d6 12. Qd2 Qe7 13. e4 Ng4 14. a3 g5 15. b4
Bxf2+ 16. Rxf2 gxf4 17. Re2 fxg3 18. Bh3 Nge5 19. Nxe5 Nxe5 20. Qxh6 Nf3+ 21.
Kg2 Qg5 22. Qxg5+ Nxg5 23. Kxg3 Nxh3 24. Kxh3 Rfd8 25. c5 dxc5 26. bxc5 Rd3+
27. Kh4 Rc8 28. Nb5 Rxc5 29. Rxc5 bxc5 30. Nxa7 Rd4 31. Nb5 Rxe4+ 32. Rxe4 Bxe4
33. a4 Bc6 34. Nc3 Kg7 35. Kg5 f6+ 36. Kf4 Kg6 37. a5 e5+ 38. Kg3 Bb7 39. Kf2
f5 40. Nb5 c4 41. Ke1 f4 42. Kd2 e4 43. Nc3 e3+ 44. Ke2 Kg5 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 14th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2005.03.31"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2679"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2005.03.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 105 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.05.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8.
Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Bg5 12. Nc2 O-O 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 a5
15. Bc4 Rb8 16. Ra2 Kh8 17. Nce3 g6 18. h4 Bxh4 19. g3 Bg5 20. f4 exf4 21. gxf4
Bh4+ 22. Kf1 f5 23. b4 fxe4 24. Rah2 g5 25. b5 Ne5 26. Qd4 Rb7 27. Rxh4 gxh4
28. Ke2 Re8 29. fxe5 Rxe5 30. Nf4 Qg5 31. Qxd6 Bg4+ 32. Ke1 Qxf4 33. Qd8+ Kg7
34. Qg8+ Kh6 35. Rxh4+ 1-0

[Event "FRA-chT Top 16 GpB"]
[Site "Port Barcares"]
[Date "2005.05.04"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kogan, Artur"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2592"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2005.05.04"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 107"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 b6 7. e3 Bb7 8.
Be2 d6 9. O-O Nbd7 10. b4 c5 11. Bb2 Rc8 12. d4 Ne4 13. Qd3 Qf6 14. Nd2 Qg6 15.
f3 Nxd2 16. Qxd2 d5 17. dxc5 bxc5 18. Rac1 Rfd8 19. cxd5 Bxd5 20. e4 Bb7 21.
Rfd1 Nf8 22. Qe3 Rxd1+ 23. Bxd1 cxb4 24. Rxc8 Bxc8 25. axb4 a6 26. Qc5 Qh6 27.
Bc1 Qh4 28. g3 Qd8 29. Be2 h5 30. Kf1 h4 31. gxh4 e5 32. Qxe5 Qxh4 33. Bc4 Qh3+
34. Kf2 Qh4+ 35. Ke2 Ne6 36. Be3 Kh7 37. Qb8 Qd8 38. Bd3 Qd7 39. f4 Nc7 40. f5
Nb5 41. Qe5 f6 42. Qc5 Qe8 43. Bf4 Kh8 44. Ke3 Bb7 45. Bg3 Bc6 46. e5 fxe5 47.
Bxe5 Nc7 48. Qd6 Nd5+ 49. Kd4 Qxe5+ 1-0

[Event "FRA-chT Top 16 GpB"]
[Site "Port Barcares"]
[Date "2005.05.07"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2714"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "2005.05.04"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 107"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8.
Re1 Bg4 9. c3 f5 10. Qb3 O-O 11. Nbd2 Na5 12. Qc2 Nc6 13. b4 a6 14. a4 Bd6 15.
Rb1 Nxd2 16. Nxd2 Qh4 17. Nf1 Ne7 18. Bd2 f4 19. f3 Bd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 1st"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2005.05.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B17"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[Annotator "Lukacs,P"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2005.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 107"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Ng5 Ngf6 6. Bd3 e6 7. N1f3 Bd6 8.
Qe2 h6 9. Ne4 Nxe4 10. Qxe4 c5 11. O-O Nf6 12. Qh4 cxd4 (12... Qc7 {-
Ivanchuk-Karpov, Dortmund 1997 CBM 60}) 13. Re1 {The whole variation looks a
little bit better for White.} Bd7 14. Nxd4 (14. Qxd4 $5 Bc6 15. Ne5 Bxe5 16.
Qxe5 Qd5 $14 {Bologan-Svidler, Poikovsky 2005}) 14... Qa5 15. Be3 g5 $5 (15...
Kf8 $6 {- Lautier-Karpov, Credit Suisse 1997 CBM 60}) (15... O-O-O $2 {loses
the a7 P.} 16. Nb3 Qc7 17. Bxa7 g5 18. Qh3 e5 19. Qf3 $18) (15... O-O $6 {
founders on} 16. Bxh6 $1 $16) (15... Rd8 $2 {runs into} 16. Nf5 $1 Bf8 {
This is a sad retreat.} 17. Bd4 Bc6 18. Qg3 Kd7 19. Nxg7 $18 {L.
Dominguez-Rasmussen, Copenhagen 2002}) (15... Qh5 16. Qxh5 Nxh5 17. Nf5 Bf8 (
17... exf5 $2 18. Bc5+) 18. Rad1 {White wants to get the ^^, which is a big
advantage in an open position.} Nf6 (18... O-O-O $6 {is met by the witty} 19.
Bxa7 $3 exf5 20. Bb6 $1 Nf6 (20... Bd6 $2 21. Bxd8 Rxd8 22. Be2 $18) (20... g6
$2 21. Bxd8 Kxd8 22. Bb5 Nf6 23. Rxd7+ Nxd7 24. Rd1 $18) 21. Bxd8 Kxd8 22. Bxf5
g6 (22... Kc7 $6 23. Bxd7 Nxd7 24. Re8 $16) 23. Bxd7 Nxd7 24. Re3 Rh7 $1 25.
Rde1 $14 {White has a R and two pawns for B and N, so the _|_ is better for
him.}) 19. Bf4 O-O-O 20. Nd6+ Bxd6 21. Bxd6 $14 {White's ^^ is very strong.})
16. Qh3 O-O-O (16... Be5 17. c3 Qd5 18. Rad1 $14) 17. Qf3 (17. Nb3 {deserved
attention as well.} Qa4 (17... Qd5 18. Rad1 Bc6 19. Be2 $16) 18. Bd4 $1 {
White gives up the ^^, but ruins Black's P structure.} (18. Qf3 Be5 19. Nc5 Qc6
20. Qe2 $13) 18... e5 19. Qf3 exd4 (19... Ng4 20. Bc5 $16) 20. Qxf6 Qc6 $1 (
20... Be6 21. Bf5 $16) (20... Bc6 21. Qxf7 $16) 21. Qxf7 (21. Qxd4 Kb8) 21...
Qc7 22. Nxd4 Bxh2+ 23. Kf1 Qb6 24. c3 Kb8 25. Qb3 Qf6 26. Be4 Qa6+ 27. Re2 Rhe8
$14 {with some compensation for the sacrificed P.}) 17... Be5 (17... Qe5 $5 {
was the critical question.} 18. g3 g4 {deserved attention.} (18... Nd5 19. Nf5
$1 (19. Qxf7 Nxe3 20. c3 (20. fxe3 h5) 20... Rdf8 21. Qg6 Be8 22. Qxe6+ Qxe6
23. Nxe6 Nd5 24. Rad1 $44) 19... g4 (19... exf5 20. Bxa7 $16) 20. Nxd6+ Qxd6
21. Qxf7 (21. Qxg4 Nxe3 22. Rxe3 Bc6) 21... Nxe3 22. Rxe3 Qd4 23. Rd1 $16) 19.
Qe2 Qh5 (19... Bc5 20. c3 h5 $13) 20. c4 Kb8 $13) 18. a4 $1 Nd5 $6 (18... Qd5
19. c3 g4 (19... a6 20. Qe2 $36) 20. Qe2 Qd6 21. g3 $14) 19. Nb5 $1 {This is
the point! The N is very annoying, and as we will see, Black cannot get rid of
him easily.} (19. Nb3 Qc7 20. Bxa7 Bxh2+ 21. Kh1 Be5 {is not that clear.})
19... a6 (19... Bxb2 $2 20. Nd6+ Kb8 21. Nc4 Qc3 22. Rab1 $18) (19... Nxe3 20.
Qxe3 Bf4 21. Qxa7 Qxa7 22. Nxa7+ Kb8 23. Nb5 Bxb5 $14 {leads to ^-, but White
has an extra P and the rooks are still on the board.}) 20. c3 $1 {The N
doesn't want to leave this excellent square.} Nxe3 (20... axb5 $2 21. axb5 $18)
21. Qxe3 (21. b4 $1 {is the phantastic zwischenzug!} Qb6 22. a5 Bc6 (22... g4
23. Qe4 Bxh2+ 24. Kxh2 g3+ 25. fxg3 f5 26. axb6 fxe4 27. Nd6+ Kb8 28. Bxe4 $18)
23. Qh5 Bxh2+ 24. Qxh2 Ng4 25. axb6 Nxh2 26. Na7+ Kb8 27. Nxc6+ bxc6 28. Be2
$18) 21... Bc7 22. b4 Qb6 23. Qxb6 Bxb6 24. Nd6+ Kb8 (24... Kc7 25. Nxf7 Rhf8
26. Nxd8 Bxf2+ 27. Kh1 Bxe1 28. Nxe6+ $1 Bxe6 29. Rxe1 Rd8 30. Bf1 {It is
advisable to avoid the R _|_.} (30. Rxe6 Rxd3 31. h4 Rxc3) 30... Bb3 31. a5 Rd2
32. Kg1 $14) 25. Nxf7 Rhf8 ({missing the liquidation to the R _|_ after} 25...
Bxf2+ $1 26. Kxf2 Rhf8 27. Bg6 Be8 28. Rxe6 Bxf7 29. Bxf7 Rxf7+ 30. Ke2 Rdf8 {
and Black has the well-known drawing chances in the R _|_.}) 26. Nxd8 Bxf2+ 27.
Kh1 Bxe1 28. Nxe6 $1 {This important zwischenzug White the edge in the _|_.} (
28. Rxe1 Rxd8 29. a5 Bc6 $11) 28... Bxe6 29. Rxe1 $16 Bb3 (29... Rd8 30. Bf1 $5
(30. Rxe6 Rxd3 31. h4 gxh4 32. Rxh6 Rxc3 33. Rxh4 $16) 30... Bb3 31. a5 Rd2 32.
Kg1 Rc2 33. Re3 $16) 30. a5 Rc8 31. Rc1 Bc4 $6 (31... Rd8 $5 32. Bf5 Rd2 33.
Kg1 Bc4 $14) 32. Be4 $1 {White still wants to avoid the R _|_.} (32. Bxc4 Rxc4
33. Kg1 Kc7 34. Kf2 Kc6 35. Ke3 Rh4 $14) 32... Re8 33. Bf3 Kc7 34. Kg1 Re3 35.
Kf2 Rd3 36. Be4 Rd6 37. Ke3 Bb5 (37... h5 38. Rc2 h4 39. Rf2 $18) 38. Rc2 (38.
c4 Bc6 39. Bxc6 Rxc6 40. Kd4 Rd6+ 41. Kc3 Re6 $16) 38... Bc6 {Now finally
Black exchanges the bishops, but White has significantly improved his K.} 39.
Bxc6 Rxc6 40. Kd4 Rf6 41. Ke5 Rf1 42. h3 Kc6 43. Rd2 Re1+ (43... Kb5 44. Rd6
Rf2 45. g4 Kc4 46. Rxh6 Kxc3 47. Rb6 Rf7 48. Ke6 Rh7 49. Kf6 $18) 44. Kf5 Rc1
$2 (44... Re3 {looks more persistant.} 45. Rd8 $1 (45. c4 Rb3 46. Kg6 Rxb4 47.
Kxh6 Rxc4 48. Kxg5 Rc5+ 49. Kg6 Rxa5 50. h4 Ra4 $1 51. h5 Rg4+ 52. Kf5 Rh4 53.
Kg5 Rh2 $1 54. h6 b5 $132) (45. Kg6 Rxc3 46. Kxh6 Rg3 $132) 45... Rg3 $1 (45...
Kc7 46. Rh8 Rxc3 47. Rh7+ $18) (45... b6 46. axb6 Kxb6 47. Kg6 Rxc3 48. Kxh6
Rg3 49. Rb8+ Kc7 50. Rg8 Rxg2 51. h4 $1 $18) (45... Kb5 46. Rd7 Rxc3 47. Rxb7+
Ka4 48. Rb6 Rg3 49. Rxa6 Kxb4 50. Rxh6 Kxa5 51. Rg6 Rxg2 52. Rxg5 Rh2 53. Kg4+
Kb6 54. Rd5 $1 $18) 46. c4 Rxg2 47. Rh8 Rf2+ 48. Kg6 $1 (48. Ke5 Rb2 49. Rxh6+
Kc7 50. Rb6 Rb3 $11) (48. Ke4 Rf4+ $1) 48... Rb2 49. Rxh6 Rxb4 50. Kxg5+ Kc7
51. h4 $1 Ra4 (51... Rxc4 52. Rf6 $18) 52. Rf6 Rxa5+ 53. Kg6 $18) 45. Rd3 $1
$18 Kb5 46. Rd7 Rxc3 (46... Kc6 47. Rh7 Rxc3 48. Rxh6+ $18) 47. Rxb7+ Ka4 48.
Kg6 Rg3 (48... Rb3 49. Kxh6 Rxb4 50. Rxb4+ Kxb4 51. Kxg5 $18) 49. b5 $1 {
Kramnik's technique is excellent.} axb5 (49... Kxa5 50. bxa6 Kxa6 51. Rb2 $18)
50. a6 Re3 51. Kxh6 Re6+ 52. Kxg5 Rxa6 53. h4 Ra8 54. g4 Rg8+ 55. Kf4 Rf8+ 56.
Kg3 Ka5 (56... b4 57. h5 b3 58. h6 $18) 57. h5 Ka6 58. Re7 b4 59. h6 b3 60. Re3
1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 1st"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2005.05.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2005.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 107"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. cxd5 Qxd5 14. Bf4 Na5
15. Bxc7 Rac8 16. Bxa5 Qxa5 17. c4 Bf6 (17... Qc7 18. Qb3 Rfd8 19. a4 Bf6 20.
Rfd1 Be4 21. Rac1 Bxf3 22. Bxf3 Bxd4 23. Qxb7 Qxb7 24. Bxb7 Rb8 25. Bd5 Bc5 26.
g3 Kf8 27. Rb1 a6 28. Kf1 Ke7 29. Ke2 {1/2-1/2 Watson,R-Moland Kovash,S/IECC
email 2000/Corr 2002 (29)}) 18. Bd3 (18. Ra2 Rfd8 19. Qb3 Qb6 20. Rb2 Qxb3 21.
Rxb3 b6 22. d5 Re8 23. Re3 Bg4 24. Rd1 Bxf3 25. Rxe8+ Rxe8 26. Bxf3 Be5 27. g3
Bd6 28. a4 a5 29. h4 g6 30. h5 Kg7 31. Kf1 Re7 32. Be2 Re8 33. Bd3 Kf6 34. Kg2
Re5 35. hxg6 hxg6 36. Rh1 Kg7 37. Kf3 {1/2-1/2 Ponomariov,R-Sulypa,A/Donetsk
1998/CBM 68 (37)}) (18. Qb3 Qb6 (18... Be4 19. Rad1 (19. Rfd1 Rfd8 20. Rac1 b6
21. d5 Qc5 22. Nd2 Bg6 23. Bd3 Bxd3 24. Qxd3 Bb2 25. Rb1 Qxa3 26. Qxa3 Bxa3 27.
Ra1 Bb4 28. Rxa7 b5 $11 {0-1 Tratatovici,M-Boim,I/Israel 2002/EXT 2003 (52)})
19... Rfd8 20. d5 b5 21. Nd2 bxc4 22. Nxc4 Qc5 23. Ne3 Bg5 24. Bd3 Bxd3 25.
Qxd3 $16 {1/2-1/2 Tichonov,J-Pokorny,P/Rakovnik 2001/EXT 2002 (33)}) 19. Qxb6
axb6 20. Ra2 (20. Rfd1 Rfd8 {1/2-1/2 Wahls,M-Alterman,B/Germany 1999/(20)}) (
20. Ne5 Rfd8 21. Rfd1 Bc2 22. Rd2 Bxe5 23. Rxc2 Bxd4 $11 {1/2-1/2 Erdelyi,Z-Le
Kieu Thien,K/Budapest 2002/CBM 89 ext (28)}) 20... Rfd8 (20... Rfe8 21. Rd1
Rcd8 22. h3 Be4 23. Rad2 Ra8 24. Rb2 Re6 25. Ra2 b5 26. cxb5 Bd5 27. Rad2 Rxa3
$44 {1/2-1/2 Mukabi,J-Pihlajasalo,A/Elista 1998/CBM 66 ext (41)}) (20... Bg4
21. d5 Bxf3 22. gxf3 Bd4 23. a4 Rfe8 24. Rd1 Bc5 $44 {[#]. 1/2-1/2 Karjakin,
S-Andreikin,D/Oropesa del Mar 2000/EXT 2001 (49)}) 21. d5 (21. Rd1 Be4 (21...
Bg4 22. d5 Kf8 23. h3 Bxf3 24. Bxf3 Rxc4 25. d6 Rd4 26. Rxd4 Bxd4 27. Bxb7 {
1/2-1/2 Eretova,J-Pokorny,P/CZE t-ch 2001 (27)}) 22. d5 b5 (22... Bxf3 23. gxf3
Rd6 24. Bf1 Ra8 25. a4 Be7 26. Bd3 Ra5 (26... Rdd8 27. Rb1 Bc5 $14) 27. Re1 Bf8
28. Re8 $16 {1/2-1/2 Wedberg,T-Nielsen,P/Nordic Zonal, Munkebo DEN (3.3) 1998 
(50)}) 23. cxb5 (23. Nd2 Bg6 24. h3 Kf8 25. g4 Bc3 26. cxb5 Rxd5 27. Rc1 Re8
28. Nb3 Bf6 29. a4 Rde5 30. Bf3 $16 {1-0 Jabot,D-Schubert,W/ICCF Email 1999/
Corr 2002 (30)}) 23... Rxd5 24. Rxd5 Bxd5 $44 {1/2-1/2 Mlacnik,F-Schellmann,F/
Krynica 1999/EXT 2000 (53)}) 21... b5 $11) 18... Bg4 (18... Rfd8 19. Rb1 (19.
Bxf5 Qxf5 20. Qa4 a6 (20... Bxd4 $11) 21. c5 g6 22. Rab1 Qd5 23. Rb4 $16 {
1-0 Palac,M-Fercec,N/Pula 2000/CBM 075/(38)}) 19... Bg4 20. h3 Bxf3 21. Qxf3
Rxd4 22. Rxb7 Rcd8 23. Rb5 Qd2 24. Be2 Qc2 25. Rb7 a6 26. Rfb1 $16 {1-0 Koch,
C-Martello,J/IECG 2002/Telechess CBM 105 (32)}) (18... Be6 19. Qb1 g6 20. Qxb7
Bxc4 21. Bxc4 Rxc4 22. Qb3 Qc7 23. Rfd1 Rd8 24. Qe3 Qd6 $44 {1/2-1/2 Muller,
H-Glaubitz,F/IECC 2003/Telechess CBM 97 (30)}) 19. h3 Bxf3 (19... Be6 20. Qb3
Rfd8 21. Rad1 b6 22. d5 Bd7 23. Qb4 Qc5 24. Rb1 Re8 25. Rfe1 g6 26. Rxe8+ {
1-0 Jimenez,J-Gazizov,M/Chessfriend.com 2004/Telechess CBM 103 (26)}) 20. Qxf3
Qd8 (20... Rcd8 21. Rab1 Bxd4 22. Rxb7 g6 23. Be4 Rd6 24. Rb5 Qc7 25. Rd5 Rf6
26. Qd3 Bc5 27. a4 Re8 $44 {1/2-1/2 Zhang Zhong-Karpov,A/Cap d'Agde 2000/CBM
80 (44)}) 21. Rad1 g6 22. Be2 (22. Qxb7 Bxd4 $14 {Black have good compensation
for the sacrificed pawn because Bd4 is much stronger than Bd3.}) 22... Rc7 $1 {
[%cal Yc7d7] Idea of Black is to push White to play d4-d5,after what to
blocade pawn pair c4-d5 on the black squares.} 23. Qd3 (23. c5 Bxd4 24. Qg4 Rd7
25. Bb5 Rd5 26. Bc4 Rd7 27. Rd2 Kg7 28. Rb1 f5 29. Qf3 Qe7 $11) 23... b6 24.
Rd2 Qe7 25. Rfd1 Rd8 26. Qc3 (26. Qf3 Rcd7 27. d5 Qd6 $11) 26... Rcd7 {[%mdl 4]
} 27. Bg4 (27. Qe3 Qxe3 28. fxe3 Re7 29. Kf2 Bg5 30. Rd3 Rde8 $11) 27... Rxd4
$1 $11 28. Rxd4 Rxd4 29. Rxd4 Qc5 30. Rd5 Bxc3 31. Rxc5 bxc5 32. Kf1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 1st"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2005.05.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2005.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 107"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8 14. cxd5 Qxd5
15. Bf4 Rac8 16. Bg3 $146 Bf6 (16... Bd6 17. c4 (17. Nd2 Bxg3 18. hxg3 Na5 (
18... Qd6 19. Bf3 $14) 19. Qa4 b6 20. Bf3 Qd8 $11) 17... Qa5 (17... Qe4 18. d5
Bxg3 19. hxg3 Ne5 $11) 18. d5 Ne5 19. Nd4 Bd7 $11) 17. Nd2 Qa5 18. Qc1 Bxd4 $2
{I think that this combination is incorrect and Kramnik missed something in
his calculations.} (18... Bg5 19. f4 (19. Ra2 Bh6 $11) 19... Bf6 20. Nc4 Qa4
21. Ne3 Nxd4 $1 22. Bd1 Qa5 23. cxd4 Bxd4 24. Kh1 Bxa1 25. Qxa1 Rcd8 $15) 19.
cxd4 Nxd4 20. Bc4 $1 (20. Bf1 Rxe1 21. Qxe1 Nc2 22. Qd1 Nxa1 23. Nc4 Qc5 24.
Qxa1 Be6 $15) 20... Nc2 ({Probably Kramnik's idea was to play} 20... Rxe1+ 21.
Qxe1 Nc2 {but Black is losing in the long line} 22. Qe7 $1 Nxa1 23. Bxf7+ Kh8
24. Be5 $3 Qxd2 25. Bxg7+ $1 Kxg7 26. Be8+ Kh6 27. Qf8+ Kg5 28. f4+ $1 Kxf4 (
28... Qxf4 29. Qe7+ Kh6 (29... Kg4 30. h3+ Kg3 31. Qe1+ Qf2+ 32. Qxf2#) 30.
Qf6+ Bg6 31. Qxf4+ $18) (28... Kg4 29. Bh5+ Kxh5 30. Qxf5+ Kh6 31. Qg5#) 29.
Qh6+ Ke5 30. Qxd2 Rxe8 31. Qe2+ $1 Be4 32. Qb5+ $18) 21. Rxe8+ Rxe8 22. Rb1
Re1+ 23. Qxe1 Nxe1 24. Rxe1 $16 {The arising endgame looks very difficult for
Black because White have good chances to decide the game by piece attack.It is
not easy for Black to combine defence of Kg8 with moving their pawns on the
queen's side.} Kf8 (24... Be6 25. Nf3 Qxa3 26. Bxc7 $16) 25. Nf3 f6 (25... Qxa3
$142 26. Bxc7 Qc5 27. Bf4 $16) 26. Rd1 Qc5 27. Bf1 Ke8 28. Nd4 Bd7 29. Rd3 $1
a5 30. h3 b5 31. Nb3 Qxa3 (31... Qb6 32. Rc3 $18) 32. Bxc7 a4 33. Bd6 Qb2 34.
Nc5 a3 $2 (34... Bc6 35. Re3+ Kf7 36. Re7+ Kg6 (36... Kg8 37. Ne6 $18) 37. Ne6
$18) (34... Bc8 $142 35. Re3+ Kd8 $16) 35. Re3+ $1 Kf7 36. Nd3 $1 $18 Qb1 (
36... Qa1 37. Bxa3 $1 $18) 37. Bxa3 Be6 (37... Bf5 38. Re7+ Kg6 39. Nf4+ Kh6
40. Bc5 $18 {[%csl Rh6]}) 38. Nf4 b4 (38... Bc4 39. Re7+ Kg8 40. Re8+ Kf7 41.
Rf8#) 39. Bxb4 Qxb4 40. Nxe6 g6 41. g3 1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 1st"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2005.05.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2778"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2005.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 107"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 Nc6
8. Qd2 O-O 9. O-O-O Ne5 10. h4 (10. Kb1 a6 (10... Be6 11. Nd4 Nc4 12. Bxc4 Bxc4
13. h4 Qd7 14. b3 Ba6 15. g4 Rfe8 16. Nf5 Bf6 17. Bd4 Re2 18. Qf4 $36 {1/2-1/2
Tseshkovsky,V-Motylev,A/Moscow RUS 2005/(32)}) 11. Be2 Be6 12. Nd4 Nc4 13. Qd3
Nxe3 14. Nxe6 fxe6 15. Qxe3 e5 16. Bd3 c6 17. h4 Rf6 18. g3 d5 19. Qxe5 Rxf2
20. Rhf1 $16 {1-0 Anand,V-Kramnik,V/Monte Carlo MNC 2005/(52)}) (10. Nd4 c5 11.
Nb5 Be6 (11... Qa5 12. a3 Be6 13. Nxd6 Qb6 14. f4 $1 Ng4 15. f5 Qxd6 16. Qxd6
Bxd6 17. Rxd6 Nxe3 18. fxe6 fxe6 19. Bd3 $14 {1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V-Kasparov,G/New
York 1995/CBM 047 ext/(66)}) 12. Nxd6 Qb6 13. f4 Ng4 14. f5 Bxa2 15. Bf4 Rfd8
$17 {0-1 Tukhaev,A-Belikov,V/Alushta UKR 2005/(27)}) 10... Bg4 11. Be2 Qc8 12.
b3 (12. Nxe5 dxe5 13. Bxg4 Qxg4 14. Qd5 Bd6 $11) (12. Kb1 Re8 13. h5 Bf8 $13)
12... Re8 13. Kb1 Bf8 {Black arrange their pieces very harmonycally.It is very
difficult for White to develop initiative on the king's side.} 14. h5 a6 15.
Rde1 (15. h6 g6 $11) 15... b5 16. Rh4 Be7 17. Rhh1 Bf8 18. Bf4 Nd7 (18... Bxf3
$5 19. gxf3 Qf5 (19... Qb7 20. Rh3 a5 21. Be3 a4 22. f4 Nd7 23. Bf3 c6 24. h6
g6 25. f5 d5 $132) 20. Reg1 a5 21. Rg5 Qf6 $132) 19. Ng5 (19. Nd4 Nf6 (19...
Bxe2 20. Rxe2 Qb7 21. f3 Rxe2 22. Qxe2 Nf6 $11) 20. f3 c5 $1 (20... Bd7 {
[%cal Yc7c5]} 21. h6 g6 22. Bg5 $36) 21. fxg4 Ne4 $1 22. Qd3 cxd4 23. Bf3 Nxc3+
(23... Nf2 24. Qxd4 Nxh1 25. Rxh1 $44) 24. Kb2 d5 25. Qxd4 Qc6 $15 {[%csl Re4]
[%cal Yc3e4]}) 19... Bxe2 20. Rxe2 Nf6 {[%cal Yc8f5]} (20... Rxe2 21. Qxe2 h6
22. Nf3 (22. Ne4 d5 23. Ng3 Nf6 $11) 22... Nf6 $11) 21. Rxe8 Qxe8 $11 22. h6 $6
(22. Re1 Qc6) 22... gxh6 $1 23. Nf3 Ne4 24. Qe3 Bg7 $15 25. Nd4 $8 (25. Be5 Ng5
26. Bxg7 Qxe3 27. fxe3 Kxg7 28. Nd4 Kg6 $17) 25... c5 26. Ne2 Nxc3+ (26... Qe6
27. Bxh6 Nxc3+ 28. Nxc3 Qxe3 29. Bxe3 Bxc3 30. Rd1 Be5 31. f4 Bc3 32. Rxd6 Re8
33. Rd3 b4 34. Kc1 Re4 35. g3 Kg7 36. Bd2 $11) (26... a5 $5 27. Rd1 (27. Bxh6
Nxc3+ 28. Nxc3 Qxe3 29. Bxe3 Bxc3 30. Rd1 Ra6 $15) 27... h5 28. f3 Nxc3+ 29.
Nxc3 Qxe3 30. Bxe3 Bxc3 31. Rxd6 Re8 32. Rd3 b4 $15) 27. Nxc3 Qxe3 28. fxe3 (
28. Bxe3 Bxc3 29. Rd1 Be5 30. f4 Bc3 31. Rxd6 Re8 32. Rd3 b4 $15) 28... Bxc3
29. Bxd6 Rc8 30. Kc1 $1 {White found right plan of defence.Their king will
protect pawns of the king's side,Rh1 and Bd6 will create counterplay.} (30.
Rxh6 $140 $4 Rd8 $19 {[%cal Yc3g7]}) 30... Rc6 31. Bf4 Kg7 32. Kd1 c4 (32...
Rg6 33. g3 $15) 33. Ke2 Bf6 $5 34. Bxh6+ Kg6 35. Kf3 cxb3 36. cxb3 Rc2 37. a4
bxa4 (37... Rc3 38. axb5 axb5 39. b4 Be7 40. Bf4 h5 (40... Bxb4 41. Rh6+ Kg7
42. Rb6 $11 {[%cal Gb6b5,Gf4h6]}) 41. g4 h4 (41... hxg4+ 42. Kxg4 f5+ (42...
Bxb4 43. Rh6+ Kg7 44. Rb6 Rc5 45. Bd6 Rc4+ 46. Bf4 Bc5 47. Rxb5 Bxe3 48. Rg5+
Kf8 49. Rf5 $11) 43. Kf3 Rc4 44. Rh6+ Kf7 45. Rh5 Ke6 46. Rh6+ $11) 42. Ra1
Bxb4 (42... Rc4 43. Ra7 Bxb4 44. Ra6+ f6 45. Rb6 $11) 43. Ra6+ Kh7 44. Rh6+ $11
) 38. bxa4 Ra2 39. Bf8 Bg5 40. Rb1 $132 Rxa4 41. Rb6+ f6 (41... Kh5 42. Rb7 Ra1
43. Bc5 a5 44. Bd4 Rf1+ 45. Ke2 Rf5 46. e4 Rf4 47. Kd3 Kg6 48. Ra7 $11) 42. Rb7
Bh6 (42... h6 43. g4 f5 44. Rb6+ Kf7 45. Bxh6 fxg4+ 46. Kg3 Bd8 47. Rc6 a5 48.
Bf4 $11) (42... h5 43. e4 Bh6 44. Bxh6 Kxh6 45. g3 Ra1 46. Ra7 a5 47. Kf4 Kg6
48. Ra6 $11) 43. Bxh6 Kxh6 44. e4 Kg6 45. g4 Ra1 46. Kf4 a5 47. Rb6 a4 48. e5
a3 (48... Rf1+ 49. Kg3 a3 50. Ra6 a2 51. Rxa2 fxe5 52. Re2 Kf6 53. Rh2 $11) 49.
Rxf6+ Kg7 50. Kg5 a2 (50... h5 51. Rf2 $11) 51. Rf2 $1 Re1 (51... h6+ 52. Kf5
Kf7 53. g5 hxg5 54. Kxg5+ Ke6 55. Kf4 $11) 52. Rxa2 Rxe5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 1st"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2005.05.16"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2732"]
[Annotator "Tyomkin,D"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2005.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 107"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Nf3 Bb7 8.
e3 d6 9. Be2 Nbd7 10. O-O Ne4 11. Qc2 f5 12. b4 Rf6 {Larsen and later Smyslov
made this line popular for Black;} 13. d5 Rg6 14. Nd4 $1 {The only way for
White to fight for the opening advantage. White allows Black to get his queen
to g5, while White manages to repulse Black's attack there. Kramnik was
definitely familiar with this line, not sure about Judit..} Qg5 {That's a
novelty, and definitely an improvement of Matveeva-Maric game where Black got
in trouble very soon.} (14... exd5 15. f3 Qg5 16. Bd3 dxc4 17. Bxc4+ d5 18. Bb5
c6 19. fxe4 $16 cxb5 20. exf5 Rc8 21. Qf2 Rf6 22. Bb2 Rf7 23. Ne6 Qg4 24. h3
Qh5 25. Bd4 g6 $2 26. Qg3 Rc2 27. Nd8 {1-0 Matveeva,S-Maric,A/Budva 2003/CBM
096 ext}) 15. g3 exd5 {15...Nf8 is the way to keep tension in the centre,
although this doesn't bring black an equal play.} (15... Nf8 16. Bb2 $14) 16.
cxd5 Bxd5 17. Bc4 {Exchanging Black's bishop, White gets access to Black's
queenside.} Bxc4 18. Qxc4+ Kh8 19. Qc6 $1 {Important accuracy- Black's rook is
worse on d8 than on a8;} (19. Qxc7 Ne5 {same as in the game, but Black's queen
doesn't need to guard the rook;}) 19... Rd8 20. Qxc7 Ne5 {Black pawns are
targets, but he still has some hopes on the kingside;} 21. Ra2 $1 {Bringing
the rook to a defense- white intends f4 now. Immediate f4 would lead to a draw
only.} (21. f4 Qxg3+ $1 22. hxg3 Rxg3+ 23. Kh1 (23. Kh2 Ng4+) 23... Rh3+ 24.
Kg1 $11) 21... Rf8 (21... Ng4 22. Nf3 $16) (21... Nd3 22. Qxa7 Nxc1 23. Rxc1 f4
24. exf4 Qxf4 25. Qc7 Rg8 26. Rd1 {and again Black fails to create any serious
threats against the white king;}) 22. f4 {This move freezes Black's attack, as
well as Ra2 joins the defense;} Qg4 23. Qe7 (23. fxe5 $2 Nxg3 24. Rg2 Ne2+)
23... Rg8 24. Rg2 Nd3 (24... Nc4 25. Qxa7 {The same idea as in the game -
Black doesn't have anything on the kingside, so white can safely grab pawns;} (
25. Qf7 d5 26. Qxf5 Qxf5 27. Nxf5 $16)) 25. Qxa7 {White is safe on the
kingside, so Vlad simply picks Black pawns;} h5 (25... Qh3 26. Qa6 (26. Qxb6 $4
Nxg3 {and Black even wins here!} 27. Rxg3 (27. hxg3 Rh6) 27... Rxg3+ 28. hxg3
Qxg3+ 29. Kh1 Qh3+ 30. Kg1 g5 $19) (26. Qb7 $5 {the move which wasn't
mentioned by any other commentators of this game.} h5 27. Rd1 {[%cal Gb7g2]
and again black doesn't have anything;}) 26... Nxc1 (26... Nxg3 27. Qxd3 Nxf1
28. Qxf1 $18) 27. Rxc1 Nxg3 28. hxg3 Rxg3 29. Rxg3 Qxg3+ 30. Kf1 Qxe3 31. Ne2
$1 $16) 26. Qa6 {My Fritzy doesn't understand why Kramnik didn't grab another
one....} (26. Qxb6 h4 27. Qb5 hxg3 28. hxg3 Nxc1 29. Nxf5 $1 $18) 26... Nxc1
27. Rxc1 h4 28. Qe2 {An extra pawn for Kramnik in endgame means a point in the
crosstable in the most cases;} Qxe2 29. Rxe2 hxg3 30. Nxf5 gxh2+ 31. Kh1 Rg1+
32. Rxg1 hxg1=Q+ 33. Kxg1 {White has an extra pawn, all black pawns are weak...
And Vlad is sitting in front of you... sounds bad.} Ra8 34. Ra2 Nc3 (34... Kg8
35. Ne7+ Kf7 36. Nd5 b5 37. Kg2 {[%cal Gg2f3]}) 35. Rh2+ Kg8 36. Rg2 Kf7 (36...
Rxa3 37. Rxg7+ Kf8 38. Rb7) 37. Nxd6+ Ke6 38. Nc4 b5 39. Na5 Kf6 40. Rd2 $1 {
following with Rd3. Vlad makes it looking easy.} g5 {Pawn exchanges are
favoing the weaker side, but here nothing can help Black;} 41. Rd3 Ne4 42.
fxg5+ Kxg5 43. Kg2 Rf8 44. Rd5+ Kg4 45. Rd4 Kf5 46. Nc6 Rg8+ 47. Kf1 Ra8 48.
Ne7+ Ke5 49. Nc6+ Kf5 50. Ne7+ Ke5 51. Ng6+ Kf5 52. Nh4+ Ke5 53. Nf3+ Kf5 54.
Nh4+ Ke5 55. Nf3+ Kf5 56. Rd5+ Kf6 (56... Kg4 57. Kg2 Rxa3 58. Ne5+ Kf5 59.
Nc4+ Ke6 60. Rxb5 $18) 57. Rd3 Rh8 58. Ke2 Ke7 59. Nd4 Rh2+ (59... Rh5 60. Kf3
Nf6 61. Rc3 {[%cal Gc3c5]}) 60. Kf3 Nd6 61. Rc3 Rh3+ 62. Kg4 {The pawn b5
falls as well.... One more very long and exhausting game for both players in
Sofia; From Sofia reports: "Both players looked very tired at the press
conference and agreed that one additional day of rest would have been a good
idea."} 1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 1st"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2005.05.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2695"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2005.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 107"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. Nc3 Bb7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 g5 7. Bg3 Nh5 8. e3
Nxg3 9. hxg3 Bg7 10. Qc2 Nc6 11. O-O-O Qe7 12. g4 {Ponomariov correctly fixes
the kingside, the pawn h6 will require long term attention.} (12. a3 O-O-O 13.
d5 Ne5 14. Nd4 Kb8 15. Be2 g4 16. Kb1 c5 17. Nb3 f5 18. Rd2 Nf7 19. Nc1 Bxc3
20. Qxc3 exd5 21. cxd5 Nd6 22. Rdd1 Ne4 23. Qe1 Qe5 {1/2-1/2 Antoshin,
V-Polugaevsky,L/Sochi 1966/ (28)}) (12. d5 Nb4 13. Qb3 Bxc3 14. bxc3 Na6 15.
Be2 e5 16. Rh5 O-O-O 17. Qc2 Qf6 18. Bd3 Nc5 19. Bf5 Ba6 20. Nd2 Nb7 21. Rdh1
Kb8 22. g4 Nd6 {1/2-1/2 Jost,C-Schabanel,S/France 1995/ (27)}) 12... Nb4 (12...
O-O-O 13. a3 Kb8 14. Be2 h5 15. gxh5 g4 16. Nd2 f5 17. f3 Qg5 18. f4 Qf6 19.
Nf1 Ne7 20. Bd3 d5 21. Ng3 c5 22. dxc5 d4 23. Na4 dxe3 24. cxb6 axb6 25. Qb3 {
1-0 Zilberman,Y-Farago,I/Cappelle la Grande 2004/ (34)}) 13. Qd2 (13. Qb3 c5
14. a3 Nc6 15. d5 Na5 16. Qc2 a6 17. d6 $14) 13... c5 (13... O-O-O 14. a3 Nc6
15. Bd3 $14) 14. d5 exd5 15. a3 dxc4 $6 {[%mdl 1024] Kramnik has played in
Sofia with a great courage and was not afraid to sacrifice material.
Unexpected investment of the piece is nearly for sure incorrect, but white had
to show courage and phantasy.} (15... Bxc3 16. bxc3 Nc6 17. cxd5 Ne5 18. Nxe5
Qxe5 19. f4 Qf6 20. g3 $14) (15... d4 16. exd4 Bxf3 17. Re1 $18) 16. axb4 $1 (
16. Bxc4 Rc8 17. e4 a6 $13) 16... cxb4 17. Nb5 (17. Nd5 c3 18. bxc3 bxc3 19.
Qa2 Bxd5 20. Rxd5 $16) 17... d5 18. Nbd4 Bf6 (18... Qc5 19. Nf5 Bf6 20. Kb1 Bc6
21. N3d4 Bd7 22. Qe2 c3 23. e4 $16) 19. e4 $1 {Exchampion of the world from
Ukraine hints at the solution of the defensive problems- it will be
counterattack. Kramnik's king has abolutely nowhere to hide.} c3 (19... dxe4
20. Nf5 c3 21. bxc3 (21. Qe3 Qc5 22. Nd6+ Ke7 23. Nxb7 Qxe3+ 24. fxe3 exf3 25.
gxf3 cxb2+ 26. Kb1 Rac8 27. Bd3 a5 $13) 21... Qc7) 20. bxc3 dxe4 (20... bxc3
21. Qa2 Bxd4 (21... O-O 22. Rxh6 $16) 22. Nxd4 Qxe4 23. Qa3 Qe7 24. Bb5+ Kf8
25. Qxc3 Rc8 26. Nc6 Qc5 27. Qxc5+ bxc5 28. Nxa7 $16) 21. Nf5 Qc7 (21... Bxc3
22. Qa2 $1 Qc7 23. Bb5+ Kf8 24. Rd7 $18) 22. Bb5+ $2 (22. Nd6+ $1 Kf8 (22...
Ke7 23. Nd4 bxc3 24. Qe3 Kf8 25. N4b5 $16) 23. Nxb7 exf3 (23... Qxb7 24. Qd6+
Kg7 25. Nd4 bxc3 26. Nf5+ Kg6 27. Qh2 h5 28. Rd6 $18) 24. Qd6+ Qxd6 25. Nxd6
Bxc3 26. gxf3 a5 27. Bc4 $16) 22... Kf8 23. N3d4 Rc8 $2 {In the somewhat
irrational position even the best players are playing without confidence,
better impression is made by the alternative moves 23...bxc3 and 23...a6!?} (
23... bxc3 24. Qa2 (24. Qe2 a6 25. Ba4 b5 26. Bb3 b4 $36) 24... a6 25. Bc4 b5
26. Bd5 b4 $11) (23... a6 $5 24. Be2 bxc3 25. Qa2 Rd8 $13) 24. Ne2 e3 (24... a6
25. Qd6+ Qxd6 26. Nxd6 axb5 27. Nxb7 $16) (24... Rd8 25. Qe3 Bd5 (25... bxc3
26. Rxd8+ Qxd8 27. Rd1 Qa8 28. Nxc3 Qc8 29. Kb2 $18) 26. f3 $16) 25. Qxe3 (25.
Qa2 Rh7 (25... Bxc3 26. Rd7 Bb2+ 27. Kxb2 Qc2+ 28. Ka1 $18) 26. Rd7 Qc5 27.
Rxb7 Qxb5 28. Nd6 b3 29. Qa3 $18) 25... Bxg2 (25... Bxc3 26. Nxc3 Bxg2 27. Kb1
bxc3 28. Rd7 Qc5 29. Qxc5+ bxc5 30. Re1 Rb8 31. Kc2 $18) 26. Rhg1 (26. Rd7 $1
Qc5 27. Rxh6 Rxh6 28. Nxh6 Be7 29. Nf5 Qxe3+ 30. fxe3 $18) 26... Bc6 $6 {
The last moment when black was able to prepare more difficult problems for his
enemy with the move 26...Bxc3!?} (26... Bxc3 $5 27. Kb1 $1 (27. Nxc3 Be4 28.
Nd6 Qxc3+ 29. Qxc3 Rxc3+ 30. Kb2 Rc2+ 31. Kb3 Bg6 $13) 27... Bc6 28. Qd3 Bxb5
29. Qxb5 Qe5 30. Nxc3 Qxc3 31. Rd3 $18) 27. Bxc6 Qxc6 28. Rd6 $1 Qa4 29. Rxf6
Qa1+ (29... Re8 30. Qf3 (30. Rxf7+ Kxf7 31. Nd6+ Kg7 32. Qd4+ Kh7 33. Nxe8 Rxe8
34. Qd3+ $14) 30... Qa1+ 31. Kc2 Qa2+ 32. Kd3 Qa6+ 33. Kd4 Rxe2 (33... Qxe2 34.
Rxf7+ Kxf7 35. Nxh6+ $18) 34. Qa8+ Re8 35. Qc6 Rd8+ 36. Rd6 Qc8 37. cxb4 $18)
30. Kd2 Qa2+ 31. Kd1 Re8 (31... Qb1+ 32. Nc1 Rd8+ 33. Nd6 $18) 32. Qd3 Qa4+ 33.
Qc2 $1 {White enjoys so much extra material, that he can easily offer one
piece for simplifying the position.} (33. Ke1 Qa1+ 34. Kd2 Qa2+) 33... Qxc2+ (
33... b3 34. Qb2 Qa2 35. Qxa2 bxa2 36. Kd2 $18) 34. Kxc2 Rxe2+ 35. Kb3 (35. Kd3
Re6 36. Rxe6 fxe6 37. Nd4 $16) 35... bxc3 36. Rd1 Rd2 (36... c2 37. Rd8+ Re8
38. Rd7 c1=N+ (38... c1=Q 39. Rdxf7+ Kg8 40. Rg7#) 39. Kc2 Rc8+ 40. Kd1 Rh7 41.
Rc6 $18) 37. Rc1 (37. Rxd2 cxd2 38. Rd6 f6 39. Rxd2 $18) 37... c2 38. Rc6 {
Kramnik is punished for the poor cordination of his forces, there is no
discussion about the real resistance.} Kg8 (38... Rd8 39. R1xc2 h5 $2 40. Rc8
Ke8 41. R2c7 $18) 39. Nxh6+ Kh7 (39... Kg7 40. Nf5+ Kg8 41. Rc8+ Kh7 42. Rh1+
$18) (39... Kf8 40. Rc8+ Kg7 41. Nf5+ $18) 40. Nxf7 Rg8 41. R1xc2 Rxc2 42. Kxc2
Rg7 43. Rf6 Kg8 44. Ne5 Kh7 45. Rf5 1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 1st"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2005.05.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "2005.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 107"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8 14. cxd5 Qxd5
15. Bf4 Rac8 {Mikhail Golubev (www.chesstoday.net): A kind of modern tabia.}
16. Qc1 $146 {[%mdl 8] This interesting move looks very naturally and needs
future tests.} Na5 (16... Be4 17. Qe3 (17. Be3 Qf5 18. Nd2 Bd3 19. Bf3 Bd6 $11)
17... Bg6 18. Bf1 (18. c4 Qf5 19. Qd2 Bd6 20. Be3 $14) 18... Kf8 19. c4 Qf5 20.
Qd2 Bd6 21. Be3 $14) (16... Bd6 $6 17. Be3 $16 {[%cal Gc3c4]}) (16... Bf6 $5
17. Qb2 Na5 18. Ne5 Qb3 $1 (18... Bxe5 19. Bxe5 Nc4 20. Bxc4 Qxc4 21. Qxb7 f6
22. Bf4 Qxc3 23. Qd5+ Kh8 24. Rec1 Qd3 25. Bxc7 $16) 19. Qxb3 Nxb3 20. Ra2 Nc5
$1 $11) 17. c4 Qe4 $4 {[%mdl 8192]} (17... Qd8 18. Qc3 c5 19. d5 Bf6 20. Ne5 $5
(20. Be5 Bxe5 21. Nxe5 f6 $14) 20... b6 21. Bd3 $14) {[%tqu "En","Find how
White can exploit the unprotected position of the black pieces on the fifth
rank.","","","e2d1","",10]} 18. Bd1 $1 Qd3 19. Re3 $1 Qxc4 20. Re5 1-0

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 1st"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2005.05.20"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C99"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2005.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 107"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 cxd4 13. cxd4 Nc6 14. Nb3 a5 15.
Be3 a4 16. Nbd2 Bd7 17. Rc1 Qb7 18. Qe2 Rfe8 19. Bd3 Rab8 20. dxe5 Nxe5 21.
Nxe5 dxe5 22. Bc5 Bc6 23. Bxe7 Rxe7 24. Nf3 h6 25. Rc5 Nd7 26. Rc3 Re6 27. Rec1
Rd8 28. Qc2 Nf6 29. Nxe5 Bxe4 30. Bxe4 Qxe4 31. Qxe4 Nxe4 32. Rc8 Ree8 33. Rxd8
Rxd8 34. f3 Ng5 35. Rc5 f6 36. Ng6 Kh7 37. Nh4 b4 38. Rc4 Rd1+ 39. Kh2 b3 40.
Rxa4 bxa2 41. Rxa2 Rd2 42. Kg3 Ne6 43. Nf5 g5 44. h4 Nf4 45. hxg5 hxg5 46. Ne3
Kg6 47. Kh2 Re2 48. Ra3 Rxb2 49. Kg1 Ne2+ 50. Kh2 Nf4 51. Kg1 Ne2+ 52. Kh2 Nf4
53. Kg1 Ne2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 1st"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2005.05.21"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2732"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2005.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 107"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. a3 Nc6 11. cxd5 Qxd5 12. Nc3 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Bf5 14. Re1 Rfe8
15. Bf4 Rac8 16. Bd3 b5 $146 17. Qb1 (17. a4 $5) 17... Bxd3 18. Qxd3 a6 19. a4
b4 20. Rac1 (20. c4 $5 Qd7 21. d5 Bf6 22. Rad1 Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 Ne7 (23... a5 $5
24. Bg5 Bc3 25. Bd2 Bxd2 26. Nxd2 Ne7 27. Nb3 $14) 24. Be5 (24. Ne5 Bxe5 25.
Bxe5 Ng6 $11) 24... Bxe5 25. Nxe5 Qxa4 26. Qe2 Rf8 27. Nd3 Re8 (27... Ng6 28.
Nc5 $1 Qa3 29. Nd7 $18) 28. Qb2 b3 29. Qc3 Ng6 30. Rxe8+ Qxe8 31. Qxb3 Nf4 $11)
(20. Qxa6 bxc3 21. Qd3 Bf6 22. Be3 c2 23. Qxc2 Nxd4 24. Bxd4 Bxd4 25. Nxd4 Qxd4
$11) 20... Bf6 21. Rxe8+ ({White have real chances for advantage after} 21.
cxb4 $5 Rxe1+ (21... Nxb4 22. Qb1 a5 23. Rxc7 Rxe1+ 24. Qxe1 $16) 22. Rxe1 Nxb4
23. Qb1 $1 c5 (23... Nc6 24. Qb7 $16) 24. dxc5 $16) 21... Rxe8 22. cxb4 Nxb4
23. Qc3 (23. Qb1 a5 24. Rxc7 (24. Bxc7 Bxd4 25. Re1 Rxe1+ 26. Qxe1 Bc5 27. Qe8+
Bf8 28. h3 Nd3 $11) 24... Bxd4 $11) 23... Na2 (23... Qf5 24. Bg3 Nd5 25. Qc6
Qe6 26. Qxe6 fxe6 27. Kf1 Rb8 28. Bxc7 Rb4 29. a5 Rb5 $14) 24. Re1 (24. Qc4 $5
Qe4 25. Qxa2 Qxf4 26. Qc4 g6 27. a5 Rd8 28. Qxc7 Qxc7 29. Rxc7 Rd5 $1 (29...
Bxd4 30. Kf1 $14 Bf6 31. Rc6 Ra8 32. Nd2 $14) 30. Rc5 Rxc5 31. dxc5 Kf8 $1 32.
Nd2 Ke7 33. c6 Bc3 34. Ne4 Bxa5 35. Nc5 Bb6 36. Nxa6 Kd6 $11) 24... Rxe1+ 25.
Qxe1 h6 26. Bxc7 Bxd4 $11 27. h3 Bf6 28. Qe8+ Kh7 29. Be5 Qd1+ (29... Bxe5 30.
Qxe5 (30. Nxe5 Qe4 $15) 30... Qd1+ 31. Kh2 Qxa4 32. Qf5+ $11) 30. Kh2 Qe2 31.
Qb8 Bxe5+ 32. Qxe5 Qxe5+ 33. Nxe5 f6 34. Nd3 Kg6 35. Kg3 Kf5 36. Kf3 Nc3 37. a5
Nb5 38. g4+ Kg5 39. Nc5 f5 40. Nxa6 fxg4+ 41. hxg4 Nd4+ 42. Kg3 Nc6 43. Nc7
Nxa5 44. Ne8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sofia MTel Masters 1st"]
[Site "Sofia"]
[Date "2005.05.22"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B80"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2778"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2005.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "BUL"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 107"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. f3 b5 8. Qd2
b4 9. Nce2 e5 10. Nb3 Nc6 $5 $146 {Interesting novelty in the position, that
was giving black decent results so far.} (10... d5 11. exd5 Qxd5 12. O-O-O Be6
13. Qe1 Qc6 14. Ng3 Nbd7 15. Kb1 Be7 16. Bd3 a5 17. Qe2 a4 18. Bb5 Qc7 19. Nc1
O-O 20. Nd3 b3 {0-1 Bhawoodien,S-Mauba,S/Cape Town 1995/ (27)}) (10... a5 11.
a4 bxa3 12. Rxa3 d5 13. Rxa5 Rxa5 14. Nxa5 (14. Qxa5 Qxa5+ 15. Nxa5 dxe4 16.
Nc4 Nc6 17. fxe4 Nxe4 18. g3 Nb4 19. Kd1 f6 20. Bg2 Bf5 {1/2-1/2 Balogh,
C-Cheparinov,I/Warsaw 2005/ (54)}) 14... dxe4 15. Qxd8+ Kxd8 16. Bb6+ Ke8 17.
Nc4 exf3 18. gxf3 Nbd7 19. Bc7 Bb7 20. Nxe5 Nd5 21. Nxd7 Nxc7 22. Ne5 f6 23.
Nd3 Bxf3 {0-1 Daubenfeld,G-Shtyrenkov,V/Pardubice 2004/ (56)}) 11. c4 (11. g4
h6 12. Ng3 Be6 13. h4 d5 14. exd5 Nxd5 15. O-O-O Qc7 16. Bd3 a5 17. Nc5 Bxc5
18. Bxc5 O-O-O 19. Nf5 g6 20. Ng7 Kb8 21. Nxe6 fxe6 22. Be3 {1-0 Naiditsch,
A-Palac,M/Warsaw 2005/ (48)}) 11... Be7 (11... bxc3 $6 12. Nxc3 $14) 12. Ng3 g6
(12... O-O 13. Be2 a5 $13) 13. Bd3 Nd7 14. Rd1 (14. O-O a5 15. Be2 Qc7 $13)
14... O-O 15. Qf2 a5 {Topalov has no need to exchange a pair of knights as it
would make the weakness on d5 more palatable.} (15... Na5 16. Nxa5 Qxa5 17. b3
Nc5 18. O-O $14) 16. O-O (16. c5 dxc5 17. Nxc5 Nxc5 18. Bxc5 Nd4 (18... Bxc5
19. Qxc5 Qf6 20. O-O Rd8 21. Bc4 $14) 19. Bxd4 Qxd4 $11) 16... a4 17. Nc1 Nc5 (
17... Bg5 $5 18. f4 exf4 19. Bxf4 Bxf4 20. Qxf4 Nce5 $11) 18. Bb1 Qc7 19. Nce2
(19. Nd3 Be6 $1 20. Nxc5 dxc5 21. Bxc5 Bxc5 22. Qxc5 Ra5 23. Qe3 Bxc4 $15)
19... Be6 {A paradoxal jump of black's knight to a5 might have posed some
unpleasant problems for white.} (19... Na5 $5 20. Bh6 Re8 21. Rc1 Ba6 $17) 20.
Bh6 Rfe8 21. Nf5 $1 (21. Rc1 Na5 22. Nf5 Bxc4 23. Ne3 Be6 24. f4 $44) 21...
Bxc4 22. Ne3 $1 Ba6 (22... Be6 23. f4 $1 Bf8 24. Bxf8 Rxf8 25. f5 $14) 23. f4
exf4 24. Bxf4 (24. Nxf4 $5 Bxf1 25. Rxf1 Ne5 $17) 24... Ne5 25. Nd5 Qa7 26.
Bxe5 $6 {Kramnik played very creatively, sacrificed the pawn for piece
activity. The exchange of the dark squared bishop can not be good, as taking
the f7 pawn would have given black serious advantage.} (26. Be3 $5 Bd8 $13)
26... dxe5 27. Kh1 (27. Qxf7+ Kh8 28. Nxe7 Ne6+ 29. Kh1 Rxe7 30. Qf6+ Kg8 $17)
27... Bg5 $1 (27... Bxe2 28. Qxe2 Ne6 $11) 28. Nxb4 Bc4 29. Rfe1 Qb7 30. Nd5 (
30. Qxc5 Rac8 31. Qa5 Ra8 $11) 30... Qxb2 $4 {[%mdl 8192] Players were
obviously very tired in the last round of Sofia supertournament. Topalov plays
a horrible blunder, that could have lost a piece.} 31. Nc7 (31. Qxc5 Bxe2 32.
Qf2 $18) 31... Ne6 32. Nxe8 Rxe8 33. Rf1 Rf8 34. Nc1 $4 {[%mdl 8192] Kramnik
pays back with a lemon, that immediately cost him the whole point. It is
really rare to see double blunder in the game of two 2750+ players!} (34. Bd3
Bxd3 (34... Bxa2 35. Ra1 Bb3 $15) 35. Rxd3 f5 36. Rf3 Qxa2 37. Qb6 Bd8 38. Qc6
Ng5 39. Nc3 Qe6 40. Qxe6+ Nxe6 $15) 34... Qxb1 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 33rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2005.07.08"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B44"]
[WhiteElo "2744"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2005.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 108"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nb5 d6 6. c4 Nf6 7. N1c3 a6 8. Na3
Be7 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O b6 11. Be3 Ne5 12. f3 Bb7 13. Qd4 Ned7 14. Rfd1 Re8 15.
Qd2 Rc8 16. Rac1 Qc7 17. Kh1 Qb8 18. Nc2 Bd8 19. Qe1 d5 20. cxd5 exd5 21. exd5
b5 22. Qf2 Qd6 23. a3 Nb6 24. Nb4 Nfxd5 25. Ncxd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 33rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2005.07.09"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Sutovsky, Emil"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C66"]
[WhiteElo "2674"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[Annotator "Erenburg,S"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2005.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 108"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 64]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 d6 5. O-O (5. c3 Bd7 6. O-O g6
7. Nbd2 Bg7 8. Re1 O-O 9. Nf1 Nh5 10. Ba4 Qe8 11. Bb3 Kh8 {---> 1-0 Morozevich,
A-Krasenkow,M/Plovdiv 2003/CBM 098/[Ftacnik] (60)}) 5... g6 6. d4 $5 {White
loses a tempo, playing twice with the same pawn. But, in this particular
position he has a development advantage and he can play aggressively. In this
way, Emil gets a space advantage.} (6. c3 {is main line. See 5.c3}) 6... Bd7 7.
Re1 {Other continuations look less promising:} (7. Nc3 exd4 8. Nd5 Bg7 9. Re1
Ne5 10. Bxd7+ Nfxd7 11. Nxd4 O-O 12. c3 c6 13. Ne3 Nc5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Kupreichik,
V-Mokry,K/Rimavska Sobota 1990/CBM 20 ext (37)}) (7. dxe5 Nxe5 8. Nc3 Bg7 9.
Bg5 Bxb5 10. Nxb5 Ned7 11. Re1 O-O 12. Qd2 Re8 13. Nc3 Nc5 14. Rad1 Qc8 15.
Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Nd5 Bg7 17. Qf4 Ne6 18. Nf6+ Bxf6 19. Qxf6 Qd8 20. Qc3 Re7 21. g3
Rd7 22. Rd5 Qe7 23. e5 Rad8 24. Red1 dxe5 25. Qxe5 Rxd5 26. Rxd5 c6 {1/2-1/2
Wang Hao-Zhang Zhong/Xiapu CHN 2005/The Week in Chess 555 (26)}) 7... Bg7 ({
Another possible continuation is} 7... Nxd4 8. Nxd4 exd4 9. Bxd7+ Qxd7 10. Qxd4
Bg7 11. e5 $5 Qe6 12. Nc3 (12. Bd2 $5) (12. Qb4 $5) 12... O-O 13. Bh6 dxe5 14.
Rxe5 Qb6 15. Qxb6 axb6 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Re7 Rac8 18. Rd1 Rfd8 19. Rxd8 Rxd8
20. Rxc7 Rd2 21. f3 Rxc2 22. Rxb7 Rxb2 23. a4 g5 24. g4 Rb3 25. Rc7 Nd7 26.
Rxd7 {1/2-1/2 Rozentalis,E-Koziak,V/Dzwirzyno 2004/CBM 102 ext (26)}) 8. d5 {
White gets a space advantage on the queenside. Actually, in positions with
Indian pawn structure, White is interested to exchange light-squared bishops.
The alternatives are:} (8. Bxc6 $6 Bxc6 9. dxe5 Nxe4 10. Qd3 dxe5 $1 11. Rxe4
Bxe4 12. Qxe4 Qd1+ 13. Qe1 O-O-O 14. Nc3 Qxc2 $15 {[%mdl 8] 0-1 Guseinov,
G-Aleksandrov,A/Batumi 2002/CBM 090/[Wedberg] (44)}) (8. dxe5 Nxe5 9. Bxd7+
Qxd7 10. Bg5 O-O 11. Nxe5 dxe5 12. Qxd7 Nxd7 $11 {1-0 Kupreichik,V-Levin,F/
Germany 1995/GER-chT2 (58)}) (8. Nc3 Nxd4 9. Nxd4 exd4 10. Qxd4 O-O 11. Qd3) (
8. c3 O-O 9. Ba4 Qe8 10. Bc2 Bg4 11. d5 Ne7 12. Nbd2 Nh5 13. a4 Bh6 14. a5 Bxd2
15. Bxd2 f5 $13 {0-1 Hamdouchi,H-Kayumov,S/Abu Dhabi 2004/CBM 103 (49)}) 8...
Ne7 9. Bxd7+ Nxd7 {Black takes with the knight, in order to prepare f7-f5
counterstrike. White's main plan in such pawn structure is of course
development of initiative on the queenside by c2-c4, b2-b4 with following
c4-c5. In opposite, Black creates counterplay on the kingside, pushing forward
kingside pawns.} 10. Be3 $146 {In the previous game White continued} (10. a4
O-O 11. a5 a6 12. c4 h6 13. Ra3 f5 14. b4 Nf6 15. Nbd2 Qd7 16. Qc2 g5 17. h3
Rac8 18. exf5 Qxf5 19. Qa2 $14 {1/2-1/2 Morozevich,A-Georgiev,K/Mallorca 2004/
CBM 104 no vc (71)}) 10... f5 {Black decides to attack white's centre
immediately. Other possibilities are:} (10... O-O 11. c4 h6 (11... f5 12. Ng5)
12. Qd2 $14 {[%cal Gb1c3]}) (10... h6 11. c4 f5 12. Nc3 O-O 13. b4 $14) 11. Ng5
$1 {[%cal Gg5e6] emphasizing the background of Black's previous move.} Nf8 12.
exf5 gxf5 ({In case of the capture with the knight,} 12... Nxf5 $14 {[%csl Ye4]
White will get an important outpost e4.}) 13. f4 $1 {opening up the game,
using Black's king vulnerable position.} Qd7 (13... exf4 14. Bd4 $36) ({
Worth consideration immediate} 13... Neg6 $5) 14. c4 Neg6 {[%cal Gh7h6]
preparing to drive away white's knight from active position.} (14... h6 $2 15.
Qh5+ $16 {[%cal Yg5e6]}) 15. Nc3 h6 16. Nf3 e4 {Black closes the centre, as
his king is not safed yet.} 17. Nd4 h5 $1 {preventing the occupation of h5
square by White's queen.} (17... O-O-O {is too dangerous:} 18. Ncb5 a6 19. Na7+
$1 Kb8 20. Ndc6+ Ka8 (20... bxc6 21. dxc6 $18 {[%cal Gd1b3]}) 21. Nxd8 Qxd8 22.
Qa4 $16) {Black's position is not bad at all from strategical point of view.
But, his monarch is still in the centre. That's why White should play
aggressively.} 18. Ncb5 {[%csl Yb5][%cal Gd4f5,Gd4e6,Yb5c7]} Kf7 ({Worse is} 
18... a6 19. Nxf5 Bxb2 (19... axb5 20. Nxg7+ Qxg7 21. Bd4 Qf7 22. Bxh8 Nxh8 23.
Rxe4+ Kd8 24. Qb3 $16) 20. Qa4 Kd8 21. Rab1 $16) {Otherwise, Black would drive
away the knight from b5 with a7-a6.} 19. Ne6 $1 {[%mdl 128] White sacrifices
the pawn, but makes black's king position vulnerable still more.} Nxe6 20.
dxe6+ Kxe6 21. Qd5+ Ke7 22. c5 {[%mdl 640] looks logical and nice, but,
probably, not the best continuation.} ({Simple and strong was} 22. Rad1 $1 a6 (
22... b6 23. Nxc7 Qxc7 24. Qxf5 $18) (22... Rhd8 23. Qxb7 c6 24. Qxd7+ Rxd7 25.
Nxd6 Ke6 (25... Rxd6 26. Bc5 Rad8 27. Rxd6 Rxd6 28. Rd1 $18) 26. Nxf5 $18) (
22... c6 23. Qxd6+ Qxd6 24. Nxd6 $16 {[%cal Gd6f5,Gd6b7,Ye3c5]}) 23. Nxc7 Qxc7
24. Qxf5 Nf8 25. Bf2 $18 {[%cal Gf2h4,Ye1e4]}) ({Deserves serious attention as
well:} 22. Nxc7 Qxc7 23. Qxf5 Nf8 24. Bf2 $1 Nd7 25. Qxe4+ (25. Bh4+ Bf6 26.
Rxe4+ Kf7 {[%cal Gc7c5]} 27. Kh1 $1 $13) 25... Kf8 26. Qe7+ Kg8 27. Rad1 Rh6
28. Re6 $44) (22. Qxb7 Rhb8 $132 {[%cal Ga7a6]} (22... c6 23. Nxd6 Qxb7 24.
Nxb7 Bxb2 $11)) 22... c6 (22... Qc6 {looks very dangerous, in view of} 23.
cxd6+ (23. Qxf5 Nh4 (23... d5 24. Nd4 $16) 24. Qh3 Qxb5 25. Qxh4+ Bf6 26. cxd6+
cxd6 27. Qf2 $13) (23. Nxc7 Qxd5 (23... Qxc7 24. cxd6+ $18) 24. Nxd5+ Kd7 25.
Rad1 $36) 23... cxd6 24. Qb3 $40 {[%cal Ga1c1,Ya1d1]}) 23. cxd6+ ({Of course,
the exchange of the queens is not a part of the White's plan...} 23. Qxd6+ Qxd6
24. Nxd6 Ke6 25. Rad1 Rab8 $11) 23... Kf8 ({Worse is} 23... Kd8 24. Qb3 cxb5
25. Rac1 $40) 24. Qb3 cxb5 25. Rac1 $44 {[%cal Gc1c7]} Qf7 {The only move.
Black makes possible the transfer of his monarch to h7 via g8.} (25... Qxd6 {
loses immediately:} 26. Red1 (26. Bc5 Bd4+) 26... Qf6 27. Rc7 {[%cal Ye3c5]}
Ne7 28. Bc5 $18) 26. Qxb5 a6 (26... Rd8 27. Rc7 Qe6 28. Qxb7 Bh6 29. Rec1 $18 {
[%cal Gc7c8]}) 27. Qb6 {threatening with d6-d7.} Kg8 ({Black should have played
} 27... Bf6 $1 {, but for human player it is not so easy to leave the king on
the 8-th rank...} 28. Rc7 Qe6 29. Rd1 (29. Qxb7 Rd8 30. Bc5 $2 Nxf4 $19) 29...
Rd8 30. Qxb7 Rg8 $15 {[%cal Yg8g7]}) 28. Red1 Kh7 $2 {After this move, Black
cannot neutralize White's initiative without material loses.} ({Better was} 
28... Bf6 $1 29. Rc7 Qe6 30. Qxb7 Rd8 31. Rd2 $44 (31. Qxa6 Rh7 32. Rxh7 Kxh7
$15)) 29. Rc7 Qf8 30. Bd4 Rg8 31. Qxb7 {threatening to take on g7.} e3 {
Other moves lose immediately:} (31... Nxf4 32. Rf7 Rb8 33. Qd7 $18) (31... Rd8
32. Rf7 $18) (31... Rb8 32. Bxg7 Rxb7 33. Bxf8+ Rxc7 34. dxc7 Rxf8 35. Rd8 $18)
{[%tqu "En","Please find the strongest continuation for white.","","","c7f7",
"",10]} 32. Rf7 $1 ({White cannot win the rook immediately:} 32. Bxg7 $4 Rxg7
33. Rxg7+ Qxg7 34. Qxa8 e2 35. Re1 Qd4+ 36. Kh1 Qf2 $19) 32... Rb8 (32... e2
33. Re1 Rb8 34. Qd7 Rd8 35. Qxf5 $18) 33. Qd7 Rd8 (33... Kh6 {doesn't change
anything:} 34. Rxf8 e2 35. Bxg7+ Rxg7 36. Re1 Rxd7 37. Rxb8 Rxd6 38. g3 $18)
34. Qxf5 Qxf7 35. Qxf7 $18 Rxd6 36. Kf1 {bringing the king to e2.} Nxf4 37.
Qf5+ Rg6 38. Qxf4 {The simplest way to win the game.} Rf8 39. Qxf8 Bxf8 40.
Bxe3 {This endgame with two extra pawns is absolutely Winning for white. The
rest needs no comment.} Re6 41. Kf2 Kg6 42. Rd5 Be7 43. Bc5 Bf6 44. b3 Be5 45.
g3 h4 46. gxh4 Bxh2 47. h5+ Kh7 48. Kf3 Be5 49. Rd7+ Kh6 50. Kg4 Bg7 51. Rd6 {
Great victory by Emil!} 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 33rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2005.07.10"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2744"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[Annotator "Ribli,Z"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2005.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 108"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ {Eine sehr populäre Variante in
Großmeisterturnieren. Schwarz stört die weiße Entwicklung.} 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2
O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Bf4 b6 9. Nc3 Ba6 (9... Bb7 10. Rc1 Nh5 11. Be3 (11. Bxb8 Qxb8
$5 12. Ne5 Nf6 13. e3 Rd8 14. cxd5 cxd5 15. f4 g6 16. g4 Nd7 17. Qe1 {1/2-1/2
Khalifman,A-Adams,M/Izmir 2004/CBM 104}) 11... Nf6 12. Qb3 Nbd7 13. cxd5 cxd5
14. Rc2 Nb8 15. Ne5 Nbd7 16. Nd3 Nb8 17. Nb4 Qd6 18. a3 Nc6 19. Nxc6 Bxc6 20.
Rfc1 Qd7 $11 {1/2-1/2 Sakaev,K-Sargissian,G/Moscow 2005/(25)}) 10. cxd5 cxd5
11. Rc1 Nc6 $6 {Dieser extravagante Springerzug wurde zuerst in der Partie
Ponomariov,R - Topalov,V Sofia 2005 gespielt. Wahrscheinlich bieten die
Alternativen 11...Qe8, oder 11...Bb7!? Schwarz ohne Komplikationen viel
bessere Ausgleichchancen.} (11... Qe8 12. Ne5 Bb7 13. Qa4 Qxa4 14. Nxa4 Na6 15.
a3 Rac8 16. Nc3 Nc7 17. Nd3 Nfe8 18. Rfd1 Nd6 {1/2-1/2 Sosonko,G-Karpov,A/
Brussels 1987/CBM 02 (52)}) (11... Bb7 $5 12. Nb5 a6 13. Nc7 Ra7 14. Qa4 Ne4
15. Nb5 Ra8 16. Nc3 b5 17. Qd1 Nc6 18. Ne5 {1/2-1/2 Prusikin,M-Gyimesi,Z/
Miskolc 2004/(18)}) 12. Nxd5 {Die konsequente Fortsetzung, um
Eröffnungsvorteil zu erlangen.} (12. Qa4 Bb7 $11) 12... Qxd5 13. Ne5 Nxd4 14.
Bxd5 Nxe2+ 15. Qxe2 (15. Kh1 $6 Nxd5 16. Qa4 Bb7 17. Qd7 Rab8 $40) 15... Bxe2
16. Bxa8 Rxa8 {Bis jetzt ist nach 11...Nc6?! alles forciert.} (16... Bxf1 17.
Rc7 $1 $16) 17. Rfe1 Bb5 18. Rc2 Nd5 19. Rec1 Ba6 $146 {Diese Neuerung
entspringt wohl der häuslichen Analyse Topalovs.} (19... Bc5 {[%csl Gc5]} 20.
Bd2 f6 $5 (20... a5 $1 21. Rxc5 (21. b3 f6 22. Nc4 a4 23. b4 Bd4 $132) 21...
bxc5 22. Rxc5 Rb8 23. Bxa5 f6 24. Nf3 Be2 $11) 21. b4 $1 Bf8 22. Ng4 Rd8 $6 (
22... Kf7 $142) 23. Rc8 Rd7 {[#]} 24. Nh6+ $1 {Ein wirklich unerwartetes
Springeropfer.} gxh6 25. Bxh6 Rf7 26. Rd8 {[%csl Rf7,Rf8,Rg8] Die schwarzen
Figuren sind gefesselt.} Ne7 27. Rc7 {1-0 Ponomariov,R-Topalov,V/Sofia 2005/
CBM 107/[Ribli Zoltan] (40)}) 20. Bd2 f6 21. Nc4 $1 $14 {[%cal Gc4e3,Ge3d5]
[%mdl 32] Weiß verfolgt eine sinnvolle Strategie: er möchte den starken
d5-Springer tauschen.} (21. Nc6 Bd6) 21... Rd8 22. a3 Kf7 23. Ne3 h5 $2 (23...
Bd6 $142 $1 24. Nxd5 exd5 25. Bf4 (25. Bb4 Bb8) 25... Bxf4 26. gxf4 d4 27. Rc7+
Ke6 $1 28. Rxa7 Be2 $132) 24. Nxd5 Rxd5 25. Bb4 $1 Bd8 (25... Bxb4 26. axb4 $16
{[%cal Gc2c7]}) 26. Rc6 $1 {[%cal Gc6d6,Gd6d5,Gd6d8] Um mit 27.Rd6 die Türme
zu tauschen.} Be2 27. Rd6 Rxd6 28. Bxd6 $16 {[%mdl 4096] Schwarz hat nur einen
Bauern für die Qualität und mit guter Spieltechnik kann Weiß seinen Vorteil
verwerten.} Ke8 29. Bb8 $1 {Mit diesem Zug provoziert Weiß die Schwächung des
schwarzen Damenflügels.} a5 30. Bc7 Bf3 31. Rc3 (31. Bxd8 Kxd8 32. Rc3 $16)
31... Bd5 32. f4 Kd7 33. Bxd8 Kxd8 34. Kf2 Kd7 35. Ke3 e5 (35... Kd6 36. Rc8
$16) (35... Bb7 $142) 36. fxe5 fxe5 37. Rc1 $1 {[%cal Gc1f1,Gf1f8]} a4 (37...
g6 38. Rf1 Ke7 39. b4 axb4 40. axb4 Bb7 41. Ra1 Kd6 42. Ra7 Kc7 43. h4 Kc8 (
43... Kb8 44. Ra1 Kc7 45. Rf1 $1 $18) 44. b5 Kc7 45. Rxb7+ $1 Kxb7 46. Ke4 $18)
38. Rf1 {[%cal Rf1f5,Rf5h5,Rf5e5]} Ke6 39. Rf8 $18 {[%csl Gf8][%cal Rf8b8,
Rb8b6] Das Eindringen des Turms auf der schwarzen Grundlinie entscheidet die
Partie.} b5 40. Rg8 Kf6 41. Rb8 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 33rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2005.07.11"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2005.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 108"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bd3 Qc7 8.
O-O b5 9. Nxc6 Qxc6 10. a3 Bb7 11. Qf3 Bd6 12. Bf4 O-O 13. Rfe1 Bxf4 14. Qxf4
d6 15. Re3 Nd7 16. Qh4 Ne5 17. Nd5 Ng6 18. Ne7+ Nxe7 19. Qxe7 Rae8 20. Qg5 Qc5
21. Qxc5 dxc5 22. a4 Ra8 23. f3 Bc6 24. axb5 axb5 25. Ree1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 33rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2005.07.12"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C91"]
[WhiteElo "2744"]
[BlackElo "2719"]
[Annotator "Erenburg,S"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2005.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 108"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d4
d6 9. c3 Bg4 10. Be3 {strengthening the centre.} ({Another theoretical
possibility is} 10. d5 {1-0 Comp Hydra-Adams,M/London 2005/CBM 108_01/
[Erenburg] (28)}) 10... exd4 11. cxd4 Na5 {transfering the knight to c4.} 12.
Bc2 Nc4 13. Bc1 c5 14. b3 {driving away the knight from the active position,
as well as preparing to fianchettoe the dark-squared bishop.} Nb6 15. Nbd2 (15.
Bb2 cxd4 16. Nbd2 Nfd7 17. h3 Bh5 18. g4 d3 19. Bxd3 Nc5 20. Bc2 Bg6 21. Nd4
Qd7 22. f4 f6 23. N2f3 Rfe8 24. Nf5 Bf8 25. Qd4 Qa7 26. Kh1 Rac8 27. Rac1 $14 {
1-0 Polgar,S-Slobodjan,R/Bad Homburg 1996/CBM 055/[Wedberg] (48)}) 15... Nfd7 {
intending to place the dark-sqaured bishop on a long diagonal, and sometimes,
Black's knight can occupy the c5 square.} (15... Rc8 16. h3 Bh5 17. g4 Bg6 18.
d5 Nfd7 19. Nf1 Re8 20. Ng3 Bf6 21. Rb1 $13 {1-0 Grischuk,A-Sokolov,I/Bled
2002/EXT 2003 (46)}) 16. h3 Bh5 17. Bb2 ({Another option is} 17. g4 Bg6 18. d5
Bf6 19. Rb1 Re8 20. Nf1 h6 21. Kg2 Rc8 22. Ng3 c4 23. Re2 $13 {0-1 Dominguez,
L-Bologan,V/Poikovsky RUS 2005/The Week in Chess 539 (52)}) 17... Re8 (17...
Rc8 {is also possible:} 18. Rc1 Re8 19. Bb1 cxd4 20. Bxd4 Bf6 21. Rxc8 Qxc8 22.
Qc1 Qb7 23. Qa3 Bxf3 24. Nxf3 $14 {1-0 Tseshkovsky,V-Vogt,L/Leipzig 1975/MCL/
[Bulletin] (41)}) 18. a4 {White is creating some pressure on the queenside, as
well as he adds an option of driving away the knight from b6.} ({White didn't
get anything special after} 18. Qb1 Bg6 19. a4 d5 20. axb5 axb5 21. Rxa8 Qxa8
22. dxc5 Nxc5 23. e5 Ne6 $11 {[%cal Ye7b4] 1/2-1/2 Adams,M-Sokolov,I/Wijk aan
Zee NED 2005/The Week in Chess 533 (31)}) 18... bxa4 19. bxa4 Rb8 $1 $146 {
Improvement in comparison to:} (19... cxd4 20. a5 d3 21. Bb1 $1 (21. Bxd3 $2
Nc5 {[%cal Gb6d7]}) 21... Nc8 22. Bxd3 Nc5 23. Bc4 $14 {1-0 Sax,G-Mazi,L/Bled
1994/TD (42)}) 20. a5 ({Another logical continuation is} 20. Rb1 cxd4 (20... d5
21. a5 Nc4 22. Nxc4 dxc4 23. Ba4 $14) 21. a5 (21. Bxd4 Bf6 22. Be3 d5) 21...
Bxf3 22. Qxf3 Ne5 23. Qe2 Nbd7 24. Bxd4 Rxb1 25. Rxb1 Qxa5 $11) (20. Ra2 $5 {
[%cal Gd1a1] looks very interesting...}) 20... Nc8 {Now Black's knight is
willing to occupy the b5 square via a7.} ({Black doesn't equalize after} 20...
Nd5 21. Nc4 Nc7 (21... Nf4 22. Bc1 (22. dxc5 Nxc5) 22... Ne6 23. g4 Bg6 24. d5
Nc7 25. Bf4 $14) 22. Rb1 $14) 21. Nc4 Na7 22. dxc5 (22. Rb1 Nb5 23. dxc5 (23.
d5 Bf6) 23... Nxc5 24. Qd5 Bxf3 25. gxf3 Ne6 $132) (22. d5 Bf6 $11 {[%cal
Ya7b5]}) 22... Nxc5 23. Qd2 {allowing Black to worsen White's pawn structure.}
({May be White should have prevented the exchange on f3 by} 23. Qd4 Bf8 (23...
Bf6 24. e5 Nc6 (24... Nb5 25. Qd5 Bxf3 26. Qxf3 dxe5 27. Bxe5 $14) 25. Qxd6
Qxd6 26. Nxd6 $16) 24. Nfd2 Bg6 $11 25. Nb6 $141 $6 Nc6 26. Qc3 Nxa5 $15) 23...
Bxf3 24. gxf3 Nc6 {geting the b4 square for the rook or for the knight...} (
24... Qc8 {isn't better.} 25. Kh2 Qe6 26. Nb6 Nc8 27. Rg1 Bf8 (27... Bf6 28.
Bxf6 Qxf6 29. Nd5 $18) 28. Qb4 $14) 25. Rad1 $6 {White allows Black to
eliminate the a5 pawn, which promises Adams better position.} ({Probably,
better was} 25. Rab1 Qd7 (25... Rb5 26. Bc3 Bf6 27. Bxf6 Qxf6 28. Qxd6 Re6 29.
Qc7 g6 $13) 26. Kh2 Qe6 27. Rg1 Ne5 28. Bxe5 (28. Nxe5 Rxb2 $15) 28... dxe5 29.
Qd5 Rxb1 30. Rxb1 Qf6 31. Qxe5 Qxf3 32. Kg1 (32. Qxe7 Qf4+ $19 {[%cal Ge8e7,
Yf4b8]}) 32... g6 $15) (25. Kh2 {is met by} Bg5 $1 $15) 25... Nxa5 $1 26. Nxa5
Rxb2 27. Nc4 Rb8 28. e5 ({White doesn't equalize after} 28. Nxd6 Bxd6 29. Qxd6
Qc8 $15) 28... d5 ({Worse is} 28... dxe5 {in view of} 29. Bxh7+ Kh8 30. Qc2 Qc7
(30... Qc8 31. Nxe5 $16) 31. Rxe5 (31. Nxe5 Bf6 $17) 31... Bf6 32. Rh5 $13) 29.
Qxd5 Qxd5 30. Rxd5 Rb4 {driving away the knight from his excellent position.}
31. Ne3 g6 {covering the f5 square.} ({After} 31... Ne6 32. Ra5 $11 {white
succeeds to win the a6 pawn.}) 32. Ra1 Ra8 {intending to push forward the "a"
pawn.} 33. Rdd1 {preparing the d5 square for the knight and coordinating the
rooks on the first rank.} Kf8 {protecting the bishop.} (33... Rb2 34. Rac1 {
[%cal Ge3c4]}) 34. Ra2 {covering the second rank.} Rab8 35. Nd5 Rb2 36. Rda1
Bh4 $1 {[%cal Yh4f2,Yb2f2]} 37. Ne3 $1 {[%cal Gf3f4,Ye3g2]} ({After} 37. f4 {
Black gets an obvious advantage:} Rxa2 38. Rxa2 Rd8 39. Nc3 Rd2 $17) 37... Bg5
({White is near to equality after} 37... Rxa2 38. Rxa2 Rd8 39. Ng2 $15 {
[%cal Gf3f4] /=}) 38. Nd5 ({Worse is} 38. Ng2 Bd2 39. f4 Ne6 {[%cal Ye6d4]} 40.
Bd3 a5 $17) 38... Bd2 39. f4 Rxa2 40. Rxa2 Rd8 {taking control over the "d"
file.} 41. Nf6 (41. Ne3 {leads to losing endgame.} Bxe3 42. fxe3 Rd2 $17 {/-+})
41... Bxf4 42. Ra5 $1 {driving away the knight from the key position.} (42.
Nxh7+ Kg7 43. Nf6 Rd2 $17) 42... Ne6 (42... Bxe5 43. Nxh7+ Kg7 44. Rxc5 Bd4 45.
Rc7 $11) ({Of course not} 42... Rc8 $4 43. Rxc5 $1 $18 {[%cal Yf6d7]}) 43.
Nxh7+ Kg7 44. Nf6 Rc8 ({Black has some chances after} 44... Bxe5 45. Ng4 Bd4
46. Rxa6 Nf4 $15) 45. Ba4 Rc5 (45... Nc5 46. Bd7 $11) 46. Rxc5 {The exact way
for a draw.} (46. Rxa6 Bxe5 47. Nd7 Rc1+ 48. Kg2 Bc7 49. Rc6 {[%cal Gd7c5]}
Nf4+ 50. Kf3 Rxc6 51. Bxc6 Nxh3 $15) 46... Nxc5 47. Bc6 a5 (47... Bxe5 48. Nd7
$11) 48. Nd7 $11 Ne6 49. Kg2 g5 (49... Nd4 50. Ba4 $11) 50. Ba4 Nd4 51. Nc5
Bxe5 52. Nb3 $11 {After White exchanges knights, the endgame is a dead draw.}
Nxb3 53. Bxb3 Kf6 54. Kf3 Bd4 55. Ke2 Ke7 56. f3 f6 57. Kd3 Be5 58. Ke4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 33rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2005.07.14"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2612"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2005.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 108"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 Nc6
8. Qd2 O-O 9. O-O-O Ne5 10. Be2 (10. Nd4 c5 11. Nb5 Qa5 (11... Be6 12. Nxd6 (
12. c4 Qb6 13. b3 Rad8 (13... Rfd8 14. Nc3 Nc6 15. Nd5 Bxd5 16. cxd5 Nd4 17. c3
Rdc8 18. Kb2 Nb5 19. a4 a6 20. Be2 Bf6 21. axb5 axb5 22. Bg5 $16 {1-0 Escher,
T-Fochtler,E/Wuerttemberg 1996/EXT 99 (55)}) 14. Nc3 Ng4 15. Bf4 Rfe8 16. f3
Nf6 17. Nd5 Nxd5 18. cxd5 Bd7 19. Bd3 {1/2-1/2 Esquivel,L-Martello,J/
Chessfriend.com 2003/Telechess CBM 99 (19)}) 12... Qb6 13. b4 Bxd6 (13... Rfd8
$5) 14. Qxd6 Qxd6 15. Rxd6 cxb4 16. cxb4 Bxa2 17. Bf4 (17. Bd4 Rfe8 (17... f6
18. Bxe5 fxe5 19. Kb2 Bf7 20. Bd3 Rad8 21. Rxd8 Rxd8 22. Re1 $16 {1-0
Oleksienko,M-Smirnov,I/Lvov 2002/EXT 2003 (35)}) 18. Bxe5 (18. Bb5 $1) 18...
Rxe5 19. Bd3 Rd5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Rohl,J-Perea,O/Havana CUB 2004/(52)}) 17... f6
$10) 12. a3 (12. Kb1 a6 13. Na3 b5 $15 {1-0 Ivanez Rico-Lozano/cr E Mkl 1986 
(35)}) 12... a6 (12... Be6 13. Nxd6 Qb6 14. f4 $1 Ng4 15. f5 Qxd6 16. Qxd6 Bxd6
17. Rxd6 Nxe3 18. fxe6 fxe6 19. Bd3 $14 {1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V-Kasparov,G/New York
PCA-Intel GP 1995/EXP 47/[Vaisser] (66)}) (12... Rd8 13. Bg5 f6 14. Qd5+ Kf8
15. Bd2 Bd7 16. c4 Qb6 17. Qe4 $14 {1/2-1/2 Efimenko,Z-Savchenko,S/Alushta
2002/EXT 2003 (37)}) 13. Nxd6 Rd8 14. Nxc8 Raxc8 (14... Rxd2 15. Nxe7+ Kf8 16.
Rxd2 Kxe7 17. Rd5 $18 Nd7 18. Be2 $16 {1-0 Van der Wiel-Van der Sterren/
Nederland 1983 (21)}) 15. Qe1 (15. Qe2 $2 b5 16. Rxd8+ Rxd8 17. Bd2 $1 $146 (
17. Bxc5 $2 Bxc5 18. Qxe5 Bxa3 $1 $17 {1/2-1/2 Baciu,O-Ionescu Brandis,I/
Bucharest 1998/EXT 99/[Marin,M] (30)}) 17... Ng6 18. Kb1 b4 19. cxb4 cxb4 20.
axb4 Bxb4 21. Bc1 $1 Be7 22. g3 Qd5 23. Rg1 a5 24. Bg2 Qd6 25. Qb5 $16 {
1-0 Volokitin,A-Kozakov,M/Lvov 2001/CBM 87/[Huzman] (42)}) 15... b5 (15...
Rxd1+ 16. Qxd1 Rd8 17. Qe1 b5 18. Bd2 Bf6 19. f4 Nc6 20. Bd3 g6 21. Qe4 Qb6 22.
Qe3 a5 23. Rd1 b4 24. cxb4 axb4 25. a4 Nd4 26. b3 Qc6 {1/2-1/2 Forchert,
N-Raetsky,A/Germany 1996/EXT 98 (26)}) 16. Rxd8+ Rxd8 17. Be2 Qa4 18. f4 Nc6
19. Kb1 b4 20. cxb4 cxb4 21. b3 Qxa3 22. Bc1 Qa5 23. Bb2 Bc5 24. Bc4 Bd4 25.
Bxd4 Nxd4 26. Qe7 Nxc2 {1/2-1/2 Rohl Montes,J-Bick,J/Willemstad 2003/EXT 2004 
(26)}) (10. Kb1 a6 11. Be2 Be6 12. Nd4 Nc4 13. Qd3 Nxe3 14. Nxe6 fxe6 15. Qxe3
e5 16. Bd3 $36 {1-0 Anand,V-Kramnik,V/Monte Carlo MNC 2005/(52)}) (10. h4 Bg4
11. Be2 Qc8 12. b3 Re8 13. Kb1 Bf8 14. h5 a6 15. Rde1 b5 $132 {1/2-1/2 Topalov,
V-Kramnik,V/Sofia BUL 2005/(52)}) 10... Ng4 $1 {Black uses the possibility to
exchange the dark-squared bishop.} (10... Be6 11. Nd4 Bxa2 12. b3 a5 13. Kb2 a4
14. Ra1 $18 {1-0 Annageldyev,O-Skatchkov,P/Alushta UKR 2005/(35)}) (10... Bf5
11. Nd4 Qd7 12. h3 Rfe8 13. Kb1 a6 14. Nxf5 Qxf5 15. f4 Bh4 16. g3 Bf6 17. Rde1
Ng6 18. g4 Qe6 19. Bd3 $16 {1-0 Szell,L-Skyva,Z/Harrachov 1970/EXT 2005 (42)})
11. Bd4 (11. Bd3 Nxe3 12. Qxe3 Re8 13. Kb1 Bf6 14. Qf4 Bd7 15. g4 Bc6 16. Rhg1
Be5 $11 {0-1 Gheorghe,C-Ionescu Brandis,I/Eforie Nord 2002/EXT 2003 (35)}) (11.
Rhe1 Nxe3 12. Qxe3 Bf6 (12... Re8 $5 13. Kb1 Bf6 14. Qf4 Be6 $11) 13. Bd3 (13.
h4 Bg4 14. g3 Qd7 15. Qf4 Qf5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Berg,P-Schuster,T/Germany 1989/GER 
(23)}) 13... g6 14. Qf4 Bd7 15. h4 h5 16. Ng5 $36 {1/2-1/2 Blohm,D-Snyder,L/
San Francisco 2001/EXT 2002 (25)}) 11... c5 12. h3 $5 {White fights for the
initiative and decides to sacrifice his h-pawn to open this file.} (12. Be3 Be6
13. Kb1 Qa5 14. c4 Qa6 $15 {[%cal Yb7b5]}) 12... cxd4 13. hxg4 dxc3 14. Qxc3
Bxg4 15. Bd3 (15. Qd3 $5 g6 (15... h6 16. Qe4 $44 {[%cal Ge2d3]}) (15... h5 16.
Nd4 Bxe2 17. Nxe2 g6 18. Nc3 $44) 16. Qe3 h5 17. Bc4 Qc7 18. Bd5 $44) 15... h5
$1 {[%mdl 288] Black finds the correct defensive plan -Bg4 and pawn h5 stop
the development of White's initiative on the h-file.} 16. Qc4 (16. Qb4 Re8 (
16... d5 17. Qxg4 hxg4 18. Bh7+ $11) 17. Qxb7 $6 Rb8 18. Qa6 Bg5+ $1 19. Kb1
Bf6 20. b3 Qc7 21. Qc4 Qa5 $40) 16... Re8 (16... d5 17. Bh7+ Kh8 18. Rxd5 $16)
17. Bh7+ (17. Qd5 Bf6 18. c3 Rc8 $17) (17. Qf4 Qb6 $15) 17... Kf8 (17... Kxh7
$2 18. Qxg4 g6 19. Rd5 $40) 18. Qf4 Qb6 19. c3 Bf6 (19... Qxf2 20. Bg6 (20.
Rhf1 g5 $8 (20... Qc5 21. Qxf7+ $3 Kxf7 22. Ng5#)) 20... Bg5 (20... Bf6 21.
Bxh5 $44) 21. Qxg5 fxg6 22. Rhf1 Qe3+ 23. Qxe3 Rxe3 24. Ne5+ Ke7 25. Rf7+ Ke6
26. Nxg4 Rg3 27. Rxb7 Rxg4 28. Rd2 $11) 20. Rxd6 Qxf2 21. Rxf6 $1 {[%mdl 128]
Finally White destroys the position of the Kf8.} gxf6 22. Qxf6 $6 ({White
receives full compensation for the sacrifised material after} 22. Qh6+ Ke7 23.
Re1+ (23. Qf4 Rac8 $17) 23... Be6 (23... Kd7 24. Rd1+ Kc8 25. Qxf6 Qe3+ 26. Kb1
Qe7 27. Qf4 $44) 24. Bf5 $1 (24. Qf4 Rac8 25. Bf5 (25. Qb4+ Qc5 26. Qxb7+ Kf8
$17) 25... Rc4 $17) (24. Qxh5 Rh8 25. Qb5 Qb6 $17) 24... Rad8 25. Bxe6 fxe6 26.
Qg7+ Kd6 27. Qxb7 $13) 22... Qe3+ $1 (22... Bxf3 23. Qh6+ Ke7 24. gxf3 Rad8 (
24... Qxf3 25. Rd1 Rad8 26. Qg5+ f6 27. Qc5+ Ke6 28. Qc4+ Rd5 29. Bc2 $44) 25.
Qxh5 $11) 23. Kb1 Rad8 $1 24. a3 (24. Nd4 Qe5 25. Qf2 Kg7 26. Bc2 Rd6 $15) (24.
Ng5 $140 $4 Qe1+ $1 25. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 26. Kc2 Bd1+ 27. Kb1 Bb3#) 24... Qe6 25. Qf4
Kg7 26. Bc2 Qf6 (26... Qh6 27. Qc7 (27. Qg3 Re3 $17) 27... Rd7 28. Qg3 Re3 $17)
27. Qg3 Kf8 (27... Qd6 $5 28. Qh4 Qf4 29. Nd4 Rd5 $17 {[%cal Yd5e5]}) 28. Nd4
Re5 $1 $17 29. Bb3 Rde8 30. Ka2 a6 31. Rc1 Kg7 32. Rc2 Re3 33. Qh2 Qe5 (33...
Bd1 34. Rd2 Bxb3+ 35. Kxb3 h4 $17) 34. Qh4 f6 35. Rf2 Re4 36. g3 Re7 $2 (36...
Bd1 $1 37. Qh1 (37. Qh2 Rxd4 38. cxd4 Bxb3+ 39. Kxb3 Qd5+ 40. Kc2 Qc4+ $19) (
37. Rf4 Bxb3+ 38. Nxb3 (38. Kxb3 Qd5+ 39. Kc2 Re2+ $19) 38... Rxf4 39. gxf4 Qd5
$19) (37. Nf5+ Kh7 $19) 37... Rxd4 $2 38. Bxd1 (38. cxd4 Bxb3+ 39. Kxb3 Qe3+
$19) 38... Qd5+ $18) 37. Qh2 Re1 38. Rf4 Re4 39. Rf2 Qg5 40. Bc2 Qd5+ 41. Bb3
Qc5 42. Bc2 Re1 43. Rf5 $1 R1e5 (43... Bxf5 44. Nxf5+ Kf8 45. Qxh5 $1 $44) (
43... Qc4+ 44. Bb3 Qxd4 $1 45. cxd4 Bxf5 46. a4 b5 $1 $17) 44. Rf4 {[%cal
Gf4g4]} Be6+ 45. Bb3 (45. Ka1 $5 Re1+ 46. Bb1 Bg4 (46... Qd5 47. c4 Qxc4 48.
Nxe6+ Qxe6 49. Qxh5 $132) 47. Qc2 $132) 45... Bxb3+ 46. Kxb3 (46. Nxb3 Qd5 $17)
46... Re4 $2 (46... Kg8 $1 47. Kc2 (47. Rxf6 Re2 $1 48. Qh1 (48. Nxe2 Qb5+ $19)
(48. Qh3 Qd5+ 49. Ka4 Qc4+ 50. b4 b5+ 51. Ka5 Qc7+ 52. Rb6 (52. Kxa6 R2e5 $19)
52... Ra2 $19) 48... R7e4 $1 49. Nxe2 Qd5+ $1 50. Kc2 Rxe2+ $19) 47... Re4 48.
Qh4 Qe5 $17) 47. Rf5 Qb6+ (47... R4e5 48. Qxh5 Qd5+ 49. Kc2 Qe4+ 50. Kb3 $44)
48. Kc2 Rxd4 $1 (48... R7e5 49. Qxh5 $11) 49. Rxh5 $1 {[%mdl 256]} (49. cxd4
Qxd4 50. Rxh5 Qc4+ $19) 49... Rd6 50. Rh7+ Kf8 51. Rh8+ Kf7 52. Qh5+ Ke6 53.
Qg4+ f5 54. Qc4+ Ke5 (54... Kf6 55. Qh4+ $11) 55. Qf4+ Ke6 56. Qc4+ Ke5 57.
Qf4+ Ke6 (57... Kd5 $2 58. Qxf5+ Re5 (58... Kc6 59. Rc8+ Rc7 60. Qe4+ Rd5 61.
Rxc7+ Qxc7 62. c4 $18) 59. Qf3+ Kc5 60. b4+ Kb5 61. c4+ Kxc4 62. Qb3+ Kb5 63.
a4+ Kc6 64. Qc4+ Rc5 65. Rc8+ Kd7 66. Rxc5 $18) 58. Qc4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 33rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2005.07.15"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B41"]
[WhiteElo "2744"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2005.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 108"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. Qd3 d5 8. exd5
exd5 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O Nc6 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bh4 a5 14. Rfd1 Ba6
15. Qf3 Bxc3 16. bxc3 Qe7 17. Bf1 Bxc4 18. Bxc4 dxc4 19. Bxf6 Qxf6 20. Qxf6
gxf6 21. Rd4 Rfd8 22. Rxc4 Rd2 23. a4 Rb8 24. g3 Rbb2 25. Rf4 Kg7 26. Re1 Rd3
27. Re8 h5 28. Ra8 Rd5 29. Rc8 Rc5 30. Rd8 Rc2 31. Rd6 f5 32. Rh4 R5xc3 33. Kg2
Re3 34. Rxh5 Re6 35. Rd8 Kg6 36. Rh4 Ree2 37. Rf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 33rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2005.07.16"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nielsen, Peter Heine"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2744"]
[BlackElo "2668"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2005.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 108"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Bf4 Nc6
8. Qd2 Bg4 9. Be2 Qd7 10. O-O-O a6 11. Rhe1 O-O-O (11... O-O 12. h3 Bf5 13. g4
Bg6 14. Bd3 {1/2-1/2 Bengtsson,B-Andersson,J/Sweden 1998/EXT 2000 (14)}) 12. h3
Be6 13. c4 Kb8 (13... d5 14. Nd4 $1 Nxd4 15. Qxd4 Qa4 16. Kb1 $36 dxc4 $140 17.
Qa7 $18) (13... h6 14. Qc3 Bf6 15. Qa3 $36) 14. Qc3 Bf6 15. Qa3 $1 $36 {
[%cal Gc4c5] White starts to develop his initiative on the queen's side using
the better position of his pieces.} Qe7 16. Be3 h5 17. Kb1 {I think that White
lost an important tempo with this move.} (17. b4 $1 {[%cal Gb4b5]} Na7 (17...
d5 18. Bc5 Qe8 19. b5 $16) 18. b5 g5 19. bxa6 b6 20. Nd4 $16) 17... g5 $1 $132
{[%cal Yg5g4]} 18. b4 {[%mdl 4]} g4 19. Nd2 Nd4 20. Bd3 d5 $1 (20... Bg7 21. b5
Nf5 22. bxa6 Qf6 23. Nb3 $36) 21. c5 Bg7 {[%cal Ye7f6]} 22. hxg4 hxg4 23. Nb3
Nxb3 (23... Nc6 24. b5 axb5 25. Bxb5 $36) 24. axb3 c6 $2 (24... Qf6 $1 25. c6 (
25. b5 axb5 26. c6 (26. Bxb5 d4 27. Bc1 Qxf2) 26... bxc6 $17) 25... d4 26. Bc1
Bd5 27. cxb7 Bxb7 $132) 25. Bf4+ Ka7 (25... Kc8 26. Qa5 Bc3 27. Qb6 $1 Bxe1 28.
Bxa6 Kd7 29. Bd6 $18) 26. b5 cxb5 27. Bxb5 $40 Rc8 (27... Bc3 28. Bd6 Qg5 29.
c6 Bxe1 30. Bc5+ Kb8 31. Bb6 $1 $16) (27... d4 28. Bd6 Qg5 29. Bd3 $16) 28. Bd6
Qf6 29. Be5 $5 (29. c6 $1 Qa1+ 30. Qxa1 Bxa1 31. Kxa1 axb5 32. c7 $16) 29...
Qg5 30. Bxg7 Qxg7 31. c6 Qf8 32. b4 Qd6 (32... Rc7 $142 33. cxb7 (33. Rd4 Qd6
34. Kb2 $14) 33... Qd6 34. Rd4 Rxb7 35. Bd3 Rh2 $132) 33. Rd4 Rc7 34. Kb2 Rhc8
(34... Rh2 $1 35. Ra1 Kb8 36. Qa5 (36. cxb7 Qb6 $19) 36... Rxg2 37. Qb6 Rxc6
38. Bxc6 Qxc6 39. Qxc6 bxc6 40. Rf4 Kb7 $11) 35. c3 Rxc6 $2 (35... Kb8 36. cxb7
(36. Ra1 bxc6 37. Qxa6 Rb7 38. Qa8+ Kc7 39. Qa5+ Rb6 (39... Kd7 40. Ba6 Ra8 41.
Bxb7 Rxa5 42. bxa5 c5 43. Rd2 d4 $132)) 36... Kxb7 37. Ra1 Ra8 38. Bd3 $16) 36.
Bxc6 Rxc6 37. g3 $18 Rc4 38. Red1 Qe5 39. Qb3 Rxd4 40. Rxd4 Qe1 41. Qc2 b5 42.
Rd1 Qe5 43. Qd2 Kb7 44. Re1 Qf5 45. Qe3 Qf6 46. Rh1 Qf5 47. Rh8 Qf6 48. Re8 Bd7
49. Re7 Kc8 50. Qc5+ Kd8 51. Re2 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 33rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2005.07.17"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[Annotator "Gavrikov,V"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2005.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 108"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2005.09.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 {A usual weapon of Bacrot
against the Nimzo-Indian Defence.} cxd4 6. Nxd4 Ne4 7. Qd3 Bxc3+ ({In my
opinion this continuation is much stronger than the mostly played} 7... Qa5 {
because it always allows Black to obtain at least an adequate counterplay
thanks to the weaknesses in White's pawn structure.}) 8. bxc3 Nc5 9. Qf3 ({
Otherwise Black solves all problems by b6 and Bb7. For example:} 9. Qd2 b6 10.
Nb5 O-O 11. Nd6 Bb7 12. Nxb7 Nxb7 13. Ba3 Re8 14. Rd1 {Rogozenko-Gavrikov,
Internet rapid,2004,} (14. Bg2 Nc6 15. O-O Qc7 16. Rfd1 Rad8 17. Bd6 Qc8 18.
Rab1 Nca5 19. Bxb7 Nxb7 20. Qf4 Qc6 $15 {1/2-1/2 Bang,A-Horvath,S/Copenhagen
1986/EXT 97 (42)}) {and now correct was} 14... Nc6 $1 15. Qxd7 $140 $2 Qf6 16.
Qd3 (16. Rc1 Nba5) 16... Rad8 17. Qf3 Rxd1+ 18. Kxd1 Rd8+ 19. Kc2 (19. Kc1 $2
Qg5+ 20. Qf4 Qa5 21. Kb2 Nc5 22. Bxc5 bxc5 $19) 19... Qg6+ 20. e4 Qg5 {with
dangerous attack.}) 9... d6 10. Bg2 Bd7 $146 {Black is planning Bc6 but the
drawback of this innovation is the loss of time.} ({Perhaps Kramnik had no
confidence in the theoretical line} 10... Nbd7 11. O-O Ne5 12. Qf4 Bd7) ({
but I can suggest another, even easier way to equality:} 10... e5 $5 $146 11.
Nb3 (11. Nf5 Bxf5 12. Qxf5 Nbd7 $132) 11... Nba6 (11... Nbd7 12. O-O Qc7 13.
Rd1 Nb6 14. Nxc5 dxc5 $13) 12. Be3 Qc7 13. Nxc5 (13. Rd1 Na4) 13... Nxc5 14.
Rd1 Be6 $1 15. Bxc5 dxc5 16. Qxb7 Qxb7 17. Bxb7 Rb8 18. Bd5 (18. Bc6+ Ke7 19.
Bb5 a6 20. Bxa6 Ra8 21. Bb5 Rxa2 $44) 18... Rb2 19. Bxe6 fxe6 20. Rd2 Rb1+ 21.
Rd1 Rb2 {with repetition of moves.}) 11. O-O Bc6 12. Qg4 O-O 13. Bh6 $1 {
Forcing the black queen to leave the unprotected the d6-pawn.} Qf6 14. Bg5 Qg6
15. Nxc6 Nxc6 16. Qh4 f6 ({Black has to reckon with Bxc6 and Be7,e.g.} 16...
Qc2 17. Bxc6 bxc6 18. Be7 Rfe8 19. Bxd6 Nb7 20. c5 Qxe2 21. Rfe1 (21. Rab1 Nxd6
22. cxd6 Rad8 23. Rb7 Qd3 $1 (23... Rxd6 $4 24. Qe7 $1) 24. Qf4 Rf8 $11) 21...
Qd3 22. Qb4 Nxd6 23. cxd6 Red8 24. Rad1 Qf3 25. c4 Rab8 26. Qa5 Rd7 27. Qc7 $1
Rbd8 28. Rb1 $1 h5 29. Rb8 Rxb8 30. Qxb8+ (30. Qxd7 Qc3 31. Rf1 Qxc4 32. Qc7 (
32. Qxa7 Rf8) 32... Rf8 33. d7 Qd3 34. h4 e5 $132) 30... Kh7 31. c5 Qc3 32.
Qb1+ g6 33. Qc1 {with better prospects for White}) ({another possibility was} 
16... Rac8 17. Rfd1 f6 {when} 18. Be3 (18. Bf4 $143 Ne5 19. Be3 Rfd8 20. Bxc5
Rxc5 21. Be4 Qh6 22. Qxh6 gxh6 23. Bxb7 Nxc4) 18... Rfd8 19. Bxc5 dxc5 20. Be4
(20. Bxc6 bxc6 21. Qf4 e5 22. Qe3 Qc2 23. Rxd8+ (23. Rdc1 Qd2) 23... Rxd8 24.
Qxc5 Qxe2 25. Qe7 Qd2 26. Qe6+ Kh8 27. Qxc6 Qb2 28. Rf1 Qxa2 29. Qc7 Qd2 (29...
Rg8 30. c5) 30. Ra1 h6 $1 (30... e4 $143 31. Qe7) 31. c5 Rd7 32. Qb8+ Rd8 33.
Qxa7 Qxc3 34. Rb1 Rc8 35. Rb8 Qe1+ 36. Kg2 Qe4+ $11) 20... Qh6 21. Qxh6 gxh6
22. Rxd8+ (22. Bxc6 $143 Rxd1+ 23. Rxd1 Rxc6 $1 24. Rd8+ Kf7 25. Rd7+ Kg6 26.
Rxb7 Ra6 27. Rb2 Ra4 $11) 22... Rxd8 (22... Nxd8 $2 23. Rd1) 23. Bxc6 ({
it seems that Black is able to maintain the balance after} 23. Rb1 Na5 24. Bxb7
Rb8 25. Be4 Rxb1+ 26. Bxb1 Nxc4) 23... bxc6 24. Rb1 Rd2 25. Rb8+ Kf7 26. Rb7+
Kg6 27. Rxa7 Rxe2 28. Ra5 e5 (28... Kf7) 29. Kf1 Rc2 30. a4 Rxc3 31. Rxc5 Ra3
32. a5 Ra2 {leads to the endgame with slight edge for White, but the most
probable result is draw.}) 17. Be3 Rfd8 ({Deserved attention} 17... Na5 {
(/\ Rac8,b6)} 18. Rfd1 Rfd8 {intending to meet} 19. Rd2 (19. Rab1 Rac8) (19.
Bxc5 dxc5 20. Be4 Qh6 21. Qxh6 gxh6 22. Rab1 f5 23. Rxd8+ Rxd8 24. Bxb7 Rb8 25.
Be4 Rxb1+ 26. Bxb1 Nxc4 $13) {with} 19... Qf7 20. Rad1 g5 (20... Qe7 21. Qf4)
21. Qd4 Rac8 22. f4 (22. h4 Nd7 $5 $13) 22... Nc6 23. Bxc6 bxc6 24. fxg5 f5 25.
Rb2 e5 26. Qd2 (26. Qh4 Ne4 $44) 26... Ne4 27. Qd3 d5 28. cxd5 cxd5 29. Rb3 Rd7
$132) 18. Rab1 $1 Qf7 $2 {After this mistake Black´s position becomes very
difficult.} ({It was necessary to parry the threat of Bxc5 by} 18... Rab8 19.
Rb5 (19. Bxc5 dxc5 20. Be4 Qh6 (20... f5 $2 21. Bxc6 bxc6 22. Qe7) 21. Qxh6
gxh6 22. Rb5 (22. Bxc6 bxc6 $11) 22... Ne5 23. Rxc5 Rd7 24. f4 b6 25. Rb5 Nxc4
26. f5 Nd2 27. fxe6 Rd6 28. Rf4 Nxe4 29. Rxe4 Re8 $11) 19... Qe8 $1 (19... a6
$143 20. Rb6 Na4 $140 $6 21. Rxb7 $1) 20. Bxc5 dxc5 21. Rxc5 Rd2 {with equal
play.}) 19. Bxc6 bxc6 20. Bxc5 dxc5 21. Qe4 e5 22. Rb2 $1 {Now White seizes
the b-file which is much more important than d-file because can be used for
invasion in Black´s camp.} Rab8 23. Rfb1 Rxb2 24. Rxb2 Qd7 25. Kg2 Re8 26. Qe3
Qe7 27. a4 $1 {[%cal Ga4a6,Gb2b7]} g6 $2 {Black is doomed to passivity and
cannot prevent the threatening penetration of white rook. However the text
makes White´s task easier.} ({Black should have tried} 27... e4 28. a5 Qe5 29.
Rb7 Re7 30. a6 (30. Rxe7 Qxe7 31. Qf4 Qe5 32. Qxe5 fxe5 $11) 30... Kf7) 28. a5
Rd8 $2 (28... Rc8 $142 29. a6 Rc7) 29. a6 Rd7 30. Rb8+ Kg7 31. Rc8 Qd6 32. Qe4
f5 (32... Rc7 33. Rxc7+ Qxc7 {allows} 34. Qb1 $1 Qf7 35. Qb7) 33. Qxc6 Qxc6+
34. Rxc6 Kf7 35. f4 $1 {White needs to activate his king.} exf4 36. gxf4 Re7
37. Kf3 Ke8 38. Rxc5 Kd7 39. Re5 Rxe5 ({In the event of} 39... Rf7 40. Rb5 Kc6
{White wins by} 41. e4 fxe4+ 42. Kxe4 Re7+ 43. Kf3 Rd7 44. h4 $1 Rd3+ 45. Kg4
h5+ (45... Rxc3 46. Rb7) 46. Kg5 Rg3+ 47. Kh6 Rg4 48. Rg5 Rxh4 49. Rxg6+ Kc5
50. f5) 40. fxe5 g5 41. c5 h6 42. c4 h5 (42... Kd8 43. c6 Kc7 44. c5 Kxc6 45.
e6 Kc7 46. Ke3 h5 47. Kd4 $18) 43. h4 $1 g4+ 44. Kf4 Ke6 45. c6 Ke7 46. c5 Ke6
47. c7 Kd7 48. e6+ Kxc7 49. e3 Kc6 50. Ke5 $1 g3 51. e7 Kd7 52. Kf6 g2 53. c6+
Kc7 54. e8=Q g1=Q 55. Qd7+ Kb6 56. c7 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 21st"]
[Site "Saint Vincent"]
[Date "2005.09.20"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2744"]
[BlackElo "2724"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "2005.09.18"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Paris NAO"]
[BlackTeam "Warsaw Polonia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FRA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "POL"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. Bd3
c5 9. Qb3 Qd7 10. cxd5 exd5 11. dxc5 Bxc5 12. Qb5 Qxb5 13. Nxb5 Kd7 14. O-O Nc6
15. Rd1 Ke7 16. Bd2 Bb4 17. Nc3 Rac8 18. Rac1 Rhd8 19. a3 Bd6 20. Ne2 Ne5
1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-Cup 21st"]
[Site "Saint Vincent"]
[Date "2005.09.21"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2724"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "169"]
[EventDate "2005.09.18"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Tomsk 400"]
[BlackTeam "Paris NAO"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "FRA"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O g6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Qxd4 Bg7 8. Nc3
d6 9. Rd1 Nbd7 10. Be3 Rc8 11. Rac1 O-O 12. Qh4 a6 13. b3 Rc7 14. Bh3 Qb8 15.
g4 e6 {Taking the d5-square under control is Black's best option, the P-d6 is
indirectly defended.} (15... Nc5 $6 16. g5 Nfe4 17. Nxe4 Bxe4 18. Bxc5 Bxf3 19.
Bxd6 exd6 20. exf3 $16 {Filippov,V-Van Wely,L/FIDE WCh Tripoli/2004/}) (15...
b5 $6 16. g5 Nh5 17. Nd5 Bxd5 18. cxd5 Nc5 (18... Bb2 $142 $16) 19. Bg4 b4 20.
Bxh5 gxh5 21. Rc4 a5 22. Qxh5 $18 {Fancsy,I-Anka,E/HUN-chT 0203/2003/}) (15...
Qa8 16. g5 Ne4 17. Nxe4 Bxe4 18. Nd2 Bc6 19. Bxd7 Rxd7 20. Bxb6 $14 {Pogorelov,
R-Colovic,A/Balaguer/2003/}) 16. g5 (16. Rxd6 Rxc4 17. Rdd1 Rc7 $11) 16... Ne8
{[%cal Yb6b5] /\b5<=>} (16... Nh5 17. Bg4 b5 18. Bxh5 gxh5 19. Ne4 $5 $36 (19.
Qxh5 bxc4 {Van Wely,L-Grischuk,A/Internet blitz/2004/} 20. b4 $5 $13 {Magomedov
})) 17. Bg2 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (17. Ne4 b5 18. cxb5 (18. Bg2 {-17.Bg2}) 18... axb5
19. Bd4 Rxc1 20. Rxc1 Qa8 21. Bxg7 {Sorokin,M-Sadvakasov,D/Moscow Aeroflot
2005/} Nxg7 $1 $13 {/=/+}) (17. Nd4 Ba8 18. Qg3 Qc8 19. Bxe6 $2 (19. Nxe6 fxe6
20. Bxe6+ Kh8 21. Bxb6 Qb7 22. Bd5 Qxb6 23. Bxa8 Be5 $13) 19... Bxd4 20. Bxd7
Qb7 21. Nd5 Bxe3 22. Qxe3 Rxd7 23. Qxb6 f6 $17 {Tratar,M-Babula,V/AUT-chT 0506/
2006/}) (17. Bd4 {White wants to prevent b5, the extra benefit of this move in
comparison with the other alternatives is it limits the Bg7.} b5 (17... Bxf3
18. exf3 Be5 $5 $132) 18. Bxg7 Nxg7 19. cxb5 Rfc8 20. Qb4 Rc5 (20... Bxf3 $142
21. exf3 Rc5 $13) 21. bxa6 Bxf3 22. Qxb8 Nxb8 23. exf3 Nxa6 24. Ne2 Rxg5+ 25.
Ng3 Rxc1 26. Rxc1 $14 {[%csl Ga2,Gb3] o^a,b, Rotstein,A-Estremera Panos,S/
Verona op/2006/}) 17... b5 18. Ne4 bxc4 19. bxc4 d5 $5 {[%mdl 64] Kramnik
chooses a radical solution of his problems with the passive Ne8. In the
following tactical complications Black can hold his own.} (19... Bxe4 20. Qxe4
Nc5 21. Qc2 $14 {[%csl Rd6,Re8] ><d6,Ne8}) 20. cxd5 Bxd5 21. Nc5 Nxc5 (21...
Qc8 $5 22. Nxd7 (22. Qb4 Nxc5 23. Bxc5 Nd6 $132) 22... Qxd7 (22... Rxc1 23.
Bxc1 Qxd7 24. Ba3 $16 (24. e4 $2 Qa4 $36)) 23. Bc5 (23. Rxc7 Nxc7 24. Bc5 Rc8
$11 {/\} 25. e4 Qa4) 23... Nd6 24. e4 Rfc8 25. exd5 Rxc5 $11) 22. Bxc5 Nd6 (
22... Bb2 $5 23. Rc2 (23. Qh6 Nd6 24. Rc2 Bg7 $11 (24... Nf5 25. Rxb2 Nxh6 26.
Rxb8 Rxb8 27. Bd6 $18)) 23... Qc8 (23... Qb5 $143 24. Nd4) 24. Rxb2 Rxc5 $132)
(22... Qc8 23. Ba3 $1 $16) 23. Rb1 (23. Qf4 Rfc8 $1 (23... Rc6 24. Bxd6 Qxd6
25. Qxd6 Rxd6 26. e4 Bb2 27. Rc2 Bxe4 28. Rxd6 Bxc2 29. Rd2 Rc8 30. Ne1 $18) (
23... Ne4 24. Bxf8 Rxc1 25. Qxc1 Nc3 26. Rd2 Qxf8 $14) 24. Qxd6 (24. Bxd6 $2
Rxc1 25. Bxb8 Rxd1+ 26. Bf1 Rc4 27. Qe3 Rcc1 $17) 24... Bf8 $11) 23... Qxb1 $1
{[%mdl 512] This sacrifice is forced, but Black's pieces are well coordinated
to hold the balance.} (23... Qd8 $2 24. Bb6 $16) 24. Rxb1 Rxc5 $44 25. Qa4 Ne4
26. Qxa6 Rc2 27. Qd3 (27. a4 Nc3 28. Re1 Ra8 29. Qd3 Be4 $44) 27... Rxa2 28.
Rc1 {Now the initiative even passes to Black, White should have probably
sought immediate activity.} (28. Ne5 $5 $11) 28... Rfa8 29. Ne1 (29. h4 Ra1 {
forces an unpleasant pin, so Aronian prefers to return the Q.}) 29... Rd2 30.
Bxe4 (30. Qh3 Rxe2 $36) (30. Qf3 Nc3 $15) 30... Rxd3 31. Bxd3 Ra4 32. h3 Bf8
33. Nf3 Kg7 34. Bb5 Ra5 {Black wins a P, but this won't be enough, as all the
P are on the >>.} (34... Ra2 $5 $15) 35. Bc6 Bxf3 36. exf3 $1 {[%csl Gf2,Gf3,
Gh3] A strong move. Although White's P are crippled, they are ideally placed
to prevent Black from creating a o^. Even in a R_|_ with 3P against 4P this is
the ideal structure for the defender.} Rxg5+ 37. Kf1 Ra5 38. Be4 Bc5 39. Bd3 e5
40. Rc4 f5 41. Rc2 {Aronian has to be patient and must sit tight.} Kf6 42. Bc4
Bd4 43. Kg2 Kg5 44. Bg8 h5 45. Bf7 Ra6 46. Kg3 Rb6 47. Kg2 Rb7 48. Be8 Re7 49.
Rc8 Rb7 50. Rc2 Rb8 51. Bf7 Kf6 52. Ba2 Ra8 53. Kg3 Ra3 54. Kg2 Kg5 55. Bf7 Ra7
56. Be8 Re7 57. Rc8 Re6 58. Kg3 h4+ 59. Kg2 Kf4 60. Bf7 Rf6 61. Rc7 Bb6 62.
Rc4+ Bd4 63. Bd5 Rb6 64. Rc2 g5 65. Re2 Ra6 66. Bb7 Rb6 67. Bd5 Ra6 68. Bb7 Ra3
69. Bd5 Rc3 70. Bb7 Bc5 71. Bd5 Rd3 72. Bc6 Rd6 73. Bb7 Bd4 74. Ba8 Bb6 75. Bb7
Rd4 76. Bc6 e4 {Without this Black can't make any progress, but White is
prepared for the break and his position remains impregnable.} 77. fxe4 fxe4 78.
Bb7 Rb4 79. Bc8 Ke5 80. Bg4 Rc4 81. Bh5 Kf4 82. Bg6 g4 {The last try...} 83.
Rxe4+ $1 {This ends Black's attempts, as his B doesn't control h1.} (83. hxg4
h3+ 84. Kxh3 Kf3 {would probably mean another round of torture in a R / R+B
_|_, as} 85. Rxe4 $4 Rc1 $1 {surprisingly costs White a whole R, or leads to
mate after} 86. Kh4 Bd8+ 87. g5 Rh1#) 83... Rxe4 84. Bxe4 Kxe4 85. hxg4 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-Cup 21st"]
[Site "Saint Vincent"]
[Date "2005.09.22"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dreev, Alexey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "2744"]
[BlackElo "2698"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "2005.09.18"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Paris NAO"]
[BlackTeam "Cheliabinsk"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FRA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5
Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bf4 Ngf6 12. O-O-O Be7 13. Kb1 O-O 14. Ne5 Nxe5
15. Bxe5 Ng4 16. Qe2 Nxe5 17. dxe5 Qb6 18. Ne4 Rad8 19. Nd6 Bxd6 20. Rxd6 Rxd6
21. exd6 Rd8 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-Cup 21st"]
[Site "Saint Vincent"]
[Date "2005.09.23"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "McShane, Luke J"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A45"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2005.09.18"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Werder Bremen"]
[BlackTeam "Paris NAO"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "FRA"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 e6 3. e4 h6 4. Bxf6 Qxf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Qd3 {White is
intending to castle long, while the knight on c3 won't be pinned anymore.
Still, this move looks somewhat awkward to me, compared to the more common
move 6.Qd2.} Nc6 (6... d5 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Nd7 9. e5 Qe7 10. f4 Nb6 11. Qe3
Bd7 12. Nf3 c5 13. Bd3 Rc8 14. O-O cxd4 15. cxd4 Nc4 16. Qc1 $14 {1-0 Nijboer,
F (2529)-De Jong,M (2299)/Dieren NED 2005/The Week in Chess 563 (53)}) ({
The following game was played in the same tournament just few rounds earlier:} 
6... d6 7. O-O-O O-O 8. Nf3 c5 9. e5 Qf4+ 10. Kb1 Bxc3 11. g3 Qf5 12. Qxf5 exf5
13. bxc3 {and white got a stable advantage - 1/2-1/2 McShane,L (2625)-Agopov,M
(2389)/Saint Vincent 2005/CBM 110_01 (72)}) (6... c5 7. e5 Qe7 8. a3 cxd4 9.
axb4 dxc3 10. bxc3 O-O 11. Nf3 Rd8 12. Qe4 f5 13. exf6 Qxf6 14. Bd3 Nc6 15. O-O
$16 {1-0 Palliser,R (2402)-Van Voorthuijsen,P (2249)/Cork IRL 2005/The Week in
Chess 546 (32)}) 7. Nf3 (7. O-O-O Bxc3 8. Qxc3 d6 9. Kb1 Bd7 10. Qe3 e5 11. d5
Ne7 12. g3 $14 {1-0 Legky,N (2503)-Spiridonov,N (2182)/Sautron 2002/EXT 2003 
(51)}) (7. Nge2 O-O 8. a3 Bxc3+ 9. Qxc3 d5 10. e5 Qe7 11. f4 $14 {1/2-1/2
Polaczek,R (2426)-Roeder,P/Dos Hermanas 2004/EXT 2005 (20)}) 7... O-O $146 (
7... d6 8. O-O-O Bd7 9. Kb1 O-O-O 10. Qe3 Kb8 11. e5 $6 dxe5 12. dxe5 Qe7 13.
Ne4 Ba5 14. Bc4 Bb6 15. Qe2 a6 $15 {[%csl Gb6] 0-1 Michaud,C (2074)-Sokolov,A 
(2568)/Crans Montana 2001/EXT 2002 (33)}) 8. O-O-O d6 {The position is
balanced. White's space advantage is compensated by black's pair of bishops.}
9. Kb1 {A useful move, moving the king out of possible check along the h6-c1
diagonal.} Qg6 10. h4 f5 {Kramnik is not intending to stay in passivity and is
opening the "f" file for the rook.} 11. h5 Qf7 12. exf5 (12. e5 $6 Rd8 {
is fine for black.}) 12... Qxf5 13. Qc4 $5 {McShane avoids the exchange of
queens.} ({A playable alternative would have been} 13. Qxf5 Rxf5 14. Ne4 {
with approximate equality.}) 13... Qa5 $1 {[%csl Rc3]} 14. Ne2 Qd5 $1 15. Qxd5
{In this case white is practically forced to exchange queens.} (15. Qd3 $6 e5
$1 16. dxe5 Qxd3 17. Rxd3 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 dxe5 $15 {Open files and diagonals
give black more than sufficient compensation for the Pe5 weakness.}) 15... exd5
16. Rh4 $1 {This unusual rook manoeuvre is quite typical for a Trompowsky.} Ne7
17. Nf4 c6 18. g3 Bf5 19. Bh3 Be4 20. Bg4 $1 {White's pieces are crowded on
the kingside, but black can not really take advantage of it. Black's Bb4 is
misplaced.} Ba5 21. Rh2 {After white has established his knight on f4, the
rook has nothing to do anymore on h4.} Nf5 (21... Rae8 22. Nd2 Bxd2 $6 (22...
Nf5 {see the game.}) 23. Rxd2 Bf5 24. Bxf5 Nxf5 25. c3 $14) 22. Nd2 Rae8 23.
Nf1 Bb6 24. Ne2 {[%csl Re4][%cal Gf2f3]} Ne7 {Black has to step back in order
to save his bishop.} 25. Ne3 Nf5 $11 26. Ng2 $4 {[%mdl 8192] I guess that
McShane was still optimistic about his chances, since he declined the option
of repeating the position... The move in the text loses on the spot.} (26. Nf1
Ne7 $11) {[%tqu "En","Find the winning strike for Black.","","","f5d4","That's
it. White's position collapsed like a sand-house.",10]} 26... Nxd4 $1 {[%cal
Gf8f2] That's it. White's position collapsed like a sand-house.} 27. Ngf4 (27.
Nxd4 Rxf2 $19) 27... Bxc2+ 0-1

[Event "Moscow exh m"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2005.12.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Minkov, Andrey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C48"]
[WhiteElo "2320"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "150"]
[EventDate "2005.12.16"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.03.10"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.03.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. Bb5 Nd4 5. O-O c6 6. Bc4 d6 7. Nxd4 exd4 8.
Ne2 Nxe4 9. d3 Nc5 10. Nxd4 d5 11. Bb3 Be7 12. Qh5 O-O 13. Re1 Bf6 14. Be3 Ne6
15. Nxe6 Bxe6 16. d4 Qd7 17. Qf3 Rfe8 18. c3 Bf5 19. Rac1 Re7 20. Bc2 Bxc2 21.
Rxc2 Rae8 22. Rce2 Re4 23. Bf4 Qe6 24. Re3 a6 25. a4 g6 26. Rxe4 dxe4 27. Qe3
Qb3 28. f3 Qxb2 29. fxe4 Qa2 30. Bd6 Qxa4 31. e5 Qc4 32. Qg3 Be7 33. Bxe7 Rxe7
34. Re3 a5 35. Qg5 Qe6 36. Rf3 Re8 37. Qc1 a4 38. Qa3 Qb3 39. Qxb3 axb3 40. c4
Rd8 41. Rxb3 Rxd4 42. Rxb7 Rxc4 43. Kf2 c5 44. Rc7 Rc2+ 45. Kf3 c4 46. Rc8+ Kg7
47. Rc7 Kf8 48. h3 c3 49. g3 Rc1 50. Ke2 c2 51. g4 Rh1 52. Rxc2 Rxh3 53. Rc7 h5
54. gxh5 Rxh5 55. Rc5 Kg7 56. Ke3 Kh6 57. Kd4 Rh4+ 58. Ke3 Rh5 59. Kd4 Rf5 60.
Rc6 Kh5 61. Ke4 Kg4 62. Kd5 g5 63. Rc1 Rf2 64. Ke4 Rf4+ 65. Kd5 Kh3 66. Rc3+
Kh4 67. Rc8 g4 68. Rh8+ Kg3 69. Ra8 Kh3 70. Rh8+ Kg2 71. e6 fxe6+ 72. Kxe6 g3
73. Ke5 Rf7 74. Rd8 Kh2 75. Ra8 g2 0-1

[Event "Moscow exh m"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2005.12.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Minkov, Andrey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2320"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "2005.12.16"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 110 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.03.10"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.03.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nc6 7. Rc1 a6 8. h3
Bd6 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Nxd5 Qg6 13. Nc3 Kh8 14. Nh4 Qg5
15. Nf3 Qg6 16. Nh4 Qg5 17. Nf3 Qh5 18. Be2 Qg6 19. Bf1 Nb8 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-ch Superfinal"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2005.12.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2005.12.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 O-O
8. Qd2 Nc6 9. O-O-O Ne5 10. h4 Re8 11. h5 Bf6 12. Kb1 a6 13. Nh2 b5 14. Be2 Bb7
15. f4 Nd7 16. Bf3 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Qe7 18. Ng4 Qe6 19. Rdg1 Kh8 20. h6 g6 21. Re1
Qf5 22. Bd4 Bxd4 23. Qxd4+ f6 24. a3 Re6 25. Ne3 Qc5 26. Nd5 Rae8 27. Rxe6 Rxe6
28. Qxc5 dxc5 29. Nxc7 Rc6 30. Ne8 Kg8 31. Rd1 Nf8 32. Nd6 f5 33. a4 Ne6 34.
axb5 axb5 35. Nxb5 Nxf4 36. Rd8+ Kf7 37. Rd7+ Kf6 38. Rxh7 Kg5 39. b3 Ne6 40.
Kb2 Kh5 41. Rc7 Rb6 42. h7 Rb8 43. Re7 Ng5 44. f4 Nh3 45. Nc7 Rh8 46. Nd5 g5
47. fxg5 Nxg5 48. Re5 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch Superfinal"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2005.12.20"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Volkov, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A50"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2614"]
[Annotator "Babula,V"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2005.12.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 32]} 1. c4 Nf6 2. d4 c6 3. Bf4 {Volkov is a specialist in the Slav with
a7-a6, so Kramnik chooses a clever move order to avoid his opponent's known
positions.} Qb6 $5 {[%csl Rb2,Rd4] A natural answer, other options are} (3...
d5 4. e3 {- D10}) (3... d6) 4. Qd2 d5 {Black tends to the known structure.} ({
But a logical continuation of the previous move is} 4... Ne4 $5 5. Qc2 {
and now it deserves attention} d6 $5 {[%cal Ye7e5]} (5... d5 6. f3 e5 (6...
Qa5+ 7. Nd2 Nxd2 8. Bxd2 Qd8 9. e3 g6 10. Bd3 Bg7 11. Ne2 $14 {0-1
Chiburdanidze,M-Stefanova,A/Elista 2004/CBM 100 ext (55)}) 7. Bxe5 Qa5+ 8. Nc3
Nxc3 9. bxc3 dxc4 10. e4 b5 11. Ne2 $13 {1/2-1/2 Gelfand,B-Kramnik,V/Sanghi
Nagar 1994/CBM 042/[Gelfand] (76)}) (5... Qxd4 $4 6. e3 $18) {for example} 6.
f3 Nf6 7. Qd2 e5 8. Be3 (8. dxe5 $6 dxe5 9. Bxe5 Bc5 {[%cal Gb6g1]}) 8... Qa6
$132 {1/2-1/2 Zhukova,N-Stefanova,A/Krasnoturinsk 2004/CBM 103/[Wells] (19)})
5. Nc3 Bf5 6. f3 $5 {[%csl Ge4][%cal Yg2g4] A more ambitious move than the
normal} (6. e3) ({The double attack} 6. Bxb8 $6 Rxb8 7. Qf4 {[%csl Rb8,Rf5]
doesn't work because of easy} Rd8 8. Qxf5 $2 Qxb2 {[%csl Ra1,Rc3]}) 6... e6 ({
Black has no time to avoid the g2-g4 advance by} 6... h5 $6 {due to} 7. cxd5
cxd5 $2 (7... Nxd5 $142 8. Bg3 $5 $14) 8. Bxb8 Rxb8 9. e4 $1 $16 dxe4 $140 $2
10. Qf4 $18 Rd8 11. Qxf5 Qxb2 12. Qb5+ $1) 7. g4 Bg6 8. h4 h5 $5 ({Possible is
also} 8... h6 {, which keeps the knight on f6. The choice is a matter of taste.
}) 9. g5 Nfd7 {A key to Black's counterplay is the e6-e5 (or even c6-c5)
advance, from here the knight can support it.} ({Too passive is} 9... Ng8 $6
10. e4 $14 Bb4 $140 11. a3 Bxc3 12. Qxc3 dxe4 $6 13. d5 $1) 10. e3 Be7 11. Nh3
{[%csl Rg6,Rh5][%cal Yh3f4]} O-O 12. Bg3 {White has a space advantage, on the
other hand Black leads in development. To convert it to something real and to
get counterplay, Black needs generally to open the position.} Re8 $6 {And he
misses a good moment for it.} (12... e5 $142 $1 {with the complicated play,
for example} 13. cxd5 (13. dxe5 Bc5 14. Na4 (14. Bf4 $2 Nxe5 $1 $17 15. Bxe5
Bxe3 16. Qh2 Re8) 14... Bxe3 15. Nxb6 Bxd2+ 16. Kxd2 axb6 $11) 13... exd4 (
13... Bb4 $5 14. dxe5 cxd5 $13) 14. exd4 Bb4 $5 $13 (14... cxd5 $6 15. Nf4 $1
$14)) 13. Be2 $6 {White gives Black for nothing the chance again.} (13. Nf4
$142 $5 $14 e5 $140 $2 14. Nxg6 exd4 15. Nxe7+ Rxe7 16. Na4 $18 dxe3 17. Qc3
$18) 13... dxc4 $6 {And Black misses it over again!} (13... e5 $142 $1 14. cxd5
(14. dxe5 Bc5) 14... Bb4 $13) 14. Nf4 Bd6 15. Bxc4 $14 {Now Black has to
suffer under positional pressure.} Na6 (15... Bxf4 16. Bxf4 e5 17. dxe5 Nxe5
18. Bxe5 Rxe5 19. e4 (19. O-O-O $5 $14) 19... Nd7 20. O-O-O $14) (15... c5 $5
16. d5 $1 $14 (16. Nb5 $2 Bxf4 17. Bxf4 cxd4 $1 $36 18. Nc7 Nc6 $1 19. Nxa8
Rxa8)) 16. O-O-O $5 Rad8 17. e4 {[%csl Rg6] Closing the working diagonal of
the Bg6.} Nf8 18. Nxg6 Nxg6 (18... Bxg3 $2 19. Nxf8 Kxf8 20. g6 $16 {weakening
the Black's king} f6 21. f4) 19. f4 Qb4 20. Be2 {White's centre is well
protected and Black can't successfully attack it.} Bc5 (20... c5 21. e5 cxd4 (
21... Bf8 $2 22. d5 $16) 22. Qxd4 $14) 21. Bxa6 bxa6 (21... Rxd4 $4 22. Bd3 $18
) 22. Ne2 Qb7 $2 {Black keeps wrongly the queens on the board.} ({Without them
he can hope for some counterplay on the kingside, for example} 22... Qxd2+ $142
23. Rxd2 Bb6 24. Rhd1 f5 $1 25. gxf6 gxf6 26. Rc2 $14 f5 $140 27. Rxc6 fxe4 28.
d5) 23. Qc2 $16 Bb6 24. Kb1 Ne7 25. Bf2 g6 26. Ng3 $5 {[%csl Ge4] Kramnik
doesn't give his opponent any chance. He defends the e4 pawn and plans to
double his rooks on the d file.} (26. Rd3 c5 $5 27. dxc5 Qxe4) 26... Bc7 27.
Be3 Rd7 28. Rd3 Red8 29. Rhd1 a5 30. Ne2 Bb6 31. Ng1 $18 {[%cal Yg1f3,Yf3e5] A
strong maneouvre, after which Black can't resist for long.} Qa6 32. Nf3 Bc7 33.
Rc3 Qb7 34. Ne5 Bxe5 35. fxe5 Rc7 36. Rc5 Qb4 37. a3 Qb6 $6 38. d5 $1 {[%cal
Ge3b6] A small trick finishes the game.} exd5 39. Rcxd5 Qxe3 40. Rxd8+ Kg7 41.
Qd3 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch Superfinal"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2005.12.21"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Motylev, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C43"]
[WhiteElo "2632"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2005.12.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nxd7 Bxd7 7. O-O Bd6 8.
c4 c6 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Nc3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 O-O 12. Qh5 g6 13. Qxd5 Qc7 14. c4 Bc6
$146 (14... Be6 15. Qf3 Bxc4 16. Bh6 (16. Bxc4 Qxc4 17. Qf6 Qe6 18. Qxe6 fxe6
19. Rb1 b6 20. Re1 Rfe8 $11 {0-1 Hanley,C-Gwaze,R/British Rapidplay Halifax
2003/FCD (51)}) 16... Rfe8 17. Rfc1 b5 18. g3 (18. Bxc4 bxc4 19. Qf6 Bf8 20.
Bf4 Qb6 21. Qxb6 axb6 22. Rxc4 Rxa2 23. Rcc1 Rxa1 {1/2-1/2 Groszpeter,
A-Rabiega,R/Leiner 1996/EXT 98 (23)}) (18. Be4 Rac8 19. Bb7 Rb8 20. Bc6 Bxh2+
21. Kh1 Re6 22. d5 Rxc6 23. dxc6 Be5 24. Re1 $40 {1-0 Hunt,A-Hanley,C/
Blackpool 2003/CBM 95 ext (32)}) 18... Rad8 19. a4 (19. Rab1 Bf8 20. Bxc4 $6 (
20. Bxf8 Rxf8 21. Rxb5 Rxd4 22. Bf1 $1 $16) 20... Bxh6 21. Bxb5 $4 Bxc1 22.
Bxe8 Rxe8 23. Rb7 Qc4 $1 {0-1 Sadvakasov,D-David,A/Moscow 2005/CBM 106/[Huzman]
(23)}) 19... a6 {[#]} 20. Rab1 $14 {1/2-1/2 Anand,V-Ivanchuk,V/Calvia Olympiad
2004/(40)}) (14... Bxh2+ 15. Kh1 Bd6 $1 (15... Bc6 $1) 16. c5 Be7 17. Qf3 Be6
18. d5 Qe5 19. dxe6 Qxa1 20. exf7+ Kh8 21. Qxb7 $16 {1-0 Nguyen Van
Huy-Abhyudaya,R/Bikaner IND 2004/(27)}) 15. Qg5 Bxh2+ 16. Kh1 Bd6 17. d5 (17.
Bb2 $5 Rae8 (17... f6 18. Qg4) 18. Rae1 f6 19. Qg4 Rxe1 20. Rxe1 Qa5 21. Re6
Qd2 $132) 17... Rae8 $1 {An important intermediate move helping Black to
consolidate his position.} (17... Bd7 18. Bb2 $16) (17... f6 18. Qh4 (18. Qh6
Bd7 19. Bxg6 hxg6 20. Qxg6+ Kh8 21. Qh5+ Kg8 22. Bh6 Be8 23. Qg4+ Kh8 24. Bxf8
Qh7+ 25. Qh3 Qxh3+ 26. gxh3 Bxf8 $11) 18... Bd7 19. Bb2 Be5 20. Bxe5 fxe5 $11)
18. f4 (18. dxc6 $2 Re5 19. Qh4 Rh5 $17) (18. Bb2 Be5 $1 19. Rab1 Bxb2 20. Rxb2
Bd7 (20... Re5 21. Qg3 Ba4 22. Re2 Rfe8 23. Rfe1 Rxe2 24. Qxc7 Rxe1+ 25. Kh2
Rd1 26. Qa5 $1 Rxd3 27. Qxa4 Rc8 $1 $11) 21. Qf6 b6 $11) 18... f6 19. Qg3 Bd7
20. Bxg6 (20. Rb1 Rf7 21. Be3 b6 $11) 20... hxg6 21. Qxg6+ Kh8 22. Qh6+ (22.
Bb2 Re7 23. Bxf6+ Rxf6 24. Qxf6+ Kg8 $40 {[%cal Ye7h7,Yd6c5]}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-ch Superfinal"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2005.12.22"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Zvjaginsev, Vadim"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2659"]
[Annotator "Mikhalevski,V"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2005.12.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. Bd2 {A very rare move. Kramnik puts aside his favourite Bayonet attack 
(9.b4) and surprises Zviaginsev with a quiet positional plan of attack on the
queenside by means of Rc1; b4 and c5.} Kh8 {Vadim decides to avoid the main
theoretical lines, which usually arise after 9...Ne8 and 9...Nh5. The idea of
9...Kh8 freeing the g8-square in the Bayonet attack was popularized by English
GM Hebden. Probably Zviagintsev prepares a similar manoeuvre of the queen
knight.} ({I believe in case of} 9... Nh5 {White can play not only} 10. g3 ({
but also} 10. Re1 {with the idea} f5 11. exf5 gxf5 $2 (11... Nxf5 {is better.})
12. Nxe5 {and unlike the Bayonet attack the knight on c3 is protected and
White wins a pawn. This is one of the ideas behind 9.Bd2.})) ({A more popular} 
9... Ne8 {which was initiated by Fisher in his match vs Taimanov in 1971 was
tested by Bologan in the following game.} 10. Ne1 f5 11. Nd3 fxe4 12. Nxe4 c6
13. Qb3 Kh8 14. Rae1 b5 15. Nb4 bxc4 16. Bxc4 Rb8 17. Qa3 Qb6 {with mutual
chances in Hansen,C-Bologan,V/Skanderborg DEN 2003.}) 10. Rc1 b6 {Usually it's
not recommended to play on the side where you're worth, but sometimes strong
players break rules usually having an idea in mind. This time Zviaginsev makes
the break c4-c5 more difficult. Is this a good reason to weaken queenside? The
game will show.} ({The only preceding game saw} 10... c5 11. dxc6 bxc6 12. b4
Bb7 13. Bg5 (13. c5 $5) 13... Nfg8 14. Qb3 f6 15. Be3 f5 16. Rfd1 $16 {and
White obtained a clear positional advantage in Peek,M-Coleman,D/Amsterdam 1996.
}) 11. b4 Nd7 {[%csl Rc5][%cal Gf7f5] Preventing c5 and preparing f5.} 12. Ne1
{[%cal Ge1d3,Gc4c5] The knight goes to d3 to support an advance of the c-pawn.}
f5 13. f3 (13. Nd3 {looks more flexible as it leaves an option of f4 open, but
after} Nf6 {it would most likely transpose to the game.} 14. f3 Neg8 15. c5)
13... Ng8 14. Nd3 Ndf6 15. c5 $14 {Usually White can only dream of such a
position - his pieces are on nice squares, the program break c5 was executed.
What else one needs to claim an advantage?} Bh6 $5 {When you have less space
try to get a relief exchanging pieces - this is the idea behind Black's move.}
16. cxd6 {I believe White shouldn't be in a hurry with this exchange. Anyway
Black can't avoid it.} ({Why not to prepare doubling of pieces along the
c-file?} 16. Rc2 $5) 16... cxd6 17. Bxh6 Nxh6 18. Qd2 f4 {Black unties White's
hands for attack on the queenside.} (18... Kg7 {retaining pressure on the
e4-pawn deserved attention.}) 19. Nb5 {[%cal Gb5c7,Gc7e6] White prepares
penetration to c7.} ({Once again} 19. Rc2 {[%cal Gf1c1] with the idea Rfc1
looked strong.}) 19... Ne8 {[%csl Rc7,Rd6]} 20. Qc3 {Renewing an idea of Nc7
and having in mind a positional piece sacrifice in the centre.} Qe7 {Black
protects the centre and provokes Nc7.} ({He could also cover the c7-square by
means of} 20... Rf7) 21. Nc7 Nxc7 22. Qxc7 Bd7 {Now it turns out that the
queen won't be able to stay on the seventh rank, but White had a way to retain
his advantage with 23.b5.} 23. Nf2 {Simple chess. White prevents possible
attack on the kingside in advance and opens the a6-f1-diagonal for the White's
light-squared bishop.} (23. b5 $5 {[%cal Gd3b4,Gb4c6] Preparing a manoeuvre of
the knight via b4 to c6 deserved serious attention.} Rfc8 24. Qb7 Rcb8 25. Qa6
Bc8 26. Qa3 a6 27. Qb2 $1 {[%csl Rc6,Rh8][%cal Gd3f4,Gd3b4,Gb4c6] with a
threat of Nf4 and then Nb4-c6. Probably Kramnik rejected this idea as he was
afraid that it would be difficult to break through on the queeside while Black
has counterchances on the other side of the board.}) 23... Rfc8 24. Qb7 Rcb8
25. Qa6 Bc8 26. Qa3 {[%cal Ge2a6]} a6 $5 {[%csl Rc6,Rc7][%cal Gc8d7,Gh6g8,
Gg8f6,Gf6e8] Black prevents Ba6, which would help White to take control over
the only open file. Now his plan includes Bd7 and Ng8-f6 in order to take
control over the c7-square by means of Ne8 when necessary. Eventually it turns
out that one open file is not enough for win.} 27. Rc6 {[%cal Gf1c1] The idea
of doubling rooks along the c-file is definitely right, but I believe White
could save at least a tempo doubling the rooks the other way.} ({F.e.} 27. Rc3
Bd7 28. Rfc1 Ng8 {and now White can try} 29. Bxa6 $5 {Pinning your own bishop
doesn't look like a great idea, but I don't see how Black can exploit the pin.}
Qd8 (29... Bb5 $6 {looks risky as White obtains full control over the c-file.}
30. Bxb5 Rxa3 31. Rxa3 $14) (29... b5 30. Qa5 $1) 30. Rc6 Bxc6 31. dxc6 Qc7 32.
b5 $1 $44 {[%cal Ga3b2,Gf2d3,Gd3b4,Gb4d5] Preparing Qb3(b2) and Nd3-b4-d5.})
27... Bd7 28. Rc7 Ng8 {[%csl Rc7][%cal Gg8f6,Gf6e8] The knight goes to e8 to
attack the white rook.} 29. Rfc1 Nf6 30. Qb2 ({It wasn't late to try} 30. Bxa6
$5 {although here White is a tempo down comparing to 27.Rc6. Here is a
possible continuation of play.} Qd8 31. R7c6 Bxc6 32. dxc6 Ne8 33. b5 Nc7 34.
Qb3 Nxa6 35. bxa6 Ra7 36. Nd3 b5 37. Nb4 {with a clear advantage for White.
However not all moves are forced.}) 30... Kg8 31. Bf1 Ne8 32. R7c3 Qd8 {
Black is planning to wait and it's not easy to do much about it.} 33. Qd2 Nf6
34. Rc7 Ne8 35. R7c3 Nf6 36. Rc7 Ne8 37. R7c2 Nf6 38. Rc3 Ra7 39. Qc2 {And
having no idea how to break through Black's fortress Kramnik offered a draw.}
1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-ch Superfinal"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2005.12.23"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2564"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2005.12.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. b3 Nbd7 6. Bb2 Bd6 7. Qc2 O-O 8. h3
b6 9. g4 Bb7 10. g5 Ne8 11. h4 f5 12. Nd4 Qe7 13. Bg2 Rc8 14. f4 Bc5 15. Nce2
Nd6 16. Nf3 dxc4 17. h5 Bb4 18. h6 g6 19. O-O cxb3 20. axb3 a5 21. Rad1 c5 22.
Ba1 Kf7 23. d3 Ke8 24. Nc3 b5 25. Na2 Ba3 26. Qd2 b4 27. Nc1 Kf7 28. Ne2 Kg8
29. Ne1 Bd5 30. Nc2 Bxg2 31. Kxg2 e5 32. Nxa3 bxa3 33. Qc3 Nf7 34. Ng3 Nb6 35.
e4 fxe4 36. dxe4 c4 37. fxe5 cxb3 38. Qxb3 Nc4 39. e6 Qxe6 40. Rf6 Qe7 41. Rdf1
$2 (41. Rd5 $5 Qb4 42. Qd3 Nb6 (42... Nb2 $2 43. Qa6 $18 Qe7 44. Rxg6+ Kh8 45.
Rg7 Rc2+ 46. Kh3 Rc3 47. g6 Rxg3+ 48. Kxg3 Qc7+ 49. Kh3 Qc3+ 50. Qd3 Qxd3+ (
50... Nxd3 51. Bxc3 $18) 51. Rxd3 Nxh6 52. Rxh7+ Kg8 53. Rxa3 $18) 43. Qa6 Rb8
44. Rb5 Qe1 45. Rf1 (45. Rbxb6 Rxb6 46. Rxf7 (46. Rxb6 Qxa1 47. Rxg6+ hxg6 48.
Qxg6+ Kh8 $19) 46... Kxf7 (46... Rxf7 47. Qa8+ Rf8 48. Qd5+ Rf7 49. Qa8+ $11)
47. Qxb6 Qxa1 48. Qb3+ Ke7 49. Qb7+ Ke8 50. Qb8+ $11) 45... Qd2+ 46. Rf2 Qd1
47. Bg7 Nc4 48. Bxf8 Ne3+ 49. Kh2 Rxb5 50. Qxb5 Ng4+ 51. Kg2 Ne3+ 52. Kh2 (52.
Kh3 Qg4+ 53. Kh2 Qh4+ 54. Kg1 Qxg3+ 55. Kh1 Qxf2 $19) 52... Ng4+ 53. Kg2 $11)
41... Qb4 0-1

[Event "RUS-ch Superfinal"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2005.12.24"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D13"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2675"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2005.12.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. Bf4 Nc6 7. Rc1 Bf5 8. e3
Rc8 9. Be2 e6 10. O-O Bd6 11. Bxd6 Qxd6 12. Na4 O-O 13. Qb3 Rc7 14. Nc5 Rb8 15.
Rc3 Bg4 16. h3 Bxf3 17. Bxf3 e5 18. Qb6 exd4 19. exd4 g6 20. Rd1 h5 21. b4 Kg7
22. Be2 Nd7 23. Nxd7 Rxd7 24. b5 axb5 25. Bxb5 Nd8 26. Qa7 Re7 27. Qc5 Re6 28.
Rb1 Ra8 29. a4 Nc6 30. Qb6 Qe7 31. Bxc6 Re1+ 32. Kh2 Qd6+ 33. g3 Rxb1 34. Qxb1
bxc6 35. Qa1 Qf6 36. Rc2 h4 37. a5 Qf5 38. Ra2 Rxa5 39. Rxa5 Qxf2+ 40. Kh1 hxg3
41. Qg1 g2+ 42. Kh2 Qf4+ 43. Kxg2 Qd2+ 44. Kg3 Qxa5 45. Qe3 Qc7+ 46. Kg2 Qd6
0-1

[Event "RUS-ch Superfinal"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2005.12.26"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Rublevsky, Sergei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C43"]
[WhiteElo "2652"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "Huzman,A"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2005.12.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nxd7 Bxd7 7. O-O Bd6 8.
c4 c6 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Nc3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 O-O 12. Qh5 g6 13. Qxd5 Qc7 14. Qf3
Qxc3 (14... Bxh2+ 15. Kh1 Bd6 16. c4 $1 (16. Bh6 Rfe8 17. Qf6 Bf8 18. Bxf8 Rxf8
19. d5 Rfe8 20. Rfe1 Qc5 21. c4 b5 $14 {1/2-1/2 Van der Wiel,J-Van der Sterren,
P/Gouda 1997/EXT 99 (35)}) 16... Rfe8 17. c5 Bf8 18. Be4 Bc6 19. d5 Bb5 20. d6
Qxc5 21. Bd5 $16 {1-0 Erenburg,S-Mikhalevski,V/ISR-ch Ramat Aviv 2004/
ChessBase (42)}) 15. Bh6 (15. Qf6 Qc6 16. Bg5 Bc7 (16... Rfe8 17. Rac1 Re6 18.
Rxc6 Bxc6 $5 (18... Rxf6 19. Rcc1 Re6 $11) 19. d5 Rxf6 20. dxc6 Re6 21. cxb7
Rb8 22. Rb1 $44) 17. Be4 $1 Qxf6 18. Bxf6 Rab8 19. Rfc1 Bf4 20. Rc3 Rfe8 21.
Bd5 $14 {1-0 Galkin,A-Beletsky,A/Sochi 2004/CBM 101/[Huzman] (58)}) 15... Rfe8
16. Qf6 Bf8 17. Bxf8 Rxf8 18. Be4 Bc6 $1 (18... Rab8 $2 19. h4 $1 Rfe8 20. Bf3
Qa5 21. d5 Rbc8 22. Rfc1 $1 Qb6 23. Qf4 $1 $36 {1-0 Psakhis,L-Alterman,B/
Israel 2005/CBM 107/[Psakhis] (40)}) (18... Be6 19. Bxb7 Rad8 20. Rfd1 Bxa2 21.
Rxa2 Qb3 22. Rad2 (22. Rda1 Qxb7 23. Rxa7 $16) 22... Qxb7 23. d5 Rfe8 24. d6
Qb4 25. h4 $36 {1/2-1/2 Borisek,J-Krivokapic,M/EUR-ch B18 Budva 2003/(31)}) (
18... Rad8 19. Rfc1 Qa5 20. Bxb7 Be6 21. Bf3 Rd7 22. Rd1 (22. Qe5 $5 $16) 22...
Rfd8 $44 {1/2-1/2 Van der Wiel,J-Dorfman,J/Germany 1999/CBM 74 ext (24)}) 19.
Rac1 Qb4 $1 {The surest path to equality.} (19... Qa5 20. Bxc6 (20. Rc5 $5 Qd8
(20... Qxa2 21. d5 Ba4 22. d6 $36) 21. Qxd8 Rfxd8 22. d5 Ba4 23. Rc7 Rd7 24.
Rfc1 $14) 20... bxc6 21. Rxc6 Qxa2 $11) (19... Qb2 20. Rc2 Qb6 21. d5 Rfe8 22.
Bf3 $16 {1/2-1/2 Ralls II,R-Borst,J/Chessfriend.com 2003/Telechess CBM 99 (40)}
) 20. Bxc6 (20. Rb1 Qa4 $11) 20... bxc6 21. Rxc6 Rad8 22. Rd1 (22. Ra6 Qxd4 23.
Qxd4 Rxd4 24. Rxa7 Re8 25. g3 Re2 $11) 22... Qa4 $1 23. Rd2 Qb4 24. Rd1 Qa4 25.
Rcc1 Qxa2 26. Ra1 Qb3 27. Rdb1 (27. Rdb1 Qd5 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-ch Superfinal"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2005.12.27"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D19"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2005.12.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O
Nbd7 9. Qe2 Bg4 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 O-O 12. Rd1 Rc8 13. Ne4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4 Qa5
15. Qc2 Nb6 16. Bd3 g6 17. e4 c5 18. dxc5 Nd7 19. Bh6 Rfd8 20. Bg5 Rf8 21. Bh6
Rfd8 22. Bb5 Nxc5 23. Rxd8+ Qxd8 24. Rd1 Qh4 25. Be3 Rd8 26. Rxd8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-ch Superfinal"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2005.12.28"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Jakovenko, Dmitrij"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2644"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "2005.12.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8 14. cxd5 Qxd5
15. Bf4 Rac8 16. Nd2 Na5 17. Nf1 Qd7 18. Ne3 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-ch Superfinal"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2005.12.29"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dreev, Alexey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2694"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2005.12.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 a6 6. c5 b6 7. cxb6 Nbd7 8. Bd3 c5
9. O-O Qxb6 10. b3 cxd4 11. exd4 Bd6 12. Bb2 O-O 13. Qe2 Bb7 14. Na4 Qa7 15.
Ne5 Rac8 16. Kh1 Be7 17. Rae1 Bb4 18. Rd1 a5 19. a3 Be7 20. Rde1 Qb8 21. Bb5
Rc7 22. Nxd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-ch Superfinal"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2005.12.30"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Khalifman, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E08"]
[WhiteElo "2653"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "31"]
[EventDate "2005.12.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "17"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 111"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.04.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Be7 5. Bg2 d5 6. Nf3 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Qc2
b6 9. Bf4 Nbd7 10. Rd1 Bb7 11. Nc3 dxc4 12. Nd2 Nd5 13. Nxc4 Nxf4 14. gxf4 Qc7
15. e3 Rac8 16. Rac1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris Ernst Young sim"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2006.05.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caen University"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A84"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2031"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2006.05.14"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2007"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c6 4. e3 f5 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. O-O Bd6 7. b3 Qe7 8. Bb2 b6
9. Qc1 Bb7 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Ba3 Bxa3 12. Nxa3 O-O 13. Nb5 Rc8 14. Qb2 a6 15.
Nc3 Nc6 16. Rac1 Rc7 17. Na4 Nd7 18. a3 Rac8 19. b4 Nd8 20. Ne5 Nxe5 21. dxe5
Bc6 22. Bxa6 Ra8 23. b5 Rxa6 24. bxa6 Bxa4 25. Qxb6 Bc6 26. Rc3 Qd7 27. Rfc1 h6
28. h3 Kh7 29. Kh2 h5 30. f4 g5 31. fxg5 Qg7 32. Kh1 Qxe5 33. a7 d4 34. Rxc6
Rxc6 35. Rxc6 Qxe3 36. Qc7+ Kg6 37. a8=Q 1-0

[Event "Paris Ernst Young sim"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2006.05.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Centrale Nantes"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "1919"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2006.05.14"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2007"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 d5 7. cxd5 Qxd5 8.
b4 Nbd7 9. Bb2 b6 10. g3 Bb7 11. Bg2 Qd6 12. O-O O-O 13. d3 a6 14. e4 Qe7 15.
Nd2 Rac8 16. Rfc1 Rfd8 17. Nc4 b5 18. Na5 Ba8 19. Qe1 e5 20. Bc3 Nb6 21. Bh3
Rc7 22. bxc5 Rxc5 23. Bb4 Rxc1 24. Rxc1 Qa7 25. Qe3 Qb8 26. Nc6 Bxc6 27. Rxc6
Nbd7 28. Rxa6 Qc7 29. Ba5 Qc8 30. Ra7 Re8 31. Rc7 Qa8 32. Qa7 Qxa7 33. Rxa7 Nc5
34. Bf1 Rc8 35. Rc7 Rxc7 36. Bxc7 Nfd7 37. d4 exd4 38. Bxb5 d3 39. Kf1 d2 40.
Ke2 1-0

[Event "Paris Ernst Young sim"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2006.05.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dauphine University"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C01"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2003"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2006.05.14"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2007"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 Nge7
8. Qh5 Be6 9. Nf3 Qd7 10. Ng5 g6 11. Qf3 O-O-O 12. O-O Nf5 13. Rb1 h6 14. Nxe6
Qxe6 15. Bf4 Nh4 16. Qg3 Nf5 17. Qh3 Rde8 18. Rb5 Re7 19. Rfb1 b6 20. Qf3 Rd8
21. g3 Na5 22. Bd2 c6 23. R5b4 Nc4 24. Bxc4 dxc4 25. a4 g5 26. Re1 Qd5 27. Qxd5
Rxe1+ 28. Bxe1 cxd5 29. Kf1 Kc7 30. Bd2 Re8 31. h3 Nd6 32. f3 f6 33. Rb1 Kb7
34. g4 f5 35. Bc1 Kc6 36. Kf2 f4 37. Bd2 Kb7 38. h4 Ka6 39. Rh1 Nf7 40. hxg5
hxg5 41. Rh7 Re7 42. Bxf4 Rb7 43. Bc1 Ka5 44. Bxg5 Kxa4 45. Bc1 b5 46. g5 1-0

[Event "Paris Ernst Young sim"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2006.05.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "ENS ULM"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D13"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "1780"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2006.05.14"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2007"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 a6 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. Bf4 e6 7. e3 Nc6 8. Bd3
Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Rc1 Bd7 11. Ne5 Rc8 12. a3 Na5 13. Qe2 b5 14. Bg5 Nc4 15. f4
g6 16. Bh6 Re8 17. g4 Nd6 18. Qg2 Bf8 19. Bg5 Bg7 20. Qh3 Rf8 21. Qh4 Nde8 22.
Rf3 Qc7 23. Rcf1 Qd6 24. Rh3 Rc7 25. Be2 b4 26. axb4 Bc8 27. b5 Qb4 28. Nd3 Qb3
29. Bxf6 Nxf6 30. g5 Nh5 31. Bxh5 gxh5 32. Qxh5 Rd8 33. Qxh7+ Kf8 34. Ne2 e5
35. f5 Qxd3 36. f6 Qxh7 37. Rxh7 Rc2 38. fxg7+ 1-0

[Event "Paris Ernst Young sim"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2006.05.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "ENSAM"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B30"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "1909"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2006.05.14"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2007"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. O-O Nge7 5. c3 a6 6. Be2 d5 7. exd5 Qxd5 8.
Na3 Nf5 9. Nc4 Qd8 10. a4 Bd6 11. b3 Bc7 12. Ba3 b6 13. d4 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Ncxd4
15. cxd4 Bb7 16. Bf3 Bd5 17. Rc1 Ne7 18. Bxe7 Kxe7 19. Re1 Re8 20. Bxd5 Qxd5
21. Ne3 Qd7 22. Rxc7 1-0

[Event "Paris Ernst Young sim"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2006.05.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mines Paris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B55"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "1835"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2006.05.14"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2007"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. f3 e5 6. Nb3 d5 7. Bg5 Be6 8. Bxf6
gxf6 9. exd5 Bxd5 10. Nc3 Bb4 11. Qd3 Nc6 12. O-O-O Bxb3 13. axb3 Qxd3 14. Bxd3
Bxc3 15. bxc3 Ke7 16. Bf5 Rad8 17. Rxd8 Nxd8 18. Kd2 Ne6 19. Ra1 a6 20. Ra4
Rd8+ 21. Ke3 Nf4 22. g3 Nd5+ 23. Kf2 Nxc3 24. Rc4 Nb5 25. Bd3 h6 26. Ke3
1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris Ernst Young sim"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2006.05.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Polytechnique Lille"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "1961"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2006.05.14"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2007"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3
d5 9. Ne5 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nd2 O-O 12. O-O Rc8 13. Re1 b5 14. c5 e5 15.
e3 e4 16. a4 Qc7 17. Bf1 Rb8 18. b4 f5 19. Ra3 Bc8 20. axb5 cxb5 21. Qa1 a6 22.
Rxa6 Bxa6 23. Qxa6 Rf6 24. Qa2 Qb7 25. Ra1 g5 26. Bb2 Nf8 27. Nb1 Ne6 28. Nc3
Nc7 29. Bxb5 Nxb5 30. Nxd5 Kf8 31. Nxf6 Bxf6 32. Qe6 Kg7 33. Ra6 Qf7 34. Qxf5
Nc7 35. Rd6 Rxb4 36. Rd7 Be7 37. Qe5+ Qf6 38. Rxe7+ Kg6 39. Qxe4+ Qf5 40. Rg7+
1-0

[Event "Paris Ernst Young sim"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2006.05.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Sciences Po"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "1816"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2006.05.14"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2007"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O
dxc4 9. Bxc4 b5 10. Be2 Bb7 11. Rd1 Qe7 12. Ng5 a6 13. Nce4 Bc7 14. Nxf6+ Nxf6
15. e4 g6 16. e5 Nd7 17. Bf3 Rac8 18. Ne4 Rfe8 19. Bg5 Qf8 20. Qd2 c5 21. Bh6
Qe7 22. Nf6+ Nxf6 23. exf6 Qd6 24. Bxb7 Qxh2+ 25. Kf1 Rcd8 26. Qg5 cxd4 27. g3
Rd5 28. Bxd5 exd5 29. Qh4 Bxg3 30. Qxh2 Bxh2 31. Rxd4 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-37"]
[Site "Turin"]
[Date "2006.05.23"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2664"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2006.05.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Germany"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. g3 d5 4. d4 cxd4 5. Bg2 e6 6. O-O dxc4 7. Nxd4 Nd5 $146
(7... Bc5 8. Qa4+ Qd7 9. Nb5 O-O 10. Qxc4 Qe7 11. N5c3 a6 12. Bg5 Nbd7 13. Ne4
Ba7 14. Nbc3 $16 h6 15. Bd2 (15. Bf4 $1 e5 16. Bd2 {Polugaevsky}) 15... Rb8 16.
Rac1 (16. a4 $16 {Polugaevsky}) 16... Rd8 17. Rfd1 b5 18. Qc7 Bb6 19. Qd6 Qxd6
20. Nxd6 Ne5 21. Nxc8 Rdxc8 22. Be1 Ba5 {1/2-1/2 Polugaevsky,L (2620)
-Ljubojevic,L (2605)/Amsterdam 1981/MCL}) (7... Qb6 8. Nc3 $1 Bd7 9. Be3 $5 Bc5
$6 (9... Ng4 $5) 10. b4 $3 cxb3 11. Rb1 $1 $16 {xb7, Mikhalevski,V (2535)
-Murey,J (2420)/Israel 1997/CBM 061}) 8. Qa4+ Nd7 9. Qxc4 N7b6 10. Qb3 Bd7 11.
Nc3 Bc5 (11... Nxc3 12. Qxc3 Rc8 13. Qd3 Nd5 14. Rd1 Be7 15. Nf5 O-O 16. Nxe7+
Qxe7 17. e4 Nb6 18. Be3 $14 {[%csl Ye3,Yg2] ^^}) 12. Nxd5 Nxd5 13. Nf5 O-O 14.
Nxg7 Nf6 (14... Kxg7 15. Bxd5 exd5 16. Qc3+ $16) 15. Bh6 Qe7 16. Qf3 Bc6 17.
Qf4 Kh8 (17... Bxg2 $2 18. Nf5 $1 $18) 18. Bxc6 bxc6 19. Rac1 Bd6 20. Qh4 Ng8
21. Qxe7 Bxe7 22. Nxe6 Nxh6 23. Nxf8 Bxf8 24. Rxc6 $18 Rd8 25. Rfc1 Kg7 26.
R1c2 Nf5 27. e3 a5 28. Ra6 Rd5 29. e4 Rd1+ 30. Kg2 Nd4 31. Rc7 Nb5 32. Rb7 Nd6
33. Rd7 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-37"]
[Site "Turin"]
[Date "2006.05.24"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Bu, Xiangzhi"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E34"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2006.05.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "China"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CHN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 Qxd5 6. e3 c5 7. Bd2 Bxc3 8.
Bxc3 cxd4 9. Bxd4 Nc6 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Ne2 Bd7 12. a3 Qe5 13. Rd1 Ne7 14. Nd4
Qa5+ 15. Qd2 Qxd2+ 16. Rxd2 O-O-O 17. Be2 Kb8 18. Bh5 e5 19. Nb3 Be6 20. Rxd8+
Rxd8 21. Nc5 Bf5 22. g4 Bg6 23. Bxg6 hxg6 24. h4 f5 25. gxf5 Nxf5 26. Ke2 Ng7
27. Rg1 Nf5 28. h5 gxh5 29. Rg5 Nd6 30. Rxh5 Nc4 31. b3 Nxa3 32. Rxe5 Nb5 33.
Re7 Nd6 34. Kf3 Kc8 35. Ne4 Nxe4 36. Kxe4 Rd7 37. Rxd7 Kxd7 38. Kd5 b6 39. e4
a5 40. f4 f6 41. e5 fxe5 42. fxe5 b5 43. Kc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-37"]
[Site "Turin"]
[Date "2006.05.25"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2756"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2006.05.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Armenia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ARM"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O g6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Qxd4 Bg7 8. Nc3
d6 9. Rd1 Nbd7 10. Be3 Rc8 11. Rac1 a6 12. b3 O-O 13. Qh4 Rc7 14. Bh3 Qb8 15.
Bg5 Bxf3 16. exf3 b5 17. Bxd7 Rxd7 18. Nd5 Nxd5 19. cxd5 Rc7 20. Rc6 Rxc6 21.
dxc6 Rc8 22. Rc1 e6 23. Bd2 Qc7 24. a4 d5 25. axb5 axb5 26. Qb4 Rb8 27. Qa3 Bd4
28. Qa6 Be5 29. f4 Bd6 30. Ba5 Qc8 31. Qa7 Ra8 32. Qb6 Rb8 33. Qd4 b4 34. c7
Ra8 35. Qb6 Bf8 36. Bxb4 Bxb4 37. Qxb4 Qe8 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-37"]
[Site "Turin"]
[Date "2006.05.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Sokolov, Ivan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2676"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "2006.05.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Netherlands"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "NED"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. Nc3 Bb7 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 c5 7. Bd3 cxd4 8. exd4
O-O 9. O-O d5 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Qd2 Nc6 13. Qf4 g6 14. Rfe1 Bg7
15. Rac1 Qb8 16. Qh4 Qd8 17. Qf4 Qb8 18. Qh4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-37"]
[Site "Turin"]
[Date "2006.05.28"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aleksandrov, Aleksej"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2634"]
[PlyCount "36"]
[EventDate "2006.05.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Belarus"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BLR"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ne7 10. h3 Ng6 11. Ne4 Be7 12. b3 h5 13. Re1 Bf5 14. Nd4
Bd7 15. Ng5 Bxg5 16. Bxg5+ Ke8 17. e6 fxe6 18. Nxe6 Bc8 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-37"]
[Site "Turin"]
[Date "2006.05.30"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D18"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2708"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2006.05.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "France"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "FRA"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O
Nbd7 9. Qe2 Bg4 10. Rd1 Qa5 11. e4 Qh5 12. h3 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Qxf3 14. gxf3 O-O
15. Be3 Rfd8 16. Be2 a5 17. Na2 Be7 18. Nc1 Nf8 19. Nd3 Ng6 20. Rdb1 Nd7 21. b4
axb4 22. Nxb4 c5 23. Nd3 Bf6 24. e5 cxd4 25. exf6 dxe3 26. Rxb7 exf2+ 27. Kxf2
Ra5 28. fxg7 Nf6 29. Rb5 Rxb5 30. axb5 Nd5 31. Rb1 Nb6 32. Ra1 Kxg7 33. Ra6 Nd5
34. Bf1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-37"]
[Site "Turin"]
[Date "2006.05.31"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2731"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[PlyCount "31"]
[EventDate "2006.05.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Ukraine"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "UKR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O Bxc3 7. bxc3 Re8 8.
d3 e4 9. Nd4 exd3 10. exd3 h6 11. Be3 Ne5 12. Re1 d6 13. f4 Ng6 14. Qd2 c5 15.
Nc2 Rb8 16. Bf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-37"]
[Site "Turin"]
[Date "2006.06.02"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2671"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2006.05.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "US of America"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "USA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4 c6 4. e3 Qb6 5. Qc1 Bf5 6. c4 e6 7. Nc3 Nbd7 8. c5
Qd8 9. Be2 Be7 10. h3 Ne4 11. O-O g5 12. Be5 Nxe5 13. Nxe5 Bf6 14. Nxe4 Bxe4
15. Qc3 Bg7 16. b4 O-O 17. b5 cxb5 18. Bxb5 Qc7 19. Rac1 f6 20. Nd7 Rfd8 21. c6
bxc6 22. Qxc6 Qxc6 23. Bxc6 Rac8 24. Bb5 Bg6 25. Nc5 Rd6 26. a4 Bf8 27. Na6 Rc2
28. Rxc2 Bxc2 29. Nc5 e5 30. Rc1 Bf5 31. g4 Bg6 32. Nd7 Be8 33. Nxf8 Bxb5 34.
axb5 Kxf8 35. dxe5 fxe5 36. Rc7 d4 37. exd4 exd4 38. Kf1 d3 39. Ke1 Rd5 40.
Rxa7 Rxb5 41. Rxh7 Rb1+ 42. Kd2 Rf1 43. Kxd3 Rxf2 44. Ke4 Rf4+ 45. Ke5 Rf3 46.
Ke6 Kg8 47. Rh5 Kf8 48. Rxg5 Rxh3 49. Kf6 Ra3 50. Kg6 Kg8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-37"]
[Site "Turin"]
[Date "2006.06.03"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bruzon Batista, Lazaro"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D52"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2652"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2006.05.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ITA"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 113"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Cuba"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CUB"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 Qa5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
Qd2 Bb4 9. Rc1 h6 10. Bh4 O-O 11. a3 Bxc3 12. bxc3 Qxa3 13. e4 Ne7 14. Bd3 Ng6
15. Bg3 e5 16. O-O Re8 17. Rfe1 Qa5 18. Qb2 Qd8 19. Bb1 a5 20. Rcd1 a4 21. Ba2
Qe7 22. Qc1 Ra5 23. Qd2 exd4 24. Nxd4 Qc5 25. Bc7 Ra8 26. Bxf7+ Kxf7 27. Qa2+
Kf8 28. Ne6+ Rxe6 29. Qxe6 Ne7 30. Re3 Ke8 31. Rf3 Qh5 32. Bd6 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 34th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2006.07.29"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D48"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "2006.07.29"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 114"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.10.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.10.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. O-O a6 10. a4 b4 11. Nb1 c5 12. Nbd2 Bd6 13. Qe2 Qb8 14. Nc4 Bc7 15. h3
O-O 16. a5 Ne4 17. Rd1 Rd8 18. Bd2 Bd5 19. Be1 Qb7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 34th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2006.07.30"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2006.07.29"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 114"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.10.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.10.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 e5 4. Nf3 exd4 5. Bxc4 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Bxd2+ 7. Nbxd2 Qf6
8. O-O Ne7 9. e5 Qg6 10. Nxd4 Nbc6 11. Nxc6 Nxc6 12. f4 O-O 13. Nf3 Bg4 14. Bd3
Qh6 15. Qa4 Rad8 16. Be4 Bxf3 17. Rxf3 Rd4 18. Qc2 Nb4 19. Qe2 Qb6 20. Kh1 Rfd8
21. Raf1 Rd2 22. Qe1 Qd4 23. e6 Rd1 24. Qxd1 Qxd1 25. e7 Qxf1+ 26. Rxf1 Re8 27.
Rd1 f5 28. Bxf5 Rxe7 29. g3 g6 30. Bb1 c6 31. a3 Nd5 32. Bd3 Kg7 33. Kg1 Ne3
34. Re1 Kf6 35. h3 Nf5 36. Rxe7 Nxe7 37. Kf2 h6 38. Ke3 b6 39. b4 Nf5+ 40. Bxf5
Kxf5 41. g4+ Ke6 42. Kd4 h5 43. a4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 34th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2006.08.01"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2664"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2006.07.29"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 114"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.10.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.10.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Qa4 Nd7 {Along with 6...
Bb4+, one of Black's main continuations.} 7. Qxc4 Nb6 8. Qb5 $5 {A slightly
mysterious move that became popular along the past years. What is the queen
supposed to be doing on such an exposed square, in the immediate neighbourhood
of an area that is very well controlled by the black pieces? It is quite
obvious that rather soon White will have to lose additional time with it.
White's whole concept is very concrete. Black's main (if not only) source of
counterplay in case of more natural retreats of the queen is the opening of
the centre by means of ...e5. The temporary presence of the queen on b5 is
aimed to produce minor changes in Black's position, which would make ...e5
less efficient or simply impossible.} ({The older main line went} 8. Qd3 e5 9.
Nxe5 Nb4 10. Qc3 Qxd4 11. O-O Qxc3 12. Nxc3 Bd6 {and White's advantage is of
rather symbolic nature.}) 8... Bd7 {Black puts pressure on the queen by
developing a piece. However, in doing so, he releases the pressure against the
d4-pawn, making the counterplay based on the advance of the e-pawn more
problematic.} ({The main alternative is} 8... a6 9. Qd3 e5 10. Nxe5 Nb4 11. Qc3
Qxd4 {and now White usually tries to take advantage of the fact that the
b6-knight is not defended as a consequence of ...a6 by playing} 12. Qxc7 {
However, the queen is rather exposed there, which allows Black obtain strong
counterplay.} ({In fact,} 12. O-O Qxc3 13. Nxc3 Bd6 14. Nf3 {also deserves
attention, since the presence of the pawn on a6 slightly weakens the whole
black queen side, offering White better chances for an advantage than in the
lines starting with 8.Qd3}) 12... Be6 {We are following the newest game as the
main line of this sub-variation. It eventually led to an advantage for White,
but several deviations are possible for Black.} (12... Be7 13. O-O N6d5 14.
Bxd5 Nxd5 15. e3 Qe4 16. Nd2 Qf5 17. e4 Nxc7 18. exf5 Bxf5 $15 {1/2-1/2
Yevseev,D (2554)-Orlov,V (2437)/St Petersburg RUS 2005/TWIC 572 (30)}) 13. Bxb7
(13. Be3 $5) 13... Qd6 (13... Rd8 14. Bc6+ Nd7 15. O-O Bd6 16. Nf3 Qxf2+ 17.
Kxf2 Bxc7 $13 {1-0 Georgiev,K (2676)-Genov,P (2477)/FYROM 2001 (50)}) 14. Qxd6
Bxd6 15. Bxa8 Nxa8 16. Nd3 Nc2+ 17. Kd1 Nxa1 18. Nc3 Nb3 (18... Nb6 19. Bf4 $1
Be7 20. Kc1 $14) 19. axb3 Bxb3+ 20. Ke1 O-O 21. Be3 $14 {1/2-1/2 Bauer,C (2599)
-Marzolo,C (2440)/Paris FRA 2006/TWIC 610 (41)}) 9. Qb3 Na5 {Quite logically,
Black gives up the idea of carrying out ...e5 and prepares ...c5 instead,
taking advantage of the fact that he has won a whole tempo for the development
of his queen side.} 10. Qd3 $146 {An interesting novelty. White intends to
inhibit ...c5 by indirect means.} ({The attempt to prevent it physically with} 
10. Qc2 {failed after} Rc8 {in two previous game of Naiditsch: 0-1 Avrukh,B 
(2652)-Naiditsch,A (2612)/Saint Vincent 2005/CBM 110/[Avrukh,B] (54) and 0-1
Nielsen,P (2668)-Naiditsch,A (2612)/Dortmund 2005/CBM 108/[Ribli] (58)}) 10...
c5 {The most radical attempt to solve the opening problems, which is not
without risk though.} ({With the white queen on d3,} 10... Rc8 {would have
been too slow, allowing White retain the initiative with} 11. O-O c5 12. Nc3
$14) 11. dxc5 Bxc5 12. Qc3 {In the previous game between the same players
which took place in the Turin Olympiad and where colours and the opening were
the same, Kramnik obtained practically decisive advantage with a simple
combination based (in its basic line, avoided by Black in the game) on the
simultaneous attack against the c5-bishop and the g7-square by means of Qc3.
Here, too, the queen attacks the same squares, but it will be Black who will
start tactical play.} Rc8 $5 {With so many white pieces on the back rank,
ignoring the threat against the g7-pawn looks quite natural.} 13. Qxg7 ({
Compared with the previous encounter between Kramnik and Naiditsch, there is
also a black knight hanging on a5. However, after} 13. Qxa5 Bb4+ 14. Qxb4 Rxc1+
15. Kd2 Rc4 {Black has strong initiative for the sacrificed piece. The attempt
to cover the d-file safely by means of} 16. Qd6 {fails to} Rc2+ $1 {when the
rook is taboo because of the discovered attack against the queen ...Ba4+,
while after} 17. Kd1 {Black can insist with} Rxe2 $1 $44 {threatening with ...
Ba4+ anyway, which will practically force the queen abandon its far advanced
outpost. Black could then continue grabbing pawns along the weak second rank.})
13... Bf8 14. Qg5 ({I suppose that Kramnik had not analyzed this position at
home. If this is true, it is quite understandable that he could not decide
himself over the board to play for a material advantage with} 14. Qxh8 {
. The position after} Rxc1+ 15. Kd2 {certainly looks dangerous for the white
king, but there is no clear way for Black to prove his compensation. For
instance, after} Rxh1 16. Bxh1 Ba4+ {(secretely hoping to deliver mate on d1),
White has the simple} 17. Qd4 {retaining big part of his material advantage in
case of} Nbc4+ 18. Ke1 $16) 14... Qxg5 15. Bxg5 Bg7 16. Nbd2 h6 17. Bf4 Bxb2
18. Rb1 Nd5 19. Bd6 Bg7 $11 {White's slightly more compact pawn structure is
compensated by the activity of the black pieces.} 20. Ne5 Nc3 21. Rc1 Nxa2 22.
Rxc8+ Bxc8 23. O-O Nc3 24. Ra1 Nb5 25. Rxa5 Nxd6 26. Nec4 Ke7 27. Rxa7 Bd4 28.
Ra8 Nxc4 29. Nxc4 b5 30. e3 Bd7 31. exd4 Rxa8 32. Bxa8 bxc4 33. Kf1 Kd6 34. Ke2
Bc6 35. Bxc6 Kxc6 36. Kd2 Kd5 37. Kc3 Ke4 38. Kxc4 Kf3 39. d5 exd5+ 40. Kxd5
Kxf2 41. Ke5 Kg2 42. Kf6 Kxh2 43. Kxf7 Kxg3 44. Kg6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 34th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2006.08.02"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2742"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2006.07.29"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 114"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.10.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.10.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8 14. cxd5 Qxd5
15. Bf4 Rac8 {Nowadays, this position is one of the hardest nuts to crack for
the 1.e4-players. Apparently, Black has made several concessions regarding the
placement of his pieces. The queen's knight has been developed in front of the
c-pawn, preventing the natural undermining of the centre by means of ...c5,
while the queen and the light-squared bishop are placed on exposed squares.
This is likely to allow White win space in the centre with gain of tempo, but
in practice things are less clear than that. To a certain extent, the
situation is similar to that arising in some of the variations of the Benoni:
Black's pieces display high but temporary activity; if driven away by the
enemy pawns, he would be simply lost strategically, but it is quite amazing
how often Black's dynamism is sufficient to prevent such a scenario. Besides,
even if White manages to advance his pawns to d5 and c4, Black has good
chances to block them, achieving an apparently precarious but in fact entirely
defensible position; this situation resembles certain cases from the Gruenfeld
Indian.} 16. Bd3 {The fact that this is White's main continuation clearly
speaks for the viability of Black's strategy. The exchange of pieces generally
favours the side who is (or will be) lacking space, but this seems to be a
concession White has to make since there is no other way to activate the rook
along the b-file.} Qd7 ({It is curious that the physical blockade of the
c-pawn by means of} 16... b5 {was introduced only recently in the game 1/2-1/2
Polgar,J (2732)-Kramnik,V (2753)/Sofia 2005/CBM 107/[Huzman] (44). White
retained some initiative and it is likely that her play can be improved on the
way. As mentioned above, Black usually doesn't mind allow the pawns advancing
one square each.}) 17. Rb1 Bxd3 {One of the points behind 16.Bd3 is that Black
is supposed to be forced to exchange himself on d3 before defending the b-pawn,
thus helping White's development.} ({However, in a very recent game Black
managed to equalize comfortably with the immediate} 17... b6 {. White's trick
is supposed to consist of} 18. Bb5 Bxb1 19. Qxb1 {when the pin along the a4-e8
diagonal certainly looks disturbing, but it didn't produce such an impressive
effect here:} Bf6 20. Rd1 Qg4 21. Bg3 Ne7 22. Bxe8 Rxe8 23. Re1 Qd7 24. Qe4 Rc8
25. Be5 Bxe5 26. Nxe5 Qe6 27. Qb7 f6 28. Nd3 Qc6 29. Qxc6 {1/2-1/2 Nisipeanu,L
(2695)-Fridman,D (2562)/Turin ITA 2006/TWIC 604}) 18. Qxd3 b6 19. d5 Bf6 20. c4
Ne7 ({The following game is quite suggestive for the limitations regarding the
strength of the white central pawns:} 20... h6 21. h4 ({Slightly more
ambitious than} 21. h3 Ne7 22. Ne5 {1/2-1/2 Kasparov,G (2804)-Anand,V (2786)/
Linares 2005/CBM 106. This short draw was in fact Kasparov's last official
game with White. If he had needed more than just a draw in order to secure the
win in the tournament, maybe we would have learned a bit more about how to
deal with this solid opening...}) 21... Ne7 22. h5 b5 $5 {and Black equalized
pretty easily in the game 1/2-1/2 Nisipeanu,L (2687)-Landa,K (2571)/Germany
2005/CBM 106/[Huzman] (31)}) 21. Ne5 {With this move White puts his bet on
long-term factors: the supposed superiority of the bishop over the knight in
open positions with pawns on both wings.} ({Alternatively, he can try to get
some (rather temporary) initiative with} 21. Be5 {for instance} Qf5 22. Qxf5
Nxf5 23. Bxc7 Be7 24. Bg3 f6 25. a4 Kf7 26. a5 Rxc4 27. axb6 axb6 28. Rxb6 Rd8
$11 {1/2-1/2 Sebag,M-Roussel Roozmon,T/Bois Colombes FRA 2004/(41)}) 21... Bxe5
22. Bxe5 f6 $146 {This is not just a new move, but also the expression of a
new concept.} ({After} 22... Ng6 23. Bg3 $14 {1-0 Oosterom,J-Rause,M/ICCF 2003/
CT-1661 (36) both remaining minor pieces occupy stable positions but this is
just a confirmation of the correctness of White's approach. By being a long
ranged piece, the bishop not only keeps the enemy knight under control but
also puts the c7-pawn under pressure and is ready to support the own d-pawn in
case it becomes a passed pawn as a consequence of an exchange in this area. On
the contrary, after the text move, neither of the minor pieces is stable. This
leads to an uncertain situation where the knight disposes not only over the
blocking d6-square, but also over several light central squares, which
remained vulnerable after the exchange of the light-squared bishops and the
advance of the central pawns. It is early to draw a definitive conclusion, but
in our main game the versatile knight proved to be a worthy opposition to the
long-ranged bishop.}) 23. Bf4 Nf5 24. c5 {A thematical advance. The strong
positional threat c6, which would lead to a huge advantage of space for White,
practically forces Black's next move, which opens the c-file for the white
major pieces and puts the c7-pawn in some danger.} bxc5 25. Qc4 g5 {Forcing
the bishop onto an exposed square.} 26. Bd2 Nd6 27. Qxc5 Ne4 28. Qa5 {It is
not easy to choose the best square for the queen.} (28. Qd4 {allows Black win
too much time with} c5 29. Qd3 c4 {when after} 30. Qd4 {he can consider playing
} Nxd2 {already, since his pawn is just as strong as White's.}) ({Maybe the
gambit continuation} 28. Qc2 $5 Qxd5 29. Be3 $44 {offers White more chances.
Black has won a pawn, but he has many weaknesses while his knight is obviously
unstable now.}) 28... c6 {Black has no other choice than maintain his
initiative.} ({In case of} 28... Nxd2 29. Qxd2 {the weakness of the black
castle could become a telling factor in the ending with major pieces, while
the symplifying attempt} c6 $6 {does not work properly because of} 30. d6 $16 {
In positions with major pieces, there is no better complement to the weakness
of the enemy king's position than the presence of an own passed pawn.}) 29. Be3
{With his d-pawn attacked and pinned, Svidler finds no other way to maintain
the material equality than attack the a-pawn. However, this will eventually
leave the bishop misplaced, allowing to his opponent to draw without any
problems.} ({Instead, he could question the viability of Black's plan to
install his knight on the relatively unstable e4-square by means of} 29. Bb4 $5
{Suddenly, all the knight's retreats after an eventual f3 are either blocked
by the own pawns or controlled by the enemy pieces. Black's best chance would
consist of} c5 $1 {making it clear that the bishop is also restricted in its
actions.} (29... cxd5 $2 {is bad because of} 30. f3 {when} Nd6 {loses
immediately to} 31. Qxd5+) (29... Qxd5 {is also not entirely satisfactory:} 30.
Qxd5+ cxd5 31. f3 a5 {Obviously the only move to save the knight.} 32. Bxa5 $14
{The same structure as in the game has arisen, but the mutual placement of the
minor pieces rather favours White. The bishop is more in the play, while the
knight is more restricted.}) {Now, after} 30. f3 {both} Qxd5 31. fxe4 Qd4+ {
and 30...cxb4 lead to roughly equal play.}) 29... cxd5 30. Qxa7 Qxa7 31. Bxa7
Nc3 32. Rxe8+ Rxe8 {Judging the position statically, White has obtained a
promising ending. He has an outside passed pawn and a long-ranged bishop
fighting against a knight. However, an examination of the dynamic factors
reveals the fact that Black's pieces cooperate perfectly, transforming the
central pawn into a dangerous weapon. The bishop only seemingly controls the
d4-square in view of the fork on e2 and is exposed to the threat ...Ra8.} 33.
Rb8 {The simplest way to avoid troubles but hardly offering chances for more,
since after the exchange of rooks the most important squares along the
bishop's diagonal are controlled.} Rxb8 34. Bxb8 d4 35. Kf1 {Fortunately for
White, his king is very near to the main theatre of operations.} Kf7 36. Ba7 d3
37. Ke1 d2+ 38. Kxd2 Nb1+ 39. Kd3 {After having blocked the enemy pawn, the
black knight finally eliminates it. The position is dead drawn.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 34th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2006.08.04"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2732"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2006.07.29"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 114"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.10.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.10.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 {To a certain
extent, this could be considered a psychological weapon. By choosing the
Petroff Defence, Black usually aims for active piece play, by slightly
neglecting pawn control in the centre. In the variation played in the game,
the situation is somewhat reversed: White aims for a rapid development at the
cost of the slight deterioration of his pawn structure. Since in the main
lines of the Petroff Black has constantly proven the solidity of his position,
this alternate approach has become increasingly popular and cannot be
considered a side-line anymore. It should alse be mentioned that Kramnik, a
fervent adherent of the Petroff himself, frequently employs this system with
White.} Be7 7. Bf4 {By developing the bishop on this square, White aims to
inhibit the placement of the enemy knight on e5. The tension caused by the
knights' mutual position tends to favour Black from structural point of view.
By capturing on e5, White would accept being a pawn down for practical reasons
while otherwise he might get another pair of double pawns on the other wing.} (
{And yet, the optically more natural} 7. Be3 {is an important alternative.
White's main idea is to obtain attacking chances, even though this might
involve further structural concessions.} O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. O-O-O Ne5 {In
previous issues of CBM several games where this position was reached have been
annotated.} 10. h4 (10. Be2 {1/2-1/2 Naiditsch,A (2612)-Kramnik,V (2744)/
Dortmund 2005/CBM 108/[Huzman] (58)}) (10. Nd4 {1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V (2715)
-Kasparov,G (2805)/New York 1995/CBM 047 ext/[Vaisser] (66)}) 10... Re8 (10...
Bg4 11. Be2 Qc8 12. b3 Re8 13. Kb1 Bf8 14. h5 a6 15. Rde1 b5 $132 {1/2-1/2
Topalov,V-Kramnik,V/Sofia 2005/(52)}) 11. h5 Bf6 {For the time being, Black
refrains from exchanging on f3, in order to avoid the opening of the g-file
for the white rooks. It should be mentioned that the f6-bishop fulfills only
defensive tasks at this stage of the game, because it is strongly restricted
by the double c3-pawn. In order to undermine this barrier and obtain queen
side counterplay, Black will need to massively advance his a- and b-pawns but
this plan is rather time consuming.} 12. Kb1 a6 13. Nh2 b5 14. Be2 Bb7 {
By moderately advancing the pawns, Black refrains from an immediate attack and
aims to just win some space and develop his queen's bishop on an active square.
} 15. f4 Nd7 16. Bf3 Bxf3 17. gxf3 $5 {Although the opening of the g-file is
one of White's ideas in this line, it has never happened in such an exotic way
until now, leaving the knight on the edge of the board. In fact, a closer look
reveals the fact that the knight should be heading for g4, which makes White's
last move quite logical.} Qe7 18. Ng4 Qe6 19. Rdg1 Kh8 20. h6 $36 {and White
eventually managed to outplay his mighty opponent in the game 1-0 Svidler,P 
(2740)-Kramnik,V (2739)/Moscow 2005/CBM 111 (48)}) 7... Nc6 8. Qd2 Be6 ({
The other possible development of the bishop also occurred in Kramnik's
practice:} 8... Bg4 9. Be2 Qd7 10. O-O-O ({White could have more or less
transposed to the plan from our main game by means of} 10. h3 Be6 11. Ng5 {
but Kramnik's inspiration from that day dictated something else.}) 10... a6 {
Black generally inserts this move before castling, because otherwise he could
get rid of the unpleasant pin created by Bb5 only by means of ...a6 and ...b5.}
11. Rhe1 O-O-O 12. h3 Be6 13. c4 {This apparently inoffensive move is the
well-masked start of a dangerous queen side attack.} Kb8 ({Probably not
suspecting anything yet. However, in case of} 13... Bf6 {White could have
considered switching back to the plan of getting the advantage of the pair of
bishops with two extra-tempi by means of} 14. Ng5 Bxg5 15. Bxg5 $14) 14. Qc3
Bf6 15. Qa3 {We can see here the concrete illustration of the significance of
such an abstract notion as the advantage of space (which, by the way, is
ensured by the double c4-pawn). White's queen enjoys much more liberty of
action than her rival and, taking advantage of the weakness induced by the
previous advance of the a-pawn, is ready to support a rather dangerous attack
against the enemy king's position.} Qe7 16. Be3 h5 17. Kb1 g5 {Black has
noticed a similar weakness on the kingside (h3) and immediately starts his
counterplay. However, with no king around, his action is by far less dangerous
than White's.} 18. b4 g4 19. Nd2 ({White disposed over an interesting
alternative consisting of the immediate} 19. b5 {when after} gxf3 20. Bxf3 {
the knight jump to e5 would be strongly met by 21.Bxb7! with decisive threats.
The lesser evil for Black would be} axb5 21. cxb5 d5 22. Bc5 Qd7 23. bxc6 Qxc6
{when White would retain certain pressure against the enemy castle with} 24.
Re3 $14) 19... Nd4 {Curiously, both players ignored the kingside tension for a
couple of moves.} 20. Bd3 d5 21. c5 {Black has reacted in the centre, winning
some space, but has not solved his queen side problems yet.} Bg7 22. hxg4 {
Finally.} hxg4 23. Nb3 Nxb3 24. axb3 {After this exchange, resulting into
another pair of double pawns, White can safely use his b4-pawn to open the
enemy king's position without fearing that his own king would remain
vulnerable.} c6 $6 {This move does not prevent b4-b5 in any way and just leads
to the weakening of the dark squares around the king.} ({Black was probably
concerned about c5-c6, but this move could have been inhibited with} 24... Bc3
{, putting pressure on the b4-pawn.}) 25. Bf4+ Ka7 (25... Kc8 {would be bad
because of} 26. Qa5 {followed by the queen's transfer to a7.}) 26. b5 $16 {
White has achieved one of those optimal situations when a strategic attack is
carried out against the wing where the enemy king is located, 1-0 Kramnik,V 
(2744)-Nielsen,P (2668)/Dortmund 2005/CBM 108 (51)}) 9. O-O-O Qd7 10. Kb1 a6
11. Ng5 {The standard plan in this position.} ({However, the apparently
inoffensive} 11. Nd4 Nxd4 12. cxd4 {is not without poison. After} d5 13. Bd3 {
the position certainly bears drawish tendencies, because of the completely
symmetrical pawn structure, but one detail that should not be neglected is
White's considerable advance in development, about three whole tempi. Indeed,
Black still needs to castle and if he wishes to neutralize the enemy bishops'
activity he has to place his own on d6 and f5. I suppose that the most
probable result is a draw in case of accurate black defence, but here is a
very instructive example where the generally volatile advance in development
tended to accumulate into small positional achievements.} Bd6 14. Rhe1 O-O-O {
Black has fulfilled two steps from the aforementioned plan, but White occupied
the only open file in the meanwhile.} 15. Bg3 {A natural way to maintain the
tension. However, since White is aiming to provoke the opening of the h-file,
one good question is whether he shouldn't have placed the other rook on e1.}
Bxg3 ({Being a couple of tempi behind, Black should not aim to increase the
tension with the otherwise desirable} 15... Bf5 {. After} 16. Bxd6 Bxd3 17. Be5
Be4 18. Bxg7 {Black has to give up playing symmetrically because, unlike his
opponent , he has not managed to remove the king's rook from the corner. We
can actually see here that from a certain point of view White's choice about
which rook to place on e1 was fully justified. After} Rhg8 19. Bf6 Rde8 20. f3
{White would retain a sound extra-pawn.}) 16. hxg3 {Generally, being allowed
to capture towards the centre is a small achievement, but here it doesn't seem
to have too much strategic significance. On dynamic territory, Black is still
two tempi behind his opponent. In order to complete the mobilization of his
forces he needs to play ...Bf5 and ...Rhe8, but which move order is best?} Bf5
{Black decides to solve the problem of his passive bishop at the cost of
giving up the control of the e-file. (The ultimate consequences of)} (16...
Rhe8 {are also uncertain. After} 17. Qf4 h6 18. Re3 Qd6 19. Qf3 $14 {Black is
under no immediate pressure but cannot solve the problem of the e-file easily.
Quite a difficult choice for Black, between two "almost but not entirely"
equal positions.}) 17. Bxf5 Qxf5 18. Re7 Rhe8 19. Rde1 Rxe7 20. Rxe7 Qf6 21.
Re5 c6 22. f4 Rd6 23. f5 $14 {Again, Black's position doesn't look really bad,
but he has no clear way of achieving complete equality. The fact that his king
is close to the main theatre of operations is a double-edged element. In
certain cases (such as after further exchanges) it could display useful
activity, but with queens and rooks on board it could easily get under
dangerous threats. In any case, Black could not hold his own in the game 1-0
Almasi,Z (2646)-Motylev,A (2638)/Wijk aan Zee 2006/CBM 111 (48)}) 11... Bxg5
12. Bxg5 f6 13. Be3 O-O-O {The contours of the position have been defined and
time has come to draw some preliminary conclusions. White has obtained the
theoretical advantage of the pair of bishops, which could prove quite
significant in case of mass simplifications. However, the small structural
defect restricts his active possibilities. I would like to draw a parallel
with a certain variation from the English Opening: 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6
4.g3 Bb4 5.Bg2 0-0 6.0-0 e4 7.Ne1 Bxc3 8.dxc3 h6 9.Nc2 d6 10.Ne3 Bd7. White
eventually plays Qc2, Bd2, Rae1 and f3. After exf3 exf3, he can increase his
advantage of space with a well-timed Nd5, when Nxd5 cxd5 leads to a favorable
structure, especially in the ending. In our current position, White misses
this extra-knight. Unless he tricks his opponent to trade queen's or rooks on
the d5-square after a previous c3-c4 (but not bishops because this would
annihilate his advantage), he has no other way of getting rid of his double
pawns than play c4-c5. If he achieves that, his chances in the endgame will be
superior.} 14. b3 $146 {Curiously, this natural move is a novelty. One
important part of White's general plan is to restrict the enemy bishop by
placing several of his pawns on light squares. To a certain extent, this is
the same policy that Black has applied to the white dark-squared bishop.} ({
Previously, White had played mainly} 14. h3 {but Kramnik apparently considered
this to be an unnecessary weakening of the g3-square and refrained from it
until the end of the game. Anyway, here is how the other games continued:} Rhe8
(14... Ne7 15. f3 h5 16. Bf2 Rde8 17. Be2 Nc6 18. Rhe1 Bf5 19. b3 Re7 20. Bf1
Rxe1 21. Rxe1 Re8 22. Rd1 Bg6 23. c4 Qe7 24. Re1 Qd7 25. Rxe8+ Qxe8 26. c5 dxc5
27. Bxc5 {White has managed to get rid of his double pawn and is close to the
desired ending. However, the presence of queens can make his technical task
quite difficult, by enabling certain tactical nuances. Moreover, pieces with
such high mobility are not easy to exchange.} Qe5 28. Bf2 Qe7 29. Qc3 Qd6 30.
Kb2 Qe5 $6 {There was no need to help White achieve his aim, of course.} 31.
Qxe5 Nxe5 32. Bc5 $14 {White has excellent chances of putting his opponent
under long time pressure, 1/2-1/2 Golod,V (2577)-Malakhatko,V (2556)/Basel
2006/CBM 110 ext (54)}) 15. Be2 Qf7 16. b3 Re7 17. g4 {This action has a
double-edged character as we shall see.} (17. c4 $5) 17... Rde8 18. Rhe1 h6 19.
Bf3 Bd7 20. c4 f5 {Now, White faces some problems keeping both wings under
control.} 21. Bd5 Qg6 22. Rg1 fxg4 23. hxg4 Ne5 24. c5 Bc6 25. Bxc6 Nxc6 26.
cxd6 Rd7 27. Bf4 cxd6 28. Rg3 $13 {White's queen side operation has been
crowned by strategic success, but the weakness of his king side somewhat
restricts his active possibilities, 1/2-1/2 Almasi,Z (2640)-Rustemov,A (2564)/
Germany 2006/CBM 112 (41)}) 14... Rhe8 15. f3 h5 16. Bf2 {With the exception
of the omission of the move h3, the game runs along familiar paths for a while.
} Bf5 17. Be2 Re7 18. Rhe1 Rde8 19. Bf1 Rxe1 20. Bxe1 Re7 21. Bf2 Qe8 22. c4 a5
{But this move marks a novelty in Black's plan. Adams initiates a smart plan
aimed to slow down the white queen side pawns. He will place his own pawns on
dark squares and re-direct his knight on a more favourable route.} 23. a3 {
White has to spend a tempo on preventing the knight jump to b4, but this will
allow Black carry out his plan with all the comfort.} ({The hurried} 23. c5 {
is strongly met by} dxc5 $1 (23... Nb4 $6 {is not too efficient yet:} 24. cxd6
Bxc2+ 25. Kb2 Rd7 26. Re1 $36) 24. Bxc5 Rd7 25. Qe1 Rxd1+ 26. Qxd1 Qe5 27. Ba3
Nb4 $15) 23... b6 24. Qc3 Nb8 25. Kb2 Qc6 26. Qd2 Nd7 27. Qd5 Ne5 28. Re1 {
A last hope. Will the threats Rxe5 and f4 convince Black exchange on d5?} Be6 {
No, not really.} 29. Qd2 Qe8 $11 {Black has completed his regroupment and has
achieved approximate equality.} 30. f4 Nc6 31. Bd3 Bf7 32. Rxe7 Qxe7 33. Qd1
Kb8 34. Qf3 Nd8 35. Be4 f5 36. Bd3 g6 37. g3 Be8 38. Qe3 Qxe3 39. Bxe3 Ne6 40.
b4 axb4 41. axb4 c5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 34th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2006.08.05"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Jobava, Baadur"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2651"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "30"]
[EventDate "2006.07.29"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 114"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.10.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.10.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. Nc3 Bb7 5. a3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Bd2 Nf6 8. Qc2
c5 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. b4 Be7 11. e4 Nc6 12. Bf4 O-O 13. Rd1 Qc8 14. e5 $2 {
[%mdl 8192]} Nxb4 $1 15. axb4 Ne4 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 34th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2006.08.06"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2006.07.29"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 114"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.10.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.10.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 2]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 {
In this opening variation White is counting on his pair of bishops and a
slight superiority in the center. On the other hand, black's setup is rather
flexible and out of weaknesses.} b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8. f3 ({Another main line is} 8.
e3) 8... h6 9. Bh4 d5 10. e3 Nbd7 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Bxd8 Nxc3 13. Bh4 Nd5 14.
Bf2 {Both players, especially Kramnik, have big experience in this theoretical
endgame. The position is very close to be equal. White's only trump is the
pair of bishops.} c5 (14... f5 15. Bb5 c6 16. Bd3 c5 17. Ne2 Rac8 18. O-O cxd4
19. Nxd4 Ne5 20. Be2 Nc4 21. Rfc1 Ncxe3 22. Nxe6 Rfe8 23. Rxc8 Bxc8 24. Nd4 Bd7
25. Bxe3 Nxe3 $11 {1-0 Kasparov,G (2815)-Kramnik,V (2780)/Moscow 1998/CBM 067
ext (62)}) 15. e4 (15. Bb5 Rfd8 16. e4 Nc7 $1 17. Bxd7 Rxd7 18. dxc5 f5 $1 19.
cxb6 axb6 20. Ne2 fxe4 21. fxe4 Bxe4 22. O-O Rd2 23. Nc3 Bb7 $15 {1/2-1/2
Kramnik,V (2770)-Kasparov,G (2849)/London 2000/CBM 080 (38)}) 15... Ne7 ({
A bit worse is:} 15... Nf4 $6 16. Be3 Ng6 {The knight on g6 is misplaced.}) 16.
Ne2 {The knight is heading to b5 via c3.} ({The exchange of light-squared
bishops promises nothing for White:} 16. Bb5 Bc6 17. Bxc6 Nxc6 18. Ne2 cxd4 19.
Nxd4 Nxd4 20. Bxd4 Rac8 21. Kd2 Nc5 22. Bxc5 Rxc5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Topalov,V (2739)
-Leko,P (2713)/Cannes 2002/CBM 088 (26)}) 16... Rac8 17. Nc3 cxd4 18. Bxd4 Nc5
{[%csl Yb3]} 19. Rd1 Rfd8 20. Be3 (20. Bb5 Nb3 21. Be3 Rxd1+ 22. Kxd1 Nc6 23.
Bxc6 Bxc6 24. Kc2 Na5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Van Wely,L (2679)-Leko,P (2749)/Wijk aan
Zee 2005/CBM 105 (38)}) 20... Rxd1+ 21. Kxd1 e5 22. b4 $1 $146 {This plan was
probably prepared by Kramnik at home. White is driving away the black knight
from its active position and preparing to hide his monarch on b2. Black is not
able to make use of his temporary advantage in development.} (22. Kc2 Na4 23.
Bb5 Nxc3 24. bxc3 Bc6 25. a4 f5 26. Bxc6 Rxc6 27. Rd1 fxe4 28. fxe4 Rc7 29. Rd6
Kf7 $11 {1/2-1/2 Gyimesi,Z (2602)-Almasi,Z (2646)/Szekesfehervar HUN 2006/The
Week in Chess 592 (38)}) 22... Ne6 23. Kc2 Nc6 (23... f5 {does not really
bother White.} 24. Kb2 $14) 24. Kb2 Kf8 (24... Ncd4 25. Nb5 $1 $14) 25. Bc4
Ncd4 26. Bxe6 $1 Nxe6 27. Nb5 Ra8 {The only way to protect the Pa7.} 28. a4 (
28. Nd6 Ba6 29. b5 Rd8 $1 (29... Bc8 $6 {is too passive.}) 30. Nxf7 Kxf7 31.
bxa6 Rd3 32. Re1 Nc7 33. Rc1 Nxa6 34. Rc3 $14) 28... Ba6 $2 {Surprisingly,
this move is the source for Black's troubles.} ({Much stronger would have been
} 28... Bc6 {. In this case White is not able to perform the manoeuvre
Nb5-a3-c4, because the Pa4 is hanging.}) 29. Na3 $1 Rc8 30. b5 Bb7 {Now it's
clear that 28...Ba6 was a mistake. Black actually lost two tempoes.} 31. Rc1
Rxc1 32. Kxc1 Ke7 ({An attempt for immediate active counterplay does not work:
} 32... f5 33. exf5 Nf4 34. g3 Ng2 35. Bf2 Bxf3 36. Nc4 e4 37. Kd2 $18 {
[%csl Rg2]}) 33. a5 bxa5 34. Bxa7 {[%csl Ra5,Gb5,Re5][%cal Ga3c4]} f5 $1 {
The only chance. Passive defense would lose for sure.} (34... g6 35. Nc4 $18 {
[%csl Ra5,Re5]}) (34... a4 35. Nc4 f6 36. Kb2 Nf4 37. g3 Nd3+ 38. Ka3 f5 39.
Nd2 $18) 35. exf5 Nf4 36. g3 Nh3 37. Nc4 Ng5 {It's already clear that Black
will have to sacrifice his bishop for "b" pawn. The main question is: will
Black manage to exchange or capture white's remaining kingside pawns?} 38. Nxa5
(38. f4 $2 exf4 39. gxf4 Nf3 40. Nxa5 Bd5 41. b6 Kf6 42. Nc4 $1 (42. b7 Bxb7
43. Nxb7 Kxf5 $11) 42... Ke7 $1 (42... Kxf5 $4 43. Ne3+ $18) (42... Nxh2 $6 43.
Nd6 h5 44. b7 Bxb7 45. Bb6 $1 {threatening 46.Bd8 mate!}) 43. h3 (43. Na5 Kf6 {
is a repetition.}) 43... Kd7 {with good drawish chances.} (43... Ng1 $2 44. b7
$18 {[%cal Ga7g1]})) 38... Bd5 $2 {Looks like the decisive mistake. It's
understandable that Leko wanted to take on f3 with the knight, but, in fact
the move in the text loses a vital tempo.} (38... Bxf3 39. b6 (39. Be3 Nf7 40.
b6 Nd8 $11 {[%cal Ge7f6] stopping the pawn.}) 39... Kf6 40. Kd2 $1 {The most
troublesome move for Black.} (40. g4 Nf7 41. b7 Bxb7 42. Nxb7 Kg5 $11) (40. b7
Bxb7 41. Nxb7 Kxf5 $11 {White's pieces are in offside, Black will easily
neutralize all white's remaining pawns.}) 40... Kxf5 41. Ke3 Kg4 (41... Bd5 42.
b7 Bxb7 43. Nxb7 Kg4 44. Bb8 Kh3 (44... Nf3 $145 $1 45. Nc5 h5 46. Ne4 Nxh2 47.
Bxe5 g5 $11) 45. Bxe5 Kxh2 46. Nd6 $18) 42. Bb8 Kh3 (42... Nf7 43. b7 Bxb7 44.
Nxb7 Kh3 45. Nd6 Nxd6 46. Bxd6 Kxh2 47. Bxe5 Kh3 48. Kf4 g6 49. Kf3 g5 50. g4
Kh4 51. Bh2 Kh3 52. Bg3 h5 53. gxh5 $18) 43. Bxe5 Kxh2 44. Kf2 (44. Bf4 Kg2 $11
) 44... Bd5 45. b7 Bxb7 46. Nxb7 Kh3 47. Nc5 h5 48. Bf4 Kg4 (48... Nf7 49. Kf3
g5 50. Bc7 g4+ 51. Kf2 h4 52. Ne6 hxg3+ 53. Bxg3 {and 54.Nf4 mate.}) 49. Bxg5
Kxg5 50. Kf3 Kf5 {White cannot win this.}) 39. b6 Nxf3 40. h3 $3 $18 {A
brilliant decision based on precise calculation. Leko obviously underestimated
this move.} (40. b7 $2 Bxb7 41. Nxb7 Nxh2 {Black's knight is quite active in
this case; White won't be able to keep all his pawns.}) (40. h4 $2 Kf6 41. b7
Bxb7 42. Nxb7 Kxf5 $11 {[%cal Gf5g4]}) 40... Ng5 41. b7 Bxb7 42. Nxb7 Nxh3 43.
Bb6 $1 Kd7 $6 {Good or bad, the only chance was 43...Kf6.} (43... Kf6 44. Nd6
Kg5 45. Bd8+ $1 (45. Kd2 $2 Kg4 46. Ke3 Kxg3 47. Ke4 Ng5+ 48. Kxe5 h5 49. Ne8 (
49. Ne4+ Kg4 (49... Nxe4 $2 50. Kxe4 h4 51. Bd4 h3 52. Bxg7 h2 53. Be5+ $18)
50. Nxg5 Kxg5 51. Ke6 h4 52. Bc7 h3 53. Bh2 Kg4 $11) 49... h4 50. Nxg7 h3 51.
Bc7 Kg2 52. Kf6 Ne4+ 53. Kg6 Ng3 54. f6 h2 55. f7 h1=Q 56. f8=Q Qb1+ $11) 45...
Kg4 46. Be7 Kxg3 47. Bf8 h5 48. Bxg7 Ng5 49. Bxe5+ Kg2 50. f6 h4 51. Nf5 h3 52.
Nh4+ Kg1 53. Bf4 Nf7 54. Kd2 $18) 44. Be3 $1 {The point of 40.h3. Black's
knight is easily cut off by the white bishop. The rest is easy.} Ke7 45. Nc5 g6
46. fxg6 Kf6 47. Bxh6 Kxg6 48. Be3 {[%mdl 4096] Perfect endgame technique by
Kramnik!} 1-0

[Event "NED-chT 0607"]
[Site "Netherlands"]
[Date "2007.03.03"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Smeets, Jan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2532"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Hilversum HSG"]
[BlackTeam "Groningen Share"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "NED"]
[BlackTeamCountry "NED"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. g3 d5 8.
Bg2 dxe4 9. Nd2 Bb6 10. Nxe4 Qg6 11. O-O O-O 12. Nc5 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Nc6 14. Re1
Nxd4 15. Qxd4 c6 16. a4 a5 17. Qe5 h6 18. Rad1 Bg4 19. Rd2 Bxc5 20. Qxc5 Rfe8
21. Rxe8+ Rxe8 22. h3 Qf5 23. Qxf5 Bxf5 24. b4 axb4 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov +3-3=6"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.09.23"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "149"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{The match had a promising start: 75 moves of uncompromising battle, abrupt
changes in the course of the game and... a decisive result. It could have all
ended in an "interesting draw" right after the first time control if Black had
been any other player than Topalov. For Kramnik, the general pattern must be
quite familiar. Two years ago in Brissago, he also won the first game of his
match with Leko after his opponent overstepped the limit of admissible risk.} 
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 a5 {This line is
rarely seen in normal tournaments, but has been submitted to some intense
theoretical discussion in recent high level events. What makes Topalov's
choice more interesting is that Kramnik had employed this line with Black, too.
} 7. Qc2 ({The other popular continuation is} 7. O-O O-O {is better.} ({
Now, it is premature to defend the c4-pawn before it is attacked:} 7... b5 $2
8. a4 $1 Bxd2 (8... c6 9. axb5 {[%csl Yb4][%cal Ra1a8] /\Bxb4} Bxd2 10. Nfxd2
$1 {[%cal Rg2a8]}) 9. Nfxd2 Ra7 10. axb5 Qxd4 11. Na3 Bb7 12. Bxb7 Rxb7 13.
Ndxc4 $16 {1-0 Genov,P-Kuzev,J/BUL-ch 1995/EXT 97 (29)}) 8. Nc3 (8. Qc2 {
1/2-1/2 Karpov,A (2710)-Piket,J (2615)/Monte Carlo 1999/CBM 070/[Piket] (43)})
8... Nc6 9. a3 Bxc3 10. Bxc3 Nd5 11. Bd2 b5 12. e4 Nb6 13. Be3 Bb7 14. Qc2 Ne7
15. Rad1 $44 {1/2-1/2 Bareev,E (2709)-Kramnik,V (2754)/Monte Carlo 2005/CBM
105 ext (36) White has adequate compensation for the exchange due to his
strong pawn centre and pair of bishops. However, Black's position is quite
solid.}) (7. Na3 {looks like a tempting alternative. 'Ribli'} Bxa3 8. bxa3 O-O
(8... a4 $1 {as suggested by Psakhis would have allowed Black to consolidate
his queenside by a further ...b5, without fearing the undermining of the
b5-pawn.}) 9. Qc2 b5 10. a4 (10. Ne5 Nd5 11. Rb1 c6 12. O-O $44) 10... c6 11.
Rb1 Ba6 12. a3 $1 $44 (12. Ne5 b4 $132) 12... Nbd7 13. O-O Rb8 14. Rfd1 Qb6 15.
e4 h6 (15... Rfe8 16. e5 Nd5 17. Ng5 $44) 16. Bc3 (16. Bf4 b4 $1) 16... Qc7 17.
axb5 cxb5 18. d5 {/\Nd4} e5 19. Nh4 Kh7 20. Qd2 $14 {1/2-1/2 Marin,M-Psakhis,L/
rpd. 25', WorldChessNetwork.com 2005 (32)}) 7... Bxd2+ {Facing White with the
task of taking an early decision.} (7... Nc6 {leads to a position that is
usually achieved from the Bogo-Indian defence: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4 4.
Bd2 a5 5.g3 d5 6.Bg2 Nc6 7.Qc2 dxc4 8.Qxc4 Qd5 9.Qd3.}) 8. Qxd2 $5 {This move
is in slight contradiction with the general rules of development: White moves
for the second time in a row with an already developed piece. Even more
paradoxical is the justification of such a decision: White intends to
effectuate a new series of 3 consecutive moves with the queen in order to win
the pawn back! In fact, moving around with the queen before the development of
the other pieces has been completed is quite typical for the Catalan, the most
recent example in Kramnik's practice being his game against Naiditsch from
Dortmund 2006. The explanation why such radical deviations from the normal
course of the game are viable is probably connected with what I would call
"The quality of development". Indeed, the Catalan bishop is sometimes so
strong that it can compensate for a delay in the mobilization of the other
forces.} ({The more natural} 8. Nbxd2 {allows Black maintain his extra pawn
with} b5 {and although White certainly gets compensation for it, for instance}
9. a4 c6 10. b3 cxb3 11. Nxb3 O-O 12. O-O Ba6 13. Nc5 Nbd7 14. Rfd1 $44 {
1/2-1/2 Avrukh,B (2614)-Eljanov,P (2629)/Mallorca 2004/CBM 104 (23). it was
just sufficient for a draw.}) 8... c6 ({Black cannot achieve complete equality
by means of such neutral moves as} 8... b6 9. Ne5 Ra7 10. Na3 Bb7 11. Bxb7 Rxb7
12. Naxc4 O-O 13. O-O Qe7 14. Rfd1 $14 {1/2-1/2 Wojtkiewicz,A (2554)-Gulko,B 
(2585)/San Diego 2006/CBM 112 (31). with better development and an advantage
of space in the centre for White.}) 9. a4 b5 10. axb5 cxb5 11. Qg5 {We can see
a similar sortie by the queen in the Queen's Indian: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6
4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 b5 6.cxb5 Bxb5 7.Bg2 Bb4+ 8.Bd2 a5 9.Bxb4 axb4 10.Qd2 Nc6 and
now, precisely on the same 11th move, 11.Qg5, hitting g7 and b7, just like in
our game.} O-O {From structural point of view, both attacked pawns were quite
important, because the elimination of any of them would be equivalent to a
chronic weakening of the structure on that side.} ({Although for the purpose
of ensuring the safety of the king, the g7-pawn is of crucial importance,} 
11... b4 {is not completely out of place. Black's aim would be to maintain a
strong queen side majority.} 12. Ne5 (12. Qxg7 Rg8 13. Qh6 Bb7 {leaves Black
with viable play in a rather unbalanced position.}) 12... Ra7 13. Nxc4 Qxd4 $5
14. Nd6+ $5 Qxd6 15. Qxg7 Rg8 16. Qxf6 Nd7 17. Qh4 Qe5 $13 {with a fairly
unbalanced position.}) 12. Qxb5 {From the static point of view, White has a
great position. His structure is more compact and his queen's knight has a
perfect blocking square on c3. Black's chances consist mainly of dynamic play.}
Ba6 $146 {This novelty could hardly have come as a surprise to Kramnik, since
it is Fritz' first option. Black intends to win some time for his development
by chasing the enemy queen.} (12... Na6 $6 {fails to question the viability of
the enemy queen's incursion.} 13. Qxc4 Nb4 14. Qb3 e5 15. Nxe5 Rb8 16. O-O Qxd4
17. Rxa5 Be6 18. Qc3 Qd8 19. Rc5 $16 {1-0 Grischuk,A (2719)-Moiseenko,A (2662)/
Sochi 2006/CBM 111 ext (102)}) 13. Qa4 {With his development as yet incomplete,
White does not feel ready to embark in forced tactical battles.} ({However,
since after the game continuation he will not manage to obtain an advantage,} 
13. Qxa5 {deserves to be taken into consideration.} Bb7 14. Qxd8 Rxa1 $1 15.
Qxf8+ {White has to return the material, otherwise he would end up under very
dangerous attack.} (15. Qb6 $2 Rxb1+ 16. Kd2 c3+ $1 $17 {and a fork on d5 will
soon win the queen.}) (15. Qc7 $2 Rxb1+ 16. Kd2 Rxb2+ 17. Kc1 c3 18. Qxc3 Rxe2
$17 {with very strong threats in conditions of approximate material equality.})
15... Kxf8 16. O-O {This is the most natural move, but removing the king from
the centre is a far from one-sided decision from the perspective of the
approaching endgame.} ({An interesting alternative would be} 16. Kd2 Ra2 17.
Rc1 {in order to maintain the e2-pawn defended with the king. However, this
would leave the g2-bishop undefended, which would restrict White's active
possibilities.}) 16... Ra2 {Black will most likely win his pawn back, but
White can count on a small achievement, too: he has almost completed his
development and maintained the control of the c3-square at the same time.} 17.
Ne5 (17. Nbd2 {is met by} Bxf3 $1 {when each way to re-capture has its
drawbacks. In principle, it would be desirable to maintain the c4-pawn under
pressure, but} 18. Bxf3 {allows} c3 $1 19. Nc4 cxb2 20. Kg2 Ra4 $11 {with
complete simplifications and a draw.}) (17. Rc1 Rxb2 18. e3 {leaves the
f2-square vulnerable, for instance} Nbd7 19. Nbd2 Ng4 $1 {and White cannot
free himself easily.}) 17... Ba6 (17... Bd5 18. Nc3 Rxb2 19. e4 $14) 18. Nc3
Rxb2 19. Rb1 {It is important to exchange or at least drive back the active
black rook.} Rxb1+ (19... Rb3 20. Rc1 Nfd7 21. f4 $14 {followed by the
centralisation of the king.}) 20. Nxb1 Nd5 21. Bxd5 (21. e4 $2 c3 $1 $19) 21...
exd5 22. Nc3 $14 {White has a minimal but stable advantage. The main
achievement of the early queen's manoeuvre, namely the control of the
c3-square, has been preserved until very deep in the endgame. However, it is
not easy to evaluate whether he has real chances for a win. Black has a passed
pawn after all, which considerably restricts White's active possibilities.})
13... Qb6 14. O-O ({The immediate} 14. Nbd2 {deserves to be mentioned.} Bb5 $1
(14... Qxb2 $2 15. Rb1 Qc3 16. O-O $18 {[%csl Yc3][%cal Gf1c1]}) (14... Nc6 $6
15. Nxc4 Bxc4 16. Qxc4 Rfc8 17. O-O Ne7 18. Qa2 Rc2 19. Qa3 Ned5 (19... Ra7 $6
20. b4 $1 a4 21. Rfc1 Rxe2 $6 22. Bf1 Re4 23. Bd3 Rg4 24. h3 $16 {traps the
rook.}) 20. Rfc1 Rxe2 21. Qxa5 Qxa5 22. Rxa5 Rd8 23. Rb5 Ne4 24. Ne5 $14 {
Black does not seem to have enough for the pawn.}) 15. Qa2 (15. Qa3 Nc6 16. Rc1
Rad8 17. e3 Qa6 {In this line, we can notice the main drawback of the
development of the knight to d2: the c3-square is not blocked, which makes
castling slightly problematic.}) 15... Nc6 16. Nxc4 Qd8 $11 17. Rd1 $2 Nb4 18.
Qb3 Nfd5 $1 {/\a4} 19. Rc1 Rc8 20. Nfd2 Nb6 $17) 14... Qxb2 15. Nbd2 Bb5 16.
Nxc4 {A forced move, but I cannot help thinking that after capturing this pawn,
White will not anjoy stability on c3 for his knights any more.} Bxa4 17. Nxb2
Bb5 {Finally, the piece in which White has invested 5 tempi of development has
been exchanged. White has a nice pawn structure and, after the next move,
strong pressure along the h1-a8 diagonal. However, Black's a-pawn should not
be underestimated. In order to block it or simply capture it, White will need
to concentrate a considerable amount of resources on the queenside, leaving
the other wing slightly weakened. Compared with the final position of the
variation given in the notes to White's 13th move, the relation between the
black bishop and the white queen's knight is reversed. Here, the bishop is
dominating the knight.} 18. Ne5 Ra7 19. Bf3 Nbd7 20. Nec4 {One important
aspect is that all the outposts for the minor pieces offered by the central
chain of pawns are a bit too far from the passed pawn. The knight only enjoys
relative stability on c4.} (20. Nxd7 Nxd7 (20... Bxd7 21. Ra3 $14 {[%csl Ga5]
[%cal Yf1a1,Yb2d3,Yd3c5]}) 21. Rfb1 $5 {[%csl Gb5][%cal Yb2d1,Yd1c3]} Rc8 {
Apparently, the only way to maintain the balance even. The bishop needs
support along the c-file.} (21... a4 22. Nd1 Bc4 23. Ne3 $16 Bb3 $2 24. Rxb3
$18) (21... Rb8 22. Nd1 Rb6 23. Ra3 $14) (21... e5 22. Nd1 e4 23. Rxb5 exf3 24.
exf3 Rfa8 25. Nc3 Kf8 26. Ra4 Ke7 27. Kf1 $16) 22. Nd1 Bc6 (22... Bc4 23. Ne3
$16 {/\Rb7}) 23. Rc1 Rac7 (23... Bb7 24. Rxc8+ Bxc8 25. Nc3 Nf6 26. Kf1 Bd7 27.
Ke1 Kf8 28. Kd2 Ke7 29. e4 Bc6 30. Kd3 $14 a4 $6 31. Ra3 Rb7 32. Bd1 $16 Rb2
$140 33. Ke3) 24. Rxc6 Rxc6 25. Bxc6 Rxc6 $11 {Now, the position has been
simplified even further and White's advantage in space becomes less relevant.
Black should not face too big a problem.} 26. Rxa5 $2 Rc1 27. Ra8+ Nf8 $19)
20... Rb8 {Defending the a5-pawn by indirect means.} ({As pointed out by GM
Lupulescu, this is an attempt to take over the initiative already. Black could
have forced a draw with} 20... Rc7 {for instance} 21. Ne3 (21. Nxa5 Bxe2 22.
Bxe2 Rc2 $15 {leaves White with a weak pawn on d4, while his piece activity is
of temporary nature.}) 21... e5 $1 22. Rxa5 exd4 23. Nf5 Rc5 24. Nxd4 Bxe2 $1
25. Rxc5 Bxf1 $11 {Lupulescu}) 21. Rfb1 ({Kramnik could hardly have considered
the possibility of starting the (probably successful) fight for a draw with} 
21. Rxa5 {at such an early stage of the game and match.} Rxa5 22. Nxa5 Bxe2 $15
) 21... g5 $5 {A multi-purpose move. Black avoids any back rank problems,
opens a path for the king's activation and questions White's stability on the
kingisde. In the long run, the operation initiated by the advance of this pawn
will put White under serious pressure.} 22. e3 ({White could have prevented
the further advance of the g-pawn by means of} 22. h3 h5 23. Ne3 {. However,
it is not clear how he would have continued if Black had just gradually
improved his position by means of} a4 (23... e5 {is premature because of} 24.
dxe5 g4 25. hxg4 hxg4 26. Bg2 Nxe5 27. Nbc4 $14 {when Black will most likely
lose his a-pawn.}) 24. Ra3 Kg7 $13) 22... g4 23. Bd1 {The most consequent
continuation. White intends to prove that placing the bishop on f3 was just an
intermediate phase in the process of its further activation. Among others, the
a4-square is taken under control. The main drawback of the bishop retreat
consists of the fact that it leaves the long diagonal undefended.} ({However,
in the case of} 23. Bg2 {followed by an eventual move with the c4-knight,
Black could play ...Be2 followed by ...Bf3, with a similar situation as in the
game.}) 23... Bc6 24. Rc1 ({Again, the pawn is taboo.} 24. Nxa5 $2 Be4 $17)
24... Be4 25. Na4 {Finally, White has reached some queenside stability.
However, after placing the knight on a4 the pressure against the a5-knight is
released, allowing Black more freedom of action.} Rb4 26. Nd6 Bf3 $5 {This
certainly looks like a double-edged decision: will the pawn be a strength or a
weakness? The further course of the game offers us partial answers in both
ways. The pawn kept White passive for a long time but then perished without
glory after Black's first slip. However, further analysis proved that with
correct play Topalov's decision was entirely viable.} 27. Bxf3 gxf3 {For the
time being, we can notice that the pawn is not easy to attack and that it
causes White some back rank problems. Besides, if the d6-knight moves away,
the wonderful e4-square would become available to the black knights.} 28. Nc8 {
The adherents of the Catalan Opening like very much to place knights on the
c6-square, especially if they cannot be driven away easily. In this concrete
case, however, it is not clear yet whether this yields White any concrete
advantage, because the knight is too far from such important squares as e4 or
f3. Kramnik probably intended to put the a5-pawn under pressure in order to
eliminate it at any cost and reach absolute safety.} (28. e4 $5 {[%csl Gf3]
[%cal Ya1a3] Korotylev}) (28. Nc3 $5 {[%cal Yc3e4,Ye4d2,Ra5a4] Korotylev,
Notkin} Ra6 29. Nde4 Nxe4 30. Nxe4 a4 $132) 28... Ra8 29. Ne7+ Kg7 30. Nc6 Rb3
31. Nc5 {The other knight jumps forward, taking over the duties of his
colleague regarding the control of the e4-square.} Rb5 32. h3 $6 {This
over-cautious move could have led White to troubles.} ({As known, the best
form of defence is attack!} 32. Ra4 $5 Nxc5 33. dxc5 Nd7 34. Rac4 $1 $13 {
[%csl Rf3][%cal Yc6d4,Rc5c6] leaves White with active possibilities, although
the a-pawn remains quite dangerous.}) 32... Nxc5 33. Rxc5 (33. dxc5 Nd7 34. Ra4
(34. Nd4 Rxc5 35. Rxc5 Nxc5 36. Nxf3 a4 $17) 34... Nxc5 35. Rg4+ Kf8 36. Nd4 {
and now Black can save his hanging pieces with} Nd3 37. Rd1 Nb2 $15) 33... Rb2
{Suddenly, White has problems. The threat ...Ne4 is very strong.} 34. Rg5+ {
An apparently inoffensive intermediate check that faces Black with a far from
easy choice.} Kh6 $6 {The concrete reasons why this move reduces Black's
chances for success are not obvious yet.} ({However, intuitively} 34... Kf8 {
deserves to be preferred. The king has little chance of getting active
possibilities on the kingside, where it is restricted by the barrier created
by the g3- and h3-pawns and should rather aim to travel around the whole board
like Columbus, up to e2. Here is a possible continuation that illustrates
Black's chances:} 35. Rgxa5 (35. Raxa5 $2 Rxa5 36. Nxa5 Ne4 $19) 35... Rxa5 36.
Nxa5 (36. Rxa5 $2 Ne4 $19) 36... Ne4 37. Rf1 f6 38. Nc4 ({The main difference
compared to the game is that} 38. Nc6 {fails to restrict Black's activity, for
instance} Ke8 39. d5 e5 40. g4 Kd7 41. Na5 Rc2 42. Nc6 Kd6 $17) 38... Ra2 39.
Nb6 Ke7 40. Nc4 Kd7 41. Nb6+ Kc7 42. Nc4 Kc6 43. Rc1 {What else? The knight
was in danger already.} Kb5 $1 (43... Rxf2 $2 44. Nd2+ Kd5 45. Rc5+ Nxc5 46.
Kxf2 Ne4+ 47. Nxe4 Kxe4 48. g4 $11) 44. Rc2 Ra1+ 45. Kh2 Rf1 46. g4 Kb4 {
/\Kb3 and White is in big trouble. When moving his king to h6, Topalov might
have intended to restrict White's choice by attacking his rook. However, we
have seen from the previous lines that after ...Kf8 White could hardly have
deviated from the main course. Another possibility is that the FIDE World
Champion had not decided yet to play on in spite of being a pawn down 
(although knowing Topalov's reputation, I can hardly believe that!)}) 35. Rgxa5
Rxa5 36. Nxa5 Ne4 37. Rf1 Nd2 {I suspect that most of the spectators and
commentators were expecting a draw by repetition to follow soon. At least,
this was what I initially thought.} 38. Rc1 Ne4 39. Rf1 f6 {An important move,
preventing the enemy knight's transfer to e5, when the f3-pawn would be in
danger.} 40. Nc6 Nd2 41. Rd1 Ne4 42. Rf1 Kg6 {At this moment I understood that
we were going to have a long game. With such perfect coordination of his
pieces (R + N + P), Topalov correctly assumes that he can play for a win
without too much risk. He might have also thought that even if White would
hold a draw, it would useful to take the psychological initiative from the
very first game of the match.} 43. Nd8 {[%csl Re6,Rf7] When playing his 34th
move, Topalov must have underestimated the strength of the enemy knight, which,
in spite of being cut off his colleagues, is able to restrict Black's activity
by attacking the enemy pawns from behind, preventing the activation of the
king via f7 at the same time!} Rb6 {By employing the rook for the purpose of
defending the e6-pawn, Black allows the partial activation of the enemy rook.}
(43... e5 $5 {deserved serious attention. Even though the eventual exchange of
one pair of pawns would increase the "risk" of a draw in certain cases, White
would face serious problems saving his poorly coordinated army.} 44. Nc6 {
(Exchanging on e5 would not only open the king's access to the other wing via
f6, but also deprive the white knight of the c5-square.)} Kf5 45. Nd8 {
Continuing to cut the king's access off.} h5 {Playing for zugzwang.} ({Black
should not release the tension in the centre either.} 45... exd4 46. exd4 Rd2
47. Nc6 Ke6 48. Re1 Re2 49. Rf1 Kd5 50. Ne7+ Kxd4 51. Nf5+ Ke5 52. Ne3 {
would most probably lead to a draw.}) (45... Rc2 {is less accurate because it
allows} 46. Nb7 Ke6 47. Nc5+ Nxc5 48. dxc5 {when Black would retain just a
more pleasant position with} e4 $15 {but probably not more than that.}) 46. Nc6
({White should refrain from such moves as} 46. h4 {[%csl Gg4]}) 46... Ke6 47.
Nd8+ Ke7 48. Nc6+ Kd6 49. Na5 Kd5 {/\...Rb5. In order to save his knight,
White has to release the tension already.} 50. dxe5 fxe5 51. Rd1+ Ke6 52. Rf1
Rc2 53. Nb3 Kd5 $17 {and White is in serious trouble.}) 44. Rc1 h5 45. Ra1 h4 {
Apparently, Topalov was convinced that the shorter way to the enemy king is
the best.} ({He could have probably transposed to the previous variations with
} 45... e5 {still, initiating the long trip of the king.}) ({Re-directing the
king without the pawn exchange in the centre, starting with} 45... Kg7 {
would have been less promising if faced with adequate white defence.} 46. Rc1
Kf8 47. d5 $1 (47. Nc6 {would more or less transpose to the variation from the
comments on White's 34th move:} Ke8 48. Na5 Rb2 49. Nc4 Ra2 50. Rf1 Kd7 {
and so on.}) 47... exd5 (47... e5 48. Ne6+ Ke7 49. Ng7 {allows White to
eliminate the h5-pawn and get his knight on to a reasonable square at the same
time. It should be mentioned that if White had initiated the whole plan
without advancing the h-pawn, then Rc7+ followed by Rxh7 would have been
possible, while with the pawn on h6, White could play g4 and Nf5 in the
current position. Besides that, in all cases Nc5 would have been an
alternative, exchanging knights and retaining a cramped but defensible
position.}) 48. Nc6 Ng5 {Black has to react quickly in order to prevent Nd4.}
49. Kh2 Rb2 50. Rf1 Ne6 51. Kg1 Ke8 52. h4 $1 (52. Rd1 $2 Ng5 $1 $19) 52... Kd7
53. Rc1 {and White seems to be out of danger. Next, he could play Nd4, when
after ..Nxd4 exd4 the f3-pawn would be just as weak as the d4-pawn.}) 46. gxh4
Kh5 47. Ra2 Kxh4 48. Kh2 Kh5 49. Rc2 Kh6 {The rather tortuous path chosen by
Topalov for his king was dictated by the aim of putting White in zugzwang.
More about it later.} 50. Ra2 Kg6 51. Rc2 ({Actually, White could have
maintained his rook on the more active a2-square by playing} 51. Kg1 {when}
Rb1+ 52. Kh2 Rf1 $6 {does not work because of} 53. Nxe6) 51... Kf5 {Topalov
managed to play this move in a moment when the check on the fifth rank is not
available. However, it will be not easy to build on this partial success.} 52.
Ra2 {White can do very little apart from sit and wait.} Rb5 {Protecting the
king but releasing the knight from its cage.} 53. Nc6 Rb7 54. Ra5+ Kg6 55. Ra2
Kh5 $6 {After long manoeuvres, Black has managed to create the deadly threat ..
.Rg7-g2. However, White's (possibly) unexpected answer will mark the turning
point in the game.} ({A safer way to clear the g-file consisted of} 55... Kh6 {
Shipov, Sakaev and Yemelin found the following path to safety for White:} 56.
d5 $1 Rg7 $1 (56... exd5 57. Nd4) 57. dxe6 Rg2+ 58. Kh1 Kg7 $1 (58... Nxf2+ $6
59. Rxf2 Rxf2 60. e7) 59. Ra7+ Kg6 60. Ne7+ Kh6 61. Ra2 Nxf2+ (61... Ng3+ 62.
fxg3 Rxa2 63. Kg1) 62. Rxf2 Rxf2 63. Nf5+ Kg6 64. Nd6 $1 {[%csl Rf7][%cal
Ge6e7]} Rf1+ 65. Kh2 f2 66. e7 Rh1+ $1 67. Kg3 (67. Kxh1 f1=Q+ 68. Kh2 {
is also a draw}) 67... f1=Q 68. e8=Q+ Kh7 {with perpetual.}) 56. d5 $1 e5 ({
For the time being, Topalov reacts correctly.} 56... exd5 {loses the pride of
Black's position after} 57. Nd4) (56... Rg7 {also seems to keep Black in the
game after} 57. dxe6 Rg2+ 58. Kh1 Nxf2+ 59. Rxf2 Rxf2 60. e7 Rf1+ 61. Kh2 Rf2+
62. Kg3 Rg2+ 63. Kxf3 Rg8 {Black has managed to stop the pawn with a supreme
effort, but his position remains optically difficult. However, it is possible
to save the game with a certain degree of accuracy.} 64. Nd4 (64. Ke4 Kg6 65.
Kd5 Kf7 66. Kd6 {looks very promising for White, but Black has at his disposal
the only saving move} Rg3 {which enables him to control the e7-pawn from
behind.}) 64... Kg6 65. e4 Kf7 66. Nf5 Rg1 67. h4 Rh1 68. Ke3 Rd1 69. h5 Rh1
70. h6 Rh2 71. Kd4 Ke8 $1 72. Kd5 Kd7 {and White cannot make progress.}) 57.
Ra4 {Now, Black loses stability in the centre and has to prove certain
inventivity in order to save the game.} f5 $2 {A tragic moment.} ({Probably
surprised by the unexpected course of events, Topalov fails to find his last
saving possibility, consisting of} 57... Nxf2 58. Kg3 e4 {and if} 59. Kxf2 {
then} Rb2+ {with perpetual. The over-ambitious} 60. Kg3 $2 {would even lose to}
Rg2+ 61. Kf4 f2 62. Ra1 Rg1) 58. Nxe5 Rb2 59. Nd3 Rb7 ({At the press
conference, Topalov confessed that he overlooked Rd4. He probably had in mind
the variation} 59... Rd2 60. Rd4 $18 ({Indeed, other moves fail to offer White
winning chances, for instance} 60. Ra3 Kh4 $1 {restricting the enemy king
before capturing on f2.})) 60. Rd4 Rb6 {Still hoping to maintain some sort of
blockade...} 61. d6 {The most convincing winning method. Finally, Black has to
free the enemy king.} Nxd6 62. Kg3 Ne4+ 63. Kxf3 Kg5 64. h4+ $5 {Stein used to
joke: "In such kind of positions I am especially strong!" With two extra-pawns,
White can allow himself display certain fireworks that would make the final
part of the game more enjoyable.} Kf6 (64... Kxh4 65. Nc5 $18) 65. Rd5 Nc3 66.
Rd8 Rb1 67. Rf8+ Ke6 68. Nf4+ Ke5 69. Re8+ Kf6 70. Nh5+ Kg6 71. Ng3 Rb2 72. h5+
Kf7 73. Re5 Nd1 74. Ne2 Kf6 75. Rd5 (75. Rd5 Rb1 (75... Rxe2 76. Rd6+ {or
simply 76.Rxd1}) 76. h6 $18) 1-0

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov +3-3=6"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.09.24"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D19"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Another highly dramatic game. Topalov built up an irresistible king side
attack but then missed a simple win and started playing less confidently.
Kramnik's main merit consists of finding ways to face his opponent with
difficult psychological problems. The score is 2-0 now for Kramnik, but given
the elevated tension of the fight this could be of little relevance from the
point of view of the final result.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5.
a4 Bf5 {Kramnik has not played this line since 1999 and probably intended it
to be a small surprise.} 6. e3 ({Also slightly unexpected. Topalov usually
plays the more straightforward} 6. Ne5) 6... e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O Nbd7 9. Qe2
Bg6 10. e4 O-O 11. Bd3 Bh5 {[%cal Ye6e5]} 12. e5 ({From the point of view of
the general laws of development,} 12. Bf4 {looks slightly more consistent and
only if} Re8 {[%cal Ye6e5] , then} 13. e5 {. However, after} Nd5 14. Nxd5 {
Black can try} exd5 $5 {[%cal Yd7f8,Yf8e6] already, with interesting play.})
12... Nd5 13. Nxd5 cxd5 14. Qe3 {This can be considered a classical line
already. Black has a solid position, but White's advantage in space offers him
chances for a king side attack, be it of strategic or tactical nature.
Recently, Black's earlier deviations such as 9...Bg4, 9...Ne4 and 11...h6 have
become increasingly popular. Actually, 9...Ne4 can hardly be called a new move;
it has just been well forgotten for a long while, but it was employed during
the Alekhine-Euwe matches. Kramnik himself faced 9...Bg4 against Bacrot in the
Olympiad and failed to demonstrate a convincing antidote.} Bg6 15. Ng5 Re8 16.
f4 Bxd3 $146 {In spite of the fact that the previous games played from this
position did not justify any special worries for Black, Kramnik decides to
restrict White's attacking chances to the minimum.} (16... Nf8 17. g4 Bxd3 18.
Qxd3 Qc7 19. f5 Qc4 20. Qd1 f6 21. Nf3 Rac8 $44 {1/2-1/2 Donner,J-Teschner,R/
Bamberg 1968/MCD (33)}) (16... Rc8 17. g4 f6 18. Bxg6 hxg6 19. Nf3 Qc7 20. Qd3
Nf8 21. f5 gxf5 (21... Qc2 $1 $132 {Deviatkin}) 22. gxf5 fxe5 23. Nxe5 exf5 24.
Qxf5 Bd6 25. Nf7 Re7 26. Nxd6 Qxd6 27. Qxc8 Qg6+ 28. Bg5 Qxg5+ 29. Kh1 {
1-0 Pelletier,Y (2624)-Deviatkin,A (2487)/Moscow RUS 2003}) 17. Qxd3 f5 {
Starting from this moment, I expected that Topalov would sacrifice the knight
on e6 in one way or another. However, Topalov had other plans. By gradually
concentrating all his forces on the king side, he will aim to create very
dangerous threats. This was to a certain extent in accordance with his general
match strategy. Instead of rushing in, he mostly preferred to take his chances
in long battles.} 18. Be3 ({Taking into account Black's possible improvements
on the 19th move,} 18. g4 {deserves serious attention.} h6 $8 (18... g6 $6 19.
gxf5 gxf5 (19... exf5 20. Qb5 $18 {[%csl Yb4,Yd5]}) 20. Qg3 $18 {for instance}
Qe7 21. Nxe6+ Kh8 22. Ng5 h6 23. Qh3 $1 {and White avoids any inconveniences
along the g-file.}) 19. Nxe6 $1 (19. gxf5 hxg5 20. fxe6 Rxe6 21. f5 Nxe5 $1 $15
) 19... Rxe6 20. gxf5 Re7 21. Kh1 $44 {[%cal Yf1g1,Yc1e3,Yg1g6,Ya1g1]}) 18...
Nf8 19. Kh1 ({Now, it is too late for} 19. g4 {already because of} Qd7 20. Kh1
Be7 21. Nxe6 (21. gxf5 exf5 {[%csl Ge6][%cal Ye7g5,Yf8e6]}) 21... Nxe6 22. gxf5
Nc7 23. Rg1 Kh8 {[%csl Gf5][%cal Ye8f8] and White's attacking chances are
questionable.}) 19... Rc8 $6 {Black systematically prepares his queenside
counterplay, but tolerates the knight on g5 for too long.} ({True,} 19... h6 $6
{[%csl Gg6] would have been risky by weakening the g6-square unnecessarily.}
20. Nxe6 $5 (20. Nf3 Rc8 21. Rg1 {[%cal Yg2g4]}) 20... Nxe6 21. Qxf5 $44 {
[%csl Gg6]}) ({However,} 19... Be7 $1 {[%cal Ye7g5] as recommended by several
commentators was better.} 20. Nxe6 $6 (20. Nf3 {is safer, but then White
should abandon his attacking ideas, since} Rc8 21. Rg1 Qc7 22. g4 $6 {is met by
} fxg4 23. Rxg4 Qc2 $15) 20... Nxe6 21. Qxf5 Qd7 $1 (21... Nf8 22. Qg4 Qd7 23.
f5 $40) (21... Qb6 22. a5 Qa6 23. Qg4 $40) 22. Qh5 (22. Qg4 $6 Nc5 $1) (22. Qh3
Rf8 23. Rf3 Rac8 {[%csl Gd4][%cal Yc8c4]} 24. f5 Ng5) 22... g6 23. Qh3 Rf8 24.
Rf3 (24. g4 Ng7 $1 {[%csl Gf5][%cal Yh7h5]}) 24... Rac8 25. g4 Rc4 $17 {
and Black's counterplay is faster than White's attack.}) 20. g4 Qd7 21. Rg1 Be7
22. Nf3 {Shattering my last illusions about a possible Nxe6. True, I felt
fully rewarded for it by the spectacular sequence starting with the 28th move.}
({However,} 22. Nxe6 $5 {might have been a more dangerous continuation of the
attack.} Qxe6 (22... Nxe6 23. gxf5 $16 Nc7 24. f6 $40) 23. gxf5 Qa6 (23... Qf7
24. Rg4 Rc6 (24... Rc4 25. Rag1 g6 26. fxg6 hxg6 27. Rxg6+ $18) (24... Kh8 25.
Rag1 g6 26. fxg6 hxg6 27. f5 $18 gxf5 $6 28. Qxf5 $1 {[%csl Yg7,Yg8,Gh6]}) 25.
Rag1 g6 26. fxg6 hxg6 (26... Rxg6 27. f5 Rxg4 28. Rxg4+ Kh8 29. Bh6 $18) 27. f5
Rec8 28. Bh6 $40) 24. Qxa6 $5 {The following lines are suggestive of the
dangers facing Black even in the endgame.} ({However, the simple} 24. Qd2 $40 {
[%cal Yd2g2] might be just better.}) 24... bxa6 25. f6 Bxf6 26. exf6 Rxe3 (
26... g6 27. Ra3 {[%cal Yf4f5]} Kf7 28. Rg5 Red8 29. Re5 $14 {[%cal Yf4f5,
Ye3f2,Yf2h4,Ya3b3,Yb3b7]}) 27. Rxg7+ Kh8 28. Rag1 Ne6 29. R7g4 {[%cal Yf6f7,
Yg4g8]} h5 (29... Rb3 30. f5 Nc7 31. Rg7 $16 {[%csl Gc7]} Rbb8 $6 32. R1g4 $18
{[%cal Yg4h4,Yh4h7]}) 30. Rh4 $1 Rc7 31. Rxh5+ Rh7 32. Rxh7+ Kxh7 33. f5 Nf8
34. Rg7+ Kh8 $8 (34... Kh6 35. Rg8 Re8 36. f7 Rb8 37. a5 Kh7 38. Kg2 $18) 35.
Rxa7 Re4 (35... Rf3 36. Rxa6 Rxf5 37. b4 Kh7 38. b5 Kg6 39. a5 $18) 36. Rxa6
Rxd4 37. a5 Rb4 38. Rd6 Rxb2 39. Rxd5 Ra2 $11) 22... Rc4 23. Rg2 fxg4 24. Rxg4
Rxa4 25. Rag1 g6 26. h4 {Dark clouds have gathered around the black king.
Without calculating too much, it is obvious that the position becomes very
dangerous and that Black needs to play very accurately in order to avoid
disaster.} Rb4 $1 {[%cal Yd7b5] The only way to stay alive is to question the
stability of the white queen along the b1-h7 diagonal.} 27. h5 Qb5 28. Qc2 $3 (
{The only way to keep the attack going.} 28. hxg6 $2 {was premature because
after} Qxd3 29. gxh7+ Kxh7 30. Rg7+ Kh6 31. f5+ {the bishop is hanging.}) 28...
Rxb2 $1 {For the time being, Kramnik finds the only path through the jungle of
variations, most possible by intuition.} (28... Rb3 $6 {[%cal Yb5d3] has been
unanimously recommended as a safer defence, but it allows White to retain an
advantage.} 29. hxg6 h5 (29... Qd3 $2 30. gxh7+ Kh8 31. Rg8+ Kxh7 32. Qh2+ $18)
30. R4g3 $1 (30. g7 hxg4 31. gxf8=Q+ Kxf8 32. Qh7 Qd3 $11 {and White has not
more than perpetual, as pointed out by Svidler.}) 30... Qd3 (30... h4 31. g7
hxg3 32. gxf8=Q+ Kxf8 33. Qg6 Qd3 34. f5 $1 {[%cal Ye3h6]} Qxe3 35. Rxg3 $18)
31. g7 $3 {Quite similar to the game continuation.} Nh7 (31... Qxc2 $2 32.
gxf8=Q+ Kxf8 33. Rg8+ Kf7 34. R1g7#) 32. Qc7 {[%csl Ge6,Ge7,Ge8][%cal Yc7d7]
White's army is much better coordinated. Several of Black's pieces are passive
or even vulnerable.} ({If White fears the queenside passed pawns from the main
line, he can also choose the safer} 32. Qxd3 Rxd3 33. Bd2 {[%csl Ye6,Yh7][%cal
Rg3h3,Rg1g6]}) 32... Qc4 (32... Qb5 33. Nd2 $16) 33. Qxc4 dxc4 34. Nd2 Rxb2 35.
Nxc4 Rc2 36. Nd2 $16 {[%csl Ge7,Ge8,Gg8,Gh7][%cal Yd2e4,Yg3g6,Rd4d5,Rd2f3,
Rf3d4] and White's kingside pressure is hardly bearable. With four rooks on
the board, Black's queen side pawns are much less dangerous than in the game.
Still, the position would remain complicated and difficult to handle in an
over-the-board game.}) 29. hxg6 $1 {Now, capture of the queen leads to mate,
so Black has to keep the g-file closed, at least for a while.} h5 $8 (29...
Rxc2 $2 30. gxh7+ Kxh7 31. Rg7+ Kh6 32. f5+ Kh5 33. f6 $18 {[%csl Gg5]}) 30. g7
$1 hxg4 31. gxf8=Q+ Bxf8 $2 {This move should have led to an abrupt end.} ({
Both players started missing things by this moment. This is easy to spot when
assisted by Fritz, but in conditions of over-the-board play things are
different. About the previous day's game it has been said that 57...f5 was a
terrible blunder and that 57...Nxf2 would have drawn easily. I do not feel
that this is really so obvious without an engine by one's side. Anyway, I
suppose that Kramnik considered the line} 31... Kxf8 32. Qg6 Qe2 33. Qxg4 {
as completely hopeless for him, overlooking the unexpected resource} Bg5 $1 {
when White has to insert} 34. Re1 {before he captures the bishop.} Qc2 35. Qxg5
(35. fxg5 Kg7 36. Rc1 Rh8+ 37. Kg1 Rb1 38. Rxb1 Qxb1+ 39. Kf2 Rf8 $13 {[%cal
Ya7a5,Yb7b5] Svidler} 40. Bd2 Qe4 41. Qh3 Qxd4+ 42. Kg3 Rxf3+ 43. Kxf3 Qxd2 44.
Qh6+ Kg8 45. Qxe6+ Kf8 46. Qf6+ Kg8 $11) 35... Re7 36. Rc1 Rh7+ 37. Kg1 Rg7 38.
Rxc2 Rxc2 $13 {Svidler}) 32. Qg6+ $2 ({Both players must have had their eyes
focused on the king side, which made them overlook that after} 32. Rxg4+ Bg7 {
White can attack the g7-bishop from the other side with} 33. Qc7 {preventing ..
.Re7 (which could follow after 33.Qg6) and leaving Black with the possibility
of giving just one last check with} Qf1+ {when} 34. Ng1 {ends the day.
Although Topalov's move does not let the win slip away yet, it surely marks
the start of his gradual decline, after a brilliantly conducted first part of
the game. This seems to be a hidden weakness of the FIDE World Champion.
Sometimes, if the opponent gets some symbolic counterplay in a basically lost
position, Topalov starts becoming less confident. (To a certain extent, this
was also typical for Fischer, with whom Topalov has been frequently been
compared for his uncompromising style). In Topalov-Leko Linares 2005 and
Topalov-Anand San Luis 2005 he just missed relatively simple wins but in
Aronian-Topalov Morelia 2006 he even came close to losing at a certain moment.
This game continues this unfortunate tendency: he will eventually lose the
full point...}) 32... Bg7 33. f5 $1 Re7 (33... exf5 $2 34. Ng5 $1 (34. Bh6 Qd7
35. Ng5 Rb6 $13) 34... Qc6 (34... Re7 35. Qh7+ Kf8 36. Qxf5+ Kg8 37. Rc1 $18)
35. Qf7+ Kh8 36. e6 $18 {[%cal Yg1c1,Yc6b5,Ge6e7,Rf7h5,Rh5h7]}) 34. f6 Qe2 35.
Qxg4 Rf7 36. Rc1 $2 (36. Bh6 Rb3 37. Rg3 Rb1+ 38. Ng1 $6 (38. Rg1 $11) 38...
Qxg4 39. Rxg4 a5 $132) ({Computers suggest} 36. Qh5 $1 {as stronger and they
seem to be just right, but this is pretty hard to spot during the game by a
mere mortal, be he even a World Champion. Topalov's choice is perfectly
understandable, humanly speaking, but from objective point of view it should
have led to a draw.} a5 (36... Qxe3 37. Ng5 $18) (36... Rb3 37. Rxg7+ Rxg7 38.
fxg7 Rb1+ 39. Bg1 Kxg7 40. Qg5+ Kh7 41. Qe7+ Kh8 42. Qf6+ Kg8 43. Qxe6+ Kg7 44.
Qf6+ Kg8 45. e6 $18) 37. Rg3 Qxe3 (37... a4 38. fxg7 Rb1+ 39. Bg1 $18 {Lui})
38. fxg7 Rb1+ 39. Kh2 Rb2+ 40. Kh3 Rxg7 41. Ng5 Qf4 (41... Rxg5 42. Qe8+ Kh7
43. Qf7+ Kh8 44. Rxe3 $18 {Lui}) 42. Qe8+ Qf8 43. Qxf8+ Kxf8 44. Nxe6+ $18)
36... Rc2 37. Rxc2 Qd1+ $2 {Kindly returning the favour. Black should not help
the enemy king get centralized.} ({Kramnik was probably afraid that after} 
37... Qxc2 {White would get a decisive tempo with} 38. Ng5 {In fact, now that
the king's defence has been somewhat weakened, the checks would have allowed
him save the game.} Qb1+ 39. Kg2 Qc2+ {and White should probably accept a draw
by perpetual check or repetition somewhere.} 40. Kh3 $5 (40. Kf3 Qd1+ 41. Kf4
Qf1+ 42. Qf3 Qxf3+ 43. Kxf3 Bxf6 44. Nxf7 Kxf7 45. exf6 Kxf6 $11 {see the
notes to White's 41st move}) 40... Qd3 (40... Bxf6 41. exf6 Qf5 42. Qxf5 exf5
43. Nxf7 Kxf7 44. Bg5 a5 45. Kg3 a4 46. Bc1 Kxf6 47. Kf4 $18 {see the notes to
White's 42nd move}) 41. Qf3 Bh6 42. Nxf7 Qxe3 43. Qxe3 Bxe3 44. Nd8 b5 $1 (
44... a5 45. Kg4 $1 a4 46. Nxe6 a3 47. Kf5 $1 {[%cal Yf5g6,Yf6f7,Yf7f8]} Kh7 $8
{The difference compared to 44...b5 is that with the b-pawn on the third rank
Black would win with 47...b2 now, because he would promote with check.} 48.
Nf8+ Kh8 49. e6 a2 50. e7 a1=Q 51. e8=Q Qb1+ 52. Ke6 Qe4+ 53. Kf7 Qxe8+ 54.
Kxe8 $18 {[%cal Yf8e6,Yf6f8]}) 45. Nxe6 b4 {and White is in trouble.}) 38. Kg2
Qxc2+ 39. Kg3 {[%cal Yg4e6]} Qe4 {A culminating moment. Black desperately
tries to simplify the position, even if this would imply making some
positional or material concessions on the kingside since his apparently
inoffensive queenside pawns will be a terrible weapon in the ending. White
faces now a very difficult choice right before the control.} (39... Qf5 40.
Qxf5 exf5 41. Ng5 Rc7 (41... Bxf6 42. Nxf7 Kxf7 43. exf6 Kxf6 44. Kf4 {
transposes below to a subline from the comment to White's 42nd move.}) 42. Kf4
$18) 40. Bf4 $2 ({It required a lot of analytical effort to prove which
exactly is the move that turns a better (or winning) position into a worse (or
losing) one, but it is obvious that we are getting close by now.} 40. Qxe4 dxe4
41. Ng5 {would have lead to relatively similar positions as in the game, with
the difference that White could put his pawns into motion more quickly. For
instance} Bf8 ({White wins after} 41... Bxf6 42. Nxf7 Kxf7 43. exf6 Kxf6 44.
Kf4 {although some elementary technique is still needed.} a5 45. Bd2 b6 46.
Kxe4 Ke7 47. Ke5 Kd7 48. Bc1 (48. Bh6 Ke7) 48... b5 49. Bd2 b4 50. Bg5 a4 51.
Bd2 b3 (51... a3 52. Bxb4 a2 53. Bc3 Ke7 54. Ke4 $18 {[%cal Ye4c2,Yc2a2]}) 52.
Bc1 Ke7 53. Bb2 Kd7 54. Ba3 $22 $18 {[%csl Ge6]}) (41... Bh6 42. Nxf7 Bxe3 43.
Nd8 a5 (43... Bxd4 $2 44. f7+ Kf8 45. Nxe6+ Kxf7 46. Nxd4 a5 47. Kf4 a4 48. Nb5
$18) 44. d5 $1 $18) 42. Nxe6 a5 43. Ng5 Bh6 ({The pawn race favours White after
} 43... a4 44. Nxf7 Kxf7 45. d5 a3 46. Bd4 {followed by e6+}) 44. d5 {when the
white pawns look pretty awesome.}) 40... Qf5 41. Qxf5 (41. Ng5 $5 Qxg4+ $1 (
41... Rc7 $2 42. Qxf5 (42. Nxe6 $6 Rc3+ 43. Kh4 Qh7+ 44. Kg5 Bh6+ 45. Kh5+ Bg7+
46. Kg5 $11 {Svidler}) 42... exf5 43. Ne6 $18 {transposes below.}) 42. Kxg4
Bxf6 $1 43. Nxf7 Kxf7 44. exf6 Kxf6 45. Bd6 Kf7 46. Kf4 Ke8 47. Ke5 Kd7 48. Bb4
b6 $11 {For once, this type of ending is drawn, as pointed out by Luiza Marin.
The importance of the d5-pawn (compared to the note to White's 40th move)
becomes clear after} 49. Bd2 a5 50. Be1 a4 51. Bb4 $2 (51. Bc3 $142 a3 52. Kf6
a2 53. Ke5 b5 54. Kf6 b4 55. Ba1 Kd6 $11) 51... Kc6 $1 52. Kxe6 Kb5 $19 {
when White has no time to unblock his own d-pawn.}) 41... exf5 42. Bg5 $2 ({
Topalov likes to do things in a systematic way, approach with the king,
maintain the chain of pawns intact, and so on, but there is simply not enough
time for it! There are two enemy passed pawns on the other wing! Capturing the
bishop with} 42. fxg7 Rxg7+ 43. Kf2 $13) ({or} 42. Ng5 $1 {would have been
better.} Rc7 (42... Bf8 43. Kh4 $1 a5 44. Kh5 a4 45. Kg6 a3 46. Nxf7 a2 47. e6
a1=Q 48. e7 Qg1+ 49. Bg5 $18 {Deviatkin}) (42... Rxf6 43. exf6 Bxf6 {With
chances for a draw according to Deviatkin, but White seems to be just in time
to eliminate the central pawns and block the queenside pawns, for instance:}
44. Be3 a5 (44... Bxg5 45. Bxg5 {transposes below}) 45. Kf4 a4 46. Nf3 a3 47.
Bd2 b5 (47... Kf7 48. Kxf5 b5 49. Ne5+ $18) 48. Kxf5 Be7 49. Ke6 Kf8 50. Kxd5
b4 51. Bh6+ Ke8 52. Nd2 $18) 43. Ne6 Rc3+ 44. Kh4 Bxf6+ 45. exf6 Kf7 46. Nc7
Rxc7 (46... Rb3 47. Kg5 a5 48. Kxf5 a4 49. Ne6 $18 Rb6 50. Ng5+ Kg8 51. Bc1 Rb3
52. f7+ Kg7 53. Bf4 Rb6 54. Be5+ Kf8 55. Bf6 $18 {[%csl Yf7][%cal Yf5g6,Gg5h7]}
) 47. Bxc7 Kxf6 48. Bf4 a5 49. Bd2 b6 50. Kg3 Kg6 51. Kf4 Kf6 52. Bc3 Ke6 53.
Kg5 Kd6 54. Kxf5 Kc6 55. Ke6 a4 56. Bb2 Kb5 57. Kxd5 Kb4 58. Kc6 Kb3 59. Kb5
$18) 42... a5 $17 43. Kf4 (43. fxg7 $5) 43... a4 44. Kxf5 a3 45. Bc1 (45. Nd2
Rc7 46. Nb3 a2 47. e6 Bxf6 48. Kxf6 Kf8 49. Ke5 Rh7 50. Bd2 Rh3 $19) 45... Bf8
46. e6 (46. Bxa3 Bxa3 47. Ke6 b5 48. Kxd5 b4 49. Nd2 Rd7+ 50. Kc4 Kf7 $19)
46... Rc7 47. Bxa3 Bxa3 48. Ke5 Rc1 49. Ng5 Rf1 ({Allowing the transposition
to a problematic ending.} 49... Rg1 $5 {would have probably been simpler.}) 50.
e7 Re1+ 51. Kxd5 Bxe7 52. fxe7 Rxe7 53. Kd6 {Humanly speaking, this position
looks close to a draw. White's forces are perfectly coordinated and the
elimination of the b-pawn should not be a problem. Dr. John Nunn and the
tablebases seem to have a different opinion, though...} Re1 ({When Nunn
announced that} 53... Re3 {is here the only winning move, I could not spot the
reasons behind that immediately. Apparently, it has something to do with the
restriction of the knight, but the real explanation will be revealed slightly
later. Here follow Nunn's analysis and comments: "} 54. d5 Kf8 55. Kd7 b5 56.
Ne6+ Kg8 57. d6 b4 58. Nc5 {the rook controls b3 and is therefore ready to
support the b-pawn without wasting a tempo. Then the continuation} Kf7 59. Kc6
Rc3 60. Kb5 b3 61. Na4 Rc2 62. d7 Ke7 {leads to a ar win. It is interesting to
note that all Black's moves from move 53 to move 62 are unique winning moves 
(apart from a possible repetition at one point). Of course this would be tough
to find in a game. I think the hardest part is the manoeuvre ...Kg8-f8-g8-f7,
which looks quite paradoxical. (Nunn)"}) 54. d5 Kf8 55. Ne6+ ({But now,} 55.
Kd7 {, preventing the approach of the enemy king, looks better for human
standards and it is the only saving move according to the tablebases, too. So,
humans and computers can have common views sometimes...} b5 56. Ne6+ Kf7 (56...
Kg8 57. d6 b4 58. Nc5 $11) 57. Nd8+ Kf6 58. Nc6 Rb1 59. Kd6 $1 b4 60. Kc5 $1
$11) 55... Ke8 56. Nc7+ Kd8 57. Ne6+ Kc8 {Now that Black has managed to
regroup, it is all over.} 58. Ke7 Rh1 $1 {Probably missed by Topalov.} (58...
b5 $2 59. d6 Rd1 60. Nc5 b4 61. d7+ Kc7 62. Na6+ {or 62.Ne6+, with a draw.})
59. Ng5 $6 (59. Kd6 {would be more stubborn.}) 59... b5 60. d6 Rd1 61. Ne6 b4
62. Nc5 Re1+ 63. Kf6 Re3 0-1

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov +3-3=6"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.09.26"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E02"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{By the very high standards of this match, the third game can be called... a
short uneventful draw. Compared with other matches or top tournaments, it
looks more like a very interesting game, though. Topalov did not seem to be
too affected by the unfavourable course of events so far and managed to obtain
counterchances in what looked like an unpleasant position for him, possibly
helped by Kramnik's excessive caution.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 {
In previous matches for the World Title, the Catalan Opening has usually been
a sign that White finds himself in a peaceful mood. However, it seems that
Kramnik intends it as more than just a one-game surprise-weapon.} dxc4 5. Bg2
Nc6 ({Deviating from} 5... Bb4+ {which had been played in the first game.
According to old advice regarding general match strategy, one should not
repeat a variation that led to defeat, even if the result of the opening had
been satisfactory. The main point is to avoid having bad memories during the
new game. On the other hand, Topalov's apparently multilateral preparation
against the Catalan makes one think that he did not discard such an opening
choice of Kramnik during his pre-match preparation.}) 6. Qa4 {Here we go again.
I have already mentioned in the notes to the first game White's tendency to
spend a lot of time on early queen moves in the Catalan.} Bd7 {This line is
supposed to lead to slightly worse play for Black. Since Topalov got into
trouble soon, one could wonder what could his preparation have consisted of.
Possibly, the unpleasant psychological situation caused by the disastruous
beginning of the match explains the precarious nature of this opening
experiment.} 7. Qxc4 Na5 8. Qd3 c5 {Curiously, the game Kramnik-Naiditsch,
Dortmund 2006 reached a similar position with the only difference that the
f6-knight had been transferred to b6 already. This had been made possible by a
rather tortuous trajectory of the white queen (c4-b5-b3-d3) as an answer to
Black's 6...Nd5. Dr. Tarrasch used to evaluate an opening position by counting
the tempi needed by the pieces of each side to occupy their actual squares.
According to his method, Naiditsch was two whole tempi up (or better) than
Topalov, but in fact it seems that the knight is better placed on f6 than on
b6! In that game Kramnik captured on c5 and after ...Bxc5 played Qc3,
attacking on c5 and g7 at the same time. This should have brought him an
advantage but he later avoided the most ambitious continuation and the game
ended in a draw after interesting but balanced fight. See the annotations in
CBM 114.} 9. O-O Bc6 {Black has managed to neutralize the Catalan bishop at
the cost of several tempi and the awkward placement of his queen's knight.
This compensates entirely for the loss of time provoked by the white queen.}
10. Nc3 ({This is more natural than} 10. Rd1 {, although it could simply lead
to transposition. Here is a game with some independent value:} c4 11. Qc2 (11.
Qc3 b5 $1 $132) 11... Be4 12. Qa4+ Bc6 13. Qc2 Be4 14. Qd2 (14. Qa4+) 14... h6
$1 15. Qe1 Nc6 16. Qf1 $5 Bd5 17. Nc3 Bb4 18. Nxd5 (18. Ne5 Bxc3 19. Nxc6 Qb6
$5) 18... exd5 19. Ne5 O-O $1 {0-1 Lautier,J-Karpov,A/Ubeda (m/5) 1994/[Karpov,
An] (58)}) 10... cxd4 {It might seem as if Topalov wanted to exchange pieces
as soon as possible in order to make a draw and prepare for his come-back in
the match. Not something very typical for him, I agree. However, the
alternatives are not that appealing.} (10... Rc8 11. Rd1 cxd4 (11... c4 $5 12.
Qc2 Bb4 13. d5 $1 exd5 $8 14. e4 Bxc3 15. exd5 Nxd5 16. bxc3 O-O 17. Ng5 g6 18.
Ne4 Qe7 19. Bg5 $36 {0-1 Ftacnik,L-Lechtynsky,J/Czekhoslovakia 1979}) 12. Nxd4
Bxg2 13. Kxg2 Bc5 14. Qb5+ Qd7 15. Be3 Qxb5 16. Ndxb5 a6 17. Bxc5 Rxc5 18. b4
Rc6 19. bxa5 axb5 20. Nxb5 $16 {1-0 Dizdarevic,E (2475)-Vukovic,Z (2425)/
Cetinje 1990/EXT 97 (63)}) (10... Be7 11. Rd1 O-O 12. e4 $14 {1/2-1/2 Ribli,Z 
(2603)-Pelletier,Y (2589)/Germany 2005/CBM 106/[Ribli] (45). leaves the
c6-bishop and the a5-knight rather passive.}) (10... c4 $6 11. Qc2 Bb4 12. Bg5
O-O (12... h6 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. e4 O-O 15. Rad1 Rac8 16. Ne5 Rfd8 17. f4 Be8
18. d5 $36 {1-0 Donaldson,J-Shapiro,D/Framingham USA 2001/(38)}) 13. Rad1 h6
14. d5 exd5 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Nxd5 Bxd5 17. Rxd5 Nc6 18. Rb1 $14 {1-0 Nielsen,
P-Hjartarson,J/Copenhagen 1996/CBM 54 (64)}) 11. Nxd4 Bc5 ({In practice, the
more straightforward} 11... Bxg2 12. Kxg2 Nc6 {has been successful so far} 13.
Qb5 $6 ({The developing sequence} 13. Be3 $1 Be7 14. Rfd1 $14 {looks like a
better way to maintain White's initiative.}) 13... a6 (13... Qd7 14. Nxc6 bxc6
15. Qa6 $14 {1/2-1/2 Roiz,M (2507)-Plachetka,J (2422)/Saint Vincent 2002/CBM
086 ext (41)}) 14. Nxc6 Qc7 15. Qc4 (15. Qb3 Qxc6+ 16. f3 Be7 17. Be3 O-O 18.
Rac1) 15... Rc8 16. Bf4 Qxc6+ 17. Qxc6+ Rxc6 18. Rac1 Be7 19. Na4 Nd5 $11 {
1/2-1/2 Antic,D-Lazarevic,S/JUG-sf Niska Banja 1996 (31)}) 12. Rd1 (12. Be3 {
deserves being mentioned, too. White has chances to retain a tiny edge.} Bxg2 (
12... Bxd4 13. Bxd4 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 Nc6 15. Qb5 {just transposes}) 13. Qb5+ $1
Nc6 14. Kxg2 Bxd4 15. Bxd4 a6 ({After} 15... Qxd4 16. Qxb7 O-O 17. Qxc6 $14 {
White can maintain his extra pawn in spite of Black's superior activity.}) 16.
Bxf6 axb5 17. Bxd8 Rxd8 18. Nxb5 Rd2 19. b3 $14 {and again, Black's activity
does not seem to fully compensate for the minimal material defficit. True,
White needs a lot of technical effort (and maybe some help from the opponent...
) in order to make progress.} Rxe2 {is answered by} 20. Nd6+ Ke7 21. Nxb7 {
with similar evaluation.}) 12... Bxg2 $6 {Possibly overlooking White's next
move.} ({The correct move order to simplify the position consists of} 12...
Qxd4 13. Qxd4 Bxd4 14. Rxd4 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 Nc6 {although after} 16. Rd1 {
Black cannot claim complete equality yet.} Rd8 (16... Ke7 $6 17. b3 $1 $36 {
[%cal Yc1a3]}) 17. Bg5 Ke7 18. Ne4 $14 {How real is White's advantage here?
This is a typical question for many "almost symmetrical" endings arising from
the Catalan, right after the opening. It all depends on the personality of the
players. Black is not in danger of losing unless he feels uncomfortable in
this position and (very important!) his opponent has very good endgame
technique. It is the kind of ending that allowed Vladimirs Petrovs and Zoltan
Ribli to defeat such outstanding World Champions as Alexander Alekhine and
Anatoly Karpov, respectively.}) 13. Qb5+ $1 {An important intermediate check
that finally forces Black remove his king's knight from its optimal square.}
Nd7 14. Kxg2 a6 15. Qd3 {It might look that White just lost two additional
moves, but in fact Black now faces problems castling because of the threat
Nc2! attacking the d7-knight and enabling the fork on b4. (Nxe6 would be worse
because it would open the f-file for the enemy rook).} Rc8 $146 {Not a very
inspired novelty and we can only guess whether during his home preparation
Topalov missed 16.Bg5 or 17.Ne4 or did not prepare at all.} (15... Be7 {
covers the g5-square but leaves Black with the problem of his hanging
d7-knight, which prevents him from castling.} 16. Bf4 Rc8 17. Nf3 Nc4 18. Na4
b5 19. b3 Ncb6 20. Nxb6 Nxb6 21. Qxd8+ Bxd8 22. e4 $14 f6 $2 23. Rd6 $16 {
1-0 Tkachiev,V (2670)-Solozhenkin,E (2528)/France 2000/EXT 2001 (33)}) ({
It could be that the safest continuation consisted of the return of the knight
with} 15... Nf6 16. Bg5 ({The immediate} 16. Qf3 {is insufficient for an
advantage because of} Bxd4 17. e3 O-O 18. exd4 Nd5 $11) 16... Bxd4 ({But in
the case of the careless} 16... O-O $6 {White could play} 17. Qf3 {already,
because after} Bxd4 18. e3 $36 {[%cal Ye3d4,Yd4d5] /\exd4, d5, Black cannot
unpin the knight and maintain the control of the d5-square at the same time,
for instance} Qd7 $2 19. Bxf6 $1 gxf6 20. Rxd4 $16 {and the presence of queens
makes the weakness of the black kingside quite relevant.}) 17. Qxd4 Qxd4 18.
Rxd4 Nc6 19. Rd2 Ke7 20. Rad1 Rhd8 21. Ne4 $14 {with a familiar ending.}) 16.
Bg5 $1 {A nice way to connect rooks with gain of time. Each player with long
experience in the Catalan has probably played such a move at least once.} Be7 (
{The bishop is taboo.} 16... Qxg5 17. Nxe6 {would lead to a very strong white
attack.} Qe7 ({The relatively better} 17... Ne5 {just loses a pawn after} 18.
Nxg5 Nxd3 19. Rxd3 $16) 18. Nxg7+ Kd8 (18... Kf8 19. Nf5 Qe6 20. Qxd7 $18) 19.
Nd5 $18) ({Now it is too late for} 16... Nf6 {because after} 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 $6
18. Ne4 ({Fritz prefers} 18. Nb3 Qxf2+ 19. Kh1 $18 {but I have kept the "human
line" as the main variation.}) 18... Qxd4 {(Otherwise, White's advantage in
development is crushing.)} 19. Qxd4 Bxd4 20. Nd6+ $18 {winning an exchange and
the game.}) ({Or if} 16... Qc7 {then} 17. Ne4 $1 $16 {[%csl Gc5,Gd6,Gg7][%cal
Ra1c1,Rd3c3] , clearing the c3-square for the queen (in case of ...Ne5),
putting the enemy bishop under pressure and threatening Rac1.}) 17. Bxe7 $6 {
This can be regarded as a premature release of the tension, diminishing
White's advantage.} (17. Ne4 $1 {was much stronger.} Nc4 (17... Ne5 18. Bxe7
Qxe7 19. Nf5 Nxd3 20. Ned6+ Kd7 21. Nxe7 Rc2 22. Ndc8 $18) (17... Bxg5 $2 18.
Nd6+ Kf8 19. Nxc8 Qxc8 20. Qa3+ Qc5 21. Qxc5+ Nxc5 22. b4 $18) 18. Rac1 Nde5 (
18... Bxg5 19. Rxc4 Be7 20. Nf3 Rxc4 21. Qxc4 O-O 22. Qa4 $16) {In a practical
game, many players would content themselves with} 19. Qb3 ({although} 19. Qb1 {
does not seem bad either:} Bxg5 20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. Rxd8+ Bxd8 22. b3 Na3 {
. Forced. Otherwise, White would play Nd6+.} 23. Qb2 Rxc1 24. Qxc1 $16 {
and Black's poor coordination will cause him the loss of several pawns.}) 19...
Bxg5 (19... Qd5 20. Bxe7 Qxe4+ 21. f3 Qd5 22. Ba3 $18) 20. Nxe6 Qe7 21. N6xg5
$16) 17... Qxe7 18. Rac1 {White has completed his development, while Black
still needs to find a way to remove his king from the centre. For the first
time in the match, the outcome of the opening looks very promising for Kramnik,
in spite of his previous inaccuracy.} Nc4 19. Na4 b5 {Black could have
inserted a knight jump to e5 somewhere, but Topalov seems to prefer simpler
ways today.} (19... Nde5 20. Qe4 O-O 21. b3 f5 22. Qh4 (22. Qf4 $2 g5 $19 {
[%csl Gf4] traps the queen.}) 22... Qe8 23. Qf4 $14 {Korotylev}) 20. b3 O-O 21.
bxc4 bxa4 $14 {For practical reasons, White is a pawn up, which ensures him a
long term (though minimal) advantage.} 22. Nc6 {Probably the only way to fight
for an advantage. If Black was allowed to get his knight to c5, he would
hardly faced any problems. In this case, the double pawns would have been
quite useful. The a6-pawn would have denied the enemy knight's access to b5-d6
while his colleague would have prevented the exchange of the own knight by
means of Nb3.} (22. Nxe6 $4 Ne5 $1 $19) 22... Rxc6 23. Qxd7 Qc5 $5 ({It is
hard to say whether White's winning chances in the ending arising after} 23...
Qxd7 24. Rxd7 {would be realistic. However, it is clear that Black would have
had to endure long suffering.} Rfc8 (24... Rb8 25. Rb1 $1 $16) (24... Rc5 25.
Rb7 a5 26. Rb5 $16) 25. Rb7 g5 26. Rb4 a3 27. Kf3 Kg7 28. Ke3 a5 29. Ra4 Rc5
30. Kd3 Rd8+ 31. Kc3 g4 32. Rxa3 Kf6 {. Topalov's move shows that he does not
wish to give away the psychological initiative in the match completely. By
keeping queens on board, he preserves his own chances for active play.}) 24.
Rc3 g6 25. Rb1 h5 ({The attempt to obtain counterplay with} 25... Qf5 {is
easily parried with} 26. Qd3 $1 ({Shipov and Korotylev analyze only} 26. Qxc6 {
until a draw. White's main problem in their lines is that his pieces remain
uncoordinated.}) 26... Qc5 (26... Qxd3 27. exd3 {leads to an improved version
of the previously mentioned ending, because the c4-pawn is safely defended.})
27. Qf3 $14 {White has regrouped his pieces in optimal way, ensuring his
kingside against enemy aggressions and maintaining his advantage intact.}) ({
Taking into account White's possible improvement on the 27th move,} 25... a3
26. Rb7 e5 {as suggested by Parligras comes into consideration.}) 26. Rb7 e5 {
Black has to clear the a2-g8 diagonal in order to prevent Rf3.} (26... h4 $6
27. Rf3 $40) 27. e4 {It is difficult to give a straightforward evaluation of
this move. It probably suits Kramnik's style, by ensuring White stability in
the centre and offering to his pieces an excellent outpost on d5. On the other
hand, the king's position is somewhat weakened now.} (27. Rf3 $2 Qxc4 $1 {
[%cal Yc4f7]}) ({Korotylev recommended} 27. a3 {, threatening Rb4 among others.
The move looks logical, but I suspect that Kramnik was not sure about the
final consequences of the following line:} Qd4 $5 {(Not mentioned by Korotylev)
} 28. Qxc6 (28. Qxd4 {is hardly sufficient for a win.} exd4 29. Rc2 Rd8 30. Rb4
Kg7 {. Necessary prophylaxis in order to avoid ...d3 being answered by Rd2!}
31. Rxa4 d3 32. exd3 Rxd3 $14 {With such active rooks, Black should be able to
hold a draw.}) 28... Qxc3 29. Qxa4 h4 {. It is not easy to stabilize the
position with White, especially that his pieces are far away from the own king.
}) 27... Rf6 ({The point behind Kramnik's previous move can be seen after} 
27... Qd4 $2 28. Qxc6 $1 Qxc3 29. Qd5 $18 {[%csl Ya2,Gd5,Yf7][%cal Yc4c5]
followed by the advance of the c-pawn. Black would remain a mere spectator of
his own defeat, because the white a-pawn would be safely defended and the
queen very stable on d5. For instance} h4 30. c5 Qc2 {(/\...h3)} 31. gxh4 Qc1 {
/\ ...Qf4} 32. Qxe5) 28. Rc2 Qa3 $6 {Black's offensive initiated by this move
will have a volatile character.} (28... h4 {was a better chance for
counterplay.} 29. Qd5 (29. gxh4 Rf4 30. h5 gxh5 $13 {Korotylev}) 29... Qa3 $132
{Korotylev}) 29. Qd1 Rd6 30. Rd2 Rfd8 31. Rd5 ({This is much stronger than} 31.
Rb8 {, which would lead after} Rxd2 32. Rxd8+ Rxd8 33. Qxd8+ Kg7 34. Qd2 {
to a better, but possibly not won queen ending.}) 31... Rxd5 32. cxd5 $2 ({
A critical moment. Optically speaking, the position is just asking for} 32.
exd5 {when, for the second time in a row in this match, Kramnik would have
obtained two connected passed pawns, quite advanced this time. He probably
feared that his far from optimal coordination would not allow him defend them
properly, especially in view of the outside passed a-pawn (after an eventual ..
.Qxa2) as well as of intermediate moves cush as ...e4. However, finding a
specific line of resistance or counterplay for Black that could have inhibited
Kramnik from this natural move was far from easy. Finally, I came up with} Rc8
$5 (32... Qxa2 33. Qd3 $16) (32... e4 33. Qe2 $16) 33. d6 (33. Qd2 {might be
insufficient for a win, indeed, after} e4 34. Qf4 Qf3+ 35. Qxf3 exf3+ 36. Kxf3
Rxc4 37. d6 Rd4 38. d7 Kg7 39. Ke3 Rd1 40. h4 Kf6 41. Ra7 Ke7 42. Rxa6 Kxd7 43.
Rxa4 Ra1 44. Rd4+ Ke6 45. Rd2 Kf5 $132 {[%csl Gh4][%cal Yf7f6,Yg6g5]}) 33...
Qc5 34. Qd5 $1 {This move is easy to underestimate when making the choice
between cxd5 and exd5.} (34. d7 Rd8 35. Qxa4 h4 $132) 34... Qxd5+ 35. cxd5 Rd8
36. Rb6 a5 37. Kf3 f5 38. Ke3 Kf7 39. f4 e4 40. Kd4 $18 {and Black cannot
resist for too long.}) 32... Qxa2 33. Qf3 Rf8 34. Qd3 ({Another tempting
alternative was} 34. Qf6 {. Indeed, White's coordination looks perfect, but
after} Qa1 $132 {the weakness of the king makes itself felt.} 35. d6 $2 {
can even lead to trouble after} Qd4 $1 $17) 34... a3 35. Rb3 {Apparently,
Black has no way to avoid the loss of both his a-pawns now.} f5 $1 {Now that
the white pieces have retreated, this move does not present any risk for the
black king. In fact, the pressure against the f2-pawn forces White to take a
draw by perpetual.} 36. Qxa6 Qxb3 37. Qxg6+ Kh8 38. Qh6+ Kg8 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov +3-3=6"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.09.27"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Kramnik seems to gradually be stabilising the situation in the match. In
spite of Topalov's efforts to unbalance the position in the fourth game 
(including two early pawn sacrifices, of which only the second one was
accepted), he never managed to confront Black with serious problems. The game
was drawn in the best tradition of the Sofia rule, by the almost complete
exhaustion of material.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 {After four games,
we can notice a certain pattern in the players' match strategy. Kramnik sticks
to the openings that enabled him take up the lead (the Catalan with the black
pieces and the Slav with Black), while Topalov deviates at a very early stage.
Their attitude must have some psychological implications, because logically it
is only Topalov who can be content about the outcome of the opening in the
first two games.} e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 Bb7 9. a3 ({
In the main lines starting with} 9. O-O) ({or} 9. e4 {White has generally
faced problems proving an advantage. By choosing a relatively unexplored line,
Topalov shows that he does not intend to question Kramnik's famously accurate
preparation and that he prefers to move the the fight to the middle game. This
might be a reason why in the second game he refrained from his habitual 6.Ne5.}
) 9... b4 10. Ne4 Nxe4 11. Bxe4 bxa3 12. O-O Bd6 ({Another point behind
Topalov's choice is that Kramnik had previously played} 12... axb2 13. Bxb2 {
1/2-1/2 Ivanchuk,V (2695)-Kramnik,V (2725)/New York 1994/CBM 041 ext (25).
Although the game ended in a draw, accepting the pawn sacrifice at the cost of
improving White's development looks quite risky and Topalov probably found an
improvement somewhere. However, Kramnik does not seem to be that easy to trap:
what is an acceptable choice for a rapid game does not necessarily suit a
World Championship match.}) 13. b3 ({Much more ambitious than the immediate
capture on a3. White intends to develop his bishop on the a3-f8 diagonal in
order to control the important c5-square. Another interesting move here is} 13.
b4 {as played in a couple of games.}) 13... Nf6 14. Nd2 {Typical for modern
chess: even in rare lines, novelties occur at a relatively advanced stage of
the game... Topalov rightly estimates that he does not need to retreat with
the bishop, since the capture on e4 would lead Black with problems completing
his development.} Qc7 ({For instance, if} 14... Nxe4 15. Nxe4 Bxh2+ 16. Kxh2
Qh4+ 17. Kg1 Qxe4 {then} 18. f3 {followed by Bxa3 and Black cannot castle
short any more.}) 15. Bf3 $5 ({Having failed to convince his opponent to win a
pawn on the queenside, White repeats the invitation on the opposite wing. The
main alternatives are} 15. Bxa3) ({and} 15. h3 {. By retreating the bishop to
f3 (instead of d3 one move earlier) Topalov intends to keep the enemy queen
side under pressure, in order to cause problems with carrying out the freeing
move ...c5.}) 15... Bxh2+ ({As GM Lupulescu remarked, rejecting the pawn
sacrifice with} 15... O-O {would have led to the same position as after
White's 21st move in the game, with the significant difference that... there
would be a pawn on h2 after} 16. Nc4 Be7 17. Bxa3 Rfd8 18. Bxe7 Qxe7 19. Ra5 {
The evaluation "+-" would not be entirely out of place, I would add.}) 16. Kh1
Bd6 17. Nc4 Be7 {Kramnik's moving around with the bishop bears some similarity
with the early queen excursions from his games with White. Black's position is
quite solid and the extra pawn offers compensation for the slight delay in
development.} 18. Bxa3 O-O 19. Bxe7 Qxe7 {Black's extra-pawn does not make
itself felt yet and White's supremacy in the centre certainly offers him
adequate play.} 20. Ra5 {In the previous games of the match, Topalov's play
had generally focused towards the enemy king's castled position. It happened
in equal, in better and in worse positions and it proved quite effective up to
a certain point. In the present game, the regroupment of the minor pieces
suggested that he will mainly play on the queenside, but the last move is a
clear hint that opposite wings communicate and that the queenside diversion
could be just a prelude to a kingside attack.} Rfd8 21. Kg1 {The abstract idea
behind this move is clear: before starting concrete action, White removes the
king from a relatively exposed square. It is also some sort of way of proving
that White is confident in his positional domination and that he does not need
to rush into things in spite of being a pawn down. In his peak years, Kasparov
won a couple of attacking games where the prophylactic king move to h2
deprived Black from counterplay along the back rank. Here, the main danger
consists of the open h-file, of course.} ({A more concrete illustration of the
necessity of improving the king's position is revaled by the variation} 21. Qc2
Rd5 $5 {(Topalov must not have had problems finding this resource, being such
an outstanding exchange sacrifice specialist.)} 22. Bxd5 Ng4 $1 23. g3 cxd5 24.
Nd2 (24. Ne5 Nxe5 25. dxe5 d4+ 26. e4 f5 27. exf6 Qxf6 $44) 24... e5 $1 $44 (
24... Qf6 $2 25. Qc7 $1 Qh6+ 26. Kg2 $18) 25. Qf5 $140 $2 Bc8 $1 $40) 21... c5
$5 {Kramnik probably had enough of being submitted to long term pressure by
his opponent in the first games of the match and uses the first given
opportunity to free his position by returning the extra pawn.} (21... h6 22.
Qc2 $44) 22. Rxc5 {We can see here another point behind leaving the queen on
d1 for one more tempo (instead of the natural 21.Qc2). The bishop is protected
and White does not need to capture on b7 himself. The structure resulting from
the mutual pawn sacrifices is rather unusual. I do not remember any similar
case in World Championship matches; at least. White's superiority in the
centre is likely to leave him the upper hand in the long run, while the
absence of the h-pawn is not too relevant yet.} Ne4 {For Black, it is not easy
to deal with the tension created by the opposition of the bishops along the
long diagonal. We can see a similar situation in certain lines of the
fianchetto Queen's Indian, where the higher stability of the bishop (which is
defended by the K) ensures White chances for an advantage. Kramnik decided to
maintain his bishop in order to avoid problems connected with the weakness of
the c6-square, but he will achieve that only partly, because even after the
following exchange his bishop will not enjoy stability on the long diagonal
either.} (22... Bd5 {does not solve Black'sproblems because of} 23. Qe2 $14 {
[%cal Ye3e4] /\e4}) (22... Be4 23. Qe2 Rac8 (23... Qb7 24. Na5 Bxf3 25. Qxf3
Qxf3 26. gxf3 $16) (23... Rab8 24. Na5 $14 {[%csl Yc6]}) 24. Ra5 $5 $14 (24. b4
Qb7 $1 {[%csl Gb4]})) 23. Bxe4 Bxe4 24. Qg4 Bd3 ({It would seem more logical
to block the d4-pawn and place the bishop on a less vulnerable square with} 
24... Bd5 {but Kramnik might have disliked} 25. e4 $5 Bxc4 26. Rxc4 Rac8 (26...
Rab8 27. Qf3 $14) 27. Rd1 $14 {[%cal Yd4d5]}) 25. Ra1 Rac8 (25... Rab8 26. Ne5
{[%csl Yc6,Yd3]} Bb5 $8 27. Rac1 Rb7 28. R1c3 $14) 26. Raa5 (26. Rxc8 Rxc8 27.
d5 {looks tempting.} {During the press conference, Topalov declared that he
refrained from this line because of} h5 {and he seems to be right.} ({The
counterplay initiated by} 27... f5 $6 {is of a temporary character only:} 28.
Qd4 (28. d6 fxg4 29. dxe7 Bxc4 30. bxc4 Kf7 $11) 28... Be4 29. dxe6 Qg5 30. f3
Bxf3 31. Ra2 $16 {[%csl Yg2,Yg7] and the weakness of the g7-square is more
relevant than that of the g2-square, mainly because of White's strong
centralization.}) 28. Qxh5 Bxc4 29. bxc4 Rxc4 30. Qe5 Qc7 31. d6 Qd7 {[%csl
Gd6][%cal Yc4c8,Yc8d8,Ya7a5,Ya5a4,Ya4a3] , as given by Innarkiev, leaves White
with a rather symbolic advantage. By advancing the a-pawn, Black will soon
provoke its exchange for the d6-pawn.}) 26... Rb8 {Now that the first rank has
been weakened, Kramnik changes plans. This slightly speculative approach will
eventually work out well because White's domination has not a very stable
character yet} (26... Rxc5 27. Rxc5 {[%csl Gd3][%cal Yc4a5,Ya5c6] /\Na5-c6, /
\ץd3} Bxc4 $6 28. bxc4 $1 $16 {[%csl Yc4,Yd4]}) 27. Qd1 {Topalov declares his
intentions to outplay his opponent in a long battle, refraining from forcing
the issue now. I believe that this position is quite characteristic of the
first part of the match. Topalov has managed to outplay his opponent from the
opening and seems to be so close to achieving something concrete. And yet,
this has generally proven to be an illusion (with the exception of the missed
mate in three from the second game, of course). In spite of evidence, Black is
holding his own by balancing on a very narrow edge. Here are the possible
consequences of a more direct approach on White's part:} (27. Ne5 {[%csl Yd3]
[%cal Ge5c6]} Rxb3 (27... Bf5 28. Qf4 Rxb3 29. Nc6 Rb1+ 30. Kh2 Qf6 {[%csl Gh2]
[%cal Yg7g5,Yf6h6,Yh6h4] /\g5, Qh6} 31. Rxf5 $1 exf5 32. Nxd8 {+/- Lupulescu}
Qxd8 33. Rxf5 $16 {[%csl Ga7][%cal Yd4d5,Ye3e4]}) 28. Nc6 Qd6 ({This is
probably more accurate than} 28... Rb1+ {, which is in fact playable, too.} 29.
Kh2 Qd6+ 30. Qg3 Qxg3+ 31. Kxg3 {Lupulescu evaluates this position as "+/-",
mentioning that Black cannot prevent White from doubling rooks on the seventh
rank. In fact, he can do that with} Ra8 32. Ne5 Bg6 33. Rxa7 Rbb8 $1 {when
White's advantage is more of an optical nature.}) 29. Rc1 Ra8 30. Qf3 Qf8 31.
Ne5 {(+/- Lupulescu)} Bg6 {and Black is out of any danger.}) (27. Qg3 {[%cal
Yc5c7]} {The simple} Rb7 {keeps Black in the game.} (27... Rxb3 $2 {is too
risky.} 28. Rc7 Qb4 (28... Rb1+ 29. Kh2 Qf6 30. Ne5 $16 {[%csl Gf7] Lupulescu}
Bg6 $140 $2 31. Ng4 $18) (28... Rd7 $2 29. Raxa7 Rxc7 30. Ra8+ $1 $18) 29. Rxf7
Kxf7 30. Rxa7+ Ke8 31. Qc7 Bg6 32. d5 $3 {[%csl Ge7][%cal Yd5d6]} exd5 33. Qe5+
$1 $18 {[%cal Ye5g7,Yg7g8]}) 28. Ne5 Be4 {[%csl Gc6]} 29. f3 (29. Qf4 Bd5 30.
e4 Qf6 $1 $11) 29... Bd5 30. e4 $36 {[%csl Yc6,Gd5]} Bxb3 31. Nc6 Qd6 $1 {
[%csl Gg3]} (31... Qd7 32. Nxd8 Qxd4+ 33. Kh2 Qxd8 34. Rcb5 $36 {[%csl Gb3]})
32. e5 {[%csl Gd5]} Qd7 33. Nxd8 Qxd4+ 34. Kh2 Qxd8 $44 {[%cal Yb3d5]}) 27...
Be4 28. Qa1 Rb7 29. Nd2 Bg6 30. Qc3 h6 31. Ra6 Kh7 32. Nc4 Be4 33. f3 Bd5 34.
Nd2 Rdb8 35. Qd3+ f5 {Finally, White has managed to induce a small weakness in
the enemy structure, but this is a price Black is ready to pay for the
stability of his centralized bishop.} 36. Rc3 {White will now try to occupy
the centre with e4, which would offer him an advantage, but Black will defend
very accurately.} (36. e4 Rxb3 (36... fxe4 37. fxe4 Bxb3 38. Qg3 $44) 37. Nxb3
Rxb3 38. Rc3 (38. Qc2 {[%csl Ge4]} Qh4 {[%csl Gg1][%cal Yh4e1,Ye1h4]} 39. Ra1
Ra3 $1 $11) 38... fxe4 39. fxe4 Rxc3 40. Qxc3 Bxe4 $44 {[%csl Gg2][%cal Ye4d5]}
) 36... Qh4 37. Ra1 Qg3 38. Qc2 Rf7 39. Rf1 Qg6 40. Qd3 Qg3 41. Rfc1 Rfb7 42.
Qc2 Qg5 43. Ra1 ({One of the hidden lines from this phase is} 43. e4 $2 Bxb3 $1
{when the c1-rook would be hanging.}) 43... Qf6 44. Qd3 Rd7 45. Ra4 Rbd8 46.
Rc5 Kg8 47. Nc4 Bxc4 $6 {Finally, Kramnik loses patience.} (47... Qh4) 48.
Raxc4 $6 (48. Qxc4 $1 {[%cal Gc5e5,Ga4a6]} f4 49. Re5 $1 $14 {would have most
probably led to a double rook ending with a passed extra pawn on the b- or
c-file.}) 48... f4 {White cannot avoid complete the complete simplification of
the position now.} 49. Rc6 fxe3 50. Qxe3 Rxd4 51. Rxe6 Qh4 52. Rxd4 Qxd4 53.
Re8+ Kh7 54. Qxd4 {Even according to the Sofia rule the position should be
considered a dead draw.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov +3-3=6"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.09.29"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{forfait}  0-1

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov +3-3=6"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.10.02"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{After several days of intense off-the-board turbulence, we saw a quiet game
today. Kramnik employed a rare and peaceful variation against Topalov's
aggressive setup and then gradually neutralized White's (possibly only
apparent) advantage by cold-blooded defence.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4.
Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 {After having employed positional systems of
development in the first two games where he had White, Topalov switches back
to his trusted weapon against the Slav, probably hoping for a sharp fight. If
that is true, Kramnik's choice must have come as a disapointment.} e6 7. f3 c5
$5 ({Not the most topical continuation. For decades, there have been intense
theoretical disputes in the line starting with} 7... Bb4 8. e4 Bxe4 {. Both
players had good score with it when playing with White.}) 8. e4 Bg6 ({But this
is really a rare move. The history behind it is rather surprising. The modest
bishop retreat (which had only occasionally been seen before) was popularized
in the late '90s by a player approaching his 80th birthday: Vassily
Vassilyevich Smyslov. The former World Champion had played the sharper} 8...
cxd4 {in the eighties, when he was (remarkably) still participating in top
class events, such as the Candidates' Matches. It should be mentioned that
both World Title contenders from the Elista match had had this position with
White:} 9. exf5 Nc6 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. fxe6 fxe6 12. Bxc4 (12. Qe2 dxc3 13.
Qxe6+ Qe7 14. Bxc4 {1-0 Topalov,V (2700)-Gelfand,B (2700)/Dos Hermanas 1996/
CBM 053/[Huebner,R] (41)}) 12... dxc3 13. Qxd8+ (13. bxc3 Nd5 14. Qd4 Qf6 15.
Qxf6 gxf6 16. Bd2 Rb8 17. Ke2 Bd6 18. g3 Rb2 19. Bxd5 exd5 20. Rhb1 Rxb1 21.
Rxb1 Kd8 {[%cal Yh8e8,Ye8e7] 1/2-1/2 Huebner,R (2625)-Smyslov,V (2595)/Velden
1983/Candidates (62). and Black managed to keep White's advantage within
bearable limits.}) 13... Rxd8 14. bxc3 Nd5 15. Bd2 Bd6 16. O-O-O Kd7 17. Kc2 h5
18. h4 Kc7 19. Rde1 $14 {1-0 Kramnik,V (2775)-Piket,J (2570)/Monte Carlo 1996/
CBM 052 ext (62)}) 9. Be3 cxd4 10. Qxd4 ({Keeping queens on board will enable
Black carry out the strategically desirable exchange of the dark-squared
bishops without problems.} 10. Bxd4 Nc6 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Bxc4 Qa5 {[%cal
Yf8c5,Ya8d8]} 13. Qe2 {1/2-1/2 Pelletier,Y (2525)-Smyslov,V (2500)/Zuerich
1998/EXT 99}) 10... Qxd4 11. Bxd4 {White is better developed and enjoys a
considerable advantage in space. Besides, the g6-bishop is cut off from the
play for a long time. However, Black has some trumps of his own, too. First of
all, his position is quite solid and has no weaknesses at all, which is likely
to make White's advance in development less relevant. Besides, the b4- and
d4-squares have been weakened by the advance of White's pawns, which gives
Black some chances in the long-term fight.} Nfd7 $1 ({Now,} 11... Nc6 {1-0
Cramling,P (2505)-Smyslov,V (2500)/Roquebrune 1998/CBM 067/[Huebner,R] (70).
seems to be inferior.}) 12. Nxd7 {By accepting the exchange, White drives the
enemy knight away from the d4-square.} (12. Nxc4 Nc6 13. Be3 Bc5 {and Black's
control over the dark squares promises him a comfortable game.}) 12... Nxd7 13.
Bxc4 a6 $146 {Strictly speaking, this is a novelty, but Black's truly new
concept will be revealed later.} (13... Rc8 14. Ba2 a6 15. Ke2 Nb8 {Black
re-directs the knight towards c6, in order to keep the important b4- and
d4-squares under observation and drive the enemy bishop away from the centre
in order to enable the development of his own bishop. The main drawback of the
manoeuvre consists of the fact that the b6-square will remain undefended.} ({
Here, too, Kramnik's plan} 15... Rg8 16. Rhd1 Bc5 {might have been more
appropriate.}) 16. Rhd1 Nc6 17. Bb6 Bb4 18. Rd2 Ke7 19. Rad1 Nb8 {There was no
other way to free Black's position, but now, with a couple of energetic moves,
White will take over the initiative.} 20. Bf2 $5 f6 (20... Rhd8 $2 21. Bh4+ f6
22. Rxd8 Rxd8 23. Rxd8 Kxd8 24. Bxe6 $16) 21. Bg3 Be8 (21... Rhd8 $4 {[%csl
Gb8]}) 22. Rd4 a5 {A necessary weakening move.} (22... Nc6 $2 23. Rxb4 Nxb4 24.
Bd6+ $18) 23. Bd6+ Bxd6 24. Rxd6 $14 {1/2-1/2 Cramling,P (2504)-Smyslov,V 
(2485)/Marbella 1999/CBM 074 (60)}) 14. Ke2 Rg8 {This is Kramnik's new concept.
Black spends one more tempo in order to enable the development of his
dark-squared bishop. I would like to comment here on Kramnik's strategic
vision that enabled him to understand that Black can afford to play like this
and stay alive. To a certain extent, the situation is similar to the Berlin
Ruy Lopez (one of Kramnik's specialties, too) where Black's development looks
terrible according to the classic canons, but White has problems proving an
advantage.} 15. Rhd1 Rc8 16. b3 Bc5 17. a5 {White needs to convert his better
development into something more concrete. The weakness of the b6-square can be
such an element.} Ke7 18. Na4 Bb4 19. Nb6 {By exchanging knights, White gives
up any chance to benefit from his spatial advantage.} ({More consistent would
be} 19. Nb2 {[%cal Yb2d3] , although it would most likely lead to
simplification, too, for instance:} e5 (19... Bd6 $5 {[%csl Gh2]}) 20. Nd3 Bxa5
$1) 19... Nxb6 20. Bxb6 f6 {Black only needs to neutralize White's pressure
along the d-file by means of ...Rc6-d6 and the position would become plain
equal.} 21. Rd3 Rc6 22. h4 Rgc8 23. g4 {As mentioned above, in order to take
advantage of such an impressive advantage of space, White would have needed a
knight. With just bishops on board, Black is quite safe.} Bc5 {Finally
exchanging White's most active piece.} 24. Rad1 Bxb6 ({This well calculated
move will lead by force to mass simplifications. The careless} 24... Be8 $6 {
would have allowed White maintain his pressure with the slightly unexpected}
25. Bd8+) 25. Rd7+ Kf8 26. axb6 Rxb6 27. R1d6 Rxd6 28. Rxd6 {[%cal Yd6b6]} Rc6
$1 {Exchanging White's most active piece.} 29. Rxc6 bxc6 30. b4 (30. Bxe6 Ke7
31. Bc4 a5 $11) 30... e5 31. Bxa6 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov +3-3=6"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.10.04"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Topalov could not get any significant advantage from his (practically) third
game with White in a row. His only chance for attack consisted of a more
resolute advance of the g-pawn on the 25th move. Later, he sacrificed two
pawns in order to get some activity, but his initiative was just sufficient to
maintain the balance even.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 {Both players
remain true to their match strategy displayed so far. Kramnik sticks to the
same openings (well, the fifth game was an exception; we can hardly call it "a
Catalan") while Topalov tries to find the Achilles heel in the opponent's
preparation by permanently changing the systems of development.} e6 5. Bd3 dxc4
6. Bxc4 c5 {But this is a deviation from the mentioned pattern already:
although the game started as a Slav, it transposed now to a genuine... Queen's
Gambit Accepted! I suppose that Kramnik did not play 2...dxc4 in order to
avoid the sharp lines based on 3.e4, consequent to his policy of playing solid,
though sometimes passive positions with Black.} 7. O-O a6 8. Bb3 cxd4 9. exd4
Nc6 10. Nc3 Be7 11. Re1 O-O {Kramnik has considerable (and rather successful)
experience with this position as... White! It might seem as if Topalov
intended to confront his opponent with the difficult psychological situation
of playing "against himself", but the next move clearly contradicts this
hypothesis.} 12. a4 {A practically unexplored move. White usually develops his
queen's bishop to f4 or g5. The position bears some similarity with those
arising after the 6.a4 system, but I feel that the small differences tend to
favour Black. After 6.a4 (well, it would actually be 7.a4 with the move order
from this game), the bishop would be placed on c4, allowing the transfer of
the a1-rook to the king side in certain cases. Besides, the queen would stand
on e2 and the king's rook on d1, creating the permanent threat of opening the
centre with d5. On the other hand, after 6.a4 Black is not forced to capture
on d4 and open the c1-h6 diagonal. The plan based on ...Qc7 and ...Bd6 is
considered to be more solid. Be that as it may, Topalov's last move suggests
that he is not necesarily aiming for an advantage from the opening, but hopes
to outplay his opponent in a complicated middlegame.} Bd7 13. Ne5 Be8 {By this
temporary retreat, Black puts the d4-pawn under pressure, preventing the early
development of the c1-bishop on an active square such as g5.} ({Kramnik might
have refrained from the immediate} 13... Rc8 {because of something like} 14.
Bf4 Be8 (14... Nb4 15. Re3 {[%cal Ye3g3]} Nbd5 16. Bxd5 Nxd5 17. Nxd5 exd5 18.
Qb3 $36 {[%csl Gb7,Gd5][%cal Ya1e1]}) 15. d5 {where White is slightly more
active in a symmetrical position. He might have been worried by the fact that
Topalov could have analyzed such a possibility.}) 14. Be3 Rc8 15. Rc1 Nb4 {
Now that the queen side development has been completed, Black releases the
pressure against d4. If White plays Bg5, he will lose a tempo just as Black
will do by playing ...Bd7-e8-c6.} 16. Qf3 Bc6 17. Qh3 Bd5 {Forcing the
exchange of one pair of minor pieces, which is always advantageous for the
side playing against the isolani.} (17... Nbd5 18. Bg5 $14) 18. Nxd5 Nbxd5 {
The strong light-squared bishop has been neutralized temporarily. Black's
position in the centre is solid but slightly immobile. If the d5-knight moves
away, White will get tactical chances along the a2-g8 diagonal.} 19. Rcd1 ({
Generally, the exchange of major pieces is supposed to favour the player with
an isolani, but here the fact that the c-file is open would leave the back
rank vulnerable after} 19. Rxc8) 19... Rc7 20. Bg5 Qc8 (20... Qd6 21. f4 $5)
21. Qf3 (21. Rd3 {[%cal Yh3h4,Yd3g3]} Bb4 $1 (21... Rd8 22. Qh4 $1 $40 h6 $2
23. Bxh6 $1 $18) 22. Rf1 (22. Re2 {would make a further Rg3 impossible because
of ...Rc1+.}) 22... Ne4 $1 $132) (21. f4 $5) 21... Rd8 {Black has completed
his regroupment and has a very solid position. White's chances for a kingside
attack are rather vague as yet.} 22. h4 h6 $6 {This move might not threaten to
capture the bishop in view of the weakness of the f7-square, but it certainly
prevents a further advance of the White h-pawn, when ...h6 could be answered
by Bh4 already. However, giving White such a mark for a kingside attack is at
least risky.} 23. Bc1 $6 {This looks too passive.} (23. Bd2 $14 {[%csl Gb4]
[%cal Yg2g4,Yd2a5]} Bb4 $6 {This attempt to simplify the position leaves the
light diagonal vulnerable for just an instant.} ({If} 23... Bd6 {then} 24. g4 {
would be more dangerous as it could have been in the game, because the white
king's rook and, even more important, his queen's bishop are more actively
placed. For instance} Bxe5 25. dxe5 Nh7 26. Ba5 b6 27. Bxd5 $16) 24. Bxb4 Nxb4
25. Nxf7 $1 Rxf7 (25... Kxf7 26. Bxe6+ Qxe6 27. Rxe6 Kxe6 28. g4 $36) 26. Bxe6
Qc7 27. d5 $16 {It is important to prevent the blockade on d5.} Kf8 (27... Kh8
28. d6 $1 $18) 28. Qb3 Qc5 (28... Qd6 29. Bxf7 Kxf7 30. Re6 Qf4 31. d6 $16) (
28... a5 29. d6 $1 $18) (28... Nbxd5 $16) 29. d6 $16) 23... Bb4 24. Rf1 Bd6 (
24... Nc3 $5 {would have been an attempt to underline the vulnerability of
White's bishops. Kramnik might have feared} 25. Bxh6 $5 (25. bxc3 Rxc3 {
[%csl Gb3,Gc1]}) 25... Nxd1 26. Rxd1 Nd5 27. Qg3 Bf8 28. h5 $44 {when Black
cannot free his position easily, because the c-file is well defended by the
bishops.}) 25. g3 ({Actually, I was expecting} 25. g4 {with some attacking
chances for White. True, such a resolute advance of the g-pawn involves a
certain amount of strategic risk, but after Topalov's over-cautious move,
White will not get even close to such a possibility.} Nh7 $5 26. g5 hxg5 27.
hxg5 Bxe5 28. dxe5 Nf8 {Svidler.}) 25... b6 26. Qe2 Ne7 27. Rfe1 Bxe5 28. dxe5
Rxd1 29. Qxd1 Nfd5 {The material situation (and, to a certain extent, the
structure) is similar to that from the dramatic 5th game of the match
Karpov-Kortschnoj, Baguio 1978. In that game, Kortschnoj had an advantage with
White and eventually missed a simple mate just before the second time control.
The main difference here consists of Black's firm control of the c-file. Under
these circumstances, his knights, enjoying stable squares in the centre, are a
worthy match for the white pair of bishops. White's main problem is that he
cannot build up a mating battery along the b1-h7 diagonal.} 30. Bd2 Rc5 31. Qg4
Nf5 32. Qe4 b5 33. h5 bxa4 34. Qxa4 Rb5 35. Rc1 Qb7 36. Bc2 Nb6 37. Qg4 Rxb2
38. Be4 Qd7 39. Be1 {In order to get some acttivity, Topalov sacrificed the
relatively insignifiant b2-pawn. However, he is far from creating dangerous
threats yet.} Nd5 40. Bd3 Nb4 41. Bf1 Nd3 42. Qd1 Nxe5 43. Qxd7 Nxd7 {Black
has won a second pawn but his initiative has been completely extinguished. It
will be White who will do the attacking now, but this will only compensate for
the considerable material deficit.} 44. Rc8+ Kh7 45. Rc7 Rb1 46. Rxd7 Rxe1 47.
Rxf7 {In view of the activity of his rook and of the weak position of the
black king, White is no longer in danger of losing, in spite of Black's extra
pawn.} a5 48. Kg2 Kg8 49. Ra7 Re5 50. g4 Nd6 51. Bd3 Kf8 52. Bg6 Rd5 53. f3 e5
54. Kf2 Rd2+ 55. Ke1 Rd5 56. Ke2 Rb5 57. Rd7 Rd5 58. Ra7 Rb5 59. Bd3 Rd5 60.
Bg6 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov +3-3=6"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.10.05"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Kramnik's solid play with Black has been quite impressive over the past three
games, but today he offered a rather feeble resistence when finally getting
the white pieces. Confroned with an unexpected opening, a rare sub-variation
and a relatively early novelty, Kramnik soon landed in an unpleasant ending.
By carelessly advancing his kingside pawns, he only made things worse for
himself, by providing Topalov with targets for attack. The game ended four
moves away from mate.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 {Apparently, during the last three
games Kramnik has managed to convince his opponent that the Slav is not such a
bad opening after all.} 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 {But this must have been the real
surprise for Kramnik! Topalov usually employs the ...a6 systems and has only
occasionally played the Semi-Slav throughout his carrier. If his intention was
to confront Kramnik with the unpleasant psychological situation of fighting
against his own weapons, we can safely state that the experiment has been
crowned with success.} 5. e3 Nbd7 ({Even here, Topalov preferred} 5... a6 {
in his game against Ponomariov, played at Sofia 2006.}) 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5
8. Be2 {Kramnik is consequent with his policy of avoiding sharp opening lines.
The modest bishop retreat to e2 is supposed to offer White little chances for
a palpable advantage, but even less danger of getting into trouble.} Bb7 9. O-O
b4 {Topalov's desire to take his oppponent out of the well-known paths as soon
as possible becomes obvious. Black usually plays 9...Be7 here or, even more
frequently, 8...a6.} 10. Na4 c5 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. Bb5+ {This move and the
whole sequence that follows looks hard to resist, but shows some slight
illogicality. The natural question is whether White should aim for sharp play
once he has chosen a basically quiet variation in the first line. Further
practice is needed to give a definitive answer, but the following 2 games seem
to be more in the spirit of the 8.Be2 system, by aiming for a tiny advantage
in a symmetrical position.} (12. Bd2 Ncd7 13. Nd4 Bd6 14. Nb5 Be7 15. Qe1 a6
16. Nd4 Nb6 17. Nxb6 Qxb6 18. a3 bxa3 19. Ba5 Qa7 20. Bb4 $1 Nd5 $6 (20... axb2
21. Bb5+ Kf8 22. Bxe7+ Kg8 $8 23. Rb1 $36 {[%csl Yg8]}) 21. Bxe7 Kxe7 22. Rxa3
$16 {1-0 Lputian,S (2607)-Grabarczyk,M (2506)/Ohrid 2001/CBM 084 (41)}) (12. a3
Ncd7 13. Qd4 bxa3 14. b4 Be7 15. Bxa3 O-O 16. Rfd1 Nb6 17. Nc5 $14 {1-0
Aleksandrov,A (2535)-Filippov,V (2530)/Moscow 1996/EXT 2000 (80)}) 12... Ncd7
13. Ne5 Qc7 14. Qd4 Rd8 15. Bd2 {Looking at this position, I have the feeling
as if players had changed roles with each other. It is Kramnik who has a
slight advance in development, while Topalov mainly relies on the solid
character of his position. Quite the opposite to what we have seen during the
last few days.} Qa5 $146 {And now, Topalov moves for the second time with his
already developed queen, something that Kramnik did frequently in the first
part of the match. The move is a novelty, which is quite curious because it is
the computer's first suggestion. We can suppose that Kramnik had looked at it
at home (even though not especially for this game or match) and the time spent
on the next moves was destined to let him remember the old analysis.} (15... a6
$2 {is an obvious loss of time, weakening the b6-square at the same time.} 16.
Rfc1 Qa5 17. Bc6 Bxc6 18. Nxc6 Qxa4 19. Nxd8 Kxd8 20. a3 $16 {1/2-1/2
Cvetkovic,S-Bagirov,V/Vrnjacka Banja 1974/EXT 99 (42)}) 16. Bc6 Be7 (16... Bxc6
17. Nxc6 Qxa4 18. Nxd8 Kxd8 {is too risky for Black, although White can easily
go astray, too.} 19. Qc4 $1 {[%csl Ya4][%cal Ya1c1,Yf1d1,Yc4c8]} (19. Rfc1 $6
Qb5 $1) (19. a3 Qa5 20. axb4 Qb6 $13) 19... Ne5 (19... Qa5 20. Rfc1 Bc5 21. a3
$1 $16) (19... Bc5 20. a3 $16) 20. Qf4 (20. Qd4+ Ned7 $11) 20... Qb5 21. Rfd1
Kc8 22. Rac1+ Kb7 23. a3 $36) 17. Rfc1 {This looks like the more logical way
of maintaining the advance in development.} (17. Bxb7 $2 Nxe5 $19) ({Knowing
the further course of the game it is easy to recommend} 17. b3 O-O 18. Bxd7
Nxd7 19. Nxd7 Bc6 $11 {and White cannot save all his pieces placed along the
d-file.}) 17... Bxc6 {Without fearing any ghosts, Topalov embarks the sharp
forced line.} 18. Nxc6 Qxa4 19. Nxd8 (19. b3 Qb5 (19... Qa6 20. Bxb4 $44 {
Korotylev}) 20. Qxa7 {Korotylev} Qb6 $1 21. Qa4 Nd5 22. Nxd8 Qxd8 23. e4 Nc3
$15 {Svidler}) 19... Bxd8 20. Qxb4 Qxb4 21. Bxb4 Nd5 22. Bd6 {At first glance
it might look that White is doing just great. His material deficit is almost
insignificant, while his rooks are ready to invade the enemy queen side.
However, there is a certain detail that favours Black: the centralized
position of his king. Since the white king would need a considerable amount of
time to get into play, we can state that for practical purposes Black is a
whole... king up! From this point of view, Kramnik's 20th move is slightly
questionable. In order to prove 17.Rfc1 to be playable, White needs to
exchange queens only after Black gets castled. The only open question remains
whether this can be achieved in practice.} f5 23. Rc8 N5b6 24. Rc6 Be7 25. Rd1
Kf7 26. Rc7 Ra8 27. Rb7 Ke8 {Black's last three moves can be considered some
sort of artificial (but huge) castling.} (27... g5 {Svidler: "trying to gain
some space on the K-side, also made sense - but by allowing White to play
h2-h4 Black succeeded in opening the h-file for his rook, so perhaps it was a
conscious decision on Veselin's part."}) 28. Bxe7 Kxe7 29. Rc1 a5 (29... Nd5
30. Rc6 a5 {is a more accurate move order, according to Svidler.}) 30. Rc6 (30.
Rcc7 $1 {Svidler}) 30... Nd5 {Both sides have completed the first phase of
piece mobilisation. The placement of the white rooks creates a strong optical
impression, but they fail to create any serious threats. With the e6-pawn and
the d7-knight safely defended by the king, Black has no problems keeping
things under control. At the same time, the transfer of the white king to the
queen side is highly problematic, because of the numerous possible forks. We
can safely state that Black is better, although it is not entirely clear yet
how much better precisely. One important element of his general plan of
converting his minimal advantage is to avoid the exchange of one pair of rooks,
which would make his coordination more difficult.} 31. h4 $6 {"Do not move
pawns on the wing where you are weaker" they say. It is remarkable how much
quicker Black will make progress on this wing after White's unnecesary pawn
move.} ({Here is a variation illustrating White's difficulties in obtaining
counterplay:} 31. Kf1 g5 32. Ke2 g4 33. a3 {(Necessary, in order to enable the
further advance of the king without fearing the fork on b4.)} a4 34. Kd3 h5 35.
Kc4 h4 36. Kb5 N5f6 {[%cal Yf6e4] Black's advantage of space on both wings
leaves him with the better chances in case of the pawn race that is likely to
arise after} 37. Ra6 Rxa6 38. Kxa6 Ne4) 31... h6 ({Black could have also played
} 31... g6 {, but this does not seem to be necessary as can be seen from the
next comment.}) 32. a4 (32. h5 {[%csl Yh5]} a4 (32... N5f6 $6 33. Rcc7 {
[%csl Gd7][%cal Yb7a7]}) 33. Kf1 Ra5 34. Ke2 N5f6 35. Rcc7 Kd6 36. Ra7 Rb5 37.
Rc2 (37. Rcb7 Nb6 $17) 37... Rb4 38. Rd2+ Nd5 $17 {In order to avoid the loss
of the h5-pawn, White has been forced to allow the radical activation of
Black's forces.}) 32... g5 33. hxg5 hxg5 34. Kf1 g4 {Now, White has to
permanently count with the enemy rook's penetration through the h-file or the
pawn break ...g3.} 35. Ke2 N5f6 {The start of a highly original manoeuvre.} 36.
b3 ({Korotylev gives a long analysis intended to prove that White would have
held a draw with} 36. Rcc7 {. In my opinion, Black retains his advantage with}
Kd6 {(Not considered by Korotylev)} 37. Ra7 Rb8 38. Rc2 (38. Rcb7 {does not
work because after} Rxb7 39. Rxb7 Nc5 {White loses a pawn:} 40. Ra7 Nxa4 41. b3
Nc5 $17 {It is early to talk about Black's win yet here, but it is even more
out of place to claim equality for White.}) 38... g3 $1 39. fxg3 Rb3 40. Rxa5
Nd5 {and Black's activity has taken dangerous forms.}) 36... Ne8 $1 ({Black
intends to drive the enemy rook away from the b-file by means of ...Nd6. The
seemingly more active} 36... Ne4 {, bearing the same idea, would have been
less accurate in view of} 37. Rcc7) 37. f3 $6 {Even though this move is bad,
it is hard to apply to it the same kind of criticism as to White's 31st move.
Kramnik must have felt that he is rapidly losing ground and aimed to exchange
as many pawns as possible.} g3 $1 {Rejected.} 38. Rc1 Nef6 {Now that White has
weakened his king side, the knight changes plans.} 39. f4 {But this looks like
suicide already. White weakens his structure even more, in order to get the
possibility to attack the g3-pawn, without noticing that it is posioned.} Kd6
40. Kf3 Nd5 41. Kxg3 $2 {White offers to his opponent the only thing that he
was missing yet: an open file for the attack.} Nc5 42. Rg7 Rb8 43. Ra7 Rg8+ 44.
Kf3 Ne4 {Black has a decisive attack already.} 45. Ra6+ Ke7 46. Rxa5 Rg3+ 47.
Ke2 Rxe3+ 48. Kf1 Rxb3 49. Ra7+ Kf6 50. Ra8 Nxf4 51. Ra1 Rb2 52. a5 ({Allowing
mate in 5. However,} 52. Rg8 {would have failed to safely defend the g2-square
because of} Kf7) 52... Rf2+ 0-1

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov +3-3=6"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.10.07"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 ({This is the first time Kramnik has
deviated from the course of an earlier game of the match. In the seventh game
he transposed to the Queen's Gambit Accepted with} 4... e6 5. Bd3 dxc4 6. Bxc4
c5) 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. a3 $5 {Almost never played before.
Topalov usually plays ...a6 as Black in the Slav Defence and now he gives it a
try from the other side of the board. I would allow myself a small divagation.
Three quarters of century ago, the somewhat mysterious Indian player Sultan
Khan (not the most erudite theoretician of his time, for sure) frequently
employed the modest advance of the a-pawn with both colours and irrspective of
the opening. Among others, he beat the great Capablanca in what is called
today the Petrosian-Kasparov system and accidentally "invented" the Chebanenko
- Slav much before the birth of the Moldavian trainer. Returning to our game,
the point behind Topalov's last move will become clear soon.} Nbd7 9. g3 Be7
10. f4 {After having eliminated the black light-squared bishop, White has
arranged several of his pawns on dark squares. This is aimed at ensuring the
free circulation of his own bishop, which became the unchallenged master of
the light squares. However, combining a3 with f4 also pursues a more concrete
aim. White threatens to block the position with c5, when the thematic central
break ...e5 would be impossible. At the same time, the attempt to undermine
the powerful chain of pawns from the other side with ...b6 is safely answered
by b4, because ...a5 is inoffensive since the b4-pawn has been defended in
advance. This would leave White with considerable advantage in space, without
any possibility of counterplay for Black.} dxc4 ({Giving up the centre so
easily is a risky decision.} 10... a5 {deserves attention, with the idea of
answering 11.c5 with 11...b6.} {If} 11. Rb1 {then} dxc4 12. Bxc4 O-O 13. e4 b5
{[%csl Ge4] is different already.} 14. Bd3 $8 b4 15. Na4 c5 $132) 11. Bxc4 O-O
(11... Qc7 $5 12. e4 Rd8 $5 {[%cal Yc6c5] Shipov}) 12. e4 {Looking at this
position, I cannot stop asking myself: what does it mean to play a hypermodern
opening? 1...d5 is supposed to be a classical way of starting the game, but
isn't here White's advantage in the centre just as big or maybe even bigger
than, say, in the Gruenfeld? One of the reasons why the Slav is so popular
nowadays is that it allows Black choose any type of structure he wishes,
according to the style of play or, why not, the mood in that specific moment.
It can lead to more or less symmetrical positions or to very unbalanced
situations. As a compensation for White's advantage in space and powerful pair
of bishops in the current position, Black is few tempi ahead in development.
It remains an open question whether this is enough. Kramnik's play in the next
phase of the game does not really sustain this hypothesis, but objectively
speaking Black should be OK.} (12. Be2 c5 $1 13. d5 exd5 14. Nxd5 Rc8 $1 {
[%cal Yc5c4,Yd7c5]} 15. O-O c4 16. Bf3 Nc5 {[%csl Yd3]}) 12... b5 13. Be2 {
We can see here a further merit of a3: in order to undermine the e4-pawn,
Black needs to spend an extra tempo, allowing White to transfer the bishop on
to the optimal square.} b4 ({This logical move implies a big strategic risk,
because it leaves Black's structure in ruins and it opens new horizons for the
f3-bishop, by weakening the c4-square. If the piece pressure fails to yield
the expected effect, Black will find himself in a hopeless situation.} 13...
Qb6 {was a more restrained continuation, although it could lead to animated
play, too.} 14. Be3 Rad8 15. O-O c5 16. e5 cxd4 17. exf6 (17. Bxd4 $2 Bc5 18.
Bxc5 Nxc5 $19 {[%cal Yb6g1,Yd8d1]}) 17... Nxf6 18. Bf2 dxc3 $1 19. Bxb6 Rxd1
20. Raxd1 axb6 21. bxc3 Nd5 $132) 14. axb4 Bxb4 15. Bf3 Qb6 $6 {Kramnik lost
this game mainly because he did not try to get rid of his backward c-pawn in
any way. The plan of breaking the enemy centre with ...e5 has not sufficient
strategic basis.} ({This was probably the last moment when Black could obtain
adequate play by means of} 15... c5 16. e5 (16. Be3 Nb6 $132 {Golubev}) (16.
Kf1 $5 $14 {[%cal Yf1g2] Golubev}) 16... Nd5 ({For some reasons, only the
intermediate exchange} 16... cxd4 $6 {has been analyzed so far. Black simply
loses a pawn after} 17. Qxd4 Nd5 18. Bxd5 Bc5 19. Qd3 exd5 20. Qxd5 $14 {
[%csl Gc5,Gd7][%cal Ye1f1,Yf1g2] . The fact that the black minor pieces are
hanging prevent Black from starting a rapid counter-attack, thus allowing
White complete his development with Kf1-g2.}) 17. Bd2 (17. Bxd5 exd5 18. Be3
Nb6 19. dxc5 (19. Qe2 Nc4 20. Bf2 Rb8 21. O-O Bxc3 22. bxc3 Rb2 $132) 19... Nc4
20. Bd4 Nxb2 21. Qc2 (21. Qe2 Nc4 22. O-O Bxc3 23. Bxc3 Qd7 $11) 21... Nc4 22.
O-O a5 $132) 17... Bxc3 (17... N7b6 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Bxb4 cxb4 20. Qd3 Qc7 21.
O-O $14) 18. bxc3 ({In fact,} 18. Bxc3 $5 {might be simpler. Capturing the
bishop would lead to the loss of the a7-pawn, while the threat Bxd5 is
stronger now that the white queen side has not been weakened.} Qb6 19. Qa4 Rfd8
20. O-O $14) 18... cxd4 19. Bxd5 (19. c4 N5b6 {[%cal Yd7c5]} 20. Bxa8 Qxa8 21.
O-O Nxc4 22. Bc1 Rd8 $44 {[%csl Yd4][%cal Ra8h1,Rd8d1]}) 19... exd5 20. cxd4
Qb6 {We have reached a position typical for the Sämisch variation of the Nimzo
Indian Defence. White's advantage in the centre is compensated by Black's
counterplay along the c-file.} 21. Ba5 Qe6 22. O-O Rfc8 23. g4 Rc4 24. Ra2 Rac8
25. f5 gxf5 26. gxf5 Qh6 $13) 16. O-O e5 {This was the counterplay Black was
relying on. However, White has sufficient resources to avoid any structural
damage in the centre.} 17. Be3 Rad8 {Apparently, a logical move. The d4-pawn
is pinned along the g1-a7 diagonal and, indirectly, along the d-file. However,
these minor problems are rather easy to solve.} 18. Na4 {Black has to release
the first pin now.} Qb8 ({This slightly mysterious move was probably connected
with a concrete detail mentioned below. However, the more active} 18... Qb5 {
might have been better and if} 19. Qc2 {then} exd4 20. Bxd4 c5 {followed by ...
Nb6, with certain counterplay.}) 19. Qc2 exf4 20. Bxf4 ({Kramnik's idea is
revealed after} 20. gxf4 {when} Rfe8 {creates the threat ...Nxe4 and the
generally desirable Bf2 loses the f4-pawn. However, White's last move
maintains the advantage in the centre intact.}) 20... Qb7 21. Rad1 Rfe8 {
Both sides have completed their development and time has come to make a first
evaluation. Optically speaking, White's advantage is overwhelming. He has
maintained his control in the centre, has placed his bishops actively and has
the more compact structure of pawns. However, converting this advantage into
something more concrete is likely to be a laborious process. It might look
tempting to start advancing the central pawns, but this would just provide the
black knights with stable squares in the centre. At least for a while, it is
much wiser to create simple threats (be they real or imaginary) on the wings,
maintaining the centre intact. This would most probably cause Black to
gradually lose his coordination and then the pawns could advance unhindered.}
22. Bg5 Be7 23. Kh1 Nh7 24. Be3 Bg5 25. Bg1 {Of course, exchanging pieces
would somewhat relieve Black's position.} Nhf8 26. h4 {Not only restricting
the enemy bishop, but creating the potential threat of an attack by means of
h5.} Be7 27. e5 {Now that the knights do not have access to d5, this move is
well-timed. In order to defend his c6-pawn, Black is forced to retreat even
more.} Nb8 28. Nc3 Bb4 29. Qg2 {Now, such threats as d5 or h5 start to look
feasible. Black's main problem is that he cannot easily guess what are White's
intentions and each minor slip could be decisive. At the same time, White can
allow himself to miss one or two promising continuations, because they would
be there few moves later, too.} Qc8 30. Rc1 {Enabling the knight's jump to d5,
eventually followed by Nf4, in order to take under observation one of Black's
last remaining outposts, the e6-square.} Bxc3 $2 {Black finally cracks under
the pressure. This exchange is equivalent to an unconditional strategic
surrender.} ({He could have stayed in the game with} 30... Qb7 {, avoiding the
knight jump and preventing the central break d5 at the same time.}) 31. bxc3 {
Nothing can stop White's pawns now. However Topalov will employ the same
method as in the previous phase of the game, maintaining the threat of
advancing the centre in reserve. This could have slightly complicated matters
as we shall see.} Ne6 32. Bg4 $6 {Putting pressure on the generally well
defended e6-knight but allowing the other knight join the battle by releasing
the pressure against the c6-pawn.} ({The simpler} 32. Rcd1 Qc7 33. c4 $18 {
looks crushing.}) 32... Qc7 33. Rcd1 Nd7 34. Qa2 {We can feel here the effects
of the huge advantage in space: White's pieces can easily be transferred from
one wing to the other. It might look that White is planning to put the a7-pawn
under pressure, but we shall soon see that his target is much more important.}
Nb6 {However, the reserve knight has reached a stable square, too. Black is
much worse, but still breathing for the moment.} 35. Rf3 {Slightly careless.
Topalov probably thought that his strong centre allows him to manoeuvre his
pieces without any restrictions.} (35. Ra1 $5 {Would have more or less forced
Black to interrupt his queen's access to f7 in order to defend a7} Rd7 (35...
Re7 36. Rxf7 $16) (35... c5 36. Qxa7 cxd4 37. cxd4 $16 Qxa7 38. Rxa7 Nxd4 39.
Rfxf7 $18) {thus allowing} 36. Rxf7 $1 Rxf7 (36... Kxf7 37. Rf1+ Kg8 38. Bxe6+
Kh8 39. Bxd7 Qxd7 40. Rf7 Qh3+ 41. Qh2 $18) 37. Bxe6 Nd5 $16 {Black's control
over the light squares offers him chances to resist in spite of the material
disadvantage.}) 35... Nf8 $2 {This voluntary knight retreat is hard to
understand.} ({"Any unpromoted pawn majority risks becoming a weakness". This
old statement by Nimzowitsch applies here perfectly. Taking advantage of the
temporary lack of coordination between White's major pieces, Black could have
attaked the enemy centre by means of} 35... c5 36. d5 (36. Rdf1 cxd4 37. cxd4
Qc6 38. Kh2 Rd7 {and Black has achieved stability in the centre.}) 36... Nf8 {
[%csl Ge5]} 37. d6 Qb7 {[%cal Yb7h1]} 38. Rdf1 Rxe5 39. Qxf7+ Qxf7 40. Rxf7 Nd5
{[%csl Gc5,Gd6,Gg4][%cal Yd5f6] White's still has an advantage thanks to his
powerful pair of bishops, but play becomes more concrete now and requires
certain accuracy.}) 36. Rdf1 Re7 37. Be3 $18 {White's last piece joins the
attack, threatening Bg5. Suddenly, Black is just lost.} Nh7 38. Rxf7 $1 Nd5 39.
R7f3 {Or anything else.} 1-0

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov +3-3=6"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.10.08"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E08"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Topalov chose a solid variation but then went for a slightly risky experiment.
Kramnik managed to find the weak spot in Black's whole concept and obtained a
very pleasant position. After Topalov's blunder on the 24th move the game was
practically over, re-establishing equality in the match.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3.
Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ {Being ahead on the scoreboard for the first time since the
beginning of the match, Topalov refrains from capturing on c4 already. Instead,
he adopts a hybrid between the Bogo-Indian and the Catalan, supposed to offer
Black a solid position. Maybe not the best psychological approach...} 5. Bd2
Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Bf4 ({Here are two previous games played by our
heroes that bear some relation with further situations from the present game.} 
8. Qc2 Nbd7 (8... b6 9. Bf4 Ba6 10. Nbd2 $6 {[%csl Yf4]} (10. b3) 10... Nbd7
11. Rfd1 Rc8 12. Rac1 Nh5 13. e4 (13. Be3 $5) 13... Nxf4 14. gxf4 {[%csl Yf4]}
Nf6 15. Ne5 Nh5 16. Qa4 Bxc4 17. Nxc6 b5 18. Qa6 Rxc6 19. Qxc6 Nxf4 20. Nxc4
bxc4 21. exd5 exd5 22. Rc3 Bh4 {0-1 Radjabov,T (2624)-Topalov,V (2743)/Wijk
aan Zee 2003/CBM 093 [Ribli] (61). and Black's authoritarian control of the
dark squares eventually yielded him a win.}) 9. Rd1 b6 10. b3 Ba6 11. a4 Rc8
12. a5 b5 13. c5 Ne4 14. Be1 (14. Nc3 $5 f5 15. Na2) 14... f5 {Black has
almost blocked the position but he has left several squares available for the
enemy minor pieces.} 15. Nc3 Qc7 16. Na2 Rce8 17. Nb4 Bc8 18. a6 Bf6 19. Nd3 {
1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V (2807)-Leko,P (2736)/Monte Carlo 2003/CBM 093 ext (36).
White's advantage is of symbolic nature.}) 8... Nbd7 ({Last year, Topalov
experimented twice with another move order, but without too much success:} 8...
b6 9. Nc3 ({The more restrained} 9. Qc2 {could eventually transpose to the
note from Black's 9th move.}) 9... Ba6 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Rc1 Nc6 (11... Nbd7
12. Qa4) 12. Nxd5 Qxd5 13. Ne5 Nxd4 14. Bxd5 Nxe2+ 15. Qxe2 Bxe2 16. Bxa8 Rxa8
17. Rfe1 Bb5 18. Rc2 Nd5 19. Rec1 Ba6 ({An attempt to improve over} 19... Bc5
20. Bd2 f6 21. b4 Bf8 22. Ng4 Rd8 23. Rc8 Rd7 24. Nh6+ gxh6 25. Bxh6 Rf7 26.
Rd8 Ne7 27. Rc7 {1-0 Ponomariov,R (2695)-Topalov,V (2778)/Sofia 2005/CBM 107 
[Ribli] (40). and Black was completely paralyzed.}) 20. Bd2 f6 21. Nc4 Rd8 22.
a3 Kf7 23. Ne3 h5 24. Nxd5 Rxd5 25. Bb4 Bd8 26. Rc6 Be2 27. Rd6 Rxd6 28. Bxd6 {
1-0 Kramnik,V (2744)-Topalov,V (2788)/Dortmund 2005/CBM 108 [Ribli] (41). and
Black could not hold this ending.}) 9. Qc2 a5 {This move refrains from
weakening the c6-square yet, but does not really contribute to the development
in any way.} ({The main variation is supposed to be} 9... b6 10. Rd1 Ba6 11. b3
{. By refraining from such a course of events, Topalov might have taken into
account the fact that Kramnik likes to transpose to this position from the
main variation of the Queen's Indian. (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3
Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Be7 7.Bg2 c6 8.0-0 d5 9.Qc2 0-0 10.Bf4)} Rc8 12. Nc3 dxc4 (12... c5
13. cxd5 Nxd5 14. Nxd5 exd5 15. dxc5 Rxc5 16. Qd2 Nf6 17. Be5 Qd7 18. Bd4 $14 {
1-0 Kramnik,V (2758)-Adams,M (2715)/Wijk aan Zee 2000/CBM 075 (49)}) 13. Nd2 c5
14. dxc5 Bxc5 {1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V (2770)-Leko,P (2743)/Budapest 2001/CBM 081 
(28)}) 10. Rd1 Nh5 11. Bc1 b5 ({Each of these last moves is typical of this
variation, but only if taken separately. Removing the knight from the centre
and advancing the queen side pawns at the same time certainly looks risky.
When preparing for the game, Topalov might have overlooked White's logical
reaction. It should be said that} 11... Nhf6 12. Nbd2 b5 $5 {does not offer
Black an easy game in view of} 13. c5 Qe8 14. e4 $14 {Marin-Pogorelov,
Barcelona 1994, an old game I like to speak about.}) 12. cxd5 $5 $146 ({
White's standard reaction to ...b5 is} 12. c5 {. However, in this concrete
position Black could take advantage of the insertion of ...Nh5 by playing} f5 {
as in the only game where this risky plan was seen so far, Rahman-Ghaem, Doha
2003. Optically, White enjoys a more flexible structure but it is not too
clear how and where will he be able to open the position. Kramnik was
perfectly aware of these aspects from his aforementioned game against Leko,
from Monte Carlo 2003 (see the note to White's 8th move).}) 12... cxd5 13. e4
$1 {The only logical continuation after the exchange on d5. Otherwise, Black
would have a very comfortable position, because of the relative passivity of
his Catalan bishop, severely restricted by the black chain of pawns.} dxe4 ({
Black would have faced a difficult defence after the more solid} 13... Nhf6 {
, too.} 14. Ng5 ({Catalan players are circumspect when it comes to block the
position with} 14. e5 {, because their pet bishop could well remain passive
for a long time. Here is a line where White could solve this problem by
tactical means:} Ne4 15. Ne1 f5 16. f3 Ng5 17. Bxg5 Bxg5 18. f4 Be7 19. Nc3 Rb8
20. Nxd5 exd5 21. Bxd5+ $44 {and White's central pawns look threatening.})
14... h6 (14... dxe4 15. Nxh7 $5 Nxh7 16. Bxe4 $14) (14... Bb7 15. e5 $16 {
wins a pawn.}) 15. exd5 exd5 (15... hxg5 16. d6 $16) 16. Nf3 ({We can suppose
that after having lost with a rook for two knights just two games earlier,
Kramnik would not have embarked on the sharp line} 16. Bxd5 Ra7 17. Bxf7+ {
where Black is probably out of trouble anyway.}) 16... Ba6 17. Ne5 Rc8 18. Qf5
$14) 14. Qxe4 $14 {Once the position has been opened, Black's delay in
development starts making itself felt. Apart from having provoked considerable
loss of time, the advance of the queen side pawns has left Black with several
weaknesses.} Rb8 ({The only way to justify the move ...a5 would be the
slightly more active development of the rook to a6, but after} 14... Ra6 15.
Qe2 {the queen would target the h5-knight and the b5-pawn at the same time.})
15. Qe2 Nhf6 {Black's main trump consists of the control of the d5-square,
which makes this willing knight retreat perfectly understandable.} ({The
natural} 15... Bb7 {can be met by the brutal} 16. Nc3 $5 b4 17. d5 $1 {for
instance} exd5 (17... bxc3 18. dxe6 $16) 18. Nxd5 Re8 19. Qd3 Nhf6 (19... Ndf6
20. Nxe7+ Qxe7 21. Be3 $14 {[%csl Yh5]}) (19... Nc5 20. Qc4 $14 {[%csl Yc5,Yd8,
Yf7][%cal Gc4f7,Gd1d8]}) 20. Ng5 $1 {[%csl Yf7,Yh7]} Nf8 21. Qb3 $36 Bxd5 (
21... Nxd5 22. Nxf7 $1 $16) 22. Rxd5 Nxd5 23. Nxf7 $16) 16. Bf4 Rb6 17. Ne5 (
17. Nc3 $6 Ba6) 17... Nd5 (17... Bb7 {loses a pawn to} 18. Bxb7 Rxb7 19. Nc6
Qe8 20. Nxa5 $16) (17... Nb8 18. Nc3 Ba6 19. d5 ({Maybe now that the enemy
knight has retreated to such passive square, White could choose a quiet path,} 
19. Ne4 $5 {[%csl Yc5] where his advance in development would leave him on the
top irrespective of the control of the d5-square.}) 19... b4 20. dxe6 Bxe2 21.
Rxd8 Bxd8 22. exf7+ Rxf7 23. Nxe2 Re7 (23... Rf8 24. Nc4 Rb5 25. Nd4) 24. Rc1
$44) ({For} 17... Nxe5 18. dxe5 Nd5 {see 19...Nxe5.}) 18. Bxd5 $1 {A brave
decision. Black would need just one tempo to consolidate with ...N7f6 in order
to get a perfectly viable position. It frequently happens in the Catalan that
White has to give up the pride of his position in order to maintain the
initiative.} ({He could have offered the other bishop for exchange by means of
} 18. Nc3 Nxf4 19. gxf4 {, when White has considerable advantage of
development to compensate for the structural defects. However, Kramnik might
have remembered Topalov's win against Radjabov, when the FIDE World Champion
exploited the weakness of the f4-square in very efficient way. Besides, Black
could have refrained from capturing on f4, by consolidating his central knight
with 18...N7f6.}) 18... exd5 19. Nc3 Nf6 (19... Nxe5 20. dxe5 d4 (20... Be6 21.
Qd3 d4 22. Qxd4 Qxd4 23. Rxd4 $14 {[%cal Yc3e4,Ye4d6,Rc3d5,Ya1d1] Black's pair
of bishops is kept under control by White's centralized pieces.}) 21. Be3 dxe3
22. Rxd8 exf2+ {Zagrebelnyi} 23. Qxf2 Bxd8 24. Nd5 Re6 25. Qd4 {The position
of the white king is wide open, but once again, White's centralization seems
to prevent the enemy bishops from becoming too active. However, the position
would remain sharp.}) 20. Nxb5 Ba6 21. a4 {White has not only won a pawn, but
also completed his development in the meanwhile. It is likely that Black will
manage to re-establish the material equality by means of an exchange on b5 in
the near future, but this would make the weakness of the white king side less
relevant, leaving White with the more pleasant play in an almost symmetrical
position.} Ne4 22. Rdc1 Qe8 {[%csl Yb5]} 23. Rc7 {This tempting move might be
not the best. In the case of accurate black defence, the lack of communication
between the white rooks would make itself felt.} (23. Rc2 {would be more
flexible. With this modest looking rook lift, White defends in advance the
b2-pawn and the queen and enables either the autoritarian occupation of the
c-file by means of Rac1 or the transfer of the queen's rook to e1, in order to
harass the e8-queen (or, as we shall see, any other piece occupying that
square).} Bd8 {[%csl Gc7] (/\Bxb5)} ({The immediate capture on b5 would
re-establish material equality only temporarily:} 23... Bxb5 24. axb5 Qxb5 25.
Qxb5 Rxb5 26. Nc6 Bd8 (26... Bb4 27. f3 Nf6 28. Bc7 $16 {[%csl Ya5]}) 27. Nxd8
Rxd8 28. f3 Nf6 29. Bd2 $16 {White cannot save his a5-pawn because of the
weakness of the back rank.}) ({If Black plays the prophylactic} 23... h6 {
(<->8, /\Bxb5), the importance of the fact that the queen is defended is
revealed in the line} 24. Nc7 $5 Bxe2 25. Nxe8 Rxe8 26. Rxe2 $14 {which allows
favourable simplifications. Converting the extra-pawn is not easy here, though,
because of the lack of flexibility of the queenside structure.}) 24. Re1 $5 $14
{indirectly defends on b5:} Bxb5 $2 25. axb5 Qxb5 26. Qxb5 Rxb5 27. Nd7 Re8 28.
f3 Nd6 29. Rxe8+ Nxe8 30. Rc8 $18) 23... Bd8 24. Ra7 f6 $4 {A terrible move
that loses outright.} ({It is understandable that Topalov was not too
enthusiastic about the position arising after} 24... Bxb5 25. axb5 Qxb5 26.
Qxb5 Rxb5 27. Ra2 {when White's position looks quite active. However, White's
rooks are not too efficient, being cut off the a5-pawn, safely defended by the
bishop.} f6 ({The extravagant} 27... g5 $5 {is also playable:} 28. Be3 f5 29.
Nd3 Bb6 30. Rd7 Rf7 $11 {and Black cannot complain about his position.}) 28.
Nc6 Bb6 29. Rb7 Rf7 30. Rb8+ Rf8 31. Ne7+ {. The only way to avoid the
exchange of the rook, which would leave Black with a comfortable position.} Kf7
32. Nc8 Rxc8 33. Rxc8 Bxd4 34. Rc2 Nc5 $44 {It is not easy to formulate an
active plan for White. Besides, the exchange sacrifice would suit Topalov's
taste pretty well.}) 25. Nd7 $1 ({Even if Topalov had missed this move, it is
not very clear what he had in mind against} 25. Qg4 $5 {which also looks very
promising for White.}) 25... Rf7 26. Nxb6 Rxa7 27. Nxd5 {White has won a
second pawn and threatens to consolidate by retreating the d5-knight to c3 and
eventually close the long diagonal with d5 if Black tries to start an attack
with ...Bb7. From this point of view, Topalov's next moves are easy to
understand, but in fact they just shorten his suffering.} Rd7 28. Ndc3 Rxd4 (
28... Re7 29. Qd3 $18) 29. Re1 ({There seem to be nothing wrong with} 29. f3 {
, when Black simply loses the knight because after} Nd6 30. Qxe8+ Nxe8 {
the b5-knight would be not pinned anymore, which enables} 31. Nxd4 $18 {
. However, it is easy to understand Kramnik for avoiding such a "weakening"
move as f3 after having lost two games in a row. Just remember the
consequences of this same move in the seventh game...}) 29... f5 {More or less
forced, but now the a2-g8 diagonal becomes very weak.} 30. Qc2 {Simple chess.
White is a pawn up, has the better piece coordination and the safer king's
position. In other words, "+-" already.} Rb4 31. Nd5 Rxb5 {Topalov carries out
his "trademark" exchange sacrifice, which has brought him so many successes
over the past years. However, it can hardly change the course of this specific
game.} 32. axb5 Qxb5 33. Nc7 Qc4 34. Qd1 {There was nothing wrong with
exchanging queens at once, of course. By playing such an unexpected move (to a
certain extent similar to the earlier Qc2) , Kramnik might have intended to
get some sort of psychological initiative for the remaining two games of the
match.} Bxc7 35. Qd7 h6 36. Qxc7 Qb4 37. Qb8+ Qxb8 38. Bxb8 {The rest is easy.}
Nd2 39. Ra1 g5 40. f4 Nb3 41. Ra3 Bc4 42. Bc7 g4 43. Bxa5 1-0

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov +3-3=6"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.10.10"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 {
From the point of view of general match strategy, a courageous decision.
Kramnik has nothing against repeating the opening variation that had led him
to a rather convincing defeat in the 9th game.} 8. Rb1 $5 $146 ({Another
opening surprise prepared by Topalov. The idea behind his last move is similar
to that of} 8. a3 {, as played in the 9th game, namely to prepare c4-c5.}) 8...
Nbd7 9. c5 ({This might look a bit too straightforward to offer White an
advantage, but is not without venom. The pair of bishops and the considerable
advantage of space on the queen side offer White interesting possibilities. If
compared with the previous game where this variation was played, White cannot
prevent the central break ...e5 by playing f4 before c5 because Black would
take over the control of the e4-square by means of ...Bb4 (even if with loss
of time after 9.g3 Be7 10.f4). From this point of view,} 9. a3 {deserves some
attention and if} a5 {then} 10. f4 {but apparently Topalov intended to give
the game an independent course in order to avoid the opponent's preparation.})
9... a5 $1 ({A well timed move. Before starting his counterplay in the centre,
Black makes sure the a-file will be open for his rook. In case of} 9... e5 10.
b4 {it would be too late for} a5 {already, because of} 11. b5 {with a
promising queenside position for White.}) 10. a3 {Practically forced in view
of the threat ...b6.} e5 11. b4 axb4 12. axb4 Qc7 13. f4 {Probably still
following the plan prepared at home. White prevents Black's counterplay from
taking threatening forms and forces him take a decision at once.} exf4 ({
In the case of} 13... e4 {[%cal Yb4b5,Yf1e2,Yg2g4] White could gradually start
active operations on both wings. The advance of the b7-pawn to b5 is not a
reliable solution against White's intended queen side attack because of the
permanent danger of a piece sacrifice for two pawns on b5.}) 14. exf4 Be7 ({
Topalov probably relied on the fact that the weakness of the e4-square is not
so easy to take advantage of. If} 14... Ne4 $6 {(now or on the next few moves),
then simply} 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. d5 $16 {with initiative in the centre. However,
Kramnik's accurate regroupment will eventually enable the generally desirable
knight jump.}) ({The somewhat simplistic aim to stabilize the queen side with} 
14... b5 {achieves the opposite after} 15. Nxb5 cxb5 16. Bxb5 Be7 17. O-O O-O
18. Bd3 $44 {[%cal Yc1e3,Yd1f3,Yf4f5,Yb4b5]}) 15. Be2 (15. Bd3 $5 Nf8 16. Qf3
Ne6 {(Topalov)} 17. Ne2 {(+/= Belov)} b5 $5 {Now that the sacrifice on b5 is
not possible anymore, this ensures Black against a queenside attack.}) 15...
Nf8 16. O-O Ne6 17. g3 ({White has to be careful. He has no time for} 17. Qd3 {
because of} g5 {, solving all Black's problems.}) 17... Qd7 18. Qd3 Ne4 {
It's now or never. White threatened to consolidate his advantage in space by
means of Be3 and Bf3, when Black would have been reduced to passivity.} 19.
Nxe4 dxe4 20. Qxe4 Qxd4+ 21. Qxd4 Nxd4 22. Bc4 {In spite of simplifications,
White retained his advantage in space and the pair of bishops. However, the
rook's activity along the a-file and his lack of weaknesses offer Black
reasonable counter-chances.} O-O 23. Kg2 Ra4 24. Rd1 Rd8 ({This is one of the
moments when Black has to refrain from taking immediate advantage of the
active placement of the rook on a4.} 24... Bxc5 $2 25. Be3 $1 Ne6 26. Bb3 $1
Rxb4 27. Bxc5 Nxc5 28. Bxf7+ $18) 25. Be3 (25. Rd3 Kf8 (25... Bxc5 26. Bxf7+
Kxf7 27. bxc5 $16 {Golubev}) 26. Bd2 Bf6 27. Bc3 Ne6 $1 (27... Ra3 $2 28. Rbd1
$1 (28. Ra1 $2 Rxc3 $1 $11)) 28. Bxf6 gxf6 29. Rxd8+ Nxd8 $11) 25... Bf6 (25...
Bxc5 $2 26. Bxf7+ Kxf7 27. bxc5 $16 {[%csl Gb7,Gd4]}) 26. g4 ({A questionable
move. By weakening the f4-square without previous preparation, White
practically commits himself to the further advance of pawns, which will offer
Black stable squares for his minor pieces and excellent prospects for
counterplay. A more restrained alternative was} 26. h4 {, leaving Black with
long-term problems regarding the defence of the f7- or (if ...f6 is played)
the g6-pawn.}) 26... Kf8 27. Bf2 {Enabling the threat g5, without allowing the
intermediate ...Nf5.} ({However,} 27. g5 $5 {deserves to be investigated.} Nf5
28. Rxd8+ Bxd8 29. Bf2 {/\Kf3, h4, Rb3, Bd3-e4, b5} {Black should probably
remove the f-pawn from the exposed square by means of} f6 $5 (29... Bc7 30. Kf3
Ra3+ 31. Rb3 Ra4 (31... Ra2 32. Rd3 Rc2 33. Bxf7 $1 $16) (31... Rxb3+ 32. Bxb3
$16 {After the exchange of rooks, Black is left completely without counterplay.
}) 32. h4 Ke7 33. Bd3 {[%cal Yd3e4,Yb4b5]} Ra2 34. b5 Ra4 35. Be4 $36) 30. h4 (
30. gxf6 Bxf6 $5) 30... Bc7 {with excellent chances for equality:} 31. Kf3 Ra3+
32. Rb3 Ra2 33. Rd3 (33. h5 {is interesting but insufficient, because it
diminishes the number of remaining pawns even more.}) 33... Rb2 34. Rd7 Rxb4
35. Rxc7 Rxc4 36. Rxb7 $11) 27... Ne6 28. Rxd8+ {Under certain circumstances,
g5 would have consolidated White's advantage in space. This would be
impossible here because of ...Nxf4 and ...Bxg5, which reveals one of the
positive aspects of the recommended 26.h4.} Bxd8 29. f5 ({With so many pawns
placed on dark squares, White's advantage after} 29. Bxe6 fxe6 {would probably
have a purely symbolic character.} 30. Rb3 (30. h4 Bc7 31. Kf3 e5 32. f5 Ra3+
33. Ke4 gxf5+ 34. gxf5 Rc3 $11) 30... Bc7 31. Bg3 (31. Kf3 g5 $1) 31... Kf7 32.
Kf3 $14 {White has managed to stabilize the position, but it is far from clear
how he will make further progress.}) 29... gxf5 30. gxf5 Nf4+ 31. Kf3 Nh5 32.
Rb3 Bc7 33. h4 Nf6 {Black has regrouped in an optimal way. The f5-pawn is
safely blocked, preventing an eventual attack of the b7-pawn by means of Bc8,
while the white king's activity is restricted by a barrier along the fourth
rank. We can also notice that the advantage of space has a relative character
already. Since the white pieces cannot easily sustain the pawn's offensive,
the whole space left behind can be used mainly by Black for counterplay. If we
compare with the positions examined in the notes to the 27th move, the knight
is much more stable on f6 than it was on f5.} 34. Bd3 {The pressure against
the f7-square did not promise White much and Topalov decides to remove the
bishop from the active but slightly exposed position in order to enable b5.}
Nd7 35. Be4 $6 ({But this looks over-ambitious already. The immediate} 35. Bb1
{, preventing the enemy rook's activation aong the second rank, looks like a
safer decision. White might have been still OK in this case.}) 35... Ne5+ 36.
Kg2 Ra2 37. Bb1 Rd2 38. Kf1 Ng4 39. Bg1 {The white pieces have been pushed
even further back from their own pawns, which leaves the whole kingside in
some danger.} Bh2 $1 $17 {Intending the elimination of the main defender of
the dark squares.} 40. Ke1 Rd5 $6 {Now, Black's advantage remains within
bearable limits, because the game will soon transpose to a rook and opposite
bishops ending.} ({Black should have insisted on exchanging his own bishop for
the enemy one by means of} 40... Rg2 41. Bd4 Be5 $17) 41. Bf2 Ke7 42. h5 Nxf2
43. Kxf2 Kf6 44. Kf3 Rd4 45. b5 {Finally, White has managed to carry out this
thematic advance, undermining the c6-square and opening new perspectives for
his bishop. In spite of the inevitable loss of the h5-pawn, this will more or
less guarantee a draw.} Rc4 46. bxc6 bxc6 47. Rb6 Rxc5 48. Be4 Kg5 49. Rxc6 Ra5
50. Rb6 Ra3+ 51. Kg2 Bc7 52. Rb7 Rc3 53. Kf2 Kxh5 54. Bd5 f6 55. Ke2 Kg4 56.
Be4 {Black has managed to maintain his minimal material advantage and avoid
the exchange of rooks at the same time. However, his extra pawn is hardly
relevant and his last remaining chance consists of creating some threats
against the enemy king, possibly combined with the relative lack of stability
of the enemy bishop along the b1-e4 diagonal. We can see that White's
advantage in space finally does him a good service. If we lift the whole king
side structure with, say, 2 ranks, Black would get reasonable winning chances,
one of the possible ideas being the exchange sacrifice in order to remove
White's last pawn.} Kf4 57. Bd3 Rc5 58. Rb4+ Kg3 59. Rc4 Re5+ 60. Re4 Ra5 (
60... Rxf5 61. Re3+ Kg4 62. Bxf5+ Kxf5 63. Re7 $11) 61. Re3+ Kg2 62. Be4+ Kh2
63. Rb3 Ra2+ 64. Kd3 {In order to avoid Black's playing on in the conditions
of limited time, the white king has to attack the g7-pawn, when a draw would
become obvious. However, the shorter path could prove dangerous here. Once the
king reached h5, there would be such a mating construction available: ...Rg5+
Kh4 Bg3 (or e1) mate.} Bf4 ({Black could have maintained a symbolic advantage
with} 64... Kg3 65. Rb7 Be5 {when White could not keep his bishop along the
optimal diagonal anymore.} 66. Bd5 (66. Rxg7+ Kf4 {[%csl Ge4][%cal Yf4f5]})
66... Kf4 67. Be6 Ra3+ 68. Ke2 Rg3 69. Rb4+ Kg5 {followed by ...g6.}) 65. Kc4
Re2 66. Kd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov +3-3=6"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.10.12"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "12"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 {With the exception of the first game of the match, Topalov faced
serious opening problems in the Catalan. It is little wonder that for the
decisive game he chose the rock-solid Slav.} 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5.
Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 {On the day I connected with some delay to the
playchess.com server. When I saw the current position my first thought was
that I had clicked on an earlier game in which Topalov had White. Indeed, this
is the first time in the match when the players have repeated a previously
tested variation with reversed colours.} 8. g3 {Kramnik had occasionally
played this variation with White, but only in rapid events. Unlike Topalov, he
does not seem inclined to make experiments, preferring to follow the well
known paths.} Nbd7 9. Bd2 ({Kramnik had also played} 9. Bg2 {which leads to a
position typical for the Catalan gambits after} dxc4 {when Black can defend
his extra pawn with a further ...Nb6.}) 9... Bb4 $146 {Topalov is consequent
with his handling of this position with White. We can understand now that one
of the purposes of his 8.a3 had been to prevent ...Bb4, which he apparently
considers the most efficient way to counter White's strategy, based on placing
several pawns on dark squares. Previously, Black developed the bishop mainly
to e7. Although White generally maintained a tiny plus, he did not achieve any
special successes in practice.} (9... Be7 10. b3 $5 {[%csl Yc4][%cal Gf1g2]} ({
Topalov himself also aimed to give the position a Catalan - Gambit character
with} 10. Rc1 a6 11. Bg2 Nb6 12. b3 dxc4 13. Ne2 cxb3 14. Qxb3 a5 15. Nf4 Bb4
16. Bxb4 axb4 17. Qxb4 Rxa2 18. O-O Ra4 19. Qb3 Ra7 20. Ra1 Rxa1 21. Rxa1 O-O
22. Rb1 Nfd7 23. Nd3 Qc7 24. h4 Rb8 25. Qb4 Nd5 26. Bxd5 cxd5 {1/2-1/2 Topalov,
V (2757)-Vallejo Pons,F (2686)/Monte Carlo 2005/CBM 105 ext}) 10... O-O (10...
e5 11. cxd5 exd4 12. exd4 Nxd5 13. Nxd5 cxd5 14. Bg2 Nf6 15. O-O O-O 16. Re1
Re8 17. Bf4 Qd7 18. Qd3 Bb4 19. Rxe8+ Rxe8 20. Be5 $14 {1/2-1/2 Sasikiran,K 
(2652)-Malakhatko,V (2556)/Vlissingen 2005/CBM 107 ext (58)}) 11. Bg2 dxc4 ({
One of the few White wins in this line was caused by a gross blunder after} 
11... Ne8 12. O-O f5 13. f4 $14 g5 $4 14. cxd5 exd5 15. Nxd5 $1 $18 {1-0
Malakhov,V (2670)-Nikolic,P (2584)/Khanty Mansiysk 2005/CBM 111 (28)}) 12. bxc4
e5 13. Qb3 (13. Rb1 $5) 13... Rb8 14. Rd1 Qc7 15. O-O Rfd8 16. Bc1 Nf8 17. Bb2
$14 {[%csl Yb2,Yg2] 1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V (2754)-Gelfand,B (2696)/Monte Carlo 2005/
CBM 105 ext (26)}) 10. Qb3 Bxc3 11. Bxc3 Ne4 12. Bg2 (12. Qxb7 $2 Rb8 13. Qxa7
(13. Qxc6 Rxb2 $1 $40) 13... Qf6 14. f4 Nxg3 $132) 12... Nxc3 13. Qxc3 {
Topalov probably assumed that all these exchanges will offer Black an easy
game. However, White's supremacy in the centre, his authoritarian control over
the dark squares and his slightly better development leave him able to count
on some advantage.} f5 $5 {By switching to the Dutch Stonewall structure,
Black not only restricts the enemy bishop even more, but also creates himself
chances for a king side attack.} ({The opening of the centre by means of
"purely" Slav methods by means of} 13... Qe7 14. O-O dxc4 (14... O-O {might be
safer.}) 15. Qxc4 e5 {does not offer complete equality:} 16. Rad1 (16. d5 Nb6
$11) (16. dxe5 Nxe5 17. Qd4 O-O {[%csl Ge5][%cal Yg6g5,Yg5g4]}) 16... Nb6 17.
Qc2 (17. Qb3 e4 $5 {[%csl Gd5]}) 17... O-O 18. dxe5 Qxe5 19. Rd4 Rad8 20. Rfd1
Rxd4 21. Rxd4 $14 {The structure is similar with that from the second play-off
game. Compared to that position, the previous exchange of the dark-squared
bishops favours Black, but the control of the d-file is a more significant
element.}) 14. O-O Qe7 $6 {By delaying castling, Black keeps his opponent
under some psychological pressure regarding the possibility of a brutal attack
along the h-file.} ({However, defining the queen's position so soon was not
necessary. Since after ...f5 Black would hardly play ...e5 anymore, he should
have first played} 14... Nf6 {, which is more or less "forced" given the
current pawn structure. The knight stands best on e4 or, possibly, on d6. If
White plays in the same way as in the game, namely} 15. cxd5 exd5 16. b4 {
play can continue} O-O (16... Ne4 17. Qd3 Nd6 {fails to prevent b4-b5.} 18. a4
a6 19. b5 $1 axb5 20. axb5 Rxa1 21. Rxa1 Nxb5 22. Bxd5 $3 $16) 17. a4 ({
The immediate} 17. b5 cxb5 18. Qb3 Qd7 {leaves Black with a whole extra tempo
compared to the variation given in the notes to the 17th move.}) (17. Rab1 Ne4
18. Qd3 a6 19. a4 {is best met by} Nd6 $1 $11 {[%csl Yc4][%cal Gb7b5]} 20. b5
$6 axb5 21. axb5 Nxb5 22. Rxb5 cxb5 23. Qxb5 Ra5 $1) 17... Ne4 18. Qd3 Qd7 19.
b5 g5 {with similar play as in the game, where the move a4 is not necessarily
useful.}) 15. cxd5 {We can feel that Kramnik's treatment of the position
differs from that of his opponent in a radical way. In the previous game
Topalov blocked the queenside by means of c5, while two games earlier his
whole opening play prepared this move, eventually causing Black to give up the
centre with ...dxc4. It is remarkable that Kramnik refrained from blocking the
queen side in the last 10th game, even though that is the almost authomatic
reaction to Black's ...b5 in the Catalan. There, too, he exchanged on d5, in
order to retain some initiative in an half-open position.} exd5 16. b4 {
The minority attack remains a simple and dangerous plan in spite of
simplifications. Black cannot avoid the weakening of his queen side.} Nf6 17.
Rfc1 ({The immediate} 17. b5 $5 {offered better chances of developing the
initiative:} O-O (17... cxb5 18. Qb3 $36 {[%cal Yf1b1,Ya2a4]} Qd7 19. Rfb1 Rc8
20. a4 Ne4 21. Qxb5 Rc6 22. Rb2 $14 {Korotylev}) (17... Rc8 18. Qa5 b6 19. Qa6
O-O 20. bxc6 Rxc6 21. Rfc1 $14 {[%cal Yc1c8] Notkin} Rfc8 22. Qxc8+ $1) 18.
bxc6 Rac8 19. Rfc1 (19. c7 Qxc7 20. Qb3 Qd7 21. Rfc1 g5 {Compared to Notkin's
line, both sides have equal rights over the open c-file here.}) 19... bxc6 20.
Rc2 Ne4 21. Qd3 g5 22. Rac1 Qd7 23. Qa6 Rf6 24. f3 $16 {[%csl Gc6]}) 17... Ne4
18. Qb2 O-O 19. b5 Rac8 20. bxc6 bxc6 {White can count on a small but stable
advantage because of his more compact structure.} 21. Qe2 {White's general
plan consists of pressure along the c- and b-files, but he should not neglect
prophylactic measures on the other wing. By placing the queen on e2 he inhibit
to a certain extent the attack based on ...g5 and ...f4 (when the queen would
place the knight under unpleasant pressure and keep the weakened g4-square
under control). Besides, the last move is useful for active purposes, too, by
enabling the transfer of the queen to a6 in the most rapid way.} g5 22. Rab1 ({
The continuation of the same policy. Before choosing the concrete plan,
Kramnik improves the position of his pieces. After taking the b-file under
control, the threat Qa6 becomes unpleasant. The more straightforward} 22. Rc2 {
would have allowed Black continue his king side play with} Rf6) 22... Qd7 {
A multi-purpose move. Black avoids the pin along the e-file (enabling ...f4 in
certain cases) and over-defends the c8-rook and the c6-pawn in order to enable
...Rf6 without fearing Qa6. However, the removal of the black queen from the
e7-square is a small success for White, who will not have to worry about a
possible sacrifice on g3 in the case of a later f3.} 23. Rc2 ({White
overdefends the second rank (the f2-square in first line) and prepares to
doublie rooks along the c- or b-file. Abstractly speaking,} 23. Rb2 {looks
less adequate because it would leave the rook overloaded by the control of the
second rank and the b-file, although from a practical point of view it would
have probably made little difference.}) 23... Rf6 24. Rbc1 ({In the case of} 
24. Qa6 f4 25. Rb7 Qf5 {Black attack could become dangerous.}) 24... g4 ({
Black decides to eliminate the possibility of White's f3.} 24... Rh6 {was
possible, too, when after} 25. Qa6 {(threatening to win a pawn with f3 already)
he would have had a choice between transposing to the game with 25...g4 or play
} c5) 25. Rb2 $6 ({For the same aforementioned reasons,} 25. Rb1 {, might have
been more accurate. The difference will become clear at a later stage of the
game.}) 25... Rh6 {A logical but very commital plan. If the attack along the
h-file fails, the rook will be left out of play, leaving White a free hand on
the opposite wing.} 26. Qa6 Rc7 ({Now,} 26... c5 $6 {would be strongly met by}
27. Rb7 $1 {when the weakness of Black's central pawns would make itself felt.}
) 27. Rb8+ Kh7 28. Qa3 {We can notice now another effect of the move Qe7-d7.
This important diagonal became available to the white queen. Suddenly, the
threat Qf8 puts the black king in some danger.} Rb7 29. Qf8 $6 ({After this
move the game will soon enter drawish paths. White's last chance for an
advantage consisted of} 29. Ra8 {, when exchanging queens on e7 or d6 would
not absolve Black from all his strategic problems. The safest continuation
would probably be} Rf6 {, covering all the squares for infiltration, as
suggested by Golubev.}) 29... Rxb8 30. Qxb8 Qf7 31. Qc8 Qh5 32. Kf1 Nd2+ ({
With the rook on c2, this check would not have been possible. Besides, against
} 32... Qg6 {(which would have been a worthy alternative in the game), White
could have continued his invasion along the b-file with 33.Rb2. In the game,}
33. Rb1 $4 {is impossible because of the fork on d2.}) 33. Ke1 Nc4 {Covering
the weakness of the c6-pawn.} 34. Bf1 {Well, at least temporarily...} Rf6 35.
Bxc4 dxc4 36. Rxc4 {White has managed to fragment Black's structure even more,
but now the light squares around his king are weak, allowing Black to display
strong counterplay.} Qxh2 37. Ke2 Qh1 38. Rc5 Qb1 39. Qa6 Qb2+ 40. Kf1 Qb1+ 41.
Ke2 Qb2+ 42. Kf1 Rh6 43. Qd3 {After the return of the queen to the centre, the
white king is out of danger.} g6 (43... Qa1+ 44. Ke2 Qxa2+ 45. Kf1 g6 {would
win a pawn, but after} 46. Qc4 {he would have to give perpetual anyway. The
rook ending would be microscopically worse in view of White's better structure
and the inevitable loss of the a7-pawn.}) 44. Qb3 Rh1+ 45. Kg2 Rh2+ ({Another
way of reaching a draw would be} 45... Qa1 46. Qf7+ Kh6 47. Qf8+ Kh7 $11) 46.
Kxh2 Qxf2+ 47. Kh1 Qf1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov playoff +2-1=1"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.10.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D19"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2006.10.13"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O
Nbd7 9. Qe2 O-O 10. e4 Bg6 11. Bd3 Bh5 12. e5 Nd5 13. Nxd5 cxd5 14. Qe3 {
Topalov switches back to the classical main line of the Slav, which brought
him close to what could have easily been his best achievement in the whole
match (see the tragically ended second game).} Re8 15. Ne1 $5 (15. Bd2 Bxd2 16.
Nxd2 Rc8 17. a5 Nb8 18. Bb5 Rf8 19. Nb3 Qe7 20. Nc5 Bg6 21. Rfc1 $14 {1-0
Berkes,F (2578)-Portisch,L (2583)/Heviz 2003/CBM 096 (47)}) (15. Ng5 Nf8 (15...
Bg6 {would just transpose to the second game.}) (15... h6 $2 16. Qh3 $1 $18)
16. Nxh7 Nxh7 17. Bxh7+ Kxh7 18. Qh3 g6 19. g4 Rh8 20. gxh5 Kg7 21. h6+ Kh7 22.
Kh1 Rc8 23. f4 Rc2 24. f5 exf5 25. Rxf5 Qd7 {1/2-1/2 Santoro,G-Sommovigo,A/
corr 1970/Corr 2000 (35). and Black managed to repel the attack.}) 15... Rc8 (
15... Bg6 {allows White keep his knight with} 16. Bxg6 hxg6 17. Nd3 Be7 18. Bd2
{1/2-1/2 Banusz,T (2389)-Erdos,V (2454)/Budapest 2004/CBM 102 ext (26)
although this did not offer him much.}) 16. f4 Bxe1 17. Rxe1 Bg6 18. Bf1 Rc2
19. b3 Qa5 20. Bb5 Rd8 21. Re2 Rcc8 ({The hidden strength of the pair of
bishops can be seen in the variation} 21... Rc3 $2 22. Bd2 $1 Rxe3 23. Bxa5
Rxe2 24. Bxd8 $18 {[%csl Yd7,Ye2]}) 22. Bd2 Qb6 23. Rf2 a6 24. Bf1 Rc6 {
Each player has his own trumps. White has the pair of bishops and an advantage
of space, while Black controls the only open file and has a fantastic bishop.}
25. b4 Rc2 26. b5 a5 27. Bc3 Rxf2 28. Qxf2 Qa7 29. Qd2 Ra8 30. Rc1 Nb6 31. Bb2
Nxa4 32. Ba3 h6 33. h3 Be4 34. Kh2 Nb6 35. Bc5 a4 36. Ra1 Nc4 $5 {The start of
an interesting tactical phase, leading to complete simplification and an
inevitable draw.} 37. Bxc4 b6 38. Qe3 Rc8 39. Bf1 bxc5 40. dxc5 Qxc5 41. Qxc5
Rxc5 42. b6 Rc6 43. b7 Rb6 44. Ba6 d4 45. Rxa4 Bxb7 46. Bxb7 Rxb7 47. Rxd4
1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov playoff +2-1=1"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.10.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2006.10.13"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 {This looks
like Kramnik's little surprise weapon for rapid events. He has never played
this system of development in normal games, but used it twice during his blitz
match against Kasparov, back in 1998, obtaining 1.5 points with it.} O-O 8. Be2
b6 ({White has generally failed to prove an advantage after} 8... a6 9. O-O e5
10. cxd5 cxd5 11. dxe5 Nxe5 {but playing with an isolani is not to everybody's
taste.}) 9. O-O Bb7 10. Bb2 Re8 11. Rad1 Qe7 12. Rfe1 Rac8 $5 ({A rare move,
pursuing certain concrete aims, but placing the rook on not a very favourable
square. After} 12... Rad8 {we would reach one of the main tabyias of the whole
variation.} 13. Bd3 {seems to be the latest trend in this line. The critical
continuation is probably} (13. e4 {did not offer White anything special in the
games played so far, but both players might have had a different opinion about
it.} Nxe4 14. Nxe4 dxe4 15. Qxe4 Bb4 16. Rf1 Nf6 (16... f5 17. Qc2 Bd6 18. c5
$5 bxc5 19. dxc5 Bxc5 20. Bc4 Kh8 21. Rde1 Nf8 22. Re2 $44 {1/2-1/2 Rustemov,A
(2607)-Gurevich,M (2633)/Copenhagen 2001/CBM 083 ext (34)}) 17. Qh4 Ba3 18. Ba1
c5 $132 {0-1 Bluvshtein,M (2453)-Asrian,K (2599)/Moscow 2004/CBM 100 (70)})
13... e5 (13... h6 14. e4 dxe4 15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16. Rxe4 Nf6 17. Re2 Qf8 18. Ne5
c5 19. Red2 $14 {1-0 Neverov,V (2541)-Gagarin,V (2397)/Minsk 2000/EXT 2001 (30)
}) (13... c5 14. cxd5 exd5 15. Bf5 Nf8 16. Ne2 Ne4 17. dxc5 bxc5 18. Ng3 Ng5
19. Bg4 Bxg3 20. hxg3 Ne4 21. Nd2 Nxd2 22. Qxd2 Qg5 23. Bf3 Ne6 24. Qa5 Rd7 25.
Ba3 Qd8 26. Qxd8 Rexd8 27. Bg4 Rc7 28. Rc1 Rdc8 29. Bb2 g6 30. Be5 Rc6 31. Red1
Rd8 32. Bf6 $14 {0-1 Zhao Xue (2470)-Karjakin,S (2645)/Tiayuan 2005/CBM 108/
[Lutz] (60)}) 14. cxd5 cxd5 (14... e4 15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16. dxc6 Rc8 17. Bxe4 $1
$18) 15. dxe5 Nxe5 16. Nd4 {, with a typical isolani position, which has never
been seen in practice so far.}) 13. Bd3 $5 {Moving for the second time with
the bishop along the f1-d3 diagonal looks like a loss of time, but it will be
compensated for by the fact that Black's queen's rook will soon have to be
transferred to d8 anyway.} ({One of the ideas behind Black's last move could
be to meet} 13. e4 {with} e5 (13... dxe4 14. Nxe4 Nxe4 15. Qxe4 {is less
favourable for Black now, because he will be one tempo slower in the fight for
the d-file.}) {although White can transpose to the game with} 14. Bd3) 13... e5
(13... c5 14. cxd5 exd5 15. dxc5 bxc5 16. Bf5) 14. e4 $1 ({Now that the
c6-pawn is safely defended,} 14. cxd5 $2 {is impossible because of} e4 $1 $19)
14... dxc4 (14... dxe4 $6 {is completely pointless here:} 15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16.
Bxe4 $16) (14... exd4 15. exd5 Bxh2+ $8 16. Kh1 (16. Kxh2 Qd6+ 17. Kg1 dxc3 $11
) (16. Kf1 $5) 16... Be5 17. Nxd4 $14) 15. Bxc4 b5 16. Bf1 {White's
development is more harmonious than in certain lines of the system 6.Qc2
followed by 7.Be2, which enables him to count on maintaining his advantage in
the centre for a long time. For the moment, neither side should release the
tension in the centre, because this would allow the activation of the enemy
pieces.} g6 $6 {Topalov defends in advance the f5-square, but weakens the dark
squares prematurely.} ({Correcting the placement of the rook with} 16... Rcd8 {
was probably more appropriate, since after} 17. dxe5 $6 Nxe5 18. Nd4 {he could
defend the f5-square with} Bc8) 17. Qd2 $5 {Immediately taking advantage of
the newly created weaknesses by transferring the queen to the kingside.} Rcd8
18. Qg5 a6 19. h3 {For both sides, it is harder and harder to find useful
moves in order to delay the moment of releasing the tension in the centre.}
exd4 (19... Bc7 $5 20. a4 $5 {[%csl Gb5]}) 20. Nxd4 Qe5 21. Qxe5 Nxe5 22. Nc2
$14 {[%cal Yf2f4] White's pawn advantage in the centre offers him the better
chances. In the next phase of the game Black will try to obtain active play,
while White will simply regroup in accordance with the newly created
weaknesses from the enemy camp.} (22. f4 $6 Bc5 $1) 22... g5 23. Bc1 h6 24. Be3
c5 (24... b4 $2 25. Na4 $16 Nxe4 $2 26. Bb6 $18) 25. f3 {[%csl Ge4]} Bf8 26.
Bf2 {[%csl Yf1,Yf2][%cal Rf2c5,Rf1a6,Ga2a4,Gc2e3,Ge3d5]} Bc8 27. Ne3 {[%csl
Yd5,Yf5]} Be6 28. Ned5 Bxd5 29. exd5 Ned7 $6 ({This voluntary retreat from the
centre is hard to understand.} 29... Bd6 {, blocking the dangerous pawn was
better, with reasonable chances to defend.}) 30. Rxe8 Rxe8 31. a4 b4 $2 ({
But this is equivalent to complete strategic surrender. Black should have
fought against the blockade on the dark squares with} 31... c4) 32. Ne4 $16 {
/+-} Nxe4 33. fxe4 Nf6 (33... a5 34. Bb5 Rd8 35. Bg3 Nf6 36. Bc7 Rc8 37. d6 $18
) (33... Rxe4 34. Bxa6 {[%cal Ya6b7,Ya4a8]}) 34. d6 Nxe4 35. d7 Rd8 36. Bxa6 f5
37. a5 Bg7 38. Bc4+ Kf8 39. a6 Nxf2 40. Kxf2 Bd4+ {Allowing an elegant finish.}
41. Rxd4 $1 cxd4 42. a7 Ke7 43. Bd5 Kxd7 44. a8=Q Rxa8 45. Bxa8 1-0

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov playoff +2-1=1"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.10.13"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2006.10.13"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Be2 {Topalov
deviates from his queenside plans and continues developing normally. Since he
does not intend to put his rook on b1, the exchange on g6 is not necessary yet
and would just expose his own h2-pawn.} Nbd7 8. O-O {A relatively unexplored
move.} ({Over the past few years, there has been a theoretical discussion in
the line} 8. Bd2 Bd6 9. Nxg6 hxg6 10. Qc2 {followed by 0-0-0.}) 8... Bd6 9. g3
(9. h3 O-O 10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. Qc2 dxc4 12. Bxc4 Qe7 13. Bd2 c5 14. dxc5 Bxc5 15.
Rfd1 Rac8 16. Be2 Rfd8 17. Be1 {1-0 Malakhov,V (2695)-Haznedaroglu,K (2395)/
Tripoli 2004/CBM 102 (55). and White managed to impose his pair of bishops in
a long ending.}) 9... dxc4 $146 {We are familiar with Kramnik's handling of
this structure from the 9th game. Giving up the centre so easily will not be
any more successful in this game.} (9... Qe7 10. Qb3 Rb8 11. Bd2 Ne4 12. Nxe4
Bxe4 13. f3 Bg6 14. Rae1 dxc4 15. Qxc4 c5 16. dxc5 Bxc5 17. b4 Bb6 18. a4 $14 {
1/2-1/2 Vladimirov,B-Nei,I/Moscow 1963/EXT 2003 (56)}) (9... O-O 10. Bd2 (10.
Nxg6 hxg6 11. Qc2 {[%cal Ye3e4]}) 10... Re8 11. Rc1 a6 12. Nxg6 hxg6 13. f3 (
13. Qc2 $5 {[%cal Ye3e4]}) 13... e5 14. cxd5 cxd5 15. Qb3 exd4 16. exd4 {
1/2-1/2 Gavrikov,V (2578)-Khalifman,A (2688)/Tallinn 2002/CBM 087}) 10. Bxc4
Nb6 11. Be2 O-O 12. Nxg6 hxg6 13. e4 e5 14. f4 {Topalov has played this move
quite frequently in this match. In the second match game and in the first
play-off game it was aimed to create chances for a kingside attack, while in
the 9th, 11th and in the present game it served him for maintaining a firm
control over the centre.} exd4 15. Qxd4 {A typical structure for the Slav
Defence. White has the pair of bishops and a strong kingside majority. Black's
main hopes for maintaining the balance are connected with the counterplay
along the d-file and the relative weakness of the dark squares in White's camp.
From the matches for the World title, the situation is similar to that from
the 12th game of the first match between Botvinik and Smyslov. The former
carried out a systematic and very dangerous attack based on the masive advance
of the pawns and eventually won. To a certain extent, the present game had a
similar course.} Qe7 {For the time being, White has to be careful. He still
needs a couple of moves to get fully mobilized and will have to spend some
time to bring his queen into safety.} 16. Kg2 ({For the mere sake of
development,} 16. Be3 {would have been more appropriate. For instance,} Rad8
17. e5 Rfe8 18. Bf2 $14 {[%csl Ya7,Yb6,Yc5] . Quite possibly, even at this
early stage of the game, Topalov intended to maintain his dark-squared bishop
on the c1-h6 diagonal in order to put the enemy kingside under pressure.})
16... Bc5 (16... Rad8 {would have been more restrictive. The threat ...Bxf4
would have prevented the enemy queen from retreating to c2.} 17. Qe3 (17. e5 $6
Bc5 18. exf6 $8 Qxe2+ $1) 17... Bc5 18. Qf3 Bd4 19. e5 Nfd5 {. The position
would be very much similar to that which arose in the game, with the
significant difference that the g6-pawn would not be hanging, enabling Black
break the enemy centre by means of a well-timed ...f6.o.}) 17. Qd3 Rad8 18. Qc2
({Here White had a choice between this move and} 18. Qf3 {, which would
transpose to the previous note.}) 18... Bd4 19. e5 Nfd5 20. Rf3 {[%csl Ge3]
Xe3. White's development does not look too natural but his strong chain of
pawns prevent him from getting into trouble. One of the negative aspects
connected with Black's kingside structure is that he cannot open the position
by means of ...f6 too easily because of the weakness of the g6-pawn.} Nxc3 {
This looks like a premature release of the tension and will lead to loss of
time.} ({This would have been a good moment to get rid of the pawn weakness
with} 20... g5 $5) 21. bxc3 Bc5 22. Bd2 {Topalov's handling of the pair of
bishops in ths game deserves special attention. Although he will generally
keep them on apparently modest and vulnerable squares, they will keep the
enemy kingside under permanent pressure and defend the d-file in an entirely
adequate way.} Rd7 ({It was probably not too late for playing} 22... g5) 23.
Re1 Rfd8 24. Bd3 {Not fearing any ghosts, White willingly enters the pin.} (24.
Bc1 {would have allowed the generally favourable for Black exchange of the
dark-squared bishop with} Ba3 {because such tricks as} 25. e6 $2 {do not work
in view of} Qxe6 26. Bxa3 $2 Rd2 $17 {. We can see here that the absence of
the bishop from the c1-h6 diagonal (be it of temporary nature) can have
unpleasant effects.}) 24... Qe6 ({The queen is not too well suited for
blockading purposes but Black simply did not have other ways of preventing e6.
} 24... Nc4 25. Bc1 Qe6 26. Qe2 b5 27. f5 $16) 25. Bc1 (25. f5 {would have
been premature:} gxf5 26. Bg5 Rxd3 (26... Be7 $5 27. Bxf5 Bxg5 28. Bxe6 Rd2+
29. Re2 fxe6 30. Qg6 Rxe2+ 31. Kh3 Rxe5 32. Qf7+ $11) 27. Rxd3 Rxd3 28. Qxd3
Qxa2+ $44) 25... f5 {[%csl Yf4,Gg6,Gg7] This is the only way to prevent the
advance of the white f-pawn and restrict the white light-squared bishop at the
same time. However, it will only slow down White's attack and not really parry
it. Besides, from the structural point of view it is much less favourable than
an earlier ...g5, because it leaves the doubled pawns hopelessly weak.} 26. Qe2
{The start of a new regroupment in view of launching the next wave of attack.}
Kf8 {The king quits the weak light-squared diagonal and intends to take an
active part in the blockade of the e-pawn. However, with so many pieces on the
board this is not without risk.} 27. Rd1 Qe7 28. h4 {Underlining the chronic
weakness and lack of mobility of Black's structure.} Rd5 29. Qc2 {The
hesitations from the next phase of the game are typical of the rapid rate of
play.} Nc4 30. Rh1 Na3 (30... Be3 $2 31. Bxc4 $1 Rd2+ 32. Bxd2 Rxd2+ 33. Qxd2
Bxd2 34. Rd1 {[%csl Gd2,Gf8]} Qc5 $8 35. Bb3 Be3 36. Rd3 Bg1 37. Rf1 Be3 38.
Rd8+ Ke7 39. Rfd1 $18) 31. Qe2 Qd7 32. Rd1 b5 33. g4 fxg4 34. Rg3 Ke7 (34...
Nb1 $5 {Golubev} 35. e6 Qe7 {[%csl Gf7]} (35... Qd6 36. Qxg4 Nxc3 37. Qxg6 $18)
36. Bb2 Na3 37. Rxg4 $40) (34... Nc4 35. e6 Qe7 (35... Qd6 36. Qxg4) 36. Re1
Qxh4 37. Rxg4 Qe7 38. Bxc4 bxc4 39. Rxg6 $40) 35. f5 $1 gxf5 36. Bg5+ Ke8 37.
e6 ({Obviously, "winning" the exchange with} 37. Bxd8 {does not suit Topalov's
style. Here, Black would retain more than sufficient compensation.}) 37... Qd6
$6 (37... Qc7 38. Rxg4 $3 fxg4 (38... Be7 39. Bxf5 $3 Rxf5 40. Rgd4 $1 Bxg5 41.
Rd7 $1 $18 {Golubev}) 39. Bg6+ Kf8 40. Rxd5 cxd5 (40... Rxd5 41. e7+ $1 Bxe7
42. Qe6 $1 $18 {Golubev}) 41. Qxg4 Qe5 42. Qf3+ $18 {Golubev}) 38. Bxf5 $1 Rxd1
39. Bg6+ Kf8 40. e7+ Qxe7 41. Bxe7+ Bxe7 42. Bd3 Ra1 43. Qb2 Rd1 44. Qe2 Ra1
45. Qxg4 $18 Rxa2+ 46. Kh3 Bf6 47. Qe6 Rd2 48. Bg6 R2d7 49. Rf3 b4 50. h5 1-0

[Event "World-ch Kramnik-Topalov playoff +2-1=1"]
[Site "Elista"]
[Date "2006.10.13"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2006.10.13"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 115"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2006.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {If I remember correctly, this is the only classic World Title match
where all the games started with the same move. There has only been one match 
(Botvinnik-Petrosian 1963) when 1.e4 has not been played at all, but White
occasionally deviated with 1.c4.} d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7
6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Be2 Bb7 9. O-O Be7 ({The experimental} 9... b4 {
worked out well in the 8th game, but Topalov apparently decided not to push
his luck too much.}) 10. e4 b4 11. e5 bxc3 12. exf6 {This line is supposed to
lead to a very tiny edge for White and the most frequent result is a draw.}
Bxf6 (12... Nxf6 {is a safe alternative:} 13. bxc3 O-O 14. Rb1 Qc7 (14... Qc8
15. Qb3 Ba6 {is also playable}) 15. Bf4 Qxf4 16. Rxb7 {and White's initiative
is not easy to convert into something more concrete. On the other hand,
Black's position might not be to everybody's taste. Here is the most recent
example:} Bd6 17. g3 Qf5 18. Nd2 c5 19. Nc4 Rad8 20. Qb3 Qd5 21. Nxd6 Qxd6 22.
Rxa7 cxd4 23. cxd4 Qxd4 24. Rb7 h5 25. Bf3 {1/2-1/2 Rasmussen,K (2396)-Korneev,
O (2613)/Malaga 2003/CBM 092 ext}) 13. bxc3 c5 14. dxc5 Nxc5 $5 $146 {
Curiously, this move has never been seen in practice before.} ({Black usually
played} 14... O-O {when White cannot demonstrate a convincing way of
developing his initiative too easily.} 15. Ba3 (15. Be3 Be7 16. Rb1 Qc8 17. Qd3
Rd8 18. Qb5 Rb8 19. Qa5 Bxc5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Lputian,S (2627)-Ivanchuk,V (2709)/
Bled 2002/EXT 2003 (27)}) 15... Be7 16. Qd4 Qc7 (16... Bd5 17. c4 Bc6 18. Rab1
Rc8 19. Ne5 Nxe5 20. Qxe5 Qc7 21. Qxc7 Rxc7 22. Rfd1 Rfc8 23. f3 f6 24. Kf2 Kf7
25. f4 Ke8 26. Rb2 Be4 27. Ke3 f5 28. g3 Bxc5+ 29. Bxc5 Rxc5 30. Rd6 Ke7 31.
Ra6 R5c7 32. Rb5 $14 {1-0 Seirawan,Y (2595)-Petursson,M (2535)/New York 1987/
CBM 002 (61)}) 17. Rab1 (17. c6 Bxa3 18. cxd7 Bc5 19. Qd3 h6 20. Bd1 Bc6 21.
Bc2 g6 22. Rfe1 Qxd7 23. Qxd7 Bxd7 24. Ne5 Rfd8 25. Nxd7 Rxd7 26. Red1 Rad8 $15
{1/2-1/2 Gleizerov,E (2525)-Blagojevic,D (2465)/Skopje 1993/EXT 2005 (29)})
17... Bc6 (17... Bd5 18. c4 Bc6 19. Qe3 Ba4 20. c6 Bxa3 21. cxd7 Bc5 22. Qe4
Bc6 23. Qe5 Bd6 24. Qd4 e5 25. Qh4 Qxd7 $15 {0-1 Volkov,S (2380)-Filipenko,A 
(2420)/Kazan 1995/CBM 049 ext (64)}) 18. Qe3 Bxf3 19. Bxf3 Rab8 20. c6 Bxa3 21.
cxd7 Qxd7 22. c4 Qe7 23. Rb5 Rxb5 24. cxb5 Rd8 25. Rd1 Rxd1+ 26. Bxd1 Qd6 27.
Bf3 Bc5 $15 {0-1 Brynell,S (2496)-Carlsen,M (2570)/Gausdal 2005/CBM 108 ext 
(53)}) 15. Bb5+ $6 {This was probably precisely the move Topalov was counting
for when opting for this interesting opening experiment. What can be more
natural than depriving the opponent of the right to castle, especially in the
conditions of rapid play? Generally speaking, I feel like attaching the same
comment as to 12.Bb5+ from the 8th game. More specifically, the last move
obstructs the b-file for his own rook and places the bishop on a vulnerable
square at the same time.} ({The critical test of Topalov's novelty consists of
} 15. Ba3 $5 {, when Black would face problems completing his development
without making any positional concession:} Qc7 (15... Qxd1 16. Rfxd1 Rc8 17.
Rab1 $16 {[%cal Ya3f8]}) (15... Qa5 16. Bb4 Qc7 17. Rb1 $14) (15... Be7 16.
Bb5+ Kf8 17. Ne5 $36) 16. Rb1 Rd8 (16... Rc8 17. Bxc5 Bxf3 18. Bb5+ Bc6 19. Qa4
$16 {[%csl Ga7,Ge8]}) 17. Qc1 O-O 18. Qe3 Bxf3 $8 (18... Be7 $2 19. Bxc5 Bxc5
20. Rxb7 $18) 19. Bxf3 $14 {[%csl Ya3,Yf3] with active play for White.}) 15...
Kf8 {Abstractly speaking, White's advance in development looks like adequate
compensation for Black's better structure, but Black's play seems easier
nonetheless. Unlike the 8th game, where he let his initiative vanish, Kramnik
will eventually manage to convert it in an extra pawn, although not without
the help of his opponent.} 16. Qxd8+ (16. Ba3 Qc7 $1 $13 {Golubev} 17. Rb1 Kg8
18. Qe2 Rc8 19. Qe3 Ne4 $132) 16... Rxd8 17. Ba3 Rc8 18. Nd4 (18. Rfd1 {
[%cal Yd1d7]} Kg8 19. Bb4 h5 20. Rac1 Kh7 $11) 18... Be7 19. Rfd1 a6 $6 ({
Black misses the chance to underline the unfortunate placement of White's
pieces by means of} 19... Ne4 $1) 20. Bf1 Na4 (20... Ne4 $5 21. Rab1 Bd5 {
Golubev}) 21. Rab1 Be4 22. Rb3 Bxa3 23. Rxa3 Nc5 24. Nb3 $14 {Finally, White
has managed to stabilize the position in his favour. Black's lack of
coordination starts making itself felt.} Ke7 25. Rd4 Bg6 26. c4 Rc6 27. Nxc5
Rxc5 28. Rxa6 Rb8 29. Rd1 Rb2 30. Ra7+ Kf6 31. Ra1 Rf5 32. f3 Re5 {Planning ...
Re3-c3-c2 or even ...Bb1.} 33. Ra3 $1 {Preventing both threats and stabilizing
the situation in White's favour.} Rc2 (33... Bb1 $2 34. Rb3 $1 Rxb3 35. axb3
$18) (33... Rd2 $6 34. Rb3 Ra5 35. a4 Bc2 36. Rc3 $1 $16 Rxa4 $2 37. Rxc2 $18 {
Golubev}) 34. Rb3 Ra5 35. a4 Ke7 36. Rb5 Ra7 37. a5 Kd6 38. a6 Kc7 39. c5 Rc3
40. Raa5 Rc1 41. Rb3 Kc6 42. Rb6+ Kc7 {White's queenside domination is to a
certain extent similar to that from the 8th game. The significant difference
is that the actively placed rooks enjoy the support of two pawns, which turns
the situation in White's favour.} 43. Kf2 Rc2+ 44. Ke3 {White has made obvious
progress over the past 10 moves, but still faces some technical difficulties
converting his advantage into a win.} Rxc5 $4 {The last of a surprisingly long
series of mistakes in this match. As frequently happens, the player who
commits the last-but-one error emerges as the glorious winner.} 45. Rb7+ {
and finally, after 13 long years, the Chess World has one sole Champion.} 1-0

[Event "Bonn Man-Machine"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2006.11.25"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Comp Deep Fritz 10"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E03"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Braun,A"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2006.11.25"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 116"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 {In my opinion the Catalan Opening is a good choice
against a computer. In the structures which generally arise from it, concrete
calculation is not at such a premium; more important are strategic nuances.
Die Katalanische Eröffnung ist meiner Meinung nach eine gute Wahl gegen einen
Computer. Meistens entstehen Strukturen in denen es nicht so sehr auf die
konkrete Berechnung ankommt, sondern mehr auf strategische Feinheiten.} d5 4.
Bg2 dxc4 $1 {Of course Fritz 10 tries to open the position and thus avoids the
variations Natürlich versucht Fritz 10 die Stellung zu öffnen und vermeidet
daher die Varianten die nach} ({which could arise after} 4... c6 {entstehen
könnten.}) 5. Qa4+ {Kramnik tries to win back the pawn he has "sacrificed" as
soon as possible, since computers have a tendency to hang on like grim death
to material they have won. Kramnik versucht so schnell wie möglich den
"geopferten" Bauern wiederzugewinnen, da Computer normalerweise dazu neigen
gewonnenes Material gnadelos zu verteidigen.} Nbd7 6. Qxc4 a6 7. Qd3 {Now Pb5
no longer gains a tempo, but after his early queen moves White can scarcely
expect (much of) an opening advantage. Nun gewinnt Pb5 kein Tempo mehr, jedoch
kann Weiß mit seinen frühen Damenzügen keinen (großen ) Eröffnungsvorteil
erwarten.} c5 8. dxc5 Bxc5 9. Nf3 O-O 10. O-O Qe7 11. Nc3 b6 {Another
possibility would be Eine andere Möglichkeit wäre} (11... b5 {e.g.: z.B.:} 12.
Ng5 (12. Ne4 Nxe4 13. Qxe4 Ra7 14. Bg5 f6 15. Be3 Rc7 16. Rac1 {1/2-1/2
Szekely,P-Krumpacnik,D/Feldbach 1997/EXT 98}) 12... Bb7 {exploits the
unfavourable position of the white queen. nützt die ungünstige Position der
weißen Dame aus.} 13. Bxb7 Ne5 14. Qc2 Qxb7 {and Black has no more problems.
und Schwarz hat keine Probleme mehr.}) 12. Ne4 $1 {Kramnik continues to
simplify the position. Kramnik vereinfacht die Stellung weiter.} Nxe4 (12...
Bb7 {would leave Kramnik with the bishop pair. würde Kramnik das Läuferpaar
überlassen.} 13. Nxc5 Nxc5 14. Qa3) 13. Qxe4 Nf6 14. Qh4 $5 (14. Qxa8 {would
allow Black a dangerous initiative. würde Schwarz eine gefährliche Initiative
einräumen.} Bb7 15. Qxf8+ Kxf8 16. b3 (16. Bf4 $2 e5 $1 17. Bxe5 Ng4 18. Bd4 (
18. Bc3 Qxe2) 18... Bxd4 19. Nxd4 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Qe4+ 21. Nf3 Qxe2 $17) (16. Bd2
e5) 16... e5 17. Bb2 e4 18. Ne5 e3 $36 19. f3) (14. Qxa8 Bb7 15. Qxf8+ Kxf8)
14... Bb7 15. Bg5 Rfd8 16. Bxf6 (16. Ne5 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Qb7+ $1 18. f3 Be7 $15)
(16. Rfd1 Rxd1+ 17. Rxd1 Rd8 $11) 16... Qxf6 17. Qxf6 gxf6 18. Rfd1 {
Objectively speaking, the position which has arisen should be a draw (after 18.
..Bxf3). But Kramnik hopes that Fritz 10 will not find the right moves in this
position, and in fact he manages to improve his position one step at a time.
Die entstandene Stellung sollte objektiv remis sein (nach 18...Bxf3). Aber
Kramnik hofft, dass Fritz 10 sich in dieser Stellung nicht zurechtfindet und
tatsächlich gelingt es ihm Stück für Stück seine Stellung zu verbessern.} Kf8
$2 (18... Bxf3 $1 $11 {Fritz 10 errs in its evalutaion of the position. The
computer considers the bishop on b7 to be stronger than the knight on f3,
which in the long run turns out to be wrong. Fritz 10 schätzt die Stellung
falsch ein. Der Computer hält den Läufer auf b7 für stärker als den Springer
auf f3, was sich langfristig aber als falsch erweist.}) 19. Ne1 $1 {Now White
gets good chances. In what follows the white knight will be clearly superior
to the black bishop. Nun erhält Weiß gute Chancen. Im weiteren Verlauf wird
der weiße Springer dem schwarzen Läufer deutlich überlegen sein.} Bxg2 20. Kxg2
f5 21. Rxd8+ Rxd8 22. Nd3 Bd4 23. Rc1 e5 $1 {The correct decision. Fritz 10
tries to organise some counterplay at once. Die richtige Entscheidung. Fritz
10 versucht sofort Gegenspiel zu organisieren.} 24. Rc2 Rd5 $2 (24... a5 $142
$1 {to prevent Nb4-c6. um Nb4-c6 zu verhindern.} 25. e3 (25. f3 e4) 25... e4
26. exd4 exd3 27. Rd2 Rxd4 28. f4 (28. Kf3 f4 $1 29. gxf4 f5 $11) 28... Ke7 29.
Kf3 Ke6 30. Ke3 Kd5 31. Rxd3 Rxd3+ 32. Kxd3 h5 $11) 25. Nb4 $1 Rb5 (25... Ra5
26. a3 $16 {/+/=}) 26. Nxa6 Rxb2 (26... Bxb2 27. Nc7 Rc5 (27... Rb4 $2 28. Nd5
Rb5 29. Ne3 f4 30. Nf5 $16) 28. Rxb2 (28. Rxc5 bxc5 29. Nd5 c4 30. Ne3 c3 31.
Kf1) 28... Rxc7 29. Rxb6 Rc2 30. Kf3 Rxa2 31. Rf6 $14) 27. Rxb2 Bxb2 28. Nb4
Kg7 (28... b5 29. Nd5) 29. Nd5 {The knight has reached its dream square. It is
attacking the pawn on b6 and limiting the activity of the black king. At this
point, we can see the weakness of Deep Fritz 10. It evaluates the position as
level, since the long term danger remains hidden beyond the horizon of its
calculation. Der Springer hat sein Traumfeld erreicht. Er attackiert den
Bauern b6 und schränkt die Aktivität des schwarzen Königs ein. An dieser
Stellung erkennt man die Schwäche von Deep Fritz 10. Er schätzt die Stellung
als ausgeglichen ein, da die langfristige Gefahr hinter seinem Rechenhorizont
verborgen bleibt.} Bd4 (29... b5 $2 30. Nc7 b4 31. Nd5 Ba3 (31... Bc3 32. a3
$18) 32. Kf3 $16) 30. a4 $2 (30. e3 $142 $1 Bc5 31. Kf3 {The white king heads
for b5. Der weiße König läuft nach b5.} f6 (31... Kg6 32. Ke2 Kg5 33. h3) 32.
Ke2 Kf7 (32... e4 33. Kd2 Kf7 34. Kc3 b5 35. Nc7 Bb6 36. Nxb5 Ba5+ 37. Kc4 Be1
38. a4 Bxf2 39. a5 Bxe3 40. Nd4 $18 f4 41. gxf4 Bxf4 42. a6 Bb8 43. Nc6 $18)
33. Kd3 Ke6 34. Kc4 $18 {Black is suddenly in zugzwang (and there is the
additonal threat of a4-a5). Plötzlich ist Schwarz in Zugzwang (außerdem droht
auch a4-a5).}) 30... Bc5 31. h3 (31. e3 e4 32. f3 Kg6 33. Kf2 Kg5 34. h3) (31.
Kf3 f6 (31... Kg6 32. e3 $1 $16) 32. e4 (32. e3 Kf7 33. Ke2 Ke6) 32... Kg6 33.
Ne3 fxe4+ (33... Bxe3 34. Kxe3 {should be a win for White. sollte für Weiß
gewonnen sein.}) 34. Kxe4 $16) 31... f6 32. f3 (32. g4 Kg6) (32. e3 Kf7) 32...
Kg6 33. e4 $2 {After this White's advantage is gone. There were better chances
after Danach hat Weiß keinen Vorteil mehr. Bessere Chancen bot} (33. e3 h5 34.
Kf1 (34. Kf2 h4) 34... Kf7 35. Ke2 Ke6 36. e4 fxe4 37. fxe4 f5 38. Kf3 Bd4 39.
Ne3 fxe4+ 40. Kxe4 {and White still has a clear advantage. und noch immer hat
Weiß deutlichen Vorteil.}) 33... h5 $1 {Now Kramnik has problems activating
his king. The only possibility lies in playing g4, but this leads to a
weakness after which Black obtains sufficient counterplay.  Nun hat Kramnik
Probleme damit, seinen König zu aktivieren. Die einzige Möglichkeit besteht
darin g4 zu spielen, doch dies führt zu einer Schwäche wonach Schwarz genügend
Gegenspiel erhält.} 34. g4 (34. Nc7 Bb4 35. Kf2 Bc5+ 36. Ke2 fxe4 37. fxe4 f5
38. Kf3 fxe4+ 39. Kxe4 Bf2 $11) (34. Kf1 fxe4 35. fxe4 f5 $11) 34... hxg4 35.
hxg4 fxe4 36. fxe4 Kg5 37. Kf3 Kg6 38. Ke2 Kg5 39. Kd3 Bg1 $5 (39... Kxg4 40.
Nxf6+ Kf3 41. Kc4 Be7 42. Nd5 Bc5 {also leads to a draw. führt auch zum Remis.}
) 40. Kc4 Bf2 41. Kb5 Kxg4 42. Nxf6+ (42. Nxb6 Bxb6 43. Kxb6 f5 44. exf5 Kxf5
45. Kc5 e4 46. Kd4 Kf4 47. a5 e3 48. Kd3 Kf3 49. a6 e2 50. a7 e1=Q 51. a8=Q+
$11) 42... Kf3 43. Kc6 Bh4 44. Nd7 Kxe4 45. Kxb6 Be1 46. Kc6 Kf5 47. Nxe5 Kxe5
1/2-1/2

[Event "Bonn Man-Machine"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2006.11.27"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Comp Deep Fritz 10"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D10"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Braun,A"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2006.11.25"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 116"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 b5 4. a4 c6 5. Nc3 (5. axb5 cxb5 6. Nc3 {is an
alternative. ist eine Alternative.} Bd7 ({The move Schlecht ist} 6... b4 {
is bad on account of wegen} 7. Qa4+) 7. Nf3 $44) 5... b4 6. Na2 Nf6 7. e5 Nd5
8. Bxc4 {White has managed to win back the pawn. On the other hand, Black was
able to seize the d5-square for his knight. However, Kramnik now has a
backward pawn on c6. The evaluation of the position depends on whether Black
can manage to play c6-c5 . Weiß ist es gelungen den Bauern zurückzugewinnen.
Im Gegenzug dazu konnte Schwarz das Feld d5 für seinen Springer erobern.
Jedoch hat Kramnik nun auch einen rückständigen Bauern auf c6. Die
Einschätzung der Stellung hängt davon ab, ob es Schwarz gelingt c6-c5
duchzusetzen.} e6 9. Nf3 a5 ({A more frequently seen move here is Häufiger
wurde hier} 9... Be7 {, but Kramnik wants to escape from known theoretical
paths as soon as possible. gespielt, aber Kramnik will so schnell wie möglich
die bekannten Theoriepfade verlassen.}) 10. Bg5 Qb6 (10... Be7 $6 11. Qd2 Bxg5
12. Nxg5 $16 {>< d6}) 11. Nc1 Ba6 12. Qe2 h6 13. Be3 Bxc4 14. Qxc4 Nd7 15. Nb3
Be7 16. Rc1 O-O 17. O-O (17. Qxc6 $2 Qxc6 18. Rxc6 N7b6 $15) (17. Nfd2 $5 c5 (
17... Rfc8 18. Ne4) 18. Nxc5 Bxc5 19. dxc5 Qc7 $11) 17... Rfc8 {Black has set
out his pieces harmoniously, and is now ready to play c5.  Schwarz hat seine
Figuren harmonisch aufgestellt und ist nun bereit c5 zu spielen.} 18. Qe2 c5
19. Nfd2 Qc6 20. Qh5 (20. Ra1 $2 c4 $17) (20. Qg4 $5 Nxe3 21. fxe3 Qxa4 22.
Rxf7 $5 Kxf7 23. Rf1+ Kg8 (23... Bf6 24. exf6 $13) 24. Qxe6+ Kh8 25. Qxe7 c4
26. Rf7 (26. Nc1 Re8 27. Qf7 Qc2 $17) 26... Re8 27. Qxd7 Qxd7 28. Rxd7 cxb3 $17
) 20... Qxa4 21. Nxc5 Nxc5 22. dxc5 Nxe3 $1 {A courageous move. Kramnik
recognises that the white attack is not dangerous.  Mutig gespielt. Kramnik
erkennt, dass der weiße Angriff ungefährlich ist.} 23. fxe3 Bxc5 24. Qxf7+ Kh8
{Now White is fighting for the draw.  Nun kämpft Weiß ums Remis.} 25. Qf3 Rf8
26. Qe4 Qd7 $1 27. Nb3 Bb6 28. Rfd1 (28. Nd4 a4 29. Rf3 a3 30. bxa3 bxa3 $36)
28... Qf7 29. Rf1 Qa7 $1 {Kramnik is playing for a win. Kramnik spielt auf
Sieg.} (29... Qd7 30. Rfd1 $11) 30. Rxf8+ Rxf8 31. Nd4 a4 (31... Qf7 $5 32. Qh4
(32. h3 Qf2+ 33. Kh2 Qxb2 34. Nxe6 Re8 (34... Qxc1 35. Qg6 Rg8 36. Ng5 $1) 35.
Rf1 $13) 32... a4 $15) 32. Nxe6 Bxe3+ 33. Kh1 Bxc1 (33... Re8 {was better.
After it, the chances are still for Black. war besser, wonach die Chancen noch
immer bei Schwarz liegen.}) 34. Nxf8 Qe3 $4 {A blackout. After Ein Blackout.
Nach} (34... Kg8 {it is a draw. wird es remis.} 35. Ng6 Bxb2 36. Qd5+ Kh7 37.
Nf8+ Kh8 38. Ng6+ $11) 35. Qh7# 1-0

[Event "Bonn Man-Machine"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2006.11.29"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Comp Deep Fritz 10"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E03"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Braun,A"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2006.11.25"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 116"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Nbd7 6. Qxc4 a6 7. Qc2 ({
In the first game, Kramnik here played In der ersten Partie spielte Kramnik
hier} 7. Qd3 {and went on to achieve a good position. But one assumes that the
Deep Fritz programmers had planned something new. und erhielt im weiteren
Verlauf eine gute Stellung. Aber man kann davon ausgehen, dass die Deep
Fritz-Programmierer etwas Neues geplant hatten.}) 7... c5 {Far and away the
most frequently played move in this position.  Mit Abstand der meistgespielte
Zug in dieser Position.} 8. Nf3 b6 9. Ne5 {Kramnik immediately seizes the
initiative. Kramnik reißt sofort die Initiative an sich.} Nd5 10. Nc3 Bb7 (
10... Nxe5 11. dxe5 Bb7 12. O-O $40) 11. Nxd5 Bxd5 12. Bxd5 exd5 13. O-O Nxe5 (
13... Bd6 14. Nxd7 Qxd7 15. dxc5 Bxc5 16. b3 {would of course have suited
Kramnik. wär natürlich im Interesse Kramniks gewesen.}) 14. dxe5 {Black has
the healthier pawn structure, but White has a dangerous lead in development.
Schwarz hat die gesündere Bauernstruktur, dafür besitzt Weiß gefährlichen
Entwicklungsvorsprung.} Qc8 (14... Be7 $5 15. Rd1 O-O 16. Qb3 (16. Qf5 $5)
16... d4 17. e3 Qc7 18. exd4 cxd4 19. Rxd4 Qxe5 20. Be3 $11) 15. Rd1 Qe6 16.
Qd3 Be7 $1 (16... d4 17. e3 dxe3 18. Bxe3 Be7 19. Qd5 Qxd5 20. Rxd5 Rd8 21.
Rad1 Rxd5 22. Rxd5 $14) (16... Rd8 17. Qxa6) (16... Qxe5 17. Bf4 Qe4 18. Qxd5
Qxd5 19. Rxd5 $14) 17. Qxd5 Rd8 18. Qb3 Rxd1+ 19. Qxd1 O-O {Black may well be
a pawn down now, but the weak white pawn on e5 and the queenside pawn majority
guarantee him good compensation. In addition, the lead in development has now
passed to Black.  Schwarz hat nun zwar einen Bauern weniger, aber der schwache
weiße Bauer auf e5 und die Bauernmehrheit am Damenflügel garantieren ihm gute
Kompensation. Außerdem liegt der Entwicklungsvorsprung nun schon bei Schwarz.}
20. Qb3 (20. Bf4 g5 (20... f6 21. exf6 Bxf6 22. Qc2 Bd4) 21. Bd2 Rd8 22. Qc2
Qxe5 23. Bc3 Qe6 $13) 20... c4 $1 {Black continues to play actively. Schwarz
spielt weiterhin aktiv.} (20... Qxe5 21. Qxb6 Qxe2 22. Be3 $11 {/+/=}) 21. Qc3
(21. Qc2 b5 22. Bf4 g5 23. Bd2 Qxe5 24. Bc3 Qe6 $13) 21... f6 22. b3 (22. exf6
Qxe2 (22... Bxf6 23. Qc2) 23. Bf4 Bxf6 24. Re1 Bxc3 25. Rxe2 Bd4) 22... Rc8 23.
Bb2 b5 24. Qe3 (24. exf6 $2 Bxf6 25. Qc2 (25. Qc1 c3 26. Ba3 c2 $19) 25... cxb3
) 24... fxe5 25. bxc4 Rxc4 26. Bxe5 h6 {Black is still a pawn down, but the
active positions of his pieces and the queenside majority continue to
guarantee him compensation.  Noch immer hat Schwarz einen Bauern weniger, aber
die aktive Aufstellung seiner Figuren und die Mehrheit am Damenflügel
garantieren ihm weiterhin Kompensation.} 27. Rd1 Rc2 28. Qb3 (28. a4 $5 b4 $13)
28... Qxb3 29. axb3 Rxe2 30. Bd6 Bf6 (30... Bxd6 31. Rxd6 $11) 31. Bc5 a5 32.
Bd4 Be7 33. Bc3 a4 34. bxa4 bxa4 35. Rd7 Bf8 36. Rd8 Kf7 37. Ra8 a3 (37... Rc2
38. Be5 Rc4 39. Ra7+ Kg6 40. Ra6+ Kh7 41. Bd6 Bxd6 42. Rxd6 a3 43. Ra6 Rc3 44.
Kg2 $11) 38. Rxf8+ $1 {Forces the draw. The position which now arises is still
evaluated as favourable to Black by the computer, but White's fortress cannot
be cracked open. Forciert das Remis. Die Stellung, die nun entsteht, wird vom
Rechner zwar noch immer als vorteilhaft für Schwarz eingeschätzt, jedoch kann
die weiße Festung nicht geknackt werden.} Kxf8 39. Bb4+ Kf7 40. Bxa3 Ra2 41.
Bc5 g6 42. h4 Kf6 43. Be3 h5 44. Kg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bonn Man-Machine"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2006.12.01"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Comp Deep Fritz 10"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C43"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Braun,A"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2006.11.25"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 116"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {In the previous games, only 1.d4 had been played. In den vorhergehenden
Partien wurde nur 1.d4 gespielt.} e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 (3. Nxe5 {is the main
line. ist die Hauptvariante.}) 3... Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nxd7 Bxd7 7.
O-O Bd6 {Kramnik needs only to castle to complete his development, but Deep
Fritz immediately puts him under pressure. Kramnik fehlt nur noch die Rochade
zur Vollendung seiner Entwicklung, doch Deep Fritz setzt ihn sofort unter
Druck.} 8. Qh5 (8. c4 {was another idea. war eine andere Idee.}) 8... Qf6 (8...
Nf6 9. Re1+ {is unpleasant. ist unangenehm.}) 9. Nc3 (9. Qxd5 $2 Bc6 10. Bb5 $2
(10. Qh5 Qxd4) 10... O-O-O $1 $15 {A tactical trick. Ein taktischer Trick.} 11.
Bxc6 $2 Bxh2+ 12. Kxh2 Rxd5 13. Bxd5 Qd6+ $17) 9... Qxd4 10. Nxd5 Bc6 11. Ne3 {
threatens Nf5. Droht Nf5.} g6 12. Qh3 Ng5 (12... O-O 13. Nc4 $14) 13. Qg4 Qf4
14. Qxf4 Bxf4 {Kramnik has managed to exchange queens, but White's initiative
is still dangerous.  Kramnik ist es gelungen die Damen zu tauschen, jedoch ist
die weiße Initiative noch immer gefährlich.} 15. Nc4 Ne6 (15... Bxc1 16. Re1+
Ne6 17. Raxc1 O-O 18. Ne5 $14) 16. Bxf4 Nxf4 17. Rfe1+ Kf8 18. Bf1 Bb5 (18...
Rd8 $5 19. g3 Nd5 20. Rad1 Kg7 21. Na5 $14) 19. a4 Ba6 20. b4 Bxc4 (20... c6
21. Nd6 Bxf1 22. Kxf1 Rb8 23. Ra3 $36) 21. Bxc4 Rd8 22. Re4 {White has a clear
lead in development, but by careful play Kramnik manages to hold the position.
Weiß hat deutlichen Entwicklungsvorsprung, aber durch aufmerksames Spiel
gelingt es Kramnik die Stellung zu halten.} Nh5 (22... g5 {would now lead to a
weakening. würde nur zu einer Schwächung führen.}) 23. Rae1 Rd7 (23... Nf6 $5
24. Re7 (24. Rf4 Kg7) 24... Rd7 25. Rxd7 Nxd7 26. g3 {and Black cannot play
und Schwarz kann nicht} Kg7 {because of spielen, wegen} 27. Re7) 24. h3 (24. g3
$5) 24... Ng7 25. Re5 Nf5 26. Bb5 c6 27. Bd3 Nd6 28. g4 Kg7 29. f4 {Deep Fritz
begins to march forward with its kingside pawns; but Kramnik has survived the
worst of it. Deep Fritz beginnt mit seinen Bauern am Königsflügel zu
marschieren, doch das Schlimmste hat Kramnik überstanden.} Rhd8 30. Kg2 Nc8 31.
a5 Rd4 32. R5e4 Kf8 33. Kf3 h6 34. Rxd4 Rxd4 35. Re4 Rd6 36. Ke3 g5 {Kramnik
is aiming for further simplifications.  Kramnik strebt weitere Vereinfachungen
an.} 37. Rd4 Ke7 38. c4 Rxd4 39. Kxd4 gxf4 40. Ke4 Kf6 41. Kxf4 Ne7 42. Be4 b6
43. c5 bxc5 44. bxc5 Ng6+ 45. Ke3 Ne7 46. Kd4 Ke6 47. Bf3 f5 48. Bd1 Kf6 49.
Bc2 fxg4 50. hxg4 Ke6 51. Bb1 Kf6 52. Be4 Ke6 53. Bh1 Kf6 54. Bf3 Ke6 {Black
just moves back and forward between e6 and f6 with his king. The position is
drawn. Schwarz pendelt nur noch mit dem König zwischen e6 und f6 hin und her.
Die Stellung ist remis.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bonn Man-Machine"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2006.12.03"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Comp Deep Fritz 10"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E51"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Braun,A"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2006.11.25"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 116"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. e3 O-O 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 c5 8. Bb2
Nc6 9. Rc1 Re8 10. Bd3 dxc4 11. Bxc4 e5 12. dxe5 Qxd1+ 13. Rxd1 Nxe5 14. Nxe5
Rxe5 15. Be2 {This prepares c4 and with it the opening of the long diagonal.
This has to happen before Black can manage to play c4 himself. I think that
the bishop pair gives White the advantage. Bereitet c4 und damit die Öffnung
der großen Diagonale vor. Dies muss geschen, bevor es Schwarz gelingt, selbst
c4 zu spielen. Ich denke das Läuferpaar gibt Weiß Vorteil.} Bd7 16. c4 Re7 17.
h4 ({I think that against Deep Fritz it would have been better to play Ich
denke, gegen Deep Fritz wäre es besser gewesen} 17. Bxf6 {That would badly
damage the black pawn structure. But Kramnik was convinced that Fritz would
have no problem holding the position and therefore preferred to play on with
his bishop pair. zu spielen. Dadurch würde die schwarze Bauernstruktur stark
beschädigt werden. Kramnik war jedoch davon überzeugt, dass Fritz die Stellung
ohne Probleme halten würde und spielt daher lieber mit dem Läuferpaar weiter.}
gxf6 18. Rd6 Kg7 19. Kd2 Bc6 20. Kc3 Re6 21. Rd2 f5 22. Rg1 Rh6 23. h3 Re8 24.
Bd3 Kf6 25. Bc2 Rh4 26. Rd6+ Re6 27. Rd2 f4 28. exf4 Rxf4 29. Bxh7 Be4 30. Bxe4
Rexe4 31. Rd7 Rxf2 32. Rgd1 {1/2-1/2 Geller,E-Spassky,B/Riga 1965/Candidates})
17... Ne4 $1 {This is a very unpleasant position for the knight from White's
point of view. It is hard to chase it away.  Dort steht der Springer sehr
unangenehm und kann schwer vertrieben werden.} 18. h5 Ba4 {With this move and
the next one, Fritz takes over the initiative.  Mit diesem und dem nächsten
Zug übernimmt Fritz die Initiative.} 19. Rd3 (19. Rd5 Bc6 20. Rd3 b5 21. cxb5
Bxb5 {leads to the position in the game. führt zur Partiestellung.}) 19... b5
$1 {If White could manage to mobilise his kingside pawns, he would hold the
advantage. But in what follows Kramnik is put under strong pressure.  Würde es
Weiß gelingen, seine Königsflügelbauern zu mobilisieren, so hätte er Vorteil.
Doch Kramnik wird im weiteren Verlauf stark unter Druck gesetzt.} 20. cxb5 (20.
Rd5 Bb3 21. Bf3 Bxc4 22. Bxe4 Rxe4 23. Rg5 g6 24. Rxc5 Rae8 $11) 20... Bxb5 21.
Rd1 Bxe2 22. Kxe2 Rb8 23. Ba1 $8 f5 {This secures the position of the knight
on e4.  Sichert die Stellung des Springers auf e4.} 24. Rd5 $1 Rb3 25. Rxf5
Rxa3 26. Rb1 Re8 27. Rf4 (27. Re5 Ra2+ 28. Rb2 Nc3+ 29. Kd3 Rxe5 30. Rxa2 Rxe3+
$1 31. fxe3 Nxa2 32. Kc4 {was evaluated by Kramnik as a draw. wurde von
Kramnik als remis eingeschätzt.}) (27. Ke1 Ra2) 27... Ra2+ 28. Ke1 h6 29. Rg4
g5 $1 (29... Re7 30. Rb8+ Kh7 31. Bxg7 Rxg7 32. Rxe4 Rxg2 33. Re7+ Rg7 34. Rbb7
Rxe7 35. Rxe7+ Kg8 36. Rc7 {offers White good winning chances. bietet Weiß
gute Gewinnchancen.}) 30. hxg6 Nxf2 31. Rh4 Rf8 32. Kf1 $1 {A pretty move and
the only one to hold the draw. Black does not have a favourable discovered
check. Ein hübscher Zug und der einzige der remis hält. Schwarz hat kein
günstiges Abzugschach.} Nh3+ 33. Ke1 Nf2 34. Kf1 Nh3+ 35. Ke1 {Neither side
can avoid a repetition of moves, so Keiner kann der Zugwiederholung ausweichen,
daher} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Bonn Man-Machine"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2006.12.05"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Comp Deep Fritz 10"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B86"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2006.11.25"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 116"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.02.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.02.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. O-O Be7 8. Bb3
Qc7 9. Re1 (9. f4 {The most popular line is connected with f pawn advance, but
Deep Fritz comes up with completely new plan.}) 9... Nc6 10. Re3 $5 (10. Bg5
Na5 11. f4 Nc4 12. Qe2 b5 13. Kh1 Rb8 14. Rab1 O-O 15. Bxc4 bxc4 16. e5 dxe5
17. fxe5 Nd5 18. Bxe7 Nxe7 {0-1 Soto,O-Calisaya,A/Arequipa 2005/ (27)}) 10...
O-O 11. Rg3 Kh8 12. Nxc6 (12. Be3 Bd7 13. Qe2 Na5 $11) 12... bxc6 13. Qe2 a5 {
Kramnik is refusing to commit himself in the center as no solution was
anywhere perfect.} (13... d5 $6 14. e5 Nd7 15. Bf4 g6 16. Re1 a5 $14) (13... e5
14. Bg5 Rb8 15. Rd1 $13) 14. Bg5 Ba6 15. Qf3 Rab8 (15... d5 16. Re1 d4 (16...
dxe4 $5 17. Nxe4 Nxe4 18. Qxe4 Bxg5 19. Rxg5 Rfd8 $11) 17. e5 Ng8 18. Na4 Bxg5
19. Rxg5 c5 20. c4 Ne7 $11) (15... c5 16. Rh3 Rab8 $13) 16. Re1 c5 (16... e5 $5
) 17. Bf4 Qb7 {The world champion is careful and avoids sharp lines after the
tempting 17..c4 or 17..a4.} (17... c4 18. e5 dxe5 (18... cxb3 19. exf6 Bxf6 20.
Rh3 $1 $40 Kg8 21. cxb3 $14) (18... Ne8 19. Qh5 $1 $14) 19. Bxe5 Qc5 (19... Qb7
20. Ne4 $1 cxb3 $2 21. Rxg7 $1 Kxg7 22. Qg3+ Kh8 23. Nxf6 $18) 20. Rxg7 $1 (20.
Qf4 cxb3 21. Ne4 $1 (21. Rxg7 Kxg7 22. Qg5+ Kh8 23. Bxf6+ Bxf6 24. Qxc5 bxc2
$13) 21... Qxc2 22. Rxg7 Kxg7 23. Bxf6+ Bxf6 24. Qxf6+ Kg8 25. Qg5+ $11) 20...
Kxg7 21. Qg3+ Kh8 22. Ne4 Rg8 $1 23. Nxc5 Rxg3 24. Nxa6 $1 Rb6 25. hxg3 cxb3
26. Nc7 bxa2 27. Ne8 $1 Rb5 $1 28. Bc3 (28. Nxf6 $4 Rxe5) (28. Bxf6+ $4 Bxf6
29. Nxf6 Rxb2 $19) 28... e5 29. Nxf6 Bxf6 30. Ra1 $14) (17... a4 18. Bxa4 (18.
Nxa4 $2 c4 19. e5 Ne8 $1 20. Qe2 (20. Qh5 cxb3 21. Rh3 Qxc2) 20... Qc6 $15)
18... Rxb2 19. Bb3 c4 20. Bc1 cxb3 21. Bxb2 bxc2 $44) 18. Bc1 Ng8 (18... c4 19.
Ba4 h6 $13) 19. Nb1 $1 {Deep Fritz begins the phase of very successful
manouvering.} Bf6 (19... c4 20. Bxc4 $1 Bxc4 21. Qc3 Bf6 22. Qxc4 Bxb2 $2 23.
Rb3 $18) 20. c3 g6 (20... Be5 21. Rh3 h6 (21... Nf6 22. Qd1 $3 c4 (22... g5 23.
Bxg5 Nxe4 24. Bc1 $1 $14) 23. Bc2 Qb6 24. Kf1 Rfc8 25. f4 Bd4 26. e5 $16) 22.
Na3 Nf6 23. Bc4 $14) 21. Na3 Qc6 22. Rh3 (22. Bc4 Rfd8 23. Qe2 $14) 22... Bg7
23. Qg3 a4 $6 {It was not so smart to expose the pawn to the square a4 as it
will remain vulnerable for some time.} (23... c4 24. Bd1 $5 (24. Bc2 e5 25. Qh4
h5 $13) 24... e5 25. Bg4 Nf6 (25... Bc8 26. Bxc8 Rfxc8 27. Qh4 h6 28. Nc2 $14)
26. Qh4 h5 27. Bxh5 Nxh5 28. g4 f6 $1 29. gxh5 g5 $13) 24. Bc2 Rb6 $2 (24... e5
25. Qh4 h5 $13) 25. e5 $1 {Unpleasant blow to the defensive set up, white
pieces are getting closer to the black king.} dxe5 26. Rxe5 Nf6 (26... Qd6 27.
Qh4 h6 28. Re1 $16) (26... Bxe5 $2 27. Qxe5+ f6 28. Rxh7+ $1 Kxh7 29. Qh5+ Kg7
30. Qxg6+ Kh8 31. Qh7#) 27. Qh4 Qb7 28. Re1 (28. Bg5 Nh5 29. Re1 f5 $14) 28...
h5 (28... Rxb2 29. Bxb2 (29. Bg5 $5 Nh5 30. g4 h6 31. gxh5 hxg5 32. Qxg5 $16)
29... Qxb2 30. Qxa4 $16) 29. Rf3 Nh7 {Modesty in the right moment as black
would not survive the fireworks after the more active 29...Ng4} (29... Ng4 30.
h3 Ne5 31. Rxe5 $1 Bxe5 32. Bxg6 Qxf3 (32... fxg6 33. Rxf8+ Kg7 34. Qd8 Kh7 35.
Re8 $18) 33. gxf3 fxg6 34. Nc4 $1 Bf6 (34... Bxc4 35. Qxc4 Rf5 36. Qxa4 $18)
35. Bg5 $1 Bxg5 36. Qxg5 Bxc4 37. Qh6+ $1 Kg8 38. Qxg6+ Kh8 39. Qxh5+ Kg7 40.
Qxc5 $18) 30. Qxa4 Qc6 31. Qxc6 Rxc6 32. Ba4 $1 {[%mdl 4096] The program will
now give an impressive lecture in chess technique, without precision the task
could have been much more complicated.} (32. Rd1 $2 Be2) 32... Rb6 (32... Rd6
33. Be3 Rd5 34. Bb3 $16) 33. b3 Kg8 34. c4 $1 Rd8 {Kramnik must try to counter
on the only open file.} 35. Nb5 Bb7 36. Rfe3 Bh6 $2 {The idea of bishop
exhange is bad as black is not improving his own pieces.} (36... Nf8 37. R3e2
Rd3 38. Rd2 $16) (36... Nf6 37. R3e2 Ne4 38. Be3 Bc6 39. Rc2 $14) 37. Re5 Bxc1
38. Rxc1 Rc6 39. Nc3 Rc7 40. Bb5 $1 Nf8 41. Na4 {Decisive idea as black has to
give up the c5 pawn or the control of the d file.} Rdc8 42. Rd1 Kg7 (42... f6
43. Re2 g5 44. Rd6 $16) 43. Rd6 f6 44. Re2 e5 45. Red2 g5 46. Nb6 Rb8 47. a4 {
The last part of the game was played by computer in a great technical style.}
1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2678"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Bf4 O-O
8. Qd2 Nd7 9. O-O-O Nc5 10. Be3 Re8 11. Bc4 Be6 12. Bxe6 Nxe6 13. h4 Qd7 14.
Qd3 Qc6 15. Qf5 Qc4 16. Ng5 Bxg5 17. hxg5 Nf8 18. Kb1 Re5 19. Qd3 Qxd3 20. cxd3
Rae8 21. Rh3 b6 22. Kc2 R5e6 23. Rdh1 f6 24. gxf6 Rxf6 25. d4 d5 26. Kd3 h6 27.
Rh5 c6 28. b3 Rg6 29. Rg1 Nd7 30. g4 Nf6 31. Rh4 Ne4 32. Rh5 Nf6 33. Rh4
1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qa4+ Bd7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 {This
Anti-Grünfeld variation was recently brought into the limelight by Boris
Gelfand.} Bg7 ({Deviating from} 6... a6 7. d4 b5 8. Qb3 c5 {as played in
Gelfand-Svidler, Moscow 2006 and Topalov-Svidler, Morelia/Linares 2007.}) 7. e4
c6 $5 {A rare move, possibly played with the aim of taking out Kramnik of his
famously deep opening preparation.} ({If Black meets the threat e4-e5 with} 
7... Bc6 {, then} 8. d3 {leaves the bishop slightly misplaced on c6.}) ({
The more popular} 7... O-O {is strongly met by} 8. e5 {when the knight has to
go either to the passive e8-square or to the exposed g4-square, since the
intermediate} Be6 $6 {allows the promissing queen sacrifice} 9. exf6 Bxc4 10.
fxg7 Kxg7 11. Bxc4 {when three minor pieces are likely to overweight the black
queen.}) 8. d4 ({The hidden trick behind Black's last move is that after} 8. e5
{he has} Nd5 9. Nxd5 Be6 {for instance} 10. Qb4 Bxd5 11. Qxb7 Nd7 12. d4 O-O
13. Be2 a5 14. O-O Nb6 15. Rd1 c5 16. dxc5 Bxb7 17. Rxd8 Rfxd8 18. cxb6 Rac8
$15 {Korobov,A (2401)-Areshchenko,A (2335)/Evpatoria 2001/EXT 2003 (0-1, 48)
The material situation is balanced, but Black's development is superios.}) 8...
b5 $146 {Black immediately starts his queenside counterplay.} ({Previously,
only} 8... O-O {had been played.} 9. Be2 (9. h3 {looks like unnecessary
prophylaxis.} b5 10. Qe2 Be6 11. Qc2 Na6 12. a3 Ne8 13. Be3 Nd6 14. Rd1 Qa5
$132 {Vaulin,A (2547)-Palus,R (2341)/Swidnica 1999/EXT 2000 (1-0, 41) with
active play for Black, compensating White's advantage of space.}) 9... Na6 10.
O-O c5 $6 11. e5 $1 Ng4 12. h3 $16 cxd4 $2 13. Qxd4 Nh6 14. Bxh6 Bxh6 15. Bxa6
bxa6 16. Rfd1 Bc6 17. Qh4 $18 {Razuvaev,Y (2548)-Sarno,S (2391)/Saint Vincent
2000/CBM 074 ext (1-0, 31)}) 9. Qb3 a5 10. e5 {With his kingside
underdeveloped and the queen rather exposed, White decides to provoke the
stabilisation of the centre, in order to avoid an eventual counterplay based
on ...c5.} a4 (10... Be6 11. exf6 Bxb3 12. fxg7 Rg8 13. axb3 $16) 11. Qd1 Nd5
12. Nxd5 cxd5 13. Be2 Nc6 14. O-O O-O $13 {The position has become rather
static, bearing some similarity with certain lines of the Alekhine Defence and
the Pirc. Although Black has a solid position and is under no immediate danger,
in the long run the passivity of his g7-bishop and the weakness of the
c5-square might cause him problems.} 15. Be3 ({White has little interest in
allowing such structural modifications as} 15. Bxb5 $2 Nxe5 $1 16. Bxd7 Nxf3+
17. Qxf3 Qxd7 $15 {[%csl Gd4]}) 15... Na5 $6 {This premature display of
activity releases the pressure against the d4-pawn.} ({The developing move} 
15... Qb6 {looks better, for instance} 16. Ne1 f6 $132 {and Black's
counterplay seems to be sufficient to maintain the balance even.} ({Delaying
the thematical break ...f6 with a neutral move such as} 16... b4 {could be met
with} 17. Nd3 {because} Nxd4 {is very risky in view of} 18. Kh1 {, threatening
f4 and Ne1. For instance} f6 19. e6 $1 Bxe6 20. Ne1 f5 21. Nc2 $16)) 16. b3
axb3 17. axb3 Qb6 18. Ne1 $1 $14 {[%cal Ye1d3,Yd3c5] Suddenly, White's army
appears to be better coordinated, while the invasion of the c5-square is not
easy to prevent.} b4 {This move prepares the exchange of the light-squared
bishop, which favours Black in the French structures. However, as mentioned
before, the other bishop is a bigger problem for Black in this concrete
position. Besides, the b4-pawn will be weak now. However, it is hard to
suggest an adequate solution to Black's problems.} (18... Nc6 {does not prevent
} 19. Nd3 {because after} Nxd4 20. Kh1 {/\Nb4} b4 21. f4 {/\Ne1} f6 22. e6 Bxe6
23. Rxa8 Rxa8 24. Ne1 $16 {Black will only have two pawns for the piece.}) 19.
Nd3 Bb5 20. Nc5 Nb7 ({Preparing the activation of the g7-bishop with} 20... e6
21. Qd2 Bxe2 22. Qxe2 Rfc8 {is a slow but possibly viable plan:} 23. Rfc1 Nb7 (
23... Bf8 24. Nd7 Qd8 25. Nf6+ {offers White attacking chances.}) 24. Rxa8 Rxa8
25. Na4 Qd8 26. Qb5 Na5 $5 {/\Bf8} 27. Qxb4 Rb8 28. Nb6 Nxb3 $1 {(It is
important to open the b-file before capturing on b6)} 29. Qxb3 Rxb6 {and White
cannot take advantage of the weakness of the 8th rank with} 30. Qxb6 $4 Qxb6
31. Rc8+ Bf8 32. Bh6 {because his own back rank is undefended.}) 21. Rxa8 $6 {
White releases the tension too soon.} ({The immediate capture} 21. Bxb5 {
would have offered better chances for consolidating the advantage.} Rxa1 (21...
Qxb5 22. Qd3 $1 $14) 22. Qxa1 Nxc5 (22... Qxb5 23. Qa6 $1 Qxa6 24. Nxa6 Ra8 25.
Nxb4 e6 26. Nd3 Ra3 27. Rb1 $16) 23. dxc5 Qxb5 24. Qd4 e6 25. Rc1 $14) 21...
Rxa8 22. Bxb5 Qxb5 23. Qd3 Qc6 $2 {Black returns the favour.} (23... Qxd3 24.
Nxd3 Ra3 25. Nxb4 (25. Rb1 Na5 26. Nxb4 e6 $11) 25... e6 26. Rc1 Bf8 $11) 24.
Na4 $16 Nd8 25. Rc1 Qb7 26. Qc2 f6 27. f4 Bh6 28. g3 fxe5 29. dxe5 Ne6 30. Qc6
Qxc6 31. Rxc6 Kf7 32. Kf2 Rb8 33. Ke2 Bf8 34. Kd3 {Black's problem is that he
cannot activate his bishop and his knight at the same time. Opening the a3-f8
diagonal for the bishop would mean remove the knight from the best square
available.} Rb7 $4 (34... Rb7 35. Rxe6 $1 $18) 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Tiviakov, Sergei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C43"]
[WhiteElo "2667"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nxd7 Bxd7 7. O-O Bd6 8.
c4 c6 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Nc3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 O-O 12. Qh5 g6 13. Qxd5 Qc7 14. Qf3
Qxc3 15. Bh6 Rfe8 16. Qf6 Bf8 17. Bxf8 Rxf8 18. Be4 Bc6 19. Rac1 Qb4 20. Bxc6
bxc6 21. Rxc6 Rad8 22. Ra6 Qxd4 23. Qxd4 Rxd4 24. Rxa7 Rc8 25. g3 Rc2 26. Kg2
Rdd2 27. a3 Ra2 28. h4 Rd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.16"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Navara, David"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2719"]
[Annotator "Navara,D"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{I was very lucky in this game because I many times missed some substantial
lines. But this is not unusual when one plays sound moves.  Ich hatte großes
Glück in dieser Partie, denn viele Male übersah ic einige substantielle
Abspiele. Aber das ist nicht ungewöhnlich, wenn man gesunde Züge spielt.} 1.
Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 {This move order can result in many different openings. Diese
Zugfolge kann zu vielen verschiedenen Eröffnungen führen.} c5 3. g3 Nc6 ({
Another possibility is Eine andere Möglichkeit ist} 3... d5 {, but I realized
that I forgot to prepare for , doch mir wurde klar, dass ich vergessen hatte,
mich auf} 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. d4 {. vorzubereiten.}) 4. Nc3 d5 5. d4 {
This variation was popular in the 1990s, but now it is easier for Black to
make a draw because of the progress of opening theory. Diese Variante war in
den 90er Jahren populär, jetzt aber fällt es Schwarz aufgrund des Fortschritts
der Eröffnungstheorie leichter zu remisieren.} cxd4 6. Nxd4 dxc4 7. Nxc6 Qxd1+
8. Nxd1 bxc6 9. Bg2 Nd5 10. Ne3 e6 11. Nxc4 Ba6 12. Na5 {Grandmaster Kramnik
successfully used this move in Wijk aan Zee in 1999, he won against GM Timman.
Diesen Zug wandte Großmeister Kramnik erfolgreich im Jahr 1999 in Wijk aan Zee
an, als er gegen GM Timman gewann.} ({Another possibility is Eine andere
Möglichkeit ist} 12. b3 Bb4+ 13. Bd2 {Black has a choice between two solid
options, but White always keeps very slight edge: Schwarz hat die Wahl
zwischen zwei soliden Optionen, aber Weiß behauptet immer ein ganz leichtes
Plus:} Bxd2+ (13... Ke7 14. Rc1 Rhc8 15. Bxb4+ Nxb4 16. a3 Nd5) 14. Nxd2 Nb4
15. Be4 Ke7 16. a3 Nd5 17. Rc1 Rhc8) 12... Rc8 ({I was reluctant to play Es
widerstrebte mir,} 12... Bb4+ 13. Bd2 Bxd2+ 14. Kxd2 O-O-O 15. Nxc6 Nf4+ 16.
Nxd8 Rxd8+ 17. Kc2 Nxg2 18. Rhg1 Bb7 19. Rad1 {, the knight on g2 looks very
suspicious. zu spielen; der Springer auf g2 wirkt sehr verdächtig.}) (12... c5
13. b3 $5 Be7 14. Bb2 $14 {looks a bit unpleasant for Black. sieht ein
bisschen unangenehm für Schwarz aus.}) ({The Kramnik - Timman game saw In der
Kramnik-Timman-Partie geschah} 12... Bc5 $6 13. Bd2 O-O $6 (13... Bd4 14. Nxc6
Bxb2 15. Rb1 $14) 14. Rc1 Bd4 15. b4 Bb5 16. Nxc6 Bb2 17. Rc5 Bxc6 18. Rxc6
Rac8 {, White eliminated the counterplay by means of , Weiß schaltete das
Gegenspiel aus mittels} 19. Rxc8 Rxc8 20. Bxd5 $1 exd5 21. f4 $3 Ba3 22. Rf1
Rc4 (22... Rc2 23. Rf3 Rxa2 24. Rd3 $16) 23. Rf3 Bxb4 24. Bxb4 Rxb4 25. Ra3 $16
{and won the endgame in an instructive way. und gewann das Endspiel auf
lehrreiche Weise.}) 13. Bd2 Be7 14. Rc1 c5 15. b3 {The advance c5-c4 could
have been unpleasant at some moment. Der Vorstoß c5-c4 hätte gelegentlich
unangenehm sein können.} O-O (15... Kd7 $6 {with the intention of Rfd8, Ke8
works in variations like 16.Rd1 Rhd8 17.Bc3 Ke8 18.Bxg7 c4 or 17.e4 Nb6
intending c5-c4, but mit der Absicht Rfd8, Ke8 funktioniert in Varianten wie
16.Rd1 Rhd8 17.Bc3 Ke8 18.Bxg7 c4 oder 17.e4 Nb6 mit der Absicht c5-c4 , aber}
16. Nc4 $1 {prevents Black from playing hindert Schwarz an} Rhd8 {wegen} 17.
Ba5 {.}) 16. O-O Rfd8 (16... Bxe2 $2 {loses in view of verliert wegen} 17. Rfe1
Bb5 18. Bxd5 {.}) 17. Bf3 Kf8 18. Rfd1 Ke8 $6 {This move cost me more than
half an hour. I thought that I saw something like that during my preparation,
but it was an illusion. I decided to wait passively, but the active
continuations were more to the point. I was reluctant to play Dieser Zug
kostete mich mehr als eine halbe Stunde. Ich dachte, ich hätte so etwas
während meiner Vorbereitung gesehen, aber das war eine Illusion. Ich beschloss,
passiv abzuwarten, aber die aktiven Fortsetzungen waren eher am Platz. Mir
widerstrebte} (18... Nb6 $6 {and c5-c4 because the knight was well placed on
d5 and because the move Nc6 could be strong on some occasions.. und c5-c4,
weil der Springer auf d5 gut stand und weil gelegentlich der Zug Nc6 stark
sein könnte.} 19. Bf4 (19. Nc6 $2 Rxc6 20. Bxc6 Bxe2) (19. Kf1 {allows Rxd2
followed by Bg5. erlaubt Rxd2 nebst Bg5.}) 19... Rxd1+ (19... Nd5 20. Be5 {
did not appeal to me, White improved the position of his bishop. gefiel mir
nicht, Weiß hat die Stellung seines Läufers verbessert.} Bg5 21. e3) 20. Rxd1
c4 $14 {White's pieces are very active, so Black has to defend carefully. Die
weißen Figuren sind sehr aktiv, daher muss sich Schwarz sorgsam verteidigen.})
(18... Bf6 $1 {happened in Kopylov - Berelovich, Hamburg 2006. The game
continued with geschah in Kopylov - Berelovich, Hamburg 2006. Weiter ging die
Partie mit} 19. e4 (19. Nc4 Bxc4 20. bxc4 Nb4 $11) (19. Be1 Nb4 $11) 19... Nb4
(19... Nb6 $11) 20. Rxc5 Rxc5 21. Bxb4 Rxd1+ 22. Bxd1 Be7 23. Bxc5 Bxc5 {
and soon ended in a draw, the opposite-squared bishop endgame is drawish. und
endete bald unentschieden, das ungleichfarbige Läuferendspiel ist remislich.})
19. Be1 $14 {The black king is no better placed on e8 than on f8. Der schwarze
König steh auf e8 nicht besser als auf f8.} Rd7 20. e3 Bf6 21. Nc4 Ke7 {
Black has to think about the e3-e4-e5 advance. Schwarz muss den Vorstoß
e3-e4-e5 ins Kalkül ziehen.} (21... Bxc4 22. Rxc4 Nb6 $14 {is a slight
concession, the advance c5-c4 offers the white bishop a good square on b4. ist
ein leichtes Zugeständnis; der Vorstoß c5-c4 bietet dem weißen Läufer ein
gutes Feld auf b4.} 23. Rxd7 Kxd7) 22. Ba5 $1 {White takes control of the
squares b6 and d8. Weiß übernimmt die Kontrolle über die Felder b6 und d8.} (
22. e4 Bxc4 {would have weakened the d4-square. hätte das Feld d4 geschwächt.})
22... Bb5 {I wanted to play 23...Nb4. Ich wollte 23...Nb4 spielen.} 23. Be2 Nb4
(23... Bc6 $2 24. e4 {,e5}) (23... Bb2 24. Rc2 Bxc4 $2 25. bxc4) 24. Nd6 $5 {
I underestimated this move and missed 25.Bxb5. Black can equalise now, but he
has to play very carefully. Diesen Zug hatte ich unterschätzt und 25.Bxb5
übersehen. Schwarz kann jetzt ausgleichen, er muss aber sehr vorsichtig
spielen.} (24. a3 Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1 Bxc4 $2 (25... Nc6 $1 26. Nd6 Rb8 $11) 26.
Bxc4 Nc6 27. Ba6 Rb8 28. Bc7 Rxb3 29. Bd6+ Ke8 30. a4 $1 Rb6 31. Bb5 a6 32.
Bxc5 axb5 33. Bxb6 bxa4 34. Bc5 $16) (24. Rxd7+ Bxd7 25. a3 Nc6 26. Bc3 $14)
24... Rxd6 25. Bxb5 (25. Rxd6 Bxe2 26. Rd2 {is wrong for many reasons, ist aus
vielen Gründen falsch, einer davon ist} Nc6 27. Rxc5 Bf3 $15 {being one of
them.}) 25... Nxa2 (25... Rxd1+ 26. Rxd1 Nxa2 (26... a6 $1 $14) 27. Rd7+ Kf8
28. Rxa7 $16 {looks bad, I reached the same position with the knight on c1.
sieht schlecht aus; ich erreichte die gleiche Stellung mit dem Springer auf c1.
}) 26. Rxd6 Nxc1 (26... Kxd6 27. Rd1+ (27. Rc2 Rb8) 27... Ke7 28. Rd7+ {
transposes to the previous line. mit Übergang zum vorigen Abspiel.}) 27. Rd7+
Kf8 {Here I had the (justified) feeling that the draw was not far away.  Hier
hatte ich das (gerechtfertigte) Gefühl, dass das Remis nicht weit weg war.} 28.
Rxa7 $5 {White cannot trap the black rook, so this is the most dangerous try.
Weiß kann den schwarzen Turm nicht fangen, daher ist dies der gefährlichste
Versuch.} (28. Bc4 Rb8 29. Bc7 (29. Rd1 Na2) 29... Rb4 (29... Ke8 $5 $11) 30.
Bd6+ Ke8 31. Rxa7 Nxb3 32. Bxb3 Rxb3 33. Bxc5 Rd3 $11) 28... Bd8 $6 {I liked
this move a lot, but I could have immediately equalised. Dieser Zug gefiel mir
sehr, aber ich hätte sofort ausgleichen können.} ({Weak is Schwach ist} 28...
Nxb3 $2 29. Bd7 Nxa5 (29... Rb8 30. Bc7 Rb4 31. Bd6+) 30. Bxc8) (28... Rb8 $1
29. Bc4 (29. Ba4 Bd8 $1 $11) 29... Nxb3 30. Bc7 Rb4 {I saw this line after 28.
Bc4, but not now. Dieses Abspiel sah ich nach 28.Bc4, aber nicht jetzt.}) 29.
Bc4 $1 ({I expected my opponent to play Ich hatte} 29. b4 {and came to the
conclusion that the worst that could happen to me in the game would be the
rook endgame resulting after the moves erwartet und kam zu dem Schluss, dass
das Schlimmste, was mir in der Partie passieren könnte, das Turmendspiel wäre
nach den Zügen} Bxa5 30. bxa5 c4 31. Bd7 $1 (31. a6 c3 32. Ba4 Nd3 $11) 31...
Rc5 32. a6 c3 33. Ba4 Ra5 (33... c2 $2 34. Bxc2 Rxc2 35. Rb7 $18) 34. Bc2 Na2 {
(this move is not forced) (dieser Zug ist nicht forciert)} 35. Ra8+ Ke7 36. a7
Nb4 37. Rb8 Rxa7 (37... Nxc2 38. a8=Q Rxa8 39. Rxa8 {is probably insufficient
for a draw as white king will move closer to the passed pawn. reicht
vermutlich nicht zum Remis, da sich der weiße König dem Freibauern nähern wird.
}) 38. Rxb4 Ra2 39. Bxh7 c2 40. Bxc2 Rxc2 $14 {, which should be tenable.
Unlike White, Black can deviate from this line. , welches haltbar sein sollte.
Im Gegensatz zu Weiß kann Schwarz von diesem Abspiel abweichen.}) (29. Bc3 Nxb3
({A weaker move. Ein schwächerer Zug.} 29... Bf6 {is similar to the game,
White keeps some advantage after ist ähnlich der Partie; Weiß behält einigen
Vorteil nach} 30. Bxf6 gxf6 31. Bc4) 30. Bc4 Rb8 {is analyzed in the comments
to the next move, Black is lucky enough to hold a draw. wird in den
Kommentaren zum nächsten Zug analysiert; Schwarz hat das Glück, Remis zu
halten.} 31. Ra3 Bf6 $1 32. Bxf6 Nd2) (29. Be1 Bf6 $1) 29... Rb8 $1 ({When I
found out that Als ich feststellte, dass} 29... Bxa5 30. Rxa5 Rb8 {loses to
verliert wegen} 31. Ra1 $1 Nxb3 32. Rb1 {(31.Ra3? Ke7 followed by 32...Rd8 is
fine), I realized that the game would not end in a quick draw. (31.Ra3? Ke7
nebst 32...Rd8 ist in Ordnung), wurde mir klar, dass die Partie doch nicht
einem schnellen Remis enden würde.}) 30. Bxd8 ({I was lucky again. Erneut
hatte ich Glück.} 30. Bc3 Nxb3 {and 31.Ra3 fails to 31...Bf6 32.Bxf6 Nd2 =.
Afterwards I found a clever move: und 31.Ra3 scheitert an 31...Bf6 32.Bxf6 Nd2
=. Hinterher fand ich einen cleveren Zug:} (30... Bf6 31. Bxf6 gxf6 32. Ra1
Nxb3 33. Rb1 $18) 31. Ra2 $5 {, the black knight is trapped after both 31...
Bc7? 32.Ra3 and 31...Rb6? 32.Ra3 Nc1 (32...Bf6? 33.Bxf6) 33.Ra8 Rd6 34.Ba5 Ke7
35.Bxd8+ Rxd8 36.Rxd8 Kxd8 37.Kf1 e5 38.e4 f5 39.f3, nevertheless , der
schwarze Springer ist gefangen sowohl nach 31...Bc7? 32.Ra3 als auch nach 31...
Rb6? 32.Ra3 Nc1 (32...Bf6? 33.Bxf6) 33.Ra8 Rd6 34.Ba5 Ke7 35.Bxd8+ Rxd8 36.
Rxd8 Kxd8 37.Kf1 e5 38.e4 f5 39.f3, doch} Bf6 $1 (31... Rb7 32. Ra3 Nc1 33. Ra8
Ke7 34. Bxg7 $16) {works well for Black: funktioniert gut für Schwarz:} 32.
Bxf6 gxf6 33. Rb2 Rb4 $1 34. Bxb3 c4 35. Bxc4) (30. Be1 Bf6) 30... Rxd8 31. Ra1
$1 {Otherwise Black could play Nd3 without losing the knight. Sonst könnte
Schwarz Nd3 spielen, ohne den Springer zu verlieren.} Rd1+ (31... Nd3 $2 32.
Rd1) 32. Kg2 {Such a pin along the 1st rank is rather extraordinary. White
cannot win the knight, but the c5 pawn is in danger. I was afraid of  33.Kf3,
34.Ra5 and planned to meet this with 34...Rd2, 35...Nd3 transposing into a bad
rook endgame, because I did not realise that Black can place his rook on the
b-file and win the b3-pawn. White can often transpose to the drawn rook
endgame with four pawns against three on the same flank. Eine solche Fesselung
entlang der ersten Reihe ist ziemlich außergewöhnlich. Weiß kann den Springer
zwar nicht abholen, doch der Bauer c5 ist in Gefahr. Ich hatte Angst vor 33.
Kf3, 34.Ra5 und plante, dem mit 34...Rd2, 35...Nd3 zu begegnen und in ein
schlechtes Turmendspiel überzuleiten, weil ich nicht erkannte, dass Schwarz
seinen Turm in der b-Linie platzieren und den b3 Bauern gewinnen kann. Weiß
kann oft in das remise Turmendspiel mit vier Bauern gegen drei an einem Flügel
überleiten.} g5 $5 {The attempt to get some space and counterplay on the
kingside is logical, but Der Versuch, etwas Raum und Gegenspiel am Königsfügel
zu bekommen, ist logisch, aber} (32... Ke7 33. Kf3 (33. g4 $5 h6 34. h4 $14 g5
35. h5 {is a bit more dangerous ist etwas gefährlicher.}) 33... h6 34. Ra5 $2 (
34. h4 $5) 34... Rd7 35. Rxc5 Rb7 $11 {promises White nothing as verspricht
Weiß nichts, da} 36. Bxe6 Nd3 {does not work. Perhaps I should have placed my
pawns on h5 and g6 but it is not easy to place your pawns on the squares of
the colour of your opponents' bishop. nicht funktioniert. Vielleicht hätte ich
meine Bauern nach h5 und g6 stellen sollen, aber man platziert seine Bauern
eben nicht gern auf der Farbe des gegnerischen Läufers.}) (32... h5 33. h4 g6
34. Kf3 Ke7 35. Ra5 Rd7 36. Rxc5 Rb7 37. Ba6 Nxb3 38. Rxh5 Rb6 39. Rb5 Nd4+ $5
{is an easy draw but perhaps White can try to improve on this line. ist ein
leichtes Remis, aber vielleicht kann Weiß versuchen, dieses Abspiel zu
verbessern.}) 33. Kf3 (33. Ra5 Nd3 34. Bxd3 Rxd3 35. Rxc5 Rxb3 36. Rxg5 {
I believe that Black can defend this position as it is not easy to exploit the
fact that Black has 2 pawn islands. I believe that with the pawn on g7 instead
of on f7, Black would have been lost. These statements cannot be either
verified or falsified in the near future, but I managed to hold a similar
endgame against GM Topalov two rounds later. Ich glaube, dass Schwarz diese
Stellung verteidigen kann, da sich die Tatsache, dass er zwei Bauerninseln hat,
nicht leicht ausnutzen lässt. Ich glaube auch, dass mit dem Bauern auf g7
statt auf f7 Schwarz verloren wäre. Diese Aussagen lassen sich in nächster
Zukunft weder verifizieren noch widerlegen, aber es gelang mir, zwei Runden
später ein ähnliches Endspiel gegen GM Topalov zu halten.}) (33. g4 h6 34. Kf3
Ke7 35. Ra5 Rd7 $1 36. Rxc5 Rb7 {again looks like a draw. sieht wieder nach
Remis aus.}) 33... h5 34. h3 ({I was a bit worried about Ein bisschen Sorge
machte mir} 34. h4 {, fixing the legendary second weakness. Nevertheless the
position of White's king at the end of the line , was die legendäre zweite
Schwäche festlegt. Dennoch, die Stellung des weißen Königs am Ende des Abspiels
} g4+ 35. Kg2 (35. Ke4 $2 f5+) 35... Ke7 36. Ra5 Nd3 37. Bxd3 Rxd3 38. Rxc5
Rxb3 39. Rxh5 f5 {prevents White from converting the advantage. hindert den
Anziehenden daran, den Vorteil zu verwerten.}) 34... Ke7 (34... g4+ $2 35. hxg4
hxg4+ 36. Kxg4 Nd3 37. Ra8+ Kg7 38. f4 {does not resemble a draw at all.
ähnelt keineswegs einem Remis.}) 35. Ra5 f5 {35...Nd3 can be met by 36.Ke2.
Auf 35...Nd3 kann 36.Ke2 folgen.} ({In the end I did not play Letztlich nahm
ich Abstand von} 35... Rd2 36. Rxc5 g4+ 37. hxg4 hxg4+ 38. Kxg4 Rxf2 {White is
a pawn up and the bishop should be stronger than the knight, so Black's
prospects are rather gloomy. Weiß hat einen Bauern mehr und der Läufer sollte
stärker sein als der Springer; daher sind die schwarzen Aussichten ziemlich
düster.}) (35... Kd6 $2 36. Ra7 Nd3 37. Ke2 Nb2 38. Rxf7 Rh1 39. Bb5 $18) 36.
Rxc5 (36. Ra7+ Rd7 {is not dangerous; ist ungefährlich}) (36. g4 hxg4+ 37. hxg4
fxg4+ 38. Kxg4 Nd3 39. Bxd3 Rxd3 40. Rxc5 Rxb3 41. Kxg5 $14 {also leads to a
drawish endgame, but Black has to be a bit careful. führt ebenfalls zu einem
remislichen Endspiel, doch Schwarz muss ein bisschen aufpassen.}) 36... g4+ 37.
hxg4 (37. Kg2 Nd3 38. Bxd3 Rxd3 {is the same story as after 34.h4. The e3-e4
breakthrough brings nothing to White and Black can easily defend in case of
ist die gleiche Geschichte wie nach 34.h4. Der e3-e4-Hebel bringt Weiß nichts,
und Schwarz kann sich leicht verteidigen im Fall von} 39. b4 Rb3 40. Rb5 Rb2
41. Rb7+ Kf6 42. h4 Ke5 (42... e5 $6 43. Rb8 Rb1 44. b5 e4 45. b6 Kg7 46. b7 {
is dangerous, Black cannot allow White's king to go on e6 and ist gefährlich;
Schwarz darf den weißen König nicht nach e6 lassen und} Kh7 47. Rf8 $14 {
still causes some practical problems. macht noch immer einige praktische
Probleme.}) 43. b5 Ke4 {.}) 37... hxg4+ 38. Kf4 {Now Black can generate some
mating threats. The game entered the first slight time-trouble. Nun kann
Schwarz ein paar Mattdrohungen aufstellen. Die Partie ging in die erste
leichte Zeitnot.} Kf6 $6 {It was not easy to decide on the right continuation.
Es war nicht einfach, sich für die richtige Fortsetzung zu entscheiden.} (38...
Nd3+ 39. Bxd3 Rxd3 40. Ke5 Rxb3 41. Rc7+ Kd8 42. Rf7 (42. Rc6 Rb2 43. Rd6+ Kc7)
42... Rb2 ({I underestimated the continuation Ich unterschätzte die Fortsetzung
} 42... Rb6 $1 {, White cannot improve his position after , Weiß kann seine
Stellung nicht verbessern nach} 43. Kf6 Ra6 {, for example , zum Beispiel sieht
} 44. Re7 Ra2 45. Kxe6 Rxf2 $11) 43. Kxe6 Rxf2 44. e4 {looks like a draw, now,
but I was reluctant to enter such an endgame. nach Remis aus, aber es
widerstrebte mir, mich auf ein solches Endspiel einzulassen.}) 39. e4 ({
My computer recommends Mein Computer empfiehlt} 39. f3 {and continues with
some rather inhuman ways to a draw which I am not going to mention here. The
most acceptable normal replies are 39...Rd2 40.e4 Nd3+ 41.Bxd3 Rxd3 43.fxg4
fxe4 44.b4 Rb3 = and und setzt mit einigen ziemlich unmenschlichen Wegen zum
Remis fort, die ich hier nicht erwähnen werde. Die annehmbarsten normalen
Erwiderungen sind 39...Rd2 40.e4 Nd3+ 41.Bxd3 Rxd3 43.fxg4 fxe4 44.b4 Rb3 = und
} gxf3 40. Kxf3 Rd6 $1 {with the threats of Rb6, Nd3. mit den Drohungen Rb6,
Nd3.} (40... Nd3 $6 41. Rc6 $1 (41. Ke2 Nxc5 42. Kxd1 Ne4) 41... Ne5+ 42. Ke2
Nxc6 43. Kxd1 $16)) (39. Rc6 $2 Nd3+ 40. Bxd3 Rxd3 {looks rather cooperative,
White must be careful in order not to get checkmated. wirkt ziemlich
kooperativ; Weiß muss aufpassen, nicht mattgesetzt zu werden.}) 39... Rd4 (
39... Nxb3 $2 40. Bxb3 Rd3 41. exf5 Rxb3 42. Kxg4 Rb4+ 43. f4) 40. Ke3 ({
As far as I can remember, I spotted Soweit ich mich erinnern kann, sah ich} 40.
Re5 Rxc4 $1 {only at some point after my 38th move. erst an irgendeiner Stelle
nach meinem 38 Zug.}) 40... Rxe4+ 41. Kd2 Na2 $14 {I had a feeling that Black
had managed to get out of his problems even though I realised that White
retained some edge. In fact White probably could not have reached a bigger
advantage at any time. Ich hatte das Gefühl, dass es Schwarz gelungen war, aus
seinen Problemen herauszukommen, obwohl mir klar war, dass Weiß nach wie vor
ein Plus hatte. Tatsächlich hätte Weiß wahrscheinlich an keiner Stelle einen
größeren Vorteil herausholen können.} ({Neither Weder} 41... Rxc4 $2 42. Rxc4
Nxb3+ 43. Kc3 Na5 44. Rc7 Ke5 45. Rc5+ $18) ({nor noch} 41... Nxb3+ $2 42. Bxb3
{is the right way how to simplify the position. ist der richtige Weg, die
Stellung zu vereinfachen.}) 42. Rb5 $1 {This position is not a dead draw at
all; the endgames might be dangerous for the defender after the rook swap: the
black knight is not placed very well and Black's rook can hardly move. Diese
Stellung ist keinesweg totremis; die Endspiele nach dem Turmtausch könnten für
den Verteidiger gefährlich sein: Der Springer steht nicht besonders gut, und
der Turm von Schwarz kann sich kaum bewegen.} ({The continuation Die
Fortsetzung} 42. Ra5 Nb4 43. Ra4 Nc6 {does not look very dangerous. sieht
nicht sehr gefährlich aus.}) 42... f4 $2 {Now Black will be on the verge of
losing. The attempt to exchange as many pawns as possible is understandable,
but this move creates a weakness on g4 which promises one good chance after
the rook swap. Nun wird Schwarz am Rand der Niederlage wandeln. Der Versuch,
so viele Bauern wie möglich zu tauschen, ist verständlich, doch dieser Zug
schafft eine Schwäche auf g4, die nach dem Turmtausch eine gute Chance
verspricht.} ({I saw the continuation Ich sah die Fortsetzung} 42... Rd4+ 43.
Kc2 Rd6 $1 (43... f4 44. Rb6 fxg3 45. fxg3) (43... e5 $2 44. Ra5 $1 Nb4+ 45.
Kc3 Nc6 46. Ra6 Rd6 47. Bb5 $18) {, but missed that , mir entging aber, dass}
44. b4 (44. Ra5 $1 Nb4+ 45. Kc3 $14) {enables Black to reach a draw after
Schwarz ein Remis erreichen lässt nach} 44... Rc6 $1 45. Kd3 Rd6+ 46. Kc2 Rc6
47. Kb3 Nc1+) (42... Ke7 43. Rb7+ {followed by Kc2 is rather dangerous nebst
Kc2 ist ziemlich gefährlich, ebenso wie}) ({as well as} 42... Re5 43. Rb6 {
with the threat of 44.b4. mit der Drohung 44.b4.}) 43. Ra5 $1 {This was a
surprise, and not a pleasant one! Dies war eine Überraschung, und keine
angenehme!} ({I calculated on Ich rechnete mit} 43. Rb6 $5 {,} f3 44. Ra6 Nb4
45. Ra4 Nc6 46. Bd3 {is still an unpleasant ending. , was noch immer ein
unangenehmes Endspiel ergibt;}) ({but} 43. Kd3 fxg3 44. fxg3 Re1 {should not
cause Black many problems dagegen sollte Schwarz keine großen Probleme
bereiten.}) 43... Nb4 (43... Rd4+ $2 44. Kc2 Nb4+ 45. Kc3 fxg3 46. fxg3 Nc6 47.
Ra6 Rd6 48. Be2 $5 (48. Bb5 Nd4 $1) {probably loses as Black cannot defend the
hanging pawn: verliert wahrscheinlich, da Schwarz den hängenden Bauern nicht
verteidigen kann:} 48... Kf5 $2 (48... Kg5 $2 49. b4) 49. Bb5 Nd4 50. Bd3+ Ke5
51. Rxd6) 44. Ra4 fxg3 45. fxg3 Nc6 46. Bb5 ({Another possibility was Eine
weitere Möglichkeit war} 46. Bd3 $16 {, but the choice is probably a matter of
taste. aber die Wahl ist wahrscheinlich eine Geschmachssache.} Rd4 $1 (46...
Rxa4 47. bxa4 {, Kc3, Be2 looks really bad because of the weak Pg4. , Kc3, Be2
sieht wirklich schlecht aus wegen des schwachen Pg4.}) 47. Rxd4 (47. Kc3 Rd8
48. Rxg4 $2 Rxd3+ $1) 47... Nxd4 48. b4 $16) 46... Nb4 (46... Nd4 47. Kd3 Ke5
$2 {, Re1 looks sensible only until one finds the refutation , Re1 sieht nur
solange vernünftig aus, bis man die Widerlegung findet.} ({clearly stronger is
eindeutig stärker ist} 47... Re5 $1 48. Rxd4 Rxb5 49. Kc4 {and this position
is once more similar to the game. und diese Stellung ähnelt einmal mehr der
Partie.} Rb8 50. Rxg4 (50. Rf4+) 50... e5 {and White should probably move his
rook to e3 (and eventually to b3). und Weiß sollte seinen Turm wahrscheinlich
nach e3 ziehen (und eventuell nach b3).}) 48. Ba6 $1 Re1 49. Ra5+ {.}) (46...
Rxa4 47. bxa4 Nd4 $16 (47... Na5 {allows White to place his king on b4 and
bishop on e2 with a likely win. erlaubt Weiß, seinen König nach b4 zu stellen
und den Läufer nach e2, mit wahrscheinlichem Gewinn.}) 48. Ke3 Ke5 49. Bd3 $16)
(46... Rd4+ 47. Kc3 Rd1 48. Rxg4 {is probably lost; a bishop tends to be
stronger than a knight in such positions. ist wahrscheinlich verloren; in
derartigen Stellungen ist ein Läufer meist stärker als ein Springer.}) 47. Bc4
Nc6 48. Bb5 Nb4 49. Bc6 $1 Rd4+ 50. Kc3 Rd6 {Pawn endings are hopeless, of
course. Bauernendspiele sind natürlich hoffnungslos.} 51. Rxb4 (51. Be4 $5 Nd5+
52. Bxd5 Rxd5 (52... exd5 $5 53. Rxg4 (53. Kd4 $6 Rb6 54. b4 Rb5) 53... Ke5 $16
) 53. Rxg4 $16 {is rather similar to the game, but I like the rook on d6 more
as now it cannot support the e-pawn from e6. On the other hand White cannot
advance his b-pawn, now and the move Kc4 sometimes offers Black counterplay
based on the march of the e-pawn with the rook placed on e8. ähnelt sehr der
Partie, aber mir gefällt der Turm auf d6 besser, da er jetzt den e-Bauern von
e6 aus unterstützen kann. Andererseits kann Weiß jetzt nicht seinen b-Bauern
vorrücken, und der Zug Kc4 bietet Schwarz manchmal Gegenspiel auf Basis des
Vormarsches des e-Bauern, mit einem Turm auf e8.}) 51... Rxc6+ 52. Rc4 Rd6 {
The other retreats (especially 52...Ra6) would have given White one tempo, for
instance Die anderen Rückzüge (vor allem 52...Ra6) hätten Weiß ein Tempo
geschenkt, zum Beispiel} (52... Rb6 53. Rxg4 e5 54. Rb4 $5 {. However, the
rook is not placed very well on b4 either. Allerdings steht der Turm auf b4
auch nicht gut.}) 53. b4 {This might be an inaccuracy, nevertheless White
maintains good chances to win the game. Dies könnte eine Ungenauigkeit sein;
dennoch bewahrt Weiß gute Chancen, die Partie zu gewinnen.} (53. Rxg4 e5 54.
Rc4 {and I think that White can win this position, but the endgame remains
very complicated after both und ich glaube, dass Weiß diese Stellung gewinnen
kann; allerdings bleibt das Endspiel sehr kompliziert sowohl nach} Ke6 55. b4
Kd5 {and 54...Rd1 55.b4. als auch 54...Rd1 55.b4.}) 53... e5 (53... Kf5 {
gives White an additional option gibt Weiß die zusätzliche Möglichkeit} 54.
Rf4+ $5) 54. b5 {White relies on his passed pawn, but I managed to get
sufficient counterplay. Weiß verlässt sich auf seinen Freibaeurn, aber es
gelang mir, ausreichendes Gegenspiel zu bekommen.} (54. Rxg4 Kf5 {is rather
unclear; Black's rook can in case of need support the passed pawn. ist
ziemlich unklar; der schwarze Turm kann notfalls den Freibauern unterstützen.}
55. Rg8 e4 56. b5 (56. Rf8+ $5 Ke5 {allows the king to go on d5. lässt den
König nach d5.}) 56... Re6 $11) 54... Kf5 55. Rb4 {I missed this plan. White
should not allow the black king to go to f3. Diesen Plan hatte ich übersehen.
Weiß sollte den schwarzen König nicht nach f3 lassen.} (55. Rc6 Rd8 (55... Rd1
$5 {might be even better, but Black has to be careful after ist vielleicht
sogar noch besser, aber Schwarz muss aufpassen nach} 56. Kb2 {or 56.Kc2 as
White would like to move his rook to b3 with good chances for success. oder 56.
Kc2, denn Weiß möchte seinen Turm nach b3 bringen, mit guten Chancen auf
Erfolg.}) 56. b6 e4 (56... Ke4 57. Rf6 Ke3 58. Kc4 e4 59. Kc5 {might be lost,
White can sometimes exchange his rook for two pawns. könnte verloren sein;
Weiß kann manchmal seinen Turm für zwei Bauern geben.}) 57. Rc5+ Kf6 $1 (57...
Ke6 58. Rb5 e3 59. Rb2) 58. Rb5 e3 59. Rb2 Rd7 $11 60. b7 e2 {is a rather
inhuman and complicated line. ist ein ziemlich unmenschliches und
kompliziertes Abspiel.}) 55... e4 {0:14} 56. Rd4 $1 {This move is very strong.
White would like either to give check on d5 and to play Kd4 or to move his
king to the e-file and then return with his rook to b4. The resulting endgame
is mostly winning (if Black fails to grab the Pg3, of course). Dieser Zug ist
sehr stark. Weiß möchte entweder Schach auf d5 geben und Kd4 spielen oder
seinen König in die e-Linie ziehen und dann mit seinem Turm nach b4
zurückkehren. Das entstehende Endspiel ist meistens gewonnen (sofern Schwarz
es nicht schafft, sich den Pg3 zu schnappen, natürlich).} (56. b6 $2 e3 $11)
56... Rh6 $1 {0:08 Other moves lead to very dangerous positions. My
calculations were not exact and also the alternatives to the text give some
chances for a draw, but Black is very close to a loss, then. 0:08 Andere Züge
führen zu sehr gefährlichen Stellungen. Meine Berechnungen waren nicht exakt,
und auch die Alternativen zum Text geben einige Chancen auf Remis, doch dann
wandelt Schwarz sehr nahe am Verlust.} (56... Re6 57. Kd2) (56... Rf6 57. Kd2
Ke5 58. Rb4) (56... Rb6 57. Rd5+ Ke6 58. Rh5 {, Kd4 +/-.}) 57. Rd1 {0:05} ({
I calculated mainly the line Ich berechnete vor allem das Abspiel} 57. Rd5+ Ke6
58. Rg5 (58. Kd4 Rh3 59. b6 Rxg3 60. Rb5 Rd3+ 61. Kxe4 Rd8) 58... Rh1 59. Rxg4
(59. Kd4 Rb1 {leads to a facile draw: führt zu einem leichten Remis:} 60. Kxe4
Rb4+ 61. Ke3 Rb3+) {, the correct continuation is probably , die korrekte
Fortsetzung ist wahrscheinlich} 59... Kf5 $1 (59... e3 $2 60. Re4+ Kd5 61. Rxe3
Rb1 62. Rf3 $1 $18) 60. Rf4+ (60. Rg8 Rb1 61. Kc4 e3 62. Re8 Re1 $11) 60... Ke5
61. Rf8 Rc1+ $11) 57... e3 $6 {0:03} ({White's manoeuvre would have be
successful in case of Erfolg gehabt hätten die weißen Manöver im Fall von} 
57... Re6 58. Rb1 Rd6 59. b6 e3 60. b7) ({The simplest way to a draw was
probably Der einfachste Remisweg war wahrscheinlich} 57... Rh3 $1 58. Rg1 e3
59. Kd3 e2 $1 60. Kxe2 Ke4 61. Rb1 Rh2+ 62. Kd1 Rh1+ 63. Kc2 Rh2+ 64. Kc3 Kf3
65. b6 Rh8 66. b7 Rb8 $11 {, but it is not very easy to find, especially when
one is short of time. , aber dies nicht gerade leicht zu finden, vor allem,
wenn man wenig Zeit hat.}) 58. Kd3 $6 ({The critical continuation was Die
kritische Fortsetzung war} 58. Rf1+ $1 {I planned to reply with Ich plante,}
Ke4 {zu erwidern.} (58... Ke5 $2 59. Kd3 Rh2 (59... e2 $5 {60.Rb1 or Re1 is
rather dangerous, whereas 60.Rb1 oder Re1 ist recht gefährlich, hingegen führt}
60. Kxe2 $2 Rh2+ 61. Rf2 (61. Kd3 Rg2 62. Re1+ Kd5 63. Re3 Rb2 $11) 61... Rh3
62. Rg2 Ke4 $1 {leads to a draw, the black king can approach the f3-square.
zum Remis; der schwarze König kann sich dem Feld f3 nähern.}) (59... Rh3 $2 60.
b6 Rxg3 (60... e2 61. Rb1 $1) 61. Rb1 e2+ 62. Kxe2 Rg2+ 63. Kf1 Rh2 64. Rb5+
$18) 60. Rb1 $16 {is easy to lose, for instance ist leicht zu verlieren, zum
Beispiel} Rd2+ $2 (60... e2 $1 61. Re1 $16) 61. Kxe3 Rg2 62. b6 Rxg3+ 63. Ke2
Rg2+ 64. Kf1 Rh2 65. Rb5+ $18) (58... Kg5 $2 59. Kd3 {followed by 60.Rb1 is
rather doubtful as the resource from the game does not work so well: nebst 60.
Rb1 ist ziemlich zweifelhaft, da die Ressource aus der Partie nicht so gut
funktioniert:} Rh2 60. Rb1 e2 61. b6 e1=Q 62. Rxe1 Rb2 63. Re6 {.}) 59. Rf4+
Kd5 ({The continuation Die Fortsetzung} 59... Ke5 $2 60. Kd3 Rh2 {is wrong for
many reasons, ist aus vielen Gründen falsch, hauptsächlich wegen} 61. Rb4 $1 {
being the main one} (61. Kxe3 $2 Rb2 62. Rxg4 Kf6 $1 $11) (61. Re4+ $6 Kd6 {
is not so simple, for example ist nicht so einfach, zum Beispiel} 62. Kxe3 Rb2
63. Rxg4 Rxb5 64. Re4 Rb8 $1 (64... Rg5 65. Kf4 $1 Rg8 66. g4 Kd5 67. Re5+ Kd6
68. g5 Rf8+ 69. Rf5 Ke7 70. g6) 65. g4 Kd5 $11) 61... Ra2 (61... e2 62. Kd2)
62. b6 $5 (62. Kxe3 Ra3+ 63. Kd2 $18)) 60. Kd3 Re6 {but I missed an
intermediate check , aber ich übersah das Zwischenschach} 61. Rf5+ $1 {, after
which Black has to be careful , wonach Schwarz aufpassen muss.} (61. Ke2 Kc5
$11) 61... Kd6 62. Ke2 Re8 $1 (62... Kc7 $2 63. Rc5+ $1 Kb7 (63... Kb6 $2 64.
Rc6+) 64. Rc4 Re5 65. Rxg4 Rxb5 {probably loses. Perhaps it is a right time
now to write that Kf3, Re4, Pg4 x Kd5, Rg8 is a draw whereas Kg2, Rd3,Pg3 x
Kc6, Rg8 is winning for White irrespective of whose move is it. verliert
wahrscheinlich. Vielleicht ist es jetzt an der Zeit zu schreiben, dass Kf3,
Re4, Pg4 x Kd5, Rg8 remis ist, während Kg2, Rd3,Pg3 x Kc6, Rg8 für Weiß
gewinnt, egal, wer am Zug ist.} 66. Kxe3 (66. Rc4 $2 Rg5 $1 67. Kf3 (67. g4 Re5
68. Rc1 (68. Rc3 Re4) 68... Re8 69. g5 Rg8 70. Rg1 Kc6 $11) 67... e2 68. Re4 (
68. Rc1 Rg8 69. Re1 (69. g4 Re8 70. Re1 Kc6 71. Rxe2 Rxe2 $11) 69... Kc6) 68...
Kc6 $11 69. Rxe2 Kd5 70. g4 Rg8) 66... Rb3+ $1 (66... Kc6 67. Rd4 Rg5 68. Kf4
Rg8 69. g4 $18) {and the modest retreat und der bescheidene Rückzug} 67. Kf2 $5
(67. Kf4 Kc7 $1 {is rather complicated, for example ist ziemlich kompliziert,
zum Beispiel sollte} (67... Kc6 68. Rg7 $1 Kd6 69. g4 Ke6 70. Kg5 Rg3 71. Kh6
$18 Rh3+ 72. Kg6) 68. Kg5 (68. Ke5 Kd7 69. Kf6 Rf3+ 70. Kg7 Ke6 71. Rg5) 68...
Kd7 69. Kh6 Ke7 70. Rg7+ Kf8 71. g4 Rh3+ 72. Kg6 Rg3 $1 $11) 67... Kc6 68. Rd4
{should be sufficient for the victory, even though zum Sieg ausreichen, obwohl}
Rb8 (68... Kc5 69. Rd8) 69. g4 $6 (69. Rd3) 69... Rb3 $1 {might not be the
right way vielleicht nicht der richtige Weg ist.}) (62... Re4 63. Rf4 {and
Black has to avoid the pawn endgame. und Schwarz muss das Bauernendspiel
vermeiden.}) 63. Rf1 (63. Rg5 Re4) (63. Rf6+ Kc7 $1 (63... Kc5 64. b6 Re7 65.
Rg6 Kb5 66. Rxg4 Kxb6 67. Rc4 Rg7 68. Kf3 (68. g4 Kb5) 68... e2 69. Re4 Kc5 70.
Rxe2 Kd5 $11) 64. Rc6+ Kb7 65. Rc3 Re5 66. Rxe3 Rxb5 67. Re4 Kc6 68. Ke3 (68.
Rxg4 Kd6 69. Re4 Re5 $11) 68... Rg5) 63... Kc5 64. Rb1 Kb6 65. Rb3 Rf8 $1 66.
Rb4 Rf2+) 58... e2 $1 {0:02} ({After Nach} 58... Rh2 {I missed the move
übersah ich den Zug} 59. Rf1+ $1 (59. Kxe3 Rg2) (59. Rb1 e2 {.}) {, Fritz's
line , das Fritz-Abspiel} 59... Kg6 $1 (59... Ke6 60. Rb1 e2 61. Re1 $16) 60.
Rb1 e2 61. b6 Kf7 $3 62. b7 (62. Re1 Rh6 $1) 62... e1=Q 63. Rxe1 Rb2 {is not
very obvious. ist nicht sehr offensichtlich.}) 59. Rb1 {Now I once more
realized that I had missed something. Jetzt begriff ich einmal mehr, dass ich
etwas übersehen hatte.} (59. Kxe2 Rh2+ $1 {I saw this move but I am afraid
that I would have played Ich sah diesen Zug, aber ich fürchte, gespielt hätte
ich} (59... Ke4 $2 60. Rf1 $1 {when Black is in a trouble again. wonach
Schwarz wieder in Schwierigkeiten steckt.}) 60. Kd3 Rg2 $11) 59... Rh2 $1 {
0:01 The move e1-Q secures for Black a draw after 60.b6. 0:01 Der Zug e1-Q
sichert Schwarz ein Remis nach 60.b6.} ({Fortunately I spotted
Glücklicherweise sah ich noch rechtzeitig} 59... Re6 $2 60. Kd2 $1 {in time,
White could have placed his king on e1 with a win. , Weiß könnte seinen König
nach e1 stellen, mit Gewinn.} Kf6 61. Ke1 Re3 62. b6 Rxg3 63. Rb5 $18) 60. Kd4
(60. Re1 Rg2) (60. Kd2 $4 e1=Q+) (60. b6 e1=Q 61. Rxe1 Rb2 $11) 60... Rf2 61.
Re1 Rg2 62. b6 Rxg3 63. Rxe2 {I was very happy that I managed to make a draw
against the World Champion in the type of position which suits him so well.
Ich war sehr glücklich, dass ich ein Remis gegen den Weltmeister geschafft
hatte, in dem Stellungstyp, der ihm so sehr liegt.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2723"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O
dxc4 9. Bxc4 e5 10. Qc2 exd4 11. exd4 Nb6 12. Bb3 Bg4 13. Ne5 Bc7 14. Be3 Qd6
15. Ne4 Nxe4 16. Nxg4 Nf6 17. Ne5 Nbd7 18. Nf3 Nd5 19. Qf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4
b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Ra7 {This move has been quite popular over the past few
years. Black is trying to play a waiting game, by delaying the development of
his queenside knight. As known, ...Nbd7 can always be answered with Ba5,
whereas Ba5 with a knight on b8 is inefficient because of ...Nc6.} 11. Rc1 Be4
12. Qb3 Nc6 ({The newest trend. For a while,} 12... Nbd7 {was the main
variation.} 13. Ba5 Qa8 $5 {[%csl Ga8,Ge4][%cal Ga8g2] Thismove was designed
by Leko. Black ingnores the threat against the c7-pawn and takes the long
diagonal under firm control.} (13... Qb8 {Gelfand,B-Harikrishna,P/Bermuda 2005/
CBM 106/[Gelfand] (1-0, 38)}) 14. Nbd2 {Nobody has had the courage to capture
the pawn yet, although things might be not entirely clear there.} (14. Nc3 Bc6
{Nielsen,P (2668)-Leko,P (2763)/Dortmund 2005/CBM 108/[Ribli] (0-1, 60)}) 14...
Bd5 15. Qe3 Bd6 16. Bh3 (16. Rc2 Qb7 17. Rac1 Nb6 18. b3 $14 {Conquest,S (2505)
-Gomez Esteban,J (2495)/Donostia San Sebastian 2006/ (1-0, 58) Black cannot
obtain counterplay easily.}) 16... Ne4 17. Nxe4 Bxe4 18. Ne1 Nb6 19. Bxb6 $1
cxb6 20. Bg2 $1 Bxg2 21. Nxg2 $14 {Avrukh,B (2653)-Quezada,Y (2505)/Beer Sheva
2005/CBM 110/[Ribli] (1-0, 72)}) 13. e3 Qa8 14. Qd1 Nb8 15. Ba5 Rc8 (15... Bd6
16. a3 Nbd7 17. Nbd2 Bd5 18. Qf1 (18. b4 $5) 18... c5 19. dxc5 Bxc5 20. Rc2 Qb7
21. Rac1 {Black has managed to carry out the thematical break ...c5 under
relatively favourable circumstances, but White retains some pressure.} Bb6 22.
Bxb6 Qxb6 23. Nd4 Ne5 24. Bxd5 Nxd5 25. N4f3 Nxf3+ 26. Nxf3 Rd8 27. Qd3 Ne7 28.
Qe4 Rad7 29. Kg2 {Both sides have taken authoritarian control of one of the
open files, but the difference between the knights' placement s obvious. Black
did not equalise completely yet.} f6 30. h4 e5 31. h5 $14 {Aronian,L (2744)
-Karjakin,S (2678)/Wijk aan Zee 2007 (1-0, 47)}) (15... Nc6 16. Be1 Nb8 {
White has won an important tempo. Everything is ready for the development of
the queen's knight already.} 17. b4 Nbd7 18. a4 Nd5 19. Nbd2 Bg6 20. Nb3 Be4 (
20... Bxb4 21. Bxb4 Nxb4 22. Ne5 Qc8 23. Nxg6 hxg6 24. axb5 $16) 21. axb5 (21.
Ne5 Bxg2 22. Nxd7 Rd8) 21... Bxb4 (21... axb5 22. Ne5 Bxg2 23. Rxa7 Qxa7 24.
Nxd7 $16 {[%csl Gf8,Gg2]} Rd8 25. Ra1 Qb7 26. Ndc5 Bxc5 27. Nxc5 Qc6 28. e4 $18
) 22. Bxb4 Nxb4 23. Nbd2 $16 {Avrukh,B (2633)-Sandipan,C (2546)/Turin 2006/CBM
113 (1-0, 62)}) 16. a3 $146 {Although this move is a novelty technically
speaking, the idea is not new. Just refer to the game Aronian-Karjakin above.}
(16. Bb6 {looks a bit premature. The bishop did not finish his job on a5 yet.}
Rb7 17. Bc5 Bxc5 18. dxc5 (18. Rxc5 Nbd7 19. Rc1 c5 20. Nc3 Bc6 $132) 18... Ra7
19. Nbd2 Bd5 20. Qc2 a5 21. a3 a4 22. Qd3 {1/2-1/2 Ponomariov,R (2723)-Anand,V
(2779)/Wijk aan Zee NED 2007}) (16. Nbd2 Bd5 {Gelfand,B (2723)-Karjakin,S 
(2660)/Wijk aan Zee 2006/CBM 111/[Ribli] (1/2-1/2, 22)}) 16... Bd6 (16... c5
17. Nbd2 Bd5 18. Bb6 $16) 17. Nbd2 Bd5 18. Qf1 Nbd7 19. b4 {Now that ...c5 has
become a threat, White prevents it physically.} e5 {Black has to look for some
counterplay in the centre. Otherwise, White would just double rooks on the
c-file, consolidating his advantage. of space.} 20. dxe5 Bxe5 $5 (20... Nxe5
21. Nxe5 Bxe5 22. Ra2 $14 {[%cal Ya2c2]}) 21. Nxe5 Nxe5 (21... Bxg2 22. Qxg2
Qxg2+ (22... Nxe5 23. Qxa8 Raxa8 24. Rxc7 $16) 23. Kxg2 Nxe5 24. Bb6 Rb7 25.
Bd4 $14) 22. f3 $3 {Slightly unaesthetical, but very deep. Black has not
sufficient space for his minor pieces, which justifies the decision of
avoiding the exchange of the light-squared bishops.} Nc4 23. Nxc4 Bxc4 24. Qf2
Re8 25. e4 c6 26. Rd1 Rd7 27. Rxd7 Nxd7 28. Rd1 Qb7 29. Rd6 f6 30. f4 $16 {
Finally, White's structure has recovered its harmony. The pair of bishops and
the higher flexibility offer him a stable advantage.} Re6 31. Rd2 Re7 32. Qd4
Nf8 33. Qd8 Rd7 34. Rxd7 Qxd7 35. Qxd7 Nxd7 {[%cal Yc6c5]} 36. e5 $6 {This
move unnecessarily complicates the fight by giving upa pawn.} (36. Bh3 $1 Nf8
37. Bc8 $16 {would have been simpler.}) 36... fxe5 37. Bxc6 Nf6 38. Bb7 exf4
39. gxf4 Nd5 40. Kf2 Nxf4 41. Ke3 g5 (41... Ne2 {(=, Landa)} 42. Bc7 {[%csl
Ge2][%cal Yc7e5]} (42. Bxa6 Kf7 43. Bb6 Ke6 44. a4 Nc3 45. a5 Nd5+ 46. Kd4 Nxb4
47. Bb7 Kd6 48. a6 Nc6+ 49. Kc3 Bd5 50. a7 $2 Nxa7 51. Bxd5 Nc8 $1 $19 {Landa})
42... Kf7 (42... Nc3 43. Kd4 Nb1 44. a4 $18) 43. Be5 g6 44. Ke4 Ke7 45. Bxa6
$16) 42. Bxa6 Kf7 43. a4 Ke7 44. Bxb5 Bxb5 45. axb5 Kd7 46. Ke4 Ne2 47. Bb6 g4
48. Bf2 Nc3+ 49. Kf5 Nxb5 50. Kxg4 Ke6 51. Kg5 Kf7 52. Kf5 Ke7 53. Bc5+ 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.20"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2744"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 c5 8. e4 Bg6
{Kramnik sticks to his preferences. Just like in the World Championship
Matches he goes for a slightly inferior, but very solid endgame, which he
analyzed and feels very well.} 9. Be3 (9. Bxc4 cxd4 10. Bb5+ Nfd7 $1 11. Qxd4
a6 $11) (9. d5 $13 {will probably become more popular in the future}) 9... cxd4
10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. Bxd4 Nfd7 (11... Nc6 12. Nxc6 bxc6 $14) (11... Nbd7 12. Nxc4
Bc5 13. Bxc5 Nxc5 14. b4 $14) 12. Nxd7 (12. Nxc4 Nc6 13. Be3 Bc5 14. Kf2 Ke7
$11 {1/2-1/2 Nielsen,P (2646)-Hracek,Z (2581)/Germany 2006 (45)}) 12... Nxd7
13. Bxc4 a6 ({The viability of these endgames was demonstrated by the late
Smyslov on more than one occasion.} 13... Rc8 14. Ba2 a6 15. Ke2 Nb8 16. Rhd1
Nc6 17. Bb6 Bb4 18. Rd2 Ke7 19. Rad1 Nb8 20. Bf2 f6 21. Bg3 Be8 22. Rd4 a5 23.
Bd6+ Bxd6 24. Rxd6 Bd7 25. Ke3 Rc6 26. R6d4 Rhc8 $11 {1/2-1/2 Cramling,P (2504)
-Smyslov,V (2485)/Marbella 1999 (60)}) 14. h4 $146 (14. Ke2 Rg8 15. Rhd1 (15.
h4 h5 16. Rhd1 Rc8 17. Bb3 Bb4 18. Rac1 Ke7 19. Na2 Bc5 {1/2-1/2 Ruck,R (2526)
-Gustafsson,J (2584)/Austria 2006}) 15... Rc8 16. b3 Bc5 17. a5 Ke7 18. Na4 Bb4
19. Nb6 Nxb6 20. Bxb6 f6 21. Rd3 Rc6 22. h4 Rgc8 23. g4 Bc5 $11 {1/2-1/2
Topalov,V (2813)-Kramnik,V (2743)/Elista 2006 (31)}) 14... Rc8 15. Ba2 h6 {
It is interesting that Kramnik is ready to place the bishop on h7 rather than
play 15...h5 and keep it on g6, where apparently the bishop is better placed
due to the fact that it can later enter into play easier via f7 or e8.} (15...
h5 {The drawback of such pawn formation for Black is that in many situations
White's plan to bring the knight to f4 will be unpleasant for the second
player.}) 16. Rc1 (16. Rd1 Rg8 {followed by ...Bc5 and ...Ke7 and it looks
like Black has little to worry about.} (16... Bc5 $2 17. Bxg7 Rh7 18. Bd4 $18))
16... Bc5 (16... Nb8 $5) 17. Ne2 $1 {Forcing Black to castle. With the king on
e7 the position would be completely equal.} (17. Bxg7 Rh7 18. h5 Rxg7 19. hxg6
Rxg6 $132) (17. Bxc5 Rxc5 18. Ke2 Ke7 $11) 17... O-O ({After} 17... Rg8 {
White can use the pin on the c-file:} 18. Nf4 $1 Bh7 19. Nd3 b6 20. Ke2 Ke7 21.
Nxc5 bxc5 (21... Nxc5 22. a5 $18) 22. Bc3 {with advantage.}) 18. O-O (18. Kf2
Bxd4+ 19. Nxd4 Nc5 $132 {[%csl Ra4,Rd3]}) 18... Bd6 $5 {A somewhat unexpected,
but healthy decision. With the king on g8 instead of e7 Black keeps his bishop
for defending weak dark squares.} ({A more complicated alternative was} 18...
Bxd4+ 19. Nxd4 Nc5 20. a5 $5 (20. Rc4 b6 21. Rfc1 Rcd8 {[%cal Gc5d3]} 22. Bb1
a5 $11) 20... Nd3 21. Rxc8 Rxc8 22. Nxe6 $13) 19. Be3 Ne5 20. Nf4 {Notice that
with the black pawn on h5 White would have an advantage now (see the comments
after 15...h6), since he could always remain with the bishop pair versus the
knight and bishop.} Rxc1 {Another interesting moment. Kramnik has a complete
faith in Black's position and prefers to give up the open file rather than go
for unclear complications.} (20... Bh7 21. Rxc8 Rxc8 22. Nxe6 Rc2 23. Nd8 Rxb2
24. Bd5 $13) 21. Rxc1 Bh7 {In spite of apparent advantage (control over the
c-file, passive bishop on h7 and problems to centralize the king from g8),
White can achieve nothing concrete. Black controls all important squares in
the center and White has no targets for attack.} 22. Kf1 (22. Ne2 Re8 {[%cal
Gg8f8,Gf8e7]} 23. Bc5 Bb8 (23... Bxc5+ 24. Rxc5 Nd3 25. Rc7 Nxb2 26. a5 Rb8 27.
Nf4 $44 {[%csl Rb2,Rb8,Rg8,Rh7]}) 24. Rd1 Bc7 25. h5 (25. Kf2 Rd8 26. Rxd8+
Bxd8 $132 {[%csl Rh4][%cal Ge5d3]}) 25... Rd8 26. Rxd8+ Bxd8 27. Ba3 Bb6+ 28.
Kf1 Nd3 $11) 22... Rb8 23. Ke2 Kf8 24. g4 Ke7 ({With his bishop on h7 Black
doesn't need to create any new battlefield with} 24... b5 25. a5 $14) 25. Ng2 (
25. Nh5 g6 26. Nf4 g5 27. hxg5 hxg5 28. Nd3 Nxd3 29. Kxd3 f6 30. Rh1 Bg6 31.
Rh6 Rg8 $11) 25... f6 {Finally. The king protects e6 and White's edge will
become microscopic as soon as the bishop will be transferred to f7.} 26. h5 Bg8
27. Ba7 Ra8 28. Bb6 Bf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.21"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. d4 dxc4 5. Bg2 a6 6. O-O Nc6 7. e3 Bd7 8. Nc3
Nd5 9. Nd2 Nb6 10. Qe2 Na5 11. Nde4 Be7 12. Nc5 Bc6 13. Bxc6+ Nxc6 14. Nxb7 Qc8
15. Nc5 O-O 16. N5a4 Nb4 17. Bd2 Rd8 18. a3 Nc6 19. Rac1 Rb8 20. Rfd1 e5 21.
Nxb6 cxb6 22. Qxc4 exd4 23. Ne4 dxe3 24. Bxe3 Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1 Qb7 26. Rc1 Ne5
27. Qc7 f6 28. Qxb7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.23"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2728"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4
c6 9. Re1 Bf5 10. Qb3 Qd7 11. Nc3 Nxc3 12. Bxf5 Qxf5 13. bxc3 b6 14. cxd5 cxd5
15. Ba3 Bxa3 16. Qxa3 Nc6 17. h3 Qd7 18. Ne5 Nxe5 19. Rxe5 Rae8 20. Rae1 Re6
21. Rxe6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.24"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Motylev, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2647"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 O-O
8. h4 Nd7 9. Ng5 Ne5 10. Qd2 c6 11. O-O-O Qa5 12. a3 f6 13. Nf3 b5 14. c4 Qxd2+
15. Nxd2 a6 16. f4 Ng4 17. Bg1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.26"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E93"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 Ng4 8. Bg5
f6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 Nh6 11. d5 Nd7 12. Nd2 f5 13. exf5 Nf6 14. Bd3 Nxf5 15.
Nde4 Bh6 16. O-O Kh8 17. c5 g4 18. Nxf6 Qxf6 19. Nb5 Qe7 20. Qe2 Bg7 21. cxd6
cxd6 22. Qxg4 Nxg3 23. Qxg3 Bd7 24. Nc7 Rac8 25. Ne6 Bxe6 26. dxe6 Qxe6 27.
Rad1 d5 28. Bb1 Rcd8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.27"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Qc2
Nc6 9. a3 Qa5 10. O-O-O Be7 11. h4 Rd8 12. Nd2 (12. g4 {is more popular in
this position.}) 12... dxc4 $5 {The simplest course. Black simplifies the game.
The endgame is slightly inferior for him due to White's space advantage but
quite defendable.} 13. Nxc4 (13. Bxc4 Ne5 14. Nb3 Qc7 15. Rxd8+ Bxd8 16. Rd1
Bd7 $11) 13... Rxd1+ 14. Qxd1 Qd8 15. Qxd8+ Nxd8 {[%mdl 4096]} (15... Bxd8 $5
16. Be2 Nd5 17. Nxd5 exd5 18. Nd6 Bc7 19. Rd1 Bxd6 20. Bxd6 Be6 21. b4 f6 22.
Kb2 Rd8 23. Bc5 b6 24. Bd4 Ne5 $14 {1/2-1/2 Peng,Z-Maric,A/Groningen 1997/CBM
062 ext (48)}) 16. Be2 Bd7 17. e4 {Similar positions, arising from Queen's
Gambit Accepted, were often played by Kramnik as White (e.g. in his match vs.
Kasparov). Here Black has an additional problem - his poorly placed Nd8} Bc6
18. f3 Nh5 19. Bc7 Rc8 20. Be5 (20. Bd6 $142) 20... Bf6 (20... f5 $3 {is a
nice computer suggestion. After} 21. exf5 Nf7 $1 22. fxe6 Nxe5 23. Nxe5 Bd5 24.
Kb1 Bxe6 {Black gets rid of his passive knight and obtains a good compensation
for the missing pawn, due to his bishop pair.}) 21. Nd6 Ra8 $6 (21... Rc7 {
was quite possible}) 22. Bxf6 Nxf6 23. Rd1 $14 {[%csl Rd8] Black has not
solved his main problem (Nd8), so he is worse.} Kf8 (23... Ne8 $5 24. Nc4 Nc7)
24. Kd2 (24. b4 $142 $1 {|^<<, K.Sakaev}) 24... Ne8 25. Nc4 {Of course, a
knight exchange would make Black's defense easier.} f6 26. Ke3 b6 27. f4 Nf7 {
Uff... But the knight is still quite passive.} 28. g4 h6 29. g5 hxg5 30. hxg5
Ke7 31. gxf6+ Nxf6 {Black's pawn structure is now less compact but the f6
knight is active.} (31... gxf6 $143 32. Rh1) 32. Rg1 Rg8 33. Rg6 Bb7 ({An
immediate} 33... Nh8 {was less accurate due to} 34. Rg5 $1 {(suggested by GM K.
Sakaev)} (34. Rg3 $143 Nf7 {[%cal Yg7g5]}) 34... Nf7 35. Ne5 $1 Nxe5 36. Rxe5 (
36. fxe5 $6) 36... Rh8 37. Rg5 Kf7 38. f5 (38. Bc4 Rh4 $1 39. f5 Nxe4) 38...
exf5 39. Bc4+ Ke8 40. Rxf5 $36 {[%csl Ge4]}) 34. a4 Nh8 35. Rg1 Nf7 36. a5 g5
$1 {Getting rid of his main weakness, Black equalizes the game.} 37. fxg5 Rxg5
38. Rxg5 Nxg5 {[%csl Re4]} 39. e5 Nd7 40. Nd6 Bf3 $1 {The last accuracy.} (
40... Bh1 41. a6 $1 {[%csl Ga6] was dangerous for Black.}) 41. axb6 (41. a6
Bxe2 42. Kxe2 Nc5 $11) (41. Bxf3 Nxf3 42. a6 Nfxe5 43. Nc8+ Kd8 44. Nxa7 Nc5
$11) 41... axb6 42. Bxf3 Nxf3 43. Nc8+ Kd8 44. Kxf3 Nxe5+ 45. Ke4 Nc4 46. Kd4
Nxb2 47. Nxb6 Kc7 48. Nc4 Nxc4 49. Kxc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2007.01.28"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2683"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2007.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.03.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bd3 Nbd7 6. b3 b6 7. O-O Bb7 8. Bb2
Be7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Qc2 Rc8 {I don't like this development of Black's rook,
which is often quite passive on c8. ...Qd8-c7 and ...Ra8-d8 looks more
appropriate.} 11. Rad1 Qc7 12. Ne5 {A typical move in such positions.} h6 $6
$146 ({Black can't take on e5.} 12... Nxe5 $2 13. dxe5 Ng4 14. Bxh7+ Kh8 15.
Qe2 $1 f5 16. h3 Kxh7 17. hxg4 fxg4 18. Qxg4 Rf5 (18... Qxe5 19. Nxd5 $1) 19.
Ne2 $16 {1-0 Csom,I-Metz,H/Budapest 1995/CBM 049 (26)}) (12... g6 $5 13. e4 (
13. f4 $5) 13... dxe4 14. Nxe4 Nxe5 15. dxe5 Nxe4 16. Bxe4 Rfd8 17. Qc3 Rxd1
18. Rxd1 Rd8 19. Rxd8+ Qxd8 20. Qd3 Qxd3 21. Bxd3 c5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Mitkov,
M-Georgievski,V/Struga 1993/EXT 1999 (49)}) (12... Rfd8 {is the main
theoretical move:} 13. f4 Nf8 (13... c5 14. cxd5 $1 (14. Qe2 Ne4 {1/2-1/2
Estremera Panos,S-De la Riva Aguado,O/Santiago 1995/EXT 1998})) 14. Qe2 (14. f5
$6 Bd6 15. e4 (15. Ne2 $5) 15... dxc4 16. Nxc4 Bxh2+ 17. Kh1 b5 18. e5 bxc4 19.
Bxc4 Ng4 $13 {1-0 Adla,D-Rodriguez Lopez,R/Mondariz 1995/EXT 1997 (37)}) 14...
c5 15. f5 Ba6 16. Kh1 Bd6 17. fxe6 fxe6 18. cxd5 Bxd3 19. Nxd3 exd5 20. dxc5
Bxc5 21. Nxc5 Qxc5 22. Nb5 $16 {1/2-1/2 Florean,A-Aliev,R/Calicut 1998/CBM 067
ext (33)}) 13. Qe2 Rfd8 14. f4 $36 {[%mdl 128] >>.This is probably even worse
for Black than the 12...Rfd8 line as ...h7-h6 hardly strengthens the position
of the black king.} c5 {What else?} 15. cxd5 Nxd5 (15... Nxe5 16. dxe5 Nxd5 17.
Nb5 Qb8 18. f5 $1) 16. Nb5 Qb8 17. Nxd7 (17. f5 $1 {was even stronger, e.g.}
Nxe5 18. dxe5 a6 (18... Bg5 19. fxe6 fxe6 20. Qg4 {[%cal Rg4e6,Rg4e4]}) 19.
fxe6 $1 axb5 20. Rxf7 $5 (20. Qh5 $5 c4 21. Bb1 c3 22. Rxd5 Rxd5 23. Bxc3 Rxc3
24. Qf5 $18 {A.Khalifman}) 20... c4 (20... Bg5 21. Qh5 $18) 21. Bb1 Nxe3 $8 22.
Rxd8+ Rxd8 23. Rxe7 Rd1+ 24. Kf2 Qf8+ (24... Rxb1 25. Qh5 Rxb2+ 26. Kxe3 $18)
25. Rf7 Qc5 26. Ba3 $1 Qxa3 27. Rxb7 Rxb1 28. e7 Qa8 29. Kxe3 $18) 17... Rxd7
18. f5 Bg5 19. fxe6 fxe6 20. Qg4 $2 {[%mdl 8192] A tactical mistake...} (20.
dxc5 bxc5 21. Qg4 $1 Re8 (21... Bxe3+ 22. Kh1 Nf4 23. Rxf4 Qxf4 24. Qxf4 Bxf4
25. Bh7+ Kxh7 26. Rxd7 $18) 22. Qe4 Nf6 23. Qg6 {with a decisive attack}) 20...
Re7 $2 {...and an amnesty!} (20... Bxe3+ 21. Kh1 Nf4 {yielded Black excellent
counterchances. Actually it is now White who has the only defence indicated by
GM A.Khalifman:} 22. d5 $3 (22. Rxf4 Qxf4 23. Qxe6+ Rf7 24. Rf1 Bf2 $17) 22...
Bxd5 23. Be4 $1 Qb7 24. Nc3 (24. Bxd5 exd5 25. Qf3 d4 26. Qxb7 Rxb7 27. Nd6
Rcc7 28. Nxb7 Rxb7 $17) 24... Rf8 $1 (24... Bc6 25. Bxc6 Rxc6 (25... Qxc6 26.
Ne4 $1) 26. Qg3 Rcc7 $1 27. Nb5 $132) 25. Nxd5 exd5 26. Rxd5 $1 Rdf7 $1 {
with a crazy position, in which, however, White must fight for a draw} (26...
Rxd5 $2 27. Bxd5+ Nxd5 28. Qe6+) (26... Nxd5 $2 27. Qe6+)) {After the text
move White again gets a crushing attack.} 21. Qe4 $1 Nf6 22. Qg6 Kh8 (22...
Bxe3+ 23. Kh1 Rf8 (23... Bg5 24. d5 $1 e5 25. Rxf6 $1 Bxf6 26. d6 $18) 24. dxc5
Kh8 25. Rde1 Bg5 26. Nd6 bxc5 27. Rxe6 $1 Rxe6 $140 28. Bxf6 $18) 23. dxc5 Rxc5
{This leads to a nice finale but} (23... Rf8 24. Nd6 bxc5 25. Be5 {is hopeless
enough.}) 24. Rxf6 $1 gxf6 25. Bxf6+ Bxf6 26. Qxf6+ Rg7 27. Qxh6+ Kg8 28. Qxe6+
Kh8 29. Qh6+ Kg8 30. e4 $1 {[%cal Rd3c4]} a6 31. Nd6 b5 32. Qe6+ Kh8 33. Nf7+
Kg8 34. Ng5+ Kh8 35. Qh6+ Kg8 36. Qe6+ Kh8 37. Qh6+ Kg8 38. Ne6 Rh7 39. Qg6+
Kh8 40. e5 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 16th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2007.03.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "2007.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Na6 7. f3 Nd7 8. Nxc4
e5 9. e4 exd4 10. Nb5 Bb4+ 11. Bd2 O-O 12. Nxd4 Bxe4 13. Bxb4 Nxb4 14. fxe4
Qh4+ 15. Kd2 Qxe4 16. Kc3 Nd5+ 17. Kb3 Nc5+ 18. Ka3 Rad8 19. Qd2 Nf4 20. Rd1
Nfe6 21. Nxe6 Rxd2 22. Nxc5 Qe7 23. Rxd2 Qxc5+ 24. Ka2 Qb4 25. Rc2 Qxa4+ 26.
Kb1 b5 27. Nd2 c5 28. Be2 c4 29. Rhc1 Qb4 30. Bf3 a5 31. Ka1 Rd8 32. Nb1 g6 33.
Na3 Qc5 34. Kb1 a4 35. h3 Rd3 36. Rc3 Rxc3 37. Rxc3 Qf5+ 38. Nc2 b4 39. Rxc4 b3
40. Kc1 Qg5+ 41. Kb1 bxc2+ 42. Kxc2 Qb5 43. Rc3 h5 44. g4 h4 45. Bd1 Kg7 46.
Kc1 Qf1 47. Rf3 Qg1 48. Ra3 Qh1 49. Kd2 Qd5+ 50. Kc1 Qc4+ 51. Kb1 Qf1 52. Kc1
Kh6 53. Rf3 Qc4+ 54. Rc3 Qf4+ 55. Kb1 Qf1 56. Kc1 Kg5 57. Rf3 Qc4+ 58. Kb1 Qd5
59. Rc3 Qxd1+ 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 16th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2007.03.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2683"]
[PlyCount "147"]
[EventDate "2007.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. b3 Nbd7 6. Bb2 b6 7. Bd3 Bb7 8. O-O
Bd6 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Qc2 Re8 11. Rad1 Qe7 12. e4 dxe4 13. Nxe4 Nxe4 14. Bxe4 Nf6
15. Bd3 Ba3 16. Ba1 h6 17. Rfe1 Rad8 18. h3 a5 19. Re3 Qc7 20. Qe2 Kf8 21. Nh2
Be7 22. Ng4 c5 23. dxc5 Qxc5 24. Ne5 Rd6 25. Re1 Red8 26. Nxf7 Qc6 27. Be4 Nxe4
28. Nxd8 Bxd8 29. Qf3+ Nf6 30. Qxc6 Rxc6 31. Rxe6 Rxe6 32. Rxe6 Kf7 33. Rd6 Bc7
34. Rd1 Ke6 35. a3 h5 36. Re1+ Kd7 37. Be5 Bd8 38. Rd1+ Ke8 39. b4 axb4 40.
axb4 Bc8 41. Ra1 Be6 42. Ra8 Ke7 43. Ra7+ Nd7 44. c5 bxc5 45. bxc5 Ke8 46. Bd4
Bd5 47. Ra6 Bf7 48. Ra3 Bd5 49. Rc3 Nb8 50. Bxg7 Be7 51. Be5 Nc6 52. Bd6 Bxd6
53. cxd6 Kd7 54. Rg3 Bf7 55. Rf3 Ke6 56. d7 Ke7 57. Kh2 Be6 58. Kg3 Bxd7 59.
Kh4 Be8 60. Kg5 Nd4 61. Re3+ Ne6+ 62. Kh6 Kf6 63. Rf3+ Ke5 64. g4 hxg4 65. hxg4
Bc6 66. Rf5+ Kd6 67. g5 Be4 68. Rf7 Nd4 69. g6 Nf5+ 70. Kg5 Ne7 71. g7 Bh7 72.
f4 Ke6 73. Rf8 Ng8 74. f5+ 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 16th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2007.03.19"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2007.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 c6 4. d3 Bg4 5. h3 Bxf3 6. Bxf3 Nbd7 7. Bg2 e6 8.
O-O Bd6 9. e4 Qc7 10. Qe2 O-O-O 11. Nd2 Kb8 12. a4 g5 13. d4 dxe4 14. a5 a6 15.
Nc4 h6 16. Nxd6 Qxd6 17. Rd1 e5 18. dxe5 Qxe5 19. Be3 Rhe8 20. Rd4 Nd5 21. Rad1
f5 22. Bc1 Kc8 23. h4 Nc5 24. hxg5 hxg5 25. Rc4 Ne6 26. c3 Kb8 27. Re1 Nf6 28.
Rb4 Qxa5 29. Qc4 Nd5 30. Rb3 Kc8 31. Bf1 Rd7 32. Ra3 Qb6 33. Rb3 Qc5 34. Qa4
Qd6 35. Qc4 Nc5 36. Ra3 e3 37. Kg2 Re4 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 16th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2007.03.20"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2007.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Ne4 7. Qd3 Bxc3+ 8.
bxc3 Nc5 9. Qf3 d6 10. Bg2 e5 11. Nf5 Qf6 12. Ne3 Qxf3 13. Bxf3 Be6 14. Ba3
Nba6 15. O-O-O Ke7 16. Bg2 Rad8 17. f4 f6 18. Rhf1 b6 19. g4 Nc7 20. h4 g6 21.
Kc2 Rhf8 22. Bc6 f5 23. fxe5 dxe5 24. Rxd8 Kxd8 25. gxf5 gxf5 26. Bxc5 bxc5 27.
Be4 Ne8 28. Bxf5 Nd6 29. Bxe6 Rf2 30. Rxf2 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 16th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2007.03.22"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2007.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. d3 d6 10. a5 Be6 11. Nbd2 Qc8 12. Bxe6 fxe6 13. Nc4 Rb8 14. Bg5 Rb5 15.
Nfd2 Qe8 16. Nb3 Nd7 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. f3 Nc5 19. Nxc5 Rxc5 20. Kh1 Qf6 21. Qd2
Qf4 22. Qf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 16th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2007.03.23"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2007.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O e6 6. Nc3 Be7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4
O-O 9. Rd1 d6 10. Bg5 Nbd7 11. Nb5 d5 12. cxd5 Bxd5 13. Nc3 Bc6 14. Qc4 Qc8 15.
e4 h6 16. Bf4 Bb7 17. Qxc8 Raxc8 18. e5 Nd5 19. Nxd5 Bxd5 20. Ne1 Rfd8 21. Bxd5
exd5 22. Rxd5 Nc5 23. Rad1 Rxd5 24. Rxd5 Kf8 25. Be3 Ke8 26. Bxc5 Bxc5 27. Kf1
Ke7 28. Nd3 Ke6 29. Nf4+ Ke7 30. Rd2 g5 31. Nd3 Bd4 32. Kg2 Ke6 33. Re2 Kf5 34.
g4+ Kg6 35. f4 f5 36. exf6 gxf4 37. Nxf4+ Kxf6 38. h4 Be5 39. Nd5+ Ke6 40. Ne3
Bf4 41. Nf5+ Kf6 42. Rf2 Rc4 43. Ne3 Rd4 44. Rxf4+ Rxf4 45. Nd5+ Ke5 46. Nxf4
Kxf4 47. Kh3 a6 48. a4 b5 49. axb5 axb5 50. b4 Ke5 51. Kg3 Ke4 52. g5 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 16th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2007.03.24"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C89"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2007.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3
d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d4 Bd6 13. Re1 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3 15.
Be3 Bg4 16. Qd3 Rae8 17. Nd2 Re6 18. a4 Qh5 19. axb5 axb5 20. Qf1 Bh3 21. Bd1
Qf5 22. Qe2 c5 23. Nf3 Bf4 24. Qd2 Nxe3 25. fxe3 Bh6 26. Qf2 Rfe8 27. Ne5 Qxf2+
28. Kxf2 f6 29. Bg4 Rxe5 30. Bxh3 Bxe3+ 31. Kf3 cxd4 32. Rad1 dxc3 33. bxc3 Bb6
34. Rxe5 Rxe5 35. Rd5 Re3+ 36. Kg2 Rxc3 37. Rxb5 Rc2+ 38. Kh1 Bc7 39. Be6+ Kf8
40. Bb3 Rc3 41. Kg2 g6 42. Bd1 Ke7 43. Rb2 Rd3 44. Be2 Re3 45. Bf3 Ra3 46. Re2+
Be5 47. g4 Ke6 48. Be4 h5 49. gxh5 gxh5 50. Rf2 Bd4 51. Rf3 Ra2+ 52. Kh3 Bg1
53. Bf5+ Ke5 54. Kh4 Rf2 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 16th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2007.03.25"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2007.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. d4 d5 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Be2 Nbd7 8. O-O
Bd6 9. g3 O-O 10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. Qc2 dxc4 12. Bxc4 c5 13. dxc5 Bxc5 14. Rd1 Rc8
15. Bf1 Bb4 16. Bd2 Ne5 17. Bg2 Qb6 18. Qb3 Nc4 19. Be1 Ba5 20. Qxb6 axb6 21.
Rab1 Nxb2 22. Rxb2 Bxc3 23. Bxc3 Rxc3 24. Bxb7 Ra3 25. Rd6 Nd5 26. Bxd5 exd5
27. Rdxb6 Rfa8 28. Rb8+ Rxb8 29. Rxb8+ Kh7 30. Rb2 g5 31. Rd2 Kg6 32. Kf1 Kf6
33. Ke2 Ke5 34. Kd1 f5 35. Kc1 f4 36. Re2 fxg3 37. hxg3 d4 38. Kb2 Ra8 39.
exd4+ Kxd4 40. a3 Rb8+ 41. Kc1 Ra8 42. Ra2 Kc3 43. Kd1 Rf8 44. Ke2 Kb3 45. Rd2
Kxa3 46. Rd5 Kb4 47. Rxg5 Rf7 48. f4 Kc4 49. Ke3 Re7+ 50. Re5 Rd7 51. Ke4 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 16th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2007.03.27"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C77"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2007.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. Nbd2 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. d5 Bd7 13. b3 g6 14. Re1 Nh5 15. Nf1
Nb7 16. Bh6 Ng7 17. a4 Rfb8 18. Qd2 Nd8 19. b4 f6 20. bxc5 dxc5 21. axb5 axb5
22. c4 b4 23. Qe2 Nf7 24. Be3 Rxa1 25. Rxa1 f5 26. Bc1 f4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 16th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2007.03.28"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2728"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2007.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8.
Bb5+ Nc6 9. O-O cxd4 10. cxd4 O-O 11. Be3 Bg4 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Rc1 Qa5 14. Qd2
Qxd2 15. Nxd2 Rfd8 16. Nb3 a5 17. Rxc6 a4 18. Nc5 Bxd4 19. Bxd4 Rxd4 20. f3 Rc8
21. Rxc8+ Bxc8 22. Rc1 a3 23. Nb3 Rd8 24. Rc7 Be6 25. Ra7 Rd1+ 26. Kf2 Bxb3 27.
axb3 Rd2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 16th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2007.03.29"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2679"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2007.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Nb8 11. Nbd2 Nbd7 12. Nf1 Re8 13. Ne3 h6 14. Nh2 Nc5 15.
Ba2 Bf8 16. Nhg4 Ne6 17. Nf5 Kh7 18. c3 Nxg4 19. Qxg4 g6 20. Ng3 Bg7 21. f4
exf4 22. Bxf4 d5 23. e5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 16th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2007.03.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C63"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[PlyCount "135"]
[EventDate "2007.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. Nc3 fxe4 5. Nxe4 Nf6 6. Nxf6+ Qxf6 7. Qe2 Be7
8. Bxc6 dxc6 9. Nxe5 Bf5 10. O-O O-O 11. d4 Bd6 12. c3 Be6 13. f4 Rae8 14. Be3
Qf5 15. b3 a5 16. Rae1 a4 17. c4 axb3 18. axb3 h5 19. h3 Qh7 20. g4 hxg4 21.
hxg4 Bxe5 22. dxe5 Qg6 23. Rf2 Qxg4+ 24. Qxg4 Bxg4 25. Ra2 Kf7 26. Ra7 Bc8 27.
Kf2 Rh8 28. Rg1 g6 29. b4 Rd8 30. b5 cxb5 31. cxb5 Rh2+ 32. Rg2 Rxg2+ 33. Kxg2
Be6 34. Kf2 Bd5 35. b6 cxb6 36. Bxb6 Rc8 37. Ra5 Ke6 38. Bc5 Rc6 39. Rb5 Kf5
40. Bd6 Rc2+ 41. Ke3 Bc6 42. Ra5 Rc4 43. Ra8 Re4+ 44. Kd3 Rxf4 45. Rf8+ Kg4 46.
Rxf4+ Kxf4 47. e6+ Kf3 48. e7 g5 49. Kd2 g4 50. Ke1 Bb5 51. Bc7 g3 52. Bb6 Kg2
53. Bc7 Be8 54. Bd6 Bh5 55. Bc7 Bf7 56. Bd6 Be8 57. Bc7 b5 58. Bd6 Bh5 59. Be5
Kh3 60. Kf1 b4 61. Kg1 b3 62. Bb2 Be8 63. Bc3 Bc6 64. Bb2 Kg4 65. Bc3 Kf3 66.
Bb2 Ke2 67. e8=Q+ Bxe8 68. Kg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 16th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2007.03.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2683"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2007.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. a3
Nbd7 9. g3 Be7 10. b4 dxc4 11. Bxc4 a5 12. Rb1 axb4 13. axb4 Nb6 14. Bd3 Nfd5
15. Nxd5 cxd5 16. O-O f5 17. Bd2 Kf7 18. Ra1 Nc4 19. Qe2 b5 20. Bc3 Qc7 21.
Rfc1 g5 22. Rxa8 Rxa8 23. Qh5+ Kg8 24. g4 Qd7 25. h4 gxh4 26. gxf5 Ra6 27. Ra1
Rxa1+ 28. Bxa1 Nd6 29. Qh7+ Kf8 30. Qh8+ Kf7 31. Qh5+ Kf8 32. Qh8+ Kf7 33. Be2
Bf6 34. fxe6+ Qxe6 35. Bc3 Qe4 36. Qh5+ g6 37. Qg4 Qb1+ 38. Kg2 Ne4 39. Qd7+
Kf8 40. Qxd5 h3+ 41. Kh2 Qc2 42. Be1 Qxe2 43. Qxe4 Qxe1 44. Qf4 Kf7 45. Qc7+
Be7 46. Qf4+ Kg8 47. Qg3 g5 48. Qf3 Qf1 49. Qd5+ Kg7 50. Qe5+ Bf6 51. Qg3 Kg6
52. Qf3 Qg2+ 53. Qxg2 hxg2 54. Kxg2 Be7 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 16th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2007.03.19"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "2007.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 b6 3. Nf3 Bb7 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Bxf3 6. exf3 Bxd2+ 7. Qxd2 Ne7
8. d5 c5 9. dxc6 dxc6 10. Qxd8+ Kxd8 11. Nc3 Kc7 12. O-O-O Nd7 13. f4 Rad8 14.
Ne4 h6 15. Bg2 Nb8 16. c5 Rd5 17. b4 Nd7 18. cxb6+ axb6 19. Nc3 Rxd1+ 20. Rxd1
Nd5 21. Nxd5+ exd5 22. b5 Nf6 23. bxc6 Kxc6 24. Bf3 Kd6 25. Rd3 Rc8+ 26. Kd2
Ra8 27. a3 Ra4 28. Rb3 Kc5 29. Rc3+ Rc4 30. Re3 Kd6 31. Rb3 Rc6 32. Rb5 Kc7 33.
g4 Rd6 34. g5 Kc6 35. Rb3 Nd7 36. Re3 Nc5 37. Re7 Rd7 38. Re8 Kb5 39. Rg8 hxg5
40. fxg5 g6 41. h4 d4 42. Rc8 Kc4 43. h5 gxh5 44. Bxh5 d3 45. g6 fxg6 46. Bxg6
Rd6 47. Bf7+ Kd4 48. f3 Rd7 49. Bg8 Rg7 50. Rd8+ Nd7 51. Bb3 b5 52. f4 Ke4 53.
Re8+ Kxf4 54. Kxd3 Nc5+ 55. Kc3 Rg3+ 56. Kb4 Nxb3 57. Kxb5 Nd4+ 58. Kc4 Nf5 59.
Kb4 Nd6 60. Re6 Ne4 61. a4 Rg1 62. a5 Ra1 63. a6 Kf5 64. Rh6 Ke5 65. Rh5+ Kd4
66. Kb5 Nc3+ 67. Kb6 Nd5+ 68. Rxd5+ Kxd5 69. a7 Kd6 70. Kb7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 16th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2007.03.20"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2007.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Nb8 11. Nbd2 Nbd7 12. Nf1 Re8 13. Ne3 Nc5 14. Ba2 h6 15.
Nh2 Bf8 16. Nhg4 Ne6 17. Nf5 Kh7 18. Qf3 Nxg4 19. hxg4 Qf6 20. Qh3 Kg8 21. g3
Rad8 22. f4 exf4 23. gxf4 Nd4 24. c3 Nc2 25. Re2 Nxa1 26. g5 Qg6 27. Nxh6+ gxh6
28. f5 Qg7 29. Rg2 Rxe4 30. dxe4 Bxe4 31. Rg3 Qe5 32. gxh6+ Kh7 33. Qg4 Be7 34.
Bxf7 Bxf5 35. Qg7+ Qxg7 36. hxg7 Rg8 37. Bxg8+ Kxg8 38. Bh6 d5 39. Rf3 Be6 40.
Rf8+ Kh7 41. Rh8+ Kg6 42. g8=Q+ Bxg8 43. Rxg8+ Kxh6 44. Ra8 Nb3 45. Rxa6+ Bd6
46. Kf1 Kg5 47. Ke2 Kf5 48. Ra8 Ke6 49. a4 bxa4 50. Rxa4 c5 51. Kd3 c4+ 52. Kc2
Bf4 53. Ra8 Nc5 54. Rc8 Kd6 55. Rf8 Be5 56. Rg8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 16th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2007.03.22"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2007.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Qxc3 d6 7. b4 a5 8. Bb2
e5 9. g3 axb4 10. axb4 Rxa1+ 11. Bxa1 b5 12. cxb5 Bd7 13. e3 Qc8 14. Be2 Qb7
15. d3 Bxb5 16. O-O Nc6 17. Rb1 Qa6 18. Qb3 Ra8 19. Nd2 Qa2 20. Bc3 Qxb3 21.
Rxb3 Ra2 22. Bf1 Nd5 23. Bg2 Nce7 24. Bb2 Ba4 25. Ra3 Rxb2 26. Rxa4 Nb6 27. Ra7
Rxd2 28. Rxc7 Kf8 29. Rb7 Rd1+ 30. Bf1 Nec8 31. b5 Ra1 32. Rc7 g6 33. h4 Rb1
34. d4 exd4 35. exd4 Ne7 36. Kg2 h5 37. Rb7 Nbd5 38. Rb8+ Kg7 39. Rd8 Rb2 40.
Kg1 Nf5 41. Bc4 Rb1+ 42. Kh2 Nf6 43. f3 Rb2+ 44. Kh3 Nxd4 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 16th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2007.03.23"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2744"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[PlyCount "154"]
[EventDate "2007.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. e4 b5 6. e5 Nd5 7. a4 e6 8. Ng5 Be7
9. Nge4 b4 10. Nb1 f5 11. exf6 Nxf6 12. Nxf6+ Bxf6 13. Bxc4 Qxd4 14. Qh5+ g6
15. Qe2 Qe5 16. Qxe5 Bxe5 17. O-O O-O 18. Nd2 Na6 19. Re1 Bg7 20. a5 Nc5 21. a6
Rf4 22. Ra5 Bd4 23. Re2 Bd7 24. b3 Rf5 25. Nf3 Bc3 26. Raa2 Be8 27. Ng5 Rd8 28.
g4 Rf6 29. Be3 Rd1+ 30. Kg2 Bd4 31. Rad2 Bxe3 32. Rxd1 Bxg5 33. Re5 Bh4 34.
Rxc5 Rxf2+ 35. Kh3 Bf6 36. Kg3 Ra2 37. g5 Bc3 38. Bxe6+ Kf8 39. Bc4 Ke7 40. h4
Ra3 41. Bg8 Rxa6 42. Rc4 Ra5 43. Re4+ Re5 44. Kf4 Rxe4+ 45. Kxe4 a5 46. Kd3 Kf8
47. Be6 Ke7 48. Bg8 Kf8 49. Bc4 Bd7 50. Rf1+ Bf5+ 51. Ke3 Kg7 52. h5 h6 53.
gxh6+ Kxh6 54. hxg6 Bxg6 55. Rf8 c5 56. Ra8 Kg5 57. Rxa5 Bd4+ 58. Kf3 Bc2 59.
Ke2 Kf4 60. Ra8 Bg6 61. Rf8+ Ke5 62. Bd3 Bh5+ 63. Kd2 Bc3+ 64. Kc2 Bg4 65. Re8+
Kd6 66. Rg8 Be6 67. Rg6 Ke5 68. Rg5+ Kd6 69. Rh5 Bd4 70. Rh4 Bd5 71. Rh6+ Ke5
72. Bc4 Bxc4 73. bxc4 Ke4 74. Rh3 Bf6 75. Kb3 Bd4 76. Rh5 Kd3 77. Rd5 Kd2
1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 16th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2007.03.24"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A37"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2007.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O d6 7. a3 a5 8. Ne1 Be6
9. d3 Nge7 10. Nc2 d5 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Bd2 O-O 13. Rb1 f5 14. Ne3 Nb6 15. b3
Rb8 16. Nc4 Nd7 17. Nb5 Ra8 18. e3 Nb6 19. Ncd6 Qb8 20. Qc2 Nd7 21. b4 axb4 22.
axb4 Ra2 23. Qc1 cxb4 24. Bxb4 Nxb4 25. Rxb4 Ra6 26. Nc7 Rxd6 27. Rxb7 Qd8 28.
Nxe6 Rxe6 29. Bd5 Rfe8 30. Bxe6+ Rxe6 31. Qc4 Nf8 32. Ra1 Qd6 33. Rba7 Qc6 34.
Qb3 Qb6 35. Qd5 Qc6 36. Qb3 Qb6 37. Qc4 Qc6 38. R1a6 Qxc4 39. dxc4 Bf6 40. c5
Rxa6 41. Rxa6 Bd8 42. Ra8 Bc7 43. Rc8 Ba5 44. c6 Kf7 45. c7 Bxc7 46. Rxc7+ Kf6
47. f4 exf4 48. exf4 h6 49. Rc6+ Ne6 50. h4 Kf7 51. Kf2 Ng7 52. Rc7+ Kf6 53.
Kf3 Ne6 54. Rh7 Nf8 55. Ra7 Ne6 56. Ke3 g5 57. h5 gxf4+ 58. gxf4 Ng7 59. Ra6+
Ne6 60. Ra8 Kg7 61. Ra7+ Kg8 62. Re7 Ng7 63. Kd4 Nxh5 64. Ke5 Ng3 65. Kf6 Kf8
66. Rh7 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 16th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2007.03.25"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2733"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[PlyCount "151"]
[EventDate "2007.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Be2 Nbd7 8. O-O
Bd6 9. g3 O-O 10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. Qc2 Qe7 12. Bd2 dxc4 13. Bxc4 c5 14. Be2 Rac8
15. Bf3 cxd4 16. exd4 Nb6 17. Bg5 Qd7 18. Qb3 Be7 19. Nb5 Rc4 20. a3 a5 21. Nc3
Bd8 22. Bxf6 gxf6 23. d5 e5 24. Rac1 f5 25. d6 a4 26. Qb5 Qxd6 27. Bxb7 Bg5 28.
Rcd1 Qc5 29. Ba6 e4 30. Nd5 Qxb5 31. Bxb5 Rc5 32. Nxb6 Rxb5 33. Nxa4 Ra8 34.
Rd4 e3 35. Re1 Bf6 36. Rc4 exf2+ 37. Kxf2 Bxb2 38. Nxb2 Rxb2+ 39. Re2 Rxe2+ 40.
Kxe2 Rxa3 41. Kf2 Ra2+ 42. Kg1 Kg7 43. g4 fxg4 44. Rxg4 f5 45. Rb4 Kh6 46. Rh4+
Kg5 47. Rb4 Kh5 48. Rf4 Re2 49. Ra4 g5 50. Rb4 f4 51. Rb8 Kg4 52. Ra8 Kf3 53.
Ra3+ Re3 54. Ra1 Rd3 55. Rb1 Ke2 56. Kg2 g4 57. Ra1 Rd1 58. Ra2+ Rd2 59. Ra1
Rb2 60. Kg1 f3 61. Rc1 Rd2 62. Ra1 Ke3 63. Ra3+ Kf4 64. Ra4+ Kg5 65. Ra8 Rg2+
66. Kh1 Rc2 67. Kg1 Re2 68. Rg8+ Kf4 69. Rf8+ Ke3 70. Re8+ Kd2 71. Ra8 Rg2+ 72.
Kh1 Re2 73. Kg1 Kd3 74. Rd8+ Ke3 75. Re8+ Kd2 76. Ra8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 16th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2007.03.27"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2007.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 b5 7. a4 c6 8. e5 h6
9. exf6 hxg5 10. fxg7 Rg8 11. g3 Bb7 12. Bg2 c5 13. O-O g4 14. axb5 gxf3 15.
Bxf3 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 Nd7 17. dxc5 Bxc3 18. bxc3 Nxc5 19. Rfd1 Qc8 20. Rd6 Qb7 21.
Qh5 Rc8 22. Rc6 Nd3 23. Rxc8+ Qxc8 24. Rxa7 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 16th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2007.03.28"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C89"]
[WhiteElo "2728"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2007.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3
d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d4 Bd6 13. Re1 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3 15.
Be3 Bg4 16. Qd3 Rae8 17. Nd2 Re6 18. a4 Qh5 19. axb5 axb5 20. Qf1 Bh3 21. Bd1
Qf5 22. Qe2 c5 23. Nf3 Bf4 24. Bc2 Qg4 25. Qd3 g6 26. Ne5 Bxe5 27. dxe5 Qf3 28.
Qe4 Qxe4 29. Bxe4 Nxe3 30. Rxe3 Rxe5 31. Bc6 Rxe3 32. fxe3 Rd8 33. Bxb5 Rd2 34.
b4 cxb4 35. cxb4 Rg2+ 36. Kh1 Rb2 37. Bf1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 16th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2007.03.29"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2679"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2007.03.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 117 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.09"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 c6 3. c4 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Be4 7. f3 Bg6 8. Bd2
Nbd7 9. Qb3 Qc7 10. O-O-O Be7 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Nxg6 hxg6 13. e4 Nxc3 14. Bxc3
O-O-O 15. g3 Kb8 16. Kb1 Nb6 17. Be2 Nc8 18. f4 Nd6 19. Bd3 Qb6 20. Qxb6 axb6
21. h4 Ne8 22. Rh2 b5 23. a3 Nf6 24. Bc2 Rd7 25. Re2 Bd8 26. Bb3 Bc7 27. d5
exd5 28. exd5 cxd5 29. Bxf6 gxf6 30. Rxd5 Rxd5 31. Bxd5 g5 32. hxg5 fxg5 33.
Re4 gxf4 34. gxf4 Rd8 35. Bb3 f6 36. Rb4 Ka7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Miskolc m"]
[Site "Miskolc"]
[Date "2007.04.25"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[Annotator "Berkes/Meszaros"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2007.04.25"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{The first move was made by Sandor Kali, the Mayor of Miskolc. The flashlights
had blinked for a number of minutes, then the game finally began. The players
sarted the match in an apparently tense state of mind.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3.
Nc3 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 e6 6. Bg5 Be7 7. e3 Qa5 8. Bh4 Ne4 $1 {Black
happily accepts the simplification.} 9. Bxe7 Nxc3 10. Qd2 Nxe7 ({We would have
also expected} 10... Kxe7) 11. Nb5 O-O 12. Qxc3 Qxc3+ 13. Nxc3 b6 14. O-O-O Rd8
15. Be2 Bb7 16. e4 $6 f5 $1 {Black doesn't wait like a sitting duck. He won't
let White finish his development and play on Black's main weakness, the 'd6'
square. The intense counterplay tumbles the white army.} 17. exf5 (17. f3 $6
fxe4 18. fxe4 Ng6 19. Rd4 Bc6 (19... Kf7 $6 20. Nb5 $1 Ke7 21. Nd6 Bc6 22. b4
$1) 20. b4 Ne5 21. Rhd1 Kf7 {=/+}) 17... Nxf5 18. Rhg1 Rac8 19. Rd2 Kf8 $1 {
The king belongs to the middle of the board. By the time White wakens, Black
is taking the initiative.} (19... d5 20. cxd5 Bxd5 (20... exd5 $6 21. Bg4 g6
22. Bxf5 gxf5 23. Rd4 {+/=}) 21. Kd1 Kf7 $11) 20. g3 Ke7 21. Re1 Nd6 22. b3 ({
Better is} 22. Rd4) 22... b5 23. Red1 Ne4 24. Nxe4 Bxe4 25. Kb2 {Black is
better because of his central pawns, but the advantage is far from being
decisive. We would have liked to see a "skinning" б la Lékó, but considering
the time shortage the players devided the point.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Miskolc m"]
[Site "Miskolc"]
[Date "2007.04.25"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Berkes/Meszaros"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2007.04.25"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3
{This time Peter avoids the Marshall-gambit} Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Na5 11. Ba2 c5
12. Nbd2 Nc6 13. Nf1 Bc8 14. Ne3 Be6 15. Nd5 Bxd5 16. exd5 Nd4 17. Nd2 Nf5 18.
Ne4 Nd7 19. g3 $1 {Up to this point the game developed very quickly, but Peter
came up with a very deep positional plan here. The idea is to paralize Black's
f5 knight and e7 bishop, and the same time prepare an attack on the kingside,}
(19. b4 Rc8 20. Bd2 {happened in two games of Anand, but he didn't manage to
fight out any advantage.}) 19... g6 20. h4 Rc8 21. b4 Qb6 22. h5 cxb4 $2 {
This is a mistake for a number of reasons: 1. it releases the tension in the
centre, and 2. the a1 rook becomes a strong piece because of the weakness of
the a6 pawn 3. White now is able to prepare a sweep on the queenside with
c2-c4. 22... a5 seems to be better but 23.Rd2 still ensures a slight advantage
for White.} 23. axb4 Nf6 24. c3 Ng7 25. h6 $1 {Unpleasant move. White obtains
a tactical pawn which is a permanent threat to the black king.} Nge8 $1 (25...
Nf5 26. Bd2 Bd8 27. Kg2 Qb7 28. Qe2 Nxe4 29. dxe4 Ne7 30. f4 $16) 26. Bd2 Nxe4
27. dxe4 f5 28. exf5 Rxf5 29. Be3 Qb7 30. Rc1 $1 Bd8 (30... Bg5 31. Bb1 $1 Bxe3
32. Bxf5 Bxf2+ 33. Kxf2 gxf5 34. Qd3 Qf7 35. c4 $16) 31. c4 bxc4 32. Bxc4 Qxb4
(32... Bb6 33. Bxa6 Qxa6 34. Rxc8 Qxc8 35. Bxb6 Rh5 36. Qf3 Qh3 37. Be3 $16)
33. Rb1 $1 $16 {At the press conference after the game Kramnik told us that he
actually didn't sacrifice the queen but he was forced to give her up.
Eventually, considering the result, he was not sorry to have done so.} Qxc4 34.
Rc1 Qxc1 35. Bxc1 Bb6 36. Be3 Bxe3 37. Rxe3 Nf6 38. Qa4 e4 $1 {Black sizes
every opportunity to reduce material.} 39. Qxa6 Rc1+ 40. Kg2 Rc2 41. Re2 $2 {
As once before this move will hound Peter. Last year he also let a half point
slip out of his hands against Karpov in a similar situation. He has shown
practically perfect play, and in a long game White would easily win. However,
in the grip of the time Peter, doesn't want to take risks.} (41. Qa8+ Kf7 42.
Qa7+ Kf8 43. Re1 (43. Rb3 $2 Rfxf2+ 44. Qxf2 Rxf2+ 45. Kxf2 Nxd5 46. Rb8+ Kf7
47. Rh8 Nf6 48. Ke3 Ke6 49. Kd4 Kf5 $11) 43... Rfxf2+ (43... g5 $6 44. Rf1) 44.
Qxf2 Rxf2+ 45. Kxf2 Nxd5 46. Rxe4 $16 {would give good winning chances.}) 41...
Rxe2 42. Qxe2 Rxd5 43. Qc4 Kf7 44. Qc7+ Ke6 45. Qc8+ Ke7 46. Kf1 Rc5 47. Qb7+
Ke6 48. Ke2 Rf5 49. Qc8+ Ke7 50. Qc7+ Ke6 51. Qc8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Miskolc m"]
[Site "Miskolc"]
[Date "2007.04.26"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[Annotator "Berkes/Meszaros"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2007.04.25"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3
d5 9. Ne5 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nd2 O-O 12. O-O Rc8 13. e4 c5 14. exd5 exd5
15. dxc5 dxc4 16. c6 cxb3 17. Re1 b2 18. Bxb2 Nc5 19. Nc4 Bxc4 20. Qg4 {
The main line of the Queen's Indian Defence. It is curious that this opening,
which has occurred in many top level games, was also seen last year in the
Leko-Karpov match in Miskolc. However, at that time Peter played with white.}
Bg5 {In the afore-mentioned game Karpov played 20... Bf6 and found himself in
a worse position.} 21. Qxc4 Nd3 22. Be5 Nxe1 (22... Nxe5 $2 23. Rxe5 Bf6 24.
Rd5 Bxa1 25. Rxd8 Rfxd8 26. Bh3 Rc7 27. Bd7 $16 {/\ Qd5-d6}) 23. Rxe1 Bf6 24.
Bxf6 Qxf6 25. c7 Qd6 26. Rc1 b5 27. Qc2 b4 28. Bb7 g6 29. h4 $1 {A very strong
move that forces Black to make an important and awkward decision. If he
himself plays h5, then the evolving pawn structure is most likely a losing
weakness in a pawn endgame, and moreover he is weakening his king. If he
doesn't play h5 then he has to face a Kg2; h4-h5-h6 plan, whereafter White
would have a strong tactical pawn on h6.} Rfe8 $2 {The losing move. At the
press conference after the games Peter was not able to give an explanation to
this blunder. We would not even try to do so.} (29... h5 30. Kf1 $1 {happened
i n an Ivanchuk-Aronian (Monte Carlo, 2007) game. With this fine move White
puts his king closer to the center and prepares a favourable simplification.})
30. Qa4 $1 Qd2 31. Qc6 a5 32. Bxc8 $2 {White is impatient. He would have
needed his bishop for a few more moves to defend against the threatening
checks on the long diagonal.} (32. Rc2 Qe1+ 33. Kg2 Qe6 34. Qb5 $1 {and there
is no Qe4+. White would have won easily.}) 32... Rxc8 33. Rc2 Qd3 $2 {This
move pays back the loan.} (33... Qe1+ 34. Kg2 Qe6 $1 35. Qb7 Qd7 {and because
of the constantly threatening perpetual check White's task of intensifing his
advantage to a decisive one is not so easy at all.}) 34. Kg2 {Black's position
is beyond recovery. From now on Kramnik doesn't give his opponent any more
chances.} Kg7 35. Rc5 a4 36. Qxa4 (36. Qb7 Qd7 37. Qxb4 Rxc7 38. Qc3+ $18)
36... Qe4+ 37. Kh2 Qd4 38. Qc2 (38. Rc2 $2 Rxc7 39. Rxc7 Qxf2+ 40. Kh3 Qf1+ $11
) 38... h5 39. Kg2 Qd6 40. Qb2+ $1 f6 (40... Kh7 41. Qxb4 Rxc7 42. Rxh5+ gxh5
43. Qxd6 $18) (40... Kg8 41. Qxb4 Rxc7 42. Qb8+ Kg7 43. Qxc7 $18) 41. Qc2 Kf7
42. Qc4+ Kg7 43. Rc6 Qd7 44. Qc5 Kf7 45. Kh2 Kg7 46. Qb6 Qf5 47. Qd4 Kf7 48.
Rxf6+ $1 Qxf6 49. Qd7+ 1-0

[Event "Miskolc m"]
[Site "Miskolc"]
[Date "2007.04.26"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Berkes/Meszaros"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2007.04.25"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{At the beginning of the fourth game Kramnik sat down with a strikingly
pleased expression on his face, while at the same time Peter appeared to be
very tense. GM Berkes discribed it as a bad omen, and was within a hair of
being right. But let us not move too far ahead...} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5
a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3 Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Na5 11.
Ba2 c5 12. Nbd2 Nc6 13. Nf1 Bc8 14. c3 Be6 15. Bxe6 fxe6 16. b4 Qd7 17. Ng3
Rfb8 {Interesting move. Black "scares" White with the possibility of a sweep
on the queenside.} 18. d4 {Peter decides to play in the centre.} (18. Be3 cxb4
$1 19. axb4 a5 20. bxa5 Rxa5 21. Rxa5 Nxa5 22. Qd2 Nc6 $11) 18... exd4 19. cxd4
cxd4 (19... c4 {would have been an interesting idea. The open question is: Who
arrives first? (GM Berkes thinks it would be White...)}) 20. Nxd4 Nxd4 21. Qxd4
Rc8 ({Of course Kramnik does not step into the pitfall.} 21... Nd5 $2 22. exd5
Bf6 23. dxe6 Bxd4 24. exd7 Bxa1 25. Bg5 Bf6 26. Bxf6 gxf6 27. Nf5 Rd8 28. Re7
$18) 22. Bb2 Rc2 $1 {A draw would satisfy Kramnik.} (22... Rc4 23. Qd3 Rac8 24.
Re2 Qc6 25. Rae1 {+/=}) 23. Rad1 {Peter is keen to win. He wouldn't like to
start the second half of the match at a disadvantage. However, needless to say,
the exaggerated amition can be disasterous.} (23. Rac1 Rac8 (23... e5 $2 24.
Qd3 Rxb2 25. Qc3 Ra2 26. Qb3+ $18) 24. Rxc2 Rxc2 25. Rc1 Qc6 26. Rxc2 Qxc2 $11)
23... Qa7 $1 24. e5 dxe5 25. Qxa7 Rxa7 26. Bxe5 Rd7 27. Rxd7 $6 (27. Bxf6 $1
Rxd1 28. Rxd1 gxf6 29. Rd7 Kf8 30. Ra7 Rc6 31. Nh5 {and White's position is
more comfortable. In spite of the fact that it's not clear how to break down
the barricades of Black, he can only wait for it passively.}) 27... Nxd7 28.
Bd4 Kf7 29. Rd1 Nf6 30. Be5 Ra2 31. Rd3 a5 $5 32. bxa5 Bxa3 33. Rb3 $2 {
We started to worry for Peter after this mistake. He would have to destroy the
f6 knight which controls e4, because now Black suddenly gets alife-threatening
attack.} (33. Bxf6 $1 gxf6 34. Rb3 Bc5 35. Ne4 Bd4 36. Rxb5 Re2 (36... f5 37.
Ng5+) 37. Nc5 Re1+ 38. Kh2 Bxf2 39. g4 $11) 33... Bc5 34. Rxb5 Bxf2+ 35. Kh2
Be1 $1 {In order not to lose his a5 pawn, white has to put his pieces to
passive, defensive position.} 36. Rb7+ (36. Bc7 Nd5 37. Rb7 Kf6 38. Ne4+ Kg6
39. Ra7 h5 $1 $17 {/\ h4, Re2}) 36... Kg6 37. Bxf6 gxf6 38. Rb6 Bxa5 $2 {
Kramnik's strategy apparently worked because Peter over-stretched the string.
But instead of restoring the material balance, Black would have been able to
win the game.} (38... Bc3 $1 39. Rxe6 (39. Ne4 Be5+ 40. Kg1 Bd4+ 41. Kh2 Bxb6
42. axb6 Rb2 $19) 39... Be5 40. a6 h5 41. h4 Ra3 $19) 39. Rxe6 Bc7 40. Re3 Ra4
41. Rf3 h5 42. Kg1 {High precaution is needed even in positions with low
material.} ({For example:} 42. Kh1 $2 h4 43. Nf1 Ra1 44. Kg1 Bg3 45. Rb3 f5 46.
Rf3 Kf6 47. Kh1 Ke5 48. Kg1 Ke4 49. Kh1 Be5 $1 50. Re3+ Kd5 51. Rd3+ Bd4 52.
Rf3 Ke4 53. Kh2 Rd1 (53... f4 $2 54. Nd2+ $11) 54. Kh1 f4 55. Kh2 Be3 56. Kh1
Kd3 57. Kh2 Ke2 58. Nxe3 fxe3 $19) 42... Bb6+ 43. Kh2 h4 44. Nf5 Bc7+ 45. g3
hxg3+ 46. Nxg3 f5 47. Kg2 f4 48. Nf1 Kf5 49. Ne3+ Ke4 50. Ng4 Ra2+ 51. Nf2+ Kf5
52. Rb3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Miskolc m"]
[Site "Miskolc"]
[Date "2007.04.28"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[Annotator "Berkes/Meszaros"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2007.04.25"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 dxc4 7. Nxc6 Qxd1+
8. Nxd1 bxc6 9. Bg2 Nd5 10. Ne3 e6 11. Nxc4 Ba6 12. b3 {This is the starting
position of Kramnik's favourite variation. Formerly he successfully played 12.
Na5.} Bb4+ 13. Bd2 Bxd2+ 14. Nxd2 Nb4 15. Kd1 O-O-O 16. a3 Nd5 17. Rc1 Kb7 18.
Ke1 $3 {Grandiose innovation. White's not hurry with the development of the h1
rook but he tries to exchange the bishops first. If he succeeds then he will
have great winning chances, thanks to Black's weak pawnstructure.} e5 19. e3 $1
({Occupying the c5 square too early would not ensure any advantage for White.} 
19. Ne4 $6 Kb6 20. Nc5 Rd6 21. e4 Nc7 22. Bf1 Bxf1 23. Rxf1 Ne6 $11) 19... Kb6
(19... f5 {is another possibility, but} 20. e4 $1 (20. Bf1 $6 Bxf1 21. Rxf1 e4
22. Ke2 {+/= is also better for White but Black would obtain some spacial
advantage on the kingside.}) 20... fxe4 21. Nxe4 Kb6 22. Nc5 Rd6 23. h4 $1 {
(h5,Rh4 )} h5 24. Nxa6 Kxa6 25. Ke2 Rhd8 26. Rc2 Kb6 27. Rhc1 $16 {and the
black position collapses.}) 20. Bf1 Bb5 $6 ({Exchanging the bishops with} 20...
Bxf1 {seemed somewhat better, but White would be still able to exert boardwide
pressure. For example:} 21. Rxf1 Rhe8 22. Ke2 e4 23. Rc4 f5 24. Rfc1 Re6 25. b4
Ne7 26. Nb3 {Nd4, h4, a4}) 21. Bc4 $1 {The d2 knight is more valuable than the
b5 bishop because it can exploit Black's weaknesses.} f6 22. Ke2 Rd7 23. Rc2 a5
{Peter should have kept away from the a5 move as long as it was possible.} 24.
Rhc1 Ne7 25. Bxb5 $5 {Deep plan, but we think Kramnik hurries the
implementation.} (25. Ne4 Rhd8 26. g4 {and White can improve his position
easily (h4-h5, Kf3) beacuse Black can do nothing but wait patiently.}) 25...
cxb5 26. a4 $1 {Touches the spot. Not only are the queenside pawns weak, but
the black monarch can find himself in an awkward situation too, and the list
is not over, because after} Rhd8 27. axb5 Kxb5 $6 (27... h5 $1 28. Ne4 (28.
Nc4+ $6 Kxb5 29. Ra2 Nc6 $11) 28... Nd5 29. Rc6+ Kxb5 30. h3 $1 {/\ g4}) 28.
Ne4 {it is practically impossible to bundle off the white knight.} Ra7 $6 29.
g4 ({The aggressive} 29. Nc3+ $5 {is also possible.} Kb6 (29... Kc6 30. Nd5+ $1
Kd7 31. Rc7+ Rxc7 32. Rxc7+ Kd6 33. Rxe7 Kxd5 34. Rxg7 Rb8 35. Rd7+ Kc5 36. Ra7
$16) (29... Kb4 30. Na4 $16) 30. Na4+ Kb5 31. Rc7 Rd7 32. R7c5+ Kb4 33. Nb6 $1
Rdb7 34. R1c4+ Ka3 35. Rb5 $16 {is also clearly better for White.}) 29... h6
30. h4 Kb6 31. g5 (31. h5 {looks promising too.}) 31... hxg5 32. hxg5 fxg5 (
32... f5 33. Nc5 e4 (33... Nd5 34. Nd3 e4 35. Rc6+ Kb7 36. Ne5 $16) 34. Na4+ $1
Ka6 35. Rc7 Rxc7 36. Rxc7 Re8 37. g6 $1 Kb5 38. Nc3+ Ka6 39. Kd2 Rd8+ 40. Kc2
$16) 33. Rg1 Rc8 34. Rd2 $1 Nc6 35. Rxg5 a4 $6 {Inaccuracy, although there is
no proper defence anyway. Moreover Peter's time has almost run out.} 36. bxa4
Rxa4 37. Nd6 (37. Rb2+ $1 Rb4 38. Rxb4+ Nxb4 39. Rxe5 Rc2+ 40. Kf3 $18) 37...
Rc7 38. Ne8 $2 {We consider this as a mistake because Black has neither time
nor position. Kramnik wins the g7 pawn but lets his opponent out of the grip.}
({It would be better to exert the pressure with} 38. Rg6 $1 {In addition,
taking the e5 pawn is better since organizing the defence of the g7 pawn looks
impossible because is too far from the king.}) 38... Rca7 39. Nxg7 Ra2 $1 {
Black has to exchange a pair of rooks by all means.} 40. Rxa2 Rxa2+ 41. Kf3 Kc5
42. Nf5 Nb4 43. Ng3 Kd5 44. Ne4 Ra8 45. Nf6+ Ke6 46. Ng4 Nd3 47. Rg6+ Kf5 48.
Rf6+ Kg5 49. Rd6 (49. Re6 Kf5 50. Rd6 e4+ 51. Kg3 Ra1 52. f3 $1 Rg1+ 53. Kh3 (
53. Kh2 Rf1 $1) 53... Nf4+ $3 54. exf4 exf3 55. Rf6+ Ke4 $11) 49... Rf8+ $2 {
Peter's persistent and enduring defence might have reaped the harvest because
the position is objectively drawn. Time, however, is everything, and Peter
doesn't find the saving motif during the few seconds he has left.} (49... Nc5
$1 50. Nxe5 Rf8+ 51. Ke2 Rxf2+ 52. Kxf2 Ne4+ 53. Kf3 Nxd6 $11 {draw!}) 50. Kg3
e4 51. Rd5+ Rf5 52. f4+ $1 {The game is over.} Kg6 53. Rd4 Nc5 54. Ne5+ Kg7 55.
Rc4 Nd3 56. Nxd3 exd3 57. Rd4 {A gorgeous game, in spite of the mistake in the
38th move. Kramnik's tremendous play lived up to his fame.} 1-0

[Event "Miskolc m"]
[Site "Miskolc"]
[Date "2007.04.28"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Berkes/Meszaros"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2007.04.25"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a4
Bd7 9. Nc3 Na5 10. Ba2 b4 11. Ne2 c5 12. Ng3 O-O 13. Nh4 g6 {New idea in a
rare variation.} 14. Bh6 Re8 15. Bd2 $1 {Fine bishop maneuver with an obvious
point: White will push the pawn to f4 and the opening f-file will lack the
black rook.} Bg4 16. f3 Be6 17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. f4 exf4 19. Bxf4 Nc6 20. Nf3 Nd7
$6 {Too passive.} ({Black should have considered} 20... Ng4 21. c3 (21. h3 Rf8
$1 22. Qd2 e5 23. Be3 Nxe3 24. Qxe3 Nd4 $1 $15) 21... bxc3 22. bxc3 Rf8 {
with counterplay.}) 21. c3 $1 bxc3 22. bxc3 Nde5 $6 {Unnatural move. Its
weakness is revealed by Peter straight away.} (22... Rb8 23. d4 cxd4 24. cxd4
Qb6 25. Kh1 Qb3 26. Qe2 $14 {and White keeps the initiative.}) 23. Bxe5 $1 ({
It looks like it doesn't matter with which piece to take on e5 but after} 23.
Nxe5 dxe5 24. Be3 c4 $1 25. dxc4 Qxd1 26. Raxd1 Na5 27. c5 Nc4 28. Bf2 Red8 {
black would obtain sufficient counterplay.}) 23... dxe5 24. Qc2 Ra7 25. Rfd1 (
25. Qa2 $1 {would have been far better. For example:} Qd6 26. Rad1 Rd7 27. Nd2
$1 Na5 28. Nc4 Nxc4 29. Qxc4 Bg5 30. Kh1 Rf8 31. Rxf8+ Kxf8 32. Ne2 Kg7 33. Ng1
$1 $16 {All the white pieces are on ideal positions and the black position can
be hardly defended.}) 25... Bf8 26. Nf1 Bh6 27. N1d2 Bxd2 28. Rxd2 Rd7 29. Rb1
Kg7 30. h3 Qc7 31. Rf1 Nd8 $1 32. Rdf2 Qd6 (32... Nf7 {right away would have
been better since the d3 pawn cannot be taken because the e5 pawn would hang.}
33. Nd2 Nd6 34. c4 (34. Qa2 c4 $1 35. Nxc4 Nxc4 36. dxc4 Qc5 37. Kh2 Rc8 {+/=})
34... Nf7 35. Qc3 Qd6 {+/=}) 33. Qc1 $1 Nf7 34. Nh2 (34. Ng5 Ree7 $1 35. Qe3 h6
36. Nxf7 Rxf7 37. Rxf7+ Rxf7 38. Rb1 $14) 34... h5 $1 (34... Qxd3 $2 35. Ng4
Ree7 36. Nf6 Rd8 37. Nxh7 (37. Qe1 $5 $40) 37... Qg3 38. Rf3 Qh4 39. Nf6 Ng5
40. Re3 Rf8 41. Ng4 $16) 35. Qe3 Ree7 (35... Qxd3 $4 36. Rxf7+ $18) 36. Rf3 {
Defending the d3 pawn is needed now. Kramnik demolishes the white pawn
structure with a pawn sacrifice and tries to penetrate on the opened d-file to
neutralize White's attack.} c4 $1 37. dxc4 Qd2 (37... Rc7 38. Kh1 Qc5 (38...
Rxc4 $2 39. Qf2) 39. Qe1 $1 Qxc4 40. Qh4 Qe2 41. R1f2 Qd1+ 42. Nf1 $16) 38. Qb6
Ng5 39. Re3 $2 {Passive move, although it has its tricky side.} ({Better is} 
39. Rf8 $1 {Qb8}) 39... Rf7 $2 {and Kramnik walks into the trap.} (39... Rb7
40. Qc5 Nf7 41. Nf3 Rec7 42. Nxd2 Rxc5 {is less clear.}) 40. h4 $1 $18 {
This move may have been overlooked. If it was really overlooked or simply a
miscalculation, we think we will never know.} Rb7 41. Qc5 Rb2 42. Qxe5+ Kh7 43.
Qxg5 Rxf1+ 44. Nxf1 Qf2+ 45. Kh2 Qxf1 46. Rg3 Qf7 47. c5 Re2 48. Qe5 Qb7 49.
Rxg6 $1 {Elegant finish. Peter improved the result, which means we can expect
sparkling fight on the last day.} (49. Rxg6 Kxg6 50. Qg5+ Kf7 51. Qxh5+ Kg7 52.
Qxe2) 1-0

[Event "Miskolc m"]
[Site "Miskolc"]
[Date "2007.04.29"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[Annotator "Berkes/Meszaros"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2007.04.25"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 {Peter decided not to meander in the maze of the English Opening or
the Queen's Indian Defence again.} 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 h6 6.
Bxf6 {Peter told us that Kramnik was a little bit surprised by this variation,
so he reacted carefully. After all it is not him who has to struggle for the
point.} Qxf6 7. Qc2 dxc4 8. e3 b5 9. a4 Bb7 10. axb5 cxb5 11. Nxb5 Bb4+ 12. Nc3
O-O 13. Be2 Rc8 $1 14. O-O Nd7 15. Rfc1 a5 16. Na4 Rab8 17. Qd1 e5 18. Rxc4 {
Kramnik doesn't take any unnecessary risk, the games develops on the usual
path. Peter achives the half point easily. The question is open: will he be
able to equalize after the last game?} Rxc4 19. Bxc4 Bxf3 20. Qxf3 Qxf3 21.
gxf3 exd4 22. exd4 Nb6 $1 {Black forces the exchange of the knights, and the
draw becomes inevitable in the developing opposite coloured bishop endgame,
because of the weakness of the white kingside.} 23. Nxb6 Rxb6 24. Rd1 Kf8 25.
b3 Rg6+ 26. Kf1 Rg5 27. Rd3 Rh5 28. Kg2 Rg5+ 29. Kf1 Rh5 30. Kg2 Rg5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Miskolc m"]
[Site "Miskolc"]
[Date "2007.04.29"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Berkes/Meszaros"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2007.04.25"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "HUN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. O-O d6 8. c3 h6
9. a4 Rb8 10. d4 Bb6 11. Na3 {Peter condemned this move after the game.} O-O
12. axb5 axb5 13. Nxb5 {Peter, as he later admitted, bluffed. He was obliged
to do so because he wanted to equalize the score in the match.} Bg4 14. Be3 $6
({White might to close the position by all means, because he is behind in
development. We think the logical continuation would be} 14. d5 {Now most
likely} Ne7 15. Bc2 Ng6 (15... Nxe4 $6 16. Bxe4 f5 17. Bb1 e4 18. h3 Bh5 19. g4
$1) (15... Nexd5 $5 16. exd5 e4 17. h3 Bh5 18. g4 exf3 19. gxh5 Qd7 20. Qxf3
Qxb5 21. Bxh6 Qxd5 22. Qxd5 Nxd5 23. Bd2 $16) 16. h3 Bd7 17. c4 {can happen
and in spite of the feeling that Black has enough compensation we cannot find
any satisfying follow-up. For example:} Nh5 ({or} 17... Bxb5 18. cxb5 Qd7 19.
Qe2 {+/=}) 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. Qxh5 Nxc4 20. Nc3 {+/=}) 14... d5 $1 {Typical
blow in the center which lands White in difficulty at once.} 15. exd5 Nxd5 16.
h3 (16. Qd3 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Nce7 $1 18. Kh1 c6 19. Na3 exd4 20. cxd4 Ng6 $17)
16... Bh5 17. g4 $6 {Although White gets rid of the pin, he breaches the
position of his own king.} Bg6 18. Na3 exd4 19. cxd4 Be4 $6 {Kramnik's play is
comfortable, actually he can do whatever he wants. Don't forget that drawing
this game would mean the win of the match for him.} (19... Qd6 $1 20. Kg2 (20.
Nc4 $2 Nxe3 $1 21. fxe3 Qg3+) 20... Nf4+ 21. Bxf4 Qxf4 $17 {/\ Rfd8, Be4}) 20.
Bc2 Bxf3 21. Qxf3 Nxd4 22. Bxd4 Bxd4 23. Rad1 c5 24. Nb5 (24. Nc4 {=/+}) 24...
Rxb5 $1 {This move is in a class by itself. In the commentator-room we crossed
our fingers for the exchange sacrifice not to be discovered. But Kramnik is
uninterceptable.} 25. Qd3 g6 26. Qxb5 Nf4 27. Qc6 Nxh3+ 28. Kg2 Nf4+ 29. Kf3
Ne6 (29... Qg5 $1 30. Bb3 h5 31. Rg1 Ne6 $19) 30. Kg2 {Here Peter offered a
draw. After the game (and the match) Kramnik told us that he felt like he was
winning, but he didn't see any tangible line. Peter's offer ensured the win of
the match for him and he was not able to resist accepting it.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Yerevan m"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "2007.05.04"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C89"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2007.05.04"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3
{At top level, the Marshall Attack is mainly allowed in games between Marshall
specialists. Although, one could also say that quite many of the top players
have this sharp line in their repertoire, which makes the previous statement
relatively irelevant. From the specator'spoint of view, it is refreshing to
see that there is more after 7...0-0 than just the dull Anti-Marshall systems..
.} d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d4 Bd6 13. Re1 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3
15. Be3 {This is the old main line, which was considered to offer White an
advantage before the real boom of the Marshall Attack.} ({The reader probably
remembers Kramnik's previous experience as White against the Marshall Attack.
Tragicomically, he blindly followed the computer's suggestion, reaching a...
lost position.} 15. Re4 g5 16. Qf1 $5 Qh5 17. Nd2 Bf5 18. f3 Nf6 19. Re1 Rae8
20. Rxe8 Rxe8 21. a4 $5 Qg6 $1 22. axb5 Bd3 23. Qf2 $2 (23. Qd1 $8 Be2 24. Qe1
Bd3 25. Qd1 $11) 23... Re2 24. Qxe2 Bxe2 25. bxa6 {This is the position
Kramnik had been aiming for. The computer needs several minutes before
switching from a cathegoric "+-" to a more realistic "-+", but Leko managed to
find the winning attacking moves starting with} Qd3 $3 {despite his relative
time trouble, Kramnik,V (2770)-Leko,P (2741)/Brissago 2004/CBM 103/[Knaak] 
(0-1, 32).}) 15... Bg4 16. Qd3 Rae8 17. Nd2 Re6 18. Qf1 $5 {This move has
never been too popular, but over the past decades it has been even more rarely
played than before.} ({Kramnik had some nice recent memories against} 18. a4
Qh5 19. axb5 axb5 20. Qf1 Bh3 21. Bd1 Qf5 22. Qe2 c5 23. Nf3 Bf4 24. Bc2 ({
Improving over} 24. Qd2 {, played just days earlier:} Nxe3 25. fxe3 Bh6 26. Qf2
Rfe8 27. Ne5 Qxf2+ 28. Kxf2 f6 29. Bg4 Rxe5 30. Bxh3 Bxe3+ 31. Kf3 cxd4 32.
Rad1 dxc3 33. bxc3 Bb6 34. Rxe5 Rxe5 35. Rd5 Re3+ 36. Kg2 Rxc3 37. Rxb5 Rc2+
38. Kh1 Bc7 {and White found it quite difficult to hold this ending, Leko,P 
(2749)-Kramnik,V (2766)/Monte Carlo 2007/TWIC 646 (0-1, 54)}) 24... Qg4 25. Qd3
g6 26. Ne5 Bxe5 27. dxe5 Qf3 28. Qe4 Qxe4 29. Bxe4 Nxe3 30. Rxe3 Rxe5 {Svidler,
P (2728)-Kramnik,V (2766)/Monte Carlo 2007/TWIC 647 (1/2-1/2, 37). and Black
is not worse.}) 18... Qh5 19. f3 {This surprising move is almost a novelty.} ({
Here are two of the very few relevant games that reached this position over
the past decade:} 19. a4 f5 (19... bxa4 20. Bxd5 cxd5 21. Rxa4 f5 22. f4 $2 (
22. Rxa6 $5) 22... Qe8 $1 $17 {[%csl Ya4,Ye3] Alqudaimi,B (2237)-Kuzmin,A 
(2568)/Doha 2002/CBM 087 ext (0-1, 30)}) 20. f4 bxa4 21. Bxd5 cxd5 22. Qg2 Rfe8
23. Qxd5 Qf7 24. Nc4 $1 (24. Nf1 g5 $40 {Berelovich,A (2468)-Van den Doel,E 
(2528)/Hoogeveen 1999/EXT 2000 (1/2-1/2, 43)}) 24... Bxf4 $5 25. gxf4 Be2 $3 {
[%csl Gd5][%cal Ye6g6]} 26. Kh1 $1 (26. Kf2 Bxc4 27. Qxc4 Qh5 $132) 26... Bxc4
27. Qxc4 Rxe3 28. Qxf7+ Kxf7 29. Rxe3 Rxe3 30. Rxa4 $16) 19... Nxe3 $146 ({
The game where 19.f3 was tried for the first time continued} 19... Rf6 20. Bd1
Re8 21. Bf4 Rxe1 22. Qxe1 Re6 23. Be5 Bxe5 $6 (23... Bf5 $5) 24. dxe5 Bf5 25.
f4 {White has managed to consolidate his position and is a clear pawn up.} Qg6
26. Qf2 f6 27. c4 $1 bxc4 28. Nxc4 Bd3 29. Bb3 $16 {Segovia Becker,M-Henao,L/
IECG email 1995/E-Mail 2000 (1-0, 37)}) (19... Rxe3 $5) (19... Bf5 $5) 20. Qf2
Nd5 21. fxg4 Qxg4 {Abstractly speaking, this is the way to fight against the
Marshall Attack: return the pawn for the sake of completing the development.
Apart from the small material advantage, White has another important
achievement (something that might be currently underestimated), namely the
advantage of space in the centre. The pawn structure after the recent
modifications resembles that arising from a line of... the King's Gambit (1.e4
e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d5 4.exd5 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nxd5 6.Nxd5 Qxd5 7.d4, if Black allows
Bxf4). More concretely, Black still seems to maintain the better development
and White needs some acurate moves to neutralise it.} 22. Qf3 $5 {The black
queen was optimally placed on g4 and Black has to take an important decision
now.} Qg5 $6 {Black allows his pawn structure to be spoilt, without getting
sufficient dynamic compensation. This is hardly advisable when facing a player
with such good technique as Kramnik.} (22... Qxf3 23. Nxf3 Rfe8 {, maintaining
the control of the e-file, was an important alternative. However, after} 24.
Rxe6 Rxe6 {White would play the thematic} 25. a4 $1 {, facing Black with
micro-problems.} b4 $1 (25... h6 $2 26. axb5 axb5 27. Ra8+ Kh7 28. Rc8 $16) (
25... Re2 $2 26. axb5 axb5 27. Ra8+ Bf8 28. Ne5 $18) 26. c4 (26. cxb4 Rf6 $1 {
Unpinning the knight.} 27. Ne5 Nxb4 $11) 26... Re3 27. cxd5 Rxf3 (27... Rxb3
28. Nd2 Rd3 {The only square to avoid a fork.} 29. Nc4 $16) 28. Bc4 (28. Bd1
Rd3 29. dxc6 Rxd4 30. Bb3 Kf8 31. Rc1 Bc7 $11 {and the c-pawn is easier to
maintain blocked than the a-pawn in the main line.}) 28... cxd5 29. Kg2 Re3 30.
Bxa6 $14 {The a-pawn might become dangerous soon.}) ({To me, the safest
continuation seems to be} 22... Qg6 {, protecting the e6-square, for instance}
23. Rxe6 (23. Bxd5 cxd5 24. Qxd5 {does not work because of} Bxg3 25. Rxe6 $8
fxe6 $1 {with strong initiative.}) 23... Qxe6 24. Qe4 Re8 $1 25. Re1 Qxe4 26.
Nxe4 Kf8 {and Black should be entitled to hope for a draw in this just
symbolically worse position.}) 23. Rxe6 fxe6 24. Ne4 $1 {Installing the knight
on this superb square is White's highest priority, higher than removing the
queen from the attacked square...} Qg6 (24... Rxf3 $2 25. Nxg5 $16 {[%csl Ge6]}
Re3 $2 (25... Rf6 $2 26. Ne4 $18) 26. Kf2 $18) 25. Qe2 $14 {White's better
structure offers him a stable advantage. Aronian's attempts to build up an
attack will fail in a spectacular way.} Nf4 $6 (25... Be7 26. Re1 $14) (25...
Bf4 $5) 26. Qc2 Nh3+ $6 27. Kg2 $16 {Now, Black's pieces are exposed and
poorly coordinated.} Qg4 (27... Rf2+ $2 {does not work because the c2-queen is
defended, which allows the simple} 28. Nxf2 $18) 28. Bxe6+ $1 {And this is the
best way to take advantage of it!} (28. Nxd6 {was playable but less clear:}
Nf4+ 29. Kf2 $8 (29. Kg1 $2 Ne2+ $19) (29. Kf1 $2 Qf3+ $19) 29... Ne2+ 30. Nf5
$5 (30. Ke1 Nxg3 $1 $40) 30... Rxf5+ 31. Ke1 Nf4 $5 (31... Nxg3 $2 32. Bxe6+ $1
$16) 32. Qe4 {and White seems to repell the attack, but why not simplify to a
winning ending?...}) 28... Qxe6 29. Qb3 $1 {The point. Both minor pieces are
under attack and White will emerge from the complications with an extra-pawn.}
Nf4+ 30. gxf4 Qxb3 31. axb3 {Finally, the white rook is developed.} Bxf4 32.
Rxa6 $18 Rc8 (32... Re8 33. Rxc6 Bxh2 (33... Rxe4 34. Kf3 $18) 34. Kf3 $18 {
[%cal Yd4d5,Yc3c4]}) 33. Nc5 Kf7 34. Nd3 g5 35. Nxf4 gxf4 36. Kf3 Ke6 37. Kxf4
Kd6 38. c4 Rf8+ 39. Ke3 Kc7 40. Ra7+ Kb6 41. Rxh7 Rf1 42. Rh6 Kb7 43. Rh5 Rb1
44. Kd3 bxc4+ 45. Kc2 $1 {This type of intermediate move was overlooked by
Boleslavsky in a rook ending against Botvinnik, on the ocasion of the
match-tournament for the absolute title of USSR champion, back in 1941. In
that game, too, 49.Ke2! caused Black's immediate resignation. The difference
is that here such elegance was not really necessary, because the simple
capture on c4 would have also sufficed for a win.} 1-0

[Event "Yerevan m"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "2007.05.04"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "151"]
[EventDate "2007.05.04"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 c5 8. e4 Bg6
9. Be3 cxd4 10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. Bxd4 Nfd7 12. Nxd7 Nxd7 13. Bxc4 a6 14. h4 Rc8
15. Ba2 h6 16. Rc1 Rg8 17. Ke2 Bc5 18. Bxc5 Rxc5 19. Nb1 Ke7 20. Rxc5 Nxc5 21.
h5 Bh7 22. Rc1 Nd7 23. Nd2 g6 24. hxg6 Rxg6 25. Kf2 Rg5 26. Rc7 b5 27. a5 Rc5
28. Rxc5 Nxc5 29. Ke3 Kd6 30. b4 Nd7 31. Nb3 e5 32. Nc1 f5 33. Nd3 fxe4 34.
fxe4 Nf6 35. Nc5 Bg6 36. Bb3 Ng4+ 37. Kd2 Nf6 38. Bc2 Kc6 39. Bd3 Nd7 40. Nxa6
Bf7 41. Be2 h5 42. g3 Bg6 43. Ke3 Bf7 44. Kd2 Bg6 45. Bd3 Bf7 46. Bf1 Be6 47.
Kc3 Bg4 48. Bd3 Bf3 49. Bc2 Kd6 50. Kd3 Kc6 51. Bb3 Kb7 52. Be6 Nf6 53. Nc5+
Kc6 54. Ke3 Bg4 55. Bf7 Bc8 56. Bb3 Bh3 57. Bd1 Bg4 58. Bc2 Bc8 59. Bd3 Ng4+
60. Ke2 Nf6 61. Nb3 Be6 62. Nd2 Ne8 63. Nb1 Nc7 64. Nc3 Bd7 65. Kd2 Be8 66. Be2
Bf7 67. Nd5 Bxd5 68. exd5+ Kd6 69. Bxh5 e4 70. Bf7 Na6 71. Kc3 e3 72. Bh5 Kxd5
73. Be2 Nc7 74. Bf3+ Ke5 75. Bb7 Kf5 76. Kd3 1-0

[Event "Yerevan m"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "2007.05.05"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "154"]
[EventDate "2007.05.04"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O e6 {Deviating from two previous
encounters between the same players.} ({Generally,} 5... g6 {is by far more
popular at a high level than the Hedgehog setup, chosen by Aronian in our main
game. Personally, I see no real reason for that, because in the Hedgehog
Black's position is more flexible and offers him better chances for
counter-attack in view of his better control over the central squares. Anyway,
the aforementioned games continued} 6. d4 cxd4 7. Qxd4 Bg7 8. Nc3 d6 9. Rd1
Nbd7 10. Be3 Rc8 11. Rac1 a6 12. b3 O-O 13. Qh4 Rc7 14. Bh3 Qb8 {This is a
topical position and here the games took a different course.} 15. Bg5 $5 ({
When having this position with the white pieces, Aronian preferred the
fashionable} 15. g4 {but ran into his opponent's excellent preparation} e6 16.
g5 Ne8 17. Bg2 b5 18. Ne4 bxc4 19. bxc4 d5 20. cxd5 Bxd5 21. Nc5 Nxc5 22. Bxc5
Nd6 23. Rb1 Qxb1 24. Rxb1 Rxc5 $44 {and White drew not without difficulty,
Aronian,L (2724)-Kramnik,V (2744)/Saint Vincent 2005/CBM 110/[Stohl] (1/2-1/2,
85).}) 15... Bxf3 16. exf3 b5 17. Bxd7 Rxd7 18. Nd5 Nxd5 19. cxd5 Rc7 20. Rc6 {
Kramnik,V (2729)-Aronian,L (2756)/Turin 2006/CBM 113 (1-0, 37). and White's
queenside advantage proved sufficient for a win.}) 6. Nc3 Be7 7. d4 cxd4 8.
Qxd4 d6 9. Bg5 a6 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. Qf4 {This variation is supposed to offer
White a slightly more pleasant position with almost no risk at all. In
practice, things are not always that simple.} O-O 12. Rfd1 Be7 13. Ne4 Bxe4 14.
Qxe4 Ra7 15. Nd4 {This is one of the main tabyias of the variation involving
an early exchange on f6. I believe that a close examination of the position
will help us understand the whole magic behind the Hedgehog system. The first
thought that comes up to mind is that White is doing just great. He not only
has more space and a superior development, but has managed to eliminate the
main opponent of his g2-bishop, the black queen's bishop, having an
authoritarian control of the long diagonal. In most of the fianchetto systems 
(such as the Catalan Opening) these aspects would ensure White an almost
decisive advantage, but if we look at it from Black's point of view, we can
see that this is hardly the case here. The exchange of two pairs of minor
pieces has solved Black's problems of space to considerable extent. Although
his knight will not be easy to develop because it is supposed to guard the
c6-square, all the other pieces can get coordinated without stepping into
each-other's way.  After the elimination of White's dark-squared bishop the
d6-pawn is almost invulnerable and White will need a lot of effort to prove an
active plan. Obviously, he should aim for play on light squares. One of the
possible ideas would be to play b4-b5 and install his knight (or bishop) on c6.
However, this would weaken the c5-square and the c4-pawn at the same time.
Sometimes, a brutal sacrifice on e6 could cause Black problems. Finally, there
exists the possibility of a slow advance of the kingside pawns, but this is
also not without risk, because Black has an extra-pawn in the range between
the d- and h-files. Concluding, I can agree that White has very little risk,
but things can really change if he becomes "ambitious".} Qc8 {Black's general
strategy should rely on the control of the dark squares. One important
decision is whether to place the queen or the queen's rook on c5. Black's last
move prepares ...Qc5.} ({The main alternative is} 15... Rc7 16. b3 Bf6 (16...
Rc5 {[%cal Yb6b5] Threatening b5.} 17. a4 Qc7 18. Qb1 Rc8 19. Ra2 Bf8 20. e3
Qe7 21. Rc2 g6 22. Qa2 {[%csl Yc4,Yc6][%cal Yb3b4,Yb4b5] A smart regroupment,
preparing the advance of the b-pawn.} Qg5 23. h4 Qf6 24. b4 R5c7 25. b5 a5 26.
Nc6 Nd7 27. Rcd2 Nc5 28. Qc2 Qg7 29. f4 $14 {Once the queenside action has
been crowned with success, White prepares active operations on the other wing,
Andersson,U (2635)-Seirawan,Y (2575)/London 1982/MCD (1-0, 52)}) 17. e3 Nd7 (
17... Re8) 18. Rac1 Qc8 19. Rb1 Rc5 $2 {Very carelessly played.} (19... Re8)
20. Nxe6 fxe6 (20... Re5 21. Nxf8 Rxe4 22. Nxd7 Re6 23. Nxb6 $16) 21. Qxe6+ Kh8
22. Bh3 Rd8 23. Rxd6 Ne5 24. Qxc8 Rcxc8 25. Rxb6 $16 {and White's pawns
eventually prevailed over Black's piece, Malakhov,V (2670)-Nisipeanu,L (2707)/
Benidorm 2005/CBM 109 ext (1-0, 34). From these games we can infer that
keeping the black queen passive on the back rank allows White to carry out his
general plan more freely.}) 16. b3 Re8 ({There is nothing wrong with the
immediate} 16... Qc5 {, but we know from the previous comment that leaving the
e6-pawn unattended is risky.}) 17. a4 Qc5 18. Ra2 Qh5 $146 {At first sight, it
is hard to see any concrete purpose to this move. Black seems to be just
inviting his opponent to define his intentions. However, there is a certain
logic in Aronian's play over the next phase of the game. First, he will drive
the enemy queen away from the centre. When the b1-h7 diagonal becoms available,
he will place his queen on g6, in order to keep the enemy queenside under
pressure and hinder White's active operations.} ({A very interesting, and
possibly revolutionary plan was displayed in the next game:} 18... Rd7 19. Qb1
a5 $5 {This has generally been considered bad because it weakens the b5-square.
However, apart from the obvious aim of preventing b4-b5, Black has another
idea in his mind.} 20. Rad2 Bf8 21. Qd3 Red8 22. Nb5 Na6 {This is it. By
transferring the knight to b4, Black will sustain the freeing move ...d5.} 23.
Be4 g6 24. Qf3 Nb4 25. Qf4 d5 $1 26. cxd5 Nxd5 $11 {Magalashvili,D (2459)
-Azarov,S (2579)/Istanbul 2006/TWIC 617 (1/2-1/2, 45)}) ({A famous game
continued} 18... Bf6 19. Rad2 Rc7 20. Qb1 Be7 21. b4 Qh5 22. Rc2 (22. b5 $5 {
Kasparov,G} Rxc4 $2 23. bxa6 $16) 22... Rec8 $10 23. b5 $2 axb5 24. axb5 (24.
Nxb5 Rd7 $1 $17 {>< Pa4, Pc4 '=/+' Kasparov,G.}) 24... Rxc4 $1 25. Rxc4 (25.
Nc6 Rxc2 26. Nxe7+ Kh8 $1 27. Bf3 $1 Qe5 $1 28. Nxc8 Rxc8 $17 {Kasparov}) 25...
Rxc4 26. Qa2 Qc5 $15 {Karpov,A (2690)-Kasparov,G (2625)/Moscow 1981/MCL/
[ChessBase] (1/2-1/2, 41)}) 19. Bf3 (19. b4 $5) 19... Qe5 20. e3 (20. Qxe5 dxe5
21. Nc2 a5 $1 $11 {[%cal Yb8a6] and the white knight has no acess to b5.} 22.
Na3 $6 Bxa3 23. Rxa3 Na6 $15) 20... Rc8 21. Qb1 Rac7 22. Rc2 Qf6 23. Bg2 Nd7
24. Qa2 Qg6 {Black has completed his intended regroupment.} 25. Rcd2 (25. Rdc1
Nc5 26. b4 $6 Nd3 $132) 25... Nc5 26. Ne2 Nd7 27. a5 $5 {White seems to have
spotted the drawback of Black's plan: the queen is far away, allowing this
generally favourable pawn break. However, Black has sufficient defensive
resources at his disposal.} bxa5 28. Qxa5 Nc5 29. Nc1 {The b3-pawn is not easy
to defend, but retreating with the knight to such a passive square looks
hardly impressive.} h5 {The queen is useful for putting some pressure on the
white king, but...} 30. Rd4 (30. b4 Ne4 $132 {[%csl Gc4] Just another point
behind Black's strategy: the knight has this square at his disposal.}) 30...
Qc2 $1 {... it can cause mini-problems on the opposite wing as well.} 31. b4 $2
{Probably missing Black's answer.} (31. R4d2 Qg6 $11) 31... Qa4 $1 $17 {
White cannot defend his queenside pawns in a proper way.} 32. Qxa4 Nxa4 33. Ne2
Nb2 34. Ra1 Bf6 35. Rxd6 Nxc4 36. Rdxa6 Bxa1 37. Rxa1 Rb8 38. Rb1 Na3 39. Rb3
Nb5 40. Bf3 g6 41. h4 Rc4 42. Nf4 Rc3 43. Rb2 Na3 44. Be2 Rc2 45. Rb3 e5 46.
Nd5 Rxe2 47. Rxa3 Kg7 48. Rb3 Rd2 49. Nc7 Rc2 50. Nd5 Ra8 51. Nc3 Rc8 52. Ne4
R8c4 53. Nd6 R4c3 54. Rxc3 Rxc3 55. b5 Rd3 56. Nc4 f6 57. Kf1 Rb3 58. Nd6 Kf8
59. Ke2 Ke7 60. Nc8+ Kd7 61. Na7 Rb2+ 62. Kf3 Ke6 63. e4 Kd6 64. Nc8+ Ke6 65.
Na7 f5 66. exf5+ Kxf5 67. Ke3 Rb3+ 68. Kd2 Ke4 69. Kc2 Rf3 70. Nc6 Rxf2+ 71.
Kc3 Rf1 72. Kb4 Rc1 73. Ne7 Kf3 74. Nxg6 e4 75. b6 e3 76. Ne5+ Kxg3 77. Nd3 e2
0-1

[Event "Yerevan m"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "2007.05.05"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2007.05.04"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. g4 dxc4 8. Bxc4
Nd5 9. Ne4 Be7 10. Bd2 b6 11. Ng3 O-O 12. e4 Nb4 13. Qb3 c5 14. Bxb4 cxb4 15.
O-O a6 16. Qe3 b5 17. Bd3 Bb7 18. g5 Rc8 19. Rad1 Qb6 20. Bb1 Rfd8 21. h4 Nf8
22. h5 Rc7 23. Qf4 Bd6 24. e5 Be7 25. Be4 Bc8 26. Bb1 Bb7 27. Be4 Bc8 28. Kh2
Rcd7 29. Bb1 Bb7 30. Ne4 Bxe4 31. Bxe4 g6 32. hxg6 Nxg6 33. Qe3 Bf8 34. Kg2 Bg7
35. Rh1 Qb8 36. Rc1 Qa7 37. Rh3 Rxd4 38. Rd1 Nf4+ 39. Kh2 Ne2 40. Rd2 Bxe5+ 41.
Nxe5 Qc7 42. Bxh7+ Kf8 43. Rxe2 1-0

[Event "Yerevan m"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "2007.05.06"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A60"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2007.05.04"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 b5 6. Nd2 Nxd5 7. Bg2 Nc7 8.
Bxa8 Nxa8 9. b4 c4 10. a4 Bxb4 11. Qc2 Bb7 12. Ngf3 a6 13. axb5 axb5 14. Qb2
Qf6 15. Qxb4 Qxa1 16. O-O Qa6 17. Bb2 f6 18. Ba3 d6 19. Nd4 Nc7 20. Rb1 O-O 21.
Nxc4 bxc4 22. Qxb7 Qxa3 23. Qxc7 Qc5 24. Rb7 Qxc7 25. Rxc7 d5 26. Nf5 Na6 27.
Rxg7+ Kh8 28. Ra7 Nb4 29. Rc7 h5 30. Kg2 Re8 31. e3 Nd3 32. f4 Ra8 33. Kh3 Ra5
34. Kh4 Rc5 35. Rd7 Kg8 36. Kxh5 Kf8 37. Nd6 c3 38. Kg6 Rc6 39. Kxf6 Kg8 40.
Kg6 Kf8 41. Kf6 Kg8 42. g4 Nc5 43. Rd8+ Kh7 44. Kf7 Rc7+ 45. Kf6 Rc6 46. Kf7
Rc7+ 47. Kf6 Rc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Yerevan m"]
[Site "Yerevan"]
[Date "2007.05.06"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2007.05.04"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ARM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 118"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.05.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. g3
Nbd7 9. Bg2 dxc4 10. Qe2 Nb6 11. O-O Bb4 12. Bd2 O-O 13. Ne4 Qe7 14. Bxb4 Qxb4
15. Nc5 Rab8 16. Rfc1 Rfd8 17. Qc2 Nfd7 18. Ne4 e5 19. a3 Qe7 20. Re1 Nf6 21.
Ng5 exd4 22. exd4 Qd6 23. Nf3 Re8 24. Re5 Nfd7 25. Ra5 a6 26. Rd1 Rbd8 27. Bf1
Re7 28. Rg5 Qf6 29. Kg2 Rde8 30. h4 Qe6 31. a4 Qe4 32. Qc1 f6 33. Ra5 Qe6 34.
Qc2 Qe4 35. Qc1 Kh8 36. Re1 Qg4 37. Rxe7 Rxe7 38. Bxc4 Nxc4 39. Qxc4 Qe4 40.
Qb3 c5 41. dxc5 Qc6 42. Qc3 Re2 43. b4 Ne5 44. b5 Qe4 45. c6 Nd3 46. Qxd3 Qxd3
47. cxb7 Re8 48. bxa6 Qb3 49. Rc5 Kh7 50. Rc8 Rg8 51. Nd4 Qb6 52. Rxg8 Kxg8 53.
Kg1 Kh7 54. Nc6 Qb1+ 55. Kg2 Qe4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 35th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2007.06.23"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2786"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2007.06.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 119"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Be2 Nbd7 8. O-O
Bd6 9. g3 O-O 10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. Qc2 {In this opening variation White has the
bishop pair, but Black an easy development and no weaknesses. Therefore
White's edge is insignificant. On the other hand Black's chances to win are
practically inexistent, while with White one can hope to use the bishop pair
later on. In other words the position suits Kramnik's style perfectly. However,
Anand doesn't have any psychological discomfort playing strictly for a draw in
such positions, especially after a thorough opening preparation for this
particular variation, which has lately become Kramnik's specialty.} Qe7 {
Following Kramnik's own recipe. Before exchanging on c4 Black makes another
useful move.} (11... dxc4 12. Bxc4 c5 13. dxc5 Bxc5 14. Rd1 Rc8 (14... Qe7 $5)
15. Bf1 Bb4 16. Bd2 Ne5 (16... Nd5 17. Bg2 Bxc3 18. bxc3 Qc7 19. Be1 N7b6 20.
Rd4 Nxc3 21. Qxc3 Qxc3 22. Bxc3 Rxc3 {1/2-1/2 Ivanchuk,V (2750)-Gelfand,B 
(2733)/Monte Carlo 2007}) 17. Bg2 Qb6 18. Qb3 Nc4 19. Be1 Ba5 20. Qxb6 axb6 21.
Rab1 Nxb2 22. Rxb2 Bxc3 23. Bxc3 Rxc3 24. Bxb7 {1-0 Kramnik,V (2766)-Gelfand,B
(blindfold rapid) (2733)/Monte Carlo 2007 (51). and Kramnik managed to convert
his advantage in endgame.}) 12. Bd2 ({White could try to change tha character
of the position with} 12. c5 $5 Bc7 13. f4 $13) 12... dxc4 13. Bxc4 c5 {
Earlier this year Kramnik himself felt very comfortable with the black pieces.
Anand's opening choice is quite provoking: now Kramnik must show something
against his own play. He comes up with a small improvement, but it doesn't
change the evaluation of the entire variation as being very drawish.} 14. dxc5
$146 (14. Be2 Rac8 15. Bf3 cxd4 16. exd4 Nb6 17. Bg5 Qd7 18. Qb3 Be7 19. Nb5
Rc4 20. a3 a5 21. Nc3 Bd8 22. Bxf6 gxf6 23. d5 e5 24. Rac1 f5 {1/2-1/2 Gelfand,
B (2733)-Kramnik,V (2766)/Monte Carlo (rapid) 2007 (76). Black's initiative
wasn't enough for a win.}) 14... Nxc5 15. Rfd1 Rac8 16. Be1 a6 17. Rac1 Rc7 ({
Black could already deprive White of the bishop pair with} 17... b5 18. Bf1
Nce4 19. Bg2 Nxc3 20. Bxc3 Be5 {but White still keeps an edge after} 21. Qb3
Bxc3 22. Rxc3 Rxc3 23. Qxc3 {since his pieces are more active and Black's
queenside pawns will need protection (in such a situation the pawns are better
placed on b6 and a5 instead of a6 and b5).}) 18. Qb1 Rfc8 19. Bf1 {This is the
type of position White is usually aiming for in the present variation. After
the inevitable exchange of several pieces White will remain with the bishop
pair and will try to convert the minimal advantage.} Ncd7 20. Bg2 Ne5 21. Ne4 (
{The preparatory move} 21. a3 {is not perfect: Black might effectively use the
c4-square later. For instance:} b5 $5 22. Ne4 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Rxc1 24. Qxc1 Nxe4
25. Bxe4 Nc4 {[%csl Ra3,Rb2]} 26. Bd3 Qb7 $5 $11 {[%csl Rb2][%cal Gb7b2]})
21... Rxc1 22. Rxc1 Rxc1 23. Qxc1 Nxe4 24. Bxe4 Bb4 $1 {This move, depriving
White of his bishop pair, needed precise calculation from Anand.} 25. Qc8+ Kh7
26. Bc3 (26. Bxb4 Qxb4 27. Qxb7 {wins a pawn, but} Qe1+ 28. Kg2 f5 {forces a
draw:} 29. Qc7 (29. Bf3 $2 Nd3 $19) (29. Bc2 $2 Qd2 $1 (29... Ng4 $2 30. Qf3
Qd2 31. Bb3 $16) 30. Bb1 Qd1 $19) 29... Ng4 30. Qf4 e5 ({or} 30... Qd2 31. h3
e5 32. Qf3 Nf6 33. Bb7 Qxb2 34. Bxa6 Qxa2 $11) 31. Qf3 Nxh2 32. Kxh2 fxe4 $11)
26... Bxc3 27. Qxc3 {White still has some pressure due to his strong bishop,
which attacks Black's queenside pawns. Therefore Anand transfers the knight to
d5, thus neutralizing the activity of his opponent's bishop.} Ng4 $1 28. Bf3 (
28. Qc8 Qb4 $132) 28... Nf6 29. Qc8 Nd5 30. a3 (30. e4 $6 {leaves White with a
poor bishop:} Nb6 31. Qc2 e5 {[%csl Rf3] and at some moment Black might think
of playing for advantage: after all as a rule the queen with a knight is more
powerful than a queen with a bishop.}) 30... a5 31. h4 b6 32. Qc6 Qd8 {Black
has transferred the knight to d5, placed the queenside pawns on the dark
squares and protected everything. The position has become completely equal.}
33. Bxd5 exd5 34. Qc3 Qd7 35. Kg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 35th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2007.06.24"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2007.06.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 119"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. e4 Nxe4 8. Nxe4
dxe4 9. Qxe4 c5 10. Bg5 Be7 11. Bxe7 Qa5+ 12. Ke2 {This extravagant move 
(introduced by GM Ivan Sokolov) is more promising than the cowardly} (12. Nd2)
12... Kxe7 13. g3 {White continues his development and Black can't make use of
the centralized position of the white king.} cxd4 (13... Nf6 14. Qe5 b6 15. Bg2
Rd8 16. Nd2 $1 Ba6 (16... Rxd4 $2 17. Nb3 Qb4 18. Bxa8 Qxc4+ 19. Kf3 {I.Sokolov
}) 17. Bxa8 Rxa8 18. Qc7+ $1 Kf8 19. dxc5 Ne8 20. Qf4 Qxc5 21. Rhd1 Nf6 22.
Rac1 Kg8 23. Nb3 Qb4 24. Kf1 $16 {1/2-1/2 Sokolov,I-Ribli,Z/Bosna i
Hercegovina 1998/Inf 72/[Sokolov,I] (31)}) 14. Bg2 $1 (14. Qxd4 e5 15. Qd2 Qc7
$1 16. Qg5+ Kf8 17. Rc1 (17. Ke1 f6 18. Qe3 Nc5 {1/2-1/2 El Gindy,E-Magerramov,
E/Abu Dhabi 2002/CBM 089 ext}) 17... f6 (17... e4 $1 18. Nd2 Ne5 $36 {L.Bruzon}
) 18. Qe3 Nc5 19. Bg2 (19. b4 $142 {L.Bruzon}) 19... Bg4 20. Kf1 Rd8 21. Ne1 a5
22. h3 Be6 23. Kg1 Kf7 24. Kh2 Rd7 25. Rf1 Rhd8 $17 {0-1 Borgo,G-Bruzon
Bautista,L/Saint Vincent 2004/CBM 098 ext (38)}) 14... Nf6 15. Qxd4 Rd8 16. Qf4
$1 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (16. Qe3 Ng4 17. Qg5+ Qxg5 18. Nxg5 Bd7 19. b3 f6 (19... h6
20. Nh3 Rab8 21. f4 (21. Nf4 Ne5 {[%cal Yb7b5]}) 21... Bc6 22. Bxc6 bxc6 23.
Ng1 e5 24. h3 Nf6 $15 {0-1 Mastrovasilis,A-Shirov,A/Chalkidiki 2002/CBM 092 
(38)}) 20. Nh3 Rab8 21. Nf4 Ne5 22. Rhd1 b5 $1 23. Nd3 Nxd3 24. Rxd3 bxc4 25.
bxc4 Rb2+ 26. Ke3 Bc8 $15 {0-1 Nikolaidis,I-Gurevich,M/Cannes 2005/CBM 105 ext
(48)}) (16. Qe5 $2 Rd2+ $1 17. Ke1 Qxe5+ 18. Nxe5 Rxb2 19. Nd3 Rc2 20. c5 Rb8
21. Kd1 Rc4 $19 {0-1 Crouch,C-Kelly,B/Lichfield 2000/CBM 077 ext (47)}) 16...
Bd7 17. Ne5 Be8 (17... Rac8 $142 $1 {[%cal Yc8c5]} 18. Rhd1 $140 Ba4 19. b3 Rc5
$1 20. Nd3 Rf5) 18. Rhd1 Qb6 19. b3 Rxd1 20. Rxd1 Rd8 21. Rxd8 Qxd8 $2 {
Black thoroughly calculated tactical consequences of White's capture on b7 but
underestimated the positional ones!} (21... Kxd8 $142 $14) 22. Bxb7 Qa5 23. Qe3
$1 {[%mdl 32]} (23. a4 Qb6 24. Qf3 Bxa4 $1 25. bxa4 Qb2+ 26. Kf1 Qxe5 27. Qa3+
Qd6 28. c5 $14 {(which GMs Peter-Heine Nielsen, Alexey Dreev and I discussed
while waiting for our planes at the Madrid airport that Sunday) is less
convincing. The World Champion finds a purely positional solution.}) 23...
Qxa2+ 24. Kf1 Qa5 25. Bf3 {[%csl Gc4] It turns out that the c-pawn is much
stronger with two pairs of minor pieces on the board!} Qb6 26. c5 Bb5+ 27. Kg2
Qc7 28. c6 a6 29. Qc5+ Ke8 30. b4 $22 {Black has only kingside pawn moves 
(which only weaken his position) or...} Nd5 31. Bxd5 exd5 32. Qxd5 {White has
won a pawn but he still has to overcome some technical difficulties.} Kf8 $1
33. f3 f6 34. Nd7+ Ke7 35. Qg8 Kd6 36. Nc5 (36. Qxh7 Kxc6 37. Nc5 Qe5 38. Qc2
$16) 36... Qe7 {Black decides on a more active defense.} (36... Kxc6 {forced}
37. Qxh7 (37. Qe6+ Qd6 38. Qc8+ Qc7 {brings nothing})) 37. Qc8 $1 Bxc6 (37...
Qe2+ $2 38. Kh3) 38. Qxa6 Qe3 39. Qd3+ Qxd3 40. Nxd3 {[%mdl 4096] In this
endgame White's outside passed pawn gives him excellent winning chances but
don't forget that a bishop is stronger than a knight when play develops on
both sides.} Be8 (40... Bd5 $5 41. Kf2 Kc6 42. Ke3 Kb5 {[%cal Rd5c4]
apparently didn't help after} 43. f4 Bc4 44. Kd4 {etc.}) (40... Kd5 41. Nf4+
Kd4 42. Ne6+ Ke3 43. Nxg7 Bxf3+ 44. Kh3 $18) 41. Kf2 Kd5 42. Nf4+ Kc4 43. Ne6
Kxb4 44. Nxg7 Bf7 {White now must make use of the fact that the black king is
far away from the kingside, further weakening the black pawns.} 45. Nf5 Kc5 46.
Nh6 Bb3 (46... Be6 47. Ng4 Bxg4 48. fxg4 Kd4 49. Kf3 Ke5 50. Ke3 $18 {_|_}) 47.
Ng4 f5 48. Nf6 h6 49. Ke3 Kd6 50. Kf4 Ke6 51. Ng8 Bc2 (51... h5 52. Kg5 Bd1 53.
f4 {[%cal Yg8f6]}) 52. Nxh6 Kf6 53. g4 fxg4 54. fxg4 Kg6 55. Nf5 Bd3 56. h4 Be2
57. h5+ Kh7 58. Kg5 Bd3 59. Kh4 Kg8 60. Nd6 Kg7 61. g5 Bc2 62. Nc4 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 35th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2007.06.26"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "2007.06.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 119"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. e3 Bb7 5. Bd3 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Nc3 Bd6 8. O-O
O-O 9. Qc2 c5 10. Rd1 Nc6 11. dxc5 bxc5 12. a3 Ne5 13. Nxe5 Bxe5 14. e4 d4 15.
Ne2 c4 16. Qxc4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 Bxe4 18. Bf4 Rc8 19. Qb4 a5 20. Qe1 Bxf4 21. Rxd4
Bxh2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 35th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2007.06.27"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2693"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2007.06.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 119"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 ({In his recent match against Aronian, Carlsen answered the classical
Catalan move order, consisting of} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 {with} c5 {.
Despite the fact that the game ended with a convincing win for White, Kramnik
prefers to avoid the Benoni this time.}) 1... Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. d4 Be7
5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4 b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Nc6 11. e3 Nb4
12. Bxb4 Bxb4 13. a3 Be7 {This is one of the more or less equivalent bishop
retreats.} (13... Bd6 {allows White win a tempo after} 14. Nbd2 {followed by
e4, threatening with a fork, but after the new bishop retreat from d6 to e7 it
is far from clear whether the pawn really stands better on e4 than on e3.
Anyway, that is an entirely different variation in fact.}) 14. Nbd2 Rc8 15. b4
{White has to keep the c5-square blocked...} a5 {... and Black has to try to
unblock it at any cost!} 16. Ne5 {Some 16 years ago, when I started analysing
and playing the Catalan, I considered this move to be one of my discoveries.
After the creation and evolution of databases, it appeared that the move had
been played 10 years before I gave it a practical try myself...} ({A recent
game saw} 16. Qb2 {, which seems to be playable, too.} axb4 17. axb4 Qd6 18.
Rfb1 Ra8 (18... Nd5 $2 19. Ne4 $1 $16 Qxb4 $2 20. Qc1 $1 $18 Qc4 $8 21. Qxc4
bxc4 22. Rxb7) 19. Ra5 Nd5 $6 (19... Rxa5 $5 20. bxa5 b4 $132) 20. Ne4 Qxb4 21.
Rxb5 Qxb2 22. R5xb2 Nb6 23. Ne5 f6 24. Nxf6+ $5 (24. Nd3 $14 {[%csl Gc5,Rc7]})
24... gxf6 25. Bxb7 fxe5 26. Bxa8 Rxa8 27. dxe5 Ra4 28. Rc2 Nd5 $14 {Bruzon,L 
(2614)-Capo Vidal,U (2375)/Morelia 2007 (1-0, 36). The position is not easy to
assess, despite White's material advantage. Black's stability in the centre
offers him good chances for defence, but he can hardly aspire for more.
White's structure is too compact...}) 16... Nd5 $2 $146 {This move looks like
a bad over-the-board inspiration rather than the fruit of mistaken home
analysis.} (16... Bxg2 17. Kxg2 c6 {is more or less forced, although it does
not solve Black's problems entirely.} (17... axb4 {allows the occupation of
the c6-square with} 18. Nc6 Qd7 19. axb4 $16 {Speelman,J (2535)-Cox,J (2355)/
Southport 1983/EXT 99 (1/2-1/2, 41)}) 18. Nd3 axb4 19. axb4 Nd5 20. Qb3 Ra8 21.
Rfc1 {White has more space and a flexible structure in the centre. The
weakness of the c6- and b4-pawns compensate for each other. In order to have
chances for equality, Black needs to get equal rights over the only open file.
He will fail painfully to do so...} Qb6 22. Nf3 {/\ Ne5} Qb7 23. Kg1 $1 Rxa1
24. Rxa1 Ra8 25. Ra3 $14 Nxb4 $6 26. Nxb4 c5 27. dxc5 Qxf3 (27... Rxa3 28. Qxa3
Qxf3 29. Qa7 Bf8 30. c6 $18) 28. Nd5 $3 $16 {1-0 Marin,M (2515)-Marciano,D 
(2430)/Bucharest 1993/CBM 034/ (1-0, 36)}) 17. Nb3 $1 {This move is easy to
overlook, because the b4-pawn is attacked no less than 3 times.} axb4 18. Na5
Ba8 19. Nac6 Bxc6 20. Nxc6 Qd7 21. Bxd5 $1 {The only way to retrieve the
temporarily sacrificed pawn, but entirely sufficient for retaining a crushing
positional advantage.} exd5 22. axb4 $16 {Black is completely paralyzed.
What's worse, his b5-pawn is impossible to defend.} Rfe8 (22... Ra8 23. Ra5 $5
Rxa5 24. bxa5 Ra8 {and now the a-pawn advances faster than Black would like it:
} 25. a6 $1 $16 Rxa6 $2 26. Nb8 $18) 23. Ra5 Bf8 24. Ne5 {An interesting
moment.} ({Black's conterplay after} 24. Rxb5 Re6 25. Rc1 Rh6 26. h4 {looks
questionable, but Kramnik must have asked himself whether it was worth playing
with the c6-knight pinned.}) 24... Qe6 (24... Rxe5 25. dxe5 Bxb4 {fails to
complicate the matters because of} 26. Ra7 {followed by Rc1.}) 25. Rxb5 Rb8 $6
({However, the unexpected} 25... Bxb4 $5 26. Rxb4 c5 {might have muddied the
waters a bit (at least psychologically), by changing the course of the game:}
27. dxc5 (27. Rb5 cxd4 $1 {[%csl Ye5]}) 27... Qxe5 28. Rd1 $16) 26. Rxb8 Rxb8
27. Qxc7 $18 Bd6 28. Qa5 Bxb4 (28... Bxe5 29. dxe5 Qxe5 30. Rd1 Qe4 {would
have allowed White win a second pawn with} 31. Rxd5 {although it would have
required some accurate calculation to foresee that he can avoid perpetual
check in the most convenient way with} Qb1+ 32. Kg2 Qe4+ 33. Kf1 Qb1+ 34. Ke2
Qb2+ 35. Kf3 Qf6+ 36. Kg2 $18) 29. Rb1 Qd6 30. Qa4 {Black will soon lose his
d5-pawn, which makes further resistance useless.} 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 35th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2007.06.29"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2007.06.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 119"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8 14. cxd5 Qxd5
15. Bf4 Rac8 16. Bd3 Qd7 17. Rb1 b6 18. d5 $5 {It took some time to
choreograph the best dance for the pieces in this variation of the Russian
Defence. Black's position remains very compact.} (18. Bb5 Bxb1 19. d5 (19. Qxb1
Bf6 20. Rd1 Qg4 21. Bg3 Ne7 22. Bxe8 Rxe8 23. Re1 Qd7 24. Qe4 Rc8 {1/2
Nisipeanu,L (2695)-Fridman,D (2562)/Turin 2006 (29)}) 19... Bd6 20. Rxe8+ Qxe8
21. Bxd6 Qe4 22. Bxc7 Bc2 23. Qd2 Nb8 24. d6 Ba4 25. Bd3 Qg4 {0-1 Nijboer,F 
(2549)-Ernst,S (2509)/Wijk aan Zee 2005 (54)}) 18... Bxd3 (18... Qxd5 19. Bb5
Qc5 20. Be3 Qd6 21. Qa4 Bxb1 22. Rxb1 Qxa3 23. Qxa3 Bxa3 24. Bxc6 $14) 19. Qxd3
Bf6 20. c4 Ne7 (20... h6 21. h3 (21. h4 Ne7 22. Rbd1 Ng6 23. Bg3 h5 24. Rc1 Bb2
25. Rxe8+ Rxe8 26. Rc2 Bf6 27. c5 bxc5 28. Rxc5 Ne5 {1/2 Polgar,J (2728)-Anand,
V (2786)/Wijk aan Zee 2005 (38)}) 21... Re7 (21... Ne7 22. Ne5 Bxe5 23. Rxe5
Ng6 24. Rxe8+ Rxe8 25. Bg3 Qe7 26. Kh1 {1-0 Anand,V (2786)-Shirov,A (2713)/
Monte Carlo 2005 (35)}) 22. Rbd1 Rd8 23. Rxe7 Nxe7 24. Ne5 Bxe5 25. Bxe5 Re8
26. Bg3 {1-0 Leko,P (2736)-Anand,V (2753)/Linares 2003 (65)}) 21. Rbd1 {
Kramnik is not without his share of experience with the problems of this
position. From the games quoted in the notes, the name of Anand stands out as
a specialist with both colours.} (21. Ne5 Bxe5 22. Bxe5 f6 23. Bf4 Nf5 24. c5
bxc5 25. Qc4 g5 26. Bd2 Nd6 27. Qxc5 Ne4 28. Qa5 c6 29. Be3 cxd5 30. Qxa7 Qxa7
31. Bxa7 Nc3 {1/2 Svidler,P (2742)-Kramnik,V (2743)/Dortmund 2006 (39)}) 21...
Rcd8 (21... Ng6 22. Bg3 h6 23. h3 $11) 22. h3 (22. Ne5 Bxe5 23. Bxe5 f6 $11)
22... Ng6 23. Bg3 h6 24. Qb3 Re7 $5 {The current world champion is a great
master in piece play. The rook move is probably the best way to occupy the
open e file.} (24... Rxe1+ 25. Rxe1 a6 26. a4 b5 27. cxb5 $5 axb5 28. a5 $14)
25. a4 Rde8 26. Rxe7 Nxe7 27. Re1 (27. d6 cxd6 28. Rxd6 Qc8 29. Be5 Bxe5 30.
Nxe5 Nf5 $11) 27... c6 28. Be5 (28. d6 Nf5 29. Rxe8+ Qxe8 30. Qd3 Nxg3 31. fxg3
(31. d7 $2 Ne2+ 32. Kf1 Qe7 $17) 31... Qd7 $11) 28... cxd5 29. Bxf6 (29. cxd5
Qxd5 30. Qb1 Ng6 $17) 29... dxc4 30. Qxc4 (30. Qb2 $2 gxf6 31. Qxf6 Ng6 $17)
30... gxf6 31. Nh4 $1 {Leko has sacrificed the pawn, but his compensation is
impressive. The knight would dearly love to land on the f5-square and Black
has to oppose it at all costs.} Kf8 (31... h5 32. Qe2 Qd5 33. g3 Qe6 34. Qxe6
fxe6 35. Rxe6 Kf7 $11) 32. Qf4 Ng8 (32... Kg7 $2 33. Rxe7 $1 Qd1+ 34. Kh2 Rxe7
35. Nf5+ Kf8 36. Qxh6+ Ke8 37. Qh8+ Kd7 38. Qxf6 $16) 33. Qb4+ (33. Rc1 Re5 34.
g4 $14) 33... Re7 34. Rc1 {This was the moment, when White could have
benefited from the disharmony in Black's camp with 34.g4!} (34. g4 $1 Ke8 35.
Rc1 $14) 34... Kg7 35. g4 Re8 36. Nf5+ Kh7 37. Qc4 (37. Qf4 Re5 38. Rc4 $14)
37... Re5 38. Qb4 (38. Qf4 $5) 38... Ne7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 35th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2007.06.30"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2654"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2007.06.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 119"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Qa4 Nd7 7. Qxc4 Nb6 8.
Qb5 {During last year's edition, the same position arose in the game between
these same players.} a6 {Despite the favourable result of the previous
encounter (a draw against a mighty opponent) Naiditsch decides to step aside
from the dispute initiated with that occasion.} (8... Bd7 9. Qb3 Na5 10. Qd3 c5
11. dxc5 Bxc5 12. Qc3 Rc8 13. Qxg7 Bf8 14. Qxh8 $1 ({In my notes to the
aforementioned game, I expressed my doubts whether Black has any compensation
after the brave capture of the undefended rook.} 14. Qg5 $6 {Kramnik,V (2743)
-Naiditsch,A (2664)/Dortmund 2006 [Marin]/CBM 113 (1/2-1/2, 44)}) 14... Rxc1+
15. Kd2 Rc5 16. Nc3 Nbc4+ 17. Ke1 Bc6 18. b4 Bxf3 19. Bxf3 Qd2+ 20. Kf1 Re5 21.
bxa5 Qxc3 22. Kg2 {Khenkin,I (2586)-Martinsen,S (2147)/Dresden 2006/CBM 113
ext (1-0, 25). and White completed his development retaining a decisive
material and positional advantage.}) 9. Qd3 {For the time being, it is not
very clear whether the slight weakness of the black queenside induced by ...a6
has any concrete significance. Only the further course of the game will
highlight some of the nuances.} e5 10. Nxe5 Nb4 11. Qd1 $146 ({In my notes to
the previous game, I examined} 11. Qc3 {. There have been some new games in
the meanwhile.} Qxd4 12. O-O ({There is nothing new after} 12. Qxc7 {,
although this looks like a logical try to take advantage of the weakness of
the b6-square, by winning a tempo.}) 12... Qxc3 13. Nxc3 Bd6 14. Nf3 O-O {
It seems that Black's excellent development allows him avoid the usual Catalan
pressure against the queenside.} 15. b3 (15. Rd1 Rb8 16. Nd4 Bd7 17. a3 Nc6 18.
Nxc6 Bxc6 19. Bxc6 bxc6 {. Black's queenside structure is in ruins, but White
cannot complete his development easily. The only reasonable square for the
bishop is e3, but Be3 can always be met by ...Nc4.} 20. Rd2 Rfd8 21. Rc2 Be5
$11 {Khalifman,A (2624)-Landa,K (2608)/Sochi 2007 (1/2-1/2, 27)}) 15... Nc2 16.
Rb1 Na3 17. Rb2 Bb4 18. Bd2 Rd8 19. Rc1 c6 20. Nb1 a5 $132 {L'Ami,E (2594)
-Naiditsch,A (2663)/Netherlands 2007 (1/2-1/2, 67). and it is Black who has
active play on the queenside already.}) 11... Qxd4 12. Qxd4 Nc2+ 13. Kd1 {
Over the past years, Kramnik has frequently given up the right to castle in
the event of an early exchange of queens.} Nxd4 14. Be3 Nf5 ({Strategically,
the consolidation of the knight in the centre with} 14... c5 {looks risky,
because too many light squares would be weakened. In principle, White would
like to exchange on d4 at some moment, obtaining the excellent d3-square for
his e5-knight, but there is no hurry yet.} 15. Nd3 $1 {It is important to put
the c5-pawn under observation.} ({After the careless} 15. Nc3 $6 {Black has}
Nf5 $1) 15... Be7 (15... Nc4 {would only "force" White get a structure that he
is aiming for:} 16. Bxd4 cxd4 17. Nd2 Nd6 18. Rc1 Be7 19. Nc4 $14 {with nice
play on the light squares.}) 16. Nc3 O-O 17. b4 $5 $36 {Suddenly, Black loses
his stability in the centre.}) 15. Bxb6 cxb6 {Finally, we can see the
drawbacks of the early advance of the a-pawn. Without it, Black could have
maintained the integrity of his structure with ...axb6, activating his queen's
rook at the same time. Now, Black has to be careful to avoid excessive
simplifications, because in certain cases (such as pawn endings) he would
practically be a pawn down. Besides, the absence of a pawn on the c-file has
left the d5-square chronically weak. On the other hand, the pair of bishops
offers Black chances for counterplay as well as the possibility of transposing
to drawn opposite coloured bishops endings.} 16. Nc3 Bc5 17. e3 O-O 18. Ke2 {
White has almost completed his development. His king seems to be entirely safe
under the shelter of the compact pawn structure; but things are less simple
than that, as we shall see.} Re8 19. Nd3 Rb8 20. Rhc1 $5 {White concentrates
his forces on the queenside, keeping the a2-pawn safely defended.} ({A more
natural (and, possibly, critical for the assessment of the variation) way to
develop would be} 20. Rac1 Be6 21. Rhd1 {The rooks belong on open files after
all. However, the d1-rook is slightly exposed, as can be seen from the
following variation:} Nxe3 $5 (21... Bf8 {would allow White consolidate in the
centre with} 22. Nf4 Bc4+ 23. Ke1 Bc5 24. Nfd5 $14) 22. fxe3 Bg4+ 23. Kf1 Bxe3
{, transposing to an ending with R+2P vs N+B, which is not easy to assess.})
20... Be6 21. Bd5 {Offering an exchange that Black cannot accept, because it
would leave him in a clearly worse ending.} (21. Nf4 {would once again allow a
tactical operation similar to that from the previous comment:} Bc4+ 22. Ke1
Nxe3 23. fxe3 Bxe3 $13) ({The dynamism of Black's position can also be seen
after the tempting} 21. Na4 Bd4 $1 22. exd4 Bb3+ 23. Kd2 Bxa4 24. d5 Nd6 $11 {
and the safe blockade on d6 Black has little to fear.}) 21... Bd7 22. Ne4 Bf8
23. Rc7 {Apparently, a crushing move. The b7- and f7-squares are put under
strong pressure, while the group of white minor pieces dominate the centre.}
Rbd8 $3 {As often happens, the solution against a slightly premature action
consists of a move completing the development.} 24. Nc3 (24. Rxb7 $2 {loses
material to the unexpected} Bc8 $3 {, although this allows a capture of a pawn
with check (and fork):} 25. Bxf7+ {and suddenly the e4-knight is hanging.} Kh8
26. Bxe8 Bxb7 $17) (24. Bxb7 {is playable, but allows Black simplify to a draw:
} Bb5 25. Rd1 Rxd3 26. Rxd3 Rd8 27. Rcc3 Rd7 $1 28. Bc8 {The only way to
escape perpetual pursuit.} (28. Bc6 $2 Rxd3 $1 $17) (28. Ba8 Rd8 $11) 28...
Rxd3 29. Rxd3 Nd6 30. Nxd6 Bxd6 $11 {and after the exchange on d3 followed by .
..a5 White has no winning chance at all because of the presence of opposite
coloured bishops.}) 24... Nd4+ 25. Kd2 Be6 $1 {A paradoxical move. Given the
specific circumstances, this exchange tends to favour Black, who gets tactial
chances because of the (already) exposed position of the enemy king.} 26. exd4
(26. Bxe6 $2 {loses material after} Nxe6 27. Rc4 b5 {and the rook loses
stability on the 4th rank.} 28. Rh4 Be7 29. Re4 (29. Rg4 f5 $19) 29... b4 30.
Nd1 Rxd3+ 31. Kxd3 Nc5+ 32. Kd4 Rd8+ 33. Ke5 Bd6+ 34. Kf5 g6+ $1 $19 {and
finally the king has to abandon the defence of the rook.}) 26... Bxd5 27. Nxd5
Rxd5 28. Rxb7 b5 {An interesting position. White cannot maintain his extra
pawn, but would just be happy to exchange one pair of rooks, when the
centralised position of his king would ensure him a large advantage in the
endgame. However, this is not easy to achieve and with 4 rooks on board the
position retains middlegame characteristics.} 29. a4 $5 {A remarkable decision.
Understanding that he has failed to obtain an advantage, Kramnik changes the
character of the position in a radical way. Not entirely undeservedly (for his
courage and inventiveness!) the experiment will be crowned by success.} ({
In view of the previous comment,} 29. Re1 $5 Red8 30. Re4 {would practically
force Black weaken his seventh rank with} f5 {but after} 31. Re3 Rxd4 32. Ke2 {
it is unclear how White could take advantage of this small modification.})
29... Rxd4 30. axb5 Red8 (30... axb5 31. Rxb5 Red8 32. Rb3 $16) 31. bxa6 Rxd3+
32. Ke1 $44 {White has sacrificed a knight for the sake of creating a
dangerous passed pawn on the a-file, which can eventually be supported by its
colleague in the near future. Besides, Black has back rank problems, which
delays the moment when he will be able to activate his bishop.} Re8+ (32...
R3d4 {is also playable:} 33. Rc1 Rb4 34. Rcc7 Ra8 35. a7 Rxb7 36. Rxb7 {
and now Black is just in time to activate his bishop in order to... sacrifice
it for the enemy queenside pawns:} g6 37. Kd2 {/\Kc3, b4} Kg7 $1 {/\Bc5} 38. b4
$8 Bxb4+ $1 $11) 33. Kf1 Rdd8 34. a7 Ra8 35. b4 Re7 36. Rxe7 Bxe7 37. b5 Bc5 $2
(37... Bd8 {would have most probably led to a draw:} 38. Ra6 (38. Rd1 Bc7 39.
Rc1 Bd8 $11) 38... Kf8 39. b6 Bxb6 40. Rxb6 Rxa7 $11) 38. Rc1 Bd4 39. Rc4 {
Possibly overlooked by Naiditsch. The bishop has not sufficient space along
the g1-a7-diagonal.} Bxa7 (39... Bb6 {does not change much:} 40. Rc6 Bxa7 (
40... Bd4 41. b6 $18) 41. Ra6 Rb8 42. Rxa7 {transposing to the game.}) 40. Ra4
Rb8 41. Rxa7 Kf8 $2 {Possibly the decisive mistake in a difficult position.} ({
It would have been necessary to clear the seventh rank with} 41... f6 {and
only then activate the king:} 42. Ra5 Kf7 43. Ke2 Ke6 44. Kd3 Kd5 45. Kc3 Kc5 {
when after} 46. Ra7 g5 {the final result remains uncertain.}) 42. Ra5 Ke7 43.
Ke2 Rb6 (43... Kd6 44. Kd3 Kc5 45. Ra7 Rf8 46. Rb7 $18) 44. Kd3 Rd6+ 45. Kc4
$18 Rd2 46. b6 Kd6 47. Rb5 Rc2+ 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 35th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2007.07.01"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Alekseev, Evgeny V"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2679"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2007.06.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 119"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.08.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8 14. Ra2 Bf6 15.
Rb2 b6 16. Bf4 Na5 17. cxd5 Qxd5 18. Ne5 Bxe5 19. Bf3 Qd7 20. Bxe5 Nc4 21. Rbe2
c6 22. d5 Nxe5 23. Rxe5 cxd5 24. Qxd5 Rad8 25. Rxe8+ Rxe8 26. Rxe8+ Qxe8 27. g4
Be6 28. Qb7 Qc8 29. Qxa7 Bxg4 30. Bd5 Bh5 31. Qxb6 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Tournament"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[Date "2007.09.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2007.09.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "MEX"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 120"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {This is precisely the starting move that led Kramnik to the highest
peaks of his career. He abandoned it for the slightly more aggressive 1.d4
only with the occasion of his match against Kasparov. Later, he experimented
with 1.e4, without too much success. Now, the cycle seems to start again. Dies
ist genau der Anfangszug, der Kramnik zu den höchsten Gipfeln seiner Kariere
führte.  Erst anlässlich seines Matches gegen Kasparov gab er dies zugunsten
des leicht aggressiveren 1.d4 auf. Später experimentierte er dann mit 1.e4,
ohne allzu großen Erfolg. Nun scheint der Zyklus von Neuem zu beginnen.} d5 {
Svidler occasionally employed this move as an emergency exit after losing 3
games with the Gruenfeld in Morelia/Linares 2006. His overall result in the
closed openings was not really satisfactory either, but we can assume that for
the World Championship he is better prepared. Svidler gebrauchte diesen Zug
gelegentlich als Notlösung, nachdem er in Morelia/Linares 2006 3 Partien mit
Gründfeld verloren hatte. Sein Gesamtergebnis in den geschlossenen Eröffnung
war auch nicht wirklich zufriedenstellend, doch wir dürfen annehmen, dass er
für die Weltmeisterschaft besser vorbereitet ist.} 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6
5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Bd3 {No big surprises on White's part yet.
This position formed part of Kramnik's repertoire in his chess youth, although
in more recent years he has flirted with the ultra-sharp 6.Bh4, too. Noch
keine großen Überraschungen, was Weiß angeht. Diese Stellung bildete einen
Teil von Kramniks Repertoire in seiner Schachjugend, obwohl er in den letzten
Jahren auch mit dem ultrascharfen 6.Bh4 geflirtet hat.} g6 {Of course. A
Gruenfeld specialist would take the first opportunity to develop his king's
bishop in fianchetto. Na klar. Ein Grünfeld-Spezialist würde die erste
Gelegenheit ergreifen, seinen Königsläufer zu fianchettieren.} 9. e4 dxc4 10.
e5 Qe7 11. Bxc4 Bg7 12. O-O O-O {The structure vaguely resembles a Gruenfeld,
indeed. We just have to remove the b2- and c6-pawns. However, the presence of
these pawns gives the game a rather closed character, without the possibility
of active piece play as in Svidler's favorite weapon. On the other hand, White
cannot crush his opponent by advancing his central pawns , which is a
permanent danger for Black in the Gruenfeld. Die Struktur erinnert tatsächlich
vage an einen Grünfeldinder. Wir müssen bloß die Bauern b2 und c6 entfernen.
Doch die Anwesenheit dieser Bauern verleiht der Partie, im Gegensatz zu
Svidlers Lieblingswaffe, einen ziemlich geschlossenen Charakter ohne die
Möglichkeit zu aktivem Figurenspiel. Andererseits kann Weiß seinen Gegner
nicht durch Vorrücken seiner Zentrumsbauern überrollen, was im Grünfeldinder
eine permanente Gefahr für Schwarz darstellt.} 13. Re1 ({Kramnik had had his
share of experience with this position: Kramnik hat seine Erfahrungen mit
dieser Stellung gemacht:} 13. Qe2 b6 14. Rfe1 {Kamsky,G (2645)-Kramnik,V (2710)
/Luzern 1993/CBM 038/[Ftacnik] (1-0, 36)}) 13... Rd8 ({The main alternative is
Die Hauptalternative ist} 13... b5 {, but against such a technical player as
Kramnik, Svidler must have disliked the idea of weakening the c5-square so
soon. , aber gegen einen solchen Techniker wie Kramnik missfiel Svidler
bestimmt die Idee, das Feld c5 so früh zu schwächen.}) 14. Qe2 b6 15. Rad1 {
White is the first to have completed his development, but the relatively
closed character of the centre prevents him taking immediate advantage of this
circumstance. Weiß hat seine Entwicklung als Erster abgeschlossen, aber der
relativ geschlossene Charakter des Zentrums hindert ihn daran, aus diesem
Umstand unmitelbaren Vorteil zu ziehen.} ({Anticipating a bit the next general
discussion, I would remark that Der nächsten allgemeinen Diskussion ein wenig
vorzugreifend, möchte ich anmerken, dass} 15. Ba6 {is premature because of
verfrüht ist wegen} Bxa6 16. Qxa6 c5 $1 {when after the generally desirable ,
worauf Schwarz nach dem generell wünschenswerten} 17. d5 {Black has the
unexpected, but entirely sufficient defence die unerwartete, doch völlig
ausreichende Verteidigung} Nb8 $1 {hat:} 18. Qc4 (18. Qd3 {places the queen
under just another pin, allowing similar play. zieht die Dame bloß in eine
andere Fesselung, was ähnliches Spiel erlaubt.}) 18... exd5 19. Nxd5 Qe6 {
. This is the point! The fork on c7 is impossible now. . Das ist die Pointe!
Die Gabel auf c7 ist nun unmöglich.} 20. Rad1 Nc6 $11) 15... a5 $5 {This move
is not so much dictated by ambitions of queenside expansion as by the desire
to prevent the exchange of the light-squared bishops! This might sound a bit
absurd: why would White exchange his "good" bishop for Black's "bad" bishop?
In fact, the situation is not as one-sided as it might look at first sight.
Once the black bishop emerges on b7, the permanent threat of ...c5 questions
White's stability in the centre. He would obviously need to place a minor
piece on e4, but here we discover another aspect: at least two of his minor
pieces are competing for this square: the bishop and the queen's knight! By
exchanging the light-squared bishops, White achieves better stability and can
prepare the thematic attack based on h4-h5, in order to increase his influence
on light squares. Dieser Zug wird weniger von Ambitionen auf eine
Damenflügelexpansion diktiert als vielmehr von dem Wunsch, den Tausch der
weißfeldrigen Läufer zu verhindern! Die mag ein wenig absurd klingen: Wieso
würde Weiße seinen "guten" Läufer für den "schlechten" von Schwarz tauschen?
Tatsächlich ist die Situation nicht so einseitig, wie es auf den ersten Blick
wirken mag. Wenn der schwrze Läufer erst einmal auf b7 auftaucht, stellt die
permanente Drohung ...c5 die Stabilität des Weißen im Zentrum in Frage. Er
würde offensichtlich eine Leichtfigur auf e4 platzieren müssen, doch hier
entdecken wir einen weiteren Aspekt: Mindestens zwei seiner Leichtfiguren
konkurrieren um dieses Feld, der Läufer und der Damenspringer! Durch den
Tausch der weißfeldrigen Läufer erreicht Weiß bessere Stabilität im Zentrum
und kann den thematischen Angriff basierend auf h4-h5 vorbereiten, um seinen
Einfluss auf den weißen Feldern zu vergrößern.} (15... Bb7 16. Ba6 Nb8 17. Bxb7
Qxb7 18. h4 Na6 19. Ne4 Nb4 20. a3 (20. h5 $16) 20... Nd5 21. Rd2 $14 c5 $6 22.
dxc5 bxc5 23. Nxc5 Qb6 24. Rc1 Rac8 25. Rdc2 Ne7 26. Rc4 Rd5 27. b4 $16 {
Bocharov,D (2602)-Dobrov,V (2479)/Moscow 2007/CBM 116 ext (0-1, 79)}) (15...
Rb8 {A slightly mysterious move. The ideas behind it will become clear
slightly later. Ein leicht mysteriöser Zug. Die Ideen dahinter werden etwas
später klar werden.} 16. a3 (16. Ba6 $6 {does not work now so well:
funktioniert nicht so gut:} c5 $1 17. d5 Bxa6 18. Qxa6 exd5 19. Nxd5 Qe6 {
and there is no fork on c7! und es gibt keine Gabel auf c7!}) 16... Bb7 17. Ba2
(17. Ba6 {can be answered with kann bereits mit} Ba8 {already. beantwortet
werden.}) 17... Nf8 18. h4 c5 19. d5 exd5 20. Nxd5 (20. Bxd5 $14) 20... Bxd5
21. Bxd5 b5 22. Qe4 Ne6 23. h5 g5 24. g3 $14 {Korotylev,A (2565)-Potkin,V 
(2540)/Sochi 2004/CBM 101 (1/2-1/2, 41)}) 16. Bd3 $146 {For the time being,
Kramnik decides to install the bishop on e4. Fürs Erste beschließt Kramnik,
den Läufer auf e4 zu installieren.} ({Previously, Zuvor hatte man} 16. Ne4 {
had been played. gespielt.} c5 17. dxc5 (17. Nd6 cxd4 18. Qe4 Ra7) 17... bxc5 (
17... Nxe5 $5 18. cxb6 Bb7 $44 {[%csl Gb7,Gg7]}) 18. Nd6 Nxe5 19. Nxe5 Rxd6 20.
Rxd6 Qxd6 21. Nxf7 $1 $16 {Mueller,M-Kaczynski,J/POL-ch35 sf06 corr 1991/Corr
Nr. 1 (1-0, 25)}) 16... Bb7 17. Be4 b5 18. h4 {Since there is not much to do
in the centre, White starts a typical operation on the kingside, aiming to
weaken the light squares in the neighborhood of the enemy king. Da es im
Zentrum nicht viel zu tun gibt, startet Weiß eine typische Operation am
Königsflügel mit dem Ziel, die weißen Felder in der Umgebung des feindlichen
Königs zu schwächen.} (18. Nxb5 Nxe5 $1 $11) 18... Nb6 {[%cal Yb5b4,Gc3b1]} 19.
Bb1 {White clears the e4-square for the knight in view of the threatened ...b4,
but also in order to block Black's whole queenside by preventing ...c5. The
obvious drawback of the last move is that it releases the pressure along the
e4-a8 diagonal. Weiß räumt das Feld e4 für den Springer angesichts des
drohenden ...b4, aber auch, um durch die Verhinderung ...c5 den ganzen
schwarzen Damenflügel zu blockieren. Der offensichtliche Nachteil des letzten
Zuges liegt darin, dass der Druck entlang der Diagonale e4-a8 aufgehoben wird.}
(19. Qc2 $5 b4 20. Ne2 Rac8 21. h5 g5 22. Ng3 {seems to maintain the control
for a while, although it is not clear how White can improve his position
further. scheint die Kontrolle für eine Weile zu behaupten, wenngleich nicht
klar ist, wie Weiß seine Stellung weiter verbessern kann.} (22. Nh2 $6 c5 $1))
19... c5 $5 {A brave decision. If White installs his knight on e4, it might be
simply too late for any form of counterplay. Eine tapfere Entscheidung. Wenn
Weiß seinen Springer auf e4 installiert, könnte es für jede Form von
Gegenspiel einfach zu spät sein.} 20. Nxb5 Ba6 21. h5 {Now and on the next
move, Kramnik seems to have been animated by the desire to avoid any kind of
complications. In doing so, he also reduced his chances for an advantage. Hier
und im nächsten Zug scheint Kramnik von dem Wunsch beseelt gewesen zu sein,
jegliche Art von Komplikationen zu vermeiden. Dabei minderte er aber auch
seine Chancen auf Vorteil.} (21. Bd3 $5 {was a reasonable attempt to maintain
the extra-pawn. war ein vernünftiger Versuch, den Mehrbauern zu behalten.} Nd5
{[%csl Gb5,Gd3][%cal Yd5f4]} 22. Bc4 $5 (22. g3 Nb4 23. Bc4 Bxb5 24. Bxb5 Nxa2
{is entirely acceptable for Black. ist völlig annehmbar für Schwarz.}) 22...
Nb6 23. b3 $1 {and despite Black's pair of bishops, White is not hanging in
any way. und trotz des schwarzen Läuferpaars hängt bei Weiß nichts durch.})
21... g5 22. Nh2 ({Here, too Auch hier war} 22. Bd3 {was possible. möglich.} c4
$5 (22... Nd5 $6 {is worse now because of ist nun schwächer wegen} 23. Qe4 $1)
23. Bxc4 Nxc4 24. Qxc4 g4 {. This possibility did not exist after 21.Bd3. .
Diese Möglichkeit gab es nach 21.Bd3 nicht.} 25. Nh2 Qg5 {. Black will
retrieve one of the sacrificed pawns, but it is not clear whether his pair of
bishops would offer entirely adequate compensation for the second one. White
has more space, is quite stable and has no real weaknesses. . Schwarz wird
einen der geopferten Bauern zurückgewinnen, doch es ist nicht klar, ob sein
Läuferpaar gänzlich ausreichende Kompensation für den zweiten bieten würde.
Weiß hat mehr Raum, steht recht stabil und hat keine realen Schwächen.}) 22...
Rxd4 23. Rxd4 {It looks as if Black has dangerous counterplay in the centre
and on the queenside, but the position is anything but drawish. On the other
hand, travelling from Europe to Mexico must have been quite tiring and the
opponents know each other so well since childhood, so that the abrupt end is
not completely illogical. Es sieht aus, als hätte Schwarz gefährliches
Gegenspiel im Zentrum und am Damenflügel, doch die Stellung ist alles anderes
als remislich. Andererseits war die Reise von Europa nach Mexiko bestimmt sehr
ermüdend, und die Gegner kennen sich von klein auf sehr gut, so dass das
abrupte Ende doch nicht so unlogisch ist.} (23. Rxd4 cxd4 24. Bd3 (24. Ng4 Qb4
$1 $132 25. Bd3 Nd5 {[%cal Yd5f4]} 26. g3 Rb8 {[%csl Yb2]}) 24... Nd5 25. Nxd4
(25. Nd6 $5 Bxd3 26. Qxd3 {[%cal Yh2g4]} Bxe5 27. Rxe5 Qxd6 28. Qxd4 Qb4 $1)
25... Bxd3 (25... Nf4 $2 26. Qe4 $1 {[%csl Ya8,Yh7]}) 26. Qxd3 Qb4 {[%csl Yb2,
Ye1]} 27. Qe4 (27. Re2 $2 Nf4 $19) 27... Qxb2 28. Ng4 $13 {White has strong
pressure against the enemy kingside, but he cannot build up a dangerous attack
yet, because the enemy queen is harrasing him. Maybe the position remains
equal. For instance, after Weiß hat starken Druck auf den feindlichen
Königsflügel, kann aber noch keinen gefährlichen Angriff inszenieren, da die
gegnerische Dame ihn belästigt. Vielleicht bleibt die Stellung gleich. Zum
Beispiel kann Weiß nach} Qxa2 {White can sacrifice a knight with einen
Springer opfern mit} 29. Nxe6 $1 {when after , worauf er nach} fxe6 {he has
several ways of achieving a perpetual. diverse Möglichkeiten hat, ein
Dauerschach zuerzielen.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Tournament"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[Date "2007.09.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2007.09.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "MEX"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 120"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {When Kramnik played this move in the previous round, I thought he
might have just wanted to avoid Svidler's Grünfeld. Now, it seems that he
really switched back to the favourite weapon of his youth. Als Kramnik in der
vorigen Runde diesen Zug spielt, dachte ich, dass er damit vielleicht nur
Svidlers Grünfeld vermeiden wollte. Nun scheint es, als sei er wirklich zur
Lieblingswaffe seiner Jugend zurückgekehrt. Cuando Kramnik efectuó esta jugada
en su partida anterior, pensé que tal vez se tratara de evitar la Defensa
Grünfeld de Svidler. Ahora, parece mas como que el Campeón mundial haya
desterrado el arma predilecta de su juventud.} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. d4 {
However, the Catalan is a relatively recent "discovery" of Kramnik and his
results with it have been excellent. Apparently, the subtle combination of
tactical and strategic motifs suits his talent quite well. This game is an
excellent illustration. Katalanisch ist allerdings eine relativ neue
"Entdeckung" von Kramnik, und seine Ergebnisse damit waren ausgezeichnet. Die
subtile Kombination taktischer und strategischer Motive kommt seinem Talent
offenbar sehr entgegen. Diese Partie ist dafür ein Paradebeispiel. Sin embargo,
la Catalana es un "descubrimiento" relativamente reciente de Kramnik y sus
resultados con ella han sido excelentes. Aparentemente, la sútil combinación
de motivos tácticos y estratégicos se adaptan muy bien a su gran talento. Esta
partida es un ejemplo perfecto.} dxc4 5. Bg2 a6 6. Ne5 ({The more ambitious
continuation is supposed to be Als ehrgeiziger gilt die Fortsetzung La jugada
supuestamente mas ambiciosa es} 6. O-O {. The text move is considered to offer
Black an equal game after 6...c5, but both Morozevich and Kramnik seem to have
a different opinion... . Der Textzug soll Schwarz angeblich nach 6...c5
gleiches Spiel bieten, aber sowohl Morozevich als auch Kramnik scheinen dies
anders zu sehen... Se considera que la jugada del texto ofrece a las negras
posibilidades de igualar con 6...c5, pero tanto Kramnik como Morozevich
parecen tener una opinión distinta...}) 6... Bb4+ 7. Nc3 Nd5 {Morozevich aims
to put his mighty opponent under direct pressure from an early stage of the
game. This policy will soon turn against himself as a boomerang. Morozevich
will seinen mächtigen Gegner von der Frühphase an unter direkten Druck setzen.
Diese Politik wird sich bald als Bumerang erweisen. Morozevich intenta someter
a su potente rival bajo presión directa desde un estado temprano de la partida.
Esta politica se volverá contra él mismo como un bumerán.} 8. O-O $5 {A
novelty. White simply ignores Black's apparently strong threat and continues
his development. The move is simple and logical, but its consequences are not
easy to evaluate. This often happens in the sharp lines of the Catalan: you
know exactly what you have to do, but cannot always trust your judgement,
because of the irrational character of the position. Eine Neuerung. Weiß
ignoriert die scheinbar starke schwarze Drohung einfach und setzt seine
Entwicklung fort. Der Zug ist einfach und logisch, aber seine Konsequenzen
sind nicht leicht zu bewerten. So ist es oft in den scharfen
Katalanisch-Abspielen: man weiß genau, was man tun muss, aber aufgrund des
irrationalen Charakters der Stellung kann man seinem Urteil nicht immer trauen.
Una novedad. Las blancas ignoran la amenaza aparentemente fuerte de las negras
y continúa su desarrollo. La jugada es simple y lógica, pero las consecuencías
finales no son fáciles de evaluar. Esto ocurre a menudo en las variantes
agudas de la Catalana: uno sabe con exactitud lo que debe hacer, pero no
siempre puede confíar en su juicio por el carácter ircional de la posición.} ({
Previously, White answered almost invariably with Bisher antwortete Weiß
praktisch ausnahmslos mit} 8. Bd2 {. This is not a bad move, since it
consolidates White's centre, leaving him with adequate compensation. The major
difference of Bd2 is that it obstructs his own queen and spends a valuable
tempo, thus restricting White's dynamic possibilities. Here are some of the
most recent examples: . Dies ist kein schlechter Zug, denn er konsolidiert das
Zentrum von Weiß und überlässt ihm ausreichende Kompensation. Der wesentliche
Unterschied nach Bd2 ist, dass der Zug die Dame verstellt und ein kostbares
Tempo aufwendet, wodurch die dynamischen Möglichkeiten von Weiß einschränkt
werden. Hier ein paar der aktuellsten Beispiele:} b5 (8... Bxc3 $6 {is
slightly premature, because after ist leicht verfrüht, den nach} 9. bxc3 b5 {
it offers White some additional possibilities, such as bietet dies Weiß ein
paar zusätzliche Möglichkeiten wie} 10. a4 Bb7 11. e4 Nf6 12. Bg5 Nbd7 13. Qb1
O-O 14. Nxc4 $14 {Georgiev,K (2661)-Ramesh,R (2483)/Gibraltar 2007/CBM 116 ext
(1-0, 31)}) 9. O-O ({Now, Nun ist} 9. a4 {is less efficient because of weniger
wirksam wegen} Bb7 10. e4 Nf6 {[%csl Rd4,Re4] and the bishop is stable on b4,
while the central pawns are hanging. und der Läufer steht auf b4 stabil,
während die Zentralbauern hängen.}) 9... Bxc3 10. bxc3 O-O 11. e4 (11. a4 f6
12. Ng4 Bb7 13. e4 Nb6 14. Qb1 $6 {Ivanisevic,I (2614)-Pavasovic,D (2567)/
Valjevo 2007/CBM 119 (1-0, 71)} f5 $1 $132 {Black has good chances of
establishing a blockade on the light squares. Schwarz hat gute Chancen, eine
Blockade auf den weißen Feldern zu errichten.}) 11... Nb6 12. f4 {White's
massive centre looks impressive, but Black has no weaknesses. If he manages to
neutralize the kingside pressure, his extra-pawn would gradually make itself
felt. Das massive weiße Zentrum wirkt imposant, doch Schwarz hat keine
Schwächen. Wenn es ihm gelingt, den Druck am Königsflügel zu neutralisieren,
würde sich sein Mehrbauer allmählich bemerkbar machen.} Bb7 13. f5 exf5 14.
Rxf5 N8d7 15. Ng4 Qe7 16. Qc2 Rae8 17. Re1 f6 $15 {Nogueiras,J (2554)-Ivanchuk,
V (2741)/Havana 2006/CBM 116 (0-1, 42). Black has regrouped in optimal way and
can wait further events with optimism. Schwarz hat sich optimal umgruppiert
und kann optimistisch in die Zukunft blicken.}) ({The attempt to transpose to
the game without sacrificing additional pawns, by playing Der Versuch, ohne
das Opfer weiterer Bauern zur Partie überzuleiten, und zwar mit dem sofortigen
} 8. Qc2 {immediately fails to , scheitert an} Nxc3 9. bxc3 Qxd4 $1 {White can
get some compensation for the pawn(s) with Weiß kann einige Kompensation für
den (die) Bauern erlangen mit} 10. Qa4+ Nd7 11. Qxb4 Qxe5 {, but Black's
position is relatively safe. , aber die schwarze Stellung ist relativ sicher.})
8... O-O ({This looks like some sort of concession, after which Black's
ambitious play in the previous phase of the game loses part of its meaning.
Morozevich might have feared Kramnik's famously deep home preparation, but I
must say that at first sight it is not easy to see the danger for Black after
Dies wirkt wie eine Art Zugeständnis, wonach das ehrgeizige Spiel von Schwarz
in der vorangegangenen Phase einen Teil seiner Bedeutung einbüßt. Morozevich
mag Kramniks berühmt tiefe Heimvorbereitung gefürchtet haben, aber ich muss
sagen, dass es auf den ersten Blick nicht leicht ist, die Gefahr für den
Nachziehenden nach Esta parece como una especíe de concesión, después de la
cual todo el juego anterior de las negras resulta menos lógico. Morozevich
puede que haya temido la famosamente profunda preparación casera de Kramnik,
pero hay que decir que no es fácil ver los peligros inmediatos para las negras
después de} 8... Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bxc3 {. Obviously, he is strongly underdeveloped,
but for the time being he is two pawns up. Let us look at the position more
concretely: zu erkennen. Offensichtlich ist er stark unterentwickelt, aber im
Moment hat er zwei Bauer mehr. Betrachten wir die Stellung konkreter: .
Evidentemente, las negras se encuantran sin desarrollar, pero de momento
tienen dos peones de ventaja.} 10. Rb1 {This simple move is the best. White
evacuates the rook from the attacked square, occupying the important b-file.
Dieser einfach zu ist am besten. Weiß evakuiert den Turm von dem angegriffenen
Feld und besetzt die offene b-Linie.} ({The thematic Das thematische} 10. Ba3 {
does not work here too well. The most effective answer is funktioniert hier
nicht so gut. Die wirksamste Antwort ist} Qxd4 {, when White cannot avoid the
exchange of queens. , wonach Weiß den Damentausch nicht vermeiden kann.}) (10.
Qa4+ {is also insufficient in view of reicht ebenfalls nicht wegen} b5 11. Qa3
b4 12. Qa4+ Bd7) 10... Bxd4 (10... Qxd4 11. Qa4+ b5 (11... Nd7 $16 12. Bf4 {
[%cal Yf1d1]}) (11... Bd7 12. Nxd7 Qxd7 13. Qxc4 $16 {[%csl Gb7]}) (11... c6
12. Nxc6 $1 $16) 12. Qa3 Qxe5 13. Bf4 {followed by either Bxa8 or Bxc7. White
retrieves most of his material investment. Black's pawns look threatening, but
his king still needs to get castled and in the meanwhile the pawns could
become vulnerable. gefolgt von entweder Bxa8 oder Bxc7. Weiß bekommt einen
Großteil seiner Materialinvestition zurück. Die Bauern von Schwarz wirken
bedrohlich, doch sein König muss erst noch zur Rochade kommen, und in der
Zwischenzeit könnten die Bauern anfällig werden.}) 11. Nxc4 O-O 12. Ba3 Re8 13.
Na5 (13. e3 Bf6 14. Qc2 Be7 15. Rfd1 Nd7 {allows Black to defend. He might
have to give both pawns back, but this would lead to plain equality. erlaubt
Schwarz, sich zu Verteidigung. Er muss unter Umständen beide Bauern
zurückgeben, doch dies würde zu glattem Ausgleich führen.}) (13. Qc2 Qg5) 13...
Ra7 (13... Bb6 14. Nxb7 Bxb7 15. Bxb7 Ra7 16. Bf3 Qxd1 17. Rfxd1 {Black is
under serious pressure. He has no easy way to complete his development. For
instance, Schwarz steht unter ersten Druck. Er hat keine einfache Möglichkeit,
seine Entwicklung abzuschließen. Zum Beispiel ist} a5 {is too slow: zu langsam:
} 18. Rb3 Na6 19. Bc6 Rb8 20. Rbd3 $16 {followed by the invasion of the back
rank. , gefolgt von der Invastion auf der Grundreihe.}) 14. Nxb7 Bxb7 15. Bxb7
c5 16. e3 Qa5 17. exd4 Qxa3 {Black maintains his extra-pawn and hopes to
simplify the position. However, his coordination is very poor, which allows
White obtain a clear advantage with a series of precise moves. Schwarz
behauptet seinen Mehrbauern und hofft, die Stellung zu vereinfachen. Doch
seine Koordination ist sehr mangelhaft, was Weiß erlaubt, mit einer Serie
präziser Züge einen klaren Vorteil zu erzielen.} 18. Qd2 $3 {Just completing
the development by connecting rooks. Vollendet einfach die Entwicklung, indem
die Türme verbunden werden.} c4 (18... Rd8 $2 19. Qg5 $1 Rxd4 20. Bd5 $3 $18 {
An interference combined with clearance of a file and the weakness of the back
rank. Ein Störzug kombiniert mit einer Linienräumung und der
Grundreihenschwäche.}) (18... a5 $2 19. Rb3 Qa4 20. dxc5 $16) (18... cxd4 $2
19. Qxd4 $18 {[%csl Ya7]}) 19. Rfc1 Qd3 20. Qb4 $16 {White is much better
mobilized and will re-establish the material equality on the next move. Weiß
ist deutlich besser mobilisiert und wird im nächsten Zug das materielle
Gleichgewicht wiederherstellen.} Qxd4 $2 {is impossible because of ist
unmöglich wegen} 21. Rxc4 {, when Black's queen cannot prevent the invasion of
the white queen to b6 anymore. , wonach die schwarze Dame das Eindringen der
weißen Dame auf auf b6 nicht mehr verhindern kann.}) 9. Qc2 b5 10. Nxd5 exd5 {
The first optical sensation is that a massive migration of Black's pieces from
the kingside to the opposite wing has taken place. Paradoxically, White will
not try to attack the slightly vulnerable king's position, but will hit
precisely on the side where Black has such an apparently strong group of
forces. This is enabled by the fact that all the queenside pieces are
undeveloped yet, while the b4-bishop is vulnerable. Der erste optische
Eindruck ist, dass eine massive Wanderung der schwarzen Figuren vom Königs-
zum Damenflügel stattgefunde hat. Paradoxerweise wird Weiß nicht versuchen,
die etwas anfällige Königsstellung anzugreifen, sondern genau auf der Seite
zuschlagen, wo Schwarz eine scheinbar so starke Gruppe an Kräften hat. Dies
wird ermöglicht durch die Tatsache, dass sämtliche Damenflügelfiguren noch
unentwickelt sind, während der b4-Läufer anfällig ist. La primera sensación
óptica es que se haya producido una migración masiva de las figuras negras del
flanco de rey al otro extremo del tablero. Paradojicamente, las blancas no
intentarán atacar la algo vulnerable posición del rey, sino van a golpear
precisamente en la zona donde las negras tienen una agrupación aparentemente
muy fuerte de fuerzas. Esta posibilidad es habilitada por la completa falta de
desarrollo del flanco de dama negro.} 11. b3 c6 (11... cxb3 $2 12. Qxb3 $16 {
[%csl Yb4,Yd5]}) 12. e4 {Three of Black's pawns are under serious pressure now.
Morozevich puts more wood into the fire with Nunmehr stehen drei schwarze
Bauern unter ernstem Druck. Morozevich gießt noch mehr Öl ins Feuer mit Tres
de los peones negros se encuantran bajo fuerte presión. Con su jugada
siguíente, Morozevich echa más madera al fuego.} (12. bxc4 {has been
recommended, but from general point of view it is better not to hurry with the
release of the tension. wurde empfohlen, doch generell sollte man sich mit der
Aufhebung der Spannung besser nicht beeilen.} dxc4 $5 $13 {Black gets the
d5-pawn out of the range of White's pieces. Schwarz bringt den d5-Bauern außer
Reichweite der weißen Figuren.} ({White's idea is justified after Die Idee von
Weiß rechtfertigt sich nach} 12... bxc4 13. e4 $44 f6 $2 14. Nxc4 $1 $16) 13.
Nxc6 {does not yield White anything concrete, because Black can complete his
development with bringt Weiß nichts Konkretes ein, weil Schwarz seine
Entwicklung abschließen kann mit} Nxc6 14. Bxc6 Bh3 15. Rd1 Rc8 $13 {with a
sharp position, in which it is not entirely clear whose pawns are more
dangerous. , mit scharfer Stellung, in der nicht ganz klar ist, wessen Bauern
gefährlicher sind.}) 12... f6 $6 {It is far too dangerous to create new
weaknesses with such a poor development. The material gains will not
compensate for the general drawbacks of the position. Black should have aimed
to continue his development somehow. Bei derart schlechter Entwicklung ist es
viel zu gefährlich, neue Schwächen zu schaffen. Die materiellen
Errungenschafen werden die allgemeinen Defizite der Stellung nicht
kompensieren. Schwarz hätte versuchen sollen, irgendwie seine Entwicklung
abzuschließen.} (12... Be6 13. bxc4 bxc4 (13... dxc4 14. d5 $1) 14. Rb1 a5 15.
a3 Be7 (15... Bd6 {[%csl Yd4][%cal Rd8d4]} 16. exd5 Bxd5 17. Nxc4) 16. Rxb8
Qxb8 17. Nxc6 Qd6 18. exd5 Bd7 19. Qxc4 $14) (12... Ra7 $5 13. bxc4 {Now, I
cannot find anything better than this. Nun kann ich nichts Besseres finden als
diesen Zug.} (13. exd5 cxd5 14. a4 $6 f6 15. axb5 $2 fxe5 16. bxc4 Rc7 {
reveals one of the points behind the slightly mysterious rook lift. enthüllt
eine der Pointen hinter dem leicht mysteriösen Turmschwenk.}) 13... dxc4 (13...
bxc4 $6 14. Rb1 Rb7 15. exd5 cxd5 16. Nxc4 $14) 14. Be3 Re7 15. Rfd1 Bd6 16. a4
$44 {The evaluation is similar to that from the game Nogueiras - Ivanchuk,
quoted above. White has good compensation for the pawn, but no clear plan for
improving his position. Therefore, I suspect that Kramnik had some other idea
in mind after 12...Ra7, but for the moment I cannot guess it. We will have to
wait until his next game with this variation or maybe ask him personally. Die
Einschätzung verläuft ähnlich der oben zitierten Partie Nogueiras - Ivanchuk.
Weiß gute Kompensation für den Bauern, aber keinen klaren Plan, wie er seine
Stellung verbessern kann. Daher vermute ich, dass Kramnik nach 12...Ra7
irgendeine andere Idee vorschwebte, aber im Moment kann ich nicht erraten
welche. Wir werden bis zu seiner nächsten Partie warten müssen oder sollten
ihn vielleicht persönlich fragen.}) 13. exd5 $3 {Further analysis might prove
that the objective merits of this move are debatable, although I very much
doubt it. (Refer to the final part of the comment after 8.0-0). However, for
the time being, I will limit myself to saying that the enthusiastic evaluation
refers to White's courage, in the best spirit of the good old romantic times.
From a practical point of view, Black's position is very difficult to play.
Weitere Analysen könnten beweisen, dass der objektive Wert dieses Zuges
strittig ist, wenngleich ich es sehr bezweifle. (Man vergleiche den letzten
Teil des Kommentars nach 8.0-0). Für den Augenblick aber möchte ich mich auf
die Aussage beschränken, dass sich die enthusiastische Bewertung auf den Mut
von Weiß bezieht, ganz im Geist der guten, alten romantischen Zeiten. Aus
praktischer Sicht ist die Stellung von Schwarz sehr schwer zu spielen. Es
posible que los análisis ulteriores demuestren que los méritos objetivos de
esta jugada son cuestionables, aunque mucho lo dudo. (Tengan en cuenta la
parte final del comentarío después de 8.0-0). Sin embargo, en este momento me
limito a decir que la evaluación entusiastica se refiere en primer lugar al
coraje de las blancasn, en el mejor espiritu de los viejos tiempos románticos.
Desde el punto de vista práctico, la psoición de las negras es bastante
difícil de jugar.} fxe5 14. bxc4 {It is not easy to understand what is
happening on the board after these 3 consecutive pawn captures. Black has won
a piece for a pawn, but is strongly underdeveloped and has to avoid dxe5
somehow. Es ist nicht leicht zu begreifen, was nach diesen 3 Bauernschlagzügen
in Folge auf dem Brett vor sich geht. Schwarz hat eine Figur für einen Bauern
gewonnen, ist aber stark unterentwickelt und muss irgendwie dxe5 verhindern.
No es fácil comprender lo que pasa en el tablero después de estas 3 capturas
consecutivas con peones. Las negras han ganado figura por peón, pero siguen
sin desarrollar y tienen que evitar dxe5 de alguna forma.} exd4 {Four. Vier.
Cuatro.} 15. dxc6 {Five. Fünf. Cinco.} Be6 {Morozevich finally starts
developing his queenside. The books recommend to develop knights and only then
bishops, but how to accomplish that in this position? Endlich beginnt
Morozevich, seinen Damenflügel zu entwickeln. Die Bücher empfehlen, erst die
Springer herauszubringen und erst dann die Läufer, aber wie soll man das in
dieser Stellung bewerkstelligen? Finalmente, Morozevich empieza a desarrollar
el flanco de dama. Los libros recomiendan sacar antes los caballos y solo
después los alfiles, pero ¿como llevar esto a cabo en la posición dada?} 16.
cxb5 $1 {Kramnik is not interested in winning the undeveloped a8-rook. He just
carries out his "plan". The immediate threat is c7; in the meanwhile, White
has created two connected pawns. Kramnik hat kein Interesse, den unentwickelt
a8-Turm zu gewinnen. Er führt einfach seinen "Plan" aus. Die unmittelbare
Drohung lautet c7; in der zwischenzeit hat Weiß zwei verbundene Bauern
gebildet. Kramnik no está interesado en ganar la torre no desarrollada. Él
continúa con su plan. La amenaza inmediata es c7; mientras tanto, las blancas
han creado dos peones pasados conectados.} d3 ({One of the computer's
recommendations is Eine der Computerempfehlungen lautet} 16... Ra7 {. White
has a relatively simple solution in . Weiß hat eine relativ einfache Lösung in}
17. Rb1 Ba5 18. a4 axb5 19. axb5 {when Black will play the rest of the game
without his knight, which is safely caged. , wonach Schwarz den Rest der
Partie ohne seinen Springer spielen wird, der sicher im Käfig sitzt.} d3 {
leads nowhere after führt zu nichts nach} 20. Qc5 Bb6 21. Qe5 $16) ({A similar
situation arises after Eine ähnliche Situation entsteht nach} 16... Bc3 17. Bb2
Ra7 18. Bxc3 dxc3 19. a4 {. Black's counterplay initiated by . Das von Schwarz
durch} Qb6 {is not sufficient because of eingeleitete Gegenspiel reicht nicht
aus wegen} 20. Qe4 Re7 21. Qe3 {, removing the pressure against the pawns and
unblocking them, with a clear advantage. was den Druck gegen die Bauern
abschüttelt und ihre Blockade aufhebt, mit klarem Vorteil.}) 17. c7 $6 {
Noblesse oblige. Kramnik feels like answering Morozevich's aggression with the
same method. However, this move might be premature, because of some hidden
tactical nuances, which are far from easy to grasp over the board. Noblesse
oblige. Kramnik meint, Morozevichs Aggression mit gleicher Münze heimzahlen zu
müssen. Doch dieser Zug könnte voreilig sein aufgrund einiger versteckter
taktischer Nuancen, die am Brett bei weitem nicht leicht zu erfassen sind.} (
17. Qa4 $5 {might have been better. wäre vielleicht besser gewesen.} d2 (17...
Qa5 18. Qxa5 Bxa5 19. a4 $14 {[%csl Gb8]}) 18. c7 Qd6 {It is curious that this
is the only relatively good square. Es ist kurios, dass dies das einzige
relativ gute Feld ist.} ({The difference can be seen after Der Unterschied ist
zu sehen nach} 18... Qe7 19. Bxa8 axb5 20. Qxb5 Nd7 {when the queen does not
attack the c7-pawn any more, allowing simple winning moves such as , wonach
die Dame nicht mehr den Bauern c7 attackiert, was einfache Gewinnzüge erlaubt
wie} 21. Bb7 {or, more sophisticated, 21.Bd5, when the c7-pawn is likely to
decide the outcome of the battle. oder das anspruchsvollere 21.Bd5, worauf der
c7-Bauer den Ausgang der Schlacht wahrscheinlich entscheiden wird.}) 19. Bxd2
$1 {and we transpose to the line 17...Qd6! 18.Qa4 d2?! below. und wir haben
einen Übergang zum Abspiel 17...Qd6! 18.Qa4 d2?! unten.}) 17... Qd4 $2 {
One general rule recommends placing queens in the centre of the board. It
mainly refers to positions with just queens and rooks on the board. Here, the
queen is just too exposed on d4, allowing White to obtain a decisive advantage
in at least two different ways. Eine Faustregel empfiehlt, die Damen in der
Mitte des Bretts zu postieren. Dies bezieht sich hauptsächlich auf Stellungen
mit lediglich Damen und Türmen auf dem Brett. Hier steht die Dame einfach zu
exponiert auf d4, was Weiß ermöglicht, auf mindestens zwei verschiedene Weisen
entscheidenden Vorteil zu erlangen.} ({The other counterattacking move Der
Gegenangriff} 17... Qf6 $2 {fails to scheitert an} 18. Qxd3 Qxa1 19. Qe4 $1 $18
{White is in no hurry to capture any of the undeveloped attacked pieces.
Instead, he attacks both bishops. After winning one of them, he will fulfil
the queenside formalities, too. Weiß hat es nicht eilig, irgendeine der
unentwickelten angegriffenen Figuren einzusammeln. Stattdessen attackiert er
beide Läufer. Nachdem er einen davon gewonnen hat, wird er auch die
Formalitäten am Damenflügel erledigen.}) ({Sergey Shipov recommended Sergey
Shipov empfahl} 17... dxc2 18. cxd8=Q Rxd8 19. Bxa8 axb5 {but , aber} 20. Bg5 {
maintains White's advantage. behauptet den weißen Vorteil.} ({He only
mentiones Er erwähnt nur} 20. Be4 Rc8 21. Bf4 Ba3 22. Bxb8 c1=Q 23. Rfxc1 Rxc1+
24. Rxc1 Bxc1 25. Bb1 {, evaluating that Black has good saving chances. Indeed,
if we continue the variations by just a few more moves, we can see that this
is true: mit der Einschätzung, dass Schwarz gute Rettungschancen hat.
Tatsächlich, wenn wir die Vairanten nur ein paar Züge fortsetzen, können wir
sehen, dass dies stimmt:} b4 26. Bd6 Ba3 $1 {followed by ...b3! when White has
no winning chances with pawns on just one wing. nebst ...b3!, wonach Weiß bei
Bauern an nur einem Flügel keine Gewinnchancen hat.}) 20... Rc8 21. a4 $1 $16)
(17... Qd6 $1 {looks like the only reasonable way to keep the position
together.} 18. Qa4 (18. Qb2 {can also be answered by kann ebenfalls mit} Nd7 {
beantwortet werden}) 18... Nd7 $1 (18... d2 $6 19. Bxd2 Bxd2 20. Bxa8 Qxc7 21.
bxa6 Qa7 22. Bb7 {with rook and three pawns for two minor pieces, White is
clearly better, especially since the a6-pawn is so advanced. mit Turm und drei
Bauern für zwei Leichtfiguren; Weiß steht klar besser, zumal der a6-Bauer so
weit vorgerückt ist.} Bh3 23. Qa3 $1 {[%csl Yf8]} Nd7 24. Bg2 {Now that the
a6-pawn is not attacked anymore, this is even better than one move before,
where it would have sufficed for some minimal advantage. Nun, wo der a6-Bauer
nicht mehr unter Beschuss steht, ist dies sogar noch besser als einen Zug
zuvor, wo es nur zu einem minimalen Vorteil gereicht hätte.} Bxg2 25. Kxg2 {
and Black cannot generate adequate counterplay against the enemy king, for
instance und Schwarz kann kein ausreichendes Gegenspiel gegen den feindlichen
König aufziehen, zum Beispiel} Ne5 $6 {[%csl Yf3][%cal Ra7a8]} 26. Qb3+ Kh8 27.
Qb7 $16) 19. Bxa8 Rxa8 20. Qxa6 (20. Bf4 Qd5 $1 {transposes to Morozevich's
missed opportunity, see below. leitet über zu Morozevichs verpasster
Gelegenheit, siehe unten.}) 20... Qxa6 21. bxa6 $44 {and White has some
compensation for the sacrificed material, but probably not more than that. und
Weiß hat etwas Kompensation für das geopferte Material, aber vermutlich nicht
mehr.}) 18. Qa4 ({The developing move Der Entwicklungszug} 18. Be3 {was also
strong. war ebenfalls stark.} Qxa1 $5 {What else? Was sonst?} 19. c8=Q Rxc8 20.
Qxc8+ Bxc8 21. Rxa1 Nc6 22. Bxc6 Rb8 23. Rd1 ({Better than the immediate
Besser als das sofortige} 23. Ba7 $6 {which allows Black get some chances with
, was Schwarz noch einige Chancen einräumt mit} Rxb5 $1 {, relying on his
d3-pawn. , wobei er sich auf seinen Bauern d3 verlässt.}) 23... axb5 (23... Bf5
24. bxa6 $18) 24. Ba7 $1 $18) 18... Nd7 19. Be3 Qd6 20. Bxa8 Rxa8 {White has
recovered his material investment with some interest and preserves his passed
pawns. Still, the position remains complicated and certain accuracy is still
required. Weiß hat seine Materialinvestition mit einigen Zinsen zurückbekommen
und behält seine Freibauern. Dennoch, die Stellung bleibt kompliziert, und
eine gewisse Genauigkeit ist nach wie vor erforderlich. Las blancas han
recuperado su inversión de material con algo de creces, manteniendo sus peones
pasados. Sin embargo, la posición quedamuy aguda y se necesita cierta
precisión todavía.} 21. Bf4 $2 ({Kramnik could have crowned his logical play
by just completing the mobilisation of his forces with Kramnik hätte sein
logisches Spiel krönen können, indem er einfach die Mobilisierung seiner
Kräfte abschließt, also Kramnik podía haber coronado su juego lógico anterior
completando la movilisación de sus fuerzas con} 21. Rac1 $1 {which
"incidentally" threatens to promote the pawn. After was "nebenbei" droht, den
Bauern umzuwandeln. Nach que, de paso, amenaza coronar el peón. Después de} Rc8
22. Rc6 {followed by Rxe6, White obtains a decisive material advantage. nebst
Txe6 erlangt Weiß entscheidenden Materialvorteil. seguído por Txe6, las
blancas obtendrían ventaja material decisivo.}) 21... Qf8 $2 ({Kindly
returning the favour. Black misses his chance to change the course of the game
with Gibt das Kompliment freundlich zurück. Schwarz verpasst die Chance, den
Partieverlauf zu ändern, und zwar mit Amablemente devolviendo el favor. Las
negras dejan escapar su posibilidad de cambíar el curso del juego con} 21...
Qd5 $3 $36 {, when , wonach , cuando} 22. Qxb4 $2 {is impossible because of
unmöglich ist wegen es imposible por} Qf3 $19 {, with the decisive threats ..
Bd5 or ...Bh3. mit den entscheidenden Drohungen ...Ld5 oder ...Lh3. , con las
amenazas decisivas ...Ad5 o ...Ah3.}) 22. b6 $1 {Now it's all over. These
pawns cannot be stopped. 22...Nxb6 drops a piece to 23.Qc6, while Morozevich's
desperate (but delayed!) counterplay cannot change anything. Jetzt ist alles
vorbei. Diese Bauern sind nicht aufzuhalten. 22...Nxb6 verliert eine Figur
wegen 23.Qc6, uind auch Morozevichs verzweifeltes (aber verspätetes!)
Gegenspiel kann nichts ändern. Ahora todo se ha acabado. Estos peones no
pueden ser parados. 22...Nxb6 perdería una figura por 23.Qc6, mientras que el
contraataque desesperado (¡pero retrasado!) de Morozevich no podrá cambiar
nada.} Ne5 23. Bxe5 Qf3 24. Qd1 Qe4 25. b7 Rf8 26. c8=Q Bd5 27. f3 {Generally
speaking, a wonderful game by the World Champion, although the position was so
complicated that at least on one occasion he did not play the strongest move.
Unterm Strich eine wundervolle Partie des Weltmeisters, wenngleich die
Stellung so kompliziert war, dass er zumindest an einer Stelle nicht den
stärksten Zug spielte.} 1-0

[Event "World-ch Tournament"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[Date "2007.09.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "2007.09.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "MEX"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 120"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8 14. cxd5 Qxd5
15. Bf4 Rac8 16. Qa4 {A rare continuation, aiming to take Kramnik "out of the
book". Eine seltene Fortsetzung, die Kramnik "aus dem Buch" werfen soll. Una
jugada poco frecuente, cuyo probable propósito es de sacar a Kramnik del
"libro de aperturas".} Bd7 {This is the most normal reaction, aiming to
question the stability of the enemy queen on the right wing. Dies ist die
normalste Fortsetzung, mit der die Stabilität der feindlichen Dame auf dem
rechten Flügel in Frage gestellt werden soll.} ({However, Allerdings ist auch} 
16... Bd6 {is also possible. möglich:} 17. Bc4 (17. Be3 {[%csl Gd6][%cal Yc3c4]
} Qa5 18. Qb3 Qb6 $11) (17. c4 Qa5 18. Qxa5 Nxa5 19. Bxd6 cxd6 $132 {[%csl Yc4]
}) 17... Qa5 18. Rxe8+ Rxe8 19. Qb3 Bg6 20. Bxd6 cxd6 21. Bd5 Qc7 {Kryvoruchko,
Y (2581)-Frolyanov,D (2498)/Yerevan 2006/CBM 114 ext (1/2-1/2, 53). As so many
times in this opening, the position is only optically better for White. Black
had no special problems maintaining the equilibrium. Wie so oft in dieser
Eröffnung ist die Stellung nur optisch besser für Weiß. Schwarz hatte keine
sonderlichen Problemen, das Gleichgewicht zu halten.}) 17. Qc2 ({This seems to
be a new move. Dies scheint ein neuer Zug zu sein. Esta jugada parece ser
nueva.} 17. Rab1 {was played a couple of times. wurde einige Male gespielt.
fue jugada un par de veces anteriores.} Bf6 (17... Qf5 18. Bg3 Bf8 19. Rb5 Qf6
20. Rxb7 Nd8 21. Qxd7 Nxb7 22. Be5 Qd8 23. Qg4 Nd6 24. h4 Rb8 25. c4 f6 26. c5
fxe5 27. cxd6 cxd6 28. dxe5 Be7 29. Bd3 Rf8 30. Qh5 g6 31. Bxg6 hxg6 32. Qxg6+
Kh8 33. Re4 Rxf3 34. Qh6+ Kg8 35. Rg4+ {1-0 Shirov,A (2723)-Gelfand,B (2700)/
Monte Carlo 2003/CBM 093 ext}) 18. Qd1 b6 19. Ba6 (19. Ne5 {[%cal Yd1d7,Ge2f3]}
Bxe5 20. dxe5 Ne7 {White has more space and the pair of bishops, but Black has
the more compact structure and acceptable stability on the light squares. Weiß
hat mehr Raum und das Läuferpaar, Schwarz dafür die kompaktere Struktur sowie
annehmbare Stabilität auf den weißen Feldern.}) 19... Rxe1+ 20. Qxe1 Re8 21.
Qf1 Bd8 22. Bb5 $6 ({The exchange of the light-squared bishops is part of
Black's plan, because it weakens the c4-square. This detail makes this move
questionable. Der Tausch des weißfeldrigen Läuers ist Bestandteil des
schwarzen Plans, weil dies das Feld c4 schwächt. Dieses Detail macht diesen
Zug fragwürdig.} 22. Bd3 $1) 22... Na5 23. c4 (23. Bd3 {[%cal Yc3c4] also
fails to maintain the pressure, because of} Bf5 $1) 23... Bxb5 $1 $11 {Palac,M
(2571)-Nikcevic,N (2448)/Cannes 2007/CBM 116 ext (1/2-1/2, 26)}) 17... Qf5 18.
Qxf5 {The exchange of queens solves Black's problems of coordination. Der
Tausch der Damen löst die schwarzen Probleme mit der Koordination.} (18. Qd2 {
might be a better try, when Black should probably play könnte ein besserer
Versuch sein, wonach Schwarz wahrscheinlich} Bd6 {, aiming to simplify the
position anyway. spielten sollte mit der Absicht, die Stellung trotzdem zu
vereinfachen.}) 18... Bxf5 19. Bb5 {This move has the same drawback as in the
game Palac-Nikcevic: it is likely to lead to the exchange of the light-squared
bishops, making Black's defence easier. Dieser Zug hat denselben Nachteil wie
in der Partie Palac-Nikcevic: Er wird wahrscheinlich zum Abtausch der
weißfeldrigen Läufer führen, was die schwarze Verteidigung erleichtert.} ({
However, after the immediate Doch auch nach dem sofortigen} 19. d5 Na5 20. Nd4
Bd7 {White has no easy way to make further progress either. fällt es Weiß
nicht leicht, weitere Fortschritte zu erzielen.}) 19... Bd7 20. d5 Ne5 $1 21.
Bxd7 Nxd7 {Anand's experiment did not work out too well. Kramnik played
relatively quickly and obtained an entirely satisfactory position. White's
centre could become more of a weakness if Black is allowed to install his
minor pieces on c5 and d6. Anands Experiment hat nicht sonderlich gut
eingeschlagen. Kramnik spielte relativ schnell und erhielt eine völlig
befriedigende Stellung. Wenn es Schwarz erlaubt wird, seine Leichtfiguren auf
c5 und d6 zu platzieren, könnte das weiße Zentrum eher zu einer Schwäche
werden. El experimento de Anand no funcionó muy bien. Kramnik jugó
relativamente rápido y obtuvo una posición enteramente satisfactoría. El
centro de peones de las blancas puede volverse débil sí las negras
conseguírían instalar sus piezas menores en c5 y d6.} 22. Bxc7 $5 {White tries
to maintain his initiative, but further simplifications will make the position
slightly dangerous for him. Weiß versucht, seine Initiative zu behaupten, aber
weitere Vereinfachungen werden die Stellung leicht gefährlich für ihn machen.
Las blancas intentan mantener la iniciativa, pero las simplificaciones
adicionales harán que la posición se vuelva ligeramente peligrosa para ellas.}
Rxc7 23. d6 Rxc3 24. dxe7 ({Anand probably discarded Anand verwarf} 24. Rxe7 {
on general ground. With every subsequent exchange of pieces, the e7-pawn
becomes weaker. wahrscheinlich aus allgemeinen Erwägungn. Mit jedem folgenden
Tausch wird der e7-Bauer schwächer.} Rxe7 25. dxe7 Nf6 26. Nd4 ({After Nach} 
26. Rd1 Ne8 {the weakness of the first rank makes Rd8 impossible and forces a
prophylactic move such as macht die Grundreihenschwäche Rd8 unmöglch und
erzwingt einen prophylaktischen Zug wie} 27. h3 {when after , worauf nach} f6 {
[%cal Yg8f7] the pawn is in danger. der Bauer gefährdet ist.}) 26... a6 ({
More ambitious than Ehrgeiziger als} 26... Ne8 27. Nb5 Rc5 28. Nxa7 f6 $11 {
with plain equality. mit glattem Ausgleich.}) 27. h3 Ne8 28. Rb1 Rc7 $1 (28...
b5 $6 29. a4 $1) 29. Re1 f6 {and White has to resort to certain tricks in
order to save the pawn (although the final success is not guaranteed yet!).
und Weiß muss zu gewissen Tricks greifen, um den Bauern zu retten (obwohl der
endgültige Erfolg noch nicht garantiert ist!).} 30. Kf1 Rd7 $5 (30... Kf7 31.
Ne6 $5 Rxe7 32. Nd8+ Kf8 33. Rxe7 Kxe7 34. Nxb7 {and the vulnerability of the
a6-pawn prevents Black from taking full advantage of his more active king. und
die Anfälligkeit des Bauern a6 hindert Schwarz daran, seinen aktiveren König
voll zur Geltung zu bringen.}) 31. Nb3 $5 {[%csl Ga6,Gb7][%cal Yb3c5]} b6 $5
32. Re6 Rb7 {and White is still struggling. und Weiß muss noch immer strampeln.
}) 24... f6 {With queens on board, the e7-pawn would most probably ensure
White's win, but in the endgame it is more of a source of worries. Mit Damen
auf dem Brett wäre der e7-Bauer höchstwahrscheinlich ein Siegespfand für Weiß,
im Endspiel aber ist er eher ein Sorgenkind. Con damas en el tablero, el peón
de e7 aseguraría lo más probable la victoria de las blancas, pero en el final
el peón es una debilidad mas que nada.} 25. Rad1 (25. Rac1 {, aiming to invade
through c7, might be safer. mit der Absicht, auf a7 einzudringen, ist
vielleicht sicherer.}) 25... Rc7 $1 {Possibly underestimated by Anand.
Möglicherweise von Anand unterschätzt.} 26. Nd4 Ne5 27. f4 Nc6 28. Nxc6 bxc6
29. Rd6 c5 30. Ree6 c4 31. Rc6 Rexe7 32. Rxc4 Rxc4 33. Rxe7 Ra4 34. Rb7 {
White will lose a pawn, but the drawish tendency of this type of ending is
well-known. In the "theoretical" position, White's f-pawn stands on its
initial square. The way it is, it could easily become a weakness, but also
ensures White a stable advantage of space on the kingside. Weiß wird einen
Bauern verlieren, doch die Remistendenz dieses Endspieltyps ist wohl bekannt.
In der "Theoriestellung" befindet sich der weiße f-Bauer noch auf seinem
Ausgangsfeld. So wie es steht, könnte er leicht zur Schwäche werden, sichert
Weiß aber andererseits einen stabilen Raumvorteil am Königsflügel. Las blancas
perderán un peón, pero la tendencía de acabar en tablas de este tipo de
finales es bien conocida. En la posición "teórica" el peón blanco de f se
encuentra en su casilla incial . Una vez avanzado a f5, puede volverse débil,
pero también asegurar una estable ventaja de espacio de las blancas en el
flanco de rey.} h6 (34... h5 $5 {looks more active, but hardly changes the
evaluation. sieht aktiver aus, ändert aber kaum die Bewertung. parece más
activa.}) 35. f5 Rxa3 36. Kf2 h5 37. g3 a5 ({It might seem that Man könnte
meinen, dass} 37... h4 $5 {would have offered more chances to keep White under
pressure, by keeping the king's access to the f5-pawn open. However, White can
avoid troubles by relatively simple means: bessere Chancen geboten hätte, Weiß
weiter unter Druck zu setzen, da dem König Zugang zum Bauern f5 eröffnet wird.
Doch Weiß kann Probleme mit relativ einfachen Mittel vermeiden: ofrecía más
posibilidades de presionar a las blancas, por mantener abierto el acceso del
rey negro hacía el peón de f5.} 38. gxh4 $1 Kh7 39. Kg2 Kh6 40. h5 a5 {Black
plans to advance his pawn to a2 and then win the f5-pawn, thus creating a
passed pawn on the f-file, which would ensure a win. This plan would work
against passive white play. Schwarz plan, seinen Bauern nach a2 vorzurücken
und dann den f5-Bauern abzuholen, womit er einen Freibauern auf der f-Linie
bekäme, der den Sieg garantieren würde. Gegen passives weißes Spiel würde
dieser Plan funktionieren.} 41. Ra7 a4 42. Kf2 Ra2+ 43. Kg3 a3 44. h3 Ra1 (
44... Kxh5 45. Rxg7 Rb2 46. Ra7 Rb3+ 47. Kf4 $1 $11 Kh4 $2 48. Rh7#) 45. Kh4 a2
46. Ra8 {Threatening mate in 1. Droht einzügig matt.} Kh7 47. Ra7 Rf1 (47...
Kg8 48. h6 gxh6 49. Kh5 $132) 48. Rxa2 Rf4+ $1 49. Kg3 Rxf5 {After the capture
on h5, the endgame would still be a draw, but would face White with slightly
bigger technical problems than the ending from the game. Nach dem Schlagen auf
h5 wäre das Endspiel noch immer remis, aber Weiß stünde doch vor leicht
größeren technischen Problemen als in der Partie.}) 38. Ra7 a4 39. h4 $1 {
White is out of any danger now. The kingside is practically frozen and the
huge advantage of space prevents the standard plan: push the pawn to a3, in
order to leave the a2-square available for the transfer of His Majesty. If
Black tries to do so, he would lose the g7-pawn, after which White's
counterplay (for instance g4) is much more dangerous than in the standard
position (pawns on f2, g3, h4 and symmetrical for Black). Jetzt ist Weiß aus
dem Schneider. Der Königsflügel ist praktisch eingefroren, und der riesige
Raumvorteil verhindert den Standardplan: Bauern nach a3 vorstoßen, um das Feld
a2 für den Transfer Ihrer Majestät freizulassen. Wenn Schwarz dies versucht,
würde er den Bauern g7 verlieren, wonach das weiße Gegenspiel (z.B. g4)
weitaus gefährlich ist als in den Standardpositionen (Bauern auf f2, g3, h4
und symmetrisch für Schwarz). Ahora, las blancas se encuentran fuera de
peligro. El flanco de rey ha sido bloqueado y su gran ventaja de espacio
impide el plano estandar de las negras: avanzar el peón hasta a3, para dejar
la casilla de a2 libre para Su Majestad. Si las negras intentarían llevar a su
rey al flanco de dama, perderían su peón de g7, cuando el contrajuego de las
blancas (por ejemplo, con g4) sería más peligroso que en las posiciones
habituales (con peones blancos en f2, g3 y h4 y simetrico para las negras).}
Ra2+ 40. Kf3 a3 41. Ke3 Ra1 42. Kf2 Kf8 43. Kg2 a2 {This move somewhat
restricts the activity of White's pieces (Kf2? loses to ...Rh1 and things like
that), but there is no place to hide for the black king either. Dieser Zug
schränkt die Aktivität der weißen Figuren etwas ein (Kf2? verliert wegen ...
Rh1 und solche Sachen), allerdings gibt es auch kein Versteck mehr für den
schwarzen König. Esta jugada restringe la actividad de las figuras blancas 
(por ejemplo, Kf2 pierde por ...Rh1! y otras cosas por el estilo), pero ahora
no queda manera de esconder a su proprio rey en elflanco de dama.} 44. Kh2 Ke8
45. Kg2 Kd8 46. Kh2 Kc8 47. Kg2 Kb8 48. Ra3 Kb7 49. Ra4 Kb6 50. Ra8 Kc5 51. Ra7
Kd5 52. Ra4 Ke5 53. Ra5+ Ke4 54. Kh2 {Actually, this move is not forced.
decades ago, Kholmov has proven that even without the f5-pawn White can hold a
draw. The only winning chance for Black is to create a passed pawn on the
f-file, but this is impossible in case of accurate defence from White.
Tatsächlich ist dieser Zug nicht erwungen. Vor Jahrzehnten schon hat bewiesen,
dass Weiß selbst ohne den Bauern f5 remis halten kann. Die einzige
Gewinnchance für Schwarz besteht darin, einen Freibauern in der f-Linie zu
bilden, doch dies ist bei genauer Verteidigung von Weiß nicht möglich. En
realidad, esta jugada no es forzada. Decadas atrás, Jolmov demostró que las
blancas pueden defender aunque les falte el peón de f5. La única posibilidad
de ganar para las blancas sería crear un peón pasado en la columna de f, pero
esto es imposible de realizar ante una defensa corecta de las blancas.} Kf3 55.
Ra3+ Kf2 56. Ra4 Kf1 57. Kh1 ({But this is an important move. In case of a
neutral move such as Dies ist allerdings ein wichtiger Zug. Im Fall einer
neutralen Fortsetzung wie Pero esta es una jugada importante. En caso de una
continuación neutra como} 57. Ra5 $2 {, Black can simplify to a won pawn
ending with kann Schwarz in ein gewonnenes Bauernendspiel abwickeln mit las
negras simplificarían a un final de peones ganado con} Re1 58. Rxa2 Re2+ 59.
Rxe2 Kxe2 {, for instance , zum Beispiel , por ejemplo} 60. Kg2 Ke3 61. g4 Kf4
$1 62. gxh5 Kg4 {and it is all over. und alles ist vorbei. y todo se acabó.})
57... Ke1 58. Kg2 {But now, there was no need to get back on the second rank.
Jetzt aber war es nicht nötig, auf die zweite Reihe zurückzugehen. Pero ahora
no había necesidad de volver a la segunda fila.} Kd1 (58... Rd1 {is very much
the same as in the game. verläuft ganz ähnlich wie in der Partie. sería muy
parecida a la continuación de la partida.}) 59. Ra7 Rc1 60. Rxa2 Rc2+ 61. Rxc2
Kxc2 62. Kf3 {This is the difference. The white king is active enough now.
Curiously, he will have to use this activity to get... stalemated!! Das ist
der Unterschied. Jetzt steht der weiße König aktiv genug. Kurioserweise wird
er seine Aktivität dazu nutzen müssen, sich... pattsetzen zu lassen! Esta es
la diferencía. El rey blanco está activo ahora. Curiosamente, su actividad le
servirá por quedar... ¡ahogado!} Kd3 63. g4 hxg4+ 64. Kxg4 Ke4 {Did Anand
miscalculate anything? Hat Anand sich irgendwie verrechnet? ¿Se le había
escapado algo a Anand?} 65. Kh5 $1 {Not really! nicht wirklich! Realmente, no.}
Kxf5 {and, entirely in accordance with the Sofia rule, the players had to
split the point. und die Spieler mussten, in völliger Übereinstimmung mit der
Sofia-Regel, den Punkt teilen. y, completamente conforme con la ley de Sofia,
los jugadores se repartieron el punto.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Tournament"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[Date "2007.09.16"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2726"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2007.09.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "MEX"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 120"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 {Frankly speaking, it seems to me that entering
the Catalan paths against Kramnik nowadays is a bit like playing with fire.
This subtle opening seems to suit the World Champion's present personality and
style perfectly. In this game, he will once again prove his deep opening
preparation and only a time trouble miracle will save Grischuk. Sinceramente,
me parece que entrar en una Catalana contra Kramnik es como jugar con el fuego.
Esta sútil apertura parece ajustarse perfectamente al estilo y a la
personalidad actual del Campeón Mundial. En esta partida, él demostrara una
vez mas su profunda preparación teórica y solo un milagro en apuros de tiempo
le salvó a Grischuk.} 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4 b5 9.
Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Ra7 11. a3 $5 {A very rare move. White usually develops his
king's rook to c1 or d1, waiting for Black to develop his knight, in order to
play Ba5. Kramnik seems to believe that the modest advance of the a-pawn,
keeping the enemy pawns under control, is a more useful waiting move. Una
jugada muy poco frecuente. Normalmente, las blancas desarrollan su torre de
rey a c1 o d1, esperando a que las negras desarrollen su caballo para
contestar con Ba5. Kramnik parece pensar que el modesto avance del peón es una
jugada de espera más útil, al mantener los peones enemigos bajo control.} ({
I will mention here a game where the idea of sacrificing the c7-pawn was seen
for the first time in this variation.} 11. Rc1 Be4 12. Qb3 Nbd7 {Das ist ein
guter Platz für den Springer - Schwarz möchte mit c7-c5 die Partie ausgleichen.
} 13. Ba5 Qa8 $5 {[%csl Ga8,Ge4][%cal Ga8g2] Nielsen,P (2668)-Leko,P (2763)/
Dortmund 2005/CBM 108/[Ribli] (0-1, 60) Eine starke Neuerung von Leko, die die
Batterie Qa8-Be4 sehr angriffsstark werden lässt.}) 11... Nbd7 $146 ({In
practice, Black did OK after} 11... Be4 12. Qc1 {, but the objective merits of
the position remain unclear yet.} a5 (12... Nbd7 13. Ba5 Qa8 14. Nbd2 $5 (14.
Nc3 Bc6 15. Re1 Ne4 16. b4 Bd6 17. a4 Nxc3 18. Qxc3 Nf6 19. Nh4 {1/2-1/2
Atalik,E (2399)-Bensdorp,M (2230)/Wijk aan Zee 2006/CBM 111}) 14... Bd5 15. b4
Nb8 (15... Ne4 16. Nxe4 Bxe4 17. Ra2 $14 {We can see here one of the hidden
ideas behind the modest advance of the a-pawn: the a2-square is cleared for
the queen's rook, allowing the increase of the pressure along the c-file.}) 16.
Ne1 Bxg2 (16... Nc6 17. Nb3 $1 $14 {[%cal Ya1a2,Yg2d5,Ye1d3,Ya2c2,Yf1d1]}) 17.
Nxg2 Qd5 18. Qc3 Rd8 19. Nb3 $14) 13. Nc3 (13. a4 b4 14. Bg5 Nbd7 15. Nbd2 Bd5
{><b3} 16. Qc2 c5 $132) 13... Bc6 14. Bg5 Nbd7 15. Qe3 Qa8 16. Rfc1 Rc8 {
1/2-1/2 Kveinys,A (2510)-Rustemov,A (2564)/Lubniewice 2005/CBM 108 ext. Black
has a solid position, but has not managed to neutralize White's advantage of
space in any way. He is far from carrying out the thematic breaks ...c5 or ...
e5.} 17. a4 $5 $14) 12. Ba5 Qa8 $5 ({Grischuk aims for rapid activation of his
pieces, probably with the secret hope to surprise his well prepared opponent.
If the latter is true, a bitter disappointment awaited him... A more common
continuation would have been Grischuk aspira a activar sus figuras con rapidez,
posiblemente albergando la esperanza secreta de sorprender a su muy bien
preparado rival. Si eso último es verdad, le esperaba un amargo desengaño...
Una continuación mas conforme con la teória sería} 12... Be4 13. Qc1 Qb8 14.
Nbd2 Ba8 15. b4 {White has stabilized the queenside and could think about
gradual central expansion. y las blancas han estabilizado el flanco de dama,
pudiendo pensar en una expansión lenta en el centro.}) 13. Qxc7 {Played
without too much thought. Efectuada casi sin pensar.} Rc8 ({The discovered
attack} 13... Bxf3 {is not dangerous because of} 14. Bxf3 {. White seems to
maintain an edge in the endgame:} Rxc7 15. Bxa8 Rc4 (15... Rc2 16. Bf3 e5 17.
e3 exd4 18. exd4 Rxb2 19. Rc1 $14 {[%csl Yd7,Gf3]}) 16. Bg2 (16. Bf3 $5 Rxd4
17. Nd2 Ne5 18. Bg2) 16... Rxd4 17. Nd2 $14) 14. Qf4 Rc2 15. Nbd2 Rxb2 16. Rfc1
Nd5 17. Qe4 {Up to this moment, Kramnik had spent less than a quarter of an
hour. Quite suggestive for the degree of successf of Grischuk's surprise... En
este momento, Kramnik había gastado menos de un cuarto de hora. Bastante
sugestivo para el grado de éxito de la sorpresa de Grischuk...} b4 $5 {[%cal
Ga5d2]} 18. Qd3 (18. axb4 $6 Rxd2 $1 19. Nxd2 N5f6 20. Qd3 Bxg2 21. f3 Bh3 $13)
18... bxa3 19. Nc4 Bc6 (19... Rb5 20. Bd2 $1 $14 {[%cal Yc4a3]}) 20. Nxa3 Bb5
21. Nc4 Bb4 22. Qd1 Bxc4 23. Rxc4 Bxa5 24. Rxa5 $14 {White has the more
compact pawn structure and a very strong light-squared bishop, but the a6-pawn
should be kept under permanent surveillance. This position might have caused
Kramnik contradictory feelings. To a certain extent, the position is similar
to the first game of his match against Topalov. On that occasion, he had to
defend for a long time on the edge of the precipice, but eventually won.
However, there are two significant differences compared to that game. The
a-pawn is blocked in safer way, while the presence of queens on board prevents
Black from carrying out Topalov's plan based on ...g5-g4. Las blancas tienen
estructura algo más compacta y un fortisimo alfil de casillas blancas. Sin
embargo, puede que esta posición le hubiera provocado a Kramnik emociones
contradictorías, al parecerse bastante con la primera partida del match contra
Topalov. En aquella ocasión, Kramnik tuvo que defenderse por mucho rato al
borde del precipicio, pero acabo ganando.} Qb8 25. Nd2 N5b6 ({The attempt to
unblock the pawn with} 25... Qd8 {fails to} 26. Qc1 $1 {[%cal Yc4c8]} Rb8 27.
Qa1 $16) 26. Rc1 g6 27. Ne4 Rb5 28. Ra2 a5 {Black has managed to unblock his
pawn, but White's coordination remains better.} 29. Nc5 $16 {We can notice a
further difference compared to the game against Topalov. Instead of a pair of
knights, White has a knight and a bishop, which ensures the c5-knight another
possible outpost on b7.} Qd6 30. Nb7 Qb8 31. Qd3 $1 Rh5 {There was no other
way to keep the pawn defended.} 32. Nc5 $1 {The knight has return to the base,
after having isolated the enemy rook from the main theatre of operations.} Nd5
33. Qc4 N5b6 34. Qc3 Nd5 35. Qa1 Nxc5 36. Rxc5 {The pawn cannot be saved
anymore. El peón ya no puede ser salvado.} Nb4 (36... a4 37. Bf3 Rg5 38. Qc1 {
[%csl Gc8,Gg5]} (38. Rxa4 $4 Rxa4 39. Qxa4 Qb1+ 40. Kg2 Nf4#) 38... Kg7 $1 39.
Qxg5 Qb1+ 40. Kg2 Qxa2 41. Qe5+ (41. Bxd5 exd5 42. Qe5+ f6 43. Qb8 $40 {
[%csl Ya4,Yd5,Yg7]}) 41... f6 (41... Nf6 42. g4 h6 43. h4 $18) (41... Kh6 42.
Qb8 Rd7 43. Qf8+ $18) 42. Qd6 $40 (42. Qxe6 $4 Nf4+ $1 $19)) 37. Raxa5 Nc2 38.
Rxa7 $6 ({This spectacular move lets part of the advantage slip away. Esta
espectacular jugada deja escapar la ventaja de las blancas.} 38. Qa2 $1 {
would have won the pawn and, most probably, the game. hubiera ganado el peón y,
probablemente, la partida.}) 38... Nxa1 39. Ra8 Qxa8 40. Bxa8 Rxc5 41. dxc5 Kf8
42. c6 Ke7 43. c7 Kd7 44. Bc6+ Kxc7 45. Ba4 {White still has some winning
chances. The knight is isolated in the corner, while the black pawns are
vulnerable. A new miracle is needed in order to save Black's game... Las
blancas siguen teniendo algunas chances de victoría. El caballo está aislado
en el rincón, mientras que los peones negros son bastante vulnerables. Será
necesarío otro milagro más.} Kb6 46. Kg2 (46. Be8 $5 {is an important
alternative. The following analysis was provided by Jordan Kirchev from London.
} f6 47. Bf7 e5 48. Bg8 h6 49. Kg2 {"Black cannot move the knight to b3 or c2 
(because of Bh7 pininng the g6-pawn to the knight)."} Kc5 ({"If Black tries to
activate the knight by} 49... g5 $5 {then} 50. Kh3 $1 {aiming for the f6- or
h6-pawn."} Nc2 51. Kg4 Nd4 52. e3 $18) 50. Kh3 Kd6 51. Bh7 g5 52. Kg4 {with 53.
Kh5 and Kxh6 to follow.}) 46... Kc5 47. Kf3 Kb4 48. Be8 f6 49. Bf7 Nb3 {
Indirectly defending the pawn and winning an essential tempo. Defendiendo el
peón de forma indirecta y ganando un tiempo esencíal.} 50. e3 ({SImpler would
have been} 50. Bg8 {, for instance} h6 (50... Nd4+ 51. Ke3 Nf5+ 52. Ke4 Ne7 53.
Bxe6 $18 {There is such a theoretical winning position for White: the f-pawn
disappear (after f4 and e5) and the black king returns home. One of the main
reasons for Black's failure to hold the position is that the h7- and g6-pawns
are very vulnerable. However, Black is in an even worse situation here,
because his king is cut off the rest of the army.}) 51. Bf7 g5 52. Kg4 {
and Black is in big danger.}) (50. Kg4 $5) 50... Nc5 51. h4 $2 {This seems to
be the final mistake. White weakens the g3-pawn and facilitates the exchange
of one pair of pawns, something he should not be interested in.} (51. Bg8 h6
52. Bf7 g5 53. Kg4 f5+ 54. Kh5 g4 55. Kxh6 Kc4 56. Bxe6+ Nxe6 57. Kg6 Nc5 58.
Kxf5 Ne4 59. Kxg4 Nxf2+ 60. Kf5 $18 {Lebedev.}) 51... Kc3 52. Bg8 h6 53. Bf7 g5
54. Kg4 Ne4 55. hxg5 hxg5 56. Bxe6 Nxf2+ 57. Kf5 Kd3 {The incredible has just
happened. Black's pieces came back into play just in time. Lo increíble ha
pasado. Las figuras negras han llegado justo a tiempo.} 58. Kxf6 Ne4+ 59. Kg6
Nxg3 60. Kxg5 Kxe3 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Tournament"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[Date "2007.09.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2007.09.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "MEX"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 120"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 $5 {Anything is preferable to a Petroff.} Nf6 3. d3 Bc5 4. Nf3
d6 5. c3 Nc6 {From the Bishop's Opening, play has transposed to the Italian
game, the Giuoco Pianisimo variation. Although there are more subtleties here
than the quiet character of the position might suggest, I have the feeling
that it better suits Kramnik's style than Leko's, which makes me doubt whether
the opening choice was really inspired. Or maybe Leko just wanted to take some
sort of additional day-off after his defeat from the previous round?!} 6. Bb3
a6 7. O-O Ba7 8. Re1 O-O 9. h3 h6 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. Nf1 Be6 12. N3h2 {We have
reached one of the main tabyias of the Giuoco Pianissimo. White concentrates
his forces on the kingside, in order to generate some threats against the
enemy king, while Black is supposed to combine defence with counterplay in the
centre.} Bxb3 13. axb3 (13. Qxb3 {makes less sense, because the queen would
have to return to the kingside anyway.}) 13... Qd7 {A logical move, as one
would expect from Kramnik. Black completes his development by connecting his
rooks. Although play is carried out in "pianissimo mode", neither side should
neglect natural development, especially from the perspective of the possible
opening of the centre with either d4 or ...d5.} (13... a5 {prevents the
generally desirable b4, but does not contribute to development in any way.} 14.
Ng3 d5 {This also looks premature.} 15. Qf3 dxe4 16. dxe4 Re6 17. Nf5 {The
threat Bxh6 forces Black into a slightly contorted regrouping.} Qf8 18. Qg3 Kh8
19. Ng4 Nh7 (19... Nxg4 20. hxg4 Qc5 21. g5 hxg5 22. Bxg5 $40 {Gavrikov;
Chebanenko}) 20. Nge3 Rg6 21. Qh4 $14 {Gavrikov,V (2550)-Van der Sterren,P 
(2520)/Tallinn 1987/EXT 97 (1-0, 35). White has strong pressure on the
kingside and in the centre.}) (13... Re6 14. Ng3 Qd7 15. Qf3 Kh8 {Black
focuses on defence, giving up the idea of opening play in the centre. This
will give White the possibility to consolidate his domination.} 16. Nf5 Rg8 17.
b4 Bb6 18. Ng4 Nh7 ({The opening of the h-file with} 18... Nxg4 19. hxg4 $16 {
is very dangerous for Black, because of the placement of his king.}) 19. Nge3
Bxe3 20. Bxe3 $14 {White has completed his development, has more space and an
active bishop.} Rf6 21. Qg4 Rg6 22. Qf3 Rf6 23. Qd1 Ne7 24. Ng3 Nc6 25. Qb3 Qe6
26. Qa4 Rg6 27. b5 axb5 28. Qxb5 Rb8 29. d4 $16 {Ye Jiangchuan (2510)-Pinter,J
(2595)/Elista 1998/CBM 066 ext (1-0, 71). The greater mobility of White's
pieces have allowed him to increase his advantage, by switching to the other
wing. The g6-rook and the h7-knight have remained mere spectators.}) (13... Ne7
14. Ng3 Qd7 15. Ng4 {This might be slightly premature.} (15. Qf3 Qe6 16. b4 {
transposes to our main game.}) 15... Nxg4 16. hxg4 d5 {And this is very
slightly premature, too.} (16... Qe6 17. b4 d5 {is a slightly improved form of
the main game from Black's point of view, because he saved the move ...c6.})
17. Qf3 dxe4 18. dxe4 Rad8 19. g5 hxg5 20. Bxg5 Qe6 21. b4 f6 22. Be3 {
Svetushkin,D (2486)-Sharma,D (2327)/Linares 2000/CBM 075 (1-0, 77). White is
only minimally (possibly, optically) better, because of the relative weakness
of the enemy kingside. However, the symmetrical character of the position
should entitle Black to hope for full equality.}) 14. Qf3 Qe6 15. Ng3 Ne7 {
[%csl Gf5]} (15... Qxb3 $2 16. Nf5 $1 $40 {[%cal Yf5h6,Yf3g3,Yc1h6]} (16. Bxh6
Qxb2 $5 $132 {[%csl Gf2]})) 16. b4 (16. Ng4 $6 Nxg4 17. hxg4 Qxb3) 16... c6 17.
Ng4 {White builds up his typical kingside attack, but Black is slightly better
developed and has the possibility of reacting in the centre.} Nxg4 ({This is
probably better than} 17... Nh7 {, as played in Leko-Anand, Sarajevo 1999.
White maintained some pressure for a while, but later lost a pawn and had to
fight for a draw.} 18. Be3 Bxe3 19. Qxe3 Rad8 20. d4 (20. f4 $5 {might be a
better way to fight for space.}) 20... exd4 21. Qxd4 (21. cxd4 Qg6 {/\f5, /\Nd5
} 22. Ra5 d5 $5 $132 {<->5}) 21... Qg6 22. Ne3 Ng5 $11 {Leko,P (2694)-Adams,M 
(2716)/Sarajevo 1999/CBM 071 (1/2-1/2, 61)}) 18. hxg4 d5 19. Nf5 Rad8 {Black
has completed the mobilisation of his forces and has at least equal chances.}
20. g3 f6 21. Kg2 dxe4 22. dxe4 Nxf5 23. gxf5 Qc4 24. Be3 {White decides to
complete his development, practically giving up any hope of a sacrificial
attack based on Bxh6 and tacitly offering a draw.} ({It is instructive to
check that White's attack has no real chances for success, mainly because his
development is incomplete. However, this does not mean he could not have tried
it:} 24. Qg4 Kf8 $1 (24... Kh8 $4 25. Bxh6 $1 gxh6 26. Rh1 $18) 25. Rh1 (25. f4
{is risky, because it sets up tension which White is not prepared for:} Rd3 $5
26. fxe5 Bb8 $1 $15 {[%cal Yb8e5]}) 25... Rd7 (25... Rd3 $2 26. Bxh6 gxh6 27.
Rxh6 Ke7 28. Rh7+ Kd8 29. Qg7 $18) (25... Re7 $5) {Unfortunately, White cannot
activate the other rook BEFORE making this sacrifice.} 26. Bxh6 gxh6 27. Rxh6
Ke7 $1 28. Rh7+ Kd8 29. Rd1 Ree7 30. Rxd7+ Rxd7 31. Rxd7+ Kxd7 32. Qg7+ Ke8 33.
Qxb7 Qxe4+ $11 {Anyway, this would have been a more entertaining way of
forcing a draw.}) 24... Bxe3 {Black controls the only open file, but White has
no weaknesses and his king has a safer residence. Therefore, the draw
agreement is entirely justified.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Tournament"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[Date "2007.09.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2007.09.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "MEX"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 120"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4
b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Be4 11. Qc1 Qc8 {If asked which line he consideres to be
the safest against the Catalan, Kramnik would probably refuse to answer. The
best way to find out hisopinion is to play this opening against him and here
is what he decided to answer today. Sí le preguntasen a Kramnik cual es la
variante más segura contra la Catalana, lo más probable es que refuse a
contestar. El mejor método para saber su opinión es jugar esta misma apertura
contra él; aquí tenemos su espuesta para hoy.} 12. Bg5 Nbd7 13. Nbd2 Bb7 14.
Nb3 a5 15. Bxf6 ({For instance} 15. Rd1 {and only after} a4 {exchange on f6:}
16. Bxf6 {when the inserton of the moves Rd1 and ...a4 clearly favours White.}
Bxf6 ({Black can deviate from the natural course of the game with} 16... gxf6 {
, keeping the c5-square well defended, but after} 17. Nc5 Nxc5 18. dxc5 Bd5 19.
Qh6 Kh8 20. Rac1 $14 {followed by the exchange of the light-squared bishops I
prefer White anyway.}) 17. Nc5 Bd5 (17... Nxc5 18. Qxc5 Bd5 19. Ne1 $14) 18. e4
$1 $14) ({Fighting for the queenside light squares with} 15. a4 {also makes
sense.} Bd5 16. Nbd2 $14 {/\e4, /\axb5.}) 15... Bxf6 {This looks like the
correct capture.} (15... Nxf6 $6 {Shirov,A (2699)-Onischuk,A (2663)/Foros 2007/
CBM 119/[Marin,M] (1/2-1/2, 42)}) 16. Nc5 Bd5 {White is not sufficiently well
developed to maintain the blockade on c5. After a short phase of
simplifications, the game will end in a draw, hopefully just in time to allow
Kramnik watch his favourite match from the Champion's League. Las blancas no
tienen suficiente desarrollo para mantener el bloqueo en la casilla de c5.
Tras una breve fase de simplificaciones, la partida acabará en tablas. Espero
que esto pasó suficientemente pronto para permitir a Kramnik seguír su partido
favorito de la Liga de Campeones.} 17. e4 $146 {Optically, this move looks
premature. White weakens the dark squares and will not be able to maintain his
advantage of space. The further course of the game will justify this feeling.}
(17. Rd1 Nxc5 18. Qxc5 Qb7 19. Rac1 Rac8 20. Ne1 Rfd8 21. e3 c6 22. b3 (22. Qc2
) 22... Be7 {/\...Ba3, ...c5 1/2-1/2 Sigurjonsson,G (2440)-Speelman,J (2520)/
Brighton 1981/MCD}) 17... Bc4 $1 {A courageous move, based on accurate
calculation (or maybe home preparation?! With Kramnik you never know)} ({
It is easy to see that the bishop had no other favourable squares, while} 17...
Nxc5 {would be bad because of} 18. exd5 $1 $16 {[%cal Yg2a8]}) 18. Nxd7 (18.
Re1 {would fail to put the c4-bishop in danger because of} Nxc5 19. dxc5 e5 $13
) 18... Qxd7 19. Re1 {Trying to retsrict the c4-bishop, but leaving the
d4-pawn undefended.} (19. Rd1 {is not better.} Be2 20. e5 Be7 $1 ({Not falling
for} 20... Bxd1 $2 21. exf6 Bxf3 22. Qg5 $18) 21. Rd2 Bc4 $1 {The bishop is
just in time to block the important d5-square.} 22. Rc2 c6 23. Qf4 Bd5 24. Rac1
a4 {Black is at least not worse.}) 19... Bxd4 20. Rd1 c5 21. Qc2 {[%csl Ge2]
[%cal Gb2b3]} e5 $8 22. Nxe5 {Black's agreement on a peaceful result looks
premature.} (22. Nxe5 Qe6 23. Nxc4 (23. Nf3 Bxa2 24. Nxd4 cxd4 25. Rxd4 Bc4 $15
{The strong queenside majority is a permanent source of worries for White,
whose bishop is not too active.}) 23... Qxc4 24. Qxc4 bxc4 25. Rac1 (25. Rd2 $2
c3 $1) 25... Rab8 26. Rd2 Rb4 $15 {The difference of activity between bishops
and the vulnerability of the f2-square faces White with permanent problems.})
1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Tournament"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[Date "2007.09.20"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2007.09.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "MEX"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 120"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 {This sharp move is
nowadays the main try. Although White has had some recent success with the
more sedate} (6. Bxf6 {theoretically Black is still doing fine here:} Qxf6 7.
Qb3 (7. e3 Nd7 8. Bd3 g6 9. e4 dxc4 10. e5 Qe7 11. Bxc4 Bg7 12. O-O O-O 13. Re1
Rd8 14. Qe2 b6 15. Rad1 a5 16. Bd3 Bb7 17. Be4 b5 18. h4 Nb6 19. Bb1 c5 $1 20.
Nxb5 Ba6 $132 21. h5 g5 22. Nh2 Rxd4 23. Rxd4 {1/2,Kramnik,V (2769)-Svidler,P 
(2735)/WCh Mexico City/2007/}) 7... Nd7 (7... dxc4 8. Qxc4 Nd7 9. e3 g6 10. Be2
(10. h4 $5 $13 {is a sharper try.}) 10... Bg7 11. O-O O-O 12. Rfd1 e5 (12...
Qe7 $142 $5 {[%cal Yf8d8,Ye6e5] /\Rd8,e5<=>}) 13. Ne4 Qe7 (13... Qf5 $5 14. Nd6
Qf6 $14) 14. d5 cxd5 15. Qxd5 Nb6 16. Qc5 $1 Qxc5 17. Nxc5 $36 Bg4 18. h3 Rac8
19. Nxb7 Be6 20. b3 Rc2 21. Bf1 Nd5 22. Bc4 Nc3 23. Rd2 Rxd2 24. Nxd2 e4 25.
Kf1 Rb8 26. Nc5 Bxc4+ 27. Nxc4 Rb5 28. Na6 $1 $16 {Carlsen,M (2710)-Onischuk,A
(2650)/Biel/2007/}) 8. e4 dxe4 9. Nxe4 Qf4 10. Bd3 e5 11. O-O exd4 (11... Be7
$142 {-see more details in the notes to the game Mamedyarov-Topalov, Sofia
2007.}) 12. Nxd4 Nc5 13. Nxc5 Bxc5 14. Rae1+ Kf8 15. Re4 Qf6 16. Qc3 $14 a5 $6
17. Rfe1 Bd7 18. R1e3 Bb4 19. Qc2 Qd6 20. Rf3 h5 $2 21. c5 $1 Bxc5 22. Bc4 f6
23. Ne6+ Bxe6 24. Rxe6 $18 {->,Mamedyarov,S (2757)-Topalov,V (2772)/Sofia/2007/
}) 6... dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5 9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O {This simple move is the
latest fashion.} ({After} 10. h4 g4 11. Ne5 h5 12. O-O Nbd7 {the brilliant
game Aronian-Anand, WCh 2007 has shown not only Black's, but also White's >>
can become seriously vulnerable.}) 10... Nbd7 11. Ne5 h5 {Another important
crossroads. The main alternative, favoured by Anand, is} (11... Bg7 12. Nxd7
Nxd7 13. Bd6 a6 14. Bh5 (14. a4 e5 15. Bg4 exd4 16. e5 c5 17. Bf3 Ra7 $2 (17...
Nxe5 $1 18. Bxb7 Qxd6 19. Bxa8 O-O $44 {|^}) 18. Bxb7 Rxb7 19. Ne4 Nxe5 20.
axb5 axb5 21. f4 gxf4 22. Qh5 Rb6 23. Bxe5 Qd5 24. Rxf4 Rg6 25. Nd6+ Rxd6 26.
Rxf7 Bxe5 27. Rb7+ Kf8 28. Ra8+ {1-0,Iljin,A (2538)-Nepomniachtchi,I (2602)/
EU-ch Dresden/2007/ For more details about this line see the notes to this
game.}) 14... Bf8 15. Bxf8 Rxf8 16. e5 Qb6 17. b3 $5 $146 (17. Ne4 O-O-O 18.
Nd6+ Kb8 19. b3 $5 (19. Nxf7 Rxf7 20. Bxf7 Nxe5 21. Qh5 Rxd4 22. Bxe6 c5 $36 {
Radjabov,T (2728)-Anand,V (2779)/Mainz rpd m/2006/}) 19... f6 $6 (19... c3 $5
$13) 20. bxc4 fxe5 21. a4 (21. c5 $1 $16) 21... exd4 22. axb5 cxb5 23. Nxb7
Kxb7 24. cxb5 axb5 25. Bf3+ $44 {Ernst,S (2504)-Van Wely,L (2675)/NED-chT/2006/
}) 17... O-O-O (17... c5 $5 18. d5 O-O-O $132 {possibly deserves a closer look.
}) 18. bxc4 Nxe5 (18... c5 $2 19. cxb5 axb5 20. Qc2 $40 {[%csl Rc8] עc8}) 19.
c5 Qa5 20. Ne4 Qb4 $1 21. Nd6+ Rxd6 22. cxd6 Nd7 {Although the position looks
quite promising for White, Anand was still playing very fast...} 23. a4 Qxd6
24. Bf3 Nb6 25. axb5 cxb5 26. Bxb7+ Kxb7 27. Qh5 Nd5 28. Qxh6 Nf4 29. Kh1 Qd5
30. f3 Rd8 $44 31. Qg7 Rd7 32. Qf8 Ne2 33. Rfe1 Nxd4 34. Red1 e5 35. Rac1 Qd6
36. Qg8 f6 37. Rc8 a5 38. h3 a4 39. Qe8 Kb6 40. Rb8+ Ka5 41. Ra8+ {1/2,Kramnik,
V (2769)-Anand,V (2792)/WCh Mexico City/2007/ A very complex game, the whole
line will undoubtedly develop in the near future.}) 12. Nxd7 Qxd7 13. Qc1 $5
$146 {[%mdl 8] Kramnik doesn't hurry to centralize his B and comes up with an
interesting novelty.} ({Previously White played} 13. Be5 Rh6 14. Qc1 {but the
most recent games have show Black can profit from the exposed Be5 with} Ng4 $1
15. Bxg4 hxg4 16. Qxg5 Rg6 17. Qe3 f6 18. Bg3 Kf7 $5 ({Risky, but also
interesting is} 18... Bh6 19. Qe2 Qxd4 $5 20. Rfd1 Qc5 21. e5 (21. a4 $5) 21...
f5 22. Bh4 Bf4 23. Bf6 Rxf6 24. exf6 Qe5 25. Re1 Qxe2 26. Nxe2 Bd2 27. Red1 Rd8
28. a4 {Korobov,A (2530)-Zubov,A (2552)/Odessa/2007/} a5 $1 $15) 19. Rad1 Rd8
20. a3 a5 21. Qe1 $6 (21. Rfe1 $13) 21... Ba6 $1 22. Ne2 b4 23. Nf4 Rg5 24.
axb4 axb4 25. e5 c3 26. d5 cxd5 27. Rxd5 {Mekhitarian,K (2420)-Ehlvest,J (2629)
/Panamerican Cali/2007/} Qc8 $1 $17) 13... Rg8 (13... b4 $6 14. Be5 Rh6 15. Na4
Nxe4 16. Rd1 $44 {/\Nc5 Black should always be extremely cautious about
breaking up his mighty << pawn-chain.}) ({A possible alternative is} 13... Be7
14. Rd1 $13) ({Not quite clear, but decidedly risky is} 13... Qxd4 $6 14. Qxg5
Nd7 (14... Nxe4 15. Nxe4 Qxe4 16. Rad1 Be7 17. Qg7 Rf8 18. Bf3 $36) 15. Rfd1
Qf6 16. Qd2 O-O-O 17. e5 $44 {In this line, contrary to the positions after 10.
h4 g4, White's B has access to f3 and can become a powerful atttacking piece.})
14. Rd1 Bb4 {This was possibly an unexpected reaction, as now Kramnik started
spending more time as well.} (14... O-O-O 15. a4 $44 {/\} b4 16. Nb5 $5 cxb5
17. axb5 Bd6 (17... Qxb5 $2 18. Bxc4 Qc6 19. Bb5 $18) (17... c3 18. bxc3 b3 19.
Rxa7 $40) 18. Qxc4+ Qc7 19. Bxd6 Qxc4 20. Bxc4 Rxd6 21. e5 $14) 15. Qe3 $1 {
White already seriously prepares d5.} (15. Be5 Ng4 $13) 15... Qe7 16. h3 {
A modest move.} (16. e5 $5 Nd5 (16... Ng4 17. Bxg4 hxg4 18. Ne4 $40) (16... Nd7
17. Ne4 h4 18. a3 $1 $16) 17. Nxd5 cxd5 18. Bxh5 Ba5 $14 {[%cal Ya5b6,Yb5b4] /
<=>,/\b4,Bb6}) 16... h4 17. Bh2 {Kramnik quite stubbornly doesn't want to go
to e5 with his B, although here} (17. Be5 $5 $44 {deserved serious attention.})
17... Bxc3 {Exchanging the B is committal, but consistent.} (17... O-O-O 18. a4
$40) (17... g4 18. e5 g3 19. fxg3 hxg3 20. Bxg3 $14) 18. bxc3 g4 19. Kh1 {
This isn't ideal, White will have to take on g4 anyway and he could have done
so immediately:} (19. Bxg4 $142 Nxg4 20. hxg4 Rxg4 21. f3 $44 {[%csl Rb7,Gh2]
^-|^}) (19. Kf1 {is an interesting suggestion by Shipov, here the K can be
safer, than in the corner.}) 19... c5 $5 (19... gxh3 20. gxh3 c5 21. Bf3 $44 {
[%csl Gd4,Ge4][%cal Yd1g1,Gg1g8] [+],/\Rg1,<->g}) 20. hxg4 (20. Bxg4 Bxe4 $5 (
20... Nxg4 21. hxg4 Rxg4 22. f3 cxd4 23. Qxd4 Rg8 24. a4 $44) 21. dxc5 Nxg4 22.
hxg4 Bd5 $15) 20... cxd4 (20... Nxe4 21. dxc5 h3 (21... Qxc5 $2 22. Rd4 $16)
22. f3 hxg2+ 23. Kg1 Ng5 24. Rd6 Bd5 $13) 21. Rxd4 (21. Qxd4 $5 Nxe4 {/\h3|^}
22. Kg1 $13) 21... e5 $1 {This important intermediate move limits Whte's B.}
22. Rdd1 (22. Rd2 $5 Nxe4 23. Rb2 Qg5 $5 24. Qxg5 Rxg5 25. Rxb5 Bc6 26. Rxe5+
Rxe5 27. Bxe5 Nxf2+ 28. Kh2 Nd3 $11) 22... Nxg4 (22... Nxe4 23. Bf3 Qc5 24.
Bxe4 $1 Qxe3 25. Bxb7 $14) 23. Bxg4 Rxg4 24. f3 Rg6 25. a4 a5 $6 {Gelfand
wants to keep the <->a closed at any cost, but although} (25... a6 26. axb5
axb5 27. Ra7 {looks dangerous, after} Kf8 $11 {White still has nothing
concrete.}) 26. axb5 a4 27. Qe2 Qc5 28. Rab1 ({White should have kept an eye
on the Pa4 with} 28. Rdb1 $1 $14) 28... Rd6 (28... a3 $142 29. Bg1 Qc7 (29...
Qe7 30. Qxc4 h3 31. g4 $14) 30. Rb4 h3 $5 $132) 29. Rxd6 Qxd6 30. Qxc4 a3 31.
Ra1 h3 $1 {[%mdl 256] Active defence by Gelfand, he seeks <=> on both sides of
the board.} (31... Rc8 32. Qb4 $14) 32. Qe2 (32. g4 $6 {worked earlier, but
now runs into} Rc8 $5 $36 (32... Qd2 $15)) (32. gxh3 Rc8 {is similar.}) 32...
hxg2+ 33. Qxg2 O-O-O $1 $132 {After the game Kramnik said he simply didn't
realize Black could still castle! Now both K are vulnerable and the extra P is
of little consquence.} 34. Qa2 {White goes for drawish simplification.} (34.
Qg7 f6 $44) ({More ambitious is} 34. c4 $5 {when Black should probably again
prefer the modest} f6 $13 {/+/=} (34... f5 $143 35. Qh3 Rf8 36. c5 $1 Qd4 (
36... Qxc5 $2 37. Qh6 $1 f4 (37... Kb8 38. Bxe5+) 38. Bg1 $18 {and suddenly
White has a decisive ->.}) 37. Rf1 $5 (37. Rxa3 $14) 37... a2 (37... Qc4 38. c6
Ba8 39. exf5) 38. Qh6 Re8 39. Qg6 $36)) 34... f5 35. Qxa3 fxe4 $138 ({Gelfand
spent the last remanants of his time considering} 35... Qd3 {, but this
doesn't give Black anything tangible:} 36. Qc5+ (36. c4 $5 fxe4 37. Bxe5 $11)
36... Kd7 37. Qf2 fxe4 38. Bxe5 Qxf3+ (38... e3 39. Qg2 $14) 39. Qxf3 exf3 40.
Kh2 $11) 36. Qxd6 Rxd6 37. fxe4 (37. Bxe5 Rd2 (37... Rd5 $11) 38. fxe4 Bxe4+
39. Kg1 Rd5 $11) 37... Bxe4+ 38. Kg1 Bd3 39. Bxe5 (39. c4 Bxc4 40. Rc1 Rd4 41.
Bxe5 Re4 $11) 39... Rg6+ 40. Kf2 Bxb5 $11 {The time-control being over,
Kramnik didn't want to invest more energy into this drawn _|_.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Tournament"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[Date "2007.09.21"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2007.09.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "MEX"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 120"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Bf4 O-O
8. Qd2 Nd7 9. O-O-O Nc5 10. Be3 Re8 11. Bc4 Be6 12. Bxe6 Nxe6 13. h4 Qd7 14.
Qd5 Qc6 15. Qf5 Qc4 ({A novelty over Una novedad con respecto a} 15... Nf8 {
as played in the fourth round game Svidler-Gelfand. The knight retreat looks
like a solid option and eventually led to a quick draw, but has the drawback
that it leaves White a free hand for developing his initiative. If Svidler was
ready to repeat the variation, he obviously had prepared some improvement. The
idea behind Kramnik's move is to question the enemy queen's domination over
the right wing as soon as possible. This will be the main theme of the next
phase of the game. que se había jugado en la cuarta ronda en la partida
Svidler-Gelfand. La retirada de caballo parece una opción sólida y había
llevado a unas tablas rápidas en dicha ocasión, pero tiene la desventaja de
dejar a las blancas manos libres para desarrollar su iniciativa. La idea
detrás de la jugada de Kramnik es cuestionar lo antes posible la dominación de
la dama enemiga en el flanco de rey. Este será el tema principal durante la
siguíente fase de la partida.}) 16. Kb1 (16. Ng5 Bxg5 17. hxg5 {looks too
straigthforward to cause Black serious problems.} Nf8 {Safely defending the
h7-pawn and preparing the activation of rooks.} 18. Kb1 Re5 19. Qd3 Qxd3 20.
cxd3 Rae8 21. Rh3 b6 22. Kc2 R5e6 23. Rdh1 f6 {Finally annihilating White's
advantage of space on the kingside.} 24. gxf6 Rxf6 25. d4 d5 26. Kd3 h6 $11 {
Karjakin,S (2678)-Kramnik,V (2766)/Wijk aan Zee 2007/CBM 117 (1/2-1/2, 33)})
16... g6 17. Qh3 h5 18. Nd2 $146 {But only this is the really new move.} (18.
Nd4 Nxd4 $6 {This might be the cause to Black's future problems. White is
given the possibility to activate his major pieces.} (18... Ng7 $5 {[%cal
Yd6d5,Yc7c5,Ga8d8] , consolidating the kingside in advance and leaving the
enemy knight exposed in the centre deserves attention.}) 19. Rxd4 Qe6 20. Qf3
Bf6 21. Rb4 b6 22. Qc6 Rac8 23. Rd1 a5 24. Rc4 Rcd8 25. a4 Re7 26. Rd5 Qd7 27.
g3 Qxc6 28. Rxc6 Ra8 29. Ka2 $1 {[%cal Ya2c4,Yc4b5] Bartel,M (2569)-Fridman,D 
(2604)/Germany 2006/CBM 116 (1-0, 58). and White's domination on the light
squares eventually yielded him a win.}) 18... Qe2 $5 ({A super-refined move.
The immediate} 18... Qg4 {looks more natural, but Black has good reasons to
provoke the move Rde1. First of all (but not the most important), Black plans
to play ...d5 and it could be useful to eliminate any possibility of pressure
along the d-file. However, the essence is that the opposition of rooks along
the e-file favours Black. In certain cases, the e3-bishop could remain pinned,
while in others the exchange of rooks along the e-file would diminish White's
attacking chances on the kingside.}) 19. Rde1 Qg4 20. Qh2 (20. Qxg4 hxg4 21. h5
{looks tempting, but Black seems to have sufficient defensive resources.} gxh5
$1 (21... Kg7 22. hxg6 Kxg6 23. Rh6+ Kg7 24. Reh1 Rh8 25. Rxh8 Rxh8 26. Rxh8
Kxh8 {Apparently, everything is OK for Black, but the unexpected} 27. Bxa7 $5 {
(in the spirit of the first game of the Fischer-Spassky match) maintains
better chances for White after} b6 28. a4 $1) 22. Rxh5 Ng7 $1 {It appears that
the h-file does not offer White too many squares for his rook(s).} 23. Rhh1 (
23. Rh2 Bf6 24. Reh1 $6 {is risky because of} Nf5 $36 {[%csl Ge3,Gh8]} 25. Nf1
Nxe3 26. Nxe3 g3 $1 $17) 23... Nf5 $132) 20... d5 21. f3 Qa4 22. g4 {Finally,
White has managed to start a kingside attack which bears some similarity with
the sharp lines of the Sicilian Dragon. It should be noticed that his own king
finds himself in absolute safety, because of the absence of open files on the
queenside. Finalmente, las blancas han conseguído lanzar un ataque en el
flanco de rey que se parece a las agudas líneas de la variante del Dragon de
la Siciliana. Cabe mencionar que su proprio rey se encuantra en absoluta
seguridad, por la falta de líneas abiertas en el flanco de dama.} Bd6 (22...
hxg4 $2 23. h5 $1 $36) 23. Qf2 Ng7 {We can also notice some differences if
compared to the Dragon, which favour Black. We have here an open file, which
can always be used by the defending side for transposing to an ending by
exchanging all rooks. This could happen if White tries to undermine Black's
kingside fortress with Bd4, threatening Bxg7 and gxh5. Another aspect is
Black's advantage of space in the centre (something unthinkable in the Dragon).
Concretely, the presence of the d5-pawn restricts the activity of the white
knight. También podemos observar ciertas diferencias con respecto al Dragon
que favorecen a las negras. La presencía de una línea abierta ofrece a la
parte en defensa simplificar la posición mediante el cambio de todas las
torres. Por ejemplo. esto podía pasar en caso de Ad4, con idea de subminar la
fortaleza negra del flanco de rey con Axg7 y gxh5. Otro aspecto se refiere a
la ventaja de espacío en el centro de las negras, algo impensable en el Dragon.
Concretamente, la presencía del peón de d5 en el centro restringe la actividad
del caballo enemigo.} 24. c4 $5 (24. Bd4 Rxe1+ 25. Rxe1 Re8 $11 26. Rg1 Be5 $1
{[%csl Gg7,Gh5]}) 24... dxc4 25. Bd4 {Svidler has cleared the e4-square for
his knight, which can make a lot of difference after the aforementioned
solution 25...Rxe1+ 26.Rxe1 Re8 because of 27.Ne4! However, the structural
modifications in the centre have also opened the d-file and the h1-a8 diagonal,
which will offer Black additional possibilities for defence and counterattack.
Svidler eliberó la casilla de e4 para su caballo, lo que sería un factor
esencial después de la parada mencionada anterirmente 25...Rxe1+ 26.Rxe1 Re8
por 27.Ne4! Sin embargo, las modificaciones structurales en el centro han
dejado abiertas la columna de d y la gran diagonal blanca, lo que les ofrecerá
posibilidades adicionales de defensa y contraataque a las negras.[#]} Qc6 $1 {
Indirectly defending the f6-square. Defendiendo la casilla de f6 de forma algo
indirecta.} 26. Bc3 ({Threatening Qd4. Amenazando Qd4. No era peligrosa} 26.
Ne4 {was not dangerous because of por} Be5 {revealing the idea behind Black's
previous move. There was no time for slow increase of the pressure with ,
dejando clara la idea de la jugada anterior de las negras. Tampoco queda
tiempo para aumentar la presión con} 27. Re2 {because of por} Rad8 {the d-file
serves Black quite well for starting his counterplay. cuando la columna de d
les sirve a las negras para fuerte contrajuego.}) (26. Bxg7 Kxg7 27. Qd4+ Kg8
28. gxh5 {would weaken the position of Black's king, but the own king would
start feeling insecure, too, after} c3 $1 29. Nc4 (29. Ne4 Be5 $1) 29... Rxe1+
({After} 29... cxb2 30. hxg6 $40 {White's king feels safer than his rival. The
black b2-pawn offers even better protection than the white pawn on the same
square.}) {Now, a logical (but more spectacular) way to achieve the same
result as in the game would be} 30. Rxe1 Re8 31. Rxe8+ (31. Rd1 Bf8 $1 {
[%cal Yf8g7]}) 31... Qxe8 32. Qxc3 gxh5 33. Nxd6 Qe2 $1 34. a3 Qd1+ 35. Ka2
Qxd6 $11) 26... Bc5 27. Qg3 Bd6 28. Qf2 ({The only reasonable way to avoid an
immediate draw was La única manera de evitar lastablas inmediatas sería} 28.
Qg2 {, but after the opening of the long diagonal the white queen would feel
dominated by her rival. Just think about Leko's uninspired queen retreats in
his game against Gelfand! , pero después de la apertura de la gran diagonal la
dama blanca se sentiría dominada por su rival. Recuerde las retiradas de dama
de Leko contra Gelfand, unos días antes.}) 28... Bc5 29. Qg3 Bd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Tournament"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[Date "2007.09.23"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E61"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2007.09.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "MEX"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 120"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 g6 3. e3 Bg7 4. d4 Nf6 {Apparently, White has played the
opening without any ambition. Aparentemente, las blancas han jugado la
apertura sin ningún ambición.} 5. d5 $5 {But this move causes an opposite
impression. Pero esta jugada provoca una sensación enteramente opuesta.} O-O 6.
Nf3 e6 7. Be2 exd5 8. cxd5 d6 {As an experienced Benoni player, I have
problems finding a proper name for this almost non-existent variation; "the
e3-Benoni" sounds almost comical! However, White's setup is not without venom.
By refraining from exposing his e-pawn to early attacks (...Re8), White
intends to obtain more freedom of action for his minor pieces. His king's
knight could go to c2 (via e1) in order to counter a later ...b5 with b4, or
to the more usual c4-square, without having to care about defending the
e4-pawn from d2. We shall see further differences with respect to the
classical system (e4, Nf3 and Be2) as the game advances. White's philosophy is
similar to that from the fianchetto system: White refrains from an early
occupation of the centre, but the later advance of the e-pawn should not be
discarded. One possible drawback of this system is that the c1-bishop will
remain passive for a long time. From psychological point of view, Morozevich's
choice is simply brilliant. Kramnik does not play this opening regularly 
(although he employed it in the penultimate game of his match against Leko,
when he desperately needed to win) and, almost surely, never studied the
e3-system! There are not many recent cases when the World Champion was taken
"out of the book" at such an early stage, with the position remaining complex
at the same time. Como jugador con mucha experiencía de Benoni, tengo
problemas en encontrar un nombre a esta casi inexistente variante; "la Benoni
con e3" ¡sueña casi cómico! Sin embargo, el sistema de desarrollo escogido por
las blancas no carece de veneno. Al evitar de exponer su peón de e a ataques
tempranos (...Re8), las blancas aseguran mayor movilidad a sus figuras menores.
Por ejemplo, el caballo de rey puede ser trasladado a c2, para contestar un
eventual ...b5 con b4, o a c4, sin necesidad de defender el peón de e4 desde
d2. Veremos más detalles a lo largo de la partida. Una posible desventaja
sería conectada con las dificultades en desarrollar el alfil de c1. Desde un
punto de vista psicológico, la escogida de variante de Morozevich es
simplemente brillante. Kramnik casi no juega la Benoni (aunque si la empleó en
la penúltima partida de su encuentro contra Leko, cuando necesitaba
desesperadamente ganar) y, ciertamente, ¡nunca debio de estudiar la variante
de e3! Noson muchos los casos recientes cuando el Campeón del Mundo fue sacado
de su libro de aperturas en un estado tan temprano de la partida, con la
posición quedando suficientemente complicada.} 9. O-O Bg4 {Since Black is
under no immediate pressure, he had a relatively wide choice of typical plans.}
({The first game which made me aware of the e3-Benoni continued} 9... Na6 10.
Ne1 $5 Nc7 11. a4 b6 12. Nc2 Ba6 13. Bxa6 Nxa6 14. Qd3 Nc7 15. Rb1 Re8 16. Bd2
{White has discouraged any queenside attack, because ...a6 followed by ...b5
would always be met by b4, aiming to open the way for the knight towards c6.}
Qe7 17. f3 Qe5 18. e4 {Finally, White has occupied the centre under favourable
circumstances. The c7-knight is passively placed now.} Qe7 19. Rbe1 Rac8 20. f4
{And now he starts the typical attack in the centre.} c4 $6 21. Qf3 Nd7 22. Nb4
$16 {Miles,A (2565)-De Kleuver,E (2150)/Tilburg 1993/CBM 039 (1-0, 37). I
happened to play in this KO event and became very worried about this setup. A
few months later, I shared my fears with GM Mihai Suba (one of the greatest
Romanian Benoni specialists), but he simply laughed. I can understand him, but
if it works against a World Champion, the system cannot be that bad...}) (9...
a6 10. a4 Bg4 11. Nd2 (11. h3 Bxf3 12. Bxf3 {would transpose to the main game.}
) 11... Bxe2 12. Qxe2 Nbd7 13. Rb1 Re8 (13... Rc8 14. b3 Nb6 15. Qd3 Ng4 16.
Nc4 Nxc4 17. Qxc4 f5 18. Ne2 Qd7 19. Nf4 $14 {[%csl Ge6] De Greif,B-Lebredo,G/
Camaguey 1974/EXT 2001 (1/2-1/2, 47)}) 14. b3 {This move is enabled by the
fact that Black has not the tactical possibility of destroying White's centre
with ...Nxe4 followed by ...f5.} Rb8 15. Bb2 h5 16. h3 Qa5 17. Ra1 Re7 18. Rfd1
Rbe8 19. Nc4 Qc7 20. Rac1 $14 {Lobron,E (2540)-Wiersma,E (2300)/Leeuwarden
1997/EXT 99 (1-0, 64). Black has completed his regrouping, but his position is
quite passive in the absence of objectives for attack.}) (9... Re8 10. Nd2 Na6
(10... b6 11. a4 a6 {looks too passive.} 12. Qc2 Nbd7 13. Rb1 Ne5 14. h3 h5 15.
f4 $1 Ned7 16. e4 {White has transposed to a favourable form of the 3 pawns
attack, with gain of time.} Rb8 17. b3 Qc7 18. Bb2 $16 {Palermo,V (2300)
-Arencibia,W (2425)/Mar del Plata 1990/EXT 2000 (1-0, 34)}) 11. Nc4 Nc7 12. a4
b6 13. Ra2 $5 {[%cal Yb2b3,Gg7a1]} Ne4 14. Nxe4 Rxe4 15. b3 f5 16. Bf3 Re8 17.
Qd2 Ba6 18. Bb2 Bxc4 19. bxc4 Na6 20. Re1 Nb4 21. Ra3 Bxb2 22. Qxb2 $14 {
Lobron,E (2550)-Wojtkiewicz,A (2563)/Frankfurt 2000/CBM 076 ext (1/2-1/2, 52).
The knight stands nicely on b4, but does not do too much (compare with
Anand-Grischuk, Mexico 2007), while the queenside majority cannot be
transformed into a passed pawn easily. At the same time, the black king's
position is weakened and White only needs to prepare e4 to get attacking
chances.}) 10. h3 (10. Nd2 $5 {is possible here, too.}) 10... Bxf3 11. Bxf3
Nbd7 12. a4 $146 {Technically speaking, a novelty.} ({Allowing Black's
queenside expansion with} 12. Rb1 a6 13. b3 {does not make too much sense.} b5
14. Bb2 Re8 15. g3 b4 16. Na4 Ne4 $132 {[%csl Gc3] Ilinsky,V (2340)-Lukin,A 
(2450)/Frunze 1989/TD (1/2-1/2, 29)}) 12... a6 13. g4 $5 {This original
attempt to win space will be fully crowned by success. Este original intento
de ganar espacio en el flanco de rey será coronado por exito.} c4 $5 ({This is
a typical move in the Benoni, but maybe the prophylactic Esta es una jugada
típica en la Benoni, pero aquí la jugada profiláctica} 13... h6 $5 {deserved
serious attention here. Deprived of the plan of winning more space on the
kingside, White would not have been entitled to claim an advantage. hubiera
sido preferible.} 14. Be2 (14. h4 $2 Nh7 $1) 14... Re8 $13) 14. Be2 $1 Rc8 $6 {
With the pawn on e4, Black could answer 14...Nc5 15.f3 Rc8. Con el peón en e4,
las negras podían haber contestado 14...Cc5 15.f3 Tc8.} ({Not having too much
experience as a Benoni player, Kramnik did not feel prepared to carry out a
thematic pawn sacrifice:} 14... Ne5 $5 {(Clearing the d7-square for the other
knight.} 15. f4 Nd3 $1 16. Bxd3 cxd3 17. Qxd3 h5 18. g5 Nd7 19. e4 Nc5 20. Qf3
Re8 21. Re1 Qa5 {[%csl Ga1][%cal Yb7b5]} 22. Ra2 Qb4 $132 {[%cal Ye8e7,Ya8e8]
White's far advanced pawns have left behind many vulnerable squares.}) 15. g5
Ne8 16. f4 $14 {Now, the c1-bishop proves useful by safely defending the
backward pawn. De repente, el alfil de c1 se vuelve útil, al defender el peón
retrasado de e3.} Qe7 17. Ra3 Rc5 $6 ({Kramnik's play in this phase of the
game is not too logical. He starts queenside operations with his knight and
king's rook passive on the other wing. Personally, I would first think of
eliminating the g5-pawn with El juego de Kramnik en esta fase de la partida no
parece muy lógico. Él inicía operaciones activas en el flanco de dama, en un
momento en que su caballo y torre rey se encuentran pásivas en el flanco
opuesto. Yo hubiera pensado en eliminar el molesto peón de g5 con} 17... h6 $5
18. h4 f6 {when cuando} 19. Bg4 {, threatening to invade the e6-square, can be
answered with , amenazando con invadir la casilla de e6, podía ser parada con}
Nc7) 18. Bf3 Ra5 19. Bd2 Nc5 20. Qe2 Nb3 21. Ne4 $16 {We can see that White
makes use of the e4-square to activate his knight. Now, ...f6 is out of
question already, because of gxf6 followed by Ng5-e6. Podemos ver que las
blancas utilizan la casilla de e4 para activar su caballo. Ahora, las negras
no pueden ni pensar en jugar ...f6, por gxf6 seguído por Ng5.} Nxd2 (21... Rxd5
22. Qxc4 Rxd2 23. Rxb3 $16) 22. Qxd2 {After the exchange of his queen's bishop,
White has solved all his problems with the development. Black's control on the
dark squares is less relevant than in a normal Benoni, because the d4-square
has not been weakened with e4 yet. White has a clear and stable advantage.
Después del cambío de este alfil, las blancas resolvieron por fin sus
problemas de desarrollo. La dominación de las negras en casillas negras es
menos relevante que en una Benoni normal, porque la casillade d4 no ha sido
debilitada con e4.} Qd8 23. Qb4 b5 24. axb5 Rxb5 25. Qxc4 Qb6 26. Qc6 Bxb2 27.
Qxb6 Rxb6 28. Ra2 Bg7 29. Rc1 h6 30. h4 hxg5 31. hxg5 f6 32. Rc6 Rxc6 33. dxc6
fxg5 34. Nxg5 Nc7 {Despite simplifications, Black has a difficult position.
White has an enormous advantage of space and his c6-pawn is very dangerous. A
pesar de las simplificaciones, las negras se encuentran en apuros graves. Las
blancs disponen de una enorme ventaja de espació, mientras que el peón de c6
es muy peligroso.} 35. Rd2 Rd8 36. Bg4 Bc3 37. Rd3 Ba5 38. Kg2 d5 39. e4 {
It was worth waiting with this move for so long. The advance of the e-pawn
will increase White's advantage. Mereció la pena esperar tanto tiempo antes de
efectuar esta jugada. El avance del peón de e incrementa la ventaja de las
blancas.} d4 40. e5 Bb6 41. Rb3 Rb8 42. Rh3 Ba5 43. Rh6 Rb2+ 44. Kg3 Be1+ 45.
Kf3 d3 46. Rxg6+ Kf8 47. Rd6 d2 48. Ke4 1-0

[Event "World-ch Tournament"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[Date "2007.09.24"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2007.09.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "MEX"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 120"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{At the moment when this game was played Anand was leading the tournament with
6 points out of 9, a full point ahead of Gelfand and 1,5 points ahead of
Kramnik. It was clear that this encounter represented practically Kramnik's
last chance to fight for maintaining his World Champion title.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4
c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 {This aggressive set-up represents
White's most ambitious attempt to meet the Semi-Slav. Its drawback is that
unfortunately there is no clear way for advantage here: everywhere Black keeps
counterplay. Kramnik prepared a novelty for this highly important game, but it
didn't shake Anand's preparation: the position remained very complex.} dxc4 7.
e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5 9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O ({For almost a decade Khalifman's} 10. h4 {
has been en vogue, but lately White often returns to the "old" 10.0-0.
Although in my opinion 10.h4 still remains White's most principled move, in
the latest games Black achieved good results after} g4 11. Ne5 Nbd7 $13) 10...
Nbd7 11. Ne5 Bg7 {Anand is confident and plays the main line, which he used
before as well.} ({In round 7 (four days previous to the present game) Gelfand
played against Kramnik} 11... h5 12. Nxd7 Qxd7 {and now instead of the
commonly established 13.Be5 Rh1 14.Qc1 the World Champion produced a novelty,
playing immediately} 13. Qc1 {which after} Rg8 14. Rd1 Bb4 15. Qe3 Qe7 {
Kramnik-Gelfand, Mexico City Wch 2007 (40) led to a position where the Israeli
GM had to show all his creativity in order to escape with a draw.}) 12. Nxd7
Nxd7 13. Bd6 a6 14. Bh5 ({Anand already faced in practice} 14. a4 {which after}
e5 15. Bg4 exd4 16. e5 c5 $1 {is established as good for Black.}) 14... Bf8 15.
Bxf8 Rxf8 16. e5 Qb6 17. b3 $146 {A logical novelty: anticipating opponent's
long castling White starts to open the queenside. Actually we are witnessing
the amazing homework of the world's best players. Kramnik's second in Mexico
Van Wely played this position with Black and might have felt that 17.b3 is the
right direction for White. On the other hand, Anand's second P-H Nielsen is
also a specialist of this opening line and (as revealed by Anand) during their
preparation process the Danish GM pointed out the move 17.b3. So Anand was
well prepared to meet it and continued to play very quickly.} (17. Ne4 O-O-O
18. Nd6+ Kb8 19. Nxf7 (19. b3 f6 20. bxc4 fxe5 $13 {1/2-1/2 Ernst,S (2504)-Van
Wely,L (2675)/Netherlands 2006 (51)}) 19... Rxf7 20. Bxf7 Nxe5 21. Qh5 Rxd4 22.
Bxe6 c5 $36 {0-1 Radjabov,T (2728)-Anand,V (2779)/Mainz (rapid) 2006 (36)})
17... O-O-O $5 {An immediate answer by Anand, which probably came as an
unpleasant surprise for Kramnik.} ({During their analysis both opponents must
have concluded that} 17... c5 {is dangerous for Black. In fact the advance of
the c-pawn is the most natural reaction and possibly Kramnik paid more
attention to 17...c5 than to 17...0-0-0.}) 18. bxc4 Nxe5 19. c5 Qa5 $1 {
In connection with the next move, an interesting exchange sacrifice.} (19...
Qc7 20. a4 $44) 20. Ne4 Qb4 (20... Nc4 {keeps the extra pawn, but due to the
passive bishop on b7 and potentially weak black king White has compensation.})
21. Nd6+ Rxd6 22. cxd6 Nd7 {Again Anand refrains from 22...Nc4, possibly
because of psychological reasons: if Kramnik achieved this position in his
preparation, he must have mainly looked at 22...Nc4. Up to this point White
spent 17 minutes and Black only 7! The entire idea to sacrifice the exchange
was prepared by Anand and his second Peter-Heine Nielsen at home. Considering
that it was Kramnik who introduced the novelty, such a deep preparation
impresses a lot. The next few moves are very important for both sides,
especially for White, who must find a constructive plan.} 23. a4 {In my
opinion this is a critical moment. The natural advance of the a-pawn is
perhaps too committing, since the exchange of the pawns on b5 (Anand will soon
force that) will offer Black advantages too: the bishop b7 will become active
and Black will remain with two passed pawns. If White cannot create an attack,
then maybe he should have refrained from 23.a4.} (23. Qd3 $5 {[%cal Gf1d1,
Ga1c1,Gd3h7]}) 23... Qxd6 {The position calmed down and it is time to evaluate
it. The material is approximately equal and both sides have their strategical
trumps. In the middlegame Black can create pressure on d4, while his queenside
pawns may prove very strong in the endgame. On the other hand the black king
is more vulnerable to almost any kind of further tactical complications.
Apparently in such an open position White should be able to coordinate his
rooks and create some threats, but this is extremely difficult to achieve: if
Black will succeed in finding an active and safe square for the knight, then
he can be optimistic about the future. White doesn't have many pieces left to
create big threats and the exchange of queens would be a catastrophe for him:
in the endgame Black will have a large advantage.} 24. Bf3 {Since the long
diagonal will soon be open, White can hardly avoid the exchange of bishops.} ({
In such an important game giving up another pawn with} 24. Qc2 {looks scary,
even if after} Qxd4 (24... Kb8 25. Qh7 $36) 25. axb5 axb5 26. Rfd1 $13 {
White has open files and diagonal for his active pieces.}) 24... Nb6 {Forcing
White to clarify the situation on the queenside.} 25. axb5 {White naturally
opens the position, but as mentioned already, Black can be happy too: now he
will remain with two potentially very strong passed pawns.} cxb5 (25... axb5 $2
{opens files only for opponent's pieces and is obviously weaker} 26. Qc2 $16)
26. Bxb7+ Kxb7 {After the exchange of the bishops White's future hopes are
mainly connected with creating pressure on the a-file.} 27. Qh5 {For the
moment White cannot do much on the a-file: the a6-pawn is difficult to attack 
(and easy to protect). Besides, Black has counterplay in the center against
pawn d4. Having realized that there is no direct attack on the queenside
Kramnik goes for opponent's weaknesses on the other wing.} (27. Qf3+ Nd5 $1 (
27... Qd5 28. Qf6 $36)) 27... Nd5 $5 {Anand didn't resist the temptation to
activate the knight.} ({After} 27... Qxd4 28. Qxh6 {(possibly White must try
something else here)} {Black can force the exchange of queens with} Rh8 29.
Qxg5 Qh4 $1 {Then after} 30. Qxh4 (30. Qe5 $2 Nc4 $17) 30... Rxh4 31. g3 Rh8 {
the endgame looks dangerous rather for White, in spite of his passed pawn on
the h-file.}) 28. Qxh6 Nf4 {Optically Black's plan looks very strong. However,
it is far from clear if Anand's move brings any benefits, since White defends
against concrete threats.} 29. Kh1 $1 {The correct way. White will have to
play f3 and therefore the king must stay on h1 in any case.} (29. Qxg5 $4 Ne2+
30. Kh1 Qxh2+ $1 31. Kxh2 Rh8+ {and mate}) (29. Rfe1 $4 Qd5 30. f3 Qxd4+ 31.
Kh1 Nd3 $19) 29... Qd5 30. f3 Rd8 {The rook finds the right place on d7: it
will be active on the d-file and at the same time protect f7 (and the entire
7th rank).} 31. Qg7 Rd7 ({Another reasonable possibility was to limit the
activity of White's queen by playing} 31... Qf5 {with different ideas to
exchange queens. E.g.} 32. Rfd1 Nh5 (32... Qg6 $2 33. Qe5 Qf5 34. Qe1 $16) 33.
Qh6 Nf4 {[%csl Rh6][%cal Gf5g6]} 34. Qg7 $11) 32. Qf8 {Kramnik finds and
wisely uses all the new resources of the position. He had to decide for his
queen between squares g8 and f8. In the first case the queen would have kept
an eye on pawn g5, while in the game White has the resource Qf8-a3. In such
cases players mainly rely on their intuition.} (32. Qg8 $5) 32... Ne2 $5 {
It is curious that a quarter of all Black's moves were made with this knight,
which always searches for a better square. With its last move the knight also
takes away square c1 from the rooks.} (32... Qd6 33. Qg8 $13 (33. Qg7 Qd5 $11 {
Anand})) (32... Qxd4 33. Rfc1 $36) 33. Rfe1 $1 Nxd4 (33... Qc4 $6 34. d5 $1 $16
{/\} exd5 $2 35. Qe8) 34. Red1 {The World Champion keeps the rook on the
a-file, still hoping for an attack.} ({Anand admitted that he was more afraid
of} 34. Rad1 {with pressure in the center. In both cases the position is some
sort of dynamic equality.}) 34... e5 {Black is just one step away from the
dream consolidation (...Qd6 and ...f6). However, as often happens in
double-edged positions, the direct way to achieve the goal rarely works out
smoothly.} (34... Qd6 $142 35. Qg7 Qf4 $13) 35. Rac1 {According to the plan,
although this turns out to be an inappropriate moment to remove the rook from
a1.} ({The extremely tense battle had its negative effects: both players missed
} 35. Qh6 {with a double attack on a6 and g5. Then after} Qd6 36. Qxg5 f6 {
(Anand's intention)} 37. Qg8 {things are no longer so rosy for Black: in
contrast to the game he runs into the risk of losing too.}) 35... Qd6 36. Qg8 (
36. Qc8+ Kb6 37. Ra1 a5 {(or even 37...Ra7) and White gets nowhere. With such
a strong knight Black has little to fear.}) 36... f6 37. Rc8 {In order to
justify his previous play White must do something against the black king.} a5
$1 {Finally the tension reaches its top. Black is very solid and Anand starts
showing his ambitions. Notice that the advance of the a-pawn is also a very
useful move from the defense's point of view: the black king gets additional
squares.} 38. h3 {A necessary loss of tempo.} (38. Rdc1 $2 Nc6 $1 {[%cal Gd6d1]
} 39. h3 Ne7 $19) 38... a4 39. Qe8 {Kramnik waits for Black's further pawn
advances, which would offer White additional targets for attack.} (39. Rdc1 Nb3
({The risky} 39... a3 {looks possible too, since after} 40. Ra8 Kb6 41. Qc8 {
[%cal Ga8a6] Black has} Rb7 {and after} 42. Rb1 {we have again a sort of
position where both players must keep the status quo.}) 40. Ra8 $1 Kb6 (40...
Rc7 $4 41. Qb8#) (40... Nxc1 $4 41. Qc8+ Kb6 42. Ra6#) 41. Qc8 Rb7 42. Rc3 $13
b4 $140 $2 43. Qc4 $18) 39... Kb6 {It turns out that White has a powerful
construction and Black cannot advance his pawns too far.} (39... a3 40. Ra8 Kb6
41. Qc8 Rb7 42. Rb1 Qc7 43. Qe8 $13 {/=}) 40. Rb8+ Ka5 (40... Rb7 41. Ra8 $11)
41. Ra8+ {With a draw offer accepted by Anand, who wisely decided not to take
any risk. Perhaps in a different tournament situation he could have considered
more seriously 41...Kb4, but objectively Black has little reason to continue.
Of course under the tournament circumstances this draw may be considered a
psychological victory for Anand. Nevertheless the game features a great fight
from both players, who showed impressive skills and were equally good.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Tournament"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[Date "2007.09.25"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C43"]
[WhiteElo "2726"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "25"]
[EventDate "2007.09.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "MEX"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 120"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Grischuk switches back to his main weapon, although in Mexico he has
been by far more successfull with 1.d4.} e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 {Not so
frequently played at top level these days.} Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nc3
Nxc3 7. bxc3 Nxe5 8. dxe5 Be7 {White advanced e-pawn and the open b-file
offers him attacking chances on both wings. However, in the absence of knights,
Black's defensive possibilities are quite high.} 9. Qh5 {Played before castles,
this move puts more pressure on Black.} (9. O-O {is less dangerous.} O-O 10.
Qh5 (10. Rb1 c6 11. f4 f5 12. Be3 b5 13. Kh1 Be6 $11 {Asrian,K (2646)
-Nalbandian,T (2524)/Yerevan 2006/CBM 112 (1/2-1/2, 41) In this blocked
position, Black has absolutely nothing to fear.}) 10... g6 11. Qf3 Be6 12. Rb1
Rb8 13. Bh6 Re8 14. Qg3 Qd7 15. Kh1 c6 16. f4 Bf5 $11 {Asrian,K (2646)
-Erenburg,S (2554)/Sochi 2006/CBM 111 ext (1/2-1/2, 42) and White's attacking
chances are very problematic, while strategically Black is OK.}) 9... Be6 10.
Rb1 (10. f4 {1/2-1/2 Dolmatov,S (2588)-Mamedyarov,S (2522)/Moscow 2002/CBM 088/
[Huzman] (36)}) 10... Qd7 {[%csl Gh5][%cal Ye6g4]} 11. Bg5 ({The other way to
parry the threat is also interesting.} 11. h3 b6 12. O-O g6 13. Qh6 Bf8 14. Qf4
Be7 15. Qh6 Bf8 16. Qh4 Be7 17. Bg5 Bxg5 18. Qxg5 Qe7 (18... O-O $5 19. f4 Qd8
20. Qg3 Kh8 (20... f5 21. exf6 Qxf6 22. f5 $1) 21. f5 gxf5 22. Bxf5 Rg8 23. Qf4
Qg5 $11) 19. Bb5+ (19. Qh6 O-O-O) (19. Qg3 O-O 20. f4 Kh8 21. Rbe1 f5 $11)
19... Bd7 20. Bxd7+ Qxd7 21. f4 (21. Rbd1 $5) 21... Qf5 {Sutovsky,E (2629)
-Roiz,M (2605)/Gibraltar 2007/CBM 116 ext (1-0, 53). and Black was close to
equality.}) 11... c6 $146 ({An important improvement over the careless} 11...
O-O-O $2 {which unexpectedely allows a forced win:} 12. Bb5 $1 {Apparently
pointless.} c6 13. Ba6 $3 Bg4 (13... bxa6 {loses to} 14. Qe2 $18 {. We can
feel here the significance of White's advantage of space, resulting into a
high mobility of his pieces (the queen).}) 14. Qxf7 Bxg5 15. Rxb7 Qxf7 16.
Rxf7+ Kb8 17. O-O Bc8 (17... Rd7 18. Rb1+ Ka8 (18... Kc7 19. Rb7+ Kd8 20.
Rfxd7+ Bxd7 21. Rb8+ $18) 19. Bb7+ Kb8 20. Bxc6+ Kc7 21. Bxd7 Bxd7 22. e6 $18)
18. Rb1+ Ka8 19. Bxc8 Rxc8 20. Rbb7 Rce8 21. Rxa7+ Kb8 22. Rfb7+ Kc8 23. Rxg7
Kb8 24. g3 Bd2 25. Rgb7+ Kc8 26. Rc7+ Kb8 27. Rcb7+ Kc8 28. Rf7 Kb8 29. Rab7+
Ka8 30. Ra7+ Kb8 31. Rab7+ Ka8 32. Rbc7 Bxc3 33. f4 $16 {Sutovsky,E (2637)
-Sakaev,K (2633)/Dresden 2007/CBM 118 (1-0, 55)}) 12. O-O Bxg5 13. Qxg5 {
Nothing really breathtaking, with the exception of the speed with which all
these moves were played. Nada realmente espectacular, con excepción de la
rapidez con la cual fueron efectuadas estas jugadas.} (13. Qxg5 O-O 14. f4 h6 (
14... f6 15. exf6 (15. Qh4 Bf5 $11) 15... Rxf6 16. f5 Bf7 17. Rb4 $36 {[%cal
Yb4g4]}) 15. Qh5 Bg4 16. Qh4 Bf5 17. Rf3 f6 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Tournament"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[Date "2007.09.27"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2007.09.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "MEX"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 120"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4
b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Be4 11. Qc1 Qc8 12. Bg5 Nbd7 {The moment of truth has
come. Leko fights against Kramnik with his own weapons. Quite a risky policy,
I must say. Ha llegado la hora de la verdad. Leko lucha contra Kramnik con sus
proprías armas. Una política bastante arriesgada, según me parece...} 13. Qf4
$5 {Here comes the novelty, sidestepping most of the theoretical knowledge
that has been accumulated in recent years. Aquí tenemos la novedad, evitando
la mayor parte de los conocimientos teóricos acumulados durante los últimos
años.} Bb7 ({After a long thought, Leko refrains from Después de una larga
reflección, Leko decide abstenerse de} 13... c5 {, which seems to be a
critical continuation. White's most natural reply is , que parece como una
continuación crítica.} 14. Rc1 c4 15. b3 {[%csl Gc4]}) ({Another consequent
move would be} 13... Qb7 {, but it appears that Black has not sufficient space
along the h1-a8 diagonal after} 14. Nc3 {(Taking advantage of the fact that
the knight's development has been delayed.)} Bc6 15. e4 b4 16. d5 exd5 17. exd5
Nxd5 18. Nxd5 Bxg5 19. Qxb4 Bxd5 20. Qxb7 Bxb7 21. Nxg5 Bxg2 22. Kxg2 {Despite
simplifications, White retains a minimal but stable advantage because of
Black's queenside weaknesses. It would be dangerous to allow Kramnik to get
such a position.}) 14. Rc1 {There is something remarkable about White's last
moves. I can't help comparing them with certain patterns of play in chess
problems (mates in 3 or 4, helpmates). White's pieces tend to make full use of
the space left available by their colleagues. 12.Bg5 has made available a
whole new diagonal for the queen and she uses it immediately, making the
longest possible move. This has cleared the c1-square and the king's rook
hurries to occupy it. I would also point out that the queen and the bishop
concentrate their pressure on the f6-square, while the queen and the rook
attack the c7-square. To my understanding, this is pure harmony, but let us
return to the more concrete world of practical chess, where things are not
that clear. Hay algo de especial en las últimas jugadas de las blancas. No
puedo evitar compararlas con ciertos modelos empleados en la problemística de
ajedrez (mates en 3 o 4, mates ayuda). La sfiguras de las blancas tienden a
aprovechar plenamente el espacío dejado libre por sus colegas en las jugadas
anteriores. 12.Ag5 había eliberado la diagonal c1-f4 para la dama, que la
aprovecha enseguída, efectuando la jugada más larga posible. A su vez, esta
jugada ha eliberado la casilla de c1 y la torre de rey se da prisa en ocuparla,
efectuando también la jugada más larga. También queda por decir que la dama y
el alfil concentran sus esfuerzos sobre la casilla de f6, mientras que la
torre y la dama atacan el peón de c7. A mi entender, esto es pura harmonía.
Pero ya es el tiempo de volver al mundo más concreto del ajedrez de torneo.}
Bd6 15. Qh4 h6 16. Bxf6 ({I believe that the extravagant} 16. Bxh6 gxh6 17.
Qxh6 {[%csl Rg8][%cal Yb1d2,Yd2b3,Gc1c2,Ga1c1] should not be discarded
completely. White has no immediate threats, but he can combine the usual
queenside pressure with "casual" kingside tactics. Also, the breakthrough ...
e5 is less appealing, because the f6-knight is hanging. I only have one
objection to this plan: White is underdeveloped still, making such radical
measures loo premature.}) 16... Nxf6 17. Nbd2 {White has a slight advance in
development and has managed to prevent the freeing move ...c5. However, he has
to find a way to coordinate his queen with the other pieces, in order not to
lose... harmony. Las blancas han logrado una pequeña ventaja de desarrollo y
han conseguído evitar la ruptura ...c5. Sin embargo, tienen por delante la
tarea de coordinar de alguna forma a su dama con el resto de las figuras, para
no perder la... armonía.} Re8 18. e4 (18. Rc2 e5 19. dxe5 Bxe5 20. Nxe5 Bxg2 (
20... Rxe5 $6 21. Qf4 $1 Re7 (21... Rxe2 $2 22. Rxc7 $16) 22. Nb3 Bxg2 23. Kxg2
$14 {[%csl Ga5,Gc5][%cal Ya1c1]}) 21. Kxg2 Rxe5 $36 {[%csl Ge2][%cal Yc7c5,
Yc8b7,Ye5h5]}) 18... Nd7 $1 (18... e5 19. dxe5 Bxe5 20. Nxe5 Rxe5 21. Qf4 Re7
22. Qe3 $14 {[%csl Gc5]}) (18... Be7 19. Qf4 Bd6 20. e5 Nd5 21. Qg4 Be7 22. Ne4
$14 {[%csl Gc5]}) 19. Nb3 a5 {Up to this moment,Kramnik had spent around a
quarter of an hour, but now he sank into deep thought. Hasta este momento,
Kramnik había gastado alrededor de un cuarto de hora, pero aquí se hundió en
una larga reflexión.} (19... e5 $6 20. Na5 $1 $16) ({After} 19... Be7 20. Qf4
Bd6 {White is not forced to accept a draw, but can bring his queen back into
play with} 21. Qe3 $1 $14) 20. Nc5 ({My first thought was that the knight jump
to c5 should have been prepared with Mi primer pensamiento fue que el salto de
caballo tendría que ser preparado con} 20. Rc2 a4 21. Nc5 {, but maybe Leko's
last move was more of a defence against the threat Na5 than a preliminary step
for the further advance of the pawn. , pero puede que la jugada anterior de
Leko haya sido una simple parada contra la amenaza Ca5 y no una amenaza contra
el caballo de b3.}) ({After Es posible que despu'es de} 20. Rc2 {, Kramnik
might have disliked a Kramnik no le hubiera gustado} e5) ({When I wrote the
express report, I also believed that the thematic La temática jugada} 20. a4 {
fails to offer an advantage after no ofrecería ventaja por} bxa4 (20... b4 21.
Nfd2 $14 {[%cal Yd2c4]}) 21. Rxa4 Bb4 {, because there are too many pieces
along the fourth rank, preventing the coordination between the a4-rook and the
queen. This is probably wrong. After . Quedan demasiadas figuras interpuestas
entre la dama y la torre de a4.} 22. Qf4 {[%cal Yf4e3,Gf3e1,Ge1d3] White
retains chances for an advantage.}) 20... Be7 {The first impression is that
the capture on c5 would have made the b7-bishop feel uncomfortable. Leko
decides to solve his problems by... winning material. La captura en c5 hubiera
hecho al alfil de b7 sentirse incómodo. Leko decidió resolver sus problemas
por... ganancías de material.} ({Indeed,} 20... Bxc5 $6 {is not to be
recommended because of} 21. dxc5 Bc6 22. Nd4 $16) ({However,} 20... Nxc5 21.
dxc5 Be7 {is not entirely clear.} 22. Qh5 (22. Qf4 e5 23. Nxe5 Bf6 $44 {
[%csl Gb2]}) 22... Bxe4 (22... g6 23. Qe5 $1) 23. Ne5 $1 g6 24. Qxh6 Bxg2 25.
Kxg2 Bf6 26. Qf4 Bxe5 27. Qxe5 Rd8 {[%csl Ga1] and Black seems to be out of
danger. In most of these variations we can see that the insertion of the moves
Rc2 and ...a4 would have favoured White.}) 21. Qf4 e5 {Slightly risky.} ({
In fact,} 21... Nxc5 22. dxc5 e5 $1 {would transpose toa variation given above,
after having avoided Qh5.}) 22. Nxe5 Nxe5 23. dxe5 (23. Qxe5 $2 Bg5 24. Qf5 {
This will cause the disruption of White's centre, but there is no other square
available for the queen.} Qxf5 25. exf5 Bxc1 $19 26. Bxb7 Re1+) 23... Bg5 24.
Qf3 Bxc1 25. Rxc1 Rxe5 26. Qc3 {White's compensation for the sacrificed
exchange consists of his much more active placement of pieces. The b7-bishop
and the a8-rook cannot be brought into play too easily. Continuing the
discussion about harmony, White's position looks optically perfect from this
point of view. La compensación de las blancas por la calidad entregada reside
principalmente en la mayor actividad de sus figuras. Ls negras no podrán traer
a su torre de dama y alfil en juego con demasiada facilidad. Continuando el
debate sobre la harmonía, la posición de las blancas parece perfecta desde
este punto de vista.} f6 $6 ({It is hard to say whether Leko underestimated
White's compensation, or, on the contrary, feared that after Es difícil saber
si Leko había menosvalorado la compensación de las blancas después de la
jugada del texto, o si, por el contrarío, consideró su posición después de} 
26... Re7 27. Nxb7 Qxb7 28. e5 Qa7 29. Bxa8 Qxa8 {his position would remain
difficult. I believe that White would have not found it easy to consolidate
his advantage of space, because there is too little material left on the board
and his position contains some weaknesses, too. In view of Black's several
possible deviations from the game continuation, I would conclude that the
first move made by Kramnik after a long thought (20.Nc5) was not the best and
that 20.a4 will have to be tried next time the respective position arises.
como difícil. En realidad, las blancas hubieran tenido problemas mantener su
ventaja de espacío, por el número reducido de figuras que quedan y por las
debilidades en casillas blancas.}) 27. Qb3+ Kh8 $6 {Another uninspired
decision. As will be revealed soon, h7 was a safer square for His Majesty.
Otra decisión mal inspirada. Como se verá pronto, h7 sería una casilla mejor
para Su Majestad.} (27... Kh7 28. Qf7 Bc6 29. Nd3 (29. f4 $2 Qe8 $1) 29... Be8
(29... Qe8 $2 30. Nxe5 $1 {[%csl Gf7]}) 30. Qf8 $14 {The difference compared
to the game continuation is that this is without check.} Rg5 31. h4 Rg4 32. Bf3
$14 {[%csl Gc5]}) 28. Qf7 $1 {Black is in big trouble. The immediate threats
are Nxb7 or Nd3 followed by Rxc7. Las negras pasan por apuros graves. Se
amenazan Nxb7 o Nd3, seguído por Rxc7.} Bc6 29. Nd3 Re6 {Con el rey en h7, las
negras hubieran resistido con 29...Ae8, cuando 30.De8 sería sin jaque.} (29...
Be8 $2 30. Qf8+) 30. Nf4 ({Continuing the attack rather than pinning the rook
with the trivial Prefiriendo continuar el ataque en vez de la clavada sencilla
} 30. Bh3) 30... Rd6 31. Ng6+ Kh7 32. e5 $1 {White wins material now. Las
blancas ganan material.} fxe5 33. Bxc6 Rf6 34. Qd5 Qf5 35. Bxa8 Qxf2+ 36. Kh1
Qxb2 37. Qc5 Kxg6 38. Be4+ Kh5 39. Rb1 1-0

[Event "World-ch Tournament"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[Date "2007.09.28"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2733"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2007.09.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "MEX"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 120"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. a3 {A specialty of Gelfand.} b4 10. Ne4 Nxe4 11. Bxe4 bxa3 12. O-O Nf6 (
{A new move in Kramnik's games. Against Topalov in Elista, he played Una
jugada nueva para las partidas de Kramnik. Contra Topalov en Elista jugó} 12...
Bd6 {and only after y solo después de} 13. b3 {he attacked the enemy bishop
with atacó el alfil enemigo con} Nf6 {. Topalov came up with the novelty .
Topalov produjo la novedad} 14. Nd2 $5 {Topalov,V (2813)-Kramnik,V (2743)/
Elista 2006/CBM 115/[Marin,M] (1/2-1/2, 54). , highlighting the drawbacks of
the bishop's early development to d6. subrayando las desventajas del
desarrollo temprano del alfil a d6.}) (12... Be7 $5 {Schwarz gibt den
schwarzen Peter an Weiß zurück und weigert sich einfach, auf b2 zu nehmen.} 13.
b3 (13. Qc2 {Gelfand,B (2710)-Bareev,E (2726)/Moscow 2002/CBM 091/[Lutz] (0-1,
53)}) 13... Nf6 14. Bd3 Qa5 (14... Qb6 15. Bxa3 Bxa3 16. Rxa3 c5 17. dxc5 Qxc5
18. b4 Qb6 19. Qa4+ Bc6 20. Qa5 O-O 21. Nd4 Bd5 22. Rfa1 $14 {Moiseenko,A 
(2657)-Yevseev,D (2557)/Cappelle la Grande 2006/CBM 110 ext (1-0, 45). The
structure is almost symmetrical, but White has the more active piece placement.
}) 15. b4 $5 Bxb4 16. Bxa3 Bxa3 17. Qb3 O-O 18. Rxa3 Qc7 {Black has managed to
castle and preserve his extra-pawn, but the b7-bishop is passive and his
structure is weak.} 19. Qc2 Rfc8 20. Rfa1 a5 21. Rc3 g6 22. Ne5 Nd7 23. Nxd7
Qxd7 24. Rc5 {The a5-pawn cannot be saved anymore now and White will maintain
the better structure anyway.} Ba6 {Exchanging the bad bishop, but weakening
the c6-pawn.} 25. Bxa6 Rxa6 26. Raxa5 Rb6 27. g3 Rcb8 28. Ra1 Rb2 29. Qe4 R8b5
30. Rxc6 {Gelfand,B (2709)-Vallejo Pons,F (2663)/Monaco 2004/CBM 099 ext (1-0,
41). and White converted his material advantage.}) 13. Bd3 axb2 (13... Be7 {
would transpose above.}) 14. Bxb2 a5 $146 ({A new idea in this position.
Kramnik delays the development of the f8-bishop, preparing the advanced
b4-square for it. Una idea nueva en esta posición. Kramnik retrasa el
desarrollo del alfil, preparandole la casilla de b4.} 14... Be7 {would
transpose to an older game by Kramnik. transpondría a una partida antigua de
Kramnik, contra Ivanchuk en Nueva York 1994.} 15. Qb1 Rb8 16. Rxa7 Qb6 17. Qa2
O-O {and Black managed to hold:} 18. Rb1 Ra8 19. Rxa8 Rxa8 20. Qc4 Ba6 21. Qc2
Bxd3 22. Qxd3 Qb5 23. Ne5 Rb8 24. Qxb5 Rxb5 25. Nc4 c5 {1/2-1/2 Ivanchuk,V 
(2695)-Kramnik,V (2725)/New York 1994/CBM 041 ext}) (14... Bb4 15. Ba6 $6 (15.
Qa4 $1 {would most likely transpose to our main game. If Black wants to spare
the move ...a5, he could get into trouble:} Qe7 16. Ba3 Bxa3 17. Qxa3 Qxa3 18.
Rxa3 Ke7 19. Rb1 $16) 15... Qb6 16. Qa4 Bxa6 17. Qxa6 O-O 18. Ne5 c5 19. Nd3
Rfb8 20. Qc4 Qb5 21. Rfc1 cxd4 22. Qxb5 Rxb5 23. Nxb4 Rxb4 24. Rxa7 Rbb8 25.
Rxa8 Rxa8 26. Bxd4 {1/2-1/2 L'Ami,E (2593)-Smeets,J (2525)/Hoogeveen NED 2006/
TWIC 625}) 15. Qa4 Bb4 16. Ba3 {This exchange is essential in order to
question Black's queenside stability.} (16. Ne5 O-O $1 17. Nxc6 Qd5 18. Rfc1 (
18. Qxb4 $2 {[%csl Ge7]} Qxc6 $1 $19) 18... Rfc8 19. Bb5 {and White's position
looks a bit hanging.}) 16... Nd5 ({Black should not release the tension with} 
16... Bxa3 {, because this would cause him problems with his devlopment:} 17.
Qxa3 Qe7 18. Rfb1 Ra7 19. Ne5 Qxa3 20. Rxa3 Ke7 (20... O-O 21. Rba1 Rfa8 22.
Nc4 a4 23. Nb6 $16) 21. Ba6 $1 Ba8 22. Rxa5 $14) 17. e4 ({White had an
important alternative here.} 17. Be4 $5 {Undermining Black's control over the
b4-square without weakening his own structure.} O-O (17... Bxa3 18. Bxd5 Qxd5
19. Qxa3 c5 20. Rfc1 $14 c4 21. e4 $5 $16 Qxe4 $140 22. Rxc4 {[%csl Ge8]}) 18.
Bxd5 Bxa3 (18... cxd5 19. Bxb4 axb4 20. Qxb4 Ba6 21. Rfc1 $14 {[%csl Gc5,Ge5,
Gf3] Black is in no immediate danger, but in the long run the knight might
prove to be stronger than the bishop, while White's major pieces are more
active than Black's already.}) 19. Bxc6 ({If White is not convinced about the
merits of his position in the main line, he could try the intermediate} 19.
Bxe6 $5) 19... Bxc6 20. Qxc6 Bb4 21. Ne5 $14 {Optically, White stands better,
because of his stronc centre and the control over the c6-s}) 17... Nb6 18. Qb3
Qe7 19. Rab1 (19. Rfb1 {looks more natural, but would lead to mass
simplifications after} Nd7 20. Bxb4 axb4 21. Rxa8+ Bxa8 22. Qxb4 Qxb4 23. Rxb4
Ke7 $11 {[%cal Gc6c5] and the freeing move ...c5, with absolute equality,
cannot be prevented.}) 19... Bxa3 ({Now,} 19... Nd7 {does not work out so well:
} 20. Bxb4 axb4 21. Qxb4 Qxb4 22. Rxb4 Ra7 23. Rfb1 $36) 20. Qxb6 Bb4 21. Ne1 {
This looks too slow.} ({Gelfand could have complicated the game with} 21. d5 $5
exd5 (21... cxd5 $2 22. Rfc1 Rc8 23. Bb5+ $18) 22. exd5 O-O 23. dxc6 {,
although after} Bc8 {the pair of bishops and the potentially dangerous a-pawn
would compensate for White's far advanced pawn.}) 21... O-O 22. Nc2 Rfd8 23.
Nxb4 axb4 24. Qxb4 Qxb4 25. Rxb4 Ba6 26. Bxa6 {White's advantage is purely
symbolic. La ventaja de las blancas es puramente simbolica.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Tournament"]
[Site "Mexico City"]
[Date "2007.09.29"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2007.09.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "MEX"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 120"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.10.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 ({For the first time in this tournament, Kramnik
refrains from the Catalan. Aronian usually answers Por primera vez en este
torneo, Kramnik evita la Catalana. Después de} 3. g3 {with , Aronian suele
jugar} c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 b5 {and in fact he lost the theoretical duel in
the last two games (against Kramnik himself, in their rapid match earlier this
year and against Gelfand, here in Mexico.) , aunque cabe decir que perdió sus
últimas partidas (contra Kramnik en su encuentro de rápidas, este mismo año y
contra Gelfand en este torneo)}) 3... b6 4. g3 {Still, the bishop goes to g2,
which seems to suit Kramnik's taste these days. Sin embargo, el alfil irá a g2,
lo que parece que le conviene al estilo de Kramnik hoy en día.} Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+
6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3 ({This was the last chance to transpose to a
genuine Catalan with Esta era la última posibilidad de transponer a una
Catalana veritable con} 8. O-O d5 9. Qc2 {, although some might call it a Bogo
Indian. It should be mentioned that some years ago it was precisely Kramnik
who popularized this curious transposition. , aunque algunos la llamarían Bogo
India.}) 8... d5 9. Ne5 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nd2 O-O 12. O-O Rc8 13. e4 dxe4
14. Nxe4 b5 15. Re1 bxc4 {There have been some discussion in this line lately,
but theory is far from being settled yet. Ultimamente, hubo ciertas
discusiones en esta variante, pero sin llegar a unas conclusiones definitivas
todavía.} 16. Bf1 ({The main alternative is La principal alternativa es} 16.
Qe2 {See the comments on Radjabov,T (2729)-Karjakin,S (2678)/Wijk aan Zee 2007/
CBM 117/[Krasenkow] (1/2-1/2, 78).}) 16... Nb6 {Aronian had had this position
before, but with the white pieces. IHowever, this previous experience hardly
was useful to him for this game because in Aronian-Nakamura, Armenia 2005, a
draw was agreed right here. Aronian se había enfrentado a esta posición
anteriormente, pero... ¡desde el otro lado del tablero! Sin embargo, no debe
de haberle servido de mucho para esta ocasión, ya que en la partida
Aronian-Nakamura, Armenia 2005, se acordaron tablas aquí mismo.} (16... Nf6 17.
bxc4 (17. Nc5 Nd5 {would transpose to 16...Nb6.}) 17... Nxe4 18. Rxe4 c5 19. d5
$14 {Logothetis,S (2221)-Lobzhanidze,D (2450)/Dresden 2007/CBM 118 (1/2-1/2,
35)}) 17. Rb1 $5 {It is curious that this natural developing move, bringing
the last piece into play (true in a not entirely "normal" position) is a
novelty.} ({Earlier, White mainly tried Es curioso que una jugada tan natural
de desarrollo (trayendola última figura en el juego), es verdad, en una
posición bastante poco natural, sea una novedad. Antes, las blancas habían
probado principalmente} 17. Nc5 {See the comments and theoretical survey in
Sargissian,G (2603)-Efimenko,Z (2666)/Moscow 2006/CBM 112/[Avrukh,B] (1-0, 46).
}) 17... Nd5 $6 {Another merit of Kramnik's novelty, is that this natural and
tempting move, which is an adequate reaction against 17.Nc5, does not work too
well here. From a practical point of view, this is a huge handicap for Black.
Since 16.Rb1 was a mere developing move, I have tried to find ways to answer
with the same method with Black.} ({The first move that came to my mind is} 
17... Re8 $6 {However, it is not clear what this move could be useful for.
Sometimes, the fork on d7 is prevented, enabling ...Qb6, but this is if little
use from practical point of view. I have tried to work out such a (not at all
forced) variation in which the rook would be useful on e8:} 18. Nc5 Bxc5 19.
dxc5 Qxd1 20. Rbxd1 Nd5 21. Ba5 e5 {, but even here White is better after} 22.
bxc4 Nf6 23. Rd6 $14) ({Since there is no pressure on the c6-pawn now,} 17...
Rb8 $6 {also makes some sense. It is not really a developing move, but it aims
to improve the placement of an already developed piece. However, in the next
lines several drawbacks of this move can be seen:} 18. bxc4 Nxc4 (18... Bxc4 {
is impossible because after} 19. Rxb6 $1 Bxf1 {, the white rook has the
opportunity to capture a piece with} 20. Rxb8 $18) 19. Rxb8 Qxb8 20. Nc5 {
Here, too, we can see that after the exchange on b8 a fork is threatened on d7,
practically forcing} Bxc5 21. dxc5 $16 {[%csl Ga6,Gc4,Gg7][%cal Yd1d4,Yd1g4]
when White's pair of bishops is very active, while Black's minor pieces are
hanging.}) ({Just when I started thinking that there might be no adequate
solution to Kramnik's novelty, I remembered the words of my first trainer, IM
Mircea Pavlov: "When you do not know what to do, use Alatortsev's method, by
asking yourself in which stage of the plan (or game) you are!" Here, the most
normal thing to do with Black is connect rooks! Hence,} 17... Qd5 $5 {comes
into consideration. The move looks risky, because the queen is exposed in the
centre, but at the same time the c5-square is taken under control.
Straightforward continuations do not seem to offer White anything concrete:}
18. Bg2 (18. Nc5 Bxc5 19. Re5 Bd6 20. Rxd5 cxd5 $44 {Does White have any
winning chances here?!}) 18... Qf5 19. Nc5 Bxc5 20. Be4 Qg5 21. h4 Qe7 22. dxc5
Qxc5 23. Qg4 g6 24. Qf4 $44 {White has a threatening position, but Black's 2
extra-pawns seem to offer him adequate compensation for the dangers.}) ({After
} 17... Qd5 {, White should probably bring new forces into the fight. I would
suggest} 18. a4 {, aiming to drive the enemy knight away. There is plenty of
play left in the position, but I feel that this is the direction to follow.})
18. Ba1 Bb4 $6 {These last attacking moves win an exchange almost by force,
but leave Black poorly coordinated. Las últimas dos jugadas "de ataque" ganan
calidad de manera casi forzada, pero dejarán a las negras malamente
coordinadas. Tal vez, era necesarío contestar 17.Tb1 con otra jugada de
desarrollo, pero ¿cual? La únicaposibilidad que me pasa por cabeza sería 17...
Te8,pero no es fácil entender de que modo esta jugada sería útil. Tal vez
¿¡por evitar el doble en d7, en caso de la generalmente deseable ...Db6?!} (
18... Rb8 19. bxc4 $14) 19. Nc5 $1 Bxe1 (19... Bxc5 20. dxc5 $14) (19... Qa5
20. bxc4 Bxe1 21. Qxe1 Qxe1 22. Rxe1 Nc7 23. Bc3 $16 {[%csl Ga6,Gc7][%cal
Yc3a5]}) 20. Qxe1 cxb3 ({This move is hard to understand. Black will simply
lose material, without getting any compensation for it. True, after Esta
jugada es difícil de entender. Las negras perderán material sis ningún pizca
de compensación. Es verdad que después de} 20... Nc7 21. bxc4 {, Black's minor
pieces are miserably placed, but then the criticism should be focused on the
17th and, possibly, 18th moves only. las figuras menores de las negras se
encontrarían en una situación deplorable, pero tal vez la critica tendría que
concentrarse en la 17-a y, posiblemente, 18-a jugada.}) 21. Nxa6 bxa2 22. Rb2 {
White has two bishops against rook and 2 pawns (ignoring the doomed a2-pawn).
Materially, this sounds OK for Black, but the a7- and c6-pawns are weak, too
and Black will not be able to create any dangerous passed pawn. The rest is a
matter of technique. [#]El resto es cosa de técnica.} Nc7 23. Rxa2 Nxa6 24.
Rxa6 Qd7 25. Qc3 f6 26. Qc5 Rf7 27. Bc3 Qb7 28. Qc4 Qd7 29. Bg2 Kh8 30. Bxc6
Qb7 31. Kg2 h6 32. d5 Qb8 (32... exd5 33. Bxb7 Rxc4 34. Bxd5 $18) 33. dxe6 Re7
34. Bb4 Rec7 35. e7 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2714"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2007.11.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4
b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Bd6 {The newest trend of fashion.} 11. Bg5 {Finally,
this move gets tested at the top level.} (11. Rd1 {was played in the recent
games Gelfand,B (2733)-Anand,V (2792)/Mexico City 2007/CBM 120/[Marin,M] (1/
2-1/2, 20) and Georgiev,K (2649)-Onischuk,A (2674)/Kemer 2007/CBM 121/[Marin,M]
(1-0, 71)}) 11... Nbd7 12. Nbd2 Rc8 {The most logical sequence of moves. Both
sides keep developing, concentrating their attention on the critical c5-square.
} 13. Nb3 (13. Bxf6 Nxf6 14. Nb3 Be4 (14... c5) 15. Qc3 Qe7 16. Rac1 Nd7 {
Bauer,C (2571)-Bologan,V (2652)/Belfort 2002/CBM 090 (0-1, 40)}) 13... c5 ({
Since White's intention is to capture on f6 at some moment anyway, it does not
make too much sense to play} 13... h6 {Hansen,C-Petersen,S/DEN-chT corr 1990/
Corr Nr. 1 (1-0, 24)}) 14. Bxf6 Nxf6 $1 {The only favourable way to capture
the bishop.} ({After} 14... Qxf6 $6 15. Ne5 $1 cxd4 16. Nxd7 $16 {a draw was
agreed in 1/2-1/2 Hoffmann,M (2440)-Braun,P (2215)/Bad Wiessee 1998/EXT 2001.
From White's point of view, this was at least premature.} Qd8 17. Nbc5 Bxg2 18.
Nxf8 Bxf1 19. Qxh7+ Kxf8 20. Nb7 Qd7 21. Nxd6 Rc6 22. Nxf7 Kxf7 23. Kxf1 $16) (
14... gxf6 $6 15. Ng5 fxg5 16. Bxb7 $16) 15. Nxc5 ({Given the final result and
that I have failed to find a significant improvement for White after this move,
} 15. dxc5 {deserves to be investigated. Black would win his pawn back with}
Ne4 {, but White would have a relatively wide choice of continuations, aiming
to simplify to a (hopefully) minimally better ending. Only further practice (a
Kramnik game?!) will shed some light. Here is just an illustrative attempt.}
16. Rad1 Nxc5 17. Nxc5 Bxf3 $1 (17... Rxc5 18. Qxc5 Bxc5 19. Rxd8 Rxd8 20. Ne5
$5 (20. Rc1 Be7 21. Ne5 Rc8 $1 $11) 20... Bxg2 21. Kxg2 $14 {[%cal Gf1c1,Ge5d3]
} Rd2 $2 22. Rc1 Bf8 23. Nd3 $1 {[%csl Gd2]} Rxe2 24. Kf3 Rd2 25. Ke3 $18) 18.
Bxf3 Rxc5 $11 {White's advantage is of a purely aesthetic nature. His bishop
looks more active than its rival, but there is no clear target available.})
15... Be4 16. Qc3 ({After} 16. Qb3 Bxc5 17. dxc5 Rxc5 18. Qe3 {, Black is in
time to neutralize White's plan to occupy the c-file with} Qc7 19. Rac1 Rc8 $11
) 16... e5 17. e3 (17. b4 {fails to maintain the extra pawn.} exd4 18. Qxd4 (
18. Nxd4 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Bxc5 20. bxc5 Qd5+) 18... Bxc5 19. bxc5 Qxd4 20. Nxd4
Rxc5 $11) ({White does not get sufficient compensation for the queen after} 17.
Nxe5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Bxe5 19. dxe5 Ne4 20. Nxe4 Rxc3 21. Nxc3 b4 $15 {and the
knight has no good squares to retreat.}) 17... Bxc5 $1 $146 (17... Nd5 $6 {
allows White to maintain his minimal material advantage.} 18. Qa3 exd4 19. exd4
b4 20. Qxa6 Bxc5 21. dxc5 Rxc5 22. Rad1 $16 {Jostes,M-Hummeling,H/IECC email
1998/E-Mail 2000 (1/2-1/2, 80)}) 18. dxc5 Qd5 $44 {Judging from the high speed
of his play, Carlsen had analyzed all these moves at home. Untypically for him,
Kramnik was taking his time to answer. Black's pressure along the h1-a8
diagonal, combined with the weakness induced by e3 offers him excellent
compensation for the pawn.} 19. Rad1 Qa8 (19... Qxc5 $6 20. Qxe5 $1) (19... Qb7
{is slightly more natural, but has equal merit. After 27...Qc8 play would
transpose to the game continuation.}) 20. Nh4 Bxg2 21. Nxg2 Ne4 22. Qxe5 Rxc5
23. Qd4 Rc4 24. Qd3 (24. Qd5 Rc2 25. f3 Qxd5 26. Rxd5 Nd2 27. Ne1 Rxb2 28. Rf2
Rb1 $5 (28... Nc4 29. Rxb2 Nxb2 30. Nc2 {leads to a similar position as in the
aforementioned Georgiev,K (2649)-Onischuk,A (2674)/Kemer 2007/CBM 121/[Marin,M]
(1-0, 71). White's superior activity offer him chances for an advantage.}) 29.
Rfxd2 Rxe1+ 30. Kf2 Rh1 31. Kg2 Rc1 $11 {In the absence of pawns, the position
is just equal.}) 24... Ng5 25. b3 {Before attacking the knight to h4, White
needs to drive the enemy rook away from the fourth rank.} (25. h4 $2 Nf3+ 26.
Kh1 Qc8 27. Nf4 $2 (27. Qd7 Rc2) 27... Rxf4 $1) 25... Rc5 26. h4 Nf3+ 27. Kh1
Qc8 28. Nf4 (28. Qd7 Qxd7 29. Rxd7 Rc2 $44) 28... Qg4 29. Qd7 Rf5 {Black's
concentration of forces starts looking threatening. An interesting tactical
phase starts now.} 30. Rd5 Rxf4 31. exf4 f5 $1 32. Qe6+ $5 {Kramnik plays "to
the audience".} (32. Kg2 Nxh4+ 33. Kg1 $11 {would have led to an immediate
draw, without further complications.}) 32... Kh8 33. Qxf5 $1 Qxf5 34. Rxf5 Rxf5
35. Rd1 g5 $5 {Carlsen also loves beauty in chess.} ({The trivial} 35... h5 {
would have been entirely satisfactory as well, for instance} 36. Kg2 Nxh4+ 37.
gxh4 Rxf4 38. Rd6 $11) 36. hxg5 Nxg5 37. fxg5 Rxf2 38. a4 bxa4 39. bxa4 Ra2 40.
Rd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2007.11.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Be2 Nbd7 8. O-O
Bd6 9. g3 O-O 10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. b3 Qe7 12. Bf3 Rac8 13. Bg2 Rfd8 14. Bd2 Bb4
15. a3 Bxa3 16. c5 Bb2 17. Rxa7 Nxc5 18. Nb1 Na6 19. Qc2 Ba3 20. Nxa3 Qxa3 21.
b4 b5 22. Rb1 Ne4 23. Bxe4 dxe4 24. h4 e5 25. Bc1 Nxb4 26. Qc5 Qd3 27. Rxb4 Rd5
28. Qe7 Rf8 29. Ba3 c5 30. Rb2 b4 31. Bxb4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.12"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2755"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2007.11.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4
b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Ra7 {Leko deviates from his recent game against the same
opponent.} (10... Be4 11. Qc1 Qc8 {Kramnik,V (2769)-Leko,P (2751)/Mexico City
2007/CBM 120/[Marin,M] (1-0, 39)}) 11. Rc1 Be4 12. Qb3 Nc6 13. e3 Qa8 14. Qd1
b4 $5 {The latest trend in this line. Black started playing like this in 2007.
The main idea is to cause White some difficulties with the development of his
queenside. The obvious drawback of this move is that it weakens the light
squares, a detail that could become important in the long run.} (14... Nb8 15.
Ba5 {Kramnik,V (2766)-Anand,V (2779)/Wijk aan Zee 2007/CBM 117/[Marin] (1-0,
53)}) 15. Qf1 {This queen has certainly moved around a lot. It has retrieved
the c-pawn, provoked the weakening of the enemy queenside and now gets ready
to replace the Catalan bishop for the purpose of controlling the long diagonal
ishould the latter be exchanged.} ({Opening the queenside with} 15. a3 {
seems to play into Black's hands. Indeed, he has concentrated a considerable
amount of forces on that side of the board.} Rb8 16. Be1 a5 17. Nbd2 Bd5 18.
Bf1 bxa3 19. bxa3 a4 20. Nc4 Na5 21. Bxa5 Bxf3 22. Qe1 Nd7 23. Rab1 Rxb1 24.
Rxb1 Bxa3 25. Ra1 Bf8 26. Rxa4 Nb6 {1/2-1/2 Ponomariov,R (2717)-Anand,V (2786)/
Leon 2007/CBM 119}) ({The main alternative to the game move is} 15. Be1 {
. White intends to complete his queenside development as soon as possible. At
the same time, he relies on the fact that the queen will be activated via f3 
(instead of g2, as after the preliminary Qf1)} Bd5 16. Nbd2 Nb8 17. Nh4 Bxg2
18. Nxg2 c5 ({This is not necessarily better than} 18... Nbd7 {, but Black's
subsequent play was clearly more inspired.} 19. Qf3 Qxf3 20. Nxf3 c5 21. Nf4 a5
22. Nd3 Ne4 23. Rc2 Rc8 24. Rac1 Rac7 {Black has concentrated his forces
around the c5-square, but now the exchange of rooks is more or less inevitable,
leaving White with a good endgame position.} 25. dxc5 Ndxc5 26. Kf1 $14 {
Damljanovic,B (2606)-Efimenko,Z (2624)/Zlatibor 2007/CBM 120 ext (1-0, 63).
The weakness of Black's queenside soon started making itself felt.}) 19. dxc5
Rc8 20. Qf3 Rxc5 21. Qxa8 Rxa8 22. Nb3 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Nbd7 24. Kf1 a5 25. f3 g5
26. g4 h5 27. h3 hxg4 28. hxg4 Bd6 29. Nd2 Be5 30. Nc4 Bc7 31. b3 {Black has
wisely maintained one rook on board, in order to generate some counterplay 
(possibly, along the a-file). White might stil be microscopically better, but
soon embarked a friendly repetition of moves in Suba,M (2537)-Vaganian,R (2590)
/Bazna 2007/CBM 118 ext (1/2-1/2, 35)}) 15... Bd5 {An overcautious move. Black
retreats with his bishop two moves before it can be attacked (with Nbd2).} (
15... Bd6 $6 {places the bishop on a vulnerable square.} 16. Be1 Rb8 17. Nbd2
Bd5 18. Ng5 $5 {A non-standard decision. In the Catalan, this move is typical
for the positions with the queen on c2, when White attacks the h7- and b7
squares simultaneously.} h6 19. Nh3 Ne7 $6 (19... Bxg2 20. Qxg2 Na5 21. Qxa8
Rbxa8 22. Nf4 Bxf4 23. gxf4 $14 {[%csl Gc5]}) 20. f3 $1 {Black loses stability
in the centre now.} Bc6 21. e4 $16 {Avrukh,B (2641)-Greenfeld,A (2559)/Beer
Sheva 2007/CBM 120 ext (1-0, 28)}) (15... Rd8 16. Be1 a5 17. a3 {Possibly not
the best. Again, Black is well prepared for the opening of the queenside.} (17.
Nbd2 {looks more natural.}) 17... Bd6 18. Nfd2 Bxg2 19. Qxg2 Ra6 20. Nc4 Nd5
21. Nbd2 bxa3 22. bxa3 Be7 23. Rab1 a4 24. Qf1 Nb8 25. Ne4 Nd7 26. Nc3 c5 27.
dxc5 Nxc3 28. Bxc3 Nxc5 $11 {Aronian,L (2750)-Anand,V (2792)/Mainz 2007/CBM
120 (0-1, 68)}) 16. Be1 Rc8 17. Nbd2 $146 {I am continuously surprised by the
frequency with which novelties tend to be simple developing moves.} ({
Previously,} 17. Nfd2 {had been played.} Na5 (17... Nb8 $5 {[%cal Gb8d7,Ga6a5]}
) 18. a3 $5 {A good moment to play this move, because ...a5 is impossible now.}
bxa3 19. Nxa3 Bxg2 20. Qxg2 c5 21. dxc5 Rxc5 22. Rxc5 Bxc5 23. Nac4 Nxc4 24.
Qxa8+ Rxa8 25. Nxc4 Nd5 26. Kf1 f5 {Berkes,F (2606)-Efimenko,Z (2624)/Hamburg
2007 (1/2-1/2, 50). White maintained a slight initiative until the end of the
game, but Black never got into real trouble.}) 17... Na5 {Controlling the
c4-square, but placing the knight in an uncomfortable position.} (17... Nb8 {
has the drawback of leaving the c8-rook undefended, which would place the
c-pawn under a pin in the event of an early ...c5. White would probably play
the same as in the game} 18. Ne5) 18. Ne5 c5 {Black has managed to carry out
this programmed move, but his queenside is vulnerable and his pieces far from
optimally coordinated.} 19. dxc5 Bxc5 (19... Rxc5 {would allow Black to
activate his other rook after} 20. Rxc5 Bxc5 21. Rc1) 20. Nd3 {Kramnik
continues regrouping, without letting himself be distracted by premature
tactical operations.} (20. e4 Nxe4 (20... Bb7 21. Qe2 $14) 21. Nxe4 Bxe4 22.
Bxe4 Qxe4 23. Nd3 Rac7 (23... Qd5 $2 24. Bxb4 Nb7 25. Bxc5 Nxc5 26. b4 $18) (
23... Nb7 24. Bxb4 $18) 24. Nxc5 Rxc5 25. Rxc5 Rxc5 26. Qxa6 h5 27. Qb6 Qd5 28.
Qxb4 Nc6 {[%cal Gc6d4,Gd4f3]} 29. Qb3 Qxb3 30. axb3 Rb5 $11) 20... Bf8 21. Bxd5
Nxd5 22. e4 $14 {White is better regrouped, has more space in the centre and
some clear targets on the enemy queenside.} Nb6 (22... Nf6 23. f3 Rac7 24. Bf2
$14) 23. Rxc8 Qxc8 24. Nf3 Qb7 {Possibly not best.} (24... Qc6 25. Nxb4 {
transposes to the game after} Qxe4) (24... Qc4 $5 25. Nxb4 Bxb4 26. Qxc4 Naxc4
27. Bxb4 Nxb2 {White's chances to prove the superiority of the bishop over the
knight are questionable because of the reduced number of pawns left on the
queenside.}) 25. Nxb4 $5 Qxe4 26. Qd3 $1 Qxd3 27. Nxd3 Nac4 28. b3 Nd6 29. Rc1
$14 {White's control over the c-file and his queenside majority offer him a
stable advantage. It is instructive to follow how Kramnik's pieces will
gradually invade all the available queenside squares.} Nd5 30. Rc6 Nf5 31. Ba5
Ra8 32. Nfe5 Nfe7 33. Rd6 Nf6 34. b4 Ned5 35. Rc6 Be7 36. a4 g6 37. Nc4 Kf8 38.
Nc5 Bxc5 39. bxc5 Ke8 $6 {The position retains middlegame characteristics,
which means that the king's centralisation should be done with care.} (39...
Ne7 $5 {would have offered chances to establish a reliable blockade on light
squares, for instance} 40. Rc7 Nfd5 41. Rb7 Nc6 $14) 40. f3 Ng8 (40... Ne7 41.
Rc7 Nfd5 42. Rb7 Nc6 43. Nd6+ Kf8 44. Rxf7+ Kg8 45. Bb6 Nxb6 46. cxb6 Rd8 47.
b7 Rxd6 48. Rc7 $16) (40... Kd7 41. Rb6 $1 $16) 41. Nb6 $16 {White's
domination is impressive now.} Nge7 42. Rd6 $1 ({Of course not} 42. Rxe6 $6
fxe6 43. Nxa8 Kd7 $44 {when, in the absence of rooks, the centralisation of
the black king compensates for the (temporarily) missing pawn.}) 42... Rb8 {
Black is forced to give up a pawn.} (42... Ra7 43. Nxd5 (43. c6 $22 {is also
possible. Black can only move with his pawns, but this will soon leave him
without moves.} Nf6 $6 44. Nc4 Ned5 45. Rd8+ Ke7 46. Nd6 $18 {and the rook is
trapped.}) 43... Nxd5 44. Rd8+ Ke7 45. Rb8 e5 (45... Kd7 46. Bb6 $1 $18 {
[%csl Ga7]}) 46. c6 Ke6 47. c7 $1 Nxc7 48. Bb6 Ra8 49. Bxc7 $18) 43. Nxd5 Nxd5
44. Rxa6 Rc8 {Generally speaking, Black should place his rook behind the enemy
pawns, although this does not guarantee equality.} (44... Rb1+ 45. Kg2 Rb2+ 46.
Kh3 Rc2 47. Bb6 h5 48. a5 Ne3 49. c6 Nf1 50. Bg1 Nd2 51. Kg2 Nc4+ 52. Kh1 $16)
45. Bb6 Nb4 46. Ra7 Nc6 47. Rb7 Ra8 48. Rc7 Nd4 49. a5 $1 {This pawn is much
more important than the f3-pawn.} Nxf3+ 50. Kf2 $6 {But now, there was no need
to give up the h2-pawn for the sake of just one tempo.} (50. Kg2 Ne5 51. c6 $16
) 50... Nxh2 51. c6 Ng4+ 52. Kf3 Nf6 53. Rb7 Nd5 54. Ke4 Nb4 $2 {Black misses
his chance to take advantage of his huge advantage in pawns on the kingside 
(as a consequence of the over-optimistic Kf2).} (54... Rc8 $5 55. c7 (55. a6
Nb4 56. a7 Nxc6 57. Rc7 Nxa7 $14 {Zagrebelny}) 55... Kd7 56. Kd4 h5 (56... Nxc7
57. Kc5 $18) (56... Kc6 57. Rb8 Kd7 58. Kc5 Nxc7 59. Rb7 $18) 57. Kc5 g5 58. a6
h4 59. gxh4 gxh4 60. a7 (60. Rb8 Nxc7 61. Bxc7 Rxc7+ 62. Kb6 Rc6+ 63. Kb5 Rc7
$11) 60... h3 61. Rb8 Nxc7 62. Bxc7 Rxc7+ 63. Kb6 Rxa7 64. Kxa7 Kc6 $11) 55. c7
Rc8 56. Kd4 Kd7 57. Kc5 Nc6 (57... Na6+ 58. Kb5 Nxc7+ 59. Kc5 $18 {[%cal Gb7d7,
Ga5a8]} Kd8 60. Kc6 {[%cal Gb6d8]}) 58. a6 h5 59. a7 f5 60. a8=Q $1 Rxa8 61.
c8=Q+ Kxc8 62. Kxc6 (62. Kxc6 Ra1 63. Rc7+ $1 (63. Rh7 {unnecessarily prolongs
things because of} Rc1+ 64. Bc5 Rd1) 63... Kb8 64. Rh7 Rc1+ 65. Bc5 $18) 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.13"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E48"]
[WhiteElo "2714"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "2007.11.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nge2 d5 7. O-O cxd4 8.
exd4 dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nc6 10. Bg5 Be7 11. a3 a6 12. Rc1 b5 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. d5 Ne7
15. Ba2 exd5 16. Nf4 Bb7 17. Re1 g6 18. b4 Bg5 19. Qg4 Nf5 20. Rcd1 d4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.14"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2007.11.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O {A curious practical
decision on Shirov's part. True, Kramnik's first move was designed to avoid
the Grünfeld, while the Slav (another main weapon of Shirov) is well known by
Kramnik himself. On the other hand, Shirov has not had too much practice
against the Catalan over the past years, while his overall result is not
entirely encouraging. We can suppose that he had some concrete variation in
mind, based on an improvement over one of Kramnik's recent games, but in this
case the next move was an excellent psychological decision.} 6. Qc2 $5 dxc4 ({
Black decides to maintain the same character of the position as in the main
line. The main alternative is} 6... c5) 7. Qxc4 a6 8. Bf4 Bd6 9. O-O ({A
famous game that brought 6.Qc2 into the limelight continued with} 9. Ne5 Nd5
10. Nc3 Nxf4 11. gxf4 Nd7 12. e3 Qe7 13. O-O Rb8 $6 (13... Nf6 $1 $14 {would
have prevented White's next manoeuvre.}) 14. Ne4 Nf6 15. Nc5 $16 {Kasparov,G 
(2715)-Andersson,U (2575)/Belgrade 1985/MCL/[ChessBase] (1-0, 50)}) 9... b5 10.
Qc2 Bb7 {Play has transposed to the known line 10.Bf4 from the main line of
the open Catalan. On the way, White has avoided the line 10...Nc6, which is an
important alternative to 10...Bd6.} 11. Nbd2 Nbd7 (11... Bxf4 12. gxf4 {
is supposed to strengthen White's centre, but on the other hand it allows
Black to develop his queen on an active square with gain of time with} Qd6 {
In practice, White has obtained good results, but from analytical point of
view it is not easy to prove an advantage after} 13. e3 Nbd7 14. Nb3 (14. Ne5
Bxg2 15. Kxg2 c5 16. dxc5 Qxc5 ({It would probably be better to keep queens on
board, in order to maintain some potential threats against the slightly
weakened position of the white king.} 16... Nxc5 17. Rfd1 Qe7 18. Rac1 Qb7+ 19.
Ndf3 Rac8 $132) 17. Qxc5 Nxc5 18. Rac1 Rfd8 19. Ndf3 {Black has problems
maintaining the control of the c-file.} Nd3 (19... Rac8 $2 {loses material to}
20. b4 Na4 21. Nc6 Re8 22. Ne7+ $1 $18) (19... Rdc8 20. Ng5 $1 $16) 20. Nxd3
Rxd3 21. Rc6 Nd7 22. Rfc1 $14 {1-0 Benjamin,J (2540)-Sieiro Gonzalez,L (2400)/
Rio Gallegos 1986/EXT 2003 (30). White's authoritarian control of the c-file
and the weakness of the enemy queenside offer him a stable advantage in the
endgame.}) (14. Rfd1 {A neutral move, failing to put pressure on the critical
c-file.} c5 15. dxc5 Qxc5 16. Qxc5 Nxc5 17. Ne5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Rfc8 19. Ndf3 Na4
20. Nd3 Ne4 21. Rac1 Kf8 22. Nd4 Nec5 $11 {Piket,J (2640)-Karpov,A (2760)/
Monte Carlo 1997/CBM 057 ext (1/2-1/2, 52). Black has successfully neutralized
White's queenside pressure.}) 14... Be4 15. Qc3 (15. Qe2 {allows Black free
his position immediately with} c5 16. dxc5 Nxc5 17. Rfd1 Nd5 18. Nxc5 Qxc5 19.
Rac1 Qb6 20. Ne5 Bxg2 21. Kxg2 f6 22. Nd3 Rac8 $11 {Ehlvest,J (2638)-Murshed,N
(2457)/Dhaka 2001/CBM 082 (0-1, 54)}) 15... Rac8 $6 ({The insertion of the
rook moves to the c-file favours White. Black should have immediately played} 
15... Nd5 {for instance} 16. Qd2 c5 17. dxc5 Nxc5 18. Nxc5 Qxc5 19. Qd4 Qxd4
20. Nxd4 Bxg2 21. Kxg2 Rfc8 22. Rfc1 Kf8 $11) 16. Rfc1 Nd5 17. Qd2 c5 18. dxc5
Nxc5 19. Nxc5 Rxc5 20. Qd4 $1 {Black has to give up the control of the c-file.}
Rxc1+ 21. Rxc1 Qb4 (21... Bxf3 22. Bxf3 Rd8 23. f5 $14) 22. a3 Qxd4 23. Nxd4
Bxg2 24. Kxg2 $16 {1-0 Stangl,M (2480)-Stern,R (2370)/Germany 1991/GER-chT (45)
. Just another extremely promising ending for White.}) 12. Nb3 Be4 13. Qd2 {
Once the queen's knight has been developed, this square can be used by Her
Majesty.} ({The typical retreat} 13. Qc1 {is slightly artificial here,
depriving the rooks of this square.} Rc8 14. a4 {Since Ra(f)c1 are not
available, this looks like the only active continuation. However, the
b4-square will remain weak now.} Qe7 15. axb5 axb5 16. Ra7 Bxf4 17. Qxf4 Qb4
18. Nbd2 Bxf3 19. Bxf3 c5 $10 {Smyslov,V-Gligoric,S/Warsaw 1947/MCL/[Chekhov] 
(0-1, 55)}) 13... Qe7 {A natural developing move, but Black has an important
alternative here.} (13... Nd5 14. Rfc1 {Probably not the best.} ({White could
try to transpose to the main game with} 14. Bxd6 cxd6 15. Rfc1 {. If instead
of 15...Qe7 Black tries} Qb6 {, keeping the queenside defended, White has the
typoical tactical blow} 16. Ne5 $1 {with favourable simplifications.}) ({
If White intends to maintain the tension in the centre,} 14. Rac1 $5 {looks
better. Since the opening of the g-file is very probable, the presence of the
other rook will be most welcome on the other wing.} Nxf4 15. gxf4 Qe7 16. Qe3
Bd5 17. Ne5 $14 {White keeps both wings under control.}) 14... Nxf4 15. gxf4
Qe7 16. Ne5 $6 ({Here, too,} 16. Qe3 Bd5 17. Ne5 {deserves attention.}) 16...
Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Nb6 18. Nc5 f6 19. Ned3 e5 $15 {Zimmerman,Y (2345)-Mochalov,E 
(2450)/Zalakaros 1994/TD (0-1, 37)}) 14. Rfc1 (14. Rac1 $5) 14... Rfc8 (14...
Nd5 15. Bxd6 cxd6 16. Qa5 $14 {[%csl Re4][%cal Gb3d2] /\Nbd2}) 15. Bxd6 $146 {
White changes the character of the position, relying on the weakness of the
enemy queenside and the subsequent possibility to gain the control of the
c-file.} (15. Ne5 Bxg2 (15... Bxe5 $2 16. dxe5 Bxg2 17. exf6 $18) 16. Nxd7 Nxd7
17. Kxg2 Bxf4 $6 (17... e5 $5 18. dxe5 Nxe5 $132 {White seems to have problems
maintaining the enemy queenside under control. Here White would be glad to
have the possibility of playing Rfd1 (after an eventual exchange on e5), which
casts some doubt over 14.Rfc1.}) 18. Qxf4 c5 19. Nxc5 Nxc5 20. dxc5 Rxc5 21.
Rxc5 Qxc5 22. Rc1 Qd5+ 23. Qf3 Qxf3+ 24. Kxf3 $14 {1-0 Buhmann,R (2525)-Braun,
P (2248)/Deizisau 2003/CBM 093 ext (54). Even in the absence of knights, the
ending is anything but easy for Black. The best he could dream of is an ending
with a pawn down, but with an active rook.}) 15... cxd6 16. Qa5 Rcb8 $5 {
The weakness of the a6-pawn forces Black give up the control of the c-file
temporarily.} 17. Nbd2 Bd5 18. Rc2 Qd8 $6 {Black plays too obstinately for
plain equality.} ({In doing so, he misses the opportunity of generating
counterplay with} 18... e5 $5 $132) 19. Qxd8+ Rxd8 20. Rac1 $14 {Black will
need a couple of tempi in order to neutralize White's pressure along the
c-file. In the meanwhile, White will manage to obtain an advantage in space in
the centre.} Nb6 21. Ne1 Rac8 22. Nd3 Rxc2 23. Rxc2 Rc8 24. Rxc8+ Nxc8 25. Nb4
Bxg2 26. Kxg2 a5 27. Nc6 a4 28. e4 {A curious ending. The Catalan frequently
leads to symmetrical endings with N + 6 pawns for each side (pawns on the c-
and d-files missing). In these positions, White can hope for an advantage if
his king is closer to the centre than its counterpart and if Black's queenside
pawns have been advanced to, say, a6 and b5. The current position is by far
more complex. I have not met endings with this material balance before, but,
after doing a database search, was surprised to find a couple of hundred games
where each side had 2 Ns and 7 Ps and the c-file was open. Only rarely did one
of the sides manage to win. Two such cases are Petrosian,T-Wade,R/Leipzig 1960/
EXT 99 (1-0, 55) and the more recent Grunberg,M (2442)-Naiditsch,A (2654)/
Dresden 2007/CBM 118 (0-1, 74). However, none of the games from the list were
really similar to the present ending. Here, White has two forms of advantage:
the weakness of the far advanced queenside pawns and the space advantage in
the centre. The position is impossible to exhaust by analytical means, since
from the point of view of its complexity it is somewhat reminsicent of
middlegames. One thing is clear: White is entitled to play for a win.} Ne8 29.
Kf3 Kf8 30. Ke3 Nc7 31. Kd3 Ke8 32. Kc3 Na6 33. Nb4 Nc7 34. Nf1 Kd7 35. Ne3 Ne7
36. g4 {White cannot make progress on the queenside only and needs to open a
new front.} g5 {A difficult decision. This move weakens Black's position, but
allowing White to win even more space could prove dangerous in the long run.}
37. Nd3 f6 38. f4 gxf4 ({Black does not equalize completely with} 38... f5 39.
exf5 Ncd5+ 40. Nxd5 Nxd5+ 41. Kd2 exf5 42. fxg5 (42. gxf5 $6 g4 $1 $132) 42...
Ke6 (42... fxg4 43. Nf2 g3 44. hxg3 Ke6 45. Ne4 $14 {[%csl Gd6]}) 43. h3 $14)
39. Nxf4 e5 40. dxe5 fxe5 (40... dxe5 41. Nh5 {would have forced Black to
retreat with one of his pieces in order to defend the f6-pawn, allowing White
make progress on the other wing with Kb4.}) 41. Nfd5 Ncxd5+ 42. exd5 $1 $16 {
White has consolidated his advantage in space and has created threats on both
wings. Black is in trouble already.} (42. Nxd5 Nxd5+ 43. exd5 {leads only to a
draw after the forced move} Ke7 $1 {for instance} 44. h4 Kf6 $1 {If White
could manage to play g5 and h5, he would win.} 45. Kd3 Kg6 46. Ke4 Kf6 $11)
42... Kc7 43. g5 Kb6 {[%csl Rd5][%cal Gb6c5]} 44. b4 {[%csl Gc5]} axb3 (44...
Ng6 45. Kd3 $1 (45. Ng4 Nf4 46. Nf6 Kc7 $1 $132 {[%csl Gd5][%cal Gc7d8,Gd8e7,
Ge7f7]}) 45... Nf4+ 46. Ke4 Kc7 (46... a3 {[%csl Ga2]} 47. Nd1 {[%csl Ga2,Rb5]
[%cal Gd1c3,Ge4f5,Gh2h4]}) 47. h4 Kd7 48. Nd1 $1 {[%csl Rb5,Gd5,Rh7][%cal
Gd1c3,Ge4f5]}) 45. axb3 Ka5 (45... Ng6 46. Ng4 $1 Kc5 (46... Nf4 47. Nf6 Kc7
48. h4 Kd8 49. Kb4 $18) 47. Nf6 b4+ (47... e4 $2 48. b4+ Kb6 49. Kd4 $18) 48.
Kd3 Nf4+ 49. Ke4 Ne2 50. Nxh7 Nc3+ 51. Kf5 Nxd5 52. Nf6 Ne7+ 53. Ke6 Ng6 54.
Ne4+ Kd4 55. Nxd6 $18) 46. h4 Ng6 47. h5 Nf4 48. g6 hxg6 49. h6 g5 50. h7 Ng6
51. Kd3 (51. Kd3 Kb4 52. Ke4 Kxb3 53. Kf5 Nh8 54. Kf6 Kc3 55. Kg7 b4 56. Kxh8
b3 57. Kg7 b2 58. Nd1+ Kc2 59. Nxb2 Kxb2 60. h8=Q $18) 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.16"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Alekseev, Evgeny V"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A60"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2716"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2007.11.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 b5 {Recently, this move has
been submitted to intense theoretical and practical disputes at top level. It
also makes up part of Alekseev's main repertoire, which also includes the
Blumenfeld Gambit.} 6. e4 $5 {Another surprise for Black, although this time
the idea is not new, but just well-forgotten. Several decades ago, the
outstanding Catalan specialist Genna Sosonko repeatedly played like this.
Apart from attacking the b5-pawn, White threatens to win even more space in
the centre with the brutal e5.} (6. Nd2 $5 Nxd5 7. Bg2 Nc7 8. Bxa8 Nxa8 9. b4
c4 10. a4 {Kramnik,V (2772)-Aronian,L (2759)/Yerevan 2007/CBM 118 (1/2-1/2, 47)
}) (6. Nf3 $5 d6 7. e4 $5 {Gelfand,B (2733)-Aronian,L (2750)/Mexico City 2007/
CBM 120/[Marin,M] (1-0, 48)}) (6. Bg2 d6 7. Nf3 Bb7) 6... Nxe4 {The most
principled reaction.} (6... Qe7 $6 {looks unnatural and is probably bad.} 7.
Bg2 d6 8. Ne2 g6 9. O-O Bg7 10. e5 $1 Qxe5 (10... dxe5 $2 11. d6) 11. Nec3 O-O
12. Nxb5 Qe7 13. N1c3 Ba6 14. Re1 Qd8 15. a4 Bxb5 16. Nxb5 Ne8 17. Bf4 $16 {
De Carbonnel,H-Wiersma,T/EU-chT1 corr7281 1972/Corr Nr. 1 (1-0, 39)}) (6... Bb7
{keeps the enemy centre under control, but places the bishop on a passive
square. However, things are not that clear here.} 7. Bg2 d6 8. a4 $6 {Possibly
not the best. After the structural modifications on the queenside, the
b7-bishop will revive on a6. White should have continued the development of
his kingside.} b4 9. Nd2 g6 10. Nc4 Ba6 11. Qc2 Bg7 12. Nf3 O-O 13. Nfd2 Nbd7
14. O-O (14. Nxd6 Qe7 15. N2c4 Nxd5) 14... Nb6 15. Re1 Ng4 16. Ne3 Ne5 17. Bf1
c4 $132 {Manor,I (2510)-Greenfeld,A (2560)/Rishon Le Ziyyon 1996/CBM 053 (1-0,
60)}) 7. Qe2 Qe7 {Black has been forced to block the natural development of
his kingside, but this is only the start of the "intrigue". White's
development is not that impressive yet either.} 8. Bg2 Nd6 {This looks
perfectly logical. The knight retreats to a stable blocking square without
creating any weakness in the own camp. However, there are certain drawbacks to
this move. The knight blocks its own d-pawn, too, which causes Black serious
problems regarding the natural development of the queenside (...d6, ...Nd7,
etc.).} (8... f5 {weakens the black kingside, but offers Black certain
stability in the centre. In practice, Sosonko has failed to prove an advantage
for White.} 9. d6 $5 {might be the only way to cause some disharmony in
Black's camp.} ({This was aimed to be an improvement over an earlier game that
continued with} 9. Nh3 b4 10. d6 Qxd6 11. f3 Ba6 12. Qe3 Nc6 13. fxe4 O-O-O 14.
Ng5 {1/2-1/2 Sosonko,G (2530)-Barle,J (2450)/Ljubljana 1977/MCD}) (9. Nc3 Nxc3
10. bxc3 Qxe2+ 11. Nxe2 Na6 12. O-O Rb8 13. Bf4 d6 14. Bd2 Be7 15. Nf4 Kf7 16.
Rfe1 Bf6 17. Rab1 (17. Nh5 $5) 17... Nc7 $15 {Sosonko,G (2545)-Timman,J (2600)/
Amsterdam 1980/MCL (1/2-1/2, 35)})) 9. Be3 {White develops a piece and
prevents the exchange of queens at the same time. (this would ease Black's
defence, by enabling the development of the kingside with ...Be7, etc.)} b4 {
To my mind, a slightly cooperative move. Black prepares the development of his
queen's bishop on an active diagonal (a6-f1), but returns the small material
advantage without any fight and, more seriously, does not improve the
situation of the queen's knight. Remember? Knights should generally be
developed before bishops...} (9... c4 {is not entirely satisfactory either.}
10. Nc3 a6 (10... b4 11. Nb5 $5 Nxb5 12. d6 $14) 11. O-O-O $16 {[%csl Re8]
[%cal Gg1h3,Gh1e1]} (11. Bc5 $44 {Ligterink})) ({However,} 9... Na6 {looks
like the best practical chance.}) 10. Bxc5 Qxe2+ 11. Nxe2 {White has
reestablished the material equality, maintaining his considerable advantage of
space and a slight advance in development. Black mainly relies on certain
stability on dark squares.} Na6 12. Bxd6 $1 $146 {The best way to maintain the
initiative.} ({In the previous game that had reached this position, White
preserved the bishop from exchange with} 12. Bd4 {, allowing Black to activate
his play with} Nf5 13. O-O Bc5 14. Bxc5 Nxc5 15. Nd2 Ba6 16. Rfc1 Nd3 17. Rc2
O-O 18. Bh3 Rfe8 19. Nb3 Re5 $1 $132 {Sosonko,G (2530)-Olafsson,F (2560)/Wijk
aan Zee 1977/MCL/[Bulletin] (1-0, 50) Black's pieces are very active and the
d5-pawn is more of a weakness now.}) 12... Bxd6 13. Nd2 {It appears that the
dark-squared bishop is exposed and will cause Black additional loss of time
before reaching a stable position.} Rb8 14. Nc4 Be7 15. d6 Bf6 16. Nf4 Nc5 17.
O-O Ba6 {A critical moment. White's position looks very active, but he has to
choose the best way to maintain his advantage in space.} 18. Nd5 $5 ({It is
not easy to refrain from} 18. Rfe1+ {. Kramnik probably disliked the fact that
after} Ne6 {, the threat against the c4-knight would become real. However,
after} 19. Ne5 Rb6 20. Rad1 $14 {White would maintain his domination. It
remains an open question whether objectively speaking his position is better
here than in the game, but from a practical point of view it might be more
difficult to maintain stability here. Black has no weaknesses and the d6-pawn
needs permanent care.}) 18... O-O (18... Bxc4 19. Nxf6+ gxf6 20. Rfc1 Nd3 21.
Rxc4 Nxb2 22. Re4+ Kd8 23. Rb1 Nd3 24. Rd4 $16 {White will win his pawn back,
maintaining the better structure, the more active minor piece and a huge
advantage in space.}) 19. Nxf6+ gxf6 20. Bd5 $14 {This is the position Kramnik
had been aiming for. White has ruined Black's kingside structure, while the
queenside could become vulnerable, too. Black's main trump remains the
stability of his minor pieces and certain vulnerability of the d6-pawn.
However, this latter aspect is double-edged. In order to win this pawn, Black
would need to worsen the cooperation between his pieces (for instance, to
disconnect his rook for several moves).} Na4 $6 {Black moves again with an
already well-placed piece. The threat against the b2-pawn is illusory.} ({
He should have continued his development with} 20... Rfe8 {, threatening to
generate some counterplay along the e-file and, eventually, the second rank.})
21. Rfc1 Rfe8 $6 {Too late. The e-file will not be available for this rook
anymore.} (21... Bxc4 $5 22. Rxc4 Rb5 (22... Nxb2 23. Rg4+ Kh8 24. Rb1 Nd3 25.
Rd4 Ne5 26. Rdxb4 $16) 23. Rg4+ Kh8 24. Bb3 Nc5 $5 {would keep Black's
position together.} (24... Nxb2 $2 25. Rb1 Nd3 26. Bc4 Ne5 27. Bxb5 Nxg4 28.
Bxd7 $16)) 22. Ne3 $1 $16 {This move was not possible one move earlier. We can
conclude that 20...Na4 has just helped White improve the placement of his
pieces, by removing the rook from a vulnerable square.} Rb6 23. Rc7 Rxd6 {
Black has eventually won this pawn, but the rook is miserably placed.} 24. Rd1
{[%csl Gd6][%cal Gd5f7]} Kh8 25. Nf5 Rb6 26. Bxf7 Nxb2 27. Rdxd7 $18 {White's
attack is decisive now. Black's counterplay has not sufficient power.} Re1+ 28.
Kg2 Bf1+ 29. Kf3 Be2+ 30. Kf4 Rb8 (30... Nd3+ 31. Rxd3 $1 Bxd3 32. Rc8+ $18 {
[%csl Rh8]}) 31. Bc4 $1 {[%csl Gd3]} (31. Bc4 $1 Bxc4 32. Rxh7+ Kg8 33. Rcg7+
Kf8 34. Rh8+ Bg8 35. Rhxg8#) 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.17"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Jakovenko, Dmitrij"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2007.11.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8 14. cxd5 Qxd5
15. Bf4 Rac8 16. Bd3 Qd7 17. Rb1 b6 18. d5 Bxd3 19. Qxd3 Bxa3 20. Ng5 g6 21.
Ne4 Be7 22. Rbd1 f5 23. d6 cxd6 24. Qd5+ Kh8 25. Nxd6 Bxd6 26. Bxd6 Rxe1+ 27.
Rxe1 Re8 28. Rxe8+ Qxe8 29. h3 h6 30. c4 Kh7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.18"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A42"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2007.11.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. e4 e5 {The choice of opening by Mamedyarov is
daring, to say the least, especially when he faces such a squeezer as Vladimir
Kramnik.} 5. Nge2 exd4 6. Nxd4 Nc6 7. Be3 Nge7 8. h4 $1 {The most principled
line to meet Black's setup. Opening the h-file is troublesome for Black.} f5 9.
h5 fxe4 ({A few days later, in the blitz championship Mamedyarov tried the
same opening against Anand, but with the same result:} 9... Rf8 10. hxg6 hxg6
11. Rh7 Rf7 12. Rxg7 Rxg7 13. Bg5 Qd7 14. Nxc6 Nxc6 15. Nd5 Qe6 16. Be2 Ne5 17.
f4 c6 18. Nf6+ Kf8 19. fxe5 Qxe5 20. Qd2 Rf7 21. Bh6+ Ke7 22. Bf4 Qe6 23. Ng8+
Kf8 24. Nh6 {1-0 Anand,V (2801)-Mamedyarov,S (2752)/Moscow 2007/EXT 2008}) 10.
hxg6 hxg6 11. Rxh8+ Bxh8 12. Nxe4 d5 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8] An interesting novelty
by Mamedyarov, which might revive this risky line for Black.} (12... Bf5 13.
Nxf5 Nxf5 (13... gxf5 14. Qh5+ Kd7 15. O-O-O Qg8 16. Nc5+ Kc8 17. Ne6 Kd7 18.
Nf4 $14 {1-0 Hansen,C (2618)-Lehtinen,H (2362)/Aarhus 2003/CBM 098 (34)}) 14.
Bg5 Qd7 15. Qd2 Nce7 16. O-O-O O-O-O 17. g4 Nd4 18. Nf6 Bxf6 19. Bxf6 $16 {
1-0 Gelfand,B (2712)-Piket,J (2632)/Monte Carlo 2001/CBM 081 ext (49)}) 13.
Nxc6 {White has several possibilities that deserved serious attention. I am
not sure that Kramnik's choice is the best one.} (13. cxd5 Qxd5 (13... Nxd4 14.
Bxd4 Qxd5 15. Bxh8 Qxe4+ 16. Qe2 $14) 14. Nxc6 Qxd1+ 15. Rxd1 Nxc6 16. Rd2 $14
{White has a slight pressure, as every developing move by Bc8 will be met by
Ne4-c5.}) (13. Ng5 $1 {Probably this is the main test for Mamedyarov's novelty.
} Bxd4 (13... dxc4 14. Nb5 Bxb2 15. Qxd8+ Kxd8 16. Rd1+ Bd7 17. Bxc4 $36) 14.
Bxd4 dxc4 15. Bf6 Qxd1+ 16. Rxd1 b5 17. b3 $14) 13... bxc6 14. Bd4 Bg4 $1 {
An important intermezzo.} 15. Qxg4 (15. f3 Bxd4 16. Qxd4 dxe4 17. Qxd8+ Rxd8
18. fxg4 c5 $11) (15. Nf6+ Bxf6 16. Qxg4 Bxd4 17. Qxd4 Nf5 18. Qh8+ Kd7 19.
Qxd8+ Rxd8 {and Black should be okay here.}) 15... Bxd4 {The position is sharp,
since both kings are uncastled.} 16. cxd5 (16. Nd6+ Qxd6 17. Qxd4 Qb4+ 18. Qd2
Qxd2+ 19. Kxd2 Kd7 {Black is only slightly worse and should hold the endgame
without any problems.}) 16... Bxb2 (16... cxd5 17. Bb5+ c6 18. Bxc6+ Nxc6 19.
Qxg6+ Kf8 20. Qxc6 dxe4 21. Rd1 Rb8 22. Qh6+ Kg8 23. Qg6+ Kf8 $11) 17. Rd1 $5 {
This move is actually a pawn sacrifice.} (17. Rb1 $1 Rb8 18. dxc6 Qd4 19. Qd7+
Qxd7 20. cxd7+ Kd8 (20... Kxd7 $4 21. Nc5+ Kc8 22. Na4 Bd4 23. Ba6+ $18) 21.
Rd1 Nf5 {It looks like Black has good chances for a draw.}) 17... cxd5 18. Bb5+
Kf8 {Black's king escapes to g7.} (18... c6 $2 19. Bxc6+ $1 Nxc6 20. Qxg6+ $18)
19. Qe6 (19. Qf4+ Kg8 20. Ng5 Qf8 21. Qh4 Qg7 22. Bd7 Qh8 23. Be6+ Kg7 24. Qf4
Bf6 {and Black survives.}) (19. Rd2 $5 Ba1 {Black must keep his bishop on the
diagonal a1-h8.} 20. Ng5 Qd6 21. Qf3+ Bf6 22. Ne4 dxe4 23. Rxd6 exf3 24. Rxf6+
Kg7 25. Rxf3 Rb8 26. Bc4 $14 {The bishop is better than a knight in open
position, therefore White has some winning chances.}) 19... Kg7 20. Bc6 Nxc6
21. Qxc6 d4 (21... Qh4 22. Qxa8 Qxe4+ 23. Kf1 Bd4 24. Qc6 Qf4 25. Qc2 c5 26.
Qe2 $14) 22. Kf1 $1 {Kramnik moves his king away from the danger zone, before
trying to create threats against the opponent's king.} Rb8 23. Ng5 Qd6 24. Qc4
Qd7 25. Kg1 c6 $6 {Probably, with the idea Qd7-d5, but White can frustrate
this plan. It was more logical to employ the rook along the 6th rank to cover
the key e6 square.} (25... Rb6 26. Re1 (26. Rd3 $2 Rc6 27. Qb3 Rc3 $17) (26.
Qe2 $5 $44) 26... d3 27. Ne6+ Rxe6 28. Qxe6 Qxe6 29. Rxe6 c5 (29... d2 $2 30.
Re7+ Kf6 31. Rd7 {[%cal Gg1f1,Gf1e2]}) 30. Kf1 (30. Rc6 $4 d2 31. Rd6 Bd4 $19)
30... c4 {With such a powerful pawns Black can count on a win.}) 26. Ne6+ $1
Kf6 27. Nc5 Qe7 28. Rb1 Rb6 29. Nd3 {The knight has reached an ideal
blockading square. Black's two connected passed pawns are no longer dangerous.}
(29. Na4 Qe4 30. Qf1 Qc2 31. Nxb6 axb6 {Here Black has sufficient compensation
thanks to his strong passed pawns. I don't see how White's major pieces will
get to Black's exposed king.}) 29... Qe4 $2 (29... Bc3 30. Rxb6 axb6 31. Qxc6+
Qe6 $14) 30. Re1 $2 (30. Rxb2 $2 Rxb2 31. Nxb2 Qb1+ 32. Kh2 Qxb2 33. Qxc6+ Kg7
$11) (30. Qg8 $1 {was the move that both players overlooked.} Bc3 (30... Qxd3
31. Re1 $18 Qf5 32. Qf8+ Kg5 33. Qd8+ Kg4 34. f3+ Kg3 35. Re4 Qxe4 36. Qg5+ Qg4
37. Qxg4#) 31. Qf8+ Ke6 32. Nc5+ Kd5 33. Nxe4 Rxb1+ 34. Kh2 Kxe4 35. Qf3+ Ke5
36. Qxc6 {and White should win.}) 30... Qd5 31. Qa4 Bc3 (31... Qb5 $2 32. Nxb2
(32. Qxa7 $2 Rb7 33. a4 (33. Qa8 Rb8 $11) 33... Rxa7 34. axb5 Ba3 35. bxc6 Rc7
{and Black holds the endgame without many problems.}) 32... Qxb2 33. Qc4 $40 {
[%csl Rf6]}) 32. Qxa7 Bxe1 33. Qxb6 {Now, White's advantage is indisputable.
It is a well known rule that the tandem queen + knight is very dangerous,
especially when the opponent's king is vulnerable. Here we witness a classical
case of this rule. The passed a-pawn is another important factor that makes
Black's task extremely difficult.} Bc3 34. a4 Qe4 35. Qd8+ Kf7 $2 {Mamedyarov
should have hidden his king on h6.} (35... Kg7 $1 36. Qc7+ Kh6 {White has
still a lot to prove here.}) 36. Qc7+ Kf6 37. Qd6+ {By tempting checks Kramnik
has improved his queen's position to the maximum.} Qe6 (37... Kg7 38. Ne5 Qb1+
39. Kh2 Qf5 40. Qe7+ Kg8 41. Kg3 {[%cal Ge5g4]} g5 42. Ng4 Qf4+ 43. Kh3 Qf5 44.
Qe8+ Kg7 45. Qxc6 {and White should win.}) 38. Qf8+ Qf7 39. Qh8+ Ke7 (39... Qg7
40. Qc8 $18 {[%csl Rc6]}) 40. a5 {Combined threats of a mating attack and
promoting the pawn promise White an easy win.} Qa2 41. Qg7+ Kd8 42. Ne5 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.19"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2007.11.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8 14. Qa4 a6 15.
Be3 dxc4 16. Qxc4 Bd6 17. Qa2 Qf6 18. Rad1 h6 19. c4 Be4 20. c5 Bf8 21. d5 Bxf3
22. Bxf3 Nd4 23. Bxd4 Rxe1+ 24. Rxe1 Qxd4 25. d6 cxd6 26. Bxb7 Re8 27. Rf1 Qxc5
28. Bxa6 d5 29. a4 Ra8 30. Qe2 Qe7 31. Qxe7 Bxe7 32. Bb5 Rc8 33. g3 Rc2 34. Re1
Kf8 35. Kf1 g6 36. Re2 Rxe2 37. Kxe2 Bd8 38. Bc6 d4 39. Kd3 Ke7 40. f3 Bb6 41.
Bd5 f5 42. Kc4 d3 43. Kxd3 Bg1 44. Ke2 Kd6 45. Bf7 g5 46. Kf1 Bb6 47. Kg2 Ke5
48. Bg6 Kf6 49. Be8 Ke5 50. Bd7 Bc7 51. Kf2 f4 52. Kg2 Kd4 53. Kh3 Ke3 54. Bc6
fxg3 55. hxg3 Kf2 56. Kg4 Bxg3 57. a5 Bc7 58. a6 Bb6 59. Kh5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.21"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A42"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. e4 d6 4. Nc3 e5 5. Nge2 exd4 6. Nxd4 Nc6 7. Be3 Nge7 8.
Qd2 f5 9. exf5 Nxf5 10. Nxf5 Bxf5 11. Be2 O-O 12. O-O Qh4 13. Nd5 Rf7 14. g3
Qd8 15. Rad1 Qf8 16. f4 Re8 17. Bf3 Be4 18. Bxe4 Rxe4 19. b3 Qe8 20. Rfe1 g5
21. Bf2 gxf4 22. Nxc7 Qe5 23. Rxe4 Qxe4 24. Re1 Qf5 25. Re8+ Bf8 26. Ne6 Ne5
27. Nd4 Qb1+ 28. Qe1 Qg6 29. Rxe5 dxe5 30. Qxe5 fxg3 31. hxg3 h5 32. Kg2 Bg7
33. Qd5 Kh7 34. Nf3 Rf5 35. Qe4 Qg4 36. Qd3 Qg6 37. Kg1 Ra5 38. Qe2 Qg4 39. a4
Rf5 40. Kg2 h4 41. Be1 h3+ 42. Kf2 h2 43. Kg2 Qxf3+ 44. Qxf3 Rxf3 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.21"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. d4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 d6 8. e3
Nbd7 9. Ne2 Ba6 10. Qc2 c5 11. Rd1 h6 12. Bh4 Rc8 13. Qa4 Bb7 14. Nc3 cxd4 15.
Rxd4 Nc5 16. Qd1 Qe7 17. b4 Ncd7 18. Nb5 d5 19. cxd5 Bxd5 20. Nxa7 Ra8 21. Nb5
Ne5 22. e4 Bc6 23. Bg3 Nfd7 24. Be2 f5 25. f4 Ng6 26. e5 Ndxe5 27. fxe5 f4 28.
Bf2 Bxg2 29. Rg1 f3 30. Rd7 fxe2 31. Qd2 Qxd7 32. Qxd7 Nf4 33. Rxg2 Rad8 34.
Qb7 Nd5 35. Kxe2 Nf4+ 36. Ke3 Nd5+ 37. Ke2 Nf4+ 38. Ke3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.21"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Korotylev, Alexey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2600"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. Nf3 g6 3. e4 Bg7 4. Bc4 Nf6 5. Qe2 O-O 6. O-O Bg4 7. Nbd2 Nc6 8. c3
e5 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Nxf3 exd4 11. cxd4 d5 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Be3 Re8 14. Qd2 Qd6
15. Rad1 Nce7 16. Bg5 c6 17. Rfe1 Nf5 18. g4 Nfe7 19. Bh4 Nb6 20. Bb3 Ned5 21.
Bg3 Qb4 22. Qxb4 Nxb4 23. Ne5 N4d5 24. f4 Rad8 25. Kf2 Bh6 26. Kf3 Bg7 27. Bh4
Rb8 28. f5 Bf8 29. Re2 Be7 30. Bg3 Rbd8 31. a3 Bf6 32. Rde1 Rf8 33. Bf2 Nc8 34.
Nd3 Nd6 35. Nc5 gxf5 36. g5 Bg7 37. Bxd5 cxd5 38. Re7 Ne4 39. Be3 b6 40. Nd3 a5
41. h4 Rfe8 42. Rxe8+ Rxe8 43. Rc1 Nd6 44. b3 Nb5 45. Nf4 Bxd4 46. Bd2 Re4 47.
Rc8+ Kg7 48. h5 h6 49. gxh6+ Kh7 50. Rf8 Nd6 51. Nxd5 Be5 52. Bf4 Bxf4 53. Nf6+
Kxh6 54. Nxe4 fxe4+ 55. Kxf4 Kxh5 56. Rb8 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.21"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "36"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8.
Nbd2 Nxd2 9. Bxd2 Bg4 10. c3 O-O 11. Bf4 Bd6 12. Bxd6 Qxd6 13. Re1 g6 14. h3
Rae8 15. Bc2 Nb8 16. Re3 Rxe3 17. fxe3 c6 18. e4 dxe4 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2714"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. g3 O-O 5. Qb3 c5 6. Bg2 Nc6 7. O-O d6 8. d3
h6 9. e3 e5 10. Nd2 Bf5 11. a3 Bxc3 12. Qxc3 Qd7 13. Re1 Bh3 14. Bh1 Rac8 15.
b4 b6 16. Bb2 Rfe8 17. Qb3 h5 18. Nf3 Qf5 19. Nh4 Qd7 20. Bc3 Nh7 21. Qd1 Bg4
22. f3 Bh3 23. f4 Nf6 24. Bf3 Bg4 25. b5 Nd8 26. a4 e4 27. Bxg4 Nxg4 28. d4
cxd4 29. Qxd4 Nf6 30. Red1 Qh3 31. Qxd6 Ng4 32. Rd2 Rxc4 33. Qd7 Rf8 34. Bxg7
Kxg7 35. Nf5+ Kh7 36. Nd6 Rc3 37. Nxe4 Ne6 38. Nxc3 Nxe3 39. Qd3+ Nf5 40. Nd5
Rd8 41. Qe4 Kh6 42. Qe5 Nxg3 43. Qf6+ Kh7 44. Qxf7+ Ng7 45. hxg3 Rxd5 46. Qxd5
Qxg3+ 47. Qg2 Qe3+ 48. Kh1 Nf5 49. Rg1 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.21"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2755"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 Bg4 4. d3 Nd7 5. Nbd2 Ngf6 6. h3 Bh5 7. g4 Bg6 8. Nh4
e6 9. e3 Bd6 10. Qe2 Qc7 11. O-O O-O-O 12. f4 h6 13. Nxg6 fxg6 14. Nf3 e5 15.
Nh4 exf4 16. exf4 Rhe8 17. Qf2 Bc5 18. d4 Bb6 19. b4 Ne4 20. Bxe4 Rxe4 21. c3
Rde8 22. Nxg6 c5 23. bxc5 Nxc5 24. Qf3 Na4 25. Bd2 Nxc3 26. Bxc3 Re3 27. Qxd5
Rxc3 28. Rae1 Rd8 29. Qf5+ Kb8 30. Kh2 Bxd4 31. Re2 a6 32. Rfe1 Ka7 33. Qe4 Bb6
34. Ne5 Rd4 35. Qf5 g5 36. fxg5 Rdd3 37. Kg2 Rg3+ 38. Kf1 Rg1# 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.21"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5
9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Ne5 Bg7 12. Nxd7 Nxd7 13. Bd6 a6 14. a4 e5 15. Re1
Qf6 16. Ba3 Bf8 17. Bg4 Rd8 18. Nd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.21"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2755"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. c3 O-O 7. Nbd2 a6 8. Ba4
Ba7 9. h3 Ne7 10. Re1 Ng6 11. Nf1 b5 12. Bb3 Re8 13. a4 Bb7 14. Be3 Bxe3 15.
Nxe3 h6 16. Nh2 d5 17. axb5 axb5 18. Rxa8 Bxa8 19. exd5 Nxd5 20. Nxd5 Bxd5 21.
Bxd5 Qxd5 22. Qf3 Rd8 23. Qxd5 Rxd5 24. Nf3 c5 25. c4 Rxd3 26. Nxe5 Rb3 27.
Nxg6 fxg6 28. Re5 Rxb2 29. Rxc5 bxc4 30. Rxc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.21"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dreev, Alexey"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D52"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2607"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 Qa5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
Qb3 Bb4 9. Rc1 c5 10. Bc4 O-O 11. O-O cxd4 12. exd4 Bxc3 13. bxc3 a6 14. Rfe1
b6 15. Bd2 b5 16. Bxd5 exd5 17. Qxd5 Nb6 18. Qh5 Nc4 19. Ng5 Bf5 20. Bf4 Qxa2
21. Qf3 Bg6 22. h4 h6 23. h5 hxg5 24. hxg6 gxf4 25. gxf7+ Kxf7 26. Qd5+ Kg6 27.
Re6+ Kh7 28. Rce1 Qc2 29. R1e4 Qd1+ 30. Kh2 Qg4 31. Kg1 Rad8 32. Qc6 Rf5 33.
Re1 Rdf8 34. f3 Qg3 35. Qe4 Ne3 36. Re2 Kg8 37. Re8 Kh7 38. d5 Qg6 39. Rxe3
Rxd5 40. Re1 Rd1 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.21"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Be2
Bb7 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. b4 c6 12. O-O Re8 13. Qb3 Qd6 14. a4 Nd7 15.
a5 b5 16. Ne1 Bd8 17. Nd3 Bc7 18. g3 Bc8 19. Rac1 a6 20. Bf3 Qg6 21. Nxd5 Bxg3
22. fxg3 cxd5 23. Bxd5 Nf6 24. Nf4 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.21"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D13"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. d4 Nc6 6. Bf4 a6 7. Rc1 Bf5 8. e3
Rc8 9. Be2 e6 10. O-O Be7 11. Qb3 Na5 12. Qa4+ Nc6 13. Bxa6 Ra8 14. Bxb7 Rxa4
15. Bxc6+ Kf8 16. Nxa4 Ne4 17. Bb7 Nd6 18. Bxd6 Qxd6 19. Rc6 Qd7 20. Rc8+ Bd8
21. Ne5 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.21"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5
8. Rxe5 O-O 9. d4 Bf6 10. Re1 Nf5 11. c3 d5 12. Bf4 c6 13. Nd2 Nh4 14. Bg3 Bf5
15. Nb3 b6 16. Nc1 Qd7 17. Nd3 Ng6 18. a4 Rfe8 19. Rxe8+ Rxe8 20. a5 b5 21. a6
Bxd3 22. Qxd3 Bh4 23. b3 Bxg3 24. hxg3 Nf8 25. c4 dxc4 26. bxc4 bxc4 27. Qxc4
Ne6 28. Rb1 Qxd4 29. Rb7 Kf8 30. Qxc6 Nc5 31. Bb5 Rd8 32. Rxa7 Nd3 33. Qc7
Qxf2+ 34. Kh2 Qf6 35. Bxd3 Qh6+ 36. Kg1 Qe3+ 37. Kh2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.21"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Savchenko, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2583"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 h6 4. Bh4 c5 5. e3 b6 6. Bd3 Bb7 7. Nbd2 d6 8. c3
Nbd7 9. O-O g5 10. Bg3 Nh5 11. Qe2 a6 12. a4 f5 13. e4 f4 14. e5 Kf7 15. Nh4
Nxg3 16. fxg3 Bg7 17. gxf4 gxh4 18. f5 Qg5 19. fxe6+ Kxe6 20. Bf5+ Ke7 21.
exd6+ Kd8 22. Ne4 Bxe4 23. Qxe4 Ra7 24. Bxd7 cxd4 25. cxd4 Kxd7 26. Rf7+ Kxd6
27. Rxa7 h3 28. g3 Re8 29. Qxe8 Bxd4+ 30. Kf1 Qf5+ 31. Ke1 Qf2+ 32. Kd1 Qf1+
33. Kd2 Qxa1 34. Rd7+ 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.21"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2714"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "134"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. Bxc6+ bxc6 7. Be3 Bb6 8.
Nbd2 O-O 9. h3 h6 10. a4 Nh7 11. a5 Bxe3 12. fxe3 f5 13. b4 fxe4 14. Nxe4 Nf6
15. Ng3 Rb8 16. Qd2 Qe7 17. e4 Be6 18. Qc3 Rb5 19. d4 exd4 20. Nxd4 Rg5 21.
Nxc6 Qd7 22. e5 dxe5 23. Nxe5 Qd6 24. Rae1 Re8 25. Rxf6 gxf6 26. Ne4 Qf8 27.
Nxg5 hxg5 28. Nc6 Bd5 29. Rxe8 Qxe8 30. Nd4 Qe4 31. Qd2 Qe5 32. c3 c6 33. Kf2
Kf7 34. Qd3 Qf4+ 35. Nf3 Bxf3 36. Qxf3 Qd2+ 37. Kg1 Qe1+ 38. Kh2 Qe5+ 39. Qg3
Qe7 40. Kg1 Kg6 41. Qd3+ Kg7 42. Kf2 Qc7 43. Qd4 Kg6 44. c4 f5 45. g3 Qe7 46.
b5 cxb5 47. cxb5 Qa3 48. b6 Qa2+ 49. Ke3 Qa3+ 50. Ke2 Qa2+ 51. Kd1 Qb1+ 52. Kd2
Qa2+ 53. Kd3 Qa3+ 54. Kc2 Qa2+ 55. Qb2 Qc4+ 56. Qc3 Qa2+ 57. Kc1 axb6 58. axb6
Qd5 59. Kb2 f4 60. gxf4 gxf4 61. Qb4 Qe5+ 62. Kb3 Qd5+ 63. Ka4 Qd1+ 64. Ka5
Qd5+ 65. Qb5 Qxb5+ 66. Kxb5 f3 67. b7 f2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.21"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb7 6. Bg2 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 a5 8. O-O
O-O 9. Qc2 d6 10. Rd1 Nbd7 11. Nc3 Bxc3 12. Bxc3 Be4 13. Qb2 Qb8 14. Bf1 Bxf3
15. exf3 d5 16. Rac1 a4 17. Bd2 Qb7 18. c5 c6 19. b4 Rfe8 20. cxb6 Nxb6 21. Rc3
Rec8 22. Rdc1 Ne8 23. Bf4 h6 24. h4 Nf6 25. Qc2 Nc4 26. a3 Nh5 27. Bxc4 dxc4
28. Be3 Nf6 29. Rxc4 Nd5 30. Rxc6 Rd8 31. Kg2 Ra6 32. Rxa6 Qxa6 33. Qc4 Qa7 34.
b5 Rb8 35. Qc6 Qa5 36. Rc5 Qe1 37. Rxd5 exd5 38. Bf4 Re8 39. Be5 Re6 40. Qxd5
Qa5 41. Qc5 Qa8 42. b6 Qb7 43. Bc7 g6 44. d5 Rf6 45. Qe7 Rf5 46. Qe8+ Kh7 47.
Qc6 Qa6 48. b7 Qd3 49. d6 Re5 50. b8=Q Re1 51. Qbb5 Qd1 52. f4 Rg1+ 53. Kh2 Rf1
54. Qxf1 Qxf1 55. d7 Qxf2+ 56. Qg2 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.21"]
[Round "16"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Rublevsky, Sergei"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2676"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 e6 3. e3 Bd6 4. Bg3 Qe7 5. Bd3 Bxg3 6. hxg3 Qb4+ 7. Nd2 Qxb2 8.
Ngf3 Nd7 9. O-O Ngf6 10. c4 Qa3 11. Qc2 c6 12. e4 dxe4 13. Nxe4 O-O 14. Nxf6+
Nxf6 15. g4 g6 16. g5 Nh5 17. c5 b6 18. Ne5 Ba6 19. Bxa6 Qxa6 20. cxb6 axb6 21.
Qxc6 Qa4 22. Qe4 Rad8 23. Rfd1 Rd5 24. Rd2 Rfd8 25. Rad1 Qe8 26. g4 f5 27. gxf6
Nxf6 28. Qf4 Nd7 29. Nc4 Qf7 30. Qc7 Rf8 31. Qg3 h5 32. Ne3 Rg5 33. d5 Ne5 34.
f4 Qxf4 35. Qxf4 Rxf4 36. d6 Nf3+ 37. Kg2 Nxd2 38. Rxd2 Rf8 39. d7 Rd8 40. Rd6
Kf7 41. Kg3 Ke7 42. Rxb6 Rxd7 43. Kf4 Ra5 44. gxh5 gxh5 45. Rb2 Rd4+ 46. Kf3
Rda4 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.21"]
[Round "17"]
[White "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2695"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 Nc6 5. c3 Qb6 6. Qb3 c4 7. Qc2 Bf5 8. Qc1
e6 9. Be2 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. Nbd2 Rfc8 12. Ne5 Nxe5 13. Bxe5 Qd8 14. a4 Bd6
15. Bxd6 Qxd6 16. Re1 Rab8 17. Bf3 Qc6 18. g3 Rc7 19. Bg2 Bd3 20. Nf3 Nd7 21.
Nd2 f5 22. Bf1 Bxf1 23. Rxf1 b5 24. axb5 Qxb5 25. Ra2 a5 26. Qc2 Ra7 27. Rfa1
Nf6 28. Nf3 h6 29. Ne5 a4 30. f3 Ra6 31. g4 fxg4 32. fxg4 Ne4 33. h4 Qb3 34.
Qxb3 Rxb3 35. Rxa4 Rxa4 36. Rxa4 Rxb2 37. Ra8+ Kh7 38. h5 Rb1+ 39. Kg2 Rb2+ 40.
Kg1 Rb1+ 41. Kg2 Rb2+ 42. Kf1 Rb1+ 43. Kg2 Rb2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.21"]
[Round "18"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D03"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2705"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. Nbd2 d5 5. e3 O-O 6. Bd3 c5 7. c3 b6 8. O-O
Ba6 9. Bxa6 Nxa6 10. Qe2 Nc7 11. Rad1 cxd4 12. Nxd4 e5 13. N4f3 h6 14. Bh4 Qd6
15. Nc4 Qe6 16. Ncxe5 Ne4 17. Nd3 Rfe8 18. Bg3 Nxg3 19. hxg3 d4 20. Nxd4 Qxa2
21. Nb4 Qa5 22. Ndc6 Qc5 23. Rd7 Ne6 24. Qf3 Ng5 25. Qd5 a5 26. Qxc5 bxc5 27.
Nd5 Ne6 28. Ra1 a4 29. Rb7 Nd8 30. Nce7+ Kf8 31. Rd7 Ne6 32. f4 c4 33. f5 gxf5
34. Nxf5 Red8 35. Nb6 Rxd7 36. Nxd7+ Kg8 37. Nb6 Rb8 38. Nxc4 Nc5 39. Rd1 Bf8
40. Rd4 Kh7 41. Kh2 Kg6 42. Nfd6 Bxd6 43. Rxd6+ Kg7 44. Rd5 Ne4 45. Ra5 Rc8 46.
Rxa4 Nc5 47. Ra7 Ne4 48. Ne5 Kf6 49. Nxf7 Rb8 50. Nxh6 Rxb2 51. Ra6+ Ke5 52.
Nf7+ Kd5 53. Ra5+ Kc4 54. Ra4+ Kd3 55. Ne5+ Kxe3 56. Ng4+ Kd3 57. Rd4+ 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.21"]
[Round "19"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2670"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 O-O 8. Bb2
e5 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Nd4 Nc6 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Be2 Qc7 14. Bf3 Re8
15. Ne2 Ng4 16. Bxg4 Bxg4 17. h3 Bxe2 18. Qxe2 Qa5+ 19. Kf1 c5 20. Qg4 Bf8 21.
Qd1 Rad8 22. g3 d4 23. exd4 cxd4 24. Qd3 Qd5 25. Rg1 g6 26. Rd1 Bg7 27. g4 a5
28. Rg3 Qh1+ 29. Rg1 Qb7 30. Rg3 a4 31. Kg1 Be5 32. Rf3 Bb8 33. Kg2 Qc7 34. Rg3
Re6 35. Bc1 axb3 36. axb3 Qb7+ 37. Rf3 Rc6 38. Bd2 Be5 39. Qe4 Bg7 40. Rc1 Rb6
41. Qxb7 Rxb7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.22"]
[Round "20"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A01"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. b3 e5 2. Bb2 Nc6 3. e3 d6 4. Nf3 g6 5. d4 Bg7 6. Bb5 Nge7 7. d5 a6 8. Be2
Nb8 9. O-O O-O 10. c4 a5 11. Nc3 Na6 12. a3 Bd7 13. Nd2 f5 14. f4 exf4 15. exf4
c6 16. Kh1 cxd5 17. cxd5 b5 18. Nf3 Qb6 19. Ng5 Nc7 20. Qd2 h6 21. Ne6 Bxe6 22.
dxe6 d5 23. a4 b4 24. Nb5 Bxb2 25. Qxb2 Nxe6 26. Rae1 Nc5 27. Qd4 Rab8 28. Bc4
Ne4 29. Bxd5+ Nxd5 30. Qxd5+ Kg7 31. g4 Rbd8 32. Qe5+ Kg8 33. gxf5 Rfe8 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.22"]
[Round "21"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 c5 3. e3 Nc6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. c3 e6 6. Qb3 Qc8 7. Nbd2 Nf6 8. Ne5
Be7 9. Nxg4 Nxg4 10. Be2 Nf6 11. O-O O-O 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. Bg5 Nd7 14. Rac1 Qc7
15. Rfd1 Bd6 16. Nf3 Nde5 17. Nd4 Na5 18. Qc2 a6 19. e4 Ng6 20. g3 Be7 21. Bxe7
Nxe7 22. exd5 Nxd5 23. c4 Nb4 24. Qa4 Nac6 25. Nf3 Qa5 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.22"]
[Round "22"]
[White "Korotylev, Alexey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A09"]
[WhiteElo "2600"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. b4 f6 4. e3 dxe3 5. fxe3 e5 6. c5 Be6 7. Bb5+ c6 8. Ba4
Nh6 9. O-O Be7 10. Bb3 Qd7 11. Nc3 Na6 12. a3 Nc7 13. d4 O-O-O 14. dxe5 Qxd1
15. Bxe6+ Nxe6 16. Nxd1 fxe5 17. Nc3 Rd3 18. Ne4 Ng4 19. Re1 Rhd8 20. h3 Nf6
21. Nf2 Rb3 22. Nxe5 Nd5 23. Nc4 Nc3 24. Na5 Rb1 25. Rxb1 Nxb1 26. Nc4 Nc3 27.
Bb2 Nb5 28. Rd1 Rxd1+ 29. Nxd1 g6 30. Kf2 Kd7 31. Ke2 Bd8 32. Nf2 b6 33. cxb6
axb6 34. Nd3 Nd6 35. Nde5+ Kc7 36. Nxd6 Kxd6 37. Nf7+ Kd5 38. Kd3 c5 39. e4+
Kc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.22"]
[Round "23"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 O-O 8. O-O
d5 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Nc3 Bb7 11. Qc2 Na6 12. Bf4 Qc8 13. Rfd1 Rd8 14. Ng5 Qd7
15. Be5 g6 16. Bh3 Qe8 17. Qc1 c5 18. a4 Nh5 19. Ne6 Bc8 20. Nxd8 Bxh3 21. Nb7
Qc6 22. e4 dxe4 23. d5 Qxb7 24. d6 Bf8 25. Nd5 Be6 26. Nc7 Nb4 27. Nxa8 Qxa8
28. Qc3 Qc6 29. Rd2 Nd5 30. Qc2 e3 31. fxe3 Nxe3 32. Qd3 Nd5 33. Qf3 Nb4 34.
Qxc6 Nxc6 35. d7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.22"]
[Round "24"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2714"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Be2
Bb7 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. b4 c6 12. O-O Re8 13. a4 a5 14. bxa5 Rxa5
15. Qb3 Nd7 16. Rfd1 Be7 17. Rab1 Bd6 18. g3 Bc7 19. Bf1 Qf6 20. Bg2 Ba6 21.
Qc2 Bc8 22. Nd2 Ra7 23. e4 dxe4 24. Ndxe4 Qg6 25. d5 Nc5 26. dxc6 Bf5 27. Re1
Be5 28. Rxb6 Bxc3 29. Qxc3 Nxe4 30. Bxe4 Bxe4 31. f3 Rxa4 32. fxe4 Raxe4 33.
Rxe4 Qxe4 34. c7 Qa8 35. Rc6 Rc8 36. Rc5 Qe4 37. Qd2 Qb1+ 38. Kg2 Qb7+ 39. Kh3
Qb6 40. Qd7 Qxc5 41. Qxc8+ Kh7 42. Qd7 Qh5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.22"]
[Round "25"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D19"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2755"]
[PlyCount "143"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. d4 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O
Nbd7 9. Qe2 Bg4 10. Rd1 O-O 11. e4 Re8 12. h3 Bh5 13. Bf4 Qa5 14. e5 Nd5 15.
Nxd5 cxd5 16. Bb5 Qd8 17. Qe3 a6 18. Bd3 Nb8 19. g4 Bg6 20. h4 Nc6 21. h5 Bxd3
22. Qxd3 Be7 23. Kg2 Rc8 24. Rac1 Qb6 25. Rc3 Na5 26. Rdc1 Rxc3 27. bxc3 Qd8
28. g5 Rf8 29. Kg3 Qe8 30. Rh1 Nc4 31. Nd2 Nb2 32. Qc2 Nxa4 33. c4 dxc4 34. Ne4
Nb6 35. Rb1 Nd5 36. Rxb7 Qc6 37. Ra7 Bd8 38. Nc5 c3 39. Rxa6 Qb5 40. Ra8 Nxf4
41. Kxf4 Bxg5+ 42. Kxg5 h6+ 43. Kf4 Rxa8 44. Qxc3 Qe2 45. Qf3 Qxf3+ 46. Kxf3
Ra3+ 47. Kf4 Kf8 48. f3 Ke7 49. Ne4 g5+ 50. hxg6 fxg6 51. Nf6 Kf7 52. Ke4 g5
53. f4 Kg6 54. fxg5 Kxg5 55. d5 Ra4+ 56. Kf3 Kf5 57. dxe6 Kxe6 58. Kg3 Kf5 59.
Kh3 Kg5 60. Nh7+ Kf5 61. Nf6 Rc4 62. Kg3 Rc5 63. Ng8 Kg5 64. e6 Re5 65. e7 h5
66. Kf3 Re6 67. Kg3 Re3+ 68. Kf2 Re6 69. Kg3 h4+ 70. Kf3 Re5 71. Kg2 Kg4 72.
e8=Q 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.22"]
[Round "26"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ke8 10. h3 b6 11. Bf4 Bb4 12. Ne4 Ba6 13. Rfc1 Be2 14. Nh2
Rd8 15. g4 Rd4 16. Ng3 Nxg3 17. Bxg3 Bd2 18. Rcb1 h5 19. c3 Rd3 20. Nf1 hxg4
21. Rd1 gxh3 22. Rxd2 Bxf1 23. Rxd3 Bxd3 24. Rd1 Bc4 25. b3 Be6 26. Kh2 g5 27.
f3 c5 28. Bf2 g4 29. fxg4 Bxg4 30. Rd2 a5 31. a3 Ke7 32. b4 cxb4 33. cxb4 axb4
34. axb4 Bf5 35. Bg3 Ke6 36. Rb2 Rd8 37. Kg1 Rd3 38. Kh2 Rc3 39. Bf4 Kd5 40.
Bg3 c6 41. Bf2 c5 42. bxc5 bxc5 43. Bg3 c4 44. Rd2+ Rd3 45. Rf2 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.22"]
[Round "27"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2755"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 d5 8.
cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nc3 Nc6 10. Nxd5 exd5 11. Be3 a6 12. Rc1 Ne5 13. Nb3 Be6 14. Nc5
Bxc5 15. Bxc5 Re8 16. b3 Nc6 17. Qd2 Qf6 18. Bb6 Re7 19. Rfd1 Rd7 20. Bd4 Qe7
21. Qb2 Nxd4 22. Qxd4 Rad8 23. Rd2 h6 24. e3 Qa3 25. Rc3 Qe7 26. b4 Rd6 27.
Rdc2 R6d7 28. Rc1 Rd6 29. a4 R6d7 30. b5 axb5 31. axb5 Qf6 32. Qxf6 gxf6 33.
Rc7 Kf8 34. b6 Ke7 35. Kf1 Rxc7 36. Rxc7+ Rd7 37. Rc5 Rd6 38. Rb5 Kd7 39. Rb4
f5 40. Ke1 Kc6 41. Bf1 Kc5 42. Rb5+ Kc6 43. Kd2 Rd8 44. Rb4 Ra8 45. Bd3 Kc5 46.
Rf4 Ra2+ 47. Ke1 Kxb6 48. Bxf5 Kc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.22"]
[Round "28"]
[White "Dreev, Alexey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2607"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 O-O 8. Be2
b6 9. Bb2 Bb7 10. O-O Qe7 11. Rad1 Rfe8 12. Bd3 Rad8 13. h3 h6 14. Rfe1 c5 15.
cxd5 exd5 16. Bf5 Nf8 17. Ne5 g6 18. Bd3 Ne6 19. Bb5 Rf8 20. Nc6 Bxc6 21. Bxc6
Qc7 22. dxc5 Bh2+ 23. Kh1 Qxc6 24. Kxh2 bxc5 25. Ne2 Ne4 26. f3 Qd6+ 27. Kg1
Ng3 28. Nxg3 Qxg3 29. Qf2 Qxf2+ 30. Kxf2 f5 31. Rd2 Rfe8 32. Red1 f4 33. e4
dxe4 34. fxe4 Rxd2+ 35. Rxd2 Rc8 36. Rd6 Kf7 37. Rd7+ Ke8 38. Rh7 Rc6 39. Rxh6
c4 40. Rxg6 Kf7 41. Rf6+ Ke7 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.22"]
[Round "29"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. e3 a6 5. b3 c5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. Bb2 Be7 8. cxd5
exd5 9. O-O O-O 10. Nbd2 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Ne5 12. N2f3 Nxd3 13. Qxd3 Ne4 14. h3
Bf6 15. Rac1 Bd7 16. Rfd1 Qa5 17. Qb1 Bxd4 18. Bxd4 Rac8 19. Qb2 f6 20. Ne1
Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Rc8 22. Rxc8+ Bxc8 23. Nd3 Bf5 24. g4 Bd7 25. Kg2 Bc6 26. f3 Ng5
27. Nf4 Qe1 28. Qf2 Qxf2+ 29. Kxf2 Kf7 30. h4 Ne6 31. Ne2 g6 32. Nc3 Ke7 33. a4
Kf7 34. Ke2 Ke7 35. Kd3 Kf7 36. Bb6 Ke7 37. b4 d4 38. exd4 Bxf3 39. d5 Nf4+ 40.
Ke3 Nxd5+ 41. Nxd5+ Bxd5 42. g5 Ke6 43. gxf6 Kxf6 44. Kf4 h6 45. a5 g5+ 46.
hxg5+ hxg5+ 47. Kg3 Kf5 48. Bc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.22"]
[Round "30"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. c3 O-O 7. Nbd2 a6 8. Ba4
Ba7 9. h3 Ne7 10. Re1 Ng6 11. Nf1 b5 12. Bb3 Re8 13. Ng3 Bb7 14. Be3 Bxe3 15.
fxe3 d5 16. exd5 Bxd5 17. e4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.22"]
[Round "31"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. g3 Nd7 8. Bg2
dxc4 9. O-O Be7 10. Ne4 Qf5 11. Ned2 Nb6 12. Ne5 O-O 13. e3 c5 14. Be4 Qh3 15.
dxc5 Bxc5 16. Ndxc4 Nxc4 17. Nxc4 Be7 18. Nd6 e5 19. Nxb7 Rb8 20. Na5 Rxb2 21.
Nc6 Bg5 22. Bg2 Qe6 23. Qd5 Qxd5 24. Bxd5 Bb7 25. Rfb1 Bxc6 26. Bxc6 Rfb8 27.
Rxb2 Rxb2 28. Bd5 Rd2 29. Bb3 g6 30. Rc1 Rd7 31. Rc5 Bf6 32. Kg2 Kg7 33. Kf3 h5
34. h4 Kf8 35. Ra5 Rc7 36. Ke4 Rd7 37. Bd5 Rc7 38. Kd3 Be7 39. Bb3 Bd6 40. Ke4
Ke7 41. Kd5 Bb4 42. Rb5 Be1 43. Kxe5 Bxf2 44. Kf4 Be1 45. g4 Bxh4 46. gxh5 gxh5
47. Rxh5 Bf6 48. Rh7 Kf8 49. e4 Re7 50. Rh5 Bd4 51. e5 Kg7 52. Ke4 Bc3 53. Rf5
Bb2 54. Kd5 Bc3 55. a4 a5 56. Ke4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.22"]
[Round "32"]
[White "Savchenko, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2583"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nxc6 Qf6 6. Qf3 bxc6 7. Nd2 d6 8.
Bd3 Qxf3 9. Nxf3 Ne7 10. Bd2 Bg4 11. h3 Bxf3 12. gxf3 f5 13. Bg5 fxe4 14. fxe4
Ng6 15. Ke2 O-O 16. Be3 Bxe3 17. Kxe3 Rf4 18. Bc4+ d5 19. Bd3 Raf8 20. Kd4 dxe4
21. Bxe4 Rxf2 22. Kc5 Ne5 23. a4 R8f6 24. Kd4 Nf7 25. Bd3 R2f4+ 26. Kc3 Ne5 27.
Ba6 c5 28. Bb5 Rf3+ 29. Kd2 Rd6+ 30. Ke2 c4 31. Bxc4+ Kf8 32. Raf1 Rxf1 33.
Rxf1+ Ke7 34. Bb3 Rh6 35. Rg1 g6 36. Rg3 Rh4 37. Re3 Kd6 38. c3 g5 39. Bc2 h5
40. b4 g4 41. Bf5 Kd5 42. a5 Rxh3 43. Rxh3 gxh3 44. Bxh3 Kc4 45. Kd2 Kb3 46.
Be6+ Kb2 47. b5 h4 48. c4 h3 49. Bxh3 Nxc4+ 50. Kd3 Nxa5 51. Kd4 Ka3 52. Kc5
Nb3+ 53. Kc6 Nd4+ 54. Kc5 Nb3+ 55. Kc6 Kb4 56. Kxc7 Kxb5 57. Kb7 a5 58. Bd7+
Kb4 59. Kb6 Nd2 60. Bc6 Nc4+ 61. Ka6 Kc5 62. Bb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.22"]
[Round "33"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D13"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2714"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. Bf4 e6 7. e3 Nc6 8. Bd3
Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Rc1 Bd7 11. Ne5 Rc8 12. Qf3 Be8 13. Qh3 Kh8 14. Bg5 g6 15.
Bh6 Rg8 16. f4 Nd7 17. Nxc6 Rxc6 18. e4 dxe4 19. Bxe4 Rb6 20. d5 Nf6 21. dxe6
Qd4+ 22. Kh1 Nxe4 23. Nxe4 Qxe4 24. exf7 Bxf7 25. Rfe1 Qb4 26. a3 Qd6 27. Rcd1
Bd5 28. f5 gxf5 29. Be3 Rxb2 30. Bd4+ Bf6 31. Bxb2 Bxb2 32. Rd2 Be5 33. Qxf5
Re8 34. Red1 Be6 35. Qh5 Qb8 36. Re2 Bc3 37. h3 Bf7 38. Qxf7 Rxe2 39. Qc4 Re1+
40. Rxe1 Bxe1 41. Qd4+ Kg8 42. Qg4+ Kh8 43. Qd4+ Kg8 44. Qg4+ Kf7 45. Qf5+ Kg8
46. Qe6+ Kg7 47. Qxe1 Qd6 48. Qc3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.22"]
[Round "34"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "137"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. Qe2 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. d3 Re8 7. Ba4 Bf8 8. Bg5
h6 9. Bh4 d5 10. Nbd2 Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. g4 Bg6 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. exd5 Ne7 15.
Bxe8 Nxd5 16. Bb5 Qb6 17. Bc4 Nf4 18. Qxe5 Bd6 19. Qb5 Qxb5 20. Bxb5 a6 21. Ne4
Bxe4 22. dxe4 axb5 23. O-O-O Rxa2 24. Kb1 Ra8 25. e5 Bc5 26. Rd7 Bb6 27. Nd4 b4
28. cxb4 Ra4 29. Nc2 Ne6 30. f3 Kf8 31. Rd3 Ra8 32. Rhd1 Ke8 33. h4 c6 34. h5
Bc7 35. Re1 Nf4 36. Rd2 Bb6 37. Re4 Nd5 38. f4 Rd8 39. Kc1 Ra8 40. f5 Bd8 41.
Kb1 Bg5 42. Rd3 b5 43. Nd4 Nxb4 44. Rb3 c5 45. Nxb5 Ke7 46. Re1 Rd8 47. Nd6 f6
48. Ne4 Bh4 49. Rh1 Rd4 50. Nxc5 Bf2 51. exf6+ Kxf6 52. Rf1 Bh4 53. Nd7+ Kg5
54. Ne5 Kf6 55. Nf3 Rxg4 56. Nxh4 Rxh4 57. Re3 Rxh5 58. Re6+ Kf7 59. Rb6 Nd5
60. Rb5 Nf6 61. Rb7+ Kf8 62. Rc1 Rxf5 63. Rc8+ Ne8 64. Rbb8 Re5 65. b4 h5 66.
b5 h4 67. b6 h3 68. Rxe8+ Rxe8 69. Rxe8+ 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.22"]
[Round "35"]
[White "Rublevsky, Sergei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2676"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. g3 h5 8. h3
h4 9. g4 Ng6 10. Qd2 O-O 11. f4 Re8 12. Bg2 d5 13. Nxc6 Bxe3 14. Qxe3 Nxf4 15.
O-O Nxg2 16. Kxg2 Qxc6 17. Nd2 dxe4 18. Nb3 Qb6 19. Qf4 Be6 20. Nd4 Bc4 21. Nf5
Bxf1+ 22. Rxf1 Qf6 23. g5 Qe5 24. Qxh4 e3 25. Ng3 e2 26. Re1 Qd5+ 27. Kf2 Qc5+
28. Kg2 Rad8 29. Qf4 Qd5+ 30. Kf2 Qd2 31. Qf5 Qxe1+ 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.22"]
[Round "36"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. g3 f5 3. d4 exd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Qe3+ Be7 6. Bg2 Nf6 7. Nc3 O-O 8.
Nh3 Re8 9. O-O Bf8 10. Qd2 Ne5 11. b3 d6 12. Nf4 c6 13. Rd1 Qc7 14. Ba3 Nf7 15.
Rac1 Bd7 16. e3 Rad8 17. b4 Ne5 18. Qe2 g5 19. Nh5 Nxh5 20. Qxh5 Be6 21. Qxg5+
Qg7 22. Qxg7+ Bxg7 23. b5 Nxc4 24. bxc6 Nxa3 25. cxb7 Bxc3 26. Rxc3 Nc4 27. Bd5
Bxd5 28. Rxd5 Nb6 29. Ra5 Rb8 30. Rc7 Rf8 31. Rxa7 Rf7 32. Rxf7 Kxf7 33. a4 Ke6
34. a5 Nd7 35. Kg2 Kd5 36. Kf3 Kc6 37. a6 Nc5 38. Ra8 Kc7 39. a7 Rxb7 40. Rc8+
1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.22"]
[Round "37"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2705"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "157"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 O-O 7. Bg2 d5 8.
cxd5 Nxd5 9. Qb3 Nc6 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. O-O Rb8 12. Ne4 Ba6 13. Qc2 Be7 14. a3
Qb6 15. b4 Rfc8 16. Bg5 f6 17. Bd2 Bxe2 18. Rfe1 Bh5 19. Bh3 Bf7 20. Rac1 Rc7
21. Nc5 Bxc5 22. Qxc5 Qxc5 23. Rxc5 e5 24. Rec1 Rd8 25. Rxc6 Rxc6 26. Rxc6 Ne7
27. Rc2 Rd3 28. Bf1 Rxa3 29. Rc7 Ra1 30. f3 Kf8 31. Be3 Nd5 32. Bc5+ Ke8 33.
Rb7 a5 34. bxa5 Rxa5 35. Bb5+ Rxb5 36. Rxb5 Kd7 37. Rb7+ Ke6 38. Bf8 g5 39. Kf2
h5 40. Ra7 Bg6 41. Ke2 g4 42. fxg4 hxg4 43. Bc5 Be4 44. Kd2 f5 45. Ra6+ Kf7 46.
Bd6 f4 47. Bxe5 f3 48. Bd4 Bf5 49. Rd6 Be6 50. Kd3 Ne7 51. Ra6 Nf5 52. Bf2 Bd5
53. Kc3 Be6 54. Kb4 Ne7 55. Kc5 Nf5 56. Ra4 Nh6 57. Kd6 Nf5+ 58. Ke5 Ng7 59.
Ra7+ Kg6 60. Ra6 Kf7 61. Bd4 Bb3 62. Rb6 Bc4 63. Bf2 Ba2 64. Kf4 Be6 65. Kg5
Ne8 66. Rb7+ Kg8 67. Bc5 Nd6 68. Rb8+ Kg7 69. Bd4+ Kf7 70. Kf4 Bd5 71. Rb6 Ne4
72. Rb2 Ke6 73. Kxg4 Nd6 74. Kf4 Nc4 75. Rf2 Na5 76. g4 Nc6 77. Bc3 Ne7 78. h4
Ng6+ 79. Kg3 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.22"]
[Round "38"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2670"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2007.11.21"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2008"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2007.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 h6 4. Bh4 c5 5. e3 cxd4 6. exd4 b6 7. Bd3 Bb7 8.
Nbd2 Be7 9. Qe2 Nc6 10. c3 Nh5 11. Bg3 Nxg3 12. hxg3 Qc7 13. O-O-O O-O-O 14.
Kb1 Kb8 15. g4 Qf4 16. Ne1 d5 17. g3 Qd6 18. f4 g5 19. Ng2 Rdg8 20. Rh5 f6 21.
Rdh1 Bf8 22. Nf3 Bg7 23. Re1 Re8 24. Bb5 Re7 25. Qd3 Nd8 26. Rhh1 Rf8 27. Re2
Bc8 28. Rhe1 Nf7 29. Ne3 Rd8 30. Nf5 exf5 31. Rxe7 fxg4 32. Rxf7 1-0

[Event "Moscow Advanced rap m"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.23"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2007.11.23"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 121 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. a3 Bd6 10. O-O O-O 11. Qc2 a5 12. e4 e5 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Bxe5 15.
h3 Re8 16. Be3 Qc7 17. Rad1 Rad8 18. Ne2 Bd6 19. Nd4 Nh5 20. Rfe1 Nf4 21. Bf1
Ne6 22. Nxe6 Rxe6 23. f4 f6 24. Qb3 Qf7 25. Bb6 a4 26. Qa2 Rd7 27. Be2 g6 28.
e5 Bc7 29. Bxc7 Rxc7 30. Bg4 f5 31. Bf3 Kg7 32. Rd8 Ree7 33. Qxf7+ Kxf7 34.
Red1 c5 35. Be2 c4 36. R1d6 Be4 37. Kf2 Re6 38. R8d7+ Rxd7 39. Rxd7+ Re7 40.
Rxe7+ Kxe7 41. g4 fxg4 42. hxg4 Bd5 43. Ke3 b4 44. Kd2 c3+ 45. bxc3 bxa3 46.
Kc1 Ke6 47. Kb1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Advanced rap m"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2007.11.23"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2007.11.23"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 121 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ne7 10. h3 Ng6 11. Bg5+ Ke8 12. Rad1 Be6 13. Nd4 Bc4 14.
Rfe1 Bb4 15. Bd2 Rd8 16. a3 Bxc3 17. Bxc3 Nf4 18. Kh2 c5 19. Nf5 Rxd1 20. Rxd1
Ne6 21. f3 Bb5 22. Rd2 h5 23. Kg3 Bc6 24. Kf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2008.01.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2681"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2008.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Qb3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 g5 7. Bg3 Ne4 8. Nc3
Nxg3 9. hxg3 Bg7 10. e3 Nd7 11. Bd3 Rb8 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. g4 a6 14. Ne2 Nf6 15.
Ne5 Nd7 16. Nf3 Nf6 17. Ne5 Nd7 18. f4 gxf4 19. exf4 Nxe5 20. dxe5 Qa5+ 21. Qc3
Qxc3+ 22. bxc3 f6 23. exf6 Bxf6 24. Rb1 b5 25. a4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2008.01.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "157"]
[EventDate "2008.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. Nd2 a5 10. a3 Nd7 11. Rb1 f5 12. b4 axb4 13. axb4 Kh8 14. f3 c6 15. dxc6
bxc6 16. Nb3 Nf6 17. Bg5 Be6 18. Kh1 Bg8 19. Qd2 Rb8 20. b5 cxb5 21. cxb5 d5
22. exd5 Nexd5 23. Nxd5 Qxd5 24. Na5 Qxd2 25. Bxd2 Nd5 26. Bc4 e4 27. fxe4 Nc3
28. Rb3 Bxc4 29. Nxc4 Nxb5 30. exf5 gxf5 31. g3 Nd4 32. Rxb8 Rxb8 33. Be3 Rc8
34. Nd6 Rc6 35. Nxf5 Nxf5 36. Rxf5 Rc2 37. h4 h6 38. Kg1 Kh7 39. Rd5 Re2 40.
Bf4 Rc2 41. Kf1 Ra2 42. Be3 Rc2 43. Bf2 Kg6 44. h5+ Kh7 45. Kg2 Rc7 46. Be3 Rf7
47. Bf4 Rb7 48. Kf3 Re7 49. Rd6 Rb7 50. Rd5 Re7 51. Rb5 Kg8 52. Bd6 Re6 53.
Rb8+ Kh7 54. Rd8 Rf6+ 55. Ke4 Rf7 56. Rc8 Rf6 57. Rd8 Rf7 58. g4 Ra7 59. Rb8
Ra4+ 60. Kf5 Ra5+ 61. Ke6 Ra4 62. Bb4 Ra6+ 63. Kd5 Ra7 64. Rb6 Rd7+ 65. Bd6 Ra7
66. Ke6 Ra4 67. Bb4 Ra7 68. Rb8 Ra6+ 69. Kd5 Ra7 70. Re8 Rd7+ 71. Bd6 Ra7 72.
Re4 Rd7 73. Ke6 Ra7 74. Rb4 Bc3 75. Rb5 Bg7 76. Bc5 Rc7 77. Ra5 Bc3 78. Ra7
Rxa7 79. Bxa7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2008.01.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C43"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2008.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. O-O Nxe5 7. dxe5 Nc5 8.
Nc3 c6 9. Ne2 Be7 10. f4 f6 11. Be3 Nxd3 12. Qxd3 O-O 13. c4 fxe5 14. fxe5 Be6
15. Nf4 Bf5 16. Qd4 Bg5 17. cxd5 Bxf4 18. Rxf4 Qxd5 19. Qxd5+ cxd5 20. Raf1 g6
21. g4 Be6 22. Rxf8+ Rxf8 23. Rxf8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2008.01.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2692"]
[PlyCount "135"]
[EventDate "2008.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qa4+ Bd7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 c5 7. g3 Nc6 8.
Bg2 Qb6 9. O-O Qb4 10. Qxb4 cxb4 11. Nb5 Rc8 12. b3 e5 13. Bb2 Be7 14. d4 e4
15. Ne5 Be6 16. d5 Bxd5 17. Bh3 Be6 18. Bxe6 fxe6 19. Rfc1 O-O 20. Nxc6 Rxc6
21. Rxc6 bxc6 22. Nxa7 c5 23. Nc6 Nd5 24. a4 bxa3 25. Rxa3 Rc8 26. Ra6 Bf8 27.
e3 Nc7 28. Ra7 Nd5 29. Ne5 Rb8 30. Nd7 Rxb3 31. Ba3 Be7 32. Bxc5 Bxc5 33. Nxc5
Rb1+ 34. Kg2 Rb2 35. Ra3 Nf6 36. Ra8+ Kf7 37. Ra7+ Ke8 38. Ra6 Ng4 39. Nxe4
Nxe3+ 40. Kf3 Nd5 41. Rxe6+ Kf8 42. Rd6 Ne7 43. Rd8+ Kg7 44. Rd7 Kf8 45. Nf6 h5
46. Ra7 Rb5 47. Ke4 Rb4+ 48. Ke3 Rb5 49. Ne4 Re5 50. f3 Rb5 51. h3 Nd5+ 52. Kd4
Ne7 53. Ra6 Rf5 54. Ke3 Nd5+ 55. Kf2 Ne7 56. Ra8+ Kg7 57. Ra7 Kf8 58. Rb7 Ra5
59. g4 hxg4 60. hxg4 Rd5 61. Kg3 Ra5 62. Kh4 Re5 63. Nf6 Kf7 64. f4 Ra5 65. Nd7
g5+ 66. fxg5 Ke6 67. Kh5 Rd5 68. Nf8+ 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2008.01.17"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2726"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "2008.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Bf4 O-O
8. Qd2 Nd7 9. O-O-O Nc5 10. Nd4 Re8 11. f3 Ne6 12. Be3 Bg5 13. f4 Nxd4 14. fxg5
Nc6 15. h4 Bg4 16. Re1 Qd7 17. Bb5 Re5 18. Bxc6 Qxc6 19. Bd4 Rxe1+ 20. Rxe1 Re8
21. b3 b6 22. c4 Rxe1+ 23. Qxe1 Kf8 24. g3 Qf3 25. Kb2 Bf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2008.01.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "219"]
[EventDate "2008.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5
9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Ne5 Bg7 12. Nxd7 Nxd7 13. Bd6 a6 {This system is
examined by GM I.Stohl in CBM 118 (annotations to Iljin-Nepomniachtchi), by GM
D.Rogozenko in CBM 120, as well as in annotations to Inarkiev-Aronian in this
issue.} 14. a4 e5 15. Bg4 (15. d5 c5 16. b4 $1 Qb6 $1 17. bxc5 Nxc5 18. Bxc5
Qxc5 19. axb5 axb5 20. Rxa8+ Bxa8 21. Qa1 O-O 22. Qa5 Rb8 23. Rb1 Bf8 24. Nxb5
(24. Rxb5 Rxb5 25. Qxb5 Qxb5 26. Nxb5 Bb7 27. Bxc4 Ba6 28. Kf1 Bxb5 29. Bxb5
Bc5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Gustafsson,J-Aronian,L/Khanty-Mansiysk RUS 2007/The Week in
Chess 682 (40)}) 24... f5 25. Qa6 Kh8 26. Nc3 Rxb1+ 27. Nxb1 Qb4 28. Qxa8 Qxb1+
29. Bf1 Qb4 30. exf5 c3 $132 {1/2-1/2 Alekseev,E-Bareev,E/Khanty-Mansiysk RUS
2007/The Week in Chess 682 (40)}) (15. Re1 Qf6 16. Ba3 Bf8 17. Bg4 Rd8 18. Nd5
{1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V-Shirov,A/Moscow 2007/EXT 2008}) 15... exd4 16. e5 c5 $1 {
An active response leading to immense complications.} (16... dxc3 17. e6 Ne5
18. e7 $16 Qb6 $2 19. Bxe5) 17. Re1 (17. axb5 Nxe5 18. Bxe5 Bxe5 19. bxa6 Rxa6
20. Rxa6 Bxa6 21. Re1 Qc7 22. Qe2 f6 23. Nd5 Qd6 $15 {1/2-1/2 Iljin,A-Smirnov,
P/Saratov 2006/EXT 2008 (40)}) (17. Bf3 Nxe5 $1 (17... Bxf3 $2 18. Qxf3 Nxe5
19. Qd5 $1 dxc3 20. Rfe1 (20. Rae1 $18 {[%cal Re1e5,Rd5c6] Stohl}) 20... cxb2
21. Rad1 b1=Q 22. Rxb1 Rc8 23. axb5 axb5 24. Rbd1 $18 {1-0 Kuljasevic,D-Zhao
Jun/Richardson USA 2007/The Week in Chess 684 (30)}) (17... Ra7 $2 18. Bxb7
Rxb7 19. Ne4 $1 Nxe5 20. axb5 axb5 21. f4 $1 gxf4 22. Qh5 Rb6 23. Bxe5 $18 {
1-0 Iljin,A-Nepomniachtchi,I/Dresden 2007/CBM 118/[Stohl] (27)}) 18. Bxb7 Qxd6
19. Bxa8 O-O $1 20. Ne4 Qc7 21. axb5 Rxa8 22. f4 gxf4 23. Qh5 Ra7 24. Rxa6 Rxa6
25. bxa6 Qc6 26. Qf5 Qxa6 27. Rxf4 Qg6 28. Nxc5 d3 $44 {1/2-1/2 DEEP
JUNIOR-DEEP FRITZ/Elista RUS 2007/The Week in Chess 657 (47)}) 17... Nxe5 $1
18. Bxe5 O-O 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Ne2 {Black's pawn avalanche looks powerful but
the position of his king is quite unsafe.} f5 21. Bh5 f4 22. b4 $1 cxb3 (22...
d3 $5 23. bxc5 $1 b4 $1 $13 {was recommended by Vishy Anand. This will
possibly be checked in future.}) 23. Qxb3 Qd5 24. Qh3 Bc8 25. Nc3 $1 $146 {
[%mdl 8] Anand's other suggestion.} (25. Qd3 {was seen in his rapid game vs.
Radjabov:} Bf5 26. Qd2 Qd7 27. Rac1 (27. Bf3 Rac8 28. axb5 axb5 29. h3 $13 {
V.Anand}) 27... Rac8 28. h4 Kh8 $1 29. axb5 axb5 30. Qb2 b4 $13 {0-1 Radjabov,
T-Anand,V/Mainz (m) 2006/Inf 97/[Anand,V] (58)}) 25... dxc3 26. Qxc3+ Qd4 27.
Qf3 $36 {The poor position of Black's king makes him defend carefully.} Ra7 (
27... Rb8 $5 28. Qc6 (28. Re7+ Kh8 29. Rd1 Qf6 30. Rc7 Be6) 28... Kg8 29. Rad1
Qg7 30. axb5 axb5 31. Qd5+ Kh8 32. Qxc5 Bf5) 28. axb5 {This pawn now remains
alive and turns into a powerful "second weakness" (from Black's point of view).
} Qf6 (28... Rf6 $5 29. Rad1 Qc4) 29. Qa3 $1 Qb6 30. Qc3+ Kg8 31. Re5 Qf6 32.
Qxc5 Rd7 33. h4 $1 gxh4 34. Bg4 Rdd8 35. Bxc8 Rxc8 36. Qd5+ Qf7 37. bxa6 Qxd5
38. Rxd5 Rf7 39. a7 Ra8 40. Rda5 {[%mdl 4096] The complication ended in a
seemingly simple endgame. White's a7-pawn is strong but it is not easy to make
use of it with four rooks on the board (needless to say that with one pair of
rooks Black's position would be absolutely hopeless).} Kh7 (40... f3 41. gxf3
Rxf3 $2 {is impossible due to} 42. Rb1 {[%cal Rb1b8] but can White win if
Black doesn't take on f3? I don't think so.}) 41. R1a3 {...f4-f3 must now be
prevented.} (41. f3 Rg7 {is hardly better.}) 41... h3 $5 42. gxh3 f3 43. Kh2
Rg7 44. h4 Rg2+ 45. Kh3 Rg7 46. Ra6 Rf7 47. R3a5 Rg7 48. h5 Rf7 49. Kg4 (49.
Kh2 Rg7 50. Kh1 Rg4) 49... Rg8+ 50. Kh3 Ra8 51. Kg4 Rg8+ 52. Rg6 {There is no
other way to make progress but now White can hardly avoid the drawish endgame
with f- and h- pawns.} Ra8 53. Raa6 Raxa7 54. Rxh6+ Kg8 55. Rag6+ Rg7 56. Kxf3
Rxg6 57. Rxg6+ (57. hxg6 Ra3+ 58. Kg2 Ra6 $11) 57... Kf7 {With the sudden
death time control, it is not easy to hold endgames like this one or, say, R
vs R+B, especially against Kramnik. The drawish endgame I lost to him at Wijk
five years ago was a good example.} 58. Rg4 Ra1 59. Kg3 Rh1 60. Rh4 Ra1 61. Rb4
Kg7 62. Rb6 Rg1+ 63. Kf4 Rh1 64. Kg5 Rg1+ 65. Kf5 Rh1 66. h6+ {In theory, when
this pawn goes to h6, White loses any winning chances...} Kh7 67. Ra6 Rf1 68.
f4 Rb1 69. Re6 Ra1 70. Rf6 Re1 71. Kg4 Ra1 72. f5 Rg1+ 73. Kf4 Rf1+ 74. Ke5
Re1+ 75. Kd6 Rf1 76. Ke7 Rf2 77. Rf8 Re2+ (77... Kxh6 {was already good enough:
} 78. f6 Ra2 79. Rd8 (79. Re8 Ra7+ 80. Ke6 Ra6+ 81. Kf5 Ra5+ 82. Re5 Ra8 $11)
79... Ra7+ ({or} 79... Kg6 80. Rg8+ Kf5 $1 81. f7 Ra7+ 82. Kf8 Kf6) 80. Rd7 Ra8
$11) 78. Kf7 Ra2 79. Rd8 Ra7+ (79... Kxh6 $1 80. f6 (80. Rh8+ Kg5) 80... Ra7+)
80. Kf6 Ra1 81. Rd2 Rb1 82. Ra2 Rb3 83. Rh2 Rb1 84. Rh4 Rb8 85. Kg5 Rg8+ 86.
Kf4 Ra8 87. Kg5 Rg8+ 88. Kf6 Ra8 89. Re4 Ra1 90. Re8 Ra2 91. Re1 Ra3 92. Rh1
Ra2 93. Kg5 Rg2+ 94. Kf4 Rf2+ 95. Ke4 Re2+ 96. Kf3 Ra2 97. Ke4 Re2+ 98. Kd4
Rd2+ 99. Ke3 Ra2 100. f6 Ra7 {Black was probably under severe time pressure as
after} (100... Ra3+ {the white king simply had no place where to hide!}) 101.
Rf1 Kg6 102. Ke4 Ra4+ 103. Kd5 Kf7 $4 {[%mdl 8192] A terrible blunder.} (103...
Ra5+ 104. Kc4 Ra4+ 105. Kb5 Ra8 $11 {[%cal Ya8f8,Og6h6,Yf8f6]}) 104. Rh1 Ra5+
105. Kc4 Ra4+ 106. Kb5 Ra8 107. h7 Rh8 108. Rh6 {Suddenly Black is lost! His
rook is passive and he can do nothing against the approach of the white king!}
Rb8+ 109. Kc6 Rc8+ 110. Kd6 (110. Kd6 Rh8 111. Kd7 $18) 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2008.01.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2008.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8 14. cxd5 Qxd5
15. Bf4 Rac8 16. h3 Be4 17. Be3 Na5 18. Nd2 Bf5 19. c4 Qd7 20. Nf3 Bf6 21. Rc1
c5 22. dxc5 Qxd1 23. Rcxd1 Nb3 24. c6 Rxc6 25. Bxa7 Bc3 26. Rf1 Ra6 27. Be3 h6
28. c5 Rxa3 29. Bc4 Rc8 30. Nh4 Be6 31. Bxe6 fxe6 32. Rd7 Nxc5 33. Bxc5 Rxc5
34. Rxb7 Ra2 35. Rd7 Bf6 36. Nf3 Rcc2 37. Rdd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2008.01.20"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2008.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 e6 5. O-O Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Re1 d5 8. cxd5
exd5 9. d4 Nbd7 10. Bf4 Ne4 11. Qc2 Bd6 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Ng5 Bxf4 14. gxf4 Nf6
15. Nxe4 Bxe4 16. Bxe4 Nxe4 17. Qxe4 Re8 18. Qd3 Qf6 19. e3 Rad8 20. Qc2 Rd5
21. Rad1 g5 22. Qxc7 gxf4 23. exf4 Rxe1+ 24. Rxe1 Rxd4 25. Re3 h5 26. Qe5 Qxe5
27. fxe5 Rd2 28. Rb3 Kg7 29. Kg2 Kg6 30. Ra3 Rxb2 31. Rxa7 b5 32. Kg3 h4+ 33.
Kf3 b4 34. h3 Rc2 35. Ra4 Rb2 36. Ra7 Rc2 37. Rb7 Rb2 38. Kg2 Rxa2 39. Rxb4 Kf5
40. Rxh4 Kxe5 41. Rg4 Kf5 42. Kg3 Ra3+ 43. f3 Ra1 44. Rf4+ Kg6 45. Rb4 Rg1+ 46.
Kf2 Rh1 47. Rg4+ Kf6 48. h4 Ra1 49. Kg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2008.01.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2795"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2008.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5
9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Ne5 Bg7 12. Nxf7 $5 $146 {[%mdl 520] With this
sacrifice (apparently prepared long ago) Veselin Topalov opens up a new
chapter in the theory of the Moscow Gambit!} Kxf7 13. e5 Nd5 {The position is
extremely complicated and needs detailed analysis. Particularly, I would
consider giving the piece back at once:} (13... Rf8 14. exf6 Nxf6 15. Be5 Kg8
16. Qc2 Qe7 17. Rae1 $44) 14. Ne4 Ke7 15. Nd6 Qb6 16. Bg4 $44 {Black is a
clear piece up but his position is not easy to play. His king is in jeopardy
and the white d6 knight is extremely powerful.} Raf8 {Of course, Black has a
lot of defensive ideas which deserve attention, such as, e.g.,} (16... Rhg8 $5
17. Qc2 Nf8) 17. Qc2 Qxd4 $2 {A very unfortunate move clarifying the position
in White's favour.} (17... Rhg8 {is an attempt at improvement, successfully
applied on the next day in the Honorary Group:} 18. a4 $6 (18. Qg6 {leads
nowhere due to} Nc7) ({but something else should be looked for, say,} 18. Rad1
$5) 18... Ba8 (18... Qxd4 {now appears very strong}) 19. Rfe1 Nc7 20. d5 cxd5
21. axb5 a5 22. b3 cxb3 23. Qh7 d4 24. Bh5 Nxb5 25. Nf7 b2 26. Rab1 Nc3 $19 {
0-1 Timman,J-Ljubojevic,L/Corus Honorory, Wijk aan Zee NED 2008 (42)}) 18. Qg6
Qxg4 19. Qxg7+ Kd8 20. Nxb7+ {White has recaptured the piece while keeping up
a strong attack.} Kc8 21. a4 $1 b4 22. Rac1 c3 $6 (22... Rfg8 $5 23. Qf7 Rf8
24. Nd6+ Kc7 25. Qg6 Rhg8 26. Qb1 $14) 23. bxc3 b3 $2 (23... Rfg8) 24. c4 $1
Rfg8 25. Nd6+ Kc7 26. Qf7 Rf8 27. cxd5 $2 (27. h3 $1 Rxf7 28. hxg4 {[%cal
Cd5e3,Ce3f1,Od6f7,Rc4d5] was apparently winning at once.}) 27... Rxf7 28. Rxc6+
Kb8 29. Nxf7 Re8 $2 {It is very difficult to defend such a position. Probably}
(29... Qe2 $1 {was the solution, e.g.} 30. Rc3 $1 (30. Nxh8 $2 Qxf1+ $1 31.
Kxf1 b2) (30. Rb1 $2 Qa2) 30... b2 31. Rb3+ Ka8 32. Nxh8 Nc5 $1 33. Rxb2 (33.
Rb4 a5 34. Rb5 Nxa4) (33. Rb5 Nxa4 34. Rxb2 Qxb2 35. dxe6 Qb6 36. e7 Qe6 $13)
33... Qxb2 {and the fight is in full swing.}) 30. Nd6 Rh8 31. Rc4 $1 {White
now stops the b3-pawn and his own central pawns decide the game.} Qe2 32. dxe6
Nb6 33. Rb4 Ka8 34. e7 Nd5 35. Rxb3 Nxe7 36. Rfb1 Nd5 37. h3 h5 38. Nf7 Rc8 39.
e6 a6 40. Nxg5 h4 41. Bd6 Rg8 42. R3b2 Qd3 43. e7 Nf6 44. Be5 Nd7 45. Ne6 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2008.01.23"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2008.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. O-O
d5 9. Qc2 Nbd7 10. Rd1 O-O 11. a4 {This position is the starting point of my
recent opening database included with CBM 121.} c5 12. Na3 Bb7 13. Qb2 Rc8 14.
Rac1 Ne4 15. Be1 Bf6 16. b4 Ba8 {This was recommended by Jussupow as leading
to equality, but I believe that White's superior mobilization offers him
realistic chances for an advantage.} (16... cxd4 {Jussupow,A (2620)-Kharitonov,
A (2550)/Moscow 1988/URS-ch/[ChessBase] (1-0, 59)}) 17. e3 {White strengthens
his control over the central d4-square, but somewhat weakens the light squares.
} ({In my article I recommended} 17. Qb1 {with the possible continuation} Qe7
18. cxd5 Bxd5 (18... exd5 19. Nb5 a6 20. Nc3 $14) 19. dxc5 bxc5 20. Nc4 {
[%csl Gc4][%cal Gb4b5]} cxb4 21. Bxb4 Ndc5 22. Nfe5 $14 (22. Nfd2 $6 Nxf2 $1
23. Kxf2 Rb8 $44) 22... Nxf2 $2 23. Kxf2 Rb8 24. Bxd5 Rxb4 25. Nc6 $16 {
Only further practice will prove if there is anything wrong in these lines.})
17... cxd4 18. exd4 dxc4 {At first sight, this looks like a complete strategic
success for Black. In Isolani structures, the white light-squared bishop is
not well placed on g2, because it can be exchanged, leaving the d5-square
chronically weak.} 19. Ne5 $1 {After this move, Kramnik's idea becomes obvious.
With ...Ne4 and ...Bf6 Black has weakened the control over the critical
d5-square and placed two of his pieces on vulnerable squares. White aims for
dynamic play in what is basically a static structure.} Bg5 $1 {The correct
reaction! Black provokes the move f4, in order to get the possibility of
consolidating his knight on e4.} ({The "natural developing move"} 19... Qe7 $6
{allows White get a dominating position with} 20. Qe2 Nd6 21. Bxa8 Rxa8 22. Nc6
Qe8 23. b5 $16 {[%csl Gc6][%cal Ga3c4]}) (19... Bd5 20. Naxc4 $14 {[%cal Gc4e3]
leaves Black slightly hanging, too.}) ({The immediate} 19... Be7 {is less
adequate, because after} 20. Naxc4 $14 {the move played in the game} f5 $6 {
hardly makes sense.}) 20. f4 (20. Ra1 $2 c3 $17) (20. Rxc4 $2 Nxe5 21. Rxc8
Nf3+ 22. Bxf3 Qxc8 $15) 20... Be7 21. Naxc4 {White has to eliminate this pawn
before anything.} (21. d5 $6 Nxe5 (21... Bxd5 $2 22. Bxe4 $18) (21... exd5 $2
22. Bxe4 $16) (21... c3 $5) 22. fxe5 c3 $1 {spoils White's coordination.})
21... f5 ({But now, the threat d5 was real:} 21... f6 $6 22. d5 $1 $16) 22. Ne3
{Both sides have taken the important squares under control, but White remains
slightly better developed. On the other hand, Black's structure is more
compact.} Rxc1 23. Qxc1 $1 (23. Rxc1 Nxe5 24. dxe5 Qd3 $15) 23... Ndf6 (23...
Nxe5 $6 24. dxe5 $36 {would allow White to occupy the seventh rank with one of
his pieces.}) 24. Nc6 Qc7 25. b5 {White has expanded his area of dimination,
but Black will do just the same.} Nd5 (25... Bxc6 $6 {is probably premature:}
26. Qxc6 Qxc6 27. bxc6 Rc8 28. Rc1 Nd5 29. Nxd5 exd5 30. Bh3 g6 31. g4 $36) 26.
Nxd5 exd5 {[%cal Gf8c8]} 27. Nxe7+ Qxe7 $11 {The position has calmed down.
White's advantage in space on the queenside and his pair of bishops offer him
some remote hope of a better ending. However, Gelfand will prove that his
stability on the light squares is just enough to maintain the balance even.}
28. Qb2 Rc8 29. Rc1 Rc4 30. Bf1 Nd6 $1 {An exchange sacrifice in the spirit of
the 11th game of the Wch match Petrosian-Spassky 1969.} 31. Qa3 (31. Bxc4 $2
dxc4 $40 {[%csl Gg1][%cal Ge7e4,Ge7b7]}) 31... Qe4 32. Bf2 Rxc1 33. Qxc1 Nc4
34. Qd1 Bb7 35. Bd3 Qe6 36. Qh5 Nd6 37. Qe2 Qxe2 38. Bxe2 Kf7 39. Be1 Bc8 40.
Kf2 Nc4 41. Bb4 g6 42. Ke1 a6 {Eliminating the last source of worries.} 43.
bxa6 Bxa6 44. Bc3 Bb7 45. Kf2 Bc6 46. Bd1 Nd6 47. Ke3 Ke6 48. Bb3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2008.01.25"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2008.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Bf4 O-O
8. Qd2 Nd7 9. O-O-O Nc5 10. Be3 c6 11. Bxc5 dxc5 12. Qf4 Qa5 13. Bd3 Be6 14. a3
Bf6 15. h4 c4 16. Be4 Bxc3 17. bxc3 Qxa3+ 18. Kb1 f5 19. Ng5 fxe4 20. Qxe4 Bf5
21. Qxc4+ Kh8 22. Nf7+ Rxf7 23. Qxf7 Qxc3 24. Qxf5 Qb4+ 25. Ka2 Qa4+ 26. Kb2
Qb4+ 27. Kc1 Qa3+ 28. Kb1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2008.01.26"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[Annotator "Carlsen,M"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2008.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Before this game I had lost to Vishy in a complicated struggle, so for this
game I decided that I should just try and make a draw, (which is not an easy
task anyway) and not lose 3 out of the last four games, winning against van
Wely only by a miracle.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 {I must admit that I
rather expected the Catalan here, but possibly because I had defended quite
confidently against his Catalan in the Tal he decided to switch this time} c5
4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 7. d4 (7. Re1 d5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 {hasn't given
White much lately, neither after} 9. d4 ({Nor} 9. e4 Nb4 $1) 9... cxd4 {
As for instance in Aronian-Jakovenko} (9... Nxc3 10. bxc3 Be4 11. Ne5 Bxg2 12.
Kxg2 O-O 13. e4 {Was probably somewhat better for White in Carlsen-Aronian,
Elista 2007.})) 7... cxd4 8. Qxd4 d6 9. Rd1 a6 10. Ng5 {A fairly old line I
think, which is not considered especially dangerous for Black if he's well
prepared. Unfortunately I couldn't remember anything, and so I had to start
thinking from this point.} Bxg2 11. Kxg2 Nc6 {I didn't find a comfortable way
to put this guy on d7, so I came up with this move, which is part of a plan
which turned out to have a reasonably good reputation.} 12. Qf4 O-O 13. Nce4
Ne8 {Retreating is considered to be the normal reaction to Ne4. The black
position is now slightly awkward, but the white knights are not perfectly
placed either.} 14. b3 Ra7 15. Bb2 Rd7 {This move is probably not really
necessary, but I thought that there was no better square for the rook anyway,
and overprotecting the d6-pawn might turn out to be useful at some point. I
had already spent a lot of time here, 45 minutes, but he had also spent some
time, almost 40 minutes, which left me feeling relieved that he was not still
in his preparation. Still, things are not really easy for Black. His
coordination is somewhat worse than it usually is in the hedgehog, and I found
it hard to find constructive waiting moves.} 16. Rac1 {h4 or Nf3 could also be
considered, but the text is quite reasonable as well.} Nc7 {I spent quite some
time on this move, which has the purpose of protecting e6, preparing f5. There
were of course alternatives, the most natural being the more hedgehog-like} (
16... Qa8 17. Nf3 b5 {I rejected it because I wasn't sure whether bxc4 bxc4
would really improve my position. That is why I decided that going for f5 and
g5 was just according to the demands of the position.}) 17. Nf3 f5 18. Nc3 g5 {
Not especially aggressive or anything, just a normal continuation of the plan
starting with Nc7.} 19. Qd2 (19. Qe3 g4 20. Nd2 {Not} (20. Nd4 Bg5 21. Nxc6
Bxe3 22. Nxd8 Bxc1 {winning an exchange.}) 20... Bg5 21. Qxb6 {was another,
computer-like option. I thought that I would have very good counterplay after}
Qa8 22. f3 $8 {and now just 22...Ne5 or even 22...Rb8 23.Qf2 Ne5 gives Black
active piece play and good compensation for a pawn.}) 19... g4 20. Ne1 (20. Nd4
$6 {would be worse, since now} Bg5 21. e3 Ne5 {leaves the knight practically
untouchable on e5. Note that it also makes it more difficult to create active
play for White, since b4 and c5 would be almost impossible to carry out, as
Rxd4 and a knight move to f3 would probably be strong then.}) 20... Bg5 {
An important element in my plan. The weak f3-square will now be a constant
worry for White.} 21. e3 Rff7 {A good prophylactic move, preventing Na4 and c5
and preparing to redeploy the knight with Ne8-f6-e4 without having to worry
about Nd5.} 22. Kg1 Ne8 23. Ne2 {A natural manoeuvre. The diagonal is opened
for his bishop and the knight is transferred to a better square.} Nf6 24. Nf4
Qe8 {I would have liked to play Ne4 immediately, but I rejected it because of
the queen sac:} (24... Ne4 25. Nxe6 $2 Qe8 26. Nxg5 Nxd2 27. Nxf7 {I don't
really understand why though, since, as any engine points out,} Ne4 28. Nh6+
Kf8 {with the point that 29.Nxf5 Qf7 wins for Black.}) 25. Qc3 (25. Bxf6 {
was an option, but at the same time it's hard to see how White can play for an
advantage after giving up this bishop.}) 25... Rg7 {I really wanted to get
that thing to e4. I felt that the position was about equal or maybe slightly
better for White, but I was rather worried that I would blow it before the
time-control, as I only had 17 minutes left here. At the same time I saw that
Kramnik clearly was suffering from a cold and was feeling uncomfortable, which
comforted me a little (thinking about my chances in this game that is!).} 26.
b4 Ne4 27. Qb3 Rge7 28. Qa4 $6 ({Rybka's suggestion of} 28. f3 gxf3 29. Nxf3
Bf6 {really doesn't impress me much, but}) (28. h4 {as suggested by Nigel
Short during my press-conference after the round was probably an improvement
of the white position, and certainly better than the text. After only h4 I can
only repeat my evaluation after my 25th move: equal or slightly better for
White. The knight on e4 is certainly pretty, but the f4-knight is a good piece
as well. It's not easy to take advantage of my weakened king, and not easy to
make any clear progress for either side.}) 28... Ne5 29. Qxa6 $2 (29. c5 {
is well met by} Nc4 $1 {so White should rather admit failure with}) (29. Qb3 {
after gaining two tempi Black is obviously slightly better, but the white
position is certainly playable.}) 29... Ra7 30. Qb5 {Having seen that} (30.
Qxb6 Reb7 31. Qd4 Bf6 {would leave his queen trapped in the centre, Kramnik
was forced to make this move, which he actually accompanied with a draw offer.
I was slightly tempted of course, since I would have been happy with a draw
before the game, but I realised that my position was so much better that I
simply had to decline.}) 30... Qxb5 31. cxb5 Rxa2 32. Rc8+ Kf7 33. Nfd3 Bf6 34.
Nxe5+ (34. Bxe5 dxe5 35. Rc6 Ng5 {is winning for Black.}) 34... dxe5 (34...
Bxe5 {was probably better, but in time-trouble I was reluctant to allow} 35.
Bxe5 dxe5 36. Nd3 {which however is well met by} Kf6 37. Rf8+ Kg7 38. Rd8 (38.
Rb8 Rd7 $19) 38... Nc3 39. Rf1 (39. Nxe5 Nxd1 40. Rxd1 {is better but should
lose as well.}) 39... Rd2 $1 {and wins.}) 35. Rc2 (35. Nd3 {leaves Black with
a pleasant choice between} Nxf2 {and} (35... Ng5 {so White should rather
retreat.})) 35... Rea7 36. Kg2 (36. Kf1 {was better, the king later headed in
this direction anyway.}) 36... Ng5 37. Rd6 $2 {This pseudo-active move makes
matters much worse for White, but Black had a practically winning positional
advantage anyway.} e4 38. Bxf6 Kxf6 39. Kf1 (39. Rxb6 Ra1 40. Re2 Nf3 {loses
at once.}) 39... Ra1 40. Ke2 (40. Rcd2 Rb1 41. Rd1 Rxb4 42. Rxb6 Rb2 {leaves
White defenceless against the threats of Raa2 and Nh3.}) 40... Rb1 {I made
this move with only some 15 or so left on the clock, but I actually even spent
some seconds on Rb1, so I wasn't really worried about losing on time.} 41. Rd1
(41. Rxb6 {leads to mate after the computer-like} {or loses a piece after} Rd7
(41... Raa1 42. Kd2 (42. Ng2 Nf3 $19) 42... Rxe1)) 41... Rxb4 42. Ng2 Rxb5 {
Black is obviously winning now, and White might as well have resigned here. I
understand that Kramnik chose to play on for a while though, as he couldn't
have been especially happy about the way things turned out.} 43. Nf4 Rc5 44.
Rb2 b5 45. Kf1 Rac7 46. Rbb1 (46. Kg2 {allows the exchange of one rook, which
is desirable for Black.} Rc1 47. Rxc1 Rxc1 48. Rxb5 Nf3 49. Ne2 Re1 50. Rb2 Kg5
{and White is completely tied up, he cannot even play h4 due to gxh3 and Re2.
Black will win by playing e5 and h7-h5-h4.}) 46... Rb7 47. Rb4 Rc4 48. Rb2 b4
49. Rdb1 Nf3 50. Kg2 Rd7 $1 {The last good move, forcing the exchange of one
rook. The rest doesn't require any comments.} 51. h3 e5 52. Ne2 Rd2 53. hxg4
fxg4 54. Rxd2 Nxd2 55. Rb2 Nf3 56. Kf1 b3 57. Kg2 Rc2 {I was obviously elated
to win with Black against (a slightly weakened I have to add) Kramnik, I
almost couldn't believe it. After this I again shared the lead, and even
though I couldn't make anything of my slight advantage in the last game and
win the tournament outright, I'm obviously very happy with my shared victory
with Aronian.} 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2008.01.27"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2008.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 122"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.01.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 {Hardly a big surprise here. Kaum eine große Überraschung
an dieser Stelle.} 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Bf4 O-O 8.
Qd2 Nd7 9. O-O-O Nc5 10. Be3 Re8 {Kramnik had played 10...c6 a few days
earlier against Peter Leko. Ein paar Tage zuvor hatte Kramnik gegen Peter Leko
10...c6 gespielt.} 11. Bc4 Be6 12. Bxe6 Nxe6 13. h4 Qd7 14. Qd5 Qc6 15. Qf5 Qc4
16. Kb1 g6 17. Qh3 h5 {Following the game Svidler-Kramnik from Mexico. It
isn't easy to deviate after 15.Qf5, so I had to go down the main line and wait
for the inevitable improvement. Folge der Partie Svidler-Kramnik aus Mexico.
Es ist nicht leicht, nach 15.Qf5 abzuweichen, daher musste ich das
Hauptabspiel herunterspulen und die unvermeidliche Verbesserung abwarten.} 18.
Nd2 Qe2 19. Rde1 Qg4 20. Qh2 d5 21. f3 Qa4 22. g4 Bd6 23. Qf2 hxg4 $1 (23...
Ng7 {Svidler-Kramnik Mexico 2007}) 24. fxg4 (24. h5 g3 $17) 24... Qxg4 25. Reg1
(25. Ref1 $5) (25. h5 Bg3 (25... Qg3 26. Qf1 Nf4 27. Nf3 Nxh5 28. Rg1 Qxe1+ $1
29. Qxe1 Bf4 30. Qh4 Bxe3 31. Rg2) 26. Qg2 Nf4 27. Bxf4 Rxe1+ 28. Rxe1 Qxf4 29.
Rf1 Re8 30. hxg6 Qxf1+ $1 31. Qxf1 Re1+ 32. Qxe1 Bxe1 33. Nf3 $11) 25... Qh5
26. Nf3 Re7 {Here I thought for a while, but decided that White wasn't better
here. Hier überlegte ich eine Weile, kam aber zu der Entscheidung, dass Weiß
an dieser Stelle nicht besser steht.} 27. Bg5 (27. Ng5 Rae8 (27... Ng7 $5 28.
Nf3 Rae8 29. Rg5 Rxe3 30. Rxh5 Nxh5 $44) 28. Nxe6 Rxe6 29. Rg5 Qh8 30. Bc1 Qf6)
27... Ree8 $1 28. Be3 {The problem is that I need g5 for the other pieces, but
the bishop needs to stay there to stop Black doubling on the e-file. Das
Problem ist, dass ich g5 für die anderen Figuren brauche, aber der Läufer dort
bleiben muss, um Schwarz an der Verdopplung in der e-Linie zu hindern.} Re7 29.
Bg5 Rd7 (29... Bc5 30. Nd4 Ree8 {was an alternative if Black wanted to keep
the rook on the e-file. war eine Alternative, wenn Schwarz den Turm in der
e-Linie behalten wollte.}) (29... Ree8 {Taking the draw was of course possible.
Taking the draw was of course possible.}) 30. Nd4 {Still, White has enough
compensation for the pawn. Black will find it difficult to activate his queen
without allowing h5. Trotzdem hat Weiß genug Kompensation. Schwarz wird es
schwer fallen, seine Dame zu aktivieren, ohne h5 zuzulassen.} Nxd4 (30... Nc5
31. Nf5 Ne4 32. Qd4 Bf8 33. Ng3 Nxg3 34. Rxg3 Re8 (34... c5 35. Qa4 Rd6 36. Rf1
$44) 35. Qxa7 c6 $11) 31. Qxd4 Bf8 (31... c6 32. Qe3) 32. Qe3 c6 (32... Rd6 {
I thought this was stronger. I glaube, das war stärker.} 33. Rf1 c6 34. Qf2 Rd7
35. Rhg1 Re8 36. Qxa7 $11) 33. Qh3 Rd6 34. Bf4 Re6 (34... Rf6 35. Rg5 Qe2 36.
h5 Rxf4 37. hxg6 Bh6 {Later Später} 38. b3 $1 {The computer suggests this calm
move. Der Computer schlägt diesen ruhigen Zug vor.} (38. gxf7+ Kxf7 39. Rf5+ (
39. Qd7+ Qe7 40. Rf5+ Rxf5 41. Qxf5+ Kg7 $19) 39... Ke7 40. Rxf4 Bxf4 41. Qh4+
Kd7 42. Qxf4 Re8 $11) 38... Rf2 39. gxf7+ Kf8 40. Qxh6+ Ke7 41. Qg6 {Black
will have problems with his king. Schwarz wird Probleme mit seinem König haben.
}) 35. Rg5 Qh8 36. h5 {With major pieces on the board, Black can hardly use
his extra pawn, now he should try to swap a pair of rooks. Mit Schwerfiguren
auf dem Brett kann Schwarz seinen Mehrbauern kaum verwerten, jetzt sollte er
versuchen, ein Turmpaar zu tauschen.} Rae8 37. Bd2 Bc5 38. Rg3 (38. a3 Be3 39.
Bxe3 Rxe3 40. Qd7 R3e7 $11) 38... Re2 39. Kc1 (39. Qd7 R8e7 (39... R2e7 40. Qg4
Re2 41. Kc1 Rf2 42. b4 Ree2 43. bxc5 Rxd2 44. Qc8+ Kg7) 40. Qc8+ Re8 41. Qd7
$11 (41. Qxb7 Rxd2)) 39... Qg7 (39... R8e6 40. a3 Rf2) (39... Rxd2 40. Kxd2
Qh6+ 41. Kd1 g5 42. Qf5 {forces further concessions from Black. erzwingt
weitere Zugeständnisse von Schwarz.}) 40. a3 Bd6 (40... Rxd2 41. hxg6 $1 (41.
Kxd2 g5 42. Qf5 Re5 43. Qc8+ Kh7 44. Rf1 {is awkward as well. ist ebenfalls
nicht schön.})) 41. Rgg1 $2 {As soon as I made this move, I saw that Rg4 would
have been stronger. Direkt als ich diesen Zug gemacht hatte, sah ich, dass Rg4
stärker gewesen wäre.} Bc5 $6 (41... R2e6) 42. Rg3 Bd6 43. Rg4 $1 R8e6 (43...
R2e6 44. hxg6 Rxg6 45. Bh6 Qh7 46. Qf3 Ree6) (43... Rxd2 44. Kxd2 (44. hxg6
Ree2 45. gxf7+ Kf8 46. Rxg7 Rxc2+ $11) 44... g5 45. Rf1) 44. hxg6 Rxg6 45. Rxg6
fxg6 46. Be3 $1 {He had completely missed this. Das hatte er komplett
übersehen.} Qe5 {Amazingly White doesnt have a forced win. Verblüffenderweise
hat Weiß keinen forcierten Gewinn.} 47. Qh7+ Kf8 48. Bd2 $1 {This wins the b7
pawn. Dies erobert den b7-Bauern.} (48. Rf1+ Ke8 49. Qxg6+ Kd8 50. Qg8+ Qe8 51.
Qxe8+ Kxe8 52. Bxa7) 48... Qf6 49. Qxb7 Rh2 50. Re1 {Not really a mistake, but
White should have just taken the a7 pawn. Nicht wirklich ein Fehler, aber Weiß
hätte einfach den a7-Bauern nehmen sollen.} (50. Qa8+ Kg7 51. Qxa7+ Kg8 52. Re1
$16 {With his a-pawn, White must have a large advantage. Mit seinem a-Bauern
muss Weiß großen Vorteil haben.}) 50... Qf2 51. Kb1 $2 (51. Rd1 {Here I simply
missed that Bf4 could be met by Qb4+. Here I simply missed that Bf4 could be
met by Qb4+.} Qf6 52. Qa8+ (52. Kb1 Qf3) (52. Qxc6 Rxd2) 52... Kf7 53. Qxa7+
Kg8 54. Qa8+ Kg7 55. Qb7+ Kg8 56. Qc8+ Kf7 57. Qd7+ Kg8 58. Be3) (51. Qc8+ $2
Kg7 52. Qd7+ Kg8 $11) 51... Qxd2 {Now it seems to be a draw. Jetzt scheint es
remis zu sein.} 52. Rf1+ Kg8 53. Qf7+ Kh8 54. Qxg6 (54. Qe8+ Kg7 55. Rf7+ Kh6
56. Qh8+ Kg5 57. Qf6+ Kh5 $1 (57... Kh6 $11) 58. Rh7+ Kg4 59. Qxg6+ Kf3 {
Now White must even work for the draw. Nun muss Weiß für das Remis sogar
arbeiten.}) 54... Qg2 $8 {The only move, but it holds. Der einzige Zug, aber
er hält.} 55. Qe8+ Qg8 56. Qxc6 Bf8 57. Qa8 (57. Qc8 Bg7 58. Qc7 Rh7) 57... Bc5
58. Qxg8+ Kxg8 59. Rf5 Rd2 60. c4 Kg7 61. b4 Be7 (61... Be7 62. Rxd5 Rxd5 63.
cxd5 Kf6 64. c4 Ke5 65. Kc2 Kd4 (65... Bd8 66. Kb3) 66. Kb3 {If the Black
bishop could now go to c7, Black could even start thinking of winning, but as
it is Bd6 is met by c5 and d6 and Bd8 by d6. Wenn der Läufer jetzt nach c7
gehen dürfte, könnte Schwarz sogar langsam ans Gewinnen denken, so aber wird
Bd6 mit c5 nebst d6 und Bd8 mit d6 beantwortet.} Bd6 (66... Bd8 67. d6 $11) 67.
c5 {This is a simple draw. Dies ist ein simples Remis.} (67. Z0 Bc7 68. a4 Bf4
69. a5 Bg3 70. a6 (70. d6 Bxd6 71. c5 Bg3 72. c6 Kd5 73. b5 Kd6) 70... Bh2 71.
b5 Kc5 72. Kc3 Bg1 73. Kd3 Kb4 74. d6 Bc5 75. d7 Bb6 $19)) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Bf4 O-O
8. Qd2 Nd7 9. O-O-O Nc5 10. Be3 Re8 11. Bc4 Be6 12. Bxe6 Nxe6 13. h4 Qd7 14.
Qd5 Qc6 15. c4 Bf6 16. g4 g6 17. Qxc6 bxc6 18. c3 c5 19. Kc2 Ng7 20. h5 Re4 21.
hxg6 fxg6 22. g5 Be7 23. Rh4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C09"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d3 d5 3. Nd2 e5 4. Ngf3 Bd6 5. d4 exd4 6. exd5 cxd5 7. Nxd4 Ne7 8.
Bd3 Nbc6 9. N2b3 Ne5 10. O-O O-O 11. Bg5 a6 12. Re1 Nxd3 13. Qxd3 Qc7 14. h3 h6
15. Bd2 Bd7 16. a3 Nc6 17. Nf3 Ne5 18. Nxe5 Bxe5 19. Ba5 b6 20. Bxb6 Bh2+ 21.
Kh1 Qxb6 22. Kxh2 Qxf2 23. Qxd5 Qxc2 24. Rac1 Qf5 25. Qxf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C43"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nxd7 Bxd7 7. O-O Bd6 8.
Nc3 Qh4 9. g3 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Qh3 11. Re1+ Be6 12. Bf1 Qf5 13. Bd3 Qh3 14. Bf1
Qf5 15. Rb1 O-O-O 16. Qe2 c6 17. Rb3 Rhe8 18. Be3 Re7 19. Reb1 Rdd7 20. a4 Qg4
21. Qxg4 Bxg4 22. c4 dxc4 23. Bxc4 Bf5 24. Bd3 Bxd3 25. Rxd3 Bc7 26. c4 Bb6 27.
Rbd1 Re4 28. Kg2 f5 29. Kf3 g6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.18"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E51"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. e3 O-O 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 c6 8. Bd3
b6 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Qe2 Bb7 11. Bb2 Nc6 12. O-O Na5 13. Nd2 Rc8 14. f3 Re8 15.
e4 e5 16. Rae1 exd4 17. cxd4 Nh5 18. g3 g6 19. Qe3 Qd7 20. Qh6 Ng7 21. exd5 f5
22. d6 Bd5 23. g4 Rcd8 24. Re5 Qxd6 25. gxf5 gxf5 26. Qxd6 Rxd6 27. Rxe8+ Nxe8
28. Bxf5 Nc4 29. Nxc4 Bxc4 30. Re1 Ng7 31. Be4 Ne6 32. Kf2 Nxd4 33. Rg1+ Kf7
34. Bxh7 Ne6 35. Ke3 Rd5 36. Bc3 Rb5 37. Bg6+ Ke7 38. Bb4+ Kf6 39. f4 a5 40.
Bc3+ Ke7 41. f5 Rb3 42. Kd2 Nc5 43. f6+ Kd6 44. Rg4 Be6 45. f7 Bxf7 46. Bxf7
Rxa3 47. h4 b5 48. h5 b4 49. Bg7 Rh3 50. Bf8+ Kc6 51. Rc4 Rf3 52. Be8+ Kd5 53.
Rxc5+ Kd4 54. Be7 Rf2+ 55. Kc1 b3 56. Rxa5 Kc3 57. Rc5+ 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.20"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8.
Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bg4 10. Re1 O-O 11. Bf4 Bh5 12. Rb1 Rb8 13. h3 Bd6 14. Bxd6
Qxd6 15. Re3 f6 16. Qd2 Rfe8 17. Nh4 Rxe3 18. Qxe3 Re8 19. Qd2 Nd8 20. Nf5 Qd7
21. Qf4 Bg6 22. h4 Kh8 23. Qg4 Qf7 24. Qf3 b6 25. g3 Nb7 26. Kg2 Bxf5 27. Qxf5
g6 28. Qf3 Nd6 29. h5 g5 30. g4 Qe6 31. h6 Re7 32. Rh1 Kg8 33. Qd1 c6 34. Rh3
Qe1 35. Qf3 Qe6 36. Qd1 Qe1 37. Qf3 Qe6 38. Qd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.21"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bg4 5. h3 Bxf3 6. Qxf3 e6 7. Nc3 Nbd7 8. Bd2
Bb4 9. Bd3 O-O 10. a3 Ba5 11. O-O Re8 12. b4 Bc7 13. cxd5 exd5 14. b5 Nf8 15.
bxc6 bxc6 16. Qd1 Ne6 17. Qa4 c5 18. Nb5 Bb6 19. dxc5 Nxc5 20. Qc2 Nfe4 21. Bb4
Nxd3 22. Qxd3 Qd7 23. Nc3 Qe6 24. Nxe4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.22"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2681"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. Nd2 a5 10. a3 Bd7 11. b3 c6 12. Bb2 Bh6 13. Kh1 c5 14. Bd3 Nh5 15. g3
Bh3 16. Re1 f5 17. exf5 Nxf5 18. Nde4 Nd4 19. Nb5 Nxb5 20. cxb5 Nf6 21. Kg1
Nxe4 22. Bxe4 Qd7 23. Qd3 Rf7 24. Bc3 Raf8 25. Ra2 Qc7 26. f3 Bf5 27. Rf2 b6
28. Kg2 Qd7 29. h4 Bh3+ 30. Kh2 Bf5 31. a4 Qd8 32. Kg2 Qd7 33. Rh1 Rf6 34. Re1
1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.23"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[PlyCount "177"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. cxd5 Qxd5 14. c4 Qd6
15. d5 Ne5 16. Nd4 Bd7 17. a4 Rfe8 18. Be3 Qg6 19. Nb5 Bh3 20. Bf3 Bd6 21. Bd4
Nxf3+ 22. Qxf3 Bg4 23. Qc3 Bf4 24. d6 Bxd6 25. Nxd6 cxd6 26. a5 Bd7 27. Qg3
Qxg3 28. hxg3 Rec8 29. Rfc1 Rc7 30. Rc3 h6 31. c5 Rac8 32. Rac1 dxc5 33. Rxc5
Rxc5 34. Rxc5 Bc6 35. Rc3 a6 36. Bb6 Kh7 37. g4 Kg6 38. f3 Rh8 39. Rc5 Re8 40.
Kf2 Re7 41. Rc2 Rd7 42. Re2 Bb5 43. Rc2 Bc6 44. Re2 Rd5 45. Rc2 f6 46. Kg3 Kf7
47. Re2 h5 48. gxh5 Rxh5 49. Kf2 Rf5 50. Re3 g5 51. g4 Rb5 52. Kg3 Kg6 53. Bd8
Rd5 54. Bb6 Bd7 55. Re7 Bc6 56. Re3 f5 57. Re6+ Kf7 58. gxf5 Rxf5 59. Re3 Kg6
60. Re6+ Kh5 61. Re3 Rd5 62. Re2 Kg6 63. f4 Rd3+ 64. Re3 Rd2 65. fxg5 Kxg5 66.
Re5+ Kf6 67. Kf4 Rd3 68. Re3 Rd1 69. Bc7 Rd4+ 70. Kg3 Be4 71. Kf4 Bc6+ 72. Kg3
Rc4 73. Kf2 Be4 74. Bb6 Ke5 75. Rg3 Bc6 76. Ke3 Rc3+ 77. Kd2 Rc4 78. Rc3 Rh4
79. Rd3 Bd5 80. Kc3 Kd6 81. Rd4 Rh1 82. Rg4 Be6 83. Rg7 Rh3+ 84. Kd4 Rh4+ 85.
Kc3 Bd7 86. Rg6+ Kd5 87. Rg5+ Kc6 88. Rc5+ Kd6 89. Rg5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.25"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. Nc3 Ne4 7. Bd2 f5 8. d5
Bf6 9. Qc2 Qe7 10. Rd1 Na6 11. O-O Nb4 12. Qb3 a5 13. Be3 a4 14. Nxa4 exd5 15.
Nd4 dxc4 16. Qxc4 Bxd4 17. Bxd4 Nc6 18. Bxb6 cxb6 19. Nxb6 Rd8 20. Nd5 Ne5 21.
Qb5 Bxd5 22. Rxd5 Nf7 23. Rfd1 Nf6 24. R5d2 g6 25. a4 O-O 26. a5 Rb8 27. Bb7
Nd8 28. Bd5+ Ne6 29. Qc4 Rfc8 30. Qa2 Nxd5 31. Rxd5 Rc7 32. a6 Ra7 33. Rd6 Kf8
34. Qa4 Ke8 35. b4 Ng5 36. Qa1 Nf7 37. Qd4 Qxd6 38. Qe3+ Qe6 39. Qxa7 Rxb4 40.
Qa8+ Ke7 41. a7 Ra4 42. Qb7 Qc6 43. Qb8 d6 44. Rb1 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.26"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4
b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bg5 Nbd7 11. Bxf6 Nxf6 12. Nbd2 Rc8 13. Nb3 c5 14. dxc5 Be4
15. Qc3 Bd5 16. Rac1 Bxb3 17. Qxb3 Bxc5 18. Rc2 Qb6 19. e3 Rc7 20. Rfc1 Rfc8
21. a4 bxa4 22. Qxa4 Bd6 23. Rxc7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.27"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2732"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5
9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Ne5 Bg7 12. Nxd7 Nxd7 13. Bd6 a6 14. a4 e5 15. d5
c5 16. b4 Qb6 17. bxc5 Nxc5 18. Bxc5 Qxc5 19. axb5 axb5 20. Rxa8+ Bxa8 21. Qa1
O-O 22. Qa5 Rb8 23. Rb1 Bf8 24. Nxb5 f5 25. Qa6 Kh8 26. Nc3 Rxb1+ 27. Nxb1 Qb4
28. Qxa8 Qxb1+ 29. Bf1 Qb4 30. exf5 c3 31. Qc8 e4 32. d6 Qxd6 33. Qxc3+ Bg7 34.
Qc8+ Kh7 35. g3 Qd4 36. Qe8 Qe5 37. Qg6+ Kh8 38. Kg2 Qe7 39. Kh3 e3 40. fxe3
Qxe3 41. Bc4 Qe7 42. Bb3 Qf6 43. Qe8+ Qf8 44. Qe6 Bf6 45. Kg4 Kh7 46. Kh5 Kg7
47. Bc4 Kh7 48. Qd7+ Qe7 49. Qc8 Qd8 50. Qe6 Qf8 51. Bd3 Kg7 52. Bc4 Kh7
1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3
d5 9. Ne5 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nd2 O-O 12. O-O f5 13. Rc1 Nf6 14. Bb2 Bd6 15.
Nf3 Qe7 16. Ne5 Rac8 17. Nd3 Rfd8 18. Re1 Qe8 19. e3 g5 20. Rc2 g4 21. Qc1 Qe7
22. Rd1 Ne4 23. c5 bxc5 24. dxc5 Bb8 25. Ne5 Ng5 26. Qa1 Nf7 27. Nxf7 Kxf7 28.
a4 h5 29. b4 h4 30. b5 Bb7 31. Rdc1 Kg6 32. Be5 Bxe5 33. Qxe5 Qf6 34. Qd4 e5
35. Qb4 hxg3 36. hxg3 Rd7 37. Qa5 Rh8 38. Qxa7 f4 39. exf4 exf4 40. gxf4 Rdh7
41. Qb6 Qxf4 42. bxc6 Qf3 43. cxb7+ Kf5 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. O-O Be7 8.
a3 O-O 9. b4 Be6 10. Rb1 f6 11. d3 Nd4 12. Nd2 c6 13. Nde4 Bf7 14. Be3 a5 15.
Nc5 axb4 16. axb4 Ra3 17. N3e4 Qc7 18. Bxd4 exd4 19. Bh3 Rfa8 20. Qc1 Nd5 21.
Qb2 Nc3 22. Nxc3 dxc3 23. Qc2 Qe5 24. Rfc1 b5 25. Ne4 Ba2 26. Ra1 Bxb4 27. Rxa2
Rxa2 28. Qb3+ Kh8 29. Qxb4 c2 30. Bf1 Qb2 31. Qxb2 Rxb2 32. Nd2 c5 33. f4 c4
34. Nf3 b4 35. dxc4 Rd8 36. Ne1 b3 37. Kf2 Rd1 38. Nd3 Rxd3 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A52"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. e3 Ngxe5 6. a3 a5 7. f4 Ng6 8. Bd3
Bc5 9. Qh5 d6 10. Nf3 a4 11. Bd2 O-O 12. Ne4 Qe8 13. O-O-O f5 14. Nxc5 dxc5 15.
Kb1 Nge7 16. Qh4 h6 17. Bc3 Be6 18. Rhg1 Rd8 19. Ka1 Rxd3 20. Rxd3 Bxc4 21.
Bxg7 Kxg7 22. g4 Ng6 23. gxf5 Rxf5 24. Rc3 Bf7 25. Qf2 Qe6 26. b3 axb3 27. Nh4
Rh5 28. Kb2 Qf6 29. Nxg6 Bxg6 30. e4 c4 31. Qd2 Qd4 32. Qxd4+ Nxd4 33. Rcg3
Rxh2+ 34. Kb1 Kf7 35. Rxg6 c3 36. Rg7+ Ke8 37. R7g2 Rxg2 38. Rxg2 Nf3 39. Kc1
Nd2 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.18"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A03"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. b3 d5 2. Bb2 Nf6 3. e3 c5 4. f4 g6 5. Bb5+ Bd7 6. Bxd7+ Nbxd7 7. c4 dxc4 8.
bxc4 Bg7 9. Nf3 O-O 10. O-O a6 11. a4 Nb8 12. Nc3 Nc6 13. Rb1 Qd3 14. Ba3 Qxc4
15. Rxb7 Nd5 16. Qe2 Qxe2 17. Nxe2 Na5 18. Rd7 Rfd8 19. Rxd8+ Rxd8 20. Bxc5 Rc8
21. Ba3 Rc4 22. Rc1 Rxa4 23. Rc8+ Bf8 24. Bb2 Ra2 25. Nc3 Rxb2 26. Nxd5 Kg7 27.
Kf2 Nb3 28. Ke2 a5 29. Nc7 a4 30. Ra8 Ra2 31. g4 a3 32. g5 Nc1+ 33. Kd1 Nd3 34.
Nd4 Nf2+ 35. Ke2 Ne4 36. Nf3 Ra1 37. Ne5 a2 38. Ne8+ Kg8 39. Nd7 Rc1 40. Nef6+
exf6 41. gxf6 h5 42. Rxf8+ Kh7 43. Rxf7+ Kh6 44. Nf8 Re1+ 45. Kf3 Nxf6 46. Rxf6
Kg7 47. Ra6 a1=Q 48. Rxa1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.20"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Na6 8. Be3
Ng4 9. Bg5 Qe8 10. Re1 exd4 11. Nd5 d3 12. Bxd3 c6 13. Ne7+ Kh8 14. Nxc8 Rxc8
15. Bf1 Nc5 16. Qxd6 Nxe4 17. Qa3 f5 18. h3 Ne5 19. Bf4 Nd7 20. Qxa7 Bxb2 21.
Rab1 Bg7 22. Qxb7 Ndc5 23. Qb6 Rf7 24. Ng5 Rb7 25. Qxb7 Nxb7 26. Rxb7 Kg8 27.
c5 h6 28. Bc4+ Kh8 29. Be5 hxg5 30. Bxg7+ Kh7 31. Bf8+ Kh8 32. Be7 Rb8 33. Rxe4
1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.21"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A37"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. a3 a5 7. O-O Nge7 8. Ne1
d6 9. Nc2 Be6 10. Ne3 O-O 11. d3 f5 12. Ned5 Kh8 13. Rb1 h6 14. Bd2 Rb8 15. b4
axb4 16. axb4 Nxb4 17. Nxb4 cxb4 18. Rxb4 d5 19. cxd5 Nxd5 20. Rb5 e4 21. Nxd5
Bxd5 22. dxe4 Bc4 23. Rc5 b5 24. exf5 Rxf5 25. Rxf5 gxf5 26. Bf4 Qxd1 27. Rxd1
Re8 28. Bc6 Rxe2 29. Bd7 b4 30. Bxf5 Re8 31. h4 b3 32. Rd6 b2 33. Rb6 h5 34.
Kh2 Bd5 35. Bg6 Ra8 36. Rb5 Bf3 37. Rb3 Bd5 38. Rb6 Bd4 39. Rd6 Kg7 40. Bb1 Ra1
41. Bh6+ Kg8 42. Rxd5 Rxb1 43. Rxd4 Re1 44. Rb4 b1=Q 45. Rxb1 Rxb1 46. Kg2 Rb3
47. Be3 Kf7 48. Kf3 Rb4 49. Bd2 Ra4 50. Ke3 Ke6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.22"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A09"]
[WhiteElo "2681"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. b4 f6 4. e3 e5 5. c5 a5 6. Nxe5 fxe5 7. Qh5+ Kd7 8. Qf5+
Ke8 9. Qh5+ Kd7 10. Qf5+ Ke7 11. Qxe5+ Be6 12. Bc4 Qd7 13. b5 c6 14. Na3 Nf6
15. Bb2 Kf7 16. Bxd4 cxb5 17. Bxe6+ Qxe6 18. Qxe6+ Kxe6 19. Nxb5 Na6 20. Bxf6
gxf6 21. d4 b6 22. cxb6 Rb8 23. Rc1 Rxb6 24. a4 Kd7 25. Ke2 Bd6 26. Kf3 Bb8 27.
h4 Nc7 28. Nc3 f5 29. Ne2 Ne6 30. d5 Nd8 31. Nd4 Nf7 32. Rb1 Ne5+ 33. Ke2 Rb4
34. Nxf5 Rc8 35. Rxb4 axb4 36. Nd4 Ba7 37. Rb1 Rc4 38. Nf3 Nxf3 39. gxf3 Kd6
40. e4 Bc5 41. Rb3 Ke5 42. h5 Rc2+ 43. Kd3 Rxf2 44. Kc4 Rc2+ 45. Kb5 Bd6 46. a5
Rc3 47. Ka4 Kd4 48. a6 Bc5 49. d6 Bxd6 50. Rxc3 bxc3 51. a7 c2 52. a8=Q c1=Q
53. Qd5+ Ke3 54. Qxd6 Kxf3 55. e5 Qf4+ 56. Kb5 Ke4 57. Qc6+ Kxe5 58. Qc7+ Ke4
59. Qxh7+ Qf5+ 60. Qxf5+ Kxf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.23"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A31"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "146"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 d6 7. Bg2 Bd7 8.
Nxc6 Bxc6 9. e4 Bg7 10. Be3 O-O 11. O-O Qa5 12. a3 Rfc8 13. b4 Qd8 14. Rc1 Bd7
15. Qe2 Ng4 16. Bg5 h6 17. Bd2 a5 18. f4 axb4 19. axb4 Bxc3 20. Rxc3 Qb6+ 21.
Kh1 Qxb4 22. Be1 Qb1 23. h3 Ra2 24. Qf3 Rxg2 25. Kxg2 Nf6 26. Rb3 Qa2+ 27. Rf2
Qa6 28. Kh2 Rxc4 29. Ra3 Qc6 30. e5 Ne4 31. Re2 dxe5 32. fxe5 Ng5 33. Qxc6 Bxc6
34. g4 Rc1 35. Kg3 Ne4+ 36. Kh2 Ng5 37. Kg3 Ne6 38. Bb4 g5 39. Bxe7 Nf4 40. Rd2
Rg1+ 41. Kf2 Rh1 42. Rd8+ Kh7 43. Bf6 Rh2+ 44. Ke1 Rh1+ 45. Kd2 Rh2+ 46. Kc1
Ng6 47. Raa8 Rh1+ 48. Kd2 Rh2+ 49. Kc3 Rxh3+ 50. Kd4 Rg3 51. Rh8+ Nxh8 52.
Rxh8+ Kg6 53. Rg8+ Kh7 54. Rg7+ Kh8 55. Rxg5+ Kh7 56. Rg7+ Kh8 57. Rxf7+ Kg8
58. Rg7+ Kf8 59. e6 Rf3 60. Ke5 Re3+ 61. Kd6 Rd3+ 62. Kc7 Re3 63. Rf7+ Ke8 64.
Re7+ Kf8 65. Kd6 Rd3+ 66. Ke5 Re3+ 67. Kd6 Rd3+ 68. Kc7 Rf3 69. Rf7+ Ke8 70.
Kd6 Rd3+ 71. Ke5 Re3+ 72. Kd6 Rd3+ 73. Kc7 Re3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.25"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2733"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nc4 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. bxc3 g6 7. d4 Bg7 8.
Bd3 O-O 9. O-O Nd7 10. Qf3 Nb6 11. Ne3 c5 12. dxc5 dxc5 13. a4 Bd7 14. a5 Na4
15. Qxb7 Nxc3 16. Bd2 Be6 17. Bxc3 Bxc3 18. Ra4 Qd7 19. Qxd7 Bxd7 20. Ra3 Bb4
21. Raa1 Bc6 22. a6 Rad8 23. Rfc1 Bc3 24. Rab1 Rfe8 25. Bb5 Re6 26. Bc4 Re4 27.
Rd1 Rxd1+ 28. Rxd1 Bd4 29. Bd5 Bxd5 30. Nxd5 Re2 31. c3 Bxf2+ 32. Kf1 Ra2 33.
Rb1 Bh4 34. g3 Bg5 35. h4 Bd2 36. Nf6+ Kg7 37. Ne4 Bh6 38. Rb7 Rxa6 39. Nxc5
Rc6 40. Ne4 Re6 41. Nc5 Re5 42. Nd7 Re3 43. Rxa7 Rxg3 44. Ne5 Kf6 45. Nxf7 Be3
46. Rb7 h5 47. Ke2 Bf4 48. c4 Re3+ 49. Kf1 Rc3 50. Nh8 Rxc4 51. Rb6+ Kf5 52.
Nxg6 Bg3 53. Kg2 Kg4 54. Rb2 Re4 55. Ra2 Bd6 56. Ra5 Re2+ 57. Kf1 Re6 58. Rg5+
Kf3 59. Rf5+ Kg4 60. Rg5+ Kh3 61. Kf2 Rf6+ 62. Ke2 Bg3 63. Ke3 Re6+ 64. Kf3
Rf6+ 65. Ke3 Re6+ 66. Kf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.26"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3
d5 9. Ne5 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nd2 O-O 12. O-O Rc8 13. e4 c5 14. exd5 exd5
15. dxc5 dxc4 16. cxb6 Nxb6 17. Re1 cxb3 18. Qxb3 Nd7 19. Nf3 Nc5 20. Qa3 Ne6
21. Qxa6 Rxc3 22. Qxa7 Bc5 23. Qa4 Qf6 24. Qe4 Ng5 25. Nxg5 Bxf2+ 26. Kh1 Qxg5
27. Rf1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 17th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2008.03.27"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2732"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2008.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Na6 7. e3 Nb4 8. Bxc4
e6 9. O-O Be7 10. f3 Bc2 11. Qe2 O-O 12. Na2 Nxa2 13. Rxa2 Bg6 14. Rd1 c5 15.
dxc5 Qc7 16. Nxg6 hxg6 17. b4 a5 18. bxa5 Rxa5 19. Bb5 Bxc5 20. Rc2 Qe7 21. Kh1
Raa8 22. e4 Rfd8 23. Rf1 Ne8 24. Bf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Enschede DGT Challenge"]
[Site "Enschede"]
[Date "2008.04.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Sebag, Marie"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D19"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2510"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2008.04.02"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. a4 dxc4 5. Nc3 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O
O-O 9. Qe2 Bg6 10. Ne5 Nbd7 11. Nxg6 hxg6 12. Rd1 Qa5 13. Qc2 c5 14. Na2 cxd4
15. Nxb4 Qxb4 16. Rxd4 Rac8 17. Qe2 Qb6 18. a5 Qc7 19. a6 e5 20. axb7 exd4 21.
bxc8=Q Rxc8 22. b3 Nb6 23. exd4 Nxc4 24. bxc4 Qxc4 25. Qxc4 Rxc4 26. Be3 Rc7
27. Ra5 Rd7 28. Kf1 Nd5 29. Ke2 f6 30. Kd3 Kf7 31. h3 Ke6 32. Ra6+ Nb6 33. g4
g5 34. f4 gxf4 35. Bxf4 Kf7 36. h4 g5 37. hxg5 Nd5 38. Bd6 fxg5 39. Ke4 Nc3+
40. Ke5 Nb5 41. Bc5 Rd8 42. Ra5 Rb8 43. d5 Rb7 44. d6 Ke8 45. Ke6 Kd8 46. Be3
Ke8 47. Bc5 Kd8 48. Bxa7 Nxa7 49. Rxg5 1-0

[Event "Enschede DGT Challenge"]
[Site "Enschede"]
[Date "2008.04.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Werle, Jan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2008.04.02"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 123 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.05.06"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4
b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Ra7 11. a3 Be4 12. Qc1 Nc6 13. e3 Qa8 14. Qd1 Nd5 15. Qe2
e5 16. Re1 exd4 17. exd4 f5 18. Nc3 Nxc3 19. Bxc3 Bf6 20. d5 Bxc3 21. bxc3 Nd8
22. Rad1 Bxd5 23. Ng5 c6 24. Bxd5+ cxd5 25. Qd3 h6 26. Nf3 f4 27. Nh4 fxg3 28.
hxg3 Nf7 29. Nf5 Ng5 30. Ne7+ Rxe7 31. Rxe7 Nf3+ 32. Kf1 d4 33. Qg6 Nh2+ 34.
Ke1 Nf3+ 35. Ke2 Ng1+ 36. Kf1 Rxf2+ 37. Kxf2 Nh3+ 38. Ke1 1-0

[Event "Prague Cez Trophy m"]
[Site "Prague"]
[Date "2008.05.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Navara, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2672"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2008.05.14"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 124 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.07.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.07.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. d4 dxc4 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 a5 7. O-O O-O 8. Bg5
b5 9. Ne5 Ra6 10. a4 bxa4 11. Nxc4 Nbd7 12. Nc3 c5 13. Nxa4 h6 14. Bd2 Qc7 15.
Bf4 Qa7 16. Nd6 Nd5 17. Nb5 Qb7 18. Nc7 Ra7 19. Nxd5 exd5 20. Bd6 Re8 21. dxc5
Nf6 22. Nb6 Bg4 23. Qd4 Bxe2 24. Rfc1 Bb5 25. Be5 Rxe5 26. Qxe5 Bxc5 27. Rxc5
Qxb6 28. Rc8+ Kh7 29. Rb8 Qc6 30. Qf5+ g6 31. Qe5 Bc4 32. b3 Bd3 33. Bxd5 1-0

[Event "Prague Cez Trophy m"]
[Site "Prague"]
[Date "2008.05.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Navara, David"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C43"]
[WhiteElo "2672"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "124"]
[EventDate "2008.05.14"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 124 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.07.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.07.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. dxe5 Nc5 6. Nc3 c6 7. Nd4 Be7 8.
O-O O-O 9. f4 Nxd3 10. Qxd3 f5 11. Nb3 Na6 12. Be3 Nc7 13. Ne2 b6 14. Nbd4 Ba6
15. Qd2 Qe8 16. c3 c5 17. Nf3 Rd8 18. Rfd1 Ne6 19. a4 h6 20. a5 Qb5 21. Ng3
bxa5 22. Qc2 g6 23. Qa4 Qxa4 24. Rxa4 d4 25. cxd4 cxd4 26. Nxd4 Bc5 27. Rxa5
Nxd4 28. Rxa6 Nf3+ 29. Kf2 Bxe3+ 30. Kxf3 Rxd1 31. Kxe3 Rfd8 32. Rxg6+ Kh7 33.
Ra6 R8d3+ 34. Kf2 R1d2+ 35. Ne2 Rd7 36. e6 Rb7 37. Ke3 Rdxb2 38. Nd4 R2b6 39.
Rxb6 Rxb6 40. e7 Rb8 41. Nxf5 a5 42. Nd4 a4 43. Nc6 Re8 44. Kd4 Kg7 45. Kc4 Kf7
46. Kb4 Ra8 47. Ka3 Ra6 48. Nb4 Rd6 49. Kxa4 Kxe7 50. Kb5 Rd2 51. g4 Rxh2 52.
Kc5 Ke6 53. Kd4 Rh4 54. f5+ Kf7 55. Ke5 Rxg4 56. Nd5 Ra4 57. Nc3 Rb4 58. Ne4 h5
59. Ng5+ Kg8 60. f6 h4 61. Kf5 Rb5+ 62. Kg6 Rxg5+ 0-1

[Event "Prague Cez Trophy m"]
[Site "Prague"]
[Date "2008.05.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Navara, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A37"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2672"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "2008.05.14"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 124 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.07.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.07.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O d6 7. a3 a5 8. Ne1 Be6
9. d3 Nge7 10. Nc2 d5 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Ne3 Nde7 13. Nc4 O-O 14. Bg5 f6 15. Be3
b6 16. Qa4 Rc8 17. Qb5 Bxc4 18. Qxc4+ Kh8 19. Qb5 f5 20. Bg5 Nd4 21. Bxe7 Qxe7
22. Qxb6 Rb8 23. Qa6 Rxb2 24. e3 Nb3 25. Rab1 Rxb1 26. Rxb1 c4 27. dxc4 Qxa3
28. Nb5 Qa2 29. Rd1 Qc2 30. Qd6 Nd4 31. Re1 Ne2+ 32. Kh1 Qxc4 33. Nc7 Qc3 34.
Rd1 Qb4 35. Ne6 Qxd6 36. Rxd6 Rb8 37. Bf1 Nc3 38. Ra6 a4 39. Kg1 Rc8 40. Ra7
Bf6 41. Ba6 Rb8 42. Bc4 e4 43. h4 Nd1 44. Kg2 Nb2 45. Bd5 Rc8 46. h5 gxh5 47.
Nf4 h4 48. Be6 Rf8 49. Bxf5 Bg7 50. Bxe4 hxg3 51. Kxg3 Be5 52. Rxh7+ Kg8 53.
Ra7 Bxf4+ 54. exf4 Rd8 55. f5 Kf8 56. f3 Rd1 57. Kf4 Nd3+ 58. Kg5 Nc5 59. Ra5
Rc1 60. Ra8+ Ke7 61. f6+ Kd6 62. f7 Nxe4+ 63. fxe4 Rg1+ 64. Kh4 1-0

[Event "Prague Cez Trophy m"]
[Site "Prague"]
[Date "2008.05.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Navara, David"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E46"]
[WhiteElo "2672"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "136"]
[EventDate "2008.05.14"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 124 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.07.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.07.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nge2 d5 6. a3 Be7 7. cxd5 exd5 8. b4
c6 9. Ng3 Re8 10. Bd3 Nbd7 11. O-O Nb6 12. Rb1 a6 13. a4 Be6 14. a5 Nc8 15. Na4
Nd6 16. Nc5 Bc8 17. Bb2 Bf8 18. Re1 g6 19. f3 Nb5 20. Bxb5 axb5 21. e4 Bg7 22.
e5 Nd7 23. Nd3 Nf8 24. Bc1 h5 25. Be3 h4 26. Nh1 Bf5 27. Rc1 f6 28. f4 Bxd3 29.
Qxd3 f5 30. g4 hxg3 31. hxg3 Ne6 32. Re2 Rf8 33. Rf1 Qe7 34. Bd2 Kf7 35. g4 Ke8
36. Rh2 Kd7 37. Ng3 Qf7 38. Kg2 fxg4 39. Be3 Rh8 40. Rxh8 Rxh8 41. Qe2 Bf8 42.
Qxg4 Bxb4 43. f5 gxf5 44. Rxf5 Qg8 45. Rg5 Qh7 46. Nh5 Qc2+ 47. Bf2 Qe4+ 48.
Qxe4 dxe4 49. Nf6+ Kc8 50. Rf5 Rf8 51. Be3 Bxa5 52. Rh5 Bb6 53. d5 cxd5 54.
Bxb6 Nf4+ 55. Kg3 Nxh5+ 56. Nxh5 Kd7 57. Ng7 Rg8 58. e6+ Ke7 59. Bc5+ Kf6 60.
Bd4+ Kg6 61. e7 Kf7 62. e8=Q+ Rxe8 63. Nxe8 Kxe8 64. Bc5 b6 65. Bb4 Kd7 66. Kg4
d4 67. Kf4 e3 68. Ke4 Ke6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Prague Cez Trophy m"]
[Site "Prague"]
[Date "2008.05.17"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Navara, David"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B70"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2672"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2008.05.14"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 124 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.07.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.07.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. e4 c5 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. O-O Nc6 8.
Nb3 O-O 9. Re1 a5 10. a4 Be6 11. Bg5 h6 12. Be3 d5 13. exd5 Bxd5 14. Nc5 Nb4
15. Nb5 b6 16. Nd3 Nxd3 17. Qxd3 Qc8 18. Bd4 Qb7 19. Bf1 Rac8 20. Qe3 Rxc2 21.
Qxe7 Qxe7 22. Rxe7 Bc6 23. Re2 Rxe2 24. Bxe2 Nd7 25. Bxg7 Kxg7 26. Nd4 Bd5 27.
Rd1 Nc5 28. Bb5 Rc8 29. f3 Kf6 30. Ne2 Bb3 31. Rd6+ Ke7 32. Rxb6 Bxa4 33. Bxa4
Nxa4 34. Rb7+ Kf6 35. b3 Nc3 36. Nxc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Prague Cez Trophy m"]
[Site "Prague"]
[Date "2008.05.17"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Navara, David"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2672"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2008.05.14"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 124 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.07.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.07.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. Qd3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 b5 7. Qd3 a6 8. e4
c5 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Qxd8+ Kxd8 11. e5 Ng4 12. Bg5+ Ke8 13. O-O-O Nd7 14. Ne4
Bb7 15. Nxc5 Nxc5 16. Bh4 Ne4 17. Rd4 Rc8+ 18. Kb1 Nexf2 19. h3 Nxh1 20. hxg4
h5 21. g5 g6 22. Be2 Ke7 23. Be1 h4 24. Nxh4 Rhd8 25. Rf4 Ng3 26. Bxg3 Rd2 27.
Bg4 Rcc2 28. Be1 Rxb2+ 29. Kc1 Rdc2+ 30. Kd1 Rc4 31. Rxc4 bxc4 32. a3 Kd7 33.
Bd2 Ra2 34. Bc1 Bc6 35. Be2 Ba4+ 36. Ke1 Ra1 0-1

[Event "Prague Cez Trophy m"]
[Site "Prague"]
[Date "2008.05.18"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Navara, David"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2672"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2008.05.14"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 124 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.07.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.07.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. d4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 g6 7. e3 Bg7 8.
Bb5+ Bd7 9. Bd3 Bc6 10. O-O O-O 11. Rb1 Nd7 12. e4 e6 13. Qe2 a6 14. Be3 b5 15.
Rbd1 Qc7 16. dxc5 Bb7 17. Bd4 e5 18. Be3 Nxc5 19. Bxc5 Qxc5 20. Bc2 Qxc3 21.
Bb3 Qc7 22. Ng5 h6 23. Nf3 Rfd8 24. h4 a5 25. h5 g5 26. Nh2 Rd4 27. Rxd4 exd4
28. Ng4 a4 29. Bc2 b4 30. e5 Qc6 31. f4 Ba6 32. Bd3 gxf4 33. Bxa6 Qxa6 34. Qe4
d3 35. e6 Qa7+ 36. Kh1 Re8 37. Qxd3 Qe7 38. exf7+ Qxf7 39. Qb5 Rd8 40. Qxb4
Qxh5+ 41. Nh2 Qe2 42. Qxa4 f3 43. Qb3+ Kh8 44. Qxf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Prague Cez Trophy m"]
[Site "Prague"]
[Date "2008.05.18"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Navara, David"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2672"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2008.05.14"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "CZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 124 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.07.03"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.07.03"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 c6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Qd3 Nbd7 6. e4 dxe4 7. Nxe4 Nxe4 8.
Qxe4 Nf6 9. Qd3 c5 10. Be3 cxd4 11. O-O-O Bc5 12. Bxd4 Bxd4 13. Qxd4 Qxd4 14.
Rxd4 Ke7 15. Be2 Rd8 16. Rxd8 Kxd8 17. Ne5 Ke7 18. Bf3 Nd7 19. Nxd7 Kxd7 20.
Rd1+ Kc7 21. b4 Bd7 22. b5 Be8 23. Kc2 g5 24. Kc3 f5 25. g3 g4 26. Bg2 h5 27.
a4 a6 28. Kb4 a5+ 29. Kc3 Rc8 30. c5 Kb8 31. Kc4 e5 32. Rd6 e4 33. Rf6 Bd7 34.
Bf1 h4 35. gxh4 Rh8 36. c6 bxc6 37. bxc6 Be8 38. Kc5 Kc7 39. Re6 f4 40. Re7+
Kd8 41. c7+ 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 36th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2008.06.28"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Gustafsson, Jan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2603"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2008.06.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 125"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.07.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.07.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8.
Bb5+ Nc6 9. O-O cxd4 10. cxd4 O-O 11. Be3 Bg4 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Rc1 Qa5 14. Qd2
Qxd2 15. Nxd2 Rfd8 16. Nb3 a5 17. Rxc6 a4 18. Nc5 Bxd4 19. Bxd4 Rxd4 20. f3 Rc8
21. Rxc8+ Bxc8 22. Rc1 a3 23. Nb3 Rd8 24. Rc7 Be6 25. Ra7 Rd1+ 26. Kf2 Bxb3 27.
axb3 Rd2+ 28. Kg3 a2 29. b4 Rb2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 36th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2008.06.29"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2677"]
[Annotator "Knaak,R"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2008.06.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 125"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.07.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.07.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 {The move is not without its problems,
because it neglects the development of th Bc8; 4...Bg4, 4...Bf5 and 4...a6 are
more popular.  Der Zug ist nicht unproblematisch, weil er die Entwicklung des
Bc8 vernachlässigt; 4...Bg4, 4...Bf5 und 4...a6 stehen höher im Kurs.} 5. b3
Nbd7 6. Bb2 b6 7. Bd3 Bb7 8. O-O Bd6 9. Nbd2 (9. Nc3 O-O 10. Qc2 Re8 11. Rad1
Qe7 12. e4 dxe4 13. Nxe4 Nxe4 14. Bxe4 Nf6 15. Bd3 Ba3 16. Ba1 h6 17. Rfe1 $14
{1-0 Kramnik,V (2766)-Van Wely,L (2683)/Monte Carlo 2007/CBM 117 ext (74)})
9... O-O 10. Ne5 {It woud be exaggerated to speak here of a clear advantage
for White, but the position is unpleasant for Black. Es wäre übertrieben,
wollte man hier von deutlichem weißen Vorteil sprechen, aber es spielt sich
für Schwarz unangenehm.} Qe7 11. Qf3 Rfd8 12. Qh3 h6 13. f4 Bb4 $2 {After this,
things become quite difficult for Black. Danach wird es ganz schwer für
Schwarz.} (13... c5 {was required, but White's prospects are somewhat better
even then. war erforderlich, aber die weißen Aussichten sind auch dann ein
wenig höher einzuschätzen.}) 14. Ndf3 Ne4 $2 {This allows a forcing sequence,
which leaves White close to a win.  Dies erlaubt eine forcierte Zugfolge, in
deren Folge Weiß nahezu auf Gewinn steht.} 15. Nxd7 Rxd7 16. Ne5 Rc7 17. Bxe4
$1 dxe4 18. c5 $1 {White exploits the position of the Bb4 to gain time for a
kingside attack by means of a pawn sacrifice. Weiß nutzt die Position des Bb4
aus, um unter Bauernopfer Zeit für einen Angriff am Königsflügel zu gewinnen.}
bxc5 19. a3 Ba5 20. dxc5 Qxc5 21. b4 Qb5 {Things were already so so, but now
the black king has no pieces to protect it.  Das ging noch geradeso, aber der
schwarze König steht nun ohne Figurenschutz da.} 22. Qg3 ({During the game I
saw (or Fritz did) Während der Partie sah ich (bzw. Fritz)} 22. Ng4 {But Aber}
h5 $1 {is better. ist besser:} (22... f5 23. Nxh6+ $1 gxh6 (23... Kf8 24. Be5
$18) 24. Qxh6 Bb6 25. Bf6 $1 {and White wins. und Weiß gewinnt.}) 23. Nf6+ (23.
Nh6+ Kh7 $1 $13) 23... gxf6 24. Bxf6 Qf5 {and White has to go into an ending
with opposite coloured bishops (and rooks). und Weiß muss in ein Endspiel mit
ungleichen Läufern (und Türmen) gehen.}) ({But the correct move is Aber der
richtige Zug ist} 22. f5 $1 f6 (22... Bb6 23. fxe6 f6 24. Nd7 $18) 23. Ng4 e5
24. Qg3 Kh8 25. Bxe5 fxe5 26. bxa5 $18) 22... Bb6 $6 {This misses a good
practical chance. Dies verpasst eine gute praktische Chance.} ({After Nach} 
22... f5 23. Rad1 Qe2 24. Bc3 Bb6 25. Rfe1 Qh5 26. Rd6 Re8 {Black is at the
edge of the abyss, but he can still hope. schwebt Schwarz am Abgrund, aber er
kann noch hoffen.}) 23. Nd7 $1 g6 24. Nf6+ Kf8 25. Be5 Rcc8 26. Qh4 $1 h5 ({
Or Oder} 26... Bxe3+ 27. Kh1 Rd8 28. Qxh6+ Ke7 29. Qh4 Kf8 30. Qh8+ Ke7 31.
Ng8+ $1 Rxg8 32. Qf6+ Ke8 33. Bd6 {and White wins. und Weiß gewinnt.}) 27. Nh7+
Ke8 28. Bd6 Rc7 29. Rfd1 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 36th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2008.07.01"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2624"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[Annotator "Kritz,L"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2008.06.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 125"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.07.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.07.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8.
Re1 Bg4 9. c4 Nf6 10. Nc3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Nxd4 12. Qd1 Ne6 13. cxd5 Nxd5 14. Bb5+
c6 15. Nxd5 cxb5 16. Bf4 (16. Qb3 O-O 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. Qxb5 a6 19. Qb3 Rac8
20. Be3 Rfd8 21. Rad1 h6 22. h3 $11 {1/2-1/2 Rozentalis - Sutovsky (Esbjerg,
2001)}) 16... Nxf4 (16... O-O $2 {loses material after verliert nach} 17. Nxe7+
Qxe7 18. Bd6 $16 {Material.}) 17. Rxe7+ Kf8 18. Re5 Qd6 {This position has
already occurred several times.  Diese Stellung kam schon einige Male vor.} 19.
Qd2 $1 $146 {A very strong innovation! White wastes no time on rook moves and
continues his development. Eine sehr starke Neuerung! Weiß verliert keine Zeit
für Züge mit dem Turm und setzt seine Entwicklung fort.} (19. Rf5 {After the
exchange of queens and rooks, White can achieve an advantage: Nach dem Tausch
von Turm und Dame kann Weiß keinen Vorteil erreichen:} Rd8 20. Ne3 Qxd1+ 21.
Rxd1 Rxd1+ 22. Nxd1 Ne6 23. Rxb5 b6 24. Nc3 Ke7 {1/2-1/2 Kasimdzhanov -
Jussupow (Essen, 2001)}) 19... Ng6 $2 {This is a mistake. Now Black comes
under pressure. Das ist ein Fehler. Jetzt kommt Schwarz unter Druck.} (19...
Qxe5 $5 {would have been stronger. Wäre stärker gewesen.} 20. Qb4+ Ke8 (20...
Kg8 21. Ne7+ Kf8 22. Ng6+ $18) 21. Re1 (21. Qxb5+ Kd8 22. Rd1 Ne2+ 23. Kf1 (23.
Kh1 $142 Nd4 24. Qxb7 Rc8 25. h3 Rc5 (25... g5 $5) 26. Ne3 Re8 27. Nf5 Rc7 $2 (
27... Qe1+ $142) 28. Qb8+ Kd7 29. Rxd4+ Kc6 30. Qb3 Re6 31. Qf3+ Kb6 32. Rb4+
Kc5 33. Rb8 Qe1+ 34. Kh2 Qe5+ 35. g3 Rb6 36. Qa3+ Kb5 37. Nd6+ Kc6 38. Rd8 Qd4
39. Qf3+ Qd5 40. Qxd5+ Kxd5 41. Ne8+ Ke5 42. Nxc7 Rxb2 43. Kg2 Rxa2 44. Rd7 Kf6
45. Ne8+ Ke6 46. Rd3 g6 47. Re3+ Kf5 48. Re7 {1-0 Smirnov,P (2592)-Neelotpal,D
(2462)/Pardubice op 2008/20.07.2008}) 23... Nd4 24. Qa5+ b6 25. Qa4 Re8 $1 26.
Ne3 Ke7 $17) (21. Nxf4 a5 22. Qd2 Rd8 $17) 21... Ne2+ (21... Qxe1+ 22. Qxe1+
Ne6 23. Qb4 Kd7 24. Qe7+ Kc8 (24... Kc6 25. Nb4+ Kb6 26. Qd6+ Ka5 27. Nd5 $18)
25. Qxf7 $18) 22. Kf1 Rc8 (22... Kd7 23. Rxe2 Qxd5 24. Rd2 (24. Qe7+ Kc6 25.
Rc2+ Kb6 26. Qe3+ Ka5 27. Qa3+ Kb6 28. Qe3+ $11) 24... Qxd2 25. Qxd2+ Ke6 26.
Qe3+ Kf6 27. Qc3+ Ke6 28. Qxg7 $14 {In such an endgame, White has the better
chances, because Black has a bad king and a weak h-pawn. In so einem Endspiel
hat Weiß bessere Chancen, weil Schwarz einen schlechten König und einen
schwachen h-Bauern hat.}) 23. f4 (23. Qd2 Kd8 24. Nb6+ (24. Rxe2 Qd6 $17) 24...
Kc7 25. Nxc8 Rxc8 26. Rxe2 Qd6 $15) 23... Qxd5 24. Rxe2+ Kd7 25. Rd2 Rc5 26.
Rxd5+ Rxd5 $11) 20. Ree1 f6 (20... Rd8 21. Rad1 Ne7 (21... f6 22. Qe3 $16) 22.
Qe3 Nc6 (22... Nxd5 23. Rxd5 Qxd5 24. Qe7+ Kg8 25. Qe8+ Rxe8 26. Rxe8#) 23. Nf6
$3 Qxf6 (23... Qxd1 24. Qc5+ Qd6 25. Qxd6+ Rxd6 26. Re8#) 24. Qc5+ Kg8 25. Rd6
$3 $18) 21. Rad1 Kf7 (21... Re8 22. Rxe8+ Kxe8 23. Nxf6+ Qxf6 24. Qd7+ Kf8 25.
Qc8+ Kf7 26. Rd7+ Ne7 (26... Ke6 27. Rd8+ $18) 27. Qxh8 Qxb2 28. Qd8 Qa1+ 29.
Rd1 Qxa2 30. Qd3 $16 {With his bad king, Black has little chance of holding
the position. The queenside pawns will fall one after the other. Aufgrund des
schlechten Königs hat Schwarz kaum Chancen, die Stellung zu halten. Die Bauern
am Damenflügel werden einer nach dem anderen fallen.}) 22. Qe3 Rhe8 (22... Rhd8
23. Qb3 Kf8 24. Ne7 $16) 23. Ne7 $1 Qxe7 (23... Rxe7 24. Rxd6 Rxe3 25. Rxe3 $18
) 24. Qb3+ Kf8 25. Rxe7 Rxe7 26. Qxb5 $18 {Technically, the position is won.
Black has no chance to set up a fortress. Die Stellung ist technisch gewonnen.
Schwarz hat keine Chancen, eine Festung aufzubauen.} Rae8 27. g3 Ne5 28. Kg2
Nc6 29. b4 a6 30. Qb6 h6 31. a4 Ne5 32. Qc5 Kg8 33. b5 axb5 34. axb5 Nf7 35. h4
Kh8 36. Rd2 Kg8 37. Kh3 Kh8 38. f4 Kg8 39. h5 Kh8 40. Qf5 Nd8 41. Rd7 Ne6 42.
Qd5 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 36th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2008.07.02"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2008.06.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 125"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.07.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.07.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qc2 c5 6. d5 exd5 7. cxd5 Bb7 8. Bg2
Nxd5 9. Qb3 Nf6 10. Ne5 d5 11. Nc3 Be7 12. Qa4+ Nbd7 13. Nc6 Bxc6 14. Qxc6 Rc8
15. Qa4 d4 16. Nb5 O-O 17. O-O Ne5 18. Qxa7 Nc6 19. Qb7 Na5 20. Qa7 Nc6 21. Qb7
Na5 22. Qa7 Nc6 23. Qb7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 36th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2008.07.04"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2008.06.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 125"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.07.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.07.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qa4 Bb7 6. Bg2 c5 7. dxc5 bxc5 8. O-O
Be7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Rd1 Qb6 11. Bf4 Rd8 12. Rd2 d6 (12... d5 $6 {- see Lautier
- Macieja in CBM 110, annotated by GM M.Roiz.}) 13. Rad1 Ne8 {[%cal Ye7f6]} (
13... h6 {is another option.}) (13... a6 $143 14. Ng5 $14) 14. e4 (14. Nb5 $6
Na6 15. Qc2 (15. a3 h6 16. Ne1 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Nac7 18. Nxc7 Qxc7 19. Qa6 {
1/2-1/2 Novikov,I-Rodriguez Cespedes,A/Camaguey 1987/CBM 005}) 15... h6 16. h3
$2 (16. Nc3 $10) 16... d5 $1 $17 17. g4 Nb4 18. Qb1 dxc4 19. Rxd8 Rxd8 20. Rxd8
Bxd8 21. Na3 Bf6 22. Nxc4 Qa6 23. Nfd2 $1 Bxg2 24. Kxg2 Qxa2 $2 (24... Nxa2 25.
Qe4 Qc8 $17 {Am.Rodriguez}) 25. Qxa2 Nxa2 26. Nb3 Be7 27. Bb8 a6 28. Ba7 $10 {
1/2-1/2 Ribli,Z-Rodriguez Cespedes,A/Subotica 1987/CBM 003/[Rodriguez,Am] (40)}
) (14. Bg5 Bxg5 (14... Nc6 $5) 15. Nxg5 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 {1/2-1/2 Goldin,
A-Petursson,M/New York 1991/CBM 023}) (14. Ng5 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 h6 $5 16. Nge4 f5
{Am.Rodriguez}) 14... Bc6 15. Qc2 Nd7 (15... Qb7 {- see Gustafsson-Leko in
this issue.}) 16. e5 $1 dxe5 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. Bxe5 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 $14 {White
keeps a small plus in this typical position: he controls the d-file and
Black's a7 and c5 pawns are potentially weak. Still, Black should not lose if
he plays accurately, which Kramnik duly demonstrates.} Nf6 20. Ne4 Rxd2 (20...
Qc6 21. f3 Nxe4 22. Qxe4 Qxe4 23. fxe4 Kf8 24. Kf3 f6 25. Bc7 Rxd2 26. Rxd2 Ke8
27. g4 a5 28. Rd3 (28. e5 $5) 28... e5 29. Ke3 Ra6 30. Kd2 a4 31. Kc2 Kf7 32.
a3 Ke6 33. h3 Ra7 34. Bb6 Ra6 35. Bc7 Ra7 36. Bb6 {1/2-1/2 Braun,A-Tischbierek,
R/Germany 2007/CBM 118}) 21. Rxd2 Rd8 22. Bxf6 gxf6 23. g4 h5 24. h3 (24. gxh5
f5 25. Ng3 Bf6 $44) 24... hxg4 25. hxg4 Rxd2 26. Qxd2 Qc6 27. f3 f5 28. gxf5
exf5 29. Nc3 Qg6+ 30. Kf1 Qh5 31. Qg2+ Kf8 32. Nd5 Qh6 33. f4 Bd6 34. Qg1 Qh5
35. Kf2 Qh8 36. Qc1 Qd4+ 37. Kf3 Qd3+ 38. Kf2 Qd4+ 39. Kf3 Qd3+ 40. Kf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 36th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2008.07.05"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2634"]
[Annotator "Kritz,L"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2008.06.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 125"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.07.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.07.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bg4 5. h3 Bh5 {Dieser Zug wird gemacht,
wenn man langen Varianten aus dem Weg gehen möchte und eine Stellung mit
beiderseitigen Chancen anstrebt.} (5... Bxf3 6. Qxf3 e6 7. Nc3 Nbd7 {ist die
Hauptfortsetzung. Weiß besitzt zwar das Läuferpaar, doch die schwarze Stellung
ist sehr solide und weist keine Schwächen auf. Auch der Läufer c1 hat keine
großartigen Perspektiven in naher Zukunft, so dass man diese Stellung auf
lange Sicht als ausgeglichen einschätzt.}) 6. Nc3 e6 7. g4 ({Wenig verspricht
Weiß} 7. Qb3 Qb6 8. Ne5 Nbd7 {und die schwarze Stellung ist in Ordnung:} 9. g4
(9. Nd3 Bg6 10. Qxb6 axb6 11. Nf4 Bd6 12. Nxg6 hxg6 13. Bd2 O-O 14. Be2 dxc4
15. Bxc4 b5 16. Bb3 e5 $11 {Azmaiparashvili - Movsesian (Moscow, 2001). Der
Vorteil des Läuferpaars ist durch die schwarze Überlegenheit im Zentrum und
durch die fixierte Bauernstruktur ausgeglichen.}) 9... Bg6 10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. g5
Ng8 12. c5 Qxb3 13. axb3 a6 14. b4 {Wäre jetzt Weiß am Zug, so hätte er mit 15.
b5 großen strategischen Vorteil erreicht, doch da er dazu nicht kommt, ist die
Stellung ausgeglichen.} Rc8 $11 {Fridman - Krivoshey (Internet blitz 2005)}) ({
Viel zu passiv ist} 7. Be2 Nbd7 8. O-O Bd6 9. b3 O-O 10. Bb2 Ne4 11. Nxe4 dxe4
12. Ne5 Bxe2 13. Qxe2 f5 $11 {Andreikin - Najer (Plovdiv, 2008). und Schwarz
hat keinerlei Schwierigkeiten.}) 7... Bg6 8. Ne5 ({Nicht zur Zugumstellung
führt} 8. Nh4 {weil Schwarz} Be4 {spielen kann.} {Nach} 9. f3 Nfd7 $1 10. fxe4
(10. Ng2 Bg6 11. h4 h6 (11... h5 12. Nf4 hxg4 13. Nxg6 fxg6 14. Bd3 Qf6 15.
fxg4 $14) 12. Nf4 Bh7 13. Qb3 Qb6 $11) 10... Qxh4+ 11. Kd2 dxe4 12. Nxe4 Nf6
13. Nxf6+ Qxf6 14. Bd3 Nd7 $13 {entsteht eine Stellung, die Dank dem schwachen
weißen König unklar ist.}) 8... Nbd7 (8... Nfd7 {Der Unterschied zwischen
diesem und dem Partiezug ist, dass Schwarz mit dem Nehmen auf e5 droht, wonach
Weiß kein Tempo mit dem Angriff auf den Nf6 gewinnt. So kann Weiß nicht mehr 9.
h4 spielen.} 9. Nxg6 (9. h4 $2 Nxe5 10. dxe5 h5 11. g5 Nd7 $15) 9... hxg6 10.
Bd2 (10. Qe2 Na6 11. Bg2 Be7 12. O-O O-O 13. a3 Nc7 14. b3 a6 15. e4 dxe4 16.
Nxe4 Nf6 17. Nc5 $14 {Bacrot - Kasimdzhanov (Mainz, 2007). Der Springer c7 ist
schlecht.}) 10... Nb6 (10... f5 11. Qb3 Qb6 12. Qc2 Qd8 13. O-O-O $14 {
Giorgadze - Gurevich (Torrelavega, 2007)}) 11. c5 N6d7 12. b4 Be7 13. Bg2 O-O
14. O-O a5 15. a3 axb4 16. axb4 Rxa1 17. Qxa1 Qc7 18. Qa5 Qc8 19. Ra1 $14 {
Sargissian - L'Ami (Katernberg, 2007)}) 9. h4 ({Keine Schwierigkeiten hat
Schwarz nach} 9. Nxg6 hxg6 10. Bd2 Bb4 $11) 9... dxc4 10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. g5 ({
Öfters gespielt wurde bislang} 11. Bxc4 Bb4 12. Bd2 (12. a3 Bxc3+ 13. bxc3 Nd5
14. g5 N7b6 15. Bf1 Nxc3 16. Qc2 Qd5 17. Rh3 Ne4 18. Bg2 Qa5+ 19. Kf1 Qc3 20.
Qxc3 Nxc3 21. Bd2 Ncd5 $15 {Golod - Kharitonov (Cappelle la Grande, 2007)})
12... Bxc3 13. bxc3 {Ribli - Kuczynski (Erfurt, 2005)} (13. Bxc3 Nd5 $132)
13... Ne4 $132 {Weil der h4-Bauer hängt, hat Schwarz genug Zeit, um gutes
Spiel zu bekommen.}) 11... Nh7 $5 $146 ({Bis jetzt wurde nur} 11... Nd5 {
ausprobiert, was ebenfalls zu interessanten Stellungen führt, die für beide
Seiten gut spielbar sind.} 12. Bxc4 N7b6 (12... Bb4 13. Bd2 Qe7 14. Be2 O-O-O
15. Qc2 Kb8 16. a3 Ba5 17. b4 Bb6 18. Nxd5 cxd5 19. a4 e5 $132 {Milov - Najer 
(Baku, 2008)}) 13. Bf1 Nxc3 14. bxc3 Qd5 15. Rh3 e5 16. Qg4 Be7 17. Bd2 $132 {
Kachiani - Sebag (Gothenburg, 2005)}) 12. Bg2 ({Weiß kann nicht mehr} 12. Bxc4
{spielen, weil er nach} Nxg5 $17 {den Bauer verliert. Das ist die Idee des
Zuges 11....Nh7}) 12... Bb4 13. Qe2 Nb6 14. a3 Ba5 15. Bd2 Nf8 $1 $11 {Der
Springer hat seine Pflicht getan - Schwarz konnte den Mehrbauern erstmal
behalten - jetzt kommt er zurück ins Spiel und öffnet wieder die h-Linie für
den schwarzen Turm. Schwarz hat eine sehr solide Stellung aufgebaut, die kaum
zu knacken ist.} 16. Ne4 Bxd2+ 17. Qxd2 Qe7 18. Qb4 Qxb4+ 19. axb4 Kd7 20. b5
Kc7 21. bxc6 bxc6 22. Nd2 Nfd7 23. Ra5 a6 24. Bf1 Rhb8 25. Rh3 Kd6 26. h5 gxh5
27. Rxh5 Ke7 28. Rh7 g6 29. Kd1 Ra7 30. Kc1 Rc7 31. Ne4 Rcb7 32. Nd2 Rc7 33.
Ne4 Rcb7 34. Rxa6 Nd5 35. Bxc4 Rxb2 36. Nd2 R2b6 37. Rxb6 N5xb6 38. Bd3 Nf8 39.
Rh4 Nfd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 36th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2008.07.06"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[Annotator "Kritz,L"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2008.06.28"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 125"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.07.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.07.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 {
Die von Schwarz gewaehlte Variante ist die Hauptvariante und gilt als sehr
solide.} 8. Re1 ({Nach den Zügen} 8. c4 Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3
12. bxc3 Nc6 13. cxd5 Qxd5 14. Bf4 Rac8 15. Re1 Rfe8 {entsteht eine Stellung,
die in der modernen Theorie eine der am weitesten ausanalysierten Stellungen
ist.}) 8... Bg4 9. c4 {Eine seltene aber doch sehr giftige Variante. Die
andere Möglichkeit ist 9.c3:} (9. c3 f5 10. Qb3 O-O 11. Nbd2 Na5 12. Qc2 Nc6
13. b4 (13. Qb3 $11 {Will Weiß Remis forcieren, so kann er das auf diese Art
machen.}) 13... a6 $132 {mit Chancen für beide Seiten.}) (9. Bxe4 $6 {so
leicht kann Weiß den Bauer nicht gewinnen.} dxe4 10. Rxe4 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 (11.
gxf3 f5 12. Re1 Qxd4 $15) 11... Nxd4 12. Qc3 Ne6 13. Qe1 O-O 14. Nc3 $11) 9...
Nf6 {Der einzige Zug. Alle anderen geben Weiß großen Vorteil.} (9... Bxf3 10.
Qxf3 Nxd4 11. Qe3 Nf5 12. Qh3 Nd4 13. cxd5 $16) (9... Nxd4 $4 10. Bxe4 dxe4 11.
Qxd4 $1 exf3 (11... Qxd4 12. Nxd4 $18) (11... Bxf3 12. Qxd8+ Rxd8 13. gxf3 exf3
14. Nc3 $18) 12. Qxg7 Rf8 13. Qxg4 $18) 10. Nc3 Bxf3 (10... Nxd4 $5 {kam nur
ein Mal in der Praxis der Großmeister vor. Meiner Meinung nach verdient der
Zug jedoch größere Beachtung.} 11. cxd5 Bxf3 (11... O-O 12. Bxh7+ Nxh7 13. Qxd4
Bxf3 14. gxf3 $16 {Obwohl die weiße Bauernstruktur nicht schön aussieht,
bieten ihm der Mehrbauer und die offene g-Linie gute Gewinnchancen.}) 12. gxf3
c5 13. dxc6 (13. Bb5+ Kf8 (13... Nxb5 14. Nxb5 Qb6 15. d6 O-O-O 16. Nxa7+ Qxa7
17. Rxe7 $16) 14. Bc4 Bd6 15. Be3 Qc8 $1 $132) 13... Nxc6 14. Be3 $5 (14. Bb5
O-O 15. Qxd8 Bxd8 $11 {1/2-1/2 Polgar,J (2671)-Karpov,A (2700)/Hoogeveen NED
1999 (43)}) 14... O-O 15. Rc1 $14 {Die Stellung ist völlig offen und das weiße
Läuferpaar überwiegt ein wenig die schlechte Bauernstruktur. Trotzdem ist die
Stellung spielbar für Schwarz.}) (10... dxc4 11. Bxc4 O-O 12. d5 Na5 13. Bd3
$14 {Die Lage des schwarzen Springers auf a5 ist zumindest verdächtig.}) 11.
Qxf3 Nxd4 ({Schlechter ist} 11... dxc4 12. Bxc4 Nxd4 (12... Qxd4 13. Bb5 Kf8
14. Be3 Qd7 15. Rad1 Bd6 16. Bg5 $44) 13. Qxb7 O-O 14. Rd1 $14) 12. Qd1 Ne6 13.
cxd5 (13. Bf5 dxc4 (13... d4 14. Ne2 d3 15. Nf4 Nd4 16. Bxd3 $14 {Morozevich -
Gelfand (Mexico City, 2007)}) 14. Qa4+ c6 ({nicht so gut ist} 14... Qd7 15.
Qxc4 {und jetzt kann Schwarz nicht kurz rochieren:} O-O $4 16. Rxe6 $1 $18) 15.
Bxe6 fxe6 16. Qxc4 O-O (16... Nd5 17. Rxe6 O-O {führt nur zur Zugumstellung.})
17. Rxe6 (17. Qxe6+ Rf7 18. Be3 Qd6 19. Qxd6 {1/2-1/2 Anand - Kramnik (Mainz,
2001)}) 17... Nd5 18. Be3 Bf6 19. Bc5 Re8 20. Rxe8+ Qxe8 21. Nxd5 cxd5 22.
Qxd5+ Qf7 23. Qd2 Rd8 24. Qb4 Qxa2 25. Re1 b6 26. Be7 Re8 27. Bxf6 Rxe1+ 28.
Qxe1 gxf6 29. Qb4 a5 {1/2-1/2 Morozevich - Ivanchuk (Moscow, 2007)}) 13... Nxd5
14. Bb5+ c6 15. Nxd5 cxb5 16. Qh5 {Kurz davor, in der dritten Runde des
Turniers, hat Naiditsch gegen Kramnik 16.Bf4 gespielt:} (16. Bf4 Nxf4 17. Rxe7+
Kf8 18. Re5 Qd6 {und hier brachte Weiß mit} 19. Qd2 $1 {eine starke Neuerung,
die ihm den Punkt brachte. Sicherlich hat Kramnik die Stellung analysiert und
eine Verbesserung der Variante gefunden, so dass Ivanchuk sie nicht
wiederholen wollte.} Qxe5 $1 (19... Ng6 $2 20. Ree1 $16 {Naiditsch - Kramnik 
(Dortmund, 2008)}) 20. Qb4+ Ke8 $11) (16. Qb3 O-O 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. Qxb5 {
führt zur selben Stellung wie in der Partie.}) 16... O-O 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18.
Qxb5 {Zwar läuft das Spiel an beiden Flügeln und Weiß verfügt über einen
Läufer, doch ist die Stellung ausgeglichen. Schwarz hat keine Schwächen und
dazu noch einen kleinen Entwicklungsvorsprung, der ihm hilft, die Stellung zu
vereinfachen.} Rfd8 19. Be3 a6 20. Qb3 Rac8 21. h3 h6 {Mehrere Partien endeten
bereits hier mit Remis.} 22. Rad1 (22. Rac1 Nd4 23. Bxd4 $8 (23. Qa4 $4 Rxc1
24. Rxc1 Ne2+ $19) 23... Rxc1 24. Rxc1 Rxd4 $11) 22... Rxd1 (22... b5 $1 {
Es wäre sinnvoller, diesen Zug gleich zu spielen.} 23. Rxd8+ Rxd8 24. Rd1 (24.
Rc1 Nd4 25. Bxd4 Rxd4 $11) 24... Rxd1+ 25. Qxd1 Qb4 $11 {Keinesfalls steht
Schwarz schlechter - Dame und Springer sind üblicherweise stärker als Dame und
Läufer.}) 23. Rxd1 b5 24. Rd3 Rc6 25. Qd5 Qe8 26. Rd2 Qc8 27. b3 {Zwar ist die
Stellung immer noch gleich, aber Weiß hat schon eine kleine Initiative
entwickelt. Es ist für mich trotzdem eine große Überraschung, dass Kramnik
diese Partie verloren hat.} Rc3 28. h4 a5 29. Rd1 Rc2 30. Qxb5 Rxa2 31. h5 Nf8
32. Rd4 Qc7 33. Rd1 Rb2 34. Rc1 Qd7 35. Qb8 Rc2 36. Ra1 Qf5 $4 {Ein taktisches
Unglück - Schwarz durfte das Feld d8 nicht aufgeben! Vielleicht war das ein
Fehlgriff, wer weiß...} (36... Qd5 37. Qb6 Rb2 38. Rxa5 Qd1+ 39. Kh2 Rxb3 $11)
37. Qd8 $1 $16 Qxh5 38. Rxa5 Qg4 39. Ra4 Qd7 40. Rd4 Qb7 41. b4 Rb2 42. Bd2
Rb1+ 43. Kh2 Qb5 44. Qd5 Qe2 45. Be3 Ng6 46. Qf5 Qf1 47. Kg3 Rb3 48. Re4 Nf8 $2
49. Rf4 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 3rd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.18"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2008.08.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. a3 b4 10. Ne4 Nxe4 11. Bxe4 bxa3 12. O-O Bd6 {About this line - see CBM
115, annotations to Topalov-Kramnik by GM M.Marin (as well as Avrukh -
Al-Modiahki in CBM 95).} 13. Nd2 {A rare move (not a formal novelty, though)
paving a new way, which may gain popularity after this game.} (13. b3 {and}) (
13. b4 $5 {are main options.}) 13... Qc7 (13... O-O 14. b3 (14. Nc4 $5) 14...
Ba6 $5 (14... Qb8 15. h3 Bb4 16. Bxa3 Bxa3 17. Rxa3 f5 18. Bf3 c5 19. Qe2 cxd4
20. exd4 Re8 21. Bxb7 Qxb7 22. Nc4 $14 {1/2 Arencibia Rodriguez,W (2542)-Abreu
Delgado,A (2480)/Santa Clara 2002/CBM 088 ext (33)}) 15. Re1 Bb5 16. Bf3 a6 17.
Nc4 Bb4 18. Bd2 Qe7 19. Qc1 Bxd2 20. Qxd2 e5 21. Qa5 exd4 22. exd4 Qd8 23. Qxa3
$14 {1-0 Mikhalevski,V (2592)-Miton,K (2580)/Lubbock USA 2008/The Week in
Chess 724 (32)}) 14. Nc4 $1 {[%mdl 512] That's the point: White gives up an
unimportant (second!) pawn to obtain pressure.} Bxh2+ 15. Kh1 Nb6 (15... Bd6
16. Nxd6+ Qxd6 17. b3 $1 {and Black can't castle.}) (15... axb2 $6 16. Bxb2)
16. Nxb6 axb6 17. g3 Bxg3 18. fxg3 Qxg3 (18... a2 $5 19. b3) 19. Qh5 Ra5 $6 {
This adventure doesn't pay off but after} (19... g6 20. Qh2 Qxh2+ 21. Kxh2 f5
22. Bf3 axb2 23. Rxa8+ Bxa8 24. Bxb2 {, despite four pawns for a piece,
Black's position is inferior due to the weakness of dark squares.}) 20. Qxf7+
Kd8 21. Bg2 Rg5 22. Qf3 Qxf3 23. Bxf3 axb2 24. Bxb2 $16 {Now Black has only
three pawns for the missing bishop, and his b7 bishop resembles a big pawn.
White's bishop pair gradually tear down Black's position.} Rf8 25. Be4 Rf6 26.
Rxf6 gxf6 27. Kh2 Kc7 28. Bc3 {[%cal Yc3e1,Ye1g3]} e5 29. dxe5 fxe5 30. Rf1 Kd6
31. Rf7 Bc8 32. Rxh7 Be6 33. Rh6 c5 34. Bd3 Kd7 35. Bb5+ Ke7 36. e4 Rg4 37. Bc6
Rg5 38. Be1 Rg4 39. Bg3 Bc4 40. Bxe5 Bd3 41. Bd6+ Kf7 42. Bd5+ Kg7 43. Re6 c4
44. Kh3 Rg1 45. Be5+ Kf8 46. Rxb6 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 3rd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2008.08.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qc2 Bb7 6. Bg2 c5 7. d5 exd5 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. O-O Be7 10. Rd1 Qc8 11. a3 Nf6 12. Nc3 d5 13. Bg5 Nbd7 14. e4 d4 15. e5
Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Bxg2 17. Qa4+ Nd7 18. Bxe7 Kxe7 19. Re1 Nxe5 20. Rxe5+ Kf8 21.
Kxg2 dxc3 22. bxc3 g6 23. Rae1 Kg7 24. Re7 Qf5 25. Qc4 Rhd8 26. R1e5 Qf6 27.
R5e6 Qf5 28. Re5 Qf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 3rd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.20"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2008.08.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. g4 Nxg4 8. Rg1
Nxh2 {This acceptance of the Shabalov-Shirov gambit is absolutely logical and
one may wonder why it is not particularly popular in GMs' practice. As often
happens, the reasons are mostly historical. In 1992, at the dawn of the whole
system, White scored some convincing victories in this line (not at the
highest level, though), after which it was given up for long. Today we are
observing the process of rediscovering and developing it.} 9. Nxh2 Bxh2 10.
Rxg7 Nf8 11. Rg2 Bd6 (11... Bc7 {is another option, which has its merits and
drawbacks.}) 12. e4 (12. Bd2 {is too slow due to} Ng6 $1 (12... Bd7 13. O-O-O
a6 14. e4 Rc8 15. Re1 Be7 16. f4 b5 17. c5 dxe4 18. Nxe4 f5 19. Nd6+ $6 (19.
Be2 $1 fxe4 20. Bh5+ Ng6 21. Qxe4 $40 {Ftacnik}) 19... Bxd6 20. cxd6 Kf7 $13 {
Ftacnik,L 0-1 Garcia Ilundain,D (2420)-Illescas Cordoba,M (2555)/Leon 1992/CBM
031/[Ftacnik] (36)}) (12... h5 $5 13. O-O-O h4 14. f4 Qf6 15. Bd3 Bd7 16. Kb1
Rh5 17. Rh1 $13 {1/2 Rout,I-Shaw,T (2300)/Canberra 1996/CBM 051 ext (48)}) 13.
O-O-O Nh4 14. Rg1 Nf3 15. Rh1 h5 16. Kb1 Qf6 17. Bc1 Bd7 18. Be2 h4 19. Qd3
dxc4 20. Qe4 Ng5 21. Qc2 Qe7 22. f4 Nh7 23. Ne4 Bc7 24. Bxc4 O-O-O $15 {
0-1 Szafraniec,T (2395)-Reschke,H (2455)/ICCF 2002/ICCF Telechess CBM 112 (39)}
) 12... Ng6 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8] This logical move turns out to be a novelty.} (
12... dxe4 {is usually played. White obtains good attacking possibilities after
} 13. Nxe4 (13. Qxe4 $143 Ng6 (13... Bd7 14. c5 Be7 15. Bf4 Ng6 16. Bh2 $40 {
1-0 Dang Bich Ngoc (2192)-Pham Bich,N (2111)/Phu Quoc 2007/CBM 116 ext (26)})
14. Be3 (14. Bg5 Be7 15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. O-O-O Bd7 {0-1 Schmidt,U (2154)-Pritz,T/
Baden 2003/EXT 2007 (37)}) 14... Qe7 15. O-O-O Bd7 16. f4 O-O-O 17. Re2 $6 f5
18. Qf3 Qh4 {0-1 Moreto Quintana,A-Acosta Garcia,A (2215)/Euskadi 1996/EXT
2001 (36)}) 13... Be7 14. Bh6 (14. Qc3 f5 15. Nd2 Bf6 {1/2 Tripoteau,N (2301)
-Coursaget,N (2318)/St Lorrain 2004/EXT 2005}) 14... f5 (14... Ng6 15. O-O-O
Bd7 16. Bg7 Rg8 17. Be5 Qa5 18. Kb1 O-O-O 19. Nd6+ Bxd6 20. Bxd6 c5 21. dxc5
Ba4 22. b3 Bc6 23. Rh2 $16 {1-0 Johannessen,L (2521)-Leer Salvesen,B (2341)/
Molde 2004/CBM 101 ext (55)}) 15. Nc3 Bd7 (15... Qxd4 16. Bg7 Bf6 17. Bxh8 Bxh8
18. Qe2 $14) 16. O-O-O Qa5 17. d5 $1 O-O-O 18. Qe2 Re8 $2 19. Qe5 Ng6 20. Rxg6
$18 {1-0 Kotsur,P (2572)-Mohandesi,S (2358)/Dubai 2003/CBM 093 ext (31)}) 13.
Bg5 (13. e5 Be7 14. cxd5 exd5 (14... cxd5 15. Nb5) 15. Bd3 {was possible but
White understandably refrained from opening up Black's c8 bishop. Here is a
recent example:} Bh3 16. Rg3 Qd7 17. Be3 $6 (17. Na4 $5) 17... Bg4 18. Kd2 Nxe5
$1 19. dxe5 d4 20. Rag1 dxe3+ 21. Kxe3 h5 22. Ne4 O-O-O 23. Nd6+ Bxd6 24. Rxg4
Bc5+ 25. Ke2 Qxd3+ {0-1 Lichmann,P (2375)-Dzalbo,A (2102)/Herceg Novi MNE 2008/
The Week in Chess 724}) (13. cxd5 exd5 14. e5 Be7 {is the same}) 13... Be7 (
13... f6 $5 14. Be3 Nh4 15. O-O-O $5 Nxg2 16. Bxg2 {is waiting for tests.}) 14.
Bxe7 Qxe7 15. O-O-O dxe4 16. Nxe4 f5 17. Nd2 {[%cal Yc4c5,Yd2c4]} c5 18. dxc5 (
18. Nb3 $5 cxd4 19. Nxd4 Bd7 20. Rg3 O-O-O 21. c5 $44) 18... Bd7 {All this was
played by Vladimir Kramnik very quickly - he certainly followed his home
analysis. Black gives the pawn back but completes his development.} (18... Qxc5
{is more risky. The position is extremely complex: Black will eventually
prepare castling but what will White achieve in the meantime? Apparently, a
paradoxal} 19. Qd3 $5 {is the best option} (19. Nb3 Qc7 (19... Qe5 20. Rg3) 20.
Qc3 e5 (20... Qe5 21. Qb4) 21. c5 Bd7 22. Na5 O-O-O 23. Nc4 $44) {e.g.} 19...
Qe7 (19... Nf4 20. Qc3 e5 $2 21. Re1) (19... Qc7 20. Qh3 {[%cal Rg2g6]} Rf8 (
20... Nf4 21. Qc3 e5 22. Rg3 {[%cal Rd2f3,Rd1e1]}) 21. Nf3 Nf4 22. Qg3 $36) 20.
Qc3 Rg8 21. Rg3 Bd7 22. Bg2 $44) 19. b4 O-O-O (19... a5 $5 20. b5 Qxc5 21. Nb3
Qb4 $13) 20. Rg3 {[%cal Yg3d3,Yd3d6]} e5 {It is easier to play this position
with White Black has a lot of possibilities but it is more difficult to find a
logical plan for him.} (20... Rhg8 $5 {is a possible option} 21. Rd3 $140 Nf4
22. Rd6 Bc6 $13) {The text move is rather weakening but still it is not so bad.
} 21. Rd3 Be6 $4 {[%mdl 8192] But this is a terrible mistake.} (21... e4 22.
Rd6 Ne5 $13) 22. Ra3 $1 {Unexpectedly, Black has no good way to protect his a7
pawn and therefore - his king!} a6 (22... Kb8 23. Qa4 a6 24. c6 {if necessary,
followed by c4-c5, and the a6 pawn falls.}) 23. c6 $1 bxc6 (23... Qxb4 24.
cxb7+ Kc7 (24... Qxb7 25. c5) 25. Rxa6 Rd6 26. Rxd6 Qxd6 27. Qa4 Qc6 28. Qa3 {
with a crushing attack.}) 24. c5 Qg5 (24... Rd4 25. Rxa6 Rxb4 26. Rxc6+ Kd7 27.
Rb6 $18) 25. Rxa6 Kd7 26. Bc4 $1 Bxc4 27. Qxc4 Ne7 28. Kc2 (28. Qf7 {was even
simpler:} Ra8 29. Kb2 $18) 28... Ke8 29. Nf3 Qf6 30. Rd6 $1 Rxd6 31. cxd6 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 3rd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.21"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2008.08.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8.
f3 d6 9. e4 c5 10. dxc5 bxc5 11. O-O-O Nc6 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Ne2 e5 14. Qd2 Nd4
15. Qh6 Kh8 16. Nxd4 cxd4 17. Bd3 Qe7 18. g4 a5 19. Rhg1 Rg8 20. Rg3 Rg6 21.
Qd2 a4 22. Kb1 Bc6 23. f4 Rag8 24. Rdg1 exf4 25. Qxf4 Qe5 26. Rf1 Re8 27. Ka1
Kg7 28. Qf2 Bxe4 29. Bxe4 Qxe4 30. Rf3 Re6 31. h3 d3 32. Qd2 Qxc4 33. Rxd3 Rg5
34. Rc1 Qa6 35. Rd1 Rc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 3rd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.22"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2781"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2008.08.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Bf4 Nc6
8. Qd2 Be6 9. O-O-O Qd7 10. Kb1 O-O-O 11. Bb5 a6 12. Ba4 Bf6 13. Bg5 Bxg5 14.
Qxg5 b5 15. Bb3 f6 16. Bxe6 Qxe6 17. Qf4 h5 18. h3 g5 19. Nd4 Qd5 20. Nxc6
Qxd1+ 21. Rxd1 gxf4 22. Nxd8 Kxd8 23. Kc1 Rg8 24. Rg1 f3 25. g3 Re8 26. Rd1 Re2
27. Rd2 Re1+ 28. Rd1 Re2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 3rd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.24"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D93"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2723"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2008.08.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Qa5 8. Rc1
dxc4 9. Bxc4 Qxc5 10. Bb3 Nc6 11. O-O Qa5 12. h3 Bf5 13. Qe2 Ne4 14. Nd5 e5 15.
Bh2 Be6 16. Rfd1 Rfd8 17. Qc4 Nf6 18. e4 Rac8 19. Ng5 Nd4 20. Ne7+ Kf8 21.
Nxe6+ Kxe7 22. Nxd8 Rxc4 23. Bxc4 Ne8 24. Nxf7 b5 25. Bd5 Ne2+ 26. Kh1 Nxc1 27.
Rxc1 Qd2 28. Rc8 Qxf2 29. Bg1 Qf1 30. Ra8 Nc7 31. Rxa7 Kd7 32. b3 g5 33. a4 g4
34. hxg4 Qf6 35. g5 Qf4 36. axb5 Qh4+ 37. Bh2 Qe1+ 38. Bg1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 3rd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.25"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2720"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2008.08.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 O-O 8. Be2
b6 {One of several reactions to this harmless system.} 9. O-O Bb7 10. Bb2 Qe7
11. Rfd1 Rac8 12. Rac1 Rfd8 13. Qb1 {The most logical arrangement. Practice
has also seen} (13. h3 a6 14. e4 dxe4 15. Nxe4 Bf4 16. Ra1 c5 17. Bd3 Bb8 18.
Re1 cxd4 19. Bxd4 Nh5 $6 20. Neg5 h6 21. Bh7+ Kf8 22. Be4 Ndf6 23. Nh7+ Nxh7
24. Bxb7 Ng5 25. Nxg5 Qxb7 26. Nf3 $14 {1-0 Gurevich,D (2503)-Almeida Saenz,A 
(2400)/Schaumburg 2006/CBM 111 ext (41)}) (13. g3 $5 c5 $6 14. cxd5 Nxd5 15.
Nxd5 Bxd5 16. e4 Bb7 17. d5 Bb8 18. Bc4 Nf8 19. Qc3 f6 20. dxe6 Nxe6 21. Ng5
fxg5 22. Bxe6+ $18 {1-0 Drasko,M (2507)-Lajthajm,B (2464)/Bar 2006/CBM 111 ext
(36)}) 13... a6 (13... h6 14. h3 (14. cxd5 Nxd5 15. Ne4 Bb8 16. Rd2 a5 17. Nc3
Nxc3 18. Bxc3 c5 19. dxc5 Nxc5 20. Rxd8+ Rxd8 21. Bd4 {1/2 Riazantsev,A (2511)
-Galkin,A (2570)/Moscow 2002/CBM 088}) 14... a6 15. Bd3 Bb4 16. e4 Bxc3 17.
Bxc3 dxe4 18. Bxe4 Nxe4 19. Qxe4 Nf6 20. Qe3 Re8 21. Rd3 a5 22. Ne5 Red8 23.
Rcd1 Ba8 24. a4 $14 {1/2 Rustemov,A (2570)-Sapunov,E/St Petersburg 1998/CBM
067 (62)}) (13... c5 $5 14. cxd5 exd5 (14... Nxd5 15. Ne4) 15. Qf5 Qe6 16. Bd3
g6 17. Qg5 Be7 18. Qh6 Bf8 19. Qh4 h6 20. Ne2 Bg7 21. dxc5 bxc5 22. Qa4 Qb6 23.
Bc3 Re8 24. Ba5 Qd6 $13 {0-1 Kiselev,S (2454)-Korotylev,A (2554)/Moscow 2002/
EXT 2003 (40)}) 14. Bf1 (14. a4 c5 15. cxd5 Nxd5 (15... exd5 $5) 16. Ne4 Bb8
17. dxc5 bxc5 18. Ba3 f5 19. Ned2 Nb4 20. e4 f4 21. Nc4 Bc7 22. Ne1 a5 23. Bb2
Ba8 24. f3 Nb8 25. Na3 N8c6 26. Nb5 Bb6 27. Bc4 Nd4 28. Nxd4 cxd4 29. Nd3 Nxd3
30. Qxd3 Kh8 $11 {1-0 Seirawan,Y (2595)-Panno,O (2495)/Buenos Aires 1993/CBM
035 (40)}) 14... h6 15. g3 {Black is well-prepared for e3-e4 but White doesn't
hurry with that move.} Bb8 16. Bg2 b5 {Black starts acting himself; the
position sharpens.} 17. e4 $5 dxc4 (17... b4 18. e5 bxc3 19. exf6 Nxf6 20. Bxc3
$14) 18. e5 (18. bxc4 e5 $1) 18... Ne8 (18... Nd5 $143 19. bxc4 bxc4 (19...
Nxc3 20. Bxc3 c5 21. cxb5) 20. Ne4 $36) 19. bxc4 c5 20. cxb5 $2 {After this
move White's centre collapses.} (20. Ne4 $8 {keeping good chances in a complex
position.}) 20... Bxf3 21. Bxf3 cxd4 22. Ne2 (22. Ne4 Rxc1 23. Qxc1 axb5 $17)
22... Nxe5 23. Bg2 d3 $6 {Quite a typical mistake, by the way. The opposition
of rooks makes it extremely important to find an appropriate moment for the
exchange. That moment is often missed even by top GMs!} (23... Rxc1 $1 24. Bxc1
axb5 25. Qxb5 {and now, say,} Qf6 $1 26. Nxd4 (26. Rxd4 $2 Ba7 27. Rf4 Rd1+ 28.
Bf1 Nf3+ 29. Kg2 Ne1+ 30. Kg1 Qd8 $17) 26... Ba7 27. Be3 Ng4 {White has
recaptured the pawn but the unpleasant pin makes his position difficult.}) 24.
Rxc8 $1 {That's the point! Black loses most of his advantage.} Rxc8 25. Nf4
axb5 26. Nxd3 {White didn't like} (26. Bxe5 Bxe5 27. Nxd3 Bd4 28. Qxb5 Nd6 29.
Qb4 e5 $15 {[%csl Gd4]}) {Boris Gelfand prefers to play a pawn down but with a
bishop pair.} 26... Nc4 27. Ba1 Ned6 28. Nb4 $6 (28. Ne5 $142 $1 {This knight
is not very useful so this exchange was positionally justified.}) 28... Qe8 29.
Qd3 Ba7 30. Qe2 Nf5 31. Qf3 Bb6 32. Nc6 Nce3 $6 {[%mdl 64] This tactical
solution proves insufficient.} (32... Qf8 $17) 33. fxe3 Nxe3 34. Bd4 $1 Bxd4 (
34... Nxd1 35. Bxb6 Nb2 36. Bd4 $13) 35. Rxd4 Nxg2 36. Nb4 Ne1 $6 (36... Rd8
$142 37. Rxd8 Qxd8 38. Nd3 Nh4 $11) 37. Qe2 $1 {GM Vladimir Kramnik later
admitted missing this move.} (37. Qd1 $2 Rc1 $1) 37... Rc1 38. Rd1 {Suddenly
the knight is lost. Fortunately, Black has two pawns and the unsafe position
of White's king deprives him of real winning chances.} Qc8 39. Rxe1 Qc5+ 40.
Kh1 Rc4 41. Nd3 (41. a3 Rc3) 41... Qc6+ 42. Qg2 Qxg2+ 43. Kxg2 Rc2+ 44. Nf2
Rxa2 45. Rb1 f5 46. Rxb5 Kf7 47. h4 $11 {_|_} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 3rd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.26"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Alekseev, Evgeny V"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A37"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2708"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2008.08.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O d6 7. a3 Nge7 8. b4 h6
9. Rb1 Rb8 10. d3 O-O 11. Bd2 Be6 12. Ne1 f5 13. Qa4 f4 14. e3 g5 15. b5 Na5
16. Ne2 b6 17. exf4 gxf4 18. gxf4 Ng6 19. fxe5 dxe5 20. Qd1 Qd7 21. Be4 Bf5 22.
Bxa5 bxa5 23. Ng3 Bxe4 24. dxe4 Qh3 25. Nf5 Rbd8 26. Qf3 Qxf3 27. Nxf3 Rd3 28.
Ne1 Rc3 29. Kh1 Bf6 30. Rg1 Kh7 31. b6 axb6 32. Rxb6 Rf7 33. Ng2 Rxa3 34. Nge3
a4 35. Ng4 Bg5 36. Ngxh6 Bxh6 37. Rgxg6 Bf4 38. Kg2 Rb7 39. Rh6+ Bxh6 40. Rxb7+
Kg6 41. Rb6+ 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 3rd"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.27"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2742"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2008.08.18"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.10.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3
d5 9. Ne5 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nd2 O-O 12. O-O Rc8 13. e4 c5 14. exd5 exd5
15. dxc5 dxc4 16. cxb6 Nxb6 17. Re1 cxb3 18. Qxb3 Nd7 19. Ne4 Nc5 20. Nxc5 Bxc5
21. Rad1 Qb6 22. Qxb6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.29"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ke8 10. h3 b6 11. g4 Ne7 12. Nd4 h5 13. f3 hxg4 14. hxg4
Ng6 15. Kg2 Bc5 16. Nxc6 Bb7 17. b4 Bxc6 18. bxc5 Nh4+ 19. Kg3 Nxf3 20. Be3
Nxe5 21. Bd4 f6 22. Rae1 Rf8 23. Bxe5 fxe5 24. Rxe5+ Kd7 25. Rd1+ Kc8 26. Nd5
Rf7 27. Ne7+ Kb7 28. Nxc6 Kxc6 29. Rd3 b5 30. a3 a5 31. Re6+ Kxc5 32. Rc3+ Kd5
33. Rec6 b4 34. axb4 axb4 35. R3c5+ Kd4 36. Rc4+ Kd5 37. R4c5+ Kd4 38. Rc4+ Kd5
1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.29"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A21"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 d6 3. g3 f5 4. d4 e4 5. Nh3 Nf6 6. Bg2 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. d5 c5
9. Nf4 Na6 10. f3 exf3 11. exf3 Nc7 12. Re1 Re8 13. Qd3 Nd7 14. Qxf5 Ne5 15.
Ne6 Nxe6 16. dxe6 Bf6 17. f4 Bxe6 18. Qc2 Ng4 19. Bf3 Bxc4 20. Rxe8+ Qxe8 21.
Ne4 Bd4+ 22. Kg2 d5 23. Bd2 Qg6 24. Re1 Nf2 25. Be3 Nd3 26. Re2 Nb4 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.29"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Alekseev, Evgeny V"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D23"]
[WhiteElo "2708"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Qb3 dxc4 5. Qxc4 Bg4 6. Nc3 Nbd7 7. e4 e6 8.
Be3 Be7 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O Bh5 11. h3 Bg6 12. e5 Nd5 13. Qb3 Qb6 14. Nd2 Nxe3
15. Qxb6 axb6 16. fxe3 b5 17. a3 Nb6 18. g3 Bg5 19. Kf2 f6 20. exf6 Bxf6 21.
Kg2 Nd5 22. Rf3 Bg5 23. Kf2 Rfe8 24. h4 Bf6 25. Rh1 b4 26. h5 Bc2 27. Rc1 Be4
28. Ncxe4 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.29"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2727"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bg5 h6 3. Bh4 c6 4. e3 Qb6 5. b3 e5 6. Nf3 exd4 7. Nxd4 Be7 8. Bg3
Nf6 9. Nd2 O-O 10. Bd3 Na6 11. O-O Nc5 12. Bf5 Re8 13. c4 Bf8 14. cxd5 Nxd5 15.
Nc4 Qd8 16. Rc1 Ne4 17. Bxe4 Rxe4 18. Qf3 Re8 19. Rfd1 Qf6 20. e4 Qxf3 21. gxf3
Nf6 22. Nd6 Bxd6 23. Bxd6 Bh3 24. Ne2 Rad8 25. Nf4 Bc8 26. Bc5 a6 27. Rxd8 Rxd8
28. Be7 Rd2 29. a4 Be6 30. b4 Nd7 31. b5 axb5 32. axb5 cxb5 33. Rc8+ Kh7 34.
Rc7 Bc4 35. Rxb7 Ne5 36. Kg2 Rd1 37. h4 Bf1+ 38. Kg3 Bc4 39. Kg2 Bf1+ 40. Kg3
Bc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.29"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2716"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 Nf6 3. e3 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nd2 g6 6. Ngf3 Bg7 7. h3 O-O 8. Be2
Qb6 9. Qc1 Bf5 10. O-O Rac8 11. Nb3 Ne4 12. Nfd2 cxd4 13. Nxe4 Bxe4 14. exd4
Nxd4 15. Nxd4 Bxd4 16. Qd2 Bg7 17. Be3 d4 18. Bxd4 Bxd4 19. Qxd4 Qxd4 20. cxd4
Rfd8 21. f3 Bf5 22. b3 Rc2 23. Bc4 Rxd4 24. Rfd1 Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1 Rxa2 26. g4 Bc2
27. Rd7 b5 28. Bxb5 Bxb3 29. Rxe7 Bd5 30. f4 a5 31. Ra7 Bb3 32. g5 a4 33. h4 a3
34. h5 gxh5 35. f5 Bd5 36. Rd7 Rg2+ 37. Kf1 Rd2 38. Ke1 a2 39. Ra7 Rb2 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.29"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 d5 8. cxd5
exd5 9. Nc3 O-O 10. O-O Bb7 11. Qc2 Nbd7 12. Bf4 c6 13. Rfd1 Re8 14. Ne5 Nf8
15. e4 Ne6 16. Be3 Rc8 17. Qe2 Bb4 18. exd5 cxd5 19. Na4 Ba3 20. Bh3 Rc7 21. f3
Nd7 22. f4 Nf6 23. Bg2 Nf8 24. Bc1 Bd6 25. Bb2 Ne4 26. Bxe4 dxe4 27. Nc3 f6 28.
Nc4 Bb4 29. Nb5 Rd7 30. Ne3 Kh8 31. Qc4 Be7 32. Rac1 a6 33. Nc7 b5 34. Qc2 Bd6
35. Nxe8 Qxe8 36. d5 Ng6 37. Qg2 Rd8 38. Bd4 Bc8 39. Bc5 Bxf4 40. gxf4 Nxf4 41.
Qf1 Qg6+ 42. Kh1 Qg5 43. Be7 Re8 44. Rxc8 Rxc8 45. d6 Nd3 46. d7 Rg8 47. Rxd3
exd3 48. Qxd3 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.29"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2651"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bg4 5. h3 Bh5 6. Nc3 e6 7. g4 Bg6 8. Ne5
Nbd7 9. Nxg6 hxg6 10. g5 Ng8 11. e4 Ne7 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Nxd5
exd5 15. Qb3 Bd6 16. Qxd5 Qe7+ 17. Be2 O-O 18. Kf1 Rfe8 19. Bf3 Rac8 20. Kg2
Nb6 21. Qxb7 Rc7 22. Qa6 Rxc1 23. Rhxc1 Qxg5+ 24. Kf1 Qf4 25. Qd3 Rd8 26. Qe4
Qh2 27. Bg2 Bb8 28. Rc5 Bd6 29. Rc6 Bb8 30. Rc5 Bd6 31. Rc3 Nd7 32. Re1 Nf6 33.
Qb7 Kh7 34. Rc8 Rxc8 35. Qxc8 Qf4 36. Qc4 Nh5 37. Qd3 Qf6 38. Qf3 Nf4 39. Rd1
Qf5 40. Qe4 Qb5+ 41. Kg1 Qxb2 42. a4 Ne2+ 43. Kh1 Nf4 44. Qf3 Qc2 45. a5 Qa2
46. Qg3 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.29"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Tkachiev, Vladislav"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2664"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bg5 Nf6 3. Bxf6 exf6 4. e3 Bd6 5. c4 dxc4 6. Bxc4 O-O 7. Nc3 c6 8.
Nf3 f5 9. Qc2 Nd7 10. Bd3 g6 11. h4 Qe7 12. h5 Nf6 13. hxg6 fxg6 14. Bc4+ Be6
15. Bxe6+ Qxe6 16. Ng5 Qc4 17. g4 Bb4 18. gxf5 Nd5 19. fxg6 Nxc3 20. bxc3 Qxc3+
21. Qxc3 Bxc3+ 22. Ke2 Bxa1 23. gxh7+ Kh8 24. Rxa1 Rf5 25. f4 Re8 26. Kf3 c5
27. e4 Rxg5 28. fxg5 cxd4 29. g6 Kg7 30. Rh1 Rh8 31. e5 Kxg6 32. Ke4 Rxh7 33.
Rxh7 Kxh7 34. Kxd4 Kg7 35. Kd5 Kf7 36. Kd6 Ke8 37. Kc7 a5 38. a4 Ke7 39. Kxb7
Ke6 40. Kb6 Kxe5 41. Kxa5 Kd6 42. Kb6 Kd7 43. Kb7 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.29"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Movsesian, Sergei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2723"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Bc5 4. Nf3 d6 5. c3 a6 6. O-O Ba7 7. Re1 O-O 8. h3 h6
9. Bb3 Re8 10. Nbd2 Be6 11. Bc2 Nc6 12. Nf1 d5 13. Bd2 Qd7 14. N3h2 Rad8 15.
Qf3 Qe7 16. Rad1 Rd7 17. Ng3 dxe4 18. dxe4 Red8 19. Nhf1 Nh7 20. Nf5 Qf6 21.
Be3 Bxe3 22. N1xe3 Ng5 23. Qe2 Rxd1 24. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 25. Qxd1 Qd8 26. Qg4 g6 27.
Nxh6+ Kg7 28. Nhf5+ Kf8 29. Qh4 gxf5 30. Qh6+ Ke8 31. exf5 Bxa2 32. h4 Nf3+ 33.
gxf3 Qd2 34. h5 Kd7 35. Qg5 Nd4 36. cxd4 exd4 37. h6 dxe3 38. Qxe3 Qxc2 39.
Qd4+ Kc8 40. h7 Qc1+ 41. Kg2 Qg5+ 42. Qg4 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.29"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2720"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bg5 h6 3. Bh4 c6 4. Nf3 Qb6 5. b3 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bd3 Bxd3 8. Qxd3
Be7 9. Bg3 Nd7 10. O-O Ngf6 11. c4 O-O 12. Nc3 a5 13. Rfd1 Qd8 14. Rac1 Bb4 15.
Bh4 Be7 16. h3 Nh5 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. e4 dxe4 19. Qxe4 Nhf6 20. Qe3 Rfe8 21. Ne5
Rad8 22. f4 c5 23. Nxd7 cxd4 24. Rxd4 Rxd7 25. Rxd7 Nxd7 26. Rd1 Nc5 27. Nb5 b6
28. Rd6 Rb8 29. Kh2 Qf6 30. Nd4 Rd8 31. Rxd8+ Qxd8 32. a3 Qd6 33. Nb5 Qd3 34.
Qxd3 Nxd3 35. Nd6 Nc5 36. b4 axb4 37. axb4 Na6 38. b5 Nc5 39. Nc8 Nd7 40. Kg3
f5 41. Kf3 Kf7 42. Ke3 g5 43. g3 Ke8 44. Kd4 Kd8 45. Nd6 Kc7 46. Nf7 gxf4 47.
gxf4 h5 48. h4 Nc5 49. Ke5 Nd3+ 50. Kxe6 Nxf4+ 51. Kxf5 Ng2 52. Kg5 Kd7 53.
Ne5+ Ke6 54. Nd3 Ne3 55. c5 bxc5 56. b6 Kd6 57. b7 Kc7 58. Nxc5 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.29"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2728"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 g5 7. Bg3 Ne4 8. Nd2
Nxg3 9. hxg3 Bg7 10. e3 a6 11. Bd3 b5 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. Rc1 Nd7 14. f4 Bb7 15.
Nf3 Rc8 16. O-O g4 17. Ne5 h5 18. Ne2 Rxc1 19. Qxc1 f5 20. Qc2 Nxe5 21. dxe5
Qc8 22. Qd2 Kf7 23. Rc1 Qd7 24. Nd4 Qe7 25. Bxf5 exf5 26. Nxf5 Qd7 27. Nd6+ Kg8
28. Qa5 h4 29. Rc7 Qe6 30. Rxb7 hxg3 31. Qd8+ Kh7 32. Qh4+ Kg8 33. Rb8+ 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.29"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E52"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. e3 O-O 6. Bd3 b6 7. O-O Bb7 8. a3
Bd6 9. cxd5 exd5 10. b4 a6 11. Qb3 Ne4 12. Bb2 Re8 13. a4 Re6 14. Rfd1 Rf6 15.
Bxe4 dxe4 16. Ne5 Nd7 17. b5 axb5 18. Nxb5 Nf8 19. d5 Rh6 20. h3 Bc5 21. d6 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.29"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2742"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.29"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2723"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 a6 5. g3 g6 6. cxd5 cxd5 7. Bg2 Bg7 8. Ne5
O-O 9. O-O b5 10. Bg5 Bb7 11. Qb3 Ne4 12. Bf4 Nxc3 13. bxc3 e6 14. a4 Qb6 15.
Rab1 Bxe5 16. Bxe5 Nd7 17. Bf4 Bc6 18. axb5 Bxb5 19. Rfe1 Rac8 20. e4 dxe4 21.
Bxe4 Qa5 22. Bd6 Rfe8 23. Bb4 Qc7 24. Qa3 Nf6 25. Bg2 Bc6 26. Bd6 Qd7 27. f3
Bb5 28. Rbc1 Rc6 29. Bc5 Rcc8 30. c4 Bc6 31. Bd6 Bb7 32. Be5 Nh5 33. g4 f6 34.
Bd6 Ng7 35. c5 Red8 36. Rcd1 Ne8 37. Bg3 Kf7 38. h3 Nc7 39. Bf1 Nb5 40. Qe3
Nxd4 41. Bg2 e5 42. g5 Qa4 43. gxf6 Nf5 44. Qxe5 Rxd1 45. Qe6+ Kf8 46. Bd6+
Rxd6 47. cxd6 Qd4+ 48. Kh1 Qxd6 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.29"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B15"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nf3 c6 4. Nc3 d5 5. h3 Nh6 6. Bf4 dxe4 7. Nxe4 Nf5 8. c3
O-O 9. Be2 Nd6 10. Nc5 Nd7 11. Nd3 b6 12. O-O c5 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. Nde5 Bb7 15.
Re1 Rb8 16. Qd2 Nf6 17. Rad1 Qb6 18. Qc2 Be4 19. Qa4 Qxb2 20. Qxa7 Rb7 21. Qxc5
Qxa2 22. Nd4 Rc8 23. Ra1 Qd5 24. Qxd5 Nxd5 25. Bg3 Rbc7 26. Ba6 Ra8 27. f3 Bf5
28. Nec6 Nxc3 29. Nxf5 gxf5 30. Nxe7+ Rxe7 31. Rxe7 Nd5 32. Bxd6 Bxa1 33. Bb7
Bd4+ 34. Kh2 Nxe7 35. Bxa8 Ng6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.29"]
[Round "16"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2781"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ke8 10. h3 b6 11. Rd1 Be7 12. Bg5 Bb7 13. Bxe7 Kxe7 14. g4
Nh6 15. Nd4 Rhd8 16. f4 c5 17. Ndb5 Rdc8 18. Kf2 Bc6 19. a4 a6 20. Na3 Rd8 21.
b3 f6 22. Nc4 Nf7 23. exf6+ Kxf6 24. Ne3 Ke6 25. Re1 Rd2+ 26. Kg3 Kf6 27. Rad1
Rad8 28. Rxd2 Rxd2 29. Rd1 Rxd1 30. Ncxd1 Nd6 31. Nc3 Ke6 32. Kf2 b5 33. axb5
axb5 34. Ke2 b4 35. Ncd1 Bb5+ 36. Ke1 c4 37. Nf2 cxb3 38. cxb3 c5 39. Kd2 c4
40. bxc4 Nxc4+ 41. Nxc4 Bxc4 42. Ne4 Kd5 43. Ng3 g6 44. h4 Kd4 45. f5 b3 46. f6
Ke5 47. g5 Ke6 48. Ne4 Ke5 49. Nc5 Kf4 50. Kc3 Bf7 51. Nxb3 Kg4 52. Nc5 Kxh4
53. Ne4 Kg4 54. Kd4 Kf4 55. Nd6 Kxg5 56. Ke5 Ba2 57. f7 Bxf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.29"]
[Round "17"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grachev, Boris V"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bg5 h6 3. Bh4 c5 4. e3 Nc6 5. Nf3 g5 6. Bg3 Bg7 7. c3 Qb6 8. Qc1
Bf5 9. Nbd2 Rc8 10. dxc5 Qxc5 11. Be2 Nf6 12. O-O O-O 13. Nd4 Bg6 14. Nxc6 Qxc6
15. Be5 Ne4 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Nxe4 Bxe4 18. Qd2 Qb6 19. a4 a5 20. f3 Bg6 21.
Qd4+ Qxd4 22. exd4 e5 23. dxe5 Rfe8 24. Rfd1 Rxe5 25. Kf2 Bc2 26. Rd4 Bb3 27.
Bb5 Bc4 28. Bxc4 dxc4 29. Re1 Rxe1 30. Kxe1 Rc5 31. Kd2 b5 32. axb5 Rxb5 33.
Kc2 Rc5 34. f4 Kg6 35. g4 gxf4 36. Rxf4 Kg5 37. Rd4 h5 38. gxh5 Kxh5 39. h4 f5
40. Rf4 Kg6 41. b3 cxb3+ 42. Kxb3 Kf6 43. Rf1 Ke5 44. h5 Rc6 45. Rh1 Rh6 46.
Ka4 Kd5 47. Kb5 f4 48. c4+ Kd6 49. c5+ Kc7 50. Rg1 Rxh5 51. Rg7+ Kc8 52. Kb6
Rh1 53. Rg8+ Kd7 54. c6+ Ke6 55. c7 Rb1+ 56. Kxa5 Ra1+ 57. Kb4 Rb1+ 58. Ka3 Rc1
59. c8=Q+ Rxc8 60. Rxc8 Kd5 61. Kb3 Kd4 62. Kc2 Ke3 63. Kd1 Kf2 64. Rf8 f3 65.
Rf7 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.30"]
[Round "18"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B04"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. d4 d6 4. Bc4 Nf6 5. Qe2 c6 6. e5 Nd5 7. O-O O-O 8. h3
dxe5 9. dxe5 Qc7 10. Re1 h6 11. Nbd2 Bf5 12. Nf1 Nd7 13. Ng3 Be6 14. Bb3 Nc5
15. Nd4 Nxb3 16. axb3 Qc8 17. c3 c5 18. Nf3 b6 19. Ra4 Rd8 20. Rh4 g5 21. Bxg5
hxg5 22. Nxg5 Bf5 23. e6 Bg6 24. exf7+ Bxf7 25. Nxf7 Kxf7 26. Qh5+ Kf8 27. Nf5
Bf6 28. Nh6 Kg7 29. Qf7+ Kh8 30. Nf5+ 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.30"]
[Round "19"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Bc5 4. Nf3 d6 5. c3 Nc6 6. Bb3 a6 7. Nbd2 Ba7 8. Nf1
h6 9. Ng3 Be6 10. Ba4 b5 11. Bc2 O-O 12. O-O Re8 13. h3 d5 14. a4 Bb6 15. exd5
Qxd5 16. Be3 Rab8 17. axb5 axb5 18. Bxb6 Rxb6 19. Re1 b4 20. Ba4 bxc3 21. bxc3
Bd7 22. Ne4 Nxe4 23. dxe4 Qe6 24. Qd5 Nb8 25. Qxe6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.30"]
[Round "20"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Alekseev, Evgeny V"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A37"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2708"]
[PlyCount "134"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. a3 a5 7. O-O d6 8. Ne1 Be6
9. d3 Nge7 10. Nc2 d5 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Ne3 Nde7 13. Nc4 O-O 14. Bg5 f6 15. Be3
b6 16. Qa4 Qc7 17. Nb5 Qd8 18. Nc3 Qc7 19. f4 Rab8 20. fxe5 Nxe5 21. Nxe5 fxe5
22. g4 h5 23. gxh5 Nf5 24. Bg5 gxh5 25. Nd5 Qd6 26. Qe4 Rf7 27. Rf2 Rbf8 28.
Raf1 Bd7 29. Rxf5 Bxf5 30. Rxf5 Rxf5 31. Ne7+ Kh8 32. Nxf5 Qg6 33. Ne7 Qxg5 34.
Ng6+ Kg8 35. Nxf8 Bxf8 36. e3 Be7 37. Kf1 Kg7 38. Bf3 Qf6 39. Ke2 Kh6 40. Qd5
Bf8 41. Be4 Bg7 42. Qg8 Kg5 43. Qh7 Bh6 44. Qd7 Kh4 45. Bg2 Qg7 46. Qh3+ Kg5
47. Bf3 Kf6 48. Bxh5 Qg5 49. Qf3+ Ke7 50. Bg4 Kd6 51. h3 Ke7 52. a4 Kd6 53. Qe4
Ke7 54. Qb7+ Kf8 55. Qf3+ Ke7 56. b3 Kd6 57. Kd2 Ke7 58. Qg3 Kd6 59. h4 Qf6 60.
Bf3 Ke7 61. Qg4 Kd6 62. Qe4 Ke7 63. h5 Qg5 64. Ke2 Kf8 65. Kf2 Ke7 66. Ke2 Kf8
67. Qg6 Qxe3+ 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.30"]
[Round "21"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2727"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ke8 10. h3 b6 11. Bf4 Bb4 12. Ne4 Ba6 13. Rfc1 Be2 14. Nh2
Rd8 15. c3 Be7 16. Re1 Bc4 17. g4 Nh4 18. Bg3 Ng6 19. f4 Rd3 20. f5 Bd5 21. Nf1
Nh4 22. Re2 Nf3+ 23. Kf2 Bxe4 24. Rxe4 Ng5 25. Re2 Nxh3+ 26. Kg2 Ng5 27. Rd2
Rxd2+ 28. Nxd2 h5 29. Rh1 g6 30. Bh4 hxg4 31. f6 Nf3 32. Nxf3 gxf3+ 33. Kxf3 g5
34. fxe7 gxh4 35. Kg4 Kxe7 36. Kh3 Ke6 37. Rf1 Rh7 38. Re1 c5 39. Re2 b5 40. b3
Kd5 41. Rd2+ Ke6 42. Rd8 Rh5 43. Ra8 Kxe5 44. Rxa7 Kd6 45. Ra6+ c6 46. Ra7 f5
47. a4 f4 48. Rf7 c4 49. axb5 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.30"]
[Round "22"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2716"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Ne7 6. O-O Nd7 7. Nbd2 Nc8 8. Nb3
Be7 9. Be3 O-O 10. a4 Qc7 11. c3 Bg6 12. a5 a6 13. Kh1 c5 14. Nxc5 Nxc5 15.
dxc5 Bxc5 16. Bxc5 Qxc5 17. Qd2 Ne7 18. b4 Qc7 19. Rac1 Be4 20. Rfe1 Nc6 21.
Qe3 Rfd8 22. Kg1 Rac8 23. h4 h6 24. Nd2 Qxe5 25. Nxe4 Qxe4 26. Qb6 Qxh4 27.
Qxb7 Qg5 28. Rcd1 Ne5 29. Qb6 h5 30. Qd4 Ng6 31. Rd3 h4 32. Qg4 Qf6 33. Re3
Rxc3 34. Bxa6 Rxe3 35. Rxe3 Qa1+ 36. Kh2 d4 37. Rd3 Qb2 38. Bb7 Qxf2 39. Rf3
Qe1 40. Qg5 Rd7 41. Bc6 Rd6 42. b5 Qxa5 43. Be8 Nh8 44. Qe7 Qd8 45. Bxf7+ Kh7
46. Qxd8 Rxd8 47. Bxe6 g6 48. Bc4 Rd6 49. Rb3 Rb6 50. Ra3 Kh6 51. Ra6 Rb8 52.
Rd6 Rb7 53. b6 Kg5 54. Bd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.30"]
[Round "23"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Na6 7. e3 Nb4 8. Bxc4
e6 9. O-O Bc2 10. Qe2 Nd7 11. Nxd7 Qxd7 12. a5 Be7 13. Na2 Nxa2 14. Rxa2 Bg6
15. Rd1 O-O 16. e4 Rad8 17. f3 Kh8 18. Bf4 f5 19. exf5 Bxf5 20. Be5 c5 21. Raa1
Qc6 22. Rac1 a6 23. g4 Bg6 24. Bxe6 Qxf3 25. Qxf3 Rxf3 26. d5 Bg5 27. Rc3 Be3+
28. Rxe3 Rxe3 29. Bc7 Re8 30. Kf2 Rd3 31. Rxd3 Bxd3 32. Ke3 Bc4 33. Ke4 Rxe6+
34. dxe6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.30"]
[Round "24"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2651"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 c5 4. e3 cxd4 5. exd4 b6 6. c4 Bb7 7. Nc3 Be7 8. Bd3
d5 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Bb5+ Kf8 12. O-O a6 13. Ba4 Nc6 14. Re1 b5
15. Bb3 Na5 16. Ne5 g6 17. Qf3 Nxb3 18. axb3 Kg7 19. Re3 Rc8 20. Rae1 Rc7 21.
g3 h5 22. h4 Rf8 23. Ne2 Qc8 24. Nf4 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.30"]
[Round "25"]
[White "Tkachiev, Vladislav"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B19"]
[WhiteElo "2664"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5
Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bd2 Ngf6 12. O-O-O Be7 13. Qe2 c5 14. dxc5 Qc7
15. Kb1 O-O 16. Bc3 Nxc5 17. Rd4 Rfd8 18. Rhd1 Nd5 19. Be1 Bf6 20. Rc4 Qb6 21.
c3 Qb5 22. Nd4 Qb6 23. Qf3 Rd7 24. Nc2 Rad8 25. Rc1 Ne7 26. Ne4 Nxe4 27. Rxe4
Nf5 28. Qe2 Nd6 29. Rb4 Qc6 30. f3 a5 31. Rg4 Qd5 32. Bh4 Bxh4 33. Rxh4 Nf5 34.
Rg4 b5 35. Nd4 Nxd4 36. cxd4 Qf5+ 37. Ka1 Qxh5 38. Qd2 b4 39. Re4 Rd5 40. Rg4
Qf5 41. Qe3 Qf6 42. Rc4 e5 43. Re4 Rxd4 44. Rcxd4 exd4 45. Qd3 g6 46. Kb1 h5
47. Kc1 Qg5+ 48. Qd2 Qd5 49. b3 d3 50. Rc4 Re8 51. Qf4 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.30"]
[Round "26"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Movsesian, Sergei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2723"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Bb4+ 3. Bd2 Qe7 4. g3 f5 5. Bg2 Nf6 6. Nh3 Bxd2+ 7. Qxd2 d6 8.
Nf4 e5 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. Nd5 Nxd5 11. cxd5 O-O 12. Nc3 e4 13. O-O-O Nd7 14. d6
cxd6 15. Qxd6 Qf7 16. f3 exf3 17. exf3 Nb6 18. Rhe1 f4 19. Re7 Qh5 20. g4 Qxh2
21. Qe5 Qh6 22. Rd6 g6 23. g5 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.30"]
[Round "27"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2720"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O a6 7. Bb3 O-O 8. Nbd2
Ba7 9. h3 h6 10. Re1 Re8 11. Nf1 Be6 12. Bc2 d5 13. Qe2 Qd7 14. Ng3 Rad8 15.
Bd2 Bc5 16. Rad1 d4 17. Bb1 b5 18. Rc1 dxc3 19. bxc3 Bf8 20. Be3 a5 21. d4 Bc4
22. Qb2 Qe7 23. d5 Nb8 24. Nd2 c6 25. Nxc4 bxc4 26. Nf5 Qa3 27. Qe2 cxd5 28.
exd5 e4 29. Bd4 Nbd7 30. Qxc4 Ne5 31. Qb3 Rxd5 32. Rcd1 Qxb3 33. axb3 Rb5 34.
Bxe4 Nxe4 35. Rxe4 Rd8 36. c4 Nxc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.30"]
[Round "28"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2728"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. Bf3 c6 13. Ba3 h6 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15.
dxe6 fxe4 16. Bxe4 Nxe4 17. Nxe4 d5 18. Nc5 Qd6 19. Nxb7 Qxe6 20. b5 cxb5 21.
cxd5 Qd7 22. d6 Nf5 23. Nc5 Qxd6 24. Qxd6 Nxd6 25. Ne4 Nf5 26. Bxf8 Rxf8 27.
Rac1 Rf7 28. Rc8+ Kh7 29. Rec1 Rd7 30. R8c7 Rd4 31. Nf6+ 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.30"]
[Round "29"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Bb3 a6 7. h3 Ba7 8. Nbd2
h6 9. Nf1 Be6 10. N3h2 Qd7 11. Qf3 Bxb3 12. axb3 O-O-O 13. Ng3 d5 14. O-O dxe4
15. dxe4 Qd3 16. b4 Qxf3 17. Nxf3 Rd3 18. b5 axb5 19. Nxe5 Nxe5 20. Rxa7 Kb8
21. Ra2 Rhd8 22. Bf4 Nc4 23. b3 g5 24. Bxc7+ Kxc7 25. bxc4 bxc4 26. Ra5 Rxc3
27. Rf5 Ne8 28. Rxf7+ Rd7 29. Rf8 Ng7 30. Ra1 Ne6 31. Rf6 Nc5 32. Ra5 Nb3 33.
Rb5 Rcd3 34. Rb4 Nd2 35. e5 Rb3 36. Ra4 c3 37. Ra2 Rb2 38. Ra3 Nb3 39. Rf3 c2
40. Rc3+ Kd8 41. Ra8+ Ke7 42. Nf5+ Ke6 43. Nd6 c1=Q+ 44. Rxc1 Nxc1 45. Re8+ Kd5
46. Nf5 Ne2+ 47. Kh2 Nf4 48. Ne3+ Ke4 49. e6 Rc7 50. Ng4 Rb6 51. f3+ Kd5 52.
Nf6+ Kc4 53. Nd7 Rxe6 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.30"]
[Round "30"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E91"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2742"]
[PlyCount "155"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 Bg4 7. Be3 Nfd7 8. Ng1
Bxe2 9. Ngxe2 e5 10. O-O exd4 11. Bxd4 Nf6 12. f3 Nc6 13. Bf2 Re8 14. Qd2 h5
15. Rad1 Ne5 16. b3 a5 17. Kh1 a4 18. Nxa4 Nxc4 19. bxc4 Rxa4 20. c5 Ra6 21.
Nc3 Qc8 22. Qf4 Nd7 23. Nd5 c6 24. Ne3 Be5 25. Qg5 Bf6 26. Qg3 Nxc5 27. Nc4 Qe6
28. Qxd6 Be7 29. Qxe6 Nxe6 30. Rd7 b5 31. Ne5 c5 32. g3 c4 33. f4 Rxa2 34. f5
gxf5 35. exf5 Nc5 36. Rd5 Ne4 37. Bd4 b4 38. Nd7 f6 39. Re1 c3 40. Rxe4 Ra1+
41. Kg2 c2 42. Be3 b3 43. Rb5 Re1 44. Nxf6+ Bxf6 45. Rxe8+ Kf7 46. Rc8 Rxe3 47.
Rb7+ Be7 48. Kf2 Rd3 49. Rcc7 Kf6 50. Ke2 Rd1 51. Rb6+ Kxf5 52. Rxb3 c1=Q 53.
Rb5+ Kg6 54. Rxc1 Rxc1 55. Kf3 Rc2 56. h3 Rc3+ 57. Kg2 Bd6 58. g4 h4 59. Rb6
Rd3 60. Kf2 Kg5 61. Ke2 Rd5 62. Rb7 Kf4 63. Rd7 Kg3 64. g5 Re5+ 65. Kd3 Re6 66.
Kd4 Rg6 67. Ke4 Bb8 68. Rd3+ Kg2 69. Kf5 Rg8 70. g6 Bg3 71. Kf6 Ra8 72. g7 Kxh3
73. Kf7 Ra7+ 74. Kg6 Ra8 75. Kh7 Kg2 76. Rd2+ Bf2 77. Rd3 Ra7 78. Kh8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.30"]
[Round "31"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2723"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "162"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O Nd4 6. Nxd4 Bxd4 7. Nd2 c6 8.
Ba4 d6 9. h3 O-O 10. Nf3 Bb6 11. c3 h6 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Kh1 d5 14. Qe2 dxe4 15.
dxe4 Nh5 16. Nh2 Qh4 17. Qf3 Re6 18. Bd1 Nf6 19. Bc2 Nh7 20. Ng4 Nf6 21. Ne3
Re8 22. Bd2 g6 23. Rad1 Be6 24. Kg1 Nh7 25. Ng4 h5 26. Nxe5 Ng5 27. Qf4 Qxf4
28. Bxf4 Nh7 29. Bb1 g5 30. Bh2 Nf6 31. Rfe1 Rad8 32. Nf3 g4 33. hxg4 Rxd1 34.
Rxd1 Bxg4 35. Re1 Rd8 36. Bf4 Ne8 37. Nh4 Ng7 38. Kf1 Ne6 39. Bc1 Nc5 40. f3
Be6 41. b3 Nd3 42. Bxd3 Rxd3 43. c4 Ba5 44. g3 Bxe1 45. Kxe1 b5 46. cxb5 cxb5
47. Bb2 a5 48. Ke2 Rd7 49. Ng2 a4 50. bxa4 bxa4 51. a3 Bc4+ 52. Ke1 Rd3 53. Nf4
Rxf3 54. Nxh5 Kh7 55. g4 Kg6 56. Bc1 Rf1+ 57. Kd2 Bb3 58. Bb2 Rf2+ 59. Kc1 Kg5
60. Bd4 Rc2+ 61. Kb1 Kxg4 62. Nf6+ Kf3 63. e5 Rd2 64. Bc5 Kf4 65. Bd6 Kf5 66.
Ne8 Ke4 67. Kc1 Rc2+ 68. Kb1 Kd3 69. Nf6 Re2 70. Nd7 Kc3 71. Bb4+ Kc4 72. Bd6
Bc2+ 73. Kc1 Bf5 74. Nf6 Kb3 75. Kd1 Ra2 76. Nd5 Bg4+ 77. Ke1 Be6 78. Nb6 Rxa3
79. Bxa3 Kxa3 80. Kd2 Kb4 81. Kc2 Kb5 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.30"]
[Round "32"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. g3 b6 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O e6 6. Nc3 Be7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4
d6 9. Rd1 a6 10. Ng5 Bxg2 11. Kxg2 O-O 12. b3 Ra7 13. Bb2 Rd7 14. Nge4 Ne8 15.
f3 h6 16. Rd2 Nc6 17. Qg1 Qc7 18. Na4 b5 19. Nb6 Rd8 20. Rc1 bxc4 21. Nxc4 Qb7
22. Qb6 Qa8 23. Ncxd6 Nxd6 24. Nxd6 Bg5 25. Rxc6 Bxd2 26. Qd4 f6 27. Qc4 Kh7
28. Rxa6 Qd5 29. Qxd5 exd5 30. Nf5 Rd7 31. Kf2 Rc8 32. Bd4 h5 33. a4 Kg6 34.
Nh4+ Kf7 35. f4 Rb8 36. Nf3 Bc1 37. Bb6 d4 38. Bxd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.30"]
[Round "33"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D93"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Qa5 8. Rc1
dxc4 9. Bxc4 Qxc5 10. Bb3 Nc6 11. O-O Qa5 12. h3 Qa6 13. e4 Rd8 14. Qe1 Nb4 15.
Ne5 Be6 16. Na4 Bxb3 17. axb3 Nd3 18. Nxd3 Qxd3 19. Nc5 Qb5 20. e5 Nd5 21. Bg5
Rac8 22. b4 h6 23. e6 f5 24. Bd2 a5 25. Nd7 axb4 26. Ne5 Rxc1 27. Bxc1 Kh7 28.
Nf7 Rc8 29. Qd2 b3 30. Rd1 Rc2 31. Qe1 Qc6 32. Bxh6 Bxh6 33. Qe5 Nf6 34. Rd8
Rc1+ 35. Kh2 Rh1+ 36. Kxh1 Qc1+ 37. Rd1 Qxd1+ 38. Kh2 Qd2 39. Qc5 Bf4+ 40. g3
Ne4 41. Qb6 Bxg3+ 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.08.30"]
[Round "34"]
[White "Grachev, Boris V"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2008.08.29"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "34"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 126 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.05"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 Nf6 3. e3 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nd2 g6 6. h3 Bg7 7. Ngf3 O-O 8. Be2
Qb6 9. Qb3 c4 10. Qc2 Bf5 11. Qc1 Qa5 12. O-O b5 13. a3 Qb6 14. Bd1 a5 15. Bc2
b4 16. Re1 Bxc2 17. Qxc2 Nh5 18. Bh2 b3 19. Qd1 f5 20. Ne5 Bxe5 21. Bxe5 Nxe5
22. dxe5 Rad8 23. Nf3 Qc7 24. Qd4 Ng7 25. Qh4 Ne6 26. Rad1 Nc5 27. Re2 e6 28.
Qd4 Rfe8 29. Ne1 g5 30. f3 Rd7 31. g4 Rf7 32. Rdd2 Ref8 33. Rf2 fxg4 34. hxg4
Nd7 35. f4 Nc5 36. f5 exf5 37. Qxd5 Ne4 38. gxf5 Nxf2 39. Kxf2 Kh8 40. e4 Qb6+
41. Qd4 Qh6 42. e6+ Rg7 43. Ng2 g4 44. Qd6 g3+ 45. Ke2 Qh5+ 46. Ke3 Rfg8 47.
Qf4 Qh1 48. f6 Qg1+ 49. Kf3 Rg4 50. Qe5 Qf1+ 51. Ke3 Qg1+ 52. Kf3 Qf1+ 53. Ke3
Qg1+ 54. Kf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Anand-Kramnik +3-1=8"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2008.10.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D14"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2008.10.14"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 127"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 {Kramnik's choice in the first game of
the match surprised everyone. Nowadays it is practically impossible to fight
for a real advantage in the Exchange Variation. Even if White achieves a
slight plus, a strong player with Black holds the position without major
effort.} cxd5 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Nf3 e6 8. Qb3 Bb4 9. Bb5 O-O ({White's
only hope in this system is to force on his opponent a weak pawn on c6. The
following variation is an example how Black can end up in a worse position:} 
9... Qa5 10. O-O O-O 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Bc7 $1 Qxc7 13. Qxb4 {White plays Na4
and Rac1 next and Black will have to suffer under positional pressure.}) 10.
Bxc6 (10. O-O Bxc3 11. Qxc3 Rc8 $11) 10... Bxc3+ 11. Qxc3 Rc8 ({After} 11...
bxc6 12. O-O $14 {White achieves his goal} ({but not} 12. Qxc6 Qa5+ 13. Qc3
Qxc3+ 14. bxc3 Rfc8 15. Rc1 Ne4 $11)) 12. Ne5 {It seems that White will
finally force Black to take with the pawn on c6, but Anand's answer shows that
Black can avoid that.} Ng4 {The most precise, even if the alternatives 12...
bxc6 and 12...Ne4 are playable as well. Black's move doesn't make any
positional concessions.} 13. Nxg4 Bxg4 14. Qb4 ({Taking the other pawn is
weaker, since it leaves the b2-pawn without protection:} 14. Qc5 Rxc6 15. Qxa7
Rc2 16. O-O (16. Qxb7 $2 Qa5+ 17. b4 Re2+ 18. Kf1 Qa3 $19) 16... Be2 $1 (16...
Rxb2 17. Rab1 {loses the b7-pawn without any compensation}) 17. Rfc1 Rxb2 18.
Rab1 Rxb1 19. Rxb1 b5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Vera,R (2537)-Morovic Fernandez,I (2556)/
Havana 2002 (22)}) 14... Rxc6 15. Qxb7 $146 {White must take the pawn,
otherwise his entire opening concept is senseless. Curiously, 16.Qxb7 is a new
move. Difficult to say whether Kramnik really hoped to win the resulting
endgame, or whether he just wanted a "smooth" start of the match. The future
course of events showed that in any case his strategy was mistaken: Anand made
an easy draw in this game, while the match became much tougher for Kramnik
than expected.} (15. O-O Qb6 16. Qd2 Rfc8 17. Rfc1 Bf5 18. f3 h5 19. Rxc6 Rxc6
20. Re1 Qa6 21. e4 dxe4 22. fxe4 Bg6 23. b3 {1/2-1/2 Nussbaecher,A (2120)
-Seibold,T (2105)/Bayern 2002}) 15... Qc8 16. Qxc8 (16. Qb3 $2 Qa6 $1 (16...
Rc1+ {is a mistake in view of} 17. Kd2 {with advantage}) 17. f3 Bf5 $17 {
[%csl Re1]}) 16... Rfxc8 17. O-O {The control over the c-file together with
the opposite-coloured bishops make White's task to convert the extra pawn
practically impossible.} a5 18. f3 Bf5 19. Rfe1 Bg6 20. b3 (20. e4 dxe4 21.
fxe4 Rc2 22. b3 f6 ({or even} 22... Rd8 23. d5 f6 24. dxe6 Re8)) 20... f6 21.
e4 (21. Rad1 Rc2 $11) 21... dxe4 22. fxe4 Rd8 23. Rad1 Rc2 24. e5 (24. d5 e5
25. Rd2 Rdc8 $11) (24. a4 Rc3 $11) 24... fxe5 25. Bxe5 Rxa2 $11 26. Ra1 Rxa1
27. Rxa1 Rd5 28. Rc1 Rd7 29. Rc5 Ra7 30. Rc7 Rxc7 31. Bxc7 Bc2 32. Bxa5 Bxb3
1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Anand-Kramnik +3-1=8"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2008.10.15"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E25"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2008.10.14"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 127"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
dxc5 f5 9. Qc2 Nd7 {A rare continuation.} (9... f4 {is the most common}) (9...
O-O) (9... Qa5) (9... Qh4+) (9... Qf6 {have been seen in practice, too.}) 10.
e4 fxe4 11. fxe4 N5f6 12. c6 {It is useful to spoil Black's pawn structure.}
bxc6 13. Nf3 Qa5 {[%cal Yc8a6] It Black neglects White's bishops, they can
become formidable like in the following game:} (13... Qc7 14. Bd3 O-O 15. O-O
Ng4 16. h3 Nge5 17. Nxe5 Rxf1+ 18. Bxf1 Qxe5 19. Be3 Nf6 20. Bd3 c5 21. Rf1 Bd7
22. Bf4 Qh5 23. Bd6 Bc6 24. e5 Nd7 25. Qf2 $16 {1-0 Portisch,L-Kluger,G/
Budapest 1962/MCL (54)}) 14. Bd2 (14. Be3 $6 Ng4 15. Bg1 O-O 16. h3 Nge5 17.
Nxe5 Qxe5 18. Bh2 Qc5 (18... Qg5 $1 $36) 19. Qd2 e5 20. Bg1 Rxf1+ $5 21. Kxf1
Ba6+ 22. Ke1 Qe7 23. Qe3 Nb6 $44 {1/2 Moehring,G-Neukirch,D/Annaberg-Buchholz
1965/EXT 1999 (28)}) 14... Ba6 (14... O-O $5 15. Bd3 $6 (15. Be2 $142 Nc5 $140
16. c4 Qc7 17. e5) 15... Ba6 16. c4 Qc7 17. Bc3 Ng4 (17... Nc5 $15) 18. e5
Ndxe5 19. Bxh7+ Kh8 $15 {Gilman-Lepsenui/corr 1966}) 15. c4 (15. Bxa6 Qxa6 16.
c4 O-O $11) 15... Qc5 (15... Qc7 16. Bb4 $1 {preventing ...Nc5}) 16. Bd3 Ng4
17. Bb4 Qe3+ 18. Qe2 {After the queen exchange Black's attack loses its
strength. Mutual weaknesses and control of the dark squares will now be
crucial.} O-O-O 19. Qxe3 (19. Be7 $143 Qb6 $1 20. Bxd8 Rxd8 $36 {[%csl Re1] S.
Shipov}) 19... Nxe3 20. Kf2 Ng4+ 21. Kg3 Ndf6 $6 (21... Nde5 $6 22. Be2 h5 23.
h3 h4+ (23... Nxf3 24. gxf3 Ne5 25. Kf4 $1 $14) 24. Nxh4 Nf6 {-game}) (21...
Nge5 $5 22. Be2 Bxc4 23. Bxc4 Nxc4 24. Rhc1 Nde5 25. Nxe5 Nxe5 26. Rc5 Rd3+ 27.
Kh4 $1 Ng6+ 28. Kg5 Kb7 29. Rb1 {S.Shipov} Rc8 $1 30. Rc3 Rd2 $132) 22. Bb1 $1
{[%cal Re4e5] Black probably underestimated this move.} h5 (22... Ne3 23. Ne5
$16) 23. h3 (23. e5 $2 h4+ $1 24. Kf4 g5+ $1 25. Nxg5 Rd4+ $40 {S.Shipov})
23... h4+ {Black must give up this pawn to prevent collapse.} (23... Ne3 24.
Ne5 $16) 24. Nxh4 Ne5 25. Nf3 $1 {"You are welcome to recapture on c4", White
says, "but then beware of my bishop pair and rooks attacking your weaknesses!"}
Nh5+ 26. Kf2 Nxf3 (26... Nxc4 27. Rc1 (27. Ba2 Nf4 28. Rhd1 $5 $16) 27... Nf4
28. Ba2 $1 Nd3+ 29. Kg3 Nxc1 30. Rxc1 Ne3 31. Ne5 $16) 27. Kxf3 e5 28. Rc1 $6 (
{Less greedy} 28. Bc2 {was more appropriate, e.g.} Rh6 (28... Bxc4 29. Rhd1 $16
{S.Shipov}) 29. Rhd1 Rf6+ 30. Ke3 Nf4 31. Rxd8+ Kxd8 32. Rg1 Rg6 33. g4 Nxh3
34. Rh1 Nf4 (34... Ng5 35. Rh8+ Kc7 36. Bd3) 35. Bc3 Rg5 36. c5 {and White's
bishop pair guarantees him a clear advantage.}) 28... Nf4 $132 29. Ra2 Nd3 30.
Rc3 Nf4 31. Bc2 (31. Rf2 $5 {was a better contribution to the harmony of
White's arrangement but the position was still far from clear after} Rh6 $1 {
The rest was much worse:} (31... Rd1 32. Bc2 {S.Shipov}) (31... Rd4 32. Kg3 {
[%cal Yg3h2,Yc3g3]} Rxc4 (32... Rhd8 33. Be7 R8d7 34. Bg5) 33. Kh2 $1 $16 Rd8 {
[%cal Yd8d1]} 34. Bc2 $1 $16) 32. h4 $5 (32. Kg3 Rd1 33. Bc2 Rh1 $1 {
preventing Kg3-h2}) (32. Be7 Rd7 33. Bg5 {doesn't work due to} Nxh3 $1 34. Bxh6
Nxf2) 32... Ne6 $1 33. Ke3 (33. Kg3 Rdh8) 33... Rg6 {with strong counterplay.})
31... Ne6 (31... Rh6 $5 {[%csl Rf3] (S.Shipov) was good here, too:} 32. Be7 Rd7
33. Bg5 Rg6 34. h4 Rf7 35. Kg4 Ne2 36. Rf3 Rxf3 37. gxf3 Bxc4 {[%cal Rc4e6]}
38. Bb3 $1 Bxb3 39. Rxe2 $14) ({but probably even simpler was} 31... Rd4 32.
Bc5 (32. Bb3 Ne6 {[%cal Re6g5]}) (32. Ra1 Rd2) 32... Rxc4 33. Rxc4 Bxc4 34. Rb2
Rd8 35. Bxa7 Rd2 36. Be3 Re2 {with sufficient counterchances.}) 32. Kg3 {
The king quickly runs to h2!} Rd4 (32... Rh6 33. Kh2 c5 34. Ba5 Rd4 $44 {
, containing White's bishops, was probably more accurate}) ({After the text
move} 32... Rd4 {Black's compensation for the extra pawn is hardly sufficient,
e.g.} 33. c5 Nf4 34. Re3 $16 {but the position remains quite complicated and
not so easy to play under time pressure. Therefore Vishy Anand accepted
Vladimir Kramnik's draw offer.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Anand-Kramnik +3-1=8"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2008.10.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D49"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Anand,V"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2008.10.14"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 127"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
a6 $5 9. e4 c5 10. e5 cxd4 11. Nxb5 axb5 12. exf6 gxf6 13. O-O Qb6 14. Qe2 (14.
Be4 Bb7 15. Bxb7 Qxb7 16. Nxd4 Rg8 $132) 14... Bb7 $5 15. Bxb5 $1 Bd6 $5 16.
Rd1 (16. Nxd4 $5 Qxd4 (16... Rg8 17. g3 $1 {is the computer improvement on the
above-mentioned game.}) 17. Rd1 Bxh2+ $1 (17... Qc5 $2 18. Be3 Qc7 19. Rac1 Qb8
20. Bxd7+ Kxd7 21. Qb5+ Ke7 22. Rxd6 $1 {wins immediately.}) 18. Kxh2 Qh4+ 19.
Kg1 Bxg2 $1 20. Bxd7+ Ke7 21. Kxg2 Rhg8+ {usually black just mates in such
scenarios, here black has to find a perpetual.} 22. Kf3 Qh5+ 23. Ke3 Qc5+ 24.
Kd2 Rad8 $1 25. Rf1 (25. Qf1 Rxd7+ 26. Ke1 Rxd1+ 27. Kxd1 Qh5+ 28. Ke1 Qh2)
25... Rxd7+ 26. Ke1 Rc8 $1 27. Qe3 Qa5+ 28. Bd2 Rxd2 29. Qxd2 Qe5+ 30. Qe2 Qa5+
$11) 16... Rg8 17. g3 $1 Rg4 $1 18. Bf4 (18. Nd2 Ke7 $3 19. Bxd7 (19. Qxg4 Qxb5
{is just bad for white.}) 19... Rag8 $1 20. Bb5 (20. Qb5 Qc7 {just intensifies
the pressure against g3.}) 20... d3 $5 {The most solid.} 21. Qxd3 Rxg3+ 22.
hxg3 Rxg3+ 23. Kf1 Rxd3 24. Bxd3 Qd4 $1 25. Nc4 Bb4 26. a3 Bg2+ $1 27. Kxg2
Qg4+ {forcing perpetual.}) 18... Bxf4 19. Nxd4 $5 (19. Rxd4 {is also very
complicated.}) 19... h5 (19... Rg6 $5 20. a4 $5 {Maybe this cool computer-move
is what Kramnik was planning on?} (20. Bxd7+ $6 Kxd7 21. Nxe6+ Bd6 $1 22. Nf4
Rg5) (20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. Rxd7 Kf8 22. Bd3 Be5 23. Bxg6 hxg6 24. Qc4 Ke8 25. Rh7
Bd4 $1 26. Rxb7 Bxf2+ 27. Kf1 Qxb7 28. Qxe6+ Kf8 29. Qxf6+ Kg8 30. Qxg6+ Kh8
31. Qf6+ Kg8 32. Qg5+ Kh8 33. Qe5+ Kh7 34. Kxf2 Rf8+ 35. Kg1 Qb6+ 36. Kg2 Rf2+
37. Kh3 Qh6+ 38. Kg4 Qg6+ {with perpetual.})) 20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. Rxd7 Kf8 22.
Qd3 Rg7 $5 (22... Bc8 $2 23. Rh7 $18) (22... f5 $2 23. Qc3 $18) (22... Bxg3 $5
{This seems to be just a forced draw} 23. hxg3 h4 $1 24. Rd6 (24. Kf1 $2 hxg3
25. fxg3 Rg5 $1 {wins for black.}) 24... Qc5 25. b4 Qe5 26. Rd8+ Rxd8 27. Qxd8+
Kg7 28. Qe7+ Kh6 29. Qf8+ Rg7 30. Qh8+ Rh7 31. Qf8+ {with a perpetual.}) 23.
Rxg7 Kxg7 24. gxf4 Rd8 $1 (24... Kh6 25. a4 Rg8+ 26. Kf1 Bg2+ (26... Rg2 27.
Qd2 Rxh2 28. Ra3 $14) 27. Ke2 $16) 25. Qe2 (25. Qc4 $2 Rd4 $19) (25. Qb3 $5 Kh6
26. a4 (26. Kf1 $2 Bd5 27. Bc4 Bxc4+ 28. Qxc4 Rd2 {and f2 collapses.}) 26...
Rg8+ 27. Kf1 Rg2 28. Qe3 Qxe3 29. fxe3 Rxh2 $11) 25... Kh6 26. Kf1 Rg8 27. a4
$1 (27. f5 $2 Bg2+ $1 28. Ke1 Bc6 $1 29. Qd2+ Kh7 30. Bxc6 Qxc6 31. Ke2 Qb5+
32. Kf3 Rg4 33. Re1 Qc6+ 34. Ke2 Qc4+ 35. Kf3 (35. Kd1 Rd4 36. fxe6 Rxd2+ 37.
Kxd2 Qb4+ 38. Kd1 Qd4+ $19) 35... Rd4 $19) 27... Bg2+ 28. Ke1 Bh3 $1 (28... Bc6
{is enough for a draw.}) 29. Ra3 $2 (29. Rd1 $1 Bf5 $5 {An amazing move. White
is ok, but would you be able to calmly play Qf1 or h3?} (29... Rg1+ 30. Kd2 Rg2
31. Qe3 $1 (31. Ke1 $2 Bg4 $1 32. Qf1 Rxh2 {and whites position collapses.})
31... Rxf2+ 32. Be2 Rxe2+ $5 (32... Qa5+ 33. Kc1 Qc7+ 34. Kb1 Bf5+ 35. Bd3 $1
Bxd3+ 36. Qxd3 {also fails short.}) 33. Qxe2 Bg4 34. Qd3 Qxb2+ 35. Qc2 Qd4+ 36.
Kc1 Bxd1 37. Qxd1 $11) (29... Bg4 $2 30. Qe3 $1 Qxe3+ 31. fxe3 Bxd1 32. Kxd1)
30. Qe3 $2 Rg1+ 31. Bf1 Qa6 $1) 29... Rg1+ 30. Kd2 Qd4+ 31. Kc2 Bg4 $2 {
Despite being 75 minutes ahead on the clock, by now I had caught up. I wanted
to provoke f3} (31... Bf5+ $1 32. Rd3 $1 (32. Kb3 Rc1 $1 33. a5 (33. Ra2 Bc2+
$1 34. Qxc2 Rxc2 35. Kxc2 Qxf2+ 36. Kb3 Qe3+ 37. Kc2 Qxf4 38. a5 Qxh2+ $19)
33... Qd5+ $1 {This move wins, but there are a lot of incredibly difficult
moves in the winning line.} (33... Rc2 $6 34. Qxc2 $1 Bxc2+ 35. Kxc2 Qc5+ 36.
Kb1 Qxb5 37. a6 Qd5 38. a7 Qa8 39. Ka1 $1 Qh1+ (39... Kg6 40. b4 $1) 40. Ka2
Qd5+ $11) (33... e5 $6 34. Ra4 $1 {I had come upto here in my calculations and
didnt see a way forward} Be6+ (34... Qc5 $1 35. Bc4 Bc2+ 36. Qxc2 Rxc2 37. Kxc2
Qxf2+ {But this is a good version for white compared to earlier lines.}) 35.
Bc4 {Oddly enough black dosent have a win:} Bg4 36. f3 Bf5 {Followed by Rd1
seem to secure counterplay for a draw.}) 34. Bc4 (34. Ka4 Bc2+ 35. Kb4 (35. b3
Bxb3+ 36. Rxb3 Qd4+ 37. Rb4 Qa1+ $19) 35... Qd6+ 36. Kc4 Bd1+ $19) (34. Kb4
Qc5+ 35. Ka4 (35. Kb3 Bc2+ 36. Ka2 Qd5+ 37. Bc4 Qh1 38. Qxc2 Rxc2 $19) 35...
Bc2+ 36. b3 Bxb3+) 34... Qb7+ 35. Ka4 (35. Bb5 Bc2+ 36. Ka2 Qh1 {mates.}) 35...
Rc2 $3 {This quite move is the point} 36. Ba6 Qd7+ 37. Qb5 Rc4+ 38. Kb3 Qd3+
39. Ka2 Qb1+ 40. Kb3 Rc2 41. Ra2 $8 Be4 $3 42. Bb7 Qd1 43. Ka3 Bxb7 44. Qxb7
Rc4 45. b3 Qd6+ 46. Kb2 Qd2+ 47. Ka3 Qxa5+ 48. Kb2 Qc3+ 49. Ka3 Rc5 $19 {
and finally all white resistance is broken.}) (32. Bd3 Rg2 $5 (32... Bg4 $5 33.
f3 $8 Bh3 {transposes to the game.}) 33. Bxf5 Rxf2 34. Bd3 Rxe2+ 35. Bxe2 Qe4+
36. Bd3 Qxf4 37. a5 Qxh2+ 38. Kb1 h4 39. a6 Qg1+ 40. Ka2 Qa7 $19 {and despite
the mess, blacks pawns should prevail.}) 32... Rg4 $5 {This could be best} (
32... Ra1 $6 {is preferred by the computers, but:} 33. Qe3 Bxd3+ 34. Qxd3 Qxf2+
35. Qd2 {is the usual story, black cant swap queens due to whites passed pawns.
}) 33. Kb3 Bxd3 34. Qxd3 Qxf2 {keeps winning chances for black.}) 32. f3 $2 {
Returning the favour.} (32. Rd3 $1 {was a golden opportunity, as black has
nothing more than:} Bf5 33. Kb3 Bxd3 34. Qxd3 Qxf2 (34... Qxf4 35. Qe3 {
as usual cant be allowed.}) 35. Qd8 $1 {securing a perpetual.}) 32... Bf5+ 33.
Bd3 Bh3 $6 {Played instantly since this was my reason for provoking f3, but
there was a stronger move:} (33... Bxd3+ $1 {this wins the house instantly.}
34. Rxd3 (34. Qxd3 Rg2+) 34... Qc4+) 34. a5 (34. Qe4 Rg2+ 35. Kd1 Qg1+ 36. Qe1
Qxh2 $1 $19 {and Rg1 cant be stopped, winning instantly.}) (34. Qd2 Rg2 35. Be2
Bf5+ 36. Kc1 Qg1+ 37. Qd1 Qxh2 38. Kd2 {Here many moves win, but I will give
the comp line because its funny} h4 $1 39. a5 Qxf4+ 40. Kc3 h3 41. a6 h2 42. a7
Rxe2 43. Qxe2 h1=Q 44. a8=Q Qc7+ $1 {This wins, but also the only move which
doesnt lose!} 45. Kb4 Qb6+ 46. Ka4 Qh4+ $1 $19) 34... Rg2 35. a6 Rxe2+ 36. Bxe2
Bf5+ 37. Kb3 (37. Bd3 Bxd3+ 38. Rxd3 Qc4+) (37. Kc1 Qxf4+ 38. Kd1 Qd4+ 39. Kc1
Qe5 $1 $19) 37... Qe3+ 38. Ka2 Qxe2 39. a7 Qc4+ 40. Ka1 Qf1+ 41. Ka2 Bb1+ (
41... Bb1+ 42. Kb3 Qxf3+ {is simple enough.}) 0-1

[Event "World-ch Anand-Kramnik +3-1=8"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2008.10.18"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2008.10.14"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 127"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 {In the late '70s, Korchnoi
frequently resorted to this "rare" variation. He managed to put Karpov under
serious pressure during their match in Baguio 1978 and even won a crucial game
towards the end of the match. Nowadays, this has become White's main weapon
against the Queen's Gambit Declined, at least in top level events.} O-O 6. e3
Nbd7 ({Kramnik had played several games with} 6... c5 {, two of them against
Anand himself.} 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3 (8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. a3 {Leko,P 
(2741)-Kramnik,V (2770)/Brissago 2004/CBM 103/[Lukacs] (1-0, 69). This must
have been a very painful defeat, in an "almost" drawn ending.}) 8... Nc6 9. Rc1
{1/2 Kramnik,V (2809)-Anand,V (2752)/Leon 2002/CBM 090/[Dautov] (33)} (9. Qc2 {
1/2 Anand,V (2752)-Kramnik,V (2809)/Leon 2002/CBM 090/[Dautov] (48)})) 7. a3 {
A generally useful move, inviting Black to capture on c4.} ({Another important
line is} 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Nxd5 exd5 9. Bd3 c5 10. O-O ({With the bishop on d3
already,} 10. dxc5 Nxc5 {is less appealing already.}) 10... c4 11. Bc2 b5 {
with a very complicated position, offering chances for both sides.} 12. e4 Nb6
13. Re1 (13. Qe2 {Kempinski,R (2619)-Ogaard,L (2379)/Saint Vincent 2005/CBM
110/[Konikowski] (1-0, 23)}) 13... Be6 14. Qb1 Kh8 15. Be5 Bf6 $1 16. Bxf6 Qxf6
17. e5 Qh6 18. Re3 $132 {Kortschnoj,V (2659)-Lputian,S (2605)/Wijk aan Zee
2000/CBM 075/[Kortschnoj] (0-1, 47)}) 7... c5 {I have the feeling that part of
the initial spirit of the Queen's Gambit has been lost. Our forefathers tried
to maintain the tension in the centre for as long as possible, making a lot of
useful moves in the meanwhile.} ({Even in the '60s, there was some theoretical
dispute after} 7... c6 8. h3 {Not the only move, of course.} (8. Rc1) (8. Qc2)
8... a6 9. c5 b6 10. b4 a5 ({In a recent game, Black chose a much simpler plan
and obtained full success, true, against a much weaker opponent.} 10... bxc5
11. bxc5 Ne4 12. Rc1 Qa5 13. Bd3 Nxc3 14. Qd2 f6 15. Qxc3 Qxc3+ 16. Rxc3 e5 $1
$19 {Simeonidis,I (2268)-Shneider,A (2543)/Corfu 2007/CBM 120 ext (0-1, 18)})
11. Bd3 (11. b5 {Larsen,B} Bb7 $15) 11... Ba6 12. b5 $1 (12. O-O Qc8 13. Qc2
Bxd3 14. Qxd3 Qb7 15. Rfb1 axb4 {1/2 Larsen,B-Spassky,B/Palma de Mallorca 1968/
MCD}) (12. Bxa6 $2 {Larsen,B} Rxa6 13. b5 cxb5 14. c6 Qc8) 12... cxb5 (12...
Bb7 {simply loses a tempo over Larsen's comment.} 13. cxb6 Qxb6 14. O-O c5 15.
Na4 Qa7 16. dxc5 Bxc5 17. Nxc5 Nxc5 18. Be5 $14 {Portisch,L-Hartoch,R/
Amsterdam 1969/MCL (1-0, 89)}) 13. c6 {Now, Black will have to sacrifice
either an exchange or the queen, with unclear compensation.} Rc8 ({Maybe} 13...
Qc8 14. Nxb5 Qxc6 15. Rc1 Bxb5 16. Rxc6 Bxc6 $44 {is slightly better.}) 14.
Bxb5 Rxc6 $5 (14... Bxb5 15. c7 $1 $14) 15. Bxc6 Qc8 16. Qa4 Bb7 17. O-O Bxc6
$14) 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. dxc5 Nxc5 {To me, this does not look like a
reason not to play the Bf4 line. White has a comfortable form of the isolani
and, at least for the time being, play is rather one-sided. True, in practice
Black has lost relatively rarely and Kramnik himself had held this position
against none other than Kasparov.} 11. Be5 {Otherwise, the bishop may well
remain out of play and White may risk losing control of the d4-square.} Bf5 {
Not a very frequent move. Before starting the fight for the d4-square, Black
makes a natural developing move. Its concrete meaning will become clear later.}
({Kramnik did not seem keen to repeat the line he had employed in a blitz game
at the highest thinkable level.} 11... Bf6 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. Qd4 Qxd4 14. Nxd4
Bd7 15. f3 Rfc8 (15... Rac8 {is less acurate because after} 16. Kd2 {
Zvjaginsev,V (2664)-Lputian,S (2638)/Poikovsky 2003/CBM 095/[Dautov] (1-0, 35)}
Ne6 17. Nf5 $14 {Black cannot play ...Kf8.}) 16. Kd2 Ne6 17. Nxe6 $5 ({A
better chance for an advantage than} 17. Bd3 Nxd4 18. exd4 $11 {Kasparov,G 
(2838)-Kramnik,V (2802)/Moscow 2001/CBM 087/[Dautov] (1/2, 24)}) 17... Bxe6 18.
Bd3 Kf8 19. g4 h6 20. h4 Ke7 21. g5 Rh8 22. Kc3 $14 {Zvjaginsev,V-Vescovi,G/
Poikovsky 2003 (1/2, 29)}) 12. Be2 Bf6 13. Bxf6 {The most logical continuation.
In this case, White does not get anything by maintaining the tension.} (13. O-O
Be4 $6 ({It looks more natural to drive the enemy knight away from the
d4-square with} 13... Bxe5 14. Nxe5 Qd6 {, winning time for the development at
the same time.}) 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15. Qd4 Qd6 16. Nd2 Rfd8 17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. Qxd6
Rxd6 19. Rfd1 Rad8 20. Rxd6 Rxd6 21. Rc1 $14 {Tregubov,P (2609)-Goloshchapov,A
(2563)/Germany 2008/CBM 123 (1-0, 60)}) 13... Qxf6 14. Nd4 ({The bishop proves
useful on f5 in case of} 14. Qd4 Qc6 15. Rd1 $2 Bc2 $1 {[%cal Gc5b3] and Black
wins an exchange.}) (14. Qxd5 Qxb2 15. O-O Rac8 {is entirely acceptable for
Black.}) 14... Ne6 $146 {At first sight, this looks like a risky novelty.
Black immediately puts the enemy knight under pressure, without preserving his
bishop from exchange.} ({Previously} 14... Be4 15. Rc1 Ne6 {had been played
and Black did not face problems achieving a draw.} 16. f3 Bg6 17. O-O Rac8 18.
Qd2 Nxd4 19. Qxd4 Qxd4 20. exd4 Bc2 21. Kf2 Rc7 {1/2 Flumbort,A (2516)
-Goloshchapov,A (2555)/Germany 2007/CBM 123. Kramnik must have found a reason
to deviate from this game, since his move really implies a high degree of
responsibility.}) 15. Nxf5 (15. Nxe6 fxe6 $1 $36 {[%cal Ga8d8,Ge6e5,Gd5d4]})
15... Qxf5 16. O-O Rfd8 {The opening has come to an end and time has come to
draw the first conclusions. Black's position looks very harmonious and his
piece activity seems to compensate for the relatively weak d5-pawn. Botvinnik
once wrote that if you have pawn weaknesses, you should keep at least one
knight on board. However, the central break ...d4 will not be easy to carry
out and the bishop's pressure will prove slightly more disturbing that Kramnik
may have expected.} 17. Bg4 Qe5 18. Qb3 (18. Bxe6 fxe6 (18... Qxe6 {would lead
to a typical isolani position without minor pieces, where Black is in great
danger. One should study Karpov's games in order to get a full picture,
especially Kortschnoj,V (2695)-Karpov,A (2700)/Merano m/9 1981/MainBase/[Hecht]
(0-1, 43), where White had the isolani.}) 19. Qb3 {and the safer position of
the white king is compensated for by Black's possibility of creating a passed
pawn in the centre.}) 18... Nc5 ({Kramnik did not feel prepared to embark on
such a sharp line as} 18... d4 19. Qxb7 (19. Bxe6 Qxe6 20. Qxe6 fxe6 21. exd4
Rxd4 22. Rfd1 Rad8 23. Rxd4 Rxd4 $11) 19... d3 {, where Black has to prove
still that his far advanced pawn is strong enough to compensate for the
material deficit.}) 19. Qb5 b6 {The knight enjoys some stability now, because
b4 can be met by ...Ne4, with further occupation of the c3-square. However,
the pressure against the d4-square has been somewhat released.} 20. Rfd1 ({
In many of his games, Karpov placed the queen's rook on d1 in such positions.
Here, after} 20. Rad1 Rd6 21. Rd4 a6 {White can play the flexible} 22. Qe2)
20... Rd6 21. Rd4 (21. Rac1 {seems like a more logical complement of the
previous move. After} Rad8 22. b4 Ne4 (22... Ne6 23. Bxe6 fxe6 24. Rc7 $16) 23.
Rd4 {White has better chances to maintain the tension for a longer time.})
21... a6 $1 22. Qb4 {Because of the exposed position of the a1-rook, the queen
has to retreat to this square, preventing a further b4, which increases the
stability of the knight on c5.} (22. Qe2 Nb3 $17) 22... h5 23. Bh3 ({If Anand
had foreseen Kramnik's plan, he may have preferred} 23. Be2 {However, after}
Rad8 {followed by ...a5 and ...Ne6, Blacks position looks entirely viable.})
23... Rad8 24. g3 g5 $5 {Black decides to win space on the kingside massively,
making the white king feel a bit insecure.} 25. Rad1 {Curiously, this strong
concentration of forces around the d4-square does not prevent the thematic
pawn break, because the bishop does not participate.} ({The only way to
maintain the structure intact would have been} 25. Re1 g4 26. Bg2 Ne6 27. Rdd1
{, when ...d4 is impossible because of exd4, with a double attack against the
queen. However, after a neutral move such as} Kg7 {White would have problems
increasing his pressure, partly because his rooks are bound to stay on d1 and
e1.}) 25... g4 26. Bg2 Ne6 27. R4d3 d4 $11 {The position simplifies now. The
theoretical superiority of the bishop over the knight is compensated for by
Black's advantage in space and his stability on the dark squares.} 28. exd4
Rxd4 29. Rxd4 Rxd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "World-ch Anand-Kramnik +3-1=8"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2008.10.20"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D49"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2008.10.14"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 127"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

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

[Event "World-ch Anand-Kramnik +3-1=8"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2008.10.21"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E34"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2008.10.14"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 127"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 Qxd5 6. Nf3 Qf5 {This
invention of Oleg Romanishin first saw the light of day fifteen years ago.
Since then this variation has been adopted by many top players including Anand
and Kramnik.} 7. Qb3 {This move leads to more complicated play.} (7. Qxf5 exf5
{Black's pawn structure is somewhat spoiled. However, the pawn on f5 prevents
from White the advance e2-e4. Practice has shown that it's very difficult for
White to achieve anything reliable. Here are a few relevant examples from the
practice of both players:} 8. a3 Be7 (8... Bd6 9. Nb5 (9. Bg5 Nbd7 10. e3 c6
11. Bd3 h6 12. Bh4 g6 13. Nd2 Be7 14. f3 Nd5 15. Nxd5 Bxh4+ 16. g3 Bxg3+ 17.
hxg3 cxd5 18. Rc1 Kd8 19. e4 fxe4 20. fxe4 dxe4 21. Nxe4 $44 {1-0 Kasparov,G 
(2815)-Kramnik,V (2780)/Moscow 1998/CBM 067 ext (41)}) 9... Be6 10. e3 Nc6 11.
Bd2 Ne4 12. Bd3 a6 13. Nxd6+ cxd6 14. Ke2 Kd7 15. Rhc1 Rhc8 16. Be1 Ne7 17. Ng1
b5 18. f3 Nf6 19. Bh4 Nfd5 20. Bxe7 {1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V (2790)-Anand,V (2770)/
Frankfurt 1998/CBM 065 ext}) 9. Bf4 (9. Bg5 Be6 10. e3 c6 11. Bd3 Nbd7 12. O-O
h6 13. Bh4 a5 14. Rac1 O-O 15. Ne2 g5 16. Bg3 Ne4 17. Nc3 Nxc3 18. Rxc3 Nf6 19.
Rcc1 Rfd8 20. Rfd1 Rac8 {1/2-1/2 Kasparov,G (2812)-Kramnik,V (2751)/Linares
1999/CBM 070}) 9... c6 10. e3 Nbd7 11. Bc4 Nb6 12. Ba2 Nfd5 13. Nxd5 Nxd5 14.
Bxd5 cxd5 15. Rc1 f6 16. Kd2 Bd7 17. Rc7 g5 18. Bg3 Bc6 19. Rc1 Kd8 20. R1xc6
bxc6 21. Rxc6 Kd7 22. Ra6 Rhc8 $15 {0-1 Topalov,V (2757)-Anand,V (2786)/Monte
Carlo 2005/CBM 105 ext (45)}) 7... Nc6 8. Bd2 O-O 9. h3 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8] A
sensible novelty. Black's queen does not have many squares available,
therefore the idea of g2-g4 is quite annoying for him. From the psychological
point of view this was another unpleasant surprise for Kramnik. In an already
critical match situation he had to face another fresh opening idea from
Anand's team.} (9. e3 Rd8 10. Be2 e5 11. Nxe5 Be6 12. g4 Qxe5 13. dxe5 Bxb3 14.
exf6 Be6 15. f4 gxf6 16. O-O-O Kg7 $13 {1/2-1/2 Ivanchuk,V (2735)-Anand,V 
(2725)/Monte Carlo 1996/CBM 052 ext (76)}) 9... b6 $1 {The best reply. It is
logical to develop the light-squared bishop to the long diagonal.} (9... Rd8
10. g4 Qa5 (10... Qg6 $6 {is too awkward to be true. The queen might be in
real danger.}) 11. e3 e5 12. Bc4 exd4 13. Bxf7+ Kh8 (13... Kf8 14. exd4 Nxd4
15. Nxd4 Rxd4 16. O-O-O $16) 14. exd4 Nxd4 15. Nxd4 Rxd4 16. O-O-O $16) (9...
e5 $2 10. g4 Qg6 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Qxb4 $16) (9... Bd7 10. g4 Qa5 11. a3 (11.
Rc1 $6 Qb6 {[%csl Rd4]} 12. e3 Na5 13. Qd1 Bc6 $132) 11... Nd5 12. Rc1 Bd6 (
12... Be7 13. e4 Qb6 14. Qc2 Nxc3 15. Qxc3 {Black's queen on b6 looks horrible.
}) 13. Ne4 Qb6 14. Qxb6 Nxb6 15. Bg2 $14) (9... h5 {is actually possible to
prevent g2-g4. However, after} 10. e3 {White can get a superior version of the
above-mentioned game Ivanchuk-Anand. The inclusion of the moves h2-h3 and ...
h7-h5 clearly favours White.}) 10. g4 Qa5 11. Rc1 (11. Bg2 $6 Ba6 $1 (11... e5
$2 12. dxe5 Be6 13. Qc2 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Qxe5 15. Bxa8 Rxa8 16. O-O-O $16) 12. O-O
Rad8 13. a3 Bxc3 14. Bxc3 Qb5 15. Qxb5 Bxb5 16. Rfe1 Ne4 $11) 11... Bb7 (11...
Ba6 $2 12. a3 Be7 13. Qa2 $1 {[%csl Ra5][%cal Gb2b4] and the threat b2-b4 is
simply unanswerable.}) 12. a3 Bxc3 13. Bxc3 Qd5 {Now it's time for White to
swap queens, otherwise he will have troubles along the a8-h1 diagonal.} 14.
Qxd5 Nxd5 {Not an easy choice for Kramnik. Both recaptures have their
advantages and downsides.} (14... exd5 15. Bd2 (15. Nd2 Ne4 16. Nxe4 dxe4 17.
e3 Rfd8 {[%cal Gc6e7,Ge7d5] +/=/=}) 15... Ne4 16. Bf4 Rac8 17. e3 (17. b4 a5 $1
18. b5 Nd8 $11 {[%cal Gd8e6]} 19. Rxc7 $2 Ne6 20. Rxc8 Rxc8 $17 {[%cal Gc8c2,
Gc8c3]}) 17... Na5 18. b4 Nc4 $1 $11) 15. Bd2 $1 {White should keep his pair
of bishops.} Nf6 {[%cal Gc6d4]} (15... f5 {to my mind, creates no counterplay,
but weaknesses in Black's camp.}) 16. Rg1 {Moving the rook away from the
dangerous diagonal. White has lost his right to castle; however, it does not
have real significance without queens on the board.} Rac8 17. Bg2 Ne7 18. Bb4
c5 $2 {This nervous push from Kramnik does not work. Black does not have
enough resources for such active play.} (18... Rfe8 {would have been
acceptable.} 19. Bxe7 (19. Ne5 Bxg2 20. Rxg2 Ned5 21. Bd2 Ne4 22. Nc6 a5 23. f3
Nxd2 24. Kxd2 Ne7 {keeping a slightly worse but defendable position.}) 19...
Rxe7 20. Ne5 Bxg2 21. Rxg2 c5 $1 22. dxc5 (22. b4 Nd7 23. Nxd7 Rxd7 24. dxc5
bxc5 $11) 22... Rec7 23. c6 Ne4 {[%cal Gf7f6]} 24. g5 Nxg5 25. Rxg5 f6 26. Rg4
fxe5 27. Rgc4 Kf7 $11) 19. dxc5 Rfd8 (19... bxc5 20. Bxc5 Ne4 21. b4 Nxc5 22.
bxc5 Bxf3 23. Bxf3 Rc7 24. Kd2 Rfc8 25. Rc3 Rxc5 26. Rxc5 Rxc5 27. Rb1 $16) 20.
Ne5 Bxg2 21. Rxg2 bxc5 (21... a5 22. Bd2 Rd5 (22... Ne4 23. cxb6 Nxd2 24. Rxc8
Nxc8 25. b7 Ne7 26. Rg3 {and Black is now forced to play} Rb8 {and get a
hopeless endgame with a pawn down.}) 23. Nd3 bxc5 24. Rc4 Nc6 25. Rxc5 Rxc5 26.
Nxc5 Nd4 27. Nd3 $16) 22. Rxc5 Ne4 23. Rxc8 Rxc8 24. Nd3 $16 Nd5 25. Bd2 (25.
Kd1 {looks more natural but, probably it makes no real difference compared to
the move in the text.}) 25... Rc2 26. Bc1 {Black's activity is only temporary.
Very soon his rook and knights will be driven away and the extra pawn will
tell.} f5 (26... Nc5 27. Kd1 Nxd3 28. exd3 $16) 27. Kd1 Rc8 28. f3 Nd6 {
[%csl Re3][%cal Gd6c4]} 29. Ke1 $1 a5 30. e3 e5 $6 ({After the solid} 30... a4
{Anand's task would have been much more difficult.}) 31. gxf5 e4 (31... Nxf5
32. e4 Nh4 33. Rg4 Nxf3+ 34. Kf2 Nf6 35. Kxf3 Nxg4 36. hxg4 $18) 32. fxe4 Nxe4
33. Bd2 a4 34. Nf2 Nd6 35. Rg4 {Finally White's dreaming rook joins the action.
} Nc4 (35... Nxf5 36. Nd1 (36. e4 $6 Re8 37. Rg5 g6 {and Black is still alive.}
) 36... Nb6 37. Rb4 Rc6 {would have been more stubborn, though, objectively
Black is lost.}) 36. e4 $1 {White does not have to worry about his Pb2, his
central pawns are storming forward with decisive effect.} Nf6 37. Rg3 Nxb2 38.
e5 Nd5 39. f6 Kf7 (39... g6 40. e6 Nxf6 41. Bc3 $18 {[%csl Rb2,Rf6]}) 40. Ne4
Nc4 41. fxg7 (41. Rxg7+ Ke6 42. Ng5+ Kf5 43. f7 {[%csl Gf7][%cal Gg5h7,Gg7g8]
won a bit quicker.}) 41... Kg8 42. Rd3 Ndb6 43. Bh6 Nxe5 44. Nf6+ Kf7 45. Rc3
Rxc3 46. g8=Q+ Kxf6 47. Bg7+ {Excellent technique by the World Champion!} 1-0

[Event "World-ch Anand-Kramnik +3-1=8"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2008.10.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D19"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2008.10.14"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 127"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

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

[Event "World-ch Anand-Kramnik +3-1=8"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2008.10.24"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2008.10.14"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 127"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

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

[Event "World-ch Anand-Kramnik +3-1=8"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2008.10.26"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2008.10.14"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 127"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

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

[Event "World-ch Anand-Kramnik +3-1=8"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2008.10.27"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2008.10.14"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 127"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 {This time, Kramnik chooses a more ambitious
continuation than in the 8th game.} Bb4 {It is too early still to judge
Anand's opening choice from a psychological point of view. The Nimzo Indian
can lead to such a wide range of types of position that we cannot anticipate
which of the players will feel more at home.} 4. Nf3 {Previously, Kramnik had
played this move just once, which makes it almost such a big surprise as had
been Anand's 4.f3 (as a coincidence, same move number, same square...).
However, the difference of style between the opponents is quite clear. Anand's
intention had been to give play an irrational character as soon as possible,
while Kramnik aims for purely technical positions. And yet, Anand could not
have been taken unaware, as can be seen from a further comment...} c5 {Frankly
speaking, this seems a bit like playing into Kramnik's hands.} (4... b6 {
would have offered better chances for unclear play, which yielded Anand two
important wins in his games with black.}) 5. g3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 O-O ({It is
possible that Anand had not paid too much attention to the game he had lost
against Kramnik in a blindfold encounter:} 6... Ne4 7. Qd3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Nc5 9.
Qf3 d6 10. Bg2 e5 11. Nf5 Qf6 12. Ne3 Qxf3 13. Bxf3 Be6 14. Ba3 Nba6 15. O-O-O
Ke7 16. Bg2 Rad8 17. f4 f6 18. Rhf1 b6 19. g4 Nc7 20. h4 $16 {Kramnik,V (2766)
-Anand,V (2779)/Monte Carlo 2007/CBM 117 ext (1-0, 30). Or maybe he relied on
the fact that his main repertoire was well analysed?}) 7. Bg2 d5 {The most
solid continuation, but also the least ambitious. White is given the
opportunity to play a slightly more pleasant position at virtually no risk.
Just what Kramnik must have prayed for...} 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Qb3 Qa5 10. Bd2 Nc6
11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. O-O Bxc3 13. bxc3 Ba6 14. Rfd1 Qc5 15. e4 Bc4 16. Qa4 Nb6 17.
Qb4 Qh5 {We have reached a modern tabyia. The pawn structure is almost
symmetrical and White's pair of bishops seems to be compensated for by the
stability of Black's minor pieces, something not really unusual in the Nimzo
Indian. However, there is an element that slightly favours White. His queen is
actively placed, being a permanent threat for the enemy queenside pawns, while
the black queen is somehow out of play. Indeed, there is not much to be
attacked on the kingside. First of all, the white structure is quite compact
in that area, while the king is an useful defending piece.} 18. Re1 $5 $146 {
It took me a lot of time to get some idea about the purpose of this
interesting novelty. Obviously, White anticipates ...Be2, but it is far from
clear how this will influence the further course of the game. My feeling is
that Kramnik wanted to provoke the advance of the black c-pawn, in order to
get the a5-square for his queen.} ({The older continuation is} 18. Be3 {
, which was tried at the highest thinkable level} Be2 {(Justifying the queen's
placement on h5, in view of a further exchange of bishops with ...Bf3)} 19. Rd2
Rab8 20. Bxb6 axb6 21. Qd6 Rfc8 ({A possible improvement over} 21... Bf3 {
when White managed to win a pawn after} 22. Qxc6 Bxg2 23. Kxg2 Qe5 24. Qc4 Rfc8
25. Qd4 Qa5 26. Rb1 h6 27. Rb4 Qc5 28. Rd3 Qc7 {, although he could not deal
with the technical problems, connected with the weaknesses on both wings,
Kasparov,G (2851)-Anand,V (2769)/Wijk aan Zee 2000/CBM 075/[Wells] (1/2, 56)})
22. Rb1 h6 23. e5 Bf3 $11 {Now, the exchange of bishops is entirely possible.}
24. a4 Ra8 25. Qd4 b5 26. Bxf3 Qxf3 27. Rd3 {1/2 Bacrot,E (2675)-Leko,P (2741)/
Moscow 2004/CBM 102}) ({The latest word in theory was (up to this game)} 18.
Bf4 {The game that may have inspired Kramnik continued with} c5 ({The other,
possibly better, pawn move played here is} 18... e5 {as in Najer,E (2648)
-Jakovenko,D (2671)/Moscow 2006/CBM 116 (0-1, 50), which I have commented in
the notes to Grischuk,A (2726)-Gelfand,B (2733)/Mexico City 2007/CBM 120/
[Marin] (1-0, 61)}) (18... Be2 {Grischuk,A (2726)-Gelfand,B (2733)/Mexico City
2007/CBM 120/[Marin] (1-0, 61)}) 19. Qa5 $1 e5 20. Be3 Be2 21. Re1 Nc4 ({
The exchange operation initiated by this move will fail to equalise. It is
worth mentioning that} 21... Rfc8 $5 {would lead to a position from our main
game, but with an extra tempo for Black! Meaning that for the sake of
obtaining this structure, Kramnik gladly lost a tempo...}) 22. Qa6 Nxe3 23.
Rxe2 Nxg2 24. Kxg2 Rad8 25. Rae1 Rd7 26. Qb5 Rfd8 ({If Black had defended the
pawn with} 26... Rc7 {he would have lost the control of both open files after}
27. Rd2 $14) 27. Qxc5 $14 {Cheparinov,I (2670)-Carlsen,M (2714)/
Khanty-Mansiysk 2007/CBM 122 (1/2, 80)}) 18... c5 {If my supposition was
correct, then Kramnik's opening experiment has been crowned by success.} ({
One critical alternative is} 18... Be2 {but in this case Black would have
faced some problems of coordination after} 19. h3 $5 {The bishop's retreats
along the d1-h5 diagonal are prevented (...Bf3? drops a piece to g4)} Rfd8 (
19... c5 20. Qb3 $5 {would not solve Black's problems, because the queen would
remain out of play on h5. Besides, once the queen's access to b5 has been
obstructed, the threat g4 becomes real.}) 20. Bf4 Rac8 (20... e5 $6 {would
lose a pawn without compensation after} 21. g4 Qg6 22. Bxe5 $16) 21. g4 Qb5 22.
a4 Qa6 23. a5 $14 {with advantage for White on both wings.}) 19. Qa5 Rfc8 20.
Be3 $5 {Another interesting moment.} ({Kramnik probably discarded the immediate
} 20. Bf4 {because of} e5 21. Be3 Be6 {and Black's bishop has reached
stability with economy of time.}) 20... Be2 21. Bf4 $5 {Once the enemy bishop
has abandoned the favourable diagonal, this move makes more sense although it
may seem a loss of time. The idea is to provoke ...e5, in order to leave the
queen completely out of play on h5.} ({After} 21. h3 Nc4 22. Qa6 Nxe3 23. Rxe2
Nxg2 24. Kxg2 {the queen can return into play with} Qe5 $11) 21... e5 22. Be3 {
Kramnik does not wish to change the character of the position.} ({Optically,
it may seem that White keeps a tiny advantage after} 22. Bxe5 Nc4 23. Qa6 Qxe5
24. Rxe2 Qxc3 {. However, the position has simplified and the c-pawn provides
Black with counterplay.}) 22... Bg4 $6 {A straightforward attempt to recycle
the pieces that have remained isolated on the kingside. However, White is
allowed to establish control over the f1-a6 diagonal and increase his
queenside pressure. However, it is not easy to recommend a worthy alternative.
Black should probably had chosen a line where White is allowed to win a pawn,
but the technical difficulties remain quite big.} (22... Nc4 23. Qa6 Nxe3 (
23... Bd3 24. Rad1) 24. Rxe2 Nxg2 25. Kxg2 $14 {Black would probably have to
give up the c5-pawn as Carlsen did.}) (22... f6 23. Bxc5 $5 Nc4 24. Qb5 Rab8
25. Qd7 Rxc5 26. Rab1 $3 {An elegant move, leaving Black completely
uncoordinated despite his extra piece.} Rb6 (26... Rf8 27. Rb7 Qf7 28. Rxe2 $14
) (26... Rxb1 27. Rxb1 h6 (27... Nb6 28. Qxa7 $16) 28. Bh3 $40) 27. Bh3 $1 Kf8
28. Rxb6 axb6 29. Be6 {[%cal Ge1e2]} Qe8 30. Qxe8+ Kxe8 31. Rxe2 $14) (22... h6
23. h3 $14 {[%csl Re2,Rh5]}) 23. Qa6 $1 $16 {[%csl Ra7,Rb6][%cal Ga2a4,Ga4a5]
White has en easy way to develop his queenside initiative now.} f6 24. a4 Qf7
25. Bf1 {[%csl Gc4]} Be6 26. Rab1 $1 {White develops his last piece,
preventing the occupation of the c4-square. Black is in big trouble. If he
loses the a7-pawn, the game will be as good as gone.} (26. a5 $6 Bc4 27. Bxc4
Nxc4 (27... Qxc4 $4 28. axb6 $1 $18) 28. Rab1 Rc7 $1 $14) 26... c4 $6 ({
Black cannot transpose to the previous note with} 26... Rc7 $2 {because of} 27.
Rxb6 $1 $18) ({The tactical point behind 26.Rab1 is that} 26... Bc4 $2 {
is impossible:} 27. Bxc4 Qxc4 (27... Nxc4 28. Rb7 $18) 28. Rxb6 $1 $18) (26...
f5 {[%cal Gf5f4] has been widely recommended, but Black's position remains
critical after the simple} 27. exf5 $16 {[%csl Re5]}) 27. a5 Na4 (27... Nd7 28.
Rb7 $18 {[%csl Ra7]}) 28. Rb7 Qe8 29. Qd6 ({For many spectators, Anand's
resignation may have seemed a bit premature. However, from the psychological
point of view, it looks like one of his best decisions in the whole match. He
simply decided to forget as soon as possible about this horrible day and get
prepared for the next, decisive game...} 29. Qd6 Bf7 30. Qb4 Rab8 31. a6 $18)
1-0

[Event "World-ch Anand-Kramnik +3-1=8"]
[Site "Bonn"]
[Date "2008.10.29"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B96"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Kritz,L"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2008.10.14"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 127"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2008.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2008.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{In order to better understand what happened over the board, you need to know
the situation before this game took place: it was the 11th game in the WCh
match. Anand was leading 6-4 and needed only a draw to retain his WCh title. 
Um die Ereignisse am Brett besser zu begreifen, muss man die Ausgangssituation
vor dieser Partie wissen: es ist die elfte Partie des WM-Matches gewesen,
Anand führte mit 6-4 und brauchte nur ein Remis, um seinen Weltmeister-Titel
zu verteidigen.} 1. e4 $1 {An exclamation mark for the well-timed change in
opening - until this point in the match, Anand had played only 1.d4. The game
move has two advantages at the same time: firstly the effect of surprise, and
secondly in recent years Kramnik has rarely replied to 1.e4 with anything but
the Petroff. Ausrufezeichen fuer den rechtzeitigen Wechsel der Eröffnung - bis
jetzt hatte Anand im Match nur 1.d4 gezogen. Der Partiezug hat gleich zwei
Vorteile: erstens Überraschungseffekt und zweitens hat Kramnik gegen 1.e4 in
letzten Jahren selten etwas außer Russisch gespielt.} c5 $1 {Of course there
can be no question of a Petroff. If you have to play for a win, there is no
better choice than the Sicilian.  Von Russischer Partie kann natürlich keine
Rede sein. Wenn man auf Gewinn spielen muss, gibt es keine bessere Wahl als
Sizilianisch.} 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 {Kramnik decides on
the Najdorf Variation. On one hand, the decision is the correct one - it is
one of the sharpest variations in modern theory and offers Black good
counter-chances. On the other, it is perhaps a little ambitious when facing
Anand, who plays the Najdorf himself and certainly knows all about it. I would
rather have considered the Ragozin or the Dragon variations.  Kramnik
entscheidet sich für die Najdorf-Variante. Einerseits ist die Entscheidung
richtig - es ist eine der schärfsten Varianten in der modernen Theorie und
bietet Schwarz gute Konterchancen. Auf der anderen Seite, gegen Anand, der
selbst Najdorf spielt und mit Sicherheit darüber alles weiß, war es vielleicht
ein wenig übertrieben. Ich würde eher Ragozin oder die Drachen-Variante in
Betracht ziehen.} 6. Bg5 ({Nowadays Heute gilt} 6. Be3 {is considered to be
the main move, but the variations which arise after it are sharp and
complicated - exactly what Kramnik was aiming for in this final game and what
Anand wanted to avoid. als Hauptzug, doch die Varianten, die danach entstehen,
sind scharf und kompliziert - genau das, was Kramnik in dieser letzten Partie
anstrebte und Anand vermeiden wollte.}) 6... e6 7. f4 Qc7 $1 {The correct
decision! After 7....Qb6 there are far too many forced drawing variations,
whereas after 7....b5 and 7....Nbd7 White too can play relatively without risk.
Richtige Entscheidung! Nach 7....Qb6 gibt es viel zu viele forcierte
Remisabwicklungen, während nach 7....b5 und 7....Nbd7 Weiß ebenfalls relativ
risikofrei aufspielen kann.} (7... Qb6 8. Qd2 Qxb2 ({Nor does Auch} 8... Nc6 {
achieve a playable position: bringt keine spielbare Stellung aufs Brett:} 9.
O-O-O Qxd4 10. Qxd4 Nxd4 11. Rxd4 Be7 12. Na4 Bd7 13. Nb6 $14 {Kramnik -
Svidler (Wijk aan Zee, 2004)}) 9. Rb1 Qa3 10. f5 {White has various ways to
play for a win, but we have to assume that in this specific match situation
Anand would bank on safety first and choose the long drawish variation. Weiß
hat unterschiedliche Möglichkeiten, auf Gewinn zu spielen, aber es ist zu
vermuten, dass in dieser spezifischen Matchsituation Anand auf Nummer sicher
gehen würde und die lange remisliche Variante wählen würde.} Nc6 11. fxe6 fxe6
12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. e5 dxe5 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Ne4 Qxa2 16. Rd1 Be7 17. Be2 O-O
18. O-O Ra7 19. Rf3 Kh8 20. Rg3 Rd7 21. Qh6 Rf7 22. Qh5 Rxd1+ 23. Bxd1 Qa5 24.
Kf1 Qd8 25. Qxf7 Qxd1+ 26. Kf2 Qxc2+ 27. Kf3 Qd1+ 28. Kf2 Qc2+ 29. Ke3 Bc5+ 30.
Nxc5 Qxc5+ 31. Kd2 Qf2+ 32. Kc3 Qd4+ 33. Kc2 Qf2+ 34. Kc3 {Vallejo Pons -
Kasparov (Moscow, 2004). This long variation is almost forced; if Black tries
to deviate, he risks getting into a losing position. Of course, Kramnik would
not have wanted such a development. Diese lange Variante ist fast forciert,
will Schwarz ausweichen, so riskiert er, in eine verlorene Stellung
hineinzukommen. Solch eine Entwicklung wäre natürlich für Kramnik unerwünscht.}
) (7... b5 8. e5 dxe5 9. fxe5 Qc7 10. exf6 Qe5+ 11. Be2 Qxg5 12. O-O {Leko -
Ivanchuk (Monaco, 2001). It is clear that White has a very strong initiative
thanks to his lead in development. Es ist offensichtlich, dass Weiß dank
seines Entwicklungsvorsprungs eine sehr starke Initiative hat.}) (7... Nbd7 8.
Qf3 Qc7 9. O-O-O b5 10. Bd3 Bb7 11. Rhe1 $14 {This is one of the main
positions in the 6.Bg5-Najdorf. As you can see, White's central position is
very solid. Das ist eine der Hauptstellungen im 6.Bg5-Najdorf. Wie man sieht,
steht Weiß sehr solide im Zentrum.}) 8. Bxf6 (8. Qf3 b5 9. O-O-O (9. Bxf6 gxf6
10. e5 (10. O-O-O b4 11. Nce2 Bb7 (11... h5 12. Ng3 h4 13. Nh5 Nd7 14. g4 Bb7
15. Bg2 O-O-O 16. Kb1 Nc5 17. Rhe1 Be7 18. Qh3 Kb8 19. f5 e5 20. Nb3 a5 21.
Qxh4 a4 22. Nc1 a3 23. b3 Nxe4 24. Rxe4 Bxe4 25. Bxe4 Qc3 26. Nd3 d5 27. Qf2
dxe4 28. Qb6+ Ka8 29. Qa6+ Kb8 30. Qb6+ Ka8 31. Qa6+ {1/2-1/2 Stellwagen,D 
(2621)-Hillarp Persson,T (2491)/Malmo SWE 2008/The Week in Chess 704}) 12. Qh5
Qc5 13. e5 Bc8 14. Ng3 f5 15. Ngxf5 exf5 16. e6 Bxe6 17. Nxe6 Qe3+ 18. Kb1 Qxe6
19. Bb5+ Kd8 20. Rhe1 Qf6 21. Qf3 Ra7 22. Qf2 Rb7 23. Ba4 Bg7 24. c3 bxc3 25.
Bb3 Nd7 26. Re2 Re8 27. Rc2 Rc7 28. Qf3 Re4 29. g4 Qe7 30. gxf5 Re1 31. Rxe1
Qxe1+ 32. Rc1 Qxc1+ {0-1 Nepomniachtchi,I (2613)-Khismatullin,D (2566)/
Krasnoyarsk RUS 2007/The Week in Chess 670}) 10... Bb7 11. Qh5 b4 $1 $132) 9...
b4 10. Nce2 Nbd7 11. g4 (11. e5 $4 Bb7 $19) 11... Bb7 12. Bxf6 Nxf6 13. Ng3 Rc8
14. Bd3 g6 15. h4 Bg7 16. h5 Nd7 $132 {Naiditsch - Vachier Lagrave (Moscow,
2006). Black reached a playable position with counter-chances. Schwarz
erreichte eine spielbare Stellung mit Konterchancen.}) 8... gxf6 {Now White
has a whole host of options. To be honest, I don't like the move in the game.
White may well exert immediate pressure on the e6-pawn, but in return Black
gets the e5-square for his pieces. I would prefer the traditional 9.Qd2.  Nun
hat Weiß eine Menge an Möglichkeiten. Mir gefällt der Partiezug ehrlich gesagt
nicht. Zwar übt Weiß sofortigen Druck gegen den Bauern e6 aus, doch dafür
bekommt Schwarz das Feld e5 für seine Figuren. Ich würde das traditionelle 9.
Qd2 vorziehen.} 9. f5 (9. Qh5 $6 {lets Black easily achieve good play. lässt
Schwarz leicht zu gutem Spiel kommen.} Qc5 10. Qxc5 dxc5 11. Nb3 Bd6 12. g3 Ke7
13. Bg2 Ra7 14. O-O-O Rd8 15. a4 b6 16. Nd2 Rad7 17. Nc4 Bc7 $132 {Kamsky -
Svidler (Baku, 2008)}) (9. Qd2 Nc6 (9... b5 10. Bd3 Bb7 {The development of
the bishop to b7 has a major disadvantage - the e6-square is weakend. Die
Entwicklung des Läufers nach b7 hat einen großen Nachteil - der Punkt e6 wird
geschwächt.} 11. O-O-O Nd7 12. Rhe1 O-O-O 13. f5 $14 {Khalifman - Lautier 
(Moscow, 2001)}) 10. O-O-O (10. Nb3 b5 11. Bd3 Bb7 12. a4 b4 13. Ne2 Rg8 14. g3
O-O-O 15. O-O-O d5 16. exd5 Rxd5 $15 {Kamsky - Paragua (Las Vegas, 2008)})
10... Bd7 11. Kb1 h5 12. Bc4 O-O-O 13. Nxc6 Qxc6 14. Bb3 Kb8 15. Rhf1 Qc5 16.
Qd3 h4 17. Qh3 Be7 18. f5 $14 {Topalov - Anand (Dortmund, 1997)}) (9. Be2 Nc6
10. Qd2 (10. Qd3 h5 11. O-O-O Bd7 12. Nf5 $2 {It is not so easy to crack open
Black's position; in fact it is easier to end up at a disadvantage. so leicht
kann man die schwarze Stellung nicht knacken, man kommt eher in Nachteil} exf5
13. Nd5 Qa5 14. Nxf6+ Kd8 15. Nxd7 Kxd7 16. Qb3 Be7 17. Qxb7+ Qc7 18. Qxc7+
Kxc7 19. exf5 $15 {Shirov - Akopian (Khanty-Mansiysk, 2007)}) 10... Bd7 11.
O-O-O {And there arises the same sort of position as after 9.Qd2. Es entsteht
der gleiche Stellungstyp wie nach 9.Qd2.} h5 12. Kb1 O-O-O 13. Nb3 Kb8 14. Bf3
Na5 15. Nxa5 Qxa5 16. Qe3 h4 17. Rd3 Qc5 18. Qd2 Be7 19. Re1 $14 {Spraggett -
Rodshtein (Cappelle la Grande, 2007)}) 9... Qc5 (9... Nc6 10. fxe6 fxe6 11. Bc4
(11. Be2 $5 Nxd4 12. Qxd4 (12. Bh5+ Ke7 13. Qxd4 Qc5 14. Qd1 Bh6 $15) 12... Qf7
13. Na4 Bd7 14. Nb6 Rd8 15. O-O $14 {Van der Wiel - Hou Yifan (Wijk aan Zee,
2007)}) 11... Nxd4 12. Qxd4 Rg8 13. O-O-O Bd7 14. Bb3 O-O-O 15. g3 Be7 16. Na4
Rg5 17. Rd3 $14 {Radjabov - Grischuk (Sochi, 2008)}) 10. Qd3 (10. fxe6 $6 {
In this position, the exchange of pawns does not achieve much, because Black
is controlling both the h5- and the c4-squares. In dieser Stellung bringt der
Bauerntausch eher wenig, weil Schwarz das Feld h5 sowie auch das Feld c4
kontrolliert.} fxe6 11. Be2 Nc6 12. Nb3 (12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Bh5+ Ke7 14. Qf3 Bh6
$15) 12... Qe3 $15 {And White is forced to exchange queens. Und Weiß ist
gezwungen, die Damen zu tauschen.}) 10... Nc6 11. Nb3 $1 {The only move, or
else Black will get some counterplay. Der einzige Zug, ansonsten kommt Schwarz
zu Gegenspiel.} (11. O-O-O $2 Qxd4 12. Qxd4 Nxd4 13. Rxd4 Bd7 $15 {Black is
simply better, thanks to his control of the dark squares. Dank der Kontrolle
der schwarzen Felder steht Schwarz einfach besser.}) (11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. O-O-O
Rb8 $15) 11... Qe5 12. O-O-O exf5 $6 {This looks suspect. Black opens up the
position with his king in the centre and at the same time offers a whole range
of squares to the white knights. Instead of this, Black should try to
stabilise the position. Das sieht verdächtig aus. Schwarz öffnet die Stellung
mit dem König im Zentrum und bietet gleichzeitig den weißen Springern eine
Menge Felder an. Stattdessen sollte Schwarz versuchen, die Stellung zu
stabilisieren.} (12... Bd7 13. Kb1 (13. Nd2 b5 (13... Bh6 14. Kb1 Bxd2 $2 15.
Qxd2 Ke7 16. Be2 h5 17. Qe3 $1 $14 {The threat is 18.Nd5! exd5 19.Rxd5 winning
the queen. At the same time,White wants to double rooks on the d-file. Black
is simply badly placed.  Es droht 18.Nd5! exd5 19.Rxd5 mit Damengewinn,
gleichzeitig will Weiß seine Türme auf der d-Linie verdoppeln. Schwarz steht
einfach schlecht.}) 14. Nf3 Qc5 15. Kb1 (15. e5 $2 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Qxe5 $15 {
Obviously White does not have enough for the sacrificed pawn. Weiß hat
offensichtlich nicht genug für den geopferten Bauern.}) 15... h5 $132) (13.
fxe6 fxe6 14. Kb1 b5 (14... O-O-O 15. Nd2 Qc5 16. Na4 Qf2 17. Nc4 Kb8 18. Nab6
$36) 15. Be2 h5 $132) 13... b5 (13... O-O-O 14. Nd2 Qc5 15. Na4 Qd4 16. Qxd4
Nxd4 17. Nb6+ Kc7) 14. Be2 (14. a3 $6 {Gives Black something to attack on the
queenside. Gibt Schwarz ein Angriffsziel am Damenflügel.} Rb8 $132) 14... h5 {
It turns out that b4 is hardly a threat. Es stellt sich heraus, dass b4 gar
keine Drohung ist.} (14... b4 15. Na4 Rb8 16. Qxa6 $18) 15. Bf3 Rc8 $13 {
I think this would have been exactly the correct position for Black - there is
no forcing line, the position is unclear, both sides have roughly equal
chances. Ich denke, das wäre genau die richtige Stellung für Schwarz gewesen -
es gibt kein forciertes Spiel, die Stellung ist unklar, beide Seiten haben
ungefähr gleiche Chancen.}) 13. Qe3 $1 {Very strong! White makes the d-file
available for his rook. The obvious move 13.Nd5 leads to unwanted
complications: Sehr stark! Weiß macht die d-Linie für den Turm frei. Der
offensichtliche Zug 13.Nd5 führt zu unerwünschten Komplikationen:} (13. Nd5
fxe4 (13... Bh6+ 14. Kb1 Kf8 15. Nb6 fxe4 16. Qxd6+ Qxd6 17. Rxd6 Rb8 18. Bxa6
Ke7 19. Rxc6 bxc6 20. Nxc8+ Rbxc8 21. Bxc8 Rxc8 22. Nd4 $14) 14. Qxe4 $1 Be6 (
14... Qxe4 15. Nxf6+ Ke7 16. Nxe4 Bg4 17. Re1 Be6 18. Kb1 $11) 15. Nc7+ Ke7 $3
(15... Kd7 16. Nxa8 $3 Bh6+ (16... Qxe4 17. Nc5+ Ke7 18. Nxe4 Bh6+ 19. Kb1 Rxa8
20. Nc3 $16) 17. Kb1 Rxa8 18. Qxh7 $16) 16. Qxe5 fxe5 17. Nxa8 Bh6+ 18. Kb1
Rxa8 $44 {Of course Anand did not want to go into anything like this. Auf so
etwas wollte sich Anand natürlich nicht einlassen.}) 13... Bg7 {Anything else
is much worse: Alles andere ist viel schlechter:} (13... h5 14. Kb1 Bh6 15. Qf2
fxe4 16. Nxe4 $1 $16) (13... fxe4 14. Rd5 Qe6 (14... Qe7 15. Nxe4 $16) 15. Nd4
Nxd4 16. Qxd4 Bd7 17. Bc4 $16) 14. Rd5 Qe7 (14... Qe6 15. Rxf5 $16) 15. Qg3 Rg8
(15... O-O 16. exf5 Re8 17. Bd3 Nb4 18. Rd4 Nxd3+ 19. Qxd3 Qe3+ 20. Qxe3 Rxe3
21. Nd5 Re5 22. Nb6 Rb8 23. g4 $18) 16. Qf4 $1 (16. Qh4 fxe4 17. Qxh7 Kf8 18.
Qxe4 f5 19. Qxe7+ Kxe7 20. Rd1 Be6 21. Nd5+ Bxd5 22. Rxd5 Be5 $132) (16. Qxd6
$2 fxe4 17. Qxe7+ Nxe7 18. Rh5 f5 19. Rxh7 Be6 $15) 16... fxe4 {16....Be6
would be better, in order to set a more difficult task for his opponent.
Besser wäre 16....Be6, um den Gegner vor eine schwierigere Aufgabe zu stellen.}
(16... Be6 $1 17. Rd1 (17. Rxd6 $2 Bh6 18. Qxh6 Qxd6 19. Qxf6 Rd8 $17) (17.
exf5 $4 Bxd5 18. Nxd5 Qe1#) (17. Bd3 fxe4 18. Bxe4 f5 $1 19. Rxf5 (19. Bxf5
Bxc3 20. Bxe6 fxe6 $19) 19... Bxc3 20. bxc3 Bxf5 21. Qxf5 Qg5+ $19) 17... fxe4
18. Nxe4 Kf8 19. Nxd6 Bg4 $1 20. Bc4 $1 (20. Qxg4 $4 Bh6+ $19) 20... Bxd1 21.
Rxd1 Qe5 22. Qxe5 Nxe5 23. Bd5 Rb8 24. Nxb7 (24. Bxb7 Bh6+ 25. Kb1 Rd8 $15)
24... Bh6+ 25. Kb1 Ng4 $132) 17. Nxe4 f5 $2 {This is the decisive error! Black
had to play 17....Be6, to bring the game to the position which might have
arisen after 16....Be6 17.Rd1 fxe4. Das ist der entscheidende Fehlgriff!
Schwarz hätte 17....Be6 spielen müssen, um die Partie zu der Stellung zu
führen, die nach 16....Be6 17.Rd1 fxe4 hätte entstehen können.} (17... Be6 $5
18. Nxd6+ (18. Rxd6 f5 $17) 18... Kf8 19. Rd1 {->16....Be6. ->16....Be6.}) 18.
Nxd6+ Kf8 19. Nxc8 Rxc8 20. Kb1 $1 {Now it is all over - Black can do no more.
Jetzt ist es vorbei - Schwarz kann nichts mehr machen.} (20. Bd3 Nb4 21. Qxf5
Rc7 $15) 20... Qe1+ (20... Nb4 $2 21. Rxf5 Qe1+ 22. Nc1 $18) 21. Nc1 Ne7 22.
Qd2 {The exchange of queens is forced. Der Damentausch ist erzwungen.} Qxd2 (
22... Qe6 $4 23. Rd8+ Rxd8 24. Qxd8#) 23. Rxd2 Bh6 24. Rf2 Be3 {Black can only
be worse. It was clear that he could no longer win the game and so Kramnik
offered a draw in this position. Schwarz kann nur schlechter stehen. Es war
klar, dass die Partie nicht mehr zu gewinnen war, deswegen bot Kramnik in
dieser Stellung Remis an.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-38"]
[Site "Dresden"]
[Date "2008.11.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Miton, Kamil"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2604"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2008.11.13"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Poland"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "POL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5
9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Ne5 Bb4 12. Nxd7 Nxd7 13. Qc2 h5 14. h3 g4 15. hxg4
hxg4 16. Bxg4 Qg5 17. Bh3 Nf6 18. a4 Nh5 19. Bh2 Nf4 20. Bxf4 Qxf4 21. Rfe1 a6
22. Re3 O-O-O 23. Ne2 Qg5 24. b3 Rdg8 25. Rg3 Qd2 26. Qxd2 Bxd2 27. Rxg8+ Rxg8
28. bxc4 bxc4 29. Ra2 c3 30. Rc2 Rd8 31. d5 cxd5 32. Nxc3 Bxc3 33. Rxc3+ Kd7
34. exd5 Bxd5 35. Bg4 Rb8 36. Rc5 Kd6 37. Ra5 Bc4 38. Bf3 Rb1+ 39. Kh2 Rb2 40.
Kg1 Rb3 41. Bh5 f6 42. f4 Bd3 43. Kf2 e5 44. fxe5+ fxe5 45. Bf7 Ra3 46. Rd5+
Ke7 47. Bg8 e4 48. Re5+ Kf6 49. Re8 a5 50. Bd5 Kf5 51. Bc6 Bc2 52. Bd7+ Kf6 53.
Bc6 Bxa4 54. Bxa4 Rxa4 55. Ke3 Ra1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-38"]
[Site "Dresden"]
[Date "2008.11.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D81"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2719"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2008.11.13"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Cuba"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CUB"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qb3 dxc4 5. Qxc4 Bg7 6. e4 O-O 7. Be2 Nfd7 8.
Be3 Nb6 9. Qd3 $146 {[%mdl 8] This move looks quite normal; surprisingly, it
had never been played before.} (9. Qc5 {has been examined in several CBM
issues, most recently in CBM 126, annotations to Alekseev-Kamsky.}) 9... Nc6 ({
The immediate} 9... f5 {deserves attention.}) 10. Rd1 f5 11. Nf3 f4 ({After} 
11... Nb4 12. Qd2 {the white queen takes a comfortable square.}) 12. Bc1 Bg4
13. e5 {White hardly has anything better. The resulting position presents a
typical conflict: which is more important - Black's "dead" g7 bishop or his
outpost on d5?} Qd7 (13... Nb4 $5) 14. Ne4 Rad8 15. Nc5 Qc8 16. Qc3 e6 $6 {
It was essential to push the white knight from c5:} (16... Nd5 17. Qb3 (17. Qc4
b6) 17... b6 18. Ba6 Qb8 19. Ne4 Na5 20. Qa4 c5 $13) 17. h3 Bh5 $6 (17... Bxf3
18. Bxf3 Nxd4 $1 19. Bxb7 Qb8 20. Be4 Bxe5 21. Nxe6 $13) 18. O-O Nd5 19. Qb3
Na5 20. Qc2 Nc6 21. Ng5 $1 {[%csl Re6]} Ndb4 22. Qe4 Bxe2 23. Qxe2 Nxd4 (23...
Rfe8 $142 $14) 24. Rxd4 $1 Rxd4 25. Ncxe6 c5 26. Nxf8 Bxf8 27. Nf3 Rd5 28. e6
Be7 29. Bxf4 $16 {White has won a pawn but he has yet to parry Black's
counterplay.} Nd3 {[%csl Gd3]} 30. Bg3 c4 31. Qe4 Qc6 32. Nd4 (32. b3 $1) 32...
Qc5 33. Nc2 Qc6 34. Ne3 $6 (34. b3 $1 b5 (34... c3 35. Nd4 Qc5 36. Qxd3 Rxd4
37. Qf3 $18) (34... cxb3 35. Nd4 $1 Qc4 36. Qf3 $1 {[%cal Rf3f7,Rd4b3]}) 35.
Rd1 $16 cxb3 $2 36. Nd4) 34... Rc5 35. Qg4 b5 (35... Nxb2 $13 {was quite
possible.}) 36. f4 $2 {This "pseudo-active" move compromises White's position.}
(36. b3 $1 $14) 36... Qe4 37. Qf3 Qxf3 38. Rxf3 Rc6 (38... Nxb2 $2 39. f5 $1
Kg7 40. f6+ $1 Bxf6 41. Bd6 Rc8 42. Ng4 $16) 39. f5 gxf5 40. Nxf5 Bc5+ 41. Kh2
Rxe6 $17 {Everything has turned around. Black has recaptured the pawn, and his
queenside pawn advantage gives him an upper hand.} 42. b3 h5 (42... Ra6 $5 $17)
43. bxc4 bxc4 44. Bc7 Re2 (44... Ra6 $142) 45. Bd6 Bb6 $15 {Black's prospects
are better but the position remains complex; the Cuban GM probably didn't want
to take a risk.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-38"]
[Site "Dresden"]
[Date "2008.11.16"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Sasikiran, Krishnan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2694"]
[Annotator "Rogozenco,D"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2008.11.13"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "India"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "IND"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 a6 5. e3 b5 6. b3 Bg4 7. Be2 Nbd7 8. h3 Bf5
$5 9. g4 {Kramnik chooses the most aggressive continuation, a decision
probably dictated by the fact that it is difficult for White to achieve an
advantage by quiet means. However, objectively Black gets reasonable chances
in the upcoming complications.} Bg6 10. Ne5 Nxe5 {One of several playable
options.} 11. dxe5 Ne4 12. Nxe4 Bxe4 13. f3 Bg6 14. cxd5 cxd5 15. a4 b4 16. e6
Qd6 $1 (16... fxe6 $6 17. Bb2 $44 {[%csl Rf8]}) 17. f4 $146 (17. Qd4 Qxe6 18.
Bb2 Qd6 19. Rc1 e6 (19... f6 $5) 20. h4 f6 21. a5 Be7 22. h5 Bf7 23. h6 $13 {
1-0 Rajlich,I (2421)-Murariu,A (2461)/Budapest 2006 (38)}) 17... Be4 (17...
Qxe6 $2 18. f5 Qe4 19. Bf3 $18) 18. exf7+ Kxf7 19. Bf3 (19. O-O g6 20. Bb2 Bg7
$11) 19... Bxf3 20. Qxf3 g6 21. f5 $6 {An overoptimistic move. Possibly
Kramnik missed his opponent's reply.} ({After} 21. Bb2 Bg7 22. Be5 (22. Bxg7
Kxg7 23. O-O Rac8 24. Rac1 Rc3) 22... Qe6 23. Rd1 Rhd8 24. Bd4 {the position
is equal. For instance:} Rac8 (24... Bxd4 25. Rxd4 Rac8 26. f5 gxf5 27. O-O {
- 24...Rac8} (27. Rxb4 Rc3 28. Kd2 Rdc8 29. Qxf5+ Qxf5 30. gxf5 $11)) 25. f5
gxf5 26. O-O Bxd4 27. Rxd4 (27. exd4 $5 Rc3 28. Qxf5+ Qxf5 29. Rxf5+) 27... Rc3
(27... Kg8 28. gxf5 Qe5 29. Rg4+ Kh8 30. f6 Rc2 31. Qf4 $11) 28. Qxf5+ Qxf5 29.
Rxf5+ $11) 21... Bg7 $1 {Other moves would have fully justified 21.f5.} (21...
gxf5 22. Qxf5+ Ke8 23. Bb2 $16 Qg3+ $140 24. Kd1 Rg8 25. Rf1 $18) (21... Qf6 $2
22. Qxd5+ Kg7 23. O-O (23. Ra2 $18) 23... Qxa1 24. fxg6 $18) 22. Ra2 ({It
turns out that after} 22. fxg6+ {Black simply retreats the king} Ke8 {and
White is in big troubles:} (22... Kxg6 $4 23. Qf5+ Kh6 24. Qh5#) 23. Ra2 (23.
Qf7+ Kd7 24. Qxg7 Qg3+ $19) 23... Rf8 24. Qg2 Rc8 $19) 22... Bc3+ 23. Bd2 Rhf8
24. O-O Kg8 $15 {/-/+} 25. Qf4 e5 {Sasikiran plays for more than a better
endgame.} (25... Qxf4 26. Rxf4 gxf5 27. gxf5 Rac8 $15) 26. Qh6 Rad8 27. e4 (27.
Rc2 $142 d4 $140 28. exd4 Bxd4+ (28... exd4 29. Bf4 Qc6 30. Be5 $132) 29. Kg2
$13 (29. Be3 gxf5 $17)) 27... dxe4 28. Bg5 Rd7 29. Kg2 e3 {By giving back the
pawn the Indian Grandmaster misses his chance.} ({Black is safe on the
kingside even without bringing back the bishop.} 29... Qd5 $1 {would have won
the second pawn without sufficient compensation for White:} 30. Be3 (30. Kh2
Qxb3 31. Re2 Qxa4 $19) (30. fxg6 e3+ $19) 30... gxf5 31. gxf5 Qxb3 32. Kh1 Rg7
$17) 30. Bxe3 Qd5+ 31. Kh2 e4 32. Raf2 Bg7 33. Qg5 Bf6 {Realising that the
advantage has slipped, away Sasikiran decides to repeat moves.} ({The
following variations show that in the final position White is able to keep the
balance:} 33... Qxb3 34. f6 (34. fxg6 Rxf2+ 35. Rxf2 Qe6 36. gxh7+ Kxh7 $17)
34... Rd5 35. Rb1 Qd3 (35... Qc4 $6 36. Qh4) 36. Rd2 Qxd2+ (36... Rxg5 37. Rxd3
Bxf6 38. Rd7 $44) 37. Bxd2 Rxg5 38. Bxg5 Bxf6 39. Bxf6 Rxf6 40. Rxb4 Re6 41.
Kg2 e3 42. Kf1 $11) (33... Rdf7 34. f6 Qd6+ 35. Kg2 Rxf6 36. Rxf6 Rxf6 37. Rxf6
Bxf6 38. Qc5 $1 $11) 34. Qh6 Bg7 35. Qg5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-38"]
[Site "Dresden"]
[Date "2008.11.17"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2678"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2008.11.13"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Germany"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. cxd5 Nxd3 10. Qxd3 Qxd5 11. Re1 Bf5 12. Nc3 Nxc3 13. Qxc3 Be6 14. Re5
Qc6 15. Qa5 Rd8 16. Bf4 O-O 17. Rc1 Qb6 18. Rb5 Qxa5 19. Rxa5 Ra8 20. d5 Bd7
21. Ne5 Bd6 22. Bg3 Bxe5 23. Bxe5 c6 24. dxc6 Bxc6 25. Bd4 a6 26. Re5 Rfe8 27.
Rxe8+ Rxe8 28. Be3 Rd8 29. f3 f6 30. Kf2 Kf7 31. h4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-38"]
[Site "Dresden"]
[Date "2008.11.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D07"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2642"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2008.11.13"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "England"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ENG"]

1. d4 Nc6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 Bg4 4. Nc3 e6 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bf4 {A quiet response
to the Chigorin Defence.} Bd6 7. Bg3 Nge7 8. e3 Qd7 {Here are other practical
examples:} (8... a6 9. Bd3 (9. a3 Bxg3 10. hxg3 Qd6 11. Na4 Nd8 12. Nc5 Rb8 13.
Rc1 Ne6 14. Qa4+ c6 15. b4 f6 16. Bd3 Bf5 $4 (16... g6 $14) 17. Bxf5 Nxf5 18.
Nxb7 {1-0 Spiridonov,N (2405)-Ligoure,G (2240)/Cannes 1990/EXT 1997}) 9... Bh5
10. a3 Bg6 11. b4 Na7 12. Na4 Nb5 13. Nc5 Bxg3 14. hxg3 Nd6 15. Ne5 Bxd3 16.
Qxd3 g6 17. g4 c6 18. a4 b5 19. a5 Nc4 20. Ke2 Qd6 21. f4 Kf8 22. g5 Nf5 23.
Rh3 Kg7 24. Rah1 Qc7 25. g4 Nfd6 26. Rh6 $16 {1-0 Cebalo,M (2515)-Fioramonti,H/
Martigny 1986/EXT 2002 (36)}) (8... O-O 9. Be2 (9. Rc1 Qd7 10. Be2 Rfe8 11. a3
Nf5 12. Bxd6 Qxd6 13. O-O a6 14. Qb3 Nce7 15. Rfe1 Rab8 16. Rcd1 c6 17. e4 Bxf3
18. Bxf3 Nh4 19. Na4 Qf4 20. Nc5 {1/2 Lalic,B (2503)-Skytte,R (2404)/Aarhus
2003/CBM 097}) (9. Bd3 {[%cal Rd3h7]} h6 (9... Kh8 10. a3 a6 11. Qc2 Qd7 12. b4
Bxf3 13. gxf3 Rae8 14. Ne2 a5 15. b5 Na7 16. O-O h5 17. Rfc1 c6 18. bxc6 Naxc6
19. Kh1 g5 20. Rg1 Rg8 21. Nc3 $14 {1-0 Iskusnyh,S (2482)-Kuzmin,I (2198)/
Russia 2007/EXT 2008 (36)}) 10. a3 Bxg3 11. hxg3 Qd6 12. Rc1 Qf6 13. Be2 Rad8
14. Nb5 a6 15. Nc3 Rfe8 16. Na4 Nf5 17. O-O a5 18. Nc5 b6 19. Nd3 $14 {1-0
Bosboom Lanchava,T (2363)-Botsari,A (2297)/Ermioni Argolidas 2005/CBM 107 ext 
(26)}) 9... Nf5 (9... a6 10. Rc1 Qd7 11. a3 f5 12. Bxd6 Qxd6 13. g3 $5 Rae8 14.
O-O f4 $2 (14... Kh8 15. Na4 $14 {Atalik,S}) 15. exf4 $2 (15. gxf4 $1 Bh3 16.
Re1 Qg6+ 17. Ng5 $16 h6 $140 $2 18. Bh5 $18 {Atalik,S}) 15... Nf5 16. Ne5 $2 (
16. Qd3 $1 $16 {Atalik,S}) 16... Bh3 17. Nxd5 $2 Nfxd4 $1 18. Bc4 Rxe5 $1 19.
fxe5 Nxe5 20. Nf4+ Nxc4 21. Nxh3 Nf3+ 22. Kh1 Ncd2 23. Ng1 Nxf1 24. Qb3+ Kh8
25. Nxf3 Nd2 26. Nxd2 Qxd2 27. Qc2 $11 {1-0 Atalik,S (2619)-Hamad,A (2277)/
Izmir 2006/EXT 2007/[Atalik] (40)}) (9... Ng6 $5 10. Rc1 Nce7 11. Bxd6 Qxd6 12.
O-O c6 13. Na4 Nc8 14. Nc5 Qe7 15. b4 Nd6 16. a4 {1/2 Sundararajan,K (2495)
-Roy Chowdhury,S (2393)/Visakhapatnam 2006/CBM 111 ext}) 10. Qb3 (10. Qc2 Nh6
11. a3 Re8 12. Nb5 Bf5 13. Bd3 Bb4+ $6 14. Ke2 $6 (14. axb4 Nxb4 15. Bxf5 Nxc2+
16. Bxc2 $16) 14... Be4 $2 (14... Bxd3+ 15. Qxd3 Ba5) 15. Bxe4 $2 (15. Nxc7 $1
Bxf3+ 16. Kf1 $1 $16) 15... dxe4 16. Ne5 Nxe5 17. Bxe5 Bd6 18. Qxe4 $13 {
0-1 Savchenko,S (2532)-Schuermans,R (2239)/Le Touquet 2006/EXT 2007 (24)})
10... Nxg3 11. hxg3 Bb4 12. Rc1 Qd6 13. O-O Bxc3 14. Rxc3 Nd8 15. Bd3 Bxf3 16.
gxf3 c6 17. Kg2 g6 18. Rh1 Kg7 19. g4 Qd7 20. Rcc1 f6 21. Rh4 Nf7 22. Rch1 $14
{1-0 Relange,E (2490)-Schuermans,R (2165)/Le Touquet 1998/EXT 2000 (30)}) 9. a3
(9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O Bxg3 11. hxg3 Ng6 $6 {Here it doesn't work.} 12. Qb3 $1
Nce7 13. Qxb7 Rfb8 14. Qa6 Rxb2 15. Qa3 Rbb8 16. Rab1 c6 17. Rfc1 Bf5 18. Rb3
Rxb3 19. axb3 Rb8 20. Na4 Qb7 21. Nc5 $16 {1-0 Milos,G-Van Riemsdijk,H (2375)/
Brasilia 1982/EXT 2002 (72)}) 9... O-O 10. Bd3 a6 11. Bxd6 Bxf3 (11... Qxd6 $2
12. Bxh7+ $1 Kxh7 13. Ng5+ Kg6 14. Qxg4 f5 15. Qf4 Qxf4 16. exf4 Nxd4 17. O-O-O
$16 {[%csl Gg5,Rg6]}) 12. Qxf3 Qxd6 13. Qg3 Rfd8 14. b4 $14 {Black has yet to
rearrange his knights; White is preparing his queenside attack.} g6 $6 {
Looks like a loss of time.} (14... Nc8 {could have been met with} 15. b5 $1) ({
but} 14... Na7 $5 15. Na4 Nac8 16. Rc1 c6 17. Nc5 Rb8 {, then trying to
transfer the knight to d6 (or just putting it to b6), was probably still
possible.}) 15. Na4 Nc8 16. Rc1 {The c6 knight can't move now.} Ra7 17. O-O b5
$6 {Desperation but what to do? If Black waits, White doubles his rooks along
the c-file.} 18. Qxd6 Rxd6 19. Nc3 $1 {[%cal Rc3d5]} (19. Nc5 $143 Nb6) 19...
N6e7 20. Bxb5 $1 {In the endgame a rook and two pawns are usually stronger
than two knights.} axb5 21. Nxb5 Rda6 (21... Rb7 22. Nxd6 Nxd6 23. Rc5) 22.
Nxa7 Rxa7 {[%mdl 4096]} 23. Rc5 Nb6 (23... Rxa3 24. Rxc7 {[%csl Gb4]}) 24. Ra1
Kf8 25. a4 $1 Ke8 26. a5 Nc4 27. Ra2 f5 28. Kf1 Kd7 29. Ke2 Nd6 $2 {This
allows the white pawns to move forward.} (29... c6 30. Kd3 Nd6 31. f3 $14) 30.
b5 $1 Nc4 ({Black probably overlooked} 30... Nb7 31. Rxc7+ $1 Kxc7 32. b6+ Kb8
33. bxa7+ Kxa7 34. Rc2 $18) 31. Ra4 $5 Kd8 (31... Rxa5 $2 32. Rcxc4) (31...
Nxa5 $2 32. Rc2 {[%cal Rc2a2]}) 32. a6 Nb6 33. Ra1 Nec8 34. h3 $1 {Opening a
"second front" - a standard technique.} h5 35. g4 $1 hxg4 36. hxg4 fxg4 37. Rg1
Ne7 38. Rxg4 Na4 39. Rh4 $5 c6 {It was probably better for Black to accept the
exchange sacrifice but White should win anyway:} (39... Nxc5 40. dxc5 Kd7 41.
Rh8 {[%cal Ye2d3,Yd3c3,Yc3b4,Yb4a5,Yb5b6]} Nc6 $5 42. Kd2 $1 Nb4 (42... d4 43.
e4 $5) 43. Rh7+ $1 Kd8 (43... Ke6 44. Kc3 Nxa6 45. bxa6 Rxa6 46. Rxc7 $18 {_|_}
) 44. Rh4 Nc6 (44... Nxa6 45. Ra4) 45. Rh8+ Kd7 46. Kc3 $18) 40. Rh8+ Kc7 41.
Rc2 Nb6 42. Rh7 Kb8 43. bxc6 Rc7 44. Kf3 Ka7 45. Ra2 Nbc8 46. Rb2 Kxa6 $4 {
[%mdl 8192] A blunder in a lost position.} (46... Rxc6 47. Rb7+ Kxa6 48. Rbxe7
Nxe7 49. Rxe7 Rf6+ 50. Kg3 Kb6 51. Re5 Kc6 52. f4 Rd6 53. Kg4 Kd7 54. Kg5 $18 {
[%cal Yg5h6,Yh6g7,Yg7f7]}) (46... Nb6 47. Ke2 Kxa6 48. f3 {[%cal Ye3e4]}) 47.
Rh1 (47. Rh1 Nxc6 48. Ra1+ Na5 49. Rba2 $18) 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-38"]
[Site "Dresden"]
[Date "2008.11.20"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2008.11.13"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Armenia"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ARM"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5
9. Ne5 Bb7 (9... h5 {was examined in CBM 120 and 123. The text move is
considered less accurate.}) 10. h4 g4 (10... Bg7 11. hxg5 hxg5 12. Rxh8+ Bxh8
13. Qf3 $1 (13. a4 a6 14. Bxc4 $1 b4 (14... Nbd7 15. Qb3 Qe7 16. Be2 Nxe5 17.
Bxe5 b4 18. Nb1 O-O-O 19. Nd2 Nd7 20. Bxh8 Rxh8 21. Nc4 e5 22. O-O-O $16 {
1-0 Jobava,B (2330)-Raceanu,V (2293)/Artek 1999/EXT 2000(58)}) 15. Na2 c5 $1
$13 (15... a5 16. Qd3 Qe7 17. O-O-O $14 {1-0 Jobava,B-Nikoladze,S (2250)/
Tbilisi 1997/EXT 2002(28)})) 13... b4 $6 (13... Nbd7 14. O-O-O $44) 14. Nxc4
bxc3 15. bxc3 Kf8 16. Nd6 Qe7 17. Rb1 Ba6 18. e5 Ne8 19. Bxa6 Nxa6 20. Rb7 Nec7
21. Qxc6 $18 {1-0 Bocharov,D (2569)-Askarov,M (2522)/Kazan RUS 2008/The Week
in Chess 714 (27)}) (10... gxh4 11. Bxh4 Be7 12. Qf3 Nbd7 (12... b4 $6 13. Na4
Nbd7 14. Bxc4 (14. Nxc4 $5 $16) 14... Nxe5 15. dxe5 Nd7 16. Qh5 Bxh4 17. Rxh4 (
17. Bxe6 $1 Nxe5 18. Rxh4 Qf6 (18... Nd3+ 19. Ke2) 19. Nc5 $16) 17... Qe7 18.
Rg4 O-O-O 19. Rg7 $14 Rhf8 (19... Rdf8 $1 {Mchedlishvili,M; Izoria,Z}) 20. Rd1
$16 {1-0 Izoria,Z (2486)-Korobov,A (2470)/Patras 2001/CBM 083 ext(47)}) 13.
Nxf7 Kxf7 14. e5 Rb8 15. exf6 Nxf6 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. O-O-O Ke7 18. Qe3 Qf8 19.
g3 Kf7 20. Bh3 Qe7 21. Rhe1 Bc8 22. Ne4 $16 {1-0 Jobava,B-Tkeshelashvili,S 
(2180)/Tbilisi 1997/EXT 2002(31)}) (10... Rg8 11. hxg5 hxg5 12. Qf3 (12. Nxf7
Kxf7 13. e5 Nd5 $1 (13... Bb4 14. exf6 Rh8 15. Rh5 Nd7 16. Rxg5 Qxf6 17. Rg4
$36 {1-0 Pashikian,A (2534)-Rodshtein,M (2615)/Yerevan 2007/CBM 120 ext (38)})
14. Rh7+ Bg7 15. Qh5+ Kf8 16. Ne4 $6 (16. Qf3+ Ke8 17. Qh5+ Kf8 18. Qf3+ Ke8
19. Qh5+ {1/2 Grischuk,A (2716)-Karjakin,S (2732)/Baku AZE 2008/The Week in
Chess 703}) 16... Qa5+ 17. Kd1 Qa4+ 18. Kc1 Nb4 $2 (18... Qb4 $1) 19. Qf3+ Ke8
20. Nd6+ Kd8 21. Qf6+ Kc7 22. Ne8+ Kb6 (22... Kd7 $5) 23. Qd8+ Ka6 24. Nc7+ Ka5
25. Ne8+ {1/2 Estremera Panos,S (2394)-Perez Candelario,M (2537)/La Massana
AND 2008/The Week in Chess 716}) 12... Qe7 13. O-O-O (13. Be2 Nbd7 14. Rd1
O-O-O 15. Kf1 a6 16. b3 cxb3 17. axb3 Nxe5 18. Bxe5 Nd7 19. Bg3 f6 20. Kg1 Bg7
21. Qe3 $44 {1-0 Sasikiran,K (2670)-Rodriguez Guerrero,E (2464)/La Roche sur
Yon 2006/CBM 112 (51)}) 13... Nbd7 14. Nxd7 Nxd7 15. e5 O-O-O 16. Ne4 c5 17. d5
Qe8 18. Qg4 Bxd5 19. Rh7 Be7 20. Rxd5 exd5 21. e6 f5 22. Qxf5 dxe4 23. Qxe4 Nb6
24. Rxe7 Rd1+ 25. Kxd1 Qxe7 26. Be2 $2 (26. Qc6+ Kd8 27. Be2 $16) 26... Qb7 $1
$13 {1/2 Sargissian,G (2676)-Perez Candelario,M (2537)/Merida ESP 2008/The
Week in Chess 701 (34)}) 11. Nxg4 (11. Be2 Nbd7 $5 (11... h5 {leads to the
main theoretical line 9.h4 g4 10.Ne5 h5}) 12. Nxd7 (12. Bxg4 $5) 12... Qxd7 13.
Be5 Qe7 14. Bxg4 Rg8 15. Bf3 Nd7 16. Bg3 O-O-O 17. Qe2 e5 18. d5 Nc5 19. O-O-O
(19. O-O $142) 19... Nd3+ 20. Kb1 Kb8 21. dxc6 Bxc6 $13 {0-1 Georgescu,T (2384)
-Gurevich,M (2611)/Plovdiv BUL 2008/The Week in Chess 703 (29)}) 11... Nxg4 (
11... Nbd7 12. Nxf6+ Qxf6 (12... Nxf6 13. Qf3 Rg8 14. Be2 (14. O-O-O $5) 14...
a6 (14... b4 $5 15. Na4 c5) 15. Rd1 Nd7 16. O-O Qf6 17. Qe3 O-O-O 18. b3 cxb3
19. axb3 Be7 20. Rc1 $16 {1-0 Gelfand,B (2723)-Alekseev,E (2711)/Dagomys RUS
2008/The Week in Chess 700 (37)}) 13. Qd2 $1 (13. Be2 Rg8 $1 (13... O-O-O 14.
e5 Qf5 15. a4 b4 16. Bxc4 Nc5 (16... bxc3 17. Bd3) 17. Ne2 Rg8 18. O-O Be7 19.
Qc1 $16 {1-0 Radjabov,T (2744)-Cheparinov,I (2687)/Sochi RUS 2008/The Week in
Chess 717 (38)}) 14. e5 Qf5 15. O-O O-O-O 16. a4 $6 (16. Qb1 $13) 16... b4 17.
Bxc4 bxc3 18. bxc3 c5 19. Bd3 Be4 20. Ba6+ Kc7 21. Qe2 Bc6 22. Rfe1 Qg4 23. Qd2
Be7 24. Be2 Qg7 $17 {1-0 Babuiian,L (2415)-Grigoriants,S (2577)/Istanbul 2008/
CBM 125 Extra (41)}) 13... O-O-O (13... Rg8 14. O-O-O Nb6 15. Qe3 b4 16. e5 Qf5
17. Ne4 O-O-O 18. Be2 c5 19. dxc5 Qxe4 20. Rxd8+ Kxd8 21. Qxe4 Bxe4 22. cxb6
axb6 23. Rd1+ Kc8 24. Rd4 Bxg2 25. Rxc4+ Bc5 26. Rf4 $16 {1-0 Bocharov,D (2569)
-Vitiugov,N (2617)/Dagomys RUS 2008/The Week in Chess 701 (86)}) 14. h5 Bg7 15.
O-O-O Qe7 16. Qe3 e5 17. dxe5 Bxe5 18. Bxe5 Nxe5 19. Be2 Nd3+ 20. Bxd3 cxd3 21.
Rxd3 Rxd3 22. Qxd3 Qg5+ 23. Qd2 Qxg2 24. Rd1 Qg5 25. f4 $14 {1/2 Gelfand,B 
(2737)-Najer,E (2634)/Odessa UKR 2008/The Week in Chess 687 (?)}) 12. Qxg4 Qxd4
13. Rd1 (13. Be2 Na6 $5 (13... h5 14. Qf4 Na6 15. Rd1 Qg7 16. O-O Be7 17. a4 b4
18. Nb1 Qf6 19. Nd2 $14 {0-1 Greenfeld,A (2559)-Roiz,M (2644)/Beer Sheva 2007/
CBM 120 ext (45)}) (13... Nd7 $5 14. Rd1 Qc5 15. Qf4 Rd8 16. O-O Bg7 17. Qg4
Be5 18. Kh1 h5 19. Qg5 Bf6 20. Qc1 Ne5 21. Rxd8+ Kxd8 22. f4 Ng4 23. e5 Be7 24.
Bxg4 hxg4 25. Ne4 Qb6 26. Qd1+ Kc8 27. Qxg4 c5 $13 {0-1 Nebolsina,V (2345)
-Shumiakina,T (2360)/Chelyabinsk RUS 2008/The Week in Chess 709 (68)}) 14. Rd1
(14. O-O Nc5 15. Qh5 Rg8 16. Be5 Qd7 17. Rfd1 Nd3 18. Bxd3 cxd3 19. Qf3 Rd8 20.
Rd2 c5 21. a4 b4 22. Nb5 f5 $17 {0-1 Rodshtein,M (2626)-Nyback,T (2587)/
Plovdiv BUL 2008/The Week in Chess 704 (40)}) 14... Qg7 15. Qh5 (15. Qf3 {
[%cal Ye4e5]}) 15... Qg6 (15... Nc5 16. Be5 Qxg2 17. Bf3 Qg8 $13) 16. Qe5 Qg7
17. Nxb5 Qxe5 18. Bxe5 cxb5 19. Bxh8 $14 {0-1 Greenfeld,A (2559)-Gelfand,B 
(2736)/Beer Sheva 2007/CBM 120 ext (23)}) 13... Qf6 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (13... Qg7
14. Qf4 Na6 15. Be2 (15. a4 $5 Bb4 16. Be2 O-O 17. O-O Nc5 18. Qe3 Nb3 (18...
Bxc3 $142 19. bxc3 Nxa4 20. Rd7 $44) 19. axb5 Bc5 20. Qf4 cxb5 21. Nxb5 Nd4 22.
Nxd4 Bxd4 23. Bxc4 $16 {1/2 Sasikiran,K (2700)-Stefanova,A (2483)/Zafra 2007/
CBM 117 (72)}) 15... Be7 (15... Nc5 16. O-O Rc8 17. e5 Be7 18. Qe3 Rd8 19.
Rxd8+ Kxd8 20. b4 cxb3 21. axb3 a5 22. Rc1 $36 {1-0 Bellon Lopez,J (2440)
-Almagro Mazariegos,S (2311)/La Roda 2006/CBM 111 ext (32)}) (15... e5 16.
Qxe5+ Qxe5 17. Bxe5 Rg8 18. a4 Bb4 19. O-O Nc5 20. axb5 Bxc3 21. Bxc3 cxb5 22.
f3 $16 {1-0 Pashikian,A (2611)-Motylev,A (2672)/Kallithea GRE 2008/The Week in
Chess 729 (45)}) 16. O-O $5 (16. e5 Nb4 17. Ne4 Nd5 18. Qc1 Bb4+ 19. Kf1 O-O-O
$15 {0-1 Eljanov,P (2641)-Dreev,A (2705)/Sochi 2005/CBM 107/[Lutz] (104)})
16... Nc5 17. e5 Qg6 18. Rd4 Rd8 19. Rfd1 Rd5 $6 (19... Rxd4 20. Rxd4 Qc2 21.
Bh5 Qf5 $13) 20. Qe3 h5 21. Bf3 a6 22. b4 cxb3 23. axb3 $16 {1-0 Aronian,L 
(2757)-Caruana,F (2640)/Dresden GER 2008/The Week in Chess 732 (32)}) 14. e5 (
14. Be2 h5 $5 (14... Nd7)) 14... Qf5 $5 {Here the black queen is more active
than on g7.} 15. Qd4 Be7 16. b3 (16. a4 O-O 17. axb5 cxb5 18. Nxb5 Nc6 $132)
16... c5 17. Qe3 $6 (17. Qd2 $1 $13 {preventing 17...Nc6.}) 17... Nc6 $1 18.
bxc4 Nb4 19. Qf4 Nc2+ 20. Ke2 Qxf4 21. Bxf4 bxc4 $17 {Black has clearly won
the opening/middlegame battle. His doubled pawns should not be underestimated
- they control important central squares.} 22. f3 Nd4+ (22... Nb4 $5 {[%cal
Yb4d5]}) 23. Kf2 Bd5 24. h5 (24. Rb1 $5) 24... Rb8 25. Be2 Rb2 26. Rd2 Rxd2 27.
Bxd2 f6 28. exf6 Bxf6 29. Rb1 Nxe2 $6 {Giving up this formidable knight was
not necessary.} (29... Kd7 30. Bd1 Kd6 $17) 30. Nxe2 O-O $6 (30... Kd7 31. Bc3
Bxc3 32. Nxc3 Kc6 $15) 31. Bxh6 Bh4+ 32. Kg1 Rf5 {Black must recapture the
pawn but White now creates sufficient counterplay.} 33. Rb8+ Kh7 34. Bd2 Rxh5
35. Bc3 Bg5 36. Kf2 Bh4+ 37. Kf1 Bg5 38. Ng3 Rh4 39. Rh8+ Kg6 40. Rg8+ Kh6 41.
Rh8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-38"]
[Site "Dresden"]
[Date "2008.11.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2786"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2008.11.13"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Ukraine"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "UKR"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 d6 7. f3 c5 8.
dxc5 dxc5 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bf4 Nc6 11. Rd1 Qa5 12. Bd2 Qa4 13. e3 e5 14. Ra1 Re8
15. Ne2 Bf5 16. b3 Qa6 17. Ng3 Bg6 18. Be2 Qb6 19. O-O a5 20. Rfd1 Nh7 21. Be1
Ng5 22. Rd5 Ne6 23. Rad1 a4 24. b4 cxb4 25. axb4 Nf4 26. Rd6 Nxe2+ 27. Nxe2
Red8 28. b5 Rxd6 29. Rxd6 Qc7 30. c5 Na5 31. Qb4 Nb3 32. c6 bxc6 33. b6 Qb7 34.
Nc3 Na1 35. Qc5 a3 36. Qxc6 Qxc6 37. Rxc6 Rb8 38. Nd5 Nb3 39. Bc3 a2 40. Bxe5
f6 41. Bc3 Bf7 42. e4 Bxd5 43. exd5 Na5 44. Rc5 Nb3 45. Rc6 Na5 46. Rc5 Nb3 47.
Rb5 Rc8 48. b7 Rxc3 49. b8=Q+ Kh7 50. Rxb3 a1=Q+ 51. Rb1 Rc1+ 52. Rxc1 Qxc1+
53. Kf2 Qd2+ 54. Kf1 Qd1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-38"]
[Site "Dresden"]
[Date "2008.11.23"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Beliavsky, Alexander G"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2619"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2008.11.13"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Slovenia"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "SLO"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Bd3
dxc4 9. Bxc4 g6 10. O-O Bg7 11. Rc1 O-O 12. Bb3 Qe7 13. Na4 Rd8 14. Qc2 Nf8 15.
Rfd1 Bd7 16. Qc5 Qxc5 17. Nxc5 Rab8 18. Ne5 Be8 19. f4 Nd7 20. Ncxd7 Bxd7 21.
Nxd7 Rxd7 22. Kf2 Rbd8 23. Ke2 Bf8 24. Bc2 Kg7 25. Be4 c5 26. dxc5 Rxd1 27.
Rxd1 Rxd1 28. Kxd1 Bxc5 29. Ke2 b6 30. g4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-38"]
[Site "Dresden"]
[Date "2008.11.25"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2726"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2008.11.13"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 128"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.01.28"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Spain"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ESP"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. e4 b4 10. Na4 c5 11. e5 Nd5 12. O-O cxd4 13. Nxd4 Be7 14. Re1 O-O 15.
Qg4 Re8 16. Bb5 Kh8 17. Bd2 a6 18. Bc6 Bxc6 19. Nxc6 Qc7 20. Rac1 Qb7 21. Nxe7
Rxe7 22. b3 a5 23. Nb2 N7b6 24. Nc4 Nxc4 25. bxc4 f5 26. Qh4 Nb6 27. Re3 Rf7
28. Rh3 g6 29. Rd3 Nd7 30. Rd6 Qe4 31. Qxe4 fxe4 32. Be3 Kg8 33. Rxe6 Rf5 34.
c5 Nxe5 35. c6 Kf7 36. Rd6 Rf6 37. Rxf6+ Kxf6 38. c7 Rc8 39. Rc5 Nd3 40. Rxa5
Rxc7 41. h4 h5 42. Ra6+ Kf7 43. Kh2 Rc3 44. Kg3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D93"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2771"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 c5 6. dxc5 Qa5 7. Rc1 dxc4 8.
Bxc4 O-O 9. Nf3 Qxc5 10. Bb3 Nc6 11. O-O Qa5 12. h3 Bf5 13. Ng5 Qa6 14. e4 Rad8
15. Bxf7+ Kh8 16. Qe1 h6 17. exf5 hxg5 18. Bxg5 Rxf7 19. fxg6 Rff8 20. f4 Qd3
21. f5 Nh5 22. Rf3 Qd4+ 23. Kh1 Bf6 24. Ne4 Kg7 25. Nc5 Rd6 26. Bxf6+ Rdxf6 27.
Ne6+ Rxe6 28. Qxe6 Rf6 29. Qe3 Rxf5 30. Qxd4+ Nxd4 31. Rxf5 Ng3+ 32. Kh2 Ngxf5
33. Rc7 Kxg6 34. g4 Nd6 35. Rxe7 Kf6 36. Re3 b5 37. h4 Nc4 38. Re4 Ne6 39. Kg3
a5 40. b3 Nd6 41. Re1 Nc5 42. g5+ Kf5 43. Rf1+ Ke5 44. Kg4 Nce4 45. h5 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.15"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B54"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 d6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 e5 6. Nf3 Be6 7. Ng5 Nf6 8.
Nxe6 fxe6 9. Bc4 Qd7 10. Be3 Rc8 11. Bb3 Be7 12. Qf3 Na5 13. Ba4 Nc6 14. O-O-O
O-O 15. Qh3 Kh8 16. Rhf1 a6 17. f4 exf4 18. Rxf4 Qc7 19. Qxe6 b5 20. Bb3 Na5
21. Kb1 Rfe8 22. Bd4 Nxb3 23. Qxb3 Qb7 24. Qf7 Qc6 25. Bxf6 Bxf6 26. Rxf6 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.16"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2706"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. Qc2 c5 7. dxc5 Na6 8. e3
Nxc5 9. Be2 dxc4 10. Bxc4 a6 11. a4 b6 12. O-O Bb7 13. Rfd1 Qc8 14. Qe2 Qc6 15.
Qf1 Rfc8 16. Ne5 Qe8 17. h3 Ncd7 18. Nxd7 Nxd7 19. e4 Bf6 20. f3 Bxc3 21. bxc3
Nc5 22. a5 Na4 23. Rd6 b5 24. Bb3 Rxc3 25. Bxa4 bxa4 26. Rb6 Rb3 27. Qc4 e5
1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.17"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Wang, Yue"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Nb6 8.
Ne5 a5 9. f3 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. e4 Bg6 12. Be2 e6 13. O-O Bb4 14. Be3 O-O
15. Qb3 Qb8 16. Kh1 Re8 17. Rad1 f6 18. Na2 Bf8 19. Bc4 Bf7 20. f4 Re7 21. Nc3
Qe8 22. Bf2 Nb8 23. d5 exd5 24. exd5 Na6 25. Bb6 cxd5 26. Nxd5 Re4 27. Qg3 Qc6
28. Bb5 Qxd5 29. Rxd5 Bxd5 30. Bxa5 Nc5 31. b4 Ne6 32. Bd3 Rd4 33. Qe3 Re8 34.
Bb5 Rc8 35. Bd7 Re4 36. Qxe4 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.19"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bg4 5. Qb3 Qb6 6. Nc3 e6 7. Nh4 Bh5 8. h3
Be7 9. g4 Bg6 10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. Rg1 Qxb3 12. axb3 Bb4 13. Bd2 Nbd7 14. Ke2 dxc4
15. bxc4 e5 16. Bg2 exd4 17. exd4 O-O 18. Rgd1 Rfe8+ 19. Kf1 Nb6 20. b3 a5 21.
g5 Nh5 22. c5 Nd7 23. Ne4 Bxd2 24. Rxd2 Nf4 25. Nd6 Reb8 26. Bf3 Ra6 27. Bg4 f5
28. Be2 b5 29. h4 a4 30. Bd1 Rba8 31. bxa4 bxa4 32. Ra3 Nf8 33. Rb2 N8e6 34.
Rb4 Nd5 35. Rc4 Rb8 36. Raxa4 Rxa4 37. Bxa4 Rb1+ 38. Ke2 Rb2+ 39. Ke1 Nb4 40.
Kd1 Nf4 41. Bc2 Kf8 42. Rc3 Nfd5 43. Rc4 Nf4 44. Rc3 Nfd5 45. Rc4 Nf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.20"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "257"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 c6 4. O-O Bg4 5. d4 e6 6. c4 Nbd7 7. Qb3 Qb6 8. Nc3
Be7 9. Bf4 O-O 10. Rfd1 Bf5 11. c5 Qxb3 12. axb3 Bc2 13. Rdc1 Bxb3 14. Nd2 Bc4
15. Nxc4 dxc4 16. Na4 Nd5 17. Rxc4 b5 18. cxb6 axb6 19. Rcc1 Rfc8 20. Nc3 Rxa1
21. Rxa1 Nxf4 22. gxf4 Nf6 23. Ra6 Bd8 24. Bf3 Kf8 25. e3 Nd5 26. Ne4 Be7 27.
Nd2 c5 28. Bxd5 exd5 29. Rxb6 cxd4 30. exd4 g6 31. Nf3 f6 32. Kg2 Kf7 33. h4 h5
34. Ng1 Rc2 35. Kf3 g5 36. fxg5 fxg5 37. hxg5 Bxg5 38. Rb5 Ke6 39. Rb6+ Kf7 40.
Rd6 Bf6 41. Ne2 Rxb2 42. Rxd5 h4 43. Nf4 Rd2 44. Ke3 Rd1 45. Ke4 Ke7 46. Nd3
Ra1 47. Rh5 Kf7 48. d5 Kg7 49. f3 Ra3 50. Nf4 Kf7 51. Rh7+ Kg8 52. Rb7 Bg5 53.
Ne6 Bf6 54. f4 h3 55. Kf5 Bh4 56. Rg7+ Kh8 57. Rg6 Ra7 58. Rg1 Ra5 59. Ke4 h2
60. Rh1 Ra2 61. Nd4 Kg8 62. d6 Kf7 63. Nf3 Bf6 64. Kf5 Rf2 65. Nxh2 Rd2 66. Ng4
Rxd6 67. Rh6 Rd5+ 68. Ne5+ Bxe5 69. fxe5 Ra5 70. Rh7+ Kg8 71. Re7 Ra6 72. Re6
Ra1 73. Rf6 Kg7 74. Ke4 Ra4+ 75. Kd5 Ra5+ 76. Kd4 Ra4+ 77. Kd5 Ra5+ 78. Ke4
Ra4+ 79. Kf5 Ra1 80. Rb6 Kf7 81. Rb7+ Ke8 82. Kf6 Re1 83. Ke6 Kf8 84. Rb8+ Kg7
85. Rd8 Re2 86. Rd5 Kf8 87. Rc5 Re1 88. Rc8+ Kg7 89. Kd6 Kf7 90. Rc7+ Ke8 91.
Ke6 Kf8 92. Rf7+ Ke8 93. Rh7 Kf8 94. Rh8+ Kg7 95. Re8 Re2 96. Kd7 Rd2+ 97. Ke7
Re2 98. e6 Ra2 99. Rc8 Ra7+ 100. Kd6 Ra6+ 101. Kd7 Ra7+ 102. Rc7 Ra8 103. Ke7
Kg6 104. Rb7 Kg7 105. Rd7 Kg6 106. Rd2 Ra7+ 107. Kf8 Ra8+ 108. Ke7 Ra7+ 109.
Kd6 Ra6+ 110. Ke5 Ra5+ 111. Rd5 Ra1 112. Rd8 Ra5+ 113. Kd6 Ra6+ 114. Ke7 Ra7+
115. Rd7 Ra8 116. Rd6 Kg7 117. Rc6 Ra7+ 118. Ke8 Ra8+ 119. Ke7 Ra7+ 120. Kd8
Kf8 121. Rc5 Ra8+ 122. Kd7 Ra7+ 123. Kd6 Ra6+ 124. Rc6 Rxc6+ 125. Kxc6 Ke7 126.
Kd5 Ke8 127. Kd6 Kd8 128. e7+ Ke8 129. Ke6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.21"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Be3 c5 8.
Rc1 Qa5 9. Qd2 O-O 10. Nf3 Rd8 11. d5 e6 12. Be2 exd5 13. exd5 Nd7 14. O-O Nf6
15. c4 Qxd2 16. Nxd2 b6 17. h3 Re8 18. Bd3 Nd7 19. Rfd1 Ne5 20. Bf1 Bd7 21. Nb1
f5 22. Nc3 Nf7 23. a4 g5 24. a5 f4 25. Bd2 Nd6 26. axb6 axb6 27. Rb1 Reb8 28.
Re1 Ra3 29. Re7 Bf5 30. Rc1 Rb7 31. Rxb7 Nxb7 32. Nb5 Ra1 33. Rxa1 Bxa1 34. h4
h6 35. hxg5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.22"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C43"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nxd7 Bxd7 7. O-O Bd6 8.
c4 c6 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Nc3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 O-O 12. Qh5 g6 13. Qxd5 Qc7 14. Bh6
Rfd8 15. h4 Be6 16. Qg5 Qxc3 17. Rfd1 Bf8 18. Bxf8 Rd5 19. Qf6 Rxf8 20. Be4 Rh5
21. Rac1 Qa5 22. f3 Rb5 23. a4 Rb6 24. d5 Bf5 25. d6 Bxe4 26. fxe4 Qxa4 27. h5
Qxe4 28. Qe7 Qb4 29. h6 Rc6 30. Qf6 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.24"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D82"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[PlyCount "146"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 c5 6. dxc5 Qa5 7. Rc1 Ne4 8. cxd5
Nxc3 9. Qd2 Qxa2 10. bxc3 Qa5 11. Bc4 Nd7 12. Nf3 Nxc5 13. Be5 Bxe5 14. Nxe5 f6
15. Nd3 Ne4 16. Qa2 Qxa2 17. Bxa2 b6 18. f3 Nd6 19. c4 e5 20. dxe6 Bxe6 21. Nf4
Bf7 22. O-O Rc8 23. Rfd1 Nb7 24. e4 Nc5 25. Nd5 Rc6 26. Rc3 Kf8 27. Ra3 a5 28.
Rb1 Bxd5 29. cxd5 Rd6 30. Re3 g5 31. e5 fxe5 32. Rxe5 h6 33. Rbe1 Kg7 34. Re7+
Kf6 35. Rc7 a4 36. Re3 Na6 37. Ra7 b5 38. f4 Nb4 39. fxg5+ hxg5 40. Bb1 Nxd5
41. Rf3+ Nf4 42. Rf1 Rd2 43. Be4 Ke5 44. Bf3 g4 45. Re1+ Kd6 46. Rd1 Rxd1+ 47.
Bxd1 Rc8 48. Kf2 Rc3 49. Ra6+ Kc5 50. Bxg4 a3 51. h4 b4 52. h5 Nd3+ 53. Kg1 b3
54. Rxa3 Rc1+ 55. Kh2 b2 56. Rb3 b1=Q 57. Rxb1 Rxb1 58. Bf5 Rb3 59. h6 Ne5 60.
h7 Rb8 61. Kg3 Kd6 62. Kf4 Nf7 63. g4 Ke7 64. g5 Kf8 65. g6 Nh8 66. Kg5 Kg7 67.
Be4 Rc8 68. Kh5 Rc4 69. Bd3 Rc1 70. Be4 Rg1 71. Bf5 Kf6 72. Be4 Rg5+ 73. Kh6
Rg4 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.25"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2776"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. Nge2 Ba5 8. O-O
Bb6 9. d5 Nb4 10. Qd2 exd5 11. cxd5 Ng4 12. Bb1 Qh4 13. Qf4 f5 14. exf5 Bxf5
15. h3 Bxf2+ 16. Kh1 Bd7 17. Qg5 Bc5 18. Rxf8+ Rxf8 19. Ng1 Rf1 20. Bxh7+ Kh8
0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.26"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5
9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Ne5 Bg7 12. Nxd7 Nxd7 13. Bd6 a6 14. a4 e5 15. Re1
Qf6 16. Ba3 Bf8 17. Bg4 Rd8 18. axb5 axb5 19. Bxf8 Kxf8 20. Bxd7 Rxd7 21. dxe5
Qe6 22. Qh5 Qxe5 23. f4 Qxf4 24. Rf1 Qe5 25. Rf5 Qe6 26. Raf1 Kg7 27. Ne2 Rf8
28. Ng3 c5 29. Rf6 Qxf6 30. Rxf6 Kxf6 31. Qxh6+ Ke7 32. Nf5+ Ke8 33. Nd6+ Ke7
34. e5 Rg8 35. Qf6+ Kf8 36. e6 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bg4 5. Qb3 Qb6 6. Nc3 e6 7. Nh4 Bh5 8. h3
Be7 9. g4 Bg6 10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. g5 Nfd7 12. f4 Na6 13. Bd2 Qxb3 14. axb3 Nb4
15. Ke2 f6 16. h4 Kf7 17. Bg2 f5 18. Ra5 Bd8 19. Ra4 a5 20. Rha1 Nb6 21. Rxa5
Rxa5 22. Rxa5 Nxc4 23. Ra7 Nxd2 24. Rxb7+ Be7 25. Kxd2 Rxh4 26. Bf1 Kf8 27. Be2
Rh2 28. Na4 Na2 29. Nc5 Bxc5 30. dxc5 Nc1 31. Kxc1 Rxe2 32. b4 Ke8 33. Rc7 Rxe3
34. Rxc6 Kd7 35. b5 Rb3 36. Rd6+ Ke7 37. Rb6 e5 38. Rb7+ Ke6 39. c6 exf4 40. c7
Kd7 41. b6 Rb4 42. Rb8 Rc4+ 43. Kd2 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.15"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. cxd5 Nxd3 10. Qxd3 Qxd5 11. Re1 Bf5 12. g4 Bg6 13. Nc3 Nxc3 14. Qxc3 f6
15. Bf4 Kf7 16. h4 h5 17. Qxc7 Rhe8 18. Ng5+ fxg5 19. Bxg5 Kg8 20. Bxe7 Qxd4
21. gxh5 Bxh5 22. Qe5 Qg4+ 23. Qg3 Rac8 24. Qxg4 Bxg4 25. Bb4 Be2 26. Rac1
1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.16"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2706"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 a6 5. Nc3 b5 6. b3 Bg4 7. Bd2 Nbd7 8. h3
Bxf3 9. Qxf3 b4 10. Na4 e5 11. Qd1 Ne4 12. Bd3 Nxd2 13. Qxd2 exd4 14. cxd5 cxd5
15. O-O Bd6 16. Bf5 Nf6 17. Qxd4 O-O 18. Rac1 g6 19. Bd3 a5 20. Rc6 Re8 21. Qb6
Qxb6 22. Nxb6 Rad8 23. Bb5 Re6 24. Rfc1 Kg7 25. Bd3 d4 26. exd4 Bf4 27. Rxe6
Bxc1 28. Rc6 Rxd4 29. Rxc1 Rxd3 30. Nc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.17"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Wang, Yue"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 O-O 8. Be2
e5 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Nb5 Bb4+ 11. Bd2 Bxd2+ 12. Nxd2 a6 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nd4
Bg4 15. Bxg4 Nfxg4 16. O-O Rc8 17. Qd1 Nf6 18. N2f3 Nxf3+ 19. gxf3 Nd7 20. Kh1
Qf6 21. Rg1 Nc5 22. Rc1 Ne6 23. Nxe6 Rxc1 24. Qxc1 Qxf3+ 25. Rg2 fxe6 26. Kg1
e5 27. Qc2 Qf5 28. Qxf5 Rxf5 29. e4 dxe4 30. Rg4 Kf7 31. Rxe4 Ke6 32. Rb4 b5
33. Rh4 h6 34. Rh3 e4 35. Rc3 Kd5 36. b4 Rf3 37. Rc7 Ra3 38. Rxg7 Rxa2 39. Rh7
Kc4 40. Rxh6 Kxb4 41. h4 a5 42. h5 a4 43. Re6 Rc2 44. h6 a3 45. Rxe4+ Kb3 46.
Re3+ Kb2 47. h7 Rc8 48. Re2+ Kb3 49. Re3+ Ka4 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.19"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e3 a6 6. a4 c5 7. Bxc4 Nc6 8. O-O
Be7 9. dxc5 Qxd1 10. Rxd1 Bxc5 11. Bd2 b6 12. Bd3 Nb4 13. Be2 O-O 14. a5 b5 15.
Rdc1 Be7 16. Ne5 Rd8 17. Bf3 Rb8 18. Ne4 Nfd5 19. Nc5 Bf6 20. Bxd5 Rxd5 21.
Bxb4 Bxe5 22. e4 Rd8 23. Rd1 Re8 24. Nd3 Bf6 25. Bd6 Ra8 26. e5 Bd8 27. Nc5 f6
28. b4 fxe5 29. Bxe5 Ra7 30. Rac1 Rf7 31. Rd4 Be7 32. Rcd1 h6 33. f4 Kh7 34. h3
g5 35. fxg5 hxg5 36. Kh2 Kg6 37. R1d2 Rf1 38. Re2 Rc1 39. Nd3 Rc4 40. Ree4 Rxd4
41. Rxd4 Rd8 42. Rxd8 Bxd8 43. g4 Be7 44. Kg3 Bf8 45. Nc5 Be7 46. Kf3 Kf7 47.
Ke3 Kg6 48. Kf3 Bf8 49. Ke3 Be7 50. Kd4 Bf8 51. Ke4 Be7 52. Kd4 Bf8 53. Ke4 Be7
54. Kd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.20"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qa4+ Nc6 5. Nd4 Qd7 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Nxd5 Qxd5
8. Nxc6 Qxc6 9. Qxc6+ bxc6 10. g3 Be6 11. Bg2 Bd5 12. e4 Bc4 13. d4 Bg7 14. Be3
c5 15. O-O-O cxd4 16. Bxd4 Bxd4 17. Rxd4 Bxa2 18. e5 Rb8 19. Ra4 Be6 20. Rxa7
O-O 21. Rxc7 Rb5 22. Re1 Rfb8 23. Re2 Kf8 24. f4 Ra5 25. Kb1 Rb4 26. Be4 Rba4
27. Kc2 Rb4 28. Rb7 Rd4 29. Rc7 Rb4 30. Bd3 Ra2 31. Kb1 Ra8 32. Rc3 Rab8 33.
Kc1 h5 34. Rf2 Kg7 35. Rc7 Kf8 36. f5 gxf5 37. Bxf5 Bb3 38. Bb1 Be6 39. Bf5 Bb3
40. Bg6 Rd8 41. Bc2 Be6 42. Rc5 h4 43. Rf4 hxg3 44. hxg3 Rb6 45. Rh4 Kg7 46.
Rc7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.21"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. cxd5 exd5 4. g3 Nf6 5. Bg2 Bd6 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Re8 8.
d3 h6 9. Qc2 c5 10. e4 Nc6 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 Nb4 13. Qb3 Bf5 14. Ne1 Qc7
15. Qc4 Rab8 16. a3 b5 17. Qc3 Na6 18. Nc2 c4 19. dxc4 bxc4 20. Nd4 Bd3 21. Re1
Be5 22. Rxe5 Qxe5 23. Bf4 Qf6 24. Bxb8 Rxb8 25. b4 Nc7 26. Rc1 Re8 27. h3 Qe5
28. Qa1 Nxd5 29. Nb5 Nxb4 30. axb4 Qxb5 31. Qxa7 Qxb4 32. Bd5 Re7 33. Qd4 Qd2
34. Rxc4 Qe1+ 35. Kg2 Bf1+ 36. Kh2 Bxc4 37. Bxc4 Re4 38. Qd8+ Kh7 39. Bd3 Qxf2+
40. Kh1 Qe1+ 41. Kg2 Qd2+ 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.22"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E36"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "29"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 d5 7. cxd5 Ne4 8.
Qc2 exd5 9. e3 Bf5 10. Bd3 c5 11. dxc5 Nd7 12. Ne2 Ndxc5 13. Bxe4 Nxe4 14. Nd4
Bg6 15. Qd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.24"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. O-O Be7 8.
d3 O-O 9. Be3 Be6 10. Rc1 f6 11. a3 Nd4 12. Ne4 Bb3 13. Qd2 Nxf3+ 14. Bxf3 Bd5
15. Qc2 c6 16. Nd2 Kh8 17. Rfd1 f5 18. b4 Bg5 19. Bxg5 Qxg5 20. a4 Qe7 21. a5
Bxf3 22. Nxf3 e4 23. dxe4 fxe4 24. Nd2 e3 25. axb6 exd2 26. Rxd2 axb6 27. Rd4
Rae8 28. e3 Rf7 29. Qd3 b5 30. Rd1 h6 31. Rd2 Ref8 32. f4 b6 33. Rd6 Rf6 34.
Kf2 Re8 35. Rxf6 Qxf6 36. Qd7 Qg6 37. f5 Qh5 38. h4 Re5 39. e4 Rxe4 40. f6 gxf6
41. Qxc6 Qf5+ 42. Kg2 Re7 43. Qxb6 Kg7 44. Rf2 Qe5 45. Kh2 Re6 46. Qb7+ Re7 47.
Qc6 Re6 48. Qd7+ Re7 49. Qg4+ Kh7 50. Kh3 h5 51. Qf3 Kg7 52. Kh2 Qd4 53. Qf5
Re1 54. Qf3 Re7 55. Kh3 Qe5 56. Qc6 Qe6+ 57. Qxe6 Rxe6 58. Rf5 Kg6 59. Rxb5 Re2
60. Rb8 Rb2 61. b5 Kg7 62. b6 f5 63. b7 Kh7 64. Rf8 Rxb7 65. Rxf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.25"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D82"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 c5 6. dxc5 Qa5 7. Rc1 Ne4 8. cxd5
Nxc3 9. Qd2 Qxa2 10. bxc3 Qa5 11. Bc4 Nd7 12. Nf3 Nxc5 13. O-O O-O 14. Be5 Bxe5
15. Nxe5 f6 16. Ra1 Qb6 17. d6+ Kg7 18. dxe7 Re8 19. Nf3 Rxe7 20. Rfb1 Qc7 21.
Nd4 Ne4 22. Qd3 Nc5 23. Qd2 Ne4 24. Qd3 Nc5 25. Qc2 Ne4 26. Bd3 Nc5 27. Be2 b6
28. Bf3 Bb7 29. Nb5 Qe5 30. Bxb7 Rxb7 31. c4 Rd7 32. h3 Qe4 33. Qa2 Rad8 34.
Nc3 Qe6 35. Nd5 Ne4 36. Qc2 Rc8 37. Rd1 Qe5 38. Rd4 Nc5 39. Nc3 Qe6 40. Qd1
Rcd8 41. Rxa7 Rxa7 42. Rxd8 Qxc4 43. Ne2 Qf7 44. Qb1 Qb3 45. Qxb3 Nxb3 46. Rb8
Ra1+ 47. Kh2 Nd2 48. Rb7+ Kg8 49. Rb8+ Kf7 50. Rb7+ Kg8 51. Ng3 Rb1 52. h4 h5
53. f4 f5 54. Rd7 Rb2 55. Kh3 b5 56. Rd4 Kf7 57. e4 fxe4 58. Nxe4 Rb3+ 59. g3
Nxe4 60. Rxe4 b4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 18th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2009.03.26"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B42"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2009.03.14"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 129 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.05.05"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.05.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Ne7 6. O-O Nbc6 7. Nxc6 Nxc6 8.
Be3 Be7 9. Nd2 O-O 10. c3 Qc7 11. Nc4 b5 12. Nb6 Rb8 13. Nxc8 Rfxc8 14. a4 Ne5
15. axb5 axb5 16. Bd4 Nc6 17. Be3 b4 18. Ba6 Rd8 19. Qe2 bxc3 20. bxc3 Qe5 21.
Bd2 Rb2 22. f4 Qc5+ 23. Kh1 d5 24. e5 d4 25. Qe1 g6 26. Qc1 Rxd2 27. Qxd2 dxc3
28. Qf2 Qxf2 29. Rxf2 Nb4 30. Rff1 c2 31. Be2 Bc5 32. Bc4 Be3 33. Bb3 Rc8 34.
Bxc2 Rxc2 35. Rad1 Nd5 36. g3 h5 37. Rf3 Re2 38. Rff1 h4 39. Rf3 h3 40. Rff1
Bf2 41. Rd3 Ne3 42. Rb1 Ng4 43. f5 Bb6 0-1

[Event "AZE-The World m"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2009.05.07"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gashimov, Vugar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2009.05.07"]
[EventType "schev (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 130 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.02"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "The World"]
[BlackTeam "Azerbaijan"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 d6 6. a3 Bg7 7. Rb1 O-O 8. b4
cxb4 9. axb4 d5 10. b5 Na5 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Nxd5 Qxd5 13. Qa4 Nc4 14. O-O Nb6
15. Qb4 Qd8 16. Bb2 Nd5 17. Qh4 Nf6 18. d3 a5 19. Rfc1 Bd7 20. Ba3 Rc8 21. Rxc8
Bxc8 22. b6 Nd5 23. Rc1 h6 24. Nd2 g5 25. Qc4 Nxb6 26. Qc7 Qxc7 27. Rxc7 Re8
28. Bxb7 Bxb7 29. Rxb7 Nd5 30. Nc4 a4 31. e4 Nc3 32. Bxe7 Ne2+ 33. Kg2 Nc1 34.
Ba3 Nxd3 35. Nd6 Re6 36. Ra7 Ne1+ 37. Kf1 Nc2 38. Bc5 a3 39. Nf5 Rxe4 40. Nxg7
Kxg7 1/2-1/2

[Event "AZE-The World m"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2009.05.07"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2756"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2009.05.07"]
[EventType "schev (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 130 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.02"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Azerbaijan"]
[BlackTeam "The World"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Bf4 Nc6
8. Qd2 Be6 9. O-O-O Qd7 10. Kb1 O-O-O 11. Ng5 Bxg5 12. Bxg5 f6 13. Be3 Kb8 14.
b3 Ne7 15. f3 b6 16. Kb2 Bd5 17. a4 Bb7 18. Bb5 Bc6 19. Bd3 a5 20. Rhe1 h5 21.
Bf2 Rde8 22. Ra1 Nc8 23. Reb1 g5 24. Bd4 g4 25. f4 Qf7 26. b4 Qd5 27. Bxf6 Rhf8
28. Bg7 Rg8 29. Bd4 g3 30. hxg3 Rxg3 31. Bf1 axb4 32. cxb4 Re4 33. Rd1 h4 34.
b5 Bb7 35. a5 bxa5 36. Rxa5 Nb6 37. Bxb6 cxb6 38. Qxd5 Bxd5 39. Ra6 Rb4+ 40.
Kc1 Bxg2 41. Bxg2 Rxg2 42. Rxb6+ Kc7 43. Rc6+ Kb7 44. Rcxd6 Rxf4 45. Rh6 Rc4
46. Rd7+ Kc8 47. Rd2 Rxd2 48. Kxd2 Rc5 49. b6 Kb7 50. Kd3 Rc6 51. Rxh4 Rxb6 52.
c4 Rd6+ 53. Kc3 Kc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "AZE-The World m"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2009.05.08"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Guseinov, Gadir"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C43"]
[WhiteElo "2659"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2009.05.07"]
[EventType "schev (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 130 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.02"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Azerbaijan"]
[BlackTeam "The World"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nxd7 Bxd7 7. O-O Bd6 8.
c4 c6 9. Nc3 O-O 10. cxd5 Nxc3 11. bxc3 cxd5 12. Qh5 g6 13. Qxd5 Qc7 14. Bh6
Rfd8 15. Qg5 Bxh2+ 16. Kh1 Bd6 17. c4 Bf8 18. Bxf8 Rxf8 19. c5 Rad8 20. Be4 Bc6
21. d5 f6 22. d6 fxg5 23. dxc7 Rc8 24. Bxc6 bxc6 25. f3 Rxc7 26. Rfd1 Rf5 27.
Rac1 Rd5 28. Re1 Kf7 29. Re4 a5 30. Ra4 Ra7 31. Kh2 Rd2 32. a3 h5 33. Re4 Re7
34. Ra4 Ree2 35. Rg1 Rd3 36. Rxa5 Rxf3 37. Ra7+ Kf6 38. Rc7 g4 39. Rxc6+ Kg5
40. Kh1 g3 41. Rd6 Rf4 42. Rc1 Rh4+ 43. Kg1 Rh2 44. Rd5+ Kh6 45. c6 Rexg2+ 46.
Kf1 Rc2 0-1

[Event "AZE-The World m"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2009.05.08"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2009.05.07"]
[EventType "schev (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 130 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.02"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "The World"]
[BlackTeam "Azerbaijan"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. g3 Bg7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O Nc6 8.
Qa4 Nb6 9. Qh4 e5 10. Qxd8 Rxd8 11. d3 Nd4 12. Bg5 f6 13. Bd2 Bg4 14. Nxd4 exd4
15. Ne4 Bxe2 16. Rfe1 Bxd3 17. Nc5 Bc2 18. Nxb7 Nc4 19. Bf4 d3 20. Re7 Rd4 21.
Rxc7 g5 22. Be3 Nxe3 23. fxe3 Rdd8 24. Nxd8 Rxd8 25. Be4 Re8 26. Bd5+ Kh8 27.
Bb3 1-0

[Event "AZE-The World m"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2009.05.08"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Guseinov, Gadir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B31"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2659"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2009.05.07"]
[EventType "schev (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 130 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.02"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "The World"]
[BlackTeam "Azerbaijan"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. c3 Bg7 4. d4 cxd4 5. cxd4 d5 6. e5 Nh6 7. h3 Nc6 8. Nc3
O-O 9. Bb5 Bf5 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. O-O f6 12. Re1 Nf7 13. Bf4 g5 14. Bh2 Nh8 15.
Ne2 Be4 16. Nd2 Ng6 17. Ng3 f5 18. Nb3 f4 19. Nxe4 dxe4 20. Nc5 Qd5 21. Nxe4
Nh4 22. Qb3 Qxb3 23. axb3 h6 24. Nc5 Nf5 25. Re4 Rfd8 26. Ne6 Rd7 27. Bxf4 Kf7
28. Nc7 Rxd4 29. Rxd4 Nxd4 30. Nxa8 gxf4 31. Rxa7 Bxe5 32. Rb7 Ne6 33. b4 Bxb2
34. Nb6 Kf6 35. Nc8 1-0

[Event "AZE-The World m"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2009.05.09"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B32"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2756"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "2009.05.07"]
[EventType "schev (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 130 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.02"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "The World"]
[BlackTeam "Azerbaijan"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb5 d6 6. c4 Be7 7. N1c3 a6 8. Na3
Nf6 9. Nc2 Be6 10. Be2 Rc8 11. b3 O-O 12. a4 b5 13. axb5 axb5 14. Nxb5 Nxe4 15.
O-O d5 16. cxd5 Qxd5 17. Bc4 Qxd1 18. Rxd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "AZE-The World m"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2009.05.09"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Gashimov, Vugar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C43"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2009.05.07"]
[EventType "schev (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 130 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.02"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Azerbaijan"]
[BlackTeam "The World"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nc3 Nxe5 7. dxe5 Nxc3
8. bxc3 Bc5 9. O-O O-O 10. Qh5 g6 11. Qh6 Qe7 12. Bf4 f5 13. Rab1 b6 14. Rfe1
Be6 15. Bg5 Qf7 16. Qh4 c6 17. a4 Rfe8 18. Qf4 Be7 19. Bh6 c5 20. h4 Red8 21.
h5 d4 22. c4 gxh5 23. a5 Rab8 24. axb6 axb6 25. Ra1 Rd7 26. Ra3 Kh8 27. Rea1
Rg8 28. Be2 h4 29. Ra7 Bd8 30. Rxd7 Qxd7 31. Ra8 b5 32. Ra6 Qb7 0-1

[Event "AZE-The World m"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2009.05.09"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D55"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2009.05.07"]
[EventType "schev (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 130 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.02"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Azerbaijan"]
[BlackTeam "The World"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Qb3 c6 8. e3
O-O 9. Rd1 Nd7 10. Bd3 b6 11. O-O Bb7 12. Bb1 g6 13. e4 dxc4 14. Qxc4 b5 15.
Qb3 Bg7 16. h4 Qe7 17. h5 a6 18. e5 c5 19. d5 Nxe5 20. Nxe5 Bxe5 21. Rfe1 Qg5
22. hxg6 fxg6 23. Ne4 Qh4 24. g3 Qg4 25. Nxc5 Bd4 26. Re4 Bxf2+ 27. Kg2 Qh5 28.
Nxb7 Ba7 29. Rd2 Rf1 30. Kxf1 Qh1+ 31. Ke2 Rf8 32. Rf4 Qg2+ 33. Kd1 Qg1+ 34.
Ke2 Qg2+ 35. Kd1 Qg1+ 36. Kc2 Rc8+ 37. Qc3 Rxc3+ 38. bxc3 Be3 39. dxe6 Bxd2 40.
Kxd2 Qg2+ 41. Kc1 Qxb7 42. Bxg6 Qe7 43. Bc2 Qa3+ 44. Kb1 Qxc3 45. Re4 Kf8 46.
e7+ Ke8 47. Re6 Qb4+ 48. Kc1 Qc4 49. Re3 a5 50. Kd2 Qxa2 51. Kd1 Qa1+ 52. Kd2
Qd4+ 53. Ke2 Qg4+ 54. Kf2 a4 55. Be4 Qe6 56. Bd3 Qc6 57. Be2 Qf6+ 58. Kg2 Qg5
0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 37th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2009.07.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2756"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2009.07.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 a5 7. Qc2 Bxd2+ 8.
Qxd2 c6 9. a4 b5 10. axb5 cxb5 11. Qg5 O-O 12. Qxb5 Ba6 13. Qa4 Qb6 14. Nbd2
Bb5 15. Qa3 Nc6 16. O-O Rab8 17. Rfc1 Nxd4 18. Nxd4 Qxd4 19. Nf3 Qb6 20. Qxa5
Qxa5 21. Rxa5 Bc6 22. Rxc4 Bxf3 23. Bxf3 Rxb2 24. h4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 37th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2009.07.03"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2721"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2009.07.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qa4 Bb7 6. Bg2 c5 7. dxc5 bxc5 8. O-O
Be7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Rd1 Qb6 11. Bf4 Rd8 12. Rab1 h6 13. a3 a5 14. Qb5 Qxb5 15.
cxb5 d5 16. Ne5 g5 17. Be3 Nbd7 18. Nc6 Bxc6 19. bxc6 Ne5 20. Na4 Nxc6 21. Bxc5
Bxc5 22. Nxc5 Rab8 23. e4 dxe4 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25. Nxe4 Nxe4 26. Bxe4 Nd4 27.
Kg2 Nb3 28. Bc2 Rb8 29. Bxb3 Rxb3 30. Rc1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 37th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2009.07.04"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E36"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "2009.07.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 d5 7. Nf3 dxc4 8.
Qxc4 b6 9. Bg5 Ba6 10. Qa4 c5 11. dxc5 bxc5 12. Rd1 Qb6 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Rd2
Nc6 15. Qg4+ Kh8 16. Qh4 Kg7 17. Qg4+ Kh8 18. Qh4 Kg7 19. Qg4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 37th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2009.07.05"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2697"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[Annotator "RR"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2009.07.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4
c6 9. Re1 Bf5 10. c5 $6 {Perhaps the question mark is unjustified, because
alternative moves do not bring an advantage by force either. Vielleicht ist
das Fragezeichen unberechtigt, weil die alternativen Züge auch keinen Vorteil
erzwingen.} (10. Nc3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Bxd3 12. Qxd3 dxc4 13. Qxc4 Nd7 $11) (10.
Qb3 Na6 $13) 10... Bc7 11. Nc3 Nd7 $1 {Now Black does not have to take on c3. 
Jetzt muss Schwarz nicht auf c3 schlagen.} 12. Qc2 (12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Bxe4 Bxe4
14. Rxe4 Nxc5 $11) 12... Re8 13. Be3 (13. Bg5 $5) 13... h6 14. b4 $2 (14. Nd2)
14... Ndf6 $1 15. h3 {This looks like a mistake, but ...Ng4 should not be
allowed. Das sieht wie ein Fehler aus, aber ...Ng4 möchte man auch nicht
zulassen.} Qd7 $1 {There is probably no defence against the invasion on g3. 
Gegen den Einschlag auf h3 gibt es wohl keine Verteidigung.} 16. Ne2 Bxh3 $1
17. Ne5 (17. gxh3 Qxh3 18. Ng3 Nxg3 19. fxg3 Bxg3 20. Qg2 Qxg2+ 21. Kxg2 Bxe1
22. Rxe1 Ng4 23. Bd2 Rxe1 24. Bxe1 Re8 $19) 17... Bxe5 18. dxe5 Rxe5 19. f3
Rae8 20. Bf4 Rh5 21. fxe4 dxe4 22. Bc4 Bxg2 $1 23. Ng3 Bf3 24. Qb3 Rh4 25. Bd6
Qh3 26. Bxf7+ Kh7 27. Qb2 Ng4 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 37th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2009.07.06"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Jakovenko, Dmitrij"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "2009.07.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 O-O 8. Be2
dxc4 9. O-O Bxc3 10. bxc3 b5 11. a4 c6 12. Ne5 Qe7 13. f4 a6 14. Bf3 Bb7 15.
Qb1 Qc7 16. f5 Nd7 17. Ng4 Rae8 18. fxe6 Rxe6 19. Qf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 37th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2009.07.08"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E55"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2756"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "2009.07.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 c5 7. O-O dxc4 8. Bxc4
Nbd7 9. Qe2 b6 10. dxc5 Bxc3 11. c6 Bb4 12. cxd7 Qxd7 13. Rd1 Qb7 14. b3 Qe7
15. Bb2 Ba3 16. Be5 Bb7 17. Nd4 Bc5 18. Nb5 Bc6 19. Nd4 Bb7 20. Ba6 Bd5 21. Nb5
Rad8 22. Nc3 Ba8 23. Rxd8 Rxd8 24. Rd1 Bd6 25. Bxd6 Rxd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 37th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2009.07.09"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Bacrot, Etienne"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2721"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2009.07.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4
c6 9. Qc2 Na6 10. a3 Bg4 11. Ne5 Bxe5 12. dxe5 Nac5 13. f3 Nxd3 14. Qxd3 Nc5
15. Qd4 Nb3 16. Qxg4 Nxa1 17. Bh6 g6 18. Nc3 Qb6+ 19. Rf2 Rfe8 20. Qf4 Qc7 21.
Re2 Re6 22. b4 Rd8 23. Bg5 Nb3 24. Bxd8 Qxd8 25. cxd5 cxd5 26. Rb2 Qb6+ 27. Kf1
Qa6+ 28. Kf2 Qxa3 29. Ra2 Qc1 30. Nxd5 Qxf4 31. Nxf4 Rxe5 32. Rxa7 Rb5 33. Nd3
Nd4 34. Ra8+ Kg7 35. Re8 Rd5 36. Nf4 Rb5 37. Nd3 Rd5 38. Nf4 Rb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 37th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2009.07.10"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2009.07.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 {Again no Catalan from Kramnik, just as in
the previous rounds.} Be7 5. Bf4 {Kramnik plays this slightly more often than
the other bishop move, Carlsen with White also alternates between the two main
lines.} ({Currently the theoretical reputation of the solid line} 5. Bg5 h6 6.
Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 {remains intact. Although in a recent high-level game White
was successful, this was not due to the opening itself:} 8. Be2 Bb7 9. Bxf6
Bxf6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. b4 c5 12. bxc5 bxc5 13. Rb1 Bc6 14. O-O Nd7 15. Bb5 Qc7
16. Qd3 Rfc8 17. Rfd1 Rab8 18. a4 cxd4 19. exd4 Ba8 $6 (19... Bxb5 $142 $11 {
Gelfand} 20. Nxb5 $140 Qa5 $1 21. Qf5 Qxa4 22. Qxd7 a6 23. Ne5 Bxe5 24. dxe5
Rd8 25. Qc6 Rxb5 26. e6 $1 $11) 20. Qf5 Qxc3 (20... Rd8 $5 21. Rbc1 $14) 21.
Qxd7 Qc7 22. Qf5 Rb6 23. Ne5 $36 {Grischuk,A (2748)-Gelfand,B (2733)/Nalchik/
2009/ Krasenkow's notes in CBM 130 show that White's minor pieces are stronger
than Black's bishop pair, especially the ץa8.}) 5... O-O 6. e3 c5 ({The last
time Kramnik had to face this line with Black, he opted for} 6... Nbd7 7. a3 ({
More ambitious is} 7. c5 {, but even here Black can hold his own:} Nh5 (7... c6
8. Bd3 b6 9. b4 a5 10. a3 Ba6 11. O-O Qc8 12. h3 Qb7 13. Rb1 Bxd3 (13... axb4
14. axb4 Rfc8 15. Bxa6 Qxa6 16. Qc2 Bd8 17. Rb2 Qb7 18. Ne1 Bc7 19. Nd3 Ne8 20.
Rc1 b5 21. Nb1 f6 22. Bxc7 Nxc7 23. Nd2 Ra6 24. e4 Nf8 25. e5 f5 26. Nb3 Ne8
27. Na5 Qf7 28. Qd2 h6 29. h4 $14 {(),Cheparinov,I (2679)-L'Ami,E (2603)/EU-ch
Budva/2009/}) 14. Qxd3 axb4 15. axb4 Ra3 16. Qc2 Rfa8 17. Rfc1 b5 18. Nd2 Bd8
19. Nb3 Ne4 $1 20. Nxe4 dxe4 21. Qxe4 Nf6 22. Qf3 Nd5 $132 {/=/+,Lysyj,I (2593)
-Zvjaginsev,V (2677)/Moscow op/2008/}) 8. Bd3 Nxf4 9. exf4 b6 (9... c6 10. O-O
b6 11. b4 bxc5 12. bxc5 Qa5 13. Qc2 h6 14. Rfb1 Ba6 15. Bxa6 Qxa6 16. Ne2 Rfb8
17. Ne1 Bf6 18. Nd3 Qa5 19. g3 Bd8 20. Kg2 Bc7 21. Ng1 Rxb1 22. Rxb1 Rb8 23.
Rxb8+ Nxb8 24. Nf3 Nd7 25. h4 Qb5 26. Nde5 {Sargissian,G (2678)-Ehlvest,J 
(2595)/Moscow Aeroflot op/2009/} Bxe5 $11) 10. b4 a5 11. a3 c6 12. O-O Qc7 13.
g3 Ba6 14. Re1 Bf6 15. Ne5 Bxe5 16. fxe5 Bxd3 17. Qxd3 Ra7 18. Reb1 b5 19. a4
axb4 20. Rxb4 f6 21. exf6 Nxf6 22. Qe2 Re8 23. Re1 bxa4 24. Rxa4 Rxa4 25. Nxa4
Qa5 26. Nb6 e5 $1 $11 {Krasenkow,M (2620)-Riazantsev,A (2634)/Metz op/2009/})
7... c5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. dxc5 Nxc5 11. Be5 Bf5 $5 (11... Bf6 {
is played more often, but Kramnik's choice is no less natural.}) 12. Be2 Bf6
13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. Nd4 Ne6 15. Nxf5 Qxf5 16. O-O Rfd8 17. Bg4 Qe5 18. Qb3 Nc5
19. Qb5 b6 20. Rfd1 Rd6 21. Rd4 a6 22. Qb4 h5 23. Bh3 Rad8 24. g3 g5 $5 25.
Rad1 g4 26. Bg2 Ne6 27. R4d3 d4 28. exd4 Rxd4 29. Rxd4 Rxd4 $11 {1/2,Anand,V 
(2783)-Kramnik,V (2772)/WCh Bonn/ 2008/}) 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3 Nc6 9. Qc2 {
Aims for a more complex struggle.} ({The other topical continuation is} 9. cxd5
Nxd5 10. Nxd5 exd5 11. Bd3 Bb6 12. O-O {, here Black has to make an important
choice:} {More enterprising is} d4 (12... Bg4 13. h3 Bh5 14. b4 Re8 15. Rc1 a6
16. Bxa6 Rxa6 17. b5 Rxa3 18. bxc6 bxc6 19. Rxc6 Ra7 20. Rd6 Rd7 21. Qxd5 Rxd6
22. Qxd6 Qxd6 23. Bxd6 $11 {/+/= leads to an _|_, in which White has at best
only practical winning chances. Although he can push on without risk,
ultimately he was successful only in the Leko-Kramnik game from WCh 2004.} Rd8
$5 (23... Bxf3 24. gxf3 Bd8 25. Rb1 Bf6 26. Kg2 g6 27. f4 Kg7 28. Rb7 Re6 29.
Rd7 Re8 30. Ra7 Re6 31. Bc5 Rc6 32. Ra5 $14 {Leko,P (2741)-Kramnik,V (2770)/
WCh Brissago/2004/}) 24. Bg3 Bc5 25. Rc1 Bf8 26. Nd4 Bg6 27. Rc7 h6 28. h4 Re8
29. Nb5 Rb8 30. Nc3 Re8 31. Kh2 Bf5 32. Nb5 Rc8 33. Ra7 Bc5 34. Ra1 Rd8 {
<=>^^,Karpov,A (2687)-Anand,V (2755)/Moscow rpd/2002/}) 13. e4 Bg4 14. h3 Qf6 (
14... Bh5 $5 15. g4 Bg6 16. Nd2 f6 $13 {is also playable}) 15. Bh2 (15. Bg3 Bh5
$1 16. Re1 Rfe8 17. Rc1 Bxf3 18. Qxf3 Ne5 19. Qxf6 gxf6 20. Bxe5 fxe5 21. g3
Rac8 22. Kg2 Kg7 23. Kf3 Kf6 24. h4 Rg8 25. Ke2 Ke7 $11 {Christiansen,L (2524)
-Onischuk,A (2638)/Minneapolis/2005/}) (15. hxg4 Qxf4 16. g5 Nd8 17. g3 Qg4 18.
Kg2 Ne6 19. Rh1 Nf4+ 20. Kf1 Nh3 21. Qd2 Bd8 22. e5 g6 23. Be2 {Beliavsky,A 
(2641)-Meier,G (2560)/EU-ch Plovdiv/2008/} Nxg5 24. Kg2 Qe4 25. Rae1 Rc8 26.
Bd1 Qc6 27. Qxd4 Ne6 28. Qg4 $13 {Beliavsky}) 15... Bxf3 {Here the swap is
more justified, as the B on h2 is placed worse, than on g3.} 16. Qxf3 Qxf3 17.
gxf3 Na5 18. Rac1 Nb3 19. Rc2 Rac8 20. Rd1 Nc5 21. Bb5 Rfd8 22. Kg2 Ne6 23.
Rxc8 Rxc8 24. f4 Rc2 25. f5 Nc5 26. Rxd4 g6 27. Be5 Rxb2 28. Bc4 Rc2 29. Bd5
Kf8 30. Bg3 Ke7 31. Bh4+ f6 32. fxg6 hxg6 33. e5 g5 34. exf6+ Kxf6 35. Bg3 Ne6
36. Rc4 Nf4+ $11 {1/2,Portisch,L (2512)-Beliavsky,A (2648)/Bazna/2007/}) ({
Too sterile is} 9. Be2 dxc4 10. Bxc4 {due to} Nh5 $1 11. Qxd8 (11. Bg5 Be7 12.
Bxe7 Qxe7 13. O-O Rd8 14. Qe2 Bd7 15. e4 Nf4 16. Qe3 Ng6 17. e5 Nh4 $1 18. Nxh4
Qxh4 $11 {Nikolic,P (2600)-Georgiev,K (2535)/Dubai olm/1986/}) 11... Rxd8 12.
Bc7 Rd7 13. Be5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Rd8 15. O-O Nf6 16. Rfd1 Bd7 17. Nxd7 Rxd7 18.
Rxd7 Nxd7 19. Rd1 Nf6 20. Kf1 $11 {1/2,Topalov,V (2750)-Gelfand,B (2665)/
Vienna/1996/}) ({After} 9. b4 {White must reckon with the sharp sacrifice} Nxb4
$5 (9... Be7 $132 {is fully playable as well.}) 10. axb4 Bxb4 11. Qb3 a5 12.
O-O-O Bd7 13. Ne5 (13. Rd4 $2 Qe7 14. Be5 Rfc8 15. Kb1 b5 16. Nxb5 a4 17. Qa2
Bxb5 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. cxb5 Rc3 20. Rd3 Rac8 $19 {->,Epishin,V (2606)-Short,N 
(2673)/Malmo/2002/}) (13. Kb1 $5 $13) 13... Rc8 14. Nxd7 (14. Kb1 $5) 14...
Qxd7 15. Qc2 Bxc3 16. Qxc3 Ne4 17. Qb2 b5 18. f3 Nd6 19. Bxd6 Qxd6 20. Qxb5
Qa3+ 21. Qb2 Qxe3+ $44 {|^, Denayer,W (2255)-Shishkin,V (2135)/corr/2007/})
9... Qa5 10. Rd1 {The attention has again focused upon this older move.} ({
Black has found means to disarm the sharp attempt} 10. O-O-O Be7 11. h4 (11. g4
dxc4 12. Bxc4 e5 13. g5 exf4 14. gxf6 Bxf6 15. Nd5 Ne7 $1 $132 {and the
defence holds.}) 11... Rd8 12. Nd2 dxc4 (12... a6 $6 13. g4 $1 dxc4 14. Nxc4
Rxd1+ 15. Qxd1 Qd8 16. Qxd8+ Bxd8 17. Bg2 e5 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. Bxe5 Nxg4 20.
Bg3 Kf8 21. Rd1 Ke8 22. Na4 $16 {1-0 Nielsen,P (2625)-Glud,J (2486)/Silkeborg
2008/CBM 123 Extra (40)}) 13. Nxc4 Rxd1+ 14. Qxd1 Qd8 15. Qxd8+ Nxd8 (15...
Bxd8 16. Be2 Nd5 17. Nxd5 exd5 18. Nd6 Bc7 19. Rd1 Bxd6 20. Bxd6 $14 {Peng,Z 
(2400)-Maric,A (2460)/Groningen/1997/}) 16. Be2 Bd7 17. e4 Bc6 18. f3 Nh5 19.
Bc7 Rc8 20. Be5 Bf6 21. Nd6 Ra8 (21... Rc7 $5 {Kramnik}) 22. Bxf6 Nxf6 23. Rd1
Kf8 24. Kd2 Ne8 25. Nc4 f6 26. Ke3 b6 27. f4 Nf7 28. g4 h6 $14 {/=,Topalov,V 
(2783)-Kramnik,V (2766)/Wijk aan Zee/2007/ In the resulting _|_ White has
slight edge due to his space advantage, but the position is symmetrical and in
the course of the game Black neutralized any winning attempts with careful
defence.}) ({Some years ago Black faced a few problems after} 10. Nd2 {However,
then Anand and Nielsen came up with the convincing} Bb4 (10... Be7 11. Bg3 Bd7
12. Be2 Rfc8 13. O-O (13. Rd1 Qd8 14. cxd5 Nxd5 15. Nxd5 exd5 16. Qb1 d4 17.
O-O $5 $36 {is Agrest's untested suggestion, which also deserves attention.})
13... Qd8 14. b4 $14 {()}) 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Bd3 Nh5 $1 13. Bg3 (13. Nb3 Bxc3+
14. bxc3 Qd8 $11) (13. Bxh7+ Kh8 14. Bd3 Nxf4 15. exf4 Re8+ $36) 13... h6 (
13... d4 $5 14. Nb3 Bxc3+ 15. bxc3 Qxc3+ 16. Qxc3 dxc3 17. Rc1 Nxg3 18. hxg3 h6
19. Rxc3 Be6 20. Nc5 Ne5 {Jankovic,A (2532)-Saravanan,V (2405)/Kalamaria/2008/
is also good enough, here White should have played the modest} 21. Nxe6 Nxd3+
22. Rxd3 fxe6 23. Ke2 $11) 14. O-O Bxc3 15. Nb3 Qb6 16. Qxc3 Nxg3 17. hxg3 Rd8
18. Nc5 d4 19. exd4 Nxd4 20. Rfe1 Be6 21. Nxe6 Nxe6 22. Rac1 Rd6 23. b4 Rad8
24. Be4 Ng5 25. Bb1 Rc6 26. Qb2 Rxc1 27. Qxc1 g6 28. Qc3 Qd4 29. Qxd4 $11 {
1/2,Gelfand,B (2727)-Nielsen,P (2646)/Turin olm/2006/}) 10... Be7 {The
standard reaction, tested already in the Karpov-Korchnoi matches.} (10... Re8
$6 11. Nd2 e5 12. Bg5 Nd4 13. Qb1 Bf5 14. Bd3 e4 15. Bc2 (15. Bf1 $5 {is risky,
but objectively even stronger.}) 15... Nxc2+ 16. Qxc2 Qa6 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18. Nb3
Bd6 19. Rxd5 $16 {Kortschnoj,V (2665)-Karpov,A (2725)/WCh Baguio City/1978/})
11. Be2 {Currently White's main try.} ({The older continuation} 11. Nd2 e5 12.
Bg5 d4 13. Nb3 {doesn't promise too much and Black even has a choice:} Qd8 (
13... Qb6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Nd5 Qd8 16. Bd3 g6 17. exd4 Nxd4 18. Nxd4 exd4 19.
Nxf6+ (19. O-O Bg7 $1 20. Rde1 Be6 21. Nf4 Bd7 22. Be4 Rb8 23. Nd3 Qc7 24. b3
Rfe8 25. Qd2 a5 $132 {Gelfand,B (2691)-Kramnik,V (2751)/Dos Hermanas/1999/})
19... Qxf6 20. O-O Bg4 21. f3 Be6 22. f4 Bd7 23. Be4 Bc6 24. Bd5 Rfe8 25. Qd3
Bxd5 26. cxd5 Rac8 27. g3 Kf8 28. Rf2 Re3 29. Qxd4 Qxd4 30. Rxd4 Ke7 $44 {
Hansen,C (2505)-Jussupow,A (2590)/Reykjavik/1985/}) 14. Be2 a5 15. Na4 g6 16.
Bxf6 Bxf6 17. O-O (17. c5 Be6 18. e4 Qe8 19. Nb6 a4 20. Nd2 Ra5 21. Bd3 Be7 22.
Nxa4 $2 (22. Ndc4 $142) 22... Nb8 23. b3 Bxb3 24. Nxb3 Rxa4 25. Ra1 Qc6 26. O-O
Nd7 27. Qe2 Nxc5 28. Rfc1 Ra7 29. Nxc5 Bxc5 $17 {Alterman,B (2615)-Kasparov,G 
(2825)/Tel Aviv sim/1998/}) 17... Qc7 (17... Bg7 $5 18. c5 Qh4 19. e4 Be6 20.
Bd3 f5 $13 {Shneider,A (2495)-Kruppa,Y (2440)/Podolsk/1989/}) 18. c5 Be6 19. e4
Ne7 20. Nd2 Bg5 21. Nf3 Bh6 22. Bc4 Bg4 23. Rd3 Kh8 24. h3 f5 25. Rb3 d3 $1 26.
Qxd3 Rad8 $44 {Ftacnik,L (2590)-Kotronias,V (2550)/Thessaloniki olm/1988/})
11... dxc4 ({Inferior is} 11... Ne4 12. cxd5 Nxc3 13. Qxc3 $5 (13. bxc3 exd5
14. O-O Be6 15. a4 Rac8 16. Rb1 Bf6 17. Rxb7 d4 18. exd4 Nxd4 19. Nxd4 Bxd4 20.
Rb5 Qxc3 21. Qxc3 Rxc3 22. Rd1 Rc2 23. Rxd4 Rxe2 $11 {Vorobiov,E (2572)
-Mikhalevski,A (2441)/Pardubice/2007/}) 13... Qxc3+ 14. bxc3 exd5 15. Rxd5 Bxa3
16. Nd4 a5 (16... Be7 17. Kd2 Rd8 18. Bf3 $14 Nxd4 $2 19. cxd4 Bb4+ 20. Kd3
Rxd5 21. Bxd5 Kf8 22. Rc1 Ba5 23. e4 Ke7 24. Bc7 $18 {Nyback,T (2655)-Dobrev,N
(2366)/FRA-chT Chalons en Champagne/2009/}) 17. Rb5 a4 18. Kd2 Be7 19. Ra1 Ra7
20. Bg5 f6 21. Bf4 Rd8 22. Bc7 Re8 23. Bb6 Ra8 24. Bc4+ Kf8 25. Ne6+ Bxe6 26.
Bxe6 Bd6 27. Bd5 Re7 28. Kc2 Rd7 29. Be6 Re7 30. Bd5 Rd7 31. f4 $36 {[%csl Gb6,
Gd5] ^^,Sokolov,I (2657)-Meier,G (2608)/EU-ch Budva/2009/}) ({However, a
possibly viable idea is} 11... e5 $5 12. Nxe5 (12. Bxe5 $5 dxc4 13. Bxf6 Bxf6
14. Bxc4 Bf5 15. Qb3 $14) 12... Nxe5 13. Bxe5 dxc4 14. Bd4 Bf5 15. Qc1 Rac8 16.
O-O Rfd8 17. Rd2 Ne4 18. Nxe4 Bxe4 19. f3 Bf5 20. Rfd1 b5 21. Bc3 Qc7 22. Rxd8+
Rxd8 23. Rxd8+ Qxd8 24. Bd4 a6 25. Qc3 Bf8 26. e4 Be6 27. f4 f6 $11 {
Mamedyarov,S (2646)-Nielsen,P (2668)/ESP-chT Sant Lluis/2005/}) 12. Bxc4 $32 {
White had to invest a tempo with his B, but Black still has some problems with
his << development.} Nh5 {A rare move.} ({However, even the more usual
reaction isn't quite ideal:} 12... e5 13. Bg3 Bg4 14. O-O Rac8 15. Nd5 (15. Rc1
$5 a6 16. Ng5 Bh5 17. Nd5 Bg6 18. Nxe7+ Nxe7 19. Qb3 b5 20. Be6 Rxc1 21. Rxc1
Ne4 22. Nxe4 Bxe4 23. f3 Bb7 24. Bh3 Bd5 25. Qc3 Qxc3 26. Rxc3 f6 27. e4 $16 {
Rychagov,A (2575)-Aveskulov,V (2495)/Saratov/2006/}) 15... b5 (15... Nxd5 16.
Rxd5 (16. Bxd5 $142 $1 $14) 16... Qc7 17. Qe4 Be6 18. Rd2 Bxc4 19. Qxc4 Bf6 20.
Rfd1 Rfd8 21. h3 {Werner,D (2376)-Porat,D (2199)/Budapest/2005/} Qe7 $11) 16.
Ba2 Nxd5 17. Bxd5 Nd4 18. Qb1 b4 19. Qe4 Bxf3 20. gxf3 Ne2+ 21. Kg2 Nxg3 $2 (
21... bxa3 22. Qxe5 $14) 22. hxg3 bxa3 23. Rh1 g6 24. Rxh7 $1 Kxh7 25. Qxe5 Kg8
26. Rh1 {1-0,Mamedyarov,S (2646)-Moradiabadi,E (2485)/Abu Dhabi op/2005/}) 13.
O-O (13. Bd3 g6 14. Bh6 Rd8 15. O-O Bd7 16. Be2 a6 17. Nd2 Nf6 18. Bf4 e5 19.
Bg5 Be6 20. h3 Rac8 21. Bxf6 Bxf6 22. Bg4 {Vallejo Pons,F (2702)-Short,N (2663)
/Wijk aan Zee/2009/} Nd4 $5 $132 {/\} 23. exd4 Bxg4 24. hxg4 exd4 25. Nde4 Bg7
26. Qa4 Qe5 27. f4 Qe7 28. f5 dxc3 29. f6 Qc7 $1 30. fxg7 c2 31. Rxd8+ Qxd8 32.
Nc3 Qd2 $17) ({White can aspire for a minimal advantage with} 13. Bd6 Bxd6 14.
Rxd6 Nf6 15. Qd2 $5 (15. Rd2 Rd8 16. Rxd8+ Qxd8 17. O-O Bd7 18. Rd1 Qe7 19. h3
Rd8 20. Rd2 Be8 21. Rxd8 Qxd8 22. Qd2 Qxd2 23. Nxd2 Kf8 24. f4 Ke7 $11 {
Mecking,H (2567)-Short,N (2663)/Wijk aan Zee/2009/}) 15... Rd8 16. Rxd8+ Qxd8
17. Qxd8+ Nxd8 18. Ke2 Kf8 19. e4 Bd7 20. e5 Ne8 21. Rd1 Ke7 22. Ng5 Rc8 23.
Ba2 h6 24. Nge4 b6 25. f4 Nb7 26. Nd2 Nc5 27. Nc4 Bc6 28. g3 $14 {(),Eljanov,P
(2693)-Chadaev,N (2557)/RUS-chT Dagomys/2009/}) 13... Nxf4 14. exf4 g6 {
Frees g7 for the Be7.} ({Another purpose for the text-move can be seen from
the following example:} 14... Rd8 $6 15. Rxd8+ Qxd8 16. Rd1 Bd7 17. f5 $1 Qc8 (
17... exf5 18. Qb3 $40) 18. Qd3 Be8 19. fxe6 fxe6 20. Nd5 Qd8 21. Qe2 $18 {
Gupta,A (2569)-Kjartansson,G (2365)/Reykjavik/2009/}) 15. g3 {White makes a
useful move and waits to see, how Black intends to unravel his <<forces.} Rd8
$146 {[%mdl 8] A reasonable novelty.} (15... Bf6 16. Rd3 Qf5 (16... Bg7 $142)
17. Re1 (17. Nb5 $1) 17... Na5 18. Ba2 Bd7 $2 (18... b6 19. Ne4 Ba6 $14) 19.
Nh4 $1 Bxh4 20. Re5 Qg4 21. Rxd7 Nc6 22. Rb5 Bf6 23. Kg2 $1 $18 {Epishin,V 
(2600)-Atalik,S (2561)/Bratto /2005/}) ({Atalik suggests the interesting} 15...
a6 $5 16. Be2 $5 (16. Ne4 b5 17. Be2 Bb7 18. Rd7 Qb6 19. Qc3 Rac8 20. Nf6+ Bxf6
21. Qxf6 Nb8 22. Rd2 Qc6 23. Rfd1 Qe4 $132 {Atalik}) (16. Bd3 Rd8 $11) (16. Ba2
Rd8 $132 {and compared with the game, the extra a6 move is useful for Black.} (
16... b5 $6 17. f5 $1 gxf5 18. Nd5 exd5 19. Bxd5 $36)) 16... Rd8 (16... b5 17.
Nxb5 axb5 18. Qxc6 b4 19. axb4 $14) (16... Bf6 17. Ne4 Bg7 18. Nd6 $36) 17.
Rxd8+ Qxd8 18. Rd1 Bd7 {is similar to the game - White has a slight initiative,
but Black retains chances to eventually achieve full equality.} (18... Qc7 19.
Ne4 Bd7 20. Ne5 $36)) 16. Rxd8+ Qxd8 (16... Bxd8 $6 17. Rd1 Bf6 18. Ne4 Bg7 19.
Nd6 $16 {Atalik}) 17. Rd1 Bd7 {Seemingly risky, but White has no immediate
forcing way to exploit the pin on the <->d.} 18. f5 {[%mdl 512] An interesting
pawn sacrifice, but for the time being Carlsen finds the way to hold the
balance.} ({Possibly more promising was Shipov's suggestion} 18. Ng5 $5 Qc8
$142 (18... Rc8 $2 19. Nxf7 $1 Kxf7 20. f5 gxf5 21. Qxf5+ Kg7 22. Qg4+ Kf7 23.
Qe4 $1 Kg7 24. Rxd7 Qxd7 25. Bxe6 {/\Qg4+-}) (18... Qe8 19. Nb5 Rd8 20. Nc7 (
20. Nd6 Bxd6 21. Rxd6 Qe7 $14) 20... Qf8 21. Rxd7 $1 Rxd7 22. Ncxe6 Qh6 23. Kg2
$1 $40) 19. h4 $36) 18... gxf5 (18... exf5 $6 19. Qb3 Rb8 (19... Qe8 20. Bxf7+
Qxf7 21. Qxb7 Rb8 22. Qxd7 $18) 20. Bxf7+ Kg7 21. Kg2 $5 (21. Be6 Bxe6 22. Qxe6
Qg8 $14) 21... Qc8 22. Ne2 {[%csl Re6][%cal Ye2f4] /\Nf4|^,><e6}) 19. Qd2 Qb6
$5 {This tricky move is not forced.} (19... Be8 20. Qh6 Qa5 (20... Qb6 {
-19...Qb6!?}) 21. Nd5 $5 (21. Ng5 Qe5 $1 22. Qxh7+ Kf8 23. Nf3 Qg7 $11) 21...
exd5 22. Rxd5 Qa4 $1 (22... Qc7 23. Rxf5 $40 Qd7 24. Rf4 Bd6 25. Qg5+ Kf8 $8
26. Re4 $1 {[%cal Rg5h6,Rh2h3] /\Qh6,h3+-}) {and it seems that White doesn't
have more than a perpetual with} 23. Ng5 Bxg5 24. Qxg5+ Kf8 $8 (24... Kh8 $2
25. Qxf5 $18 Qxc4 26. Qf6+ Kg8 27. Rg5+ Kf8 28. Qd6+ Ne7 29. Qh6#) 25. Qh6+ Kg8
26. Qg5+ $11) (19... Bc8 20. Qf4 $5 (20. Qh6 Qf8) 20... Bd7 (20... Qf8 21. Bb5
$32) 21. Qd2 (21. Qh6 a6 $5 {[%cal Ya8c8,Yc8c7,Yd8f8] /\Rc8-c7, Qf8}) 21... Bc8
$11) 20. Qh6 {White avoids the traps.} (20. Qxd7 $2 Rd8 $19) (20. Na4 $6 Ne5 $1
(20... Nd4 $1 {can lead to the same position}) 21. Nxb6 (21. Nxe5 Bxa4 $17)
21... Nxf3+ 22. Kf1 (22. Kg2 $2 Nxd2 23. Nxa8 Bc6+ $19) 22... Nxd2+ 23. Rxd2
axb6 24. Rxd7 Bf6 $15 {/=}) 20... Be8 (20... Rd8 21. Ng5 (21. Rxd7 $6 Rxd7 22.
Bxe6 Nd4 $1 23. Bxf7+ Kh8 $15) 21... Bxg5 $8 22. Qxg5+ Kf8 23. Qf6 Bc8 (23...
Qxb2 $4 24. Qh8+ Ke7 25. Nd5+ $18) 24. Rxd8+ Qxd8 25. Qh8+ Ke7 26. Qxh7 Qd4
$132 {is also possible, but the text-move is more solid.}) 21. Ng5 Bxg5 $8 22.
Qxg5+ Kf8 (22... Kh8 $2 23. Rd6 {[%cal Rd6e6,Rg5f6] ->,/\Qf6,Re6} Qc7 24. Qf6+
Kg8 25. Rxe6 Qd8 $8 26. Qxf5 (26. Rd6 $16) 26... fxe6 27. Qxe6+ Bf7 (27... Kg7
28. Qg8+ Kh6 29. Qf8+ Kg6 30. Nd5 $18) 28. Qxf7+ Kh8 29. Qxb7 Na5 30. Qb5 $16)
23. Qh6+ {White repeats moves to gain time before the control.} (23. Rd6 {
-25.Rd6}) 23... Kg8 24. Qg5+ Kf8 25. Rd6 Qc7 $2 {[%mdl 8256] A serious error,
which White exploits with a decisive piece of tactics.} (25... Rd8 26. Rxe6 $5
Qd4 $142 $1 (26... fxe6 $2 27. Qh6+ Kg8 (27... Ke7 $2 28. Qxe6+ Kf8 29. Qf6+)
28. Qxe6+ Kg7 29. Qg8+ Kf6 30. Qf8+ Ke5 (30... Kg6 31. Ne2 $1 $18) (30... Kg5
31. Ne4+ fxe4 32. h4+ Kg6 33. Qg8+ Kf5 34. Qg5#) 31. Nb5 $1 {[%cal Rf8g7] /
\Qg7+-}) 27. Rf6 (27. Qh6+ Kg8 28. Rf6 Qxc4 29. Qg5+ {-27.Rf6}) 27... Qxc4 28.
Rxc6 Qd4 29. Rc4 Qd2 30. Qxf5 Bc6 31. Rxc6 $5 (31. Ne4 Qd1+ 32. Kg2 Qd5 33.
Qxd5 Bxd5 34. Rd4 f5 35. f3 fxe4 36. fxe4 Bxe4+ 37. Rxe4 Rd2+ $11) 31... bxc6
32. Qxh7 Rd6 $14 {White is somewhat better (safer K), but the result of the
game is far from decided.}) (25... Qc5 $5 {is safer and holds the balance:} 26.
Ne4 $5 (26. Qh6+ Kg8 (26... Ke7 $2 27. Nd5+ $1 exd5 (27... Kxd6 28. Qf8+ $18)
28. Rxd5 $18 {/\} Qxc4 29. Qd6#) 27. Rxe6 fxe6 (27... Qxc4 28. Qg5+ $11) 28.
Bxe6+ Bf7 29. Nd5 Bxe6 30. Qxe6+ Kg7 $11) 26... Qxc4 27. Nf6 Ke7 $8 28. Rd1 (
28. Ne4+ Kf8 $11) 28... Nd4 $8 29. Nxe8+ Kxe8 $1 (29... Kf8 30. Qg7+ Kxe8 31.
Rxd4 Qc1+ 32. Kg2 Rc8 33. Rh4 $36) 30. Qg8+ Ke7 31. Qxa8 Ne2+ $5 (31... Qd5 32.
Rxd4 Qxd4 33. Qxb7+ Kf6 34. Kg2 $11 {/+/=}) 32. Kg2 Qe4+ 33. f3 Nf4+ 34. gxf4
Qe2+ 35. Kg3 Qxd1 36. Qxb7+ Qd7 $11) (25... Qxb2 $2 26. Qf6 Qc1+ (26... Kg8 27.
Rxe6 $18) 27. Rd1 Qxa3 28. Bxe6 Kg8 29. Bxf5 Qf8 30. Ne4 $18 {->}) 26. Qh6+ Ke7
$8 (26... Kg8 27. Rxe6 $1 fxe6 28. Bxe6+ Bf7 29. Nd5 $18 {[%cal Rd5f6] /\Nf6})
27. Qh4+ {White again repeats moves, here he wants to accurately calculate the
winning line.} (27. Nb5 $1 {-29.Nb5!}) 27... Kf8 (27... Kxd6 28. Nb5+ Kd7 29.
Nxc7 $18 (29. Bxe6+ $5 fxe6 30. Qxh7+ $18)) 28. Qh6+ Ke7 29. Nb5 $1 Qa5 (29...
Qxd6 30. Nxd6 Kxd6 31. Qxh7 Ne5 {was more resilient, but equally hopeless in
the long run - the o^h2 will decide after} 32. Be2 $18 {[%csl Gh2]}) (29... Qc8
30. Qxh7 Nd8 (30... Kf8 31. Qh6+ Ke7 32. Qg5+ Kf8 33. Nd4 $1 Nxd4 34. Rxd4 $18)
31. Qh4+ f6 32. Rd1 Qc5 33. Nd4 $1 Bf7 34. Re1 {and White's -> will eventually
break thorugh. A nice sample line is} Kd7 35. Bb5+ Ke7 $2 36. Nxf5+ $1 Qxf5 37.
Qb4+ Qc5 38. Qxc5#) 30. b4 ({Similar is} 30. Rxe6+ $1 fxe6 31. Qxe6+ Kd8 32. b4
$18) 30... Nxb4 {The only reasonable way to postpone mate, but even now the ->
breaks through.} (30... Qb6 31. Rxe6+ $1 fxe6 32. Qxe6+ Kd8 (32... Kf8 33. Qh6+
Ke7 34. Qd6#) 33. Qd6+ Bd7 34. Be6 Nb8 35. Qf8+ Be8 36. Qf6#) 31. Rxe6+ $1 (31.
axb4 $2 Qa1+ 32. Kg2 Bxb5 33. Rxe6+ fxe6 34. Qxe6+ Kd8 35. Bxb5 Qd4 36. Qe8+
Kc7 37. Qxa8 Qd5+ $13) 31... fxe6 32. Qxe6+ Kd8 33. Qf6+ {An important move,
protecting the a1-square.} Kc8 34. Qxf5+ $5 {Before taking the N, White grabs
a P.} (34. axb4 $18) 34... Kd8 (34... Bd7 35. Nd6+ $18) (34... Kb8 35. Qe5+ $18
) 35. Qf6+ Kc8 36. axb4 $1 {Now Black faces a quick mate, or immense material
losses.} (36. axb4 Qd8 (36... Qxb4 37. Be6+ Bd7 38. Qh8+ {mates immediately.})
37. Be6+ Bd7 38. Qc3+ Kb8 39. Qe5+ Kc8 40. Qc5+ Kb8 41. Bxd7 b6 42. Qd6+ Kb7
43. Bc6+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 37th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2009.07.11"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Jakovenko, Dmitrij"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[Annotator "Fier,A"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2009.07.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4
c6 9. Qc2 Na6 10. a3 Bg4 11. Ne5 Bxe5 12. dxe5 Nac5 13. f3 Nxd3 14. Qxd3 Nc5
15. Qd4 Nb3 16. Qxg4 Nxa1 17. Bh6 g6 18. Nc3 Qb6+ 19. Kh1 {When Kramnik played
this line against Bacrot some rounds earlier, I was wondering what he would do
against 19.Kh1... To me, this is the critical test for Black. Als Kramnik
dieses Abspiel einige Runden zuvor gegen Bacrot anwandte, fragte ich mich, was
er wohl gegen 19.Kh1 tun würde... Für mich ist dies der kritische Test für
Schwarz.} (19. Rf2 Rfe8 20. Qf4 Qc7 21. Re2 Re6 22. b4 {was Bacrot - Kramnik
which ended in draw. war die Partie Bacrot - Kramnik, welche remis endete.})
19... Qxb2 20. Qf4 f6 $2 {For some reason, this move is played more often than
20...f5, but I think that after this Black is just lost! Aus irgendeinem Grund
wird dieser Zug häufiger gespielt als 20...f5, aber ich glaube, dass Schwarz
danach einfach verloren ist!} (20... f5 {is better, and after ist besser, und
nach} 21. Na4 Qe2 22. Rxa1 Rfe8 23. cxd5 cxd5 24. Qb4 Qxe5 25. Rg1 b6 26. Bf4
Qe2 27. Nb2 $13 {there are chances for both sides. gibt es Chancen für beide
Seiten.}) 21. Na4 $2 {Now Black is alive again... Jetzt lebt Schwarz wieder...}
(21. e6 $1 {A stunning move! Ein verblüffender Zug!} Qxc3 (21... Qb6 22. Bxf8
Rxf8 23. cxd5 $18) 22. Qd6 $1 (22. Qc7 $6 {looks dangerous, but only leads to
draw after sieht gefährlich aus, führt aber nur zum Remis nach} f5 23. Bxf8
Rxf8 24. cxd5 Qc4 (24... Nb3 25. e7 Re8 26. Qd7 Kf7 27. Qe6+ Kg7 28. Qd7 Kf7
$11) 25. Rxa1 Qxd5 26. Qxb7 (26. Re1 c5) 26... Qxe6 27. Qxa7 $11) 22... Nb3 (
22... Qxc4 23. Rxa1 Qh4 (23... Qd4 24. Rg1 f5 25. e7 Rfe8 26. Qe6+ Kh8 27. Qf7
$18 {[%cal Gh6g5,Gg5f6]}) 24. Bxf8 Rxf8 25. Qd7 Qd4 26. Rg1 Qe5 27. e7 Rb8 28.
f4 $1 $18) 23. Qd7 f5 24. e7 (24. Bxf8 Rxf8 25. e7 {is an option. ist eine
Option.}) 24... Nc5 (24... Rfe8 25. Qe6+ Kh8 26. Bf4 $18) 25. exf8=Q+ Rxf8 26.
Qe7 Qf6 27. Qxc5 $18 {was surprisingly played before in the game Nevio,J -
Peunariemi,P corr 2002! wurde überraschenderweise zuvor gespielt, und zwar in
der Partie Nevio,J - Peunariemi,P corr 2002!}) 21... Qc2 22. Rxa1 (22. Bxf8
Rxf8 23. cxd5 fxe5 24. Qxe5 Qxa4 25. Rxa1 cxd5 26. Qxd5+ Rf7 {with a drawish
endgame. mit remislichem Endspiel.}) 22... Qxa4 23. e6 Qa5 24. Qd6 (24. cxd5 {
was interesting too, but Black holds without problems after war ebenfalls
interessant, aber Schwarz hält sich ohne Probleme nach} cxd5 25. Bxf8 Rxf8 26.
e7 Re8 $11) 24... Rfc8 (24... Qd8 25. Bxf8 Qxf8 26. e7 Qf7 27. cxd5 Re8 28. Re1
Qxd5 29. Qxf6 $11) 25. Qe7 Qc7 26. Qxf6 Re8 27. Re1 (27. cxd5 {Again this move
was possible. Erenut war dieser Zug war möglich.} Qe7 28. Qe5 Rad8 (28... cxd5
29. Re1 $13) 29. Bg5 Rxd5 30. Qxd5 cxd5 31. Bxe7 Rxe7 32. Re1 Kg7 33. Re5 Kf6
34. Rxd5 Kxe6 {and Black has his king better placed and a queenside pawn
majority that gives him good chances. und Schwarz hat seinen König besser
platziert und eine Bauernmajorität am Damenflügel, die ihm gute Chancen gibt.})
27... Qe7 28. Qe5 dxc4 29. Bg5 Qf8 30. Bf6 b5 31. f4 (31. Rd1 Re7 (31... c3 32.
e7 Qf7 33. Qxc3 $44) 32. Bxe7 Qxe7 33. Rd7 Rd8 $1 34. Qd4 Rxd7 35. Qxd7 Kf8 36.
Qxc6 $11) 31... a5 32. f5 Ra7 33. Re3 $2 (33. h3 {was better... now both
players need to play carefully to equalize. war besser... nun müssen beide
Spieler sorgfältig spielen, um auszugleichen.} Qxa3 {[%cal Ga3d3]} (33... b4 {
leads to an exotic endgame after führt zu einem exotischen Endspiel nach} 34.
fxg6 hxg6 35. axb4 axb4 36. Qg5 Rg7 37. Bxg7 Qxg7 38. Rd1 c3 39. Rd7 c2 40.
Rxg7+ Kxg7 41. Qe5+ Kh7 42. Qc7+ Kh6 43. Qxc6 b3 {and I think there is nothing
better than und ich glaube, es gibt nichts Besseres als} 44. Kh2 Rxe6 45. Qxe6
c1=Q 46. Qxb3 $11) 34. fxg6 hxg6 35. Qe4 Qd3 36. Qxc6 Rf8 37. e7 Rxe7 38. Bxe7
(38. Rxe7 $2 Qf1+ 39. Kh2 Qxf6 $19) 38... Rf1+ 39. Rxf1 (39. Kh2 Rxe1 40. Qe8+
Kh7 41. Qf7+ Kh6 42. Qf8+ Kh7 43. Qf7+ $11) 39... Qxf1+ 40. Kh2 Qf4+ 41. Kh1
Qf1+ $11) 33... b4 $2 (33... Rd7 $1 {A trick which is very hard to see, but
winning. Ein Trick, der sehr schwer zu sehen ist, aber gewinnt.} 34. h3 (34.
exd7 Rxe5 35. Rxe5 Qxf6 36. Re8+ Kg7 37. h3 c3 38. d8=Q Qxd8 39. Rxd8 c2) 34...
Rd5 35. e7 Qf7 36. fxg6 hxg6 37. Qb2 Rf5 38. Bh4 (38. Rf3 Rxf3 39. gxf3 b4 40.
axb4 axb4 41. Qd4 c3 42. Qh4 Qd5 $19 {[%cal Gg8f7,Gf7e6]}) 38... g5 39. Bg3
Rxe7 $19) 34. fxg6 hxg6 35. Qg5 (35. Rg3 Rg7 (35... Qh6) 36. h4 c3 37. Bxg7
Qxg7 38. Qe4 Kh7 39. axb4 axb4 40. h5 Qf6 41. Qxb4 (41. Rxg6 Rxe6 42. Qxb4 Qf1+
43. Kh2 Rxg6 44. hxg6+ Kxg6 45. Qxc3) 41... c2 42. Qd2 Rxe6 43. hxg6+ Kg8 44.
Qxc2 Qh4+ 45. Rh3 Qe1+ 46. Kh2 Qe5+ 47. Rg3 Qh8+ 48. Kg1 Qa1+ $11) 35... Rg7
36. h3 c3 37. Bxg7 Qxg7 38. Qc5 (38. axb4 axb4 39. Rd3 {with the same idea of
33.h3 b4... mit derselben Idee wie 33.h3 b4...} c2 40. Rd7 b3 (40... Rxe6 41.
Rxg7+ (41. Rd8+ Kf7 42. Rd7+ Kg8) 41... Kxg7 42. Qd2 b3 43. Kh2 $11) 41. Rxg7+
Kxg7 42. e7 $11) 38... Qf8 (38... Qf6 39. axb4 axb4 40. Qxc6 Re7 41. Qc4 {
and probably White can hold. und Weiß kann sich wahrscheinlich halten.}) 39. e7
Qf1+ 40. Kh2 Qf4+ 41. Kh1 Qf1+ (41... Kg7 42. axb4 c2 (42... axb4 43. Re6) 43.
Rc3 Qxb4 44. Rxc2 Rxe7 45. Qxc6 $11) 42. Kh2 Qb5 43. axb4 Qxc5 (43... axb4 {
is very dangerous, but ist brandgefährlich, aber} 44. Qd4 $1 c2 45. Qd7 Qb8+
46. Rg3 Kg7 (46... c1=Q $4 47. Qe6+ Kh8 48. Qf6+ Kg8 49. Qxg6+ Kh8 50. Qg7#)
47. Qxc6 {followed by 48.Qxc2 is fine for White. nebst 48.Qxc2 ist in Ordnung
für Weiß.}) 44. bxc5 c2 45. Rc3 Rxe7 46. Rxc2 a4 47. Kg3 Kf7 48. Kf4 Kf6 49.
Ra2 g5+ 50. Kf3 Ra7 51. Ke4 a3 52. Kd4 Kf5 53. Rf2+ Kg6 54. Ra2 Kf5 55. Rf2+
Kg6 56. Ra2 Kf5 {A very tense and exciting game! Eine sehr enge und spannende
Partie!} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 37th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2009.07.12"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2697"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2009.07.02"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qa5 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Bxd7+ Nxd7 13. O-O a6 14.
Rb1 Qc7 15. Qh5 Nc5 16. Rb4 Qe5 17. Qh6 {A new twist in this well-known
position, first applied by Leko earlier in Dortmund. Previous games have seen:}
(17. Qxe5 fxe5 18. Nb3 Nxb3 19. axb3 O-O-O 20. f4 exf4 21. Rc4+ Kb8 22. Rxf4
$14 {_|_} Rd7 (22... Rd1+ $5 23. Kf2 Rd2+ 24. Kf3 Rhd8) 23. Rd4 Rc7 24. Rd3 Rg8
25. Kf2 a5 $1 26. c4 Ka7 27. Rh3 Rg7 28. Rh5 Ka6 29. Rfh4 a4 $1 30. bxa4 Rxc4 {
Ftacnik,L 1/2 Gulko,B (2610)-Salov,V (2645)/Linares 1990/CBM 017/[Ftacnik] (58)
}) (17. Qh4 Qg5 (17... Rd8 18. Nf3 Qxc3 19. e5 Rg8 $1 (19... f5 20. Rc4 Qa5 21.
Ng5 $16 Ne4 22. Rxe4 fxe4 23. Qf4 Rf8 24. Nxh7 Rh8 25. Ng5 Rf8 26. Nxe4 $18 {
1-0 Tkachiev,V (2661)-Balogh,C (2562)/Khanty Mansiysk 2007/CBM 122 (30)}) 20.
Qxh7 Ke7 21. Rf4 f5 22. Qh4+ Ke8 23. g3 Ne4 24. Rxe4 fxe4 25. Qxe4 Rd5 26. Qf4
Qc2 27. Ng5 Qf5 28. Qxf5 exf5 29. Nh7 Rg6 30. Nf6+ Rxf6 31. exf6 Rd6 32. Re1+
Kf8 33. Re5 Rxf6 {1/2 Gelfand,B (2733)-Aronian,L (2754)/Nalchik RUS 2009/The
Week in Chess 755}) 18. Qh3 Rg8 (18... Qe5 19. Qh4 Qg5 20. Qh3 Qe5 21. Re1 Rd8
22. Qe3 Rg8 23. Nf3 Qc7 24. Rd4 Nd7 25. Red1 Ke7 26. g3 $14 {1/2 Gelfand,B 
(2736)-Jakovenko,D (2710)/Moscow 2007/CBM 122 (44)}) (18... h5 19. Rc4 (19. f4
Qg4 20. Qe3 Rg8 21. Rb2 Rc8 22. Rd2 h4 23. Nf3 h3 24. g3 Kf8 25. Rd4 Kg7 26.
Rfd1 {1/2 Sasikiran,K (2684)-Macieja,B (2606)/Warsaw 2008/CBM 126}) 19... Rc8
20. Nb3 b6 21. Nxc5 Rxc5 22. Qd3 O-O 23. f4 Qg6 24. f5 Qg5 25. Rxc5 bxc5 26.
Qxa6 (26. Kh1 $5) 26... Qe3+ 27. Kh1 Qxe4 28. Qd6 Ra8 $132 {1/2 Meier,G (2558)
-Macieja,B (2600)/Kallithea 2008/CBM 127 (37)}) 19. g3 (19. Rc4 b5 20. Rxc5
Qxc5 21. Nxe6 fxe6 22. Qxe6+ Kf8 23. Qxf6+ Ke8 24. Qe6+ {1/2 Khismatullin,D 
(2584)-Nielsen,P (2629)/Plovdiv 2008/CBM 124}) 19... h5 20. Rc4 Rc8 21. Nb3 b6
22. Nxc5 Rxc5 23. f4 Qg4 24. Qxg4 hxg4 25. Rxc5 bxc5 26. Rb1 Kf8 27. f5 Kg7 28.
fxe6 fxe6 29. Rb6 e5 30. Rxa6 Rd8 $11 {1/2 Werle,J (2582)-Macieja,B (2600)/
Germany 2008/CBM 126 Extra (36)}) (17. Qf3 Rd8 18. Nb3 Nxb3 19. axb3 b5 (19...
Rd7 $5) 20. Qe3 O-O 21. Rd4 a5 22. f4 Qh5 $6 (22... Qc5 $142) 23. Qd3 Rxd4 24.
Qxd4 Qg6 25. Ra1 (25. Rf3 Kh8 26. Rg3 Qh6 27. e5 $14) 25... Ra8 26. c4 bxc4 27.
bxc4 Qh6 28. Qd2 a4 29. c5 a3 $132 {1/2 Romanov,E (2576)-Sargissian,G (2678)/
Moscow RUS 2009/The Week in Chess 746 (37)}) 17... Rc8 18. Nf3 $5 $146 {
[%mdl 8]} (18. a4 Qxe4 19. Qxf6 Rg8 20. Qf3 Rg4 21. Qh3 h5 22. Nb3 Qg6 23. Nxc5
Rxc5 24. Qf3 Rd5 25. g3 Rxb4 26. cxb4 Qc2 27. Qf4 Qxa4 {1/2 Leko,P (2756)
-Naiditsch,A (2697)/Dortmund GER 2009}) 18... Qxc3 19. Rd4 Ke7 20. e5 Nd7 21.
Qh4 $44 {White has obtained unpleasant pressure for the sacrificed pawn, In
practice it is difficult for Black to defend.} Rhg8 22. Kh1 b5 23. h3 Rc4 (
23... Rgd8 $5) 24. Rxd7+ $5 Kxd7 25. Qxf6 Qd3 {Of course, it was not easy to
find} (25... Ke8 26. Rd1 Rc8 27. Ng5 Qc7 $1 (27... Rxg5 $143 28. Qxg5 Qc2 29.
Rd2 Qg6 30. Qh4 $36) 28. Ne4 (28. Nxh7 $2 Qc2) 28... Kf8 $1 29. Ng5 Rxg5 (29...
Ke8 $5) 30. Qxg5 Qc2 {with sufficient counterchances. After the text move
White obtains formidable passed pawns and a formal material plus but the
position remains complicated.}) 26. Qxf7+ Kc6 27. Qxe6+ Kb7 28. Re1 Rg6 29.
Qf7+ Rc7 30. Qf4 Rc4 31. Qf8 Rc8 32. Qe7+ Rc7 33. Qh4 Qc4 $6 (33... Qd5 $13) (
33... Rcg7 $13) 34. Nd4 $1 {The knight paves the way for the pawns.} Qxa2 $2 {
This unnecessary capture enables White to centralize his position and obtain
an advantage.} (34... Qd5 $6 35. Qe4 Qxe4 36. Rxe4 {[%cal Rf2f4]}) (34... Rd7
$142 $1 35. Nf5 $1 (35. e6 Qxd4 36. Qxd4 Rxd4 37. e7 Rg8 38. e8=Q Rxe8 39. Rxe8
Rd2 $44) 35... Qd5 36. Re4 {, and only now} Qxa2 $13) 35. Qe4+ {[%csl Gd4,Ge4,
Ge5]} Kb6 (35... Kb8 36. e6 $16 Qxf2 $140 37. Rd1 {[%cal Rd4c6]}) 36. Qe3 $1 (
36. e6 $6 Qxf2) 36... Kb7 37. Qf3+ Kb6 38. Nb3 $1 {[%csl Ra2] Cutting off the
black queen.} Rc2 $2 {This "active" move loses at once. Black has no time to
create counterplay.} (38... Qa3 39. e6 $16 {[%csl Ge6] It is important that
the f-pawn will join its neighbour in due time.}) 39. Qe3+ Kb7 40. e6 Rxf2 41.
Qe4+ Kb6 42. Qd4+ {White mates first, e.g.} (42. Qd4+ Kb7 43. Qd5+ Kb6 44. e7
Rfxg2 45. Qd8+ Kb7 46. Qc8+ Kxc8 47. e8=Q+ Kb7 48. Re7+ Kb6 49. Qd8+ Kc6 50.
Qd7+ Kb6 51. Qb7#) 1-0

[Event "Zuerich Champions rap"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2009.08.23"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2687"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2009.08.23"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.09.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 c6 6. g3 Bg4 7. Bg2 e6 8. h3
Bh5 9. O-O Nbd7 10. Ne2 Qc7 11. Nf4 Bxf3 12. Qxf3 Bd6 13. c4 O-O 14. Be3 e5 15.
dxe5 Nxe5 16. Qe2 Rfe8 17. Rad1 Ng6 18. Nxg6 hxg6 19. Rd3 Bc5 20. Rfd1 Qb6 21.
Bxc5 Qxc5 22. Qc2 Re6 23. a3 Rae8 24. b4 Qf5 25. R3d2 Re1+ 26. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 27.
Kh2 Qe5 28. Bf3 Ra1 29. Re2 Qf5 30. Qxf5 gxf5 31. Re3 Kf8 32. c5 a6 33. Kg2 g6
34. Rd3 Ke7 35. Re3+ Kf8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Champions rap"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2009.08.23"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Khalifman, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2612"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "2009.08.23"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.09.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Qb3 c5 8.
cxd5 exd5 9. e3 O-O 10. dxc5 Bxc3+ 11. Qxc3 Qxc3+ 12. bxc3 Nd7 13. Rd1 Nxc5 14.
Rxd5 b6 15. Rd4 Be6 16. c4 Rfc8 17. g4 Rc7 18. g5 hxg5 19. Nxg5 Rac8 20. Nxe6
Nxe6 21. Rd5 Nc5 22. Rg1 Nb7 23. h4 Kf8 24. h5 Rc5 25. Rgg5 Nd6 26. Rxc5 Rxc5
27. Rxc5 bxc5 28. Bd3 Ke7 29. Ke2 Ne8 30. Kf3 Nf6 31. Kf4 Nxh5+ 32. Ke5 Nf6 33.
Bf5 g6 34. Bh3 Ne8 35. Kd5 Nf6+ 36. Kc6 Ne4 37. f4 Nf2 38. Bf1 Nd1 39. e4 Nc3
40. Kxc5 Nxa2 41. e5 Nc3 42. Kd4 Na2 43. c5 Nb4 44. Bb5 Kd8 45. Kc4 a5 46. Ba4
Na6 47. Kd5 Nc7+ 48. Kd6 Ne6 49. c6 Nc7 50. Bb3 Ne8+ 51. Kc5 Ke7 52. Kb6 f6 53.
Bc2 fxe5 54. fxe5 a4 55. Bxa4 Kd8 56. Bc2 g5 57. Bf5 Nc7 58. Bh3 Na8+ 59. Kc5
Ke7 60. Kd5 Nc7+ 61. Kc5 Na8 62. Bg4 Nc7 63. Kb6 Kd8 64. Kb7 Ne8 65. e6 Nd6+
66. Kb8 Nb5 67. Bh3 1-0

[Event "Zuerich Champions rap"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2009.08.23"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Hug, Werner"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2453"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2009.08.23"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.09.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 h6 4. Bh4 d6 5. c3 g5 6. Bg3 Ne4 7. Nbd2 Nxg3 8.
hxg3 Bg7 9. e4 Qe7 10. Bd3 Nc6 11. Qe2 Bd7 12. a4 g4 13. Nh2 h5 14. Nhf1 O-O-O
15. a5 Qg5 16. f4 gxf3 17. Nxf3 Qg6 18. b4 f5 19. b5 Nb8 20. e5 Bf8 21. b6 axb6
22. axb6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Champions rap"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2009.08.23"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2009.08.23"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.09.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 c6 6. Ne5 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Qxd4 8.
Bxb4 Qxe5 9. Nd2 b5 10. Bc3 Qc7 11. a4 Bb7 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Ne4 Ke7 14. Qd2
Nd7 15. axb5 cxb5 16. Qb4+ Nc5 17. Ra5 Bxe4 18. Bxe4 Rab8 19. O-O Kf8 20. Rfa1
Kg7 21. Rxa7 Qe5 22. Bf3 Rhf8 23. Re7 Nb3 24. Raa7 Nd4 25. Kg2 Nxe2 26. Rac7
Nd4 27. Rc5 Nc2 28. Rxe5 Nxb4 29. R5xe6 Nd3 30. Bh5 Nxb2 31. Rc6 Rbc8 32. Rb6
Rb8 33. Rc6 Nd3 34. f4 Nb4 35. Rcc7 Nd5 36. Rxf7+ Rxf7 37. Rxf7+ Kg8 38. Rd7
Nb6 39. Rc7 b4 40. Bf7+ Kh8 41. Bxc4 Nxc4 42. Rxc4 b3 43. Rc1 b2 44. Rb1 Kg7
45. g4 Rb3 46. Kf2 Kg6 47. Ke1 h5 48. gxh5+ Kxh5 49. Kd2 Rh3 50. Rh1 Kg4 51.
Kc2 Kxf4 52. Kxb2 f5 53. Kc2 Ke3 54. Kd1 Kf2 55. Re1 Rd3+ 56. Kc2 Rd5 57. Re8
f4 58. Rh8 f3 59. h4 Kg3 60. h5 f2 61. Rg8+ Kf4 0-1

[Event "Zuerich Champions rap"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2009.08.23"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2727"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2009.08.23"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.09.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 b6 3. e4 Bb7 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. Ne2 Nb4 6. Nbc3 Nxd3+ 7. Qxd3 Ne7 8.
O-O d6 9. d5 Qd7 10. a4 a5 11. Nb5 g6 12. Qc3 e5 13. b4 Bg7 14. bxa5 Rxa5 15.
Be3 O-O 16. c5 dxc5 17. Bxc5 Nxd5 18. Qd2 Rfa8 19. Bb4 Rxa4 20. Rxa4 Rxa4 21.
Nec3 Rxb4 22. Nxd5 Bxd5 23. Qxb4 Bc6 24. Nc3 Bf8 25. Qc4 b5 26. Qb3 b4 27. Rd1
Bd6 28. Nd5 Kg7 29. Qb2 Bxd5 30. Rxd5 Qc6 31. Kf1 f5 32. f3 fxe4 33. fxe4 h5
34. g3 Qc4+ 35. Qe2 Qc1+ 36. Qe1 Qc2 37. Qe2 b3 38. Rb5 g5 39. Qe3 Qc4+ 40. Qe2
Qc1+ 41. Kg2 Qc2 42. Kf1 g4 43. Rb7 Kg6 44. Qb5 Qd1+ 45. Kf2 Qf3+ 46. Kg1 Qe3+
47. Kf1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Champions rap"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2009.08.23"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "36"]
[EventDate "2009.08.23"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.09.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. d4 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. Qd2 O-O 8.
h3 Nc6 9. O-O-O Nd5 10. Nxd5 Qxd5 11. c4 Qa5 12. Qxa5 Nxa5 13. d5 b6 14. Bd3
Ba6 15. b3 c6 16. Rhe1 cxd5 17. cxd5 Bb7 18. Bg5 Bxd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Champions rap"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2009.08.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2644"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "2009.08.23"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.09.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4
b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Bd6 11. Bg5 Nbd7 12. Nbd2 c5 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. Ne5 Bxg2
15. Nxd7 Qxd4 16. Kxg2 Rfd8 17. Nf3 1-0

[Event "Zuerich Champions sim"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2009.08.23"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gavrilova, Anastasia"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E10"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2082"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2009.08.23"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.09.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Nf3 e6 5. dxe6 fxe6 6. cxb5 d5 7. g3 Bb7 8. Bh3
Qb6 9. O-O Be7 10. Ng5 Bc8 11. Nc3 O-O 12. Bf4 h6 13. Na4 Qxb5 14. Nxe6 Na6 15.
Nxf8 Bxh3 16. Ng6 Re8 17. Nc3 Qb7 18. Qb3 Qa8 19. f3 Bxf1 20. Rxf1 Bd8 21. Rd1
c4 22. Qb5 Bb6+ 23. Kf1 Qc8 24. Rxd5 Nxd5 25. Qxd5+ Qe6 26. Ne5 g5 27. Ng4 Qxd5
28. Nxd5 gxf4 29. Ngf6+ Kf7 30. Nxe8 Kxe8 31. gxf4 Bd4 32. b3 cxb3 33. axb3
1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Champions sim"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2009.08.23"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Schiendorfer, Emanuel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B55"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2321"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2009.08.23"]
[EventType "simul"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 131 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.09.03"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. f3 e5 6. Nb3 d5 7. Bg5 Be6 8. Bxf6
gxf6 9. exd5 Bxd5 10. Nc3 Bb4 11. Qd3 Bc6 12. Qxd8+ Kxd8 13. O-O-O+ Nd7 14. Nd5
Bxd5 15. Rxd5 Kc7 16. Bd3 a6 17. Be4 Rad8 18. Rhd1 h6 19. c3 Be7 20. Kc2 Rhg8
21. g3 b6 22. Nd2 Nc5 23. Rxd8 Rxd8 24. Nc4 Ne6 25. Ne3 Rxd1 26. Kxd1 b5 27. b4
Bd8 28. Nf5 h5 29. h4 Kd7 30. g4 Nf4 31. Ng3 Kc7 32. gxh5 f5 33. Bxf5 Bxh4 34.
h6 Bf6 35. Ne4 Bh8 36. Ng5 Nd5 37. Kd2 Ne7 38. Bc2 f5 39. Nf7 Bf6 40. h7 Ng6
41. Bxf5 Nh8 42. Nxh8 Bxh8 43. Be4 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.05"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E36"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2009.11.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 133"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 d5 7. cxd5 Ne4 8.
Qc2 exd5 9. Bf4 {This line was examined in CBM 132, annotations to Morozevich
- Alekseev.} Nc6 ({Everyone (apparently except Vladimir Kramnik) would like to
see what Magnus Carlsen had prepared against} 9... Bf5 10. Qxc7 Qxc7 11. Bxc7
Rc8 12. Bf4 Nc6 $1 (12... Rc2 $143 $6 13. f3 Nf6 14. g4 Bg6 15. h4 Rxb2 16. h5
Bc2 17. e3 Ba4 18. Rh2 $1 $16 {1-0 Morozevich,A (2751)-Alekseev,E (2714)/Biel
2009/CBM 132/[Krasenkow] (34)}) {Was it an improvement on the following game
between two top female players? :} 13. f3 (13. Rd1 $143 Na5 14. g4 Bd7 15. f3
Nf6 16. Nh3 Ba4 17. Rd3 Rc2 $36 {0-1 Wiley,T (2287)-Balogh,C (2595)/Arinsal
2009/CBM 131 Extra (21)}) 13... Nf6 14. g4 Bc2 (14... Bd7 $6 15. e3 Na5 16. Bd3
$16) (14... Nxd4 $5 15. Rd1 $1 Ne6 16. gxf5 Nxf4 17. e3 N4h5 18. Ne2 Rc2 19.
Rd2 Rac8 20. Nc3 $1 {consolidating his position and keeping some positional
advantage.}) (14... Bg6 $5 {[%cal Yc6a5,Ya5b3] looks, however, very strong})
15. e3 Na5 16. b4 (16. Kf2 $5 Bg6 17. Re1 Rc2+ 18. Re2 Rac8 19. Kg3 $5) 16...
Nb3 17. Ra2 Nc1 18. Rb2 Nxg4 $1 19. e4 $5 (19. h4 Nf6 $36) 19... Nd3+ 20. Bxd3
Bxd3 21. Kd2 $4 (21. e5 Rc4 $1 $36) 21... Nf2 22. Be3 Bf1 $1 23. Bxf2 Bg2 $19 {
0-1 Zhu Chen (2488)-Xu Yuhua (2485)/Nanjing CHN 2009/The Week in Chess 779 (40)
}) 10. e3 Re8 $146 {[%mdl 8]} ({Kramnik doesn't repeat a promising line played
by Vishy Anand:} 10... g5 $5 11. Bg3 f5 12. O-O-O (12. Nf3 $5 f4 13. exf4 g4
14. Ne5 Nxd4 $13) 12... f4 13. f3 Nd6 $6 (13... fxg3 $1 14. fxe4 Rf2 $36) 14.
exf4 gxf4 15. Bf2 Bf5 16. Qc5 Ne7 17. Ne2 Bg6 $13 {0-1 Karpov,A (2619)-Anand,V
(2788)/Corsica FRA 2009/The Week in Chess 782 (32)}) {In the game Black gets a
good position, too; it is unclear why Carlsen played such a line, which looks
rather risky for White.} 11. Nf3 g5 $1 12. Bg3 g4 13. Ne5 Nxe5 14. Bxe5 (14.
dxe5 $5 Bf5 15. Bd3 Bg6 (15... c5 16. f3 gxf3 17. gxf3 c4 18. Bxe4 dxe4 19. Rg1
$13) 16. Bxe4 (16. Bf4 c5 $1) 16... Bxe4 17. Qe2 Qg5 $11) 14... c5 15. Bd3 Bf5
(15... Qa5+ $2 {is premature as after} 16. b4 $1 cxb4 17. O-O bxa3 18. f3 {
White completes his development and obtains a strong attack.}) 16. Qe2 (16. O-O
c4 17. Bxe4 Bxe4 {[%cal Ye8e6,Ye6b6,Ye6h6] is favourable for Black (M.Notkin).}
) ({Or} 16. Bxe4 Bxe4 17. Qxc5 Bxg2 18. Rg1 Bf3 $17 {[%csl Re1]}) 16... f6 17.
Bxe4 (17. Bf4 $2 Qa5+ 18. Kf1 cxd4 $19) (17. f3 {leads to a bad endgame for
White:} gxf3 18. Qxf3 c4 $1 19. Bxe4 (19. Qxf5 cxd3 $19 {[%csl Gd3,Ge4]}) 19...
Bxe4 20. Qxf6 Qxf6 21. Bxf6 Re6 $17 {[%csl Rb2][%cal Ye6b6] according to IM
Maxim Notkin.}) 17... Bxe4 18. Bg3 Qa5+ 19. Qd2 Qxd2+ {A disputable decision.
White's drawing chances are more realistic in the endgame, due to the
opposite-coloured bishops, but Kramnik rejected} (19... Qa6 {in view of} 20. f3
(20. Qe2 $2 Qxe2+ 21. Kxe2 cxd4) 20... gxf3 21. gxf3 Bxf3 22. Rf1 {e.g.} Bh5 (
22... Bg4 23. Rf4 Bh5 24. Kf2) 23. Rf5 $5 (23. Rf4 cxd4 24. Rxd4 Rac8 $5 $40)
23... Rxe3+ $5 (23... Bg6 24. Rxd5) 24. Qxe3 Re8 25. Be5 $1 (25. Qxe8+ Bxe8 {
[%cal Ra6e6]} 26. Rf2 cxd4 {looks very bad for White}) 25... cxd4 26. Qg3+ Bg6
27. O-O-O $1 fxe5 ({or} 27... Qe2 28. Bxd4 Qe4 29. Qd3 $1 Bxf5 30. Qxe4 Bxe4
31. Kd2) 28. Rxe5 Rc8+ 29. Kd2 {, and White holds on, keeping chances to
survive.}) 20. Kxd2 {[%mdl 4096]} c4 {[%cal Ye8e6,Ye6b6]} ({After} 20... cxd4
21. exd4 Bxg2 22. Rhe1 {M.Notkin} Be4 23. Rac1 {White activates his rooks and
creates sufficient counterplay; of course, the exchange of all rooks will lead
to a dead draw.}) 21. f3 $1 {White must urgently create counterplay; otherwise
Black's queenside pawn advantage will decide the game.} gxf3 22. gxf3 Bg6 (
22... Bxf3 $6 23. Rhf1 $11) 23. h4 {[%cal Yh4h5]} Bh5 24. Ke2 Re6 25. Be1 Kf7
26. Kf2 Rae8 27. Bd2 Rb6 28. Bc3 Rb3 {[%cal Yb7b5,Ya7a5,Yb5b4] Black's plan is
double-edged as his rook can find itself out of play.} 29. a4 $1 {Preventing
29...b5} b6 {[%cal Ya7a6,Yb6b5]} 30. Rhe1 {[%cal Ye3e4]} Bg6 (30... a6 31. e4
b5 32. axb5 axb5 33. Ra7+ Re7 34. Ra3 Rxa3 35. bxa3 $11) 31. e4 $1 {Still!}
dxe4 32. d5 a6 $2 (32... exf3 $142 33. Rxe8 Kxe8 34. Kxf3 $11) 33. fxe4 $2 {
Missing an excellent chance:} (33. h5 $142 $1 Bxh5 ({or} 33... Bf5 34. Re3 $1 {
[%cal Ya1e1,Yf3e4]}) 34. Rxe4 Rxe4 35. fxe4 {[%csl Rb3] and the initiative
passes to White - see annotation to move 28!}) 33... Bxe4 34. d6 f5 35. Rg1 Ke6
36. Rg7 Kxd6 37. Rxh7 {White's passed h5 pawn should guarantee him a draw.} Bd3
38. Kf3 Re4 39. h5 Rh4 40. Rg1 Be4+ 41. Ke3 Rh3+ 42. Kf4 Rf3+ 43. Kg5 b5 44.
axb5 axb5 45. Kf6 (45. Ra1 $5 Rfxc3 46. bxc3 Rxc3 {doesn't change much.}) 45...
Rbxc3 46. bxc3 Rxc3 47. Rg8 Rh3 48. Rc8 c3 49. Rhc7 (49. Rhh8 $5 Bc6 50. Rh6 $1
{[%cal Rf6f5] was simpler, with a forced draw::} Kd7 51. Rhh8 Kd6 52. Rh6 {as}
Bd7 $2 {doesn't work due to} 53. Kf7+ Ke5 54. Rc5+ Kd4 55. Rc7 {, and White
wins a piece (M.Notkin).}) 49... c2 50. Kg5 Rh2 (50... Rh1 51. Rxc2 Bxc2 52.
Rxc2 $11) 51. Rc3 $6 (51. Rc5 $1 b4 52. Rc4 b3 53. Kf6 Kd5 54. R8c5+ Kd6 55.
Rc8 $11 {M.Notkin}) 51... Ke6 (51... Ke5 $142 {but White apparently has a draw
anyway. In many variations he achieves the endgame R vs. R+B:} 52. R3c5+ Kd4
53. Rxb5 Rg2+ (53... Bd3 54. Rb4+ Ke3 55. Rb3 Rg2+ 56. Kf6 f4 {is just a
transposition of moves}) 54. Kf6 (54. Kf4 $4 Rg4#) 54... f4 55. Rb4+ Ke3 56.
Rb3+ Bd3 (56... Kd2 $143 57. Ke5) 57. Rcc3 Rd2 (57... Ke2 58. Rb2 Kd2 59.
Rbxc2+ Bxc2 60. Rf3 Rg4 61. Ke5 $11) 58. h6 Ke2 $1 (58... f3 59. h7 f2 60. h8=Q
f1=Q+ 61. Ke7 $11) 59. Kg5 $1 f3 60. h7 f2 (60... Bxh7 61. Re3+ Kd1 62. Rxf3 $1
$11) 61. h8=Q f1=Q 62. Qe5+ Kd1 63. Rxc2 $3 {Parrying mating threats!} Qg2+ 64.
Kh4 $1 Qh1+ (64... Qf2+ 65. Qg3 $5 {forcing the exchange of queens}) 65. Kg5 $1
Qg2+ 66. Kh4 Bxc2 67. Qa1+ Ke2 68. Qe5+ Be4 (68... Kf1 69. Qf4+ Kg1 70. Rg3)
69. Rg3 $11) 52. Re8+ Kf7 53. Rb8 Rg2+ (53... Rh1 54. Rc7+ Ke6 55. Rb6+ Kd5 56.
Rxb5+ Kd4 57. Rbc5 $11 {M.Notkin}) 54. Kf4 Ke6 55. Re8+ Kd7 56. Rb8 Ke6 (56...
Rf2+ $5 {is very hard to assess but apparently White holds his ground after}
57. Kg5 $5 (57. Ke5 $143 Rf3 58. Rc5 Re3 59. Kf4 Re2) 57... Rf3 58. Rc5 Rf1 59.
Rbc8 {etc.}) 57. Re8+ Kf6 58. Rf8+ Ke6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.06"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2009.11.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 133"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8.
Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qxa2 12. O-O Bg4 13. Bg5 h6 14. Bh4
g5 15. Bg3 Nc6 16. d5 Rad8 17. Rxb7 e6 ({The main move} 17... f5 {was examined
in CBM 128, annotations to Mamedyarov - Grischuk by GM L.Ftacnik.}) 18. Bc7
Bxf3 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8] This novelty rehabilitates the 17...e6 line.} (18...
exd5 19. Bxd8 dxe4 20. Be7 Re8 $6 (20... Nxe7 $142 21. Rxe7 exf3 22. Bxf3 Bxf3
23. Qxf3 a5 $1 $132 {Ftacnik}) 21. Bb5 $1 (21. Bc5 Rd8 22. Qb3 Qxb3 23. Rxb3
Rd5 24. Ba3 exf3 25. Bxf3 Bxf3 26. Rxf3 Nd4 $14 {1-0 Chernin,A (2600)-Horvath,
J (2505)/Hungary 1992/CBM 034/[Ftacnik] (36)}) 21... Rxe7 (21... exf3 22. Bxc6
fxg2 23. Bxe8 $1 Bxd1 24. Rxd1 $18 {Chernin}) 22. Bxc6 Rxb7 23. Bxb7 exf3 24.
Bxf3 Bxf3 25. Qxf3 a5 26. h4 $1 gxh4 27. Re1 $18) (18... Rd7 $6 19. Bb5 {
Ftacnik}) 19. Bxf3 Rd7 20. dxc6 $5 {This queen sacrifice leads to a drawish
position but} (20. d6 Qa6 21. Rb1 Nd4 {doesn't offer White any real chances
either.}) 20... Rxd1 21. Rxd1 Qc2 22. Bd6 g4 $1 23. Bxg4 Qxc6 24. Rc7 Qb6 25.
Rd7 Rd8 (25... Rc8 26. Bh5 $132) 26. Bc7 Rxd7 27. Bxb6 Rxd1+ 28. Bxd1 axb6 29.
Kf1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.07"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E36"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2009.11.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 133"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{In last year's Tal memorial tournament Kramnik suffered a defeat against
Morozevich, also in round three. This time he managed to take a convincing
revanche.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 d5 7.
Nf3 dxc4 8. Qxc4 b6 9. Bf4 (9. Bg5 Ba6 10. Qa4 c5 11. dxc5 bxc5 12. Rd1 Qb6 13.
Bxf6 gxf6 14. Rd2 Nc6 15. Qg4+ Kh8 16. Qh4 Kg7 17. Qg4+ Kh8 18. Qh4 Kg7 19.
Qg4+ {1/2-1/2 Carlsen,M (2772)-Kramnik,V (2759)/Dortmund GER 2009/The Week in
Chess 765}) 9... Ba6 $1 {Black can ignore the threat to Pc7.} ({The older
continuation} 9... Nd5 {proved to be insufficient for equality in view of} 10.
Bg5 $1) 10. Qc2 {Black gets sufficient compensation as proved in the following
games:} (10. Qxc7 Qd5 11. Qd6 (11. Qc2 Rc8 12. Qb1 Nbd7 13. e4 Qb7 14. e5 Bxf1
15. Rxf1 Nd5 16. Bd2 Qa6 $44 {1-0 Likavsky,T (2498)-Bosiocic,M (2578)/
Ansfelden AUT 2009/The Week in Chess 751 (46)}) 11... Qb5 12. Qb4 Qd5 13. Qd6 (
13. e3 Bxf1 14. Kxf1 Nc6 15. Qa4 Rfc8 $44) (13. Rc1 Nc6 14. Qd6 Qxd6 15. Bxd6
Rfc8 $44 {[%cal Gc6a5,Gf6e4]}) 13... Qb5 14. Qb4 Qd5 15. Qd6 Qb5 16. Qb4 Qd5 {
1/2-1/2 Khenkin,I (2647)-Wojtaszek,R (2599)/Dresden GER 2008/The Week in Chess
733}) 10... Nbd7 11. e4 {Again, both captures of Pc7 are risky for White as he
gets seriously behind in development.} (11. Qxc7 $6 Qxc7 12. Bxc7 Rfc8 13. Bf4
Rc2 $15) (11. Bxc7 $6 Qc8 12. Rc1 Qb7 13. Bf4 Rfc8 14. Qd1 Qe4 15. Bd2 Rxc1 16.
Qxc1 Rc8 17. Qd1 h6 $1 $17 {0-1 Likavsky,T (2480)-Delchev,A (2628)/Fuegen 2006/
CBM 115 (35)}) 11... Bxf1 12. Kxf1 c5 {Black must play actively through the
center before White consolidates his position.} 13. Bd6 Re8 14. e5 Nd5 {
It seems to me that White just lost the right to castle for nothing. Where did
he make a mistake? Hard to tell, perhaps the whole line starting with 9.Bf4 is
not so promising. White should search in the direction of 9.Bg5.} 15. h4 {
Trying to create some threats against the black king.} (15. dxc5 Nxc5 16. Bxc5
Rc8 17. b4 bxc5 $15) 15... cxd4 (15... Rc8 16. Ng5 g6 17. Qd2 cxd4 18. Rh3 (18.
h5 $2 Ne3+ 19. fxe3 Qxg5 $19) (18. Qxd4 Nc5 19. Rh3 h6 20. Ne4 Nxe4 21. Qxe4
Qd7 $15) 18... Nxe5 19. Bxe5 f6 20. Qxd4 fxg5 21. Qg4 $44 {[%csl Ge5]}) 16. Ng5
(16. Nxd4 Nc5 $1 17. Bxc5 Rc8 {The same trick yields Black a pleasant position.
}) 16... f5 17. Qc4 $6 ({It was possible to go back by} 17. Qd1 {[%cal Gd1h5]}
h6 18. Nf3 $15 {Objectively, this would have been better, but this is like to
admit the failure of the whole idea. Morozevich is not that kind of player.})
17... Qc8 $1 18. Qxd4 Nc5 19. Rd1 (19. Bxc5 bxc5 20. Qd2 h6 21. Nf3 Rb8 $17) (
19. Rh3 $2 h6 {and White loses material.}) (19. Rc1 Nb3 20. Rxc8 Nxd4 21. Rxa8
Rxa8 {The endgame is terrible for White.}) 19... Nb3 $1 20. Qd3 Nc1 $1 21. Qb5
Qc2 22. Rxd5 {Forced.} (22. Rd4 Nb3 {and the rook is trapped anyway.}) 22... a6
$1 {Necessary intermediate move.} 23. Qxb6 (23. Qd7 Qc4+ 24. Kg1 Ne2+ 25. Kf1
exd5 $19) 23... Qc4+ 24. Kg1 exd5 (24... Qxd5 25. Qc7 Ne2+ 26. Kh2 Nf4 {
was good as well.}) 25. g3 h6 26. Nf3 (26. Qb7 $5 {was an interesting chance,
though insufficient. The refutation is far from easy:} hxg5 27. e6 $1 {[%cal
Gb7f7,Gd6e5]} Ne2+ 28. Kh2 Rxe6 $3 29. Qxa8+ Kh7 30. hxg5 Qe4 $1 31. Qb8 Re8
32. f3 Qe3 33. Kg2+ Kg6 34. Bc5 Nd4 $1 35. Qb6+ Re6 $19) 26... f4 $19 {Black
is an exchange up, and even in possession of an initative.} 27. g4 Qe4 28. Kg2
Nd3 29. Qb3 Qc4 30. Qb7 (30. Qd1 Rac8 31. Qd2 {trying to trap the knight. This
would force Kramnik to find the following, not very difficult tactical idea:}
Qe4 32. Rd1 Nxf2 $1 33. Qxf2 Rc2 34. Rd2 Rxd2 35. Qxd2 Rc8 $19) 30... Nxf2 $1 {
Nice work by the black knight in this game.} 31. Kxf2 Qc2+ 32. Kg1 Qd1+ 33. Kf2
(33. Kg2 Qe2+ 34. Kg1 Qxf3 $19) 33... Qxh1 {Black is already two exchanges up,
but should still perform a minimal accuracy to clinch the full point.} 34. e6 (
34. Qxd5+ Kh8 $19 (34... Kh7 $4 35. Ng5+ hxg5 36. Qxh1 $18)) 34... Rac8 35.
Qf7+ Kh8 36. Bc5 Qc1 ({It's never too late to spoil everything:} 36... Rxc5 $4
37. Qxe8+ Kh7 38. Ng5+ $1 hxg5 39. Qh5+ {with perpetual check.}) 37. b4 Qc2+
38. Kg1 Qe2 39. Nd4 Qxg4+ 40. Kf2 Qxh4+ 41. Ke2 f3+ 42. Kxf3 Rf8 $1 {Finishing
the game in style.} 43. Bxf8 Rc3+ 44. Kg2 (44. Ke2 Qe4+ 45. Kf1 Rc1+ 46. Kf2
Qxd4+ {and the king will be mated very soon.}) 44... Qg3+ 45. Kf1 Rc1+ {
Excellently played by Kramnik!} (45... Rc1+ 46. Ke2 Re1+ 47. Kd2 Qe3+ 48. Kc2
Rc1+ 49. Kb2 Qc3+ 50. Ka2 Ra1#) 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.08"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2009.11.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 133"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Be3 c5 8.
Rc1 Qa5 9. Qd2 O-O 10. Nf3 Bg4 11. d5 Na6 {A rare move in this position,
compared to the main continuations} (11... Bxf3) ({and (rather less accurate)} 
11... Nd7) 12. h4 $5 $146 {[%mdl 136] According to Kramnik, White overcomes an
"optical illusion" that this move is senseless after ...Bc8-g4. In fact, it
creates a serious threat 13.Nh2, and after the retreat of the bishop 14.h5.
This way White exploits the main drawback of 11...Na6 - the absence of the
black knight from the centre.} (12. c4 $6 {is now met by a strong reply} Nb4 $1
{(that's the idea behind 11...Na6!)}) (12. Bxa6 Qxa6 13. c4 b5 $5 14. O-O bxc4
15. Qe2 Bd7 $6 (15... Bxf3 16. gxf3 Bd4 $1 $11 17. Qxc4 $140 Qf6 $1) 16. Bxc5
Bb5 17. Qe3 Qxa2 18. Bxe7 Rfe8 19. d6 $16 {1/2 Schneider Zinner,H (2348)
-Balinov,I (2388)/Gmunden 2005/CBM 107 ext (167)}) (12. Be2 c4 $5 13. Bd4 Nc5
14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. Bxc4 Nxe4 16. Qd4+ Nf6 17. Ne5 Qb6 18. Qxb6 axb6 19. f3 Bc8
20. Nd3 Ne8 21. Bb3 Nd6 $11 {1/2 Serper,G (2522)-Ehlvest,J (2603)/ICC INT 2008/
CBM 126 Extra (33)}) (12. Ng5 b5 (12... Rad8 13. h3 Bc8 14. Bxa6 Qxa6 15. Bxc5
Rfe8 16. c4 $16 {0-1 Knoll,H (2355)-Balinov,I (2388)/Gmunden 2005/CBM 107 ext 
(52)}) 13. h3 Bd7 14. Bd3 (14. Be2 $142) 14... c4 15. Be2 Rac8 16. O-O Nc5 17.
f4 h6 18. Bxc5 Rxc5 19. Nf3 Qb6 $11 {1-0 Grischuk,A (2719)-Morozevich,A (2787)/
Almaty 2008/EXT 2009 (29)}) 12... f5 (12... Rad8 13. Nh2 Bc8 14. h5 f5 $5 {
was probably the critical reaction to White's plan although he retains the
initiative after} 15. hxg6 hxg6 16. exf5 Bxf5 17. Nf3 {[%cal Re3h6]}) 13. exf5
Bxf5 (13... gxf5 14. Bf4 $16 {[%csl Gf4][%cal Rf3e5]}) 14. h5 $16 {"In my
opinion, Black has a horrible position. White has got an attack with equal
material and a strategical advantage." (V.Kramnik after the game)} Rad8 15.
hxg6 Bxg6 (15... hxg6 $2 16. Bh6 $18) 16. Bh6 $1 (16. Nh4 $143 $6 Be4 {Kramnik}
) (16. Bd3 $143 $6 Nc7 {forcing c3-c4 and the exchange of queens.}) 16... Bxh6
17. Rxh6 Rf6 18. Ne5 {[%csl Ge5]} Qa4 19. Qe3 $1 {[%cal Re5g6,Rf1c4]} (19. Bc4
$2 Re6 $1 {M.Fominyh, Barsky}) (19. f3 $6 Re6 $1 {Kramnik}) 19... Qf4 {Black
must give up a pawn; besides, his poor a6 knight is still out of play.} (19...
Qe4 $4 20. Rxg6+) 20. Qxf4 Rxf4 21. Nxg6 hxg6 22. Rxg6+ Kf7 23. Rg5 Re4+ (23...
Nc7 $142 24. c4 {but Black is technically lost anyway.}) 24. Be2 Kf6 25. Rh5
Kg6 26. g4 Rf8 27. Rd1 Rf6 28. Rh8 Kg7 29. Rd8 Rb6 30. f3 Re3 31. Rd3 Re5 32.
Kf2 Rh6 33. Bf1 Rh2+ 34. Kg3 Rxa2 35. d6 exd6 36. R3xd6 Re7 37. R6d7 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.10"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "162"]
[EventDate "2009.11.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 133"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 {Gelfand fights Kramnik with his own
weapons!} dxc4 5. Bg2 Bb4+ {An interesting decision, proving the universality
of Kramnik's style. He had faced this position with White in the first game of
his epic match against Topalov.} 6. Bd2 a5 7. Nc3 {A rare move.} ({Lately, the
variation initiated by} 7. Qc2 {has been under the spotlight.} Bxd2+ (7... Ra6
$5 $146 {Marin,M (2551)-Kortschnoj,V (2611)/Reggio Emilia 2008/CBM 122/[Marin,
M] (1/2, 58)}) 8. Qxd2 c6 9. a4 b5 10. axb5 cxb5 11. Qg5 O-O 12. Qxb5 Ba6 13.
Qa4 Qb6 14. O-O Qxb2 15. Nbd2 Bb5 16. Nxc4 Bxa4 17. Nxb2 Bb5 18. Ne5 Ra7 19.
Nbd3 $1 (19. Bf3 $11 {Kramnik,V (2743)-Topalov,V (2813)/Elista 2006/CBM 115/
[Marin,M] (1-0, 75)}) 19... Nfd7 20. Rfb1 $14 {Gleizerov,E (2552)-Luther,T 
(2534)/Predeal Romanian team championship 2007 (1-0, 53)}) ({In his recent
repertoire book on 1.d4, Gelfand's compatriot Boris Avrukh analyses} 7. O-O)
7... O-O {Kramnik continues normal development, without making any committal
move.} (7... Nc6 {deprives the f6-knight of one natural defender in the event
of Bg5.} 8. a3 Bxc3 9. bxc3 a4 10. Bg5 {This pin is slightly annoying now.} Bd7
(10... Ra6 11. O-O h6 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. Nd2 b5 14. Rb1 Na7 15. Ne4 Qe7 16. Nc5
Rd6 17. f4 O-O 18. e4 {White has active pieces and an impressive centre.} Rc6
19. e5 Rxc5 {The best practical chance for Black, but his minor pieces remain
passive.} 20. dxc5 Rd8 $6 21. Qe1 Qxc5+ 22. Qf2 Qxf2+ 23. Rxf2 Rd3 24. Rf3 Rd2
25. Rf2 Rd3 26. Rc2 Kf8 27. Kf2 Ke7 28. Ke2 f5 29. Rd1 $14 {Khalifman,A (2622)
-Ibarra Jerez,J (2513)/Budva 2009/CBM 130 (1-0, 51). Black does not have
sufficient compensation for the exchange.}) 11. Ne5 Na5 12. Ng4 h6 13. Nxf6+
gxf6 14. Bh4 $14 {Roiz,M (2599)-Yevseev,D (2557)/Moscow 2006/CBM 112 (1/2, 21).
The weakness of Black's kingside is more important than the small material
advantage.}) 8. Bg5 $146 {A novelty. Gelfand seems to be concerned about
setting up piece pressure as soon as possible, refraining from early castling.}
(8. O-O Bd7 (8... Nc6 9. a3 Bxc3 10. bxc3 a4 11. Bg5 {Again, this pin is
unpleasant.} Na5 12. Qxa4 Bd7 13. Qc2 Bc6 14. Ra2 Be4 15. Qc1 h6 16. Bxf6 Qxf6
17. Ne5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Qe7 19. Qe3 b5 20. f4 $14 {Iskusnyh,S (2506)-Yakovich,Y 
(2583)/Tomsk 2006/EXT 2008 (1/2, 46)}) 9. Ne5 Bc6 10. Nxc6 Nxc6 11. a3 Be7 12.
e3 Nd7 13. Rc1 e5 14. Nd5 exd4 15. exd4 Nxd4 (15... Nb6 $5 {Roiz}) 16. Rxc4 c5
17. Bf4 $44 {Avrukh,B (2652)-Eljanov,P (2639)/Amsterdam 2005/CBM 107 ext (1/2,
65)}) 8... b5 9. Ne5 Ra6 10. a4 $6 {Abstractly speaking, this move looks
premature. White offers the exchange of the b5-pawn before forcing Black to
lose a tempo on defending it or make some other type of concession.} (10. O-O {
looks more consistent, with similar play as in some of Avrukh's lines} h6 (
10... Bxc3 11. bxc3 h6 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. a4 $14 c6 $2 14. Qb1 $16) (10... Rb6
11. a4 $1 {is a lot better for White than the game continuation.}) 11. Bxf6
gxf6 (11... Qxf6 12. Nxb5 $16) 12. Nf3 Rb6 13. Qc1 Kg7 14. a4 c6 15. Qf4 $44 {
The awkward placement of the b6-rook and the weakness of the black kingside
offers White ample compensation for the pawn.}) 10... bxa4 $1 {The correct
answer. Black will eventually lose his extra pawns, but will get time to
activate his pieces.} ({He might have only considered} 10... c6 11. O-O $14)
11. Nxc4 h6 $1 {Another strong move, getting rid of the pin.} 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13.
O-O Rd8 14. Qxa4 Bd7 {Black keeps developing and keeps the threats against the
d4-pawn in reserve.} (14... Qxd4 15. Rfd1 Qf6 16. Qb5 Nd7 17. Rd3 $36) 15. Qd1
Be8 16. e3 c5 {White has restored the material equality, but his position in
the centre is a bit shaky. In order to retain some play, he has to sacrifice a
pawn.} 17. d5 $1 Bxc3 18. bxc3 Qxc3 19. Rc1 Qf6 (19... Qb4 20. Ne5 $44 {
[%csl Gc5][%cal Ge5d3]}) 20. d6 {White does not seem to have sufficient
stability in the centre for playing such a daring move.} (20. e4 $5 $44) 20...
a4 ({Black could simplify to a draw with} 20... Bb5 21. Qb3 Bxc4 22. Qxc4 Raxd6
23. Qxc5 Qg5 24. Qxg5 hxg5 25. Ra1 Ra6 26. Ra4 $11 {, but Kramnik plays for
more.}) 21. Qd3 Nc6 $6 {Black's desire to complete his development is
understandable, but he offers his opponent two important tempi for activating
his own play.} (21... a3 $5 $15 {may have led to the exchange of the a- and
d-pawns, retaining a sound extra-pawn.}) 22. Nd2 $1 {[%csl Ga6] The start of a
wise regrouping.} Nb4 23. Qc4 $44 {Black's position becomes shaky. The c5-pawn,
sustaining the knight and, indirectly, the whole queenside, is weak.} Qb2 $6 {
Causing some further problems.} (23... Rdxd6 24. Ne4 Qe7 25. Nxd6 Rxd6 $44) 24.
Ne4 Qb3 25. Qxc5 {[%cal Gc1b1] Black's pieces are hanging and he has no time
to advance the a-pawn yet.} (25. Nxc5 Qxc4 26. Rxc4 Rb6 27. d7 Bxd7 28. Rd4 Nd5
29. Bxd5 {seems crushing, but Black has resources still:} Bb5 $1 30. Rb1 Rxd5
31. Rxd5 exd5 32. Nxa4 $14 {[%csl Gd4,Rd5]}) 25... Nd5 26. Rb1 Qa2 27. Qd4 {
A nice centralizing move. White has a dominating position, while the enemy
queen feels uncomfortable.} a3 28. Rfc1 $6 {This natural move leads to trouble
after Black's reply.} ({The position is full of tricks, because of the
advanced a-pawn. For instance,} 28. Nc5 $6 {does not win because of} Raxd6 29.
Nb7 Nxe3 $1 30. Qxe3 (30. Nxd6 Nxf1 31. Rxf1 Qb3 $44) 30... Qxb1 $3 31. Rxb1
Rd1+ 32. Qe1 (32. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 33. Bf1 a2 $19) 32... Rxe1+ 33. Rxe1 Rd2 34. Ra1
a2 $44 {There is no obvious way for White to free himself.}) (28. Qd3 $5 {
may have been stronger.} Ra4 {[%cal Ga2c4]} 29. Rfc1 $1 {[%csl Ga2,Rc4][%cal
Gg2f3,Gf3d1] ><c4, /\Bf3-d1} Rb4 30. Ra1 $16) 28... Rc6 $1 {Suddenly, White's
back rank is weak.} 29. Re1 (29. Nc5 Rdc8) 29... Qc4 $15 {Black has restored
his coordination and the a-pawn remains more dangerous than the d-pawn.} 30.
Ra1 Qxd4 31. exd4 Ra8 32. h4 Rb6 33. Rec1 a2 34. Kh2 Rb2 35. Nc5 Bb5 36. Kg1
Ra7 37. Bf1 Bxf1 38. Kxf1 Nf6 39. Nd3 Rd2 40. Ne5 Kh7 41. Rc7 Ra4 42. d7 Raxd4
43. Ra7 Rd1+ (43... Nxd7 44. Rxd7 Rxd7 45. Nxd7 Rxd7 46. Rxa2 $15 {leads to
the same drawn ending as in the game.}) 44. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 45. Ke2 Rd5 46. Kf3 Nxd7
47. Nxd7 Rxd7 48. Rxa2 $15 {With his pawns arranged on optimal squares, White
should have little trouble holding a draw. However, in grandmaster practice
this is not always the case, as, for instance, in Sokolov,I (2570)-Chernin,A 
(2610)/Wijk aan Zee 1991/CBM 022 (0-1, 64)} Rd5 ({We need a few waiting moves
from White in order to transpose to the aforementioned game:} 48... Rd6 49. Ra7
Kg6 50. Rb7 Kf6 51. Rc7 g6 52. Ra7 {Here we are. This is drawn, but White did
not defend in optimal way.} e5 53. Ra8 Rd3+ 54. Ke4 Rd4+ 55. Ke3 Kf5 56. Ra7 f6
57. Rh7 h5 58. Rg7 Rg4 59. Rh7 Rb4 60. Kf3 $2 ({As pointed out by Ftacnik,
White should have activated his rook by attacking one of Black's pawns.} 60.
Rf7 $1 $15) 60... e4+ 61. Ke2 Rb2+ 62. Ke3 Rb3+ 63. Ke2 Rb2+ 64. Ke3 Rb3+ 65.
Ke2 Kg4 $1 {[%cal Gg4h3,Gh3g2,Gb3f3] The position has become at least
dangerous for White.} 66. Rh6 Kh3 $1 67. Rxg6 Rf3 68. Rh6 Kg2 69. Rxh5 Rxf2+
70. Ke3 f5 71. Rg5 Kf1 72. g4 Rf3+ 73. Kd4 e3 74. Rxf5 Rxf5 75. Kxe3 Rf8 {
0-1 Sokolov,I (2570)-Chernin,A (2610)/Wijk aan Zee 1991/CBM 022}) 49. Ra7 Kg6
50. Ke3 Rb5 51. Ke2 Rb3 52. Re7 Ra3 53. Rb7 f5 54. Kf1 f4 {Optically, this
looks fine, but every exchange of pawns makes a draw more probable.} 55. gxf4
Rh3 56. Rb4 Kf5 57. Rb7 Rh1+ 58. Kg2 Rxh4 59. f3 (59. Rxg7 $4 Rg4+ $1 $19)
59... Kf6 60. Kg3 Rh1 61. Ra7 h5 62. Ra5 g6 63. Ra7 Rg1+ 64. Kf2 Rd1 65. Kg3
Rd8 66. Rb7 Rh8 67. Ra7 Rg8 68. Kh4 Rd8 69. Kg3 Rd5 70. Ra8 g5 71. fxg5+ Rxg5+
72. Kh4 Rf5 73. Kg3 Rb5 74. Rf8+ Kg7 75. Re8 Kf7 76. Rh8 Rf5 77. Rh6 Ke7 78. f4
Kd6 79. Kf3 Rb5 80. Ke4 Ke7 81. Kf3 Kf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.11"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "161"]
[EventDate "2009.11.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 133"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 ({After} 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 {
Black, apart from transposing into our game with} Nbd7 {has other options:} (
6... O-O 7. e3 c5 8. dxc5 Nbd7 {is currently quite topical, after} 9. Rc1 Nxc5
$5 10. Qd4 Bxc3+ 11. Qxc3 Nce4 12. Bxf6 Nxf6 13. Be2 Bg4 {Black usually
gradually equalizes.}) ({The older line} 6... h6 7. Bh4 g5 8. Bg3 Ne4 $132 {
also seems playable.})) 5... Nbd7 (5... dxc4 {leads to the Vienna line, which
featured quite prominently in Moscow (see Ivanchuk-Kramnik).}) ({Black can
also try} 5... O-O 6. e3 c5 {, which after} 7. cxd5 exd5 {transposes to a line
we mentioned in the previous note.}) 6. cxd5 exd5 7. e3 ({Kramnik in his
previous practice was very successful with} 7. Qc2 {The most solid reaction
seems to be postponing the c5 advance with} O-O (7... h6 8. Bh4 c5 9. e3 c4 (
9... Qa5 10. Bd3 O-O 11. O-O c4 12. Bf5 Re8 13. Nd2 Be7 14. Rae1 Nb6 15. a3 Be6
16. Bxe6 fxe6 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. f4 $1 Nd7 19. Nf3 Qc7 20. g4 $1 Nf8 21. g5 hxg5
22. fxg5 Be7 23. e4 dxe4 24. Qxe4 Rad8 25. Re2 a6 26. Qg4 Qa5 27. Ne5 $40 {
1-0,Kramnik,V (2685)-Serper,G (2590)/Dortmund/1993/}) 10. Be2 Qa5 11. O-O Bxc3
12. bxc3 Ne4 13. Rfc1 Nb6 14. a4 Bf5 15. Qb2 O-O 16. Bd1 Rfe8 17. Ra2 f6 $6 (
17... Nd7 $1 18. Qa3 Qc7 $14 {Kramnik}) 18. Nd2 Bd7 19. Nf1 $1 $16 Nxa4 $2 20.
Qxb7 Red8 21. Bxa4 Bxa4 22. f3 Rdb8 23. Rxa4 $1 $18 {Kramnik,V (2685)-Lautier,
J (2645)/Cannes m/1993/}) (7... c5 8. dxc5 h6 9. Bd2 O-O 10. e3 Bxc5 11. Bd3 a6
12. O-O Bd6 (12... Ba7 13. Ne2 Re8 14. Bc3 Nf8 15. Nf4 Be6 16. Rad1 Rc8 17. Qb3
b5 18. Qa3 Ra8 19. Nd4 Qd7 20. Nde2 Qd8 21. Bb1 N8d7 {Kramnik,V (2715)-Lautier,
J (2655)/Monte Carlo blindfold rpd/1995/} 22. Nxe6 fxe6 23. Bg6 $16) 13. Ne2 (
13. Rfd1 Nc5 14. Bf5 Be6 15. Be1 Rc8 16. Nd4 Qd7 17. Rac1 Be5 18. Nxe6 fxe6 19.
Bh3 Qf7 20. Nxd5 Nxd5 21. Rxd5 exd5 22. Bxc8 Rxc8 23. b4 b6 24. Qe2 Qb7 25.
bxc5 bxc5 $11 {Mikhalchishin,A (2512)-Aronian,L (2675)/Calvia olm/2004/}) 13...
Ne5 (13... Nc5 $5) 14. Nxe5 Bxe5 15. Bc3 Qe7 16. Bxe5 Qxe5 17. Rac1 Be6 18. Qc3
Ng4 19. Qxe5 Nxe5 20. Bb1 Rac8 21. Nd4 $11 {/+/=,Dreev,A (2650)-Zvjaginsev,V 
(2610)/RUS-ch Elista/1997/ White has a riskless, but only very slight edge.})
8. e3 (8. a3 Bxc3+ 9. Qxc3 c6 {Here White lately hasn't been able to prove an
advantage:} 10. e3 (10. Nd2 Qe8 11. e3 Ne4 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Bf4 Qe6 14. Be2
Nb6 15. Bg3 Qg6 16. Qc5 Bg4 $11 {Alekseev,E (2708)-Ponomariov,R (2718)/Moscow
Tal mem/2008/}) 10... Qe8 11. Qc2 Ne4 12. Bd3 h6 13. Bf4 Qe7 14. h3 Re8 15. Bh2
c5 $1 $132 16. O-O c4 17. Bxe4 Qxe4 18. Qxe4 Rxe4 19. Nd2 Re6 {Zhou Jianchao 
(2623)-Bu Xiangzhi (2702)/JinZhou/2009/} 20. e4 dxe4 21. Nxc4 Nf6 22. Nd6 Ne8
$11) 8... c5 9. Be2 (9. Bd3 Qa5 10. O-O c4 {leads to the 7.e3 c5 8.Bd3 lines.})
9... Qa5 10. O-O cxd4 ({Simpler is} 10... Bxc3 11. bxc3 Ne4 $11 {<=>}) 11. Nxd4
Bxc3 12. bxc3 Re8 13. Bf4 Ne5 14. Rab1 a6 15. Bxe5 Rxe5 16. Rfc1 Qc7 17. c4
dxc4 18. Qxc4 Qxc4 19. Rxc4 b5 20. Bf3 (20. Rc7 $142 Ne8 21. Rc3 $14) 20...
bxc4 21. Bxa8 Kf8 22. Rb8 Re8 23. Kf1 $6 (23. Bf3 Bg4 $132) 23... Nd7 24. Rb4
a5 $1 25. Rb1 Ne5 26. Bd5 c3 $36 {Ivanchuk,V (2739)-Ponomariov,R (2739)/Moscow
Tal mem/2009/}) 7... c5 8. dxc5 $5 {A rare move, which was certainly prepared
by Kramnik at home - one can hardly imagine a top GM going for the following
king-walk without checking it with a computer.} ({The main line} 8. Bd3 Qa5 9.
Qc2 c4 10. Bf5 O-O 11. O-O Re8 12. Nd2 g6 13. Bh3 {leads to complex play,
recently Black has been able to hold his own after} Kg7 14. Rae1 h6 15. Bh4 g5
$5 16. Bxd7 Bxd7 17. Bg3 Nh5 18. e4 Nxg3 19. hxg3 dxe4 (19... Bxc3 20. bxc3
dxe4 21. Nxc4 Qa4 22. Qxa4 Bxa4 23. Ne3 Bd7 24. c4 b6 25. g4 Rac8 26. a4 h5 27.
gxh5 f5 $132 {Zhao Jun (2560)-Wang Hao (2696)/Beijing/2009/}) 20. Nxc4 Qa6 21.
Ne5 Bxc3 22. bxc3 Bb5 23. c4 Rxe5 24. dxe5 Bxc4 25. Qxe4 Bxf1 26. Rxf1 Rd8 $11
{Zhukova,N (2461)-Kosintseva,T (2522)/RUS-chTW Dagomys/2009/}) 8... Qa5 {
The direct counterattack is the most logical reaction.} (8... O-O 9. Rc1 {
leads to a position we have already mentioned above in the note to move 5.}) 9.
Rc1 {Other moves can't cause Black any problems:} (9. Bxf6 Nxf6 10. Qd4 O-O 11.
Bd3 Bxc5 $11) (9. Nd2 Ne4 10. Ndxe4 dxe4 11. Qd4 O-O 12. a3 Bxc3+ 13. Qxc3
Qxc3+ 14. bxc3 Nxc5 15. Be7 Nb3 16. Rd1 Re8 17. Bb5 Bg4 18. Bxe8 Bxd1 19. Kxd1
Rxe8 20. Bb4 Rc8 21. Kc2 Nc5 22. Bxc5 Rxc5 23. Rd1 g6 24. g4 h5 $11 {Karpov,A 
(2725)-Lautier,J (2645)/France/1993/}) 9... Ne4 (9... Qxa2 10. Bxf6 Nxf6 11.
Bb5+ Bd7 12. O-O Bxc3 13. Bxd7+ Nxd7 14. Rxc3 O-O (14... Qxb2 15. Rc2 Qf6 16.
Qxd5 $36) 15. b4 Rfc8 16. Nd4 g6 17. Qc1 $16 {Lingnau,C (2365)-Gebhardt,U 
(2245)/Dortmund/1992/}) (9... O-O 10. a3 $1 {leads to a position, which arises
mostly via a different move order with Black castling earlier. Here after}
Bxc3+ 11. Rxc3 Ne4 12. b4 Nxc3 13. Qa1 $44 {White has been very successful in
current practice, the latest example is} Qa4 14. Qxc3 a5 15. b5 b6 16. c6 Nc5
17. Be2 Re8 18. O-O Bg4 19. Bd1 Ne4 20. Qb2 Qc4 21. Be2 Qc5 22. Rc1 $16 {
Bacrot,E (2709)-Korchnoi,V (2566)/EU-chT Novi Sad/2009/}) ({In the future
Black should possibly have a closer look at} 9... Bxc3+ $5 10. bxc3 O-O 11. Bd3
Ne4 $5 (11... Qxc5 12. O-O b6 13. c4 $1 Bb7 14. cxd5 (14. Qa4 $5) 14... Qxd5
15. e4 (15. Bc4 $14) 15... Qe6 16. Be3 Nc5 (16... Rfc8 $11) 17. Bxc5 bxc5 18.
Re1 Rad8 19. e5 Qg4 20. h3 Bxf3 21. hxg4 Bxd1 22. Rexd1 Nxg4 23. Rxc5 Rfe8 24.
Be2 {Van der Sterren,P (2535)-Winants,L (2515)/NED-chT/1992/} Rxd1+ 25. Bxd1
Nxe5 26. Ba4 Nd3 27. Rc7 Re1+ 28. Kh2 g6 29. f3 Ne5 $132) 12. O-O Ndxc5 13. Bb1
Na4 (13... Bg4 $132) (13... Re8 $5) 14. c4 Bg4 $6 (14... Be6 $142 $1 $11) 15.
Qxd5 Qxd5 16. cxd5 Bxf3 17. Be7 $1 Nec3 18. Bxf8 Bxd5 {1/2,Novikov,I (2545)
-Blatny,P (2495)/Budapest/1991/} 19. Bb4 Ne2+ 20. Kh1 Nxc1 21. Rxc1 $14) 10.
Qxd5 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Bxc3+ 12. Kd1 $1 {[]} (12. Nd2 $2 O-O $36) 12... O-O (12...
Nf6 $2 13. Qc4 Bb4 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Qb5+ Bd7 16. Qxa5 Bxa5 17. Nd4 $16 {
Danner,G (2408)-Fletcher,J/ECC Saint Vincent/2005/}) 13. Bc4 Nf6 {Ftacnik: 'N'}
({The tactical complications after} 13... Nxc5 {'?!' Ftacnik.} 14. Be7 {
seem to favour White:} Be6 (14... Bb4 15. Bxf8 Be6 16. Qd4 $5 (16. Qe5 Rxf8 17.
Bxe6 fxe6 18. Rc2 (18. Rxc5 $2 Qxa2 $1 $40) 18... Rf5 19. Qb8+ Rf8 20. Qe5 $11)
16... Rxf8 17. Ke2 $14 Rd8 18. Qh4 b5 19. Bxe6 Nxe6 20. Rc2 Qa3 21. Rd1 Rxd1
22. Kxd1 $16 {Novikov,I (2611)-Schulte,O (2392)/Edmonton/2000/}) 15. Qxc5 Qa4+
16. Bb3 Bxb3+ 17. axb3 Qxb3+ 18. Ke2 Qb2+ $1 (18... Rac8 19. Qf5 Rfe8 20. Rhd1
g6 21. Qd7 b5 22. Nd2 Qb2 23. Kf1 {1-0,Novikov,I (2545)-Tischbierek,R (2500)/
Copenhagen/1991/ Ftacnik: '1-0/Novikov,I-Tischbierek,R/Copenhagen op/1991/'}) (
18... Rfc8 19. Qf5 $16) (18... Qa2+ 19. Kf1 $16) 19. Kd3 Rfc8 20. Qd5 $1 {
/\Rc2, Bc5} (20. Rc2 $2 Qxc2+ 21. Kxc2 Bb4 $3 22. Qxc8+ Rxc8+ 23. Kb3 Bxe7 $19
{Mikhalchishin,A (2465)-Plachetka,J (2465)/Kecskemet/1983/}) 20... Ba5 $5 {
Plachetka} (20... Bb4 21. Rxc8+ Rxc8 22. Bxb4 Qc2+ 23. Kd4 Qb2+ 24. Ke4 Qxb4+
25. Nd4 $18) 21. Qe5 $5 (21. Rxc8+ Rxc8 22. Ke4 $1 (22. Qxa5 $2 Qc2+ 23. Kd4
Rc4+ $19) (22. Nd4 Qd2+ $1 23. Ke4 Qxf2 $17) 22... Qc2+ 23. Kf4 Bc7+ 24. Kg4
Qxf2 25. g3 $14) (21. Rc5 Rxc5 $1 (21... Rd8 $6 22. Bxd8 Rxd8 23. Rxa5 $1 Rxd5+
24. Rxd5 $18) 22. Qxc5 Qb3+ 23. Ke4 (23. Ke2 Qb2+ 24. Kd3 Qb3+ $11) 23... Bb6
24. Qd5 Qc2+ 25. Kf4 Qxf2 26. Qxb7 (26. Qd2 Qxe3+ 27. Qxe3 Bxe3+ 28. Kxe3 Re8
$11) 26... Re8 $13) 21... Qb3+ 22. Ke4 {[%cal Ye4f4,Yf4g3] /\Kf4-g3} Bc3 23.
Nd4 {/\} Bxd4 24. exd4 Rxc1 25. Rxc1 Qb2 26. Rc7 Qxf2 (26... Qe2+ 27. Kd5 Qa2+
28. Kd6 $16) 27. Kd3 $36) 14. Bxf6 ({Time is important; the text move is
simpler than} 14. Qd3 Bb2 (14... Rd8 15. Nd4 Bg4+ 16. Kc2 $2 (16. f3 $142 Bxd4
17. exd4 Be6 18. Ke2 $14) 16... Bb4 17. Kb1 Bh5 18. Ka1 Bg6 19. Qb3 Bxc5 20.
Bxf6 gxf6 21. Rhd1 Ba3 $36 {Hefty Hilardo,J (2335)-Baron Rodriguez,J (2407)/
ESP-chT/2006/}) 15. Rc2 (15. Bxf6 $5 Bxf6 16. Ke2 $14) 15... Bg4 16. Ke2 (16.
Qb3 Ne4 $5 17. Qxb2 Nxg5 $44) 16... Be5 17. h3 Bh5 18. Qb3 $14) 14... Bxf6 15.
Ke2 b5 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8] An ambitious novelty, but it doesn't completely solve
Black's problems. However, even after} (15... Bg4 {White can fight for an
advantage:} 16. Rhd1 (16. c6 Qb6 $5 (16... Qxd5 17. Bxd5 bxc6 18. Rxc6 Rab8 19.
Rhc1 $16 {leads to a better version of the _|_ in Novikov-Serper.}) 17. Bb3 (
17. Bd3 $5) 17... Be6 18. Qc5 Qa6+ 19. Bc4 $14) (16. Qxb7 $5 Rab8 17. Qe4 Bh5
18. Bb3 Bb2 19. c6 Bxc1 20. Rxc1 $44) 16... Rac8 (16... Rad8 17. Qxb7 Rxd1 18.
Rxd1 Qxc5 19. Qb3 $16) 17. c6 (17. Qxb7 Rxc5 $132) 17... Qxd5 18. Bxd5 bxc6 19.
Rxc6 Rxc6 20. Bxc6 Rb8 21. a4 Rb2+ 22. Kf1 Ra2 23. Rb1 Ra1 $1 24. Rxa1 Bxa1 25.
Nd4 Kf8 26. f3 Bc8 27. Ke2 Ke7 28. Kd3 Kd6 29. Bb5 f6 $14 {/=,Novikov,I (2550)
-Serper,G (2490)/URS-ch Moscow/1991/}) (15... Be6 16. Qe4 Bxc4+ 17. Qxc4 Rac8
18. Rhd1 $14) 16. c6 ({White also wants more than the simple} 16. cxb6 axb6 $14
{Now the game becomes very complex with the tension growing fast.}) 16... Ba6 (
16... Rb8 17. Qc5 $36) 17. Qf5 $5 (17. Rhd1 Bc3 $1 18. Bd3 Rad8 19. Qc5 (19.
Qe4 Rxd3 20. Rxd3 b4 $36) 19... Rxd3 20. Rxd3 Qxa2+ 21. Rd2 Bxd2 22. Nxd2 b4+
23. Ke1 Qa3 24. Qc2 b3 $5 $132) 17... Qa3 $2 (17... Bb2 $142 $1 18. Rc2 g6 {/\}
19. Qc5 Ba3 20. Qg5 Be7 $1 21. Qe5 (21. Qxe7 bxc4 $15) 21... Bd6 22. Qg5 Be7
$11) (17... Rad8 18. c7 $1 Rd6 (18... Rd7 19. a4 $5 Rxc7 20. Bd3 Rd8 21. Rxc7
Qxc7 22. axb5 $16) (18... Qxc7 $4 19. Bd3 $18) 19. Rhd1 Rxd1 20. Rxd1 Qxc7 21.
Bd3 $14) 18. Bd3 Rfd8 19. c7 $6 {[%mdl 8256] Kramnik repays the tactical
favour from move 17 - a situation, which will arise even later in the game.} (
19. Qxh7+ $142 Kf8 20. c7 {/\} Qxa2+ 21. Kf1 $1 (21. Rc2 $2 Qxc2+ 22. Bxc2 b4+)
21... Re8 (21... Rdc8 22. Be4 b4+ 23. Kg1 Bb7 24. Bxb7 Rxc7 25. Re1 $16) 22.
Qh8+ (22. g3 $5 g6 23. Kg2 Bb7 24. Rhd1 $16) 22... Ke7 23. Qh5 $40) 19... Qxa2+
20. Nd2 (20. Rc2 $2 Qxc2+ 21. Bxc2 b4+ $17) (20. Ke1 Qa5+ $5 (20... Rxd3 21.
Qxd3 b4 22. Qd2 Qa5 23. Nd4 $14) 21. Nd2 Rxd3 22. Qxd3 Rc8 23. f4 b4 24. Qd6
Bc3 25. Kf2 $13 {is similar to the game continuation. However, one can
understand that White instinctively wants to keep his RR connected.}) 20...
Rxd3 $1 {Black doesn't give his opponent a second chance to take on h7.} 21.
Qxd3 (21. Kxd3 b4+ 22. Ke4 $8 Qxd2 23. c8=Q+ Rxc8 24. Rxc8+ Bd8 $1 $36) 21...
b4 22. Kf3 Bb7+ (22... Qa5 $5 23. Qe4 (23. Qd7 Qh5+ {and playing for a win with
} 24. g4 Qh3+ {is very risky}) 23... Rc8 $44) 23. Kg3 (23. Ne4 Qe6 24. Qc4 (24.
Kg3 Bxe4 25. Qxe4 Qxe4 26. c8=Q+ Bd8 $44) 24... Bc3 25. Qxe6 fxe6 26. Rhd1 Rf8+
27. Ke2 $5 Bxe4 28. Rd8 Bb7 29. Kd3 a5 (29... Kf7 30. Kc4 Ke7 31. Rxf8 Kxf8 32.
Rd1 $16) 30. Kc4 a4 31. Rcd1 Ba6+ 32. Kc5 Be5 33. Ra8 $1 Bxc7 34. Rxa6 $14)
23... h5 (23... Qa5 24. f4 Rc8 25. Rhd1 $16 {/\} Rxc7 $2 26. Nb3) 24. h3 {
White doesn't need this move.} (24. f4 $142) (24. f3 $5) 24... Qa5 25. f4 (25.
Ne4 h4+ 26. Kh2 Be5+ 27. f4 Bxc7 $132) 25... Rc8 26. Nc4 $5 (26. Qd7 Bc3 27.
Ne4 Qxc7 28. Qxc7 Rxc7 29. Nxc3 bxc3 30. Rhd1 f5 $44 (30... Be4 $5 $15 {
and already White has to fight for a draw.})) (26. Rhd1 Rxc7 27. Ne4 Be7 $44)
26... Qa6 (26... Qxc7 $142 27. Nd6 Qd8 28. Kh2 $14) 27. Ne5 $6 (27. Qd7 $1 b3 (
27... Bc6 28. Qd6 $16) 28. Rhd1 {/\} b2 29. Rc2 Bc6 30. Qf5 Rxc7 31. Rxb2 $16)
27... Qxd3 28. Nxd3 Bc3 $44 29. Rhd1 a5 (29... Rxc7 $2 30. Nxb4 $18) 30. Nc5 (
30. Nxb4 $5 {was more circumspect:} axb4 31. Rd8+ Kh7 32. Rxc8 Bxc8 33. Rd1 (
33. Kf3 Kg6 34. Ke4 Be6 $11) 33... b3 34. Rd8 b2 35. Rxc8 Be1+ (35... b1=Q 36.
Rh8+ Kxh8 37. c8=Q+ $14) 36. Kh2 b1=Q 37. Rb8 Bg3+ (37... Qd3 38. c8=Q Bg3+ 39.
Kxg3 Qxe3+ $11) 38. Kxg3 Qe1+ 39. Kh2 h4 40. c8=Q Qg3+ $11) 30... Rxc7 31. Na4
Be4 32. Rd6 $2 $138 (32. Kf2 h4 $44) 32... Kh7 $2 $138 (32... Bc2 $1 33. Nxc3 (
33. Rxc2 Be1+ $19) 33... Rxc3 $36 {[%csl Ga5,Gb4] /-/+ and Black's unleashed
o^ are very dangerous.}) 33. Ra6 h4+ 34. Kh2 $1 (34. Kf2 Rd7 35. Nxc3 bxc3 36.
Rxc3 Rd2+ 37. Ke1 Rxg2 38. Rxa5 f5 $11 {/\Rg3}) 34... Rd7 (34... f5 $5 35. Rxa5
Rc6 $44) 35. Nc5 (35. Rxa5 Rd2 36. Rh5+ Kg8 37. Kg1 Rxg2+ 38. Kf1 $14) 35...
Re7 36. Rxa5 (36. Nxe4 Rxe4 37. Rxa5 Rxe3 {/\} 38. Rh5+ Kg6 39. Rxh4 b3 40.
Rg4+ Kf5 41. Rg5+ Kxf4 42. Rb5 b2 43. Rxc3 Rxc3 $11) 36... Bd2 (36... Bg6 37.
Na4 $16 {[%cal Rf4f5] /\f5}) 37. Rc4 f5 $6 (37... b3 $5 38. Nxb3 (38. Rb5 Bc6
39. Rb6 Rxe3 40. Rxc6 b2 41. Rb6 Be1 42. g3 hxg3+ 43. Kh1 Re2 44. Ne4 Rh2+ 45.
Kg1 Bf2+ 46. Nxf2 gxf2+ 47. Kf1 b1=Q+ $11) 38... Bxa5 39. Nxa5 Re6 40. Rd4 f5
41. Nc4 Rg6 42. Rd2 Rg3 $44 {[%csl Re3,Rg2] ><e3,g2 and I don't see any way
for White to convert his extra P.}) (37... Bg6 $2 38. f5 Bxf5 39. Nb3 {/\} Be1
40. Rxf5 Rxe3 41. Rf3 $18) (37... Bf5 38. Nb3 Be1 39. Rxf5 Rxe3 $14) 38. Nxe4
fxe4 39. Rh5+ Kg6 40. Rg5+ (40. Rxh4 b3 (40... Rb7 41. Rc8 $1 (41. Rh8 b3 42.
Rc6+ Kf7 43. Rhc8 b2 44. R8c7+ Rxc7 45. Rxc7+ Ke6 46. Rb7 Bc3 $15) 41... Bxe3 (
41... b3 $2 42. Rf8 $1 Rb5 43. f5+ Rxf5 44. Rb8 Bxe3 45. Rxb3 Rf4 46. Kg3 $18)
42. Rf8 Rf7 43. Rxf7 Kxf7 44. f5 b3 45. Rxe4 $18) 41. Rc6+ Kf7 42. Rb6 Bxe3 43.
Rxb3 Bd2 $132) 40... Kf6 (40... Kh7 41. g4 $1 $16) 41. Rc6+ (41. g4 $1 hxg3+
42. Kxg3 $16) 41... Kf7 42. Rf5+ Kg8 43. g4 (43. Rc8+ $5 Kh7 44. g4 $16) 43...
Re8 $5 (43... hxg3+ 44. Kxg3 Bxe3 45. Rc8+ Kh7 46. Rh5+ Kg6 47. Kg4 $1 {/\} b3
48. Rf8 $18) 44. Re5 (44. Rb6 Bxe3 45. Rxb4 Bd2 $132) 44... Rb8 (44... Rxe5 45.
fxe5 Bxe3 46. Kg2 b3 47. Rc8+ Kf7 48. Rb8 Ke6 49. Rxb3 Bf4 50. Rb6+ Kxe5 51.
Rg6 $16) 45. g5 $6 (45. Rce6 $142 Kf8 $8 (45... Bxe3 46. Re8+ Rxe8 47. Rxe8+
Kf7 48. Rxe4 Bd2 49. Rd4 Bc3 50. Rd7+ Ke6 51. Rd3 $18) 46. Rd5 Bc3 (46... Bxe3
47. Rxe4 b3 48. Rh5 $1 Kf7 49. Rxe3 b2 50. Re1 b1=Q 51. Rxb1 Rxb1 52. Rxh4 $18)
47. Rdd6 $16) 45... Kh7 $1 (45... b3 $2 46. g6 b2 47. Rb6 $18) 46. Re7 Bxe3 47.
Rh6+ Kg8 48. Rg6 Bd4 (48... Bxf4+ 49. Kg2 Kh8 50. Rgxg7 Rc8 51. Rh7+ Kg8 52.
Reg7+ Kf8 53. Rd7 Rc2+ 54. Kf1 Rc1+ 55. Ke2 Rc2+ 56. Ke1 Rc1+ 57. Rd1 Rxd1+ 58.
Kxd1 Bxg5 $14 {gives White only practical winning chances, as he won't be able
to reach the _|_ from the game.}) 49. Rge6 Kh7 $2 (49... Bc5 $142 $1 50. Re8+
Rxe8 51. Rxe8+ Kf7 52. Rxe4 b3 53. Re1 b2 54. f5 (54. Rb1 Be3) 54... g6 $11 {
and White won't pick up the Pb2 without losing two >>P.}) (49... b3 50. g6 Rf8
(50... Kf8 51. Rf7+ Kg8 52. Rb7) 51. Rb7 b2 52. Rxe4 $18) 50. f5 Bc5 (50... b3
51. f6 Rg8 $8 (51... b2 52. Rxg7+ Kh8 53. Ree7 $18) 52. Rb7 $18) (50... Be3 51.
Rg6 (51. f6 Bxg5 52. Rxg7+ Kh6 53. Rd7 Rf8 54. f7+ Kg7 55. Rxe4 Rxf7 56. Rxf7+
Kxf7 57. Rxb4 $18 {according to Tablebases.}) 51... Bd4 52. Rxe4 $18) 51. Re8
$2 (51. Rd7 $142 $1 Kg8 52. Rxe4 b3 53. f6 gxf6 54. gxf6 $18) 51... Rxe8 52.
Rxe8 b3 (52... e3 53. Kg2 b3 54. Kf3 $18 {/\} b2 55. g6+ Kh6 56. Kg4) 53. Kg2 (
53. Rxe4 $2 g6 $1 54. f6 b2 55. Re1 Be3 56. Rb1 Bxg5 $11) 53... Be3 $2 {
Seemingly only this is the final and decisive mistake.} (53... b2 54. Rb8 Bd4
55. Kf1 Be5 56. Rb7 Kg8 57. Ke2) (53... Bd6 $142 $1 54. Rxe4 b2 55. Re1 Bf4 (
55... g6 56. Rb1 gxf5 57. Rxb2 Bf4 58. Rf2 Bxg5 59. Rxf5 $18) 56. Rb1 Bc1 57.
Kf3 g6 58. Kg4 gxf5+ 59. Kxf5 Kg7 60. g6 Kf8 61. Kf6 Kg8 62. g7 Bd2 63. Kf5 Bc3
$11 {still holds.} (63... Bc1 $2 64. Kg6 $22)) 54. Rxe4 Bxg5 55. Rb4 g6 56.
Rb7+ Kh6 57. fxg6 Kxg6 58. Kf3 Bd2 59. Kg4 Be1 60. Rxb3 $18 {[%mdl 4096] From
now on TB show the _|_ is winning for White. Although Kramnik doesn't always
take the most straightforward path, he knows the basic principles of the
winning method and he will never endanger his victory.} Bg3 (60... Kf6 61. Rf3+
Kg6 62. Re3 $18) 61. Rf3 (61. Re3 $18 {is equivalent.}) (61. Rb6+ $2 Kf7 62.
Kf5 Ke7 $11 {allows Black's K to escape the dangerous corner.}) 61... Be1 (
61... Kh6 62. Rf6+ Kg7 63. Kg5 Bc7 64. Re6 Kf7 65. Re4 Bg3 66. Re3 Kg7 67. Rf3
Be1 68. Rf1 Bg3 69. Kh5 Kh7 70. Rf7+ Kg8 71. Kg6 Bh2 72. Rd7 Kf8 73. Rd4 Bg3
74. Re4 $22 $18 {We will see this method (and final position) in the game as
well.}) 62. Re3 Bf2 ({Similar is} 62... Bg3 63. Re6+ Kf7 64. Kf5 $18) 63. Re6+
Kf7 64. Kf5 (64. Re2 $1 Bg3 65. Kg5 {is slightly faster.}) 64... Bg3 65. Re4
Bf2 66. Kg5 Bg3 67. Re2 {See the 64.Re2! line.} Kg7 68. Re7+ Kf8 69. Kf6 Bf2
70. Re6 (70. Ke6 $1 Be1 (70... Bd4 71. Rh7 $18) 71. Rc7 Bg3 72. Ra7 Bh2 (72...
Be1 73. Kf6 Bc3+ 74. Kg6 Be1 75. Ra4 $1 Bg3 76. Re4 $18) 73. Rf7+ $1 Kg8 (73...
Ke8 74. Rh7 $18) 74. Kf6 Bg3 75. Kg6 {-61...Kh6}) 70... Bg3 71. Kg6 Bh2 72. Re4
Bg3 {We have already seen that White must achieve this position with Black to
move, thus forcing zugzwang.} 73. Kf6 Bf2 74. Kg6 (74. Re7 $1 Bd4+ 75. Ke6 Bc3
76. Rh7 Be1 77. Rc7 Bg3 78. Ra7 {-70.Ke6!}) 74... Bg3 75. Re2 Bd6 76. Kg5 Bg3 (
76... Be7+ 77. Kf5 Bc5 78. Re4 Bf2 79. Kf6 Bc5 (79... Bg3 80. Kg6) 80. Ra4 Be7+
(80... Ke8 81. Ke6) 81. Ke6 Bg5 82. Ra7 Kg8 83. Kf5 Be3 84. Ra3 Bc5 85. Ra5 Bd6
86. Ra4 Bg3 (86... Be7 87. Kg6) 87. Kg6 Kf8 88. Re4 $18) 77. Kf6 Bf4 78. Re4
Bd6 (78... Bc7 79. Rc4 Bd8+ 80. Kf5 Kf7 81. Rd4 Be7 82. Rd7 $18) 79. Rd4 Bc7 ({
More resilient, but equally hopeless is} 79... Be7+ $142 80. Kf5 Kf7 ({The K
won't escape:} 80... Ke8 81. Ke6 Kf8 82. Rf4+ Ke8 83. Ra4 $18) 81. Rd7 Kf8 82.
Ke6 Bg5 83. Rb7 Bd2 (83... Kg8 84. Kf5 Bd2 85. Kg6 Kf8 86. Rb5 Bc1 (86... Be1
87. Rf5+) 87. Rh5 $18) 84. Rf7+ $1 Kg8 (84... Ke8 85. Rh7) 85. Kf6 Be1 86. Kg6
Bg3 87. Re7 Kf8 88. Re4 $18) 80. Kg6 Bg3 81. Re4 $22 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.12"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2786"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2009.11.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 133"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bxf6 Qxf6 8.
Bxc4 c5 9. e5 Qd8 10. d5 exd5 11. Bxd5 O-O 12. Rc1 Nc6 13. O-O Nd4 14. Be4 Re8
15. Nd5 Bf5 16. Bxf5 Qxd5 17. Nxd4 Rxe5 18. Nb5 Qxd1 19. Rfxd1 Rxf5 20. a3 c4
21. axb4 Rxb5 22. Rxc4 a5 23. g3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.13"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2009.11.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 133"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3
d5 9. Ne5 Nfd7 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nd2 O-O 12. O-O Rc8 13. e4 c5 14. exd5 exd5
15. dxc5 dxc4 16. c6 cxb3 17. Re1 Bb5 18. Nxb3 Bxc6 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Nd4 Bxg2
21. Nf5+ Kh8 22. Rxe7 Bh3 23. Qd4+ Ne5 24. Qxe5+ f6 25. Qe2 Bxf5 26. Rd1 Bg4
27. Rxh7+ $146 (27. Rxd8 Bxe2 28. Rxf8+ Rxf8 {1/2 Barus,C (2410)-Zarnicki,P 
(2540)/Yerevan 1996/EXT 97}) 27... Kxh7 28. Qxg4 Qe8 29. Rd7+ Rf7 30. Rxf7+
Qxf7 31. Qxc8 Qxa2 32. Qf5+ Kg7 33. Qg4+ Kh7 34. Qh5+ Kg7 35. Qg4+ Kh7 36. Qh5+
Kg7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.14"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2009.11.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 133"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2009.11.19"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 2] A crucial game for the outcome of the tournament, by winning it
Ivanchuk could overtake Kramnik. Although he didn't succeed, Black had to
overcome some scary moments...} 1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 dxc4 {
This surprisingly became a popular choice in Moscow, competing on equal terms
with the ever-present Semi-Slav} (4... c6) 5. e4 {The main active try.} (5. e3
{is considered too soft, although Black must know his way around:} a6 6. a4 c5
7. Bxc4 Nc6 8. O-O Be7 9. dxc5 (9. Qe2 cxd4 10. Rd1 e5 11. exd4 exd4 12. Nxd4
Nxd4 13. Qe5 Qd6 14. Qxd4 Qxd4 15. Rxd4 Bc5 16. Rd1 O-O $11 {is symmetrical
and drawish.}) 9... O-O $5 ({White has a slight initiative after the more usual
} 9... Qxd1 10. Rxd1 Bxc5 11. Bd2 b6 12. Bd3 Nb4 13. Be2 $11 {/+/=}) 10. Qc2 (
10. Qe2 {is played more often.}) 10... Bxc5 11. Rd1 Bd7 $5 (11... Qc7 $146 12.
Ne4 Be7 13. Bd2 (13. Bd3 $5) 13... Na5 $5 14. Bxa5 (14. Bd3 $142 Qxc2 15. Bxc2
$14 {_|_}) 14... Qxa5 15. Nxf6+ Bxf6 16. Bd3 g6 17. Be4 Qb4 18. Rd2 Ra7 $1 19.
h3 (19. h4 $5 {/\h5|^}) 19... b6 20. Rad1 b5 21. axb5 Qxb5 22. Nd4 Qb6 23. Qc6
Rb7 ({Black already aspires for more than easy equality after} 23... Qxc6 $11)
24. Rc2 Qxc6 25. Nxc6 Kg7 26. Rdd2 h5 27. Bf3 h4 28. Na5 Rd7 29. Bc6 Rxd2 30.
Rxd2 {Anand,V (2788)-Morozevich,A (2750)/Moscow Tal mem/2009/} Rd8 $11 {/=/+,^^
}) 12. Ne4 (12. Bd2 $142 $11) 12... Nb4 13. Nxf6+ Qxf6 14. Qe2 Bc6 $32 15. e4 (
15. Bd2 $1 {/\} Qxb2 16. Rab1 Qa3 17. Ra1 $11) 15... Rfd8 16. Rxd8+ Qxd8 17.
Bd2 Nc2 18. Bg5 Nd4 $36 {Kortschnoj,V (2623)-Ivanchuk,V (2729)/Odessa rpd/2007/
}) (5. Bg5 Bb4 6. a3 (6. e4 {transposes into our game and the more usual
Vienna line positions. However, White's try isn't without venom as well.}) 6...
Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 h6 ({Anand decides to play it safe. This position is almost
unexplored and Black has numerous options:} 7... Qd5 8. Bxf6 gxf6 9. Nd2 $44) (
7... b5 8. a4 c6 9. g3 h6 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Bg2 Bb7 12. Qb1 a6 13. Nd2 Qc7 14.
O-O Nd7 15. Qb4 c5 16. dxc5 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Qc6+ 18. Kg1 Ke7 19. Rfb1 Rhb8 20.
axb5 Rxb5 21. Qxc4 Rxc5 22. Qb4 a5 23. Qa3 Ke8 24. c4 h5 $132 {1/2,Grischuk,A 
(2710)-Van Wely,L (2679)/Wijk aan Zee/2005/}) 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. e3 (9. Qa4+ Bd7 (
9... Nd7 $5 10. e3 O-O 11. Qxc4 c5 {/\b6, Bb7<=>}) 10. Qxc4 Bc6 11. Ne5 $5 (11.
e3 O-O 12. Be2 Nd7 13. O-O Rac8 14. Qb3 b6 15. Rfd1 Bxf3 (15... Rfe8 $142) 16.
Bxf3 c5 {Kuzubov,Y (2634)-Bokros,A (2487)/AUT-chT/2009/} 17. a4 $36) 11... O-O
12. Nxc6 Nxc6 13. g3 Ne7 14. Bg2 c6 15. Rb1 Rab8 16. e4 Nc8 17. a4 Qe7 18. O-O
{1/2 Koopmann,J-Windt,L/Hamburg 1978/EXT 2008 (47)}) 9... b5 10. a4 c6 11. Ne5
a6 12. g4 $5 $146 (12. g3 Ra7 13. Bg2 Rc7 14. O-O O-O 15. Qb1 Bb7 16. axb5 cxb5
17. Bxb7 Rxb7 18. Nxc4 Rc7 19. Nd2 Rc6 20. Ne4 Qe7 21. Nc5 Qd6 22. Qb4 Nd7 23.
Nxd7 Qxd7 $11 {Olesen,N-Hvid,J/Aarhus/1992/}) 12... Bb7 (12... Ra7 $5 13. Bg2
Rc7 $13) 13. Bg2 Qe7 (13... Nd7 $5 14. Bxc6 Bxc6 15. Nxc6 O-O 16. O-O e5 $132)
14. O-O O-O 15. f4 $44 Nd7 (15... Qc7 16. g5 {|^>>}) 16. Nxc6 Qd6 17. Ne7+ Qxe7
18. Bxb7 Ra7 19. Bg2 Nb6 20. axb5 axb5 21. Rxa7 Qxa7 22. Qa1 Qe7 23. e4 Ra8 24.
Qb2 Ra5 25. e5 Qh4 $6 (25... Qa3 26. Rb1 Qxb2 27. Rxb2 Ra1+ 28. Kf2 Na4 $132)
26. Qe2 $6 (26. f5 $5 $36 {/\} Qxg4 27. h3 Qg3 28. fxe6 fxe6 29. Qb4) 26... Ra3
27. f5 Rxc3 28. fxe6 fxe6 29. Qe4 Qd8 30. Qg6 Qxd4+ 31. Kh1 Re3 $8 32. Qxe6+
Kh7 33. Qf5+ Kh8 34. Qf8+ Kh7 35. Qf5+ Kh8 36. Qf8+ {1/2,Carlsen,M (2801)
-Anand,V (2788)/Moscow Tal mem/2009/}) 5... Bb4 6. Bg5 h6 $5 {A rare move with
a dubious reputation, nevertheless Kramnik employed it twice in Moscow.} (6...
c5 {is the standard reaction, which Kramnik had to face himself this year in
Dortmund. After} 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qa5 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. Bxf6
gxf6 12. Bxd7+ Nxd7 13. O-O a6 14. Rb1 Qc7 15. Qh5 Nc5 16. Rb4 Qe5 17. Qh6 Rc8
{he came up with the novelty} 18. Nf3 $5 {Kramnik,V (2759)-Naiditsch,A (2697)/
Dortmund/2009/ For more details about this game see the notes in CBM 131 by
Krasenkow.}) 7. Bxf6 $8 (7. Bh4 $2 g5 $17) 7... Qxf6 8. e5 {Ivanchuk has an
original plan.} ({Aronian went for the natural and almost universally played} 
8. Bxc4 c5 $5 {Attacking the [+] immediately give Black some extra options, as
right now the Nc3 is still pinned.} (8... O-O 9. O-O c5 ({Black shouldn't
leave White's [+] intact:} 9... Rd8 $143 $6 10. Qe2 Nc6 (10... Nd7 11. Rfd1 c6
12. a3 Bf8 13. e5 Qe7 14. h4 Qe8 15. Bd3 Be7 16. Qe4 Nf8 17. Qg4 b6 18. Ne4 Kh8
19. Ng3 Bd7 20. Nh5 Ng6 21. Rac1 Rac8 22. Re1 c5 23. d5 $1 $40 {Podgaets,M 
(2484)-Rivera,A (2392)/Havana/1999/}) 11. e5 Qf4 12. Rad1 Na5 13. Bd3 Bxc3 14.
bxc3 Bd7 15. h3 Bc6 16. Nh2 Ba4 17. Rd2 h5 18. Rb2 g6 19. Rb4 Bd7 20. d5 Qh6
21. c4 c5 22. Rbb1 b5 23. Be4 $16 {Chernin,A (2560)-Frias,V (2485)/Saint John/
1988/}) 10. e5 (10. Nb5 a6 11. e5 Qe7 12. Nd6 cxd4 13. Qxd4 Nc6 14. Nxc8 Raxc8
15. Qe4 Rfd8 16. Bd3 g6 17. h4 {Kupchik,A-Reinfeld,F/New York/1938/} h5 $11)
10... Qd8 11. d5 (11. Ne4 cxd4 12. a3 Be7 13. Qxd4 Qxd4 14. Nxd4 Nd7 15. f4 Nc5
16. Nc3 Rd8 17. Rad1 Bd7 18. Rd2 Rac8 19. Ba2 Na4 20. Ne4 Nb6 21. f5 Nc4 22.
Bxc4 Rxc4 23. f6 {Sharavdorj,D (2441)-Jahedi,S (2106)/Berkeley/2008/} gxf6 $15)
(11. a3 Bxc3 12. bxc3 cxd4 13. cxd4 Bd7 $5 $132) 11... exd5 (11... Bxc3 $5 12.
bxc3 exd5 13. Qxd5 $5 $14) 12. Bxd5 (12. Nxd5 $142 $36) 12... Bxc3 13. bxc3 Nc6
14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. Qa4 Qc7 (15... Be6 $1 16. Qxc6 Qa5 $44) 16. Rfd1 Be6 17. Qa3
c4 18. Rd6 Bd5 19. Nd4 Qe7 20. f4 Qh4 21. Rf1 Qg4 22. Qb2 Rab8 23. Qf2 $14 {
Gligoric,S-Karaklajic,N/Sarajevo/1951/}) 9. e5 (9. O-O $5 cxd4 10. Nb5 Qd8 11.
a3 Be7 12. Nbxd4 O-O 13. e5 $14 {Chernin}) 9... Qd8 $5 (9... Qe7 10. O-O Bxc3 (
10... cxd4 11. Ne4 O-O 12. Qxd4 Rd8 13. Qe3 Bd7 $6 (13... Nd7 $14) 14. Rad1 Bc6
15. Nf6+ $1 Kh8 16. Rxd8+ Qxd8 17. Ng5 Qe7 18. Qd3 g6 19. Bxe6 $18 {->,Flear,G
(2495)-Condie,M (2430)/Bath zt/1987/}) 11. bxc3 O-O 12. Nd2 $5 (12. Qe2 Bd7 {
[%cal Yd7c6] /\Bc6<=>}) (12. d5 exd5 13. Bxd5 Nd7 14. Re1 Nb6 15. Be4 Rd8 16.
Qe2 {Gligoric,S-Kostic,B/Zagreb/1946/} Be6 $11) 12... b6 13. Ne4 (13. d5 $1 $36
) 13... Ba6 14. Bxa6 Nxa6 15. Qa4 Nc7 16. dxc5 bxc5 17. c4 $14 {Kmoch,H-Gilg,K/
Kecskemet/1927/}) 10. d5 exd5 11. Bxd5 O-O 12. Rc1 Nc6 13. O-O Nd4 14. Be4 Re8
15. Nd5 Bf5 16. Bxf5 Qxd5 17. Nxd4 Rxe5 $6 (17... Qxd4 $1 18. Qxd4 cxd4 19. f4
Bd2 20. Rc7 Be3+ 21. Kh1 Rab8 22. g3 Kf8 {[%cal Ye8e7] /\Re7= and Black should
gradually neutralize White's slight pressure.}) 18. Nb5 $1 (18. Nb3 Rxf5 19. a3
Qxd1 (19... c4 $2 20. Nd4 Rf4 21. Ne2 Qxd1 22. Rfxd1 Re4 23. Ng3) 20. Rfxd1 c4
21. Rxc4 (21. Nd4 Rd5 22. axb4 Rad8 23. Rxc4 b5 $15) 21... Be7 $11) 18... Qxd1
19. Rfxd1 Rxf5 20. a3 $6 (20. Nd6 $142 Rg5 21. Nxb7 Rb8 22. Nd6 $14 {[%csl Ra7,
Rc5] /+/-,,_|_ק<< would have given White a pleasant and riskless edge.}) 20...
c4 $1 21. axb4 Rxb5 22. Rxc4 a5 23. g3 {1/2,Aronian,L (2786)-Kramnik,V (2772)/
Moscow Tal mem/2009/}) ({After} 8. Qa4+ Nc6 9. Bxc4 {Black can avoid
transposing into the game with} Bd7 $5 (9... Qf4 10. O-O Bxc3 11. bxc3 $14 {/\}
Qxe4 $2 12. d5 $1 $18) (9... O-O 10. O-O Bxc3 $6 11. bxc3 e5 12. Bd5 Bd7 13.
Rab1 exd4 14. cxd4 Rab8 15. Rfe1 Rfc8 {Ftacnik,L (2580)-Mirzoev,A (2516)/
Lisbon op/2001/} 16. Qc4 $16 {[%csl Gd4,Ge4] ()[+]}) 10. Qd1 (10. Qb3 Ba5 $1
11. Rd1 Bb6 {[%cal Rc6d4,Yc6a5] /\Nd4, Na5}) 10... g5 $5 $13 (10... O-O 11. O-O
$14)) 8... Qd8 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (8... Qe7 9. Bxc4 O-O 10. Qc2 (10. O-O $142)
10... Nc6 $6 (10... c5 $132) 11. O-O Rd8 12. Rad1 a6 {0-1 Jernberg,K-Storslett,
R/Tromsoe 1998/EXT 2003 (52)} 13. Qe4 $36 {()->>>}) 9. Qa4+ $5 (9. Bxc4 c5 {
transposes to Aronian-Kramnik.}) 9... Nc6 10. Bxc4 {The main point of White's
previous 2 moves was to postpone the liberating thrust c5.} Bd7 11. Qc2 (11.
Qb3 Bxc3+ 12. Qxc3 (12. bxc3 Na5 $14) 12... Ne7 $13) (11. O-O $2 Bxc3 12. bxc3
Nxe5 $19) 11... Na5 $6 {Kramnik still insists on pushing his Pc7 ASAP, but he
will soon have a lot of problems with his sidelined N.} (11... Ne7 $142 $5 $13
{/+/=}) 12. Bd3 ({An alternative was} 12. Be2 c5 (12... Bc6 13. a3 $16) {
More solid is} 13. dxc5 $5 (13. Rd1 cxd4 (13... Rc8 14. d5 $36) 14. Rxd4 Nc6
15. Rg4 {was an interesting suggestion by Shipov. White has attacking chances,
but Black isn't without <=> after} Qa5 $13) 13... Rc8 14. a3 Bxc5 15. O-O Be7
16. Rfd1 $14) 12... c5 {Risky, but consistent.} (12... Bc6 13. a3 Be7 14. Be4
$14 {is rather passive.} (14. Rd1 $5 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Nc6 16. d5 $13)) 13. dxc5
Rc8 14. a3 $1 Bxc5 $8 15. O-O (15. b4 {doesn't win a piece and unnecessarily
weakens the << after} Bb6 $5 (15... Be7 16. O-O Nc4 17. Qe2 $14) 16. O-O O-O
$14) 15... O-O 16. Rad1 {Ivanchuk patiently improves his position.} Be7 (16...
Bb6 17. Qe2 $36) 17. Qe2 {White still doesn't force the issue. After} (17. Bb5
{he would have to reckon with a radical change of the character of the
position with} Bxb5 $5 (17... Nc6 18. Qe4 Qc7 19. h4 $1 $40) 18. Rxd8 Rfxd8 19.
Rd1 Rxd1+ 20. Qxd1 Rd8 21. Qc1 Bd3 $14 {[%csl Gd3,Ge7] /<=>^^ and converting
the slight material advantage against Black's active pieces is far from simple.
}) 17... Qc7 {Keeps an eye on d7 and e5.} ({However Black could perhaps afford
even the seemingly more dangerous} 17... Qb6 $5 18. Qe4 (18. Bh7+ Kxh7 19. Rxd7
Rfe8 $11) (18. Ne4 Ba4 $15) 18... g6 19. Qg4 $1 {It's important to further
weaken the >>.} (19. Qf4 Kg7 $132) 19... h5 (19... Kg7 $2 20. Bxg6 $18) 20. Qf4
(20. Qg3 $5 Be8 21. Ne4 Qxb2 22. Nd6 $44) 20... Kg7 (20... Qxb2 $2 21. Qh6 $1
$16 {->}) 21. Ne4 Ba4 $1 {[%cal Ra4c2] /\Bc2<=>} (21... Qxb2 22. Nf6 $40)) 18.
Qe4 g6 19. Qg4 (19. Qf4 Bc6 20. Nd4 $5 (20. Qxh6 Bxf3 21. Bxg6 $11 (21. gxf3 $2
Qxe5 $17)) 20... Rcd8 (20... Rfd8 21. Bxg6 $1 fxg6 (21... Bg5 22. Qg3 fxg6 23.
h4 $1 $16) 22. Nxe6 Bg5 23. Qg3 Qf7 24. Nxd8 Rxd8 25. Rxd8+ Bxd8 26. Rd1 $36)
21. Bxg6 Rxd4 (21... fxg6 22. Qg3 $36) 22. Qxd4 $5 fxg6 23. b4 Rf5 $1 24. bxa5
Qxa5 $14) (19. Qe3 {Zagrebelny} Bc6 20. Nd4 Bc5 21. Qxh6 Bxd4 22. Bxg6 fxg6 23.
Qxg6+ Kh8 $5 (23... Qg7 24. Qxe6+ Kh8 25. Qh3+ $14 {/+/-}) 24. Rxd4 Qh7 25.
Qxe6 Rce8 26. Qd6 Qg7 $13) 19... Kg7 {This natural move allows White to
enhance his -> with a strong manoeuvre.} ({Solid, but passive is} 19... Be8 20.
Ne4 $14 {|^}) (19... h5 20. Qg3 $1 (20. Qf4 Rfd8 21. Ne4 $14) 20... Be8 21. Ne4
{/\} Ba4 22. Qf4 $1 $16 {[%cal Rf4h6,Yd1c1] /\Qh6, Rc1}) (19... Bc6 20. Bxg6
Bxf3 21. Bxf7+ $1 (21. gxf3 $6 Kh8 $1 (21... Qxe5 22. Rd7 Qg5 $11) 22. Qh5 Bg5
$15) 21... Kxf7 (21... Kh8 22. Qxf3 Bg5 23. Nb5 Qxf7 24. Qxf7 Rxf7 25. Nd6 $16)
22. Qxf3+ Kg8 23. Qg4+ Kh8 24. Qxe6 Bg5 25. Ne4 $40) 20. Ne2 $1 {[%mdl 128]}
Bc6 $2 (20... Nc6 21. Nf4 Rg8 22. Bxg6 Kf8 (22... fxg6 $2 23. Rxd7 $18) 23. Rd3
$5 (23. Qh5 fxg6 24. Qxh6+ Kf7 25. Rfe1 $44) (23. h4 $5 Rg7 24. Qh5 $40) 23...
fxg6 24. Rfd1 Nb8 25. Nd4 $40) ({The text move provokes a crisis, but could
have cost Kramnik dearly. Black should have limited himself to the passive} 
20... Rg8 21. Nf4 (21. Ng3 $5) 21... Kh8 $14) (20... h5 21. Qg3 {again only
loosens Black's >>.}) 21. Nf4 Rg8 $8 (21... Bxf3 22. Nxe6+ $1 Kh8 (22... Kg8
23. gxf3 Qxe5 24. Rfe1 $18) 23. Qh3 Qxe5 24. Nxf8 Rxf8 25. Qxf3 (25. Rfe1 Qxb2
26. Qxh6+ Kg8 27. Bxg6 Qg7 28. Qxg7+ Kxg7 29. gxf3 $18) 25... Qxb2 26. Qe3 $18)
22. Nd4 $1 {[%cal Rd4e6,Rf4e6,Yb2b4] /\Ne6, b4} ({Ivanchuk's move is even
stronger than} 22. Nxe6+ fxe6 23. Qxg6+ Kf8 24. Qxh6+ Rg7 (24... Kf7 25. Bf5 $1
$18) 25. Nd4 (25. Qxe6 Bxf3 26. Qf5+ $16) 25... Qxe5 26. Qh8+ Kf7 27. Bg6+ $1
Kxg6 28. Qxc8 Kh7 29. Nxc6 Nxc6 30. Rd3 $16) 22... Kh7 (22... Qxe5 23. Rfe1 $18
) 23. h4 $2 $138 {Ivanchuk was down to his last 7 minutes and with more
tempting possibilities to choose from he starts to falter.} (23. b4 $5 Ba4 $5 (
23... Qxe5 24. Ndxe6 $1 (24. bxa5 $2 Qxd4 25. Bxg6+ Rxg6 26. Qxg6+ fxg6 27.
Rxd4 e5 $15) 24... Qf6 (24... h5 25. Qg3 (25. Rde1 hxg4 26. Rxe5 Kh6 27. Rxa5
fxe6 28. b5 $16) 25... fxe6 26. Rfe1 Qg5 27. Rxe6 $1 $18) (24... Nb3 25. Rfe1
Qf6 26. Qh3 $5 (26. b5 Bd7 27. Nd5 Qh4 28. Nf8+ $16) 26... Rce8 27. Bc4 fxe6
28. Nxe6 $16 {and White back the piece with a continuing ->.}) 25. bxa5 fxe6
26. Rfe1 $16 {[%csl Rh7] ->עh7}) 24. Rde1 Nc4 (24... Nb3 25. Ndxe6) 25. Ndxe6
Qd7 26. h4 $5 {/\} Nd2 27. Ng5+ hxg5 28. e6 Qd6 29. exf7 gxf4 30. Re6 Qxd3 31.
fxg8=Q+ Rxg8 32. Rxe7+ Rg7 33. Rfe1 $40) (23. Ndxe6 $142 $1 Qxe5 24. b4 {
is even more accurate, as it avoids line B) above.}) 23... Qxe5 24. h5 $6 (24.
Ndxe6 $5 $36 {still retains a dangerous ->, but in a less clear situation,
than in the above note.}) 24... Kh8 $1 {[%mdl 256] Ivanchuk possibly
underestimated this cold-blooded defence.} 25. Nxc6 (25. hxg6 $2 Qxd4 $19)
25... Nxc6 26. hxg6 f5 $11 27. g7+ {White decides it's time to bail out.} ({
After} 27. Qf3 Nd4 28. Qe3 Bd6 {he has, in any case, nothing better than} 29.
Qxe5+ Bxe5 30. Nxe6 Nxe6 31. Rfe1 Rc5 32. b4 Rd5 33. Bc2 Nd4 (33... Rxd1 34.
Bxd1 $11 {/+/=}) 34. Bb3 Nf3+ 35. gxf3 Rxg6+ $11 {with a drawish _|_.}) 27...
Rxg7 $8 (27... Qxg7 $2 28. Qxg7+ Rxg7 (28... Kxg7 29. Bc4 $16) 29. Nxe6 Rf7 30.
Bb1 $36) 28. Ng6+ Kg8 29. Nxe5 (29. Nxe5 fxg4 30. Bc4 Nd8 31. Rfe1 $44 {
gives White enough play for the P to hold the balance, but not more.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2689"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. b3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O c5 7. Bb2 Nc6 8. e3 b6
9. Qe2 Ba6 10. d3 Qd7 11. Rd1 Rad8 12. Nc3 Rfe8 13. Qe1 Nb4 14. Qe2 Nc6 15.
Rac1 h6 16. Qe1 Bb7 17. d4 cxd4 18. exd4 dxc4 19. bxc4 Na5 20. Ne5 Qc8 21. d5
Bc5 22. Qf1 exd5 23. Nxd5 Bxd5 24. cxd5 Qf5 25. Nd3 Bd6 26. Bh3 Qxd5 27. Bxf6
gxf6 28. Nf4 Qg5 29. Nd5 Bc5 30. Bg2 Nc6 31. h4 Qg7 32. Rc4 Ne5 33. Rf4 Qxg3
34. Nxf6+ Kh8 35. Nh5 Rxd1 36. Qxd1 Qg6 37. Rf6 Bxf2+ 38. Rxf2 Ng4 39. Qd4+ f6
40. Nf4 Qg7 41. Rf1 Ne5 42. Nh5 Qg6 43. Nxf6 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 g6 6. Nb5 Qb6 7. c4 c6 8. Nc3
Bg7 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O Bg4 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Bxf3 Rd8 13. d5 cxd5 14. cxd5 Na6
15. Qe2 Nb4 16. Rd1 Rac8 17. a3 Qa6 18. Qxa6 Nxa6 19. Nb5 Nc7 20. Nxa7 Ra8 21.
d6 Rxd6 22. Bf4 Rxa7 23. Bxd6 exd6 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.16"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A39"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 O-O 8.
O-O Nxd4 9. Qxd4 d6 10. Qd3 Be6 11. Bd2 Qd7 12. Rfd1 Ng4 13. b3 Ne5 14. Qe4
Rab8 15. Rac1 Bf5 16. Qh4 Bf6 17. Bg5 Bxg5 18. Qxg5 b6 19. Nd5 f6 20. Qe3 Rfe8
21. f4 Nf7 22. Qc3 Be6 23. e4 Bxd5 24. exd5 f5 25. Re1 b5 26. Bf1 b4 27. Qd2 a5
28. Re3 Nd8 29. Rce1 Nb7 30. h4 Nc5 31. h5 Kf7 32. Re6 Rb7 33. Qh2 Rg8 34.
hxg6+ hxg6 35. g4 Qd8 36. gxf5 gxf5+ 37. Bg2 Rh8 38. Rh6 Rxh6 39. Qxh6 Qg8 40.
Re3 Qg6 41. Qh8 Qg7 42. Qh5+ Qg6 43. Qh4 Qg4 44. Qh7+ Ke8 45. Qh6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.16"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2680"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 g6 6. Bc4 Bg7 7. Ne5 O-O 8.
O-O Nc6 9. Nb5 Qd8 10. Bf4 Nh5 11. Nxf7 Rxf7 12. Bxc7 Qf8 13. Bxf7+ Qxf7 14. c3
a6 15. Na3 e5 16. Bxe5 Nxe5 17. dxe5 Be6 18. Nc2 Bxe5 19. Qe2 Bc7 20. Rfe1 Nf4
21. Qd2 Rd8 22. Nd4 Bd5 23. f3 Bb6 24. Re3 Ne6 25. Kh1 Nxd4 26. cxd4 Bxa2 27.
Qb4 Bxd4 28. Re7 Qb3 29. Qa5 Bb6 30. Qe1 Qxb2 31. Rxb7 Bf7 32. Rb1 Bf2 33.
R7xb2 Bxe1 34. Rxe1 a5 35. Rb7 Ra8 36. Ree7 Re8 37. Rxe8+ Bxe8 38. Ra7 a4 39.
h4 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.16"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A09"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2786"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. b4 f6 4. e3 e5 5. c5 a5 6. Bc4 dxe3 7. fxe3 axb4 8. d4
Nc6 9. O-O Na5 10. Nxe5 Nxc4 11. Nxc4 Be6 12. Nbd2 Ne7 13. Bb2 Nd5 14. Qf3 b5
15. cxb6 Nxb6 16. Nxb6 cxb6 17. Qc6+ Bd7 18. Qd5 Be7 19. Nc4 b5 20. Ne5 Rf8 21.
Nxd7 Ra7 22. Qh5+ g6 23. Qxh7 Qxd7 24. Qxg6+ Kd8 25. d5 Kc8 26. Rac1+ Kb8 27.
d6 Qxd6 28. Rfd1 Qa6 29. Qg3+ Ka8 30. Qf3+ Qb7 31. Rc6 Rxa2 32. Rd7 Qxd7 33.
Rc7+ 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.16"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Jakovenko, Dmitrij"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "22"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. d4 Nf6 5. g3 c6 6. Bg2 Bg4 7. Nf3 e6 8. O-O
Nbd7 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Bxf3 O-O-O 11. Bf4 e5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.16"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 g6 8. e4
dxe4 9. Nxe4 Bb4+ 10. Ke2 Qf4 11. Qd3 Be7 12. g3 Qc7 13. Bg2 Nd7 14. Rhe1 b6
15. Kf1 Bb7 16. c5 a5 17. Kg1 O-O 18. Qe3 Kg7 19. Ne5 Nxe5 20. dxe5 bxc5 21.
Nxc5 Rfd8 22. Rac1 a4 23. Nxb7 Qxb7 24. Bxc6 Qxb2 25. Bxa8 Rxa8 26. Rc7 Bb4 27.
Rd1 Rf8 28. Rdd7 Qb1+ 29. Kg2 Qf5 30. Rc4 Ba5 31. Rf4 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.16"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 g6 6. Bc4 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8.
Re1 a6 9. Bg5 b5 10. Bb3 Bb7 11. Ne5 Nc6 12. Bxf6 exf6 13. Ne4 Qd8 14. Nxc6
Bxc6 15. c3 f5 16. Nc5 Qd6 17. a4 Rae8 18. Qd3 Rxe1+ 19. Rxe1 Re8 20. Ra1 Be4
21. Qg3 bxa4 22. Bxa4 Rb8 23. b4 Bd5 24. Bb3 f4 25. Qd3 Bxb3 26. Nxb3 Qd5 27.
Nc5 Re8 28. h3 Bf8 29. Nxa6 Bd6 30. c4 Qa8 31. c5 Bf8 32. b5 c6 33. b6 Bg7 34.
Rb1 Qb7 35. Nc7 Rd8 36. Qa6 Qb8 37. d5 Bd4 38. dxc6 Bxc5 39. Nd5 Qe5 40. c7
Qxd5 41. b7 Bxf2+ 42. Kxf2 Qd4+ 43. Kf1 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.16"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 d5 4. e3 e6 5. b3 Nbd7 6. Bb2 Bd6 7. g3 O-O 8. Bg2
e5 9. O-O e4 10. Nd4 Ne5 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. f3 exf3 13. Nxf3 Bg4 14. Nb5 Re8 15.
Nxd6 Qxd6 16. Bxe5 Rxe5 17. Rc1 Rae8 18. Qc2 Bxf3 19. Bxf3 Ne4 20. Bg2 R5e7 21.
Rf4 g6 22. Rcf1 h5 23. Qb2 Rc7 24. Qd4 Qe5 25. Qxe5 Rxe5 26. d4 Re8 27. Bxe4
dxe4 28. Rf6 Ree7 29. Rd6 Rc3 30. d5 Rc8 31. Rdf6 Kg7 32. R6f2 f5 33. h3 Rc3
34. g4 hxg4 35. hxg4 fxg4 36. Re2 Rd3 37. Rf4 Rxd5 38. Rxg4 g5 39. Kg2 Kg6 40.
Rc2 Rd3 41. Kf2 Rh7 42. Rc5 Rh2+ 43. Kg3 Rxa2 44. Rcxg5+ Kf6 45. Kf4 Rxb3 46.
Rf5+ Ke6 47. Rg6+ Ke7 48. Rg7+ Ke6 49. Rg6+ Ke7 50. Kxe4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.16"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gashimov, Vugar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 d6 5. a3 g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Rb1 O-O 8. b4 b6
9. O-O Bg4 10. d3 Rc8 11. h3 Bd7 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bd2 Re8 14. e3 Bf5 15. e4 Bd7
16. b5 Na5 17. Ne1 e5 18. Nc2 Be6 19. Ne3 h5 20. f4 Nh7 21. f5 Bd7 22. Ned5 Rf8
23. Qf3 Ng5 24. Bxg5 Qxg5 25. f6 Bh8 26. h4 Qh6 27. Ne7+ Kh7 28. Ncd5 Rce8 29.
Kh2 Bg4 30. Qf2 Be6 31. Bh3 Bxd5 32. Nxd5 Nb7 33. Bd7 Nd8 34. Bxe8 Rxe8 35. a4
Ne6 36. a5 Rb8 37. axb6 axb6 38. Ra1 Rb7 39. Ra6 Nd4 40. Rxb6 Rd7 41. Rb8 g5
42. Ra1 gxh4 43. gxh4 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.16"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kosteniuk, Alexandra"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2517"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 g6 6. g3 Bg7 7. Bg2 Qa6 8.
Bg5 O-O 9. Qd2 Bf5 10. O-O-O Nc6 11. a3 Rad8 12. Bh6 e5 13. Bxg7 Kxg7 14. d5
Bg4 15. Qe3 Bxf3 16. Bxf3 Nd4 17. Bg2 Rfe8 18. h4 Nf5 19. Qe2 Qxe2 20. Nxe2 e4
21. Nc3 e3 22. fxe3 Nxe3 23. Rd2 Nxg2 24. Rxg2 Nxd5 25. Nxd5 Rxd5 26. Rf2 Re4
27. Rhf1 f5 28. b3 Kf6 29. a4 a5 30. Kb2 b6 31. Kc3 Re3+ 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.16"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A90"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2634"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 f5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 c6 5. Nh3 d5 6. O-O Be7 7. Nf4 O-O 8. b3 a5
9. Nc3 Na6 10. e3 Bd7 11. Bb2 Ne4 12. Nce2 Bd6 13. Nd3 Qe7 14. f3 Nf6 15. a3 c5
16. Qd2 dxc4 17. bxc4 b5 18. Ne5 Bc7 19. dxc5 bxc4 20. Nxd7 Nxd7 21. c6 Ne5 22.
Bxe5 Bxe5 23. Rac1 Qxa3 24. Rxc4 Rfd8 25. Nd4 Rac8 26. f4 Bf6 27. Qe2 Nc7 28.
Kh1 Rb8 29. Nc2 Qa2 30. e4 fxe4 31. Qxe4 Rb1 32. Ne3 Rxf1+ 33. Bxf1 Qa1 34. Kg2
Rd2+ 35. Kh3 Rd4 36. Rxd4 Qxd4 37. Qf3 Qc5 38. Ng4 Bd4 39. Bd3 a4 40. Kg2 a3
41. Bb1 a2 42. Bxa2 Qc2+ 43. Kh3 Qxa2 44. Qd3 Qd5 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.16"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. Be2 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qd7 6. h3 Bxf3 7. Bxf3 O-O-O
8. O-O e5 9. d3 f5 10. Re1 Re8 11. a3 Nf6 12. b4 Nd4 13. Bg5 Bd6 14. Rb1 Kb8
15. a4 h6 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. Nb5 Nxf3+ 18. Qxf3 f4 19. d4 Rhg8 20. dxe5 Bxe5 21.
Rbd1 Qf5 22. c3 Qc2 23. a5 a6 24. Nd4 Qa4 25. Nf5 Rg6 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.16"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D97"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 a6 8. e5
b5 9. Qb3 Nfd7 10. e6 fxe6 11. Be3 Nf6 12. a4 b4 13. Qxb4 Nc6 14. Qa3 Qd6 15.
Bc4 Rb8 16. O-O Qxa3 17. bxa3 Rd8 18. Rac1 Na5 19. Ba2 c6 20. Bf4 Rb7 21. Rfe1
Nd5 22. Bd2 Nb3 23. Bxb3 Rxb3 24. Nxd5 cxd5 25. Bb4 Bf6 26. a5 Bd7 27. Rc7 Kf7
28. h3 Rxf3 29. gxf3 Bxd4 30. Rec1 Bf6 31. Rb7 d4 32. Rcc7 Bb5 33. Rxb5 axb5
34. Kf1 d3 35. Ke1 Bg5 36. a6 Ra8 37. a7 e5 38. Bc5 d2+ 39. Kd1 Ke6 40. Rb7 Rc8
41. Rxb5 Kd7 42. Rb7+ Ke6 43. Be3 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.17"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D26"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e3 a6 6. Bxc4 b5 7. Bb3 Bb7 8. O-O
Nbd7 9. Re1 b4 10. Nb1 c5 11. Nbd2 Be7 12. e4 cxd4 13. e5 Nd5 14. Ne4 O-O 15.
Qxd4 Qb6 16. Qxb6 N5xb6 17. Bf4 Bxe4 18. Rxe4 a5 19. Re2 Nc5 20. Bc2 Rfd8 21.
Be3 Rac8 22. g3 a4 23. Bxc5 Rxc5 24. Be4 g6 25. Kg2 Bf8 26. Rc2 Rxc2 27. Bxc2
Rc8 28. Bd3 Bg7 29. Re1 Rc5 30. Re4 Nd5 31. Bc4 Ne7 32. Bd3 Nc6 33. Rc4 Rxc4
34. Bxc4 Bxe5 35. Bb5 Na7 36. Bxa4 Bxb2 37. Nd2 Kf8 38. Nc4 Bc3 39. a3 Ke7 40.
axb4 Bxb4 41. f4 Bc3 42. Kf3 f5 43. h3 Nc8 44. Bc6 Kf6 45. Bb7 Ne7 46. Ne3 Bd4
47. Nc4 g5 48. Nd6 Bc5 49. Ne8+ Kf7 50. Nc7 gxf4 51. gxf4 Bb6 52. Nb5 Ng6 53.
Bc8 Ke7 54. Ba6 Bg1 55. Bc8 Bh2 56. Nd4 Nxf4 57. Ba6 Ng6 58. Kg2 Be5 59. Nf3
Kf6 60. Bc4 Nf4+ 61. Kg3 Bd6 62. Bb3 e5 63. h4 e4 64. Ng5 Ne6+ 65. Kf2 Nxg5 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.17"]
[Round "16"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Bb4 5. Qa4+ Nc6 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 O-O 8.
e3 Bd7 9. Qc2 Na5 10. cxd5 exd5 11. a4 Re8 12. Bd3 c5 13. dxc5 Qc7 14. Ba3 Nc4
15. O-O Nxa3 16. Rxa3 Qxc5 17. Qb2 b6 18. Rfa1 Ne4 19. Nd4 Rac8 20. Bxe4 dxe4
21. a5 b5 22. a6 Qg5 23. Ra5 Rc5 24. Ne2 Be6 25. Rd1 Bc4 26. Nf4 h6 27. Raa1
Qf6 28. Qb4 Rc6 29. Nd5 Qe5 30. Nf4 Qf6 31. Rd7 Rxa6 32. Rxa7 Rxa7 33. Rxa7 Rd8
34. Ra1 Rd2 35. Qa5 Kh7 36. Qa8 Qxc3 37. Qxe4+ g6 38. Qb1 Rb2 39. Qd1 Rd2 40.
Qb1 Qc2 41. Qxc2 Rxc2 42. Rb1 b4 43. h4 b3 44. e4 b2 45. Kh2 Ba2 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.17"]
[Round "17"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D24"]
[WhiteElo "2719"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bxc4 Nxe4 7. O-O Nf6 8.
Bg5 O-O 9. Qe2 h6 10. Bh4 Be7 11. Rad1 Nbd7 12. Ne5 Nb6 13. Bd3 Nfd5 14. Bg3 f5
15. h3 Bd6 16. Rfe1 Qg5 17. Qf3 Nf6 18. Bf4 Qh5 19. Qg3 Qe8 20. Bxh6 Nh5 21.
Qg5 Kh7 22. Bxg7 Nxg7 23. Re4 Be7 24. Rh4+ Kg8 25. Qh6 Bxh4 26. Ng6 Nd7 (26...
Qxg6 27. Qxg6 Rf6 $19 {trapping the queen.}) 27. d5 (27. Nxf8) (27. Nxh4 {
would have put up more resistance.}) 27... Rf6 (27... Qxg6 $19) 28. Qh8+ Kf7
29. dxe6+ Kxg6 30. Qxh4 Rxe6 31. Nd5 Re1+ 32. Kh2 Qe5+ ({Fritz will tell you
that Kramnik did not need to fear anything:} 32... Rxd1 33. Nf4+ Kf7 34. Bc4+
Kf8 35. Qh8+ Ke7 36. Qxg7+ Kd6 {and Black wins.}) 33. Nf4+ Qxf4+ $2 (33... Kf7
{keeps the win for Black.}) 34. Qxf4 Rxd1 35. Qg4+ Kf6 36. Qxd1 {and now White
has the initiative and a disheartened Kramnik loses the full point.} Ne5 37.
Bc2 Ne6 38. f4 Ng6 39. Qd5 Nexf4 40. Qd8+ Kg7 41. Bb3 a5 42. h4 a4 43. Bc4 b5
44. Bxb5 Ne6 45. Qe8 Rb8 46. Bc4 Kf6 47. Bxe6 Ne7 48. Qf7+ 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.17"]
[Round "18"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Tkachiev, Vladislav"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A09"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2642"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. b4 c5 4. bxc5 Nc6 5. g3 e5 6. d3 Bxc5 7. Bg2 h6 8. O-O
Nf6 9. Ba3 Bxa3 10. Nxa3 O-O 11. Nd2 Qe7 12. Nc2 Bf5 13. Rb1 Rac8 14. Qc1 e4
15. Rb3 Rfe8 16. Re1 Qd7 17. Qb2 b6 18. dxe4 Nxe4 19. Nf3 Nc5 20. Nfxd4 Bxc2
21. Nxc2 Nxb3 22. axb3 Qd2 23. Qb1 Na5 24. e3 Qc3 25. Nd4 Qb4 26. Bd5 Rc7 27.
Rd1 Nb7 28. Nb5 Rce7 29. Bxb7 Rxb7 30. Nd6 Rbb8 31. Nxe8 Rxe8 32. Rd5 g6 33.
Qd3 Re7 34. Kg2 Re6 35. Rd8+ Kg7 36. Qd4+ Rf6 37. Rd7 a6 38. Rc7 Qd6 39. Rc8
Qe6 40. Rd8 Qc6+ 41. Rd5 Kh7 42. e4 Re6 43. h4 h5 44. b4 a5 45. b5 Qa8 46. f3
Re8 47. Qf6 Qb7 48. Rd6 Rb8 49. Qd4 Rf8 50. Rxb6 Qa7 51. c5 a4 52. Ra6 Qb7 53.
Qxa4 Rd8 54. Qa2 Qe7 55. Ra7 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.17"]
[Round "19"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2719"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. Qd2 O-O 8.
O-O-O a6 9. h3 b5 10. Bh6 Bb7 11. Bxg7 Kxg7 12. Qe3 Nbd7 13. Ne5 Rad8 14. a3
Nb6 15. h4 h5 16. f3 Nbd5 17. Nxd5 Nxd5 18. Qe1 c5 19. dxc5 Qxc5 20. Nd3 Qe3+
21. Qd2 Rd6 22. Re1 Qxd2+ 23. Kxd2 Rc8 24. Kc1 e6 25. c3 a5 26. Ne5 b4 27. axb4
axb4 28. c4 b3 29. Kd2 Nb6+ 30. Kc3 f6 31. Nd3 Nxc4 32. Kxb3 Nd2+ 33. Kb4 Rb6+
34. Ka5 Nc4+ 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.17"]
[Round "20"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2723"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. a4 e6 6. g3 dxc4 7. Bg2 c5 8. O-O
cxd4 9. Nxd4 Nbd7 10. Nc2 Bc5 11. Ne3 Ne5 12. Qxd8+ Kxd8 13. a5 Rb8 14. Na4 Bb4
15. f4 Neg4 16. Nxc4 Bd7 17. h3 Bb5 18. b3 Nh6 19. g4 Nd7 20. f5 exf5 21. Bf4
Rc8 22. Bxb7 fxg4 23. Bxc8 Kxc8 24. Ncb6+ Kb7 25. Rfc1 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.17"]
[Round "21"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2619"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bg4 5. h3 Bh5 6. Nc3 e6 7. g4 Bg6 8. Ne5
Nbd7 9. Nxg6 hxg6 10. g5 Ng8 11. e4 dxe4 12. Nxe4 Rh4 13. Bg2 Bb4+ 14. Bd2
Bxd2+ 15. Qxd2 Ne7 16. Nd6+ Kf8 17. f4 Nb6 18. c5 Nbc8 19. Qf2 Rh8 20. Nc4 Nf5
21. O-O-O Rh4 22. Ne5 Nce7 23. Kb1 Nd5 24. Bxd5 Qxd5 25. Ng4 Ke7 26. Qd2 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.17"]
[Round "22"]
[White "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2689"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. d4 Nf6 5. Bc4 g6 6. Nge2 Bg7 7. Bf4 Qb6 8.
Bb3 O-O 9. O-O Rd8 10. Qc1 Nc6 11. d5 Nb4 12. Na4 Qa5 13. Rd1 Bg4 14. f3 Bd7
15. Nac3 Be8 16. Bd2 Qa6 17. Nf4 g5 18. Nd3 Nfxd5 19. Nxd5 Nxd5 20. Bxg5 Qg6
21. Kh1 Bc6 22. Bh4 Bh6 23. Qb1 Ne3 24. Rg1 Qh5 25. Bf2 Kh8 26. Qe1 Rxd3 27.
cxd3 Nxg2 28. Bd4+ f6 29. Qxe7 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.17"]
[Round "23"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. g3 b6 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O e6 6. Nc3 Be7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4
d6 9. Bg5 a6 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. Qf4 Bxf3 12. exf3 Ra7 13. Rad1 Be7 14. Qe3 O-O
15. f4 g6 16. h4 Nd7 17. Ne4 Nf6 18. Ng5 Rc7 19. Bh3 h6 20. Nxf7 Kxf7 21. Bxe6+
Kg7 22. Qxb6 d5 23. Bxd5 Qd6 24. Qa5 Qc5 25. Qxa6 Ra7 26. Qe6 Rxa2 27. Rfe1 Bd8
28. Qe5 Re8 29. Qc3 $2 {Throwing away the game.} Ba5 30. Rxe8 (30. Qxf6+ Kxf6
31. Rxe8 Rxb2 {also loses for White.}) 30... Bxc3 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.17"]
[Round "24"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 g6 6. Nb5 Qb6 7. c4 c6 8. Nc3
Bg7 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O Rd8 11. h3 Bf5 12. Qb3 Na6 13. Be3 Qxb3 14. axb3 Nb4 15.
g4 Bd3 16. Bxd3 Nxd3 17. Rfd1 Nb4 18. Rd2 h5 19. g5 Ne8 20. d5 b6 21. dxc6 Nxc6
22. Rxd8 Rxd8 23. b4 Nd6 24. b5 Na5 25. c5 Ndc4 26. cxb6 axb6 27. Bxb6 Nxb6 28.
Rxa5 Nc4 29. Ra7 e6 30. Rc7 Nd6 31. b6 Rb8 32. Rc6 Nf5 33. Na4 Ne7 34. Rc5 Nd5
35. Rb5 Rb7 36. Ne1 Nf4 37. Nc5 Rb8 38. b7 Ne2+ 39. Kf1 Nd4 40. Rb6 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.17"]
[Round "25"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D03"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2680"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. Nbd2 d5 5. e3 O-O 6. c3 b6 7. a4 Bb7 8. Be2
Nbd7 9. O-O a5 10. h3 h6 11. Bf4 Ne4 12. Bh2 c5 13. Nxe4 dxe4 14. Nd2 e5 15.
Nc4 cxd4 16. exd4 exd4 17. cxd4 Nf6 18. Be5 Ba6 19. Nd6 Ne8 20. Nxe4 Bxe5 21.
Bxa6 Qxd4 22. Qxd4 Bxd4 23. Bc4 Rc8 24. Rac1 Nf6 25. Bxf7+ Kg7 26. Nxf6 Kxf6
27. Bb3 Bxb2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.17"]
[Round "26"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2786"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 O-O 8. Rc1
dxc4 9. Bxc4 c5 10. O-O cxd4 11. exd4 Nc6 12. Ne4 Qe7 13. Qc2 Rd8 14. Rfd1 Bd7
15. a3 Ba5 16. b4 Bb6 17. Nc5 Be8 18. d5 exd5 19. Bxd5 a5 20. Na4 Ba7 21. b5
Nd4 22. Nxd4 Rxd5 23. Nf5 Rxd1+ 24. Rxd1 Qxa3 25. Qe4 Rd8 26. Rf1 Qb4 27. Qxb7
Bxb5 28. Ne7+ Kf8 29. Nc6 Bxc6 30. Qxc6 Bd4 31. g3 g6 32. Kg2 Kg7 33. Rd1 Rd6
34. Qc2 Rf6 35. f3 Re6 36. Qd2 Qxa4 37. Qxd4+ Qxd4 38. Rxd4 Ra6 39. Ra4 Kf6 40.
Kf2 Ke5 41. Ke3 Kd5 42. Kd3 Kc5 43. Rc4+ Kb5 44. Rc7 a4 45. Rb7+ Kc5 46. Kc2 a3
47. Rb1 a2 48. Ra1 Kd4 49. Kb2 Ke3 50. f4 Kf2 51. g4 g5 52. fxg5 hxg5 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.17"]
[Round "27"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Jakovenko, Dmitrij"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. b3 Nf6 4. g3 c5 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. O-O Be7 7. Bb2 O-O 8. e3 b6
9. Qe2 Bb7 10. Rd1 Qc7 11. Nc3 Rac8 12. cxd5 Nxd5 13. Nxd5 exd5 14. d4 Rfd8 15.
Rac1 Bf8 16. dxc5 bxc5 17. Nh4 Nb4 18. Qg4 Nxa2 19. Ra1 Nb4 20. Rxa7 Ra8 21.
Bxg7 Bxg7 22. Nf5 f6 23. Nxg7 Qxg7 24. Qxg7+ Kxg7 25. Rxb7+ Kg6 26. Rb5 Rac8
27. Rc1 Nd3 28. Rc3 c4 29. Bxd5 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.17"]
[Round "28"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 g6 6. Bc4 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8.
h3 a6 9. a4 Nc6 10. Be3 Bf5 11. Qe2 Nb4 12. Bb3 Nbd5 13. Nxd5 Nxd5 14. Bg5 Rae8
15. Rfe1 h6 16. Bh4 Nf4 17. Qe3 g5 18. Bg3 e6 19. h4 Qc6 20. hxg5 hxg5 21. Bxf4
gxf4 22. Qxf4 Qd6 23. Ne5 f6 24. Qxf5 fxe5 25. Qg6 Re7 26. Rxe5 Rf6 27. Qg4 c5
28. Rxc5 Rxf2 29. Rc8+ Rf8 30. Rxf8+ Kxf8 31. c3 Qb6 32. Bc4 Ke8 33. Re1 e5 34.
Qc8+ Qd8 35. Qxd8+ Kxd8 36. dxe5 Bxe5 37. Rd1+ Kc7 38. Kf2 Re8 39. g4 Rf8+ 40.
Ke3 Rf4 41. Rd4 Rf8 42. Rd5 Bf4+ 43. Ke4 Bc1 44. g5 Rf4+ 45. Kd3 Rg4 46. Rf5
Rxg5 47. Rf7+ Kb8 48. b4 Re5 49. a5 Bg5 50. Kd4 Re7 51. Rf5 Be3+ 52. Kd3 Bh6
53. Bd5 Kc7 54. Rf6 Re3+ 55. Kd4 Bg7 56. Kxe3 Bxf6 57. Ke4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.18"]
[Round "29"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A09"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. O-O d4 6. e3 e5 7. exd4 exd4 8. d3
Be7 9. Bf4 O-O 10. Ne5 Nxe5 11. Bxe5 Ng4 12. Bf4 Bd6 13. Qf3 Bxf4 14. Qxf4 g5
15. Qd2 Rb8 16. Na3 b6 17. Rae1 Qf6 18. h3 Ne5 19. f4 gxf4 20. Rxf4 Qg7 21. Nb5
f6 22. Nd6 Qxg3 23. Nxc8 Qxd3 24. Ne7+ Kh8 25. Qf2 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.18"]
[Round "30"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 b6 7. Bd3 Bb7 8. O-O
Be7 9. b3 Rc8 10. Bb2 Qc7 11. Rad1 O-O 12. Ne5 g6 13. Qe2 Nxe5 14. dxe5 Nd7 15.
cxd5 cxd5 16. f4 Nc5 17. Nb5 Qb8 18. Nd4 Nxd3 19. Qxd3 Qc7 20. a4 Bc5 21. Nb5
Ba6 22. Bd4 Bxb5 23. axb5 Bxd4 24. exd4 Qc3 25. Rf3 Qxd3 26. Rfxd3 Rc2 27. R1d2
Rc1+ 28. Rd1 Rfc8 29. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 30. Kf2 Rc2+ 31. Kf3 h5 32. h3 h4 33. g3 hxg3
34. Kxg3 Kg7 35. Kg4 Rg2+ 36. Kf3 Ra2 37. Kg4 Ra5 38. Kg5 Rxb5 39. h4 Ra5 40.
h5 gxh5 41. f5 exf5 42. Kxh5 f6 43. e6 Kf8 44. Kg6 Ke7 45. Kxf5 Ra1 46. Rc3 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.18"]
[Round "31"]
[White "Gashimov, Vugar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "28"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 g6 6. Bg5 Bg7 7. Qd2 O-O 8.
O-O-O a6 9. Bd3 Bg4 10. Ne4 Nxe4 11. Bxe4 Qe6 12. Qf4 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Qxa2 14.
Bxe7 Bh6+ 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.18"]
[Round "32"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kosteniuk, Alexandra"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2517"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. b3 b6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. g3 Bb7 6. d4 Nf6 7. Bg2 Bb4+ 8.
Nbd2 O-O 9. O-O a5 10. Bb2 a4 11. a3 Bd6 12. b4 b5 13. Ne5 Nbd7 14. Rc1 Nb6 15.
e3 Qc8 16. Qf3 Qe6 17. Qe2 Qe8 18. Rc5 Bxc5 19. dxc5 Nc4 20. Nexc4 bxc4 21.
Bxf6 gxf6 22. Nxc4 Qe6 23. Nd2 Rad8 24. Qd3 c6 25. Nf3 Qe4 26. Qd1 Ba6 27. Nd4
Qe8 28. Qg4+ Kh8 29. Qh4 Qe5 30. Nxc6 Qg5 31. Qxg5 fxg5 32. Nxd8 Bxf1 33. Kxf1
Rxd8 34. c6 Kg7 35. b5 Rb8 36. c7 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.18"]
[Round "33"]
[White "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2634"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. d4 d5 4. e3 Be7 5. b3 O-O 6. Bb2 b6 7. cxd5 exd5 8. Bd3
c5 9. O-O Nc6 10. Nbd2 Nb4 11. Be2 Bf5 12. Ne1 cxd4 13. Bxd4 Rc8 14. a3 Nc6 15.
Nef3 Ne4 16. Bb2 Bf6 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18. Bd3 Nc3 19. Qc2 Nb4 20. axb4 Ne2+ 21.
Bxe2 Rxc2 22. Rxa7 h6 23. Rd1 Qb2 24. Bf1 Bg4 25. Raa1 Rxd2 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.18"]
[Round "34"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. Bg5 Bb4 6. e4 c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qa5 10. Bxf6 Qxc3+ 11. Kf1 gxf6 12. Rc1 Qa5 13. g3 O-O 14.
Kg2 Rd8 15. Bd5 Nd7 16. Bxe6 Ne5 17. Bxc8 Raxc8 18. Rxc8 Rxc8 19. Nf5 Qb4 20.
Re1 Re8 21. Re3 b6 22. Qh5 Ng6 23. h4 Kh8 24. Qg4 Rg8 25. Nh6 Rf8 26. Rf3 Qd2
27. Qh5 Qd4 28. Ng4 f5 29. exf5 Ne7 30. Qh6 Rg8 31. Nf6 Rg7 32. Nh5 Rg8 33.
Qf6+ Qxf6 34. Nxf6 Rc8 35. g4 Kg7 36. Nh5+ Kf8 37. Re3 Rc4 38. Nf6 Nc6 39. Kg3
Nd4 40. Re8+ Kg7 41. Nh5+ Kh6 42. Nf4 Rc3+ 43. Kg2 Kg7 44. Re4 Nf3 45. Nh5+ Kh6
1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.18"]
[Round "35"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 g6 6. Nb5 Qb6 7. c4 c6 8. Nc3
Bg7 9. h3 O-O 10. Be2 Rd8 11. O-O Bf5 12. Na4 Qc7 13. Be3 Nbd7 14. Rc1 e5 15.
d5 Nf8 16. Nc3 Ne4 17. Nxe4 Bxe4 18. Qb3 cxd5 19. Ng5 Qe7 20. f3 d4 21. fxe4
dxe3 22. Nxf7 Qc5 23. Nxd8 Rxd8 24. Rcd1 Rd2 25. Rxd2 exd2+ 26. Kh1 b6 27. Qd3
Qd4 28. Qxd4 exd4 29. c5 bxc5 30. Bc4+ Kh8 31. e5 h5 32. e6 Bf6 33. Rd1 Bg5 34.
Rxd2 Nxe6 35. Re2 Nf4 36. Re5 Bf6 37. Rxc5 d3 38. Rc6 Bxb2 39. Rd6 Be5 40. Rd8+
Kg7 41. Bxd3 Kf6 42. Bc4 h4 43. Rd7 a5 44. Kg1 Kf5 45. Kf2 Ke4 46. a4 Bd4+ 47.
Kf1 Nh5 48. Re7+ Be5 49. Bd3+ Kd4 50. Bxg6 Ng3+ 51. Kf2 Bd6 52. Rh7 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.18"]
[Round "36"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 e6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Re1 Ne4 8.
Nxe4 Bxe4 9. d3 Bb7 10. e4 c5 11. d4 cxd4 12. Nxd4 d6 13. b3 a6 14. Ba3 Nd7 15.
e5 Bxg2 16. exd6 Bf6 17. Kxg2 Nc5 18. b4 Nb7 19. c5 bxc5 20. bxc5 Qa5 21. Re3
Nxc5 22. Rc1 Nd7 23. Nc6 Qb5 24. Rb3 Qa4 25. Ne7+ Kh8 26. Rc7 Ne5 27. Qe2 Rfd8
28. f4 Nd7 29. Qc4 Qa5 30. Rd3 Qe1 31. Qc2 Nb6 32. Rd1 Qa5 33. Bb4 Qxb4 34. Nc6
Qc4 35. Qxc4 Nxc4 36. Nxd8 Ne3+ 37. Kf3 Nxd1 38. Nxf7+ Kg8 39. d7 Rf8 40. Nd6
Nc3 41. Rc8 Nd5 42. Nb7 Nb6 43. Rxf8+ Kxf8 44. d8=Q+ Bxd8 45. Nxd8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.18"]
[Round "37"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 g6 6. Bc4 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8.
Re1 Bg4 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Qxf3 Nc6 11. Nb5 Nxd4 12. Nxd4 Qxd4 13. Bb3 a5 14. c3
Qb6 15. Rxe7 a4 16. Bc2 c6 17. Rb1 Nd5 18. Re1 Rfe8 19. Rxe8+ Rxe8 20. Bd2 Qb5
21. Bd3 Qc5 22. a3 Qd6 23. Rd1 b5 24. Bc2 Qc5 25. h4 h5 26. Bg5 Qc4 27. Bd3 Qb3
28. Rd2 Re1+ 29. Kh2 Re5 30. g3 Qa2 31. Kg2 Qb3 32. Re2 Rxe2 33. Qxe2 Nc7 34.
Be4 c5 35. Bd3 Qd5+ 36. Kg1 b4 37. Bc4 Qe5 38. Qf3 Ne6 39. cxb4 cxb4 40. axb4
Qxb2 41. Bxe6 fxe6 42. Qa8+ Bf8 43. Be7 Qg7 44. Bxf8 Qxf8 45. Qxa4 Qd6 46. Qb3
Kf7 47. b5 Qb6 48. Qc4 Kf6 49. Qc3+ Kf5 50. Qd3+ Kf6 51. Qf3+ Kg7 52. Qc6 Qd4
53. b6 Qd1+ 54. Kg2 e5 55. b7 e4 56. b8=Q 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.18"]
[Round "38"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2719"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. Nc3 d5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
Qa4 Nb6 9. Qh4 e5 10. Qxd8 Rxd8 11. d3 Nc6 12. Bg5 f6 13. Be3 Nd4 14. Rfc1 Bg4
15. Bxd4 cxd4 16. Ne4 Rac8 17. Kf1 Na4 18. Nfd2 Nxb2 19. h3 Bf5 20. g4 Bxe4 21.
Nxe4 b6 22. a3 Na4 23. Rxc8 Rxc8 24. Nd6 Rc5 25. Rb1 Kf8 26. Bf3 Ke7 27. Nc4
Nc3 28. Ra1 e4 29. Bh1 f5 30. gxf5 gxf5 31. a4 Nxe2 32. Kxe2 Rxc4 33. Rg1 Rc2+
34. Kd1 Rxf2 35. Rxg7+ Kf6 36. Rg1 Ra2 37. Ke1 Ke5 38. dxe4 Ra1+ 39. Kf2 Rxg1
40. Kxg1 fxe4 41. Kf2 a6 42. Ke2 b5 43. a5 b4 44. Kd2 b3 45. Bg2 e3+ 46. Kd3 e2
0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.18"]
[Round "39"]
[White "Tkachiev, Vladislav"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E08"]
[WhiteElo "2642"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "163"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Nf3 c6 7. Qc2 O-O 8. O-O
Nbd7 9. Rd1 b6 10. Bf4 Bb7 11. Ne5 Rc8 12. Nc3 dxc4 13. Nxc4 Nd5 14. Bd6 Ba6
15. Ne4 c5 16. Qa4 Bxc4 17. Qxc4 N7f6 18. Nxf6+ Nxf6 19. Be5 cxd4 20. Qxd4 Qe8
21. Rac1 Bc5 22. Qh4 Qe7 23. a3 a5 24. Rc4 Rfd8 25. Rdc1 a4 26. Bf3 Rd2 27. Kg2
Rcd8 28. Rxa4 h6 29. Rac4 R2d7 30. b4 Bd6 31. Bxf6 Qxf6 32. Qxf6 gxf6 33. Rc6
Ra7 34. Rd1 Be7 35. Rxd8+ Bxd8 36. Rc8 Rd7 37. a4 Kg7 38. Ra8 Rd4 39. a5 bxa5
40. bxa5 Bc7 41. Ra7 Bd6 42. Bh5 Ra4 43. Rxf7+ Kg8 44. Rd7 Rxa5 45. Bf7+ Kf8
46. Bxe6 Be7 47. Bc4 Rc5 48. Bd3 Kf7 49. e3 Ke6 50. Rb7 Ra5 51. Rb6+ Bd6 52.
Bc4+ Kd7 53. Rb7+ Bc7 54. Rb4 Ke7 55. Bd3 Rd5 56. Be2 Rd2 57. Kf1 Kf8 58. Rb7
Rc2 59. Bd3 Rc3 60. Be4 Rc5 61. Kg2 Rc3 62. Kf3 Rc4 63. Bd5 Rc2 64. Ke4 Ke7 65.
h4 Kd6 66. Ra7 Rxf2 67. g4 Kd7 68. Ra6 Bd6 69. Ra7+ Bc7 70. Bc4 Rh2 71. h5 Rf2
72. Bb5+ Kd6 73. Ra6+ Ke7 74. Bc4 Be5 75. Re6+ Kd7 76. Ra6 Rc2 77. Bd5 Rc5 78.
Ra8 Bb2 79. Rg8 Bc1 80. Rg6 Bxe3 81. Be6+ Kxe6 82. Kxe3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.18"]
[Round "40"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A37"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2719"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. a3 d6 7. O-O a5 8. Ne1 Be6
9. d3 Nge7 10. Nc2 Rb8 11. Ne3 Nd4 12. Ned5 Nxd5 13. cxd5 Bg4 14. h3 Bc8 15. e3
Nf5 16. b4 b5 17. e4 Nd4 18. bxc5 dxc5 19. Be3 O-O 20. Rc1 Qd6 21. a4 b4 22.
Nb5 Qb6 23. Bxd4 cxd4 24. Rc6 Qd8 25. Qc2 Bd7 26. Rc1 Bh6 27. Rb1 Rc8 28. Rc4
Qb6 29. h4 Rxc4 30. dxc4 Rc8 31. Qd3 Qc5 32. Bf1 f5 33. Re1 Rf8 34. exf5 Bxf5
35. Qd1 d3 36. Kh1 Qxf2 37. Bg2 Qxg3 38. d6 Bf4 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.18"]
[Round "41"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2723"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "30"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 g6 6. Bd3 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8.
Ne4 Nxe4 9. Bxe4 c6 10. c3 Nd7 11. Re1 e6 12. Be3 b6 13. Qc1 Bb7 14. Bf4 Qe7
15. Ne5 Nxe5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2009.11.18"]
[Round "42"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E38"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2619"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2009.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "42"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2010"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Qc2 c5 6. dxc5 Bxc5 7. Bg5 d4 8.
O-O-O Qa5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nxd4 Be7 11. e3 O-O 12. Bd3 h6 13. Be4 Nd7 14. Kb1
a6 15. g4 Kg7 16. h4 Rb8 17. g5 Rh8 18. g6 f5 19. Bxf5 Nf8 20. gxf7 exf5 21.
Nd5 Kxf7 22. Nxf5 Bc5 23. Rhg1 Ne6 24. Nd6+ Bxd6 25. Qg6+ Kf8 26. Qf6+ Ke8 27.
Qxh8+ Bf8 28. Qh7 1-0

[Event "London Classic"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2009.12.08"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Carlsen,M"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2009.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 134"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 {The English opening, obviously a fitting choice for the first round in
London, especially as it is exactly the same pawn as I picked in the drawing
of lots (n.1 obviously) Besides, I felt that chances were rather low that I
would get a worse position with the text than I got with 1.d4 against him in
Moscow Die englische Eröffnung, offensichtlich eine passende Wahl für erste
Runde in London, vor allem, da er genau derselbe Bauer ist, den ich bei der
Auslosung ergirff (Nr. 1 offensichtlich). Außerdem hatte ich das Gefühl, dass
die Chancen recht schlecht stünden, dass ich mit dem Textzug eine schlechtere
Stellung gegen ihn erhalten würde, als es mit 1.d4 gegen ihn in Moskau der
Fall war.} Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 {This has been Kramnik's choice
lately, and was what I expected. So far, White has (not surprisingly) not been
able to prove that having an extra tempo in the Dragon gives the first player
an advantage.  Die war Kramniks Vorliebe in letzter Zeit, und auch was ich
erwartet hatte. Bislang ist Weiß (wenig überraschend) nicht in der Lage
gewesen zu beweisen, dass das Innehaben eines Mehrtempos im Drachen dem
Anziehenen Vorteil gibt.} 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. O-O Be7 8. a3 {Other
moves here include Andere Züge hier sind unter anderem} (8. Rb1 {which can me
met by the sane , worauf das vernünftige} a5 {after which White has not been
able to gain an advantage, or the insane folgen kann, wonach Weiß bisher
keinen Vorteil herausholfen konnte, oder auch das verrückte} (8... g5)) (8. d3
{leading to more or less normal play. , was zu mehr oder weniger normalem
Spiel führt.}) 8... O-O 9. b4 Be6 10. Rb1 (10. b5 Nd4 11. Nxe5 $4 Bb3 {is a
well known trap, and not the best way to start the tournament! ist eine
bekannte Falle und nicht der beste Weg, das Turnier zu starten.}) 10... f6 11.
d3 a5 {This move, which Kramnik played very quickly, has recently been
overtaken by the immediate 11...Nd4 as the main move. The text complicates
play a bit: Black will gain an outpost on b3 for his bishop after an eventual
a4, as well as some pressure against a3, but on the other hand the c7-pawn is
now backward.  Dieser Zug, welchen Kramnik sehr schnell spielte, wurde als
Hauptzug in letzter Zeit von dem sofortigen 11...Nd4 abgelöst. Der Text
kompliziert das Spiel ein wenig: Schwarz wird nach eventuellem a4 den
Vorposten b3 für seinen Läufer erhalten und auch etwas Druck gegen a3, aber
andererseits ist jetzt der c7-Bauer rückständig.} 12. b5 Nd4 13. Nd2 Qc8 (13...
Bd5 {is the other main line here, while ist das andere Hauptabspiel hier,
während}) (13... Nd5 $4 14. Bxd5 Bxd5 15. e3 {is a well known trap: Black
loses a piece by force. eine bekannte Falle darstellt: Schwarz verliert
forciert eine Figur.}) 14. e3 Nf5 15. Qc2 {Here or on the next move ( I was
more or less out of book here) I considered playing a4 myself, which however
has the drawback of giving up the b4 square, where a black bishop might
eventually sit comfortably. Hier oder im nächsten Zug (ich war hier mehr oder
weniger aus dem Buch) überlegte ich, selber a4 zu spielen, was aber den
Nachteil hat, das b4-Feld preiszugeben, wo es sich eventuell ein schwarzer
Läufer bequem machen könnte.} Rd8 16. Bb2 a4 17. Rfc1 {Quite logically, White
is piling up the pressure in the c-file. Recht logisch, Weiß verstärkt den
Druck in der c-Linie.} Nd6 18. Nde4 Ne8 $1 {Even though this unlucky knight
ended up staying here for the rest of the game, I think this is a good move,
as the knight is protecting c7, while the white pieces are stepping on each
other's toes.  Obwohl dieser Unglücksspringer letztlich den Rest der Partie
hier stehen blieb, denke ich, es ist ein guter Zug, denn der Springer deckt c7,
während sich die weißen Figuren gegenseitig auf die Zehen treten.} 19. Qe2 $1 {
I liked this move. I bring the queen a bit closer to the kingside and increase
my influence over some light squares which will be important in the likely
event of White playing f4. Perhaps even more importantly though, it was hard
to find another useful move. Dieser Zug gefiel mir. Ich bringe die Dame ein
wenig näher an den Königsflügel und verstärke meinen Einfluss auf einige weiße
Felder im Zentrum, was wichtig sein wird in dem wahrscheinlichen Fall, dass
Weiß f4 spielt. Aber vielleicht wichtiger noch, es war schwer, einen anderen
nützlichen Zug zu finden.} (19. Ne2 $6 Bb3 {is awkward, since c7 is now
protected. ist lästig, da c7 jetzt gedeckt ist.} 20. Qc3 Qd7 $1 {winning a
pawn. mit Bauerngewinn.}) 19... Bf8 (19... Bh3 20. Bf3 {should be an
improvement of the position for White, as Black will now have to reckon with
g4. sollte für Weiß eine Verbesserung der Stellung sein, da Schwarz jetzt mit
g4 zu rechnen haben wird.}) 20. f4 {I felt that there was no other plan here.
20.f4 increases my central control, but does at the same time weaken my
position a bit. Ich fühlte, dass es hier keinen anderen Plan gab. 20.f4
verstärkt meine Zentrumskontrolle, schwächt aber gleichzeitig auch ein wenig
meine Stellung.} exf4 21. gxf4 Qd7 {Consistent, as it more or less forces my
next move.  Konsequent, da es meinen nächsten Zug mehr oder weniger erzwingt.}
22. d4 {I was aiming for this position, believing that I would have good
chances because of the dynamic possibilities connected with Nc5. I think
Kramnik was not too unhappy with it either, as yet another weakness is created
in my position. Diese Stellung hatte ich angestrebt in der Annahme, dass ich
gute Chancen hätte aufgrund der dynamischen Möglichkeiten in Verbindung mit
Nc5. Ich denke, Kramnik war ebenfalls nicht all unzufrieden damit, da in
meiner Position eine weitere Schwäche geschaffen wird.} c6 {This was more or
less the only move I considered, as I thought that Black had to something to
prevent b7 from collapsing completely. Dies war mehr oder minder der einzige
Zug, den ich in Betracht zog, denn ich dachte, dass Schwarz etwas tun müsste,
damit b7 nicht komplett kollabiert.} (22... Bc4 $5 23. Qf2 Bd3 {was actually
quite good, but Kramnik probably (if so, probably quite correctly) decided
that there was no reason to start concrete war tatsächlich recht gut, aber
womöglich entschied Kramnik (wenn, wahrscheinlich auch ganz korrekt), dass es
keinen Grund gab, zu Konkretem überzugehen.} 24. Nc5 $1 {looked strong to me
during the game, but Black is probably fine here after Schien mir während der
Partie stark zu sein, aber hier steht Schwarz wahrscheinlich ordentlich nach}
Bxc5 25. dxc5 Nc4 $1 (25... Bxb1 26. Rxb1 {gives White excellent compensation
for the exchange, as Black cannot play gibt Weiß ausgezeichnete Kompensation
für die Qualität, da Schwarz nicht} Nc4 {due to spielen kann wegen} 27. Bd5+)
26. Bxb7 Qg4+ 27. Qg2 Qxg2+ 28. Bxg2 Rab8 {and Black is absolutely fine. und
Schwarz steht absolut ordentlich.}) 23. Nc5 Bxc5 24. dxc5 Nc4 25. Rd1 Qc7 $6 {
The most solid move. This move also has some downsides though, as it doesn't
address the capture of c5 which would leave the passive knight on e8 an
excellent square on d6, as well as taking away the c7-square from the very
same knight. Der solideste Zug. Er hat allerdings auch ein paar Schattenseiten,
denn er verzichtet auf das Schlagen auf c5, wonach der passive Springer auf e8
ein ausgezeichnetes Feld auf d6 bekäme, und außerdem wird genau diesem
Springer das Feld c7 genommen.} (25... Nd2 {It took me a little time to refute
this crazy-looking move over the board, but fortunately it's not very hard:
Ich brauchte ein bisschen, um diesen verrückt aussehenden Zug am Brett zu
widerlegen, aber glücklicherweise ist es nicht sehr schwer:} 26. bxc6 bxc6 27.
Ne4 Nxb1 (27... Bg4 28. Qxd2 $1) 28. Rxd7 Rxd7 29. Nd6 $1 (29. Qe1 Rb8 30. Qxb1
Rdb7 {is not at all clear ist keineswegs klar}) 29... Nxd6 30. Bxc6 {with
decisive gains of material. mit entscheidendem Materialgewinn.}) (25... Qe7 {
Attacking c5 looked very risky to me during the game, but is probably possible:
Das Angreifen von c5 schien mir während der Partie sehr riskant zu sein, aber
es ist wahrscheinlich möglich:} 26. bxc6 bxc6 27. Bxc6 Rxd1+ (27... Rac8 28.
Rxd8 Qxd8 29. Bxa4 Rxc5 30. Ne4 Rc8 {should be a draw as well, as Black is
very active. sollte ebenfalls remis sein, da Schwarz sehr aktiv steht.}) 28.
Rxd1 Rc8 29. Nd5 Qxc5 30. Bd4 {I stopped my calculations here during the game,
thinking that White is winning material. However it turns out that after Hier
brach ich während der Partie meine Berechnungen ab, da ich meinte, dass Weiß
Material gewinnt. Es stellt sich jedoch heraus, dass nach} Qd6 31. Qxc4 Kh8 {
and surprisingly White has no way of remaining material up Weiß
überraschenderweise keinen Weg hat, das Mehrmaterial zu behaupten.} 32. Qxa4
Bxd5 33. Bxd5 Qxd5 {and due to White's weakened king and offside queen, Black
should not lose. und aufgrund des geschwächten weißen Königs und der abseits
stehenden Dame sollte Schwarz nicht verlieren.}) 26. Bc1 $1 {Bad bishops
protect good (potentially at least) pawns, and I need this one to protect e3
and a3! Additionally, the knight might now turn out to be exposed on c4, as
both Rd4 and Rb4 are in the air. However, I still don't think that White has
any real advantage, especially in a practical game, as White is still a bit
exposed. Schlechte Läufer decken gute (potentiell zumindest) Bauern, und
diesen brauche ich, um e3 und a3 zu beschützen! Außerdem könnte sich der
Springer auf c4 jetzt als exponiert erweisen, da sowohl Rd4 als auch Rb4 in
der Luft liegen. Ich glaube aber trotzdem nicht, dass Weiß irgendeinen realen
Vorteil hat, vor allem in einer praktischen Partie, da er noch immer ein
bisschen exponiert steht.} Na5 {Black needs to relocate this knight in order
to create counterplay.  Schwarz muss seinen Springer umsiedeln, um Gegenspiel
aufzuziehen.} 27. bxc6 bxc6 28. Nxa4 $6 {I was very happy to discover that
this move does not lose any material, even though it looks a bit loose. Ich
war sehr glücklich zu entdecken, dass dieser Zug kein Material verliert,
obwohl es ein bisschen locker wirkt.} (28. Rb4 {was another move I considered,
but I did not like war ein weiterer Zug, an dem ich überlegte, aber mir
missfiel} Nb3 (28... Bb3 29. Rxd8 Rxd8 30. Bf1 {and a4 is falling, without any
real compensation und a4 fällt, ohne wirkliche Kompensation}) 29. Nxa4 Nxc1 30.
Rxc1 f5 {when Black has some counterplay. However, White is probably still a
bit better, and I should probably have gone for this. , wonach Schwarz etwas
Gegenspiel hat. Trotzdem, Weiß steht vermutlich dennoch ein bisschen besser,
und ich hätte wahrscheinlich so spielen sollen.}) 28... Rxd1+ (28... Nb3 29.
Nb6 {looked good for White to me due to sah mir gut aus für Weiß wegen} (29.
Rxd8 Rxd8 30. Bb2 {is Rybka's first choice, but looks too risky to me ist
Rybkas erste Wahl, scheint mir aber riskant}) 29... Nxc1 (29... Ra5 {is what I
missed; now Black has good counterplay ist, was ich übersah, nun hat Schwarz
gutes Gegenspiel}) 30. Rbxc1 Rxd1+ 31. Qxd1 Rxa3 32. Qd4 {with some kind of
domination, though Black still retains some drawing chances. mit einer Art von
Dominanz, obwohl Schwarz noch immer einige Remischancen wahrt.}) 29. Qxd1 Rd8
30. Qc2 Qf7 31. Nc3 (31. Nb6 {was my original intention, but I eventually
rejected it because of war meine ursprüngliche Absicht, aber am Ende verwarf
ich dies wegen} Bb3 32. Qc3 Rd1+ 33. Kf2 Qh5 34. Rxb3 Nxb3 35. Qxb3+ Kh8 {
when it seemed to me that Black had too much activity. , wonach mir schien,
dass Schwarz zu viel Aktivität hätte.}) 31... Qh5 32. Ne2 {I was very happy
with my position here, thinking that I was on my way to consolidation Hier war
ich sehr zufrieden mit meiner Stellung, da ich glaubte, auf dem Weg zur
Konsolidierung zu sein.} Bf5 $2 {Perhaps his only real mistake in this game.
Vielleicht sein einziger wirklicher Fehler in dieser Partie.} ({He could have
retained dynamic equality with the amazing Er hätte dynamisches Gleichgewicht
wahren können mit dem verblüffenden} 32... Kf8 $3 {with the idea of ...Bb3
next. The point, which we probably both missed, is that White cannot play mit
der Idee ...Bb3 als nächstes. Die Pointe, die wir wahrscheinlich beide
übersahen, ist, dass Weiß nicht} 33. Nd4 {because of spielen kann wegen} Rxd4
34. exd4 Bf5 {and Black is at least not worse, as und Schwarz steht zumindest
nicht schlechter, denn} 35. Be4 {fails to scheitert an} Qg6+ 36. Qg2 Qxg2+ $1)
(32... Bg4 33. Ng3 Rd1+ 34. Qxd1 {is probably why he decided to play ...Bf5.
ist wahrscheinlich der Grund, weshalb er sich für ...Bf5 entschied.}) 33. e4
Bg4 34. Ng3 {Now however Black has nothing. Nun allerdings hat Schwarz gar
nichts.} Qf7 ({Kramnik had probably been hoping that Kramnik hatte womöglich
gehofft, dass} 34... Rd1+ {would be good here, but this is easily refuted by
the calm hier gut sein würde, aber dies wird einfach widerlegt durch das ruhige
} 35. Bf1 (35. Qxd1 $4 Qxc5+)) 35. Bf1 $1 Be6 36. Qc3 Ra8 37. Rb4 {Now White
is in complete control, with a positional as well as a material advantage. The
knight on e8 still has no prospects. Nun hat Weiß vollständig die Kontrolle,
bei positionellem wie auch materiellem Vorteil. Der Springer auf e8 hat noch
immer keine Perspektiven.} Qd7 38. f5 Bf7 39. Bf4 Qd1 40. Kf2 Nb3 {Desperation,
but it was either this or losing slowly without counterplay. Verzweiflung,
aber es hieß, entweder dies oder langsam verlieren ohne Gegenspiel.} 41. Be2
Qb1 42. Bc4 Rxa3 43. Ne2 {Black resigned as he is completely tied up and
defenceless against threats like Rb8 and Bxf7+. Schwarz gab auf, denn er ist
vollständig gebunden und wehrlos gegen Drohungen wie Rb8 und Bxf7+.} (43. Bxf7+
Kxf7 44. Qc4+ Kf8 45. Rb8 Ra2+ 46. Ne2 Rxe2+ 47. Qxe2 {would have won even
quicker, but would not have led to such a nice final position :-) hätte sogar
noch schneller gewonnen, dafür aber nicht zu einer schönen Schlussstellung
geführt :-)}) 1-0

[Event "London Classic"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2009.12.09"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ni, Hua"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2009.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 134"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 (4. Nf3 a6 5. c5 {is another way to fight
for an opening advantage, but here Ni Hua would probably prefer the Classical
Slav and take on c4 on move 4.}) 4... a6 5. Nf3 b5 6. b3 {Retaining the
tension has been White's most usual choice.} ({However, recently the most
topical alternative has been} 6. c5 {, when Black has 2 roughly equivalent
alternatives:} {Subsequently Malakhov in the WCup was successful with} g6 (6...
Nbd7 7. Bd3 e5 8. Nxe5 Nxe5 9. dxe5 Nd7 $5 10. e6 Nxc5 11. exf7+ Kxf7 12. b3 $2
(12. Bc2 $142 $13) 12... Nxd3+ 13. Qxd3 Qg5 14. g3 Qf6 15. Bb2 Qf3 $40 16. Rg1
Bg4 17. a3 Re8 18. Rc1 b4 19. axb4 Bxb4 20. h3 Bxh3 21. g4 Bxg4 22. Rg3 Qf5 23.
Qd4 Re4 24. Qa7+ Qd7 25. Qb6 c5 {0-1,Anand,V (2788)-Aronian,L (2786)/Moscow/
2009/}) {A more restrained choice is} 7. Bd3 {, but even here it's not so
simple for White to achieve anything tangible:} (7. Ne5 Bg7 8. Be2 {is less
committal, but Black equalized with ease after} (8. f4 O-O (8... Be6 9. Bd3 Qc8
$6 10. Bd2 Bf5 11. Bxf5 gxf5 12. b4 Nbd7 13. a4 Ne4 14. Nxe4 Nxe5 15. fxe5 fxe4
16. O-O O-O 17. Be1 Qe6 18. Bh4 f6 19. exf6 exf6 20. Bg3 Rae8 21. Bd6 Rf7 22.
axb5 axb5 23. Ra6 Rc8 24. Qe2 $14 {Eljanov,P (2729)-Malakhov,V (2706)/WCup
Khanty Mansiysk/2009/}) 9. Bd3 Be6 (9... Qc7 10. O-O Be6 11. g4 Nbd7 $5 12. f5
(12. g5 $11) 12... Nxe5 13. dxe5 Nd7 14. fxe6 fxe6 15. Bd2 Nxc5 16. Bc2 Bxe5
17. Qe2 a5 18. a3 a4 19. Rad1 Bg7 20. Bc1 e5 $44 {/=/+,Eljanov,P (2729)
-Malakhov,V (2706)//WCup Khanty Mansiysk/2009/}) 10. g4 Qc7 11. Bd2 (11. O-O
Nbd7 {-9...Qc7}) 11... a5 12. g5 b4 $1 13. Na4 Ne4 14. Nb6 Ra7 15. Qe2 $6 (15.
Bxe4 dxe4 16. Nec4 Nd7 17. Qc2 Bf5 18. O-O-O $13) 15... f6 16. Nf3 Nd7 17. Nxd7
Qxd7 18. gxf6 exf6 19. O-O-O Bf5 20. Rdg1 b3 21. a3 Nf2 $1 $40 {Eljanov,P 
(2729)-Malakhov,V (2706)//WCup Khanty Mansiysk/2009/}) 8... O-O 9. O-O Be6 10.
f4 Ne4 $5 11. a4 f6 12. Nd3 Nd7 13. Nb4 Qc7 14. Nxe4 dxe4 15. Bd2 f5 16. Qc2
Nf6 17. Ra3 Qb7 18. axb5 axb5 19. Rfa1 Rxa3 20. bxa3 Nd5 21. Nxd5 Bxd5 22. a4
bxa4 23. Rxa4 Rb8 $11 {Caruana,F (2670)-Svidler,P (2739)/Amsterdam/2009/}) {
More logical and usual is} 7... Bg7 {, which Malakhov had to face himself:} (
7... Bg4 8. h3 Bxf3 9. Qxf3 (9. gxf3 Nbd7 10. f4 e6 $13 {/<=>}) 9... Bg7 10. g4
(10. Qe2 $5 {/\} O-O 11. Bd2 Nbd7 12. f4 $1 $14 {(),Galicek,S-Jirka,J (1885)/
Plzen op/1995/}) 10... e5 11. Qg3 Nfd7 12. Ne2 Qe7 13. O-O h5 14. f3 Nf8 15. a4
b4 16. Bd2 a5 $13 17. e4 $6 dxe4 18. Bxe4 Ne6 19. Rae1 h4 20. Qf2 O-O 21. f4
exd4 22. f5 Nxc5 23. Bb1 d3 24. Nc1 Qd6 $17 {Svidler,P (2754)-Malakhov,V (2706)
//WCup Khanty Mansiysk/2009/}) 8. Qc2 (8. e4 dxe4 9. Nxe4 Bg4 $132) 8... O-O 9.
O-O a5 $5 10. Re1 (10. a3 Nbd7 11. e4 $6 dxe4 12. Bxe4 Nxe4 13. Qxe4 Nf6 14.
Qh4 Bg4 $1 15. Ne5 Qxd4 16. Re1 b4 17. Na4 bxa3 18. Rxa3 Qb4 19. f3 Be6 $17 {
Malakhov,V (2709)-Ni Hua (2724)/RUS-chT Dagomys/2009/ and Black is simply a
healthy P up.}) 10... Bg4 (10... Nbd7 $5 {/\Qc7,e5<=>}) 11. Ne5 Be6 12. h3 h6 (
12... Nfd7 $142) 13. Bd2 Qc8 14. e4 dxe4 15. Bxe4 $5 Bf5 16. Bxf5 Qxf5 17. Qc1
Kh7 18. a4 b4 19. Ne2 Nd5 20. Nf4 Nxf4 21. Bxf4 $36 {Kozul,Z (2604)-Sebenik,M 
(2490)/SLO-chT Rogaska Slatina/2009/}) 6... Bg4 7. h3 {An ambitious try -
White is willing to invest time to win the ^^.} ({A similar try, which also
gave Black sharp <=>, was} 7. Bd2 Nbd7 $5 8. h3 Bxf3 9. Qxf3 b4 10. Na4 e5 $1
11. Rc1 Bd6 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Qd1 O-O 15. Be2 a5 16. Rc2 Qe7 17.
Bc1 Rad8 18. Bb2 Ng6 19. O-O Ne4 20. Bd4 Nh4 21. Bd3 Nf5 $132 {Carlsen,M (2776)
-Wang Yue (2739)/Linares/2009/}) (7. Be2 {is by far the most usual reaction,
but this is rather tame and Black should solve his opening problems with
simple development:} e6 8. O-O Nbd7 9. h3 Bh5 10. Bb2 Bd6 11. Ne5 Bxe2 12. Nxe2
Qc7 (12... bxc4 $5 13. bxc4 O-O 14. Qc2 Qc7 15. Nd3 Ne4 {is also close to full
equality.}) 13. cxd5 cxd5 14. Rc1 Qb8 15. Nxd7 Kxd7 $5 (15... Nxd7 16. e4 dxe4
17. d5 O-O 18. dxe6 Nc5 19. Nf4 Ra7 20. Bd4 (20. Nh5 Nxe6 21. Nf6+ gxf6 22.
Qg4+ Ng5 23. Bxf6 h6 24. Rc6 Bh2+ 25. Kh1 Be5 26. h4 Bxf6 27. Rxf6 Qc8 {
Morovic Fernandez,I (2573)-Leitao,R (2573)/Santos/2004/} 28. Rf5 f6 29. hxg5
hxg5 30. Qxe4 Rh7+ $11) 20... Bxf4 21. Bxc5 Bxc1 22. Bxf8 Qxf8 23. Qxc1 {
does give White a minute edge, although Black should be able to hold after} Re7
$11 {/+/=}) 16. f3 Qb7 $132 {is perhaps a safer option.}) 7... Bxf3 ({If
Kramnik's idea proves dangerous, Black should start looking for alternatives
earlier on, perhaps even here. While} 7... Bh5 8. g4 Bg6 9. Ne5 {seems rather
passive, it leads to typical Slav positions. If White wants something
substantial from the opening, he should go for the complications after} e6 10.
h4 (10. Bd2 Nfd7 11. Nxg6 hxg6 12. Qc2 Nb6 13. c5 N6d7 14. O-O-O Be7 15. Bg2 a5
16. Ne2 Na6 17. a3 b4 18. a4 Bh4 19. Rhf1 Nc7 20. Kb1 Qe7 21. e4 dxe4 22. Bxe4
Nd5 $132 {Malakhatko,V (2590)-Wirig,A (2487)/Differdange/2007/}) 10... Ne4 11.
Nxe4 Bxe4 12. f3 f6 13. Nxc6 Nxc6 14. fxe4 dxe4 15. Bd2 $14 {/~~}) 8. Qxf3 (8.
gxf3 {compromises White's P-structure and lessens his chances to get a
positional pull:} Nbd7 9. f4 e6 10. c5 Ne4 $5 11. Nxe4 (11. Bd2 Nxc3 12. Bxc3
a5 13. Bd3 f5 14. h4 Nf6 15. h5 Ne4 16. Bb2 Be7 17. Qc2 a4 18. b4 Kf7 19. O-O-O
Nf6 20. Rh3 Qd7 21. Rdh1 Rag8 22. f3 Bd8 $11 {Ivanchuk,V (2786)-Gelfand,B 
(2719)/Dresden olm/2008/}) 11... dxe4 12. Bg2 f5 13. f3 exf3 (13... Nf6) 14.
Bxf3 Rc8 15. Qe2 Nf6 16. Bd2 Qd7 17. Rg1 Kf7 18. O-O-O g6 19. Kc2 Be7 {1/2,
Gustafsson,J (2634)-Ni Hua (2710)/Reggio Emilia/2008/ Black's light-squared
setup is very solid and White can't make any inroads without excessive risk.})
8... e5 {This sharp blow is the main reason why White used to avoid 7.h3.
However, even here Black can deviate from the main line and he even has 2
plausible alternatives:} (8... bxc4 9. bxc4 e5 10. c5 $5 (10. dxe5 Bb4 11. Bd2
Bxc3 12. Bxc3 Ne4 13. Bb4 Qb6 14. a3 a5 15. cxd5 ({For} 15. e6 {see the 13.e6
line below.}) 15... cxd5 16. Bd2 Qb2 17. Rd1 Nc6 {Dlugy,M (2550)-Bologan,V 
(2520)/New York/1993/} 18. Bd3 Nxe5 19. Qe2 O-O 20. O-O Qxa3 21. Bxe4 dxe4 22.
Qb5 {/\Ra1=}) (10. Rb1 Qa5 11. Qf5 Nbd7 12. Bd2 Bb4 13. Qc2 O-O 14. Bd3 exd4
15. exd4 Rfe8+ 16. Ne2 Bxd2+ 17. Qxd2 Qxd2+ 18. Kxd2 c5 $132 {1/2,Gleizerov,E 
(2525)-Berezjuk,S (2380)/Katowice/1992/}) 10... Nbd7 11. Be2 {Cuts off the Q
on the >>.} (11. Qd1 $142 $5 {[%cal Yd1a4] /\Qa4 gives White chances for an
advantage.}) 11... g6 12. O-O Bg7 13. Rb1 O-O 14. Bd1 Ne8 15. Ne2 Nc7 16. Ba4
Nb5 17. Bb2 Re8 18. Rfd1 Rb8 19. Bb3 Qe7 20. Rd2 Rb7 $11 {/=/+,Pinter,J (2580)
-Komliakov,V (2415)/Manila olm/1992/}) ({The more restrained choice is} 8... e6
9. Bd2 Bb4 10. Bd3 (10. Qd1 O-O 11. Be2 bxc4 12. bxc4 c5 $1 $11) (10. Rc1 $5 {
/\} Qa5 11. Rc2 {gives better chances to retain the tension.}) 10... Qa5 11.
Rc1 (11. Nb1 Nbd7 $132) 11... Bxc3 12. Bxc3 Qxa2 13. Qd1 dxc4 14. bxc4 bxc4 15.
Ra1 Qb3 16. Qxb3 cxb3 17. Ke2 Nbd7 18. Rhb1 c5 19. Rxa6 Rxa6 20. Bxa6 O-O 21.
Rxb3 Rb8 22. Rxb8+ Nxb8 23. Bd3 cxd4 24. Bxd4 Nc6 25. Bb2 h6 26. g4 Nd5 $11 {
/+/=,L'Ami,E (2610)-Laznicka,V (2601)/Liverpool/2008/ While formally White has
a pleasant _|_, with P only on the >> a draw is the most likely outcome.}) 9.
dxe5 {[%mdl 64] The principled reaction, which leads to great tactical
complications.} (9. c5 Nbd7 $13 {promises White less, than in the above line
with the open <-> b.}) 9... Bb4 10. Bd2 Bxc3 11. Bxc3 Ne4 12. Bb4 bxc4 (12...
c5 $2 13. Rd1 (13. O-O-O $5 Ng5 14. Rxd5 Nxf3 15. Rxd8+ Kxd8 16. Ba5+ $36)
13... Ng5 (13... cxb4 14. Rxd5 Qh4 15. g3 $18) 14. Qf4 (14. Qxd5 Qxd5 15. cxd5
cxb4 16. Rd4 $16) 14... Ne6 15. Qg3 cxb4 16. cxd5 Nc5 17. Qxg7 Rf8 18. e6 Ne4 {
1-0 Nadanian,A (2445)-Wang Rui (2420)/Seoul 2008/EXT 2010 (56)} 19. Qe5 Nd6 (
19... Nc3 20. d6 $18) 20. Be2 $18 {->}) 13. Qg4 $5 {After a series of forced
moves White has a wider choice, but other continuations promise him little:} (
13. e6 fxe6 (13... Ra7 14. bxc4 Qb6 {It seems that White at best barely has
equality after} 15. Rb1 $5 (15. a3 a5 16. cxd5 cxd5 17. Rc1 Nc6 18. Bd3 (18.
Qf5 axb4 19. exf7+ Rxf7 20. Qe6+ Re7 21. Qxd5 Nxf2 22. Be2 Re5 23. Qd6 Nxh1 24.
Rxc6 Qxe3 25. Rc8+ Kf7 26. Rc7+ Re7 $19 {Even the rest of the game is
entertaining!} 27. Qd5+ Kf6 28. Rc6+ Re6 29. Rxe6+ Qxe6 30. Qf3+ Kg6 31. Qh5+
Kf6 32. Qf3+ Qf5 33. Qc6+ Kg5 34. Qc1+ Kh4 35. Qc4+ Kg3 36. Qc7+ Qf4 37. Qxg7+
Kh2 38. Qxh8 Qc1+ 39. Bd1 Qe3+ 40. Be2 Ng3 {0-1,Mukhaev,A-Krivoshey,S/Moscow/
1994/}) (18. exf7+ Rxf7 19. Qg4 Nd8 20. Bc3 O-O 21. Bd4 Qd6 22. f4 Qxa3 23. Rb1
Nc6 24. Qd1 Qe7 {0-1,Ovsejevitsch,S-Komliakov,V (2435)/Nikolaev zt/1993/})
18... axb4 19. Bxe4 fxe6 20. Qh5+ Ke7 21. Qg5+ Kf8 22. O-O $2 (22. Qf4+ $11)
22... dxe4 23. Rfd1 Ne7 24. axb4 (24. Rc8+ Nxc8 25. Rd8+ Qxd8 $1 26. Qxd8+ Kf7
27. Qxh8 bxa3 $19) 24... Qb8 25. b5 {Krivoshey,S (2410)-Juergens,P (2275)/
Passau/1996/} h6 $5 26. Qg4 Kf7 $17) 15... a5 16. cxd5 cxd5 17. Bd3 axb4 18.
Bxe4 dxe4 19. exf7+ Rxf7 20. Qxe4+ Re7 21. Qxb4 $11 {Neiman,E (2292)-Sanchez,L
(2239)/Clichy/2002/}) 14. Qh5+ (14. bxc4 $5 $146 Nd7 (14... c5 15. cxd5 Ng5 16.
Qg4 cxb4 17. h4 $13) (14... Qb6 15. Rb1 $1 (15. a3 a5 16. Qh5+ Kd8 17. Bc3 Nxc3
18. Qg5+ Kc8 19. Qxg7 Qb2 20. Qxh8+ Kc7 $36) 15... c5 (15... a5 $2 16. Qh5+ $18
) 16. cxd5 Nf6 17. dxe6 Nc6 18. Bc4 (18. g4 $5) 18... cxb4 19. O-O $44) 15.
cxd5 cxd5 16. Bd3 Rb8 17. Bxe4 Rxb4 18. Qh5+ {So,W (2640)-Malakhov,V (2706)/
WCup Khanty Mansiysk/2009/} Ke7 19. Bd3 g6 20. Qe2 Nc5 21. O-O Qd6 $11) 14...
g6 15. Qe5 Kf7 16. Qf4+ (16. Bxc4 $2 Nd7 17. Qf4+ Kg7 18. Bd3 Qb6 19. Bd6 Rhf8
$1 $19 {Krivoshey,S (2553)-Jakovenko,D (2662)/playchess.com INT/2006/}) 16...
Kg7 17. Qe5+ Kf7 $11 (17... Qf6 18. Qxf6+ Kxf6 19. bxc4 Nd7 $11)) (13. Bxc4 {
Simpler is} Qb6 (13... Ng5 14. Qe2 dxc4 15. Rd1 Nd7 (15... Qb6 $5 16. Qxc4 Qb5
$13 {Rogozenco}) 16. Qxc4 c5 17. Bc3 Ne6 18. O-O O-O 19. f4 g6 20. Rd6 Qe7 21.
Rfd1 $44 {/+/=,Markos,J (2526)-Timoscenko,G (2494)/SVK-ch Banska Stiavnica/
2006/ See Rogozenco's notes in CBM 113.}) 14. a3 a5 15. Bd6 Nxd6 16. exd6 O-O (
{Again the safe choice, risky is} 16... dxc4 17. Qe4+ Kd8 18. Qxc4 $44 {|^})
17. Be2 Qc5 18. O-O (18. e4 Nd7 19. Rd1 Ne5 20. Qf5 Qxd6 21. exd5 cxd5 22. O-O
g6 $11) 18... Qxd6 19. e4 (19. Rfc1 Nd7 20. Qf5 Rfb8 $132) 19... Nd7 20. exd5
cxd5 21. b4 axb4 22. axb4 Rxa1 23. Rxa1 Qxb4 $11 {Wang Yue (2736)-Ni Hua (2692)
/JinZhou/2009/}) ({Tame moves like} 13. Qd1 $2 c5 $17 {are insufficient.}) (13.
bxc4 Qb6 {transposes to 8...bxc4 above.}) 13... c5 (13... g6 $6 14. Bxc4 (14.
bxc4 $5 Nd7 15. cxd5 cxd5 16. e6 $14) 14... h5 15. Qf4 Qb6 16. Bd6 $2 (16. a3
$142 $1 a5 17. Bd6 Nd7 18. Be2 Qxb3 19. Rc1 $36) 16... Nxd6 17. exd6 Qa5+ 18.
Ke2 dxc4 19. Qe4+ Kf8 20. Qe7+ (20. Qxc4 $15) 20... Kg7 21. Qb7 cxb3 (21... Qb5
$1 22. Qxa8 cxb3+ 23. Kf3 b2 24. Rab1 Qb6 25. a4 a5 $19 {/\Nd7}) 22. a4 Qc3 23.
Rac1 Qb2+ 24. Kf3 Qf6+ (24... a5 $1 25. Qxa8 Nd7 $19 {-> Rogozenco}) 25. Ke2
Qb2+ $11 {Timoscenko,G (2515)-Grigorieva,A/Guichen op/1992/}) 14. f3 $1 (14.
Qxg7 Rf8 15. bxc4 (15. Rd1 Qb6 16. Bd2 c3 17. Bc1 c2 18. Rd3 c4 19. Rxd5 Qb4+
20. Ke2 Nc3+ 21. Kf3 Nxd5 22. Bxc4 {Hillarp Persson,T (2507)-Ibragimov,I (2554)
/Skelleftea/1999/} Nc3 $5 $19) 15... Qb6 16. Bc3 Nxc3 17. Bd3 dxc4 18. Bxh7 {
Rousselot,B (2375)-Sedlacek,O (2515)/corr/1994/} Nc6 $15) (14. Bxc4 cxb4 15.
Rd1 Nc3 16. Qxg7 Rf8 17. Bxd5 (17. O-O $2 Qa5 18. Bd3 Nxd1 19. Rxd1 Nc6 20. e6
Qc5 21. exf7+ Rxf7 22. Qh6 O-O-O $19 {Szilagyi,P (2409)-Berebora,F (2404)/
HUN-chT2/2002/}) 17... Nxd1 18. Bxa8 Qd3 19. Qg4 Nc3 20. Qc8+ Qd8 21. Qg4 {
and it's up to Black whether to repeat moves, or to strive for more with} h5 $5
22. Qxh5 Qd3 $36) 14... cxb4 ({It would be interesting to know Kramnik's
intentions after} 14... Nc6 $5 15. fxe4 (15. Qxg7 Qh4+ 16. Kd1 Nxb4 17. fxe4
O-O-O $1 $15) 15... Nxb4 16. Qxg7 Rf8 {I suspect White's idea was the complex
sacrificial} 17. exd5 $1 (17. Kf2 Qh4+ 18. g3 Qxe4 19. Bg2 Qf5+ $1 (19... Nd3+
20. Kg1 Qxe3+ 21. Kh2 O-O-O 22. Qg4+ $6 (22. Qf6 $142 Rg8 23. Qc6+ $11) 22...
Kc7 23. Rhf1 Nxe5 24. Qh4 Rg8 25. bxc4 dxc4 26. Rf5 Rd3 27. g4 Re8 28. Rb1 {
Grivas,E (2495)-Andrianov,N (2460)/Athens/1993/} Rd2 $1 $19) 20. Kg1 cxb3 21.
axb3 Qg6 $5 22. Qxg6 fxg6 $15) 17... Nc2+ 18. Kf2 Nxa1 (18... Qxd5 19. Be2 Nxa1
(19... Qe4 20. Qh6 $36) 20. Rxa1 cxb3 21. axb3 $14) 19. Bxc4 Nc2 20. Qh6 $5 Rg8
(20... Qd7 21. Rf1 (21. Qf4 Nb4 22. d6 $44) 21... Na3 22. Kg1 Nxc4 23. bxc4 $44
) 21. d6 Ra7 (21... Qg5 $2 22. d7+ $1 Kxd7 23. Qd6+ Kc8 24. Qxc5+ Kb8 25. Qd6+
Kc8 26. Qc6+ Kb8 27. Qb6+ Kc8 28. Bd5 $1 $18) 22. Rc1 (22. e6 Qg5 23. exf7+
Rxf7+ 24. Bxf7+ Kxf7 25. Qxh7+ Rg7 26. Qe4 Qg3+ $15) 22... Nb4 (22... Qa8 23.
g4 Qe4 24. Qf4 $1 Qxf4+ 25. exf4 $36 {[%csl Gd6,Ge5,Gf4] [+]}) 23. a3 Nc6 24.
e6 Qg5 25. exf7+ Rxf7+ 26. Bxf7+ Kxf7 27. Qxh7+ Ke6 (27... Rg7 28. Qe4 $16) 28.
Qe4+ Kxd6 29. b4 Qg3+ 30. Kg1 c4 $1 $132 {/\} 31. Rxc4 Qe1+ 32. Kh2 Qg3+ $11)
15. fxe4 O-O {Tucking away the K is the most circumspect option.} (15... c3 16.
Qxg7 (16. exd5 $5 Qxd5 (16... O-O 17. Qxb4 Qxd5 18. Qxc3 $16) 17. Rd1 Qc5 18.
Qxg7 Rf8 19. Kf2 Nc6 20. Bc4 Qxe5 21. Qg4 $40 {עe8}) 16... Rf8 17. Qg3 dxe4
18. Rd1 Qc7 19. Bc4 Nd7 20. O-O Qxe5 21. Qg4 (21. Qh4 $1 $36) 21... O-O-O 22.
Rd5 Qe7 23. Bxa6+ Kc7 24. Qf4+ Kb6 25. Bc4 Nc5 26. Re5 Qc7 27. Qh6+ Ka7 28. Qh5
f5 $1 $17 {[%csl Gc3] o^c3,Gorbatenko,K (2129)-Egorova,V (2207)/Novokuznetsk/
2007/}) (15... cxb3 16. Qxg7 Rf8 17. axb3 (17. exd5 Qh4+ 18. Kd2 Qe4 19. axb3
Qxd5+ 20. Kc2 $14) 17... Qh4+ 18. Kd1 $5 (18. Kd2 d4 $5 19. Rc1 $1 (19. Bb5+
axb5 20. Rxa8 Qf2+ 21. Kd1 dxe3 22. Rxb8+ Kd7 23. Qg4+ Kc7 24. Qe2 Rxb8 25.
Qxf2 exf2 26. Rf1 Kd7 27. Rxf2 Ke7 28. Rd2 Ke6 $132) 19... Nd7 (19... Qf2+ 20.
Kd1 Nd7 21. e6 fxe6 22. Rc7 Rf7 23. Qg8+ Nf8 24. Rxf7 Qxf7 25. Qxf7+ Kxf7 26.
exd4 Rd8 27. Bxa6 Rxd4+ 28. Ke2 Rxe4+ 29. Kf3 $14) 20. Kd3 $5 $13 (20. exd4
Qf4+ 21. Kd1 Qe3 $132)) 18... Qxe4 19. Bb5+ Nd7 20. Rf1 $36) 16. exd5 cxb3 $146
{[%mdl 8]} (16... Qxd5 17. Bxc4 Qxe5 18. O-O Ra7 $142 $5 {Kalyndu,A (2111)
-Polonskiy,Y/Irkutsk/2009/} (18... Qxe3+ 19. Kh1 Ra7 (19... Nc6 20. Rae1 Qd4
21. Rxf7 Qxg4 22. Rf4+ Kh8 23. Rxg4 $16 {_|_}) 20. Rae1 Qc5 (20... Qc3 $2 21.
Qf4 $18 {[%csl Rf7][%cal Re1e8] ><f7,/\Re8}) 21. Rf5 Qd6 22. Rd1 Qb6 (22... Qg6
23. Qf4 Rd7 24. Re1 $16 {/\} Rc8 25. Rxf7 Rxf7 26. Re7 Qf6 27. Rxf7 Qxf4 28.
Rxf4+ Kh8 29. Be6) 23. Rdf1 $44 {|^}) 19. Qf4 (19. Qd4 $5) 19... Nc6 20. Rac1
$14) 17. Qd4 (17. Qe4 $5 bxa2 18. Bd3 g6 19. O-O Nd7 20. Bc4 $13) 17... Nd7 {
Ni Hua offers a P to attack White's [+].} ({An interesting alternative is} 
17... bxa2 18. Bc4 Nd7 19. e6 Ne5 20. Bxa2 (20. Qxe5 $2 Qh4+ $17) 20... Qd6 21.
O-O Rac8 $13 {The o^ of both sides are blockaded for the time being and the
position is difficult to evaluate after e.g.} 22. Rf4 a5 23. Raf1 f6) 18. axb3
Qg5 19. Qf4 Qxe5 $2 {[%mdl 4096] After the Q-swap only White will have winning
chances.} (19... Qg6 $142 $1 20. Rd1 (20. Qg4 Qh6 $1 21. Qxd7 Qxe3+ 22. Be2
Qc3+ 23. Kf2 Qd4+ 24. Kf3 Qc3+ $11 25. Ke4 Qc2+ 26. Bd3 $2 Qxg2+ 27. Ke3 Qg3+
28. Ke4 f5+ $40) 20... Rae8 21. Bd3 Qb6 (21... Qxg2 $4 22. Rh2 $18) 22. Bf5
Nxe5 23. Qd4 (23. d6 g6 $1 (23... Ng6 24. Qd4 Rxe3+ 25. Kf2 Qxd4 26. Rxd4 Re5
27. g4 $36) 24. Bb1 (24. d7 Nxd7 25. Bxd7 Rxe3+ 26. Kf1 Rxb3 $17) 24... Re6 25.
O-O Rd8 $15 {disarms the o^.}) 23... Qd6 $11) 20. Qxe5 Nxe5 21. Bxa6 Rfc8 (
21... Ra7 22. Ra4 Rd8 23. e4 Nd7 24. Bb5 $5 (24. Bd3 Rxa4 25. bxa4 Nc5 26. Kd2
Nxa4 27. Rb1 Rb8 $14 {is less convincing}) 24... Rxa4 25. bxa4 Nc5 26. Kd2
Nxe4+ 27. Kc2 Rxd5 28. Re1 Re5 (28... Rd4 29. a5 f5 30. Re2 $1 $16) 29. Re2 f5
30. Kb3 $16 {[%csl Ga4] o^a4}) (21... Rfd8 22. Ke2 $8 (22. e4 $4 Rd6) 22...
Rxd5 23. Bb7 Rxa1 24. Rxa1 Rd8 25. Ra4 Nd3 26. Bd5 $1 g6 27. Bc4 Ne5 28. Rxb4
$16) 22. Kd2 Rc3 (22... Rc5 23. Bb7 $1 (23. e4 $143 Rc3 {/\Rg3<=>}) 23... Rd8 (
23... Ra3 24. Rxa3 bxa3 25. Ra1 Ra5 26. Bc6 Ra6 27. Ba4 (27. b4 $16 {/\} Nxc6
$2 28. b5) 27... Rg6 28. Rxa3 Rxg2+ 29. Kc3 $18) 24. Rhc1 Rxc1 25. Rxc1 Kf8 26.
e4 $16 {[%csl Rb4] /+-,><b4}) 23. Rhb1 ({Simpler was} 23. Bc4 $1 Rc8 24. Rhc1
$16) 23... f5 ({More resilient was} 23... Rd8 $142 $1 24. Ra5 Kf8 $5 (24... Nd7
25. Bc4 Nf6 26. Rba1 $16 {/\Ra8}) 25. Be2 Nd7 26. Rb5 Nf6 27. Bf3 (27. Rxb4
Rxe3) 27... Re8 $14) 24. Ra4 Rc5 $8 {It seems that Black has managed to
generate <=>, but once again White makes full use of his tactical resources to
simplify into a technically won _|_.} (24... Rb8 $2 25. Rxb4 $18) 25. e4 $1 (
25. Bb7 $6 Rb8 $13 {/\} 26. Rxb4 $2 Rc7 $15) (25. Rd1 $5 Kf8 (25... Rxd5+ 26.
Ke2 {/\} Rxd1 27. Bc4+ $18) 26. e4 $16 (26. Ke2 $5 {is also promising, but the
text-move is a much cleaner solution.})) 25... fxe4 26. Ke3 $1 {[%cal Re3d4] /
\Kd4} Rc2 ({The main point is} 26... Rxd5 27. Bb7 Rd3+ 28. Kxe4 Re8 29. Ra8 $5
(29. Bd5+ Kh8 30. Bf7 $1 $18) 29... Rxa8 30. Bxa8 Rd8 31. Bd5+ Nf7 32. Rf1 Rd7
33. Kd4 $18 {and White wraps up into a simply won P_|_.}) (26... Rc3+ 27. Kxe4
Re8 28. Kd4 Rc2 29. Bc4 (29. Rd1 Rxg2 30. d6 $16 {/+-}) 29... Rxg2 30. Rxb4 $16
{/+- and White's P, supported by the rest of his forces, should decide the
game.}) 27. Bd3 $1 {The decisive simplifying blow.} (27. Kd4 $5 Nd7 28. Bd3 {
is similar}) 27... Rxa4 28. Bxc2 Ra2 29. Bxe4 $18 {[%csl Rb4,Gd5,Ge4,Re5]
White has an extra o^ and active B, moreover ><b4 is vulnerable. The rest is a
matter of technique, although Kramnik admitted he relaxed and didn't play with
maximum efficiency, Black's position remains beyond saving to the very end.}
Kf7 (29... Nf7 30. Kd4 Nd6 (30... Ng5 31. Re1 $1 $18 {[%csl Gd5] ?d5}) 31. Bf3
Rc2 32. Ra1 {/\Ra4+-}) 30. Rc1 (30. Kd4 Nd7 31. Re1 $1 $18 {/\Kc4} (31. Kc4 Re2
$16)) 30... Kf6 (30... Rb2 31. Kd4 Nd7 32. Rc2 $5 Rxb3 33. Rc7 Ke8 $8 34. Bf5
Nf6 35. d6 $18) 31. Rc2 Ra1 (31... Rxc2 32. Bxc2 $18 {/\Kd4-c5}) 32. Kd4 Rd1+
33. Kc5 h5 34. Rf2+ (34. Ra2 $142 $18) (34. Re2 $5) 34... Ke7 35. Re2 Nd7+ 36.
Kc6 (36. Kb5 $1 Kd6 37. Bf3 Rd4 (37... Ne5 $2 38. Rxe5) 38. Re6+ Kc7 39. d6+ $1
Rxd6 40. Rxd6 Kxd6 41. Bxh5 $18) 36... Rc1+ (36... Ne5+ $5 37. Kb5 Ra1 (37...
Kd6 38. Ra2 $1) 38. Kxb4 Kd6 {was somewhat more tenacious.}) 37. Bc2+ $1 {
Now there will be no blockade on d6.} Kd8 38. Kd6 Nf6 39. Ke6 h4 40. d6 Rf1 41.
Re5 $6 ({More incisive was} 41. Bf5 $1 $18 {/\Ra2}) 41... Rf2 $6 (41... Ne8 $1
42. Re4 Rf6+ 43. Ke5 Nxd6 44. Rxh4 Ke7 $5 $16 {would have prolonged the
struggle.}) 42. Bf5 g6 (42... Rxg2 43. Ra5 Kc8 (43... Re2+ 44. Kf7) 44. Be4 $5
Nxe4 45. d7+ Kc7 46. Ra7+ Kb6 47. d8=Q+ Kxa7 48. Qa5+ Kb7 49. Qxb4+ $18) 43.
Bxg6 Nd7 {[%cal Rd7f8] /\Nf8} 44. Rg5 $1 Rf6+ 45. Kd5 Nb6+ 46. Kc6 (46. Kc5
Nd7+ 47. Kxb4 $18) 46... Nc8 47. Kc5 Nxd6 (47... Rxd6 48. Bf5 $18) 48. Bd3 {
White will soon win Black's P.} (48. Rg4 $18) (48. Bd3 Nf7 49. Rh5 $18 {/\} Rf4
50. Bg6 $1 {dominating the N.}) 1-0

[Event "London Classic"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2009.12.10"]
[Round "3"]
[White "McShane, Luke J"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C27"]
[WhiteElo "2615"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Saunders,J"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2009.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 134"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 {[The Bishop's Opening was known to the 16th pioneers of chess
(as we know it). It is not fashionable at the higher levels of the game.
Though there is nothing specifically wrong with it (and it often transposes
into better known openings), it lacks the sort of bite that the super-GMs look
for when playing White.]} Nf6 3. d3 Bc5 (3... c6 {is another move often seen
here, planning to drive back the c4 bishop with d7-d5. One snag with the
Bishop's Opening is that it doesn't oblige Black to play Nc6 to defend his
e-pawn; consequently, Black has a little extra flexibility of choice.}) 4. Nf3
O-O 5. Nc3 ({Snatching a pawn with} 5. Nxe5 $2 {is unthinkable at this level.
The game might proceed} d5 6. exd5 Re8 7. d4 Bxd4 $1 {(looks clever but most
experienced players at club level would know this trick)} 8. Qxd4 Nc6 {and
White is struggling. Elite players would dismiss such a continuation within
nanoseconds, but Vlad Kramnik was kind enough to take the trouble to show us
this variation in the commentary room. He is a relaxed and entertaining
commentator, striking exactly the right note with his audience.}) 5... d6 6.
Na4 {[If you've got one of those old Fred Reinfeld chess books for
near-beginners, he would probably tell you that all White's problems stem from
this - making two moves with the same piece in the opening. Well... on this
occasion, I would be inclined to agree. This looks insipid to me.]} Bb6 7. c3
Be6 8. Bb3 ({If} 8. Bxe6 fxe6 {, the doubled pawns aren't much of a problem
for Black. He can usually even them out later on by playing d7-d6 and he gets
an open file for his f8 rook into the bargain.}) 8... Bxb3 9. axb3 {[Again,
the argument in favour of doubling the pawns is to give the rook some scope.]}
Nbd7 10. b4 {#[White's opening has not been a success but now Black plays
rather a surprising move.]} Bxf2+ $5 {[This looks like a tactical blow but in
fact Black was probably thinking more of its positional consequences.]} 11.
Kxf2 b5 {[That is the tactical point: the white knight cannot escape the pawn
attack, so material equilibrium will be restored immediately.]} 12. Bd2 bxa4
13. Qxa4 {[The previous sequence may look a little unsophisticated at first
sight but I'm quite sure both players would have been already focusing on this
position (and perhaps beyond) for a number of moves previously. McShane must
have considered it reasonably defensible, but Kramnik now begins to exert his
authority on the position.]} c5 $1 14. b5 ({Although it would offer him the
chance to undouble his pawns, White cannot contemplate} 14. bxc5 $2 Nxc5 15.
Qc2 Qb6 {when Black has several nasty threats.}) 14... d5 $1 {[Black has one
eye on White's exposed king on f2 and he is trying to open up a central file
in order to menace it.]} 15. exd5 ({With hindsight,} 15. Rhe1 {seems better.
At least it doesn't leave the h1 rook out of play as in the game. Black has
several ways to proceed, e.g.} c4 $5 16. exd5 Nb6 17. Qc2 Re8 {though I'm not
entirely convinced.}) 15... Nb6 16. Qc2 c4 17. Nxe5 $2 ({After this, White is
history:} 17. Rhe1 Re8 {would transpose to the line given above and at least
leave White with his full complement of pieces to play with.}) 17... Qxd5 18.
d4 Ne4+ 19. Kg1 ({White has to go backwards and incarcerate his own h1 rook. If
} 19. Ke3 $2 Nxd2 20. Qxd2 Rae8 {he will lose material.}) 19... Rfe8 20. Nf3 ({
There is no time for} 20. Re1 {because of} Rxe5 $1 21. dxe5 Nxd2 {with a
substantial material and positional advantage.}) 20... Qxb5 21. h4 {#[White
has few useful moves and he plays this in a desperate attempt to get his h1
rook into play. Spectating grandmaster were no longer bothering to follow this
game, dismissing it as a routine win for Black.]} Qb3 $1 22. Qb1 (22. Qxb3 cxb3
{and Black will play Nc4, tightening the grip on White's position.}) (22. Qc1 {
is even worse:} Ng3 {would threaten the h1 rook and a king/queen fork with
Ne2+.}) 22... Nd5 23. Rh3 h6 {[Removing another square from the scope of
White's already desperately restricted bishop.]} 24. Qc1 Qb6 25. Ra4 Rab8 26.
Ra2 ({After} 26. Rxc4 Qxb2 27. Qxb2 Rxb2 28. Be1 Rb1 {it is becoming clear
that the bishop is doomed. Consequently, White is tied to the defence of the
b2 pawn.}) 26... Qb3 27. Qa1 Rb6 28. Kh2 {[The knot is getting tighter. White
is running out of moves to play.]} Ndf6 29. Be1 ({White was now very short of
time. If} 29. Kg1 Ng4 30. Bf4 Ngf2 31. Rh2 Nd3 {it is close to the end.}) 29...
Ng4+ 30. Kg1 Nef6 31. d5 Nxd5 32. Rg3 Ndf6 33. Bd2 Rd6 34. Ra3 Qb6+ 35. Kh1
Nf2+ 36. Kh2 N6g4+ (36... N6g4+ {Let's look at one finish:} 37. Rxg4 Nxg4+ 38.
Kg3 Qf2+ 39. Kxg4 Qxg2+ 40. Kf4 Rf6#) 0-1

[Event "London Classic"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2009.12.12"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2698"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2009.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 134"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. a3 c5 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. dxc5 Nxc5 11. Be5 Bg4 (11... Bf6 {is the main move
examined in some of the previous CBM issues by GM Rustem Dautov - most
recently in CBM 111, annotations to Doettling - Senff. The text continuation
starts a different plan.}) 12. Be2 Ne6 (12... Bf6 {transposes to 11...Bf6.}) (
12... Bxf3 $5 13. Bxf3 Bf6 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 {deserves attention. Black easily
equalised in the following games:} 15. O-O (15. Rb1 Rad8 16. O-O d4 17. Qc2 b6
18. exd4 Rxd4 19. Rbd1 Rfd8 20. Rxd4 Rxd4 21. Rd1 g6 {1/2 Kunte,A (2527)
-Maheswaran,P (2297)/Gurgon 2009/CBM 128 Extra}) 15... Rad8 ({or} 15... Qxb2
16. Qxd5 Rac8 17. Rfd1 Qf6 18. Qd4 Qe7 19. Qb4 Rfd8 20. h3 b6 21. a4 Rxd1+ 22.
Rxd1 Rd8 23. Rd4 {1/2 Erdos,V (2591)-Nielsen,P (2687)/Heidelberg GER 2009/The
Week in Chess 788}) 16. Qd4 Qxd4 17. exd4 Ne4 18. Rfd1 f5 {1/2 Kunte,A (2513)
-Mas,H (2421)/Parramatta 2009/CBM 129 Extra}) 13. h3 (13. O-O Bf6 $5 14. Bxf6
Qxf6 15. Qxd5 Qxb2 16. Ra2 Qb6 17. h3 Rad8 18. Qe5 Bxf3 19. Bxf3 Qc5 20. Qxc5
Nxc5 21. Rb1 b6 22. a4 Rd6 23. a5 Rfd8 24. axb6 axb6 25. Rb5 Kf8 26. Rab2 Nd7
27. Bg4 Nf6 28. Rxb6 Nxg4 29. hxg4 Rxb6 30. Rxb6 g5 {1/2 Ibrahimov,R (2541)
-Dambacher,M (2429)/Hoogeveen 2006/EXT 2007 (61) - Black confidently hold this
ending.}) 13... Bxf3 14. Bxf3 d4 $5 {[%mdl 512]} (14... Bf6 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16.
Bxd5 Qxb2 17. O-O Rad8 {etc. was possible here, too.}) 15. Bxd4 (15. exd4 Bf6
$1 16. O-O (16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. d5 Nd4 $44) (16. Bxb7 $6 Bxe5 17. Bxa8 (17. dxe5
Qa5+ 18. Qd2 Qxe5+) 17... Qxa8 18. dxe5 Qxg2 19. Rf1 Rd8 $44) 16... Nxd4 17.
Bxd4 Qxd4 18. Bxb7 Rab8 $11) 15... Nxd4 16. Qxd4 Qxd4 17. exd4 Rac8 18. O-O (
18. Bxb7 Rb8 19. Bf3 Rxb2 {is hardly more favourable for White.}) 18... Rc7 {
A well-known kind of position has arisen. White has kept his extra pawn but it
is impossible to convert due to the opposite-coloured bishops. Black forces
its advance to d5, then safely blockades it.} 19. Rad1 Rd8 20. Rfe1 Kf8 21. Re2
g6 22. g3 Bf6 23. d5 Be7 24. Kg2 Bd6 25. Rde1 Rc5 26. Be4 Rdc8 27. f4 Rc1 28.
Kf3 Rxe1 29. Rxe1 Rc5 30. g4 a5 31. a4 Rc4 32. b3 Rc3+ 33. Re3 Rxe3+ 34. Kxe3
h6 35. f5 gxf5 36. Bxf5 Ke7 37. h4 f6 38. Bc8 b6 39. Ke4 Bg3 40. h5 Bh4 41. Kf5
Bg5 42. Kg6 Kd6 43. Be6 Ke7 44. Bc8 Kd6 45. Be6 Ke7 46. Bc8 Kd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2009.12.13"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Howell, David"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2597"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2009.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 134"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8.
Re1 Bg4 9. c3 f5 10. Qb3 O-O 11. Nbd2 Na5 12. Qa4 Nc6 13. Qb3 Na5 14. Qc2 Nc6
15. b4 a6 16. Rb1 b5 17. a4 Rb8 18. axb5 axb5 19. Ne5 Nxe5 20. dxe5 Nxf2 21.
Kxf2 Bh4+ 22. Kf1 Bxe1 23. Kxe1 Qh4+ 24. g3 Qxh2 25. Nf1 Qxc2 26. Bxc2 Rbe8 27.
Bd3 Rxe5+ 28. Kf2 f4 29. gxf4 Bf5 30. Bxf5 Rexf5 31. Ng3 R5f6 32. Kf3 Rc6 33.
Bd2 g5 34. Ne2 gxf4 35. Nd4 Rg6 36. Nxb5 Rg3+ 37. Kf2 Rd3 38. Rg1+ Kh8 39. Ke2
Rg3 40. Kf2 Rxg1 41. Kxg1 c5 42. Nd6 cxb4 43. cxb4 Kg7 44. Bc3+ Kg6 45. b5 Rd8
46. Be5 Rb8 47. Bd4 Rd8 48. Be5 Rb8 49. Kf2 Rb6 50. Kf3 Kg5 51. Nf7+ Kg6 52.
Nd6 Kg5 53. Nf7+ Kg6 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2009.12.14"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[Annotator "Saunders,J"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2009.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 134"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Bb4 {This opening can't quite make up its
mind whether it is the Ragozin variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined or a
line of the Nimzo-Indian. But, as William Shakespeare said, what's in a name?}
5. Qb3 c5 (5... Ba5 {is an idea here.}) 6. cxd5 exd5 7. dxc5 Nc6 8. Bg5 $5 ({
You won't find that move on your database - it is fresh from 'Laboratoire
Kramnik'. Why did he inflict it on Short? Because he's worth it...} 8. e3 O-O
9. Be2 Be6 10. Nd4 Bxc5 11. Nxe6 fxe6 12. O-O Qe7 {which was Karpov-Kramnik,
Monte Carlo 1997. Kramnik won that game.}) 8... Be6 9. O-O-O {Things are
already a bit tricky for Black. He decides to sacrifice a pawn.} Qa5 10. Bxf6
gxf6 11. Nxd5 O-O-O 12. e4 f5 13. Bc4 Bxc5 (13... Qxc5 {is a bold try but} 14.
Kb1 fxe4 15. Ng5 {looks very useful for White.}) 14. Ng5 fxe4 15. Nxe4 Bd4 16.
Ndc3 Rhe8 17. Bxe6+ Rxe6 18. f3 Ne5 ({Perhaps} 18... Kb8 {is called for,
though White is still better.}) 19. Nb5 {#Kramnik was heard to say in the
commentary room, and at a later video interview, that his position was very
strong after this.} Rb6 ({If Black backs off with} 19... Bb6 {then} 20. Rxd8+
Kxd8 21. Nbd6 {starts to get very unpleasant.}) 20. Qc2+ Rc6 21. Nec3 Bxc3 ({
The only other move worth contemplating is} 21... Be3+ 22. Kb1 Kb8 23. Rxd8+
Qxd8 24. Rd1 Qg8 {but really Black is a pawn down for no compensation after
this.}) 22. Rxd8+ Kxd8 23. Nxc3 Kc7 24. Rd1 a6 25. Qxh7 {#} Kb8 ({It is
surprising that neither player gave much thought to} 25... Qxa2 {here, as it
is perfectly logical and apparently quite playable. When the players were
discussing this in the commentary room, they looked at} 26. Qh8 Rxc3+ $5 27.
bxc3 Qa1+ 28. Kd2 Qb2+ 29. Ke1 Qxc3+ 30. Kf1 Qc4+ 31. Kg1 Qc5+ 32. Kh1 {
#, etc, etc, and Kramnik concluded he was winning, so they moved onto another
position. But it was suddenly apparent to the spectators that IM Lawrence
Trent was desperately straining to say something. On and on went Kramnik,
barely pausing for breath and oblivious to Lawrence's attempts to catch his
eye. Eventually the Kramnik stream of consciousness abated for a second and
Lawrence seized his chance: "Can we go back to the earlier position?" (the one
in the diagram). Then Lawrence dropped his bombshell: "Black plays} Nd3 $3 {
"... the super-GMs were temporarily bemused by the sheer effrontery of the
young English commentator... Kramnik tried to rescue his line... "I play} 33.
Rf1 {", but Lawrence was ready for him: "... then} Nf2+ $3 {"... another
super-grandmaster pause. Kramnik, finally recognising a choice between being
mated on the back rank or being caught by Philidor's legacy, smiled in that
closed-eye way of his and said: "Well... I wouldn't have played 26 Qh8!", to a
gale of mirth from an audience which was thoroughly enjoying young Trent's
moment of triumph over his elders and betters. Back to the game...}) 26. Kb1
Nc4 27. Qh8+ Rc8 28. Qd4 Qb4 29. b3 a5 30. Ka1 Na3 31. Qxb4 axb4 32. Nd5 Rc2 {
It is hard to resign when you can place a rook on the seventh and perhaps
threaten something. But in fact Kramnik had calculated it all through to the
finish.} 33. Nxb4 Rxg2 34. Rh1 {The rook sits behind the pawn and pushes.
Simple chess.} Ka7 35. h4 Kb6 36. h5 Ka5 37. h6 Kxb4 38. h7 Nc2+ 39. Kb1 Na3+
40. Kc1 1-0

[Event "London Classic"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2009.12.15"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2009.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 134"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 d5 5. Qa4+ Nc6 6. e3 O-O 7. Qc2 {For this
move - see CBM 123, annotations to Socko - Gajewski. However, there have been
a lot of developments since then.} Re8 (7... a6 8. a3 Be7 9. b4 dxc4 10. Bxc4
Bd6 11. Bb2 e5 12. dxe5 Nxe5 (12... Bxe5 13. Nxe5 Nxe5 14. Be2 Be6 15. Ne4 Bf5
16. Nxf6+ Qxf6 17. Qxc7 Nd3+ 18. Bxd3 Qxb2 19. Rb1 Rac8 20. Qxc8 Qxb1+ 21. Bxb1
Rxc8 22. Kd2 $16 {1-0 Bartel,M (2588)-Colovic,A (2493)/Plovdiv 2008/CBM 124 
(39)}) 13. Nxe5 Bxe5 14. f4 $1 $146 Bd6 15. O-O Re8 16. e4 Ng4 17. Qe2 (17. Qb3
$142 Be6 18. Bxe6 Rxe6 19. h3 $16) 17... b5 18. Bb3 (18. Ba2 $142) 18... c5 19.
h3 $14 cxb4 $6 20. axb4 Bxb4 21. hxg4 Bc5+ 22. Rf2 Qh4 23. f5 Bb7 {1-0
Krasenkow,M (2624)-Koneru,H (2603)/Mumbai 2008/CBM 124 Extra (48)} 24. Ba3 $3
$16) (7... b6 8. Be2 Ba6 9. cxd5 Bxe2 10. Kxe2 exd5 11. Rd1 Ne7 12. Bd2 c5 13.
dxc5 bxc5 14. Kf1 Rc8 15. Kg1 Qb6 16. a3 Bxc3 17. Bxc3 Ne4 18. Be5 $14 {
1-0 Cramling,P (2525)-Kosintseva,N (2518)/Konya TUR 2009/The Week in Chess 787
(40)}) (7... Bd6 $5 8. c5 Be7 9. Bb5 (9. h3 $6 b6 10. a3 bxc5 11. dxc5 a5 12.
Bb5 Na7 13. c6 Nxb5 14. Nxb5 Ba6 15. Nbd4 Ne4 $17 {0-1 Dworakowska,J (2335)
-Atalik,E (2409)/Plovdiv 2008/CBM 123 Extra (26)}) 9... Bd7 10. a3 Qe8 11. Bd3
a5 12. b3 b6 13. cxb6 cxb6 14. Bb2 Qb8 15. O-O Rc8 16. Qe2 Bd6 17. Nb5 Be7 18.
Rac1 Na7 $11 {1/2 Krasenkow,M (2639)-Golod,V (2578)/Helsingor 2008/CBM 125
Extra (48)}) (7... dxc4 {is probably the simplest way to equalise:} 8. Bxc4 e5
$5 (8... Bd6 $5 9. O-O (9. Ng5 h6 10. Nge4 e5 11. Nxd6 cxd6 12. d5 Ne7 13. e4
Ng6 14. O-O Nh5 15. Qd1 Nf6 16. Kh1 Bd7 17. a4 Rc8 18. b3 a6 19. f3 Nh7 20. Ba3
Qe7 21. Qd2 Ng5 $11 {0-1 Moranda,W (2533)-Moiseenko,A (2632)/Polanica Zdroj
2008/CBM 126 (35)}) 9... e5 10. h3 exd4 (10... Qe7 11. a3 Bd7 12. d5 Na5 13.
Bd3 c5 14. dxc6 Nxc6 15. Rd1 Rac8 16. Bd2 h6 17. Rac1 Rfd8 18. Qb1 Be6 19. Ne4
Bb3 20. Re1 Bd5 21. Bc3 Nxe4 22. Bxe4 Bxe4 23. Qxe4 Qe6 $11 {0-1 Najer,E (2681)
-Fressinet,L (2658)/Hamburg GER 2009/The Week in Chess 788 (41)}) 11. exd4 Nb4
(11... h6 12. a3 a6 13. Ba2 Ne7 14. Ne5 c5 15. Nxf7 Rxf7 16. dxc5 Bxc5 17. Qb3
Ned5 18. Nxd5 Be6 19. Nxf6+ Rxf6 $44 {1/2 Cramling,P (2535)-Lomineishvili,M 
(2378)/Ohrid MKD 2009/The Week in Chess 779 (24)}) 12. Qd1 Bf5 13. a3 Nc6 14.
Re1 h6 15. Ne5 Bxe5 16. dxe5 Qxd1 17. Nxd1 Nd7 $11 {1/2 Chiburdanidze,M (2506)
-Kosintseva,T (2536)/Ningbo CHN 2009/The Week in Chess 774 (37)}) (8... a6 $143
9. O-O (9. a3 Bd6 10. Ng5 h6 11. Nge4 Nxe4 12. Nxe4 e5 13. Nxd6 cxd6 14. d5 Ne7
15. O-O b5 16. Bd3 f5 17. e4 fxe4 18. Bxe4 Bf5 $11 {1-0 Gonzalez Garcia,J 
(2509)-Vehi Bach,V (2387)/Barbera ESP 2009/The Week in Chess 766 (54)}) 9...
Bd6 10. Rd1 Qe8 11. a3 e5 12. Ng5 h6 13. Nge4 Nxe4 14. Nxe4 Qe7 15. d5 Nd8 16.
Nxd6 cxd6 17. a4 $14 {1/2-1/2 Hillarp Persson,T-Arutinian,D/Crete 2007/CBM 121
(45)}) 9. a3 (9. Nxe5 Nxe5 10. dxe5 Ng4 11. Qb3 Bxc3+ 12. Qxc3 Qh4 13. g3 Qh3
14. Bf1 Qh5 15. Be2 Qh3 16. Bf1 Qh5 17. Be2 {1/2 Krasenkow,M (2639)-Socko,B 
(2627)/Warsaw 2008/CBM 126}) 9... Ba5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Ng4 12. Bd3 Bxc3+
13. Qxc3 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3 15. Bf1 Qh5 16. Be2 Qh3 17. Bf1 Qh5 18. Bg2 Nxe5 19. f4
Nf3+ 20. Kf2 Nxh2 $13 {1-0 Socko,B (2644)-Zdebskaja,N (2368)/Differdange 2008/
CBM 124 Extra (30)}) 8. Bd2 Bf8 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (8... e5 9. dxe5 Nxe5 10.
cxd5 $5 $14) 9. a3 (9. Be2 $5 e5 $5 (9... dxc4 10. Bxc4 e5 $6 11. Ng5) (9...
Nb4 {[%cal Yc7c5]} 10. Qb3)) 9... e5 $1 $11 10. dxe5 (10. cxd5 $2 Nxd4 $1)
10... Nxe5 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. O-O-O Nb6 13. Ne4 Nxf3 14. gxf3 Qh4 15. Bc3 (15.
Bd3 $142 Rd8 (15... Bf5 16. Nf6+) 16. Bc3 Be7 $5 17. Rhg1 g6 $11) 15... Bf5 $1
16. Bd3 Bg6 $15 {Safely parrying White's threats along the g-file and
obtaining the better prospects due to White's damaged pawn structure.} 17. f4
Rad8 18. f5 (18. Ng3 $5) 18... Rxd3 $6 (18... Bh5 $1 19. Rdg1 Nd5 20. Rg3 Nxc3
21. Nxc3 Rd6 $17 {[%cal Ye8d8]}) 19. Nf6+ $1 (19. Qxd3 Bxf5 20. f3 Bxe4 21.
fxe4 Rxe4 $17) 19... gxf6 20. Qxd3 Qxf2 (20... Bh5 $6 21. Rdg1+ Kh8 22. Rg3 $40
) 21. fxg6 hxg6 22. Bd4 (22. Rhf1 $1 Qxe3+ 23. Qxe3 Rxe3 24. Rd8 $1 Nc4 25. Bb4
Nd6 26. Bxd6 cxd6 27. Rxf6 Kg7 28. Rf2 $14) 22... Nd5 23. Kb1 c5 $6 (23... Qh4
$5 24. Bxa7 c6 $44) 24. Rhf1 (24. Bxc5 $5 Bxc5 25. Qxd5 Qxe3 26. Qxb7) 24...
Qxh2 25. Bxf6 Nxf6 26. Rxf6 Bg7 27. Qb5 Bxf6 (27... Qe5 28. Rfd6 b6 29. Qxe8+
Qxe8 30. Rd8 Kf8 $11) 28. Qxe8+ Kg7 29. Qb5 Qg2 30. Rd7 Qe4+ 31. Ka2 Qe6+ 32.
Kb1 Qe4+ 33. Ka2 Qe6+ 34. Kb1 Qe4+ {Black doesn't take the risk of playing for
a win.} (34... g5 $6 {M.Notkin} 35. Qxb7 g4 36. Qd5) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2010.01.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2712"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2010.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Re1 Nxd3 10. Qxd3 c6 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Qb5+ Qd7 13. Qb3 O-O 14. Nc3 Nxc3
15. bxc3 Re8 16. Ba3 Bxa3 17. Qxa3 b6 18. h3 h6 19. Rab1 Qc6 20. Rxe8+ Qxe8 21.
Re1 Qf8 22. Qa4 Be6 23. Re3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2010.01.17"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2010.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3
d5 9. Nbd2 Nbd7 10. Qc2 c5 11. dxc5 bxc5 12. O-O O-O 13. Bb2 Rc8 14. Rfe1 d4
15. e3 dxe3 16. fxe3 Ne8 17. Rad1 Qb6 18. Ne4 Rd8 19. Neg5 g6 20. Qe4 Bb7 21.
Qh4 h5 22. g4 Ndf6 23. h3 Ng7 24. Qg3 Nfe8 25. h4 Bf6 26. Be5 Bxf3 27. Nxf3
hxg4 28. Qxg4 Nh5 29. Bh2 Bc3 30. Rf1 Nef6 31. Qg5 Ne4 32. Qg4 Nef6 33. Qg5
1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2010.01.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2675"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2010.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 O-O
8. Qd2 Nd7 9. O-O-O Re8 10. h4 c6 11. Bd3 Qa5 12. Kb1 Ne5 13. Nxe5 dxe5 14. Qe2
Be6 15. Bc4 Bxc4 16. Qxc4 Rad8 17. h5 Rxd1+ 18. Rxd1 Rd8 19. Rd3 a6 20. Qg4 Qc7
21. Qe4 g6 22. g4 Rxd3 23. cxd3 Qd7 24. Qxe5 Qxd3+ 25. Kc1 Qd6 26. Qe4 Qe6 27.
Qxe6 fxe6 28. Kc2 gxh5 29. gxh5 e5 30. Kd3 Kf7 31. Ke4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2010.01.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Tiviakov, Sergei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E43"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2662"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2010.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 ({The usual move order characteristic for
the classical system would be} 4. e3 b6 5. Bd3 Bb7 6. Nf3) 4... b6 5. e3 Bb7 6.
Bd3 c5 7. O-O O-O 8. Bd2 cxd4 9. exd4 d5 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. Qe2 Be7 12. Rfe1 Nd7
13. Rad1 N7f6 14. Ne5 Rc8 15. Bb1 Nxc3 16. bxc3 Qd5 17. f3 Rc7 18. Qf2 b5 19.
Qg3 Rfc8 20. Qh3 g6 21. Bg5 Nh5 22. Bd2 b4 23. c4 Qxd4+ 24. Kh1 Qh4 25. Qg4
Qxg4 26. fxg4 Ng7 27. Bf4 g5 28. Bg3 f6 29. Nf3 e5 30. Nxe5 fxe5 31. Bxe5 Rxc4
32. Bxg7 Rxg4 33. h3 Rxg2 34. Be4 Bxe4 35. Rxe4 Kxg7 36. Kxg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2010.01.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Smeets, Jan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2657"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2010.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 $1 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 a6 5. Be2 (5. Qd2 {is more common: ist
geläufiger:} b5 6. f3 Nbd7) 5... Bg7 6. Qd2 (6. h4 $5 {After 5.Be2 this
continuation seems more logical. Nach 5.Be2 sieht diese Fortsetzung logischer
aus.} b5 7. h5) 6... b5 7. Bh6 O-O 8. e5 (8. h4 b4 $1 9. Nd5 Nxe4 10. Qe3 Bxh6
11. Qxh6 e6 12. Ne3 Qf6) (8. Bxg7 $142 {It is already time for White to think
about equalising. Es wird für Weiß bereits Zeit, ans Ausgleichen zu denken.}
Kxg7 9. Bf3 $11 e5 10. Nge2 Nbd7 11. O-O Bb7 12. d5) 8... dxe5 9. Bxg7 Kxg7 10.
Bf3 (10. dxe5 Qxd2+ 11. Kxd2 Rd8+ 12. Ke3 Ng4+ 13. Bxg4 Bxg4 14. h3 Bf5 $15)
10... c6 (10... Ra7 11. dxe5 Qxd2+ 12. Kxd2 Rd8+ 13. Ke3 Nfd7 $15 14. Rd1 Rf8
15. Kf4 Nc5) 11. dxe5 Qxd2+ 12. Kxd2 Rd8+ 13. Ke3 Ng4+ (13... Nfd7 14. Rd1 Rf8
15. Kf4 $1 f6 16. exf6+ Nxf6 17. Kg3 Bf5 18. Re1 $13) 14. Bxg4 Bxg4 $15 15. h3
Bf5 {Black has to be fast, otherwise White will consolidate and equalise.
Schwarz muss schnell sein, ansonsten wird sich Weiß konsolidieren und
ausgleichen.} (15... Be6 16. f4 c5 17. Ne4 Bd5 18. Nf3 $11 Nc6 19. Rhd1 Nb4 20.
Ne1) 16. g4 {The most principled and probably the best move here. Der
prinzipiellste und vermutlich beste Zug hier.} (16. Nf3 Bxc2 (16... c5 17. Ne4)
17. Nd4 b4 18. Nxc2 bxc3 19. bxc3 Nd7 20. f4 Nb6 21. Nd4 c5 $15) (16. Rc1 Nd7
17. g4 Be6 18. Nf3 Nb6 $15) 16... Bxc2 $1 (16... Be6 17. Nge2 Nd7 18. f4 b4 19.
Ne4 $11) 17. Rc1 b4 $1 (17... Rd3+ 18. Ke2 Rxc3 19. bxc3 Be4 20. Nf3 Nd7 21.
Rhd1 Bd5 {Black definitely has enough for the exchange, but probably not more
really. Schwarz hat definitiv genug für die Qualität, aber wohl nicht wirklich
mehr.} 22. Ke3 Nb6 $13) 18. Rxc2 bxc3 19. Nf3 (19. Rxc3 Rd1 $1 $17 {and the
pin seems to be more than annoying. und die Fesselung ist offenbar mehr als
lästig.}) 19... cxb2 20. Rb1 Rd5 21. e6 $6 {Too delicate, it was better just
to take the b2-pawn immediately with good drawing chances. Zu heikel, besser
war es, einfach sofort den b2-Bauern zu nehmen, mit guten Remischancen.} (21.
Rbxb2 $142 Nd7 (21... e6 22. Rd2 $11 Nd7 23. Rxd5 cxd5 24. Rb7 Rd8 25. Ra7 Nb8
26. Rb7) 22. e6 Ne5 23. exf7 Rd3+ 24. Ke4 Rxf3 25. Kxe5 Rxh3 26. Rxc6 Kxf7 27.
Rb7 Rf3 28. Re6 Re8 29. Rxa6 Rxf2 $15) 21... c5 (21... fxe6 $5 {actually also
was possible, but I wanted to activate my knight as soon as possible. war
tatsächlich ebenfalls möglich, aber ich wollte schnellstens meinen Springer
aktivieren.} 22. Rbxb2 c5 23. Rb6 Kf7) 22. exf7 Nc6 23. Rbxb2 Rad8 24. Ke4 Kxf7
(24... Nb4 $1 $17 {The most precise, since after Am genauesten, denn nach} 25.
Rc3 {Black has hat Schwarz} R8d6 $1 26. Ne5 Re6 27. f4 Rd4+ 28. Kf3 Nd5 29.
Rxc5 Rxf4+ 30. Kg3 Rxe5 31. Rxd5 Rxg4+ 32. hxg4 Rxd5 33. Rf2 Kf8) 25. Rc3 Nd4
26. Ne5+ ({Since my opponent already was in time trouble, I expected him to
simplify the position with Da mein Gegner bereits in Zeitnot war, erwartete
ich, dass er die Stellung vereinfachen würde mit} 26. Nxd4 Rxd4+ 27. Ke3 {
and the chances are fifty fifty for Black to win and for White to manage a
draw. , wonach die Gewinnchancen für Schwarz und die Remischancen für Weiß
fifty-fifty sind.} c4 28. Rbc2 Rd3+ 29. Ke2 R8d6 30. Rxc4 Rxh3 31. Ra4 h5 $17)
26... Ke8 {More human. Menschlich.} (26... Kf6 $5 {is the computer style move.
ist der Zug im Computerstil.} 27. Rb6+ R5d6 28. Rb2 Nc6) 27. Rb6 $2 (27. Rb7 $1
$15 Nb5 $140 28. Re3 $1 {A very difficult move to find in time trouble, and
now if Black forces the rook endgame, he can't win it. Ein in Zeitnot sehr
schwer zu findender Zug, und wenn Schwarz jetzt das Turmendspiel forciert,
kann er es nicht gewinnen.} Rxe5+ 29. Kxe5 Nd6 30. Rc7 Nc4+ 31. Kf4 Rd4+ 32.
Kg5 Nxe3 33. fxe3 Rc4 34. Kh6 Rc2 35. Kxh7 Kf7 36. h4) 27... Nb5 28. Rc2 (28.
Re3 $142 {was the only way to stay in the game, although the white position is
difficult. war der einzige Weg, in der Partie zu bleiben, obwohl die weiße
Stellung schwierig ist.} R5d6 29. Rxd6 Nxd6+ 30. Kf4 c4 31. Rc3 Rc8 $17 32. Ke3
Rc5 33. f4 g5) 28... R5d6 $1 29. Nc4 (29. Rxd6 exd6 30. Nc6 Rc8 31. Nb4 Kd7 32.
Nd5 Re8+ 33. Kd3 Rf8 34. f4 Nc7 35. Nxc7 Kxc7 36. Rf2 d5 $19) 29... Rd3 $19 30.
Ne3 Ra3 (30... R3d4+ $142 {was simpler, achieving a technically winning
endgame. war einfacher, was ein technisch gewonnenes Endspiel erreicht.} 31.
Kf3 R4d6 32. Rxd6 exd6) 31. Rb2 (31. Rxc5 $142 {probably would not save him,
but allows White to resist for a while. würde ihn wohl nicht retten, erlaubt
Weiß aber, eine Weile Widerstand zu leisten.} Rxa2 32. Nd5 Kf7) 31... c4 {
Now Black is completely winning.  Nun steht Schwarz komplett auf Gewinn.} 32.
Ke5 c3 33. Rc2 Rd2 {I was now trying to choose the most accurate way to win,
although probably there were shorter ones. I did not bother to search for one,
there is no point in such a position. Nun versuchte ich, den genausesten
Gewinnweg zu wählen, obwohl es wahrscheinlich kürzere gab. Danach suchte ich
gar nicht erst, das hat in einer solchen Stellung keinen Sinn.} 34. Rc1 Rxf2
35. Nd5 c2 36. Nb4 Re3+ 37. Kd5 Rd2+ 38. Kc6 Rc3+ 39. Kb7 Nd6+ 40. Ka8 {
Despite his active king, White is not doing great, it seems. Trotz seines
aktiven König ist es um Weiß offenbar nicht gut bestellt.} a5 0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2010.01.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2641"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2010.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. Be3 c6 8. d5 Ng4
9. Bg5 f6 10. Bh4 c5 11. O-O Nh6 12. a3 Na6 13. Ne1 Qe7 14. Nd3 g5 15. Bg3 f5
16. f3 f4 17. Bf2 Rf6 {A typical KI position has arisen, with Black attacking
on the kingside and White trying to break through on the queenside. White's
task looks more difficult; therefore it is extrenely instructive to see how
Vladimir Kramnik solves it.} (17... Bd7 {, played in another game featured by
the same position, doesn't allow the white queen to a4. The game continued} 18.
b4 b6 19. Rb1 Bf6 20. bxc5 bxc5 21. Rb7 Rfb8 22. Rxb8+ Rxb8 23. Nb5 Rb7 24. h3
Nf7 25. Qc2 Qf8 26. Rb1 Qb8 27. Rb2 Bd8 28. Be1 Bb6 29. Qb1 Bd8 30. Bd1 h5 31.
Kf1 Nc7 32. Ba4 Nxb5 33. Bxb5 Bc8 34. Bc3 Kf8 35. Ke2 Qc7 36. Ba4 Rb6 37. Rxb6
Qxb6 38. Qb5 Qxb5 39. cxb5 Ke7 40. Bb3 g4 41. hxg4 hxg4 42. a4 gxf3+ 43. gxf3
Kd7 44. Bc4 Kc7 45. Nb2 Kb7 46. Bd3 Bd7 47. Nc4 Bc7 48. Be1 Bd8 49. Bc3 {
1/2 Markus,R (2586)-Damljanovic,B (2625)/Vrsac 2006/CBM 115}) 18. b4 {[%mdl 32]
} b6 19. bxc5 bxc5 20. Rb1 Nf7 21. Qa4 {[%cal Ra4c6]} Nd8 22. Rb2 h5 23. Rfb1
Rg6 (23... g4 $2 24. Bh4) 24. h3 {Most of Black's pieces are caught up on the
queenside so it is not easy for him to prepare ...g5-g4.} Bf6 (24... g4 25.
fxg4 hxg4 26. hxg4 Nc7 27. Rb8 Bxg4 28. Bxg4 Rxg4 29. Qd1 $16) 25. Kf1 Qd7 26.
Bd1 g4 {Still! But after the queen exchange Black has no attack.} 27. fxg4 hxg4
28. hxg4 Qxa4 29. Bxa4 $5 Bxg4 30. Bb5 Nc7 31. Bc6 Rc8 (31... Nxc6 32. dxc6 {
[%csl Gc6]}) 32. Rb8 Rxb8 33. Rxb8 {[%mdl 4096]} Kh7 34. Ba4 Rg7 {White has
invaded b8 but what can he do next?} 35. Bd1 $1 {The white bishop has
fulfilled its task facilitating the invasion of the white rook (moves 30-31).
Now it is time to exchange the protector of the light squares.} Na6 (35... Bd7
{is hardly good as this bishop will disturb Black.}) 36. Ra8 Bxd1 37. Nxd1 Rb7
38. Nc3 Nc7 39. Rc8 Nf7 40. Bxc5 $3 $16 {[%mdl 512] An excellent piece
sacrifice! White's passed pawn must now decide the game.} dxc5 41. Nxc5 Nd6 $8
42. Nxb7 Nxc8 43. c5 Na6 $1 44. Ke2 (44. d6 $2 Nxc5 45. Nxc5 Nxd6) (44. Nb5
$142 $5 Kg7 (44... Nb8 45. N7d6 Nxd6 46. Nxd6 {[%cal Yc5c6,Yd6b7]}) (44... Nxc5
45. Nxc5 Be7 46. Nd3 a6 47. Nc7 Nd6 48. Nc5) 45. c6 Kf8 {and only now} 46. Ke2)
44... Kg6 (44... Bg7 $5 45. c6 Bf8 46. Nb5 Nb8 {[%cal Ya7a6]}) 45. Kd3 $2 {
"Centralization of the king in the endgame is almost never wrong. However, it
can be ill-timed." (M.Shereshevsky. Endgame strategy)} (45. Nb5 $1) 45... Be7 (
45... Kf7 $5 46. Kc4 Ke7 47. Nb5 Nb8 48. c6 (48. N7d6 Nxd6+ 49. Nxd6 Kd7 50.
Nb5 a6 51. c6+ Nxc6 52. dxc6+ Kxc6 $11) 48... a6 49. Nc7 Bh4 {and it is
unclear how White is going to win.}) 46. Na4 (46. Kc4 $2 Bxc5 $1 47. Nxc5 $140
$2 Nd6+) (46. d6 Nxc5+) 46... Kg5 $1 47. Kc4 Bxc5 $2 {Losing by force.} (47...
Nxc5 {still led to a draw:} 48. Naxc5 Kg4 49. a4 $1 (49. Nd3 Bxa3 $1 (49...
Nd6+ $2 50. Nxd6 Bxd6 51. Kb5) (49... Kg3 50. a4) 50. Nxe5+ Kg3 51. Nd3 Kxg2
52. e5 (52. Nxf4+ Kf3) 52... f3 53. d6 f2 54. Nxf2 Kxf2 55. Kd5 a5 56. e6 Ne7+
$1) 49... Kg3 50. Nd3 Kxg2 (50... Nd6+ $2 51. Nxd6 Bxd6 52. Kb5 Kxg2 53. Kc6
$18) (50... Bd6 $2 51. Kb5 $18) 51. Nxe5 Nb6+ $1 (51... f3 52. Nd3 f2 $2 53.
Nxf2 Kxf2 54. Kd4 $3 (54. e5 Ke3 55. d6 Ke4 56. dxe7 Nxe7 $11) 54... Kf3 55. e5
Kf4 56. d6 Kf5 57. a5 $1 $18 {[%cal Yd4d5]}) 52. Kb5 (52. Kd4 $2 Bf6) 52... f3
53. Nd3 Nd7 $1 54. d6 Bg5 55. Ne1+ (55. Nbc5 Ne5 $1) 55... Kg3 56. Nxf3 Kxf3
57. Kc6 Ne5+ 58. Kd5 Bf4 59. Nc5 Ng4 $1 60. d7 Bc7 61. Nb7 Kf4 {etc.}) 48.
Naxc5 Nxc5 49. Kxc5 Kg4 50. d6 Nb6 51. Kc6 Kg3 52. Nc5 Kxg2 53. d7 Nxd7 54.
Nxd7 f3 55. Nxe5 f2 56. Ng4 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2010.01.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C43"]
[WhiteElo "2696"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "2010.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. dxe5 ({White can reach the same structure as
in the game with the move order} 4. Bd3 d5 5. dxe5 {However, in this case the
d3-bishop would be exposed to ...Nc5.}) 4... d5 5. Nbd2 Nc5 6. a3 $5 $146 {
A new move, aiming to provoke the weakening of the black queenside. Eventually,
this yielded a pawn a dozen of moves later.} (6. Nb3) 6... a5 7. Be2 Be7 8. O-O
O-O 9. Re1 Nc6 10. Nf1 Bf5 11. Ng3 Bg6 12. Be3 {The position is similar to
those arising from the Open Ruy Lopez, but the queenside situation is a bit
different and the white light-squared bishop is on e2 rather than on c2.
Summing up, the weakness of the b5-square is a bit annoying for Black.} a4 {
This is the most logical way to put the queenside into harmony. However, Black
will not find it easy to keep the balance between the opposite wings.} 13. Bb5
Na5 14. Nd4 c6 15. Bf1 $14 {Suddenly, the threat of f4-f5 is very strong.} f6 {
Sacrificing a pawn without sufficient compensation.} 16. exf6 Bxf6 17. Nxc6
bxc6 18. Bxc5 Re8 19. Qd2 Rxe1 20. Rxe1 Nc4 21. Bxc4 dxc4 22. Qb4 c3 23. bxc3
Qd2 24. Qc4+ Kh8 25. Re2 Qd1+ 26. Nf1 Bxc3 27. h3 Rd8 28. Re3 Bd2 29. Rf3 Bg5
30. Qxa4 Bxc2 31. Qa5 h6 32. Be3 Bxe3 33. Rxe3 Qd4 34. Rc3 Be4 35. Ne3 Qd2 36.
Qe5 Rf8 37. Kh2 Bd5 38. Rc2 Qd3 39. a4 Qg6 40. Rb2 Re8 41. Rb8 Rxb8 42. Qxb8+
Bg8 43. Qe5 Qf7 44. Nf5 Qa7 45. a5 c5 46. f4 Ba2 47. a6 Bc4 48. Nxh6 Qxa6 49.
Nf5 Qf6 50. Qxc5 Be6 51. g4 Bxf5 52. Qxf5 Qb2+ 53. Kg3 Qc3+ 54. Kh4 Qe1+ 55.
Kh5 Qe8+ 56. Qg6 Qe3 57. Kg5 Qe7+ 58. Kh5 Qe3 59. Qf7 Qxh3+ 60. Kg5 Qh6+ 61.
Kf5 g6+ 62. Ke5 Qg5+ 63. fxg5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2010.01.24"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A88"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2708"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2010.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. c4 Bg7 5. Nc3 O-O 6. Nf3 d6 7. O-O c6 8. Rb1 {
From theoretical point of view, this is less topical than 8. d5 and 8.b3, but
has a lot of strategic substance. White removes the rook from the corthe event
of the opening of the centre and prepares either a bold attack with b4-b5 or,
in some other cases, the more solid b3.} Ne4 {This is considered to be one of
Black's best replies, but after this game the evaluation may change. After all,
Black's whole queenside is undeveloped, why start exchanging already developed
pieces?} ({Kramnik had faced} 8... Na6 {15 years ago in a semi rapid game.} 9.
b4 Ne4 10. Bb2 $5 (10. Nxe4 fxe4 11. Nd2 d5 12. b5 {looks more consistent,
like in Beliavsky,A (2620)-Nikolic,P (2670)/Polanica Zdroj 1996/CBM 055/
[Beliavsky] (1-0, 38)}) 10... Be6 11. b5 {This was recommended by Beliavsky in
the Chess Informant.} (11. Qb3 $2 b5 12. Nxe4 Bxc4 13. Qe3 fxe4 14. Qxe4 Nxb4
15. Bh3 Kh8 $17 {Kramnik,V (2715)-Ivanchuk,V (2700)/Monte Carlo 1995/CBM 046
ext (1/2, 51)}) 11... cxb5 $5 ({Beliavsky only analyses} 11... Nc7 12. bxc6
bxc6 13. Qa4 Rb8 14. Ba1 $1 $14) 12. cxb5 Nc7 (12... Nxc3 13. Bxc3 Nc7 14. Ng5
Bxa2 15. Rc1 d5 16. Qa4 Bc4 17. Ba5 $36 {[%cal Gc1c4]} Bxb5 18. Qb3 $16 {
[%cal Gc1c7]}) 13. Nxe4 fxe4 14. Ng5 Bxa2 15. Rc1 Bh6 16. h4 Bd5 $13) (8... Qe8
{[%cal Ge7e5]} 9. d5 $5 Na6 (9... e5 10. dxe6 Bxe6 11. b3 $1 {We can see the
usefulness of the Rb1.} Qe7 $14 {Black has practically lost a tempo and has
failed to get early counterplay.}) 10. b4 cxd5 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. Qxd5+ Kh8 13.
Bb2 $14 {Larsen,B (2540)-Kortschnoj,V (2605)/Buenos Aires 1993/CBM 035 (1-0,
43). In his youth, Korchnoi was one of the promoters of the Leningrad Dutch,
but his later tastes changed radically and it is surprising to see him on the
black side in 1993.}) (8... Qc7 9. d5 e5 10. dxe6 Bxe6 11. b3 $14 {Black has
avoided losing a tempo in this line, but his queen is not especially well
placed on c7.}) 9. Qc2 ({According to Kramnik, it was around 3 a.m. when he
realized that White should refrain from} 9. Nxe4 fxe4 10. Nd2 d5 11. e3 Be6 12.
b4 b5 13. cxb5 cxb5 14. a4 bxa4 15. Qxa4 Nd7 16. Qa2 Bf7 17. Nb3 (17. Bb2 {
Beliavsky,A (2645)-Spraggett,K (2560)/Elista 1998/CBM 066 ext/[Hecht] (1/2, 64)
}) 17... Nb6 {Beliavsky,A (2618)-Agrest,E (2554)/Batumi 1999/CBM 074/
[Tsesarsky] (1-0, 35)}) 9... Nxc3 10. bxc3 $1 {This move gives meaning to
White's previous play. The b-file has been opened for the rook and, since ...
e5 is unavoidable, we can also state that the white centre has been
strengthened.} (10. Qxc3 e5 {does not pose Black any problems.} 11. dxe5 dxe5
12. e4 (12. Qa3 {Adla,D (2435)-Tovillas,D (2335)/Buenos Aires 1991/EXT 2000 
(1-0, 33)} e4 13. Ng5 h6 14. Nh3 Be6 15. b3 g5 $11) (12. Nxe5 Nd7 13. f4 Qe7
$15) 12... f4 13. b4 (13. b3 Qe7 14. Bb2 Bg4 15. Qa5 c5 $15 {[%cal Gb8c6,Gc6d4]
Skembris,S (2455)-Leow Leslie M (2455)/Novi Sad 1990/TD (1/2, 22)}) 13... g5
14. Bb2 Qe7 15. Rfe1 (15. Nxe5 $2 Nd7 $19) 15... Be6 (15... g4 16. Nh4 {
[%csl Gf5]}) 16. Rbd1 Nd7 17. c5 Bf6 18. a3 g4 $132 {Ionesi,C (2232)-Grunberg,
M (2403)/Predeal 2006/CBM 113 ext (0-1, 36)}) 10... e5 $146 {Black
consequently fights for space on the whole board, but his poor development
will prevent him from consolidating properly. I find it hard to recommend an
entirely adequate continuation.} (10... Qa5 11. c5 dxc5 12. Qb3+ e6 13. Bf4 Re8
14. Ne5 cxd4 15. cxd4 $32 {Giri,A (2517)-Reinderman,D (2560)/Hilversum 2009/
CBM 131 Extra (1/2, 43)}) 11. Rd1 e4 {Black is more or less forced to release
the tension. Otherwise, White would get a strong initiative.} (11... Qe7 12. c5
$1 dxc5 (12... e4 13. cxd6 Qxd6 14. Bf4 Qe7 15. Ne5 $16) 13. Nxe5 Bxe5 14. dxe5
Qxe5 15. Bh6 ({If I reached this position in a game, I most surely would
continue with} 15. Bf4 $16 {[%cal Gf4d6,Gd6c5] but the surprising line
suggested by the computer is even better.}) 15... Re8 16. Rxb7 Bxb7 17. Qb3+
Kh8 18. Qxb7 $18) (11... Qe8 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. Ba3 Rf7 14. e4 $16) 12. Ng5 h6 {
This creates new weaknesses, but the white knight is incredibly versatile, as
we can notice in the following line.} (12... Na6 13. f3 exf3 14. exf3 Nc7 15.
Re1 Qf6 16. f4 $1 {[%csl Re5][%cal Gg5f3,Gc1a3,Gc4c5] followed by Ba3, c5 and
the d6-pawn and the occupation of the e5-square. We can feel the power of the
doubled pawns. One of them is used for active purposes, while the other stays
back to defend the d4-pawn.}) 13. Nh3 g5 14. f3 d5 ({Once again, White would
have a clear plan of installing his knight on e5 if Black releases the tension:
} 14... exf3 15. exf3 Na6 16. f4 g4 17. Nf2 Nc7 18. Nd3 $14 {[%csl Ge5][%cal
Gc4c5]}) 15. Nf2 Kh8 {This move does not seem to be connected with any
concrete plan. In some lines Black must have feared an attack along the a2-g8
diagonal. However, it should be mentioned that the king move does not
contribute to the queenside development in any way.} (15... Rf7 $5 {[%cal
Gc8e6]} 16. Qb3 {White should delay the exchange on d5 until Black has
developed his knight, in order to avoid ...Nc6} (16. cxd5 cxd5 17. c4 Rc7 18.
c5 Nc6 $11) 16... Na6 (16... Be6 $2 17. cxd5 cxd5 18. fxe4 fxe4 19. Nxe4 $16) (
16... Qb6 $5) 17. cxd5 cxd5 18. c4 Be6 $14) 16. cxd5 cxd5 17. c4 {Black will
lose stability soon, but Nakamura had prepared an interesting trick.} e3 $5 {
Only this way can the activation of the g2-bishop be prevented. However, Black
may lose the courageous pawn later.} 18. Nd3 (18. Bxe3 $2 f4 {[%cal Gc8f5]} 19.
Bd2 Bf5 20. Qb2 (20. Nd3 $2 Nc6) 20... Bxb1 21. Rxb1 Nc6 $15) 18... Nc6 19.
Bxe3 ({The hurried} 19. Ne5 Nxe5 20. dxe5 {would leave the g2-bishop caged
after} f4 $44 {[%csl Gg2]}) 19... Nxd4 ({According to the joint post mortem
analysis by Kramnik and Nakamura,} 19... Qe8 {would have been better, although
they concluded that after} 20. Qc1 dxc4 21. Ne5 Nxe5 22. dxe5 Qxe5 23. f4 $36 {
White maintains the initiative.}) 20. Bxd4 Bxd4+ 21. Kh1 {The position has
been opened and White has achieved a huge advance in development. However, the
situation is not entirely clear yet, because the next move will leave the
g2-bishop passive.} f4 22. Rb5 $5 {An elegant move, increasing the pressure in
the centre.} (22. Nxf4 gxf4 23. Rxd4 Bf5 {[%csl Gb1]}) (22. cxd5 Be3 {[%csl
Gg2]}) 22... Qf6 23. Rxd5 Be6 $2 {The decisive mistake, probably caused by a
miscalculation.} ({Black could have stayed in the game with} 23... Be3 $5 $14 {
consolidating his grip on the dark squares. Although White is a pawn up and
has an impressive domination in the centre, for practical purposes he is a
piece down for the time being. Probably, he should look for a way to exploit
the exposed position of the black king (to be compared with the absolutely
safe residence of his white rival), combined with the possibility of
exchanging the e3-bishop for his knight. Engines are very enthusiastic when
evaluating the position, but the passivity of the g2-bishop is something they
do not understand easily.}) 24. Nxf4 gxf4 ({He might have overlooked that after
} 24... Bxd5 25. Ng6+ Kg8 26. Nxf8 Bc6 {the knight gets out with} 27. Ne6 $1
$18) 25. R5xd4 fxg3 26. hxg3 $18 {White is two pawns up and can repel Black's
attack quite easily. The game is practically over.} Rg8 27. Rf4 Qg5 28. Rh4 Rg6
29. Qc3+ Kh7 30. f4 Qxg3 31. Qxg3 Rxg3 32. Bxb7 Rb8 33. Be4+ Kg7 34. Kh2 Re3
35. Rg1+ Kf7 36. Bg6+ Ke7 37. Bd3 Rb2 38. Rg2 Rxa2 39. Rxh6 Bf7 40. Rh7 Kf6 41.
c5 Ra4 42. c6 Rxf4 43. c7 Re8 44. Rxf7+ 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2010.01.26"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2010.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 {In the end of the press conference after
his win over Nakamura, just the day before, Kramnik complained that he had
been Black in his last three games against Carlsen and the situation would
repeat itself in Wijk aan Zee. As if this were enough, Carlsen decides to
force the former World Champion to fight against one of his trademark openings,
the Catalan.} dxc4 {There is not much to be said about this move, but I would
like to insert here two games that bear some similarity with two types of
structures featured in the main game.} (4... dxc4 5. Bg2 c5 6. O-O Nc6 7. Ne5
Bd7 8. Na3 cxd4 9. Naxc4 Bc5 10. Qb3 O-O 11. Qxb7 Nxe5 12. Nxe5 Rb8 13. Qf3 Bd6
14. Nc6 Bxc6 15. Qxc6 e5 16. Rb1 Rb6 17. Qa4 Qb8 18. Bg5 Be7 19. b4 Bxb4 20.
Bxf6 gxf6 21. Qd7 Qc8 22. Qxa7 Rb8 23. Qa4 Bc3 24. Rxb8 Qxb8 25. Be4 Qc7 26.
Qa6 Kg7 27. Qd3 Rb8 28. Bxh7 Rb2 29. Be4 Rxa2 30. h4 {Kasparov,G (2795)-Comp
Deep Blue/Philadelphia 1996/CBM 050 ext (1-0, 73). Carlsen may have been
inspired by this game when heading for the position after, say 25 moves.
However, there is an important difference: Carlsen's knight will be passive on
a4, failing to contribute to the fight for the critical squares in any way.}) (
4... Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Qc2 Nbd7 9. Bf4 Nh5 10. Bc1 Nhf6
11. b3 b6 12. Rd1 Ba6 13. Nbd2 Rc8 14. e4 Bb7 15. Bb2 Qc7 16. Rac1 Qb8 17. e5
Ne8 18. h4 h6 19. Nf1 c5 20. Qe2 dxc4 21. d5 $1 {The same type of sacrificial
break as Carlsen's 17.d5!! True, in this game Black's kingside has not been
weakened previously, but after the inevitable structural modifications White
will be left with a dangerous majority on this wing.} Bxd5 22. Rxd5 exd5 23.
Bh3 Rd8 24. Ne3 Nc7 25. Nf5 Rfe8 26. Nxg7 $40 {Marin,M (2515)-Horvath,J (2535)/
Odorheiu Secuiesc 1993/CBM 036 (1-0, 53)}) 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 a5 7. Nc3 $5 {
This natural developing move was first met in a top level game during the Tal
Memorial 2009.} (7. Qc2 Bxd2+ (7... Ra6 $5 {Marin,M (2551)-Kortschnoj,V (2611)/
Reggio Emilia 2008/CBM 122/[Marin,M] (1/2, 58)}) 8. Qxd2 $5 {Kramnik,V (2743)
-Topalov,V (2813)/Elista 2006/CBM 115/[Marin,M] (1-0, 75)}) (7. O-O $5 O-O 8.
Bg5 {Ivanchuk,V (2740)-Alekseev,E (2711)/Foros 2008/CBM 125/[Marin,M] (1-0, 53)
}) 7... O-O 8. a3 ({Deviating from} 8. Bg5 {Gelfand,B (2758)-Kramnik,V (2772)/
Moscow 2009/CBM 133/[Marin,M] (1/2, 81)}) 8... Be7 $146 {White is allowed to
retrieve the pawn, in the hope that the time spent by the queen moving around
will allow adequate queenside counterplay.} ({After} 8... Bxc3 {Black can keep
his extra pawn, for a while at least, but White's centre would be strengthened.
It is hard to draw any conclusion from the only game played so far:} 9. bxc3 b5
10. Ne5 Ra6 11. O-O Nfd7 12. a4 c6 13. Nxc6 Rxc6 14. Bxc6 Nxc6 15. axb5 Ne7 16.
Qa4 $16 {Scarella,E (2348)-Del Cuadro,N (2186)/Villa Ballester 2004/CBM 101
ext (1-0, 29)}) 9. Qa4 ({We can see the fruits of the apparent loss of time ...
Bb4+ and ...Be7: with the bishop on d2,} 9. Ne5 {leaves the d4-pawn hanging.})
9... c6 10. Qxc4 b5 11. Qb3 $6 {A slightly strange move. The queen is rather
passive on this square.} ({I believe that} 11. Qd3 $1 {is crucial for the
evaluation of the whole variation. White keeps an eye on the h7-square and
enables Ne4, which would clear the c-file for the rook and the e1-a5 diagonal
for the bishop.} Nbd7 ({Carlsen may have been worried about} 11... Ba6 {
, but after} 12. Ne4 b4 13. Nxf6+ Bxf6 14. Qe4 $14 {the queen is quite active
in the centre, defending the e2-pawn at the same time (thus allowing castling).
}) 12. Ne4 Bb7 ({In the event of} 12... Ba6 13. b4 $1 $16 {[%csl Ga6,Gc6] we
can notice that Bd2 may be useful. In this line, the manoeuvre of the black
dark-squared bishop can be considered a mere loss of time.}) (12... Nd5 13. Rc1
Bb7 14. O-O {[%cal Ge4c5]} Qb6 15. Nfg5 $16 {[%csl Gd3]}) 13. Nxf6+ Bxf6 {
Apart from castling, with just a more pleasant position for White, he can try
the sharp attack} 14. h4 $5 e5 (14... h6 $6 15. g4 $40) 15. Ng5 g6 16. Nxh7
Kxh7 17. h5 $40) 11... Ba6 12. Bg5 {We can feel the effects of the uninspired
queen retreat to b3. White has to spend some time to defend the e2-pawn before
castling.} Nbd7 13. Bxf6 gxf6 $6 {In certain lines of the Catalan, this way of
capturing is necessary in order to avoid the minor pieces being diverted from
the control of the c5-square, in order to keep the threat of ...c5 alive. In
our game, Carlsen will find a brilliant way to take advantage of the kingside
weaknesses.} ({Besides, there would be nothing wrong with the natural} 13...
Bxf6 14. Ne4 Be7 15. O-O b4 $132) 14. Qc2 b4 15. Na4 Rc8 16. O-O c5 {When
playing his 13th move, Kramnik may have evaluated this position as being in
his favour. Indeed, the white queen will be in some trouble after the
apparently inevitable opening of the c-file, while the e2-pawn would be
hanging.} 17. d5 $3 {This brilliant pawn sacrifice changes the course of the
game radically. White provokes the weakening of the f5-square and ensures a
safe life for his queen. Suddenly, it appears that several black pieces (his
knight and a6-bishop, for instance) are far from optimally placed.} exd5 18.
Bh3 $6 {This is too slow and offers Black the few tempi he needs in order to
organise his position. When both sides' regroupings will have come to an end,
the passivity of the a4-knight will become an important factor.} ({Several
commentators gave recommended} 18. Rfd1 $1 {In fact, it is quite logical.
Black completes his development (the a1-rook is developed in view of the
permanent threat of axb4) and starts fighting for the light squares in the
centre.} d4 (18... Bb7 19. Nh4 $16 {retrieves the pawn with huge strategic
advantage.}) 19. Qf5 $40 {Black faces the strong (and, apparently, inevitable)
threat of Nxd4, followed by either Be4 with a mating attack, or Rxd4 with a
deadly pin along the d-file.}) 18... Bb5 19. axb4 axb4 20. Rfd1 d4 21. Bf5 Ne5
$1 {Black activates his position without hanging on to his material advantage.}
22. Bxh7+ (22. Bxc8 Qxc8 {would lead to a similar position as in the game,
with the difference that the h7-pawn is still on board, defending the black
king.}) 22... Kg7 23. Nxe5 fxe5 24. Bf5 {With the knight on c4, White would
have a dream position, but the way it is the situation remains very
complicated. In the next phase of the game, Kramnik will keep activating his
pieces, even if this will cost him a significant amount of material.} Rc6 25.
Qe4 Rh8 26. Qxe5+ Bf6 27. Qe4 Re8 28. Qg4+ Kf8 29. Be4 c4 $1 $44 {Finally
shattering any dreams of blockade with b3 and Nb2-c4.} 30. Bxc6 Bxc6 {Black's
bishops and his mobile mass of pawns offer Black excellent compensation. In
mutual time trouble, Carlsen will go down relatively quickly.} 31. Qh5 Re5 32.
Qh6+ Ke7 33. e4 $5 {An attempt to get some counterplay.} (33. Qd2 {is
ineffective because of} c3 34. bxc3 Qd5 35. f3 dxc3 $36) 33... d3 $1 {Not
letting himself be distracted from the main plan, consisting of advancing the
pawns.} (33... Rxe4 34. Nc5 $16) (33... Bxe4 34. Qd2 $16) 34. Qe3 Bxe4 35. Nb6
$2 {A blunder in an unpleasant position.} Bb7 $19 {winning the knight. The
centralisation of the e5-rook is impressive.} 36. Qf4 Qxb6 37. Qxc4 Re2 38. Rf1
0-1

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2010.01.27"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2010.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bxf6 Qxf6 8.
Bxc4 c5 9. O-O O-O (9... cxd4 {is a common alternative but the whole line is
quite rare.}) 10. e5 Qd8 11. Qe2 {Or else:} (11. a3 cxd4 12. axb4 dxc3 13. bxc3
Qc7 (13... Qxd1 $6 14. Rfxd1 Bd7 15. Bd3 Rc8 16. c4 Bc6 17. Nd4 b6 18. Nb5 a5
19. Nd6 $16 {1-0 Schoen,W (2405)-Martin,A (2415)/Gausdal 1989/EXT 1997 (31)})
14. Qe2 Bd7 15. b5 Be8 16. Bd3 Nd7 17. Qe4 g6 18. Qe3 Kg7 19. Ra3 Qc5 20. Qxc5
Nxc5 21. Be2 a5 22. bxa6 bxa6 23. Rfa1 Rc8 {1/2 Bogoljubow,E-Tartakower,S/
Maehrisch Ostrau 1923/HCL}) (11. Ne4 cxd4 12. a3 Be7 13. Qxd4 (13. Nxd4 $2 Qc7)
13... Qxd4 14. Nxd4 Nd7 15. f4 Nc5 16. Nc3 Rd8 17. Rad1 Bd7 18. Rd2 Rac8 19.
Ba2 Na4 $11 {1-0 Sharavdorj,D (2441)-Jahedi,S (2106)/Berkeley 2008/CBM 127
Extra (53)}) (11. d5 $5 exd5 $2 (11... Bxc3 $1) 12. Bxd5 $2 (12. Nxd5 $1 $16)
12... Bxc3 13. bxc3 Nc6 (13... Qc7 $5) 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. Qa4 Qc7 16. Rfd1 Be6
17. Qa3 c4 18. Rd6 Bd5 19. Nd4 Qe7 20. f4 Qh4 21. Rf1 Qg4 22. Qb2 Rab8 23. Qf2
$14 {1/2 Gligoric,S-Karaklajic,N/Sarajevo 1951/EXT 2002 (61)}) (11. dxc5 $5 {
K.Sakaev} Qxd1 12. Rfxd1 Bxc5 13. Rac1 $36) 11... cxd4 12. Rad1 (12. Rfd1 Nc6
13. Qe4 Bxc3 14. bxc3 Bd7 15. cxd4 Ne7 16. Bd3 g6 17. Qf4 Kg7 18. Be4 Nd5 19.
Bxd5 exd5 20. Rdc1 Be6 21. Rab1 {1/2 Fressinet,L (2658)-Movsesian,S (2711)/
Heidelberg GER 2010/The Week in Chess 799}) (12. Ne4 Bd7 13. Rfd1 $5 Nc6 14. a3
Be7 15. b4 Qb8 16. Ng3 b5 17. Bxb5 Nxe5 18. Bxd7 Nxd7 19. Nxd4 $14 {1/2
Grischuk,A (2736)-Aronian,L (2781)/Linares ESP 2010/The Week in Chess 798 (101)
}) 12... Bd7 (12... Nc6 $5 13. Nb5 Bc5 14. Qe4 Bd7 15. Nbxd4 Qe7 (15... Nxd4 $5
16. Nxd4 Qb6 $11) 16. Bd3 g6 17. Nb3 Bb6 18. Qf4 Kg7 19. h4 Nb4 20. Be4 Bb5 21.
Rfe1 Rfd8 22. Nbd4 Ba4 23. b3 Be8 $11 {0-1 Guimard,C-Fine,R/New York 1951/MCL 
(40)}) 13. Ne4 $5 {White transfers his knight to the kingside to create an
attack.} (13. Rxd4 $5 {, with play in the centre, was a worthy alternative:}
Nc6 14. Rd3 Qc8 15. Rfd1 Rd8 16. Bb3 Be8 17. Nb5 $14 {[%csl Rd6]}) 13... Nc6
14. Ng3 Qc7 (14... Qa5 $5 15. Bd3 $140 Qxa2) 15. Bd3 Ne7 {[%mdl 256]} (15...
Rfd8 16. Qe4 g6 17. h4 $36) 16. Rc1 $1 (16. Qe4 g6 17. Nxd4 Rfd8 18. Nh5 Nd5
$132) 16... Bc6 17. Nxd4 Rad8 $5 (17... Rfd8 $5 18. Rc4 Qb6 19. Qg4 Bd2 $1 (
19... Bd5 $2 20. Nh5 g6 21. Nf6+ Kh8 22. Qf4 Ng8 23. Nxd5 exd5 24. Rxb4 Qxb4
25. Qxf7 $1 $18) 20. Rd1 Qxb2 21. Nxe6 fxe6 22. Qxe6+ Kh8 23. Rc2 Qb4 24. Rcxd2
Ba4 25. a3 $1 Qxa3 26. Bc2 Rxd2 27. Rxd2 Bxc2 28. Rxc2 Qa1+ 29. Nf1 Nc6 $11 {
K.Sakaev}) 18. Rc4 Qb6 19. Qg4 Bc5 $5 (19... Bd5 20. Nh5 g6 21. Nf6+ Kh8 22.
Qh4 (22. Qf4 $2 g5 $1 23. Nxd5 exd5 {, and the f7 pawn is protected - that's
the difference from 17...Rfd8}) 22... Ng8 23. Nxd5 Rxd5 $11 {K.Sakaev}) 20. Nh5
g6 21. Bxg6 $6 {Logical but probably wrong!} (21. Nxc6 bxc6 22. Qg3 Bd4 $132)
21... Nxg6 (21... fxg6 $143 22. Nf6+ Kh8 23. Nxe6 Bxf2+ 24. Rxf2 Rd2 25. Rd4 $1
Rxf2 26. Kxf2 Qxb2+ 27. Qe2 Qxe2+ 28. Kxe2 Rc8 29. Kf2 $14 {[%csl Ge6,Gf6]})
22. Nxe6 Be7 $1 23. Nxd8 (23. Nhf4 Kh7 24. Nxg6 (24. Qf5 Qb5 $1) 24... fxg6 25.
Rf4 Rde8 26. Nxf8+ Rxf8 27. Rxf8 Bxf8 $17 {K.Sakaev}) 23... Qxd8 $1 (23... Rxd8
$143 24. e6 Bd5 25. exf7+ Bxf7 26. Re4 $36 {K.Sakaev}) 24. e6 Qd5 $1 25. exf7+
Kh7 {White's attack is parried so he decides to liquidate into a gloomy
endgame. In the middlegame Black's minor pieces would be stronger than White's
rook, too.} 26. Qxg6+ ({Or} 26. Nf4 Qxf7 27. Nxg6 Qxg6) 26... Kxg6 27. Nf4+
Kxf7 28. Nxd5 Bxd5 $17 {The material balance is nominally equal but Black's
bishop pair is extremely strong.} 29. Rc7 Kf6 30. Re1 Bb4 31. Rd1 Bc6 32. Rd4
$6 {This leads to new positional concessions but moves like} (32. Kf1 {are
easier to recommend than to make.}) 32... Re8 33. h4 Re1+ 34. Kh2 Bc5 (34...
Be7 $1 $19 {[%csl Rc7][%cal Re1e2,Rf6e6]}) 35. Rd2 (35. Rf4+ $5 Ke5 (35... Ke6
36. Rh7) 36. Rcf7 Bd4 37. R7f6 (37. b4 Ke6) 37... Bxb2 $17) 35... a5 36. Rc8 $6
(36. a3) 36... a4 (36... Bb4 $1 37. Rd3 Re2) 37. Rg8 (37. Kg3 $142) 37... Re4
38. Kh3 Re1 39. Kh2 Re4 40. Kh3 Re1 $4 {Overlooking a triple repetition in an
almost winning position.} (40... Bb4 41. f3 (41. Rd3 Re2 42. a3 Bc5) 41... Bxd2
42. fxe4 Ke5 43. g4 Bxe4 $17 {- White's g-pawn will not move too far.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2010.01.29"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2723"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2010.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8 14. cxd5 Qxd5
15. Bf4 Rac8 16. h3 Be4 17. Nd2 Bxg2 18. Bg4 Bh1 19. f3 Bh4 20. Re4 f5 21. Kxh1
fxg4 22. hxg4 Qf7 23. Qb3 Ne7 24. Qxf7+ Kxf7 25. c4 Ng6 26. Bh2 Bf6 27. Rb1 b6
28. d5 Be5 29. f4 Bd6 30. a4 h6 31. Rbe1 Nf8 32. f5 Nd7 33. Bxd6 cxd6 34. Re6
Ne5 35. c5 Nd3 36. cxd6 Nxe1 37. d7 Rcd8 38. dxe8=Q+ Rxe8 39. Nc4 Rxe6 40.
fxe6+ Ke7 41. Ne5 Kd6 42. Nc4+ Ke7 43. Ne5 Kd6 44. Kh2 Nc2 45. Nc4+ Ke7 46. Kg3
Nb4 47. Ne3 Nxd5 48. Nxd5+ Kxe6 49. Nc3 a6 50. Kf4 b5 51. axb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2010.01.30"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[Annotator "Anand,V"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2010.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8 14. cxd5 Qxd5
15. Bf4 Rac8 16. h3 Be4 17. Qc1 Na5 18. Qe3 Bf8 (18... Bd6) (18... Bf5) 19. c4
Qd8 (19... Nxc4 20. Bxc4 Qxc4 21. Nd2 $18) 20. Ne5 Bf5 21. Qc3 b6 22. Rad1 (22.
c5 $1 Be6 23. Ba6 Ra8 24. Bb5 Re7 25. Rad1 Bd5 26. Bd3 $36) 22... Qf6 (22... f6
$1 23. Nd3 (23. Ng4 Bd6 24. Bxd6 cxd6 25. Ne3 Be6 $11)) 23. Qg3 (23. c5 $1 Be6
(23... Bxh3 24. Qg3 $1 (24. Qxh3 Qxf4 25. Bd3 g6 26. Re4) 24... Bf5 25. Bg5 Qe6
26. Bh5 g6 (26... Bg6 27. Bg4 Qd5 28. Bxc8 Rxc8 29. Nxg6 $18) 27. d5 $18) 24.
Qg3 $16) 23... Nc6 (23... c5 24. d5 Bd6 25. Bh5 g6 26. Re3 Bxe5 27. Bxe5 Rxe5
28. Rxe5 Nxc4 29. Rxf5 $1 Qxf5 30. Bg4 Qc2 31. d6 $18) 24. Ng4 Qg6 25. d5 (25.
Bxc7 Re4 (25... Bc2 26. Rd2 Na5 27. c5 $1 Nb3 28. Rxc2 Qxc2 29. Nh6+ (29. Nf6+
Kh8 30. Nxe8 Rxe8 31. Be5) 29... Kh8 30. Nxf7+ Kg8 31. Nh6+ Kh8 32. Be5 Nxd4
33. Nf7+ (33. Bxd4 Rxe2 34. Rxe2) 33... Kg8 34. Bxd4 Rxe2 35. Rxe2 Qd1+ 36. Kh2
Qxd4 37. Ng5 bxc5 38. Qf3 $16) 26. d5 (26. Bf3 Rxe1+ 27. Rxe1 h5 $132) 26...
Nd4 27. Bf1 Bxg4 28. Rxe4 Qxe4 29. hxg4 Ne2+ 30. Bxe2 Qxe2 31. Rf1 Re8 32. Qf3
Qxc4 33. d6 Qb5 34. Rd1 $14) 25... Na5 (25... Bc2 26. Rd2 (26. Rc1 Nd4) 26...
Na5 27. Rxc2 (27. Bxc7 Nxc4) 27... Qxc2 28. Nh6+ Kh8 29. Nxf7+ Kg8 30. Ne5 $36)
26. Bxc7 Bc2 $2 (26... Bc5 $1 27. Bf1 h5 28. Rxe8+ (28. Ne3 Qxg3 29. Bxg3 Bd7)
28... Rxe8 29. Ne3 Qxg3 30. Bxg3 Bd7) 27. Rc1 Nb3 28. Rxc2 $1 Qxc2 29. Nh6+ Kh8
30. Nxf7+ Kg8 31. Nh6+ Kh8 32. Nf7+ Kg8 33. Nh6+ Kh8 34. Be5 $1 Qg6 (34... Qd2
35. Nf7+ Kg8 36. Bc3 $1 Qc2 37. Nd6 $18) 35. Bg4 (35. Qxg6 hxg6 36. d6 Rxe5 37.
Nf7+ Kg8 38. Nxe5 (38. d7 Ree8 39. Ng5 Nd4 (39... Nc5 40. dxc8=Q Rxc8 41. Bf3)
40. c5 Nxe2+ 41. Rxe2 Red8 42. dxc8=Q Rxc8 43. cxb6 axb6) 38... Bxd6 39. Nxg6
$16) 35... Rxc4 (35... Rcd8 36. Nf5 $16 (36. Qxb3 Qxh6 (36... Bd6 37. Be6) 37.
Be6 $16)) 36. Qxb3 Rxe5 37. Rxe5 Rc1+ 38. Kh2 Bd6 39. f4 (39. Qe3) 39... Bxe5
40. fxe5 gxh6 (40... Qe4 41. d6 (41. Nf5 Qxe5+ 42. Qg3 Qxd5 43. Qb8+ Qg8 44.
Qxa7 Qf8 45. Qxb6 Rc3 46. a4 h5) 41... Qf4+ 42. Qg3 Rh1+ 43. Kxh1 Qxg3 44. Nf7+
Kg8 45. e6 (45. d7 Qe1+ 46. Kh2 Kxf7 47. d8=Q Qxe5+ 48. g3 Qb2+ 49. Kg1 Qxa3
50. Qd5+) 45... Qe1+ 46. Kh2 Qc1 47. d7 Qf4+ 48. Kg1 Qc1+ 49. Kf2 Qd2+ 50. Be2
Qf4+ 51. Bf3 Qd4+ 52. Kg3) 41. Qe3 Qb1 42. d6 Rh1+ 43. Kg3 Re1 44. Qf4 Rf1 45.
Bf3 1-0

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2010.01.31"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2720"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2010.01.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qa4 Bb7 6. Bg2 c5 7. dxc5 bxc5 8. O-O
Be7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Rd1 Qb6 11. Bf4 Rd8 12. Rd2 d6 13. Rad1 Ne8 14. g4 Nc6 15.
Bg3 Rab8 16. b3 Nb4 17. h3 h6 18. Qa3 Nf6 19. Ne1 Bxg2 20. Nxg2 Rb7 21. Qa4
1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 19th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2010.03.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2756"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2010.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. Qc2 O-O 8.
a3 Bxc3+ 9. Qxc3 h6 10. Bh4 c5 11. Nd2 c4 12. g4 b5 13. Bg2 Nb6 14. h3 Re8 15.
e3 a5 16. O-O Qd6 17. Qc2 Bd7 18. Rfe1 Rac8 19. Bg3 Qc6 20. Be5 b4 21. axb4
axb4 22. e4 c3 23. exd5 Nfxd5 24. bxc3 bxc3 25. Ne4 Qg6 26. Qb3 c2 27. Nc5 Rxe5
28. Rxe5 Nf4 29. Rc1 Bc6 30. Qxb6 Nxg2 31. Qa6 Ra8 32. Qd3 Nh4 33. Re3 Qg5 34.
Ne4 Nf3+ 35. Kg2 Qf4 36. d5 Ne5 37. Qxc2 Bxd5 38. Rd1 Nxg4 39. hxg4 Qxg4+ 40.
Kf1 Ra2 41. Qd3 Qh4 42. Nf6+ gxf6 43. Rg3+ 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 19th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2010.03.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E60"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2713"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2010.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 Nc6 4. Nc3 d5 5. Bg5 Bg7 6. e3 e6 7. cxd5 exd5 8. Bb5
O-O 9. Nge2 h6 10. Bh4 Ne7 11. g4 b6 12. Qd2 c5 13. Bg3 a6 14. Ba4 Bd7 15. Bb3
Bb5 16. Nf4 cxd4 17. exd4 Nc6 18. O-O-O Na5 19. h4 Rc8 20. Kb1 Nxb3 21. axb3
Bd7 22. h5 g5 23. Nd3 Nh7 24. Rhe1 f5 25. Nxd5 Rf7 26. Ne5 fxg4 27. Nxf7 Bf5+
28. Ka1 Qxd5 29. Nd6 Rc2 30. Nxf5 Qxb3 31. Qxc2 Qxc2 32. fxg4 Nf6 33. Rc1 Qa4+
34. Kb1 Nd5 35. Be5 Nb4 36. Rc8+ Kh7 37. Bxg7 Qa2+ 38. Kc1 Qa1+ 39. Kd2 Qxb2+
40. Ke3 Nd5+ 41. Kf3 Qb3+ 42. Kf2 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 19th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2010.03.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Gashimov, Vugar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C41"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2010.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 c6 4. Bb3 e5 5. Nf3 Be7 6. d4 Nbd7 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1
h6 9. h3 Re8 10. Be3 Bf8 11. a4 exd4 12. Bxd4 b6 13. Qd3 Qc7 14. Nh4 Nc5 15.
Bxc5 bxc5 16. Ng6 Be6 17. Nxf8 Bxb3 18. cxb3 Kxf8 19. Rad1 Rad8 20. Qc4 Nd7 21.
Ne2 Rb8 22. Ng3 Rb4 23. Qc3 Nf6 24. Nf5 Rbxe4 25. Rxe4 Rxe4 26. Nxd6 Re2 27.
Nf5 Re5 28. g4 Kg8 29. Re1 Rxe1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 19th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2010.03.16"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E91"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2010.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. Be3 Nfd7 8. Rc1
c5 9. d5 Na6 10. O-O Nc7 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Bxf3 a6 13. a4 Re8 14. Qd2 e6 15. a5
exd5 16. exd5 Qh4 17. Bg4 Rxe3 18. Qxe3 Bd4 19. Qd2 f5 20. Bd1 Nf6 21. Ne2 Ne4
22. Qf4 Qxf4 23. Nxf4 Re8 24. Ba4 Re7 25. Rc2 Ng3 26. Rd1 Re4 27. Nd3 Kf7 28.
Re1 h5 29. Kh2 Rxe1 30. Nxe1 Ne4 31. Nd3 h4 32. Re2 Kf6 33. Bd7 Nxd5 34. cxd5
c4 35. Ne1 Bxf2 36. Nf3 g5 37. Nd2 Bg3+ 38. Kg1 Nc5 39. Bc8 c3 40. bxc3 Be5 41.
Nc4 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 19th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2010.03.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A57"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2010.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 c5 4. d5 b5 5. cxb5 a6 6. e4 Bg7 7. e5 Ng8 8. f4 d6 9.
Nf3 Nd7 10. Nc3 dxe5 11. fxe5 Nxe5 12. bxa6 Qa5 13. Nxe5 Bxe5 14. Bb5+ Kf8 15.
Qf3 Kg7 16. O-O Bd4+ 17. Be3 Nf6 18. d6 Bf5 19. a4 e5 20. Ne2 Qd8 21. Bxd4 cxd4
22. Qg3 Ng4 23. h3 Ne3 24. Qxe5+ f6 25. Qxd4 Nc2 26. Qc5 Nxa1 27. Rxa1 Qc8 28.
b4 Bxh3 29. d7 Bxd7 30. Qe7+ Kh6 31. Bxd7 Qxa6 32. Nd4 Qd3 33. Qxf6 Rhf8 34.
Qh4+ Kg7 35. Ne6+ 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 19th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2010.03.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Smeets, Jan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B09"]
[WhiteElo "2651"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2010.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Bd3 Na6 7. O-O c5 8. d5
Rb8 9. Qe1 Nb4 10. Qh4 c4 11. Bxc4 Nxc2 12. Rb1 Ng4 13. Bd3 Qb6+ 14. Kh1 Nce3
15. Re1 h5 16. Re2 f5 17. h3 fxe4 18. hxg4 exd3 19. Bxe3 Qb4 20. a3 Qc4 21. Nd2
Qa6 22. Ree1 Bxg4 23. Qxe7 Rbe8 24. Qh4 Qa5 25. Qf2 Qd8 26. Bxa7 Rxe1+ 27. Rxe1
Rxf4 28. Qe3 Be5 29. Kg1 Bf5 30. Nf3 Rxf3 31. Qxf3 Bh2+ 32. Kf1 d2 33. Rd1 Bg4
34. Qd3 Qf6+ 35. Bf2 Bxd1 36. Nxd1 Bf4 37. Qe4 Kh7 38. Ke2 Be5 39. Qf3 Qg7 40.
Nc3 Bd4 41. Kxd2 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 19th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2010.03.20"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D40"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2010.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. e3 a6 5. Nc3 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. g3 Bg4 8. Bg2
cxd4 9. exd4 Bb4 10. O-O O-O 11. h3 Be6 12. Ne5 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Qc8 14. g4 Qxc3
15. Rb1 Nc6 16. Rb3 Qa5 17. Rxb7 Nxe5 18. dxe5 Ne4 19. f4 Nc3 20. Qd2 d4 21. f5
Bc4 22. Re1 Qxa2 23. Rb2 Qa1 24. f6 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 19th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2010.03.21"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D24"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2010.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bxc4 Nxe4 7. O-O Nxc3 8.
bxc3 Be7 9. Ne5 O-O 10. Qg4 Nc6 11. Bh6 Bf6 12. Rad1 Ne7 13. Bc1 c5 14. Ba3 Qc7
15. Qh5 Bxe5 16. dxe5 b6 17. Bd3 Ng6 18. Bc1 Bb7 19. Bg5 h6 20. Bc1 Nxe5 21.
Rfe1 f6 22. f4 Nxd3 23. Rxd3 Rad8 24. Rg3 Rd5 25. Qxh6 Qd7 26. h3 Rf7 27. Kh2
Rd1 28. Rxd1 Qxd1 29. f5 e5 30. Be3 Qe2 31. Qg6 Bxg2 32. Rxg2 Qxe3 33. h4 Qf4+
34. Kh3 e4 35. h5 e3 36. h6 Re7 37. Qh5 e2 38. Rxe2 Qf1+ 39. Rg2 Qh1+ 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 19th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2010.03.23"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D80"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2010.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. e3 Bg7 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Nxd5 Qxd5 7. Ne2 O-O 8.
Nc3 Qd6 9. Be2 c6 10. O-O Nd7 11. Qc2 e5 12. dxe5 Qxe5 13. e4 Nf6 14. Be3 Ng4
15. Bxg4 Bxg4 16. h3 Bd7 17. Rad1 Qe7 18. Bd4 Rfd8 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Rd3 Be6
21. Rfd1 a5 22. b3 Rxd3 23. Qxd3 b5 24. Ne2 Kg8 25. Nf4 a4 26. e5 axb3 27. axb3
Re8 28. Qc3 c5 29. g3 b4 30. Qe3 c4 31. bxc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 19th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2010.03.24"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2748"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "224"]
[EventDate "2010.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11. a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8 14. cxd5 Qxd5
15. Bf4 Rac8 16. h3 h6 17. g4 Bg6 18. Bd3 Bxd3 19. Qxd3 Bd6 20. c4 Qa5 21. Be3
Rcd8 22. Qc2 Bf8 23. Kg2 Qa6 24. a4 Nb4 25. Qb3 Qg6 26. Rad1 Nc2 27. Re2 Nxe3+
28. fxe3 b6 29. Qb1 Qc6 30. Qb5 Qb7 31. d5 a6 32. Qb3 c6 33. e4 cxd5 34. cxd5
Rc8 35. e5 b5 36. axb5 axb5 37. d6 Rc4 38. Qd3 Qd7 39. Qf5 Rd8 40. Qxd7 Rxd7
41. e6 Rxd6 42. Rxd6 Bxd6 43. e7 Bxe7 44. Rxe7 b4 45. Rb7 Re4 46. Kf2 g5 47.
Kg3 Kg7 48. Rb6 f6 49. h4 h5 50. gxh5 gxh4+ 51. Nxh4 Re5 52. Rb7+ Kh6 53. Kf4
Rc5 54. Nf5+ Kxh5 55. Rxb4 Kg6 56. Nh4+ Kh5 57. Nf5 Kg6 58. Ne3 Ra5 59. Rb6
Ra4+ 60. Kf3 Rd4 61. Ng2 Ra4 62. Nf4+ Kg5 63. Rb5+ f5 64. Ng2 Ra8 65. Ne3 Rf8
66. Rb7 Rf6 67. Rb8 Ra6 68. Rd8 Rh6 69. Rd5 Rf6 70. Kg3 Rf8 71. Ra5 Rf7 72. Ng2
Rb7 73. Nh4 Rb3+ 74. Nf3+ Kg6 75. Ra6+ Kh5 76. Rf6 Rb5 77. Rf8 Kg6 78. Nd4 Re5
79. Kf3 Re7 80. Ra8 Kg5 81. Ra6 Re1 82. Ra5 Kg6 83. Nxf5 Rf1+ 84. Ke4 Re1+ 85.
Ne3 Kf6 86. Ra6+ Ke7 87. Kd4 Kd7 88. Nf5 Rd1+ 89. Ke5 Re1+ 90. Kd5 Rd1+ 91. Nd4
Ke7 92. Rb6 Kf7 93. Rc6 Ke7 94. Re6+ Kf7 95. Re4 Kf6 96. Kd6 Rd3 97. Rg4 Rd1
98. Kd5 Rf1 99. Rg2 Rd1 100. Rf2+ Ke7 101. Ke5 Re1+ 102. Ne2 Kd7 103. Kd5 Rd1+
104. Nd4 Ke7 105. Rf4 Ke8 106. Kd6 Rd3 107. Rh4 Kf7 108. Ke5 Rd1 109. Nf3 Rf1
110. Rh7+ Kg6 111. Rh3 Kf7 112. Kf5 Ke7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 19th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2010.03.25"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "151"]
[EventDate "2010.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qa4 Bb7 6. Bg2 c5 7. dxc5 bxc5 8. O-O
Be7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Rd1 Qb6 11. Bf4 Rd8 12. Rd2 d6 13. Rad1 Ne8 14. Nb5 Na6 15.
Bg5 Bxg5 16. Nxg5 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Nac7 18. Qc2 g6 19. Nc3 Nf6 20. Qd3 Nce8 21.
Qf3 Rab8 22. Nce4 Qb7 23. b3 Nxe4 24. Nxe4 Qc7 25. Qf4 e5 26. Qh4 Kg7 27. f3
Rd7 28. Rd5 Rbd8 29. Qh3 Re7 30. g4 h6 31. Qh4 a5 32. g5 hxg5 33. Qxg5 f6 34.
Qd2 Ra8 35. Nxd6 Nxd6 36. Rxd6 a4 37. Qd5 Rb8 38. Rc6 Qa7 39. Qd6 Rf7 40. Ra6
Qb7 41. Rxa4 e4 42. Qd5 exf3+ 43. Qxf3 Qe7 44. Ra6 Re8 45. Rd2 Qe5 46. Rad6
Qg5+ 47. Qg3 Qf5 48. R6d5 Re5 49. h3 Qb1 50. Rxe5 fxe5 51. Kh2 e4 52. Rd6 e3
53. Qe5+ Kh7 54. Rf6 Rxf6 55. Qxf6 Qxa2 56. Qe7+ Kh6 57. Qxe3+ Kh7 58. Kg3 Qb2
59. Qe7+ Kh6 60. Kf3 Qa3 61. Qe3+ Kh7 62. h4 Qa8+ 63. Qe4 Qa3 64. h5 Qxb3+ 65.
Kg4 Qd1 66. Qxg6+ Kh8 67. Qf6+ Kh7 68. Qe7+ Kh6 69. Qe3+ Kg7 70. h6+ Kf7 71.
Qf3+ Ke7 72. Qb7+ Kf6 73. Qc6+ Ke7 74. Qxc5+ Ke8 75. Qe5+ Kf8 76. h7 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 19th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2010.03.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2756"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2010.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Qc2 c5 8.
e3 Qa5 9. Bd3 c4 10. Bf5 O-O 11. O-O Re8 12. Nd2 g6 13. Bxd7 Nxd7 14. e4 Bxc3
15. Qxc3 Qxc3 16. bxc3 dxe4 17. Nxc4 Nb6 18. Nd2 Bd7 19. c4 Rac8 20. Rfc1 Na4
21. Rab1 b6 22. Nf1 Kg7 23. h4 h6 24. Bf4 f6 25. Ne3 g5 26. hxg5 hxg5 27. Bd6
f5 28. c5 Kf7 29. Nd5 Re6 30. Nc7 Rh6 31. Be5 bxc5 32. dxc5 Bc6 33. Rc4 Rd8 34.
Rd4 Rxd4 35. Bxd4 Rg6 36. Nb5 Bxb5 37. Rxb5 Ra6 38. c6 Rxc6 39. Rxf5+ Kg6 40.
Ra5 Nc3 41. Be3 Ne2+ 42. Kf1 Nf4 43. g3 Ne6 44. Rxa7 g4 45. a4 Nc7 46. Ra5 Rc4
47. Rc5 Rxc5 48. Bxc5 Kf5 49. a5 Ke6 50. Ke2 Kd5 51. Bb6 Ne6 52. a6 Kc6 53. a7
Kb7 54. Ke3 Ng5 55. Kf4 Nf3 56. Kxg4 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 19th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2010.03.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "175"]
[EventDate "2010.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 a6 5. Qd2 b5 6. Bd3 Bb7 7. a3 Nbd7 8. Nf3
e5 9. O-O exd4 10. Bxd4 Bg7 11. a4 b4 12. Nd5 c5 13. Bxf6 Nxf6 14. Nxf6+ Qxf6
15. e5 dxe5 16. Nxe5 O-O 17. f4 Qd6 18. Qe3 Rae8 19. Rad1 Qd5 20. Qf2 Bxe5 21.
fxe5 Qxe5 22. Bc4 Re7 23. Rde1 Qd6 24. Rxe7 Qxe7 25. Qf6 Qxf6 26. Rxf6 a5 27.
Rb6 Be4 28. Rb5 Rd8 29. Bd3 Bxd3 30. cxd3 Rxd3 31. Rxc5 Rd1+ 32. Kf2 Rd2+ 33.
Kf3 Rxb2 34. Rxa5 Ra2 35. Ra8+ Kg7 36. a5 g5 37. Rb8 Ra4 38. g4 h5 39. h3 h4
40. Kg2 Kf6 41. Rb5 Ra2+ 42. Kg1 b3 43. Rxb3 Rxa5 44. Rf3+ Ke6 45. Kg2 Ra2+ 46.
Kg1 f6 47. Rf5 Re2 48. Rf3 Re4 49. Kg2 Rf4 50. Re3+ Kd5 51. Ra3 Rb4 52. Rf3
Rb2+ 53. Kg1 Rb6 54. Kg2 Ke4 55. Rf2 Rc6 56. Kh2 Ke3 57. Kg2 Re6 58. Rf3+ Kd2
59. Rf5 Re2+ 60. Kg1 Re3 61. Kg2 Re6 62. Rd5+ Ke1 63. Rf5 Re2+ 64. Kg1 Re3 65.
Kg2 Re6 66. Rf1+ Kd2 67. Rf5 Kd3 68. Rd5+ Ke4 69. Rf5 Rd6 70. Rf2 Ke3 71. Rf3+
Kd4 72. Rf5 Ke4 73. Rf2 Ke5 74. Rf5+ Ke6 75. Rf3 Rd2+ 76. Kg1 Rd5 77. Kg2 f5
78. gxf5+ Rxf5 79. Rxf5 Kxf5 80. Kf3 Ke5 81. Ke3 Kf6 82. Kf2 Ke6 83. Ke2 Kf7
84. Kf3 Kf6 85. Kf2 Kg6 86. Kg2 Kg7 87. Kg1 Kf6 88. Kf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 19th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2010.03.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gashimov, Vugar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2010.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. a4 e6 6. Bf4 Bb4 7. e3 c5 8. Bd3 cxd4
9. exd4 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Nd5 11. Bd2 Nc6 12. O-O O-O 13. Re1 Be7 14. a5 b5 15.
Nxd5 exd5 16. Bd3 g6 17. h3 Bf6 18. Bh6 Re8 19. Rxe8+ Qxe8 20. Qd2 Be6 21. Qf4
Qd8 22. Re1 Bh8 23. Ng5 Qe7 24. Nxe6 fxe6 25. Rc1 Nxd4 26. Rc7 Qe8 27. Qd6 Bf6
28. Bf4 Qd8 29. Qb6 e5 30. Bh6 e4 31. Qb7 Ne6 32. Rd7 Qe8 33. Bf1 d4 34. Qxe4
Qxd7 35. Qxa8+ Kf7 36. Qxa6 d3 37. Bd2 Bg5 38. Bxg5 Nxg5 39. Bxd3 Qxd3 40. Qb7+
Kf6 41. a6 Qd1+ 42. Kh2 Qd6+ 43. g3 Qd4 44. Qc6+ Ne6 45. Kg2 b4 46. Qb7 Nc5 47.
Qf3+ Kg7 48. a7 Nd3 49. Qb7+ Kh6 50. a8=Q Qxf2+ 51. Kh1 Ne1 52. Qb5 b3 53. Qc4
1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 19th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2010.03.16"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2750"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2010.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Bc3
d5 9. Nbd2 Nbd7 10. Qc2 c5 11. dxc5 bxc5 12. O-O O-O 13. Bb2 Qb6 14. Rfe1 Bb7
15. cxd5 exd5 16. Rad1 Rad8 17. Bh3 Qc6 18. Rc1 Ne4 19. Bg2 f5 20. b4 c4 21. a3
Bf6 22. Nd4 Qb6 23. N2f3 g5 24. e3 g4 25. Nd2 Ne5 26. Re2 Bg7 27. Rd1 Rc8 28.
Nf1 Nd3 29. Ba1 Qa6 30. Qa2 Qa4 31. Rc2 Ndxf2 32. Bxe4 fxe4 33. Ne6 Nxd1 34.
Bxg7 Rxf1+ 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 19th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2010.03.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "2010.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 c5 8.
dxc5 O-O 9. Rc1 g5 10. Bg3 Ne4 11. e3 Qa5 12. Be5 Qxa2 13. Bd3 Qxb2 14. Bxe4
dxe4 15. Rc2 Qb3 16. Nd2 Qe6 17. Bd6 Rd8 18. O-O b6 19. Ncxe4 Nd7 20. Qa1 bxc5
21. Rb1 Bxd2 22. Bc7 Qxe4 23. Rxd2 Re8 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 19th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2010.03.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Smeets, Jan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D23"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2651"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2010.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Qb3 dxc4 5. Qxc4 Bf5 6. g3 e6 7. Bg2 Nbd7 8.
O-O Be7 9. e3 O-O 10. Qe2 Rc8 11. Rd1 c5 12. Nc3 Ne4 13. Ne1 Nxc3 14. bxc3 Qa5
15. Bd2 Rc7 16. e4 Bg6 17. Nd3 Qa6 18. Qe3 Nb6 19. Qf3 Nc4 20. Bf4 Rd7 21. h4
h6 22. h5 Bh7 23. Nxc5 Bxc5 24. dxc5 Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1 e5 26. Bc1 Qxa2 27. Bf1 Na5
28. Qd3 Qa4 29. f3 f5 30. Qd5+ Kh8 31. exf5 Bxf5 32. Bxh6 gxh6 33. Qxe5+ Kg8
34. Rd6 Qe8 35. Qf4 Qe1 36. Rxh6 Qxf1+ 37. Kxf1 Bd3+ 38. Kf2 Rxf4 39. gxf4 Nc6
40. Rd6 Bf5 41. Kg3 a5 42. Kh4 a4 43. Kg5 Bb1 44. Rd1 Bc2 45. Rc1 Bd3 46. Ra1
Bc2 47. f5 Ne7 48. Re1 Nxf5 49. Re2 Bd3 50. Rd2 Bb1 51. Rb2 Bd3 52. Rxb7 Ng7
53. c6 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 19th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2010.03.20"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E50"]
[WhiteElo "2782"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2010.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nf3 b6 7. d5 exd5 8. cxd5
h6 9. e4 Nxe4 10. Bxe4 Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 Re8 12. Nd2 f5 13. O-O fxe4 14. c4 d6 15.
Bb2 Qg5 16. f3 Bh3 17. Qe2 e3 18. Ne4 Qg6 19. a4 Nd7 20. Ra3 Ne5 21. Kh1 Nxc4
22. gxh3 Rxe4 23. Rg1 Qh5 24. Rxg7+ Kf8 25. Rh7 Nxb2 26. Rxe3 Rxe3 27. Qxe3 Kg8
28. Rxh6 Qf5 29. Rh4 Nd3 30. Rg4+ Kf7 31. Re4 Qxd5 32. Re7+ Kf8 33. Rh7 Kg8 34.
Rc7 Nf2+ 35. Qxf2 Kf8 36. Qe3 Qd1+ 37. Kg2 Qc2+ 38. Kg3 Qg6+ 39. Kh4 Qf6+ 40.
Qg5 Qxg5+ 41. Kxg5 d5 42. f4 d4 43. f5 Re8 44. Kf6 d3 45. Rf7+ Kg8 46. Rg7+ Kh8
47. Rd7 c4 48. Kf7 Rc8 49. f6 c3 50. Rd4 Rc7+ 51. Kg6 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 19th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2010.03.21"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[PlyCount "180"]
[EventDate "2010.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 a5 10. Ba3 Nd7 11. bxa5 Rxa5 12. Bb4 Ra8 13. a4 Bh6 14. a5 f5 15. Bd3
Kh8 16. Re1 Nf6 17. c5 fxe4 18. cxd6 cxd6 19. Nxe4 Nxe4 20. Bxe4 Bf5 21. Rb1
Qd7 22. h3 Rac8 23. Qb3 Rf7 24. Bc3 Bxe4 25. Rxe4 Qf5 26. Rbe1 Rc5 27. Bxe5+
dxe5 28. Rxe5 Qf6 29. Re6 Qf4 30. Rxe7 Rxe7 31. Rxe7 Rc1+ 32. Ne1 Bf8 33. Qb2+
Kg8 34. Re8 Rd1 35. Qxb7 Qf7 36. Qc8 Kg7 37. Qc3+ Kg8 38. Re5 Qf4 39. Qb3 Bc5
40. d6+ Kg7 41. Re7+ Kh6 42. Qc2 Rc1 43. Re4 Rxc2 44. Rxf4 Rc1 45. Kf1 Bxd6 46.
Ra4 Bc5 47. Ke2 Ba7 48. Ra2 Kg5 49. Nd3 Rc4 50. Rb2 Ra4 51. Rb5+ Kf6 52. Nb4
Ke6 53. f4 Kd6 54. g4 Ra3 55. Nd3 Ra2+ 56. Kf3 Ra3 57. Ke2 Ra2+ 58. Ke1 Bd4 59.
f5 gxf5 60. Rxf5 Rxa5 61. Rxa5 Bc3+ 62. Ke2 Bxa5 63. Kf3 Ke6 64. Ke4 Kf6 65. h4
Bc7 66. Nf4 Ba5 67. g5+ Kf7 68. Kf5 Bd2 69. Nd5 Kg7 70. h5 Kf7 71. Nf6 Kg7 72.
Ne4 Bc1 73. Nf6 Bd2 74. Ne8+ Kg8 75. Kf6 Bf4 76. Kf5 Bc1 77. Nc7 Kf7 78. Nd5
Kg7 79. Nc3 Be3 80. Ne4 Bc1 81. h6+ Kh8 82. Ke6 Kg8 83. Ke7 Bxg5+ 84. Nxg5 Kh8
85. Kf6 Kg8 86. Nf7 Kf8 87. Ne5 Kg8 88. Ke7 Kh8 89. Ke6 Kg8 90. Nf7 Kf8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 19th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2010.03.23"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2750"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2010.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. e3 c5 8.
Qc2 Qa5 9. Bd3 c4 10. Bf5 O-O 11. O-O Re8 12. Nd2 g6 13. Bh3 Kg7 14. Rae1 Nb6
15. Bxc8 Raxc8 16. Bxf6+ Kxf6 17. f4 Bxc3 18. bxc3 Na4 19. f5 Kg7 20. f6+ Kg8
21. Nb1 Re4 22. Rf3 Rce8 23. Qf2 b5 24. Qd2 Qb6 25. h3 h6 26. a3 Kh7 27. Qf2 a5
28. Kh1 Qd6 29. Kg1 R4e6 30. Kh1 b4 31. axb4 axb4 32. cxb4 Qxb4 33. Nd2 Nb2 34.
Rb1 c3 35. Nf1 Qc4 36. Qc2 Nd3 37. Kg1 Ra8 38. Rb7 Kg8 39. Nd2 cxd2 40. Qxd2
Ra1+ 41. Kh2 Qc8 42. Re7 Qb8+ 43. g3 Qb1 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 19th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2010.03.24"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2748"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2010.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 c6 8. Bd3
b6 9. b4 a5 10. a3 Ba6 11. O-O Qc8 12. h3 Qb7 13. Rb1 axb4 14. axb4 Rfc8 15. b5
cxb5 16. Nxb5 Ne4 17. Ne5 Nxe5 18. Bxe5 bxc5 19. Qg4 Nf6 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Nd6
Qc7 22. Bxa6 Qxd6 23. Bxc8 Rxc8 24. dxc5 Qxc5 25. Rb7 g6 26. Rfb1 h5 27. Qf4
Qc3 28. Qa4 Be5 29. g4 hxg4 30. hxg4 Qc4 31. R7b4 Qe2 32. Qd1 Qxd1+ 33. Rxd1 g5
34. Kg2 Kg7 35. Rb5 Rc4 36. Kf3 Kg6 37. Rd2 f5 38. gxf5+ Kxf5 39. Ra2 Rh4 40.
Ra8 g4+ 41. Ke2 Rh2 42. Rf8+ Ke4 43. Rb6 g3 44. Rxe6 Rxf2+ 45. Rxf2 gxf2 46.
Kxf2 d4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 19th"]
[Site "Nice"]
[Date "2010.03.25"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B09"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2010.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 135 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.05.04"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Bd3 Na6 7. O-O c5 8. d5
Rb8 9. h3 Nc7 10. a4 a6 11. a5 b5 12. axb6 Rxb6 13. Na4 Rb8 14. c4 e6 15. Qc2
exd5 16. exd5 Nfxd5 17. cxd5 Nxd5 18. Qf2 Rb4 19. f5 Nf4 20. Bc2 Re8 21. Nc3
Bb7 22. Ra4 Bxc3 23. Bxf4 Rxb2 24. Bc1 Rb4 25. Rxb4 cxb4 26. fxg6 hxg6 27. Ng5
f5 28. Bxf5 Qf6 29. Be6+ Kg7 30. Qe2 Qd4+ 31. Be3 Qe5 32. Rf7+ Kg8 33. Rxb7+
1-0

[Event "Baku Presidents Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2010.04.29"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedov, Rauf"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2639"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2010.04.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.07.02"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O d5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
Qa4 Nb6 9. Qa3 Na6 10. d3 Nb4 11. Ne1 a5 12. Be3 Bd4 13. Bh6 Re8 14. Rc1 Bh8
15. Ne4 Qd4 16. Rc3 Bg4 17. Nf3 Bxf3 18. Bxf3 N6d5 19. Rxc5 Qxb2 20. Qxb2 Bxb2
21. Rb1 Bd4 22. Rc4 Ba7 23. a3 Nc6 24. Nd2 e6 25. Rxb7 Ne5 26. Rc2 Nxf3+ 27.
Nxf3 Reb8 28. Rxb8+ Rxb8 29. Ne5 f6 30. Nc6 Rb1+ 31. Kg2 Bb6 32. e4 Nc7 33.
Ne7+ Kf7 34. Nc8 Ne8 35. Nxb6 Rxb6 36. Rc5 g5 37. Rxa5 Rb3 38. Ra7+ Kg6 39. Bf8
Rxd3 40. Re7 Rd8 41. a4 Ra8 42. a5 g4 43. a6 1-0

[Event "Baku Presidents Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2010.04.29"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2010.04.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.07.02"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Qa4+ Nc6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bg5 h6 8.
Bxf6 Qxf6 9. e3 O-O 10. Rc1 Rd8 11. Be2 Bf8 12. O-O Ne7 13. b4 Ng6 14. b5 Bg4
15. Qb3 c6 16. Nd2 Bf5 17. Na4 Nh4 18. Rc3 Rd6 19. g3 cxb5 20. Qxb5 b6 21. Rfc1
Bd7 22. Qa6 Qf5 23. Nb2 Rf6 24. Nd3 Re8 25. Nf4 Bd6 26. Bd3 Qg4 27. Be2 Qf5 28.
Bd3 Qg4 29. h3 Qg5 30. Qb7 Rd8 31. Qxd5 Bf5 32. Ne4 Nf3+ 33. Kg2 Nh4+ 34. Kh1
Bxe4+ 35. Qxe4 Ng6 36. Rc8 Rf8 37. Rxf8+ Bxf8 38. Rc8 Qa5 39. Qe8 Qe1+ 40. Kg2
Nxf4+ 41. gxf4 Qb4 42. f5 b5 43. Bc2 a5 44. e4 a4 45. e5 Rb6 46. e6 Rb7 47. Be4
Ra7 48. exf7+ 1-0

[Event "Baku Presidents Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2010.04.30"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D32"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2682"]
[PlyCount "134"]
[EventDate "2010.04.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.07.02"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 c5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. e3 e6 5. d4 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bb5 Bd6 8.
dxc5 Bxc5 9. O-O O-O 10. b3 Bg4 11. Bb2 Bd6 12. h3 Bh5 13. Be2 a6 14. Nh4 Bxe2
15. Nxe2 Re8 16. Rc1 Ne4 17. Nf5 Be5 18. Bxe5 Rxe5 19. Nfd4 Qd7 20. Nf4 Rae8
21. Nxc6 bxc6 22. Qc2 c5 23. Rfd1 d4 24. exd4 cxd4 25. Qb2 Qf5 26. Nd3 Rd5 27.
Nb4 Rd6 28. Rxd4 Rg6 29. Nc6 h6 30. Rd8 Qe6 31. Rxe8+ Qxe8 32. Qe5 Re6 33. Qb8
Qxb8 34. Nxb8 Rd6 35. Rc2 f5 36. g3 Kf7 37. Kg2 a5 38. Nc6 Rd5 39. a3 g5 40. b4
axb4 41. axb4 h5 42. f3 Nd6 43. Kf2 g4 44. hxg4 hxg4 45. fxg4 fxg4 46. Ke3 Rf5
47. Nd4 Re5+ 48. Kd3 Re1 49. Rf2+ Kg6 50. Re2 Rd1+ 51. Kc3 Kf7 52. Rf2+ Kg6 53.
Rf4 Kg5 54. Ne6+ Kh5 55. Nd4 Kg5 56. Ne2 Re1 57. Kd2 Rb1 58. Rd4 Nf5 59. Re4
Nd6 60. Rd4 Nf5 61. Rd5 Rxb4 62. Kc3 Re4 63. Nd4 Rxd4 64. Rxd4 Nxd4 65. Kxd4
Kf5 66. Kd5 Kf6 67. Ke4 Ke6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Baku Presidents Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2010.04.30"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Guseinov, Gadir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E90"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2609"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2010.04.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.07.02"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. h3 c5 7. d5 e6 8. Bd3 exd5
9. exd5 Re8+ 10. Be3 Bh6 11. O-O Bxe3 12. fxe3 Nbd7 13. Qd2 Qe7 14. e4 Ne5 15.
Nxe5 Qxe5 16. Qf2 Kg7 17. Rae1 Rf8 18. Re3 Nd7 19. Nb5 Qe7 20. b4 b6 21. bxc5
bxc5 22. Rf3 Ne5 23. Rf6 Nxd3 24. Qe3 Ne5 25. Nxd6 Kg8 26. Qxc5 Ba6 27. Qa3
Nxc4 28. Qxa6 Nxd6 29. Rxd6 Qxe4 30. Rd7 Rab8 31. Qf6 Rb1 32. Kh2 Rxf1 33. Qxf1
Qe5+ 34. Kh1 a5 35. a4 h5 36. Qd1 Re8 37. d6 Qe1+ 38. Qxe1 Rxe1+ 39. Kh2 h4 40.
Ra7 Rd1 41. Rxa5 Rxd6 42. Rb5 Rd1 43. Rb4 g5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Baku Presidents Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2010.04.30"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A45"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2010.04.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.07.02"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. a4 Bb7 5. axb5 Nxd5 6. Bg3 g6 7. e4 Nb6 8. Nd2
Bg7 9. c3 O-O 10. Ngf3 d6 11. Bd3 a6 12. O-O axb5 13. Rxa8 Nxa8 14. Bxb5 Qb6
15. Qe2 Bc6 16. Bxc6 Nxc6 17. Rb1 Nc7 18. h4 Ra8 19. Qc4 Qb5 20. Qxb5 Nxb5 21.
Bf4 f5 22. g3 Ra4 23. exf5 gxf5 24. Nf1 e5 25. Bd2 d5 26. Ne3 Ne7 27. c4 dxc4
28. b3 cxb3 29. Rxb3 Nd4 30. Rb8+ Kf7 31. Ng5+ Kg6 32. Rb6+ Bf6 33. Kg2 Nec6
34. Nd5 Bd8 35. Rb1 h6 36. h5+ Kxh5 37. Nf7 Bg5 38. Bxg5 hxg5 39. Nd6 g4 40.
Rc1 Nb4 41. Ne3 Kg6 42. Rxc5 Nd3 43. Rc8 Ne1+ 44. Kh1 Ra1 45. Nf1 Nd3 46. Kg2
Ra2 47. Ne3 Rxf2+ 48. Kh1 Nf3 49. Ndxf5 Rh2# 0-1

[Event "Baku Presidents Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2010.05.01"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2010.04.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.07.02"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 Na6 7. O-O e5 8. Be3
c6 9. d5 Ng4 10. Bg5 f6 11. Bh4 c5 12. a3 Bd7 13. Ne1 Nh6 14. f3 Nf7 15. Nd3
Qe7 16. b4 Rfc8 17. Qb3 b6 18. Bf2 f5 19. a4 cxb4 20. Nxb4 Nc5 21. Qb1 Nd8 22.
a5 bxa5 23. Rxa5 Ndb7 24. Ra2 Qf8 25. Na6 Nxa6 26. Qxb7 Nc7 27. Bxa7 Bh6 28.
Kh1 Qd8 29. c5 dxc5 30. d6 Be6 31. Bb6 1-0

[Event "Baku Presidents Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2010.05.01"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Sutovsky, Emil"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C48"]
[WhiteElo "2650"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Minzer,C"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2010.04.29"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 136 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.07.02"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{La partida decisiva con la cual Kramnik obtendría el primer puesto con 5
puntos sobre 7 posibles superando a Mamedyarov y Kamsky por mejor desempate.
Vamos a ver un resumen con las partidas de Kramnik jugando la Variante de los
cuatro caballos de negras.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 {La Variante
Berlinesa, como siempre, esta con Kramnik en los momentos importantes.} 4. Nc3
{Diagrama # Sutovsky no quiere entrar en la línea mencionada y opta por la
Variante de los Cuatro Caballos.} Nd4 {Kramnik ha jugado en varias ocasiones
este salto de caballo sin haber sufrido ninguna derrota como veremos en los
comentarios siguientes:} ({La gran alternativa es entrar en la simetría con} 
4... Bb4 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 d6 7. Bg5 Bxc3 8. bxc3 Qe7 (8... Ne7 9. Nh4 $1 Ng6
10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. f4 $14) 9. Re1 Nd8 10. d4 $14) 5. Bc4 ({En las partidas de
Kramnik podemos encontrar otras continuaciones:} 5. Nxd4 exd4 6. e5 dxc3 7.
exf6 Qxf6 {el juego se simplifica y las blancas no han obtenido nada de la
apertura} 8. dxc3 (8. Qe2+ Be7 9. dxc3 O-O 10. O-O d5 11. Bd3 Rd8 12. Bf4 Qxf4
13. Qxe7 Be6 14. g3 Qd6 15. Qh4 h6 16. Rfe1 Re8 $11 {Jenni,F-Kramnik,V/Zuerich
2001}) 8... Bc5 9. O-O O-O 10. Bxd7 Bxd7 11. Qxd7 Rad8 $44 {Con buena
compensación por el peón} 12. Qb5 (12. Qxc7 $4 Qxf2+ 13. Rxf2 Rd1#) 12... b6
13. Qc4 Qf5 14. b4 Bd6 15. Be3 Rfe8 16. g3 Qxc2 $11 {se recupera el peón con
neta igualdad} 17. Rac1 Qf5 18. Rcd1 h5 19. Rd5 Qf3 20. Rfd1 Re4 21. R1d4 Rde8
22. Rxe4 Rxe4 23. Rd4 Rxd4 24. Qxd4 f6 {1/2-1/2 Morozevich,A-Kramnik,V/Monte
Carlo 2002}) (5. Ba4 {Esta retirada, en cambio, es más ambiciosa} c6 ({también
} 5... Nxf3+ 6. Qxf3 Bc5 7. d3 c6) 6. Nxe5 d6 7. Nd3 ({las blancas no quieren
volver con su caballo a f3} 7. Nf3 {por} Bg4 {con una molesta clavada que
puede estropear la estructura blanca del flanco rey en cualquier momento}) 7...
b5 8. Bb3 a5 9. a3 d5 10. e5 (10. exd5 Bd6 $5 $36) 10... Ne4 11. O-O Nc5 12.
Nxc5 Bxc5 13. Kh1 O-O 14. Ne2 a4 15. Ba2 f6 16. Nxd4 Bxd4 17. c3 Bxe5 18. d4
$11 {Adams,M-Kramnik,V/Linares 1999}) ({O} 5. O-O c6 6. Bc4 d6 7. Nxd4 exd4 8.
Ne2 Nxe4 9. d3 Nc5 10. Nxd4 d5 11. Bb3 Be7 12. Qh5 O-O 13. Re1 Bf6 14. Be3 Ne6
15. Nxe6 Bxe6 $11 {Minkov,A-Kramnik,V/Moscú 2005}) 5... Bc5 ({En la partida
Vallejo Pons,F-Kramnik,V/Monte Carlo 2005 Kramnik permitió un ataque al estilo
Fegatello con} 5... d6 6. Ng5 d5 7. exd5 h6 8. Nf3 Bg4 9. Be2 Bxf3 10. Bxf3 Bb4
11. O-O O-O 12. d3 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Nxf3+ 14. Qxf3 Qxd5 15. Qxd5 Nxd5 16. Bb2 $11
{y luego de los cambios el juego se encaminó a las tablas.}) 6. Nxe5 Qe7 {
Diagrama # Jugada por primera vez por Marshall, las negras no defienden en f7
apostando por un mejor desarrollo.} ({Seguramente a Kramnik no le convenció} 
6... d5 7. Bxd5 Nxd5 8. Nxd5 O-O 9. c3 Re8 10. cxd4 Bxd4 11. O-O Rxe5 12. d3 c6
13. Nf4 b6 14. Qc2 Rc5 15. Qe2 Ba6 16. Be3 Qd6 17. Rac1 Rxc1 18. Rxc1 Be5 {
1/2-1/2 Shirov,A-Kramnik,V/Cazorla 1998}) 7. Nf3 ({Antiguamente las blancas
retiraban su caballo a d3:} 7. Nd3 d5 $1 8. Bxd5 (8. Nxd5 Qxe4+ 9. Ne3 Bd6 10.
O-O b5 $1 11. Bb3 Bb7 12. Ne1 Qh4 13. g3 Qh3 14. c3 h5 15. cxd4 h4 16. Qe2 $4
Qxh2+ $1 {0-1 Belsitzman,Z-Rubinstein,A/Varsovia 1926}) 8... Nxd5 9. Nxd5 Qxe4+
10. Ne3 Bd6 11. O-O Be6 $36 {Nimzowitsch-Alekhine, St Petersburg 1914}) ({
También} 7. Nxf7 Rf8 (7... Nxe4 $2 8. Nd5 $1) (7... O-O $5) 8. O-O b5 $5 $13 {
pero esta última jugada aún no se ha practicado.}) ({Es mala} 7. Bxf7+ $2 Kf8
$17 {y las piezas blancas están en problemas.}) 7... d5 8. Bxd5 {Otras jugadas
no son mejores:} (8. Nxd5 Qxe4+ 9. Ne3 Bg4 10. Be2 Nxe2 11. Qxe2 O-O-O $36 {
con un rápido desarrollo.}) ({o} 8. Nxd4 dxc4 9. Nf3 Nxe4 10. O-O O-O 11. d4
cxd3 12. cxd3 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Bg4 {y la posición de las negras es preferible,
Spielmann,R-Rubinstein,A/San Sebastian 1912}) 8... Bg4 {Diagrama # Kramnik
apuesta todo por el desarrollo, la presión sobre el caballo de f3 es muy
molesta.} 9. d3 ({Es muy peligroso} 9. Bxb7 $4 Rb8 10. Ba6 Nxe4 11. O-O O-O $17
{con un gran juego de piezas, por ejemplo:} 12. Re1 $2 Bxf3 13. gxf3 Qg5+ 14.
Kf1 Nxf2 $1 $19) 9... O-O-O (9... c6 $5 {es una alternativa a tener en cuanta.}
) 10. Bg5 $146 ({Se habia jugado} 10. Be3 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 Rxd5 $5 {sacrificio de
calidad para mantener la iniciativa} 12. exd5 Re8 13. c3 (13. O-O Bxf3 14. gxf3
Qh4 $44) 13... Nxf3+ 14. gxf3 Qh4 $1 15. Kd2 $8 Rxe3 $1 16. fxe3 Qf2+ 17. Kc1
Bxf3 18. Qe1 Bxe3+ 19. Kb1 Bxh1 20. Qxh1 Qe2 $1 21. a4 Qxd3+ 22. Ka2 Qc4+ 23.
Kb1 Qd3+ 24. Ka2 Qc4+ 25. Kb1 $11 {1/2-1/2 Vallejo Pons, F-Dominguez Perez,L/
Cuernavaca 2006}) 10... Bh5 11. Kf1 c6 12. Bc4 h6 13. Bh4 g5 14. Bg3 b5 $44 {
Diagrama # Kramnik tiene una gran iniciativa por el peón, mientras que la
situación del rey blanco en f1 hacen que la torre de h1 tenga problemas en
entrar en juego.} 15. Bb3 b4 16. Na4 ({Una situación difícil para el blanco,
se podía probar} 16. Bc4 $5 bxc3 17. bxc3 Nxf3 18. gxf3 {entregando pieza a
cambio de un fuerte centro, mientras hay mejores posibilidades de activarse
por la columna b con Tb1, por ejemplo:} Kb7 19. Kg2 Ka8 20. Re1 {etc.}) 16...
Nxe4 $1 {Diagrama #} 17. Qe1 (17. dxe4 $2 Nxb3 $19) 17... Bxf3 18. dxe4 Be2+
19. Kg1 Bb5 20. c4 $4 {Sutovsky quiere terminar drásticamente con las amenazas
de su rival.} ({Pero era mejor} 20. h3 {dando la casilla h2 al rey.}) 20...
Bxa4 $6 ({Ganaba directamente} 20... Nxb3 $1 21. axb3 (21. cxb5 Nxa1 22. Qxa1
Qxe4 $1 23. Nxc5 $140 Qe2 $19) (21. Nxc5 Nxa1 $19) 21... Bxa4 22. bxa4 (22.
Rxa4 Qxe4 $1 $19) 22... Rd4 $1 $19) 21. Bxa4 h5 (21... Rhe8 $142) 22. h4 Rhg8
23. Bd1 f5 24. hxg5 Rxg5 $2 ({Había que desviar el alfil con} 24... Nc2 $1 25.
Bxc2 Qxg5 $40 {con amenazas por la columna g.}) 25. Bh4 Rdg8 26. Kf1 $6 (26.
Bxg5 Qxg5 27. Rh2 $16) 26... f4 27. Bf3 Qe5 28. Bxg5 Rxg5 29. Qd1 $2 ({Mejor
poner en juego la torre del flanco dama con} 29. Rd1 $1) 29... Kb7 $2 (29...
Nxf3 $142 30. Qxf3 Qxb2 $44) 30. Rxh5 Rxh5 31. Bxh5 Kb6 32. Qg4 Qxe4 33. Re1
Qd3+ {Seguramente jugado en apuros de tiempo.} 34. Kg1 Qd2 35. Rd1 Qxb2 36.
Qxf4 Ne6 37. Qd2 Qf6 38. Rb1 a5 39. a3 $2 {Esto permite contrajuego al
permitir el siguiente ataque doble.} Qf5 $1 $132 40. Rb2 $2 {Entrega la pieza
con miras a encontrar un perpetuo con un segundo sacrificio, pero en realidad
no es tan claro.} (40. Qe1 $142) 40... Qxh5 41. axb4 axb4 42. Rxb4+ Kc7 {
Kramnik quiere complicar la lucha} (42... Bxb4 43. Qxb4+ Ka6 $11) 43. Rb1 Nd4
44. Qf4+ $6 {Pierde la iniciativa y, más importante, el rey blanco pierde su
refugio.} Bd6 45. Qxd4 Qh2+ 46. Kf1 Qh1+ 47. Ke2 Qxb1 $15 {/-/+ Diagrama #
Pieza por dos peones con ambos reyes en situación expuesta. En realidad todo
el riesgo de perder cae del lado de las blancas.} 48. Qg7+ Kc8 49. Qg8+ Kb7 50.
Qg7+ Bc7 51. Qf7 $2 {El riesgo de perder algún peón era grande.} ({Mayor
resistencia daba} 51. Qd4) 51... Qe4+ 52. Kf1 Qd3+ 53. Ke1 Kb6 54. c5+ Kb7 55.
Qe7 Qd4 56. Ke2 Qg4+ 57. Ke3 Qxg2 58. Qh7 $19 ({El segundo peón se gana con} 
58. Qh7 Qg5+ 59. Kf3 Qxc5) 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 38th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2010.07.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Le, Quang Liem"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D18"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2681"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "128"]
[EventDate "2010.07.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 138"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O
O-O 9. Nh4 ({Kramnik has enough experience with Black against} 9. Qe2 {,
acquired with the occasion of his matches against Anand and Topalov. His
decision to choose a different plan with White looks justified psychologically.
}) 9... Nbd7 {For the time being, Black ignores the threat of Nxf5 and keeps
developing.} 10. h3 {An useful move, not only avoiding any kind of back rank
problems, but also threatening to take over the initiative on the kingside if
Black keeps his bisop on f5.} ({It remains an open question whether after} 10.
Nxf5 exf5 {Black can hold the blockade on light squares, relying on his slight
advance in dveelopment.}) 10... Bg6 ({In case of a neutral move such as} 10...
a5 {White can consider} 11. Nxf5 exf5 12. Qf3 g6 13. g4 $36) 11. Nxg6 hxg6 12.
Qc2 Qe7 (12... a5 13. Rd1 Qe7 {is another possible move order.}) 13. Rd1 (13.
a5 $5 {Chabanon,J (2425)-Thorsteins,K (2480)/Reykjavik 1993/CBM 035 (0-1, 41)})
13... a5 {Blocking the a-pawn is the best way of reducing the influence of the
white light-squared bishop.} (13... Rfd8 14. a5 c5 15. Be2 $5 $14 {Lobron,E 
(2620)-Lautier,J (2645)/Dortmund 1993/CBM 035/[Konikowski] (1/2, 30)}) 14. e4 (
{Apart from this ambitious move, the more flexible} 14. b3 {deserves
mentioning.} Rfd8 15. Bb2 Nd5 16. Na2 Bd6 17. e4 {The white centre has been
put into motion with delay and, as we will see, with a pawn sacrifice, but
this does not make the whole operation less effective.} Nf4 18. g3 Nxh3+ 19.
Kg2 Ng5 20. f4 Nh7 21. Rh1 $44 {Sturua,Z (2595)-Tukmakov,V (2610)/Biel 1998/
EXT 99 (1/2, 31)}) 14... e5 15. d5 ({White's rooks are not well placed for
maintaining the tension in the centre:} 15. Be3 exd4 16. Bxd4 {With the
a1-rook on e1, White would have a promissing position, but the way it is Black
is in time organizing a reliable defence.} Rad8 ({True, it is better not to
try taking advantage of the lack of defence of the e4-pawn:} 16... Bxc3 17.
bxc3 Qxe4 18. Bd3 Qe7 19. Rab1 $36 {White's bishop's pair and his overall
activity at least compensate for the missing pawn.}) 17. Rd2 {Aiming to
improve the rooks' coordination with either Rad1 or Re1.} Ne5 (17... Bc5 $5 {
is another form of starting the fight for the dark squares.}) 18. Be2 g5 $132 {
With a stable position for Black.}) 15... Rac8 $146 {A logical novelty,
bringing another piece into play.} (15... Nb6 16. Bb3 cxd5 17. exd5 Nc8 {
If allowed to block the pawn with ...Nd6, Black would have a nice position,
but White can avoid that.} 18. d6 $1 {A thematic temporary sacrifice, clearing
the a2-g8 diagonal and the d5-square.} Nxd6 19. Qxg6 Kh8 {Lautier,J (2645)
-Hauchard,A (2480)/France 1998/CBM 064 ext (1/2, 30)} 20. Nd5 $1 Nxd5 21. Qh5+
Kg8 22. Rxd5 Rae8 23. Be3 $16 {White has an active position and the bishops'
pair, while the black king is vulnerable.}) 16. Bg5 Nb6 17. Bf1 {A
questionable decision.} ({It would have made more sense to keep the bishop on
the active diagonal:} 17. Bb3 cxd5 18. exd5 $14 {The position is somewhat
similar to that from the aforementioned game Lautier-Hauchard.} Qd6 ({Again,
the attempt to block the d-pawn fails tactically:} 18... Nc4 $6 19. d6 $1 Nxd6
20. Nd5 Qd8 21. Bxf6 gxf6 22. Ne7+ Qxe7 {This loses outright, but otherwise
White grabs the exchange on c8.} 23. Qxg6+ Kh8 24. Qh6+ Kg8 25. Rd3 $18) 19.
Qd3 Bxc3 20. bxc3 Nbd7 21. Qf3 $14 {Black cannot be entirely satisfied of his
blockade, because White can set up pressure along the weakened b-file (the
drawbacks of the move ...a5).}) 17... cxd5 18. exd5 Nc4 {This move is entirely
playable now that the a2-g8 diagonal is not under pressure anymore.} (18...
Rfd8 $5) 19. Bxc4 ({After} 19. d6 Nxd6 {White has no tricks to justify the
sacrifice.}) 19... Rxc4 20. Qb3 Rfc8 21. Nb5 Qd7 22. d6 Bc5 $132 {White has
managed to advance his pawn, but Black is quite active and enjoys sufficient
stability.} 23. Be3 Rb4 24. Qd3 Rxb2 25. Rac1 b6 26. Bxc5 bxc5 27. Qe3 Rb4 28.
Rxc5 Rxc5 29. Qxc5 Rxa4 30. Qxe5 Rc4 31. Nc3 a4 32. Nd5 Nxd5 33. Qxd5 {
Although the position looks more pleasant for White, it should lead to a draw
in case of accurate play from Black. The main tendency is that the passed
pawns get exchanged, with dull equality.} Rc8 34. Qa5 Rc4 35. Qa6 Rb4 36. Kh2
Kh7 37. Qa8 Rf4 38. Rd2 Rf6 39. Qa6 g5 40. Kg1 g6 41. Rd4 Re6 42. Qd3 Kg8 43.
Rd5 Kh7 44. Qg3 Kg8 45. Rd1 Rf6 46. Qe5 Re6 47. Qc5 Kh7 48. Rd4 Rf6 49. h4 gxh4
50. Rxh4+ Kg7 51. Rd4 Re6 52. Qc3 f6 53. Qb4 g5 54. Rd1 Kg6 55. Qb1+ Kg7 56.
Qd3 Re8 57. Rb1 Ra8 58. Ra1 Rd8 59. Rd1 Qe6 60. Qa6 Rd7 61. Qa5 Kg6 62. Qb4 Kg7
63. Qxa4 Rxd6 64. Rxd6 Qxd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 38th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2010.07.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2734"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Ponomariov,R"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2010.07.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 138"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{It has so happened that my recent games with Kramnik have been crucial in
determining the first place in tournaments. In Zurich, I agreed gentlemanly a
draw in a winning position, when the clock suddenly stopped working. In the
Tal Memorial, we had a very complicated game with mutual chances, but Vladimir
proved the stronger. In that tournament, he took first place. The present game
was played in the second round, too early to speak of its deciding first place
in the tournament. But it certainly influenced the mood of the two players. It
is always pleasant to win, especially in such style!  Es hat sich so ergeben,
dass meine letzten Partien mit Kramnik entscheidend für den ersten Platz bei
Turnieren waren. In Zürich willigte ich in Gewinnstellung gentlemanlike ins
Remis ein, als die Uhr plötzlich nicht mehr funktionierte. Beim Tal Memorial
hatten wir eine sehr komplizierte Stellung mit beiderseitigen Chancen, aber
Vladimir erwies sich als der Stärkere. Die vorliegende Partie wurde in der
zweiten Runde gespielt; zu früh, um dabei von einer Entscheidung für den
ersten Platz im Turnier zu sprechen. Aber sie beeinflusste sicherlich die
Stimmung der beiden Spieler. Es ist immer schön zu gewinnen, vor allem in
solchem Stil!} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 {In recent times, Vladimir has been
playing the Ragozin as Black, which I myself also like. Therefore, in my
preparations, I thought why not play the Catalan, in which my opponent is
considered a great specialist as White. In jüngster Zeit hat Vladimir als
Schwarzer Ragosin gespielt, was ich selbst ebenfalls mag. Daher dachte ich in
meinen Vorbereitungen, warum nicht Katalanisch spielen, worin mein Gegner als
großer Weiß-Spezialist gilt.} Bb4+ ({In recent times, my opponent's practice
has more often featured the variation In jüngster Zeit gab es in der Praxis
meines Gegners häufiger die Variante} 3... d5 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 a5
{but since game 4 of the Anand-Topalov match Black has faced definitive
problems in this line. , aber seit Partie 4 des Anand-Topalov-Matches sah sich
Schwarz in diesem Abspiel mit definitiven Problemen konfrontiert.}) 4. Bd2 Be7
5. Bg2 d5 6. Nf3 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Qc2 {An extremely solid move, defending the
c4-pawn. Ein äußerst solider Zug, der c4-Bauer wird gedeckt.} ({Against
Grischuk in Nice, I played Gegen Grischuk in Nizza spielte ich} 8. Bf4 {
but then one must seriously consider the interesting idea , aber dann muss man
ernsthaft die interessante Idee} dxc4 $5 9. Ne5 b5 10. Nxc6 Nxc6 11. Bxc6 Bd7
12. Bxa8 Qxa8 {which was also tested in the Anand-Topalov match. erwägen, die
in dem Anand-Topalov-Match auch getestet wurde.}) 8... b6 9. Rd1 Ba6 {Vladimir
considers that my move order is inaccurate and tries to take me into the
realms of the Queen's Indian Defence. Vladimir hält meine Zugfolge für ungenau
und versucht, mich in die Gefilde der damenindischen Verteidigung zu lotsen.} (
{It was possible to play Möglich war} 9... Nbd7 10. Bf4 Ba6 11. Ne5 {and now
not, by analogy with Kramnik, und jetzt nicht, in Analogie zu Kramnik,} Qc8 ({
but , sondern} 11... Rc8 {which leads into my game with Grischuk, in which
Black had a fairly solid position. , was zu meiner Partie mit Grischuk führt,
in der Schwarz eine recht solide Stellung hatte.})) 10. Ne5 $5 {Although in
this tournament it was difficult to predict that anyone would play a certain
variation, as it happens, two weeks before the event, my second Zahar Efimenko
and I had studied this very line, during a training session in Spain. Obwohl
es in diesem Turnier schwer war vorherzusagen, ob irgendjemand eine bestimmte
Variante spielen würde, hatte ich zufällig zwei Wochen vor dieser
Veranstaltung während einer Trainingsession Spanien zusammen mit meinem
Sekundanten Zahar Efimenko genau dieses Abspiel studiert.} ({The text move,
instead of the more well-studied Der Textzug, statt des besser untersuchten} 
10. b3 Nbd7 11. Bf4 ({or bzw.} 11. a4 {leading to a Queen's Indian) is
interesting. White prepares to open the centre with e3-e4 and tries to save a
tempo on the move b3. The play becomes very concrete, and one must calculate
each move accurately, in order to count on any advantage. mit Übergang zu
einem Dameninder) ist interessant. Weiß bereitet die Öffnung des Zentrums mit
e3-e4 vor und versucht, ein Tempo für den Zug b3 zu sparen. Das Spiel wird
sehr konkret, und man muss jeden einzelnen Zug genau berechnen, um auf
irgendeinen Vorteil zu zählen.})) 10... Qc8 $6 {I have to admit that even
Black's first move after the novelty was not considered by us and after this,
indepenedent play begins. But one cannot anticipate and analyse everything.
Ich muss zugeben, dass wir schon den ersten Zug von Schwarz nach der Neuerung
nicht auf der Rechnung hatten, und danach beginnt das eigenständige Spiel.
Aber man kann ja auch nicht alles vorhersehen und analysieren.} ({Black much
more often chooses Häufiger wählt Schwarz} 10... Nfd7 {trying as soon as
possible to rid himself of the obtrusive enemy knight on e5. , um zu versuchen,
sich so schnell wie möglich den lästigen feindlichen Springer auf e5 vom Hals
zu schaffen.}) 11. Nc3 {After this move, my opponent thought for a long time,
and it became clear that his previous move was more improvisation that serious
opening preparation. Nach diesem Zug dachte mein Gegner lange nach, und es
wurde klar, dass sein voriger Zug mehr Improvisation als ernste
Eröffnungsvorbereitung war.} Nbd7 ({Not good is Nicht gut ist} 11... dxc4 12.
Ne4 {and in order to retain the extra pawn (without which there is no sense in
giving up the centre) Black has to create new weaknesses - , und um den
Mehrbauern zu behaupten (ansonsten hat es keinen Sinn, das Zentrum aufzugeben),
muss Schwarz neue Schwächen schaffen -} b5 13. Nc5) 12. Rac1 (12. Bf4 {has
been seen before, and, technically, the text move is a novelty. But what could
be a more natural development? The rook on c1 also emphasises the unnatural
position of the queen on c8. But before playing this move, White had to
calculate the consequences of the exchange on e5. Once I saw the idea of the
subsequent sacrifice on d5, I could not refrain from playing this way. hat man
zuvor gesehen, und technisch gesehen ist der Textzug eine Neuerung. Aber was
könnte eine natürlichere Entwicklung sein? Der Turm auf c1 unterstreicht
außerdem die unnatürliche Stellung der Dame auf c8. Aber bevor er diesen Zug
spielte, musste Weiß die Konsequenzen des Tausches auf e5 berechnen. Nachdem
ich erst einmal die Idee des nachfolgenden Opfers auf d5 gesehen hatte, konnte
ich dieser Fortsetzung nicht widerstehen.}) 12... Nxe5 ({In the light of what
happened in the game, a more solid line looks to be Im Licht der Geschehnisse
in der Partie scheint ein solideres Abspiel} 12... Bxc4 $5 13. Nxc4 dxc4 {
White, of course, has typical Catalan compensation for the pawn, but it is not
so simple to develop the initiative. Here is one possible development of
events: Weiß hat, natürlich, typische Katalanisch-Kompensation für den Bauern,
aber es ist nicht so einfach, die Initiative zu entwickeln. Hier ist eine
mögliche Entwicklung der Ereignisse:} 14. Ne4 (14. b3 cxb3 15. Qxb3 Qb7) (14.
e4 b5 15. d5 e5) 14... b5 15. b3 Nb6 $1 16. Nxf6+ (16. Ba5 Nfd5 $1) 16... Bxf6
17. Ba5 Rd8 18. bxc4 bxc4 19. Bxb6 axb6 20. Qxc4 Qa6 21. Qxa6 Rxa6 22. Rxc6
Rxa2 23. e3 Rb2 {White's pieces are a little more active and he has the more
compact pawn structure, but the opposite-coloured bishops give Black good
drawing chances. Die Figuren von Weiß stehen ein wenig aktiver und er hat die
kompaktere Bauernstruktur, aber die ungleichfarbigen Läufer geben Schwarz gute
Remischancen.}) 13. dxe5 Nd7 ({After Nach} 13... Ng4 {White has the rather
tempting continuation hat Weiß die recht verlockende Fortsetzung} 14. Bh3 $5 ({
Or Oder} 14. cxd5 cxd5 15. Qa4 {since after , denn nach} Qc4 {there is the
strong reply gibt es die starke Erwiderung} 16. b4 $1) {with the idea of mit
der Idee} 14... Nxe5 15. cxd5 cxd5 16. Nxd5 $1) 14. cxd5 cxd5 {The natural
reply. In analysis, the two c-pawns are often simply removed from the board
automatically. Die natürliche Erwiderung. In der Analyse werden die beiden
c-Bauern oft einfach automatisch vom Brett entfernt.} ({But maybe Black should
consider Aber vielleicht sollte} 14... exd5 {trying to keep the c-file safe
for his queen. I would probably have continued überlegen, um zu versuchen, die
c-Linie für seine Dame sicherzuhalten. Fortgesetzt hätte ich wahrscheinlich mit
} 15. b4 $5 ({Or Oder} 15. Bf4 g5 16. Be3 Nxe5 17. Bd4 Qe6 18. e4 dxe4 19. Bxe4
f5 20. Bg2 Bf6 (20... Rad8 21. Qa4) 21. Bxe5 Bxe5 22. Nd5 Bb7 23. Nb4 Rac8 24.
Bxc6 Rc7 25. Qa4 f4 26. Rc2 $14 {[%csl Rg8]}) 15... Nxe5 16. b5 Bxb5 17. Nxb5
cxb5 18. Bc3 (18. Qb2 Qf5 19. Bf4 Ng6 20. Rxd5 Qe6 21. Be3 b4 22. Bd4 Bf6 23.
Bxf6 Qxf6 24. Qxb4 Rac8) 18... Ng4 19. Bxd5 Ba3 20. Bxa8 Bxc1 21. Qxc1 b4 22.
Bxb4 Qxc1 23. Rxc1 Rxa8 24. f3 Nf6 25. e4 $14 {In both cases, as so often in
the Catalan, White retains a small advantage, but Black is not a million miles
away from a draw. In beiden Fällen, wie so oft im Katalanen, behauptet Weiß
einen kleinen Vorteil, aber Schwarz ist keine Millionen Meilen vom Remis
entfernt.}) 15. Bf4 {As I have already said, the idea of the sacrifice on d5
had come to me even when playing my 12th move. Judging by what happened, and
the final result, this was the correct decision. From a practical point of
view. Vladimir was unable to cope with the problems created. Wie bereits
gesagt, die Idee des Opfers auf d5 war mir schon gekommen, als ich meinen 12.
Zug spielte. Den Geschehnissen - und dem Endresultat - nach zu urteilen, war
dies die richtige Entscheidung. Aus praktischer Sicht. Vladimir war nicht in
der Lage, die geschaffenen Probleme zu bewältigen.} ({But probably even
stronger was the prosaic and quiet continuation Noch stärker war aber
womöglich die prosaische und ruhige Fortsetzung} 15. Qa4 $5 Qb7 (15... Nc5 {
is bad because of ist schlecht wegen} 16. Qg4 {with numerous threats mit
zahlreichen Drohungen.}) 16. Be3 {with the idea, after almost any Black move,
to sacrifice the knight on d5. mit der Idee, nach praktisch jedem schwarzen
Zug, den Springer auf d5 zu opfern.} ({There is also the spectacular Es gibt
auch das spektakuläre} 16. Bh6 $5 gxh6 17. Nxd5 exd5 18. Bxd5 Qb8 19. Qxa6 Nxe5
{but once again, the most beautiful move turns out not to be strongest , aber
erneut erweist sich der schönste Zug nicht auch als der stärkste.}) 16... b5
17. Nxd5 exd5 18. Bxd5 Qxd5 19. Qxa6 Nb8 20. Rxd5 Nxa6 21. Rxb5 Rfc8 22. Rxc8+
Rxc8 23. Bxa7 {and in the ending, the four white pawns look stronger than the
black knight. und in dem Endspiel wirken die vier weißen Bauern stärker als
der schwarze Springer.}) 15... g5 {Risky, but it is hard to see any
alternative, since White is getting ready to play e2-e4, with tremendous
activity. Riskant, aber es fällt schwer, irgendeine Alternative zu sehen, denn
Weiß schickt sich an, e2-e4 zu spielen, mit gewaltiger Aktivität.} 16. Bxd5 $5
{Realising my general idea. It was funny later to see a cartoon on Chess Vibes,
connected with this move. Verwirklicht meine Leitidee. Es war später lustig,
auf Chess Vibes einen Cartoon zu sehen, der mit diesem Zug zu tun hatte.} ({
Of course, it was possible to avoid this and just play the pawn sacrifice
Natürlich war es möglich, dies zu vermeiden und einfach das Bauernopfer} 16.
Be3 Nxe5 {, but in all variations, Black manages to hold the position. zu
spielen, aber in sämtlichen Varianten gelingt es Schwarz, die Stellung zu
halten.} 17. Bd4 (17. Qa4 Nc4 18. Nxd5 exd5 19. Rxd5 b5 $1 20. Rxb5 Bxb5 21.
Qxb5 Rb8 22. Qxc4 Qxc4 23. Rxc4 Rxb2) 17... Nc6 $1 ({but not aber nicht} 17...
Ng6 {because of wegen} 18. Qa4 $1 Qc4 19. b4 $1 Rfc8 20. h4 $16) 18. Nxd5 exd5
19. Qxc6 Qxc6 20. Rxc6 Bxe2 21. Re1 Bb5 $14 22. Rc3 Bb4 $1 23. Re5 h6 $8 24.
Rb3 Rac8 $8 25. h4 Rc1+ $1 26. Kh2 Rc4 27. Be3 gxh4 28. Bxh6 Re8 29. Rxd5 Bc6
30. Rg5+ Kh7 31. Bxc6 Rxc6 32. Rxb4 hxg3+ 33. Rxg3 Rxh6+ 34. Kg2 Rg6 {and the
game has simplified to a dead draw. und die Partie hat sich zu einem toten
Remis vereinfacht.}) 16... exd5 17. Nxd5 Qd8 $2 {Vladimir fails to withstand
the pressure and loses in a couple of moves. I am sure that if Magnus Carlsen
had been in his place, he would have retained his sang-froid and been able to
calculate the variations, as I learnt the hard way at the Bazna tournament...
Vladimir schafft es nicht, dem Druck standzuhalten, und verliert in wenigen
Zügen. Ich bin sicher, dass wenn Magnus Carlsen an seiner Stelle gewesen wäre,
er ruhig Blut bewahrt und es vermocht hätte, die Varianten zu berechnen, wie
ich beim Bazna-Turnier auf die harte Tour lernte...} ({Correct was Korrekt war
} 17... Bd8 $1 18. Qd2 (18. Qf5 Nc5 $1) 18... Qb8 {and no direct win is
visible for White, if indeed he even has the advantage. und es ist kein
direkter Gewinn für Weiß in Sicht, wenn er denn überhaupt Vorteil hat.} 19. e6
(19. Bxg5 Qxe5 $1) 19... gxf4 20. e7 $5 (20. exd7 fxg3 21. hxg3 Qe5) 20... Qe5
$1 {The main thing in all lines is to centralise the most powerful piece, so
as to control as much of the board as possible. Die Hauptsache in allen
Abspielen ist es, die mächtigste Figur zu zentralisieren, um so viel vom Brett
wie möglich zu kontrollieren.} 21. exf8=Q+ Nxf8 22. Qxf4 Qxf4 23. Nxf4 Ng6 {
and in the ending, the two bishops are full compensation for the rook and two
pawns. It is just important not to allow White to exchange a pair of rooks.
With sharper play, Black can think about taking the initiative. und in dem
Endspiel sind die zwei Läufer volle Kompensation für den Turm und zwei Bauern.
Wichtig ist es nur, Weiß nicht zu erlauben, ein Turmpaar zu tauschen. Bei
schärferem Spiel kann Schwarz daran denken, die Initiative zu übernehmen.}) 18.
Nc7 ({The computer considers that positional play a piece down is even
stronger: Der Computer meint, dass positionelles Spiel mit Minusfigur sogar
noch stärker ist:} 18. Be3 Nc5 (18... Nxe5 19. Qf5 Qd6 20. Nc7 $1) (18... Rc8
$2 19. Qxc8 $1 Bxc8 20. Rxc8 $18) 19. b4 $1 Ne6 20. Qc6 $3 {dominating the
whole board. But it is quite hard to find such resources at the board, with
the clock ticking. I decided instead to regain some of the material. mit
Beherrschung des ganzen Bretts. Aber es ist ziemlich schwer, solche Ressourcen
am Brett zu finden, bei tickender Uhr. Stattdessen beschloss ich, einen Teil
des Materials zurückzuerobern.}) 18... Rc8 $4 {The decisive mistake. Der
entscheidende Fehler.} ({He could maintain the tension by Er konnte die
Spannung aufrechterhalten mit} 18... gxf4 {Now White must be at his best: Nun
muss Weiß auf der Höhe sein:} 19. Nxa8 $5 {The greediest capture, and also the
strongest. Das gierigste Schlagen, und auch das Stärkste.} ({A mistake is Ein
Fehler ist} 19. Nxa6 fxg3 20. hxg3 (20. Qf5 gxf2+ 21. Kf1 Rc8) 20... Bg5 $1 21.
f4 Bxf4 22. gxf4 Kh8 {and Black suddenly goes over to the counterattack. und
plötzlich geht Schwarz zum Gegenangriff über.}) ({Quieter is Ruhiger ist} 19.
Qf5 Bc8 20. Nxa8 (20. e6 fxe6 21. Qg4+ Kh8 22. Nxe6 Rg8 23. Qf3 Qe8 24. Qxa8
fxg3 25. hxg3 Nf6 $132) 20... fxg3 21. hxg3 Nc5 22. Rxd8 Bxf5 23. Rxf8+ Kxf8
24. Nc7 {and White's chances are preferable in the ending. und in dem Endspiel
sind die Chancen von Weiß vorzuziehen.}) 19... Bc5 (19... fxg3 20. hxg3 Bg5 21.
Nc7 Bxc1 22. Nxa6 $16) 20. b4 Qxa8 21. Rxd7 $1 Bc8 22. e6 $1 Bxd7 23. exd7 Bxb4
24. Qf5 Bc5 25. Rc4 $36 {and despite the simplifications, White has a
dangerous initiative. und trotz der Vereinfachungen hat Weiß eine gefährliche
Initiative.}) 19. e6 $1 ({But not the immediate Aber nicht das sofortige} 19.
Qc6 $2 {because of wegen} Nb8 20. Qh6 gxf4 21. Rxd8 Bxd8 {and Black has too
much wood for the queen. und Schwarz hat zuviel Holz für die Dame.}) 19... fxe6
({Now there is no hope from Keine Hoffnung entspringt nun aus} 19... gxf4 20.
Rxd7 Rxc7 21. Qxc7 Qxc7 22. Rcxc7 Bf6 23. e7 $1 Re8 24. Rxa7 Bxe2 25. Rd8 Rxd8
26. exd8=Q+ Bxd8 27. Ra8 $18) 20. Qc6 $18 {Black has too many pieces hanging
and cannot avoid material loss. Bei Schwarz hängen zu viele Figuren, und er
kann Materialverlust nicht vermeiden.} Qe8 21. Qxe6+ (21. Rxd7 {is also not
bad, but the ending with two extra pawns, which now arises by force, suited me
perfectly well. ist ebenfalls nicht übel, aber das Endspiel mit zwei
Mehrbauern, was jetzt forciert entsteht, passte mir bestens.}) 21... Qf7 22.
Qxf7+ Kxf7 (22... Rxf7 23. Nxa6 Rxc1 24. Bxc1 $1) 23. Nxa6 gxf4 24. Rxc8 Rxc8
25. Rxd7 Rc2 {White has two extra pawns, and so Black's only hope lies in the
acivity of his rook, but this is easily neutralised. Weiß hat zwei Mehrbauern,
und daher liegt die einzige Hoffnung von Schwarz in der Aktivität seines Turms,
aber dies wird leicht neutralisiert.} 26. Nb4 {The knight returns to the fray,
attacking the rook and preparing to go after the bishop on e7. Der Springer
kehrt in den Kampf zurück, greift den Turm an und schickt sich an, den Läufer
auf e7 aufs Korn zu nehmen.} Rxb2 27. Nc6 Rxe2 28. Rxa7 {Black's position is
completely hopeless, and he could resign with a clear conscience. But Black
continues playing out of inertia. Die Stellung von Schwarz ist komplett
hoffnungslos, und er könnte ruhigen Gewissens aufgeben. Aber aus
Schwerfälligkeit spielt er noch weiter.} f3 29. h4 h5 30. Rxe7+ Rxe7 31. Nxe7
Kxe7 32. g4 hxg4 33. Kh2 Ke6 34. Kg3 Kf5 35. a4 Ke4 36. Kxg4 {This victory not
only gave me clear first place, but also gave me psychological confidence in
my strength, which formed the basis for a successful tournament result. Dieser
Sieg verhalf mir nicht nur zum unangefochtenen ersten Platz, sondern verlieh
mir auch psychologisches Vertrauen in meine Stärke, was die Grundlage für ein
erfolgreiches Turnierergebnis bildete.} 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 38th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2010.07.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2734"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2010.07.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 138"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Ne5 ({
Throughout history, great players have sometimes deviated this way from the
normal} 7. Qc2) 7... Nc6 $1 {The most active answer. Black gladly returns the
pawn and sacrifices one himself for the sake of rapid piece development.} 8.
Bxc6 {This is the main line. White gives up the Catalan bishop for the sake of
winning a pawn. In doing so, he relies on the lack of kingside weaknesses for
neutralizing the strong black light-squared bishop.} (8. Nxc6 bxc6 9. Bxc6 Rb8
10. Nc3 Bb7 11. Bxb7 Rxb7 12. e3 c5 $132 {Johansson,M-Mraz,M/EU-ch36 corr 1985/
Corr Nr. 1 (0-1, 52)}) 8... bxc6 9. Nxc6 Qe8 10. Nxe7+ Qxe7 11. Qa4 e5 (11...
c5 {is equally playable and is the start of another theoretical branch.}) 12.
dxe5 Qxe5 13. Qxc4 Be6 14. Qc2 Bf5 15. Qd2 {The forced phase of the opening
has come to an end. In order to avoid repetitions, the queen has been forced
to occupy a far from natural square. Optically speaking, Black's compensation
for the pawn is out of question. However, White has a subtle plan in mind:
give up the e2-pawn and simplify to a rook and opposite-coloured bishops
ending, in which the weakness of the black queenside may tell.} Rfe8 {The less
commital move.} (15... Bh3 {defines the bishop's intentions a bit too soon,
although it may be playable anyway.} 16. Re1 Rad8 17. Qe3 Qd5 18. f3 Ng4 $6 (
18... Rfe8 $44 {Ribli}) 19. Qc3 Rfe8 20. Na3 Rxe2 $2 21. Rxe2 Qxf3 22. Bh6 (22.
Qe1 $18 {Ribli}) 22... Qxc3 23. bxc3 gxh6 $16 {Parker,J (2523)-Baburin,A (2593)
/Port Erin 1999/CBM 074/[Ribli] (1-0, 34)}) (15... Rad8 $6 {can be met by} 16.
Qf4 $1 {In view of the hanging bishop, Black has no obvious way to retrieve
the pawn, for instance} Qe6 17. Nc3 $14) 16. Re1 Bg4 {In connection with the
next moves, Black forces the exchange of the knights, thus ensuring himself
drawing chances in case of massive simplifications.} ({Another approach is to
keep the pieces on board in order to establish a massive pressure:} 16... Rab8
17. Nc3 Rb4 18. Qe3 Qa5 19. Qf3 Bc8 20. Qg2 Bb7 21. f3 Ng4 $44 {Meier,G (2641)
-Bruzon Bautista,L (2617)/Havana 2009/CBM 131 (1/2, 42)}) 17. Nc3 Ne4 18. Nxe4
Qxe4 19. Qc3 $5 $146 {This new move induces some hidden nuances. White is not
against the queen exchange, but aims to carry it out in a way that leaves the
enemy bishop badly placed.} (19. Qf4 Bxe2 20. Qxe4 Rxe4 21. Bf4 c6 22. Rac1 {
1/2 Virovlansky,S (2437)-Novikov,M (2515)/Moscow 2005/EXT 2006} Bf3 $11 {
In this line, the bishop gets to the optimal d5-square, defending the own
queenside and keeping the enemy kingside under pressure. White's structural
advantage would not offer him realistic chances for success in this case.})
19... Bxe2 20. Be3 {It may seem risky to keep playing with queens on board,
but we will see that for the time being it is not easy for Black to build up a
mating attack based on, for instance, Bf3 and Qf3.} Qf3 (20... Bf3 21. Bh6 $1
Qg4 22. Bxg7 $16) 21. Rac1 a6 22. Bd4 Qg4 $1 {The most ambitious continuation.
Black does not abandon the hope of creating kingside threats in the middlegame.
} (22... Qxc3 {leads to a favourable ending for White:} 23. Rxc3 Rac8 24. f3 f6
25. Kf2 Bb5 26. Be3 Kf7 27. Rd1 $14 {[%cal Gb2b3,Gg3g4,Gh2h4] If compared with
a similar line examined above, the black bishop is poorly placed.}) 23. Be5 $5
{Cutting off the rook's action and leaving the e2-bishop insufficiently well
defended.} f6 (23... Rac8 24. h3 $1 {[%csl Ge2]} Qh5 25. Bxg7 Qxh3 26. Bh8 Qg4
27. b4 Re6 28. Qd4 $14 {Black has structural problems on both wings.}) 24. Bxc7
{This may have been the final point of Kramnik's preparation. White has won a
pawn and engines are quite happy about that. However, the safer king's
position offer Black good prospects in the middlegame, while the queenside
majority hardly has any relevance. For the time being, White seems to be
dominating the board and there is no immediate way for Black to set up a
deadly battery Q+B. However, White will not be able to keep all the important
squares under control forever. Confronted with unexpected problems, Kramnik
will soon get back into passive defence.} Kh8 25. Qc6 Rac8 26. b3 h6 27. Rc4 $6
{Just leading to a loss of time.} Qh5 28. Rcc1 ({Maybe he had initially planned
} 28. Re4 {, but after} Rxe4 29. Qxe4 Bf3 30. Qf4 Bb7 $36 {the king's position
would be very unsafe. This is the kind of regrouping that White should avoid.})
28... Bb5 29. Qd6 Be2 (29... Rxe1+ $5 {looks like a safe way of forcing a draw:
} 30. Rxe1 Qf3 {[%cal Gb5c6]} 31. Rc1 Re8 32. Qf4 (32. h4 $2 Bc6 33. Qxc6 Re1+
$1 $15) 32... Qd5 33. Qd6 Qf3 $11) 30. h4 (30. Qc6 $5 {looks safer, although
White would again expose himself to a repetition of moves.}) 30... Re4 $1 {
Immediately taking advantage of the space left available by the enemy queen.}
31. Bd8 Rxc1 32. Rxc1 Qg6 33. Ba5 Kh7 {A nice prophylactic move, avoiding any
casual checks before starting the attacking regrouping.} 34. Re1 Qg4 35. Qd2
Qf3 36. Qc3 Qf5 37. Qd2 Qg4 {White's position is quite delicate. He has to act
with great care in order to avoid Black's decissive regrouping.} 38. Bc3 $2 {
The bishop is passive on this square and it also takes the c3-square away from
the queen.} (38. Bc7 Qf3 39. Bf4 Bd3 40. Be3 {would prevent Black's optimal
coordination.}) (38. Bb4 Qf3 (38... Rxb4 $2 39. Qxe2 $16) 39. Qc3 $1 {would be
another defensive method. However, in both cases, Black would be able to keep
playing at no risk.}) 38... Qf3 $1 $17 {[%cal Ge2d3,Gd3e4] /\...Bd3xe4} 39.
Bxf6 $5 {Desperation...} (39. Bd4 $2 Rxh4 $1 40. gxh4 Qg4+ 41. Kh2 Qxh4+ 42.
Kg2 Qg4+ 43. Kh2 Bf3 $19) 39... gxf6 40. Qd5 Bd3 $2 {There was no need to
allow a perpetual so easily.} (40... Rg4 $17) (40... Qg4 $17) 41. Qf7+ Kh8 42.
Qf8+ Kh7 43. Qf7+ Kh8 44. Rc1 Bc2 45. Qf8+ Kh7 46. Qf7+ Kh8 47. Qf8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 38th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2010.07.18"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2010.07.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 138"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 {At the present
state of theory, the most reliable continuation.} ({Practice of the past years,
partly based on Kramnik's games, has proved that after} 6... c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 {
Black faces an unpleasant fight for equality. By dveeloping the knight, Black
does not discard his intentions yet and certainly avoids losing a tempo with ..
.Be7xc5, at a moment when his dveelopment is incomplete yet.}) 7. a3 {This is
considered the most refined continuation.} ({The apparently more refined} 7.
Rc1 {leaves the a5-e1 diagonal and the a2-pawn poorly defended after} c5 8.
cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. dxc5 Nxc5 {The threat of ...Qa5+ forces White to
spend a tempo on} 11. a3 {anyway. Compared with the main game, the move Rc1
may be regarded as a relative loss of tempo, which delays castling. In the
following game, Black managed to take advantage of the king's delayed presence
in the centre.} Bg4 12. Be2 Ne6 13. Be5 Bf6 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15. Qd2 Rad8 16. Nd4
Bxe2 17. Nxe6 Qxe6 18. Qxe2 Rfe8 19. O-O d4 20. Rfd1 Qb6 21. Rd3 dxe3 22. Rxe3
Rxe3 23. fxe3 g6 $15 {Acs,P (2544)-Berkes,F (2645)/Paks 2008/CBM 126 (0-1, 58)}
) (7. Bd3 {has the drawback of defining the bishop's position too soon. Apart
from the natural capture on c4, which wins a tempo for Black, there also is
the ambitious continuation} c5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. O-O ({White has
nothing better than allowing Black build up a dangerous queenside majority,
since after} 10. dxc5 Nxc5 11. O-O Bg4 {he practically would have to lose a
tempo with} 12. Be2) 10... c4 11. Bc2 b5 12. e4 Nb6 13. Re1 Be6 {Kortschnoj,V 
(2659)-Lputian,S (2605)/Wijk aan Zee 2000/CBM 075/[Kortschnoj] (0-1, 47). The
whole line based on 6...Nbd7 started becoming popular after this game.}) 7...
c5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. dxc5 Nxc5 {We can see that Black has opened
the centre without losing time with his bishop. The knight manoeuvre has not
been completed yet. The plan involves ...Bg4 followed by ...Ne6, depriving
White of the control of the important d4-square.} 11. Be5 Bg4 ({During his
match against Anand, Kramnik preferred} 11... Bf5 {, which eventually led to
the exchange of the light-squared bishop for the white knight under slightly
different circumstances:} 12. Be2 Bf6 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. Nd4 Ne6 15. Nxf5 Qxf5
16. O-O Rfd8 17. Bg4 Qe5 18. Qb3 Nc5 19. Qb5 b6 20. Rfd1 Rd6 21. Rd4 a6 22. Qb4
h5 23. Bh3 Rad8 {Anand,V (2783)-Kramnik,V (2772)/Bonn 2008/CBM 127/[Marin,M] 
(1/2, 29). With a comfortable regrouping for Black.}) 12. Be2 Bxf3 $5 {The
latest trend. Giving up the bishop without being forced to is justified by a
series of concrete details.} ({The natural} 12... Ne6 {is met by} 13. h3 Bxf3
14. Bxf3 {, forcing Black to give up a pawn with} d4 15. Bxd4 Nxd4 16. Qxd4
Qxd4 17. exd4 Rac8 18. O-O Rc7 19. Rad1 Rd8 {Kramnik,V (2772)-Adams,M (2698)/
London 2009/CBM 134/[Krasenkow] (1/2, 46). True, this ending looks very
difficult if not impossible to win.}) ({After} 12... Bf6 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 {
White can take advantage of the presence of his knight on board with} 14. Qd4
$1 $14 {, maintaining chances for a small advantage, see for instance Atalik,S
(2599)-Doettling,F (2503)/Baden-Baden 2003/CBM 096/[Atalik] (1/2, 42)}) 13.
Bxf3 Bf6 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15. O-O {After the white castle, the threat of
capturing on d5 becomes real.} Rfd8 $5 $146 (15... Qxb2 {offers White some
initiative.} 16. Qxd5 Rac8 17. Rfd1 Qf6 18. Qd4 Qe7 19. Qb4 Rfd8 20. h3 b6 21.
a4 Rxd1+ 22. Rxd1 Rd8 23. Rd4 {1/2 Erdos,V (2591)-Nielsen,P (2687)/Germany
2009/CBM 133 Extra. This game is only partly rleevant. Maybe White can find a
form of speeding up a4-a5, weakening the enemy queenside and keeping a
dangerous kingside majority.}) (15... Rad8 {is inferior to the text move.} 16.
Rc1 $1 (16. Qd4 $6 Qxd4 17. exd4 Ne4 18. Rfd1 f5 {1/2 Kunte,A (2513)-Mas,H 
(2421)/Parramatta 2009/CBM 129 Extra}) 16... Ne6 17. Qb3 d4 18. Qxb7 {If
compared to the game, Black does not have the move ...Rab8.}) 16. Rc1 Ne6 17.
Qb3 d4 18. Qxb7 Rab8 19. Qxa7 Rxb2 {We have reached an interesting situation.
White has a potentially dangerous passed pawn, but his coordination is far
from perfect. Black has strong pressure in the centre, keeping two main
positional threats in reserve: ...d3 or ...dxe3. The latter should be handled
with care, because the f-file is opened for the f1-rook. At the same time,
White cannot think seriously about releasing the tension, because after ed4, ..
.Nxd4, the black knight would ensure Black at least equal play.} 20. Qa6 (20.
exd4 Nxd4 21. Bg4 g6 $44) 20... g6 {Kramnik decides to improve his position
systematically, maintaining the tension in the centre.} (20... dxe3 $5 21. fxe3
Qe5 $132) 21. a4 Kg7 22. a5 $6 {Too optimistic. White spends two whole tempos
on pawn moves, without improving the coordination of his pieces in any way.} (
22. Qc4 $1 {looks like the critical continuation, returning with the queen
into the game.}) 22... Qe5 $1 {After this accurate move, the white queen is
tied up to the defence of the a-pawn.} 23. Qa7 {Who said "A"...} (23. exd4 Nxd4
24. Bd1 Rd5 25. Ra1 Rbb5 $15 {or}) (23. Qc4 Qxa5 $15 {leave Black with the
more active piece placement in conditions of material equality.}) 23... d3 24.
Rb1 $6 {This attempt to easen the position by simplifications will be crowned
by success, but only with Black's cooperation.} ({The consequent continuation
would have been} 24. Ra1 {, sustaining the passed pawn. Black would have
maintained excellent play, nevertheless.} Ng5 25. Bd1 Ne4 {/\...Nxf2, /\...Rxf2
} 26. f4 $8 Qf6 $44) 24... Rxb1 $6 (24... Ra2 $1 {would have put White in an
unpleasant situation.} 25. a6 ({The countreplay based on} 25. Rb7 {fails to}
Ng5) 25... Rd6 26. Bb7 Nc5 $15 {There is no way to save the a6-pawn. For
instance:} 27. h3 (27. Qa8 Nxa6) (27. Rfd1 $6 Nxb7 28. Rxb7 Rdxa6 29. Rxf7+ Kg8
30. Qc7 Ra1 $19) 27... Nxb7 28. Rxb7 (28. axb7 Rxa7 29. b8=Q Ra2 $17) 28... Qf6
$15) 25. Rxb1 Ng5 26. Qb6 (26. Bd1 Ne4) 26... Nxf3+ 27. gxf3 Qd5 28. Qd4+ {
Not a nice move to make with White, just few moves away from the opening, but
a draw is a draw irrespective of the way it is achieved.} Qxd4 29. exd4 Rxd4
30. Rd1 Ra4 31. Rxd3 Rxa5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 38th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2010.07.19"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2684"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2010.07.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 138"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 c5 {Decades ago, this was
considered to be the absolute main line of the open Catalan, but then it got
completely out of fashion.} 6. O-O Nc6 7. Qa4 (7. Ne5 {is more ambitious, see
for instance Leko,P (2734)-Kramnik,V (2790)/Dortmund 2010/CBM 138/[Marin] (1/2,
31)}) 7... Bd7 8. Qxc4 cxd4 {This line, based on repeated release of the
tension in the centre, had some revival over the past years.} ({After the
Buenos Aires Olympiad back in 1978 (see the next comment), Black started
relying on} 8... b5 9. Qd3 Rc8) 9. Nxd4 Rc8 10. Nc3 Nxd4 11. Qxd4 Bc5 12. Qh4
O-O {This is the new trend. Black sacrifices the b7-pawn in order to get
active counterplay.} ({The position arising after} 12... Bc6 {seems to have
been submitted to thorough analysis by the components of the Hungarian team
who won the 1978 Olympiad. Here are the first two games in which Black got
punished for neglecting the kingside development:} 13. Rd1 Qb6 14. Bxc6+ Rxc6
15. Bh6 $1 $16 gxh6 (15... Bf8 16. Rd2 e5 17. Be3 Qa6 18. Rad1 Be7 19. Qg5 O-O
20. Qxe5 $16 {Ribli,Z (2585)-Ljubojevic,L (2605)/Buenos Aires 1978/EXT 2000 
(1-0, 49)}) 16. Qxf6 O-O 17. Ne4 $16 {Portisch,L (2630)-Radulov,I (2490)/
Buenos Aires 1978/EXT 2000 (1-0, 35). The evaluation of this whole line as
favourable for White never was shaken.}) 13. Bxb7 (13. Bg5 {is an important
alternative, leading to microscopical white advantage, which is quite
difficult to convert, though.} h6 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15. Qxf6 gxf6 16. Bxb7 Rb8 17.
Bf3 Rxb2 18. Rfd1 Be8 19. Ne4 Be7 20. Nd6 Bxd6 21. Rxd6 Bb5 22. Kf1 Rb8 23. a4
Bc4 {and Black managed to hold his own in Shirov,A (2745)-Wang Yue (2738)/
Sofia 2009/CBM 131 (1/2, 44)}) 13... Rb8 14. Bf3 Rb4 {This is an important
element in Black's strategy. Although his plan involves a loss of a tempo (...
Rc8-b8) with the rook, the lack of conmfort of the white queen makes the
position unclear.} 15. Qg5 Bd4 16. Qd2 {Not a great square for the queen, but
apparently Kramnik does not feel bothered at all; see also Kramnik,V (2790)
-Leko,P (2734)/Dortmund 2010/CBM 138/[Marin] (1/2, 47)} Qc7 {So far, play had
a rather linear character. This position has been reached in several games,
but they all diverged at this point. Abstractly speaking, Black should have
good compensation for the pawn, in view of his advance in development. However,
play may be slightly easier to carry out with White in over the board play,
because of his lack of weaknesses. The worst what could happen is to lose the
extra pawn and reach an equal or maybe slightly more pleasant position.} 17.
Nd1 $5 $146 {Geometrically speaking, an elegant retreat. There is certain
symmetry now in White's position. Black's main strategic threat consisted of
spoiling the queenside structure with ...Bxc3, which justifies Kramnik's
decision to improve the knight's position with Ne3.} ({The spectacular} 17. Nb5
{is ineffective:} Bxf2+ 18. Rxf2 Rxb5 19. b3 Bc6 20. Bb2 Bxf3 21. exf3 Rd8 22.
Rc1 Qb8 23. Qe3 Nd5 24. Qd4 f6 $11 {Schmidt,R (2387)-Nyback,T (2624)/Rijeka
2010/CBM 136 (1/2, 45)}) (17. a4 {is an interesting way of activating the
queen's rook without the necessity of developing the bishop.} a5 {not really
forced.} 18. Nb5 Bxb5 19. axb5 Rd8 20. e3 Be5 $2 {This is hard to understand:
White is allowed to complete his development in comfortable way.} ({The obvious
} 20... Bxb2 {would lead to unclear play:} 21. Qxb2 Rxb2 22. Bxb2 Nd5 23. Rfc1
Qb6 24. Be2 Ra8 {White certainly has strong compensation for the queen, but
Black is very much in the game still.}) 21. Qe2 $14 Ne4 $2 {weakening the
defence of the back rank.} 22. Bxe4 Rxe4 23. Bd2 $1 Qc2 $2 24. Rfc1 Qxb2 25.
Qd3 $1 {1-0 Buhmann,R (2565)-Meier,G (2608)/Saarbruecken 2009/CBM 128 Extra}) (
17. a3 {weakens the queenside light squares too much.} Rc4 18. Qd3 Bxc3 19.
bxc3 Rxc3 $6 {This pawn was one of Black's best friends, by restricting the
c1-bishop.} (19... e5 $1 $44) 20. Qd1 (20. Bf4 $5 e5 21. Rfc1 Rxd3 22. Rxc7
Rxf3 23. exf3 exf4 24. Rxa7 {The a-pawn is very dangerous. In case of a rook
exchange, White would get good winning chances.}) 20... Bc6 21. Bb2 Rc4 22.
Bxc6 Qxc6 23. Rc1 Rxc1 24. Qxc1 Qb5 25. Qc2 Nd5 26. Rc1 $14 {Nyback,T (2643)
-L'Ami,E (2615)/Wijk aan Zee 2010/CBM 135 (1/2, 33). White retains some micro
initiative, but Black should be able to draw with careful play.}) (17. Rd1 Rfb8
(17... Bc6 $5) 18. Qd3 Qc5 19. e3 Be5 20. Ne4 Nxe4 21. Qxd7 {Avrukh,B (2657)
-Nielsen,P (2662)/Dresden 2008/CBM 128 (1/2, 32). Again, White's position is
microscopically better.}) 17... Rfb8 18. a3 Rc4 {Possibly not best.} ({In view
of the ulterior course of the game,} 18... Ra4 $5 {make sense.}) 19. Ne3 Ra4 $6
{Black keeps losing time with this rook.} ({The only way to fight for equality
would be} 19... Bxe3 20. Qxe3 e5 {, when White's coordination would be far
from perfect yet.}) 20. Rb1 e5 21. b4 $14 {White is ready to complete his
development with Bb2, while the a4-rook is out of play.} a5 {This obvious
attempt to open the queenside is refuted tactically.} 22. Qc2 $1 {The start of
an interesting forced sequence.} Qxc2 23. Nxc2 Bf5 (23... Bc3 24. Bb2 $14) 24.
Nxd4 $1 Bxb1 25. Nc6 Re8 26. Nxa5 $16 {White has two pawns for the exchange,
and the a4-rook is trapped.} Be4 27. Bb2 Bxf3 28. exf3 e4 29. fxe4 Rxe4 (29...
Nxe4 30. Re1 $1 $16 {leads to the exchange of a rook pair, leaving the other
rook in big danger.}) 30. Rd1 h5 31. Rd8+ Kh7 32. Kf1 {Heading for b3.} h4 33.
f3 Re7 34. g4 Rc7 35. Ke2 Nd7 36. Kd2 f6 37. f4 Nc5 38. Rd4 Kg6 ({Black had
the possibility of freeing his rook with} 38... Rxa5 39. bxa5 Nb3+ 40. Kd3 Nxd4
41. Bxd4 {but this would have left the other rook in the danger of being
trapped!} Kg6 (41... Rc6 42. h3 $1 {It is important to block the enemy pawn on
a dark square, see also the main line.} Kg6 43. Ke4 Kf7 44. Kd5 Ra6 45. Bb6 $18
{[%cal Gd5b7]}) 42. a6 Kf7 43. a7 Rc8 44. Bb6 Ra8 (44... h3 45. Bc7 Ra8 46. Bb8
$18) 45. Kc4 Ke6 46. Kb5 Kd7 47. Ka6 Kc6 48. h3 $1 Rh8 49. Bf2 Ra8 50. Bxh4 $18
{White wins by creating a kingside passed pawn.}) 39. Kc3 Kf7 40. f5 Ne4+ 41.
Kb3 Nc5+ 42. Ka2 Na6 43. Rc4 Rxc4 (43... Nxb4+ 44. Kb3 $1 $18) 44. Nxc4 Nc7 45.
Na5 Na6 46. Kb3 Nc5+ 47. Kc4 Ne4 48. Kb5 Nc3+ 49. Bxc3 Rxa3 50. Kc4 Ra2 51. b5
1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 38th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2010.07.21"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Le, Quang Liem"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2681"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Le Quang Liem"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2010.07.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 138"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 {The Open
Catalan, which is considered to be a solid choice for Black.} 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4
({The alternative is} 8. a4) 8... b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Be4 11. Qc1 Bb7 12. Bf4
(12. Rd1 {is another possibility}) 12... Nd5 13. Nc3 Nxf4 14. Qxf4 Qd6 (14...
Nd7 {is more often played. But recently some players have tried the move in
the game.}) 15. Ne5 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Nd7 {Following the game Dominguez-Carlsen,
Amber Blindfold 2010. Obviously Carlsen's idea is quite playable for Black.}
17. Rac1 $146 {This is my new idea, which I found at home. Although if Black
manages to make some good moves, he should not have any problems.} ({I did not
like Dominguez's move} 17. Nxd7 {, as after} Qxd7 18. Rfd1 Rac8 19. Qf3 Rfd8
20. Rac1 h6 21. e3 b4 22. Ne4 Qa4 23. Ra1 Rd5 {Black was at least not worse.})
17... Nxe5 18. dxe5 Qb6 19. Ne4 $36 Rad8 ({It is worth mentioning that a
natural move such as} 19... h6 {would be a mistake because of} 20. Nf6+ $1) 20.
Rfd1 ({Now} 20. Nf6+ {does not work because of the simple reply} Kh8) 20... c5
{Indirectly taking control of d7, thus preventing Nf6 again, and also creating
the threat to exchange all the rooks on d-file. However this move weakens
d6-square, which is a nice place for my knight.} ({Rook exchanges} 20... Rxd1
21. Rxd1 Rd8 22. Rxd8+ Bxd8 {favours White, as White queen penetrates just in
time} 23. Qd2 Qb8 24. Qd7 $16) 21. Nd6 c4 $6 (21... f6 $142 22. Qg4 f5 23. Qf4
h6 24. Rc2 Rd7 25. Qe3 Bxd6 26. exd6 Rxd6 {and the position looks drawish.}) (
21... Qc6+ 22. f3 f6 $2 {runs into} 23. Qg4 f5 24. Qd4 $1 $16) 22. b3 cxb3 ({
My engine suggests} 22... g5 {, but it hardly suits a human. After} 23. Qd4
Qxd4 24. Rxd4 f6 25. f4 {White still maintains his slight advantage and some
pratical chances.}) 23. axb3 a5 24. Rd3 $6 {This move, connected with the idea
to trap the Black queen a few moves later, was actually only leading to a draw.
It came as a wrong evaluation of the forthcoming endgame.} ({Clearly the best
move would be} 24. Qe4 {,threatens Rc6} f5 (24... Bxd6 25. Rc6 Qb7 26. exd6 Rc8
27. Rdc1 $16 (27. d7 Rcd8 28. Rxe6 Rxd7 29. Qxb7 Rxb7 30. Ra6 a4 31. bxa4 bxa4
32. Rxa4 {is not enough for a win})) 25. Qf3 Bxd6 (25... a4 26. Rc6 Qb8 27. Qc3
$14) 26. Rc6 Qb7 27. exd6 Rd7 (27... a4 28. Rc7 Qxf3+ 29. Kxf3 {White keeps
some chances}) 28. Ra1 {and White enjoys a long lasting advantage, though it
is still far from winning.}) 24... a4 25. bxa4 bxa4 26. Qxa4 Bxd6 $1 {So, my
opponent managed to eliminate all queenside pawns. The cost is the queen
sacrifice for a rook and a knight.} (26... Qb2 27. Qf4 Qxe2 28. Rd2 Qh5 29. Qd4
{White is slightly better.}) 27. Rb3 Qxb3 28. Qxb3 Bxe5 {Although all engines
give a big plus for White, it is obvious that White can not win this position.
Black's play is relatively simple and safe: try to exchange a pair of rooks
and build a fortress. I could not do anything against that, so we quickly
repeated moves.} 29. h4 g6 30. h5 Bg7 31. Rc5 Rd7 32. Rb5 Rfd8 33. Qf3 Rd5 34.
Rxd5 Rxd5 35. hxg6 hxg6 36. Qe4 Bf6 37. Qf3 Bg7 38. Qe4 Bf6 39. Qf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 38th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2010.07.22"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2734"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2010.07.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 138"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 a5 {
A rare move... and an even rarer reply!} 8. a3 (8. Nc3 {and}) (8. Bf4 {are
usually played.}) 8... Na6 {Black consequently waits for Nb1-c3 in order to
play ...Nf6-e4 in reply.} (8... Re8 {is also possible, with the same idea:} 9.
Bf4 d5 10. Ne5 Nbd7 11. Nc3 Ne4 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Qa4 Nxe5 14. dxe5 Qd4 15. Qc2
g5 $1 16. Red1 Qc5 17. b4 axb4 18. axb4 Qxb4 19. Bd2 Qc5 20. Bxe4 Rxa1 21. Rxa1
Bxe4 22. Qxe4 Rd8 $11 {1/2 Ikonnikov,V (2592)-Spoelman,W (2448)/Vlissingen
2008/CBM 125 Extra (29)}) (8... d5 9. cxd5 exd5 {leads to a completely
different kind of position, which is rather comfortable for White. In the
following game, however, Black seized the initiative:} 10. Nc3 Ne4 11. Qc2 Nd7
12. Be3 f5 13. Qb3 c6 14. Nxe4 $6 (14. Rac1 $142 $14) 14... fxe4 15. Nd2 a4 16.
Qa2 Kh8 17. f3 Bg5 18. Bxg5 Qxg5 19. Nf1 c5 20. Rad1 cxd4 21. Rxd4 Nc5 $1 $36 {
1/2 Zatonskih,A (2440)-Hernandez Carmenates,H (2580)/Merida 2008/CBM 127 Extra
(63)}) 9. Nc3 Ne4 10. Qc2 Nxc3 11. Qxc3 f5 12. Bf4 Bf6 13. Rad1 {This allows
the black knight to powerfully enter the game.} (13. Qd2 $142 $14) 13... Nc5
14. Be5 $6 (14. Nd2 $142 {preventing ...Nc5-e4.}) 14... Ne4 {[%csl Ge4]} 15.
Qc2 d6 16. Nd2 $5 {Better late than never!} Bg5 $1 17. Bf4 Bxf4 18. gxf4 Qh4
19. Nxe4 Bxe4 20. Bxe4 fxe4 21. Qxe4 Rae8 (21... Qg4+ $5 22. Kh1 Qxf4 23. Qxe6+
Kh8 24. f3 Rae8 $44 {Black, however, takes a simpler course.}) 22. e3 e5 {
This leads to simplifications and a draw. White can't keep his extra pawn.} 23.
dxe5 dxe5 24. Qd5+ Kh8 25. Qf3 exf4 26. exf4 Rxe1+ 27. Rxe1 Qf6 28. b4 axb4 29.
axb4 g5 30. f5 Qxf5 31. Qxf5 Rxf5 32. Re7 c5 33. Rb7 Rf4 34. Rb8+ Kg7 35. Rb7+
Kh8 36. Rb8+ Kg7 37. Rb7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 38th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2010.07.23"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2734"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2010.07.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 138"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 c5 6. O-O Nc6 7. Ne5 {
Traditionally, this has been considered to be the main line.} ({For} 7. Qa4 {
see Kramnik,V (2790)-Naiditsch,A (2684)/Dortmund 2010/CBM 138/[Marin] (1-0, 51)
}) 7... Bd7 8. Nxc4 {This move is known to lead to sharp play, which puts
Black under pressure at an early stage,. On the other hand, it faces White
with the risk of seeing his initiative being extinguished, because of the
delayed queenside development.} ({To my understanding,} 8. Na3 {is more
logical, because it develops a piece instead of moving for the third (and also
forth) time with an already developed one.}) 8... cxd4 9. Bf4 Be7 ({Decades
ago, the main theoretical discussions were held in the variation:} 9... Nd5 10.
Nd6+ Bxd6 11. Bxd6 Nde7 12. Nd2 $44) 10. Nd6+ Kf8 11. Nxb7 Qb6 12. Nd6 Qc5 {
Black has lost the right to castle, but can White sustain his initiative? If
not, Black's space advantage in the centre may become a telling factor.} 13.
Qb3 $146 {An interesting novelty, threatening Rc1 and preventing ...e5.} ({
The natural} 13. Nd2 {can be met in two ways:} e5 (13... Bxd6 $13 14. Nb3 $6 {
In the next line, this would lead to an advantage for White, because the
a3-square is under control already.} Qb4 15. a3 Qb8 $1 {In this line, 14.Rc1
is better, with unclear play.}) 14. N6e4 Nxe4 15. Nxe4 Qb6 16. Bd2 f5 17. Ng5
h6 18. Nf3 Rd8 {Weise,D-Krieger,H/Menden 1974/EXT 2001 (1/2, 52). Black's king
is relatively safe and White lacks space.}) (13. b4 $5 {is an interesting
attempt to improve over the previous line.} Qxb4 14. a3 Qc5 {White has
invested a pawn for taking the b4-square under control.} 15. Nd2 e5 (15... Bxd6
$2 {is bad now because of} 16. Nb3 $16) 16. N2e4 Nxe4 17. Nxe4 Qb6 18. Rb1 {
In this line, too, the pawn sacrifice has been justified: the open file is
available for the rook.} Qc7 19. Bd2 f5 20. Ng5 ({The spectacular} 20. f4 $6 {
seems to be unsound:} fxe4 21. fxe5+ Ke8 $1 22. Bf4 Be6 23. Bxe4 Rc8 24. Qa4
Qd7 $17 {Romanov,E (2554)-Meier,G (2556)/Neustadt 2008/CBM 126 Extra (0-1, 43)}
) 20... h6 21. Nf3 Kf7 22. e3 e4 23. Nxd4 Nxd4 24. exd4 Rab8 {with easy play
for Black, Gelfand,B (2723)-Adams,M (2729)/Yerevan 2008/CBM 124 Extra (1/2, 42)
}) ({Loginov has repeatedly (and rather unsuccessfully) tried} 13. Ne4 {
(The seventh jump with the same knight...)} Nxe4 14. Bxe4 g5 15. Bd2 (15. Bc1
f5 16. Bg2 Rc8 17. e3 Bf6 18. Nc3 Rd8 19. exd4 Nxd4 20. Be3 Bc6 $132 {Loginov,
V (2496)-Zacurdajev,M (2384)/St Petersburg 2007/CBM 118 ext (0-1, 59)}) 15...
Rb8 16. Na3 (16. e3 {Loginov,V (2555)-Kulikov,A (2285)/Kstovo 1997/CBM 059/
[Ribli] (0-1, 39)}) 16... Rxb2 17. Rc1 Qxa3 18. Bxc6 Qxa2 19. Bxg5 Bxg5 20.
Qxd4 Bxc1 21. Qxh8+ Ke7 22. Bxd7 Kxd7 23. Rxc1 Rb1 24. Qc8+ Ke7 25. Qc7+ Kf8 {
1/2 Loginov,V (2516)-Yevseev,D (2580)/St Petersburg 2004/CBM 101}) 13... Bxd6 {
Black should aim for simplifications, in order to justify the king's presence
in the centre. The last move also clears the e7-square.} (13... e5 $4 14. Qxf7#
) (13... h5 $2 14. Rc1 $18) (13... Na5 14. Qd3 Rd8 15. Rc1 Qb6 16. Qd2 $5 $14)
14. Rc1 Qb4 15. Bxc6 Rc8 $1 ({Releasing the tension with} 15... Bxc6 $6 {
offers White strong queenside initiative.} 16. Qxb4 Bxb4 17. Rxc6 Rd8 18. Rc4
Ba5 19. Na3 $16) 16. Qxb4 Bxb4 {The dark-squared bishop has been decoyed onto
a vulnerable square, but White has to decide whether to release the tension at
once or increase his pressure with an intermediate move.} 17. Bxd7 $6 {This
allows Black regroup harmoniously.} (17. a3 $5 {seems to be the critical line.
Black's problem is that the d6-square is not available yet (as will be in the
game line at a later stage).} Be7 (17... Rxc6 18. Rxc6 Bxc6 19. axb4 $16 {
[%csl Gf8,Gh8][%cal Ga1a7] White's advance in dveelopment is quite difficult
to deal with.}) (17... Ba5 18. Bxd7 Rxc1+ 19. Bxc1 Nxd7 20. Bd2 {deprives
Black from the possibility of ...a5, as in the game. Bishop retreats would
allow Bb4+ followed by Nd2, while after} Bxd2 21. Nxd2 {Black is a tempo down
if compared to the game, consisting of the absence of the generally useful
move ...a5.}) 18. Bxd7 Rxc1+ 19. Bxc1 Nxd7 20. Nd2 Nc5 21. b4 Na4 22. Nf3 Bf6
23. Bg5 $1 {[%cal Ga1c1] White maintains a slight lead in development and the
d4-pawn is weak. The black knight would not be too stable on c3 because of the
possible e2-e3, while the queenside majority may become dangerous.}) 17...
Rxc1+ 18. Bxc1 Nxd7 19. Bd2 ({At this stage,} 19. a3 {is ineffective because of
} Bd6) 19... a5 20. a3 Bxd2 21. Nxd2 Ke7 22. Nb3 Rb8 {Finally, Black has
completed his development. The a3-pawn is not too dangerous because of the
centralization of the black king.} 23. Nxa5 Rxb2 24. Nc6+ Kf6 25. a4 (25. Nxd4
e5 {leads to similar play.}) 25... Rxe2 26. Nxd4 Rd2 27. Nb5 Rd5 28. Rb1 Rd2
29. Ra1 Rd5 30. Rb1 Rd2 31. Ra1 Rd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 38th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2010.07.24"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2684"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Meyer,CD"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2010.07.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 138"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 {Die Pirc-Verteidigung ist eine früher eher
seltene, neuerdings gelegentlich anzutreffende Eröffnungswahl des großen
Meisters, hier unterstreicht sie seine Risikobereitschaft und seinen
Siegeswillen angesichts eines überraschenden, für ihn wenig erbaulichen
Turnierstandes in Dortmund.} 4. Be3 (4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Bd3 Na6 7. O-O c5
8. d5 Rb8 9. h3 Nc7 10. a4 a6 11. a5 b5 12. axb6 Rxb6 13. Na4 Rb8 14. c4 e6 15.
Qc2 exd5 16. exd5 Nfxd5 17. cxd5 Nxd5 18. Qf2 Rb4 19. f5 Nf4 20. Bc2 Re8 21.
Nc3 Bb7 22. Ra4 Bxc3 23. Bxf4 Rxb2 24. Bc1 Rb4 25. Rxb4 cxb4 26. fxg6 hxg6 27.
Ng5 f5 28. Bxf5 Qf6 29. Be6+ Kg7 30. Qe2 Qd4+ 31. Be3 Qe5 32. Rf7+ Kg8 33.
Rxb7+ {1-0 Karjakin,S (2725) - Kramnik,V (2790), Nice 2010/CBM 135 Extra}) 4...
a6 ({Schärfer als das populärere} 4... c6) 5. Qd2 ({I} 5. Be2 Bg7 6. Qd2 (6. h4
$5 b5 7. h5) 6... b5 7. Bh6 O-O 8. e5 (8. h4 b4 $1) (8. Bxg7 $142 Kxg7 9. Bf3
$11) 8... dxe5 9. Bxg7 Kxg7 10. Bf3 c6 11. dxe5 Qxd2+ 12. Kxd2 Rd8+ 13. Ke3
Ng4+ 14. Bxg4 Bxg4 $15 {0-1/40, Smeets,J (2657) - Kramnik,V (2788), Wijk aan
Zee 2010/CBM 135/[Kramnik]}) ({II} 5. a4 {ist eine andere, ruhige und solide
Gangart, bei der Weiß kurz rochieren wird.}) 5... b5 {Im Hinblick auf ein
mögliches Be3-h6 verzögert Schwarz sein Königsfianchetto und nutzt die Zeit
besser für Aktivitäten am Damenflügel.} 6. f3 ({Keinerlei Probleme hatte
Schwarz nach} 6. Bd3 Bb7 7. a3 Nbd7 8. Nf3 e5 9. O-O exd4 10. Bxd4 Bg7 11. a4
b4 12. Nd5 c5 13. Bxf6 Nxf6 14. Nxf6+ Qxf6 15. e5 dxe5 16. Nxe5 O-O 17. f4 Qd6
18. Qe3 Rae8 $15 {remis/88, Dominguez Perez,L (2713) - Kramnik,V (2790), Nice
2010/CBM 135 Extra}) 6... Nbd7 7. Nge2 ({Hier gibt es Bissigeres, etwa} 7. g4 {
, und nun z.B.} Bb7 (7... Nb6) 8. g5 Nh5 9. Nge2 c5 10. Ng3 cxd4 11. Bxd4 e5
12. Be3 Nf4 13. h4 Qa5 14. a3 Rc8 15. O-O-O Rxc3 16. Qxc3 Qxc3 17. bxc3 d5 18.
Kb2 Bc5 19. Bxf4 $2 ({Besser war} 19. Bxc5 $142 Nxc5 20. exd5 {mit weißem
Vorteil} ({oder} 20. Re1) 20... Bxd5 (20... Na4+ 21. Kc1 Nxc3 22. Re1) 21. Re1
$16) 19... exf4 20. Ne2 $13 {/= und Weiß geriet gar ins Hintertreffen in
Amonatov,F (2625) - Timofeev,A (2664), Tomsk 2008, 0:1/40.}) 7... Nb6 8. Nf4 (
8. b3) 8... Bg7 9. a4 b4 10. Ncd5 Nbxd5 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 O-O $5 13. Qxb4
$5 {Auch Weiß hat nichts gegen ein scharfes, zweischneidiges Gefecht
einzuwenden und nimmt mit dem Bauern den Fehdehandschuh auf.} e6 {Freilich
möchte Schwarz rasch die Mitte öffnen und pocht auf seinen
Entwicklungsvorprung.} (13... e5 14. O-O-O $5) 14. Bc4 (14. dxe6 Bxe6 (14...
Qh4+ 15. Bf2 (15. g3 Qe7 16. exf7+ Rxf7) 15... Qe7) 15. Qd2 c5 $132) 14... Qh4+
15. Kd1 {Der Verzicht auf die Rochade erscheint sehr optimistisch. Solide
Alternativen waren:} ({I} 15. Bf2 Qg5 16. O-O exd5 17. h4 Qf5 18. Bb3 $11 (18.
Bd3 Qf4)) ({II} 15. g3 Qh5 16. O-O exd5 17. Bd3 $11) 15... Bxd4 $6 (15... Re8
$142 $1 {gefällt mir hier am besten, nach z.B.} 16. Qd2 exd5 17. Bxd5 Rb8 $44 {
sollte Schwarz gute Kompensation für den geopferten Bauern haben.}) 16. Bxa6 e5
$6 ({Anstatt sich der Fesselung auf der 4. Reihe zu entziehen, ist Kramnik
nicht bereit, einen Rückwärtsgang einzulegen und wagt stattdessen ein
interessantes Läuferopfer. Wie aus der nachstehenden Anmerkung zum 17. Zug
jedoch zu schlußfolgern ist, wäre Schwarz mit} 16... Qe7 $142 $5 {relativ
besser beraten gewesen, z.B.} 17. Qxd4 ({Ebenso zu prüfen sind die
Verwicklungen nach} 17. Bh6 {, z.B.} Qf6 $5 (17... Bg7 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Bxc8
Rfxc8 20. dxe6 Qxe6 21. Qc3+ Kg8 22. Re1 $14) 18. Bxf8 Bxa6 19. Bh6 exd5 20. c3
Be5 21. f4 Qh4 22. fxe5 Qxh6 $14) 17... e5 18. Qd2 Bxa6 19. b3 (19. h4 e4)
19... Rfc8 20. Ke1 c6 21. dxc6 Rxc6 22. Kf2 d5 23. c3 $14) 17. Bxc8 $6 ({
Nach dem Motto "nicht kleckern, sondern klotzen" hält Naiditsch konsequent
dagegen und stellt Kramniks Opferangebot auf die Probe. Indes wäre auch hier
ein Rückzug schlauer gewesen, und zwar} 17. Bb5 $142 $5 {und nun
beispielsweise:} Ba6 (17... Qf6 18. Bxd4 exd4 19. Bc6) 18. Bxa6 (18. Ra3) 18...
Rxa6 19. a5 (19. c3 $2 Rb6 20. Qc4 Rxb2 21. cxd4 Rfb8 $44 {, siehe Anmerkung
zum 20. Zug von Schwarz}) 19... Qf6 (19... Raa8 20. c3 Rfb8 21. Qc4 Rxb2 22.
cxd4 Rxg2 (22... Rab8 $2 23. a6 $18) 23. Re1 $16) 20. Bxd4 exd4 21. Re1 Rfa8
22. Ra4 $16) 17... Rfxc8 18. c3 Rab8 19. Qc4 c5 $2 ({Damit überspannt Schwarz
definitiv den Bogen. Erforderlich war} 19... Rxb2 $1 {mit zum Ausgleich
führenden Angriff, allerdings nicht mehr:} 20. cxd4 Rcb8 21. Rc1 (21. a5 $6
R8b4) 21... e4 $44 {/=, z.B.} 22. Rf1 (22. Rc2 Rb1+ 23. Rc1 R1b2 $11) 22...
Rxg2 23. Qxc7 Rb3 24. Rc3 Rb1+ 25. Rc1 (25. Bc1 $2 e3 $1 $19) 25... Rb3 $11 {
, und allem Anschein nach ist die Stellungswiederholung forciert.}) 20. Bc1 $1
$16 {Nun ist nicht zu sehen, wie Schwarz aus dem Dilemma herauskommen kann.} e4
({Kramnik versucht mit allen Mitteln, weiter zu komplizieren, während die
folgenden Alternativen die Chose vereinfachen und dem Weißen, der einen
prächtigen a-Bauern in der Hinterhand hält, in die Hände spielen: I} 20... Bf2
21. Qxh4 Bxh4 22. Kc2) ({II} 20... Re8 21. Re1 e4 22. Rxe4 Rxe4 23. fxe4 Be5
24. Qe2 Bxh2 25. a5) 21. cxd4 exf3 22. gxf3 Re8 ({Falls} 22... Qh5 {, so kann
z.B.} 23. Ra3 Rb4 24. Qe2 Rxd4+ 25. Bd2 Qxd5 26. Kc1 $18 {folgen.}) 23. Ra3 $6
({Ungenau, der gegebene Plan zur Konsolidierung bestand in} 23. Kc2 $1 {
(-b1), z.B.} Qf2+ 24. Kb1 Qxf3 25. Rf1 Qg2 (25... Qe4+ 26. Qc2 (26. Ka2 $4 Rb4
$19 27. Qa6 Qxd5+ 28. Kb1 Qe4+ 29. Ka2 Ra8) 26... Qxd4 (26... Qxd5 27. dxc5)
27. Rd1 $18) 26. Rd1 Re2 (26... Qg4 27. Rd2) 27. Ra2 Rb4 28. Qc3 Qxd5 29. Ra3
Qe4+ (29... Rxh2 30. Qf3) 30. Qd3 $18) 23... Rb4 24. Qf1 Qxd4+ 25. Kc2 c4 ({
Vielleicht konnte Schwarz mit} 25... Reb8 {mehr Probleme bereiten, wenngleich
nach z.B.} 26. Ra2 Qxd5 (26... Rxa4 27. Rxa4 Qxa4+ 28. Kb1) 27. Kb1 $16 {
am weißen Vorteil kaum zu rütteln ist.}) 26. Qd1 Qf2+ 27. Bd2 Re2 28. Ra2 Qxf3
(28... c3 29. bxc3 (29. Kxc3 $4 Qc5+ 30. Kd3 Qc4#) 29... Rb8 30. Re1 $18 {
, z.B.} Rxe1 31. Qxe1 Qb6 32. Qa1 Qb3+ 33. Kc1 Qc4 34. Ra3) 29. Re1 $2 {
Räumt dem Gegner eine letzte, versteckte Chance ein.} ({Richtig war die
Entfesselung} 29. Kc1 $142 {und nach} c3 30. Bxc3 (30. bxc3) 30... Rb3 31. Kb1
(31. Qxb3 $2 Qe3+ 32. Kb1 (32. Kd1 $2 Rd2+ $1 33. Bxd2 Qxb3+ $19) 32... Qe4+
33. Kc1 Qe3+ $11) 31... Qe4+ 32. Ka1 $18 {wäre alles klar gewesen, z.B.} Qg2
33. Qf1 Qxd5 34. Qxe2 Qxh1+ 35. Qe1 $18) 29... Qb3+ $2 {So aber verliert
Schwarz chancenlos.} ({Der am Brett kaum zu findende, chancenreiche
Rettungsversuch geht über} 29... Qf5+ $1 {und nun:} 30. Kc1 c3 $1 31. Rxe2 (31.
Bxc3 $2 Qf4+ 32. Kb1 (32. Bd2 $2 Rc4+ 33. Kb1 Rxd2 $19) 32... Qe4+ 33. Kc1 (33.
Ka1 $2 {wird durch den herrlichen Problemzug} Rd4 $3 {widerlegt:} 34. Qc1 (34.
Qxe2 Qxe2) (34. Qb1 Rxe1 35. Bxe1 Qxd5 $19 {/\Rd1}) 34... Rxe1 35. Bxe1 Qg4 $1
$19 {/\Rd1}) 33... Qe3+ (33... Qf4+ $11) 34. Kb1 Qe4+ 35. Kc1 Qe3+ $11 {
mit Stellungswiederholung}) 31... cxd2+ 32. Rxd2 Rc4+ 33. Rc2 Rf4 $14 {Nun
verliert Weiß unweigerlich seine Dame (im Tausch gegen den schwarzen Turm).
Das anstehende komplexe Endspiel (2 Türme vs Dame) ist zwar schwer
einzuschätzen, aber da das weiße Freibauernduo noch zurück ist, die schwarze
Dame außerordentlich agil ist und ggf. auch schwarze Freibauern (d und f) bald
laufen werden, tendiert der Kommentator dazu, daß Schwarz sich halten kann.
Die folgenden Anregungen mögen dies untermauern:} 34. b3 (34. b4 Rf1 35. Qxf1
Qxf1+ 36. Kb2 Qf6+ 37. Kb3 Qf3+ 38. Rc3 Qxd5+ 39. Ka3 f5 $14 40. Rac2 (40. Rb2
f4 41. b5 Qd4 42. Rbb3 Qb6 43. Rc4 g5 44. Rbc3 Kg7) (40. a5 f4 41. Rac2 Qd1 42.
Rc1 Qe2) (40. b5 Qd4 41. Rac2 f4) 40... f4 41. b5 Qd4 42. Rc1 (42. a5 Qd5 $1)
42... Kg7 43. Rb3 Qb6 44. Rf3 (44. Rc6 Qg1 $1) 44... d5 45. Rc6 Qa7 46. b6 Qe7+
47. Kb3 (47. Kb2 Qe5+) 47... Qe4) (34. a5 Rf1 35. Rd2 (35. a6 $4 Rxd1+ 36. Kxd1
Qxd5+) 35... Qc8+ $1 36. Kb1 (36. Rc2 Rxd1+ 37. Kxd1 Qg4+ 38. Kc1 (38. Kd2 Qd4+
) 38... Qg1+ $11) 36... Qf5+ 37. Kc1 (37. Ka1 $2 Qf3 $1 $19) 37... Qc8+ 38. Kb1
$11) 34... Rf1 35. Qxf1 Qxf1+ 36. Kb2 Qd3 37. a5 (37. Ra3 Qd4+ 38. Ka2 Qd3 39.
Rc8+ (39. Rb2 f5 (39... Qa6) 40. a5 Qa6) 39... Kg7 40. a5 Qd2+ 41. Kb1 Qb4 42.
Kb2 Qd2+ 43. Rc2 Qd4+ 44. Ka2 Qd3 45. Rb2 (45. Kb1 Qd1+ 46. Rc1 Qd3+ 47. Rc2
Qd1+ $11) (45. Rc4 Qd2+ 46. Kb1 Qd1+ $11) 45... Qa6 46. Rd2 (46. b4 Qc4+ 47.
Rab3 f5) 46... f5 $14) 37... Qd4+ 38. Ka3 Qxd5 39. b4 (39. Ka4 Qe4+ 40. Rc4
Qe8+) 39... Qd3+ 40. Ka4 d5 $14) 30. Kb1 $18 Rxe1 31. Qxe1 c3 32. Bxc3 Re4 33.
Qf1 Qxd5 34. Ra3 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 38th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2010.07.25"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2010.07.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 138"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. cxd5 exd5 7. e3 c5 8.
dxc5 Qa5 9. Rc1 Ne4 10. Qxd5 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Bxc3+ 12. Kd1 O-O {This line was
thoroughly examined by GM I.Stohl in his annotations to Kramnik - Ponomariov 
(CBM 133).} 13. Bc4 (13. Be7 $6 Re8 14. Bd6 Nf6 15. Qb3 Ne4 16. Bc4 Be6 17. Ke2
Bxc4+ 18. Qxc4 b5 19. Qd5 b4 $17 {1/2 Gurevich,D (2578)-Gareev,T (2614)/Irvine
USA 2010/The Week in Chess 822 (53)}) 13... Nf6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Ke2 b5 16.
cxb6 $146 {[%mdl 8] A simple course, instead of the unclear and complicated} (
16. c6 Ba6 17. Qf5 $5 Qa3 $2 (17... Bb2 18. Rc2 g6 $13 {I.Stohl}) 18. Bd3 Rfd8
19. c7 $2 (19. Qxh7+ Kf8 20. c7 $16 {I.Stohl}) 19... Qxa2+ 20. Nd2 Rxd3 $1 21.
Qxd3 b4 $13 {1-0 Kramnik,V (2772)-Ponomariov,R (2739)/Moscow 2009/CBM 133/
[Stohl] (81)}) 16... Qxd5 $6 (16... axb6 $142 17. Qxa5 Rxa5 18. Rhd1 (18. Rc2
Bf5 $44) 18... Ba6 {with good drawing chances as Black recaptures the a2 pawn.}
) 17. Bxd5 Ba6+ 18. Bc4 axb6 19. a4 {White now keeps his extra pawn. The best
Black can get is the endgame "R+B+3p" vs. "R+N+4p" with pawns on the same side,
which is not easy to hold.} Bb2 20. Rc2 Rfc8 21. Nd2 b5 22. axb5 Bxb5 23. Rb1
Bxc4+ 24. Rxc4 Bf6 25. Rxc8+ Rxc8 {[%mdl 4096]} 26. Ne4 Re8 27. f4 ({The rook
endgame after} 27. Nxf6+ gxf6 {is drawn - here doubled pawns help Black's
defence.}) 27... Bd4 $4 {A strange decision. Black himself creates a passed
pawn for White, after which the rook ending will be winning for him. Something
wrong with the nerves?} (27... Be7 {, tenaciously defending.}) 28. exd4 Rxe4+
29. Kd3 f5 30. g3 Re7 31. Rb5 (31. Rb5 g6 32. d5 Kf7 33. Kd4 h5 34. d6 Re2 35.
Re5 $18 {[%csl Gd6]}) 1-0

[Event "Shanghai Masters"]
[Site "Shanghai"]
[Date "2010.09.03"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D52"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2010.09.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 138"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 Qa5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
Qd2 Bb4 9. Rc1 h6 10. Bh4 c5 11. a3 Bxc3 12. bxc3 b6 13. c4 (13. Bd3 Ba6 {
(another theoretical line) is rather comfortable for Black;} 14. c4 Qxd2+ 15.
Nxd2 $6 {can now be met with} cxd4 $1 16. exd4 Nf4) 13... Qxd2+ 14. Nxd2 Ne7 $1
{The most accurate retreat.} ({After} 14... N5f6 {the black knights rather
disturb each other although it is not easy for White to exploit. Here are some
examples:} 15. Be2 (15. f3 Ba6 (15... Bb7 16. Bd3 Rd8 17. Ke2 O-O 18. Nb3 Rc8
19. a4 Rfe8 20. a5 cxd4 21. Nxd4 Ne5 {1/2 Sedlak,N (2512)-Pinter,J (2526)/
Sibenik 2005/CBM 108 ext}) (15... O-O 16. Bd3 Ba6 17. O-O Rfe8 18. Rfd1 Rac8
19. Bb1 Bb7 20. Bc2 Nb8 21. Ba4 Red8 22. dxc5 {1/2 Romanov,E (2600)-Grachev,B 
(2667)/Dagomys 2010/CBM 136}) 16. Bg3 O-O 17. Nb3 Rfd8 18. Be2 Rac8 19. Kf2
cxd4 20. exd4 Nh5 21. Bd6 Nb8 22. Bb4 Nf4 23. Bf1 Nc6 24. Bc3 Ng6 $11 {1-0
L'Ami,E (2516)-Mueller,M (2362)/Germany 2005/CBM 106/[Mueller,Karsten] (82)})
15... Bb7 16. O-O (16. f3 $5 Ke7 17. O-O Rhd8 18. Rc2 Rac8 19. Rfc1 Bc6 20. Nb1
Nf8 21. Bf2 N8d7 22. Nc3 a6 23. a4 a5 24. Rb2 $14 {1-0 Babula,V (2597)-Ashton,
A (2303)/Pardubice 2008/CBM 125 Extra (57)}) 16... O-O (16... Rc8 17. a4 (17.
Rfd1 $5) 17... cxd4 18. exd4 Ke7 19. a5 Rhd8 20. Ra1 Nb8 21. axb6 axb6 22. Ra7
$6 Rd7 23. d5 $5 g5 24. Bg3 exd5 25. f4 Nc6 26. Ra3 Nd4 $13 {1/2 Makovsky,P 
(2501)-Vitolins,E (2454)/ICCF WS 2006/ICCF CBM 132 (64)}) 17. f3 (17. Rfd1 $5
Rac8 18. f3 Rfe8 19. Bf1 Bc6 20. Nb1 cxd4 21. exd4 e5 22. Nc3 exd4 23. Rxd4 Nc5
24. Rcd1 Re3 25. Be1 Ne6 26. Rd6 Ne8 27. R6d3 Rxd3 28. Rxd3 Nc5 29. Rd4 $14 {
1-0 Ivanisevic,I (2628)-Mastrovasilis,D (2580)/Budva 2009/CBM 130 (79)}) 17...
Rfd8 (17... cxd4 18. exd4 e5 19. c5 $1 bxc5 20. dxe5 Rfe8 {1/2 Grischuk,A 
(2719)-Filippov,V (2639)/Tripoli 2004/CBM 102 (60)} 21. f4 $16) (17... Rfe8 18.
Rfe1 Rac8 19. Bf1 Bc6 20. h3 Bb7 21. Bg3 Red8 22. Nb1 Ba6 23. Red1 cxd4 24.
exd4 Nb8 25. a4 Nc6 26. Bf2 e5 27. d5 Na5 28. Na3 Nd7 29. Nb5 $14 {1/2
Vaganian,R (2600)-Krasenkow,M (2668)/Barcelona 2007/CBM 121 (36)}) 18. Rfd1
Rac8 19. a4 g5 20. Bf2 Ne8 21. Nb3 cxd4 22. exd4 Nd6 23. Bf1 Ba6 24. Nd2 Nb8
25. c5 Bxf1 26. Kxf1 Nf5 27. Nc4 $14 {0-1 Bareev,E (2707)-Fressinet,L (2591)/
Cannes 2002/CBM 088/[Tsesarsky] (42)}) 15. Bd3 $5 {A rare but senseful
continuation, with the idea not to allow the black knight to f5.} (15. f3 {
[%cal Yh4f2] is usually played. The arising positions are nearly equal but
minor mistakes can cause trouble for Black:} Ba6 (15... Bb7 16. Be2 Nf5 (16...
Rc8 17. O-O cxd4 18. exd4 e5 19. d5 Nf5 20. Bf2 Nd6 21. a4 Ke7 22. a5 $14 {
1-0 Jovanic,O (2533)-Gjuran,D (2358)/Nova Gorica SLO 2010/The Week in Chess
796 (37)}) 17. Bf2 Rc8 18. O-O O-O 19. a4 Rfd8 20. Rfd1 $14 {0-1 Haba,P (2525)
-Fridman,D (2569)/playchess.com INT 2005/CBM 105 ext (?)}) (15... Nf5 16. Bf2
Nd6 (16... Bb7 17. Bd3 Nd6 18. Nb3 Ke7 19. Ke2 Rac8 20. dxc5 Nxc5 21. Nxc5 bxc5
22. e4 f6 {1/2 Volokitin,A (2674)-Asrian,K (2621)/Moscow 2008/CBM 123}) (16...
Ba6 17. Bd3 (17. Be2 Nd6) 17... Rc8 (17... Ke7 18. O-O (18. Ke2 Rhd8 19. g4 Nd6
20. Bg3 Nb7 21. Rhd1 Rac8 22. Nb3 Nb8 23. h4 cxd4 24. exd4 Nc6 25. Ke3 Nba5 $11
{1/2 Ruck,R (2574)-Kovacevic,B (2472)/Murska Sobota 2008/CBM 127 Extra (30)})
18... Rhd8 (18... Nd6 19. Rfe1 Rac8 20. g4 h5 21. h3 hxg4 22. hxg4 e5 23. Bg3
f6 24. a4 Nb7 25. Bf5 Rcd8 26. Rc2 Rhe8 27. Ne4 $14 {1-0 Bacrot,E (2721)
-Breutigam,M (2391)/Mainz 2009/CBM 131 Extra (36)}) 19. Rfd1 Rac8 20. a4 Nd6
21. Bf1 e5 22. d5 f5 23. Rc2 Rb8 24. Bg3 g5 $132 {1/2 Carlsen,M (2770)
-Ivanchuk,V (2746)/Leon 2009/CBM 130 Extra (48)}) 18. g4 Nd6 19. Bg3 Ke7 (19...
Nb7 $5 20. Kf2 Ke7 21. Nb3 Rhd8 22. Rhd1 Nb8 23. Bf1 cxd4 24. exd4 Nc6 25. d5
Nca5 $11 {1/2 Ivanov,S (2551)-Baburin,A (2541)/Stockholm 2009/CBM 130 Extra 
(41)}) 20. Kf2 Rhd8 21. Rhd1 Nb8 22. h4 (22. Be2 Nb7 23. Nb3 cxd4 24. Nxd4 Nc6
25. Nb5 Rxd1 26. Rxd1 Rd8 27. Rxd8 Kxd8 28. Nd6 Ke7 29. Nxb7 Bxb7 30. Ke1 f6
31. Kd2 {1/2 Eljanov,P (2716)-Malakhov,V (2689)/Helsingor 2008/CBM 125 Extra})
22... Nb7 23. d5 exd5 24. Bf5 Nd7 25. cxd5 g6 26. Bb1 c4 27. h5 $14 {1-0
Potkin,V (2613)-Malakhov,V (2675)/Serpukhov 2008/EXT 2009 (58)}) (16... cxd4 $5
{needs checking:} 17. exd4 e5 18. dxe5 Nxe5 19. c5 O-O 20. Be2 Rd8 21. Nc4 Nd3+
22. Bxd3 Rxd3 23. cxb6 Ba6 24. O-O {1/2 Smeets,J (2669)-Illescas Cordoba,M 
(2591)/Sestao ESP 2010/The Week in Chess 825}) 17. Be2 {After 15.f3, this
square is probably more appropriate for the white bishop than d3. It doesn't
obstruct the d-file.} (17. Bd3 Ba6 18. Ke2 f6 19. Rc2 Rc8 20. Rhc1 Kf7 21. Ne4
{1/2 Savu,I-Balabaev,F (2286)/ICCF WS 2005/ICCF CBM 125}) 17... Ba6 18. O-O Ke7
19. Rc2 Rhc8 20. Rfc1 Nb7 {Pay attention to the manoeuvring of this knight!}
21. Nb3 Nd8 22. Kf1 f6 23. Bg3 Bb7 24. Bd3 Bc6 25. Rb2 Nb7 26. h4 Rd8 27. Be2
Rac8 28. Bf2 Ba4 $11 {1/2 Lputian,S (2629)-Kveinys,A (2510)/Gothenburg 2005/
CBM 109 (51)}) 16. Be2 Rc8 17. O-O Nf5 18. Bf2 Ke7 (18... O-O $142 {A.Grischuk}
) 19. Rfe1 g5 20. Bf1 Nd6 21. a4 Rhd8 22. Rc3 Nf6 (22... Nb7 $5) 23. Rc2 $1 Nd7
24. Rec1 Nb8 25. a5 $14 {1-0 Grischuk,A (2710)-Dreev,A (2704)/Poikovsky 2005/
CBM 106/[Erenburg] (35)}) 15... f5 {Probably a bit premature.} (15... Bb7 16.
O-O Rc8 17. f3 (17. Bg3 $5) 17... f6 18. Bf2 h5 19. Nb1 Ba6 20. Rfd1 Kf7 21.
Nc3 f5 22. Ne2 cxd4 23. exd4 h4 24. Be3 h3 25. Bg5 hxg2 26. Nf4 Ng6 27. Nxg6
Kxg6 28. h4 e5 $11 {1/2 Antic,D (2512)-Fontaine,R (2526)/Vrnjacka Banja 2005/
EXT 2006 (37)}) 16. Bg3 Bb7 17. O-O Kf7 18. Rfd1 Rac8 19. d5 $5 {[%mdl 640] A
sudden turn: White sacrifices a pawn to start an attack against Black's
uncastled king.} Nf6 (19... exd5 20. cxd5 Bxd5 21. Nc4 Ke6 $6 22. f3 {[%cal
Ye3e4]}) 20. f3 $5 exd5 21. cxd5 Bxd5 22. e4 fxe4 23. fxe4 c4 $2 {A human
decision but the position now opens up even more - in favour of the white
bishops.} (23... Be6 $142 24. Nc4 Kg8 $5 25. a4 $1 Rd8 $13 {Despite White's
obvious compensation (Black's Rh8 is temporarily out of play), it is not easy
for him to continue his attack.}) 24. Nxc4 Nxe4 25. Bxe4 $6 {Missing} (25. Re1
$1 Nxg3 (25... Kg8 26. Bxe4 Bxc4 27. Bd6 $18) 26. Nd6+ Kf6 27. Nxc8 Rxc8 (27...
Nxc8 28. hxg3 {[%cal Yc1c7]}) 28. Rxc8 Nxc8 29. hxg3 {, and White should
convert his extra exchange.}) 25... Bxc4 26. Rd7 Bb5 $1 {[%mdl 256] The only
way for Black to co-ordinate his pieces.} 27. Bd5+ (27. Rxc8 Rxc8 28. Rxa7 Bc6
$5 29. Bd6 $140 Ke6 $1) 27... Kg6 28. Rxc8 Nxc8 29. Rc7 Rd8 30. Bb3 (30. Bf3
Re8 31. Bg4 Ne7 32. Rxa7 Nd5 $14) 30... Kf6 $1 {The black king defends itself!
In such situations it often resembles an ice hockey goalkeeper.} 31. Rf7+ Kg6
32. Rc7 Kf6 33. Be1 g5 34. Bc3+ Kf5 35. Bc2+ Ke6 36. Rh7 Nd6 37. Rxh6+ Kd5 38.
Rg6 Ne4 39. Bb4 (39. Bxe4+ $142 Kxe4 40. Rxg5 {with good winning chances,
despite the opposite-coloured bishops, due to White's connected passed pawns
on the kingside.}) 39... Rc8 40. Bxe4+ {White has nothing else anyway but...}
Kxe4 41. Rxg5 {[%mdl 4096]} Rc1+ 42. Kf2 Rc2+ {That's the difference! White's
king must now retreat to the 1st rank, which gravely complicates his task.} 43.
Ke1 (43. Kg3 $6 Bf1 $1 44. Rg4+ Ke3 45. Kh3 Rxg2 $1 46. Rxg2 Kf3 $11) 43... Bd3
44. h4 a5 45. Bd6 (45. Be7 Ke3 (45... Re2+ 46. Kf1) 46. Rg3+ Kd4 47. Bf6+ Kc4
$132) 45... Ke3 46. Rg3+ Kd4 47. Bf4 (47. Rg4+ $142 Kc3 {but White can hardly
win anyway.}) 47... Re2+ 48. Kd1 Ra2 49. h5 (49. Bd6 Ra1+ 50. Kd2 Ra2+ 51. Kc1
Ra1+ 52. Kb2 Rb1+ 53. Ka2 Re1 $11 {[%cal Rd4c3]}) 49... Be2+ 50. Ke1 Bxh5 51.
Be3+ Kc4 52. Bxb6 a4 {The lone g-pawn is not dangerous for Black.} 53. Ba5 Bf7
54. Bd2 Bd5 55. Rg4+ Kd3 56. Rg3+ Kc4 57. Rg4+ Kd3 58. Rg3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Shanghai Masters"]
[Site "Shanghai"]
[Date "2010.09.04"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Wang, Hao"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E36"]
[WhiteElo "2724"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2010.09.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 138"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 d5 7. Bg5 dxc4 8.
Qxc4 b6 9. Rd1 Ba6 10. Qa4 Qd7 $146 {This novelty by Kramnik, is his suggested
improvement over Ponomariov-Mamedyarov, (Dortmund, 2010) where Qd5 was played.}
11. Qc2 Qc6 $5 {A fascinating idea. Although it seems an attempt to quickly
draw by offering to exchange queens once again, that is not Black's plan at
all. Black saw that after the queen swap he would be able to play Rc8 and c5
before his opponent could do anything and achieve good play.} 12. Qxc6 Nxc6 13.
Bxf6 gxf6 14. Nf3 Bb7 15. e3 Ne7 16. Rc1 Rfc8 17. Bd3 c5 18. dxc5 bxc5 {
#Black got what he had played for, but how does he stand? c5 duly prevents a
piece from entering d4, and he has firm control over d5 as well. On the other
hand, he has four pawn islands to White's two, and White can use the c4 square
as pivotal point for his minor pieces, with Ne2-c4 plans for example.} 19. Ke2
({If White was to try and reposition the knight to c4, he had to do so now with
} 19. Nd2 {as Kramnik won't be giving him a second chance.}) 19... Rab8 20. Rc2
c4 21. Rxc4 Bxf3+ 22. Kxf3 Rxc4 23. Bxc4 Rxb2 24. Rc1 {The position is now
quite equal.} f5 25. g3 Kg7 26. a4 Ng8 27. h3 Nf6 28. Bd3 Ra2 29. Bc2 h5 30.
Kg2 a5 31. Bb3 Rb2 32. Bd1 Kg6 33. Bf3 Rb4 34. Bc6 Ne4 35. h4 Nf6 36. Rc2 Ng4
37. Kf1 e5 38. Bd7 Nf6 39. Bb5 Ne4 40. Kg2 Rb3 41. Bc6 Nc3 42. Rd2 Rb6 43. Be8
Ne4 44. Rc2 Rb3 45. Bc6 Rb4 46. Bb5 Rb3 47. Bc6 Rb4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Shanghai Masters"]
[Site "Shanghai"]
[Date "2010.09.05"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D19"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2010.09.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 138"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O
Nbd7 9. Qe2 O-O 10. e4 Bg6 11. Bd3 Bh5 12. e5 Nd5 13. Nxd5 cxd5 14. Qe3 Re8 15.
Bd2 {Kramnik has faced this line as Black twice before. Once against Topalov
in 2006, and again in 2008, against Anand.} Be7 {#The databases will assert
this is a theoretical novelty, and rightly so. However, this is still analyzed
theory. From where, you might ask? From the special Rybka 4 opening book,
where this was analyzed in detail.} 16. Rfc1 a6 17. Ng5 {Finally the players
deviate from the analysis which had b4 as the recommended move.} h6 18. Nh3 Bg6
19. Nf4 {An intriguing decision.} ({Was there a compelling reason to not play} 
19. Bxg6 fxg6 20. Qb3 Qb6 21. Qd3 Nf8 22. a5 {with a nice advantage for White.}
) 19... Bg5 20. Be2 {Kramnik sticks to his guns. He clearly feels that he is
better off not exchanging Black's bad bishop for his good, even if at the gain
of the pawn structure.} Bh7 21. g3 Nb8 22. h4 Be7 23. Nd3 Bf8 24. b4 Re7 25.
Bf1 Nc6 26. Nc5 a5 27. b5 Nb8 28. Rc3 Rc7 29. Rac1 Nd7 {#} 30. Nb3 $4 {A
mistake that throws the advantage away.} ({After} 30. Qf4 {removing the queen
from the 3rd rank. The threat of Nxd7 or Nxe6 would force Black to exchange
knights with} Nxc5 (30... Rac8 31. Nxb7) (30... b6 31. Nxe6 $1) (30... Rcc8 31.
Nxb7) 31. dxc5 {and Black may be strategically lost already.}) 30... Rxc3 31.
Qxc3 Ba3 32. Ra1 Bb4 33. Qb2 Qf8 34. Nc1 Be7 35. Nb3 Bb4 36. Nc1 Be7 37. Nb3
Bb4 38. Nc1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Shanghai Masters"]
[Site "Shanghai"]
[Date "2010.09.06"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2010.09.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 138"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 {Probably quite a surprise. Although about
20 years ago Shirov used to play this sharp line often, currently he mostly
preferred the Catalan, or Queen's Indian. The last time he essayed the
text-move was in 2001 after a long break...} c5 {Kramnik deviates from his
previous experience with 4.f3, in which he used the more popular alternative} (
4... d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. dxc5 f5 $5 ({For more details
about this line see my opening survey in CBM 128. It seems to be a plausible
alternative to the main move} 8... Qa5) 9. Qc2 Nd7 10. e4 fxe4 11. fxe4 N5f6
12. c6 bxc6 13. Nf3 Qa5 14. Bd2 Ba6 15. c4 Qc5 16. Bd3 Ng4 17. Bb4 Qe3+ 18. Qe2
O-O-O 19. Qxe3 Nxe3 20. Kf2 Ng4+ 21. Kg3 {Anand,V (2783)-Kramnik,V (2772)/WCh
Bonn/2008/ - see notes by Krasenkow in CBM 127.} Nge5 $132) 5. d5 {The most
natural and usual reaction.} (5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 {can transpose to the lines
from the above note with} d5 ({Black also has} 6... Nc6 {, aiming for
positions from the Sämisch system.})) 5... b5 {Leads to a sharp fight, but
this is difficult to avoid anyway after 4...c5.} ({After} 5... Nh5 {Whte has
the dangerous sacrifice} 6. Nh3 $5 Qh4+ (6... f5 7. e4 fxe4 8. fxe4 Qh4+ 9. Nf2
O-O 10. Be3 exd5 11. Qxd5+ Kh8 12. g3 Qf6 13. e5 Qe7 14. Be2 Nf6 15. exf6 Qxe3
16. fxg7+ Kxg7 17. O-O Nc6 18. Rae1 Qe5 19. Qd2 d6 20. a3 Bxc3 21. bxc3 Kh8 22.
Bf3 $18 {Mamedyarov,S (2742)-Ponomariov,R (2718)/Moscow WCh blitz/2008/}) 7.
Nf2 Qxc4 8. e4 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qxc3+ 10. Bd2 $44 {Returning material with} Qd4
11. Qc1 exd5 12. Bc3 Qa4 13. Qg5 O-O 14. Qxh5 d4 15. Bd2 d6 16. Qd5 $1 $14 {
also doesn't fully solve Black's problems.}) (5... d6 6. e4 O-O 7. Nge2 b5 8.
Nf4 $1 e5 9. Nfe2 bxc4 10. Ng3 Ba6 11. Bg5 h6 12. Be3 Bc8 $6 (12... Nbd7 13.
Nf5 Ne8 14. g4 $44 {Shirov}) 13. Bxc4 Nbd7 14. O-O Nb6 15. Be2 Bxc3 16. bxc3
Bd7 17. a4 Rb8 18. a5 Na8 19. Qd2 Qe7 20. f4 exf4 21. Rxf4 Nc7 22. Raf1 Nce8
23. Qd3 $16 {[%cal Yc3c4,Ye3d2,Yd2c3] /\c4,Bd2-c3,Shirov,A (2610)-Savon,V 
(2460)/USSR-ch/1991/}) ({The only way to keep the struggle in positional
waters is} 5... Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 d6 7. e4 e5 (7... Qe7 8. Ne2 Nbd7 9. Ng3 $14) 8.
Bd3 Nbd7 {, but this gives White () and a slight advantage without much risk
after} 9. Ne2 Nf8 10. h4 $5 h5 11. Qa4+ Bd7 12. Qa3 Qc7 13. Bc2 Kd8 14. Rb1 Ng8
15. Ng3 Bc8 16. Rb2 f6 17. Be3 g6 18. Bd3 Nh6 19. Kd1 Nf7 20. Kc2 Nd7 21. Kb1
Nh6 22. Ka1 a6 23. Rhb1 $14 {Volkov,S (2636)-Javakhishvili,L (2461)/Banja Luka/
2008/}) 6. e4 O-O $5 {A rare and provocative continuation, which is probably
stronger, than it's reputation. Black invites White to expand in the [+]
instead of the more usual} (6... bxc4 7. Bxc4 Nxd5 8. Bxd5 exd5 9. Qxd5 Nc6 10.
Nge2 Ba6 (10... O-O 11. O-O Ba6 12. Rd1 $16) {Although not all is clear here,
White certainly has an excellent score in this position and justifying Black's
weaknesses by active <=> is far from simple:} 11. a3 $5 ({Maybe even stronger
than the more often played} 11. Kf2 O-O 12. Rd1 Ba5 13. Bg5 Qb6 14. Be3 Rfb8 {
Berkes,F (2614)-Cao Sang (2545)/HUN-ch Budapest/2004/} 15. b3 $5 Nb4 16. Qxc5
Qxc5 17. Bxc5 Nd3+ 18. Rxd3 Bxd3 19. Nd5 $44 {Berkes}) 11... Bxc3+ 12. Nxc3 Qb6
(12... Nd4 $2 13. Bg5 $1 f6 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Qh5+ $18) 13. Kf2 c4+ 14. Kg3 O-O
15. Na4 Qa5 16. Nc5 Rfc8 17. Bd2 Qc7+ 18. Bf4 Qb6 19. Bd6 Rd8 20. Rac1 Bb5 21.
h4 $40 {Ganguly,S (2654)-Mahjoob,M (2510)/Calcutta/2009/}) 7. e5 {Double-edged,
but principled.} (7. Nh3 bxc4 8. Bxc4 Nxd5 (8... Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qa5 10. Qc2 d6
11. dxe6 Bxe6 12. Bxe6 fxe6 13. O-O Nc6 14. Bf4 e5 15. Bg5 $14 {Moskalenko,V 
(2535)-Morozevich,A (2590)/Moscow/1994/}) 9. Bxd5 exd5 10. Qxd5 Nc6 (10... Ba6
$5 $132 {/\} 11. Qxa8 $2 Qh4+ 12. Kd1 Nc6 $40) 11. O-O Ba6 12. Rf2 Nd4 13. Be3
Rc8 14. Nf4 Qc7 15. Qh5 Qa5 16. Ncd5 $36 {Simantsev,M (2402)-Golovchenko,G 
(2353)/Serpukhov/2004/}) (7. Bg5 h6 (7... exd5 8. cxd5 Re8 9. Qd2 a6 10. Nge2
d6 11. Ng3 Nbd7 12. Be2 c4 13. O-O Bc5+ 14. Kh1 h6 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. Qxe3 Nc5
17. Qd4 Bd7 18. Rab1 Qb6 19. b4 cxb3 20. axb3 $14 {Mamedyarov,S (2721)
-Fressinet,L (2658)/EU Cup Ohrid/2009/}) 8. Bh4 Re8 9. dxe6 Rxe6 10. Nge2 g5 $5
11. Bf2 bxc4 12. a3 Ba5 13. h4 g4 14. Nf4 Rb6 15. Qd2 Nc6 16. Bxc5 Rab8 $5 17.
Bxb6 Qxb6 18. O-O-O Nd4 19. Bxc4 (19. Kb1 Qb3 20. Rc1 d5 $1 $40) 19... Ba6 20.
b4 Bxb4 $36 {Volkov,S (2554)-Sakaev,K (2627)/FIDE WCh New Delhi/Teheran 2000/})
(7. Bd2 bxc4 8. Bxc4 Ba6 9. Bxa6 (9. b3 exd5 10. Nxd5 Nxd5 11. Bxd5 Qg5 $5 12.
Bxb4 Qxg2 13. Bxc5 Qf1+ 14. Kd2 Qd3+ 15. Ke1 Qf1+ 16. Kd2 Qd3+ 17. Ke1 {
1/2,Volkov,S (2636)-Gershon,A (2556)/EU Cup Chalkidiki/2002/}) 9... Nxa6 10.
Nge2 exd5 11. e5 Ne8 $5 (11... Bxc3 12. Bxc3 d4 13. exf6 dxc3 14. fxg7 Re8 15.
bxc3 Qe7 16. Qd2 c4 17. Kf2 Nc5 18. Nf4 Qg5 19. Rhd1 Re5 20. Kg1 Rae8 {
Rosenthal,J (2291)-Pelletier,Y (2589)/Biel/2010/} 21. Rab1 $14) 12. Nxd5 d6 13.
O-O Bxd2 14. Qxd2 dxe5 15. Rfd1 Nec7 16. Nec3 Nxd5 17. Qxd5 Qb8 18. Qc4 Qxb2
19. Rab1 Qc2 $15 {Vokac,M (2435)-Stocek,J (2584)/CZE-ch Havlickuv Brod/2008/})
7... Ne8 ({Even} 7... exd5 {deserves attention, although it's probably just
too wild:} 8. exf6 d4 (8... Qxf6 9. cxd5 Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 Qxc3+ 11. Bd2 $16) 9.
a3 Ba5 10. b4 dxc3 11. bxa5 Qxf6 12. Qd5 (12. cxb5 c2 13. Qd5 Qxa1 14. Ne2 Re8
15. Kf2 Nc6 $13) 12... b4 13. Bg5 (13. Qxa8 $6 Nc6 $40) 13... Qe6+ (13... Qa6
$5 14. axb4 cxb4 15. Kf2 $14 {/\} b3 16. Ra3) 14. Qxe6 fxe6 15. Be7 Na6 (15...
b3 16. O-O-O $18) 16. Bxf8 Kxf8 17. Bd3 Rb8 18. Ne2 d5 19. Kf2 d4 20. axb4 Nxb4
21. Bxh7 Ba6 22. Rhc1 Bxc4 23. Nxc3 dxc3 24. Rxc3 $18 {Legky,N (2510)-Levacic,
D (2385)/Cannes/1993/}) 8. f4 (8. cxb5 d6 $5 (8... a6 9. bxa6 exd5 $44) 9. Bf4
(9. dxe6 $142 Bxe6 10. exd6 Nxd6 11. Bf4 c4 12. Qa4 $13) 9... Nc7 $1 10. dxe6
Nxe6 11. Qd5 $2 (11. Bg3 d5 12. Kf2 Bb7 $15) 11... Nxf4 12. Qxa8 Qa5 13. Kf2 c4
$1 $40 14. Qe4 Qb6+ 15. Ke1 dxe5 16. Qxe5 Bd6 17. Qe4 Bb7 18. Qxc4 Rc8 19. Qa4
Qe3+ 20. Kd1 Be7 21. Kc2 Nd5 22. Bc4 Nb4+ 23. Kb1 Rxc4 {0-1,Malmstroem,J (1965)
-Baroin,B (2063)/corr/2005/}) (8. dxe6 fxe6 9. cxb5 a6 10. f4 axb5 11. Bd3 c4
12. Bc2 d5 13. Nf3 Nc6 14. Be3 d4 15. Bxd4 Nxd4 16. Qxd4 Qxd4 17. Nxd4 Rxf4 18.
Ndxb5 Bb7 19. g3 Rf3 20. O-O-O Bxc3 21. Nxc3 Rxc3 22. bxc3 Bxh1 23. Rxh1 Rxa2
24. Rd1 Ra5 25. Rd8 Kf8 $11 {Radjabov,T (2670)-Istratescu,A (2587)/EU-ch
Antalya/2004/}) 8... exd5 (8... d6 9. Nf3 bxc4 (9... Qa5 10. Bd2 $14) 10. Bxc4
Ba6 11. Bxa6 Nxa6 12. O-O Bxc3 13. bxc3 exd5 14. Qxd5 dxe5 15. Qxd8 (15. Qc4 $5
e4 16. Qxe4 {[%csl Ra6] פa6}) 15... Rxd8 16. Nxe5 f6 17. Nc6 Rd7 $6 (17... Rd3
$142 $1 $132) 18. Rb1 $1 Kf7 19. f5 $1 Kg8 20. Bf4 g5 21. fxg6 hxg6 22. Rb5 $16
{/\Ra5,Bluvshtein,M (2525)-Efimenko,Z (2643)/Montreal/2005/}) (8... bxc4 9.
Bxc4 Ba6 10. Bxa6 Nxa6 11. d6 $5 {[%csl Gd6,Ge5,Re8,Gf4] ()[+],פe8}) 9. cxd5
d6 10. Nf3 c4 ({Rybka indicates} 10... Nc7 $5 {, immediately putting extra
pressure on White's [+]. This certainly deserves attention as well:} 11. Be2
Bb7 12. O-O c4 (12... Bxc3 13. bxc3 Nxd5 (13... dxe5 14. d6 $5 Nd5 15. fxe5
Nxc3 16. Qc2 $44) 14. Qc2 $13) 13. Qc2 dxe5 14. fxe5 Nxd5 15. Ng5 g6 16. Bf3
Qb6+ 17. Kh1 {Geiger,W (2071)-Grafen,D (2324)/corr/2005/} Nxc3 18. bxc3 Bxf3
19. Rxf3 Be7 20. Be3 Qc6 21. Raf1 Bxg5 22. Bxg5 Nd7 23. Bh6 Nxe5 24. Rf6 Qd5
$13 {/=/+}) 11. a4 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8]} ({A logical new move instead of} 11. a3
Ba5 12. Be2 Bb7 13. O-O Nc7 14. Qc2 h6 ({Perhaps Black in analogy with the
previous note can afford even} 14... Nxd5 $5 15. Ng5 g6 $13) 15. a4 a6 16. Kh1
Re8 17. e6 Bxc3 18. exf7+ Kxf7 19. bxc3 Kg8 20. Nd4 Bxd5 21. axb5 Nxb5 22. Qd2
Nxd4 23. Qxd4 Bxg2+ 24. Kxg2 Rxe2+ 25. Kf3 {1/2,Daus,P (2237)-Herbst,B (2271)/
corr/2004/} Rxh2 26. Qd5+ Kh8 27. Qxa8 Qc8 28. Be3 Qh3+ 29. Ke4 Qg2+ 30. Rf3
Qc2+ 31. Kd5 Qd3+ 32. Ke6 Qg6+ 33. Kd5 Qd3+ $11) 11... Bg4 {[%mdl 64] White
undermines the <<P, in turn Black hits back against his [+] and the struggle
quickly heats up tactically...} (11... Nd7 12. Be2 $1 $14 (12. axb5 dxe5 $13 {
/\} 13. fxe5 $6 Nxe5 $1 14. Nxe5 Qh4+ 15. Ke2 Nd6 $36 {[%csl Re2] ->עe2}) (12.
e6 $6 fxe6 13. dxe6 Nc5 $15)) 12. axb5 {Very natural, but also} (12. Be2 {
is a valid alternative:} dxe5 (12... Nd7 13. Nd4 $5 Bxc3+ (13... Qh4+ 14. g3
Bxe2 15. Qxe2 Qh3 16. e6 $36) (13... Bxe2 14. Qxe2 dxe5 15. Nc6 Bxc3+ 16. bxc3
$16) 14. bxc3 Bxe2 15. Qxe2 Nc5 16. O-O Nxa4 17. Qf3 $44 {[%cal Yd4c6,Ye5e6] /
\Nc6,e6|^ White has safeguarded his [+] and he has realistic attacking chances.
}) 13. fxe5 (13. Nxe5 Bxe2 14. Qxe2 f6 $5 $132) 13... Nd7 14. Bf4 (14. Ng5 Nxe5
$1 15. Bxg4 h6 $13 {/=/+}) (14. Qd4 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Nc5 $32 {|^}) 14... Nb6 15.
axb5 (15. d6 Nxa4 16. Qc2 f6 $1 $15 {[%csl Re1] עe1}) 15... Nxd5 (15... Qxd5
16. Qxd5 Nxd5 17. Bd2 $14) 16. Bg5 Qd7 17. Bxc4 Nxc3 18. Qxd7 Bxd7 19. Bd2 $14
{/<=>}) 12... Nd7 13. e6 $5 ({After} 13. Ra4 Bxc3+ 14. bxc3 dxe5 $32 {[%csl
Re1] White dangerously falls behind in development, while his K is still in
the [+].}) (13. Be2 Bxf3 14. Bxf3 dxe5 15. O-O Nd6 $132 {/=}) 13... fxe6 14.
dxe6 Nb6 (14... Bxe6 $5 15. Ng5 Qe7 16. Nxe6 Qxe6+ 17. Qe2 Qxe2+ 18. Bxe2 d5
19. Be3 Nc7 $132) 15. Be2 Nc7 (15... Bxe6 16. Nd4 Nc7 17. O-O Bc5 18. Kh1 $13)
16. Ng5 (16. O-O Bxe6 {transposes to the line from the previous note after} ({
Black can consider also} 16... Nxe6 17. h3 Bh5 {, but he must reckon with} 18.
f5 $5 $14) (16... Bxc3 17. bxc3 Nxb5 18. Bd2 Bxe6 19. Ng5 $44) 17. Nd4 {
-15...Be6}) 16... Bxe2 $2 {Black relies on tactics to win back the o^e6, but
here he had the last chance to play the simple and direct} (16... Bxe6 $13) 17.
Qxe2 {[%cal Re6e7] /\e7+-} d5 ({This almost surely wasn't the original idea,
but} 17... Qe7 18. O-O {is not ideal:} (18. Qe4 g6 {[%cal Rd6d5] /\d5|^}) {
Similar is} 18... Bc5+ (18... h6 {allows the powerful} 19. f5 $1 hxg5 20. Ne4
$40 {Here a large part of Black's pieces remains on the <<, while his K has to
face a vicious onslaught. A possible sample line is} d5 (20... Nxe6 21. Nxg5
$16) 21. Bxg5 Qe8 22. Ng3 Be7 23. Qg4 Bxg5 24. Qxg5 Qxb5 25. Nh5 Qxb2 26. Rae1
$1 {[%cal Rf5f6] /\f6+-}) 19. Kh1 h6 20. f5 hxg5 21. Ne4 Qe8 22. Nxc5 $1 (22.
Bxg5 Nxe6 $132) 22... dxc5 23. Bxg5 $40 {White can advance his Pe6 and (or)
Pf5, or transfer his major pieces to the <->h (Qg4-h4,Rf3-h3), it's difficult
to parry all his ideas without major concessions.}) 18. O-O {[%cal Rf4f5] /\f5}
Qf6 (18... h6 19. Nf7 Qf6 20. f5 Bxc3 21. bxc3 Nxb5 22. Bd2 $16 (22. Qg4 $16) {
/\} 22... Nxc3 23. Bxc3 Qxc3 24. f6 $18 {->}) 19. f5 $16 {[%csl Ge6,Gf5] WIth
his extra and protected o^ White is clearly on top, but the adventures are not
over.} Rae8 20. Rxa7 $6 {A tactical mistake.} (20. Nf7 $2 {[%cal Rc1g5]} Nxe6
21. fxe6 Qxe6 22. Qxe6 Rxe6 23. Rxa7 Bc5+ 24. Kh1 d4 25. Nd1 Be7 $15) (20. Be3
$142 $1 $16 {/\} d4 (20... h6 21. Rxa7 $18) 21. Nce4 Qe5 22. Qh5 h6 23. Qg6
hxg5 24. f6 $18) 20... Nxe6 $1 {By eliminating the powerful o^ Black revives
his hopes.} 21. Nxe6 Rxe6 22. Qf2 (22. fxe6 $4 Bc5+ $19) (22. Be3 Rxe3 23. Qxe3
d4 24. Qe6+ Qxe6 25. fxe6 dxc3 26. Rxf8+ Kxf8 27. bxc3 Bxc3 $132) 22... Qe5 $6
{Black returns the favour.} (22... Ree8 23. Rc7 $5 $14) (22... Re5 $142 23. Be3
(23. g4 $2 d4 $1 $36) 23... Rxe3 24. Qxe3 d4 $132 {-22.Be3 leads to the line
from the previous note.}) 23. g4 Rg6 24. Qg2 $5 {The B aims for f4 and this is
probably the best choice.} (24. Qf4 {is an attempt to calm things down and
swap queens, but after} Re6 $5 {Black can still put up a fight:} 25. Qf3 (25.
Qxe5 $5 Rxe5 {[%cal Rd5d4] /\d4<=>} 26. Bf4 Ree8 27. Bc7 Bc5+ 28. Kh1 $36)
25... Re7 (25... d4 $2 26. Bf4 $18) 26. Rxe7 Qxe7 27. Be3 (27. Nxd5 Qc5+ 28.
Be3 Qxd5 29. Bxb6 Qxb5 $14) 27... Bc5 28. Nxd5 Bxe3+ 29. Nxe3 Qe5 $16 {/+/=})
24... Rgf6 (24... Qd4+ 25. Kh1 Rxg4 26. Be3 $1 Qd3 27. Qxg4 Qxf1+ 28. Qg1 Qxg1+
(28... Qf3+ $143 29. Qg2) 29. Kxg1 Rb8 (29... Nc8 30. Rd7 $18) 30. Bd4 Bf8 31.
Kg2 {[%csl Gb5,Rd5][%cal Ra7c7,Rc7c6] /\Rc7-c6+-,><d5,o^b5}) 25. Bf4 Qd4+ 26.
Qf2 $1 $16 {Even now White forces an _|_, in which he will have an extra P and
majorities on both flanks - all in all excellent chances, but still not a
completely clear win.} (26. Kh1 Bxc3 27. bxc3 Qxc3 $13) 26... Qxf2+ (26... Bxc3
27. bxc3 Qxc3 28. Be3 Nc8 29. Rd7 $40 {[%cal Re3d4] ><d5,/\Bd4} Qd3 $2 30. Bc5
Re8 31. Re1 $1 $18) 27. Kxf2 d4 (27... g6 28. Be3 $1 gxf5 29. g5 $18) 28. Ne4
R6f7 (28... Re6 29. fxe6 Rxf4+ 30. Kg2 Rxe4 31. Rb7 $18) 29. Rxf7 Rxf7 30. Ra1
h6 (30... Rb7 31. Be5 d3 32. Bd4 {is similar.}) 31. Be5 d3 32. Bd4 Rb7 33. h4 (
33. Ra6 $142) 33... Bf8 34. Rc1 Nd5 (34... Be7 $142 $5) 35. Rxc4 Rxb5 36. Rc8
Kf7 37. g5 Ne7 $2 $138 {[%mdl 8192] The tension combined with a lack of time
takes its toll.} ({The only way to fight on, albeit in a dreary _|_, was} 37...
d2 $8 38. Nxd2 (38. Ke2 Nf4+ 39. Kxd2 Rxf5 $14) (38. g6+ Kg8 39. Nxd2 Nf4 $5
40. Ke3 Rxf5 41. Ke4 Nxg6 42. Kxf5 Ne7+ $14) 38... Ne7 39. g6+ (39. Rc5 Rxc5
40. Bxc5 Nxf5 (40... hxg5 41. hxg5 Nxf5 42. Bxf8 Kxf8 43. Kf3 $16) 41. g6+ {
-39.g6+}) 39... Kg8 40. Rc5 Rxc5 41. Bxc5 Nxf5 42. Bxf8 Kxf8 43. h5 $16) (37...
hxg5 $2 38. Nxg5+ Ke7 39. Ne6 $18) 38. Nd6+ (38. Nd6+ Kg8 39. Rxf8+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Shanghai Masters"]
[Site "Shanghai"]
[Date "2010.09.07"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "142"]
[EventDate "2010.09.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 138"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. Qa4 (6. O-O Rb8 {doesn't
necessarily transpose into 5...a6 lines - Black will play this move only if
it's necessary. For this reason White mostly prefers the game continuation,
aiming to regain the sacrificed pawn as soon as possible.}) 6... Bb4+ (6... Nd5
{(d7)} 7. Qxc4 Nb6 {is another plausible attempt in this line:} {Perhaps White
should also reconsider the older} 8. Qd3 (8. Qb5 a6 9. Qd3 e5 10. Nxe5 Nb4 11.
Qd1 Qxd4 12. Qxd4 Nc2+ 13. Kd1 Nxd4 14. Be3 Nf5 15. Bxb6 cxb6 {A more recent
try is} 16. Nd2 (16. Nc3 Bc5 17. e3 (17. Nd3 O-O 18. Ne4 Be7 19. e3 Bd7 20. Ke2
Bc6 21. Rhc1 Rfe8 22. g4 Nh6 23. Bf3 Rad8 24. h3 f5 25. gxf5 Nxf5 $36 {
Rodshtein,M (2609)-Naiditsch,A (2691)/EU-ch Rijeka/2010/}) 17... O-O 18. Ke2
Re8 19. Nd3 Rb8 20. Rhc1 Be6 21. Bd5 Bd7 22. Ne4 Bf8 23. Rc7 Rbd8 24. Nc3 Nd4+
25. Kd2 Be6 $132 {Kramnik,V (2772)-Naiditsch,A (2654)/Dortmund/2007/ for more
see notes by marin in CBM 119.}) 16... Bd6 (16... Bc5 17. Nd3 Rb8 (17... O-O
18. Nxc5 bxc5 19. Rc1 $16) 18. Rc1 Be7 19. e3 O-O 20. Ke2 Bd7 21. Nc4 Bd8 22.
Rhd1 Re8 23. b3 Bb5 24. Bh3 Bxc4 25. Bxf5 Bb5 26. a4 Bxd3+ 27. Rxd3 $16 {
Eljanov,P (2717)-Naiditsch,A (2685)/CRO-chT Sibenik/2009/}) 17. Nd3 O-O 18. Rc1
Rb8 19. e3 Be6 20. a3 Rfe8 21. Rc3 Be7 22. Rc7 Nd6 23. Nf4 Bg4+ 24. Bf3 Bd8 25.
Rc3 Bxf3+ 26. Nxf3 b5 27. Nd5 Ne4 28. Rc2 Nf6 $132 {1/2 Gongora Reyes,M (2451)
-Oms Pallisse,J (2494)/Barbera del Valles 2010/The Week in Chess 818 (39)})
8... e5 9. Nxe5 Nb4 10. Qc3 Qxd4 11. O-O Qxc3 12. Nxc3 f6 13. Nf3 c6 14. Nd4
Bd7 15. a3 N4d5 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 {with the idea} 17. Bd2 $5 Bd6 18. e4 Nc7 19.
Rac1 g6 20. Bc3 $14 O-O-O $6 21. Nxc6 bxc6 22. Bxf6 Rhe8 23. Bxd8 Rxd8 24. f4
$16 {Haba,P (2536)-Babula,V (2594)/CZE-chT/2008/}) 7. Bd2 Nd5 (7... Bd6 8. Na3
$5 Bxa3 9. Qxa3 Ne4 10. Be3 $44) 8. Bxb4 Ndxb4 9. Nc3 {This move recently
became popular mainly thanks to Aronian himself.} ({The line} 9. a3 b5 10. Qxb5
Nc2+ 11. Kd2 Bd7 $5 ({Black doesn't have to go for} 11... Nxa1 12. Qxc6+ Bd7
13. Qxc4 c5 14. Qa2 Qa5+ 15. Nc3 cxd4 16. Nxd4 Rd8 17. Rxa1 $13 {/+/=}) 12.
Kxc2 Nxd4+ 13. Nxd4 Bxb5 14. Nxb5 Rb8 15. N1c3 O-O 16. Rhd1 Qf6 $132 {gives
Black sufficient <=> and perhaps even chances to fight for more than that.}) ({
After} 9. O-O Rb8 10. Na3 ({After the older continuation} 10. Nc3 a6 11. Ne5
O-O 12. Nxc6 Nxc6 13. Bxc6 bxc6 14. Qxc4 Qd6 15. e3 Rxb2 16. Rab1 Rb6 {White
has compensation for the P, but not more than that:} 17. f4 a5 18. Qa4 Ba6 19.
Rfd1 c5 20. Ne4 Qd5 21. Rxb6 Qxe4 22. Rxa6 {1/2,Filippov,V (2574)-Rausis,I 
(2508)/Dubai op/1999/}) 10... O-O 11. Qb5 b6 12. Qxc4 Ba6 13. Nb5 Qd5 14. Qxd5
Nxd5 15. a4 Na5 16. Ne5 Rbd8 17. Bxd5 Bxb5 18. axb5 Rxd5 19. b4 Nb3 20. Nc6 (
20. Rxa7 Nxd4 21. Nc6 Nxe2+ 22. Kg2 {Cernousek,L (2436)-Klovans,J (2428)/Mlada
Boleslav/2008/} Rd7 23. Ne5 Rd5 $11) 20... Nxa1 21. Rxa1 Ra8 22. Ne7+ Kf8 23.
Nxd5 exd5 24. Rc1 Rc8 25. Ra1 Ra8 26. Rc1 Rc8 27. Ra1 {1/2,Rodshtein,M (2609)
-Macieja,B (2639)/Copenhagen/2010/ White already repeated moves - if Black's K
get over to d7 and manages to play c6, he can already take over the initiative.
}) 9... Bd7 {The main point why White postponed castling shows after} (9... a6
10. Ne5 O-O (10... Rb8 11. Nxc6 Nxc6 12. Bxc6+ bxc6 13. Qxc6+ Qd7 14. Qxd7+
Bxd7 15. O-O-O Ke7 16. e4 Rb6 17. Rhe1 g5 18. Rd2 h5 19. f3 h4 20. g4 Rd8 21.
Re3 $14 {Georgiev,K (2669)-Arnaudov,G (2404)/Kyustendil/2010/}) 11. Nxc6 Nxc6
12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Qxc4 Rb8 14. b3 Qd6 15. Ne4 Qb4+ 16. Qxb4 Rxb4 17. O-O-O $1
e5 18. Rd2 a5 19. Rhd1 a4 20. Nc5 axb3 21. axb3 Be6 22. Kb2 Rb5 23. Rc1 Rfb8
24. Rc3 exd4 25. Rxd4 $16 {[%csl Rc6,Rc7] ק, Aronian,L (2750)-Adams,M (2712)/
Wijk aan Zee/2009/}) 10. O-O a5 $5 (10... Rb8 11. Qb5 {and White wins the P
back with a space advantage. If Black gets more ambitious, he can end like
this:} Nc2 $2 12. Rad1 N2xd4 13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14. Qc5 Nf5 15. Nb5 $1 c6 16. Nd6+
Nxd6 17. Rxd6 b6 18. Qxc4 {1-0,Georgiev,K (2669)-Gutov,A (2437)/EU-ch Rijeka/
2010/}) ({Somewhat more risky than the text-move, but still playable is} 10...
a6 11. Ne5 b5 12. Qa3 (12. Nxc6 Nxc6 13. Qd1 Rb8 14. Ne4 O-O 15. b3 Be8 16. e3
e5 $15 {Batchuluun,C (2391)-Ghaem Maghami,E (2593)/Subic/2009/}) 12... Rb8 13.
Nxc6 Nxc6 14. Qc5 (14. d5 Ne7 (14... b4 15. Qxa6 Nd4 16. Qxc4 e5 17. Ne4 O-O
18. Rfe1 b3 19. a4 Nc2 20. Red1 Nxa1 21. Rxa1 Qe7 22. Qc5 Qxc5 23. Nxc5 Bc8 24.
Bf1 (24. e4 $5) 24... f5 25. e3 Rd8 26. Bb5 Rxb5 27. axb5 Rxd5 28. Rc1 Rd2 29.
Nxb3 Rxb2 $11 {Degerhammar,R (2488)-Pinkovetsky,S (2645)/corr/2004/}) 15. dxe6
fxe6 16. Qxa6 Rb6 17. Qa5 O-O 18. Rfd1 Qc8 19. Ne4 Rf5 20. Nc5 Rxc5 21. Qb4 Rd5
22. Qxe7 Rdd6 23. Be4 Qe8 24. Qh4 h6 25. Bc2 Bc6 $132 {Schroeder,M (2113)
-Kokkila,T (2628)/corr/1999/}) 14... Ne7 15. a4 bxa4 16. Qxc4 Bb5 17. Qc5 Qd6
18. Qxd6 cxd6 19. Rfb1 Kd7 20. e3 Rhc8 21. Nxa4 Rc2 22. Be4 Rd2 23. Nc3 Bc4 24.
b3 Bd3 {Pavlovic,M (2515)-Van den Doel,E (2568)/Dieren op/2008/}) 11. Qd1 O-O
12. e3 (12. Nd2 Nxd4 13. Bxb7 Rb8 {1/2,Heinig,W (2338)-Teske,H (2487)/
Bundesliga 0506/2006/} 14. Bg2 Bc6 $11) 12... a4 13. Qe2 Na5 14. Ne5 Nd5 $5 ({
This is more enterprising than the rather passive, but solid} 14... Qe8 15.
Nxc4 Bb5 16. Nxb5 Qxb5 17. Rfc1 Nd5 18. Bf1 Nxc4 19. Rxc4 c6 20. a3 Rfd8 21.
Rac1 Qb6 22. Qc2 Ra5 23. Rc5 g6 24. Qd2 Ra7 25. h4 Nf6 26. Qc2 {1/2, Dziuba,M 
(2556)-Landa,K (2626)/Moscow/2009/}) 15. Nxd5 exd5 16. Bxd5 Bh3 17. Qf3 {
Initiatiates complications, but in the end doesn't promise White any advantage.
} ({However, Black has no problems whatsoever after the more sedate} 17. Bg2
Bxg2 18. Kxg2 f6 19. Nf3 Qe7 $11 {[%cal Ya4a3,Ye7e4,Yc7c5] <=>,/\a3,Qe4,c5})
17... Bxf1 {Black must accept the challenge, otherwise he is seriously worse.}
18. Bxf7+ Kh8 19. Rxf1 Nc6 (19... Ra6 20. Qe4 $36) (19... Qf6 $6 20. Qh5 Qh6
21. Qxh6 gxh6 22. Bxc4 $16) 20. Nxc6 bxc6 21. Qh5 Rb8 22. Bxc4 {Logical, White
chops off a potentially dangerous o^.} (22. Bg6 $143 $6 h6 23. Qe2 Qf6 24. Bb1
c5 $1 25. Rd1 Rfd8 (25... cxd4 26. exd4 c5 $1 27. Qc2 g6 $17) 26. Qxc4 Rxb2 27.
Bc2 cxd4 28. exd4 {Rodshtein,M (2609)-Landa,K (2598)/Copenhagen/2010/} Qf3 29.
Qxc7 Rf8 $36) 22... Rxb2 23. Bd3 g6 24. Bxg6 Qe7 25. Bb1 {Reliably protects
Pa2, on the other hand the B is passive on b1.} (25. a3 Rb5 26. Qh3 Rb3 27. Bf5
Rxa3 28. Rc1 Rxe3 $1 29. fxe3 Qxe3+ 30. Kg2 Qd2+ 31. Kf3 Qd3+ 32. Kf4 Qxd4+ 33.
Kf3 Qd3+ 34. Kf4 Qd4+ 35. Kf3 Qd3+ 36. Kf4 {1/2, Khairullin,I (2620)-Alekseev,
E (2691)/RUS-ch 1L Irkutsk/2010/}) 25... Qf7 {It's time to take stock. White
has 2P for the exchange, moreover his P-structure is ver compact, while
Black's P are all isolated. Nevertheless Black is OK, as his major pieces are
very active.} 26. Qc5 ({After} 26. Qe5+ $142 $5 Qf6 (26... Kg8 27. Qg5+) 27.
Qe4 Qg6 28. Qe5+ Qf6 29. Qe4 {I can't see, how can Black effectively avoid
repetition. Aronian was not playing for a win, as a move later he is willing
to force a perpetual...}) 26... Rxf2 27. Qe5+ Rf6 {Kramnik must continue the
fight to get a chance to qualify.} (27... Kg8 28. Qg5+ $11) 28. Rf4 $6 {
Natural, but inaccurate.} (28. g4 Kg8 29. Bf5 $44) (28. Bd3 $5 {/\} Kg8 29. Rc1
) 28... Qg7 $1 29. Bf5 Rd6 {Suddenly White has to tread with care.} 30. Bc2 (
30. Qe4 c5 31. Rh4 h6 $15) (30. Qc5 Rd5 {[%cal Rc6c5] /\c5|^}) 30... Rxf4 31.
Qxf4 a3 32. g4 $6 {Another weakening, which complicates White's task.} (32. Qe4
Rf6 33. Qd3 $15) 32... Qe7 33. g5 c5 $1 {Black activates his R and starts a
direct ->.} 34. dxc5 Rd2 35. Bb3 Kg7 $6 {Kramnik errs as well. however, with
approaching time-trouble it's difficult for a human player to realize, that
after} (35... Qg7 $1 36. Bc4 (36. Qf6 Qxf6 37. gxf6 Re2 $19) 36... Qa1+ 37. Bf1
Qxa2 38. Qf6+ Kg8 39. g6 Qb3 $1 {White will run out of checks.}) 36. h4 Rd3 37.
Kg2 $2 {Unnecessarly loses the Pe3. After} (37. Kf2 $142 Qf8 (37... Rxb3 38.
Qd4+ $132) 38. Be6 Rc3 39. Kg2 $132 {the outcome of the game remains fully
open.}) 37... Rxe3 38. Qd4+ Re5 39. Bd5 c6 $138 (39... h6 $1 {retains the
c-pawns and should win more easily.}) 40. Kg3 $5 h6 $1 (40... cxd5 41. Kf4 Kg8
42. Qxe5 Qxc5 $11) 41. gxh6+ $8 Kxh6 42. Qf4+ Kh7 43. Bxc6 Rxc5 44. Qe4+ {
Leads to an _|_, in which White in the long run can't hold his P.} ({However,
once White must avoid a Q-swap, he will gradually lose after} 44. Be4+ Kg8 45.
Kh3 Qe5 $19) 44... Qxe4 45. Bxe4+ Kg7 46. Kf4 Kf6 47. Ke3 (47. Bd3 Rh5 48. Kg3
(48. Ke4 Rxh4+ {wins as in the game.}) 48... Rd5 49. Bc4 Rc5 50. Bg8 Rc8 51.
Bd5 Ke5 52. Bf7 Rc7 53. Bg6 Kf6 54. h5 Rd7 $19) 47... Ke5 48. Kd3 Rb5 49. Kc4
Rb2 50. Bh7 (50. Ba8 Kf4 ({Black shouldn't hurry to tak the P, after the
premature} 50... Rxa2 $2 51. Kb3 Ra1 52. h5 $11 {he can't improve his position
- if he lets White's K reach a1 the theoretical draw is perfect.}) 51. h5 Kg5
52. Kc3 Kxh5 53. Bd5 Rb8 $19) 50... Rh2 51. h5 Rxh5 {Black has reached a won
TB position.} 52. Bc2 (52. Bg6 Rh6 53. Bf7 Rb6 $19) 52... Rh2 (52... Rh6 $19 {
immediately is a quicker win.}) 53. Kb3 Kd4 54. Bg6 Rh3+ (54... Rh6 $19) ({
The online first showed the strange move-order} 54... Rh4 $2 55. Kb4 $2 (55.
Kxa3 Kc3 56. Be4 $1 $11) 55... Rh6 $19) 55. Kb4 Rh6 56. Bf7 Ra6 57. Bg8 Ra7 58.
Be6 Kd3 59. Bb3 Kd2 60. Ba4 Rb7+ 61. Kc4 (61. Kxa3 $2 Kc3) 61... Kc1 62. Kc3
Kb1 63. Bb3 Rc7+ 64. Kd3 (64. Kb4 Kb2 {[%cal Rc7c1,Rc1a1,Ra1a2] /\Rc1-a1-a2})
64... Kb2 65. Kd2 Rd7+ 66. Ke3 Kc3 67. Bg8 Re7+ 68. Kf2 Kd2 69. Kf3 Kd3 70. Kf2
Re2+ 71. Kf3 Re8 (71... Re8 72. Bb3 Rf8+ 73. Kg2 Kc3 {[%cal Rc3b2,Rf8c8,Rc8c1,
Rc1a1] /\Kb2, Rc8-c1-a1xa2}) 0-1

[Event "Shanghai Masters"]
[Site "Shanghai"]
[Date "2010.09.08"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Wang, Hao"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2724"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2010.09.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 138"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 c6 8. Bd3
b6 9. b4 a5 10. a3 Ba6 11. O-O Qc8 12. h3 Bxd3 13. Qxd3 Qb7 14. Nd2 Rfc8 15.
Rab1 axb4 16. axb4 Bd8 17. Nb3 Ra3 18. Qc2 bxc5 19. bxc5 Rca8 20. Rfc1 h6 21.
Rb2 Qa6 22. Rcb1 Qc4 23. Rc1 Qa6 24. Rbb1 Ba5 25. Nxa5 Qxa5 26. Qb2 Ra7 27. Bb8
Ra8 28. Bd6 Ra7 29. Bb8 Ra8 30. Bd6 Ra7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Shanghai Masters playoff"]
[Site "Shanghai"]
[Date "2010.09.08"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D10"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2010.09.08"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 138"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Qb3 Na5 8.
Qa4+ Bd7 9. Qc2 e6 10. Bd3 Rc8 11. Nf3 Bb4 12. O-O Nc4 13. Bxc4 Rxc4 14. Ne5
Rc8 15. Qb3 Qa5 16. Nxd7 Nxd7 17. a3 Bxc3 18. Qxb7 O-O 19. bxc3 Nb6 20. Bc7 Qb5
21. Qxa7 Nc4 22. Bg3 Ra8 23. Qe7 Rfc8 24. h3 Qa5 25. Qb4 Nxa3 26. Bd6 Qxb4 27.
cxb4 Nc4 28. Bc5 Na3 29. Ra2 Nb5 30. Ra5 Rab8 31. Rfa1 h6 32. Ra6 Kh7 33. R1a5
Nc3 34. Ra7 Kg6 35. Rd7 Nb5 36. f3 Rc6 37. Kh2 f6 38. e4 dxe4 39. fxe4 Kh7 40.
d5 exd5 41. exd5 Rcc8 42. d6 Rc6 43. Rxb5 Rxb5 44. Rc7 Rbb6 45. Rxc6 1-0

[Event "Shanghai Masters playoff"]
[Site "Shanghai"]
[Date "2010.09.08"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "2010.09.08"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 138"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 Bg4 4. O-O Nd7 5. d3 e5 6. Qe1 Ngf6 7. e4 dxe4 8.
dxe4 Bc5 9. Nbd2 O-O 10. h3 Bh5 11. Nc4 Re8 12. Nh4 b5 13. Na5 Qc7 14. a4 Bb6
15. Nb3 a6 16. Bg5 c5 17. a5 Ba7 18. c4 Rab8 19. Nd2 h6 20. Be3 Nf8 21. f4 exf4
22. Bxf4 Qd8 23. Nf5 Ne6 24. e5 $2 (24. Bxb8 $1) 24... Nd4 $2 (24... Nxf4 25.
gxf4) 25. Nd6 Re6 26. Qf2 Ne8 27. g4 Nxd6 28. exd6 Re2 29. gxh5 Rxf2 30. Rxf2
Qh4 31. Re1 Ne6 32. Bh2 bxc4 33. Re4 Qxh5 34. Nxc4 Qd1+ 35. Rf1 Qc2 36. d7 Rd8
37. Ne5 Bb8 $2 {#} 38. Nxf7 $1 Bxh2+ 39. Kxh2 Rxd7 40. Rxe6 $1 Rd2 ({If} 40...
Rxf7 $2 {then} 41. Re8+ Rf8 42. Rfxf8+ Kh7 {wins.}) 41. Re8+ Kh7 42. Rg1 Qf5
43. Rf8 Qf4+ 44. Kh1 Rxg2 45. Rxg2 Qf1+ 46. Kh2 Qf4+ 47. Kg1 Qc1+ 48. Kf2 Qd2+
49. Kf3 Qd3+ 50. Kf2 Qd2+ 51. Kg3 Qe3+ 52. Kh2 Qf4+ 53. Kg1 Qc1+ 54. Kf2 Qd2+
55. Kf3 Qd3+ 56. Kg4 Qe4+ 57. Kg3 Qe3+ 58. Kh4 $1 {A blunder. You might ask
why there is an "!" instead of the usual "?" denoting a mistake. The reason is
that if he were to play the 'correct' Kh2, it would lead to a three-fold
repetition which would lose the playoff on the spot. Aronian needs to prolong
it by any means possible.} Qf4+ 59. Rg4 Qf2+ {Black lost on time.} 1-0

[Event "Shanghai Masters playoff"]
[Site "Shanghai"]
[Date "2010.09.08"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "172"]
[EventDate "2010.09.08"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 138"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 c6 4. O-O Bg4 5. d3 Nbd7 6. Qe1 e5 7. e4 dxe4 8.
dxe4 Bc5 9. Nbd2 O-O 10. h3 Bh5 11. a4 a5 12. Nc4 Qc7 13. Bd2 b6 14. Nh4 Ne8
15. Kh2 f6 16. b3 Nd6 17. Nb2 Rfe8 18. Nd3 Nf7 19. Nxc5 Nxc5 20. Kh1 Rad8 21.
Bc3 Ne6 22. Nf5 c5 23. Ne3 Nd4 24. f3 Qc8 25. h4 Nd6 26. Rd1 Bf7 27. Qf2 Qc6
28. Rd2 Qa8 29. Rfd1 b5 30. axb5 N6xb5 31. Bb2 a4 32. bxa4 Qxa4 33. f4 Nd6 34.
fxe5 fxe5 35. c3 Bg6 36. cxd4 Nxe4 37. Bxe4 Bxe4+ 38. Ng2 exd4 39. Re1 Rf8 40.
Qg1 Ba8 41. Kh2 Qc6 42. Rde2 Rb8 43. Bc1 Qf3 44. Bf4 Rbd8 45. Rf2 Qc6 46. Re7
Rd7 47. Qe1 Rxe7 48. Qxe7 Rf7 49. Qd8+ Rf8 50. Qe7 Rf7 51. Qe2 h6 52. Qa2 c4
53. Be5 d3 54. Rxf7 Kxf7 55. Bc3 Qd5 56. Qf2+ Kg8 57. Kg1 Qe4 58. Kf1 Bd5 59.
Ne1 Qh1+ 60. Qg1 Qe4 61. Qh2 Qf5+ 62. Kg1 Qe4 63. h5 Qg4 64. Qh4 Qxh4 65. gxh4
Bf7 66. Kf2 Bxh5 67. Ke3 g5 68. hxg5 hxg5 69. Kd4 Be2 70. Bd2 g4 71. Ke3 Kf7
72. Kf4 Ke6 73. Bc3 Kd5 74. Ng2 Kc5 75. Ne3 Kb5 76. Ke5 Ka4 77. Kd4 Kb3 78. Be1
g3 79. Ng2 Kc2 80. Ne3+ Kb3 81. Nxc4 g2 82. Bf2 Kc2 83. Ke3 Kb3 84. Nd2+ Kc3
85. Ne4+ Kc4 86. Nd2+ Kd5 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-39"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.09.22"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Sedlak, Nikola"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2550"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Serbia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "YUG"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O c6 8. d5 Na6
9. Ne1 Nc5 10. f3 a5 11. Be3 Bd7 12. dxc6 Bxc6 13. Qd2 Qb8 14. Nc2 b6 15. Rfd1
Rd8 16. b3 Qb7 17. Rab1 h5 18. Bf1 Bf8 19. Qe1 Be7 20. Na3 Nh7 21. Nab5 h4 22.
Nd5 Bxd5 23. Rxd5 Ng5 24. Rbd1 h3 25. Qg3 hxg2 26. Bxg2 Nge6 27. Nxd6 Bxd6 28.
Rxd6 Rxd6 29. Rxd6 Nf4 30. Bxf4 exf4 31. Qxf4 b5 32. Qe3 Qc7 33. Rd5 Ne6 34.
cxb5 Nf4 35. Rc5 Qd6 36. Bf1 Rd8 37. Rc1 Qf6 38. b6 Qg5+ 39. Kh1 Rd3 40. Qg1
Qh5 41. b7 Qxf3+ 42. Bg2 Nxg2 43. b8=Q+ Kh7 44. Qg3 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-39"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.09.23"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Italy"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ITA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ke8 10. h3 h5 11. Rd1 Be7 12. Ne2 Be6 13. Nf4 Bc8 14. Ne2
Be6 15. Ned4 Rd8 16. Bf4 Nxd4 17. Nxd4 Bc8 18. e6 Bxe6 19. Bxc7 Rd5 20. c4 Rd7
21. Nxe6 fxe6 22. Bb8 Bc5 23. Rxd7 Kxd7 24. Rd1+ Kc8 25. Be5 Rf8 26. Rd2 g6 27.
Kf1 Rd8 28. Rxd8+ Kxd8 29. Ke2 Ke7 30. Kf3 a6 31. b3 b5 32. Kg3 bxc4 33. bxc4
Kf7 34. Kf3 Ke7 35. a4 Kf7 36. Bg3 Bd4 37. Ke4 e5 38. f3 Ke6 39. Bh2 Bb2 40.
Bg1 Ba3 41. Bb6 Bb4 42. g4 Ba3 43. Bc7 Bb2 44. Bb8 Bc3 45. Ba7 Bb4 46. Be3
1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-39"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.09.24"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "US of America"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "USA"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. Nd2 Ne8 $6 10. b4 f5 11. c5 Nf6 12. a4 f4 13. Nc4 g5 {For this line -
see Werle - Vallejo in CBM 129.} 14. Ba3 g4 $6 {After this aggressive move
White wins a pawn but otherwise Black's attack can hardly succeed, e.g} (14...
Ng6 15. cxd6 cxd6 16. b5 Ne8 17. Rc1 $5 (17. Bb4 $143 Nh4 18. Ra3 g4 $1 19. g3
f3 20. Bd3 Rf6 21. Ne3 $13 (21. Re1 $2 Ng2 $17 {0-1 Zamorano,J (2254)-Roselli
Mailhe,B (2420)/Mar del Plata 2008/CBM 123 Extra (50)})) 17... Nh4 18. Bh5 $1
$16) 15. cxd6 cxd6 16. b5 Ne8 17. Bxg4 Qc7 18. Be2 f3 19. b6 $1 {The simplest
way.} (19. gxf3 Bh3 20. b6 $1 Qd8 $1 21. Kh1 Bxf1 22. Bxf1 a6 23. Bh3 Ng6 {
was less clear.}) 19... axb6 (19... fxe2 20. bxc7 $5 exd1=Q 21. Rfxd1 $16 {
[%csl Gc7,Rd6]}) 20. Nb5 {But now} (20. gxf3 {was possible, e.g.} Bh3 21. Nb5
Qd8 22. Kh1 Bxf1 23. Bxf1 Rf6 24. Bh3 Ng6 25. Be6+ Kh8 26. Ncxd6 Nxd6 27. Nxd6
Nf4 28. Qb3 $1 Bf8 29. Nf7+ Rxf7 30. Bxf7 Bxa3 31. Qxa3 Qf6 32. Be6 Nxe6 33.
dxe6 b5 34. a5 Qxe6 35. f4 $1 Qg4 36. Qg3 $1 $16 {Of course, calculating such
a line or going for it without a complete calculation is far from easy.}) 20...
fxe2 21. Qxe2 Qd8 22. Nbxd6 Nxd6 23. Bxd6 $16 {[%csl Gd6] White has chosen a
simple course. Black has no more attack (it seems!), White will now recapture
a third pawn for the piece, and his pawn avalanche should decide the game.} Rf7
24. Bxe5 Ng6 25. Bxg7 Nf4 $5 {All of a sudden, Black finds a way to continue
his attack!} 26. Qe3 Qg5 27. g3 Qxg7 28. Nxb6 Bg4 $6 (28... Nh3+ $5 29. Kg2
Nxf2 30. Nxa8 Bh3+ 31. Kg1 Bxf1 32. Rxf1 Nh3+ 33. Kg2 Qb2+ 34. Kxh3 Rxf1 35.
Qg5+ Qg7 (35... Kf8 36. Nc7) (35... Kf7 36. Qh5+ $1 Kg8 37. Nc7 Rf2 38. Qe8+
Kg7 39. Ne6+ Kh6 40. Nf4 Rxh2+ 41. Kg4 Qg7+ 42. Kf5 Qg5+ 43. Ke6 $18) 36. Kg4
Qxg5+ 37. Kxg5 $16 {_|_}) 29. Nxa8 Ne2+ 30. Kg2 Bf3+ 31. Qxf3 Rxf3 32. Kxf3
Nd4+ 33. Kg2 Qf8 34. Rfe1 $2 {[%mdl 64]} (34. Rae1 $142 $1 Qxa8 (34... Qf3+ 35.
Kg1 Ne2+ 36. Rxe2 Qxe2 37. Nb6 $18 {[%cal Yd5d6]}) 35. Rc1 Qxa4 36. Rc8+ Kf7
37. Rc7+ {keeping good winning chances.}) 34... Qxa8 $2 (34... Nc2 $1 {, and
Black threatens to win the whole rook! It is now White who must make sure he
gets a draw:} 35. Nc7 Qb4 $1 36. Reb1 Qxe4+ 37. Kg1 Nd4 (37... Ne3 38. fxe3
Qxe3+ $11) 38. Rxb7 {, and Black has nothing more than a perpetual:} Nf3+ 39.
Kf1 Nxh2+ 40. Kg1 $11) 35. Red1 $2 {But White misses another tactical trick!} (
35. Rac1 Qxa4 36. Rc8+ Kg7 37. Rec1 $16) 35... Nc2 $1 36. Rac1 (36. Ra2 Qe8 $1
{, and White can't protect the e4-pawn!}) 36... Qxa4 37. d6 {Again unable to
protect the e4-pawn, White forces a draw.} (37. Kf3 Nd4+ 38. Ke3 $6 Nb5 {
is too risky for White.}) 37... Qxe4+ 38. Kg1 Nd4 39. d7 Nf3+ 40. Kf1 Nxh2+ 41.
Kg1 Nf3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-39"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.09.27"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Navara, David"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E60"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2722"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Czech Republic"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CZE"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 Nc6 4. d5 Ne5 5. e4 d6 6. Nc3 c6 7. f4 Ned7 8. Be3 e5
9. dxe6 fxe6 10. Nh3 e5 11. f5 Qa5 12. fxg6 hxg6 13. a3 Qc7 14. b4 a5 15. Ng5
axb4 16. axb4 Rxa1 17. Qxa1 d5 18. Ne6 Qd6 19. exd5 cxd5 20. cxd5 Qxb4 21. Bd3
e4 22. Bb5 Bd6 23. Bd4 Ke7 24. Ke2 Rxh2 25. Rb1 Qa3 26. Qxa3 Bxa3 27. Bxd7 Bxd7
28. Bxf6+ Kxf6 29. Rxb7 Rxg2+ 30. Kf1 Rc2 31. Nxe4+ Ke5 32. Rxd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-39"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.09.28"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2706"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia II"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Be3 Bd6 7. h3 Be6 8.
Nbd2 h6 9. d4 exd4 10. Nxd4 Qe7 11. Qf3 O-O 12. O-O Rfe8 13. Rfe1 Rad8 14. c3
Bc8 15. Bf4 Bxf4 16. Qxf4 c5 17. N4f3 b6 18. Re3 Nh7 19. Nf1 Nf8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-39"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.09.29"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D97"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2754"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Ukraine"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "UKR"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 Na6 8.
Be2 c5 9. d5 e6 10. O-O exd5 11. exd5 Re8 12. Bf4 Bf5 13. Rad1 Ne4 14. Nb5 Bd7
$5 $146 {[%mdl 8] A new move in a well-known position!} (14... Qf6 {is usually
played, with good results for Black:} 15. Bd3 (15. d6 Bd7 16. g3 g5 17. Be3 h6
18. Nc7 Nxc7 19. dxc7 Bc6 20. Nd2 Rac8 21. Nxe4 Rxe4 22. Qxc5 Rxc7 23. Rd6 b6
24. Rxf6 bxc5 25. Rxc6 Rxc6 26. Bf3 Rxe3 {1/2 Beliavsky,A (2630)-Kasparov,G 
(2735)/Moscow 1987/CBM 004}) 15... Rad8 (15... Nb4 $6 16. Nc7 (16. Bb1 $5 Bg4
17. Be5 Rxe5 18. Bxe4 Rh5 $2 (18... Ree8 19. Nc7 b5 $1 $13) 19. a3 Na6 20. d6
Be6 21. Qc2 Rb8 22. Rfe1 c4 23. Nbd4 Bd7 24. Qxc4 $16 {1-0 Udvari,N-Traczewski,
W/LSS 2007/Telechess CBM 125 (42)}) 16... Nxd3 17. Nxe8 Rxe8 18. Qxd3 Qxb2 19.
Rde1 Qb4 20. Nd2 Qa4 21. Qc4 Qxc4 22. Nxc4 Bc3 23. Nd2 Bxd2 24. Bxd2 Bd7 25.
Bf4 Bb5 26. f3 g5 27. Bxg5 Bxf1 28. Kxf1 Nd6 29. Be7 Nc8 30. Bxc5 $18 {1-0
Karpov,A (2705)-Kasparov,G (2740)/London/Leningrad 1986/MainBase (40)}) (15...
Bd7 16. Be5 Bxb5 17. Qxb5 Rxe5 18. Nxe5 Nd6 19. Ng4 Qf4 20. Qd7 c4 21. g3 (21.
Be2 Nc5 22. Qc7 Rc8 23. Qa5 Bxb2 24. Qxa7 h5 25. Qb6 Na4 26. Qe3 Qxe3 27. Nxe3
b5 $44 {1-0 Kriksciunas,B (2106)-Heupel,H (1508)/Chessfriend.com 2005/
Telechess CBM 113 (30)}) 21... Nc5 22. Qc7 Qxg4 23. Qxc5 Qd7 24. Be2 Bxb2 25.
Qb4 c3 $44 {1/2 Ivanchuk,V (2535)-Dorfman,J (2520)/Lvov 1988/CBM 007 (38)}) (
15... Bg4 16. Be5 Rxe5 17. Nxe5 Bxd1 18. Bxe4 Be2 19. Qxe2 Qxe5 20. d6 Rd8 21.
Rd1 Nb4 22. d7 Nc6 $132 {1/2 Van der Sterren,P (2500)-Fette,M (2385)/Groningen
1989/EXT 1998 (35)}) (15... Qxb2 $5 {An.Karpov}) 16. Rde1 Qxb2 17. Re2 (17. Nc7
Nxc7 18. Bxc7 Nd2 19. Rxe8+ Rxe8 20. Nxd2 Qxd2 21. Bxf5 gxf5 $17 {0-1 Janjgava,
L-Kasparov,G (2745)/Baku 1987/EXT 2008 (32)}) 17... Qb4 18. a3 Qxc4 19. Bxc4
Bd7 20. Rb1 Nf6 21. Rxe8+ {1/2 Lara Ruiz,J-Riccio,E (2324)/ICCF Email 2002/
ICCF Telechess CBM 102}) ({The other options for Black:} 14... Bxb2 15. d6 $1
$44 Bd7 16. Qb3 Qf6 17. Be3 $14 {1-0 Goloshchapov,A (2446)-Khaetsky,R (2294)/
Alushta 1999/EXT 2001 (28)}) (14... g5 15. Nxg5 $1 Nxg5 16. Nd6 Qf6 17. Nxe8
Rxe8 18. Qb5 Re7 (18... Rd8 $5 19. Bxg5 Qxg5 20. Qxb7 Nb4) 19. d6 Rd7 20. Bxg5
Qxg5 21. Bf3 Be5 22. Bxb7 Nb4 23. Bc8 Rd8 24. Bxf5 Qxf5 25. d7 $16 {1-0
Gavrileteanu,L (1827)-Gallo,L (2009)/IECG 2003/Telechess 117 (51)}) 15. Bd3
Bxb5 {Just that simple!} 16. Qxb5 Nd6 17. Qb3 (17. Bxd6 $6 Qxd6 18. Qxb7 Nb4
19. Qb5 (19. Ng5 Qf6) 19... Reb8 20. Qa4 Nxd3 21. Rxd3 Rxb2 $15) 17... c4 $5 {
[%mdl 512] A clever pawn sacrifice to activate the knight.} 18. Bxc4 Nc5 19.
Qc2 Rc8 20. Bd3 ({After} 20. Bxd6 Qxd6 {[%cal Ya7a6,Yb7b5] Black has a good
compensation for the pawn as White's minor pieces (especially bishop) are
extremely passive.}) 20... Nxd3 21. Qxd3 Bxb2 22. Rb1 Bf6 23. Bxd6 Qxd6 24.
Rxb7 Red8 25. Rxa7 Qxd5 26. Qxd5 Rxd5 {In the resulting ending White has no
chance of converting his extra pawn as his knight is much worse than the black
bishop.} 27. Re1 Rc2 28. g3 g5 29. h3 h5 30. Kg2 Kg7 31. Ra6 Rf5 32. Re4 Rb5
33. Ne1 Rd2 34. Nf3 Rc2 35. Ne1 Rd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-39"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.09.30"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Armenia"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ARM"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. g3 dxc4 4. Qa4+ Bd7 5. Qxc4 c5 6. Ne5 Nc6 7. Nxd7 Qxd7 8.
Bg2 Nf6 9. O-O Be7 10. Qa4 Nd4 11. Qxd7+ Kxd7 12. Nc3 Rab8 13. Rd1 Rhd8 14. b3
Ke8 15. Bb2 Nd5 16. Rab1 Nxc3 17. dxc3 Nc6 18. f4 Rdc8 19. e4 c4 20. Kf2 cxb3
21. axb3 b5 22. e5 a5 23. Ra1 a4 24. bxa4 bxa4 25. Ba3 Rb3 26. Bxc6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-39"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.10.01"]
[Round "10.1"]
[White "Wang, Yue"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2732"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "China"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CHN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 a5 7. Qc2 Bxd2+ 8.
Qxd2 c6 9. a4 b5 10. Na3 Bd7 11. Ne5 Nd5 12. O-O O-O 13. e4 Nb4 14. Rfd1 Qb6
15. d5 Ra7 16. dxc6 N4xc6 17. Qd6 bxa4 18. Nexc4 Qb4 19. Rac1 Be8 20. Qxb4 axb4
21. Nb5 Rd7 22. Nbd6 e5 23. Bf1 Rd8 24. Nb6 a3 25. bxa3 bxa3 26. Bb5 g6 27. Ra1
a2 28. Kg2 h5 29. h4 Kh7 30. Nxe8 Rfxe8 31. Nd5 Rf8 32. Bxc6 Nxc6 33. Rxa2 Nb4
34. Rad2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-39"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2010.10.03"]
[Round "11.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2010.09.21"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Spain"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ESP"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. Qb3 {Quite a harmless
way to avoid the Cambridge Springs.} Be7 (6... Qa5 $1 {is more aggressive and
strong.}) 7. e3 h6 (7... O-O) 8. Bh4 b6 $6 {Hardly a good "version of the TMB
system".} (8... O-O $142) 9. cxd5 exd5 {White will now prepare e3-e4.} 10. Bd3
(10. Be2 $143 Bb7 11. O-O O-O 12. Rfd1 Re8 13. Rac1 Bd6 14. a3 Qe7 15. Bd3 {
Still, after losing a lot of time!} Qf8 (15... Qe6 $5) 16. Qc2 $13 {1-0 Fuster,
G-Florian,T/Gyor 1946/EXT 2000 (64)}) 10... O-O 11. O-O Bb7 12. Rac1 {Probably
too modest.} (12. Qc2 $5 $14 {preventing ...Ne4.}) 12... Ne4 $1 13. Bg3 $5 (13.
Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Rfd1 $5 (14. Bxe4 dxe4 15. Nd2 c5 $5 $132)) 13... Nxg3 14. hxg3
Nf6 15. Rfd1 Rc8 16. e4 dxe4 17. Nxe4 Nxe4 (17... Qc7 $5) 18. Bxe4 Bf6 $6 (
18... Bd6 $5 19. Ne5 Qe7 20. f4 (20. Bxc6 $6 Bxe5 21. Bxb7 Rxc1 22. Rxc1 Bxd4)
20... c5 (20... Bxe5 $143 21. dxe5 c5 22. Bxb7 Qxb7 23. Rd6 $14) 21. Bxb7 Qxb7
22. d5 $140 b5 $132) 19. Qa3 $6 (19. Ne5 $142 Bxe5 (19... Qd6 20. f4) 20. dxe5
Qe7 21. f4 Rfd8 (21... c5 22. Bxb7 Qxb7 23. Rd6 $14 {[%cal Gd1d8]}) 22. Kh2 $1
$14) 19... a5 $2 {[%mdl 16384] This move not only allows Nf3-e5 but also
weakens the b6-pawn.} (19... Qc7 $1 20. d5 $140 c5 21. d6 Qb8 {, and the d6
pawn is rather weak than strong.}) 20. Ne5 $1 {Finally!} Qe8 21. Re1 Qd8 22.
Qf3 Rc7 (22... Re8 23. Rcd1 Bxe5 24. dxe5 Qc7 25. Bc2 $1 $36 Rxe5 $4 26. Rxe5
Qxe5 27. Rd7) 23. Rcd1 g6 (23... Qd6 24. Nc4 Qb4 25. Qf5 g6 26. Qxf6 Qxc4 27.
Qd6 Rfc8 28. a3 $16 {[%csl Gd6]}) 24. Qb3 Kg7 $2 {Losing the b6-pawn and
consequently the game.} (24... b5 {was still possible altgough after} 25. a4 $1
(25. Nxg6 $2 a4) (25. Bxg6 $2 a4) 25... bxa4 26. Qxa4 {White is obviously
better.}) 25. Qxb6 Re7 26. Qc5 Rfe8 27. Bxc6 Bxc6 28. Qxc6 Qb8 29. Qc3 Qb4 30.
f4 Qxc3 31. bxc3 Rc7 32. Rd3 Rec8 33. Ree3 Rb7 34. d5 Rb1+ 35. Kh2 Ra1 36. Nd7
Bd8 37. Re8 Rxa2 38. d6 a4 39. Ne5 a3 40. d7 Rb8 41. Rxd8 Rxd8 42. Nc6 1-0

[Event "Grand Slam Final 3rd"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2010.10.09"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2826"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2010.10.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qa4 {About 40 years ago, when
Black's 4-th move was still regarded as only an experiment, this Q-sortie was
considered to be the strongest reaction and almost refutation of 4...Ba6.
Nowadays things have changed a lot, White tries to build up some pressure
without too much risk.} ({The main move is} 5. b3 {, with heavily analysed
theory after} Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 ({and especially} 7. Bg2 {often going on
far beyond the opening and even middlegame.})) ({The sharp alternative,
connected with a P-sacrifice, is} 5. Qc2 $5 Bb7 6. Bg2 c5 7. d5 exd5 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. O-O {This line has quickly developed in the past 5 years and is still
highly topical. However, it hardly suits Kramnik's style, so the ex-champion
adopts the more restrained old move. Lately it has become fasionable again and
it occurred in quite a few high-level games.}) 5... Bb7 (5... c5 6. Bg2 ({
The usual reaction, as} 6. d5 exd5 7. cxd5 Bb7 {is a rather inferior version
of the aforementioned P-sacrifice.}) 6... Bb7 {is only a transposition.}) ({
Interesting and less explored is} 5... c6 6. Nc3 (6. Bg2 {is too soft due to}
b5 $1 7. cxb5 cxb5 8. Qd1 Nc6 9. O-O Rc8 10. Nbd2 Be7 11. Nb3 b4 12. Re1 d5 13.
Bg5 h6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. e3 O-O 16. Nc5 Bb5 17. Bf1 Bxf1 18. Rxf1 e5 (18... Be7
$11) 19. dxe5 Nxe5 20. Nxe5 Rxc5 21. Nd3 Rc4 $132 {Smejkal,J-Kavalek,L/CS-ch
Luhacovice/1968/}) 6... b5 $5 ({This positional sacrifice in the spirit of the
Volga/Benko gambit is the main point, otherwise Black risks getting under
positional pressure. An old example is} 6... d5 7. cxd5 exd5 8. Ne5 Bb7 9. Bg5
Be7 10. Bg2 O-O 11. O-O h6 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. f4 a5 14. Rad1 Qc8 15. e4 b5 16.
Qc2 Na6 17. Rc1 Nc7 18. Rfd1 Qe6 19. Nxd5 $1 Nxd5 20. exd5 cxd5 21. Qc7 Ra7 22.
Qc5 $16 {Furman,S-Keres,P/URS-ch Moscow/1948/}) 7. cxb5 cxb5 8. Nxb5 Qb6 9. Nc3
Bb4 10. Bg2 O-O 11. O-O Bxc3 (11... Rc8 12. Bd2 Nc6 13. Qd1 d5 14. Na4 Qb5 15.
Bxb4 Qxb4 16. Nc5 Qa5 17. Rc1 Rab8 18. b3 Ne4 19. Qe1 Nxc5 20. Qxa5 Nxa5 21.
Rxc5 Nb7 $1 $11 {1/2 Appolonov,S-Berzinsh,R/Alma-Ata 1991/TD (35)}) 12. bxc3
Bxe2 13. Re1 Bb5 14. Qb3 d5 (14... Bc6 15. c4 Na6 16. Bf4 Be4 17. Be5 d5 18.
Bxf6 gxf6 19. Qe3 Nb4 20. Qh6 $40 Qd8 21. Nh4 Bxg2 22. Nxg2 Kh8 23. Nf4 Rg8 24.
Rab1 Nc2 $2 25. Nxe6 $1 {1-0,Skembris,S (2545)-Timman,J (2620)/Corfu m/1993/})
15. Ne5 Nbd7 16. Be3 Rab8 17. Rab1 $6 (17. a4 Ba6 18. Qa3 $13) 17... Qa6 18.
Qd1 Nxe5 19. dxe5 Nd7 20. Bd4 Bc4 21. Qd2 h6 $15 {Leriche,E (2319)-Gervasio,R 
(2310)/FRA-chT2/2004/}) 6. Bg2 c5 7. dxc5 {White tries to keep more tension in
the position. Nikolic's favourite is} (7. O-O cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bxg2 9. Kxg2 Qc7 10.
Rd1 a6 11. Nc3 Qb7+ (11... Be7 12. f3 O-O 13. Bf4 Qb7 14. e4 d6 15. Nde2 Rd8
16. Rd2 Nc6 17. Rad1 Ne8 18. a3 Rdc8 19. h4 h6 20. h5 Na5 21. b3 Qc7 22. e5 Rd8
23. exd6 Bxd6 24. Ne4 Bxf4 25. Nxf4 Rxd2+ 26. Rxd2 Nc6 27. b4 Ne5 28. c5 Nf6 $5
$132 {Browne,W-Andersson,U/Buenos Aires/1978/}) 12. f3 Be7 13. Bg5 h6 (13...
Nc6 14. Bxf6 $142 $5 (14. Nxc6 Qxc6 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Qxc6 dxc6 17. Ne4 Ke7 18.
Nxf6 Kxf6 19. Rd6 Rhd8 20. Rad1 (20. Rxc6 Rd2 $44 {<=>}) 20... Ke7 21. Rxd8
Rxd8 22. Rxd8 Kxd8 {1/2,Nikolic,P (2630)-Psakhis,L (2565)/ECC Eupen/1997/})
14... gxf6 (14... Bxf6 15. Ne4 Be7 16. Nxc6 Qxc6 17. Qxc6 dxc6 18. Nd6+ $36)
15. Nxc6 Qxc6 (15... dxc6 16. Ne4 $1 $36 (16. Rd3 O-O 17. Rad1 Rfd8 18. Rxd8+
Rxd8 19. Rxd8+ Bxd8 20. Qd1 Be7 21. Qd4 Qc7 22. Ne4 Qd8 23. Qxd8+ Bxd8 24. g4
Be7 25. f4 Kf8 26. f5 $14 {Molina,R (2322)-Bittencourt,J (2448)/BRA-ch Rio de
Janeiro/2007/})) 16. Rd3 (16. Qxc6 dxc6 17. Rd3 $14) 16... Qxa4 17. Nxa4 b5 18.
cxb5 axb5 19. Nb6 Ra7 {Chetverik,M (2289)-Gerstner,B (2144)/Bad Wiessee/2006/}
20. Rb3 $14) 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Ne4 Be7 16. Rd3 (16. Qb3 Qc7 17. Rac1 O-O 18. f4
Nc6 19. Nf3 Rfd8 20. Qe3 Rac8 21. g4 d5 22. cxd5 exd5 23. Ng3 (23. Nd4 Qb7 $11)
23... Bc5 24. Qd2 a5 25. a3 Qe7 26. Qd3 Qf6 27. Qd2 Qe6 28. f5 Qe7 $15 {
Nikolic,P (2659)-Karpov,A (2696)/Monte Carlo blindfold rpd/2000/}) 16... O-O
17. Rad1 Rc8 18. Qb3 Ra7 19. e3 Qc7 20. a3 {Hoefer,H (1960)-Skrzynski,I (1713)/
corr/2000/} Nc6 $11 {<=>}) 7... bxc5 {An important moment, which defines the
character of the ensuing struggle. Taking towards the [+] is natural, but
equally logical is the even more often played developing move} (7... Bxc5 8.
Nc3 O-O 9. O-O Be7 (9... Ne4 10. Qc2 Nxc3 11. Qxc3 d5 12. Rd1 Nd7 13. Bg5 {
Die korrekte Verteidigung bestand in} Be7 $5 (13... Qe8 14. cxd5 Bxd5 15. b4
Be7 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Rac1 Rfd8 18. Nd4 Nf6 19. b5 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Rd5 21. Nc6
Qd7 22. Qc2 Qb7 23. a4 h6 24. e4 Rc5 25. Qd3 $36 {Dautov,R (2606)-Polgar,J 
(2656)/Istanbul olm/2000/}) 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. cxd5 Bxd5 16. Rac1 Nc5 17. Ne5 $1
(17. b4 Na4 $1 18. Qc2 b5 19. a3 a5 $11 {Dautov}) 17... Bxg2 18. Kxg2 a5 19.
Qf3 Rac8 20. h4 (20. Nc4 $5 Qc7 21. Qf4 $14) 20... f6 21. Nc4 Qc7 22. Nd6 Rcd8
23. Nb5 Qe5 24. Nc3 f5 25. Qc6 Qb8 26. Rxd8 Rxd8 27. Rd1 Rxd1 28. Nxd1 Qb7 29.
Qxb7 Nxb7 30. Kf3 Nd6 31. Kf4 Kf7 32. Ke5 Ke7 33. Ne3 {Nikolic,P (2652)
-Istratescu,A (2561)/EU-ch Ohrid/2001/} b5 $5 {/\Nf7,Kd6=}) 10. Rd1 Na6 11. Bf4
Nc5 12. Qc2 Qc8 {A more recent attempt is} 13. Rd4 $5 (13. Rac1 Nce4 14. Nd4
Nxc3 15. Qxc3 a6 (15... Bxg2 16. Kxg2 a6 17. Qf3 Ra7 18. a4 Qb7 19. Qxb7 Rxb7
20. f3 Rc8 21. e4 d6 22. Ne2 Ne8 23. h4 Kf8 24. b3 Rc6 25. Rd3 Bf6 26. Rcd1 Be7
27. h5 $14 {(),Ftacnik,L (2596)-Sax,G (2568)/ECC Saint Vincent/2005/}) 16. Qb3
Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Qb7+ 18. Qf3 Ne4 $5 ({More enterprising than} 18... Ra7 19. Qxb7
Rxb7 20. f3 Rc8 21. e4 d6 22. Ne2 Ne8 23. b3 h5 24. h4 g6 25. Rd2 Rbc7 26. Rd3
Rc5 27. a4 R5c6 28. Rcd1 Rc5 29. Kf1 Bf8 30. Nc3 Rb8 31. R1d2 Rb7 32. Ke2 $14 {
Piket,J (2633)-Chuchelov,V (2518)/NED-chT/2000/ Similar to Ftacnik-Sax above,
Black must patiently defend a slightly worse _|_.}) 19. Nb3 f5 20. Nd2 (20. Kg1
Bf6 $132) 20... g5 $1 21. Nxe4 fxe4 22. Qg4 h5 23. Qxh5 gxf4 24. Qg6+ Kh8 25.
Qh6+ Kg8 {1/2,Van Wely,L (2654)-Chuchelov,V (2603)/Bundesliga 2003/}) 13... d5
14. cxd5 (14. Rc1 Nce4 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. Ne5 g5 $5 (16... Rd8 17. Rxd8+ Qxd8
18. Rd1 Qe8 19. Be3 h6 20. a3 Rc8 21. b4 Rc7 22. h4 Qc8 23. Qb3 Ba6 24. Rd4 Ne8
25. Bxe4 Bf6 {Timman,J (2591)-Jackova,J (2388)/Marianske Lazne /2009/} 26. Qd3
$5 Bxc4 27. Rxc4 Bxe5 $11 {/+/=}) 17. Be3 $5 (17. Bxg5 Qc5 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19.
Rd7 Bc8 20. Ng4 Bg5 21. b4 $5 (21. Rdd1 f5 22. b4 Qxb4 23. Rb1 Qc5 24. Rb5 Qc7
25. h4 (25. f4 $2 exf3 26. Bxf3 Ba6 27. Re5 Rad8 28. Rxd8 Rxd8 29. Kg2 Bc8 30.
h4 Be7 $19 {Koneru,H (2600)-Zhao Xue (2462)/Ulan Bator/2010/}) 25... Be7 26.
Bxe4 Rb8 27. Bxf5 exf5 28. Nh6+ Kh8 29. Nxf5 Bf6 $15 {/~~}) 21... Qf5 22. Bxe4
Qxg4 23. Rd4 f5 24. h3 Qxe4 25. Rxe4 Bxc1 26. Qxc1 (26. Rd4 Bg5 $13) 26... fxe4
27. Qg5+ Kh8 $11) 17... Qc7 18. f4 exf3 (18... Bc5 19. Qc3 gxf4 20. gxf4 Bxd4
21. Bxd4 $44 {->,Turov,M (2628)-Filip,L (2470)/Rethymnon/2010/}) 19. Nxf3 h6 $5
$13 {/=/+} (19... e5 20. Qf5 $1 exd4 21. Qxg5+ Kh8 22. Bxd4 Qd8 23. Rd1 $44) (
19... Bc5 $5)) 14... Nxd5 15. Bg5 Bxg5 16. Nxg5 Nf6 17. Bxb7 Qxb7 18. b4 h6 19.
Nf3 (19. Nxf7 Qxf7 20. bxc5 Rac8 $132) 19... Ncd7 20. Nb5 Rfc8 21. Qd2 Rc6 22.
Rd1 a6 23. Nd6 Qc7 24. e4 e5 25. Rd3 Rc2 26. Qe1 a5 $132 {Aronian,L (2752)
-Leko,P (2740)/Wijk aan Zee/2006/}) 8. O-O Be7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Rd1 Qb6 ({
After the main alternative} 10... d6 11. Bf4 Qb6 {White faces a choice:} 12.
Rab1 $5 {is a more recent idea, here Black is still searching for a reliable
road to equality:} ({The older move} 12. Rd2 {is more or less harmless and
even gives Black more satisfactory options:} h6 (12... Nc6 13. Bxd6 Bxd6 14.
Rxd6 Qxb2 15. Rb1 Qxc3 16. Rxb7 Nd4 17. Qd1 Nxf3+ 18. Bxf3 Qxc4 19. a4 $44 {
gives White compensation, but no advantage.}) 13. Rad1 e5 14. Be3 Nc6 15. Qb5
Qc7 16. Qb3 a6 17. Nh4 Rfb8 18. Bxc6 Qxc6 19. f3 e4 {Onischuk,A (2664)-Eljanov,
P (2687)/Foros/2008/} 20. Nf5 Bf8 21. Rxd6 $44) (12. Qb3 Rd8 13. Qxb6 axb6 14.
Nb5 Ne8 15. a3 h6 16. Rac1 Nc6 17. Ne1 Na5 18. Bd2 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Nc6 $11 {
Vallejo Pons,F (2686)-Anand,V (2786)/Linares/2005/}) 12... Bc6 (12... Na6 13.
a3 (13. Nb5 Rfd8 $5 (13... d5 14. Ne5 d4 15. Bxb7 Qxb7 16. e3 dxe3 17. Bxe3 $14
{Pelletier,Y (2525)-Alterman,B (2600)/Elista olm/1998/}) (13... Ne8 14. a3 Be4
15. Rbc1 Rd8 16. b4 Bc6 17. bxc5 Nxc5 18. Qxa7 Qxa7 19. Nxa7 Ba4 20. Re1 Nf6
21. Nd4 Rd7 22. Nac6 $16 {Zhigalko,S (2640)-Franco Alonso,A (2490)/ECC Plovdiv/
2010/}) 14. Bd2 Nb4 15. a3 Bc6 16. Bxb4 (16. axb4 a6 17. Qa5 Qxa5 18. bxa5 axb5
19. b4 $13) 16... cxb4 17. Qxb4 Be4 18. Rbc1 Rab8 $11) 13... Rac8 14. Qc2 Rfd8
15. e4 Nd7 (15... Bc6 16. Qe2 h6 17. Nd5 $1 Nxd5 (17... exd5 18. exd5 Ba4 19.
b3 Bxb3 20. Rdc1 $16 {[%cal Rf3d2,Re2e7] /\Nd2}) 18. exd5 Bd7 19. dxe6 Bxe6 20.
Nd2 Bf8 21. Qd3 Qc7 (21... Nc7 $142) 22. Ne4 Bg4 23. f3 Bh5 24. Bh3 $16 {
Giri,A (2677)-Infante,M (2276)/Khanty-Mansiysk olm/2010/}) (15... h6 16. Qe2
Nb8 {Nikolic,P (2629)-Volke,K (2455)/Bundesliga/1999/} 17. b4 $14) 16. Qe2 h6
17. h4 (17. Nb5 Nf8 18. Qe1 Rd7 19. Rd3 Nc7 20. Nc3 Ng6 21. Be3 Qa6 22. Bf1 Ne8
23. Rdd1 Bf6 $11 {Ikonnikov,V (2527)-Volke,K (2450)/Vlissingen/2002/}) 17...
Ba8 18. g4 $5 Nf8 19. g5 h5 20. Bg3 g6 21. Rd2 Nb8 22. Qd1 a6 23. Rd3 e5 24.
Nd5 Qa7 25. Qd2 Nc6 26. Rd1 Nd4 27. Nxd4 cxd4 28. f4 $14 {Van Wely,L (2668)
-Leko,P (2736)/Monte Carlo blindfold rpd/2003/}) (12... Nbd7 13. b4 cxb4 14.
Qxb4 $1 $36 (14. Rxb4 Bc6 15. Qa3 Qc5 16. Be3 Qh5 17. h3 Bxf3 18. Bxf3 Qxh3 19.
Bg2 Qh5 20. Bf3 Qh3 21. Bg2 Qh5 22. Bf3 {1/2,Lautier,J (2666)-Gelfand,B (2700)/
Enghien les Bains/2003/})) 13. Qa3 (13. Qc2 Rd8 14. e4 Qb7 $132) 13... Rd8 14.
b4 cxb4 15. Rxb4 Qa6 16. Rb3 $5 (16. Qb2 Qc8 17. Nb5 Na6 18. Ra4 Qb7 19. Qb1
Nc5 20. Rb4 Be4 $36 {Lysyj,I (2638)-Carron,J (2394)/Zürich /2010/}) 16... Qxa3
17. Rxa3 h6 18. h4 Nh5 19. Be3 a6 20. g4 Nf6 21. g5 hxg5 22. hxg5 Ne8 23. g6
Rc8 24. gxf7+ Kxf7 25. c5 Nd7 26. cxd6 Bxd6 27. Rb3 $14 {Dronov,A (2617)
-Mikeshin,S (2591)/corr/2007/}) 11. Bf4 Rd8 {Carlsen keeps his P on d7 and
makes a useful move.} (11... d6 {-10...d6 transposes into the lines from the
previous note.}) (11... Qxb2 $4 12. Rab1 Qxc3 13. Rxb7 $18 {[%csl Rc3][%cal
Rd1c1,Rf4d2,Rf4e5] /\Rc1,Be5,Bd2}) 12. Rab1 {Kramnik doesn't insist on
occupying the <->d with his R and adopts a similar set-up, as we have already
mentioned above. His R supports the future b4 advance.} (12. Rd2 d6 (12... d5
$6 13. cxd5 exd5 14. Ne5 Na6 15. Rad1 Nc7 16. e4 Ne6 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. exd5
Nxf4 19. Qxf4 Bd6 20. Qf5 $16 {Lautier,J (2672)-Macieja,B (2593)/ECC Saint
Vincent/2005/}) 13. Rad1 h6 $142 (13... Ne8 14. Nb5 (14. e4 Bc6 15. Qc2 Qb7 16.
Qb3 $6 Qxb3 17. axb3 f6 $1 18. Ne1 Nd7 19. Ra1 Rdb8 20. Ra3 Rb7 21. e5 Nxe5 22.
Bxe5 Bxg2 23. Bxd6 Nxd6 24. Kxg2 Nf5 $15 {Gustafsson,J (2603)-Leko,P (2741)/
Dortmund/2008/}) 14... Na6 15. Bg5 $1 $146 Bxg5 16. Nxg5 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Nac7 18.
Qc2 g6 19. Nc3 Nf6 20. Qd3 Nce8 21. Qf3 Rab8 22. Nce4 Qb7 23. b3 Nxe4 24. Nxe4
Qc7 25. Qf4 e5 26. Qh4 $16 {Kramnik,V (2790)-Karjakin,S (2725)/Nice blindfold
rpd/2010/}) (13... a6 14. Ng5 $5 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 e5 16. Be3 Qb7+ 17. f3 $1 (17.
Kg1 h6 18. Nf3 Nc6 19. Nd5 Nxd5 20. Rxd5 Nb4 21. R5d2 Nc6 22. Rd5 Nb4 23. R5d2
Nc6 {1/2,Leko,P (2751)-Bacrot,E (2728)/Nalchik/2009/}) 17... Ng4 18. Bxc5 Nd7
19. Bg1 Bxg5 20. Rxd6 Ngf6 21. h4 Bh6 22. b3 $16 {Sargissian,G (2675)-Zhigalko,
A (2587)/EU-ch Rijeka/2010/}) 14. Qb5 Ne8 15. e4 g5 16. Be3 Nd7 17. h4 g4 18.
Ne1 Kg7 $5 (18... Qxb5 19. cxb5 $5 (19. Nxb5 Ne5 20. b3 a6 $11) 19... Bf8 20.
Nc2 Ne5 21. Na3 Rdc8 22. Bf4 Bg7 23. Bxe5 Bxe5 24. Nc4 Bd4 25. Ne2 e5 26. a4
Kf8 27. Rc2 {Navara,D (2722)-Leko,P (2724)/Khanty-Mansiysk olm/2010/} Rab8 {
Navara,/\} 28. Na5 Ba8 $13 {/+/=}) 19. Bf4 Bc6 20. Qxb6 axb6 21. Nc2 (21. e5
Bxg2 22. exd6 Bf6 23. Nxg2 Bxc3 24. bxc3 e5 25. Be3 Ra4 $36) 21... Ne5 22. Ne3
Nf3+ 23. Bxf3 gxf3 24. h5 Bf6 25. Ng4 Bxc3 26. bxc3 Bxe4 27. Bxh6+ Kh7 28. Bg5
Rd7 29. Bf4 f6 {Wang Yue (2732)-Bacrot,E (2716)/Nanjing/2010/} 30. Bxd6 Rad8
31. Bf4 Rxd2 32. Rxd2 Rxd2 33. Bxd2 Bd3 $11) 12... h6 (12... Na6 13. a3 (13. e4
$14 {/\} Nxe4 $2 14. Ne5 $36) 13... Bc6 14. Qc2 Qb7 15. e4 (15. Bd6 $5) 15...
d6 16. Ne1 Rac8 17. e5 dxe5 18. Bxe5 Nb8 $11 {Kantorik,M (2390)-Stefansson,H 
(2588)/Sarajevo/2010/}) (12... d5 13. cxd5 exd5 14. Ne5 $14 {is still risky
for Black, although here it's more justified than with White's R on d2.}) 13.
Qb5 $146 {[%mdl 8] This novelty doesn't seem too enterprising.} ({More logical
seems to be} 13. a3 {[%cal Yb2b4] /\b4 , but Kramnik already played this
earlier and Carlsen was undoubtedly prepared. However, we can only guess what
exactly he had on his mind.} a5 (13... Nc6 14. Nb5 a6 15. Nd6 $14) ({A
probably playable alternative is} 13... Bc6 $5 14. Qc2 a5 15. e4 d6 $132) 14.
Qb5 Qxb5 15. cxb5 (15. Nxb5 $5 {seems more promising.}) 15... d5 16. Ne5 g5 17.
Be3 Nbd7 $132 18. Nc6 Bxc6 19. bxc6 Ne5 20. Na4 Nxc6 21. Bxc5 Bxc5 22. Nxc5
Rab8 23. e4 dxe4 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25. Nxe4 Nxe4 26. Bxe4 Nd4 27. Kg2 Nb3 $11 {
Kramnik,V (2759)-Bacrot,E (2721)/Dortmund/2009/}) 13... Bc6 {Contrary to the
previous note, here Black can force his opponent to swap the L. However, he
had other plausible and possibly stronger moves at his disposal:} (13... d5 $5
{seems more to the point now,} 14. cxd5 (14. Nd2 Qxb5 15. Nxb5 Nc6 16. cxd5
Nxd5 $11) 14... Nxd5 (14... exd5 15. Nh4 $1 {[%csl Rd5] ><d5}) 15. Ne5 (15. Qc4
Nd7 $5 $11) 15... g5 16. Bd2 Nc6 $13 {leads to a complex position, in which
Black's piece-play compensates his shaky P-structure.}) (13... Nc6 14. Ne5 (14.
Qxb6 axb6 15. Bc7 Rdc8 16. Bxb6 $2 Ra6 $17) 14... g5 $5 (14... d5 15. cxd5 Qxb5
16. Nxb5 Nxd5 17. Nc7 $1 Nxf4 18. gxf4 $14) 15. Qxb6 (15. Nxc6 Bxc6 16. Bxc6
dxc6 17. Qxb6 axb6 18. Bc7 Rxd1+ 19. Rxd1 b5 $11) 15... axb6 16. Nxc6 Bxc6 17.
Bc7 Rdc8 18. Bd6 Kf8 {and Black should gradually equalize.}) 14. Qxb6 (14. Qb3
d6 $11) 14... axb6 15. b3 (15. Bc7 $5 Rc8 16. Bxb8 (16. Bxb6 $2 Ra6 17. Bxc5
Bxc5 18. b4 Ra3 $19) 16... Rcxb8 (16... Raxb8 17. Ne5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 d6 19. Nf3
{can be very similar to the game.}) 17. Ne5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 d5 19. a3 {[%csl Rb6,
Rc5] is an interesting try to stabilize Black's <<P on the dark squares. Black
should probably refrain from} dxc4 (19... d4 $5 20. Nb5 $13 {/+/=}) 20. Nb5 c3
(20... Ra4 21. Rbc1) 21. bxc3 $36 (21. Nxc3 Rb7 22. Nb5 Ra5 23. Nd6 Bxd6 24.
Rxd6 b5 {and Black gradually consolidates.})) (15. Bxb8 Rdxb8 {-15.Bc7 leads
to the same position as the line above with one move less.}) 15... g5 $6 {
Provocative and positionally risky.} ({Carlsen was probably getting ambitious,
as much simpler is} 15... Ne4 $142 $1 16. Nxe4 Bxe4 17. Rb2 Nc6 $11 (17... d5
$11 {and Black has no problems whatsoever.})) ({Even} 15... d6 {is a more
solid choice.}) 16. Bxb8 $5 {[%mdl 32]} ({Even here Kramnik could play} 16. Bc7
Rc8 17. Bxb8 {, but he prefers the direct swap. In the long run White's main
strategic aim is to achieve a position with a strong N against a passive B.} (
17. Bd6 Kf8 18. a4 Bxd6 19. Rxd6 Ke7 20. Rbd1 Ne8 21. R6d3 d6 $11)) 16... Raxb8
(16... Rdxb8 $5 17. Ne5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 d5 {deserves attention, leading to a
position from the note to White's 15-th move, only with the extra moves b3 and
g5. It's not so easy to exploit this with White, as} 19. cxd5 (19. a4 Bd6 20.
Nf3 g4 {/\ Be5<=>}) 19... Nxd5 (19... exd5 20. a4 $1 d4 21. Nb5 $36) 20. Nxd5
exd5 21. a4 (21. Rxd5 Rxa2 22. e4 Re8 $11) 21... d4 22. e3 dxe3 23. fxe3 b5 24.
Rd7 Bf8 $132 {is not too impressive.}) 17. Ne5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Rbc8 {[%cal Yd7d6,
Yd7d5] /\d6,d5} 19. e4 {Black had to loses a tempo to cover the c6-square,
enabling White to prevent the immediate d5.} ({He needn't worry unduly about} 
19. Na4 d6 20. Nxb6 Rb8 $5 (20... dxe5 21. Nxc8 Rxc8 $11) 21. Nc6 (21. Nd5 Nxd5
22. Nc6 Nb4 $15) 21... Rxb6 22. Nxd8 Bxd8 23. b4 cxb4 24. c5 Rb8 25. cxd6 Nd5
$11) 19... d6 20. Nd3 ({More accurate is} 20. Nf3 $1 g4 21. Ne1 h5 22. Rd2 $14
({or} 22. f4 $5 $14 {and White retains some pressure.})) 20... Kf8 $6 ({
Black should have used his chance to play the active} 20... d5 $142 21. e5 Ne8
22. Nb5 $5 $13) 21. h3 (21. Nb2 $5 $14 {/\Nba4,Nb5+/=}) 21... Nd7 ({Black
still could have gained space with} 21... d5 $142 $5) 22. f4 $1 {[%csl Rg5,Rh6]
Another drawback of Black's 15-th move is he loosened his >>.} Nb8 {[%cal
Yb8c6,Yc6d4,Ye7f6] /\Nc6-d4,Bf6 This plan is too slow and doesn't achieve the
desired result.} (22... Ra8 $142 23. Rd2 $14) 23. Na4 {Forces the N back.} (23.
Nb5 Na6 $5 {/\Nc7+/=} (23... Nc6 24. Nb2 {[%csl Rb6,Rd6] /\Na4,Rd2,Rbd1,><b6,d6
}) (23... d5 24. exd5 exd5 25. Ne5 $36)) 23... Nd7 $8 24. Nf2 $36 Ra8 25. Rd2
Ra5 {[%cal Yb6b5] /\b5 Black finds a way to chase away the nagging Na4} (25...
Rxa4 $2 26. bxa4 {[%cal Rf2d1,Rd1c3] /\Nd1-c3} Ra8 27. e5 $18) 26. Nc3 Nb8 (
26... Bf6 27. Nb5 d5 28. exd5 exd5 29. Rxd5 $5 Rxa2 30. Rbd1 $16) 27. Rbd1 (27.
a4 Nc6 28. Nb5 {stops Black's idea from the game, but allows} Na7 $14) 27...
Nc6 28. Nb5 gxf4 (28... Nd4 29. Nxd4 cxd4 30. a4 $1 (30. Rxd4 gxf4 31. gxf4
Rxa2 32. e5 Bh4 $11) 30... Bf6 31. Ng4 Bg7 32. Nh2 $14 {[%cal Yh2f3,Yf3e1,
Ye1d3,Yd3b4] /+/-,/\Nf3 will force Black to play e5, killing his B. White can
then proceed to transfer his N to the dominant square d5 (Ne1-d3-b4) and
prepare either b4, or opening the >>.}) 29. gxf4 d5 $5 {Although this doesn't
solve Black's problems, one can understand Carlsen's liberating attempt.} (
29... Nd4 {is similar to 28...Nd4 and might be safer , but it offers little or
no active <=>.}) 30. exd5 exd5 31. cxd5 Rxb5 (31... Nd4 $5 32. Nxd4 cxd4 33.
Rxd4 Rxa2 34. R4d2 Rxd2 35. Rxd2 f5 $1 36. Nd1 Bc5 37. Kf3 Kf7 $16 {/+/=}) 32.
dxc6 Rc8 33. Ng4 Rxc6 (33... c4 34. bxc4 Ra5 35. Ne5 $16) 34. Ne5 $36 {[%csl
Rb5,Ge5] White has achieved his strategic aim and his N dominates in the [+].
This together with the misplaced Rb5 and vulnerable K makes the defence very
difficult.} Re6 35. Kf3 (35. Nd7+ Ke8 36. f5 Re4 (36... Rc6 37. Ne5 Rc7 (37...
Rf6 38. Nc4 $1 {[%cal Rd1e1] /\Re1+-->}) 38. Re2 $40) 37. f6 Rd4 $1 38. Rxd4
cxd4 39. Rxd4 Bd8 $14 {[%csl Rd7,Rf6] ><f6,Nd7}) 35... Ra5 $2 $138 (35... Rb4
$142 36. Rd5 $5 {/\} (36. Rd7 b5 $5 $14 {/\c4<=>}) (36. Rg2 $6 Bf6 $11 {/\} 37.
Nd7+ Ke7 38. f5 Ree4) 36... Bf6 37. Nc4 $16) 36. Rg2 {[%cal Gg1g8,Re5d7]
-><->g,/\Nd7} (36. Rg1 f5 (36... f6 37. Rg6 $18) 37. a4 $1 $18) 36... f6 (36...
Bf6 37. Nd7+ Ke7 38. f5 $18 {wins an exchange, as here the R can't go to e4.})
(36... f5 37. Rd7 {[%cal Rd7b7] /\Rb7+-}) 37. Nc4 $1 {Again the strategic
approach, Kramnik is in no hurry to win material and tightens the screws.} (37.
Rg6 Rxa2 38. Rdg1 Rxe5 39. fxe5 fxe5 40. Rxb6 $18) 37... Ra7 (37... Ra8 38. f5
Rc6 39. a4 $1 $18 {is similar.}) 38. f5 Rc6 39. a4 $1 $18 {[%csl Rb6,Rc5,Re7,
Rf6,Rh6] All Black's P are vulnerable and his miserable B has no moves.} Rb7 (
39... Ke8 40. Rg7 Rac7 41. Rh7 Bf8 42. Re1+ (42. Rxc7 Rxc7 43. Nxb6 $18) 42...
Kd8 43. Rxc7 Kxc7 44. Re8 Bd6 45. Ke4 $18) 40. Rg6 h5 (40... b5 41. Na5 $18)
41. Rdg1 {[%cal Rg6g8,Rg1g7]} Ke8 (41... Kf7 42. Ne5+ $18) 42. Ne5 $1 {The N
joins the -> and wraps up the game.} Rc8 43. Rg8+ Bf8 44. Ng6 Rf7 45. Rd1 $22 {
The most clinical solution.} ({After} 45. Rd1 Ra8 46. Rd6 Rb8 47. Rh8 {Black
is fully paralysed and can't avoid heavy material losses.}) 1-0

[Event "Grand Slam Final 3rd"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2010.10.10"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D16"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2010.10.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 e6 6. e3 c5 7. Bxc4 Nc6 8. O-O
Be7 9. Qe2 cxd4 10. Rd1 O-O 11. exd4 Nd5 {The defence with the knight move to
the blockading square is preventing the advance of the d4-pawn.} (11... Nb4 12.
Bg5 Bd7 13. Ne5 Bc6 14. Nxc6 bxc6 15. a5 Nfd5 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Na4 Nf6 18. Nc5
Rab8 19. a6 Rb6 20. Na4 Rbb8 21. Nc5 Rb6 22. b3 {1/2-1/2 Zhou Jianchao (2650)
-Nguyen Huynh Minh,H (2469)/Olongapo City 2010 (28)}) 12. Bb3 (12. Qe4 Nf6 13.
Qh4 Nb4 14. Bg5 h6 15. Bd2 b6 (15... Bd7 16. Ne5 Bc6 17. Bxh6 gxh6 18. Qxh6 Nh7
19. Bd3 Nxd3 20. Rxd3 Bg5 21. Qh5 Qf6 22. Rg3 $18 {1/2-1/2 Kulaots,K (2592)
-Jakovenko,D (2726)/Khanty Mansiysk 2010 (60)}) 16. Ne5 Bb7 17. Bxh6 gxh6 18.
Qxh6 Nh7 19. Bd3 Nxd3 20. Rxd3 Bg5 21. Qh5 Qf6 22. Rh3 Qg7 23. Rg3 $11 {
1/2-1/2 Grischuk,A (2756)-Karjakin,S (2725)/Nice 2010 (30)}) 12... Na5 (12...
Ncb4 13. Ne5 Bd7 14. Qg4 (14. Qf3 Bc6 15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. a5 Rb8 17. Bd2 Qc8 18.
Ne4 Qa6 19. Bg5 Bxg5 20. Nxg5 Nf6 21. Rdc1 Rfd8 $11 {1/2-1/2 Krush,I (2475)
-Hera,I (2544)/Lubbock 2007 (61)}) 14... Nf6 15. Qg3 Bc6 16. Bh6 Ne8 17. Rac1
Kh8 18. Nxc6 bxc6 19. Bf4 Nd6 20. Be5 Nf5 21. Qh3 Qb6 22. Ne4 $16 {1-0
Kasimdzhanov,R (2702)-Perez Garcia,R (2426)/Lugo 2009 (54)}) 13. Ba2 (13. Bc2
Nb4 14. Bf4 Nxc2 15. Qxc2 Nc6 16. Rac1 $14) 13... Nb4 $2 {[%mdl 4] Both
knights have moved to the edge of the board in the interest of the fight
against the light-squared bishop. Shirov somehow managed to forget, that after
the last move White can open the centre.} (13... Nc6 14. h3 Ncb4 15. Bc4 b6 16.
Ne5 Bb7 $13) 14. d5 $1 Nxa2 (14... exd5 15. Nxd5 Nxd5 16. Bxd5 Qe8 17. Re1 Qd7
18. Qe4 Bf6 19. Ng5 Bxg5 20. Bxg5 $16) 15. Rxa2 Bf6 {The sharp struggle is
beginning at a moment when Black is ill prepared for the combat. The real
solution is a pipedream; the various defences are different only in the level
of damage.} (15... Bd6 16. b4 Bxb4 17. dxe6 Qe8 18. Nd5 Bxe6 19. Nxb4 Bxa2 20.
Qxa2 $16) (15... exd5 16. Rxd5 Qc7 17. Rxa5 Qxa5 18. Qxe7 $18) 16. dxe6 (16. d6
e5 17. Ne4 Nc6 18. b3 Bf5 19. Ba3 Re8 20. d7 Bxd7 21. Nxf6+ gxf6 22. Rad2 Nd4
23. Nxd4 exd4 24. Qf3 $16) 16... Qe7 $2 {Not quite sufficient, but still the
best continuation was hidden in the retreat of the queen to the e8-square.} (
16... Qe8 $1 17. exf7+ Qxf7 18. Nd5 Bg4 19. Ra3 Rad8 20. Rad3 $16) 17. Nd5 $1
Qxe6 18. b4 Nc6 (18... Nb3 $2 19. Be3 $1 Qe4 20. Nxf6+ gxf6 21. Bh6 $18) 19. b5
Ne5 {The problems of the defence have been magnified, since Kramnik created
the additional possibility of developing the bishop to the a3-square.} (19...
Ne7 20. Nxf6+ $1 (20. Nc7 Qxe2 21. Rxe2 Rb8 22. Ba3 Be6 23. Nxe6 fxe6 24. Rxe6
$16) 20... gxf6 21. Qd2 Re8 22. Ra3 $16) 20. Nc7 (20. Ra3 Nxf3+ 21. Qxf3 Bd8
22. Re3 Qg6 23. Qe2 Bg4 24. f3 Be6 25. Nf4 $16) 20... Nxf3+ 21. gxf3 Qxe2 22.
Rxe2 Be6 {Shirov will not be able even to pretend to have some compensation
for the missing exchange.} (22... Rb8 23. Ba3 Bf5 24. Bxf8 Kxf8 25. Rde1 $16) (
22... Bh3 23. Nxa8 Rxa8 24. Bb2 Bg5 25. Rc2 $16) 23. Nxa8 Rxa8 24. Bb2 Rc8 {
Black is desperatelly trying to complete his development in order to try
building some resistance.} (24... Bg5 25. Rxe6 $5 fxe6 26. Rd7 Bf6 27. Bxf6
gxf6 28. Rxb7 $18) 25. Rc1 (25. Bxf6 gxf6 26. Ree1 Rc4 27. Rd8+ Kg7 28. Re4 $16
) 25... Rd8 (25... Rxc1+ 26. Bxc1 h6 27. Bb2 Bg5 28. Bd4 $18) 26. Bxf6 gxf6 27.
Kg2 {The white king had no desire to become locked after the possible Bh3 move.
} a6 28. bxa6 (28. Rc7 axb5 29. axb5 Rd5 30. Rxb7 Rg5+ 31. Kh1 Bc4 32. Rb2 Bd5
33. Rb8+ Kg7 34. h4 Bxf3+ 35. Kh2 Rg2+ 36. Kh3 f5 37. b6 $18) 28... bxa6 29.
Rc6 Kg7 (29... Rd5 30. h4 Ra5 31. Re4 $18) 30. Re4 f5 31. Rh4 {The rook move
makes a strange impression, but the h4-square is a safe retreat for the rook
along the 4th rank. Improving the pieces will not be any problem for Kramnik.}
(31. Re5 Kf6 32. Ra5 $18) 31... Ra8 32. a5 Kg6 33. Kg3 Kg5 34. Rd4 h5 35. h4+
Kf6 36. Kf4 Rb8 (36... Ra7 37. Rdd6 $18) 37. Rxa6 Rb2 38. Ra4 Rxf2 39. Rxe6+ $1
{The shortening of the enemy's suffering can be seen as a humanitarian act of
mercy...} fxe6 40. a6 Re2 41. a7 (41. a7 e5+ 42. Kg3 f4+ 43. Kh3 $18) 1-0

[Event "Grand Slam Final 3rd"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2010.10.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Edouard,R"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2010.10.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 {The usual Catalan, one of Kramnik's
speciailities, with white pieces!} dxc4 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. Qa4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Nd5 8.
Bxb4 Ndxb4 9. O-O Rb8 10. Na3 {Clearly the most fashionable move.} O-O ({
The tempting} 10... a6 {seems to lead by force to the following continuation:}
11. Ne5 O-O 12. Nxc6 Nxc6 13. Qxc4 Qxd4 14. Bxc6 Qxc4 15. Nxc4 bxc6 {with a
slightly better endgame for White according to practise, due to Black's weak
pawn structure and rather bad pieces coordination.}) 11. Qb5 b6 12. Qxc4 Ba6
13. Nb5 Qd5 14. Qxd5 Nxd5 (14... exd5 $6 {is just wrong in my opinion, as it
is positionally weak and there is no tactical reason to play it:} 15. Nc3 Rfe8
16. Rfd1 Ne7 17. a3 Nbc6 18. b4 Bb7 19. Rdc1 {and White was better in
Huzman-Cornette, Montreal 2008.}) 15. a4 Na5 16. Ne5 Rbd8 17. Nxa7 (17. Bxd5 {
has already been tried, but it looks like Black simply equalized by force:}
Bxb5 $1 18. Bxe6 (18. axb5 {is more or less the same sketch:} Rxd5 19. b4 Nb3
20. Nc6 Nxa1 21. Rxa1 Ra8 22. Ne7+ Kf8 23. Nxd5 exd5 24. Rc1 Rc8 25. Ra1 Ra8
26. Rc1 Rc8 27. Ra1 {1/2-1/2 Rodshtein-Macieja, Copenhagen 2010}) 18... Be8 19.
b4 fxe6 20. bxa5 Rxd4 {and after more and more simplification, draw was agreed
in Grischuk-Gelfand (Sochi 2008) later on.}) 17... Nb4 18. Rac1 Rxd4 19. Rxc7
$146 {There comes the novetly! Actually, the impression I had is that both
players had more or less analyzed the rest of the game. After Kramnik's
perfect defense, Anand took some time in order to try to find out some ideas,
but could not disrupt the solid leader.} (19. Nb5 {has been played twice, and
twice gave White an edge. But according to Rybka 4, Black can defend with} Bxb5
20. axb5 f6 21. e3 Rdd8 $1 $146 (21... Rd2 22. Nf3 {was better for White in
Prohaszka-Csonka 2010.}) 22. Nf3 Rf7 {and Black seems to hold in spite of his
slightly misplaced knights on the border.}) 19... Bxe2 20. Rfc1 f6 $1 {Looks
like Kramnik knew that the following simplifications are leading to a draw.}
21. Nec6 Naxc6 22. Nxc6 Nxc6 23. R7xc6 Rfd8 24. h3 R8d6 {This is where Anand
spent the most of time (about 25 minutes). Taking into account that Kramnik
had more time on clock at this moment, the most logical explanation would be
that Anand couldn't find any "real try" at home. After having a new look at
the position over the board, he probably drew the same conclusion.} 25. Rxd6
Rxd6 26. Rc6 (26. b4 {was the other logical try, and I guess Black should hold
after} Rd4 $5 27. Rc2 (27. Re1 Rd2 28. Ra1 Kf7 29. a5 bxa5 30. bxa5 Ba6 $11) (
27. Rb1 e5 $11) 27... Bd1 28. Rc8+ Kf7 29. a5 bxa5 30. bxa5 Ra4 31. Ra8 Ra1 32.
Kh2 Be2 {and I believe White has no winning chances, as it is very difficult
to bring the so-needed King help the a-pawn.}) 26... Rxc6 27. Bxc6 e5 $1 {
Maybe not the only move to hold, but an important one from the technical
aspect. Black should gain some space and at the same time not let White go f4
and create Black and isolated pawn on e5 in the event of ...e5 move.} 28. f4
exf4 29. gxf4 Kf7 30. Kf2 Bc4 31. b4 g5 32. fxg5 fxg5 33. h4 {Setting a
definite draw.} gxh4 34. a5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Grand Slam Final 3rd"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2010.10.13"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2826"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "138"]
[EventDate "2010.10.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. O-O Be7 8.
d3 O-O 9. Be3 Re8 (9... Be6 {is more common. ist geläufiger.}) 10. Rc1 Bf8 11.
Ne4 Nd4 12. Bg5 (12. Nc5 {is the most popular move here. ist der beliebteste
Zug an dieser Stelle.}) 12... f6 13. Nxd4 exd4 14. Bd2 Be6 (14... c6 15. b4 Be6
) 15. b4 (15. Nc5 Bxc5 16. Rxc5 c6 $11 {/\ Bd5}) 15... Bd5 (15... Bxa2 $6 16.
Nc5 $14 Bd5 17. Nxb7 Qd7 18. Nc5 Bxc5 19. Rxc5) 16. a4 c6 (16... f5 {is enough
for equality probably as well. reicht wahrscheinlich auch zum Ausgleich.} 17.
Ng5 (17. Nc5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Qd5+ 19. Kg1 a5 $1) 17... Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Qd5+ 19. Nf3
c5 (19... Bd6) 20. bxc5 Bxc5 21. Rb1 Nd7 22. Qb3 Qxb3 23. Rxb3 b6 24. Re1 a5)
17. a5 (17. Re1 f5 (17... a6) 18. Nc5 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Qd5+ 20. Kg1 a5 21. bxa5
Bxc5 22. axb6 Bxb6 23. Rb1 Ra6 $11) 17... Nc8 (17... Nd7 18. b5 $1 cxb5 $140
19. Nd6 $1) 18. Re1 $6 (18. a6 {is risky, but had to be played, at least it is
the logical continuation of White's previous move. ist riskant, musste aber
gespielt werden, zumindest ist es die logische Fortsetzung des vorigen weißen
Zuges.} b5 (18... bxa6) 19. e3 $13) 18... a6 $1 {Now Black takes the
initiative, transfering his knight to b5, blocking White's play on the
queenside. Nun ergreift Schwarz die Initiative, indem er seinen Springer nach
b5 überführt, was das weiße Spiel am Damenflügel blockiert.} 19. Nc5 (19. Qc2
Na7 $1) 19... Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Qd5+ 21. Kg1 Nd6 22. Qb3 Qxb3 23. Nxb3 Nb5 24. Kf1
Rad8 25. Rc4 Rd5 26. Bc1 Red8 27. Bb2 Kf7 28. Kg2 (28. Nd2 Nc7 $1 {White
should not allow this manoeuvre. Weiß sollte dieses Manöver nicht zulassen.}
29. Rb1 Ne6 {/\ Rb5 sometimes. /\ Rb5 gelegentlich.}) 28... h5 {Black is in
full control of the position, but it is very difficult to break through.
Schwarz hat die Stellung fest im Griff, allerdings ist es sehr schwer
durchzubrechen.} 29. h3 g5 30. g4 Kg6 31. Rf1 Be7 {No need to hurry. Kein
Grund zur Eile.} (31... f5 $6 32. gxf5+ Kxf5 33. e4+ $1 dxe3 34. fxe3+ Kg6 35.
Re4 Rxd3 36. Re6+ Kh7 37. Rf7+ Kg8 38. Rxb7) 32. f4 (32. Rh1 $15 {Probably it
was safer just to stay, although Black can slowly try to improve his position.
Vermutlich war es sicherer, einfach auf der Stelle zu treten, obwohl Schwarz
langsam versuchen kann, seine Stellung zu verbessern.} f5 33. gxf5+ Kxf5 34.
Rg1 Ke6) 32... hxg4 33. hxg4 gxf4 34. Rxf4 Bd6 {Now Black has some chances due
to the better mobility of his remaining pieces. Nun hat Schwarz aufgrund der
besseren Mobilität seiner verbleibenden Figuren ein paar Chancen.} 35. Rf3 Rg5
{Tempting, but the computer prefers Verlockend, aber der Computer bevorzugt} (
35... Re8 36. Kf1 Be5 37. Rh3 Rd7 $15) 36. Bxd4 {A very strange decision. Eine
sehr seltsame Entscheidung.} ({After Nach} 36. Nxd4 $142 Rxg4+ 37. Kf2 {
White should hold without much trouble: sollte sich Weiß ohne große Mühe
halten:} Nxd4 38. Bxd4 f5 39. Bc3) 36... Rxg4+ 37. Kf2 Nxd4 38. Nxd4 Rh8 {
It's getting hot for White. Langsam wird es heiß für Weiß.} 39. e4 Rh2+ 40. Ke3
Rb2 $6 {Again the most tempting, but probably not the best. Wieder am
verlockendsten, aber womöglich nicht am besten.} (40... Rgg2 $1 41. Nf5 Be5 42.
d4 Bb8 $17) 41. Nc2 $6 (41. Rc2 $1 Rxb4 42. Nf5 Be5 43. Rf1 {and strangely
enough, the computer claims that White is ok here. und seltsamerweise
behauptet der Computer, dass die weiße Stellung hier okay ist.}) 41... Rg5 $1 {
White is in serious trouble now. Jetzt ist Weiß in ernsthaften Schwierigkeiten.
} (41... Rg2 42. Rf2) 42. d4 Rb5 {Logical and good enough, but there was an
even better move: Logisch und gut genug, aber es gab einen noch besseren Zug:}
(42... Rg4 $1 {This strange, but very strong possibility did not cross my mind,
but seems to be just winning; White is losing his e-pawn: Diese seltsame, aber
sehr starke Möglichkeit kam mir nicht in den Sinn, scheint aber einfach zu
gewinnen; Weiß verliert seinen e-Bauern:} 43. Kd2 (43. Rc3 Rg2 44. Kd3 Bxb4)
43... Rb1 44. Kd3 Rb3+ 45. Rc3 Rxc3+ 46. Kxc3 Rxe4 $19) 43. Kd3 Bxb4 44. Rxb4
R5xb4 45. Nxb4 Rb3+ 46. Ke2 Rxb4 {On playing Rxb4, I thought this should be a
winning rook endgame, but in fact things are not so simple. Bei Rxb4 dachte
ich, dies sollte ein gewonnenes Turmendspiel sein, tatsächlich aber ist die
Sache nicht so einfach.} 47. Rg3+ {There is no need to push Black's king where
it goes anyway. Es ist nicht nötig, den schwarzen König dahin zu treiben,
wohin er sowieso geht.} (47. Rd3 $142 Rb5 48. Ra3) 47... Kf7 48. Rd3 Ke6 49.
Ke3 Rb5 50. Ra3 c5 $1 (50... f5 {was suggested as an improvement by various
commentators, but does not seem to be true: wurde von verschiedenenen
Kommentatoren als Verbesserung vorgeschlagen, aber dies scheint nicht zu
stimmen:} 51. exf5+ Rxf5 52. Ra4 Rb5 (52... Kd6 53. Kd3 Rb5 54. Kc4) 53. Kd3
Kd5 54. Kc3 {and I could not see how to proceed now, seems to be just a draw.
und jetzt konnte ich nicht sehen, wie es weitergehen soll, scheint einfach
remis zu sein.} Rb1 55. Kc2 Rb5 56. Kc3 Kd6) 51. dxc5 Rxc5 $2 {Just an
automatic reply and in fact a very serious mistake, missing the victory:
Einfach ein automatischer Reflex und tatsächlich ein ganz schwerer Fehler, der
den Sieg ausslässt:} (51... Ke5 $1 {After this move it seems to me that Black
is winning in all lines. Nach diesem Zug scheint mir, dass Schwarz in allen
Abspielen gewinnt.} 52. Rc3 (52. Ra4 $145 $5 {(Mueller,Karsten)}) 52... Rxa5
53. Kd3 (53. c6 bxc6 54. Rxc6 Ra3+ 55. Kd2 Ra4 56. Kc2 a5 {similar to the main
variation ähnlich der Hauptvariante.}) 53... Rb5 54. c6 bxc6 55. Rxc6 Rb3+ 56.
Kc4 Ra3 57. Kb4 Ra1 58. Kb3 a5 59. Kc2 a4 60. Ra6 a3 61. Ra4 a2 62. Kb2 Re1 63.
Kxa2 Rxe4 {winning, the white king is too far away. mit Gewinn, der weiße
König ist zu weit weg.}) 52. Kf4 {I thought I would be able to kick the king
away from f4 and get mine to e5 somehow, but it is not realisable in fact. Ich
dachte, ich würde irgendwie in der Lage sein, den König von f4 zu vertreiben
und meinen nach e5 zu bringen, tatsächlich aber ist das nicht machbar.} Rh5 53.
Rb3 Rb5 (53... Rh4+ 54. Kg3 Rxe4 55. Rxb7 {should be drawish. sollte remislich
sein.}) 54. Ra3 Kd6 55. Ra1 Kc6 56. Ke3 (56. Ra2 {was actually even simpler.
war sogar noch einfacher.}) 56... f5 {This seems to be Black's best chance
here, but it's not enough anyway. Dies scheint hier die beste Chance für
Schwarz zu sein, aber es reicht trotzdem nicht.} 57. exf5 Rxf5 58. Kd3 Rf3+ 59.
Kc4 Rf4+ 60. Kc3 (60. Kb3 $2 {loses after verliert nach} Kb5 61. Kc3 Ra4 62.
Rb1+ Kc6) 60... Kc5 61. Rh1 $1 Rf3+ 62. Kc2 $1 (62. Kb2 Kb4 63. Rh7 Rb3+ 64.
Kc2 Ka4) 62... Ra3 63. Rh7 Kc6 64. Rh6+ Kc7 65. Rh7+ Kb8 66. Rh8+ Ka7 67. Rh5
Re3 68. Kb2 Kb8 69. Rc5 Re6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Grand Slam Final 3rd"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2010.10.14"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[Annotator "Edouard,R"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2010.10.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Qa5 $5 (8... Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qa5 {is more common.}) 9. Bd2 (9. Bb5+ {and}) (
9. Bxf6 {are the 2 other options.}) 9... Qc5 (9... O-O {is also possible.}) 10.
Bb5+ Bd7 (10... Nbd7 11. Nb3 Qb6 12. O-O Bxc3 13. Bxd7+ Bxd7 14. Bxc3 Nxe4 15.
Bxg7 Rg8 16. Bd4 Qb5 {was critical recently: Grischuk-Morozevich 2009,
Moiseenko-Romanov 2010.}) 11. Nb3 Qe7 12. Bd3 Nc6 13. O-O O-O 14. a3 Bd6 15.
Kh1 $5 $146 {This prophylactic move could make some differences in many lines.}
(15. f4 e5 16. f5 Nd4 17. Bg5 Bc6 18. Bc4 Qd8 19. Nd5 Bxd5 20. Bxd5 Be7 21.
Bxf6 Bxf6 22. Kh1 Rc8 23. Rc1 Qb6 24. Rc3 Rxc3 25. bxc3 Nxb3 26. Bxb3 Qe3 27.
Qf3 Qxf3 28. Rxf3 Rc8 29. a4 Rc5 30. g3 Kf8 31. Rd3 {1/2-1/2 Wang-Gelfand,
Romania 2010}) (15. Bg5 h6 16. Bh4 Bf4 17. Ne2 e5 $6 18. Nxf4 exf4 19. f3 Be6
20. Bf2 Rfd8 21. Nc5 Ne5 22. Qb1 Bc4 23. Rd1 Rac8 24. Bxc4 Nxc4 25. Rxd8+ Qxd8
26. Qc1 Ne3 27. Bxe3 fxe3 28. Qxe3 $18 {and Kramnik eventually beat Lautier in
a blind game in Monte Carlo, 1998.}) 15... Be5 $5 {Strange at first sight, but
played very fast by Anand. This looks like the same scenario as their first
game. Tere Anand was White, played a novelty, and Kramnik drew with much more
time on clock.} 16. f4 Bxc3 17. Bxc3 e5 18. f5 Rfd8 19. Qe2 b6 20. Nd2 ({
Launching an attack like} 20. g4 {would be met by} h6 21. Rg1 (21. h4 Nh7 22.
Be1 a5 $132) 21... Nd4 $1 22. Nxd4 exd4 23. Bxd4 Bc6 24. Bxf6 Qxf6 $44) 20...
Bc8 21. Nf3 Bb7 22. Rae1 a6 23. Bc4 b5 24. Ba2 h6 25. Bd5 $5 {Here I guess
Kramnik realized that he has no advantage, and tried this shot in spite of the
fact it's only making draw.} Nxd5 26. exd5 Rxd5 27. f6 $1 {[#]} Qxf6 ({Of
course not} 27... gxf6 $2 {which would be terrible because of} 28. Nh4 {
and a winning attack (Qh5, Re3).}) 28. Nxe5 Qe6 29. Nxf7 Qxe2 30. Rxe2 Rd7 {
The coolest move, making a draw at once. Here let's just write down some funny
computer ideas.} (30... Rf8 $6 {would give White a chance:} 31. Ref2 $1 (31.
Kg1 $11) 31... Re8 32. Nxh6+ $1 gxh6 33. Rf7 Re7 $8 34. Rf8+ Kh7 35. Rh8+ Kg6
36. Rf6+ Kh5 (36... Kg7 37. Rxc6+ Ree5 $8 38. Rc7+ Kxh8 39. h3 $1 $16) 37.
Rhxh6+ Kg5 38. h4+ Kg4 39. Kh2 Ne5 40. Rh8 Rg7 41. Re6 Kf5 42. Rxe5+ Rxe5 43.
Rh5+ Kg4 44. Rxe5 Kxh4 45. Re2 $14 {is given by the computer at a decent depth,
which should be drawn anyway.}) (30... a5 31. Re6 $1 b4 32. Nxh6+ $1 gxh6 (
32... Kh7 $5 33. Bxg7 $1 Ba6 34. Rfe1 Bb7 35. Rf1 $1 $11) 33. Rg6+ Kh7 34. Rg7+
Kh8 35. Bf6 Rf8 36. Rf7+ Kg8 37. Rg7+ Kh8 38. Rg6+ Kh7 39. Rg7+ Kh8 $11) 31.
Ne5 Re7 32. Ree1 Nxe5 33. Rxe5 Rxe5 34. Bxe5 Re8 35. Re1 Kh7 36. Bc3 Rxe1+ 37.
Bxe1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Grand Slam Final 3rd"]
[Site "Bilbao"]
[Date "2010.10.15"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E25"]
[WhiteElo "2749"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Edouard,R"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2010.10.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ESP"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 $5 {This line is getting more and more
popular.} d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. dxc5 Qa5 (8... f5 {occured
in Anand-Kramnik, in their match in Bonn (2008), game 2.}) 9. e4 Nf6 10. Be3
O-O 11. Qb3 Nfd7 12. a4 Qc7 13. Qa3 b6 14. a5 Bb7 $146 {Nice novelty by
Kramnik!} (14... bxc5 {was the usual move.}) 15. a6 {One of the best tries
according to Deep Rybka 4.} Bc8 16. Bb5 Nxc5 17. Bxc5 bxc5 18. Ne2 Bd7 19. Bc4
{From now Kramnik started to think some 5 minutes per move. I think the text
move shouldn't be the only one to equalize, though Black must pay some
attention due to White's space advantage.} Bc6 $5 {Giving the c-pawn for
long-term compensations. This reminds, for instance, some of the positions in
the Bc4-Ne2 line in the Grunfeld. Black's safe development and pressure on the
c-file is enough to compensate for an extra c-pawn.} (19... Be8 $5) 20. Qxc5
Nd7 21. Qa5 Rfc8 22. Qxc7 {I I think after this move, White has no winning
chances at all.} (22. O-O $5 {should be a better try, though Black should be
able to draw by force, somehow.}) 22... Rxc7 23. Nd4 Bxe4 {After this move,
Kramnik started to play fast until the draw was agreed.} 24. Bxe6 fxe6 25. fxe4
Rxc3 26. O-O Nc5 27. e5 h6 28. Rfc1 Rxc1+ 29. Rxc1 Nxa6 30. Nxe6 Re8 31. Nd4
Rxe5 32. Ra1 Re4 33. Rxa6 Rxd4 34. Rxa7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.05"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Mueller,Karsten"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2010.11.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 c5 8.
dxc5 Nbd7 9. Rc1 Qa5 10. a3 Bxc3+ 11. Rxc3 Ne4 12. b4 Nxc3 13. Qa1 Qa4 14. Qxc3
O-O 15. e3 a5 16. b5 Nxc5 17. Qxc5 Bf5 18. Qd4 Qxa3 19. Be2 Qb4+ 20. Qxb4 axb4
21. Nd4 Ra1+ 22. Bd1 Bh7 23. Nb3 Rb1 24. Nd2 Rb2 25. Bg3 Rc8 26. Be5 Ra2 27.
Nb3 Bc2 28. Bxc2 Rcxc2 29. O-O f6 30. Bd4 Ra3 31. Na1 Rd2 32. h3 Rad3 33. Kh2
Ra3 34. b6 h5 35. Rb1 Rxf2 36. Nb3 Raa2 37. Rg1 {Schwarz muss auf der Hut sein,
dass der weiße Springer seinen b-Bauern nicht schnell einsammeln und
rechtzeitig zurückkehren kann:} Kh7 $2 {Dafür hat Schwarz keine Zeit.} ({
Wenn er mittels} 37... h4 {den weißen König am Verlassen seines Hauses hindert,
ist die Stellung im Gleichgewicht, z.B.} 38. Nc5 Rad2 39. Nxb7 b3 40. Na5 b2
41. b7 Rxg2+ 42. Rxg2 Rxg2+ 43. Kxg2 b1=Q 44. Ba7 $11) 38. Nc5 Rfd2 $2 {
Ein Fehler kommt selten allein, aber nun ist guter Rat bereits teuer, z.B.} (
38... Rad2 39. h4 $1 {Baut dem König einen Ausgang.} ({Das überhastete} 39.
Nxb7 $2 b3 40. Na5 b2 41. b7 Rxg2+ 42. Rxg2 Rxg2+ 43. Kxg2 b1=Q 44. Ba7 {
wäre dagegen nur remis, weil Schwarz im Bauernrennen schneller ist.}) 39... g5
(39... f5 40. Be5 $16) 40. Kh3 g4+ (40... gxh4 41. Nxb7 b3 42. Bb2 Rde2 (42...
Rxb2 43. Nd8 Rxg2 44. Rxg2 Rxg2 45. b7 Rg3+ 46. Kh2 Rxe3 47. b8=Q $18) 43. Nd6
Rxe3+ 44. Kh2 Re7 45. Bd4 Rf4 46. Bc5 Rg4 47. b7 Rg8 48. Rb1 $18) 41. Kg3 Rfe2
42. Ne6 b3 43. Nf4 Rf2 44. Nd3 Rf5 (44... Rfe2 45. Nc1 Rxd4 46. Nxe2 Rb4 47.
Rb1 $16) 45. Nf4 b2 46. Rb1 $16) 39. Nxb7 b3 40. Nc5 b2 41. Rb1 {und Weiß
entscheidet das Rennen für sich, daher gab Kramnik auf.} 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.06"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D55"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[Annotator "Moradiabadi,E"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2010.11.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/6000+30:20/3000+30:900+30"]

{After an unusual upset for Kramnik (The number of his blunders against
Aronian are equal to the total he made over the last two years) one would
expect a tough battle from Kramnik as white, however taking a rest day seems
to be the norm among world champions these days! Remember Anand after his loss
against Bacrot. Though Kramnik tried something, he didn't seem to be in the
mood to take advantage of his opponent's errors.} 1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6
4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. e3 O-O 8. Qc2 Na6 9. a3 c5 10. Rd1 dxc4
$146 {#} (10... cxd4 11. Nxd4 Nc7 12. Be2 Qe7 {is the main line but it is
funny that such an obvious move has never been tried before.}) 11. Bxc4 cxd4
12. exd4 Bd7 13. O-O Rc8 14. Ba2 {Black is ok.} (14. Bxa6 bxa6 {would just
have left White with the headache of the pair of bishops!}) 14... Bc6 15. Ne5
Bxe5 16. dxe5 Qh4 17. f4 Rcd8 18. Rd6 Nc7 19. Qd3 g6 $6 {#This move could have
cost Grischuk the game.} 20. Rd1 $2 {returns the favor. Bc4 was mandatory in
order to control the b5 square} Rxd6 21. Qxd6 Nb5 22. Nxb5 Bxb5 {Now the
position is 'arid'.} 23. Qc5 Be2 24. g3 Qh3 25. Re1 Bf3 26. Qf2 Bc6 27. Qf1
Qxf1+ 28. Rxf1 Rd8 29. Bb3 Rd3 30. Bc2 Rd2 31. Rf2 Rd4 32. Kf1 Kf8 33. Ke2 Ke7
34. Ke3 Rc4 35. Bd3 Rc1 36. Rf1 Rc5 37. Rf2 Rc1 38. Rf1 Rc5 39. Rf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.07"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E37"]
[WhiteElo "2755"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2010.11.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Ne4 7. Qc2 c5 8.
dxc5 Nc6 9. e3 (9. Nf3 Qa5+ 10. Nd2 $5 {is more aggressive here.}) 9... Qa5+
10. Bd2 Nxd2 (10... Qxc5 {is less common.}) 11. Qxd2 dxc4 (11... Qxc5 {is
possible here, too.}) 12. Bxc4 (12. Qxa5 Nxa5 13. Rc1 b5 $5 14. cxb6 Bb7 $5 $44
{is the main topic of today's theoretical discussions in this system.}) 12...
Qxc5 13. Rc1 Qe7 ({The endgame after} 13... Qg5 14. f4 Qh4+ 15. Qf2 Qxf2+ 16.
Kxf2 Ke7 {is nearly equal, e.g.} 17. Nf3 Bd7 18. b4 Rac8 19. g4 h6 20. h4 Rc7
21. Be2 Rhc8 22. g5 Nd8 23. Rxc7 Rxc7 24. Ne5 Be8 25. Rd1 hxg5 26. fxg5 f6 $11
{1/2 Sokolov,I (2684)-Ribli,Z (2574)/Germany 2002/EXT 2003 (35)}) {However,
Black prefers to keep queens, posing more problems to out-of-form GM Pavel
Eljanov.} 14. Nf3 O-O 15. b4 {[%cal Yd2b2]} (15. O-O Rd8 16. Qc3 (16. Bd3 e5
17. e4 Be6 18. Qe3 f6 $11 {1/2 Koneru,H (2622)-Hou,Y (2570)/Nalchik 2010/CBM
136 (75)}) 16... Bd7 17. b4 a6 18. Bd3 (18. e4 Na7 19. e5 Bc6 20. Be2 Nb5 21.
Qe3 a5 $132 {1/2 Fridman,D (2630)-Cruz,C (2534)/Leon 2008/CBM 127 Extra (49)})
18... Rac8 19. Qb2 Na7 20. h3 Bb5 21. Bxb5 Nxb5 22. Ne5 h6 23. a4 Nd6 24. Rfd1
Rxc1 25. Rxc1 Ne8 26. a5 Nc7 {1/2 Bocharov,D (2582)-Riazantsev,A (2617)/
Novokuznetsk 2008/CBM 126}) 15... Rd8 16. Qb2 Bd7 17. O-O (17. b5 Na5 18. Be2
b6 19. Qb4 Qxb4+ 20. axb4 Nb7 21. Ne5 Nd6 22. Nc6 Bxc6 23. bxc6 a5 $1 $132 {
0-1 Morozevich,A (2771)-Karjakin,S (2706)/Nice 2009/CBM 129 Extra (68)}) 17...
Qf6 {After all Black decides to trade queens. The resulting position is,
however, slightly preferable for White due to his better bishop and Black's
inferior pawn sructure.} (17... Rac8 $5 18. Rfd1 a6) 18. Qxf6 gxf6 $14 19. Be2
(19. Rfd1 Be8 20. Rxd8 Rxd8 21. Bb5 Kf8 22. Kf1 Ke7 23. Ke2 Bd7 24. Bd3 f5 25.
g3 Rg8 $6 (25... a6) 26. Rc5 f6 27. e4 fxe4 28. Bxe4 Rg7 29. Bxc6 Bxc6 30. Nd4
$16 {1-0 Palme,R-Eliskases,E/Berlin 1938/HCL (56)}) 19... a5 $6 {Too
aggressive.} (19... Rac8 20. Rfd1 Kf8) (19... Ne7 $5 20. Rfd1 a6 21. Rc7 $140
$6 Nd5) 20. b5 Ne7 {[%csl Ra5,Rb6,Rb7,Rd7] Black´s bishop is now constricted,
and his queenside pawns are vulnerable.} 21. Rfd1 Nd5 (21... Be8 22. Nd2 $1 {
[%cal Yd2c4,Ya3a4,Yd2e4]}) 22. e4 $1 (22. g3 Be8) 22... Nf4 23. Bf1 {[%cal
Yg2g3]} e5 {This weakening is practically forced; otherwise Black's pieces
can't breathe!} 24. Nh4 $1 Bg4 $6 (24... Kf8 {may be more to the point but
after} 25. g3 {White keeps a clear plus:} Nh3+ (25... Ng6 26. Rc7 Bg4 27. Rxd8+
Rxd8 28. Nf5 Bf3 29. Ne3 $1 Bxe4 30. Bg2 $16) (25... Ne6 26. Nf5) 26. Kg2 Ng5
27. f3 {[%csl Rg5]} Be8 28. Rxd8 Rxd8 29. Rc7 Rd2+ 30. Kg1 Rd7 31. Rc8 $16) 25.
f3 Be6 26. Nf5 $6 (26. Rxd8+ Rxd8 27. Rc7 $16 {[%csl Gc7]} Rd7 $140 28. b6 $1
Kf8 29. Nf5 $1 Bxf5 30. exf5 Rd1 31. Rxb7 Rb1 32. Rb8+ Ke7 33. b7 {, and White
should convert his extra pawn.}) 26... Bxf5 27. exf5 Nd5 28. Rd3 $6 (28. Kf2
$16 {[%cal Yf1d3,Yd3e4] was still very strong.}) 28... Rd7 29. Rc4 (29. Rcd1
Rad8 $11 {[%cal Yd5b6]}) 29... Rad8 30. Ra4 $6 {Starting a series of awful
rook moves.} (30. Kf2 $11) 30... b6 31. Rg4+ Kf8 32. Rh4 $2 (32. Rc4 Ne7 33.
Rxd7 Rxd7 34. g4 Rd2 $1 35. Rc7 Nd5 36. Rc6 $15) 32... Ne7 $1 33. Rxd7 Rxd7 {
[%cal Gd7d1,Re7f5,Rf5e3][%mdl 4096]} 34. Rxh7 Nxf5 35. Rh5 {This poor rook
still remains out of play! But its activation (after losing so much time)
didn't solve White's problems:} (35. Rh8+ Kg7 36. Rb8 Rd1 $1 37. Kf2 (37. Rxb6
Ne3 38. Kf2 Nxf1 39. Ra6 Rb1 40. Rxa5 Nd2) 37... Rd2+ 38. Ke1 Ra2 39. Rxb6 Ne3
$5 40. Ra6 (40. Bd3 Nxg2+ 41. Kf1 Nf4 $17) 40... Ra1+ 41. Kf2 Nxf1 42. Rxa5 Nd2
43. Ra4 $1 Ra2 $1 44. Ke3 $1 Nb3 $1 {In this sharp endgame Black keeps good
winning chances.}) 35... Ne3 $1 {[%cal Rd7d1] And the white bishop is caged,
too!} 36. Kf2 (36. Be2 Rd2 37. Kf2 Nxg2 (37... Nc2 $5)) 36... Nc2 $1 37. f4 (
37. Rh8+ Kg7 38. Rb8 Rd2+ $1 39. Kg1 $8 Ne3 40. Rxb6 Rd1 (40... f5 $5 41. Rc6
Rd1 42. Kf2 Nxf1 43. b6 Rb1 44. Rc5 Nd2 45. Rxe5 Nc4 46. Rc5 Nxb6 47. Rxa5 f4)
41. Kf2 Nxf1 42. Ra6 Rb1 43. Rxa5 Nd2 {- see annotation to move 35.}) 37... e4
{[%csl Ge4]} 38. Rh8+ Kg7 39. Rc8 (39. Rb8 $142 e3+ 40. Kf3 Re7 {[%cal Rc2d4]}
41. Rd8 Nxa3 42. Bd3 Nb1 $1 {[%cal Yb1d2,Yd2b3]} 43. Rc8 Nd2+ 44. Ke2 Nb3 45.
Rc4 a4 $1 $17) 39... Rd2+ 40. Be2 Nxa3 41. Ke3 {The white king will be
vulnerable here.} (41. Rb8 {was, however, hopeless enough. Here is a possible
line, and look at the moves of the black knight:} Rb2 $1 (41... Nxb5 42. Ke1
Rd5 43. Rxb6 Nc3 $17) 42. Rxb6 a4 {[%cal Ra3c2,Ra4a3,Ra3a2]} 43. Ra6 Nxb5 {
[%cal Rb5c3]} 44. Ke3 Nc3 $1 45. Bc4 f5 $1 46. Kd4 Nd1 47. Ra7 (47. Rxa4 Rd2+
48. Ke5 Nb2 49. Rb4 e3 $19) 47... e3 $1 48. Rxf7+ Kg6 49. Re7 (49. Ke5 Rb5+ $1
50. Bxb5 Kxf7 $19 {[%csl Ga4,Ge3]}) 49... Rxg2 {, and Black should win.}) 41...
Rb2 42. Rb8 (42. g4 Nxb5 43. Bxb5 Rxb5 $19 {_|_}) 42... f5 $1 {[%cal Ra3c2]}
43. Bf1 Rb1 44. Be2 Rb3+ 45. Kf2 Nxb5 46. Rxb6 e3+ $1 47. Kg3 Nd4 48. Rxb3 Nxb3
49. Kf3 $2 (49. Bb5 $8 {could have prolonged White's torture:} Nd4 {[%csl Gd4]}
50. Bc4 (50. Ba4 Kf6 51. Bd7 Ke7 52. Ba4 Kd8 $22 53. h4 {This pawn must move
forward to its death!} Ke7 54. h5 Kf6 55. Be8 Kg7 56. Bd7 (56. h6+ Kxh6 57.
Bxf7 a4 58. Bc4 a3 {[%cal Yh6g7,Yg7f8,Yf8e7,Ye7d6,Yd6c5,Yc5b4,Yb4c3]}) 56...
Kh6 57. Be8 Kxh5 58. Bxf7+ Kh6 59. Be8 Kg7 $19 {[%cal Yg7f8,Yf8e7,Ye7d6,Yd6c5,
Yc5b4]}) 50... a4 51. Bd5 a3 52. Bc4 Kf8 53. Bd5 Ke7 54. h4 (54. Bc4 Kd6 55.
Ba2 Kc5 $1 56. h4 Kb4 57. h5 Kc3 $19) 54... Kf6 55. h5 Kg7 56. Bc4 f6 57. Bd5
Kh6 58. Bf7 Ne2+ 59. Kf3 Nc3 60. Kxe3 a2 61. Bxa2 Nxa2 $19) 49... a4 (49... a4
50. Bd1 Nd4+ $1 51. Kxe3 a3 $19) 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.08"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2010.11.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 O-O
8. Qd2 Nd7 9. O-O-O Re8 {#In spite of the fact that Gelfand has played this
more than once and got nothing but misery for his insistence, Kramnik decides
to try his hand at this line and see whether he cannot do better.} 10. h4 c6
11. Bd3 Nf6 12. Rde1 d5 13. Bd4 c5 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Qf4 Be6 16. Ng5 g6 17. Bb5
Rf8 18. Nxe6 fxe6 19. Rxe6 Bxc3 20. Qg4 Bg7 {#} 21. h5 $1 {Hardly encouraging
for Black.} c4 {A computer might coldly analyze this to a clear evaluation,
but a human will unquestionably worry about a6-b5 capturing the bishop.} 22.
hxg6 h6 23. Rd1 (23. Rhe1 $1 {was stronger, threatening Re7.} a6 {no longer
works due to} 24. Be8 {and Bf7+}) 23... Qa5 (23... a6 $2 24. Bxc4 $1) 24. Rxd5
Qxa2 25. Bxc4 Qxb2+ 26. Kd1 Kh8 27. f3 a5 28. Rd7 a4 {#The engines affirm this
is clearly better for white, but let's face it, this position could EASILY go
sour.} 29. Qh4 Qb1+ 30. Kd2 Qb4+ 31. Kd1 Qb1+ 32. Kd2 Qb4+ 33. Kd1 Qb1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.10"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Wang, Hao"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2727"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2010.11.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. e3 Be7 5. b3 O-O 6. Bb2 Nbd7 7. Nc3 c5 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. Be2 Qa5+ 11. Qd2 Qxd2+ 12. Kxd2 Nf6 13. Bd3 b6 14. Rac1
Be6 15. Ng5 Bd7 16. Rc2 a5 17. dxc5 bxc5 18. Ba3 h6 19. Nf3 Ne4+ 20. Bxe4 dxe4
21. Ne5 a4 22. Bxc5 Bxc5 23. Rxc5 axb3 24. Nxd7 Rfd8 25. Rd5 Rdc8 26. Rb1 Rc2+
27. Ke1 Raxa2 28. Rxb3 Re2+ 29. Kd1 Rxf2 30. Rb8+ Kh7 31. Nf8+ Kg8 32. Ng6+ Kh7
33. Nf8+ Kg8 34. Ng6+ Kh7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.11"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E08"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2010.11.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O Nbd7 8.
Qc2 c6 9. Bf4 b6 10. Rd1 Bb7 11. Ne5 Nh5 12. Be3 Nhf6 13. Bf4 Nh5 14. Bd2 Nhf6
15. cxd5 cxd5 16. Nc6 Bxc6 17. Qxc6 Rc8 18. Qa4 Nb8 19. Be1 a6 20. Qb3 Nc6 21.
Qd3 b5 22. a4 bxa4 23. Nc3 a5 24. e3 Bb4 25. Rxa4 Qe7 26. Raa1 h6 27. Qa6 Nb8
28. Qe2 Rc7 29. Na4 Nc6 30. Nc3 Nb8 31. Na4 Nc6 32. Nc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.12"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2010.11.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Be3 c5 8.
Rc1 Qa5 9. Qd2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qxd2+ 11. Bxd2 O-O 12. Nf3 e6 13. Bb5 Nc6 14. Bxc6
bxc6 15. O-O Ba6 16. Rfe1 Bb5 17. Bb4 Rfd8 18. Bc5 a5 19. h4 a4 20. Rc3 f6 21.
e5 fxe5 22. Nxe5 Rd5 23. f4 Bxe5 24. fxe5 Rd7 25. a3 Rf7 26. Kh2 Rb8 27. Kg3
Rbb7 28. Bd6 h5 29. Rb1 Kh7 30. Rc5 g5 31. d5 gxh4+ 32. Kh2 exd5 33. e6 Rg7 34.
Re1 Rg8 35. Rc3 Rbg7 36. Rf3 Rxg2+ 37. Kh3 c5 38. Rf7+ R2g7 39. Bxc5 Be8 40.
Ref1 d4 41. Kxh4 d3 42. R1f5 d2 43. Rxh5+ Kg6 44. Rg5+ Kh7 45. Rh5+ Kg6 46. Rf1
Rh7 47. Rg1+ Kf6 48. Rf1+ Kg6 49. Rg1+ Kf6 50. Rf1+ Kg6 51. Rg1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.13"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2010.11.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 {One of the
main attractions of this line is it often leads to a complex struggle with
opposite-side castling and in that case White's king is well protected on the
<< by the doubled c-pawns. However, this doesn't mean that White gets a strong
-> automatically: the open <-> e is a strong neutralizing factor and he must
reckon with Black's [+]<=> as well.} Be7 7. Be3 {/\Qd2,0-0-0} ({The other main
move with similar ideas is} 7. Bf4 {, but this is recently somewhat less
fashionable among the top players (although in general it's played rather more
often, than the text-move). Now Black has a choice:} {Developing the B to f4
allows Black to play} O-O (7... Nc6 8. Qd2 Be6 9. O-O-O {The usual
continuation is} Qd7 ({An enterprising idea is} 9... Bxa2 $5 10. b3 a5 11. Kb2
a4 12. Kxa2 axb3+ 13. Kxb3 Ra5 (13... Na5+ 14. Kb2 Qd7 15. Ra1 O-O 16. Qd5 b5
17. Ne5 Qe6 18. Qxe6 fxe6 19. Rxa5 Rxa5 20. Nc6 Ra6 21. Nxe7+ Kf7 22. Bxb5 Rb6
23. c4 Kxe7 24. Bg5+ Kf7 25. Kc3 $18 {Karjakin,S (2723)-Kosteniuk,A (2517)/
Moscow WCh 5'/2009/}) 14. Kb2 Qa8 15. Bc4 ({Risky, but possibly more critical
is the yet untested} 15. Rb1 $5 O-O 16. Bd3 Ra2+ 17. Kc1 Ra1 18. Qd1) 15... d5
16. Bxc7 (16. Bb3 Ba3+ 17. Kb1 Be7 {1/2,Sjugirov,S (2585)-Maslak,K (2551)/Ulan
Ude/2009/}) 16... O-O 17. Bxa5 (17. Ra1 Rxa1 18. Rxa1 Qc8 19. Qxd5 Qxc7 $132)
17... Nxa5 18. Ne5 (18. Bxd5 $2 Nc4+ $1 19. Bxc4 Qa3+ 20. Kb1 Ra8 21. Bxf7+ Kf8
{0-1,Mosionzhik,I (2162)-Nagibin,G (2366)/Moscow/2009/}) 18... Ba3+ 19. Kb1
Nxc4 20. Nxc4 dxc4 21. Qd7 b5 22. Rd5 $2 (22. Rhe1 Qxg2 $44) 22... b4 $36 {
Berbatov,K (2250)-Lampert,J (1791)/EU-chJ Herceg Novi/2008/} (22... Bb4 23.
cxb4 c3 24. Rc5 Qa3 25. Rxc3 Qxc3 26. Qd3 Qxb4+ $40)) 10. Kb1 a6 (10... O-O-O
11. Ng5 Bxg5 12. Bxg5 f6 13. Be3 Kb8 14. b3 Ne7 15. f3 b6 16. Kb2 Bd5 17. a4
Bb7 18. Bb5 Bc6 19. Bd3 a5 20. Rhe1 h5 21. Bf2 Rde8 22. Ra1 Nc8 23. Reb1 g5 24.
Bd4 $14 {Radjabov,T (2756)-Kramnik,V (2759)/Baku rpd/2009/}) 11. Ng5 (11. h3 h6
12. Nd4 Nxd4 13. cxd4 d5 14. Bd3 O-O-O 15. Rhe1 Rhe8 16. Re2 Bf5 17. Bxf5 Qxf5
18. Rde1 Bb4 19. Qxb4 Rxe2 20. Rxe2 Qxf4 21. a3 Qd6 22. Qe1 Rf8 $11 {/+/=,
McShane,L (2657)-Giri,A (2677)/Khanty Mansiysk olm/2010/ The control of the
<->e gives White the initiative, but proved insufficient to for anything more
tangible in a simplified and symmetrical position.}) 11... Bxg5 (11... Bf5 12.
Bc4 {/\} h6 $2 13. Nxf7 Rf8 14. Qd5 Bg6 15. Ne5 $16) 12. Bxg5 f6 13. Be3 O-O-O
14. b3 Rhe8 15. f3 h5 16. Bf2 Bf5 17. Be2 Re7 18. Rhe1 Rde8 19. Bf1 Rxe1 20.
Bxe1 Re7 21. Bf2 Qe8 22. c4 $11 {[%csl Gf1,Gf2] /+/=^^,Kramnik,V (2743)-Adams,
M (2732)/Dortmund/2006/ Once again White has a very slight edge, this time due
to his ^^, but converting it is very difficult.}) 8. Qd2 Nd7 9. O-O-O Nc5 {
, in this main branch he is currently doing fine. Just one fine example, in
which he managed to get directly at White's K (really an exception in this
line):} 10. h4 Bf6 11. Ng5 h6 12. f3 Rb8 $5 13. g4 b5 14. Bd3 Re8 15. Bh7+ Kf8
16. Nh3 (16. Ne4 $5 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 Bxg4 18. fxg4 Rxe4 19. g5 $36) 16... b4 17.
cxb4 a5 18. g5 Bxh3 19. gxf6 Qxf6 20. c3 axb4 21. cxb4 Na6 22. a3 Bf5 23. Bxf5
Qxf5 $13 24. Rhg1 $4 Nxb4 $1 25. axb4 Ra8 26. b3 Ra1+ 27. Kb2 Qf6+ {0-1,
Rublevsky,S (2687)-Shirov,A (2699)/RUS-chT Sochi/2006/}) ({As mentioned above,
White's main idea is << castling, so the older} 7. Bd3 {/\0-0 practically
doesn't appear nowadays, rightly being considered sterile.}) 7... O-O ({
Also here Black regularly plays} 7... Nc6 8. Qd2 Be6 9. O-O-O Qd7 ({or even} 
9... Bxa2 $5 10. b3 a5 11. Kb2 a4 12. Kxa2 axb3+ 13. Kxb3 Ra5 14. Kb2 Qa8 15.
Bc4 d5 16. Bxd5 Ba3+ 17. Kb1 Be7 18. Kb2 Ba3+ 19. Kb1 Be7 20. Kb2 {1/2,Burg,T 
(2342)-Pruijssers,R (2413)/Venlo/2008/}) 10. Kb1 a6 11. Ng5 {, here he can
even try} Bf5 12. Bc4 h6 $5 13. Nf3 (13. Nxf7 $5 Rf8 14. Qd5 $13 {is more
testing}) 13... Be6 14. Be2 Bf6 15. Nd4 Nxd4 16. Bxd4 Bxd4 17. Qxd4 O-O 18. Bf3
Rae8 19. h4 b6 20. b3 Qb5 21. Kb2 Qc5 22. Rhe1 a5 $11 {Alekseev,E (2700)
-Ivanchuk,V (2741)/Astrakhan/2010/ If there will be more attacking games like
ours, he will probably resort to this restrained continuation even more often.}
) 8. Qd2 Nd7 9. O-O-O Ne5 {This natural centralizing move is Black's most
popular option.} ({Kramnik understandably wants to improve upon} 9... Re8 10.
h4 c6 11. Bd3 Nf6 12. Rde1 d5 13. Bd4 c5 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Qf4 Be6 16. Ng5 g6
17. Bb5 Rf8 18. Nxe6 fxe6 19. Rxe6 Bxc3 20. Qg4 Bg7 21. h5 c4 (21... Qa5 22.
Rxg6 $1) 22. hxg6 h6 {Nakamura,H (2741)-Kramnik,V (2791)/Moscow/2010/ (23)} 23.
Rhe1 $36) 10. h4 {White turned his attention to this thrust, once it was
discovered that} (10. Nd4 {allows} c5 11. Nb5 Be6 $1 12. Nxd6 Qb6 13. f4 (13.
b4 Rad8 14. Bxc5 Qc7 15. Nb5 Qc6 16. Qe1 Rxd1+ 17. Qxd1 Bxc5 18. bxc5 Qa6 19.
Qh5 Ng4 20. Bd3 h6 21. Qh4 Qxa2 22. Re1 Bd7 23. Re4 Bxb5 24. Rxg4 Qa3+ 25. Kd2
Bxd3 26. cxd3 Qb2+ 27. Kd1 Qxc3 $17 {Landa,K (2574)-Kosyrev,V (2539)/playchess.
com INT/2005/}) 13... Ng4 14. Nc4 Qa6 15. Na3 c4 16. f5 Bxf5 17. Bxc4 b5 (17...
Qg6 $5 18. Bf4 Bxa3 19. bxa3 Nf6 $44) 18. Bb3 Nxe3 19. Qxe3 Bxa3 20. bxa3 Qxa3+
21. Kb1 a5 $15 {El Shaddai,R (2406)-Abeljusto (2428)/playchess.com INT/2007/})
10... c6 {The latest fashion, but Black has tried other moves as well:} (10...
Bg4 11. Be2 Qc8 12. h5 {However, playable seems to be} h6 (12... Re8 $6 13. h6
$1 (13. Nxe5 dxe5 14. Bxg4 Qxg4 15. Qd5 Qa4 16. Kb1 Bd6 17. c4 b6 18. g4 Qd7
19. Qe4 Qe6 20. Rd3 Rac8 21. Rhd1 Rf8 22. a4 f5 $132 {Jakovenko,D (2710)
-Shirov,A (2739)/Moscow/2007/}) 13... g6 14. Nxe5 Bxe2 (14... dxe5 15. Bxg4
Qxg4 16. Qd5 $16) 15. Nxg6 Bxd1 16. Qd4 f6 17. Qd5+ {1-0,Ponomariov,R (2719)
-Gelfand,B (2723)/Odessa rpd/2008/}) 13. Nxe5 (13. Kb1 Re8 14. Rde1 Bf6 15. Nh2
Bxe2 16. Qxe2 d5 17. Bc1 Qd7 18. f4 Nc4 19. Qd3 Qb5 20. Ka1 Rxe1 21. Rxe1 Re8
$132 {Jakovenko,D (2711)-Volokitin,A (2684)/RUS-chT Dagomys/2008/}) (13. Rdg1
Re8 14. Nxe5 dxe5 15. f3 Rd8 16. Bd3 Bf5 17. g4 Bxd3 18. cxd3 f6 19. Rd1 Qe6
20. Kb1 Rd7 21. Qe2 Rad8 22. Rd2 a5 23. d4 exd4 24. Bxd4 Qxe2 25. Rxe2 Kf7 $11
{Huschenbeth,N (2404)-Naumann,A (2528)/GER-ch Bad Liebenzell/2010/}) 13... Bxe2
14. Qxe2 dxe5 15. Qc4 c6 16. a4 (16. g4 b5 17. Qe4 Qe6 18. Kb1 Rfd8 19. Rd3
Rxd3 20. cxd3 $11 {1/2,Balogh,C (2561)-Fridman,D (2621)/Bundesliga/2007/CBM 123
}) 16... Rd8 17. Rxd8+ Bxd8 18. Rd1 Bb6 19. g4 Qe8 20. Qe4 Qe7 21. b3 Bxe3+ 22.
fxe3 f6 23. Qb4 Re8 $11 {Caruana,F (2652)-Gashimov,V (2758)/Khanty Mansiysk
WCup/2009/}) (10... Re8 11. h5 Bf6 12. Kb1 h6 ({Kramnik had a bad experience
with} 12... a6 13. Nh2 b5 14. Be2 Bb7 15. f4 Nd7 $6 (15... Nc4 16. Bxc4 bxc4
17. h6 Qd7 $5 $13) 16. Bf3 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Qe7 18. Ng4 Qe6 19. Rdg1 Kh8 20. h6 g6
21. Re1 Qf5 22. Bd4 Bxd4 23. Qxd4+ $36 {Svidler,P (2740)-Kramnik,V (2739)/
RUS-ch Moscow/2005/}) 13. Nh2 Ng4 14. Nxg4 Bxg4 15. f3 Bd7 16. Bd3 Bg5 17. Bxg5
Qxg5 18. Qxg5 hxg5 19. Be4 Rab8 20. Kc1 b6 21. Kd2 Re5 $11 {Karjakin,S (2660)
-Dominguez Perez,L (2638)/Cuernavaca/2006/}) 11. c4 (11. h5 h6 12. Kb1 Ng4 13.
Bf4 d5 14. Bd3 Bd6 15. g3 Re8 16. Rde1 Rxe1+ 17. Rxe1 Bxf4 18. Qxf4 Nxf2 19.
Ne5 (19. Qe3 $5 Nxd3 20. Qe8+ Qxe8 21. Rxe8+ Kh7 22. cxd3 $44) 19... Qf6 20.
Nxc6 Ne4 $1 21. Bxe4 $6 Qxf4 22. Ne7+ Kf8 23. gxf4 dxe4 24. Nxc8 Rxc8 25. Rxe4
Rc5 $17 {Nisipeanu,L (2672)-Gelfand,B (2741)/Medias/2010/ For more details see
notes by Rogozenco in CBM 137}) ({Until lately White used to play} 11. Kb1 {
and now:} Bg4 (11... Qa5 12. h5 (12. Be2 Be6 13. b3 Nxf3 14. Bxf3 Bf6 15. Bd4
Bxd4 16. Qxd4 Qc5 17. Kb2 Qxd4 18. cxd4 d5 19. Rhe1 Rfe8 20. Re3 Kf8 $11 {
Kokarev,D (2622)-Maslak,K (2560)/RUS-chT Dagomys/2010/}) 12... Be6 13. b3 Nxf3
14. gxf3 Bf6 15. Bd4 Bxd4 16. Qxd4 Qd5 17. h6 Qxd4 18. Rxd4 g6 (18... d5 $5 19.
hxg7 Kxg7 20. Bd3 h6 $11) 19. Rxd6 Rfd8 20. Rxd8+ Rxd8 21. Bd3 Rd5 $132 {
Mastrovasilis,D (2583)-Carstensen,J (2295)/Leros/2010/}) 12. Be2 Nxf3 13. Bxf3
(13. gxf3 Bh5 14. f4 Bxe2 15. Qxe2 Re8 16. f5 Bf6 17. Qg4 d5 18. h5 Re4 19. Qg3
Qe7 20. h6 g6 21. fxg6 fxg6 22. a3 Qe5 23. Qh3 Qe6 24. Qg3 Qe5 $11 {Leko,P 
(2735)-Gelfand,B (2741)/Astrakhan/2010/}) 13... Bxf3 14. gxf3 Qa5 15. h5 Qf5
16. Rdg1 f6 17. Rg4 Rf7 $1 (17... Qxf3 18. Rhg1 Rf7 19. Bh6 Bf8 20. Bxg7 Rxg7
21. Rxg7+ Bxg7 22. h6 Kh8 {Jakovenko,D (2725)-Gelfand,B (2741)/Astrakhan/2010/}
23. hxg7+ Kg8 24. Qxd6 Re8 $14) 18. Rf4 Qe6 19. Re4 Qf5 20. Rf4 Qe6 21. Re4 Qd7
22. c4 Bf8 23. Rg4 b6 24. Qd3 f5 25. Rd4 Re8 26. Bf4 Rf6 27. Rd1 h6 28. b3 Ree6
29. Bg3 Qe8 30. Bh4 Rf7 31. Bg3 f4 $15 {Radjabov,T (2740)-Wang Yue (2752)/
Astrakhan/2010/}) 11... Be6 12. Ng5 Bf5 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (12... Nxc4 $5 13. Qd3
(13. Nxe6 Nxd2 14. Nxd8 Nxf1 15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. Rhxf1 d5 $11) 13... Bxg5 14.
hxg5 g6 15. Bf4 Qb6 16. Qd4 (16. b3 Qxf2 {/\} 17. g3 Bd5 $1 $17) (16. Qc3 Qxf2
17. g3 Nb6 18. Bc4 Bg4 $5 $13 {/3}) 16... Qxd4 17. Rxd4 d5 18. Bxc4 (18. Bg3 f5
$11) 18... dxc4 19. Be5 f5 20. gxf6 Rae8 (20... h5 $11) 21. Rh6 c3 22. Rxh7
cxb2+ 23. Kxb2 Kxh7 24. Rh4+ Kg8 25. f7+ $11 {Gashimov,V (2734)-Gelfand,B 
(2741)/Astrakhan/2010/ - see also notes by Kritz in CBM 137. I don't really
know why Kramnik refrained from taking on c4, or what improvement did Karjakin
have on his mind - perhaps future practice will show. In any case the
text-move is probably even more risky, as the B is exposed also on f5.}) 13.
Kb1 ({Maybe White doesn't need this otherwise useful move and can even play
the immediate} 13. f3 h6 14. Be2 $5 $13) 13... Re8 14. f3 {[%mdl 576] The N is
not really planning to retreat to e4, so this move already initiates the
following great tactical complications, connected with a piece sacrifice.} h6
15. Be2 $1 {Courage, which deserves commendation. Objectively White is already
more or less committed to playing the text-move:} (15. g4 hxg5 $5 (15... Bc8
16. Be2 f5 (16... hxg5 17. hxg5 $36) 17. f4 Nxg4 18. Bxg4 fxg4 19. Qd3 $1 hxg5
20. hxg5 $44) 16. gxf5 (16. hxg5 Nxf3 17. Qg2 Bxg5 18. Bxg5 Qxg5 19. Qh3 Qh4
20. Qxh4 Nxh4 21. Rxh4 Re4 $17) 16... Nxf3 17. Qf2 Nxh4 $15 {/~~}) (15. Ne4 $6
Bxe4 16. fxe4 Bxh4 $36) 15... d5 (15... hxg5 $142 $5 16. hxg5 {is obviously
dangerous, but in view of what happens later it deserves closer attention. The
tentative conclusion is White has enough for the piece and doesn't risk too
much, but this still seems to be Black's best choice:} Qc8 (16... Qd7 17. g4
Bg6 {allows White to win a tempo with} 18. Bd4 {, but this still isn't fully
clear:} (18. Rdg1 $5 Qe6 {-16...Qc8}) 18... f6 $142 $5 (18... Qe6 19. f4 Be4 (
19... Nxg4 20. Bxg4 Qxg4 21. Qh2 f6 22. gxf6 Bxf6 23. Bxf6 $16 {/\} gxf6 24.
Rdg1 $18) 20. Rh4 $5 (20. fxe5 dxe5 $1 (20... Bxh1 $2 21. Rxh1 dxe5 (21... Qg6
22. Bd3 Qxg5 23. Bh7+ Kf8 24. Bf5 Kg8 25. Be3 $18) 22. Bd3 $1 {[%cal Rh1h8] /
\Rh8+-} Ba3 (22... Bd6 23. Bh7+ Kf8 24. Bf5 $18) 23. Be3 e4 24. Qh2 Kf8 25.
bxa3 $18) 21. Bc3 (21. Bd3 Bxg5 22. Qh2 Qh6 $15) 21... Bxh1 22. Rxh1 Qg6 23.
Bd3 e4 24. Qh2 f6 25. Be2 Qxg5 26. c5 Rad8 27. Bc4+ Rd5 28. Qc7 $13) 20... Ng6
(20... c5 21. f5 $40) 21. f5 Bxf5 22. gxf5 Qxf5 23. Rh5 $44) 19. gxf6 (19. f4
Nxg4 {/\f5-/+}) 19... Bxf6 20. g5 Bd8 (20... c5 21. gxf6 cxd4 22. Rdg1 $1 (22.
f4 d3 23. Bxd3 Nxd3 24. cxd3 Qf5 25. fxg7 Kxg7 26. Rhg1 Kf7 $132) 22... Qf7 (
22... Qf5 23. f4 Qxf6 24. fxe5 dxe5 25. c5 $40) 23. fxg7 (23. f4 d3 $1 $132 {/\
} 24. Bh5 dxc2+ 25. Ka1 Nxc4 26. Qc3 Bxh5 27. Rxg7+ Qxg7 28. fxg7 Rac8 29. Rxh5
Ne5 30. Qb3+ Kxg7 31. Qxb7+ Nf7 32. Rh7+ $8 Kxh7 33. Qxf7+ $11) 23... Qf5 (
23... d3 24. cxd3 Qf6 25. Ka1 $16) 24. f4 (24. Rh8+ $5 Kxg7 25. Rh4 $44 {f})
24... d3 25. cxd3 Nxd3 26. Ka1 Nxf4 27. Bg4 Qe5 28. Bd7 Re7 (28... Red8 $2 29.
Rxg6 Nxg6 30. Qh6 Kf7 31. Rf1+ Ke7 32. Ba4 $1 Rg8 33. Qxg6 Rxg7 34. Qb1 $1 $18
{->}) 29. Rh8+ Kxg7 30. Rxa8 Rxd7 31. Re1 $14) 21. f4 Be4 $5 $13) (16... f6 {
seems dubious due to} 17. g4 Be6 18. gxf6 (18. f4 Nxg4 19. Bxg4 Bxg4 20. g6 f5
21. Qh2 Bh4 22. Bf2 Qf6 $11) 18... Bxf6 19. g5 Be7 20. f4 $1 Ng4 (20... Nxc4
21. Bxc4 Bxc4 22. Qh2 Kf7 23. Qh5+ g6 24. Qh7+ Ke6 25. Bc5 $1 Bd5 26. Rhe1+ Kd7
27. c4 $1 $18) 21. Bd4 $40 {/\} Qc8 22. Qd3 Bf5 23. Bxg4 Bxd3 24. Bxc8 Bxc2+
25. Kxc2 Raxc8 26. g6 $18) 17. g4 (17. Rh2 f6 $5 (17... Qe6 18. Rdh1 f6 19. g4
Bg6 20. f4 Nxg4 21. f5 $1 Qxf5 22. Bd3 Qxd3 23. cxd3 Nxh2 24. Rxh2 fxg5 25. Kc1
$5 $14) 18. g4 Bg6 $15 {is inconclusive}) 17... Bg6 (17... Bd7 18. f4 $1 Nxg4
19. Bxg4 Bxg4 20. Qh2 $16) 18. Rdg1 (18. Rh4 f6 19. gxf6 Bxf6 20. g5 Bd8 21. f4
Nf7 22. Bd3 Qe6 $17 {gives Black good chances to beat off the ->.}) (18. f4
Nxg4 19. Bxg4 Qxg4 20. Qh2) 18... Qe6 (18... f6 19. f4 Be4 20. fxe5 Bxh1 21.
Bd3 $1 Bf3 22. Qh2 $18) 19. f4 Be4 20. Rh3 (20. fxe5 Bxh1 21. Rxh1 g6 $1 $15 {
[%cal Ye7f8,Yf8g7] /\Bf8-g7}) 20... Nxc4 (20... Nd7 21. f5 Qe5 22. Bd3 $1 $40)
(20... Bxg5 $5 21. fxg5 c5 22. Bf4 $13 {/+/=}) 21. Bxc4 Qxc4 22. Qh2 f5 23. g6
Qxc2+ 24. Qxc2 Bxc2+ 25. Kxc2 fxg4 26. Rxg4 Bf6 27. Rg2 Kf8 28. Re2 Kg8 29. Rd2
$14 {and White's pressure persists even in the _|_.}) 16. g4 Bg6 $6 {After
this White gets a clear-cut initiative, which he will never relinquish even
despite some mutual inaccuracies.} ({Swapping Q doesn't solve Black's problems
after} 16... Nxc4 17. Bxc4 dxc4 18. gxf5 Qxd2 19. Rxd2 $16 (19. Bxd2 $5 hxg5
20. hxg5 $36)) (16... hxg5 17. gxf5 gxh4 18. f4 $36 {gives White a pull for
free.}) (16... Bc8 $5 {is a typical "inhuman" move, but seems to be the most
resilient option:} 17. cxd5 cxd5 $1 (17... Qxd5 $2 18. Qc3 $18) (17... hxg5 18.
hxg5 $1 (18. d6 Qxd6 19. Qxd6 Bxd6 20. Rxd6 Ng6 21. hxg5 Bxg4 $11 (21... Rxe3
$2 22. Rd8+ Nf8 23. g6 $1 {[%cal Rh1h8] /\Rh8} fxg6 24. Bc4+ Be6 25. Bxe6+ Rxe6
26. Rxa8 $18)) 18... Ng6 (18... Qxd5 19. Qe1 Qe6 20. Qh4 f5 21. gxf5 Qxf5 22.
f4 $18) 19. Bd3 Qc7 (19... Qd6 20. Qg2 $1 $40 Bd8 21. dxc6 Qxc6 22. Qh2 Rxe3
23. Bxg6 fxg6 24. Rxd8+ Kf7 25. Qf4+ Bf5 26. Rxa8 Qxc2+ 27. Ka1 $18) 20. f4 (
20. Qg2 $143 Bd6) 20... Bxg4 21. Qh2 Bb4 (21... Bxd1 22. Qh7+ Kf8 23. Qh8+ Nxh8
24. Rxh8#) 22. Bd4 Qxf4 23. Qh7+ Kf8 24. Bxg6 Bxd1 25. Bf6 $1 $18) 18. Qxd5 (
18. Nh3 Bxh4 $5 19. Nf4 Bg5 20. Nxd5 Be6 $132) 18... Qxd5 19. Rxd5 Bf8 (19...
Bxg5 $5 20. hxg5 Nc6 21. Rd3 Nb4 22. Bd2 Nxd3 23. Bxd3 hxg5 24. Bh7+ Kh8 25.
Bxg5 $44) (19... Ng6 20. Ne4 Nxh4 21. Rh5 Ng6 22. Bb5 Rd8 23. g5 $40) 20. Ne4
Nxf3 $5 21. Bxf3 Bxg4 22. Bg2 f5 $14 {<=>}) 17. f4 dxc4 (17... hxg5 18. fxe5
gxh4 19. g5 $16 {->}) (17... Nxc4 18. Bxc4 dxc4 19. Qf2 Qa5 20. f5 Bh7 (20...
Bxf5 21. gxf5 Bf6 22. Bd4 $1 $16 {/\} hxg5 23. Bxf6 gxf6 24. hxg5 $18) 21. Nxh7
Kxh7 22. g5 $40) (17... d4 $5 18. Bxd4 hxg5 19. hxg5 $1 (19. Qe1 gxf4 20. Bxe5
$14) 19... Be4 20. Qc3 Bxh1 21. Rxh1 {[%cal Rd4e5,Rc3h3]} (21. Bxe5 Bd6 {/\}
22. Rxd6 Qxd6 23. Bxd6 Rxe2 $132) 21... Bxg5 22. fxg5 (22. Bxe5 Rxe5 $8 23.
Qxe5 Bf6 24. Qe4 g6 $14) 22... Ng6 (22... Qxg5 23. Rh5) 23. Bd3 Qxg5 24. Bxg7
$16) 18. Qc3 $40 Nd3 (18... Nd7 19. f5 (19. h5 $5) 19... Bf6 20. Qxc4 $5 (20.
Qd2 Bxf5 21. gxf5 Nb6 22. Qxd8 Bxd8 23. Bxb6 Bxb6 24. Bxc4 hxg5 25. hxg5 Re4
26. b3 Rd8 27. g6 $16) 20... Rxe3 21. fxg6 $40) 19. f5 $1 (19. cxd3 $6 Bxg5 20.
hxg5 Rxe3 21. gxh6 Qf6 $132) (19. Qxc4 $6 Nxb2 $1 20. Rxd8 (20. Kxb2 Bf6+ 21.
Kb1 Qe7 $44) 20... Nxc4 21. Rxe8+ Rxe8 22. Bxc4 Bxg5 23. hxg5 Rxe3 24. f5 Bxf5
25. gxf5 hxg5 $13) 19... Bxg5 (19... Bf6 20. Qxc4 Rxe3 21. Bxd3 hxg5 (21... Bh5
22. Ne4 $18) 22. hxg5 $1 $18) 20. fxg6 Rxe3 21. gxf7+ $2 (21. Qxc4 $1 Qe7 (
21... Rxe2 22. Qxf7+ Kh8 23. Rxd3 Qe7 24. hxg5 Re1+ 25. Rd1 Rxh1 26. Rxh1 Qxf7
27. gxf7 Kh7 28. gxh6 $16 {/+-}) 22. Bxd3 Bxh4 23. Bf5 $1 $16 {[%csl Gf5,Rh4]
^--> The point is White takes on f7 only after improving the position of his
pieces (/\a3,Rd7), whereas now Black's K can feel relatively safe on f8.})
21... Kf8 22. Qxc4 Rxe2 $2 {Black repays the favour, without the B his K will
be exposed again.} ({After} 22... Bxh4 23. Bxd3 Bf6 24. Rde1 Qd4 $132 {he is
fully back in the game.}) 23. hxg5 Qxg5 (23... b5 24. Qb3 (24. Qc3 b4 25. Qxd3
Qxd3 26. cxd3 Re6 27. gxh6 Rxh6 28. Rxh6 gxh6 29. Rf1 $16) 24... Qd5 25. Qxd5
cxd5 26. Rxd3 $16 {leads to a dreary _|_, but the text-move loses by force.}) (
23... Qd5 24. Qc3 $5 $40) 24. Qxd3 Qe3 (24... Re5 25. Rhf1 Rd5 26. Qh7 Rxd1+ (
26... Ke7 27. Rxd5 cxd5 28. Qg8 $18) 27. Rxd1 Kxf7 28. Rd7+ Kf6 (28... Ke6 29.
Rxg7 Rf8 30. a3 $18) 29. Qe4 $1 Qe5 30. Rf7+ $18) 25. Qh7 $18 {Black's K will
be chased out into the open and the game is decided.} Qe4 (25... Ke7 26. Rhf1
Rf8 27. Qxg7 Rd2 (27... Qg5 28. Qd4 $18) 28. Rde1 Re2 29. Qc3 $1 $18) 26. Qg8+
Ke7 27. Qxg7 Qxc2+ 28. Ka1 Rf8 29. Rhf1 {[%cal Rg7f6] /\Qf6#} Rd2 $8 30. Rfe1+
Re2 (30... Kd7 31. Rc1 Re2 32. Red1+ Rd2 33. Rf1 Rf2 34. Rcd1+ Kc7 (34... Ke7
35. Qe5+ Kxf7 36. Rd7+ $18) 35. Qe5+ Kb6 (35... Kc8 36. Qe6+ Kc7 37. Qd6+ $18)
36. Qe3+) 31. Qc3 $1 {Wins at least a R.} Kxf7 (31... Qxc3 32. Rxe2+ Kxf7 33.
bxc3 $18) 32. Qf3+ 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.14"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D52"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2010.11.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 139"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 Qa5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
Rc1 {A rare move. It can transpose into the main 8.Qd2 line but Vladimir
Kramnik's idea is different.} h6 (8... Bb4 9. a3 (9. Qd2 {leads to the main
theoretical line}) 9... Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 O-O $6 (10... Qxa3 {is similar to the
game}) 11. e4 N5f6 12. Bd3 h6 13. Bxf6 (13. Bh4 $5) 13... Nxf6 14. O-O Rd8 15.
Qe2 Nd7 16. e5 Qxa3 17. Nd2 Nf8 18. Ne4 $36 {1-0 Ghane Gardeh,S (2374)-Ataman,
A (2197)/Izmir 2003/EXT 2004 (28)}) 9. Bh4 Bb4 (9... Nxc3 10. bxc3 Qxa2 11. Bd3
$44) 10. a3 $5 {[%mdl 512]} Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 Qxa3 12. Qd2 b5 $1 {Preparing the
retreat ...Nd5-b6.} (12... O-O $6 13. e4 {leads to a well-known position
arising from the 8.Qd2 Bb4 9.Rc1 0-0 line, which is not good for Black.}) 13.
Bd3 O-O 14. O-O Bb7 15. c4 $5 bxc4 16. Bxc4 N5b6 17. Bd3 Rfc8 18. Bb1 c5 $1 {
Black has successfully solved his problems. White's compensation for the pawn
can only be enough for equality.} 19. dxc5 $6 (19. Be7 $5 {A possible line:}
Bxf3 20. gxf3 Nd5 21. Bd6 Rc6 22. dxc5 Rac8 23. e4 $1 Qxf3 (23... Nc7 $6) 24.
exd5 Rxd6 25. cxd6 Qg4+ $11) 19... Nxc5 20. Qd6 Qa4 (20... Nd5 $5 21. Nd4 (21.
Ne5 Qa6 $1) 21... a5 $17) 21. Nd4 Qd7 (21... Ne4 $5 22. Qe7 (22. Qe5 Nd2) 22...
Qd7 $15) 22. Qf4 $1 g5 $6 {An extremely unfortunate weakening.} (22... Qd5 23.
f3 e5 24. Qf5 g6 25. Qg4 h5 26. Qg3 exd4 27. Bxg6 fxg6 28. Qxg6+ Kf8 {is good
enough for a draw but Black can, of course, play for a win by means of}) (22...
Ba6 $1 23. Rfd1 Nd3 $1 24. Bxd3 Rxc1 25. Rxc1 Bxd3 26. Rc7 $140 $6 Rc8 $1) 23.
Qf6 $1 (23. Bxg5 {was also possible but less convincing:} Nd5 $1 (23... Qd5 $2
24. Bh7+ $3 $18) 24. Qe5 hxg5 25. Qxg5+ Kf8 26. e4 $44) 23... gxh4 24. Qxh6 f5
(24... Ne4 25. Rxc8+ Rxc8 26. f3 e5 27. fxe4 exd4 28. Ba2 Rc7 29. Rxf7 Qxf7 30.
Bxf7+ Rxf7 31. Qg6+ Kf8 32. exd4 $16 {_|_}) 25. Rxc5 $1 Rxc5 26. Nxe6 {[%csl
Rg8][%mdl 128] Black is temporarily a rook up but must gradually give back all
his material advantage. His defense is quite difficult due to the completely
exposed position of his king.} Rac8 27. Qg6+ Kh8 28. Qf6+ Kg8 29. Bxf5 Rxf5 30.
Qxf5 Bd5 (30... Qe7 $142 31. Qg6+ Kh8 32. Ng5 (32. e4 Rc6 $1) 32... Qg7 (32...
Rf8 $143 33. Rd1) 33. Qh5+ Kg8 34. Qxh4 Rc5 35. Ne4 Bxe4 36. Qxe4 $14 {Here,
at least, Black gets rid of White's annoying knight.}) 31. Qg5+ Kf7 32. Nf4 Bc4
33. Ra1 $1 {Not only attacking the a7-pawn but also creating the idea Ra1-a5
to bring this rook into his kingside attack.} Rg8 (33... Qe7 34. Qh5+ Kg8 35.
Ra5 $1 Bb5 36. h3 Rc5 37. Qg6+ Kh8 38. Qb1 $1 {[%cal Ra5b5,Rf4g6]} Be8 39. Qa1+
Kg8 40. Rxa7 $16) 34. Qh5+ Kf8 35. Qxh4 Bf7 36. h3 Rg7 37. Qh8+ Rg8 38. Qf6 Nd5
39. Qd4 $1 Qf5 40. Rxa7 {White has collected a fourth pawn for the piece and
easily converts his material advantage.} Nxf4 41. exf4 Qd5 42. Qb4+ Kg7 43. Qe7
Kh8 44. Qh4+ Qh5 45. Qf6+ Rg7 46. f5 $1 Kg8 47. Kh2 Qe2 48. Qd4 Qc4 49. Qxc4
Bxc4 50. Rxg7+ Kxg7 51. g4 Kf6 52. Kg3 Ke5 53. h4 Bd5 54. h5 Bb3 55. h6 Bg8 56.
Kh4 Kf6 57. f3 Bh7 58. Kh5 Bg8 59. g5+ 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2720"]
[PlyCount "9"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nxd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B09"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. e5 dxe5 7. fxe5 Nd5 8. h4
Bg4 9. h5 c5 10. hxg6 hxg6 11. Rh4 Bxf3 12. Qxf3 Nb4 13. Bc4 e6 14. Qh3 Nxc2+
15. Kf1 Nxd4 16. Ne4 Nf5 17. Bg5 Qd4 18. Nf6+ Bxf6 19. Rxd4 Bxg5 20. Rg4 Bh6
21. Bd3 Ne3+ 22. Kf2 Nxg4+ 23. Qxg4 Nc6 24. Rh1 Bg7 25. Qh4 Rfd8 26. Bxg6 fxg6
27. Qh7+ Kf8 28. Rf1 Rd7 29. Qxg6 Rf7+ 30. Ke1 Nxe5 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.16"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2802"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 b6 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O c5 6. Nc3 d6 7. b3 Be7 8. Bb2
O-O 9. e3 Nbd7 10. d4 Ne4 11. Qe2 Nxc3 12. Bxc3 Be4 13. Rfd1 Qc7 14. Ne1 Bxg2
15. Nxg2 cxd4 16. exd4 d5 17. Rac1 Nf6 18. Nf4 Rad8 19. c5 a5 20. Be1 bxc5 21.
dxc5 Ne4 22. Qb5 Ra8 23. c6 Rfb8 24. Qe2 Bd6 25. Nh5 Rb6 26. f3 Nf6 27. Nxf6+
gxf6 28. Qc2 Raa6 29. Qe2 Rxc6 30. Bd2 Rxc1 31. Rxc1 Rc6 32. Rxc6 Qxc6 33. Qd3
a4 34. Kg2 Kg7 35. g4 axb3 36. Qxb3 Qa6 37. Kf2 d4 38. a4 Bxh2 39. Qb5 Qd6 40.
Ke2 Qg3 41. Qc6 Qg2+ 42. Kd3 Bg1 43. a5 Qf1+ 44. Kc2 Qe2 45. Qe4 Qc4+ 46. Kd1
Qb3+ 47. Ke2 Be3 48. Bxe3 dxe3 49. Qxe3 Qb5+ 50. Kf2 Qxa5 51. Qd3 Qe5 52. Kg2
f5 53. gxf5 Qxf5 54. Qd4+ Qf6 55. Qc4 h5 56. Qe2 Qf4 57. Qb2+ Kg6 58. Qc2+ Qf5
59. Qe2 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.16"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B27"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2703"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. e4 c5 3. c3 Bg7 4. d4 cxd4 5. cxd4 d5 6. e5 Nc6 7. Bb5 Nh6 8. O-O
Bg4 9. Nbd2 O-O 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. h3 Bd7 12. Nb3 f6 13. Nc5 Bf5 14. Re1 Nf7 15.
Qa4 fxe5 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. dxe5 Qb6 18. Be3 Qxb2 19. Bd4 Qb5 20. Qa3 h5 21.
Rac1 Rab8 22. Qxa7 Qb4 23. Na6 Qb5 24. Nxb8 Rxb8 25. Qxe7 Qa4 26. Ba1 Bf8 27.
Qf6 Bg7 28. Qxc6 Qxa2 29. e6 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.16"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2709"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 a6 5. Be2 Bg7 6. h4 h5 7. f3 b5 8. Qd2 Nbd7
9. Nh3 Nb6 10. Ng5 O-O 11. a4 b4 12. Nd1 a5 13. Nf2 c5 14. O-O cxd4 15. Bxd4 e5
16. Be3 d5 17. Bc5 Re8 18. Bb5 Nbd7 19. Nd3 Ba6 20. Bf2 Bxb5 21. axb5 d4 22. f4
Ng4 23. fxe5 Ndxe5 24. Bg3 Nc4 25. Qe2 f6 26. Nf3 Nce3 27. Rfe1 Rc8 28. Rac1
Rxe4 29. Nd2 Re8 30. Qf3 Qb6 31. Ne4 f5 32. Nd6 Red8 33. Nxc8 Rxc8 34. Nf4 Qxb5
35. Nxg6 Qe8 36. Nf4 Be5 37. Nd5 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.16"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A09"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "134"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 Nf6 4. Bxc4 e6 5. O-O a6 6. Qe2 c5 7. Rd1 b5 8. Bb3
Bb7 9. a4 b4 10. d3 Be7 11. Nbd2 O-O 12. a5 Bc6 13. d4 Nbd7 14. e4 Qb8 15. e5
Nd5 16. Nc4 Bb5 17. Qe4 cxd4 18. Nxd4 Nc5 19. Qg4 Nxb3 20. Bh6 g6 21. Nxb3 Rc8
22. Nd6 Bxd6 23. exd6 Qxd6 24. Qd4 f6 25. Nd2 Kf7 26. Ne4 Qe7 27. Rac1 Rxc1 28.
Rxc1 Rd8 29. Qc5 Qxc5 30. Rxc5 g5 31. h4 Bd3 32. f3 gxh4 33. Rc6 Kg6 34. Bc1 e5
35. Kf2 Bb5 36. Rc5 Ne7 37. Ke1 Nf5 38. Bd2 Nd4 39. Bxb4 h3 40. gxh3 Nxf3+ 41.
Kf2 Rd4 42. Bc3 Rxe4 43. Kxf3 Rf4+ 44. Kg3 h5 45. h4 Rg4+ 46. Kf2 Rxh4 47. b4
Rf4+ 48. Ke3 Rf1 49. Rc8 h4 50. Rh8 Kg5 51. Ke4 Bc6+ 52. Kd3 Rf3+ 53. Kc2 h3
54. Rg8+ Kf5 55. Rh8 Be4+ 56. Kb3 Bd5+ 57. Kc2 Bc4 58. Bd2 e4 59. Rh4 Bd3+ 60.
Kc3 Bb5+ 61. Kc2 e3 62. Bc3 Kg5 63. Rh8 Rf2+ 64. Kd1 h2 65. Be1 Bc6 66. Bxf2
exf2 67. Ke2 h1=Q 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.16"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2722"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. Nge2 Na6 7. O-O c5 8. h3
cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bd7 10. Re1 Nc5 11. Bg5 h6 12. Be3 Rc8 13. Qd2 h5 14. Bg5 Nh7 15.
Bh6 Bxh6 16. Qxh6 e5 17. Nf3 Na4 18. Nxa4 Bxa4 19. b3 Bc6 20. c4 Qf6 21. a4 a5
22. Rad1 Rfd8 23. h4 Qg7 24. Qe3 Nf8 25. Qb6 Ra8 26. Rd2 Qf6 27. Red1 Ra6 28.
Qe3 Raa8 29. Bh3 Qe7 30. c5 dxc5 31. Rxd8 Rxd8 32. Rxd8 Qxd8 33. Nxe5 Be8 34.
Nc4 b6 35. e5 Qd1+ 36. Bf1 Bc6 37. Qd3 Qe1 38. Qe3 Qa1 39. f4 Ne6 40. Kf2 Nd4
41. Qd2 Qb1 42. Qb2 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.16"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 g6 2. g3 Bg7 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Nge2 c5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d3
Rb8 9. h3 a6 10. f4 Bd7 11. a4 Ne8 12. Be3 Nd4 13. Rb1 b5 14. axb5 axb5 15.
cxb5 Bxb5 16. g4 Nc7 17. Ng3 e6 18. f5 Qh4 19. Bf2 Qg5 20. h4 Qd8 21. g5 exf5
22. exf5 Nxf5 23. Nxf5 gxf5 24. Bg3 f6 25. Rxf5 fxg5 26. Rxg5 Kh8 27. Ne4 Ne6
28. Rxg7 Nxg7 29. Bxd6 Qxh4 30. Qd2 Rbd8 31. Bxf8 Rxf8 32. Qc3 Qf4 33. Qxc5
Bxd3 34. Re1 Bxe4 35. Rf1 Rg8 36. Qe5 Ba8 37. b4 Re8 38. Qf6 Bd5 39. b5 Kg8 40.
b6 Ne6 41. Qe5 Bb7 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.16"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 h6 7. Bxf6 Qxf6 8.
Bxc4 c5 9. e5 Qd8 10. O-O cxd4 11. Ne4 O-O 12. a3 Be7 13. Qe2 Nd7 14. Rfd1 Qc7
15. Ng3 Rd8 16. Rac1 Qb6 17. Rxd4 Nf8 18. Rg4 Bd7 19. Nh5 Ng6 20. h4 Bf8 21.
Bd3 Be8 22. Bxg6 fxg6 23. Nf4 Kh7 24. Qe4 Qxb2 25. Rb1 Qxa3 26. Nxg6 Kg8 27.
Rxb7 Qc1+ 28. Kh2 Qc6 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.16"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2742"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 Bg4 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Qb3 Qc7 6. Bb5+ Nd7 7. Nc3 Bxf3 8.
gxf3 e6 9. d4 Ngf6 10. e4 a6 11. Be2 dxe4 12. fxe4 e5 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Bg5 Be7
15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Nd5 Qa5+ 17. Kf1 O-O 18. f4 Ng6 19. e5 Rad8 20. Rd1 Nxf4 21.
Nxf4 Qxe5 22. Nh5 Rxd1+ 23. Bxd1 Bg5 24. Qg3 Qc5 25. Rg1 Bh6 26. Nxg7 Kh8 27.
Nh5 f6 28. Kg2 Rg8 29. Bg4 f5 30. b4 Qd5+ 31. Kf1 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.16"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E08"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Bf4
b6 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Rd1 Nbd7 11. Nc3 dxc4 12. Nd2 Nd5 13. Nxc4 Nxf4 14. gxf4 Qc7
15. e3 Rad8 16. Rac1 c5 17. d5 exd5 18. Bxd5 Nf6 19. Bxb7 Qxb7 20. a4 a6 21.
Rxd8 Rxd8 22. Qb3 Ng4 23. e4 Rd4 24. Qxb6 Qc8 25. Nd5 Bf8 26. f3 Nh6 27. Qb3
Qe6 28. Qc2 Nf5 29. Qf2 h6 30. b3 Rd3 31. Rb1 Nd4 32. Nce3 Qg6+ 33. Kh1 Qh5 34.
Ng4 Qh3 35. Nde3 Nxf3 36. Qg2 Qxg2+ 37. Kxg2 Nd4 38. Nd5 Rxb3 39. Rxb3 Nxb3 40.
Nge3 Nd2 41. e5 c4 42. Kf2 Bc5 43. Ke2 Bxe3 44. Nxe3 c3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.16"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. g3 dxc4 4. Qa4+ c6 5. Qxc4 b5 6. Qc2 Bb7 7. Bg2 Nf6 8.
O-O Nbd7 9. Nc3 a6 10. e4 c5 11. d4 cxd4 12. Nxd4 Rc8 13. Qe2 Bc5 14. Rd1 Qb6
15. Nb3 Bb4 16. Be3 Qc7 17. Nxb5 axb5 18. Qxb5 Be7 19. Na5 Ba8 20. Rac1 Qb8 21.
Rxc8+ Qxc8 22. Rc1 Qd8 23. Nc6 Bxc6 24. Qxc6 O-O 25. h3 Qb8 26. b3 Ne5 27. Qc2
Rd8 28. a4 Bb4 29. Qc7 Qxc7 30. Rxc7 h6 31. Rb7 Rd1+ 32. Bf1 Bc3 33. Kg2 Nxe4
34. b4 Ra1 35. a5 Nd6 36. Rb8+ Kh7 37. a6 Ndc4 38. Bf4 Rxa6 39. Bxe5 Bxe5 40.
Bxc4 Bxb8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.16"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Movsesian, Sergei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B08"]
[WhiteElo "2721"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. d4 Bg7 5. h3 O-O 6. Be2 c5 7. O-O cxd4 8. Nxd4
Nc6 9. Nb3 Be6 10. Re1 Rc8 11. Bf1 Ne5 12. Bg5 h6 13. Be3 Nc4 14. Bxc4 Rxc4 15.
Qd3 Nd7 16. Nd4 Ne5 17. Qd2 Bxh3 18. b3 Rxc3 19. Qxc3 Qd7 20. gxh3 Rc8 21. Qd2
Qxh3 22. f4 Ng4 23. Rad1 e5 24. Nb5 Nxe3 25. Rxe3 Qg4+ 26. Kf1 exf4 27. Rd3 f3
28. Qf2 Qh3+ 29. Ke1 Be5 30. Rxf3 Qg4 31. Nxd6 Rxc2 32. Qxc2 Qxf3 33. Qd3 Bc3+
0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.16"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[PlyCount "29"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bg5 h6 3. Bh4 c6 4. e3 Qb6 5. Bd3 Qxb2 6. Nd2 Nf6 7. Ngf3 e6 8. O-O
Nbd7 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Be7 11. Ned2 Qb6 12. Qe2 Qd8 13. c4 Nh5 14. Bg3 O-O
15. Rad1 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.17"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Bf4
b6 9. Nc3 Nbd7 10. Rc1 Nh5 11. Bd2 Nhf6 12. Bf4 Nh5 13. cxd5 cxd5 14. Ne5 Nxf4
15. Nc6 Qe8 16. gxf4 Bd6 17. e3 Ba6 18. Re1 Nf6 19. Qa4 Bb7 20. Ne5 Qxa4 21.
Nxa4 Rfc8 22. a3 Kf8 23. Nc3 Ke7 24. Nb5 Ne8 25. Bf1 f6 26. Nf3 a6 27. Nxd6
Nxd6 28. Bd3 a5 29. Kf1 Bc6 30. Ke2 Nc4 31. Bxc4 dxc4 32. Nd2 b5 33. Rg1 g6 34.
f3 b4 35. axb4 axb4 36. Nxc4 Bb5 37. Kd3 Ra2 38. Rg2 b3 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.17"]
[Round "16"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedov, Rauf"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2660"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. Nf3 g6 3. e4 Bg7 4. c3 Nf6 5. Bd3 O-O 6. O-O c6 7. Re1 Bg4 8. Nbd2
e5 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Nxf3 Nbd7 11. b3 Re8 12. Bc2 Nh5 13. Bg5 Qa5 14. Qd2 exd4 15.
cxd4 Qxd2 16. Bxd2 c5 17. g4 Nhf6 18. e5 dxe5 19. dxe5 Nd5 20. Be4 Nb4 21. Bxb7
Rab8 22. Bxb4 cxb4 23. Bc6 Nxe5 24. Nxe5 Rxe5 25. Rxe5 Bxe5 26. Rd1 Rc8 27. Bb5
Rc7 28. Bc4 Kg7 29. Kg2 Re7 30. Rd5 h6 31. Rb5 Bc3 32. Rd5 Kf8 33. f4 Kg7 34.
Kf3 Rc7 35. h4 Re7 36. h5 Rc7 37. hxg6 fxg6 38. Rd6 Bf6 39. Bd3 Rf7 40. Kg2 g5
41. f5 Re7 42. Kf3 Kf7 43. Bc4+ Kg7 44. Rc6 Rd7 45. Be6 Rd3+ 46. Ke2 Rd4 47.
Rc7+ Kh8 48. Rf7 Be5 49. f6 Rd8 50. Kf3 Re8 51. Bc4 a5 52. Re7 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.17"]
[Round "17"]
[White "Grachev, Boris V"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2654"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 g6 2. Nf3 Bg7 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 cxd4 5. exd4 Qb6 6. Nc3 Nf6 7. Rb1 O-O 8.
Be2 d6 9. O-O Bf5 10. h3 Rc8 11. Bd3 Bxd3 12. Qxd3 Nc6 13. a3 Na5 14. Rfe1 Nc4
15. Rxe7 Nxb2 16. Qd2 Qd8 17. Rxb7 Nc4 18. Qd3 Nxa3 19. R1b3 Nc4 20. Ng5 Nd7
21. Nd5 Na5 22. Bxd6 Qxg5 23. Ne7+ Kh8 24. Nxc8 Nxb7 25. Rxb7 Nf6 26. Nxa7 Qd5
27. Rb8+ Rxb8 28. Bxb8 Nd7 29. Bg3 Qxd4 30. Qxd4 Bxd4 31. Nc6 Bc5 32. Ne7 Kg7
33. Nd5 Bd4 34. Kf1 f5 35. f3 Kf7 36. Bf2 Be5 37. Nb6 Nb8 38. Nc4 Bc7 39. Bb6
Bf4 40. Be3 Bc7 41. Bb6 Bf4 42. Be3 Bc7 43. Ke2 Ke6 44. Kd3 Nc6 45. c3 Kd5 46.
Bd4 Bf4 47. Nb6+ Ke6 48. Nc4 h5 49. Be3 Bc7 50. Bb6 Bb8 51. Bd4 g5 52. g4 fxg4
53. fxg4 hxg4 54. hxg4 Bf4 55. Be3 Bxe3 56. Nxe3 Ke5 57. c4 Kf4 58. c5 Ne5+ 59.
Kd4 Nc6+ 60. Kd5 Nb4+ 61. Kc4 Nc6 62. Kd3 Kf3 63. Kd2 Ne5 64. Nc2 Kxg4 65. Ke3
Kh3 66. Nd4 g4 67. Nf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.17"]
[Round "18"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Andreikin, Dmitry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A39"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2683"]
[PlyCount "157"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Nc6 7. Nc3 Nxd4 8.
Qxd4 O-O 9. O-O d6 10. Qd3 a6 11. Bg5 Bf5 12. Qd2 Rb8 13. Rac1 b5 14. Nd5 Be6
15. Bxf6 exf6 16. cxb5 axb5 17. Nb4 Qa5 18. a3 f5 19. Rfd1 Rfc8 20. Rxc8+ Rxc8
21. Qxd6 Bf6 22. Nc6 Qc7 23. Qd2 Qb6 24. Rc1 Kg7 25. e3 Rc7 26. Nd4 Rxc1+ 27.
Qxc1 Bc4 28. Bf1 Bxf1 29. Kxf1 b4 30. axb4 Qxb4 31. Qc3 Qb7 32. h4 Qh1+ 33. Ke2
Qb1 34. b3 Qa2+ 35. Qc2 Qa3 36. Nf3 Qa6+ 37. Qd3 Qa1 38. Nd2 Qb2 39. Kd1 Qa1+
40. Qb1 Qa8 41. Ke2 Qa6+ 42. Nc4 Qb5 43. Qd3 Qa6 44. Kf3 Qb7+ 45. Ke2 Qa6 46.
Kf1 h5 47. e4 fxe4 48. Qxe4 Qb5 49. Qd3 Qb7 50. Ne3 Qh1+ 51. Ke2 Qa1 52. Nd5
Qb2+ 53. Kf3 Be5 54. Ne3 Bf6 55. Qc2 Qa1 56. b4 Qa6 57. Qc4 Qb7+ 58. Nd5 Be5
59. b5 Qd7 60. Kg2 Qf5 61. b6 Qb1 62. Qb4 Qd3 63. Ne3 Bd6 64. Qc4 Qd2 65. b7
Qb2 66. Qd5 Bb8 67. Nc4 Qf6 68. Qf3 Qe6 69. Na5 Bc7 70. Nc6 Qd6 71. Qc3+ Kh7
72. Qc4 Kg7 73. Qb5 Qe6 74. b8=Q Bxb8 75. Nxb8 Qd6 76. Nc6 Qd1 77. Qe5+ Kh7 78.
Nd4 Qa1 79. Qd5 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.17"]
[Round "19"]
[White "Savchenko, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B08"]
[WhiteElo "2632"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Be2 O-O 6. O-O c6 7. Be3 Nbd7 8. Nd2
b5 9. f4 Nb6 10. Bf3 Qc7 11. Qe1 a5 12. Qh4 b4 13. Ne2 e6 14. Kh1 d5 15. e5
Nfd7 16. g4 c5 17. c3 cxd4 18. cxd4 Qc2 19. f5 exf5 20. gxf5 Qxf5 21. Nf4 g5
22. Qh5 Nxe5 23. dxe5 gxf4 24. Qxf5 Bxf5 25. Bxb6 Bxe5 26. Rg1+ Bg6 27. Bxd5
Ra6 28. Nc4 Bxb2 29. Raf1 Bg7 30. Rxf4 a4 31. h4 b3 32. a3 b2 33. Bd4 Bxd4 34.
Rxd4 b1=Q 35. Rxb1 Bxb1 36. Ne5 Kg7 37. Rg4+ Bg6 38. h5 Ra5 39. hxg6 Rxd5 40.
gxf7+ Kf6 41. Nf3 Rxf7 42. Rxa4 Rg7 43. Rh4 Rd3 44. Rf4+ Ke6 45. a4 Rg3 46. Ng1
Rd1 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.17"]
[Round "20"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2720"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f3 a6 5. a4 Bg7 6. Be3 O-O 7. g4 c5 8. d5 Qa5
9. Ra3 Nbd7 10. h4 Ne5 11. Be2 Bxg4 12. fxg4 Nxe4 13. Rh3 f5 14. gxf5 Rxf5 15.
Nf3 Ng4 16. Qd3 Ngf6 17. Bd2 Nxd2 18. Nxd2 Rf8 19. Rb3 b5 20. axb5 axb5 21. Ra3
Qb4 22. Qxb5 Qf4 23. Nd1 Bh6 24. Nf1 Qc1 25. Raf3 Re5 26. Kf2 Qxc2 27. Nde3
Bxe3+ 28. Nxe3 Qd2 29. Kg2 Rxe3 30. Rxe3 Nxd5 31. Qc4 e6 32. Ref3 Nf4+ 33. Rxf4
Rxf4 34. Qxe6+ Kg7 35. Rf3 Rxf3 36. Kxf3 Qxb2 37. Qe7+ Kh6 38. Qf8+ Qg7 39.
Qf4+ g5 40. Qxd6+ Kh5 41. Kg3+ g4 42. Qxc5+ Kh6 43. Qe3+ Kg6 44. Qg5+ Kf7 45.
Bc4+ Kf8 46. Qd8# 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.17"]
[Round "21"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,103,25,13,35,1,24,1,9,17,12,19,16,16,16,-23,15,-35,10,21,15,31,47,39,
32,7,13,17,27,-24,47,-4,14,-40,8,18,18,2,14,-4,3,2,2,-9,33,20,48,49,53,50,27,
51,56,19,35,20,110,15,15,1,0,1,0,0,0,7,36,-33,-87,-87,-81,-55,-76,-22,-21,-74,
-74,-128,-150,-150,-150,-125,-125,-146,-172,-158,-168,-198,-214,-230,-206,-255,
-255,-255,-242,-262,-239,-232,-249,-244,-244,-350,-350,-400,-1011,-1011]} 1.
Nf3 e6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d4 O-O 7. Re1 c5 8. d5 exd5
9. Nh4 Ne4 10. cxd5 Bxh4 11. Bxe4 Bf6 12. Qc2 h6 13. Bf4 d6 14. Nd2 Qe7 15. Bg2
Nd7 16. a4 Rfe8 17. Nc4 Ne5 18. Bxe5 Bxe5 19. Qb3 Ba6 20. Nxe5 Qxe5 21. e3 c4
22. Qc3 Rac8 23. e4 Qxc3 24. bxc3 Rc5 25. f4 Bb7 26. Rad1 Ra5 27. e5 Rxa4 28.
exd6 Rd8 29. Re7 Bc8 30. Rc7 Bf5 31. Re1 Rxd6 32. h3 h5 33. g4 hxg4 34. hxg4
Bxg4 35. Re8+ Kh7 36. Rxf7 Bh5 37. Be4+ Bg6 38. Bxg6+ Kxg6 39. Ree7 Rxd5 40.
Rxg7+ Kf5 41. Rg5+ Kf6 42. Rxd5 Kxe7 43. Rd4 b5 44. Kf2 Ra3 45. Re4+ Kf6 46.
Re3 a5 47. Re5 Rb3 48. Ke2 a4 49. Kd2 a3 50. Kc2 a2 51. Re1 Rb1 52. Rxb1
axb1=Q+ 53. Kxb1 Kf5 54. Kb2 Kxf4 55. Ka3 Ke3 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.17"]
[Round "22"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B08"]
[WhiteElo "2802"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 a6 5. a4 Bg7 6. h3 O-O 7. Nf3 Nc6 8. Be2 e5
9. d5 Ne7 10. a5 Ne8 11. h4 f5 12. h5 Nf6 13. hxg6 Nxg6 14. Ng5 Qe7 15. Qd3
fxe4 16. Ncxe4 Nxe4 17. Nxe4 Nf4 18. Bxf4 exf4 19. g4 fxg3 20. Nxg3 Bxb2 21.
Ra4 Be5 22. Kd1 Rf7 23. Rah4 Bd7 24. Bg4 Bxg3 25. Qxg3 Rg7 26. Rxh7 Rxh7 27.
Be6+ Kh8 28. Rxh7+ Kxh7 29. Qh3+ Kg6 30. Qf5+ Kg7 31. Qg4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.17"]
[Round "23"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2703"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. g3 e5 2. Bg2 d5 3. d3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. O-O Bg4 6. Nbd2 Bc5 7. c4 d4 8. b4
Bxb4 9. Nxe5 Nxe5 10. Qa4+ Nc6 11. Bxc6+ bxc6 12. Qxb4 Nd7 13. Ne4 c5 14. Nxc5
a5 15. Qb5 O-O 16. Nxd7 Bxd7 17. Qd5 Re8 18. Re1 Bg4 19. Qxd8 Raxd8 20. f3 Bxf3
21. Bg5 f6 22. Bxf6 gxf6 23. exf3 Re3 24. Rad1 Rde8 25. Kf2 Kf7 26. g4 R8e7 27.
h4 f5 28. Rxe3 Rxe3 29. Kg3 fxg4 30. Kxg4 Kf6 31. Kf4 a4 32. a3 h5 33. Rd2 c6
34. Rd1 Kg6 35. Rg1+ Kf6 36. Rd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.17"]
[Round "24"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2709"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 d5 4. e3 e6 5. b3 Nbd7 6. Bb2 Bd6 7. Qc2 O-O 8. Be2
b6 9. O-O Bb7 10. d4 Rc8 11. Rad1 c5 12. dxc5 Nxc5 13. Qb1 Qe7 14. Ng5 Nfe4 15.
Ngxe4 dxe4 16. Rd2 Bb8 17. Rfd1 Qg5 18. g3 Qf5 19. Bf1 Nd3 20. Bg2 Ne5 21. Nb5
Nd3 22. Rxd3 exd3 23. Bxb7 Rcd8 24. Nd4 Qg6 25. Bg2 Rd7 26. Bf1 Rfd8 27. Bxd3
Qh5 28. Nc6 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.17"]
[Round "25"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B09"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. f4 Nf6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Bd3 Na6 7. O-O c5 8. d5
Rb8 9. h3 Nc7 10. a4 a6 11. a5 e6 12. dxe6 fxe6 13. e5 Nh5 14. Ng5 c4 15. Bxc4
dxe5 16. Qxd8 Rxd8 17. fxe5 Bxe5 18. Nce4 Bd4+ 19. Kh1 Bd7 20. g4 Bc6 21. gxh5
h6 22. Bd3 hxg5 23. Bxg5 Rd5 24. h4 gxh5 25. Kh2 Bxb2 26. Nf6+ Kh8 27. Nxd5
Nxd5 28. Rab1 Be5+ 29. Kh3 Kg7 30. Rbe1 Bd6 31. c4 Nb4 32. Bf6+ Kh6 33. Be4 Bd7
34. Rg1 e5+ 35. Kh2 Bg4 36. Rgf1 Nc6 37. Rb1 Nd4 38. Rb6 Nc6 39. Bg5+ Kg7 40.
Rf6 Bc7 41. Rb1 Rf8 42. Rg6+ Kh8 43. Rxb7 Nd4 44. Rxc7 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.17"]
[Round "26"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2722"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Nd4 5. Bg2 Nxf3+ 6. Bxf3 Bb4 7. O-O O-O 8.
d3 c6 9. Bd2 Re8 10. Rc1 a6 11. Bg2 h6 12. e4 Bc5 13. Na4 Ba7 14. c5 d6 15. b4
dxc5 16. Nxc5 Bxc5 17. bxc5 Qxd3 18. Ba5 Qa3 19. Qd2 Be6 20. Rc2 Re7 21. Rb1
Rd7 22. Qc3 Rd3 23. Qxa3 Rxa3 24. Bc7 Nd7 25. Rxb7 Rxa2 26. Rxa2 Bxa2 27. Bd6
Be6 28. f4 Nf6 29. Bxe5 a5 30. f5 Bc4 31. Bxf6 gxf6 32. e5 a4 33. Bxc6 a3 34.
Rb1 a2 35. Ra1 Rc8 36. Bd7 Rxc5 37. e6 Kf8 38. exf7 Bxf7 39. Be6 Bxe6 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.17"]
[Round "27"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E61"]
[WhiteElo "2744"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 Bg4 5. e3 Nf6 6. Be2 O-O 7. h3 Bf5 8. O-O
c5 9. d5 Na6 10. Bd3 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 e6 12. e4 exd5 13. cxd5 Re8 14. Bf4 Nb4 15.
Qb1 c4 16. Nd2 Rc8 17. Be3 Nh5 18. g4 Qh4 19. Kg2 Nd3 20. gxh5 Be5 21. hxg6
fxg6 22. Nf3 Qh5 23. Nxe5 Rxe5 24. Qd1 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.17"]
[Round "28"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. cxd5 Nxd5 4. g3 Nxc3 5. bxc3 g6 6. Bg2 Bg7 7. Rb1 Nc6 8.
Nf3 O-O 9. O-O b6 10. Qc2 Qd7 11. d3 e5 12. Rd1 Bb7 13. Nd2 Rad8 14. Ne4 Ba8
15. Ba3 Rfe8 16. Qa4 h6 17. Qb5 Kh7 18. Nd2 f5 19. e3 a6 20. Qa4 a5 21. Qb5 Na7
22. Qxd7 Rxd7 23. Bxa8 Rxa8 24. d4 Rad8 25. Kf1 Nc6 26. Nc4 Rd5 27. Nd2 R5d7
28. Ke2 Re8 29. Kf1 Red8 30. Nf3 e4 31. Nd2 Ne5 32. Ke2 Ng4 33. h3 Nf6 34. c4
Kg8 35. Rb5 Kf7 36. Nb1 Ne8 37. Nc3 c5 38. dxc5 Rxd1 39. Nxd1 Rxd1 40. Kxd1 Bc3
41. Ke2 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.18"]
[Round "29"]
[White "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E61"]
[WhiteElo "2742"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 Bg4 5. e3 Nf6 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O c5 8. h3
Bf5 9. d5 Na6 10. Nd2 Bd7 11. e4 e6 12. Re1 Re8 13. a3 Nc7 14. a4 Na6 15. Nf1
exd5 16. exd5 Ne4 17. Nxe4 Rxe4 18. Ng3 Re8 19. Bf4 Bxb2 20. Rb1 Bc3 21. Rf1
Qf6 22. Qc1 Nb4 23. Bxd6 Bd4 24. Bf4 Bxa4 25. Bg5 Qe5 26. Bf4 Qe7 27. Qd2 a5
28. Bf3 Bd7 29. Rbe1 Qf8 30. Bh6 Bg7 31. Bxg7 Qxg7 32. Ne4 Qd4 33. Qxd4 cxd4
34. Nf6+ Kg7 35. Nxd7 a4 36. d6 a3 37. Nb6 Rad8 38. c5 Nc2 39. Rc1 a2 40. Bxb7
d3 41. Nc4 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.18"]
[Round "30"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E00"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2771"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Be7 5. Bg2 d5 6. Qc2 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. cxd5
exd5 9. Ne2 Ba6 10. Nbc3 c5 11. O-O Nc6 12. Qa4 Bb7 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. Rfd1 Nb4
15. Nb5 a6 16. Nbd4 cxd4 17. Nxd4 a5 18. Bc3 Qe8 19. Qxe8 Rfxe8 20. a3 Nc6 21.
Nb5 Rac8 22. Bxf6 gxf6 23. Bxd5 Ba8 24. e4 Red8 25. Kg2 Kf8 26. Rac1 Ne5 27.
Nc7 Bxd5 28. Nxd5 Nc4 29. b4 axb4 30. axb4 Na3 31. Ra1 Nb5 32. Ra5 Nc3 33. Nxe7
Nxd1 34. Nxc8 Rxc8 35. Ra2 Rb8 36. Rd2 Nc3 37. Rd4 Na2 38. Rd6 Kg7 39. h4 Rxb4
40. f3 Nc3 41. Kh3 Rb7 42. Rd3 Na4 43. Kg4 Nc5 44. Rd5 Ne6 45. f4 Rb4 46. e5
fxe5 47. Rxe5 h6 48. Kh5 Rb3 49. f5 Nf8 50. g4 Nd7 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.18"]
[Round "31"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2744"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "8"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. Bf4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 Nf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.18"]
[Round "32"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Movsesian, Sergei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2721"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. a4 e6 6. e3 c5 7. Bd3 Nc6 8. O-O Be7
9. cxd5 exd5 10. dxc5 O-O 11. b3 Bxc5 12. Ne2 Bg4 13. Bb2 Qe7 14. Rc1 Bd6 15.
Ng3 Ne4 16. Be2 Rfd8 17. Nd4 Nxg3 18. hxg3 Bxe2 19. Qxe2 Nxd4 20. Bxd4 Qe6 21.
Qb2 f6 22. b4 Rac8 23. b5 axb5 24. Qxb5 Qf7 25. Rfd1 Bf8 26. Rxc8 Rxc8 27. Bb6
Rc4 28. a5 d4 29. Bxd4 Rb4 30. Qf5 Qb3 31. Rc1 Rb5 32. Qd7 Rxa5 33. g4 Qd5 34.
Qc8 Rb5 35. Qe8 Ra5 36. Rc8 Qf7 37. Rc7 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.18"]
[Round "33"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A87"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 f5 5. O-O Nf6 6. b3 O-O 7. Bb2 c6 8. c4 a5
9. Qc2 Na6 10. Nbd2 Rb8 11. a3 b5 12. Rac1 Bd7 13. Ba1 Kh8 14. Rfe1 Nc7 15. e4
fxe4 16. Nxe4 bxc4 17. bxc4 Bf5 18. Nh4 Bxe4 19. Bxe4 Nxe4 20. Qxe4 d5 21. cxd5
Nxd5 22. Rxc6 Rb3 23. Rc5 Nf6 24. Qc2 Rxa3 25. Bb2 Ra2 26. Qb3 Rxb2 27. Qxb2
Ng4 28. Re4 Nxf2 29. Nxg6+ hxg6 30. Rh4+ Kg8 31. Qa2+ Rf7 32. Qc4 Qd7 33. Rc8+
Bf8 34. Rxf8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.18"]
[Round "34"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. d4 e6 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 O-O 8. Bb2
e5 9. dxe5 Nxe5 10. O-O-O Qe7 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Nxe5 Bxe5 13. Nxd5 Bxb2+ 14.
Kxb2 Nxd5 15. Rxd5 Be6 16. Rd4 Rac8 17. Qd2 Rfd8 18. Bd3 Rxd4 19. exd4 Rd8 20.
Be4 Bxb3 21. Bxh7+ Kxh7 22. axb3 Qf6 23. Rd1 g6 24. Qe3 Rd5 25. Rd2 a5 26. Qe4
Rb5 27. Qd3 Qb6 28. Qc4 Kg7 29. d5 Rb4 30. Qc3+ Kh7 31. Qh3+ Kg7 32. Qc3+ Kh7
33. Qh3+ Kg7 34. Qc3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.18"]
[Round "35"]
[White "Mamedov, Rauf"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. Nge2 Na6 7. O-O c5 8. h3
cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bd7 10. Re1 Nc5 11. Nb3 Rc8 12. Nxc5 Rxc5 13. Be3 Rc4 14. Bd4 b5
15. a3 a6 16. Nd5 Rxd4 17. Qxd4 Nxd5 18. Qxd5 Bxb2 19. Rad1 Be6 20. Qd3 Bc4 21.
Qe3 Qa5 22. Rb1 Bc3 23. Red1 Rc8 24. h4 Qxa3 25. Bh3 Rc5 26. Bf1 Bxf1 27. Rxf1
Bb2 28. Qe2 Bd4 29. Kg2 Qc3 30. Rfd1 e5 31. Rbc1 a5 32. h5 a4 33. h6 Kf8 34.
Qg4 Ke7 35. Qg5+ f6 36. Qg4 a3 37. Ra1 Qxc2 38. Rxa3 Qxf2+ 39. Kh3 Rc2 40. Rh1
Qe2 41. Qxe2 Rxe2 42. Rb1 Bc5 43. Ra8 b4 44. Rh8 f5 45. Rxh7+ Kf6 46. Rb7 Ra2
47. h7 Ra8 48. g4 fxe4 49. Kh4 e3 50. Rf1+ Ke6 51. Re1 d5 52. Kg5 d4 53. Rc7
Kd6 54. Rg7 Rh8 55. Rxg6+ Kd5 56. Rh1 e2 57. Rgh6 d3 58. Kg6 d2 59. Kg7 Rxh7+
60. Rxh7 e1=Q 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.18"]
[Round "36"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grachev, Boris V"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2654"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. b3 b6 6. Bb2 Bb7 7. g3 Nbd7 8. Bg2
Bd6 9. d4 O-O 10. O-O h6 11. Rc1 Qe7 12. Nd2 Rfd8 13. e4 dxe4 14. Ndxe4 Ba3 15.
Bxa3 Qxa3 16. Qe2 a5 17. Rfd1 Qe7 18. Nxf6+ Nxf6 19. Na4 Nd7 20. d5 cxd5 21.
cxd5 Qf6 22. dxe6 Bxg2 23. Kxg2 fxe6 24. Rxd7 Rxd7 25. Nxb6 Rad8 26. Nxd7 Rxd7
27. Rc8+ Kf7 28. Qh5+ Ke7 29. Re8+ Kd6 30. Qxa5 Qd4 31. Qa6+ 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.18"]
[Round "37"]
[White "Andreikin, Dmitry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C29"]
[WhiteElo "2683"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nc3 Nf6 2. e4 e5 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Nf3 Bc5 6. d4 Bb4 7. Bd2 c5 8.
Nxe4 dxe4 9. Bxb4 cxb4 10. Ng1 O-O 11. Bc4 Nc6 12. c3 bxc3 13. bxc3 Qg5 14. Qe2
Bf5 15. Nh3 Bxh3 16. gxh3 e3 17. O-O-O Rac8 18. Bb3 Na5 19. Kb2 Nxb3 20. axb3
f6 21. e6 Qd5 22. Qxe3 Rfe8 23. Rhe1 Rc6 24. c4 Rcxe6 25. Qxe6+ Qxe6 26. Rxe6
Rxe6 27. d5 Re2+ 28. Kc3 Kf7 29. c5 Ke8 30. Ra1 a6 31. c6 bxc6 32. dxc6 Kd8 33.
Rxa6 Kc7 34. b4 Re5 35. Kc4 Re4+ 36. Kc5 Re5+ 37. Kc4 Re4+ 38. Kb5 Re5+ 39. Ka4
Re1 40. Kb3 Rb1+ 41. Kc4 f5 42. b5 f4 43. Ra7+ Kd6 44. Rd7+ Ke6 45. Rd2 f3 46.
Rf2 Rc1+ 47. Kb4 Rb1+ 48. Kc5 Rc1+ 49. Kb6 Rc3 50. Kb7 Kd6 51. Rf1 g5 52. b6 h5
53. c7 Kd7 54. Rxf3 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2010.11.18"]
[Round "38"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Savchenko, Boris"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D32"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2632"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2010.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "38"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2011"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2010.11.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e6 4. e3 d5 5. d4 Nc6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bb5 a6 8.
Bxc6+ bxc6 9. O-O Be7 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. b3 O-O 12. Bb2 Bg4 13. Rc1 Bd6 14. Ne2
Rc8 15. Ng3 a5 16. Rc2 Re8 17. h3 Bd7 18. Ne2 Ne4 19. Qd4 f6 20. Rfc1 Re7 21.
Nf4 Qe8 22. Qd1 g5 23. Nxd5 cxd5 24. Qxd5+ Kf8 25. Rxc8 Bxc8 26. Bxf6 Rd7 27.
Qf5 Rc7 28. Be7+ Kg7 29. Rxc7 Bxf5 30. Bxd6+ Kg8 31. Be5 h6 32. Rg7+ Kf8 33.
Rb7 Qc6 34. Rc7 Qb5 35. Bg7+ Ke8 36. Nd4 Qd5 37. f3 Ng3 38. Bf6 Bd7 39. Rc2 Qd6
40. Bh8 Kf7 41. e4 Kg8 0-1

[Event "London Classic 2nd"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2010.12.08"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C24"]
[WhiteElo "2680"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2010.12.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 140"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. Qe2 {Short avoids the main theoretical paths at the
very beginning.} Bc5 (3... Nc6 4. Nf3 Bc5 {would transpose to the Italian
Opening with an early Qd1-e2.}) 4. d3 O-O 5. Bg5 (5. f4 $2 d5 {is just bad for
White.}) 5... c6 {Kramnik follows the plan of seizing space in the centre.} 6.
Nd2 h6 (6... b5 7. Bb3 a5 8. a4 {is not the best plan for Black.}) 7. Bh4 Re8
8. Ngf3 {There was no more point in delaying this natural developing move.} Bf8
{A typical classical manoeuvre in this structure, while Black's pawn is still
on d7 and not on d6.} 9. a4 (9. O-O-O $2 {would be way too optimistic. After}
b5 10. Bb3 a5 {White's king wouldn't feel safe at all.}) (9. c3 d5 10. Bb3 {
is possible. In this case the position is equal. White's plan is standard and
includes the manoeuvre Nd2-f1-e3.}) 9... d5 10. Bxf6 $5 {This decision is
controversial. It is tempting to spoil the opponent's pawn structure. However,
Black gets the bishop pair and more influence in the centre. As the
continuation of the game showed, from a practical point of view it would be
easier to play the resulting position as Black.} (10. Ba2 Be6 ({In the event of
} 10... g5 $5 11. Bg3 Nh5 {White can consider} 12. O-O-O $5 {Here both kings
are vulnerable, the position is double-edged.} (12. Bxe5 $2 g4 {loses a piece.}
)) 11. O-O Nbd7 12. Rfe1 {would be a safe positional continuation with equal
chances.}) 10... gxf6 11. Ba2 f5 $15 {This is exactly what I was meaning by
"more influence in the centre".} 12. O-O Na6 {The knight finds a good route
without obstructing the light-squared bishop.} 13. Rfe1 Bg7 {This is the idea
behind 8...Bf8. Black has made a sort of fianchetto, and now bishop isoffering
good protection to the weakened shelter of Black's king.} 14. c3 (14. Nf1 {
was called for, trying to provoke the advance f5-f4, which would release some
of the pressure on the centre.}) 14... Be6 15. exd5 $6 {Giving up the fight
over the centre can't be recommended. Again, the manoeuvre Nd2-f1 was an
option. Some fascinating complications could arise.} (15. Nf1 dxe4 (15... Nc5
16. Ng3 Nxd3 17. exd5 (17. Qxd3 fxe4 18. Nxe4 Bf5 19. Nfd2 dxe4 20. Qe2 $11)
17... Nxe1 18. dxe6 Nxf3+ 19. Qxf3 fxe6 20. Qxf5 Qf6 21. Qg4 $44) 16. dxe4 fxe4
17. N3d2 $1 (17. Qxe4 Nc5 18. Qe3 Bxa2 19. Rxa2 Qd5 20. Raa1 e4 21. Red1 exf3
22. Rxd5 Rxe3 23. Rxc5 Re2 24. Rb1 fxg2 25. Kxg2 Rd8 $15) 17... Bxa2 18. Rxa2
f5 19. Ne3 Rf8 20. g4 Qg5 21. Kh1 fxg4 22. Nxe4 Qf4 23. Qxg4 Qxg4 24. Nxg4 $11)
15... Bxd5 (15... cxd5 $6 16. Nxe5 $1 d4 17. Bxe6 Rxe6 18. cxd4 f6 19. Ndf3
fxe5 20. dxe5 {In this, materially balanced position, I would prefer to be on
the white side, as Black's king is vulnerable.}) 16. Bxd5 cxd5 17. g3 {[%cal
Gf3h4]} Bf6 18. Qe3 Kh7 19. Nb3 {White's main problem in this position is the
lack of clear plan. Meanwhile, Black can improve his position step by step.}
Qd7 20. Nc5 {The exchange of one pair of knights will make White's game a bit
easier.} Nxc5 21. Qxc5 a6 22. Re2 Re6 23. Rae1 Rae8 24. c4 $2 {This impatient
move only helps Black to perform a central breakthrough.} (24. d4 $2 e4 25. Nd2
b5 $1 {[%csl Rc5][%cal Gf6e7] suddenly finds White's queen in danger.}) ({
A waiting move like} 24. Qb4 {would have been better.}) 24... b6 25. Qb4 d4 {
From now on Kramnik's play reminds one of a bulldozer.} 26. Qb3 e4 27. Nd2 e3
28. fxe3 dxe3 29. Nf3 f4 $1 30. d4 $1 {The best practical chance.} (30. gxf4 $2
Qc6 31. Rf1 Rg8+ 32. Kh1 (32. Rg2 e2 $19) 32... Rg4 $19) 30... Re4 ({The
following line is convincing, but very unhuman:} 30... Bxd4 31. Qd3+ (31. Rd1
Rd6 32. Qd3+ f5 33. Nxd4 Re4 $19) 31... Re4 32. Rd1 f5 $1 33. Nxd4 Rd8 34. Qb1
f3 $1 $19) 31. Qxb6 Bxd4 32. Qxa6 $2 {This loses by force.} (32. Rd1 $1 Bxb6 (
32... Qg4 33. Nxd4 Rxd4 34. Rxd4 Qxe2 35. Rxf4 Qd1+ 36. Kg2 {and Black doesn't
have more than a perpetual check.}) 33. Rxd7 Rxc4 34. Rxf7+ Kg6 35. Rd7 {
would still allow White to keep his head above water.}) 32... fxg3 $19 33. Qb5
Qg4 34. Nxd4 gxh2+ 35. Kh1 Rxd4 {White can't save his monarch.} 36. Qb7 Qf5 37.
Rxh2 e2 38. Qg2 Rd1 {Well played by Vladimir Kramnik!} 0-1

[Event "London Classic 2nd"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2010.12.09"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2010.12.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 140"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. g3 c5 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. d4 {White
plays d2-d4 now, instead of move 1, but it is still a well-known Nimzo-Indian
position which arises.} Bxc3 {Alternatives:} (7... Nc6 8. d5 $1) (7... Nbd7) 8.
bxc3 Qe7 {Here, too,} (8... Nc6 {is quite common.}) 9. dxc5 {White often does
without this exchange:} (9. Bg5 Nbd7 10. Qd3 h6 11. Bxf6 Nxf6 12. Rfd1 Bd7 13.
dxc5 dxc5 14. Ne5 Ba4 15. Qd6 Rfe8 16. Rd2 Rac8 17. Rb1 b6 18. Rbb2 Qxd6 19.
Rxd6 Red8 20. Rd3 Kf8 21. Rbd2 {1/2 Georgiev,K (2677)-Anand,V (2803)/Turin
2006/CBM 113}) (9. Qd3 Nc6 10. Rd1 h6 11. Ba3 Bd7 12. Nd2 Rac8 13. f4 b6 14.
Nf1 e5 $6 (14... Na5 $5) 15. fxe5 dxe5 16. dxc5 bxc5 17. Ne3 $14 {1/2 Gupta,A 
(2495)-Kunte,A (2550)/Ooty 2008/CBM 123 Extra (29)}) (9. Nh4 $5 e5 10. d5 e4
11. f4 Re8 12. a4 Na6 13. h3 Nh5 14. Kh2 f5 15. e3 Nf6 16. Rf2 Kh8 17. Bf1 Rg8
18. Be2 $14 {1-0 Milov,V (2595)-Djuric,S (2488)/Genova 2003/CBM 095 ext (61)})
(9. Bf4 $5 Rd8 10. Qc2 Nc6 11. Rfd1 cxd4 (11... d5 12. Ne5 Bd7 13. Bg5 h6 14.
Bxf6 Qxf6 15. cxd5 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Qxe5 17. dxe6 Bxe6 18. Bxb7 $16 {1/2 Stocek,J
(2480)-Balashov,Y (2505)/Passau 1995/EXT 1999 (44)}) 12. cxd4 Bd7 13. Qb2 $14 {
1/2 Moehring,G (2405)-Augustin,J (2445)/Stary Smokovec 1977/MCD (30)}) (9. Nd2
$5 e5 10. Re1 Nbd7 11. e4 cxd4 $6 12. cxd4 exd4 13. Ba3 Ne5 14. Qb3 Nfd7 15. f4
Nc6 16. e5 Nc5 17. Qf3 $14 {0-1 Kindermann,S (2455)-Kuzmin,G (2545)/Dortmund
1981/MCD (32)}) 9... dxc5 10. Ne5 $6 {This knight route is hardly the best.} (
10. Bf4 $5 Rd8 11. Qb3 Nc6 12. Rfd1 Rxd1+ 13. Rxd1 e5 14. Bg5 Be6 15. Nd2 Bf5 (
15... Rd8 $5) 16. Nf1 $1 Rd8 17. Rxd8+ Nxd8 18. Ne3 Be6 19. Qa4 $16 {1/2
Dvirnyy,D (2457)-Leniart,A (2423)/Chotowa 2010/CBM 137 Extra (56)}) 10... Qc7 (
10... Nbd7 $5 11. Nd3 (11. Nxd7 Nxd7 {[%cal Ya8b8,Yb7b6]}) 11... e5 {[%csl Rd3]
} 12. Qb3 Rb8 {[%cal Yb7b6]}) 11. Bf4 (11. Nd3 Nbd7 {[%cal Ya8b8,Yb7b6]} 12.
Qa4 a6) 11... Nh5 {White now loses his bishop pair, and his destroyed pawn
structure will be quite painful. Therefore he goes in for a risky piece
sacrifice.} 12. Qd2 $6 {[%mdl 512]} (12. e3 {was a quiet alternative:} Nxf4 13.
exf4 Nd7 14. Nd3 {The activity of White's pieces should be enough for equality.
}) 12... g5 13. Bxg5 Qxe5 14. Rad1 $6 (14. g4 $142 Ng7 15. Rad1 (15. Bd8 {
[%cal Rf2f4]} Nc6 $1 {liquidates into a favorable ending for Black:} 16. f4
Rxd8 17. Qxd8+ Nxd8 18. fxe5 Bd7 $17) 15... Nd7 16. e4 $44 {Theoretically
Black should consolidate his position but it is not an easy task in practice!})
14... f6 15. Bh6 Ng7 16. Bf4 Qh5 {White's pieces are very active but he has no
real target. Black gradually completes his development keeping - at least
partly - his material advantage.} 17. Bd6 Re8 18. Qf4 Nd7 19. g4 Qf7 20. Rd3 e5
21. Qh6 Qg6 22. Qxg6 hxg6 $19 {After the queen exchange the rest looks
relatively easy; still, Black has to overcome some technical problems.} 23. Be4
Kf7 (23... Nb6 $142 $1 $19 24. Bxg6 $140 Bxg4 25. Bxe8 Bxe2 26. Bg6 Bxd3 27.
Bxd3 Rd8 {K.Sakaev}) 24. f4 exf4 25. Bd5+ Ne6 26. Bxf4 Nb6 $6 {This move gives
White an unpleasant attack.} (26... Kg7 $1 27. Re3 Nb6 $19 {K.Sakaev}) 27. Be5
Nxd5 (27... Nd7 28. Bxf6 $1 Nxf6 29. g5) 28. cxd5 Nf8 (28... Nf4 $5 29. Bxf4
Bxg4 {, then winning the e2 pawn, was safe and simple but opposite-coloured
bishops gave White some drawing chances.}) 29. Rxf6+ Kg8 30. Bd6 Kg7 31. Rf4 g5
32. Rf2 b6 (32... Ng6 $144 33. h3 (33. Rdf3 Bxg4 34. Rf7+ Kh6 35. Rxb7 Bxe2 36.
Rff7 Rh8 {, and Black should win.}) 33... b6 34. Rdf3 Ba6 35. Rf7+ Kh6) 33.
Rdf3 Ng6 34. Rf7+ Kh6 35. h3 (35. R2f6 $5 Bxg4 36. e4 Rxe4 37. Bf8+ Rxf8 38.
Rxf8 Bh3 $1 39. Rh8+ (39. Kf2 Kh5 $1) 39... Kg7 40. Rxg6+ Kxg6 41. Rxh3 {
The rook ending is better for Black but still far from winning.}) 35... Ba6 36.
R2f6 Bxe2 37. Be7 $1 (37. Kf2 Bc4 38. h4 $1 Re2+ 39. Kf3 Bxd5+ 40. Kxe2 Bxf7
41. Rxf7 gxh4 $17 {K.Sakaev}) 37... Bc4 38. Rd6 Bxd5 $6 {Nothing was really
threatened, so Black could have started moving his pawns:} (38... b5 $17 {e.g.}
39. Kf2 a5 40. Kg3 {now threatening 41.Bxg5+! Kxg5 42.h4+!} Bd3 $1 {[%cal
Yb5b4]}) 39. Bxg5+ Kxg5 40. Rxd5+ Kh4 41. Rf3 $2 {White collapses when
salvation is not far away.} (41. Kg2 $1 Re2+ $1 (41... Re5 42. Rxe5 Nxe5 43.
Rf5 Nxg4 44. Rf4 $1 {- the simplest -} Rg8 45. hxg4 Rxg4+ 46. Kf3 Rxf4+ 47.
Kxf4 $11) (41... Rh8 $4 42. Rff5) 42. Kf3 Re5 43. Rh7+ Kg5 44. h4+ $1 Kf6 (
44... Nxh4+ $2 45. Rxh4 Rxd5 46. Rh5+) 45. Rd6+ Re6 46. g5+ Ke5 47. Rxe6+ Kxe6
48. h5 {(indicated by GM K.Sakaev)} Ne7 49. Kg4 {with excellent drawing
chances due to his strong passed pawns. A possible line:} Rf8 50. h6 Ng6 51.
Rg7 Ne5+ 52. Kg3 $1 Kf5 53. h7 Ng6 (53... Rh8 54. Kh4) 54. Rg8 Rf7 $8 55. Rxg6
Rxh7 56. Rg8 {, and White should not lose.}) 41... Re5 $1 42. Rxe5 (42. Rd6 Rf8
$1) 42... Nxe5 43. Rf5 Nd3 44. Kh2 Rh8 $19 {Black's rook is tied up but he has
enough pieces and pawns to decide the game on the queenside.} 45. a4 Rh6 46.
Kg2 a5 47. Kf3 Nb2 48. Kf4 Nxa4 49. c4 Nc3 50. Ke3 a4 51. Kd3 Nd1 52. Rf8 Kxh3
53. g5 Rd6+ 54. Ke4 Kg4 0-1

[Event "London Classic 2nd"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2010.12.10"]
[Round "3"]
[White "McShane, Luke J"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "278"]
[EventDate "2010.12.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 140"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 {This year the famous "Berlin Wall" got a new boost.} 9. Nc3 Ke8
{Kramnik chooses the plan of keeping the king in the centre. The other main
alternative goes with 9...Bd7 followed by transferring the king to the
queenside.} 10. h3 h5 {It's impossible to cover all the possible lines, but,
believe me, both sides have enough reasonable alternatives on every move.
Years ago, I used to play 10...Ne7 myself, transferring the knight either to
g6, or d5, according to circumstances. This plan, however, consumes a lot of
time, and is out of fashion nowadays.} 11. Ne2 {I find this move already a
slight inaccuracy. This manoeuvre is rather typical, and might be recommended
if Black hade played 10...h6 instead of 10...h5. In that case the knight would
be heading to h5. In our case the manoeuvre Ne2-f4 would be met by Bf8-e7
followed by g7-g5 driving the knight away.} (11. Rd1 {This seems like a better
try. At least, it forced Kramnik to show some accurate defence in order to
neutralise White's initiative.} Be7 (11... b6 12. Bf4 Bb7 13. e6 fxe6 14. Bxc7
$14) 12. Ne2 Be6 13. Nf4 Bc8 14. Ne2 Be6 15. Ned4 Rd8 16. Bf4 Nxd4 17. Nxd4 Bc8
18. e6 Bxe6 19. Bxc7 Rd5 20. c4 Rd7 21. Nxe6 fxe6 22. Bb8 Bc5 23. Rxd7 Kxd7 24.
Rd1+ Kc8 25. Be5 Rf8 26. Rd2 g6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Caruana,F (2700)-Kramnik,V (2780)/
Khanty Mansiysk 2010/CBM 139 (46)}) 11... b6 {Black used to play 11...Be7 in
preceding games, but the move in the text seems to me more flexible.} 12. Bf4 (
12. Rd1 Bb7 13. Nf4 Be7 $1 $11 {with the afore-mentioned idea g7-g5.}) ({
Black doesn't experience any problems either after} 12. Bg5 Bb7 13. Nf4 c5)
12... c5 13. Rad1 Bb7 {The bishop is excellent on the long diagonal.} 14. Ng5
Rh6 $1 {A good way to bring the rook into play.} 15. Ng3 Nh4 {The exchange of
knights is perfectly playable for Black, but Kramnik has grounds to play for
more than equality.} 16. f3 Be7 17. Rfe1 (17. e6 fxe6 18. N5e4 Rg6 19. Bxc7
Nxg2 20. Kxg2 h4 21. Rfe1 hxg3 22. c4 $11) 17... Rg6 18. N5e4 Bc6 $1 (18...
Nxg2 19. Kxg2 Bxe4 (19... h4 $4 {loses to} 20. Nd6+ $1) 20. Rxe4 h4 {leads to
a worse version of what Black achieved in the game later on.}) 19. Kh2 {
White couldn't make a more useful move.} (19. Rd2 $6 Nxf3+ $1 20. gxf3 h4 $15)
19... Nxg2 $1 20. Kxg2 h4 21. c4 (21. Nd6+ $1 {With this "punch in the air"
White is hunting the dark-squared bishop in order to equalise.} Kf8 22. Ndf5
hxg3 23. Nxe7 Kxe7 24. e6 Rxe6 25. Bxc7 {Opposite coloured bishops promise
White an easy draw.}) 21... hxg3 22. Nc3 Rd8 23. Nd5 Rd7 24. b3 Bd8 25. Re4 $6
{This move covers the h4-square, thus enabling White to capture the Pg3 on the
next move. However, it allows Black to regroup his pieces and drive away
White's centralised knight very soon.} (25. Rd3 {The plan of doubling the
rooks along the d-file looks more sensible. The Pg3 won't run away. Here is a
sample line:} Kf8 (25... Bb7 $4 26. Nf6+ $1 gxf6 27. exf6+ $18) 26. Red1 Bh4
27. Ne3 Rxd3 28. Rxd3 Ke8 29. Ng4 {White is still slightly worse, though, but
I find this position better than in the game.}) 25... Bb7 26. Bxg3 b5 $1 {
Undermining the knight, and, at the same time clearing the rest of the 6th
rank for Black's rook.} 27. Kf2 Rh6 28. h4 Kf8 29. Ke2 Ra6 30. Rd2 bxc4 31.
bxc4 c6 32. Nc3 Rxd2+ 33. Kxd2 Bc8 {The bishop comes into play via another
diagonal. White is going to suffer cause of his numerous pawn weaknesses.} 34.
Bf2 Be7 35. Re1 Bf5 36. Kc1 Be6 ({I must admit that I couldn't figure out what
was wrong with} 36... Bd3 37. Rd1 Bxc4 $17 {. The penetration to the 7th rank
yields White nothing.}) 37. Re4 Rb6 $2 {This allows White to activate the
knight.} ({The strategy of slow improvement would have been the most
unpleasant for White. For example:} 37... g6 38. Kd2 Ke8 39. Kc1 Kd7 40. Kd2
Ra3 {White is practically in zugzwang.}) 38. Na4 Rb4 39. Nb2 (39. Nxc5 Bf5 (
39... Rxc4+ 40. Rxc4 Bxc4 41. Kb2 $11) 40. a3 Rb8 41. Re2 Rb1+ 42. Kd2 Ra1 43.
e6 Ra2+ 44. Ke1 Rxa3 45. Nd7+ Ke8 46. exf7+ $1 Kxd7 47. Rxe7+ $1 Kxe7 48. Bc5+
Kxf7 49. Bxa3 $11) 39... g6 40. a3 $2 {Unnecessarily giving access to the
b3-square.} ({It was the right moment to activate the rook:} 40. Re3 $1 g5 41.
h5 Kg7 42. Ra3 Rb7 43. Ra6 {with sufficient counterplay.}) 40... Rb3 41. Re3
Rb7 {Kramnik correctly keeps the rook on the board.} 42. Rc3 Bf5 $17 43. Na4 (
43. Nd3 Kg7 {wouldn't change much.}) 43... Kg7 44. Kd2 (44. Nxc5 $4 Rb1+ 45.
Kd2 Rb2+ 46. Ke1 Rxf2 47. Kxf2 Bxc5+ $19) 44... Bd8 $1 {[%cal Gd8a5]} 45. Ke2
Rb1 46. Bxc5 Bxh4 {All Black's pieces have reached maximal activity.} 47. Bxa7
Re1+ 48. Kd2 Rh1 49. Ke2 Re1+ {Gaining some time on the clock is always useful.
} 50. Kd2 Rh1 51. Ke2 Rh2+ 52. Kd1 Bg5 53. Nc5 Bf4 54. Nb3 g5 55. Nd4 Bh3 56.
Rc2 Rh1+ 57. Ke2 Bd7 58. Bb8 $2 (58. Bc5 Bxe5 {is in Black's favour, but
nothing decisive.}) 58... c5 $19 59. e6 $1 {The only chance to stir up
complications.} ({The variation} 59. Nb5 Bf5 60. Rc3 Rh2+ 61. Kd1 g4 62. fxg4
Bxg4+ 63. Ke1 Bd2+ $19 {shows the remarkable domination of Black's bishops.})
59... Ba4 60. Bxf4 gxf4 $2 {Kramnik grabs the wrong piece.} (60... Bxc2 $1 61.
e7 Rh8 62. Ne6+ Kf6 $1 63. Nxg5 Re8 $19) 61. Nf5+ Kf6 62. exf7 Rh8 63. Rd2 Kxf5
64. Rd5+ Kf6 65. Rxc5 Bc2 (65... Rf8 66. Kd3 Rxf7 67. Ke4 {and Black's last
pawn won't survive.}) 66. Rd5 Kxf7 67. Rd4 Rh2+ 68. Ke1 Ke6 (68... Rh4 69. c5 {
Black can't win with such a passive rook, and will have to part with his last
pawn anyway.}) 69. Rxf4 Ke5 70. Rf7 Kd4 71. Re7 Bd3 72. a4 Ra2 73. a5 Bxc4 74.
Re4+ Kd3 75. Re5 Kc3 76. Re7 Bd3 77. Re8 Kd4 78. Re7 Bb5 79. Re4+ Kd3 80. Re6
Bc4 81. Re5 Rb2 82. Re7 Bb5 83. Re6 Ra2 84. Kf1 Bc4 85. Re7 Bd5 86. Rd7 Kc4 87.
Ke1 Bxf3 88. Rd2 Ra3 89. a6 Bd5 90. Rc2+ Kd3 91. Rd2+ Ke4 92. Re2+ Kf4 93. Kd2
Be4 94. a7 Ra2+ 95. Ke1 Rxa7 {From now on White needs to survive fifty more
moves. One should know that in practice it's not easy at all to prove the
theoretical draw. I can recall enough examples from titled players' practice
when the defensive side didn't make it. In the current game McShane didn't go
astray.} 96. Kf2 Rd7 97. Rb2 Rd3 98. Ra2 Rf3+ 99. Ke1 Rh3 100. Rf2+ Bf3 101.
Rb2 Rh8 102. Kd2 Rd8+ 103. Kc3 Ke3 104. Rb6 Rc8+ 105. Kb4 Kd4 106. Rd6+ Bd5
107. Rb6 Rc1 108. Rb5 Bc6 109. Rb6 Kd5 110. Ka5 Ra1+ 111. Kb4 Ra8 112. Kc3 Kc5
113. Rb2 Bd5 114. Rf2 Ra3+ 115. Kd2 Kd4 116. Rf4+ Be4 117. Rf2 Bf3 118. Ke1
Re3+ 119. Kd2 Rd3+ 120. Kc2 Kc4 121. Rh2 Be4 122. Re2 Bf5 123. Kc1 Rd8 124. Rd2
Bd3 125. Rf2 Kc3 126. Rc2+ $1 {An important defensive trick.} Kd4 127. Rb2 Ke3
128. Rb6 Rd4 129. Kb2 Kd2 130. Ka3 Bc2 131. Rb8 Kc1 132. Ra8 Rc4 133. Ra7 Kd2
134. Rb7 Rh4 135. Rb6 Kc1 136. Ra6 Rc4 137. Ra7 Kd2 138. Rb7 Kc3 139. Rb3+ {
[%mdl 256]} Bxb3 {An exhausting marathon!} 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic 2nd"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2010.12.11"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Howell, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2611"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2010.12.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 140"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Be3 c5 8.
Rc1 Qa5 9. Qd2 O-O 10. Nf3 Rd8 11. d5 e6 12. Bg5 f6 {For this line - see
Jakovenko - Ponomariov in CBM 137.} 13. Be3 {Probably the most solid reply.} (
13. Bf4 {has been played in some recent games:} Qa4 (13... exd5 14. exd5 Bf5
15. Be2 Be4 16. d6 Nd7 17. h4 h5 18. O-O Qa4 19. Rfe1 Kh7 20. Bb5 $1 Qxb5 21.
Rxe4 $16 {1-0 Potkin,V (2626)-Zhou Jianchao (2668)/Ningbo 2010/CBM 138 (28)})
14. c4 (14. Qc2 Qxc2 15. Rxc2 exd5 16. exd5 Bf5 17. Rb2 Be4 18. c4 Bxf3 19.
gxf3 b6 20. Re2 Na6 21. a3 Kf7 22. h4 h5 23. Kd2 Re8 $11 {1/2 Ragger,M (2614)
-Bosiocic,M (2562)/Chur 2010/CBM 136 Extra (47)}) 14... exd5 (14... Nc6 15. Be3
exd5 16. exd5 Nb4 17. Bxc5 a5 18. Nd4 Re8+ 19. Be2 Qxa2 20. Nb5 Bf5 21. Qxa2
Nxa2 22. Ra1 Nb4 $13 {0-1 Sargissian,G (2677)-Svidler,P (2731)/Khanty-Mansiysk
RUS 2010/The Week in Chess 830 (39)}) 15. exd5 Na6 16. Be2 Nb4 17. O-O Qxa2 18.
Qe3 Bf5 19. Qxc5 Nxd5 20. cxd5 Qxe2 21. Rfe1 Qa2 $13 {1/2 Ernst,S (2587)
-Gustafsson,J (2646)/Baden-Baden GER 2010/The Week in Chess 831 (27)}) 13...
exd5 (13... Nc6 14. Bd3 {(a recent improvement by GM V.Potkin)} (14. c4 Nb4) (
14. h4 exd5 15. exd5 Bg4 16. Be2 Ne7 (16... Bxf3 17. gxf3 Ne7 {1/2 Harika,D 
(2445)-Gupta,A (2565)/Paleohora 2009/CBM 131 Extra} 18. d6 $36) (16... c4 $5)
17. c4 Qc7 18. Ng5 Bf5 19. Nh3 Nc8 20. g4 Bd7 21. h5 gxh5 22. Nf4 hxg4 23. Qc2
f5 24. Bxg4 Nd6 25. Be2 $44 {1-0 Sundararajan,K (2526)-Konguvel,P (2420)/
Chennai IND 2010/The Week in Chess 796 (48)}) 14... exd5 15. exd5 c4 16. Bxc4
Be6 17. Rd1 Ne7 18. dxe6 $1 Rxd2 19. Rxd2 Qxc3 (19... Nf5 $5) 20. Bb3 Qc1+ 21.
Rd1 Qc3+ 22. Ke2 $5 a5 23. Rd7 a4 24. Rc1 $44 {1/2 Potkin,V (2646)-Svidler,P 
(2722)/Moscow RUS 2010/The Week in Chess 841 (42)}) 14. exd5 Na6 $6 {Not the
best way to develop the knight.} (14... Nc6 15. Bd3 {- see above}) 15. Be2 Be6
$6 (15... c4 16. Bxc4 Be6 17. Rd1 Nc7 18. dxe6 Rxd2 19. Rxd2 {- this version
of the queen sacrifice is more favourable for White than it was in
Potkin-Svidler.}) (15... Bf5 16. O-O Rac8 17. c4 $14 {may be the lesser evil.})
16. c4 Qxd2+ 17. Nxd2 Bd7 18. Ne4 b6 {A typical pawn structure has arisen.
Black has not set up a blockade on d6; therefore, White's chances are better.
To convert his advantage, he must open a second front on the kingside.} 19. h4
$1 {[%mdl 36]} Bf5 20. Nc3 Nb4 21. Kd2 Nc6 {The knight enters the game a bit
too late.} 22. h5 Kf7 {Hardly a useful move.} (22... Ne5 $142) 23. g4 Bc8 24.
hxg6+ hxg6 25. Ne4 Ba6 (25... Ne5 $142 26. f3 $16) 26. Rh7 $1 Kg8 27. Rch1 $1
Ne5 28. Kc3 $2 {Allowing a tactical trick.} (28. g5 $1 fxg5 29. Bxg5 Rf8 $8 30.
Kc3 $1 $16 {leads to the game position.}) 28... Nf7 $6 ({But Black misses} 
28... Rxd5 $1 {e.g.} 29. g5 $1 (29. cxd5 $143 Bxe2) 29... fxg5 30. cxd5 Bxe2
31. Nxg5 Bf6 32. Ne4 Bg7 {holding on.}) 29. Bd3 Ne5 $6 (29... Bc8 $142 $1) 30.
g5 $1 fxg5 31. Bxg5 {White doesn't fear the discovered check as the black
bishop can always be captured.} Rf8 32. Be2 $1 Nf3+ 33. Nf6+ (33. Rxg7+ Kxg7
34. Bh6+ Kg8 35. Bxf8 Rxf8 36. a4 $16 {was equally good.}) 33... Rxf6 34. Rxg7+
Kxg7 35. Bxf6+ Kxf6 36. Bxf3 $16 {[%mdl 4096] This ending is clearly better
for White due to his strong d5-pawn. Black fails to put up any resistance.} Re8
37. Rh7 Re7 38. Rh8 Ke5 $6 (38... Kg7 $142 39. Ra8) 39. Bg4 $1 {[%cal Rh8g8,
Rg8g6]} b5 $6 40. Rd8 Rf7 41. Re8+ Kf4 42. Be6 1-0

[Event "London Classic 2nd"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2010.12.12"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2723"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[Annotator "Kritz,L"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2010.12.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 140"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 {Die Berliner Mauer ist eine der solidesten
Eröffnungen gegen 1.e4 überhaupt.} 4. d3 {Weiß wählt die populärste
Nebenvariante.} (4. Nc3 {führt zum Übergang ins Vierspringer-Spiel.} Bb4 (4...
Nd4 $5 {ist ebenfalls spielbar.}) 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 d6 7. Bg5 Bxc3 8. bxc3 Qe7
9. Re1 h6 10. Bh4 a6 11. Bxc6 (11. Ba4 Nd8 $15 {Der weiße Läufer auf a4 steht
sehr schlecht.}) 11... bxc6 12. d4 Bg4 13. Qd3 Bxf3 14. Qxf3 g5 15. Bg3 Nd7 $11
{Shirov - Erenburg (Sochi, 2006)}) (4. Qe2 {Eine weitere Nebenvariante, die
jedoch sehr selten anzutreffen ist.} Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. d3 d6 $11 {Man kommt in
eine typische Stellung hinein, wo der Zug Qe2 wenig Sinn macht.}) 4... Bc5 {
Die prinzipiellste Fortsetzung. Eine gute Alternative ist 4...d6.} (4... d6 5.
c3 (5. O-O Bd7 6. c3 g6 7. Re1 Bg7 {->5.c3}) 5... g6 6. O-O Bg7 7. Re1 O-O 8.
Nbd2 Bd7 (8... a6 $5 9. Bxc6 bxc6 10. Nf1 (10. d4 $5 Nd7 $132) 10... c5 11. Ng3
Nd7 $132 {Zhang Pengxiang - Harikrishna (Tiayuan, 2005)}) 9. Nf1 (9. Ba4 Nh5
10. Nf1 Kh8 11. Bg5 Qe8 12. Ne3 f6 13. Bh4 Nd4 14. Bxd7 Nxf3+ 15. Qxf3 Qxd7 $11
{Nepomniachtchi - Krasenkow (Wijk aan Zee, 2008)}) 9... Nh5 10. Ng3 (10. Ne3
Nf4 11. a4 f5 12. Bc4+ Kh8 13. Nd5 fxe4 14. dxe4 Bg4 $15 {Chadaev -
Aleksandrov (Moscow, 2009)}) 10... Nf4 11. d4 a6 12. Ba4 b5 13. Bb3 Na5 14. Bc2
c5 $132 {Erdogdu - Aleksandrov (Budva, 2009)}) 5. c3 (5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Be3 (6.
Nxe5 $4 Qd4 7. Be3 Qxe5 8. d4 Qxe4 9. dxc5 Qxg2 $19) 6... Bd6 $1 {Der beste
Weg zum Ausgleich.} 7. h3 c5 8. Nbd2 Nd7 9. Nc4 O-O $11 {Perunovic - Fressinet
(Budva, 2009)}) (5. Nc3 d6 6. Na4 Bb6 7. O-O Bd7 8. c3 Ne7 9. Nxb6 axb6 10.
Bxd7+ Qxd7 11. Bg5 Ng6 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Nd2 f5 $11 {Carlsen - Wang Yue (Baku,
2008)}) 5... O-O 6. O-O (6. Bg5 d6 7. Nbd2 Bd7 $1 {Meiner Meinung nach ist das
die beste Fortsetzung.} 8. Ba4 h6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 Nh5 11. d4 exd4 12. Bxc6
bxc6 13. Nxd4 Nxg3 14. hxg3 Qf6 15. Qh5 Kg7 16. O-O-O Rae8 $132 {Azarov -
Georgiev (Dresden, 2007)}) 6... d6 7. Nbd2 a6 8. Ba4 b5 {Bis jetzt hat Kramnik
immer 8...Ba7 gespielt. Der Partiezug ist auch gut. Was immer Schwarz macht,
die Stellung bleibt im Gleichgewicht.} (8... Ba7 9. h3 Ne7 10. Re1 Ng6 11. Nf1
b5 12. Bb3 Re8 13. Ng3 (13. a4 Bb7 14. Be3 Bxe3 15. Nxe3 h6 16. Nh2 d5 17. axb5
axb5 18. Rxa8 Bxa8 $11 {Leko - Kramnik (Moscow, 2007)}) 13... Bb7 14. Be3 Bxe3
15. fxe3 d5 $11 {Anand - Kramnik (Moscow, 2007)}) 9. Bb3 {Der bessere Abzug -
der Läufer steht auf b3 viel aktiver. Wenn Schwarz versucht, ihn mittels Na5
zu vertreiben, wird sein Springer im Abseits stehen.} (9. Bc2 d5 $1 {Wenn man
die Gelegenheit hat, d5 zu spielen, muss man sie nutzen!} 10. Nxe5 (10. exd5
Nxd5 11. Re1 Re8 $11) 10... Nxe5 11. d4 Bd6 12. dxe5 Bxe5 13. Nf3 (13. f4 Bd6
14. e5 Bc5+ 15. Kh1 Ng4 $15) 13... Bg4 14. exd5 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Qxd5 16. Qh3 (16.
Qxd5 Nxd5 17. Be4 Rad8 $11) 16... Rfe8 17. Rd1 Qc6 18. Bg5 h6 $11 {Polgar -
Bacrot (Rishon Le Ziyyon 2006)}) 9... Bb6 {Der Läufer zieht sich zurück, damit
Weiß später kein Tempo gewinnen kann, falls er d4 spielt.} 10. Re1 Ne7 (10...
Na5 $2 {Das sieht wie die Chigorin-Variante aus, doch überraschender Weise
steht der schwarze Läufer auf b6 schlechter als auf e7:} 11. Bc2 c5 12. Nf1 Nc6
13. Bg5 $14 {Im weiteren Verlauf kann Weiß auf f6 nehmen, Ne3-Bb3 spielen, und
das Feld d5 unter Kontrolle nehmen, was ihm stabilen Vorteil garantieren wird.}
) 11. Nf1 Ng6 12. Ng3 {Wie man sieht, ist die Stellung fast symmetrisch, mit
dem Unterschied, dass Schwarz statt c6, a6-b5 gezogen hat.} Re8 ({Auch gut ist
} 12... Be6 13. h3 Qd7 14. Nh2 c5 15. Bg5 Ne8 16. Qf3 Nc7 17. Nf5 f6 18. Bd2 d5
$132 {Dominguez Perez - Anand (Moscow, 2009)}) 13. Ng5 Nh8 {Das sieht sehr
komisch aus, doch nach zwei Zügen kehrt der Springer zurück.} (13... Re7 14.
Nf5 Bxf5 15. exf5 $14) 14. d4 {Weiß muss den Raum im Zentrum okkupieren.} h6
15. Nf3 Ng6 {Der Springer ist zurück.} 16. h3 {Weiß muss das Feld g4 unter
Kontrolle nehmen, sonst kann Schwarz früher oder später Bg4 spielen und den
Druck gegen das weiße Zentrum erhöhen.} Bb7 17. Bc2 {Der Bauer e4 hängt, Weiß
hat nichts Besseres. Die Stellung vereinfacht sich nun.} (17. d5 c6 $1 18. dxc6
Bxc6 $132 {Könnte Weiß nun Bg5 spielen, würde er in Vorteil kommen, doch da
ihm das Feld g5 nicht zur Verfügung steht, kommt Schwarz leicht zu d5 und
bekommt gutes Spiel.}) 17... d5 $1 {Schwarz hat überhaupt keine
Schwierigkeiten.} 18. Nxe5 (18. exd5 exd4 19. Rxe8+ Qxe8 20. Nxd4 Nxd5 $11)
18... Nxe5 (18... Nxe4 $2 19. Nxg6 Nxg3 20. fxg3 fxg6 (20... Rxe1+ 21. Qxe1
fxg6 22. Qe6+ $18) 21. Bxg6 $18) 19. dxe5 Nxe4 20. Nxe4 dxe4 21. Qh5 (21. Qxd8
$2 Raxd8 22. Bf4 (22. Bxe4 Bxe4 (22... Rxe5 23. Bh7+ Kxh7 24. Rxe5 Rd1+ 25. Kh2
Bxf2 $15) 23. Rxe4 Rd1+ 24. Kh2 Bxf2 $19) 22... g5 23. Bg3 Rd2 $17) 21... g6
22. Qxh6 Rxe5 $11 {Der schwarze Bauer e4 ist eher Stärke als Schwäche.} 23. Be3
$1 {Weiß würde gerne die schwarzfeldrigen Läufer tauschen und danach den
Bauern e4 angreifen, doch hat Schwarz gutes Gegenspiel.} Qf6 24. Rad1 (24. Bxb6
Qxb6 25. Re3 Rd8 26. Rae1 Rd2 $11 {Die schwarz Stellung ist in Ordnung.}) 24...
Rae8 25. Bb3 Bc8 $1 {Man muss die Wirkung des Läufers b3 neutralisieren.
Schwarz will Be6 spielen.} 26. Bxb6 Qxb6 27. Qf4 Rf5 28. Qg3 Qf6 29. Rd5 (29.
Rd4 Rfe5 $11) 29... Ree5 30. Rxe5 (30. Rd4 Rg5 31. Qe3 c5 32. Rxe4 Rxe4 33.
Qxe4 Bxh3 $11) 30... Rxe5 31. f4 $6 {Das schwächt den König und macht aus dem
Bauer e4 einen Freibauer. Wenn man auf Gewinn spielen wollte, sollte man es
mit langsamen Zügen versuchen, wobei die Stellung natürlich völlig
ausgeglichen ist.} Re8 32. Qe3 Be6 {Forciert Remis.} 33. Qxe4 Bd7 34. Qb1 Rxe1+
35. Qxe1 Qxf4 36. Qf2 Qc1+ $1 {Richtige Entscheidung! Das Läuferendspiel ist
zu weißem Vorteil.} (36... Qxf2+ 37. Kxf2 Kg7 38. Ke3 Kf6 39. Kd4 $16) 37. Kh2
Bf5 38. Qg3 (38. g4 Be6 39. Bxe6 fxe6 $11 {Die Verschlechterung der schwarzen
Struktur macht nichts - der weiße König wurde durch den Zug g4 ebenfalls
geschwächt.}) 38... Qxb2 39. Qe5 Qa3 {Es drohte Qe8.} 40. Qxc7 Be6 41. Qd8+ Kg7
42. Qd4+ Kg8 43. Qd8+ {Der Läufertausch bringt nichts.} (43. Bxe6 fxe6 44. Qf6
Qd6+ 45. Kg1 Kh7 $11) 43... Kg7 44. Qd4+ Kg8 45. Qd8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic 2nd"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2010.12.14"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2802"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "171"]
[EventDate "2010.12.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 140"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bf4 {Quite a harmless continuation.}
(5. cxd5 exd5 6. Qb3 $1 {is more aggressive.}) 5... Bd6 (5... Bb4 {is more in
the spirit of the Chigorin Defence - see e.g. Graf-Rabiega in CBM 129 
(annotations by GM R.Dautov)}) (5... Nf6) (5... Bxf3) (5... dxc4 {have been
seen in grandmaster practice, too.}) 6. Bg3 (6. Bxd6 Qxd6 7. cxd5 exd5 8. e3
Nf6 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O Bxf3 11. Bxf3 Ne7 12. Qc2 c6 13. g3 g6 14. Bg2 h5 15.
Na4 b6 16. b3 Rac8 17. Rac1 h4 $132 {1/2 Abramovic,B (2516)-Miladinovic,I 
(2605)/Herceg Novi 2007/CBM 120 ext (40)}) 6... Nf6 (6... Bxg3 7. hxg3 Nf6 8.
e3 Qe7 9. Qb3 Qb4 10. Qxb4 Nxb4 11. Rc1 Bxf3 12. gxf3 O-O-O 13. c5 e5 14. dxe5
Nd7 15. a3 Nc6 16. Bh3 Ncxe5 17. Ke2 $14 {1/2 Janowski,D-Taubenhaus,J/Paris
1905/HCL (49)}) (6... Nge7 7. e3 a6 8. Rc1 Qd7 9. a3 Rd8 10. Bd3 Bxg3 11. hxg3
e5 12. cxd5 Nxd5 13. Be4 Nf6 14. Bxc6 Qxc6 15. Ne2 Qe4 16. Nxe5 Qxg2 17. Rf1
Bxe2 18. Qxe2 c6 19. Qf3 Qxf3 20. Nxf3 Ke7 {1/2 Baumbach,F (2315)-Marszalek,R 
(2310)/Warsaw 1988/EXT 1997}) (6... Bxf3 7. gxf3 dxc4 8. e3 Nge7 9. Bxc4 O-O
10. Qc2 Nb4 11. Qb3 Nec6 12. Be2 Qd7 13. Rc1 Na5 14. Qd1 f5 15. Bxd6 Qxd6 16.
a3 Nd5 17. Nxd5 exd5 18. Qc2 Qe6 $11 {1/2 Ftacnik,L (2559)-Markos,J (2571)/
Prievidza 2009/CBM 130 (33)}) 7. e3 O-O 8. a3 (8. cxd5 Nxd5 $5 (8... exd5 9.
Bh4 Be7 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 $14 Ne4 $2 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Nxd5 Qd6 14. Bd3 f5
15. Nc3 $16 {1-0 Sokolov,I (2663)-Mann,C (2455)/Germany 2005/CBM 107 (23)}) 9.
Be2 Nce7 10. O-O Nxc3 11. bxc3 c5 12. Qa4 Nd5 13. Rac1 Bxg3 14. hxg3 Qc7 15.
Bd3 Bxf3 16. gxf3 Nxe3 17. fxe3 Qxg3+ 18. Kh1 Qh3+ {1/2 Shchekachev,A (2539)
-Bosiocic,M (2571)/Sibenik 2009/EXT 2010}) 8... Ne7 $146 {A second-rate
novelty.} (8... Ne4 9. Rc1 f5 10. cxd5 Nxc3 11. Rxc3 exd5 12. Qb3 Bxf3 13. Bxd6
Qxd6 14. gxf3 Rae8 15. Kd2 Nd8 16. f4 c6 17. Kc1 Qe7 18. h4 Nf7 {1/2 Legemaat,
G (2390)-De Waard,J (2380)/ICCF Email Master Norm 0/ICCF CBM 120}) 9. Qb3 b6
10. Ne5 c5 $5 {White is behind in development (Bf1, Rh1) so Black opens up the
position, however, rather unsuccessfully.} 11. Nxg4 Nxg4 12. Rd1 $1 Bxg3 13.
hxg3 Nf6 14. cxd5 exd5 15. Be2 Qd6 16. Qc2 h6 17. O-O $14 {A position with
potential "hanging pawns" on c5 and d5 has arisen. Since two pairs of pieces
have been exchanged, it is rather favorable for the opponent, i.e. White.} c4 {
And this structure is not so good either as White undermines it at once.} 18.
b3 $1 Qxa3 (18... cxb3 19. Qxb3 $14 {[%csl Rd5]}) 19. bxc4 dxc4 $6 (19... Qd6
$142 20. Ra1 $36 {[%cal Yf1b1]}) 20. Bf3 $1 Rab8 21. Ra1 Qd6 22. Nb5 Qd7 23.
Qxc4 a5 24. e4 $16 {[%csl Gd4,Ge4] Black's queenside pawns are blocked, and
White's central pawns are mobile and strong.} Rfc8 25. Qe2 Rc6 26. Rab1 Rd8 27.
Rfd1 Rdc8 28. d5 Rc2 29. Qe3 R2c5 30. Nd4 Re8 (30... b5 $2 31. Nc6) 31. Qd3 Qd6
32. Qa6 Rb8 33. Nb3 Rc2 34. Nd4 Rc5 35. Nb3 Rc2 36. Qd3 $5 {White continues
manoeuvring in order to exhaust his opponent.} (36. Nxa5 {was possible, too:}
Qc5 37. Rf1 Ra2 {, and now the simplest course is} 38. Nb3 $1 Qxf2+ 39. Rxf2
Rxa6 40. Nd4 $16) 36... Rcc8 37. Nd2 Ng6 38. Be2 $1 {[%cal Yf2f4]} Qc5 39. Rb5
Qc3 40. f4 a4 41. e5 Nd7 42. Qxc3 Rxc3 43. Ne4 {[%csl Gd5,Ge4,Ge5]} Rc7 44. Ra1
Ra7 45. d6 Ngf8 46. Nc3 Nc5 47. Nd5 Ra5 48. Rxb6 Rxb6 49. Nxb6 $18 {[%mdl 4096]
} Nfe6 50. Bc4 Kf8 51. f5 Nd8 52. Rf1 Ncb7 53. Re1 a3 54. e6 {Just grabbing a
piece, although it is not so easy to convert it.} (54. d7 $6 a2 55. Bxa2 Rxa2
56. e6 Nc6 57. e7+ Nxe7 58. Nc8 Rd2 59. Rxe7 f6 {leads to a curious positional
draw}) (54. Ba2 $1 {(A.Korotylev) was the simplest way to get a decisive
advantage.}) 54... fxe6 55. fxe6 Nxd6 56. e7+ Ke8 57. exd8=R+ Kxd8 58. Rd1 Kc7
59. Ba2 Rg5 60. Nd5+ Kc6 61. Nc3 Rc5 $5 {A curious psychological decision.
Black offers White the chance to further simplify the game. White gladly
accepts the offer and then fails to overcome unexpected technical problems!}
62. Rxd6+ ({White should, of course, win after} 62. Rd3 Ra5 63. Kf2 {etc. but
why not "shorten the journey"?}) 62... Kxd6 63. Ne4+ Kc6 64. Nxc5 Kxc5 65. Kf2
Kd4 66. Kf3 Kd3 67. g4 Kd2 (67... g5 68. Bf7 Kd4 69. Ke2 Ke4 70. g3 Kd4 71. Kd2
Ke4 72. Kc3 Kf3 73. Bh5 $18) 68. Be6 Kd3 (68... Ke1 $144 69. Bc4 Kd2 70. g5)
69. Kg3 $4 {A strange move, after which, apparently, White can't win anymore!}
(69. g5 $1 hxg5 (69... Kd4 70. Kf4 $18) (69... Kd2 70. g6 $18) 70. Kg4 Ke3 71.
g3 $1 {indicated by GM A.Khalifman} ({but not} 71. Kxg5 Kf2 72. g4 Kg3 73. Bd5
Kh3 74. Kf5 g6+ $1 {- with his pawn on g4 and Black's on g6 White can't win, e.
g.} 75. Kf4 (75. Kg5 Kg3 76. Be6 Kf3 $1) 75... Kh4 76. g5 Kh5 $1 {not allowing
the white king to f6}) 71... Ke4 (71... Kf2 72. Bd5 Ke3 73. Kxg5 Kf2 74. Kf4 $1
Ke2 75. g4 $18) 72. Kxg5 Kf3 73. Kh4 $1 {White manages to keep his pawn on g3
and wins, e.g.} Kf2 74. Kg4 Ke3 (74... Kg2 75. Kf4 Kh2 76. g4 Kh3 77. g5+ Kh4
78. Kf5 Kh5 79. Ba2 Kh4 80. Bb3 Kh5 81. Be6 Kh4 82. Kg6 $22 $18) 75. Bf7 Ke4
76. Ba2 Ke3 77. Bb1 $22 g6 (77... Kf2 78. Kf4 {[%cal Yg3g4]} Kg2 79. g4 Kh3 80.
g5 Kh4 81. Kf5 Kh5 82. Ba2 Kh4 83. Bb3 Kh5 84. Be6 $18) 78. Ba2 Ke4 79. Bb3 $1
Ke3 80. Bf7 $22 Kf2 (80... Kd4 81. Kf4) 81. Kf4 Kg2 82. Be6 $1 (82. g4 $4 Kh3
$11) 82... Kh2 (82... Kf2 83. g4) 83. Kf3 Kh1 (83... g5 84. Ba2 Kh3 85. Bd5 Kh2
86. Kg4 $18) 84. g4 Kh2 85. g5 $18 {[%cal Yf3f4,Yf4e5,Ye5f6] - the white pawn
can only move forward if this king manoeuvre is guaranteed or if the black
pawn can't move to g6. It is far from easy to find all this over the board!})
69... Ke3 70. Kh4 $2 (70. g5 {was the last chance but Black can probably
survive in a study-like manner:} Ke4 (70... Ke2 71. Ba2 Kf1 $2 72. g6) (70...
hxg5 $2 71. Kg4 {- see the above annotation}) 71. Kg4 Ke3 72. Ba2 $5 (72. Bf7
Ke4 73. Ba2 Ke3 74. Bb1 Kf2 75. g3 Ke3 76. g6 h5+ $1 {doesn't change much})
72... Ke4 73. g3 (73. Bb1+ Ke3 74. g6 Kf2 $1 75. Kf5 Kxg2 76. Ke6 h5 $11) 73...
Ke3 $1 (73... Ke5 74. Bb1 Kd4 75. Kf5 hxg5 76. Kxg5 Ke3 77. Kg4 $1 {etc. - see
above}) 74. Bb1 Kf2 $1 75. g6 (75. Kf4 h5 $1 76. Ba2 Kg2 77. Bd5+ Kh3 78. Kf3
Kh2 79. g4 h4 $1 80. Kf2 Kh3 81. Be6 g6 82. Kf3 Kh2 $11) 75... h5+ $1 76. Kxh5
Ke3 $3 77. Kg5 Kd4 78. Kf5 Kd5 $11 {[%cal Yd5d6,Yd6e7,Ye7f8] - Black reaches a
well-known theoretical fortress.}) 70... Kf2 71. Bd5 g6 72. Kh3 g5 $1 {This
move is now timely. The white king can't come out, and the position is drawn.}
73. Kh2 Kf1 74. Be6 Kf2 75. Bc4 Ke3 76. Kg3 Kd4 77. Be6 Ke3 78. Kh2 Kf2 79. Bc4
Ke3 80. Kg1 Kf4 81. Be6 Ke5 82. Bb3 Kf4 83. Be6 Ke5 84. Bb3 Kf4 85. Be6 Ke5 86.
Bb3 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic 2nd"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2010.12.15"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2804"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[Annotator "Kritz,L"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2010.12.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 140"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O (4. d3 {ist eine alternative Fortsetzung.
Man bekommt spielbare Stellungen, doch keinen Eröffnungsvorteil.} Bc5 (4... d6
$5 5. O-O Be7 6. c3 O-O 7. Re1 a6 8. Ba4 b5 9. Bc2 Re8 $132 {Es entsteht ein
typischer Spanier mit d3.}) 5. c3 {Weiß hat mehrere Möglichkeiten, jedoch
keine davon bringt ihm einen Eröffnungsvorteil.} (5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Be3 (6. Nxe5
$4 Qd4 7. Be3 Qxe5 8. d4 Qxe4 9. dxc5 Qxg2 $19) 6... Bd6 $1 {Der beste Weg zum
Ausgleich.} (6... Qe7 7. Bxc5 Qxc5 8. Nc3 Bg4 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Qxf3 O-O {Schwarz
hat keine Schwiriegkeiten.} 11. O-O-O a5 12. Qf5 Rfd8 13. Rhf1 a4 14. a3 b5
$132 {Sutovsky - Aronian (Caleta, 2005)}) (6... Bxe3 $2 {verbessert die weiße
Bauernstruktur und öffnet die f-Linie.} 7. fxe3 Qe7 8. O-O Ng4 9. Qd2 f6 10.
Nh4 g6 11. Nc3 Bd7 12. Rf3 f5 13. g3 Nf6 14. exf5 g5 15. Ng2 e4 16. Nxe4 Nxe4
17. dxe4 O-O-O 18. Qa5 $16 {Sutovsky - Carlsen (Crete, 2007)}) 7. h3 c5 8. Nbd2
Nd7 9. Nc4 O-O $11 {Perunovic - Fressinet (Budva, 2009)}) (5. Nc3 d6 6. Na4 Bb6
7. O-O Bd7 8. c3 Ne7 9. Nxb6 axb6 10. Bxd7+ Qxd7 11. Bg5 Ng6 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13.
Nd2 f5 $11 {Carlsen - Wang Yue (Baku, 2008)}) (5. O-O d6 6. c3 O-O 7. Nbd2 a6
8. Ba4 Ba7 9. h3 Ne7 10. Re1 Ng6 11. Nf1 b5 12. Bb3 Re8 13. Ng3 (13. a4 Bb7 14.
Be3 Bxe3 15. Nxe3 h6 16. Nh2 d5 17. axb5 axb5 18. Rxa8 Bxa8 $11 {Leko -
Kramnik (Moscow, 2007)}) 13... Bb7 14. Be3 Bxe3 15. fxe3 d5 $11 {Anand -
Kramnik (Moscow, 2007)}) 5... O-O 6. Bg5 (6. O-O {->5.0-0}) 6... d6 7. Nbd2 Bb6
({Schwarz kann auch aktiv spielen:} 7... h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Bg3 Nh5 10. Bxc6 bxc6
11. d4 exd4 12. Nxd4 Nxg3 13. hxg3 Qf6 14. N2b3 Bb6 $132 {Svidler - Ivanchuk 
(Sochi, 2008)}) (7... Bd7 $1 {Meiner Meinung nach ist das die beste
Fortsetzung.} 8. Ba4 h6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 Nh5 11. d4 exd4 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13.
Nxd4 Nxg3 14. hxg3 Qf6 15. Qh5 Kg7 16. O-O-O Rae8 $132 {Azarov - Georgiev 
(Dresden, 2007)}) 8. Nc4 Ne7 $132 {Vachier Lagrave - Alekseev (Biel, 2009)}) (
4. Nc3 {führt zum Übergang ins Vierspringer-Spiel.} Bb4 (4... Nd4 $5 {ist
ebenfalls spielbar.}) 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 d6 7. Bg5 Bxc3 8. bxc3 Qe7 9. Re1 h6 10.
Bh4 a6 11. Bxc6 (11. Ba4 Nd8 $15 {Der weiße Läufer auf a4 steht sehr schlecht.}
) 11... bxc6 12. d4 Bg4 13. Qd3 Bxf3 14. Qxf3 g5 15. Bg3 Nd7 $11 {Shirov -
Erenburg (Sochi, 2006)}) (4. Qe2 {Eine weitere Nebenvariante, die jedoch sehr
selten anzutreffen ist.} Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. d3 d6 $11 {Man gelangt in eine
typische Stellung hinein, wo der Zug Qe2 wenig Sinn macht.}) 4... Nxe4 5. d4
Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ke8 ({Eine andere
prinzipielle Fortsetzung ist} 9... Bd7 10. h3 (10. b3 Kc8 11. Bb2 Be7 12. Rad1
a5 $132) 10... h6 11. b3 Kc8 12. Bb2 b6 13. Rad1 Ne7 14. Rd2 c5 15. Rfd1 Be6
$132) 10. h3 h5 {Zuletzt hat Schwarz gute Ergebnisse in dieser Variante gehabt.
} (10... Be7 {führt zu einer passiven, aber haltbaren Stellung.} 11. g4 (11.
Bg5 Bxg5 12. Nxg5 h6 $1 {Es is wichtig, den gegnerischen Springer gleich zu
vertreiben.} 13. Nf3 (13. Nge4 b6 14. Rfd1 Ke7 15. Kh2 h5 16. Ne2 Re8 17. Nf4
Kf8 18. Nxh5 Rxe5 19. Nhg3 Be6 20. Rd2 {1/2-1/2 Anand - Kramnik (Leon, 2002).
Ich denke, Schwarz steht sogar etwas besser hier. Der weiße h-Bauer ist sehr
weit von dem kritischen Feld h8 entfernt, während die schwarzen Türme mit dem
Läufer am Damenflügel für einige Unannehmlichkeiten sorgen könnten.}) 13... h5
14. Rad1 (14. Ne2 Ke7 15. Nf4 g6 $1 16. Rad1 Ng7 17. Rfe1 Rd8 18. Rxd8 Kxd8 19.
Ng5 Ke7 20. Rd1 a5 21. a4 Bf5 $132 {Timman - Kritz (Amsterdam, 2002)}) 14...
Ke7 15. Ng5 Be6 16. Nxe6 fxe6 17. Rd3 Rad8 18. Rfd1 Rxd3 19. Rxd3 h4 $11 {
Shirov - Alekseev (Moscow, 2008). Wie üblich in dieser Stellung: der schwarze
Bauer h4 neutralisiert die weiße Überlegenheit am Königsflügel und die
Stellung ist ausgeglichen.}) 11... Nh4 12. Nxh4 Bxh4 13. Kg2 h5 14. f3 Be6 ({
Eine andere Verteidigungsmethode ist} 14... a5 {um die weißen Bauern zu
zwingen, weiße Felder einzunehmen.} 15. a4 b6 16. Rd1 Be7 17. Ne2 Bd7 18. Bf4
c5 19. Bg3 Rd8 20. c4 Bc8 21. b3 Rxd1 22. Rxd1 hxg4 23. hxg4 Bd8 $14 {
Kotronias - Kritz (Port Erin, 2007). Weiß hat einen symbolischen Vorteil und
Schwarz muss die ganze Partie leiden, doch bei korrekter Verteidigung kann man
Remis halten. Es ist jedoch zu empfehlen, wie Wang Yue gegen Adams zu spielen
- dort ist es einfacher, das Remis zu erreichen.}) 15. Be3 Be7 $11 {Wie die
letzten Analysen zeigen, ist die Stellung ausgeglichen.}) (10... Ne7 {Zuletzt
hat dieser Zug wieder an Popularität gewonnen, aber ich verstehe nicht warum.
Das ist eine verschlechterte Version der 10....Be7-Variante - Schwarz steht
ebenfalls passiv, gibt dabei Weiß Chancen zu spielen. Dagegen bringt 10...Be7
die Partie bei normalem Spielverlauf zum unausweichlichen Remisresultat.} 11.
Ne4 Ng6 12. Re1 h6 13. Bd2 $14 {Weiß hat sich entwickelt, Schwarz steht immer
noch auf der Grundreihe.}) 11. Bg5 {Der logische Versuch, die Schwächung des
Feldes g5 auszunutzen.} (11. Bf4 Be7 12. Rad1 Nh4 ({Spielbar ist auch} 12...
Be6 $5 $146 {Nach dem prinzipiellen} 13. Ng5 {gleicht Schwarz forciert aus:}
Bc4 $1 14. Rfe1 Rd8 $1 15. Rxd8+ (15. b3 Ba6 16. Rxd8+ {->15.Rxd8}) 15... Bxd8
16. b3 Ba6 17. e6 Bxg5 18. exf7+ Kxf7 19. Bxg5 Re8 $11) 13. Nd4 (13. Nxh4 $6 {
Weiß kann nicht besser stehen, besonders weil er nicht zu g4 kommt.} Bxh4 14.
Ne2 Bd7 15. e6 Bxe6 16. Nd4 Bf6 17. Nxe6 fxe6 18. Bxc7 Rc8 19. Bf4 Ke7 $11 {
Dominguez Perez - Wang Yue (Wijk aan Zee, 2009)}) 13... Nf5 14. Nce2 Nxd4 $1
15. Nxd4 (15. Rxd4 Bf5 16. Rd2 Rd8 17. Nd4 Bg6 $15) 15... a6 $1 {und Weiß muss
die Notbremse ziehen und e6 spielen.} 16. e6 (16. Rfe1 c5 17. Nf3 Bf5 18. Rd2
Rd8 $15) 16... Bxe6 17. Nxe6 fxe6 18. Bxc7 Rc8 19. Bb6 Bd8 20. Bd4 Bf6 $11 {
Das Endspiel ist leicht Remis zu halten.}) ({Wenig bringt} 11. Ne2 Be6 12. Nf4
Bd5 $1 {Schwarz bekommt eine problemlose Stellung.} 13. Nxd5 (13. Ng5 Be7 $15)
13... cxd5 14. Bf4 c6 15. g3 Be7 16. Rfe1 Rg8 17. g4 hxg4 18. hxg4 Nh6 19. Nh2
g5 20. Be3 Kd7 21. Rad1 Ke6 $132 {Bruzon - Miles (Varadero, 2000)}) (11. Rd1 $2
{Dieser Turm hat auf der d-Linie nichts zu suchen. Schwarz bekommt so viel
Zeit wie er will, um seine Pläne zu verwirklichen.} Be7 {Sicherer Zug.} ({Auch
} 11... h4 {sieht nicht schlecht aus.} 12. Bg5 Be7 13. Rd2 Be6 14. Rad1 Rh5 15.
Bxe7 Nxe7 $132) 12. Ne2 {Die Überführung des Springers über e2 bringt wie
immer nichts. Man hätte besser zurück zu klassischen Stellungen kommen sollen.}
(12. g3 Be6 13. Ng5 Rd8 14. Rxd8+ Bxd8 15. Nxe6 fxe6 16. Ne2 g5 17. Bd2 c5 18.
Bc3 c4 $11 {Inarkiev - Smirnov (Dagomys, 2009)}) (12. Bg5 Be6 13. Rd2 Rd8 $11
14. Rxd8+ Kxd8 15. Rd1+ Ke8 16. Ne2 Bd5 17. Bxe7 Kxe7 18. Ng5 f6 19. Nf4 Nh4
20. exf6+ Kxf6 21. Nxd5+ cxd5 22. Rxd5 Re8 23. g3 Re1+ 24. Kh2 c6 25. Ra5 b6
26. Rxa7 Kxg5 27. gxh4+ Kxh4 28. Rxg7 Re2 29. Rg2 c5 30. f3 Re3 31. Rf2 Kg5 32.
Kg3 h4+ 33. Kg2 Kf4 34. Rd2 Re1 35. a3 Ke3 36. Rf2 Kf4 37. Rd2 Ke3 38. Rd3+ Kf4
39. Rc3 Re2+ 40. Kf1 Rd2 41. a4 Kg3 42. f4+ Kxf4 43. a5 bxa5 44. Rxc5 a4 45.
Rc3 Ke4 46. Ke1 Rh2 47. b4 Kd4 48. Ra3 Kc4 49. Rxa4 Rxh3 50. Kf2 Rh2+ 51. Kg1
Rxc2 52. b5+ {1/2-1/2 So,W (2669)-Wang Yue (2756)/Guangzhou 2010/CB47_2010})
12... Nh4 13. Nxh4 Bxh4 {Die Stellung mit dem Läuferpaar kann Schwarz
theoretisch nicht verlieren, besonders wenn der Bauer schon auf h5 steht und
g4 verhindert.} 14. Bf4 Be7 (14... Be6 {ist ebenfalls nicht schlimm, aber wozu
auf zwei Ergebnisse spiele, wenn man kostenlos Gegenchancen haben kann?} 15.
Nd4 $14 {Nach dem Nehmen auf e6 wird Weiß einen symbolischen Vorteil haben,
das Endspiel ist jedoch sehr remislich.}) 15. Nd4 a6 {Typische Reaktion, wenn
man ...c5 vorbereiten will.} (15... c5 16. Nb5 Bd8 17. e6 Bxe6 18. Bxc7 $14)
16. e6 (16. c4 c5 17. Nf3 Bf5 $15) 16... Bd6 $1 (16... Bxe6 17. Nxe6 fxe6 18.
Bxc7 Rc8 19. Be5 Bf6 20. Bxf6 gxf6 21. Rd6 Ke7 22. Rad1 Rc7 $11) 17. exf7+ Kxf7
$132 {Schwarz steht auf keinen Fall schlechter.}) 11... Be6 (11... Be7 {
ist ebenfalls gut spielbar} 12. Ne2 Be6 13. Nf4 Bd5 14. Bxe7 Kxe7 15. Ng5 Nd4
16. Rfd1 Ne6 $1 (16... Nxc2 17. Nxd5+ cxd5 18. Rac1 $1 $18) 17. Ngxe6 Bxe6 18.
h4 Rad8 19. f3 g6 20. Kf2 Bf5 21. c3 f6 22. exf6+ Kxf6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Hracek,Z 
(2629)-Kholmov,R (2464)/Pardubice CZE 1999 (37)}) 12. Rfd1 (12. Rad1 Be7 13.
Rd2 Rd8 $1 {Korrekte Entscheidung! Schwarz muss so schnell wie möglich den
Druck der weißen Türme auf der d-Linie neutralisieren.} (13... Bxg5 14. Nxg5
Rd8 (14... h4 15. Rfd1 $14) 15. Rxd8+ Kxd8 16. Nxe6+ fxe6 17. g3 $1 $14 {
Weiß hat h4 verhindert und damit die Beweglichkeit seiner Bauernstruktur
beibehalten. Das garantiert ihm einen kleinen Vorteil.}) 14. Rfd1 Rxd2 15. Rxd2
h4 $1 $11 {Leko - Alekseev (Elista, 2008). Damit ist der Königsflügel
zugemacht und der weiße Mehrbauer praktisch neutralisiert.}) 12... Be7 13. g3 {
Weiß kann nicht gleich g4 spielen, will den Vorstoß jedoch vorbereiten, indem
er zuerst Kg2 spielt. Wie man leicht sehen kann, hat Schwarz jedoch nichts zu
befürchten.} (13. g4 hxg4 14. hxg4 Nh6 15. Bxh6 gxh6 $1 16. Nh2 Rg8 17. f3 h5
$17) 13... f6 $5 $146 {Eine interessante Neuerung, bis jetzt wurde nur 13...
Rd8 gespielt.} (13... Rd8 14. Rxd8+ Kxd8 15. Rd1+ Ke8 16. Bf4 (16. Bxe7 Kxe7
17. Kg2 f6 $1 {ist wohl am einfachsten.} 18. exf6+ gxf6 $11) 16... Bb4 17. Ne2
Bd5 18. Nfd4 Nxd4 19. Nxd4 Be4 $132 {Svidler - Leko (Astrakhan, 2010)}) 14.
exf6 $6 {Diese Stellung kann man nicht auf Gewinn spielen. Die einzige Chance
ist 14.Bf4.} (14. Bf4 $5 Rc8 $1 {Schwarz muss dieselbe Strategie anwenden, als
wenn Weiß die Bauern getauscht hätte.} (14... g5 {Der Versuch aktiv zu spielen
kann nur Schwierigkeiten bringen.} 15. exf6 $1 (15. Bd2 g4 16. hxg4 (16. exf6
Bxf6 17. Ng5 (17. Ne4 Be7 18. Nfg5 Bd5 $132) 17... Bxg5 18. Bxg5 gxh3 $15)
16... hxg4 17. exf6 Bxf6 18. Ng5 Bd5 19. Nxd5 cxd5 20. Re1+ Kd7 $11) 15... gxf4
16. Ng5 $1 {Das ist der wichtige Trick!} (16. fxe7 fxg3 17. fxg3 Nxg3 18. Ng5
Kxe7 19. Re1 Rh6 20. Re5 Re8 $15) 16... fxg3 17. Nxe6 Kf7 18. fxe7 gxf2+ 19.
Kxf2 Kxe6 20. Re1+ Kf6 21. Rad1 Nxe7 22. Rd7 Nd5 23. Nxd5+ cxd5 24. Ree7 $14)
15. Re1 Kf7 $11) 14... gxf6 15. Bf4 Rc8 $1 {Am einfachsten. Der Turm steht
zwar passiv, aber das wird sich bald ändern.} (15... Bd6 16. Bxd6 cxd6 17. Ne4
Ke7 18. Re1 $36 {Weiß hat doch eine kleine Initiative, obwohl Schwarz mit
genauen Zügen ausgleichen kann. Doch die Partiefortsetzung ist genauer.}) 16.
Kh2 Kf7 {Weiß hat überhaupt keinen Vorteil.} 17. Rd2 Rcd8 ({Schwarz kann schon
daran denken, um Vorteil zu spielen:} 17... Bb4 $5 18. Re1 Rhe8 $132) 18. Rxd8
Bxd8 19. Rd1 Re8 $11 {Das Problem ist, dass Weiß keine Figur ziehen kann, ohne
Schwarz neue Möglichkeiten zu eröffnen. Der Springer c3 kontrolliert das Feld
d5, der Springer f3 hat kein Feld zu gehen, und der Läufer steht auf f4 am
besten. Doch etwas Konkretes kann man daraus nicht machen.} 20. Nd4 {Der
Springertausch ist immer zugunsten von Schwarz. Nachdem sich die Stellung
vereinfacht, kann er das Remis forciert erzwingen.} Nxd4 21. Rxd4 Bf5 22. Rd2
Be7 23. Nd1 {Wenn man den Bauern nimmt, dann ist es noch lange nicht klar, wer
um Vorteil spielen kann:} (23. Bxc7 Bb4 24. a3 Bxc3 25. bxc3 Re1 $1 {Es droht
Be4.} 26. f3 Rc1 $11 {Das Einfachste im Remissinne. Weiß hat auf jeden Fall
keine Gewinnchancen.}) 23... Rd8 $1 {Mit dem Läuferpaar geht Schwarz überhaupt
kein Risiko ein.} 24. Rxd8 Bxd8 25. Ne3 Be4 26. g4 hxg4 27. hxg4 Be7 {Dies
füehrt zu einem absolut remislichen Endspiel mit ungleichfarbigen Läufern. Ob
Schwarz auf mehr in dieser Stellung hoffen kann, ist zweifelhaft.} (27... Ke6
28. Kg3 c5 29. f3 Bg6 30. Kf2 $11) 28. Bxc7 Bc5 {Weiß kann den Springer nicht
wegziehen.} 29. c3 (29. Bf4 Bxe3 30. Bxe3 Bxc2 31. Bxa7 Kg6 $11) 29... Bxe3 30.
fxe3 $11 Ke6 31. Kg3 a6 32. Kf4 Bc2 33. e4 Bd1 34. a3 Be2 35. Bb6 Bd1 36. Bd4
Be2 37. Be3 Bd1 38. Bd4 Be2 39. Be3 Bd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 73rd"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2011.01.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2733"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2011.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 141"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8.
c4 Nb6 9. Nc3 Bb7 10. Bf4 g6 11. h4 Bg7 12. O-O-O O-O 13. h5 Rae8 14. Re1 Ba6
15. Qe4 Qc5 16. Bg3 Bxc4 17. hxg6 fxg6 18. Na4 Nxa4 19. Qxc4+ Kh8 20. Rh4 d5
21. Qc2 Qxc2+ 22. Kxc2 Nc5 23. f3 g5 24. Rg4 Rf5 25. Bd3 Nxd3 26. Kxd3 h5 27.
Rh1 h4 28. f4 Kg8 29. Bh2 c5 30. b3 Kf7 31. Rxg5 Rxg5 32. fxg5 Kg6 33. Bf4 Rh8
34. e6 Re8 35. Re1 Kf5 36. Bxc7 Rxe6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 73rd"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2011.01.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E36"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2011.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 141"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 d5 7. Nf3 dxc4 8.
Qxc4 b6 9. Bg5 Bb7 10. Rc1 c5 11. dxc5 h6 12. Bf4 Bd5 13. Qc2 Nbd7 14. Bd6 Nxc5
15. Bxf8 Qxf8 16. e3 Nb3 17. Bc4 Nxc1 18. Bxd5 Nxd5 19. Qxc1 Rc8 20. Qb1 Qc5
21. O-O Qc2 22. Qxc2 Rxc2 23. Rb1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 73rd"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2011.01.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Wang, Hao"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E25"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2731"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2011.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 141"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
dxc5 Qa5 9. e4 Ne7 10. Be3 O-O 11. Qb3 Qc7 12. Bb5 Nec6 13. Ne2 Na5 14. Qa4 a6
15. Bd3 Nd7 16. Bc2 Nxc5 17. Qb4 Nd7 18. O-O Nc6 19. Qb2 Nce5 20. Bf2 b5 21.
Rfd1 Bb7 22. Qb4 Rfc8 23. Qe7 Nc5 24. Qxc7 Rxc7 25. Bg3 f6 26. a4 bxa4 27. Bxa4
Kf7 28. Bc2 Rac8 29. Rdb1 Rd7 30. Bf2 g5 31. Bd4 Ncd3 32. Rb6 Rcc7 33. h4 h6
34. hxg5 hxg5 35. Rd1 Nf4 36. Nxf4 gxf4 37. Bb3 Rc6 38. Ra1 Rxb6 39. Bxb6 Rd2
40. Rb1 Bc6 41. c4 Nd3 42. Ba5 Rb2 43. Rxb2 Nxb2 44. c5 Nd3 45. Bc4 Nxc5 46.
Bb4 Nd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 73rd"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2011.01.18"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2773"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2011.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 141"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Qc2 e6 6. b3 Bd6 7. Bb2 O-O 8. Be2
Re8 9. O-O e5 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. Ne4 Bc7 12. Ng3 Nf8 13. a3 a5 14. d4 Ng6 15.
Bd3 exd4 16. Nxd4 Bg4 17. Bf5 Nf6 18. f3 Bh5 19. Rae1 Nf8 20. Nxh5 Nxh5 21. f4
Bb6 22. Bg4 Nf6 23. Bf3 Nd5 24. Bxd5 Qxd5 25. Nf5 f6 26. Rd1 Qe4 27. Qxe4 Rxe4
28. Rf3 g6 29. Nh6+ Kg7 30. Ng4 Kf7 31. Nh6+ Kg7 32. Ng4 Kf7 33. Nh6+ Ke7 34.
Ng8+ Kf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 73rd"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2011.01.20"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D10"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2011.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 141"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Rc1 e6 8. Qb3
Qb6 9. Qxb6 axb6 10. Bb5 Be7 11. f3 O-O 12. a3 Rfc8 13. Nge2 Na5 14. Na4 Rxc1+
15. Nxc1 Nc4 16. Bxc4 dxc4 17. Nxb6 Ra6 18. Nxc4 Nd5 19. Ne5 Rb6 20. Ned3 Bxd3
21. Nxd3 Bxa3 22. Bg3 Bxb2 23. Ke2 Rc6 24. Bf2 Rc2+ 25. Kd1 Rxf2 26. Nxf2
1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 73rd"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2011.01.21"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2722"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2011.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 141"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Old rivals Alexey Shirov and Vladimir Kramnik have already played dozens of
sharp and exciting games. The current battle wasn't an exception.} 1. e4 e5 2.
Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8. c4 Nb6 9.
Nc3 Bb7 {This move is relatively rare. The main lines are 9...Qe6 and 9...a5.}
10. Bd2 g6 {Instead, 10...0-0-0 followed by f7-f6 at some point is another
idea. We are already entering unexplored territory.} 11. Ne4 {This move is
required. The possible alternative is 11.f4 which needs practical testing.}
O-O-O 12. a4 ({The latest example on this theme is from the "Aeroflot" open:} 
12. f4 c5 13. O-O-O d6 14. Bc3 Bh6 15. Ng5 dxe5 16. Rxd8+ Rxd8 17. Qxe5 Qd7 18.
b3 f6 19. Qxf6 Qd1+ 20. Kb2 Kb8 21. Ne6 Rd6 22. Qe5 Bg7 23. Nxg7 $4 (23. Qxg7 {
[%csl Rc7]} Rxe6 24. Ba5 Be4 25. Qc3 Qb1+ 26. Ka3 Rd6 27. Qb2 Qxb2+ 28. Kxb2
Rd1 $17) 23... Na4+ $1 {This forces mate.} 24. Ka3 (24. bxa4 Rb6+ 25. Ka3 Bc6
$19 {[%csl Ra4]}) 24... Qc1+ 25. Bb2 Nxb2 {0-1 Kotsur,P (2559)-Volokitin,A 
(2678)/Moscow RUS 2011/The Week in Chess 850}) 12... Ba6 13. Qe3 $1 (13. a5
Nxc4 14. Ra4 Bg7 15. Rxc4 (15. f4 d5 $17) 15... Bxe5 16. Qe3 (16. Nc5 d5 17.
Nxa6 dxc4 $17) 16... d5 17. Bb4 Qe8 18. Qxa7 Bxc4 19. Bxc4 Bc3+ $1 {Nice trick.
} 20. Bxc3 Qxe4+ 21. Be2 Rhe8 22. Qa6+ Kb8 $19) 13... Qxe5 $1 {Now matters are
becoming extremely sharp.} (13... d5 $2 14. exd6 cxd6 15. c5 $1 Bxf1 16. Nxd6+
Rxd6 17. Qxe7 Bxe7 18. cxd6 Bxg2 19. Rg1 Bxd6 20. Rxg2 $16) 14. Bc3 Bb4 15.
Bxb4 Rhe8 {Black's compensation for the piece is obvious. All his pieces are
in action, whilst the white king is unsafe.} 16. f3 $1 (16. Bd3 Bxc4 17. Bc3
Qe6 18. a5 Bxd3 19. axb6 Qxe4 20. bxc7 Kxc7 21. Ba5+ Kb7 22. Kd2 $1 Qxe3+ 23.
fxe3 Be4 24. Bxd8 Rxd8 $15) (16. O-O-O Qxe4 17. Qxe4 Rxe4 18. a5 Nd5 19. f3
Rxc4+ 20. Bxc4 Bxc4 $15) (16. a5 Nxc4 17. Bxc4 Bxc4 18. f3 Qb5 19. Bc3 f5 $17)
16... d5 17. a5 $2 {An important moment. Shirov is faithful to his style and
goes for the sharpest continuation. It is impossible to calculate all the
lines; in such cases a player must rely, partly, on intuition. This time it
was a wrong choice, as after this moment I couldn't find a way for White to
keep the balance.} (17. cxd5 $1 Bxf1 18. Kxf1 cxd5 19. a5 Nc4 (19... dxe4 20.
axb6 Qb5+ 21. Kf2 Qxb4 22. bxa7 Kb7 $11) 20. Qc3 dxe4 21. Qxc4 exf3 22. gxf3
Rd4 23. Qa6+ Kd7 24. Bc3 Qe3 25. Bxd4 Qxf3+ 26. Kg1 Qg4+ $11) 17... Nxc4 18.
Qxa7 Qxb2 19. Qxa6+ Kd7 {It's clear that the black king is far safer, compared
to his counterpart.} 20. Rd1 (20. Bxc4 Qxa1+ 21. Kf2 Qd4+ 22. Kg3 Rxe4 $1 (
22... dxe4 23. Bxf7 exf3 24. Bxe8+ Rxe8 25. gxf3 Re5 26. Be1 $1 Rg5+ 27. Kh3
Rb5 $1 28. Qa8 Qf4 29. Kg2 Rg5+ 30. Bg3 Qd2+ 31. Kh3 Rh5+ 32. Bh4 Rxh4+ 33.
Kxh4 Qf4+ 34. Kh3 Qxf3+ 35. Kh4 Qxh1 36. Kg5 $1 Qxh2 37. a6 Qh5+ 38. Kf6 g5 39.
a7 Qg6+ 40. Ke5 $11) 23. Bxd5 $1 (23. fxe4 $2 Qe3+ 24. Kh4 h5 25. g3 g5+ 26.
Kh3 g4+ 27. Kg2 Qxe4+ 28. Kg1 dxc4 $19) 23... Qe5+ 24. Kf2 Qxd5 25. fxe4 Qd4+
26. Kf3 Rb8 $1 (26... Qxb4 27. Rd1+ Ke7 28. Rxd8 Kxd8 29. Qa8+ Kd7 30. a6 {
and Black must give a perpetual check.}) 27. Rc1 (27. Qe2 Qf6+ 28. Kg3 Rxb4 $17
) 27... Qf6+ 28. Ke2 Rxb4 29. Rd1+ Ke7 30. Qd3 Qd6 $17) 20... Qxb4+ 21. Kf2
Rxe4 $1 {Eliminating the key defender.} 22. fxe4 Qc5+ 23. Ke1 Qb4+ 24. Kf2 Qc5+
25. Ke1 Nb2 $1 {Despite being a rook down, Black has every ground to play for
a win!} 26. exd5 (26. Be2 Nxd1 27. Bxd1 Re8 $17) (26. Rd2 Qc1+ 27. Ke2 Re8 $19)
26... Qc3+ 27. Rd2 Qc1+ $6 {It was more precise to start with the rook check.}
(27... Re8+ $1 28. Be2 Qc1+ 29. Kf2 Qxd2 30. Rb1 Qxd5 {and Black should be
winning.}) 28. Ke2 Re8+ 29. Kf3 Qxd2 30. Qxc6+ Kd8 31. Qf6+ Re7 32. Kg4 $2 (32.
Kg3 Nd3 33. Bxd3 Qxd3+ 34. Kh4 Ke8 $1 35. Rf1 Qd2 36. Qc6+ Kf8 37. Qf6 Re4+ 38.
Kg3 Re3+ 39. Kh4 Qxd5 40. Qh8+ Ke7 41. Qf6+ Ke8 42. Qh8+ Kd7 43. Rxf7+ $1 Qxf7
44. Qd4+ Kc6 45. Qxe3 Qf6+ 46. Kh3 Kb5 {and after all the effort, the endgame
is still very difficult for White.}) (32. Ba6 $5 {From a practical point of
view this was the best chance. Black has the upper hand at the end of all the
following fascinating lines. However, in this case Kramnik had to be very
precise, as his king is also in danger along the way.} Nd3 $1 (32... Qe3+ $2
33. Kg4 h5+ 34. Kh4 Qe4+ 35. Kg3 {is not more than a perpetual check.}) 33. Kg3
(33. Qh8+ Re8 34. Qf6+ Kd7 35. Qxf7+ (35. Bb5+ Kc8 36. Ba6+ Kb8 37. Rb1+ Nb4
$19) 35... Kd6 $1 36. Qf6+ Kxd5 37. Bb7+ Kc5 38. Qc6+ Kb4 39. Rb1+ Ka3 40. Qxe8
Qf2+ 41. Ke4 Qe2+ 42. Kd4 Qxe8 $19) 33... Qe3+ 34. Kh4 Nc5 35. Qh8+ Kd7 36.
Bc8+ (36. Bb5+ c6 37. Bxc6+ Kc7 $19) 36... Kd6 37. Qf6+ Kxd5 38. Rd1+ Kc4 39.
Ba6+ Kb4 40. Rb1+ Nb3 $19) 32... Nd1 $1 33. Qh8+ Kd7 34. Bb5+ c6 {The same
idea, as we saw in some of the above-mentioned lines, wins for Black.} 35.
Bxc6+ Kc7 36. d6+ Qxd6 {White's checks are over, all his pieces are
discoordinated and can't help their own monarch.} (36... Kxc6 {wins faster
according to an engine, but Kramnik's choice is way more human.}) 37. Rxd1
Qxd1+ 38. Bf3 h5+ 39. Kg3 Qe1+ 40. Kh3 Qe6+ 41. Kh4 g5+ $1 42. Kxg5 Qg6+ 43.
Kf4 f6 $1 {[%mdl 68] An outstanding game, and another example of superb
opening preparation of Vladimir Kramnik!} (43... f6 $1 {[%cal Rg6g5]} 44. h4
Re8 45. Qxh5 Re4+ $1 46. Bxe4 Qxh5 $19) 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 73rd"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2011.01.22"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2686"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2011.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 141"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Qa4+ Qd7 8.
Qb3 O-O 9. Be3 c5 ({Black usually starts with} 9... b6 {here, then ...Bc8-b7
and only later ...c7-c5.}) 10. d5 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (10. Rd1 cxd4 11. cxd4 Nc6
12. Nf3 (12. d5 $142) 12... Qd6 13. a3 Bg4 14. e5 Qd7 15. Be2 {1-0 Jorczik,J 
(2381)-Strache,M (2218)/Saarbruecken 2009/CBM 128 Extra (40)} Rad8 $15 {
[%cal Yg4e6,Ye6d5]}) 10... e6 $5 11. Bc4 $1 (11. Bxc5 $6 Qc7 $1 12. Qa3 exd5 $1
13. exd5 Nd7 $1 14. Bd4 $8 Bxd4 15. cxd4 Re8+ $17) 11... exd5 12. Bxd5 Qc7 (
12... Na6 $5 {[%cal Ya6c7]}) 13. Ne2 Nd7 14. Bf4 Ne5 15. O-O $14 {[%csl Gd5]}
c4 (15... Rb8 {[%cal Yb7b5]} 16. a4 Bd7 17. Rfd1 $14) 16. Qb4 Re8 17. Bg3 Rb8
$5 {Black gives up a pawn to ease White´s pressure.} 18. Qxc4 Qxc4 19. Bxc4 Bd7
20. Rfd1 Nxc4 (20... Bc6 21. Bd5) 21. Bxb8 (21. Rxd7 $143 Rbd8 22. Rad1 Rxd7
23. Rxd7 Rxe4) 21... Ba4 22. Bxa7 Bxd1 23. Rxd1 {[%mdl 4096]} Rxe4 (23... f5 $5
{In both cases Black regains one of the pawns with good drawing chances due to
White´s poor pawn structure.}) 24. Rd8+ Bf8 25. Bc5 Rxe2 26. g4 Rxa2 (26... Kg7
$5 27. Bxf8+ Kf6 28. Rd4 Ne5 29. Kg2 {[%cal Rd4d6]} h5 $1 30. Rd6+ Kg5 31. gxh5
gxh5 {, and White can hardly convert his advantage.}) 27. g5 $5 Ne5 $6 (27...
b6 28. Bxf8 f5 $1 29. gxf6 Kf7 30. Be7 h5 {The f6 pawn is now weak rather than
strong, and Black should not lose.}) 28. Bxf8 f6 $6 {The last inaccuracy. It
was still better to play} (28... Nc6 $1 29. Rc8 f5 $1 {, although White can
now reply} 30. Be7+ $1 Kf7 31. Bf6 $16 {[%csl Rb7,Rh7][%cal Yc8c7] restricting
Black´s knight and then attacking his b7- and h7-pawns.}) 29. Be7+ Kf7 30. Bxf6
{[%csl Rb7,Gf6,Rh7] White has gained a pawn once again, setting up his bishop
on a strong position; Black's b7- and h7-pawns are weak.} Ra5 31. Kg2 Ng4 32.
Rd7+ Ke6 33. Re7+ Kf5 34. Bd4 Kxg5 35. Rxh7 {[%cal Rh7b7,Rg2g3]} Ne5 36. Rxb7 {
, and White converted two extra pawns without major problems:} Nc4 37. Rc7 Nd6
38. Be3+ Kf5 39. Kf3 Ra4 40. Bd4 Ke6 41. Rg7 Kf5 42. Ra7 Rxa7 43. Bxa7 Nc4 44.
Bb8 Nb2 45. Bg3 Nc4 46. h3 g5 47. Ke2 Ke4 48. f3+ Kd5 49. Bc7 Ke6 50. Kd3 Kd5
51. f4 gxf4 52. Bxf4 Nb2+ 53. Kc2 Nc4 54. h4 Ke4 55. Bc1 Ne5 56. h5 Nd7 57. h6
Nf6 58. c4 Nh7 59. Kb3 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 73rd"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2011.01.23"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2744"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "2011.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 141"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Qa4+ Nc6 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd2 dxc4 8.
Bxc4 Bd6 9. Nb5 Bd7 10. Qb3 Ne4 11. Nxd6 cxd6 12. Bd3 Nxd2 13. Nxd2 Qa5 14. a3
Rab8 15. Qb5 Qxb5 16. Bxb5 Rfc8 17. Ne4 d5 18. Nc5 Be8 19. Bxc6 Rxc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 73rd"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2011.01.25"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "L'Ami, Erwin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2628"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2011.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 141"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. d3 {A new attempt to get a long
game against the direct Grünfeld which is so deeply analysed nowadays. Most
probably it is not the refutation of the opening, but who knows...} Nxc3 (5...
Bg7 6. Bd2 Nxc3 (6... O-O 7. g3) 7. Bxc3 {now it is possible to take with the
bishop; that is why my opponent decided to take on c3 earlier.}) 6. bxc3 Bg7 7.
Qc2 (7. Qd2 {Probably would be Magnus' choice here.}) 7... O-O (7... c5 {
I think this is more practical, just developing pieces and castling only after
White has played} 8. g3 b6 9. Bg2 Bb7 {and no need to worry about h4 here,
equalising comfortably.}) 8. g3 c5 9. Bg2 Nc6 10. h4 $1 {That was my idea
behind this d3 setup. Now Black has to think how to react to White's
aggression.} Nb4 {I do not like this move.} (10... Bf5 $1 {was a good choice,
planning c4:} 11. Nd2 (11. Qd2 Qa5 12. Bb2 Rad8 13. h5 c4 $13) 11... Nb4 12.
cxb4 Bxa1 13. bxc5 $13 Qd7) (10... h5 {stopping White's play once and for all,
but seriously weakening the g5-square.} 11. Ng5 $14) (10... h6 {is a half
solution, for example} 11. Rb1 b6 $140 12. h5 g5 13. Nxg5) 11. Qd2 Nd5 12. Bb2
{/\c4} Qa5 13. h5 $1 {The pawn on c3 is not really hanging!} Nb6 $1 (13... Bxc3
14. Bxc3 Qxc3 15. Qxc3 Nxc3 16. hxg6 hxg6 17. Kd2 {with powerful play for
White.} Nd5 18. Ng5 e6 19. Rh4 {Even without the queens this attack might be
very strong.}) 14. hxg6 hxg6 (14... fxg6 {the computer claims that it is not
as bad as it looks, but no human would go for it.}) 15. a4 $1 {The only way to
fight for an advantage, otherwise Black puts his knight to a4 and gets a
comfortable position.} (15. Kf1 Na4 $11 16. Rc1 Nxb2 17. Qxb2 Rd8) 15... Bd7 $2
(15... Nxa4 {looks scary, but good or bad, has to be played. In fact there is
nothing decisive for White here, and Black is fully in the game in all lines}
16. Ra3 $1 {a difficult move, probably the best one} (16. Qf4 {my opponent was
afraid of this move, but it does not seem to work in fact.} Qb6 $1 (16... Bxc3+
$2 17. Kf1 Bxb2 18. Qh6 Rd8 19. d4) 17. Qh4 Rd8 18. Bc1 Bxc3+ 19. Kf1 Bxa1 20.
d4 Qf6 21. Qh7+ Kf8 22. Bg5 Bxd4 23. Bxf6 Bxf6) (16. Rh4 Bd7 {Black's position
looks suspicious, but seems to be playable, according to the computer.} 17. Kf1
(17. Ng5 Rad8 18. Kf1 b5 19. Ra3 Qb6) 17... b5 18. Ne5 Rad8) (16. Kf1 $5 Qb5 $1
17. Bc1 $1 Nxc3 18. Qg5 Nxe2 $1 19. Qh4 Nxg3+ 20. fxg3 Qxd3+ 21. Kg1 g5 22.
Qxg5 Qg6 {no problem here}) 16... Bd7 (16... Qb5 $140 17. Bc1 {and c3 is
protected by the rook now}) 17. Kf1 {with good play for the pawn} Rfd8 (17...
Bc6 18. Bc1 c4 19. d4) 18. Bc1 c4 19. d4) 16. Kf1 $1 {Preparing to transfer
the queen to h4 and to attack for free.} Nxa4 {Suddenly Black is in real
trouble, so he decides that if he must suffer at least he will have a pawn.} (
16... c4 17. d4 Nxa4 18. Ne5 $1 Rad8 19. Qf4 {and mate will come in the near
future it seems.}) 17. Qg5 $1 {More accurate, not letting the opponent's queen
enter the game.} (17. Qf4 c4 $1) 17... Qb6 (17... Rfc8 {The computer is still
rather optimistic about Black's position, but after a couple of moves starts
to understand...} 18. Qh4 Kf8 19. c4 $1 f6 {and here anything wins} (19... Bxb2
20. d4) 20. Qh7 Qb6 21. Bc1 g5 22. Rh6 {for instance.}) 18. Qh4 {now even the
fearless metal box understands that something is wrong with Black's king here}
Rfe8 (18... f6 19. Bc1 {is similar to the game} Qb3 20. Bh6 g5 21. Bxg5 Rfd8
22. Bh6) 19. Bc1 $1 {Just mating.} e5 {Not the most resilient, but there was
already nothing acceptable anyway.} 20. Qh7+ Kf8 21. Bh6 Bxh6 22. Qxh6+ Ke7 23.
Nxe5 {Winning some material.} 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 73rd"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2011.01.26"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Smeets, Jan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2662"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "2011.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 141"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5
8. Rxe5 O-O 9. d4 Bf6 10. Re1 Re8 11. c3 Rxe1 12. Qxe1 Nf5 13. Bf4 c6 14. Nd2
d5 15. Nf3 Nd6 16. Bd3 Bf5 17. Bxf5 Nxf5 18. Qe2 Qe7 19. Qd3 Nh4 20. Nxh4 Bxh4
21. g3 Bf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 73rd"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2011.01.28"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E00"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2814"]
[Annotator "Moradiabadi/Mueller,Kar"]
[PlyCount "170"]
[EventDate "2011.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 141"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Müller,Karsten} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Bxd2+ {Carlsen stays
faithful to his game against Topalov, in which this line brought him a fine
victory.} 5. Qxd2 d5 6. Bg2 Nbd7 7. Nf3 c6 8. O-O b6 9. Rc1 O-O (9... Bb7 10.
Ne5 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Nd7 12. f4 O-O 13. cxd5 cxd5 14. Na3 a5 15. Nb5 Nc5 16. Rc2
f6 17. Qe3 fxe5 18. Qxe5 Rf5 19. Qd6 $1 $14 {1-0 Grischuk,A (2760)-Eljanov,P 
(2755)/Moscow 2010/CBM 139 (60)}) 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Na3 Bb7 $146 12. Nb5 a6 13.
Nd6 Qb8 (13... Ne4 14. Nxb7 Nxd2 (14... Qb8 $2 15. Qf4 $16) 15. Nxd8 Nxf3+ 16.
Bxf3 Rfxd8 17. Rc7 Nf6 18. Rac1 $14) 14. Qb4 a5 15. Qa3 Ba6 16. Ne5 b5 17. Qxa5
$2 {Probably a miscalculation which turns the tables in Black's favour.} (17.
Rc6 b4 18. Qe3 Bb7 19. Nxd7 Nxd7 20. Nxb7 Qxb7 21. Rac1 Rfc8 22. R6c2 Rxc2 23.
Rxc2 Rc8 $11) 17... Qxd6 18. Rc6 Qb8 19. Rxa6 Rxa6 20. Qxa6 Nxe5 21. dxe5 Qxe5
22. Qxb5 Rb8 23. Qd3 Rxb2 {Since White's 17th move the moves have been more or
less forced.} 24. Qe3 {A good practical choice.} Qxe3 25. fxe3 Rxe2 26. a4 Rc2
27. a5 Rc7 28. a6 Ra7 29. Bf1 Kf8 30. Rb1 Ke7 31. Rb7+ Rxb7 32. axb7 Nd7 33.
Kf2 Kd6 34. Bb5 Nb8 35. Be8 Ke7 36. Bb5 f6 37. Kf3 Kd6 38. Be8 Kc7 39. Bf7 Kxb7
40. Bxe6 Kc6 41. Bg8 h6 {Kramnik has managed to increases his chances in this
ending where he is a pawn down.} 42. Kg4 $6 {But he goes astray now} (42. h4
Nd7 43. Kf4 Ne5 44. h5 {And it is more or less a fortress!}) 42... Nd7 43. Kf5
Ne5 44. h3 $6 {Müller,Karsten: 'In what follows Kramnik places both kingside
pawns on light squares." "Kramnik stellt seine Bauern im folgenden ungünstig
auf."} ({Müller,Karsten: By means of Mittels} 44. h4 $1 Kd6 45. h5 {Kramnik
could have drawn relatively easily. konnte Kramnik recht leicht remisieren.})
44... Kc5 45. g4 $6 {Pawns should not have been placed on white squares.} Kd6
$1 {A nice retreat!} 46. Bh7 Ke7 47. Bg8 g6+ 48. Kf4 Nf7 49. Bh7 g5+ {'!?'
Müller,Karsten.} (49... Nh8 {Müller,Karsten} 50. Bg8 Kd6 51. h4 $11) 50. Kg3 ({
Müller,Karsten: Unfortunately active defence with Unglücklicherweise ist
aktive Verteidigung mittels} 50. Kf5 $4 {'is impossible due to' wegen} Nd6+ 51.
Kg6 Nc4 $19 52. Kxh6 Nxe3 $19 {nicht spielbar.}) 50... Nd6 51. Bg8 Ne4+ {
Just in time!} 52. Kg2 Kd6 {Müller,Karsten: 'Magnus starts his long march.' 
Magnus schickt seinen König auf eine lange Reise.'} 53. Kf3 Kc5 54. Bh7 Nc3 55.
Bd3 Kb4 $17 56. Ba6 Kb3 57. Bb7 {'?' Müller,Karsten: 'Now the king will reach
d2 which seals White's fate.' 'Nun gelangt der König nach d2, was das weiße
Schicksal besiegelt.'} (57. Bd3 {Müller,Karsten:} Kb2 58. Kf2 Kc1 59. Ke1 {
was Kramnik's last chance to fight. It looks as if White can still defend. war
Kramniks letzte Chance. Es sieht so aus, als könne sich Weiß noch halten.})
57... Kc2 58. Ba6 (58. e4 $6 {Müller,Karsten} d4 $19) 58... Kd1 {Müller,
Karsten: 'Magnus' mighty king.  In the duel knight against bishop the knight
usually wants to have control. But even then it is often quite difficult to
win. Magnus Carlsen had to use all his creativity to beat Kramnik. After
looking at my original analysis, which starts at this point, Kramnik remarked:
"I had made two childish blunders and was totally lost already."  Magnus
mächtiger König Im Duell Springer gegen Läufer will die Springerpartei in
aller Regel die Kontrolle erlangen. Doch selbst dann ist der Gewinn oft nicht
leicht. So musste Magnus Carlsen all seine Kreativität und seinen König
einsetzen, um sich durchzusetzen. Nachdem Kramnik meine ursprüngliche Analyse
gesehen hatte, die im diesem Moment einsetzte, bemerkte er:"Ich hatte schon
zwei riesige Böcke geschossen und war bereits völlig verloren".} 59. Bb7 {
'?!' Müller,Karsten.} (59. Bc8 {(Müller,Karsten) was more tenacious as now no
direct zugzwang can be forced. But Black will win in any case: war viel zäher,
weil nun kein direkter Zugzwang hergestellt werden kann. Aber Schwarz kann
dennoch gewinnen:} Kd2 60. Bb7 Kc1 {A triangulation to break this setup. Ein
Dreicksmanöver, um diese Aufstellung zu durchbrechen.} 61. Bc8 Kd1 62. Bf5 (62.
Ba6 Ke1 {Zugzwang} 63. Bd3 Kd2 64. Ba6 Nd1 65. e4 d4 $19) 62... Ke1 63. Be6 Kf1
64. Bg8 Kg1 65. Kg3 Ne4+ 66. Kf3 Kh2 67. Bxd5 Nc3 $1 {Black must win a tempo.
Schwarz muss ein Tempo gewinnen.} ({After Denn nach} 67... Nd6 $2 68. h4 gxh4
69. Kf2) ({or after bzw nach} 67... Nc5 $2 68. Bc4 Kxh3 69. Bf1+ Kh4 70. Be2 h5
71. gxh5 Kxh5 {Black has good drawing chances. hat Schwarz gute Remischancen.})
68. Bc4 Nb1 $3 {The point. The knight will either sacrifice itself on d2 or
return with gain of time. Die Pointe. Der Springer wird sich entweder auf d2
opfern oder mit Tempo zurückkehren.} (68... Kxh3 $2 {is met by wird mit} 69.
Bf1+ Kh4 70. Bd3 {beantwortet..}) 69. Ke2 Kxh3 70. Bd3 (70. Be6 Nc3+ 71. Kf3
Na4 72. Bc4 Kh4 73. Bf1 Nb6 74. Be2 Nd5 75. Bd1 Nc3 76. Bc2 Nb5 77. Ba4 Nd6 78.
Bb3 f5 $19) 70... Nc3+ 71. Kf3 Kh4 72. Bf1 ({If White stays on the b1-h7
diagonal with Wenn Weiß mit} 72. Bc2 {(Knaak) then the following knight
manovers win. Black's king also has to move from time to time to bring White
in zugzwang: auf der Diagonale b1-h7 bleibt, dann gewinnt der folgende
Springertanz, wobei der König sich immer mal wieder einschalten muss, um
Zugzwänge herbeizuführen:} Nb5 73. Bf5 (73. Bh7 Nd6 74. Bg6 Nc4 $19) 73... Nd6
74. Be6 Kh3 75. Bb3 (75. Ba2 Nc8 76. Bc4 Ne7 77. Be6 Nc6 78. Ke4 Ne5 79. Kf5
Nxg4 80. Kg6 Kh4 81. e4 Ne3 $19) 75... Nb7 76. Bd1 Nc5 77. Be2 Kh4 78. Bb5 Nb3
79. Be2 Nd2+ 80. Kf2 Ne4+ 81. Kg2 Nc3 82. Bf3 Na2 83. Be2 Nc1 84. Bd1 Nd3 85.
Kf3 Ne5+ $19) 72... Nb1 73. Bd3 Nd2+ 74. Ke2 Kxg4 75. Kxd2 Kh3 76. Be2 g4 77.
Ke1 h5 78. Kf1 Kh2 $19) 59... Kd2 {'!!' Müller,Karsten: 'Magnus Carlsen puts
Kramnik in zugzwang. Now his king will reach the white kingside pawns.' 
'Magnus Carlsen bringt Kramnik in tödlichen Zugzwang. Nun wird der schwarze
König seinen langen Marsch in Richtung des Bauern h3 fortsetzen können.'} 60.
Bc6 (60. Ba6 $6 {(Müller,Karsten): is refuted by läuft in} Nd1 61. e4 d4 $19)
60... Ke1 61. Bb7 Kf1 62. Ba8 Kg1 63. Kg3 Ne4+ 64. Kf3 Nd2+ 65. Kg3 (65. Ke2 {
Müller,Karsten} Nc4 66. Bxd5 Ne5 67. Be4 Kh2 68. Kf2 Kxh3 69. Bf5 Kh4 $19)
65... Nf1+ 66. Kf3 Nd2+ 67. Kg3 Nc4 68. Bxd5 Nxe3 69. Bb7 Nf1+ 70. Kf3 Kh2 71.
Kf2 (71. h4 {Müller,Karsten} Kh3 72. hxg5 fxg5 73. Bc8 Nh2+ 74. Kf2 Nxg4+ 75.
Kf3 h5 $19) 71... Nd2 72. Bg2 Nc4 73. Bf1 Ne5 74. Ke3 Kg1 75. Be2 (75. Ke2 {
Müller,Karsten} Nd3 76. Kxd3 Kxf1 $19) 75... Kg2 76. Ke4 Kxh3 77. Kf5 Kh4 78.
Bd1 Nc4 {'!' Müller,Karsten.} 79. Ke4 ({After Nach} 79. Kxf6 {Müller,Karsten}
Ne3 80. Be2 Nxg4+ 81. Kg6 h5 82. Bd1 Ne3 83. Bxh5 Ng4 $19 {White is in
zugzwang. A tragicomical picture. ist Weiß in tödlichem Zugzwang.}) 79... Nd6+
80. Kd5 (80. Kf3 {Müller,Karsten} h5 81. gxh5 Kxh5 82. Kg3+ Kg6 $19) 80... f5 {
'!' Müller,Karsten: : 'The final point. A very impressive endgame performance
by Magnus Carlsen!'  'Die letzte Pointe. Ein von Magnus Carlsen sehr
beeindruckend geführtes Endspiel!'} 81. Kxd6 {Müller,Karsten} fxg4 82. Ke5 g3
83. Bf3 Kh3 84. Kf5 g2 85. Bxg2+ Kxg2 $19 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 73rd"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2011.01.29"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "2011.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 141"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5
8. Rxe5 O-O 9. d4 Bf6 10. Re1 Re8 11. c3 Rxe1 12. Qxe1 Nf5 13. Bd3 d5 14. Bf4
c6 15. Nd2 Nh4 16. Qe2 Bf5 17. Bxf5 Nxf5 18. Nf3 Qe7 19. Re1 Qxe2 20. Rxe2
1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 73rd"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2011.01.30"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2011.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 141"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.03.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Be3 c5 8.
Rc1 O-O 9. Nf3 Bg4 10. Be2 Qa5 11. O-O Qxa2 12. Bg5 Qe6 13. Re1 Qd7 14. d5 e5
15. Qb3 Bxf3 16. Bxf3 Na6 17. Be2 c4 18. Qxc4 Qd6 19. Bg4 f5 20. exf5 gxf5 21.
Bh5 Nc5 22. Rcd1 Rac8 23. Qh4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2747"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Qc2 O-O 8.
e3 c5 9. Bd3 Qa5 10. O-O c4 11. Be2 Re8 12. Nd2 h6 13. Bh4 Bxc3 14. bxc3 Ne4
15. Nxe4 Rxe4 16. Bg3 Nb6 17. Bf3 Re6 18. a4 Bd7 19. Rfb1 Bc6 20. Bc7 Qa6 21.
a5 Nd7 22. Bg4 Ree8 23. Bf5 Nf8 24. Qd2 Ne6 25. Bg3 Rad8 26. f3 Bd7 27. Bc2 Ng5
28. Bc7 Rc8 29. Bf4 Ne6 30. Bg3 Ng5 31. Bh4 Rc7 32. Bg3 Rcc8 33. Kh1 Re7 34.
Be5 Rce8 35. Qf2 f6 36. Bf4 Ne6 37. Bg3 Nf8 38. e4 Bf5 39. exf5 Re2 40. Ba4
Rxf2 41. Bxe8 Rd2 42. h4 g6 43. fxg6 Re2 44. Bf7+ Kg7 45. h5 Qc6 46. Re1 Rxe1+
47. Rxe1 Qd7 48. Kg1 b5 49. axb6 axb6 50. Re8 b5 51. Rb8 Qe7 52. Bxd5 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2817"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. e3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bb5 e6 7. Ne5 Bd7 8.
Bxc6 Bxc6 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. b3 Nxc3 11. dxc3 Qxd1+ 12. Kxd1 O-O-O+ 13. Kc2 Be7
14. e4 h5 15. Be3 g6 16. Rad1 Kb7 17. Rd3 c4 18. bxc4 c5 19. e5 Kc6 20. Rxd8
Rxd8 21. h4 Rd7 22. f3 Rd8 23. g3 Rb8 24. Bh6 Rh8 25. Be3 Rb8 26. Rd1 Kc7 27.
Bf2 Kc6 28. Bg1 Kc7 29. Be3 Rd8 30. Rb1 a6 31. Bf2 Kc6 32. a4 Kc7 33. g4 Rh8
34. Kd3 Rb8 35. Rg1 Rh8 36. Ke4 Kc6 37. Rh1 Bd8 38. Rd1 Bc7 39. Rb1 Ba5 40. Rd1
Rd8 41. Rxd8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A09"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 e5 5. O-O Nf6 6. d3 Be7 7. b4 Nxb4 8. Nxe5
O-O 9. Nd2 Bd6 10. a3 Na6 11. f4 c6 12. Rb1 Qe7 13. Ndf3 Ng4 14. Nxd4 Nxe5 15.
fxe5 Bxe5 16. e3 g6 17. Nb3 Bg7 18. d4 Rb8 19. e4 b6 20. Bf4 Rb7 21. e5 Qe8 22.
Nd2 Bf5 23. Qa4 Nb8 24. Rbe1 Qd7 25. d5 cxd5 26. Qxd7 Nxd7 27. Bxd5 Rbb8 28. e6
fxe6 29. Bxe6+ Bxe6 30. Bxb8 Bf5 31. Bd6 Rc8 32. Nf3 Bd3 33. Rf2 Bxc4 34. Rc2
b5 35. Re7 Nc5 36. Rxa7 Ne4 37. Be5 Bf8 38. Bd4 Rd8 39. Rc7 g5 40. g4 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2776"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Bd7 10. h3 h6 11. b3 c5 12. Nd5 c6 13. Nf4 g5 14. Bb2 Rg8
15. e6 Bxe6 16. Rad1+ Kc7 17. Nxe6+ fxe6 18. g4 Bg7 19. Bxg7 Nxg7 20. Ne5 Rad8
21. Rxd8 Rxd8 22. f4 gxf4 23. Rxf4 Rd1+ 24. Kg2 Ne8 25. Rf7+ Kb6 26. Re7 Nf6
27. Rxe6 Nd5 28. Rxh6 Ne3+ 29. Kg3 Nxc2 30. h4 Nd4 31. h5 Ka5 32. Rh7 b5 33. h6
Rh1 34. Kg2 Rh4 35. Kg3 Rh1 36. g5 Kb4 37. Nd3+ Kc3 38. Nxc5 a5 39. Rf7 Kb4 40.
Nd3+ Kc3 41. Nf2 Rh5 42. Nh3 Ne6 43. Rf3+ Kb2 44. Kg4 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.17"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D13"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2733"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Rc1 a6 8. Nf3
e6 9. Qb3 Bd6 10. Qxb7 Na5 11. Qxa8 Qxa8 12. Bxd6 Kd7 13. Bc5 Rb8 14. Ne5+ Ke8
15. b4 Nb7 16. Na4 Nxc5 17. bxc5 Qb7 18. Nb6 Qc7 19. Kd1 Ne4 20. Nd3 Rxb6 21.
cxb6 Qxb6 22. f3 Nd6 23. Nc5 Qb2 24. g4 Bb1 25. Bxa6 Bxa2 26. Rc2 Qb1+ 27. Rc1
Bb3+ 28. Kd2 Qb2+ 29. Kd3 Bc4+ 30. Bxc4 dxc4+ 31. Rxc4 Nxc4 32. Kxc4 Qe2+ 33.
Kc3 Qxe3+ 34. Nd3 Qxf3 35. Ra1 f6 36. g5 e5 37. Kc4 Qe4 0-1

[Event "Amber-blindfold 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2690"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. b3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. Bb2 c5 7. O-O Nc6 8. e3 b6
9. Nc3 Ba6 10. Qe2 Qd7 11. Rfd1 Rac8 12. d4 cxd4 13. exd4 Rfd8 14. Ne5 Qe8 15.
Qf3 Bb7 16. Qf4 dxc4 17. Nxc4 Na5 18. Bxb7 Nxb7 19. d5 exd5 20. Ne3 Bd6 21. Qf3
Be5 22. Nexd5 Nxd5 23. Rxd5 Qc6 24. Rad1 Re8 25. Nb5 Bxb2 26. Nxa7 Qf6 27. Qxf6
Bxf6 28. Nxc8 Rxc8 29. Rb5 Rc6 30. b4 Kf8 31. Rbd5 Ke8 32. a4 Be7 33. a5 bxa5
34. bxa5 Nd6 35. Rb1 Kd7 36. Rb8 Ra6 37. h4 Bd8 38. Rbb5 f6 39. Rb8 Bxa5 40.
Rg8 Ke6 41. Rd1 Kf7 42. Rh8 h6 43. Ra1 Ne8 44. h5 Ra7 45. Kg2 Bb6 46. Rxa7+
Bxa7 47. g4 Bb8 48. f3 Bd6 49. Kh3 Bf8 50. f4 Nc7 51. Kg3 Nd5 52. Kf3 Ne7 53.
g5 fxg5 54. fxg5 hxg5 55. Kg4 Ng8 56. Kxg5 Be7+ 57. Kf5 Bf6 58. Rxg8 Kxg8 59.
Kg6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2815"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "181"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4
c6 9. Qc2 Na6 10. a3 Bg4 11. Ne5 Bf5 12. Nc3 Bxe5 13. dxe5 Nac5 14. cxd5 Nxd3
15. Qxd3 Nxc3 16. Qxf5 Nxd5 17. Bd2 Qb6 18. Qc2 Rae8 19. Rae1 Re6 20. Re4 f6
21. exf6 Rexf6 22. Bc1 h6 23. Qe2 Kh8 24. h3 Qb3 25. f3 Rg6 26. Kh1 Rd6 27. Re1
Nf6 28. Re3 Qd5 29. Re5 Qd4 30. Re7 Rd7 31. Be3 Qa4 32. Rxd7 Nxd7 33. Qd2 Nf6
34. Bc5 Rf7 35. Qd3 b6 36. Be7 Ng8 37. Bb4 c5 38. Bc3 Qc6 39. Qc4 Qd7 40. Re6
b5 41. Qg4 Re7 42. Rg6 Qxg4 43. Rxg4 Kh7 44. Re4 Rb7 45. Re5 b4 46. axb4 cxb4
47. Bd4 Ne7 48. Re6 a5 49. Ra6 Rd7 50. Bc5 Ng6 51. Rxa5 Rd1+ 52. Kh2 Rd2 53.
Ra7 Nh4 54. Kg3 Nf5+ 55. Kf4 Rxg2 56. Rb7 Nh4 57. Bd4 Ng6+ 58. Ke3 Nh4 59. Ke4
Re2+ 60. Kd3 Rg2 61. Ke4 Re2+ 62. Kd5 Nf5 63. Be5 Kg6 64. f4 Rd2+ 65. Ke6 Rd8
66. Rxb4 Re8+ 67. Kd7 Re7+ 68. Kc6 Kh5 69. Rb7 Re8 70. b4 g5 71. Rf7 Ne3 72. b5
Nc4 73. Bc7 Kg6 74. Rd7 Re3 75. Kc5 Rc3 76. Kb4 Rc1 77. fxg5 hxg5 78. Rd4 Ne3
79. Rd6+ Kf5 80. b6 Rb1+ 81. Kc5 g4 82. hxg4+ Nxg4 83. Rd5+ Ke6 84. Rd6+ Kf5
85. Rd4 Nf6 86. Kc6 Rc1+ 87. Kb7 Ke6 88. Rd6+ Ke7 89. Kc8 Ne8 90. Rd7+ Ke6 91.
b7 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.20"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gashimov, Vugar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A35"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2746"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nc3 g6 5. d4 cxd4 6. exd4 d5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
Qb3 e6 9. Bb5 Bg7 10. O-O O-O 11. Rd1 h6 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Ne4 Qb6 14. Nc5 e5
15. Qc4 exd4 16. Nxd4 Re8 17. h3 Rb8 18. a3 Qc7 19. b4 Rd8 20. Bb2 a5 21. Nd3
Rd6 22. Rac1 Nb6 23. Qc5 Na4 24. Nb5 Nxc5 25. Nxc7 Rxd3 26. Bxg7 Rxd1+ 27. Rxd1
Kxg7 28. bxc5 Kf8 29. Rd8+ Ke7 30. Rh8 Rb1+ 31. Kh2 Bd7 32. Na8 Rb5 33. Nb6
Rxc5 34. Nxd7 Kxd7 35. Rxh6 Rc3 36. h4 Rxa3 37. g4 a4 38. h5 gxh5 39. Rxh5 Ra1
40. Rf5 Ke7 41. Rc5 Kd6 42. Rf5 Ke6 43. Rc5 Kd6 44. Rf5 a3 45. Rxf7 Ke6 46. Rc7
Rc1 47. Ra7 Rc3 48. f4 Rf3 49. Ra4 c5 50. Kg2 Rb3 51. Ra6+ Kd5 52. g5 Ke4 53.
g6 a2 54. Rxa2 Rb6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Be7 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 Nf6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Qb3 Nc6 8. g4
{For this line - see CBM 140, annotations to Morozevich - Onischuk.} Nxg4 9.
Qxd5 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (9. Nxd5 $6 O-O 10. Bg2 Bh4 $1 11. Bg3 Be6 {[%cal
Rc6a5]} 12. Kf1 $1 a5 $1 13. Nh3 a4 14. Qc4 Na5 15. Qc5 b6 16. Bxh4 bxc5 17.
Bxd8 Raxd8 18. Ne7+ Kh8 19. d5 Bd7 $17 {0-1 Topalov,V (2725)-Kasparov,G (2795)/
Linares 1997/CBM 136 [Lukacz/Hazai] (39)}) (9. a3 $5 O-O 10. Bg2 Bh4 11. Bg3
Bxg3 (11... Be6 $5) (11... Re8 $5) 12. hxg3 Ne7 13. Nxd5 Nxd5 14. Qxd5 Qxd5 15.
Bxd5 Rad8 16. Bxb7 Rb8 17. Bf3 Rxb2 18. Ne2 $11 {1/2 Aleksandrov,A (2660)
-Azmaiparashvili,Z (2645)/Groningen 1997/EXT 1999 (37)}) 9... Qc8 {Garry
Kasparov evaluated this position as good for Black, but Levon Aronian has
reasonable objections.} 10. Qg2 O-O (10... Nf6 $5) 11. e4 Bxe4 $5 {[%mdl 512]
This piece sacrifice proves to be insufficent for equality; Black has two
alternatives requiring further investigation:} (11... Bg6 12. O-O-O $14) (11...
Nxd4 $5 12. O-O-O Bc5) 12. Nxe4 Bb4+ 13. Nc3 Qf5 14. Be2 Rfe8 15. Kf1 Nf6 (
15... Qxf4 16. Qxg4 Qd2 17. Rb1) (15... h5 16. Qg3 Nxd4 17. Bd3) 16. Bh6 g6 17.
Qg5 $1 {[%mdl 256] The key task is to exchange the queens, after which Black's
attack will peter out.} Nxd4 18. Rd1 (18. Qxf5 $5 Nxf5 19. Bd2) 18... Bxc3 19.
bxc3 Ne4 (19... Rxe2 20. Nxe2 Qh3+ 21. Qg2 Qxg2+ 22. Kxg2 Nxe2 23. Rd3 $16 {
[%csl Re2]}) 20. Qxf5 Nxf5 21. Bd2 Rad8 22. Be1 Rxd1 23. Bxd1 Re5 24. Nf3 Rc5
25. Bb3 Nxc3 {Black has restored the material balance, but White activates his
pieces and obtains a clear advantage.} 26. Ne5 $1 Ne4 $2 (26... Nd6 $142 27.
Nd7 Rc6 28. Kg2 Ne2 29. Bd2 $16) 27. Nxf7 Kg7 28. f3 Nf6 29. Bf2 Rc3 30. Ng5
Nh5 31. Ke2 Nf4+ 32. Kd2 Rd3+ 33. Kc2 Kh6 34. Nf7+ Kh5 35. Rg1 h6 36. Ne5 Ne3+
37. Kb1 Rc3 38. Nxg6 Nh3 39. Nf4+ 1-0

[Event "Amber-blindfold 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.23"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E08"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. d4 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 c6 7. Qc2 O-O 8. O-O
b6 9. Rd1 Nbd7 10. Bf4 Bb7 11. Ne5 Rc8 12. Nc3 Nh5 13. Bc1 f5 14. Qa4 Nxe5 15.
dxe5 Qc7 16. cxd5 cxd5 17. Qxa7 Bc5 18. Bf3 f4 19. g4 Ng3 20. b4 Ra8 21. Nxd5
Nxe2+ 22. Kf1 Rxa7 23. Nxc7 Bxf3 24. Nxe6 Nc3 25. bxc5 Nxd1 26. cxb6 Ra4 27.
Nxf8 Kxf8 28. Rb1 Rxa2 29. b7 Rxf2+ 30. Ke1 Re2+ 31. Kf1 Rf2+ 32. Ke1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-blindfold 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.24"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D01"]
[WhiteElo "2774"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bg5 c6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Bxf6 gxf6 6. Bd3 Bg6 7. h4 e6 8.
Nge2 Nd7 9. g4 Qb6 10. h5 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 c5 12. Qb5 Rc8 13. Qxb6 Nxb6 14. O-O-O
Rg8 15. Rdg1 Nc4 16. Nd1 cxd4 17. exd4 b5 18. f4 Bb4 19. Rh3 Ke7 20. Rd3 Rc6
21. Rg2 a5 22. g5 f5 23. Ng1 Bd6 24. Rf2 Rgc8 25. Rg3 b4 26. Ne3 Nxe3 27. Rxe3
Bxf4 28. Rxf4 Rxc2+ 29. Kd1 Rc1+ 30. Kd2 R8c2+ 31. Kd3 Rxb2 32. Re2 Rc3# 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A65"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2747"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. h3 O-O 6. Bg5 c5 7. d5 e6 8. Bd3 exd5
9. cxd5 Re8 10. Nf3 c4 11. Bc2 b5 12. a3 Nbd7 13. O-O a6 14. Qd2 Bb7 15. Rfe1
Rc8 16. Rad1 Qc7 17. Nd4 Nc5 18. Nc6 Bxc6 19. dxc6 Re6 20. Bh6 Bxh6 21. Qxh6
Qxc6 22. Ne2 Re5 23. Nd4 Qe8 24. Nf3 Re7 25. Rxd6 Nfxe4 26. Bxe4 Rxe4 27. Red1
Qf8 28. Qxf8+ Kxf8 29. Ng5 Re2 30. Rf6 Rc7 31. Rf3 Kg7 32. Rd5 Nd3 33. h4 h6
0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2817"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. e3 c5 5. Nc3 dxc4 6. Bxc4 a6 7. a4 Nc6 8. O-O
Be7 9. dxc5 Qxd1 10. Rxd1 Bxc5 11. Bd2 Bd7 12. Bd3 O-O 13. Ne4 Be7 14. Rac1
Rfd8 15. Nc5 Be8 16. Be2 Rd5 17. Nb3 Rad8 18. Be1 Rxd1 19. Rxd1 Rxd1 20. Bxd1
Nb4 21. Na5 Nd3 22. Bc3 Ne4 23. Nxb7 Ndxf2 24. Be2 Bxa4 25. Bd4 Bb5 26. Bxb5
axb5 27. Kf1 Nd3 28. Ke2 Nb4 29. Bb6 Bf6 30. Bd4 Be7 31. Bb6 Nd5 32. Ba5 Bf6
33. b3 Bb2 34. Nd2 Nxd2 35. Bxd2 Be5 36. h3 f5 37. Nd8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. Qc2 c5 8.
g3 h6 9. Bxf6 Nxf6 10. Bg2 O-O 11. O-O Qe7 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. Rad1 Rd8 14. Nd4
Bg4 15. h3 Be6 16. Qb3 Rac8 17. e3 Bb6 18. a3 Ba5 19. Nce2 Bb6 20. Nf4 Rd6 21.
Qd3 Rcd8 22. Rfe1 Bd7 23. Nf5 Bxf5 24. Qxf5 g6 25. Qc2 Qe5 26. Rd3 d4 27. e4 g5
28. Ne2 Nxe4 29. Nc1 Qc5 30. Qd1 Nf6 31. Bxb7 Qb5 32. Re2 Re8 33. Rxe8+ Qxe8
34. Rd2 d3 35. Nxd3 Kg7 36. Bg2 Ne4 37. Bxe4 Qxe4 38. Ne1 Qf5 39. Qf3 Rf6 40.
Qxf5 Rxf5 41. Kg2 h5 42. Nf3 Kg6 43. b4 Rb5 44. Rd6+ Kg7 45. Nd4 Re5 46. a4 Re4
47. Nf5+ Kh7 48. a5 Bc7 49. Rd7 Be5 50. b5 Rb4 51. Rb7 Rb2 52. a6 g4 53. hxg4
hxg4 54. Rxa7 Rxb5 55. Rb7 Ra5 56. a7 Ra2 57. Rd7 Bf6 58. Ne3 Kg6 59. Nd5 Bd4
60. Nf4+ 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. O-O Be7 8.
a3 O-O 9. b4 Be6 10. d3 a5 11. b5 Nd4 12. Bb2 f6 13. Nxd4 exd4 14. Nb1 Bd5 15.
Nd2 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Qd5+ 17. Nf3 Qxb5 18. Bxd4 a4 19. Qb1 Qd5 20. Bxb6 cxb6 21.
Qxb6 Rfc8 22. Rfb1 Rc3 23. Qxb7 Qxb7 24. Rxb7 Bxa3 25. Nd4 Bf8 26. Ra2 Ra6 27.
f4 Bc5 28. Nb5 Rc1 29. Nc7 Rg1+ 30. Kh3 Rc6 31. f5 a3 32. Ne6 Bd6 33. Rxg7+ Kh8
34. Rd7 Kg8 35. Rg7+ Kh8 36. Ra7 Rc8 37. Rc2 Rg8 38. Nf4 Rb1 39. Rc4 Rgb8 40.
Nh5 Bf8 41. Nxf6 R1b7 42. Rca4 Bc5 43. R7a6 Kg7 44. Ne4 Bb4 45. Nd6 Rb6 46.
Rxb6 Rxb6 47. Nc4 Rb5 48. e4 Bf8 49. e5 Rd5 50. Ra7+ Kh6 51. f6 Kg6 52. Ra8 Bb4
53. Rg8+ Kf7 54. Rg7+ Ke6 55. Ra7 Rxd3 56. Ra6+ Kf7 57. Ra4 Bc5 58. Kg4 Kg6 59.
Nxa3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.17"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E46"]
[WhiteElo "2733"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nge2 d5 6. a3 Bd6 7. c5 Be7 8. b4 b6
9. Nf4 c6 10. Bb2 Nbd7 11. Be2 Qc7 12. O-O bxc5 13. bxc5 e5 14. dxe5 Nxe5 15.
Qd4 Ned7 16. Na4 Re8 17. Rac1 Bf8 18. f3 Rb8 19. Bc3 Rb3 20. Ra1 Qb8 21. Rfc1
Ne4 22. Bb4 Ng5 23. Rc3 Rxc3 24. Bxc3 f6 25. Kf2 Ne5 26. Qb4 Qc7 27. Qa5 Qe7
28. Bd4 Bf5 29. Nc3 Rb8 30. g4 Bc2 31. Rc1 Bg6 32. Nxg6 Nxg6 33. Rb1 Rxb1 34.
Nxb1 Ne6 35. Nd2 f5 36. Nb3 Qh4+ 37. Kg1 fxg4 38. fxg4 Qh3 39. Qd2 Nh4 40. Bd1
Nf3+ 41. Bxf3 Qxf3 42. Be5 Ng5 43. h4 Nh3+ 44. Kh2 Nf2 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2690"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "134"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. e3 c5 8.
dxc5 Qa5 9. Rc1 Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 O-O 11. Nd4 Ne4 12. Bf4 Re8 13. f3 Nexc5 14. Be2
Ne5 15. Nb3 Nxb3 16. axb3 Ng6 17. Bg3 Rxe3 18. O-O Bf5 19. Bf2 Re7 20. Qd2 Qc7
21. Rfe1 Qf4 22. Qxf4 Nxf4 23. Bf1 Re6 24. Red1 a6 25. b4 h6 26. Bg3 Ne2+ 27.
Bxe2 Rxe2 28. Rxd5 Be6 29. Rd4 a5 30. bxa5 Rxa5 31. Re4 Rxe4 32. fxe4 Bd7 33.
Rc2 Bc6 34. e5 Rc5 35. c4 Be4 36. Rc3 Ra5 37. Re3 Bf5 38. Be1 Ra2 39. c5 Be6
40. Rd3 Kh7 41. h3 Ra1 42. Kf2 Rb1 43. Bc3 Rc1 44. Kg3 g5 45. h4 Kg6 46. hxg5
hxg5 47. Rf3 Bd5 48. Rf6+ Kh5 49. Bd2 Rc2 50. Rf2 Be6 51. Be3 Rc3 52. Kf3 Bd5+
53. Ke2 Kg4 54. Kd2 Ra3 55. Rf1 Ra2+ 56. Kd3 Rxg2 57. Rg1 Rxg1 58. Bxg1 Kf3 59.
Kd2 g4 60. Bd4 g3 61. Ke1 Bc4 62. e6 Bxe6 63. Bf6 Bc4 64. Kd2 Kf2 65. Bh4 f5
66. Kc3 f4 67. Kxc4 Ke2 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2815"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O e6 6. Nc3 a6 7. b3 Be7 8. Bb2
O-O 9. e3 d6 10. d4 Ne4 11. d5 Nxc3 12. Bxc3 exd5 13. Ne1 Bf6 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15.
Rc1 Qf5 16. Nd3 Nd7 17. Nf4 Nf6 18. Re1 Rfe8 19. h3 Re5 20. g4 Qd7 21. Nxd5
Bxd5 22. cxd5 Qe7 23. Qd3 g5 24. Kf1 Nd7 25. a4 Rf8 26. Qxa6 f5 27. Qb7 fxg4
28. hxg4 Rxe3 29. Qa6 Qf6 30. Re2 Ne5 31. Rce1 0-1

[Event "Amber-rapid 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.20"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Gashimov, Vugar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2746"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[Annotator "Gashimov,V"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{It's great pity that it was the last Amber tournament...} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 Nf6 4. Qe2 {That day, I was not in the mood to play the Berlin endgame.
So I decided to keep queens on the board.} Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. d3 Re8 7. Ba4 $5 {
The bishop is doing nothing on b5, on b3 it will help in the attack.} d5 8. h3
h6 $6 9. g4 $1 {Time to go!} Nh7 {Protecting against g4-g5, but now the white
knight comes to e4.} 10. Nbd2 Bd7 11. Bb3 (11. exd5 $2 Nd4) 11... Be6 12. exd5
Bxd5 13. Ne4 {Done!} Bf8 (13... Be7 {was better, but still Black has big
problems.}) 14. g5 {Now everything is ready for g5.} Bxb3 15. axb3 Qd5 16. Rg1
h5 $6 (16... hxg5 $1 17. Nfxg5 Nxg5 18. Bxg5 (18. Nxg5 $5 $40) 18... f5 $1 19.
Nf6+ gxf6 20. Qh5 Bg7 (20... fxg5 $4 21. Qxg5+ Kf7 22. Qg8+ Ke7 23. Qxd5 $18)
21. Bxf6 Re7 22. O-O-O $40 (22. Qh6 Qd7 23. O-O-O Rf8 24. Bxe7)) 17. g6 fxg6
18. Rxg6 {Now White is enjoying a very comfortable position.} Re6 19. Rg3 Be7
20. Nfg5 Bxg5 21. Bxg5 g6 {A blunder in an already difficult position.} 22. c4
Qd7 23. Nc5 Qe8 24. Nxe6 Qxe6 25. Be3 $18 Kh8 26. O-O-O a5 27. Rdg1 Qf5 28. Rf3
Qd7 29. Bd2 a4 30. Bc3 Qd6 31. Qe4 a3 32. bxa3 Nd4 33. Bxd4 exd4 34. Kc2 Rxa3
35. Rxg6 Ra2+ 36. Kb1 Ra1+ 37. Kxa1 Qa3+ 38. Kb1 Qxb3+ 39. Kc1 1-0

[Event "Amber-rapid 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Be3 c5 8.
Qd2 cxd4 9. cxd4 Nc6 10. Rd1 {Delaying Ng1-f3 for so long implies placing the
rook on a slightly unusual square. Black should find a way of rapidly using
this circumstance, because otherwise the mobile centre would become very
strong and the rook will just sustain the advance of the d-pawn.} Bg4 $5 {
In the Gruenfeld defence, this kind of bishop incursion is supposed to
threaten doubling the enemy pawns with ...Bxf3 or provoke f2-f3 if the knight
is on e2. Attacking the rook with ...Bg4 is not very customary, though.} (10...
Qa5 11. Qxa5 Nxa5 12. Bd3 (12. Nf3 {Karpov,A (2730)-Kasparov,G (2800)/Lyon/New
York 1990/CBM 021/[Ftacnik] (1/2, 34)}) 12... O-O 13. Ne2 Bd7 (13... f5 {
Volkov,S (2587)-Semeniuk,A (2456)/St Petersburg 1999/CBM 071/[Krasenkow] (1-0,
85)}) 14. Rb1 b6 15. Kd2 {Jussupow,A (2665)-Khalifman,A (2650)/Ubeda 1997/CBM
058/[Ernst] (1-0, 51)}) (10... O-O 11. Nf3 Bg4 {Parligras,M (2598)
-Nepomniachtchi,I (2729)/Aix-les-Bains 2011/CBM 142/[Krasenkow] (1-0, 42)}) 11.
Be2 {The simplest way of continuing the somewhat delayed development.} (11. f3
Bd7 {leaves White with two minor pieces competing for the e2-square, Krush,I 
(2399)-Lalic,B (2548)/Hastings 2000/CBM 075/[Krasenkow] (0-1, 56)}) 11... Bxe2
12. Nxe2 {White has managed to maintain the integrity of his centre and get a
normal development. Black has his own trumps, though. The exchange of two
minor pieces make his lack of space less relevant, while the c4-square has
become a comfortable target for his knight.} Na5 (12... O-O 13. O-O e6 14. Bh6
$1 {A standard reaction once the f6-square has been weakened so radically.} (
14. d5 {Kozul,Z (2605)-Avrukh,B (2575)/Belgrade 1999/CBM 069/[Avrukh,B] (0-1,
40)}) 14... Qa5 15. Qe3 Bxh6 16. Qxh6 Qxa2 17. Nf4 Ne7 18. Qg5 (18. Rd3 $5)
18... f6 (18... Qa3 19. Rd3 $40) 19. Qb5 b6 20. Ra1 Qc2 21. Nxe6 $16 {Roiz,M 
(2658)-Avrukh,B (2641)/Netanya 2009/CBM 131 Extra (1-0, 50)}) 13. Rc1 {
"Correcting" the rook's position.} ({The other way of defending the c4-square
is} 13. Qb4 O-O 14. O-O b6 15. d5 Qd6 16. Qb5 Qe5 $132 {Lputian,S (2605)
-Kasparov,G (2851)/Wijk aan Zee 2000/CBM 075/[Krasenkow] (1/2, 30)}) 13... O-O
{Aronian deviates from an earlier game of his.} (13... b5 14. Qb4 a6 15. a4 Nc4
16. axb5 Nxe3 17. fxe3 Rb8 18. Qc3 axb5 19. Qc6+ Qd7 20. Kd2 Qxc6 21. Rxc6 {
Now, in Nielsen,P (2585)-Aronian,L (2528)/Ohrid 2001/CBM 084/[Krasenkow] (1-0,
76), Black should have kept his king close to the centre with} Kd7 {according
to Krasenkow.}) 14. O-O $146 {Forcing Black to reveal his cards.} (14. Qb4 {
, as played in Franco Alonso,A (2421)-Moreno Ruiz,J (2485)/Madrid 2006/CBM 111
ext (1/2, 44), is premature:} Nc6 $1 $146 15. Qa4 (15. Qxb7 Nxd4 $11) (15. Qc5
Rc8) (15. Qd2 Na5 $11) 15... a6 16. d5 b5 $132) 14... b5 {With the queen tied
up to the defence of the knight, Black cannot do without this move,
threatening to invade c4. White now gets a clear target, though.} 15. Qb4 a6
16. a4 (16. Bg5 Re8 17. a4 Rb8 $1 {With the rook on e8, this is simple and
good.} 18. Bf4 e5 $1 19. dxe5 bxa4 20. Qxa4 Bxe5 $11) 16... Nc4 ({But now,} 
16... Rb8 $2 {loses material to} 17. Bf4 $16 Rb7 18. Bd2 Nc4 19. Rxc4 $18) 17.
axb5 Nxe3 18. fxe3 axb5 19. Qxb5 {The positive difference if compared to
Aronian's previous game is that Black has castled. The negative side is that
he has lost a pawn on the way. WIll his counterplay against the weak e3-pawn
be enough?!} Ra3 20. Rf3 (20. Nc3 $2 Bxd4 $1 $17) (20. Rc3 $2 Rxc3 21. Nxc3
Bxd4 $1) (20. Qg5 e5 21. Qxd8 Rxd8 22. Rc7 Bh6 $132) 20... Bh6 21. Rc3 Ra1+ 22.
Rf1 Rxf1+ 23. Kxf1 e6 {White's coordination is a bit spoiled. His way of
making progress is not clear yet, but Black's counterplay is also not too
concrete. The compensation is on the verge of being adequate.} 24. g3 {Despite
weakening the long diagonal, this offers chances for keeping an edge.} (24. e5
$6 Qh4 25. h3 f6 $36) (24. h3 $5 {is a worthy alternative:} Qh4 25. Qb7 $1 {
Not only preventing ...Ra8, but also creating the possibility of Rc8!} Qf6+ (
25... f5 26. e5 f4 27. exf4 Bxf4 28. Rc8 $1 $16) 26. Kg1 Qh4 27. Qb1 Ra8 28. e5
$14) (24. Kg1 $5) 24... Qa8 25. d5 (25. Qd3 f5 $36 {[%cal Ga8h1]}) 25... Rb8 $6
{Dreaming of a queenside invasion, but probably missing White's strong reply.}
(25... exd5 26. exd5 Re8 {would have left White with serious problems proving
a constructive plan.}) 26. Ra3 $1 Qxa3 27. Qxb8+ Bf8 (27... Kg7 28. Qe5+ Kg8
29. dxe6 $16) 28. dxe6 fxe6 29. Kf2 $16 {White is a pawn up and can play for a
win without any risk.} Qa1 30. Qb3 Qf6+ 31. Nf4 Kf7 32. Ke2 (32. h4 $5 $16)
32... Qe5 33. Kf3 g5 $132 {Suddenly, the king feels some danger.} 34. Qb7+ Be7
35. Nd3 Qa1 36. Nf2 Qf1 37. Qb2 g4+ 38. Kxg4 Qg2 39. Qc2 h5+ 40. Kxh5 Qxh2+ 41.
Kg4 Bd6 42. Kf3 Bxg3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.23"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E36"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 d5 7. Bg5 dxc4 8.
Qxc4 b6 9. Rd1 Ba6 10. Qc2 h6 11. Bh4 Nbd7 12. e4 Bxf1 13. Kxf1 Qc8 14. Ne2 Qb7
15. f3 c5 16. Kf2 Rac8 17. Qd2 cxd4 18. Nxd4 Nxe4+ 19. fxe4 Nc5 20. Qe3 Nxe4+
21. Kg1 Qd5 22. h3 g5 23. Be1 f5 24. h4 g4 25. Qxh6 Rf6 26. Qe3 Rd8 27. Kh2 f4
28. Qe2 g3+ 29. Kg1 e5 30. Qg4+ Kf7 31. Qh5+ Kg8 32. Qg4+ Kf7 33. Qh5+ Kg8 34.
Qg4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amber-rapid 20th"]
[Site "Monte Carlo"]
[Date "2011.03.24"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2774"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2011.03.12"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "MNC"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 142"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.05.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. Nd2 a5 10. a3 Kh8 11. Rb1 Nd7 12. b4 f5 13. f3 f4 14. Nb5 {Other
popular moves in this position:} (14. c5 {(a direct breakthrough with a pawn
sacrifice)}) (14. Na4) (14. Qc2) (14. Nb3) 14... b6 (14... g5 15. Qc2 axb4 (
15... b6 16. c5 $1 bxc5 17. bxc5 dxc5 (17... Nxc5 18. a4 {[%cal Yc1a3]}) 18.
Nc4 c6 19. d6 cxb5 20. dxe7 Qxe7 21. Rxb5 a4 22. Rd1 $16 {1-0 Rohde,W (2533)
-Danek,L (2546)/ICCF 2002/ICCF Telechess CBM 100 (53)}) 16. axb4 Nf6 17. c5 Ne8
18. Bb2 h5 19. Ra1 Rb8 20. Na7 Bd7 21. b5 dxc5 22. Qxc5 Ng6 {0-1 Tratar,M 
(2420)-Freitag,M (2385)/Frohnleiten 1998/CBM 064 ext/[Bulletin] (44)} 23. Nc4 {
[%cal Rc4e5]} Rg8 24. b6 $14) 15. Qc2 (15. c5 bxc5 16. bxc5 Nxc5 17. a4 c6 $1 (
17... g5 18. Ba3 Na6 19. Qc2 Rf7 20. Rfc1 $16 {1-0 Vladimirov,E (2550)
-Temirbaev,S (2390)/Alma-Ata 1989/EXT 1997 (41)}) 18. dxc6 Nxc6 19. Nc4 Nd4 20.
Rf2 Bd7 21. Bf1 Bxb5 22. axb5 Qc7 23. Ra2 a4 24. b6 Qc6 25. Ba3 {1/2 Muschalek,
I-Jorgensen,A (2460)/ICCF 2002/ICCF Telechess CBM 112}) (15. Bb2 g5 16. Qc2 h5
17. Nb3 axb4 18. axb4 Nf6 19. Ra1 Rxa1 20. Rxa1 g4 21. c5 gxf3 22. Bxf3 Bg4 23.
Ra6 Bxf3 24. gxf3 Nexd5 $1 25. exd5 Nxd5 $44 {1/2 Parwicz,W (2080)-Hardy,D 
(2110)/IECG 2006/Telechess CBM 127 (45)}) 15... a4 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8] A curious
idea. Instead of opening the a-file for White, Black prevents a3-a4 and Bc1-a3.
The a4-pawn can be captured but that will take a lot of time.} (15... axb4 16.
axb4 g5 17. Bb2 h5 18. Ra1 Ra6 19. Na7 Rxa1 20. Rxa1 Bb7 21. Nb5 Nc8 22. Nb3
Rg8 23. c5 dxc5 24. bxc5 c6 25. dxc6 Bxc6 26. Bc4 Rf8 27. Qf2 Qf6 28. Nc3 $14 {
1/2 Tratar,M (2451)-Magoo/Dos Hermanas 2003/EXT 2004 (76)}) 16. Rd1 (16. Nc3 {
was still logical.}) 16... g5 17. g4 h5 18. h3 Rf6 19. Bb2 Rh6 20. Kg2 Ng6 21.
Rh1 Bf8 {Both sides have taken prophylactical measures against the opponent's
attack.} 22. Kf2 Nf6 23. c5 $1 {[%mdl 32] The only way to break Black's
defence.} dxc5 24. Nc4 Bd6 25. Bc3 $6 (25. h4 $1 {apparently gave White good
chances, e.g.} hxg4 (25... Nxg4+ 26. fxg4 hxg4 27. h5 g3+ 28. Kg1) 26. hxg5
Rxh1 27. Rxh1+ Nh7 28. Qc1 $1 {[%cal Rh1h7]}) 25... Kg7 26. Qb2 (26. h4 $5)
26... cxb4 27. axb4 Qe7 28. Rbg1 $2 (28. Nbxd6 cxd6 29. b5 $1 $13) 28... Bd7
29. Nbxd6 cxd6 30. h4 {Too late!} ({As well as} 30. b5 Rah8) 30... hxg4 31.
hxg5 Nxe4+ $1 {It is now Black who obtains a decisive attack on the kingside}
32. fxe4 Rxh1 33. Rxh1 f3 34. Nxb6 g3+ $1 35. Kxf3 Rf8+ 36. Ke3 Qxg5+ 37. Kd3
Bb5+ 38. Kc2 Rf2 39. Bd2 Rxe2 40. Qc3 g2 41. Rg1 a3 42. Kc1 Rxd2 43. Qxd2 a2
44. Kc2 Qxd2+ 45. Kxd2 Bf1 0-1

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "2011.05.05"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D56"]
[WhiteElo "2744"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2011.05.05"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 143"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 Ne4 8. Bxe7
Qxe7 9. Rc1 c6 10. Be2 Nd7 11. O-O Nxc3 12. Rxc3 dxc4 13. Rxc4 (13. Bxc4 b6 {
Topalov,V (2805)-Anand,V (2787)/Sofia 2010/CBM 136/[Giri,Anish] (0-1, 56)})
13... e5 14. Qc2 exd4 15. Nxd4 Nb6 16. Rc5 Rd8 $5 $146 ({This looks more
active than} 16... Nd7 17. Ra5 {Ivanchuk,V (2779)-Carlsen,M (2776)/Linares
2009/CBM 129 (1/2, 22)}) 17. Bf3 Be6 18. Rc1 ({After} 18. Nxe6 Qxe6 {, the
superior major piece activity at least compensates for the theoretical
advantage of a bishop over a knight in open positions.}) 18... Bd5 $11 {
Black has completed his development and neutralised White's queenside pressure.
} 19. a3 Nd7 20. Rc3 Nf6 21. Bxd5 Rxd5 22. Rc4 Re8 23. h3 Ne4 24. b4 a5 25. Rb1
1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "2011.05.06"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2011.05.05"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 143"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Be7 4. g3 Nf6 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qa4 $5 {
An interesting nuance.} ({In recent games, White has failed to obtain an
advantage after} 7. Qc2 b5 $5 {(a move that had been considered "impossible"
for many decades).}) 7... a6 {The only limitation for White is that 8.a4 is
not possible anymore, but Kramnik is a specialist of 8.Qxc4 anyway.} 8. Qxc4 b5
9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Be4 11. Qc1 Bb7 12. Qc2 Be4 13. Qc1 Bb7 14. Bf4 Nd5 15. Rd1
$5 {A rare move, probably intended to maintain White's flexibility.} ({Against
the more popular} 15. Nc3 {Black's safest answer is} Nxf4 16. Qxf4 Qd6 {
, a move introduced by Karpov decades ago. Kramnik also seems to trust it,
since he used it with Black in a recent game:} 17. Ne5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Nd7 19.
Rac1 $5 $146 {Le Quang,L (2681)-Kramnik,V (2790)/Dortmund 2010/CBM 138/[Le
Quang Liem] (1/2, 41)}) 15... Nxf4 16. Qxf4 $5 $146 (16. gxf4 {Johannessen,L 
(2538)-Sammalvuo,T (2445)/Gausdal 2004/CBM 104/[Ribli] (1-0, 36)}) 16... Bd6 ({
I assume that after} 16... Qd6 17. Ne5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Nd7 {he would play} 19.
Nxd7 Qxd7 20. Nd2 {, sending the knight onto a more promising route than after
Nb1-c3, with either Nb3 or Nf3.}) 17. Qh4 (17. Qe3 $5 {may be worth giving a
try. After} Nd7 18. Nbd2 {, the thematic} c5 {does not bring complete equality
after} 19. Ne4 Bxe4 20. Qxe4 $14 {and White retains the more pleasant position,
although the presence of opposite coloured bishops creates a certain drawish
tendency.}) 17... Qxh4 18. Nxh4 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Nd7 20. Nc3 Rfd8 21. Rac1 Be7 22.
Nf3 c5 23. a4 (23. d5 $5 {looks more active, but the black queenside majority
may become dangerous later.}) 23... bxa4 24. Nxa4 cxd4 25. Rxd4 Bf6 26. Rd6 Ne5
27. Rxd8+ Rxd8 28. Nxe5 Bxe5 29. f4 Bf6 30. Rc6 Rb8 31. Rxa6 g6 32. Nc5 Rxb2
33. Kf3 Bd4 34. Nd3 {White's symbolic advantage proved impossible to convert
even for a player with such brilliant technique as Kramnik.} Rb8 35. Rd6 Bf6
36. g4 Rd8 37. Rc6 Be7 38. g5 h6 39. h4 hxg5 40. hxg5 Rd7 41. Ne5 Rb7 42. Rc8+
Kg7 43. Re8 {lthough Black's position looks ridiculously passive, the presence
of pawns on just one wing keeps the game within drawish limits.} Rc7 44. Ng4
Rb7 45. e3 Rc7 46. Ke4 Rd7 47. Nh6 Bf8 48. Rc8 Rb7 49. Kf3 Ra7 50. e4 Ra3+ 51.
Kg4 Ra7 52. Kh4 Bb4 53. Kg4 Bf8 54. Rb8 Rd7 55. Kf3 Ra7 56. e5 Ra3+ 57. Kg2
Ra2+ 58. Kg3 Ra3+ 59. Kg4 Ra7 60. Rc8 Rb7 61. Ra8 Rc7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "2011.05.07"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D56"]
[WhiteElo "2744"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2011.05.05"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 143"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 Ne4 8. Bxe7
Qxe7 9. Rc1 c6 10. Bd3 Nxc3 11. Rxc3 dxc4 12. Bxc4 Nd7 13. Qc2 b6 14. Bd3 Nf6
$5 {[%mdl 512] A fresh idea by GM Rustam Kasimdzhanov - and probably the
easiest way to equalise!} (14... c5 {was played automatically for many decades:
} 15. Bh7+ (15. Be4 Rb8 16. O-O Ba6 (16... a5 17. Rd1 Bb7 18. Bxb7 Rxb7 19. a3
Re8 20. h3 e5 21. Qe4 Rbb8 22. dxe5 Nxe5 23. Qxe5 Qxe5 24. Nxe5 Rxe5 25. f4
Ree8 26. Kf2 Red8 27. Rxd8+ Rxd8 28. Ke2 Rc8 29. Kd3 b5 $11 {1/2 Van Wely,L 
(2681)-Azmaiparashvili,Z (2672)/Mallorca 2004/CBM 104 (48)}) 17. Rc1 Rfc8 18.
dxc5 Rxc5 19. Nd4 Rxc3 20. Qxc3 Rc8 21. Qd2 Rxc1+ 22. Qxc1 Ne5 23. Qc3 g6 24.
h3 Qd6 $2 (24... Qc5 25. Qxc5 bxc5 26. Nb3 c4 27. Nc5 Bb5 28. a4 Nd7 $1 29.
Nxd7 Bxd7 30. a5 Kf8 $11) 25. b4 {[%cal Rb4b5] 1-0 Grischuk,A (2736)-Jakovenko,
D (2736)/Moscow 2009/EXT 2010} Nd7 26. b5 Qc5 27. Qxc5 bxc5 28. bxa6 cxd4 29.
exd4 Nf6 {, and still Black should not lose}) 15... Kh8 16. Be4 Rb8 17. O-O Ba6
(17... b5 18. Rc1 b4 19. Rb3 a5 {1/2 Arutinian,D (2584)-Dobrowolski,A (2335)/
Legnica 2008/EXT 2010 (44)} 20. a4 $1 f5 21. Bc6 cxd4 22. exd4 Ba6 23. Re3 Rbc8
24. Qb3 $14 {[%csl Re6]}) (17... Bb7 18. Bxb7 Rxb7 19. Rc1 (19. dxc5 $5 Nxc5
20. b4 Na6 21. a3 $14) 19... a5 (19... cxd4 20. Nxd4 Nf6 21. Nc6 Qe8 22. e4 e5
23. b4 $16 {1-0 Pirc,V-Gawlikowski,S/Karlovy Vary 1948/MCD (43)}) 20. a3 Rd8
21. h3 Kg8 22. Rd1 g6 23. dxc5 bxc5 24. b3 Rdb8 25. a4 $14 {1-0 Zakhartsov,V 
(2602)-Grabinsky,V (2303)/Cappelle la Grande FRA 2011/The Week in Chess 852 
(37)}) (17... a5 18. Rd1 (18. Bc6 cxd4 19. Nxd4 e5 20. Bxd7 Bxd7 21. Nc6 Bxc6
22. Rxc6 Rfd8 23. Rc1 Rd6 24. g3 Rbd8 25. Qe4 Qe6 26. Kg2 {1/2 Lysyj,I (2631)
-Ovsejevitsch,S (2594)/Dresden 2010/CBM 137 Extra}) 18... Bb7 19. Bxb7 Rxb7 20.
a3 Rc8 (20... Re8 21. dxc5 Nxc5 22. Ne5 $36) 21. b4 axb4 22. axb4 Rbc7 23. Rc1
$14 {1-0 Van Wely,L (2677)-Volokitin,A (2684)/Foros 2008/CBM 125 (41)}) (17...
Nf6 $5 18. dxc5 Nxe4 19. Qxe4 bxc5 20. Qc2 Bb7 21. Nd2 Rfd8 22. f3 Ba6 23. Rf2
Rd7 24. Nb3 Rbd8 25. Rd2 Rxd2 26. Nxd2 Qd7 27. Ne4 Qb5 28. Ng3 Qd7 29. Ne4 Qb5
30. Ng3 Qd7 {1/2 Dydyshko,V (2555)-Kriebel,T (2296)/Frydek Mistek CZE 2011/The
Week in Chess 860}) 18. Rc1 Rfc8 19. h3 Kg8 20. Qa4 Bb7 21. Bxb7 Rxb7 22. Qb5
Rbc7 23. b4 Qd6 24. bxc5 bxc5 25. dxc5 Nxc5 $11 {1/2 Sakaev,K (2634)-Lysyj,I 
(2578)/Krasnoyarsk 2007/CBM 120 (36)}) 15. Rxc6 (15. e4 Bb7 16. O-O Rac8 $11 {
[%cal Yc6c5,Gb7e4]}) 15... Nd5 16. Qb3 Nb4 17. Rc1 Nxd3+ 18. Qxd3 Bb7 {That's
the point. Black's development advantage compensates for his material deficit.}
19. O-O (19. a3 $5 {, with the idea not to give up the a2-pawn, can be met with
} a5 $5 {preventing castling.}) 19... Bxf3 20. gxf3 Qg5+ 21. Kh1 {Draw agreed
in the stem game Van Wely - Kasimdzhanov (Khanty-Mansiysk 2010).} Qd5 22. Qe4
Qxa2 {Black has regained the pawn; White has insufficient resources to create
a dangerous attack along the g-file.} 23. Rg1 Rfc8 24. Qb7 (24. Rcf1 Qd5) 24...
Rf8 25. Rc7 Qxb2 (25... Rad8 $6 26. Qe4 Qd5 27. Rxa7) 26. Rxf7 Rxf7 27. Qxa8+
Kh7 28. Qe8 Rc7 29. Qxe6 Qxf2 30. Qe4+ Kg8 31. Qe8+ Kh7 32. Qe4+ Kg8 33. Qe8+ (
33. h3 $5 {[%cal Yg1g2] was a way to continue fighting but after} Qc2 34. Qe8+
Kh7 35. d5 Qf5 (35... Qc5 $5) 36. Qe4 Qxe4 37. fxe4 Re7 $1 38. d6 Re8 $1 {
the rook ending proves to be drawn.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "2011.05.08"]
[Round "1.4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2011.05.05"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 143"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Be7 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. a3 c5 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. dxc5 Nxc5 11. Be5 {In order to get a stable blockade on
d4 White needs to spend time on relocating his bishop.} Bf6 12. Be2 Bxe5 13.
Nxe5 Be6 14. Nf3 Qb6 15. Qd4 Rfc8 16. O-O $146 (16. Rd1 Rc6 $5 (16... Nb3 17.
Qxb6 axb6 18. Nd4 Nxd4 19. Rxd4 Rc1+ 20. Bd1 $14 {Wojtaszek,R (2721)-Berkes,F 
(2693)/Paks 2011/ (1-0, 39)}) 17. O-O Nb3 18. Qh4 (18. Qxb6 Rxb6 $132) 18... h6
19. Bd3 Rac8 20. h3 a5 $11 {Georgiev,K (2672)-Meier,G (2653)/Pamplona 2009/CBM
134 (1/2, 25)}) 16... Nb3 (16... Rc6 17. Rac1 Nb3 18. Qxb6 axb6 (18... Rxb6 $6
19. Rc7 $14) 19. Rb1 Rac8 $132) 17. Qxb6 axb6 {In view of the unstoppable
invasion on c2, Black has entirely adequate counterplay, compensating for the
structural defects.} 18. Rab1 (18. Rad1 Rc2) 18... Bf5 19. Rbd1 Rc2 20. Rxd5
Rxb2 21. Re1 Be6 22. Rb5 Rxa3 23. Rxb6 Raa2 24. Rxb7 g5 25. Bf1 h6 26. Nd4 Nxd4
27. Rxb2 Rxb2 28. exd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "2011.05.12"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2747"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "31"]
[EventDate "2011.05.05"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 143"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Qc2 c5 8. Rd1
{A relatively rare move.} (8. cxd5 {and}) (8. dxc5 {are more popular.}) 8...
Qa5 9. Nd2 cxd4 10. exd4 dxc4 $146 (10... Bb4 {Weiss,A (2318)-Ivanov,V (2447)/
IECG Email 2000/Corr 2002 (1-0, 45)}) 11. Nxc4 Qd8 12. Bd3 Nb6 13. O-O Bd7 14.
Nxb6 Qxb6 15. d5 Kh8 16. dxe6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "2011.05.13"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2747"]
[Annotator "Moradiabadi,E"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2011.05.05"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 143"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{After the disappointing prelude to this match, Kramnik decided to show us
some brief flashes of fantastic technique. Nevertheless, it should be
mentioned that Grischuk managed to cope with the "flashes" perfectly!} 1. Nf3
c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 {No surprise. Kramnik has used this set up during his
career from time to time.} e5 4. e3 Nf6 5. d4 {But this is a real surprise.
After clearing the dust collected in my brain I managed to remember some terms
describing this line: like "arid". Kramnik does not like the idea and he
proved (at least to me) that this term is not applicable to this line anymore.}
cxd4 6. exd4 e4 7. Ne5 Bd6 {An odd choice by Grischuk.} (7... Bb4 8. Be2 Qa5 9.
Nxc6 dxc6 10. Bd2 O-O 11. O-O {is probably what Kramnik was expecting.}) 8. c5
Bb8 (8... Nxe5 $2 {would be a terrible blunder.} 9. cxd6 $1 Ng6 10. h4 $1 {
Black cannot develop his pieces anymore, and it is no wonder the game ended
just five moves later!} Qa5 11. h5 Nf8 12. d5 a6 13. Qd4 h6 14. b4 Qd8 15. Qe5+
{1-0 Shengelia,D (2567)-Grover,S (2434)/Dubai 2010/CBM 135 Extra}) 9. Nc4 d5
10. cxd6 O-O 11. Bf4 $5 $146 {A logical novelty which the silicon mind favours
a lot.} (11. d5 Na5 12. Nxa5 Qxa5 13. Bg5 Bxd6 {and Black seized the
initiative in Lida Garcia,F (2049)-Pierrot,J (2450)/Mar del Plata 2008/CBM 123
Extra (31)}) 11... Na5 12. Ne3 Bxd6 13. Bxd6 Qxd6 14. d5 {White is now
slightly better thanks to his strong knight on e3. The manoeuvre this knight
used was first introduced by Nimzowitsch... Something in the style of "His
System"!} Qe5 15. Be2 Rd8 16. Qd2 Nc6 17. Rd1 Ne7 18. Qd4 Qxd4 19. Rxd4 {
Kramnik masterfully reaches a slightly better ending.} Nf5 20. Nxf5 Bxf5 21.
Kd2 Ne8 22. g4 Bg6 23. Rc1 {Kramnik brings all his troops to the centre of the
battle. On the other hand, Grischuk is depending a lot on his d6 outpost.} Rac8
{This move loses a pawn. Was it deliberate or did Grischuk just miss it?} 24.
Nxe4 $1 Rxc1 25. Kxc1 Bxe4 26. Rxe4 Kf8 27. Ra4 a6 28. Rb4 Nd6 29. Kd2 {
White is a healthy pawn up but Black's superb knight gives him excellent
chances to hold.} h6 30. Bd3 Ke7 31. Ke3 Kd7 32. f3 Re8+ 33. Be4 g6 34. Kd4 Rc8
35. h4 Rc1 {Grischuk activates his rook. It is hard to suggest a specific way
for White to break through.} 36. Ke5 Ke7 37. g5 hxg5 38. hxg5 Rg1 39. Kf4 f6
40. Bxg6 Rxg5 41. Be4 Rg2 {Grischuk opens up the position himself but his
active pieces compensate for White's material superiority.} 42. a4 a5 43. Rb3
Kd8 44. Ke3 Rh2 45. Kf4 Rg2 46. Bb1 Rd2 47. Bd3 Rg2 48. Ke3 Rh2 $1 {Grischuk
is already preparing his shot on move 51.} 49. Kd4 Rh4+ 50. Kc5 Kc7 51. Rb6
Rxa4 $1 {A spectacular way to conclude the game.} 52. b3 ({The idea is that
after} 52. Rxd6 {he plays} Rb4 $1 {threatening b6+ which would force White to
give up the rook to save the mate, so the only move would be} 53. Bb5 ({Ex:} 
53. Rxf6 b6+ {and White must take on b6 with the rook.}) 53... Rxb5+ $1 54.
Kxb5 Kxd6 {and the pawn endgame is drawn.} 55. Kxa5 Kxd5 56. Kb6 Ke5 (56... Kc4
) 57. b4 Kf4 58. Kxb7 Kxf3 59. b5 f5 60. b6 f4 61. Kc7 Kg2 62. b7 f3 63. b8=Q
f2 {draw.}) 52... Rb4 53. Rxb4 axb4 54. Kxb4 b6 {Black locks the door to the
fortress. The king's only entry is via h5, which is easy to prevent, and the
white bishop has no targets. Now it is a dead draw.} 55. Kc3 Kd8 56. Kd4 Ke7 {
Great resistance by Grischuk!} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "2011.05.14"]
[Round "2.3"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2747"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[Annotator "Kritz,L"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2011.05.05"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 143"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 (3. d4 Nxe4 (3... exd4 4. e5 Ne4 5. Qxd4 $14) 4.
Bd3 d5 5. dxe5 {mit kompliziertem Spiel.}) 3... d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 (5. Nc3
Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 Nc6 8. Qd2 Be6 $1 {Die Variante mit der langen Rochade
ist die sicherste aus Sicht von Schwarz.} 9. O-O-O Qd7 10. Ng5 Bxg5 11. Bxg5 f6
12. Be3 O-O-O $11 {Das weiße Läuferpaar hat keine große Bedeutung, weil die
Stellung relativ geschlossen ist.}) 5... d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 (6... Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8.
c4 c6 9. Re1 Bf5 10. c5 Bc7 11. Nc3 Nd7 $132 {Naiditsch-Kramnik (Dortmund 2009)
}) 7. O-O Be7 8. Nc3 ({Der Hauptzug ist:} 8. c4 Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 Bf5 11.
a3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. Re1 Re8 14. cxd5 Qxd5 15. Bf4 Rac8 $11 {Das ist die
Ausgangsstellung der Hauptvariante, die bis ins tiefe Endspiel analysiert
wurde und wo gezeigt wurde, dass Schwarz sich überall halten kann.}) 8... Nxc3
(8... Bf5 9. Re1 ({Wenig bringt} 9. Qe1 Bb4 10. Qe3 Bxc3 11. bxc3 O-O 12. Ng5
Re8 13. Nxe4 Bxe4 $11 {Karjakin - Bologan (Dortmund, 2004)}) 9... Nxc3 10. bxc3
Bxd3 11. Qxd3 O-O 12. Rb1 Na5 13. Qf5 $36 {und Weiß hatte doch eine kleine
Initiative in Cheparinov-Roiz (Kemer 2007).}) 9. bxc3 Bg4 10. Re1 (10. h3 Bh5
11. Rb1 Rb8 12. g4 $5 {Eine interessante Idee.} Bg6 13. Ne5 Bxd3 14. Nxd3 {
Die weiße Idee ist es, die Dame auf f3 zu stellen und Druck gegen den Bauern
d5 auszuüben. Danach kann er entweder mit Nf4, Rb5, oder Bf4 fortfahren.} (14.
cxd3 O-O {Weiß hat keinen konkreten Plan, um seine Stellung zu verstärken.} 15.
f4 f6 $11) 14... O-O 15. Qf3 Na5 $132 {Kamsky-Inarkiev (Jermuk 2009)}) 10...
O-O 11. Bf4 Bd6 {Der direkteste Weg zum Ausgleich - je mehr Figuren Schwarz
tauscht, desto einfacher ist sein Spiel.} (11... Bh5 12. Rb1 b6 {Eigentlich
bietet sich dieser Zug an. Die weißen Felder werden zwar geschwächt, dafür ist
der schwarze Turm nicht an die Verteidigung des Bauern gebunden.} 13. Qe2 (13.
Bb5 Na5 $11) 13... Bd6 14. Qe3 Re8 15. Ne5 Bxe5 16. dxe5 Qd7 17. Qg3 Qg4 $11 {
Li-Bu Xiangzhi (Tianjin 2011)}) (11... Qd7 {Ein seltener Zug.} 12. Rb1 Bd6 (
12... Rab8 $6 {Weiß konnte eine starke Initiative entwickeln:} 13. Re3 Rfe8 14.
Qe2 Bf8 15. Re1 Rxe3 16. Qxe3 Bf5 $2 17. Bxc7 $1 (17. Bxf5 Qxf5 18. Bxc7 Rc8
$11) 17... Qxc7 18. Bxf5 g6 19. Bd3 Na5 20. Qe5 $16 {Anand-Leko (Leon 2001)})
13. Bxd6 cxd6 $14 {Short-Howell (London 2009) Schwarz wurde zum Verdoppeln der
Bauern gezwungen und hat nun eine lange, passive Verteidigung vor sich.}) 12.
Bxd6 Bxf3 (12... Qxd6 $2 13. Bxh7+ Kxh7 14. Ng5+ $18) (12... cxd6 {Wenn
Schwarz zum Gegenspiel auf der c-Linie kommen würde, wäre dieses Nehmen gut
gewesen. Doch zu dem Gegenspiel kommt es nicht, daher ist der Partiezug besser.
} 13. Re3 Qd7 14. h3 Bh5 15. Qd2 Rae8 16. Nh4 Rxe3 17. Qxe3 Qe6 18. Nf5 $14 {
Topalov-Gelfand (Wijk aan Zee 2008)}) 13. Qxf3 (13. Bxc7 Bxd1 14. Bxd8 Bxc2 15.
Bxc2 Rfxd8 16. Bb3 Kf8 $11 {/\Na5}) 13... Qxd6 14. Re3 ({Keinen Vorteil bringt
ebenfalls} 14. Rab1 b6 {Weiß hat nicht genug Potenzial, um eine starke
Initiative zu entwickeln.} 15. Re3 (15. Rb5 Rad8 16. h4 Ne7 17. h5 Rfe8 18. Re5
h6 $11 {Leko-Gelfand (Nice 2008)}) 15... Rae8 16. Rbe1 Rxe3 17. Rxe3 g6 18. h4
Kg7 19. h5 Rd8 $11 {Vachier Lagrave-Motylev (Katernberg 2008)}) 14... Rae8 15.
Rae1 Re7 {Das Nehmen auf e3 ist gut genug.} (15... Rxe3 16. Rxe3 Nb8 $5 (16...
g6 17. h4 Nb8 18. h5 Nd7 19. g4 $14 {Leko-Kasimdzhanov (Nalchik 2009)}) 17. h4
Nd7 $11) 16. Rxe7 Nxe7 17. h4 {Der typische Plan - Weiß will seinen h-Bauern
aufrollen und den schwarzen König schwächen. Eigentlich bringt das nicht viel.}
Rd8 18. c4 {Es ist nicht viel los in der Stellung.} (18. Qe3 Ng6 19. h5 Nf4 20.
Qe8+ Qf8 21. Qe5 Qd6 $11) 18... b6 $1 {Richtig! Man durfte nicht auf c4 nehmen.
} (18... dxc4 $2 19. Bxc4 Rf8 20. Qxb7 Qxd4 21. Qxc7 $18) 19. c3 {Weiß
verteidigt den Bauern d4 aus prophylaktischen Gründen. Einen konkreten Plan
hat er nicht.} h6 $5 {Interessante Entscheidung. Typischerweise spielt man ...
g6, weil der Läufer das Feld h7 kontrolliert und der König nach ...h6 immer
noch kein Luftloch hat. Auf der anderen Seite hat Weiß überhaupt kein aktives
Spiel.} (19... g6 20. h5 $36) 20. cxd5 Nxd5 21. Bc4 (21. Qf5 g6 22. Qf3 h5 $11)
21... c6 {Die Stellung ist ausgeglichen, weder Schwarz noch Weiß kann hier
etwas machen.} 22. Re5 Nf6 23. Qf4 Qd7 24. g3 Kf8 25. Bb3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "2011.05.15"]
[Round "2.4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2747"]
[Annotator "Caruana,F"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2011.05.05"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 143"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. e3 Nf6 5. Be2 d5 6. d4 exd4 7. exd4 Be6 8. Be3
{By transposition from a rare move order we have reached a main line of the 1.
e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 variation, which is not very topical these days. A
refreshing change from all the hyper-theoretical Petroffs, Grünfelds and Slavs
we normally see at the top level.} dxc4 9. O-O cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Qa5
$5 {A weird looking move, but it is surprisingly not so bad. Black prevents an
annoying check on a4, allowing his pawn structure to be wrecked but preparing
counterplay with ...Rd8 in the meantime.} ({The main line, if there is such a
thing in this position, is} 11... Be7 12. Qa4+ Qd7 13. Qxd7+ Nxd7 14. Bxg7 Rg8
{, when Black rarely encountered problems in the few games which were played
here. I suppose Kramnik had prepared an idea here, but it is difficult to
imagine exactly what it could be.}) 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Re1 Rd8 14. Qc2 Be7 {
Black is one step away from getting his king in safety and consolidating his
material advantage. The doubled f-pawns are not so disastrous because Black's
bishops cover a lot of important squares around the kingside.} 15. Qe4 Qc5 {
A good move. The most important thing is not the b7-pawn, but rather not to
allow a trade of bishops.} (15... Qc7 $2 16. Bg4 {is therefore not good for
Black.}) 16. Qxb7 O-O {One more move - f5 - and Black will have a perfect
position due to his unopposed dark-squared bishop.} 17. Ne4 (17. Rad1 f5 {
can only be better for Black.}) 17... Qb4 18. Qxa7 (18. Nxf6+ {is a critical
move, which leads to an endgame where Black obtains good compensation based on
a number of tactical details.} Kh8 19. Qxb4 Bxb4 20. Rec1 (20. Red1 c3 $1 {
is an important point.}) 20... Bd2 $1 21. Rc2 c3 $1 {A really great idea,
giving an advantage. After} 22. bxc3 Bf5 {White's rook is trapped!}) 18... Rd7
19. Qe3 Qxb2 {Black has won a crucial pawn, gaining a dangerous passed c-pawn
in the process. However, the position remains roughly balanced because of
Black's vulnerable king.} 20. Rac1 ({White could have tried} 20. Nc5 Bxc5 21.
Qxc5 Rd2 22. Qe3 {, which the computer estimates as roughly equal, which is
most likely correct. This would be a logical continuation of the game, but
some more exciting surprises were in store before the inevitable result.})
20... Qd4 {Obviously a trade of queens is bad for White.} 21. Qf3 {However,
this was not the best way.} ({It's hard to blame Kramnik for not finding} 21.
Qf4 f5 22. Rcd1 Qxe4 23. Qg3+ Kh8 24. Rxd7 Bxd7 25. Qc3+ {, with a draw by
perpetual as} f6 $2 26. Bxc4 {is bad for Black.}) 21... Rc8 {The players
continue to make small mistakes, but the position is very sharp and often the
most natural moves are wrong because of concrete tactics.} ({Strongest was} 
21... f5 $1 22. Ng3 ({White should play modestly with} 22. Nc3 {, but clearly
Black is better after} Bg5) 22... Bg5 $1 {A great idea, bringing the bishop to
d2, where it closes the d-file and supports the c-pawn. By the way, I've
noticed that White's rooks are a real problem for White in this game - they
have no space to manouver, are stuck on the first rank and usually get
attacked by Black's bishops.} 23. Rcd1 (23. Rc2 {is met by the accurate} Qe5 {
, and next...Rc8, consolidating.}) 23... Bd2 $1 {, and next Black will enforce
the bishop with ...c3!} 24. Nxf5 Qf6 {, with a decisive advantage.}) 22. Ng3 ({
The natural and obvious} 22. Red1 {would have been better. The position just
boils down to rough equality in all variations after this. I suppose Kramnik
was still playing for an advantage, and felt he would have good play after 22.
Ng3, with the knight aiming for f5 or h5.}) 22... Rdc7 $2 {A strange, highly
cooperative move. Grischuk decided to ignore all of Kramnik's ideas and focus
on his own one-sided play.} ({Black had the strong, if not very obvious} 22...
Qe5 $1 {at his disposal. White's ideas of Nh5 or Nf5 have been nullified, so
Black can concentrate on advancing his c-pawn. It seems White's position is
highly unpleasant after this.} 23. Bxc4 $4 Rxc4 {is of course losing for White.
}) 23. Nh5 $6 {The knight is going for f4, but I would prefer the natural 23.
Nf5.} ({After} 23. Nf5 Bxf5 24. Qxf5 {White is at least fully equal and
perhaps more do to Black's vulnerable king. The c-pawn is easily blockaded by
Qc2 and White can even start advancing his a-pawn at the right moment.}) 23...
Kh8 24. Rcd1 (24. Nf4 c3 {doesn't seem especially promising for White.}) 24...
Qb2 {Another odd move (but perhaps not such a bad one), putting the queen on a
faraway square where it can't help defend Black's king. I don't understand why
Grischuk keeps putting his pieces on these strange squares, when he has
simpler and stronger moves at his disposal. Instead of this, 24...Qc5 prepares
to defend the king with ...Qg5.} (24... Qc5 $1 {gives a good position. I
imagine Grischuk was worried about} 25. Nxf6 {, but the pawn is not very
important and after} c3 {Black has good compensation with the threat of ...c2.
In the complex play that will follow anything can happen, but Black seems to
have the initiative.}) 25. Qg3 Bf8 26. Bg4 $6 {Is this how White should play
for a win, or for a loss? Both players are really going all out in this game,
but it seems they have both lost their sense of danger and are taking needless
risks.} ({White had many possible options, but I think best was} 26. Qh4 Be7
27. Qg3 {, with a draw by perpetual. I don't think White has better than this,
and if he continues playing he runs the serious risk of losing due to Black's
passed c-pawn.}) 26... c3 27. Bxe6 (27. Rxe6 $2 {loses:} fxe6 28. Bxe6 Rg7 $1
29. Nxg7 {Now mate is no longer a threat.} c2 30. Rf1 c1=Q $19) 27... fxe6 28.
Nxf6 Bg7 $2 {Again a totally illogical move. Why not attack the queen and keep
the h7-pawn protected? With this Black turns an objectively much better
position into a very dangerous one.} (28... Rg7 29. Qe5 {White threatens Nh5,
but Black has a strong response:} Qb7 30. g3 c2 31. Rc1 Ba3 32. Nh5 Bxc1 (32...
Bb2 {also works.}) 33. Rxc1 Rd8 {, threatening ...Rd1 and winning the game.}
34. Qa1 e5 $1 35. Nxg7 Qf3 {, and the threat of ...Rd1 is unstoppable.}) 29.
Nh5 {Threatening Qxc7. More testing was the brilliant shot 29.Nxh7, after
which Black is hard pressed to defend. I would be interested to see how the
game would unfold after that.} ({An interesting try was} 29. Nxh7 $5 c2 (29...
Kxh7 30. Qh3+ Kg8 31. Qxe6+ {gives White a killing attack, with a rook lift
coming up next.}) 30. Qh4 {, and here Black probably has only one way to make
a draw:} (30. Ng5 cxd1=Q 31. Qh3+ {leads to perpetual.}) 30... Be5 $3 {A
surprising and very difficult move. Black needs to make room for the king on
g7, and he also protects the rook on c7 in preparation for Rd8. White's attack
looks very strong but somehow Black defends. Other moves are possible besides
30...Be5, but this is the only clear way to make a draw.} ({A crucial point of
White's play is} 30... Rc4 31. g4 $3) 31. Ng5+ (31. Nf6+ Kg7 32. Nh5+ Kf7 {
, and White's checks have run out.} 33. Rc1 Qd4 {, and Black's queen finally
returns from the abyss!}) 31... Kg8 32. Rc1 Bc3 $1 {Again, a common theme
appears: White's rooks lack space and are vulnerable to attack.} 33. Rf1 Bd2 {
, and here the game will most likely end in perpetual after 34.Nxe6.}) 29...
Qb7 $6 {Another mistake, allowing White to develop his attack.} (29... c2 $4
30. Qxc7 {ends the game immediately.}) ({Probably simplest was} 29... Rf7 30.
Nxg7 c2 $1 ({avoiding} 30... Rxg7 31. Qe5) 31. Rc1 Rxg7 {, and the position is
balanced by Black's passed c-pawn and weak king.}) 30. Qh4 {Now besides the
obvious threat of Rd8, White has ideas of Nf4 and Ng6 or Nxe6. Black is again
under strong pressure.} Rg8 $2 {Again, an incomprehensible move. Why does
Grischuk entomb his king allowing Nf4 with the threat of mate? Both players
seem to be in a complete panic now at the thought of calculating a sharp
position.} ({Black's best defence is} 30... Qa8 $1 {, defending against Rd8
and preparing ...c2.}) 31. Rd8 $2 {I guess only Kramnik can understand why he
played this move.} ({Why not} 31. Nf4 {? I guess time trouble and nerves are
to blame for the weak play in this stage of the game, but is 31.Nf4 really
such a difficult move? I can imagine Kramnik normally playing this move in his
sleep - it threatens mate in one, after all, which is not easy to comfortably
defend against.}) 31... Rc8 $2 {Such a meek move. Did the players both forget
how strong the c-pawn is? This is Black's main trump, so he should use it!} ({
Passed pawns must be pushed! So:} 31... c2 32. Nf4 (32. Rxg8+ Kxg8 33. Qd8+ Kf7
{ends the checks.}) 32... h6 {, and White will have trouble dealing with the
c2-pawn.}) 32. Rxg8+ Rxg8 33. Nxg7 $2 {Letting Black off easy, when White
could have reached a promising endgame.} (33. Nf6 Bxf6 34. Qxf6+ Qg7 (34... Rg7
$2 35. g3 {can't be good for Black, with such a strong pin on the rook.}) 35.
Qxg7+ Kxg7 36. Rc1 Ra8 37. Rxc3 ({After} 37. Rc2 {Black has the accurate} Kf6
38. Kf1 Kf5 $1 {, and after White plays Rc7 (after Rxc3 and Rxa2) he can come
back to defend the h-pawn with ...Kg6.}) 37... Rxa2 {, and White has decent
winning chances in this endgame due to Black's split pawns. I initially
thought this should be a draw, but after moving the pieces around a bit I
realized that White can slowly advance his pawns and continue to gain space
while Black has to remain totally passive. Perhaps it is objectively possible
to hold, but it requires a great deal of work from Black's side.}) 33... Qxg7 (
{The computer says} 33... c2 {is even easier.}) 34. Qe4 c2 35. Rc1 Rc8 {
Black's c-pawn is too strong. White can't hope for anything, of course.} 36.
Qxe6 Rd8 37. Qb3 Rd2 38. Qb8+ Qg8 39. Qb2+ Qg7 40. Qb8+ Qg8 41. Qe5+ Qg7 42.
Qe8+ Qg8 43. Qe5+ Qg7 44. Qe8+ {An extremely exciting game! Of course the
level of play was not high, but this can be explained by the incredible
tension and tiredness the players must be experiencing. The play was very
sharp and the complications difficult to navigate. In the end a draw was the
logical result.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament playoff blitz"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "2011.05.09"]
[Round "1.9"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2744"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2011.05.09"]
[EventType "k.o. (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 143"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "300+3"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Nbd2 a6 8. Ba4
Ba7 9. h3 Ne7 10. Re1 Ng6 11. Nf1 c6 12. Ng3 d5 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Bb3 Re8 15.
Bg5 f6 16. Be3 Bxe3 17. fxe3 Be6 18. Qd2 Qc7 19. Rad1 Rad8 20. Qf2 Qf7 21. Rf1
Qf8 22. Nd2 Kh8 23. Nde4 Nge7 24. Qe2 Bg8 25. Rf2 f5 26. Rdf1 f4 27. exf4 Nxf4
28. Qg4 Bxb3 29. axb3 Neg6 30. d4 Qg8 31. Rf3 Ne6 32. Nf5 exd4 33. Qg3 Rf8 34.
Ned6 dxc3 35. bxc3 Rd7 36. h4 Rf6 37. h5 Ne7 38. Nh6 gxh6 39. Qe5 Nd5 40. Rxf6
Nxf6 41. Qxf6+ Rg7 42. Nf5 Qf8 43. Nxg7 Qc5+ 44. Kh1 Nxg7 45. Qf8+ 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament playoff blitz"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "2011.05.09"]
[Round "1.10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[PlyCount "159"]
[EventDate "2011.05.09"]
[EventType "k.o. (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 143"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "300+3"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. b3 Nf6 4. Bb2 Be7 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 b6 7. O-O Bb7 8. e3 c5
9. Nc3 Nc6 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 Qxd5 12. d4 Qd8 13. Ne5 Nxe5 14. Bxb7 Rb8 15.
Bg2 cxd4 16. exd4 Nd7 17. d5 exd5 18. Qxd5 Bf6 19. Rad1 Bxb2 20. Qxd7 a5 21.
Rfe1 Qxd7 22. Rxd7 Ba3 23. Bd5 Bc5 24. Re4 Rfd8 25. Bxf7+ Kf8 26. Be6 Rxd7 27.
Bxd7 Rd8 28. Bb5 Rd2 29. Rf4+ Ke7 30. a4 Rd4 31. Rf3 Rd6 32. Rf4 Rf6 33. Re4+
Re6 34. Rg4 g6 35. Kg2 h5 36. Rc4 Kf6 37. Rf4+ Kg7 38. Rc4 Kf6 39. h4 Re5 40.
Rc3 Rd5 41. Rc2 Re5 42. Rd2 Kg7 43. Bc4 Kf6 44. Rd8 Kg7 45. Bd3 Re6 46. Bc4 Rd6
47. Rg8+ Kh7 48. Re8 Rd2 49. Be2 Kg7 50. Re6 Rb2 51. f4 Rxb3 52. Bb5 Re3 53.
Rc6 Kh7 54. Rc7+ Re7 55. Rc8 Kg7 56. Bd3 Rd7 57. Be4 Rd2+ 58. Kh3 Rd7 59. Rc6
Rd6 60. Rc7+ Kf6 61. Bc2 Rd4 62. Bb3 Be7 63. Bc4 Rd6 64. Kg2 Rd2+ 65. Kf3 Rd6
66. Ke4 Rd8 67. Bd5 Rd6 68. Rb7 Rd8 69. Rxb6+ Rd6 70. Rb5 Bd8 71. Rb7 Be7 72.
Ra7 Rb6 73. Rxa5 Rb4+ 74. Kf3 Rd4 75. Ra6+ Kg7 76. Be4 Rd6 77. Rxd6 Bxd6 78. a5
Bc5 79. a6 Kf6 80. Ke2 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament playoff blitz"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "2011.05.09"]
[Round "1.11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "2011.05.09"]
[EventType "k.o. (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 143"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "300+3"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O exd4 8. Nxd4
Re8 9. f3 Nc6 10. Be3 Nh5 11. Qd2 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 Nf4 13. Be3 Nxe2+ 14. Nxe2 f5
15. Bg5 Qd7 16. Ng3 Qf7 17. Rac1 Bd7 18. b3 a5 19. a4 Be5 20. Bf4 Bg7 21. Kh1
b6 22. Be3 Re6 23. Ne2 Ree8 24. Nc3 Bc6 25. exf5 Qxf5 26. Bd4 Bxd4 27. Qxd4 Re5
28. Nd5 Bxd5 29. cxd5 Qf7 30. Qc4 Re7 31. h3 Rae8 32. Rc2 h5 33. Kh2 Kh7 34.
Rfc1 Rd7 35. f4 Rde7 36. Qd4 Kg8 37. Qf2 Rf8 38. Rc4 Qg7 39. Re1 Rfe8 40. Rxe7
Rxe7 41. Qg3 Qf6 42. h4 Kg7 43. Qg5 Kf7 44. Rc2 Qf5 45. Rc3 Qf6 46. Qxf6+ Kxf6
47. Kg3 Kf5 48. Kf3 Re4 49. Rc4 Re7 50. g3 Kf6 51. Re4 Rf7 52. Re6+ Kf5 53. Re8
Kf6 54. Ke4 Kg7 55. Re6 Kh7 56. Kf3 Kg7 57. g4 hxg4+ 58. Kxg4 Kh7 59. h5 gxh5+
60. Kg5 Kg8 61. f5 Rh7 62. f6 h4 63. Kg6 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament playoff blitz"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "2011.05.09"]
[Round "1.12"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2744"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "2011.05.09"]
[EventType "k.o. (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 143"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "300+3"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Nbd2 Bb6 8. Ba4
Ne7 9. Bc2 c6 10. h3 Ng6 11. d4 Re8 12. Re1 h6 13. Nf1 d5 14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15.
dxe5 Rxe5 16. Bf4 Re8 17. e5 Nh7 18. Qd3 Nf8 19. Rad1 Qh4 20. Bg3 Qg5 21. Kh2
Qg6 22. Qd2 Bf5 23. Bxf5 Qxf5 24. Ne3 Bxe3 25. Rxe3 Rad8 26. Qd4 b6 27. Rf3 Qe6
28. Rfd3 Rd7 29. f4 Qf5 30. Qa4 Rc8 31. c4 Ne6 32. b4 Rcd8 33. Qxc6 Nxf4 34.
Rd4 Ne2 35. Rxd5 Rxd5 36. cxd5 Nxg3 37. Kxg3 Rc8 38. Qb5 Qxe5+ 39. Kf2 Rc2+ 40.
Kg1 Qe3+ 41. Kh2 Qe5+ 42. Kh1 Qd6 43. Qe8+ Qf8 44. Qe4 Rc7 45. d6 Rd7 46. Qc6
Qe8 47. b5 g6 48. a4 Qe6 49. Qc8+ Kg7 50. Qc3+ Qf6 51. Qc6 Qe6 52. Kg1 h5 53.
Qc3+ Qf6 54. Qc6 Qe6 55. Qc3+ Qf6 56. Qg3 h4 57. Qa3 Qe5 58. Qb4 g5 59. Qg4
Qe3+ 60. Kh1 Rxd6 61. Rxd6 Qe1+ 62. Kh2 Qe5+ 63. g3 Qxd6 64. Qxg5+ Kf8 65. Qxh4
Qd2+ 0-1

[Event "Candidates Tournament playoff blitz"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "2011.05.16"]
[Round "2.9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B38"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2747"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2011.05.09"]
[EventType "k.o. (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 143"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 {Most likely, a surprise
for the former World Champion.} ({Kramnik may have counted on the fashionable} 
5... e6) 6. e4 g6 {I could not find any previous games played by Grischuk
against the Maroczy bind. Like in the 5th game of the match, his decision to
leave Kramnik with unchallenged pressure along the d-file looks risky, but he
may have counted on White's practical problems in controlling the whole board
in a blitz game being an important factor.} 7. Be2 Bg7 8. Be3 O-O 9. O-O Bd7
10. Qd2 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Bc6 12. Bd3 {An ambitious move, preparing for a kingside
attack. Its main drawback is releasing the pressure along the d-file, which
later will allow Black set up a blockade on dark squares with ...e5.} ({
Kramnik probably thought that the classical main line,} 12. f3 a5 13. b3 Nd7
14. Be3 Nc5 15. Rab1 Qb6 16. Rfc1 Rfc8 17. Rc2 Qd8 {would offer him less
chances to outplay his opponent in a blitz game.}) 12... a5 13. Rfe1 a4 14. Nd5
{I find this a bit premature.} ({Why not complete the development first?} 14.
Rad1 Re8 {A half-waiting move, which is less useful than Rad1, though.} (14...
Nd7 $6 {is premature because it allows the rook lift to the third rank,
without the necessity of playing Nd5.} 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. Re3 Qa5 17. Be2 {
Black can forget about blocking the centre with ...e5, at least for a while.}
Qg5 18. h4 Qf6 19. h5 $40 {Hartikainen,J-Agopov,V/FIN-chT12 corr 1992/Corr Nr.
1 (1-0, 54)}) 15. Nd5 {White has finished his useful moves and needs to force
the next move, in order to proceed with his attack based on Re3.} Nd7 16. Bxg7
Kxg7 17. Re3 (17. b4 {opens the a-file for the black rook, without really
threatening to attack on the queenside.} axb3 18. axb3 e5 19. Bc2 Nc5 20. b4
Ne6 21. Nc3 Nd4 $11 {Black has comfortable play. One small detail that White
overlooked is that the active knight cannot be exchanged immediately:} 22. Ne2
$2 Nxc2 23. Qxc2 Ba4 $19 {Mortensen,E (2450)-Larsen,B (2580)/Aaland 1989/EXT
97 (0-1, 40)}) (17. Bf1 $5 {is a flexible move, inhibiting Black's planned ...
e5 in view of the pressure against d6.} Qa5 18. Nc3 Kg8 19. Re3 Qe5 20. Rde1
Qg7 21. Nd5 Rac8 22. f4 $14 {Nikcevic,N (2350)-Cabrilo,G (2515)/Cetinje 1992/
EXT 97 (1/2, 26). Black has managed to defend his kingside against an
immediate attack, but his queen is passive, while White's space advantage
remains unchallenged.}) 17... Qa5 {This is the only way of making use of ...
Re8 (the e7-pawn is defended).} ({Maybe} 17... e5 {is safer, but the only
available game, Pinol Fulgoni,F (2133)-Pavlovic,M (2569)/Biel 2003/CBM 095 ext
(0-1, 34), is not too relevant. In any case, after} 18. Rh3 h5 19. Bc2 Nc5 {
the position is similar to that from our main game, with the insertion of Rad1
and ...Re8 which should slightly favour White.}) 18. Qc1 Bxd5 (18... Ne5 19.
Be2 f6 20. f4 Nf7 {is solid, but a bit passive.} 21. Kh1 Rac8 22. b4 axb3 23.
axb3 b5 24. Qb2 Bxd5 25. exd5 $14 {Gufeld,E (2540)-Wu,H (2080)/Kissimmee 1997/
CBM 058 ext (1-0, 46). With his knight doomed to passivity, Black cannot claim
any real counterplay.}) ({It is too late for} 18... e5 {already, because of}
19. Be2 $14 {, when Black experiences problems along the d-file.}) 19. Rh3 Nf6
$2 {This allows a deadly attack.} (19... h5 $14 {is better, when Black should
not fear} 20. Rxh5 gxh5 21. Qg5+ Kf8 $11 {. White has a draw by perpetual, but
not more than that.}) 20. Qh6+ Kg8 21. exd5 Qb6 22. g4 $1 $40 Qd4 23. Rh4 $1
Qxb2 24. g5 $18 {Sorokin,M (2510)-Nielsen,P (2445)/Cheliabinsk 1991/EXT 97 
(1-0, 35)}) 14... Nd7 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. Re3 e5 {The same crucial move we have
seen in the previous comment, aiming to establish a blockade on the dark
squares and enhance the communication between the opposite wings.} 17. Rh3 (17.
Nc3 {fails to cause Black problems on the d-file:} Nc5 18. Rd1 Qe7 19. Bc2 Rfd8
20. Ne2 Kh8 21. b4 axb3 22. axb3 b6 23. f3 Ra2 $132 {Hansen,L (2460)-Mann,C 
(2305)/Gistrup 1990/EXT 97 (1-0, 71)}) 17... h5 18. Ne3 $6 $146 {I have the
feeling that, just as in the 5th game, Kramnik was caught unaware by his
opponent's opening choice. This time, his novelty is not too inspired.} (18.
Nc3 Nc5 19. Rd1 Qe7 20. Re3 Rfd8 {The rook is more effective on this square
than on e8, as in some games quoted above.} 21. Bf1 Qg5 22. Qe1 h4 23. Re2 f5
24. f3 Rd7 25. Rf2 Rad8 {Renet,O (2500)-Sivokho,S (2380)/Paris 1996/CBM 051
ext (0-1, 47). With active black play.}) 18... Rh8 {A super cautious, but not
necessary move.} (18... Nc5 {would have caused White problems with defending
his e4-pawn, while immediate attacking operations do not seem to be available:}
19. Nf5+ $2 (19. g4 $2 Bxe4) 19... gxf5 20. Rg3+ Kh7 21. Qe2 Kh6 22. Rh3 Qg5 {
and the attack will come to an end soon.}) 19. Rg3 Nc5 {Even now, the e4-pawn
is not easy to defend.} 20. Rd1 (20. Nf5+ Kf8 {leaves White hanging.}) ({
Defending the pawn with} 20. f3 {leaves the rook out of play. Moreover, Black
can safely trap it:} h4 21. Rg4 Bd7 22. Nf5+ $140 Kf8 $19) (20. Nd5 {would
have been relatively safest, but this would have been equivalent to admitting
that he had lost two tempi. Black would get pleasant play after} Bxd5 21. cxd5
(21. exd5 e4 22. Bc2 h4 23. Re3 f5 $15) 21... Qa5 $15) 20... h4 21. Rh3 Bxe4
$17 {Black has parried White's threats and won an important pawn. Later, he
won the game and soon the match.} 22. Bf1 Bc6 23. Nd5 Bxd5 24. Qxd5 Ra6 25. Re3
Qf6 26. b4 axb3 27. axb3 Rb6 28. h3 Rxb3 29. Rxb3 Nxb3 30. Qxd6 Qxd6 31. Rxd6
Rc8 32. Rd5 Kf6 33. Rd6+ Ke7 34. Rb6 Nc5 35. g3 hxg3 36. fxg3 Rc6 37. Rb5 f5
38. Kf2 b6 39. Ke3 Rd6 40. h4 Kf6 41. Be2 g5 42. hxg5+ Kxg5 43. Kf3 Rh6 44. Rb1
Ne6 45. Kg2 Nd4 46. Bd1 Rc6 47. Rb5 Nxb5 0-1

[Event "Candidates Tournament playoff blitz"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "2011.05.16"]
[Round "2.10"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2747"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2011.05.09"]
[EventType "k.o. (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 143"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 a6 4. Be3 b5 5. h4 h5 6. Nh3 Bb7 7. Ng5 d6 8. Bd3 Nd7
9. a4 c6 10. Ne2 e5 11. axb5 cxb5 12. c4 Ngf6 13. cxb5 axb5 14. Rxa8 Qxa8 15.
dxe5 dxe5 16. O-O Bc6 17. Qb3 O-O 18. f3 Qb7 19. Rc1 Nb8 20. Nc3 Nh7 21. Bxb5
Nxg5 22. hxg5 Rd8 23. Bc4 Qc7 24. Nd5 Qd7 25. Rd1 Qe8 26. Nf6+ Bxf6 27. gxf6
Nd7 28. Rd6 Rc8 29. Qd3 Nf8 30. b3 Bd7 31. Bh6 Be6 32. Bxf8 Bxc4 33. bxc4 Qxf8
34. c5 Kh7 35. c6 Qh6 36. Qd2 Qxd2 37. Rxd2 Rxc6 38. Rd7 Rxf6 39. Re7 Kh6 40.
Rxe5 g5 41. Kh2 Kg6 42. Ra5 Rd6 43. Kg3 Rc6 44. Rb5 f6 45. Ra5 Rc1 46. Kh2 Re1
47. Rb5 g4 48. Kg3 gxf3 49. gxf3 Re3 50. Rf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament playoff rapid"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "2011.05.09"]
[Round "1.5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D55"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "153"]
[EventDate "2011.05.09"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 143"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Be7 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Rc1 O-O 8. e3
c6 9. Bd3 Nd7 10. O-O dxc4 11. Bxc4 e5 12. d5 $5 ({Decades ago, Kasparov
managed to cause a lot of headache to Karpov with the then unexplored} 12. h3
exd4 13. exd4 Nb6 14. Bb3 {. Nowadays, there are tons of theory in this
variation.}) 12... Nb6 13. b3 $5 {Almost a novelty.} ({In the event of the
more natural} 13. Bb3 {, White has to reckon with ...e5-e4.}) 13... Bf5 14.
dxc6 bxc6 15. e4 Bg4 16. Be2 Bxf3 $146 {Only this is new, with respect to a
game played by correspondence.} (16... Qe7 {Malmstroem,J (1909)-Kuhne,D (2009)/
DESC email 2001/Corr 2004 (1/2, 56)}) 17. Bxf3 Be7 18. Qc2 Bb4 19. Bg4 Ba3 20.
Rcd1 Qe7 21. Nb1 $1 {The knight is heading for f3. A similar manoeuvre
provoked amazement in a famous game Karpov-Spassky, ages ago.} Bc5 22. Nd2 Bb4
23. Nf3 Qf6 24. Rd3 Rfd8 25. Rfd1 Rxd3 26. Qxd3 $14 {White has the better
structure and controls the only open file. His advantage is stable, but not
easy to increase. Kramnik was not able to exploit the presence of
opposite-coloured bishops to create a mating attack, but the same factor
served Radjabov quite well in his bid to achieve a draw in the endgame.} g6 27.
h4 h5 28. Bh3 Re8 29. g3 Qe7 30. Kg2 Qc5 31. Ng5 Kg7 32. Qe2 Qe7 33. Qc2 Qc7
34. Qc1 Be7 35. a4 Rd8 36. Rxd8 Bxd8 37. Nf3 f6 38. g4 hxg4 39. Bxg4 Nd7 40. h5
Nf8 41. Qc4 gxh5 42. Bxh5 Qd7 43. Kg3 Bb6 44. Nh4 Kh8 45. Qf7 Qxf7 46. Bxf7 Kg7
47. Bc4 Bc5 48. f3 Ng6 49. Nf5+ Kf8 50. Kg4 Ne7 51. Ng3 Kg7 52. Be6 Bb4 53.
Nh5+ Kg6 54. f4 exf4 55. Nxf4+ Kg7 56. Bc4 Bd6 57. Ne6+ Kg6 58. a5 Bb4 59. a6
Bd6 60. Nd4 Be5 61. Nf3 Bd6 62. Be6 Kh6 63. Bd7 Kg7 64. Nd4 Be5 65. Ne6+ Kh6
66. Nd8 Bc7 67. Ne6 Bd6 68. Nd4 Be5 69. Nf3 Bd6 70. Nd2 Kg7 71. Nc4 Bc5 72. Kf4
Bb4 73. Ke3 Bc5+ 74. Kd3 Ng6 75. Bxc6 Ne5+ 76. Nxe5 fxe5 77. Kc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament playoff rapid"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "2011.05.09"]
[Round "1.6"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2744"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2011.05.09"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 143"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 Nh5 8. Bd3
Nxf4 9. exf4 b6 10. b4 a5 11. a3 c6 12. O-O Qc7 13. g3 Ba6 14. Bxa6 {A draw
was agreed in this position in the sixth (rapid) Grischuk-Kramnik game. In the
eighth game they were even faster, sealing the same result after 8.Bd3.} ({
The eighth game deviated with} 14. Kg2 Bf6 15. Bxa6 Rxa6 16. Qc2 Rfa8 17. Rab1
axb4 18. axb4 Ra3 19. Rb3 Rxb3 20. Qxb3 Qb7 21. Rb1 h6 22. h4 h5 23. Ne5 {
1/2 Radjabov,T (2744)-Kramnik,V (2785)/Kazan 2011}) 14... Rxa6 15. Qe2 Rfa8 16.
Rab1 axb4 17. axb4 Bf6 18. Rfc1 Ra3 19. Qe1 bxc5 20. bxc5 Qa5 21. Ne5 Nxe5 22.
fxe5 Bg5 23. Rc2 Bd8 24. Kg2 h6 25. h4 Qa6 26. Qd1 Ra1 27. Rcb2 Rxb1 28. Qxb1
Qc4 29. Ne2 Be7 30. Kf1 Bf8 31. Rb4 Ra1 32. Qxa1 Qxb4 33. Qa6 Qb1+ 34. Kg2 Qe4+
35. Kf1 Qh1+ 36. Ng1 Qe4 37. Ne2 Qh1+ 38. Ng1 Qe4 39. Ne2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament playoff rapid"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "2011.05.09"]
[Round "1.7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D53"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2744"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "2011.05.09"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 143"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. Rc1 Ne4 8. Bxe7
Qxe7 {An interesting psychological moment. Radjabov challenges his opponent
with his own weapon.} 9. g3 $5 {An unsuccessful attempt to deviate from the
familiar paths.} Nxc3 $146 {Black does not let himself be distracted from his
main plan, even if White has chosen a different way of developing his kingside.
} (9... Qb4 {Galojan,L (2324)-Gavasheli,A (2191)/Plovdiv 2008/CBM 123 Extra 
(1-0, 51)}) 10. Rxc3 c6 11. Bg2 Nd7 12. O-O dxc4 13. Rxc4 e5 14. Rc3 exd4 15.
Nxd4 Nb6 16. Qc2 Rd8 17. e3 Be6 18. a3 Bd5 $11 {During all this sequence,
Radjabov has just copied Kramnik's moves from the first game of the match,
with a similar result.} 19. b4 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Nd5 21. Rc5 a6 22. Rc1 g6 23. Nf3
Re8 24. Rc4 Rad8 25. Rd4 Nc7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament playoff rapid"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "2011.05.09"]
[Round "1.8"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2744"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2011.05.09"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 143"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "1500+10"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 Nh5 8. Bd3
Nxf4 9. exf4 b6 10. b4 a5 11. a3 c6 12. O-O Qc7 13. g3 Ba6 14. Kg2 Bf6 15. Bxa6
Rxa6 16. Qc2 Rfa8 17. Rab1 axb4 18. axb4 Ra3 19. Rb3 Rxb3 20. Qxb3 Qb7 21. Rb1
h6 22. h4 h5 23. Ne5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament playoff rapid"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "2011.05.16"]
[Round "2.5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A31"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2747"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2011.05.09"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 143"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. g3 e5 $5 {At the top level, such
a hyper-ambitious, but also risky, move has never been tried. Against a
super-technical player like Kramnik, it looks suicidal, but Grischuk's
preparation proved to be very deep. The last move weakens two important
squares with one stroke, but wins time for rapid development and forces White
to waste some time with his central knight before getting on a favourable
route.} 6. Nb5 {Clearly the critical continuation, putting some pressure on d6,
but mainly aiming to stabilise the control over the d5-square with either N1c3
or N5c3.} Bb4+ $5 {A second surprise. This move has rarely been played and
apparently underestimated so far. Before playing ...d6, Black activates his
bishop with gain of time.} ({I twice faced the more passive} 6... d6 {, which
leads to an improved Sveshnikov for White.} 7. Bg2 $1 (7. Bg5 $6 {is premature,
allowing counterplay in the centre.} Be6 8. Nd2 (8. N1a3 {Spears,N-Basanta,G/
Victoria ch-BC 1990 (0-1, 27)} d5 9. cxd5 Bb4+ $36) 8... d5 9. cxd5 Bxd5 10. e4
Be6 11. Bc4 Bb4 12. Bxe6 fxe6 $132 {Filippov,V (2605)-Moiseenko,A (2501)/
Bydgoszcz 1999/EXT 2000 (0-1, 44)}) 7... Be6 (7... Be7 8. N1c3 a6 9. Na3 O-O
10. O-O h6 11. Be3 Bf5 $6 {It is better to develop the bishop to e6,
transposing below. On f5, the bishop is rather exposed than active.} 12. Qd2
Ng4 13. Nd5 Nxe3 14. Nxe3 Be6 15. Nd5 $16 {Marin,M (2604)-Bellon Lopez,J (2430)
/Gothenburg 2001/CBM 081/[Marin,M] (1-0, 67)}) 8. N1a3 Be7 ({Black is too slow
if he prevents Bg5 with} 8... h6 9. O-O Be7 10. Nc3 O-O 11. Nd5 Rc8 {Rahman,Z 
(2557)-Zhumabaev,R (2405)/New Delhi 2006/CBM 110 ext (1-0, 37)} 12. Nb5 $1 $146
Ne8 13. Be3 $16) 9. O-O O-O 10. Bg5 Ne8 {Avoiding the unfavourable exchange
Bxf6, but losing a tempo.} 11. Be3 Nf6 12. Nc3 Qd7 13. Nd5 Rfc8 (13... Bxd5 14.
cxd5 $16) 14. Qd2 $14 {Marin,M (2530)-Lupu,M (2480)/Andorra 1996/CBM 54 ext/
[Marin,M] (1-0, 31)}) 7. N1c3 {The most logical way to fight for the
initiative.} (7. Bd2 a6 8. N5c3 ({Maybe} 8. Bxb4 {should be investigated, but
after} axb5 9. Bd6 Qa5+ 10. Nd2 Ne4 {it would be not easy for White to
maintain the blockade on d6.}) 8... d5 9. cxd5 Nxd5 $132 {Gutman,L (2460)
-Hornung,H (2200)/Bad Woerishofen 2005/EXT 2006 (1-0, 33)}) (7. N5c3 d5 $15)
7... d6 8. Bg2 $146 {I do not exclude the possibility that Kramnik had never
paaid serious attention to this line. Therefore, his novelty may have been the
fruit of over-the-board inspiration. The English Opening specialists are
familiar with the fact that in such strategically unbalanced positions White
should develop as quickly as possible.} ({Spending time on} 8. a3 {, which
also weakens the b3-square and, indirectly, the c4-pawn, hardly comes to mind
during a game between top players.} Bxc3+ 9. Nxc3 Be6 10. e4 ({This weakens d4,
but there was no favourable way of defending the pawn, for instance} 10. Qa4
Qa5 $15) ({Maybe he should have sacrificed it with} 10. Bg5 $5 {Black does not
seem to be in danger after} Bxc4 {, though.}) 10... Rc8 11. f3 (11. Be3 Ng4
$132) 11... a6 $6 (11... Qb6 $1 $15 {would leave White with difficult problems
with completing his development.}) 12. Be3 Na5 13. b3 b5 14. Nd5 $1 {After
this move, Black's counterplay is neutralised.} Nxd5 15. cxd5 Bd7 16. Rb1 O-O
17. Bg2 Nb7 ({This knight will remain passive on b7, so maybe he could have
considered} 17... f5 $5) 18. b4 Rc3 19. Rb3 Qc7 20. O-O ({White should have
taken just one more preventive measure against Black's counterplay:} 20. Bd2 $1
Rc2 21. Bf1 Qc8 22. Bd3 Rc7 23. O-O $14 {[%csl Gb7]}) 20... Rc8 21. Re1 Qc4
$132 {Knott,S (2333)-Edouard,R (2636)/Hastings 2010/CBM 140 Extra (1/2, 51).
Black's activity along the c-file compensates for the passive knight.}) 8... a6
{After this simple move, White will be left with chronic queenside weaknesses.}
9. Na3 {There is no reasonable alternative.} ({After} 9. Qa4 Bd7 $15 {the
knight will have to retreat anyway, leaving the queen in a dangerous
opposition with the d7-bishop.}) ({The intermediate} 9. a3 $2 {sadly does not
work because after} axb5 $19 {the a3-pawn is pinned.}) 9... Bxc3+ $1 {
Eliminating the knight that was closer to the d5-square.} ({From the
structural point of view,} 9... Bxa3 $6 {may be more tempting, because it
forces White to capture away from the centre, but after} 10. bxa3 O-O 11. O-O
Be6 12. Nd5 $14 {White remains in control of the position.}) 10. bxc3 O-O 11.
O-O ({With the king in the centre, the thematic} 11. Bg5 {is a bit premature
because of} Qa5 $5 12. Qc1 Nd7 13. O-O Nc5 $132) 11... h6 $5 {Highly ambitious
and maybe rightly so. Black intends to prove that the dark-squared bishop is a
bad piece.} ({There was nothing wrong with} 11... Be6 {, but White would not
have faced big problems either:} 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. Qxd6 Rfd8 15. Qc7
Rd7 16. Qb6 Qd8 $44) 12. Nc2 {White plays logical moves all the way, but will
get into an unpleasant position all-the-same. The knight manoeuvre to e3-d5 is
natural, but time consuming.} (12. Rb1 $5 {/\Be3 may be an alternative.}) 12...
Qc7 13. Ne3 Be6 14. Ba3 Rfd8 {Black has covered his weak squares and is ready
to attack the weak white pawns.} 15. Bb4 $2 {Aiming to prevent ...Na5, but
placing the bishop on a bad square.} ({The thematic} 15. Nd5 {offers Black
excellent play after} Bxd5 16. cxd5 Na5 $15 {with dreams of a complete
blockade on c5 and/or c4.}) (15. Rb1 {may be sounder, but Black has plenty of
counterplay anyway.} Na5 (15... b5 $5) 16. Qd3 Rac8 $5 (16... Rab8 17. Rfd1
Nxc4 18. Nxc4 Bxc4 19. Bxd6 Bxd3 20. Bxc7 Bxb1 21. Rxb1 $14) (16... Bxc4 17.
Nxc4 Nxc4 18. Rxb7 Qc8 19. Rb3 Ra7 $11) 17. Rb4 b6 $5 18. Nd5 Bxd5 19. cxd5 b5
$132) 15... Rac8 (15... Bxc4 $5 {wins a pawn, for instance:} 16. Nxc4 Nxb4 17.
cxb4 Qxc4 18. Bxb7 Rab8 19. Rc1 Qxa2 $17) 16. Rb1 e4 $1 $15 {Once the
g2-bishop is neutralised, White's position in the centre becomes precarious.}
17. Qa4 $6 a5 (17... b5 $1 18. cxb5 axb5 $17 19. Qxb5 $6 Ra8 $1 {/\...Rdb8.}
20. Nf5 {The only way to save the queen, based on the threat Qxc6!} Kh8 $1 21.
Bxd6 Qd7 {and White loses material.}) 18. Ba3 Ne5 19. c5 $5 {The only hope to
get at least some saving chances.} dxc5 20. c4 Neg4 (20... Rd4 21. Bb2) (20...
Rd2 $5 21. Rb2 Rd4 22. Rc2 Nfg4 $17 {[%csl Gc4]}) 21. Nxg4 Bxg4 22. Qc2 Qd7 23.
Bb2 (23. Rfd1 Qe6 (23... Qe7 24. h3 Bf5 25. Rxd8+ Rxd8 26. Rb5) 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8
25. Bxc5 e3 $1 $17 26. Bxe3 $2 Bf5 $19) 23... Qd2 $15 24. Qxd2 Rxd2 25. Bxf6
gxf6 26. Bxe4 Bxe2 27. Rfc1 Rcd8 28. Bxb7 Rxa2 29. Bd5 Rd7 30. Rb5 Rc7 31. Rcb1
a4 32. Ra5 Kg7 33. Kg2 Bd3 34. Rb8 f5 35. Rba8 Bc2 36. Kf3 Be4+ $6 $11 {
There was no need for panic, because White did not have concrete threats yet.}
37. Bxe4 fxe4+ 38. Ke3 Rc2 39. Rxa4 Re7 40. Rd8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament playoff rapid"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "2011.05.16"]
[Round "2.6"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2747"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "27"]
[EventDate "2011.05.09"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 143"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 Nh5 8. b4
Nxf4 9. exf4 c6 10. Bd3 b6 11. O-O a5 12. a3 Qc7 13. g3 Ba6 14. Bxa6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament playoff rapid"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "2011.05.16"]
[Round "2.7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2747"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "2011.05.09"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 143"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. e3 Nf6 5. d4 e4 ({Deviating from} 5... cxd4 6.
exd4 e4 {as played in the second game.}) 6. Ne5 g6 $5 $146 (6... cxd4 7. exd4 {
would have transposed back to the theoretical lines.}) 7. Rb1 $5 {(!!) A very
deep (and, to my understanding, strong) prophylactic move. White would like to
play b2-b3 and Bb2 in order to take advantage of the weakness of the long
diagonal, but he has to do it with care.} (7. b3 $6 {is premature because of}
cxd4 8. exd4 Qa5 $36 {The rook will prove useful on b1 in many situations.})
7... h5 8. Be2 Qe7 {This is the right moment, the one White was waiting for!}
9. b3 cxd4 (9... Nxe5 10. dxe5 Qxe5 11. Bb2 $36 {the bishop is defended, which
makes Nb5 inevitable, with strong initiative.}) 10. exd4 d6 (10... Nxe5 11.
dxe5 Qxe5 12. O-O $44 {based on} Qxc3 13. Bb2 $36 {Again, the rook move proves
useful.}) 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Bg5 Bf5 13. O-O Bh6 {The pin has to be released
somehow, even if this means giving up the right to castle.} (13... Bg7 14. f3
$36) 14. Bxh6 Rxh6 15. Qc1 Rh8 16. Qf4 Kf8 17. b4 Kg7 18. Rb3 h4 19. h3 $14 {
White's position is very promising at this stage, because of his clear
queenside plan and stability on the dark squares. Grischuk eventually managed
to survive, but the position certainly was no fun for him!} Rae8 20. b5 c5 21.
Qe3 Rd8 22. a4 d5 23. cxd5 Nxd5 24. Nxd5 Rxd5 25. dxc5 Qxc5 26. a5 Qxe3 27.
fxe3 Rb8 28. Rc1 a6 29. Rcb1 Be6 30. Rb4 axb5 31. Rxb5 Rbxb5 32. Bxb5 Rd2 33.
Ra1 Bd5 34. a6 Rb2 35. Bf1 Kf6 36. Ra5 Rd2 37. Rc5 Ke6 38. Ra5 Kd6 39. Bc4 Rd1+
40. Kh2 Ba8 41. Bxf7 Rd3 42. a7 Kc7 43. Rb5 Bb7 44. Ra5 Ba8 45. Re5 Kb6 46. Re7
g5 47. Bg6 Rxe3 48. Kg1 Ra3 49. Bxe4 Bxe4 50. Rxe4 Kxa7 51. Kf2 Kb6 52. Re5 g4
53. hxg4 Rg3 54. Re4 Kc5 55. g5 Rxg5 56. Rxh4 Kd5 57. Rf4 Ke5 58. Rf8 Ke6 59.
Rf3 Ke5 60. Rf7 Ke6 61. Rf8 Ke5 62. Kg1 Rf5 63. Rxf5+ Kxf5 64. Kf1 Kf4 65. Kf2
Kg4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament playoff rapid"]
[Site "Kazan"]
[Date "2011.05.16"]
[Round "2.8"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2747"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "15"]
[EventDate "2011.05.09"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "4"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 143"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 Nh5 8. Bd3
1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 39th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2011.07.21"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2781"]
[BlackElo "2764"]
[Annotator "Ponomariov,R"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2011.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Last year, I managed to win the Dortmund tournamewnt, in large measure thanks
to a striking win against one of the favourites, Vladimir Krtamnik, at the
start of the tournament. This time, the draw brought us together in the very
first round, and there was no doubt that a principled battle would ensue,
which might well have a large say in the future course of the tournament.} 1.
d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 $5 {A small surprise. Here Vladimir thought for a time,
wondering whether I was planning to play the Grünfeld Defence, which he had
pointedly avoided in his Candidates match against Grischuk, by playing English
setups.} 3. Nc3 {But no; I had decided to trust my luck with the King's Indian.
} Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. O-O exd4 ({In his match with me,
Nakamura chose either} 7... Nc6) ({or} 7... Na6 {and although he did not solve
all his opening problems, the positions reached are quite complicated, with
chances to confuse matters. In preparing for the match, I had to look at other
alternatives for Black, one of which I decided to try here.}) 8. Nxd4 Re8 9. f3
c6 10. Kh1 {Logical prophylaxis against ...Qb6.} ({It is well known that the
transposition into the Gligoric System favours Black after} 10. Be3 d5 $1 {
Admittedly, if White wishes to simplify the game, this is not so bad. For
example, several games have continued} 11. cxd5 Nxd5 ({or} 11... cxd5 12. Qb3)
12. Nxd5 cxd5 13. Qb3 Nc6 14. Rad1 {and it is not so easy for Black to
complicate matters, if he needs to win at all costs.}) 10... Nbd7 ({Not} 10...
d5 $6 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Bg5 {which looks dangerous for Black. The most
well-known example of this is the game Tal -Spassky,Montreal 1979.}) ({But
there is the interesting} 10... Nh5 $5 {which Alexander Grischuk tried at the
recent Monaco tournament. In choosing the game continuation I was motivated
more by subjective criteria than by trying to find the strongest move. During
the Candidates matches in Kazan, Kramnik's opponents were Radjabov and
Grischuk, so he was bound to have looked at the King's Indian. But I thought
he was likely to have given less attention to the text move, whilst such a
development of his pieces should not be so bad for Black.}) 11. Be3 $5 {
But Vladimir is not caught out and shows that in every line, he has his ideas.}
({The main move is considered to be} 11. Bg5 {preventing d5.}) 11... a6 $5 ({
Here too, Black should look at} 11... d5 $5 12. cxd5 Nxd5 $1 ({If} 12... cxd5 {
then there is the very unpleasant} 13. Ndb5 dxe4 14. Bf4 $1) {But I did not
like the fact that White has quite a pleasant choice between simplifying with}
13. exd5 ({and the more ambitious} 13. Nxd5 cxd5 14. Nb5 Nb6 (14... dxe4 15.
Nd6 $14) 15. Bf4) 13... Rxe3 14. dxc6 {Probably, Black should have
compensation for the pawn here. But White is not risking much. In the game, I
wanted to retain more tension and not exchange so many pieces.}) ({In any
event, this variation has not been explored much and it is hard to say what is
best. Again, an interesting alternative is the Grischuk-style idea} 11... Nh5
$5 12. g4 Nhf6) ({or} 11... a5 $5 12. Qd2 a4 {If one looks at the games from
the 1953 Zurich Candidates tournament, one can find games with the same pawn
structure, only there it was with the white bishop on g2, rather than e2. So,
whom does this favour?}) 12. Nc2 $5 {[%csl Rd6] Judging by the times, I think
here Vladimir started to play on his own resources, The move he played is
quite ambitious; he emphasises the main weakness of the black position, the
weak pawn on d6. But at the same time, without positional grounds, White
retreats his knight from the centre. However, at the board it is impossible to
calculate every line and the choice is about one's confidence in one's own
strengths.} ({Admittedly, White cannot play totally routinely. On} 12. Qd2 {
there is already the very strong} d5 13. cxd5 cxd5 14. exd5 Nb6 $132) ({
But the cautious} 12. Bg1 {is possible, after which I intended to drive the
white knight from the centre by} c5 $5 ({The computer even recommends losing a
couple of tempi by} 12... Nh5 13. f4 Nhf6 14. Bf3 Nb6 15. b3 c5 16. Nde2 Bg4
17. Qd2 Bxf3 18. gxf3 $13 {[%csl Rd6,Rf3,Rf4] but I think it is easier to play
White here.}) ({Black does not solve all his problems by} 12... d5 13. cxd5
cxd5 14. exd5 Nb6 15. Qb3 Nfxd5 (15... Nbxd5 16. Bc4 $16) 16. Ne4 $36 ({or} 16.
Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Bc4 Bxd4 18. Bxd4 Be6 19. Rfd1 Qg5 20. Bf1 Re7 21. Rac1 $14 {^^})
) 13. Nc2 Ne5 {and the later possibilities include Be6, Nc6, Nd7 in general,
Black has sufficient counterplay}) 12... Ne5 {Also principled. Black must play
actively, else his weaknesses will gradually tell.} 13. f4 (13. Qd2 Be6 14. b3
b5 $132) 13... Neg4 14. Bg1 h5 $1 {The last three moves are reminiscent of the
Modern Benoni. Black is prepared to sacrifice a knight for active play.} 15.
Bf3 ({A good example of Black's idea is the direct} 15. h3 $6 Nxe4 $1 16. Nxe4
Rxe4 17. hxg4 Qh4+ 18. Bh2 hxg4 $5 19. g3 Qe7 20. Bd3 b5 $1 {and the white
king is quite unsafe.}) 15... Be6 16. b3 $6 {The first step in the wrong
direction. Of course, it is natural to defend the pawn on c4, but at the same
time, the move b2-b3 weakens the long diagonal and gives Black additional
tactical possibilities.} ({The correct continuation for White was pointed out
by Konstantin Landa, in his online analysis:} 16. Qd3 $1 {after which I think
White's chances are better, although Black still has ways to defend his
position} b5 ({Either} 16... g5 17. Bxg4 Nxg4 18. h3 $1 gxf4 19. hxg4 hxg4 20.
Rxf4 Be5 21. Qg3 $16) (16... Nd7 17. Qxd6 $1) 17. Rfd1 $1 Bh6 $5 ({The
exchange of queens turns out to be bad for Black after} 17... Bxc4 18. Qxd6 {
since the knight on g4 is out of play.}) 18. g3 g5 19. cxb5 axb5 $13 {and
White still has to find a series of accurate moves to neutralise Black's
activity.}) 16... Qa5 $1 $13 17. Qe1 $6 {[%csl Rc3,Re4][%cal Ge8e1] A strange
move, which I did not even consider during the game. The white queens stands
on the e-file, opposite the black rook on e8. As a result, the number of
possible tactical blows grows.} (17. Qd2 {is stronger although White has to
see in advance that after} Nd5 $5 {he has the not very human move} 18. Nb1 $1
Qxd2 19. Nxd2 {and Black now has} Nxf4 20. Bxg4 Bxg4 21. Rxf4 Bc3 $1 $132 22.
Nf3 (22. Be3 Bxa1 23. Nxa1 Be2) 22... Bxa1 23. Nxa1 Bxf3 24. gxf3 d5 25. cxd5
cxd5 $132 {and the bad position of the white pieces cancels out his small
material advantage, although not more than that.}) ({I would note too that on} 
17. Qd3 {Black has another tactical trick} d5 $1 {Although here too, White
should be able to maintain equality.} 18. cxd5 Nxd5 19. Nxd5 Bxa1 20. Bb6 Qb5
21. Qxb5 axb5 22. Nc7 Bc3 23. Nxe8 Rxe8 24. h3 Nf6 25. Bd4 Bxd4 26. Nxd4 $11)
17... b5 $6 ({Of course, we both saw the pin} 17... Bf5 $1 {but it seemsed to
us both that Black is not threatening to take on e4, and so White has a move
to consolidate. However, this is not the case. On} 18. h3 $6 ({Or} 18. Nd4 Qd8
$36) {I did not see the quiet move} 18... Qd8 $3 {after which White has very
serious problems with the e4 pawn. But such retreating moves are not so easy
for a human to see, especially when the queen has only recently come from d8.
Instead of this, I played another natural move, keeping the tension.}) 18. c5
$2 {It is strange, but my opponent did not take long over this decision,
although the position appears very complicated. In addition, White does not in
any way solve the problem of his hanging centre.} ({This was a good moment for
the consolidating move} 18. h3 $1 {and if} bxc4 19. Nd4 $1 {returning the
knight to the centre. Frankly speaking, I do not see anything clear for Black,
and if his activity dioes out, his position is strategically hopeless.}) 18...
b4 19. Na4 {Another important moment in the game, and maybe the tournament.}
Bc4 $2 {Sadly, I saw this move and could immediately understand why it was bad.
} ({I saw the blow} 19... Nxe4 $1 {If there were no other moves in the
position, one would play it automatically. But I was rather put off by the
fact that Vladimir had allowed it so happily. The variations are not so
complicated, but I did not manage to assess them properly.} 20. Qxe4 (20. Bxe4
$6 Bd5 $5 ({Less clear is} 20... Bf5 21. Bxf5 Rxe1 22. Raxe1 gxf5 23. cxd6 $13
{Black has won the queen, but the white passed pawn is very unpleasant}) 21.
Qxb4 Qxb4 22. Nxb4 Bxe4 23. Rae1 a5 24. Nb6 axb4 25. Nxa8 d5 $1 26. Nb6 Bc3 $5
$36 ({Or} 26... Nh6 {and Black has excellent compensation for the exchange})) (
20. Qxb4 Qxb4 21. Nxb4 Nxc5 {Unlike the game, Black cannot be worse in the
complications} ({Also interesting is} 21... Nef2+ $5 22. Bxf2 Nxf2+ 23. Kg1
dxc5 (23... Ng4 24. Nxc6 Bxa1 25. Rxa1 dxc5 26. Nb6 Rab8 27. Nxb8 Rxb8 28. Na4
c4 29. Nc5) 24. Kxf2 Bd4+ 25. Kg3 Bxa1 26. Rxa1 cxb4 27. Bxc6 Bf5 $11)) 20...
Bxb3 21. axb3 Rxe4 22. Bxe4 Bxa1 23. Rxa1 {I was afraid that I could lose all
my queenside pawns and the minor pieces would be stronger than the queen. But
in reality, White has more problems here, because of the bad position of his
king. The computer suggests} Re8 $1 ({but also good is the human move} 23...
Qc7 $5) 24. cxd6 (24. Bxc6 $140 Re2 25. Nb6 Nf2+ 26. Bxf2 Rxf2 $19) 24... Qd8
25. Bxc6 Re6 $36 {[%csl Rh1] with excellent play}) 20. Qxb4 {Giving up the
exchange, but at the same time, the queens are exchanged and many dangers are
past for White.} Qxb4 21. Nxb4 Bxf1 22. Rxf1 Nxe4 23. Nb6 {Only now did I
understand that things are not so simple for Black. Although he has an extra
exchange, it is his move, and his pieces, especially the knights, are very
active, I could not find anything to do. The white pieces somehow seem to slip
away from the attacks.} ({ÏFor some reason, at first I only reckoned on the
capture} 23. cxd6 Rad8 24. Bxe4 Rxe4 25. Bc5 Bf8 $1 26. Nxc6 Rxd6 27. Bxd6 Bxd6
{White has regained the exchange and even has an extra pawn, but because of
his king, he still has problems.}) 23... Ra7 $5 ({Nor is there anything clear
for Black after} 23... dxc5 24. Nxc6 {I decided not to hurry returning the
exchange.}) 24. cxd6 Nxd6 25. Bxc6 {Staring from move 20, with queens gone,
Vladimir starts to play very well, choosing the most unpleasant moves for
Black.} ({Black's play would be easier after} 25. Nc4 Nxc4 (25... Rae7 $5 26.
Nxd6 Re1 27. Rxe1 Rxe1 28. h3 Bd4 29. hxg4 hxg4 30. Bxg4 Bxg1 31. Nd3 Ra1 32.
Nc4 $13) 26. Bxa7 Nd2 27. Bxc6 (27. Rd1 Nxf3 28. gxf3 Ne3 $132) 27... Re7 $1
28. Bc5 Re6 29. Rc1 (29. Rd1 Bf8 $1) 29... Bb2 30. Rd1 Ba3 31. Bf3 Nxf3 32.
gxf3 Nf2+ 33. Bxf2 Bxb4 $132 {and because of his weak pawns, it is quite hard
for White to realise his small material advantage.}) 25... Re2 26. N6d5 ({
Someone at the press conference suggested} 26. Bf3 {, but again, it is easier
for Black to play here:} Rd2 27. Nc4 Nxc4 28. Bxa7 Nce3 {and the activity of
his pieces gives Black good grounds for optimism.}) 26... Nc8 $8 {Almost
unnoticed, my knight has retreated from the centre to the edge of the board,
whilst White has brought his knight from a4 into the centre!} 27. h3 Nh6 $2 {
I was still too optimistic and hoped to seize the initiative, although after
his latest knight manoeuvres, Black should be a little careful.} ({Otherwise I
would of course have played} 27... a5 $1 $14 {with good drawing chances, eg.}
28. hxg4 (28. Nd3 Nh6) 28... axb4 29. Nxb4 (29. Bxa7 Nxa7 30. Nxb4 Nxc6 31.
Nxc6 Rxa2 32. gxh5 Rc2 33. Ne7+ Kf8 34. Nd5 Rd2) 29... hxg4 30. Bb5 Re4 31. Rc1
Nd6 32. Bxa7 Nxb5 33. Bc5 Rxf4 34. Nd5 Re4 35. a4 Nd4 $132) 28. Rc1 $1 {
It turns out that White does not have to rush to take the rook on a7, as it is
not going anywhere.} Nf5 {To my horror, I realised that in the tactics, White
can take the Nc8 with check, after which the Ra7 becomes indefensible. At the
same time, I cannot even organise perpetual check, because when the bishop on
g1 takes the Ra7, it frees g1 for the white king!} ({No better is} 28... Kh7
29. Ba4 Nf5 30. Kh2 $1 Nfd6 31. Bxa7 Nxa7 32. Rc2 {and White neutralises the
activity of the black pieces.}) 29. Bb5 $1 Ng3+ ({Maybe more practical chances
were offered by} 29... Rc7 $5 {which at least is a very striking move. But
after} 30. Nxc7 (30. Rxc7 $140 $2 Ng3+ 31. Kh2 Nf1+ $11) 30... axb5 31. Nxb5
Nce7 {there are still no threats to the white king, whilst the white passed
pawns should decide.}) 30. Kh2 Nf1+ 31. Rxf1 axb5 {Unfortunately, now Black
does not have the resource a6-a5 and the white knight feels totally
comfortable.} 32. Bxa7 Nxa7 33. Kg3 $1 ({After} 33. Rc1 {White traps the enemy
knight, but after} h4 {his king still has problems.}) 33... Nc8 34. Rd1 {
[%csl Rc8]} Bf8 $138 35. Kf3 Rb2 36. g4 $5 Kg7 {It is hard for Black to defend
and my time-trouble made White's task easier.} ({It was dangerous, but still
possible to open the h-file by} 36... hxg4+ 37. hxg4 Kg7 38. g5 Rh2 $1 {
Instead, I decided to try to activate my pieces at the cost of a second pawn,
but my opponent was very accurate.}) 37. gxh5 Nd6 ({Here too, there was the
more tenacious} 37... gxh5 38. Rg1+ Kh6 {and in any event, White cannot play
for a direct attack:} 39. Nd3 $6 Rd2 $1 40. Ke3 Rh2 41. Ne5 $4 Bc5+) 38. hxg6
fxg6 39. Nc7 $1 Kf7 $6 (39... Nf5) 40. Nd3 $1 Rxa2 41. Ne5+ Kf6 ({Or} 41... Kg8
42. Nxg6 $18) 42. Nd7+ {and in view of further material losses Black resigned.
Probably, the choice of opening in this game, and my play in general, was
rather risky. But as Vladimir's game from the final round showed, it is
perfectly possible to play the King's Indian against him. If I had utilised my
chances in this game, with 17...Bf5 or 19...Ne4, maybe the tournament also
would have ended differently. In the next two rounds, I managed to win both in
a row, despite this defeat. But after his start, Vladimir made a fantastic 4,5
out of 5 in the first cycle and as a result, won Dortmund for the tenth time.
I would like to congratulate him on this unique achievement! .} 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 39th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2011.07.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Meier, Georg"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E15"]
[WhiteElo "2656"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2011.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 O-O 8. Nc3
d5 9. cxd5 exd5 10. O-O Re8 11. Rc1 Bb7 12. Ne5 Na6 (12... Nbd7 {is another
option in this old theoretical line.}) 13. Bf4 {Or else:} (13. Nb5 c5 14. dxc5
bxc5 15. Qe1 Bf8 16. Bc3 $2 (16. Nd3 $11) 16... Qb8 17. Nf3 d4 $19 {0-1 Zhu
Chen (2497)-Chiburdanidze,M (2513)/Batumi 2001/CBM 086 (36)}) (13. Na4 Bd6 14.
Nd3 Qe7 15. Re1 Ne4 16. Bf4 {1-0 Blagojevic,D (2425)-Dizdarevic,E (2505)/
Kladovo 1991/TD (45)} Ba3 17. Rc2 Rad8 $13) (13. Bg5 Ne4 (13... c6 14. e3 Rc8
15. Re1 Nc7 16. e4 Ne6 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. exd5 cxd5 19. Bh3 g6 $11 {1-0
Magerramov,E (2565)-Aseev,K (2560)/Podolsk 1992/EXT 1997 (37)}) 14. Bxe7 Qxe7
15. e3 c5 16. Nd3 cxd4 17. exd4 Rac8 (17... Nc7 18. Re1 Qd6 19. Nf4 {1/2
Gligoric,S (2510)-Spassky,B (2615)/Bugojno 1984/MCD}) 18. Nb5 Rxc1 19. Qxc1 Nb4
20. Bxe4 dxe4 21. Nxb4 Qxb4 22. Qc7 Qxb5 23. Qxb7 Qb4 24. Qd7 Qe7 25. Qxe7 Rxe7
{1/2 Gyimesi,Z (2529)-Farago,I (2533)/Lillafured 1999/CBM 070}) (13. Be3 c6 (
13... h6 14. Qc2 c6 15. f4 Bd6 16. Bf2 Qe7 17. Bf3 Rac8 18. Qb1 Nc7 19. Rfd1 {
1-0 Pinter,J (2565)-Sax,G (2535)/Szirak 1985/MCD (39)} Ba3 20. Rc2 Nb5 $1 21.
Nxb5 cxb5 $132 {[%cal Yf6e4]}) 14. Qd3 (14. f4 Bb4 15. Qc2 Rc8 16. Rfd1 Nc7 17.
Qb2 Qe7 18. Nb1 Nb5 19. Bd2 c5 $1 $36 {0-1 Berebora,F (2390)-Dizdarevic,E 
(2515)/Solin 1994/EXT 1997 (37)}) 14... Ba3 15. Rb1 Nc7 16. b4 Qe7 17. Bd2 Bxb4
18. Rxb4 Qxb4 19. Nxd5 Qd6 20. Bb4 Qd8 21. Nxf6+ Qxf6 22. Rc1 Rac8 $13 {
1-0 Makovsky,P (2457)-Skeels,J (2327)/IECG 2006/Telechess 117 (53)}) 13... h6 (
13... c5 14. Nb5 {[%csl Gb5]} (14. e3 $5 h6 $5) 14... Ne4 $6 (14... h6 {
- see below}) 15. dxc5 $1 Bxc5 16. Nd3 Qd7 17. a4 d4 18. b4 (18. Nxc5 $142 bxc5
19. f3 Nf6 20. e4 $1 $16) 18... Nxb4 19. Nxb4 Bxb4 20. Rc7 Qd5 21. Qxd4 $14 {
1/2 Fridman,D (2661)-Miroshnichenko,E (2690)/Eforie Nord 2009/CBM 132 Extra 
(27)}) (13... c6 {needs checking:} 14. e4 Nc7 15. exd5 cxd5 16. a4 Ne6 17. Be3
Bb4 18. Qd3 a6 19. Bh3 h6 $11 {0-1 Schandorff,L (2497)-Hansen,S (2553)/Koge
2005/CBM 105 ext (59)}) 14. Nb5 (14. Qd3 c5 $1 (14... Ba3 15. Rcd1 Bf8 16. h3
c5 17. g4 Nc7 18. Bg3 Qc8 19. Rc1 Ne4 $132 {1/2 Petursson,M (2565)-Stefansson,
H (2555)/Iceland 1998/EXT 2000 (32)}) 15. Qf5 (15. Nb5 Nb4 16. Qd2 a6) 15...
cxd4 16. Nb5 Bc5 17. Nf3 Rxe2 18. Nfxd4 Rxa2 19. Be5 Ne4 $17 {1/2 Hebden,M 
(2500)-Langeweg,K (2405)/Benidorm 1992/TD (46)}) (14. Nd3 Bf8 15. Rc2 c6 16.
Qa1 Nb4 17. Nxb4 Bxb4 18. a3 Bf8 19. Rd1 Qd7 20. Qb2 Qf5 {1/2 Vescovi,
G-Spraggett,K/Buenos Aires 2005}) (14. g4 c5 15. e3 Nc7 16. Bg3 Ne6 17. dxc5
bxc5 18. h3 Bd6 19. Ne2 h5 $132 {0-1 Roobol,M (2342)-Spoelman,W (2546)/
Vlissingen 2009/CBM 131 Extra (35)}) (14. h4 $5 {needs more tests as the games
played so far are not too convincing:} c5 (14... Ba3 $5 15. Rc2 c6) 15. dxc5 (
15. Nb5 $5) 15... Nxc5 (15... Bxc5 16. Nd3 Ba3 17. Rc2 Qd7 18. Ne5 Qe7 19. Nb5
Bc5 20. Nd3 Red8 21. Qb1 $14 {1/2 Jussupow,A (2645)-Chuchelov,V (2550)/Ohrid
2001/CBM 084 (25)}) 16. Be3 Bd6 17. Bxc5 bxc5 18. Nc4 Bc7 19. Rc2 Rb8 20. Rd2
d4 21. Bxb7 Rxb7 22. Na4 Ne4 $15 {1/2 Radjabov,T (2729)-Gelfand,B (2733)/Monte
Carlo 2007/CBM 117 ext (46)}) 14... Bf8 (14... c5 15. Nc4 (15. dxc5 $5 bxc5 16.
Nc4) (15. a3 $5 Bf8 16. Bh3 {can lead to the game position}) 15... Bc6 $1 16.
Ncd6 Rf8 (16... Bxb5 17. Nxb5 Qd7 18. a4 Rac8 19. Qd2 Nb4 $11 {V.Ivanchuk}) 17.
dxc5 bxc5 18. Nd4 (18. Qd2 Qd7 19. Qa5 {V.Ivanchuk} Nb8 $1 {[%cal Re7d8,Ra7a6]}
20. e4 $1 a6 $1 21. Nc7 Bxd6 22. Bxd6 Qxd6 23. exd5 Ra7 $1 24. dxc6 Qxc7 25.
Qxc5 a5 $1 $13) 18... cxd4 $1 19. Rxc6 Nb4 20. Nb7 Qe8 21. Rc7 Na6 22. Rc1 Qb5
23. Nd6 Qd7 24. Qd3 $1 Bxd6 25. Qxa6 Bxf4 26. gxf4 Qg4 27. Qd3 $1 Qxf4 28. Rcd1
Rfe8 29. Rfe1 Rac8 30. Qxd4 Qxd4 31. Rxd4 Rc2 $11 {1/2 Aronian,L (2752)
-Ivanchuk,V (2729)/Morelia/Linares 2006/CBM 112/[Avrukh,B] (35)}) 15. Bh3 $146
{[%mdl 8]} (15. Nc6 Qd7 16. Nbxa7 $2 (16. Qc2 $142 Nb4 $1 17. Nxb4 Qxb5 18. Nd3
Ba3 19. Rcd1 Re7 $11) {doesn't work due to} 16... Rxa7 $1 17. Nxa7 Ra8 18. Qc2
c5 19. a3 Rxa7 20. Rfd1 Qe6 $17 {0-1 Onischuk,A (2670)-Alekseev,E (2708)/Biel
2008/CBM 126 (52)}) 15... c5 16. a3 {Now both White's b5-knight and a3-pawn
restrict Black's pieces on the queenside.} Ne4 (16... Nh5 $5) 17. Rc2 g6 18.
Qc1 g5 {Black must weaken his position to lift the pressure. The play becomes
extremely complicated.} 19. Be3 Bg7 20. Nf3 $6 {Too passive.} (20. f4 f6 21.
Nd3 c4 22. bxc4 dxc4 23. Rxc4 Nxg3 24. hxg3 Qd5 25. Kf2 Qxb5 $132) (20. f3 $142
$1 Nd6 21. Nxd6 Qxd6 22. f4 f6 $140 23. Nd3 c4 24. bxc4 dxc4 25. Rxc4 Qd5 26.
Ne1 $1 Qh1+ 27. Kf2 Qxh2+ 28. Bg2 $14) 20... Qe7 (20... Bc6 $1 21. Nc3 Bd7 $1 {
K.Landa} 22. Bxd7 Qxd7 23. Rd1 Rad8 $15) 21. Rd1 Rad8 (21... Bc6 $5 22. Nc3
Rad8) (21... Bc8 $5 22. Bxc8 Raxc8 23. dxc5 $140 $2 bxc5 24. Rxd5 $2 Qb7) 22.
Nxa7 Nd6 23. a4 Nb4 (23... Ra8 $5 24. Nb5 Nxb5 25. axb5 Nb4 26. Rcd2 Ra5 $132)
24. dxc5 bxc5 25. Rxc5 Na2 26. Qc2 Nb4 27. Qc1 (27. Qb1 $5 Ba6 28. Nb5 Nxb5 29.
Rxb5 (29. axb5 d4 $1) 29... Bxb5 30. axb5 Qb7 31. Nd4 Bxd4 32. Bxd4 Qxb5 33. e3
$44) 27... Nc4 $6 {[%mdl 2048] A risky attempt to set a "fire on board"
instead of repeating moves:} (27... Na2) 28. bxc4 d4 29. Bxg5 $2 (29. Nxd4 Qxc5
30. Nf5 Rxd1+ 31. Qxd1 Qxc4 32. Qd7 Rb8 33. Ne7+ Kh8 34. Nac8 $1 Rxc8 35. Qxb7
$1 $16 {(K.Landa) Of course, it was very difficult for White to find the right
way under time pressure.}) 29... Qxc5 30. Bxd8 d3 $1 31. Ne1 $2 {[%mdl 8192]} (
31. e4 $1 Qxa7 32. Qa3 Qc5 33. Rb1 Rxd8 34. Qxb4 Qxb4 35. Rxb4 Bxe4 36. Bg2 {
was the only way to put up any resistance, according to K.Landa}) 31... Rxe2
32. Qf4 Rxf2 $1 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 39th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2011.07.23"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Le, Quang Liem"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D18"]
[WhiteElo "2781"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2011.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O
Nbd7 9. Nh4 Bg6 10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. h3 Qa5 12. Na2 Bd6 13. b4 Qg5 14. f4 Qh4 15.
Qf3 g5 16. fxg5 Qxg5 17. b5 O-O 18. Nc3 Qh4 19. Bd3 Rac8 20. Bd2 c5 21. Ne4 Be7
22. Nxf6+ Nxf6 23. Rac1 b6 24. a5 Rcd8 25. Be1 Qh6 26. Bf2 Nd5 27. axb6 axb6
28. Be4 cxd4 29. exd4 Bh4 30. Rc6 Nf6 31. Bd3 Bxf2+ 32. Qxf2 Rb8 33. Qg3 Rfd8
34. Kh1 Nd5 35. Be4 Nf6 36. Bb1 Nd5 37. Be4 Nf6 38. Bb1 Nd5 39. Ba2 Qe3 40. Qh4
Nf6 41. Bxe6 fxe6 42. Rxf6 Rxd4 43. Qh5 gxf6 44. Qg6+ Kf8 45. Qxf6+ Kg8 46.
Qg6+ Kf8 47. Qf6+ Kg8 48. Qg6+ Kf8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 39th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2011.07.24"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2011.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 {As expected. Since Hikaru has
started working with Kasparov this has become his favourite weapon against the
Nimzo Indian.} cxd4 6. Nxd4 O-O 7. Bg2 d5 8. Qb3 {A rather forgotten line
nowadays, but it was played by Kasparov several times in the eighties.} (8.
cxd5 Nxd5 9. Qb3 {is the most fashionable nowadays.}) 8... Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Nc6
10. cxd5 Na5 11. Qc2 Nxd5 12. O-O (12. Qd3 {was Garry's choice in this
position, but after} Qc7 {was found, the whole line went out of fashion} 13.
Nb5 Qc6) 12... Qc7 (12... Bd7 {is a serious alternative here.}) 13. Re1 {
This makes sense, but it's hard to believe that White can seriously pretend to
be better with such a slow move.} (13. e4 Nxc3 {I guess that it is what Hikaru
did not like} (13... Nb6 {is always an option, of course}) 14. Bb2 (14. Bd2
Ne2+ 15. Kh1 Qxc2 16. Nxc2 Nc6) 14... Nb5 15. Qxc7 Nxc7 {and although White
definitely has enough play for the pawn, it seems very drawish.}) 13... Bd7 {
Logical.} (13... Rd8 14. e4) 14. e4 Nb6 (14... Nxc3 {is already not working
here:} 15. Bd2 Rac8 16. Rac1) 15. e5 {So far White had not spent any time on
his moves, so I started to search for a decent move which would make him think.
} Ba4 {Right choice! Nakamura started to think here finally!} (15... Rfc8 {
is perfectly playable, of course, but too logical to be a surprise :)}) 16. Qd3
Qc4 {That is the point, I start to bother his pieces immediatly, not allowing
White to gather his forces around my king.} (16... Rac8 17. Be4 $36) 17. Qf3 (
17. Qxc4 {might be the best choice actually, but somehow I was sure Hikaru
would not do it :)} Nbxc4 18. Rb1 Rab8 19. f4 {might be little better for
White, but nothing to worry about really, I thought.}) 17... Nc6 {The move
which I had to see in advance, otherwise Black's operation would not make
sense at all.} 18. Re4 {Probably the best move, played after ve-e-e-ery long
reflection, approximately one hour! Usually experience shows, that after such
a long thought a player comes up with a bad move, but this time it is an
exception to the rule.} (18. Qg4 {was possible, but gives me a wide choise of
interesting options:} Bc2 (18... Kh8 {might be the simplest}) (18... h5 19. Qh4
$13 Qxc3 (19... Nd5)) 19. Ba3 (19. Bh6 Bg6) 19... Rfc8) 18... Nxd4 19. Rxd4 Bc6
{Again a very important move which I had to have foreseen in advance, solving
all problems, if there were any at all.} 20. Rxc4 {There is no other sensible
way for White to play for advantage.} Bxf3 21. Rc7 Bxg2 22. Kxg2 Rab8 23. Rb1
Rfc8 24. Rxc8+ Rxc8 25. Rb3 {Already strange, since White obviously can't win
anymore.} (25. Be3 {was a forced draw:} Rxc3 26. Bxb6 axb6 27. Rxb6 Rc7) 25...
h5 26. Be3 Nd5 27. Bd4 $2 {Probably the voice of the blood. Hikaru, like a
true samurai, is making hara-kiri :)} (27. Bxa7 {leads to a draw in all lines:}
Rxc3 28. Rxc3 (28. Rxb7 Ra3) 28... Nxc3 29. a3) 27... b6 {Obviously Black is
just much better here. Plus Nakamura was already getting into time trouble.}
28. f4 {I would prefer to leave this pawn on f2.} (28. Kf3 $142) 28... Rc4 {
Very important. Now my rook gets to a4 and White's position starts to collapse
slowly but surely.} 29. Kf1 (29. Ra3 $142 a5 {/\a4} 30. Rb3 a4 (30... Kh7 31.
Kf3 a4) 31. Rb2 Nxc3 32. Bxb6 Nd5 33. Bf2 {with some drawing chances} Kh7)
29... Ra4 30. Rb2 (30. a3 Ne7 $1 {/\ Nc6, Na5} 31. Be3 Nc6 $17 32. Bc1 Re4)
30... Kh7 {No need to hurry, Black gets his king into play with decisive
effect.} 31. Kf2 Kg6 32. Rc2 Ra3 33. h3 b5 34. Rb2 a6 35. Rc2 Kf5 (35... h4 {
is not bad either, but I decided that it is time to force matters already.})
36. Kf3 b4 37. g4+ hxg4+ 38. hxg4+ Kg6 39. Ke4 bxc3 40. Rh2 (40. f5+ Kg5 41.
fxe6 fxe6 42. Kf3 Ra4 $19) 40... Ra4 41. Rf2 a5 {Strangely enough White is in
some kind of zugzwang here, therefore I decided to ask him to move.} 42. Kd3 (
42. Rc2 Nxf4) (42. f5+ Kg5) 42... c2 {This is the end of the story.} 43. f5+
Kg5 44. Bb2 Nb4+ 45. Kc3 Rxa2 46. Rf1 Kxg4 47. fxe6 fxe6 {I am very strong in
such positions, so Hikaru resigned here.} 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 39th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2011.07.25"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2781"]
[BlackElo "2701"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2011.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Be3 (7. Nf3
c5 8. Be3 Qa5 9. Qd2 Nc6 10. Rc1 cxd4 11. cxd4 Qxd2+ 12. Kxd2 O-O $132 {
is the line White is trying to avoid - see the notes to Akobian-Negi, Wijk aan
Zee B 2010.}) 7... c5 8. Qd2 ({Until January 2011 Kramnik preferred the move
order} 8. Rc1 O-O (8... Qa5 9. Qd2 {transposes into our game}) 9. Nf3 (9. Qd2
e5 $5 10. dxe5 Qxd2+ 11. Kxd2 b6 12. Bc4 Bb7 13. f3 Bxe5 14. Ne2 Nc6 15. Bd5
Rad8 16. Kc2 Na5 17. Bxb7 Nxb7 18. Rcd1 Na5 19. Nf4 Nc4 20. Bc1 f5 $11 {
/=/+,Babula,V (2569)-Anand,V (2788)/HUN-chT/2009/}) 9... Bg4 $5 10. Be2 (10.
Qd2 Bxf3 11. gxf3 cxd4 12. cxd4 e6 13. Bb5 Nc6 $5 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. Rxc6 Qd7
$132) 10... Qa5 {However, he was possibly discouraged by his game against
Vachier-Lagrave:} 11. O-O (11. Qd2 e6 12. d5 exd5 13. exd5 Nd7 (13... c4 $142
$5 $132) 14. c4 Qa3 15. O-O Rae8 (15... Rfe8 $142 $1 {/\} 16. h3 Bf5 $1 17. g4
Be4 18. Ng5 Bb2 19. Rcd1 Bc3 20. Qc1 Bb2 $11) 16. Rfe1 f5 $2 (16... b6 $14) (
16... Bf5 $142 $5) 17. d6 $1 Kh8 18. h3 Bxf3 $6 19. Bxf3 Ne5 20. Bg5 $1 $18 {
Volkov,S (2621)-Sutovsky,E (2692)/EU-ch Aix-les-Bains/2011/ - see the notes to
this game by Krasenkow in CBM 142.}) 11... Qxa2 12. Bg5 Qe6 13. Re1 Qd7 14. d5
e5 15. Qb3 Bxf3 16. Bxf3 Na6 17. Be2 c4 18. Qxc4 Qd6 19. Bg4 f5 20. exf5 gxf5
21. Bh5 Nc5 22. Rcd1 Rac8 23. Qh4 $13 {1/2,Kramnik,V (2784)-Vachier-Lagrave,M 
(2715)/Wijk aan Zee/2011/}) 8... Qa5 ({An independent alternative is} 8... cxd4
9. cxd4 Nc6 10. Rd1 Bg4 $5 11. Be2 (11. f3 Bd7 12. d5 Ne5 13. Bd4 O-O 14. f4
Ng4 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 $132) 11... Bxe2 12. Nxe2 O-O (12... Na5 13. Rc1 (13. Qb4 O-O
14. O-O b6 15. d5 Qd6 16. Qb5 Qe5 17. Rd4 Qb8 18. Ra4 Rc8 19. Nd4 Rc5 $11 {
Lputian,S (2605)-Kasparov,G (2851)/Wijk aan Zee/2000/}) 13... O-O 14. O-O b5
15. Qb4 a6 16. a4 Nc4 17. axb5 Nxe3 18. fxe3 axb5 (18... Rb8 $142 $5 19. Rc5 e5
20. d5 Re8 {/\Bf8~~, Kasparov}) 19. Qxb5 Ra3 20. Rf3 Bh6 21. Rc3 Ra1+ 22. Rf1
Rxf1+ 23. Kxf1 $14 {Kramnik,V (2785)-Aronian,L (2808)/Monte Carlo rpd/2011/ -
see the notes to this game by Marin in CBM 142.}) 13. O-O e6 $5 (13... Na5 {
-12...Na5}) 14. d5 (14. Bh6 Qa5 15. Qe3 Qxa2 $5 (15... Bxh6 16. Qxh6 Qxa2 17.
Nf4 Ne7 18. Qg5 f6 19. Qb5 b6 20. Ra1 Qc2 21. Nxe6 $16 {Roiz,M (2658)-Avrukh,B
(2641)/Netanya/2009/}) {and White doesn't seem to have more than} 16. Bxg7 Kxg7
17. Nf4 Rfe8 18. d5 exd5 19. Nh5+ gxh5 20. Qg5+ Kh8 (20... Kf8 21. Qh6+ Ke7 22.
Qg5+ Kd7 23. Rxd5+ Kc7 24. Qf4+ Kb6 25. Qe3+ Kc7 $11) 21. Qf6+ {1/2, Iskusnyh,
S (2471)-Jaracz,P (2539)/Kalamaria/2009/} Kg8 22. Qg5+ Kh8 23. Qf6+ {1/2,
Iskusnyh,S (2471)-Jaracz,P (2539)/Kalamaria/2009/}) 14... exd5 15. exd5 Ne5 16.
Qb4 Qd7 17. Qb3 (17. d6 $5 Rfc8 $132 {Kasparov}) 17... Rfe8 18. h3 b5 19. Nd4
a6 20. Bf4 Nc4 21. Qf3 (21. Nc6 Re4 22. Bg3 Rae8 23. Nb4 Re2 $17 {Kozul,Z 
(2605)-Avrukh,B (2575)/Belgrade/1999/}) 21... Nb2 22. Rd2 Nc4 $11) (8... O-O 9.
Nf3 Qa5 10. Rc1 Rd8 $5 {is the main line - see Pashikian-Zhou Jianchao,
Kramnik-Howell and Pashikian-Cornette.}) 9. Rc1 (9. Rb1 {went out of fashion
due to} b6 {/\Ba6} ({Also viable is} 9... cxd4 $5 10. cxd4 Qxd2+ 11. Kxd2 O-O
12. Nf3 Rd8 13. Bd3 Nc6 14. d5 Na5 15. Bg5 f5 16. Bxe7 Bh6+ 17. Bg5 fxe4 18.
Bxe4 Bf5 19. Bxf5 Rxd5+ 20. Bd3 Bxg5+ 21. Nxg5 Rad8 22. Rhd1 $11 {Sanikidze,T 
(2524)-Le Quang,L (2687)/FRA-chT Mulhouse/2011/ We have already mentioned
White is trying to avoid this type of _|_, in which his K can be exposed in
the [+].}) 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. Be2 Bc6 $132) 9... cxd4 {Giri opts for the _|_, in
which Black has been doing quite well recently.} ({The transposition} 9... O-O
10. Nf3 Rd8 $5 $13 {is still possible.}) 10. cxd4 Qxd2+ 11. Bxd2 {Nowadays the
main move.} ({White has gradually started to refrain from exposing his c with
the committal} 11. Kxd2 O-O 12. Bb5 ({Pleasant for Black is} 12. Bd3 Rd8 13.
Ne2 Nc6 14. Rc4 f5 $1 15. exf5 Bxf5 16. Bxf5 gxf5 17. Rb1 Rd7 18. Ke1 Rad8 19.
Kf1 Kf7 20. Rc5 e6 21. g3 Ne7 $11 {/=/+,Aronian,L (2783)-Mamedyarov,S (2756)/
Khanty Mansiysk ol/2010/}) (12. Nf3 Nc6 $132 {once again leads to to
Akobian-Negi, Wijk aan Zee B 2010.}) 12... Rd8 13. Ne2 Nc6 $5 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15.
Rhd1 (15. f3 e5 16. Rxc6 exd4 17. Bg5 Re8 18. Nf4 Re5 $1 19. h4 (19. Rhc1 $142
$1 $11) 19... Ra5 20. Ra1 Bb7 21. Rc7 d3 $36 {Graf,A (2661)-Ruck,R (2575)/
Budapest/2004/}) (15. Rc5 $2 e5 16. Bg5 f6 17. Be3 exd4 18. Bxd4 Ba6 19. Rd1
Rd6 20. Ke3 Bxe2 21. Kxe2 Rad8 22. Ke3 Bf8 {0-1,Hjartarson,J (2400)-Stohl,I 
(2305)/WChJ Copenhagen/1982/}) (15. Rxc6 Bb7 16. Rc7 Bxe4 17. f3 Bf5 18. Rd1
Kf8 19. Ke1 Ke8 20. d5 Rd7 21. Rc5 Rb7 22. Nd4 Bd7 23. Nc6 Rc8 $15 {[%csl Gd7,
Gg7] ^^,Kelecevic,N (2390)-Smejkal,J (2570)/Sarajevo/1982/}) 15... Rb8 16. Ke1
Rb2 17. Rxc6 Bb7 18. Rc7 Bxe4 19. f3 Bd5 20. Rxa7 Bxa2 $11 {Grabowski,P (2260)
-Coenen,N (2379)/NRW Liga 0607/2007/}) 11... O-O (11... Nc6 12. d5 Nd4 13. Nf3
f5 14. Bc3 Nxf3+ 15. gxf3 Bxc3+ 16. Rxc3 fxe4 17. fxe4 Rf8 18. f3 Bd7 19. Kf2
Kd8 20. Ke3 $36 {[%csl Gd5,Ge4,Gf3] [+],Zugic,I (2450)-Ftacnik,L (2602)/
Montreal/2002/ Despite simplification White's [+]P are a major factor.}) 12.
Nf3 ({A drawish _|_ arises after} 12. d5 e6 13. Bb5 Bd7 14. Bxd7 Nxd7 15. dxe6
fxe6 16. Nf3 Rfc8 17. Ke2 Nc5 18. Ng5 h6 19. Be3 hxg5 20. Rxc5 Rxc5 21. Bxc5 g4
$1 $11 {Schmidt,W-Jansa,V/Vrnjacka Banja/1983/}) 12... e6 ({Here an important
alternative is the more straightforward} 12... Bg4 13. Be3 (13. Rc7 Bxf3 14.
gxf3 Bxd4 15. Rxb7 Nc6 $32 16. Ba6 {1/2,Kramnik,V (2770)-Svidler,P (2727)/
Dortmund/2004/} Rab8 $11) (13. d5 Nd7 14. Ng5 Nb6 15. h3 Bd7 16. Bd3 Rfc8 (
16... h6 17. Nf3 e6 18. d6 Bc6 19. O-O Rad8 20. Bb4 Rfe8 21. Rfd1 e5 22. Nd2
Bf8 23. Nc4 Nxc4 24. Bxc4 Rd7 $11 {Lybin,D (2576)-Hamarat,T (2630)/corr/2001/})
17. O-O Na4 18. Bb4 h6 19. Nf3 e6 $132 {Pinter,J (2512)-Shirov,A (2726)/EU Cup
Izmir/2004/}) (13. Ne5 Bxe5 14. dxe5 Nc6 15. f4 Rfd8 16. Be3 Rac8 17. Be2 h5
18. Bxg4 hxg4 19. Ke2 $11 {1/2,Gehret,A (2378)-Bernad Suarez,A (2190)/corr/
2000/}) 13... Nc6 (13... Bxf3 14. gxf3 e6 (14... Nc6 {-13...Nc6}) 15. Bc4 (15.
Bb5 $1 $14) 15... Nc6 16. d5 exd5 17. Bxd5 Nb4 18. Bxb7 Nd3+ 19. Ke2 Nxc1+ 20.
Rxc1 Rab8 21. Rb1 Rbd8 22. Bxa7 Bd4 23. Bxd4 Rxd4 24. Ke3 Ra4 25. Bd5 $11 {
Sargissian,G (2667)-Navara,D (2708)/Wijk aan Zee/2011/}) (13... Nd7 14. Rc7 e5
15. d5 Rfc8 $1 16. Rxb7 Nc5 17. Rb4 Bf8 18. Nxe5 Nd7 19. Nd3 Bxb4+ 20. Nxb4
Rcb8 $132 {Rodshtein,M (2637)-Kovchan,A (2554)/Biel op/2011/}) 14. d5 Bxf3 (
14... Na5 15. Bd3 (15. Be2 $142 $5 {/\} e6 16. h3 $14) 15... e6 16. Bd2 b6 17.
O-O exd5 18. exd5 Rad8 19. Bxa5 bxa5 20. Rc5 a4 21. Bc2 Bxf3 22. gxf3 Bd4 $11 {
Ragger,M (2628)-Areshchenko,A (2664)/Bundesliga 1011/2011/}) 15. gxf3 Nd4 16.
Bh3 f5 17. Kf1 Rfc8 $5 (17... e6 18. dxe6 Nxe6 19. exf5 gxf5 20. Rd1 Rad8 21.
Rxd8 Nxd8 22. Kg2 (22. Bxa7 $5) 22... Nc6 23. Rd1 $14 {Sargissian,G (2667)-Li,
C (2649)/Wijk aan Zee/2011/}) 18. Kg2 Kf8 19. Rxc8+ (19. Rhd1 Rxc1 20. Rxc1 f4
21. Bd2 Be5 $11) 19... Rxc8 20. Rd1 Rc4 $132) 13. h4 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8] An
interesting novelty, prepared already for the match against Kasparov in 2000.}
(13. Bb5 Nc6 (13... a6 $2 14. Bb4 $16) 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. O-O (15. Ne5 Bb7 16.
Bb4 Rfd8 17. Bc5 f6 18. Nc4 Ba6 19. Na5 Rac8 20. f3 Bh6 21. Rc2 Be3 22. Nb3 f5
23. e5 Bb5 24. Rc3 f4 $36 {[%csl Re1] עe1,Lazarev,V (2440)-Ernst,T (2525)/
Oberwart/1991/}) 15... Ba6 16. Rfe1 Bb5 17. Bb4 Rfd8 18. Bc5 a5 19. h4 a4 20.
Rc3 f6 21. e5 fxe5 22. Nxe5 Rd5 23. f4 Bxe5 24. fxe5 Rd7 $11 {[%csl Gb5,Gc5] /
+/=,Kramnik,V (2790)-Mamedyarov,S (2761)/Moscow/2010/ White's edge is more or
less platonic, the ^- are a strong neutralizing factor.}) 13... Nc6 {A logical
reaction.} ({Rather artificial is} 13... Bd7 14. h5 Bc6 15. hxg6 hxg6 16. Bd3
$14) 14. e5 {[%csl Rg7] White's idea is to limit the Bg7.} Bd7 ({It's
difficult to take the engine suggestion} 14... Rd8 15. Bg5 Rd5 16. Bc4 Ra5 {
[%csl Ra5] seriously, as Black can have problems with his exposed R.}) ({
The direct} 14... f6 {was perhaps a better choice:} 15. Bc4 (15. exf6 {is
inconsistent:} Bxf6 $11) (15. Bc3 fxe5 16. dxe5 Rf4 $13) (15. h5 $5 $44) 15...
fxe5 (15... Rd8 16. Bc3 {[%csl Re6] keeps Black under pressure, ><e6 is
vulnerable (we will see this later in the game as well).}) 16. d5 e4 $5 17.
dxe6 Re8 18. Ng5 h6 $132) (14... h6 $6 {tries to keep the <->h closed, but
Black has to reckon with} 15. h5 g5 16. Nxg5 $1 Rd8 (16... hxg5 17. h6 Bh8 18.
h7+ Kg7 19. Bxg5 $16 {->}) 17. Ne4 $16) ({The radical} 14... h5 $5 {also
deserves attention.}) 15. Rb1 (15. h5 Rfc8 16. hxg6 hxg6 17. Rb1 Rc7 18. Bg5
Be8 $13 {[%cal Yc7d7,Yc6e7,Ye7d5] /\Rd7,Ne7-d5<=> It's difficult for White to
transfer his Rb1 to the <->h and Black has <=> in the [+] and on the <<.})
15... b6 $6 {[%csl Ra6,Rb5,Rb7] ><a6,<<} (15... Rfd8 $142 $5 16. h5 (16. Rxb7
Bc8 $11) (16. Bg5 Rdb8 $13 {and due to} 17. h5 h6 {White can't open the <->h
so easily.}) 16... Be8 $132) 16. h5 Ne7 17. hxg6 fxg6 $6 {[%mdl 32] Now
Kramnik gets a permanent strategic advantage, which he will convert very
smoothly.} ({Giri was obviously afraid to play} 17... hxg6 18. Ng5 $5 $36 {
[%cal Gh1h8] Although White's -> is more dangerous than in the previous note,
Black still retains defensive resources.}) 18. Bc4 Rac8 19. Bb3 Nd5 20. Ng5 $16
{White can develop his initiative with natural moves.} h6 (20... h5 21. f3 $16
{[%csl Gg5][%cal Yg2g4] ><g5,/\g4 and White will gradually prepare the opening
of the >>.}) 21. Ne4 g5 {[%csl Rh6] ><h6} (21... h5 {was possibly slightly
more resilient.}) 22. Nd6 Rc7 23. Ke2 $1 Rd8 24. Rh3 {[%cal Yb1h1,Rh3h6] /
\Rbh1,Rh6->} Bc6 25. Rbh1 Rf8 26. Rc1 $5 {[%cal Rb3d5] /\Yd5} ({More
consistent was} 26. Rxh6 $1 Bxh6 27. Rxh6 $16 {/+- , but Kramnik's move is
also strong.}) 26... Bd7 $8 27. Rxc7 Nxc7 28. Rc3 {White combines play on both
flanks, the Nd6 exerts unbearable pressure.} Na6 (28... Nb5 29. Nxb5 Bxb5+ 30.
Ke3 Re8 31. Rc7 $18) (28... Nd5 29. Bxd5 exd5 30. Rc7 Rd8 31. Ke3 {[%cal Rd6b7]
/\Nb7+-}) 29. g3 $1 {[%cal Yf2f4] /\f4} (29. d5 exd5 30. Bxd5+ Kh7 31. e6 Bxc3
32. Bxc3 $16 {is good enough, but White doesn't need to hurry.}) 29... Rd8 (
29... g4 30. Rc1 $1 {[%csl Rh6] /\Rh1, ><h6 and White targets the >> again.})
30. f4 Bf8 (30... gxf4 31. gxf4 {[%cal Yc3g3] gives White an extra attacking
option Rg3.}) 31. f5 Bxd6 32. exd6 Bb5+ {The rest is just agony, as e6 is
indefensible.} (32... Re8 $2 33. fxe6 Bxe6 34. d7 $18) 33. Ke3 Rxd6 34. fxe6
Kf8 35. Rc8+ Ke7 36. d5 Rd8 37. Rxd8 Kxd8 38. d6 Nc5 39. Bd5 {[%cal Re3d4,
Rd4f6] /\Kd4-e5-f6} Bd7 40. exd7 Kxd7 41. Kd4 Kxd6 42. Bb4 a5 43. Bxc5+ bxc5+
44. Kc4 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 39th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2011.07.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2764"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2011.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O Nd4 6. Nxd4 Bxd4 7. Nd2 c6 8.
Ba4 d6 9. c3 Bb6 10. Nc4 Bc7 11. Bb3 O-O 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bh4 g5 14. Bg3 Bg4 15.
f3 Be6 16. Re1 Nh5 17. Bf2 Nf4 18. d4 exd4 19. cxd4 d5 20. exd5 Bxd5 21. Qc2 g4
22. Nd2 Qg5 23. Ne4 Qg6 24. Bxd5 Nxd5 25. Qb3 Rae8 26. Ng3 h5 27. fxg4 hxg4 28.
Rxe8 Rxe8 29. Qxb7 Rb8 30. Qxa7 Rxb2 31. Rf1 Qc2 32. Qc5 Rxa2 33. Qxc2 Rxc2 34.
Nf5 Kh7 35. g3 Bb6 36. Re1 Bd8 37. Ne3 Nxe3 38. Rxe3 Kg6 39. Re4 Bg5 40. Kf1 f6
41. d5 cxd5 42. Rxg4 Kf5 43. Rd4 Ke5 44. Rd1 Ke4 45. Rd4+ Kf3 46. Rd3+ Ke4 47.
Rd4+ Ke5 48. Rd1 Ke4 49. Rd4+ Kf3 50. Rd3+ Ke4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 39th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2011.07.28"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Meier, Georg"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2781"]
[BlackElo "2656"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2011.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 a6 4. Nc3 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg2 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. d4
c6 9. Ne5 a5 10. Bf4 Bf5 11. Qb3 Ra7 12. Rfd1 Nbd7 13. Rac1 h6 14. a3 Qb6 15.
Qxb6 Nxb6 16. f3 Re8 17. e4 Bh7 18. Be3 Raa8 19. Bf2 Rad8 20. Re1 Bf8 21. h3
dxe4 22. fxe4 Nfd7 23. Nd3 Nc4 24. Re2 Nb8 25. Na4 Nd6 26. Ndc5 Re7 27. Nb6 Nc8
28. Nc4 b6 29. Nb3 a4 30. Nbd2 Rb7 31. e5 Na7 32. d5 Bc5 33. Bxc5 bxc5 34. e6
Kf8 35. Na5 Rc7 36. Rxc5 fxe6 37. dxc6 Ke7 38. Ndc4 Rd1+ 39. Kh2 Bd3 40. Re3
Bxc4 41. Rxc4 Rd2 42. Rce4 Nbxc6 43. Rxe6+ Kf7 44. Nc4 Rc2 45. Nd6+ Kg8 46. h4
g5 47. Nf5 gxh4 48. Kh3 Rc5 49. Rg6+ 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 39th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2011.07.29"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Le, Quang Liem"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2011.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. e3 Be7 5. b3 O-O 6. Bb2 c5 7. Bd3 cxd4 8. exd4
Nc6 9. O-O b6 10. Nbd2 Bb7 11. Rc1 Rc8 12. Qe2 Re8 13. Rfd1 Bf8 14. Nf1 g6 15.
Ne3 Bg7 16. c5 Nd7 17. Bb5 a6 18. Bxc6 Bxc6 19. b4 Ba4 20. Re1 Nb8 21. Ne5 bxc5
22. dxc5 f6 23. Nf3 Nc6 24. Qd3 Rb8 25. Qa3 Bb5 26. Qb3 a5 27. a4 Bc4 28. Nxc4
Rxb4 29. Qa2 dxc4 30. Bc3 Rb3 31. Nd2 Nb4 32. Bxb4 Rxb4 33. Nxc4 Qd5 34. Red1
Qc6 35. Nxa5 Qxa4 36. Qxa4 Rxa4 37. Nb7 Bh6 38. Rc2 Bf4 39. g3 Bc7 40. Rd7 Rc8
41. Rcd2 e5 42. Re7 Rd4 43. Ra2 e4 44. Ra7 Bb8 45. Ra8 Rf8 46. Na5 Ra4 47. Kg2
f5 48. c6 Bd6 49. Rxf8+ Kxf8 50. c7 Bxc7 51. Rxc7 Rxa5 52. Rxh7 Ra2 53. Kg1
Ra1+ 54. Kg2 Ra2 55. Kg1 Ra1+ 56. Kg2 Ra2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 39th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2011.07.30"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E08"]
[WhiteElo "2701"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2011.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O Nbd7 8.
Qc2 c6 9. Rd1 b6 10. Bf4 Bb7 11. Ne5 Nxe5 12. dxe5 Nd7 13. cxd5 cxd5 14. e4
dxe4 15. Bxe4 Bxe4 16. Qxe4 Nc5 17. Qf3 Qe8 18. Nc3 Na4 19. Nxa4 Qxa4 20. b3
Qa3 21. Rd7 Bc5 22. Qe2 a5 23. Rad1 a4 24. Bc1 Qb4 25. Bd2 Qa3 26. Bc1 Qb4 27.
Bd2 Qa3 28. Bc1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 39th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2011.07.31"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2781"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2011.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. c5 Nf4 11. a4 {Hardly a worthwhile experiment.} (11. Bxf4
exf4 12. Rc1 {is the most common continuation here.}) 11... f5 12. Bc4 fxe4 13.
Nxe4 h6 {[%csl Gf4]} 14. Re1 (14. g3 Nh3+ $1 (14... Nh5 15. Nfd2 Kh8 16. Ra3 a6
17. cxd6 cxd6 18. b5 Bf5 19. bxa6 bxa6 20. Qe2 $14 {0-1 Bareev,E (2677)
-Amonatov,F (2649)/Dagomys 2008/CBM 124 (36)}) 15. Kh1 Bg4 16. Ra3 Qd7 $132 {
S.Zagrebelny}) 14... Bg4 15. Ra3 g5 16. h3 Bh5 17. Bxf4 Rxf4 18. g3 Rf8 19. a5
Kh8 20. Kg2 Rb8 21. Qd2 (21. h4 $5 gxh4 22. Rh1 Nf5 23. Qb1 {K.Landa} dxc5 $5
24. bxc5 b5 $13) 21... b6 22. axb6 axb6 $11 {Despite White's control of the
e4-square, Black's strong light-squared bishop guarantees him sufficient
counterplay.} 23. Nfxg5 $5 {[%mdl 512] A risky but interesting piece sacrifice.
} (23. cxd6 cxd6 24. Bb5 Ra8 $132) 23... hxg5 24. Qxg5 Bg6 25. cxd6 cxd6 26.
Ra7 Rc8 (26... Rf7 $5 27. f3 b5 28. Rxe7 Qxe7 29. Qxg6 bxc4 30. Ng5 Kg8 31.
Nxf7 Qxf7 32. Qxd6 Rb5 {K.Landa} 33. Rd1 {- White is fighting for a draw here.}
) 27. Rxe7 Rxc4 28. f3 Rc2+ (28... Rxb4 29. h4 b5 30. Re2 $132 {[%cal Rh4h5]})
29. Kg1 Rc8 30. Ra1 (30. h4 $5 {was recommended by K.Landa:} Rf7 31. Qxg6 Rxe7
32. Ng5 Bf8 33. Qh5+ Kg8 34. Qg6+ $11 {since} Bg7 $2 35. h5 {is favourable for
White.}) {The text move is also enough for a draw.} 30... Rf7 31. Qxg6 Qxe7 (
31... Rxe7 32. Ng5 $11) 32. Ng5 $2 (32. Nxd6 {was indicated by many
commentators. After} Rcf8 33. Nxf7+ Qxf7 34. Qxf7 Rxf7 35. Kg2 {, with 3 pawns
for a piece, White should not lose.}) 32... Kg8 33. Qh7+ Kf8 34. Ne6+ Ke8 35.
Qh5 Bf6 (35... Qf6 $142 $1 {[%cal Re5e4] although Black still has a lot of
work to do to consolidate his position, e.g.} 36. Qg4 $1 Rd7 37. f4 $5 e4 ({
but not} 37... exf4 38. Re1 $1) 38. Ra2 {etc.}) 36. g4 $2 {Wrong! Surprisingly,
it is very difficult for Black to make any progress after} (36. Ra2 {(K.Landa)}
) ({or} 36. Qg6 Qb7 37. Ra2 {[%cal Yh3h4]} b5 38. Kg2) 36... Qb7 {Quite
sufficient but} (36... e4 $142 $1 37. Rf1 exf3 38. Rxf3 Rc1+ 39. Kg2 Rc2+ 40.
Kh1 Qa7 $19) 37. Rd1 (37. Qg6 b5 {[%cal Rb7b6] White has no time for the Kg2,
Ra2 setup.} 38. Kh1 $1 (38. Ra2 Bd8 $1 {[%cal Rf7f3,Rb7d5]} 39. Qg8+ Ke7 40.
Qg5+ Kd7 41. Qg6 Rf6) 38... e4 39. Re1 Qxd5 40. Qg8+ Ke7 41. Qxc8 Qxe6 42. Rxe4
Be5 $19) 37... Qa6 {[%cal Ra6e2]} 38. Qg6 Ke7 39. g5 Bh8 40. Re1 Qa3 41. Nd4
Qxb4 (41... Rc1 {is simpler:} 42. Qe6+ Kf8 43. Qxd6+ Kg8 $19) 42. Nf5+ Kf8 43.
Rd1 (43. Qxd6+ Qxd6 44. Nxd6 Rd8 45. Nxf7 Kxf7 $19 {_|_}) 43... Rc2 44. Nd4
exd4 45. Qxc2 Qc3 46. Qe4 Qe3+ 47. Qxe3 dxe3 48. Kg2 Bc3 49. Kf1 Rxf3+ 50. Ke2
Rxh3 0-1

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.08"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 c6 4. d3 Bg4 5. Nbd2 Nbd7 6. h3 Bh5 7. g4 $5 Bg6 8.
Nh4 {Such radical measures at this stage of the game are not too common. The
whole plan would be less effective if Black had delayed the development of the
queen's knight with 5...e6, because of a possible regroupment such as: 8...
Nfd7 9.Nxg6 hxg6 /\...Bd6, ...Qe7, ...Na6-c7, ...e5, ...Ne6. The way it is,
the f6-knight does not seem to have good squares to which to retreat.} e6 (8...
e5 {weakens the d5-square, justifying White's plan directed against the
g6-bishop.} 9. c4 (9. e3 Bd6 10. Qe2 Qe7 {was fine for Black in Kritz,L (2571)
-Erdos,V (2523)/Differdange 2007/CBM 119 ext (0-1, 35)}) 9... Bc5 {Bradford,J 
(2453)-Georgiev,K (2661)/Gibraltar 2007/CBM 116 ext (0-1, 129)} 10. Qb3 $5 $36)
9. e3 Bd6 ({The paradoxical} 9... Ng8 {was played in an old game at GM level.
Although it seems that Black loses a lot of time, provoking the exchange on g6
at an early stage helps him define his general plan of regrouping.} 10. Nxg6
hxg6 11. Qe2 Bd6 12. b3 Qf6 13. d4 g5 14. Bb2 Ne7 15. O-O-O Ng6 16. Nf3 Qe7 17.
c4 a5 $132 {Quinteros,M (2500)-Giorgadze,T (2495)/Hannover 1983/MCL (0-1, 46).
With perfect regrouping for Black and reasonable counterplay.}) 10. Qe2 Qc7 {
It is not easy to criticise a move played by an ex World Champion twice (!) at
such an early stage, but I fail to understand the point behind it. First of
all, the indirect pressure against the h4-knight is released. Secondly, the
battery Q + B is set up in the wrong way (the queen should be in front of the
bishop), failing to create any threats against the h2-b8 diagonal.} ({I would
prefer} 10... Qe7 {Let us see what can happen if White plays in the same way
as in the main game:} 11. O-O ({The only game that actually reached this
position went:} 11. Ndf3 O-O 12. Bd2 {White refrains from the more natural b3
followed by Bb2, in order to avoid the exchange of the dark-squared bishops
with ...Ba3. This would not be a possibility after ...Qc7.} Rfe8 13. Nxg6 hxg6
14. Ng5 Nc5 15. h4 Nfd7 16. e4 Qf6 $13 {Panno,O (2505)-Ricardi,P (2335)/Buenos
Aires 1985/MCD (1-0, 38). We can notice that even here the queen was well
placed on e7.}) 11... O-O-O 12. Rb1 (12. f4 Ne8 13. Nxg6 hxg6 $132 {[%cal
Gg6g5] Being slightly underdeveloped, White has problems preventing Black's
counterplay on the dark squares.}) 12... e5 13. a3 e4 $132 {[%cal Ge7e5]}) ({
Even the not too natural} 10... Qb6 {may have been preferable, winning a tempo
over the game after} 11. O-O O-O-O 12. Rb1 Bb8 {[%cal Gb6c7] , although I do
not like the congestion of the black pieces around their own king.}) 11. O-O
O-O-O {A very interesting position. It is not customary for Black to castle
long in these lines of the Reti.} 12. Rb1 $5 $146 {[%cal Gb2b4,Gb4b5] With
both kings on the kingside, the plan based on b4-b5 would just create
weaknesses, but the way it is the black king which starts to sense some danger.
} ({It is possible that Svidler based his preparation for this occasion on an
older blitz game won by Kramnik:} 12. f4 h6 $5 {Spoiling his own structure for
the sake of opening the centre before White gets fully developed.} 13. Nxg6
fxg6 14. Nf3 e5 15. Nh4 exf4 16. exf4 Rhe8 17. Qf2 Bc5 18. d4 Bb6 19. b4 (19.
Nxg6 Ne4 20. Bxe4 Rxe4 21. c3 Rde8 $44) 19... Ne4 20. Bxe4 Rxe4 21. c3 Rde8 22.
Nxg6 c5 $5 23. bxc5 Nxc5 $132 {Morozevich,A (2755)-Kramnik,V (2785)/Moscow 
(blitz) 2007/EXT 2008 (0-1, 38)}) 12... Qa5 $6 {Black cannot not afford to
lose so much time.} ({A possible coherent plan would be} 12... Nf8 $5 13. b4 h6
{[%cal Gg6h7,Gg7g5]} 14. Nxg6 Nxg6 $132) 13. a3 Bb8 14. f4 e5 {This piece
sacrifice is a logical consequence of Black's previous play, but is not
entirely sound. Taking into account also his game against Galkin, I get the
feeling that Kramnik is aiming for a slight change of style. He may wish to
have the positional piece sacrifice in irrational positions in his fighting
arsenal. In the present game, he will come close to justifying his adventurous
play, while in the other game he will win outright.} (14... Qc7 15. b4 e5 {
would not change much, either.} 16. f5 e4 17. Rf4 Qb6 18. Qf2 $16) 15. f5 e4
16. dxe4 (16. b4 Qc7 17. Rf4 {transposes above.}) 16... Qc7 17. Rf4 Rde8 18.
fxg6 {There was no need to open the h-file, which causes the h4-knight to lose
stability.} (18. Qf2 $5 $16 {leaves Black with serious problems proving his
attacking idea.}) 18... hxg6 19. Nhf3 Qb6 20. e5 Nxe5 21. Nxe5 Bxe5 22. Rf3 Nh7
23. c4 Ng5 24. cxd5 cxd5 {Black has improved his position somewhat and can
reduce the material defficit if he so wishes. However, he is still a long way
from equality.} 25. Nf1 $6 {This is too passive. By retreating into defence
completely, White allows his opponent to take over the control of the whole
board.} (25. b4 Kb8 26. Nb3 $16 {followed by Nc5, with the permanent
possibility of Qb5 would have restricted Black's active possibilities.}) 25...
Kb8 26. b4 d4 27. Bd2 Re7 28. Rc1 dxe3 $2 {Probably caused by a miscalculation.
} (28... Qd6 $1 $44 {/\...d3 leaves White in a passive position, despite his
material advantage.}) 29. Bxe3 Bd4 $6 (29... Nxf3+ 30. Qxf3 $16) 30. Rg3 Bxe3+
31. Nxe3 Rhe8 32. Rc3 $18 {The g5-knight cannot join the attack and White has
no problems defending his doubly-pinned knight.} a6 {A clear sign that Black
has exhausted his attacking resources.} 33. Qf2 {The rest does not require
comments; Black played a few more moves from inertia.} f6 34. Nc2 Qxf2+ 35.
Kxf2 Re2+ 36. Kf1 Rd2 37. Rgd3 Ree2 38. Rxd2 Rxd2 39. Ne3 Ne6 40. Nc4 Rd1+ 41.
Kf2 Nf4 42. Bf3 Ra1 43. h4 g5 44. h5 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.09"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Timofeev, Artyom"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2781"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nc7 7. O-O e5 8. a3
Be7 9. b4 O-O 10. bxc5 Bxc5 11. Bb2 Re8 12. Rc1 Bf8 13. Ne4 Rb8 14. d3 Nb5 15.
Nfg5 Nc7 16. Qb3 Be6 17. Nxe6 Nxe6 18. e3 Qa5 19. Rc4 Red8 20. Rfc1 Qb6 21. Qc2
Na5 22. Rc3 Rd7 23. Nd2 Rbd8 24. Nf3 Rd5 25. Ba1 Qa6 26. Rb1 Nc6 27. Bf1 Bxa3
28. d4 Qa5 29. Rxb7 Bc5 30. Rxc5 Rxc5 31. dxc5 Qxa1 32. Qf5 Rf8 33. Rxf7 Rxf7
34. Qxe6 e4 35. Qxe4 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.10"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Bd7 {Kramnik popularised this plan of aiming to transfer
the king to b7 by using it against Kasparov, on the occasion of their historic
match. In the meantime, he has tried other plans, too.} 10. h3 b6 {[%cal Gd8c8,
Gc8b7]} ({Earlier this year, a game between the same players went} 10... h6 11.
b3 c5 12. Nd5 ({Karjakin also had this position with Black:} 12. Bb2 Nd4 13.
Nxd4 cxd4 14. Nd5 c5 15. f4 Bc6 16. c4 {Black is doing fine, but the next move
must have been caused by a miscalculation.} dxc3 $6 17. Bxc3 $1 {He may have
missed this! One move earlier, the d-file was obstructed and the knight could
not have stayed on d5 undefended.} Bxd5 18. Rad1 Kc7 19. Rxd5 Be7 20. Rfd1 Kc6
21. e6 $1 $16 {Shirov,A (2742)-Karjakin,S (2739)/Odessa 2010/CBM 136 Extra 
(1-0, 43)}) 12... c6 13. Nf4 g5 14. Bb2 Rg8 (14... gxf4 15. e6 Bg7 16. Bxg7
Nxg7 17. exd7 Kxd7 18. Rfe1 $44) 15. e6 Bxe6 16. Rad1+ Kc7 17. Nxe6+ fxe6 18.
g4 Bg7 19. Bxg7 Nxg7 20. Ne5 Rad8 21. Rxd8 Rxd8 22. f4 gxf4 23. Rxf4 $36 {
Karjakin,S (2776)-Kramnik,V (2785)/Monte Carlo 2011/CBM 142 (1-0, 44). Despite
his extra pawn, Black is struggling. His knight is very passive.}) 11. a4 $146
{The moves a2-a4 and ...a7-a5 are frequently played in the Berlin Variation 
(sometimes in reversed order), but in this concrete position the last move is
a novelty.} (11. b3 Kc8 12. Bb2 h5 (12... Be7 13. Rad1 a5 14. a4 h5 15. Ne4 c5
16. c4 Bc6 17. Nfg5 Kb7 $11 {Lahno,K (2518)-Bok,B (2453)/Wijk aan Zee 2011/CBM
141 (1-0, 58)}) 13. g3 Be7 14. Rad1 a5 15. a4 {Smeets,J (2662)-Carlsen,M (2814)
/Wijk aan Zee 2011/CBM 141/[Kritz] (0-1, 33)}) (11. Bf4 Kc8 12. Rad1 h6 13. Bh2
a5 14. g4 Ne7 15. Nd4 h5 16. e6 fxe6 17. Rfe1 hxg4 18. hxg4 Rh6 19. g5 Rh5 20.
Nxe6 Bxe6 21. Rxe6 Rxg5+ 22. Kf1 Rf5 23. a4 $44 {Vachier Lagrave,M (2715)
-Carlsen,M (2814)/Wijk aan Zee 2011/CBM 141 (1/2, 42)}) (11. g4 Ne7 12. Ng5 Ke8
(12... Be8 {would be similar to the main game.}) 13. Bd2 h5 (13... h6 14. Nge4
h5 {may have been better. Black wanted to attack the knight with the other
pawn, but this will leave him with weaknesses.}) 14. f3 f6 15. exf6 gxf6 16.
Nge4 Bg7 17. Rae1 Kf7 18. Ne2 Rae8 19. Nf4 $14 {Negi,P (2618)-Hammer,J (2606)/
Dubai 2011/CBM 141 Extra (1-0, 41). White has the better structure and a
perfect regroupment.}) 11... a5 12. g4 Ne7 13. Ng5 Be8 (13... Ke8 {is possible
here, too, but Kramnik sticks to his initial plan, of transferring the king to
b7.}) 14. f4 (14. e6 {does not offer anything special:} fxe6 15. Nxe6+ Kd7 16.
Nxf8+ (16. Re1 Nd5) 16... Rxf8 17. Rd1+ Kc8 18. f4 Kb7 19. Be3 c5) 14... h6 15.
Nf3 {White has an impressive pawn majority. (I remember that the first time I
came across this pawn formation, h3-g4-f4-e5 was on the occasion of the 13th
game of the Fischer-Spassky match.) During the next phase of the game, Kramnik
will constantly prevent the dangerous threat f4-f5.} g6 16. b3 (16. Ne4 {
can be answered with} c5 $1 {preventing the e8-bishop from being trapped.})
16... Kc8 17. Bb2 Bg7 18. Ne4 c5 {A familiar idea already.} 19. Ng3 {It seems
that White is ready for his attack, but the king is not entirely safe for that.
} Rg8 $1 20. Kh2 Bd7 {For the time being, f4-f5 has been stopped and Black
intends to complete his development with ...Kb7 and ...Rad8. It may seem that
the black bishop is hanging on d7, but that is not true.} 21. c4 {It is
interesting to notice that even in a slow opening like the Berlin Defence,
time is important. White is short of just one tempo to prevent Black's
regrouping.} ({In principle, he would have liked to prevent ...Kb7 with} 21.
Rad1 {, but this would have allowed} c4 $1 $132 {for instance:} 22. Ne4 (22.
Nd2 cxb3 23. cxb3 Kb7 24. Nc4 Rad8) 22... Nc6 23. Kg3 cxb3 24. cxb3 Be6) 21...
Kb7 {Taking advantage of the tempo offered on the previous move.} 22. Rad1 Rad8
{Black has little to fear now.} 23. Rd3 Bc8 $1 {Keeping the bishop, which can
be useful if Black gets to play ...h5.} (23... Bc6 $5 {would get the control
of the open file at the cost of giving up the bishop for a knight:} 24. Rfd1
Rxd3 25. Rxd3 Bxf3 26. Rxf3 Rd8 27. Bc3 Nc6 28. Kg2 Rd1 $132 {The intended
f4-f5 is not possible yet, because the e5-pawn is hanging.} 29. Ne4 (29. Rf1
Rd3 30. Rf3 $11) 29... Nd4 30. Bxd4 cxd4 $11) 24. Rfd1 Rxd3 25. Rxd3 Re8 $6 {
Missing an excellent chance for counterplay.} (25... h5 $1 26. gxh5 Bh6 27. Bc1
Rh8 28. Nh4 (28. hxg6 Nxg6 $15) 28... gxh5 29. Be3 Ng6 30. Nxg6 fxg6 $15) 26.
Ne4 Nc6 27. Kg3 Kb8 {Slightly mysterious. The king should remain closer to the
centre. So far, Black has kept his bishop watching f5, so that it makes little
sense to prepare ...Bb7.} (27... Rd8 28. Rxd8 Nxd8 29. Nh4 $14) ({Any waiting
move, such as} 27... Rh8 {would have left White with the problem of proving a
constructive plan.}) 28. Bc3 Rd8 $6 {After the rook exchange, White gets
better possibilities of attacking on the kingside.} (28... Kb7) 29. Rxd8 Nxd8
30. e6 $5 {This is the kind of moves Black should permanently take into
account when playing the Berlin. Psychologically, it leads to an unpleasant
change of the course of the game. White gets an unexpected initiative in what
is supposed to be a slow-motion game.} ({Objectively,} 30. Nh4 {/\ f5, is at
least not worse:} Bb7 31. Kf3 Ne6 32. Ke3 g5 33. Ng2 $14) 30... Nxe6 (30...
Bxc3 $2 31. e7 $18) 31. Bxg7 Nxg7 32. Ne5 f5 $1 (32... Be6 33. Nf6 Kc8 34. Ng8
h5 35. Nh6 $16) 33. Nf6 {Black's kingside is in big danger. With the black
king far away on the queenside, White is practically a piece up.} g5 $6 (33...
fxg4 $5 34. hxg4 h5 {was a good opportunity to get some counterplay against
the white queenside pawns.} 35. f5 {A logical attempt to prevent Black from
getting the f5-square for his pieces.} Nxf5+ $1 36. gxf5 Bxf5 37. Nf3 Bc2 38.
Nd2 $13 {This position is not easy to assess, but Black is very much in the
game.}) 34. Nc6+ {Just winning some time.} (34. Nf7 $1 {transposes to the line
from the next comment.}) 34... Kb7 35. Nd8+ Kb8 36. Nc6+ Kb7 37. Nd8+ Kb8 38.
fxg5 $2 {Helping Black to get rid of a weakness (h6).} (38. Nf7 $1 $16 {
leads to a very harmonious regrouping and retrieves the pawn under favourable
circumstances.} fxg4 39. hxg4 Nf5+ {does not work out well now:} 40. gxf5 Bxf5
41. Kf3 Bc2 (41... gxf4 42. Ne4 $18) 42. Ne4 {/\...f5} gxf4 43. Nd2 $18) 38...
hxg5 39. Nh7 (39. Nf7 {is not effective anymore:} fxg4 40. hxg4 Ne6 41. Ne4 Nd4
42. Nd2 Nc2 43. Ne4 (43. Nxg5 Ne3 $15) 43... Nd4 $11) 39... c6 $2 {Missing his
last chance:} (39... fxg4 40. hxg4 Nf5+ $1 41. gxf5 Bxf5 42. Nxg5 Bc2 43. Nc6+
Kc8 44. Ne5 Bxb3 45. Kf4 Bxa4 46. Ke3 Kd8 47. Ne4 Ke7 48. Nc3 Be8 {With three
pawns for a knight and a mobile bishop, Black is at least not worse.}) 40. Nxg5
Kc7 41. Ndf7 b5 {This counterplay is too slow.} 42. Kf4 fxg4 43. hxg4 Ne6+ 44.
Nxe6+ Bxe6 45. Ne5 Kd6 46. g5 bxa4 47. bxa4 {The queenside situation has
stabilised and the g-pawn decides.} Ke7 48. Nxc6+ Kd6 49. Nxa5 Kc7 50. Ke5 Bg8
51. Nb3 Bxc4 52. Nxc5 Kb6 53. Ne4 Bb3 54. Nc3 Bc2 55. Kf6 Kc5 56. g6 Kb4 57. g7
Bb3 58. Ne4 Bg8 59. Ke7 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.11"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2781"]
[BlackElo "2711"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. e3 e5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. d4 {These lines with ...c5 and ...
e5 were subjected to intense testing during the Candidates' Matches in Khanty
Mansyisk (see also my theoretical survey published with CBM 143).} e4 6. Ne5 g6
7. Be2 $146 ({I had words of praise for} 7. Rb1 {, played in Kramnik,V (2785)
-Grischuk,A (2747)/Kazan 2011/CBM 143/[Marin] (1/2, 65), but, apparently, the
former World Champion has his own view.}) 7... Bg7 8. O-O O-O 9. b3 {Not
fearing any ghosts along the long diagonal, Kramnik decides that he can
develop normally, without the preparatory Ra1-b1.} ({In view of the possible
improvements for Black on the next move, I would think that} 9. Rb1 {deserves
serious attention, though. Let us check what could happen if Black plays as in
the game, or as in the lines recommended in the next comment.} {Finally, in
the event of the game plan:} cxd4 (9... Ne7 $2 {simply does not work now:} 10.
dxc5 Ne8 11. f4 ({In fact, even} 11. Nxf7 Rxf7 12. Nxe4 $44 {is playable,
since the rook is not hanging anymore.}) 11... exf3 12. Nxf3 $16 {This way of
saving the knight is possible only because its colleague is defended.}) (9...
Re8 {can be met with} 10. Nxc6 dxc6 11. dxc5 {, since there are no dangers
along the a1-h8 diagonal.} Nd7 12. Qc2 $1 (12. Na4 {places the knight on a
passive square and allows strong black counterplay on the opposite wing:} Qg5
13. b4 Ne5 14. Kh1 Bg4 $44) 12... Nxc5 (12... f5 13. b4 $16) 13. b4 Nd3 14.
Nxe4 Nxc1 15. Rfxc1 Bf5 16. Bd3 {Despite the engines' lack of enthusiasm, I
see that White has an extra pawn, without any obvious plan for Black to
compensate for it.}) 10. exd4 Re8 11. Bf4 d6 12. Nxc6 bxc6 {, the rook can be
useful on b1, too:} 13. b4 {(planning a4, b5, etc)} d5 $140 14. c5 $1 {
followed by b4-b5, with strong queenside initiative.}) 9... cxd4 $6 {
Nepomniachtchi wrongly assumes that, once b2-b3 has been played, the bishop
would automatically go to b2, so that the opening of the c1-h6 diagonal does
not bother him. Instead of this unnecessary concession, he had at least two
good alternatives.} (9... Ne7 $5 {leaves the e5-knight in some danger:} 10. Bb2
(10. dxc5 Ne8 11. Nxf7 Rxf7 {does not work out well for White. He will have to
lose some time to solve the pin before becoming active.}) (10. f3 {is a bit
artificial and offers Black good counterplay against the d4-pawn.} d6 11. Ng4
Nxg4 12. fxg4 Nc6 13. Nxe4 Re8 {A dream position for a Grünfeld player.}) 10...
d6 11. Ng4 Nxg4 12. Bxg4 Bxg4 13. Qxg4 f5 {Black has little to fear.}) ({
The immediate} 9... Re8 $1 {may be the simplest:} 10. Bb2 (10. Nxc6 dxc6 11.
dxc5 Nd7 $1 {[%cal Gg7a1] does not look right for White.}) 10... cxd4 11. exd4
d6 ({There is no real need for} 11... Nxe5 12. dxe5 Rxe5 13. Nb5 Re6 14. Qd2
$44 {with active play for White.}) 12. Nxc6 bxc6 {Compared with the game
position, this is a much better version for Black. The bishop is passive on b2,
being sort of dominated by its rival and failing to stabilise the centre (...
e4-e3 is a permanent threat).}) 10. exd4 Re8 11. Bf4 $1 (11. Nxc6 dxc6 {
would open the d-file for Black's counterplay. This would be just what a
Grünfeld specialist would hope for, in order to exert pressure against the
d4-pawn.}) 11... d6 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Rc1 $14 {Despite Black's space advantage,
White's play is easier. His structure is more flexible and he has the
possibility of building up a queenside attack.} d5 14. Qd2 ({Under the given
circumstances, the plan based on} 14. c5 {does not promise anything special
anymore:} a5 15. a3 Ba6 $11 {Black has solved most of his strategic problems.})
14... Ba6 15. Rfd1 Rc8 16. h3 {In the next phase of the game, Kramnik will be
restricting himself to half-waiting moves, as if he would not find a clear
plan. Maybe he hoped that his opponent would get bored of his passive position
and starts some premature counterplay. To a certain extent, the ulterior
course of the game will justify such an approach.} dxc4 {A first sign of
Black's impatience. By giving up the tension, he avoides being left with a
weak pawn on d5 and hopes to get some counterplay against White's central
pawns.} 17. bxc4 Nd7 (17... Qa5 18. Nxe4 ({This is not really necessary, since
the queen is not doing much on a5. The more neutral} 18. Qc2 Rcd8 19. Rb1 $14 {
/\Na4 also retains White's advantage.}) 18... Qxd2 19. Nxf6+ Bxf6 20. Rxd2 Rcd8
21. Rcd1 Bxd4 22. Rxd4 Rxd4 23. Rxd4 Rxe2 24. Bh6 f6 25. Rd7 $14) 18. Na4 $1 {
Possibly underestimated by Black.} Bf8 19. Bf1 (19. Rb1 $5 {/\Rb3}) 19... h5
20. Qc3 {A bit mysterious.} Qf6 21. Be3 c5 22. Qa5 {Now that pawn contact has
been established, Kramnik switches to dynamic mode.} (22. d5 $5 $14 {also
looks promising. The c5-pawn is a target, the a6-bishop is passive and the
d5-pawn can become dangerous in the event of mass simplifications.}) 22... cxd4
23. Bxd4 Qc6 24. Nc3 $1 {Re-centralising.} (24. Bxa7 $2 Re5 25. c5 $8 {[%csl
Ga4]} Bxf1 26. Rxf1 Rg5 $40 {[%cal Ge4e3,Gc8a8]}) 24... Bh6 (24... Bc5 25. Bxc5
Nxc5 26. Nb5 Bxb5 27. cxb5 Qb6 28. Qa3 $14) 25. Nd5 $5 {Quite imaginative.
Decades ago, I had come in contact with Petrosian's positional exchange
sacrifices and started carrying them out myself. More than once, I ignored
such threats as ...Bxc1, by making some active move on another sector of the
board. Subjectively, I like Kramnik's last move a lot, although objectively
the position did not require it really.} (25. Rc2 $14 {[%cal Gc3d5]}) 25...
Bxc1 26. Rxc1 $44 {White is strongly centralised and Black is poorly
coordinated and weak on the dark squares.} Bb7 $2 {This is the right time to
mention the psychological impact of the positional exchange sacrifice,
something Petrosian liked to speak about. Black has "won" an exchange for no
pawn, which may cause either some sort of euphoria or panic in front of 
(possibly illusory) threats. This depends on the player's character, of course.
With his last move, Black aims to regroup as soon as possible and exchange the
molesting knight. However, since ...Bxd5 is not a threat yet anyway, the move
order chosen by him is wrong.} (26... Qd6 $1 {is the only way to parry the
game threat under favourable circumstances.} 27. Bb2 Bb7 $1 {This is
well-timed now.} 28. Rd1 Bxd5 29. Rxd5 Qe7 30. Qc3 f6 31. Qe3 Nb6 32. Rd4 {
White has pressure on both wings and his bishops look threatening. From the
practical point of view, it may be not that pleasant to play with Black, since
there is no immediate way to release the pressure, for instance:} Rcd8 33. c5
$1 {based on} Qxc5 $4 34. Rxd8 Qxe3 35. Rxe8+ Kf7 36. fxe3 $18) 27. Qb4 $1 $16
{Suddenly, the threat of Ne7+ (attacking four pieces at the same time!) cannot
be parried adequately.} a5 28. Ne7+ Kf8 (28... Kh7 29. Qa3 $16) 29. Nxg6+ Kg8
30. Ne7+ Kf8 31. Ng6+ Kg8 32. Ne7+ Kf8 33. Nxc6+ axb4 34. Nxb4 Nc5 35. Rb1 $16
{White has two pawns for the exchange, an unchallenged dark-squared bishop,
and the safer king position. This is enough to claim a clear advantage.} Red8 (
35... Nd3 {has been recommended by Zagrebelny, but it fails to solve Black's
problems if White just ignores the knight.} 36. Be3 $1 (36. Nxd3 exd3 37. Bxd3
Be4 $11 {Zagrebelny}) 36... Red8 37. a4 (37. Nxd3 exd3 38. Rxb7 d2 39. Bxd2
Rxd2 $11) 37... Rd7 38. Bxd3 exd3 39. c5 {/\a5} d2 40. Rd1 $16) 36. Nc2 Ba8 (
36... Ba6 $5 $16 {[%csl Gb5] ><b5}) 37. Rb5 Nd3 38. Rxh5 $18 {White has some
material advantage already, while keeping all his previous trumps.} Ke8 (38...
Ke7 39. Ne3 $1 Rxd4 $2 40. Nf5+) (38... Rxc4 39. Bf6 $1 $18) 39. Bb6 Rd6 40. c5
{Consolidating the bishop and planning the advance of the a-pawn.} Rd5 41. Rh6
Rg5 (41... Nxc5 42. Rh8+ Kd7 43. Bb5+ Bc6 44. Rxc8 Kxc8 45. Bxc6 Rd6 46. Nb4
Nd3 47. Nd5 $1 $18) 42. Nd4 Rg6 (42... Nxc5 43. Rh8+ Kd7 44. Bb5+ $18) 43. Rh5
Ke7 44. a4 Nf4 45. Re5+ Kf8 46. g3 Nd3 47. Rh5 Kg8 48. a5 Re8 49. a6 Re5 50.
Rxe5 Nxe5 51. Bb5 e3 52. a7 Kf8 53. Bc7 (53. Bc7 {The knight is sort of
trapped.} f6 $8 54. Kf1 $5 {Not the only move, but the simplest one. The
e3-pawn is neutralised and the strength of the threat f2-f4 is increased, by
avoiding ...Rxg3+.} exf2 55. Bxe5 fxe5 56. c6 Ke7 57. c7 Rg8 58. Nf5+ {It
appears that preventing Nd6 with} Ke6 {drops material to} 59. Bc4+ Bd5 60.
Bxd5+ Kxd5 61. Ne7+) 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.13"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2746"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. d4 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qa5 10. Bb5+ Nbd7 11. Bxf6 Qxc3+ 12. Kf1 gxf6 13. h4 a6 14.
Rh3 Qb4 15. Be2 Ne5 16. Rc1 Qd6 17. Rc2 Bd7 18. Rd2 Qc7 19. Rc2 Qd6 20. Rd2 Qc7
21. Rc2 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.14"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2781"]
[BlackElo "2694"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 a6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nc3 c6 6. Bf4 Bd6 7. Bxd6 Qxd6 8.
e3 Ne7 9. Bd3 Bf5 10. Bxf5 Nxf5 11. Qc2 Ne7 12. Qb3 Ra7 13. e4 O-O 14. e5 Qd8
15. Qc2 f6 16. O-O fxe5 17. Nxe5 Nf5 18. Qd3 Nd7 19. Rae1 Ra8 20. Na4 Nxe5 21.
Rxe5 g6 22. Nc5 Rf7 23. Rfe1 Ng7 24. g3 Qf8 25. R1e2 Re8 26. Rxe8 Nxe8 27. Re5
Ng7 28. Qe2 Qd6 29. Kg2 Qf6 30. h4 h6 31. Nd3 Nf5 32. Re6 Qg7 33. Qg4 Kh7 34.
h5 gxh5 35. Qxh5 Rf6 36. Rxf6 Qxf6 37. Nf4 Nxd4 38. Qe8 a5 39. b3 b5 40. Qd7+
Qg7 41. Qe8 Qf6 42. Qd7+ Qg7 43. Qd6 Qf7 44. g4 c5 45. Kg3 h5 46. Nxh5 Qf3+ 47.
Kh4 Qxf2+ 48. Kg5 Qe3+ 49. Nf4 Ne2 50. Qd7+ Kh8 51. Qc8+ Kg7 52. Qc7+ Kh8 53.
Qd8+ Kg7 54. Qc7+ Kh8 55. Qd8+ Kg7 56. Qc7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-ch 64th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.08.15"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Galkin, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2598"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2011.08.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {It would have been interesting to make bets during the first few moves,
regarding which opening will actually be played. After each move, the
expectations will change drastically, as we will see.} d6 {So, Kramnik invites
his opponent to the Pirc, an opening that he has included in his repertoire
just a few years ago.} 2. d4 Nf6 3. f3 {White prefers to threaten with a
transposition to the Sämisch King's Indian, after c4 and Nc3.} c5 {Declining
the offer and launching a new invitation to the Benoni!} ({I must confess that
recently I got tricked by this move order. I played} 3... g6 4. Be3 Nbd7 {
, being ready for either the Pirc or the KI, but then got out of my
preparation rather soon.} 5. Qd2 $1 {Inviting Black to define his intentions.}
({I was ready for} 5. c4 Bg7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Qd2 c5 {, which I had studied with
a pupil of mine some time ago.}) 5... c6 ({In the Pirc, I do not tend to
develop the bishop too soon:} 5... Bg7 6. Nc3 {followed by Bh6.}) 6. c4 (6. Nc3
b5 {was my last hope.}) 6... a6 7. Nc3 e5 8. O-O-O {Perez Mitjans,O (2452)
-Marin,M (2548) Barcelona 2011 (1-0, 42). Finally, I got trapped in a
variation that I had never studied and eventually lost.}) 4. Ne2 {After all
probabilities, it will now become a Sicilian English Attack.} (4. d5 {may
transpose to a Benoni, although some deviations are possible:} g6 (4... e6 5.
c4 b5 {Dreev,A (2676)-Saldano Dayer,H (2414)/Chalkidiki 2002/CBM 092/[Erenburg]
(1-0, 31)}) 5. c4 Bg7 6. Ne2 O-O 7. Nec3 e6 {Sadler,M (2667)-Tkachiev,V (2634)/
Enghien les Bains 1999/CBM 070/[Tsesarsky] (0-1, 44). The position looks like
a Benoni, but the disposition of White's knights is slightly different.}) (4.
c3 {would lead to an Alapin Sicilian! One interesting way to fight for the
initiative is} e6 (4... cxd4 5. cxd4 g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Nge2 e5 9. d5
Nbd7 10. Be3 {unexpectedely leads to a genuine Sämisch KI!! Usually, the
exchange of the c-pawns takes place after d4-d5, ...c6xd5, as happened in some
of Kasparov's games.}) 5. dxc5 d5 $5 {Shibut,M (2336)-Khachian,M (2473)/
Minneapolis 2005/CBM 107/[Rogozenko] (0-1, 22)}) 4... e6 5. Be3 {Renewing the
invitation to a Sicilian.} (5. dxc5 Qa5+ 6. Nbc3 dxc5 (6... Qxc5 $5 7. Nd4 a6
8. Be3 {leads to a Scheveningen in which Black may wonder why he had developed
his queen so soon.}) 7. Be3 a6 8. g3 Be7 9. Bg2 O-O 10. O-O Rd8 11. Qe1 Nc6 12.
Kh1 Qc7 13. f4 b6 14. h3 Bb7 $13 {Kurnosov,I (2419)-Zablotsky,S (2381)/
Vladimir 2002/CBM 087 ext (1-0, 40)}) 5... d5 $5 $146 {A new possibility pops
up: the French!} 6. dxc5 {Finally, the game takes an independent course. The
game belongs to B07. In other words, it is a Pirc, as I had announced a long
time ago!} (6. e5 Nfd7 7. f4 Nc6 {looks nice for Black. White's minor pieces
are far from optimally placed for the French structure.}) 6... Nbd7 {The
players are not too interested in solving the pawn tensions at this stage of
the game. Development is more important.} 7. Nbc3 (7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Bd4 Bxc5 $11
9. Bxg7 $2 Qb6 $40) 7... dxe4 8. b4 b6 $5 {Very sharp.} ({He could have
carried out a similar break under less complicated circumstances with:} 8... a5
9. a3 exf3 10. gxf3 axb4 11. axb4 Rxa1 12. Qxa1 b6 $132 13. c6 $2 Ne5 $17) 9.
c6 Bxb4 $1 10. cxd7+ Bxd7 $44 {At the cost of a piece, Black has obtained the
freer development and the possibility of taking the king to a safe place.
White will remain underdeveloped for almost all the rest of the game and his
king will be under permanent attack.} 11. a3 Ba5 12. Qd4 Qe7 13. fxe4 e5 {
Somehow, the central structure ressembles the Sicilian now, but maybe it is
now too late to speak about the opening.} 14. Qd3 O-O 15. Bg5 Rac8 16. Bxf6
Qxf6 $1 17. O-O-O (17. Qxd7 Qh4+ 18. g3 Qxe4 {[%cal Ga5c3]} 19. O-O-O Qxh1 $17)
17... Be6 18. Nd5 {The most natural way to try getting developed. Otherwise,
the knights would have remained immobile.} Bxd5 19. exd5 e4 $1 {[%cal Gf6a1] /
\ 20...Qa1#} 20. Qd4 (20. Qb3 Qa1+ 21. Qb1 Qxa3+ 22. Qb2 Qc5 $40) 20... Qd6 21.
h4 $6 {After giving up his a3-pawn, White's material advantage will become
almost insignificant, while his king will be even more exposed.} (21. Kb2 {
was necessary, although Black would have good play anyway:} Rfe8 22. h4 b5 $44
{[%cal Gc8c4,Gb5b4,Ga5b6,Gb6c5]}) 21... Qxa3+ 22. Qb2 Qc5 $40 23. Rh3 {The
counterattack initiated by this move is too slow.} (23. h5 $5 {[%cal Gh5h6]
may cause a bit more confusion.} h6 24. Rh4 f5) 23... e3 24. Rg3 Bd2+ 25. Kb1
g6 26. h5 Rfe8 $1 {Anticipating the threats with developing moves.} 27. hxg6 (
27. h6 Re5 $1 {[%csl Gc2]}) 27... hxg6 28. Rh3 Re5 $1 $15 {[%cal Gc5d5]} 29.
Nc1 Bc3 30. Qb3 $2 (30. Qa2 Re4 31. Nb3 Rb4 32. Ba6 Rc7 $40 {/\...b5, ...Ra4})
30... Re4 $19 31. Na2 (31. Qa2 Rb4+ 32. Nb3 a5 $19) 31... Qa5 32. Ba6 Rb4 33.
Bxc8 Rxb3+ 34. cxb3 e2 35. Nxc3 Qxc3 $1 {An imaginative attacking game,
reminding us of Kramnik's youth, when he frequently played the sharp lines of
the Rauzer Sicilian.} 0-1

[Event "Moscow Botvinnik Memorial"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.09.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2817"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2011.09.02"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "23"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O Nd4 6. Nxd4 Bxd4 7. c3 Bb6 8.
Nd2 c6 9. Ba4 O-O 10. Nc4 Bc7 11. Ne3 d5 12. Qf3 d4 13. cxd4 Qxd4 14. Bc2 Be6
15. Rd1 Bb6 16. h3 Rad8 17. Bb3 Bxb3 18. axb3 Qb4 19. Nc4 Nd7 20. Bd2 Qxb3 21.
Bc3 Bc5 22. Nxe5 Nxe5 23. Bxe5 Bd4 24. Bxd4 Rxd4 25. Rxa7 Qxb2 26. Raa1 Rb4 27.
d4 Rxd4 28. Rdb1 Qc2 29. Rxb7 Qxe4 30. Qxe4 Rxe4 31. Rc1 Re6 32. Rc7 g6 33.
R7xc6 Rxc6 34. Rxc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Botvinnik Memorial"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.09.02"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E36"]
[WhiteElo "2823"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2011.09.02"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "23"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 d5 7. e3 b6 8.
cxd5 Nxd5 9. Qc2 Ba6 10. Bxa6 Nxa6 11. e4 Ne7 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Qc6
e5 15. Qb5 exd4 16. Qxa6 Qxe4+ 17. Kf1 Rfe8 18. Rd1 b5 19. Qxb5 Rab8 20. Qd3
Rxb2 21. Qxe4 Rxe4 22. g3 c5 23. Kg2 c4 24. Nf3 d3 25. Rd2 Rb3 26. a4 g5 27.
Rc1 a5 28. Rdd1 Rb2 29. Rd2 Rxd2 30. Nxd2 Re2 31. Nb1 Rc2 32. Rd1 c3 33. Kf3 d2
34. Ke4 Rc1 35. Nxc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Botvinnik Memorial"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.09.02"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B70"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2807"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2011.09.02"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "23"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. e4 c5 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8.
Re1 Nc6 9. Nb3 Be6 10. Bg5 d5 11. exd5 Nxd5 12. Nxd5 Qxd5 13. Qxd5 Bxd5 14. c3
h6 15. Be3 b6 16. Rad1 Rad8 17. Bb5 Nb8 18. Bf4 e5 19. Bxe5 Bxe5 20. Rxe5 Bxb3
21. Rxd8 Rxd8 22. axb3 Rd1+ 23. Bf1 Kf8 24. b4 Nc6 25. Re2 a5 26. b5 Nd8 27. g3
Nb7 28. Kg2 Nc5 29. b4 axb4 30. cxb4 Nd7 31. Re4 Rd2 32. Kf3 h5 33. h3 Rb2 34.
Bd3 Nf6 35. Rd4 Ke7 36. Ke3 Ke6 37. Bc4+ Ke7 38. Rf4 Rxb4 39. Kd4 Rb2 40. Ke5
Rb1 41. Rf3 Rd1 42. Rd3 Re1+ 43. Re3 Rxe3+ 44. fxe3 Nd7+ 45. Kd5 f6 46. h4 Ne5
47. Bb3 Kd7 48. Bc2 Ke7 49. Bb1 Kd7 50. Bc2 Ke7 51. Bb1 Kd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Botvinnik Memorial"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.09.03"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2817"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2011.09.02"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "23"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Bd3
dxc4 9. Bxc4 Bd6 10. O-O Qe7 11. e4 e5 12. d5 Nb6 13. Bb3 O-O 14. dxc6 bxc6 15.
Nh4 Qf6 16. Nf5 Bc5 17. Qf3 Bd4 18. Nxd4 exd4 19. Qxf6 gxf6 20. Na4 Nxa4 21.
Bxa4 Be6 22. Rfc1 Rfd8 23. f3 d3 24. Rc3 f5 25. Rd1 fxe4 26. fxe4 Bxa2 27. Bxc6
Rab8 28. Rdxd3 Rxd3 29. Rxd3 Rxb2 30. Rd8+ Kg7 31. Ra8 Rb1+ 32. Kf2 Rb2+ 33.
Kf3 Rb3+ 34. Kf4 Rb2 35. g3 Rxh2 36. Rxa7 Kf6 37. e5+ Kg7 38. Bd7 Kf8 39. Ra8+
Kg7 40. Ra7 Kf8 41. Ra8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Botvinnik Memorial"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.09.03"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2823"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2011.09.02"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "23"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 b5 $6 2. e4 $1 {The most energetic way to meet Black's extravagant move.
Carlsen may have underestimated Kramnik's readiness to switch to dynamic play
at such an early stage of the game.} Bb7 $6 ({It almost looks safer to avoid
the pawn exchange with} 2... a6 3. d4 Bb7 4. Bd3 {, transposing to 1.e4 a6, as
experimented in the famous game Karpov,A (2725)-Miles,A (2545) Skara 1980
EU-chT [ChessBase] (0-1, 46)}) 3. Bxb5 Bxe4 {Generally speaking, the exchange
of a knight pawn for a central one should favour Black. However, the bishop is
exposed in the centre and the time invested in this operation (two tempi, ...
Bxe4-b7) is too high a price to pay. At the same time, the b5-bishop is active.
For instance, it prevents an early occupation of the centre with ...d5.} 4. O-O
Nf6 5. d4 e6 ({Playing for the centre with} 5... c6 6. Ba4 d5 {would leave
Black desperately underdeveloped:} 7. Ne5 Qb6 8. c4 $16) 6. c4 Be7 7. Nc3 Bb7 {
White is better developed and has been the first to occupy the centre. We have
actually got a reversed Sokolsky (1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 Bxb4 3.Bxe5) with an extra
tempo for White, in what is a questionable position anyway.} 8. d5 {There is
no reason to refrain from this new territorial gain.} ({The slow manoeuvre} 8.
Ba4 O-O 9. Bc2 {is relatively popular, but it contradicts Steinitz' teaching
according to which the player having an advantage is bound to attack! Black
gets a reasonable Hedgehog-type of position after} d6 10. b3 Nbd7 11. Bb2 c5 {
, for instance:} 12. dxc5 Nxc5 13. Qe2 Qb6 (13... a6 14. Rad1 Qc7 15. Rfe1 Rfe8
16. Nd4 Rac8 {1/2 (22) Timoscenko,G (2536)-Tomescu,V (2453)/Padova 1999/CBM
073 ext}) 14. Rad1 Rfd8 15. Rfe1 a5 16. Ng5 h6 17. Nge4 Ncxe4 18. Nxe4 Nxe4 19.
Bxe4 Bxe4 20. Qxe4 a4 $132 {1/2 (38) Iskusnyh,S (2440)-Zhelnin,V (2475)/Orel
1997/EXT 1999}) 8... O-O 9. Bf4 $5 $146 {It is strange that such a natural
developing move is new.} ({Here, too, White usually retreats with his other
bishop, as if fearing ...c6 (or what else?) True, this also is enough for an
advantage, which speaks against the system of development chosen by Black.} 9.
Ba4 Na6 (9... Bb4 10. Bg5 Bxc3 11. bxc3 h6 {Speelman,J (2530)-Hodgson,J/London
1985/EXT 2007 (1-0, 27)} 12. Bxf6 $5 Qxf6 13. Re1 $32 {It is not clear how
Black could develop. Among other things, the d7-pawn needs protection.}) 10.
Re1 (10. a3 Nc5 11. Bc2 a5 12. Be3 exd5 13. cxd5 $14 {Wojtkiewicz,A (2560)
-Bronstein,D (2400)/Reykjavik 1994/CBM 039 ext (1-0, 44)}) 10... Bb4 11. Bg5
Nc5 12. Bc2 Bxc3 13. bxc3 d6 14. Bh4 h6 15. Nd4 exd5 16. Nf5 $16 {Eingorn,V 
(2475)-Semeniuk,A/Soviet Union 1984/EXT 2000 (1-0, 40)}) 9... Na6 (9... c6 $2 {
is not a threat at all:} 10. d6 $1 cxb5 11. dxe7 Qxe7 12. Bd6 Bxf3 13. gxf3 $18
) 10. Re1 Qc8 {Avoiding the pin created by Bg5 after ...Bb4. However, the last
move takes the queen too far from the kingside.} 11. Nd4 Bb4 12. Bg5 $1 Ne8 (
12... Bxc3 13. Bxf6 Bxe1 (13... gxf6 14. bxc3 Nc5 15. Re3 $40) 14. Qg4 g6 15.
Qf4 {[%cal Gf4h6]} Bxf2+ 16. Kxf2 Nc5 {hoping for a fork on d3 or e4.} 17. Kg1
$1 $18 {Black has exhausted his defensive resources and can resign.}) 13. Re3 {
The logical continuation, building up a decisive kingside attack.} ({The
continuation suggested by the computer,} 13. Qa4 $5 Bxc3 14. Bxd7 $16 {looks
good enough, but in a rapid game players usually play according to known
patterns and rarely notice such "incidental" possibilities.}) 13... c6 {
Finally, but... too late. While Black will eliminate the central white pawns,
his king will get into deadly trouble.} 14. Bxa6 Bxa6 15. Qh5 f6 (15... Bxc4
16. Rh3 h6 17. Bxh6 $40) 16. Rh3 $1 {Most of Black's pieces (the queen, the
queen's rook, the bishops) are completely out of play and cannot contribute to
the defence. Although White's attack implies a piece sacrifice, he will enjoy
material superiority on the critical area of the board.} fxg5 17. Qxh7+ Kf7 18.
Qh5+ Kg8 (18... Ke7 19. Qxg5+ Kf7 20. Qh5+ Ke7 21. Qh4+ Nf6 (21... Rf6 22. Ne4
$18) (21... Kf7 22. dxe6+ dxe6 23. Ne4 $18) 22. dxe6 dxe6 23. Re1 Kf7 24. Nf3
$18) 19. Qh7+ Kf7 20. Ne4 Bxc4 21. Qh5+ Ke7 (21... Kg8 22. Nxg5 $18) (21... g6
22. Qh7+ Ng7 23. Rf3+ $18) 22. Qxg5+ Kf7 23. Qh5+ Ke7 24. Qg5+ Kf7 25. dxe6+
dxe6 26. Nf3 $1 {[%csl Yc4][%cal Gf3e5] An elegant regrouping move.} Kg8 27.
Qh4 {Threatening Ng5 (either of them) followed by Qh8 mate.} Rxf3 28. Qh7+ (28.
Qh7+ Kf8 29. Rxf3+ Ke7 30. Qh4+) 1-0

[Event "Moscow Botvinnik Memorial"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.09.03"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A18"]
[WhiteElo "2807"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2011.09.02"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "23"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 144"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.09.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. e4 d5 4. e5 d4 5. exf6 dxc3 6. bxc3 Qxf6 7. Nf3 e5 8. d4
exd4 9. Bg5 Qe6+ 10. Be2 Be7 $5 11. cxd4 (11. Bxe7 $143 d3 $1) 11... Bxg5 12.
Nxg5 Qf6 (12... Qg6 13. f4 O-O 14. O-O Nc6 15. d5 Ne7 16. Qd2 h6 17. Nf3 Qd6 (
17... Bf5 $5 $132) 18. Rad1 c6 (18... Re8 $11) 19. dxc6 Qxd2 (19... Qxc6 $142)
20. Nxd2 Nxc6 21. Ne4 Re8 22. Bf3 Bg4 23. Bxg4 (23. Nf6+ $5) 23... Rxe4 24. Rd7
Rxc4 25. Rxb7 Rd8 26. Bd1 $1 $14 {Grachev,B (2669)-Socko,B (2654)/Lublin/2011/
For more information about this alternative, as well as the whole
Flohr-Mikenas line with 3.e4 in general see my detailed notes to the
aforementioned game in CBM 143.}) 13. Qd2 (13. Ne4 Qh4 $5 (13... Qg6 14. Ng3
O-O 15. O-O Rd8 16. Rc1 Qf6 17. d5 Na6 18. Nh5 Qe5 19. Bf3 Nc5 20. Re1 Qd6 21.
Qd4 f6 22. Re3 Bd7 23. Bg4 Re8 24. Rg3 $40 {Pelletier,Y (2587)-Ribli,Z (2568)/
Bundesliga 0203/2003/}) (13... Qe7 14. Ng3 O-O 15. O-O Rd8 16. Qd2 Qf6 17. Rad1
Nc6 18. d5 Ne7 19. Bd3 Nf5 20. Ne4 Qh4 21. Rfe1 b6 22. Ng5 h6 23. Nf3 Qf6 24.
Re4 $1 $16 {Nogueiras Santiago,J (2521)-Bielicki,C (2289)/Buenos Aires/2003/})
14. Bf3 (14. Nc3 O-O 15. O-O Rd8 (15... Bf5 16. Nb5 Qd8 17. d5 a6 18. Nd4 Bg6
19. Qb3 b6 20. Qg3 c5 21. Nf3 Re8 22. Rfe1 Nd7 23. Bf1 Qf6 24. Qc7 Bf5 25. a4
Rec8 26. Qf4 $14 {Tsenkov,L (1560)-Starace,U (2067)/corr/2009/}) 16. d5 Bf5 17.
Re1 c5 (17... Na6 $5 {/\Nc5=}) 18. Qb3 b6 19. Bf3 Na6 20. d6 Rab8 21. Nd5 Kh8
22. Re5 Qd4 23. Rae1 Be6 24. R5e4 Qd2 25. Rd1 $16 {Mkrtchian,L (2453)-Zhao Xue
(2423)/Turin olw/2006/}) (14. Ng3 O-O 15. O-O Rd8 16. f4 Qf6 17. d5 Na6 18. Rb1
Nc5 19. Nh5 Qd6 20. Qd4 f6 21. Ng3 Re8 22. Bh5 Re7 23. Rbe1 Bd7 $11 {
Dahlstroem,R (2446)-Loeschnauer,R (2435)/corr/2007/}) 14... O-O 15. O-O Nc6 16.
Re1 Bf5 (16... Rd8 17. g3 Qh6 18. Nc3 Bf5 19. Nd5 Rab8 20. a4 a6 21. Ra3 Qd6
22. Rae3 Be6 23. Qa1 b5 $11 {Beltins,G (2083)-Lucian Hoffman,M (2015)/corr/
2008/}) 17. Ng3 Bg6 18. Bxc6 bxc6 19. Qd2 Rad8 20. f4 Qf6 21. Rad1 h5 22. Re5
h4 $132 {Vilela,J (2405)-Vera Gonzalez Quevedo,R (2470)/Matanzas/1989/}) 13...
O-O 14. O-O Nc6 (14... Bf5 $5 15. Rad1 (15. Nf3 Re8 16. Bd3 Bxd3 17. Qxd3 Nc6
18. Rfe1 Rad8 19. Rab1 b6 20. h3 h6 21. d5 Ne5 22. Nxe5 Rxe5 $11 {Schubert,W 
(2323)-Foldvary,F (2308)/corr/2001/}) 15... Re8 {1/2,Stohl,I (2560)-Zarnicki,P
(2475)/Moscow olm/1994/CBM 044 ext} 16. Bf3 Nc6 17. Bd5 Re7 18. Rfe1 h6 $1 19.
Ne4 Bxe4 20. Bxe4 Rae8 $132) 15. d5 (15. Nf3 Bg4 16. Rad1 Rad8 17. d5 Bxf3 18.
Bxf3 Ne5 19. Be2 b6 20. Rfe1 Rfe8 21. Bf1 Nd7 22. Re3 Rxe3 23. Qxe3 Nc5 24. Re1
g6 $11 {Kasparov,G (2825)-Zarnicki,P (2515)/ICC blitz/1998/}) 15... Nd4 16. Ne4
$5 $146 {[%mdl 8] This is certainly no decisive novelty, but it presents Black
a fresh set of problems, which allow White to retain some initiative.
Especially in a rapid game it's not so simple to navigate all the pitfalls and
hold the balance.} (16. Bd3 Bf5 17. Bxf5 Nxf5 18. Ne4 (18. Nf3 c6 19. Rab1 cxd5
20. cxd5 Nd6 21. Rfc1 Rac8 $11 {Tremayne,D (2073)-Bilsel,S (1977)/corr/1999/})
18... Qg6 (18... Qh4 19. Rfe1 Rfe8 20. Qd3 Nd6 21. g3 Qe7 22. Nxd6 Qxd6 23. Re4
Re7 24. Qe3 Rxe4 25. Qxe4 b6 26. Re1 h6 $11 {Bukal,V (2415)-Rosandic,D (2385)/
Zadar/1995/}) 19. Rfe1 Rad8 20. Qf4 b6 $5 21. a4 (21. Qxc7 $6 Nd4 $15 {wins an
exchange}) 21... Nd6 22. Nxd6 Qxd6 23. Qxd6 Rxd6 24. a5 {1/2, Cramling,D (2420)
-Wiedenkeller,M (2450)/Stockholm/1993/} (24. Re7 c6 $11)) 16... Nxe2+ (16...
Qe5 17. Bd3 f5 18. Nc5 b6 19. Nb3 $14) 17. Qxe2 Qg6 ({A playable alternative is
} 17... Qe5 18. Rfe1 (18. Qe3 f5 19. Nc3 Qxe3 20. fxe3 Bd7 {/\} 21. c5 Rfe8 22.
Rfe1 c6 $5 $132) 18... Bf5 19. Nc5 Qd6 (19... Qxe2 20. Rxe2 b6 (20... Rfe8 21.
Rxe8+ Rxe8 22. Nxb7 Re2 23. h3 Kf8 $44) 21. Na6 Bd3 22. Rd2 Bxc4 23. Nxc7 Rac8
24. d6 Rfd8 $11) 20. Qe7 (20. Nxb7 $2 Qb6) 20... Rab8 $11) 18. Rfe1 Bf5 ({
A safe choice seems to be} 18... Bd7 $5 19. Qe3 (19. Nc5 Rae8 20. Qb2 Bc8 (
20... Bf5 $5) 21. Qd4 (21. Nxb7 $2 Qb6 $19) 21... Bh3 22. g3 b6 $11) 19... Rae8
20. Qf4 Bc8 $132) 19. Ng3 {[%cal Ge1e8] <->e} Bd3 (19... Bd7 20. Qe5 Rac8 $14 (
20... Qd6 $2 21. Qxd6 cxd6 22. Ne4 $16)) 20. Qe5 Bxc4 {Logical enough, but now
White's chances become more real.} (20... f5 $142 $5 21. Qf4 Qg4 22. Qxc7 f4
23. Ne4 (23. f3 Qc8 24. Qxc8 Raxc8 25. Ne4 Rfd8 $11) 23... f3 24. Qg3 (24. Ng3
$2 fxg2 $40) 24... Qxg3 25. hxg3 Bxc4 $11) 21. Nf5 Kh8 22. Ne3 Bd3 23. Qxc7 $14
{[%csl Gd5] Now the o^d5 is an asset and constant threat.} Be4 24. Qf4 (24.
Qxb7 f5 25. f4 Qd6 $11) (24. d6 $2 f5 25. d7 Rad8 26. f4 Qc6 $15) 24... Rfe8
25. f3 Bd3 26. Rad1 h5 27. Rd2 (27. Qd4 Bb5 28. Rc1 $14) 27... Bb5 28. Red1 (
28. Qb4 $5 a6 (28... Qb6 29. Kf2 a5 30. Qb2 $36) 29. a4 $14) 28... Rad8 29. d6
$5 Bc6 (29... Qe6 30. Rd5 $1 Qxe3+ (30... Be2 $2 31. Rxh5+ Kg8 32. Rd4 $1 {/\}
Qxe3+ 33. Qxe3 Rxe3 34. Rdh4 $18) 31. Qxe3 Rxe3 32. Rxh5+ Kg8 33. Rxb5 Rd7 $14
{gives Black drawing chances, but he is still the one who has to fight for
half a point, being a P down.}) 30. d7 (30. Nc4 {[%cal Rc4e5,Yc4a5] /\Na5, Ne5}
Qe6 31. Na5 Qe5 $1 {is drawish - a plausible follow-up is} 32. Qxe5 Rxe5 33.
Nxc6 bxc6 34. Kf2 Kg8 (34... g6 $5 $11) 35. Rc2 c5 36. Re2 Rxe2+ 37. Kxe2 Kf8
38. Rd5 g6 39. Kd3 Ke8 40. Kc4 Kd7 41. Rxc5 Ke6 $1 42. Rc7 Rxd6 {[%cal Rd6d2] /
\Rd2}) 30... Re6 (30... Re7 31. Qc7 Rdxd7 32. Rxd7 Rxe3 (32... Bxd7 $2 33. Nd5
Re2 34. Nf4 $18) 33. Rd8+ (33. Rxf7 Re2 $13 {/+/=}) 33... Kh7 34. Qg3 $14) 31.
Nc4 (31. Qc7 $2 Rxd7 32. Rxd7 Bxd7 $15) 31... Qf6 (31... Rxd7 32. Ne5 (32. Rxd7
Bxd7 33. Ne5 (33. Rxd7 $4 Qb1+ 34. Kf2 Qe1#) 33... Qc2 34. Rc1 Qa4 (34... Qxc1+
35. Qxc1 Rxe5 36. Qc7 Rd5 37. Qxb7 Be6 38. a4 $14) 35. Nxf7+ Kg8 36. Rc8+ Re8
$11) 32... Rxe5 33. Qxe5 Rxd2 34. Rxd2 Bxf3 35. Rf2 Bc6 36. Qf5 $1 $14) 32.
Qxf6 gxf6 {[%csl Rf6,Rf7,Rh5] ׻ This creates permanent weaknesses.
Controlling the <->e seems crucial and quite natural, but in fact a more solid
lne was} (32... Rxf6 $142 $5 33. Ne5 (33. Na5 Kg8 {is similar}) 33... Kg8 {
It's difficult to effectively support the o^ and Black has good chances to
fully consolidate his position.}) 33. Na5 Kg7 34. Rd4 (34. Kf2 Kf8 $14) 34...
f5 $2 {[%csl Rf5] ׻ This only exposes the vulnerability of Black's P. His
first and foremost priority should have been the activation of his K, which
should join the fight against the o^ as soon as possible.} (34... Kf8 35. Kf2
Ke7 36. g4 $5 Re5 $5 $14) 35. Kf2 b6 36. Nxc6 Rxc6 37. Kg3 Rc2 (37... Kf6 $142
$1 38. Kf4 b5 39. h4 $142 $1 (39. Rd6+ Rxd6 40. Rxd6+ Ke7 41. Rd5 Rxd7 42. Rxb5
(42. Rxd7+ Kxd7 43. Kxf5 h4 44. Ke5 Kc6 45. g4 hxg3 46. hxg3 b4 47. Kd4 Kb5 $11
{<=>}) 42... Rd2 43. Ra5 h4 44. Rxa7+ Ke6 45. Ra6+ Ke7 46. Kg5 $14 {/=}) 39...
a5 (39... Rc4 40. Rxc4 bxc4 41. Rd6+ Ke7 42. Rc6 Rxd7 43. Rxc4 $36) 40. Rd5
Rc4+ 41. Kg3 Rc7 (41... Ra4 $2 42. Re1 $1 $18) 42. Rxb5 $14) 38. Kf4 Kg6 $6
$138 (38... Kf6 $8 39. Re1 Rc7 40. Rd6+ Kg7 41. Red1 Rc2 42. R1d2 $16 {/+-})
39. Ke5 $1 {The activation of White's K is decisive.} Re2+ (39... Rc7 40. Rd6+
(40. h4 $5 $18) 40... Kg7 (40... Kg5 $2 41. h4+ $1 Kxh4 42. Kf4 Rc4+ 43. R6d4
Rxd4+ 44. Rxd4 {[%cal Rd4d1,Rd1h1] /\Rd1-h1#}) 41. Kxf5 $18) 40. Kd6 $18 {
[%csl Gd6,Gd7][%cal Rd6e7,Rd6c7] Only 5 moves ago Black's K could have been on
e7 - now it's White counterpart heads for this square and paralyses Black's R.}
Kf6 41. Rd5 $1 (41. Kc7 $143 $6 Ke7) 41... Rxg2 (41... Re6+ 42. Kc7 Ke7 43.
Rxf5 $18 {[%cal Rf5f7] /\Rf7}) 42. Kc7 Rgg8 43. f4 Rgf8 (43... b5 44. Rd6+ Kg7
45. Rg1+ $18) 44. Rg1 {[%cal Rd5d6,Rg1e1] /\Rd6, Re1 Weaves a mating net.} Ke7
45. Rd6 (45. Rd6 f6 (45... Rh8 46. Re1+) 46. Rg7+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Hoogeveen Unive Crown 15th"]
[Site "Hoogeveen"]
[Date "2011.10.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2722"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2011.10.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 145"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 (1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Be3
{- Kramnik,V (2781)-Giri,A (2701)/Dortmund/2011/ See the notes to this game in
CBM 144. This time Kramnik tries a different approach...}) 1... Nf6 2. c4 g6 3.
Nc3 Bg7 ({Kramnik indicated his plans against} 3... d5 {a few rounds later by}
4. Qa4+ {- see Kramnik,V (2791)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2715)/Hoogeveen/2011/ Giri
said he was inspired by Nakamura's recent games against Kramnik and doesn't
mind entering King's Indian territory. However, his opponent was certainly
prepared, as Anish has already played this opening earlier this year.}) 4. e4
d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O (7. Be3 exd4 8. Nxd4 Re8 9. f3 c6 10. Qd2 d5 11.
exd5 cxd5 12. O-O Nc6 13. c5 Qa5 (13... Rxe3 $5 14. Qxe3 Qf8 $44 {was
introduced in the last K-K match in 1990.}) 14. Bf2 Nxd4 $6 (14... a6 $142) 15.
Bxd4 Qb4 16. Rfd1 Bd7 17. a3 Qb3 18. Bd3 Rad8 19. Bc2 Qc4 20. b3 Qa6 21. b4 b6
{Popov,V (2565)-Giri,A (2690)/RUS-chT Olginka/2011/} 22. Bd3 Qb7 23. Rab1 $36)
7... Nc6 {Kramnik has been playing the Classical line for two decades and has
vast experience with it.} ({The less usual} 7... exd4 8. Nxd4 Re8 {also had
some recent outings:} 9. f3 c6 (9... Nc6 10. Be3 Nh5 11. Qd2 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 Nf4
13. Be3 Nxe2+ 14. Nxe2 f5 15. Bg5 Qd7 16. Ng3 Qf7 17. Rac1 Bd7 18. b3 a5 19. a4
Be5 20. Bf4 Bg7 21. Kh1 b6 $11 {Kramnik,V (2788)-Radjabov,T (2744)/Kazan/2011/
Later in the nervous tie-break White managed to outplay his opponent, but from
the opening Black was doing OK.}) 10. Kh1 Nbd7 (10... Nh5 $5 11. g4 Nf6 12. Bf4
h5 13. g5 Nh7 14. Qd2 Nd7 15. Rad1 Qe7 16. Rg1 Ne5 17. Qe1 Nf8 18. Qf2 a6 19.
Nb3 Be6 20. c5 Rad8 21. cxd6 Rxd6 $13 {Gelfand - Griscuk, Monaco rapid 2011}
22. Qc5 Rxd1 23. Rxd1 Nfd7 $11 {Gelfand,B (2733)-Grischuk,A (2747)/Monte Carlo
rpd blindfold/2011/}) 11. Be3 ({More usual is} 11. Bg5 {already played by
Kramnik in the past:} Qb6 12. Nb3 a5 13. Qd2 a4 14. Be3 c5 $6 15. Nc1 Ne5 16.
Rb1 Be6 17. b3 axb3 18. axb3 Qa5 19. Rd1 Red8 20. Nb5 Qxd2 21. Rxd2 Ne8 22. Na2
f5 23. exf5 Bxf5 24. Rbd1 Nc6 25. g4 Be6 26. Nac3 Na5 27. Rb1 b6 28. Kg2 h6 29.
Bd3 g5 30. Be4 Bxc3 31. Nxc3 Rac8 32. h4 $16 {Kramnik,V (2770)-Polgar,J (2670)/
Dortmund/1997/}) 11... a6 $5 (11... d5 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. Ndb5 $1 $36) 12. Nc2
$146 (12. Bg1 {/\} d5 13. cxd5 cxd5 14. exd5 Nb6 15. Qb3 $1 $14 {Ponomariov}) (
12. Qd2 Ne5 13. Rad1 Qc7 14. Nc2 Be6 15. b3 Rad8 16. f4 Neg4 17. Bg1 Bc8 18. h3
Nh6 19. Qd3 $2 (19. Bf3 d5 20. cxd5 cxd5 21. e5 Ne4 22. Bxe4 dxe4 23. Bd4 Nf5
24. Nxe4 f6 $132) 19... Nxe4 $1 20. Nxe4 Bf5 $17 {Korolev,A (2235)-Domogaev,S 
(2469)/Bogoroditsk/2011/}) 12... Ne5 13. f4 Neg4 14. Bg1 h5 $5 15. Bf3 (15. h3
Nxe4 $1 $44) 15... Be6 16. b3 $6 (16. Qd3 $142 $1) 16... Qa5 17. Qe1 b5 $6 ({
Pocitacove} 17... Bf5 18. h3 Qd8 $1 $36 {[%cal Rf6e4] /\Ne4}) 18. c5 $6 (18. h3
$1 $14) 18... b4 19. Na4 Bc4 $2 (19... Nxe4 $1 $36) 20. Qxb4 Qxb4 21. Nxb4 Bxf1
22. Rxf1 Nxe4 23. Nb6 Ra7 24. cxd6 Nxd6 25. Bxc6 Re2 26. N6d5 $14 {Kramnik,V 
(2781)-Ponomariov,R (2764)/Dortmund/2011/ For more details see the notes by
Ponomariov to this game in CBM 144.}) 8. d5 Ne7 9. b4 ({Although this line is
Kramnik's trademark, lately he has also played} 9. Nd2 {, albeit without much
success:} a5 (9... Ne8 10. b4 f5 11. c5 Nf6 12. a4 f4 13. Nc4 g5 14. Ba3 g4 $6
15. cxd6 cxd6 16. b5 Ne8 17. Bxg4 Qc7 18. Be2 f3 19. b6 axb6 20. Nb5 fxe2 21.
Qxe2 Qd8 22. Nbxd6 Nxd6 23. Bxd6 Rf7 24. Bxe5 $36 {/+/-,Kramnik,V (2780)
-Nakamura,H (2733)/Khanty Mansiysk olm/ 2010/ In the later course of the game
Black managed to escape - see the notes by Krasenkow in CBM 139.}) ({Fischer's
move} 9... c5 {is not too popular nowadays, here both} 10. Rb1 ({and} 10. dxc6
bxc6 11. b4 {allow White to fight for an edge.})) 10. a3 Kh8 11. Rb1 Nd7 12. b4
f5 13. f3 f4 (13... Ng8 {[%cal Yg8f6] /\Ngf6 was introduced by Kasparov and is
played more often.}) 14. Nb5 b6 15. Qc2 (15. c5 $5 $44) 15... a4 $5 {A
paradoxical new idea, which takes b3 away from the N and thus greatly
complicates the c5 break.} 16. Rd1 ({Kramnik was worried about} 16. Nc3 g5 17.
Nxa4 Nf6 18. c5 g4 $13 {, but it's not so clear how strong the -> really is.
Therefore this was a more testing and principled reaction.}) 16... g5 17. g4 h5
18. h3 Rf6 19. Bb2 Rh6 20. Kg2 Ng6 21. Rh1 Bf8 22. Kf2 Nf6 23. c5 dxc5 24. Nc4
Bd6 25. Bc3 Kg7 26. Qb2 cxb4 27. axb4 Qe7 28. Rbg1 Bd7 29. Nbxd6 cxd6 {[%cal
Ra8h8] /\Rah8->,Kramnik,V (2785)-Nakamura,H (2774)/Monte Carlo 2011 - see
notes to this game by Krasenkow in CBM 142.}) ({Giri's own recent game
featured the older main line} 9. Ne1 Nd7 10. Nd3 f5 11. Bd2 fxe4 ({Unusual,} 
11... Nf6 12. f3 f4 $13 {is the standard continuation.}) 12. Nxe4 Nf5 13. Rc1 (
13. Bc3 $5) 13... Nf6 14. Bg5 h6 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Bg4 b6 17. Rc3 a5 18. Ne1
Bg7 19. Nc2 h5 20. Bh3 Bh6 21. Re1 Kh7 22. Ng3 Qg5 23. Rf3 Bd7 24. b3 Rf7 25.
Re4 Raf8 $15 {Renet,O (2497)-Giri,A (2687)/FRA-chT Mulhouse/2011/}) 9... Nh5
10. g3 {The older alternative, played already in the 1950s.} ({If only
statistically speaking the main move here is} 10. Re1 {, but Kramnik played
this a lot in the past. Suffice to say that after he beat Kasparov in Novgorod
1997 in this line the latter stopped playing the KID in classical games.
However, lately Kramnik has been doing some experimenting in the Bayonet
Attack. His recent choice here has been} f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. Bf3 (12. f3 {
was played in no less than 5 (!) Van Wely-Radjabov games. The last one from
2009, annotated by Van Wely in CBM 129, illustrates the problems Black has to
face after} Kh8 13. Rb1 h6 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6) 12... c6 13. Ba3 (13. Be3 {
is a move, introduced by Kramnik in the late 1990s. However, here extensive
practice has shown that} h6 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6 fxe4 16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4
d5 18. cxd5 cxd5 19. Bc2 b6 $11 {doesn't give White an advantage.}) 13... h6
14. Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6 fxe4 16. Bxe4 $5 (16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 d5 18. cxd5 cxd5
19. b5 dxe4 20. Qxd8 Rfxd8 21. Bxe7 Re8 {is known to lead to a drawish _|_.})
16... d5 $142 $1 (16... Nxe4 17. Nxe4 d5 18. Nc5 $1 Qd6 (18... e4 19. Rc1 $36)
19. Nxb7 Qxe6 20. b5 cxb5 21. cxd5 Qd7 22. d6 Nf5 23. Nc5 Qxd6 24. Qxd6 Nxd6
25. Ne4 $16 {Kramnik,V (2788)-Grischuk,A (2728)/WCh Moscow blitz/2008/}) 17.
Bc2 (17. cxd5 cxd5 18. b5 Nxe4 19. Nxe4 dxe4 20. Qxd8 Rfxd8 21. Bxe7 Re8 $11 {
only transposes to 16.Ne4.}) 17... Qd6 18. cxd5 cxd5 19. Bb3 Kh7 20. Qe2 Nh5
21. Rad1 Nf4 22. Qf1 Rad8 $5 $132 (22... Rac8 23. Ne4 Qxe6 24. b5 $44) (22...
Qxe6 23. b5 Rad8 24. Bxe7 Qxe7 25. Nxd5 Nxd5 26. Bxd5 $14 {Chabanon,J (2455)
-Touzane,O (2287)/FRA-chT/2010/})) ({Another try is} 10. c5 Nf4 11. a4 (11. Bc4
Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 13. Re1 Kh8 $1 14. Bf1 f5 15. Bxf4 exf4 16. Rc1 a5 17. a3 $6 (
17. bxa5 Rxa5 18. cxd6 cxd6 19. Be2 $11) 17... axb4 18. axb4 Bxf3 19. gxf3 (19.
Qxf3 Ra3 $1 $36) 19... fxe4 20. Rxe4 Nf5 21. Rc4 Qg5+ 22. Kh1 Bxc3 23. R4xc3
Ra2 24. R3c2 {Bykhovsky,A (2405)-Avrukh,B (2495)/Beersheba/1996/ - see
Avrukh's notes in CBM 53.} Rxc2 25. Qxc2 Qf6 $15) 11... f5 12. Bc4 fxe4 13.
Nxe4 h6 14. Re1 $146 (14. g3 Nh5 (14... Nh3+ $5 15. Kg2 Bg4 $132) 15. Nfd2 Kh8
16. Ra3 a6 17. cxd6 cxd6 18. b5 Bf5 19. bxa6 bxa6 20. Qe2 Qd7 21. Bxa6 $6 (21.
Rb3 $1 $14) 21... Nxd5 22. Bb5 Qe7 23. Bc6 Ndf4 $1 24. gxf4 Nxf4 25. Qe1 Rac8
26. Bb5 d5 27. Ng3 Bh3 $44 {|^, Bareev,E (2677)-Amonatov,F (2649)/RUS-chT
Dagomys/2008/}) 14... Bg4 15. Ra3 g5 16. h3 Bh5 17. Bxf4 Rxf4 18. g3 Rf8 19. a5
Kh8 20. Kg2 Rb8 21. Qd2 b6 22. axb6 axb6 $11 23. Nfxg5 $5 hxg5 24. Qxg5 Bg6 $13
{Kramnik,V (2781)-Nakamura,H (2770)/Dortmund/2011/ Later on White misplayed
the complications and lost - see notes to this game by Krasenkow in CBM 144.})
10... f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. Bf3 $5 {Natural enough, but very rare. Now we have a
position from the previous note, in which White has played g3 instead of Re1.
It's necessary to compare these lines, their pluses and respective drawbacks.}
({The older move is} 12. f3 f4 {and here White should perhaps reconsider} 13.
Kg2 $5 (13. b5 fxg3 14. hxg3 h6 15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6 Qc8 17. Nd5 Qxe6 18. Nxc7
Qh3 19. Rf2 Nxe4 20. fxe4 Rxf2 21. Kxf2 Rf8+ 22. Ke3 Qxg3+ 23. Kd2 Rf2 24. Ne8
Qf3 $1 25. Nxd6 Bf6 26. c5 Nd5 $1 27. exd5 e4 28. Ke1 {Van Wely,L (2655)
-Stellwagen,D (2630)/Amsterdam/2009/ This game still remains the last word in
the 13.b5 line.} Bc3+ $1 29. Bd2 Qg3 30. Bxc3 e3 $19 {[%cal Rf2f1] /\Rf1})
13... h6 (13... Nh5) (13... a5 {and}) (13... c6 $5 $13 {are all viable
improvements, leading to complex play.}) 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6 c6 16. b5 Qc7
17. bxc6 bxc6 18. Ba3 Rfd8 19. Qa4 Qc8 20. Rab1 Kh8 21. Rfd1 Qxe6 22. Qa6 h5
23. Rb7 g5 24. Rxa7 Rab8 {Van Wely,L (2585)-Ye Jiangchuan (2535)/Biel izt/1993/
} 25. Rb7 $1 $16 {/\} Ra8 $2 26. Rxd6 $1) 12... c6 {The standard reaction.} (
12... h6 13. Ne6 Bxe6 14. dxe6 fxe4 (14... c6 15. b5 fxe4 {-12...c6 13.b5}) 15.
Nxe4 Nxe4 16. Bxe4 c6 17. Be3 (17. Qg4 d5 18. Bxg6 Nxg6 19. Qxg6 Qe8 20. Qg4
Rf6 $11) (17. b5 d5 18. Bg2 Qd6 19. cxd5 cxd5 20. Qb3 Qxe6 21. Ba3 $14) (17.
Qb3 $5) 17... d5 18. cxd5 cxd5 19. Bg2 Kh7 $6 (19... b6 $5 20. Qb3 Qd6 21. Rad1
Rad8 22. Bxd5 Nxd5 23. e7 Qxe7 24. Rxd5 $14) 20. Bc5 e4 21. Rc1 Rf6 22. Bxe7
Qxe7 23. Qxd5 Rxe6 24. Rc7 Qxc7 25. Qxe6 $16 {[%csl Re4,Gg2,Rg7] f^-,Shneider,
A (2537)-Zakurdjaeva,I (2308)/Aghios Kirykos/2008/}) ({Black usually avoids
the committal} 12... fxe4 13. Ncxe4 Nf5 $14 {, but even here White's advantage
is only small.}) 13. Ba3 $146 {Here practical examples are scarce and this is
already new.} (13. Rb1 cxd5 14. cxd5 h6 15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6 fxe4 17. Nxe4
Nxe4 18. Bxe4 d5 19. Bg2 Qd6 20. b5 Rad8 21. Qa4 Qxe6 22. Qxa7 Ra8 23. Qxb7
Rfb8 24. Qc7 Rc8 25. Qb7 Rcb8 {1/2,Zubov,O (2306)-Efimenko,Z (2546)/Kramatorsk/
2002/}) ({Seemingly more natural is} 13. b5 {Maybe Kramnik disliked} cxd5 (
13... h6 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6 Qc7 $2 (15... fxe4 16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 d5 18.
Bg2 $1 $14 {- see the 12...h6 line above.}) 16. Ba3 Rad8 17. Qb3 fxe4 18. Nxe4
Nxe4 19. Bxe4 Qc8 20. bxc6 bxc6 21. Rfd1 Qxe6 22. Bxd6 $1 $18 {Podzielny,K 
(2506)-Koch,F/Kleve /2000/}) 14. cxd5 fxe4 15. Ngxe4 Nf5 16. Bg2 Nd4 17. Ba3 (
17. a4 $5 Bf5 $132) 17... Nxe4 18. Nxe4 Nxb5 19. Qb3 a6 20. Bb2 Rf7 21. a4 Nd4
22. Bxd4 exd4 23. Qb4 $44 {Podzielny,K (2456)-Klein,D (2262)/Groningen/2009/
White has about enough for the P, but can hardly claim an advantage.}) 13...
cxd5 {Giri subsequently reproached himself for this move, which gives White a
chance to change the character of the position and further complicate it.} ({
Instead he suggests} 13... h6 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6 fxe4 {Perhaps more
promising is} 16. Bxe4 $5 (16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 d5 18. cxd5 cxd5 19. Bg2 ({
To give g3 some sense. Kramnik had intended} 19. b5 dxe4 20. Qxd8 Rfxd8 21.
Bxe7 Re8 22. Bc5 Rxe6 23. Rfd1 {Here White is a tempo up on the aforementioned
_|_, as he already has some luft with g3, However, this doesn't give anything
tangible after} a6 24. b6 Rc8 25. Be3 Re7 $11) 19... e4 $142 $1 (19... Qd6 20.
Qb3 b5 21. Rad1 Rad8 22. Bc1 $1 $14 (22. Bxd5 Nxd5 23. e7 Qxe7 24. Rxd5 Kh7 25.
Rxb5 e4 $44) {/\} 22... Qxe6 23. Be3) 20. b5 $5 (20. Rc1 b5 $1 {/\} 21. Rc5 Qb6
22. Rxd5 Nxd5 23. Qxd5 Rad8 24. Qxe4 Rxf2 $1 25. Rxf2 Rd2 26. Qe1 Rxf2 27. Kh1
Rf8 $15) {This worried Giri during the game, but Black is OK after} 20... Bxa1
21. Qxa1 Rc8 22. Qd4 Rc2 $1 23. Bb2 Rxb2 24. Qxb2 Qd6 25. Qd2 (25. Qd4 Qb6 $5)
25... Qxe6 26. Qxh6 Nf5 $132) 16... d5 17. Bg2 Qd6 18. cxd5 Nfxd5 (18... Nexd5
19. Nxd5 Nxd5 20. Qb3 Qxe6 (20... b5 21. Rac1 $16) 21. b5 Rfd8 22. Rac1 $14) (
18... cxd5 19. Qb3 Qxe6 20. b5 $14 {[%csl Gg2,Rg7][%cal Ya3e7,Yc3d5] /\Be7,
Nd5^-}) 19. Ne4 $5 (19. Nxd5 cxd5 20. Qb3 b5 21. Rad1 Rad8 22. Bc1 $1 $14 {
transposes into 16.Nxe4.}) 19... Qxe6 20. b5 $44) 14. exd5 $5 ({Kramnik is
spoiling for a fight and avoids transposing into the previous note with} 14.
cxd5 h6 15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6 fxe4 {/\d5 - see 13...h6.}) 14... e4 15. Be2 $1 {
No fianchetto, the B doesn't belong to g2 here.} (15. Bg2 $143 h6 (15... Ng4
16. Rc1 Ne5 17. Qb3 $5 $13) 16. Ne6 Bxe6 17. dxe6 d5 $11 {/=/+}) 15... Ne8 $1 {
Black transfers his N to liquidate the o^ after the coming Ne6.} (15... Nfxd5
$2 {fails to} 16. Nxd5 Bxa1 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. Qd5+ $1 Kg7 19. Rxa1 Qxg5 20.
Bb2+ Kh6 21. Qxd6 Rf7 22. h4 Qe7 23. Qf4+ g5 24. hxg5+ Qxg5 25. Qd6+ Qg6 26.
Qd2+ Qg5 27. Qd5 $18 {[%cal Yg1g2] ->,/\Kg2}) (15... f4 {is less clear:} 16.
Ngxe4 (16. c5 $5) 16... Nxe4 17. Nxe4 fxg3 18. hxg3 Bf5 19. Bd3 Bxe4 20. Bxe4
Bxa1 21. Qxa1 Nf5 22. Re1 $44) 16. Rc1 (16. Qb3 {[%cal Ya1d1] /\Rad1 is
strategically sound, but White must reckon with} Nxd5 17. Nxd5 Qxg5 $5 $13 (
17... Bxa1 18. Rxa1 Qxg5 19. Nf4 $1 $36)) 16... h6 {Already the first step in
the wrong direction.} ({A more circumspect move was} 16... Bf6 $5 {(Giri)} 17.
Ne6 (17. Qd2 h6 18. Ne6 Bxe6 19. dxe6 Bg5 20. Qc2 Bxc1 21. Bxc1 $13) (17. h4 $5
h6 18. Nh3 g5 19. hxg5 hxg5 20. Re1 f4) 17... Bxe6 18. dxe6 Qc8 19. Nd5 (19. c5
Qxe6 20. cxd6 Nxd6 21. Nb5 Nxb5 (21... Rfd8 $5) 22. Bc4 Qxc4 23. Rxc4 Nxa3 24.
Rc7 b5 $1 $15) 19... Qxe6 20. Nxf6+ Nxf6 21. b5 $44 {[%csl Ga3,Ge2] ^^ gives
White compensation, but remains ~~.}) 17. Ne6 Bxe6 18. dxe6 Nc7 $6 {A more
serious mistake.} (18... Rf6 $6 19. Nd5 $5 (19. Qb3 Rxe6 20. c5 d5 21. Nxd5
Nxd5 22. Rcd1 Nef6 23. Bc4 $14) 19... Rxe6 20. Nf4 Rf6 21. Bb2 $36) (18... Qc8
$142 $1 $13 {/\} 19. c5 Qxe6 20. cxd6 Nxd6 21. Nb5 Rfd8 $1 22. Nxd6 (22. Nc7
Qxa2 23. Nxa8 Qxa3 $15) 22... Rxd6 23. Bc4 Nd5 24. b5 Rd7 25. Qb3 Rad8 26. Rfd1
Kh7 {and White should already bail out with} 27. Bxd5 (27. Rd2 $2 e3 $17) 27...
Rxd5 28. Rxd5 Qxd5 (28... Rxd5 $2 29. Rc7 e3 30. Re7 $18) 29. Qxd5 Rxd5 30. Rc7
Kg8 31. Rc8+ (31. Rxb7 $2 Rd1+ 32. Kg2 Bd4 $17) 31... Kf7 32. Rc7+ $11) 19. b5
Be5 $2 {[%mdl 64] Now the tactics will work in White's favour.} (19... Nxe6
$142 20. Bxd6 $5 $14 {leads to an advantage, but the game is far from over.} (
20. Qxd6 Qxd6 21. Bxd6 Bxc3 (21... Rfe8 22. c5 $14) 22. Rxc3 Nd4 23. Bd1 Kf7
$11 {/+/=}) {/\} 20... Bd4 21. c5 Bxc5 $2 22. Nxe4 $16) 20. Qb3 Kg7 ({Giri
admitted he overlooked} 20... Nxe6 21. c5 d5 22. Nxd5 $1 Nxd5 23. Rfd1 $16 {/\}
Nd4 $2 24. Rxd4 $1 Bxd4 25. Rd1 $18) (20... Kh7 {was more resilient, but still
unsatisfactory:} 21. Rfd1 Nxe6 22. c5 Nd4 23. Rxd4 Bxd4 24. cxd6 Nc8 25. Nd5 (
25. Qd5 $143 $6 Bg7) 25... Nxd6 26. Rc7+ Bg7 27. Bb2 Ne8 28. Rxb7 $16 {/+-})
21. Rfd1 Nxe6 {Black is already under heavy pressure and it's difficult to
suggest improvements.} (21... Rf6 22. Bxd6 $5 Bxd6 23. c5 Rxe6 24. Qb2 $1 Kh7
25. Bc4 $18) 22. c5 Nd4 {The following sacrifice will be both natural and very
strong, but} (22... Qd7 23. cxd6 Nc8 24. Nd5 Nxd6 25. Bb2 $18 {is no better.})
23. Rxd4 $1 {[%mdl 512]} Bxd4 24. cxd6 $18 Ng8 (24... Nc8 25. Qd5 $18 (25. Nd5
Nxd6 26. Nc7 $18)) 25. Nd5 Kh8 26. Rc7 Be5 27. Bb2 $6 {A strange oversight,
but even after dropping his o^ White's -> will be too powerful.} (27. Re7 $18)
(27. Rxb7 $5 $18) 27... Qxd6 28. Rxb7 {[%csl Gb7] The R on the weak 7-th rank
decides the game.} g5 (28... Bxb2 29. Qxb2+ Nf6 30. Nf4 Rg8 31. Rf7 Raf8 32.
Rxa7 $18) 29. b6 $5 (29. Ba3 $16 {is too mundane.}) (29. Bh5 $18 {was equally
strong.}) 29... a5 {[%csl Gb6]} (29... axb6 $2 30. Rxb6 $18 {[%csl Re5]}) 30.
Bh5 {[%cal Rh5g6] /\Bg6} Rab8 31. Ra7 Bxb2 (31... a4 32. Bg6 $1 Ne7 33. Qb4
Qxd5 34. Bxe5+ Qxe5 35. Rxe7 Rxb6 36. Rh7+ Kg8 37. Qxb6 Qf6 38. Rb7 $18 {
drops a piece, but now the -> breaks through.}) 32. Qxb2+ Nf6 33. Bf7 Kg7 34.
Rd7 Qc6 35. Be6+ (35. Be6+ Kg6 36. Ne7+) 1-0

[Event "Hoogeveen Unive Crown 15th"]
[Site "Hoogeveen"]
[Date "2011.10.17"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E43"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2701"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2011.10.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 145"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. e3 Bb7 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd3 c5 7. O-O O-O 8. Na4
cxd4 9. exd4 Re8 10. a3 Bf8 11. Re1 d6 12. Nc3 Nbd7 13. b4 Rc8 14. Bb2 Qc7 15.
d5 e5 16. Nd2 g6 17. Bf1 Qd8 18. Qa4 a6 19. Nce4 Nxe4 20. Nxe4 Rc7 21. f4 b5
22. cxb5 Bxd5 23. bxa6 Qb8 24. Kh1 exf4 25. b5 h6 26. Rad1 Ba8 27. Qd4 Re5 28.
Nxd6 Rcc5 29. Rxe5 Rxe5 30. Nc4 Bc5 31. Qxd7 Re8 1-0

[Event "Hoogeveen Unive Crown 15th"]
[Site "Hoogeveen"]
[Date "2011.10.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2715"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2011.10.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 145"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. a3 dxc4 7. e3 Nd5 8. Bxc4
Nxf4 9. exf4 Bf6 10. Qd3 c5 11. O-O-O cxd4 12. Ne4 Nd7 13. Kb1 b5 14. Bxb5 Bb7
15. Bxd7 Bxe4 16. Qxe4 Qxd7 17. Ne5 Bxe5 18. fxe5 Rfd8 19. Rd3 Qa4 20. Rc1 Rd5
21. Rc7 Rad8 22. Ka2 h6 23. Qf3 Qe8 24. Qe4 a5 25. g4 Rb8 26. Rxd4 Qb5 27. Rc2
Rxe5 28. Qd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogeveen Unive Crown 15th"]
[Site "Hoogeveen"]
[Date "2011.10.20"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A22"]
[WhiteElo "2722"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "2011.10.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 145"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nc3 Nb6 6. d3 Be7 7. Be3 O-O 8.
Rc1 Re8 9. Qc2 Bf8 10. a3 h6 11. Nf3 Nc6 12. O-O Bg4 13. Ne4 Qd7 14. Rfe1 Rad8
15. Nc5 Bxc5 16. Bxc5 Nd5 17. b4 b6 18. Be3 Re6 19. Qc4 Rd6 20. Bd2 Bxf3 21.
exf3 Rf6 22. f4 exf4 23. Bxd5 fxg3 24. hxg3 Qxd5 25. Re8+ Kh7 26. Rxd8 Qxc4 27.
Rxc4 Nxd8 28. Rxc7 Rd6 29. Rxa7 Rxd3 30. Be3 b5 31. Ra5 Nc6 32. Rxb5 Rxa3 33.
Rb7 Rb3 34. b5 Na5 35. Rb8 Nc4 36. Bd4 Rd3 37. Rd8 h5 38. Kg2 Rb3 39. Rd5 Kg6
40. Rc5 Nd2 41. b6 Ne4 42. Rc7 Ng5 43. Rc2 Rb4 44. Bc5 Rb5 45. Be3 Ne6 46. Rc7
Kf6 47. Kf3 g5 48. Rd7 Nf8 49. Rd8 Ne6 50. Rd7 Nf8 51. Rd6+ Ne6 52. Ke4 h4 53.
gxh4 gxh4 54. Rd1 Ke7 55. f4 f5+ 56. Kf3 Rb3 57. Rd5 h3 58. Rd2 Nc5 59. Rh2 Nd7
60. Rxh3 Nxb6 61. Rh7+ Kd6 62. Rh6+ Kc7 63. Rh7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hoogeveen Unive Crown 15th"]
[Site "Hoogeveen"]
[Date "2011.10.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "173"]
[EventDate "2011.10.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 145"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 4096]} 1. Nf3 ({Earlier this year (Wijk, Dortmund) Kramnik used to
allow the Grünfeld proper and played simply} 1. d4 {, this time he has
something else on his mind.}) 1... Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qa4+ {This
Anti-Grünfeld system has been around for a while already - I wrote a 2-part
survey about it in CBMagazine 123 and 125. However, as the present game shows,
there are still quite a few unexplored options in this line.} Bd7 5. Qb3 dxc4
6. Qxc4 a6 {This reaction has meanwhile confirmed its main line status and
become the almost exclusive choice of top players. It was the topic of part 2
of the survey in CBM 125.} (6... c5 7. g3 Nc6 8. Bg2 Qb6 9. O-O Qb4 10. Qxb4
cxb4 11. Nb5 Rc8 12. b3 e5 13. Bb2 Be7 14. d4 e4 15. Ne5 Be6 16. d5 Bxd5 17.
Bh3 Be6 18. Bxe6 fxe6 19. Rfc1 O-O 20. Nxc6 Rxc6 21. Rxc6 bxc6 22. Nxa7 c5 23.
Nc6 Nd5 24. a4 bxa3 25. Rxa3 $14 {/+/- ק,Kramnik,V (2799)-Eljanov,P (2692)/
Wijk aan Zee/2008/}) ({For} 6... Bg7 {see Part 1 of the aforementioned article
in CBM 123, here I will limit myself to one more recent top-level example:} 7.
e4 O-O 8. e5 Ng4 9. d4 Na6 10. h3 Nh6 11. Be2 c6 12. O-O Be6 13. Qa4 Nc7 14.
Rd1 f6 15. Bc4 Bxc4 16. Qxc4+ Nf7 17. d5 cxd5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Rxd5 Qe8 20.
exf6 Bxf6 21. Be3 b6 22. Rad1 Rc8 23. Qb3 $36 {1/2 Leko,P (2751)-Kamsky,G 
(2720)/Nalchik 2009/CBM 130 (121)}) (6... Nc6 {was also dealt with in CBM 123,
here White has successfully tried a novel approach} 7. d4 Bg7 8. e4 O-O 9. Bf4
$5 ({The article concentrated on} 9. e5 Be6 10. exf6 $13) 9... Rc8 (9... Nh5
10. Be3 (10. Bg5 h6 11. Be3 Bg4 12. Rd1 $6 (12. d5 $142) 12... Bxf3 13. gxf3 e5
14. dxe5 Qh4 15. Bg2 Nf4 (15... Nxe5 16. Qxc7 Nf4 $36) 16. Bxf4 Qxf4 17. Nd5
Qg5 18. Kf1 Qxe5 19. Rd2 Rad8 20. f4 Qh5 21. h4 $13 {Ovsejevitsch,S (2600)
-Peschlow,P (2302)/Triesen/2010/}) 10... Bg4 11. d5 Na5 (11... Ne5 $5) 12. Qb4
b6 13. Be2 c5 14. Qa4 Qc7 15. h3 Bd7 16. Qd1 Rad8 17. O-O Nf4 18. Ba6 e5 19.
Rc1 Qb8 20. Re1 Nh5 21. Nd2 Nb7 22. Nc4 Nd6 23. Nxd6 Qxd6 24. Bf1 Nf6 25. a4
Ne8 26. Bb5 Bc8 27. a5 $14 {/+/-,Rychagov,A (2575)-Vokarev,S (2488)/Saratov/})
10. Rd1 Bg4 11. Be2 Nd7 12. e5 Na5 13. Qa4 c5 14. dxc5 Nc6 15. h3 Bxf3 16. Bxf3
Qe8 17. Bxc6 Rxc6 18. Qxa7 Ra6 19. Qxb7 Nxc5 20. Qf3 Na4 21. O-O Nxc3 22. Qxc3
Qa4 23. b4 $16 {Zakhartsov,V (2562)-Le Roux,J (2497)/Cappelle la Grande/2010/})
7. d4 b5 8. Qd3 ({First played by V.Popov, this is still a rare move, with the
main line until now being} 8. Qb3 c5 $5 (8... Bg7 {usually only transposes
after} 9. e4 c5 10. dxc5) 9. dxc5 Bg7 10. e4 {Now Black has two plausible
continuations:} O-O (10... Bc6 11. e5 (11. a4 bxa4 12. Qc4 O-O 13. Be2 Nbd7 14.
O-O Qc7 15. Re1 Rfc8 16. Bg5 Bb5 $5 17. Qa2 e6 18. Rac1 Rab8 19. Nxb5 axb5 20.
c6 Ne5 21. Bxf6 Bxf6 22. b3 axb3 23. Qxb3 Qb6 $17 {Jankovic,A (2560)
-Grandelius,N (2500)/Khanty Mansiysk olm/2010/}) (11. Be2 Nxe4 12. Nxe4 Bxe4
13. O-O Bd5 14. Qe3 Nc6 15. Rd1 O-O 16. Rb1 Ra7 17. b3 Rd7 18. Bb2 Bxb2 19.
Rxb2 Bxf3 20. Rxd7 Qxd7 21. Bxf3 Nd4 $11 {1/2,Maksimenko,A (2536)-Areshchenko,
A (2664)/EUcup Kallithea /2008/}) 11... Nfd7 12. e6 (12. Be3 Nxe5 13. Nxe5 Bxe5
14. f4 Bg7 15. Rd1 Qa5 16. Kf2 e6 17. a3 O-O 18. Be2 Qc7 19. Rd6 Nd7 20. Rhd1
Nf6 21. Qc2 Rfd8 22. Rxd8+ Rxd8 23. Rxd8+ Qxd8 24. Bf3 Bxf3 25. Kxf3 Qa8+ 26.
Kg3 Nd7 27. Na2 Nb8 28. Kf2 Nc6 $11 {Grischuk,A (2715)-Svidler,P (2732)/RUS-ch
Moscow/2007/}) 12... Nxc5 13. exf7+ Kf8 14. Qb4 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Bd4 16. Ne4 Nc6
17. Qd2 (17. Bh6+ Kxf7 18. Qd2 Nxe4 19. fxe4 Bf6 20. O-O-O Nd4 (20... Qxd2+ 21.
Bxd2 Rhd8 $11) 21. Kb1 Qc8 22. Bd3 (22. Bg2 $5) 22... Rd8 23. Qe3 Qe6 24. Rd2 {
Sadorra,J (2470)-Kazhgaleyev,M (2641)/Manila/2008/} Nc6 $5 $11 {/=/+}) 17...
Nxe4 18. fxe4 Bf6 19. Bg2 Ne5 20. O-O Qxd2 21. Bxd2 {Lalith,B (2477)
-Purushothaman,T (2267)/New Delhi/2009/} Rc8 $11) 11. Be2 (11. Bf4 Bc6 12. Nd2
Nbd7 13. Qa3 Qc8 14. f3 Qb7 15. b4 Nxc5 $1 $36 {Hole,O (2387)-Kulaots,K (2592)/
Oslo/2011/}) {The most recent development is} 11... Be6 (11... Bc6 12. e5 Nfd7
13. Be3 $14) (11... Nc6 12. O-O Be6 13. Qc2 Qc7 14. h3 Nb4 15. Qb1 Qxc5 16. Be3
(16. a3 Nc6 17. Be3 Qd6 18. Rd1 Qb8 19. Nd5 Qb7 20. Nb6 Rad8 21. Qc2 Nd7 22.
Nxd7 Rxd7 23. Rxd7 Bxd7 24. Rd1 Rc8 $11 {Romanov,S (2541)-Aleksandrov,V (2490)/
corr/2007/}) 16... Qc7 17. a4 Bc4 18. axb5 Bxe2 19. Nxe2 axb5 20. Rxa8 Rxa8 21.
Nc3 Qc4 22. Rd1 Nc6 23. Rc1 Qb3 {Schlosser,P (2560)-Jansa,V (2470)/Pardubice/
2009/} 24. e5 $36) 12. Qc2 Nbd7 $5 13. Be3 Rc8 14. c6 (14. Ng5 Nxc5 15. Bxc5
Rxc5 16. Nxe6 fxe6 17. Qb3 Re5 18. O-O Nxe4 19. Nxe4 Rxe4 20. Bf3 Rc4 21. Be2
Rc6 22. a4 $6 Qd5 $1 23. Qxd5 exd5 24. axb5 axb5 $17 {Lalith,B (2480)-Gupta,A 
(2570)/Bhubaneswar/2009/}) (14. Rd1 b4 15. Na4 Qa5 16. O-O {Vorobiov,E (2592)
-Schut,L (2286)/Paleochora/2010/} Nxe4 17. Qxe4 Qxa4 18. Ng5 Nxc5 $132) 14...
Rxc6 15. Nd4 Rd6 16. Nxe6 (16. Rd1 Ng4 17. Bxg4 Bxg4 18. f3 Ne5 19. Bf2 Nc4 20.
Nc6 Bxc3+ 21. bxc3 Qc7 22. Nb4 Be6 $15 {Nakamura,H (2701)-Kamsky,G (2720)/
USA-ch Saint Louis/2009/}) 16... Rxe6 17. O-O $5 (17. f3 Qa5 (17... Rc6 $5 18.
O-O Nb6 19. Qb3 Nfd7 20. a4 Nc5 21. Bxc5 Rxc5 22. axb5 {Kadziolka,B (2289)
-Rajlich,I (2448)/Bogatynia/2009/} Bxc3 23. bxc3 axb5 24. Bxb5 Qc7 $11) 18. O-O
Rc8 19. Rfd1 (19. Qb1 Nb6 20. a3 Nbd5 $1 21. Bd2 {Steingrimsson,H (2547)-Gupta,
A (2569)/Reykjavik/2009/} Qb6+ $15) 19... Nb6 20. Qb3 Nfd7 21. Nd5 Nxd5 22.
exd5 Rxe3 23. Qxe3 Bxb2 24. Rab1 Ba3 25. Kf1 Nb6 $44 {Braun,A (2567)-Bobras,P 
(2565)/Bundesliga/2008/}) 17... Qc8 18. Rac1 Nxe4 19. Nxe4 Qxc2 20. Rxc2 Rxe4
21. Rd1 Nf6 22. Bf3 Re6 23. g3 h5 24. h3 Ne4 25. Kg2 $44 {Tomashevsky,E (2688)
-Petrosian,T (2602)/Novi Sad/2009/}) 8... Bg7 ({The as yet untested} 8... c5 9.
dxc5 Bg7 10. e4 Nc6 $5 $132 {also deserves attention.} (10... Qc7 11. Be3 b4
$13) (10... b4 $6 11. Nd5 $16)) 9. g3 (9. Bf4 O-O 10. Rc1 c5 11. dxc5 b4 12.
Nd1 Nc6 13. Nd4 Qa5 14. Nb3 Qa4 15. e4 Be6 16. Qc2 Rfd8 17. Bg3 Ng4 18. Qb1 Bh6
19. Rc2 Na5 20. f4 Nxb3 21. axb3 Bxb3 22. Rc1 Qd7 {0-1,Popov,V (2573)-Svidler,
P (2723)/Krasnoyarsk/2003/ was a horrible rout - see the notes to this game in
CBM 98 for more details.}) (9. e4 b4 (9... c5 10. dxc5 (10. e5 Ng4 11. Qe4 cxd4
12. Nxd4 Bxe5 13. Be2 Bxd4 14. Qxd4 Nf6 15. O-O $44) 10... Qc7 11. Be3 $5 b4
12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. exd5 Bxb2 14. Bd4 $44) 10. Ne2 O-O 11. Nf4 Bc6 (11... Bb5 $5
12. Qc2 Qd7) 12. e5 Nd5 13. h4 Qd7 (13... Nxf4 14. Bxf4 h5 $5) 14. h5 Nxf4 15.
Bxf4 Bxf3 16. gxf3 Nc6 17. Be3 Rfd8 18. Rd1 e6 19. hxg6 hxg6 20. Be2 Ne7 21.
Bg5 Nf5 22. f4 Nxd4 23. Kf1 $16 {Ni Hua (2692)-Li,C (2617)/JinZhou/2009/}) 9...
b4 (9... Bc6 $5 10. Bg2 b4 $132 {is an interesting, but still untried
alternative.}) 10. Ne4 {Other N retreats are too passive.} Nxe4 11. Qxe4 Bc6
12. Qf4 O-O 13. Bg2 Qd6 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8]} ({A logical novelty, which gives
the game a more sedate character, than} 13... Bxd4 14. O-O e5 15. Nxe5 (15. Qd2
$5 $44) 15... Bxe5 16. Qxe5 Re8 17. Qc5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Rxe2 19. Bh6 Nd7 20. Qxb4
Ne5 21. Rad1 Qf6 22. Qb7 Re8 23. Rde1 {Popov,V (2580)-Petrosian,T (2477)/
Moscow/2004/} Rc2 $5 24. Bf4 g5 $132) 14. O-O Nd7 15. Qh4 (15. Be3 e5 $11 (
15... Bb5 $5)) 15... e5 16. d5 $5 {An attempt to complicate matters.} (16. Bg5
Rfe8 17. dxe5 Nxe5 18. Rfd1 Nxf3+ 19. Bxf3 Qe6 $11) ({\/ There was tnteresting,
but unclear} 16. Ng5 h6 17. Ne4 Bxe4 (17... Qxd4 $2 18. Bxh6 Bxh6 19. Rad1 $1
$16) 18. Bxe4 Rad8 (18... Rae8 19. dxe5 Nxe5 20. Bg2 $13) 19. dxe5 Nxe5 20. Bg2
Rfe8 21. Bxh6 Bxh6 22. Qxh6 Qd2 $132) 16... Qxd5 (16... Bxd5 $143 17. Rd1 {
[%cal Re2e4,Rf3g5] /\Ng5, e4} e4 18. Ng5 Nf6 19. Bf4 (19. Bxe4 h6 20. Bxd5 Nxd5
21. Ne4 Qe5 22. Bxh6 Qxb2 23. Rab1 Qxa2 24. Rxb4 Rae8 25. Rxd5 Qxd5 26. Nf6+
Bxf6 27. Qxf6 Qe5 28. Qxe5 Rxe5 29. Bxf8 Kxf8 $11) 19... Qc6 20. Rac1 $14) (
16... Bb5 $5 17. Bd2 a5 18. Rfc1 Rfe8 $13) 17. Be3 Qb5 18. Rac1 Bd5 19. Rxc7
Rac8 20. Ng5 h6 21. Rxc8 Rxc8 22. Ne4 g5 {[%csl Rg5,Rh4,Rh6] Black plays
against the offside Q, but on the other hand weakens his own >> and the
position remains balanced.} (22... Qxe2 23. Nd6 Bf6 (23... Bxg2 24. Kxg2 Rc2
25. Qd8+ Nf8 26. Qe8 Qxe3 27. Qxf7+ Kh8 28. Ne8 Ne6 29. Qxe6 e4 30. Kg1 Qf3 31.
Nxg7 Kxg7 32. Qe7+ Kg8 33. Qxb4 $14) 24. Qxb4 (24. Qxh6 Bxg2 25. Kxg2 Rc2 $15)
24... Bxg2 25. Kxg2 Be7 26. Qb7 Rc2 27. Qxd7 Bxd6 $11 {/\} 28. Qxd6 Qxe3) (
22... Qc6 $5 23. Rc1 Qxc1+ $8 (23... Qa8 $6 24. Rd1 g5 25. Qg4 Rf8 26. Nxg5 Nf6
(26... Bxg2 $2 27. Ne6 $3 fxe6 28. Rxd7 Rf7 29. Qxe6 $18) 27. Bxd5 Nxg4 28.
Bxa8 Rxa8 29. Ne4 $16) 24. Bxc1 Rxc1+ $44 25. Bf1 g5 26. Qg4 Be6 27. Qh5 (27.
Qf3 Rc2 $11 {/=/+}) 27... Bd5 (27... a5 $5 $44) 28. Qg4 $11) 23. Qh3 (23. Qg4
Be6 (23... Qc6 24. h4 $5 f5 25. Qxf5 Rf8 26. Qh3 (26. Qg4 Be6 27. Qh5 Bf7 $11
28. Nc5 $2 Qb5 $17) 26... Bxe4 27. Bxe4 Qxe4 28. hxg5 $5 $44) 24. Qh5 {
transposes to the game.}) 23... Be6 (23... Qc6 $5 24. Rc1 Qxc1+ 25. Bxc1 Rxc1+
26. Bf1 Be6 27. Qh5 Bd5 $11 {leads to the same position as 22...Qc6!?}) 24. Qh5
Rc4 (24... Rc2 25. h4 gxh4 26. Bf3 $5 (26. Bxh6 Bxh6 27. Qxh6 Qxe2 28. Qg5+ Kf8
$11 {and White hardly has anything more than a perpetual}) 26... hxg3 27. Bxh6
$36) 25. Rd1 (25. Nd6 $6 Nf6 26. Nxb5 (26. Qf3 e4) 26... Nxh5 $15) (25. h4 $5
Rxe4 26. Bxe4 Nf6 27. Qf3 g4 28. Qg2 Qxe2 29. b3 $1 $13 {/+/=}) 25... b3 $5 26.
a3 (26. axb3 Qxb3 27. Rd3 Qa4 $132 (27... Qxb2 28. h4 $44)) 26... Rd4 $2 {
[%mdl 8256] Black is getting too ambitious and miscalculates the tactics.} (
26... Qa4 $11) 27. Bxd4 exd4 28. h4 $1 Ne5 (28... d3 29. Rxd3 Bxb2 30. Qxh6 Bg7
31. Qxg5 Qxg5 32. hxg5 b2 33. Nd2 $18) (28... gxh4 29. Qxb5 axb5 30. gxh4 d3
31. Rd2 $16) 29. hxg5 Bg4 30. Qh4 Qxe2 31. Rxd4 Nf3+ 32. Bxf3 Bxf3 (32... Qe1+
33. Kh2 Bxf3 34. Rd8+ Kh7 35. g6+ Kxg6 (35... fxg6 36. Ng5#) 36. Rd6+ Kh7 37.
Ng5+ Kg8 38. Rd8+ Bf8 39. Nxf3 Qxf2+ 40. Kh3 Qxf3 41. Qg4+ $18) 33. Rd8+ Kh7
34. Nd2 $18 {White has calmly parried the direct threats and should be heading
for victory. But there are more tactics to follow...} Bc6 35. gxh6 $6 {
Disrupts the mating net around Black's K.} (35. Nf1 $142 $1 Qf3 (35... Qxb2 36.
Qc4 $1 $18) 36. Ne3 Qe2 37. Qf4 Qe1+ 38. Nf1 Qe4 39. Qxe4+ Bxe4 40. Nd2 Bc2 41.
gxh6 Bxb2 42. Nxb3 $18 {/\} Bxb3 43. Rb8) 35... Bxb2 36. Qg5 $2 (36. Qh3 $1
Qd1+ 37. Qf1 Qxf1+ 38. Kxf1 $16 {was the best way to retain winning chances.})
36... Qd1+ 37. Nf1 Qf3 38. Qg8+ Kxh6 39. Rd6+ Bf6 {White must either force a
perpetual, or return the exchange - in any case Black is back in business.} (
39... Kh5 $2 40. Qh7+ Kg5 41. Qh4+ Kf5 42. Ne3+ Ke5 43. Qe7#) 40. Qh8+ Kg5 41.
Qg8+ Kh6 42. Rxc6 (42. Qf8+ Kg5 43. Qg8+ $11) 42... Qxc6 43. Ne3 {[%mdl 4096]
With Black's exposed K Kramnik doesn't risk anything by playing on, as he
always has a perpetual in hand. In the resulting _|_ he shows precise
calculation and superlative technique.} Qf3 (43... Qe6 44. Ng4+ Kh5 $11) 44.
Ng4+ Kh5 45. Nh2 $1 {Doing his best to harass the Kh5 and create problems.} (
45. Ne3 Kh6 $8 (45... b2 46. Qh7+ Kg5 47. g4 $1 Be5 48. Qh5+ Kf6 49. g5+ Ke7
50. Qxf3 b1=Q+ 51. Kg2 $14 {/+/-}) 46. Ng4+ $11) 45... Qd1+ $8 (45... Qb7 $2
46. Qh7+ Kg5 47. f4#) 46. Kg2 Qd5+ 47. Kh3 $5 (47. f3 Bc3 (47... b2 48. Qh7+
Kg5 49. Ng4 Bd4 50. Qh6+ Kf5 51. Ne3+ $1 Bxe3 52. g4+ Ke5 53. Qxe3+ Kd6 (53...
Kf6 54. Qb6+) 54. Qb6+ $14 {is similar to the game - White has a Q_|_ with an
extra P.}) (47... Bd4 48. Qh7+ Kg5 49. Ng4 a5 50. a4 $22 $14 {/\} b2 51. Qh6+
Kf5 52. Ne3+ {is similar to 47...b2.}) 48. Qh7+ Kg5 49. Ng4 {[%cal Rg4f2] /\Nf2
} Bd4 50. a4 a5 51. Qd3 f5 $1 52. Ne3 Qd7 53. Qxb3 Qe8 54. f4+ Kg6 55. Kf2 Qe4
$132) 47... Qe6+ 48. Ng4 Bg5 (48... Be5 49. Qh7+ Kg5 50. f3 Qg6 51. Qh4+ Kf5
52. Nxe5 Kxe5 53. Qf4+ Kd5 54. Qd2+ $14 {wins the Pb3 with winning chances.})
49. f3 Qf5 (49... Bh6 50. Qh8 a5 51. a4 $22 $40 Kg5 $5 (51... Qa6 52. Nf6+ Kg5
(52... Kg6 $2 53. Qh7+ $1 $18) 53. f4+ Kf5 54. Qh7+ $1 Ke6 55. Qxh6 Qf1+ 56.
Kg4 Qd1+ 57. Kg5 Qd3 $1 (57... b2 $2 58. Ng4+ Kd7 59. Ne5+ Kc7 60. Qc6+ $18)
58. g4 b2 59. f5+ Ke7 60. Nd5+ $1 Qxd5 61. Qf6+ $14 {/+/-}) 52. f4+ (52. Qg8+
Kh5 53. f4 $4 b2 $19) 52... Kf5 $1 (52... Kh5 $2 53. f5 Qa6 (53... Qc6 54. Qe5
Bg5 55. Qg7 {[%cal Rg4f6] /\Nf6} Qh1+ 56. Nh2 $18) 54. Nh2 Kg5 55. Nf3+ Kxf5
56. Qh7+ $18 Qg6 57. Nh4+) 53. Nxh6+ Ke4+ 54. f5 Qa6 55. Qe8+ Kd3 56. Ng4 b2
57. Qe1 Kc2 58. Ne3+ Kb3 $14 {<=>}) 50. Qh8+ Kg6 51. Qg8+ Kh5 52. Qg7 Be3 (
52... Qe6 53. Qh7+ Bh6 54. Qh8 {leads to the game position.}) 53. Qc3 Qe6 54.
Qg7 Bh6 55. Qh8 f5 $6 (55... a5 56. a4 {transposes to the 49...Bh6 line.}) 56.
Nxh6 Qxh6 57. Qg8 {[%cal Rg3g4,Rg8b3] /\g4, Qb3 The double attack wins a pawn.
Although in the Q _|_ Black could have probably defended more tenaciously, his
task is difficult: both his K and P are vulnerable.} Qd6 58. Qxb3 $14 {[%csl
Rf5,Rh5]} Kg6 59. Qg8+ Kf6 60. Qh8+ ({White could have played} 60. f4 {
immediately.}) 60... Kg6 61. Qg8+ Kf6 62. f4 Qd3 (62... Qxa3 $5 63. Qg5+ Ke6
64. Qg6+ Ke7 65. Qxf5 a5 $14 {[%csl Ga5] <=>o^a5}) 63. Qf8+ (63. Kh4 $5 Qxa3
64. Qg5+ Ke6 65. Qg6+ Ke7 66. Qxf5 a5 {is a better version of the above
position, as White has} 67. g4) 63... Kg6 64. Kh4 Qd5 65. Qe8+ Kf6 66. Qh8+ Kg6
67. Qh5+ Kg7 $2 {The final and decisive mistake.} (67... Kf6 $142 $1 68. Qh6+
Kf7 69. a4 $5 (69. Qxa6 $6 Qf3 70. Qc4+ Kf6 71. Qd4+ Kg6 72. Qb6+ Kg7 $11) (69.
Kg5 $6 Qd8+ 70. Kxf5 Qd5+ 71. Kg4 Qd1+ $11) 69... a5 $14) 68. g4 $1 Qh1+ 69.
Kg5 $18 {White wins another P and the rest is a matter of technique.} Qc6 70.
gxf5 {[%cal Rh5g6]} (70. Kxf5 $4 Qd5#) 70... Qg2+ 71. Qg4 Qb2 72. Qf3 Qf6+ 73.
Kg4 Qb6 74. Qc3+ Kf7 75. Qe1 {[%cal Re1e6] /\Qe6 Although doubled, the extra
Ps play an important role.} Qd4 76. Qe6+ Kf8 77. Qc8+ Kf7 78. Qe6+ Kf8 79. f6
Qg1+ 80. Kf5 Qc5+ 81. Qe5 Qc2+ 82. Kg5 Qg2+ 83. Kh6 Qh2+ 84. Kg6 Qc2+ 85. Qf5
Qc3 86. Qd5 Qc2+ (86... Qg3+ 87. Qg5 Qd3+ 88. f5 $18) 87. f5 {Black has no
more checks and quickly gets mated.} 1-0

[Event "Hoogeveen Unive Crown 15th"]
[Site "Hoogeveen"]
[Date "2011.10.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2701"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "2011.10.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 145"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2011.11.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2011.11.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5
8. Rxe5 O-O 9. d4 Bf6 10. Re1 Re8 11. Rxe8+ Nxe8 12. d5 d6 13. Nd2 Bf5 14. Nc4
Bg5 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. Nxe3 Bd7 17. Qd4 a5 18. c3 Nf6 19. Re1 Qb8 20. Bd3 Qa7 21.
Qxa7 Rxa7 22. f3 Kf8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 6th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.11.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A37"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2011.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "6000+30"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. a3 d6 7. O-O Nge7 {
This solid setup for Black has a great deal of value and is an interesting way
of meeting the English Opening.} 8. b4 {This pawn is completely poisoned, but
the queenside expansion doesn't guarantee White an advantage. Black must be
swift, though, or he will be crushed strategically.} (8. Ne1 {with the idea of
Nc2-e3 is a common idea in this position, but White would definitely omit a3
in that case.}) 8... e4 9. Ne1 f5 10. Bb2 O-O 11. d3 Be6 12. dxe4 (12. Rb1 $5 {
The game seems highly unstable, but I'd prefer White.}) 12... fxe4 13. Bxe4
Bxc4 {This strange looking position is actually not new. It's hard to say
exactly what is going on in this position, but let's give it a try. Black
dreams of pushing forward his d-pawn, causing problems for the white pieces
which currently hold the centre. Black has a nagging pin on the long dark
diagonal. On the other hand, White's pawn structure is slightly healthier. The
next few moves are very key to determine who will win the opening battle.} 14.
Nc2 $6 {The first new move of the game doesn't seem to be particularly
successful. The move does little to impair the advance of the d-pawn.} (14. Nd3
{had been tried before} d5 15. Bg2 Bxd3 16. exd3 (16. Qxd3 $5 c4 17. Qd1 d4 18.
Ne4 {and the pair of bishops does cause the central push some problems.}) 16...
cxb4 17. axb4 Nxb4 18. Qb3 a5 19. Ba3 {and White had some compensation for the
pawn, but it's not clear how much in Zubarev-Borovikov, Ukraine ch 2008.
Notice the recurring theme of the advancing central pawns.}) (14. bxc5 dxc5 15.
Nd3 Nd4 $1 {gives Black a lot of activity, although the position is still
incredibly murky.}) 14... d5 15. Bg2 d4 $6 {Nepo goes for the throat. It was
possible to hold the centre for a little longer.} (15... b6 {and Black's
position must be preferable. His strong pawn centre and greater activity can't
be understimated, and White doesn't have a clear next move.} 16. Ne3 $2 d4 17.
Nxc4 dxc3 {is atrocious for White.}) 16. Ne4 (16. Na4 $2 b6 $1 17. bxc5 $2 b5
$19 {is a nice trick.}) 16... Bxe2 {I don't think any other move made sense
after having played d4 so soon, but who will come out of the tactical melee on
top?} 17. Qxe2 d3 18. Qg4 Bxb2 19. Rad1 Qc8 20. Qxc8 Raxc8 21. Rxd3 cxb4 (21...
c4 22. Rd7 b5 23. Rb1 Bg7 24. Nd6 $14 {is too risky for Black. Despite the
fact that he has a strong passed pawn on c4, White has too much activity and
is currently blocking the advance of the said pawn. Black will be lucky if he
only loses a little bit of material.}) 22. axb4 Rcd8 {The dust has cleared
somewhat and it seems clear that Black got no advantage from the tactical
operations. However he isn't worse either, the game actually looks drawish
because of the opposite coloured bishops. Surely nothing unfortunate could
happen to Kramnik here.} 23. Rxd8 Rxd8 24. Rb1 (24. b5 {was more precise,
since now Black does not have ...Nd4, it forces the N to a5 where it would be
quite uncomfortable..} Nd4 25. Rb1 $14) 24... Bg7 25. h4 b5 26. Bf1 a6 27. Nc5
$6 {This is the start of Vlad's downfall. He allows Ian to gather a strong
initiative. It would've been safer to simply play...} (27. Bh3 {and keep an
eye on d2.}) 27... Rd2 28. Ne3 Bd4 29. Ne4 $6 {Backtracking, but it is too
late...} (29. Nxa6 Ne5 30. Bxb5 Nf5 {and for all of White's extra material his
position is very, very dicey. White might not be lost immediately but it seems
incredibly frightening to play this over the board. Let's look at some lines.}
31. Nxf5 (31. Nd1 Ng4 32. Nc5 $1 {This move might be the only one that allows
White to survive, but it isn't natural.} Nxf2 33. Nxf2 Bxf2+ 34. Kh1 {It seems
that white survives this position, but that can only be accurately said with
the help of a computer.} Bxg3 (34... Nxg3+ 35. Kg2 Bxc5+ 36. Kxg3 Bd6+ $11) 35.
Ne4 Rh2+ 36. Kg1 Bf4 (36... Be5 37. Nf6+ Kg7 38. Ng4 $11 {is a nice little
trick forcing further simplifications.}) 37. h5 $1 {and White can definitely
hope to survive this.}) 31... gxf5 $1 32. Kf1 $1 {More computer moves!} (32.
Rf1 $6 Ng4 33. Bc6 Bxf2+ 34. Kh1 Bxg3 {is very dangerous, as the f-pawn is
taboo.} 35. Rxf5 $2 Rh2+ 36. Kg1 Bf2+ 37. Rxf2 Rxf2 $17 {and White might hold
the endgame, but again it looks unlikely.}) 32... Rxf2+ 33. Ke1 Nf3+ 34. Kd1
$11 {and I can't find a forced win for Black. Actually I can't even find an
advantage. But, like most of the variations that start with 29.Nxa6, this
looks ridiculous from the perspective of a human who is in time pressure.})
29... Rb2 30. Rxb2 Bxb2 31. Nc2 Nd5 {The b4-pawn is lost, and the endgame is
most unpleasant. The opposite coloured bishops is the only thing giving White
any hope for a draw.} 32. Nc5 Ndxb4 33. Nxb4 Nxb4 34. Nd3 (34. Nxa6 $5 Nxa6 35.
Bxb5 Nc5 36. Kg2 {I'm not 100% sure on how easy it is to break down this
fortress. It is not easy to coordinate an attack on the white pawns, since
Black's bishop is the wrong color and the bishops can never be forced to be
traded for each other. I guess Vlad didn't see a need for this though.}) 34...
Nxd3 35. Bxd3 {It seems that the opposite coloured bishops are scream DRAW.
However things are not so easy just yet.} Kf7 36. f4 (36. h5 gxh5 37. Bxh7 a5
38. Bd3 b4 {is just hopeless, the bishop must guard the pawns for as long as
possible.}) 36... Ke6 37. Kf2 Kd5 38. Ke2 Kc5 39. Kd2 $2 {This is not the
losing move, but the idea is already incorrect. Kramnik should've immediately
forced the liquidation of the kingside.} (39. f5 {would have drawn.} gxf5 (
39... a5 40. fxg6 hxg6 (40... a4 41. Bf5 a3 42. Be6 hxg6 43. Kd3) 41. Bxg6 a4
42. Kd3 $11) 40. Bxf5 a5 (40... h6 41. g4 b4 (41... Bf6 42. g5 hxg5 43. hxg5
Bxg5 44. Kd3 {and the bishop will keep the pawns under attack from behind,
preventing Black from ever making any progress as he cannot go "around" the
pawns.}) 42. Be6 a5 43. g5 a4 44. Bd7 {is a simple draw.}) 41. Bxh7 a4 42. Kd3
Be5 43. Bf5 Bxg3 44. Bd7 $11) 39... a5 40. f5 $2 {White has played in a very
standard manner so far. He is trying to get rid of all the kingside pawns, but
first he brought his king to catch the queenside pawns. It is hard to believe
that such simple logic would have failed so completely.} (40. g4 a4 41. Bc2 {
might still hold, but it isn't as easy.}) 40... a4 $19 (40... gxf5 $2 {
transposes to the previous line} 41. Bxf5 h6 42. g4 Bf6 43. g5 hxg5 44. hxg5
Bxg5+ 45. Kc2 a4 46. Bd7) 41. Bc2 $2 {White has played in a very standard
manner so far. He is trying to get rid of all the kingside pawns, but first he
brought his king to catch the queenside pawns. It is hard to believe that such
simple logic would have failed so completely.} (41. fxg6 b4 $1 {must have been
what Kramnik missed originally. Black isn't forced to retake on g6 since the B
is neatly controlling the white pawns. On the other hand, no one is able to
catch the queenside pawns anymore.} 42. gxh7 (42. Bc2 b3 43. Bxb3 axb3 44. gxh7
Kb4 $1 $19) 42... Bc3+ 43. Ke3 a3 $19) 41... a3 42. Bb1 gxf5 {Now that the
kingside pawns cannot be exchanged, Black is able to create two passers on
opposite flanks, overburdening the K and the B.} 43. Kc2 Kb4 44. Ba2 Be5 45.
Be6 a2 (45... h5 {was slightly easier.}) 46. Bxa2 Bxg3 47. h5 h6 48. Kd3 Ka3
49. Bd5 b4 50. Kc2 Be5 51. Bb3 f4 52. Bd5 Bf6 53. Kb1 b3 {Black will now
proceed to swing the K to aid the f-pawn after cementing the pawn on b2; there
is nothing White can do about it. There is a saying that it takes more than
one minor mistake to lose a chess game. Kramnik erred several times, and
although he almost scraped a draw, he just erred one time too many.} 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 6th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.11.17"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2802"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2011.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 cxd4 6. Qxd4 exd5 7. e3 Nc6 8.
Qd3 Bc5 9. Be2 d4 10. exd4 Nxd4 11. O-O O-O 12. Nxd4 Qxd4 13. Qg3 Ne4 14. Nxe4
Qxe4 15. Bf3 Qb4 16. Bf4 Be6 17. a3 Qb3 18. Rac1 Bd4 19. Rc7 Qxb2 20. Rxb7 Qxa3
21. Bd6 Qa5 22. Bb4 Qf5 23. Bxf8 Rxf8 24. Rd1 Bb6 25. Rb8 g6 26. Rxf8+ Kxf8 27.
Qd6+ Kg8 28. Qd2 h5 29. Qc3 Kh7 30. h3 Qf4 31. Re1 Bxh3 32. Re4 Qd6 33. Qe5
Qxe5 34. Rxe5 Be6 35. Bd5 Bd4 36. Bxe6 Bxe5 37. Bxf7 h4 38. Kf1 Kg7 39. Be8 g5
40. Ke2 Kf6 41. Ke3 g4 42. Bd7 Kg5 43. Ke2 Kf4 44. Kf1 a5 45. Ke2 Bd4 46. Kf1
Bc5 47. Ke2 Bd4 48. Kf1 Bc5 49. Ke2 Bd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 6th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.11.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2826"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2011.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "6000+30"]

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 h6 {This waiting move is not unknown. Black is
waiting for White to define the positions of some of his pieces before
defining his own.} 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. e4 Nc6 (5... Bxc3 {right away is far more
popular, and has been the choice of several top-GMs. Magnus has a completely
different idea.}) 6. Nge2 Bc5 {The bishop returns to c5 now that the dark
squares have been weakened.} 7. d3 d6 8. h3 (8. O-O Bg4 {might be
uncomfortable as another defender of the dark squares will be traded off.})
8... Nh7 $5 {[%csl Rd4][%cal Gh7g5,Gg5e6,Rh7f8,Rf8e6,Re6d4] Already quite
original play. Black is targeting the weakness left on h3 after an eventual
0-0, gaining a tempo in a long but useful manoeuvre. He also prepares a
potential f5, though it does not happen in this game.} (8... O-O 9. O-O Be6 {
was also perfectly possible.}) 9. a3 a6 10. O-O Ng5 11. Kh2 Ne6 {The N lands
in e6, cementing the control over d4 and becoming quite useful overall.} 12. f4
Bd7 13. b4 Ba7 14. Nd5 Ned4 15. Nec3 {The position is very messy. White has
more space everywhere but has a glaring weakness in d4. His king is safe for
now, but the more he expands on the kingside the more vulnerable he becomes.
Magnus tries to lure him into doing precisely that.} Be6 16. f5 Bd7 17. Rb1 Nb8
$5 {with the simple idea of playing c6. Black's pieces do seem awkward, but he
has great control over the dark squares since he provoked f5.} 18. c5 (18. Qg4
Kf8 $1 {is very unclear. Notice how it is difficult for White to develop any
sort of kingside initiative.}) 18... dxc5 19. bxc5 Bc8 {It seems like Black is
playing completely aimlessly, but it's actually not so simple. If White's
initiative doesn't take off NOW he will be pushed back in a few moves. The
c5-pawn is quite vulnerable, his B on g2 is not participating in the game just
yet and his structure is not great, not to mention he still has no control
over d4. Kramnik MUST use these next few moves.} 20. Qh5 (20. Qg4 $1 Kf8 {
and again it is unclear why the Q is on g4, however there is a subtle point
this time around.} (20... g5 {is a much stronger move.} 21. Qh5 c6 $1 22. Bxg5
Qxg5 23. Nc7+ $1 (23. Qxg5 hxg5 24. Nc7+ Kd8 25. Nxa8 Bxc5 26. Nb6 Bxb6 27.
Rxb6 Nb5 $1 {traps the rook on b6.}) 23... Ke7 $1 (23... Kd8 $2 24. Qxf7 Rg8
25. g4 {and the presence of the queens clearly favours White.}) 24. Qxg5+ hxg5
25. Nxa8 Bxc5 26. Na4 $44 {is plenty of compensation for Black because of his
strong hold on the dark squares, but White is up the exchange.}) (20... g6 $2
21. Rxb7 h5 22. Qg5 Qxg5 (22... Bxb7 23. Nf6+ Ke7 24. fxg6 $18) 23. Nxc7+ Kd7
24. Nxa8+ Bxb7 25. Bxg5 Bxa8 26. fxg6 $18) 21. Qh5 Nd7 $2 (21... f6 22. Nxf6 $1
$18 Qxf6 (22... gxf6 23. Bxh6+ Rxh6 24. Qxh6+ Kg8 25. Nd5 Nd7 26. Qg6+ Kh8 27.
Qh5+ Kg8 28. g4 {The idea of g5 is unstoppable, and the attack irresistible.}
c6 29. g5 $1 {A great piece sacrifice to finish Black off quickly.} cxd5 30.
exd5 Qf8 31. d6 $18 {and the passive bishop jumps into action with deadly
consequences.}) 23. Nd5 Qf7 (23... Qd8 24. f6 {is clearly crushing.}) 24. Qxf7+
Kxf7 25. Nxc7 Bxc5 26. Nxa8 $18 {and the N should make it back. Black still
has some dark square control but an exchange and a pawn is an exchange and a
pawn.}) (21... Nbc6 22. f6 g6 23. Bxh6+ Ke8 24. Qxg6 {Anyways!} fxg6 25. f7+
Kd7 26. f8=Q Rxf8 27. Rxf8 Qxf8 28. Bxf8 Ne6 29. Rf1 $1 $16 {and White has an
extra pawn; although his bishop on g2 is relatively out of play, Black's
pieces aren't that great either. Black might have some compensation but White
holds the advantage.}) (21... Bxc5 22. f6 g6 23. Qxe5 {[%csl Rc7,Rd4][%cal
Ge5c7,Gc1e3,Ge3d4] is a big disadvantage of not being developed. With the
centre being ripped open like this (Black will soon lose control over d4) his
position becomes hopeless.}) 22. f6 {and now g6 is not possible since Bxh6 is
check.} g6 23. Bxh6+ Ke8 {and now Black would be ok after Qg5 Nxc5, but the
bombshell is...} 24. Qxg6 $1 {and White should be just winning.}) 20... Nd7 21.
Na4 (21. f6 $2 g6 {is just pointless now.}) (21. Bg5 Qxg5 22. Qxg5 hxg5 23.
Nxc7+ Kd8 24. Nxa8 Bxc5 {gives Black a fantastic position for the sacrificed
material. That is assuming that the N on a8 ever gets out without too many
losses.}) 21... c6 $5 {The start of fantastic complications.} (21... Nf6 22.
Qh4 Nxd5 23. Qxd8+ Kxd8 24. exd5 Bd7 $13 {looks quite good for Black, though
White is not without chances in this position. Maybe a strange dynamic
equality.}) 22. Ndb6 (22. Bg5 {was another possibility, but Black should come
out on top after barely sacrificing the exchange.}) 22... Nxc5 {You could say
this is the critical point: if White takes on a8 Magnus will take the N on a4
and it is hard to believe the a8-N will ever be retrieved. Kramnik proves it
is not as easy as that.} 23. f6 g5 {Forced.} 24. Bxg5 $5 (24. Nxc8 Qxc8 $8 25.
Nxc5 Bxc5 26. h4 $5 {is very messy, but was probably better than the game
continuation.} Rg8 (26... gxh4 $6 27. Qxe5+ Ne6 28. Bh3 hxg3+ 29. Kg2 {and
it's hard to find a good move for Black.}) 27. Bh3 Ne6 28. Bb2 Bd6 {and White
has a lot of play for his pawn. Notice how important it is to have activated
the white squared bishop in these lines. That's why I think this idea of 24.
Nxc8 and an eventual h4 is stronger.}) 24... Nxa4 25. Nxa8 (25. Nxa4 $6 b5 26.
Nc3 Be6 {looks quite good for Black.}) 25... b5 26. Be3 Bb8 27. g4 {...with
the idea of g5-g6. There are tons of possibilities for Black, let's look at
some of them.} Rg8 $1 {Personally I think this move is best. It calmly gives
away a pawn, but controls the important g6-square, which means Magnus doesn't
have to worry about the kingside being blasted open any time soon.} (27... c5
$5 28. g5 Be6 29. g6 fxg6 30. Qxg6+ Bf7 31. Qg7 Rg8 32. Qxh6 Bd6 33. Bxd4 exd4+
34. e5 Bxe5+ 35. Kh1 Rxg2 36. Kxg2 Qxa8+ 37. Kg1 $11 {With both kings so
exposed, it is impossible to believe one side will win this. A perpetual is
the most likely outcome.}) (27... Be6 {trying to immediately trap the N on a8,
quick action must be taken.} 28. g5 Ba7 29. g6 Qxa8 30. g7 Rg8 31. Qxh6 $13 {
Black will never rid himself of the strong passed pawns, but he dominates the
rest of the board. I would prefer to be White but anything can happen.}) (27...
Nc5 {bringing the N back into action!} 28. g5 Be6 29. g6 $2 (29. gxh6 $1 Nd7
30. Qg5 Nf8 {is again very difficult to asess.}) 29... fxg6 30. Qxg6+ Bf7 31.
Qg7 Rg8 32. Qxh6 Nce6 $1 {and since the N is so active in this line, Black
should be better. The centre is held nicely and the N on a8 is doomed.}) 28.
Qxh6 Be6 29. Rbc1 Kd7 $1 {Protects the rook on g8, the pawn on c6, threatens ..
.Bxg4 and puts the K on a safer square!} 30. Bxd4 exd4+ 31. e5 Nc3 32. Rxc3 {
Absolutely forced.} (32. Qf4 $2 Ba7 {and White is lost, as pointed out by Vlad
during the postmortem.}) 32... Bxe5+ 33. Kh1 dxc3 34. Qe3 {Again, Black has
options. 34...Bd6, Kd6 and the move played in the game all come to mind.} Qb8 (
34... Bd6 35. Qa7+ (35. Nb6+ Kc7 36. Na4 $1 {a fantastic resource!} bxa4 $4 (
36... Kb8 37. Nxc3 Bc7 {and White's square weaknesses are starting to tell,
since Black's king is rather safe. The game is still complex though.}) 37. Qa7+
Kc8 38. Qa8+ Bb8 39. Qxa6+ Kd7 40. Qxc6#) 35... Ke8 36. Qxa6 Kf8 37. Qxc6 Rh8 {
[%cal Gh8h1] looks dangerous for White.}) (34... Kd6 $5 {Getting away from
potential checks on a7 and defending the bishop. However the king might be a
little over exposed.} 35. d4 Bxf6 36. Qxc3 Ke7 37. Qxc6 Bxd4 38. Nc7 Qd7 39.
Qxd7+ $11) 35. Qc5 $6 {Easy to attach a ?! when using an engine to analyse,
but truth be told this move looks like the most obvious way to a draw.} (35. d4
$5 Bd6 36. d5 cxd5 37. Nb6+ Kd8 (37... Kc6 $2 38. Nxd5 Bxd5 39. Qxc3+ $18) 38.
Nxd5 Bxd5 39. Bxd5 $13 {with a very murky position. Any queen trade will
transpose the game into an opposite coloured bishop endgame in which the
chances for a draw are high.}) 35... Qd6 36. Qa7+ Kd8 37. Qxa6 (37. Nb6 Rg6 {
Black is simply threatening Rxf6, with a decisive advantage, so White has to
do something quickly. It seems like he doesn't have enough resources.} 38. Qa8+
Qb8 39. Qxc6 Rxf6 40. Rxf6 Bxf6 41. Nd5 Bg7 $1 (41... Bd4 42. Nb4 $1 {The only
fighting chance.} (42. Nxc3 $2 Qg3 $19 {and the attack is decisive.}) 42... Qb6
(42... Qg3 43. Qa8+ Ke7 $2 44. Nc6+ $18) 43. Qa8+ Ke7 44. Nc6+ Kd7 45. Nxd4
Qxd4 46. Qxa6 Qxd3 $15 {and Black's king is too vulnerable to try to win, but
obviously he is the only one with chances.}) 42. Nxc3 Qe5 43. Qb6+ Qc7 {
Forcing the exchange of queens.} 44. Qxc7+ Kxc7 {and Black is down a pawn, but
he has dominating bishops and an active king, not to mention a soon to be
passed pawn on the queenside. This looks very difficult to hold for White.})
37... Bd4 $1 {A nice move, which cuts off the coordination between the N and
the Q, as well as creating Black's own threats on the K-side.} 38. Qa5+ Kc8 39.
Qa6+ Kd8 40. Qa5+ Kc8 41. Qa6+ {And... surprise! Magnus claims three-fold
repetition in a position computers claim he is winning! A small explanation is
required. A wild game and you cannot blame the players for being exhausted
after so much calculation.} (41. Qa6+ Kb8 42. Nb6 {The problem is that in this
situation neither of the players considered the move ...Bc8. It does seem
quite strange, but it beautifully prevents all of White's counterplay, leaving
Black with a dominating position.} Bc8 {Note that without this move, the game
would simply end in a perpetual.} 43. Qa8+ (43. Nxc8 Rxc8 44. a4 b4 45. Qc4 Qc5
{and computers think Magnus is winning, but that's not so obvious at a first
glance.}) 43... Kc7 44. Nxc8 (44. Qa7+ Bb7 {is the point} 45. Nd5+ Qxd5 {
and Black wins.}) 44... Rxc8 45. Qa5+ Kb8 {White has now exhausted his
resources. His position will collapse since he must now shift the focus on to
protecting against the c-pawn.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 6th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.11.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "RR"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2011.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 a6 5. e3 b5 6. b3 Bg4 7. Qc2 e6 8. Ne5 Bf5
9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Nxd3 dxc4 11. bxc4 bxc4 12. Ne5 Nbd7 13. O-O Nxe5 14. dxe5 Nd5
15. Rd1 Qa5 16. Ne4 c3 17. Rb1 Rd8 18. Rd4 Qc7 19. Qa4 a5 20. g3 Bb4 21. Nd6+
Kf8 22. e4 Nb6 23. Qc2 Nd7 24. Nc4 h6 25. a3 Bc5 26. Rd3 Kg8 27. Qxc3 Kh7 28.
Bf4 Rb8 29. Rbd1 Rhd8 30. Qd2 Nb6 31. Rxd8 Nxc4 32. Qd7 Qxd8 33. Qxd8 Rxd8 34.
Rxd8 Bxa3 35. Rd4 Nb6 36. Be3 c5 37. Rd1 Nc4 38. Bxc5 $1 (38. Rd3 $2) 38...
Bxc5 39. Rc1 Bxf2+ 40. Kxf2 Nxe5 41. Ke2 Kg6 42. Rc5 Kf6 43. Rxa5 g5 44. h3 h5
45. Rc5 Ng6 46. Kf3 Ne5+ 47. Ke3 Ng6 48. Ra5 h4 49. Kf2 hxg3+ 50. Kxg3 Ne5 51.
Rb5 Nd3 52. Rb8 Kg7 53. Kg4 Nf2+ 54. Kxg5 Nxh3+ 55. Kg4 Nf2+ 56. Kf4 Nd3+ 57.
Ke3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 6th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.11.20"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2811"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2011.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. Rc1 c5 7. dxc5 Qa5 8. e3
Rd8 9. Bd6 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Ne4 11. O-O Nxd6 12. cxd6 Bxd6 13. Qb3 Nc6 14. Rfd1
Be7 15. Be2 h6 16. Nd2 Qb4 17. Qc2 Bd7 18. Nc4 Bf8 19. a3 Qe7 20. Nd6 Be8 21.
Nxe8 Rxd1+ 22. Rxd1 Rxe8 23. Qb3 Rd8 24. Rxd8 Nxd8 25. Bf3 g6 26. Qa4 a6 27. g3
Bg7 28. Qc4 Qd7 29. Kg2 Be5 30. b4 Qc7 31. Qxc7 Bxc7 32. b5 axb5 33. Nxb5 Bb6
34. Nd6 Bc5 35. Nxb7 Nxb7 36. Bxb7 Bxa3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 6th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.11.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D90"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2011.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Qb3 Nb6 6. d4 Bg7 7. Bf4 Be6 8.
Qa3 Nc6 9. e3 O-O 10. Be2 a5 11. O-O Nb4 12. Rfc1 c6 13. Be5 Bh6 14. Ne4 Nd7
15. Nc5 Nxc5 16. Rxc5 Nd5 17. Bc4 Qb6 18. e4 Nf6 19. Bxe6 fxe6 20. Rc2 Qb4 21.
Qd3 Rac8 22. Ne1 Nd7 23. Bg3 c5 24. d5 Nf6 25. d6 Qxe4 26. dxe7 Rfe8 27. Qb5
Qb4 28. Qf1 Rxe7 29. Nd3 Qb6 30. Ne5 Nd5 31. Qe2 Nb4 32. Rc4 Bg7 33. Bh4 Ree8
34. Rd1 Nc6 35. Nd7 Qxb2 36. Qxb2 Bxb2 37. Rxc5 Rc7 38. Bg3 Rcc8 39. Rb5 Bg7
40. Rxb7 Nb4 41. a4 Nd5 42. Nb6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 6th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.11.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2744"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2011.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Be2 dxc4 8.
O-O {This is already the third game in the current tournament in which this
position has appeared.} (8. Bxc4 a6 9. a4 c5 10. O-O cxd4 11. Qxd4 Nb6 {
proved to be okay for Black.}) 8... c5 ({Anand vs Aronian tried} 8... Nd5 {
but after} 9. Bxc4 Nxf4 10. exf4 {found himself in certain difficulties.}) 9.
dxc5 Nxc5 10. Bxc4 Qxd1 $146 {Kramnik continues to develop modern theory.} ({
In the previous round Gelfand chose} 10... a6 {being on the black side against
Aronian.}) 11. Rfxd1 b6 (11... a6 $6 12. Ne5 $14 b5 $2 13. Nc6 {[%csl Re7]})
12. Nd4 (12. Bd6 Bxd6 13. Rxd6 Bb7 14. Ne5 Rfd8 15. Rad1 Rxd6 16. Rxd6 Kf8 17.
b4 Nce4 18. Nxe4 Bxe4 $11 {[%cal Gf8e7]}) 12... Bb7 13. Rac1 (13. Ndb5 a6 14.
Nd6 Bc6 $11) 13... a6 {Covering the b5-square.} 14. b4 {White has to play
actively if he wants to make something out of his temporary advantage in
development.} Nce4 15. Nxe4 Bxe4 (15... Nxe4 $4 16. Nxe6 $1 fxe6 17. Bxe6+ Kh8
18. Rd7 $18 {[%csl Rb7,Re7]}) 16. a3 Rfc8 17. f3 (17. Nxe6 $2 b5 18. Nc7 bxc4
19. Nxa8 Bxa8 $15) 17... Bb7 18. e4 {[%csl Yb7,Ge4,Gf3] Creating a barrier
against the black light-squared bishop, as well as covering the important
square d5.} (18. Nxe6 b5 19. Nc7 bxc4 20. Nxa8 Bxa8 21. e4 {is a better
version than on the previous move, and actually very similar to what occurred
in the game later.}) 18... a5 $5 {Somewhat provocative.} ({After} 18... Kf8 19.
Bf1 a5 {Black is very close to full equality.}) 19. Nxe6 $1 {Accepting the
challenge.} (19. Nb5 axb4 20. Bd6 Kf8 21. axb4 Bc6 22. e5 Ne8 23. Bf1 Bd5 $11)
19... axb4 20. axb4 (20. Nc7 Rxa3 (20... Ra5 $2 21. Bd5 $1 Bxd5 22. Nxd5 Bc5+
23. Rxc5 Raxc5 24. Ne7+ Kf8 25. Nxc8 Rxc8 26. axb4 $16) 21. Nb5 Bc5+ 22. Kh1
Ra5 23. Nd6 Bxd6 24. Rxd6 g5 (24... Rac5 25. Rxb6 Rxc4 26. Rxc4 Rxc4 27. Rxb7
h6 28. h3 Nd5 $1 29. Bxh6 gxh6 30. exd5 Rd4 31. d6 Rxd6 32. Rxb4 {leads to a
drawish endame through some suffering for Black.}) 25. Be3 Ba6 26. Bxa6 Rxc1+
27. Bxc1 Rxa6 28. Rd8+ Kg7 29. Bb2 b5 $8 30. Rd5 Kg6 31. Rxb5 Rd6 32. h3 $14)
20... b5 $1 {Distracting the bishop.} 21. Nc7 (21. Bb3 Rxc1 22. Rxc1 fxe6 23.
Rc7 Bxe4 $1 24. Bxe6+ Kf8 25. fxe4 Ra1+ 26. Kf2 Nxe4+ 27. Kf3 Rf1+ $1 28. Kxe4
Rxf4+ 29. Kxf4 (29. Ke5 g5 $11) 29... Bd6+ 30. Ke4 Bxc7 $11) 21... bxc4 22.
Nxa8 Bxa8 23. Bd6 {The exchange of bishops favours White.} Kf8 24. Bxe7+ Kxe7
25. Rd4 c3 26. Rd3 c2 27. Rd2 {It looks like Black loses his passed pawn
without any compensation, but...} Nxe4 $1 {The key idea of Black's defence.}
28. Rdxc2 (28. fxe4 $6 Bxe4 29. Rd4 f5 {Only Black can be better here.}) 28...
Rxc2 29. Rxc2 Nd6 30. Kf2 {There is a sort of dynamic equality in this endgame.
White's passed pawn will be safely blocked.} Kd7 31. Ke3 Nb5 32. Rc5 Bc6 33.
Kd3 f6 {This is the right way to place pawns so that they cover dark squares,
while the bishop covers the light squares.} 34. Rh5 h6 35. Kc4 Nc7 36. Ra5 Kd6
37. Kd4 g5 38. Ra1 {Neither side can make any progress.} f5 39. h4 f4 40. hxg5
hxg5 41. Rh1 g4 {Massive pawn exchanges lead to a simple draw.} 42. fxg4 Bxg2
43. Rh6+ Ne6+ 44. Kd3 Bf3 45. Rf6 Bxg4 46. Ke4 f3 47. Ke3 Ke5 48. Rxf3 Bxf3
1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 6th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.11.24"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[Annotator "RR"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2011.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4
Bd7 9. Rd1 Bc6 10. Nc3 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 Nc6 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Bg5 Rb8 14. Rac1 h6
15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. e3 Qe7 17. Ne4 Rb4 18. Qe2 Rxa4 19. Rxc4 Rxc4 20. Qxc4 e5 21.
Qxa6 exd4 22. Nxf6+ Qxf6 23. Rxd4 Rb8 24. b4 Qe7 25. Qc4 Rb6 26. Qd3 Rb8 27.
Qc4 Rb6 28. Kg2 Rb5 29. e4 $6 (29. Qxc6 Rxb4 30. Rd7 $14) 29... g5 $11 30. f3
Kg7 31. Qc3 Qf6 32. Kf2 Qe5 33. Qd2 Qf6 34. Rc4 Rb8 35. Ke3 Qe7 36. Qc3+ Kh7
37. Rc5 Rb6 38. Rf5 Kg8 39. Re5 Qf8 40. Rc5 Qb8 41. Qf6 Qf8 42. Qc3 Qb8 43. Qf6
Qf8 44. Qc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 6th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2011.11.25"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2755"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2011.11.16"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "6000+30"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. g3 dxc4 4. Qa4+ Nd7 5. Bg2 a6 6. Qxc4 b5 7. Qb3 (7. Qc2 {
is far more common. The entire line is not supposed to be terribly dangerous
for Black, who will achieve a quick c5 and supposedly equalise. White doesn't
score very well after 7.Qc2}) 7... Bb7 8. O-O Ngf6 9. Nc3 Be7 10. d3 O-O 11. a4
b4 12. Nb1 {Black can't really complain about the result of the opening. His
pieces are active, and although he has a few holes his activity should
compensate for it.} Nc5 13. Qc2 e5 $5 {And the tactics begin. It was also
possible to simply play 14...Rb8 and hold the position, but I guess Kramnik
felt a certain bloodthirstiness.} (13... Rb8 14. Nbd2 b3 $11 {and Black's
position looks good.}) 14. Be3 (14. Nxe5 $2 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 Qd5+ 16. Nf3 Nb3 $19)
14... e4 {Forced, really.} (14... Nfd7 15. Nbd2 {[%csl Rb4,Gc4,Re5][%cal Gd2c4,
Gf1c1,Yc1c7] would hardly justify so many weaknesses.}) 15. Bxc5 Bxc5 (15...
exf3 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. exf3 Rad8 $14 {gives Black some compensation for the
pawn but I doubt it's something to be seriously considered.}) 16. dxe4 Nxe4 17.
Nfd2 (17. Nbd2 {probably would've forced Black into transposing into the note
below.}) 17... Bxf2+ $5 (17... Nxd2 18. Nxd2 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Re8 {was still
relatively ok for Black, but the simplifications have allowed White to
basically retain a superior structure and Black will suffer for a while.
Kramnik had no such intentions.}) 18. Rxf2 Nxf2 19. Bxb7 Ng4 20. Nf3 Rb8 {
So in this position Black is down two pieces for a rook and a pawn, but he is
hoping his initiative, combined with the weak squares around the white king,
will provide compensation. Svidler, however, starts defending masterfully.} 21.
Bxa6 (21. Be4 f5 22. Bd3 Qf6 $13 {/\Qb6}) 21... Qf6 22. Bd3 Qb6+ 23. Kh1 Nf2+ (
23... Rfe8 24. a5 Qf2 25. Qc1 (25. Nbd2 Ne3 $19 {[%cal Re3c2,Re3g2]}) 25...
Rxe2 26. Bxe2 Qxe2 27. Nbd2 {is another draw with the Nf2-h3 perpetual.}) 24.
Kg2 Nxd3 {Trading the N for the B is risky. In many cases Black could always
rely on invading on the 2nd rank and giving a perpetual with the N, as we saw
in some variations. However, without this resource, Black is entirely relying
on the lack of activity of the white Ns, and the vulnerable position of the
king, especially of the invasion point e2. If this is somehow patched up, the
extra material and the passed pawn on the a-file will simply overwhelm Black.}
(24... Ng4 {Repeating moves was possible, as it seems that White can't get out
of it.} 25. Kh1 {is perfectly possible if White is satisfied with a draw.} (25.
Qc1 {is like the only other move that is logical to thwart the Ne3+ threat.}
Rbd8 $1 26. Nbd2 Rxd3 27. exd3 Re8 {Black has a seemingly very powerful attack,
since there is no good way of meeting Re2+, however it seems like there is no
immediate deadly threat either.} 28. a5 Re2+ 29. Kh1 Nf2+ 30. Kg1 Qe3 31. Qxc7
$11 {and there seems to be no checkmate, just a perpetual. However I highly
doubt any human would willingly go into this line instead of just playing 25.
Kh1.})) 25. exd3 Rfe8 {Black has lost yet a little more material, but this
time White's position actually looks very dangerous. For starters, he can't
develop his queenside, which seems to allow Black a huge initiative, however
Svidler has an ace up his sleeve.} 26. a5 $1 {This passed pawn will be the key
of White's defence. By ramming it forward, he intends to tie down the black
rooks, allowing him to comfortably develop and eventually exploit his material
advantage.} Qf6 27. Qf2 (27. Kf2 $1 {covering e2 with the K was an interesting
alternative, as this immediately threatens Nbd2.} Rb5 (27... g5 $5 28. g4 h5
29. h3 {surprisingly doesn't help Black.} hxg4 30. hxg4 Qe6 31. Nbd2 $1 Qe2+
32. Kg1 Qe3+ 33. Kg2 Qe2+ 34. Kg3 Re3 35. Rf1 $16 {and White holds, Black will
be pushed back rather soon.}) 28. Nbd2 Rf5 29. a6 Qb6+ 30. Kf1 $14 {and
without a way of creating direct threats, it would seem that White is just
better.}) 27... Rbd8 28. Ra4 c5 (28... Rxd3 29. Rxb4 {Kramnik might have been
reluctant to go into this line because it gives White the extra possibility of
Nc3, which covers pretty vital squares, however the game is opened which
favours the rooks and the a5-pawn falls, which is the key.} Qa6 30. Nc3 (30.
Ra4 $2 Rde3 $17) 30... Qxa5 $11 {with enough for at least equality, but it is
doubtful that there ismuch more than that.}) 29. a6 Rxd3 30. a7 Qc6 {Black has
recovered a pawn, and now he has obvious pressure. The a7-pawn looks dangerous
but for the moment it is not going anywhere.} 31. Ra5 Qa8 (31... Rxf3 {
guaranteed a draw, however it wasn't easy to see, and Black is still pushing
for that win.} 32. Qxf3 Re2+ 33. Kh3 $2 (33. Kg1 Re1+ 34. Kf2 Rf1+ 35. Kxf1
Qxf3+ 36. Ke1 Qe3+ 37. Kd1 Qf3+ $11) 33... Qh6+ 34. Kg4 Qe6+ {and White will
get mated.}) 32. Nbd2 Rde3 $2 {But this is too much. It was imperative to take
the a7-pawn while he still could.} (32... Rd7 33. Nc4 Rxa7 34. Rxc5 Rae7 35.
Ra5 $11 {and Black has some ugly threats, but White should be ok.}) 33. Nc4 $1
{A wonderful and not so obvious move. It gives White a huge advantage. Kramnik
must have missed this.} R3e6 (33... Re2 $2 34. Nb6 Rxf2+ 35. Kxf2 {is a
fantastic position. Black has some annoying checks but nothing near a
perpetual, much less mate, and he loses by force.} Qe4 36. a8=Q Qc2+ 37. Kg1
Qd1+ 38. Kg2 Qe2+ 39. Kh1 $18 {and the checks have run out, as the N will
cover on g1.}) 34. Kg1 f6 (34... Rf6 {fails to} 35. Nce5 $1 Rxe5 (35... g6 36.
Ra1 c4 37. Qg2 {is also ugly.}) 36. Nxe5 Rxf2 37. Kxf2 g5 38. Nc4 $1 g4 39. Kg1
$1 {Black is lost.}) 35. Ncd2 {As opposed to so many different positions that
we reached in variations, the a-pawn here is alive and healthy, and a major
thorn in Black's position. Black is simply stuck defending against it and
meanwhile the Ns will roam freely.} c4 (35... Rc8 36. Qf1 $1 $16) 36. Nxc4 Qe4
37. Nd4 $1 $18 {White has no reason to be passive anymore. His Ns dominate the
board, and he has every single plus in the position. Black's position is
hopeless.} R6e7 38. Nd6 Qb1+ 39. Kg2 Ra8 40. Qf3 Raxa7 41. Qa8+ {A cute finish
to a solid game by Svidler. He bravely took material and defended in great
fashion. Black should have bailed out when he had a chance, but as they say,
hindsight is 20/20 vision.} 1-0

[Event "London Classic 3rd"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2011.12.03"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2011.12.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. d4 dxc4 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. Qa4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Nd5 8.
Bxb4 Ndxb4 9. O-O Rb8 10. Na3 O-O 11. Qb5 b6 12. Qxc4 Ba6 13. Nb5 Qd5 14. Qxd5
Nxd5 15. a4 Na5 16. Ne5 Rbd8 17. Nxa7 Nb4 18. Rac1 Rxd4 19. Nb5 Bxb5 20. axb5
f6 21. e3 Rdd8 22. Nf3 Rf7 23. Bh3 Re7 24. Rc3 Kf7 25. Ra1 Rd3 26. Bf1 Rxc3 27.
bxc3 Nd5 28. c4 Nc3 29. c5 Rd7 30. Nd4 Ne4 31. cxb6 cxb6 32. Rc1 Nc5 33. f4 Ke7
34. Nc6+ Nxc6 35. bxc6 Ra7 36. Rd1 Rc7 37. Bg2 e5 38. fxe5 fxe5 39. Rb1 e4 40.
Rxb6 Kd6 41. Rb4 Kd5 42. Rd4+ Ke5 43. Rc4 Kd5 44. Rd4+ Ke5 45. Rc4 Kd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic 3rd"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2011.12.04"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Short, Nigel D"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C48"]
[WhiteElo "2698"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2011.12.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Nd4 5. Nxd4 {In his first game of the
tournament Nigel decides to play safe, 5.Ba4 or 5.Bc4 are more principled
moves.} exd4 6. e5 dxc3 7. exf6 Qxf6 (7... cxd2+ {is not recomended by theory}
8. Bxd2 Qxf6 9. O-O Be7 10. Bc3 Qg5 11. Re1 $36) 8. dxc3 Bc5 9. Qe2+ (9. O-O
O-O 10. Bxd7 {otherwise Black will just be all right} (10. Qh5 d6 11. Bd3 h6
12. Bd2 Bd7) 10... Bxd7 11. Qxd7 Rad8 (11... Rae8) 12. Qb5 (12. Qxc7 {is not a
good idea} Qxf2+ $1 13. Rxf2 Rd1#) 12... b6 13. Qc4 Qf5 {and White started to
fight for equality in Morozevich-Kramnik, Monaco blindfold, 2002}) 9... Qe6 10.
O-O (10. Bc4 Qxe2+ 11. Kxe2 c6 {just equal.}) 10... O-O (10... Qxe2 {is enough
to equalise as well} 11. Bxe2 d5 12. Bf4 c6) 11. Qf3 d6 12. Bg5 (12. Bf4 $11
Qg4) 12... Qf5 13. Be7 {White is trying to force a draw, but missing a hidden
resource.} (13. Qxf5 $142 {after this move the draw is unavoidable} Bxf5 14.
Bd3 Bg6 15. Rfe1 Rfe8 {and there is little to play for in this position.})
13... Qxf3 14. gxf3 a6 {This is a very unpleasant surprise for White. Suddenly
he has to start calculating variations and most of them favour the opponent!
Nigel was obviously not ready for such a turn of events and started to make
mistakes.} (14... Bh3 {is just a draw here} 15. Bxf8 Bxf1 16. Bxd6 Bxb5 (16...
Bxd6 17. Rxf1 Rd8) 17. Bxc5 Bc6 $11) 15. Ba4 (15. Bxf8 {is risky} axb5 16. Be7
f6 $1 {the point} 17. Rfe1 (17. Bd8 Bb6 18. Rfe1 Bd7 19. Be7 Kf7) 17... Bd7 {
the bishop on e7 doesn't have a bright future.}) (15. b4 $15 {doesn't equalise
fully} axb5 16. bxc5 Re8 (16... Bh3 17. Bxf8 Bxf1) 17. cxd6 cxd6 18. Bxd6 Bd7 {
and Black is still pressing.}) (15. Bd3 $15 {would have been the best choice
probably, although after} Re8 16. Rfe1 Be6 17. Bg5 g6 18. Be3 Kg7 {Black will
suck the life out of his opponent for a long time.}) 15... b5 16. b4 {
Strangely enough this seems to be the decisive mistake already.} (16. Bxf8 {
is similar to 15.Bxf8} bxa4 17. Be7 f6 $1 18. b4 axb3 19. axb3 Bb7) (16. Bb3 {
was obligatory already, and White is still in the game, although his position
is very unpleasant} Re8 17. Rfe1 Bd7) 16... Re8 17. Rfe1 ({After} 17. bxc5 Rxe7
18. cxd6 Re6 $1 {wins} 19. Bb3 Rg6+ 20. Kh1 Bb7) 17... Bb6 18. Bb3 Bb7 19. Kg2
d5 {Now the bishop on b3 is out of play for the rest of this game, and Black
simply starts exchanging pieces, since all endings are won for him now.} (19...
a5 {is strong according to the engines, but the text move is the one any human
would play without thinking.}) 20. Re5 (20. a4 c6 21. axb5 axb5 22. Rxa8 Bxa8
23. Ra1 Bb7 {does not change matters.}) 20... c6 21. Rae1 Bc7 22. R5e2 Bc8 {
There is no reason to be worried about possible tricks by White.} 23. a4 (23.
Bd8 {amusing, but it does not help much} Bh3+ 24. Kxh3 Rxe2 (24... Rexd8 {
winning as well but I wanted to play the main line}) 25. Rxe2 Rxd8 {winning,
for instance} 26. Re7 Rc8 27. Kg2 (27. Rd7 Kf8 {followed by ...Ke8}) 27... Kf8
28. Re1 Re8 29. Rxe8+ Kxe8 {and despite material equilibrium (temporarily) and
opposite coloured bishops White can resign already.}) 23... Bd7 {/\f6} 24. Bh4
Rxe2 25. Rxe2 Re8 26. Rxe8+ Bxe8 {In practical terms Black is playing a two
bishops versus one ending. I am particulary strong in such endgames :)} 27. Bg3
Bd8 {Thank you, not now, maybe later :)} 28. Be5 f6 29. Bb8 Bg6 30. axb5 axb5
31. Kf1 Kf7 32. Ke2 Ke6 {Black just has to open up the position on the
kingside and penetrate with his king. Not a difficult task since all White can
do is just wait.} 33. Ke3 Bb6+ 34. Ke2 Bh5 35. Ba2 g5 36. Bb3 f5 37. Ba2 f4 38.
Bb3 Kf5 39. Bd6 (39. h3 {stops g4 but weakens the h-pawn, which I am going to
take slowly but surely} Bf7 40. Kf1 Kg6 41. Kg2 Kh5 42. Be5 Bd8 43. Kh2 Be6 44.
Bd6 Kh4) 39... g4 {Time to act.} 40. Kf1 (40. fxg4+ Kxg4 {was my plan} 41. f3+
Kh3 $1 42. Bxf4 Kg2 {winning.}) 40... g3 {The simplest.} (40... gxf3 41. Bf8
Kg4 42. Bg7 Kh3 43. Kg1) 41. fxg3 fxg3 42. Bxg3 Bxf3 43. Ba2 Be3 {Short could
not bear looking at his position anymore and resigned here. The game would
probably end like this otherwise:} (43... Be3 44. Bf2 Bxf2 45. Kxf2 Kf4 46. Bb3
Be4 47. Ke2 Kg4 48. Kf2 Kh3 49. Kg1 h6 50. Ba2 Bxc2 51. Kh1 h5 52. Kg1 h4 53.
Kh1 Kg4 54. Kg2 Kf4 55. Kf2 Ke4 56. Ke2 h3 57. Kd2 Kf3 58. Kxc2 Kg2 59. Kd3
Kxh2 60. Kd4 Kg1 61. Kc5 h2 62. Kxc6 h1=Q) 0-1

[Event "London Classic 3rd"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2011.12.06"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2826"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2011.12.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 O-O 7. Bg2 d5 8.
cxd5 Nxd5 9. Qb3 Qb6 10. Bxd5 exd5 11. Be3 Bxc3+ 12. Qxc3 Qa6 13. Qd3 Qxd3 14.
exd3 Bd7 15. Kd2 Nc6 16. Nxc6 Bxc6 17. Bd4 Rfe8 18. g4 Re6 19. Rae1 Bd7 20.
Rxe6 Bxe6 21. g5 a6 22. h4 Re8 23. h5 Bg4 24. h6 gxh6 25. gxh6 Re6 26. Be3 Kf8
27. Kc3 Rg6 28. Kd4 Bd7 29. Re1 Bc6 30. Kc5 Ke8 31. f4 Bd7 32. Bd4+ Re6 33.
Rxe6+ Bxe6 34. Kb6 Bf5 35. Kxb7 Bxd3 36. Kc6 Ke7 37. Kxd5 Bb1 38. a3 Ba2+ 39.
Ke4 Bb3 40. Kf5 Be6+ 41. Ke5 f6+ 42. Ke4 Bb3 43. Bc5+ Ke6 44. Kd4 a5 45. a4
Bxa4 46. Bb6 Kf5 47. Bxa5 Kxf4 48. Bd2+ Kg4 49. b4 f5 50. Ke5 Bb5 51. Bf4 Bd3
52. Be3 Bb5 53. Bf4 Bd3 54. Be3 Bb5 55. Bf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic 3rd"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2011.12.08"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2734"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2011.12.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Bxd2+ 5. Qxd2 d5 6. Bg2 O-O 7. Nf3 Nbd7 8.
O-O dxc4 9. Na3 e5 10. Nxc4 e4 11. Nfe5 Nb6 12. Ne3 a5 13. Rac1 c6 14. b3 Re8
15. Rfd1 Be6 16. Rc5 a4 17. b4 a3 18. Ra5 Qd6 19. Rc1 Nbd5 20. Nxd5 Bxd5 21.
Nc4 Qe7 22. e3 h5 23. Rxa8 Rxa8 24. Nb6 Rd8 25. Nxd5 Nxd5 26. Rc5 h4 27. Bf1 g6
28. b5 cxb5 29. Rxb5 Qc7 30. Qa5 b6 31. Qxa3 Rd6 32. Qb3 Nf6 33. Rb4 Kg7 34.
Rc4 Rc6 35. Rxc6 Qxc6 36. gxh4 Ng4 37. h3 Nh6 38. Qb5 Qf6 39. Qe5 Nf5 40. Bg2
Nd6 41. a4 Qxe5 42. dxe5 Nc4 43. Bxe4 Nxe5 44. Kg2 Kh6 45. Kg3 f6 46. Bc2 Nc4
47. Bd3 Nd6 48. Kg4 Nf7 49. Be2 Nd6 50. Kf4 Nb7 51. h5 gxh5 52. Kf5 Nc5 53.
Kxf6 Ne4+ 54. Kf5 Nxf2 55. h4 1-0

[Event "London Classic 3rd"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2011.12.09"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2811"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2011.12.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Be2 dxc4 8.
O-O c5 9. dxc5 Nxc5 10. Bxc4 Qxd1 11. Rfxd1 b6 12. Nd4 Bb7 13. f3 Rfc8 14. Rac1
a6 15. a3 Nh5 16. Be5 Nf6 17. Bg3 Kf8 18. e4 Ke8 19. Bf1 g6 20. Bf2 e5 21. Nc2
Nb3 22. Rb1 b5 23. Ne3 Rd8 24. a4 Nd2 25. axb5 Nxb1 26. Rxb1 Bc5 27. Nc4 Bxf2+
28. Kxf2 axb5 29. Nxb5 Kf8 30. Nxe5 Bxe4 31. fxe4 Nxe4+ 32. Kg1 Nd2 33. Rc1 Ra2
34. Na3 Rxb2 35. Nac4 Nxc4 36. Nxc4 Rc8 37. Ra1 Rc2 38. Ne5 Rc1 39. Rxc1 Rxc1
1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic 3rd"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2011.12.10"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Howell, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D40"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2633"]
[Annotator "Saunders,J"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2011.12.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. a3
b5 9. Ba2 Bb7 10. Qe2 Qc7 11. Rd1 Rd8 12. d5 exd5 13. Nxd5 (13. Bxd5 {had been
played before. Kramnik considered it but felt he couldn't make it work.}) 13...
Nxd5 14. Bxd5 Be7 15. e4 O-O 16. g3 Na5 17. Bf4 Qc8 ({Perhaps} 17... Qb6 {
, defending the knight and the b-pawn, is a little safer.}) 18. a4 $1 {[diag]
Vlad was quite happy with his game here, once he had found this move, which
undermines Black's queenside. Commentator Daniel King thought the queenside
configuration had something in common with some positions in the Ruy Lopez
where a similar strategy is appropriate.} b4 ({After} 18... Nc4 19. Bxc4 bxc4
20. Qxc4 {, Vlad thought Black had some play but not enough for the pawn.}) 19.
Rac1 ({Now Vlad didn't like Black's position.} 19. Ne5 Bxd5 20. Rxd5 Nb3 21.
Rad1 Nd4 22. Qc4 Qe6 23. Be3 {was one of the lines Vlad looked out but it is
not so clear.}) 19... Bc6 $2 ({This might have been a mistake, Vlad thought.
He tried to make 19...Qb7 work but wasn't convinced. The computer suggestion} 
19... Rfe8 {doesn't look bad.}) 20. Bg5 $1 {Clever. White deflects the
dark-squared bishop, thus removing a defender from the c5 pawn.} Bxg5 21. Rxc5
$1 {A cunning intermezzo move, exploiting the looseness of all Black's
residual minor pieces. "Now it's basically over," said Vlad.} Bf6 ({Hikaru
tried to make} 21... Bb5 $5 {work, but} 22. Qc2 {is a good move and the
threats to the black minor pieces remain.}) 22. Rxa5 {By now Hikaru had lost
faith in the position too. White is already one pawn up and on the brink of
winning another. Black has no viable counterplay even though the a5 rook is
slightly offside.} Bxd5 23. Raxd5 Rxd5 24. Rxd5 Qc1+ 25. Kg2 Bxb2 (25... Qxb2
26. Qxa6 Bc3 27. a5 {is similar to the game.}) 26. Qxa6 Qc2 27. Rd2 Qb3 ({
Against} 27... b3 {, White has} 28. Qe2 Rc8 {and now} 29. Ne1 {resolves the
position on c2.}) 28. a5 Bc3 29. Rd5 Qc2 30. Qb7 $1 b3 (30... Qxe4 {allows
White to win the pawn race with} 31. a6 {and there is no way of exploiting
Black's pin on the long diagonal.}) 31. a6 b2 32. Rb5 Qa4 33. a7 h6 34. e5 ({
An uneasy stand-off has been reached. Not} 34. Qb8 $2 {when Black can reply}
Qxe4 {and White's advantage has dissipated.}) 34... Kh7 (34... Qa1 35. Qe7 b1=Q
36. Rxb1 Qxb1 37. Qxf8+ Kxf8 38. a8=Q+ {should win.}) 35. Rb3 Qa2 36. h4 {
Commentator Lawrence Trent was justly proud of predicting this squeezing plan.}
Kg8 37. h5 {Vlad called this 'making a box' for the black king. More of a
coffin, actually.} Qa5 38. Qb8 Qa2 39. Rxc3 $1 b1=Q 40. Rc8 $1 {[diag]} (40.
Rc8 Rxc8 (40... Qf1+ $1 {is clever but after} 41. Kxf1 Qa6+ 42. Kg2 Rxc8 43.
Nd4 {seems to win anyway.}) 41. Qxc8+ Kh7 42. a8=Q {and White's pair of queens
proves more potent than Black's.}) 1-0

[Event "London Classic 3rd"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2011.12.11"]
[Round "8"]
[White "McShane, Luke J"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2671"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "138"]
[EventDate "2011.12.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 2]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 $5 dxc6 {This
structure is traditionally seen in the variations with the bishop on e7, after,
for instance, 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Bxc6 dxc6. The extra move ...a6
does not have any relevance, but what about the dark-squared bishop? In the
long run, its place is surely not on c5, because it blocks the c-pawn, which
is supposed to increase Black's contol over d4 with ...c5. However, in the
short term, the bishop may be useful, by inhibiting d3-d4 until the knight
gets to e6. After that, the bishop may retreat to finally allow ...c5.} 6. b3
$5 {A rare continuation, which had been tried by McShane before. Usually, the
bishop goes to d2.} (6. Nbd2 Nd7 (6... Bg4 {may be playable, but in the
folowing game Black somehow did not get his knight even close to e6:} 7. h3
Bxf3 8. Qxf3 Nd7 9. Nc4 Qe7 10. Bd2 Nb6 11. Ne3 Bxe3 12. Qxe3 c5 13. O-O Nd7
14. f4 $14 {Zvjaginsev,V (2666)-Stojanovic,D (2466)/Rogaska Slatina 2011/CBM
145 (1-0, 42)}) 7. O-O O-O 8. Nc4 Re8 9. Be3 Bxe3 (9... Bf8 $5 {[%cal Gf7f6,
Gd7c5,Gc5e6]}) 10. fxe3 a5 11. a4 b6 12. Qe1 Ba6 13. Ncd2 Re6 14. Nh4 g6 15.
Qg3 Qf8 16. Rf2 $14 {Zvjaginsev,V (2664)-Petrosian,T (2613)/Plovdiv 2010/CBM
139 (1/2, 58)}) (6. Be3 {Erenburg,S (2582)-Almasi,Z (2640)/Germany 2005/CBM
110/[Erenburg] (1/2, 37)}) (6. Bg5 {Hossain,E (2514)-Eljanov,P (2681)/
Khanty-Mansiysk 2007/CBM 122/[Grivas] (1-0, 61)}) (6. O-O {looks flexible, but
offers Black an important tempo:} Qe7 $1 {Black defends e5, preparing ...Bg4,
when h2-h3 will be met with ...Bh5 already.} (6... Bg4 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 Nd7
9. Nd2 Qe7 10. Nc4 f6 11. Bd2 b6 12. a3 O-O 13. b4 Bd6 14. Ne3 $14 {Sutovsky,E
(2665)-Fressinet,L (2718)/Khanty Mansiysk 2010/CBM 139 (1/2, 48)}) 7. Nbd2 Bg4
8. Nc4 (8. Re1 Nd7 9. h3 Bh5 10. Nf1 O-O 11. g4 Bg6 12. Ng3 f6 13. h4 Qe6 14.
h5 Qxg4 $5 15. d4 Bxh5 16. dxc5 Nxc5 $44 {Petrosian,T (2602)-Feller,S (2570)/
Novi Sad 2009/CBM 133 (1/2, 62)}) 8... Nd7 9. Be3 (9. h3 Bh5 10. Be3 f6 11. Qe2
Nf8 12. Bxc5 Qxc5 13. b4 Qe7 14. Qe3 Ne6 15. Rab1 O-O 16. Kh2 b5 17. Na5 Bxf3
18. Qxf3 c5 $132 {Ghinda,M (2450)-Ninov,K (2465)/Stara Zagora 1990/CBM 017 (1/
2, 42)}) 9... Bd6 10. h3 Bh5 11. a4 f6 12. c3 b6 13. Re1 O-O 14. Bc1 Rfd8 15.
Ne3 Qf7 16. Nf5 Bf8 $13 {[%cal Gd7c5,Gc5e6] Van der Wiel,J (2560)-Salov,V 
(2630)/Rotterdam 1989/CBM 013 (0-1, 59)}) 6... Bg4 $5 $146 (6... Qe7 {is less
effective than in the line above:} 7. Bb2 Nd7 {Leaving the bishop passive on
c8.} (7... Bg4 8. h3 $14) 8. Nc3 O-O 9. Ne2 Ba3 10. Bxa3 Qxa3 11. O-O Qe7 12.
Ng3 Nc5 (12... f6 13. Nf5 $36) 13. b4 Na6 14. c3 c5 15. a3 $14 {McShane,L 
(2645)-Parker,J (2531)/Hinkley Island 2011/ 860 (1-0, 60)}) (6... Nd7 7. Bb2 f6
8. Nbd2 Nf8 9. Nh4 Qd7 10. Qh5+ Qf7 11. Qxf7+ Kxf7 12. O-O Ne6 $13 {Khazankin,
M (2091)-Nechaev,A (2407)/Alushta 2011/CBM 142 Extra (0-1, 59)}) 7. Nbd2 Nd7 8.
Bb2 f6 9. Nf1 Nf8 10. h3 Bxf3 {By exchanging the f3-knight, Kramnik reduces
White's possibilities of activating the b2-bishop with either f4 or d4.} (10...
Bh5 11. Ng3 Bf7 12. d4 $5 exd4 13. Bxd4) 11. Qxf3 Ne6 12. Ne3 Qd7 13. h4 a5 14.
a4 {After the insertion of the last two moves, White's castling long is not
too probable, so that Black can castle short.} O-O 15. h5 {[%cal Ge3f5]} (15.
Nf5 {would not achieve much:} g6 16. Nh6+ Kg7 17. h5 Ng5 (17... Kxh6 $2 18.
hxg6+) 18. Qg4 (18. Qe2 Kxh6 $1 19. hxg6+ Kg7 {[%csl Gh7]}) 18... Qxg4 19. Nxg4
Ne6 $5 $11 {[%cal Gc5d4,Gf6f5] After the exchange of queens, Black's position
is quite safe.}) 15... Bxe3 $1 {Eliminating the dangerous knight just in time.}
16. Qxe3 (16. fxe3 {would leave White with problems attacking the g5-square in
favourable terms.} h6 17. O-O c5 18. Qg4 Rad8 19. Bc3 b6 20. Be1 Ng5 21. Rf5
Nf7 22. Qg6 Nd6 23. Rf3 Qf7 24. Qg4 Qd7 $11) 16... c5 ({I would consider
placing all the pawns on dark squares.} 16... h6 17. g3 c5 18. f4 Nd4 19. Rh2
Rfe8 $5 {/\...f5, /\...c6, ...b5}) 17. Qh3 Qc6 {I am not sure what the idea is
behind this move. Maybe he considered playing ...c4, at a moment when e4 and
a4 would not be over-defended? But the e6-knight is still hanging, so ...Rae8
would be necessary first.} (17... Qe8 $5) (17... Rad8 $5) 18. O-O Nf4 19. Qh2
Qe8 {Quite provocative. Instead of blocking the h-pawn, Kramnik actually
forces it to advance. In principle, this increases the force of the b2-bishop,
but maybe he wanted to provoke his opponent into becoming over-optimistic?!}
20. h6 g5 21. g3 Ne6 22. f4 $5 {The exchange sacrifice implied by this move is
correct, but does not offer an advantage.} ({Maybe he should have prepared the
attack with} 22. Qh3 $5 {[%cal Gg1h2,Gh3f5,Gf2f4]}) 22... gxf4 23. gxf4 Nxf4
24. Rxf4 exf4 25. Kf2 Rf7 26. Qh5 (26. Qxf4 Qe6 27. Rg1+ Kf8 28. Ke2 $44 {
[%cal Ge2d2]}) 26... Qe6 27. Qxc5 Kh8 28. Qc4 $5 (28. Rg1 Rg8 (28... b6 29. Qg5
$14 {/\Rg4}) 29. Rxg8+ Kxg8 30. Qxa5 $44) 28... Re8 {Kramnik wants to maintain
the possibility of attacking the c2-pawn with ...Rc6.} (28... Qxc4 29. bxc4 {
keeps the c-file well defended.}) 29. Rh1 Qd7 30. Qb5 Re6 (30... Qxb5 31. axb5
{[%csl Gc6]}) 31. Qxd7 Rxd7 32. Rg1 Rc6 {Finally reaching the desired
regrouping, but Black is not better yet.} 33. Kf3 Rd8 34. Rg5 Rf8 35. Rg2 $6 {
Too passive.} (35. Rd5 $5 Rxc2 (35... Kg8 36. Ba3 Re8 37. Rd7 Rxc2 38. Rg7+ Kh8
39. Be7 Rc6 40. Rf7 Kg8 {White can repeat moves already, or keep playing with}
41. Kxf4 $5 $44) 36. Bxf6+ Kg8 37. Be7 Re8 38. Rg5+ Kf7 39. Rg7+ Ke6 40. Bg5
Rc3 41. Rxh7 Rxd3+ 42. Kxf4 Rxb3 43. Rxc7 $13) 35... Rg8 $1 36. Rh2 Rg1 $36 37.
d4 Rf1+ 38. Kg4 f3 39. d5 Rd6 40. c4 Kg8 41. c5 f5+ 42. Kxf5 Rg6 43. Bd4 Rd1
44. Be3 Rg2 45. Rh3 f2 46. Bxf2 Rxf2+ 47. Ke6 {Black's material advantage is
decisive, but there are technical difficulties along the way. The white king
is very active and the connected pawns could become dangerous.} Rf7 48. d6 c6
$1 (48... cxd6 49. cxd6 {[%cal Gh3c3,Gc3c8] /\Rc2}) 49. Ke5 Kf8 50. Rh2 Rg1 51.
b4 axb4 52. Rb2 Rg5+ 53. Ke6 Rg6+ 54. Ke5 Rxh6 55. a5 Rh5+ 56. Ke6 Rh6+ 57. Ke5
Rh5+ 58. Ke6 Ke8 59. a6 Rh6+ 60. Ke5 bxa6 61. Rxb4 Ra7 62. Rb8+ Kf7 63. Rc8
Re6+ 64. Kf5 a5 65. Rh8 Rf6+ 66. Ke5 Kg7 67. Rc8 a4 68. Rxc6 a3 69. d7 a2 0-1

[Event "London Classic 3rd"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2011.12.12"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2802"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2011.12.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 146"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.01.18"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. a3 c5 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. dxc5 Nxc5 11. Be2 Bf6 12. Be5 Bxe5 13. Nxe5 Re8 14. Nf3
Qb6 15. Rc1 Ne6 16. Qd2 Rd8 17. Nd4 Bd7 18. Nxe6 Bxe6 19. Qd4 Qxd4 20. exd4 Kf8
21. Kd2 Rdc8 22. Rc5 Ke7 23. Rhc1 b6 24. Rxc8 Rxc8 25. Rxc8 Bxc8 26. Bd3 h6 27.
Ke3 g5 28. g3 f6 29. Bc2 Bd7 30. Bd3 Bc8 31. Bc2 Bd7 32. Bd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich m"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2012.04.21"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2820"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2012.04.21"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 148"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 ({Kramnik decides to
forego a sharp theoretical duel in the highly topical AntiMoscow line} 6. Bh4
dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5 {Both players have extensive experience with this
position with both colours and it actually arose in one of their previous
games, after} 9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Ne5 Bg7 12. Nxd7 ({Topalov's
sacrifice has lost most of it's fans, latest mail games suggest White's
compensation is good enough only for a draw after} 12. Nxf7 {1/2,Shirov,A 
(2740)-Karjakin,S (2732)/Foros/2008/ See more details in the notes to this
game by Krasenkow in CBM 125.}) 12... Nxd7 13. Bd6 a6 14. a4 {Black has a
choice:} b4 $5 (14... e5 15. Bg4 exd4 16. e5 c5 17. Re1 Nxe5 18. Bxe5 O-O 19.
Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Ne2 f5 21. Bh5 f4 {has been tested especially in numerous mail
games, here Black's position hangs on a thin line:} 22. Nxd4 $142 $1 (22. b4 d3
$1 (22... cxb3 $143 23. Qxb3 Qd5 24. Qh3 Bc8 25. Nc3 $1 dxc3 26. Qxc3+ Qd4 27.
Qf3 Ra7 28. axb5 Qf6 29. Qa3 Qb6 30. Qc3+ Kg8 31. Re5 Qf6 32. Qxc5 Rd7 33. h4
$36 {Kramnik,V (2799)-Aronian,L (2739)/Wijk aan Zee/2008/ is the
aforementioned mutual encounter, won by Kramnik after a gruelling struggle.
For more details see the notes to this game by Krasenkow in CBM 122.}) 23. bxc5
b4 24. Nd4 (24. Qc1 Bd5 25. Qb2+ Qf6 26. Qxb4 dxe2 27. Bxe2 f3 $15 {Nizky,
R-Popov,A (2437)/corr/2009/}) 24... Qxd4 25. Re7+ Kh8 26. Rxb7 Rab8 27. Rxb8
Rxb8 28. Rb1 c3 29. Qb3 Qe5 30. Bg6 d2 31. Rf1 a5 $11 {1/2,Ponting,A (1937)
-Gokerman,E (2105)/corr/2009/}) 22... cxd4 23. Re6 Rf6 24. Qe1 Bd5 25. Re7+ Kg8
(25... Kf8 $5 26. Re8+ Qxe8 27. Bxe8 Rxe8 28. Qb4+ Kg7 29. Qc5 Bc6 $14 {
/= is perhaps safer:} 30. Qxd4 Kg6 31. axb5 axb5 32. b3 f3 33. bxc4 fxg2 34.
cxb5 Bxb5 35. Kxg2 Re2 36. Kg1 Rexf2 37. Qxf2 Rxf2 38. Kxf2 h5 39. Kf3 {
1/2,Figlio,G (2447)-Rivas Romero,G (2377)/corr/2009/}) 26. axb5 Qd6 27. h3 $1 (
27. Bg4 Rf7 28. Re5 d3 $1 $132 {is also known from postal chess.}) 27... a5 $1
{[]} (27... axb5 $2 28. Rxa8+ Bxa8 29. Re8+ Rf8 30. Re6 $3 $146 ({The decisive
novelty, previous games featured only the insipid} 30. Rxf8+ Qxf8 31. Qe6+ Kh8
32. Qe5+ Qg7 33. Qxb5 c3 34. bxc3 dxc3 35. Qe8+ Qg8 36. Qe5+ $11) 30... Qd5 31.
f3 $1 d3 32. Rg6+ Kh7 33. Qe7+ Rf7 34. Qe8 Qc5+ 35. Kh2 Qf8 36. Qe5 {Voss.
M-Zhak,B/corr/2010/} Rf5 (36... Re7 37. Qd4 $18 {is similar}) 37. Qc7+ Rf7 38.
Qb6 $1 {[%cal Rg6d6,Rd6d8] s hrozbou Vd6, nepomaha ani} Rb7 39. Qd4 $18) 28. b6
(28. Bg4 Bf7 29. Qe4 Qd5 30. Qxd5 Bxd5 31. Rd7 Bf7 32. Rxd4 Be8 33. h4 $14 {
Kharlamov,V (2491)-Pivinsky,E (2484)/corr/2010/}) 28... d3 29. Rxa5 Rxa5 30.
Re8+ Kg7 31. Qxa5 Bf7 32. Bxf7 Rxf7 33. Qc3+ Qf6 34. Qxc4 Qxb2 35. Qxd3 Qxb6
36. Qe4 $14 {[%csl Rg7] Kosulin,V (2425)-Daus,P (2413)/corr/2010/}) 15. d5 ({
Nobody has yet repeated Topalov's} 15. Nb1 $5 Nf6 16. e5 Ne4 17. Bxb4 c5 18.
Ba3 cxd4 (18... Qc7 $5 19. f3 Rd8 20. fxe4 Rxd4 21. Nd2 Bxe5 22. Qc2 Bxh2+ 23.
Kh1 Bf4 24. Nxc4 Bxe4 25. Qc3 O-O $132) (18... g4 $5 $13 {[%csl Yg5]}) 19. Bf3
Bf8 $2 (19... Rc8 20. Nd2 (20. Re1 Nc5) 20... Nxd2 21. Bxb7 Nxf1 22. Bd6 $1 (
22. Bxc8 Qxc8 23. Qxd4 Qd7 24. Qb6 Nd2 25. Qb8+ Qd8 26. Qb7 Bf8 27. Qc6+ Qd7
28. Qa8+ $11) 22... Bf8 $1 (22... d3 23. Bxa6 Qa5 24. Bb5+ Kd8 25. Qf3 $40) 23.
Qxd4 Bxd6 24. exd6 O-O 25. Bxc8 Qxc8 26. Rxf1 Qc6 $14) 20. Re1 Bxa3 21. Nxa3
Nc5 22. Nxc4 O-O 23. b4 Bxf3 24. Qxf3 Nd7 25. h4 Rc8 26. Qd3 Qc7 27. Rac1 Nb6
28. Nd6 $1 $18 {Topalov,V (2775)-Gelfand,B (2733)/Monte Carlo rpd/2011/}) 15...
bxc3 16. dxe6 Ne5 17. Bh5 Bc8 18. exf7+ $1 Nxf7 19. e5 {necessitates} Ra7 $1 (
19... cxb2 $2 20. Rb1 Bf8 21. Qf3 Ra7 22. Qxc6+ Qd7 23. Qxc4 Qe6 24. Qc6+ Qd7
25. Qc3 Bxd6 26. e6 Qxe6 27. Qxh8+ Kd7 28. Qd4 $40 {Cheparinov,I (2664)-Ter
Sahakyan,S (2575)/EU-ch Aix-les-Bains/2011/ Here White's attack quickly broke
through - see Ftacnik's notes in CBM 142.}) 20. Qf3 Re7 $13 {[%cal Ye8g8] Gupta
}) 6... Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 {While this is the more usual move-order, Black can
also postpone the development of his knight. This may lead to the same
position, but can also give the game an independent twist after} (7... g6 8.
Bd3 Bg7 9. O-O O-O 10. Rc1 (10. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Qd8 {[%csl Rd4] uses the fact
the knight is not yet ion d7 to attack White's centre.}) 10... dxc4 11. Bxc4
Nd7 12. e4 c5 $5 13. d5 Nb6 14. b3 exd5 15. Nxd5 Qd8 16. h3 Nxc4 17. bxc4 Re8
18. Re1 Bd7 19. Qd2 Rc8 20. Qf4 b5 $132 {/=/+,Anand,V (2810)-Giri,A (2686)/
Wijk aan Zee/2011/ For more details see the notes to this game by Krasenkow in
CBM 141.}) 8. Bd3 ({Game 5 saw the rare} 8. Be2 Qd8 ({Aronian spurns
transposition to our game with} 8... dxc4 9. Bxc4 {and opts for a different
set-up. The queen retreat would be rather passive against 8.Bd3, here it's
more plausible:}) 9. O-O Be7 10. Qc2 (10. e4 dxe4 (10... dxc4 11. Bxc4 O-O 12.
Qe2 b6 13. Rfd1 Bb7 14. d5 exd5 15. exd5 Bf6 16. dxc6 Bxc6 17. Nd4 Bxd4 18.
Rxd4 Qg5 19. Bd5 Rae8 20. Qd1 Nb8 21. g3 Bxd5 22. Rxd5 $14 {Vokac,M (2507)
-Obsivac,J (2344)/Roznov/2002/}) 11. Nxe4 O-O 12. Qc2 Qc7 13. Rad1 Nf6 14. c5
b6 15. b4 a5 16. a3 axb4 17. axb4 Ba6 18. Bxa6 Rxa6 19. Ne5 bxc5 20. bxc5 Rd8
21. g3 Nxe4 22. Qxe4 Rd5 23. Nc4 g6 24. Nb6 Rd8 25. Ra1 Rxa1 26. Rxa1 Bf6 27.
Ra4 Kg7 28. Kg2 e5 $11 {Peev,P (2405)-Velikov,P (2465)/Plovdiv/1984/}) 10...
O-O 11. a3 (11. Rfd1 a6 12. c5 Qc7 13. e4 dxe4 14. Nxe4 e5 15. dxe5 Nxe5 16.
Nd6 Nxf3+ 17. Bxf3 Be6 18. Rd3 Rad8 19. Rad1 Rd7 20. g3 Rfd8 21. Qd2 {1/2,
Timoshenko,G (2537)-Kruppa,Y (2572)/Kiev/2001/} Bf5 $1 22. Rd4 Bf6 23. Ra4 Be5
$11) 11... b6 12. Rfd1 Bb7 13. Rac1 Qb8 14. cxd5 ({Kramnik plays it safe. The
text-move is not too ambitious, but White's main active try} 14. e4 dxe4 15.
Nxe4 c5 $132 {is double-edged, Black's bishops can have their say.}) 14... cxd5
15. Qa4 Nf6 16. Ba6 Bxa6 17. Qxa6 Qc8 18. Qxc8 Rfxc8 19. Ne5 Bd6 20. Nd3 Ne8
21. Kf1 Kf8 22. Ke2 Ke7 $11 {Kramnik,V (2801)-Aronian,L (2820)/Zuerich m/2012/}
) 8... dxc4 9. Bxc4 g6 10. O-O Bg7 11. Re1 {White has many plausible
alternatives and this has been getting some attention lately.} (11. Rc1 O-O 12.
Bb3 (12. b4 Qe7 13. Qb3 b6 (13... a5 14. b5 c5 15. Na4 cxd4 16. exd4 Qb4 (16...
Qd6 17. Rfe1 Nb6 $132) 17. a3 Qxb3 18. Bxb3 Rd8 19. d5 exd5 20. Bxd5 Nf6 21.
Ba2 Bd7 22. Nb6 Bxb5 23. Nxa8 Bxf1 24. Kxf1 Rxa8 25. Rc7 $36 {Fedoseev,V (2525)
-Nyback,T (2634)/Tallinn rpd/2012/}) 14. b5 Bb7 15. bxc6 Bxc6 16. Rfd1 Rfd8 17.
Qb1 Bb7 18. Bd3 Rac8 19. Be4 Nf6 20. Bxb7 Qxb7 21. Ne2 Ne4 22. Rxc8 Rxc8 23.
Nd2 Nd6 24. Rc1 $11 {1/2,Ivanchuk,V (2731)-Karjakin,S (2661)/Foros/2006/}) (12.
e4 {can after} c5 $5 {lead to the aforementioned Anand-Giri game.}) 12... Qe7
13. Ne4 {retains more tension and is perhaps more promising:} (13. Na4 e5 14.
d5 e4 15. Nd4 cxd5 16. Nc3 Nf6 17. Nxd5 Nxd5 18. Bxd5 Bh3 $1 $11) 13... Rd8 14.
Qc2 e5 15. Ng3 $5 (15. Rfe1 Kh8 16. g4 Rf8 17. g5 f5 $1 18. gxf6 Bxf6 19. Kg2
Bg7 {Aronian,L (2750)-Gelfand,B (2733)/WCh Mexico City/2007/} 20. Ng3 $13 {
Marin Black went on to win an excellent game, see the notes by Marin in CBM
120.}) 15... Nf8 (15... Kf8 16. h4 exd4 17. exd4 Nb6 18. h5 g5 19. Rfe1 Qf6 20.
Ne5 Nd5 21. Ne4 $40 {Gyimesi,Z (2610)-Steingrimsson,H (2533)/Heraklio/2007/})
16. Nxe5 Bxe5 17. dxe5 Qxe5 18. Qe2 $5 (18. Rce1 Be6 19. f4 Bxb3 20. axb3 Qb5
21. f5 Qd3 22. Qc5 {Steingrimsson,H (2533)-Hansen,S (2564)/Heraklio/2007/} Rd7
$132) 18... Qe7 19. f4 Be6 20. Bxe6 Qxe6 21. f5 $1 Qxa2 22. Ne4 $44) (11. e4 e5
12. d5 Nb6 (12... O-O {is also possible, but after} 13. Rc1 {the game will
likely transpose to the same line as Topalov-Aronian, Linares 2010.}) 13. Bb3
Bg4 (13... O-O {Topalov,V (2805)-Aronian,L (2781)/Linares/2010/ See for more
details about this branch in the notes to this game in CBM 135.}) 14. Re1 $5 (
14. Rc1 Rd8 $1 15. h3 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 Qxf3 17. gxf3 cxd5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Bxd5
Rd7 20. Rc3 Ke7 21. Rfc1 Rhd8 (21... Bf6 22. Rc7 Rhd8 23. Rxb7 Rxb7 24. Bxb7
Rd2 25. Rc7+ Rd7 26. Rxd7+ Kxd7 27. Bd5 Ke7 28. b4 Bg5 29. Kf1 Bd2 30. a3 Bc1
31. a4 Bd2 32. b5 Ba5 33. Ke2 g5 34. Kd3 f6 35. Kc4 Kd6 {1/2,Zakhartsov,V 
(2602)-Potkin,V (2646)/Belgorod/2010/}) 22. Rc7 b6 23. Kf1 Bf6 24. Ke2 Bg5 25.
R1c6 Rxc7 26. Rxc7+ Rd7 27. Rxd7+ Kxd7 28. Bxf7 a5 {1/2,Kreisl,R (2394)
-Buhmann,R (2590)/EU-ch Aix-les-Bains/2011/}) 14... O-O (14... Bxf3 15. Qxf3
Qxf3 16. gxf3 Ke7 17. Rac1 Rac8 18. dxc6 bxc6 19. Nd1 Rhd8 20. Rc5 Rd2 21. Kf1
Rc7 22. Re3 Nd7 23. Ra5 h5 24. Ke1 Rd6 25. Rc3 Bh6 26. Ne3 $14 {Pashikian,A 
(2608)-Hovhannisyan,R (2589)/Yerevan/2012/} Rb7) (14... Rd8 15. Re3 O-O {
-14...0-0}) 15. Re3 {is a more promising way to implement the idea from the
game, although White has only a slight pull at the very best:} Rfd8 (15... Rad8
16. Qe2 cxd5 17. Nxd5 Nxd5 18. Bxd5 Qe7 19. Rd1 Kh8 20. h3 Bc8 21. Rc3 Be6 22.
Rcd3 Bxd5 23. Rxd5 Rxd5 24. Rxd5 Rc8 $14 {/=,Jaracz,P (2565)-Nyback,T (2656)/
EU-ch Aix-les-Bains/2011/}) 16. h3 Bd7 17. a4 (17. Qe2 {[%cal Ya1d1] is
perhaps more promising}) 17... a5 18. Rd3 Be8 (18... cxd5 19. Bxd5 Rab8 20. Qd2
Qe7 21. Qe3 Nxd5 22. Nxd5 Qe8 $132 {1/2,Penkin,V (2042)-Dziedzic,A (1999)/corr/
2008/}) 19. Qe2 Bf8 20. Rad1 Bc5 21. dxc6 Rxd3 22. Rxd3 bxc6 23. Qc2 Qe7 24.
Nd1 Kg7 25. Ne3 h5 26. Nc4 Nd7 27. Ba2 Bb4 28. Rd1 Ra7 29. Qb3 Nc5 30. Qc2 Rd7
$11 {Jojua,D (2515)-Gurevich,M (2613)/Cappelle la Grande/2011/}) 11... O-O 12.
e4 {The most consistent continuation. Other options as} (12. Rc1) ({, or} 12.
Qc2 {don't fit in too well with White's previous move}) 12... e5 13. d5 Rd8 $5
{Here Black can postpone committing his knight to b6, contrary to the lines
from the note to the 11-th move.} (13... Nb6 14. Bb3 Bg4 (14... Bd7 15. h3 Rac8
16. Qe2 Rfe8 17. Rad1 Bf8 18. a3 h5 19. Rd3 Bh6 20. Red1 cxd5 21. Bxd5 Rc7 22.
Nd2 Qe7 23. Nc4 Nxc4 24. Bxc4 Bc6 25. Bd5 $14 {Leko,P (2734)-Gelfand,B (2739)/
Miskolc m rpd/2010/}) 15. Re3 {-11.e4}) 14. Re3 ({Takes the sting out of the
future Bg4, but simpler was} 14. h3 {, which prevents the sortie outright and
leads to complex play:} Nc5 (14... Nb6 15. Bb3 Bd7 16. a4 a5 17. Re3 Be8 18.
Qe2 Nd7 (18... Bf8 $142 $5 $13 {is similar to Jojua-M.Gurevich above}) 19. Nd2
Nc5 20. Ba2 Qe7 21. Rf3 Kh7 22. Rd1 f6 23. Nc4 b5 {Cmilyte,V (2525)-Munguntuul,
B (2465)/Shenzhen/2011/} 24. Nb6 Rab8 25. dxc6 $1 $36) ({Untested, but
plausible is} 14... b5 $5 15. dxc6 bxc4 16. cxd7 Rxd7 17. Qc2 Qa6 $132) 15. Qe2
a5 16. a4 Bf8 17. Red1 Bd7 18. Rd2 Be8 19. Rad1 Rab8 20. Ba2 cxd5 21. Nxd5 Qg7
$132 {[%csl Ra4] Grigoryan,A (2608)-Ter Sahakyan,S (2558)/Martuni/2011/}) 14...
b5 {As White's last move appeared recently, Aronian was obviously prepared and
answered quickly.} (14... Nb6 15. Bb3 (15. Qb3 $5) {justifies White's idea,
but still doesn't give him anything special after} 15... cxd5 ({Here} 15... Bg4
{would transpose to positions we dealt with above.}) 16. Nxd5 (16. exd5) 16...
Nxd5 17. Bxd5 Be6 18. Rd3 Bxd5 19. Rxd5 Rxd5 20. Qxd5 Qb6 $132 {/\} 21. Nxe5
Qxb2 22. Qxf7+ Kh7 23. Qxg6+ Kg8 24. Qf7+ $11) 15. dxc6 bxc4 16. Nd5 {Taking
into account the course of the game, the modest} (16. cxd7 $5 {deserved
attention:} Rxd7 17. Qe2 Ba6 (17... Qc6 18. Rc1 $132 {[%csl Rc4]}) (17... Qa6
$5) 18. Rd1 Rad8 19. Rxd7 Rxd7 20. Qc2 $11) 16... Qe6 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8] An
important novelty, which completely takes the sting out of White's tactical
operation. The text-move is recommended by every decent engine and Aronian
played it immediately.} (16... Qd6 $143 $6 17. cxd7 Bxd7 18. Nd2 Bb5 (18... Bf5
$1 19. Nxc4 Qc5 20. exf5 Rxd5 21. Rd3 $14) 19. Qc2 Rab8 20. Rc3 Qa6 21. a4 Bf8
22. Nf1 Bc5 23. Qc1 $1 Bc6 $2 (23... Be8 $142) 24. Nf6+ Kg7 25. Ng4 $16 {
Gunina,V (2511)-Muzychuk,A (2583)/EU-chW Gaziantep/2012/}) 17. cxd7 $8 {
Here Kramnik fell into thought, realizing that his opening has been a failure
and seeking how to proceed after the otherwise forced text-move.} (17. Nb4 a5
$17) (17. Nc7 $2 Qxc6 18. Nxa8 Qxa8 $19) 17... Rxd7 {[%csl Rd5] Gunina's
knight was unassailable on d5, but now it will come under immediate pressure
and it's White, who has to fight for equality.} 18. Qa4 (18. b3 cxb3 19. Qxb3
Bb7 20. Rd1 Rad8 21. Red3 Kh8 $15 {[%csl Gb7,Gg7][%cal Rf7f5]}) (18. Nd2 Bb7
19. Nxc4 Bxd5 20. exd5 Rxd5 $36 {[%csl Gd5,Ge5,Ge6][%cal Ye5e4,Yf7f5]}) 18...
Bb7 19. Qxc4 (19. Rc1 Bxd5 (19... f5 $5 20. Nc3 (20. Qxc4 Qf7 $36) 20... Rad8
$15) 20. exd5 Qxd5 (20... Rxd5 $15) 21. Qxc4 Re8 $15) 19... Bxd5 (19... Rc8 $5
20. Qa4 (20. Qb3 Bxd5 21. exd5 Qxd5 $15 {gets a better version of the game
position with the rook more active on c8.}) 20... Bxd5 21. exd5 Rxd5 $15 {/\}
22. Qxa7 e4 $44 {|^}) 20. exd5 Qxd5 (20... Rxd5 21. Rae1 Rc8 22. Qb3 $132) 21.
Qxd5 (21. Rc1 Re8 $11 {/=/+}) 21... Rxd5 {[%cal Yf7f5,Ye5e4][%mdl 4096] After
a series of natural moves the game went straight from the opening into an
endgame. Black is somewhat better due to his better minor piece and more
mobile central majority, but White certainly has fair defensive chances.} 22.
Rae1 Re8 23. g4 $5 {Fights against the advance of Black's pawns.} (23. g3 f5
24. Nh4 Re6 25. f3 Rc6 $15 {/=}) 23... Kh7 ({Further simplification helps
White, moreover he splits up Black's pawn chain after} 23... f5 24. Nh4 Rd4 (
24... fxg4 25. Nxg6 $132) 25. Nxg6 Rxg4+ 26. Rg3 Kf7 (26... Rxg3+ 27. hxg3 $11)
(26... Bf6 27. Nf4 $11) 27. Rxg4 fxg4 28. Nh4 $11) 24. g5 {An important moment.
White seeks active counterplay at the cost of breaking up his kingside
pawn-structure. Although computers don't see anything directly wrong with the
text-move and at this moment it's not easy to compare it conclusively with
other continuations, it's nevertheless a commital decision.} ({More sedate
alternatives were} 24. R3e2 {Pelletier} f5 25. gxf5 gxf5 26. Nd2 e4 27. Nc4 Rd3
$5 $15 (27... Rd4 28. Rc2 f4 29. Nd2 $15 {/<=>})) ({or} 24. Kg2 {Korotylev} f5
25. gxf5 gxf5 26. Nh4 e4 27. f3 Rb8 28. b3 Bf6 $15 {/= In both cases White has
reasonable drawing chances. However, his position remains defensible even
after the text.}) 24... hxg5 {[%csl Rf2,Rh2]} 25. Nxg5+ Kg8 26. f4 $2 {Only
this is objectively a mistake, as now Black's advantage gets a more concrete
form.} (26. Ra3 $142 Re7 (26... a5 27. Rb3 {[%cal Yb3b7]}) 27. Rc3 $15 {/<=>})
26... Rb8 $1 (26... Bh6 27. R3e2 Rb8 (27... Kg7 28. h4 f6 29. Nh3 Rd4 30. fxe5
f5 31. h5 (31. Rc2 Re7) 31... Rh4 32. Nf2 Rxh5 33. Kg2 $13) 28. Ne4 {[%cal
Re4f6]} Ra5 29. fxe5 Rxa2 $15) (26... Rd4 $5 27. Re4 (27. Nh3 Rb8 $36) (27.
fxe5 Rg4+ 28. Rg3 Rxe5 29. Rxe5 Rxg3+ 30. hxg3 Bxe5 $17) 27... Rxe4 28. Nxe4 (
28. Rxe4 f6 29. Nf3 f5 $15 {[%cal Re5e4]}) 28... Re7 $36) 27. fxe5 (27. b3 exf4
28. Re8+ Rxe8 29. Rxe8+ Bf8 30. h4 (30. Nh7 Kxh7 31. Rxf8 Kg7 32. Ra8 Rd1+ 33.
Kg2 Rd2+ 34. Kf3 Rxa2 35. h4 Rh2 $19) 30... f6 31. Ne4 Kf7 32. Ra8 Ra5 33. a4
g5 $17) 27... Rxb2 $36 {[%csl Ra2][%cal Rd5d2]} 28. Nf3 {At this moment
Aronian had more than an hour, while Kramnik only around 27 minutes. It's easy
to understand White prevents the doubling of the rooks on the 2-nd rank and
doesn't go for the stronger computer recommendation} (28. h4 $142 Rdd2 29. a3
$1 Bf8 $5 (29... Rg2+ 30. Kh1 Rh2+ 31. Kg1 Rxh4 32. e6 fxe6 33. Nxe6 $15) 30.
e6 fxe6 31. Nxe6 Bd6 $36) 28... Rxa2 $17 29. e6 {At this moment keeping rooks
in a hope to create counterplay is only natural.} ({After} 29. R3e2 Rxe2 30.
Rxe2 a5 31. e6 Kf8 $1 32. exf7 Kxf7 33. Rc2 Bf6 34. Rc7+ Ke6 35. Ra7 Bd8 $17 {
/-+ Black should gradually convert his advantage.}) 29... fxe6 30. Rxe6 Rf5 $1
31. Nh4 Rf4 (31... Rg5+ 32. Kh1 Rh5 (32... a5 33. Rxg6 Rxg6 34. Nxg6 a4 35.
Ne7+ $132) (32... Kh7 33. Rg1 $1 $17) 33. Ng2 Kh7 $17) 32. R6e4 $1 {Avoiding a
trap in time-trouble} (32. Nxg6 $4 Bd4+ 33. Kh1 Rff2 34. Re8+ Kh7 $19) (32. Ng2
$143 Rg4 33. R6e2 Rxe2 34. Rxe2 a5 $17 {/-+}) 32... Rf6 {Now Aronian avoids
the rook swap.} ({Black hopes for more than} 32... Rxe4 33. Rxe4 $17) ({or} 
32... Ra4 33. Rxa4 Rxa4 34. Nf3 $17 {and wants to whip up a mating attack.})
33. Rg4 Kf7 (33... Kh7 $5) 34. Rc1 Bh6 $1 35. Rc7+ Ke8 $8 {[%cal Rh6e3,Rf6f1]}
(35... Ke6 $2 36. Rc6+ $11) 36. Re4+ (36. Rc3 Bf4 {[%cal Rf4h2]} 37. Nf3 a5 38.
Rh4 a4 39. Rh7 Rf7 40. Rh8+ Kd7 41. Ra8 Re7 $19 {[%cal Ye7e3,Yf4e3]}) 36... Kd8
37. Rh7 {Disrupts the coordination of White's forces.} (37. Rcc4 $142 $17 {
was more resilient.}) 37... Bf8 38. Rd4+ Kc8 39. Rc4+ Kb8 40. Rd7 $2 $138 {
The final mistake, after which the defence collapses.} (40. Rc1 a5 41. Ng2 a4
$19) (40. Rc3 $5 {[%cal Yh4f3] was the best, although after} a5 {Black should
win in the long run.}) 40... g5 41. Ng6 Bd6 {[%cal Rd6h2,Rf6g6]} 0-1

[Event "Zuerich m"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2012.04.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2820"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[Annotator "Kritz,L"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2012.04.21"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 148"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 {Die Berliner Verteidigung ist eine der
solidesten Eröffnungen in der heutigen Praxis. Beide Spieler, Aronian und
Kramnik, sind die größten Experten dieser Eröffnung.} 4. O-O {Die Alternative
4.d3 wurde in der 6. Partie des Matches gespielt.} (4. d3 Bc5 5. Nbd2 d6 6. c3
O-O 7. O-O Ne7 8. Re1 c6 9. Ba4 Ng6 10. h3 Re8 $11 {Aronian - Kramnik (Zuerich,
2012)}) 4... Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Be6
$5 {Es gibt viele Wege für Schwarz. Kramnik selbst hat auch schon andere Züge
gespielt.} (9... Ke8 10. h3 Be7 11. Bg5 Bxg5 12. Nxg5 h6 13. Nge4 b6 14. Rfd1
Ke7 15. Kh2 h5 16. Ne2 Re8 17. Nf4 Kf8 $11 18. Nxh5 Rxe5 19. Nhg3 Be6 20. Rd2 {
1/2-1/2 Anand,V (2752)-Kramnik,V (2809)/Leon 2002/CBM 090}) (9... Ne7 10. h3
Ng6 11. Bg5+ Ke8 12. Rad1 Bd7 13. a3 h6 14. Be3 Be7 $11 {Leko - Kramnik 
(Dortmund, 2004)}) (9... Bd7 10. Rd1 Kc8 11. Ng5 Be8 12. b3 b6 13. Bb2 Be7 14.
Nge4 Kb7 15. Rd3 Rd8 16. Rad1 Rxd3 17. Rxd3 h5 $11 {Leko - Kramnik (Budapest,
2001)}) (9... h6 10. Rd1+ Ke8 11. h3 a5 12. Bf4 Be6 13. g4 Ne7 14. Nd4 Nd5 15.
Nce2 Bc5 16. Nxe6 fxe6 17. c4 Nb6 18. b3 a4 $132 {Kasparov - Kramnik (London,
2000)}) 10. Rd1+ (10. Ng5 {Es sieht so aus, als ob sich Weiß eine günstige
Bauernstruktur sichert, jedoch...} Ke7 $3 {Dieser Zug sieht verrückt aus, ist
aber sehr stark.} (10... Bc4 11. Rd1+ Ke8 12. b3 Bb4 {Gezwungen.} (12... Ba6
13. e6 $1 fxe6 (13... f6 14. Nf7 Rg8 15. Rd7 Be7 16. Bf4 $18) 14. Bb2 Bd6 15.
Nce4 Ke7 16. g4 h6 17. gxf5 hxg5 18. f6+ $1 $16) 13. bxc4 (13. Bb2 Bxc3 14.
Bxc3 Bd5 $11) 13... Bxc3 14. Rb1 b6 15. g4 Nh4 16. f4 $14) 11. Rd1 (11. b3 h6
12. Ba3+ Kd7 13. Rad1+ Kc8 14. Nxe6 (14. Bxf8 hxg5 15. Ba3 a5 16. Bc1 g4 17. a3
c5 18. Ne4 b6 19. Ng5 Kb7 $11 {Holmsten - Rausis (Jyvaskyla, 1997)}) 14... Bxa3
15. Nf4 Bb2 16. Rd3 Re8 $11 {Aseev - Aleksandrov (Kstovo, 1994)}) 11... h6 12.
Nge4 (12. Nf3 Ke8 $11) (12. Nxe6 Kxe6 13. g4 Nh4 14. f4 h5 15. h3 hxg4 16. hxg4
f5 17. exf6 gxf6 18. f5+ Kf7 19. Ne4 Re8 20. Rd7+ Re7 21. Rxe7+ Bxe7 22. Kf1
Rg8 23. Nf2 Bc5 $15 {Kovalev - Hovhannisyan (Chennai, 2011)}) 12... Rd8 13. Bf4
b6 14. h3 g6 15. g4 Nd4 16. Bg3 g5 $132 {Shirov - Nakamura (Moscow, 2010)})
10... Ke8 11. Ng5 Bc8 $5 {Kramnik will den Läufer nicht tauschen lassen. Der
Rückzug des Läufers ist nicht so schlecht, weil der Springer sowieso auf g5
nichts zu suchen hat. Schwarz will Be7 und h6 spielen, und der Springer wird
zurück gehen müssen. Danach kann der Läufer zurückkehren, wenn er will.} 12. h3
(12. Ne2 a5 13. a4 b6 14. b3 c5 15. Bb2 Be7 $11 {Topalov - Ivanchuk (Wijk aan
Zee, 2012)}) 12... Be7 13. Bf4 {Ein neuer Zug, aber keine neue Idee. Weiß will
es mit e5-e6 versuchen - das klappt ein Mal von einer Million.} Nh4 {Noch ein
Zug und Schwarz wird Ng6-h6-Be6 spielen und alle weißen Figuren werden
zurückgedrängt.} 14. e6 $5 {Es bleibt sonst nichts übrig.} f6 $5 {
Überraschender Weise ist das Nehmen auf e6 mit dem Bauern ebenfalls gut.} (
14... Bxe6 {Hier hat Schwarz auch keine zu großen Sorgen.} 15. Nxe6 fxe6 16.
Bxc7 Rc8 17. Be5 Bf6 $14 {Man kann sagen, dass Weiß etwas besser steht, aber
das ist natürlich eher symbolisch.}) (14... fxe6 {Der Bauer c7 ist tabu wegen
dem Springer g5.} 15. Nge4 e5 $1 {Das ist ein kleiner Trick.} (15... Bd8 $4 16.
Rxd8+ Kxd8 17. Bg5+ $18) 16. Bxe5 Bxh3 $1 17. Bg3 (17. gxh3 Nf3+ 18. Kg2 Nxe5
19. Re1 Kf7 $17) 17... Bg4 18. f3 Be6 19. Bxc7 Kf7 20. Nd6+ Bxd6 21. Bxd6 Nf5
22. Bc5 b6 23. Bf2 Rad8 $11 {Weiß kann auf keinen Vorteil hoffen.}) 15. Nf7 Rg8
$1 {Hier musste Schwarz aufpassen.} (15... Rf8 $6 16. Bxc7 Bxe6 17. Nd6+ Bxd6
18. Bxd6 $14 {und Schwarz muss den Turm nach g8 stellen.} Rf7 $4 19. Re1 Kd7
20. Rad1 $18) 16. Bxc7 (16. Re1 $2 {Das verteidigt den Bauern ja gar nicht:}
Bxe6 $1 17. Rxe6 Kxf7 18. Rae1 Ng6 19. Bxc7 Ne5 {und Schwarz steht auf Gewinn.}
) 16... Bxe6 17. Nd6+ Bxd6 18. Bxd6 (18. Rxd6 Kf7 $11 {Im nächsten Zug folgt ..
.Nf5.}) 18... Kf7 {Die Stellung ist absolut Remis, es ist fraglich, warum die
beiden weitergespielt haben, wahrscheinlich wegen der Regeln.} 19. f3 Nf5 20.
Bc5 b6 21. Bf2 Rgd8 {Schwarz will einfach Rxd1-Ke7-Rd8 spielen.} 22. a4 $1 {
Die einzige Chance zumindest mal einen Ansatz auf Initiative zu bekommen.} Ne7
23. a5 c5 {Schwarz eliminiert die Wirkung des weißen Läufers. Eine
interessante Alternative war 23...Rxd1-bxa5} (23... Rxd1+ 24. Rxd1 bxa5 $5 25.
Ra1 Bf5 $1 26. Rxa5 (26. Ne4 Bxe4 27. fxe4 Rb8 28. b3 Rb5 29. Bxa7 c5 30. Ra3
c4 31. bxc4 Rb1+ 32. Kh2 Nc6 33. Bc5 Re1 $132) 26... Bxc2 $11 27. Rxa7 Rxa7 28.
Bxa7 $11) 24. Nb5 {Die einzige Chance.} (24. Na4 Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1 Rb8 26. Rd6 Nc8
27. Rc6 Rb7 $11) 24... Nc6 25. Rxd8 Rxd8 26. axb6 {Nun wird alles abgetauscht.}
(26. Nxa7 $5 {Interessant, aber auch riskant.} Nxa7 27. axb6 Nc6 28. Bxc5 Bf5
29. c4 Ke6 $1 $11 {Nachdem der König sich den Bauern nähert, kann Weiß in
Schwierigkeiten kommen.}) 26... axb6 27. Ra6 Rd1+ 28. Kh2 Rd2 29. Rxb6 Rxc2 $1
{Schwarz muss das letzte Mal aufpassen, um nicht in eine Falle reinzufallen.} (
29... Rxf2 $2 30. Rxc6 Rxc2 31. Rc7+ $1 (31. Nd4 $2 Bd7 32. Rc7 Rxb2 33. Rxd7+
Ke8 34. Rd5 cxd4 35. Rxd4 $11) 31... Kg6 32. Nd4 $18) 30. Nd6+ (30. Rxc6 Rxf2
31. Rxc5 Rxb2 $11) 30... Ke7 31. Ne4 Nd4 32. Rb7+ Kf8 33. Rc7 (33. Bg3 $4 {
Der Versuch aktiv zu werden endet nicht gut:} Nxf3+ 34. Kh1 Rc1+ $19) 33...
Rxb2 {Es bleiben keine Figuren zum Spielen auf dem Brett.} 34. Rxc5 Nf5 35. Ng3
Rxf2 36. Nxf5 Bxf5 37. Rxf5 Ra2 {Das logische Ergebnis.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich m"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2012.04.24"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C47"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2820"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2012.04.21"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 148"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {A novelty on move one already! Eine Neuerung bereits im 1. Zug!} e5 2.
Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bc5 (5... Bb4 {is more common, but I had
something in mind there... ist geläufiger, aber dort hatte ich etwas im Sinn...
}) 6. Be3 Bb6 7. Qd2 (7. Nxc6 {is the most principled continuation, but lautet
die prinzipiellste Fortsetzung, allerdings ist} bxc6 8. e5 Bxe3 9. fxe3 Nd5 10.
Nxd5 cxd5 11. Qxd5 Qh4+ 12. Kd1 Rb8 {is very unclear. sehr unklar.}) 7... O-O
8. O-O-O Re8 (8... Ng4 9. Bg5 f6 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. Bh4 $14) 9. f3 d5 {
Otherwise White is just better, pushing his pawns on the kingside. Ansonsten
steht Weiß einfach besser, er stößt seine Bauern am Königsflügel vor.} 10. exd5
(10. Bb5 Bd7 11. Nxc6 Bxc6 $11) 10... Nxd5 (10... Nb4 11. Bg5) 11. Bg5 $1 Nxc3
$5 {Played rather quickly, I was not sure if it was Levon's preparation or
improvisation. Recht schnell gespielt; ich war nicht sicher, ob es Levons
Vorbereitung oder Improvisation war.} (11... f6 {is safer, and after ist
sicherer, und nach} 12. Bc4 Nxd4 13. Nxd5 Be6 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Nxb6 axb6 16.
Qxd4 Qxd4 17. Bxe6+ Rxe6 18. Rxd4 Rxa2 19. Kb1 Ra5 20. Rd7 {White is still
pressing. ist Weiß nach wie vor am Drücker.}) 12. Bxd8 Nxd1 13. Bxc7 $1 {
The most principled continuation. Die prinzipiellste Fortsetzung.} (13. Bh4 {
is safer, but I doubt White can win after ist sicherer, ich bezweifle aber,
dass Weiß gewinnen kann nach} Nxd4 14. Qxd1 Nf5 15. Bg5 h6 {and Black seems to
have enough play. und Schwarz scheint genügend Spiel zu haben.}) 13... Bxc7 14.
Nxc6 Ne3 {Only move, now the position gets very tricky. Einziger Zug, nun wird
die Stellung ziemlich trickreich.} 15. Bb5 $1 (15. Nb4 {is definitely not
advisable: ist definitiv nicht ratsam:} Bf4 16. Nd3 Bh6 17. f4 Bf5 {with a
very strong initiative, e.g. mit einer bärenstarken Initiative, z.B.} 18. Kb1
Rac8) 15... bxc6 (15... Bf5 {is going into a slightly worse endgame by force:
leitet forciert in ein leicht schlechteres Endspiel über:} 16. Nd4 Bf4 17. Bxe8
Nxg2 18. Qxf4 Nxf4 19. Bxf7+ Kxf7 20. Nxf5 Rd8 21. b3) (15... a6 16. Ba4 {
doesn't change much. ändert nicht viel.}) 16. Bxc6 Nc4 (16... Bf4 {This move
bothered me and it took me quite some time to calculate it out. Dieser Zug
beunruhigte mich, und ich brauchte einige Zeit, um ihn auszurechnen.} 17. Kb1
$1 (17. Re1 Bb7 $1) 17... Bf5 18. Bxa8 Rxa8 (18... Nxc2 19. Qxf4 $18) (18...
Bxc2+ 19. Ka1) 19. Re1 $1 {and everything seems to work in White's favour here:
, und hier scheint alles zu Gunsten von Weiß zu funktionieren:} Bxc2+ (19...
Nxc2 20. Qxf4 Na3+ 21. Kc1 Rc8+ 22. Kd1) 20. Ka1 Re8 21. g3 (21. Rxe3 {also
wins. gewinnt ebenfalls.}) 21... Bg6 22. Re2 $18 Rc8 23. Rxe3) 17. Qd4 (17. Qb4
$142 $1 {Computer rules :) Computer an die Macht :)} Be6 18. Bxe8 Rxe8 19. Re1
$1 $16 Ba5 $140 20. Rxe6 $1) 17... Be6 18. Bxa8 Bb6 $1 (18... Rxa8 19. Re1 $16)
19. Qd3 (19. Qe4 {leads to a draw after führt zum Remis nach} Be3+ 20. Kd1
Nxb2+ 21. Ke1 Bd7 22. Qb7 Bb6+ 23. Kd2 Be3+ 24. Ke2 $11) 19... Rxa8 (19... Rd8
20. Qxd8+ {- at least - - auf jeden Fall -} (20. Qe2 Rxa8 21. Rd1 Ne3 22. Rd6)
20... Bxd8 21. g3 {White must have an advantage here I guess - Hier muss Weiß
Vorteil haben, meine ich -} Bb6 22. b3 Ne3 23. c3) 20. Re1 ({Here Levon
admitted after the game that he thought White should play b3 in order not to
get a worse position, and the endgame is rather drawish after Hier gab Levon
nach der Partie zu, dass er dachte, dass Weiß b3 spielen sollte, um keine
schlechtere Stellung zu bekommen, und das Endspiel ist ziemlich remislich nach
} 20. b3 Rd8 21. bxc4 Rxd3 22. cxd3 Kf8 23. Kc2 Bd4 {I actually thought that
White should be better after the move I played and didn't consider seriously
this option at all. Tatsächlich dachte ich, dass Weiß nach dem Zug, den ich
spielte, besser stehen sollte, und zog diese Möglichkeit nicht ernsthaft in
Betracht.}) 20... Rd8 21. Qe4 {A very strange and unbalanced position, which
we each assessed in our favour during the game. I still think after it that I
was right! Eine sehr merkwürdige und unausgewogene Stellung, die wir beide
während der Partie als günstig für uns erachteten. Im Nachhinein meine ich
trotzdem, dass ich richtig lag!} g5 $6 {Taking control on the f4-square, where
I want to put my queen, but the price is too high, the black king becomes
vulnerable now. Nimmt das f4-Feld unter Kontrolle, wo ich meine Dame
hinstellen will, aber der Preis ist zu hoch; der schwarze König wird jetzt
anfällig.} (21... g6 {was probably a better choice: war wahrscheinlich eine
bessere Wahl:} 22. c3 (22. Qf4 Rd4 23. Re4 Rd7 24. a4) 22... Nd6 23. Qc6 {
I would definately prefer White here still. Trotzdem würde ich hier definitiv
Weiß bevorzugen.}) (21... Rd4 22. Qc6 Rd8 23. Rxe6 $1 $16 fxe6 24. Qxe6+ Kf8
25. a4 Ne3 26. Kb1 {and it is difficult to coordinate Black's pieces in this
position. , und in dieser Stellung ist es schwer, die Figuren von Schwarz zu
koordinieren.} Nxg2 27. a5 Be3 28. c4) 22. c3 Bc5 {Levon was slowly but surely
running into serious time trouble. Levon kam, langsam aber sicher in ernste
Zeitnot.} 23. Re2 {A very human move, just trying to prevent his opponent's
counterplay, although maybe it was even stronger to start bothering his king
without this prophylaxis. Ein sehr menschlicher Zug, der einfach versucht, das
gegnerische Gegenspiel zu unterbinden, obwohl es vielleicht stärker war zu
beginnen, seinen König ohne diese Prophylaxe zu behelligen.} (23. h4 $16) 23...
h6 24. g3 {Preparing f4 and h4 and asking Black what is his plan :) Bereitet
f4 und h4 vor und fragt Schwarz, was sein Plan ist :)} a5 {This seems logical
because there is not much else Black can do to improve his position.  Dies
wirkt logisch, weil es sonst nicht viel gibt, was Schwarz tun kann, um seine
Stellung zu verbessern.} 25. f4 a4 26. f5 $1 {White is objectively much better
here and it is very difficult to defend this position in time trouble. Black
has too many pieces to take care of :) Hier steht Weiß objektiv klar besser,
und es ist sehr schwer, diese Stellung in Zeitnot zu verteidigen. Schwarz hat
zu viele Figuren, um die er sich kümmern muss :)} Bd5 $8 27. Qd3 Bb6 $8 28. b3
$1 axb3 29. axb3 Na5 $8 30. Re8+ {I think this is the right choice, at least
from a practical point of view. Ich denke, dies ist die richtige Wahl,
zumindest in praktischer Hinsicht.} (30. b4 $5 Nc4 31. f6 Be6 32. Qf3) (30. Qb5
{was recommended by commentators (obviously because it was recommended by
computers first :)), but in fact it might not be enough for a win since after
wurde von Kommentatoren empfohlen (offensichtlich, weil es zuvor von Computern
empfohlen wurde :)), tatsächlich aber könnte es nicht zum Sieg reichen, denn
nach} Nxb3+ 31. Kc2 Nd4+ $1 32. cxd4 Bxd4 {it might be a fortress after all.
könnte es doch noch eine Festung sein.}) 30... Rxe8 31. Qxd5 {Again it is very
difficult to coordinate his pieces for Black, especially in time trouble.
Erneut ist es sehr schwer für Schwarz, seine Figuren zu koordinieren, vor
allem in Zeitnot.} Rd8 (31... Rc8 32. Kb2 Rd8 33. Qb5 $18) 32. Qb5 Rd6 $1 (
32... Be3+ 33. Kb2 Rd2+ 34. Ka3 $18) 33. Kc2 $1 {/\b4} (33. b4 Be3+ 34. Kb1 Nc6
{holding. hält.}) 33... Kg7 {A mistake, but Levon was already down to seconds.
Ein Fehler, aber Levon hatte bereits nur noch Sekunden.} (33... Bd8 {This is
the only chance for Black to stay in the game: Dies ist die einzige Chance für
Schwarz, in der Partie zu bleiben:} 34. Qe8+ Kg7 35. Qe5+ Rf6 36. b4 Nc6 37.
Qe4 Bc7 38. b5 Ne5 39. c4 $16) 34. b4 Nb7 35. c4 {Now it's all over, Black
can't coordinate his pieces anymore. Nun ist alles vorbei, Schwarz kann seine
Figuren nicht mehr koordinieren.} Rf6 36. g4 {No need to hurry. Eile mit Weile.
} Nd8 37. c5 Bc7 38. Qd7 {White starts to collect material already. Weiß
beginnt bereits, Material einzusammeln.} Nc6 39. b5 $1 Na7 40. Qxc7 Nxb5 41.
Qe5 (41. Qd7 {was even more precise, since after war sogar noch genauer, da es
nach} Rc6 {there is den Zug} 42. f6+ $1 {, but the text is good enough and
simpler. gibt, aber der Text ist gut genug und einfacher.}) 41... Na7 42. Kd3 {
Cooling down after the time trouble Levon quickly realised that he was a very
long way from building a fortress and resigned here. Als er sich nach der
Zeitnot abkühlte, begriff Levon schnell, dass er sehr weit davon entfernt war,
eine Festung zu errichten, und gab hier auf.} 1-0

[Event "Zuerich m"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2012.04.25"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2820"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2012.04.21"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 148"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. h3 Ke8 10. Nc3 h5 11. Bg5 Be6 12. b3 Be7 13. Rad1 h4 14. Rfe1
Rd8 15. Rxd8+ Kxd8 16. Ne4 b6 17. Bf4 Kc8 18. Neg5 Bxg5 19. Bxg5 Bd5 20. Nh2 c5
21. Rd1 Bc6 22. c3 a5 23. Ng4 Bd7 24. f3 a4 25. Kf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich m"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2012.04.27"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2820"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2012.04.21"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 148"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Be2
Qd8 9. O-O Be7 10. Qc2 O-O 11. a3 b6 12. Rfd1 Bb7 13. Rac1 Qb8 14. cxd5 cxd5
15. Qa4 Nf6 16. Ba6 Bxa6 17. Qxa6 Qc8 18. Qxc8 Rfxc8 19. Ne5 Bd6 20. Nd3 Ne8
21. Kf1 Kf8 22. Ke2 Ke7 23. h3 Rc4 24. b3 Rcc8 25. a4 Ba3 26. Rc2 Rc7 27. Ra1
Bd6 28. Kd2 a5 29. Rcc1 Rac8 30. f3 f5 31. g4 g6 32. Ne2 Rxc1 33. Nexc1 Nf6 34.
Ne2 Nh7 35. Ne5 Ng5 36. Nf4 Bb4+ 37. Kd1 Rc3 38. Rc1 Rxe3 39. Rc7+ Kd8 40. Rg7
Kc8 41. Rg8+ Kb7 42. Rg7+ Kc8 43. Rg8+ Kb7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich m"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2012.04.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2820"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2012.04.21"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 148"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%mdl 64]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 {After two unsuccessful
attempts to break down the Berlin, Levon changes his approach, avoids
simplificaton and goes for a manoeuvring struggle. The resulting position will
soon resemble the Giuoco Piano.} (4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5
Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 (9. h3 Ke8 10. Nc3 h5 11. Bg5 Be6 12. b3 Be7 13. Rad1
h4 14. Rfe1 Rd8 15. Rxd8+ Kxd8 16. Ne4 b6 17. Bf4 Kc8 18. Neg5 Bxg5 19. Bxg5
Bd5 20. Nh2 c5 21. Rd1 Bc6 22. c3 a5 23. Ng4 Bd7 24. f3 a4 25. Kf2 {1/2,
Aronian,L (2820)-Kramnik,V (2801)/Zuerich/2012/}) 9... Be6 10. Rd1+ Ke8 11. Ng5
Bc8 12. h3 Be7 13. Bf4 Nh4 14. e6 f6 15. Nf7 Rg8 16. Bxc7 Bxe6 17. Nd6+ Bxd6
18. Bxd6 Kf7 19. f3 Nf5 20. Bc5 b6 21. Bf2 Rgd8 22. a4 Ne7 23. a5 c5 24. Nb5
Nc6 $11 {Aronian,L (2820)-Kramnik,V (2801)/Zuerich/2012/}) 4... Bc5 5. Nbd2 (5.
Bxc6 dxc6 {has also been quite popular recently, with players like
Nepomniachtchi, Adams, McShane, Zvjaginsev ao. giving it a try. In this
version of the Bxc6 the black bishop is not ideally placed on c5, but it's
questionable if this is enough for an edge.} 6. O-O (6. b3 Bg4 7. Nbd2 Nd7 8.
Bb2 f6 9. Nf1 Nf8 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Ne6 12. Ne3 Qd7 13. h4 a5 14. a4 O-O 15.
h5 Bxe3 16. Qxe3 c5 17. Qh3 Qc6 18. O-O Nf4 19. Qh2 Qe8 20. h6 g5 21. g3 Ne6
22. f4 gxf4 23. gxf4 Nxf4 24. Rxf4 exf4 25. Kf2 $44 {McShane,L (2671)-Kramnik,
V (2800)/London/2011/ See notes to this game by Marin in CBM 146.}) 6... Nd7 ({
Marin prefers} 6... Qe7 $5 {[%cal Yc8g4] /\Bg4} 7. h3 h6 8. c3 Bd6 9. d4 Nd7
10. Nbd2 O-O 11. Nc4 c5 12. dxe5 Bxe5 13. Re1 Rd8 14. Qe2 b6 15. Ncxe5 Nxe5 16.
Nxe5 Qxe5 17. Qf3 Bb7 18. Bf4 Qe6 19. Bxc7 Rd2 20. b3 Re8 21. Bf4 Rc2 22. Re3
Rd8 23. Ree1 Qf6 24. Rec1 Rxc1+ 25. Rxc1 Qg6 26. Re1 Re8 $11 {Kosintseva,N 
(2460)-Cmilyte,V (2508)/Nalchik/2008/}) 7. Be3 Bxe3 (7... Bd6 8. Nc3 Nf8 (8...
c5 $11) 9. d4 $32 Ng6 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Nxe5 Bxe5 12. Qxd8+ Kxd8 13. Rad1+ Ke7
14. Na4 b5 (14... f6 $142 $5) 15. f4 bxa4 16. fxe5 Ba6 17. Rf2 Rhb8 18. Rfd2
Ke8 19. e6 $1 fxe6 20. Bd4 $36 {Zvjaginsev,V (2688)-Zherebukh,Y (2594)/Moscow/
2012/}) 8. fxe3 Qe7 9. Nbd2 c5 10. Qe1 b6 11. a4 a5 12. Qg3 f6 13. Nh4 g6 14.
Qh3 Rf8 (14... O-O $11) 15. Rf2 Bb7 16. Raf1 O-O-O 17. b3 Kb8 18. g4 Rg8 19.
Nc4 h6 20. Qg3 Rde8 21. h3 Rg7 22. Kh2 Rh8 23. Rg1 $13 {1/2,Yemelin,V (2567)
-Nestorovic,N (2462)/Skopje/2012/}) 5... d6 6. c3 (6. Nf1 Ng4 7. Ne3 O-O 8. O-O
Nxe3 9. Bxe3 Bxe3 10. fxe3 Be6 11. Qe1 f6 12. Nh4 Ne7 13. Ba4 c6 14. Bb3 Qd7
15. Nf5 d5 16. Ng3 b6 17. Qc3 c5 18. exd5 Nxd5 19. Bxd5 Qxd5 20. a4 f5 21. e4
fxe4 22. Nxe4 Qd4+ $11 {Inarkiev,E (2669)-Ponomariov,R (2733)/Astrakhan/2010/})
6... O-O 7. O-O Ne7 {Although transferring the knight to the kingside is a
typical idea, in this concrete position Black's last move is quite rare.} (7...
a6 {Kramnik's recent experience with this set-up was from last year's
nerve-wracking blitz playoff against Radjabov in the Candidates quaterfinal:}
8. Ba4 (8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. d4 exd4 10. cxd4 Bb6 11. Qc2 Re8 12. Re1 Bd7 13. b3 c5
14. d5 c6 (14... Ba5 $1 15. Bb2 c6 $132) 15. dxc6 (15. Nc4 $1) 15... Bxc6 16.
Bb2 Ba5 17. Rad1 h6 18. Re3 Re6 19. Nc4 Bc7 $13 {/=,Ivanchuk,V (2779)
-Ponomariov,R (2743)/RUS-chT Olginka/2011/ - see notes to this game by
Ponomariov in CBM 142.}) 8... Ba7 9. h3 Ne7 10. Re1 Ng6 11. Nf1 c6 12. Ng3 d5
13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Bb3 Re8 15. Bg5 f6 16. Be3 Bxe3 17. fxe3 Be6 18. Qd2 Qc7 19.
Rad1 Rad8 20. Qf2 Qf7 21. Rf1 Qf8 22. Nd2 Kh8 $11 {Radjabov,T (2744)-Kramnik,V
(2790)/Kazan blitz plof/2011/}) ({Another more usual alternative is} 7... Bb6 {
This was in fact played in the Radjabov-Kramnik game, quoted below - it
transposed into our game later on. Black needn't worry unduly about losing his
bishop pair after} 8. Nc4 Ne7 9. Ba4 (9. Nxb6 axb6 10. Ba4 Ng6 11. h3 Nh5 12.
Bg5 f6 13. Be3 Nhf4 14. Bb3+ Kh8 15. Bxf4 (15. d4 Be6 $11) 15... Nxf4 16. Nh4
f5 $1 17. Nxf5 Qg5 18. Qg4 Qf6 19. Qh4 Qxh4 20. Nxh4 Nxd3 $36 {1/2-1/2 Anand,V
(2817)-Carlsen,M (2823)/Moscow rpd/2011/}) 9... Ng6 10. h3 h6 11. Bc2 Be6 12.
a4 c6 (12... Bxc4 13. dxc4 a5 14. g3 Qe7 15. Kg2 Qe6 16. Qe2 Rfe8 17. Bd2 Nd7
18. Rad1 Nc5 19. Bc1 Qd7 20. b3 Qe6 21. Nh2 Ne7 22. Ng4 h5 23. Ne3 g6 24. g4
$14 {Svidler,P (2731)-Akopian,V (2691)/EUCup Plovdiv/2010/}) 13. Nxb6 axb6 14.
Be3 d5 15. d4 exd4 16. Nxd4 Bd7 17. exd5 Nxd5 18. Bd2 Qf6 19. Qf3 Ndf4 20. Bxf4
{1/2,Svidler,P (2739)-Ponomariov,R (2764)/Khanty-Mansiysk WCup/2011/}) 8. h3 {
Aronian replied quickly, aiming for a position, typical for the whole line.
Here White can immediately expand in the centre with} (8. d4 exd4 9. cxd4 Bb6 {
[%csl Rd2] , but his pawns are under pressure and he can hardly claim an
advantage with his passive Nd2 after} 10. Bd3 (10. h3 c6 11. Bd3 Be6 $132)
10... Bg4 11. Qa4 Ng6 $11 12. e5 $6 dxe5 13. Bxg6 fxg6 14. dxe5 Qd7 15. Qc4+
Nd5 16. h3 Be6 17. Ng5 h6 18. Nxe6 Qxe6 19. Nf3 c6 (19... Rxf3 $1 20. gxf3 Qxe5
$36) 20. Re1 g5 21. Bd2 Rf7 22. Qg4 Re8 23. Re4 Nf6 24. Qxe6 Rxe6 25. Ra4 Nd5
26. Ba5 $11 {Zhang,X (2354)-Shen,Y (2440)/Beijing/2012/ It's already White,
who barely holds an uneasy sort of equality.}) 8... Ng6 9. Re1 c6 10. Ba4 Re8
11. d4 Bb6 ({Black hangs on to his reinforced outpost on e5, but he will
shortly give it up anyway. Even now} 11... exd4 12. cxd4 Bb6 13. Bc2 Be6 $13 {
seems committal, but playable, the position resembles the previous note.}) 12.
Bc2 h6 13. a4 $5 {Before proceeding with his development, Aronian makes a
potentially useful move on the other flank.} ({The standard continuation is} 
13. Nf1 {and now:} {However, it seems that Black can fully liberate his
position with} d5 $5 (13... Bd7 14. Ng3 Qc7 15. Be3 Rad8 16. Qc1 Kh7 17. a4 a5
18. b3 Qc8 19. Qa3 Bc7 20. Rad1 Kg8 21. Qc1 Bxh3 22. gxh3 Qxh3 23. Bd3 d5 24.
Bf1 Qg4 25. Nh2 Qh4 26. exd5 {Karjakin,S (2763)-Wang Yue (2697)/Beijing blitz/
2011/} e4 $1 $44) (13... Nh5 14. Ne3 Nhf4 15. Nf5 Qf6 16. Be3 Bc7 17. h4 Be6
18. g3 Nd5 19. Bd2 Nb6 20. h5 Nf8 21. Nh2 Bxf5 22. exf5 Qd8 23. Ng4 Nh7 24. Bb3
e4 25. Nxh6+ $1 gxh6 26. Qg4+ Kh8 27. Bxf7 $40 {Kryvoruchko,Y (2652)-Naiditsch,
A (2706)/Eretria/2011/}) (13... Qc7 14. Ng3 Be6 15. Be3 d5 $6 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17.
Bf4 $1 Nfd7 18. dxe5 Nxe5 19. Qh5 f6 20. exd5 Bxd5 21. Qf5 (21. Nf5 $36) 21...
Kf8 22. Nh5 Qf7 23. Ng3 Rad8 24. Be3 Bxe3 {1/2,Kosintseva,N (2533)-Zvjaginsev,
V (2642)/Moscow/2010/}) 14. Nxe5 (14. exd5 exd4 (14... e4 $5 $13) 15. dxc6 dxc3
16. Qxd8 Rxd8 $11) 14... Nxe5 15. dxe5 Rxe5 (15... Nxe4 $1 16. Bxe4 dxe4 17.
Qxd8 Rxd8 18. Bf4 g5 19. Be3 Bc7 20. h4 $11) 16. Bf4 Re8 17. e5 Nh7 18. Qd3 Nf8
19. Rad1 (19. Ne3 $142 $13) 19... Qh4 20. Bg3 Qg5 21. Kh2 Qg6 22. Qd2 Bf5 23.
Bxf5 Qxf5 24. Ne3 Bxe3 25. Rxe3 Rad8 $132 {/=,Radjabov,T (2744)-Kramnik,V 
(2790)/Kazan blitz plof/2011/}) 13... Be6 (13... Bc7 14. Nf1 Nh7 15. Ng3 Ng5
16. dxe5 Nxf3+ 17. Qxf3 Rxe5 18. Be3 Bb6 19. Rad1 Be6 20. Qe2 h5 21. Bxb6 {
1/2,Kobalia,M (2637)-Alekseev,E (2700)/RUS-chT Dagomys/2010/} Qxb6 22. Qd2 $14)
({Kramnik made a natural developing move, but even now, with the knight on d2,
the central blow} 13... d5 {deserves attention:} 14. a5 (14. dxe5 Nxe5 15. Nxe5
Rxe5 16. Nf3 Re8 17. e5 Ne4 $5 $13) 14... Bc7 $5 (14... Bxa5 15. exd5 exd4 16.
Rxe8+ Nxe8 17. Bxg6 $5 (17. Nc4 Bc7 18. dxc6 dxc3 (18... bxc6 19. Qxd4 $14) 19.
Qxd8 Bxd8 20. Be4 Rb8 21. bxc3 Be6 22. Na5 Bxa5 23. Rxa5 bxc6 $11) 17... fxg6
18. dxc6 dxc3 19. bxc3 bxc6 (19... Kh7 20. Qb3 Bb6 21. Ne4 Qc7 22. Neg5+ $1
hxg5 23. Nxg5+ Kh8 24. Ra4 Qg3 25. Rf4 Bf5 26. Qxb6 axb6 27. fxg3 bxc6 28. g4
Ra1 29. Rf1 $18) 20. Qb3+ Kh7 21. Ne4 $36 {[%cal Re4g5]}) 15. dxe5 Nxe5 16.
Nxe5 Bxe5 17. Nf3 Bc7 $132) 14. Nf1 exd4 $5 $146 {[%mdl 40] This move is new
and introduces a strategy, which is not too typical in these positions:
instead of holding the bastion on e5, Black opens the centre and seeks active
piece counterplay.} (14... Qc7 15. Ng3 Rad8 16. Be3 d5 $2 (16... exd4 $5 17.
cxd4 Ba5 18. Bd2 c5 $14 {/<=> is not so clear, now one of the ideas behind 13.
a4 works perfectly in White's favour:}) 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. Bf4 $1 Nfd7 19. a5 $1
Bxa5 20. exd5 Bxd5 21. dxe5 Bb6 22. Qh5 $40 (22. Qd3 g6 23. Nf5 $1 gxf5 24.
Qg3+ Kh8 25. e6 $16) 22... f6 23. Bxh6 Nxe5 24. Be3 $5 Nf3+ 25. gxf3 Rxe3 {
Alekseev,E (2670)-Jumabayev,R (2573)/Moscow/2012/} 26. Qh7+ Kf8 27. Qh8+ Bg8 (
27... Kf7 28. Bg6+ Ke6 29. Qh4 Re5 30. c4 Bxf3 31. Qf4 $18) 28. Kg2 Rxe1 29.
Bb3 $1 $18) 15. Nxd4 {Already Aronian's reaction is debatable.} ({More natural
seems to be} 15. cxd4 Ba5 16. Bd2 Bxd2 (16... c5 17. Ne3 $5 $14 (17. d5 Bd7 $13
) (17. dxc5 dxc5 18. e5 Nd5 19. Bxg6 fxg6 $13)) 17. Qxd2 a5 18. Rad1 Qb6 $14 {
/<=>}) 15... Bd7 {[%cal Yd6d5]} 16. f4 {A logical follow-up, otherwise Black
fully frees his position.} d5 $5 {Kramnik still goes for the pawn advance
before White reinforces his centre with Ng3. Equally double-edged is} (16... c5
17. Nb5 Bxb5 18. axb5 c4+ 19. Kh2 Bf2 $5 (19... Qc7 20. Qf3) 20. Re2 Bc5 $13)
17. e5 Ne4 $8 {Anything else is passive, or downright bad.} (17... Nh7 $2 18.
e6 $16) 18. Bxe4 {Immediately gets rid of the strong Ne4, not allowing Black
to reinforce it with f5.} (18. Kh2 Nh4 $5 (18... Qh4 19. Bxe4 dxe4 20. Ng3 Bxd4
(20... Nxf4 $2 21. Rxe4 Bxh3 22. Nf3 $18) 21. Qxd4 Rad8 22. Qxe4 $14) (18... f5
19. a5 Bc5 20. Qh5 $14) (18... Bxd4 19. Qxd4 Bf5 20. Bxe4 Bxe4 21. Ng3 Qh4 (
21... f5 22. exf6 Qxf6 23. Qxf6 gxf6 24. f5 $14) 22. Qf2 $14 {[%cal Yc1e3]})
19. Bxe4 dxe4 20. Ng3 f5 $13) (18. Be3 Qh4 (18... f6 19. e6 Bxd4 20. exd7 Bxe3+
21. Rxe3 Re7 22. Bxe4 dxe4 23. Qg4 Nf8 24. Ng3 $14) 19. Qf3 f5 $5 $11 {Shipov})
18... dxe4 19. a5 $5 ({Too risky is} 19. Rxe4 c5 20. Nb5 (20. Nf3 Bc6 21. Re1
Nh4 $5 $36) 20... Bc6 21. Qxd8 (21. Re1 Qh4 $36) 21... Raxd8 22. Re1 f6 $1 $32)
(19. Ng3 f5 $142 (19... c5 20. Ndf5 c4+ 21. Kh2 Bf2 22. Rf1 Bxf5 23. Nxf5 Qxd1
24. Rxd1 Ne7 25. Be3 $1 $14 (25. Nd6 e3 26. Nxe8 e2 27. Rh1 Rxe8 28. Bd2 Rd8
29. Be1 Be3 $44)) 20. exf6 Qxf6 21. Rxe4 Qh4 $44 {Black with his bishops has
very good compensation for the pawn, so Aronian deflects the Bb6 to prevent
this line.} (21... Qf7 $5 {[%cal Yb6c7]}) (21... Rxe4 22. Nxe4 Qe7 $44)) 19...
Bxa5 20. Ng3 Bb6 21. Kh2 $1 (21. Nxe4 Qh4 22. Nd6 Nxf4 $1 23. Bxf4 (23. Nxe8
Nxh3+ $1 24. gxh3 Qg3+ 25. Kh1 Qxh3+ 26. Kg1 Qg3+ 27. Kh1 Bg4 $19) 23... Qxf4
24. Nxe8 Rxe8 $36 {is something White should avoid - Black will soon win
another pawn for the exchange and only he can play for an advantage without
much risk.}) 21... c5 {Limiting the Bb6 doesn't seem ideal, but Black manages
to keep the Pe4 alive somewaht longer. Glancing forward - this pawn will
survive and even promote later on!} (21... Bc7 22. Nxe4 Qe7 $13 {[%csl Gc7,Gd4,
Gd7,Ge4,Ge5,Gf4] Korotylev Although White's central pawns and knights are
impressive, Black remains solid and his bishops have potential.}) (21... Nh4 $5
22. Nxe4 c5 23. Nb3 (23. Nf3 Bc6 $132) 23... Bc6 24. Qg4 Re6 25. Rd1 (25. Nf6+
Rxf6 26. exf6 Qxf6 27. Re2 Rd8 $44 (27... a5 $5)) 25... Qe7 26. Nf6+ Rxf6 27.
Qxh4 Rg6 28. Qxe7 Rxg2+ 29. Kh1 Rg3+ $11) (21... Qh4 22. Rxe4 $5 $14 (22. Ndf5
Bxf5 23. Nxf5 Qf2 24. Re2 Red8 25. Nd6 Qh4 26. g3 Qe7 27. Qc2 f6 $1 $132)) 22.
Ndf5 Bxf5 23. Nxf5 Qxd1 24. Rxd1 Rad8 25. Be3 (25. Re1 f6 26. exf6 gxf6 27. Ra4
(27. Nxh6+ Kh7 28. Nf5 (28. f5 Ne5 29. Rxe4 Rd1 30. Nf7 Ng4+ $1 31. Rxg4 Bc7+
$15) (28. Ng4 Kg7 29. f5 Ne7 $15) 28... Ne7 $11) 27... h5 28. Raxe4 Rxe4 29.
Rxe4 Kf7 30. g4 hxg4 31. hxg4 Bc7 $11) (25. Nd6 f6 26. Be3 Re7 27. Nxe4 Rxd1
28. Rxd1 Nxe5 $5 (28... fxe5 29. f5 $14) 29. fxe5 Rxe5 30. Nxf6+ gxf6 31. Bxh6
Re2 32. Rd2 Bc7+ $11) 25... Rd3 26. Re1 {[%cal Ya1a4,Ya4e4,Yf5d6] Now White is
finally ready to eliminate the Pe4 and subsequently enjoy his strong central
pawns and active pieces, but Kramnik doesn't give him the opportunity.} f6 $1
$132 {Necessary to activate Black's forces.} 27. exf6 gxf6 28. Nxh6+ Kf8 (28...
Kg7 $142 29. Nf5+ Kf7 30. Nh6+ (30. Ra4 Ne7 $11) 30... Kg7 $11) (28... Kh7 29.
Ng4 Kg7 30. Nf2 Rd7 31. g4 f5 $13) 29. Ra4 $5 Rd5 30. c4 (30. f5 Bc7+ 31. Kg1 (
31. g3 $6 Nh4) 31... Bg3 32. Rf1 Ne5 33. Rxe4 (33. Rxa7 $2 Rd3 34. Bxc5+ Kg7
35. Ng4 Nxg4 36. hxg4 e3 $36) 33... Nc4 34. Rxe8+ Kxe8 35. Bf2 (35. Bc1 a5 $44
{/\} 36. Ng4 Kf7 37. Ne3 Nxe3 38. Bxe3 b5 39. Bf2 Bxf2+ 40. Rxf2 a4 $11) 35...
Be5 36. Ng4 Nxb2 $13) (30. Ng4 Kg7 31. Bc1 Rh5 32. Nf2 f5 33. Be3 $5 $14 {
[%cal Yg2g3,Yh2g2]} (33. g4 fxg4 34. Nxg4 Reh8 35. Nf2 c4 36. Be3 Nxf4 37. Bxf4
Bxf2 38. Rxe4 Kf7 39. Raxc4 Rxh3+ 40. Kg2 Bb6 $11)) ({or maybe the similar} 30.
g3 Kg7 31. c4 Rh5 32. Ng4 f5 33. Nf2 $14 {gives White a slight advantage.})
30... Rd3 31. b4 $6 {White quickly wants to reanimate the Ra4, cut off by his
previous move, but runs into a tactical blow.} (31. Nf5 Ne7 $11) (31. Raa1 Rb3
$132) 31... Rxe3 $1 {[%mdl 64]} (31... cxb4 32. Bxb6 axb6 33. Rxb4 Nxf4 34.
Rxb6 Kg7 35. Ng4 e3 $5 $44 {is maybe enough for a draw, but Black can already
play for more.}) (31... Nh4 $5 $132) 32. Rxe3 cxb4 33. Rg3 $6 {With time
running short, White plays actively.} (33. Re1 $142 a5 $36 {was unpleasant,
but objectively better.}) 33... e3 $2 $138 {Kramnik also chooses a
straightforward move and lets White of the hook.} (33... Ne7 $1 {[%csl Rh6]}
34. Rxb4 Bc7 35. Kg1 (35. Ng4 Bxf4 {[%cal Re7f5]} 36. Rb5 Rd8 $1 37. Nxf6 e3
$19) 35... Bxf4 36. Rg4 Bxh6 37. Rxe4 b6 $17) 34. Rxg6 e2 35. Ra1 Bf2 36. Rg8+
(36. g4 {should also hold after} e1=Q 37. Rxf6+ Kg7 38. Rxe1 Bxe1 (38... Rxe1
39. g5 b3 40. f5 (40. Rf7+ Kg6 41. Rf6+ $11) (40. Nf5+ $11) 40... Re7 (40... b2
$2 41. Rf7+ Kh8 42. g6 $19) 41. Rg6+ Kh7 42. Ng4 (42. Ng8 Rf7 43. Nf6+ Rxf6 44.
Rxf6 b2 45. Rf7+ Kg8 46. Rxb7 Bb6 47. Rb8+ Kf7 48. g6+ Kf6 49. Rf8+ Kg7 $19)
42... Bd4 (42... Rf7 43. Rh6+ Kg8 44. g6 b2 45. gxf7+ Kxf7 46. Ne5+ Kg7 47.
Rg6+ Kh7 48. f6 b1=Q 49. Rg7+ Kh6 50. Nf7+ Kh5 51. Rg5+ Kh4 52. Rg4+ Kh5 53.
Rg5+ $11) 43. Nf6+ Bxf6 44. gxf6 Rd7 45. f7 Rxf7 46. Rg3 $11) 39. g5 Re2+ 40.
Kg1 Bc3 41. Rf7+ Kg6 42. Rxb7 $132) 36... Ke7 37. Rg7+ Kd6 38. Rxb7 e1=Q 39.
Rxe1 Bxe1 40. Nf5+ Kc5 (40... Kc6 41. Rxa7 b3 42. Nd4+ Kb6 43. Ra1 Bc3 44. c5+
Kb7 45. Nxb3 Bxa1 46. Nxa1 $11 {is also a draw, as Black can't trap the Na1.})
41. Rb5+ $1 $11 {White forces a perpetual before the queenside passed pawns
can get really moving.} Kc6 (41... Kxc4 $4 42. Nd6+) 42. Nd4+ Kc7 43. Rc5+ (43.
Rc5+ Kb6 (43... Kd7 44. Ra5 $11 (44. Rd5+ Kc7 (44... Ke7 45. Nc6+ Kf8 46. Rb5
Re3 47. g4 $13 {is probably still a draw, but it only makes life more
difficult for Black.}) 45. Rc5+ $11)) 44. Rb5+ Kc7 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich m rapid"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2012.04.25"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C77"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2820"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2012.04.21"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "1"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 148"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. c3 d6 8. Bg5 h6
9. Bh4 Bb6 10. Nbd2 Rb8 11. Qe2 a5 12. a4 b4 13. O-O g5 14. Bg3 O-O 15. Nc4 Ba7
16. Nfd2 h5 17. h3 h4 18. Bh2 Kg7 19. Kh1 Rh8 20. d4 bxc3 21. bxc3 exd4 22. e5
dxc3 23. exf6+ Qxf6 24. f4 cxd2 25. fxg5 Qe6 26. Qd1 Rxb3 27. Qxb3 Ba6 28. Qf3
Bxc4 29. Qxc6 Bd4 30. Bg1 Bxa1 31. Rxa1 Re8 32. g6 Qf6 33. Qxc4 Re1 34. Kh2
Rxa1 35. Bd4 Rh1+ 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 7th Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2012.06.07"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A38"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2012.06.07"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 148 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O c5 6. Nc3 d5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
Nxd5 Qxd5 9. d3 Nc6 10. Be3 Bxb2 11. Rb1 Bg7 12. Qa4 Qd7 13. Bxc5 b6 14. Be3
Nd4 15. Qd1 Bb7 16. Nxd4 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Bxd4 18. Bxd4 Qxd4 19. Qb3 Rac8 20. Rfc1
Rc5 21. e3 Qd6 22. d4 Ra5 23. Rc2 e5 24. Rd1 Rd8 25. Rcd2 Qd5+ 26. Qxd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 7th Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2012.06.07"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2012.06.07"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 148 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Missing moves added. Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-0ufUJaTDo Part
2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlGDG1yK6KM} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6
4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. O-O Be7 8. d3 O-O 9. Be3 Be6 10. Rc1 Nd5
11. Nxd5 Bxd5 12. Qa4 Re8 13. a3 a6 14. Rfe1 Bf8 15. Ng5 h6 16. Bxd5 Qxd5 17.
Qe4 Qxe4 18. Nxe4 Rac8 19. Bc5 f5 20. Nd2 Bxc5 21. Rxc5 Nd4 22. e3 b6 23. Rc4
Ne6 24. Nf3 Nc5 25. d4 Nd3 26. Re2 e4 27. Ne1 c5 28. Nxd3 exd3 29. Rd2 cxd4 30.
Rxd4 Rc2 31. R4xd3 Rec8 32. Kg2 Kh7 33. b4 Rxd2 34. Rxd2 Rc3 35. Rd6 Rxa3 36.
Rxb6 Ra2 37. h4 g5 38. h5 Rb2 39. Rf6 f4 40. gxf4 Rxb4 41. fxg5 hxg5 42. Rxa6
Rh4 43. h6 Rb4 44. Kg3 Rc4 45. f3 Rc1 46. Kg4 Rc5 47. e4 Rb5 48. Kh5 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 7th Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2012.06.07"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2835"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2012.06.07"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 148 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. d4 d6 4. Bc4 a6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bb7 7. Re1 e6 8. a4 Nd7
9. Bg5 Ne7 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Qxa8 12. d5 Nc5 13. Nd4 h6 14. Bxe7 Kxe7 15.
Nxb5 Qa5 16. N1c3 Rb8 17. dxe6 fxe6 18. Nd4 Nxb3 19. Nxb3 Qb4 20. Qg4 Bxc3 21.
bxc3 Qxc3 22. Re3 Qxc2 23. h3 Rf8 24. Qxe6+ Kxe6 25. Nd4+ Ke5 26. Nxc2 c5 27.
Ne1 Ra8 28. Nd3+ Kd4 29. e5 c4 30. Nf4 dxe5 31. Ne2+ Kd5 32. Nc3+ Ke6 33. f4 e4
34. Kf2 Bc6 35. Nxe4 Ra2+ 36. Kg3 Kd5 37. Nf6+ Kd4 38. Re6 Rxg2+ 39. Kh4 Bf3
40. Ng4 c3 41. Rd6+ Kc5 42. Rd8 Rxg4+ 43. hxg4 c2 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 7th Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2012.06.07"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2825"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2012.06.07"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 148 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Missing moves added. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kLWc7D_Wgw https://www.
youtube.com/watch?v=rLbRz1WoP0Q} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. b4
Bb6 6. d3 d6 7. a4 a5 8. b5 Ne7 9. Nbd2 O-O 10. O-O Ng6 11. Ba2 h6 12. Nc4 Ba7
13. h3 Be6 14. Kh2 Bb8 15. Ne3 d5 16. Qc2 c6 17. c4 d4 18. Nd1 c5 19. g3 Nh7
20. Ng1 f5 21. exf5 Bxf5 22. Qe2 Nf6 23. Bb1 Re8 24. Qf3 Qd7 25. Re1 e4 26.
dxe4 Be6 27. Nb2 Ne5 28. Qg2 Nxc4 29. Nxc4 Bxc4 30. f4 d3 31. e5 Nd5 32. Qe4
Nb6 33. Be3 Qd5 34. Qxd5+ Nxd5 35. Bxc5 Nc3 36. Rc1 d2 37. Rxc3 d1=Q 38. Bh7+
Kxh7 39. Rxd1 Be6 40. Bb6 Ba7 41. Bxa7 Rxa7 42. Rc7 Raa8 43. Rd6 Bb3 44. Ne2
Bxa4 45. Nd4 Rac8 46. Rxb7 Red8 47. h4 Bd1 48. Ra7 a4 49. b6 Ra8 50. Rxd8 Rxd8
51. b7 Bg4 52. Ra8 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 7th Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2012.06.07"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "McShane, Luke J"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B00"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2706"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2012.06.07"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 148 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 b6 2. e4 Bb7 3. Nc3 e6 4. d4 g6 5. Bg5 Be7 6. Be3 d6 7. Bd3 Nd7 8. Qd2
a6 9. O-O-O b5 10. Kb1 Nb6 11. h4 Nf6 12. e5 Nfd5 13. Ne4 h5 14. Bg5 Qd7 15.
Bxe7 Qxe7 16. exd6 cxd6 17. Rhe1 Kf8 18. Nfg5 Re8 19. Ng3 Kg7 20. Be4 Qf6 21.
Qc1 b4 22. Rd3 Qd8 23. Rf3 f5 24. Bxf5 exf5 25. Ne6+ Rxe6 26. Rxe6 Bc8 27.
Nxf5+ gxf5 28. Rg3+ 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 7th Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2012.06.07"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2012.06.07"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 148 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Missing moves added. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KayQ6bJpmTo} 1. Nf3 g6 2.
e4 Bg7 3. d4 d6 4. Bc4 e6 5. O-O Ne7 6. Re1 Nd7 7. c3 b6 8. Nbd2 Bb7 9. Nf1 Nf6
10. Ng3 h6 11. Bb5+ Nd7 12. Be3 a6 13. Bd3 Nf6 14. h3 Qd7 15. Qd2 d5 16. Ne5
Qd8 17. f3 Nd7 18. Ng4 h5 19. Nf2 c5 20. Rad1 cxd4 21. cxd4 dxe4 22. fxe4 O-O
23. e5 Nf5 24. Bg5 Qe8 25. Nxf5 exf5 26. Bc4 Kh7 27. Bb3 Qb8 28. Nd3 a5 29. Nf4
a4 30. Bc2 Be4 31. Rxe4 fxe4 32. Bxe4 Ra5 33. Be7 Re8 34. Bd6 Qd8 35. Nxh5 Qh4
36. Nxg7 Kxg7 37. Bc6 Rd8 38. Qc3 Nf8 39. d5 Kg8 40. Rf1 Ra7 41. Qe3 Rxd6 42.
exd6 Qd8 43. Qe5 Nh7 44. d7 Nf8 45. Qe8 Rxd7 46. Bxd7 Qxd7 47. Qxd7 Nxd7 48.
Rf4 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 7th Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2012.06.07"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A45"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2012.06.07"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 148 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 e6 3. Nd2 Be7 4. e4 h6 5. Bxf6 Bxf6 6. c3 d6 7. f4 e5 8. Ngf3
Nc6 9. Bb5 O-O 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. fxe5 Bh4+ 13. g3 Bg5 14. Nb3 Qe7
15. Qd4 Bg4 16. Nxg5 Qxg5 17. O-O Rfe8 18. Rf4 Bh3 19. Na5 Rad8 20. Qf2 Re6 21.
Nb3 Qxe5 22. Nd4 Red6 23. Re1 Be6 24. b4 Bc4 25. Rf5 Qe8 26. a3 a6 27. Rc5 Rf6
28. Rf5 Rxf5 29. exf5 Qd7 30. Qe3 Qd5 31. Qe5 Rd6 32. Qxd5 cxd5 33. Re8+ Kh7
34. Re7 Rf6 35. Rxc7 Bd3 36. g4 g6 37. Rc6 Rxc6 38. Nxc6 gxf5 39. gxf5 Bxf5 40.
a4 Bc2 41. a5 Ba4 42. Nd4 Bd7 43. Kf2 Kg6 44. Kg3 f6 45. Kf4 Kf7 46. h4 h5 47.
b5 Bc8 48. b6 Ke7 49. Nf5+ Kd7 50. Ng7 Kc6 51. Nxh5 Kb5 52. Nxf6 Kxa5 53. h5
1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 7th Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2012.06.07"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E10"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2012.06.07"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 148 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6 3. d4 e6 4. a3 d6 5. Nc3 g6 6. e4 Bg7 7. Bg5 h6 8. Be3 O-O
9. h3 e5 10. d5 Nd4 11. Bd3 Nh5 12. Bxd4 exd4 13. Ne2 c5 14. dxc6 bxc6 15. c5
dxc5 16. Rc1 Qe7 17. O-O Rb8 18. Qc2 Rd8 19. Rfd1 g5 20. Qxc5 Qxc5 21. Rxc5
Rxb2 22. e5 Nf4 23. Nxf4 gxf4 24. Bc4 Bb7 25. Ra5 Bf8 26. e6 fxe6 27. Rxd4 Rxd4
28. Nxd4 Bd6 29. Nxe6 Rb1+ 30. Kh2 f3+ 31. g3 Kh8 32. Rh5 Kh7 33. Bd3+ 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 7th Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2012.06.07"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A05"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2012.06.07"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 148 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.06.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Missing moves added. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDBwmivvbVo} 1. Nf3 Nf6
2. g3 b6 3. Bg2 Bb7 4. O-O c5 5. d3 g6 6. e4 Bg7 7. Nh4 Qc8 8. f4 O-O 9. Nc3
Nc6 10. g4 d6 11. g5 Nd7 12. Nd5 e6 13. Ne3 Ne7 14. f5 exf5 15. exf5 Bxg2 16.
Kxg2 f6 17. fxg6 hxg6 18. Qg4 Qc6+ 19. Kg1 f5 20. Qh3 Rae8 21. Neg2 c4 22. Nf4
Bd4+ 23. Be3 Bxe3+ 24. Qxe3 Ne5 25. d4 Ng4 26. Qf3 Qxf3 27. Rxf3 Nc6 28. c3 Re4
29. Nfxg6 Rfe8 30. Nxf5 Kh7 31. Nf4 Rf8 32. g6+ Kg8 33. Nd5 Nf6 34. Nfe7+ Rxe7
35. Nxf6+ Kg7 36. Nh5+ Kg8 37. Rxf8+ Kxf8 38. Rf1+ Kg8 39. Rf6 Rd7 40. Re6 Rd8
41. h4 Kf8 42. Kf2 Ne7 43. Kf3 d5 44. Kf4 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 7th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2012.06.08"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E36"]
[WhiteElo "2835"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "2012.06.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.07.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.07.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 d5 {The newest
trend in the 4.Qc2 variation.} 7. e3 {The practice of the last years has shown
that White risks falling behind in development if he spends a tempo on Bg5.
The game move saves an important tempo, but faces White with the risk of
remaining with a passive dark-squared bishop, especially after the exchange of
the light-squared bishops.} (7. Bg5 dxc4 8. Qxc4 b6 9. Rd1 Ba6 10. Qa4 Bb7 (
10... Qd7 {Nepomniachtchi,I (2711)-Amin,B (2609)/Ningbo 2011/CBM 144/[Marin,M]
(1-0, 46)}) 11. f3 Nbd7 {Dreev,A (2697)-L'Ami,E (2623)/Aix-les-Bains 2011/CBM
142/[Marin,M] (1/2, 43)}) (7. Nf3 dxc4 8. Qxc4 b6 {Golod,V (2590)-Almasi,Z 
(2720)/Rijeka 2010/CBM 136/[Marin,M] (1/2, 18)}) 7... b6 8. cxd5 {White
decides to play against the hanging pawns. His slight delay in development
makes this approach rather risky.} (8. Nf3 Ba6 (8... Bb7 {Vitiugov,N (2694)
-Karjakin,S (2723)/Khanty Mansiysk 2009/CBM 134/[Marin] (0-1, 47)}) 9. b4 {
Grachev,B (2652)-Bartel,M (2618)/Khanty Mansiysk 2009/CBM 134/[Marin] (1/2, 21)
}) 8... exd5 ({The dynamic} 8... Qxd5 {is also playable:} 9. f3 (9. Be2 c5 10.
Bf3 Ne4 11. Qc2 f5 12. Ne2 cxd4 13. exd4 Nc6 14. Be3 Ba6 $132 {Narciso Dublan,
M (2551)-Fedorchuk,S (2650)/Salou 2011/CBM 142 Extra (1/2, 36)}) 9... Ba6 (9...
Rd8 $5 {would prevent or at least delay e3-e4.}) 10. Bxa6 Nxa6 11. e4 Qb7 12.
Bg5 Nd7 13. Ne2 $14 {Michiels,B (2501)-Winants,L (2540)/Belgium 2012 (1/2, 60)}
) ({A previous game between the same opponents went:} 8... Nxd5 9. Qc2 Ba6 10.
Bxa6 Nxa6 11. e4 Ne7 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Qc6 e5 15. Qb5 exd4 16. Qxa6
Qxe4+ 17. Kf1 Rfe8 $44 {Carlsen,M (2823)-Kramnik,V (2791)/Moscow 2011/CBM 144 
(1/2, 35)}) 9. Bd3 $146 {White takes measures against the occupation of the
e4-square.} (9. Nf3 Ne4 10. Qc2 Bf5 $132 {Vasilevich,T (2399)-Galojan,L (2373)/
Plovdiv 2010/CBM 138 Extra (1/2, 36)}) 9... Ba6 $1 {As a general rule, it is
the side playing against the hanging pawns who is interested in exchanging
these bishops. Here, we have enough elements to justify Black's last move.
Strategically, it is always a good idea to spoil the enemy's bishop pair.
Dynamically, the white bishop has moved already, which transforms the next
move into a loss of time.} (9... Ne4 10. Qc2 Bf5 $6 11. Ne2 $14) 10. Bxa6 Nxa6
11. Qd3 (11. Nf3 c5 $36) 11... Qc8 12. Ne2 ({With such poor development, White
cannot afford to play} 12. b4 c5 {. General exchanges on c5 would leave the
light squares desperately weak.}) 12... c5 13. b3 {Taking measures against the
threatened ...c5-c4.} cxd4 $5 {This seems to be the best moment to release the
tension.} ({After just a few neutral moves, such as} 13... Qb7 14. O-O Rac8 15.
Bb2 {Black would face some small problems already.}) 14. Qxd4 $2 {Too
ambitious. White wants to play against the Isolani, but underestimates the
significance of his delay in development.} (14. Nxd4 $2 {is almost as bad:} Nc5
15. Qb5 (15. Qe2 Nxb3 16. Nxb3 Qc3+ $17) (15. Qb1 Qa6) (15. Qc2 Qa6) 15... a6
16. Qxb6 Rb8 17. Qc6 Nxb3 18. Qxc8 Rfxc8 $32) (14. exd4 $11 {would have led to
plain equality.}) 14... Nc5 {White has problems defending the b3- and
d3-squares. Castling becomes a remote dream.} 15. Qd1 (15. Rb1 Qf5 $36) 15...
Qa6 16. Nf4 (16. O-O Nxb3 $17) 16... d4 {Strong enough, but maybe a bit
premature.} (16... g5 $6 17. Bb2 $132) ({Black could have prepared the central
break with:} 16... Rad8 $5 17. b4 (17. Bb2 d4 $1 18. Bxd4 Rxd4 19. Qxd4 Nxb3
20. Qb2 Nxa1 21. Qxa1 Qa5+ 22. Ke2 Qb5+ $40 {[%cal Gf8d8]}) 17... g5 18. bxc5 (
18. Bb2 d4) 18... gxf4 $36) 17. b4 {The only chance to stay in the game.} (17.
exd4 $2 Rfe8+ 18. Be3 g5 19. Ne2 Nd3+ 20. Kf1 Nd5 $40) 17... dxe3 ({The
unexpected resource} 17... Nd5 $5 {would have offered better chances for
retaining an attack:} 18. Nxd5 (18. bxc5 Nxf4 19. exf4 Rfe8+ 20. Kd2 bxc5 $19)
18... Nd3+ 19. Kd2 Nxf2 20. Qf1 Ne4+ 21. Ke1 d3 $40) 18. bxc5 Qa5+ 19. Kf1 Rad8
20. Qc2 Qb5+ {Resigning himself to a draw by perpetual.} 21. Ke1 (21. Kg1 $2
Qxc5 $19) 21... Qa5+ 22. Kf1 Qb5+ 23. Ke1 Qa5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 7th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2012.06.09"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2012.06.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.07.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.07.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. g3 {This line of the King's Indian was very topical in the
late 90s. Kramnik was at the forefront of the theoretical discussions on the
white side, and was responsible for the popularity of 10.Re1. It is
interesting to see him revert to the 'old' line once more, as he did against
Giri last year.} f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. Bf3 c6 13. Bg2 (13. Ba3 {was how his game
against Giri continued, Bg2 is an improvement.}) (13. b5 cxd5 14. cxd5 Nxe4 15.
Ncxe4 fxe4 16. Bxe4 h6 17. Ne6 Bxe6 18. dxe6 d5 19. Ba3 dxe4 20. Qxd8 Rfxd8 21.
Bxe7 {leads to an endgame that is analogous to one in the Re1 line, but I
think few people would play g3 instead of Re1.}) 13... h6 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6
Nxe4 16. Nxe4 fxe4 17. b5 $1 {These positions are always tricky. Black seems
in many occasions not only to win a pawn (the weakened one on e6), but also to
create a powerful and threatening pawn center. In reality, this pawn center in
many cases is doomed to fall under the pressure of White's powerful bishops,
and when the pawn is recovered the structural advantage is beyond doubt. The
point of b5 is to open the a1-f8 diagonal for the bishop, hitting the knight
on e7 which protects the pawn center.} Rf6 (17... d5 18. Ba3 Re8 19. cxd5 cxd5
20. Qb3 Qb6 21. Rad1 Rad8 22. Bxe7 Rxe7 23. Rxd5 Rxd5 24. Qxd5 Qxe6 (24... e3
25. fxe3 Qxe3+ 26. Kh1 $16) 25. Qxe6+ (25. Qc5 $1 {seems even stronger.}) 25...
Rxe6 26. Bxe4 Rb6 27. a4 a6 28. bxa6 bxa6 29. a5 {is not a super easy endgame
for Black to hold. Not only that, if White avoids the queen exchange the
position really becomes unpleasant.}) 18. Bxe4 Rxe6 19. Qa4 d5 20. Rd1 {
Black is pinned all over the place. He would like to simply give back the pawn
to achieve equality, but this is not so simple.} Kh7 (20... Qc8 21. cxd5 cxd5
22. Rxd5 $1 Nxd5 23. Bxd5 Kh7 24. Bxe6 Qxe6 25. Be3 $16 {is simply unpleasant.
The bishop on g7 is bad unless Black plays e4, and when he does that he will
have a terrible weakness there. His king is also exposed as a major piece
going into the 7th rank will pose many problems.}) (20... d4 21. Rb1 Qc8 22.
bxc6 bxc6 23. Ba3 {is not to anyone's liking, as the white squared bishop
dominates the board. Black does have his extra pawn but it's of no use.}) 21.
cxd5 cxd5 22. Qb3 {Pins and more pins.} Rb6 23. a4 $1 (23. Bxd5 Rd6 24. Bf3
Rxd1+ 25. Bxd1 e4 26. Rb1 Nd5 $132 {would've made Grischuk a happy man. Even
though White might still be better here, Black has obtained an important
amount of activity, while White's piece look clumsy. This is not what Kramnik
wants.}) 23... a6 (23... d4 24. a5 {loses b7}) (23... Qd7 24. Ba3 d4 (24... Qe6
25. Bxe7 dxe4 26. Qxe6 Rxe6 27. Rd7 {is a Kramnik dream. Actually since Rc1-c7
is a threat that is not easy to stop, Black may simply be lost.}) 25. a5 $1 {
is a nice trick} Rf6 (25... Rxb5 {fails to} 26. Qf7 Re8 27. Bxg6+) 26. a6 {
is obviously winning as White will be materially and positionally better.}) 24.
Ba3 axb5 {This move is already losing (!) but the alternatives hardly seem
attractive.} (24... Qe8 25. Bc5 (25. Bxd5 Nxd5 26. Rxd5 axb5 27. axb5 Qe6 $14 {
is not that bad since Black will at least swap a pair of rooks. White is still
slightly better.}) (25. Qe3 d4 26. Qd3 {is worth considering.}) 25... axb5 26.
Bxb6 bxa4 27. Qc3 dxe4 28. Qc7 {and it is hard to believe Black's pawns won't
fall one by one. However he did manage to simplify everything into 'just' the
kingside - which might give him hopes to draw.}) 25. Bxe7 Qxe7 26. Rxd5 {
The pawn center is destroyed, and although Black has retained his extra pawn,
there is no doubt who stands better. The powerful bishop on e4 controls many
diagonals, pressuring the g6-pawn and the b7-pawn. The king on h7 does not
feel secure. Black's rooks are inactive and clumsy. It is difficult to play
this position, very difficult.} b4 (26... Ra5 27. h4 Qf6 28. h5 bxa4 29. hxg6+
Kh8 30. Qc2 Rxd5 31. Bxd5 {is awful.}) 27. a5 Qf7 (27... Rf6 28. Rb5 Ra7 29.
Rb1 {and White will mop up the pawns on the b-file, while the dark-squared
bishop can do nothing but watch.} Bf8 30. Qe3 $1 $18) 28. h4 {Black is already
helpess against the threat to play h5. White's advantage is decisive. This is
the danger of playing these lines for Black. Grischuk didn't play any move
that was particularly 'bad'. No blunders, no major strategical mistakes. And
yet White won effortlessly.} h5 (28... Kh8 29. Rd8+ $18) (28... Kg8 29. h5 gxh5
30. Rad1 {and Black can't defend against Rd8+ and axb6.}) 29. Qd1 {A simple
shot, but very powerful. The queen defends the rook on a1, prepares to support
the other one on d7, and targets h5. Black's position is beyond hopeless and
Grischuk resigned. A complete demolition from the greatest expert on the White
side of this variation. When one thinks of 'model games' to follow in the
King's Indian for White, this one I'm sure will come up often.} 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 7th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2012.06.10"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "2012.06.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.07.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.07.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. c3 O-O 7. h3 Ne7 8. Nbd2
a6 9. Ba4 Ng6 10. d4 Ba7 11. Re1 b5 12. Bc2 c5 13. d5 c4 14. Nf1 Nh5 15. Bg5 f6
16. Be3 Nhf4 17. Ng3 Ne7 18. a4 Qc7 19. axb5 axb5 20. Ra3 Bxe3 21. Rxa8 Bb6 22.
Qd2 Qc5 23. Qe3 Qc7 24. Qd2 Qc5 25. Qe3 Qc7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 7th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2012.06.12"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C47"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2825"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2012.06.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.07.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.07.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 {In the friendly match
in Zürich Levon went for the more adventurous 5...Bc5. Now he chooses the most
solid and reliable continuation.} 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O d5 9. exd5
cxd5 10. h3 {Already this move is very rare. Normally White plays the obvious
10.Bg5, there are thousands games in the database. But, Vladimir comes up with
a different conception.} ({Here is one example of the main line.} 10. Bg5 c6
11. Na4 h6 12. Bh4 Be6 13. c3 Be7 14. Re1 Re8 15. Bc2 Nd7 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. f4
Qf6 18. Qd4 Qxd4+ 19. cxd4 g6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Polgar,J (2701)-Giri,A (2722)/
Hoogeveen 2011/CBM 145 (27)}) 10... Re8 11. Qf3 c6 12. Bf4 {This is where
Kramnik wants to see his bishop.} Bd7 $5 {This move is a bit unusual, I
wouldn't say awkward. Normally this bishop is developed to e6, but, Aronian
did not want to block the e-file.} ({After, let's say} 12... Be6 13. Ne2 Bd6 {
I don't see even a shadow of a problem for Black, but I believe that Kramnik
had something in mind.}) 13. a3 Bxc3 $6 {I don't see the reason for giving up
the bishop. Spoiling White's pawn structure is less important than keeping
control over the dark squares.} (13... Bf8 14. Rae1 (14. Bg5 {is parried by} h6
{and the exchange on f6 is never dangerous for Black.}) 14... Qb6 15. Na4 Qa5
16. Nc3 Qb6 $11 {If White wants to continue the fight, he has to play
something like 17.Nd1, but the position remains equal.}) 14. bxc3 Ne4 15. Rfe1
Qf6 $6 (15... Nxc3 $1 {was brave and I couldn't find a refutation.} 16. Be5 (
16. Bxh7+ Kxh7 17. Qxc3 Qh4) (16. Qg3 Ne4 17. Bxe4 dxe4 18. Rad1 Re6 19. Rd4 {
There is no doubt that White has full compensation for the pawn, but hardly
more than that.}) 16... Ne4 17. Bxe4 dxe4 18. Rxe4 f6 {and again White has
very little.}) 16. Bxe4 dxe4 17. Qe3 $1 {White doesn't have to take on e4.} (
17. Rxe4 Bxh3 $1 (17... Rxe4 18. Qxe4 Qxc3 19. Be5 Qd2 20. Rb1 $36 {[%cal
Gb1b7]}) 18. Rxe8+ (18. gxh3 $4 Qg6+ $19 {[%csl Re4,Rg1]}) 18... Rxe8 19. gxh3
g5 $11) 17... Be6 18. Rad1 {After numerous inaccuracies Levon found himself in
a rather difficult position. Black can't fight for the b-file as the b8-square
is controlled by the white bishop. This means that soon White's rook will
penetrate to b7.} Qf5 ({Perhaps it was preferable to play} 18... Bd5 19. Rd4
Qe6 {not allowing White to play c3-c4 so easily. Still, after} 20. Rb1 {
White's advantage is indisputable.}) 19. Rd4 f6 20. Rb1 $1 (20. Rxe4 $6 Bf7 {
is exactly how Black wants to escape: to give up the Pe4, to exchange all the
major pieces and reach the drawn endgame with opposite coloured bishops.})
20... Bd5 21. c4 Bf7 22. Rb7 Rad8 23. Bd6 $2 {The correct idea but a wrong
interpretation.} (23. Rxd8 Rxd8 24. Bd6 $1 {This was the right order. White is
practically dominating.} (24. Rxa7 g5 25. Bg3 h5 26. h4 gxh4 27. Bxh4 Qe5 28.
Qg3+ ({In the following spectacular line White escapes by a miracle:} 28. Bg3
$2 Rd1+ 29. Kh2 Qa1 30. Bd6 $8 Rh1+ 31. Kg3 h4+ 32. Kf4 Re1 33. Qc5 Be6 34.
Ra8+ Kg7 35. Ra7+ Kg6 36. Bf8 Qc1+ 37. Qe3 Rxe3 38. Rg7+ Kh5 39. Rh7+ Kg6 40.
Rg7+ $11) 28... Qxg3 29. Bxg3 Rd2 {and Black should hold with many
difficulties.}) 24... Bxc4 (24... a5 25. c5 h5 26. Ra7 $16) (24... Rxd6 25.
Rb8+ Be8 26. Rxe8+ Kf7 27. Rxe4 $16) 25. Qxa7 Kh8 26. a4 (26. Rxg7 $4 Rxd6)
26... h5 27. Re7 e3 28. Rxe3 Qxc2 29. Rg3 Rg8 30. Bf8 $1 g5 31. Qe7 $16) 23...
Rd7 {Simple and effective. Now Black is getting rid of White's dangerous rook.}
24. Rxd7 (24. Rxe4 Qxe4 (24... Rxe4 $4 25. Rb8+ $18) 25. Qxe4 Rxe4 (25... Rxb7
$6 26. Qxc6 Rb1+ 27. Kh2 Rb2 28. Qa4 $16 {[%cal Gc4c5,Gc5c6]}) 26. Rxd7 Bxc4
27. Rxa7 Re1+ 28. Kh2 Re2 29. Bc5 Rxc2 {Later on Black will put his rook on a2
and White's passed pawn won't go too far.}) 24... Qxd7 {Black has avoided the
worst.} 25. Bc5 Qb7 26. Rxe4 Rxe4 27. Qxe4 {White's extra pawn is doubled and
therefore not sufficient for winning purposes.} Qb1+ 28. Kh2 Qb8+ 29. g3 Qa8
30. Bd6 Qe8 31. Qxe8+ {Succumbing to a draw. It's true that Kramnik spoiled
most of his advantage and now is only marginally better. Still, after 31.Qd4
White could torture his opponent for a while.} Bxe8 32. Kg2 Bg6 33. Kf3 {
White even didn't bother to move the pawn, it has no significance. The rest is
just for protocol.} Bxc2 34. Ke3 Kf7 35. Kd4 Ke6 36. Kc5 Bd3 37. Bb8 a6 38. h4
h5 39. Kxc6 Bxc4 40. Kc5 Bb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 7th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2012.06.13"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2012.06.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.07.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.07.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Ndb5 {This used to be
Korchnoi's favourite variation in his Candidates' matches about three decades
ago.} ({Later he came up with the then virtually unexamined} 6. a3 $5) 6... d5
{The most principled reaction, fighting for space in the centre and inviting
White to justify his early display of piece activity. This was Portisch'
constant choice in his (curiously) only match against Korchnoi.} ({In his
second match with Korchnoi, Polugaevsky preferred the developing} 6... Bb4) 7.
Bf4 e5 8. cxd5 exf4 9. dxc6 bxc6 10. Qxd8+ Kxd8 11. Rd1+ ({Korchnoi managed to
surprise his opponent with} 11. Nd4 {in the first match game Kortschnoj,V 
(2600)-Portisch,L (2620) Bad Kissingen 1983 (1-0, 35). Despite the favourable
result, he returned to the known game move.}) 11... Bd7 12. Nd6 {The forced
sequence has come to an end and we can make a first description of the
strategic plot. White has managed to spoil Black's structure on both wings and
can hope to reach a favourable endgame in the long run. Besides, he has a
powerful threat (Nxf7+). However, his seeming initiative is about to vanish.
He needs several tempi to complete the kingside development, while Black has
better possibilities for rapid piece mobilisation. Practice has shown that
Black's greater activity compensates for the static drawbacks of the position.}
Kc7 {A rather aggressive continuation. Black ignores the threat on f7 for the
sake of speeding up his counterplay along the b-file.} ({The obvious
alternative is} 12... Bxd6 13. Rxd6 Rb8 14. Rd2 Re8 $1 {It is important to
take measures against White's planned g2-g3.} (14... Kc7 15. g3 {offers White
some initiative.} fxg3 16. hxg3 Rb4 17. Bg2 {Huebner,R (2580)-Sax,G (2486)/
Leon 2011/CBM 145 Extra (1-0, 31). It is interesting that both players had
been at their best in the times when the theory in this whole line was just
builidng up.}) 15. f3 $5 (15. g3 {allows} f3 {, when Black seems to equalise:}
16. Kd1 fxe2+ 17. Bxe2 Kc7 18. Bc4 Bg4+ 19. Kc2 Re7 20. b3 Rd8 21. Rxd8 Kxd8
22. f4 Bf5+ 23. Kc1 Kc7 24. Nd1 Ne8 25. Kd2 Nd6 $11 {1/2 Karpov,A (2700)
-Polugaevsky,L (2615)/London 1984/MCL. Black has regrouped properly, fighting
against the blockade on c4 and controlling the main weakness in White's camp,
namely e4.}) 15... Kc7 16. g3 Be6 $5 {This indirect defence of the pawn is the
best.} (16... Nh5 {was played at grandmaster level, but leaves White with some
advantage:} 17. Kf2 Re5 18. Bg2 Be6 19. Rc1 h6 20. b3 $14 {Gurevich,D (2503)
-De Firmian,N (2547)/San Diego 2006/CBM 112 (1/2, 30)}) 17. b3 ({Black's point
is revealed after} 17. gxf4 Nd5 18. Nxd5+ Bxd5 $11 {[%csl Ga2,Gf3]}) 17... Nd5
(17... Rb4 $5) 18. Nxd5+ Bxd5 19. Kf2 Rb4 {Gasthofer,V (2333)-Mueller,R (2337)
Germany 2005 (1-0, 45). After the exchange of knights, the weakness of the
c6-pawn becomes less relevant.}) 13. Nxf7 Rg8 14. Ne5 {The knight hurries back
into play and intends to eliminate the d7-bishop, which is an important
defender of the c6-pawn.} ({The following classical game is a good example
about the way how Black can build up his counterplay with natural moves after} 
14. g3 Rb8 15. Rd2 Bb4 16. Bg2 Bxc3 17. bxc3 Rb1+ 18. Rd1 Rxd1+ 19. Kxd1 Ng4
$132 {Andersson,U (2635)-Tal,M (2620)/Malmo 1983/IZT (1/2, 27)}) 14... Rb8 $1 {
Black has to play everything on the card of his advance in development.} ({
There is no time to for neutral moves such as} 14... Bf5 $6 15. g3 fxg3 16.
hxg3 Re8 17. Nd3 Ne4 18. Bg2 $16 {Yartsev,P (2175)-Raznikov,D (2314) Israel
2010 (1-0, 51)}) 15. Nxd7 Nxd7 {White has achieved most of his strategic aims,
but the time has come to think about developing. He still is two tempi behind.}
16. g3 {Returning the pawn for the sake of gaining time.} (16. Rd2 $6 {helps
Black to develop his initiative.} Ne5 {[%cal Ge5c4]} 17. e3 (17. b3 Bb4 18. Rc2
Rge8 $36 {[%cal Ge5d3]}) 17... fxe3 18. fxe3 Bb4 19. Be2 Bxc3 20. bxc3 Rb1+ 21.
Rd1 Rb2 22. Rf1 Rxa2 23. Rf5 Re8 24. Rd4 Ra5 25. g4 Rc5 $13 {Rubinetti,J (2445)
-Velimirovic,D (2520)/Lucerne 1982/EXT 97-B (1-0, 42)}) 16... Rxb2 17. Bh3 {
Gaining another important tempo, but the bishop does not get on the most
active diagonal at once.} Nf6 {The best way to keep the paths open for the
other pieces (the a3-f8 diagonal and the b-file).} ({After} 17... Nc5 {White
can forget about the threats ...Bb4 and ...Ba3, which allowed him consolidate
in the following classical game:} 18. O-O Rc2 19. Rc1 Rxc1 20. Rxc1 fxg3 21.
hxg3 {The material is equal, but White's structure is better.} Be7 22. Bg2 Rb8
23. Rc2 Rb4 24. e3 Rc4 25. Bf1 Rb4 {It became obvious that Black's activity
has reached a dead end.} 26. Ne2 Rb1 27. Nd4 Kb6 28. Nf3 Nd3 29. Kg2 Nb4 (29...
Ne1+ 30. Nxe1 Rxe1 31. Rb2+ Kc7 32. Ba6 $36) 30. Rd2 Kc7 31. Bc4 $14 {
Kortschnoj,V (2600)-Portisch,L (2620)/Bad Kissingen 1983/Candidates (1/2, 52).
White has regrouped properly and his advantage is beyond doubt.}) 18. O-O Bb4
19. Rc1 Rd8 {White has managed to almost complete his development (the f1-rook
needs to be activated still), but Black's activity is overwhelming.} 20. Bg2 {
Hoping to prove that the black king is not that safe behind the c6-pawn.} Rdd2
{The most natural and possibly best move. Black does not need to release the
tension in any way yet. However, there are worthy alternatives available.} (
20... Bxc3 21. Rxc3 Nd5 22. Ra3 Kb6 {The king takes an active part in events,
compensating for the queenside weaknesses.} 23. Rc1 a5 24. Rb3+ Rxb3 25. axb3
fxg3 26. hxg3 Nb4 $11 {Prudnikova,S (2421)-Maksimovic,S (2278)/Herceg Novi
2000/CBM 075 ext (1-0, 42)}) (20... fxg3 21. hxg3 Rdd2 {Compared to the game,
this gives up the control over the e3-square and offers White the possibility
to regroup with Nd1-e3.} 22. a3 Be7 (22... Bxc3 23. Rxc3 Rbc2) (22... Bxa3 $2
23. Nb1 $18) 23. Nd1 Rb6 (23... Rbc2 24. Ne3 Rxc1 25. Rxc1 Rxe2 $11 {Adorjan})
24. Ne3 Rxe2 25. a4 $44 {Adorjan,A (2535)-Cebalo,M (2475)/Vrsac 1983/MCD (1-0,
43)}) 21. gxf4 $146 {This novelty doesnot change the evaluation of the whole
variation as comfortable for Black.} (21. a3 Bd6 22. gxf4 Rbc2 23. a4 Ba3 24.
Rxc2 Rxc2 25. Nb1 Bb2 26. e3 a5 27. Bf3 Rc4 $13 {Krivonosovs,V (2490)-Lepikhov,
A (2515)/W-Cup7 fin corr 1994/Corr 2002 (1/2, 64)}) 21... Rbc2 22. Ne4 Rxe2 23.
Nxf6 gxf6 24. Rxc2 Rxc2 25. Be4 Rxa2 26. Rc1 c5 27. Bxh7 Rd2 28. h4 a5 {
Only Black can be better here, of course, but a draw is the most probable
result.} 29. h5 Rd8 30. Kg2 a4 31. h6 Rh8 32. Bc2 Rxh6 33. Bxa4 Rh8 34. Bb3 Rd8
35. Rd1 Bd2 36. Ba2 Bxf4 37. Rxd8 Kxd8 38. Kf3 Be5 39. Ke4 Kd7 40. f4 Bxf4
1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 7th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2012.06.14"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "165"]
[EventDate "2012.06.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.07.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.07.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 a6 5. e3 e6 {World Championship matches
greatly influence fashion a Tomashevsky opts for Anand's Semi-Slav fortress,
which occurred 4 times in Moscow.} ({The usual Chebanenko Slav continuation is
} 5... b5 6. b3 ({Gelfand usually plays the ambitious} 6. c5 {Gelfand,B (2741)
-Wang Yue (2752) Bazna Kings 4th 2010 (1) 1-0 , an excellent model game is})
6... Bg4 7. h3 (7. Qc2 $5 e6 8. Ne5 Bf5 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Nxd3 dxc4 11. bxc4 bxc4
12. Ne5 Nbd7 13. O-O Nxe5 14. dxe5 Nd5 15. Rd1 Qa5 16. Ne4 c3 17. Rb1 Rd8 18.
Rd4 Qc7 19. Qa4 a5 20. g3 Bb4 21. Nd6+ Kf8 22. e4 Nb6 23. Qc2 Nd7 24. Nc4 h6
25. a3 Bc5 26. Rd3 $36 {Kramnik,V (2800)-Ivanchuk,V (2775)/Moscow Tal mem/2011/
}) 7... Bxf3 8. gxf3 (8. Qxf3 e5 {Kramnik,V (2772)-Ni Hua (2665)/London/2009/
See this game and an article about the whole line in CBM 141.}) 8... Nbd7 9.
Bg2 e6 10. Bd2 Be7 11. f4 O-O 12. O-O bxc4 13. bxc4 Nb6 14. c5 Nc4 15. Be1 Kh8
16. Ne2 Rg8 $1 17. Ng3 g5 $132 {Morozevich,A (2769)-McShane,L (2706)/Moscow
Tal mem/2012/}) 6. Bd3 {Kramnik opts for a move, which allows Black to
transpose into a rather innocuous line of the Queen's Gambit Accepted. However,
even Gelfand didn't get much after more ambitious moves:} (6. c5 Nbd7 7. Qc2 b6
8. cxb6 Nxb6 9. Bd2 c5 (9... Bd6 10. Bd3 h6 11. e4 Nfd7 12. O-O O-O 13. e5 Be7
14. Qc1 c5 15. Bxh6 cxd4 16. Qf4 f5 17. Qg3 Rf7 18. Nxd4 Bh4 {Smirnov,P (2610)
-Demianjuk,A (2300)/Voronezh/2012/} 19. Nc6 $16) 10. Rc1 cxd4 11. exd4 Bd6 12.
Bg5 O-O 13. Bd3 h6 14. Bh4 Bb7 15. O-O Qb8 $6 (15... Bf4 $1 16. Rcd1 Nbd7 $132)
16. Bg3 Rc8 17. Qe2 Bxg3 18. hxg3 Qd6 19. Rc2 Nbd7 20. Rfc1 Rab8 (20... Rc7
$142 $1) 21. Na4 Ne4 $6 (21... Rxc2 $14) 22. Rxc8+ Bxc8 23. Qc2 $36 {[%cal
Gc1c8] Gelfand,B (2727)-Anand,V (2791)/WCh Moscow/2012/}) (6. Qc2 c5 7. cxd5
exd5 8. Be2 Be6 9. O-O Nc6 10. Rd1 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Nxd4 12. Rxd4 Bc5 13. Rd1 Qe7
14. Bf3 O-O $1 $146 15. Nxd5 Bxd5 16. Bxd5 Nxd5 17. Rxd5 Rac8 18. Bd2 Bxe3 19.
Bc3 Bb6 20. Qf5 Qe6 21. Qf3 f6 22. h4 Qc6 23. h5 Rfd8 $11 {Gelfand,B (2727)
-Anand,V (2791)/WCh Moscow/2012/}) (6. b3 Bb4 7. Bd2 Nbd7 8. Bd3 O-O 9. O-O Bd6
10. Qc2 (10. Rc1 e5 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. e4 dxe4 13. Nxe4 Nxe4 14. Bxe4 Nf6 15.
dxe5 Nxe4 16. exd6 Qxd6 17. Be3 Bf5 18. Qxd6 Nxd6 19. Nd4 Rfe8 20. Nxf5 Nxf5
21. Bc5 h5 22. Rfd1 Rac8 $11 {Gelfand,B (2727)-Anand,V (2791)/WCh Moscow/2012/}
) 10... e5 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. e4 exd4 13. Nxd5 Nxd5 14. exd5 Nf6 15. h3 Bd7 16.
Rad1 Re8 17. Nxd4 Rc8 18. Qb1 h6 19. Nf5 Bxf5 20. Bxf5 Rc5 21. Rfe1 Rxd5 22.
Bc3 Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 Bc5 24. Qc2 Bd4 $11 {Gelfand,B (2727)-Anand,V (2791)/WCh
Moscow/2012/}) 6... dxc4 7. Bxc4 c5 8. O-O (8. a4 Nc6 9. O-O Be7 10. dxc5 (10.
Qe2 cxd4 11. Rd1 e5 12. exd4 exd4 13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14. Qe5 Qd6 15. Qxd6 Bxd6 16.
Rxd4 Be5 $11 ({or} 16... Bc5 $11 {is a well-known line, which is not dangerous
for Black.})) 10... Qxd1 11. Rxd1 Bxc5 12. Bd2 Bd7 (12... b6 13. Bd3 Nb4 14.
Be2 O-O 15. a5 b5 16. Rdc1 Be7 17. Ne5 Rd8 18. Bf3 Rb8 19. Ne4 Nfd5 20. Nc5 Bf6
21. Bxd5 Rxd5 22. Bxb4 Bxe5 23. e4 Rd8 24. Rd1 Re8 25. Nd3 Bf6 26. Bd6 Ra8 27.
e5 Bd8 28. Nc5 $36 {Kramnik,V (2759)-Topalov,V (2796)/Nice rpd/2009/}) 13. a5 (
13. Bd3 O-O 14. Ne4 Be7 15. Rac1 Rfd8 16. Nc5 Be8 17. Be2 Rd5 18. Nb3 Rad8 19.
Be1 Rxd1 20. Rxd1 Rxd1 21. Bxd1 Nb4 22. Na5 Nd3 23. Bc3 Ne4 $15 {Anand,V (2817)
-Kramnik,V (2785)/Monte Carlo rpd/2011/}) 13... Bb4 14. Na4 Ke7 15. Nb6 (15.
Bxb4+ Nxb4 16. Nb6 Rab8 17. Ne5 Rhd8 18. Rdc1 Be8 19. Be2 Nfd5 20. Nxd5+ Rxd5
21. Rc4 Nc6 $11 {/=/+,Eljanov,P (2716)-Ivanchuk,V (2703)/Jermuk/2009/}) 15...
Bxd2 16. Nxd2 Rab8 17. Ne4 Rhd8 18. Nc5 Nb4 19. Rdc1 Bc6 20. Ra3 Nfd5 21. Rb3
$11 {1/2,Iturrizaga Bonelli,E (2614)-Morozevich,A (2715)/Pamplona/2010/}) 8...
b5 9. Be2 ({More usual is} 9. Bb3 {, but the line} Bb7 10. Qe2 Nbd7 11. Rd1 Qb8
{has a drawish reputation. A recent example:} 12. d5 exd5 13. Nxd5 Nxd5 14.
Bxd5 Bxd5 15. Rxd5 Be7 16. e4 Qb7 17. Bg5 f6 18. Bf4 O-O 19. Rad1 Nb6 20. R5d2
Rad8 21. Rxd8 Rxd8 22. Rxd8+ Bxd8 23. e5 Qc6 24. Kf1 $11 {1/2,Postny,E (2618)
-Nielsen,P (2681)/WCup Khanty-Mansiysk/2011/}) 9... Bb7 10. dxc5 Qxd1 ({
Black can also keep his king in the centre, a valid alternative is} 10... Bxc5
11. Qxd8+ Kxd8 {Analogously to the game, a more ambitious attempt is} 12. Nd2
$5 ({Too soft is} 12. b3 Ke7 13. Bb2 Nbd7 14. Rfd1 Rhc8 15. a4 (15. Nd4 Rc7 16.
Rac1 Rac8 17. f3 e5 18. Nf5+ Kf8 19. Kf2 Bb4 20. Nb1 Rc2 21. Bc3 R2xc3 22. Nxc3
Rxc3 23. Rxc3 Bxc3 24. Nd6 Nc5 $15 {Kurajica,B (2590)-Yakovich,Y (2520)/Moscow/
1992/}) 15... b4 16. Nb1 a5 17. Nbd2 Ne8 18. Bb5 f6 19. Nc4 Nd6 20. Nxd6 Bxd6
21. Rxd6 Kxd6 22. Rd1+ Bd5 23. e4 Rc2 24. exd5 Rxb2 25. dxe6+ Kxe6 26. Bxd7+
Ke7 27. Bb5 Rxb3 28. h4 Rc3 $132 {1/2,Muse,M (2470)-Ribli,Z (2610)/Bundesliga/
1992/}) 12... Nbd7 13. Nb3 Bb4 14. Bd2 Nc5 (14... Ke7 15. a3 (15. a4 bxa4 16.
Rxa4 a5 $11) 15... Bd6 (15... Nc5 $2 16. Ne4 $1 $16) 16. Na5 Rab8 17. Nxb7 $14)
15. Nd4 Nd5 (15... Ncd7 $5 16. a3 Bd6 17. Nb3 Rb8 $11 {[%cal Yd8e7,Yh8c8]}) 16.
Nxd5 Bxd2 17. Nb6 Rb8 18. Rfd1 Ne4 (18... Kc7 19. Nc4 $36) 19. Nb3 Kc7 20. Nc4
$1 Bc3 (20... bxc4 $142 21. Nxd2 $14) 21. bxc3 Nxc3 22. Ne5 Nxe2+ 23. Kf1 Nc3
24. Rd7+ Kb6 25. Rxf7 Bc6 {Bischoff,K (2564)-Lazarev,V (2526)/Bundesliga/2004/}
26. Nd4 Be8 27. Rxg7 $16) 11. Rxd1 Bxc5 12. Nd2 (12. Nd4 Nbd7 (12... O-O {
transposes to the game.}) (12... Nc6 13. Nb3 Be7 14. e4 {[%cal Yf2f3,Yc1e3,
Ya1c1]}) 13. Nb3 Bb6 $6 (13... Bb4 $142 $5 14. Bd2 (14. a4 bxa4 15. Nxa4 Ke7
$11) 14... O-O {once again transposes to the game.}) 14. a4 $1 $36 b4 15. a5
bxc3 (15... Ba7 16. Na2 Bd5 17. Nd4 Bc5 18. Bd2 {[%csl Ra6,Rb4]} e5 19. Nf3 b3
20. Nb4 Bb7 21. Rac1 Bd6 22. Be1 Ne4 23. Ng5 Nxg5 24. Rxd6 Ke7 25. Rcd1 $18 {
Schwarz,M (2402)-Diermair,A (2391)/AUT-chT/2007/}) 16. axb6 cxb2 17. Bxb2 Nxb6
18. Na5 Bc8 (18... Be4 19. f3 Bg6 20. Ba3 Nfd5 21. Nb7 f6 22. Rac1 Na4 23. Rxd5
exd5 24. Rc7 $18 {->,Bischoff,K (2541)-Stohl,I (2534)/AUT-chT/2001/}) 19. Bf3
Nbd5 20. Ba3 Bd7 21. Nc4 Ba4 22. Rd4 Bb5 23. Nd6+ Kd7 24. e4 $18 {Sakaev,K 
(2619)-Stevic,H (2592)/EU-ch Budva/2009/}) ({The knight transfer to b3 is the
only way to fight for an edge, too bland is} 12. a3 Nbd7 13. b4 Be7 14. Bb2 O-O
15. Rac1 Rac8 16. Nb1 (16. Kf1 Rfd8 17. h3 Kf8 18. Nb1 Nd5 19. Nbd2 N7b6 20.
Rxc8 (20. Nb3 Na4 21. Bd4 Ndc3 22. Bxc3 Rxd1+ 23. Bxd1 Nxc3 24. Be2 Nxe2 25.
Rxc8+ Bxc8 26. Kxe2 f6 $17 {[%csl Gc8,Ge7] Pomar Salamanca,A (2510)-Spassky,B 
(2690)/Gothenburg/1971/}) 20... Rxc8 21. Rc1 $11) 16... Rxc1 17. Rxc1 Rc8 18.
Rxc8+ Bxc8 19. Nbd2 Bb7 20. Kf1 Kf8 21. Ke1 Ke8 22. h3 h6 23. Kd1 Kd8 {1/2,
Flohr,S-Gruenfeld,E/Folkestone olm/1933/ Ammusing total symmetry!}) 12... O-O
$5 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (12... Nbd7 13. Nb3 {-12.Nd4}) (12... Be7 13. Nb3 Nc6 14. e4
$11 {/+/=}) 13. Nb3 Bb4 14. Bd2 Nbd7 (14... Nc6 15. a4 $1 bxa4 16. Nxa4 $36 {
[%cal Ra4c5]}) 15. a3 (15. a4 $5 bxa4 16. Nxa4 a5 $132 {[%cal Yb7d5,Yf6e4]})
15... Nc5 $1 (15... Bxc3 16. Bxc3 Bd5 17. Na5 $14) (15... Be7 16. Na5 $14) 16.
Nc1 (16. Nd4 Bxc3 17. Bxc3 Rfc8 $11 {[%cal Rc5a4] and White won't be able to
retain his bishop-pair.}) 16... Bxc3 17. Bxc3 Rfc8 18. Bd4 Bd5 19. f3 Bc4 {
Halving the bishop-pair more or less equalizes.} (19... Bb3 20. Rd2 Nfd7 21.
Kf2 f6 22. e4 Bc4 $5 23. Bd1 $5 e5 24. Be3 a5 25. b3 Bf7 26. Be2 $11 {/+/=
gives White some chances to fight for an advantage.}) 20. Kf2 (20. Bxc4 bxc4
21. Rd2 Nfd7 22. Rc2 Na4 23. Ne2 e5 24. Bc3 f6 $132 {[%cal Yd7c5,Yc5d3]}) 20...
Bxe2 21. Kxe2 Nd5 22. Rd2 f6 23. Bxc5 $5 ({Black's knights are actively placed
and even after chasing them away White can't achive any substantial progress:} 
23. e4 Nb6 24. b3 Nbd7 $11 {[%cal Yg8f7,Yf7e7,Ye6e5]}) 23... Rxc5 24. Nd3 {
[%mdl 4096] By swapping his bishop voluntarily Kramnik tries to build up on a
few tiny endgame pluses - better king, slight vulnerability of Black's
queenside. Rook and knight endgames were also a favourite of the grest
technician Ulf Andersson. However, here circumspect defence should have held
the balance.} Rc7 (24... Rc4 $5 $11) 25. a4 bxa4 26. Rxa4 Kf7 (26... a5 $142 $1
27. e4 Nb6 $11) 27. Ra5 Raa7 $2 (27... Rc6 28. Nc5 (28. e4 Ne7 29. Nc5 Rb6 $11)
28... Rb8 (28... Nb4 $5 29. Rd7+ Kg8 30. Rb7 Rac8 $11) 29. Nxa6 (29. Nxe6 Kxe6
30. Raxd5 Rxb2 $11) 29... Rb3 30. Nc5 Rxe3+ 31. Kf2 Re5 $132) 28. Nc5 Nb4 (
28... Rc6 $5 29. Nxe6 {[%cal Re6d8]} Kxe6 30. Raxd5 $14) 29. Rd6 Rc8 (29... e5
30. Rb6 $1 Nd5 31. Rbxa6 Rxa6 32. Nxa6 $16) 30. f4 {Frees f3 for the king -
White has already a tangible pull.} (30. Nxe6 $6 Rc2+) 30... Rac7 (30... Re7
31. Rb6 $36) 31. Nxe6 (31. Nxa6 $6 Ra7 $11 {[%cal Yc8c2]}) 31... Rc2+ 32. Kf3
Rxb2 33. Nd4 (33. f5 $142 $1 $36 {[%cal Rd6d7]}) 33... Rc7 34. Rb6 Nd3 ({
Black jettisons a pawn, as it's difficult to untangle without losses after} 
34... Ra7 35. g4 $36) 35. Rxb2 Nxb2 36. Rxa6 $16 {Kramnik,V (2799)-Eljanov,P 
(2692) Corus Wijk aan Zee 2008 (4) 1-0 /+/= White has good winning chances, he
can gradually improve his position without allowing a premature knight swap. A
good example of a similar endgame from Kramnik's practice is} Nc4 37. g4 Nd2+
38. Ke2 Ne4 39. h4 Rb7 $2 (39... g6 $142) 40. g5 Kg6 $6 (40... Re7 $16) 41. Kf3
Re7 (41... Nc5 42. h5+ $1 (42. Rc6 Nd7 43. e4 $16) 42... Kxh5 43. Ra5 Nb3 44.
Nxb3 Rxb3 45. gxf6+ $18) (41... Nd2+ 42. Kg4 h5+ 43. Kh3 $1 {[%csl Rg7][%cal
Rf4f5,Rd4e6]} Nc4 44. f5+ Kf7 45. Ne6 Ke8 46. g6 Nxe3 47. Nxg7+ Rxg7 48. Re6+
Kd8 (48... Re7 $2 49. g7) (48... Kf8 49. Rxf6+ Kg8 50. Re6 $18) 49. Rxe3 $18 {
[%cal Re3e6]}) 42. h5+ $6 {White complicates his task.} (42. Re6 {wins
practically by force:} Rxe6 $8 43. f5+ Kh5 $8 (43... Kf7 44. fxe6+ $18) 44.
fxe6 (44. Nxe6 $2 Nd6 45. Nxg7+ Kxh4 46. gxf6 Kg5 47. Ne8 Nf7 48. e4 h5 $132)
44... Nd6 45. gxf6 gxf6 46. Kf4 Kg6 (46... Kxh4 47. Nf5+ $18) (46... Ne8 47.
Kf5 Kxh4 48. e7 Nc7 49. Ne6 Ne8 50. Nf4 $18) 47. Nf5 $1 Ne8 (47... Nxf5 48. h5+
$18) 48. Ne7+ Kg7 49. Kg4 Kf8 (49... Nc7 50. Nf5+ Kg8 51. e7 $19) 50. Nf5 Nc7
51. e7+ Kf7 52. Kh5 Ne8 53. Kh6 Kg8 54. e4 Kh8 55. Nd4 Kg8 56. Nc6 Nd6 57. Nd8
Ne8 58. Kh5 Kg7 (58... Nd6 59. Kg4 f5+ 60. Kf4 $1 fxe4 61. Ke5 Ne8 62. Kxe4 Kg7
63. Kf5 $18) 59. Kg4 Nd6 60. Kf4 Kg6 61. h5+ Kg7 (61... Kxh5 62. Nf7 Ne8 63.
Kf5 $18 {[%cal Rf5d7]}) 62. e5 fxe5+ 63. Kxe5 Ne8 64. Ke6 Kh6 65. Nf7+ Kxh5 66.
Nd6 Ng7+ 67. Kf7 Kh6 68. Ne4 $22 $18) ({Another more convincing way was} 42.
f5+ Kf7 (42... Kh5 43. Ne6 Nd2+ 44. Kf4 Kxh4 45. gxf6 gxf6 46. Ra2 Rd7 47. Nd4
$18) 43. Ne6 Nd2+ (43... Nc3 44. Nxg7 $18) 44. Kf4 fxg5+ 45. Nxg5+ Ke8 46. Ra8+
Kd7 47. Ra7+ Ke8 48. Rxe7+ Kxe7 49. Nxh7 $18) 42... Kxh5 43. Nf5 Nd2+ 44. Ke2
Rd7 45. gxf6 gxf6 46. Rxf6 (46. Nd6 Kg4 $1 (46... Nb1 47. Ne4 $18) 47. Kxd2 Kf3
48. f5 h5 49. e4 h4 50. e5 fxe5 51. f6 h3 52. f7 Rxf7 53. Nxf7 h2 54. Nxe5+ Kg2
55. Rg6+ Kf1 $11) 46... Kg4 47. Nh6+ (47. Nd6 Nb3 48. Rh6 $16) 47... Kg3 48.
Rf8 Ne4 49. Rg8+ Kh3 50. Ng4 Kh4 51. Ne5 Ra7 52. Nf3+ $6 (52. Kf3 $1 Nd2+ 53.
Kg2 {[%cal Re5f3]} Ne4 $8 54. Rg4+ Kh5 55. Kf3 Nd2+ 56. Ke2 Ne4 (56... Ra2 57.
Rg5+ Kh4 58. Nf3+ $18) 57. Rg1 Ra2+ 58. Kd3 Nf2+ 59. Kd4 Ra4+ 60. Nc4 $5 $16 {
[%cal Yd4d5,Yc4d6,Ye3e5]}) 52... Kh5 53. Kd3 $6 (53. Ne5 $5 Ra2+ 54. Kd3 Nf2+
55. Kc4 $14 {/+/-}) (53. Rg1 Ra2+ 54. Kd3 Nf2+ 55. Kd4 Ra4+ 56. Kd5 Nh3 57. Rh1
Ra5+ 58. Kd6 Ra6+ 59. Ke7 Ra7+ 60. Kf6 Ra6+ 61. Kf5 Ra5+ 62. Ne5 Kh4 $14) 53...
Nf2+ $132 54. Kd4 Ra4+ 55. Kd5 Ra5+ 56. Ke6 Ng4 $1 57. e4 Ra6+ 58. Ke7 $8 Ra7+
(58... Nf6 $2 59. Rg5+ Kh6 60. Nh4 $18) 59. Kd6 Ra6+ (59... Nf6 $1 60. Rg5+ Kh6
61. Ke5 Nxe4 62. Kxe4 Ra4+ {/\} 63. Kf5 Rxf4+ $1 $11) 60. Kc7 h6 $8 61. e5 Nf6
$1 62. Rd8 (62. exf6 Rc6+ (62... Rxf6 $11) 63. Kd7 Rd6+ 64. Ke7 Re6+ 65. Kf7
Rxf6+ $11) (62. Rf8 Nh7 63. Rh8 Nf6 $1 $132) 62... Kg4 63. Nd4 Ra7+ 64. Kd6 (
64. Kb8 Rd7 65. Kc8 Kxf4 66. exf6 Rf7 $11) 64... Ne4+ 65. Kd5 Nc3+ 66. Kc4 Kxf4
(66... Rc7+ $2 67. Kd3 {/\} Kxf4 $2 68. Ne6+ $18) 67. e6 (67. Kxc3 Rc7+ 68. Kd3
Kxe5 $11) 67... Rc7+ 68. Kd3 Ke5 $2 (68... Na4 69. Rf8+ Ke5 70. e7 (70. Rf7
Rxf7 (70... Nc5+ 71. Ke3 Nxe6 72. Rf5+ Kd6 73. Nb5+ Ke7 $11) 71. exf7 Nc5+ 72.
Ke3 Nd7 $11) 70... Nc5+ 71. Ke3 Rxe7 72. Nc6+ Kd6+ 73. Nxe7 Kxe7 $11) 69. Rd7
$1 $18 Nd5 (69... Rc8 70. e7 Re8 71. Kxc3 Kf6 72. Nc6 $18) 70. e7 Rc3+ (70...
Rc8 71. Nc6+ $18) 71. Kd2 Rc8 72. Nc6+ Ke6 73. Rxd5 Rxc6 (73... Kxd5 74. Nd8
$18) 74. e8=Q+ Kxd5 75. Kd3 {Black's king is too far from the h-pawn to create
a fortress.} Re6 76. Qb5+ Kd6 77. Kd4 Ke7 78. Qf5 Rf6 79. Qh7+ Kf8 80. Ke5 Ra6
81. Qb7 (81. Qd3 $142) 81... Rg6 82. Qh7 $1 (82. Kf5 $6 Rg5+ 83. Kf6 Kg8 84.
Qb3+ $18 {is also a win according to TB, but it unnecessarily prolongs the
game.}) 82... Ra6 (82... Rc6 83. Qe4 Rc7 84. Kf6 Rf7+ 85. Kg6 $18) 83. Qd3 (83.
Qd3 Ra7 84. Kf6 $18 {[%cal Rf6h6]} (84. Qd4 Rf7 85. Qh4 Kg7 86. Ke6 Rf8 87.
Qg4+ Kh7 88. Ke7 Rg8 89. Qc4 Kg7 90. Qe6 Kh7 91. Kf7 Rg5 92. Kf8 $18)) 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 7th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2012.06.16"]
[Round "7"]
[White "McShane, Luke J"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2706"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "187"]
[EventDate "2012.06.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.07.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.07.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 {This line usually leads to
slightly freer white play, without too many real chances for an advantage,
however.} Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 ({In my article for CBM 124 I analysed} 7. Nc3
O-O 8. Bd3 {, which aims for active piece play. The main merit of the game
continuation is that it leaves the path free for the d-pawn.}) 7... Nxe5 8.
Rxe5 O-O 9. d4 Bf6 10. Re1 Re8 ({Both players had some experience with Black
against} 10... Nf5 11. d5 {Gaining space in the centre and hoping to take
advantage of the relative instability of Black's developed minor pieces.} (11.
c3 {is too passive to cause Black any problems:} d5 12. Bf4 c6 13. Nd2 Nh4 14.
Bg3 Bf5 15. Nb3 b6 $11 {Kasimdzhanov,R (2690)-Kramnik,V (2785)/Moscow (blitz)
2007/EXT 2008 (1/2, 37)}) 11... d6 12. Nd2 Nh4 13. g3 Ng6 14. a4 Ne5 15. Ra3 a5
16. Ne4 Be7 17. f4 $14 {With considerable space advantage for White in Anand,V
(2804)-McShane,L (2645)/London 2010/CBM 140 (1/2, 41)}) 11. Bf4 $5 {A new
trend, bringing some life into a static position. Other moves leave Black with
no trouble equalising.} (11. c3 Rxe1 12. Qxe1 Nf5 13. Bd3 ({In a preclassic
game, White played the provocative} 13. Bf4 d6 14. Nd2 {In Steinitz,
W-Zukertort,J/USA 1886/MainBase/[ChessBase] (0-1, 39), Black could have
reacted with} g5 15. Bg3 h5 $132 {Of course, Steinitz would evaluate the
position as completely winning for White, because of the black kingside
weaknesses.}) 13... d5 14. Bf4 c6 15. Nd2 Nh4 16. Qe2 Bf5 17. Bxf5 Nxf5 18. Nf3
Qe7 19. Re1 Qxe2 20. Rxe2 {1/2 Nakamura,H (2751)-Kramnik,V (2784)/Wijk aan Zee
2011/CBM 141. In fact, Nakamura needed a draw in this game to ensure his
overall win in the tournament, so the game is not relevant for White's chances
for an advantage.}) (11. Rxe8+ Nxe8 {This helps the knight to get closer to
the f6-square.} 12. d5 d6 13. Nd2 Bf5 14. Nc4 Bg5 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. Nxe3 Bd7 17.
Qd4 a5 18. c3 Nf6 19. Re1 Qb8 20. Bd3 Qa7 21. Qxa7 Rxa7 22. f3 Kf8 {1/2 Polgar,
J (2701)-Kramnik,V (2791)/Hoogeveen 2011/CBM 145}) 11... Rxe1 12. Qxe1 Ne8 (
12... Bxd4 {would most likely transpose:} 13. Nc3 (13. Bxd6 $44 {is also
possible, since} Bxb2 $2 {loses to} 14. Bxc7 $1 $18) 13... g6 $6 (13... Ne8 {
leads to the game position.}) 14. Nd5 $36) 13. Nc3 {The most ambitious move,
aiming for rapid piece development.} (13. c3 {allows Black to complete his
development and exchange his passive queen's bishop.} d5 14. Bd3 g6 15. Nd2 Ng7
16. Nf3 (16. Qe2 c6 17. Nb3 b6 18. Re1 Bf5 $11 {Nepomniachtchi,I (2711)
-Riazantsev,A (2688)/Khanty-Mansiysk 2011/CBM 145 (1/2, 88)}) 16... c6 17. Qd2
Bf5 18. Re1 Bxd3 19. Qxd3 Qd7 20. Be5 Bxe5 21. Nxe5 {White's advantage is
purely symbolic.} Qf5 22. Qxf5 Nxf5 23. Nd3 Kf8 24. Nc5 Nd6 $11 {Salgado Lopez,
I (2621)-Bruzon Batista,L (2694)/Quito 2012/CBM 148 (1/2, 30)}) 13... Bxd4 {
This pawn was important, since it threatened to gain space in the centre.
Besides, the black dark-squared bishop experienced some space problems.} (13...
c6 14. d5 $14) 14. Nd5 d6 {Development above all!} (14... Bxb2 $2 {loses to
some active moves with the heavy pieces:} 15. Qb4 $1 Bf6 (15... Bxa1 $2 16.
Ne7+ Kh8 17. Nc6 $1 $18 {[%cal Gb4f8]}) 16. Re1 d6 17. Rxe8+ Qxe8 18. Nxc7 $18)
15. Bg5 Bf6 {Aiming for piece exchanges.} (15... f6 {leaves White with a
dangerous initiative.} 16. Be3 $5 Bxb2 (16... Bxe3 17. Qxe3 c6 18. Re1 $40) (
16... Be5 17. f4) 17. Rb1 c6 (17... Ba3 18. Qc3 Bc5 19. Bxc5 dxc5 20. Re1 $32)
18. Bc4 Be5 19. Nc7+ d5 20. Nxa8 dxc4 21. Rd1 Qe7 22. Bxa7 $14 {White ensures
the knight's retreat via b6. With his knight on the back rank Black does not
seem to have entirely adequate compensation, although the position remains
complicated.}) 16. Nxf6+ Nxf6 (16... gxf6 17. Bh4 $5 $16 {[%csl Rf6][%cal
Ge1c3]}) 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Qe4 $5 $146 ({Slightly earlier, White obtained some
advantage with} 18. Bd3 f5 19. Qe3 Be6 20. Qf3 c6 21. Bxf5 $14 {Najer,E (2640)
-Bacrot,E (2706)/Plovdiv 2012/CBM 148 (1/2, 69)}) 18... f5 (18... d5 19. Qf4 $5
{[%csl Rd5,Rg8][%cal Ga1d1,Gd1d3]}) 19. Qe3 Be6 {It may seem that White has
simply lost a tempo (Bf1-d3 is missing) with respect to the last quoted game.
McShane seems to have thought that the bishop stands well enough on f1, and
that the third rank should be left available for the attack.} 20. Qg3+ Kf8 {
The start of a deep plan. The king abandons the weakened kingside and seeks
refuge under the compact pawn shelter from the queenside.} (20... Kh8 21. Qc3+
Kg8 22. Re1 {[%cal Ge1e3,Ge3g3]} c6 (22... d5 23. Qg3+ Kh8 24. Qe5+ Kg8 25. Re3
$16) 23. Re3 f4 24. Re4 Qg5 25. Qb4 $36 {[%csl Gb7,Gd6,Gf4]}) 21. Qc3 Ke7 $1 (
21... Kg8 {would transpose above.}) 22. Re1 Kd7 23. Bc4 {Exchanging an
important defensive piece (Be6), which kept Black's wings together.} Qh8 24.
Bxe6+ fxe6 25. Qb3 Re8 26. Qxb7 Rb8 27. Qxa7 Qxb2 {White has retrieved the
pawn and the black king is in the centre. However, there is no real danger for
His Majesty. Black's superior piece activity and his more compact structure
make his position slightly preferable.} 28. Qa4+ Qb5 29. Qh4 Qa5 30. Qxh7+ Kc6
31. Rc1 (31. Rf1 $5) 31... Qxa2 (31... Qd2 32. Rf1 Qxc2 33. Qg6 Kd5 $5 $15 {
Of course, during the game it is not easy to decide upon such an exotic
regrouping.}) 32. Qh5 Qb2 33. Qd1 Kd7 34. g3 e5 35. c4 {At last some activity
for White. The threatened c4-c5 will weaken the enemy king's defence.} Ke7 36.
Qe1 Rb3 37. c5 $132 d5 {Tempting, but maybe not best. Less than ten moves
later, White will have the initiative already.} (37... e4 38. cxd6+ cxd6 $13 {
would keep the king better defended. In the game, the king will be vulnerable
along the seventh and sixth rank.}) 38. Rd1 c6 39. Qa5 {Suddenly, the king
does not feel so comfortable any more. From a practical point of view, Black's
position starts being more difficult to play. I cannot help remembering the
fifth game of the 1910 Lasker-Schlechter match, where the material situation
was similar to that in the current game. The then reigning World Champion
played in similar style to Kramnik, using his king for active purposes, but
then lost the thread and eventually came under decisive threats. A similar
scenario as in the Moscow 2012 game.} Kd7 40. Qa4 Rb5 41. Qh4 Rxc5 42. Qh7+ Kd6
43. Qg6+ Kc7 44. Qxf5 e4 45. h4 $36 {Black's initiative has come to a dead end,
while the h-pawn has started running. In a practical game, things remain
complicated, which explains some of White's hesitations in the next phase of
the game.} Rc3 46. Qe5+ Kb7 47. h5 Rb3 48. Qe7+ Kb6 49. Qd8+ Kb7 50. Qd7+ (50.
h6 $1 e3 {The only possible counterplay.} 51. Qe7+ Kb6 52. fxe3 Qe2 53. Ra1
Qxe3+ {The only way to parry the threatened attack with Qa7+.} 54. Qxe3+ Rxe3
55. Kf2 Re8 56. g4 $18 {White's pawns are far more advanced than Black's.})
50... Kb6 51. Qd8+ Kb7 52. Qe7+ Kb6 53. Qe8 Kb7 $6 (53... e3 $5 {may have
complicated the game a bit.}) 54. h6 Rf3 55. Qe7+ Ka6 {The king has to stay
away from the g1-a7 diagonal.} ({After} 55... Kb6 56. Rf1 e3 57. h7 Rxf2 {
White has} 58. Qxe3+ {with check.}) 56. Qc5 (56. Rf1 e3 {is harder to meet now.
}) 56... Kb7 57. Qe7+ (57. h7 $1 e3 58. h8=Q $1 Qxh8 59. Rb1+ $18 {with a
decisive attack.}) 57... Ka6 58. Qc5 Kb7 59. Rc1 Rf6 60. h7 Rh6 61. Kg2 $2 {
Only this seems to be a real mistake; the other inaccuracies had not spoiled
anything for White.} (61. Qe7+ Ka6 62. Rf1 $18 {Black cannot resist against
the threats on the opposite wings for too long.}) 61... Qb3 $2 ({Missing his
chance with:} 61... Qf6 $1 {[%cal Gf6f3,Gh6h7]} 62. Qb4+ Kc8 63. Qa3 Qf3+ 64.
Qxf3 exf3+ 65. Kxf3 Kc7 {and Black seems to be able to reach a draw.}) 62. Qe7+
Kb6 63. Qd8+ Kb7 64. Qd7+ Kb6 65. Rxc6+ {Not the only win, but a natural one.}
Rxc6 66. Qd8+ Ka7 67. Qd7+ Kb6 68. Qd8+ Ka7 69. h8=Q Qf3+ 70. Kh3 Rh6+ 71. Qxh6
Qh1+ 72. Kg4 Qxh6 73. Qxd5 {The forced sequence has come to an end and the
ending is technically won.} Qf6 74. Qf5 Qd4 75. Qf4 Kb7 76. Kf5 Qd5+ 77. Qe5
Qf7+ 78. Qf6 ({According to the tablebases, the ending after} 78. Kxe4 Qxf2 {
is also won, but who would give up one of the connected pawns in a practical
game?!}) 78... Qd5+ 79. Kf4 Qd2+ 80. Kxe4 Qe2+ 81. Kd5 Qa2+ 82. Kd6 Qa3+ 83.
Ke6 Qa2+ 84. Ke7 Qe2+ 85. Kf7 Qh5+ 86. Kg7 Qg4+ 87. Qg6 Qd4+ 88. Qf6 Qg4+ 89.
Kh6 Qe2 90. Kg5 Kc7 91. f4 Qf3 92. Qe5+ Kd7 93. f5 Qf1 94. f6 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 7th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2012.06.17"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[Annotator "Caruana,F"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2012.06.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.07.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.07.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{This game was played in the penultimate round. In the previous game, I had
miraculously survived a dead lost position against Radjabov, and as a result I
was in tied first place with +1. Diese Begegnung wurde in der vorletzten Runde
gespielt. In der Partie zuvor hatte ich auf wundersame Weise eine totale
Verluststellung gegen Radjabov überlebt, und als Resultat lag ich mit +1 auf
dem geteilten ersten Platz.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 {The decision to play
the Scotch for the first time in my life, in such an important game, and
especially against a player like Kramnik, wasn't such an easy one. However, I
felt like getting a new, interesting position from the opening, rather than
bashing my head against the Berlin Wall yet again. In hindsight, this decision
was a perfect one. Die Entscheidung, Schottisch zu spielen, zum ersten Mal in
meinem Leben, in so einer wichtigen Partie, und vor allem gegen einen Spieler
wie Kramnik, war keine sonderlich leichte. Doch mir war danach, aus der
Öffnung eine neue, interessante Stellung zu erhalten und mir nicht wieder den
Kopf gegen die Berliner Mauer einzurennen. Im Nachhinein erwies sich diese
Entscheidung als perfekt.} exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5
8. c4 Ba6 9. Nd2 g6 10. Nf3 Bg7 ({Before the game I had also checked Vor der
Partie hatte ich auch} 10... Qb4+ 11. Kd1 Rb8 12. Qc2 Ne7 {, with very complex
play, which perfectly suited my mood. gecheckt, mit sehr komplexem Spiel, was
perfekt zu meiner Stimmung passte.}) 11. Bg5 f6 {This move took me by surprise,
although I must admit it's a very logical one. Dieser Zug überraschte mich,
obwohl ich zugeben muss, dass er sehr logisch ist.} ({I had looked at the
following forced variation: Ich hatte die folgende forcierte Variante
betrachtet:} 11... Qb4+ 12. Qd2 Qxd2+ 13. Bxd2 Nb6 14. b3 d6 15. O-O-O dxe5 16.
Nxe5 Bxe5 17. Re1 Nd7 18. f4 f6 19. fxe5 Nxe5 20. Bc3 O-O 21. Be2 Rfe8 22. Bxe5
fxe5 23. Bf3 {, with a pleasant advantage, despite the pawn deficit. , mit
angenehmen Vorteil trotz des Bauerndefizits.}) 12. exf6 Qxe2+ 13. Bxe2 Nxf6 14.
O-O-O O-O-O 15. Be3 Rde8 16. Bd3 d6 ({After Nach} 16... Ng4 $2 {White can grab
the pawn safely: kann Weiß ruhig den Bauern schnappen:} 17. Bxa7 Kb7 18. h3 {
, with a clear advantage. , mit klarem Vorteil.}) 17. c5 {The only logical way
to proceed, as otherwise Black would play ...c5 himself, with a comfortable
position. Die einzig logische Fortsetzung, denn sonst würde Schwarz selbst ...
c5 spielen, mit bequemer Stellung.} Bxd3 18. Rxd3 Nd5 {The most natural move,
but perhaps not the best. Der natürlichste Zug, aber vielleicht nicht der
beste.} ({Nach} 18... d5 19. Bd4 {leaves Black's position a bit awkward. ist
die schwarze Stellung ein wenig unbehaglich.}) ({However, the accurate Doch
das genaue} 18... Ne4 $1 19. cxd6 cxd6 {would have resulted in dead equality,
since White can't capture on a7 any more due to ...c5. hätte zu totem
Ausgleich geführt, denn Weiß kann nicht mehr auf a7 nehmen wegen ...c5.}) 19.
cxd6 cxd6 20. Bxa7 {Black should have enough compensation here, but over the
board it isn't so simple to prove it. Every one of Kramnik's next moves is
quite natural and hard to criticize, but each move slightly deteriorates
Black's position, until he no longer has any compensation for the pawn.
Schwarz sollte hier genug Kompensation haben, aber am Brett ist dies nicht so
leicht nachzuweisen. Jeder einzelne von Kramniks nächsten Zügen ist völlig
natürlich und kaum zu krisieren, doch jeder Zug verschlechtert die schwarze
Stellung , bis er gar keine Kompensation für den Bauern mehr hat.} Kc7 ({
Perhaps stronger was Stärker war vielleicht} 20... Kd7 $5 {, which has the
advantage of avoiding Ne6 check in some variations. This seems sufficient for
rough equality. , was den Vorteil hat, in manchen Varianten das Schach Ne6 zu
vermeiden. Dies scheint zum ungefähren Ausgleich zu genügen.} 21. Rb3 Kc7 22.
Be3 Rb8 23. Rxb8 Rxb8 24. Bd4 Bxd4 25. Nxd4 Nf4 {, and Black regains the pawn
with a fine position. und Schwarz gewinnt den Bauern mit guter Stellung zurück.
}) 21. Be3 Ra8 {Another small step in the wrong direction. Wieder ein kleiner
Schritt in die falsche Richtung.} (21... Rb8 22. Rd2 Rhe8 23. Re1 Nxe3 $1 {
It seems difficult to part with such a beautiful knight, but as is well known,
the pieces that remain on the board are more important than the pieces that
are traded off. This exchange ensures a bright future for Black's bishop,
which is much more versatile than White's knight. After Es scheint schwer,
sich von einem so schönen Springer zu trennen, aber bekanntlich sind die
Figuren, die auf dem Brett verbleiben, wichtiger als diejenigen, die getauscht
werden. Dieser Abtausch sichert eine glänzende Zukunft für den schwarzen
Läufer, der weitaus vielseitiger ist als der weiße Springer. Nach} 24. fxe3 Rb4
{, Black has adequate compensation for the pawn. hat Schwarz ausreichende
Kompensation für den Bauern.}) 22. a3 Ra4 ({Another possible continuation was
Eine andere mögliche Fortsetzung war} 22... Rhb8 23. Bd4 Nf4 24. Re3 Bxd4 25.
Nxd4 Nxg2 26. Re7+ Kb6 27. Rxh7 Nf4 {, and Black should be able to make a draw
due to White's broken pawn structure. , und aufgrund der zersplitterten weißen
Bauernstruktur sollte Schwarz remisieren können.}) 23. Re1 Rf8 $2 {After this
strategic mistake Black will be struggling for the rest of the game. It was
his last chance to trade off White's bishop. Nach diesem strategischen Fehler
wird Schwarz den Rest über der Partie zu kämpfen haben. Es war seine letzte
Chance, den weißen Läufer abzutauschen.} (23... Nxe3 {is simply mandatory now.
ist jetzt einfach Pflicht.} 24. fxe3 Re8 {, and Black will have to suffer a
bit, but he should be able to hold the position. und Schwarz wird ein bisschen
leiden müssen, sollte aber in der Lage sein, die Stellung zu halten.}) 24. Ng5
{Now Black is even facing tactical problems. Nun sieht sich Schwarz sogar
taktischen Problemen gegenüber.} Re8 (24... Kd7 25. Rb3 {threatens Rb7, which
is surprisingly difficult to counter. droht Rb7, was überraschend schwer zu
kontern ist.}) 25. Bb6+ {I was happy to trade off some material, since it
became clear that my king would never be in any danger. Ich war froh, etwas
Material abzutauschen, weil damit klar wurde, dass mein König nie in Gefahr
schweben würde.} Kd7 26. Rxe8 Kxe8 27. Be3 Kd7 ({Maybe Black should still try
Vielleicht sollte Schwarz noch immer} 27... Nxe3 28. Rxe3+ Kd7 {, although
this version of the exchange is clearly unfavorable for him. versuchen, obwohl
diese Version des Abtauschs eindeutig ungünstig für ihn ist.}) 28. Rb3 Kc8 29.
Bd2 h5 (29... h6 30. Nf7 {wins another pawn. gewinnt einen weiteren Bauern.})
30. Nf7 {I continue to pursue my advantage in the most concrete way, but
perhaps it was more practical (especially due to my time shortage at this
stage) to simply consolidate my position and begin advancing on the queenside.
Ich gehe meinem Vorteil weiter auf die konkreteste Weise nach, aber vielleicht
war es praktischer (vor allem angesichts meiner Zeitknappheit in dieser Phase),
einfach meine Stellung zu konsolidieren und zu beginnen, am Damenflügel
vorzurücken.} Kc7 31. Rg3 Ne7 32. b4 Kd7 33. Rd3 d5 34. Kc2 Nf5 35. Bc3 {
A very important move, as otherwise Black gets sufficient counterplay with ...
Nd4. Ein ganz wichtiger Zug, denn sonst erhält Schwarz ausreichendes
Gegenspiel mit ...Nd4.} d4 (35... Rxa3 36. Bxg7 Rxd3 37. Kxd3 Nxg7 38. Ne5+ Kd6
39. Nxg6 {is most likely winning for White. ist höchstwahrscheinlich gewonnen
für Weiß.}) 36. Kb3 Ra8 37. Ng5 Kd6 {For the last couple of moves Kramnik has
defended accurately, and it seems like he is beginning to get counterplay with
...Kd5, supporting his advanced d-pawn. Über die letzten paar Züge hinweg hat
Kramnik akkurat verteidigt, und es scheint, als würde er langsam Gegenspiel
bekommen mit ...Kd5, was seinen vorgerückten d-Bauern stützt.} 38. f3 $6 {
An inaccuracy which.....wins the game immediately! Surprisingly, this move,
which was made with only seconds on the clock, almost spoils all the hard work
I had done. Eine Ungenauigkeit, welche... die Partie sofort gewinnt!
Überraschenderweise macht dieser Zug, der mit nur Sekunden auf der Uhr
gespielt wurde, die gesamte harte Arbeit, die ich zuvor geleistet hatte, fast
zunichte.} ({The precise Das präzise} 38. Kc4 $1 Rxa3 39. Bxd4 Rxd3 40. Bc5+
Ke5 41. Kxd3 {gives White good chances to score the full point, although there
is still plenty of work to be done. gibt Weiß gute Chancen, den vollen Punkt
einzufahren, obwohl noch eine Menge Arbeit zu tun ist.}) 38... Kd5 39. Ne4 Ne3
$4 {A bizarre blunder, ending the game immediately. Instead, Black had a
miraculous chance to turn the game around. Ein bizarrer Bock, der die Partie
sofort beendet. Stattdessen hatte Schwarz eine wundersame Chance, die Partie
zu drehen.} (39... Rxa3+ $3 {is a move I hadn't even noticed during the game.
ist ein Zug, den ich während der Partie nicht einmal bemerkt hatte.} 40. Kxa3
Kc4 41. Rd1 (41. Bxd4 Kxd3 42. Bxg7 Nxg7 {is close to a draw due to Black's
active king. ist nahe am Remis aufgrund des aktiven schwarzen Königs.}) 41...
dxc3 {, and it seems like Black's advanced c-pawn will secure a draw. und es
scheint, als wird der vorgerückte c-Bauer von Schwarz ein Remis sichern.}) 40.
Rxe3 {And now it's all over. An unfortunately abrupt finish to an interesting
game. To my great shock (and probably to many others' as well) I found myself
in clear first place going into the final round. However, I wasn't quite up to
the challenge and lost without a fight against Levon Aronian, ending up in
shared second place. Und jetzt ist alles vorbei. Ein leider abruptes Ende
einer interessanten Partie. Zu meinem großen Schreck (und womöglich auch dem
vieler anderer) fand ich mich, als es in die letzte Runde ging, auf dem
unangefochtenen ersten Platz wieder. Allerdings war ich der Herausforderung
nicht ganz gewachsen und verlor ohne Kampf gegen Levon Aronian, wonach ich auf
dem geteilten letzten Platz landete.} 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 7th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2012.06.18"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "143"]
[EventDate "2012.06.08"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 149"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.07.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.07.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5
9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Be7 11. exf6 Bxf6 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. a4 (13. g3 {is more
popular.}) 13... Rh4 $1 {The point. However, Black should not lose
concentration as White's h-pawn can become dangerous.} 14. axb5 (14. g4 $5 {
, cutting off Black's rook, is more energetic:} b4 (14... Bd7 15. h3 e5 16. Bg2
exd4 17. Nxb5 cxb5 18. Bxa8 b4 19. Qe2+ Be6 20. Bd5 d3 21. Qe4 d2+ 22. Ke2 Qxb2
23. Rad1 c3 24. Bxe6 fxe6 {1/2 Janjgava,L (2410)-Gurevich,M (2515)/Lvov 1987/
CBM 127 Extra (30)} 25. Qa8 $18) (14... Qg7 15. h3 e5 16. Bg2 exd4 17. Nxb5
cxb5 18. Bxa8 b4 19. Qe2+ Be6 20. Bd5 d3 21. Qe4 d2+ 22. Ke2 c3 23. bxc3 bxc3
24. Bxe6 fxe6 25. Qxe6+ Kd8 26. Rab1 $18 {1-0 Karolyi,T (2405)-Somlai,L (2380)/
Borsodtavho 1991/EXT 2004 (32)}) (14... e5 15. dxe5 Qxe5+ 16. Qe2 Qxe2+ (16...
Nd7 17. f4 Qxe2+ 18. Bxe2 Bb7 {1/2 Jasnikowski,Z (2421)-Sopur,L (2285)/
Polanica Zdroj 2004/CBM 102 ext (32)} 19. Ne4 $14) 17. Bxe2 Bxg4 (17... b4 18.
Nb5 $1 cxb5 19. Bf3 bxa4 20. Bxa8 a3 21. bxa3 b3 22. h3 $16 {1-0 Novikov,I 
(2575)-Lugo,B (2412)/San Diego 2006/CBM 112 (30)}) 18. Bxg4 Rxg4 19. axb5 Nd7
20. bxc6 Ne5 21. c7 Kd7 22. Nd5 $14) (14... Qf4 $5 {A.Dreev}) 15. Ne4 Qf4 16.
Bg2 Nd7 (16... f5 $5) 17. h3 Ba6 (17... Bb7 18. Qc1 Qxc1+ 19. Rxc1 Ke7 {
1/2 Gyimesi,Z (2480)-Barva,A (2250)/Siofok 1996/Juniors (24)} 20. Nd2 $16 {
[%csl Rb7]}) 18. Qc1 Qxc1+ 19. Rxc1 Kf8 20. f4 Rb8 21. Kf2 $14 {0-1 Novikov,I 
(2490)-Dreev,A (2450)/Tallinn 1986/EXT 1999 (41)}) 14... Rxd4 15. Qf3 {White's
damaged pawn structure will decrese his chances but he has no better option.} (
15. Qh5 Bb7 16. Be2 Nd7 17. Qf3 (17. O-O c5 $132) 17... Qxf3 18. Bxf3 Ne5 19.
Be4 Rd7 20. bxc6 Bxc6 21. O-O Bxe4 22. Nxe4 Ke7 23. Ra4 f5 24. Ng5 Rb8 25. f4 {
1/2 Sturua,Z (2420)-Dreev,A (2395)/Lvov 1985/MCD}) 15... Qxf3 16. gxf3 Bb7 17.
Rg1 Nd7 (17... Kf8 18. Rg4 $1 c5 19. Ne4 $1 a6 $1 20. b6 (20. Nxc5 Rxg4 21.
fxg4 axb5 $11) 20... Bxe4 21. Rxe4 $1 {[%cal Rf1c4]} (21. fxe4 Nd7 $15 {
0-1 Yuferov,S (2440)-Kula,R (2275)/Katowice 1992/TD (35)}) 21... Rd6 22. Rxc4
Rxb6 23. Rxc5 {A.Dreev} Nd7 $1 $11) 18. Rg8+ Nf8 19. Be2 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (19.
bxc6 Bxc6 20. Rg4 O-O-O 21. Bxc4 Kb8 $44) (19. Rg4 c5 20. Be2 (20. Ne4 O-O-O $1
) 20... Ng6 (20... Ke7 21. Ra4 Nd7 22. Rxc4 Rxc4 23. Rxc4 Ne5 24. Rf4 Rh8 25.
h4 Bxf3 26. Ra4 c4 27. Rxa7+ Kd6 28. Bxf3 Nxf3+ 29. Ke2 Nd4+ 30. Ke3 Nf5+ 31.
Kd2 Rxh4 32. Rxf7 $14 {1-0 Magerramov,E (2430)-Ivanov,S/Uzhgorod 1988/TD (49)})
21. Ra4 (21. Ne4 Bxe4 22. Rxe4 Nf4 $11) 21... Bd5 (21... O-O-O $1 22. Rxc4 Kb8
23. Rxc5 Nf4 $44) 22. Bxc4 Bxf3 23. Rg3 Bb7 (23... Bh5 24. Rg5 $14) 24. Bxe6 $1
Kf8 25. Bg4 Ne5 26. Be2 $14 {1-0 Ivanov,S (2574)-Somkin,E (2329)/St Petersburg
2000/EXT 2001 (48)}) 19... cxb5 20. Nxb5 Rd7 21. h4 f5 $1 {The king is the
most appropriate piece to fight against passed pawns in the endgame.} 22. h5
Kf7 23. Rg3 Bd5 $6 (23... Kf6 $142 24. Rxa7 Rxa7 25. Nxa7 Bxf3 26. Rxf3 Rxa7
27. Bxc4 Ra1+ 28. Kd2 Rh1 $11) 24. O-O-O $1 $14 {Castling establishes
excellent co-ordination between White's pieces, and he obtains some winning
chances. Further manoeuvring is quite complicated, White looks for a "second
weakness" (besides his passed h-pawn); Black would be glad to reduce the
number of pawns.} Rad8 25. Nc3 (25. f4 $5 $14) 25... Bc6 {Black must give up
his c4 pawn to free his pieces.} 26. Rh1 Kf6 27. Bxc4 Rh7 28. Kc2 Be8 29. Rgh3
Bf7 30. Rh4 Rc8 31. b3 Nd7 32. Be2 Ne5 33. f4 Nc6 34. Rd1 Rch8 35. Rd7 Be8 (
35... Rh6 $5) 36. Rxh7 Rxh7 {[%mdl 4096]} 37. Kd2 Rd7+ 38. Ke1 Nd4 39. Bd1 Kg7
40. Rh3 Rb7 41. Na4 $1 Bc6 (41... Rc7 $142 {preventing Nc5}) 42. Nc5 Rb5 43.
Nd3 (43. Rc3 $142 $1 a5 (43... Bd5 44. Rg3+ Kh8 45. Nd7) 44. Nxe6+ (44. Kd2 $14
) 44... Nxe6 45. Rxc6 Nxf4 $16 {Even here White's winning chances are not so
clear but at least his extra pawn is healthy enough.}) 43... Be8 44. Ne5 Rb4
45. Kd2 Nc6 46. Nc4 Ne7 47. Nd6 Rb8 48. h6+ Kh7 49. Re3 Bd7 (49... Bg6 $5 50.
Rxe6 Nd5) 50. Nf7 Nd5 51. Rg3 Rg8 52. Rxg8 Kxg8 53. Ng5 Nxf4 {Black has
restored the material deficit but his king is tied to White's h-pawn.} 54. b4
Bc6 55. Ke3 e5 56. Bb3+ Bd5 57. Bc2 Ba2 $6 {A strange move.} (57... Ng2+ 58.
Kd2 Nh4 59. b5 {looks dangerous for Black but}) (57... Ne6 58. h7+ Kg7 59. Nf7
$1 Kxh7 60. Bxf5+ Kg7 61. Bxe6 Bxe6 62. Nxe5 Kf6 63. Nc6 a6 {leads to a
typical theoretical draw: White can't either push his f-pawn too far or win
Black's a-pawn without giving up his f-pawn.}) 58. b5 $6 {An equally strange
reply, after which Black is out of danger.} (58. Bxf5 Nd5+ 59. Ke4 Nxb4 60.
Kxe5 a5 {is crucial. White can't immediately queen his pawns but the question
is whether he can encircle and capture Black's a-pawn. The issue requires deep
analysis but Black would have certainly faced a lot of problems in the actual
game, especially under time pressure.}) 58... Nd5+ 59. Kd2 e4 60. Bd1 Bc4 61.
Bh5 Nf6 62. Bg6 f4 63. Bxe4 (63. Nxe4 $144 Nxe4+ 64. Bxe4 Bxb5 65. Kc3 a5 $11 {
[%csl Ga5]}) 63... Nxe4+ 64. Nxe4 Bxb5 65. Ng5 a5 66. Kc3 Be2 67. Kd4 a4 68.
Kc3 Bd1 69. Kb4 Kh8 {Of course, White can't make progress on the kingside
without his king.} 70. Ne6 Kh7 71. Nxf4 Kxh6 72. Nd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 40th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2012.07.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2012.07.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 150"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8.
c4 Nb6 9. Nc3 Ba6 10. b3 O-O-O 11. Bb2 Re8 12. f4 f6 13. O-O-O fxe5 14. fxe5
Qxe5 15. Qxe5 Rxe5 16. Bd3 Re8 17. Rhf1 d5 $146 {Black cannot do without this
move for too long, since his queenside minor pieces need to be activated.} (
17... Be7 {Pavasovic,D (2544)-Rogic,D (2494)/St Veit 2000/EXT 2001/ (1-0, 49)})
18. cxd5 Bxd3 19. Rxd3 Nxd5 20. Nxd5 cxd5 21. Rxd5 Bd6 {Black's structure is
more fragmented, but his king is slightly safer. If we add the reduced
material remaining on board, the final result becomes obvious.} 22. Bxg7 Rhg8
23. Rf7 Re2 24. Rd2 Rxg7 25. Rxg7 Bf4 26. Rgd7 Rxg2 27. Kc2 Bxd2 28. Rxd2 Rg4
29. Rd3 Rg2+ 30. Rd2 Rg4 31. Rd3 Rg2+ 32. Rd2 Rg4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 40th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2012.07.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Gustafsson, Jan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2629"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2012.07.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 150"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3 c6 8. O-O
exd4 9. Nxd4 Re8 10. f3 d5 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Nxd5 cxd5 13. Rc1 (13. Qb3 {
is played more often}) 13... a5 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8] Black anticipates Qd1-b3 as
that is White's most logical way of development.} (13... dxe4 14. fxe4 Bxd4 (
14... Rxe4 $2 15. Ne6 $1 Qd7 16. Nxg7 Kxg7 17. Qb3 $40) 15. Bxd4 Nc6 16. Bf6
Qxd1 17. Rfxd1 Be6 18. b3 $14 {1/2 Dimitrijeski,B (2222)-Jovanic,O (2476)/
Rijeka 2011/EXT 2012 (44)}) (13... a6 14. Qb3 dxe4 15. fxe4 Rf8 16. Rxf7 Rxf7
17. Rf1 Bf6 18. e5 Kg7 {0-1 Handke,F (2413)-Atalik,S (2575)/Cappelle la Grande
2000/CBM 074 ext (28)} 19. exf6+ Rxf6 20. Qc3 $1 $18) (13... Nc6 14. Nxc6 bxc6
15. Rxc6 Bb7 16. Rc1 $1 (16. Rc2 dxe4 17. f4 (17. Qxd8 Raxd8 18. f4 Bd4 19.
Bxd4 (19. Kf2 Bxe3+ 20. Kxe3 Rd3+ $1) 19... Rxd4 20. Rc7 Bd5 21. Rd7 e3 22. Re1
Rd2 $15 {1/2 Shankland,S (2539)-Vorobiov,E (2574)/Dresden 2011/CBM 143 Extra 
(29)}) 17... Qe7 18. f5 Rac8 19. Bc4 Rxc4 20. Rxc4 Ba6 $11 {0-1 Guo Qi (2351)
-Ju Wenjun (2557)/Xinghua CHN 2012/The Week in Chess 909 (63)}) 16... dxe4 17.
Qxd8 Raxd8 18. f4 Bd4 19. Kf2 Bxe3+ 20. Kxe3 Kf8 21. Rc7 Re7 22. Rfc1 Bd5 23.
b3 h5 24. f5 gxf5 25. Bxh5 $14 {1/2 Gustafsson,J (2647)-Maze,S (2559)/
Aix-les-Bains 2011/CBM 142 (47)}) 14. Qb3 {Other moves are harmless but maybe
it was time to moderate ambitions, e.g.} (14. Bd3 Nc6 15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. Rxc6
dxe4 17. Bxe4 Qxd1 18. Rxd1 Bb7 19. Rc4 Bxe4 20. fxe4 Bxb2 $11) 14... a4 15.
Qxd5 (15. Qa3 $142 $1 dxe4 16. Rcd1 $44 {needs further checking}) 15... Qxd5
16. exd5 a3 $1 17. b3 (17. bxa3 Bd7 18. Nc2 Rxe3 19. Nxe3 Bd4) 17... Nc6 $1 {
[%cal Re8e3]} 18. Nc2 Rxe3 $1 {[%mdl 512] An excellent exchange sacrifice.
Black's a3-pawn becomes a decisive factor.} 19. Nxe3 Nb4 20. Rc4 (20. Rc7 $142
$1 Bd4 (20... Nxa2 21. d6 $1 $132) 21. Re7 Bf5 $1 {more convincing than} (21...
Nxa2 22. Re8+ Kg7 23. d6 Nc3 24. Kf2 $1 Nd5 25. d7) (21... Nxd5 22. Re8+ Kg7
23. Kh1 $1 Nxe3 24. Rc1) 22. Rd1 $1 Bc5 23. d6 Nxa2 {In this sharp position
Black keeps better prospects after all.}) 20... Nxa2 21. Ra4 $2 {A bad move
but White faces difficult defence in any case, e.g. after} (21. Nc2 Nc3 22. Bd3
a2 {[%csl Ga2]}) 21... Rxa4 22. bxa4 Bd4 23. Kf2 $2 (23. Bc4 $142 Bxe3+ 24. Kh1
Nb4 25. Ra1 {, although after} Bc5 26. Rxa3 Nxd5 27. Rd3 Ne7 {Black's material
advantage should be enough to win.}) 23... Nb4 24. Rc1 (24. Rd1 Ba7 25. Bc4 Nc2
26. Rd3 Bf5 27. Rc3 Nxe3 28. Rxe3 Bb1 29. d6 Kf8 30. d7 Bxe3+ 31. Kxe3 Ke7 $19)
24... a2 $1 25. Rxc8+ Kg7 26. Rc1 Nxd5 27. Rd1 Nxe3 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 40th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2012.07.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bartel, Mateusz"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A25"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2674"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2012.07.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 150"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 f5 {An ambitious setup. If White does not react in
the centre at an early stage, Black will get attacking chances on the kingside.
} 4. Bg2 ({The slightly sophisticated} 4. Nf3 {, planning d2-d4 followed by
the knight move to h4 is supposed to offer White better chances for taking
over the initiative.} Nf6 5. d4 e4 6. Nh4 {Gulko,B (2590)-Browne,W (2535) USA
1994 CBM 044 [Ftacnik] (1-0, 34)}) 4... Nf6 5. e3 {/\Nge2, d4} (5. d3 {is
considered ineffective after} Bb4 {Hickl,J (2602)-Prusikin,M (2504) Germany
2002 CBM 093 [Ribli] (1/2, 42)}) 5... d5 {The principled continuation. Black
takes advantage of the temporary weakness of the d3-square in order to gain
space in the centre.} 6. Nxd5 Nxd5 7. cxd5 Nb4 8. d3 Nxd5 9. Nf3 {
Traditionally, this position was considered as entirely viable for Black, but
after annotating this game I would state that White retains chances for slight
but enduring pressure, something typical of the English Opening.} Bb4+ {
Aiming at rapid development, but helping White to complete his, too.} (9... Bd6
10. O-O Nf6 11. Qb3 (11. e4 fxe4 12. dxe4 O-O 13. b4 {Kavalerov,A (2325)-Najer,
E (2495)/St Petersburg 1994/CBM 041/[Ribli] (1/2, 43)}) 11... Qe7 12. Nd2 (12.
e4 fxe4 13. dxe4 c6 14. Nh4 Be6 15. Qc2 O-O 16. Nf5 Bxf5 17. exf5 Bc5 18. Bg5
Bd4 19. Rae1 Qf7 20. Bxf6 gxf6 21. b4 Rac8 22. Rc1 c5 $132 {Thinius,M (2363)
-Erdos,V (2631)/Deizisau 2012/CBM 147 Extra (1/2, 24)}) 12... Rb8 13. Nc4 a6
14. Bd2 Be6 15. Qa4+ b5 16. Nxd6+ Qxd6 {Berkes,F (2606)-Medvegy,Z (2512)
Hungary 2008 (1/2, 20)} 17. Qc2 O-O 18. Rfc1 $14) 10. Bd2 Bxd2+ 11. Qxd2 Qd6
12. O-O O-O {White is slightly ahead in development and it is his turn to move.
These circumstances make Black's space advantage a bit shaky.} 13. e4 $5 $146 {
A thematic way of fighting for the initiative, although the moves previously
tried look viable, too.} (13. Rac1 Be6 14. Ng5 c6 15. Nxe6 Qxe6 16. Rfe1 Rad8
17. Qa5 a6 18. e4 Ne7 19. exf5 Qxf5 20. Qc5 Nd5 21. Re4 Qg5 22. Rce1 $14 {
Lobron,E (2590)-Sokolov,I (2665)/Nussloch 1996/CBM 053 (1/2, 49)}) (13. Qa5 b6
14. Qb5 c5 15. Qc4 Be6 16. Ng5 Rad8 17. b4 $5 cxb4 18. Nxe6 Qxe6 19. a3 bxa3
20. Rxa3 Rf7 21. Rfa1 a5 22. Rb3 Rf6 23. Rb5 Nb4 24. Rxe5 Qxc4 25. dxc4 $13 {
Komljenovic,D (2425)-Psakhis,L (2565)/Benasque 1998/EXT 2002 (1/2, 45)}) (13.
Rfe1 Be6 {Mareco,S (2187)-Garcia,G (2453)/Buenos Aires 2005/CBM 107 ext (1/2,
21)} 14. e4 $5 $14) 13... Ne7 (13... fxe4 14. dxe4 Ne7 15. Qc3 (15. Qxd6 cxd6
16. Rac1 Nc6 17. Rfd1 Bg4 18. Rd3 Rac8 19. Rcc3 Rfd8 $11) 15... Nc6 16. Rad1
Qf6 17. Rd5 Re8 18. Rc5 $14) 14. d4 $5 {Once again the most straightforward
continuation.} (14. Qc3 $5 {also deserves attention:} Nc6 15. exf5 Bxf5 16.
Rfe1 Rae8 (16... Qxd3 17. Qxd3 Bxd3 18. Ng5 $36) 17. Re3 {[%cal Ga1e1] /\Rae1})
14... fxe4 {It is not easy to find the best way of releasing the tension.} (
14... Nc6 $5 15. dxe5 Qxd2 16. Nxd2 f4 $5 (16... Nxe5 17. f4 Nd3 18. e5 $14)
17. Rfc1 $1 {[%cal Gg2f1] For Black, it is not that easy to consolidate on the
dark squares with ...Nxe5 as he would like to.}) 15. Nxe5 (15. dxe5 Qxd2 16.
Nxd2 Ng6 $11) 15... Bf5 $6 {This practically loses a pawn, with only chances
to survive.} (15... Nf5 $5 16. Rad1 c5 17. Bxe4 Nxd4 18. f4 Bh3 19. Rfe1 Rad8 {
White's position looks a bit more active, but his king is insecure. For
instance:} 20. Qa5 Ne2+ 21. Kf2 $8 Nd4 $8 22. Qxa7 Kh8 $44 {/\...Qxe5, /\...g5}
) 16. Qc3 Rad8 17. Rac1 Nd5 (17... Qxd4 18. Qxd4 Rxd4 19. Rxc7 $16) 18. Qb3 Qb6
19. Qxb6 axb6 20. Rfe1 c6 21. Bxe4 Bxe4 22. Rxe4 $16 {White has won the weak
pawn, but the presence of the Isolani makes the technical process rather
difficult.} Nf6 23. Rf4 Rfe8 24. Kf1 Nd5 25. Rf3 Nb4 26. Rc4 Na6 ({The knight
would embark a dangerous adventure after} 26... Nxa2 27. Ra4 (27. Ra3 b5) 27...
Ra8 (27... Nc1 28. Rc3) 28. Rfa3 Rxa4 29. Rxa4 Nc1 30. f4 b5 31. Ra3 $16) 27.
Re3 b5 28. Rc1 Nb4 29. a3 Nd5 30. Re2 Nb6 31. b3 Rf8 32. Nd3 $1 {After having
restricted the enemy knight, White chooses the best plan: to exchange his weak
pawn for the b7-pawn.} Rxd4 33. Nc5 Rb8 34. Re7 Nd5 35. Rxb7 Rxb7 36. Nxb7 $18
{To the extra pawn, White has added the better structure and the possibility
of creating an outside passed pawn.} Ne7 37. Ke2 Rd7 38. Nc5 Ra7 39. Ra1 Nd5
40. Kd3 Nb6 41. Kd4 Kf7 42. f4 Ra8 43. Nb7 Nd7 44. a4 bxa4 45. bxa4 Kf6 46. a5
Kf5 47. h3 h5 48. Nd6+ Ke6 49. Ne4 Kf5 50. a6 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 40th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2012.07.16"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C43"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2012.07.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 150"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nxd7 Bxd7 7. O-O Bd6 8.
Nc3 Qh4 {This interesting variation, leading to the loss of the right to
castle, was brought into the limelight by Karpov on the occasion of his 1996
match against Kamsky. Quite logically so, since Karpov frequently kept his
king in the centre in those years. After 16 years, the idea seems to have
maintained its viability. However, the patent is not Karpov's entirely, since
there had been a previous game played in the Soviet Union with this line.} 9.
g3 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Qg4 {Only this move was Karpov's real novelty. The idea is to
prevent the activation of the white queen.} (10... Qf6 {Kveinys,A (2345)
-Maciejewski,M (2320)/Gdynia 1989/EXT 97 (1-0, 33)}) 11. Re1+ Kf8 $5 {
Deviating from the initial path.} ({Black usually plays} 11... Kd8 {as
happened in the initial game Kamsky,G (2735)-Karpov,A (2770)/Elista 1996/CBM
054/[Gurevich,M] (0-1, 29)}) 12. Be2 Qg6 13. c4 dxc4 14. Bxc4 h5 15. Qf3 h4 16.
Qxb7 $146 (16. Ba3 hxg3 17. hxg3 Qh5 18. Bxd6+ cxd6 19. Qxh5 {1/2 Hansen,T 
(2382)-Moen,A (2295)/Tonsberg 2008/CBM 125 Extra}) 16... Re8 17. Rxe8+ Bxe8 18.
Bd3 Qh5 19. Qe4 hxg3 20. hxg3 Qd1+ 21. Bf1 Qh5 22. Bd3 Qd1+ 23. Bf1 Qh5 24. Bd3
1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 40th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2012.07.17"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D29"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2726"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2012.07.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 150"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8.
Qe2 Nc6 9. e4 b5 10. Bb3 Bb7 (10... Nd4 {is the main theoretical line. The
text move is considered less accurate but the present game doesn't confirm
that conclusion.}) 11. Nc3 (11. e5 {is another option.}) 11... Nd4 (11... Qc7
12. e5 Nd7 13. Bf4 Nd4 (13... g5 $6 14. Nxg5 Nd4 15. Qh5 O-O-O {1-0 Vera
Gonzalez Quevedo,R (2455)-Rechlis,G (2515)/Berlin West 1988/TD (27)} 16. Kh1
$16 {R.Vera}) (13... Ne7 14. Ne4 Ng6 15. Bg3 Bxe4 16. Qxe4 $16 {[%cal Gh2h4,
Gh4h5] 1-0 Ehlvest,J (2610)-Zilberman,Y (2560)/Eupen 1997/CBM 062/[Huzman] (27)
The advantage of two bishops and possibility of an attack on the kingside
gives White a clear advantage}) (13... Na5 14. Bc2 Rc8 {1-0 Vera Gonzalez
Quevedo,R (2480)-Espinoza,R (2355)/Durango 1989/EXT 2010 (31)} 15. Rac1 $36)
14. Nxd4 Bxd4 15. Rac1 Nc5 16. Rfd1 Rd8 17. Qg4 O-O 18. Bg5 Bxe5 19. Bxd8 Rxd8
$14 {1-0 Hjartarson,J (2605)-Ross,D (2345)/Winnipeg 1997/CBM 060 ext (24)}) (
11... Nd7 12. e5 Nd4 13. Nxd4 Bxd4 14. Rd1 Qb6 15. Qd2 Qc6 16. Bd5 exd5 17.
Qxd4 O-O 18. Nxd5 Rfe8 19. Bf4 Qxd5 20. Qxd5 Bxd5 21. Rxd5 Nb6 22. Rd2 Nc4 23.
Re2 $14 {1/2 Georgiev,K (2675)-Gyimesi,Z (2505)/Ulcinj 1998/EXT 1999 (50)}) 12.
Nxd4 Bxd4 13. e5 Nd5 $1 $146 {[%mdl 8]} (13... Nd7 {leads to the
above-mentioned line.}) 14. Nxd5 (14. Rd1 Bxc3 15. bxc3 O-O {is hardly
dangerous for Black.}) 14... Bxd5 15. Rd1 Bxb3 16. axb3 Qb6 17. Bd2 O-O 18. Ba5
Qa7 19. Rd2 f6 {The simplest course.} 20. exf6 ({Or} 20. Bc3 Bxc3 21. bxc3 Qc5
$5 22. exf6 Qxc3 23. Qxe6+ Rf7 24. Rad1 Qxf6 {, and Black should safely reach
a draw.}) 20... Rxf6 21. Rxd4 Qxd4 22. Bc3 Qf4 23. Bxf6 Qxf6 $11 {Black has a
weak e6-pawn but White's doubled pawns need protection, too. Therefore the
position is equal.} 24. Rc1 Qf5 25. h3 Qd5 26. Qe3 h6 27. b4 Rf8 28. f3 Rd8 29.
Kh1 Kh8 30. Re1 Qd4 31. Qc3 Qxc3 32. bxc3 Rd3 33. Rxe6 Rxc3 34. Rxa6 Rc4 35.
Rb6 Rxb4 36. f4 Rxf4 37. Rxb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 40th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2012.07.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Fridman, Daniel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D93"]
[WhiteElo "2655"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2012.07.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 150"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Ne4 8. Rc1
(8. Be5 {has the abstract drawback of moving again with an already developed
piece. A recent game of a 2700+ player went} Nxc3 9. Bxc3 Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 Qa5
$36 {Markov,M (2261)-Wang Hao (2724)/Khanty Mansiysk 2010/CBM 139 (0-1, 33)})
8... Nd7 (8... Nxc3 9. bxc3 {is more popular. By the way, after} Qa5 10. cxd5
Nd7 {White could transpose to the game with} 11. Nd4 {(although this has never
happened in practice!)}) 9. cxd5 Qa5 10. Nd4 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Qxa2 {"Almost" a
novelty.} (11... Nxc5 {is the common move.}) 12. Qb3 $146 (12. c6 Nc5 $132 {
Somogyi,I (2290)-Kun,S (2295)/Hungary 1992/EXT 2000 (1-0, 44)}) 12... Qxb3 13.
Nxb3 a5 $132 {The same as in his game with Gustafsson, this pawn advance on
the 13th move creates strong counterplay.} 14. c6 Nf6 15. d6 bxc6 16. dxe7 Re8
17. Nd4 Bd7 18. Bd6 Ne4 19. Ba3 c5 20. Bd3 Rxe7 21. Bxe4 Rxe4 22. Bxc5 Rc8 23.
Ba3 f5 24. g3 {White has managed to keep his extra pawn, but the bishop pair
and the potentially dangerous a5-pawn offer Black ample compensation.} g5 25.
Kd2 Rce8 26. Rhe1 f4 27. exf4 Rxe1 28. Rxe1 Rxe1 29. Kxe1 gxf4 30. Kd2 Kf7 31.
Kd3 fxg3 32. hxg3 h5 33. f4 Bf6 34. Kc4 h4 35. gxh4 Bxh4 36. Nf3 Bf6 37. Ne5+
Bxe5 38. fxe5 Ke6 39. Bd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 40th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2012.07.20"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "267"]
[EventDate "2012.07.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 150"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 {In certain cases, the
white bishop is exposed on d2, but in others it may prove useful. This game
will feature the latter possibility.} 6. Nf3 c6 7. O-O Nbd7 8. Qb3 O-O 9. Rc1
$5 {An interesting move that came into the limelight recently. White waits for
Black to define his intentions and makes use of the availability of the
c1-square. Later, he will aim to prove the usefulness of the bishop's presence
on d2.} ({With the bishop on c1, White could develop normally with} 9. Nc3 {
, but here Black would gain an important tempo with} Nb6 10. c5 Nc4 11. Bf4 {
Onischuk,A (2627)-Dautov,R (2606)/Germany 2001/CBM 081/[Dautov] (1/2, 42)})
9... Nb6 ({In principle,} 9... b6 {is precisely what White would be waiting
for and it dooms Black to a passive position with a symmetrical structure after
} 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Na3 (11. Bf4 Ba6 12. Nc3 Nh5 13. Be3 f5 $2 14. Qa4 Nb8 15.
Ne5 $16 {Pergericht,D (2295)-Abdulghafour,Y/Manila 1992/TD (1-0, 44)}) 11...
Bb7 12. Bb4 Bxb4 13. Qxb4 a6 14. e3 Rc8 $14 {In Ivanchuk,V (2766)-Gelfand,B 
(2739)/Wijk aan Zee 2012/CBM 147 ((0-1, 42) Black not only managed to keep
White's initiative within tolerable limits, but even won after Ivanchuk went
too far with his winning attempts.}) ({In practice, White could not show
anything convincing after} 9... a5 $5 {, restricting the d2-bishop and aiming
to gain space with ...a5-a4.} 10. a4 Ne4 (10... Nb6 11. Ne5 Nfd7 12. Nxd7 Bxd7
13. c5 Nc4 14. Be1 b6 $132 {Kozul,Z (2579)-Palac,M (2552)/Bihac 2010/CBM 136
Extra (1/2, 24)}) 11. Be1 f5 12. Nc3 Kh8 13. e3 Qe8 14. Ne2 g5 15. Nd2 Qh5 16.
f3 Nd6 17. Qd1 $13 {Salov,V (2630)-Short,N (2650)/Rotterdam 1989/CBM 013 (1-0,
43)}) (9... Ne4 {unexpectedely led to huge complications after:} 10. Bb4 Bxb4
11. Qxb4 a5 (11... Qb6 {does not contribute to the fight for space. The only
idea is to grab a pawn, but White can deal with that.} 12. Qb3 Ndf6 13. Nc3 Rd8
14. e3 dxc4 $5 {Otherwise Black would be short of constructive moves.} 15. Qc2
Nd6 16. e4 Nd7 17. Rd1 Nf8 18. Qe2 Qa6 19. e5 Nf5 20. Ne4 $44 {Romanishin,O 
(2525)-Kharitonov,A (2500)/Lvov 1990/CBM 018 (1/2, 39)}) 12. Qa3 b5 $5 {
Strategically, this looks risky, but Black plays for the initiative, taking
advantage of the somewhat unfavourable placement of the white queen.} 13. Ne5
$5 {White does not step back from real fight either.} (13. cxd5 cxd5 14. Nbd2
b4 $132) 13... Nxe5 14. dxe5 f5 (14... bxc4 15. Bxe4 dxe4 16. Nc3 e3 17. f4 $44
) 15. f3 (15. cxb5 cxb5 {[%csl Rf2][%cal Gd8b6]} 16. Qe3 d4 $36) 15... b4 $1 (
15... Qb6+ $2 16. c5 $18) 16. Qd3 (16. Qe3 d4 $17 {[%cal Ge4c5]}) 16... Qb6+
17. e3 dxc4 18. Qd4 (18. Rxc4 Ba6) 18... c5 (18... Qxd4 19. exd4 Ng5 20. f4 Ne4
21. Bxe4 fxe4 22. Nd2 $14) 19. Qd1 (19. Qxc4 Ba6 20. Qc2 c4 21. fxe4 Qxe3+ 22.
Kh1 Rad8 $44 {[%csl Ra1,Rb1]}) 19... c3 20. bxc3 Rd8 21. Qe1 Ng5 22. f4 Ne4 23.
Bxe4 fxe4 24. Nd2 Rd3 25. Nxe4 c4 $13 {Ljubojevic,L (2580)-Jussupow,A (2610)/
Rotterdam 1989/CBM 013 (0-1, 42)}) 10. Ba5 $5 $146 {A consequent continuation.}
({Once again, it makes little sense to block the queenside:} 10. c5 Nc4 11. Bf4
b6 $1 {After this well-timed pawn break, White will not be able to maintain
the blockade on the dark squares.} 12. Na3 Nxa3 13. Qxa3 bxc5 14. dxc5 a5 15.
Bd6 Bb7 16. Ne5 Ne8 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. e4 Qc7 19. Qc3 Nf6 20. exd5 exd5 21. b3 (
{White plays without a clear plan. He could have tried regrouping with} 21. Nf3
{, aiming to block the d5-pawn with the knight, but this would allow Black to
get irritating activity:} Ne4 22. Qc2 a4 23. Nd4 Qe5 24. Rd1 Rfe8 $13 {[%cal
Ge4g5,Gg5e6,Ga8a5]}) 21... Rfe8 22. Re1 Rad8 23. Qd4 Ne4 24. Nd3 Ba6 25. Nf4
Nf6 $11 {San Segundo Carrillo,P (2415)-Salov,V (2655)/Madrid 1992/CBM 030 (1/2,
55)}) 10... dxc4 {Black has to accept the pawn.} (10... Qe8 11. Nbd2 $14) 11.
Qd1 ({White would get nowhere with} 11. Rxc4 Qd5 12. Bxb6 axb6 13. Ne5 Qd8 {
Black's queen's rook is developed already, and the bishop pair could become
dangerous if the positon opens up. Moreover, Black has the plan of gaining
space with ...b6-b5-b4.} 14. Nd2 (14. Rxc6 $5 Qxd4 15. Nf3 Qd8 16. Rc1 Bd7 $11)
14... Nd7 $5) 11... Qd5 12. Bc3 Qb5 {The idea to transfer the queen to a6 does
not seem right. Black will not be able to keep the extra pawn anyway.
Eventually, White will force the queen exchange under very favourable
circumstances, taking advantage of the reduced mobility of the black one.} (
12... Ne4 $5) (12... Qh5 $5) 13. a4 Qa6 14. Nbd2 Nbd5 (14... Rd8 15. e3 $14 {
[%cal Gg2f1,Ga4a5]}) 15. Ne5 (15. e3 $5 {[%cal Gg2f1]}) 15... c5 {This usually
is a freeing move, but here it weakens the long diagonal and the b5-square.} (
15... Nxc3 16. bxc3 Nd7 17. Nexc4 Nb6 18. Ne5 Nd7 $14 {may be a better try for
survival.}) 16. Ndxc4 Nxc3 17. bxc3 $16 Nd7 18. Qb3 Rb8 19. Qb5 $1 {Now
White's space advantage becomes overwhelming.} Qxb5 20. axb5 cxd4 21. cxd4 Nxe5
22. Nxe5 f6 23. Nc4 Bd7 24. b6 axb6 (24... a6 25. Na5 Bd8 26. Nxb7 Bxb6 27. e3
Bb5 28. Nd6 $16) 25. Nxb6 Be8 {Black is passive and has numerous weaknesses.
The least White should count on getting is a rook ending with 5P vs 4P on the
same wing, which would offer reasonable winning chances.} 26. Rab1 {This loses
two tempi, but White's domination is such that cannot be shaken by this kind
of "detail".} (26. e3 $5 $16) 26... Bg6 27. Ra1 Rfd8 28. e3 Bd3 29. Bh3 f5 (
29... Kf7 30. Rc7 $16) 30. Bf1 $1 {After having provoked a new weakness, the
bishop was not useful anymore.} Bxf1 31. Kxf1 Rd6 32. Rcb1 Bd8 33. Nc4 Rd7 34.
Ne5 Rc7 35. Ra6 $5 b6 36. Kg2 Bf6 $2 37. Nd3 $2 ({Missing an immediate win with
} 37. Rbxb6 $1 $18 {Because of his back rank weakness (both players must have
overlooked that f7 is controlled by the knight), Black loses two pawns.
Kramnik must have felt in his element when reaching this endgame, but somehow
failed to display the required accuracy at the critical moments. This is just
one of his missed chances, eventually leading to a frustrating draw...}) 37...
Rcb7 38. Rb5 Bd8 39. Re5 Re7 40. Nf4 (40. d5 $5 exd5 41. Rxf5 Rd7 42. Nb4 b5 (
42... d4 43. Nc6 Rc8 44. Nxd4 $18) 43. Rxd5 Rxd5 44. Nxd5 $16 {With his rook
behind the passed pawn, Black has saving chances, but should refrain from:} b4
$2 45. Nxb4 Rxb4 46. Ra8 $18) 40... Kf7 41. Nd3 Rc8 42. Rb5 Kf6 43. h4 g6 44.
Kf3 h5 45. Ra2 Rb7 46. Ne5 Kg7 47. Ke2 Kf6 48. Kd3 Rbc7 49. Kd2 Rb7 50. Kd3
Rbc7 51. Rb3 Rb7 52. Nc4 Bc7 53. Rb5 Rcb8 54. Rab2 Ra7 55. Rc2 ({Kramnik
rightly hopes to get a better ending than that arising after} 55. Nxb6 Bxb6 56.
Rxb6 Rxb6 57. Rxb6 $16) 55... Ke7 56. e4 fxe4+ 57. Kxe4 Rd8 58. Ne3 (58. Nxb6
Bxb6 59. Rxb6 Ra4 60. Rd2 Kf6 $14) 58... Rd7 59. Rc6 Ra4 60. Nc4 Kf7 61. Rb3
Ra2 62. f4 Ra4 63. Ke3 Ra1 64. Nd2 Ke7 65. Nf3 Ra7 66. Rb5 Ra5 67. Rxa5 bxa5
68. Ke4 {This allows Black to set up a defensive system.} (68. Ng5 {would have
been more restrictive:} Bd6 69. Ra6 Rb7 70. Rxa5 Rb3+ 71. Ke4 Rxg3 72. Ra7+ Ke8
73. Nxe6 Rg4 74. Rg7 $16) 68... Bd6 (68... Bb8 $5 $14 69. Ra6 $140 Ra7) 69. Ra6
Rb7 (69... Bc7 70. Ne5 Bxe5 71. fxe5 $16) 70. Rxa5 Bb8 71. Ra6 Rb3 72. Ng5 Rxg3
$2 (72... Bd6 73. Ra7+ Ke8 74. Nxe6 $16 {would transpose to the line given on
move 68.}) 73. Rxe6+ Kd7 74. Rxg6 Rg4 75. Rg7+ Kc8 76. Ne6 Rxh4 {White is
winning, but after 6 hours of play it is not easy to evaluate the consequences
of Black's counterplay based on his h-pawn.} 77. Rh7 (77. Rf7 $18 {/\Kd5}) (77.
Kd5 $1 {would have led to the game position more directly:} Bxf4 78. Kc6 Kb8
79. Rb7+ ({Actually, the most elegant win is} 79. Rd7 $5 {/\80.Kb6 Kc8 Rd8#,
but this is not easy to see during the game.}) 79... Ka8 80. Rb3 $1 {The rook
stands well here, cutting off the enemy king and slowing down the h-pawn.} Rg4
(80... Bh2 81. Nc7+ Bxc7 82. Kxc7 $18) 81. Nxf4 Rxf4 82. d5 $18) 77... Bd6 78.
Kd5 Bxf4 79. Kc6 Kb8 80. Kb6 {Getting here one move later than in the previous
line, which does not change anything, of course.} (80. Rd7 $1 $18) (80. Rb7+ $1
$18) 80... Kc8 81. Kc6 Kb8 82. Rb7+ Ka8 83. Rb5 $6 ({This loses a tempo over} 
83. Rb3 $1 $18 {, but should still win.}) 83... Rg4 84. Ra5+ $2 {This seems to
finally spoil the win.} (84. Nxf4 $1 Rxf4 85. d5 Rc4+ 86. Kd7 h4 87. Rb3 $18 {
Even with a tempo less, White is in time to promote his pawn:} Rg4 88. d6 Rg3
89. Rxg3 $1 hxg3 90. Kc6 g2 91. d7 g1=Q 92. d8=Q+ Ka7 93. Qc7+ Ka6 94. Qb7+ Ka5
95. Qb5#) 84... Kb8 85. Rxh5 ({Now it is too late for} 85. Rb5+ Ka7 (85... Kc8
86. Rxh5 $18) 86. Nxf4 Rxf4 87. d5 Rc4+ 88. Kd7 h4 89. Rb3 Rg4 90. d6 Rg3 91.
Rb2 h3) 85... Bg3 {The world title match played earlier this year was decided
by an ending with the same material as in our current position. However, Leko
defends better than Gelfand.} 86. Rh8+ Ka7 87. Rh7+ Kb8 88. Rb7+ Kc8 89. Rf7
Kb8 90. d5 Rc4+ 91. Nc5 Rc2 92. Rb7+ Ka8 93. Rb5 Bh2 94. Rb1 Ka7 95. Rb7+ Ka8
96. Rg7 Kb8 97. Rg8+ Ka7 98. Rg7+ Kb8 99. Rg6 Ka7 100. d6 $11 {Finally
resigning himself to the inevitable.} Bxd6 101. Rxd6 Rc1 102. Rd2 Kb8 103. Ra2
Rc3 104. Rb2+ Kc8 105. Re2 Kd8 106. Kd6 Rc1 107. Nb7+ Kc8 108. Re7 Rd1+ 109.
Kc6 Rc1+ 110. Nc5 Kd8 111. Re2 Rc3 112. Kd6 Rc1 113. Ne6+ Kc8 114. Rd2 Rc3 115.
Nc5 Rc1 116. Re2 Kd8 117. Re3 Rc2 118. Ne6+ Kc8 119. Rd3 Rc1 120. Rd5 Rc2 121.
Rd1 Rc3 122. Nf4 Rb3 123. Rc1+ Kb7 124. Nd5 Rb2 125. Rc7+ Kb8 126. Rh7 Rb1 127.
Nc3 Rb6+ 128. Kc5 Rb3 129. Ne4 Rb7 130. Rh8+ Kc7 131. Nd6 Rb1 132. Rh7+ Kd8
133. Nb7+ Ke8 134. Kc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 40th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2012.07.21"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[Annotator "Caruana,F"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2012.07.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 150"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{It was clear to me from the beginning that this would be a fighting game.
Vladimir had just played a very long (nearly 8 hours!) and certainly
disappointing game against Leko the previous round, so I felt it was a good
time to strike.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. c3 O-O
7. Nbd2 Ne7 8. d4 {This is of course the only testing move. After others Black
will play ...Ng6, ...c6 and ...Bb6, with a comfortable position.} exd4 9. cxd4
Bb6 10. b3 {I was told this move looks unusual, but I just wanted to develop
my bishop. Other possibilities are 10.h3, 10.Re1 or 10.Bd3, which all lead to
unclear positions.} d5 {In general this is the principled and correct course
of action. The play now becomes very forcing, as Black tries to undermine
White's center.} 11. e5 Ne4 12. Bd3 Bf5 13. Qe2 Nc6 14. Bb2 Nxd2 15. Qxd2 Be4 {
A crucial move. If Black allows the exchange of bishops on White's terms then
he will face a worse position without active prospects.} 16. Be2 $5 {It was
difficult to take this decision. The alternative would result in a sterile
position, while this leads to double-edged play.} (16. Qe3 {is the safe option.
} Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Bxd4 18. Bxd4 Nxd4 19. Bxh7+ Kxh7 20. Qd3+ Kg8 21. Qxd4 {
, with a roughly equal positon.}) 16... f6 {The computer suggests other
options for Black, but I don't see any reason to avoid this move, which is the
most natural and principled.} 17. b4 $1 {This was my idea when I played 16.Be2.
Now Black will be forced to reckon with the possibility of b5 on each move.
Additionally, I prevent ...Ba5.} fxe5 18. dxe5 {Now Vladimir sank into a long
thought. At first I was very worried I had overlooked something and Black
would have a strong attack, but after his indecisiveness I became more at ease.
} Kh8 $6 {This move doesn't meet the demands of the position. Black had two
viable options, one aggressive and one prophylactic.} ({I was expecting} 18...
h6 {, which prevents Ng5, and I wasn't sure what the evaluation of the
position is after} 19. b5 Na5 20. Rae1 {Here, the computer points out a strong
idea:} c6 {, undermining the b5-pawn with a satisfactory position.}) ({The
other possibility, which I hadn't taken seriously during the game, is} 18... d4
$5 {, immediately starting aggresive counterplay. The positions after this
move are incredibly complex, with variations branching out at after every move.
A possible continuation out of many is} 19. Rae1 Bd5 20. b5 Ba5 21. Qd1 Bxe1
22. Rxe1 {and the machine estimates this as roughly equal, although it's not
clear to me exactly what's going on at first sight!}) 19. b5 Ne7 ({The problem
for Black, compared to 18...h6, is that after} 19... Na5 {, White has the
strong} 20. Ng5) 20. Ng5 {This move isn't bad, but 20.Nd4 was cleaner.} ({
Stronger, and less complicated, was} 20. Nd4 Nf5 21. f3 Nxd4 22. Bxd4 Bg6 23.
Rac1 {, with a stable positional advantage.}) 20... Ng6 {A very natural move.
It seems like Black is getting a strong initiative, but after my next move it
becomes clear White has everything under control.} ({Perhaps better chances
were offered by} 20... Nf5 21. e6 (21. Ne6 $2 Qh4 22. Nxf8 Rxf8 {gives Black a
strong attack.}) 21... Qe7 {, but after the accurate} 22. a4 $1 {Black is
still clearly worse.}) 21. g3 $1 {Simply preventing ...Nf4. Next White can
consider ideas like e6, h4-h5 or just taking the bishop on e4 at the right
moment.} Qe7 (21... Ba5 {is met by the calm} 22. Qc1) 22. e6 Rf5 23. Nxe4 {
A good time to trade, since I'm ready to invade on d7 and head to an endgame.}
dxe4 24. Qd7 Raf8 25. Qxe7 {Again simplest is strongest!} ({In the event of} 
25. Kh1 {, Black can consider a move like} Bc5 {, and when the bishop comes to
d6 it won't be easy to break through Black's defence.}) 25... Nxe7 26. Ba3 Re8
{A good move I had underestimated.} ({I was expecting} 26... Bc5 27. Bxc5 Rxc5
28. Rac1 Rxc1 29. Rxc1 c6 30. Rd1 {, with a decisive advantage for White.}) 27.
Rad1 h5 $2 {The idea behind this move is to prevent g4, but it's too slow.} ({
Black had to go for the exchange sacrifice with} 27... Nd5 28. g4 Re5 29. Bb2
R8xe6 30. Bc4 c6 31. bxc6 bxc6 32. Bxe5 Rxe5 {, with good drawing chances.})
28. Rd7 {Now it's hard to find any salvation for Black.} Nd5 29. Rf7 Nf6 30.
Bc4 {Now White has complete control, and with the rook on f7 Black can hardly
move.} Bc5 31. Bb2 Re7 32. Bd4 Bd6 33. Re1 {A reasonable move, but maybe not
the most accurate.} ({After the strong} 33. f3 $1 {, Black is unable to
recapture on f3, so next fxe4 will open the position with decisive effect.})
33... b6 ({Black should have avoided Rxe4 with} 33... Kh7 {Here White can try}
34. f4 $5 {, and since Black can hardly move White has unlimited time to
improve his position.}) 34. Rf8+ Kh7 35. Rxe4 {Winning a pawn. Kramnik trys a
last desperate shot .... which nearly works!} Rxf2 $5 (35... Nxe4 36. Rxf5 Kg6
37. Rf3 {is clearly hopeless for Black.}) 36. Kxf2 $2 {A huge mistake made in
time trouble, which greatly endangers the win.} ({After the cool} 36. Re1 $1 {
, Black would have faced a hopeless situation.} Rd2 37. Be3 Bc5 38. Bxc5 bxc5
39. Rf7 {, and it's all over.}) 36... Nxe4+ 37. Kg2 Nc5 {Now I realized, to my
great disappointment, that the b3-square is controlled by Black's knight, so
there's no way to switch to the b1-h7 diagonal.} 38. Ra8 Nxe6 $4 {A very
surprising blunder. Black was close to the draw, but after this greedy capture
I can weave a deadly net around his king.} (38... Kg6 {forces the trade of
White's bishop:} 39. Bxc5 Bxc5 40. Rxa7 Kf6 41. Ra8 g6 {, and Black will make
a draw.}) 39. Bd3+ Kh6 40. h4 (40. Be3+ g5 41. Rg8 {is even faster.}) 40... g6
41. Rh8+ Rh7 42. Rg8 {Now everything becomes clear. Black must sacrifice the
exchange.} Rg7 43. Bxg7+ Kh7 44. Re8 Nxg7 45. Re3 {More accurate than taking
the a7-pawn. Black is nearly unable to move his pieces, and soon he will be
forced into zugzwang.} Kh6 46. a4 {Slow and steady.} Kh7 47. Kh3 Kh6 48. Bc2
Kh7 49. g4 hxg4+ 50. Kxg4 Kh6 51. Re2 Bb4 52. Re5 {The lethal switch to g5.}
Nh5 53. Re6 {I really enjoyed this game with its creative, unusual play that
resulted from the opening. After this win I climbed into shared first place,
and with some luck in the final round I managed to clinch first place on
tiebreaks.} 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 40th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2012.07.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Meier, Georg"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2644"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2012.07.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 150"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 c5 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 {No big theory today... Keine große
Theorie heute...} Nc6 5. d4 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 (6... exd5 {is more common: ist
geläufiger:} 7. Bb5 Bd6 8. dxc5 Bxc5 9. O-O O-O 10. b3 Bg4 11. Bb2 Bd6 12. h3
Bh5 13. Be2 a6 14. Nh4 Bxe2 15. Nxe2 $14 {Kramnik-Polgar, Baku rapid 2010}) 7.
Bc4 (7. Bd3 cxd4 8. exd4 {is a tabiya. ist eine Tabiya.}) 7... cxd4 8. exd4 Be7
9. O-O O-O 10. Re1 {Here Georg was already on his own obviously, but managed
to find over the board a very interesting way of playing. Hier war Georg
offensichtlich bereits auf sich allein gestellt, schaffte es aber, am Brett
eine sehr interessante Spielweise zu finden.} Bf6 {Threatening ...Nb6, winning
a pawn. Droht ...Nb6, was einen Bauern gewinnt.} 11. Bb3 (11. Ne4 {is the main
theoretical continuation, but in general I believe White should try to put
pressure on Black's knight on d5 if he wants to fight for advantage in this
structure. ist die theoretische Hauptfortsetzung, aber generell glaube ich,
Weiß sollte versuchen, den schwarzen Springer auf d5 unter Druck zu setzen,
wenn er in dieser Struktur um Vorteil kämpfen will.} b6 12. a3 Bb7 13. Qd3 Rc8
14. Bd2 Nce7 {with a very complicated position, but Black is perfectly fine in
my opinion. mit einer sehr komplizierten Stellung, aber Schwarz steht meines
Erachtens absolut ordentlich.}) 11... Nde7 {A new and very unusual way of
playing this type of position, but possibly the best, at least computer
programs give it their approval. Eine neue und sehr ungewöhnliche Weise,
diesen Stellungstyp zu behandeln, aber womöglich die beste, zumindest geben
ihr Computerprogramme ihre Zustimmung.} (11... Nce7 12. Ne5 $5) (11... b6 12.
Nxd5 exd5 13. Ne5 $14) 12. Bf4 $5 {I was not sure that this continuation is
entirely correct, but it seemed to me to be the only way to complicate matters
and to play for a win. White has some play for the pawn, but objectively Black
is fine, of course. Ich war nicht sicher, ob diese Fortsetzung vollauf korrekt
ist, aber sie schien mir der einzige Weg zu sein, die Dinge zu komplizieren
und auf Gewinn zu spielen. Weiß hat einiges Spiel für den Bauern, aber
objektiv steht Schwarz natürlich ordentlich.} (12. Be3 {was "correct", but
leading to simplifications and very likely to a draw. war "korrekt", führte
aber zu Vereinfachung und sehr wahrscheinlich zum Remis.} Nf5 13. d5 {There is
no decent way to protect this pawn. Es gibt keine ordentliche Möglichkeit,
diesen Bauern zu decken.} Nxe3 14. Rxe3 exd5 $11) (12. Re4 {is too artificial
and just can't be right - ist zu künstlich und kann einfach nicht richtig sein
-} b6 $11) 12... Bxd4 {The simplest. Am einfachsten.} (12... Nxd4 {the
computer likes even more. gefällt dem Computer sogar noch besser.} 13. Ne4 (13.
Nxd4 Bxd4 {and Black is not worse, at a minimum, although the position is
still very complicated. und Schwarz steht zumindest nicht schlechter, obwohl
die Stellung noch immer sehr kompliziert ist.} 14. Qf3 (14. Nb5 Bb6) (14. Bg5
f6) 14... Ng6 15. Bg3 Qf6) 13... Nxb3 14. Nxf6+ gxf6 15. Qxb3 {is very unclear.
ist sehr unklar.}) 13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14. Bc4 {At least White has two bishops now.
Wenigstens hat Weiß jetzt die zwei Läufer.} Nec6 {By far not the only move,
but the most "human". Bei weitem nicht der einzige Zug, aber der
"menschlichste".} 15. Rc1 {A good move, keeping the tension. Ein guter Zug,
die Spannung wird aufrechterhalten.} (15. Qh5 {was tempting, but I didn't like
it because of war verlockend, missfiel mir aber wegen} Qa5 $1 {and White has
to change queens. und Weiß muss die Damen tauschen.} 16. Qxa5 Nxa5 17. Bd3 Nac6
$11) 15... Qf6 16. Bc7 $1 (16. Bd6 Rd8 17. Ne4 Qg6) 16... e5 {My opponent,
being seriously behind on the clock, is trying to clarify the position. A very
logical and natural decision, but things are not so easy for Black here
suddenly. Mein Gegner, auf der Uhr ernstlich im Hintertreffen, versucht, die
Position zu klären. Eine sehr logische und natürliche Entscheidung, aber hier
ist die Sache für Schwarz plötzlich nicht so einfach.} ({Probably it was
better to play Besser war wahrscheinlich} 16... Qe7 17. Bg3 Rd8 18. Qh5 Nf5 19.
Bf4 Bd7 {with an unclear complicated position, where Black is rather solid,
but White has his play for the pawn also. mit einer unklaren komplizierten
Stellung, wo Schwarz recht fest steht, aber auch Weiß sein Spiel für den
Bauern hat.}) 17. Nd5 Qg5 18. f4 $1 {Now it gets tactical, and you need to
calculate variations precisely. Nun wird es taktisch, und man muss Varianten
genau berechnen.} exf4 19. Bxf4 Qh4 (19... Qg4 20. Be3 {- a choice of the
computer - - eine Computerwahl -} (20. Bd6 $5) 20... Qxd1 21. Rexd1 Ne6 22. Bb5
{and White has more than enough play for the pawn. und Weiß hat mehr als genug
Spiel für den Bauern.}) (19... Qg6 {is not an option: ist keine Option:} 20.
Qxd4 $1 Nxd4 21. Ne7+ Kh8 22. Nxg6+ hxg6 23. Bd6 $16 Rd8 24. Be7) 20. Bg3 (20.
Re4 $5 {I was trying to make this work during the game but it is not clear:
Während der Partie versuchte ich, dies zum Funktionieren zu bringen, aber es
ist nicht klar:} Bg4 (20... Ne6 $13 21. g3 Qd8 22. Be3) 21. Qd2 (21. Bd6 $13)
21... Nf3+ $1 22. gxf3 Bxf3 {with a total mess, for instance mit totalem
Durcheinander, zum Beispiel} 23. Bd3 Qg4+ 24. Kf2 Qg2+ 25. Ke3 Qh3 $13) 20...
Qd8 $2 {The only mistake of my opponent in this game, but in such a sharp
position you pay the full price for it. Der einzige Fehler meines Gegners in
dieser Partie, aber in einer solchen scharfen Stellung zahlt man den vollen
Preis dafür.} (20... Qg5 {was obligatory, with a very sharp play which seems
to end in a more or less equal position: war Pflicht, mit sehr scharfem Spiel,
welches in eine mehr oder weniger ausgeglichene Stellung zu münden scheint:}
21. Re4 $1 (21. Bf4 {White has a draw if he wants, of course. Weiß hat ein
natürlich ein Remis, wenn er will.} Qh4) 21... Nf5 $1 (21... Bf5 22. Rxd4 Nxd4
23. Bf4 $1) 22. Rg4 $1 Qh6 $8 (22... Qd8 23. Bc7) 23. Bf4 Qe6 $8 24. Nc7 (24.
Qf1 $5 $13) 24... Qe4 $1 25. Nxa8 Ne3 26. Qf3 $1 Qxf3 27. gxf3 Nxc4 $1 28. Rg2
N4e5 29. Bxe5 Nxe5 {Not an easy line to calculate, I must admit. Ein nicht
leicht zu berechnendes Abspiel, muss ich zugeben.}) 21. Nc7 Rb8 22. Nb5 Ra8 23.
Bd6 $1 {That is what Georg has missed in his calculations. Now Black is in
trouble all of a sudden. Dies ist, was Georg in seinen Berechnungen übersehen
hatte. Urplötzlich ist Schwarz in Schwierigkeiten.} Re8 {Not seeing a nice
combination which is winning by force. Anyway, there was nothing really
satisfactory for Black already. Übersieht eine schöne Kombination, die
forciert gewinnt. Allerdings gab es sowieso bereits nichts wirklich
Befriedigendes für Schwarz mehr.} (23... Nxb5 $142 {was more stubborn, but
White wins an exchange in all variations and later the game normally also: war
hartnäckiger, aber Weiß gewinnt in allen Varianten eine Qualität und später
normalerweise auch die Partie:} 24. Bxf8 Qb6+ 25. Kh1 Kxf8 26. Bxb5 Be6 (26...
Qxb5 $2 27. Qd6+) 27. Bxc6) 24. Bxf7+ $1 Kxf7 25. Qh5+ g6 26. Qxh7+ Kf6 27.
Nxd4 $1 {The best and the simplest. Das Besten und Einfachste.} Nxd4 (27...
Rxe1+ 28. Rxe1 Qxd6 29. Rf1+ (29. Qh8+ {also wins - gewinnt auch -} Kf7 30.
Nxc6) 29... Ke5 (29... Bf5 30. Nxf5 Qc5+ 31. Ne3+) 30. Nf3+ Kd5 31. Rd1+ Kc5
32. Rxd6) 28. Qh4+ Kf7 29. Rc7+ (29. Qxd4 {is also winning, of course, but the
text is more precise. gewinnt ebenfalls, natürlich, aber der Text ist genauer.}
) 29... Bd7 (29... Qxc7 30. Qh7+ Kf6 31. Rf1+ Bf5 32. Bxc7) 30. Qh7+ Kf6 31.
Rf1+ Ke6 {A generous gesture from my opponent :) Eine großzügige Geste von
meinem Gegner :)} (31... Nf5 32. Rxd7 Qb6+ 33. Kh1) 32. Qxg6+ Kd5 33. Rc5# 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-40"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2012.08.29"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Papaioannou, Ioannis"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A32"]
[WhiteElo "2606"]
[BlackElo "2797"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2012.08.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Greece"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GRE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 c5 4. Nf3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Qc7 6. Nc3 a6 7. Bg2 Qxc4 8.
Be3 Qc7 9. Rc1 Nc6 10. O-O Be7 11. Na4 O-O 12. Nb6 Rb8 13. Qa4 Re8 14. Rc3 Bf8
15. Rd1 h6 16. a3 Qxb6 17. Nxc6 Qxb2 18. Rc2 bxc6 19. Rxb2 Rxb2 20. Bd4 Rb5 21.
e4 e5 22. Ba7 Bb7 23. Bf1 Rb2 24. Qa5 Rb3 25. Bc5 Bxc5 26. Qxc5 d5 27. Qc2 Rb6
28. Qc5 Rb3 29. Qc2 Rb6 30. Qc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-40"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2012.08.30"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2706"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "134"]
[EventDate "2012.08.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Latvia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "LAT"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Be2
{A quiet move.} Bd6 {This continuation is quite rare.} (8... dxc4 {is logical
and leads to the 8.Bd3 system after} 9. Bxc4) (8... g6 {and}) (8... Qd8 {
are other typical options.}) 9. O-O (9. cxd5 $6 exd5 10. O-O Qe7 11. Bd3 O-O
12. e4 dxe4 13. Nxe4 {0-1 Nascimento,A (2205)-Chernin,A (2495)/Luzern 1985/MCD
(32)} Nf6 $15 {/=}) (9. e4 {is harmless due to} dxe4 10. Nxe4 Bb4+) (9. Qc2 O-O
10. O-O Qe7 11. Rad1 b6 12. e4 dxc4 13. Bxc4 Bb7 14. Rfe1 Rac8 15. Qe2 Rfe8 16.
Bb3 $6 (16. e5 $5) 16... e5 17. d5 Bb4 18. Rc1 Nc5 $15 {0-1 Galmiche,A (2050)
-Klovans,J (2440)/Douai 1993/EXT 2004 (25)}) 9... Qe7 $146 (9... O-O {is less
accurate as} 10. e4 {gains in strength, e.g.} dxe4 11. Nxe4 Qe7 12. Nxd6 Qxd6
13. c5 $1 Qc7 14. Rc1 Rd8 15. Qd2 Nf8 $6 (15... e5 16. d5) 16. Qe3 Bd7 17. Ne5
$16 {1-0 Rychagov,A (2375)-Kochetov,D/Moscow 1996/CBM 056 ext (29)}) 10. e4
dxe4 11. Nxe4 Bc7 12. c5 {Still, despite Black's dark-squared bishop, this
blockading move is White's best chance.} O-O (12... e5 13. Bc4 $36) 13. Re1 Ba5
(13... b6 14. b4 a5 15. a3) 14. Rf1 Bc7 15. Qc2 {White now tries another idea.}
e5 16. Bc4 (16. Rfe1 $5 exd4 (16... Ba5 $140 17. Nd6 $1 Bxe1 18. Rxe1 $44) 17.
Bc4 {- below}) 16... Nf6 $6 {This allows Whte to keep up the pressure despite
exchanges.} (16... exd4 {was quite possible:} 17. Rfe1 Nf6 18. Nd6 Qd8 19. Nxc8
Rxc8 20. Rad1 Re8 $11 21. Qb3 $140 Rxe1+ 22. Rxe1 Qd7) 17. Nxf6+ Qxf6 18. Nxe5
Bxe5 19. dxe5 Qxe5 20. Rfe1 Qg5 21. Re3 {[%csl Gc4,Rc8]} Bf5 22. Qc3 $14 Bg6
23. Rae1 Rad8 24. Re5 $6 {This move enables Black to simplify the game.} (24.
g3 $5 {[%cal Yh2h4]}) 24... Qd2 25. Re7 b5 26. cxb6 Qxc3 27. bxc3 axb6 28. Rc7
b5 29. Bb3 Rc8 30. Rb7 (30. Ree7 c5 $1 31. Bxf7+ Bxf7 32. Rxf7 Rxc7 33. Rxc7 c4
(33... Rd8 $5 34. Kf1 c4 35. Rb7 Rd3 36. Rxb5 Rxc3 {, and Black should manage
to trade the queenside pawns}) 34. Rd7 Ra8 35. Rd2 Ra3 36. Rc2 Kf7 37. Kf1 Ke6
38. Ke2 Kd5 39. Kd2 b4 40. cxb4 Kd4 {with sufficient counterchances}) 30...
Rfe8 31. Rxe8+ Rxe8 {[%mdl 4096]} 32. f4 Kh7 33. Kf2 f6 34. Rc7 Be4 35. g4 Bd5
36. h4 Ra8 37. Ke3 Bxb3 38. axb3 Ra3 {Despite all White's efforts, the rook
ending proves to be drawish.} 39. Rxc6 Rxb3 40. Ke4 b4 41. c4 h5 (41... Rc3 $5
42. Kd4 Rf3 43. c5 Rxf4+ 44. Kd5 f5) 42. g5 fxg5 43. hxg5 Ra3 44. Rb6 b3 (44...
h4 $142 $1 45. Rxb4 (45. Kf5 h3 46. Rxb4 h2 47. Rb1) 45... Kg6 46. Rb7 h3 47.
f5+ Kxg5 48. Rxg7+ Kh6 49. Rg8 Kh7 50. Rg4 Ra6 $1 $11) 45. f5 h4 46. Rb8 {
Black is now in some trouble.} Ra4 47. Kd4 Ra5 $2 {A good idea but bad
implementation.} (47... Ra2 $5 48. Rxb3 Rd2+ 49. Ke5 Rc2 50. Kd5 Rf2) 48. c5
Ra4+ 49. Kd5 Rf4 50. Ke6 $2 (50. c6 {is not winning:} Rxf5+ 51. Kd6 Rf1 52. c7
(52. Rxb3 Rd1+ 53. Ke7 Rc1 54. Kd7 Kg6) 52... Rc1 53. c8=Q Rxc8 54. Rxc8 Kg6
55. Ke5 (55. Rc5 h3) 55... h3 $1 (55... Kxg5 56. Ke4 Kg4 57. Ke3 Kg3 58. Ke2
Kg2 59. Rc5 b2 60. Rg5+ Kh2 61. Rb5 Kg2 62. Rxb2 h3 (62... g5 63. Rb4) 63. Rb5
h2 64. Rg5+ Kh3 65. Kf2 h1=N+ 66. Kf3 $18) 56. Rc1 (56. Kf4 $4 b2 57. Rb8 h2)
56... Kxg5 57. Ke4 Kg4 58. Rg1+ (58. Ke3 h2) 58... Kh4 59. Kf3 h2 60. Rd1 (60.
Rb1 Kh3 61. Kf2 b2 $1) 60... Kh3 61. Kf2 b2 $1 {[%cal Yg7g5,Yg5g4,Yg4g3] , and
White must repeat moves:} 62. Rd3+ Kh4 63. Rd1 Kh3) (50. f6 $1 {is the right
move - see below}) 50... Re4+ $2 (50... h3 $1 51. Rxb3 Rh4 52. c6 (52. Rb1 Rc4
53. Kd6 Rd4+ 54. Kc6 h2 55. Rh1 Rd2 $11) 52... h2 53. c7 h1=Q 54. c8=Q Qd1 $1 (
54... Qe4+ $2 55. Kf7 Qd5+ 56. Qe6) 55. g6+ Kh6 56. Qh8+ Kg5 57. Rg3+ Rg4 58.
Rxg4+ Qxg4 $11) 51. Kd5 (51. Kf7 $1 {was quite correct. White's win is really
study-like:} Re5 {The main line:} 52. f6 Rxg5 53. Rb4 $1 Rh5 54. c6 b2 55. fxg7
$1 (55. Rxb2 Rf5 56. Ke8 Rxf6 57. c7 Rc6 58. Kd7 Rxc7+ 59. Kxc7 Kg6 $1 60. Rb5
Kf6 61. Kd6 g5 $11) (55. c7 b1=Q $1 56. Rxb1 Rc5 57. Rb7 (57. Ke6 Rxc7 58. f7
Rc8 59. Ke7 g5 60. f8=Q Rxf8 61. Kxf8 Kg6 $11) 57... gxf6 58. Ke7 Kg6 $11)
55... Rf5+ 56. Ke6 Rc5 (56... Rf2 57. Rxh4+ Kxg7 58. Rb4) 57. Kd6 Rc1 $1 (57...
Rc2 $2 58. Rxh4+ Kxg7 59. Rb4) 58. Rxb2 Kxg7 (58... Rd1+ 59. Ke7 Re1+ 60. Kd8
Rd1+ 61. Kc8 Kxg7 62. c7 Kg6 63. Kb8 Rc1 64. Rb5 $1 $18) (58... h3 59. Rb3) 59.
Rh2 $1 Rd1+ 60. Kc7 Rd4 61. Kb6 Rc4 62. c7 $18 {[%cal Rh2h4]}) 51... Rf4 52. f6
$1 {Another good idea, enough for a win.} gxf6 53. c6 Rf5+ 54. Kd6 Rf1 55. c7
Rc1 56. gxf6 $4 {A bad slip at the last moment.} (56. c8=Q Rxc8 57. Rxc8 {
Unbelievably, with Black's pawn on f6 instead of g7 (see 50.c6), White wins:}
Kg6 (57... fxg5 58. Ke5 h3 59. Rc1 Kg6 60. Ke4 Kh5 61. Kf3 Kh4 62. Kf2) 58. Kd5
$1 h3 (58... Kxg5 59. Ke4 b2 60. Rg8+ Kh5 61. Rg1 h3 62. Kf3 $18) 59. Rc1 b2
60. Rb1 Kxg5 61. Ke4 Kg4 62. Rg1+ Kh4 63. Kf4 h2 64. Rb1 Kh3 65. Kf3 f5 66. Rh1
f4 67. Rb1 $18 {- Black's f-pawn, unlike the g-pawn, doesn't bother White!})
56... Kg6 57. Rxb3 (57. c8=Q Rxc8 58. Rxc8 Kxf6 59. Rc5 b2 60. Rb5 h3 61. Rxb2
Kf5 $11) 57... Kxf6 58. Rb8 (58. Rb5 h3 $1 59. Rh5 Rd1+ 60. Kc6 Rc1+ 61. Kd7
Rd1+ 62. Kc8 Rd3 $11 {- White's king is far away and can't attack the rook as
in the 51.Kf7 line.}) 58... Rd1+ (58... Rxc7 59. Kxc7 Kf5 {was possible}) 59.
Kc6 Rc1+ 60. Kd7 Kf5 61. c8=Q Rxc8 62. Rxc8 h3 63. Kd6 Kf4 64. Rc3 Kg4 65. Ke5
h2 66. Rc1 Kf3 67. Kf5 Kg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-40"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2012.08.31"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Wang, Hao"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2726"]
[PlyCount "178"]
[EventDate "2012.08.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "China"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CHN"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Bf4
b6 9. Nc3 Ba6 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Rc1 Bb7 12. Ne5 Nbd7 13. Nd3 Ne8 14. e4 dxe4
15. Nxe4 Bd5 16. Nc3 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Ndf6 18. Qf3 Nc7 19. Bxc7 Qxc7 20. d5 exd5
21. Nxd5 Qd6 22. N3f4 Nxd5 23. Nxd5 Rac8 24. Rcd1 Rfe8 25. Rfe1 Bf8 26. Ne7+
Qxe7 27. Rxe7 Rxe7 28. Qg4 Rce8 29. Rd7 a5 30. h4 g6 31. h5 Rxd7 32. Qxd7 Re6
33. Qd5 Kg7 34. f4 gxh5 35. Qg5+ Rg6 36. Qxh5 h6 37. Qe5+ Kg8 38. Kf3 Re6 39.
Qd5 Rd6 40. Qb5 Re6 41. f5 Rd6 42. Ke4 Bg7 43. Qe8+ Bf8 44. Qb8 Rc6 45. Qb7
Rc4+ 46. Kf3 Rb4 47. b3 a4 48. Qd5 axb3 49. axb3 Bc5 50. Kg2 Rd4 51. Qe5 Rd3
52. Qf4 Bf8 53. Qg4+ Kh7 54. Qc4 Rd2+ 55. Kf3 Kg8 56. Qb5 Bc5 57. b4 Rb2 58.
Qe8+ Bf8 59. b5 Rb3+ 60. Ke4 Kg7 61. Kd5 Bc5 62. Qe5+ Kg8 63. Kc6 Re3 64. Qf4
Kg7 65. g4 Re1 66. f6+ Kh7 67. Qf5+ Kh8 68. Qc8+ Kh7 69. Qf5+ Kh8 70. g5 Re6+
71. Kd7 hxg5 72. Qxg5 Bf8 73. Qh4+ Kg8 74. Kc7 Bd6+ 75. Kd7 Bf8 76. Kc8 Re8+
77. Kc7 Re6 78. Qd4 Kh7 79. Qd3+ Kh6 80. Qd8 Bc5 81. Qh8+ Kg6 82. Qg7+ Kf5 83.
Qxf7 Rxf6 84. Qd5+ Kg6 85. Qe5 Rf7+ 86. Kc8 Rf8+ 87. Kb7 Rf7+ 88. Kc8 Rf8+ 89.
Kb7 Rf7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-40"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2012.09.01"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E08"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2797"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2012.08.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Hungary"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "HUN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O Nbd7 8.
Qc2 c6 9. Rd1 b6 10. Bf4 Bb7 11. Ne5 Rc8 12. Nc3 Nh5 13. Bc1 Nhf6 14. e4 dxc4
15. Nxc4 b5 16. Ne3 Qb6 17. b3 Rfe8 18. Bb2 Bf8 19. Qe2 Ba6 20. Qd2 Rcd8 21.
Rac1 c5 22. d5 Qa5 23. Qc2 c4 24. bxc4 bxc4 25. Ne2 exd5 26. exd5 Bb5 27. Nc3
Ba6 28. Ne2 Bb5 29. Qb1 Rb8 30. Qa1 Ng4 31. Nxg4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-40"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2012.09.03"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D10"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2816"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2012.08.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Armenia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ARM"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. e3 a6 7. Bd3 g6 {
This is a new plan. Dies ist ein neuer Plan.} (7... Bg4 {is much more common:
ist viel geläufiger:} 8. Nge2 e6) 8. h3 {This prevents ...Bg4 and ...Nh5 ideas.
Dies verhindert ...Bg4- und ...Nh5-Ideen.} (8. Nf3 Nh5 (8... Bg4) 9. Bg5 h6 10.
Bh4 g5 11. Bg3 (11. Nd2 Nf4 12. exf4 gxh4) 11... Nxg3 12. hxg3 Bg7) 8... Bf5 {
That is the idea of the previous move, otherwise White is better. Dies ist die
Idee des vorigen Zuges, ansonsten steht Weiß besser.} (8... Bg7 9. Nf3 {
with a pleasant advantage. mit angenehmem Vorteil.}) 9. Nf3 (9. Bxf5 gxf5 {
Here Black can get some counterplay on the g-file. Hier kann Schwarz einiges
Gegenspiel in der g-Linie erlangen.} 10. Nf3 e6 11. Rc1 Rg8) 9... Bxd3 10. Qxd3
Bg7 11. O-O O-O 12. Rfc1 {White has a small plus due to his more active pieces.
Weiß hat ein kleines Plus aufgrund seiner aktiveren Figuren.} e6 13. Na4 Ne4
14. Nc5 {In time before Black gets counterplay on the kingside. Rechtzeitig,
bevor Schwarz Gegenspiel am Königsflügel bekommt.} (14. a3 g5 15. Bh2 f5 $132
16. Nc5 Qe7) 14... Nxc5 15. Rxc5 Qd7 (15... f6 {was an interesting defensive
idea, followed by ...Rf7 and ...Bf8. war eine interessante Verteidigungsidee,
gefolgt von ...Rf7 und ...Bf8.}) 16. Rac1 Rfc8 17. a3 Bf8 18. R5c2 f6 (18...
Bd6 19. Bxd6 Qxd6 20. Qb3 $1 Qd7 21. Qb6 $14) 19. Nd2 Bd6 $2 {A serious
mistake. Ein ernster Fehler.} (19... Na7 $1 {is a very precise defensive move
which seems to equalise: ist ein sehr präziser Verteidigungszug, welcher
auszugleichen scheint:} 20. Rc7 Qd8 {and all tactics work for Black here: und
die Taktik funktioniert hier für Schwarz:} 21. Nb3 Rxc7 22. Rxc7 $2 (22. Bxc7
Qd7 {is just equal. ist einfach ausgeglichen.}) 22... e5 $1 23. Rxb7 exf4 24.
Qxa6 Qc8 $1) 20. Bxd6 Qxd6 21. Nb3 {Now Black is under serious pressure
already. Nun steht Schwarz bereits unter ernstem Druck.} Rc7 $2 (21... b6 {
was needed, although still after the accurate war erforderlich, obwohl nach
dem genauen} 22. Nd2 $1 Qd7 23. Qb3 b5 24. Qc3 Ne7 25. Qa5 Rxc2 26. Rxc2 Qd8
27. Qb4 {White has a serious positional advantage. Weiß trotzdem ernsten
positionellen Vorteil hat.}) 22. Na5 $1 {Strangely enough there is no adequate
defence anymore for Black after the following combination. Seltsamerweise gibt
es nach der folgenden Kombination bereits keine ausreichende Verteidigung mehr
für Schwarz.} (22. Nc5 {keeps a pleasant advantage, of course, but the text is
even stronger. behauptet einen angenehmen Vorteil, versteht sich, aber der
Text ist sogar noch stärker.}) 22... Rac8 23. Nxb7 $1 Rxb7 24. Qxa6 Rbc7 {
Only move. Einziger Zug.} 25. b4 Qd7 {Only move again. Wieder einziger Zug.}
26. Qb6 $1 {The point of the combination. Der Clou der Kombination.} (26. b5 {
After this natural move Black still can hold: Nach diesem natürlichen Zug kann
sich Schwarz doch noch halten:} Ne7 $1 (26... Nd8 27. Qxc8 $1 Rxc8 28. Rxc8 {
winning und gewinnt.}) 27. Rxc7 Rxc7 28. Rxc7 Qxc7 29. Qxe6+ Kf8 30. Qxf6+ Ke8
31. a4 Qa5 {and it is not certain that White will manage to convert his
advantage. und es ist nicht sicher, dass Weiß es schaffen wird, seinen Vorteil
zu verwerten.}) 26... Qe8 {Desperation, but other moves do not work either.
Verzweiflung, aber andere Züge funktionieren ebenfalls nicht.} (26... Rb7 27.
Rxc6 $1 Rxb6 28. Rxc8+ Kf7 29. R8c7 $18) (26... Kf7 27. b5 Rb7 28. Qxc6 $1 $18)
(26... Rb8 27. Qxb8+ Nxb8 28. Rxc7 Qb5 29. R1c5 Qb6 30. Re7 (30. b5 $18) 30...
Kf8 31. Rcc7 $18) 27. b5 $1 {The simplest, falling into the trap :) Am
einfachsten, man tappt in die Falle :)} Nxd4 {The point of ...Qe8. Die Pointe
von ...Qe8.} 28. Rxc7 Ne2+ 29. Kh1 Nxc1 {It seems that Black managed to trick
his opponent, but the 31st move of White clarifies matters. Es scheint, als
hätte Schwarz es geschafft, seinen Gegner reinzulegen, aber der 31. Zug von
Weiß macht die Sache klar.} 30. Rxc8 Qxc8 31. Qc6 Qd8 (31... Qb8 32. b6 Nd3 33.
Qc7 $18) (31... Qxc6 32. bxc6 {queening. mit Umwandlung.}) 32. b6 Kf7 (32...
Nd3 33. Qc7 Nxf2+ 34. Kg1 Qf8 35. b7 $18) 33. Qc7+ (33. b7 $18) 33... Ke8 34.
Qa7 d4 35. b7 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-40"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2012.09.04"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A50"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2797"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2012.08.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Azerbaijan"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 b6 3. Bg2 Bb7 4. c4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. O-O O-O 7. d4 Ne4 8. Nxe4
Bxe4 9. Be3 c5 10. Qd2 d6 11. Bh6 Nd7 12. Rfd1 Nf6 13. Rac1 Qc7 14. b3 cxd4 15.
Nxd4 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Qb7+ 17. f3 Rfc8 18. e4 a6 19. a4 Rc5 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 21. Rc2
Nd7 22. Rdc1 Kg8 23. h4 Rac8 24. b4 Re5 25. Rb1 Qa8 26. b5 Rec5 27. Nc6 R8xc6
28. bxc6 Qxc6 29. Qb4 h5 30. Qb3 Kg7 31. Kf2 f6 32. Kg2 Ne5 33. Rbc1 Kh7 34.
Rc3 Kh8 35. R3c2 Kg7 36. Rc3 Ra5 37. Ra1 Rc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-40"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2012.09.05"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E61"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "154"]
[EventDate "2012.08.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Ukraine"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "UKR"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 g6 4. Nc3 Bf5 5. e3 Bg7 6. Bd3 Bxd3 7. Qxd3 Nbd7 8.
b3 O-O 9. Bb2 e5 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Rd1 Qe7 12. O-O Rfd8 13. Qc2 c6 14. Rd2 h6
15. Rfd1 e4 16. Nd4 h5 17. h3 h4 18. Nde2 Nf8 19. Nf4 Rxd2 20. Qxd2 N6d7 21.
Qd6 Qxd6 22. Rxd6 Nc5 23. Na4 Nxa4 24. Bxg7 Kxg7 25. bxa4 Re8 26. a5 a6 27. Rd2
Re5 28. Rb2 Rxa5 29. Rxb7 Rxa2 30. Rc7 Ra1+ 31. Kh2 Rf1 32. Rxc6 Rxf2 33. Rxa6
Rc2 34. Rd6 Rxc4 35. Kg1 Nh7 36. Rd7 Rc6 37. Re7 Nf6 38. Re5 Ra6 39. Ne2 Ra1+
40. Kf2 Ra2 41. Kf1 Rd2 42. Nf4 Kh6 43. Ke1 Rd7 44. Kf2 g5 45. Ne2 Rd2 46. Ke1
Ra2 47. Kf1 Ra3 48. Kf2 Ra2 49. Kf1 Rc2 50. g3 hxg3 51. Nxg3 Rh2 52. Nxe4 Nxe4
53. Rxe4 Rxh3 54. Kg2 Rh4 55. Re8 Kg6 56. Kg3 f5 57. Rg8+ Kf6 58. Rf8+ Ke6 59.
Rg8 Rg4+ 60. Kf3 Kf7 61. Ra8 Re4 62. Ra6 Re6 63. Ra4 Kg6 64. Ra8 Kf6 65. Ra4
Rb6 66. Ra8 Rb5 67. Rf8+ Kg7 68. Re8 Rb3 69. Ra8 Kg6 70. Rg8+ Kf6 71. Rf8+ Ke6
72. Rg8 g4+ 73. Kf4 Rb4+ 74. Kg3 Re4 75. Re8+ Kd5 76. Rd8+ Kc5 77. Kf2 Re5
1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-40"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2012.09.06"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D79"]
[WhiteElo "2778"]
[BlackElo "2797"]
[PlyCount "159"]
[EventDate "2012.08.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "US of America"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "USA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. c4 c6 5. d4 d5 6. cxd5 cxd5 7. Nc3 Ne4 8. Qb3
Nxc3 9. bxc3 O-O 10. Nd2 e6 11. e4 Nc6 12. O-O Na5 13. Qd1 Qc7 14. Qf3 b6 15.
Ba3 Rd8 16. e5 Ba6 17. Rfe1 Rac8 18. Bb4 Bh6 19. Qd1 Nc6 20. Ba3 Na5 21. Bb4
Nc6 22. Ba3 Na5 23. Nb1 b5 24. h4 Nc6 25. Bc5 Qb8 26. Qe2 Na5 27. Nd2 Rxc5 28.
dxc5 Qc8 29. Nf3 Qxc5 30. Nh2 Bg7 31. h5 g5 32. h6 Bxh6 33. Qh5 Bg7 34. Qxg5
Nc6 35. Ng4 Qe7 36. Qxe7 Nxe7 37. a4 d4 38. axb5 Bxb5 39. Rxa7 d3 40. Rxe7 d2
41. Rd1 Be2 42. Ne3 Bxe5 43. c4 h5 44. Ra7 h4 45. Ra2 Bxd1 46. Nxd1 hxg3 47.
fxg3 Bxg3 48. c5 f5 49. Ra7 e5 50. c6 e4 51. Bh3 Rc8 52. Ra6 Rf8 53. Ra5 f4 54.
Kf1 e3 55. Ke2 Rf6 56. Ra8+ Kg7 57. Ra7+ Rf7 58. Rb7 Kf6 59. Kf3 Re7 60. Rxe7
Kxe7 61. c7 e2 62. c8=N+ Kf6 63. Kxe2 Ke5 64. Nb6 Kd4 65. Bg2 Be1 66. Nd5 Ke5
67. Nb4 Bh4 68. Nd3+ Kf5 69. Kxd2 Kg4 70. Ke2 Bf6 71. N1f2+ Kg3 72. Bf3 Bd8 73.
Ne4+ Kh4 74. Ne5 Bc7 75. Ng6+ Kh3 76. Ne7 Bd8 77. Nf5 Bb6 78. Kf1 Kh2 79. Bg4
f3 80. Nh4 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-40"]
[Site "Istanbul"]
[Date "2012.09.09"]
[Round "11.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E21"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2712"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2012.08.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 151"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2012.11.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Germany"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 b6 5. Qb3 c5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 g5 8. Bg3
Ne4 9. e3 Nc6 (9... Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 Nxg3 11. hxg3 Nc6 12. Bd3 Qe7 13. Be4 Bb7
14. Bxc6 dxc6 15. a4 cxd4 16. cxd4 c5 17. a5 $14 {1/2 Bocharov,D (2574)
-Alekseev,E (2625)/Biel 2005/CBM 107 ext (70)}) (9... cxd4 $5 10. exd4 (10.
Nxd4 Na6 11. Ndb5 Qf6 $132) 10... Nc6 11. Qc2 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Nxg3 13. hxg3 Ba6
14. Rh5 Qf6 15. Bd3 Rc8 16. Nd2 d5 {1/2 Malaniuk,V (2523)-Khairullin,I (2606)/
Brescia 2009/EXT 2010}) (9... Bb7 10. Bd3 Bxc3+ (10... Nxg3 11. hxg3 g4 12. Ne5
d6 13. Nxg4 Bxg2 14. Rh2 Bf3 15. Be2 Bxg4 16. Bxg4 Nc6 17. Bf3 Qd7 18. O-O-O
$16 {1/2 Van Wely,L (2681)-Polgar,J (2707)/Wijk aan Zee 2008/CBM 122 (37)}) 11.
bxc3 Nxg3 (11... h5 12. Be5 Rg8 13. d5 f5 14. h4 d6 15. Bh2 gxh4 16. Bxe4 fxe4
17. Nd2 $14 {1-0 Halkias,S (2579)-Ilandzis,S (2196)/Kallithea 2008/CBM 125
Extra (33)}) 12. hxg3 (12. fxg3 $6 g4 13. Nh4 Qg5 14. Kf2 Nc6 15. Rhe1 O-O-O
16. Kg1 Kb8 17. a4 Rc8 18. Qa2 Na5 $15 {0-1 Vigh,B (2378)-Farago,I (2486)/
Hungary 2001/EXT 2009 (47)}) 12... d6 13. d5 Nd7 14. a4 g4 15. Nd2 Qg5 16. e4
Rb8 17. a5 bxa5 18. Qa4 Qe5 19. Qxa5 exd5 20. cxd5 Bxd5 21. O-O Be6 $11 {
1/2 Ronczkowski,M (2284)-Bellmann,H (2299)/corr 2001/Telechess 86/[Bellmann] 
(32)}) 10. Bd3 (10. Qc2 Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 Nxg3 12. hxg3 Qf6 13. Nd2 Qe7 14. Be2
Bb7 15. dxc5 Qxc5 16. Ne4 Qe5 17. Rd1 Nb4 18. cxb4 Bxe4 19. Qd2 Rd8 20. f4 {
1/2 Schenk,A (2455)-Bar,R (2412)/Athens 2001/EXT 2002}) (10. d5 Na5 11. Qc2
Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Nxg3 13. hxg3 Ba6 14. dxe6 dxe6 15. Qe4 {1-0 Estremera Panos,S 
(2364)-Tebar Moreno,J (2182)/Barcelona 2000/CBM 077 ext (63)} Ke7 $11) 10...
Bxc3+ $146 (10... Na5 11. Qc2 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Nxg3 13. fxg3 Ba6 14. O-O d6 15.
Nd2 O-O 16. g4 Bb7 17. Rf2 cxd4 18. exd4 Qe7 19. Nf1 Rac8 20. Ng3 Nxc4 21. Qe2
b5 22. Raf1 $40 {1-0 Nemet,I (2422)-Farago,I (2467)/Basel 2000/CBM 074 ext (32)
}) 11. bxc3 Nxg3 12. fxg3 $6 (12. hxg3 $11) 12... Qe7 $6 (12... g4 13. Nd2 Qg5
{with an excellent position for Black.}) 13. O-O Bb7 14. Rae1 O-O-O 15. Be4 f6
$6 (15... d6 $6 16. Bxc6 Bxc6 17. d5) (15... Na5 $1 $11 {E.Gleizerov}) 16. Bxc6
$1 {As you see from the games quoted above, this exchange is very typical in
this system.} dxc6 {[%csl Rb7]} (16... Bxc6 17. d5 Bb7 (17... exd5 18. cxd5 {
That's why 14.Rae1 - the e3-pawn is protected!}) 18. a4 $40) 17. a4 cxd4 18.
exd4 c5 19. a5 (19. d5 Rd6 20. Nd2 f5 $1 21. Qc2 $1 (21. Rxf5 Qd7 22. Rfe5 exd5
{E.Gleizerov}) 21... Qg7 22. Rxe6 Rxe6 23. Qxf5 Rhe8 24. dxe6 Qxc3 $13) 19...
Qd6 20. axb6 axb6 21. Rf2 Rhe8 22. Rd2 e5 $2 {[%mdl 16384]} (22... h5 $1 $132)
23. d5 {Totally killing the b7-bishop.} e4 24. Rde2 f5 25. g4 $1 fxg4 26. Nd2
e3 27. Rxe3 Rxe3 28. Rxe3 Kc7 $2 (28... h5 {still required good technique from
White, which probably started with} 29. Qb1 $1 {[%cal Re3e6]} (29. Re6 $143 Qf4
) 29... Qf6 30. Ne4 Qg6 31. Qf1 {[%cal Ye4f6]}) 29. Re6 Qxe6 30. dxe6 Rxd2 {
Black's hopes are vain: White's e6-pawn easily decides the game due to his
next move.} 31. Qb1 $1 Rxg2+ 32. Kf1 Rxh2 33. Qh7+ Kb8 34. e7 Bc6 35. Qg8+ Kb7
36. Qf7 Rh1+ 37. Ke2 Rh2+ 38. Ke1 Rh1+ 39. Kd2 Rh2+ 40. Kc1 Ka6 41. e8=Q Bxe8
42. Qxe8 1-0

[Event "London Classic 4th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2012.12.01"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2795"]
[BlackElo "2705"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2012.12.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 152"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 c5 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 d6 5. e3 e5 6. Nge2 Be6 7. Nd5 Be7 8. O-O
O-O 9. Nec3 Nb4 10. Nxe7+ Qxe7 11. d3 d5 12. a3 dxc4 13. axb4 cxb4 14. Ne4 Nxe4
15. Bxe4 f5 16. Bg2 Rfd8 17. d4 a5 18. Qe2 e4 19. f3 Bd5 20. fxe4 fxe4 21. Rf5
Qd7 22. Re5 Re8 23. Bh3 Qc6 24. Rxe8+ Qxe8 25. Bd2 Qe7 26. Qh5 Qd8 27. Rf1 g6
28. Qe5 Ra6 29. Bd7 Bf7 30. Rxf7 Kxf7 31. Bb5 Rf6 32. Bxc4+ Kg7 33. Qxe4 Qc7
34. Qd5 Rf8 35. e4 b5 36. Qxb5 Qd6 37. Qb7+ Kh8 38. Qa7 g5 39. Bxg5 Qc6 40. Qe7
1-0

[Event "London Classic 4th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2012.12.02"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2795"]
[PlyCount "174"]
[EventDate "2012.12.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 152"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. Qe2 d6 7. g3 Be7 8.
Bg2 O-O 9. O-O Re8 10. c4 Nd7 11. Be3 Bf6 12. Qc2 Ne5 13. Nd2 Ng4 14. Rae1 Rb8
15. b3 Nxe3 16. Rxe3 c5 17. h3 a5 18. Kh2 a4 19. f4 Bd4 20. Re2 g6 21. Nf3 axb3
22. axb3 Bg7 23. Rd1 Rb6 24. e5 Bb7 25. Rdd2 Qa8 26. exd6 Rxe2 27. Rxe2 Rxd6
28. Ne5 Bxg2 29. Rxg2 Bxe5 30. fxe5 Re6 31. Re2 Qf3 32. Qd2 Qxb3 33. Qd8+ Kg7
34. Qxc7 Qf3 35. Rg2 Qe3 36. Qa7 h5 37. h4 Rxe5 38. Qa1 Kh7 39. Qb2 Rf5 40. Re2
Qf3 41. Qc2 Qf1 42. Qd2 Rf6 43. Qc2 Rf3 44. Qb2 Rf5 45. Qc2 Rf6 46. Rd2 Kg7 47.
Qc3 Kh7 48. Qc2 Qa1 49. Rf2 Kg7 50. Rxf6 Qxf6 51. Qe2 Qd4 52. Kg2 Kf8 53. Kh2
Qg4 54. Qd3 Ke7 55. Qe3+ Kd6 56. Qd3+ Qd4 57. Qe2 Qe5 58. Qd3+ Ke6 59. Kg2 g5
60. hxg5 Qxg5 61. Qe4+ Qe5 62. Qc6+ Ke7 63. Qb7+ Kf8 64. Qa8+ Kg7 65. Qf3 Kg6
66. Qd3+ Qf5 67. Qd6+ f6 68. Qe7 Qc2+ 69. Kh3 Qxc4 70. Qe8+ Qf7 71. Qe4+ Kg7
72. Qf5 c4 73. Kg2 Qb7+ 74. Kh2 Qb2+ 75. Kh3 Qe5 76. Qc8 c3 77. Qc4 Qe1 78.
Qc7+ Kg6 79. Qc6 Qf1+ 80. Kh4 Qe2 81. Kh3 c2 82. g4 Qe3+ 83. Kh4 Qg5+ 84. Kg3
Qxg4+ 85. Kf2 Qf4+ 86. Kg2 c1=Q 87. Qe8+ Kg5 0-1

[Event "London Classic 4th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2012.12.03"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A37"]
[WhiteElo "2795"]
[BlackElo "2848"]
[PlyCount "124"]
[EventDate "2012.12.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 152"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O Nge7 7. a3 a5 8. Ne1
d6 9. Nc2 O-O 10. d3 Rb8 11. Rb1 Be6 12. b4 axb4 13. axb4 cxb4 14. Nxb4 Nxb4
15. Rxb4 d5 16. cxd5 Nxd5 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. Rb5 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Qd7 20. Qb3 Rfc8
21. Bb2 Qd6 22. Rb1 Rc5 23. Rb6 Rc6 24. Rxb7 Rxb7 25. Qxb7 Rb6 26. Qc8+ Qf8 27.
Qd7 h5 28. e4 Qd6 29. Qe8+ Qf8 30. Qd7 Qd6 31. Qxd6 Rxd6 32. Rd1 f5 33. f3 fxe4
34. fxe4 Rb6 35. Bc3 Rb3 36. Ba1 Kf7 37. Kf3 Ke6 38. h3 Bh6 39. Ke2 Bg5 40. Rg1
Bh6 41. h4 Kd6 42. Rd1 Ke6 43. Rf1 Rb4 44. Rd1 Rb3 45. Rg1 Kf6 46. Rh1 Ke6 47.
Rd1 Kf6 48. d4 Re3+ 49. Kf2 Rxe4 50. dxe5+ Kf5 51. Rd7 Kg4 52. Rd6 Be3+ 53. Ke2
Bf4+ 54. Kd3 Re3+ 55. Kc4 Bxe5 56. Rxg6+ Kf3 57. Bxe5 Rxe5 58. Rg5 Re4+ 59. Kd5
Rg4 60. Ke5 Kxg3 61. Rxh5 Rxh4 62. Rxh4 Kxh4 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic 4th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2012.12.04"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2795"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2012.12.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 152"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nbd2 O-O 7. Nc4 Nd7 8.
O-O Re8 9. Bd2 Bf8 10. b4 f6 11. a4 Nb6 12. Ne3 Be6 13. Qb1 Qd7 14. Rd1 Bf7 15.
h3 Rad8 16. Be1 Bh5 17. g4 Bf7 18. c4 c5 19. b5 Nc8 20. Qc2 Re6 21. Kf1 Ne7 22.
Nh4 Rd6 23. Ke2 Re6 24. f3 b6 25. Bf2 g6 26. Nhg2 Rd6 27. Bg3 Bg7 28. Bh4 a6
29. Bf2 a5 30. Bh4 Qe8 31. Nd5 Bxd5 32. cxd5 Bh6 33. Bf2 R6d7 34. h4 Nc8 35.
Rh1 Nd6 36. h5 g5 37. Ne3 Bf8 38. Nc4 Nxc4 39. dxc4 h6 40. Be3 Bd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic 4th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2012.12.06"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "McShane, Luke J"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2795"]
[BlackElo "2713"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2012.12.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 152"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. g3 dxc4 6. a4 e6 7. Bg2 c5 8. O-O
cxd4 9. Nxd4 Nbd7 10. Nc2 Qc7 (10... Bc5 {was played against me by Karjakin in
a blitz tournament in Moscow 2009, but after wurde von Karjakin gegen mich in
einem Blitzturnier in Moskau 2009 gespielt, aber nach} 11. Ne3 Ne5 12. Qxd8+
Kxd8 13. a5 Rb8 14. Na4 Bb4 15. f4 Neg4 16. Nxc4 Bd7 17. h3 Bb5 18. b3 Nh6 19.
g4 {I quickly achieved a winning position. erreichte ich schnell eine
Gewinnstellung.}) 11. Bf4 $146 {An interesting, although far from clear,
continuation, which I analysed a long time ago. I could not remember clearly
the lines, but decided to try it anyway. Eine interessante, wenngleich
keineswegs klare Fortsetzung, die ich vor langer Zeit analysiert hatte. Ich
konnte mich nicht klar an die Varianten erinnern, beschloss aber, es trotzdem
zu versuchen.} (11. Qd4 {was played by me more than fifteen years ago(!) in my
game against Boris Gelfand, Linares 1997. wurde von mir vor mehr als fünfzehn
Jahren (!) gespielt, in meiner Partie gegen Boris Gelfand, Linares 1997.} Bc5
$1 12. Qh4 Be7 $1 13. Na3 Ne5 {and Boris managed to equalise. und Boris gelang
es auszugleichen.}) 11... e5 (11... Qc5 $143 12. Rc1 Be7 13. Ne3) 12. Bd2 {
The point, now White wants to play Ne3 and Nd5 and Black has to react; the
game becomes very sharp. Die Pointe, jetzt will Weiß Ne3 und Nd5 spielen, und
Schwarz muss reagieren; das Spiel wird sehr scharf.} (12. Bg5 $143 h6) 12...
Nc5 (12... Bc5 $143 13. Ne3 Bxe3 (13... O-O 14. Rc1 Rb8 15. Ncd5) 14. Bxe3 O-O
15. a5 {und Weiß hat offensichtlich Vorteil.}) 13. Bg5 Be6 (13... Nb3 {was a
serious alternative and possibly more precise: war eine ernste Alternative und
eventuell genauer:} 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Nd5 Qd8 16. a5 {The most interesting
move here in my opinion. Meines Erachtens der interessanteste Zug hier.} (16.
Rb1 Be6 17. Nce3 Rc8) (16. Ra2 Be6 17. a5 Bc5) 16... Nxa1 17. Qxa1 {White
definitely has play for the exchange, but the position is very unclear. Weiß
hat definitiv Spiel für die Qualität, aber die Stellung ist sehr unklar.} Bc5
18. Rd1 $13) 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Nd5 Qd8 16. Nce3 (16. a5 {is safer, but looks
rather equal after ist sicherer, sieht aber ziemlich ausgeglichen aus nach} Nb3
17. Ra4 Nxa5 18. Nce3 Bh6 19. Nxc4 Nxc4 20. Rxc4 O-O 21. Rc3 Rc8 $11) 16... Nb3
17. a5 $1 {A risky, but logical sac. Now Luke spent almost an hour on his next
move and still did not choose the best one. I have to say that the position is
very complicated and difficult to play. Ein riskantes, aber logisches Opfer.
Nun verbrauchte Luke fast eine Stunde für seinen nächsten Zug und wählte
dennoch nicht den besten. Dazu muss ich sagen, dass die Stellung sehr
kompliziert und schwer zu spielen ist.} Rc8 (17... Nxa1 18. Qa4+ $1 {that is
the point Das ist die Pointe.} Bd7 19. Qxa1 Bc5 20. Nxc4 {and White's
initiative is very powerful here, for example und die Initiative von Weiß ist
hier sehr kraftvoll, zum Beispiel} Be6 21. Rd1 Rb8 22. Qc1 Bd4 23. Ncb6 $36) (
17... Bh6 {doesn't help either: hilft ebenfalls nicht:} 18. Nxc4 Nxa1 19. Ncb6
$16 Rb8 20. Qa4+ Kf8 21. Rxa1 Kg7 22. Rd1 Qe8 23. Qh4 Bg5 24. Qh5 {and I
wouldn't like to be Black here obviously. , und ich wäre hier bestimmt nicht
gerne Schwarz.}) (17... Bc5 $142 $1 18. Ra4 {I would definitely prefer White
here, but Black can resist: Ich würde hier definitiv Weiß vorziehen, aber
Schwarz kann sich wehren:} Nxa5 $1 (18... Rc8 19. Nxc4 Nd4 20. Nc3 Ba7 21. b3)
19. Nxc4 (19. Nxf6+ Qxf6 20. Rxa5 Rd8 21. Qc2) (19. Qc1 $5) 19... Nc6 {and
although there is a lot of play for White, things are not totaly clear. The
following line is best, according to the computers, and at the end White has a
serious initiative in a messy position. , und obwohl es eine Menge Spiel für
Weiß gibt, ist die Sache nicht absolut klar. Die folgende Variante ist, laut
den Computern, am besten, und am Ende hat Weiß eine ernste Initiative in einer
chaotischen Stellung.} (19... Nxc4 20. Rxc4 Rc8 21. Qc2 Bxd5 22. Rxc5 Rxc5 23.
Qxc5 Bxg2 24. Kxg2 {looks unpleasant sieht unangenehm aus.}) 20. e3 Rc8 21. Qh5
Bxd5 22. Rd1 Bd4 23. exd4 Bxc4 24. Rxc4 Nxd4 25. Bd5 Rc7 26. Rcxd4 $1 exd4 27.
Rxd4 Qd7 28. Kg2 h6 29. Qf3) 18. Ra4 Nd4 (18... Nxa5 {is much less efficient
already ist bereits weit weniger wirksam:} 19. Nxf6+ (19. Rxa5 $5 Qxa5 20.
Nxf6+ Ke7 21. Ned5+ Kd8) 19... Qxf6 20. Rxa5 e4 21. Qc2 {White is better here
clearly Weiß steht hier klar besser.} Bg7 22. Rb1 c3 23. bxc3) (18... Bc5 19.
Nxc4 $16) 19. Nb6 Rc7 20. Rxc4 {This strong move was admittedly underestimated
by my opponent. Diesen starken Zug wurde von meinem Gegner zugegebenerweise
unterschätzt.} (20. Nexc4 Bg4 $13) 20... Bxc4 (20... Bc5 21. Nbd5 Rc8 22. Qd3)
21. Nexc4 $16 Nb5 {Probably not the best, although there is no good advice one
can give. Wahrscheinlich nicht am besten, wenngleich guter Rat teuer ist.} (
21... Bc5 22. e3 Bxb6 23. Nxb6 $16) (21... Be7 22. e3 Ne6 23. Qa4+ Kf8 24. Nd5
$16) 22. Qb1 {Computers prefer Qa4, but I like to put my queen on f5. Die
Computer bevorzugen Qa4, aber ich stelle meine Dame gerne nach f5.} Qd4 23. Rd1
Qc5 24. e3 (24. Ne3 {Again, computers prefer this direct approach, but e3
looks very human, just stopping Black's only active idea ...Nd4 and White
slowly starts to improve his position: Erneut bevorzugen die Computer diese
direkte Herangehensweise, aber e3 sieht sehr menschlich aus, es wird einfach
die einzige aktive schwarze Idee ...Nd4 verhindert, und Weiß geht langsam
daran, seine Stellung zu verbessern:} Nd4 25. Ned5 Nxe2+ 26. Kf1 $18) 24... Be7
{Black has no moves practically, so from now on White just have to choose
which of many attractive possibilities to play. Schwarz hat praktisch keine
Züge, daher muss sich Weiß von jetzt an lediglich aussuchen, welche von vielen
attraktiven Möglichkeiten er spielen will.} 25. Qf5 Kf8 26. Bd5 Kg7 27. Qg4+
Kh6 28. e4 {Playing for direct mate, although Bxf7 was good as well. Spielt
auf direktes Matt, wobei Bxf7 ebenfalls gut war.} Nd4 29. Ne3 {I was already
looking for mate, not paying too much attention to the other side of the board,
but in fact our silicon friend (enemy?) discovers a very nice geometrical
motif instead: Ich suchte bereits nach dem Matt und zollte daher der anderen
Brettseite nicht viel Aufmerksamkeit, unser Silikon-Freund (Feind?) jedoch
entdeckt stattdessen ein sehr schönes geometrisches Motiv:} (29. b4 $1 Qxb4 30.
Rxd4 exd4 31. Qf4+ Kg7 32. Qxc7 {winning. mit Gewinn.}) 29... f5 {Here I took
time to calculate variations and actually saw the whole line which happened in
the game, including Qg4, which clarifies matters completely. I must admit, my
opponent has only moves all the time, so it was not very difficult. Hier ließ
ich mir Zeit, die Varianten zu berechnen, und sah tatsächlich das ganze
Abspiel, zu dem es in der Partie kam, einschließlich Qg4, was die Sache
endgültig klärt. Ich muss zugeben, mein Gegner hat die ganze Zeit einzige Züge,
sehr schwer war es daher nicht.} 30. Qh3+ Kg7 31. Rxd4 $1 exd4 32. Nxf5+ Kf8
33. Qh6+ Ke8 34. Bxf7+ Kd8 (34... Kxf7 35. Qg7+ $18) 35. Qg7 Rf8 36. Nxd4 (36.
Nd5 {is good enough as well. ist ebenfalls gut genug.}) 36... Rc6 (36... Rxf7
37. Qxf7 Qxd4 38. Qg8+ Bf8 39. Qxf8#) 37. Nxc6+ bxc6 (37... Qxc6 38. Qxh7 Bf6
39. Nd5 $18) 38. Qg4 $1 Kc7 {Otherwise White mates on d7 or c8.  Ansonsten
setzt Weiß auf d7 oder c8 matt.} 39. Qd7+ Kb8 40. Qd2 {Pure stupidity. Seeing
that Luke had 15 seconds left for his last move, I decided instead of the
planned Kg2 to play something unexpected, hoping to win on time. Reine
Dummheit. Sehend, dass Luke 15 Sekunden für seinen letzten Zug hatte,
beschloss ich, statt des geplanten Kg2 etwas Unerwartetes zu spielen - in der
Hoffnung, auf Zeit zu gewinnen.} Kc7 (40... Bg5 $1 {was an incredible tricky
move, which would not save the game, but at least prolong it. Well, I am not
sure anyone would find it with just seconds on his clock. war ein unglaublich
trickreicher Zug, der die Partie zwar nicht retten, aber zumindest verlängern
würde. Nun, ich bin nicht sicher, dass ihn mit nur Sekunden auf seiner Uhr
jeder finden würde.} 41. Nd7+ Kc8 $1 42. Qd1 {The simplest Am einfachsten.} Rd8
43. Qg4 $1 Qe7 (43... Rxd7 44. Be6) 44. Nf6+ Kb7 45. Qxg5 Qxf7 46. e5 {easily
winning. mit leichtem Gewinn.}) 41. Qd7+ Kb8 42. Kg2 {No more cheap tricks :)
Keine billigen Tricks mehr :)} Bd6 {It is completely lost anyway, White has a
material advantage and an attack in addition. Es ist sowieso komplett verloren,
Weiß hat Materialvorteil und obendrein noch Angriff.} (42... Rd8 43. Qxd8+ Bxd8
44. Nd7+ Ka7 45. Nxc5 $18) (42... Rxf7 43. Qc8+ Ka7 44. Qc7#) 43. b4 Qd4 44.
Qxc6 {The rest is simple and easy. White has a number of wins on every next
move. Usually I am quite strong when I am five pawns up :) Der Rest ist
einfach. Weiß hat bei jedem der nächsten Züge eine Reihe von
Gewinnmöglichkeiten. Gewöhnlich bin ich recht stark, wenn ich fünf Bauern mehr
habe :)} Ka7 45. Kh3 Qd1 46. Nc8+ Rxc8 47. Qxc8 Qf1+ 48. Kg4 h5+ 49. Kxh5 {
I was slightly worried about blundering some stalemate, but there is nothing
he can do about his bishop fortunately :) Ich war leicht besorgt, noch
irgendein Patt zu übersehen, aber zum Glück kann er ja mit seinem Läufer
nichts machen :)} 1-0

[Event "London Classic 4th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2012.12.07"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2815"]
[BlackElo "2795"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "2012.12.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 152"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ke8 10. h3 h5 11. Bg5 Be6 12. b3 Be7 13. Rad1 h4 14. Ne4
b6 15. c4 a5 16. Rd2 Rd8 17. Rfd1 Rxd2 18. Bxd2 c5 19. Bf4 a4 20. Nc3 axb3 21.
axb3 Bd8 22. Kf1 Rg8 23. Ne4 Bc8 24. Ra1 Bb7 25. Neg5 f6 26. exf6 gxf6 27. Ne4
Kd7 28. Rd1+ Kc8 29. Re1 Rg7 30. Nfd2 Nd4 31. f3 Bc6 32. Nf2 Bd7 33. Ng4 Bf5
34. Kf2 Kd7 35. Ne3 Bh7 36. Nd5 Bc2 37. Ne3 Bd3 38. Nd5 Nxb3 39. Nxb3 Bxc4 40.
Nxc5+ bxc5 41. Rd1 Kc8 42. Nc3 Rd7 43. Rc1 Bd3 44. Na4 c4 45. Nb2 Rd5 46. Nxc4
Rc5 47. Nb2 Rxc1 48. Bxc1 Bb5 49. g3 hxg3+ 50. Kxg3 Kd7 51. Nd1 Ke6 52. Nc3 Be8
53. Be3 Be7 54. h4 c5 55. Kf2 c4 56. Ke2 Bg6 57. Bd4 f5 58. f4 Bxh4 59. Ke3 Bf7
60. Bg7 Kd6 61. Bf8+ Kc6 62. Ne2 Be1 63. Nd4+ Kd5 64. Nxf5 c3 65. Kd3 Bg6 66.
Ke2 Bxf5 67. Kxe1 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic 4th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2012.12.09"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Jones, Gawain C B"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2795"]
[BlackElo "2644"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2012.12.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 152"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. b3 d5 3. e3 Nf6 4. Bb2 e6 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. c4 b6
9. Nc3 Bb7 10. cxd5 exd5 11. d4 Ne4 12. dxc5 Nxc3 13. Bxc3 bxc5 14. Qe2 Re8 15.
Rfd1 Bf8 16. Qb5 Qb6 17. Qxb6 axb6 18. Rxd5 Nd4 19. Nxd4 Bxd5 20. Bxd5 cxd4 21.
Bxd4 Ra5 22. e4 Bc5 23. Bc3 Ra3 24. Bb2 Ra7 25. a4 Rc7 26. Ra2 h6 27. Kg2 Kh7
28. f4 f6 29. Kf3 Rd7 30. a5 bxa5 31. Rxa5 Rc8 32. Rb5 Rd6 33. Rb7 Rb6 34. Rf7
Rf8 35. Rc7 Bd6 36. Rd7 Ra6 37. Bd4 Bb8 38. Bc5 Re8 39. Kg4 Ra2 40. h4 Rc8 41.
b4 Ra3 42. h5 Rc3 43. Bd4 R3c7 44. Rxc7 Bxc7 45. Kf5 Bd6 46. b5 Rc1 47. b6 Bb8
48. Ke6 Rh1 49. Bc5 1-0

[Event "London Classic 4th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2012.12.10"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2795"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2012.12.01"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 152"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5
8. Rxe5 O-O 9. Nc3 Bf6 10. Re1 Re8 11. Nd5 Rxe1 12. Qxe1 b6 13. g3 Bb7 14. Bg2
c6 15. Ne3 Qe7 16. d3 Nf5 17. c3 d5 18. Bd2 Nxe3 19. Qxe3 Qxe3 20. Bxe3 Ba6 21.
d4 Re8 22. a4 h6 23. h4 Bc8 24. b4 Bf5 25. a5 b5 26. Re1 g5 27. hxg5 hxg5 28.
f3 Bd8 29. Kf2 Bc7 30. Bd2 Rxe1 31. Bxe1 f6 32. Bd2 Kg7 33. Bf1 a6 34. Be2 Kf7
35. Be3 Kg7 36. Bd2 Kf7 37. Be3 Kg7 38. Bd2 Kf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2013.02.22"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2013.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 153 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.04.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.04.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nc3 Nb6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8.
a3 Be6 9. d3 O-O 10. Be3 Nd5 11. Nxd5 Bxd5 12. Qa4 Bd6 13. Rac1 Kh8 14. Rfe1 a6
15. Ng5 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Qe7 17. Qh4 h6 18. Nf3 Qxh4 19. Nxh4 Ne7 20. Bc5 Rac8 21.
b4 b6 22. Be3 f5 23. Bd2 Kh7 24. f4 exf4 25. gxf4 Nd5 26. Kf3 Be7 27. Ng2 g5
28. Rc6 g4+ 29. Kg3 Nf6 30. Bc3 Nh5+ 31. Kf2 Bd6 32. e3 Rce8 33. Bd4 Re6 34.
Rec1 Rf7 35. Nh4 Re8 36. R1c2 Rg8 37. Be5 Bxe5 38. fxe5 f4 39. Rxc7 g3+ 40.
hxg3 fxe3+ 41. Kxe3 Rxg3+ 42. Ke4 Rg4+ 43. Kd5 Nf4+ 44. Kd6 Rxc7 45. Rxc7+ Kg8
46. Nf5 Rg6+ 47. Kd7 Kh8 48. Rc8+ Kh7 49. Rf8 Nxd3 50. e6 Ne5+ 51. Kd6 Nc4+ 52.
Kd5 Nxa3 53. Rf7+ 1-0

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2013.02.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2013.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 153 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.04.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.04.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nc3 Nb6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8.
d3 O-O 9. a3 Be6 10. Be3 Nd5 11. Nxd5 Bxd5 12. Qa4 Bd6 13. Rac1 a6 14. Nd2 Bxg2
15. Kxg2 Qd7 16. Ne4 Kh8 17. Nc5 Bxc5 18. Rxc5 f5 19. f3 Rae8 20. Qc4 Re6 21.
Rc1 h6 22. Qb3 Qc8 23. Qd5 Rd6 24. Qc4 Qe8 25. b4 f4 26. Bf2 Rd7 27. Qe4 Qf7
28. b5 axb5 29. Rxb5 Nd4 30. Rxe5 Nb3 31. Rc2 b6 32. Qc4 Qxc4 33. Rxc4 fxg3 34.
hxg3 Na5 35. Rc3 Nb7 36. Re6 Nd6 37. g4 Ra8 38. Re5 Nf7 39. Rf5 Kg8 40. d4 Ra4
41. e4 Nd8 42. d5 Nf7 43. Bg3 Ra7 44. Bf4 Nd8 45. Kg3 Nf7 46. e5 Rxd5 47. e6
Rxf5 48. gxf5 Nd6 49. Bxd6 cxd6 50. Rc8+ Kh7 51. Rd8 b5 52. f6 1-0

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2013.02.22"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2810"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2013.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 153 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.04.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.04.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c6 4. Be3 d6 5. Qd2 Nd7 6. h4 Ngf6 7. f3 b5 8. g4 Nb6
9. h5 Rg8 10. Nh3 b4 11. Nd1 a5 12. a3 bxa3 13. Rxa3 Ba6 14. Bxa6 Rxa6 15. Qe2
Ra8 16. c4 Nfd7 17. Nc3 e6 18. Kf2 gxh5 19. g5 Qe7 20. Nf4 h6 21. Nxh5 hxg5 22.
Nxg7+ Rxg7 23. Rh8+ Nf8 24. Rb3 Nbd7 25. Rb7 g4 26. fxg4 Rh7 27. Rxh7 Nxh7 28.
Qf3 Qh4+ 29. Qg3 Qxg3+ 30. Kxg3 a4 31. Bc1 Nhf8 32. Rb4 c5 33. dxc5 Nxc5 34.
Nb5 Kd7 35. Be3 Nd3 36. Bd2 Nxb4 37. Bxb4 Ra6 38. e5 Ng6 39. Bxd6 Rc6 40. c5
Ne7 41. Kf4 Ra6 42. Kg5 Nd5 43. Nd4 Ra8 44. c6+ Ke8 45. Kh6 Ne3 46. Kg5 Nc4 47.
Nb5 Rc8 48. c7 Nxb2 49. Na7 Kd7 50. Nxc8 Kxc8 51. Kf6 Nc4 52. Kxf7 a3 53. Bxa3
Nxe5+ 54. Kxe6 Nxg4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2013.02.22"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A45"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2810"]
[PlyCount "135"]
[EventDate "2013.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 153 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.04.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.04.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 g6 3. Bxf6 exf6 4. e3 f5 5. g3 d5 6. Bg2 c6 7. Ne2 Bd6 8. Nd2
Be6 9. Qc1 Nd7 10. c4 dxc4 11. Nxc4 Bb4+ 12. Nd2 Nf6 13. O-O O-O 14. Nf4 Bd5
15. Nc4 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Re8 17. Qc2 Bd6 18. Nd3 Bc7 19. Nd2 Qd5+ 20. Kg1 Ne4 21.
Nxe4 fxe4 22. Nc5 b6 23. Na4 Rac8 24. Rfc1 Bd6 25. Nc3 Qf5 26. f4 c5 27. Nb5
Bb8 28. Qa4 Red8 29. dxc5 Rxc5 30. Nd4 Qg4 31. Qd1 Qd7 32. Qe2 Bd6 33. Nb3 Rd5
34. Qc4 Be7 35. Kg2 Bf6 36. Rc2 Qe6 37. Rf2 h5 38. h3 Rd3 39. Qxe6 fxe6 40. Re1
a5 41. Ree2 a4 42. Nd2 Bxb2 43. Nc4 Bc1 44. Rf1 Rd1 45. Nxb6 a3 46. Rxd1 Rxd1
47. Na4 e5 48. Nc3 Rd3 49. Nxe4 exf4 50. exf4 Bb2 51. Rd2 Re3 52. Nc5 Kf7 53.
Nb3 Rxb3 54. axb3 a2 55. Rd1 a1=Q 56. Rxa1 Bxa1 57. Kf3 Bc3 58. Ke4 Ke6 59. g4
hxg4 60. hxg4 Kd6 61. Kd3 Ba5 62. Ke4 Bb4 63. Kd4 Bd2 64. Ke4 Bc3 65. Kd3 Bb4
66. Ke4 Bd2 67. f5 g5 68. Kd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2013.02.22"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2810"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2013.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 153 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.04.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.04.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. d4 Be7 7. Bd3 O-O 8.
h3 Re8 9. O-O Nbd7 10. Re1 Nf8 11. Bg5 Be6 12. Qd2 Ng6 13. d5 Bd7 14. Bf1 h6
15. Be3 c5 16. dxc6 bxc6 17. Bd4 Be6 18. Bd3 Nf8 19. Ne4 Nxe4 20. Bxe4 d5 21.
Bd3 c5 22. Be5 Qb6 23. c3 a5 24. b3 Red8 25. Rab1 Nd7 26. Bf4 Bf8 27. Ne5 Nf6
28. Qe2 Rac8 29. Qf3 Qa7 30. Bxh6 c4 31. Bf1 cxb3 32. axb3 d4 33. c4 Qa8 34.
Qxa8 Rxa8 35. Bg5 Bb4 36. Red1 Rac8 37. Nf3 Bc3 38. Bd3 Rc5 39. Bd2 Rb8 40.
Bxc3 dxc3 41. Rdc1 a4 42. Rxc3 Nd5 43. Rcc1 Nf4 44. Bf1 axb3 45. Rxb3 0-1

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2013.02.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A22"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2013.02.22"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 153 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.04.22"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.04.22"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. e3 Bb4 4. Nge2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3 6. Nxc3 c6 7. d4 e4 8. d5
d6 9. dxc6 Nxc6 10. Be2 Be6 11. O-O Rc8 12. b3 Qe7 13. Ra2 Rfd8 14. Rd2 h5 15.
Bb2 h4 16. Nb5 Ne8 17. Bg4 f5 18. Bh5 a6 19. Bxe8 axb5 20. Bxc6 bxc6 21. cxb5
cxb5 22. Qh5 Rc5 23. Bd4 Rd5 24. f4 exf3 25. Qxf3 Qf7 26. Qf4 Qh5 27. h3 Rc8
28. Kh2 Bd7 29. g3 g5 30. Qf2 hxg3+ 31. Qxg3 Kh7 32. Rdf2 Be6 33. Rg1 f4 34.
Qg2 Rxd4 35. exd4 Rc3 36. Qe4+ Qg6 37. Qb7+ Kh6 38. Rf3 Rc2+ 39. Kh1 Qf5 40.
Qa8 Bd5 41. Qh8+ Kg6 42. Qe8+ Kg7 43. Qe7+ Kh6 44. Qxd6+ Kh5 0-1

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2013.02.23"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A04"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2013.02.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 153"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. b3 d6 3. e3 e5 4. Bb5+ Nd7 5. O-O a6 6. Be2 Ngf6 7. c4 d5 8. d4
exd4 9. exd4 Be7 10. Nc3 cxd4 11. Qxd4 dxc4 12. Bxc4 O-O 13. Rd1 b5 14. Bd5
Nxd5 15. Nxd5 Bf6 16. Nxf6+ Qxf6 17. Ba3 Qxd4 18. Nxd4 Re8 19. Nf5 Nf6 20. Nd6
Rd8 21. Bb4 Be6 22. Ba5 Rd7 23. f3 h6 24. Kf2 Kh7 25. Rac1 Ne8 26. Ne4 Rxd1 27.
Rxd1 Rc8 28. Ke3 Nf6 29. Nc3 Rc6 30. Rd2 g5 31. g4 Kg6 32. Rd8 Bd7 33. Ra8 Re6+
34. Kf2 Rc6 35. h3 Be6 36. Rd8 Bd7 37. Kg3 h5 38. Ra8 Be6 39. Kf2 Kg7 40. Rd8
hxg4 41. hxg4 Bd7 42. Ra8 Be6 43. Kg3 Nd5 44. Ne4 f6 45. Bd2 Bc8 46. Kf2 b4 47.
Rb8 Nc3 48. Rxb4 Nxe4+ 49. Rxe4 Rc2 50. Ke3 Rxa2 51. Bc3 Kf7 52. Rc4 Be6 53.
Rc7+ Kg6 54. Rc6 Kf7 55. b4 Rc2 56. Rc7+ Kg6 57. Rc6 Kf7 58. Rc7+ Kg6 59. Rc6
1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2013.02.24"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2013.02.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 153"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 c5 4. O-O Nc6 5. d4 e6 6. c4 dxc4 7. dxc5 Qxd1 8.
Rxd1 Bxc5 9. Nbd2 c3 10. bxc3 O-O 11. Nb3 Be7 12. c4 Bd7 13. Bb2 Rfd8 14. Nfd4
Rac8 15. c5 Nxd4 16. Bxd4 Bc6 17. Rab1 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 h6 19. e3 Nd7 20. Na5 Nxc5
21. Nxb7 Nxb7 22. Rxb7 Bf6 23. Rdb1 Bxd4 24. exd4 a5 25. Ra7 Rd5 26. Rbb7 Rf5
27. Rc7 Rd8 28. Rc5 Rxd4 29. Rxf5 exf5 30. Rxa5 f4 31. a4 g5 32. Ra8+ Kg7 33.
a5 fxg3 34. hxg3 Ra4 35. a6 h5 36. Kf3 Ra3+ 37. Kg2 h4 38. gxh4 gxh4 39. a7 Kf6
40. Rh8 h3+ 41. Rxh3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2013.02.25"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A62"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2810"]
[Annotator "Caruana,F"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2013.02.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 153"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 c5 {An unusual opening choice for Kramnik. After he
played this move I understood we would have a big fight.} 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6
6. Nc3 g6 7. Bg2 Bg7 8. Nf3 O-O 9. O-O Re8 10. Bf4 a6 11. a4 h6 $5 {This
wasn't some elaborate preparation from Vladimir. He just wanted to take the
game into original channels, far away from opening theory. The move itself is
probably a bit dubious, but over the board it isn't so easy to refute.} 12. Re1
({It was probably more accurate to first play} 12. Qc1 {, which is similar to
the game, but gives White extra options. For example,} g5 13. Bd2 Bf5 14. h4 g4
15. Ne1 $1 {, and next White will play Nc2 and Ne3, with an advantage.}) 12...
Bf5 13. Qc1 ({After} 13. Nh4 Bc8 {, due to the threat of ...g5 White will
either have to acquiesce in a repetition (with Nf3 Bf5, etc) or retreat the
bishop from f4, which is a clear concession.} 14. Bd2 Nbd7 {, is totally fine
for Black.}) 13... g5 ({In case of} 13... Kh7 14. Nh4 Bc8 15. Qc2 $1 {was my
idea, preventing ...g5. Now after} Kg8 16. Nf3 Bf5 {White has the option of}
17. e4 $1) 14. Bd2 Nbd7 ({An interesting option was} 14... Ne4 $5 {, which is
what I was mainly concerned about during the game.} 15. Nxe4 Bxe4 16. h4 $1 {
was my intention, with the following possible variations:} Bxf3 (16... g4 17.
Nh2 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 h5 19. Nf1 {is better for White. After Ne3 the f5-square
will be very weak.}) 17. Bxf3 gxh4 18. Bxh6 hxg3 19. Kg2 $1 gxf2 20. Rh1 {
starts a strong attack against Black's king.}) 15. h4 {Forcing Black's
kingside pawns to advance. On the one hand, Black gains space and creates an
outpost on e5 for his knight, but the long-term kingside weakness will be more
important.} g4 16. Nh2 {Now the knight looks a bit clumsy; soon, however, it
will move to e3.} Kh7 ({Kramnik suggested} 16... h5 {as an improvement after
the game. I still think White has an advantage after} 17. Nf1 Ne5 18. Bg5 Qd7
19. Ne3 Bg6 20. a5 {, which is pretty similar to the game.}) 17. Nf1 Ne5 18.
Bf4 Bg6 19. Ne3 h5 20. a5 {Now White has a pleasant advantage. Black is
deprived of counterplay, but his position is very solid so it won't be easy
for White improve.} Qc7 21. Ra4 Kg8 22. Qd2 {It feels like I misplayed the
position a bit around here and allowed Black too much counterplay. However, it
isn't easy to find the correct plan for White. Normally White should prepare
b4, but it won't be easy because of the unstable knight on c3.} (22. Qa1 $5 {
may have been more accurate. White will continue with Rc1, Qa3 and then
consider playing b4 at the right moment.}) 22... Nfd7 23. Ra2 ({I could have
played the ambitious} 23. Be4 $5 b5 24. axb6 Nxb6 25. Bxg6 Nxg6 (25... Nxa4 26.
Bxh5 Nxc3 27. bxc3 {gives White an initiative.}) 26. Re4 {I wasn't sure about
this position over the board, but in the absence of Black's counterplay the
weakness of f5 will tell.}) 23... b5 ({It was also possible to just wait with} 
23... Nf6 {, but naturally Vladimir wanted to start his own counterplay.}) 24.
axb6 Qxb6 (24... Nxb6 25. b3 {, and next Be4 will be very unpleasant for Black.
}) 25. Be4 $2 {A very big mistake, which leads to a fascinating position!} ({
If I had just protected my pieces before starting action:} 25. Rea1 {, I
could've counted on a big advantage.}) 25... Bxe4 26. Nxe4 Ng6 {Now for the
sake of consistency I had no choice but to go for the following line:} 27. Nxd6
Nxf4 28. Nec4 Nh3+ 29. Kf1 (29. Kg2 {was much more accurate considering what
follows.}) 29... Qb8 30. Nxe8 Qxe8 {After some brief fireworks we've landed in
an extremely unusual position. In terms of material the game is relatively
balanced, but the unusual configuration of the pieces, especially the knight
on h3, makes the position extremely complex and hard to understand.} 31. Qc2
Ne5 32. Nd6 $6 {This move loses a few tempi. I didn't understand that the
knight will be weak rather than strong on f5!} (32. Ne3 {was a more accurate
move.}) 32... Qd7 33. Nf5 Bf8 {Black had a spectacular opportunity to take
over the initiative, but this misses it.} (33... c4 $5 {threatens ...Nd3 and
would have posed significant problems for me.} 34. Nxg7 ({The move I intended
to play,} 34. Qe4 {would be met by the stunning} Bf8 $3 35. Qxe5 Re8 36. Qf6
Qxd5 {and Black wins because of the threat of ...Qh1!}) 34... Kxg7 35. Qe4 f6 {
and as always it's very hard to assess this irrational position. Will the
knight on h3 turn out to be a weakness or an asset? For the moment it helps in
the attack against White's king, so Black can claim a certain advantage, but
the result of the game is totally unclear.}) 34. Ne3 $1 {Well I managed to get
my knight to e3 in three moves instead of just one! But not much harm was done,
and White is pretty much okay after this move.} (34. Rd1 $2 c4 {would really
become unpleasant. The threat of ...Nd3 is difficult to prevent.}) 34... c4 35.
Qf5 Qxf5 36. Nxf5 {The trade of queens lessens the danger to White's king.
Also the passed d-pawn may become an important force in the future.} Bb4 ({
More testing would have been} 36... Bc5 {, when White has to find the strong}
37. f4 $1 (37. Rea1 Nxf2 38. Rxa6 Rxa6 39. Rxa6 Ne4 {, and after the knight
has returned from limbo White will face an unpleasant defence.}) 37... gxf3 38.
exf3 Nxf3 39. Rea1 {White has very good chances to make a draw because of the
activity of his rooks and d-pawn.}) 37. Rd1 a5 {The position remains
complicated, but White is already out of danger.} 38. Raa1 ({In fact, I could
have already started active counterplay with} 38. d6) 38... f6 39. Rac1 $6 {
A pointless move.} ({If I play some logical moves the game will be balanced.
For example,} 39. d6 Kf7 40. Kg2 Rd8 41. f3 {, and perhaps Black should go for
the repetition with} Kg6 42. Ne7+ Kf7 43. Nf5) 39... Bc5 {Now I'm already
slightly worse again.} 40. Nd4 Kf7 41. Kg2 Rb8 42. Rc2 Rb4 43. d6 $1 {The
situation was becoming a bit too murky, so I decided to think a while and
calculate things till the end. So I made this concrete move which forces a
draw.} (43. Nc6 $6 Nxf2 44. Nxe5+ fxe5 45. Rf1 Ke7 46. Rxf2 Bxf2 47. Kxf2 Kd6
48. e4 a4 {is a variation I calculated. The ending is very unpleasant for
White due to the passivity of my rook.}) (43. f4 gxf3+ 44. exf3 (44. Kxh3 {
unfortunately runs into the nice tactical shot} Ng4 $1 {, threatening decisive
forks on e3 and f2.}) 44... Nd3 {looked very dangerous to me during the game,
but the ruthless computer says it's just equal after} 45. Nc6 Nhf2 46. Nxb4
Nxd1 47. Nxd3 Ne3+ 48. Kh3 cxd3 49. Rd2 Nxd5 50. Rxd3) 43... Rb6 ({The point
behind my last move is} 43... Bxd6 44. f4 $1 {and Black is losing material.})
44. Nf5 Bxf2 45. d7 Nxd7 46. Rxd7+ Ke6 47. Rh7 Kxf5 48. Rxh5+ Kg6 49. Rxa5 {
The last few moves have been totally forced. I calculated all this when I
played 43.d6 and decided it should be a draw.} Rb4 (49... c3 $1 {was the last
chance to cause White some problems.} 50. Ra2 $1 (50. Rxc3 Be1 51. Ra4 Bxc3 52.
Rxg4+ Kf5 53. Kxh3 Rxb2 54. Rf4+ Ke6 {and White just has to trade off Black's
last pawn to make a draw, but it's not so easy!}) 50... Re6 51. e4 Rxe4 52.
bxc3 {and Black doesn't seem to have many winning chances left.}) 50. Ra6 Bd4
51. Rc6 Bxb2 52. R6xc4 Rxc4 53. Rxc4 Kh5 {Neither side can make progress. A
fascinating struggle! This game inspired me for the remainder of the
tournament, where I managed a strong 2.5/3 and took clear first.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2013.02.27"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2810"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2013.02.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 153"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4
b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Be4 11. Qc1 Qc8 12. b4 (12. Bg5 Nbd7 13. Nbd2 Bb7 14. Nb3
a5 15. Rd1 (15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Nc5 Bd5 17. e4 Bc4 18. Nxd7 Qxd7 19. Re1 Bxd4 20.
Rd1 c5 21. Qc2 e5 22. Nxe5 {1/2-1/2 (22) Aronian,L (2750)-Kramnik,V (2769)
Mexico City 2007}) 15... Bd5 16. Ne5 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 a4 18. Nc5 Bxc5 19. Bxf6 Bb6
20. Bg5 Nxe5 21. dxe5 h6 22. Bxh6 gxh6 23. Qxh6 Rd8 24. Qg5+ {1/2-1/2 (24)
Gelfand,B (2733)-Leko,P (2751) Mexico City 2007}) 12... Nbd7 (12... Nc6 13. Nc3
Nxb4 14. Nxe4 Nxe4 15. Bxb4 Bxb4 16. Qb1 Bc3 17. Qxe4 Bxa1 18. Ng5 g6 19. Qh4
h5 20. Bxa8 Bxd4 21. Qxd4 Qxa8 22. Rd1 {1-0 (22) Popov,V (2577)-Biriukov,O 
(2327) St Petersburg 2012}) 13. Nc3 Bc6 14. a3 Qb7 15. Qc2 h6 16. Rac1 Rac8 17.
Rfe1 Nb6 18. e4 Nc4 19. d5 Bd7 (19... exd5 $2 20. exd5 $18) 20. dxe6 fxe6 (
20... Bxe6 21. e5 Nxa3 22. Qd3 Rfd8 23. Nd4 Qa7 24. Nc6 Rxd3 25. Nxa7 Ng4 26.
Nxc8 Bxb4 $13) 21. e5 Ng4 22. Re4 Nxf2 $1 23. Kxf2 (23. Rxc4 $5 bxc4 (23... Qb6
$5 24. Rf4 Nd3+ 25. Kh1 Nf2+ 26. Kg1 Nh3+ 27. Kh1 {und nun nicht} Qg1+ $4 28.
Nxg1 {ohne ersticktes Matt.} (28. Rxg1 Nf2#)) 24. Kxf2 Bc6 25. Bf4) 23... Nxd2
({Naheliegend war} 23... Bc6 {z.B.:} 24. Rf4 Rcd8 25. Be3 (25. Be1 $2 Qb6+ 26.
Ke2 Qe3+ 27. Kf1 Rxf4 28. gxf4 Bxf3 $19) 25... Nxe3 26. Kxe3 Qb6+ 27. Ke2 Bg5
28. Nxg5 hxg5 29. Rxf8+ Rxf8 30. Rf1 Bxg2 31. Rxf8+ Kxf8 32. Qd2 $11) 24. Qxd2
c5 25. Kg1 (25. bxc5 Bxc5+ 26. Kf1 Bxa3 $19 (26... Bc6 $19)) (25. Rf4 $5) 25...
cxb4 26. axb4 Bc6 27. Rce1 a5 28. Nd4 Qa7 (28... Bxe4 29. Nxe4 Qa7 30. Rd1 Bxb4
31. Qd3 Rcd8 $17) 29. Ncxb5 $2 (29. R4e3 $5 {mit der Idee} Bxg2 30. Ncxb5 Qa6
31. Qxg2 Bxb4 $18) 29... Bxb5 30. Kh1 Bc4 31. bxa5 Rfd8 32. Qb2 Qxa5 33. Nf3
Bd5 $17 34. R4e2 Bb4 35. Rg1 Bc3 36. Qb1 Bc4 37. Re3 Bb4 38. Re4 Bf8 (38... Bc3
$5 39. Rg4 Bd3 40. Qb3 Qd5 41. Qxd5 exd5 $17) 39. Rf4 Bd3 (39... Bd5 $5) 40.
Qb3 Qd5 41. Qxd5 Rxd5 42. Nd4 Rxe5 43. Nxe6 Be7 44. Rd4 Bf5 45. Nf4 Bc5 46. Rd5
1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2013.02.28"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[Annotator "Andreikin,D"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2013.02.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 153"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 {Kramnik did not show opening secrets in this
tournament. For example, in the first game against Gelfand he played 1.Ng1-f3
and 2.b2-b3. The fact is that two weeks after this tournament Kramnik will
participate in a much more important event. I think, this tournament Kramnik
saw as training before the Candidates Tournament in London.} d5 {I like
another idea:} (3... b6 $5 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O g6 $5 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. d4 Ne4 $132)
4. Bg2 Nc6 {If Caruana planned to play d5-d4, he could do it now.} (4... d4 $5
5. b4 $5 cxb4 6. a3 bxa3 7. Bxa3 Nc6 $11 {This is a Volga Gambit (A58) with a
change of colour. Chess players who use this opening know that the side with
the extra pawn will not suffer much from being a tempo down.}) 5. O-O (5. cxd5
$5 Nxd5 6. Nc3 $14 {=}) 5... d4 $1 {Caruana does not hesitate before his
famous opponent! Of course, it is not only the capture of the center and the
space, but also a responsible decision.} 6. e3 e5 7. exd4 cxd4 {Black has no
problems after recapturing symmetrically:} (7... exd4 $5 8. d3 Be7 9. Bf4 O-O
10. Ne5 Nxe5 11. Bxe5 Ng4 12. Bf4 Bd6 $11 {I am not sure what Kramnik intended
in this variation.}) 8. d3 {After this move the position goes to a Benoni
Defence (A70) with an additional tempo for White. Aggressive play could begin
right now:} (8. b4 $5 Bxb4 9. Nxe5 Nxe5 10. Qa4+ Nfd7 11. Qxb4 Nd3 {In the
classic version the knight takes a pawn located on d3/d6... but the assessment
does not change.} 12. Qa3 (12. Qd6 $5 $11) 12... N7c5 13. Be4 Nxe4 14. Qxd3 Nc5
15. Qf3 O-O 16. Ba3 Qa5 17. Qd5 b6 18. Bxc5 Be6 19. Qxd4 bxc5 20. Qc3 Qxc3 21.
Nxc3 Bxc4 $11) (8. Re1 $5 Bd6 (8... Nd7 $5 9. Nxe5 Ncxe5 10. f4 Bd6 11. fxe5
Nxe5 12. c5 Bc7 13. Qa4+ Bd7 14. Qxd4 O-O $44) 9. b4 O-O 10. b5 Nb4 11. d3 a6
$1 12. Nxe5 Re8 13. a3 axb5 14. Bb2 bxc4 (14... Na6 15. cxb5 Nc5 16. Nf3 Rxe1+
17. Nxe1 Na4 $44) 15. axb4 Rxa1 16. Bxa1 Bxb4 17. Re2 c3 18. Qb3 Qc7 19. Qxb4
Rxe5 20. Rxe5 Qxe5 21. Bxc3 dxc3 22. Qxc3 Qxc3 23. Nxc3 $11) 8... Be7 9. Bg5 $5
{Having an extra move White tried this idea.} (9. Re1 Nd7 $11) 9... O-O 10.
Nbd2 h6 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. a3 {/\b2-b4.} a5 $11 {So I think each player
obtained what he wanted. White has a pawn advantage on the queenside and a
strong bishop on g2. Black has a strong pawn center, but it is difficult to
use it without playing f7-f5.} 13. Ne1 $5 {A typical idea of this system. The
diagonal of the white bishop increases, the white knight goes to c2 to support
the pawn advance b2-b4. I think Kramnik still hadn't chosen the final plan,
until he had transferred his pieces to good positions. The pawn attack can
begin right now:} (13. c5 $5 Be6 14. Rc1 a4 15. Nc4 Qc7 16. Nfd2 Bg5 17. h4 (
17. Nd6 $5 Be7 18. Re1 Bxd6 19. cxd6 Qxd6 20. Ne4 Qc7 21. Nc5 $36) 17... Bxc4
18. Rxc4 Bxd2 19. Qxd2 $36 {=}) 13... Bf5 {This move ties the white knight to
the d3-pawn, but the square on d5 remains free. The bishop can take another
position:} (13... Be6 $5 14. Nc2 Be7 15. Re1 a4 16. Nf3 (16. Bxc6 bxc6 17. Rxe5
c5 $44) 16... Ra5 17. Nb4 Bd6 $11) 14. Rb1 {This move can be useful in many
ways. Kramnik plays in his manner - he slowly prepares the basis for active
actions.} (14. Bd5 $5) 14... Be7 15. Qe2 Re8 $6 {In my opinion this is a small
inaccuracy. White was not threatening to take on c6, so why weaken the point
f7?} (15... Qd7 $5 16. Nc2 Bd6 17. Ne4 Be7 18. Nd2 Bd6 $11) 16. Bd5 $1 {
Unexpectedly White starts to disturb the black king.} Bf8 {The black pieces
are quite harmonious.} 17. Ng2 {A logical solution. Active white ideas are
associated with f2-f4 or the capture of the white squares.} Qd7 {/\Bf5-g4} 18.
Qf3 {Another important decision. Now Black doesn't have active ideas.} Be6 (
18... Bg4 $4 19. Bxf7+ $16) 19. Rfe1 $6 {Knowing the development of this game
it is possible to assume that rook will be useful on f1.} (19. Rbe1 $5) 19...
Rad8 20. Bxe6 Rxe6 $11 21. Ne4 {After the exchange of bishops the position
became considerably simpler, but Kramnik continues active play. It was the
penultimate game of the tournament. Vladimir Kramnik had a half point less
than Caruana and did not want an easy draw.} Be7 $1 {/\ Rd8-f8 /\f7-f5. Simple
and clever solution. Soon Black wants to use the power of his pawn center.
White's knight on g2 is not in play.} 22. Qh5 Rf8 23. g4 {Aggressive, but at
the same time forced action.} Kh7 $6 {A provocative move. Black can start
counterplay on the queenside.} (23... Rb8 $5 24. h4 b5 25. c5 b4 $132) (23...
Rg6 24. Qf5 Re6 25. Qh5 Rg6 $11) 24. g5 $132 {Queen + knight are very
dangerous sheaf in hands of the master. Now small forces create unpleasant
threats for the black king. And White has two knights...} Rg6 (24... Kg8 25. h4
Qe8 26. Qg4 Rg6 27. Qf5 Qc8 28. Qxc8 Rxc8 29. h5 Re6 30. f4 $36) (24... Qe8 25.
Qh3 Kg8 26. f4 $40) 25. f4 exf4 {Caruana decided to donate the material to
release the pressure. It is a bold and reasonable decision. Black had another
interesting move:} (25... Rh8 $5 26. Nh4 (26. h4 Qh3 27. Nf2 Qd7 28. Ne4 Qh3
$11) 26... exf4 (26... Qh3 $2 27. Nf2 $18) 27. Nxg6 fxg6 28. Qe2 Rf8 $1 29.
gxh6 f3 30. hxg7 $1 Kxg7 (30... fxe2 $4 31. gxf8=N+ $1 Bxf8 32. Nf6+ $18) 31.
Qf1 Qg4+ 32. Kh1 Qf4 $44) 26. Nxf4 Rxg5+ $6 {The rook needed to be given in
another way:} (26... Ne5 $1 27. Kh1 Qf5 $1 28. Nxg6 (28. Nd5 Bd8 29. Rf1 Qg4
30. Qxg4 Nxg4 $11) 28... fxg6 29. Qe2 Bxg5 $11 30. Nxg5+ hxg5 31. Qxe5 (31. Rf1
Nf3 $11) 31... Qf3+ 32. Kg1 Qf2+ 33. Kh1 Qf3+ 34. Kg1 $11) 27. Nxg5+ Bxg5 28.
Ng2 $6 {White did not have to take away his pieces from the center.} (28. Re4
$1 Ne7 (28... f5 $4 29. Ne6 $18) 29. Qf3 Nf5 30. Nd5 g6 31. Re5 $5 $14) 28...
f5 $1 {Caruana correctly sees the dynamics of this position. The f-pawn can
become a big danger for the white king.} 29. Qf3 Bf6 {Useful move, but Bg5 was
good. Black had full counterplay in such option:} (29... Qc7 $5 30. h4 $5 Bd2
$1 31. Re2 Be3+ 32. Nxe3 dxe3 33. Qxe3 Qd6 $1 $13 {The white king is too weak.}
) 30. Rf1 g6 {Black would have good drawing chances in the endgame:} (30... Ne5
31. Qxf5+ Qxf5 32. Rxf5 Nxd3 $14 {The black pieces are active and this
compensates for material losses.}) 31. Qd5 $1 $14 {This move starts the second
wave of White's attack!} Qc7 $5 {Caruana keeps his queens and plays on three
results!} (31... Qxd5 $5 32. cxd5 Ne5 33. Rbc1 $14) 32. Nf4 Re8 33. Kh1 {
A good prophylactic move, but now the white queen has to leave the center.
Stabilizing the situation in the center could be achieved thus:} (33. Ne6 $5
Qe7 34. Rbe1 Ne5 $1 35. Nf4 {White wants to double rooks on the e-line, what
is the plan of Black?}) 33... Re5 $1 34. Qg2 Ne7 (34... Bg5 35. Nd5 $14) 35. b4
$1 $14 {White realized his opening idea. The rook went to b1 twenty moves ago,
and now became useful.} a4 {Of course, Caruana does not want to open the
b-line.} 36. b5 {White is using his pawn majority on the queenside.} Bg5 (36...
Re3 $5) 37. Ne2 $1 Qd7 38. Rb4 Re3 39. c5 $2 {Vladimir Kramnik made a series
of strong moves, but now goes wrong. A big advantage was very close, and it
remained only to make some exact defensive moves.} (39. Rf3 $1 Qe6 40. Ng1 $1
Re1 41. Rf1 Re3 42. Rd1 $1 $16) 39... Rxd3 40. c6 bxc6 41. b6 {Doing move 39.
c5 Kramnik overestimated the prospects of this pawn.} Qb7 $1 $15 42. Nxd4 Nd5 {
This move forces the draw. The result gives Caruana a good chance for first
place in the tournament. Black could continue the game with a small advantage
after:} (42... Rd2 $5 43. Qf3 Nd5 44. Rxa4 Nxb6 45. Rb4 Be7 46. Nxf5 $1 Bxb4
47. axb4 Qf7 $1 48. Nd4 Qxf3+ 49. Nxf3 $15) 43. Rxa4 Qxb6 44. Ne6 Qe3 $1 {
Important centralization of the queen. It seems that White has yet to solve
some problems. Kramnik finds an effective combination for a draw!} 45. Re4 $1
$11 Qxe4 46. Qxe4 fxe4 47. Rf7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2013.03.01"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2810"]
[Annotator "Gormally,D"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2013.02.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 153"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Anand vs Kramnik - could this be a prelude to a world championship match
later? Only time will tell.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 {Probably a
wise choice against Kramnik, who has analysed the Berlin ending to death. Will
anyone be brave enough to take on his main-line Berlin in London? Watch this
space. Sergey Karjakin said in a interview that he had recently studied the
Berlin with Kramnik - such an experience he felt was like a "masterclass" in
the opening.} Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nbd2 {This slow method of playing the Ruy
Lopez has become quite popular lately. White turns the game into a manouvreing
battle - he need not fear the two bishops as the position is closed for at
least the time being.} O-O 7. O-O Re8 (7... Bg4 {was a blitz game of Magnus
Carlsen's against the aforementioned Karjakin. I have seen the video of this
game and Carlsen acts rather out of character, being quite disrespectful
towards his opponent - almost yawning at times.  However what it does
demonstrate is how much raw chess talent Carlsen has, as he's able to outplay
a world class player with seemingly no effort whatsoever.} 8. h3 Bh5 9. Nc4 Re8
10. Be3 Bd6 11. Bg5 h6 12. Bh4 g5 13. g4 Bg6 14. Bg3 Nd7 15. h4 f6 16. Ne3 Bf8
17. Kg2 Nc5 18. hxg5 hxg5 19. Nf5 Ne6 20. Rh1 Qd7 21. Rh3 Bxf5 22. exf5 Nf4+
23. Bxf4 exf4 24. Nd2 Rad8 25. Qf3 Bg7 26. Ne4 Kf7 27. Rh7 Rh8 28. Qh3 Rxh7 29.
Qxh7 Rh8 30. Qg6+ Kf8 31. Nxf6 Qf7 32. Nh7+ Rxh7 33. Qxh7 Qd5+ 34. f3 Qe5 35.
Kf1 Qe3 36. Qh3 Bxb2 37. Re1 Qd2 38. Qh6+ Bg7 39. Qg6 Be5 40. f6 {1-0 Carlsen,
M (2837)-Karjakin,S (2779)/Astana 2012/CBM 149 Extra}) 8. Nc4 Nd7 9. Kh1 a5 {
Practically forcing White's next, as otherwise Black will gain useful space on
the queenside with ...a4} 10. a4 b6 11. Be3 Bb4 12. Nfd2 {Of course, White
needs this move to ever make progress. The plan is to play f4. Realising this,
Kramnik decides to force matters.} b5 13. axb5 cxb5 14. c3 $1 {More or less
forced.} ({The problem is that after} 14. Na3 {the knight is really on the
wrong route. Eventually white may be able to play c3, followed by Nc2, but
what then? Besides, there is a problem even with that plan:} Ba6 $1 15. c3 $6
Bxa3 16. Rxa3 b4 $1 17. Rxa5 bxc3 18. bxc3 Bxd3 19. Rxa8 Qxa8 20. Re1 Qc6 {
with strong pressure.}) 14... bxc4 15. cxb4 cxd3 16. bxa5 Ba6 {The smoke has
cleared and both players are left with a potentially strong passed-pawn.
However although both the white pawn on a5 and the black pawn on d3 are
solidly blockaded, the position will remain quite sharp while the possibility
of disturbing these blockades remains in the position.} 17. Qb3 Nf6 18. h3 $6 (
{Naturally my instincts would be drawn towards the move} 18. f3 $1 {which
would seem to stabilise the position. I believe that this is slightly
preferable to the move played in the game, as it gives white more options of
defending the kingside - he can play Bg1, Bf2 etc.} Nh5 19. Qc3 ({White has
many other options of course, like} 19. Nc4) 19... Qh4 20. Kg1 Nf4 21. Bxf4
Qxf4 22. Nb3 {although the position would remain unclear.}) 18... Nh5 19. Rfc1
Nf4 20. Rc6 $36 Ne2 ({As Anand explained in the post-mortem, he had seen the
possibility of} 20... Nxh3 $1 21. gxh3 Qd7 22. Rac1 Qxh3+ 23. Kg1 Qg4+ {
with a draw, but saw no way to avoid it. However it's entirely possible that
Kramnik still had notions of tournament victory - at this stage he was only
half a point behind the leader Fabiano Caruana.}) 21. Qd5 {The critical moment
of the game.} ({White is so well placed on the queenside that the possibility
of sacrificing the exchange with} 21. Rxa6 Rxa6 22. Qc4 {was certainly on
Anand's mind - if he can launch up the b-pawn quickly Black may get into
serious trouble. Black would then have a difficult decision to make - give up
on the d-pawn, or let the a-pawn come through.} {Perhaps wisest is to indeed
to jettison the d-pawn with} Qa8 23. Qxd3 Nd4 24. Bxd4 exd4 25. b4 c5 $1 {
After which White's position rather falls apart, which proves that Anand was
sensible to avoid complications just yet. He is rewarded with a huge blunder.})
21... Qb8 $4 {A real howler, Kramnik overlooks something rather obvious.} (
21... Qxd5 22. exd5 Red8 23. Rxc7 Rxd5 24. b4 {was the way forward, with
another completely unclear endgame in prospect. Objectively the chances are
equal, but i'd probably be White - as Kasparov said in the Caruana-Kramnik
game, White has the better practical chances - Black has more options while
White's way is obvious - at some point he will try to put a knight on c5 or b6.
} Rb5 $1 {It's important not to allow the knight to b3} 25. Rb1 f5 $13) 22.
Rxa6 $1 {All of a sudden the game is over. It's easy with chess to become
obsessed with strategy, positional play, opening preparation and so on. But
horrible blunders decide the games more often than we think.} Rxa6 23. Qxd3
Qxb2 24. Rb1 Rd6 25. Qxe2 Qa2 26. Qb5 c6 27. Qb2 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.03.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2747"]
[BlackElo "2810"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2013.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 $5 {This way of sidestepping the
Exchange Variation structures used to be part of the repertoire of the young
Fischer among others. It may transpose to a Semi-Tarrasch, but White can
deviate.} 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 c5 7. a3 $5 (7. Nf3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+
10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Bc4 {would lead to the main line of the Semi-Tarrasch. Here
are a few games annotated recently for CBM:} b6 12. O-O Nd7 (12... Bb7 13. Rfe1
Nc6 {Radjabov,T (2744)-Ivanchuk,V (2776) Medias 2011 CBM 143 [Rogozenco] (1/2,
45)}) 13. Rad1 (13. a4 {Leko,P (2720)-Naiditsch,A (2712) Porto Carras 2011 CBM
146 [Krasenkow] (1/2, 36)}) 13... Bb7 14. Rfe1 Rc8 15. Bb3 (15. Bd3 {Van Wely,
L (2686)-Illescas Cordoba,M (2609) Melilla 2011 CBM 146 [RR] (1/2, 60)}) 15...
Qf6 16. Qe3 Rfd8 17. d5 {Kasimdzhanov,R (2678)-Teske,H (2547) Germany 2011 CBM
146 [RR] (1-0, 40)}) 7... cxd4 {In connection with the next move, a
straightforward plan. Black does not wish to live with the permanent threat of
d4-d5 and decides to clear up matters in the centre at once. A more flexible
approach is viable, though, too.} (7... Be7 8. Nf3 O-O 9. Bd3 Nc6 10. Bb2 cxd4
(10... b6 11. O-O cxd4 12. cxd4 Bb7 13. Qe2 Rc8 14. Rad1 Na5 15. d5 $36 {
Bocharov,D (2582)-Mozharov,M (2459)/St Petersburg 2011/CBM 144 Extra (1-0, 26)}
) 11. cxd4 Qa5+ 12. Kf1 (12. Nd2 Bf6 13. e5 Bg5 14. h4 Bxd2+ 15. Qxd2 Qxd2+ 16.
Kxd2 Rd8 17. Ke3 Bd7) 12... b6 13. Qe2 Rd8 14. Kg1 Nb8 $5 (14... Bb7 15. h4 {
[%cal Gh4h5]} Qh5 16. Rh3 Rac8 17. Rg3) 15. Ne5 (15. h4 Ba6 16. d5 exd5 17. Ng5
$44) 15... Ba6 16. Rd1 Qa4 17. d5 $5 exd5 18. exd5 Bxd3 19. Rxd3 Bf6 20. h4 $36
{Vitiugov,N (2733)-Khalifman,A (2627)/Taganrog 2011/CBM 143 (1/2, 41)}) ({
I remember how interesting I found Black's way of transposing to a Grünfeld
type of position in the following game:} 7... Qc7 8. Nf3 Nd7 9. Bb2 g6 10. Bd3
Bg7 11. O-O O-O 12. Qe2 Nb6 {1/2 Prusikin,M (2563)-Kortschnoj,V (2608)/
Pulvermuehle 2006/CBM 112/[Marin] (26)}) 8. cxd4 e5 9. Nf3 ({Blocking the
centre with} 9. d5 {offers Black some stability on the dark squares.} Bd6 10.
Nf3 O-O 11. Be2 Nd7 12. O-O Nc5 13. Nd2 (13. Bb2 {Ivanov,S (2570)-Golod,V 
(2535)/Beersheba 1998/CBM 064/[Golod,V] (1/2, 26)}) 13... Qe7 (13... f5 $5) 14.
f3 Bd7 (14... f5 $5) 15. a4 (15. Nc4 Ba4 16. Qe1 Nb3 17. Nxd6 Qxd6 18. Rb1 Nxc1
19. Qxc1 Rac8 20. Qe3 b6 21. Ba6 Rc5 22. Rfc1 $14 {<->c Since he cannot
maintain the control of the only open file, Black has failed to equalise
completely.}) 15... Rfc8 16. Nc4 Nxa4 17. Rxa4 Bc5+ 18. Kh1 b5 19. Ra6 bxc4 20.
Bxc4 Bd4 $132 {Martinovic,S (2496)-Saric,A (2523)/Zagreb 2012/CBM 147 Extra (1/
2, 38)}) 9... exd4 10. Qxd4 ({Delaying the capture should not offer White
realistic chances:} 10. Bc4 Be7 11. O-O Nc6 12. Bd5 (12. Rb1 O-O 13. Bd5 Bf6
14. Bf4 Re8 {1/2 Lerner,K (2494)-Golod,V (2538)/Ramat Aviv 2004/CBM 102 ext})
12... O-O 13. Bb2 Bf6 14. Re1 (14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. Nxd4 $2 c5 $19) 14... Be6 $6 (
14... Bg4 $1 $11 {seems to have solved the problems at once.}) 15. Bxc6 bxc6
16. Nxd4 Bxd4 {Careless. The ending with four rooks and opposite-coloured
bishops is less safe than Black might have thought.} (16... c5 17. Nxe6 fxe6
18. Qxd8 Rfxd8 19. Bxf6 gxf6 {This looks a bit ugly from a structural point of
view, but the passed c-pawn should spare Black concrete problems.}) 17. Bxd4
Qd6 18. Be3 Qxd1 19. Rexd1 a5 20. Rd6 Rfc8 21. Rc1 h5 22. f4 a4 23. f5 Ba2 24.
Kf2 $36 {Aleksandrov,A (2630)-Rausis,I (2498)/Abu Dhabi 2005/CBM 107 ext (1-0,
41)}) 10... Qxd4 11. Nxd4 Be7 $146 {This looks less active than the previously
played 11...Bc5, but this impression may be false. Kramnik keeps the c-file
open for his rooks and prepares the activation of the bishop with ...Bf6.} ({
I did not find significant problems after} 11... Bc5 {either:} 12. Nb5 Na6 13.
Bc4 (13. Bf4 {1/2 Wojtaszek,R (2733)-Roiz,M (2618)/Eilat 2012/CBM 151/[Roiz,M]
(85)}) 13... O-O 14. O-O Be6 15. Bd5 Bxd5 16. exd5 Rad8 17. Rd1 Rfe8 $132 {
Nisipeanu,L (2677)-Naiditsch,A (2706)/Deizisau 2013/ (1/2, 47)}) 12. Be3 ({
Actually White could try} 12. Nb5 {with similar ideas as above even if the
knight is not attacked.} Na6 13. Bc4 O-O 14. O-O Bd7 15. Be3 Rac8 16. Rfd1 Rfd8
17. Bf1 {Both sides have centralised their pieces and Black has to give up the
bishop pair.} Bxb5 18. Bxb5 Nc5 ({The straightforward} 18... Rxd1+ 19. Rxd1
Bxa3 {fails to annihilate the bishop pair:} 20. Bxa7 Nc5 21. f3 Ne6 22. Kf1 Bc5
23. Rc1 $1 Rc7 24. Bb8 $1 Rc8 25. Bg3 b6 {True, Black is relatively stable,
but the main line leads to a better version of it.}) 19. f3 b6 20. a4 Ne6 {
[%cal Ge7c5]}) 12... O-O 13. Bc4 Nd7 14. Ke2 Nb6 15. Bb3 Bd7 {Black keeps
developing his pieces on what do not seem the most active squares, but there
is hidden flexibility in his play.} 16. Nf5 {Moving away from the centre
allows Black to activate both his bishops.} (16. Rhc1 Rfc8 17. Nf5 Bb5+ 18. Kf3
Bf8 {allows Black to regroup perfectly.}) (16. a4 $5 {might have posed more
problems:} Rac8 17. Rab1 $5 {an effective way of parrying ...Nc4 and keeping
the a4-pawn indirectly defended.} Bxa4 18. Bxa4 Nxa4 19. Rxb7 $14) 16... Bf6
17. Rab1 Rfd8 18. Rhc1 Bb5+ 19. Kf3 Bd3 20. Bc2 Ba6 21. Bb3 {There is nothing
more active than this.} Bd3 22. Bc2 Ba6 23. Bb3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.03.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2872"]
[BlackElo "2810"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2013.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Bf4 d5 7. e3 (7. Ndb5 {
transposes to a line that used to be fashionable a few decades ago; in recent
years we had Nakamura,H (2775)-Kramnik,V (2801)/Moscow 2012/CBM 149/[Marin,M] 
(1/2, 40)}) 7... Bb4 8. Be2 dxc4 $146 (8... O-O {Zhigalko,A (2589)-Vachier
Lagrave,M (2711)/Warsaw 2012/ (0-1, 69)}) 9. Nxc6 Qxd1+ 10. Rxd1 bxc6 11. Bxc4
Nd5 12. O-O Nxf4 13. exf4 Bxc3 14. bxc3 Ke7 15. Rb1 Bd7 16. Rb7 Rhb8 17. Rfb1
Rxb7 18. Rxb7 a5 19. Bd3 h6 20. h4 Kd8 21. Kf1 Kc8 22. Rb1 Rb8 23. Rxb8+ Kxb8
24. Ke2 Kc7 25. Ke3 Kd6 26. Kd4 c5+ 27. Ke3 Bc6 28. g3 f6 29. a3 e5 30. fxe5+
Kxe5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.03.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D76"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2764"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2013.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Nf3 Nb6 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. e3
O-O 9. O-O Re8 10. h3 e5 11. d5 Na5 12. Qc2 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8] A novelty in a
well-known position.} (12. e4 {and}) (12. Nd2 {are theoretical lines.}) 12...
c6 (12... Nxd5 $2 {is impossible due to} 13. Rd1 c6 14. e4) (12... e4 13. Nxe4
Qxd5 14. Nd4 $1 {looks risky}) 13. b4 Nac4 14. dxc6 bxc6 {White has worsened
his opponent's pawn structure; now he must cope with Black's active pieces.}
15. Rd1 Qe7 16. Nd2 $1 Bf5 17. Nce4 Rad8 (17... Qxb4 18. a3 Qc5 19. g4 Bxe4 20.
Nxe4 Qe7 21. a4 $16 {(E.Gleizerov)}) (17... Red8 $5 18. a3 Rac8) 18. a3 h5 (
18... Be6 19. Nxc4 Rxd1+ 20. Qxd1 Bxc4 {[%cal Ye8d8,Yc4d5]} 21. Bb2 $14) 19.
Nxc4 Rxd1+ 20. Qxd1 Nxc4 21. Ra2 Rd8 22. Qf1 Nd6 23. Nc5 {White has
consolidated his position.} Nb5 $1 {[%mdl 512] An excellent decision. Black
doesn't want to passively defend his c6-pawn and decides to sacrifice it for
activity.} (23... e4 24. Rd2 $14) (23... Qc7 24. e4 Bc8 25. a4 $14) 24. Bxc6
Nc3 25. Rd2 Rxd2 26. Bxd2 Qd6 $1 27. Bxc3 Qxc6 {Black has got a bishop pair
and an option to trade his dark-squared bishop for the opponent's knight (e.g.
by means of ...Bg7-f8), which leads to opposite-coloured bishops and a
probable draw.} 28. Qg2 {Otherwise 28...Qf3, e.g.} (28. Kh2 Qf3 29. a4 Bf8 30.
Bxe5 a5 31. Qg2 Qxg2+ 32. Kxg2 axb4 33. Bd4 Bxc5 34. Bxc5 b3 35. Bd4 {(S.
Shipov)} Kf8 36. a5 Bc8 37. h4 Ke7 38. Kf3 Kd6 {should be a draw.}) 28... Qd6
$1 29. e4 Qd1+ 30. Kh2 Bc8 31. f3 Qc1 (31... h4 $44 {(E.Gleizerov) was
possible, too.}) 32. Qd2 (32. Bb2 $6 Qe3) 32... Qf1 33. Qg2 Qc1 34. Qd2 Qf1 35.
Qg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.03.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E54"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2810"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2013.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 c5 8. O-O
cxd4 9. exd4 b6 10. Qe2 Bb7 11. Bg5 Bxc3 (11... Nbd7 12. Rac1 Qb8 $5 {- see
Gelfand - Kramnik in this issue.}) 12. bxc3 Nbd7 13. Rac1 Qc7 14. Bd3 (14. Nd2
Rfe8 15. f4 Ne4 16. Nxe4 Bxe4 17. Bb3 f5 18. Bh4 Rac8 19. c4 h6 20. Qe3 Kh7 21.
a4 Qc6 22. Rf2 a6 23. Ra1 Nf8 24. Rb2 Ng6 $132 {0-1 (41) Cordova,E (2539)
-Steingrimsson,H (2550) Khanty-Mansiysk 2010}) 14... Ng4 {One of many ways to
equalise in this harmless system. Practice has also seen:} (14... Rac8 15. c4
h6 $1 ({but not} 15... Bxf3 $2 16. Qxf3 {1/2 (49) Gelfand,B (2727)-Anand,V 
(2791) Moscow 2012 CBM 149 [Postny,E]} e5 17. Bf5 $16) 16. Bh4 Nh5 $11) (14...
Rfe8 15. Rfe1 Rac8 16. c4 h6 17. Bd2 Qd6 $5 18. Bc3 Ng4 19. h3 Bxf3 20. Qxf3
Qh2+ 21. Kf1 Ngf6 22. Qg3 Qxg3 23. fxg3 Red8 24. Red1 Re8 25. Re1 Red8 26. Red1
Re8 27. Re1 {1/2 (27) Wojtaszek,R (2721)-Meier,G (2650) Mulhouse 2011}) (14...
h6 $5 15. Bh4 (15. Bd2 Ng4) 15... Nh5 16. Qe3 Qf4 17. Be7 Rfe8 18. Ba3 Bxf3 19.
Qxf3 Qxf3 20. gxf3 Ndf6 21. Rfd1 {1/2 (21) Van der Stricht,G (2430)-Kveinys,A 
(2537) Charleroi 2007}) 15. Be4 Bxe4 16. Qxe4 Ngf6 17. Qe2 Rac8 18. c4 {
After quite a dull opening, a typical middlegame has arisen, with hanging
pawns and B+N vs 2N. It often arises from completely different openings like
the Sicilian with 2.c3. The position is equal although both sides can try to
outmanoeuvre their opponent. Once I managed to succeed against GM Sune Berg
Hansen but, of course, it is less likely at the super-GM level.} h6 19. Bh4 Qb7
20. Rfe1 Rfe8 21. a4 Qa6 22. Qa2 Rc6 23. Qb3 Rec8 24. Bxf6 (24. Nd2 Ne8 {
- White will have to exchange this knight on d6 anyway.}) 24... Nxf6 {The rest
consists of Black's fruitless attempts to get some winning chances.} 25. Ne5
Rd6 26. Red1 Rcd8 27. Qb4 Qc8 (27... Rxd4 28. Rxd4 Rxd4 29. Qe7 Qxa4 30. Qxf7+
$11) 28. Nf3 Ne4 {[%cal Ye4g5]} 29. h4 Nf6 30. a5 Ng4 31. axb6 axb6 32. Re1 Rc6
33. Qb5 Qc7 34. Re4 Rd5 35. Qb3 h5 36. Ree1 Rf5 37. Qd3 g6 38. Rc2 Qd6 39. Rd1
Rc8 40. Qe2 Rd8 41. Rcd2 Qc6 42. Rc2 Qc7 43. Rcd2 Rc8 44. Rc2 Ra5 45. Rdc1 Qd6
46. Qe4 Rf5 47. g3 Nf6 48. Qe3 Ng4 49. Qe4 Nf6 50. Qe3 Ng4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.03.20"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "144"]
[EventDate "2013.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Bg4 {Although Kramnik is possibly the best prepared player
from the elite, even he occasionally avoids highly topical theory, shifting
the focus of the fight for the advantage form the opening to the early
middlegame. The Reti opening with its unhurried manoeuvring play is well
suited for this purpose. Annotating this game, I watched the following effort
online:} (2... c6 3. Bg2 Bg4 4. O-O Nd7 5. d3 Ngf6 6. Qe1 e5 7. e4 dxe4 8. dxe4
Bd6 9. Nbd2 O-O 10. h3 Bh5 11. Nc4 Bc7 12. a4 Re8 13. Nh4 Nc5 14. Nf5 Ne6 15.
Be3 Nf4 16. f3 $1 Nxg2 17. Kxg2 Bg6 18. Rd1 Nd5 19. Nh4 Nxe3+ 20. Qxe3 Qe7 21.
Qb3 Rab8 22. Rf2 Red8 23. Rxd8+ Bxd8 24. Rd2 Bc7 25. Rd3 Qe6 26. Qb4 b6 27. b3
a6 28. Qd2 b5 29. Rd7 $1 $36 {Kramnik,V (2801)-Vitiugov,N (2712)/Alekhine mem
Paris/St Petersburg/2013/}) 3. Bg2 e6 4. c4 c6 5. O-O Nf6 6. cxd5 Bxf3 {
A somewhat surprisingly modest choice, Aronian parts with his bishop just to
keep the position symmetrical.} ({The more usual} 6... exd5 {is also more
enterprising. The position remains roughly equal, but both sides have more
chances to disrupt the balance. After} 7. d3 Nbd7 {we have tranposed into
Carlsen-Karjakin, Wijk 2013:} 8. Qc2 Be7 9. Nc3 Bxf3 10. Bxf3 d4 11. Ne4 O-O
12. Nxf6+ Nxf6 13. Bd2 a5 14. a3 Nd5 15. Rab1 Qd7 16. Rfc1 Rfe8 17. Qc4 Nc7 18.
h4 a4 19. Bb4 Nb5 20. Kg2 h6 21. Bc5 g6 22. Qb4 Bf6 23. Qd2 Kg7 24. Rc4 $14 {
/=, Carlsen,M (2861)-Karjakin,S (2780)/Wijk aan Zee/2013/ In the end White won
after a long fight, when Black in an endangered position missed a draw on move
68 - see the notes by Marin in CBM 153.}) (6... cxd5 {is the least played
alternative. Although the bishop will be missed on the queenside, even here
White's edge is at best only minimal:} 7. Ne5 (7. Qb3 Bxf3 8. Bxf3 Qd7 9. Nc3
Nc6 10. Bg2 Be7 11. d3 O-O 12. Bd2 Rac8 13. Rfc1 Rfd8 14. Qd1 h6 15. a3 Bd6 16.
b4 Be5 17. Rab1 Ne8 18. Na4 b6 19. e3 Nd6 20. Qb3 Ne7 21. Nb2 Rxc1+ 22. Rxc1
Rc8 23. Rxc8+ Nexc8 24. d4 Bf6 25. a4 Qc7 26. b5 Be7 27. Qc3 $11 {/+/=,
Anastasian,A (2545)-Seirawan,Y (2630)/Groningen/1997/}) 7... Bh5 (7... Bf5 8.
Qb3 Nbd7 9. Nxd7 Qxd7 10. Nc3 Be7 11. d3 $5 (11. d4 O-O 12. a4 Rac8 13. Bd2 Rc4
14. e3 Rfc8 15. Rfc1 a6 16. a5 {Hausrath,D (2519)-Fressinet,L (2667)/Biel/2009/
} Ne8 $15) 11... Bg6 12. e4 d4 13. Ne2 $13 {/+/=}) 8. Nc3 (8. Qa4+ Nbd7 9. Nc3
a6 10. Nxd7 Qxd7 11. Qxd7+ Kxd7 12. Re1 Rc8 13. b3 Bd6 14. Bb2 Bg6 15. Rec1 Rc6
16. Nd1 Rhc8 17. d3 Rc2 18. Kf1 Bh5 19. f3 Bb4 20. Rxc2 Rxc2 21. Rc1 Rxc1 $11 {
1/2, Pigusov,E (2575)-Georgiev,K (2675)/New York/1998/}) 8... Bd6 9. d4 O-O 10.
h3 (10. Bf4 Bxe5 11. dxe5 Nfd7 12. Qb3 Nc6 13. Qxb7 Ndxe5 14. Qa6 Rb8 15. b3
Qe7 16. Rac1 Rfd8 17. Rfe1 Rb6 18. Qa4 f6 $13 {1/2, Romanishin,O (2555)
-Epishin,V (2465)/New York/1989/}) 10... Nc6 11. g4 Bg6 12. Nxg6 hxg6 13. e3
Rc8 (13... g5 $5 $13) 14. Bd2 Bb8 15. f4 a6 16. Rc1 Qd6 17. g5 Nd7 18. h4 Ne7
19. Rf3 Nf5 20. Rh3 b5 21. h5 b4 22. Ne2 $14 {Baklan,V (2590)-Grund,H (2480)/
Schwaebisch Gmuend/2000/}) 7. Bxf3 cxd5 (7... exd5 {is not too logical now,
although the position still bears a resemblance to the aforementioned
Carlsen-Karjakin game:} 8. d3 Nbd7 9. Bf4 Nc5 10. b4 Ne6 11. Bd2 Be7 12. a4 O-O
13. Na3 a6 14. e3 Qd7 15. Bg2 Nc7 16. Nc2 Nfe8 17. Bc3 Rd8 18. Qe2 f5 19. Bh3
Nd6 20. Rad1 Bf6 21. Bd4 Bxd4 22. Nxd4 Ne6 23. Qb2 Nxd4 24. Qxd4 Qe7 $11 {
Loginov,V (2540)-Vaganian,R (2590)/Manila olm/1992/}) 8. Nc3 Nc6 9. d4 {
Occupies space, but makes the pawn structure more rigid, which should favour
the side with the knights.} ({Thus White often prefers} 9. d3 {This leads to a
manoeuvring struggle, where White's main potential trump are his bishops.
However, with circumpsect play Black should be able to retain the balance:} Be7
(9... Bc5 10. Bd2 O-O 11. Rc1 Rc8 12. Bg2 Qe7 13. a3 a6 14. b4 Bd4 15. e3 Ba7
16. Ne2 Rc7 17. Qb3 Rfc8 18. h3 Qd8 19. Rfd1 h6 20. Qb2 b5 21. Be1 Bb6 22. Kh2
Nb8 23. Bc3 Nbd7 24. Qa1 Qe7 25. Nd4 Bxd4 26. Bxd4 $14 {Movsesian,S (2659)
-Gyimesi,Z (2531)/Pula/1999/}) 10. Bg2 (10. Qa4 O-O 11. Bf4 a6 12. Rac1 Qd7 13.
Bg2 h6 14. e4 $6 d4 15. e5 dxc3 16. exf6 Bxf6 17. Bxc6 bxc6 18. bxc3 Qxd3 19.
Qxc6 Rfc8 20. Qb7 Qb5 $15 {Harika,D (2514)-Eljanov,P (2678)/Moscow rpd/2013/})
(10. a3 O-O 11. Bg2 Qd7 12. Bd2 Rab8 13. Rc1 b5 14. Bf4 Bd6 15. Bg5 b4 16. Bxf6
gxf6 17. axb4 Nxb4 18. e4 dxe4 19. Nxe4 Be7 20. d4 Rfd8 21. Qg4+ Kh8 {Aronian,
L (2502)-Beliavsky,A (2650)/Portoroz/1999/} 22. Qh5 f5 23. Ng5 Bxg5 24. Qxg5
Qxd4 25. Rc7 Rd7 26. Rxd7 Qxd7 27. Qf6+ Kg8 28. Qg5+ Kf8 29. Qh6+ $11) 10...
O-O 11. Bd2 Rc8 (11... Nd7 12. Rc1 Rc8 13. a3 a6 14. b4 b5 15. e4 dxe4 16. Nxe4
Nb6 17. Bc3 f5 $6 (17... Nd4 $142 $1 $13) 18. Nc5 Bxc5 19. bxc5 Na4 20. Ba1 $36
{Akopian,V (2660)-Vaganian,R (2640)/Groningen/1997/}) 12. a3 (12. h3 a6 13. f4
$6 d4 14. Ne4 Qb6 15. Nxf6+ Bxf6 16. Rb1 Ne7 17. Qa4 Nf5 18. Ba5 Qa7 19. Kh2
Ne3 20. Rfc1 b5 21. Qb3 {Bocharov,D (2620)-Jakovenko,D (2741)/Novosibirsk/2012/
} e5 $36) 12... a6 13. b4 Nd7 14. Qb3 Nd4 15. Qa2 Bf6 16. Rac1 Ne5 17. Kh1 h5
18. f4 Ng4 19. e4 dxe4 20. Nxe4 (20. dxe4 Nb3 $1 $36) 20... Rxc1 21. Bxc1 Be7
22. h3 Nf6 $11 {/=/+, McShane,L (2664)-Fressinet,L (2707)/Wijk aan Zee/2011/})
9... Be7 10. e3 O-O 11. Bd2 {Caruana,F (2757)-Gelfand,B (2740) Zurich Chess
Challenge 2013 (6) 1-0 We have reached a position, which is suprisingly
similar to the Catalan from Caruana-Gelfand, Zurich 2013. For details about
this game see the notes in CBM 2013.} Qb8 $146 {Black uses a new and quite 
(over)ambitious setup.} ({Until now he used to play mainly} 11... Rc8 12. Qe2
a6 (12... Nd7 13. Rfc1 Nb6 14. Be1 Qd7 15. h4 a6 16. h5 Rc7 17. Qd1 Rfc8 18.
Ne2 Nc4 19. b3 Nd6 20. Nf4 Ne8 21. Nd3 Ba3 22. Rcb1 Bf8 23. b4 Nd6 24. Nc5 Qe8
25. a4 Nc4 26. Be2 Nb8 27. e4 b6 28. exd5 exd5 29. Nd3 Nc6 30. Nf4 $13 {
/+/=,Karjakin,S (2775)-Fressinet,L (2700)/Beijing rpd/2012/}) 13. Rfd1 (13. Bg2
{is non-committal and more logical.}) 13... b5 14. a4 $6 (14. Rac1 $142) 14...
b4 15. Na2 Qb6 16. b3 e5 $5 17. Bg2 exd4 18. exd4 Ne4 19. Be3 Na5 20. Qd3 Nc3
21. Nxc3 Rxc3 22. Qf5 {Gabuzyan,H (2500)-Bok,B (2537)/WChJ Maribor/2012/} Qe6
$5 $15) (11... a6 12. Rc1 Ne8 13. Na4 Nd6 14. b3 Ne4 15. Be1 f5 16. Nb2 Rc8 17.
Nd3 Bd6 18. b4 Qe7 19. Rb1 Nb8 20. a4 b6 21. a5 bxa5 $6 (21... b5 {/\} 22. Nc5
Bxc5 23. dxc5 Nc6 $13) 22. bxa5 Nd7 23. Be2 Rb8 24. f3 Nef6 25. Bd2 g5 26. Nf2
{[%csl Ra6]} f4 27. exf4 gxf4 28. g4 h5 29. g5 Ne8 30. h4 $16 {Karjakin,S 
(2775)-Jakovenko,D (2741)/Moscow rpd/2012/}) (11... Qd7 12. Qe2 Rac8 13. Bg2
Bb4 14. Rfc1 Na5 15. a3 Bxc3 16. Rxc3 Rxc3 17. Bxc3 Nb3 18. Rd1 a5 19. f3 b5
20. Bf1 Rb8 21. Qc2 a4 22. Bb4 Ne8 23. Rd3 g6 24. Rc3 $14 {Neckar,L (2337)
-Tichy,V (2260)/CZE-chT/2010/}) 12. Rc1 Rc8 13. Bg2 b5 {This is consistent
with Black's previous two moves, but still quite risky, as it gives White an
opportunity to expand in the centre.} ({However, recommending something like} 
13... Qd6 14. Qe2 h6 $11 {/+/= doesn't make much sense, as Black's queen could
have gone to d6 immedaitely on move 11.}) 14. e4 $1 {Kramnik shifts gear and
starts concrete play in the centre.} b4 (14... dxe4 15. Nxe4 Nd5 16. Nc3 Ncb4
17. Qb3 $36) 15. Bf4 (15. exd5 bxc3 16. Bf4 e5 {is not worth the trouble:} (
16... Qb6 17. dxc6 cxb2 18. Rb1 Nd5 $11) 17. dxe5 (17. dxc6 exf4 (17... cxb2
18. c7 bxc1=Q 19. cxb8=Q Qxd1 20. Qxe5 Qh5 21. Bxa8 Qxe5 22. dxe5 Rxa8 23. exf6
Bxf6 $11) 18. bxc3 $13 {/=/+}) 17... Nxe5 18. d6 Bxd6 19. Rxc3 (19. Bxa8 Qxa8
20. Rxc3 Rxc3 21. Bxe5 Bxe5 $15) 19... Rxc3 (19... Qb6 20. Bxa8 Rxa8 21. Qb3
Qa6 {is also about equal, but keeps more tension in the game.}) 20. bxc3 Qf8
21. Bxa8 Qxa8 22. Qxd6 Nf3+ 23. Kh1 Nd2+ 24. Kg1 $11) 15... Qb6 $8 (15... Qb7
$2 16. Nxd5 exd5 17. exd5 $18) (15... Bd6 $2 16. Nxd5 $1 exd5 17. e5 $18) 16.
Na4 {An enterprising move.} ({We have already mentioned the line} 16. exd5 bxc3
17. dxc6 cxb2 $11 {[%cal Yf6d5] above. After both sides lose their passed
pawns, there is not much fight left on the board.}) (16. Nxd5 exd5 17. exd5 Nd8
(17... Nxd4 18. d6 Bxd6 19. Bxa8 Rxa8 20. Be3 Be5 21. f4 Nd5 22. Bf2 Nxf4 $5 (
22... Bxf4 23. Bxd4 Be3+ 24. Kh1 Bxd4 (24... Qxd4 25. Qf3 {[%cal Rf3f7,Rc1d1]})
25. Qf3 Qb7 (25... Qe6 26. Rcd1 $14) 26. Rcd1 Bxb2 27. Rxd5 $14) 23. gxf4 Qg6+
24. Bg3 (24. Kh1 $4 Qe4+ $19) 24... Bf6 $44 {[%cal Yg6e4,Ya8d8,Yh7h4]} 25. f5
Nxf5 26. Qd5 Bd4+ 27. Kh1 Nxg3+ 28. hxg3 Qh6+ 29. Kg2 Qd2+ 30. Kh3 (30. Kf3
Qd3+ 31. Kg4 Qg6+ $11) 30... Qh6+ $11 (30... Rf8 $4 31. Qxf7+ $1 $18)) 18. d6
Bxd6 19. Bxa8 Rxa8 20. Be5 Ne8 21. Qf3 Rb8 22. Qd5 Bxe5 23. dxe5 Ne6 $13) 16...
Qa5 (16... Qxd4 $4 17. Rxc6 Qxd1 18. Rxc8+ $18) 17. e5 (17. exd5 Nxd5 18. Re1
Bf8 $11) 17... Nd7 {[%cal Rc6d4]} 18. Be3 {[%cal Yf2f5]} Nb6 {White fixes his
sights on the kingside, so Aronian seeks immediate counterplay.} 19. Nxb6 $8 (
19. Nc5 Nc4 ({or} 19... Bxc5 {can be better only for Black.})) 19... axb6 {
The consistent recapture, keeping the a2-pawn under attack.} (19... Qxb6 20.
Qd3 (20. f4 $5 $11 {/+/=}) 20... Rc7 21. Rc2 Rac8 22. Rfc1 $11 {/+/=}) 20. f4
$5 {[%mdl 128]} ({Kramnik plays for a direct attack and spurns} 20. Ra1 $11 {
/+/= This is justified and dangerous for Black, as a majority of his pieces is
on the opposite side of the board.}) 20... Qxa2 $6 {Continues in the same
risky vein as from move 11 onwards.} ({A more circumspect try was} 20... g6 21.
Ra1 $5 $14 {[%cal Yg3g4,Yf4f5,Yf1f2,Yg2f1,Yf1d3] keeps an edge, but it's not
without counterplay after} (21. g4 $6 Qxa2 22. f5 Qxb2 {is too optimistic,
contrary to the game White's queen doesn't have the g4 square and his attack
seems too slow after} 23. Rc2 Qa3 24. Qf3 Nd8 {[%csl Gb4][%cal Yb4b1]} 25. Rcf2
Qc3 $1 $19 {[%cal Ya8a1]}) (21. f5 gxf5 (21... exf5 $2 22. Qb3 $16 {[%csl Rd5]}
) 22. g4 f4 $1 {[]} (22... Qxa2 $2 23. gxf5 $40) 23. Rxf4 (23. Bxf4 Nxd4 $1 24.
Qxd4 Rxc1 25. Rxc1 Bc5 26. Rxc5 bxc5 $15) 23... Bg5 (23... Qxa2) 24. Rf3 (24.
Qf3 Qxa2 $5 25. Rf1 Qb3 $1 26. h4 Bxf4 27. Qxf4 Nd8 $17) 24... Bxe3+ 25. Rxe3
Ne7 $13 (25... Qxa2 26. Qd2 $44)) 21... Qa7 $5 22. g4 b5 {[%cal Ye7d8,Yd8b6]})
21. f5 $36 exf5 ({Here} 21... Qxb2 $2 {loses practically on the spot after} 22.
fxe6 fxe6 23. Qg4 (23. Bh3 Nd8 24. Rxc8 Rxc8 25. Qa4 $1 $18) 23... Nd8 (23...
Nxd4 24. Bxd4 Qxc1 25. Qxe6+ Kh8 26. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 27. Kf2 Rf8+ 28. Ke2 $18) 24.
Bh6 Bf8 (24... g6 25. Rxc8 Rxc8 26. Qf4 $18 {[%cal Rf4f8]}) 25. Bxd5 $1 (25.
Rxf8+ $2 Kxf8 26. Qxg7+ Ke8 27. Rf1 Qxd4+ 28. Kh1 Ra1 $11 {and there is no
mate in sight, so White ashould give one of the numerous perpetuals.}) 25...
exd5 (25... Rxc1 26. Bxc1 Qa1 27. Qf3 $18) 26. Rxc8 Rxc8 27. Qxc8 Qxd4+ (27...
Be7 28. Qd7 $18) 28. Kg2 Qc5 (28... Qe4+ 29. Kh3 $18) 29. Qxd8 gxh6 30. e6 b3 (
30... Qc2+ 31. Kh3 $18) 31. Rxf8+ Qxf8 32. e7 $18) (21... Nd8 22. fxe6 Nxe6 23.
Qf3 $16 {[%csl Rd5,Rf7] regains the pawn with a large advantage, so the text
move is forced.}) 22. b3 $1 ({White rightly strives for more than} 22. Rxf5 Nd8
$1 23. Rxc8 Rxc8 $132) 22... Qa5 $2 {[%mdl 64] A serious error, which could
have run into a hidden tactical refutation.} (22... Nd8 $142 23. Bxd5 Rxc1 24.
Qxc1 Ra5 25. Bc4 $36 (25. Qc7 $6 Rxd5 26. Qxe7 h6 {gives White nothing, only
Black can be on top after} 27. Qxb4 Qc2 $15) {/\} 25... b5 26. Bd5 {gives
White a very promising position, but still not a forced win.}) 23. Qf3 Nd8 24.
Qxd5 $2 {Kramnik returns the favour.} (24. Rxc8 Rxc8 25. Qxf5 Rc7 (25... Ra8
26. e6 $5 (26. Qd7 $16) 26... fxe6 27. Qh5 $40 {/\} Qb5 28. Be4 $1 $18) (25...
Qa8 26. Qd7 Qb7 27. Qe8+ ({More forcing than} 27. Qxb7 Nxb7 28. Bxd5 Nd8 29.
Bc4 $16 {[%cal Yf1a1,Yd4d6] /+-}) 27... Bf8 28. Bh3 Ne6 (28... Ra8 29. Bd7 $18
{[%cal Re5e6]}) 29. Rxf7 $1 Rxe8 30. Rxb7 $18 {[%csl Rb6,Rd5]}) 26. e6 $3 fxe6
(26... f6 27. Bxd5 $18) 27. Qh5 Bf8 (27... h6 28. Qg6 $18 {[%cal Re3h6]}) (
27... g6 28. Qe5 Ra7 (28... Rd7 29. Bh3 $18) 29. Bh6 $18) 28. Qe8 Nf7 29. Qxe6
{[%csl Rd5]} Re7 30. Qf5 $5 {[%cal Rg2d5]} (30. Qxd5 Qxd5 31. Bxd5 g6 32. Bg5
$16) 30... g6 31. Qf6 Qb5 (31... Qa7 32. Bxd5 $18) (31... Rd7 32. Qc6 $18) 32.
Bh6 $1 $18) (24. Qxf5 $2 Rxc1 25. Rxc1 Ne6 $132) 24... Rxc1 25. Rxc1 Qxd5 26.
Bxd5 Ra5 $44 {/+/= Now White has "only" the initiative and indisputable
compensation, but Aronian retains reasonable drawing chances.} 27. Bf3 (27. Bg2
Ra3 (27... f6 $5 28. exf6 Bxf6 29. d5 Ra1 $14) 28. d5 Rxb3 29. Bxb6 Rc3 30. Rb1
Bc5+ 31. Bxc5 Rxc5 32. Rxb4 Kf8 $14) (27. Bc4 Kf8 28. d5 Bc5 $132) 27... Ra3 $5
(27... f6 {seems safer, but the text move is more concrete.}) 28. Rc8 ({
Black has counterplay also after} 28. Rc7 Rxb3 29. Kf2 Rb2+ 30. Ke1 (30. Be2
Bf8 (30... Kf8 31. d5 Bc5 32. Bxc5+ bxc5 33. Rxc5 $36) (30... b3 31. Bc1 $5)
31. d5 b3 32. Rc3 Bb4 33. Rc4 (33. Rc8 Rxe2+ 34. Kxe2 b2 35. Rxd8+ Bf8 36. e6 (
36. Bc5 h5 37. Rxf8+ Kh7 38. e6 fxe6 39. dxe6 b1=Q 40. e7 Qe4+ $11) 36... fxe6
37. dxe6 b1=Q 38. e7 Qc2+ 39. Ke1 Qb1+ 40. Kf2 Qc2+ $11) 33... Bf8 34. Rc3 $11)
30... Rb1+ 31. Kd2 Rb2+ (31... Kf8 $6 32. d5 Rb2+ 33. Ke1 Rb3 34. Kf2 Bc5 35.
Bxc5+ bxc5 36. d6 {[%cal Rc7c8]} Ke8 37. Be2 $1 $18) 32. Kc1 Rb3 33. Bd2 (33.
Rxe7 Kf8 34. Rd7 Rxe3 35. Rxd8+ Ke7 $11) 33... Rxf3 34. Rxe7 Kf8 35. Rc7 (35.
Bxb4 $2 Nc6 $19) 35... Ne6 36. Bxb4+ Ke8 37. Re7+ Kd8 38. Rxf7 (38. d5 Nc5 39.
Bxc5 Rc3+ $1 40. Kd2 Rxc5 41. d6 h5 $11) 38... Nxd4 39. Rxg7 f4 $11) ({White
could have retracted his previous move with} 28. Bd5 $5 Ra5 29. Bg2) 28... Rxb3
29. Kf2 Rc3 (29... Rb2+ {as in the previous note should also hold, a sample
line is} 30. Be2 b3 31. Rb8 (31. d5 $2 Rxe2+ 32. Kxe2 b2 33. d6 Bf8 $1 $19)
31... Rc2 32. Rxb6 b2 33. d5 h6 34. d6 (34. h4 Ba3 35. Rb8 Rc8 $11) 34... Bg5
35. Bxg5 hxg5 36. Ke3 Rc5 37. Rxb2 (37. Rb8 Rxe5+ 38. Kf2 b1=Q $15) 37... Rxe5+
38. Kd4 Nc6+ 39. Kc4 Na5+ 40. Kc3 Kf8 41. Bf3 Ke8 42. Kd4 Kd7 $5 43. Kxe5 Nc4+
$11) 30. Rb8 b3 31. Rxb6 g5 (31... Rc2+ 32. Be2 b2 $11 {tranposes to the above
note}) (31... f6 $5 32. e6 (32. Rxb3 Rxb3 33. Bd5+ Kf8 34. Bxb3 fxe5 35. dxe5
Nc6 $11) (32. exf6 Rc2+ 33. Kg1 Bxf6 $11) 32... Kf8 33. Bd1 Nxe6 $1 34. Bxb3 (
34. Rxe6 Bd8 35. Rd6 Bc7 36. Rd5 b2 37. Rb5 Rc1) 34... Nd8 $11) 32. Rb8 (32.
Bd1 Nc6 33. Bxb3 (33. Rxb3 Rxb3 34. Bxb3 f4 $11) 33... Nb4 $1 34. Ba4 Nd5 $11)
32... Rc4 $6 $138 {[%mdl 4096] Black in time trouble starts making problems
for himself and the endgame becomes very tense.} (32... Rc2+ $142 33. Ke1 (33.
Be2 b2 34. d5 Kg7 35. d6 Bf8 36. Bxg5 Nc6 37. Rb6 Nxe5 $15) 33... b2 34. Bd1
Rxh2 35. d5 f4 36. gxf4 gxf4 37. Bf2 $8 Rh1+ 38. Kd2 (38. Ke2 $2 f3+) 38... Rh2
$11) 33. d5 Rb4 34. Rxb4 Bxb4 35. Bd1 b2 36. Bc2 Nb7 {Very straightforward,
but perhaps simpler was} (36... Bc3 $5 37. Bxg5 f6 38. exf6 (38. Bxf6 Nf7 39.
Bxf5 Bxe5 40. Bxe5 Nxe5 41. d6 h5 42. Ke2 Kf7 $11) 38... Nf7 39. Bf4 Bxf6 $14 {
/=}) 37. Bxg5 Nc5 38. Bxf5 Na4 $5 (38... Nd7 39. Bf4 (39. e6 fxe6 40. dxe6 Nb6
$132) 39... Bc3 40. e6 fxe6 41. dxe6 Ne5 $14 {might still be tenable, but
proceeding with the risky venture turns out to be justified.}) 39. d6 Nc3 (
39... Nc5 40. Be3 $16) 40. d7 Ba5 41. Ke3 (41. d8=Q+ Bxd8 42. Bxd8 b1=Q 43.
Bxb1 Nxb1 44. Ke3 Nc3 45. Kd4 Na4 {doesn't seem to trap Black's knight and
once it returns to the defence, the fortress holds.}) ({An interesting idea is
} 41. Bd2 $5 b1=Q 42. Bxb1 Bb6+ 43. Kf3 Nxb1 44. Bb4 {, paralysing the knight.
However, I haven't been able to find a win after} Kg7 {, for example} 45. Ke4
Kg6 46. Kd5 Kf5 47. Kc6 Bd8 {doesn't achieve any progress.}) 41... f6 (41...
b1=Q $5 42. Bxb1 Nxb1 {/\} 43. Kd3 Nc3 (43... Na3 $2 44. Be7 Nb5 45. Kc4 Na7
46. Kc5 $18 {[%cal Re7d6,Rd6b8]}) 44. Bd2 Na4 $1 45. Bxa5 Nc5+ $11 {seems
simpler}) 42. Bxf6 (42. exf6 b1=Q 43. Bxb1 Nxb1 44. Kd3 (44. d8=Q+ Bxd8 45. f7+
Kxf7 46. Bxd8 Nc3 $11) 44... Kf7 45. Kc2 (45. Kc4 Bd8 46. Kb4 Bc7 {and White's
king can't penetrate without releasing the knight}) 45... Na3+ 46. Kb3 Nb1 47.
Kb2 Nc3 48. d8=N+ Bxd8 49. Kxc3 Bxf6+ 50. Bxf6 Kxf6 51. Kd4 Kf5 52. h3 Kg5 $11
{is a draw - once White doesn't have a pawn on the second rank, he can't win
even if he manages to penetrate with his king to h6, as Black will be able to
regulate the respective position of the kings. For example in this concrete
situation Kh6/Kg8 with White to move is drawn.}) 42... Nd5+ 43. Kd4 Nxf6 44.
exf6 Kf7 45. Bxh7 (45. Ke5 Bc7+ $11 {White can't hold his f6-pawn, so further
simplification is forced.}) 45... Kxf6 46. Kd5 (46. g4 Ke7 47. Bf5 b1=Q 48.
Bxb1 Kxd7 $11 {is a much simpler draw. In this endgame Black holds even if the
pawns reach h6 and g6 - it's enough for him to achieve one of the following
setups: 1) Kf8 and B on the long diagonal 2) Even Kh8 and Bf8 holds, as Black
has either Kg8-h8, or Bxh6 with stalemate motifs. However, here White can't
get so far, as with the king on h8 Black can give up his bishop for the g-pawn.
}) 46... Ke7 47. Kc6 Kd8 48. g4 (48. h4 $6 Be1 {draws immediately, so White
has to allow a blockade.}) (48. Kd6 Bc7+ 49. Ke6 Bb8 $11) 48... Be1 49. h3 Bh4
50. Kd6 Be7+ 51. Ke6 Bh4 52. Bb1 Kc7 53. Be4 Kd8 54. Bc2 Kc7 55. Bb1 Kd8 56.
Be4 Kc7 57. Bd3 Kd8 58. Kd6 Be7+ 59. Ke6 Bh4 60. Bf5 Kc7 61. Kf7 {Kramnik
accepts the inevitable, otherwise White can't make further progress.} b1=Q $8 (
{Black can't afford to lose a tempo,} 61... Kd8 $2 62. Kg6 b1=Q 63. Bxb1 Kxd7
64. Kh5 Be7 65. g5 Ke6 66. Kg6 (66. g6 Bf8 67. Kg5 Bg7 68. h4 Ke7 69. h5 Kf8
70. Ba2 $22 {[%cal Yg5h6,Yh6h7]}) 66... Ke5 67. h4 Kf4 68. Bf5 $8 Bd8 69. Bc8 (
69. Bd7 Be7 70. Kh6 $2 Kg3 71. g6 Bf8+ 72. Kh5 (72. Kg5 Be7+ 73. Kf5 Bf8 74. h5
Kh4 $11)) 69... Be7 70. Bd7 $22 Bd8 (70... Bf8 71. Kf7) 71. Kh6 Kg3 72. g6 Bf6
73. h5 Kh4 74. Be8 $18) {Nevertheless it's still impressive to see how Aronian
after the preceding long and tough fight reels out about a dozen only moves in
a row to save the game.} 62. Bxb1 Kxd7 63. Ba2 {If it were White's move now,
he would win by improving his bishop and then advancing his pawns.} (63. Kg6
Ke7 64. Kh5 (64. g5 Bxg5 65. Kxg5 Kf7) 64... Bf6 65. h4 Kf8 66. g5 Bc3 67. Kg6
Kg8 68. Ba2+ (68. h5 Bd2 {[%cal Rd2g5]}) 68... Kh8 $8 69. Kf7 Bd4 70. h5 Be3
71. g6 Bh6 $11) 63... Kd6 $1 {[]} 64. Kg6 Ke5 $8 (64... Ke7 $2 65. Kh5 Bf6 66.
g5 Bd4 67. h4 {/\} Bf2 68. g6 $18) 65. Kh5 Be7 $8 (65... Bd8 $2 66. g5 Kf4 67.
g6 Bf6 68. Kh6 $18) 66. g5 (66. h4 Kf4 67. g5 Kg3 68. Bc4 Bf8 $1 {transposes
to the game}) 66... Kf4 $8 67. h4 {[%cal Rh5g6]} (67. g6 Bf8 68. Bb1 Bg7 $11)
67... Kg3 $8 68. Bc4 (68. g6 Bf8 69. Kg5 Be7+ 70. Kf5 Bf8 71. h5 Kh4 $11 {
and from a2 the bishop can't protect the Ph5.}) 68... Bf8 $8 (68... Bd8 $2 69.
g6 Bf6 70. Bf1 Kf4 (70... Bg7 71. Kg5 {[%cal Rh4h6]}) 71. Kh6 Kg4 72. h5 Kh4
73. Be2 $18) 69. Be2 Bg7 $1 {[]} 70. Bc4 Bf8 $8 71. g6 {[%cal Rh5g5,Rh4h6]} Kf4
$1 {[]} 72. Ba2 Bg7 (72... Kf5 73. Bb1+ Kf6 $11) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.03.21"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E01"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2013.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Bd6 6. Bg2 Nbd7 7. O-O O-O 8.
Qc2 c6 9. Nc3 dxc4 10. Rfd1 Qc7 11. Ng5 Be7 12. a4 e5 13. a5 exd4 14. Bf4 Bd6
15. Rxd4 Bxf4 16. Rxf4 h6 17. Nf3 b5 18. axb6 Nxb6 19. Rxf6 gxf6 20. Nd4 Bd7
21. Qd2 Kg7 22. Bxc6 Bxc6 23. Nf5+ Kg6 24. Ra5 Rh8 25. Qd4 Rag8 26. Rc5 Qd7 27.
Qf4 h5 28. Nh4+ Kg7 29. Nf5+ Kg6 30. Nh4+ Kg7 31. Nf5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.03.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E54"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2810"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2013.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 c5 8. O-O
cxd4 9. exd4 b6 10. Qe2 Bb7 11. Bg5 Nbd7 12. Rac1 Qb8 {This old move has been
recently reintroduced into GM practice.} (12... Rc8 {and}) (12... Bxc3 {
are main continuations.}) 13. Rfd1 {Or else:} (13. Ne5 $6 Nxe5 14. dxe5 Bxc3
15. Bxf6 (15. bxc3 Ne4 16. Bf4 Rc8 (16... Qc7 17. Bd3 f5 18. Bxe4 fxe4 19. Be3
Rac8 20. Qb2 Qc4 21. Qa3 Qa6 22. Qb2 Bd5 $36 {0-1 (42) Gonzalez Zamora,J (2552)
-Onischuk,A (2687) Monterrey 2010}) 17. f3 Qc7 18. Bd3 Nxc3 19. Qc2 Qc5+ 20.
Kh1 Qd4 21. Bxh7+ Kh8 $17 {0-1 (40) Novkovic,M (2406)-Luther,T (2544) Austria
2001}) 15... gxf6 16. Rxc3 Qxe5 17. Re3 Qf4 18. Bd3 Rfd8 19. Rg3+ Kf8 20. Bxh7
Rac8 $5 $36 (20... Ke7 $13 {1-0 (66) Gamboa,N (2380)-Zelcic,R (2585) Elista
1998})) (13. Rfe1 {Not the best square for the rook.} Bxc3 (13... Rc8 14. Bd3
Bxc3 15. bxc3 Qd6 (15... Nd5 16. Qd2 Qd6 17. c4 N5f6 18. Ne5 Nxe5 19. dxe5 Qc6
20. f3 Nd7 21. Be7 Re8 22. Bd6 $14 {1/2 (29) Portisch,F-Dely,P Kecskement 1975}
) 16. Ne5 h6 17. Nxd7 Nxd7 $11 {1-0 (54) Andreikin,D (2700)-Ovetchkin,R (2501)
Tyumen 2012}) 14. bxc3 Ne4 (14... h6 15. Bh4 Qf4 16. Bg3 Qg4 17. Bd3 Nh5 18.
Qe3 Nxg3 19. hxg3 Rfd8 20. Red1 Rac8 $11 {1/2 (39) Donner,J-Barcza,G Amsterdam
1964}) 15. Be7 Re8 16. Ba3 Qf4 17. Bb5 Rad8 18. Qe3 Qxe3 19. Rxe3 a6 20. Bd3
Nef6 21. c4 {1/2 (74) Hammer,J (2647)-Sethuraman,S (2545) Moscow 2011} Bxf3 $1
22. gxf3 (22. Rxf3 $2 e5) 22... Nb8 $11) (13. Bd3 $5 h6 14. Bh4 Nh5) 13... Rc8
(13... h6 14. Bh4 (14. Bd2 Bd6 15. Ba6 Rd8 16. Re1 Bxa6 17. Qxa6 Qc8 18. Qe2
Qb7 $15 {0-1 (33) Hertneck,G (2539)-Bologan,V (2700) Saint Vincent 2005}) 14...
Nh5 {1-0 (37) Giorgadze,G-Izeta Txabarri,F (2380) Euskadi 1991} (14... Qf4 15.
Bg3 Qf5 16. Bd3 Qh5 17. Nb5 Nd5 {1/2 (20) Hansen,L (2574)-Akopian,V (2698)
Novi Sad 2009} 18. a3 Be7 19. Nc7 $16) 15. d5 $5 $36) (13... Bxc3 14. bxc3 Ne4
$5 {R.Giese} (14... Rc8 15. Bd3 h6 $1 (15... Nd5 16. Qd2 h6 $2 17. Bxh6 $1 gxh6
18. Qxh6 $18 {->1-0 (34) Lalic,B (2590)-Izeta Txabarri,F (2495) Benasque 1995
CBM 050 [Giese]}) 16. Bd2 (16. Bh4 Nh5) 16... Qd6 $11) (14... Be4 15. Ba6 Qc7
16. c4 h6 17. Bh4 Bb7 18. Bb5 Qf4 19. Bg3 Qe4 20. Qxe4 Bxe4 {1/2 (28) Taimanov,
M (2580)-Barcza,G (2460) Brno 1975} 21. Nd2 $14) 15. Be7 Re8 16. Ba3 Rc8 17.
Bb2 Nd6 18. Bd3 b5 $11) 14. Bd3 Bd6 15. g3 a6 16. Bxf6 Nxf6 17. Ne4 Rxc1 18.
Rxc1 Ne8 $4 {[%mdl 16384] Black has levelled the game but now makes a nervous,
extremely bad move.} (18... Nxe4 19. Bxe4 h6 $11) (18... Qd8 $5 $11) (18... Be7
$11) 19. Ned2 $4 {Amnesty! A lot of commentators including GMs M.Golubev and S.
Shipov, indicated that White could have got a big advantage after both} (19.
Neg5 h6 (19... g6 20. Nxf7 $1 Kxf7 21. Ng5+ Kf6 (21... Kg7 22. Qxe6 $18) 22.
Qxe6+ Kxg5 23. Qh3 $1 {[%cal Rh3h4]} Kf6 (23... h5 24. Qe6) 24. Qxh7 $18) 20.
Bg6 $1 Bxf3 (20... hxg5 21. Nxg5 fxg6 (21... Kf8 22. Bxf7) 22. Qxe6+ Kh8 23.
Qh3+ Kg8 24. Qh7+ Kf8 25. Qh8+ Ke7 26. Qg8 $1 Kd8 27. Qe6 $18) (20... fxg6 21.
Qxe6+ Kh8 22. Nf7+ Kh7 23. Nh4 Nf6 24. Nxd6 $16) 21. Bxf7+ Kf8 22. Qxf3 hxg5
23. Bxe6+ Nf6 24. Rc8+ Qxc8 25. Bxc8 Rxc8 26. Qb7 Rc1+ 27. Kg2 Bc7 28. Qxa6 $16
) ({and, even simpler,} 19. Nfg5 $1 h6 (19... Bxe4 $2 20. Bxe4) (19... g6 20.
Nxf7 Kxf7 21. Ng5+ {- see above}) 20. Qh5 $1 hxg5 21. Nxg5 Nf6 22. Qxf7+ Kh8
23. Nxe6 Qg8 24. Qxb7 Rb8 25. Qxg7+ Qxg7 26. Nxg7 Kxg7 27. Rc6 Rd8 28. Bxa6 {
with five pawns for a piece.}) 19... Qd8 {Now the position is equal again.} 20.
Be4 Rc8 21. Qf1 Rxc1 22. Qxc1 Qc8 23. Qc3 Nf6 24. Bxb7 Qxb7 25. Ne5 Nd5 26. Qc6
Qxc6 27. Nxc6 Kf8 28. Nc4 Bc7 29. Ne3 Nxe3 30. fxe3 Bd6 31. Ne5 Bxe5 32. dxe5
Ke7 33. Kf2 Kd7 34. e4 Kc6 35. Ke3 Kc5 36. Kd3 {Black can't break through on
the queenside.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.03.24"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2747"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2013.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8.
Be3 Qa5 9. Qd2 Nc6 10. Rc1 cxd4 11. cxd4 Qxd2+ 12. Kxd2 O-O 13. d5 Rd8 {
This position used to be very popular some 10 years ago, after my match with
Kasparov in 2000. Die Stellung war vor etwa 10 Jahr populär, nach meinem Match
mit Kasparov im Jahr 2000.} 14. Kc2 {A new idea, which I had been studying
already more than 10 years ago, but for some reason decided to play it only
much later. There were a lot of games played with 14.Ke1, but it seems that,
according to modern theory, Black finally managed to find a way to equalise.
Eine neue Idee, die ich bereits vor mehr als 10 Jahren studiert hatte, aber
aus irgendeinem Grund beschloss, sie erst viel später zu spielen. Es gab eine
Menge Partien mit 14.Ke1, es scheint aber, laut moderner Theorie, dass es
Schwarz endlich gelungen ist, einen Weg zum Ausgleich zu finden.} (14. Ke1 {
Here are my games played with this move, all of the them played just after the
above mentioned match in the first half of 2001. Hier sind meine Partien mit
diesem Zug, sie alle wurden direkt nach dem erwähnten Match in der ersten
Hälfte des Jahres 2001 gespielt.} Na5 (14... Ne5 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 16. f4 Bd6 17.
Kf2 e5 18. Bc5 Bxc5+ 19. Rxc5 exf4 20. Kf3 Bd7 21. Bd3 Rac8 22. Rhc1 g5 23. Rc7
Rxc7 24. Rxc7 Ba4 25. Kg4 h6 26. Rxb7 Rd7 27. Rb4 Bd1+ 28. Kf5 Kg7 29. h4 f6
30. hxg5 hxg5 31. e5 fxe5 32. Kxe5 f3 33. gxf3 Bxf3 34. d6 Rd8 35. Bf5 Bc6 36.
d7 Rf8 37. Rd4 {1-0 Kramnik,V (2770)-Leko,P (2743)/Budapest 2001/CBM 081/
[Krasenkow]}) 15. Bg5 Bd7 16. Bd3 Rdc8 17. Ke2 e6 18. Rxc8+ (18. Be3 exd5 19.
exd5 b6 20. Ba6 Rd8 21. Rhd1 Bc8 22. Bxc8 Raxc8 23. Rxc8 Rxc8 24. Nd4 Bf8 25.
Nb5 a6 26. d6 Rc2+ 27. Kd3 Rxa2 28. d7 Nb7 29. Nc3 Rb2 30. Nd5 Rb5 31. Kc2 Bc5
32. Bh6 f6 33. Nc7 {1-0 Kramnik,V (2772)-Van Wely,L (2700)/Wijk aan Zee 2001/
CBM 081/[Krasenkow]}) 18... Rxc8 19. Rc1 Rxc1 20. Bxc1 exd5 21. exd5 b5 22. Bf4
Nc4 23. Bxc4 bxc4 24. Be5 Bf8 25. Nd2 Bb5 26. Ne4 f5 27. Nc3 Bd7 28. Ke3 Bc5+
29. Bd4 Bb4 30. Be5 {1/2-1/2 Kramnik,V (2797)-Kasparov,G (2827)/Astana 2001/
CBM 084/[Krasenkow]}) 14... Ne5 {After a period of deep thought Peter chooses
a safe, but slightly passive option. Nach einigem tiefen Nachdenken wählt
Peter eine sichere, aber leicht passive Option.} (14... Na5 {is much more
principled, but I guess my opponent wanted to avoid sharp lines, knowing that
I had studied them with the computer engines. Here is the only game played
with 14.Kc2 before (no doubt, there will be quite a few after), but White's
play was rather weak there. I believe I would have done better. ist viel
prinzipieller, aber ich schätze, mein Gegner wollte scharfe Abspiele vermeiden
in dem Wissen, dass ich sie mit den Computerengines analysiert hatte. Hier ist
die einzige zuvor mit 14.Kc2 gespielte Partie (zweifellos wird es danach eine
ganze Reihe geben), allerdings war das Spiel von Weiß dort recht schwach. Ich
glaube, ich hätte es besser gemacht.} 15. Nd2 Bd7 16. Kb1 e6 17. Nc4 b6 18. Bg5
f6 19. Bf4 exd5 20. Nxa5 bxa5 21. exd5 Bf5+ 22. Kb2 Be4 23. Rc5 f5+ 24. Kb3
Rdc8 25. Bc7 Bd4 26. Rc1 Bxd5+ 27. Bc4 Rab8+ 28. Bxb8 Rxb8+ 29. Ka3 Bc5+ 30.
Ka4 Rb4+ 31. Kxa5 Rxc4 32. Kb5 Rxc1 33. Rxc1 Bxf2 34. Rc2 Be3 35. a4 f4 36. a5
Be4 37. Rb2 Kg7 38. Kc4 Kf6 39. a6 h5 {0-1 Heinig,W (2365)-Gauglitz,G (2235)/
Fuerstenwalde 1981/MCD}) 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 16. Bc4 {White has a small but lasting
advantage now, but Black's position is very solid, with good drawing chances.
Actually the position is quite similar to my game with Leko, shown above. Weiß
hat jetzt einen kleinen, aber dauerhaften Vorteil, allerdings ist die Stellung
von Schwarz sehr solide, mit guten Remischancen. Eigentlich ist die Stellung
ganz ähnlich meiner Partie mit Leko, oben gezeigt.} Bd7 17. f4 Bd6 18. Kb3 {
Now e4-e5 is already on the agenda. Nun steht bereits e4-e5 auf der
Tagesordnung.} (18. e5 $6 {would have been great to push, but it doesn't work
tactically: wäre ein toller Vorstoß gewesen, aber es funktioniert taktisch
nicht:} Ba3 19. Rcd1 Bg4 20. Rd2 Bb4 21. Rf2 b5) 18... f6 19. a4 {
Prophylactics against potential counterplay connected with ...b5, ...a5.
Prophylaxe gegen potentielles Gegenspiel in Verbindung mit ...b5, ...a5.} Rdc8
20. h4 {Starting active play on the kingside, but, strangely enough, also
prophylactic. I thought that Black might next play ...Kf7 and then ...e5 at
some point. Beginnt aktives Spiel am Königsflügel, aber, seltsamerweise,
ebenfalls prophylaktisch. Ich dachte, Schwarz könnte eventuell als nächstes ...
Kf7 spielen und dann ...e5 an irgendeiner Stelle.} (20. g3 {was another
logical option here. war hier eine weitere logische Möglichkeit.}) 20... Rab8 {
Seeking for active counterplay. Strebt aktives Gegenspiel an.} (20... Kf7 21.
h5 $1 {- the point, now White threatens to enter on the h-file and there is no
time for a e7-e5 break. - die Pointe, jetzt droht Weiß, auf der h-Linie
einzudringen, und es ist keine Zeit für einen e7-e5-Hebel.}) (20... h5 {
this is a radical solution, with its pluses and minuses, hard to say, what
counts more. On one hand, there are no breaks for the moment on the kingside,
but on the other, the g6-pawn might become vulnerable. For instance, endings
with light-squared bishops will, if it gets there, most probably be won for
White. dies ist eine Radikallösung, mit ihren Plus- und Minuspunkten; schwer
zu sagen, was mehr zählt. Eienrseits gibt es im Moment keine Hebel am
Königsflügel, aber andererseits könnte auch der g6-Bauer anfällig werden. Zum
Beispiel werden Endspiele mit weißfeldrigen Läufern, wenn es dazu kommt,
höchstwahrscheinlich für Weiß gewonnen sein.} 21. g3) 21. Bb5 Bxb5 22. axb5 a6
23. b6 $1 {White must keep this pawn in order to keep winning chances. This
b-pawn is threatening to become a queen in quite a few lines in the future.
Houdini equally likes 23.Ka4, but I am glad to use this rare occasion to point
out that he is wrong this time. Weiß muss diesen Bauern behalten, um
Gewinnchancen zu wahren. Dieser b-Bauer droht in einer ganzen Reihe von
zukünftigen Abspielen zur Dame zu gehen. Houdini gefällt 23.Ka4 ebenso, aber
ich freue mich, diese seltene Gelegenheit zu nutzen, um darauf hinzuweisen,
dass er diesmal irrt.} (23. Ka4 axb5+ 24. Kxb5 Rxc1 25. Rxc1 Ra8 26. Bc5 Bxc5
27. Rxc5 Ra2 28. g3 Kf7 29. Kb6 Re2 {is an easy draw. ist ein leichtes Remis.})
23... Kf7 24. h5 (24. g4 {would have been my first choice here if not wäre
meine erste Wahl gewesen, gäbe es da nicht} Rxc1 25. Rxc1 e6 $1 26. dxe6+ Kxe6
27. f5+ Kf7 {and although this position looks visually attractive, I could not
find any way through, and Houdini agrees. und obwohl diese Stellung optisch
attraktiv aussieht, konnte ich keinen Weg finden durchzubrechen, und Houdini
stimmt zu.}) 24... Rxc1 (24... gxh5 {was a possible option but most probably
Peter was worried about war eine mögliche Option, aber höchstwahrscheinlich
sorgte sich Peter wegen} 25. Rxc8 Rxc8 26. Rxh5 {followed by e5. nebst e5.})
25. hxg6+ {An important intermediate move. An important intermediate move.}
Kxg6 (25... hxg6 26. Bxc1 {We both thought this position was very dangerous
for Black, but the computer holds it somehow: Wir beide hielten diese Stellung
für sehr gefährlich für Schwarz, aber der Computer hält sie irgendwie:} Bc5 27.
Ba3 Bxa3 28. Kxa3 Rd8 29. Rh7+ Ke8 {looks really bad, but strangely enough
might hold due to the ...f5-idea, for example sieht richtig schlecht aus,
könnte aber seltsamerweise halten wegen der ...f5-Idee, zum Beispiel} 30. Kb4
f5 31. Rh8+ Kd7 32. Rxd8+ Kxd8 33. e5 Kd7) 26. Bxc1 Rg8 (26... h5 {is the
first line of Houdini, but I am not sure about this move, for example ist das
erste Abspiel von Houdini, aber ich bin bei diesem Zug nicht sicher, zum
Beispiel} 27. f5+ Kf7 28. Ba3 Rd8 29. Rxh5 Bxa3 30. Kxa3 Rd6 31. Rh6 $1 Rxb6
32. e5 Rb1 33. d6 {winning. und gewinnt.}) 27. g4 h6 28. Rh5 {White has
achieved a lot obviously, but with the help of the computer Black seems to be
still able to defend. Things are much more difficult when you are sitting at
the board, fortunately. Weiß hat offenkundig eine Menge erreicht, aber mit
Hilfe des Computers scheint sich Schwarz noch immer verteidigen zu können. Zum
Glück ist die Sache viel schwieriger, wenn man am Brett sitzt.} Kf7 {A serious,
although not obvious at all, mistake. Houdini still gives just a small plus
for White here, but in fact White seems to be winning with precise play from
now on, and I managed to demonstrate it this time. Ein ernster, wenngleich
keineswegs offensichtlicher Fehler. Houdini gibt hier immer noch nur ein
kleines Plus für Weiß, tatsächlich aber scheint Weiß bei genauem Spiel von
hier an zu gewinnen, und diesmal gelang es mir, es zu zeigen.} (28... Bc5 $1
29. e5 (29. Ba3 Bxa3 30. Kxa3 Rc8 31. Kb4 Rc1 {in time to create counterplay
rechtzeitg, um Gegenspiel zu schaffen.}) 29... fxe5 30. fxe5 Rh8 {again looks
ugly and passive, but probably holds. wirkt erneut hässlich und passiv, hält
aber wahrscheinlich.} 31. Bd2 (31. Kc4 Bxb6 32. Bf4 Bd8) 31... Bxb6 32. d6 Bd8
33. Kc4 exd6 34. exd6 Rg8 35. Kd5 Kf7) 29. e5 Bc5 (29... fxe5 30. fxe5 Bc5 31.
e6+ Ke8 32. Rxh6) 30. e6+ Kf8 (30... Kg7 31. f5) 31. Rh4 {A good move although
the computer suggests another strong option as well: Ein guter Zug, obwohl der
Computer auch noch eine weitere starke Möglichkeit vorschlägt:} (31. Rh3 Bxb6
32. Rc3) 31... Kg7 (31... Bxb6 32. Ba3 Bd8 {is not much better - ist nicht
viel besser -} 33. f5) 32. f5 Rd8 {A desperate attempt to create some activity.
Ein verzweifelter Versuch, etwas Aktivität zu entfalten.} (32... Rh8 {Since B
takes b6 is not a threat due to Ba3, White has all the time in the world to
improve his position. At some point I am going to play Ba3 and win the rook
endgame later. Da B schlägt b6 keine Drohung ist wegen Ba3, hat Weiß alle Zeit
der Welt, seine Stellung zu verbessern. An irgendeiner Stelle werde ich Ba3
spielen und später das Turmendspiel gewinnen.}) 33. Bxh6+ Kg8 34. Kc4 Bxb6 (
34... Bf2 35. Rh3) 35. g5 $1 Bf2 36. Rg4 $1 Kh7 37. gxf6 exf6 (37... Kxh6 38.
f7 Kh7 39. d6 {looks like the famous Labourdonnais game, only with the extra
rook. ähnelt der berühmten Labourdonnais-Partie, nur mit dem Extraturm.}) 38.
e7 {The most direct, although anything else wins. Am direktesten, obwohl auch
alles andere gewinnt.} Rc8+ 39. Kb3 Bc5 (39... Kxh6 40. d6 Bb6 41. d7) 40. Rc4
{A nice clean positional game, in my opinion, I am rather proud of it. Eine
schöne saubere Positionspartie, meiner Ansicht nach; ich bin ziemlich stolz
darauf.} 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.03.25"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2872"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2013.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Ne5 Nc6 8.
Bxc6 bxc6 9. Nxc6 Qe8 10. Nxe7+ Qxe7 11. Qc2 e5 12. Rd1 Rb8 13. Nc3 h6 14. dxe5
Qxe5 15. Bf4 Qe7 16. Rd4 Be6 17. Rad1 Rb6 18. Qd2 Kh7 19. f3 Rfb8 20. Qe3 Rxb2
21. Rxc4 R2b7 22. Ra4 Re8 23. Rxa7 Rxa7 24. Qxa7 Qb4 25. Be5 $2 (25. Qd4 $14)
25... Nd5 26. Nxd5 Bxd5 27. Qxc7 Qc4 28. a3 f6 29. Qxc4 Bxc4 30. Bc3 Rxe2 31.
Rd4 Bb5 32. Bb4 Re3 33. Kf2 Re2+ 34. Kg1 Re3 35. f4 Re2 36. Rd6 Rc2 37. g4 Bc6
38. Bd2 Bf3 39. h3 Ra2 40. Bb4 Rg2+ 41. Kf1 Rh2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.03.27"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2764"]
[BlackElo "2810"]
[Annotator "Kritz,L"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2013.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Bd7 10. h3 (10. Rd1 Kc8 11. Ng5 Be8 12. b3 (12. e6 f6 13.
Nf7 Bxf7 14. exf7 Bd6) 12... b6 13. Bb2 Be7 14. Nge4 Kb7 15. Rd3 Rd8 16. Rad1
Rxd3 17. Rxd3 h5 $11 {1-0 Hovhannisyan,R (2615)-Pashikian,A (2607)/Yerevan
2013/CB03_2013 (61)}) 10... h6 $1 {Schwarz spielt prophylaktisch, um dem
Gegner nicht zu erlauben, eine Initiative am Königsflügel zu entfalten.} (10...
Kc8 11. g4 $1 Ne7 12. Ng5 Be8 13. f4 $14 {Das ist eine Traumstellung für Weiß!}
) 11. Rd1 {Das sieht am logischsten aus.} (11. b3 c5 12. Rd1 Kc8 13. Nd5 a5 14.
a4 Ne7 15. c4 Bf5 16. Ra2 b6 17. Nh4 Bh7 $11 {1/2-1/2 Solodovnichenko,Y (2559)
-Naiditsch,A (2706)/Deizisau 2013/CB13_2013 (102)}) (11. Bf4 {Der Läufer hat
hier nichts zu suchen.} Kc8 12. Rad1 b6 13. Rd3 Be6 14. Rfd1 Kb7 15. b3 g5 16.
Bc1 c5 17. Nd5 Ne7 18. Nxe7 Bxe7 $15 {1-0 Anand,V (2786)-Topalov,V (2757)/
Monte Carlo 2005/CBM 105 ext (46)}) 11... Kc8 {Nun kann Weiß nicht so aktiv am
Königsflügel werden, weil seinem Springer das Feld g5 genommen ist.} 12. a4 $6
{Normalerweise ist es nicht im Sinne von Weiß, alle Bauern auf weiße Felder zu
stellen. Es ist eher Schwarz, der solch eine Bauernstruktur anstreben muss.} (
12. b3 b6 13. Bb2 Ne7 14. Rd2 c5 15. Rad1 Be6 $11 {1-0 Grischuk,A (2736)
-Jakovenko,D (2736)/Moscow 2009/CBM 134 (44)}) 12... a5 {Der Zug a4 hat für
Weiß nur Nachteile - das Feld b4 wurde geschwächt, die Bauern können unter
Umständen schwach werden.} 13. b3 b6 {[%cal Rc8b7]} 14. Bb2 Ne7 $1 {Der
Springer hat normalerweise wenig zu tun auf f5. Die Idee von Schwarz ist es,
den Springer nach g6 zu bringen, sofort oder nach ...g5. Der weißfeldrige
Läufer geht nach e6, der Bauer nach c5 und nimmt dem weißen Springer das Feld
d4. Die schwarze Festung ist sehr solide.} 15. Rd2 c5 16. Ne2 (16. Rad1 Be6 $1
(16... Bc6 $2 17. e6 $1 fxe6 18. Ne5 Kb7 19. Nf7 Rg8 20. Nd8+ $16 {1-0
Grigoriants,S (2570)-Shen,Y (2447)/Moscow 2012/CBM 147 (26)}) 17. Rd8+ Kb7 18.
Rxa8 Kxa8 19. Rd8+ Kb7 $11 {Schwarz wird einfach ...Nc6 spielen und der weiße
Turm muss die 8. Reihe wieder verlassen.}) 16... Ng6 {Hier kann Schwarz weder .
..Be6 noch ...g5 spielen, so bleibt ihm nichts anderes übrig als das Feld f4
sofort unter Kontrolle zu nehmen.} (16... g5 $4 17. e6 $18) (16... Be6 17. Nf4
$14 {Wenn Weiß einen Springer gegen den weißfeldrigen Läufer tauschen kann,
hat Schwarz wenig Chancen auf Konter zu spielen. Seine Stellung bleibt jedoch
sehr schwer zu brechen.}) 17. Rad1 Be6 {Weiß muss mit ...c4 rechnen.} 18. c4 (
18. Rd8+ Kb7 19. Rxa8 Kxa8 20. Rd8+ Kb7 21. c4 Be7 22. Rxh8 Nxh8 23. Nf4 Bf5
$15 {Es ist nur Schwarz, der hier auf Sieg spielen kann. Man kann auch
deutlich sehen, warum die Bauernstruktur am Damenflügel günstig für Schwarz
ist.}) 18... Be7 19. Nc3 Kb7 {Das ist eine typische Stellung für diese
Variante. Schwarz hat alles geschafft, was er wollte. Weiß kann kaum auf
Gewinn spielen.} 20. Nd5 ({Der Versuch den König zu zentralisieren scheitert:} 
20. Kf1 Rad8 21. Ke2 $2 Nf4+ 22. Kf1 Rxd2 23. Rxd2 Bf5 $15) 20... Rad8 21. Nxe7
{Das führt zu einer gefährlichen Stellung für Weiß. Der Springer d5 ist
wesentlich stärker als der Läufer e7.} (21. Kh2 Bg5 $1 22. Nxg5 hxg5 23. Kg3
Rhe8 $11) 21... Rxd2 22. Nxd2 (22. Rxd2 Nxe7 23. Kh2 (23. g4 $2 h5 $1 24. Ng5
hxg4 25. Nxe6 fxe6 26. hxg4 Rh3 $1 {und Schwarz sollte gewinnen:} 27. Rd7 Nc6
28. Rxg7 Rxb3 29. Bc1 Rb1 $19) 23... g5 24. Kg3 Nf5+ 25. Kh2 Ne7 $11) 22...
Nxe7 23. Nf1 Kc8 $1 {Schwarz will in das Endspiel mit ungleichfarbigen
Läufern! Dann wird sein Läufer über f5-c2 alle weißen Bauern vernichten.} 24.
f3 g5 (24... Rd8 $5 25. Rxd8+ Kxd8 26. g4 Ng6 27. Kh2 (27. Kf2 Nf4 28. h4 $4
Nd3+ 29. Ke3 Nxb2 $19) 27... Nf4 28. Kg3 g5 $15 {Schwarz steht besser, weil
die Bauern b3 und e5 (nachdem der schwarze König näher ran kommt) schwach sind.
}) 25. Ng3 ({Der Springer konnte auch gut nach e3 gehen, um das Feld ...c2 zu
kontrollieren!} 25. Ne3 Rd8 26. Rxd8+ Kxd8 27. Kf2 Nc6 (27... Bf5 28. Ke2 $11)
28. Ng4 (28. Nc2 Bf5 29. Ne3 Bb1 $17) 28... Bxg4 29. hxg4 Nd4 30. Bxd4 cxd4 31.
Ke2 c5 32. g3 Ke7 33. Kd3 Ke6 34. Ke4 Kd7 35. Kd3 Ke7 36. f4 gxf4 37. gxf4 f6
38. exf6+ Kxf6 39. Ke4 Kg6 40. Kf3 h5 41. gxh5+ Kxh5 42. f5 Kg5 43. Ke4 Kf6 44.
Kf4 $11) 25... Rd8 26. Rxd8+ Kxd8 27. Kf2 Bf5 $5 {Schwarz ist bereit, seinen
Läufer zu geben. Das Problem ist, dass das Spiel nun fast forciert verläuft.} (
27... Ng6 $15) 28. Nxf5 $8 (28. Ke3 Bc2 $19 {Hier sieht man, warum das Feld c2
so wichtig ist.}) 28... Nxf5 29. g4 Nd4 30. Bxd4 $4 {Verliert sofort. Grischuk
hat wohl das Bauernendspiel falsch eingeschätzt.} ({Weiß konnte hier sogar die
Initiative übernehmen, aber dafür musste er den einzigen Zug finden, nämlich} 
30. Ke3 $1 {siehe die Analyse in der Endspielkolumne von Karsten Müller.})
30... cxd4 31. Ke2 Kd7 32. Kd3 c5 33. Ke4 (33. Ke2 Ke6 $19) 33... Ke6 34. f4
gxf4 35. Kxf4 d3 $1 36. Ke3 Kxe5 37. Kxd3 Kf4 $19 {... und der weiße König
schafft es nicht zum Königsflügel.} 38. Ke2 Kg3 39. Ke3 Kxh3 40. Kf4 Kh4 41.
Kf5 Kg3 $1 (41... f6 42. Kf4 Kh3 43. Kf3 Kh2 44. Kf2 $11) 0-1

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.03.28"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E60"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2013.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 ({Kramnik more often than not prefers the Classical
King's Indian with} 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 {However, the
fianchetto shouldn't have been too surprising for Radjabov, as he used it
already in round 3 against Grischuk (and subsequently against Gelfand).}) 3...
c5 {Radjabov naturally follows his own repertoire. Grischuk and Gelfand both
went for the Grünfeld with} (3... d5) ({and} 3... c6 {respectively.}) 4. Nf3
Bg7 (4... cxd4 $143 {is premature:} 5. Nxd4 Qc7 6. Nc3 $142 $1 (6. b3 {is not
forceful enough:} Bg7 (6... b6 $1 7. Bg2 Bb7 $11) 7. Bg2 d5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. O-O
Qd7 $6 (9... Nc6 10. Bb2 Qb6 11. Bxd5 Nxd4 12. e3 Be6 $1 13. Bxe6 Nxe6 14. Bxg7
Nxg7 15. Nc3 O-O {/\} 16. Qd7 Rfc8 17. Nd5 Qd8 $1 $11 {Kasparov}) 10. Bb2 O-O
11. Qc1 Rd8 12. Rd1 Nc6 13. Nxc6 Qxc6 14. Qxc6 bxc6 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 {Karpov,A 
(2710)-Kasparov,G (2735)/Brussels/1987/} 16. Nc3 $14 {Kasparov}) 6... Bg7 (6...
Qxc4 7. e4 (7. Bg5 $6 Bg7 8. Rc1 O-O 9. Bg2 Nc6 10. Ncb5 Qxa2 11. Ra1 Qxb2 12.
Rb1 Qa2 13. Ra1 Qb2 14. Rb1 Qa2 15. Ra1 {1/2, Kilgus,G (2354)-Stohl,I (2545)/
Vienna/2008/}) 7... Qc5 8. Ndb5 Na6 9. Be3 Qc6 10. Rc1 $32 {+/-}) 7. Ndb5 $1 (
7. Bf4 d6 8. Qa4+ Bd7 9. Ncb5 Qc8 10. Bxd6 $2 {Ornstein,A (2430)-Akesson,R 
(2445)/Norrkoeping/1988/} Ne4 $1 11. Bxb8 Bxd4 12. O-O-O Bg7 13. Bh3 O-O 14.
Bxd7 Qxb8 $17) 7... Qc6 (7... Qxc4 8. e4 Qc6 9. Bg2 $1 (9. Bf4 Na6 (9... O-O $1
10. Nc7 g5 11. Be5 Nxe4 $13) 10. Bg2 d6 11. Bf3 Qb6 12. Be3 Qa5 13. a3 O-O 14.
b4 Qd8 15. Rc1 h5 16. h3 Nd7 17. Bg2 {Claesen,P (2230)-Langner,L (2345)/
Antwerp/1992/} Nb6 18. O-O Nc7 19. Nxc7 Qxc7 20. Nd5 Qd8 21. Nc7 Rb8 22. a4 Bd7
23. a5 Na4 24. Bxa7 Rc8 $132) 9... a6 10. O-O axb5 11. e5 $40 {Kasparov}) 8. e4
a6 (8... Nxe4 $2 9. Nd5 $18) 9. Nd4 Qc7 10. Bg2 d6 11. b3 Nc6 12. O-O O-O 13.
Bb2 $14 {()}) 5. Bg2 cxd4 ({Just as in the previous note, White should
sacrifice a pawn for development even after} 5... Qa5+ 6. Nc3 Ne4 7. Qd3 cxd4
8. Nxd4 Nc5 9. Qd1 Nc6 10. e3 Ne6 11. O-O $1 (11. Nxe6 $6 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 dxe6
13. O-O O-O 14. Qb3 Qc7 15. c5 e5 16. c4 Bf5 17. Bd2 Rad8 18. Rfd1 Bg4 19. f3
Be6 20. Bf1 e4 $1 $17 {Ponomariov,R (2726)-Volokitin,A (2704)/UKR-ch Kiev/2012/
}) 11... Qc5 (11... O-O $142) 12. Ndb5 a6 13. Na4 Qxc4 14. Nbc3 Rb8 15. Nb6 Qc5
16. Ncd5 O-O 17. b4 Qd6 18. Nc4 Qxd5 19. Bxd5 Bxa1 20. Nb6 $16 {Supatashvili,K
(2479)-Bagaturov,G (2501)/Tbilisi/2000/}) 6. Nxd4 O-O 7. Nc3 ({Black easily
holds the balance after} 7. Nc2 Nc6 8. Nc3 d6 9. O-O Be6 10. b3 Qd7 11. Nd5 Bh3
12. Bxh3 Qxh3 13. Nf4 Qd7 14. Bb2 Rfd8 15. Rc1 e6 16. Qe1 Ne7 17. Ne3 b5 18.
Qa5 a6 19. Rfd1 Nc6 20. Qe1 Qb7 21. Nd3 Rac8 22. cxb5 axb5 23. Nc2 Ne7 24. Ncb4
Ne4 25. Bxg7 Kxg7 26. f3 Nf6 27. Qf2 e5 28. e4 d5 $11 {Aronian,L (2802)-Giri,A
(2720)/Wijk aan Zee/2013/}) ({It's difficult to advantageously break the
symmetry after} 7. O-O d5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 {, Radjabov's own games provide ample
proof that Black should gradually equalise:} 9. Nb5 (9. Nc3 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Nc6
11. Nxc6 (11. Be3 Bd7 12. Rb1 Qc7 13. Qb3 b6 14. Rfd1 Na5 15. Qb4 Rae8 16. Bg5
Bf6 17. Bh6 Bg7 18. Bg5 Bf6 19. Bh6 {1/2, Khalifman,A (2616)-Vescovi,G (2660)/
Moscow/2010/}) 11... bxc6 12. Ba3 (12. Bxc6 Bh3 $11) (12. Bg5 Ba6 13. Bf3 Bxc3
14. Rc1 Qxd1 15. Rfxd1 Bb4 16. Rxc6 Bb7 17. Rc7 Bxf3 18. exf3 Bd6 19. Rd7 f6
20. Be3 {1/2, Kirov,N (2420)-Witkowski,S (2330)/Lodz/1979/} a5 $11) 12... Bg4
13. Bxc6 Rc8 14. Qxd8 Rfxd8 15. Bxe7 Bxe2 16. Bxd8 Bxf1 17. Kxf1 Rxd8 18. Re1
Bxc3 19. Re8+ Rxe8 20. Bxe8 Bd4 $11 {Svidler,P (2747)-Radjabov,T (2792)/ECC
Eilat/2012/}) 9... Be6 (9... a6 10. N5c3 Nxc3 11. Nxc3 Nc6 12. Be3 Be6 13. Qc1
$6 (13. Qa4 $142 $1 Qc7 14. Rac1 $11 {/+/=}) 13... Rc8 14. Rd1 Qa5 15. Bf3 Rfd8
16. Rxd8+ Rxd8 17. Bh6 Bxh6 18. Qxh6 Nd4 $15 {Dautov,R (2609)-Radjabov,T (2667)
/Mulhouse/2005/}) 10. N1c3 (10. Nd4 Bc8 $11) (10. e4 $6 Nb4 11. N1c3 Qa5 12.
Bf4 Bc4 13. a3 {Gazik,R (2155)-Szymanowska,K (2100)/Sopot/} Nd3 $36) 10... Nxc3
11. Nxc3 Nc6 12. Qa4 Qb6 13. Qa3 Rfd8 14. Be3 Qa5 15. Qxa5 Nxa5 16. Rac1 Rac8
17. Bxa7 Rd2 18. b4 Bxc3 19. bxa5 Bxa5 20. Bxb7 Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Rd7 22. Rb1 Bxa2
23. Rb2 Bc3 24. Rxa2 {1/2, Morozevich,A (2771)-Radjabov,T (2761)/Wijk aan Zee/
2009/}) 7... Qc7 {Radjabov plays his pet move.} (7... Nc6 8. O-O {- A39 is the
main alternative, which leads to a theoretical position of a different type.})
8. b3 {Other moves promise White nothing:} (8. Nd5 Nxd5 (8... Qxc4 9. Nxe7+ Kh8
10. Nxc8 Rxc8 11. O-O Nc6 12. e3 (12. Nc2 Re8 13. Ne3 Qe6 14. Nd5 Nxd5 15. Bxd5
Qxe2 16. Bxf7 Re7 17. Qxe2 Rxe2 18. Rb1 Rf8 19. Bc4 Rexf2 20. Rxf2 Bd4 21. Bf4
g5 22. Kg2 Bxf2 23. Bxg5 Bd4 24. Rd1 Bxb2 25. Rxd7 Ne5 {1/2, Wojtaszek,R (2569)
-Fressinet,L (2638)/Warsaw/2005/}) (12. Nxc6 dxc6 13. b3 Qc3 14. Bd2 Qe5 15.
Rc1 Rd8 16. Rc2 Ne4 17. Qc1 Nxd2 18. Rxd2 Rxd2 19. Qxd2 Qd4 $11 {Khurtsidze,N 
(2418)-Lomineishvili,M (2396)/Tbilisi/2005/}) 12... Nxd4 13. exd4 d5 14. Be3
Rc6 15. Bf3 Rac8 16. Qb3 Qxb3 17. axb3 a6 18. Rfc1 Rxc1+ 19. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 20.
Bxc1 Ne4 21. Be3 f5 $11 {Sargissian,G (2602)-Radjabov,T (2667)/Moscow/2005/})
9. cxd5 Qa5+ (9... Qb6 10. e3 d6 11. O-O Na6 12. a4 Bd7 13. a5 Qc7 14. Bd2 Rac8
15. b4 Qb8 16. b5 Nc7 17. Qe2 e6 18. dxe6 Nxe6 19. Nxe6 Bxe6 20. Rac1 d5 21.
Bb4 Rfd8 22. Qd3 d4 23. e4 Rxc1 24. Rxc1 Rc8 $132 {Wang Hao (2737)-Radjabov,T 
(2793)/Beijing blindfold rpd/2012/}) 10. Bd2 Qb6 11. Bc3 d6 12. Rc1 Nd7 13. Nb3
Bxc3+ 14. Rxc3 a5 15. Qd4 Qxd4 16. Nxd4 Nc5 17. Kd2 Bd7 18. Rhc1 a4 19. b4 axb3
20. axb3 Ra2+ 21. R1c2 Ra1 22. b4 Na6 23. Rb2 Ra4 24. Nc2 Rc8 $11 {Karpov,A 
(2619)-Gashimov,V (2758)/Moscow blitz/2009/}) (8. Qa4 d6 9. Ncb5 Qd8 10. O-O a6
11. Nc3 Bd7 12. Qd1 Nc6 13. b3 Nxd4 14. Qxd4 Bc6 15. Bb2 Ne4 16. Qe3 Nxc3 17.
Bxc3 Bxc3 18. Qxc3 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Qc7 20. Qd3 Rfc8 $11 {Drozdovskij,Y (2558)
-Radjabov,T (2747)/Odessa rpd/2007/}) (8. Ndb5 $5 Qxc4 9. b3 Qc5 10. Be3 Qb4
11. a3 Qa5 12. b4 Qd8 13. Nxa7 Ng4 14. Bd4 Bxd4 (14... Nc6 $5 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16.
Nxc8 Rxc8 $132) 15. Qxd4 Nc6 16. Qxg4 Rxa7 17. Qf4 (17. O-O d5 $11) 17... e5
18. Qc4 b5 $5 19. Qb3 $2 (19. Nxb5 Ba6 20. Bxc6 Rc7 21. Qd5 Rxc6 22. O-O $14)
19... Bb7 20. Qb2 Qa8 21. O-O Nd4 $36 {Tregubov,P (2607)-Kurnosov,I (2549)/
Kazan/2005/}) (8. Qd3 Nc6 9. O-O d6 10. b3 Nxd4 11. Qxd4 Be6 12. Bb2 Rfc8 13.
Rac1 a6 14. Na4 Ne8 15. Qd2 Bxb2 16. Qxb2 Bd7 17. c5 Bxa4 18. bxa4 dxc5 19.
Qxb7 Ra7 20. Qb3 Nd6 21. Rfd1 Qa5 22. Rd5 Rac7 23. Qc2 Nf5 24. Qd1 Kg7 25. Bh3
e6 26. Bxf5 exd5 27. Bxc8 Rxc8 28. Qxd5 Qxa4 $11 {Bocharov,D (2647)-Shomoev,A 
(2567)/EU-ch Budva/2009/}) 8... d5 $1 {The point of Black's setup, otherwise
White would just finish his development and enjoy a space advantage, while
Black's queen is not ideally placed either.} 9. Ndb5 {White should refrain
from accepting the sacrifice, the pawn is poisoned:} (9. Nxd5 $2 Nxd5 10. Bxd5
e6 {[%csl Rd4,Rd5]} 11. Nb5 (11. Bg2 Rd8 $19) 11... Qe5 $19) (9. Bxd5 $6 Bh3
10. Bb2 (10. Ndb5 Qc8 11. e3 Rd8 12. Bd2 Nc6 13. Qe2 Nb4 14. Rc1 e6 15. Na4
Nxa2 16. Rc2 exd5 17. Rxa2 dxc4 18. Qxc4 Qf5 19. Nac3 Rac8 20. Qe2 Ne4 {
0-1, Ledger,A (2424)-Dragomirescu,R (2358)/Plovdiv/2012/}) 10... Rd8 11. Qc1 e6
12. Bf3 a6 13. Nc2 Nc6 14. Qf4 Ne5 $40 {[%csl Re1]} 15. Rc1 h6 16. Na4 Nfd7 17.
Ne3 g5 18. Qe4 Nxf3+ 19. exf3 Nc5 20. Nxc5 Qa5+ {0-1, Hansen,C (2595)-Gelfand,
B (2665)/Cap d'Agde rpd/1996/}) ({Very similar to the game is} 9. O-O dxc4 10.
Ncb5 Qd8 (10... Qb6 11. bxc4 a6 12. Nc3 Nbd7 13. Ba3 Qa5 14. Qb3 Re8 15. Rfd1
Rb8 16. Nd5 Nxd5 17. cxd5 Nc5 18. Qb4 Qxb4 19. Bxb4 Na4 20. Rac1 Be5 21. e4 Bd6
22. a3 Bd7 23. f4 Rbc8 24. e5 Bxb4 25. axb4 Nb2 26. Rxc8 Rxc8 $132 {Leko,P 
(2751)-Carlsen,M (2776)/Nice rpd/2009/}) 11. bxc4 a6 12. Nc3 Ng4 $1 (12... e5
$6 {[%csl Rg7]} 13. Nb3 Nc6 14. Be3 Nd7 15. Nd5 Re8 16. Rb1 Nf8 $2 17. Nc5 b5
18. Ne4 Nd4 19. Bg5 Qa5 20. Ndf6+ {1-0, Izoria,Z (2489)-Kocovski,I (2324)/
EU-ch Ohrid/2001/}) 13. e3 Nc6 14. Rb1 (14. Nce2 Nge5 (14... Qc7 $1 $11 {
[%cal Yf8d8]}) 15. Qc2 Qc7 16. c5 Bg4 17. Rb1 Rad8 18. h3 Bxe2 $6 (18... Bd7
$142 $132) 19. Qxe2 Nxd4 20. exd4 Nc6 21. Bf4 Qc8 22. d5 Nd4 23. Qe4 Qxc5 24.
Rxb7 e6 25. d6 Nf5 26. d7 e5 {Grischuk,A (2711)-Radjabov,T (2735)/Odessa rpd/
2008/} 27. Bg5 $5 Nd6 28. Qa4 Nxb7 29. Bxb7 $16 {[%csl Gd7]}) 14... Nxe3 15.
Bxe3 Bxd4 16. Bxd4 Qxd4 17. Qxd4 Nxd4 18. Nd5 Kg7 19. Nxe7 (19. Rfe1 b5 20.
Nxe7 Ra7 21. cxb5 axb5 22. Nc6 {1/2, Borovikov,V (2601)-Polzin,R (2494)/
Paleochora/2010/}) 19... Be6 20. Nd5 Rac8 21. Ne3 b5 22. cxb5 axb5 23. Rb2 Rfd8
24. Rd1 {1/2, Aronian,L (2739)-Radjabov,T (2735)/Morelia/Linares/2008/}) 9...
Qa5 10. Bd2 dxc4 11. bxc4 Qd8 {It's best to retreat with the exposed queen
immediately:} (11... Nc6 $143 12. O-O Ng4 13. Nd5 Qd8 14. Rc1 a6 15. Nbc3 e6
16. Ne3 Nge5 17. c5 Qe7 18. Ne4 Rd8 19. Nd6 Rb8 20. Bc3 $16 {Dautov,R (2623)
-Cvitan,O (2532)/Mallorca olm/2004/ For more details see the notes to this
game by Dautov in CBM 104.}) 12. O-O a6 (12... Nc6 13. Rb1 (13. Nd5 a6 14. Nbc3
Nd7 15. Rc1 e6 16. Nf4 Nc5 17. Ne4 Nxe4 18. Bxe4 Bd7 19. Nd3 Qc7 20. Re1 Rab8
21. c5 Rfd8 22. Bc3 Bxc3 23. Rxc3 Nd4 24. e3 Nb5 25. Rb3 e5 26. a4 Na7 27. Qa1
f6 28. Reb1 Bc6 $11 {Tesic,D (2348)-Baklan,V (2610)/Trieste/2012/}) (13. Rc1
Be6 14. Na4 Qc8 15. Bf4 Bh3 16. Qb3 Qf5 17. Qf3 Rad8 18. Bxh3 Qxh3 19. Rfd1 Ng4
20. Qg2 Qh5 $132 {Prohaszka,P (2547)-Polzin,R (2460)/AUT-chT/2012/}) 13... Be6
(13... Bf5 $5 14. e4 Bg4 $13) 14. Nd5 Nxd5 15. cxd5 Bxd5 16. Bxd5 Qxd5 17. Nc7
Qxa2 18. Nxa8 Rxa8 (18... Rd8 19. Rxb7 Rxd2 20. Qb3 $14) 19. Be3 Rd8 20. Qc1
Qxe2 21. Rxb7 Ne5 22. Qc7 Rf8 23. Rbb1 {Rustemov,A (2544)-Jochens,A (2298)/
Bundesliga/2013/} h5 24. Qxa7 h4 $44) 13. Na3 Bf5 14. Nc2 (14. Rc1 Nc6 15. c5
Qd7 16. Bf4 Qe6 17. Qb3 Qxb3 18. axb3 Rad8 19. Nc4 Be6 20. Ne5 Nd5 21. Nxd5
Bxd5 22. Nxc6 bxc6 23. Bxd5 Rxd5 $11 {Rustemov,A (2495)-Dydyshko,V (2575)/
Minsk/1996/}) 14... Nc6 15. Ne3 Qd7 $6 $146 {Obviously insufficiently prepared
for White's opening choice, Radjabov was spending oceans of time remembering
his preparation and here came up with a rather dubious novelty.} ({It's not
clear what Kramnik had on his mind after} 15... Qd4 $142 $1 16. Rc1 (16. Nxf5
gxf5 17. Rc1 Rad8 {just transposes to Gelfand-Sokolov below.}) 16... Be4 $5 (
16... Rad8 {An interesting, albeit untested possibility is} 17. Qb3 $5 (17.
Nxf5 gxf5 18. Nd5 Ne4 19. Be3 Qxd1 (19... Qb2 $5 $13) 20. Rfxd1 e6 21. Bxe4
fxe4 22. Nb6 Rxd1+ 23. Rxd1 Rd8 24. Rb1 Bd4 25. Bxd4 Rxd4 26. Rb2 Kg7 27. c5
Rb4 28. Rd2 Rb1+ 29. Kg2 Rc1 30. Nd7 f5 31. Rb2 Na5 $11 {Gelfand,B (2700)
-Sokolov,I (2665)/Wijk aan Zee/1996/}) 17... Be4 (17... Qxd2 18. Bxc6 {[%csl
Rb7][%cal Rf1d1]} Ng4 19. Nxf5 (19. Rfd1 $6 Bxc3 20. Rxd2 Bxd2) 19... bxc6 $5
20. Nxe7+ Kh8 21. Nxc6 Rd6 $44 {/\} 22. Ne7 Re6 23. Ned5 Qh6 24. h4 g5) 18.
Qxb7 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Ne5 20. Rfd1 Nxc4 21. Nxc4 Qxc4 22. Qxe7 Rfe8 $44) 17. Nxe4
Nxe4 18. Be1 Nc5 19. Bxc6 bxc6 20. Qxd4 Bxd4 21. Nc2 Bf6 22. Ba5 Rab8 23. Rb1
Rb7 (23... Ne4 $5 {[%cal Ye4c3,Ye4d6]}) 24. Rxb7 Nxb7 25. Bb6 c5 26. Ne3 Bd4 $2
(26... Rc8 $1 27. Nd5 Kg7 $11) 27. Nd5 e6 28. e3 Be5 29. Ne7+ Kg7 30. Rd1 Bd6
31. Nc6 Rc8 32. Nd8 Nxd8 33. Rxd6 Rc6 34. Rxc6 Nxc6 35. Bxc5 $14 {Aronian,L 
(2675)-Nataf,I (2565)/Mallorca olm/2004/}) (15... Be6 16. Rb1 Rb8 (16... Rc8
17. Na4 $5) 17. Ncd5 $14) 16. Nxf5 Qxf5 {Keeps his pawn-structure intact, but
the Pb7 will be more vulnerable.} (16... gxf5 17. Rb1 Rad8 $14 {also deserved
attention and was roughly equivalent.}) 17. Rb1 $14 {[%csl Gd2,Gg2][%cal Gh1a8]
[%mdl 2048] White can be satisfied with the outcome of the opening. His pieces
are well coordinated and the bishop-pair gives him a pleasant and almost
riskless pull, especially powerful is the unopposed Catalan Bg2.} Rad8 (17...
Rab8 18. Nd5 Rfd8 19. Rb6 $5 $14) 18. Qc1 (18. Rxb7 Na5 19. Rb4 Qe6 {regains
the pawn:} {However, even here White has a pull after} 20. Qc2 $5 (20. Nd5 Nxc4
21. Rxc4 Nxd5 $11) (20. Bd5 Qh3 {[%cal Rf6g4]} 21. Bf3 Ng4 22. Bxg4 Qxg4 23.
Nd5 Nxc4 24. Nxe7+ Kh8 25. Nc6 Rd5 26. Na5 (26. Qc1 Qxe2) 26... Rxa5 27. Rxc4
Qxc4 28. Bxa5 Qxa2 $11) 20... Nxc4 21. Bf4 $14) 18... Qe6 {Here the queen will
be vulnerable (even later on move 21).} (18... Rd7 $5 19. Nd5 Rfd8 $132 {
deserves attention.}) 19. Re1 (19. Nd5 Nd4 $11 {leads nowhere, Kramnik's move
prepares the knight sortie.}) (19. Rxb7 $5 Na5 20. Rb4 Nxc4 21. Bf4 $14) 19...
Qxc4 (19... Ne5 20. c5 Nc4 21. Bg5 $14) 20. Rxb7 Ne5 $6 (20... Na5 $142 $1 21.
Rb1 (21. Rxe7 Qc5 22. Re3 Rxd2 23. Qxd2 Nc4 $11) 21... Qe6 (21... Rc8 22. Qa3
$14) (21... Ng4 {[%cal Rd8d2]} 22. Ne4 Qxa2 23. Bb4 (23. h3 Nxf2 24. Bxa5 Nxh3+
25. Bxh3 Qxa5 $13) 23... Rc8 24. Qg5 {[%csl Ra5,Rg4]} Nc6 25. Qxg4 Nxb4 26.
Rxb4 f5 27. Qg5 fxe4 28. Bxe4 $14) 22. Bf4 Rc8 23. Qa3 Nc4 24. Qb3 Nh5 $132)
21. Bf4 (21. Rxe7 $1 {was possible here, contrary to the above line after} Qc5
{White has} 22. Rb7 $16) 21... Qe6 22. h3 ({More energetic was} 22. Qa3 $5 Rfe8
(22... Rd7 23. Rxd7 Nexd7 24. Rc1 $36) 23. Qb3 Qxb3 24. axb3 $36) 22... Nc4 (
22... Rd7 23. Rxd7 Nexd7 24. Qa3 $36) 23. e4 $5 {[%cal Yc3d5]} ({A plausible
alternative was} 23. Rd1 $14) 23... Ne5 {[%cal Re5d3]} (23... Rd7 24. e5 (24.
Rxd7 Nxd7 25. Nd5 $14) 24... Nh5 25. Rxd7 Qxd7 26. Nd5 Nxf4 27. Qxf4 $36) 24.
Bxe5 $1 {A simple solution, even with the opposite-coloured bishops White
retains his pressure.} ({Playable, but more complex was} 24. Qa3 Rfe8 (24...
Nd3 25. Rxe7 Qc8 (25... Qxe7 26. Qxe7 Nxe1 27. e5 (27. Qb7 $36) (27. Bh1 $5)
27... Nxg2 28. Kxg2 Nh5 29. Qc5 $14) 26. Rc7 Qe6 27. Rb1 Nxf4 28. gxf4 Rd3 $14
{/<=>}) 25. Reb1 {[%cal Yc3d5]} Nc4 26. Qa4 Nd6 27. Rc7 Nh5 28. Qxa6 Nxf4 29.
gxf4 $14) 24... Qxe5 25. Nd5 Rfe8 (25... Kh8 26. Nxe7 Rd7 27. Rxd7 Nxd7 28. Nd5
$16) (25... Nxd5 $5 26. exd5 Qd6 (26... Rc8 27. Qd1 {doesn't change the issue
- Black will lose a pawn.}) 27. Rexe7 Bd4 $14 {/+/- was possibly better. Black
is a pawn down, but he got rid off the dangerous knight and the central passed
pawn is blockaded. Further exchanges of major pieces would enhance Radjabov's
drawing chances.}) 26. Nb4 Rd7 (26... Rc8 27. Nc6 Qe6 28. e5 Nd7 29. f4 $16 {
[%csl Gc6,Rg7] ()}) 27. Nc6 Qe6 28. Rb6 $6 (28. Rb3 $142 $1 Rc7 29. Rc3 {
[%csl Gc6]} Bh6 (29... Qxa2 $2 30. e5 Nd5 (30... Nd7 31. Nxe7+ $18) 31. Ra3 $18
{[%csl Rd5]}) 30. f4 $5 (30. Qxh6 Rxc6 31. Rxc6 Qxc6 32. e5 Nd5 (32... Qc3 33.
Qe3 Qxe3 34. Rxe3 Nh5 $8 35. Ra3 $16) 33. e6 $1 fxe6 34. h4 $44 {->}) 30...
Rec8 31. e5 Nh5 32. Kh2 $36) (28. Rb4 $5 $14) 28... Qxa2 $2 {[%mdl 8192]
Towards the end of the Candidates Radjabov was totally out of form, here he
commits a decisive tactical error.} ({Bitter is that it comes exactly at the
moment, when he could have solved his problems with} 28... Rc7 $1 29. Rxa6 (29.
e5 Nd5 30. Bxd5 (30. Rxa6 Nb4 $17 {[%cal Rb4a6,Rb4c6,Rb4d3]}) 30... Qxd5 $15 {
[%csl Rc6,Re5]} {/\} 31. Rxa6 $2 Qb5) 29... Nd7 {[%cal Rd7e5,Rd7b8]} 30. e5
Nxe5 (30... Rec8 $2 31. Bd5 Qxh3 32. e6 $18) (30... Nb8 31. Rb6 Kh8 $5 (31...
Bxe5 32. Rb5 Nxc6 33. Rexe5 Qd6 34. Rbc5 Nd4 $132) 32. Re2 Rec8 33. Rc2 Nxc6
34. Rbxc6 Rxc6 35. Rxc6 Rxc6 36. Qxc6 Qxc6 37. Bxc6 Bxe5 $11) 31. Qd1 (31. f4
$2 Qc8 $19) 31... Rec8 (31... Qc8 32. Qa4 $11) 32. Ra5 Rxc6 33. Bxc6 Qxc6 34.
Raxe5 $11) 29. e5 {[%csl Rf6]} Nd5 (29... Nh5 30. g4 $18) 30. Rb2 Qa4 (30...
Qa3 31. Rb8 $18) 31. Bxd5 Rxd5 32. Rb4 Qa2 33. Nxe7+ $1 $18 Kh8 ({Black loses
an exchange, as he quickly gets mated after} 33... Rxe7 34. Qc8+ Bf8 35. Rb8
Re8 36. Qxe8 Qa3 37. e6 $18) 34. Nxd5 Qxd5 35. Qc4 Qxc4 36. Rxc4 Bxe5 (36...
Kg8 37. f4 $18) 37. Kf1 {[%cal Rf2f4]} ({Black has seen enough and doesn't
want to suffer anymore:} 37. Kf1 Re6 $8 38. Rce4 Bc3 39. Rxe6 fxe6 40. Rxe6 $18
{is a simple technical win.}) 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.03.29"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D42"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2810"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "124"]
[EventDate "2013.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e3 ({The main line is} 
6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O {White has a
space advantage, but Black's position is out of weaknesses and his majority on
the queenside might tell in a certain endgame.}) 6... Nc6 7. Bd3 Be7 8. a3 O-O
9. Qc2 {Levon is trying to gain something by a slightly tricky order of moves.
Objectively, the main move 9.0-0 is more promising.} ({The position after} 9.
O-O cxd4 10. exd4 {may arise also from the Panov Attack in the Caro-Kann.})
9... cxd4 10. exd4 f5 $1 $146 {The idea itself is not new, but in this
particular position it hasn't appeared beforehand. Black is going to put the
bishop on f6, pressing the Pd4. In a later interview Kramnik said that he
figured out this plan over the board. Well done! The previously played 10...h6
is also perfectly playable.} (10... h6 11. O-O Bf6 12. Rd1 (12. Be3 Nce7 13.
Ne4 b6 14. Rad1 Bb7 $11) 12... Qb6 13. Bc4 Rd8 14. Ne2 Bd7 15. Qe4 Nce7 16. Bd3
Ba4 (16... Ng6 $142) 17. Qh7+ Kf8 18. Re1 Bb5 19. Bxb5 Qxb5 20. Ng3 Ng6 21. Ne5
Nde7 22. Bxh6 $1 $40 {1-0 (41) Smyslov,V (2600)-Ribli,Z (2615) London 1983})
11. O-O Bf6 12. Nxd5 Qxd5 13. Be3 b5 $1 {Developing the queenside and, at the
same time, covering the c4-square.} (13... Nxd4 $2 14. Bxd4 Bxd4 15. Bc4 Qc5
16. Rad1 {The black bishop has nowhere to go as it is tied to protecting the
queen.} b5 $8 17. Rxd4 bxc4 18. Rxc4 {and White is clearly better as the
knight is going to occupy the commanding e5-outpost.}) 14. Qe2 (14. Qc5 Qxc5
15. dxc5 a6 16. a4 b4 $11) 14... Bb7 15. Rac1 $6 {Levon definitely saw the
possibility to force a draw after 15.Bxb5, but decided to play for a win.
Objectively speaking his position is not better, but in the current tournament
situation only a win could keep him in the race for the first place.} (15. Bxb5
{could force a draw by repetition:} f4 16. Bc4 Qe4 17. Bd3 Qd5 $11) 15... a6
16. Rfd1 f4 $5 {Kramnik decided to force matters.} (16... Rac8 17. Rc5 Qd6 {
was very good for Black as well. The idea f5-f4 is a potential threat.} (17...
Nxd4 $6 18. Bxd4 Rxc5 19. Bxc5 Qxc5 20. Qxe6+ Kh8 21. b4 Qc3 22. Qxf5 g6 $11))
17. Rc5 (17. Bxf4 $2 Nxd4 $19) (17. Rxc6 $2 Qxc6 18. Bxf4 Bxd4 $19) 17... Qd6
18. Qc2 $2 {Both players had to calculate a lot.} (18. Bxf4 $1 Qxf4 19. Qxe6+
Kh8 (19... Rf7 $2 20. Bxh7+ Kf8 21. Bg6 Nd8 22. Qh3 $16) 20. Rh5 (20. Rxc6 $2
Bxc6 21. Qxc6 Bxd4 22. Qe4 Qxe4 23. Bxe4 Rad8 $1 24. Nxd4 (24. Rxd4 $2 Rxd4 25.
Nxd4 Rd8 $19) 24... Rf7 {[%cal Gf7d7] Black gains the piece back and remains
with an extra exchange in the endgame.}) 20... h6 21. Nh4 $1 {This idea is
very difficult to spot in advance.} Ne7 (21... Bxh4 $4 22. Qg6 {is the point.})
(21... Ne5 22. Rxe5 Bxh4 23. Qg6 Qxf2+ 24. Kh1 Bxg2+ 25. Qxg2 Qxg2+ 26. Kxg2 {
and it should be a draw thanks to the opposite coloured bishops.}) 22. g3 Qxd4
23. Qxe7 $1 Qxf2+ $1 (23... Bxe7 $2 24. Ng6+ Kg8 25. Nxe7+ Kf7 26. Bg6+ Kxe7
27. Rxd4 $14) 24. Kxf2 Bxe7+ 25. Kg1 Bf6 $1 26. Ng6+ Kg8 27. Nxf8 Bf3 28. Rd2
Bxh5 29. Nd7 {and White survives somehow.}) (18. Bd2 $2 Nxd4 19. Nxd4 Qxc5 20.
Qxe6+ Rf7 21. Bxh7+ Kxh7 22. Qxf7 Qxd4 23. Qxb7 Rd8 {and the pin along the
d-file will cost White material.}) 18... fxe3 19. Bxh7+ Kh8 20. fxe3 Ne7 $2 {
Another human move and another mistake.} (20... Rac8 $1 {preparing the
counterstrike ...Nxd4!} 21. Rh5 Nxd4 22. Qd3 (22. Bg8+ $2 Kxg8 23. Qh7+ Kf7 $19
) 22... Bxf3 23. gxf3 Nxf3+ 24. Kg2 Qxd3 25. Bxd3+ Kg8 26. Kxf3 Bxb2+ 27. Ke2
Bxa3 {and Black should win.}) 21. e4 $2 (21. Rh5 {This move is so tempting, I
don't know how Levon managed to resist playing it. This position is already in
White's favour!} Rac8 (21... Bxf3 22. gxf3 Rac8 23. Qg2 $40) 22. Qe2 $1 (22.
Ne5 $6 Bxe5 (22... Rxc2 $6 {falls into the classical tactics, like from the
old books:} 23. Bxc2+ Kg8 24. Bh7+ Kh8 25. Bg6+ Kg8 26. Bf7+ $1 Rxf7 27. Rh8+
$1 Kxh8 28. Nxf7+ Kg8 29. Nxd6 {This position is still difficult to estimate.
White's rook + two pawns should be superior to Black's pair of bishops.}) 23.
dxe5 Qb6 24. Qd3 Rcd8 25. Qxd8 Qxe3+ (25... Rxd8 $4 26. Rxd8+ Qxd8 27. Bf5+ Kg8
28. Bxe6+ Kf8 29. Rh8+ Ng8 30. Rxg8+ Ke7 31. Rxd8 $18) 26. Kh1 Bxg2+ $1 27.
Kxg2 Qf3+ 28. Kg1 Qf2+ $11) 22... g6 (22... Bxf3 23. Qxf3 Bg5 24. Bb1+ Bh6 25.
Qe4 Nf5 26. g4 Rce8 27. Kh1 $1 $16) 23. Bxg6+ Kg7 24. Bb1 Kf7 25. Ne5+ Ke8 26.
Rh7 $40) 21... Rac8 $2 (21... Qf4 {was far more convincing} 22. Rh5 g6 $1 {
is the most precise way to defuse White's attack} (22... Ng8 {[%cal Gg8h6] is
a good defensive move.}) 23. Bxg6+ Kg7 $19) 22. e5 {The next five-six moves
are pretty forced.} Bxe5 23. Nxe5 (23. Rxc8 $2 Rxc8 24. dxe5 Qb6+ 25. Qf2 Qxf2+
26. Kxf2 Kxh7 $19) 23... Rxc5 24. Ng6+ $1 (24. Qxc5 Qxc5 25. dxc5 Kxh7 26. Rd7
Nc6 {and Black keeps the extra piece.}) 24... Nxg6 25. dxc5 {[%tqu "En","A lot
of pieces are hanging. What should be done?","","","b7e4","",5]} Be4 $1 26.
Rxd6 Bxc2 27. Bxg6 Bxg6 28. Rxe6 (28. Rxa6 Bd3 29. h4 e5 $19) 28... Bd3 29. h4
a5 30. c6 Rf1+ $2 {This is according to the rule to put the rook behind the
pawn, but here this was the case for an exception!} (30... Rc8 $1 31. Kf2 Bc4
32. Rd6 Bf7 {[%csl Rc6][%cal Gf7e8] Black wins the annoying pawn and rest is a
matter of technique.}) 31. Kh2 Rc1 32. Re3 $1 Bb1 33. Rc3 {The point. White
saves the important c-pawn.} Rxc3 34. bxc3 {Black's extra piece is not enough
for a win. White has a strong passed pawn and another potential passer on the
kingside.} Kg8 35. c7 Bf5 36. Kg3 Kf7 37. Kf4 Bc8 38. Kg5 Bd7 {Black has to
wait with the bishop until White runs out of useful moves.} 39. h5 Be6 40. g3
a4 (40... Ke7 41. Kg6 Kf8 42. Kg5 $11) 41. g4 Kf8 42. Kf4 Ke7 {Now the king
can go to pick up the pawn, but it's not enough for a win.} 43. g5 Kd7 44. Ke5
Bg8 45. c8=Q+ {Not a mistake, but requires precise calculation.} (45. Kd4 {
was the easiest way:} Kxc7 46. Kc5 Bc4 47. h6 gxh6 48. gxh6 Bd3 49. Kd4 Bh7 50.
c4 {exchanging the b-pawn and then White's king reaches the safe a1 corner.
Just a draw.}) 45... Kxc8 46. Kd6 Kd8 47. Kc6 Ke7 48. Kxb5 Ke6 49. Kxa4 Kf5 50.
g6 $4 {Choosing between 50.g6 and 50.h6 Levon didn't manage to calculate well.}
(50. h6 g6 51. Kb5 Kxg5 52. a4 Kxh6 53. a5 g5 54. a6 g4 (54... Bd5 55. c4 Be4
56. c5 g4 57. c6 g3 58. a7 g2 59. a8=Q g1=Q $11) 55. c4 g3 56. a7 g2 57. a8=Q
g1=Q $11) 50... Kg5 51. Kb5 Kxh5 52. a4 Kxg6 53. a5 Kf6 54. a6 (54. c4 Ke5 55.
c5 g5 56. a6 Bd5 57. Kb6 g4 58. a7 Ba8 $1 59. c6 Kd6 60. c7 Kd7 $19) 54... Bd5
55. c4 Ba8 56. Kb6 Ke5 {Black's pieces are just in time to stop the white
pawns.} 57. Kc7 g5 58. Kb8 Be4 59. Kc7 g4 60. a7 g3 61. c5 Ba8 62. Kb8 Bc6 {
An epic fight. There were many mistakes which are not typical for these two
great players. However, let's not forget that this was already round twelve of
the very tense tournament with a lot at stake. At the press conference after
the battle both grandmasters looked completely exhausted.} 0-1

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.03.31"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D71"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "2013.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 c6 4. Bg2 d5 5. e3 {No theory, just play!} dxc4 6. Ne2
Bg7 (6... Nbd7 $5 7. Na3 $140 Nb6) 7. O-O O-O 8. Na3 Nbd7 9. Nxc4 Nb6 {The
exchange of knights will be satisfactory for Black but if White avoids it,
Black easily pushes ...e7-e5.} 10. Na5 {White stops the development of Black's
c8-bishop but, on the other hand, his a5-knight will be far away from the main
battlefield.} Qc7 11. b4 e5 $11 12. dxe5 Qxe5 13. Nd4 Ne4 14. Qc2 Re8 15. Ba3
Qe7 (15... h5 $5) 16. Rad1 h5 $1 {The right course. After ...h5-h4xg3 White's
king will be weakened, and he will never be able to push away Black's
e4-knight by means of f2-f3.} 17. Rd3 Nd5 (17... h4 $5 {is quite possible since
} 18. b5 {is harmless due to} Qe5 $1) 18. Rfd1 $6 (18. b5 c5) (18. Rc1 $5 {
M.Golubev}) 18... Bg4 (18... Bxd4 $5 19. Rxd4 Bf5 {[%cal Rd5c3,Rc3b5] with an
excellent position for Black.}) 19. Rc1 {Sad necessity.} (19. f3 {doesn't work
due to} Nec3 $1 20. Re1 ({otherwise White collapses:} 20. fxg4 Nxd1 21. Qxd1
Nxe3) (20. Rxc3 Nxe3 21. Rxe3 Qxe3+ 22. Qf2 Qxa3) 20... Bxd4 21. Rxd4 Nb5 {
with material gains for Black}) 19... Bxd4 (19... h4 $5 {with good counterplay.
}) 20. Rxd4 Ng5 (20... Nec3 $5 {[%cal Rc3e2,Rc3b5]} 21. Bf1 Ne4 22. Bg2 Nec3
$11) 21. Qd3 Nf3+ $6 {An oversight. It was essential for Black to keep his
knights. The position remained unclear after} (21... Bf3 22. e4 (22. b5 $2 Qe6)
22... Bxg2 (22... Bxe4 $143 23. Bxe4 Nxe4 24. Re1 Ndf6 25. f3 c5 $1 26. bxc5
Qc7 27. fxe4 Qxa5 28. Rf1 $36) 23. Kxg2 Nf6 24. f3 Qe6) 22. Bxf3 Bxf3 23. b5 $1
Qe6 24. Nxb7 cxb5 25. Nd6 Qh3 26. Qf1 {White certainly took into consideration
this eventuality when playing 21.Qd3.} Qxf1+ 27. Kxf1 Re6 28. Nxb5 {White has
won a pawn but it is not easy to convert it due to the opposite-coloured
bishops and weakness of the light squares.} Rb8 $6 (28... Rb6 $142 29. Nd6 Ra6)
29. Nd6 {[%csl Re6]} Nf6 30. Rf4 $6 (30. Rdc4 $1 {was probably stronger but
after} Ne4 $1 31. Rc8+ Rxc8 32. Rxc8+ Kg7 $1 33. Bb2+ f6 34. Rc7+ Kg8 35. Nxe4
Bxe4 (35... Rxe4 $143 36. Bxf6) 36. Rxa7 Rc6 {[%cal Yc6c2] it is still unclear
whether White can win.}) 30... Bd5 31. Rc2 Ne4 $2 $138 (31... Rd8 $1 32. Rc8
Rexd6 33. Rxd8+ Rxd8 34. Rxf6 Bxa2 $11) 32. Nxf7 Ra6 33. Bc1 Re8 (33... Nxg3+
$142 34. hxg3 Bxf7) 34. Rc7 Rxa2 35. Nh6+ Kh8 36. Nf7+ (36. g4 $1 hxg4 37. Nxg4
{After the opening of the h-file Black's king will be in trouble.}) 36... Kg8
37. f3 $2 (37. Nh6+ Kh8 38. g4 $1) 37... Bxf7 38. Rfxf7 Rd8 $1 {Both kings are
now cut off along the 7th (2nd) rank, and it turns out that Black's
counterplay is quite timely.} 39. Rg7+ (39. Rfd7 Rxd7 40. Rxd7 Ng5 $132) 39...
Kf8 40. Rgf7+ (40. Ba3+ Rxa3 41. fxe4 Ra2 42. Rcf7+ Ke8 43. Rf2 Rxf2+ 44. Kxf2
Rd2+ 45. Kf3 Rxh2 46. Rxg6 h4 $1 47. g4 h3 48. Rh6 a5 $11 {_|_}) 40... Kg8 41.
Ke1 Nc5 $1 {The most accurate continuation.} (41... Nf2 $6 42. Rg7+ Kf8 43.
Rcf7+ Ke8 44. Rg8+ Kxf7 45. Rxd8 {[%csl Rf2]}) (41... Nc3 42. Rg7+ Kf8 43. Rgd7
Rxd7 44. Rxd7 Rxh2 45. Rxa7 Ne2 $1 46. Ba3+ Kg8 47. Bd6 Ng1 {may be enough for
a draw, too.}) 42. Rg7+ Kf8 43. Rgf7+ (43. Rcf7+ Ke8 44. Rg8+ Kxf7 45. Rxd8
Rxh2 46. Ba3 Nb3 47. Rd3 (47. Rd7+ Ke6 48. Rxa7 Nd2) 47... Na1 48. Kd1 a5 {
with sufficient counterplay.}) 43... Kg8 44. Rg7+ Kf8 45. Rh7 Nd3+ $1 46. Kf1
Kg8 47. Rcg7+ Kf8 48. Rf7+ Kg8 49. Rfg7+ Kf8 50. Rb7 Kg8 51. Rhg7+ Kf8 52. Rgc7
Nxc1 53. Rxc1 Rxh2 54. Kg1 Re2 55. e4 a5 56. Ra7 a4 57. Rb1 a3 58. Rxa3 Rdd2
59. Ra7 Rg2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.04.01"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B08"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2810"]
[Annotator "Gormally,D"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2013.03.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{The 2013 Candidates tournament in London, had the most exciting denouement of
any tournament I can remember. The brilliant Norwegian Wunderkind Magnus
Carlsen, was eventually to stagger over the line, after a war of attrition and
nerves that will live in the memory for many years. But it was the Russian
Vladimir Kramnik who will perhaps feel most aggrieved - he did not lose a game
until the last round, a game we shall now analyse, and his chess was of a very
high quality indeed.  There are a lot of ifs and buts, but I would not
criticise the format. One player had to qualify, and if there had not existed
the tie-break format, and the tournament had gone to play-offs, perhaps you
would have had a much more cautious approach from the players, resulting in
the veritable bore-fest which was the previous candidates. Clearly this
tournament format is the way forward.} 1. d4 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 {Kramnik
essays the Pirc, a surprising choice you might think in such an important
encounter. But going into the game he must have felt that he needed to win, as
he could hardly have expected Carlsen to lose with White to Svidler, so
perhaps he felt that his normal repertoire was too solid, and that a sharper
game was needed. However I have little doubt that if such a situation were to
arise again, Kramnik would not choose this opening. Readers with a good memory,
may recall that the Pirc has a mixed success rate in last round games at the
world championship level. Famously, Korchnoi was to be thoroughly routed when
he chose this defence against Karpov in the decisive last game of their 1978
Baguio match. It is my belief that a player should stick with the approach
that has brought them to this point in the first place, and not change at the
last moment when on the brink of success. If you are a strategic and
positional player like Kramnik or Korchnoi, you should not play the Pirc, you
should stick to what you know, even if there is a danger that the game will be
too dry to play for a win. But that it is just my thought and I will never
play a match for the world championship!} 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Be2 O-O 6. O-O a6 7. h3
Nc6 8. Bg5 {Already we are in fairly unexplored territory.} (8. d5 {tries to
"punish" Black for his loss of time, but White was unable to prove any
advantage here either.} Nb8 $5 9. a4 e5 10. dxe6 Bxe6 11. Nd4 Bd7 12. Bg5 h6
13. Bh4 Nc6 $1 14. Nxc6 Bxc6 15. Bd3 Re8 16. Re1 Qc8 17. Qd2 Nd7 18. Rad1 Nc5 {
and Black had comfortably equalised in the game Khalifman,A-Svidler,P Tilburg
1994, which later ended in a draw.}) 8... b5 $1 {Gaining some useful space,
while creating a threat of ...b4.} 9. a3 h6 10. Be3 e5 $5 {A firm and commital
decision, but it does create some weaknesses on the queenside, like the
c5-square for example.} ({Black might ideally like to play} 10... Nd7 {so that
he can recapture on e5 with a piece, but the problem is that this runs into}
11. d5 $1 Nce5 12. Nxe5 (12. Nd4 $5 Bb7 13. f4 c5 14. Ndxb5 $1 axb5 15. Bxb5 {
is also good for White}) 12... Nxe5 13. f4 Nd7 14. Bd4 {with a nice edge for
White.}) 11. dxe5 (11. d5 $6 Ne7 {is really what Black wants. He can then look
forward to very good King's Indian style play, with ...Nh5 followed by ...f5
ect. White is not helped in such structures by the fact that he has already
played h3, which just gives Black an additional target on the kingside.} 12.
Nd2 c6 13. dxc6 Nxc6 14. Nd5 Nxd5 15. exd5 Ne7 16. c4 f5 $1 17. f3 Qd7 {
looks more than ok for Black.}) 11... dxe5 12. Qc1 Kh7 13. Bc5 Re8 14. Rd1 Bd7
15. b4 Qc8 16. Qe3 Nd8 17. a4 {White is fighting for space for his pieces. He
wants to put the bishop on c4, and also just to attack the black queenside.} (
17. Nd5 {gets nowhere after} Nxd5 18. Rxd5 Bc6 19. Rd2 Ne6) 17... bxa4 18. Nxa4
Ne6 $1 19. Bc4 ({Kramnik's last turn smartly took advantage of the fact the
e5-pawn is immune:} 19. Nxe5 $2 Nxc5 20. Qxc5 Nxe4 {is not what the doctor
ordered.}) 19... Nh5 20. Nc3 Nhf4 21. Nd5 {Ivanchuk wants to challenge
Kramnik's strong knight play in the centre, with some of his own.} ({Serious
consideration could have been given to} 21. Bf1 {creating an eventual threat
of g3.} Nxc5 22. bxc5 Ne6 {with the threat of ...Nd4.} 23. Nd5 $1 {sidesteps
that threat, but even here play is not so clear after} a5) 21... Bb5 $5 22. Bb3
(22. Bxb5 axb5 23. Rxa8 Qxa8 {only looks good for Black, he has his army very
harmoniously posted, while he can start to pester White with moves like ...Qa2.
}) 22... Bc6 {Around about here Kramnik already started to think about taking
over the initiative. One can only imagine the emotions raging through the
players at this point, with so much at stake. Did Kramnik need to play for a
win, or a draw? He was keeping a close eye on proceedings in the Carlsen
encounter, which perhaps distracted him from his own game.} 23. Ra5 Qb7 24. g3
{Ivanchuk wants to force matters.} Nxh3+ 25. Kg2 Nhg5 26. Rh1 Kg8 ({Jon
Speelman enquired in the press conference afterwards, whether Kramnik had
considered the possibility of the sacrifice} 26... Nxe4 $5 $36 {Kramnik
replied that he had, but was unsure about this as it might just be losing.
However this is an excellent suggestion by the imaginative Speelman, as it
would have given Black superb practical chances. One can also see Kasparov
playing this way, but perhaps Kramnik found his usual instincts, to play solid,
positional chess, difficult to desert?} 27. Qxe4 f5 28. Qc4 Rad8 29. Be3 $1 ({
you see it is easy to go wrong here. At first I thought the simple} 29. Rd1 {
was good, but this runs into} e4 $1 30. Nh4 Bb5 $1 31. Rxb5 axb5 32. Qe2 c6 33.
Nf4 Nxf4+ 34. gxf4 Rxd1 35. Qxd1 Bf6 {and Black is taking over}) 29... Bb5 30.
Qh4 $1 Rxd5 31. Bxh6 {It is important to make every move count} Rd6 32. Bxg7+
Kxg7 33. Qh7+ Kf8 {with an extremely sharp situation on the board.}) 27. Nxg5
Nxg5 28. f3 Bxd5 29. Bxd5 c6 30. Bc4 Qc8 $5 {Trying to keep the game as sharp
as possible, an understandable decision considering the tournament situation
at this point.} ({Afterwards Kramnik bemoaned the fact that he didn't just play
} 30... Ne6 {here, which he considered to be close to a draw. But the problem
is he didn't know which result he should be playing for at this point, as it
wasn't clear yet that Carlsen was going to lose.} 31. Bxe6 (31. c3 Nxc5 32.
Qxc5 Red8 33. Ra2 Rd7 {also looks fairly equal, Black is a pawn up, but this
is balanced out by his queenside weaknesses and the superb bishop on c4}) 31...
Rxe6 32. Qd3 h5 33. Rha1 Bf8 {does indeed look quite drawish.}) 31. Qb3 h5 32.
Be3 Ne6 33. Rha1 h4 {Another move that later brought sharp criticism by
Kramnik, but for me this is a very human reaction - Black is becoming slowly
squeezed, so it's human nature to want to grab some squares for his pieces.}
34. gxh4 Qd8 35. Rxa6 Rc8 $2 {But only this move really cost Vladimir a
rematch with Vishy. Now Black just has a bad position, without even a pawn to
compensate for that.} ({One can only imagine that Kramnik refrained for the
seemingly natural continuation} 35... Rxa6 $1 36. Rxa6 Qxh4 37. Rxc6 {as
perhaps he felt that Black is only fighting for a draw here. But at least he
has some squares!} Ng5 38. Bxg5 ({The computer makes the suggestion} 38. Bxf7+
Nxf7 {and now the calm} 39. b5 {a very sharp idea indeed, but would Ivanchuk
have played this way? I somehow doubt it.} Bf6 40. b6 Rd8 $13 {with the idea
of ...Rd1, where there is still everything to play for}) 38... Qxg5+ 39. Kf1
Ra8 40. Ra6 Rxa6 41. Bxa6 Bh6 {which should objectively end in a draw.}) 36.
Rh1 ({The computer points out that it's possible to even ignore the threat on
the h-pawn with} 36. c3 $1 Qxh4 37. Bxe6 Rxe6 38. b5 $1 {and the b-pawn comes
through, with similar gruesome results to the game.}) 36... Rc7 37. Bxe6 Rxe6
38. b5 $1 {A move that effectively ended Kramnik's brave challenge for another
two years, and ensured that the Norwegian Wunderkind Magnus Carlsen would
challenge Anand for the World title. White's threats are murderous.} Rb7 39. b6
c5 40. Rb1 Bf8 (40... Bf6 41. Qd5 Rb8 42. Qxd8+ Bxd8 43. Bxc5 $18) 41. Qd5 $1 {
By this stage it was clear that Carlsen was going to lose, but this must have
been scant consolation for Vladimir, staring at the ruins of his position.} Qb8
({Kramnik had missed that} 41... Rd7 {runs into} 42. Qa8 $1 Rd2+ 43. Kg3 {
but his task is helpless in any case.}) 42. Rba1 Rd6 43. Ra8 $1 Rxd5 44. Rxb8
Rxb8 45. exd5 Bd6 46. Ra6 Rb7 47. Kf1 {The king simply runs to the queenside,
while Black can't move a thing.} 1-0

[Event "Alekhine Memorial"]
[Site "Paris/St Petersburg"]
[Date "2013.04.21"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vitiugov, Nikita"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2712"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2013.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 Bg4 4. O-O Nd7 5. d3 Ngf6 6. Qe1 e5 7. e4 dxe4 8.
dxe4 Bd6 9. Nbd2 O-O 10. h3 Bh5 11. Nc4 Bc7 12. a4 Re8 13. Nh4 Nc5 14. Nf5 Ne6
15. Be3 Nf4 16. f3 Nxg2 17. Kxg2 Bg6 18. Rd1 Nd5 19. Nh4 Nxe3+ 20. Qxe3 Qe7 21.
Qb3 Rab8 22. Rf2 Red8 23. Rxd8+ Bxd8 24. Rd2 Bc7 25. Rd3 Qe6 26. Qb4 b6 27. b3
a6 28. Qd2 b5 29. Rd7 bxc4 30. Rxc7 cxb3 31. Rb7 Qc8 32. Rxb3 Rxb3 33. cxb3 f6
34. Qd6 Kf7 35. g4 Ke8 36. Kg3 Qb7 37. b4 Qc8 38. a5 Kf7 39. Ng2 h5 40. Ne3
hxg4 41. hxg4 Qe6 42. Qd3 Qc8 43. Qc4+ Kf8 44. Qc5+ Kg8 45. b5 axb5 46. Qb6 Qf8
47. a6 Qb4 48. a7 Qe1+ 49. Kg2 Qd2+ 50. Kg1 1-0

[Event "Alekhine Memorial"]
[Site "Paris/St Petersburg"]
[Date "2013.04.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[Annotator "Aronian,L"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2013.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {This game was played in the second round. In the first, I lost a
textbook game to Ding Liren and was extremely determined to bounce back.} Nf6
2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 {Kramnik is a great lover of solid systems as
Black. In recent times, he has started to play the Semi-Tarrasch Defence.} 5.
cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 {At the London Candidates, I tried 6.e3 against Vladimir.
After a poor experience, I decided not to repeat it.} Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8. cxd4
Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O {From the viewpoint of all we are taught as
youngsters, Black's play looks wrong - he has exchanged off his developed
pieces and conceded the centre. The idea of the line is that, despite his
relative passivity, Black has decent play, because White is not yet ready to
create a passed pawn with d5 since Black always obtains the c5-square for his
pieces.} 11. Rc1 {With this decision, White tries to delay the development of
his bishop and give Black the right to choose a plan.} b6 {The most natural.} (
{In the event of} 11... Nc6 12. Be2 {Black has to lose time to develop the
bishop to its "rightful" square on b7.}) 12. Bd3 Bb7 13. O-O Nd7 {In my
preparation, I thought the main move was 13...h6, so as not to commit the
knight yet. 13...Nc6 is also possible, and leads after 14.d5 to an interesting
position, the assessment of which will have to be decided after future games.}
14. Qe3 Rc8 ({After} 14... Nf6 15. Ne5 {followed by f3, White's advantage may
not be great, but is stable. After long thought, Vladimir allows me to advance
the typical e5.}) 15. e5 {Now White threatens to transfer his knight to d6.}
Bxf3 {My opponent used a lot of time on this important and interesting
decision.} 16. Qxf3 Qh4 {Black tries to develop harmoniously by tempo-gaining
play.} 17. Qe3 {After thinking for 30 minutes, I decided to follow an active
plan.} ({Of course, I wanted to drive the knight back to b8 with} 17. Bb5 {
, but I still do not know how then to continue to play for an advantage.})
17... Rfd8 {Now Black wants to quickly play Nf8-Ng6. It is interesting that
many computer programs want to play ...g6 as Black at various points,
completely depriving Black's previous play of any momentum.} 18. f4 {White's
main idea is to exchange his f-pawn for the e-pawn and obtain a passed d-pawn.
This is a very concrete idea, asociated with the temporarily bad position of
the enemy knight.} Nf8 {As my opponent correctly pointed out after the game,
the correct line was first to exchange on c1 and only then play Nf8. Now Black
falls into problems which are hard to resolve over the board.} 19. Rxc8 Rxc8
20. f5 exf5 {I thought Black's correct move was 20...Rd8, but I suspected my
opponent would seek a clearer way of playing.} ({After} 20... Rd8 {the cold}
21. Rf4 {is less effective, because with the subtle} Qg5 {with the idea} 22. h4
Qh6 {Black prevents the advance g4. I was prepared to fight for the advantage
with 21.Be4 although I realised that my task would be more complicated then.})
21. Bxf5 Rd8 22. Rd1 {As Vladimir admitted afterwards, he had underestimated
this move. Now White has a lasting advantage.} Ng6 23. Bxg6 {This decision may
not be strongest, but it is easy to understand from the practical viewpoint.
Because is there anything nicer in the world than to play a position, in which
the opponent has absolutely no counterplay?} hxg6 24. d5 Qc4 25. d6 Qe6 ({
Taking on a2 -} 25... Qxa2 {leads to a dangerous position after} 26. Qg5 f6 (
26... Rd7 {is bad because of} 27. Rc1) 27. exf6 Qf7 28. fxg7 {With such a king,
defending will be virtually impossible.}) 26. Qg3 {The position should be
winning for White, with best play. The main motif is the threat to exchange
queens.} b5 27. h3 {With this move, I set a small trap.} a6 ({Of course,
taking on a2 is bad for the same reason as before, but it is tempting to play} 
27... b4 {Then White has the strong idea} 28. Qg5 f6 29. exf6 Rxd6 30. f7+ $1 {
After} Kxf7 31. Qf4+ Ke7 32. Qxb4 {I thought it would be impossible to defend
such a position, with an exposed king on e7.}) 28. Qe3 {An impatient move.} ({
After} 28. Kh1 {or any other waiting move, Black is in zugzwang, since after}
Rd7 {there is} 29. Rc1 {and any other move so weakens Black's position, that
the realisation of White's advantage becomes easier.}) 28... Rd7 {Black
prepares to play f6. It cannot be played at once, because after 29.Qb6 the
a6-b5 pawns are attacked.} 29. Qc5 Kh7 $2 {A mistake.} ({The only chance to
continue the fight was} 29... f6 {But to play this, one must see what we both
missed! It turns out that after} 30. exf6 gxf6 31. Qc8+ {Black loses the
a6-pawn and after} Kg7 32. Qxa6 Qe2 ({But he has the amazing resource} 32...
Qe3+ 33. Kh1 Qc5 {drawing, since the white queen is absolutely helpless and
the pawn on d6 is not going anywhere.}) 33. Rb1 {has a difficult ending.}) ({
After} 29... f6 {I would have had to play} 30. exf6 gxf6 31. Qc6 {with an
advantage which, with correct play, should not be enough to win.}) 30. Qd5 Qe8
{Of course, Black cannot exchange queens. Now only a miracle can save Black.}
31. Rc1 Qd8 32. Rc6 {Defending against ...f6.} Qg5 33. Qd4 Rd8 34. Rc5 {
Remarkable carelessness!} Qg3 {Thanks to my lapse, Black again has chances to
save the game!} ({After} 34... f6 35. e6 ({Probably he has to play} 35. Kh2
fxe5 36. Rxe5 Qf6 37. Rd5 {obtaining a position where it is hard to win.})
35... Qg3 {White cannot simultaneously defend the e6-pawn and d6 pawn.}) 35.
Qf2 {After the exchange of queens, the activity of the white king decides the
game.} Qxf2+ 36. Kxf2 f6 37. Rc6 {The attractive 37.Rc8 was also possible, but
as Tal once sadly pointed out, you only get one point for each victory.} fxe5
38. Ke3 Kg8 39. Ke4 Kf7 40. Kd5 {White also wins easily after 40.Ke5. The text
move seems more natural to me.} a5 41. Rc5 {White's position is so winning
that even such an expert at turning winning positions into draws as myself
cannot fail to win it.} b4 {The advance e5-e4 always fails to the rook
transfer to e7.} 42. Rxa5 Kf6 43. Ra7 Rb8 44. Kc6 b3 45. axb3 Rxb3 46. Ra8 Rc3+
47. Kd7 e4 48. Rf8+ Kg5 49. Ke7 e3 50. d7 e2 51. d8=Q e1=Q+ 52. Kd6+ Qe7+ 1-0

[Event "Alekhine Memorial"]
[Site "Paris/St Petersburg"]
[Date "2013.04.23"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A26"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2722"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2013.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. c4 O-O 5. O-O Nc6 6. Nc3 e5 7. d3 d6 8. b3
Nd4 9. Nd2 c6 10. e3 Ne6 11. Ba3 a5 12. Rc1 Nc5 13. Nf3 Re8 14. h3 Nxd3 15.
Qxd3 e4 16. Qe2 exf3 17. Qxf3 a4 18. Nxa4 Ne4 19. Qd1 b5 20. cxb5 cxb5 21. Qd5
Ra7 22. Bxe4 bxa4 23. Qxd6 axb3 24. axb3 Bxh3 25. Qxd8 Rxd8 26. Bc5 Rc7 27. Bg2
Bxg2 28. Kxg2 Rdc8 29. Ba3 f5 30. Rxc7 Rxc7 31. Rb1 Kf7 32. Bb2 Bxb2 33. Rxb2
Rb7 34. b4 Rb5 35. f4 g5 36. Kf3 g4+ 37. Ke2 Ke6 38. Kd3 Kd5 39. Rb1 h5 40. Rb2
Rb6 41. Rb1 Rb5 42. Rb2 Rb6 43. e4+ fxe4+ 44. Ke3 h4 45. gxh4 g3 46. h5 Ke6 47.
h6 Kf5 48. b5 Rxh6 49. b6 g2 50. Rb5+ Kg4 51. Kf2 Kh3 52. Kg1 Rd6 53. Rb1 e3
54. b7 e2 55. Rb3+ Kg4 56. Re3 Rb6 57. Kxg2 Rxb7 58. Rxe2 Kxf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Alekhine Memorial"]
[Site "Paris/St Petersburg"]
[Date "2013.04.24"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2013.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8.
cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Bc4 Nd7 12. O-O b6 13. a4 Bb7 14. Bd3
Rc8 15. a5 Qc7 16. Rfb1 h6 17. h3 Rfd8 18. Ra3 Qd6 19. Rab3 Rc7 20. axb6 Nxb6
21. Ra1 f5 22. Qe2 fxe4 23. Bxe4 Bxe4 24. Qxe4 Qd5 25. Qxd5 Nxd5 26. Rba3 Nc3
27. Rxa7 Ne2+ 28. Kh2 Rxa7 29. Rxa7 Nxd4 30. Nxd4 Rxd4 31. Ra6 Kf7 32. Ra7+ Kg8
33. Ra6 Kf7 34. Ra7+ Kg8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Alekhine Memorial"]
[Site "Paris/St Petersburg"]
[Date "2013.04.25"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Fressinet, Laurent"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2706"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2013.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nc6 {Probably the Chigorin Defence came as a surprise for
Kramnik, because this line is not so popular among the top players.} 3. d4 Bg4
4. Nbd2 (4. Bg2 {is the main line.}) 4... Qd7 5. h3 Bf5 6. c3 e5 $5 $146 {
A very ambitious novelty. Fressinet sacrifices a P for fast development and
grabs the initiative.} (6... f6 {has been tried before} 7. Nh4 Be6 8. Bg2 (8.
b4 $5 {An unexpected and original decision. The game continues very sharply.}
a6 (8... g5 9. Ng2 (9. Nhf3 {is also possible} Bf5 10. g4 Bg6 11. h4 $36) 9...
Bxh3 (9... Bf7 10. b5) 10. e4 Bg4 11. f3 (11. Qb3 dxe4 12. Ne3 $36 {
Muzyka-Malinin, corr 2004}) 11... Be6 12. Ne3 {With a very unusal, but
promising middlegame for White.}) 9. Nb3 b6 $13 {with an unclear position.})
8... Bf7 {followed by e5.} (8... g5 $6 9. Nhf3 Bf5 10. g4 $1 Bg6 11. h4 $36 {
Pachman-Dueckstein, Haifa 1976})) 7. dxe5 (7. Nxe5 $5 {was an interesting
alternative} Nxe5 8. dxe5 O-O-O (8... d4 9. Nf3) 9. Bg2 f6 10. Nf3 {and it is
not clear how can Black compensate for the sacrificed P .}) 7... O-O-O 8. e3 $6
{A slightly strange move, but Kramnik would like to develop his B to b5.} (8.
Bg2 {is the natural move} Re8 (8... f6 9. Nd4 $1) 9. Nb3 Be4 (9... Nxe5 $2 {
is not possible, because} 10. Nxe5 Rxe5 11. Bf4 $16 {and White will take the
d5-pawn.}) 10. Bf4 f6 11. exf6 Nxf6 12. Nbd4 $14 {with a slight advantage to
White.}) 8... Nge7 9. g4 $6 {This move creates a good target for Black with h5.
} ({The engine suggests} 9. Nb3 Be4 ({or} 9... Ng6 10. Bb5 a6 11. Bxc6 Qxc6 12.
Nfd4 Qd7 13. Nxf5 Qxf5 14. f4 h5 {Black can hope for some compensation thanks
to the weak light squares.}) 10. Nc5 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Nxe5 {and Black is also
solid here.}) 9... Bg6 10. b4 {Another unexpected decision, but here it is not
so easy to suggest a normal developing move.} ({In the case of} 10. Nb3 {
the cold-blooded} Kb8 ({or the sharper} 10... Be4 11. Nc5 Qe8 $13 {is also
fine for Black.} (11... Bxf3 12. Qxf3 Nxe5 $13)) 11. Nfd4 h5 12. Bb5 Qc8 13.
Bxc6 Nxc6 14. Nxc6+ bxc6 $36 {with a huge initiative.}) 10... h5 11. b5 hxg4 $1
{is a very strong sacrifice, which exploits White's lack of development.} 12.
bxc6 Nxc6 13. e6 (13. Nd4 Nxe5 {is also attractive for Black.}) 13... Qxe6 14.
Nd4 Nxd4 15. cxd4 Be7 ({The computer suggests} 15... Bb4 $1 16. Qb3 Bxd2+ 17.
Bxd2 Be4 $1 18. Rh2 Qd6 $1 19. f4 g3 20. Rg2 Rxh3 $17 {with a decisive attack,
but the text move is also better for Black.}) 16. Bg2 gxh3 17. Bf3 Bf5 18. Qa4
Kb8 19. Ba3 Bh4 $1 {This was the point of Black's 17th move.} 20. Nf1 g5 21.
Rh2 $6 {Loses immediately. But already in this position it is difficult to
give a good advice.} ({Maybe} 21. Rc1 {was the best, but} g4 22. Be2 Be4 23.
Rh2 {transposes to the game, while White avoided 22...Rhg8!}) 21... g4 22. Be2
Be4 (22... Rhg8 $1 {was the strongest move, followed by the indefensible g3.
For example:} 23. Kd2 g3 $1 24. fxg3 Bxg3 25. Nxg3 Rxg3 $19 {with a completely
winning attack.}) 23. Rc1 (23. Qb3 Bg2 $19) 23... Bg2 $1 {Black's plan is Bxf1
which is followed by g3.} 24. Qa5 (24. Qc2 Rc8 $19) 24... Rc8 $19 {Fressinet
defends his K and he is ready for the final strike on the other wing!} 25. Rc3
Bxf2+ $1 26. Kxf2 Bxf1 27. Kxf1 g3 28. Bf3 gxh2 29. Ke2 Rhg8 30. Bc5 a6 31. Bh1
Rg2+ 32. Bxg2 {A fantastic win by Fressinet!} 0-1

[Event "Alekhine Memorial"]
[Site "Paris/St Petersburg"]
[Date "2013.04.28"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2013.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 g6 8. Be2
Bg7 9. e4 O-O 10. e5 Qd8 11. O-O c5 12. dxc5 dxc4 13. Bxc4 Nd7 14. Ne4 Nxe5 15.
Nxe5 Bxe5 16. Qe2 Qc7 17. g3 b6 18. Rac1 bxc5 19. Bd3 Qb6 20. Nxc5 Bd4 21. b4
Qxb4 22. Be4 Rb8 23. Rb1 Qxb1 24. Rxb1 Rxb1+ 25. Bxb1 Bxc5 26. Qe5 Bb6 27. Be4
Bd7 28. h4 Rc8 29. h5 gxh5 30. Qf6 Bc6 31. Bd3 Rd8 32. Bc2 Rd2 33. Bh7+ Kxh7
34. Qxf7+ Kh8 35. Qf8+ Kh7 36. Qf7+ Kh8 37. Qf6+ Kh7 38. Qe7+ Kh8 39. Qf6+ Kh7
1/2-1/2

[Event "Alekhine Memorial"]
[Site "Paris/St Petersburg"]
[Date "2013.04.29"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E29"]
[WhiteElo "2747"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2013.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 c5 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd3 Nc6 8.
Ne2 b6 9. e4 Ne8 10. Be3 Ba6 11. Ng3 Na5 12. Qe2 Rc8 13. d5 f5 14. exf5 exd5
15. cxd5 Bxd3 16. Qxd3 Qh4 17. O-O Qc4 18. Rad1 Qxd3 19. Rxd3 Nd6 20. Bf4 Nxf5
21. Ne4 Nc4 22. f3 Nb2 23. Rd2 Nc4 24. Rd3 Rce8 25. a4 h6 26. h3 Nb2 27. Rd2
Nxa4 28. c4 a6 29. Rb1 Kh7 30. Ra2 Rxe4 31. fxe4 Nc3 32. Rxb6 Nxa2 33. exf5
Rxf5 34. Bd2 Rf6 35. Rb7 d6 36. Ra7 Nb4 37. Bc3 Rg6 38. Bxb4 cxb4 39. Rxa6 Rf6
40. Rb6 Rf4 41. Rxb4 Kg6 42. Rb6 Rxc4 43. Rxd6+ Kf5 44. Rd7 g5 45. Rh7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Alekhine Memorial"]
[Site "Paris/St Petersburg"]
[Date "2013.04.30"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A33"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[PlyCount "146"]
[EventDate "2013.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. g3 Qb6 7. Ndb5 Ne5 8.
Bg2 a6 9. Na4 Qa5+ 10. Nbc3 Nxc4 11. b3 Nb6 12. Nxb6 Qxb6 13. O-O Be7 14. Na4
Qd8 15. Be3 d5 16. Bb6 Qd6 17. Rc1 Bd7 18. Bc7 Qa3 19. Nb6 O-O 20. Nxa8 Rxa8
21. Rc2 Bc6 22. Qc1 Qxc1 23. Rfxc1 Ba3 24. Rb1 a5 25. Be5 Kf8 26. e3 Ke7 27.
Bd4 g6 28. Bc5+ Bxc5 29. Rxc5 Nd7 30. Rc2 f5 31. f3 Nf6 32. h4 Kd6 33. Kf2 e5
34. Rd1 e4 35. Rd4 exf3 36. Bxf3 Ke5 37. Ke1 h6 38. g4 g5 39. gxf5 Kxf5 40. a3
Ke5 41. hxg5 hxg5 42. Kf2 Rf8 43. Kg3 Re8 44. Rc3 Bd7 45. Bg2 g4 46. Rcd3 Be6
47. b4 axb4 48. Rxb4 Re7 49. Rdb3 Bc8 50. Rc3 Bf5 51. a4 Nh5+ 52. Kf2 g3+ 53.
Kg1 Nf6 54. a5 Be4 55. Rc8 Rh7 56. Rb6 Bxg2 57. Kxg2 Ne4 58. Kg1 Nd6 59. Rd8
Ne4 60. Rb8 Nd6 61. Kg2 Rh2+ 62. Kxg3 Ra2 63. Kf3 Rxa5 64. Rd8 Ne4 65. Re8+ Kf5
66. Rf8+ Ke5 67. Rh8 Kf5 68. Rxb7 Ng5+ 69. Kg3 Ne4+ 70. Kh4 Ra4 71. Rf8+ Ke5
72. Rb6 Ra3 73. Kg4 Rxe3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Alekhine Memorial"]
[Site "Paris/St Petersburg"]
[Date "2013.05.01"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2727"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "150"]
[EventDate "2013.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Nbd2 ({The other possibilities are
} 5. c3) ({and} 5. O-O) 5... d6 6. O-O O-O 7. Bxc6 (7. c3 {is the main line.})
7... bxc6 8. h3 $146 {This is a little bit strange idea, because after Bxc6
White's plan usually is c3 and d4 occupying the centre.} (8. Nc4 Be6 $13 (8...
Re8 9. Be3 Bxe3 10. Nxe3 d5 11. Re1 Rb8 12. b3 Qd6 13. Nd2 Be6 $11 {
Iodo-Kovanova, Dagomys 2004})) 8... h6 9. Re1 Re8 10. Nf1 d5 (10... Nh5 {
is another typical reaction.}) 11. exd5 Qxd5 {It is forced, otherwise the e5 P
falls.} 12. Be3 Bf8 13. Bd2 ({In the event of} 13. c4 Qd6 14. d4 exd4 15. Nxd4
c5 16. Nb5 Qc6 {followed by Bb7 and Black looks nicely placed.}) 13... e4 $1 {
A good move, otherwise Bc3 comes.} 14. dxe4 Nxe4 15. Ng3 Bb7 16. Bf4 Nd6 {
Kramnik avoids the exchange of N, protects the c7 P and prepares for c5.} 17.
b3 c5 18. Qxd5 Bxd5 19. c4 Bxf3 {Black gives up the pair of B, because in the
position it is not so important. On the other hand this move destroys a little
bit of White's P structure.} 20. gxf3 a5 21. Rxe8 Nxe8 ({The natural} 21...
Rxe8 {was also possible. Probably Black wants to threaten a4.}) 22. a4 Rb8 23.
Re1 {Just in time... Black cannot take the b3 P because the e8N is hanging.}
Nd6 24. Re3 g5 25. Be5 Kh7 26. Rd3 Kg6 27. Ne4 Ne8 $1 {A very deep move.
Kramnik retreats with his last piece to the background. On the other hand his
plan is f6 and f5 to drive away the opponent pieces from the centre. After
that his N comes back to the centre.} 28. Kg2 f6 29. Bb2 f5 30. Ng3 Bd6 31. Kf1
h5 32. Kg2 h4 33. Nf1 (33. Ne2 Nf6 34. Bc1 Nh5 35. Bd2 Ra8 $11 {with a
completely drawish position.}) 33... Nf6 34. Bxf6 Kxf6 35. Ne3 Ke6 36. Nd5 $2 {
A decisive mistake in time trouble. Adams played a very logical Nmove to the
centre, but he missed Black's next move...} (36. Kf1 Be5 37. Ke2 $11 {and
equal.}) 36... f4 $1 {Black puts his last P on the colour of his B, but
suddenly after c6 there is no comeback with the N.} 37. Kf1 Be5 {An important
move.} ({The immediate} 37... c6 {could have been met by} 38. Nf6 $1) 38. Ke2
c6 39. Nc3 Rxb3 40. Ne4 Rb4 41. Nxc5+ Kf5 42. Rd8 Rxc4 43. Rf8+ Kg6 44. Ne4
Rxa4 {Kramnik has played very precisely, he has won the most important aP and
his P will be a very strong one.} 45. Rg8+ Bg7 46. Rc8 Rc4 47. Kd3 Rc1 48. Kd2
Rc4 49. Kd3 Rc1 50. Kd2 Bb2 51. Ra8 Ra1 52. Ra6 a4 53. Rxc6+ Kh5 54. Nd6 {
Adams tries to create some problems for Kramnik in the time trouble...} Bf6 55.
Nf5 Kg6 56. Nd6 Be5 57. Nc4+ Bf6 {That's why they repeated moves, because the
time controll was at move 60.} 58. Nd6 Ra2+ 59. Kc1 Be5 60. Nc4+ Bf6 61. Nd6
Bh8 62. Ra6 a3 63. Kd1 Bb2 64. Kc2 $6 ({In the event of} 64. Ne4+ {Black still
has to find some exact moves} Kf5 65. Ra5+ (65. Nd6+ Ke5 66. Ne4 Ra1+ 67. Kc2
Rh1 68. Nxg5 Rh2 {is also hopeless for White.}) 65... Be5 66. Nd6+ Kg6 (66...
Ke6 67. Ne4) 67. Ne4 Ra1+ 68. Ke2 a2 69. Ra6+ Kf5 70. Ra4 (70. Ra5 g4 $1 71.
hxg4+ Ke6 72. Ng5+ Kd7 $19) 70... Bc7 71. Nc3 Rc1 72. Nxa2 Rc2+ 73. Ke1 Bb6 {
good chances for a win.}) 64... Bf6+ $1 65. Kd1 Rxf2 {Finally Kramnik gives
his a-P for the f2 and h3 ones.} 66. Rxa3 Rh2 67. Ra6 Rxh3 $1 {Black
sacrifices his B for the f3 P, as 3 P give easy win for Black.} 68. Ne4 Rxf3
69. Rxf6+ Kh5 70. Rf5 Rd3+ 71. Kc2 Rg3 $1 {The last important move, which
Black had to see before 65...Rxf2. The rest is easy.} 72. Rf8 (72. Nxg3+ fxg3
$19) 72... h3 73. Rh8+ Kg4 74. Nf2+ Kf3 75. Nxh3 Kg2 {and the N is trapped.}
0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 8th Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2013.06.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2013.06.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 d5 4. Nf3 g6 5. b3 Bg7 6. Bb2 O-O 7. d3 a5 8. O-O Na6
9. a3 Bg4 10. Nbd2 Rc8 11. Qc2 b5 12. h3 Be6 13. cxb5 cxb5 14. Qb1 Qd7 15. b4
Bxh3 16. bxa5 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Rfe8 18. Be5 Nh5 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Qb2+ f6 21. Rab1
Rb8 22. Nd4 e5 23. Nxb5 Nf4+ 24. gxf4 Qg4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 8th Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2013.06.12"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C66"]
[WhiteElo "2864"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "2013.06.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 d6 5. O-O g6 6. c3 Bg7 7. Re1 O-O 8. Bg5
h6 9. Bh4 Qe8 10. Nbd2 Nh5 11. d4 Bd7 12. dxe5 Nxe5 13. Bxd7 Qxd7 14. Nxe5 Bxe5
15. Nf3 Rae8 16. Nxe5 Rxe5 17. f3 Rfe8 18. Qd2 g5 19. Bf2 Nf4 20. Bg3 d5 21.
Rad1 Qc6 22. Bxf4 gxf4 23. Qxf4 dxe4 24. Re3 Qb6 25. Kh1 Qxb2 26. fxe4 Rg5 27.
Rg3 Qb5 28. h4 Rxg3 29. Qxg3+ Kf8 30. Qf4 Qc6 31. Rd5 Qxc3 32. Qxh6+ Qg7 33.
Qf4 f6 34. e5 Qf7 35. Qh6+ Qg7 36. Qxf6+ Qxf6 37. exf6 Re6 38. Rd7 Rxf6 39.
Rxc7 Rf4 40. g3 Ra4 41. Rxb7 Rxa2 42. Kg1 a5 43. Ra7 Kg8 44. h5 Kh8 45. Kf1 Kg8
46. h6 Ra4 47. Kg2 Rg4 48. Rxa5 Rg6 49. Rh5 Kh7 50. Kh3 Rf6 51. Kh4 Rg6 52. g4
Ra6 53. g5 Ra4+ 54. Kg3 Ra8 55. Rh4 Kg6 56. Rg4 Ra3+ 57. Kh4 Ra6 58. Re4 Rb6
59. Kg4 Ra6 60. Kf4 Rb6 61. Re7 Rb4+ 62. Ke5 Rb5+ 63. Ke4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 8th Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2013.06.12"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Andreikin, Dmitry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B00"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2713"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2013.06.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 b6 2. e4 Bb7 3. Nc3 e6 4. d4 Bb4 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. Nd2 d5 7. e5 Nfd7 8. O-O
c5 9. Qg4 g6 10. Nb5 cxd4 11. Nf3 Nc6 12. Qf4 Bc5 13. Re1 Ba6 14. a3 Bxb5 15.
Bxb5 Qc7 16. b4 Be7 17. Bb2 O-O 18. Nxd4 Nxd4 19. Bxd4 a6 20. Bd3 f5 21. c3 Nb8
22. h4 Nc6 23. c4 Rad8 24. Bb2 Qb7 25. cxd5 exd5 26. e6 Bf6 27. Bxf6 Rxf6 28.
Rac1 Re8 29. Bxa6 Qb8 30. Qxb8 Nxb8 31. Bb5 Re7 32. Rc8+ Rf8 33. Rec1 Rb7 34.
e7 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 8th Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2013.06.12"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A09"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2786"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2013.06.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. O-O Nf6 5. c4 d4 6. e3 e5 7. exd4 exd4 8. d3
Be7 9. Bf4 O-O 10. Ne5 Nxe5 11. Bxe5 Ng4 12. Bf4 Bd6 13. h3 Bxf4 14. hxg4 Bd6
15. Nd2 Rb8 16. Bd5 Re8 17. Qf3 Be6 18. Rfe1 Qd7 19. Bxe6 Rxe6 20. Re4 Bf8 21.
Rae1 Rf6 22. Qd1 h6 23. a3 a6 24. Nf3 b5 25. Ne5 Qc7 26. f4 Bd6 27. cxb5 axb5
28. Nf3 Qd7 29. g5 hxg5 30. Nxg5 Rh6 31. Qe2 Rf8 32. Kg2 Qc6 33. Qf3 Bc7 34.
Re8 Bd8 35. Qxc6 Rxc6 36. Nf3 Bf6 37. g4 g6 38. g5 Bg7 39. R1e4 c4 40. Rxf8+
Kxf8 41. Nxd4 cxd3 42. Nf3 Rc2+ 43. Kf1 Rxb2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 8th Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2013.06.12"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D01"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2013.06.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bg5 c6 4. Bxf6 gxf6 5. e3 Bf5 6. Bd3 Bg6 7. f4 e6 8. f5
exf5 9. Nh3 Qe7 10. Qf3 Bh6 11. Nf4 Nd7 12. h4 Bxf4 13. Qxf4 h5 14. O-O-O O-O-O
15. Rde1 Nb6 16. Bxf5+ Bxf5 17. Qxf5+ Qe6 18. Rhf1 Rh6 19. e4 dxe4 20. Rxe4
Qxf5 21. Rxf5 Nc4 22. Rf2 f5 23. Re1 Rxd4 24. Rxf5 Nd6 25. Ra5 Rxh4 26. Rxa7
Kb8 27. Ra5 Rg4 28. Re2 h4 29. b3 Re6 30. Rd2 f5 31. Nd1 Kc7 32. Ra8 Ne4 33.
Rdd8 Nd6 34. Rh8 Rxg2 35. Rh7+ Kb6 36. Nc3 Kc5 37. Rxh4 Ne4 38. Na4+ Kd4 39.
Rf8 Re5 40. Nb6 Kc3 41. Na4+ Kd4 42. Nb6 Rc5 43. Nc4 b5 44. Rd8+ Rd5 45. Nd6
Kc3 46. Nxe4+ fxe4 47. Rh3+ Kd4 48. Re8 Rc5 49. Rd8+ Rd5 50. Re8 Rc5 51. Rd8+
Rd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 8th Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2013.06.12"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A04"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2774"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2013.06.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. b3 d6 3. e3 e5 4. Bb2 f5 5. Bb5+ Bd7 6. Bxd7+ Qxd7 7. O-O Nf6 8.
c4 Be7 9. d4 cxd4 10. exd4 e4 11. Ng5 d5 12. Nc3 O-O 13. Nh3 Nc6 14. Nf4 dxc4
15. d5 Ne5 16. Ne6 Rfc8 17. Nxe4 fxe4 18. Bxe5 Qxd5 19. Qxd5 Nxd5 20. Rad1 Rc6
21. Nxg7 Nb6 22. Nf5 Bc5 23. Bd4 Bb4 24. Bxb6 axb6 25. Rd4 Rxa2 26. bxc4 Re6
27. Ng3 e3 28. Rd8+ Kf7 29. fxe3+ Ke7 30. Rb8 Bc5 31. Rxb7+ Kd6 32. Nf5+ Kc6
33. Rxh7 Rc2 34. Rh4 Rg6 35. g3 Kb7 36. Rf2 Rc3 37. Re4 Rc6 38. h4 Bb4 39. Rff4
Rc2 40. h5 Rc7 41. h6 Be1 42. Rh4 Rd7 43. Rd4 Rh7 44. Rdg4 Bc3 45. Rg7+ 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 8th Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2013.06.12"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D78"]
[WhiteElo "2782"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2013.06.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 Nf6 5. O-O c6 6. b3 O-O 7. Bb2 Bf5 8. c4
Ne4 9. Nbd2 Qa5 10. a3 Nd7 11. Rc1 Rfc8 12. Nxe4 Bxe4 13. Bh3 Bxf3 14. Bxd7 Rd8
15. b4 Qc7 16. Bh3 Be4 17. c5 a5 18. f3 Bf5 19. Bxf5 gxf5 20. e3 Qd7 21. Bc3
axb4 22. Bxb4 e5 23. dxe5 Bxe5 24. Qd3 Qe6 25. Rc2 Rd7 26. Rb1 Bg7 27. Re2 Qg6
28. Kg2 Re7 29. Rb3 Rae8 30. Bc3 Bf6 31. Be1 Bg5 32. Bf2 f4 33. Qxg6+ hxg6 34.
h4 fxe3 35. hxg5 exf2 36. Rxf2 Ra8 37. f4 Ra4 38. Rc2 Kg7 39. Kf3 d4 40. Rd3
Rd7 41. Ke4 Rd5 42. g4 Ra5 43. Rb2 Rd7 44. Rc2 Re7+ 45. Kf3 Ra4 46. f5 Re3+ 47.
Rxe3 dxe3 48. f6+ Kf8 49. Rh2 Ke8 50. Rh8+ Kd7 51. Rf8 Re4 52. Rxf7+ Ke8 53.
Kxe4 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 8th Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2013.06.12"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A10"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2013.06.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 b6 2. Nc3 Bb7 3. e4 e5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. g3 Bc5 6. Bg2 d6 7. a3 a5 8. d3 Nge7
9. O-O O-O 10. Nh4 Nd4 11. Be3 Ne6 12. Qg4 g6 13. Bh6 Re8 14. Kh1 Bd4 15. Ne2
Bxb2 16. Ra2 Bd4 17. f4 Nc5 18. f5 Nxd3 19. Qf3 Nf2+ 20. Rxf2 Bxf2 21. Qxf2 Nc6
22. Nf3 gxf5 23. Nc3 fxe4 24. Ng5 f6 25. Ncxe4 fxg5 26. Nf6+ Kh8 27. Nxe8 Qe7
28. Qf6+ Qxf6 29. Nxf6 a4 30. Rf2 Na5 31. Bxb7 Nxb7 32. Nd5 Nc5 33. Rf7 Ne6 34.
Re7 c6 35. Nxb6 Rb8 36. Rxe6 Kg8 37. Nxa4 Rd8 38. Bxg5 Rd7 39. Re7 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 8th Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2013.06.12"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D54"]
[WhiteElo "2755"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2013.06.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 154 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.06.25"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. Rc1 b6 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Ne2 Bb7 12. g3 Qe4 13. Rg1 Qe7 14. Bg2 Rd8
15. Nf4 Na6 16. Bf1 c5 17. Be2 cxd4 18. exd4 Rac8 19. Kf1 Rxc1 20. Qxc1 Rc8 21.
Qe3 Qxe3 22. fxe3 Rc2 23. Nd3 Bc8 24. Ke1 Bf5 25. Rf1 Be4 26. Kd1 Nb4 27. Nxb4
Rxb2 28. a3 a5 29. Nc6 Rb3 30. a4 f5 31. Bb5 Rb2 32. h4 Kf7 33. Ne5+ Ke6 34.
Nd7 Rg2 35. Nxb6 Rxg3 36. Kd2 Rg2+ 37. Kc3 Rg3 38. Kd2 Rg2+ 39. Be2 g5 40. hxg5
hxg5 41. Ke1 g4 42. Rf2 Rg1+ 43. Rf1 Rg2 44. Rf2 Rg1+ 45. Rf1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 8th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2013.06.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2864"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[Annotator "Sumets,A"]
[PlyCount "143"]
[EventDate "2013.06.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 d5 3. e3 c5 4. Bxf6 gxf6 5. dxc5 {White may opt for other
possibilities.} (5. Bb5+ Bd7 6. Bxd7+ Qxd7 7. Qf3 (7. Nf3 Nc6 8. Nc3 cxd4 9.
exd4 $6 (9. Nxd4 f5 10. O-O e6 11. Qh5 Bg7 12. Rad1 O-O $11) 9... O-O-O 10. Ne2
e5 11. O-O h5 12. Nh4 Rg8 $15 {Maslak,K-Bukavshin,I Ch-RUS Higher League
Irkutsk 2010 0-1 (56)}) 7... cxd4 8. exd4 Nc6 9. Ne2 f5 10. O-O e6 11. Rd1
O-O-O 12. b3 Rg8 13. c4 dxc4 14. Nbc3 Bg7 (14... cxb3 $6 15. axb3 a6 16. d5 Ne5
17. Qe3 $44) 15. bxc4 Bxd4 16. Rab1 Ne5 17. Qh3 Qc6 $15 {Morozevich,
A-Ponomariov,R Macedonia Palace GP Thessaloniki GRE 2013 1/2-1/2 (55)}) (5. c3
Nc6 (5... Qb6 $5 6. Qc2 Nc6 7. Nf3 cxd4 8. exd4 (8. Nxd4 e5 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10.
Nd2 Rb8 11. b3 Bd6 12. Be2 O-O $15) 8... e5 9. Be2 e4 10. Nh4 f5 11. g3 f4 12.
gxf4 Bh3 13. Rg1 Qd8 $17 {0-1 Alarcon Casellas,R-Peralta,F/Barbera del Valles
ESP 2012 (36)}) 6. Nd2 e5 7. Ngf3 Be6 (7... e4 $5 8. Ng1 Qb6) 8. Bb5 Bd6 9. O-O
Qc7 (9... e4 10. dxc5 exf3 11. cxd6 fxg2 12. Kxg2 Qxd6 13. Ne4 Qe7 14. Ng3 Rg8
$13) 10. dxe5 fxe5 11. e4 O-O-O 12. exd5 Bxd5 13. Qc2 Ne7 14. Bc4 Bxc4 15. Nxc4
Rhg8 16. Rfe1 (16. Rad1 $5) 16... f6 17. Qxh7 Ng6 18. Qxc7+ Bxc7 19. Rad1 $16 {
Chernyshov,K-Movsesian,S Pardubice Rapid 2009 1-0 (57)}) (5. Nc3 Nc6 (5... e6
6. Qh5 Nc6 7. O-O-O cxd4 8. exd4 Bb4 9. Nge2 Bd7 10. Rd3 Qb6 11. g3 Na5 12. Bh3
f5 13. g4 (13. Bxf5 $1 exf5 $2 (13... Nc4 14. b3 O-O-O 15. Bh3 Nd6 $44) 14.
Nxd5 Qc6 15. Nef4) 13... Nc4 14. b3 Ba3+ 15. Kb1 fxg4 16. Bxg4 O-O-O 17. Nd1
Nd6 $17 {Duong The Anh-Erdos,V Harkany 2008 0-1 (44)}) 6. Bb5 e6 7. Nf3 Bd7 8.
O-O a6 9. Bxc6 Bxc6 10. dxc5 e5 11. Qe2 Qd7 12. b4 (12. Rfd1 $5 O-O-O 13. e4 d4
14. b4 Rg8 15. Nd5 Bxd5 16. exd5 Qxd5 17. Rab1 $13) 12... O-O-O 13. Rfd1 Rg8
14. g3 Qg4 15. e4 dxe4 16. Rxd8+ Kxd8 17. Rd1+ Kc8 18. Nd2 Qxe2 19. Nxe2 b6 $15
{Zhang Pengxiang-Naiditsch,A EU-Cup 22nd Fuegen 2006 1/2-1/2 (52)}) (5. c4 dxc4
6. Bxc4 cxd4 7. exd4 Bg7 8. Nc3 O-O 9. Nge2 Nc6 10. O-O f5 11. d5 Ne5 12. Bb3
Qd6 13. h3 Bd7 14. Ba4 Nc4 15. Bxd7 Qxd7 16. b3 Nb6 17. Qd3 Rac8 18. Rad1 Rc5
19. Qf3 Rfc8 20. Rd3 Kh8 {1/2-1/2 Miladinovic,I-Georgiev,K Bar 2008}) 5... e6
6. Nf3 (6. c4 dxc4 7. Qxd8+ Kxd8 8. Bxc4 Bxc5 9. Nc3 Ke7 10. a3 a6 11. Nf3 Nc6
{1/2-1/2 Miladinovic,I-Popovic,D/Vrnjacka Banja SRB 2012}) 6... Nd7 $146 {
Black's plan is to regain the pawn with ...Nxc5 and put his bishop on the
a1-h8 diagonal (...Bg7 and ...f5).} 7. c4 {It seems to me that this is the
only way to fight for an advantage.} dxc4 8. c6 $1 (8. Bxc4 Nxc5 9. Nc3 Bg7 10.
O-O O-O 11. Qe2 f5 {Black might have the better position.}) 8... Nb6 (8... Ne5
$5 9. Qxd8+ Kxd8 10. Nxe5 fxe5 11. Bxc4 (11. cxb7 Bxb7) 11... bxc6 12. Nd2 Rb8
13. b3 Bb4 {Black's bishops compensate for the damaged pawn structure. I think
that the position is equal.}) 9. Nbd2 {White needs to keep queens on the board.
Otherwise he could find himself in a worse position.} (9. Qxd8+ Kxd8 10. Nbd2 (
10. cxb7 $6 Bxb7 11. Nbd2 Rg8 12. O-O-O Ke7 $17) 10... c3 11. bxc3 bxc6 12. Be2
Kc7 13. O-O Rg8 {Black has better chances.}) 9... c3 10. bxc3 bxc6 11. Qc2 Bg7
12. Bd3 f5 (12... h6 {Who except a computer engine wants to make such moves if
he has another choice?} 13. O-O O-O 14. Rfd1 Qc7 15. e4 Rd8 16. a4 $14) 13. e4
Qf6 (13... fxe4 $1 {I think it was the best move and Black even had some
chances to seize the initiative.} 14. Bxe4 (14. Nxe4 Nd5 15. O-O O-O 16. Rab1
f5 17. Ng3 Qd6 (17... Bxc3 18. Ne2 Bf6 19. Qxc6 Bd7 20. Qd6 Bc8 21. Qc6 Bd7 $11
) 18. Ne2) 14... Nd5 15. O-O f5 $1 {It is not easy to make a move like ...f5
before castling short but I believe that only Black could fight for an
advantage after 15...f5} 16. Bxd5 (16. Bd3 O-O 17. Rfe1 Bxc3 18. Rab1 Qc7 19.
Rb3 Bg7 20. Nc4 Rb8) 16... cxd5 {I don't see how White should play} 17. Rac1 (
17. Rfe1 O-O 18. Nb3 Qc7 19. Rac1 e5 {White's strategy failed}) 17... O-O 18.
c4 $6 e5 19. cxd5 e4 20. Ne1 Ba6 $19) 14. Rc1 {White should keep the tension
in the centre.} (14. e5 $6 Qe7) (14. exf5 exf5 15. O-O O-O 16. Rac1 c5 17. Rfe1
Bd7 $11) 14... O-O 15. O-O c5 16. Rfe1 {Magnus Carlsen didn't want to take the
c4-pawn so he prepares the f1-square for his bishop.} (16. a4 c4 {now White
must capture on c4} 17. Nxc4 (17. Bxc4 $2 Nxc4 18. Nxc4 Ba6 19. Qa2 Rac8 $17)
17... Nxc4 18. Bxc4 Bb7 19. Bd3 Rac8 20. c4 Rfd8 $44 {Black has some
compensation for the pawn.}) 16... Rd8 17. a4 (17. exf5 $5 exf5 18. Nc4 $1 (18.
Nf1 $6 c4 (18... Nd5 $5 19. Ng3 Nf4 20. Bf1 Be6) 19. Be2 f4 20. Nd4 Bb7 21. Nd2
Qg6 22. Bf3 Bxf3 23. N2xf3 Qxc2 24. Rxc2 Nd5 $11) 18... Be6 19. Ne3 f4 20.
Bxh7+ Kh8 21. Nf1 Nd5 22. Be4 Rab8 23. Bxd5 Bxd5 24. N1d2 {Black has the two
bishops and some compensation for the sacrificed pawn but the position should
be assessed in White's favour.}) 17... c4 ({At the press conference M. Carlsen
suggested} 17... Nxa4 18. e5 (18. exf5 $5 exf5 19. Qxa4 Rxd3 20. Ne4 $1 Qe7 21.
Neg5 Be6 22. Nxe6 fxe6 23. Qc4 Rd6 24. h4 h6 25. Qxc5 $14) 18... Qe7 19. Bxf5
exf5 20. Qxa4 Bb7 21. Qf4 Qe6 $13) 18. Bf1 fxe4 19. Nxe4 Qf5 $6 (19... Qg6 20.
a5 Nd5 21. Bxc4 Nf4 22. g3 Bb7 23. a6 Bc6 {(Carlsen)}) 20. Nd4 Bxd4 21. cxd4
Bb7 (21... Rxd4 $2 {To take this pawn means to lose immediately.} 22. Rcd1 e5 (
22... Rxd1 23. Qxd1 Nd5 (23... Ba6 24. Re3 Nd5 25. Rg3+ Kf8 26. Qd4 $18) 24.
Bxc4 Bb7 25. Qd4 e5 26. Qc5 Rc8 27. Qxa7 Rxc4 28. Nd6 $18) 23. a5 Nd7 24. Rxd4
exd4 25. Qxc4 Qe5 26. f4 $18) 22. Nc5 $8 Qxc2 23. Rxc2 Bc6 $1 {Black found an
amazing opportunity. However it is not easy to see how White wins after the
simple ...Bd5.} (23... Bd5 24. a5 Nc8 25. Bxc4 Ne7 26. g4 $1 (26. h3 Nf5 $1 27.
Bxd5 Rxd5 28. Re5 Nxd4 29. Rxd5 exd5 30. Rd2 Rc8 31. Nd7 Rc4 32. Nf6+ Kg7 33.
Nxd5 Nb3 $11) 26... Bxc4 27. Rxc4 Rac8 28. Rec1 h5 $1 29. h3 hxg4 30. hxg4 Kg7
{White is a pawn up but Black has good chances to make a draw.}) 24. a5 Rxd4
25. axb6 axb6 {White' knight is trapped.} 26. Nxe6 $1 {The only way to avoid a
draw.} (26. Nb3 cxb3 27. Rxc6 b2 28. Rb1 Ra1 29. Rxb2 Rdd1 30. g3 $11) (26. Nd3
Ba4 27. Nb4 Bxc2 28. Nxc2 Rd2 $17 {(Carlsen)}) 26... fxe6 27. Bxc4 Bd7 28. h3
Kf7 29. Bb3 $14 {It is obvious that White has an advantage in the endgame. It
is obvious as well that Black could make a draw if he plays precisely. The
material is very reduced.} Ke7 (29... b5 30. Rce2 Ra6 {Probably this was the
best setup for Black.} 31. Re5 (31. Rc1 Ke7 32. Re3 b4) 31... Rd3 32. Bc2 Rd2
33. Bxh7 Raa2 34. Rf1 b4 $44) 30. Rce2 Rd6 31. Re4 Ra3 32. R1e3 h5 (32... Rd2
33. Rh4 Ra1+ 34. Kh2 Rxf2 35. Rxh7+ Rf7 36. Rh8 {All the white pieces are very
active but I believe that Black would find the way to draw.}) 33. Rh4 Be8 34.
Kh2 Bg6 35. Rb4 Kf6 36. Kg3 e5 37. Kh4 Rd4+ (37... Ra1 $6 38. f4 exf4 39. Rxf4+
Kg7 40. Re7+ Kh6 41. Rf8 Bd3 42. Rh8+ Kg6 43. Rxh5 $16) (37... Ra5 {Black
could wait. It is difficult to find a reasonable plan for White.} 38. g4 hxg4
39. hxg4 e4 40. f4 exf3 41. Rf4+ Kg7 42. Re7+ Kh6 43. Rf8 {(Carlsen)} Bd3 $8
44. Rxf3 Rc5 45. Rf8 Kg6 46. Ref7 Bc4 47. Bc2+ Bd3 48. Bxd3+ Rxd3 $11) 38. Rxd4
exd4 39. Re6+ Kg7 40. Rxb6 d3 41. Bd1 (41. Kg5 Be4 $5 (41... Ra5+ 42. Kf4 Rf5+
43. Ke3 Re5+ 44. Kd4 Re2 $11 {(Carlsen)}) 42. Bd1 (42. f3 $4 Rxb3 43. Rxb3 d2
$19) 42... Bxg2 43. Kxh5 Bxh3 $11) 41... Ra2 $1 42. Kg3 {The only chance to
continue the game.} (42. Kg5 Be4 43. Kxh5 Rxf2 44. g4 Rd2 45. Ba4 Ra2 46. Rb4
Bf3 47. Rf4 Rxa4 48. Rxa4 d2 49. Rd4 d1=Q 50. Rxd1 Bxd1 $11) (42. Bxh5 Bxh5 43.
Kxh5 Rxf2 44. g4 (44. Rb7+ Kf6 45. g4 Ke6 46. g5 d2 47. Rb1 Rf8 48. g6 Rd8 49.
Rd1 Kf6 $11) 44... Rf6 45. Rb1 Rd6 46. Rd1 d2 $11) 42... h4+ $6 (42... Ra1 43.
Bf3 Ra4 44. h4 (44. Rd6 h4+ 45. Kh2 Ra2 (45... Rb4 46. g4 hxg3+ 47. Kxg3 Ra4)
46. Rd4 Rxf2 47. Rxh4 d2 48. Rd4 Bc2 49. Bg4 $18 {(Carlsen)} (49. Kg3 $2 Rxf3+
$11)) 44... Rc4 {White's advantage is probably insufficient for a win after
all.} 45. Rc6 Rb4 46. Bd1 Rb1 47. Ba4 Rb4 48. Bd1 ({If White wants to continue
the game so much he could show us how to make a draw without the bishop.} 48.
Ra6 $2 d2 49. Bd1 Rb1 50. Bf3 d1=Q 51. Bxd1 Rxd1) 48... Rb1 $11) 43. Kxh4 Rxf2
44. Kg3 Rf6 $4 {Such a move can only be explained by Vladimir Kramnik's
fatigue. Perhaps he confused something and thought that the position is
drawish.} 45. Rxf6 Kxf6 46. Kf4 $18 d2 47. Ke3 Ke5 48. g3 $1 (48. Kxd2 $4 Kf4
49. g4 (49. Ke1 Kg3 50. Kf1 Be4 $11) 49... Be4 50. h4 Bf5 51. g5 Kg3 52. Ke3
Kxh4 53. Kf4 Be4 $11) 48... Bf5 49. h4 Be6 50. Kxd2 Ke4 51. Ke2 Bg4+ 52. Ke1
Be6 53. Kf2 Ke5 54. Ke3 Bd7 55. Bc2 Bg4 56. Bg6 Bd7 57. h5 Kf6 (57... Bc8 58.
Be4 Bd7 59. h6 Kf6 60. Kf4 Bc8 61. g4 Bxg4 62. Kxg4 Kf7 63. Bh7 $1 {The only
move. Black's king doesn't get into the corner.} Kf6 64. Kh5 Kf7 65. Kg5 Kf8
66. Kg6) 58. Kf4 Be6 59. Be4 ({Of course Carlsen doesn't play} 59. g4 $4 Bxg4
60. Kxg4 Kg7 61. Kg5 Kh8 $11) 59... Kg7 60. Kg5 Bd7 61. h6+ Kh8 62. Kf4 Be6 63.
Bf5 Bf7 64. g4 Bh5 65. g5 Kg8 66. Be6+ Kh7 67. Kf5 Bg6+ 68. Kf6 Kh8 69. Bd7 Bh5
70. Bc6 Kh7 71. Bd5 Bg6 72. Bg8+ 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 8th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2013.06.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E68"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2013.06.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. g3 ({In the not so distant past Kramnik used to counter
Nakamura's King's Indian with his favourite Classical System, but from the
basic position after} 3. e4 Bg7 4. d4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 {he scored only a meagre 0,5/3, despite having promising positions. All
these games were annotated by Krasenkow in CBM 139, 142 and 144 respectively.
However, already the Candidates in London indicated that Vladimir incorporated
the Fianchetto System in his repertoire.}) 3... Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. d4 d6 6. Nf3
Nbd7 7. O-O e5 8. b3 {A rather rare move, which however doesn't mean White
doesn't want to occupy the centre - he is only postponing the e4 advance.} ({
The usual continuation is} 8. e4 {Nakamura's only previous experience with
this line wasn't too pleasant:} exd4 9. Nxd4 Re8 10. h3 Nc5 11. Re1 h6 12. Kh2
Bd7 13. Rb1 a6 14. a3 {is rather restrained:} (14. a4 a5 15. Ndb5 $1 Bc6 16.
Qc2 h5 17. Bd2 Nfd7 18. f4 Ne6 19. Nd5 Nd4 20. Nxd4 Bxd4 21. Rbd1 Bg7 22. b3
Nf6 23. Bc3 Nxd5 24. cxd5 Bd7 25. Bxg7 Kxg7 26. e5 $16 {[%csl Gd5,Ge5]
Georgiev,K (2658)-Spasov,V (2570)/Plovdiv/2012/}) (14. b4 $5 Ne6 15. Be3 a5 $5
(15... Ng5 16. f3 Qc8 17. h4 Ne6 18. Nd5 Qd8 19. Nxe6 Bxe6 20. Qd2 Kh7 21. Bd4
Nd7 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Qd4+ Kg8 24. f4 $14 {Blagojevic,D (2485)-Markovic,M 
(2520)/Niksic/1997/}) 16. b5 (16. a3 $142) 16... h5 17. e5 dxe5 18. Nxe6 Bxe6
19. Bxb7 Bxc4 20. Bxa8 Qxa8 21. b6 cxb6 22. Rxb6 Rc8 $44 {Janev,T (2412)
-Spasov,V (2566)/BUL-ch Bankia/2013/}) 14... Qc8 $146 (14... Rb8 15. b4 (15. f4
b5 $132 {with counterplay}) 15... Ne6 16. Be3 Ng5 (16... b5 $5 $132) 17. f3 c5
18. bxc5 dxc5 19. Nde2 (19. Nb3 $5 $14) 19... Qc8 20. Nf4 (20. h4 $2 Ngxe4 $1
21. Nxe4 Rxe4 $36) 20... b5 21. h4 $6 (21. Ncd5 $142 $1 $13 {/+/=}) 21... Ne6
22. cxb5 axb5 23. Nxe6 Rxe6 24. Qc1 b4 $36 {Guliev,S-Itkis,B (2310)/Frunze/
1989/}) 15. f4 Rb8 16. b4 Ne6 17. Nf3 c5 $6 (17... b5 $142 18. e5 Nh7 $5 $14 (
18... Nh5 19. cxb5 axb5 20. Nh4 $36 {[%cal Rf4f5]})) 18. e5 dxe5 19. Nxe5 cxb4
20. axb4 Nf8 21. Bb2 Be6 22. Nd5 Qd8 23. Qb3 h5 24. Rbd1 Bxd5 25. cxd5 h4 26.
d6 {Mamedyarov,S (2729)-Nakamura,H (2783)/London/2012/ For more details about
this game see the notes by Krasenkow in CBM 151.}) 8... Re8 ({A more accurate
move is} 8... c6 {A more testing reply is} 9. e4 {, but even here Black has
the sortie} ({Black doesn't have to worry unduly about} 9. Ba3 exd4 10. Nxd4
Qa5 (10... Nc5 $5 11. Qd2 Re8 12. Rad1 Qb6 $132 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. Qxd6 Nfd7 15.
Bxc6 {Kupreichik,V (2515)-Shulman,Y (2425)/Minsk/1994/} Bb7 16. Bxb7 Nxb7 $13 {
/=/+}) 11. Bb2 Re8 12. e4 Nb6 (12... Nc5 13. Qc2 Qb6 $132 {[%cal Ya7a4]}) 13.
h3 d5 $2 14. exd5 cxd5 15. Ncb5 Ne4 16. Bxe4 Rxe4 17. Bc3 Qxc3 18. Nxc3 Rxd4
19. Qf3 Bxh3 20. c5 Nd7 21. Nxd5 Ne5 22. Nf6+ Kh8 23. Qxb7 Rad8 24. Qh1 $1 $18
{Agdestein,S (2590)-Shirov,A (2655)/Gausdal/1992/}) 9... Qb6 $5 {with
counterplay:} 10. Bb2 (10. d5 cxd5 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. cxd5 Nc5 13. Be3 Bd7 14.
Nd2 Rac8 $5 (14... Rfc8 15. Re1 Qd8 16. Nc4 Be8 17. Qd2 a5 18. Rac1 b5 19. Nb2
Bf8 20. Rc2 a4 $6 21. b4 Na6 22. Rec1 Bd7 23. a3 Be7 24. Bf1 Rxc2 25. Rxc2 Qb8
26. h4 $36 {Dautov,R (2595)-Olsson,A (2416)/Gothenburg/2005/ See the notes to
this game by Dautov in CBM 109.}) 15. Rc1 f5 16. Nc4 Qa6 17. exf5 gxf5 18. Rc2
Rc7 19. Qd2 e4 20. Qa5 Qxa5 21. Nxa5 b6 22. Nc4 Nd3 23. a4 b5 24. axb5 Bxb5 25.
Ra2 Ne5 26. Rxa7 Rxa7 27. Bxa7 Nxc4 28. bxc4 Bxc4 $11 {/=/+, Grigorov,G (2488)
-Kotronias,V (2610)/Chalkidiki/2009/}) 10... exd4 11. Na4 Qc7 12. Qxd4 Re8 13.
Rad1 Nb6 14. Nc3 Bg4 15. h3 Bxf3 16. Bxf3 Qc8 17. Qxd6 Qxh3 18. Qf4 {Navara,D 
(2620)-Kotronias,V (2599)/Mallorca olm/2004/ For more details about this game
see the notes in CBM 104, here Navara gives} Nh5 $1 19. Qg4 (19. Qe3 Nf6 $132)
19... Qxg4 20. Bxg4 Nf6 21. Bf3 Nfd7 $5 $132 {as sufficient for equality.} (
21... Nxe4 22. Nxe4 Bxb2 23. Nd6 Re7 24. Nxb7 $1 $14)) 9. e4 {The most
consistent move.} (9. d5 Nc5 10. b4 Nce4 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Bb2 a5 13. a3 Bd7
14. Nd2 Nxd2 15. Qxd2 axb4 16. axb4 Qe7 17. e3 f5 18. Rfc1 e4 19. Bf1 Bxb2 20.
Qxb2 Qg7 21. Qb1 Rxa1 22. Qxa1 Qxa1 23. Rxa1 Kf8 24. Ra7 Rb8 {Wang Yue (2752)
-Nisipeanu,L (2672)/Medias/2010/} 25. b5 $11) 9... c6 ({Subsequently Kramnik
had to face} 9... exd4 10. Nxd4 a6 11. Be3 Rb8 12. Qd2 ({White stubbornly
refuses to "waste time" on} 12. h3 {, but this prophylactic move is in fact
his best chance for an advantage. The direct} c5 13. Nde2 b5 14. Qxd6 b4 15.
Na4 Nxe4 16. Bxe4 Bxa1 17. Rxa1 Rxe4 18. Nxc5 Re8 19. Rd1 $44 {gives him a
promising initiative.}) 12... c5 13. Nde2 b5 14. Qxd6 Ng4 15. Bf4 bxc4 (15...
g5 $142 $1 $36) 16. Rad1 (16. Rab1 Nge5 $13) 16... Qa5 $2 (16... cxb3 $1 17.
Qxb8 (17. axb3 Rxb3 $11) 17... Nxb8 18. Rxd8 Rxd8 19. axb3 (19. Bxb8 bxa2 $15 {
[%cal Rc8e6]}) 19... Nc6 $132) 17. Nd5 cxb3 18. axb3 (18. Ne7+ Kh8 19. Nxc8
Rbxc8 20. Qxd7 bxa2 21. Qxg4 $16) 18... Nge5 19. Ne7+ Kh8 20. Nxc8 $2 (20. Rd5
$1 $18) 20... Rbxc8 21. Nc1 Rc6 22. Qd2 Qxd2 23. Rxd2 c4 24. bxc4 Nb6 25. Rfd1
Nexc4 26. Ra2 a5 $13 {Kramnik,V (2803)-Mamedyarov,S (2753)/Geneve rpd/2013/})
10. Be3 ({Once again Kramnik is unwilling to play the typical} 10. h3 exd4 11.
Nxd4 Nc5 12. Re1 a5 13. Bf4 $5 $14 {However, even the text move promises White
a pull.}) 10... exd4 (10... Ng4 11. Bg5 f6 (11... Qa5 12. Bd2 Qc7 (12... exd4
13. Nb5 $36) 13. d5 f5 14. Ng5 Nc5 15. b4 Nxe4 16. Ncxe4 fxe4 17. dxc6 bxc6 18.
Nxe4 Bf5 19. b5 $1 $36 {Juerges,K-Peetoom,F (1799)/corr/2003/}) 12. Bc1 f5 13.
exf5 gxf5 14. Bg5 Qa5 15. Rc1 Nh6 16. d5 Nf7 17. Be3 Qc7 18. Qd2 Nf6 19. Ng5 (
19. dxc6 $5 bxc6 20. Ng5 $36 {[%csl Rc6,Rd6]}) 19... Nxg5 20. Bxg5 c5 21. Nb5
Qd7 22. a3 a6 23. Nc3 b5 24. Rb1 $14 {Mujica,H (1872)-Pott,B (1768)/Telechess/
2010/}) 11. Nxd4 Nc5 12. f3 {Now White must protect the Pe4 like this.} (12.
Qc2 $2 {runs into} Ng4 $17) 12... Qe7 {Despite White's rather undesirable last
move Black must quickly create effective counterplay to prevent full
consolidation.} ({In practical games he tried to challenge White's slow
build-up with the direct} 12... d5 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. Bxc5 dxc4 (14... Nxe4 15.
fxe4 Bxc3 16. exd5 Bxa1 17. Qxa1 Bf5 18. dxc6 Be4 19. Bf8 $1 Rxf8 20. Bxe4 $16)
15. f4 $142 $1 (15. Qxd8 Rxd8 16. Rad1 (16. Rfd1 Be6 17. bxc4 Nd7 18. Bd4 Ne5
19. Nd5 cxd5 20. cxd5 Bh3 $6 (20... Bd7 21. f4 Nc4 $15 {McNab}) 21. Bxe5 Bxe5
22. Bxh3 Bxa1 23. Rxa1 Rab8 24. Kf2 Rb2+ 25. Ke3 Rxh2 26. Bf1 $44 {Kortschnoj,
V (2635)-McNab,C (2360)/London/1982/}) 16... Be6 (16... Rd3 $2 17. bxc4 $16)
17. Rxd8+ {1/2, Barsov,A (2475)-McNab,C (2445)/Oxford/1998/} Rxd8 18. Bxa7 Nd7
19. Rc1 cxb3 20. axb3 Ne5 21. Rd1 Ra8 22. Bf2 Nxf3+ 23. Bxf3 Bxc3 $11) (15.
bxc4 Nd7 16. Bd4 Ne5 17. Ne2 Ba6 $36) 15... Bg4 (15... Nd7 16. Bd4 $14) 16.
Qxd8 Rexd8 (16... Raxd8 17. e5 Nd7 18. Bxa7 f6 19. exf6 Bxf6 20. Rac1 $14) 17.
e5 Nd7 18. Bd6 (18. Be7 $1 Re8 19. Bd6 $16 {Huzman}) 18... Nb6 19. Ne4 (19.
Bxc6 Rac8 20. Bb7 cxb3 $1 21. Bxc8 Rxc8 22. Nd1 Nc4 $44) (19. Rac1 $6 $36)
19... Be6 20. Rac1 cxb3 $14 {1/2, Ionescu,C (2515)-Nisipeanu,L (2545)/
Bucharest/1997/}) ({Nakamura's choice is similar to the usual} 12... a5 13. Qc2
{, which is rather slow:} h5 $5 (13... Qe7 14. Rad1 Nfd7 15. Rfe1 (15. Bf2 Nb6
16. Nde2 Be6 17. Nf4 Bc8 18. Rd2 Qc7 19. Rfd1 Bf8 20. Nd3 Nbd7 21. f4 b6 22.
Be3 Nxd3 23. Qxd3 Nc5 24. Qe2 f5 25. Bxc5 bxc5 26. e5 $1 dxe5 27. Nb5 $14 {
Brodt,A (2394)-Moiseev,N (2264)/corr/2009/}) 15... Nb6 16. Bf1 Nbd7 17. h3 Na6
18. Bg2 Ndc5 19. a3 Bd7 20. Kh2 Nc7 21. f4 N7e6 22. Nde2 Rad8 23. b4 axb4 24.
axb4 Na6 25. Bb6 Ra8 26. Qb1 $14 {Van Oosterom,J (2779)-Soberano,J (2607)/corr/
2006/}) 14. Rad1 Qe7 15. Nde2 (15. Rfe1 $14) 15... Nh7 16. Qd2 Bf8 17. Bh6 Bxh6
18. Qxh6 a4 19. b4 Na6 {Delchev,A (2587)-Moreno Carnero,J (2506)/FRA-chT/2001/}
20. b5 Nc5 21. Qd2 $14) 13. Re1 a5 (13... Nfd7 14. Qc2 Ne5 15. Rad1 a5 16. h3
a4 17. f4 axb3 18. axb3 Ned7 19. b4 Ne6 20. Nde2 (20. Nf3 $5 $14 {()}) 20... h5
21. Rd3 h4 22. gxh4 (22. g4 g5 23. f5 $14) 22... Qxh4 23. Bf2 Qh6 24. Qd2 g5 {
0-1 O'Kelly de Galway,A-Eliskases,E/Sao Paulo 1948/EXT 2012 (40)} 25. f5 Nf4
26. Rxd6 Nxh3+ $13) 14. Qc2 Be6 $146 (14... h5 15. Rad1 h4 16. Qd2 hxg3 17.
hxg3 Nfd7 18. Nde2 Bf8 19. Bg5 f6 20. Bh6 Rd8 21. Be3 Re8 22. Bh6 Rd8 23. Bxf8
Nxf8 24. Kf2 Be6 25. Nd4 Bd7 26. Rh1 $16 {Ubilava,E (2500)-Apicella,M (2370)/
Belgrade/1988/}) 15. Rad1 (15. Nf5 gxf5 (15... Bxf5 16. exf5 $14 {[%csl Ge3,
Gg2]}) 16. exf5 Bd7 17. Bxc5 Qxe1+ 18. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 19. Kf2 Bxf5 $1 20. Qxf5 (20.
Ne4 Bxe4 21. fxe4 Ra1 22. Bxd6 Ng4+ $132) 20... Re5 $11) 15... a4 {Objectively
a dubious attempt to create immediate counterplay.} ({However, one can
understand that Nakamura was unwilling to defend passively with e.g.} 15...
Rad8 $14) 16. b4 Ncd7 (16... Na6 17. b5 $5 (17. a3 {[%csl Ra4]} Bxc4 18. Nxa4
Be6 19. Nb6 Rad8 20. b5 cxb5 21. Nxb5 $16 {[%csl Rd6][%cal Ye3f4]}) 17... Nb4
18. Qb1 (18. Qe2 a3 $132) 18... c5 19. Nxe6 Qxe6 20. a3 Qxc4 21. Rc1 Qd3 22.
axb4 Qxb1 23. Rxb1 Ng4 24. Bd2 Ne5 25. Nd5 $16) 17. Nxe6 Qxe6 18. Nxa4 Ne5 (
18... Ra6 19. b5 Ra5 20. Nb6 Nxb6 (20... cxb5 21. e5 $1 Nxe5 22. f4 bxc4 (22...
Nxc4 23. Bd2) 23. fxe5 Rxe5 24. Bf2 $16) 21. Bxb6 Ra3 22. Re3 Rxe3 23. Bxe3 d5
24. cxd5 cxd5 25. Qb3 Qe7 26. e5 $1 Qxe5 27. Bd4 $36 {[%csl Gd4,Gg2][%cal
Ya2a5]}) 19. c5 (19. Nb6 Ra3 20. Rb1 Nfd7 21. Rb3 Ra6 (21... Nxb6 22. Rxa3
Nbxc4 23. Rc3 Nxe3 24. Rexe3 $14 {/+/-}) 22. Nxd7 Qxd7 23. a3 b5 $5 $14) 19...
Qc4 (19... dxc5 {gives White a wider, but mostly pleasant choice:} 20. f4 $1 (
20. Nxc5 Qxa2 21. Qxa2 Rxa2 22. Nxb7 Bf8 23. Nc5 $36) (20. Bxc5 $5 b5 21. Nb6
Rxa2 22. Qb1 {[%cal Yf3f4,Ye4e5,Rd1d6]} Ra3 23. Rd6 (23. f4 Nf3+ 24. Bxf3 Rxf3
25. e5 $36) 23... Qb3 24. Qxb3 Rxb3 25. Red1 h5 (25... Nxf3+ 26. Bxf3 Rxf3 27.
Rd8 Bf8 28. e5 $18) 26. f4 Nf3+ 27. Bxf3 Rxf3 28. e5 $16) 20... cxb4 $5 (20...
Nc4 21. Bc1 $5 {[%cal Ra4c5]} (21. Bxc5 b5 22. Nc3 Nd7 23. Bd4 $16) 21... Nd7
22. bxc5 $16 {[%cal Rd1d7,Rg2f1]}) 21. fxe5 Ng4 22. Bf4 Bxe5 $16 {/<=>}) 20.
Qb3 $1 $16 {[%mdl 64] For the time being Kramnik curbs the tactics well,
perhaps Nakamura underestimated this strong move...} (20. Qxc4 Nxc4 21. Nb6
Nxb6 22. cxb6 d5 $14) 20... dxc5 (20... d5 21. Nb6 Qxb3 22. axb3 Ra3 23. exd5
Rxb3 24. Bf2 cxd5 25. f4 $16) (20... Qxb3 21. axb3 d5 22. Nb6 {- 20...d5}) 21.
Nb6 (21. f4 $142 $5 Qxb3 22. axb3 Neg4 23. Bxc5 $18) 21... Qxb3 (21... Qxb4 22.
Nxa8 Rxa8 23. f4 Nc4 24. e5 Nxe3 (24... Ng4 25. Bc1 $18) 25. Rxe3 Ng4 26. Re4 {
and Black's compensation is clearly insufficient.}) 22. axb3 Rad8 (22... Ra3
23. f4 cxb4 (23... Neg4 24. Bxc5 Rxb3 25. e5 Nh5 26. Rd7 $18) 24. fxe5 Ng4 25.
e6 fxe6 26. Bc5 Rxb3 27. Nd7 Ne5 28. Nxe5 Bxe5 29. Rb1 $16) 23. bxc5 Nfd7 24.
Na4 (24. Nxd7 Nxd7 25. Re2 $16) 24... Nf8 25. Rd6 $6 {The first step in the
wrong direction.} (25. Kf1 $5 Ne6 26. Ke2 $16 {[%cal Yg2h3]}) 25... Ne6 26.
Red1 Ra8 $1 {[%csl Rd6]} 27. h3 $2 {[%mdl 8192] An oversight, which squanders
any remaining advantage.} (27. Bf2 Bf8 28. f4 (28. R6d2 Ng5 $1 $15) 28... Ng4
29. e5 $44) (27. Bf4 Nc4 28. Rd7 Nxf4 29. gxf4 Bh6 30. Bf1 Ne3 31. R1d6 Bxf4
32. Rf6 Rad8 $5 33. Rfxf7 Rxd7 34. Rxd7 Re5 $14 {/<=>}) (27. f4 $5 Ng4 (27...
Nc4 28. bxc4 Rxa4 29. f5 gxf5 (29... Nc7 30. Rb1 $16) 30. exf5 Nf8 31. Bf2 Rxc4
32. Rb1 $16) 28. Bc1 Bf8 29. e5 Bxd6 30. cxd6 $44) 27... Nc4 $1 $132 28. bxc4 (
28. Kf2 Nxe3 (28... Nxd6 29. cxd6 $44) 29. Kxe3 Bf8 $11) 28... Rxa4 29. Rd7 (
29. Rb1 $142 Rxc4 (29... Be5 30. f4 Bxd6 31. cxd6 $13) 30. Rxb7 Ra8 $1 $132 {
[%cal Ya8a2,Yg7f8]}) (29. Bf1 Bf8 30. f4 Ra2 $5 $13) 29... Rb4 {[%csl Rc4,Rc5]}
30. f4 Bf8 31. Kh2 Bxc5 32. Bc1 (32. Bd2 Rxc4 (32... Rb3 33. Be1 Ra8 $11 {/=/+}
) 33. f5 gxf5 34. exf5 Nf8 $15 {/\} 35. Rxb7 Rc2 36. Bb4 (36. Re1 Ra8 37. Bb4
Bd4 $40) 36... Rb2 37. Bxc5 Rxb7 $15) 32... Ra8 $15 {The tide has turned
completely and it's White who has to seek counterplay. Kramnik was in bad form
and didn't manage to adapt.} 33. f5 (33. Bd2 Rb3 $36) 33... Nf8 34. R7d3 (34.
Rd8 $2 Rxd8 35. Rxd8 Rb1 $1 36. Rd1 Ba3 $19) 34... Rxc4 35. Bh6 Be7 36. R1d2 (
36. g4 $5 Bf6 37. Bf4 $15) 36... b5 37. Rf3 b4 38. e5 gxf5 39. Rxf5 Ng6 $17 40.
Rdf2 ({More resilient was} 40. Rb2 $142) 40... Bf8 $1 (40... b3 $5 41. Rxf7 Bf8
$19 {is roughly equivalent}) 41. Bg5 (41. Bxf8 Rxf8 42. h4 Re8 $19) 41... b3
42. Rxf7 (42. Rb2 Ra2 $1 43. Rff2 (43. Rxb3 Rcc2) 43... h6 44. Be3 Rc3 45. Bd4
Rxb2 46. Rxb2 Rd3 $19 {[%cal Rg6e5]}) 42... Rb8 $19 {[%cal Rb3b2]} ({More
forcing than} 42... Nxe5 43. R7f5 (43. R7f4 Rc3 $19) 43... Bg7 $19) 43. Bf1 Rc3
44. e6 (44. R7f3 Rxf3 45. Bc4+ (45. Rxf3 Nxe5) 45... Kh8 46. Rxf3 b2 47. Bd3
b1=Q (47... Nxe5 48. Bf6+ Bg7 $19) 48. Bxb1 Rb2+ $19) 44... b2 45. Bf6 b1=Q 46.
Bxc3 Qb3 47. R7f3 Bc5 {Slightly prolongs the struggle, but still safe enough.}
(47... Qxe6 48. Re3 Qb3 49. Bd4 (49. Bb2 Qa2 $19) 49... Qa4 $19 {wins on the
spot.}) 48. Rb2 Qxb2+ 49. Bxb2 Rxb2+ 50. Bg2 Be7 51. h4 Re2 52. Rc3 (52. h5 Nf8
) 52... c5 53. Kh3 Kg7 54. Bd5 Ne5 {[%cal Yh7h5,Ye5g4]} 55. g4 Ng6 56. Rf3 Bd6
{[%cal Re2h2,Rg6f4]} 57. Rf7+ Kh8 58. g5 Rh2+ 59. Kg4 (59. Kg4 Rxh4+ 60. Kf3 (
60. Kf5 Rf4#) 60... Ne5+ 61. Kg3 Rd4 $19 {[%csl Rd5,Rf7]}) 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 8th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2013.06.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E36"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2013.06.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 d5 7. Nf3 dxc4 8.
Qxc4 b6 9. Bg5 Ba6 10. Qa4 Qd7 11. Qc2 c5 12. dxc5 Rc8 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Qe4
Qb5 15. b4 bxc5 16. e3 Qb7 17. Qg4+ Kf8 18. b5 Bxb5 19. Rb1 a6 20. a4 f5 21.
Qh4 Qe4 22. Qh6+ Ke7 23. Qg5+ Kf8 24. Qh6+ Ke7 25. Qg5+ Kf8 26. Qh6+ Ke7
1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 8th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2013.06.17"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C47"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2013.06.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 O-O
8. O-O d5 9. exd5 cxd5 10. Bg5 c6 11. Qf3 Bd6 12. h3 Rb8 13. b3 Be5 14. Bf4
Bxc3 15. Bxb8 Bxa1 16. Rxa1 Bg4 17. hxg4 Qxb8 18. Qf5 Re8 19. g3 h6 20. c4 d4
21. c5 Re5 22. Qf4 Qe8 23. Qxd4 Rd5 24. Qc3 Nxg4 25. Re1 Qd7 26. Be4 Re5 27. f3
Qe7 28. b4 f5 29. fxg4 fxe4 30. Qc4+ Kh8 31. Qd4 e3 32. Qd6 Qe8 33. a3 Re4 34.
Qd3 Qe6 35. Kg2 Kg8 36. Qd8+ Kh7 37. Qd3 Kg8 38. Qd8+ Kh7 39. Qd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 8th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2013.06.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2013.06.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. O-O Be7 8.
a3 O-O 9. d3 Be6 10. Be3 Nd5 11. Nxd5 Bxd5 12. Qa4 a6 13. Rac1 f6 14. Nd2 Bxg2
15. Kxg2 Qd5+ 16. f3 Rfc8 17. Qc4 Qxc4 18. Rxc4 Nd8 19. f4 exf4 20. gxf4 f5 21.
Kf3 Ne6 22. b4 a5 23. bxa5 Rxa5 24. a4 Rca8 25. Rb1 Rxa4 26. Rxb7 Bf6 27. Rb8+
Rxb8 28. Rxa4 Rb5 29. Ra6 Kf7 30. Nc4 h6 31. Ra7 Ke8 32. h3 Kd7 33. Bf2 g5 34.
fxg5 hxg5 35. Ra6 Rd5 36. Bg3 Bg7 37. Kg2 Rb5 38. Ra5 Rxa5 39. Nxa5 c5 40. e3
Nd8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 8th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2013.06.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2774"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2013.06.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. h3 Bd7 10. Rd1 Kc8 11. g4 Ne7 12. Ng5 Be8 13. f4 h5 14. f5
hxg4 15. hxg4 Rh4 16. Kf2 Rxg4 17. Rh1 Nxf5 18. Rh8 Bc5+ 19. Kf3 Rg1 20. Rxe8+
Kd7 21. Rxa8 Nd4+ 22. Ke4 Rxc1 23. b4 Bb6 24. c4 c5 25. a3 Re1+ 26. Kd3 Rd1+
27. Kc3 Rc1+ 28. Kd3 Rd1+ 29. Kc3 Rc1+ 30. Kd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 8th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2013.06.21"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Andreikin, Dmitry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2713"]
[Annotator "Sumets,A"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2013.06.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Bxd2+ 5. Qxd2 d5 {Ulf Andersson's
favourite weapon. It is a very reliable line.} 6. Bg2 O-O 7. Nf3 c6 {White
must not hurry with castling, which often leads to the same position.} 8. O-O (
8. Nc3 Nbd7 9. O-O b6 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Rfc1 (11. Rac1 Bb7 12. Qf4 a6 13. Rfd1
Rc8 14. Ne5 Qe7 15. h4 Rfd8 16. Nd3 h6 17. e3 Rc4 18. a3 Rdc8 19. Bf1 Nf8 20.
Ne5 R4c7 $11 {Berkes,F-Cao Sang HUN-Ch Balatonlelle 20021/2-1/2 (70)}) 11... a6
12. Na4 a5 13. Ne5 Bb7 14. Nxd7 Nxd7 15. Qf4 Ba6 16. Bf1 Ra7 17. e3 Bxf1 18.
Kxf1 Qb8 19. Qxb8 Rxb8 20. Rc6 $14 {Moiseenko,A-Hernandez Carmenates, H Carlos
Torre Wimbledon 21st Merida 2008 1-0 (40)}) (8. Qc2 Nbd7 9. Nbd2 b6 10. O-O Bb7
11. b4 a5 12. a3 Qe7 13. Qb2 Rfb8 14. cxd5 cxd5 15. Rfc1 axb4 16. axb4 Rxa1 17.
Rxa1 Ra8 $11 {Vaganian,R-Parligras,M Gothenburg 2005 1/2-1/2 (30)}) 8... Nbd7
9. Rc1 {Here are examples featuring other options for White:} (9. Qc3 b6 10.
cxd5 cxd5 11. Qa3 a5 12. Rc1 Ba6 13. e3 Qb8 14. Nbd2 Rc8 15. Qe7 Re8 16. Qa3
Rc8 17. Qe7 Re8 18. Qa3 {1/2-1/2 Andreikin,D-Ibragimov,I TCh-RUS Loo RUS 2013.
Apparently this game managed to convince Dmitry Andreikin to play the line
with the black pieces.}) (9. Ne5 $5 {The most ambitious approach. After
trading knights on e5 Black begins to regret about ...Bb4+ and ...Bxd2. The
dark squares in his camp are vulnerable.} Nxe5 10. dxe5 Nd7 11. f4 (11. Qc3 Rb8
12. Nd2 Qc7 13. f4 b5 14. c5 b4 15. Qe3 a5 16. Nf3 a4 17. Rfc1 Rb5 18. Nd4 Rxc5
(18... Ra5 19. Qd2 a3 20. bxa3 (20. Qxb4 axb2 21. Qxb2 Ba6 $44) 20... bxa3 21.
Rab1 $14) 19. Rxc5 Nxc5 20. Rc1 Qb6 21. Nxe6 fxe6 22. Qxc5 Qxc5+ 23. Rxc5 Bb7
24. a3 $14 {Volokitin,A-Pogromsky,M TCh-Rus Loo RUS 2013 1-0 (74)}) 11... f6
12. exf6 Nxf6 13. Nc3 dxc4 14. Qxd8 Rxd8 15. Rad1 Re8 $1 16. Ne4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4
a5 (17... g6 18. Rc1 e5 $11) 18. Rc1 a4 19. a3 Ra5 20. Rxc4 Rd8 21. Bd3 e5 22.
f5 Rd4 $132 {Vitiugov,N-Zvjaginsev,V Rapid Cup St Petersburg RUS 2012 1-0 (36)}
) 9... Qe7 10. Qe3 dxc4 {A rare but probably the strongest continuation. After
Black's last move it is very difficult for White to get an openning advantage}
(10... Re8 {The main line} 11. Nbd2 ({Another continuation also deserves
attention} 11. Ne5 $5 $146 Nxe5 (11... Qb4 $5 12. b3 Nxe5 13. dxe5 Nd7 14. f4
Qb6) 12. dxe5 Nd7 13. Nd2 b6 (13... a5 $5 14. Nf3 a4 15. Rc2 Ra5 $13) 14. cxd5
cxd5 15. Qd4 (15. Nc4 $1 Rd8 16. Nd6 f6 17. f4 $16) 15... Ba6 16. e4 Nc5 17.
exd5 exd5 $11 {Harika,D-Danielian,E FIDE WGP Dilijan ARM 2013 1-0 (78)}) 11...
e5 (11... dxc4 $6 12. Nxc4 Nd5 13. Qb3 $16) 12. dxe5 Nxe5 13. Qxe5 Qxe5 14.
Nxe5 Rxe5 15. cxd5 Nxd5 16. e4 Nb6 (16... Nc7 17. Nc4 Re7 18. Na5 Kf8 19. b4
Rb8 20. a4 Be6 21. Rab1 a6 22. f4 f6 23. Rd1 Ke8 24. Kf2 Rd7 25. Ke3 Ke7 26.
Bf3 Rxd1 27. Rxd1 Bd7 28. Rc1 Ne6 29. h4 Nd8 $11 {Karpov,A-Andersson,U Belfort
1988 1/2-1/2 (77)}) 17. f4 Re7 18. a4 a5 19. Nb3 f6 20. Ra3 Be6 21. Nc5 Bf7 22.
Rd3 Rae8 23. Bh3 Nc8 24. Bd7 Rd8 25. Rcd1 $16 {Karpov,A-Andersson,U ol (Men)
Thessaloniki 1988 1-0 (53)}) 11. Rxc4 Nd5 12. Qa3 $146 (12. Qe4 {is another
try to get an opening edge:} f5 $5 (12... N5f6 13. Qf4 Re8 14. Ne5 $5 (14. e4
e5 15. dxe5 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Qxe5 17. Qxe5 Rxe5 18. f4 Re7 19. Nc3 Rd7 20. Rd1
Rxd1+ 21. Nxd1 Be6 $11)) 13. Qd3 (13. Qc2 $2 b5 14. Rxc6 Bb7 $17) 13... b6 14.
Rc1 (14. Rxc6 $6 Nb4 15. Qb5 Nxc6 16. Qxc6 Ba6 17. Nc3 Rfc8 18. Qa4 Bb7 $15)
14... Bb7 15. Nbd2 e5 $6 (15... c5 16. e4 fxe4 17. Qxe4 Rab8 $11 {the position
is about equal}) 16. e4 fxe4 17. Nxe4 Rae8 18. Re1 h6 19. Re2 (19. Rac1 $5 $16)
19... c5 20. Nxe5 Nxe5 21. dxe5 Nb4 22. Qb3+ $16 {Khairullin,I-Zvjaginsev,V
Rapid Cup St Petersburg RUS 2012 1/2-1/2 (32)}) 12... Re8 13. Qxe7 Rxe7 {
White has a space advantage and slightly better development. However, if Black
manages to solve the problem of developing his bishop (after ...e5 or after ...
b6, ...Bb7, ...c5) then the position will be equal.} 14. e4 N5b6 15. Rc2 e5 $1
16. Nbd2 (16. Nc3 {White could have tried} exd4 17. Nxd4 Nc5 {It seems that
Black could be satisfied with the openning result} 18. f4 (18. Rd1 g6 19. b4
Ne6 20. Nb3 Kg7) 18... g6 19. h3 Ne6 20. Nde2 f6 21. Rd1 a5 22. Kf2 Kg7 $11)
16... a5 $5 17. a3 {It is very easy to criticise a player who lost a game but
I really can't explain the last move. The only explanation that I have is that
Vladimir Kramnik failed to find an advantage in the direct lines such as} (17.
Nxe5 Nxe5 18. dxe5 Rxe5 19. f4 Re8 (19... Re7 20. f5 $5 {White gains space and
hampers the development of Black's pieces. It seems to me that after this move
White has better chances.} Rd7 (20... f6 21. Rd1 g6 22. g4 Kg7 23. Nc4 Nxc4 24.
Rxc4 Bd7 25. Rd6 $14) (20... g6 21. g4 Nd7 22. Nc4 Nf6 $6 23. Rd1 Re8 24. g5
Nh5 25. Rf2 $16) 21. Nf3 f6 22. g4 Re7 23. Re1 Bd7 24. e5 fxe5 25. Rce2 h5 26.
h3 hxg4 27. hxg4 Be8 28. Nxe5 $14) 20. Kf2 (20. f5 g6 21. g4 Nd7 22. Nc4 Nf6 $1
{Here we can see the very important difference between the black rook's
location on e7 and e8.} (22... Ne5 $6 23. Nxe5 Rxe5 24. Rd1 Re8 25. Kf2 $14)
23. h3 (23. Nd6 Rd8 24. Nxc8 Raxc8 25. g5 Nd7 26. Rd1 Ne5 27. Rcd2 Rxd2 28.
Rxd2 $11) 23... Nxe4 24. Nb6 Rb8 25. fxg6 hxg6 26. Rd1 f5 27. Re2 Be6 $11)
20... g6 21. Nb3 (21. Rd1 $6 Rd8) 21... a4 22. Nc5 Nd7 23. Rd1 Nxc5 24. Rxc5
Be6 $11) 17... g6 {It is necessary to control the important square f5.} 18.
Rac1 exd4 $1 19. Nxd4 Ne5 $1 20. f4 Rd7 $1 {The tactical justification of 19...
Ne5.} (20... Ng4 $6 21. Re1 Re8 22. h3 Nh6 23. N2b3 $14) 21. Ne2 Ng4 {From the
human point of view this is the strongest move.} (21... Nd3 $5 {Black doesn't
need to put his knight in danger. As you can see the knight has no squares to
retreat and could be trapped. However I consider move 21...Nd3 as the best one
and it easily proves that Black is out of danger.} 22. Rb1 (22. Rd1 Na4 23. b3
Nac5 24. e5 Kg7 25. Nc3 Rd8 26. Nce4 a4 27. b4 Nb3 28. Nxb3 (28. Nc4 Bg4 29.
Rb1 Nd4 30. Rd2 Nb3 $11) 28... axb3 29. Rcd2 Bg4 30. Rb1 Rxa3 31. Bf1 b2 32.
Nd6 Nxb4 33. Rdxb2 Nd5 34. Rxb7 Be6 35. Nxf7 Bxf7 36. e6 Rf8 $11) 22... Rd8 23.
Nf3 Na4 24. b4 axb4 25. axb4 Nb6 26. Nc1 (26. Rd1 $2 Be6 27. Rcd2 Bb3 28. Rb1
Nc4 $19) (26. Rd2 $2 Nc4 27. Rdd1 Ne3 $17) 26... Be6 27. Nxd3 Rxd3 28. b5 cxb5
29. Rxb5 Ra1+ 30. Kf2 Nc4 31. Rxb7 Ne3 32. Ne5 Rda3 33. Rd2 Nd1+ 34. Ke2 Ne3
35. Kf2 Nd1+ $11) 22. Nf1 Rd8 23. h3 Nf6 24. Rd2 Be6 25. Kf2 ({White could
have probably kept a tiny plus due to his space advantage and potentially
strong bishop after simplifications starting with} 25. Nd4 Nc4 26. Nxe6 Nxd2
27. Nxd8 Nxf1 28. Kxf1 Rxd8 29. Ke2 {he most likely outcome here is a draw.})
25... Na4 $1 26. Rcc2 Nd7 27. Ke3 $4 {A blunder.} (27. Nc1 f6 28. Rd4 Ndc5 29.
Rxd8+ Rxd8 30. Nd2 Kg7 31. Ke3 Nd7 (31... h5 $2 32. b3 $18) 32. Ncb3 Ra8 33.
Bf1 Nab6 34. Nd4 Bf7 {The position is about equal.}) (27. g4 Ndc5 28. Nc1 f6
29. Rxd8+ Rxd8 30. Nd2 Nb6 31. Ke3 (31. Rxc5 $2 Rxd2+ 32. Kg3 Rxb2) 31... Ncd7
32. Bf1 Kf8 33. Ncb3 Ra8 $11) 27... Bb3 $1 {White's position is hopeless.} 28.
Rc1 Ndb6 $1 29. Rd4 (29. Kf2 Nc4 30. Rxd8+ Rxd8 31. e5 Naxb2 $19) 29... c5 30.
Rxd8+ Rxd8 {White is going to lose 2 pawns (b2, a3).} 31. e5 Nc4+ 32. Kf3 Naxb2
$19 33. Nc3 Nxa3 34. Ne3 b5 35. Ne4 Nd3 36. Rh1 {Vladimir Kramnik tries to
create counterplay. It is difficult to come up with something good in such a
sort of position.} Nc2 37. Nxc2 Bxc2 38. h4 b4 39. h5 gxh5 40. Nf6+ Kf8 41. Ke3
(41. Nxh7+ Ke7) 41... b3 42. Nd5 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 8th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2013.06.22"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2786"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2013.06.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. e4 d5 6. e5 Ne4 7. Bd3 c5 8. Nf3
cxd4 9. Nxd4 Nd7 10. Bf4 Qb6 11. Nb3 Qc7 12. O-O Nxe5 13. Bxe4 dxe4 14. Qxe4
Bxc3 15. bxc3 f6 16. Rfe1 Qxc4 17. Bxe5 Qxe4 18. Rxe4 fxe5 19. Rxe5 b6 20. Nd4
Bd7 21. Rae1 Rac8 22. R1e3 Rc4 23. Nxe6 Bxe6 24. Rxe6 Rfc8 25. Re7 Rxc3 26. h4
Rxe3 27. fxe3 a5 28. Rb7 Rc2 29. Rxb6 Rxa2 30. Ra6 Re2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 8th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2013.06.23"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2755"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "2013.06.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. e3 e6 6. Nge2 Nge7 7. O-O O-O 8. d4
cxd4 9. Nxd4 d5 10. cxd5 Nxd4 11. exd4 Nxd5 12. Re1 Qb6 13. Bxd5 exd5 14. Nxd5
Qxd4 15. Qxd4 Bxd4 16. Nc7 Rb8 17. Nb5 Bb6 18. Bh6 Rd8 19. Bf4 Ra8 20. Nc7 Bxc7
21. Bxc7 Rf8 22. Bd6 Rd8 23. Bc7 Rf8 24. Bd6 Rd8 25. Bc7 Rf8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Geneve Masters GpA"]
[Site "Geneve"]
[Date "2013.06.26"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E36"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2013.06.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.08.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.08.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 d5 7. Nf3 dxc4 8.
Qxc4 b6 9. Bg5 Ba6 10. Qa4 Qd7 11. Qc2 c5 12. dxc5 Rc8 13. Rd1 Qe7 14. e4 Bxf1
15. Rxf1 h6 16. Bh4 Rxc5 17. Qe2 e5 18. Bxf6 Qxf6 19. Qd3 Qc6 20. Ng1 Rc1 21.
Ne2 Rxd1+ 22. Kxd1 Na6 23. Qxa6 Rd8+ 24. Ke1 Qc2 25. f3 Rd1+ 26. Kf2 Qc5+ 27.
Nd4 Rxd4 28. Kg3 Rd2 29. b4 Qc6 30. Rg1 Qg6+ 31. Kh3 Qe6+ 32. Kg3 Qg6+ 33. Kh3
Qh5+ 34. Kg3 Qg5+ 35. Kh3 Qe7 36. Kg3 Kh7 37. h3 Ra2 38. Qd3 a5 39. Qb3 Rd2 40.
Qc3 Ra2 41. Qb3 Rd2 42. Qc3 Qg5+ 43. Kh2 axb4 44. Qxb4 Qe3 45. Kh1 f6 46. Qe7
Qb3 47. Qf8 Rc2 48. Qd6 Ra2 49. Qd7 Qxa3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Geneve Masters GpA"]
[Site "Geneve"]
[Date "2013.06.26"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E68"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "134"]
[EventDate "2013.06.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.08.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.08.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O d6 6. Nc3 e5 7. d4 Nbd7 8. b3
Re8 9. e4 exd4 10. Nxd4 a6 11. Be3 Rb8 12. Qd2 c5 13. Nde2 b5 14. Qxd6 Ng4 15.
Bf4 bxc4 16. Rad1 Qa5 17. Nd5 cxb3 18. axb3 Nge5 19. Ne7+ Kh8 20. Nxc8 Rbxc8
21. Nc1 Rc6 22. Qd2 Qxd2 23. Rxd2 c4 24. bxc4 Nb6 25. Rfd1 Nexc4 26. Ra2 a5 27.
Nd3 h6 28. h4 Rd8 29. Bf1 a4 30. Rb1 Rcc8 31. Rb5 a3 32. Bc1 Na4 33. Rb7 Kg8
34. Bxa3 Nc3 35. Ra1 Ne2+ 36. Bxe2 Bxa1 37. Be7 Re8 38. Nf4 Na5 39. Rd7 Rc1+
40. Kg2 Nc6 41. Bd6 Kg7 42. Bg4 Nd4 43. e5 Nb5 44. Be6 Nxd6 45. exd6 Rf8 46.
Bd5 Kf6 47. Bb3 Rc6 48. Nd5+ Ke5 49. Ra7 Bd4 50. Re7+ Kxd6 51. Rb7 g5 52. hxg5
hxg5 53. g4 Rc1 54. Ne7 Ke5 55. Nf5 Bc5 56. Kg3 Rd8 57. Bxf7 Rd3+ 58. Ne3 Bxe3
59. fxe3 Rxe3+ 60. Kf2 Kf4 61. Bg6 Rf3+ 62. Ke2 Rcc3 63. Rb4+ Kg3 64. Bf5 Rf2+
65. Kd1 Ra3 66. Ke1 Ra1+ 67. Bb1 Kg2 0-1

[Event "Geneve Masters GpA"]
[Site "Geneve"]
[Date "2013.06.27"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Polgar, Judit"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2696"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2013.06.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.08.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.08.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Bd7 10. Ne2 Be7 11. h3 h5 12. Rd1 Ke8 13. Bg5 c5 14. Nf4
Bc6 15. Nd5 Bxg5 16. Nxg5 Rd8 17. Nf4 Rd4 18. Rxd4 cxd4 19. Rd1 h4 20. c3 dxc3
21. bxc3 Rg8 22. e6 f6 23. Nf7 Nd6 24. Nxd6+ cxd6 25. Ng6 Be4 26. Nxh4 g5 27.
Rd4 d5 28. Nf3 Bxf3 29. gxf3 Ke7 30. Rxd5 Kxe6 31. Rd3 Rc8 32. f4 gxf4 33. Kg2
Kf5 34. Rd7 Rxc3 35. Rxb7 Ra3 36. Rb5+ Kg6 37. Rb4 Kg5 38. Rb2 a5 39. Rc2 f5
40. Rd2 a4 41. Rc2 Rd3 42. Rc4 a3 43. Ra4 Rc3 44. Kh2 Rc2 45. Kg2 Rxa2 46. Kf3
Ra1 47. h4+ Kxh4 48. Kxf4 Kh3 49. Kxf5 Kg2 50. f4 Kf3 51. Kf6 Ke3 52. f5 a2 53.
Ke6 Kd3 54. f6 Re1+ 55. Kd7 a1=Q 56. Rxa1 Rxa1 57. f7 Rf1 58. Ke7 Kc4 59. f8=Q
Rxf8 60. Kxf8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Geneve Masters GpA"]
[Site "Geneve"]
[Date "2013.06.27"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Polgar, Judit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D32"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2696"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2013.06.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.08.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.08.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. e3 e6 5. d4 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bb5 Bd6 8.
dxc5 Bxc5 9. O-O O-O 10. b3 Bd6 11. Bb2 Bg4 12. Be2 a6 13. Nd4 Bd7 14. Bf3 Be6
15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. Rc1 Rc8 17. Na4 c5 18. Qe2 c4 19. g3 Qa5 20. Bc3 Qb5 21. Bxf6
gxf6 22. Nc3 Qa5 23. bxc4 dxc4 24. Rfd1 Ba3 25. Rc2 Rfd8 26. Bd5 Bb4 27. Bxe6
fxe6 28. Ne4 f5 29. Nf6+ Kf7 30. Nd7 Kg6 31. Rxc4 Qb5 32. a4 Qxa4 33. Rcd4 Qa5
34. Ne5+ Kf6 35. Qh5 Rxd4 36. exd4 Qc7 37. Qh6+ Ke7 38. Qh4+ Kd6 39. d5 Kxe5
40. Qxb4 Kf6 41. Qh4+ Kg6 42. dxe6 Qc2 43. Qd4 Qe2 44. Qd7 Rc7 45. Qe8+ Kf6 46.
Qf8+ Kg6 47. Qd6 Rc2 48. e7+ Kf7 49. Qd5+ Kg6 50. Qg8+ Kf6 51. Qf8+ Kg5 52.
Qg7+ Kh5 53. Qxh7+ Kg5 54. Qg8+ Kf6 55. Rd6+ Kxe7 56. Qd8+ Kf7 57. Rf6+ 1-0

[Event "Geneve Masters GpA"]
[Site "Geneve"]
[Date "2013.06.28"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Pelletier, Yannick"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D32"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2574"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2013.06.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.08.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.08.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. e3 a6 5. b3 c5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. d4 Nc6 8. Bb2
Bd6 9. Be2 O-O 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. O-O Re8 12. Qc2 Nb4 13. Qd2 Ne4 14. Nxe4 dxe4
15. Qc3 Bf8 16. Rfd1 Qb6 17. Ne5 Be6 18. Nc4 Qc7 19. a3 Nd5 20. Qd4 b5 21. Nd2
f5 22. Bh5 Red8 23. Rac1 Qe7 24. Qe5 Nf6 25. Be2 Rd5 26. Qg3 Rad8 27. Nf1 Rxd1
28. Bxd1 Nd5 29. Be2 Qd6 30. a4 bxa4 31. bxa4 Qxg3 32. hxg3 Nb4 33. Bd4 Nd3 34.
Rc6 Rd6 35. Rc3 Bd7 36. Bd1 Rc6 37. Bb3+ Kh8 38. Rxc6 Bxc6 39. Be6 Bb4 40. Bxf5
Be1 41. f4 a5 42. g4 Bxa4 43. Bxe4 Nc1 44. Be5 Ne2+ 45. Kh2 Bb5 46. Bf3 Nxf4
47. exf4 Bxf1 48. Bd5 a4 49. g5 Bd3 50. g4 Bc2 51. Kg2 Bb3 52. Bxb3 axb3 53.
Kf3 Bd2 54. Ke4 Bc1 55. Kd3 Kg8 56. Kc3 b2 57. Kc2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Geneve Masters GpA"]
[Site "Geneve"]
[Date "2013.06.28"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Pelletier, Yannick"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A38"]
[WhiteElo "2574"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2013.06.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.08.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.08.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. g3 g6 6. Bg2 Bg7 7. O-O Nc6 8. d3
O-O 9. Bd2 Nc7 10. a3 Bd7 11. Rb1 a5 12. Qc1 b6 13. Bh6 Rc8 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15.
b3 f6 16. Qb2 e5 17. Rfd1 Nd4 18. e3 Nxf3+ 19. Bxf3 Ne6 20. Bg2 Bc6 21. b4 Bxg2
22. Kxg2 cxb4 23. axb4 Rf7 24. bxa5 bxa5 25. Ne4 Qd5 26. Qb3 Rd8 27. Qxd5 Rxd5
28. Rb6 Nc5 29. Nxc5 Rxc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Geneve Masters GpA"]
[Site "Geneve"]
[Date "2013.06.28"]
[Round "3.3"]
[White "Pelletier, Yannick"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D75"]
[WhiteElo "2574"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2013.06.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.08.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.08.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d4 O-O 6. O-O cxd4 7. Nxd4 d5 8.
cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nc3 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Qc7 11. Rb1 Nc6 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Bf4 e5 14. Be3
Bf5 15. Rb4 e4 16. Qc2 a5 17. Ra4 Rfe8 18. Bxe4 Be6 19. Bd4 Rab8 20. Bxg7 Kxg7
21. c4 Qe5 22. Bxc6 Rec8 23. Qe4 Qxe4 24. Bxe4 Rxc4 25. Rxc4 Bxc4 26. a3 Rb3
27. Rc1 Bxe2 28. Bd5 Rb5 29. Bc6 Rb2 30. Rc5 Rb1+ 31. Kg2 Bf1+ 32. Kf3 Rb3+ 33.
Kf4 Rxa3 34. Bd5 Ra4+ 35. Ke3 Ra3+ 36. Kf4 Ra4+ 37. Ke3 Ra3+ 38. Kf4 Ra4+
1/2-1/2

[Event "Geneve Masters GpA"]
[Site "Geneve"]
[Date "2013.06.28"]
[Round "3.4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Pelletier, Yannick"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2574"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2013.06.26"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.08.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.08.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. e3 b6 4. d4 Bb7 5. Bd3 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. b3 Bd6 8. Ba3
O-O 9. O-O Re8 10. Bxd6 Qxd6 11. Nc3 a6 12. Rc1 Nbd7 13. Bf5 Nf8 14. Qc2 g6 15.
Bh3 Re7 16. Rfd1 Bc8 17. Bxc8 Rxc8 18. Qd3 Ra8 19. Rc2 Ne6 20. h3 c6 21. Na4
Rb7 22. Rdc1 Nd8 23. Ne5 c5 24. Nf3 c4 25. bxc4 dxc4 26. Qxc4 b5 27. Qc5 Qe6
28. Ng5 Qe8 29. Nb6 Nd7 30. Nxd7 Qxd7 31. Ne4 Qe6 32. Qd5 Qxd5 33. Nf6+ Kg7 34.
Nxd5 Ne6 35. Nc7 Nxc7 36. Rxc7 Raa7 37. Rxb7 Rxb7 38. Kf1 a5 39. Ke2 b4 40. Kd3
Kf6 41. Rc6+ Ke7 42. Kc2 Rb5 43. Rc5 Rxc5+ 44. dxc5 Ke6 45. Kb3 Kd5 46. Ka4
Kxc5 47. Kxa5 Kc4 48. Ka4 g5 49. g4 h6 50. f4 f6 51. f5 Kd5 1-0

[Event "Geneve Masters KO"]
[Site "Geneve"]
[Date "2013.06.29"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2013.06.29"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.08.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.08.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. b3 O-O 7. Nc3 d5 8. Ne5
c5 9. Bb2 Nbd7 10. d4 cxd4 11. Qxd4 Bc5 12. Qf4 Nh5 13. Qf3 Nhf6 14. Nxd7 Qxd7
15. Rad1 Bc6 16. cxd5 exd5 17. e3 Rac8 18. Qf4 Qe6 19. Qh4 Ne4 20. Nxd5 f5 21.
Bxe4 fxe4 22. Qg5 Rf7 23. Nf4 Qe7 24. Qxe7 Rxe7 25. Rd2 Rd7 26. Rc2 Re8 27.
Rfc1 Bb5 28. Kg2 Kf7 29. a4 Ba6 30. h4 Red8 31. g4 Bd6 32. Nh5 Bd3 33. Rc8 Rxc8
34. Rxc8 Be2 35. Ng3 Bf3+ 36. Kh3 Bc5 37. Bd4 Bxd4 38. exd4 g6 39. Nf1 Bd1 40.
Rc3 Rxd4 41. Ne3 h5 42. g5 Bg4+ 43. Kg3 Be6 44. Kf4 Rd2 45. Ke5 Rd7 46. b4 Re7
47. Kf4 Ke8 48. a5 bxa5 49. bxa5 Rb7 50. Ke5 Ke7 51. Rc5 a6 52. Kxe4 Kd6 53.
Kd4 Rf7 54. Nc4+ Bxc4 55. Rxc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Geneve Masters KO"]
[Site "Geneve"]
[Date "2013.06.29"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2013.06.29"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.08.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.08.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5
8. Rxe5 O-O 9. d4 Bf6 10. Re1 Re8 11. Rxe8+ Nxe8 12. c3 d5 13. Bd3 c6 14. Bf4
g6 15. Nd2 Ng7 16. Qc2 Bf5 17. Re1 Qd7 18. Bxf5 Qxf5 19. Qxf5 Nxf5 20. Nf3 Ng7
21. Bg5 Bxg5 22. Nxg5 f6 23. Nf3 Kf7 24. g3 a5 25. Kf1 Nf5 26. Ke2 a4 27. Kd3
Nd6 28. Nd2 b5 29. Re2 g5 30. Nf1 h5 31. Ne3 Rh8 32. Nc2 Nc8 33. Nb4 Ne7 34. f3
h4 35. g4 Ng6 36. Kd2 Nf4 37. Re1 Rc8 38. Nd3 Ne6 39. Ke3 Re8 40. Kf2 Nf4 41.
Nxf4 Rxe1 42. Kxe1 gxf4 43. b4 h3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Geneve Masters KO"]
[Site "Geneve"]
[Date "2013.06.29"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D01"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[PlyCount "167"]
[EventDate "2013.06.29"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.08.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.08.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bg5 c6 4. Bxf6 exf6 5. e3 f5 6. Bd3 g6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. O-O
Bd6 9. Ne2 O-O 10. c4 dxc4 11. Bxc4 Qe7 12. Nc3 Nf6 13. Nd2 Rd8 14. Re1 Bc7 15.
Qb3 b5 16. Be2 Be6 17. Qc2 Rac8 18. Nb3 Bd6 19. Bf3 h5 20. Rad1 a6 21. e4 fxe4
22. Nxe4 Nxe4 23. Bxe4 Qf6 24. Nc5 Bxc5 25. dxc5 Rxd1 26. Rxd1 Bxa2 27. b3 Qe6
28. Qxa2 Qxe4 29. Qxa6 Re8 30. h3 Qc2 31. Qa1 Qxc5 32. Qf6 Qc2 33. Rd7 Qxb3 34.
Qxc6 Qb1+ 35. Kh2 Qf5 36. Rd1 Qe5+ 37. g3 b4 38. Rd7 Qf5 39. Rd2 Rb8 40. Qc7
Qc8 41. Qe5 b3 42. Rb2 Qb7 43. h4 Qb5 44. Qc3 Qb6 45. Qe5 Rc8 46. Qe4 Qf6 47.
Rxb3 Qxf2+ 48. Qg2 Qd4 49. Qe2 Qd6 50. Rd3 Qc7 51. Re3 Qb8 52. Re4 Qa8 53. Re3
Rb8 54. Re7 Qc6 55. Re3 Qa4 56. Re4 Qc6 57. Re3 Kg7 58. Rf3 Qe6 59. Qxe6 fxe6
60. Kg2 Rb2+ 61. Kf1 Rc2 62. Ke1 Rc5 63. Ke2 Rf5 64. Ra3 Kf6 65. Ra8 Ke5 66.
Ke3 g5 67. hxg5 Rxg5 68. Kf3 Rf5+ 69. Ke3 Kf6 70. Rh8 Kg7 71. Re8 Kf7 72. Rh8
Kf6 73. Rf8+ Ke5 74. Rg8 Kf6 75. g4 Re5+ 76. Kf4 hxg4 77. Rxg4 Re1 78. Kf3 e5
79. Ra4 Kf5 80. Rb4 e4+ 81. Kf2 Ra1 82. Rb8 Ra2+ 83. Ke3 Ra3+ 84. Ke2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Geneve Masters KO"]
[Site "Geneve"]
[Date "2013.06.29"]
[Round "1.4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A10"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2013.06.29"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.08.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.08.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 b6 2. Nf3 Bb7 3. Nc3 e6 4. e4 g6 5. d4 Bg7 6. Be2 Ne7 7. O-O d6 8. Be3
Nd7 9. Qd2 h6 10. d5 e5 11. b4 f5 12. c5 bxc5 13. bxc5 dxc5 14. Rab1 Rb8 15.
Bb5 O-O 16. d6 cxd6 17. Qxd6 Nb6 18. Bxc5 Bf6 19. Nxe5 Qxd6 20. Bxd6 Kg7 21.
exf5 Rbc8 22. Bxe7 Bxe7 23. Nxg6 Rxc3 24. Nxe7 Kf6 25. Rfe1 Rd8 26. a4 Ra3 27.
Re6+ Kf7 28. Rbe1 Nxa4 29. Rxh6 Be4 30. Bc4+ Kxe7 31. Rxe4+ Kd7 32. Rd4+ Kc7
33. Rh7+ 1-0

[Event "Geneve Masters KO"]
[Site "Geneve"]
[Date "2013.06.30"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C47"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2013.06.29"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.08.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.08.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. g3 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nxc3 7. bxc3 Bc5 8.
O-O O-O 9. Re1 Bb6 10. d3 Re8 11. a4 Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 13. g4 Bg6 14. Nd2 Qh4 15.
Qe2 f5 16. Nf3 Qf6 17. gxf5 Bxf5 18. Ng5 e4 19. d4 Kh8 20. Nxe4 Qg6 21. Qf3 Rf8
22. Qg3 Qxg3 23. Nxg3 Ba5 24. Bxc6 Bxc3 25. Bxb7 Rab8 26. Ba3 Rf6 27. Nxf5 Bxa1
28. Rxa1 Rxb7 29. Ne3 h6 30. d5 Rf4 31. Bc5 a6 32. Kg2 Kh7 33. Ra3 Rb1 34. d6
cxd6 35. Bxd6 Rd4 36. Bc5 Rd7 37. a5 Rb5 38. Bb6 Rg5+ 39. Kf1 Rh5 40. Rd3 Rxd3
41. cxd3 Rxh3 42. d4 Kg6 43. Nc4 Rc3 44. Nd6 h5 45. Ne4 Rc4 46. Nd6 Rc6 47. Nb7
Kf5 48. Kg2 h4 49. Nc5 g5 50. Nxa6 Rc2 51. Nb4 Rb2 52. Nd5 g4 53. Ne3+ Kg5 54.
d5 g3 55. Nc4 Re2 56. d6 Kg4 57. Ne3+ Kf4 58. d7 h3+ 59. Kxh3 Rxf2 60. Ng2+ 1-0

[Event "Geneve Masters KO"]
[Site "Geneve"]
[Date "2013.06.30"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "205"]
[EventDate "2013.06.29"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 155 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.08.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.08.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. c4 O-O 5. Nc3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. O-O c5 8. d3
Nxc3 9. bxc3 Nc6 10. Rb1 Bxc3 11. Qa4 Qa5 12. Qc4 Bf6 13. Bd2 Be6 14. Qxe6 fxe6
15. Bxa5 Nxa5 16. Nd2 Rab8 17. Bh3 Kf7 18. Ne4 b6 19. Kg2 Nc6 20. Rbc1 Rbd8 21.
f4 Nd4 22. Rfe1 h6 23. Nf2 e5 24. fxe5 Bxe5 25. Rc4 Kg7 26. e3 Nf3 27. Rd1 h5
28. Rc2 Ng5 29. a4 Bd6 30. Rb1 Rf6 31. a5 Rdf8 32. axb6 axb6 33. Bd7 Rd8 34.
Bb5 Rff8 35. Bc4 h4 36. Rxb6 Rh8 37. Ra2 h3+ 38. Kf1 Nf3 39. Ne4 Rdf8 40. Ke2
Nxh2 41. Ra7 Kh6 42. Be6 Nf3 43. Rb1 Ng5 44. Bxh3 Nxe4 45. dxe4 Kg5 46. Be6
Rh2+ 47. Kd3 Rf3 48. e5 Bxe5 49. Ke4 Rxg3 50. Rxe7 Bf6 51. Rc7 Rh4+ 52. Kd3
Rd4+ 53. Ke2 Re4 54. Rxc5+ Re5 55. Rxe5+ Bxe5 56. Rb6 Rg2+ 57. Kf3 Rd2 58. Rb5
Kf6 59. Bd5 Rb2 60. Bb3 Bh2 61. Kg4 Rg2+ 62. Kf3 Rb2 63. Ke4 Bg1 64. Kd3 Rb1
65. e4 Bh2 66. Rb6+ Kg7 67. Kc2 Re1 68. Bd5 Bf4 69. Kd3 g5 70. Be6 Rd1+ 71. Ke2
Rd6 72. Rb7+ Kf6 73. Bd5 Ke5 74. Rb5 Rh6 75. Bb7+ Kd4 76. Rd5+ Kc4 77. Kf3 Rd6
78. Ra5 Rb6 79. Bc8 Rc6 80. Bf5 Rc5 81. Ra4+ Kb5 82. Bd7+ Kb6 83. Kg4 Ra5 84.
Rb4+ Kc5 85. Rb1 Kd6 86. Rd1+ Ke5 87. Bf5 Kf6 88. Rd8 Ke5 89. Kh5 Kf6 90. Rf8+
Ke5 91. Re8+ Kd4 92. Rd8+ Ke5 93. Rc8 Kd4 94. Rc6 Rc5 95. Ra6 Rb5 96. Kg6 g4
97. Ra4+ Kc3 98. Bxg4 Rb4 99. Ra3+ Kb2 100. Rf3 Rxe4 101. Kf5 Rb4 102. Rxf4
Rxf4+ 103. Kxf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 41st"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2013.07.26"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Wang, Hao"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D16"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2013.07.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 e6 6. e3 (6. e4 Bb4 7. e5 Nd5 8.
Bd2 {leads to a sharper battle where White doesn't get back the Pc4, but plays
for a long term initiative. Alexander Morozevich recently won a couple of nice
games as White.}) 6... c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8. exd4 Nc6 9. O-O {An almost identical
position may arise also from the Queen's Gambit Accepted, with the only
difference being that Black's pawn is on a6.} Be7 10. Qe2 (10. Bg5 O-O 11. Re1
{is another setup. This position has been analysed and tested in depth,
including in my own games.}) 10... O-O 11. Rd1 Nb4 {The main fight in this
position is around the d5-square.} 12. Bg5 Bd7 $5 {A few years ago this move
used to be considered a serious mistake, but further analysis has proved that
it's playable.} (12... h6 13. Bxf6 $1 (13. Bh4 Bd7 {is an improved version of
the position that arose in our game Kramnik-Wang Hao. Now the central
breakthrough is not recommended:} 14. d5 $6 Nbxd5 15. Nxd5 exd5 16. Bxd5 Nxd5
17. Rxd5 Bxh4 18. Nxh4 Qc8 {and already White is the one that has to look for
equality.}) 13... Bxf6 14. Ne4 b6 15. Ne5 Bb7 16. Nxf6+ Qxf6 17. Nd7 Qg6 18. d5
exd5 19. Nxf8 Rxf8 20. Bd3 $16 {0-1 (45) Edouard,R (2686)-Ernst,S (2556) Wijk
aan Zee 2013}) 13. d5 $1 {It's now or never. If Black gets his bishop on c6,
he will be absolutely fine.} (13. Ne5 Bc6 14. a5 Nfd5 15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. Nxc6
bxc6 $11) 13... exd5 {The play is now forced for a while.} 14. Nxd5 Nbxd5 15.
Bxd5 Nxd5 16. Rxd5 Bxg5 17. Nxg5 h6 18. Qd2 hxg5 19. Rxd7 Qf6 20. Rd1 $146 {
Objectively, not an improvement, but it's remarkable that even in such a "dry"
position Kramnik manages to introduce something new. In previous games White
automatically captured the Pb7.} (20. Rxb7 Rfd8 (20... Rab8 21. Rxb8 Rxb8 22.
Rb1 Qe6 23. Qxg5 Qa2 24. Rd1 Qxa4 25. Rd8+ Rxd8 26. Qxd8+ Kh7 27. Qd3+ g6 $14 {
1/2-1/2 (55) Topalov,V (2770)-Gashimov,V (2761) Wijk aan Zee 2012}) 21. Qe3 (
21. Qa5 a6 22. h3 Rd6 23. Qb4 Rad8 24. Rb8 Rxb8 25. Qxb8+ Kh7 $11 {1/2-1/2 (29)
Rodshtein,M (2645)-Hansen,S (2566) Porto Carras 2011}) 21... Re8 22. Qb3 Rad8
23. Rf1 a5 24. Rb6 Qd4 25. Rb5 Qd2 26. Rb7 Re6 27. g3 $14 {0-1 (38) Zhou
Jianchao (2636)-Korobov,A (2671) Khanty-Mansiysk 2011}) 20... Rfe8 ({Perhaps
Black could keep the pawn by} 20... b6 21. Rd6 Qf5 22. Rd5 Qe4 $14) 21. Rxb7 {
Now it's very similar to the above-mentioned games.} Rad8 22. Rd7 Rxd7 23. Qxd7
Rb8 24. Qxa7 Rxb2 {White would be happy to swap rooks. A queen endgame with
the passed a-pawn would be winning. However, while the rooks are on the board,
Black's chances for a draw are much higher than White's for a win. Still, I
don't think it was very wise for the Chinese grandmaster to go for such a
position straight from the opening against such an excellent technical player
as Kramnik. In the current game, however, he wasn't even required to
demonstrate his technique...} 25. h3 Ra2 $4 {Yes, even top players may blunder
away pieces. Major pieces.} ({After} 25... Kh7 26. Qc5 ({The rooks ending after
} 26. Qd4 Qxd4 27. Rxd4 Ra2 {will be a draw if Black is accurate enough.})
26... Ra2 27. a5 Qf4 {Black has excellent chances for a draw. His pieces are
active enough and the a-pawn going nowhere.}) 26. Qb8+ (26. Qb8+ Kh7 27. Qb1+
$18) 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 41st"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2013.07.27"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2013.07.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5
8. Rxe5 O-O 9. Nc3 Ne8 10. Nd5 Bd6 11. Re1 c6 12. Ne3 Bc7 13. Nf5 d5 14. Ne7+
Kh8 15. Nxc8 Rxc8 {White has got the bishop pair, but his delay in development
prevents him from claiming a palpable advantage. Especially against Kramnik!}
16. d3 (16. d4 Nf6 17. g3 Qd7 18. Qd3 Rce8 19. Be3 a6 20. f3 Re7 21. Bg5 Rfe8
22. Rxe7 Rxe7 23. b4 h6 24. Bxf6 gxf6 {White's position certainly is pleasant
to play, but a win proved impossible in Polgar,J (2698)-Akopian,V (2687)/
Istanbul 2012/CBM 151 (1/2, 94)}) 16... Nf6 17. c3 $146 (17. Qf3 Qd6 18. g3 {
Vallejo Pons,F (2696)-Hansen,S (2552)/Novi Sad 2009/CBM 133 (1/2, 57)}) 17...
Qd7 18. g3 Rce8 19. Bd2 Qf5 20. Kg2 Ng4 $132 21. f3 {Black will soon take the
initiative.} Ne5 22. Bf4 g5 23. Bxe5+ Rxe5 24. Rxe5 Qxe5 25. d4 Qe3 26. Qc2 f5
27. Bd3 g4 28. Rf1 f4 29. Qe2 Re8 30. Rf2 fxg3 31. hxg3 Kg7 32. Qxe3 Rxe3 33.
Bf5 h5 34. Bc8 b6 35. Bb7 Re6 36. Bc8 Re3 37. Bb7 Re6 38. Bc8 Re3 39. Bb7
1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 41st"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2013.07.28"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Khenkin, Igor"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D16"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2605"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2013.07.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 ({When I saw Kramnik's 9th move, I remembered the following
classical game:} 2... dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. a4 Nc6
8. Nc3 cxd4 9. Nxd4 $5 (9. exd4 {is the normal move.}) 9... Nxd4 (9... Bd7 $1)
10. exd4 Be7 11. d5 {Tartakower must have underestimated the significance of
White's advance in development after this move.} exd5 12. Nxd5 Nxd5 13. Bxd5
O-O 14. Qf3 Bd6 15. Re1 Qh4 16. h3 Qb4 17. Rd1 Rb8 18. b3 {Black has no
acceptable way to complete his development.} Be6 19. Bxe6 (19. Ba3 Qb6 20. a5
Qc7 21. Bxd6 Qxd6 22. Bxb7 Qc5 23. Bxa6 $18) 19... fxe6 20. Qe2 $16 {
Rubinstein,A-Tartakower,S/Marienbad 1925/HCL (1-0, 48)}) 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4
5. a4 e6 {This has been played occasionally in older times, but in recent
tournament practice it became popular after Kramnik used it in his match
against Leko in 2004.} 6. e3 c5 7. Bxc4 Nc6 8. O-O cxd4 9. Nxd4 $5 (9. exd4 {
is the main line, with possible transposition to Kramnik's other game with
this line from this same tournament, against Wang Hao.}) 9... Bd7 (9... Nxd4
10. exd4 Be7 (10... Bd6 11. Bg5 O-O 12. Qf3 {Sandipan,C (2588)-Ernst,S (2581)/
Vlissingen 2008/CBM 125 Extra (1-0, 28)}) 11. Be3 O-O 12. Qf3 Qc7 13. b3 Bd7
14. Rac1 Ba3 15. Rcd1 Bc6 16. d5 $36 {Gupta,A (2612)-Dubov,D (2614)/Moscow
2013/CBM 152 Extra (1/2, 40)}) 10. e4 Bb4 (10... Nxd4 11. Qxd4 Bc6 12. Qe3 Qb8
13. e5 Nd7 14. Qg3 $14 {Gyimesi,Z (2584)-Lipka,J (2409)/Jenbach 2009/ (1-0, 34)
}) (10... Be7 11. Be3 (11. Nf3 $5 {[%cal Ge4e5]}) 11... O-O 12. Nb3 Na5 13. Be2
Bc6 14. Qxd8 Bxd8 $11 {L'Ami,E (2628)-Giri,A (2686)/Wijk aan Zee 2011/CBM 141 
(1/2, 58)}) 11. Bf4 $146 {A normal developing move, which may not be the best.}
(11. Nf3 Qa5 12. Qe2 O-O 13. e5 Nd5 14. Ne4 $36 {Berkes,F (2651)-Zatonskih,A 
(2462)/Gibraltar 2009/CBM 128 Extra (1-0, 36)}) 11... O-O (11... Nxd4 12. Qxd4
Bc6 $6 (12... O-O 13. e5 {transposes to the game.}) 13. Bd5 $1 a5 (13... exd5
14. Qxb4 dxe4 15. Rad1 Qb6 16. Qd6 Qd8 17. Qe5+ Qe7 18. Qd4 $16 {[%cal Gf4d6]})
14. Bxc6+ bxc6 15. Rfd1 $14) 12. e5 $6 {Something must have gone wrong with
Kramnik's preparation, unless it had all been over the board inspiration. He
should have maintained the tension in some way or another.} (12. Ndb5 $5) (12.
Nf3 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Nxe4 14. Qc2 $44) 12... Nxd4 13. Qxd4 Bc6 $1 {An elegant
solution to Black's concrete problems, based on the hanging position of the
white bishops.} 14. Qxd8 {Going all the way to a somewhat unpleasant ending.} (
14. Be3 $5) 14... Rfxd8 15. exf6 Rd4 16. Be5 (16. Bxe6 Rxf4 (16... fxe6 17. Be5
Bxc3 18. bxc3 Re4 19. Rfe1 $11) 17. Bb3 Rxf6 18. Rad1 {[%cal Gb3d5] may lead
closer to equality than the game continuation.}) 16... Rxc4 17. fxg7 Be7 $15 {
The g7-pawn does not count, the white queenside is weak and the c6-bishop is
very strong.} 18. Rfd1 f6 $6 {This allows White to exchange all the minor
pieces, with an easy draw.} (18... Rb4 $5 $15) 19. Bd6 Re8 20. Nb5 Bxb5 21.
axb5 Bxd6 22. Rxd6 $11 {There is not much to be played for now, but the game
lasted for quite a while still.} Re7 23. g3 Rb4 24. Rxa7 Rxb5 25. Ra4 f5 26.
Rd2 Kxg7 27. Rc4 e5 28. b4 e4 29. Rd6 f4 30. gxf4 Rf5 31. Rcd4 Rxf4 32. Rd7
Rff7 33. Rxe7 Rxe7 34. Kf1 e3 35. f3 e2+ 36. Ke1 Re3 37. Rd7+ Kg6 38. Rxb7 Rxf3
39. Rb6+ Kg5 40. Rb5+ Kg4 41. Rb7 Rh3 42. Rg7+ Kf5 43. b5 Rxh2 44. b6 Rh1+ 45.
Kxe2 Rb1 46. Rb7 Ke5 47. Rxh7 Rxb6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 41st"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2013.07.29"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Meier, Georg"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2610"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2013.07.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4
b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Ra7 11. Rc1 Be4 12. Qd1 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 Qxd4 14. a4 (14.
Be3 Qxd1+ 15. Rxd1 c5 {Nielsen,P (2652)-Short,N (2684)/playchess.com INT 2004/
EXT 2005 (1/2, 44)}) 14... c6 15. Qb3 Rd7 16. Bf4 Nd5 17. Bxb8 {A safe way to
retrieve the pawn, but if White needs to spend three tempi with his bishop to
exchange it for an undeveloped knight, then something is surely wrong with the
opening.} Rxb8 18. Rxc6 Nb4 19. Rc1 Bc5 20. Rf1 {This rook has moved a lot
before returning to its location. Little wonder that Black has grabbed the
initiative already.} bxa4 21. Qxa4 Rc7 22. Nc3 Qe5 23. Rfd1 h5 24. Kg2 h4 25.
Ne4 Bf8 26. Rac1 Rxc1 27. Rxc1 Qxb2 28. Rc7 Qe5 29. Qd7 Qf5 30. g4 Qf4 31. g5
Nd5 32. Nf6+ Qxf6 33. Qxd5 Qg6 34. Qe5 Rb5 35. Qf4 Rf5 36. Qe4 Qxg5+ 37. Kh3
Rf4 38. Qd3 g6 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 41st"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2013.07.30"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A37"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2013.07.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 d6 6. O-O e6 (6... Nh6 {is
another possibility, employed few times by Magnus Carlsen and Peter Svidler.
Later on the knight is going to f5 to control the central d4-square.}) 7. b3 {
Obviously, playing such a quiet scheme White can't claim an opening advantage.}
(7. e3 Nge7 8. d4 O-O 9. d5 {is a possible way for White to get some space,
but after} Na5 {Black seems to have a sort of comfortable version of the
King's Indian Defence.}) 7... Nge7 8. Bb2 O-O 9. e3 e5 (9... Nf5 {appeared in
practice as well, with the same idea - fighting aganst the d3-d4 advance.}) 10.
d3 h6 11. a3 $6 $146 {I don't find this move particularly useful in this
position. Instead White can prepare the d3-d4 strike or to adopt a positional
plan by securing control over the d5-square.} ({Check the following classic
game:} 11. Qd2 Bg4 12. h3 Be6 13. Rad1 Qd7 14. Kh2 d5 $6 15. cxd5 Nxd5 16. Na4
b6 17. d4 $1 cxd4 (17... e4 18. dxc5 $1 exf3 19. Bxf3 Rad8 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 21.
Qb2+ f6 22. e4 Ne5 23. Bg2 $16) 18. exd4 exd4 19. Nxd4 Nxd4 20. Bxd4 Bxd4 21.
Qxd4 Rad8 22. Qh4 Qe7 23. Qxh6 b5 24. Rd4 $1 {[%cal Gd4h4]} Qf6 25. Rh4 Qg7 26.
Qxg7+ Kxg7 27. Nc5 $16 {1-0 (29) Smyslov,V-Sanguineti,R Mar del Plata 1962}) (
11. Nd2 Be6 12. Nd5 {is another plan. Later on White can continue with Rb1,
Bc3, a3 and b4 opening the b-file. The sharp idea f2-f4 is also in the air,
according to circumstances.}) 11... Be6 12. Nd2 (12. Rc1 b6 {and d6-d5 will
follow on the next move.}) 12... d5 13. cxd5 Nxd5 {Now White has a "hedgehog"
setup, which is very flexible. However, objectively Black is already somewhat
ahead thanks to his space superiority.} 14. Rc1 Nde7 $1 {Black has some
advantage in space so it's logical to keep his pieces out of the way of
exchanges.} 15. Nc4 (15. Na4 b6 16. b4 $6 Qxd3 17. bxc5 Rad8 {is in Black's
favour.}) 15... Rb8 16. Qe2 b6 17. f4 {This is the only reasonable way for
White to create counterplay.} exf4 18. gxf4 f5 $15 19. Rfd1 b5 20. Nd2 Qd7 21.
Qf2 a6 (21... Qxd3 $4 22. Nf3 $18 {[%csl Rd3]}) 22. Nde4 $6 {This is sort of a
bluff that worked. It's clear that White is worse and Kramnik understood it
very well. So, he tried to change the unfortunate course of the game at any
cost. The psychological impact is not to be underestimated.} Qa7 $2 {Peter had
played excellently so far, but at the critical moment didn't dare to go for
the most principled continuation. Perhaps he underestimated the move that now
follows.} (22... fxe4 $1 23. Nxe4 Bxb2 24. Qxb2 (24. Nxc5 Bxc1 (24... Qd6 25.
Qxb2 b4 $1 $17) 25. Nxd7 Bxe3 26. Qxe3 Bxd7 {Objectively Black is much better,
he has more than enough material for the queen. In a practical game, however,
especially in time trouble this position is not easy to handle.}) 24... Bh3 25.
Nxc5 (25. Nf6+ Rxf6 26. Qxf6 Bxg2 27. Kxg2 Qg4+ 28. Kf2 Rf8 29. Qd6 {[%tqu
"En","Black has a winning continuation. Can you spot it?","","","c6d4","",5]}
Nd4 $1 30. exd4 $140 Rxf4+ 31. Ke1 Qg1+ 32. Kd2 Qg2+ $1 33. Kc3 Nd5+ $19) 25...
Qg4 {and after the massive exchange on g2 Black's extra knight will tell in
the endgames.}) 23. Nxc5 $1 {Kramnik didn't miss his chance to get back into
the game.} Qxc5 24. d4 {White is gaining back the piece.} Nxd4 (24... Qd6 $2
25. d5 Bxc3 $2 26. dxc6 $18) (24... Qb6 $2 25. d5 Bxc3 26. Bxc3 Nxd5 27. Bxd5
Bxd5 28. Rxd5 $36 {[%csl Gc3,Rg8]}) 25. exd4 Qd6 26. d5 Bf7 {Black still has a
good position, but now White also has some ideas and anything can happen.} 27.
Na2 $1 Bxb2 28. Qxb2 Rfd8 ({Black shouldn't be too greedy:} 28... Qxf4 $2 29.
d6 {White's passed pawn gets very dangerous.} Nc8 30. Qd4 Qxd4+ 31. Rxd4 $36 {
[%cal Gc1c7,Ga2b4]}) 29. Qd4 Rbc8 (29... Qxa3 30. Nb4 a5 31. Na6 Rbc8 32. Nc7 {
might be playable for Black when you analyse it with an engine at home, but
during a game hardly any human would go for that.}) 30. Rxc8 Rxc8 31. Nb4 Rd8
32. Qa7 Rd7 33. Qxa6 Qxa6 $2 {Peter couldn't stand the pressure. The exchange
of queens is White's dream in this position.} (33... Qc5+ $1 34. Kh1 ({The
engine prefers} 34. Kf1 {I can't figure out the reason to put the king on a
more exposed square.}) 34... Kg7 {was still perfectly playable for Black.
White's king is vulnerable - this is the main reason why Black should keep the
queens on the board.}) 34. Nxa6 Nxd5 (34... Bxd5 35. Nc5 Rd8 36. a4 bxa4 37.
bxa4 $18) 35. Nc5 Rd8 {Probably Leko didn't realise in time that he can't get
out of the pin along the d-file without losing material.} (35... Rc7 36. Rxd5
Bxd5 37. Bxd5+ Kh7 38. b4 Ra7 39. Bc6 Rxa3 40. Bxb5 {and White will win,
slowly, but surely.}) 36. Rd4 Kf8 37. Nd3 $1 {The knight invasion to e5 is
devastating.} Ke8 38. Ne5 Be6 39. Nxg6 Rd7 (39... Ne7 40. Rxd8+ Kxd8 41. Nxe7
Kxe7 42. b4 {White wins this endgame thanks to a classic zugzwang, as follows:}
Kd6 43. Kf2 Bc8 44. Ke3 Be6 45. Kd4 Bd7 46. Bh3 Be6 47. Bf1 Bd7 48. Bd3 h5 49.
h4 $18) 40. Kf2 Rg7 41. Bxd5 Rxg6 42. Bxe6 Rxe6 43. Rd5 Ra6 44. Rxf5 Rxa3 45.
Rxb5 {Two extra pawns promise White an easy win. Leko didn't suffer for too
long.} Kd7 46. Kf3 Kc6 47. Rb8 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 41st"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2013.08.01"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Fridman, Daniel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2629"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2013.07.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. b3 Nf6 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O c5 {The double
fianchetto gives Black quite a wide choice of plausible set-ups. In the notes
to Kamsky-Shirov, Bazna 2009 in CBM 131 I dealt in more detail with the
ambitious} (6... d4 $5 {(Shirov's choice)} 7. e3 c5 8. exd4 cxd4 9. Re1 Nc6 10.
d3 a5 11. Bb2 Qb6 12. Na3 a4 13. Nb5 a3 14. Bc1 Ne8 15. Rb1 Bd7 16. Qe2 Nc7 17.
Nxc7 Qxc7 18. Bf4 Bd6 19. Ne5 Ra5 20. b4 Nxb4 21. c5 Bxc5 22. Rec1 Qd8 23. Rxc5
Rxc5 24. Rxb4 Bc8 25. h4 f6 26. Nc4 b5 27. Nxa3 e5 28. Bd2 Be6 29. Rxb5 Rxb5
30. Nxb5 Qb6 31. a4 Bb3 32. Bb4 Rb8 33. Bd6 Rc8 34. Qb2 Bc2 35. Bh3 Rc6 36.
Qa2+ Kh8 37. Qf7 Qd8 38. Bf8 {1-0 Ivanchuk,V (2754)-Hammer,J (2633)/Cap d'Agde
2010/EXT 2011}) ({Another option is} 6... b6 7. Bb2 Bb7 8. e3 Nbd7 9. Nc3 Ne4
$5 ({The more common} 9... c5 10. Qe2 Rc8 {is also good enough for equality} (
10... dxc4 11. bxc4 Ne4 $5 12. Nxe4 Bxe4 13. d3 Bc6 14. a4 Bf6 15. a5 Bxb2 16.
Qxb2 Qc7 17. axb6 axb6 18. Rxa8 Rxa8 19. Ra1 h6 20. Rxa8+ Bxa8 21. Ne1 Bxg2 22.
Nxg2 Ne5 23. Ne1 Nd7 {Movsesian,S (2693)-Shimanov,A (2639)/EU-ch Legnica/2013/}
)) 10. cxd5 (10. Qc2 Nxc3 11. Bxc3 Nc5 12. d4 Ne4 13. Bb2 c5 14. dxc5 Nxc5 15.
Rfd1 Bf6 16. cxd5 Bxd5 17. Ne1 Rc8 18. Bxd5 exd5 19. Rac1 Ne4 20. Qxc8 Qxc8 21.
Rxc8 Rxc8 22. Bxf6 Nxf6 23. Kf1 {1/2,Ftacnik,L (2547)-Sanikidze,T (2580)/
Bundesliga/2012/}) 10... Nxc3 (10... exd5 11. Ne2 $5 c5 12. d3 Bf6 13. Qc2 Bxb2
14. Qxb2 Qf6 15. Qxf6 Nexf6 16. Rfd1 Rfe8 17. Nc3 Nf8 18. d4 Ne6 19. dxc5 bxc5
20. Rac1 Rad8 21. Ne5 Ba8 22. Na4 g6 23. f4 Rc8 24. Bf3 $14 {Malakhov,V (2705)
-Azarov,S (2667)/EU-ch Plovdiv/2012/}) 11. dxc3 Bxd5 12. c4 Bb7 13. Qc2 Qc8 14.
Rad1 Rd8 15. h4 h6 16. Rd2 c5 17. Rfd1 Bc6 18. Ne5 Nxe5 19. Rxd8+ Bxd8 20. Bxe5
Bxg2 21. Kxg2 Qc6+ 22. f3 Be7 23. h5 a6 24. Rd3 Rd8 $11 {Malakhov,V (2605)
-Razuvaev,Y (2555)/Porto San Giorgio/2000/}) 7. Bb2 Nc6 (7... b6 8. e3 (8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. Nc3 Bb7 10. Nxd5 Bxd5 11. Qb1 Nd7 12. Bc3 Re8 13. Rd1 Rc8 14. Qb2 Bf8
15. d4 Qc7 16. Rac1 Qb7 $11 {Krasenkow,M (2661)-Beliavsky,A (2640)/Lvov/2000/})
8... Bb7 9. Nc3 Nbd7 {leads to a position, mentioned already in the previous
note.}) 8. e3 b6 ({Although lately Black hasn't been doing too well with} 8...
d4 9. exd4 cxd4 10. Re1 Ne8 {, this still remains a viable fighting
alternative to achieve an imbalanced position:} 11. Na3 f6 12. Nc2 e5 13. d3 a5
(13... Nc7 14. a3 Rb8 15. Nd2 Bf5 16. Ne4 Qd7 17. Rc1 a6 $6 (17... b5 $5) 18.
b4 Bg4 19. f3 Bh5 20. Qd2 f5 21. Nf2 Kh8 22. f4 exf4 23. Qxf4 Bf6 24. a4 g5 25.
Qd2 $14 {Charbonneau,P (2505)-Hungaski,R (2471)/USA tt ICC/2013/}) 14. a3 Nc7
15. Nd2 (15. Qd2 Rb8 $5 {[%cal Yb7b5]} 16. b4 b5 $13) 15... Ne6 (15... Bf5 $142
16. Ne4 Qd7 $132 (16... Ne6 $5)) 16. Qe2 Kh8 17. Rab1 Bd6 18. Ne4 Bc7 19. b4 f5
20. Nd2 e4 21. Red1 exd3 22. Qxd3 Ne5 23. Qb3 a4 24. Qa2 f4 25. Ne4 f3 26. Bf1
Qe8 27. Nxd4 Nxd4 28. Bxd4 Bf5 29. Nc3 Qh5 30. h4 Bxb1 31. Qxb1 $44 {Nikolic,P
(2636)-Bindrich,F (2548)/Bundesliga/2011/}) 9. Nc3 dxc4 {Black doesn't have to
resolve the central tension yet.} ({In my opinion the best continuation is} 
9... Ba6 $5 10. d3 Rc8 11. Qe2 Qc7 12. Ne1 (12. Rac1 Rfd8 13. Rfd1 Qb8 14. Nb5
Bb7 15. d4 a6 16. cxd5 Nxd5 17. Nc3 Nxc3 18. Bxc3 cxd4 19. Nxd4 Nxd4 20. Bxd4
Bxg2 21. Kxg2 Rxc1 22. Rxc1 Rc8 23. Rxc8+ {1/2,Stohl,I (2518)-Tibensky,R (2396)
/SVK-chT/2012/}) 12... Rfd8 (12... Qd7 13. Nc2 Nb4 14. e4 d4 15. Nd1 Nxc2 16.
Qxc2 Ne8 17. f4 f5 18. Nf2 Bb7 19. Qe2 Nd6 20. Bc1 Rce8 21. Bd2 Nf7 22. Rab1 a5
23. a3 Bd6 24. b4 axb4 25. axb4 e5 26. bxc5 bxc5 27. Qh5 g6 28. Qh3 $14 {
Eljanov,P (2702)-Roiz,M (2617)/EU-ch Legnica/2013/}) 13. f4 (13. Nc2 $5) 13...
Qd7 14. Nf3 d4 15. Ne4 dxe3 16. Ne5 Nxe5 17. fxe5 Nxe4 18. Bxe4 Bb7 19. Bxh7+
Kxh7 20. Qh5+ Kg8 21. Qxf7+ Kh7 22. Qh5+ Kg8 {1/2,Kulaots,K (2581)-Ladva,O 
(2310)/Viljandi/2013/}) (9... Bb7 {is a natural and very often played
alternative, but here White retains a pull with} 10. cxd5 $1 exd5 (10... Nxd5
11. Nxd5 Qxd5 12. d4 $14) 11. d4 $14 Ne4 12. dxc5 Nxc3 13. Bxc3 bxc5 14. Qe2
Re8 15. Rfd1 Bf8 16. Qb5 Qb6 17. Qxb6 axb6 18. Rxd5 Nd4 19. Nxd4 Bxd5 20. Bxd5
cxd4 21. Bxd4 Ra5 22. e4 Bc5 23. Bc3 Ra3 24. Bb2 Ra7 25. a4 $16 {Kramnik,V 
(2795)-Jones,G (2644)/London/2012/ Kramnik was in control and went on to win
an impressive game; no wonder Fridman didn't want to repeat this line.}) 10.
bxc4 Qd3 {A rare and very aggressive sortie, attempting to disrupt White's
set-up. However, although it prevents central activity (connected with d4), on
the other hand it enables Kramnik faster expansion on the kingside. Overall
the text-move has both drawbacks and pluses nad it's not so easy to
unequivocally state, which prevail here.} ({The natural continuation} 10... Bb7
{is usually played without much thought:} 11. Qe2 Qc7 12. Nb5 Qd7 13. Rfd1 a6
14. Nc3 Qc7 (14... Rfd8 15. Rab1 Rab8 16. Ba1 Ba8 17. d3 Na5 18. Ne5 Qc7 19.
Bxa8 Rxa8 20. f4 Nc6 21. Nxc6 Qxc6 22. Qg2 Qxg2+ 23. Kxg2 Ng4 24. Kf3 Nxh2+ 25.
Kg2 Ng4 26. Kf3 {1/2,Akopian,V (2691)-Georgiev,K (2636)/Khanty-Mansiysk blitz/
2013/}) 15. d3 (15. Rab1 Rab8 16. Ba1 Rfd8 17. Ne1 Na7 18. Bxb7 Qxb7 19. Rb3 b5
20. cxb5 axb5 21. Nxb5 Nxb5 22. Bxf6 Bxf6 23. Rdb1 Qe4 24. Rxb5 Qxb1 25. Rxb1
Rxb1 26. Kg2 Rb2 27. Nf3 {Movsesian,S (2693)-Mamedov,N (2602)/EU-ch Legnica/
2013/} Rxa2 $11) 15... Rfd8 16. Rab1 Rab8 17. Ba1 Ba8 $5 (17... Na7 18. d4 $5 (
18. a4 Bc6 19. Ne1 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Nc6 21. f4 Ne8 22. Qf3 Bf6 23. Ne4 Bxa1 24.
Rxa1 Nb4 25. Nc3 Rd7 26. Rd2 Rbd8 $11 {Spassky,B (2605)-Portisch,L (2600)/
Tilburg/1983/}) 18... cxd4 ({Safer is} 18... b5 $142 $5 $132) 19. exd4 b5 20.
d5 $1 exd5 (20... Qxc4 21. Qxc4 bxc4 22. dxe6 fxe6 23. Rxd8+ Bxd8 24. Ng5 $14)
21. cxd5 Nxd5 22. Nxd5 Rxd5 23. Re1 Bf8 24. Be5 $36 {Kortschnoj,V (2635)
-Georgiev,K (2545)/Lugano op/1986/}) (17... Na5 18. Nd2 (18. Ng5 Bxg2 19. Kxg2
b5 20. cxb5 axb5 21. Nce4 Nxe4 22. Nxe4 f5 $15 {Kuzmicz,K (2434)-Dziuba,M 
(2593)/Wroclaw/2011/}) 18... Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Qc6+ 20. Kg1 b5 21. cxb5 axb5 $132 {
Genov,P (2468)-Shalamberidze,A (2386)/Malatya/2013/}) 18. h3 Na7 19. d4 Ne4 $5
20. Rbc1 Nxc3 21. Bxc3 cxd4 22. exd4 Bf6 $11 {Efimenko,Z (2689)-Landa,K (2641)/
Bundesliga/2013/}) 11. Ne1 (11. Ne5 $2 Nxe5 12. Bxa8 Nxc4 $36) (11. Ng5 Bb7 12.
Nce4 Qd8 $1 {forces exchanges and gives Black a comfortable position.}) (11.
Qb3 {[%cal Rc3d5]} Qd8 $5 (11... Na5 12. Ne5 Nxb3 (12... Qf5 13. Nc6 Nxc6 14.
Bxc6 Rb8 15. Nb5 $5 a6 16. Na7 $14) 13. Nxd3 Nxa1 14. Bxa8 Nc2 15. Rc1 Rd8 16.
Rxc2 Rxd3 17. Nb5 a6 18. Na7 Bd7 19. Nc6 $14) 12. d3 (12. d4 Na5 {[%csl Rc4]})
12... Bb7 $11 {and although Black has lost a tempo, White's Q is also
misplaced.}) 11... Qd7 12. Qe2 Bb7 13. f4 Rfd8 $146 (13... Na5 14. d3 Bxg2 15.
Qxg2 Rfd8 16. g4 Ne8 17. Rd1 Nd6 18. Nf3 Qb7 19. e4 b5 (19... a6 $5 20. e5 Ne8
21. f5 b5 22. Ne4 bxc4 23. fxe6 fxe6 24. Nfg5 $14 {[%cal Rg5e6,Rg2f2]}) 20. e5
Ndxc4 21. dxc4 Nxc4 22. Bc1 $16 {Kosten,A (2516)-Hernando Rodrigo,J (2381)/
Castelldefels/2004/}) 14. Rd1 Nb4 15. d3 ({This move is possible aimed against
the simplifying} 15. Bxb7 Qxb7 16. g4 Ne4 $5 $132 {/\} 17. Qg2 Nd6) 15... Bxg2
16. Nxg2 $5 {Kramnik finds an original way to activate an otherwise passive
piece.} (16. Qxg2 a6 {[%cal Yb6b5]} 17. a3 Nc6 18. g4 b5 $5 19. Nf3 $5 $13 (19.
cxb5 axb5 20. Nxb5 $6 Nd5 $36)) 16... a6 17. a3 Nc6 (17... Nxd3 $4 18. Ne1) 18.
g4 {[%mdl 128] ->>> An attacking plan, typical for this type of positions.} Ne8
({More energetic is the direct} 18... b5 $1 19. g5 (19. cxb5 axb5 20. Nxb5 Rdb8
$36 21. Nc3 Nxg4 $17) 19... Ne8 20. Ne4 Rab8 $132 (20... Qb7 $5 $13)) 19. f5 $1
({Fridman reckoned mainly with the weaker} 19. g5 $143 Nd6 $11 {[%cal Yb6b5] -
Black limits the Nc3, prepares b5 and is doing OK}) 19... Nd6 (19... e5 20. Nd5
$14) (19... exf5 20. Nd5 Rab8 21. gxf5 $36 {[%cal Yf5f6]} (21. Rxf5 Nd6 22. Rh5
b5 $132)) 20. f6 $5 {[%mdl 512] An enterprising positional sacrifice, which
Houdini & co start appreciating only after a very long time. Kramnik was
obviously in a fighting mood and wanted to spice up the position in comparison
with the more mundane alternatives:} (20. fxe6 fxe6 21. Nf4 Bg5 (21... b5 22.
Ne4 $1 Nxe4 23. dxe4 Qc8 24. Rxd8+ Nxd8 25. Nh5 g6 26. Bf6 $1 $40) (21... Rab8
22. Ne4 $5 $14) 22. Nh5 e5 (22... Qc7 $5) 23. Ng3 $14) (20. Nf4 $5 Bg5 (20...
exf5 21. Ncd5 $16 {[%cal Rd5b6,Rf4h5]}) 21. fxe6 {-20.fxe6}) 20... Bxf6 21.
Rxf6 gxf6 22. Nf4 $44 Ne5 (22... f5 23. Nh5 Kf8 (23... Qc8 24. Rf1 $5 $44) 24.
Nf6 Qb7 25. gxf5 Nxf5 26. Rf1 $44 Ke7 $6 27. Ncd5+ exd5 28. cxd5 Nh4 29. Qh5
$40) 23. Nh5 Qe7 24. Rf1 Nd7 $8 (24... Ne8 $6 25. Ne4 $36) (24... f5 $2 25.
gxf5 Kh8 (25... Qg5+ 26. Kh1 {[%cal Rf1g1]} exf5 27. Nd5 $18) (25... Nxf5 26.
Ne4 $18) 26. fxe6 Qxe6 27. Nd5 $16) 25. Qg2 (25. Qf2 b5 26. Qf4 Qf8 $5 {
and Black survives a direct assault:} (26... bxc4 $2 27. Nd5 exd5 28. Bxf6 Nxf6
29. Qg5+ Kf8 30. Qg7+ Ke8 31. Nxf6+ $18) (26... e5 27. Qg3 $5 $44 {[%cal Rc3d5]
} (27. Qh6 Qf8 28. Nxf6+ Nxf6 29. Qxf6 Qg7 30. Nd5 Qxf6 31. Nxf6+ Kf8 $11)) 27.
Ne4 (27. Nd5 exd5 28. Bxf6 Nxf6 29. Qg5+ Kh8 30. Qxf6+ Kg8 $11) 27... Nxe4 28.
Qxe4 e5 29. Nxf6+ (29. Rxf6 bxc4 30. Qf5 cxd3 31. Qg5+ Kh8 32. Rd6 (32. Bxe5
Nxe5 33. Qxe5 Kg8 $11 (33... Re8 34. Qc3 Kg8 35. Rd6 Rxe3 $5 36. Nf6+ Kh8 $11))
32... f6 33. Rxf6 Qe7 (33... Nxf6 $2 34. Bxe5 $18) (33... Qg8 34. Rf8 $1 Qxf8
35. Bxe5+ {- 33..Qe7}) 34. Rf8+ Qxf8 35. Bxe5+ Nxe5 36. Qxe5+ Kg8 37. Qg5+ Kf7
38. Qf6+ $11 Ke8 $4 39. Qe6+ Qe7 40. Nf6+ Kf8 41. Qg8#) 29... Nxf6 30. Rxf6 Re8
$13) 25... h6 ({After} 25... b5 $5 26. g5 $5 (26. Ne2 Ne8 27. Neg3 Qd6 $1 $15)
(26. Ne4 Nxe4 27. Qxe4 e5 $15) 26... fxg5 (26... f5 27. Nf6+ $44) 27. Nd5 exd5
28. Nf6+ Nxf6 29. Qxg5+ Kf8 30. Bxf6 Qc7 31. cxd5 {White has a guaranteed draw,
but probably not more than that after} Ke8 (31... Qb6 32. Be7+ Ke8 33. Qe5 Kd7
34. Rf6 Kc7 35. Bxd6+ Rxd6 36. Qe7+ Rd7 37. Qxd7+ Kxd7 38. Rxb6 c4 $11) 32.
Qg8+ Kd7 33. Qg4+ $11) 26. h4 (26. Ne2 $6 f5 $1 27. gxf5+ Qg5 $17) (26. Ne4 $5
Nxe4 27. Qxe4 e5 28. Ng3 $44 {[%csl Rh6][%cal Rg3f5]}) 26... Kf8 $6 {Fridman
starts cracking at the moment when he should have lashed out with} (26... b5
$142 $1 {, e.g.} 27. Ne2 (27. g5 fxg5 {and White has nothing concrete}) 27...
Ne8 28. Neg3 bxc4 29. Ne4 e5 (29... Rab8 $5 30. Bxf6 (30. Bc3 e5) 30... Nexf6
31. Nexf6+ Nxf6 32. Nxf6+ Kf8 33. g5 Qb7 34. Qg4 cxd3 35. gxh6 Ke7 36. h7 Rh8
37. Qg5 Kd6 38. Qf4+ Kc6 39. Qe4+ Kd6 40. Qxd3+ (40. Qf4+ $11) 40... Ke7 41.
Qc3 Qc7 42. Rf4 $44 {/=}) 30. g5 fxg5 31. hxg5 Qe6 (31... Kh8 32. g6 $1 fxg6
33. Nf4 $40) 32. Nhf6+ $5 (32. Nhg3 {[%cal Rg3f5]} Qg4 $5 33. Qf2 f5 $1 34.
gxf6 Nexf6 35. Bxe5 Rf8 36. Nxf6+ Nxf6 37. Bxf6 Rae8 $1 {[%cal Re8e6]} (37...
Rxf6 38. Qxf6 Qxg3+ $11) 38. Qg2 Rxe3 $17) 32... Ndxf6 33. gxf6+ Kf8 34. Nxc5
Qc8 35. Ne4 $44) 27. Qg3 Ke8 28. Qf4 Qf8 $2 {The decisive mistake.} (28... b5
$2 29. Nd5 exd5 30. Bxf6 $18) (28... Rdc8 29. Qxh6 Qf8 30. Nxf6+ (30. Qf4 $5
$36 {/\} f5 $6 31. gxf5 Nxf5 32. Ne4 $40) 30... Nxf6 31. Qxf6 b5 32. Qf4 $5 $44
{[%cal Yc3e2,Gb2e5] gives White good compensation and probably even an
advantage, but the outcome of the game is still undecided.}) 29. Nd5 $1 {
[%csl Rf6]} exd5 30. Bxf6 $18 {[%cal Rh5g7]} Ne5 (30... Nb8 31. Bg7 $1 Qe7 32.
Nf6+ $18) 31. Qxe5+ Kd7 32. Bg7 {Black's queen is trapped and the game is over.
} Re8 33. Nf6+ Kc7 34. Qa1 (34. Nxd5+ Kc6 35. Qb2 $18) (34. Qa1 Qxg7 35. Nxd5+
$18) 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 41st"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2013.08.02"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Andreikin, Dmitry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "2727"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2013.07.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bg5 h6 5. Bxf6 Qxf6 6. Nbd2 g6 {Hardly a good
move before White has played e2-e3.} (6... dxc4 {and}) (6... Nd7 {are common
continuations.}) 7. Qb3 {White should immediately exploit his development
advantage.} (7. g3 {is too slow:} Bg7 8. Qa4+ Nd7 9. Ne5 Qe7 10. f4 O-O 11. Bg2
Nxe5 12. fxe5 c5 $1 $132 {0-1 (29) Labib,I (2432)-Smeets,J (2614) Al-Ain UAE
2012}) 7... dxc4 (7... Qd8 8. cxd5 $5 exd5 9. e4 $40) 8. Qxc4 Qe7 9. Rc1 c6 10.
e4 Bg7 11. e5 O-O 12. Bd3 $14 {We have a position typical of the Moscow
Variation but White is clearly ahead in development. In fact, it is not easy
for Black to develop his queenside.} b6 13. O-O Rd8 (13... Ba6 $5 14. Qb3 Bxd3
15. Qxd3 c5 {may be a decent try} 16. dxc5 $140 Nd7 $1) 14. Qb3 Bb7 15. Be4 Rd7
$6 (15... Qd7 {[%cal Yb8a6] is ugly}) (15... c5 $5 16. Bxb7 Qxb7 17. dxc5 Nc6 {
(K.Landa)} 18. Nc4 Rd5 {, with some counterplay for the pawn, was the best
option.}) 16. Rfd1 c5 17. dxc5 bxc5 18. Qa4 $1 {[%mdl 32] Preventing ...Nb8-c6.
} Rd8 {Black admits his mistake.} (18... Bd5 19. Nb1 $1 {[%cal Yb1c3]}) 19. Nb3
(19. Rxc5 $5 {was probably more energetic:} Bxe4 (19... Na6 20. Rb5) 20. Nxe4
Nd7 21. Rc7 Nb6 22. Rxe7 Nxa4 23. Nd6 Bf8 24. Rb7 $16) 19... Na6 ({In the
event of} 19... Bxe4 20. Qxe4 Nd7 21. h4 {Black's position remains difficult.})
20. Rd6 $1 Bxe4 $6 (20... c4 $142 $1 21. Bxb7 (21. Qxc4 $6 Rac8) 21... Qxb7 22.
Qxc4 (22. Rxd8+ Rxd8 23. Qxc4 Rd5 $14) 22... Rxd6 23. exd6 Rd8 24. Na5 Qxb2 25.
Rf1 Nb8 {, and Black holds on}) 21. Qxe4 Rxd6 22. exd6 {[%csl Gd6] This pawn
decides the game.} Qf8 23. Qb7 $1 Nb4 24. d7 Nd3 25. Rd1 c4 (25... Rd8 {
was the last possibility to put up resistance but Black should lose anyway:}
26. Qc7 $1 (26. Rxd3 $143 c4 27. Rd2 cxb3 28. Qxb3 Qc5) 26... Nxb2 (26... c4
27. Na5) 27. Rb1 $1 {(K.Landa)} Nd3 (27... Nc4 28. Nxc5 Nb6 29. Rxb6 axb6 30.
Nb7 Bf6 31. Nxd8 Bxd8 32. Qb8) 28. Na5 Bf6 29. Nc6 Ra8 30. Nd2 {[%cal Yd2e4]})
26. Na5 {[%cal Ra5c4,Ra5c6]} Rd8 (26... Nxb2 27. Qxa8) 27. Nc6 Qc5 28. Nxd8
Qxf2+ 29. Kh1 Bd4 30. h3 Qe3 31. Nxf7 Bb6 32. N7e5 Nf2+ 33. Kh2 Nxd1 (33...
Nxd1 34. d8=Q+ Bxd8 35. Qf7+ Kh8 36. Nxg6#) 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 41st"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2013.08.03"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "151"]
[EventDate "2013.07.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Be3 c5 8.
Rc1 Qa5 9. Qd2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qxd2+ 11. Bxd2 O-O 12. Nf3 e6 13. Bc4 {Rather
harmless.} (13. Bb5 {and}) (13. h4 {are more common here}) 13... Nc6 14. d5
exd5 15. Bxd5 h6 $146 (15... Be6 {is usually played as this move should be
made anyway:} 16. O-O (16. Bxe6 fxe6 17. Ke2 Rac8 18. Rhd1 Bb2 19. Rb1 Nd4+ 20.
Kf1 Nxf3 21. Rxb2 Nxh2+ (21... Nxd2+ $5 22. Rbxd2 g5 $11) 22. Ke1 Ng4 23. f3
Ne5 24. Rxb7 Rf7 $11 {1/2 (34) Bazant,P-Ftacnik,L (2550) Czechoslovakia 1992})
16... Bxd5 (16... Rac8 17. Be3 h6 18. Rfd1 Rfd8 19. h3 Kf8 20. a3 b6 21. Bxe6
Rxd1+ 22. Rxd1 fxe6 {0-1 (23) Bazant,P (2355)-Baumgartner,U (2380) ICCF 1996}
23. Rd7 $14) 17. exd5 Ne5 18. Nxe5 Bxe5 19. Rfe1 Bd6 20. g3 Rfd8 21. Bg5 Rd7
22. Kg2 {1/2 (22) Bazant,P (2355)-Grasso,G (2445) ICCF 1996}) 16. O-O Re8 17.
Rb1 Re7 18. Rfc1 Be6 19. Bxe6 fxe6 20. Kf1 Rd8 $11 {White has no advantage in
this ending but the position is still playable and to Kramnik's taste.} 21. Be3
Rd3 22. Ne1 Rd8 23. h4 Rf7 24. Nf3 Rd3 25. Bc5 Rfd7 26. Ke2 Rc3 27. Rxc3 Bxc3 {
[%mdl 4096]} 28. g4 Bf6 $6 (28... Kf7 $142 29. Be3 Bg7 30. g5 $140 h5) 29. Be3
Kg7 (29... Bg7 $1) 30. g5 {[%mdl 32]} hxg5 31. hxg5 {The opening of the h-file
is the first real achievement for White.} Be7 (31... Bc3 $142 {keeping control
of the long diagonal} 32. Rb3 $140 Ba1 {M.Golubev}) 32. Bd2 Bd8 (32... Kf7 $142
33. Bc3 Bf8 {[%cal Yf8g7]}) 33. Bc3+ Kg8 34. Bf6 (34. Rh1 {is harmless due to}
Rh7 {e.g.} 35. Rd1 Bb6) 34... Bb6 (34... Bxf6 35. gxf6 {[%csl Gf6] - such a
bishop exchange is obviously favourable to White.}) 35. Nh2 $5 Rh7 (35... e5
36. Ng4 Rd4 37. Kf3 (37. f3 Ra4) 37... Rd3+ 38. Kg2 Rd2 39. a4 {- Black's
problems remain.}) 36. Ng4 {White's pressure gradually increases.} Kf8 (36...
Nd4+ $2 37. Bxd4 Bxd4 38. Rd1) (36... Rh4 37. Kf3 {[%cal Yf3g3,Yb1d1]}) 37. Kf3
Ke8 38. Kg2 Rh4 39. Kg3 Rh7 40. f4 (40. Ba1 Bd8 41. Nf6+ Bxf6 42. gxf6 {
was possible but White was not sure that he could break up Black's position
after} Nd8 {and preferred to keep some tension.}) 40... Rd7 41. Rh1 (41. Ne5
Nxe5 42. Bxe5 Rd3+ 43. Kg4 Bf2 44. f5 exf5+ 45. exf5 Rd5 {(M.Golubev)} 46. Bf6
Rxf5 47. Rxb7 Ra5 {- Black should not lose.}) 41... Rd3+ 42. Kg2 Rd2+ (42...
Bc7 $5 43. Rh8+ Kd7 44. Rh7+ Kc8) 43. Kf3 Rd3+ 44. Kg2 Rd2+ 45. Kf3 Rd3+ 46.
Ke2 Rg3 47. Rh4 Kd7 (47... Ra3 {looks risky due to} 48. Rh6 {A line like} Rxa2+
49. Kf1 Ra3 50. Rxg6 Rf3+ 51. Kg2 Rxf4 52. Kg3 Rxe4 53. Rg8+ Kd7 54. g6 Nd4 55.
Ne5+ Kc7 56. g7 Nf5+ 57. Kf3 Re3+ 58. Kf4 Rg3 59. Bd8+ Kd6 60. Bxb6 Rxg7 61.
Rd8+ Ke7 62. Ba5 {can hardly be calculated over the board :-), and even then
it is not yet a draw.}) 48. Bg7 (48. Rh7+ $5 Ke8 (48... Kc8 49. Ne5 Re3+ (49...
Nxe5 50. Bxe5 Re3+ 51. Kd2 Rxe4 52. Rh6) 50. Kd2 Rxe4 51. Nxg6 $16 {[%csl Gg5]}
) 49. Ne5 Nxe5 50. Bxe5 Re3+ 51. Kd2 Rxe4 52. Rxb7 $14 {_|_}) 48... Nd4+ (48...
Bc7 $5) (48... Kd6 $5) 49. Kf1 $1 Kc6 {After Black's king launches queenside
counterplay, the endgame turns into a total mess.} (49... Nf3 50. Ne5+ Nxe5 51.
Bxe5 Re3 52. Rh7+ Kd8 $1 53. Rg7 Rxe4 54. Kg2 $1 (54. Rxg6 $143 Bd4) 54... Bd4
55. Bxd4 Rxd4 56. Kf3 {- this rook ending is dangerous for Black.}) 50. Ne5+
Kb5 51. Rh2 $1 (51. Nxg6 $143 Nf3 52. Rh7 Nd2+ 53. Ke2 Nxe4) 51... Re3 52. Rb2+
Ka4 53. Bf8 (53. Nxg6 $5 Rxe4 54. Bxd4 Bxd4 (54... Rxd4 55. Kg2) 55. Rxb7 Ka3 (
55... a5 56. Rb3) 56. Rb5 $1 {(stopping Black's pawn)} Kxa2 57. Kg2 {, but here
} e5 $1 {apparently saves the game.}) 53... Ba5 $6 (53... Rxe4 $1 54. Rb4+ Ka5
55. Nxg6 Ka6 {[%cal Yb6a5]}) 54. Nxg6 Rxe4 55. Bd6 $6 (55. Rxb7 $142 $16 {
Somehow both players neglect this pawn!}) 55... Nf5 56. Be5 Ne3+ 57. Ke2 Nf5+
58. Kf2 Bb6+ 59. Rxb6 {[%mdl 512] Unable to neutralise Black's annoying pieces,
White sacrifices an exchange.} axb6 60. Nf8 Ka3 $6 {Not a good plan. The king
is needed on the kingside:} (60... Kb5 61. Nxe6 (61. g6 Ra4) 61... Ra4 62. Kf3
Kc6 {, and Black is not worse.}) 61. Nxe6 Kxa2 (61... Rc4 $5) 62. g6 Rc4 63.
Nd4 $1 Nh6 (63... Nxd4 $2 64. g7 Rc2+ 65. Kf1 Rc1+ 66. Kg2 Rc2+ 67. Kh3 Rc8 68.
Bxd4 $18) 64. g7 (64. Kf3 $5 {[%cal Ye5g7,Yf4f5]}) 64... Rc5 (64... Rc8 $5) 65.
Ne6 (65. Nf5 $5 Ng8 66. Nd6 b5 67. Ne4 Rc8 68. Nc3+ Kb3 69. Nxb5 {with some
winning chances for White, according to GM M.Golubev.}) 65... Rc8 66. Nf8 b5
67. f5 Rc2+ (67... b4 $5 68. f6 b3 {is quite possible as after} 69. f7 Nxf7 70.
g8=Q Nxe5 {Black is not worse}) 68. Kf3 Rc1 (68... b4 $5) 69. f6 Rf1+ 70. Ke4
Ng8 (70... b4 $2 71. Bf4 Ng8 72. f7 $18) 71. Kd5 b4 72. Nh7 b3 73. Ke6 Nxf6 $1
(73... b2 $4 74. Bxb2 Kxb2 75. f7 Rxf7 76. Kxf7 Nh6+ 77. Kf8 b5 78. Ng5 b4 79.
Nf7 $18) 74. Bxf6 Rg1 75. Bg5 Rxg5 $4 {[%mdl 8192] A terrible blunder.} (75...
b2 76. g8=Q b1=Q 77. Qa8+ Kb3 78. Qxb7+ Kc2 {was not as dangerous for Black as
it might seem, e.g.} 79. Qe4+ Kb3 80. Qd5+ Kc2 81. Qc4+ Kd1 $11) 76. Nxg5 {
Only now Black noticed} (76. Nxg5 b2 77. Ne4 $1 $18) 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 41st"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2013.08.04"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B27"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "28"]
[EventDate "2013.07.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. c3 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4 Bg7 7. Qb3 Nb6 8. a4
d6 9. a5 Be6 10. Qb5+ Bd7 11. Qb3 Be6 12. Qb5+ Bd7 13. Qb3 Be6 14. Qb5+ Bd7
1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2013.08.11"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bwalya, Gillan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A81"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2315"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2013.08.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. b3 O-O 6. Bb2 d6 7. d4 d5 8. Nbd2
c6 9. Ne5 Nbd7 10. Nd3 Ne4 11. f3 Nxd2 12. Qxd2 Nf6 13. c4 Qe8 14. a4 Bd7 15.
a5 Rd8 16. Rfe1 Qh5 17. Ne5 a6 18. Ba3 Bxa3 19. Rxa3 Bc8 20. b4 dxc4 21. Nxc4
Qe8 22. Rd3 Qe7 23. e4 fxe4 24. fxe4 Bd7 25. d5 Rde8 26. d6 Qd8 27. Ne5 Qc8 28.
Bh3 Kh8 29. Qe3 Rd8 30. Red1 Qb8 31. Rf1 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2013.08.12"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Bwalya, Gillan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2315"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2013.08.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. Bg5 Be7 7. Bxf6 Bxf6 8.
cxd5 exd5 9. e3 O-O 10. Bd3 c5 11. O-O Re8 12. Rc1 Na6 13. Qc2 g6 14. Rfd1 c4
15. Bf1 Nc7 16. Re1 b5 17. g3 a5 18. Bg2 b4 19. Ne2 Nb5 20. Nd2 Qb6 21. a4 Nc7
22. h4 Rad8 23. h5 Ne6 24. Nf3 Bc8 25. hxg6 hxg6 26. Qd2 Bg7 27. Red1 Qd6 28.
Ra1 Nc7 29. Nh2 Na8 30. Nf4 Nb6 31. b3 Bf5 32. Qb2 Rc8 33. Rdc1 g5 34. Nh5 Qg6
35. Nxg7 Kxg7 36. bxc4 dxc4 37. d5+ c3 38. Qb3 Be4 39. Bxe4 Qxe4 40. d6 Rh8 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2013.08.14"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Kobalia, Mihail"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2651"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2013.08.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nf5 8.
Nf3 d5 9. d4 O-O 10. g3 Re8 11. c3 Bd6 12. Rxe8+ Qxe8 13. Nbd2 f6 14. Bg2 Qf7
15. Nf1 Bd7 16. Bd2 b6 17. Qc2 Re8 18. Re1 Rxe1 19. Nxe1 Nce7 20. Bf3 a5 21.
Ng2 g5 22. Nfe3 c6 23. Qd1 Ng7 24. Be2 h5 25. a4 Qg6 26. h4 Nef5 27. hxg5 fxg5
28. Nxf5 Bxf5 29. Ne3 Be4 30. c4 h4 31. f3 Bd3 32. cxd5 hxg3 33. dxc6 Ne6 34.
Bxd3 Qxd3 35. Bc1 Qxd1+ 36. Nxd1 Nxd4 37. Kg2 Nxc6 38. Bxg5 Nd4 39. Be3 Nc2 40.
Bxb6 Ne1+ 41. Kh3 g2 42. Nc3 Bc7 43. Bf2 Be5 44. f4 Bg7 45. Bb6 Nd3 46. Kxg2
Nxf4+ 47. Kf3 Nd3 48. Nd1 Nxb2 49. Nxb2 Bxb2 50. Ke4 Kf7 51. Kd5 Bc3 52. Kc4
Ke6 53. Bxa5 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2013.08.15"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kobalia, Mihail"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2651"]
[PlyCount "141"]
[EventDate "2013.08.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Bg4 3. Bg2 Nd7 4. O-O c6 5. d3 e5 6. e4 dxe4 7. dxe4 Ngf6 8.
Nbd2 Qc7 9. h3 Bh5 10. Qe1 Bc5 11. Nc4 O-O 12. b4 Be7 13. Bb2 Bxf3 14. Bxf3 b5
15. Ne3 a5 16. a3 Nb6 17. bxa5 Na4 18. Bc1 Qxa5 19. Bd2 Qc7 20. c4 Nc5 21. cxb5
Nb3 22. Rb1 Nd4 23. Bg2 Nxb5 24. Nf5 Bxa3 25. Qe3 Ne8 26. Ra1 g6 27. Nh6+ Kg7
28. Ng4 h5 29. Qh6+ Kg8 30. Ne3 Ng7 31. Kh1 Rfd8 32. Nc4 Ne6 33. Nxa3 Rxa3 34.
Rxa3 Nxa3 35. Bc1 Nc4 36. f4 exf4 37. gxf4 Nf8 38. f5 Qe5 39. Bg5 f6 40. Bf4
Qe8 41. Rg1 Rd7 42. fxg6 Rg7 43. Qxh5 Rxg6 44. Rb1 Ne5 45. Bh2 Nfd7 46. Rb7 Nf8
47. Qd1 Rg7 48. Rb3 Qd7 49. Qf1 Qd6 50. Rf3 Nfd7 51. h4 Qd4 52. Ra3 Rg4 53. Bg3
Kg7 54. Bf2 Qb2 55. Re3 Rf4 56. Re2 Qc3 57. Qd1 Rg4 58. Re3 Qc4 59. Bh3 Rxe4
60. Rg3+ Kf8 61. h5 Qd5 62. Qxd5 cxd5 63. Rg2 f5 64. Bxf5 Rf4 65. Be6 d4 66.
Bg3 Rf1+ 67. Rg1 Rf6 68. Bb3 Rf5 69. Bd1 Nf6 70. Re1 Neg4 71. Bxg4 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2013.08.16"]
[Round "2.3"]
[White "Kobalia, Mihail"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C47"]
[WhiteElo "2651"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "23"]
[EventDate "2013.08.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 d5 8.
exd5 Qe7+ 9. Qe2 Qxe2+ 10. Kxe2 cxd5 11. Rd1 O-O 12. Kf1 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2013.08.16"]
[Round "2.4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kobalia, Mihail"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B20"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2651"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2013.08.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. b3 Nc6 3. Bb2 e5 4. Bc4 d6 5. d3 Nf6 6. Ne2 Be7 7. Nbc3 Nd4 8. O-O
O-O 9. f4 a6 10. a4 b6 11. Nd5 Rb8 12. fxe5 dxe5 13. Ng3 Nxd5 14. Bxd5 Bh4 15.
Qh5 Bf6 16. c4 g6 17. Qd1 Bg7 18. Ra2 Qe7 19. Bc3 Be6 20. Raf2 b5 21. axb5 axb5
22. Kh1 h5 23. Bxd4 exd4 24. Nf5 gxf5 25. exf5 bxc4 26. f6 Qd6 27. fxg7 Kxg7
28. bxc4 Bxd5 29. Qxh5 f5 30. cxd5 Qg6 31. Qh4 Rbe8 32. Rf3 Re3 33. Rxe3 dxe3
34. Qe7+ Rf7 35. Qxe3 f4 36. Qe5+ Qf6 37. Qxf6+ Rxf6 38. g3 f3 39. Kg1 Rf5 40.
d6 Kf6 41. Kf2 Ke5 42. Re1+ Kxd6 43. Re3 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2013.08.17"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Areshchenko, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A04"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2709"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2013.08.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 g6 2. Nc3 c5 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. Nf3 e6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nb5 d5 8. cxd5
exd5 9. O-O Nge7 10. Bf4 O-O 11. Nc7 Rb8 12. Nb5 Ra8 13. Qd2 Bg4 14. Nbxd4 Qb6
15. Be3 Nxd4 16. Bxd4 Bxd4 17. Nxd4 Nc6 18. Nb3 Rad8 19. Rac1 Rfe8 20. Rfe1 Nb4
21. h3 Be6 22. Qd4 Nxa2 23. Qxb6 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2013.08.18"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Areshchenko, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2709"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2013.08.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. h3 Ne7 8. d4
Bb6 9. Nbd2 exd4 10. cxd4 d5 11. e5 Ne4 12. Bd3 Bf5 13. Qe2 Nc6 14. Nxe4 dxe4
15. Bxe4 Nxd4 16. Nxd4 Bxe4 17. Qxe4 Qxd4 18. Qxb7 Qxe5 19. Rb1 Rad8 20. Qf3
Rfe8 21. Bf4 Qb5 22. Be3 Rd3 23. Kh1 Bxe3 24. fxe3 f6 25. Rfe1 Qb6 26. Rbc1
Rdxe3 27. Qd5+ Kf8 28. Rxe3 Rxe3 29. a4 Re5 30. Qd3 h6 31. Rd1 a5 32. Qc4 c5
33. Qd3 Kf7 34. Qd7+ Kg6 35. Qd3+ Kf7 36. Qd7+ Re7 37. Qd5+ Re6 38. Qd7+ Kg8
39. Qd8+ Kh7 40. Qd3+ Kg8 41. Qd8+ Qxd8 42. Rxd8+ Kf7 43. Ra8 Rb6 44. Rxa5 c4
45. Rc5 Rxb2 46. Rxc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2013.08.19"]
[Round "3.3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Areshchenko, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2709"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2013.08.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Be3 c5 8.
Rc1 Qa5 9. Qd2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qxd2+ 11. Bxd2 O-O 12. Nf3 e6 13. Bb5 Nc6 14. Be3
Rd8 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16. Ne5 Bb7 17. f3 Bxe5 18. dxe5 Rd3 19. Kf2 Rad8 20. Bg5
R8d7 21. h4 h5 22. Kg3 Kh7 23. Rc2 c5 24. Rxc5 Bxe4 25. Rc8 Bb7 26. Rf8 f5 27.
exf6 e5 28. Re8 e4 29. Rb1 exf3 30. Rxb7 fxg2+ 31. Kxg2 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2013.08.19"]
[Round "3.4"]
[White "Areshchenko, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C44"]
[WhiteElo "2709"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2013.08.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. g3 Nf6 4. d3 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Bc5 7. O-O O-O 8.
Nc3 Nf6 9. h3 h6 10. Re1 Re8 11. Be3 Bf8 12. Nd2 Be6 13. Nde4 Nxe4 14. Nxe4 f5
15. Nc3 Qd7 16. Kh2 Rad8 17. a3 b6 18. Qd2 Ne7 19. Re2 Bf7 20. Qe1 Bh5 21. f3
Nc6 22. g4 Bf7 23. gxf5 Qxf5 24. Ne4 Nd4 25. Rd2 c5 26. Qf2 Kh8 27. Rg1 Bd5 28.
Qg3 Ne6 29. h4 Nf4 30. Bf1 c4 31. dxc4 Bxe4 32. fxe4 Rxd2+ 33. Bxd2 Qxe4 34.
Bd3 Nxd3 35. cxd3 Qc6 36. Bc3 Kg8 37. Qg4 Qf6 38. Kh3 Bc5 39. Rg3 Rf8 40. Rg2
Rd8 41. Qe4 Qf1 42. Kh2 Rxd3 43. Qg4 Qf6 44. Re2 Bd4 45. Bd2 Rf3 46. Rg2 e4 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2013.08.20"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2731"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2013.08.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 Nh5 8. Bd3
Nxf4 9. exf4 b6 10. b4 a5 11. a3 c6 12. O-O Qc7 13. g3 Ba6 14. Bxa6 Rxa6 15.
Qe2 Rfa8 16. b5 cxb5 17. Nxd5 exd5 18. Qxe7 Rc8 19. Rab1 bxc5 20. Rxb5 Re6 21.
Qg5 h6 22. Qxd5 Rd6 23. Qa2 Qc6 24. Qe2 cxd4 25. Rfb1 a4 26. Ne1 Nc5 27. Nd3
Nxd3 28. Qxd3 Qc3 29. Rd1 Re6 30. Re5 Rxe5 31. fxe5 Qb3 32. Qxd4 Qxa3 33. Kg2
Qb3 34. Qd7 Ra8 35. Rd3 Qe6 36. Qb7 Qc8 37. Qf3 Ra5 38. Ra3 Qe8 39. Qe4 g6 40.
f4 h5 41. h4 Kg7 42. Qb4 Qc6+ 43. Kf2 Rb5 44. Qd4 Qc2+ 45. Kf3 Rb2 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2013.08.21"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B00"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2731"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2013.08.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 b6 2. e4 Bb7 3. Nc3 e6 4. d4 Bb4 5. Bd3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 d6 7. O-O Nd7 8.
Bg5 Ne7 9. Nd2 h6 10. Qh5 O-O 11. Bh4 Qe8 12. f4 f6 13. Qxe8 Raxe8 14. a4 a5
15. Bc4 d5 16. Bb5 Bc6 17. Bxc6 Nxc6 18. f5 exf5 19. exd5 Ne7 20. c4 f4 21. Bf2
Nf5 22. Rfe1 Kf7 23. Rab1 g5 24. g3 Ne3 25. gxf4 gxf4 26. Bxe3 fxe3 27. Nf1
Rg8+ 28. Kh1 Rg4 29. c3 Rf4 30. Nxe3 f5 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2013.08.23"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Korobov, Anton"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D16"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2720"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2013.08.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 e6 6. e3 c5 7. Bxc4 Nc6 8. O-O
cxd4 9. exd4 Be7 10. Qe2 O-O 11. Rd1 Nd5 {A move that has been tried more and
more recently. The more common move is 11...Nb4.} 12. Bd2 Ncb4 13. a5 {A
novelty that shouldn't change the character of the position, but one that
certainly puts some pressure on Black's queenside. Normally in these positions
Black is very solid but he lacks space and an active plan. It's White's task
however on how to proceed from here.} Bd7 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. Ne5 Be8 16. Qf3 f6
{Not something that Black wants to do, after all f6 is a considerable
weakening of the e6-square, but Black could simply not live with White's
knight on e5 for too much longer.} 17. Nd3 Bf7 18. Qg4 Kh8 19. Nc5 $1 {White
exploits the weakness on e6 to transform his advantages. He will now be able
to enjoy the superior pawn structure and the pair of bishops.} Bxc5 20. dxc5
Qc7 21. a6 $1 {Powerful play, this forces a weakness in Black's camp and makes
the c-pawn a passed pawn.} bxa6 $6 (21... b6 {seemed like the lesser of two
evils} 22. cxb6 Qxb6 23. b4 $5 {but possibly Korobov didn't want to live with
the permanently weak a7-pawn.}) 22. b4 Rfd8 23. Rxa6 h5 24. Qf3 Rab8 25. Be1 $1
Nxb4 26. Rxd8+ Qxd8 27. Rxa7 {White's passed pawn is very powerful. It will be
difficult for Black to stop it.} Kg8 28. c6 Nd5 29. Rb7 $2 {A bad move that
gives Black just enough time to mount strong pressure on c6.} (29. Rd7 Qe8 30.
Bd3 $1 {Controlling b1 seemed like a good human way of continuing.}) (29. Qa3
$1 Rb1 30. Kf1 {is the computer continuation, who thinks White is simply
winning. However allowing ...Rb1 is hardly human.}) 29... Rc8 30. Bb5 Qd6 31.
Qe4 Qc5 {Suddenly White's c-pawn is not only not going anywhere, it is also in
danger of simply falling.} 32. h3 g6 $2 (32... Ne7 $1 {Black had to take this
time and eliminate the c-pawn while hte could. There is no longer any way of
defending c6 but with a few seconds left on his clock Korobov must have
believed that Kramnik had some sort of tactical refutation to this obvious
move.}) 33. Bd2 {And now Black's position will be almost impossible to hold.}
Rxc6 $6 {This desperation attempt simply does not work. Black's king is too
weak to set up any kind of fortress.} 34. Bxc6 Qxc6 35. Qb1 g5 36. h4 $1 {
Opening diagonals and routes to the Black king is what is going to give White
the full point.} gxh4 (36... Nf4 37. Bxf4 gxf4 38. Qb3 {is probably more
troublesome for White, but at the end Black's king is too weak and White
should win without problems.}) 37. Bh6 Nc7 38. Ra7 $6 (38. Qb4 $1 {was
immediately finishing the game, but Korobov was not the only one in time
trouble by this point.}) 38... Nb5 39. Qb4 {Back on track, but now Black's
knight saves him from immediate resignation.} Nd6 40. Qb8+ Ne8 41. Re7 e5 42.
Kh2 h3 43. gxh3 Kh7 44. Be3 Kg8 45. Qb1 Qd6 46. Qg1+ Kf8 47. Ra7 {The last few
moves have not been the most exact from White, but they are sufficient to give
him a winning advantage.} Nc7 48. Qc1 Ne6 49. Qc8+ Kg7 50. Qe8 Nc7 51. Qb8 {
Finally Black is forced to lose more material and he therefore resigns.
Kramnik let his opponent off the hook slightly, but when his opponent didn't
capitalize on this mistake he was given no second chance.} 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2013.08.24"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Korobov, Anton"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E31"]
[WhiteElo "2720"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2013.08.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bg5 c5 5. d5 d6 6. e3 exd5 7. cxd5 Nbd7 8. Bb5
h6 9. Bh4 Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 Qa5 11. Bxd7+ Nxd7 12. Ne2 O-O 13. Be7 Re8 14. Bxd6
Qa6 15. Bf4 Nf6 16. O-O Bf5 17. Re1 Rad8 18. d6 Qc6 19. Ng3 Bh7 20. h4 Nd5 21.
Qf3 Nxc3 22. Qxc6 bxc6 23. Ne2 Nxe2+ 24. Rxe2 c4 25. Rc1 Bd3 26. Rb2 g5 27.
hxg5 hxg5 28. Bxg5 Rxd6 29. Rb7 Rd5 30. Bf6 Ra5 31. Ra1 a6 32. g4 Be2 33. g5
Rd5 34. Kg2 Rf5 35. f4 Bd3 36. Kf2 Be4 37. Rd1 Rd5 38. Rxd5 cxd5 39. Ra7 Bd3
40. Bc3 Re6 41. Kf3 Kf8 42. a4 Ke8 43. a5 Rc6 44. Kf2 Bf5 45. Ke1 d4 46. exd4
Re6+ 47. Kd2 Bd3 48. d5 Rd6 49. Kc1 Bg6 50. Bb4 Rxd5 51. Rxa6 Kd7 52. Rf6 Rb5
53. Bc3 Rf5 54. Rb6 Rxf4 55. a6 Rf2 56. a7 Be4 57. Kd1 Ra2 58. Rf6 Ke8 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2013.08.26"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2719"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "31"]
[EventDate "2013.08.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 O-O 7. Bg2 d5 8. Qb3
Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 dxc4 10. Qa3 e5 11. Nb5 Nc6 12. Be3 Bg4 13. Rd1 Qa5 14. Qxa5 Nxa5
15. Nxa7 Nc6 16. Bxc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2013.08.27"]
[Round "6.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2719"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "249"]
[EventDate "2013.08.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 {MVL has been employing the Slav very
successfully. He has shown an interesting new idea against the e3 setups, but
Kramnik is faithful to the main variation.} 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7
7. Nxc4 Nb6 {A line that is known to give Black a solid but passive position.
Morozevich's idea is more active but far riskier.} (7... Qc7 8. g3 e5 9. dxe5
Nxe5 10. Bf4 {was seen once in Tromso in the game Postny-Li Chao in which the
Chinese player took the full point.}) 8. Ne5 a5 9. e3 {A sedate approach that
is becoming more and more popular. The main alternatives are g3 and f3.} Nbd7
10. Nc4 (10. Qb3 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Nd7 12. Qxb7 Nxe5 13. Nb5 $5 Rb8 $1 14. Qc7 f6
$1 {Gave Black a playable position in Xie Deshun - Bu Xiangzhi earlier this
year.}) 10... Qb8 {A novelty, but it will be interesting to see exactly how
good it is. Black's idea is to push e5 quickly.} 11. Bd3 Bxd3 12. Qxd3 e5 13.
O-O Bb4 14. Qf5 $5 {Forcing the pawn to exchange on d4. Despite the isolated
pawn White retains a certain initiative as his pieces have many good squares
to go to.} exd4 15. exd4 O-O 16. Rd1 Qe8 17. Bf4 Qe6 {Black creates a weakness
on e6, true, but it was more important to subdue White's active play. Now
Black's position will be uncomfortable but still quite defendable.} 18. Qxe6
fxe6 19. Bd6 Rfd8 20. f3 Bxc3 $6 {This is a strange choice. Black exposes the
b7-pawn too much.} (20... Bxd6 21. Nxd6 Ra7 22. Kf2 Nb6 {should still be
slightly favorable for White, but not that much.}) 21. bxc3 Nd5 22. Rdc1 b5 $5
{An interesting idea. Black immediately sacrifices his pawn for compensation
rather than waiting for White to set up his position and win the pawn anyways
under better circumstances.} 23. axb5 cxb5 24. Nxa5 Rdc8 25. Bb4 Rc7 $6 (25...
N7b6 $1 26. Rab1 $6 Na4 $1 {and Black suddenly has too much pressure on c3.})
26. Rab1 Rac8 27. h4 e5 28. Rd1 exd4 29. Rxd4 N7f6 30. Kh2 h6 31. Rb2 Nxc3 32.
Bxc3 Rxc3 33. Rxb5 Rc2 34. Nb3 Kh7 35. Rdb4 R8c3 36. Kh3 Ra2 37. Nd4 {With all
the pawns in one side of the board and with the reduced amount of material it
should be possible for Black to hold the position, but it is very unpleasant.}
Rc1 38. Ne6 Re1 39. Nf4 Ra7 40. h5 Rae7 41. g4 R1e5 $6 {Usually in these types
of endgames it is better to keep as much material as possible to create
counterplay. Now MVL has to rely entirely on his ability to set up a fortress.}
42. Ng6 Rxb5 43. Rxb5 Re8 44. Rb7 Rd8 45. Kg3 Kg8 46. Kh4 Kh7 47. Ra7 Kg8 48.
f4 Kh7 49. Rb7 Ne4 50. Rb4 Re8 51. g5 Nd6 52. Rb6 Nf7 53. Rb5 Re1 54. Nf8+ Kg8
55. Rb8 hxg5+ 56. fxg5 Rh1+ 57. Kg3 Rg1+ (57... Rxh5 58. g6 $1 {wins on the
spot.}) 58. Kf4 (58. Kh2 Rxg5 59. Ne6+ Kh7 60. Nxg5+ Nxg5 61. Rb6 $1 {gives
White winning chances but should be holdable.}) 58... Rf1+ $4 {The decisive
mistake.} (58... Nd6 {this move immediately would've made the win very unclear
still, as Black has some surprising defensive resources and his king is not
getting mated just yet.}) 59. Ke3 g6 {Sadly there was nothing better.} (59...
Nd6 60. Ng6+ Kf7 61. Rf8+ {is the big difference as now Black's rook falls on
f1.}) 60. hxg6 Kg7 61. gxf7 Kxf7 {Surprisingly, White has to find an only way
to win here.} 62. Ke4 $4 {Returning the favor!} (62. Nd7 $1 {wins as White can
reroute his pieces to optimal squares. Kramnik probably missed the following
sequence:} Rf5 63. Rf8+ Kg6 64. Rg8+ Kf7 65. Ke4 $1 {The only winning move.}
Ra5 66. Rf8+ Kg6 67. Ne5+ $1 Kxg5 68. Rf5+ $1 {and the knight will check the
king in the next move, setting up a discovery and winning the rook!}) 62...
Re1+ 63. Kf3 Rf1+ 64. Kg3 Rg1+ 65. Kf4 Rf1+ 66. Ke3 Re1+ 67. Kf3 Rf1+ 68. Kg2
Rf5 69. Nh7 Kg6 70. Rb7 Rf4 71. Kg3 Ra4 72. Re7 Rg4+ {Clever as the rook
cannot be taken due to stalemate tricks.} 73. Kf3 Ra4 74. Rb7 Rh4 75. Nf6 Kxg5
76. Ne4+ Kf5 77. Re7 {The rook against knight endgame is considerably simpler
than the rook against bishop one. That being said there have been some
important games in which the stronger side has managed to trick their
opponents.} Rh8 78. Ke3 Rd8 79. Rf7+ Ke6 80. Rh7 Rd1 81. Nc5+ Kf5 82. Rf7+ Ke5
83. Nd3+ Ke6 84. Ra7 Rh1 85. Ke4 Rh4+ 86. Nf4+ Kd6 87. Ra6+ Kc5 88. Rg6 Kc4 89.
Rc6+ Kb5 90. Rc1 Rh8 91. Ke5 Rh4 92. Rc8 Rh1 93. Ne6 Rh5+ 94. Kd6 Rh6 95. Rc1
Kb4 96. Kd5 Rh5+ 97. Ke4 Rh4+ 98. Nf4 Kb5 99. Ke5 Rh8 100. Rc2 Rh4 101. Rf2 Kc4
102. Ke4 Rh8 103. Rc2+ Kb5 104. Ng6 Rh1 105. Ne5 Re1+ 106. Kd4 Rd1+ 107. Nd3
Kb6 108. Rc3 Rb1 109. Kd5 Rb5+ 110. Nc5 Rb1 111. Nd7+ Kb5 112. Rd3 Rb4 113. Ne5
Rb1 114. Nc4 Kb4 115. Nd2 Rb2 116. Kc6 Rc2+ 117. Kb6 Rb2 118. Kc6 Rc2+ 119. Kb7
Rc3 120. Rd8 Rc5 121. Ne4 Rc4 122. Re8 Rc2 123. Kb6 Re2 124. Kc6 Re1 125. Nd6 {
Finally with the 50 move rule easily in sight the players agreed to a draw. A
titanic struggle!} 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2013.08.28"]
[Round "6.3"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2719"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "2013.08.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bb4+ 5. c3 Bc5 6. Be3 Bb6 {White has
tried a series of moves in this position. Qg4 has become the most popular way
of putting pressure on Black, though Nf5 and Bc4 still score relatively well.
MVL's move here has only been seen before once.} 7. Bd3 Nf6 (7... Nge7 $6 8.
O-O O-O 9. Re1 Ne5 10. Bc2 {Kovalenko-Kharlov 2012.}) 8. O-O O-O 9. Nxc6 bxc6
10. e5 Nd5 11. Bd2 d6 {Black's position is already rather pleasant as he has
activated his pieces favorable and he will have good activity to compensate
for his only very slightly worse pawn structure.} 12. c4 Ne7 13. Qc2 Ng6 14.
exd6 cxd6 (14... Qxd6 $5 {trying to utilize the bad positioning of White's
bishops was also interesting. The way Kramnik plays is more logical though.})
15. Nc3 Qh4 16. Rae1 Ne5 17. Re4 $6 {A strange decision to put this rook in
the middle of the board.} (17. Ne4 {the e4-square was better for the knight}
Nxd3 18. Qxd3 d5 $5 19. cxd5 cxd5 20. Ng5 $1 {and chances should be around
equal.}) 17... Qh5 18. Be2 $6 {White is chasing Black's queen to a very
threatening square.} Qg6 19. Qd1 Bh3 $1 {Very precise! White's bishop is a
target on f3 where it is being lured to.} 20. Bf3 Bf5 21. Rh4 $2 {The decisive
mistake.} (21. Rf4 {defending the f3-bishop} Bc2 22. Qc1 Bd3 23. Rd1 $1 {
White's position is obviously worse but he is holding on.}) 21... Bc2 {Now
Black will at least win an exchange.} 22. Qxc2 (22. Qe2 Bd3 23. Qd1 Bxf1 24.
Kxf1 Rae8 {is also completely lights out.}) 22... Nxf3+ {Squashing any vague
hopes of counterplay.} (22... Qxc2 23. Be4 Qxd2 24. Bxh7+ Kh8 25. Bf5+ Qh6 {
was also completely winning. A sad game for MVL who has played excellent chess.
Fatigue and pressure in this tournament is unlike any other, so it is
understandable people make mistakes like this, regardless of their strength.})
0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2013.08.28"]
[Round "6.4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2719"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2013.08.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 g6 5. O-O Bg7 6. Nc3 Nf6 7. b3 O-O 8. Bb2
e6 9. d4 Qe7 10. e3 d6 11. Qe2 Rd8 12. Rfd1 Nbd7 13. d5 exd5 14. Ne1 Rab8 15.
Nxd5 Nxd5 16. Bxd5 Bxd5 17. Rxd5 Bxb2 18. Qxb2 Nf6 19. Rd3 d5 20. cxd5 Nxd5 21.
Rad1 Nb4 22. R3d2 Nc6 23. Nf3 b5 24. Qc3 Rxd2 25. Rxd2 Rd8 26. Rxd8+ Nxd8 27.
Qd3 a6 28. Qd5 Qc7 29. Ne5 Ne6 30. Kg2 Kg7 31. f4 a5 32. Kf3 a4 33. bxa4 bxa4
34. Qd7 a3 35. Ke2 Kf6 36. Ng4+ Kg7 37. Ne5 Kf6 38. Ng4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2013.08.30"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Andreikin, Dmitry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2716"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "2013.08.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bg5 Be7 5. Nc3 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 b6 8. Bd3
dxc4 ({More accurate is Genauer ist} 8... Bb7 9. O-O Nbd7 10. Qe2 c5) 9. Bxc4
Bb7 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Qe2 a6 (11... Ne4 {is the most common move by far, but
White has a comfortable plus here after ist der mit Abstand häufigste Zug,
aber hier hat Weiß ein bequemes Plus nach} 12. Nxe4 Bxe4 ({or oder} 12... Bxh4
13. Nc3) 13. Bg3) (11... Nd5 {is an interesting option, at least if Black is
choosing this plan, it is probably better to play it right away without ...a6.
ist eine interessante Möglichkeit; wenn Schwarz schon diesen Plan wählt, ist
es vermutlich besser, ihn sofort zu spielen ohne ...a6.} 12. Nxd5 (12. Bg3 N7f6
) 12... exd5 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Ba6 {might be the move which bothered my
opponent, but it doesn't seem to give anything special after könnte der Zug
sein, der meinen Gegner störte, er scheint aber nichts Besonderes zu ergeben
nach} Bxa6 15. Qxa6 c5) 12. Rfd1 {Trying to be clever and avoiding a4 for the
moment, but I'm not sure now it is so clever after all. Versucht, clever zu
sein und a4 für den Moment zu vermeiden, aber jetzt bin ich nicht mehr so
sicher, ob es tatsächlich so clever ist.} (12. a4 {The most logical reply. Die
logischste Erwiderung.} Ne4 {Probably the best option. Wahrscheinlich die
beste Option.} (12... Nd5 13. Bxd5 exd5 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. a5 {This is an
important resource, it gives White a pleasant positional plus Dies ist eine
wichtige Ressource, sie verschafft Weiß ein angenehmes positionelles Plus.})
13. Nxe4 Bxh4 14. Nc3 Be7 15. Rfd1 c6 {Here a6 a4 is in Black's favour, but
despite he is very solid here, I think White has some plus. Hier ist a6 a4
zugunsten von Schwarz, aber obwohl er hier sehr solide steht, denke ich, dass
Weiß ein gewisses Plus hat.}) 12... Nd5 (12... b5 {was a decent option as well.
war ebenfalls eine ordentliche Möglichkeit.} 13. Bd3 Qe8 {After this strange
looking move it is not easy to prove an advantage. Nach diesem seltsam
aussehenden Zug ist es nicht so leicht, einen Vorteil nachzuweisen.} (13... Rc8
14. a4 b4 15. Nb1 a5 16. Nbd2 c5 17. Bb5 $16) 14. a4 b4 15. Nb1 c5 16. Nbd2
cxd4 17. Nxd4 Nc5) 13. Bg3 (13. Bxd5 {is not bad either, but I wanted a more
dynamic play against my ultra solid opponent. ist ebenfalls nicht übel, aber
gegen meinen ultrasoliden Gegner wollte ich ein dynamischeres Spiel.} exd5 14.
Bxe7 Qxe7 15. a3 $14) (13. Nxd5 {is not very impressive here although the
first choice of Houdini - ist hier nicht sonderlich beeindruckend, obwohl die
erste Wahl von Houdini -} exd5 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. Bd3 (15. Bb3 Nf6 16. Rac1 c5)
15... c5 {equal. mit Ausgleich.}) 13... Nxc3 (13... N7f6 14. Bd3 Nxc3 15. bxc3)
14. bxc3 Bd6 (14... Nf6 15. Bd3 Ne4 16. Qc2 Nxg3 17. hxg3 Qd5 18. a4 $14) 15.
e4 {The right idea with a slightly wrong move order. Die richtige Idee, mit
einer leicht falschen Zugfolge.} (15. a4 $142 Bxg3 (15... Qe7 16. e4) 16. hxg3
c5 (16... Nf6 17. Bd3 Qe7 18. e4) 17. e4 {This is the position I intended to
get. White has a pleasant positional plus due to the potentially weak b6-pawn.
Dies ist die Stellung, die ich angestrebt hatte. Weiß hat ein angenehmes
positionelles Plus aufgrund des potentiell schwachen b6-Bauern.}) 15... Bxg3
16. hxg3 b5 $1 (16... Qe7 17. a4) 17. Bd3 Nb6 {Stopping a4 and equalizing.
Stoppt a4 und gleicht aus.} (17... c5 18. a4 $14) 18. Qe3 $1 {The most
ambitious, other moves were safer, but dully equal. Am ehrgeizigsten; andere
Züge waren sicher, aber öde ausgeglichen.} (18. Bc2 Qe7 19. a4 Nxa4 20. Bxa4
bxa4 21. Rxa4 c5 $11) (18. Rac1 Qe7 19. c4 bxc4 20. Bxc4 c5 21. dxc5 Nd7) 18...
Na4 {A very time consuming maneouvre, but still ok according to the machine.
Ein sehr zeitraubendes Manöver, aber laut Maschine noch okay.} (18... Qe7 {
I expected this move, with a complicated equal position. Probably White should
try his luck on the kingside in this position: Diesen Zug hatte ich erwartete,
mit einer komplizierten ausgeglichenen Stellung. Weiß sollte hier vermutlich
sein Glück am Königsflügel versuchen:} 19. Ne5 (19. g4)) 19. Bc2 Nb2 20. Rdb1
$1 (20. Re1 Nc4 21. Qe2 c5 $13) 20... Nc4 21. Qc1 c5 (21... f5 $5 22. exf5 (22.
Nd2 Nxd2 23. Qxd2 Bxe4 $11) 22... exf5 23. a4 f4 $13) 22. a4 {It looks nice
visually for White and I thought I must be slightly better, but Houdini always
finds equalizing resourses for Black and claims that it is balanced. Optisch
sieht es gut für mich aus, und ich dachte auch, dass ich leicht besser stehen
muss, aber Houdini findet immer Ausgleichsressourcen für Schwarz und behauptet,
dass es ausgeglichen ist.} cxd4 23. cxd4 Rc8 (23... Qd7 24. Bd3 Rfc8 25. Qe1
Nd6 26. g4 $14) 24. axb5 axb5 25. Qe1 {A very important move, due to it White
can consolidate, avoiding an immediate draw. Ein ganz wichtiger Zug, dank
dessen Weiß sich konsolidieren und sofortiges Remis vermeiden kann.} (25. Rxb5
Nd6 26. Rc5 Bxe4 $11) 25... Bc6 26. Rb4 $1 {White should try to avoid
exchanging one pair of rooks if he wants to have winning chances. Wenn er
Gewinnchancen haben will, sollte Weiß versuchen, den Abtausch eines Turmpaars
zu vermeiden.} (26. Bd3 Ra8 27. Rc1 Rxa1 28. Rxa1 Qb6 29. Rc1 Ra8 {is rather
drawish obviously. ist offensichtlich ziemlich remisig.}) 26... Ra8 27. Rd1 Ra3
$1 {Excellent defending from my young opponent. Black is regrouping 
(activating) his pieces. ...Qa8 is following. Ausgezeichnete Verteidigung von
meinem jungen Gegner. Schwarz schreitet zur Umgruppierung (Aktivierung) seiner
Figuren. ...Qa8 soll folgen.} 28. d5 $1 {Good timing for this typical
breakthrough. For a second before ...Qa8 Black's pieces are slightly
miscoordinated. Gutes Timing für diesen typischen Durchbruch. Eine Sekunde
lang vor ...Qa8 sind die schwarzen Figuren leicht fehlkoordiniert.} (28. Bb3
Qa8 {is just equal. ist einfach ausgeglichen.}) 28... exd5 29. exd5 Re8 (29...
Bd7 {looks scary humanly, and we both thought it's not a good move, but
Houdini with its characteristic resoursefulness more or less holds even here:
sieht menschlich beängstigend aus, und wir beide dachten, dass es kein guter
Zug sei, aber Houdini mit seiner characteristischen Findigkeit hält sich sogar
hier einigermaßen:} 30. Qe4 f5 (30... g6 31. Qf4 Kg7 32. Bd3) 31. Qd4 (31. Qf4
Rc3 32. Nd4 Qf6) 31... Qa5 32. Rdb1 Qa7) 30. dxc6 $1 {The key idea, otherwise
28.d5 would not work, and clearly underestimated by Dmitry. Die Schlüsselidee,
ansonsten würde 28.d5 nicht funktionieren, und eindeutig unterschätzt von
Dmitry.} (30. Qf1 {is not an option: ist keine Option:} Bd7 31. Bd3 Nd6 $15)
30... Rxe1+ 31. Nxe1 $1 {Again an important nuance, using tactical motifs to
keep the tension and try to play for a win still. Wieder eine wichtige Nuance;
taktische Motive werden genutzt, um die Spannung aufrechtzuerhalten und noch
weiter Gewinnversuche zu machen.} (31. Rxe1 {leads to a draw by force: führt
forciert zum Remis:} g6 32. Rxb5 Rc3 33. Rc5 Qd6 34. Re8+ Kg7 35. c7 Qxc5 36.
c8=Q Qxc8 37. Rxc8 Rxc2) 31... Qc7 (31... Qb6 32. Rxb5 $1 {- the point. - die
Pointe.}) 32. Rxb5 (32. Rd7 Qc8) 32... g6 33. Rc5 Ne5 {This looks human and
natural, I would have played this most probably as well, but in fact the first
step into the wrong direction. Dies wirkt menschlich und natürlich, ich hätte
dies wahrscheinlich auch gespielt, tatsächlich aber der erste Schritt in die
falsche Richtung.} (33... Nd6 $142 {Strangely enough this retreat is better,
although White still presses without any risk after Seltsamerweise ist dieser
Rückzug besser, obwohl Weiß weiter ohne Risiko drückt nach} 34. Rc1 Ra2 35. Bd3
{The computer assessment of this position as completely equal should not
mislead you here. Although it must be a draw objectively, it is clear that
White is playing without any risk and in a practical game there are some
winning chances. Die Computereinschätzung dieser Stellung als völlig
ausgeglichen sollte einen hier nicht in die Irre führen. Obwohl es objektiv
remis sein muss, ist klar, dass Weiß ohne jedes Risiko spielt, und in einer
praktischen Partien gibt es einige Gewinnchancen.}) 34. Be4 Ng4 {Seemingly
active, but actually the knight will have to retreat from this position.
Scheinbar aktiv, tatsächlich aber wird sich der Springer aus dieser Position
zurückziehen müssen.} (34... Ra4 {would be my choice although after wäre meine
Wahl, obwohl ich nach} 35. Bd5 {I do not see a constructive plan for Black,
while White is going to change the knight and start to penetrate on the
seventh rank with a rook, which is highly unpleasant. keinen konstruktiven
Plan für Schwarz sehe, während Weiß den Springer tauschen wird und beginnen
kann, auf der siebten Reihe mit einem Turm einzudringen, was höchst unangenehm
ist.}) 35. Nd3 $1 Kg7 36. Bf3 Nf6 (36... h5 $143 37. Bxg4 hxg4 38. Rc4 Ra8 39.
Nf4) 37. Nb4 (37. Nf4 {is quite similar to 37.Nb4, but I wanted to control ...
Ra2 just in case. ist ganz ähnlich wie 37.Nb4, aber ich wollte ...Ra2
kontrollieren, sicherheitshalber.}) 37... h5 38. Rdc1 Ra7 39. Nd5 Nxd5 40. Bxd5
Qd8 {Probably the decisive mistake, it's bad luck for Dmitry that he had to
make such an important decision on the 40th move with just a couple of minutes
on the clock. The point is that this is a unique chance for Black to regroup
his heavy pieces and to free the queen, putting his rook on c7 instead. But it
just doesn't work by tempi. Wahrscheinlich der entscheidende Fehler; es ist
Pech für Dmitry, dass er seine so wichtige Entscheidung im 40. Zug fällen
musste, mit nur ein paar Minuten auf der Uhr. Der Punkt ist, dass dies eine
einzigartige Chance für Schwarz darstellt, seine Schwerfiguren umzugruppieren
und die Dame zu befreien, um stattdessen seinen Turm nach c7 tzu stellen. Aber
es funktioniert tempomäßig einfach nicht.} (40... f5 $142 41. Bf3 {Now there
is no possible regrouping for Black anymore, but the computer claims that it
is not easy for White to make progress, always finding some tactical ways to
defend. Probably chances for White to win or Black to defend are fifty fifty
in this position. Nun gibt es keine mögliche Umgruppierung mehr für Schwarz,
aber der Computer behauptet, dass es nicht leicht für Weiß ist, Fortschritte
zu erzielen, wobei er immer irgendwelche taktischen Verteidigungswege findet.
Die Gewinnchancen für Weiß bzw. Rettungschancen für Schwarz stehen in dieser
Stellung wahrscheinlich fifty-fifty.} Kh6 $1 42. Rb5 (42. R5c4) 42... Qg7 $1
43. Kh2 (43. Rb7 Ra1 $1) 43... Rc7 44. Rd1 Qe7 45. Rb7 h4 $1 46. gxh4 Qxh4+ 47.
Kg1 Rc8) 41. c7 $1 (41. Rb5 {is quite annoying also, but I saw that the
forthcoming two rooks versus queen ending should be a win. ist ebenfalls recht
lästig, aber ich sah, dass das bevorstehende Endspiel zwei Türme gegen Dame
ein Gewinn sein sollte.} Rc7 42. Rb7) 41... Rxc7 42. Rxc7 Qxd5 43. Re1 $1 {
The key move, otherwise Black would be able to hold. Now he has to weaken his
king and the pawn chain as well in order to avoid a lost pawn endgame. Der
Schlüsselzug, ansonsten würde Schwarz sich halten können. Nun muss er seinen
König und auch die Bauernkette schwächen, um ein verlorenes Bauernendspiel zu
vermeiden.} Kh6 (43... Kf8 44. Ree7 Qf5 45. Rxf7+ Qxf7 46. Rxf7+ Kxf7 47. Kh2 {
The simplest way to win this endgame. Der einfachste Weg, dieses Endspiel zu
gewinnen.} Kf6 48. Kh3 g5 49. g4 h4 50. f4 $18) 44. Ree7 f6 (44... f5 45. f4
Qg8 {The only defence here already, but obviously not enough to hold this
position: Bereits die einzige Verteidigung hier, aber offensichtlich nicht
ausreichend, um diese Stellung zu halten.} 46. Rf7 Qh8 47. Kh2 Qg8 48. Rcd7 Qh8
49. Rd6 $18) 45. Red7 $1 {It took me some time to realize that I should kick
the queen away from the best square before starting my attack. Now Andreikin
had spent almost all his remaining time trying to find a defence, but probably
there is no anymore. Ich benötigte etwas Zeit, um zu begreifen, dass ich die
Dame erst vom besten Feld vertreiben sollte, bevor ich meinen Angriff einleite.
Nun hatte Andreikin fast seine ganze verbleibende Zeit mit dem Versuch
verbraucht, eine Verteidigung zu finden, aber wahrscheinlich gibt es keine
mehr.} (45. f4 g5) 45... Qa5 {The best move, strangely enough. Der beste Zug,
seltsamerweise.} (45... Qe4 46. Rh7+ Kg5 47. Rc5+ f5 48. Kh2 Qe1 (48... Kf6 49.
f4) 49. Rc6 Qxf2 50. Rg7 f4 51. Rgxg6+ Kf5 52. Rcf6+ Ke5 53. Rxf4 Qd2 54. Rg5+
Ke6 55. Rxh5) (45... Qb5 {Here I would like to show you the following long but
pretty forced win. I liked very much those computer rook maneouvres, slowly
but surely destroying my opponent's defences: Hier möchte ich Ihnen gerne den
folgenden langen, aber hübschen forcierten Gewinn zeigen. Besonders gefielen
mir dabei diese Computer-Turmmanöver, welche die Verteidigung meines Gegners
langsam, aber sicher zerschlagen:} 46. f4 Qb1+ (46... g5 47. Rh7+ Kg6 48. Rcg7+
Kf5 49. fxg5 $18) 47. Kh2 g5 48. Rf7 Kg6 49. Rg7+ Kh6 50. fxg5+ fxg5 51. Rgd7
Qg6 52. Rd8 Qe6 53. Rdc8 Qe4 54. Rc6+ Kg7 55. R8c7+ Kg8 56. Rd6 Qe8 57. Rdd7 h4
58. Rg7+ Kf8 59. Rcf7+ Qxf7 60. Rxf7+ Kxf7 61. gxh4 gxh4 62. Kh3 {winning. und
gewinnt.}) 46. f4 g5 47. Kh2 (47. Rh7+ Kg6 48. Rcg7+ Kf5 49. Rxh5 (49. fxg5
fxg5 {- that's why the queen went to a5 - - genau deshalb ging die Dame nach
a5 -} 50. Rxh5 $140 Qa1+ 51. Kh2 Qxg7) 49... Qe1+ 50. Kh2 Qe8 51. Rgh7 Kg4 {
and White has still to work hard to win this. und Weiß muss noch hart arbeiten,
um diese zu gewinnen.}) 47... Kg6 $8 (47... gxf4 {is not possible here already
exactly because of the queen on a5! ist nicht möglich hier, ausgerechnet wegen
der Dame auf a5!} 48. Rh7+ Kg6 49. Rcg7+ Kf5 50. Rxh5+ Ke6 51. Rxa5) 48. fxg5 {
We both thought that White is easily winning already, but in fact Black could
still put up some resistance after 48...fxg5. Wir dachten beide, dass Weiß
bereits leicht gewinnt, tatsächlich aber konnte Schwarz nach 48...fxg5 noch
einigen Widerstand leisten.} Kxg5 (48... fxg5 $1 49. Rd6+ (49. Rg7+ Kf6 50.
Rcf7+ Ke6) (49. Rc6+ Kf5 50. Rf7+ Ke5 51. Rg7 Kd4 52. Rcg6 h4 53. Rxg5 hxg3+
54. Kh3 Qe1 55. Rf5) 49... Kf5 50. Rf7+ Ke5 51. Rh6 h4 52. gxh4 Qd2 {and,
strangely enough, White probably will have to play a two rooks and pawn versus
queen endgame. It is surely winning, but there are still practical chances to
go wrong there. und seltsamerweise wird Weiß vermutlich ein Endspiel zwei
Türme und Bauer gegen Dame spielen müssen. Es ist bestimmt gewonnen, aber
praktische Chancen, dort fehlzugreifen, gibt es noch.}) 49. Rh7 f5 50. Rcg7+
Kf6 51. Ra7 $1 {Collecting the h-pawn after all. Sammelt doch noch den
h-Bauern ein.} Qb4 (51... Qe5 $142 {would prolong the game slightly: würde die
Partie etwas verlängern:} 52. Rxh5 Kg6 53. Rh4 {and sooner or later White will
get the f-pawn. und früher oder später bekommt Weiß den f-Bauern.}) 52. Ra6+
Ke5 53. Rxh5 {Now the last pawn falls quickly as well. Nun fällt der letzte
Bauer ebenfalls schnell.} Qb1 54. Ra5+ Kf6 55. Raxf5+ Kg6 {Obviously the pawn
endgame with the double pawns is an easy win, therefore White's task is easy
here, using this fact he slowly but surely puts his opponent king "on the
ropes". Das Bauernendspiel mit dem Doppelbauern ist offensichtlich einfach
gewonnen, daher ist die Aufgabe von Weiß hier leicht; unter Ausnutzung dieser
Tatsache drängt er den gegnerischen König langsam, aber sicher "in die Seile".}
56. Rfg5+ Kf6 57. Rb5 Qc2 58. Rh6+ Kg7 59. Rbb6 Qc5 60. Rbg6+ Kf8 61. Rh7 Qf5
62. Rgg7 Qe6 63. Re7 {Resigns. I think it is a very high quality game,
including, despite the negative result, my opponent. And a very important one
from the sportive point of view. Aufgegeben. In meinen Augen ist dies eine
sehr hochqualitative Partie, inbegriffen, trotz des negativen Ergebnisses,
meinen Gegner. Und eine ganz wichtige aus sportlicher Sicht.} 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2013.08.31"]
[Round "7.2"]
[White "Andreikin, Dmitry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2716"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[Annotator "Negi,P"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2013.08.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{As in the previous rounds, Andreikin avoided mainstream theory - and it can
be said successfully, but then he failed to make a tough decision that could
have put the Kramnik under pressure.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 {
Kramnik sticks to his favourite Queen's Gambit Declined.} 5. Bf4 O-O 6. a3 $5 {
Much less played than the ultra theoretical 6.e3, this move has been gaining
popularity recently as it 'avoids' the typical solid lines with Nbd7-c5 that
black employs after e3.} b6 {Andreikin spent some time trying to choose
between going into a typical structure with cxd5-Nxd5-Nxd5-exd5, or continue
to try and maintain the tension in the centre.} (6... Nbd7 7. Nb5 $1 {is the
point - and now the use of a3, preventing ...Bb4+ is clear.}) ({In the
previous game Kramnik had continued:} 6... dxc4 {which is probably what
Andreikin had mainly prepared against.}) 7. e3 {Eventually Dmitry avoids the
typical Queen's Gambit Declined structure, possiby because of Kramnik's vast
experience in such structures.} c5 {Instant reply, and once again Andreikin is
in a difficult situation: how to avoid the former World Champion's impressive
preparation, and yet maintain tension in the game.} 8. Qc2 {An offbeat move. I
believe Andreikin had some idea about it, but considering the amount of time
he took, he had definitely not prepared it for this game. But he achieved his
aim of avoiding any forcing preparation - and now an interesting battle over
the board begins.} cxd4 {Black decides against maintaining the tension in the
centre, and bringing more tactical options into focus.} 9. Nxd4 (9. exd4 {
will just leave White with an eventual isolated pawn.}) 9... Bb7 10. Rd1 Nbd7
11. cxd5 {A critical moment. Black can just make the obivious recapture with ..
.Nxd5, and hope to equalise in the ensuing symmetrical position. Or, he could
try to win a piece with the pawn fork - e5.} e5 {Kramnik chooses to take the
challenge! Unfortunately things aren't as easy for Black - and he possibly
underestimated either White's 14th or 15th move.} (11... Nxd5 12. Nxd5 Bxd5 13.
Bb5 $1 {Despite the drawish nature of such structures, White's considerably
more active pieces, along with a glaring weakeness on c6, and uncomfortable
Qd8, don't make Black's life easy yet.}) 12. Nc6 (12. Nf5 exf4 13. d6 Bxd6 14.
Nxd6 Qc7 15. exf4 {White wins a pawn, but the king stuck on e1 makes it look
only dangerous for him.}) 12... Bxc6 13. dxc6 exf4 14. exf4 $1 {A nice
intermediate move! At first sight the suddenly naked king on e1, along with
the tantalizing possibility of checks on the e file make it look dangerous for
White. But there is no clear way to make use of this temporary weakeness,
while White wins back his piece in the next move, followed by a quick
consolidation with Be2 and 0-0.} Bxa3 $5 {A nice tactical idea - which can
explain Kramnik's e5. Now White needs to make an important decision.} (14...
Bd6 15. cxd7 Qxd7 16. Be2 Qc7 17. g3 $14) 15. bxa3 $2 {Andreikin may have
missed the nice equalising trick 18...Nce4 - or perhaps he wanted to avoid the
murky looking complications after cxd7.} (15. cxd7 $1 {Having computers
assisting us, it's easy to point out cxd7 as a much stronger move - but during
a tense match, it's not that easy to understand that the dangerous looking
pawn on d7 will not actually fall!} Bb4 (15... Bd6 16. Bb5 $1 {is an important
resource!}) 16. Be2 Qc7 17. Qb3 $1 {A typical, highly effective move of the
machine that is hard to find a few moves before. With the concrete trick of
0-0, Nd5 White manages to keep his formidable pawn, and maintain serious
winning chances.} ({An obvious} 17. O-O {simply drops the pawn.} Rad8) 17... a5
18. O-O Rad8 19. Nd5 $1 $16) 15... Qe8+ 16. Be2 Nc5 17. O-O Qxc6 18. Bf3 Nce4
$1 {A nice little tactic that saves Black by a Whisker. Despite an ominous pin
along f3-a8 diagonal, white is unable to avoid the threatened simplifications.}
19. Rc1 (19. Bxe4 Nxe4 20. Qxe4 Qxc3 $11 {was the key point.}) 19... Qxc3 20.
Qxc3 Nxc3 21. Rxc3 Rac8 {Now the game enters much calmer waters, and Kramnik
easily steers his position to safety.} 22. Rfc1 Rxc3 23. Rxc3 Re8 24. g4 Kf8
25. g5 Ng8 {Despite the temporary passivity of Black's pieces, he is in no
real danger. The knight will soon regroup to f5.} 26. Kg2 g6 27. h4 Ne7 28. Rc7
Nf5 29. h5 Re7 30. Rc8+ Re8 31. Rc7 Re7 32. Rc8+ Re8 33. Rc7 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2013.09.01"]
[Round "7.3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Andreikin, Dmitry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2716"]
[Annotator "Negi,P"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2013.08.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{After narrowly surviving the previous game, Kramnik had wondered about the
wisdom of taking such risks when he is a point ahead. Consequently, today he
decided not to be too pretentious, hoping for the slightest of edges. But as
often happens with such a conservative attitude, he played a couple of sloppy
moves which put him almost on the brink of being worse. Clearly annoyed, he
pulled himself together just in time to secure the equality with some nice
tactical ideas.} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 {A brave change by Andreikin! In
their previous game he had tried to replicate Kramnik's solid QGD - but
Vladimir proved to be technically flawless with white as well. This time he
decides to surprise Kramnik by going for a popular mainline that he had rarely
played before.} 4. Nc3 a6 5. e3 e6 6. b3 c5 {Once again, stepping out of the
well trodden paths of theory.} (6... Bb4 {leads to typical closed Slav
positions.}) 7. Bb2 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bb4 $5 {An interesting novelty. The subtle
idea seems to be to provoke a3 - which then might turn out to be a weakeness.}
9. Nc2 {Slightly passive, and in line with Kramnik's strategy of playing
solidly. It's from this point that a series of innocous and solid looking
moves from White suddenly almost brought him in danger of being worse.} (9. a3
Bd6 {seems a bit counter intuitive, but after the normal} 10. cxd5 exd5 {
we get a typical isolated pawn's position where a3 seems extremely weakening.
For instance, after Rc1 Black can always play the annoying ...Qe7, attacking
the newly created weakenesses.}) 9... Ba5 10. Be2 O-O 11. O-O dxc4 12. Qxd8 (
12. bxc4 $5 {might be objectively better, leading to an interesting and
complicated structure. The open b-file, and activity of pieces trade off the
weakened structure.}) 12... Rxd8 {Around this point Kramnik looked rather
annoyed with himself, and for good reason. From an extremely solid, possibily
slightly better position, he has allowed himself to suddenly face actual
dangers - the rook jump to d2 needs to be urgently dealt with!} 13. Bxc4 {
After a long think Andreikin decides that the very tempting b5, followed by ...
Rd2 doesn't actually promise him anything. Instead he continues to develop,
hoping to utilise the awkward placement of White's pieces along the c-file in
the future.} (13. bxc4 Rd2 $1 {Suddenly White is forced to play Bd1, and his
position doesn't look impregnable anymore.}) 13... Nc6 (13... b5 14. Be2 Rd2 {
looks extremely worrying. Bd1 appears to be the only move, when Black has
clearly taken the initiative. But} 15. Rac1 $1 {is the nice little tactic that
White found. He utilises Black's unprotected Bc8 to save his piece.} Bxc3 16.
Bxc3 Rxe2 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Nd4 $1 {A nice touch!}) 14. Rfd1 Bd7 15. Na4 $5 {
Clearly somewhat annoyed with his sluggish play so far, Kramnik decides to
force matters rather than go for a long and slow paced endgame. With a few
concrete moves he simplifies the game to a draw.} b5 {If not, then the knight
lands on c5, and the initiative shifts to White.} 16. Nc5 bxc4 17. Bxf6 gxf6
18. Nxd7 {The next moves are not forced, but it's hard to suggest any
improvements. The game quickly reaches a drawn endgame.} Bc3 19. Rab1 Ra7 20.
Nc5 Rxd1+ 21. Rxd1 Nb4 22. Nxb4 Bxb4 23. Rd8+ Kg7 24. Rc8 Bxc5 25. Rxc5 cxb3
26. axb3 Rb7 27. Rc3 {So Andreikin manages to stay in the race, while Kramnik
seems set to take the title. Still, don't be too sure! Nerves are sure to play
an important role tomorrow - and Kramnik certainly can't feel happy today.
Also his near collapse against Korobov might be playing at the back of his
mind as he fights to fend off the young Russian challenge.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2013.09.02"]
[Round "7.4"]
[White "Andreikin, Dmitry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2716"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[Annotator "Negi,P"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2013.08.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 156"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Andreikin decided to go for a quite opening this time. Considering the
tournament situation, it was a sensible choice, but he failed to follow it up
with energetic play when required, and Kramnik easily dealt with White's
desperado attack.} 1. c4 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. a3 b6 {Setups
with d6 are more common, but the double fianchetto is perfectly playable as
well.} 6. d3 Bb7 7. Bd2 Nf6 {Surprisingly we are already in fairly unknown
territory by move seven. Of course similar positions have been seen before,
but this just on to show how much room for creativity exists!} 8. Nh3 $5 {
The knight might look misplaced on h3, but in similar structures Black has
often used the idea of bringing Ng8 out via h6 too. The point is to keep the
Bg2 open - which prevents d5, and annoying jumps like Nd4 after Nf3.} O-O (8...
h5 {would be a fun move to play, using the fact White can't prevent h4 - but
of course this doesn't suit the situation of the match at all.}) 9. O-O e6 10.
b4 d6 11. b5 Na5 12. e4 $5 {White is maintaining the tension - and now if
Black continues slowly he is ready to start pushing on the kingside with f4,
g4 etc. With the Na5, and Bb7 far away from kingside, a direct pawn thrust
could be very dangerous.} d5 $1 {The computer doesn't particularly like this
move, but it is the most logical. Black's pieces are all placed logically and
it was difficult to improve the situation... while White was ready with
kingside plans.} 13. cxd5 exd5 14. e5 Ne8 $1 {The regrouping Nc7 and then f6
works perfectly.} ({If} 14... Nd7 15. f4 {then it would have been much harder
for Black to get f6, and the centre starts looking formidable.}) 15. f4 Nc7 16.
Rb1 {Getting ready for ...a6, and perhaps threatening Na4 now.} (16. Na4 {
seems more critical, but I believe Andreikin was worried about:} d4 $5 17. Bxa5
(17. Nxc5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Qd5+ 19. Ne4 Nb3 {and b5 pawn will fall.}) 17... Bxg2
18. Kxg2 bxa5 {and the iminent jump of Nc7 to e3 via d5 seems very dangerous.})
16... f6 $1 {But White doesn't have forever to make his plans! The centre is
already being undermined, and it's time for some tough decisions for White if
he wants to continue playing for a win.} 17. exf6 (17. Na4 {would lead to
unpredictable complications, but White's pieces seem totally uncoordinated, so
I wouldn't really worry with Black.}) 17... Qxf6 18. Ne2 Rae8 19. g4 {White's
play alredy reeks of desperation. Objectively it was probably time to try and
equalise somehow... But being a point behind, Andreikin decides to try his
luck with a primitive attack.} d4 $1 {The knight is coming to e3! White's
position quickly disintegrates.} 20. Ng3 Bxg2 21. Kxg2 Nd5 22. f5 Qe5 23. Nf4
c4 24. Qf3 (24. Ne6 {seems like a better move, but Black has a wide variety of
tempting options to choose from. Even the exchange sacrifice with ...Rxe6
followed by ...c3 seems to give Black a rather comfortable position.}) 24...
Ne3+ 25. Bxe3 dxe3 26. d4 Qd6 {Kramnik doesn't want to try and maximise the
advantage with ....Qxd4 - he is content to keep everything under control, and
leave White with a depressing set of options - none of which offer the
slightest chance of an advantage.} 27. Ne4 Qxd4 28. Ng5 e2 29. Nxe2 Qd2 30. Ne4
Qc2 31. N4g3 Nb3 32. Rbd1 Kh8 33. Qf2 gxf5 34. gxf5 {Black is utterly
dominating, so Andreikin finally accepts it and offers a draw before his
position collapses.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-ch 66th"]
[Site "Nizhnij Novgorod"]
[Date "2013.10.05"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shomoev, Anton"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A05"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2579"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2013.10.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 b6 3. Bg2 Bb7 4. O-O e6 5. d3 {Eine einigermaßen
zurückhaltende Eröffungsbehandlung. Natürlich führt das einfache 5.d4 mit
Zugumstellung in damenindische Gewässer, denn früher oder später muss Weiß
auch noch c4 ziehen, wonach ein Dameninder auf dem Brett steht. Aber Kramnik
hat andere Pläne. d3 stellt die Drohung e4 auf, wobei nicht klar ist, wie
stark diese Drohung eigentlich ist - auf jeden Fall unterbindet sie Shomoev
sofort.} d5 6. Nbd2 g6 $5 {Natürlicher war es, den Läufer nach e7 zu spielen,
aber mit dem Doppelfianchetto hofft Shomoev für den Preis einiger Tempi aktive
Figuren zu bekommen.} 7. c4 (7. b3 Bg7 8. Bb2 c5 9. e3 {endete nur wenig
später in der auch in diesem Jahr gespielten Partie Jakovenko-Riazantsev mit
Remis.}) 7... Bg7 8. b4 $5 {Und das Spiel ist eröffnet! Weiß expandiert
aggressiv am Damenflügel, aber öffnet dabei die Diagonale des gefährlichen
Läufers auf g7. Was Schwarz auch hätte ignorieren können.} Ne4 (8... O-O 9. Bb2
Nbd7 10. b5 $5 {ist vielleicht ein bisschen angenehmer für Weiß, der außerdem
einfach mit 10.Tc1 seine Entwicklung fortsetzen könnte.}) 9. cxd5 $5 exd5 (9...
Bxa1 10. Nxe4 {und die Drohung Lg5 ist bereits zu stark: Weiß steht auf Gewinn.
}) 10. Nb3 $5 {Weiß opfert eine ganze Qualität, aber erhält dafür
Entwicklungsvorsprung und gefährliches Spiel auf den schwarzen Feldern.} Bxa1 {
Den Springer von e4 zurückzuziehen ist definitiv keine Option.} 11. Nxa1 Nd6
12. Bg5 f6 13. Bf4 a5 $1 {Geht sofort zum Gegenangriff über und verschafft
Schwarz gewisse Bewegungsfreiheit.} 14. bxa5 Rxa5 15. Qc2 c5 16. Nb3 Ra7 17.
Nxc5 $5 {Ich weiß nicht genau, wie gut dieser Zug eigentlich ist, aber Weiß
erhöht den Druck! Schwarz hat einen ganzen Turm für nur zwei Bauern, aber
seine Stellung ist schwer zu spielen.} bxc5 18. Qxc5 Ra6 {Erzwungen, nach
allen anderen Zügen steht Weiß bereits besser.} (18... Nc8 19. Bxb8 $16) 19.
Rb1 Nd7 (19... Ba8 {hätte das weiße Vorgehen wirklich auf die Probe gestellt.}
20. Nd4 Nd7 21. Qb4 Qe7 {und Schwarz beginnt sich zu konsolidieren.}) 20. Qe3+
Kf7 $2 {Schließlich unterläuft Schwarz ein schwerer Fehler.} ({Nach} 20... Qe7
21. Bxd6 Qxe3 22. fxe3 Ba8 23. Bb4 Rxa2 24. Bh3 {hat Schwarz immer noch
Materialvorteil, aber ganz sicher nicht genug, um Vorteil reklamieren zu
können; wenn überhaupt, dann hat Weiß die besseren Chancen in dieser Stellung.}
) 21. Bxd6 Ba8 (21... Rxd6 22. Rxb7 {und die Initiative wird allmählich immer
größer.}) 22. Qf4 Re8 23. Nd4 {Jetzt, wo das materielle Gleichgewicht
wiederhergestellt ist, steht Weiß offenkundig besser, aber die Partie ist noch
nicht vorbei.} Rxa2 $2 (23... Kg8 $1 {war der entscheidende Verteidigungszug,
der Shomoev am Leben gehalten hätte.}) 24. Bh3 $1 {Jetzt bricht die schwarze
Stellung zusammen.} Raxe2 (24... f5 25. Rc1 {would have lastest a few more
hätte ein paar Züge länger gedauert, aber mit dem weißen Turm auf der siebten
Reihe kann sich Schwarz wahrscheinlich nicht lange halten.}) 25. Nxe2 Rxe2 26.
Qh6 (26. Qh6 Nf8 27. Bg4 $1 Re8 28. Bxf8 $18) 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 66th"]
[Site "Nizhnij Novgorod"]
[Date "2013.10.06"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2013.10.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Be3 c5 8.
Rc1 Qa5 9. Qd2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qxd2+ 11. Kxd2 O-O 12. Bc4 Nc6 13. Ne2 Rd8 14.
Rhd1 Bxd4 15. Nxd4 Nxd4 16. Ke1 Nc6 17. Rxd8+ Nxd8 18. Bd5 Nc6 19. Bxc6 bxc6
20. Rxc6 Bb7 21. Rc4 a6 22. f3 Rc8 23. Rb4 Bc6 24. Bd2 Kf8 25. Rb6 Bb5 26. a3
Ke8 27. Rb7 Rd8 28. Ba5 Rd6 29. Rb8+ Kd7 30. Kf2 h5 31. Rb7+ Ke8 32. Rb8+ Kd7
33. Rb7+ Ke8 34. Bb4 Rd7 35. Rb8+ Rd8 36. Rb6 Rd7 37. h4 Rc7 38. g4 hxg4 39.
fxg4 f6 40. e5 Rc6 41. Rb7 Re6 42. exf6 Rxf6+ 43. Kg3 Rf3+ 44. Kxf3 Bc6+ 45.
Kf4 Bxb7 46. h5 gxh5 47. gxh5 Kf7 48. h6 Kg6 49. Bxe7 Kxh6 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-ch 66th"]
[Site "Nizhnij Novgorod"]
[Date "2013.10.07"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Andreikin, Dmitry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2706"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[Annotator "Friedel,J"]
[PlyCount "167"]
[EventDate "2013.10.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{For some reason, I always feel like Kramnik losing violates some basic law of
nature. Nevertheless, I'll do my best to explain how such a thing took place.} 
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 {Kramnik stuns the world by playing the Berlin.}
4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. dxe5 {This sideline is generally considered quite
tame.} (6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 {is the infamous endgame which
Kramnik made popular by using it to hold Kasparov at bay.}) 6... Nxb5 7. a4
Nbd4 {This is the safest choice for Black.} (7... d6 8. e6 fxe6 9. axb5 {
is for folk who are less sound in the head.}) 8. Nxd4 Nxd4 9. Qxd4 d5 10. exd6
Qxd6 {I'm sure at this point most people were expecting the players to repeat
moves and take a nap.} 11. Qe3+ $5 {This strange looking move isn't a novelty,
but it is hard to believe it is a serious try for advantage.} (11. Qe4+ Qe6 12.
Qd4 Qd6 {is the forced draw which has occurred in countless games.}) 11... Be6
(11... Be7 12. Nc3 c6 {is another option for Black.}) (11... Qe6 {is idiotic
now due to} 12. Qg3 {and Black is under some pressure.}) 12. Nc3 a6 {It is
worth investing a tempo to take away the b5 square from White's knight.} 13.
Rd1 Qc6 14. Rd3 {This bizarre looking move has actually been tried before.} Rc8
$6 {This move is too deep for me, but I fear that it is also too deep for the
position. The idea is to defend the weak c-pawn while not committing the
bishop yet, but I think it is just too slow.} (14... Be7 {I'm curious what
Andreikin's prep was here} 15. Nb5 O-O 16. Nd4 Qd5 17. Nxe6 Qxe6 18. Qxe6 fxe6
19. Be3 {Maybe his plan was to play into this ending, though in my opinion
White's advantage is pretty much symbolic} Bf6 20. c3 Rfd8 21. Rad1 Rxd3 22.
Rxd3 Rd8 23. Rxd8+ Bxd8 24. g4 e5 25. Kg2 Kf7 26. Kf3 Ke6 27. Ke4 c6 28. f3 b5
29. b3 g6 30. c4 Be7 31. Bd2 Bd8 32. Bc3 Bc7 33. Bd2 Bd8 34. Bc3 Bc7 35. Bd2 {
1/2-1/2 (35) Jones,G (2635)-Fressinet,L (2693) Plovdiv 2012}) (14... Bc5 15.
Qg3 f6 {is another interesting possibility for Black.}) 15. Ne2 $1 {Andreikin
uses the opportunity to improve his knight.} Bc5 (15... Qxc2 16. Nd4 {would be
ill-advised.}) 16. Qg3 f6 17. Be3 {Andreikin's play is very straightforward.
Once he forces the bishop trade, Black's dark squares will be hurting.} Bd6 18.
Bf4 Bxf4 19. Nxf4 O-O {This drops the c7-pawn, but Black had no better options.
} 20. Rc3 Qd6 21. Nxe6 Qxe6 22. Rxc7 Rxc7 23. Qxc7 Rc8 24. Qxb7 Rxc2 {The dust
has settled, and while White is up a pawn, Black has clear compensation due to
his active pieces. All the same, it is clear White got what he wanted from the
opening, not something most can claim when playing Kramnik.} 25. h3 Qe2 26.
Qb8+ Kf7 27. Qa7+ Kg8 28. b4 h6 29. Qb8+ Kh7 30. Qf4 {Play has been quite
logical so far. Black is trying to keep White as passive as possible while
keeping the pawns at bay. The problem is that it is impossible to do this
indefinitely.} Qe6 31. Qd4 Qe2 32. Qf4 Qe6 33. Rb1 Qa2 {This move makes Black
go down a bit quicker, but it is an understandable try, as otherwise Black
will simply be forced into passivity once the pawns gets rolling.} 34. Qf5+ Kg8
35. Rd1 {Now that Black's queen is out of the center, White focuses his
attention on the weak king.} Qxa4 (35... Rd2 36. Rxd2 Qxd2 37. Qb1 {is
hopeless.}) 36. Rd8+ (36. b5 $1 {was the simplest way to end it, the point
being that if} axb5 37. Rd8+ Kf7 38. Qh5+ {leads to mate.}) 36... Kf7 37. Qd5+
Kg6 38. Qd3+ (38. Qd1 $1 {is crushing now, as Black is left without a good
move. This kind of move is difficult to spot over the board, however.} Qc6 39.
Qg4+ Kf7 40. Rd7+ Ke8 41. Rxg7 $18) 38... Kf7 39. Rd7+ Ke8 40. Rd8+ Kf7 41.
Rd7+ Ke8 42. Rxg7 {White missed a couple knockout blows, but he correctly
assessses the rook ending as a win. Don't believe your computers here, folks.}
Qa1+ 43. Kh2 Qe5+ 44. Qg3 Qxg3+ (44... Rxf2 45. Qxe5+ fxe5 46. Rg6 Rb2 47. Rxa6
Rxb4 48. Rxh6 {is an easy win.}) 45. Kxg3 Rb2 46. Rb7 (46. Rh7 {is also good.})
46... Kf8 (46... a5 {is a more active try, but it isn't quite good enough.} 47.
Rb6 $1 {and White will collect Black's entire kingside, as bxa5 is a threat
now.} (47. b5 a4 48. b6 a3 {will liquidate the queenside pawns leading to a
theoretically drawn ending.}) 47... axb4 (47... Rxb4 48. Rxf6 h5 49. f4 a4 50.
Rf5 Rb2 51. Rxh5 $18) 48. Rxf6 h5 49. Rh6 Kd7 50. Rxh5 Kc6 51. Rh8 Rd2 52. Rb8
$18) 47. Rh7 Rb3+ 48. f3 Rxb4 49. Rxh6 {In general, White's kingside majority
should be enough to win these endings. The idea is to advance the kingside
pawns while making sure White's rook can get behind the a-pawn. Andreikin's
technique is instructive.} Kg7 50. Rh5 Ra4 51. h4 Kg6 52. Rc5 a5 53. h5+ Kg7 (
53... Kh6 54. Kh3 Ra1 55. Kg4 {is an easy win.}) 54. f4 Ra2 55. Kf3 a4 56. Ra5
a3 57. g4 Kh6 58. Ra6 Kg7 59. Ra7+ Kg8 (59... Kh6 60. Rf7 $18) 60. Ke4 Rg2 61.
Kf5 a2 62. h6 Kh8 63. g5 fxg5 64. fxg5 Rb2 65. Kg6 Rb6+ 66. Kh5 Rb5 (66... Rb2
{doesn't improve Black's chances.} 67. Ra8+ Kh7 68. g6#) 67. Rxa2 {Now we've
reached a basic endgame every Russian schoolboy knows. The plan is to put the
rook on the e-file, get the king out, and eventually play g6.} Kh7 68. Ra7+ Kg8
69. Rg7+ Kh8 70. Rf7 Kg8 71. Rf6 Kh7 72. Re6 Ra5 73. Re7+ Kg8 74. Kg6 Ra6+ 75.
Kf5 Ra1 76. g6 {Black has a lot of checks here, but inevitably his rook will
get forced back to the 8th, and then White will force a rook trade.} Rf1+ 77.
Ke5 Re1+ 78. Kd6 Rd1+ 79. Kc5 Rc1+ 80. Kb4 Rc8 81. Kb5 Ra8 82. Kb6 Rb8+ 83. Ka7
Rd8 84. Rb7 {with Rb8 coming next, Kramnik resigned. Andreikin recovered from
yesterday's bad loss and avenged the World Cup final all in one go!} 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 66th"]
[Site "Nizhnij Novgorod"]
[Date "2013.10.08"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Goganov, Aleksey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A05"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2575"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "143"]
[EventDate "2013.10.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Through an unusual move-order the game transposed into a fianchetto Dragon
Sicilian, which is not considered to be the most dangerous variation for Black,
but it is more positional than usual. Goganov lashed out with a quick e6-d5
which had never been tried before, and probalby for good reason. Despite
Black's slight compensation, he was after all just down a pawn. Kramnik
consolidated his pawn and proceeded to outplay Goganov in a technical endgame.
} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 g6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. e4 O-O 7. Nc3 Nc6 8.
Nde2 e6 (8... d6 {is the normal move.}) 9. O-O d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 exd5
12. Qxd5 Qxd5 13. Bxd5 Nb4 14. Bb3 Bh3 15. Re1 Bf5 16. c3 Nd3 17. Rd1 Rfe8 18.
Nf4 Nxc1 19. Raxc1 Bh6 20. Rd4 Rad8 21. Rxd8 Rxd8 22. Rd1 Rxd1+ 23. Bxd1 Be4
24. f3 Bc6 25. Kf2 Kf8 26. Bc2 f5 27. h4 Ke7 28. Bb3 Kf6 29. Bg8 Kg7 30. Bc4
Kf6 31. a3 b6 32. Ba6 Bf8 33. b4 h6 34. Ne2 g5 35. Bc8 Bd5 36. f4 gxh4 37. gxh4
Be4 38. Ng3 Bc2 39. Ba6 Bd6 40. Ke3 Ba4 41. Bc8 Bc2 42. Bd7 Kg6 43. Ne2 Bb1 44.
Nd4 a5 45. Be8+ Kf6 46. h5 axb4 47. axb4 Be4 48. Bc6 Bb1 49. Ba4 Ba2 50. Bb3
Bb1 51. Bc2 Bxc2 52. Nxc2 Ke6 53. Nd4+ Kf6 54. Nb5 Bb8 55. c4 Ke6 56. Nd4+ Kf6
57. c5 bxc5 58. bxc5 Ba7 59. c6 Bb6 60. Kf3 Ba5 61. Nb5 Ke6 62. Ke3 Bb6+ 63.
Kd3 Ke7 64. Nd4 Kf6 65. Kc4 Bc7 66. Ne2 Ke6 67. Kc5 Ke7 68. Kb5 Kd8 69. Nd4 Bd6
70. Kb6 Kc8 71. Ne6 Kb8 72. Kb5 1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 66th"]
[Site "Nizhnij Novgorod"]
[Date "2013.10.09"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Motylev, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C48"]
[WhiteElo "2676"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2013.10.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Nc3 O-O 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. Bg5 Qd6 8.
Qd2 a5 9. h3 Re8 10. Nh4 a4 11. a3 b5 12. O-O Nh5 13. Ne2 Bb6 14. g4 h6 15. Be3
Nf4 16. Nxf4 exf4 17. Bxf4 Qf6 18. Nf5 Qxb2 19. Kh2 h5 20. Rab1 Qxa3 21. Rg1
Bxf5 22. gxf5 Bd4 23. Bh6 Qd6+ 24. Kh1 Kf8 25. Bf4 Qc5 26. Be3 a3 27. Bxd4 Qxd4
28. c3 Qf6 29. f3 Red8 30. d4 c5 31. d5 c6 32. Qe3 cxd5 33. Qxc5+ Kg8 34. Qe3
a2 35. Ra1 dxe4 36. fxe4 Ra3 37. Rg3 h4 38. Rf3 b4 39. Qc5 Rxc3 40. Rxc3 Qxc3
0-1

[Event "RUS-ch 66th"]
[Site "Nizhnij Novgorod"]
[Date "2013.10.11"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Inarkiev, Ernesto"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B20"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2013.10.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. b3 Nc6 3. Bb2 d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. Nc3 Qe5+ 6. Qe2 Qxe2+ 7. Ngxe2 Bf5
8. O-O-O O-O-O 9. g3 e5 10. f4 exf4 11. Nxf4 Nf6 12. Bc4 Nd4 13. d3 Bd6 14.
Rdf1 Bd7 15. Nce2 Bxf4+ 16. Nxf4 Bc6 17. Rhg1 Rd7 18. Bxd4 cxd4 19. b4 b5 20.
Bb3 Ng4 21. Nh5 Nxh2 22. Rf2 Ng4 23. Rf4 f5 24. Be6 g6 25. Ng7 Ne5 26. Re1 Nf3
27. Re2 Rhd8 28. Bxd7+ Rxd7 29. Ne6 Rd6 30. Nf8 h5 31. Re6 Rxe6 32. Nxe6 Bd7
33. Nf8 Ng1 34. Kd1 Be8 35. Rxd4 Nf3 36. Rd6 g5 37. Ne6 Bd7 38. Nc5 Be8 39. Re6
Kd8 40. Nb7+ Kd7 41. Re3 g4 42. Nc5+ Kd8 43. Ne6+ Kd7 44. Nf4 Bf7 45. d4 h4 46.
Rxf3 gxf3 47. gxh4 Bxa2 48. Ke1 Ke7 49. d5 Kd6 50. h5 Ke5 51. h6 Kxf4 52. Kf2
1-0

[Event "RUS-ch 66th"]
[Site "Nizhnij Novgorod"]
[Date "2013.10.12"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Vitiugov, Nikita"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2013.10.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. g3 g6 6. Bg2 Bg7 7. Ng5 e6 8.
Nge4 Na6 9. d3 O-O 10. O-O b6 11. Bg5 f6 12. Nxd5 exd5 13. Nc3 Be6 14. Bf4 Qd7
15. d4 Rad8 16. Rc1 cxd4 17. Qxd4 g5 18. Bd2 Nc5 19. Qb4 d4 20. Ne4 d3 21. e3
Nxe4 22. Bxe4 Bxa2 23. b3 Qe6 24. Rc4 f5 25. Bg2 f4 26. exf4 gxf4 27. Re1 Qd6
28. Qa4 fxg3 29. hxg3 b5 30. Qxb5 Qb6 31. Qxb6 axb6 32. Rb4 Bd4 33. Re4 Bxf2+
34. Kh2 Rf6 35. Bg5 d2 36. Bxf6 d1=Q 37. Rg4+ Kf7 38. Bxd8 Bg1+ 39. Kh3 Qxd8
40. Rbf4+ Ke7 41. Re4+ Kf6 42. Ref4+ Ke7 43. Re4+ Kd6 44. Rd4+ Bxd4 45. Rxd4+
Ke7 46. Rxd8 Kxd8 47. Be4 Bxb3 48. Bxh7 b5 49. Kg4 Ke7 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-ch 66th"]
[Site "Nizhnij Novgorod"]
[Date "2013.10.13"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E07"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2762"]
[Annotator "Friedel,J"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2013.10.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Nc3 $5 {Kramnik likes to
surprise people early in the openings these days. This move is highly
inflexible compared to the main move 0-0, but it has a few points of its own.}
(6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 {has been played in countless games, with the idea of
simply recapturing on c4.}) 6... Nbd7 {Black doesn't try to punish White's
move order.} (6... dxc4 {is the main test, and now play continues} 7. Ne5 {
This move is the consistent path after 6.Nc3.} c5 {This is the way Black tries
to take advantage of White not having castled.} (7... Nc6 {The purpose of 6.
Nc3 is revealed in the following variation:} 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. Nxc6 Qe8 10. Nxe7+
Qxe7 11. Qa4 e5 {This move, which pretty much guarantees equality in the line
with 0-0 instead of Nc3, now simply gives White an advantage.} (11... c5 {
is to be recommended, transposing to more or less normal lines}) 12. Qxc4 exd4
13. Qxd4 {and Black doesn't have enough compensation for the pawn. Note how if
White had castled instead of playing Nc3, Black could take on e2 here.}) 8.
dxc5 Qxd1+ 9. Nxd1 Bxc5 {Typically in such endings, if White can complete
development in a normal fashion, that player will secure an advantage due to
his superior bishop on g2. The problem, however, is that coordinating White's
forces is not so easy. In the following recent game, Black neutralized White's
play quite easily.} 10. Ne3 Nbd7 11. N5xc4 Rb8 12. Na5 Ne5 13. Nec4 Bb4+ 14.
Bd2 Bxd2+ 15. Kxd2 Rd8+ 16. Kc3 Nxc4 17. Kxc4 b6 18. Nc6 Bb7 19. Kb3 Bxc6 20.
Bxc6 Ng4 21. f3 Ne3 22. Be4 Nf5 23. Bxf5 exf5 24. Rad1 Re8 25. Rhe1 g6 26. e4
fxe4 27. Rxe4 Rxe4 28. fxe4 Rb7 29. Rd4 Kf8 30. a4 Ke7 31. Kc3 h5 32. b4 Ke6
33. Kd3 a5 34. Ke3 f6 35. h4 Ra7 36. Kf4 Ra8 37. Rc4 axb4 38. Rxb4 Ra6 39. Rd4
Ra5 40. Rb4 Ra6 41. Rd4 Ra5 42. Rb4 {1/2-1/2 (42) Grischuk,A (2785)-Nakamura,H
(2772) Elancourt FRA 2013}) 7. b3 $1 {This move limits Black's possibilities
with regards to dxc4.} (7. O-O dxc4 8. e4 {is a risky but perfectly playable
alternative, simply sacrificing the c4-pawn for the usual Catalan central
pressure.}) 7... c6 8. O-O b6 {And now we've transposed to a closed Catalan!
I'd say this is a somewhat favorable version for White, however, since Black
hasn't forced White's bishop to d2 and thus has more options on how to force
play in the center.} 9. Bb2 Ba6 (9... Bb7 {is the main alternative.}) 10. Nd2 {
This is a common idea in order to push e4. It tends to be played if Black
can't easily pressure the d4 pawn, as the move's drawback is the fact that
pawns is now undefended.} Rc8 11. e4 dxe4 12. Re1 {A rare move, as people
usually immediately recapture the pawn with one of the two knights.} (12. Ncxe4
{looks like the better of the two captures, though it is likely that Kramnik
would rather not leave his knight on d2.}) (12. Ndxe4 b5 $132 {was probably
what Kramnik strived to avoid.}) 12... c5 {This move is consistent, but it
fails to equalize. On the other hand, I don't think playing slow moves like ...
Bb7 and ...Re8 is any better. Once you take on e4 you are pretty much
committed to playing for c5.} 13. Ndxe4 cxd4 14. Qxd4 {Due to his central
space and the oddly placed bishop on a6, I think White's opening can be
considered a success. An excellent example of how cleverness early in the game
can pay off! Even so, the advantage is not a big one.} Nc5 15. Qe3 Qc7 16. Nxc5
(16. Nb5 {I like this concrete approach.} Bxb5 17. Nxf6+ Bxf6 18. Bxf6 {
Qg5 is a threat, so the bishop must be taken} gxf6 19. cxb5 {and due to
Black's slightly weakened king, the c6 square, and the fact Black's knight on
c5 can be easily harassed, I think White should have a nice edge here.}) 16...
Bxc5 17. Qf3 Rfd8 {Now White's advantage is more difficult to prove.} 18. Ne2
$6 {I don't like this move, as it allows Black's bishop a freeing idea.} (18.
Nb5 Bxb5 19. cxb5 Rd2 {is not to be recommended.}) (18. Rad1 {may not look all
that exciting, but I think it was White's best option to keep up some pressure,
even if minimal.}) 18... Qe7 19. Rad1 Rxd1 20. Rxd1 Rd8 (20... b5 {would have
been more to the point, freeing his bishop immediately.}) 21. Rxd8+ Qxd8 22.
Nd4 {It has been a tense and high quality struggle thus far. Don't let the
innocuous appearance of these positions fool you - they require precision!} h5
$1 {Karjakin correctly assesses that this is the best way to provide
counterplay. He gives his king luft and allows for ...Ng4 ideas.} 23. Qa8 Bc8 {
Once again, best. The self-pin looks rather unusual, but Black will get
counterplay using the powerful bishop on c5.} (23... Qxa8 24. Bxa8 {is what
Kramnik was hoping for, and Black will have to struggle for the draw here.
White's plan is to play Kg2 followed by an eventual Nc6, and if Black takes on
d4 then he will suffer for a long time against the bishops.}) 24. Bf3 {This
move is quite understandable, covering the g4 and d1 squares.} (24. h3 Bxd4 25.
Bxd4 Qxd4 26. Qxc8+ Kh7 {doesn't looks like much.}) 24... Kh7 25. Ne2 {
Otherwise Black was going to snap off the knight.} Ng4 (25... Qd1+ 26. Kg2 Ng4
{was even more precise, preventing the idea White played in the game.}) 26. Bd4
$1 Bxd4 27. Qe4+ f5 28. Qxd4 {Now Black has to be cautious again, as the
c-pawn must be treated with caution and there are potential weaknesses.} Qe7
29. Nf4 $1 {The only real try for an advantage.} e5 30. Nd5 Qd6 31. Qd2 (31.
Qc3 {was a better square for the queen, which now supports the advance of the
c-pawn, and I think White is slightly better.}) 31... g6 32. b4 Kg7 {Accurate
play, planning ...Nf6.} 33. Qc1 Nf6 {It is slightly inaccurate here, however.}
(33... Be6 {first was better, as now c5 can't really be played.} 34. c5 (34. a3
$11) 34... bxc5 35. bxc5 Qc6 {with an annoying pin.}) 34. c5 bxc5 35. bxc5 (35.
Nxf6 {was simpler, and now after} Kxf6 36. bxc5 {White's c-pawn should present
some difficulties, though with accurate play Black should hold of course.})
35... Qc6 36. Qc3 e4 {... and here Nxf6 isn't an option.} 37. Nb4 (37. Nxf6
Qxf6 {and after the queen trade Black will be better due to his superior king.}
) 37... Qe6 38. Be2 a5 39. Nc2 Qxa2 {Now the position is still complicated but
White isn't better. In fact, I think accuracy is required by both sides now.}
40. c6 Qb1+ 41. Kg2 h4 {The c-pawn is a potential hazard, not to mention that
Black's king isn't the happiest camper. The reason why it is drawn is because
White's king can be made to feel uncomfortable as well.} 42. Qc5 f4 43. Qe7+
Kh6 44. Qf8+ {White opts for a perpetual instead of getting checkmated.} Kh7
45. Qf7+ Kh6 46. Qf8+ Kh7 47. Qf7+ Kh6 48. Qf8+ {A very high quality and
entertaining game!} 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-ch 66th"]
[Site "Nizhnij Novgorod"]
[Date "2013.10.14"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[Annotator "Friedel,J"]
[PlyCount "153"]
[EventDate "2013.10.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 157"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2013.11.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 g6 7. h4 {White is
playing an early h4 in every opening now, but especially the Grünfeld. Pretty
soon modern theory will progress to playing h4 on move two or three.} Bg7 8. h5
Bf5 {This is kind of a clever, move, not committing his king while developing
a piece. Also, Nb4 ideas are always in the air.} 9. Qb3 Ndb4 10. Kf1 {This
looks kinda sad, but what else? Also keep in mind that since the h1 rook is in
the game, this kind of king move isn't nearly as ugly.} Be6 11. Qa4 Qa5 12.
Qxa5 Nxa5 {Somehow I can't believe this ending can be problematic for Black.
Look at his active pieces!} 13. Ng5 Bd7 14. h6 {This is an interesting try,
attempting to run Black's bishop out of squares.} Bd4 15. Rb1 (15. d3 {I much
prefer, trying to finish his development with Bd2.}) 15... f6 16. Nge4 f5 (
16... c4 {looks simple and strong.}) 17. Nxc5 (17. Ng5 {looks much better than
the text, though after} Bf6 18. d3 Rc8 {followed by Bc6 it is clear Black is
doing fine.}) 17... Bxc5 18. a3 Nd3 $1 {An excellent concept, pitching a pawn
to entomb White's queenside.} 19. exd3 Nb3 {White's opening has been rather
uninspired.} 20. Rh4 Bc6 {Trading these bishops is logical from a positional
point of view, but it also takes up some time.} (20... e6 {was the main
alternative, preventing Bd5 and keeping Black's options open. Now if} 21. Bxb7
Rb8 22. Ba6 Be7 {White either has to retreat the rook into nothingness or sac
an exchange after} 23. Rc4 Nc5 24. Rxc5 Bxc5 25. b4 Bd4 {and I think Black is
definitely better.}) 21. Rc4 Bxg2+ 22. Kxg2 Kf7 23. Ne2 Rhd8 24. Rc3 Nd4 25.
Rxc5 Nxe2 26. Re5 Nd4 27. b4 {Nepomniachti has defended well, and now he's
more or less OK.} Nc6 28. Re3 Rd5 29. Bb2 Rad8 30. Bc3 a6 31. a4 Na7 32. Rbe1
R8d7 33. Re5 Nc6 34. Rxd5 Rxd5 35. Rb1 g5 {White is up a pawn, but as d3 and
h6 are both rather weak, I prefer Black.} 36. Re1 e6 37. Re3 Ne7 38. Be5 Nc6
39. Bc3 e5 40. Re1 g4 41. Rb1 Kg6 42. b5 axb5 43. axb5 Nd8 44. f3 {I'm not
sure about the objective value of this move, but it makes the game messy,
which is usually better for the defender.} gxf3+ 45. Kxf3 Rxd3+ 46. Ke2 e4 47.
Be5 Ne6 (47... Kxh6 {was a simpler continuation, and would have spared Black a
lot of grief.}) 48. Bf4 Rf3 (48... Nxf4+ {is safest but simply isn't enough to
win. Now after} 49. gxf4 b6 (49... Kxh6 50. Rh1+ Kg6 51. Rg1+ Kf6 52. Rh1 Rd7
53. Rh5 {and Black can't make any progress.}) 50. Rc1 Kxh6 51. Rc6+ Kh5 52.
Rxb6 Kg4 53. Rh6 Rb3 54. Rxh7 Rxb5 55. d3 Kxf4 56. dxe4 Rb2+ 57. Ke1 fxe4 58.
Rh3 {with a Philidor draw.}) 49. b6 Nd4+ 50. Ke1 Nc2+ 51. Ke2 Nd4+ 52. Ke1 Rb3
{At this point Kramnik realized he had to win, but even if not I'm sure he'd
have played on.} 53. Rc1 Rxb6 54. Rc8 Ne6 55. Be3 Rd6 {Black is up a pawn, but
winning will be rather difficult, especially since h6 can't be easily won now.}
56. Rg8+ Kf6 57. Rb8 Rd7 58. Kf2 Ke5 59. Ra8 Kf6 60. Rb8 Rf7 61. Ra8 Kg6 62.
Rg8+ Kh5 {Kramnik decides to go for it. I don't see how he could try to make
progress otherwise.} 63. Re8 Nf8 64. Kg2 Kg4 65. Rb8 Ng6 66. Rg8 Rd7 67. Kf2
Kh3 {It looks like Black is making progress, but in fact he has to be very
cautious. Rg7 must always be watched, and the b-pawn isn't so dangerous yet.}
68. Bg5 Ne5 69. Rg7 {I bet Black wishes he took that h6 pawn when he had the
chance.} b5 $2 {As normal as it looks, this move was a major error.} (69... Rd3
{Black had to give up on the h-pawn and start counterplay in the center.} 70.
Bf4 Ng4+ 71. Ke1 Nf6 72. Bg5 Ng4 73. Rxh7 Rxg3 74. Bf4 Rg1+ 75. Ke2 Rg2+ 76.
Kd1 Rf2 {Now Black should draw comfortably, for instance if} 77. Rg7 (77. Bg5
Kg3 78. Rxb7 Rh2 79. h7 f4 80. Rg7 e3 {is also drawn.}) 77... Rxf4 78. h7 Nf2+
79. Ke2 Rh4 80. Kxf2 f4 {it is an easy draw, since White can't support his
h-pawn.}) 70. Ke2 $1 b4 71. Bf4 {This is the problem. Black's pieces are badly
placed and the h-pawn will be a monster.} Nf7 (71... Rd5 {would have resisted
a bit better, though I think White should still win with best play. The
following is one possible continuation.} 72. Rxh7 b3 73. Rb7 Ng6 74. Be3 Rd8
75. Rxb3 Kxg3 76. Bg5+ Rd3 77. Rxd3+ exd3+ 78. Kxd3 Kg4 79. Bf6 Nf8 80. Bg7 Nh7
81. Ke2 Kf4 82. Kf2 {and Black is lost here. The plan for White is to for
Black to go after the d-pawn with his king, and then White will move up his
king to take the f-pawn. After this, despite only having the h-pawn left, the
knight on h7 is trapped.} Ng5 83. Kg2 Nh7 84. Kh3 Kg5 85. d4 Kg6 (85... f4 86.
d5 Kf5 87. d6 Ke6 88. Be5 $1 $18) 86. Kg3 Ng5 87. d5 Nf7 {Black can try to
reposition the knight, but it won't help.} 88. Kh4 Nd6 89. Be5 $1 Ne4 90. Bf4
Nc5 91. d6 {and White can win now by marching the king over to support the
d-pawn.}) 72. Rxh7 b3 73. Kd1 $1 {Once White covers the b-pawn with the king,
the h-pawn will simply start running.} (73. Be5 Rd5 $1 {gives Black some
counterchances.}) 73... e3 74. Bxe3 Rc7 75. Bd4 Kg2 76. Bc3 Kf2 77. Kc1 {
and Black resigned, as once White plays Kb2 he can play Rg7 and h7 at his
leisure. As a result, Nepomniatchi managed to catch Svidler. What a finish!} (
77. Kc1 Kxg3 78. Rg7+ Kf3 79. h7 $18) 1-0

[Event "WchT 9th"]
[Site "Antalya"]
[Date "2013.11.26"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2013.11.26"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Armenia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ARM"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5
9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Be7 11. exf6 Bxf6 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. g3 Bb7 14. Bg2 Na6
15. Ne4 Qe7 16. O-O O-O-O 17. h4 $146 {[%mdl 8] A surprising novelty in a
well-known position.} (17. a4 {is the theoretical continuation:} f5 $1 (17...
Kb8 18. Qd2 Nb4 (18... e5 19. axb5 Rxd4 20. Qa5 cxb5 21. Qxb5 Rh6 {1-0 (40)
Hoffmann,M (2493)-Vishnu,P (2340) Vlissingen 2011} 22. Ra5 $16) 19. Qf4+ Qc7 {
0-1 (42) Gavrikov,V (2550)-Kupreichik,V (2470) Riga 1985 URS-ch [Glatman]} 20.
Qf6 $1 Nd3 (20... Nd5 21. Qf3 $16) 21. Nc5 Nxc5 22. dxc5 $16) 18. axb5 (18. Nc3
b4 19. Ne2 Nc5 $1 20. Qc2 Nb3 21. Rad1 Ba6 22. Rfe1 (22. Bxc6 Kb8 $13) 22...
Kb8 23. Nf4 Nxd4 24. Rxd4 Rxd4 25. Rxe6 Qh7 26. h3 Rxf4 27. gxf4 Rg8 28. Qe2
Qc7 29. Re8+ Rxe8 30. Qxe8+ Bc8 $13 {1/2 (41) Bartholomew,J (2440)-Becerra
Rivero,J (2598) Philadelphia 2008}) 18... cxb5 19. Rxa6 $1 Bxa6 (19... fxe4 20.
Rxa7 Kb8 21. Ra5 Qh7 22. h4 Qf5 23. b3 $1 Rxh4 24. bxc4 Rhh8 25. Rxb5 Qh7 26.
Re1 $18 {1-0 (33) Sieciechowicz,M (2446)-Sethuraman,S (2547) Legnica 2010}) 20.
Nc5 Qxc5 21. dxc5 Rxd1 22. Rxd1 b4 $1 23. h4 Rd8 24. Rc1 {1-0 (47) Farmani
Anosheh,A (2216)-Thier,J (2105) St Leon Rot 2011} Rd2 25. h5 Rxb2 {[%cal Rb2d2]
} 26. Rd1 c3 27. h6 c2 28. Rc1 Rb1 29. h7 Rxc1+ 30. Kh2 Rd1 31. h8=Q+ Kc7 $11)
17... c5 $5 (17... f5 18. Ng5 {is White's idea}) (17... Kb8 $5 18. a4 (18. b3
$5) 18... e5 19. Qf3 Rxd4 20. axb5 cxb5 21. Rxa6 f5 22. Qa3 Qxa3 23. Rxa3 fxe4
$17 {0-1 (32) Kurilin,A (2299)-Simantsev,M (2541) Tula 2010 (the position
after 17.h4 arose in a different move order in this game)}) 18. a4 Rxd4 19. Qe2
b4 20. Rfd1 Bd5 {Black's redoubts in the centre look quite solid but...} 21.
Rac1 (21. Ng5 {should be checked; the position is extremely complicated in any
case.}) 21... Rxd1+ 22. Rxd1 Rd8 23. Rc1 (23. b3 f5 24. Ng5 Bxg2 25. Rxd8+ Kxd8
26. Kxg2 cxb3 27. Qxa6 b2 28. Qd3+ Ke8 $13 {S.Zagrebelny}) 23... Qb7 (23... Nc7
24. Nd2 $1 {- Black can't hold his c4 pawn anyway.}) 24. Rxc4 Qc6 $1 {[%mdl
256]} (24... Bxc4 $2 25. Nd6+ $1 Kb8 26. Qxc4 Qb6 27. Nxf7 {is clearly in
White's favour. So, White has restored material balance keeping some
positional plus thanks to his strong h-pawn and Black's poor a6 knight.
Although Black manages to defend, perhaps he should try something more
convincing in reply to 17.h4.}) 25. h5 $1 {[%csl Gh5]} (25. Nxc5 {is premature
due to} Bxc4 $1 26. Qxc4 Rd1+ 27. Kh2 Qxc5 28. Qxa6+ Kd8) 25... f5 (25... Bxc4
{is possible now but can't be recommended: after} 26. Qxc4 {Black's king can
hardly be protected against White's powerful g2 bishop.}) 26. Nxc5 $1 Bxc4 $1 (
26... Nxc5 27. Qc2 Bxg2 28. Rxc5 Rd1+ 29. Qxd1 Qxc5 30. Kxg2 $18) 27. Qxc4 Qxc5
28. Qxe6+ {That's the difference; however, gaining this pawn proves
insufficient for a win.} Kc7 29. Qxa6 Rd1+ 30. Kh2 f4 (30... Qxf2 {apparently
works; to} 31. h6 {Black can play} f4 {; White, of course, has a lot of checks
but nothing more.}) 31. Qb7+ Kd8 32. Qa8+ Ke7 33. Qe4+ Kd8 34. Qa8+ Ke7 35.
Qe4+ Kd8 36. Qxf4 (36. Qf3 Rd2 $132) (36. Qe2 Qd4 $132) 36... Qxh5+ 37. Bh3 {
White has two connected passed pawns for the exchange; however, they are
protecting White's king so it is not easy to push them. Therefore Black
eventually holds his ground:} Qc5 38. a5 Rd5 39. Qf6+ Ke8 40. Qe6+ Kf8 41. Qf6+
Ke8 42. Bg4 Qd4 43. Qe6+ Kf8 44. Qh6+ Ke7 45. Qe6+ Kf8 46. Kg2 Rd6 47. Qc8+ Kg7
48. Qc7+ Kf8 49. Qc8+ Kg7 ({It was possible to play on without any risk:} 49...
Kg7 50. Bf3 {but Vladimir Kramnik was probably tired after such a tense game.})
1/2-1/2

[Event "WchT 9th"]
[Site "Antalya"]
[Date "2013.11.27"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E36"]
[WhiteElo "2786"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2013.11.26"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "US of America"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "USA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 d5 7. Nf3 dxc4 8.
Qxc4 b6 9. Bg5 Ba6 10. Qc3 {A rare continuation in this popular line.} (10. Qa4
{and}) (10. Qc2 {are usually played. In the latter case after} Nbd7 11. Ne5 {
doesn't promise anything due to} c5 $1 {, e.g.} 12. Nxd7 Qxd7 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14.
dxc5 Rac8 15. Rd1 Qb5 16. e3 Qa5+ 17. Qd2 Qxd2+ 18. Rxd2 Bxf1 19. Rxf1 Rxc5 $11
{1/2 (64) Rotstein,A (2519)-Tischbierek,R (2507) Austria 2004}) 10... h6 (10...
Nbd7 {is quite logical; White can play} 11. Ne5 (11. Qc6 Rc8 12. Rd1 Nb8 13.
Qa4 Qd5 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. h4 Bc4 16. Qb4 Bb3 17. Rd3 Bc2 18. Rd2 c5 $132 {
1/2 (40) Shen,Y (2453)-Xu Yuhua (2485) JinZhou 2009}) {but it is hardly
dangerous in view of} 11... Nxe5 ({the idea of 10.Qc3 is seen in the line} 
11... c5 12. Nxd7 Qxd7 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. dxc5 {[%cal Rc3f6]}) 12. dxe5 Ne4 13.
Bxd8 Nxc3 {, e.g.} 14. Bxc7 (14. Bh4 Nd5) 14... Rfc8 15. Bd6 Ne4 {[%cal Rc8c2]}
16. f3 Nxd6 17. exd6 Rc2 18. e4 Bxf1 19. Rxf1 Rxg2 20. Rc1 Rd8 21. Rf2 Rg1+ 22.
Rf1 Rg2 23. Rf2 Rg1+ 24. Rf1 Rg2 {1/2 (24) Shen,Y (2435)-Xu Yuhua (2488)
Ulaanbaatar 2010}) 11. Bxf6 $1 (11. Bh4 $143 g5 12. Bg3 Ne4 13. Qc2 Qd5 14. Nd2
(14. Ne5 $5 $13) 14... Nxd2 15. Qxd2 Nc6 16. e3 Bxf1 17. Rxf1 Na5 $15 {1/2 (41)
Maiorov,N (2538)-Lekic,D (2430) Anogia GRE 2013}) 11... Qxf6 12. g3 $5 (12. e3
Bxf1 13. Kxf1 c5 $1 $11) (12. Rc1 Bb7 (12... Rc8 13. e3 Bxf1 14. Kxf1) 13. e3
Nd7 14. Bb5 c6 15. Be2 c5 $11) 12... Bb7 {A small inaccuracy. The bishop was
putting pressure on the e2-square; there was no need to remove it.} (12... c5 {
was quite possible and simple:} 13. dxc5 (13. Bg2 Nd7 14. Ne5 Rad8) 13... Qxc3+
14. bxc3 Rc8 $1 15. Bg2 Bb7 16. cxb6 axb6 {, and Black's counterplay is enough
for a draw}) 13. Bg2 Na6 $6 {[%mdl 32] To the edge of the board?} (13... c5 14.
O-O Nd7 {was still quite good.}) 14. O-O c5 15. Rac1 Rac8 (15... cxd4 16. Qxd4
Qxd4 (16... Qe7 17. b4) 17. Nxd4 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 {leads to a typical endgame,
where White's knight, aiming at the c6 square, is stronger than Black's.}) 16.
Ne5 cxd4 (16... Qe7 17. Rfd1 Rfd8 18. Qe3 $14 cxd4 $140 19. Rxc8 $1 Rxc8 20.
Rxd4) 17. Qxd4 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 $14 {Here, too, White keeps the better prospects
due to his stronger knight.} Nc5 19. b4 (19. Qe3 $5 Qe7 20. Rfd1 {[%cal Rb2b4]
deserved attention. It was not easy for Black to release pressure. The text
move leads to a more forced play, in which White keeps an edge, too.}) 19...
Nb3 20. Rxc8 Rxc8 ({Also after} 20... Nxd4 21. Rxf8+ Kh7 22. Nxf7 Qf5 $1 {
White keeps an edge with accurate play:} 23. f3 $1 (23. h4 Qe4+ 24. f3 Qxe2+
25. Rf2 Qe1 $132) 23... Nxe2 (23... Qb5 $143 24. Rd8 Qxe2+ 25. Rf2 Qe3 26. h4
$16) 24. Re1 $1 Qc2 (24... Nd4 $2 25. Rh8+ Kg6 26. Ne5+) 25. Rh8+ Kg6 26. Ne5+
Kh5 (26... Kf6 27. Kf1 $1) 27. Kf1 $1 (27. Kh3 Qd2 $1 28. Rf1 Qe3 $13) 27...
Nc1 28. Re4 Qd1+ 29. Kg2 Qc2+ 30. Kh3 $16 {[%csl Rh5]}) 21. Qd7 {[%csl Rb3]}
Rf8 (21... Rd8 22. Qc7 {[%cal Re5f7]} Rd2 (22... Nd4 23. Rd1) 23. Nd7 $16) 22.
f4 $16 {Black's main trouble is his ill-fated knight.} Qf5 23. Rf3 Qc2 24. Qd3
$1 Qxd3 25. Rxd3 {[%mdl 4096]} Nc1 26. Rd2 (26. Rd7 $5 Nxe2 27. Rxa7 $16 {
was more energetic - White has more active pieces and a potential passed
a-pawn.}) 26... Rc8 (26... Nb3 27. Rd7 a5 28. Rb7) 27. h4 h5 28. b5 Rc7 29. Nc6
Kh7 (29... Nb3 30. Rd8+ Kh7 31. Ra8 {. With the text move Black parries this
threat but now his knight doesn't come out.}) 30. Rb2 $1 a5 {After this move
the b6 pawn becomes weak but passive defence was hardly more stubborn:} (30...
f6 31. Kf2 Rd7 32. Ke3 Kg6 33. Rb4 {[%cal Yb4a4,Ya4a7]}) (30... a6 $2 {loses
due to} 31. Rc2 {[%cal Rc2c1,Rb5a6]}) 31. Kf2 Rd7 32. Ne5 Rc7 33. Rd2 (33. Ke3
$5) 33... f6 34. Nd7 {[%cal Rd7b6,Rd7f8]} Nb3 35. Nf8+ (35. Rd1 $6 Nc5 36. Nxb6
Rb7) ({The rook ending after} 35. Rd6 Nc5 36. Nxc5 Rxc5 37. Rxb6 Rc3 {gives
Black good drawing chances}) 35... Kg8 36. Rd7 Rxd7 $2 {The knight endgame
with an extra pawn is completely winning for White.} (36... Rc3 $1 {was a must,
and Black should apparently survive:} 37. Nxe6 Nc5 38. Rxg7+ (38. Nxc5 Rxc5 39.
a4 Rc4 40. Rb7 Rxa4 41. Rxb6 Rb4) 38... Kh8 39. Re7 Ne4+ 40. Kf1 Nxg3+ 41. Ke1
Rxa3 {etc.}) 37. Nxd7 Nd4 (37... a4 38. Ke3 $18) 38. a4 $1 Nxb5 {Desperation.
Black's a-pawn will be stopped.} 39. axb5 a4 40. Nc5 $1 a3 41. Nb3 a2 42. Ke3
Kf7 43. Kd4 Ke7 44. e4 {[%cal Yd4c3,Yc3b2]} e5+ 45. fxe5 Ke6 46. Na1 fxe5+ 47.
Kc3 g5 (47... Kd6 48. Nb3) 48. Kb2 gxh4 49. gxh4 Kd6 50. Nb3 1-0

[Event "WchT 9th"]
[Site "Antalya"]
[Date "2013.11.28"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Li, Chao B"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2679"]
[PlyCount "140"]
[EventDate "2013.11.26"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "China"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CHN"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. b3 Bg7 4. Bb2 O-O 5. Bg2 d5 6. c4 c6 7. d3 a5 8. Nbd2
Na6 9. a3 Bg4 10. O-O Bxf3 11. Nxf3 e6 12. Qc2 Qe7 13. Bc3 Nd7 14. Bxg7 Kxg7
15. Qc3+ Qf6 16. Qxa5 Nac5 17. Qb4 Ra6 18. d4 Rb6 19. Qc3 Nxb3 20. Rab1 dxc4
21. Qxc4 Na5 22. Qc3 Rxb1 23. Rxb1 b6 24. Nd2 e5 25. d5 cxd5 26. Bxd5 Qd6 27.
Rb5 Nc5 28. Bf3 Rd8 29. Nf1 Qd4 30. Qxd4 Rxd4 31. Rxb6 e4 32. Bg2 Rd1 33. h4
Ra1 34. Rb5 Nab3 35. g4 f5 36. gxf5 gxf5 37. e3 Kf6 38. Bh3 Ke5 39. Kg2 f4 40.
exf4+ Kxf4 41. Ne3 Rxa3 42. Bg4 Ra5 43. Rb8 Ra7 44. Rf8+ Ke5 45. Rf5+ Kd4 46.
Rd5+ Kc3 47. Nd1+ Kb4 48. Kg3 Nc1 49. Rd4+ Kb3 50. Ne3 Rg7 51. Rd5 N1d3 52. Rg5
Ra7 53. h5 Kc3 54. h6 Ra6 55. Rh5 Rg6 56. Nd5+ Kd4 57. Ne7 Rf6 58. Nf5+ Kc3 59.
Ne3 Rg6 60. Nd5+ Kd4 61. Ne7 Rf6 62. Bf5 Ne5 63. Bxh7 Rf3+ 64. Kg2 Ncd3 65. Rf5
Nf4+ 66. Rxf4 Rxf4 67. Nf5+ Kd3 68. Ng3 Nf7 69. Bxe4+ Rxe4 70. Nxe4 Kd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "WchT 9th"]
[Site "Antalya"]
[Date "2013.11.29"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Mamedov, Rauf"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C26"]
[WhiteElo "2647"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2013.11.26"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Azerbaijan"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 d5 4. exd5 Nxd5 5. Bg2 Nf6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O Bc5 8.
d3 O-O 9. Be3 Bb6 10. Re1 Re8 11. h3 h6 12. g4 Ba5 13. Bd2 Bd7 14. a3 Rb8 15.
b4 Bb6 16. Na4 Nd4 17. Nxb6 Nxf3+ 18. Qxf3 cxb6 19. Qg3 Rc8 20. Rac1 Bc6 21.
Rxe5 Rxe5 22. Qxe5 Bxg2 23. Kxg2 Qd7 24. Qf5 Qxf5 25. gxf5 b5 26. Rg1 Rd8 27.
Kf3 Kf8 28. Be3 b6 29. Ke2 Rd5 30. c4 Rxf5 31. Rc1 Ke7 32. a4 bxa4 33. Ra1 b5
34. Bxa7 Kd7 35. cxb5 Rxb5 36. Rxa4 Nd5 37. Bd4 g5 38. Ra7+ Ke8 39. Ra8+ Kd7
40. Ra7+ Ke8 41. Ra8+ Kd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "WchT 9th"]
[Site "Antalya"]
[Date "2013.12.02"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Ipatov, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2630"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[Annotator "Sumets,A"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2013.11.26"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Turkey"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "TUR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 h6 4. Bh4 {White could have tried to seize the
centre after Bxf6:} (4. Bxf6 Qxf6 5. e4 d6 (5... d5) (5... c5) 6. Nc3 Nd7 7.
Qd2 a6 8. O-O-O Qe7 (8... Qd8 9. g4 g6 10. h4 Bg7 11. e5 d5 (11... b5 $5 12.
Bg2 Bb7) 12. Ne2 c5 13. c3 b5 14. Nf4 $6 (14. Kb1 Rb8 15. Rc1 $13) 14... Qb6
15. dxc5 Qxc5 (15... Nxc5 $1 16. Qe3 b4) 16. Qd4 Rb8 17. Nd3 Qc7 18. Kb1 a5 19.
Be2 Ba6 20. Rc1 O-O 21. Rhe1 Rfc8 $15 {Bellon Lopez,J (2422)-Laznicka,V (2704)
Caleta 2012 0-1 (56)}) 9. Bd3 g6 10. Rhe1 Bg7 11. h4 O-O 12. e5 c5 (12... d5 $5
13. Ne2 c5 14. dxc5 Nxc5 15. Ned4 b5 $132) 13. Ne4 cxd4 14. Nxd6 (14. exd6 $5
Qd8 15. g4) 14... Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Qxd6 16. f4 b5 17. h5 $6 g5 18. Qe2 f5 $6 (
18... gxf4 $1 19. Qe4 f5 20. Qxa8 Bxe5 $17) 19. fxg5 Bxe5 20. Qxe5 Qxe5 21.
Rxe5 hxg5 22. g4 $13 {Chernyshov,K (2531)-Volokitin,A (2679) Sochi 2005 1-0 
(41)}) 4... d6 5. e3 g5 {Black insists on trading White's dark-squared bishop.}
6. Bg3 Nh5 7. Bd3 (7. c4 Bg7 8. Nc3 O-O 9. Nd2 Nxg3 $8 10. hxg3 Nd7 11. Be2 c5
12. Nb3 Qe7 13. Qd2 cxd4 (13... b6 $5 14. O-O Bb7 $11) 14. Nxd4 Nb6 15. Rd1 Bd7
16. O-O Rfd8 17. Rfe1 Be8 18. e4 Rac8 $11 {Bu Xiangzhi (2673) -Bocharov,D 
(2594) Moscow 2010 1-0 (48)}) 7... Bg7 {Certainly Kramnik doesn't want to take
the bishop immediately.} 8. Nbd2 Qe7 9. c3 (9. Qe2 Nd7 10. c3 a6 11. O-O-O b5
12. Nb3 O-O 13. Nbd2 $2 {This is actually a waste of time} Nxg3 14. hxg3 c5 15.
dxc5 Nxc5 16. Bc2 Rb8 17. Nd4 Bd7 18. Rh5 b4 19. c4 f5 20. g4 fxg4 21. Qxg4 e5
22. Nf5 Rxf5 23. Bxf5 Nd3+ 24. Kc2 Nxf2 25. Qf3 Bxf5+ 26. Qxf5 Rf8 {0-1
Stefanova,A (2480)-Georgiev,K (2675) Recklinghausen 1998}) 9... Nd7 10. Qc2 a6
{The main line and it seems to be the best setup. Black also can play ...Nb6, .
..Bd7 and possibly 0-0-0.} (10... Nb6 11. O-O-O Bd7 12. e4 Rc8 $5 {A risky move
} (12... O-O-O {Black has at least an equal position.}) 13. d5 e5 14. Nf1 f5
15. exf5 Nxd5 16. f6 $6 (16. Ne3 $1 Ndf4 17. Be4 c6 18. Bxf4 Nxf4 (18... exf4
$2 19. Nc4 $18) 19. g3 Nh5 20. Nc4 $1 d5 21. f6 Nxf6 22. Bg6+ Kf8 23. Ncxe5 $16
) 16... Nhxf6 17. Bg6+ Kf8 18. Qb3 Qe6 19. Qxb7 a5 20. N1d2 Nb6 21. Rhe1 (21.
Kb1 a4 22. Rhe1 a3 23. b3 Nfd5) 21... Qxa2 22. Nb1 $2 (22. Bxe5 dxe5 23. Nxe5
$13) 22... Nfd5 $17 {Mueller,K (2490)-Wahls,M (2540) Dudweiler 1996 0-1 (78)})
11. O-O-O b5 12. Nb3 Rb8 {In the position hich has arisen it is quite hard for
White to find a plan.} 13. Kb1 {In the game examined, Alexander opted for Nb3,
Nfd2 with the possible continuation f4 or f3 and e4. It didn't work well.
Perhaps he could have tried to come up with an 'ugly' plan connected with h4.
In any case I think that Black is OK.} (13. Na5 Rb6 14. Kb1 c5 {leads to a
similar position.}) 13... O-O 14. Nfd2 (14. h4 $6 {A premature move} g4 15.
Nfd2 Nxg3 16. fxg3 Nf6 17. e4 Nh5 18. Nf1 c5 $17) 14... f5 15. f3 ({Maybe now
it was time to play} 15. h4 $5 Nxg3 16. fxg3 c5 17. Na5 Rb6 18. g4 fxg4 (18...
c4 $5 19. Be2 (19. Bxc4 $2 bxc4 20. Ndxc4 Bb7 $1 21. Nxb7 (21. Nxb6 $4 Be4)
21... Rxb7 $17) 19... d5 20. hxg5 Qxg5 21. gxf5 exf5 $13) 19. hxg5 Qxg5 20. Ne4
Qe7 21. Ng3 $44) 15... Nxg3 16. hxg3 c5 17. Na5 Rb6 18. f4 $6 {Now Black is
certainly better} (18. e4 $5 {The only move, which allows him to keep the
tension on the board. Black has several good options.} fxe4 (18... c4 $5 19.
Bxc4 {A forced decision} (19. Be2 $6 Nf6 20. Rde1 Qc7 $17) 19... bxc4 20. Ndxc4
fxe4 (20... Rb5 $2 21. Nc6 Qf6 22. Nxd6 $16) 21. fxe4 Qd8 22. Nxb6 Qxb6 23. Nc4
Qc7 $13 {The position remains unclear but here I would prefer to have the
black pieces.}) 19. fxe4 (19. Bxe4 $6 d5 20. Bh7+ Kh8 21. Rde1 c4 $40 {It
seems that White will be mated soon}) 19... Nf6 (19... e5 $5 20. d5 Nf6 (20...
c4 $5 21. Bxc4 (21. Be2 Nf6 22. Rdf1 Bd7 $15) 21... bxc4 22. Ndxc4 Rb5 23. a4
Rxa5 24. Nxa5 Nf6 25. Nc6 Qc7 26. Rhe1 Bb7 27. Qd3 $13) 21. Nc6 Qc7 22. c4 Bb7
23. Na5 Bc8 24. Nc6 $11) 20. e5 dxe5 21. dxc5 Qxc5 22. Ne4 Nxe4 23. Bxe4 Rd6
24. Qe2 $44 {White has some compensation for the sacrificed pawn}) 18... d5 19.
b4 $5 {Alexander decided to sacrifice a pawn. Otherwise his opponent would
have got an easy game.} (19. dxc5 Nxc5 20. Be2 Bd7 21. Nab3 Na4 {with ...b4
following.}) 19... c4 $1 (19... cxb4 $6 20. cxb4 Qxb4+ 21. Ndb3 g4 22. Rc1 Qd6
23. Qc7 $44) 20. Be2 Nf6 {White does not have any plan. He is just waiting.}
21. Rdf1 Bd7 $17 {Black has several plans to win the game.  1) He can double
rooks on the g-file and open files on the king side after gxf. The
disadvantage of this plan is the position of the black king on the kingside.
White could get some counterplay.  2) White's knight on a5 has no squares to
escape to, so Black could try to prepare ...Bf6, Bd8, Ba5 or Bf8, Bd6 (Be7),
Bc7(Bd8), Ba5. 3) Breakthrough in the centre after ...e5.} 22. Qd1 g4 23. Kb2
Rf7 24. Qc1 Bf8 25. Kc2 Rh7 26. Rh2 Be8 27. Rfh1 Nd7 28. Qb2 h5 29. Kc1 (29.
Re1 Bg6 30. Reh1 {preventing ...h4} e5 31. fxe5 Nxe5 32. dxe5 Qxe5 $19) 29...
e5 $1 30. dxe5 Nxe5 31. fxe5 Qxe5 {Black is a piece down, but his position
seems to be winning. White can afford to give up the e3-pawn, so he is forced
to play Nf1. As you can see, after Nf1 all White's pieces are in a ridiculous
situation.} 32. Nf1 Bg7 33. a3 ({The most stubborn continuation was} 33. Kd2
Bf6 34. Bd1 Bg6 (34... Bg5 35. Kc1) 35. Bc2 Bg5 36. Kc1 Re6 37. Kb1 Bf6 $19 {
White will lose the pawns placed on c3 and e3. His position is lost.}) 33...
Qxc3+ 34. Qxc3 Bxc3 35. Bd1 Re6 36. Bc2 Bg6 $19 {The game is over.} 37. Nd2 (
37. e4 fxe4 38. Ne3 Rd6 39. Rd1 d4 $19) 37... Rxe3 38. Rd1 Bf6 39. Rhh1 (39.
Nc6 Rc7 {and the white knight should go back to a5.}) 39... d4 40. Rde1 Rhe7
41. Rxe3 Rxe3 0-1

[Event "WchT 9th"]
[Site "Antalya"]
[Date "2013.12.03"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2732"]
[Annotator "Mikhalchishin,A"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2013.11.26"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Netherlands"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "NED"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Qc7 8.
g3 e5 9. dxe5 Nxe5 10. Bf4 Nfd7 11. Bg2 g5 {This line revived by Morozevich
has been tried by Giri many times with White and Black, but with very
miserable results!} 12. Nxe5 ({Vladimir has tried another principled line here
} 12. Ne3 gxf4 13. Nxf5 O-O-O 14. Qc2 Nc5 $146 (14... Ng4 $6) (14... fxg3 15.
hxg3 Kb8 16. O-O-O Bb4 17. Na2 Bc5 18. e3 a5 19. Kb1 Bb6 20. Nc3 Nc5 21. Nd4 h6
22. Rh5 Na6 23. Na2 Nc5 24. Nc3 Na6 25. Na2 Nc5 26. Nc3 {1/2 Giri,A (2686)
-Aronian,L (2805)/Wijk aan Zee 2011/}) (14... Kb8 15. O-O fxg3 16. hxg3 h5 17.
e3 Nc5 18. b4 Ncd3 19. b5 cxb5 20. axb5 Bc5 21. Qa4 h4 {Giri,A (2717)-Holzke,F
(2508)/Plovdiv 2012 with very sharp play.}) 15. O-O Ne6 16. Rad1 Bc5 17. Ne4
Bb4 18. Qc1 fxg3 19. hxg3 Rxd1 20. Rxd1 Rd8 $11 {Kramnik,V (2797)-Morozevich,A
(2749)/Astana 2001}) ({Even a very primitive solution is possible:} 12. Bxe5
Nxe5 13. Qd4 f6 14. Ne3 Bg6 15. a5 a6 16. O-O Rd8 17. Qa4 Bc5 18. Ne4 Be7 19.
f4 gxf4 20. gxf4 Nd7 21. Qc4 Qb8 22. Kh1 Kf8 23. Rad1 Qa7 24. Rd4 {Ernst,S 
(2587)-Giri,A (2585)/Leeuwarden 2009 with the initiative.}) 12... gxf4 13. Nxd7
O-O-O 14. Qd4 Qxd7 15. Qxf4 Bd6 16. Qc1 Kb8 ({A possible option was} 16... a5
17. O-O Be5 $2 (17... Kb8) 18. Nb5 $1 Qe7 19. Na7+ Kb8 20. Nxc6+ bxc6 21. Qxc6
Ka7 22. Qb5 Bc8 23. Qxa5+ Ba6 24. Rac1 $18 {Kramnik,V (2809)-Morozevich,A 
(2742)/Monaco (rapid) 2002}) 17. O-O h5 ({This is better than the slow} 17...
Qe7 18. a5 a6 19. Ra4 Bc7 20. Ne4 (20. Rh4 Rhg8 21. Kh1 Rg4 22. Rxg4 Bxg4 23.
Qh6 Qb4 24. Qxh7 Qxb2 25. Qg7 Bxe2 {Kempinski,R (2532)-Morozevich,A (2707)/
Bled 2002. Black takes the initiative.}) 20... Rd5 21. Rc4 Rxa5 22. Nc5 Bc8 (
22... Rb5 23. b4 Rd8 24. Bf3 Be6 25. Re4 Bd6 26. Nxe6 fxe6 27. Qh6 e5 28. Rd1
Rxb4 29. Rxb4 Bxb4 30. Rxd8+ Qxd8 31. Qxh7 a5 {Kandyba,L (2361)-Prizant,J 
(2470)/Tula 2004 with a very sharp endgame.}) 23. Qc2 Rb5 24. e3 {1/2 Kramnik,
V (2807)-Anand,V (2755)/Russia - ROW (rapid) 2002}) 18. h4 {Kramnik believes
that White can stop Black's initiative.} Rhg8 19. a5 a6 20. Ra4 Bc7 21. Ne4 $1
{Absolutely correct - returning the pawn. Kramnik explained that Black has
more serious weaknesses on the king's flank.} Bxe4 22. Rxe4 Bxa5 23. Qc5 Bc7 (
23... Qd5 {was wrong:} 24. Qxd5 Rxd5 25. Re7 Rd2 26. Bf3 Rxb2 27. Rxf7 {
and after winning the h5-pawn, the white pawn mass will be tremendously strong.
}) 24. e3 ({Materialism was bad:} 24. Qxh5 f5 25. Re3 f4) 24... f5 25. Rd4 Qe6
26. Rfd1 Rxd4 27. Qxd4 ({Another capture was much weaker:} 27. Rxd4 Bxg3 28.
fxg3 Qxe3+ 29. Kf1 Qxg3 30. Qd6+ Qxd6 31. Rxd6 Rg4) 27... Be5 ({Kramnik
believed that the best chances for equal play were promised by} 27... Qb3 28.
Rd3 Qc2 {, but Giri intended to sacrifice on g3. And to Kramnik's surprise he
did it extremely soon!}) 28. Qb4 ({Maybe slightly better would be the other
queen retreat} 28. Qc5 Bxb2 29. Rb1 Be5 30. Bxc6) 28... Bxg3 $5 29. fxg3 Qxe3+
30. Kf1 Qxg3 31. Rd2 ({White can not give up his main weapon in the endgame -
the h4-pawn.} 31. Qd6+ Qxd6 32. Rxd6 Rg4) 31... Qg4 ({A serious option was} 
31... Rg4 32. Qf8+ Ka7 33. Qc5+ Kb8 34. Re2 Qd3 {and it is not clear how White
can improve his position.}) 32. Qd4 f4 33. Bxc6 $5 {Kramnik decides on a
forced play.} (33. Qf2 {was possible:} Rf8 34. Rd3 Qf5 35. Qd4 $14) 33... f3 $2
(33... bxc6 $2 {was also wrong:} 34. Qb6+ Ka8 35. Qxc6+ Kb8 36. Qb6+ Ka8 37.
Qxa6+ Kb8 38. Qb5+ Ka8 39. Qd5+ $3 Kb8 40. Rg2 $3 $18 {transposing into a
winning pawn ending.}) ({Kramnik said that during the game he could not
evaluate the strongest move} 33... Rc8 {which led to a draw.}) 34. Bd7 $1 Qg3
35. Qd6+ {Transferring into an easily winning endgame as White keeps his
h4-pawn.} Qxd6 36. Rxd6 Kc7 ({Or} 36... Rd8 37. Rd5) 37. Rd5 Rg2 38. b3 Rh2 39.
Rd4 $1 b5 40. Be8 Kb6 41. Bxh5 1-0

[Event "WchT 9th"]
[Site "Antalya"]
[Date "2013.12.04"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2731"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2013.11.26"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Ukraine"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "UKR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 d5 7. Bb5 Ne4 8. cxd4
Bb6 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Be3 Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. Qc2 Bg6 13. Qb3 Ne7 14. Nh4 c5 15.
Nxg6 hxg6 16. dxc5 Nxc5 17. Bxc5 Bxc5 18. O-O Bd4 19. Rad1 Bxe5 20. Nxd5 Nxd5
21. Rxd5 Qf6 22. Rfd1 Rac8 23. Qe3 Bxb2 24. Qxa7 b6 25. Qa4 Rfd8 26. Bc4 Rxd5
27. Bxd5 Be5 28. g3 Qf5 29. Qb5 Bc7 30. Kg2 Bxg3 31. Qxb6 Bh4 32. Qd4 Bxf2 33.
Bxf7+ Qxf7 34. Qxf2 Qxf2+ 35. Kxf2 Rc2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "WchT 9th"]
[Site "Antalya"]
[Date "2013.12.05"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ezat, Mohamed Mahmoud"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2454"]
[PlyCount "180"]
[EventDate "2013.11.26"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Egypt"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "EGY"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. b3 c5 7. Bb2 Nc6 8. e3 b6
9. Nc3 Bb7 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 Qxd5 12. d4 Rad8 13. Ne5 Qxg2+ 14. Kxg2 Nxe5+
15. f3 cxd4 16. exd4 Nc6 17. Rc1 Rd7 18. a3 Rfd8 19. Qe2 Bf6 20. b4 e5 21. d5
Rxd5 22. Rfd1 Nd4 23. Bxd4 exd4 24. Rc7 Bc8 25. Rxa7 d3 26. Qe4 Be6 27. a4 d2
28. Qe2 Rd4 29. Qe3 h6 30. a5 bxa5 31. bxa5 Rd3 32. Qe2 Bb3 33. Ra8 Bxd1 34.
Qxd3 Rxa8 35. Qxd2 Rd8 36. Qe3 Ba4 37. a6 Bc6 38. a7 Ba8 39. Qf4 Bg5 40. Qb8 g6
41. Qe5 Rf8 42. h4 Bd8 43. h5 gxh5 44. Qxh5 Bg5 45. Kh3 Kg7 46. f4 Bf6 47. Qg4+
Kh8 48. Qf5 Kg7 49. g4 Rd8 50. Kg3 Re8 51. Qc5 Rd8 52. Qb5 Rc8 53. g5 hxg5 54.
fxg5 Ba1 55. g6 Bf6 56. gxf7 Rc3+ 57. Kg4 Kxf7 58. Qd7+ Kf8 59. Kh5 Rc6 60. Qd2
Ke7 61. Qb4+ Kd7 62. Qb5 Be7 63. Qd5+ Bd6 64. Qg8 Rc8 65. Qf7+ Kc6 66. Qc4+ Kb7
67. Qb5+ Kc7 68. Qa5+ Kc6 69. Qa6+ Kd7 70. Kg5 Bc6 71. Qb6 Rf8 72. Kg6 Ra8 73.
Kf6 Rf8+ 74. Kg7 Rc8 75. Kf6 Re8 76. Kf7 Bd5+ 77. Kg6 Re6+ 78. Kf5 Re5+ 79. Kf6
Re6+ 80. Kf5 Be4+ 81. Kg4 Rg6+ 82. Kh5 Rg8 83. Qb5+ Ke6 84. Qe2 Kf5 85. Qf2+
Ke6 86. Qe3 Kf5 87. Qh3+ Kf6 88. Qh4+ Kf5 89. Qh3+ Kf6 90. Qh4+ Ke5 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic Gp-B 5th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.12.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2013.12.11"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. e4 Nf6 3. e5 Nh5 4. d4 d6 5. Be2 Nc6 6. O-O Bg7 7. exd6 exd6 8.
Bg5 Nf6 9. c4 h6 10. Be3 d5 11. Nc3 Be6 12. Ne5 O-O 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. b3 dxc4
15. bxc4 Ne8 16. Rc1 Nd6 17. d5 cxd5 18. Nxd5 Re8 19. Nxc7 Qxc7 20. Bf4 Red8
21. c5 Ne8 22. Bxc7 Rxd1 23. Rfxd1 Nxc7 24. Bc4 Bf5 25. Bb3 a5 26. Rc4 Bf8 27.
c6 Be7 28. g4 Be6 29. Re4 Rc8 30. Rd7 Kf8 31. Bxe6 Nxe6 32. Rc4 Bc5 33. Kf1 g5
34. Ra4 Rxc6 35. Rxa5 Rb6 36. Rd2 Nf4 37. Rd1 Bd4 38. Rf5 Bf6 39. a4 Kg7 40. h4
Rb2 41. hxg5 hxg5 42. Kg1 Ra2 43. a5 Ne6 44. Rd6 Ra4 45. f3 Bd4+ 46. Kf1 Nf4
47. Rxg5+ Kf8 48. Ke1 Be3 49. Re5 Ra1+ 50. Rd1 Ra2 51. Rd8+ Kg7 52. Kd1 Ra3 53.
Kc2 Ne6 54. Rd7 Kg6 55. Kb2 1-0

[Event "London Classic Gp-B 5th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.12.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Rowson, Jonathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2569"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2013.12.11"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Bg4 3. Bg2 Nd7 4. O-O Ngf6 5. d3 c6 6. h3 Bh5 7. Qe1 e5 8. e4
dxe4 9. dxe4 Be7 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. Nc4 Qc7 12. Nh4 Rfe8 13. a4 b6 14. Bd2 a6 15.
Kh1 Bf8 16. b3 b5 17. Ne3 Nc5 18. Nef5 bxa4 19. bxa4 Rab8 20. Ba5 Qc8 21. g4
Bg6 22. Bc3 Nfd7 23. Qd2 Nb6 24. f4 Ncxa4 25. Bxe5 Nc4 26. Qd4 Nxe5 27. Qxa4
Nd7 28. e5 Rb6 29. Rad1 Nc5 30. Qc4 Bxf5 31. Nxf5 Qe6 32. Qd4 Reb8 33. Nd6 Bxd6
34. exd6 Nd7 35. Rfe1 Qf6 36. Qe3 Qd8 37. g5 g6 38. Qe7 Nf8 39. c4 Ne6 40. Rxe6
fxe6 41. Qxe6+ Kf8 42. Qe5 Kg8 43. Bxc6 Rxc6 44. Qd5+ Kf8 45. Qxc6 Qc8 46.
Qxc8+ Rxc8 47. c5 1-0

[Event "London Classic Gp-B 5th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.12.12"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Sadler, Matthew D"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E54"]
[WhiteElo "2646"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2013.12.11"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 c5 8. O-O
cxd4 9. exd4 b6 10. Qe2 Bb7 11. Bf4 Nc6 12. Rfd1 Ne7 13. Rac1 Rc8 14. Ne5 Bxc3
15. bxc3 Nfd5 16. Bd2 Ng6 17. Nxg6 hxg6 18. Bb3 Qh4 19. c4 Nf4 20. Bxf4 Qxf4
21. Qe3 Qxe3 22. fxe3 Rfd8 23. a4 Kf8 24. a5 g5 25. axb6 axb6 26. Ra1 Ke7 27.
Ra7 Rd7 28. Rda1 f5 29. Kf2 g4 30. h3 gxh3 31. gxh3 g5 32. Ba4 Rdc7 33. Rb1 Be4
34. Rxc7+ Rxc7 35. Rxb6 Rxc4 36. Bb3 Rc3 37. Rxe6+ Kd7 38. Rb6 f4 39. exf4 gxf4
40. Be6+ Kc7 41. Rb2 Rg3 42. Re2 Rf3+ 43. Ke1 Bd3 44. Rf2 Re3+ 45. Kd2 Rxe6 46.
Kxd3 Re3+ 47. Kc4 f3 48. d5 Kd6 49. Kd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic Gp-B 5th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.12.12"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A00"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2013.12.11"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. g3 d5 2. Bg2 e5 3. d3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Bd6 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 dxc4 7. dxc4 h6 8. Nc3
Nc6 9. Qc2 Nd4 10. Nxd4 exd4 11. Nb5 Bc5 12. Rd1 Bg4 13. b4 Bxb4 14. Nxd4 Qc8
15. Rb1 c5 16. a3 Re8 17. f3 cxd4 18. Rxb4 Bf5 19. Qb2 a5 20. Rxb7 Qxc4 21. Bf1
d3 22. e4 Nxe4 23. fxe4 Bxe4 24. Rd7 Qa4 25. R7xd3 Bxd3 26. Rxd3 Rac8 27. Bd2
Qc6 28. Qd4 Re4 29. Qd5 Qb6+ 30. Kg2 Rce8 31. Rf3 R4e6 32. Bxa5 Qb2+ 33. Kg1
Qb8 34. Bb4 Qa7+ 35. Kg2 Re5 36. Qc6 R5e6 37. Qb5 Re5 38. Qa6 Qd7 39. Bc4 Rf5
40. Qd6 Qc8 41. Rxf5 Qxf5 42. Qd3 Qf6 43. Bc3 Qc6+ 44. Bd5 Qb6 45. Qf5 Re2+ 46.
Kh3 Qc7 47. Qg4 Rxh2+ 48. Kxh2 Qxc3 49. Qd7 1-0

[Event "London Classic Gp-B 5th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.12.13"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Sadler, Matthew D"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D40"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2646"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2013.12.11"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 e6 2. c4 d5 3. d4 c5 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. g3 Nc6 8. Bg2
Be7 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. O-O O-O 11. b3 Be6 12. Bb2 Qe7 13. Rc1 Rac8 14. Qd3 Rfd8
15. Ne2 Ba3 16. Qb1 Ne4 17. Qa1 Bg4 18. Ned4 Bxf3 19. Nxf3 Bxb2 20. Qxb2 Nb4
21. Rxc8 Rxc8 22. Nd4 g6 23. Qe2 h5 24. a3 Nc6 25. Nxc6 Rxc6 26. Qd3 Nc3 27. b4
a5 28. bxa5 Qc5 29. Ra1 Ra6 30. Bf3 Rxa5 31. Kg2 b5 32. h3 Ra4 33. g4 h4 34.
Qd2 Qc4 35. Qb2 Qc5 36. Qb3 Ra6 37. Qb2 Ra4 38. Qb3 Ra6 39. Qb2 Ra4 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic Gp-B 5th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.12.13"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Rowson, Jonathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2569"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2013.12.11"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "18"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. Be2 Nc6 5. h3 Bxf3 6. Bxf3 Qe6+ 7. Kf1
O-O-O 8. d3 g6 9. Nc3 Nd4 10. Be3 Bg7 11. g3 Nxf3 12. Qxf3 Nf6 13. Re1 Qf5 14.
Kg2 Qxf3+ 15. Kxf3 Nd5 16. Nxd5 Rxd5 17. b3 e6 18. a4 Rhd8 19. Rb1 a5 20. Rhe1
b6 21. Re2 Kb7 22. Rbe1 R8d6 23. Rd1 Bc3 24. Bf4 Rc6 25. Re4 e5 26. Be3 f5 27.
Rc4 Rdd6 28. Ke2 h5 29. g4 hxg4 30. hxg4 Rxc4 31. bxc4 Kc6 32. Rb1 Bb4 33. gxf5
gxf5 34. Rb3 f4 35. Bd2 f3+ 36. Ke1 Bc5 37. Be3 Bb4+ 38. Bd2 Bc5 39. Be3 Bb4+
40. Bd2 Bc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic KO 5th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.12.14"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2773"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2013.12.14"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. g3 dxc4 8. Bg2
Nd7 9. O-O Be7 10. Ne4 Qf5 11. Ned2 e5 12. e4 Qe6 13. Rc1 exd4 14. Nxd4 Qf6 15.
Nxc4 O-O 16. Nf5 Nb6 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. Qd6 Qd8 19. Rfd1 Bg4 20. Qxd8 Rfxd8 21.
Rxd8+ Rxd8 22. Na5 Bc8 23. b3 Kf8 24. f4 Rd2 25. a4 f6 26. Re1 Rc2 27. e5 Rc5
28. b4 Rc3 29. exf6 gxf6 30. b5 Nc4 31. Nxc4 Rxc4 32. bxc6 bxc6 33. a5 Rc5 34.
Bf3 Bd7 35. Ra1 Rc3 36. Kf2 Rc2+ 37. Ke3 Rc3+ 38. Kf2 Rc2+ 39. Ke3 Rc3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic KO 5th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.12.14"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D40"]
[WhiteElo "2773"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2013.12.14"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 c5 5. e3 Nc6 6. a3 a6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. b4
Bd6 $5 (8... Ba7 {is a far more common retreat, and it has been seen at the
top level many times. Anand himself played it against Aronian in 2011.}) 9. Bb2
O-O 10. Qc2 (10. cxd5 exd5 11. Be2 Be6 {is more common but Black seems to be
fine in this variation. Anand's move tries to lock in the light-squared bishop
for at least a little longer.}) 10... Qe7 11. Rd1 Rd8 12. Be2 dxc4 13. Bxc4 b5
14. Bd3 Bb7 {Something has obviously gone wrong for White. If he castles he is
basically simply a tempo down in a symmetrical position, not to mention that
he would rather have put the f-rook on the d-file rather than his queenside
rook. These little details would give Black an edge.} 15. Ne4 Nxe4 16. Bxe4
Rac8 $1 {A strong move.} 17. Qb1 $2 {Anand plays the human move, but he runs
into quick trouble.} (17. Bxh7+ Kh8 18. Qb1 Nxb4 $1 (18... f5 $2 19. Bxf5 exf5
20. Qxf5 {is not playable for Black. White has sufficient material and a
strong king-side initiative.}) (18... a5 $6 19. h4 $1 $13) 19. axb4 Bxb4+ 20.
Ke2 f5 21. Bxf5 exf5 22. Qxf5 Rf8 {is a crazy position that is nearly
impossible to evaluate. A sample crazy variation:} 23. Qh3+ Kg8 24. Rd7 Rc2+ (
24... Bd5 {is not a move anyone is going to find.}) 25. Kd1 Rd8 26. Rxd8+ Qxd8+
27. Kxc2 Be4+ 28. Kb3 Qd5+ 29. Kxb4 $11 {and there is apparently nothing more
than a perpetual.}) 17... f5 18. Bd3 a5 19. bxa5 Nxa5 20. O-O Nc4 {White is
passive. His kingside and his queenside are both under fire and he has no
clear plan.} 21. Be2 Be4 22. Qa1 Nxb2 23. Qxb2 b4 $1 $19 (23... Rc2 24. Qxb5 {
doesn't quite work.}) 24. axb4 Rc2 {A decisive fork, and the point of 23...b4.
Now the game is over.} 25. Qb3 Rxe2 26. Nd4 Bd5 27. Qd3 Qh4 0-1

[Event "London Classic KO 5th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.12.15"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A15"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2786"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "2013.12.14"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. b3 Bg7 4. Bb2 O-O 5. g3 d6 6. Bg2 e5 7. O-O Nh5 8. Nc3
f5 9. d3 Nc6 10. e3 h6 11. a3 a5 12. Nd2 Nf6 13. Nd5 Be6 14. f4 Kh7 15. Qc2 Qd7
16. Rae1 Rae8 17. Bc3 Bxd5 18. cxd5 Ne7 19. e4 exf4 20. gxf4 fxe4 21. dxe4 Nh5
22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. e5 Nxf4 24. e6 Qb5 25. Qxc7 Nxg2 26. Rxf8 Kxf8 27. Kxg2 Qxd5+
28. Ne4 Qxe6 29. Qxd6 Qxd6 30. Nxd6 Rd8 31. Rf1+ Kg8 32. Nxb7 Rd5 33. Rb1 Nc6
34. Rb2 h5 35. b4 axb4 36. axb4 Rb5 37. Nd6 Rxb4 38. Rxb4 Nxb4 39. Ne4 Kf7 40.
Kf3 Nd5 41. Kg3 Kg7 42. Kh4 Kh6 43. Ng5 Ne7 44. Nf7+ Kg7 45. Nd6 Nd5 46. Kg5
Nc7 47. Kf4 Nd5+ 48. Kg5 Nf6 49. h4 Nh7+ 50. Kf4 Nf8 51. Ke5 Nd7+ 52. Ke6 Nc5+
53. Ke5 Nd7+ 54. Ke6 Nc5+ 55. Ke5 Nd3+ 56. Ke4 Nb4 57. Kf4 Nd3+ 58. Kg5 Ne5 59.
Ne8+ Kf7 60. Nd6+ Ke7 61. Nc4 Nxc4 62. Kxg6 Ne5+ 63. Kxh5 Kf6 64. Kh6 Ng4+ 65.
Kh5 Kf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic KO 5th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2013.12.15"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2786"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2013.12.14"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 158"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.01.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 {Dieser Übergang in die
Semi-Tarrasch-Variante ist in letzter Zeit modern geworden, um die
Abtauschvariante des Damengambits zu vermeiden.} 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 c5 7. a3 {
Vermeidet das Schach und folgenden Tausch auf b4.} ({Die Hauptvariante
entsteht nach} 7. Nf3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O {zum
Beispiel:} 11. Rc1 b6 12. Bd3 Bb7 13. O-O Nd7 14. Qe3 Rc8 15. e5 Bxf3 16. Qxf3
Qh4 17. Qe3 Rfd8 18. f4 Nf8 19. Rxc8 Rxc8 20. f5 exf5 21. Bxf5 Rd8 22. Rd1 Ng6
23. Bxg6 hxg6 24. d5 Qc4 25. d6 Qe6 26. Qg3 b5 27. h3 a6 28. Qe3 Rd7 29. Qc5
Kh7 30. Qd5 Qe8 31. Rc1 Qd8 32. Rc6 Qg5 33. Qd4 Rd8 34. Rc5 Qg3 35. Qf2 Qxf2+
36. Kxf2 f6 37. Rc6 fxe5 38. Ke3 Kg8 39. Ke4 Kf7 40. Kd5 a5 41. Rc5 b4 42. Rxa5
Kf6 43. Ra7 Rb8 44. Kc6 b3 45. axb3 Rxb3 46. Ra8 Rc3+ 47. Kd7 e4 48. Rf8+ Kg5
49. Ke7 e3 50. d7 e2 51. d8=Q e1=Q+ 52. Kd6+ Qe7+ {1-0 (52) Aronian,L (2809)
-Kramnik,V (2801) Paris/St Petersburg 2013}) 7... g6 {Mal was anderes...} (7...
cxd4 8. cxd4 e5 (8... Be7) 9. Nf3 exd4 10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. Nxd4 Be7 12. Be3 O-O
13. Bc4 Nd7 14. Ke2 Nb6 15. Bb3 Bd7 16. Nf5 Bf6 17. Rab1 Rfd8 18. Rhc1 Bb5+ 19.
Kf3 Bd3 20. Bc2 Ba6 21. Bb3 Bd3 22. Bc2 Ba6 23. Bb3 {1/2-1/2 (23) Svidler,P 
(2747)-Kramnik,V (2810) London 2013}) 8. Nf3 Bg7 9. h4 (9. e5 Qa5 10. Bd2 Nc6
11. Qb3 Qb6 12. Qxb6 axb6 13. Bb5 Bd7 14. O-O Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Bxb5 16. Rfb1 Bc6
17. Rxb6 O-O 18. Nxc6 bxc6 19. dxc5 Rfd8 20. Be1 Rd3 21. Rab1 Bxc3 22. R6b3
Bxe1 23. Rxd3 Ba5 24. Rb7 Bd8 25. Rdb3 Kg7 26. Rb8 Rxb8 27. Rxb8 Be7 28. Rc8
Bxc5 29. a4 Kf6 30. Rxc6 Bd4 31. a5 Ke7 32. Rc7+ Ke8 33. a6 {1-0 (33) Konig,C 
(2116)-Costello,C (2004) Maastricht 2007}) 9... Nc6 10. Be3 Qa5 11. Qd2 cxd4
12. cxd4 Qxd2+ 13. Kxd2 O-O {Das ist nun eher eine Position der
Grünfeld-Verteidigung, wobei Weiß hier die eher ungewöhnlichen Züge h4 und
a3 eingestreut hat.} 14. Bb5 Bd7 (14... Na5 15. Rab1 b6 16. Rhc1 Bb7 17. Kd3
$11) 15. Rhd1 Rfd8 16. Ke1 Nb4 $1 17. Bxd7 Nc2+ 18. Kd2 Nxa1 19. Ba4 (19. Rxa1
Rxd7 $19) 19... b5 {So kommt der Springer wieder raus.} 20. Bxb5 Nb3+ {Bilanz:
Schwarz hat eine Qualität gegen einen Bauern gewonnen.} 21. Ke2 Rac8 22. d5
exd5 23. exd5 {Weiß hat hier einiges Spiel mit seinem Freibauern und dem
Läuferpaar.} Nc5 (23... Rc2+ $5 24. Kf1 Nc5) 24. Rc1 (24. Bc6 $5) 24... Ne4 (
24... a6 $5 25. Bc6 (25. Bc4 Na4 26. Nd4 Bxd4 27. Bxd4 Rxd5 28. Bxd5 Rxc1 29.
Kd2 Rc7 30. Ba2 Nc5 $17) 25... Nb3 26. Rd1 Na5 27. Ba4 Rc4 28. Bb6 Rb8 29. Bxa5
Rxa4 30. Bb4 a5 31. Bc5 Rb5 $17) 25. Rxc8 Rxc8 26. Bc6 Rb8 (26... a6 $5 {
mit der Idee} 27. Bb7 Rb8 28. Bxa6 Nc3+ 29. Kd3 Nxd5 $17) 27. Bxa7 Rb2+ ({
Die Alternative war} 27... Rb3 {Nach} 28. a4 {ist} Nc3+ 29. Kd2 Nxa4 30. Bxa4
Ra3 31. d6 Rxa4 {möglich:} 32. Bb6 Ra6 33. Bc7 Bh6+ 34. Ng5 Bf8 35. d7 Be7 {
mit der Pointe:} 36. d8=Q+ (36. Ke3 Ra8 37. g4 Bd8 $17) 36... Bxd8 37. Bxd8
Rd6+ $17 {Ob dies zu gewinnen ist, ist allerdings fraglich.}) 28. Kf1 Ra2 29.
a4 Ra1+ 30. Ke2 Nc3+ 31. Kd3 Nxa4 32. Bxa4 Ra3+ 33. Ke2 (33. Kc4 $2 Rxa4+ $19)
33... Rxa4 34. Bb6 Kf8 35. g3 Ke8 36. Be3 Ra5 37. d6 Rd5 38. Bf4 f6 $17 39. Nd2
Kd7 40. Ne4 Ke6 41. Bd2 h6 42. d7 Kf7 $2 (42... Rxd7 $2 43. Nc5+ Kd6 44. Nxd7
Kxd7 $11) (42... Bf8 $1 $19 {hätte stattdessen den Bauern d7 erobert, mit
Gewinnchancen.}) 43. Nc5 {Etwas überraschend doch möglich.} Bf8 44. Ba5 Be7 (
44... Bxc5 45. d8=Q Rxd8 46. Bxd8 {remis.}) 45. Bb6 Rd6 46. Ba5 Rd5 47. Bb6 h5
48. Kf3 f5 49. Kg2 Rd2 50. Ba5 Rd5 51. Bb6 f4 52. Kf3 fxg3 53. fxg3 Rd6 54. Ba5
Rd4 {Schwarz kann hier jederzeit Remis durch Stellungswiederholung
herbeiführen, spielt aber noch auf Gewinn.} 55. Bb6 Rd1 56. Ba5 Rd5 57. Bb6
Rd1 58. Ba5 g5 59. hxg5 Kg6 60. Bb6 Bxg5 61. Ne6 Rd3+ $6 {Kostet eine Figur.} (
61... Be7 62. Nd4 Bd8 $11 (62... Kf7 $11)) 62. Ke4 Rd6 63. Nxg5 Rxd7 64. Nf3 {
Schon droht eine Gabel auf e5.} Re7+ (64... Rd6 65. Bd4 Ra6 66. Be3 {sollte
remis enden.}) 65. Ne5+ Kf6 $2 {Darauf hatte Weiß gewartet.} (65... Kg7 66.
Kf5 Re8 67. Be3 $16) 66. Bd8 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Andreikin, Dmitry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E36"]
[WhiteElo "2709"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "ChessBase Website"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:20/3600:900+30"]
[WhiteClock "1:25:42"]
[BlackClock "1:14:56"]

1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} e6 {[%emt 0:
00:06]} 3. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Bb4 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 4. Qc2 {[%emt 0:00:13]
For Dmitri Andreikin and Vladimir Kramnik, it was an opportunity to see
whether Kramnik would try to bully his way past Andreikin, or whether
Andreikin would be content to neutralize his prestigious opponent. Andreikin
is a superb technical player, but is not one prone to taking risks, and it
bears remembering that during his superb runner-up performance at the World
Cup last year, losing to the former world champion, he had only won a single
classical game, winning nearly all his matches in the rapid tiebreaks.} O-O {
[%emt 0:00:26]} 5. a3 {[%emt 0:00:30]} Bxc3+ {[%emt 0:00:13]} 6. Qxc3 {[%emt 0:
00:09]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 7. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:27]} dxc4 {[%emt 0:00:21]} 8.
Qxc4 {[%emt 0:00:24]} b6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 9. Bg5 {[%emt 0:01:43]} Ba6 {[%emt 0:
00:28]} 10. Qa4 {[%emt 0:03:43]} (10. Qc3 h6 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 12. g3 Bb7 13. Bg2
Na6 14. O-O c5 15. Rac1 Rac8 16. Ne5 cxd4 17. Qxd4 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Nc5 19. b4 Nb3
20. Rxc8 Rxc8 21. Qd7 Rf8 22. f4 Qf5 23. Rf3 Qc2 24. Qd3 Qxd3 25. Rxd3 Nc1 26.
Rd2 Rc8 27. h4 h5 28. b5 Rc7 29. Nc6 Kh7 30. Rb2 a5 31. Kf2 Rd7 32. Ne5 Rc7 33.
Rd2 f6 34. Nd7 Nb3 35. Nf8+ Kg8 36. Rd7 Rxd7 37. Nxd7 Nd4 38. a4 Nxb5 39. axb5
a4 {Nakamura,H (2786)-Kramnik,V (2793) Antalya 2013 1-0}) 10... Qd7 {[%emt 0:
01:16]} 11. Qc2 {[%emt 0:00:36]} c5 {[%emt 0:01:01]} 12. dxc5 {[%emt 0:00:59]}
Rc8 {[%emt 0:00:47]} 13. Bxf6 {[%emt 0:00:22]} gxf6 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 14. Qe4 {
[%emt 0:00:22]} Qb5 {[%emt 0:01:52]} 15. b4 {[%emt 0:04:24]} bxc5 {[%emt 0:04:
02]} 16. e3 {[%emt 0:05:34]} Qb7 {[%emt 0:01:00]} 17. Qg4+ {[%emt 0:00:20]} Kf8
{[%emt 0:01:24]} 18. b5 {[%emt 0:03:05]} Bxb5 {[%emt 0:00:45]} 19. Rb1 {
[%emt 0:00:20]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 20. a4 {[%emt 0:00:16]} f5 {[%emt 0:00:15]}
21. Qf4 $146 {[%emt 0:00:45]} (21. Qh4 Qe4 22. Qh6+ Ke7 23. Qg5+ Kf8 24. Qh6+
Ke7 25. Qg5+ Kf8 26. Qh6+ Ke7 {1/2-1/2 (26) Mamedyarov,S (2753)-Kramnik,V 
(2803) Moscow 2013}) 21... Qe4 {[%emt 0:01:21] To those seeing the opening
played for the first time, it might have seemed like sharp action was taking
place, but the entire Nimzo-Indian line played was a rinse-and-repeat
operation that had been seen up until the 21st move last year in
Mamedyarov-Kramnik (Moscow, 2013). That game ended in a draw shortly after on
the 26th move, and today was not a big improvement.} 22. Qxe4 {[%emt 0:00:07]}
fxe4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 23. axb5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} exf3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 24. b6 {
[%emt 0:00:10]} Rd8 {[%emt 0:07:51]} 25. gxf3 {[%emt 0:02:00]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:
33]} 26. f4 {[%emt 0:01:55]} Nb4 {[%emt 0:07:13]} 27. Bg2 {[%emt 0:02:09]} Rab8
{[%emt 0:00:21]} 28. b7 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Nd5 {[%emt 0:03:35]} 29. O-O {[%emt 0:
00:53]} Rd7 {[%emt 0:02:47]} 30. Rfc1 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Rdxb7 {[%emt 0:05:27]}
31. Rxb7 {[%emt 0:01:50]} Rxb7 {[%emt 0:00:37]} 32. Bxd5 {[%emt 0:00:12]} exd5
{[%emt 0:00:09]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 {Out of the main moves at White's disposal, the text
is the sharpest try.} (3. Nf3 {and}) (3. e3 {can lead to the same lines,
depending on Black's reaction.}) 3... Nf6 ({After the main alternative} 3... e5
4. Nf3 {Black nowadays has started to prefer} Bb4+ ({The former main line was} 
4... exd4 5. Bxc4 Bb4+ 6. Nbd2 $5 ({The notes to Grischuk-Kasidzhanov in CBM
130 concentrated on} 6. Bd2 {, but the knight move is currently causing Black
more problems.}) 6... Nc6 7. O-O Nf6 8. e5 Nd5 9. Nb3 Nb6 10. Bg5 ({Even} 10.
Bb5 {is not so innocuous:} Qd5 11. Bxc6+ $5 (11. Nfxd4 O-O (11... Bd7 12. Nxc6
Qxb5 13. Nbd4 Qc5 14. a3 Bxc6 (14... bxc6 15. axb4 Qxe5 $13) 15. axb4 Qd5 16.
Nxc6 (16. Qg4 $5) 16... Qxc6 17. Be3 Nd5 18. b5 Nxe3 (18... Qxb5 $142 $1 19.
Qg4 Nxe3 20. Qxg7 O-O-O $13) 19. bxc6 Nxd1 20. Rfxd1 bxc6 21. Ra6 Ke7 22. Rxc6
Rhc8 23. f4 Rab8 $132 {Sanikidze,T (2559)-Donchenko,A (2413)/Deizisau/2013/})
12. Nxc6 Qxb5 13. Nxb4 Qxb4 14. Be3 Re8 15. Rc1 c6 16. f4 Nd5 17. Bc5 Qa4 $11
18. Nd2 $2 Qxd1 19. Rcxd1 b6 20. Bf2 Nxf4 21. Ne4 Ba6 22. Rfe1 Nd3 $19 {
Vachier Lagrave,M (2710)-Dominguez Perez,L (2712)/Beijing blitz/2011/}) 11...
Qxc6 12. Bd2 (12. Bg5 h6 $5 (12... Bg4 13. Qxd4 Bxf3 14. Qxb4 Nd5 15. Qd2 Bxg2
16. Rfc1 Qe6 17. Kxg2 Qg4+ 18. Kf1 Qh3+ 19. Ke1 c6 20. Qd4 Qxh2 21. Kd2 $16 {
Aronian,L (2783)-Stevic,H (2607)/EU-Cup Plovdiv/2010/}) 13. Bh4 g5 14. e6 Bxe6
15. Qxd4 Rg8 16. Rac1 Qd6 17. Bg3 {Lekic,D (2397)-Krivokapic,M (2413)/Tivat/
2011/} Qxd4 18. Nbxd4 c6 19. a3 Be7 20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. Rfe1 $11) 12... Be7 $5 (
12... Bxd2 13. Qxd2 O-O 14. Rac1 Qd7 15. Nfxd4 Qe7 16. f4 Rd8 {Edouard,R (2636)
-Magem Badals,J (2589)/Khanty-Mansiysk olm/2010/} 17. Nc5 $16 {Edouard}) 13.
Rc1 Qg6 14. Rxc7 Nd5 15. Rc4 d3 16. Ne1 Be6 17. Rd4 O-O 18. Nxd3 b6 $14 {
/~~, Radjabov,T (2610)-Rublevsky,S (2658)/Moscow rpd/2002/}) 10... Be7 11. Bxe7
Qxe7 12. Bb5 Bd7 13. Bxc6 (13. Re1 $5 O-O (13... O-O-O 14. Rc1 d3 15. Qd2 g6
16. Nc5 Be8 17. Bxd3 Kb8 18. b4 Nd4 19. Nxd4 Rxd4 20. Qc3 Rd8 21. Be4 Nd5 22.
Qb3 $40 {Anand,V (2788)-Dominguez Perez,L (2719)/Moscow blitz/2009/}) 14. Rc1
Rad8 15. Nc5 a6 16. Nxd7 (16. Bd3 $5 Bc8 17. Be4 $44) 16... Rxd7 (16... Qxd7
17. Bxc6 bxc6 18. Qd3 Qd5 19. Ng5 g6 20. e6 $1 $14) 17. Bxc6 bxc6 18. Rxc6 Nd5
19. Rxa6 c5 20. e6 Rb7 21. Qd2 $14 {Nielsen,P (2687)-Guliyev,N (2554)/
Bundesliga/2012/}) 13... Bxc6 14. Nfxd4 (14. Nbxd4 Bd7 15. Qc2 O-O-O 16. Rac1
c6 17. Rfe1 Kb8 18. Qe4 h6 19. e6 fxe6 20. Ne5 Be8 21. Nef3 Bd7 22. Qe5+ Ka8
23. Nf5 Qf7 24. Nd6 Qf8 25. Nd2 Be8 26. N2e4 $44 {[%cal Rd6b7] Maletin,P (2584)
-Rublevsky,S (2678)/Olginka rpd/2011/}) 14... Bd5 15. Qg4 O-O 16. f4 g6 17. Nf5
Qd7 18. Ne3 Qxg4 19. Nxg4 Bxb3 20. Nf6+ Kg7 21. axb3 Rfd8 22. Rfd1 a6 23. Kf2
h5 24. Kf3 $14 {Eljanov,P (2717)-Stevic,H (2624)/EU-chT Novi Sad/2009/}) 5. Nc3
(5. Nbd2 c3 $5 6. bxc3 Bxc3 7. Rb1 exd4 8. Bc4 Nc6 9. O-O Qf6 10. h3 (10. e5
Qg6 11. Nh4 Qg4 12. Nhf3 Qg6 13. Nh4 Qg4 14. Nhf3 {1/2, Tikkanen,H (2586)
-Stevic,H (2612)/EU-chT Porto Carras/2011/}) 10... Qg6 11. Nh4 Qg5 12. Nhf3 Qg6
13. e5 Bxd2 14. Bxd2 Nge7 15. Qe2 Bxh3 16. Ng5 Be6 17. Nxe6 fxe6 18. Rxb7 O-O
19. Rc1 d3 20. Bxd3 (20. Qe3 $5 $14) 20... Nd4 21. Qe3 Qg4 22. Rcxc7 Nf3+ 23.
Kf1 Nh2+ {1/2, Berczes,D (2555)-Stevic,H (2612)/Zadar/2011/}) 5... exd4 6. Nxd4
Ne7 (6... Nd7 7. Bxc4 Ngf6 8. O-O O-O 9. Bg5 Ne5 10. Be2 c6 11. a3 Be7 12. h3
Qc7 13. Be3 Rd8 14. Qe1 Ng6 15. f4 Bc5 16. Rd1 Bxd4 17. Bxd4 Nxf4 18. Bxf6
Nxe2+ 19. Nxe2 Rxd1 20. Qxd1 gxf6 21. Nf4 {Gupta,A (2630)-Edouard,R (2670)/
Dubai/2014/} Qd7 22. Qf3 $5 $36) 7. Bxc4 Nbc6 8. Be3 O-O 9. Ndb5 (9. a3 Bxc3+
10. bxc3 Na5 11. Be2 b6 (11... Ng6 12. O-O Qe7 13. Qa4 b6 14. Nf5 Bxf5 15. exf5
Ne5 16. Rad1 Rad8 17. h3 Rd6 18. Rd4 Nac6 19. Rxd6 cxd6 20. Rd1 Rc8 21. Qe4 h6
22. Ba6 $36 {[%csl Ga6,Ge3] Gelfand,B (2720)-Rublevsky,S (2699)/ESP-chT/2008/})
12. O-O c5 $5 (12... Bb7 13. Qc2 Qe8 14. Rad1 Rd8 15. Bf4 Ng6 16. Bxc7 Bxe4 17.
Qb2 Rxd4 18. cxd4 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Qc6+ 20. d5 Qxc7 21. d6 $16 {Kamsky,G (2695)
-Short,N (2665)/Linares/1994/}) 13. Nb5 Be6 14. Qxd8 Raxd8 15. Nxa7 Bc4 16.
Rfe1 Bxe2 17. Rxe2 Nc8 18. Nxc8 Rxc8 19. Rd1 Nc4 20. Bc1 Rfd8 21. Ree1 Kf8 $44
{Navara,D (2702)-Nisipeanu,L (2659)/FRA-chT Mulhouse/2011/}) (9. O-O Nxd4 10.
Bxd4 Nc6 11. Be3 (11. a3 Qxd4 12. Qxd4 Nxd4 13. axb4 Be6 14. Bxe6 Nxe6 15. b5
f5 16. exf5 Rxf5 17. Rfd1 a5 18. bxa6 Rxa6 19. Rxa6 bxa6 20. f3 Kf7 21. Kf2 Rc5
$11 {Svidler,P (2769)-Ponomariov,R (2742)/Thessaloniki/2013/}) 11... Bxc3 (
11... Ne5 $5 12. Be2 c6 13. Qc2 (13. a3 $5) 13... Ng4 14. Bxg4 Bxg4 15. f4 Bxc3
16. Qxc3 Be2 17. Bd4 Bxf1 18. Bxg7 Qd3 $1 19. Bxf8 Qxc3 20. bxc3 Bxg2 {1/2,
Bosiocic,M (2593)-Jankovic,A (2584)/Sibenik/2011/}) 12. bxc3 Qe7 (12... Qxd1
13. Rfxd1 Na5 14. Be2 Be6 15. Bf4 Rac8 16. Rab1 b6 17. Ba6 Rcd8 18. Bxc7 Rxd1+
19. Rxd1 Bxa2 20. Rd4 Be6 21. Bd6 Re8 22. f4 f6 23. Kf2 Nb3 24. Rd1 Rd8 25. Ke3
Nc5 $132 {Ashwin,J (2427)-Zifroni,D (2490)/ISR-chT/2011/}) 13. f3 Na5 14. Bd3
b6 15. Qc2 Be6 16. e5 h6 17. Rfe1 Rad8 18. f4 Bc4 19. Be4 Bd5 $11 {Bologan,V 
(2700)-Rublevsky,S (2645)/Saint Vincent/2005/}) 9... Ba5 10. Qh5 (10. Qe2 a6
11. Rd1 Qe8 12. Nd4 Ne5 13. O-O Bxc3 14. bxc3 Nxc4 15. Qxc4 Nc6 16. Nxc6 Be6
17. Qc5 Qxc6 18. Qxc6 bxc6 19. a3 Rfb8 20. Rb1 Bc4 21. Rfd1 $11 {[%csl Gc4,Ge3]
1/2, Jankovic,A (2584)-Rublevsky,S (2681)/Rogaska Slatina/2011/}) 10... Be6 11.
Bxe6 fxe6 12. Rd1 Qe8 13. Qxe8 Rfxe8 14. Ke2 a6 15. Nd4 Nxd4+ 16. Rxd4 Bxc3 17.
bxc3 Rad8 18. Rhd1 Nc6 19. Rxd8 Rxd8 20. Rxd8+ Nxd8 21. Bf4 c5 22. Kd3 b5 23.
Be3 Nb7 $11 {Onischuk,A (2699)-Rublevsky,S (2704)/Poikovsky/2010/}) 4. e5 Nd5
5. Bxc4 Nb6 6. Bd3 {Lately the attention has shifted to the text move;
moreover Kramnik has a novel idea in mind.} (6. Bb3 {was the more usual
retreat, White exerts more control over the centre, especially the d5-square.}
Nc6 7. Ne2 (7. Be3 Bf5 8. Ne2 e6 9. Nbc3 {usually only transposes after} Qd7) (
7. Nf3 Bg4 $1 8. Ng5 Bxd1 9. Bxf7+ Kd7 10. Be6+ $11) 7... Bf5 8. Nbc3 e6 9. O-O
Qd7 10. Be3 (10. a3 Be7 11. Be3 Rd8 $5 12. Qc1 (12. Ba2 $5 O-O 13. h3 Kh8 14.
f4 Na5 15. Qc1 {Goldin,A (2585)-Frog,I (2295)/Elista/1995/} f6 $5 $132 {Chekhov
}) 12... Bd3 13. Rd1 Na5 14. Ba2 Bc4 15. Bxc4 Nbxc4 16. Rb1 Nxe3 17. Qxe3 Nc4
18. Qg3 O-O 19. Nf4 Kh8 20. Nh5 Rg8 21. Qf4 Nb6 22. Rd3 Rdf8 23. Rh3 Nd5 24.
Qe4 g6 25. Nf4 c6 $14 {Beliavsky,A (2628)-Romanov,E (2640)/EU-ch Legnica/2013/
Black's setup is passive, but quite solid.}) 10... O-O-O (10... Rd8 11. a3 Be7
{can lead to Beliavsky-Romanov}) 11. a3 h5 (11... Kb8 12. Qc1 (12. Rc1 Qe8 $1 {
[%cal Rc6e5]} 13. Ba4 Nxa4 14. Qxa4 Bd3 15. d5 (15. Rfd1 Bxe2 16. Nxe2 Qd7 17.
d5 exd5 18. Nc3 Qe6 19. b4 d4 20. Nb5 Bc5 $1 21. Bg5 Bb6 22. Bxd8 Rxd8 23. Qc2
a6 $19 {Volodin,A (2509)-Kekki,P (2353)/Finland/2013/}) 15... exd5 16. Rfd1
Bxe2 17. Nxe2 Be7 18. Rxc6 Qxc6 19. Qxa7+ Kc8 20. Nd4 Qa6 21. Qxa6 bxa6 22. Nc6
Rd7 23. b4 Kb7 24. Rc1 d4 25. Bxd4 f6 26. f4 fxe5 27. fxe5 Bg5 $15 {Bologan,V 
(2732)-Nakamura,H (2778)/Biel/2012/}) 12... f6 13. exf6 gxf6 14. Rd1 Bd6 15.
Ng3 Bxg3 16. hxg3 Ne7 17. Bh6 Rhg8 18. a4 Nbd5 19. a5 Nxc3 20. bxc3 Be4 21. Re1
Bd5 22. Rb1 Nf5 23. c4 Bc6 24. d5 exd5 25. cxd5 Bxd5 26. Rd1 Ne7 27. Be3 $40 {
Riazantsev,A (2688)-Bluvshtein,M (2611)/Khanty-Mansiysk WCup/2011/}) 12. Rc1
Kb8 13. Na4 Be7 14. Nxb6 (14. Nc5 Qe8 15. Qe1 Bxc5 16. Rxc5 Bd3 $15) 14... axb6
15. Ba4 h4 16. f3 f6 17. Bb5 Qc8 18. Qb3 Na7 19. Bc4 {Grischuk,A (2748)
-Kasimdzhanov,R (2695)/Nalchik/2009/ For more details about the game see the
notes in CBM 130.} Nc6 $11) 6... Nc6 7. Be3 Nb4 8. Be4 f5 {Karjakin opts for
the main move.} ({Maybe after this game Black will take a closer look at the
rare} 8... N4d5 9. Nc3 Nxe3 (9... c6 10. Nf3 h6 $6 11. O-O Be6 12. Nd2 $1 Qd7
13. a4 a5 14. Nb3 Bg4 15. Bf3 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 e6 17. Ne4 Bb4 18. Nbc5 $16 {
[%cal Re4d6] Potkin,V (2671)-Bischoff,K (2547)/Bundesliga/2011/ Black should
seek active counterplay, otherwise White's space advantage can give him
serious pressure.}) 10. fxe3 g6 11. Qf3 (11. Nge2 Bh6 12. Nf4 Bxf4 13. exf4 c6
14. d5 cxd5 15. Nxd5 Nxd5 16. Qxd5 Qb6 17. O-O-O O-O 18. Qd4 Qa5 19. Kb1 Be6
20. a3 Rac8 21. Rc1 Rfd8 $36 {Sasikiran,K (2711)-Volokitin,A (2671)/Wijk aan
Zee/2009/}) 11... Bh6 (11... c6 12. Nge2 Bh6 13. h4 f5 14. Bd3 Be6 15. h5 Nd5
16. hxg6 hxg6 17. Nf4 Nxf4 18. Qxf4 Bxf4 19. Rxh8+ Kf7 20. Rxd8 Bg3+ 21. Ke2
Rxd8 22. Rh1 Kg7 23. Bc2 c5 24. Kf3 cxd4 25. exd4 f4 $11 {Greenfeld,A (2541)
-Avrukh,B (2668)/EU Cup Ohrid/2009/}) 12. Nge2 O-O 13. Nf4 (13. O-O-O Nc4 14.
Nf4 c5 15. Qe2 Nxe3 16. Qxe3 cxd4 17. Qf2 Qc7 18. Rxd4 Qxe5 19. Bc2 Qc5 20. Qh4
{Pragua,C (2505)-Titov,E (2185)/corr/1994/} Qxd4 (20... Bg5 21. Qg3 Bh6 $11)
21. Qxh6 Rd8 22. Nxg6 hxg6 23. Rd1 Qb6 24. Rxd8+ Qxd8 25. Bxg6 fxg6 26. Qxg6+
Kf8 27. Qh6+ Ke8 28. Qh5+ Kd7 29. Qd1+ $11) 13... c5 14. Rd1 Nc4 $2 (14... cxd4
$142 15. exd4 f6 $5 $13) 15. Qe2 Bg4 16. Bf3 $1 Bxf3 17. gxf3 b5 18. dxc5 Qb8
19. Nfd5 Nxe5 20. Nxe7+ Kh8 21. f4 $16 {Wojtaszek,R (2630)-Bartel,M (2601)/
Lublin/2009/}) 9. a3 $1 {[%mdl 8] While this is formally not a novelty (the
game from the following note was played last year), it's recommended by the
engines and the credit for working out the details belongs to Kramnik.} (9.
exf6 exf6 10. Nc3 f5 11. Bb1 (11. Bf3 N4d5 12. Bd2 Be6 13. Nge2 Qd7 14. O-O
O-O-O 15. Re1 Rg8 16. Bg5 Re8 17. Nf4 Nxf4 18. Bxf4 g5 19. Be5 Bg7 20. Rc1 Bxe5
21. dxe5 Qxd1 22. Bxd1 a6 23. g3 Re7 24. b3 Rd7 25. f3 Nd5 26. Na4 b6 27. Be2
Kb7 28. Bc4 c5 29. Kf2 Rgd8 30. Re2 Nc7 $17 {Karpov,A (2725)-Short,N (2685)/
Linares Candidates/1992/ This game made the whole line popular for Black.})
11... N4d5 (11... Bd6 12. Nf3 Be6 13. O-O Qd7 14. Re1 O-O ({A safe choice, but
even} 14... O-O-O $5 {is playable:} 15. Bg5 Rde8 16. a3 N4d5 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18.
Ne5 Bxe5 19. dxe5 Qe6 20. a4 h6 21. Bc1 Kb8 22. Ra3 Rhf8 $13 {1/2, Potkin,V 
(2642)-Ivanchuk,V (2764)/Havana/2012/}) 15. Bd2 Kh8 16. Nb5 Nc6 17. Bd3 Bd5 18.
Nxd6 Qxd6 19. Bc3 Qg6 20. Nh4 Qg5 21. Nf3 Qg6 {1/2, Dreev,A (2694)-Ivanchuk,V 
(2764)/FRA-chT Belfort/2012/}) 12. Nf3 Nxe3 (12... Bd6 13. Bg5 Be7 14. Bd2 O-O
15. O-O Nxc3 16. bxc3 Be6 17. Re1 Bd5 18. Bd3 Nc4 19. Bxc4 Bxc4 20. Ne5 Bf7 21.
Nxf7 Rxf7 22. Qb3 $14 {Shirov,A (2715)-Ponomariov,R (2727)/Linares/2002/}) 13.
fxe3 Bd6 14. O-O O-O 15. e4 c6 (15... Be6 16. exf5 Bxf5 17. Bxf5 Rxf5 18. Qb3+
Kh8 19. Ne4 Be7 20. Rfe1 c6 21. Rad1 Qc7 22. Qe6 Raf8 23. Ng3 R5f7 24. Ne5 Rf6
25. Qxe7 Qxe7 26. Ng6+ hxg6 27. Rxe7 R6f7 $11 {Ferre Perez,A (2100)-Schwenk,H 
(2176)/email/2010/}) 16. Qb3+ (16. a4 fxe4 17. Bxe4 Kh8 18. a5 (18. Qc2 Bg4 19.
Rae1 $2 Bxf3 20. Bxf3 Qh4 21. g3 Qxd4+ 22. Kh1 Rae8 23. Rxe8 Rxe8 $17 {
Jakovenko,D (2713)-Rublevsky,S (2695)/Khanty-Mansiysk blitz/2013/}) 18... Nd5
19. Bxd5 cxd5 20. Ne5 Be6 21. Qh5 Rxf1+ 22. Rxf1 Qxa5 23. Ne4 Bxe5 24. Qxe5 Bg8
25. Nd6 Qb6 26. Rf6 Qxb2 27. h4 Qc1+ 28. Kh2 Qc7 29. Nf7+ Qxf7 30. Rxf7 Bxf7
31. Qc7 Kg8 32. Qxb7 Re8 33. Qxa7 h5 $11 {Tomashevsky,E (2720)-Romanov,E (2611)
/EU Cup Eilat/2012/}) (16. exf5 Bxf5 17. Bxf5 Rxf5 18. Qb3+ Kh8 19. Rae1 Qd7
20. Ne4 Raf8 21. Nxd6 Qxd6 $11 22. Re6 $2 Qd7 $2 (22... Qxd4+ $17) 23. Rfe1 Nd5
24. R6e5 Rxe5 25. dxe5 Qg4 26. Kh1 Nf4 27. Qc2 h5 28. Ng1 Ne6 29. Nf3 Nf4 30.
Ng1 Re8 $11 31. Qe4 $4 Rxe5 {Ding,L (2702)-Karjakin,S (2775)/Beijing blitz/
2012/}) 16... Kh8 17. e5 Be7 18. a4 Nd5 19. Ba2 (19. Nxd5 Be6 $1 $11) 19... Rb8
{[%cal Yc8e6]} 20. a5 Ne3 21. Rf2 f4 22. Ne2 Ng4 (22... c5 $5 $13) 23. Rff1 Ne3
24. Rf2 {1/2, Mamedyarov,S (2764)-Ponomariov,R (2741)/Tashkent/2012/}) (9. Bf3
$143 f4 $1 (9... N4d5 $6 10. Nh3 (10. Bg5 $5) 10... Be6 11. O-O Qd7 12. a4 a5
13. Nd2 Bf7 14. Nb3 e6 15. Nc5 Qc8 16. Nf4 Nxe3 17. fxe3 c6 18. Rc1 Bxc5 19.
Rxc5 $36 {Leon Varela,L (2170)-Campos Gambuti,L (2446)/Vecindario/2010/}) {/\}
10. Bxf4 Bf5 $36) 9... fxe4 {Karjakin had probably also analysed 9.a3 and
after some thought chooses the principled reaction.} (9... N4d5 10. Bd3 (10.
Bf3 $5 {/\} Nxe3 11. fxe3 g6 12. Ne2 c6 13. Qb3 Nd5 14. h4 Bh6 15. Bxd5 Qxd5
16. Qxd5 cxd5 17. Nbc3 Be6 18. Kf2 $14 {is a line given by Landa. In the
resulting position the bishops can't show their full strength and White has a
long-term edge.}) 10... Nxe3 11. fxe3 e6 12. Nf3 (12. Nc3 Qh4+ 13. g3 Qh6 14.
e4 $5 $13) 12... g5 13. Nc3 g4 14. Nd2 c5 15. Nc4 cxd4 16. Nxb6 Qxb6 17. Bb5+
Kf7 18. exd4 Bh6 19. Qd3 a6 20. Bc4 Qxb2 21. O-O Kg7 22. Ra2 Qb6 23. Kh1 Rd8
24. d5 Qe3 25. Qxe3 Bxe3 26. dxe6 Bd4 27. e7 Re8 28. Nd5 Be6 29. Rd2 Bxe5 30.
Re2 {1/2-1/2 Janczarski,M (2335)-Bartel,M (2273)/Warsaw 2013/EXT 2014}) 10.
axb4 e6 ({Subsequently Black has tried} 10... Bf5 {, but this doesn't seem
ideal:} 11. Nc3 (11. Ne2 e6 12. b5 $14) 11... e6 12. b5 Nc4 13. Qb3 (13. Qh5+
$5 Bg6 14. Qe2 $14) 13... Nxe3 14. fxe3 Qg5 15. Nge2 Qxe3 16. b6 Be7 17. Rf1
O-O (17... Bg4 {[%cal Rg4e2]} 18. Qc4 cxb6 19. Rf4 Bxe2 20. Nxe2 Rf8 21. Qa4+
Kd8 22. Rxf8+ Bxf8 23. d5 a5 24. d6 Rc8 25. Qd4 $44) 18. Rxf5 Rxf5 19. Qxe6+
Rf7 20. bxc7 Bg5 21. c8=Q+ Rxc8 22. Qxc8+ Rf8 23. Qc4+ Kh8 24. Nb1 $8 a6 25. d5
Qf2+ 26. Kd1 Qxg2 {Jakubowski,K (2532)-Azarov,S (2616)/CZE-chT/2014/} 27. Kc2
b5 28. Qc5 Qxe2+ 29. Kb3 $13) 11. Nc3 Bxb4 ({Houdini is critical here; its
main move is} 11... Nd5 $142 $5 {After the continuation} 12. b5 (12. Nxd5 Qxd5
(12... exd5 $5 $11) 13. Ne2 Bxb4+ 14. Bd2 Bxd2+ 15. Qxd2 O-O 16. O-O b6 $5 17.
Nc3 Qd7 18. Nxe4 Bb7 $132) ({Another idea, which deserves attention, is} 12.
Nh3 $5 Bxb4 13. O-O $44) 12... Bb4 13. Nge2 ({We don't know, what Kramnik had
in mind, but even here White has alternatives. An interesting try is} 13. Bd2
$5 Bd7 14. Qh5+ g6 15. Qh6 (15. Qg4 O-O 16. Nh3 Qe8 $132) 15... Bf8 $5 16. Qh3
Nb4 17. Kf1 Nc2 $13) 13... Bd7 14. O-O Bxc3 15. Nxc3 Nxc3 16. bxc3 Bxb5 17. Qg4
Qd7 18. Rfb1 O-O 19. Qxe4 (19. c4 Bxc4 20. Rxb7 a5 $15) 19... b6 $11 {Black
has nothing to fear.}) 12. Qh5+ $1 {An important intermediate check, which
weakens the dark squares.} g6 13. Qg4 ({A plausible option is} 13. Qh6 $5 Bf8 (
13... Nd5 14. Nge2 $14) 14. Qf4 Nd5 15. Qxe4 Nxc3 16. bxc3 Qd5 17. Qg4 {
[%csl Re6,Re8] Once White finishes his development with Ne2 (f3) and 0-0, he
should be somewhat better in this complex position. Black's king will be
exposed no matter where it hides, also the e6-pawn is vulnerable.}) 13... Bxc3+
$6 {Black would like to enhance his control of the central light squares, but
this swap gives up the main defender of the vulnerable dark squares.} (13...
Nc4 14. Nge2 Nxe3 15. fxe3 O-O 16. Nf4 Rf5 17. O-O Bxc3 18. bxc3 Qe7 ({Perhaps
Black can afford} 18... a5 $5) 19. Qd1 a5 (19... b6 20. Qc2 Bb7 $6 21. Qa2 {
[%csl Re6]} Bc8 22. Nd5 $16) 20. Qc2 $14 {[%csl Ga5,Re4] /<=> wins the pawn
back with something of an edge, but the passed pawn gives Black counterplay.})
(13... Nd5 14. Nge2 {leads to the same position, but Black must reckon also
with} (14. Bg5 $5)) 14. bxc3 Qd5 15. Ne2 Bd7 16. O-O $36 {After a series of
natural moves Black has barely held on to his extra pawn, but his king is in
danger and White's compensation is obvious.} Qc4 (16... O-O $2 17. Bh6 Bb5 (
17... Rf5 18. Nf4 {[%cal Rf4d5,Rf4g6]} Rxf4 19. Qxf4 $18 {[%cal Rf4f6,Ra1a7]})
18. Bxf8 Rxf8 19. Rfe1 $16) (16... a5 17. Ng3 Bc6 18. Nxe4 $1 Kd8 $5 (18...
Qxe4 $2 19. Qxe6+ Kd8 (19... Kf8 20. Bh6#) 20. Bg5#) (18... Qc4 19. Nd2 Qd5 20.
Rfc1 Nc4 21. Ne4 $1 $40) 19. f3 Kc8 20. Bf2 $16) 17. Ng3 Bc6 18. Ra5 $5 {
An interesting manoeuvre, which will culminate in the positional exchange
sacrifice a few moves later on.} ({However, the engine remains unimpressed,
recommending} 18. Qh4 {instead. This prevents queenside castling and White
holds the initiative after} Kd7 19. Qh6 Raf8 20. Rxa7 Rf7 21. Qh4 $36) 18...
O-O-O $1 (18... O-O 19. h4 {[%cal Yh4h5] /\h5->}) 19. Rc5 {Kramnik is not
interested in the Pa7.} (19. Rxa7 Na4 20. Bg5 $5 (20. Ra8+ Kd7 21. Rxd8+ Rxd8
22. Qh4 Nxc3 23. Qxh7+ Kc8 24. Qxg6 b5 $132) 20... Rdf8 21. Bf6 $14) 19... Qb3
{Here the queen comes under attack in 6 moves. Admittedly this was not so easy
to foresee, but perhaps} (19... Qa2 $5 {was slightly better.}) 20. c4 ({
Probably an even more incisive move was} 20. Rxc6 $5 bxc6 21. Nxe4 Rde8 22. Nc5
$44 {|^ Here White has more than enough compensation and the defence faces a
difficult task.}) 20... Kb8 (20... Nxc4 21. Qxe6+ Kb8 22. Qxc4 Qxc4 23. Rxc4
Bb5 24. Rcc1 Bxf1 25. Kxf1 $16 {/+- and Black's connected passed pawns are not
advanced enough - White's material superiority should decide the issue.}) (
20... Rhe8 21. Rc1 $5 {[%cal Rd4d5,Yc5c6]} (21. d5 Nxc4 $5 (21... h5 22. Qxg6
exd5 23. Bg5 Qb4 24. Rxc6 bxc6 25. Bxd8 $16) 22. Rxc4 (22. dxc6 $2 Nxe3 23.
cxb7+ Kb8 $19 {[%csl Rc5]}) 22... Bb5 (22... Qxc4 23. dxc6 Qxc6 24. h3 $14) 23.
Rcc1 Bxf1 24. Nxf1 Qxd5 25. Ng3 $14 {/~~}) 21... a6 22. h3 $36) 21. Qxe6 {
Natural and strong - before taking on c6 White liquidates the central pawn.} (
21. Rxc6 {is less convincing:} bxc6 22. Nxe4 Qxc4 23. Rc1 h5 $5 24. Qd1 $44 {
/+/=}) 21... Rde8 (21... Rhe8 22. Qf7 Rf8 23. Qg7 $1 Nxc4 24. Bg5 Rde8 (24...
Rc8 25. Rxc6 bxc6 26. Nxe4 $16 {[%cal Ye4c5,Re5e7]}) 25. Rxc6 (25. Nxe4 Bxe4
26. Qxc7+ Ka8 27. Rxc4 Bxg2 28. Rc3 Qd5 29. Ra1 {[%cal Ra1a7]} a6 $8 $14) 25...
bxc6 26. Nxe4 Nxe5 $5 27. dxe5 Rf7 28. Nd2 $1 (28. Qh6 Rxe5 29. f3 a5 $132)
28... Qd5 29. Qh6 Rxe5 30. Qh3 $1 $14) 22. Qh3 $6 (22. Qf7 $142 $1 Ref8 23. Qe7
$1 Re8 (23... Nxc4 $2 24. Qe6 Bb5 25. Rc1 $18) 24. Qg7 {White first chases the
rook to a passive square and is on top after} Reg8 25. Qh6 Nxc4 26. Rxc6 bxc6
27. Nxe4 $16) 22... Nxc4 23. Rxc6 $5 {[%mdl 512] Finally this thematic
sacrifice. The important bishop held Black's setup together.} bxc6 $6 {Black
accepts the challenge, although he was already short of time.} ({The drawback
of White's 22nd move was that now Karjakin could have played the less greedy} 
23... Nxe3 $142 24. Nxe4 Qd5 $1 (24... bxc6 25. Nc5 Qb5 26. Qxe3 $16 {->}) 25.
Rc5 Qxe4 26. Qxe3 (26. fxe3 Rhf8 27. Rfc1 c6 $13) 26... Qxe3 27. fxe3 Rhf8 $132
{Here Black is close to full equality, moreover this choice was better for
practical reasons - simplification eases the defensive task.}) 24. Nxe4 $44 {
Here White not only has full compensation; the position can already be
evaluated as much closer to +/-, than to +/=.} Nb6 ({We have already seen the
line} 24... Nxe3 25. Nc5 $16 {above.}) (24... Qb2 25. Nc5 $16) 25. Nc5 (25. Rc1
{is roughly equivalent:} Qe6 26. Qg3 $16 (26. Qf3 $2 Qf5 $13 {White must
naturally avoid the queen swap})) 25... Qd5 (25... Qb2 $5 {at least keeps
White's rook out of play for the time being, but Black is still in trouble
after} 26. e6 $16 (26. Qf3 $5 Nd5 27. Qg4 $36 {[%cal Rg4d7]})) 26. Rc1 ({
Possibly even more dangerous is} 26. Ra1 $5 $36 {[%cal Ye3g5,Yh3a3] , but
White has already more than one way to improve his position.}) 26... Ka8 (26...
a5 27. Qg4 {[%cal Rg4e2,Re2a6]} Qa2 28. Qd1 {[%cal Yc1a1,Yd1d3]}) 27. Na6 $1
Kb7 28. Nb4 Qf7 (28... Qe4 {was somewhat more resilient:} 29. Nxc6 Qf5 30. Qg3
$36) 29. Qg4 (29. Bh6 $142 $5 {[%cal Rh3a3]} Nd5 30. Qb3 $18) 29... Nd5 30.
Nxc6 Re6 31. Na5+ Ka8 32. Qe4 Rb6 (32... Ra6 33. Bd2 Rb8 34. Rc5 c6 35. g3 Rb2
36. Qe2 $18) 33. g4 (33. Rc5 Rd8 34. Nc6 $18 {wins, but Kramnik is in no hurry.
White first gets some breathing space for his king; the defence will gradually
collapse.}) 33... h5 $6 $138 (33... Rd8 $142 34. Rc5 Rd7 $16) 34. Rc5 Rd8 35.
Nc6 $18 Rxc6 (35... Rd7 36. e6 $18) (35... Rc8 36. Rxd5 Rxc6 37. Rc5 $18) 36.
Rxc6 hxg4 {Black had only a few seconds left, with no increment until move 60
the defence is hopeless.} (36... Kb8 37. e6 Qe8 38. Rc5 c6 39. Bg5 Rc8 40. gxh5
gxh5 41. f4 $18 {[%cal Rf4f6]}) 37. Rf6 $1 Qh7 (37... Qd7 38. e6 Qd6 39. Bf4
Qc6 40. Rxg6 {[%cal Re6e7]} Qb7 41. Bg3 $18) 38. Bg5 (38. e6 $18 {[%cal Rf6f7]}
) 38... Qg8 (38... Qd7 39. e6 Qd6 40. Rf7 Re8 41. Rd7 $18) 39. Rxg6 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A39"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:20/3600:900+30"]
[WhiteClock "0:18:15"]
[BlackClock "0:23:05"]

1. c4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:41]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:13]} Nf6 {
[%emt 0:01:12]} 3. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 4. g3 {[%emt 0:00:
09]} g6 {[%emt 0:04:14]} 5. d4 {[%emt 0:04:04]} cxd4 {[%emt 0:01:14]} 6. Nxd4 {
[%emt 0:00:08]} Bg7 {[%emt 0:02:31]} 7. Bg2 {[%emt 0:00:16]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:
10]} 8. O-O {[%emt 0:00:03]} Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:42]} 9. Qxd4 {[%emt 0:00:13]} d6
{[%emt 0:00:02]} 10. Qd3 {[%emt 0:02:57]} Be6 $5 {[%emt 0:01:41]} ({Black
usually develops the bishop after} 10... a6 {possibly followed by ...Rb8. A
recent game went} 11. Bg5 $5 (11. Bd2) (11. Be3) 11... Rb8 12. a4 {1-0 (59)
Edouard,R (2653)-Mista,A (2582) Germany 2013 CBM 158 [Meyer,CD]}) 11. Bd2 {
[%emt 0:13:42]} ({There is nothing wrong with taking the pawn. Black is mainly
struggling, but maybe concrete analysis proves he can reach an equality after
long forced lines.} 11. Bxb7 Rb8 12. Bg2 Qa5 13. b3 Rxb3 14. axb3 Qxa1 15. Nb5
(15. Bd2 {Donaldson,J (2399)-Watson,J (2345) Seattle 2003 CBM 093 [Ribli] (1/
2-1/2, 28)}) (15. Be3 Qa5 16. Nb5 Bf5 17. Qd1 a6 18. Nd4 Bd7 19. Qa1 Qb4 20.
Qxa6 Ng4 $44 {Palac,M (2561)-Rogulj,B (2418) Zagreb 2014 (1/2-1/2, 22)}) 15...
Qa2 16. Nd4 Bd7 $14 {(1-0, 38) Cyborowski,L (2564)-Kovalev,A (2572) Krakow 2004
}) 11... Qc8 {[%emt 0:00:58][%csl Gc4][%cal Ge6h3]} ({It is worth mentioning
that Kramnik had had this position with White in a blitz game:} 11... Qd7 12.
Rfd1 Ng4 13. b3 Ne5 14. Qe4 Rab8 15. Rac1 Bf5 16. Qh4 Bf6 17. Bg5 Bxg5 18. Qxg5
$14 {Kramnik-Anand, Moscow (blitz) 2009}) 12. b3 {[%emt 0:00:36]} Bh3 {[%emt 0:
00:10] White somewhat relieves White's pressure after exchanging the second
minor piece, but the space advantage has a long term character.} 13. Rac1 {
[%emt 0:00:45]} (13. Rad1 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 a6 15. a4 $14 {1/2-1/2 (31) Romanishin,
O (2600)-Neverov,V (2515) Donetsk 1998 CBM 068 [Ribli]}) 13... Bxg2 {[%emt 0:
01:48]} 14. Kxg2 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Qc6+ $146 {[%emt 0:10:53] This novelty does
not change anything essentially.} (14... Rd8 15. Rfd1 Rd7 16. e4 Ng4 17. Qe2
Ne5 18. f4 Nc6 19. Be3 b6 20. h4 Qb7 21. h5 e6 22. Qf3 Re8 23. Rd2 $14 a6 $6
24. Na4 {For reasons I do not understand now, in Marin-Lupu, Manresa 1996 I
accompanied the last move with a draw offer, which was immediately accepted.
Being a Hedgehog player with Black myself, I probably overestimated the
counterplay based on} b5 {In fact, after} 25. Nb6 Rdd8 26. Rcd1 $16) (14... e6
15. Rfd1 Rd8 16. Bg5 Rd7 17. Bxf6 $5 {This could have eventually led to
brilliancies.} (17. Qf3 Ne8 18. Rd3 Qc6 19. e4 Rc8 20. a4 {Neverov,V (2490)
-Dvoirys,S (2550) St Petersburg 1995 (1/2-1/2, 31)}) 17... Bxf6 18. Qf3 Bxc3 $6
(18... Bg7 19. Ne4 Qc6 20. h4 {offers White only some light pressure.}) 19.
Rxc3 Qc5 20. Qf6 Rc8 21. Rf3 $14 b5 $2 {In Jirovsky,M (2420)-Neverov,V (2515)
Lazne Bohdanec 1996 (1-0, 49) this thematic break could once again have led to
disastrous consequences.} 22. cxb5 Qxb5 23. Rxd6 $3 Rxd6 24. Qxf7+ Kh8 25. Qe7
$3 Qd5 $8 (25... Qd7 26. Rf8+ Rxf8 27. Qxf8#) (25... Rdd8 26. Rf7 $18) 26. e4
$1 Qxe4 27. Qxd6 $18) 15. f3 {[%emt 0:10:03]} e6 {[%emt 0:05:04][%csl Gd5,Rd6]}
16. Rfd1 {[%emt 0:03:16]} Rad8 {[%emt 0:07:25]} 17. Bf4 {[%emt 0:11:53]} Rd7 {
[%emt 0:12:05]} 18. Qe3 {[%emt 0:05:39][%cal Gf4h6,Gd1d4,Gd4h4]} (18. e4 $14)
18... b6 {[%emt 0:09:47]} 19. Rd3 {[%emt 0:04:39]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:10:22]} 20. Qd2
{[%emt 0:10:42]} Ne8 {[%emt 0:03:07]} 21. e4 $14 {[%emt 0:04:35][%csl Gd6]
Play is rather one-sided. Black's attempt to undermine the white space
advantage with ...b6-b5 will only create new weaknesses.} a6 $6 {[%emt 0:09:54]
[%csl Gb6,Gc5]} (21... Qc5 $5 {[%csl Ge5][%cal Yc5h5,Yc5a5]} 22. Rd1 Rcd8 23.
h4 $14) 22. e5 {[%emt 0:19:04]} h6 {[%emt 0:01:54]} 23. h4 {[%emt 0:05:40]}
Rcd8 {[%emt 0:06:21]} 24. Rd1 {[%emt 0:01:58]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:25]} (24... Kh7
25. a4 $16) 25. c5 $1 {[%emt 0:05:55] After this thematic break, the game will
oscillate between +/- and +/= until eventually reaching = by means of !!} Qxc5
{[%emt 0:03:13]} (25... d5 26. b4 $16 {[%cal Gc3e2,Ge2d4]}) 26. Ne4 {[%emt 0:
00:05]} Qb6 {[%emt 0:01:21]} 27. Nxd6 {[%emt 0:01:11]} (27. Be3 Qb8 28. Nc5 $1
Bxe5 (28... Ra7 29. exd6 $18) 29. Nxd7 Rxd7 30. Bxh6 {[%cal Gh4h5] /\h5} Nf6
31. Re1 {[%cal Ge1e5]} Qb7 32. h5 $1 $16 Nxh5 $2 33. Rxe5 $1) 27... Bf8 {
[%emt 0:04:55]} 28. h5 {[%emt 0:04:32]} (28. Bxh6 $6 Nxd6 29. Bxf8 Ne4 $1) (28.
Be3 Qb8 29. Bxh6 Nxd6 30. Bg5 Ne4 31. Rxd7 Nxd2 32. Rxd8 Qxe5 33. R1xd2 Kg7 $14
{[%csl Gg2]}) (28. Nc8 $1 Rxd3 29. Nxb6 Rxd2+ 30. Rxd2 Rxd2+ 31. Bxd2 Nc7 32.
Nd7 $16 {[%csl Ra6,Rg8][%cal Gg2f1,Gf1e2,Ge2d3,Yd7b8,Yd2a5]}) 28... Nxd6 {
[%emt 0:06:33]} (28... g5 $2 29. Bxg5 hxg5 30. Qxg5+ Kh8 31. Nxe8 $1 Rxd3 32.
Nf6 Bg7 33. h6 $18) 29. exd6 {[%emt 0:00:30]} g5 {[%emt 0:02:53]} 30. Be5 {
[%emt 0:00:20]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:02:37]} (30... Bg7 $1 $14) 31. Rc1 {[%emt 0:01:14]
} Rxc1 {[%emt 0:01:00]} 32. Qxc1 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Qb7 {[%emt 0:01:04]} (32...
Bxd6 33. Qd1 (33. Qd2 $2 Bb4 $1) 33... Bxe5 34. Rxd7) (32... Bg7 33. Bxg7 (33.
Qc7 $5 Rxc7 34. dxc7 Bxe5 35. c8=Q+ Kg7 $14) 33... Kxg7 34. Qc3+ Kg8 35. Qc8+
Rd8 36. Qc7 Qb8 37. Kf2 $16) 33. g4 {[%emt 0:01:46]} b4 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 34.
Qc4 {[%emt 0:00:35]} Bg7 {[%emt 0:00:44]} 35. Bg3 {[%emt 0:00:40]} (35. Bxg7
Kxg7 $14) 35... Qb5 {[%emt 0:00:36]} 36. Be1 {[%emt 0:00:27]} (36. Qxb5 axb5
37. f4 gxf4 38. Bxf4 $16) 36... Qe5 {[%emt 0:00:42]} 37. Bg3 {[%emt 0:01:07]}
Qe2+ {[%emt 0:00:17]} 38. Bf2 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Bf8 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 39. Qxa6 {
[%emt 0:00:24]} e5 $6 {[%emt 0:00:26]} ({The counterplay started with this
move will result in a briliancy, but the simple} 39... Qe5 $1 $11 {would have
retrieved the pawn and saved the game at once.}) 40. Qc4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qxa2
{[%emt 0:00:00]} 41. Qc6 $2 {[%emt 0:12:32]} (41. Qxb4 $16) 41... e4 $1 {
[%emt 0:04:49]} 42. fxe4 {[%emt 0:00:40]} Qe2 {[%emt 0:00:35]} 43. Rf3 {
[%emt 0:00:24]} Rxd6 {[%emt 0:02:30]} 44. Qe8 {[%emt 0:00:21]} f6 {[%emt 0:01:
06]} 45. e5 {[%emt 0:00:34] Svidler must have put big hopes in this pawn break.
The threat is Qg6+ followed by exd6 and the black rook does not have safe
squares along the sixth rank.} f5 $3 {[%emt 0:16:01]} (45... Qxe5 46. Qxe5 fxe5
47. Rxf8+ Kxf8 48. Bc5 Ke7 49. Bxb4 $1 $18) (45... Ra6 46. Qc8 Rb6 47. Qf5 {
[%cal Ge5f6]}) (45... Rb6 46. Kg3 {[%cal Gf2b6]} Ra6 47. Re3 {[%cal Ge5e6]})
46. gxf5 {[%emt 0:01:04]} Rf6 $1 {[%emt 0:03:16]} 47. Kg3 {[%emt 0:12:30]} (47.
Re3 Qg4+ 48. Bg3 Ra6 $1 $132 {[%cal Ga6a2]}) 47... Qe4 {[%emt 0:02:06]} 48. Bc5
{[%emt 0:02:11]} Qe1+ {[%emt 0:05:56]} 49. Bf2 {[%emt 0:02:25]} Qe4 {[%emt 0:
00:50]} 50. Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Qe1+ {[%emt 0:00:05]} 51. Bf2 {[%emt 0:09:10]}
1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.17"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "ChessBase Website"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:20/3600:900+30"]
[WhiteClock "1:04:51"]
[BlackClock "1:23:48"]

1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:08] A fabulous and exciting game, which was unfortunately
rather short. Kramnik busted out his Vienna which is a sharp and interesting
line, accepting a pawn sacrifice for which White obtains a strong initiative.
Anand's opening was not the best and it allowed Kramnik a creative and
powerful counterplay that resulted in a perpetual check.} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:13]}
2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:16]} e6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 3. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:18]} d5 {[%emt 0:
00:52]} 4. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:13]} dxc4 {[%emt 0:03:57]} 5. e4 {[%emt 0:09:15]}
Bb4 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 6. Bg5 {[%emt 0:00:42]} c5 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 7. Bxc4 {
[%emt 0:00:46]} cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 8. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Bxc3+ {[%emt 0:
01:18]} 9. bxc3 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Qa5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 10. Bb5+ {[%emt 0:01:00]}
Nbd7 {[%emt 0:02:31]} 11. Bxf6 {[%emt 0:00:30]} Qxc3+ {[%emt 0:00:37]} 12. Kf1
{[%emt 0:00:17]} gxf6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 13. h4 {[%emt 0:01:27]} a6 {[%emt 0:01:
03]} 14. Rh3 {[%emt 0:03:13]} Qb4 {[%emt 0:00:55]} 15. Be2 {[%emt 0:01:09]} Ne5
{[%emt 0:02:48]} 16. h5 {[%emt 0:08:12]} (16. Rc1 Qd6 17. Rc2 Bd7 18. Rd2 Qc7
19. Rc2 Qd6 20. Rd2 Qc7 21. Rc2 {1/2-1/2 (21) Grischuk,A (2746)-Kramnik,V 
(2781) Moscow 2011}) 16... Qd6 {[%emt 0:09:27]} 17. Qd2 {[%emt 0:02:31]} Nc6 {
[%emt 0:01:17]} 18. Rd3 {[%emt 0:02:03]} Qh2 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 19. f4 {[%emt 0:
10:05]} Rg8 {[%emt 0:00:32]} 20. Bf3 {[%emt 0:01:30]} Bd7 {[%emt 0:01:26]} 21.
Ne2 {[%emt 0:07:21]} Qh1+ {[%emt 0:03:58]} 22. Ng1 {[%emt 0:00:21]} Nd4 {
[%emt 0:00:10]} 23. Rxd4 {[%emt 0:02:04]} Bb5+ {[%emt 0:01:11]} 24. Kf2 {
[%emt 0:00:14]} Qh4+ {[%emt 0:00:12]} 25. Ke3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:
18]} 26. fxe5 {[%emt 0:00:22]} Qg5+ {[%emt 0:00:42]} 27. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:06]}
Qg3+ {[%emt 0:00:09]} 28. Ke3 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Qg5+ {[%emt 0:01:16]} 29. Kf2 {
[%emt 0:00:13]} Qg3+ {[%emt 0:00:02]} 30. Ke3 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Qg5+ {[%emt 0:
00:03]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2830"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. e3 b6 5. Nc3 Bb7 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bb5+ c6 8. Bd3
{Another harmless system "just for play".} Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. b3 Nbd7 11. Bb2
Re8 (11... Bd6 {(preventing Nf3-e5) is played more often. Here are some
classic examples:} 12. Ne2 (12. Rc1 Re8 13. Ne2 Qe7 14. Ng3 g6 15. Qe2 Ba3 16.
Rfe1 Qd6 17. Qc2 Bxb2 18. Qxb2 c5 $11 {0-1 (80) Gelfand,B (2700)-Karpov,A 
(2780) Sanghi Nagar 1995 CBM 045 [Gelfand,B]}) 12... Re8 13. Ng3 g6 14. Rc1 a5
15. Qc2 Qe7 16. Rfe1 Ba3 $6 (16... Ne4 $5 $11 {M.Marin}) (16... Qf8 $5 {
Ivanchuk}) 17. Bxa3 Qxa3 18. h4 $36 Qd6 19. h5 Nf8 20. e4 $14 {0-1 (50)
Fressinet,L (2708)-Ivanchuk,V (2731) Elancourt 2013 CBM 157 [Marin,M]}) 12. Ne5
(12. Qc2 Rc8 13. Rac1 Bd6 14. Rfe1 g6 15. Ne2 Ne4 16. Ng3 f5 17. Re2 Qe7 18.
Nd2 Ba3 19. Ngf1 Bxb2 20. Qxb2 Qd6 $11 {1/2 (37) Berescu,A (2461)-Malakhatko,V
(2559) Abu Dhabi 2013}) (12. Ne2 Bf8 (12... Bd6 {- see above}) 13. Ng3 Rc8 14.
Qe2 g6 15. Rac1 Rc7 16. Ba6 Bxa6 17. Qxa6 Qc8 18. Qd3 Ne4 19. Rc2 Bg7 20. Rfc1
Qb7 21. Qe2 f5 $132 {0-1 (38) Malaniuk,V (2504)-Gavrilov,A (2498) Krakow 2012})
12... Bd6 {This move is unnecessary as White is planning to continue f2-f4
anyway.} (12... Bb4 13. f4 a6 14. Bf5 Nf8 15. Rc1 b5 16. Ne2 Qb6 17. Ng3 Bd6
18. Qc2 a5 19. Rf3 a4 20. Bd3 axb3 21. axb3 Ng6 22. Nf5 $36 {1-0 (40) Lukacs,P
(2480)-Votava,J (2440) Budapest 1995}) (12... a6 13. Ne2 c5 14. Ng3 Bf8 15. Rc1
g6 16. Rc2 Bg7 17. f4 Rc8 18. f5 Rc7 19. Nxd7 Rxd7 20. dxc5 bxc5 21. Rxc5 d4 $1
$132 22. e4 Nxe4 23. Bxe4 Bxe4 24. Nxe4 Rxe4 25. Qd3 Re8 {1/2 (50)
Gaprindashvili,V (2476)-Anastasian,A (2591) Batumi 2002}) (12... c5 13. f4 a6
14. Qf3 b5 15. Kh1 Ra7 16. Qh3 Ba8 17. Bf5 Nf8 18. dxc5 Bxc5 19. Ne2 Qb6 20.
Nd4 Rc7 21. Rac1 Bb7 22. Rc2 Bd6 23. Rxc7 Bxc7 24. Ng4 Bd8 {1/2 (33) Lukacs,P 
(2455)-Lau,R (2520) Budapest 1992}) 13. f4 {A double-edged move in such a
structure: White supports his e5-knight and develops his kingside initiative
but weakens the e4-square.} c5 14. Qf3 cxd4 15. exd4 Bb4 {Black is fighting
for the e4-square.} 16. Ne2 {This knight is not so valuable, it was better to
allow Black to take it.} (16. Rac1 $5) 16... Ne4 17. a3 Bf8 18. Rad1 a6 (18...
Ndf6 19. Bb5 Re7 {was quite possible, with a good position for Black.}) 19. a4
Rc8 ({Here, too,} 19... Ndf6 {was more accurate, preventing White's next move.}
) 20. Qh5 {White provokes ...g7-g6, weakening the position of Black's king.} g6
21. Qh3 Ndf6 $6 {Now this move is hardly appropriate.} (21... f5 {was quite
possible. If} 22. g4 {then} fxg4 23. Qxg4 Ndf6 24. Qg2 Rc7 {[%cal Yc7g7]}) 22.
f5 $1 $36 g5 $6 {Another weakening.} (22... Rc7 $5 {protecting the 7th rank})
23. Ng3 b5 $1 {Black must urgently activate his queen.} 24. axb5 Qb6 25. Kh1 (
25. bxa6 $5 Bxa6 26. Nxe4 $1 Nxe4 (26... dxe4 27. Bxa6 Qxa6 28. Qg3 h6 29. h4)
27. Nd7 $1 Qd6 28. Bxa6 Qxa6 29. f6 $40) 25... axb5 26. Bxe4 dxe4 27. d5 $1 {
[%csl Gb2][%cal Gb2h8]} e3 $1 28. Ng4 Nxg4 29. Qxg4 h6 30. Ne4 Rc2 $1 {[%mdl
512] Black defends very well. He sacrifices a queen for a rook and a knight
but creates strong counterplay.} 31. Nf6+ Qxf6 32. Bxf6 e2 33. Bxg5 Bxd5 $4 {
An absolutely crazy move!} (33... exf1=Q+ 34. Rxf1 hxg5 35. Qxg5+ Kh7 36. f6
Ree2 $1 {, and White has hardly anything better than perpetual.}) 34. Bxh6+ $6
{White is clearly bewildered.} (34. Bf6+ $142 Kh7 35. Rg1 Re4 36. Qf3 exd1=Q
37. Qxd1 {, and White should win.}) 34... Kh7 35. Bxf8 (35. Rg1 $1 Bxh6 36.
Rde1 {was still possible but now White's victory is less certain after, say,}
Re3) 35... exf1=Q+ 36. Rxf1 Rxg2 37. Qxg2 Bxg2+ 38. Kxg2 Rxf8 {[%mdl 4096]
Finally the players have reached a rook ending. Levon Aronian proves that
White's extra pawn can't be converted.} 39. Kf3 Kg7 40. Ke4 Rh8 41. Kd4 Rc8 (
41... Rh4+ $5 42. Kc5 b4) 42. Rf4 Kf6 43. h4 Re8 44. Kc5 Re5+ 45. Kd6 Re3 46.
Rb4 Kxf5 47. Rxb5+ Kg4 48. h5 f5 49. h6 Rh3 50. Ke5 Rxh6 51. Rb4+ Kf3 52. Kxf5
Ke3 53. Ke5 Kd3 54. Rb8 Kc3 55. b4 Kc4 56. Rb7 Rh5+ 57. Kd6 Rh6+ 58. Kd7 Rh7+
59. Kc6 Rxb7 60. Kxb7 Kxb4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:20/3600:900+30"]
[WhiteClock "1:26:36"]
[BlackClock "1:03:45"]

1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} e6 {[%emt 0:
00:06]} 3. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 4. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Be7
{[%emt 0:00:21]} 5. Bf4 {[%emt 0:00:10]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:11]} 6. e3 {[%emt 0:
00:03]} Nbd7 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 7. c5 {[%emt 0:00:04] A very direct approach and
the most popular one.} Nh5 {[%emt 0:00:14] The most principled way to question
the effectiveness of the last move. Both players had had this position before,
so they must have both known what they were doing.} (7... c6 8. h3 {0-1 (41)
Bacrot,E (2749)-Aronian,L (2801) Warsaw 2013 CBM 158 [Krasenkow,M]}) (7... Ne4
8. Qc2 f5 {1-0 (48) Topalov,V (2752)-Giri,A (2711) Istanbul 2012 CBM 151 
[Krasenkow,M]}) 8. Be5 $5 {[%emt 0:00:04] Following his own path and deviating
from that which was supposedly the most familiar to Kramnik.} (8. Bd3 Nxf4 9.
exf4 b6 10. b4 a5 11. a3 c6 12. O-O Qc7 13. g3 Ba6 14. Bxa6 Rxa6 15. Qe2 Rfa8
16. b5 $1 (16. Rab1 {Radjabov,T (2744)-Kramnik,V (2785) Kazan 2011 CBM 143 
[Marin,M] (1/2-1/2, 39)}) 16... cxb5 17. Nxd5 $1 {Aronian,L (2802)-Giri,A 
(2714) Porto Carras 2011 CBM 146 [Krasenkow,M] (1-0, 43)}) 8... c6 {[%emt 0:01:
01]} 9. Bd3 {[%emt 0:02:09] Clearly the most active developing move.} (9. Be2 {
is a bit too passive.} f6 10. Bg3 g6 ({The knight did not really need
defending yet. Black should have started his counterplay without delay:} 10...
e5 $1 11. b4 e4) 11. b4 e5 12. Qb3 Kh8 {Savchenko,B (2569)-Azarov,S (2585)
Voronezh 2008 (0-1, 36)} 13. b5 $5) (9. h3 {simply gives away a tempo, since
Black was going to take on e5 at some point anyway.} Nxe5 10. Nxe5 Nf6 11. Bd3
Nd7 12. Nxd7 Bxd7 13. O-O e5 $5 $132 {Krush,I (2472)-Zatonskih,A (2499) Saint
Louis 2011 (1-0, 37)}) 9... g6 {[%emt 0:03:43]} ({An old game by Topalov saw
the too straightforward} 9... f5 $6 10. b4 a6 11. h3 Nxe5 12. dxe5 f4 13. e4
$14 {Topalov,V (2707)-Campora,D (2526) Barcelona 2000 (1-0, 40)}) (9... f6 {
was played in a historic match, a long, long time ago, but deserves closer
investigation.} 10. Bg3 (10. Ng5 {is interesting but may well lead only to a
draw:} fxe5 11. Qxh5 Bxg5 12. Qxh7+ Kf7 13. Qh5+ (13. Bg6+ Kf6 14. Bh5 Bh6 15.
g4 Ke7 16. g5 Rh8 17. Qg6 Qf8 {parries the attack.}) 13... Kg8 $11 14. Bh7+ $2
Kh8 15. Bg6+ Bh6 $19) 10... f5 {In a way, Black won a tempo over
Topalov-Camora above. But it could well turn that he has actually lost a tempo,
depending on the ulterior course of the game.} 11. Ng5 $2 {Steinitz,W-Chigorin,
M Nuremberg 1896 (1-0, 33)} (11. Be5 $5 {would really throw away a tempo.}) (
11. b4 $5 Nxg3 12. hxg3 g6 {[%cal Ge7f6,Ge6e5]} 13. b5 e5 $1) 11... Nxc5 $1 12.
dxc5 Nxg3 13. Nxe6 Bxe6 14. hxg3 Bxc5 $17) (9... Nxe5 10. Nxe5 g6 ({If} 10...
Nf6 11. Qc2 $14 {Black cannot free himself easily, since ...Nd7 would require
weakening the kingside with either ...h6 ot ...g6. This would be at least
risky given that White can still castle long.}) 11. h4 $36 Bxh4 $2 12. Qg4 Bf6
13. Rxh5 $18) 10. h4 {[%emt 0:00:07] In some cases, this could prove an useful
move for the attack, but clearing the h2-square for the bishop is at least as
important.} f5 $6 {[%emt 0:13:01] Allowing White to keep his bishop is
strategically risky.} ({True, embarking the following line against Topalov
would imply risks of a different nature.} 10... Nxe5 11. Nxe5 f6 12. Nxg6 hxg6
13. Qg4 f5 14. Qxg6+ Ng7 15. h5 {The engines are sceptical about this whole
plan, but Topalov has more than once proven he deals well with positions
offering unclear compensation. It was precisely this kind of anti-computer
chess that, basically avoiding his opponent's preparation, yielded him the
supreme crown in 2005.} Rf6 (15... Kh8 $5) 16. Qg5 Kf7 17. Ne2 Qh8 18. Nf4 Qh6
19. Qg3 Ke8 20. Be2 b6 21. Ng6 Bd7 22. b4 $44 {Black is under no immediate
threats, but freeing himself is almost impossible.}) 11. Bh2 $1 $14 {[%emt 0:
07:01]} b6 {[%emt 0:08:01]} (11... Bxh4 {is another form of risky material
grabbing.} 12. Nxh4 Qxh4 13. Qd2 e5 14. O-O-O $36 {[%csl Gg8]}) 12. b4 {
[%emt 0:04:03]} f4 {[%emt 0:03:44] Kramnik must have relied on this way of
neutralising the bishop, but since the h5-knight is doomed to defend the
f4-pawn, Black cannot really hope to be a piece up for practical reasons in
any other area of the board.} 13. O-O {[%emt 0:11:15]} a5 $2 {[%emt 0:31:37]
Playing with fire.} (13... bxc5 14. bxc5 e5 15. Qa4 Qc7 (15... Bb7 16. Rab1)
16. Rab1 $32 e4 $6 17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. Bxe4 $16) (13... Bb7 $5 $14) 14. b5 $1 $16
{[%emt 0:04:22] Kramnik surely saw this (it is just too thematic), but he must
have overlooked something at a slightly later moment.} (14. a3 axb4 15. axb4
Rxa1 16. Qxa1 bxc5 17. bxc5 e5 $11) 14... bxc5 {[%emt 0:00:31]} (14... Bb7 15.
bxc6 Bxc6 16. cxb6 Qxb6 17. Qe2 $16 {[%cal Ga1b1,Gf1c1]}) 15. bxc6 {[%emt 0:00:
07]} Nb8 {[%emt 0:03:05]} 16. Bb5 {[%emt 0:04:10]} Ba6 {[%emt 0:07:48]} 17. a4
$16 {[%emt 0:05:06] Kramnik must have thought he would get the c6-pawn without
any problems, underestimating White's dynamic potential.} Qc8 {[%emt 0:00:31]}
(17... c4 18. exf4 Nxf4 19. Ne2 {[%cal Gc6c7,Gh2c7]} Bd6 20. Nxf4 Bxf4 21. Bxf4
Rxf4 22. h5 gxh5 23. Ne5 $18 {[%csl Ga8,Gb8,Rg8]}) 18. dxc5 {[%emt 0:02:29]}
Nxc6 {[%emt 0:13:23]} 19. Nxd5 $1 {[%emt 0:08:20] The point.} exd5 {[%emt 0:00:
47]} 20. Qxd5+ {[%emt 0:00:08]} Kh8 {[%emt 0:01:51]} 21. Qxc6 {[%emt 0:00:09]}
Qxc6 {[%emt 0:01:58]} 22. Bxc6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Rac8 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 23. Bb5 {
[%emt 0:03:33]} Bxb5 {[%emt 0:00:55]} 24. axb5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Bxc5 {[%emt 0:
00:03]} 25. Rxa5 {[%emt 0:04:01]} fxe3 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 26. fxe3 {[%emt 0:00:
05]} Bxe3+ {[%emt 0:00:18]} 27. Kh1 $16 {[%emt 0:00:05] Black has limited the
damage to the loss of just one pawn. Still, that pawn is quite dangerous.} Rc2
$2 {[%emt 0:11:36] This counterplay will fail.} ({It would have made sense to
stop the pawn somehow.} 27... Nf6 28. Rb1 Nd5 $16) 28. Rb1 $18 {[%emt 0:05:31]}
Rfc8 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 29. Raa1 {[%emt 0:05:52]} Bb6 {[%emt 0:00:01]} 30. Be5+ {
[%emt 0:05:35]} Kg8 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 31. Ra6 $18 {[%emt 0:00:19] There is no
way to stop the pawn now.} Be3 {[%emt 0:00:46]} 32. b6 {[%emt 0:04:22]} Rc1+ {
[%emt 0:00:09]} 33. Rxc1 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Rxc1+ {[%emt 0:00:02]} 34. Kh2 {
[%emt 0:00:09]} Rb1 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 35. g4 $1 {[%emt 0:03:42] The start of a
well-calculated execution.} Bf4+ {[%emt 0:03:10]} 36. Kg2 {[%emt 0:02:04]} Bxe5
{[%emt 0:00:49]} 37. Nxe5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Nf4+ {[%emt 0:01:21]} 38. Kf3 {
[%emt 0:00:20]} Ne6 {[%emt 0:02:29]} (38... Nd5 39. Ra8+ Kg7 40. Ra7+ Kf6 41.
Nd7+ Ke6 42. b7 $18) 39. b7 {[%emt 0:05:20]} Rb3+ {[%emt 0:01:23]} 40. Kf2 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} Rb2+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} 41. Ke3 {[%emt 0:02:01]} 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.21"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. Qc2 c5 8.
e3 Qa5 9. Bd3 c4 10. Bf5 O-O 11. O-O Re8 12. Nd2 g6 13. Bxd7 Nxd7 14. h4 {
White is preparing activity on the kingside and at the same time protecting
his bishop on g5.} (14. f3) (14. Rae1) 14... b5 {The most popular move in this
critical position seems to be 14...Nb6. Mamedyarov is unhappy that the pawns
of the queenside would lose mobility, on the other hand the bishop c8 could
become more active.} (14... Nb6 15. f3 (15. Nb3 Qa6 16. Nc5 Qa5 17. a4 (17. Nb3
Qa6 18. Nc5 Qa5 19. Nb3 {1/2-1/2ќ Orsag,M-Sosonko,G/Aaland-Stockholm 1997/ (19)
}) (17. e4 $5) 17... Bf5 18. e4 (18. Qd1 Bxc5 19. dxc5 Qxc5 20. a5 Nd7 21. Qxd5
Qxd5 22. Nxd5 Bd3 $13) 18... dxe4 (18... Bxe4 $5 19. N3xe4 dxe4 20. Nxe4 Nd5
$15) 19. Nxb7 Qa6 20. Nc5 Qc8 (20... Bxc5 21. dxc5 e3 22. Qc1 Nd7 23. Bxe3 Qc6
24. Nb5 Bd3 25. Rd1 Re4 $132) 21. Qe2 a5 $6 (21... Bxc5 22. dxc5 Qxc5 23. g4
Bc8 24. Nxe4 Nd7 $13) 22. N5xe4 Nd7 (22... Bxe4 23. Nxe4 Nd5 $44) 23. f3 Qc6
24. Qf2 $14 {1/2 (42) Kempinski,R (2587)-Tischbierek,R (2523) Germany 2002/} (
24. Rac1)) (15. e4 Bxc3 16. bxc3 dxe4 17. Nxe4 Nd5 18. Nf6+ Nxf6 19. Bxf6 Bf5
20. Qd2 Re6 21. Bg5 f6 22. Bh6 Qd5 {1/2-1/2 Cvitan,O-Palac,M/Pula 1993/EXT 99 
(35)}) 15... Bf8 (15... Bxc3 16. bxc3 Qa4 (16... Na4 17. Rac1 (17. Rfc1 Bd7 18.
e4 Re6 19. Rab1 Nb6 20. Rb4 Rae8 21. e5 Na4 22. Nf1 Rb6 23. a3 $14 {1-0 (33)
Malakhatko,V (2612)-Paehtz,E (2481) Dresden 2008}) 17... Bd7 18. e4 f5 19. Rfe1
Rac8 20. Nf1 dxe4 21. fxe4 fxe4 22. Rxe4 Bf5 23. Rxe8+ Rxe8 24. Qd2 Qb5 25. Ne3
$16 {Dautov,R-Tischbierek,R/Bad Mergentheim/1991/}) (16... Bd7 17. e4 f5 18.
Rfe1 $6 (18. e5 $16) 18... Qa4 19. Qc1 dxe4 $1 20. fxe4 Qc6 21. e5 Nd5 $10 {
Dautov,R-Winants,L/Belgique/1992/}) 17. Qc1 $6 (17. Qb1 Qa3 18. Rc1 Bd7 19. e4
Rac8 20. Nf1 dxe4 21. fxe4 f5 22. e5 Nd5 23. Qc2 f4 24. Qf2 b5 25. h5 Re6 26.
Qf3 Bc6 27. Nd2 {1-0 Pinter,J-Greenfeld,A/Beersheba/1991/ (51)}) 17... Bf5 $1
18. Re1 Qc6 (18... Qc2 19. e4 $14) 19. Nf1 Na4 20. Ng3 Bd3 21. Nh1 Kg7 22. Nf2
f6 23. Bf4 h6 (23... Bf5 24. e4 (24. g4 Bd3 25. Qd2 Rac8) 24... dxe4 25. g4 e3
26. Rxe3 Bd3 27. Qd2) 24. Qa3 g5 {1-0 (58) Sokolov,I (2665)-Sosonko,G (2515)
Amsterdam 1996/}) (15... f6 16. Bf4 (16. Bh6 $5 Bd7 17. h5 $36) 16... Bd7 17.
a3 $142 (17. Rae1 Bxc3 (17... Ba4 $1 18. Qc1 Bc6 19. e4 Na4 $1 $132 {/\} 20.
Re3 $140 $2 Qb6) 18. bxc3 Na4 19. Nb1 f5 20. h5 $40) (17. e4 $6 Ba4 $1 18. Qc1
Bc6 19. Re1 (19. exd5 Bxc3 20. dxc6 Bxd4+ 21. Kh1 bxc6 22. Nxc4 Qh5 $10) (19.
e5 $2 Na4 20. Nxa4 fxe5 $1 21. a3 Bxd2 22. Bxd2 Qxa4 23. dxe5 d4 $36) 19... Na4
$1 20. Nxa4 (20. exd5 $5 Rxe1+ 21. Qxe1 Bxd5 22. Nde4 Nxc3 23. bxc3 Be7 $10)
20... Qxa4 21. e5 Ba5 $1 22. exf6 Bb6 23. Qc3 Ba5 {˝-˝ Dautov,R-Lutz,C/BL
9192/1992/'}) 17... Bxc3 18. bxc3 Ba4 19. Qc1 Bc6 20. Ra2 Re6 21. Re1 $14) (
15... Bd7 16. e4 (16. Rae1 Na4 17. Ndb1 Re6 18. e4 Nxc3 19. bxc3 Bf8 20. exd5
Qxd5 21. Rxe6 Qxe6 22. Nd2 f5 23. Qb1 Qd5 24. Re1 Re8 25. Rxe8 Bxe8 26. Qe1 {
Dizdar,G-Kovacevic,Vlad/Makarska/1993/0-1 (56)}) 16... Bc6 17. Rae1 Re6 18. e5
Bd7 19. g4 Rc6 20. Re2 Re8 21. Rg2 Nc8 22. f4 Ra6 23. Nf3 h5 24. f5 hxg4 25. e6
{1-0 Yrjola,J-Siklosi,Z/HUN-ch op Eger/1987 (34)}) 16. e4 Bg7 17. Be3 (17. exd5
Bf5 18. Nde4 Nxd5 19. Qf2 Nxc3 20. bxc3 Qa6 21. Rae1 h6 22. Bf4 Rad8 23. Re3
Qc6 24. Rfe1 {1/2-1/2 Ftacnik,L-Winants,L (03)/Tilburg1.29 (30')/1992/ (35)})
17... Be6 18. a4 Bd7 19. h5 Rac8 20. Rfe1 Bc6 21. hxg6 hxg6 22. e5 Na8 23. Nf1
Nc7 24. f4 Bd7 25. Ng3 {1-0 (44) Cheparinov,I (2670)-Mamedyarov,S (2752)
Khanty-Mansiysk 2007}) (14... f6 15. Bf4 (15. Bh6 Bxc3 16. bxc3 Nb6 17. f3 Qa4
18. Qc1 Bd7 19. e4 Re6 20. Re1 Rae8 21. Re3 Bc6 22. Qf1 Qc2 23. Qf2 Na4 24.
Rae1 Nxc3 25. exd5 Rxe3 26. Rxe3 Nxd5 27. Rxe8+ Bxe8 28. Qe1 {1/2 (30)
Tregubov,P (2647)-Iotov,V (2556) Manama 2009}) 15... Bxc3 16. bxc3 Nb6 17. f3
Qa4 18. Qb2 Bf5 19. Rfe1 Qc6 20. Qa3 Bd3 21. Qxa7 {1/2 (21) Malakhatko,V (2569)
-Aleksandrov,A (2639) Kolkata 2009}) (14... Bf8 15. e4 h6 16. Be3 dxe4 17. Nxc4
Qh5 18. Nxe4 Qxh4 19. f3 a5 20. Bf2 Qd8 21. d5 Ra6 22. a4 f5 23. Nc3 Nf6 24.
Rfe1 Bb4 25. Rxe8+ Nxe8 26. Rd1 $14 {1-0 (53) Romanov,E (2547)-Aleksandrov,A 
(2582) Dagomys 2008}) 15. a4 {There are hardly any examples played with the
slightly unusual move 14...b5. Kramnik decides to undermine the pawn structure
right away.} (15. a3 Bxc3 16. bxc3 Nb6 17. f3 Na4 18. Rac1 Nb6 19. Ra1 Na4 20.
Rac1 f6 21. Bf4 Qd8 22. e4 $11 {0-1 (62) Lekic,D (2390)-Mikhalevski,V (2608)
Budva 2009}) 15... Bxc3 (15... Bb7 16. axb5 Qb6 17. b3 $16) 16. bxc3 b4 17.
cxb4 Qxb4 18. Nb1 (18. Rfb1 Qd6 19. Qc3 Rb8 20. Rxb8 Qxb8 21. Bf4 Qa8 22. e4
Nf6 23. Be5 Ng4 24. Bg3 Bb7 $11) 18... Qd6 {Mamedyarov is a great player in
positions with tactical content. A pure strategic fight leaves him a bit
restless as he has little chances to demonstrate the small miracles he can
achieve with the pieces.} (18... Bb7 $5 19. Nc3 Bc6 20. e4 Qd6 21. Rfe1 Rac8
$11) 19. Nc3 Qc6 (19... Nf8 20. Bf4 Qc6 21. Qb2 Ne6 22. Bh2 $14) 20. Rfb1 Ba6
21. Qd1 (21. Qe2 f6 22. Bh6 (22. Bf4 Nf8 23. Qf3 Rad8) 22... Rad8 (22... Rab8
23. Qf3 Rxb1+ 24. Rxb1 Bb7 25. Nxd5 Ba8 26. e4 f5 27. Qc3 Rxe4 28. f3 Re6 29.
Ne3 $16) 23. Qf3 Nb6 24. Bf4 $14) 21... f6 22. Bf4 Rad8 23. Qf3 Nf8 24. Bh6 {
The former world champion was quite satisfied with his achievements as his
opponent is reduced to passive play. Objectively speaking it is not so easy
for White to make real progress.} Kf7 (24... Rd7 25. Rb4 Kf7 26. Rd1 $14) 25.
Rb2 Ne6 26. Rab1 (26. Rd1 Ng7 27. g4 Kg8 28. Rdb1 $14) 26... Ng7 27. g4 {
Kramnik was unhappy about this ambitious advance that tries to limit Black's
possibilities. Pawns in front of the white king become exposed. which may
prove to be critical in the event of the opening of the position.} Kg8 28. Qf4
(28. a5 Rf8 29. Qg2 $14) 28... Kf7 (28... Qd7 29. Qf3 Qf7 $11) 29. e4 $6 {
It seems that White is not able to improve his pieces any more so he decides
to start the war. In a complicated tactical fight chances will be shared by
both players especially after the clever 31st black move.} (29. Rb5 $5 Bxb5 30.
axb5 Qb7 $15) (29. Bxg7 Kxg7 30. Rb8 (30. e4 dxe4 31. d5 Qd6 $15) 30... Qe6 $11
) (29. Qf3 $14) 29... Ne6 30. exd5 (30. Qe3 Nc5 $1 31. exd5 Qd7 32. Qf3 Nd3 33.
Re2 Rxe2 34. Qxe2 Bc8 35. f3 f5 $11) 30... Nxf4 31. dxc6 g5 $5 {[%mdl 64] The
ambitions of Kramnik were marred by the shock as the bishop on h6 will have to
fear for its life.} (31... Rxd4 32. Rb7+ Bxb7 33. cxb7 Rb8 34. Nb5 Ne6 35. Nxd4
Nxd4 36. a5 a6 37. Rb6 c3 $11) 32. hxg5 fxg5 33. c7 {Numerous attractive ideas
had to be judged against each other under the conditions of a ticking clock
and very complicated positions that defy clear evaluation.} (33. Rb7+ $1 Bxb7
34. Rxb7+ Kg6 (34... Ke6 35. Kh2 Rg8 36. c7 Rc8 37. Rxa7 $11) 35. Bg7 Ne2+ 36.
Nxe2 Rxe2 37. Kf1 $5 Re4 38. Be5 $11) (33. Nb5 Re6 (33... c3 34. Nxc3 Kg6 35.
c7 Rxd4 36. Nb5 Rxa4 37. Nxa7 Kxh6 38. Rb8 Re7 39. R8b6+ Ng6 40. Rc1 $11) 34.
c7 Rc8 35. Bxg5 Nh3+ 36. Kg2 Nxg5 37. d5 Rg6 38. d6 Bxb5 39. Rxb5 Rxd6 40. Rxg5
Rxc7 41. Rh5 Kg7 42. Rg5+ $11) 33... Rd6 34. Bxg5 Nh3+ 35. Kg2 Nxg5 36. d5 Bc8
(36... Rf6 37. Rb8 Bc8) 37. Rb8 Rf6 {Kramnik has felt that serious counterplay
with passed pawns should be enough for equality, but even shortly before the
time control the situation remains exceptionally messy. It is much easier to
claim after the game that White had at least two ways to keep full equality
with 38.Nb5 or 38.Rf1. In any case the rook move is rather unfortunate, as the
chances have much improved for Mamedyarov.} 38. Ra8 $2 (38. Re1 $2 Rxe1 39.
Rxc8 Nf3 $1 40. Rf8+ $1 Kxf8 41. c8=Q+ Kg7 42. Qc7+ Kh6 $1 43. Qxa7 (43. Kg3
Rg1+ 44. Kh3 Ng5+ 45. Kh4 Rh1+ 46. Kg3 Rf1 $15) (43. Qc5 Rg1+ 44. Kh3 Ng5+ 45.
Kh2 Rxg4 $17) 43... Rg1+ 44. Kh3 Ng5+ 45. Kh4 Rh1+ 46. Kg3 Rh3+ 47. Kg2 Rxc3
48. f4 Rc2+ 49. Kg3 Ne4+ 50. Kf3 Nd2+ 51. Ke2 Rxf4 52. Kd1 $15) (38. Rf1 $5 Rf8
(38... Nf3 39. Rh1 Ng5 40. Rf1) 39. f4 Ke7 40. Re1+ Kd7 41. fxg5 Rf2+ 42. Kg1
Kxc7 43. Rb5 R2f4 44. Ne4 Rxg4+ 45. Kh2 Rh4+ 46. Kg3 Rg4+ 47. Kh2 $11) (38. Nb5
Bxg4 39. Rxe8 Kxe8 40. Nxa7 Bh3+ 41. Kg3 Rf3+ 42. Kh4 h6 43. Rb8+ Ke7 44. c8=Q
Bxc8 45. Rxc8 Kd6 46. Rxc4 Kxd5 47. Rc8 $11) 38... Rf4 $1 39. f3 $1 (39. Nb5
Rxg4+ 40. Kf1 Ne4 41. f3 Rf4 42. Rxc8 Rxc8 43. Ke2 Ng3+ 44. Kf2 Nf5 45. Re1 Kf8
46. d6 Nxd6 47. Nxd6 Rxc7 $19) 39... Rxf3 {The sensible tradition of judging
the choices made under time pressure with greater leniency has to be applied
also for the last black move. It was not possible to get more than a slight
advantage with 39...Nf3, but the situation would have been unpleasant for the
adversary.} (39... Nxf3 $1 40. Rxc8 $1 (40. Kg3 Rxg4+ 41. Kxf3 Rg6 42. Rxc8
Rf6+ 43. Kg4 Rxc8 44. Rb7 Ke7 $17) 40... Rxc8 41. Nb5 Ke7 (41... Rg8 42. c8=Q (
42. Nd6+ Kf6 43. Rb8 Ne1+ 44. Kh3 Rfxg4 45. Ne8+ Ke5 46. c8=Q Rg3+ $19) 42...
Rxc8 43. Nd6+ Kf6 44. Nxc8 Nd2 $15) 42. d6+ Kd7 43. Nxa7 Rg8 44. c8=Q+ Rxc8 45.
Rb7+ Kd8 46. Nxc8 Kxc8 47. Rc7+ Kd8 48. a5 Ng5 49. a6 c3 50. Rxc3 Ra4 $15) 40.
d6 $2 {In a great tradition of celebrated omissions on the 40th move Kramnik
makes a mistake, that will push him closer to disaster.} (40. Rbb8 $1 Rxc3 (
40... Bxg4 41. Rxe8 Rxc3 42. c8=Q Rc2+ 43. Kg3 Bxc8 44. Rexc8 $18) 41. Rxc8
Rc2+ 42. Kg3 Rc3+ 43. Kg2 (43. Kf4 $2 Nh3+ 44. Kf5 Rf3#) 43... Rc2+ $11) 40...
Bxg4 41. Rxe8 Kxe8 42. Rb8+ Kf7 43. Rd8 (43. Nd1 Bh3+ 44. Kh2 Bd7 45. c8=Q Bxc8
46. Rxc8 Rd3 47. Nf2 Rd4 48. d7 Ne6 $17) 43... Bh3+ 44. Kh2 Rxc3 45. d7 (45.
c8=Q $2 Bxc8 46. Rxc8 Ke6 $19) 45... Rc2+ 46. Kg3 (46. Kh1 Nf3 47. Rf8+ Ke6 48.
Rxf3 Bg2+ 49. Kg1 Kxd7 $19) 46... Rg2+ 47. Kh4 $2 {We have to be strict with
this courageous move. The white king at the edge of the board is risking very
harsh treatment. For better or worse the last chance for Kramnik was to fool
around with the king in the opposite direction.} (47. Kf4 $1 Ne6+ 48. Kf3 Nxc7
49. Rf8+ Kxf8 50. d8=Q+ Ne8 51. Qh4 Rc2 52. Qxh7 $15) 47... Be6 $3 48. Rf8+ (
48. c8=Q $4 Nf3+ 49. Kh5 Rh2#) 48... Kxf8 $4 {Mamedyarov has suddenly lost
control of his nerves and the situation. Two consecutive great mistake will
cost him the whole point. Maybe even the author could not sensibly explain,
why he refrained from the incomparably more logical move 48...Kg6!} (48... Kg6
$1 49. Rg8+ Kh6 50. Rxg5 Rh2+ 51. Kg3 Bxd7 52. Rg8 Rh3+ 53. Kf2 Ra3 $19) 49.
c8=Q+ Kg7 $2 (49... Kf7 50. Kh5 $3 (50. d8=N+ Kf6 51. Nxe6 Nxe6 52. Qxc4 $14)
50... Bg4+ 51. Kh6 $1 Ne6 52. Qe8+ Kf6 53. d8=Q+ Nxd8 54. Qxd8+ Ke5 55. Qb8+
Kd4 56. Qxa7+ $16) 50. Qb7 $1 {Most players have already experienced the
situation, when the smoke of the battle finally clears and they look with
astonishment at the ruins of their own efforts. It would be understandable if
Shakhriyar had secretly shed a tear in the face of a disaster.} Nf3+ (50...
Rh2+ 51. Kg3 Rh3+ 52. Kf4 Rb3 53. Qxb3 cxb3 54. d8=Q $18) 51. Qxf3 Rh2+ 52. Kg5
h6+ (52... Bxd7 53. Qf6+ Kg8 54. Qd8+ Kg7 55. Qxd7+ $18) 53. Kf4 Rh4+ 54. Ke5 {
The level of complexity in this game has definitely influenced the fact that
both great players failed to play consistently well throughout the battle.} 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.22"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Andreikin, Dmitry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2709"]
[Annotator "ChessBase Website"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:20/3600:900+30"]
[WhiteClock "0:59:26"]
[BlackClock "0:56:56"]

1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} c6 {[%emt 0:
00:03]} 3. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 4. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} a6
{[%emt 0:00:03]} 5. g3 {[%emt 0:00:17]} b5 {[%emt 0:22:03]} 6. b3 {[%emt 0:04:
50]} Bf5 {[%emt 0:05:56] Andreikin's treatment of the opening was ultra-solid.
His a6 Slav locked up the position quickly, but it made him very passive.
White's control of the c-file and his two bishops was simply not enough for
him to break through as Black lacked weaknesses while White had to contend
with his weak f3 and d4 pawns. Eventually Kramnik sacrificed one of these for
some activity, but it was only enough for a draw.} 7. Bg2 {[%emt 0:00:21]} Ne4
{[%emt 0:01:39]} 8. Nxe4 $146 {[%emt 0:03:21]} (8. Bd2 Nxc3 9. Bxc3 Be4 10. Qd2
e6 11. Ba5 Qd6 12. O-O Nd7 13. cxd5 Qxd5 14. Nh4 Bxg2 15. Nxg2 c5 16. Rad1 cxd4
17. Nf4 Qe4 18. Qxd4 Qxd4 19. Rxd4 Bc5 20. Rd2 Nf6 21. Nd3 Bd6 22. Rc1 O-O 23.
Rc6 Be7 24. Rdc2 h6 25. f3 Rfb8 26. e4 Bd8 27. Bd2 Bb6+ 28. Kf1 Kh7 29. Ke2 Kg8
30. g4 Nd7 31. h4 Bd8 32. Bf4 e5 33. Bxe5 Rb7 34. Rc8 Rxc8 35. Rxc8 {1-0 (35)
Sokolov,I (2657)-Simonian,H (2475) Cento 2011}) 8... Bxe4 {[%emt 0:00:31]} 9.
O-O {[%emt 0:00:25]} Nd7 {[%emt 0:03:15]} 10. Ba3 {[%emt 0:14:45]} g6 {[%emt 0:
08:08]} 11. cxd5 {[%emt 0:10:54]} cxd5 {[%emt 0:01:12]} 12. Qd2 {[%emt 0:05:30]
} Bg7 {[%emt 0:11:18]} 13. Rac1 {[%emt 0:01:15]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:16]} 14. Bh3 {
[%emt 0:01:12]} Bxf3 {[%emt 0:07:34]} 15. exf3 {[%emt 0:09:29]} Re8 {[%emt 0:
00:07]} 16. Rc6 {[%emt 0:06:05]} e6 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 17. Rfc1 {[%emt 0:01:43]}
Qf6 {[%emt 0:04:07]} 18. Rc7 {[%emt 0:02:55]} Nf8 {[%emt 0:03:34]} 19. Bc5 {
[%emt 0:05:38]} Qxf3 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 20. Rc3 {[%emt 0:03:21]} Qh5 {[%emt 0:07:
15]} 21. g4 {[%emt 0:03:57]} Qh4 {[%emt 0:05:31]} 22. Qf4 {[%emt 0:07:50]} f6 {
[%emt 0:05:22]} 23. Be7 {[%emt 0:04:58]} Qg5 {[%emt 0:07:01]} 24. Qg3 {[%emt 0:
06:05]} Qd2 {[%emt 0:00:27]} 25. g5 {[%emt 0:05:13]} Qxg5 {[%emt 0:04:19]} 26.
Qxg5 {[%emt 0:01:11]} fxg5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 27. Bxg5 {[%emt 0:03:41]} Bxd4 {
[%emt 0:00:33]} 28. R3c6 {[%emt 0:00:50]} a5 {[%emt 0:04:14]} 29. Bh6 {[%emt 0:
02:08]} b4 {[%emt 0:01:36]} 30. Kg2 {[%emt 0:00:42]} a4 {[%emt 0:03:32]} 31.
bxa4 {[%emt 0:01:03]} Rxa4 {[%emt 0:01:19]} 32. Bxf8 {[%emt 0:03:55]} Rxf8 {
[%emt 0:02:33]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.23"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "ChessBase Website"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:20/3600:900+30"]
[WhiteClock "0:59:26"]
[BlackClock "0:56:56"]

1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} d5 {
[%emt 0:00:38]} 3. Bf4 {[%emt 0:00:10]} c6 {[%emt 0:02:18]} 4. e3 {[%emt 0:00:
21]} Bg4 {[%emt 0:11:09]} 5. c4 {[%emt 0:03:18]} Nbd7 {[%emt 0:04:08]} 6. Nc3 {
[%emt 0:05:24]} e6 {[%emt 0:02:05]} 7. Qb3 {[%emt 0:10:32] Karjakin played a
sideline against Kramnik, one that is seen very rarely at the top level. This
paid off very handsomely as Kramnik inexplicably blundered as soon as move
seven. 7...dxc4?? simply left him down a pawn and his position did not have
even the slightest bit of compensation. It is strange to think even what he
missed, as most of the lines were rather obvious.} dxc4 $2 $146 {[%emt 0:14:33]
} (7... Bxf3 8. gxf3 Qb6 9. c5 Qxb3 10. axb3 a6 11. b4 Rc8 12. Bg3 g6 13. Na2
Nh5 14. Nc1 Nxg3 15. hxg3 e5 16. Nb3 Bg7 17. Kd2 h5 18. Bd3 f5 19. f4 exd4 20.
Nxd4 Kf7 21. f3 Rce8 22. Rhg1 Rxe3 23. Kxe3 Re8+ 24. Kd2 Bxd4 25. Rge1 Rxe1 26.
Rxe1 Bf2 27. Ra1 Bxg3 28. Ke3 h4 29. b5 axb5 30. b4 h3 31. Bf1 h2 32. Bg2 Ke7
33. Ra7 Be1 34. Rxb7 Bxb4 35. Kf2 Bxc5+ 36. Kg3 Bg1 37. Kh4 {Eljanov,P (2716)
-Najer,E (2663) Netanya 2009 0-1}) 8. Qxb7 {[%emt 0:09:04]} Bxf3 {[%emt 0:04:
05]} 9. gxf3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Nd5 {[%emt 0:01:29]} 10. Bg3 {[%emt 0:03:52]}
N5b6 {[%emt 0:20:32]} 11. Qxc6 {[%emt 0:01:52]} Bb4 {[%emt 0:03:04]} 12. Qb5 {
[%emt 0:06:53]} Qe7 {[%emt 0:02:19]} 13. a3 {[%emt 0:01:21]} Bxc3+ {[%emt 0:00:
48]} 14. bxc3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:34]} 15. Bxc4 {[%emt 0:14:17]}
Nxc4 {[%emt 0:03:13]} 16. Qxc4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Rac8 {[%emt 0:01:37]} 17. Qd3 {
[%emt 0:11:17]} Nb6 {[%emt 0:00:45]} 18. O-O {[%emt 0:00:52]} Rc4 {[%emt 0:01:
33]} 19. Rfb1 {[%emt 0:05:34]} Rfc8 {[%emt 0:00:58]} 20. Rb3 {[%emt 0:00:11]}
h5 {[%emt 0:03:57]} 21. e4 {[%emt 0:03:57]} Qg5 {[%emt 0:00:50]} 22. h4 {
[%emt 0:03:08]} Qa5 {[%emt 0:07:38]} 23. Rc1 {[%emt 0:02:27]} Qa4 {[%emt 0:01:
02]} 24. Qb1 {[%emt 0:01:43]} Nd7 {[%emt 0:04:53]} 25. Kg2 {[%emt 0:01:14]} Nf8
{[%emt 0:01:27]} 26. Qb2 {[%emt 0:03:21]} Qe8 {[%emt 0:03:25]} 27. Rb7 {
[%emt 0:03:43]} a6 {[%emt 0:03:19]} 28. Qb6 {[%emt 0:02:25]} Ng6 {[%emt 0:02:
29]} 29. Qxa6 {[%emt 0:05:16]} Qd8 {[%emt 0:00:59]} 30. Qb5 {[%emt 0:01:55]} e5
{[%emt 0:01:13]} 31. Rh1 {[%emt 0:00:49]} Rxc3 {[%emt 0:01:38]} 32. dxe5 {
[%emt 0:00:09]} Nf8 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 33. Qd5 {[%emt 0:02:49]} Qe8 {[%emt 0:00:
05]} 34. Ra1 {[%emt 0:02:10]} Ne6 {[%emt 0:02:09]} 35. Qd7 {[%emt 0:00:41]} Qf8
{[%emt 0:00:24]} 36. Qe7 {[%emt 0:00:45]} Qxe7 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 37. Rxe7 {
[%emt 0:00:03] Karjakin made his win a lot harder than he should have,
eventually reaching a double rook endgame up two pawns that he had to figure
out how to win, but he managed in the end.} Nd4 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 38. a4 {
[%emt 0:01:40]} Nxf3 {[%emt 0:00:49]} 39. e6 {[%emt 0:03:03]} fxe6 {[%emt 0:00:
28]} 40. Rxe6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nd4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 41. Re5 {[%emt 0:03:09]}
Ne2 {[%emt 0:05:27]} 42. Rxh5 {[%emt 0:00:41]} Nxg3 {[%emt 0:00:40]} 43. fxg3 {
[%emt 0:00:07]} Re3 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 44. a5 {[%emt 0:03:32]} Rxe4 {[%emt 0:02:
45]} 45. a6 {[%emt 0:00:30]} Re7 {[%emt 0:04:12]} 46. Rb5 {[%emt 0:00:47]} Kh7
{[%emt 0:00:45]} 47. Kh3 {[%emt 0:00:41]} Ra8 {[%emt 0:00:32]} 48. Rb6 {
[%emt 0:00:23]} Raa7 {[%emt 0:00:57]} 49. Ra5 {[%emt 0:00:27]} Re3 {[%emt 0:03:
19]} 50. h5 {[%emt 0:01:30]} Rd3 {[%emt 0:01:06]} 51. Kh4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Rd4+
{[%emt 0:01:22]} 52. g4 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Re4 {[%emt 0:00:49]} 53. Kg5 {[%emt 0:
01:37]} Rf7 {[%emt 0:00:40]} 54. Rg6 {[%emt 0:02:00]} Ra7 {[%emt 0:04:21]} 55.
Kh4 {[%emt 0:02:17]} Rb4 {[%emt 0:01:36]} 56. Rc6 {[%emt 0:00:29]} Re4 {
[%emt 0:00:16]} 57. Rb6 {[%emt 0:00:36]} Re1 {[%emt 0:02:50]} 58. Ra4 {[%emt 0:
06:03]} Re3 {[%emt 0:04:40]} 59. g5 {[%emt 0:02:39]} Ree7 {[%emt 0:01:15]} 60.
Rb8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} g6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 61. Rb6 {[%emt 0:02:58]} gxh5 {
[%emt 0:01:37]} 62. Rab4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Re1 {[%emt 0:02:38]} 63. Rb7+ {
[%emt 0:00:27]} Kg6 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 64. R4b6+ {[%emt 0:00:22]} 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.25"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A80"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:20/3600:900+30"]
[WhiteClock "0:59:26"]
[BlackClock "0:56:56"]

1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} f5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:22]} ({Kramnik's
treatment of the fight for the centre strongly reminds me of the following
variation:} 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nh3 d6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Nf4 c6 7. d5 {White
sustains his d5-pawn with pieces, not wasting time for the strategically
constructive c2-c4. This is how Korchnoi played on three occasions, winning
each time! The best known game was Kortschnoj,V (2625)-Gurevich,M (2645)
Rotterdam 1990 CBM 018 [Schussler] (1-0, 45)}) 2... Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 3. e3
$5 {[%emt 0:00:38] For decades, White has almost invariably met the Dutch
Defence with g2-g3, but Black seems to be doing fine in the main lines of the
Leningrad system lately. Little wonder that at the top level White is trying
stepping aside, relying on his theoretical advantage of the first move in a
non-symmetrical position, rather than on long forced variations.} ({The Wijk
aan Zee winner had a similar approach in the last round of the tournament:} 3.
Bf4 $5 {Aronian,L (2812)-Van Wely,L (2672) Wijk aan Zee 2014 CBM 159 [Stohl,I]
(0-1, 38)}) 3... b6 {[%emt 0:11:02] We can only guess which system Sivdler
planned to choose against g2-g3, but in the absence of White's pressure along
the long diagonal, a logical answer. This position reminds me of a small
incident from my childhood. I was away from home for a few weeks when my
father called to tell me he had bought a book on the Dutch Defence. I had no
idea at all of the possible plans and ideas, but being caught by sudden
enthusiasm I started "analysing" on my own the position after 1.d4 f5. I
remember quite clearly that the current position became my main "tabyia" soon.
Later, I was disappointed to learn that g2-g3 outrules my setup and switcehd
to the 7...c6 Leningrad variation, which is the most critical nowadays, by the
way. Anyway, the thing I wanted to highlight is that there must be some
logical background to both sides' play, which made my then uninstructed mind
take this direction.} ({Actually, a more restrictive way of transposing to the
...b7-b6 setup is} 3... e6 4. Bd3 b6 5. O-O Bb7 6. c4 Bd6 $5 {Truly
hypermodern, reminiscent of the game Lasker-Bauer with reversed colours. Of
course, nobody would allow the double bishop sacrifice nowadays, but the
bishops' pressure may be disturbing anyway.} {In Alekhine's times,} 7. Nc3 {
was the fashion.} ({The modern tendency (if we can call it as such in a rather
unpopular line) is} 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. Re1 (8. Qc2 Nc6 9. a3 a5 10. h3 a4 {
Hertneck,G (2560)-Jussupow,A (2640) Baden-Baden 1992 CBM 033 [Jussupow] (0-1,
24)}) 8... Ne4 9. Qc2 Nxd2 10. Nxd2 Qh4 11. g3 Qh5 12. Be2 Qg6 13. f4 c5 14.
Nf3 Nc6 $13 {Aleksandrov,A (2614)-Peralta,F (2546) Warsaw 2007 (1-0, 34)}) 7...
O-O 8. a3 ({Blocking the long diagonal with} 8. d5 {does not seem effective at
this stage of the game.} Na6 9. e4 fxe4 10. Nxe4 Nc5 11. Nxc5 Bxc5 12. dxe6
dxe6 13. Qe2 e5 $36 {Candeias,T (2078)-Wohl,A (2419) Pontevedra 2002 (0-1, 30)}
) (8. Qe2 Bb4 9. Bd2 Ne4 10. a3 Bd6 $6 11. b4 Rf6 12. Ne5 $6 Bxe5 13. dxe5 Rg6
14. f3 $2 Nxd2 15. Qxd2 Nc6 $17 {Ekenberg,B-Alekhine,A Oerebro 1935 (0-1, 23)})
8... a6 $6 (8... a5 9. Nb5 Be7 10. b3 Na6 11. Bb2 Qe8 $132) 9. b4 Qe8 10. c5
Be7 11. Bc4 $14 {Nimzowitsch,A-Alekhine,A Hamburg 1910 (1/2-1/2, 30)}) 4. d5 $5
$146 {[%emt 0:06:29] An original way of changing the fluent course of the game
and a novelty as early as on move 4!!} Bb7 {[%emt 0:03:03]} 5. Bc4 {[%emt 0:01:
49] This is the moment when White's approach starts ressembling Korchnoi's in
the aforementioned games.} ({Played before castling,} 5. c4 {offers Black easy
development:} e6 6. dxe6 (6. Nc3 Bb4 {[%csl Gd5]}) ({Actually, just few moves
after the novelty, play could have transposed to some lines starting with 3...
e6, for instance} 6. Bd3 g6 7. Nc3 Bg7 {1/2-1/2 (7) Loncar,R (2455)-Lovric,B 
(2340) Tucepi 1996}) 6... Bb4+ $1 7. Bd2 Bxd2+ 8. Qxd2 dxe6 (8... O-O $5 9.
exd7 Ne4 10. Qc2 Nxd7 $44) 9. Qxd8+ Kxd8 10. Nc3 Nbd7 11. Be2 Ke7 {After the
exchange of the dark-squared bishops the king finds a safe place in the centre,
defending Black's only important weakness, the e6-pawn.}) 5... c6 {[%emt 0:02:
35]} 6. Nc3 {[%emt 0:02:47]} cxd5 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 7. Nxd5 {[%emt 0:01:23]} e6
{[%emt 0:00:39]} 8. Nxf6+ {[%emt 0:11:50]} Qxf6 {[%emt 0:00:41]} 9. O-O {
[%emt 0:00:34] A very unusual position. White has given away his ambitions for
a pawn centre, aiming for free piece development. The f5-pawn ensures Black
some space advantage, but in the long run may also prove a weakness.} Bc5 {
[%emt 0:08:59] The bishop has little scope and will also be exposed here.} ({
But the attempt for a more natural development to g7 after} 9... g6 {could be
met with} 10. Bd2 $5 {When Black practically has to pick up the gauntlet with}
Qxb2 11. Nd4 Qa3 {, hoping that he will survive the opening phase.}) 10. Bd2 {
[%emt 0:04:16]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:10:19] Not having weakened the long diagonal,
Black is not forced to take the pawn.} (10... Qxb2 11. Nd4 Qa3 (11... Bxd4 12.
Rb1 Qa3 13. Bb4 Qa4 14. Qxd4 $16) (11... O-O 12. a3 Bxd4 13. Ra2 $14) 12. Nb5
Qa4 13. Qh5+ g6 14. Qh4 $44) 11. Bc3 {[%emt 0:03:30]} Qe7 {[%emt 0:00:35]} 12.
a3 {[%emt 0:07:49]} a5 {[%emt 0:01:31]} 13. Qe2 {[%emt 0:09:41]} O-O {[%emt 0:
02:54]} 14. Rad1 {[%emt 0:01:59]} d5 {[%emt 0:08:16][%csl Re5] The central
structure is reminiscent (with reversed colours) of the game Svidler-Gelfand
from the previous Candidates. Svidler met the Grünfeld with an unusual setup
based on d4-e3-f4.} ({Black could not refrain from ...d7-d5 for too long:} 
14... Rac8 15. Bb5 d6 16. Qd2 {[%cal Gb2b4]}) 15. Bb5 {[%emt 0:01:30][%csl Ge5]
[%cal Gb5c6]} Na7 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 16. a4 {[%emt 0:04:00] Quite a courageous
move.} (16. Ba6 {looks somewhat safer:} Nc6 17. Bxb7 Qxb7 18. Bd4 {[%cal Ge2b5,
Gc2c4] with similar ideas to what happened in the game.}) 16... Bd6 {[%emt 0:
13:26] A bit passive.} (16... Nxb5 $5 17. axb5 Bd6 {[%cal Ge6e5] would have
allowed Black fighting for the initiative. Actually, the b7-bishop is far from
being passive. It inhibits the pawn break c2-c4 and defends the d5-pawn in
view of the desirable central expansion with ...e6-e5.} 18. Ne5 (18. Be5 Qc7
19. Bxd6 Qxd6 20. Rd2 Rac8 21. Rfd1 Rc5 {[%cal Gf8c8,Ge6e5]}) 18... Rac8 19. f4
(19. Bd4 Qc7 {[%cal Gd6e5,Gc7c2]}) 19... Rxc3 $1 {The critical move,
preventing White's consolidating with Bd4+/=.} 20. bxc3 Rc8 21. Qd3 Qc7 $44)
17. Ba6 $1 {[%emt 0:05:51]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:11:14]} 18. Bxb7 {[%emt 0:06:59]} Qxb7
{[%emt 0:00:11]} 19. b3 {[%emt 0:00:56][%cal Gc3b2,Gc2c4] The absence of the
black queen's bishop makes itself felt. White's play is more pleasant already,
since the centre is rather more vulnerable than threatening. After the
inevitable c2-c4, the black kingside will become vulnerable.} Qa6 {[%emt 0:03:
48]} 20. Qd2 {[%emt 0:06:49]} Rac8 {[%emt 0:06:45]} 21. Ng5 $6 {[%emt 0:05:34]
This knight incursion will eventually turn to White's favour, but in principle
it looks more like a waste of time.} (21. Ba1 {[%cal Gc2c4,Gd2b2] For concrete
reasons (c2-c4 and Qd2-b2) more promising than the retreat to b2)} Bb4 22. c3
Be7 23. c4 Rfd8 24. cxd5 Rxd5 25. Qb2 Bf6 26. Qb1 $14) 21... Rce8 $6 {[%emt 0:
02:11]} ({There was nothing to be defended on the f-file, so a more natural
rook display would have been} 21... Rfe8 {Maybe Black feared} 22. e4 fxe4 23.
Nxe4 {With the rook on f8, this would lose material to ...Bf4, but even the
way it is} Bf8 {[%cal Ga6b7,Gb7f7] leads to normal play for Black.}) 22. Bb2 {
[%emt 0:05:09]} h6 {[%emt 0:00:29]} 23. Nf3 {[%emt 0:01:40]} Bb4 {[%emt 0:02:
05]} 24. c3 {[%emt 0:00:50]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 25. c4 $1 {[%emt 0:00:27]}
dxc4 {[%emt 0:00:37]} ({In the absence of a rook on c8,} 25... Rd8 $2 26. cxd5
Rxd5 $2 {loses to} 27. Qc3 {[%csl Gc6]}) 26. Rc1 {[%emt 0:00:28]} b5 {[%emt 0:
02:43]} 27. axb5 {[%emt 0:01:04]} Qxb5 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 28. Rxc4 $14 {[%emt 0:
01:05][%csl Re6,Rg6]} Nb4 {[%emt 0:02:51]} 29. Ne5 {[%emt 0:03:20] The knight
will be left rather hanging in the centre, so maybe White should have kept
this move in reserve.} (29. Qe2 $5 $14 {[%cal Ge3e4]}) (29. Bd4 $14 {[%cal
Gd2c3]}) 29... Nd5 {[%emt 0:02:10]} 30. Qc2 {[%emt 0:04:15]} Bd6 $6 {[%emt 0:
00:47]} (30... Nb4 $1 {[%csl Gc6]}) 31. Nc6 $14 {[%emt 0:01:27]} Nb6 {[%emt 0:
01:26]} 32. Rd4 $4 {[%emt 0:01:40] An unusual blunder at this level (and even
at lower one!)} (32. Nd4 Qe5 33. Nf3 Qb5 34. Rc3 a4 $14 {Black liquidates the
queenside pawns, retaining a symbolically worse, but defensible position.})
32... Bxh2+ $1 {[%emt 0:03:03]} 33. Kxh2 {[%emt 0:00:15]} Qxf1 {[%emt 0:00:02]}
34. Qc3 {[%emt 0:05:50]} Rf6 {[%emt 0:01:53]} 35. Ne5 $2 {[%emt 0:01:46]} Qxf2
{[%emt 0:02:45]} 36. Rf4 {[%emt 0:00:23]} Qe2 {[%emt 0:01:57]} 37. Qd4 {
[%emt 0:01:07]} Nd5 {[%emt 0:01:48]} 38. Rf3 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Rc8 {[%emt 0:01:
20]} 39. Rg3 {[%emt 0:02:03]} f4 {[%emt 0:00:39]} 0-1

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.26"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:20/3600:900+30"]
[WhiteClock "0:59:26"]
[BlackClock "0:56:56"]

1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} e6 {[%emt 0:
00:07]} 3. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:35]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:33]} 4. g3 {[%emt 0:01:24]} Be7
{[%emt 0:01:37]} 5. Bg2 {[%emt 0:00:20]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:14]} 6. O-O {[%emt 0:
00:09]} dxc4 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 7. Ne5 {[%emt 0:05:29]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:03:15]} 8.
Bxc6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} bxc6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 9. Nxc6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Qe8 {
[%emt 0:00:08]} 10. Nxe7+ {[%emt 0:00:04]} Qxe7 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 11. Na3 {
[%emt 0:00:14] This way of developing the knight to retrieve the pawn is
common in the Catalan, but mainly in positions where ...Bxa3 is possible.
Curiously, in this position, in which there is no black dark-squared bishop
anymore, it is quite rare.} (11. Qc2 {Kramnik,V (2810)-Carlsen,M (2872) London
2013 (1/2-1/2, 41)}) 11... c5 {[%emt 0:13:40] Taking into account the surprise,
Anand played relatively fast, after less than a quarter of an hour. Back
immediately gets rid of his backward pawn.} (11... Rd8 {is a logical
alternative, but it offers White chances to retain the better striucture while
more or less neutralising Black's play on the light squares.} 12. Qc2 Ba6 (
12... Rxd4 13. Be3 Rd5 14. Nxc4 {[%cal Gf2f3,Gb2b3]}) 13. Nxc4 Rxd4 14. Ne5 Rd5
(14... Bb7 15. Nc6 Bxc6 16. Qxc6 $14) 15. Qc6 Rad8 16. Qxa6 $14) 12. dxc5 {
[%emt 0:01:50]} Qxc5 {[%emt 0:02:02]} 13. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Qh5 {[%emt 0:16:
39] Played after 16 minutes. Black had a relatively wide choice, indeed.} (
13... Qc7 14. Rc1 Ba6 15. Qa4 Qb7 16. Nxc4 Bxc4 17. Qxc4 Qxb2 18. Bd4 $14) (
13... Qc6 14. Rc1 Ba6 15. Nxc4 Bxc4 16. b3 Bxb3 17. Rxc6 Bxd1 18. Rxd1 $14) (
13... Qb4 $5 {Omelka,R (2115)-Dobes,V (2061) Czechia 2011 (1/2-1/2, 40)}) 14.
f3 {[%emt 0:01:34]} (14. Nxc4 Ba6 15. b3 Ng4 16. h4 Nxe3 17. fxe3 Rad8 18. Qc2
Bb7 $36) 14... c3 $1 {[%emt 0:05:48][%csl Ra3] The point of the previous move.
It is not really unusual for Black to have a pawn less in the 7.Ne5 variation.
Due to the somewhat awkward position of the a3-knight and the vulnerable
c-pawn, Black has good chances of maintaining aproximate equality by dynamic
means. Compare also with c5-c6 from Karjakin-Anand.} 15. bxc3 {[%emt 0:02:57]}
Qa5 {[%emt 0:01:50]} 16. Qc1 {[%emt 0:12:21]} Ba6 {[%emt 0:02:37][%csl Rc3]
[%cal Ga8c8]} 17. c4 {[%emt 0:03:12]} Rac8 {[%emt 0:03:12] (!!) Choosing the
right rook for a certain file is one of the most difficult issues in chess.
Anand rightly decides that he will need the other rook on the d-file. And
remarkably, he used only 3 minutes on his last move, although it leaves the
a7-pawn undefended!} (17... Rfc8 {would offer White chances to keep his extra
pawn and a relatively active position.} 18. Rd1 Nd5 19. Rd4 Rc6 20. Kg2 Rac8
21. Bd2 Qb6 22. Rh4 $14) 18. Bxa7 $11 {[%emt 0:26:34] After nearly half an
hour, Kramnik decides to liquidate into a draw.} ({After} 18. Rd1 Nd5 19. Rd4 {
the difference is revealed by} Rfd8 $1 {The latent pressure on the d-file
restricts White's active possibilities.} 20. Bf2 (20. Kg2 $4 Nxe3+ 21. Qxe3
Rxd4 22. Qxd4 Qxa3 $19) (20. Rd3 $5 Nxe3 21. Rxd8+ Rxd8 22. Qxe3 Rd2) 20... h6
$5 {Just a useful waiting move. For instance,} 21. Kg2 {would expose the king
slightly, adding effect to} e5 {(again, this would not be possible without a
rook on d8).} 22. Rd3 e4 $132) 18... Bxc4 {[%emt 0:02:55]} 19. Nxc4 {[%emt 0:
00:18]} Qxa7+ {[%emt 0:00:10]} 20. Qe3 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Qa6 {[%emt 0:00:45]}
21. Ne5 {[%emt 0:08:06] Two rounds later, in the aforementioned game with
Karjakin, Anand once again got a position in which White's extra a2-pawn was
not too relevant. Only that here it will liquidate rather soon into a 0.00
position.} Rc2 {[%emt 0:00:50][%csl Gc2]} 22. Nd3 {[%emt 0:07:32]} Nd5 {
[%emt 0:02:06]} 23. Qf2 {[%emt 0:04:01]} Rxa2 {[%emt 0:07:37]} 24. Rxa2 {
[%emt 0:00:09]} Qxa2 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 25. e4 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Qa3 {[%emt 0:00:
26]} 26. exd5 {[%emt 0:00:16]} Qxd3 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 27. dxe6 {[%emt 0:00:18]}
fxe6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 28. Qe1 {[%emt 0:00:41]} Qd5 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 29. Qe3 {
[%emt 0:00:19]} h6 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 30. Re1 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Rxf3 {[%emt 0:00:
07]} 31. Qxe6+ {[%emt 0:00:03]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.27"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2830"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. Qc2 Be7 7. e3 Nbd7 8. h3
{In this concrete position this move is very rare.} ({The main continuation is
} 8. Bd3 {and here} Nh5 {is one of the options.} {After} 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 {White
doesn't have to play h2-h3, but can make a developing move} 10. Nge2 {So, it's
a slightly preferable version for White than in the game.}) 8... Nh5 {A
standard idea in this opening. The knight, obviously, has nothing it can
achieve on h5 and will have to go back soon. However, the exchange of dark
-squared bishops allows Black to complete his development more comfortably.} 9.
Bxe7 Qxe7 10. Nf3 Nb6 11. O-O-O Nf6 (11... g6 12. g4 Ng7 13. Ne5 f6 14. Nd3 Be6
15. Re1 O-O-O 16. Na4 Nxa4 17. Qxa4 Kb8 18. Be2 Bf7 19. Qb4 Qxb4 20. Nxb4 h5
$11 {1/2-1/2 (27) Topalov,V (2702)-Sokolov,I (2637) Sarajevo 2000}) 12. Bd3 Be6
{The players reached the position, which has appeared numerous times
beforehand, by a slightly unusual order of moves.} 13. Kb1 O-O-O {Black
wouldn't be able to castle to the queenside so easily if the dark-squared
bishops were still on the board. Russian grandmaster Alexey Dreev has a lot of
experience handling this position.} (13... O-O $6 {would be very risky. After}
14. g4 {White's potential kingside assault is dangerous.}) 14. Ka1 Kb8 15. Rc1
(15. Rb1 Ne8 16. Nd2 Nd6 17. Nb3 Qf6 18. Nc5 Bf5 19. Bxf5 Qxf5 20. Qe2 h5 21.
a4 Nd7 22. b4 Nc4 $15 {1-0 (78) Jobava,B (2601)-Dreev,A (2694) Beersheba 2005})
15... Ne8 16. Na4 Nd6 17. Nc5 g6 18. h4 $146 (18. g4 h5 $6 (18... Nd7 $142) 19.
Ne5 Ndc4 20. Bxc4 dxc4 21. Qe4 $14 {1-0 (60) Ikonnikov,V (2558)-Barua,D (2462)
Dieren 2007}) ({Here, and on the next move White could try to put pressure on
the queenside:} 18. a4 $1 Nd7 19. a5 {The following lines illustrate White's
potential:} a6 (19... Nxc5 20. dxc5 Nc4 21. b3 $1 Qf6+ (21... Nxa5 22. Nd4 $16
{[%csl Ya5]}) 22. Nd4 Ne5 23. a6 $16) (19... Rc8 {is probably the best, but
also here after} 20. Qa4 {White is in possession of some initiative.}) 20. Bxa6
$1 Nxc5 (20... bxa6 $2 21. Nxa6+ Ka7 22. Qxc6 Rc8 23. Nc7 Nc4 24. Rxc4 $1 dxc4
25. Ne5 $1 Qd8 26. Qa6+ Kb8 27. Nxe6 fxe6 28. Qb5+ Ka7 29. Nxd7 $18) 21. dxc5
Nc4 22. Qb3 Nxa5 23. Qb4 Qc7 24. Nd4 $16) 18... Bc8 19. h5 $6 {Levon is
consistent, but clearly underestimated Black's reply. In general, I think that
White should create some activity on the other side of the board, where
Black's king is hiding.} (19. a4 $1 Ka8 ({Black can't swap the bishops
comfortably:} 19... Bf5 20. Bxf5 Nxf5 21. a5 Nc4 22. Qa4 $36 a6 $6 23. Rhe1 $16
{[%cal Ge3e4]}) (19... Nd7 20. a5 a6 21. Na4 $14) 20. Nd2 Nd7 ({Again} 20...
Bf5 $6 {is bad in view of} 21. Bxf5 Nxf5 $2 (21... gxf5 {is necessary, but it
means that Black just spoiled his structure for nothing}) 22. a5 Nd7 (22... Nc8
23. a6 b6 24. Nb7 $18 {[%csl Rc6,Rd8]}) {[%tqu "En","How should White
proceed?","","","c5b7","",10]} 23. Nxb7 $1 Kxb7 24. Qxc6+ Kb8 25. Qb5+ Ka8 26.
Rc7 $18) 21. a5 a6 22. Na4 $14 {[%cal Gd2b3,Gb3c5]}) 19... g5 $1 {Black can
give up the Ph7. The sacrifice is temporary.} 20. Bxh7 (20. h6 g4 21. Nd2 f5 {
Later on the Ph6 might become a target.}) 20... g4 21. Nh4 Qf6 22. g3 Nbc4 23.
Bd3 Rxh5 {Black has got back the h-pawn and his position is absolutely fine.}
24. Rhe1 Re8 25. Re2 Reh8 26. Qb3 Qd8 27. e4 $6 {Trying to create some
activity, but it could backfire on him.} (27. Qb4 {would have been safer.})
27... b6 28. Na4 $6 (28. exd5 Na5 (28... cxd5 29. Rd1 {White should think
about protecting the Pd4} Qf6 30. Bb1 $11) 29. Qc3 Rxd5 (29... bxc5 $6 30. dxc5
) 30. b4 $1 Nb5 $1 31. Bxb5 cxb5 32. bxa5 bxc5 33. dxc5 Rhh5 $1 34. Qb4 Rxc5
35. Rxc5 Qd1+ 36. Kb2 Rxc5 37. Qxc5 Qxe2+ 38. Kc3 {This should end in some
kind of a perpetual check.}) 28... Ba6 (28... Nb5 $1 29. exd5 (29. Bxc4 $2 dxc4
30. Qxc4 Nxd4 $19 {[%csl Re2][%cal Gb6b5]}) 29... Na5 $1 {An important
intermezzo.} 30. Qb4 Rxd5 31. Bxb5 cxb5 32. Nc3 Nc6 33. Qb3 Nxd4 34. Qxd5 Qxd5
35. Nxd5 Nxe2 $17) 29. Nc5 Bc8 30. Na4 (30. exd5 {would be objectively better,
as I have already pointed out above, see 28.exd5.}) 30... Ba6 {Again there was
a chance for 30...Nb5! But, Kramnik, clearly disappointed by his overall
performance in the tournament, decided to call it a day.} 31. Nc5 Bc8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.29"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 g6 8. Bd3
Bg7 9. O-O O-O 10. Ne5 (10. e4 {is the main alternative here.}) 10... c5 {
This continuation leads to a position with a fixed centre (d4 vs d5), which is
rather favourable for White's knights. Practice has seen:} (10... Rd8 11. c5
Bd7 12. b4 Be8 13. f4 Nd7 14. Kh1 Qe7 15. Rf3 $36 {0-1 (38) Abhishek,A (2106)
-Sethuraman,S (2574) Kanpur IND 2014}) (10... Nd7 11. f4 Qe7 12. c5 Nxe5 13.
fxe5 b6 14. b4 Bd7 15. Qg4 Rfb8 16. Rab1 Be8 17. h4 Qd8 18. h5 g5 19. Nd1 a5 {
1/2 (19) Latorre,M (2312)-Mareco,S (2591) Asuncion 2011}) (10... Qe7 11. cxd5
exd5 12. f4 Nd7 13. Qf3 Nxe5 (13... Nf6 14. Rae1 Rd8 15. Kh1 c5 16. a3 c4 17.
Bc2 Qc7 18. g4 $40 {1-0 (27) Polak,T (2543)-Feher,A (2342) Hungary 2012}) 14.
fxe5 Be6 (14... f6 $5 15. Qg3 g5 $13) 15. Ne2 Qg5 16. Qf4 Rae8 17. Rac1 Kh7 18.
h4 $14 {1-0 (93) Polak,T (2525)-Krejci,J (2455) Ostrava 2010}) (10... dxc4 11.
Nxc4 $1 (11. Bxc4 c5 12. f4 (12. Rc1 cxd4 13. exd4 Rd8 14. Re1 $6 Nc6 15. Qa4
Rxd4 16. Nxc6 Bd7 $17 {0-1 (37) Krejci,J (2529)-Hovhannisyan,R (2630) Moscow
2013}) 12... cxd4 13. Qxd4 Nc6 14. Nxc6 bxc6 15. Qxf6 Bxf6 16. Rac1 {1/2 (36)
Cmilyte,V (2514)-Sebag,M (2501) Beijing CHN 2013} Rd8 $11) 11... Qe7 12. Qb3
Rd8 13. Rad1 b6 14. f4 Bb7 15. Be4 Na6 16. a3 c5 17. d5 exd5 18. Bxd5 Bxd5 19.
Nxd5 Qe6 20. f5 gxf5 21. Nf4 Qc6 22. Nh5 $44 {1-0 (31) Fedoseev,V (2525)-Negi,
P (2641) Moscow 2012}) 11. cxd5 cxd4 (11... exd5 12. Nxd5 $5 (12. f4 Nc6 13.
Kh1 Qd8 14. Rc1 cxd4 15. exd4 {1-0 (66) Gunina,V (2490)-Nezad,H (2394) Caleta
2013} Be6 $14) 12... Qd6 13. Nf4 $1 Bxe5 (13... cxd4 14. Nexg6 $1 fxg6 15. Qb3+
Rf7 16. Bxg6 Qf8 17. exd4 $40) 14. dxe5 Qxe5 15. Bxg6 fxg6 16. Nxg6 Qf6 17.
Nxf8 Kxf8 18. Qd5 $14) 12. exd4 exd5 13. Re1 $1 $14 {[%csl Ge5]} ({Now after} 
13. Nxd5 Qd6 14. Nf4 Nc6 $1 {Black has no problems, e.g.} 15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. Ne2
Bg4) 13... Be6 14. Bb5 $1 {[%mdl 32] A typical manoeuvre in order to weaken
Black's queenside.} Rd8 15. Rc1 a6 16. Ba4 Rd6 $1 {[%cal Yb8d7]} (16... b5 17.
Bb3 {[%csl Gb3]}) 17. Qb3 (17. Qd2 $142) 17... b6 $6 ({Black renounced} 17...
b5 {in view of} 18. Qa3 {[%cal Ra4b5,Ra3d6] . In fact, he saw the riposte} Qd8
$1 19. Bxb5 axb5 20. Qxa8 Ra6 21. Qb7 Rb6 {, which led to a draw:} 22. Qa8 (22.
Nxf7 $6 Bxf7 23. Qe7 Qxe7 24. Rxe7 Kf8 25. Rc7 Bxd4) (22. Qa7 $6 Bxe5 23. Nxd5
$5 (23. dxe5 Nc6 24. Qa3 b4) 23... Bxh2+ 24. Kxh2 Bxd5 25. Rc8 Qxc8 26. Qxb6
Nd7 27. Qxb5 Nf6 {[%cal Rc8g4]} 28. f3 Bxa2 $17) 22... Ra6 $11 {but Veselin
Topalov was playing for a win.}) 18. Ne2 b5 19. Qa3 Bf8 20. Bc2 Nc6 (20... Nd7
$5) 21. Qg3 (21. Qe3 $142 $14 {[%cal Ye2f4]}) 21... Rc8 22. h4 Ne7 (22... Be7
$5 23. h5 Qg5 $13) 23. h5 (23. Nf4 $5 Nf5 24. Bxf5 Rxc1 (24... Qxf5 25. Rc5 $1)
25. Rxc1 Qxf5 26. Rc7 $36) 23... g5 24. f4 $1 Qg7 (24... Nf5 25. Qf2) 25. Rf1 (
25. Qf2 $5 {[%cal Ye2g3]}) 25... f6 $1 26. Ng4 $6 {This retreat releases
White's pressure.} (26. Ng6 $142 $1 Nxg6 (26... Rdc6 27. Nxf8 Rxf8 28. Bd3 $14)
27. Bxg6 Rxc1 28. Nxc1 $1 $14 {[%cal Yc1d3]}) 26... Rdc6 27. Ne3 f5 $1 28. fxg5
(28. Qe1 {was probably more accurate.}) 28... Qxg5 29. Qxg5+ (29. Qf3 Bf7 30.
Nf4 Bg7 31. Rfd1 Rc4 $5 32. Nxc4 Rxc4 $44) 29... hxg5 30. Bxf5 Nxf5 31. Rxc6
Rxc6 32. Nxf5 {[%mdl 4096]} Rc2 33. Neg3 Rxb2 {The position has sharpened.
Black's bishop pair has become an important factor but White's passed h5-pawn
should not be underestimated either.} 34. Re1 Bd7 (34... Bxf5 35. Nxf5 Rxa2 36.
Re8 $132) 35. Ne7+ Kf7 $6 (35... Kg7 $1 36. Nxd5 Bd6 37. Ne4 Be6 38. Nxd6 Bxd5
39. Re5 Rxg2+ 40. Kf1 Bf3 {is not easy to find and evaluate.}) 36. Nxd5 Bc6 37.
Rf1+ $1 Ke6 {Black's king is unsafe here but he has no choice.} (37... Kg7 $2
38. h6+ Kxh6 39. Rf6+) (37... Kg8 $6 38. Nf6+ Kg7 39. d5) 38. Ne3 (38. Nc7+ $1
Kd6 39. d5 Kxc7 40. Rf7+ Kb6 41. Rf6 $16 {(indicated by GM P.Maletin)}) 38...
Bg7 39. Ngf5 Bh8 40. h6 Be4 41. d5+ Kd7 42. Ng3 (42. Ng7 $5 Rb1 43. Ne6) 42...
Bd3 43. Rf7+ Ke8 44. Rf3 Rxa2 45. Nef5 Rd2 $2 {[%mdl 64] Black misses a
tactical motif.} (45... Bxf5 46. Nxf5 g4 $1 {should be enough to save the game,
e.g.} 47. Rg3 Rd2 48. Rxg4 Rxd5 49. Rg8+ Kf7 50. Rxh8 Rxf5 $11) 46. Ng7+ $1 Ke7
47. d6+ $1 Kxd6 48. Rf8 {Black's h8 bishop is suddenly trapped!} b4 {
Desperation.} 49. Rxh8 b3 50. N7f5+ $2 {This check suddenly lets White's
victory slip.} (50. Ne4+ $1 {was the nicest way to win:} Bxe4 51. Rd8+ Ke5 (
51... Kc5 52. Rxd2) 52. Rxd2 Bc2 53. Kf2 b2 54. h7 $1 b1=Q 55. Re2+ $1 Kd5 56.
h8=Q $18) 50... Bxf5 $2 {Black fails to find a miraculous escape:} (50... Kc7
$1 51. h7 b2 52. Rc8+ Kxc8 53. h8=Q+ Kb7 $1 54. Qg7+ Ka8 {- White can't either
stop Black's pawn or capture his d2-rook and must give a perpetual.}) 51. Nxf5+
Kc7 52. h7 b2 53. Rc8+ Kxc8 54. h8=Q+ Kd7 55. Qh7+ (55. Qh7+ Kd8 56. Ne3 $18)
1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2014.03.30"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E36"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "ChessBase Website"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2014.03.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.05.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/7200:20/3600:900+30"]
[WhiteClock "1:16:35"]
[BlackClock "1:04:48"]

1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} e6 {[%emt 0:
00:03]} 3. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Bb4 {[%emt 0:00:52]} 4. Qc2 {[%emt 0:00:40]}
O-O {[%emt 0:01:25]} 5. a3 {[%emt 0:00:15]} Bxc3+ {[%emt 0:00:34]} 6. Qxc3 {
[%emt 0:00:02]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 7. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:25]} dxc4 {[%emt 0:00:
17]} 8. Qxc4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} b6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 9. Bg5 {[%emt 0:00:35]} Ba6 {
[%emt 0:00:56]} 10. Qa4 {[%emt 0:01:56]} Qd7 {[%emt 0:03:33]} 11. Qxd7 {
[%emt 0:18:12]} Nbxd7 {[%emt 0:00:20]} 12. Bxf6 {[%emt 0:01:22]} Nxf6 $11 {
[%emt 0:01:41] Kramnik easily diffused Mamedyarov's Nimzo-Indian and it
quickly fizzled out to a draw.} 13. e3 {[%emt 0:00:22]} Bb7 {[%emt 0:12:00]}
14. Rc1 {[%emt 0:01:06]} Rac8 $146 {[%emt 0:00:50]} (14... c5 15. dxc5 Rac8 16.
Bb5 Rxc5 17. Rxc5 bxc5 18. Ke2 Rb8 19. Rd1 Bd5 20. a4 Ne4 21. Nd2 Nd6 22. e4
Ba8 23. f3 Kf8 24. Nb3 Nxb5 25. axb5 Rxb5 26. Rd8+ Ke7 27. Rxa8 Rxb3 28. Rxa7+
Kf6 29. Ra2 g5 30. Kd2 h5 31. Kc2 Rb5 32. Kd2 Rb3 33. Kc2 Rb5 34. Ra7 g4 35.
Rc7 gxf3 36. gxf3 h4 37. h3 Ra5 38. Kb1 Kg6 39. b3 f6 40. Rc6 e5 41. Kb2 Kg5
42. Kb1 Ra8 43. Rxc5 Kf4 44. Rc6 {Span,P (2296)-Rotstein,A (2500) Netherlands
2008 0-1}) 15. Ne5 {[%emt 0:03:01]} Rfd8 {[%emt 0:11:02]} 16. f3 {[%emt 0:06:
06]} c5 {[%emt 0:02:53]} 17. dxc5 {[%emt 0:00:21]} Nd7 {[%emt 0:06:43]} 18.
Nxd7 {[%emt 0:00:48]} Rxd7 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 19. e4 {[%emt 0:03:30]} Kf8 {
[%emt 0:06:50]} 20. b4 {[%emt 0:03:22]} bxc5 {[%emt 0:01:52]} 21. Bb5 {[%emt 0:
00:12]} Rdc7 {[%emt 0:00:43]} 22. Kd2 {[%emt 0:00:27]} cxb4 {[%emt 0:00:47]}
23. axb4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Rxc1 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 24. Rxc1 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Rxc1
{[%emt 0:00:08]} 25. Kxc1 {[%emt 0:00:01]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 26. Kd2 {
[%emt 0:00:04]} Ke7 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 27. Kd3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Kd6 {[%emt 0:00:
11]} 28. Bc4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} f6 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 29. g4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} g5 {
[%emt 0:00:08]} 30. Kc3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Bc8 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Flor/Fjaere"]
[Date "2014.06.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Agdestein, Simen"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2628"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2014.06.02"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. Nge2 Na6 7. O-O c5 8. a4
cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bd7 10. Nd5 Nc5 11. Nxf6+ Bxf6 12. c3 a6 13. Bh6 Re8 14. b3 Rc8
15. Qd2 e5 16. Nc2 Nxb3 17. Qxd6 Nxa1 18. Rxa1 Be6 19. Qb4 Qd3 20. Ne3 Qxc3 21.
Qb1 Bg7 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. h4 b5 24. axb5 axb5 25. Nd5 Qd4 26. Ra5 Qd2 27. Qxb5
Rc1+ 28. Bf1 Bh3 29. Ne3 Bxf1 30. Nxf1 Qe1 31. Ra4 0-1

[Event "Norway Chess blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Flor/Fjaere"]
[Date "2014.06.02"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2014.06.02"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. b3 g6 4. Bb2 Bg7 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 Nc6 7. O-O b6 8. d4
cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bb7 10. Nc3 Qc8 11. Nc2 d6 12. e4 Rd8 13. Qe2 e6 14. Rfd1 a6 15.
Rac1 Qc7 16. Ne3 Ne5 17. h3 Ned7 18. Ng4 Nxg4 19. hxg4 h6 20. Rd2 Rac8 21. Rcd1
b5 22. cxb5 Bxc3 23. Bxc3 Qxc3 24. Rxd6 Rc7 25. b6 Rc6 26. Rxd7 Rxd7 27. Rxd7
Rxb6 28. Qd1 Kg7 29. Qd4+ Qxd4 30. Rxd4 e5 31. Rd7 Bc8 32. Rd5 Kf6 33. Bf3 Be6
34. Ra5 Rd6 35. Kg2 Bc8 36. Be2 Bb7 37. f3 Ke6 38. Bc4+ Kf6 39. Kf2 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Flor/Fjaere"]
[Date "2014.06.02"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A00"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2014.06.02"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. Nc3 dxe4 3. Nxe4 Nf6 4. Nxf6+ exf6 5. d4 Bd6 6. Bd3 O-O 7. Ne2 Nc6
8. c3 f5 9. Qc2 Qf6 10. Bd2 h6 11. O-O-O a5 12. Ng3 Ne7 13. f3 a4 14. Kb1 c5
15. dxc5 Bxc5 16. Rhe1 Rd8 17. Bf4 Be6 18. Be5 Qg6 19. Ne2 Nd5 20. Nd4 Bxd4 21.
Bxd4 Nb4 22. cxb4 Rxd4 23. g4 Rad8 24. gxf5 Bxf5 25. Bxf5 Rxd1+ 26. Rxd1 Rxd1+
27. Qxd1 Qxf5+ 28. Ka1 Qe5 29. a3 b5 30. h4 g5 31. h5 Kg7 32. Qd3 Kf6 33. Qh7
Qe1+ 34. Ka2 Qe6+ 35. Ka1 Ke7 36. Qd3 Qe1+ 37. Ka2 Qe6+ 38. Ka1 f5 39. Qxb5 g4
40. fxg4 fxg4 41. Qb7+ Kf6 42. b5 Qe1+ 43. Ka2 Qe6+ 44. Ka1 Qe1+ 45. Ka2 Qe6+
46. Ka1 Ke5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Flor/Fjaere"]
[Date "2014.06.02"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2014.06.02"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 g6 2. g3 Bg7 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nc3 O-O 5. d3 c6 6. e4 d5 7. cxd5 cxd5 8. exd5
Na6 9. Nge2 Nc7 10. Nf4 Rb8 11. O-O b5 12. Be3 a5 13. Ba7 Rb7 14. Bc5 b4 15.
Na4 Ncxd5 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Re1 Re8 18. Rc1 e6 19. d4 Rd7 20. Bxd5 Rxd5 21. Nb6
Bb7 22. Nxd5 Qxd5 23. f3 Qxa2 24. Ra1 Qxb2 25. Rxa5 b3 26. Qd3 Rd8 27. Rb1
Bxd4+ 28. Bxd4 Rxd4 29. Qxb3 Qxb3 30. Rxb3 Bd5 31. Re3 Rd2 32. Ra1 Kg7 33. Rf1
g5 34. g4 Kg6 35. Rf2 Rd1+ 36. Kg2 h5 37. h3 hxg4 38. hxg4 f5 39. gxf5+ Kxf5
1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Flor/Fjaere"]
[Date "2014.06.02"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B01"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2014.06.02"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nf3 c6 4. d4 Nf6 5. Be2 Bg4 6. h3 Bxf3 7. Bxf3 Qa5+ 8.
c3 e6 9. Bf4 Qa6 10. Qb3 Nbd7 11. Nd2 Nd5 12. Bg3 Be7 13. Nc4 O-O 14. O-O b5
15. Nd2 N7b6 16. Rfe1 Qa4 17. Ne4 a5 18. Nc5 Qxb3 19. axb3 a4 20. bxa4 bxa4 21.
Rec1 Ra7 22. Ra2 Rfa8 23. Rca1 Bxc5 24. dxc5 Nd7 25. Bd6 Ra5 26. b4 R5a7 27.
Ra3 N7f6 28. Kf1 h5 29. Ke1 g6 30. Kd2 Kh7 31. Kd3 g5 32. g3 g4 33. hxg4 Nxg4
34. R1a2 Kg6 35. Bd1 f5 36. Ke2 e5 37. Ke1 e4 38. Rxa4 Rxa4 39. Rxa4 Re8 40.
Ra6 e3 41. fxe3 Ndxe3 42. Rxc6 Re6 43. b5 Nc4+ 44. Be2 Na5 45. Ra6 Nb3 46. Bf8
Kf7 47. Rxe6 Kxe6 48. Bc4+ 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Flor/Fjaere"]
[Date "2014.06.02"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2771"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2014.06.02"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 a6 6. O-O c5 7. Nc3 b5 8. Be2
Nbd7 9. d5 exd5 10. Nxd5 Bb7 11. Nxf6+ Qxf6 12. a4 b4 13. e4 h6 14. Bc4 Bd6 15.
Bd5 O-O-O 16. Bxb7+ Kxb7 17. Qd5+ Kc7 18. Be3 Rhe8 19. Rac1 Qe6 20. Qxe6 Rxe6
21. Nd2 Bf8 22. f4 Rc6 23. b3 Nf6 24. Rf3 Rd3 25. f5 Bd6 26. h3 Rc3 27. Rcf1
Nd7 28. f6 g5 29. Nc4 Rxc4 30. bxc4 Ne5 31. Rf5 Nxc4 32. Bxg5 hxg5 33. Rxg5 b3
34. Rg7 Ne5 35. h4 c4 36. h5 c3 37. h6 c2 38. h7 c1=Q 39. h8=Q Bc5+ 0-1

[Event "Norway Chess blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Flor/Fjaere"]
[Date "2014.06.02"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2014.06.02"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. Qc2 Be7 7. e3 Nbd7 8. h3
Nh5 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. g4 Nhf6 11. Bd3 Nb6 12. O-O-O Be6 13. Nge2 O-O-O 14. Kb1
Kb8 15. Ng3 g6 16. f3 Bc8 17. Rhe1 Ne8 18. Qf2 Qd6 19. Nge2 h5 20. e4 hxg4 21.
hxg4 dxe4 22. fxe4 Bxg4 23. Qxf7 Rf8 24. Qb3 g5 25. Qc2 Bf3 26. e5 Qe7 27. Be4
g4 28. Bxf3 gxf3 29. Ng3 Qh4 30. Nge4 Rxd4 31. Rf1 Rxd1+ 32. Qxd1 Qf4 33. Qd8+
Nc8 34. Nc5 Qf5+ 35. Ka1 Rf7 36. e6 Rc7 37. Nd7+ Ka8 38. Qxe8 Qh3 39. Rb1 f2
40. Qd8 f1=Q 41. Qxc7 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Flor/Fjaere"]
[Date "2014.06.02"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2881"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2014.06.02"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. g3 d5 7. Bg2 dxc4 8. O-O
O-O 9. Rd1 Qe7 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bxf6 Nxf6 12. Ne5 c5 13. a3 Ba5 14. Nxc4 Bc7 15.
Nb5 cxd4 16. Nxd4 e5 17. Nf5 Bxf5 18. Qxf5 e4 19. Qb5 Rab8 20. Rac1 Rfd8 21.
Rxd8+ Qxd8 22. e3 a6 23. Qb3 b5 24. Rd1 Qe7 25. Nd2 Rd8 26. Nb1 Be5 27. Rxd8+
Qxd8 28. Qc2 g6 29. Nd2 Qd3 30. Qxd3 exd3 31. b3 Bb2 32. Nb1 Nd7 33. Kf1 a5 34.
Bc6 Nc5 35. Bxb5 Nxb3 36. Bxd3 Kg7 37. Bc4 Nc5 38. Ke2 f5 39. f3 Kf6 40. Bb5
Be5 41. a4 h5 42. Nd2 Bc7 43. Nc4 Ke6 44. Be8 Kf6 45. Bc6 Ke6 46. f4 Kf6 47.
Kf3 Ke6 48. h3 Kf6 49. g4 hxg4+ 50. hxg4 g5 51. gxf5 gxf4 52. e4 Nd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess blitz 2nd"]
[Site "Flor/Fjaere"]
[Date "2014.06.02"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2815"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[PlyCount "151"]
[EventDate "2014.06.02"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 160 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bf4 c6 6. e3 Nh5 7. Bg5 Be7 8. Bxe7
Qxe7 9. Be2 Nhf6 10. O-O O-O 11. Rc1 Rd8 12. Qb3 b6 13. Rfd1 Bb7 14. cxd5 exd5
15. a3 Nf8 16. Qb4 c5 17. dxc5 bxc5 18. Qa5 Ne6 19. Na4 Rac8 20. Ba6 Bxa6 21.
Qxa6 h6 22. h3 Qe8 23. b3 Ne4 24. Nc3 Nf6 25. Na4 Rc6 26. Qa5 Rdc8 27. Nc3 d4
28. Nb5 dxe3 29. fxe3 Ng5 30. Nxg5 Qxe3+ 31. Kh1 hxg5 32. Nxa7 Ra8 33. Re1 Qg3
34. Qb5 Rc7 35. Nc6 g4 36. Ne7+ Kh8 37. Nf5 Qf4 38. Rf1 Qg5 39. h4 Qh5 40. Rxc5
Rd7 41. Qc4 Qh7 42. Rc8+ Rd8 43. Rxa8 Rxa8 44. Qxf7 Ne4 45. Kg1 g6 46. Qxh7+
Kxh7 47. Ne3 Rxa3 48. Rf4 Ra1+ 49. Kh2 Nd2 50. b4 Ra3 51. Nxg4 Rb3 52. Nf6+ Kg7
53. Ne8+ Kg8 54. Nd6 Rd3 55. Rf6 Kh7 56. b5 Nb3 57. Ne4 Rd4 58. Ng5+ Kh6 59. g3
Nc5 60. Rf7 Rd7 61. Rxd7 Nxd7 62. Ne6 Nb6 63. g4 Kh7 64. Kg3 Kg8 65. Kf4 Kf7
66. Nd4 Kf6 67. g5+ Ke7 68. Nc6+ Kd6 69. h5 gxh5 70. g6 Nd5+ 71. Kg5 Ke6 72.
Kxh5 Nf6+ 73. Kg5 Ne8 74. b6 Nd6 75. Nd8+ Kd7 76. g7 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess 2nd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2014.06.03"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2014.06.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 161"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. O-O Be7 8.
a3 O-O 9. b4 Be6 10. Rb1 f6 11. d3 a5 12. b5 Nd4 13. Nd2 Qc8 14. e3 Nf5 15. Qc2
Rd8 {This is one of the most complicated tabyias of the English Opening, both
in analysing and over-the-board play. White surely has some queenside
achievements, but his main problem is to formulate a coherent plan. In
practice, White's play is frequently of a speculative character, aiming to
take advantage of any imperceptible black inaccuracy. In my English trilogy I
had come up with some improvements against the then fashionable plan favoured
by Tiviakov, based on ...a5-a4 and ...Ra8-a5. But in the meanwhile Black
started playing more neutral plans, as if inviting White to show his hand.} 16.
Bb2 {This is the most popular move, but chance made me discover what may be
the clue to White's play. At the 2012 Olympiad I shared a room with Vladislav
Nevednichy, who felt inspired to play the English Opening in a few games. He
frequently asked me for general advice, but did not hesitate to share with me
an over-the-board discovery.} ({He called his} 16. Re1 {a fantastic novelty,
without giving any further detail. Later, I examined the move and came to the
conclusion that he was right. If White wishes to have a coherent plan, this
should be based on Nd2-c4. Against Tiviakov's ...a4 and ...Ra5 this works very
well, but against neutral plans it is harder to carry out. One possible idea
of the last move is preparing Bf1 followed by Nc4 without facing the pin along
the d-file. In other cases, when White switches to d3-d4, the rook is clearly
useful on e1.} Nh6 (16... Nd6 17. d4 $36) (16... a4 17. Bb2 {[%csl Gd5][%cal
Gg2f1,Gd2c4]} Nd6 18. d4 $5) 17. d4 $1 Nf7 (17... exd4 18. exd4 Nf5 19. Bh3
Nxd4 20. Bxe6+ Nxe6 21. Qa2 Kf7 22. Rb2 Re8 23. Rc2 Qd7 24. Nf3 $36) 18. Nf3
Nc4 19. Ra1 Bf8 20. dxe5 {This may be a hurried decision and I remember that
Vladik was not happy with it.} (20. d5 $5 {looks interesting}) ({but I assume
it would be best to keep the tension for a while:} 20. Bf1 $1 Ncd6 21. Bd3 $14)
20... Ncxe5 21. Nd4 Bh3 22. Bh1 c5 23. bxc6 Nxc6 24. Nxc6 (24. Qb2 $5 Rb8 25.
Nd5) 24... bxc6 25. Ne4 Qf5 $132 {Nevednichy,V (2554)-Ringoir,T (2448)
Istanbul 2012 (1/2-1/2, 30)}) 16... a4 17. Rfc1 Nd6 {There is no way White can
play Nc4 now.} 18. Nde4 Nf7 $146 ({Kramnik deviates from} 18... Ne8 {which
caused him a defeat at the hands of a then very young Carlsen in Carlsen,M 
(2801)-Kramnik,V (2772) London 2009 CBM 134 [Carlsen,M] (1-0, 43)}) (18... Bb3
19. Qe2 Nf7 {is an important alternative. With the queen on e2, White looks
entitled to play} 20. f4 $5 {Kozlov,G (2317)-Bukavshin,I (2517) Samara 2013 (1/
2-1/2, 99)}) 19. Ne2 {With this move White practically embarks on a mutual
waiting game.} (19. Nd1 {is the introduction to a more coherent plan, which
will fail to consolidate White's advantage against Black's accurate play,
though.} Bf8 20. Bf1 {[%csl Gd3][%cal Gc2c7]} (20. Qxc7 Qxc7 21. Rxc7 Rxd3 22.
Rxb7 Nc4 $132) 20... Rd7 21. d4 (21. Nc5 Bxc5 22. Qxc5 Ng5) 21... exd4 22. exd4
{If allowed to play Ne3, White would achieve a comfortable regrouping. Black
can react energetically, though.} Bb3 23. Qe2 (23. Qd3 $2 Ne5 {[%csl Gc4]})
23... Re7 24. Qd3 Bd5 (24... Bc4 $143 25. Rxc4 Nxc4 26. Nxf6+ gxf6 27. Qxc4 $16
) 25. Ndc3 (25. Bg2 f5 $15) (25. Nd2 Ng5 26. Ne3 Nh3+ 27. Bxh3 Qxh3 28. Nxd5
Nxd5 $15) (25. f3 Qd7 26. Ne3 Bxe4 27. fxe4 Rae8 28. Bg2 Ng5 29. Nf5 Rxe4 $1
30. Bxe4 Rxe4 31. Rf1 g6 32. Ne3 f5 $15) 25... Bc4 26. Qf3 Bxf1 27. Rxf1 $13)
19... Bf8 20. h4 {Another sign of the lack of a concrete plan, so typical for
this variation. White simply makes moves he considers useful for later.} (20.
Qxc7 Qxc7 21. Rxc7 Rxd3 22. Rxb7 Nc4 $132) (20. f4 Bb3 21. Qc3 Qd7 22. fxe5 Nd5
23. Qd2 Nxe5 $132) 20... Rb8 21. N2c3 {Not much has changed in Black's
position over the past few moves, so this can be safely considered a loss of
two tempi.} Bb3 22. Qe2 Qd7 23. Nd2 (23. Bf1 {[%cal Ge4d2,Gd2c4]}) 23... Be6 (
23... Qxd3 $5 24. Qxd3 Rxd3 25. Nxb3 axb3 26. Ne4 f5 27. Nc5 Bxc5 28. Rxc5 Rbd8
$36 {[%cal Gd3d1,Gb6a4]}) 24. Nc4 (24. Bf1 Bg4 $5) 24... Qxd3 {This leads to
general exchanges and an obvious draw.} (24... Nxc4 25. dxc4 Bf5 26. Ra1 Bd3
27. Qd1 Bxc4 28. Qxa4 $13 {White's slight initiative on the light squares is
neutralised by the relative inactivity of his b2-bishop.}) 25. Qxd3 Rxd3 26.
Nxb6 cxb6 27. Nxa4 Rb3 28. Bf1 Nd6 29. Rc3 Rxc3 30. Bxc3 Nc4 31. Bb4 Nxa3 32.
Bxa3 Bxa3 33. Nxb6 Kf7 34. Rd1 Ke7 35. Nd5+ Bxd5 36. Rxd5 Rd8 37. Rxd8 Kxd8 38.
Bd3 h6 39. h5 Ke7 40. Kg2 Ke6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 2nd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2014.06.04"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2881"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2014.06.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 161"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Bxd2+ 5. Qxd2 d5 6. Bg2 c6 7. Nf3 Nbd7 8.
O-O O-O 9. Rc1 b6 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Na3 Ne4 $146 {Quite typical for Carlsen.
He changes his lines regularly in order to avoid specific preparation. With
his last move he deviates from an earlier game between the same players,
despite the favourable result.} (11... Bb7 12. Nb5 a6 13. Nd6 {Kramnik,V (2784)
-Carlsen,M (2814) Wijk aan Zee 2011 CBM 141 [Moradiabadi/Mueller,Kar] (0-1, 85)
}) 12. Qe3 Ba6 13. Ne5 Nd6 14. Nc2 Nxe5 15. dxe5 Nc4 16. Qd4 {In principle, if
White wishes to prove an advantage, this square should be the reserved for the
knight.} ({In fact, the pawn sacrifice} 16. Qf4 {looks promising:} Nxb2 17.
Rab1 Nc4 18. Nb4 g5 (18... Bb7 19. Rxc4 $16) 19. Qf6 Qxf6 20. exf6 Nd2 21. Nxa6
Nxb1 22. Rxb1 Rac8 23. Bf3 $14 {[%cal Gf3h5] Given the delicate situation of
the black king, the minor pieces sustained by the rook may be stronger than
the two black rooks.}) 16... Qe7 17. b3 Na5 18. e4 dxe4 19. Bxe4 Rac8 20. Ne3
Bb7 {The game simplifies now to a dull ending, in which Carlsen will
surprisingly (or perhaps not?!) gets the upper hand at a later stage.} 21. Rxc8
Rxc8 22. Rd1 Bxe4 23. Qxe4 h6 24. b4 Nc6 25. a3 b5 26. Kg2 a5 27. Rc1 Qd7 28.
bxa5 Nxa5 29. Rxc8+ Qxc8 30. a4 bxa4 31. Qxa4 Qb7+ 32. Kh3 Nb3 33. Nc4 Nd4 34.
Nd6 Qd5 35. f4 Ne2 36. Ne4 Qd3 37. Kg2 Nd4 38. Qa8+ Kh7 39. Nf2 Qd2 40. Qe4+ g6
41. Qd3 Qb2 42. Kf1 Kg7 43. Ng4 h5 44. Ne3 Nf3 45. Nf5+ exf5 46. Qxf3 Qxh2 47.
e6 fxe6 48. Qc3+ Kh7 49. Qc7+ Kh6 50. Qe7 Qb2 51. Qg5+ Kh7 52. Qe7+ Qg7 53.
Qxe6 Kh6 54. Qe8 Qa1+ 55. Kg2 Qb2+ 56. Kh3 Qf6 57. Qc8 h4 58. g4 fxg4+ 59. Qxg4
g5 60. fxg5+ Qxg5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 2nd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2014.06.05"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2014.06.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 161"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4
Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bf4 Bd6 {In the static lines of the Catalan this is a
typical and entirely viable "loss of time".} ({The by far more popular} 10...
a5 11. Nc3 Na6 {has also been trotted out in some recent games, for instance:}
12. Qd3 (12. Rae1 {Van Wely,L (2672)-Karjakin,S (2759) Wijk a1 (0-1, 60)an Zee
2014 CBM 159 [Marin,M]}) 12... Nb4 13. Qb1 Nbd5 {Giri,A (2734)-Karjakin,S 
(2759) Wijk aan Zee 2014 CBM 159 [Marin,M] (1/2-1/2, 32)}) 11. Qc1 $5 {A rare
move. The queen usually goes to c1 in the lines without a2-a4 when forced by ..
.Be4.} ({The most common answer is the equally typical loss of a tempo with} 
11. Bg5 {which eventually ensured White some slight initiative in Giri,A (2734)
-Aronian,L (2812) Wijk aan Zee 2014 CBM 159 [Marin,M] (1/2-1/2, 48)}) 11... a5
{The typical answer, blocking the queenside and preparing ...Na6-b4. Other
moves are playable, though.} (11... Nbd7 12. Nc3 Ne4 13. Rd1 Bxf4 14. Qxf4 Ndf6
15. Nb1 {This looks a bit more sophisticted than required by the position, but
has the advantage of offering Black choices on every move with chances to
confuse him.} (15. Ne5 Nxc3 16. bxc3 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 $14 {offers White a
comfortable space advantage.}) 15... Nd6 16. Nbd2 Qe7 17. Rdc1 Bd5 18. Bf1 h6
19. Qe3 Rfd8 20. Ne5 Nde4 21. f3 Nxd2 22. Qxd2 $14 {[%cal Ge2e4] After a long
manoeuvring phase, with possible improvements for both sides on the way, Black
has lost stability in the centre.} Nd7 $6 (22... b6 23. a5 $14 {[%csl Gb6,Gc6]}
) 23. Rxc7 $16 {Nielsen,P (2649)-Antonsen,M (2449) Koge 2013 (1-0, 40)}) ({
The simplistic} 11... Bxf4 12. Qxf4 Qd6 {may be not that bad and deserves
further investigation.} 13. Qxd6 (13. Nc3 $5) 13... cxd6 14. Nbd2 Bxf3 15. Bxf3
d5 16. Rfc1 Nc6 17. e3 Rfc8 $11 {Nowak,I (2330)-Bielavsky,J Warsaw 1979 (1-0,
42). Although White managed to increase his microscopic pressure and win, the
position looks rather equal.}) 12. Bd2 $5 $146 {This is not only a new move
but also the real original one in the game! By this paradoxical retreat White
attacks the a5-pawn aiming to prevent the planned knight manoeuvre to b4.} (12.
Nc3 Na6 13. Bg5 h6 14. Bh4 Bxf3 ({Threatening to win the h4-bishop with ...
g7-g5. The immediate} 14... g5 $2 {loses to} 15. Nxg5 hxg5 16. Qxg5+) 15. Bxf6
Qxf6 16. Bxf3 c6 17. Rd1 Rad8 18. Kg2 Bc7 19. e3 Qe7 20. Qc2 Nb4 21. Qb3 Rd7
22. Rac1 Rfd8 23. Ne4 Bb6 $11 {Fridman,D (2600)-Boruchovsky,A (2472) Warsaw
2013 (1/2-1/2, 42)}) 12... Nbd7 {Giving up the initial plan.} ({In fact, Black
could have prepared ...Nb8-a6-b4, but only with some loss of time.} 12... b6
13. Rd1 h6 $5 {Trying to play a waiting game before retreating with the bishop.
} (13... Bb7 14. Nc3 Na6 15. Ne5 $14) 14. Bf4 (14. Nc3 Na6 15. Nb5 Bd5) 14...
Bb7 {It is not easy to find any useful waiting move.} 15. Nc3 Na6 16. Nb5 Bd5 {
with a playable position for both sides.}) 13. Rd1 Qe8 $5 {It may seem that
this move mainly sets up pressure on the generally well defended a4-plan, but
there is a lot more behind it. The queen maneoeuvre is typical for the Iljin
Zhenevsky Dutch and the game will actually transpose to a structure of that
kind.} 14. Bc3 {This bishop has surely moved a lot.} (14. Nc3 {is more natural.
} {Knowing Kramnik's plan in the game, we could suspect he would have done
something similar with} Nd5 ({If White was worried about} 14... e5 {he
probably missed} 15. e4 $1 Bxe4 (15... Nxe4 $2 16. d5 Nxc3 17. Bxc3 $18) 16.
Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Be3 $44 {White surely has more play than in the game.}) 15. Nb5 (
15. Nxd5 exd5 {may create problems only for White.}) 15... f5 $5) 14... Ne4 ({
Once again, the thematic central break would not offer complete relief:} 14...
e5 15. dxe5 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Bxe5 18. f3 (18. Qg5 Bxc3 19. Nxc3 Ne4)
18... Ra6 19. e4 Rc6 20. Qe3 $14) 15. Nfd2 (15. Ne5 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Bc5 $132)
15... f5 $5 {Quite an ambitious way of fighting for the light squares.} ({
A safer alternative of the same kind was} 15... Nxd2 16. Nxd2 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Nb6
18. Qc2 f5 19. Nf3 Nd5 $11) 16. Nxe4 fxe4 {At first sight, Black has weakened
his central structure but the e4-pawn actually causes White space problems.
Although White's kingside structure is solid, the gradually building up black
pressure will be annoying.} 17. Be1 {Another bishop move with incomplete
development, but this is not completely atypical for the Catalan. Besides,
overdefending the f2-square would become necessary within a few moves anyway.}
(17. Qc2 Qh5 18. Bxe4 $2 (18. Be1) 18... Rxf2 $1 19. Kxf2 Qxh2+ {Black has a
winning attack. Here is a sample line in which the white king runs a lot
before being trapped.} 20. Ke3 Qxg3+ 21. Bf3 Bf4+ 22. Kd3 Bxf3 23. exf3 Qxf3+
24. Kc4 {The apogee of the king's incursion, now is time to retreat.} Qd5+ 25.
Kd3 Ne5+ 26. Ke2 Qg2+ 27. Ke1 Nf3#) 17... Qh5 18. Nc3 Nf6 19. h3 Rf7 20. e3
Raf8 21. Qc2 Qf5 {Both players have completed their mobilisation and Black's
position surely looks more active. The only question is whether White can take
advantage of Black's pawn weaknesses. Since e4 is well defended, White should
look for his chances on the queenside.} 22. Nb5 h5 $5 {[%cal Gf6h7,Gh7g5,Gh5h4]
Even though engines disagree with this move, I find it entirely logical and
correct. Black gives up the a5-pawn but keeps strengthening the kingside
pressure, thus obtaining at least excellent compensation.} ({There were two
entirely viable alternatives to this ambitious approach.} 22... Bb4 23. Bxb4
axb4 24. Rd2 (24. Qc4 $2 Ng4 25. hxg4 Qxf2+ 26. Kh1 Bd5 27. Qxb4 Qxg3) 24... h5
$132) ({Or} 22... Nd5 23. Nxd6 (23. Bxa5 $2 Bxg3 $1 24. fxg3 Nxe3 $17) 23...
cxd6 24. Rac1 Nb4 25. Bxb4 axb4 26. Rf1 Qd5 $11) 23. Bxa5 Nh7 24. Nxd6 (24. Be1
Ng5) 24... cxd6 25. Bb4 {Active defence. If allowed to play Bxd6, White could
insert his bishop into the kingside battle.} Qd5 {The best way to protect the
pawn. The rooks are needed on the f-file and moreover the c6-bishop requires
protection in view of the threat a4-a5-a6.} (25... Rd8 26. a5 Ng5 $6 27. a6
Nxh3+ (27... Nf3+ 28. Kh1) 28. Bxh3 Qxh3 29. a7 Ra8 30. Bxd6 h4 31. Ra5 $16) (
25... Qxf2+ 26. Qxf2 Rxf2 27. Bxd6 R8f7 28. b4 $16) 26. Rf1 (26. Rd2 {looks
more natural, but the character of the position would not change greatly after}
Ng5 27. a5 h4 28. g4 Bb5 {White cannot make any queenside progress. Although
his kingside looks solid enough, it would probably not be pleasant to live
with Black's latent pressure on this wing.}) 26... Ng5 27. b3 (27. a5 $2 Bb5 {
[%csl Gf2][%cal Gb5f1]}) 27... Rd8 $5 {Now that he has completed the knight
manoeuvre, Black needs the queen on f5.} 28. Rac1 (28. h4 Nf3+ 29. Bxf3 Rxf3
30. Kg2 Qf5 31. Rad1 Kf7 $1 {[%cal Gf7d7,Gd8g8]} 32. Rh1 Ke7 33. Rd2 Rg8 {
[%cal Gg7g5]}) 28... Nf3+ 29. Kh1 ({Maybe it would have been safer to take the
knight:} 29. Bxf3 Rxf3 30. Kg2 (30. h4 g5) 30... h4 31. g4 {Once again, White
may be able to survive the pressure by simply waiting. But this was not an
easy practical decision, of course.}) 29... Qf5 {But now, Bxf3 is not possible
anymore because of the intermediate ...Qxh3+. White has to live with the
knight on f3.} 30. Qe2 Kh7 {Still waiting before opening the centre.} (30... e5
$5) 31. Rc2 Bd5 32. Rc3 Kg6 33. Qc2 Kh7 34. Ba3 e5 {After the opening of the
d-file, Black's attack acquires more strength.} 35. dxe5 dxe5 36. b4 $6 {
I see two main drawbacks to this move. Dynamically, it delays the fight for
the open d-file. Statically, it weakens the light squares.} (36. Rd1 Rfd7 37.
Rc8 Bxb3 $5 38. Rxd7 Bxc2 39. Rcxd8 $13) 36... Be6 37. Bc1 Qg6 38. Rd1 Rxd1+
39. Qxd1 Rd7 $36 40. Qf1 (40. Qe2 Bg4 $1 41. Qf1 (41. hxg4 hxg4 42. Bxf3 gxf3
43. Qf1 Qh5+ 44. Kg1 Rd6) 41... Qf5 42. Rc2 Bxh3 $1 43. Bxh3 Qxh3+ $1 44. Qxh3
Rd1+ 45. Qf1 Rxf1+ 46. Kg2 Rg1+ 47. Kh3 g5 {with mate to follow.}) 40... Bf5 (
40... Qf7 $1 {[%cal Ge6b3,Gd7d1]} 41. Ba3 {[%cal Gc3c1]} Rd2 $19) 41. Rc2 (41.
Ba3 Qe6 42. Rc1 Rd2 $40) 41... Qe6 42. Qe2 (42. Bb2 Bxh3 43. Bxh3 Qxh3+ 44.
Qxh3 Rd1+) 42... g6 (42... Bxh3 43. Bxf3 exf3 44. Qxf3 Bg4 45. Qe4+ Bf5 46. Qc4
Rd1+ 47. Kh2 Qxc4 48. Rxc4 Bd3 49. Rc7 Be4 50. g4 (50. f3 Bxf3 51. g4 h4) 50...
Rh1+ 51. Kg3 h4#) 43. Rc4 $6 {Making things simpler for Black} Bxh3 (43... Bxh3
44. Rxe4 (44. Bxf3 exf3 45. Qxf3 Qxc4) 44... Bxg2+ 45. Kxg2 Ng5 46. Rh4 (46.
Rc4 Qh3+ 47. Kg1 e4) 46... Qc6+ {[%csl Gc1]}) 0-1

[Event "Norway Chess 2nd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2014.06.07"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Agdestein, Simen"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E54"]
[WhiteElo "2628"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2014.06.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 161"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 c5 8. O-O
cxd4 9. exd4 b6 10. Qe2 Bb7 11. Rd1 h6 12. Bb3 Nc6 13. d5 exd5 14. Nxd5 Nxd5
15. Bxd5 Qf6 16. Be3 Rfd8 17. a3 Bf8 18. Rd2 Rd6 19. Rad1 Rad8 20. h3 Rxd5 21.
Rxd5 Rxd5 22. Rxd5 Ne5 23. Rxe5 Bxf3 24. Qxf3 Qxe5 25. Qe2 g6 26. Qd2 Bg7 27.
Qd8+ Kh7 28. Qd7 a5 29. Bxb6 Qxb2 30. Bc7 Qxa3 31. Qxf7 Qc5 32. Kh2 a4 33. f4
Qf8 34. Qd7 a3 35. Be5 Kh8 36. Qa4 h5 37. Qa7 Bxe5 38. fxe5 Qf4+ 39. Kh1 Qb4
40. e6 Qe1+ 41. Kh2 Qe5+ 42. Kh1 Qa1+ 43. Kh2 Qe5+ 44. Kh1 Qa1+ 45. Kh2 Qe5+
1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 2nd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2014.06.08"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E60"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2014.06.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 161"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 c5 6. Nc3 {In Norway Caruana
invited his opponents into the Benoni, but Kramnik declines the offer.} (6. d5
e6 (6... b5 7. cxb5 a6 8. bxa6 d6 9. Nc3 Nxa6 10. O-O Bf5 $5 11. Ne1 Qb6 12.
Nc2 Rfb8 13. Ne3 Bc8 14. h3 Nd7 15. Na4 Qb5 16. Nc3 Qb6 17. Qd2 Nc7 18. b3 Ba6
19. Bb2 c4 20. Na4 Qb4 21. Qxb4 Rxb4 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Nc2 Rb7 24. b4 Bb5 25.
Nc3 Ba4 26. Ne3 Rxb4 27. Rfb1 Na6 28. Rxb4 Nxb4 29. Rb1 Nc2 30. Nxc2 Bxc2 31.
Rb2 Ba4 32. Rb4 Nc5 33. Rxc4 Bd7 $11 {[%csl Ra2][%cal Ga8a2] Caruana,F (2791)
-Grischuk,A (2792)/Dubai rpd/2014/ Black used an unusual setup and although
White retained the extra pawn well into the endgame, he has no means to
convert it.}) 7. Nc3 exd5 8. cxd5 d6 9. O-O Re8 (9... a6 10. a4 Nbd7 11. Bf4
Qe7 12. h3 Nh5 13. Bg5 f6 14. Bd2 f5 15. e4 $5 f4 $5 (15... fxe4 16. Re1 Nhf6
17. Bf4 Rb8 18. Re2 b5 19. axb5 axb5 20. Qe1 Nb6 21. Nxe4 Nxe4 22. Rxe4 Qf6 23.
Ra7 Ra8 24. Rxa8 Nxa8 25. Qa5 Bf5 26. Re1 h6 27. h4 Qxb2 28. Qa7 Qf6 29. Re7
Qa1+ 30. Qxa1 Bxa1 31. Bxd6 Rc8 32. Be5 $18 {[%csl Gd5] Wang,H (2715)
-Tomashevsky,E (2701)/RUS-chT/2010/}) 16. g4 Nhf6 17. Qc1 (17. Bxf4 Nxg4 $1 (
17... Nxe4 $6 18. Bh2 Nxc3 19. bxc3 {[%csl Rd6][%cal Yf1e1,Ye1e6]} Ne5 20. Bxe5
Bxe5 21. Re1 Rxf3 22. Qxf3 $16 {Mikhalevski,V (2584)-Kurmann,O (2446)/EU-ch
Aix-les-Bains/2011/}) 18. Bg5 (18. Bxd6 Qxd6 19. hxg4 Ne5 $36) 18... Ngf6 $13)
17... g5 18. Nxg5 Ne5 19. Ne2 (19. Nf3 Nxf3+ 20. Bxf3 h5 $1 $36 21. g5 $2 Nh7
22. h4 Nxg5 23. hxg5 Qxg5+ 24. Kh2 Rf6 $19) (19. f3 Nh5 (19... h5 $5) 20. Ne6
Bxe6 21. dxe6 Ng3 22. Qc2 Nxf1 23. Rxf1 Qxe6 24. Nd5 Ng6 25. Nc7 Qa2 26. Nxa8
Rxa8 $11 {Carron,J (2355)-Kurmann,O (2431)/Leukerbad/2011/}) 19... Nfxg4 20.
Nxf4 Qxg5 21. Ne6 Qe7 22. Nxf8 Nd3 23. Qc2 Ngxf2 24. Ne6 Bxe6 25. dxe6 Bd4 26.
Bc3 Be3 27. Bd2 Bd4 28. Bc3 {1/2, Gmuer,A (2426)-Nuesch,G (2239)/email/2008/})
10. Bf4 {Nowadays White's main try to get an advantage.} ({Rare is} 10. a4 Ne4
11. Nxe4 Rxe4 12. Nd2 Rb4 13. Ra2 a5 $5 14. b3 b5 15. axb5 (15. Ba3 Na6 16.
Bxb4 Nxb4 17. Ra3 Bb2 18. axb5 Bxa3 19. Nc4 Bd7 20. Nxa3 Qb8 $132) 15... Nd7
16. Ne4 Qe7 17. Qc2 Rxb5 18. Bg5 Nf6 19. Qd3 Rb7 20. Qe3 h6 21. Bxf6 Bxf6 22.
Qf4 Be5 23. Qxh6 Rxb3 24. Nxc5 Rb5 25. Nd3 Bg7 26. Qd2 a4 $44 {Grischuk,A 
(2792)-Caruana,F (2791)/Stavanger/2014/ Later on White lost an equal position
due to a major oversight in time trouble.}) ({The classical} 10. Nd2 a6 11. a4
Nbd7 12. h3 Rb8 13. Nc4 Ne5 14. Na3 Nh5 15. e4 {is in a crisis, after} Bd7 16.
a5 Qxa5 ({An even simpler and equally viable alternative is} 16... b5 $5 17.
axb6 Bb5 $1 18. Ncxb5 axb5 19. g4 Nf6 20. Nxb5 Qxb6 21. Na3 Qb3 $1 $44 22. Qxb3
Rxb3 23. Rd1 h6 24. Nc2 $2 Nd3 25. Ra4 Nd7 26. Ra6 Nxc1 27. Rxc1 Bxb2 28. Rd1
Be5 29. Na3 Nb6 $17 {Ponomariov,R (2756)-Bacrot,E (2723)/Elancourt/2013/ For
more details about this game see the notes by Marin in CBM 157.}) 17. g4 Nf6
18. f4 Nfxg4 19. hxg4 Nxg4 20. f5 h5 $5 {Black is doing OK in the sharp
complications:} 21. Bg5 ({The most recent example went} 21. Qf3 Qd8 22. Qg3 b5
23. Nd1 b4 24. Nc2 Bb5 25. Re1 Be5 26. Bf4 Bxf4 27. Qxf4 Qf6 28. Nde3 Ne5 $17 {
Golichenko,I (2430)-Simantsev,M (2479)/Marianske Lazne/2014/}) 21... Qb4 22. f6
Bh8 23. Qd2 (23. Na2 Qd4+ 24. Qxd4 cxd4 $13) 23... Qd4+ 24. Qxd4 cxd4 25. Ne2
Re5 26. Bf4 $5 (26. Bh4 Ne3 27. Nxd4 Nxg2 28. Kxg2 Rxe4 29. Nf3 Bf5 30. Rac1 {
Sasikiran,K (2689)-Anand,V (2817)/Bastia rpd/2011/} Rg4+ $17 {[%cal Rf5e4]})
26... Bxf6 27. Bxe5 (27. Nxd4 $5 Ree8 28. Rad1 Rbc8 $132) 27... Bxe5 28. Nc4
Bh2+ 29. Kh1 Bb5 30. b3 Be5 31. Ra2 Ne3 32. Nxe3 dxe3 $44 {Evans,G (2423)
-Overton,D (2462)/email/2010/ Here Black has enough even for a whole rook!})
10... a6 (10... Ne4 {is better without inserting a6 and a4, the exchange
sacrifice gives Black compensation after} 11. Nxe4 (11. Rc1 Nxc3 12. bxc3 b5 $5
13. Nd2 g5 14. Be3 Bf5 15. a4 a6 16. Qb3 bxa4 17. Qxa4 Nd7 18. Nc4 Ne5 19. Nxe5
Bxe5 20. Bd2 a5 21. f4 gxf4 22. gxf4 Bg7 23. e4 Bd7 24. Qc2 f5 $11 {/=/+,
Sargissian,G (2679)-Van Wely,L (2691)/ESP-chT Leon/2012/}) 11... Rxe4 12. Nd2
Rxf4 13. gxf4 Bxb2 14. Rb1 Bg7 15. e4 (15. Re1 Bh6 (15... Na6 16. e3 Nc7 17. a4
b6 18. Qb3 Qf6 19. Ne4 Qe7 20. Nd2 Qf6 21. Ne4 Qe7 22. Nd2 Bh6 $5 23. Nc4 Bd7
24. Ra1 Na6 25. Qd1 Nb4 $44 {Tomashevsky,E (2733)-Yu,Y (2656)/St Petersburg
rpd/2012/}) 16. e3 Na6 17. Nc4 Rb8 18. Qd2 b6 19. Rb3 Qf6 20. Qb2 Qxb2 21. Rxb2
Nb4 22. Reb1 Bf5 23. Rd1 Rd8 24. a3 Na6 25. Bf3 Nc7 26. a4 Bg7 $132 {
Gretarsson,H (2509)-Yu,Y (2688)/Reykjavik/2013/}) (15. Nc4 b5 $1 16. Rxb5 Ba6
17. Qa4 Bxb5 18. Qxb5 Bf8 19. Bh3 f5 20. e4 Nd7 21. exf5 {1/2, Gleizerov,E 
(2565)-Indjic,A (2451)/Paracin/2012/} Rb8 $132 {[%cal Yb8b4,Yd8h4]}) 15... Nd7
(15... Na6 16. Nc4 Rb8 17. a4 Nb4 18. Qf3 b6 19. Rbc1 Ba6 20. Rfe1 Na2 21. Rc2
Nb4 22. Rcc1 Na2 23. Rc2 Nb4 24. Rcc1 Na2 {1/2, Lagno,K (2543)-Hou,Y (2618)/
Khanty-Mansiysk/2014/}) 16. Qf3 (16. Nc4 Nb6 $1 $44) 16... b5 17. Rfe1 {
Eljanov,P (2723)-Sjugirov,S (2653)/EU-ch Yerevan/2014/} a6 $44) (10... Na6 11.
Re1 Bg4 12. e4 (12. Qb3 b5 $5 $44) 12... Nh5 (12... Nd7 $5 $13 {[%cal Yd7e5]})
13. Be3 Nf6 14. h3 Bxf3 15. Bxf3 Nd7 16. Bg2 Nc7 17. a4 Rb8 18. Qd2 Ne5 19. b3
b5 20. Bg5 Qc8 $132 {Ivanchuk,V (2753)-Giri,A (2734)/Leon blitz/2013/}) (10...
Nh5 11. Bg5 Qb6 12. Qc1 Nd7 13. h3 f5 14. e4 fxe4 15. Re1 Nhf6 16. Nd2 e3 17.
Rxe3 Rxe3 18. Bxe3 Ne5 19. b3 Bf5 20. Qd1 Re8 $11 {Aronian,L (2783)-Ivanchuk,V
(2754)/ECC Plovdiv/2010/}) 11. a4 h6 (11... Nh5 12. Bg5 Qc7 13. Re1 $5 Nd7 14.
e4 Rb8 15. Bf1 Ne5 16. Nxe5 Bxe5 17. Qf3 Bd7 18. a5 b6 19. axb6 Rxb6 20. Nd1
Bd4 21. Bd2 Qc8 22. Ba5 Rb8 23. Bc3 Bb5 24. Ne3 $36 {Nguyen,N (2625)-Akopian,V
(2691)/WCup Tromsoe/2013/}) 12. Qc1 (12. Re1 Bf5 13. Qc1 g5 14. Bd2 Nbd7 (14...
Ne4 $5 15. Nxe4 Bxe4 16. h4 Bxf3 17. Bxf3 gxh4 18. Bxh6 hxg3 19. Kg2 Qf6 $5 20.
Rh1 Nd7 21. Rh3 Kf8 22. Bxg7+ Kxg7 23. Rxg3+ Kf8 $11) 15. h4 g4 16. Nh2 Kh7 (
16... h5 $142 {saves a tempo}) 17. Nf1 Ne5 18. Bf4 Bg6 19. Ne3 h5 20. a5 Qc7
21. Ra4 Kg8 22. Qd2 $14 {/<=>, Caruana,F (2757)-Kramnik,V (2810)/Zuerich/2013/
For more details abou this game see the notes by Caruana in CBM 153.}) 12... g5
(12... Kh7 13. Re1 (13. Nd2 g5 14. Be3 $14) 13... Bf5 14. Nh4 $5 Bc8 15. Qc2
Nh5 (15... Kg8 16. Nf3 g5 17. Bd2 $14 {[%cal Ye2e4]}) 16. Bd2 Nd7 17. Nf5 $1
Bf8 18. Ne3 Rb8 19. a5 b5 20. axb6 Nxb6 21. Na4 Nxa4 22. Rxa4 Ng7 23. Be4 Be7
24. Ba5 Qd7 25. Bc3 Qd8 26. Nc4 Bd7 27. Ra3 Bb5 28. Na5 Qd7 29. Nc6 $16 {
Caruana,F (2781)-Nakamura,H (2776)/Zuerich rpd/2014/}) 13. Bd2 Bf5 (13... Nbd7
14. h4 g4 15. Ne1 Kh7 (15... h5 16. Nc2 $1 Ne5 17. Ne3 Rb8 18. Rb1 b5 19. b4
Bd7 20. Qc2 Qc8 21. Rfc1 $36 {Atalik}) 16. Nc2 Ne5 17. Ne3 Rb8 18. b4 b5 19.
axb5 axb5 20. Qc2+ Kg8 21. Rfb1 Bd7 22. Ra6 Qc7 23. Nf5 $16 {Nikolic,P (2490)
-Kindermann,S (2440)/EU-chT Plovdiv/1983/}) 14. h4 g4 15. Ne1 h5 16. Bg5 Bg6
17. Qf4 Qe7 18. f3 (18. Nd3 Nbd7 19. a5 Qf8 $13) 18... Nbd7 19. fxg4 hxg4 (
19... Qf8 $5 20. gxh5 Nxh5 $44) 20. Nd3 Rac8 {Doroshenko,M (2336)-Bruzon
Batista,L (2687)/Edmonton/2013/} 21. a5 $5 $13 {/+/=}) 6... cxd4 7. Nxd4 Qc7 (
7... Nc6 8. O-O {leads to the index A39, even now we get a line of the
Symmetrical English.}) 8. Qd3 ({Last year Kramnik was successful with} 8. b3 d5
$1 9. Ndb5 (9. Bxd5 $6 Bh3 $1 $36) 9... Qa5 10. Bd2 dxc4 11. bxc4 Qd8 12. O-O
a6 (12... Nc6 13. Rb1 (13. Nd5 a6 14. Nbc3 Nd7 15. Rc1 e6 16. Nf4 Nc5 17. Ne4
Nxe4 18. Bxe4 Bd7 19. Nd3 Qc7 20. Re1 Rab8 21. c5 Rfd8 $11 {Tesic,D (2348)
-Baklan,V (2610)/Trieste/2012/}) 13... Be6 14. Nd5 Nxd5 $1 15. cxd5 Bxd5 16.
Bxd5 Qxd5 17. Nc7 Qxa2 18. Nxa8 Rxa8 19. Be3 Rd8 20. Qc1 Qxe2 21. Rxb7 Ne5 $44
{Rustemov,A (2544)-Jochens,A (2298)/Bundesliga/2013/}) 13. Na3 Nc6 $1 ({
A clever move-order, which is better than} 13... Bf5 14. Nc2 Nc6 15. Ne3 Qd7 (
15... Qd4 $5 16. Nxf5 gxf5 17. Rc1 Rad8 18. Nd5 Ne4 19. Be3 Qxd1 20. Rfxd1 e6
21. f3 $5 (21. Bxe4 fxe4 22. Nb6 Rxd1+ 23. Rxd1 Rd8 $11 {Gelfand,B (2700)
-Sokolov,I (2665)/Wijk aan Zee/1996/}) 21... exd5 22. fxe4 dxe4 23. Bh3 Bd4 24.
Kf2 $14 {Wojtaszek,R (2711)-Rodshtein,M (2682)/Basel/2014/}) 16. Nxf5 Qxf5 17.
Rb1 Rad8 18. Qc1 {Kramnik,V (2810)-Radjabov,T (2793)/London Candidates/2013/} (
18. Rxb7 Na5 19. Rb4 Qe6 20. Qc2 $5 $14) {Now} 18... Rd7 {would have kept
White's pull minimal. For more details about the game see the notes in CBM 154}
) 14. Nc2 Be6 15. Rb1 (15. Ne3 Na5 16. Rc1 Rc8 17. Ncd5 Nxc4 18. Nxf6+ Bxf6 19.
Nxc4 Rxc4 20. Bh6 Qxd1 21. Rfxd1 Bg7 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Bxb7 a5 24. Rxc4 Bxc4
25. Rd2 Rb8 $15 {Khismatullin,D (2656)-Giri,A (2749)/ECC Rhodes/2013/}) 15...
Rc8 16. Ne3 Na5 $1 17. Bxb7 Nxb7 18. Rxb7 Bh3 (18... Qd4 $142 $1 $11 {[%cal
Yf8d8]}) 19. Re1 e6 20. Qc2 Qd4 21. Reb1 Rfd8 22. Be1 Ng4 23. Nxg4 Bxg4 24. Qa4
Bh3 25. Rd1 Qg4 26. f3 Rxd1 27. Nxd1 Qd4+ 28. Nf2 Bf8 29. Qd7 Qxd7 30. Rxd7 Bc5
31. Bb4 Bxb4 32. Nxh3 h6 33. Nf2 Bc5 34. Rd3 Bxf2+ 35. Kxf2 Rxc4 $11 {Nakamura,
H (2789)-Caruana,F (2782)/Wijk aan Zee/2014/ Kramnik undoubtedly knew this
game and was trying to avoid a line, well-known to Caruana.}) (8. Nd5 Nxd5 (
8... Qxc4 9. Nxe7+ Kh8 10. Nxc8 Rxc8 11. O-O Nc6 $132) 9. cxd5 Qb6 (9... Qa5+
10. Bd2 Qb6 11. Bc3 d6 12. Rc1 Nd7 13. Nb3 Bxc3+ 14. Rxc3 a5 15. Qd4 Qxd4 16.
Nxd4 Nc5 17. Kd2 Bd7 18. Rhc1 a4 19. b4 axb3 20. axb3 Ra2+ $11 {Karpov,A (2619)
-Gashimov,V (2758)/Moscow blitz/2009/}) 10. e3 d6 11. O-O Na6 12. a4 Bd7 13. a5
Qc7 14. Bd2 Rac8 15. b4 Qb8 16. b5 Nc7 17. Qe2 e6 18. dxe6 Nxe6 19. Nxe6 Bxe6
20. Rac1 d5 21. Bb4 Rfd8 22. Qd3 d4 23. e4 Rxc1 24. Rxc1 Rc8 25. Rxc8+ Qxc8 26.
Bf1 h5 27. f4 Qc1 28. Kf2 Qa1 29. a6 bxa6 30. bxa6 Bf8 $11 {Wang,H (2737)
-Radjabov,T (2793)/Beijing blindfold/2012/}) 8... Nc6 9. O-O (9. Ndb5 Qa5 10.
Bd2 (10. Bf4 d6 11. O-O a6 12. Na3 Qh5 13. f3 Qa5 14. Kh1 Be6 15. Rac1 d5 $1
16. cxd5 Nxd5 17. Nxd5 Qxd5 18. Qxd5 Bxd5 $15 {Kutirov,R (2381)-Cvitan,O (2526)
/EU-ch Ohrid/2001/}) 10... a6 11. Nd5 Qd8 12. Na3 b5 $5 ({More ambitious, than
} 12... d6 $11) 13. Bc3 Nxd5 (13... Rb8 $2 14. Nxf6+ exf6 15. cxb5 axb5 16.
Nxb5 Ba6 17. a4 Ne5 18. Qc2 Qb6 19. O-O Rfc8 20. Rfd1 Ng4 21. e3 Bxb5 22. axb5
$16 {Schmidt,W (2505)-Haik,A (2425)/Buenos Aires olm/1978/}) 14. cxd5 (14. Bxg7
Ndb4 15. Qc3 Nxa2 $1 16. Rxa2 b4 17. Qd2 Kxg7 18. Nc2 $44 {/=}) 14... Bxc3+ 15.
bxc3 Ne5 16. Qd4 d6 $15 {Brotherton,T (1800)-Suhardjo,J (1665)/email/2010/}) ({
Absolutely harmless is} 9. Nxc6 dxc6 10. O-O Rd8 11. Qc2 Be6 12. Bf4 Qa5 13.
Ne4 Nxe4 14. Bxe4 Rd7 15. a3 Rad8 16. Rac1 Rd4 17. Bd3 a6 18. Be3 R4d7 19. Rfd1
Bd4 20. Bxd4 Rxd4 $36 {[%cal Gd8d1] Madebrink,L (2244)-Berg,E (2561)/Halmstad/
2013/}) 9... d6 {[%cal Rc6e5] This simple developing move is the best.} (9...
Ne5 10. Qe3 {only makes it more difficult for Black.}) (9... Qb6 10. e3 d6 11.
b3 Bd7 12. Bb2 Rfe8 13. Rfd1 Rac8 14. Qd2 Nxd4 15. Qxd4 Qxd4 16. exd4 Bc6 17.
d5 Bd7 18. Rd2 a6 19. a4 $11 {/+/=, Rotaru,D (2384)-Balshaw,A (2157)/email/
2010/}) 10. b3 (10. Ncb5 Qb6 11. Be3 Ne5 12. Qb3 Nfg4 $5 13. Nf5 Nxe3 14. Nxe7+
Kh8 15. fxe3 Be6 16. Nd5 Bxd5 17. Bxd5 Ng4 $44 {|^}) 10... Nxd4 11. Qxd4 Ne4
$146 {[%mdl 8] Black simplifies the position.} ({More complex, but quite
playable is} 11... Be6 12. Bb2 Rfc8 13. Rac1 a6 14. Na4 (14. Qd2 $5) 14... Ne8
15. Qd2 Bxb2 16. Qxb2 Bd7 17. c5 ({Kramnik probably wanted to play something
like} 17. Nc3 Nf6 18. Rfd1 $11 {/+/= The Maroczy like space advantage is very
stable, but while White's position is riskless, his pull is minimal at best.})
17... Bxa4 18. bxa4 dxc5 19. Qxb7 Ra7 20. Qb3 Nd6 21. Rfd1 Qa5 22. Rd5 Rac7 23.
Qc2 Nf5 {Bocharov,D (2647)-Shomoev,A (2567)/EU-ch Budva/2009/}) 12. Nd5 (12.
Qxe4 Bxc3 13. Bh6 Bxa1 14. Bxf8 Bf6 $5 15. Bh6 Qa5 16. Qc2 (16. a4 Qb4 $11 {
[%cal Rb4b3,Yc8f5]}) 16... Bf5 17. Qd2 Qxd2 18. Bxd2 Rb8 $11) 12... Bxd4 13.
Nxc7 Bxa1 ({A plausible alternative was} 13... Rb8 $5 {, after} 14. Bxe4 (14.
Bh6 $6 Nxf2 $1) 14... Bxa1 15. Be3 Bf6 16. Bxa7 Bh3 17. Rd1 {the simplest is}
Ra8 $5 18. Nxa8 Rxa8 19. Be3 Rxa2 20. Bxb7 Be6 $1 (20... Rb2 21. c5 dxc5 22.
Bh6 e6 23. Ra1 Rd2 $8 24. Bxd2 Bxa1 25. Be3 Bd4 26. Bxd4 cxd4 27. b4 $14) 21.
Bd5 Rb2 $11) 14. Be3 $1 {[%mdl 576] This tactical sequence with a temporary
rook sacrifice will spice things up a bit.} (14. Nxa8 Nc3 15. Bg5 Nxe2+ 16. Kh1
Bf6 17. Bxf6 exf6 {is a drawish endgame, e,g,,} 18. Nc7 Nc3 19. a3 Bd7 20. Rc1
Rc8 21. Rxc3 Rxc7 22. Rd3 b5 $11) 14... Bf6 (14... Bf5 $6 15. Rxa1 Nc5 16. Nxa8
Rxa8 17. b4 Na4 $2 18. Rc1 Bd7 19. c5 {[%csl Ra4]} dxc5 20. bxc5 Bc6 21. Bxc6
bxc6 22. Rc4 Nb2 23. Rb4 Nd1 24. Bd4 Rd8 25. Kf1 f6 26. Ke1 e5 27. Ba1 e4 28.
Rd4 {1-0, Esen,B (2570)-Barbosa,E (2471)/Golden Sands/2014/ This game took
place later, than ours - Esen was obviosuly inspired by Kramnik.}) 15. Nxa8 (
15. Bxe4 $2 Bh3 $15 {and White drops an exchange.}) 15... Nc3 16. Bxa7 (16. Nc7
b6 $11 (16... Bd4 $5 17. Bh6 Bg7 $11)) 16... Nxa2 (16... Bh3 17. Nb6 Nxe2+ 18.
Kh1 Bxg2+ 19. Kxg2 $14 {/= and the endgame is more pleasant for White.}) 17.
Nc7 Nb4 18. Rd1 Kg7 (18... Bg4 $5 19. f3 Bf5 20. e4 Bd7 21. c5 (21. Kf2 Bc6
$132) 21... Rc8 22. Bb6 Be5 $5 23. f4 Bg4 24. fxe5 Bxd1 25. exd6 exd6 26. cxd6
$44) 19. f4 h5 $6 (19... Nc6 20. Bb6 Bf5 21. e4 Bg4 22. Rd5 $14) (19... Bg4 $1
20. Kf2 Rc8 21. Bb6 Na2 $5 $132) 20. Kf2 ({White could have already played} 20.
c5 $5 $14 {, but Kramnik is in no hurry.}) 20... h4 21. c5 hxg3+ 22. hxg3 dxc5
23. Bxc5 Na6 (23... Nc6 24. b4 $36 {() and Black's forces lack space.}) 24.
Nxa6 bxa6 25. e4 Bg4 26. Rd5 Bb2 ({Black prefers giving up a pawn; he will
retain reasonable drawing chances.} 26... Be6 $6 27. e5 $14 {/+/- is weaker,
White's bishops are powerful.}) 27. Bxe7 Re8 28. Bd8 Be6 29. Rd3 (29. Rd2 Bc3
30. Rd3 Bf6 {transposes into 29.Rd3 with an extra move.}) 29... Bf6 30. Bxf6+ (
30. Ba5 $5 Rb8 31. b4 Bc4 $14 {/<=>}) 30... Kxf6 31. Bf3 ({Allowing a
liquidation of the queenside with} 31. b4 Rb8 32. Rd4 a5 $5 33. bxa5 Rb2+ 34.
Kg1 Ra2 $11 {/+/= gives White practical chances at best.}) 31... Rb8 32. Bd1
Rb4 {Needlessly exposes the rook} (32... Ke7 $142 $1 $44 {[%cal Ya6a5,Yf7f6]})
33. Ke3 Ke7 ({Now} 33... a5 34. g4 $36 {[%cal Re4e5,Rf4f5] is unpleasant for
Black.}) 34. g4 {White could have postponed this.} (34. Rd4 $142 $1 Rb6 35. b4
$14 {gives him more realistic winning chances.}) 34... f6 35. g5 $6 ({Kramnik
wants to avoid the blockade} 35. Rd4 Rb6 36. b4 g5 {, , but now his pawn gets
fixed on b3.}) 35... fxg5 36. fxg5 a5 $1 {[%csl Rb3]} 37. Kf4 Rb5 38. Rc3 Kd6
39. Bc2 Rb4 40. Rg3 Ke7 41. Rd3 Rb5 42. Rc3 Kd7 $5 ({Black doesn't have to
allow even} 42... Kd6 43. e5+ $5 Rxe5 44. Rc6+ {, although} Kxc6 (44... Kd5 45.
Rb6 Kd4 46. Bxg6 $14) 45. Kxe5 Bd5 46. Kf6 Kc5 47. Kxg6 Kd4 48. Kf6 Kc3 49. Bd1
Kd2 $132 {holds the balance.}) 43. Bd1 (43. e5 Bd5 $1 44. Bxg6 Rb4+ {and the
king must retreat} 45. Ke3 (45. Kf5 $2 Be4+ 46. Kf6 Rb6+ $17) (45. Kg3 Rxb3 $11
) 45... Ke6 46. Bc2 Kxe5 47. g6 Rg4 {with a clear draw:} 48. Kd2 (48. Rc8 Bxb3
$11) 48... Rg2+ 49. Kc1 Be4 $1 50. Bxe4 Kxe4 51. Rc6 Kd3 $11) 43... Kd6 44.
Rd3+ Ke7 45. Rd2 {The last try, which is unexpectedly crowned with success.}
Bxb3 ({Consistent, Caruana doesn't want to sit tight anymore with} 45... Bf7
46. Ra2 $14 {He prefers to act and rightly so.}) 46. Bxb3 Rxb3 47. Rd5 a4 48.
Ra5 a3 49. Ke5 Kf7 50. Ra7+ Ke8 $4 {[%mdl 8192] A serious error just at the
moment when} (50... Kf8 {/\} 51. Kf6 Rb6+ $11 {draws easily.}) 51. Kf6 Rb6+ 52.
Kg7 ({Resignation in a position with equal material is often considered
premature, but here it was justified, as the position is won for White rather
easily:} 52. Kg7 Rb3 (52... Re6 53. Rxa3 Rxe4 54. Kxg6 $18 Rg4 55. Ra8+ Ke7 56.
Rg8 $18 {[%cal Rg6h7,Rg5g6]}) 53. e5 $1 ({Even quicker than} 53. Kxg6 Kf8 54.
Kf5 $18) 53... Rf3 54. e6 Re3 55. Kf6 Rf3+ 56. Kxg6 Re3 57. Kf6 Rf3+ 58. Kg7
Re3 59. g6 $18 {[%cal Rg7f6,Rg6g7]}) 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess 2nd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2014.06.09"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E21"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2014.06.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 161"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 O-O 5. Bg5 c5 {Thanks to his castled king
Black is able to start real counterplay in the centre.} 6. Rc1 h6 7. Bh4 cxd4 (
7... g5 8. Bg3 Ne4 9. e3 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nc6 11. Bd3 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Nxg3 13. hxg3
Kg7 14. Qh5 Rh8 15. f4 d5 16. O-O dxc4 17. Nxc6 bxc6 18. fxg5 Qe7 19. Rf6 Bd7
20. Rcf1 {1-0 (20) Bacrot,E (2725)-Inkiov,V (2465) Haguenau 2013}) 8. Nxd4 d5 {
Kramnik is right to hurry up with active operations in the centre as with each
move the opponent will be closer to complete development including the king
being brought to safety. The pawn advance to d5 is a relatively rare
continuation as Black has predominantly been testing other ideas.} (8... Nc6 9.
a3 (9. e3 e5 (9... b6 10. Ndb5 (10. Be2 Bb7 11. O-O {1/2 (11) Marin,M (2475)
-Andersson,U (2600) Szirak 1987}) 10... Be7 11. Be2 Ne8 12. Bg3 d6 13. O-O Bb7
14. Bf3 a6 15. Nd4 Qc8 16. Nxc6 Bxc6 17. Nd5 Bd8 18. Nb4 Bxf3 19. Qxf3 Ra7 20.
Qc6 Qxc6 21. Nxc6 $14 {1-0 (53) Bacrot,E (2706)-Rau,H (2464) Deizisau 2012}) (
9... Bxc3+ 10. Rxc3 g5 11. Bg3 Ne4 12. Ra3 Qe7 13. Bd3 Qb4+ 14. Kf1 Qxb2 15.
Bxe4 Qxa3 16. h4 Nxd4 17. hxg5 Nf5 18. Bxf5 exf5 19. Be5 f6 20. Bd6 Qc3 21.
Rxh6 Rf7 22. Rg6+ $18 {1-0 (28) Sedlak,N (2553)-Perunovic,M (2580) Vrsac 2008})
(9... d6 10. Bd3 Bd7 11. O-O Ne5 12. a3 Bxc3 13. Rxc3 Rc8 14. f4 Nxd3 15. Qxd3
d5 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. cxd5 exd5 18. Rfc1 Rxc3 19. Rxc3 Qb6 20. Rb3 Qc7 21. Kf2
$11 {1/2 (36) Barsov,A (2525)-Campora,D (2505) Catalan Bay 2003}) (9... Be7 10.
Be2 d5 11. O-O Bd7 12. cxd5 Nxd5 13. Bxe7 Ncxe7 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. Bf3 Rc8 16.
Bxd5 exd5 17. Qb3 Bc6 18. Rc3 Qb6 19. Qxb6 axb6 20. Rb3 Ra8 21. a3 $16 {
1-0 (73) Zhang,Z (2649)-Hussein,H (2354) Beijing 2008}) 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. Ndb5
Rd8 12. Be2 d6 13. O-O Bxc3 14. Nxc3 Be6 15. Qb3 Rd7 16. Rfd1 Rad8 17. Rd2 Qg6
18. Rcd1 e4 19. Qc2 Bf5 20. Kh1 Ne5 21. Rd5 $11 {1-0 (58) Bacrot,E (2645)
-Socko,B (2551) Rethymnon 2003}) 9... Bxc3+ 10. Rxc3 g5 11. Bg3 Ne4 12. Nb5
Nxc3 13. Nxc3 d5 14. cxd5 exd5 15. Qxd5 Be6 16. Qxd8 Rfxd8 17. e3 Rac8 18. h4
g4 19. Be2 Na5 20. Be5 Nc4 21. Bxc4 Bxc4 $15 {1/2 (54) Anand,V (2784)-Timman,J
(2649) Wijk aan Zee 1999}) (8... b6 9. e3 Bb7 10. Ndb5 $1 Na6 11. Nd6 Bxd6 12.
Qxd6 Rc8 (12... Qc7 13. Nb5 $16) 13. f3 Rc6 14. Qd4 Qe7 15. Be2 (15. Rd1 Rd8
16. Be2 $16) 15... g5 $6 (15... Nc7 16. O-O d5 17. cxd5 exd5 18. Bd3 $16) 16.
Bg3 d5 (16... Nh5 17. Rd1 (17. Bf2 f5 18. h4 $16) 17... Nxg3 18. hxg3 Rd8 19.
Ne4 $16) 17. h4 (17. Be5 Nd7 18. cxd5 exd5 19. Bg3 $16) 17... Nh5 (17... dxc4
$2 18. hxg5 hxg5 19. Ne4 Nh7 20. Bd6 $18) 18. Bf2 Ng7 19. hxg5 hxg5 (19... Qxg5
20. cxd5 exd5 21. g4 $16) 20. Qe5 $5 {1-0 (36) Ponomariov,R (2705)-Polgar,J 
(2708) Vitoria Gasteiz 2007} (20. cxd5 exd5 21. Bb5 Rc5 22. a3 $16)) (8... g5
9. Bg3 Ne4 10. Ndb5 f5 11. Bc7 Qe7 12. f3 a6 13. a3 axb5 14. axb4 Na6 15. Be5
d6 16. Bd4 Nxc3 17. Bxc3 bxc4 18. e4 fxe4 19. Bxc4 b5 20. Bb3 Bb7 21. Qd4 Kh7
$11 {1-0 (62) Bauer,C (2640)-Cheparinov,I (2621) Metz 2005}) (8... Be7 9. e3 d6
10. Be2 Nc6 11. O-O a6 12. Bg3 Bd7 13. Nb3 Ne5 14. c5 Qb8 15. f4 Ng6 16. e4 e5
17. fxe5 Nxe5 18. Bxe5 dxe5 19. Rxf6 Bxf6 20. Qxd7 $18 {1-0 (33) Gonzalez
Garcia,J (2522)-Hernandez Carmenates,H (2570) Barbera del Valles 2011}) 9. Bxf6
(9. e3 e5 10. Nf3 g5 11. Bg3 d4 12. exd4 exd4 13. Nxd4 (13. Qxd4 Re8+ 14. Be2
Qe7 15. O-O Nc6 16. Qe3 Bxc3 17. bxc3 Qxe3 18. fxe3 Rxe3 19. Nd4 $11) 13... Qb6
14. Ndb5 Bg4 15. Be2 Bxe2 16. Kxe2 Qe6+ 17. Kf1 Qxc4+ 18. Qe2 Qxe2+ 19. Kxe2
Re8+ 20. Kd3 Nc6 $11 {1/2 (56) Wojtaszek,R (2701)-Tkachiev,V (2632) Legnica
2013}) (9. cxd5 g5 (9... exd5 10. e3 Nc6 11. Be2 Re8 12. O-O g5 13. Bg3 Bxc3
14. Nxc6 bxc6 15. Rxc3 Bd7 16. f3 Re6 17. Qd2 Qe7 18. Rfc1 Nh5 19. Bf2 Nf4 20.
Ba6 Ng6 21. Bb7 Rd8 22. Qd4 $16 {1/2 (41) Byrne,R-Wexler,B Leipzig 1960}) 10.
Bg3 Qxd5 11. a3 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Rd8 13. Nb5 Na6 14. f3 Bd7 15. e4 Qc5 16. Qd4
Bxb5 17. Qxc5 Nxc5 18. Bxb5 a6 19. Be2 Nh5 20. Bf2 Rac8 21. Rc2 Nd3+ 22. Kf1
Nhf4 $11 {1/2 (37) Ipatov,A (2569)-Smirnov,P (2618) Moscow 2013}) 9... Qxf6 10.
cxd5 Rd8 {The former world champion is working hard on chess and often his
analyses are surprisingly deep. Black could have tried the simple recapturing
with pawn with a fair position.} (10... exd5 11. e3 Nc6 12. a3 Bxc3+ 13. Rxc3
Qg6 $11) 11. e3 (11. e4 $2 exd5 $19) 11... Rxd5 (11... exd5 12. a3 Bxc3+ 13.
Rxc3 Nc6 $11) 12. Qb3 Rxd4 $6 {[%mdl 1028] The game was very important for
both players who have not been on friendly terms ever since their world
championship match. Kramnik tries to punish Topalov with active play over the
board. Unfortunately the exchange sacrifice is not forced and most likely also
not the strongest line.} (12... Qe7 13. Bd3 Rd8 14. O-O Nc6 $11) 13. exd4 Nc6
14. Bb5 $1 Qf4 {Black gets cold feet at the moment when he could shock his
adversary with the sacrifice of the rook with 14...Nxd4!? The whole system is
very spirited, but Black has no reason to believe that he can gain an opening
advantage.} (14... Qxd4 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16. O-O $14) (14... Nxd4 $5 15. Qxb4 Qf4
16. Kd1 (16. Qe7 Qxc1+ 17. Nd1 Nc2+ 18. Ke2 Nd4+ 19. Ke1 e5 $19) 16... e5 17.
Ne2 (17. Rf1 Bg4+ 18. f3 Rd8 19. Qe7 Nc6+ 20. Qxd8+ Nxd8 21. fxg4 Qxg4+ 22. Kc2
$14) 17... Nxe2 18. Qxf4 Nxf4 19. Re1 Bf5 20. Rc5 $14) 15. O-O Nxd4 16. Qd1 (
16. Qc4 $5 Bd6 (16... a6 17. Rfd1 e5 18. Nd5 Qg4 19. Qxb4 axb5 20. Kh1 $14) 17.
g3 Qg4 18. Rfd1 e5 19. Qd5 Be7 20. Rd3 $14) 16... Bxc3 $6 {Even in the battle
of two former world champions the positional rules are still more than valid.
Kramnik is diminishing his chances by the exchange of his dark-squared bishop
for the knight at the moment when a simple retreat would have offered near
equality.} (16... Ba5 17. Bd3 e5 $11) 17. Rxc3 e5 (17... Nxb5 $2 18. Qd8+ Kh7
19. Rxc8 $16) (17... Qd6 18. Bc4 e5 19. Qh5 Be6 20. Bxe6 Qxe6 21. Rc7 $14) 18.
Bc4 (18. Qc1 $5 Be6 19. Bd3 $14) 18... Bd7 19. Qc1 Qf6 (19... Qxc1 20. Rfxc1
Bc6 21. f3 $14) 20. Qe3 Bc6 21. Bd3 {White is very disciplined and he is
working hard on stabilising his position in the centre. Black's chances for
active counterplay will be honed down to a minimum.} Re8 (21... Qd6 22. Be4
Bxe4 23. Qxe4 Rd8 24. Re3 Nc6 25. f4 exf4 26. Qxf4 $14) 22. Be4 Bb5 (22... Qd6
23. Bxc6 bxc6 24. Rc4 Rb8 25. b3 Rd8 26. Re1 $14) 23. Re1 Qa6 $2 {Kramnik did
not play this spirited opening with the hope of defending passively. His
striving for active play is perfectly understandable, but White will benefit
more from the conflict.} (23... Qe7 24. b3 $14) 24. Rc7 $1 Qxa2 (24... Bc6 25.
Bxc6 bxc6 26. Qa3 $1 $16) 25. Rxb7 a6 (25... Qxb2 26. Rb1 Qe2 27. R7xb5 Qxe3
28. fxe3 Nxb5 29. Rxb5 $18) 26. b3 Rd8 $6 {The nerves are ticking and Black is
not willing to admit that only passive defence can offer some chances of
survival.} (26... Rf8 27. Bb1 Qb2 28. h3 Ne2+ 29. Kh2 Nf4 30. Rc7 Nd5 31. Qe4
Nf6 32. Qf5 $16) 27. Bd5 $1 Ne2+ (27... Rxd5 28. Rb8+ Kh7 29. Qe4+ f5 30. Qxd5
$18) 28. Kh1 (28. Rxe2 $2 Qxe2 29. Bxf7+ Kh8 30. Qxe2 Bxe2 31. h4 $14) 28...
Nf4 (28... Qc2 29. Bxf7+ Kh8 30. Bc4 Qd1 (30... Bxc4 31. Qxe5 Qc3 32. Qxc3 Nxc3
33. bxc4 $18) 31. Qxe2 Qxe2 32. Bxe2 Bxe2 33. h3 $18) 29. Bxf7+ Kh8 30. Qb6 $6
{Topalov is not immune to trepidations of his own. In the heat of the fight he
chooses exactly the wrong method of bringing his queen closer to the black
king.} (30. Rb6 $1 Qd2 31. Rb8 Qd6 32. Rxd8+ Qxd8 33. Qxe5 Nd3 34. Qe7 $18) (
30. Qxe5 Qxf2 31. Bd5 $1 Nh5 32. Bf3 Nf6 33. Rf7 $18) 30... Qd2 31. Rg1 Kh7 $6
{A nervous move, ignoring the golden chance to complicate matters with a
spectacular hidden resource. In the battle of two computers we would have seen
31..Nh3!!, but instead we are witnessing the merciless duel of two ex-world
champions.} (31... Nh3 $3 32. gxh3 Be2 33. Qc6 Qd3 34. Bd5 Qxd5+ 35. Qxd5 Rxd5
36. Rc1 $16) (31... Qd4 32. h3 $18) 32. h3 Rd6 (32... Qd4 33. Bc4 $18) 33. Qc7
Bd7 (33... Rd7 34. Qb8 Rd8 35. Qxe5 Qxf2 36. Bg6+ $18) 34. Qb8 {Exactly this
picture was the defender's worst nightmares. Black is unable to defend the 8th
rank so he chooses to play va-banque.} h5 $8 35. Qg8+ Kh6 36. Qh8+ Kg5 37.
Qxg7+ Kf5 38. Bxh5 {Time trouble is lurking around the corner and White
probably had no time to choose the best winning line. Fortunately for the
aggressor his position is completely winning in most sensible lines.} (38. f3
Nd3 39. Rxd7 Rxd7 40. Qg6+ Kf4 41. g3+ Kxf3 42. Qf5+ Ke3 43. Qg5+ Nf4 44. Qxe5+
$18) (38. Bg8 $1 Ng6 39. Bh7 Be8 40. Re7 Re6 41. Rxe8 $18) 38... Nxh5 39. Qg4+
Kf6 40. Qxh5 Qxf2 41. Qh6+ {Even after the time control Topalov is not ready
to play the best moves, he just wants to grab his deserved point and run...} (
41. Rb8 $1 Ke6 42. Qg4+ Ke7 43. Qg7+ Ke6 44. Rf8 $18) 41... Ke7 42. Qg7+ Ke6
43. Qg4+ Ke7 44. Rd1 {Material and positional superiority is rendering any
resistance by Black pointless.} (44. Rd1 Rxd1+ 45. Qxd1 Qf5 46. h4 Ke8 47. Kg1
$18) 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess 2nd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2014.06.10"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2815"]
[Annotator "Sumets,A"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "2014.06.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 161"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Qa4+ Nc6 7. Bg5 h6 8.
Bxf6 Qxf6 9. e3 {This line is considered as harmless. Kramnik tends to a calm
position, relying on his technical skills.} O-O 10. Be2 Rd8 ({Another option is
} 10... Be6 {In this case White can trade his knight for the opponent's
dark-squared bishop and get his favourite Carlsbad pawn structure.} 11. a3 (11.
O-O a6 {and White can't change the knight for the bishop anymore.} 12. Rfc1 Bd6
13. Qd1 Ne7 14. Na4 b6 15. Nc3 Rfc8 16. Qf1 b5 17. a4 c6 {We can't consider
the c6-pawn as a weakness. White has no space on the queenside to attack it.}
18. Nb1 bxa4 19. Nc3 Bg4 $6 (19... a3 $1 20. bxa3 Bf5 21. Na4 Rcb8 $11 22. Bxa6
$2 Be4 23. Nd2 c5 24. dxc5 Be5 $17) 20. Nxa4 Bxf3 21. Bxf3 $14 {Mamedyarov,S 
(2763) -Eljanov,P (2751) Astrakhan 2010 1/2 (36)}) 11... Bd6 12. Nb5 Bg4 13.
O-O Ne7 14. Nxd6 Qxd6 15. b4 f5 (15... c6 16. b5 cxb5 17. Qxb5 a6 18. Qb4 Qxb4
19. axb4 Rfc8 20. h3 Bf5 21. Rfc1 Rxc1+ 22. Rxc1 Rc8 $11 {1/2 (66) El Gindy,E 
(2507) -Aleksandrov,A (2668) Tripoli 2004}) 16. Qb3 Kh8 17. g3 Ng6 18. Bd1 Bh3
19. Re1 Rae8 20. Qc3 c6 21. Kh1 Bg4 22. Ng1 Ne7 23. Kg2 $14 {1/2 (66) Karpov,A
(2619) -Kravtsiv,M (2609) Hockenheim GER 2014}) 11. O-O Bf8 (11... a6 {Bacrot
wants to put his bishop on d6.} 12. Ne5 (12. a3 {seems to be stronger:} Bd6 $6
(12... Bf8 13. b4 Bf5 14. Qb3 Na7 {The knight is heading for d6} 15. Rfc1 c6
16. Na4 Nc8 17. Nc5 Nd6 18. a4 Bg4 19. Qd1 Bxf3 20. Bxf3 b5 21. Ra2 {1/2 (21)
Grabarczyk,M (2475)-Landa,K (2611) Germany 2010}) 13. Nxd5 Bxh2+ 14. Nxh2 Rxd5
15. Rac1 $14) 12... Nxe5 13. Qxb4 Ng6 14. Qc5 c6 15. b4 Nh4 $132 16. Kh1 Re8
17. a4 Bf5 18. Qb6 Re7 19. g3 $2 (19. b5) 19... Bd3 $19 {Legky,N (2461)-Bacrot,
E (2705) 0-1 (35) France 2007}) 12. Rfc1 Ne7 13. b4 a6 14. Qb3 c6 15. Na4 $1 (
15. a4 Ng6 16. b5 a5 17. bxc6 bxc6 {It is not easy to organize pressure
against the c6-pawn.} 18. Nd1 (18. Qc2 Be6 19. Nd1 $6 Rdc8 20. Nb2 c5 21. dxc5
Bxc5 $15)) 15... Bg4 {Aronian decided to prevent Ne5. Another logical idea was
to put his knight on d6.} (15... Nf5 16. Nc5 Nd6 17. Ne5 Bf5 18. a4 $14 {
White slowly prepares b5 and it is not easy to indicate what Black should do.})
16. Nc5 Ra7 (16... Rab8 17. a4 Nc8 18. Ra2 {and White keeps some pressure.} ({
a premature move is} 18. b5 axb5 19. axb5 Nd6 $11)) 17. a4 Nc8 $146 (17... Rda8
$5 {preventing b5} 18. h3 Bxf3 19. Bxf3 Nf5 20. Bg4 Nd6 {Black's rooks are
placed in a slightly ridiculous way but his position is very solid.}) (17...
Nf5 18. Ra2 Bd6 19. b5 axb5 20. axb5 Rxa2 21. Qxa2 Qe7 22. bxc6 bxc6 23. Qd2
Ra8 24. Nd3 Bxf3 25. Bxf3 Qg5 $11 {Zhou Weiqi (2601)-Yu Yangyi (2675) Danzhou
CHN 2014 1/2 (57)}) 18. Ra2 $1 {An important move. The bishop on e2 is well
protected and White can play Ne5. He also can double his rooks on the c-file.}
Bxf3 19. Bxf3 $14 Nb6 20. Be2 g6 21. g3 h5 22. h4 Nd7 {Levon trades knights.} (
{Perhaps his position would be more reliable after} 22... Bd6 23. Bf1 Kg7 24.
Rac2 Qe7 25. b5 $14) 23. Nxd7 $5 (23. Rac2 {I don't think that Black can take
on c5.} Qd6 24. b5 $14) 23... Rxd7 24. b5 axb5 25. axb5 Rxa2 26. Qxa2 {Black
is in trouble. After trading on c6 White has 3 pieces which can attack the
c6-pawn against 2 defenders.} Rc7 {Black has a very robust position.} 27. Qa8
Qd6 (27... Kg7 28. bxc6 bxc6 29. Bb5 g5) 28. Qb8 Qd7 (28... c5 29. Bf3) 29. Bf1
$1 {The idea of the last move is to weaken the opponent's king after Bh3 f5.}
Kg7 (29... Rc8 30. Qa7 cxb5 31. Rxc8 Qxc8 32. Bxb5 {it seems that White can
attack and take the d5-pawn for free. However Black launches a counter attack
and makes a draw.} g5 $1 33. hxg5 h4 34. g6 $5 hxg3 35. gxf7+ Kxf7 36. fxg3 Qc7
37. Kf2 Qc2+ 38. Be2 Qf5+ $11) 30. Bh3 f5 31. Ra1 Rc8 32. Qe5+ $6 {The queen
is misplaced in the center of the board.} (32. bxc6 $1 bxc6 33. Qb6 Bd6 34. Ra7
Rc7 35. Ra6 Rc8 36. Bf1 $16 {The bishop is heading for a4.}) 32... Kf7 33. bxc6
bxc6 34. Qf4 {Probably first of all Vladimir counted on 34.e4 but than
realised that it led to a draw.} (34. e4 Bd6 35. exf5 Bxe5 36. fxg6+ Kg7 37.
Bxd7 Bxd4 38. Bxc8 Bxa1 39. Bb7 c5 40. Bxd5 Kxg6 $11) 34... Bd6 35. Qh6 Bf8 36.
Qf4 Bd6 37. Qf3 {Vladimir has lost most of his advantage.} Kg7 38. Qe2 Rc7 {
A bit passive.} (38... Rb8 39. Qa2 Qc7 {intending take on g3} 40. Kg2 Rb4 $11)
39. Qa2 Be7 40. Qb3 Rb7 41. Qc3 Bb4 42. Qc2 Be7 43. Ra6 Rc7 44. Bg2 (44. Qc3 $1
Bf6 45. Qc5 Be7 46. Qb6 $14) 44... Qd6 (44... c5 $5 45. dxc5 Bxc5 46. Qd2 d4
47. e4 d3 48. Qg5 Rc6 49. Rxc6 Qxc6 50. exf5 Qf6 $11) 45. Bf3 {The bishop goes
on a4.} Qd7 46. Kg2 Bf6 47. Qc5 Be7 48. Qb6 $14 Bd8 49. Bd1 {Black is in
trouble. He can only count on a counter attack. For example, he can put his
queen on the e-file and meet Ba4 with ...Qe4+.} Rc8 50. Qb2 Rc7 51. Ba4 $6 {
It makes Black's life easier.} (51. Qb6 Rc8 52. Qb1 $1 $16 {followed by Ba4.}
c5 $2 53. dxc5 Rxc5 54. Qb8 $1 Bc7 55. Qb2+ $18) 51... f4 $1 52. exf4 Bxh4 53.
Qb8 (53. gxh4 Qg4+ 54. Kf1 Qh3+ 55. Kg1 (55. Ke2 $4 Re7+ 56. Kd2 Qf1 $19) 55...
Qg4+ $11) 53... Qd8 54. Qb6 Qe7 55. Kh2 $2 (55. Bc2 $1 Bf6 (55... Bxg3 $4 56.
Kxg3 h4+ 57. Kg2 $18) 56. Ra8 Kh7 57. Qb1 $14 {White still has chances to win
the game.}) 55... Bxg3+ $1 $11 56. Kxg3 h4+ $11 57. Kh2 Qd6 58. Bd1 (58. Kg1
Qxf4 $11 59. Qb2 $4 Re7 $19) 58... Rf7 (58... Qxf4+ 59. Kh3 Rf7 60. Qxc6 Qe4
61. f3 Rxf3+ $11) 59. Ra7 Qxf4+ 60. Kh3 Qxf2 61. Rxf7+ Qxf7 62. Qxc6 Qf1+ 63.
Kxh4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 2nd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2014.06.12"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Karjakin,S"]
[PlyCount "143"]
[EventDate "2014.06.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 161"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{This game was played on the day after the rest day and I wanted to surprise
my opponent in the opening. But - as usually happens - I was the one to be
surprised. Diese Partie wurde nach dem Ruhetag gespielt und ich wollte meinen
Gegner in der Eröffnung überraschen. Aber – wie es gewöhnlich passiert – am
Ende wurde ich selbst überrascht.} 1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5.
Bg5 c6 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 Be7 {Black has played a rare variation and somewhere
about here I was floundering and having to improvise over the board. Schwarz
hat eine seltene Variante gespielt und irgendwo hier war ich bereits im
Schwimmen und musste am Brett improvisieren.} 8. Bd3 O-O 9. Qc2 Nh5 {This is
quite a rare move. But the position has practically not yet been seen at the
highest level. Das ist bereits ein ganz seltener Zug. Diese Stellung ist aber
auf höchstem Niveau praktisch noch nicht anzutreffen gewesen.} 10. Bxe7 Qxe7
11. Nf3 {It was safer to develop the knight to e2 but I had the idea of
bringing the bishop back to f1 and following up by long castling. Sicherer war
es, den Springer nach e2 zu entwickeln, aber mir kam die Idee, den Läufer
zurück nach f1 zu bringen und die lange Rochade folgen zu lassen.} Nf4 12. Bf1
Nd7 {The move is logical, but now the f4-knight no longer returns to h5. Der
Zug ist logisch, aber jetzt kehrt der Springer f4 schon nicht mehr nach h5
zurück.} 13. O-O-O Ng6 ({The mistaken Das verfehlte} 13... Nh5 {allows erlaubt}
14. g4) 14. h4 Qf6 15. Bd3 Nb6 {At this point I had already used up a heap of
thinking time and finally decided to simplify matters. Hier hatte ich schon
eine Masse Bedenkzeit verbraucht und traf schließlich die Entscheidung, das
Spiel zu vereinfachen.} 16. h5 ({The correct way was to maintain the tension
with Richtig war, die Spannung mit} 16. Kb1 {White then retains some pressure.
aufrechtzuerhalten. Weiß behält dann etwas Druckspiel.}) 16... Ne7 17. Rh4 Bf5
$1 {Everything would be splendid for White, if not for this move! Black
manages to exchange bishops and immediately equalises. Alles wäre prächtig für
Weiß, wenn dieser Zug nicht wäre! Schwarz kommt zum Läufertausch und gleicht
unverzüglich aus.} 18. Bxf5 ({Zu nichts führt} 18. Rf4 {leads nowhere.} Bxd3
19. Qxd3 Qe6 20. g4 f6 $11) 18... Qxf5 19. Qxf5 Nxf5 20. Rf4 Nd6 $11 {If the
Sofia rules had not been in force in this tournament, then we would soon have
agreed on a draw. In the meantime this result appears the most likely... Wenn
bei diesem Turnier nicht die Sofia-Regel gegolten hätte, dann wäre hier wohl
bald der Remisschluss erfolgt. Einstweilen bleibt dieses Resultat aber am
wahrscheinlichsten...} 21. Ne5 Rae8 22. Rh1 Re7 23. Kc2 Rfe8 24. b3 a5 25. a4
Na8 $1 {A good resource! Black transfers the knight to an active position.
Eine gute Ressource! Schwarz überführt den Springer in eine aktive Position.}
26. Nd3 Nc7 27. Rg4 Na6 28. Rf4 Ne4 29. Kb2 {At this point I already had less
than fifteen minutes on my clock and Black's wish to sharpen the play is
understandable. But it is Black who has to go over to the defensive. In diesem
Moment hatte ich schon weniger als fünfzehn Minuten auf der Uhr und der Wunsch
von Schwarz, das Spiel zu verschärfen, ist verständlich. Aber Schwarz ist es,
der zur Verteidigung übergehen muss.} Kh7 30. Nxe4 $1 {I am very satisfied
with the way I handled the part of the game from here to the time control.
Despite being short on time I managed to find some precise moves and force
Black to move on to the defensive. Ich bin sehr zufrieden damit, wie ich den
Abschnitt von hier an bis zur Zeitkontrolle behandelt habe. Ungeachtet meiner
Zeitknappheit konnte ich einige genaue Züge finden und Schwarz zwingen, zur
Verteidigung überzugehen.} dxe4 31. Ne5 Nb4 32. Rf5 c5 33. Rd1 {The ideal
square for the rook! Das ideale Feld für den Turm!} cxd4 ({Schlecht ist} 33...
Rd8 {is bad:} 34. Nc4 Nd3+ 35. Rxd3 $1 exd3 36. Rxc5 $16 {with total
domination! mit völliger Dominanz!}) 34. exd4 Rd8 35. Nc4 Nd3+ 36. Kc3 g6 37.
Rxa5 Nxf2 38. Re1 gxh5 {Taking the pawn is tempting, but he should advance his
pawns. Den Bauern zu schlagen ist verlockend, aber er sollte seine Bauern
vorrücken.} (38... f5 $1 {Although here White can also lay claim to a slight
superiority, the game in this case would most likely have finished a draw.
Obwohl Weiß auch hier ein geringes Übergewicht behauptet, wäre die Partie in
diesem Falle am ehesten remis ausgegangen.}) 39. d5 $1 {White uses the time to
push forward the d-pawn! Weiß nutzt die Zeit, um den d-Bauern vorzustoßen!} e3
$6 {Another tempting move, especially when both sides are in time trouble. But
Black absolutely had to bring his knight back into the game. Wieder ein
verlockender Zug, insbesondere in beiderseitiger Zeitnot. Aber Schwarz musste
unbedingt seinen Springer zurück ins Spiel bringen.} ({For example Zum Beispiel
} 39... Nd3 40. Rf1 Kg6 41. d6 Re6 42. Rb5 Rd7 43. Kd4 {is better for White,
but the whole struggle lies ahead of him. ist besser für Weiß, aber der
gesamte Kampf steht noch bevor.}) 40. Kc2 $1 {The last precise move before the
time control. White attacks the e3-pawn! As a result of disdvantageous
sharpening of the game, Black is now facing unpleasant tasks but my opponent
did not manage to change his way of thinking in time. He did not sense the
danger... Der letzte genaue Zug vor der Zeitkontrolle. Weiß greift den Bauern
e3 an! Im Ergebnis unvorteilhafter Verschärfungen steht Schwarz vor
unangenehmen Aufgaben, aber mein Gegner schaffte es nicht, sich rechtzeitig
umzustellen. Er fühlte die Gefahr nicht...} Ng4 $2 (40... Ne4 41. Rxe3 f5 42.
Rb5 $14 {was the best chance, but here too White has the pressure. war die
beste Chance, aber auch hier drückt Weiß.}) 41. d6 Re6 $6 {The transition to
passivity was his best chance. Der Übergang zur Passivität war die beste
Chance.} (41... Red7 {But here too Black's position would have been highly
unpleasant. Aber auch hier wäre die Lage von Schwarz höchst unangenehm gewesen.
} 42. Rxh5 $14) 42. Ra7 $1 $18 {Simple and strong! Black can no longer hold
the b7-pawn and White unexpectedly finds himself winning! Einfach und stark!
Schwarz hält jetzt den Bauern b7 nicht und unerwartet steht Weiß einfach auf
Gewinn!} Rf6 43. Re2 {Here it would have been possible to go in for a
sharpening of the play. But White's desire to play more safely is
understandable. Hier wäre es möglich gewesen, sich auf eine Verschärfung
einzulassen. Aber der Wunsch von Weiß, etwas sicherer zu spielen, ist
verständlich.} (43. Rxb7 $1 Rf2+ 44. Kc3 Rxg2 45. a5 h4 46. a6 Ra2 47. a7 h3
48. b4 h2 49. b5 $18) 43... b6 ({There was no saving grace with Keine Rettung
bedeutete} 43... Rd7 {for example: zum Beispiel:} 44. a5 Rf2 45. Kd3 Rf4 46. a6
Rxc4 47. Kxc4 b5+ 48. Kxb5 Rxa7 49. Kb6 Rd7 50. a7 Rxd6+ 51. Kc7 Rd2 52. Re1
Ra2 53. Kb7 f5 54. a8=Q Rxa8 55. Kxa8 f4 56. b4 Ne5 57. b5 $18) 44. Rb7 Rdxd6 {
Black has nothing better than conceding the exchange. But here of course White
must win.  Schwarz hat nichts Besseres als die Qualität zu geben. Aber hier
muss Weiß natürlich gewinnen.} 45. Nxd6 Rxd6 46. Rxf7+ Kg6 47. Rf1 Kg5 48. b4
h4 49. Kc3 $6 {This move does not give away the win but it does make it more
complicated. Dieser Zug vergibt den Sieg nicht, aber er verkompliziert ihn
gehörig!} (49. a5 bxa5 50. bxa5 Ra6 51. Ra1 Kf4 52. Kc3 {must be won for White.
muss gewonnen für Weiß sein.}) 49... Nf2 $1 {An unexpected resource!
Fortunately I was able to compose myself and find a forced way to the win. 
Eine unerwartete Ressource! Zum Glück konnte ich mich sammeln und einen
forcierten Gewinnweg finden.} 50. Rxe3 Nd1+ 51. Rxd1 Rxd1 52. Re5+ $1 {An
important check! Ein wichtiges Schach!} Kg4 {Nor do other moves save him, for
example: Auch andere Züge retteten nicht, zum Beispiel:} (52... Kg6 53. Re6+
Kg7 54. Rxb6 Rc1+ 55. Kb3 Rb1+ 56. Kc4 Rb2 57. Re6 Rxg2 58. Re3 $18) (52... Kf6
53. Rh5 $18) (52... Kf4 53. Re6 $18) 53. Re6 Rc1+ 54. Kb3 Kh5 55. Rxb6 {
Here White is already totally winning. Although I now started making a few
silly moves, I did not give away the win. There is simply too much leeway.
Hier steht Weiß bereits total auf Gewinn. Obwohl ich jetzt anfing, ein paar
komische Züge zu machen, vergab ich den Gewinn nicht mehr. Die Stellung hatte
einfach zu viel Luft nach oben.} Rg1 56. a5 Rxg2 57. a6 ({Einfacher war} 57.
Rb5+ {was simpler:} Kg4 58. a6 h3 59. a7 h2 60. a8=Q h1=Q 61. Qe4+ Kg3 62. Qg6+
Kf2 63. Rf5+ Ke1 64. Re5+ $18) 57... Rg3+ 58. Kc4 Rg4+ 59. Kd3 Rg8 60. Rb5+ Kg4
61. Ra5 h3 62. Ra2 Ra8 63. b5 h5 64. Ke3 Kg3 65. a7 h2 66. Rxh2 Kxh2 (66...
Rxa7 67. Rxh5 $18 {and the black king is too far away. und der schwarze König
ist zu weit weg.}) 67. b6 Kh3 (67... Kg2 68. b7 Rxa7 69. b8=Q Ra3+ {was
slightly more resilient, but here too White must win. war etwas hartnäckiger,
aber auch hier muss Weiß gewinnen.}) 68. b7 Rxa7 69. b8=Q Rg7 70. Qe5 Rg3+ 71.
Kf2 h4 72. Qe4 {Black resigned! It was pleasing to defeat such a technically
gifted player especially in the phase of the game which he is used to handling
best of all! Schwarz gab auf! Es war angenehm, einen so technisch beschlagenen
Spieler ausgerechnet in dem Stadium der Partie zu besiegen, das er am besten
zu behandeln pflegt!} 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess 2nd"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2014.06.13"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2014.06.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 161"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.07.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8.
Be3 Qa5 9. Qd2 O-O 10. Rc1 Bg4 11. d5 Nd7 {This move is not considered the
most accurate in the present position, and this game doesn't change that
conclusion.} ({For} 11... Bxf3 {see Caruana - Rodstein in CBM 144.}) 12. c4 (
12. Ng5 Nb6 13. c4 Qxd2+ 14. Kxd2 h6 15. h3 Bd7 16. Nf3 Rac8 17. Bd3 {1-0 (49)
Juhasz,K (2343)-Zsirai,P (2207) Budapest 2013} e6 $11) 12... Qa3 (12... Qxd2+
13. Nxd2 {[%csl Rg4] (the reason why Black should rather eliminate this knight
earlier)} f5 14. f3 f4 15. Bf2 Bh5 16. Be2 g5 17. h4 $36 {1-0 (37) Khenkin,I 
(2634)-Leniart,A (2390) Tromsoe 2009}) (12... Qa4 13. Ng5 (13. Ng1 $142 {
[%cal Rh2h3]} Nb6 (13... f5 14. f3) 14. h3 Bd7 15. Nf3 $14) 13... h6 14. h3 Bh5
15. g4 hxg5 16. gxh5 f5 (16... Nf6 $1 $132) 17. Bxg5 fxe4 18. hxg6 Ne5 19. Be2
$14 {1-0 (51) Kotanjian,T (2552)-Kviriashvili,I (2258) Tbilisi 2009}) (12...
Qb6 13. Be2 Qb4 14. h3 Bxf3 15. Bxf3 a6 16. Be2 Qxd2+ 17. Kxd2 $14 {0-1 (47)
Cebalo,M (2510)-Tseshkovsky,V (2530) Banja Luka 1981}) 13. Be2 $1 (13. Ng1 f5
$1 14. f3 fxe4 $1 15. fxg4 Bd4 $1 16. Bxd4 cxd4 $40) (13. Ng5 h6 (13... Nb6 14.
h3 Bd7 15. Bd3 Na4 16. O-O a6 17. Nf3 b5 18. Bh6 Bxh6 19. Qxh6 f6 20. Bc2 $14 {
1-0 (27) Sherbakov,R (2559)-Kachar,V (2390) Moscow 1999}) (13... f6 {1-0 (33)
Grigore,G (2445)-Ionescu,D (2335) Bucharest 1995} 14. Nxh7 Kxh7 15. h3 Bh5 16.
g4 Ne5 17. Be2 $14) 14. h3 Bh5 15. Nf3 (15. g4 hxg5 16. gxh5 Nf6) 15... g5 16.
Be2 Bg6 17. Bd3 f5 18. exf5 Bxf5 19. Bxf5 Rxf5 20. Nh2 Qb4 $11 {1/2 (42)
Moradiabadi,E (2578)-Nguyen,N (2633) Khanty-Mansiysk 2010}) 13... Bxf3 (13...
Nf6 14. Bd3) 14. Bxf3 Bd4 $5 15. Bxd4 cxd4 16. O-O Ne5 17. Qxd4 Nxf3+ 18. gxf3
Qxf3 19. Rc3 $14 {White has obtained a strong, firmly protected pawn centre,
which hardly compensates for the absence of his g-pawn near his king.} Qe2 20.
f4 {Going for the kingside attack is a good practical decision. It is
difficult for a human to parry it even if chess engines do it successfully.} (
20. c5 $5 Qxa2 21. Rfc1 {[%csl Gc5] was another option.}) 20... Qxa2 21. f5 b6
22. e5 Qb2 {Pinning this rook is the best employment for Black's queen.} 23.
Kh1 Qe2 (23... b5 {[%cal Yb5b4]} 24. Qe3 bxc4 $4 25. f6 $18 {[%cal Re3h6]}) 24.
Rf2 Qe1+ 25. Kg2 Rac8 26. Rf1 Qe2+ 27. Rf2 Qe1 28. Rg3 (28. d6 $5) 28... Qb4 $1
{[%mdl 256]} 29. d6 Rxc4 (29... exd6 $5 30. fxg6 fxg6 31. Rxf8+ Rxf8 32. exd6
Qc5 $11) 30. Qd3 Rg4 (30... Rd4 $142 31. Qc2 Rc4 $11) 31. d7 $2 (31. fxg6 $1
hxg6 32. d7 Kg7 $1 (32... Rd4 $2 33. Rxg6+) (32... Qd4 33. Qxd4 Rxd4 34. e6 $1
Kg7 35. Rc3 $18) (32... Rd8 33. e6 f5 34. Rc2 {[%cal Rc2c8]} Kg7 35. Qc3+ Qxc3
36. Rcxc3 $18) 33. e6 f5 34. Rxg4 Qxg4+ 35. Kf1 $16) 31... Rd4 32. Qf3 $2 (32.
Qc2 $8 Qb5 $1 (32... Rc4 $2 33. fxg6) 33. fxg6 Qd5+ 34. Kf1 Qxd7 35. gxf7+ Kh8
{and White must fight for equality.}) 32... e6 $1 33. f6 Rxd7 $19 {White's
attack is now over, and he is 3 pawns down.} 34. Qe3 Rfd8 35. Qh6 Qf8 36. Qg5
h6 37. Qe3 Kh7 38. Rh3 h5 39. Rg3 Qh6 40. Rg5 Rd3 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 42nd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2014.07.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Meier, Georg"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A09"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2632"]
[Annotator "Meier,Georg"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2014.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{The following game is unbelievable. Vladimir Kramnik gets a strategically
lost position after 10 moves, playing White. I will tell you my recipe for
this unprecedented feat. Really.  You start by losing 4 games against Vladimir.
In the first two you self-destruct in one promising and one decent position,
unable to handle either. In game 3, as Black, you get your king mated on d5
after roughly 20 moves. Now you have White again, and Vladimir seems to be
showing some pity, going for a Catalan mainline where you could go into a
number of safe drawish lines. Still, in the opening you blunder/sacrifice a
pawn, are then generously allowed back into the game just to bravely jump into
the abyss again. By now you have convinced Vladimir that you may be able to
play chess, but definitely not against him. Also everything he tried to get
you out of your comfort zone worked out marvellously in his favour. He went
for structures that you had little to no experience with. You even don't need
to prepare anymore, because now he is going to spring a surprise on you again..
. and he always finds something you have not analysed, so don't look at your
opening files. The upside: Now he thinks he can get away with anything against
you!  In game 5 it is time to reap the fruits of all your previous work:} 1. c4
c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 d5 5. O-O {Because everything I just told you
really is the truth it should come as no surprise that I had never looked at
this position!} d4 {Grabbing space is natural. Earlier, Ivanchuk, Anand and
Caruana had done the same against Vladimir, as I found out after the game.} (
5... e5 {is just as sensible.}) 6. a3 {A puzzling move. I do not see how and
where the inclusion of a3 and a5 could possibly favor White.} ({I only expected
} 6. e3 e5 7. exd4 exd4 8. d3 Be7 9. Bf4 O-O 10. Ne5 Nxe5 11. Bxe5 {and
intended} Ng4 $1 {- otherwise White may take on f6, establishing a grip on the
light squares -} 12. Bf4 Bd6 {with equality.}) 6... e5 7. d3 ({After} 7. b4
cxb4 8. axb4 e4 9. Ng5 Bxb4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Bxe4 Bh3 12. Re1 O-O 13. Ba3 a5 {
would be an appealing follow-up to me} 14. Bxb4 axb4 15. Rxa8 Qxa8 {will give
Black plenty of counterplay down the a-file.}) 7... a5 (7... Bd6 8. b4 {
is something I did not want to handle.}) 8. e4 $2 {White goes for a terrible
King's Indian. The queen's knight is devoid of prospects. So bad that a3-a4,
followed by Na3 was probably necessary to begin damage control and get that
knight out of the other pieces' way. This error of judgment from Kramnik is
shocking, but his confidence against me had apparently reached heights where
oxygen begins to lack...} (8. e3 Be7 9. exd4 exd4 10. Bf4 O-O 11. Ne5 {was
still the way to go, but Black is already favoured by the inclusion of a3 and
a5} Bd6 $1 12. Nxc6 bxc6 {White's b-pawn is hopelessly weak here} 13. Bxc6 Bg4
14. Bf3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Bxf4 16. Qxf4 Qb8 17. Nd2 Qxf4 18. gxf4 Nh5 {even leaves
Black with the initiative.}) 8... Be7 9. Ne1 {There is a fundamental problem
with White's traditional f-pawn advance: Black's king has not yet castled!} h5
$1 {As the f-pawn is poised to advance, h5-h4 is going to expose the weakened
squares.} 10. f4 {Played almost instantly, as any other move would signal the
acknowledgment of an opening disaster.} (10. Bg5 Ng8 11. Bxe7 Ngxe7 {would
leave a long positional torture ahead for White.}) 10... h4 {Files will open
up against the white king and it is just a matter of time until Black castles
queenside and gets all his pieces ready for the final assault on the
irreparably weakened white kingside. Vladimir lacks space to do anything
meaningful from here on.} 11. f5 hxg3 12. hxg3 g6 $1 13. Nd2 gxf5 ({A more
precise way might have been} 13... Rg8 14. Qf3 ({but after} 14. g4 gxf5 15.
gxf5 {I felt that White would have some chances to survive in practice. There
is no longer a weak g-pawn and Black would have to play more concretely to win}
) 14... Bd7) 14. exf5 Rg8 15. Qf3 $2 ({White's only practical chance lay in} 
15. Bxc6+ $1 bxc6 16. Kg2 {creating some breathing space, but if Black acts
with precision there is still no way to untangle} Rb8 17. Qe2 Bd6 18. Rb1 (18.
Ne4 Nxe4 19. Qxe4 Qf6 20. Rf3 Kd7 $1 21. g4 Qh4 22. Rg3 Rh8 23. Nf3 Qh1+ 24.
Kf2 Qd1) 18... Rb7 $1 {leaves White out of moves as} 19. Ne4 Nxe4 20. Qxe4 f6 {
followed by Rbg7 is killing.}) 15... Bd7 {Now Black just needs to complete his
development and White's position will fall apart under the pressure.} 16. Rf2
Qb6 ({To go exchange hunting with} 16... Ng4 17. Ne4 Nxf2 18. Qxf2 {would
allow White to participate in the game again with a powerful knight on e4.})
17. Re2 O-O-O 18. Ne4 Qb3 {Not necessary, but underscoring Black's superiority
on the whole board felt too good to pass up on.} 19. Nf2 a4 20. Bh6 (20. g4 e4
$1 21. dxe4 Qxf3 22. Bxf3 Ne5 {is equally hopeless.}) 20... Bf8 21. Bxf8 (21.
Bc1 Bd6) 21... Rdxf8 22. g4 Rg7 23. Ne4 Nxe4 24. Qxe4 Rfg8 25. Bf3 f6 26. Rg2
Nd8 $1 {After a series of logical, straightforward moves, the regrouping of
the knight is the finishing touch. Now I knew that the game was effectively
over.} 27. Qe2 Bc6 28. Bxc6 bxc6 $1 29. Qe4 Kc7 30. Nf3 Nf7 31. Rf1 Nd6 32. Qe2
Rxg4 33. Rff2 Nxf5 34. Nd2 Rxg2+ 35. Rxg2 Rxg2+ 36. Kxg2 Qxb2 37. Kf3 Nd6 38.
Qh2 Qxa3 39. Ke2 Qb2 40. Qh7+ Kb6 41. Qe7 Nb7 {I cannot imagine this game
happening without our previous history. Without a doubt Vladimir will use all
his powers to put things straight in our next confrontation. I will be looking
forward to it!} 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 42nd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2014.07.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "136"]
[EventDate "2014.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 d5 3. e3 c5 4. Bxf6 gxf6 5. dxc5 e6 6. Nf3 Bxc5 7. Be2 Nc6 8.
O-O e5 9. c4 d4 10. exd4 Nxd4 11. Nxd4 Bxd4 12. Qc2 f5 13. Nd2 Qe7 14. Rad1 O-O
15. b4 Qxb4 16. Nf3 Rd8 17. Nxe5 Be6 18. Qc1 f6 19. Nf3 Bb6 20. Qh6 Qf8 21. Qh4
Rxd1 22. Bxd1 Kh8 23. Re1 Bg8 24. Bc2 Rc8 25. Bd3 Rc6 26. h3 Qd6 27. Bxf5 Rxc4
28. g4 Kg7 29. Kg2 h6 30. Qg3 Qxg3+ 31. Kxg3 Rc3 32. Be6 Rc2 33. Re4 Bxf2+ 34.
Kf4 Bxe6 35. Rxe6 Rxa2 36. Rd6 Kf7 37. Kf5 Ra5+ 38. Ke4 Rb5 39. Rd2 Rb4+ 40.
Kf5 Rb5+ 41. Ke4 Bg3 42. Nd4 Rb4 43. Kd5 a5 44. Nf5 Bf4 45. Ra2 Rb5+ 46. Kc4
Rb4+ 47. Kd5 a4 48. Kc5 Re4 49. Kb5 Ke6 50. Rxa4 Rxa4 51. Kxa4 Kd5 52. Kb5 Ke4
53. Kb6 Kf3 54. Kxb7 Kg2 55. Kc6 Kxh3 56. Kd5 Kxg4 57. Ke6 h5 58. Kxf6 Bc1 59.
Ke5 Bd2 60. Ke4 Bg5 61. Ke5 Kf3 62. Nd4+ Kg2 63. Nf5 Kf3 64. Nd4+ Kg4 65. Nf5
Bd2 66. Ke4 Bf4 67. Nh4 Kxh4 68. Kxf4 Kh3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 42nd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2014.07.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Baramidze, David"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E07"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2616"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2014.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 Nbd7 7. Qd3 c6 8. O-O
b6 9. b3 a5 10. e4 Ba6 11. e5 Ne8 12. h4 h6 13. Rd1 b5 14. cxb5 cxb5 15. Ne2 b4
16. Qe3 Bxe2 17. Qxe2 a4 18. Be3 Qa5 19. Rac1 Nc7 20. Nh2 Rfc8 21. Qg4 Kf8 22.
f4 Qb6 23. Nf3 Nb5 24. Rxc8+ Rxc8 25. f5 axb3 26. axb3 Rc3 27. f6 Rxe3 28.
Qxg7+ Ke8 29. fxe7 Rxf3 30. Bxf3 Nxd4 31. Kg2 Nf5 32. Qh8+ Kxe7 33. Rc1 Qd8 34.
Rc8 Qxh8 35. Rxh8 Nxe5 36. Bh5 Kf6 37. Rb8 Nc6 38. Rb7 Nfe7 39. Kf2 e5 40. g4
Ke6 41. g5 hxg5 42. hxg5 e4 43. Ke3 Kf5 44. Bxf7 Kxg5 45. Bxd5 Nxd5+ 46. Kxe4
Nde7 47. Rb6 Kf6 48. Kd3 Ke6 49. Kc4 Kd6 50. Kb5 Kd5 51. Ka4 Kd4 52. Rxb4+ Nxb4
53. Kxb4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 42nd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2014.07.16"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2705"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2014.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. h3 Ke8 10. Nc3 h5 11. Bf4 Be7 12. Rad1 Bd7 13. g3 Rd8 14. Bg5
Nh6 15. Kg2 Bf5 16. Rxd8+ Bxd8 17. Bxd8 Kxd8 18. Rd1+ Ke7 19. Rd2 a5 20. Nd4
Bc8 21. f3 Rd8 22. g4 c5 23. Nb3 Rxd2+ 24. Nxd2 Ke6 25. Nc4 hxg4 26. hxg4 Bd7
27. a4 b6 28. Kg3 g5 29. b3 Bc6 30. f4 gxf4+ 31. Kxf4 Ng8 32. Ne4 Bxe4 33. Kxe4
Ne7 34. Nd2 Nd5 35. Nf3 Nc3+ 36. Kd3 Nd1 37. Ke2 Nc3+ 38. Kd3 Nd1 39. Ke2 Nc3+
40. Kd2 Nd5 41. c3 Nf4 42. Ke3 Nh3 43. c4 c6 44. Ke2 Nf4+ 45. Ke3 Nh3 46. Ke2
Nf4+ 47. Ke3 Nh3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 42nd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2014.07.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D73"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2789"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2014.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 c6 4. Bg2 d5 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. Nf3 Bg7 7. Ne5 O-O 8. Nc3
b6 9. Bg5 Bb7 10. Rc1 Ne4 11. Bf4 Nxc3 12. Rxc3 f6 13. Nc4 Rf7 14. O-O Nc6 15.
Na3 e6 16. Qa4 Rc8 17. Rfc1 a6 18. Qd1 g5 19. Bd2 f5 20. Nc2 Rfc7 21. Bf1 Nb8
22. Rxc7 Rxc7 23. Nb4 h6 24. Rxc7 Qxc7 25. e3 a5 26. Nd3 Nd7 27. b4 axb4 28.
Nxb4 Nf6 29. Qa4 Bf8 30. Nd3 Bc6 31. Qa6 Ne4 32. Bb4 Bxb4 33. Nxb4 Nd6 34. Qa3
Be8 35. Nd3 Bb5 36. Ne5 Bxf1 37. Kxf1 Nc4 38. Qa8+ Kg7 39. Nd3 Nd2+ 40. Kg2 Qc4
41. Qa7+ Kg8 42. Qa8+ Kg7 43. Qa3 b5 44. Qe7+ Kh8 45. Qf8+ Kh7 46. Qf7+ Kh8 47.
Qf8+ Kh7 48. Qf7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 42nd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2014.07.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2014.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. e3 Bb7 5. Bd3 d5 6. b3 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. Bb2 c5
9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Nbd2 Nd7 11. Qe2 Rc8 12. Rfd1 cxd4 13. Nxd4 Qc7 14. Nc4 a6 15.
Rac1 b5 16. Nd2 Qb8 17. Ne4 Rxc1 18. Rxc1 Rc8 19. Rd1 N7f6 20. Nxf6+ Bxf6 21.
Qd2 Be7 22. Be4 Nf6 23. Bxb7 Qxb7 24. Rc1 h6 25. Rxc8+ Qxc8 26. Qc2 Qxc2 27.
Nxc2 Nd5 28. Kf1 f6 29. e4 Nb4 30. Nxb4 Bxb4 31. Ke2 Kf7 32. g4 e5 33. h4 g5
34. h5 Ke6 35. Kd3 Kd6 36. f3 Kc6 37. a3 Bd6 38. b4 Be7 39. Kc2 Bd6 40. Kd3 Be7
41. Kc2 Bd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 42nd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2014.07.20"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2723"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2014.07.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nf5 8.
Nf3 d5 9. d4 O-O 10. Nc3 Bb4 11. Bf4 Nce7 12. a3 Bd6 13. Qd2 c6 14. g3 f6 15.
h4 Bxf4 16. Qxf4 Ng6 17. Qd2 Nd6 18. Bg2 Bf5 19. b3 Qd7 20. Re3 Be4 21. Rae1
Rae8 22. R3e2 Ne7 23. Nxe4 dxe4 24. Nh2 f5 25. c4 Rd8 26. f3 Qc7 27. Qc3 Rd7
28. fxe4 Nxe4 29. Bxe4 fxe4 30. Rxe4 Nf5 31. Kg2 Qd6 32. c5 Qg6 33. Rg4 Qh6 34.
Nf3 Ne7 35. Ng5 Qg6 36. Qe3 Nd5 37. Qe4 Qh6 38. Qe2 Qf6 39. Re4 h6 40. Ne6 Rff7
41. Nf4 Nc7 42. Qe3 Qf5 43. a4 Rf8 44. Qe2 Rfd8 45. Qc4+ Kh7 46. Re5 Qf6 47.
Qd3+ Kg8 48. R1e4 Rf8 49. Qe2 Rfd8 50. Re7 Rxe7 51. Rxe7 Nd5 52. Re8+ Kf7 53.
Nxd5 Rxd5 54. Rb8 Qxd4 55. Qe8+ Kf6 56. Rxb7 Qxc5 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-41"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2014.08.03"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Al Modiahki, Mohamad"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2549"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2014.08.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Qatar"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "QAT"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Qe8 $5 {
A rare move, trying to step out of the heavily analysed variations. This
original way of putting pressure on the white centre slightly changes the
priorities for both sides.} ({It would make little sense to go for the Mar del
Plata attack with:} 7... Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 {Kramnik is a leading expert in the
Bayonet attack initiated by} 9. b4 {a line with which he managed to "convince"
Kasparov to abandon his beloved King's Indian!}) 8. dxe5 {This looks like a
simplistic decision, but the early commitment of the black queen justifies it.}
(8. d5 {leads to an interesting position which has to be treated by comparison
with tho important systems, the aforementioned Mar del Plata attack and the
Petrosian system.} {I prefer} Nfd7 $5 (8... a5 {is the natural reaction and
the most popular, in the spirit of the Petrosian system. However, White can
refrain from Bg5 now that Black has spent a tempo on ...Qe8.} 9. Ne1 (9. Bg5 {
would transpose to an at times popular Petrosian tabyia after} h6 10. Bh4 Na6)
9... Na6 10. Nd3 {White has made good use of the offered tempo. Black cannot
control the c5- and b4- squares so easily.} Nd7 11. Be3 f5 12. f3 Ndc5 (12...
f4 13. Bf2 g5 14. a3 $36 {[%cal Gb2b4]}) 13. b3 Bd7 14. Rb1 b6 15. a3 Nxd3 16.
Bxd3 Nc5 17. Bc2 f4 18. Bf2 g5 19. b4 axb4 20. axb4 Na4 21. Nxa4 Bxa4 22. Bxa4
Rxa4 23. c5 $14 {Psakhis,L (2605)-Smirin,I (2545) Tel Aviv 1992 (1/2-1/2, 43)})
9. Ne1 f5 10. Nd3 Nf6 11. f3 f4 12. c5 {It is interesting to compare this
position with the Mar del Plata Ne1-d3 tabyia. The queen's knight is far from
the kingside, but can be useful for the queenside defence. At the same time,
the queen is ready to go to g6, something difficult to accomplish in the MdP
lines, where the knight goes to that square.} Rf7 13. cxd6 cxd6 14. Nf2 Bf8 15.
Bd2 h5 16. a4 g5 17. h3 Rg7 18. Nb5 Na6 19. Rc1 Qg6 20. Rc4 {All these were
played in the games Ikonnikov,V (2490)-Zakharevich,I (2350) Podolsk 1992 (0-1,
42) and Mitenkov,A (2420)-Zakharevich,I (2345) Smolensk 1992 (1/2-1/2, 48). It
seems that Black could have started his attack without further preparing:} g4
21. fxg4 hxg4 22. Bxg4 Nxg4 23. Nxg4 Nc5 $132) (8. Re1 {loses the e4-pawn with
not more than some compensation:} exd4 9. Nxd4 Nxe4 10. Nxe4 Qxe4 11. Be3 Qh4
12. Nb5 Qd8 13. Qd2 Nc6 {Nikolaidis,I (2493)-Kempinski,R (2612) Peristeri 2010
(1/2-1/2, 30)}) 8... dxe5 9. b4 $5 {Kramnik played this relatively rare move
instantly. The same as in the aforementioned variation, he starts the
queenside attack on the first given occasion.} ({The main variation is} 9. Be3
Nbd7 (9... b6 $6 {Van Wely,L (2687)-Khismatullin,D (2572) Warsaw 2005 CBM 108 
[Avrukh,B] (1-0, 38)}) 10. h3 (10. Nd2 c6 11. b4 Qe7 12. c5 Rd8 13. Qc1 Nf8 14.
Nc4 Ne6 15. Nd6 Nd4 $11 {Lajthajm,B (2478)-Sedlak,N (2571) Cetinje 2013 (1/2-1/
2, 76)}) 10... Qe7 ({If} 10... c6 {as played in Bauer,K-Fliter,I (2099)
Ueberlingen 2000 (1-0, 29),} 11. Qd6 $5 {could be annoying.}) 11. Nd5 Qd8 $1 {
A typical KI reaction. White cannot develop his initiative in the centre,
while Black can be happy that he has induced the releasing of tension (dxe5)
without getting harmed in any way.} 12. Qc2 Nh5 13. Bg5 f6 14. Be3 c6 15. Nc3
Nf4 $132 {Georgiev,K (2636)-Sedlak,N (2571) Cetinje 2013 (0-1, 30)}) 9... Qe7 {
After having managed to clear matters in the centre, Black needs regrouping in
order to resume the process of development. It is worth mentioning that
starting with this move Black spend big amounts of time on almost every move.}
(9... Bg4 {looks logical, fighting for the d4-square, when White needs to
prove that his advance in development is more relevant than Black's ideas on
the dark squares.} 10. b5 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 Qe6 12. Nd5 Rc8 13. Nxf6+ {It is best
to exchange knights before Black can bring the reserve knight into play.} (13.
Be3 Nbd7 14. c5 Bf8 15. Nxf6+ Nxf6 16. a4 c6 $11 {Jankovic,A (2541)-Jovanovic,
Z (2525) Split 2008 (1/2-1/2, 24)}) 13... Qxf6 14. Be3 Rd8 (14... h5 {does not
seem to make too much sense. Preventing Bg4 is not so important and Black is
not in time preparing ...Kh7 and ...Bh6.} 15. Rb1 Bf8 16. Rb3 $36 {Van Wely,L 
(2618)-Georgiev,K (2453) Kallithea 2008 (1-0, 53)}) 15. Qc1 Qe7 16. c5 c6 17.
a4 Nd7 {This hands over the initiative to White.} (17... a6 $5 {, aiming for
general exchanges on b5 followed by ...Nc6 and ...Bf8, with a harmonious
regrouping, comes into consideration. If} 18. b6 {Black seems to be doing fine:
} Nd7 19. Qc4 h5 {[%csl Gg4][%cal Gd7f8,Gf8e6]} 20. Rfd1 Nf8 $11) 18. bxc6 bxc6
19. Qc4 h5 20. Rab1 Nf8 21. Qa6 Ne6 22. Rb7 Rd7 (22... Nxc5 23. Rxe7 Nxa6 24.
Rd1 $5 {[%csl Ga7,Gf7][%cal Gf3d1,Gd1b3]}) 23. Rfb1 $36 {Rapport,R (2509)
-Jovanovic,Z (2520) Chur 2010 (1/2-1/2, 65)}) 10. b5 (10. Nd5 $146 Nxd5 (10...
Qd8 $5) 11. cxd5 Qxb4 12. Qd3 {offers White compensation for the pawn, but
probably not more.} Qd6 13. Ba3 c5 14. dxc6 Qxd3 15. Bxd3 Rd8 $11) 10... a6
$146 {A new and probably not very inspired move.} ({Previously,} 10... c6 11.
a4 Rd8 {was mostly played.} 12. Qc2 Bg4 13. Ba3 (13. a5 $5 {Marin}) 13... Qe8 (
13... Qc7 $1 {Atalik}) 14. a5 Bxf3 15. Bxf3 Bf8 {Atalik,S (2619)-Socko,B (2621)
Polanica Zdroj 2006 CBM 113 ext [Atalik,S] (1/2-1/2, 43)}) ({My favourite is 
(even for abstract reasons) the developing} 10... Nbd7 11. a4 Nc5 12. Ba3 {
Ivanov,S (2538)-Kempinski,R (2549) Stockholm 2000 (1-0, 42)} b6 $5 {[%cal
Gc8b7]}) 11. a4 axb5 $6 ({Even now developing looks like a better idea,
although after} 11... Nbd7 12. Ba3 Nc5 13. a5 {the queenside pressure looks a
bit annoying.}) 12. cxb5 Rd8 13. Qc2 {From a very general perspective, the
consequences of the queenside operation favour Black, who has exchanged his
rook pawn for a more central one. But this would apply only if he was better
developed. With respect to the lines with ...c6 instead of ...a6, the queen
does not have the c7-square at her disposal and the d5-square is not defended
properly.} Nbd7 {Black obstructs the bishop, a piece that, sadly, will not get
the chance to be developed in this game.} ({With hindsight, it is easy to
recommend} 13... Bg4 {followed by ...Nbd7, which would also put up some fight
for the d4-square. One possible problem is that the a6-square is less well
defended, allowing, for instance,} 14. a5 c6 15. a6 cxb5 16. a7 Na6 17. Nxb5 {
with unpleasant queenside pressure.}) 14. Ba3 Qe8 15. Rfd1 {White is fully
developed and exerts strong pressure along files and diagonals. Black is very
passive and his move choice is strongly limited.} Bf8 $6 {Strategically, it is
right to exchange these bishops, but concretely Black loses a pawn. But, as
Tarrasch would say, in bad positions all moves are bad. Hm, or was it
Tartakower?! Whoever he was, I can only agree with him!} 16. Bxf8 Nxf8 ({Or if
} 16... Qxf8 17. Nd5 Nxd5 18. Rxd5 {Black loses either the c7- or the e5-pawn.}
) 17. Rxd8 Qxd8 18. Nxe5 Qd4 19. Nf3 Qc5 20. Qb2 Ng4 21. Nd1 $1 {This
apparently passive retreat annihilates Black's initiative. White is a pawn up,
has the safer king and more active play. Black is lost without even having got
out of the opening, as some of his pieces are still on their initial squares.}
Nd7 22. Rc1 Qb6 23. Nd2 $1 {More knight retreating, preparing for the final
assault.} Nc5 (23... Ngf6 {could be met with} 24. Ne3 Rxa4 25. e5 {with a
decisive attack.}) 24. Nc4 Qf6 $2 {Shortening the agony.} 25. Bxg4 ({And in
view of} 25. Bxg4 Qxb2 26. Ncxb2 $1 {(attacking the c5-knight)} Nb3 27. Bxc8 {
with decisive material gains, Black resigned.}) 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-41"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2014.08.04"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Nedev, Trajce"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2484"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2014.08.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Macedonia"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "MKD"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8.
c4 Ba6 9. b3 g6 10. f4 d6 11. Qf2 Nf6 12. Be2 dxe5 13. O-O Ne4 14. Qf3 f5 15.
Nc3 exf4 16. Nxe4 fxe4 17. Qxf4 Bg7 18. Ba3 Bd4+ 19. Kh1 c5 20. Rae1 Rf8 21.
Qg4 Bc8 22. Rxf8+ Kxf8 23. Qf4+ Kg8 24. Rd1 g5 25. Qg3 Qg7 26. b4 Be6 27. bxc5
Rb8 28. h3 Qe5 29. Qxe5 Bxe5 30. c6 Rb6 31. c5 Rb8 32. Bc1 Bxa2 33. Bxg5 a5 34.
Be7 Bb3 35. Rf1 a4 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-41"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2014.08.05"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Wang, Yue"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[Annotator "Sumets,A"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2014.08.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "China"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CHN"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. c4 c6 5. b3 Bg7 6. Bb2 O-O 7. d3 (7. O-O b6 8.
d4 Bb7 9. Nc3 Nbd7 10. Qc2 Qc7 11. Rac1 Rac8 12. Rfd1 Rfe8 13. e3 e6 14. Qe2
Qb8 15. Ne5 Red8 16. Nd3 Re8 17. e4 e5 $6 (17... dxe4 18. Nxe4 Nxe4 19. Qxe4 e5
$11) 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. dxe5 Nxe4 20. Nxe4 dxe4 21. e6 $1 $16 {Khismatullin,D 
(2680)-Zakhartsov,V (2544) Izhevsk RUS 2014 1-0 (40)}) 7... Bg4 (7... a5 8.
Nbd2 Na6 9. a3 Bg4 10. O-O Bxf3 {As far as I am concerned, Black can't get an
equal game by giving up his bishop. He can count on a solid, but worse
position.} 11. Nxf3 e6 12. Qc2 Qe7 13. Bc3 (13. e4 $5 dxe4 14. dxe4 Nd7 15. e5
$14) 13... Nd7 14. Bxg7 (14. d4 $5) 14... Kxg7 15. Qc3+ Qf6 16. Qxa5 Nac5 17.
Qb4 Ra6 18. d4 Rb6 19. Qc3 Nxb3 20. Rab1 dxc4 21. Qxc4 $14 {Kramnik,V (2793)
-Li Chao2 (2679) Antalya TUR 2013 1/2-1/2 (70)}) (7... b6 $5 8. Nbd2 Bb7 9. O-O
c5 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. Bxg7 Kxg7 12. Qc2 Nc6 13. Qb2+ f6 14. Ng5 Nc7 15. b4 e5 (
15... h6 $1 16. b5 Nd4 17. Bxb7 Nxe2+ 18. Kg2 hxg5 19. Bxa8 Qxa8+ 20. f3 Nd4
$44) 16. b5 Na5 17. Ngf3 Qd7 18. a4 Rad8 $11 {Pantsulaia,L (2595)-Laznicka,V 
(2688) Aix-les-Bains 2011 1-0 (38)}) 8. Nbd2 Bxf3 {I don't like this move.
Let's have a look at other options.} (8... Nbd7 9. O-O a5 (9... Re8 10. h3 Bxf3
11. Nxf3 e5 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. Rc1 e4 (13... Rc8 14. Rxc8 Qxc8 15. Qa1 Qb8 16.
e3 Bf8 17. Rc1 $14 {Pantsulaia,L (2581)-Safarli, E (2620) Tbilisi 2012 1/2-1/2
(32)}) 14. dxe4 dxe4 15. Nd4 (15. Nd2 $5 e3 16. Nc4 exf2+ 17. Rxf2 Ne4 18. Bxe4
Bxb2 19. Bxb7 $16) 15... Qb6 16. Nc2 Rad8 17. Ne3 Ne5 18. Qc2 $14 {Pantsulaia,
L (2595)-Baramidze,D (2614) Warsaw POL 2013 1-0 (55)}) 10. a3 Re8 11. Ne5 Nxe5
12. Bxe5 Qd7 13. Nf3 a4 14. Rb1 Bh3 (14... axb3 $1 15. Qxb3 (15. cxd5 Qxd5 16.
Bb2 Qe6 {and only Black can fight for an advantage.}) 15... dxc4 16. dxc4 Qe6
$11) 15. cxd5 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Nxd5 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Qc1 axb3 19. Rxb3 Ra7 20.
Qb2+ f6 21. Rc1 Rea8 22. h3 b5 $11 {Fressinet,L (2708)-Maze,S (2565) Nimes FRA
2014 1-0 (43)}) 9. Nxf3 (9. Bxf3 Nbd7 10. O-O e5 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Bg2 Re8 13.
b4 (13. Rc1 $5 Rc8 14. Rxc8 Qxc8 15. b4 $14) 13... a5 14. bxa5 Qxa5 $11 {
Ortega,L (2480)-D'Amore,C (2485) Siena 2010 1/2-1/2 (65)}) 9... Nfd7 $146 (9...
Qa5+ 10. Qd2 Qxd2+ 11. Nxd2 e6 (11... Na6 12. O-O Rad8 13. d4 e6 14. Rfd1 Rfe8
15. Rac1 Bh6 16. e3 Nc7 17. b4 Bf8 18. a3 $14 {Leon Hoyos,M (2548)-Capellades
Subirana,M (2260) Barbera del Valles 2011 1-0 (68)}) 12. Rb1 a5 13. a3 Nbd7 14.
e3 b5 15. cxb5 cxb5 16. Ke2 Rfc8 17. Rhc1 Rab8 (17... Ne8 $11) 18. f4 (18.
Rxc8+ $5 Rxc8 19. Rc1 Rxc1 20. Bxc1 $14) 18... Ne8 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 $11 {Ivanov,M
(2347)-Bonagura,S (2183) Arco 2013 1/2 (36)-1/2 (36)}) 10. d4 a5 (10... Qa5+
11. Qd2 Qxd2+ 12. Nxd2 e6 13. O-O Nf6 14. Rfe1 {with a slightly better
position.}) (10... dxc4 11. bxc4 c5 12. O-O Nc6 13. e3 Rc8 14. Rb1 $14 {
White is better due to his strong light-squared bishop.}) 11. O-O e6 12. Qc2 a4
13. e4 {Mostly a forced move.} (13. b4 $6 Nb6 14. c5 Nc4 $11) 13... dxe4 14.
Qxe4 Na6 (14... axb3 15. axb3 Rxa1 16. Rxa1 Na6 17. Bc3 Re8 18. b4 {Black has
no conterplay. Sooner or later White will prepare b5. The position might be
assessed as 'White has a big advantage'.}) 15. Ba3 Re8 16. b4 Qb6 $6 {To avoid
a lot of trouble Black should have played 16...e5:} (16... e5 17. dxe5 Nxe5 18.
Rad1 Qb6 (18... Qe7 19. Nxe5 Bxe5 20. Rfe1 Bd6 21. Qb1 Qc7 22. c5 Bf8 23. Rxe8
Rxe8 24. Qc2 $16 {Probably the final position is winning for White.}) 19. Nxe5
Rxe5 20. Qf4 Rd8 (20... Rf5 $6 21. Qd2 Nc7 22. Rfe1 Ne6 23. c5 Qa7 24. Bb2 $16)
21. b5 Nc5 22. bxc6 bxc6 23. Rxd8+ Qxd8 24. Qf3 $14 {With a comfortable edge.})
17. Rab1 Nc7 18. Ne5 Rad8 19. Nxf7 $2 {This gives White an exchange but not a
winning position.} ({Kramnik could have reached a winning position after the
simple} 19. b5 $1 Nxe5 (19... f5 20. Nxd7 Rxd7 21. bxc6 $1 $18) (19... cxb5 20.
Nxd7 Rxd7 21. Bc5 Qa6 22. Qxb7 Bxd4 23. Qc6 $1 Red8 24. cxb5 Qa5 25. Bxd4 Rxd4
26. b6 $18) 20. Bc5 Qa5 $8 21. dxe5 cxb5 22. Qxb7 Rb8 23. Bb4 $1 $18) 19... Nf6
$1 (19... Kxf7 20. c5 Qa6 21. Qf4+ $16) 20. Qf4 (20. Qe5 $6 Kxf7 21. c5 Nfd5
22. cxb6 Bxe5 23. bxc7 Bxc7 $11) 20... Rxd4 21. c5 ({Vladimir could have
sacrificed a pawn with good compensation after} 21. Nh6+ $5 Bxh6 22. Qxh6 Rxc4
23. Bb2 e5 (23... Rf8 $6 24. Rbd1 Ncd5 25. Bh3 Re4 26. a3 $16 {with the Re1
following}) 24. a3 Nb5 25. Qd2 Nd4 26. Rfe1 $44 {but he prefered to take an
exchange.}) 21... Rxf4 22. cxb6 Nb5 23. Nd6 $1 (23. gxf4 Kxf7 24. Bb2 {Black
gets the same position that he had in the game but his king is placed on f7,
that is in Black's favour.} Nd7 25. Bxg7 Kxg7 {As we saw in the previous
comment, it is not so attractive for White.} 26. Rfe1 Nxb6 27. Rbc1 Re7 28. Bf1
Nc7 {with a very solid position.}) 23... Nxd6 24. gxf4 Nb5 25. Bb2 {White has
won an exchange but Black's postion has not become as bad as it was before.
Most of all the white pawns are weak.} Nd7 26. Rfe1 (26. Bxg7 Kxg7 {As we saw
in the previous comment, this is not so attractive for White.}) 26... Nxb6 27.
Bh3 Bxb2 28. Rxe6 Rxe6 29. Bxe6+ Kg7 30. Rxb2 Kf6 31. Bg4 Nd5 32. Bf3 $6 {
Perhaps Vladimir Kramnik miscalculated somewhere. He had to choose between 32.
Bd1 or Be2. In both cases he had good chances to win the game.} (32. Be2 $5
Nbc3 (32... a3 33. Rd2 Nbc3 34. Bc4 Nxf4 35. Rd7 b5 36. Bg8 Ke5 37. Rc7 Kd6 38.
Ra7 Ncd5 39. Rxa3 Nxb4 40. Bxh7 $16) (32... Nxf4 33. Bxb5 cxb5 34. Rd2 Ke6 35.
a3 $16) 33. Bc4 $1 Nxf4 34. b5 Ke5 35. bxc6 bxc6 36. Rb7 $14) (32. Bd1 $5 a3 (
32... Nbc3 33. Bf3 Nxf4 34. Rc2 Nb5 (34... Nfd5 35. Bxd5 Nxd5 36. a3 $16) 35.
Rc4 g5 36. h4 h6 37. Kf1 $16) 33. Rd2 Ke7 (33... Nxb4 $6 34. Rd7 Nxa2 $2 35.
Bb3 Nac3 36. Rf7#) 34. Bb3 Nxb4 35. Re2+ Kd6 $14) 32... a3 $1 33. Rd2 (33. Rb1
{also looks passive:} Ndc3 34. Ra1 Kf5 $11) 33... Nxb4 34. Bd1 c5 ({After the
simple} 34... Nc3 $1 {Black is out of danger and White needs to work hard to
get a draw.} 35. Rd7 $8 (35. Bb3 $2 Ke7 $1 36. Kf1 (36. Bg8 b5 37. h4 c5 38.
Bxh7 Nbxa2 39. Bxg6 Nb4 $19) 36... b5 37. Ke1 c5 $19) 35... Nxd1 36. Rxd1 b5
37. Kf1 Kf5 (37... Nxa2 38. Ra1 $11) (37... c5 $2 38. Rb1 $1 Kf5 39. Rb3) 38.
f3 Nd5 39. Rc1 b4 40. Ke2 $1 (40. Rxc6 Nc3 41. Ke1 Nxa2 42. Ra6 (42. Rb6 $2 Nc1
43. Kd1 Nb3 $19) 42... Kxf4 43. Kd2 Kxf3 $17) 40... Nc3+ 41. Kd3 Nxa2 42. Rc5+
Kxf4 43. Kc2 Nc3 44. Rxc6 Kxf3 45. Kb3 Nd5 46. Ra6 Kg2 47. Ra5 $11 {It seems
to me that this line is too complicated to be found over the board.}) 35. Rd7
b6 36. Rb7 $6 (36. Bb3 $1 Kf5 $8 37. Bg8 Nd4 (37... h5 $2 38. Rb7 $16) 38. Rf7+
Ke4 39. Ra7 h5 40. Rxa3 Kxf4 $14 {The most likely result is a draw but White
still can try his chances.}) 36... Nd4 37. Rxb6+ Kf5 38. Rb7 Nxa2 39. Bb3 Nb4
40. Bc4 $2 {The wrong square for the bishop.} (40. Bg8 a2 (40... Ndc6 $6 41.
Rb5 Nd3 42. Rb3 a2 43. Ra3 Nxf4 44. Rxa2 h5 45. Rc2 $14) 41. Ra7 Ne2+ 42. Kg2
Nxf4+ 43. Kf3 Ne6 44. Ke2 h5 $11) 40... Nf3+ $2 ({Black should have played 40..
.Ndc6 preventing Ra7. In that case Kramnik would have huge problems.} 40...
Ndc6 $1 41. Rxh7 (41. Rb5 $2 Ke4 42. Rxc5 Kd4 $19) (41. Rc7 Ke4 42. Bg8 Kd4 43.
f5 gxf5 44. Rxh7 Kc3 45. Rh3+ Nd3 46. Rh6 Ncb4 47. Rh7 c4 48. Ra7 a2 49. h4 Kd4
50. h5 c3 51. Bb3 Nc5 52. h6 c2 $1 53. Bxc2 Nba6 $19) (41. Bg8 Ke4 $1 42. Rxh7
a2 (42... Na5 $6 43. f5 $1 gxf5 44. Re7+ Kd4 45. h4 c4 46. h5 a2 47. Re1 Nc2
48. Rd1+ Ke5 $8 (48... Ke4 49. h6 a1=Q 50. Rxa1 Nxa1 51. h7 $18) 49. Rd5+ Kf6
50. Rxa5 a1=Q+ 51. Rxa1 Nxa1 52. Bxc4 Kg5 $11) 43. Bxa2 Nxa2 44. Rg7 Kf5 $1 45.
Rf7+ Ke6 46. Rc7 (46. Rg7 $2 Ne7 $19) 46... Nab4 47. h4 {The only chance for
White to make a draw is an endgame N+N+K against K. However White's pawn are
not advanced and probably the endgame will be lost.} ({White's king can't stop
the c-pawn.} 47. Kf1 $2 c4 48. Ke1 c3 49. h4 c2 50. Kd2 Nd4 $19)) 41... a2 (
41... Na5 42. Bg8 c4 43. Rc7 a2 44. Rc5+) 42. Rf7+ Ke4 (42... Kg4 $4 43. Be6+
Kh5 44. Rh7#) 43. f3+ Ke3 44. Bxa2 Nxa2 45. f5 gxf5 46. Rxf5 Kd4 {I am not
sure that White can save the game. If he sacrifices his rook for his
opponent's last pawn the endgame would be lost according to Troitsky analyses.}
) 41. Kg2 Nd2 42. Bg8 $11 Nd3 (42... Kxf4 $6 43. Ra7 Nb1 44. Bxh7 a2 45. Bxg6
c4 46. h4 {and Black needs to play precisely.}) 43. Ra7 Nxf4+ 44. Kh1 h5 45.
Rxa3 Ke4 46. Rc3 c4 47. Rxc4+ Nxc4 48. Bxc4 h4 49. Kg1 g5 50. Ba6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-41"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2014.08.06"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2014.08.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Bulgaria"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BUL"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 Nbd7 7. Qd3 Nb6 ({
Another option is} 7... c6 8. O-O b6 9. b3 a5 (9... Ba6 {is more principled})
10. e4 Ba6 11. e5 Ne8 12. h4 h6 13. Rd1 b5 14. cxb5 cxb5 15. Ne2 {and White
got a clear plus in the recent game Kramnik-Baramidze, Dortmund 2014.}) 8. c5 (
8. b3 {is less ambitious:} dxc4 9. bxc4 c5 {and Black is fine.}) 8... Nbd7 9.
O-O c6 (9... b6 {is risky but a very direct move:} 10. c6 (10. b4 {doesn't
work here} a5 11. c6 axb4 $1 12. cxd7 Ba6 13. Nb5 c6) 10... Nb8 11. Ne5 {
with sharp play but probably in White's favour.}) 10. b4 b6 (10... e5 {is a
logical attempt to free the position, but White is better due to a nasty trick:
} 11. dxe5 Ng4 12. Bf4 g5 13. Nxg5 $1 Bxg5 14. Qf5 Bxf4 15. Qxg4+ Bg5 16. h4
$16) 11. Bf4 a5 12. a3 (12. b5 Bb7 13. cxb6 Qxb6 $11) 12... Ba6 13. Qc2 {
So we get a typical Queen's Gambit position with the difference that the white
bishop is developed on g2. Due to this Black can't exchange the light-squared
bishops and is suffering more than usual.} Nh5 14. Bd2 Nhf6 15. Bf4 {Not a
plan to draw early of course, just trying to avoid future time trouble and to
tease my loveable opponent a little.} Nh5 16. Bd2 Nhf6 17. Rfe1 $1 {Don't even
dream about it!} Bc4 {Trying to get ready to manoeuvre this bishop to d5 after
the (premature at the moment) move e4.} 18. Bf4 {Now Nd2 is on the agenda,
followed by e4.} (18. e4 {leads to a draw after} dxe4 19. Nxe4 Nxe4 20. Qxc4
Nxd2 21. Nxd2 axb4 22. axb4 Rxa1 23. Rxa1 bxc5 24. bxc5 Nxc5 $11) 18... Nh5 19.
Be3 Nhf6 20. Bf4 Nh5 21. Be3 {I checked my scoresheet carefully to make sure
there was no threefold repetition.} Nhf6 22. h3 $1 {I have told you already!}
h6 (22... Re8 {was another way to slightly improve the position. In general
Black can't do much here, just to try to get ready to meet the actions of the
opponent accordingly.}) 23. Nd2 Ba6 24. f4 {That was the idea behind 22.h3
which covered the g4-square to stop ...Ng4. Now the plan is Bf2 and e4 and
good or bad Black has to do something about it.} bxc5 25. bxc5 Nxc5 {This
tactical operation changes the (unfavourable) character of the position but
doesn't bring full relief.} 26. dxc5 d4 27. Bf2 dxc3 28. Qxc3 (28. Nf3 {
is what the computer prefers, but too delicate for me, especially since I saw
that the forthcoming complications are in favour of White.}) 28... Nd5 (28...
Qc7 $142 {strangely enough Houdini gives just a tiny plus for White here,
although visually he should be better in my opinion.} 29. Rab1 $14) 29. Qc2 Bf6
30. e4 $1 {An important and powerful resource which probably made my opponent
regret his decision of two moves ago.} Bxa1 31. exd5 $16 Qf6 (31... Bf6 32. d6
$1 (32. dxe6 {is not bad either but I somehow prefer my protected passed pawn
on the sixth rank.}) 32... Qd7 33. Nf3 Rab8 34. Bd4 {that was my plan during
the game. Black has difficulties defending the key c6-pawn plus his bishop is
out of play in addition to all other problems of his position.}) 32. d6 $1 {
Most ambitious.} (32. dxe6 {is the computer's first choice, but again I had 
(justified) plans to queen my d-pawn...} Bd4 33. exf7+ Rxf7 34. Ne4 Qd8 35. Nd6
$16) 32... Qc3 (32... Bd4 {is sad, although possibly objectively best} 33. Nb3
({or} 33. Nf3 Bxf2+ 34. Kxf2 Rab8 35. Ne5 g5 36. Kg1) 33... Bxf2+ 34. Qxf2 Qc3
35. Qe3 Qc2 36. Rc1 Qa2 37. Nd4 $16) 33. Qd1 Bb2 34. Bxc6 {Tasty one.} Rad8 (
34... Rab8 {I expected this logical move (after all the rooks belong on the
open files, but the computer is not impressed with it either, giving the
following logical variation:} 35. Nb1 Qf6 36. Bg2 e5 37. Nd2 exf4 38. Ne4 Qg6
39. c6 {one of many other good options} Be5 40. Bc5 fxg3 41. d7 {and time to
call it a day.}) 35. Nb1 $1 {Not the best square for a knight in general, but
with such passed pawns White just needs to stop possible counterplay (tricks)
of the opponent. And mine is very tricky and resourceful - I experienced that
already long ago, in Elista 2006...} Qf6 36. Qd2 $18 Rb8 37. Be4 (37. d7 {
is simpler, but everything does it already, just not to blunder} e5 38. Bd5)
37... e5 38. Nc3 $1 Qe6 (38... Bxc3 39. Qxc3 exf4 40. Qxf6 gxf6 41. c6 {
and Black will be lucky if he manages to give a full rook for those pawns...})
39. Nd5 {Now, when the knight is on d5 instead of b1, it is hard to spoil it.}
Qxh3 40. Bg2 Qh5 41. d7 ({or} 41. c6) 41... exf4 42. Qxf4 Bxa3 (42... Bb5 43.
c6 Rbd8 44. Ne7+ Kh7 45. c7 Bxd7 46. cxd8=Q Rxd8 47. Qc7 {winning another
piece even if just one would be enough}) 43. Qxb8 {For the first time in the
game I had to calculate some 5 plus moves ahead. Just a dream scenario for a
pensioner like me...} Rxb8 44. Re8+ Kh7 45. Rxb8 Qd1+ 46. Kh2 Qh5+ 47. Bh3 {
No mercy.} Qf3 (47... Bf1 48. Nf4 Qf3 49. d8=Q {is what was planned} (49. Bf5+
g6 50. Bd4 {is even more humiliating}) 49... Qxf2+ 50. Bg2 {and mate follows.})
48. d8=Q Qxf2+ 49. Bg2 {A well played game by me, even if not very difficult.
Still, a rare case with me lately, so I am glad to present it to the public.}
1-0

[Event "Olympiad-41"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2014.08.08"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2014.08.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Uzbekistan"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "UZB"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bf4 {Korchnoi has once remarked,
that 4...Nbd7 move is played partly with an idea to take the sting from the
Bf4 move. Kasimdzhanov plays it anyway as it has become quite popular in
recent years.} dxc4 6. e3 {White sensibly decides, that 6.e4 exposes him too
much and that Black will find a way to prove it. The modest move from the game
introduces a moment of critical decision for Black, since the defender can
choose between a plethora of ideas.} (6. e4 Bb4 7. Qc2 (7. e5 Nd5 8. Bd2 Bxc3
9. bxc3 b5) (7. Bxc4 Nxe4 8. O-O Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bd6 10. Bg5 Be7 11. Bd2 O-O 12.
Qe2 c5 13. Rfd1 cxd4 14. cxd4 Nf6 15. Ne5 Nd5 16. Qh5 Bd7 17. Rdb1 Bc6 $11 {
1/2 (50) Vescovi,G (2465)-Krasenkow,M (2575) Malmo 1995}) 7... b5 (7... Nb6 $5
8. Be2 (8. Bxc4 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Nxc4 10. Qa4+ c6 11. Qxc4 Nxe4 $17)) 8. e5 (8. a4
$6 Bb7 9. e5 Bxf3) (8. Nd2 c6 9. a3 Ba5 10. Bd6 Bc7 11. Bxc7 Qxc7 12. b3 e5 13.
d5 cxd5 14. Nxb5 Qc6 15. a4 a6 16. exd5 Nxd5 17. Qxc4 Bb7 18. Qxc6 Bxc6 19.
Nd6+ Ke7 20. Nf5+ Kf6 21. Rc1 Nb4 $11 {1-0 (46) Boruchovsky,A (2472)-Brkic,A 
(2580) Warsaw 2013}) 8... Nd5 9. Bg5 f6 10. exf6 N7xf6 (10... gxf6 11. Bh6 Bb7
12. Be2 (12. Bg7 Rg8 13. Qxh7 Rxg7 $1 14. Qxg7 Nxc3 $17) 12... Qe7 13. O-O Bxc3
14. bxc3 $15) 11. a4 Bb7 $1 12. Be2 (12. axb5 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Bxf3 14. gxf3 Qxd4
$17) 12... a6 13. O-O c6 14. Ne5 O-O 15. Bg4 $5 {xe6} Qd6 16. Bh3 Bxc3 17. bxc3
c5 $1 18. axb5 axb5 19. Nf3 Rxa1 20. Rxa1 Nf4 (20... cxd4 21. Nxd4 $132) 21.
Bxf4 Qxf4 $15 {0-1 (32) Van Wely,L (2560)-Sokolov,I (2625) Tilburg 1994}) 6...
Bd6 {The theory of the whole line is still in flux and comparison between
different ideas is complicated enough. Kramnik shows respect for his opponent
in the form of a solid, well referenced choice of move.} (6... Nd5 7. Bxc4 Nxf4
(7... Bb4 8. O-O Nxf4 9. exf4 Bxc3 10. bxc3 O-O 11. Qc2 Nf6 12. Ne5 b6 13. Rfe1
g6 14. Re3 Bb7 15. Rae1 Kg7 16. Rh3 c5 17. Qd2 Bd5 18. Ba6 Qc7 19. c4 Bb7 20.
Bxb7 Qxb7 21. dxc5 bxc5 22. Rb3 $14 {0-1 (68) Aronian,L (2803)-Dominguez Perez,
L (2754) Beijing 2013}) 8. exf4 Bd6 (8... Nb6 9. Bb3 Bd6 10. g3 Bd7 11. O-O (
11. Qd3 Bc6 12. O-O-O $5 Bxf3 (12... O-O 13. Ng5 g6 14. d5) 13. Qxf3 c6 14. Kb1
(14. f5 Qg5+) 14... g6 (14... O-O 15. f5 exf5 16. Qxf5 $14) 15. f5 $1 exf5 16.
Rhe1+ Kf8 17. g4 $40) 11... O-O 12. Qd3 Bc6 13. Rad1 Qf6 14. Ng5 g6 15. Nge4
Qf5 (15... Bxe4 16. Nxe4 Qe7 17. Rfe1 (17. d5 e5 18. f5 (18. Rfe1 exf4 19. Qc3
Nd7 20. Nxd6 Qxd6 21. Re6 Qc5 $11) 18... Nd7 $14) 17... c6 18. h4 a5 19. a3 a4
20. Ba2 Nd5 21. h5 $11) 16. d5 exd5 17. Nxd5 Nxd5 18. Bxd5 Bxd5 19. Qxd5 Qxd5
20. Rxd5 $14 {1-0 (77) Gelfand,B (2739)-Adams,M (2727) Paris/St Petersburg 2013
}) 9. Qd2 (9. g3 O-O 10. O-O Nf6 11. Qe2 b6 12. Rfd1 Bb7 13. Rac1 Qe7 14. a3
Rfd8 15. Ne5 c5 16. Nb5 cxd4 17. Nxd4 Bxe5 18. Qxe5 Qd6 19. Bb3 Qxe5 20. fxe5
$11 {1-0 (25) Botvinnik,M-Menchik,V/Hastings 1934/HCL}) (9. Ne5 O-O 10. O-O Nb6
11. Bb3 Bd7 12. Qg4 Bxe5 13. dxe5 Bc6 14. f5 exf5 15. Qxf5 Qe7 16. Rfe1 Rad8
17. Rad1 g6 18. Qf4 Kg7 $11 {Ibragimov,I-Smagin,S/Saint Petersburg 1998})) (
6... a6 7. a4 (7. Bxc4 b5 8. Be2 (8. Bb3 $1) 8... Bb7 9. O-O c5 10. a4 b4 11.
Nb1 Rc8 12. Nbd2 cxd4 13. exd4 Nb6 14. a5 Nbd5 15. Bg3 Bd6 $11 {Saemisch,
F-Sprecher,L/Berlin 1920}) 7... Bd6 (7... Nb6 $6 8. a5 Nbd5 9. Bxc4 Nxf4 10.
exf4 Be7 (10... Bd6 11. Ne5 O-O 12. O-O Nd7 13. Qf3 Qe7 14. Rfe1 Nxe5 15. fxe5
Bb4 16. Re3 Bxc3 17. bxc3 $16 {Alekhine,A-Lancel,E/France 1923}) 11. O-O O-O
12. Ne5 Qd6 (12... c6 13. f5 $1 exf5 14. Qb3 Qxd4 (14... Qe8 15. Rfe1 $14) 15.
Nxf7 Qh4 16. g3 Qh5 17. Rae1 $16) 13. Re1 c6 (13... g6 $1 14. Re3 $5 Rd8 15.
Rd3 c6 16. Qf3 $14) 14. f5 $1 exf5 (14... Nd5 15. Qb3 Qb4 16. Qc2 Re8 17. Ne4
$36 {/\Nd3}) 15. Nxf7 $1 (15. Qb3 Be6 16. Qxb7 Ng4 17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. Qxc6 Nxe5
19. Qxd6 Bxd6 20. dxe5 Bb4 $14) 15... Rxf7 16. Qb3 Nd5 17. Nxd5 cxd5 18. Bxd5
Qf6 19. Rac1 Bd7 20. Rc7 $5 (20. Bxf7+ Qxf7 21. Qxb7 Rd8 22. Qxa6 $16) 20...
Rd8 21. Rxb7 Kf8 22. Rb6 Qxd4 23. Bxf7 Bc5 24. Rd1 Qxf2+ 25. Kh1 Be8 $1 (25...
Bxb6 26. axb6 $18) 26. Bd5 $1 {1-0 (40) Gelfand,B (2703)-Graf,A (2646) Plovdiv
2003}) (7... c5 8. Bxc4 cxd4 9. exd4 Nb6 10. Bb3 Nbd5 11. Be5 $1 Be7 (11... Bb4
12. Qd3 $14) 12. Nxd5 Nxd5 $2 13. Bxg7 Rg8 14. Be5 Rxg2 15. Bg3 $16) 8. Bg3 (8.
Bg5 h6 9. Bh4 c5 (9... b6 10. Bxc4 (10. e4 Be7 11. Bxc4 Bb7 12. e5 Ne4 13. Nxe4
Bxe4 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. O-O O-O 16. Re1 Bb7 17. Bd3 Rfd8 18. Be4 Bxe4 19. Rxe4
c5 20. Qe2 cxd4 21. Rxd4 {1/2 (21) Adhiban,B (2610)-Roiz,M (2572) Biel 2014})
10... Bb7 11. O-O Qe7 12. d5 e5 13. Qe2 g5 14. Bg3 Nf8 15. Nd2 Ng6 16. f3 h5
17. Nde4 Nxe4 18. fxe4 Bc8 19. Be1 g4 20. Qd3 Qg5 {1/2 (32) Ding,L (2695)
-Ipatov,A (2577) Athens 2012}) 10. Bxc4 O-O 11. O-O cxd4 12. exd4 Qc7 13. Bb3
b6 14. Rc1 Qb8 (14... Bf4 15. Rc2 Qd6 $5 (15... Qb8 16. d5) 16. Ne2 (16. d5 Nc5
17. Bxf6 Nxb3 18. Bh4 Bb7 19. g3 exd5 20. gxf4 d4 $132) 16... Bb7 17. Nxf4 Qxf4
18. Bg3 Qf5 19. Rc7 Be4 $11) 15. d5 $1 e5 16. Nd2 $1 e4 $2 (16... Bb7 17. Nde4
Nxe4 18. Nxe4 Kh8 (18... Nc5 19. Rxc5 $1 bxc5 20. Nf6+ Kh8 21. Qd3 e4 (21... g6
22. Qe3 Kg7 23. Ng4 $18) 22. Qxe4 g6 23. Bg3 $16) 19. Rc6 $1 Bxc6 20. dxc6 Nc5
21. Nxd6 Nxb3 22. Be7 Nd4 23. f4 $1 Qc7 24. Bxf8 Rxf8 25. fxe5 Nxc6 $14) 17.
Ncxe4 Nxe4 18. Nxe4 Bxh2+ 19. Kh1 Qf4 20. Be7 $1 Qxe4 21. Re1 Qf4 22. Rc4 $1
Qxf2 23. Kxh2 Bb7 24. Bc2 $1 {1-0 (97) Gelfand,B (2764)-Dominguez Perez,L 
(2757) Elancourt 2013}) 8... b6 (8... Bxg3 9. hxg3 c5 10. Bxc4 Nb6 11. Bb3 cxd4
12. exd4 Bd7 (12... Qd6 13. a5 Nbd5 14. Ne5 Bd7 15. Bxd5 Nxd5 16. Qh5 g6 17.
Qf3 Qe7 18. Nxd5 exd5 19. O-O $14) 13. a5 Nbd5 14. Bxd5 (14. Ne5 Bc6 15. g4
Nxc3 16. bxc3 Bxg2 17. Rh2 Bc6) 14... Nxd5 15. Nxd5 exd5 16. Qe2+ Be6 {1/2 (86)
Grischuk,A (2785)-Ponomariov,R (2756) Elancourt 2013} (16... Qe7 17. Rh5 Qxe2+
18. Kxe2 Be6 19. Kd2 $14)) 9. Bxc4 Bb7 10. Bh4 (10. O-O Bxg3 11. hxg3 c5 12. d5
exd5 13. Nxd5 O-O 14. Nf4 Qe7 15. Qc2 Ne5 16. Nxe5 Qxe5 17. Rfd1 Bc6 18. Qe2 g5
19. Nd3 Qe4 20. Ne1 $11 {1/2 (84) Fressinet,L (2710)-L'Ami,E (2645) Germany
2013}) 10... O-O 11. O-O Qb8 12. d5 exd5 13. Nxd5 Nxd5 14. Bxd5 Ne5 15. Rc1
Bxd5 16. Qxd5 c6 17. Qe4 Nxf3+ 18. Qxf3 Bxh2+ 19. Kh1 Be5 20. Rxc6 b5 21. axb5
Qxb5 {1/2 (58) Carlsen,M (2786)-Ivanchuk,V (2786) Cap d'Agde 2008}) (6... Nb6
7. Bxc4 Nxc4 (7... Nfd5 8. O-O Nxf4 9. exf4 Bd6 10. Ne5 Bxe5 11. fxe5 Bd7 12.
Bb3 Bc6 13. Qg4 g6 14. Rfd1 Qe7 15. Rac1 h5 16. Qh3 Rd8 17. Qe3 Bd5 18. Nb5 Rd7
19. Qc3 O-O {0-1 (50) Giri,A (2734)-Dominguez Perez,L (2754) Beijing 2013}) 8.
Qa4+ Bd7 (8... c6 9. Qxc4 Nd5 10. Be5 f6 11. Bg3 Qb6 12. O-O Qxb2 13. Ne4 Nb6
14. Qd3 Qb5 15. Qc2 Qa4 16. Qd3 Qb5 17. Qc2 Qa4 18. Qd3 Qb5 {1/2 (18) Potkin,V
(2626)-Zvjaginsev,V (2656) Irkutsk 2010}) 9. Qxc4 Bd6 10. Bg5 (10. O-O Bc6 11.
Ne5 Bxe5 12. Bxe5 Nd7 (12... O-O 13. Bxf6 (13. Rac1 a6 14. Rfd1 Nd5 $5 15. Nxd5
exd5 16. Qe2 f6 17. Bg3 Re8 18. Rc3 Re7 19. Rdc1 Qe8 $11 {1/2 Schandorff,L 
(2563)-Koneru,H (2496)/Esbjerg 2003/ (58)}) 13... Qxf6 14. e4 Rac8 $14) 13. Bg3
Nb6 $6 (13... O-O 14. e4 Nb6 15. Qc5 $14) 14. Qc5 Nd7 $2 15. Qa5 $1 b6 16. Qa3
$16 {1-0 (34) Bacrot,E (2653)-Jussupow,A (2633) Germany 2001}) (10. Bxd6 cxd6
11. d5 e5 12. Qb4 Qb6 13. Qxb6 axb6 14. Ke2 Ke7 15. Nd2 Rhc8 16. Rhc1 Rc5 17.
e4 g6 18. f3 Nh5 19. Ke3 f5 {1/2 Nikolic,P (2635)-Andersson,U (2605)/Debrecen
1992/EU-chT}) (10. Bg3 Bc6 11. O-O Bxf3 12. gxf3 O-O 13. Nb5 Qd7 14. Rfc1 Rfc8
$11 {1/2 Gurevich,M (2625)-Andersson,U (2605)/Madrid 1988/EXT 1997 (80)})) (
6... b5 7. Nxb5 Nd5 8. Bxc4 (8. Bg3 Bb4+ 9. Nd2 N7b6 10. Qc2 O-O 11. Be2 Ba6
12. Nc3 c5 13. dxc5 Bxc5 14. a3 Rc8 15. Nde4 Be7 16. Be5 f5 17. Nd2 Bf6 18.
Bxf6 Qxf6 19. Rc1 Nxc3 20. Qxc3 Qxc3 21. Rxc3 $11 {1-0 (43) Lenic,L (2634)
-Stern,R (2513) Germany 2014}) 8... Bb4+ 9. Kf1 Nxf4 10. exf4 O-O 11. g3 a6 12.
Nc3 Bb7 13. Be2 Qe7 14. Kg2 c5 15. a3 Bxc3 16. bxc3 cxd4 17. cxd4 Nf6 18. Re1
Rfc8 19. Kg1 Ne4 $11 {1-0 (41) L'Ami,E (2645)-Rabiega,R (2507) Germany 2013})
7. Bxd6 (7. Bg5 a6 8. Bxc4 b5 9. Bd3 Bb7 10. O-O Be7 11. Qc2 c5 12. Bxf6 gxf6
13. Be4 Bxe4 14. Nxe4 cxd4 15. Nxd4 Rc8 16. Qe2 f5 17. Ng3 O-O 18. a4 bxa4 19.
Rxa4 Nc5 20. Rc4 a5 21. Rfc1 $14 {1/2 (49) Schandorff,L (2519)-Berkes,F (2619)
Gothenburg 2005}) 7... cxd6 8. Bxc4 a6 9. a4 d5 {A move like this deserves
some explanation. Black is concerned about White's ability to expand in the
centre with his pawns. In order to prevent it the defender is ready to live
with a second-rate bishop on b7.} (9... Qa5 10. O-O O-O 11. Qd2 b6 12. Rab1 Qb4
13. Be2 Bb7 14. Ne1 Qa5 $11 {1/2 (14) Ruck,R (2540)-Portisch,L (2533)
Szekesfehervar 2006}) 10. Bd3 b6 11. O-O O-O 12. Qb3 Qe7 {In this battle
between two former world champions Kramnik would like to play close to
perfection. With his timely control of the a3-f8 diagonal he is avoiding
annoying moves like Qb4.} (12... Bb7 13. Qb4 Rc8 14. Rfc1 h6 15. Rc2 Rc6 16.
Rac1 Qb8 17. Na2 Rxc2 18. Rxc2 Rc8 19. Qb3 Rxc2 20. Qxc2 Qc8 21. Qxc8+ Bxc8 22.
Nb4 Nb8 {1/2 (27) Bluebaum,M (2519)-Mirzoev,A (2550) Lueneburg 2014}) 13. Rac1
Bb7 14. Rc2 Rfc8 15. Rfc1 Qd6 16. Ne5 $5 $146 {Kasimdzhanov surprises his
adversary with a novelty which might hurt a bit. The current world champion
had to face a challenge of more modest proportions in 16.Na2 move.} (16. Na2
Rxc2 17. Rxc2 Rc8 18. Rxc8+ Bxc8 19. Qc3 Bb7 20. b4 Ne4 21. Qc1 h6 22. h3 Kf8
23. b5 a5 24. Nc3 Qc7 25. Qa3+ Qd6 26. Qc1 Qc7 27. Qa3+ {1/2 (55) Gelfand,B 
(2755)-Carlsen,M (2864) Moscow 2013}) 16... Nxe5 {It might have been
attractive to avoid complications, but the natural move 16...Rc7 is fraught
with some dangers.} (16... Rc7 17. Nxd7 (17. f4 Rac8 $11) 17... Rxd7 (17...
Nxd7 18. Bxh7+ $1 Kxh7 19. Nb5 axb5 20. Rxc7 Nc5 21. R7xc5 bxc5 22. dxc5 Qb8
23. axb5 $14) 18. Na2 $14) 17. dxe5 Qxe5 18. Qxb6 Rcb8 {The choice of
continuation was suddenly quite difficult, as many lines would simply fail to
pass muster. The Russian star tries to minimise the danger.} (18... Ng4 $2 19.
Qxb7 Qxh2+ 20. Kf1 Qh1+ 21. Ke2 Qxg2 22. Nd1 $18) (18... Rab8 19. Ne4 $5 (19.
f4 Qh5 (19... Nd7 20. Qd4 (20. Qa7 Qd6 21. Qd4 f6 $11) 20... Qf6 21. b4 e5 22.
fxe5 Qe6 23. Qf4 g6 24. b5 Nxe5 $11) 20. h3 $14) 19... Rxc2 20. Nxf6+ gxf6 21.
Rxc2 d4 22. Qxd4 Qxd4 23. exd4 Rd8 24. Rc7 Rxd4 25. Rxb7 Rxd3 26. g3 $14) (
18... Qb8 $2 19. Nxd5 Rxc2 20. Nxf6+ gxf6 21. Rxc2 $16) 19. Ne2 Nd7 (19... Ng4
$2 20. Qxb7 $1 Qxh2+ 21. Kf1 Qh1+ 22. Ng1 g6 23. Qc7 Nh2+ 24. Ke2 Qxg2 25. Qg3
$16) (19... d4 20. Qxd4 Qg5 21. Ng3 Rd8 22. Qb4 Rab8 (22... Bxg2 23. Kxg2 Rxd3
24. Rc5 Qg4 25. Rc8+ Rd8 26. Qb7 Raxc8 27. Rxc8 Rf8 28. Qxa6 $16) 23. Be2 Nd5
24. Qa5 f5 25. Rd2 $14) (19... Ne8 20. b4 Bc8 21. Qd8 Bb7 22. Qe7 Qd6 23. Qxd6
Nxd6 24. Nd4 $14) 20. Qd4 {In the era before computers it might have been
quite difficult to find out, that the 20.Qb4!? retreat was probably more exact.
Black could not have claimed full equality in that case.} (20. Qb4 $5 Bc8 21.
Qa3 Nf8 22. Nd4 $14) 20... Qd6 (20... Qxd4 21. Nxd4 Rc8 22. Rc7 Rab8 23. Nf3
Nb6 24. a5 Na8 25. R7c3 Rxc3 26. Rxc3 Rc8 27. Rb3 Rc7 28. Nd4 h6 29. f4 $14)
21. f4 (21. Rc7 e5 22. Qh4 e4 23. Bb1 Nf6 24. Qg3 Qb4 25. Qe5 a5 $11) 21... e5
{Those players who have not been world champions might have been scared to
show activity for Black, when his pieces are so passive in the corner of the
queenside. Kramnik knows better and it seems as if the equilibrium was not yet
truly broken.} (21... Rc8 $1 22. b4 Rxc2 23. Rxc2 g6 $11) (21... f6 22. Rc7 $1
g6 (22... e5 23. fxe5 Nxe5 24. Ng3 Bc8 25. Be4 Be6 26. Nf5 Bxf5 27. Bxd5+ Kh8
28. Bxa8 $18) 23. a5 e5 24. Qa4 $16) 22. fxe5 Nxe5 23. Qf4 Qe7 $2 {It is
painful to admit, but tactics decide too many games even on the highest level.
One weaker moment can send any decent position into a tailspin and turn it
into a difficult one. Black should have found the 24...g6! defence in the
critical line with the promise of full equality.} (23... Rc8 $1 24. Qf5 g6 $1 (
24... Nxd3 25. Rxc8+ Rxc8 26. Rxc8+ Bxc8 27. Qxc8+ Qf8 28. Qxa6 Nxb2 29. Qb5
Nc4 30. Qxd5 Qc8 (30... Nxe3 31. Qe4 Nd1 32. Qd4 $18) 31. Kf2 $16) 25. Rxc8+
Bxc8 26. Rxc8+ Kg7 27. Ng3 Rxc8 28. Qxc8 Nxd3 29. Qc3+ Ne5 30. Qd4 f6 31. e4
Kf7 32. exd5 Nc6 $11) 24. Rc7 $1 Qe8 (24... Nxd3 25. Rxe7 Nxf4 26. Nxf4 $18) (
24... Qe6 25. Bf5 Qf6 26. Nd4 h6 (26... g6 27. Be6 $18) 27. b3 $16) 25. Bf5 Nc4
{[%mdl 2048] The defender is unable to untangle his bundle of paasive pieces
on the a- and b-files. It has to be admitted that White is playing with five
pieces against Black's two.} (25... g6 26. Nd4 gxf5 27. Nxf5 Rc8 28. Qg5+ Ng6
29. Qf6 Qf8 30. Rxf7 $3 Rxc1+ 31. Kf2 Rc2+ 32. Kf1 Rc1+ 33. Ke2 Nf4+ 34. exf4
Re8+ 35. Kf2 Rc2+ 36. Kg3 Rxg2+ 37. Kxg2 d4+ 38. Kf2 $18) (25... Bc6 26. R1xc6
Nxc6 27. Bd7 Qe5 28. Bxc6 Qxf4 29. Nxf4 Rc8 30. Bxa8 Rxc7 31. b4 $18) (25...
Ng6 26. Bxg6 hxg6 27. Rf1 f6 28. Nd4 $18) 26. Bd7 $1 Qf8 {The tragedy is
complete since grabbing the e3-pawn leaves Black in a completely hopeless
position.} (26... Qxe3+ 27. Qxe3 Nxe3 28. Nd4 h5 (28... a5 29. b3 h5 30. h3 f5
31. Be6+ Kh7 32. Kf2 f4 33. g3 $18) 29. b3 g6 30. Re1 Ng4 31. Bxg4 hxg4 32.
Ree7 Bc8 33. Rxf7 $18) 27. b3 Nb6 (27... Nd6 28. Nd4 $18) 28. Bf5 d4 (28... Bc8
29. Rxf7 $1 (29. a5 Bxf5 30. axb6 Bd3 31. Nc3 Rxb6 32. Qd4 Rxb3 33. Qxd3 $18)
29... Kxf7 30. Bxh7+ Ke7 31. Qb4+ Ke8 32. Bg6+ $18) 29. Rxf7 $1 {The final
combination is a fine example of using huge superiority in numbers for a very
swift and efficient attack. Please note, that four black pieces are very close
to the edge of the board far away from their own king.} Kxf7 (29... Qxf7 30.
Bxh7+ Kxh7 (30... Kf8 31. Qd6+ Ke8 32. Bg6 $18) 31. Qxf7 Bd5 32. Qf5+ Kg8 33.
a5 Rf8 34. Qe5 $18) 30. Bxh7+ (30. Bxh7+ Ke8 (30... Ke6 31. Nxd4+ Kd5 32. Be4#)
(30... Ke7 31. Qe5+ Kd7 32. Bf5+ Kd8 (32... Qxf5 33. Rc7+ Kd8 34. Qe7#) 33.
Qc7+ Ke8 34. Bg6+ $18) 31. Bg6+ Kd7 32. Qc7+ Ke6 33. Qxb6+ Qd6 34. Nf4+ Ke7 35.
Rc7+ Qxc7 36. Qxc7+ $18) 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-41"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2014.08.10"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vallejo Pons, Francisco"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2698"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2014.08.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Spain"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ESP"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Qa5 9. Bd2 Qc5 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. Nb3 Qc7 {Quite a rare retreat. The queen
takes control over important squares f4 and e5, but White may put some
pressure along the c-file.} ({Black as a couple of alternatives in this well
known theoretical position:} 11... Qe5) (11... Qb6) (11... Qe7 {and}) 12. Rc1
$146 {Admitting the drawback of Black's last move.} (12. Bxd7+ {is harmless:}
Nbxd7 13. O-O O-O 14. Rc1 Bd6 15. h3 Rad8 16. Qe2 Qb8 17. f4 Nc5 18. e5 Nxb3
19. axb3 Bc5+ $11) ({But} 12. O-O {is also worth considering:} O-O (12... Bxc3
13. Bxd7+ Qxd7 14. Bxc3 $14 {1/2-1/2 Ding,L (2654)-So,W (2658)/Khanty-Mansiysk
2011/CBM 145 (33)}) 13. Bd3 (13. Rc1 $5 {most probably transposes to the text})
13... Nc6 14. a3 (14. Rc1 Rfd8 15. Qe2 Rac8 16. Bg5 Be7 17. f4 Qb6+ 18. Kh1 Nb4
19. Bb1 Be8 20. Bh4 Qa6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Borovikov,V (2569)-Colovic,A (2435)/
Rethymno 2012/CBM 149 Extra (25)}) 14... Be7 15. Rc1 Rfd8 16. Qe2 Be8 17. Bb1
$14) 12... Nc6 13. O-O O-O 14. Qe2 {Both players are connecting the rooks and
mobilising their forces, but White's task is easier due to his slight space
advantage.} Rfd8 15. Bg5 Be7 16. Be3 $1 {A correct decision. Now White's setup
is harmonious, so pushing f4-f5 is a plan worth considering.} ({Nothing will
be achieved by} 16. f4 h6 17. Bxf6 (17. Bh4 $2 Nxe4 18. Bxe7 Qb6+ 19. Kh1 Nxe7
20. Bxd7 Nxc3 21. Rxc3 Rxd7 $19) 17... Bxf6 18. e5 Be7 $11) 16... a6 17. Bd3 $1
{Kramnik correctly keeps the bishop on the board.} ({After} 17. Bxc6 Bxc6 18.
Nd4 Bd7 $1 {Black should be OK:} (18... Rac8 19. Na4 Qe5 20. Nxc6 Rxc6 21. Rxc6
bxc6 22. f3 $14) 19. Rfd1 (19. Nd5 Qd6 20. Nxe7+ Qxe7 21. Bg5 e5 $11) 19... Qb8
20. Bg5 Nd5 21. Bxe7 Nxe7 $11) 17... Be8 18. f4 {Once again Vladimir chooses
the most aggressive continuation. The advance of the kingside pawn is quite
threatening, so Vallejo Pons had to react somehow.} ({There were some
positional alternatives:} 18. Na4 Bd6 19. f4 e5 20. f5 Qe7 21. Nb6 Rab8 22.
Rfd1 Nb4 23. Bb1 Bb5 24. Qe1 $14) (18. Rfd1 Rac8 19. f4 $14 {with a pleasant
edge in both cases.}) 18... Ng4 ({Another natural response could be met by} 
18... e5 19. fxe5 (19. Kh1 $5) 19... Qxe5 20. Rf5 $1 (20. Bf4 Qh5 21. e5 Qxe2
22. Bxe2 Nd5 $11) 20... Qb8 21. Nd5 Nxd5 22. exd5 Ne5 23. Bd4 Nxd3 24. Qxd3 $36
) 19. Qxg4 {This time White doesn't mind exchanging the light-squared bishop
in order to keep the attacking potential.} ({It was also possible to change
the character of the position:} 19. Nd5 $5 exd5 20. Qxg4 dxe4 21. Bxe4 Bd7 22.
Qf3 $14 {with definite pressure.}) 19... Rxd3 20. Bf2 $6 {After this move
White loses the lion's share of his harmony.} ({It was a good moment to switch
to a positional plan:} 20. Qe2 $1 Rdd8 (20... Qd8 21. Kh1 Bf8 22. f5 $36) 21.
Qf2 Qb8 22. Bb6 Rd3 23. e5 $14 {and Black's position lacks space.}) 20... Qd8 (
20... a5 $5 21. Na4 b5 22. Nac5 Rdd8 $132) 21. e5 Nb4 $1 {As a result, Black
has a golden opportunity to develop some counterplay.} 22. Nc5 {Vladimir's
move is a bit risky, but the position remains balanced.} ({Still, more to the
point was} 22. Rcd1 {forcing Black to find the precise route to equality:} Bb5
$1 (22... Rxd1 23. Rxd1 Qc8 24. a3 Nd5 25. Nxd5 exd5 26. f5 $36) 23. Nxb5 axb5
24. a3 Nc6 25. Qe2 Rd5 $11) (22. Rfd1 Bb5 23. a3 Bc4 24. Nc5 Bxc5 25. Bxc5 Nd5
$11) 22... Rd2 {Vallejo Pons accepts the challenge. The rook is always
dangerous on the 2nd rank, so White should be careful now.} ({Another
reasonable possibility was} 22... Bxc5 23. Bxc5 Rc8 24. Ne4 {now it looks
scary, but Black can parry all the threats:} h5 $1 25. Nf6+ (25. Qxh5 $2 f5 26.
Qg5 Qxg5 27. Nxg5 Nxa2 $17) 25... Qxf6 26. exf6 hxg4 27. Bxb4 $11) 23. N3e4 (
23. Rfd1 Rxd1+ 24. Rxd1 Qc7 25. N5e4 Rd8 26. Nf6+ Bxf6 27. exf6 Rxd1+ 28. Nxd1
(28. Qxd1 Qxf4 29. g3 $1 Qxf6 30. Qd6 Nd5 31. Bc5 h6 32. Qf8+ Kh7 33. Qxe8 (33.
Nxd5 exd5 34. Qxe8 Qxb2 $11) 33... Nxc3 34. bxc3 Qf5 $11 {is a draw by
perpetual.}) 28... g6 {can be dangerous for White.}) 23... Rxb2 24. Rfd1 (24.
Nd6 {could be met by the brave} Nxa2 $1 (24... Bxd6 25. Nxb7 Qb8 26. Nxd6 Bb5
27. Bd4 Rd2 (27... Rxa2 28. f5 $40) 28. Be3 Rc2 29. f5 Be2 30. Qg3 Bxf1 31.
Rxf1 $36) (24... b6 25. Ncb7 (25. Nxe6 fxe6 26. Qxe6+ Kf8 27. Qf5+ Kg8 28. Qe6+
Kf8 $11) 25... Qd7 26. f5 Bf8 27. f6 g6 $132) 25. Ncxb7 Qd7 26. Ra1 g6 27. Nc5
Qc6 {and White's compensation is not obvious here.}) 24... Nd5 25. Nf6+ $2 {
Vladimir has overestimated his attacking chances. Black is obliged to exchange
the dakr-squared bishop, but White cannot exploit it.} (25. Bd4 Rxa2 26. Nxb7
Qd7 27. Nbd6 Bxd6 28. Nxd6 $44) 25... Bxf6 (25... Kh8 $6 26. Nxd5 exd5 27. Bd4
$36) 26. exf6 g6 {The Pf6 is hanging, so White is unable to create any serious
threats.} 27. Bd4 $2 {A decisive step in the wrong direction. White gives up a
second pawn.} ({At the same time,} 27. Qh4 $1 Bc6 28. Nxe6 Qxf6 29. Ng5 h5 30.
Bd4 Rxg2+ 31. Kxg2 Nxf4+ 32. Kf1 Bb5+ 33. Kf2 Nh3+ 34. Kg3 Qxg5+ 35. Qxg5 Nxg5
36. h4 Ne6 37. Bf6 $15 {gives White excellent drawish chances due to activity
of all the pieces.}) 27... Rxa2 28. Qh4 ({Perhaps,} 28. Qh3 {was more stubborn,
although after} Nxf6 29. Nxe6 (29. Be5 Rd2 $19) 29... Qe7 30. Nc7 Rd8 31. Nxe8
Nxe8 32. f5 Re2 $1 33. fxg6 fxg6 34. Bf2 Rxd1+ 35. Rxd1 b5 $19 {Black should
win anyway.}) 28... Bc6 $1 {A multi-purpose move. Black is not only freeing a
way for the queen to f8, but also putting pressure on his opponent's king.} 29.
Ne4 (29. Nxe6 {was also hopeless:} Rxg2+ 30. Kxg2 Nxf4+ 31. Kg1 Nxe6 32. Be3
Qa5 $19) 29... Re2 $1 30. Ng3 ({Or} 30. Ng5 h5 31. Nf3 Nb4 32. Qg5 Bxf3 33.
gxf3 Nd5 $19) 30... Nxf4 $1 $19 {The final touch. White is obliged to swap
queens in order to avoid mate.} 31. Qxf4 (31. Nxe2 Nxe2+ 32. Kf2 Nxc1 $19)
31... Qd5 32. Ne4 Qxe4 ({Only not} 32... Rxe4 $4 33. Qh6 Re1+ 34. Kf2 Qxg2+ 35.
Kxe1 {and Black may even lose here.}) 33. Qxe4 Rxe4 {Black has 3 extra pawns,
so the rest is simple.} 34. Bb6 g5 35. Rd2 h6 36. Bd8 a5 37. Be7 a4 38. Rc3 Kh7
39. h3 Kg6 40. Kh2 Rf4 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-41"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2014.08.12"]
[Round "10.1"]
[White "Ivanisevic, Ivan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2613"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2014.08.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Serbia"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "SRB"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 c6 6. h3 Bd6 7. Qc2 O-O 8. Bg5
h6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 Bxg3 11. fxg3 Nh5 12. Kf2 Qd6 13. e4 Nxg3 14. Rg1 Qf4 15.
Bd3 dxe4 16. Nxe4 Nxe4+ 17. Bxe4 Nd7 18. g3 Qd6 19. Rae1 Nf6 20. Bf5 Bxf5 21.
Qxf5 Rae8 22. Rgf1 Nh5 23. Re5 Ng7 24. Qc2 Rxe5 25. dxe5 Qe6 26. Kg2 Rd8 27. b3
Rd5 28. Qf2 c5 29. Re1 Qf5 30. Nh2 h5 31. Nf1 Qxf2+ 32. Kxf2 Ne6 33. Ne3 Rxe5
34. Rd1 Nd4 35. b4 b6 36. bxc5 bxc5 37. Rd3 Re6 38. Rc3 Rf6+ 39. Kg2 Rf3 40. h4
Rxg3+ 41. Kxg3 Ne2+ 42. Kf3 Nxc3 43. hxg5 Nxa2 44. Nc4 Nb4 45. Kg3 Nd5 46. Kh4
Nf4 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-41"]
[Site "Tromsoe"]
[Date "2014.08.14"]
[Round "11.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E61"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2768"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2014.08.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 162"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "France"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "FRA"]

1. d4 d6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 g6 4. Nc3 Bf5 5. Ng5 Bg7 6. e4 Bd7 7. f4 e5 8. fxe5
dxe5 9. dxe5 Ng4 10. e6 Bxe6 11. Qxd8+ Kxd8 12. Be2 Ne5 13. Bf4 h6 14. O-O-O+
Ke7 15. Nf3 Nxc4 16. Nd4 Ne5 17. Nd5+ Bxd5 18. exd5 Rd8 19. Rhe1 Kf8 20. Nb5
Na6 21. Bf1 Re8 22. d6 cxd6 23. Nxd6 Re7 24. Nxb7 Rxb7 25. Bxe5 Bxe5 26. Rxe5
Rc8+ 27. Kb1 Nc5 28. Rc1 Rbc7 29. Re3 f5 30. Rec3 Ke7 31. b4 Ne6 32. Kb2 h5 33.
h4 Rxc3 34. Rxc3 Rxc3 35. Kxc3 g5 36. hxg5 Nxg5 37. a4 Kd6 38. Kc4 f4 39. Kb5
Kc7 40. Ka6 Kb8 41. b5 f3 42. gxf3 Nxf3 43. Be2 Nd4 44. Bxh5 Nb3 45. Be2 Nc5+
46. Ka5 Kc7 47. Kb4 Na6+ 48. Ka5 Nc5 49. Bf3 Kd6 50. Bh1 Kc7 51. Bg2 Nd3 52.
Bf1 Nc5 53. Kb4 Na6+ 54. Kc4 Kb6 55. Bg2 Nc7 56. Kb4 a5+ 57. bxa6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Petrosian Memorial"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2014.11.04"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2014.11.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 (6. Qc2 {is a way to
prevent the variation that happened in the game, but it also allows its own
side variations.}) 6... Bf5 {Much to my personal displeasure people are
starting to figure out that this endgame with the double-pawns on f6 and f7 is
not that bad for Black.} 7. Qf3 Bg6 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Qxf6 gxf6 10. Nf3 Nd7 11.
Nh4 {There isn't much in the way of set theory in this variation. White has
long-term pressure against the f-pawns but Black is very solid, he has the
pair of bishops and he will have many active pieces after maneuvering to the
right spots.} Be7 12. g3 Nb6 {The knight is going to d6 where it can later
choose on e4 or c4 depending on the circumstances.} 13. O-O-O Nc8 14. Bd3 Nd6
15. Kc2 Kd7 16. f3 Bxd3+ {You know that White must have a hard time converting
anything in this position, or even proving an advantage, when Black can get
away with just trading off the g6 bishop.} 17. Kxd3 f5 18. Ng2 h5 19. h4 Rag8
20. Rh3 {Black has pressure on g3 and it's very hard to do anything with White
besides have a pretty knight on f4. Ding Liren simply doesn't find a way
forward from him.} Ne8 21. Ke2 Bd6 22. Kf2 Nf6 23. Ne2 a5 24. b3 Re8 25. Rhh1
Re7 26. Nef4 Rg8 27. Rd2 Ree8 28. Rc2 Kc7 29. a4 Kd7 30. Rh3 Rg7 31. Nd3 Kc7
32. Ngf4 Reg8 33. Rc1 Kb8 34. Rg1 Kc7 35. Rh2 Rb8 36. Rc1 Rbg8 37. Rg2 Kb8 38.
Rcg1 Kc7 39. Rb1 Re8 40. Rgg1 Reg8 41. Rbc1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Petrosian Memorial"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2014.11.05"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Inarkiev, Ernesto"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D53"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2688"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2014.11.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Qc2 O-O (5... dxc4 {and}) (5... c5 {
are more principled continuations here.}) 6. Bg5 (6. cxd5 $5 exd5 $140 7. Bg5 {
obtaining the Exchange Variation Black tries to avoid with his move order (1...
Nf6, 2...e6, 3...d5).}) 6... c5 {This reaction to Qd1-c2 is common when the
moves e2-e3 Nb8-d7 are inserted. In the present position Black usually prefers}
(6... Nbd7) ({or} 6... h6) 7. dxc5 (7. cxd5 {is harmless, e.g.} cxd4 8. Nxd4
Nxd5 9. Bxe7 Nxe7 10. Rd1 Qb6 11. Qb3 Qxb3 12. Nxb3 Nbc6 13. g3 b6 14. Bg2 Bb7
(14... Ba6 $6 15. Nd4 Bb7 16. Ndb5 $14 {1/2 (40) Bacrot,E (2725)-Lautier,J 
(2680) Khanty-Mansiysk 2005 CBM 111 [Dautov]}) 15. Rd7 Rab8 16. O-O Rfd8 17.
Rfd1 Kf8 18. Nb5 a5 $1 $11 {R.Dautov}) 7... dxc4 (7... d4 $6 8. O-O-O Nc6 9. e3
e5 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. Nd5 Be6 12. Kb1 Bxd5 13. cxd5 Qxd5 14. Bc4 Qd8 15. h4 Rc8
16. Ng5 g6 17. Ne4 $36 {0-1 (42) Abdulla,A (2506)-Thejkumar,M (2382) Kolkata
2008}) (7... Qa5 $5 {leads to a position with the isolated d5-pawn but Black
can probably equalise with accurate play:} 8. cxd5 exd5 (8... Nxd5 9. Bxe7 Nxe7
10. e3 Qxc5 11. Bd3 $32) 9. e3 Qxc5 (9... Nc6 10. Bb5 Nb4 11. Qa4 Qxa4 12. Bxa4
Nd3+ 13. Ke2 Nxc5 14. Bc2 Be6 15. Nd4 Rac8 16. Rac1 g6 17. Rhd1 Rfd8 18. Bb1
$14 {1-0 (44) Bacrot,E (2715)-Bologan,V (2683) Poikovsky 2005 CBM 106 [Ftacnik,
L]}) (9... h6 10. Bh4 Nc6 11. Be2 Qxc5 12. Rd1 Be6 13. O-O {-below}) 10. Be2
Nc6 11. Rd1 Be6 12. O-O h6 13. Bh4 Ne4 $1 (13... g5 14. Bg3 Ne4 15. Nd4 Nxd4
16. exd4 Qc6 17. Bb5 Qb6 18. Nxe4 Qxb5 19. Nc3 $14 {1-0 Akopian,V-Goldin,A/
Stratton Mountain 1999/ (39)}) (13... Rac8 14. Qb1 Rfd8 15. Nd4 Ne5 16. Nf5 Nc4
17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. Rd4 $14 {1-0 (37) Markus,R (2477)-Abramovic,B (2509)
Yugoslavia 2002}) 14. Bxe7 Nxe7 15. Nd4 Nxc3 16. bxc3 Rac8 $11 {[%csl Rc3] 1/2
Azmaiparashvili,Z-Geller,E/Belgrade 1988/ (65)}) 8. e4 {More aggressive than} (
8. e3 Qa5 9. Bxc4 Qxc5 10. Bd3 h6 11. Bh4 b6 12. O-O Bb7 13. Rfd1 Na6 14. Qa4
Qb4 15. Nd4 Qxa4 16. Nxa4 Nb4 17. Be2 Rac8 $11 {1/2 (53) Zhao,X (2538)
-Khotenashvili,B (2518) Lopota 2014}) 8... Nfd7 {This unnatural move can't be
healthy but White keeps some pressure in other lines, too:} (8... h6 9. Bxf6 $1
Bxf6 10. e5 Be7 11. Bxc4 Nd7 12. O-O (12. c6 $5 bxc6 13. O-O $14 {I.Tsesarsky})
12... Qa5 13. a3 Qxc5 14. Qe4 Rd8 15. Rac1 Qa5 16. Rfd1 a6 17. Qf4 b5 (17...
Rb8 18. Ne4 $36 {[%cal Ye4d6]}) 18. Nd5 Bf8 19. Ba2 Bb7 20. Nc7 $16 {[%csl Re6]
[%cal Gc7e6,Ga2f7] 1/2 (39) Pisulinski,J (2390)-Jaworski,M (2360) Lubniewice
1995}) (8... Qa5 9. e5 (9. Bxc4 $5 Qxc5 10. Qe2 Nc6 11. O-O Rd8 (11... Ng4 $5
12. Bf4 $5 Nge5 13. Nxe5 Nxe5 14. Bb3 $14) 12. Rad1 Bd7 13. e5 $16 {1-0 (20)
Ibragimov,I (2602)-Arlandi,E (2445) Geneve 1999}) 9... Nd5 10. Bxc4 (10. Bxe7
Nxe7 11. Bxc4 Qxc5 {1/2 (31) Khenkin,I (2575)-Lutz,C (2595) Frankfurt 1996} 12.
Bd3 $5 Nbc6 13. O-O $14) 10... Nxc3 (10... Bxc5 11. Bxd5 exd5 12. O-O Be6 13.
a3 Qc7 14. Rfd1 {[%csl Rd5]} Bb6 15. Qd2 Nc6 16. Nxd5 $16 {1-0 (58) Popov,V 
(2505)-Chehlov,A (2290) St Petersburg 1998}) 11. O-O $1 Qxc5 12. Qxc3 Nc6 (
12... b6 13. Rac1 Bb7 14. Qb3 $1 $16 Bxg5 $140 15. Nxg5 Qxe5 16. Nxf7 $1 Kxf7
17. Rce1 $40) 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. a3 Bd7 15. Qe3 $5 (15. Rac1 Rfd8 16. b4 (16.
Qe3 $5 h6 17. Bd3 Be8 18. h4 a5 19. Qe4 f5 20. exf6 Qxf6 21. Bc4 $14 {1-0 (54)
Lerner,K (2523)-Volman,H (2197) Givataim 2005}) 16... a6 (16... b5 17. Bxb5
Nxb4 18. Bc4 Nc6 19. Rfd1 Be8 20. Bd3 $14) 17. Qe3 Be8 18. Bd3 Na7 19. Bb1 Bc6
20. Ng5 h6 21. Ne4 $14 {1/2 (37) Kasparov,G (2740)-Karpov,A (2700) Seville
1987 MainBase [Bulletin]}) 15... Rfd8 16. Bd3 Be8 17. Qe4 g6 18. Qe3 Nb8 19.
Be4 Bc6 {1-0 (50) Dokhoian,Y (2515)-Timoscenko,G (2485) Plovdiv 1988} 20. Qh6
$1 Qf8 21. Qh4 $14) (8... Nc6 9. Bxc4 (9. Rd1 $5 Qa5 10. Bxc4 Qxc5 11. Qe2 Ng4
12. Bxe7 Nxe7 13. O-O Ng6 14. Bb3 b6 15. h3 N4e5 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 {1/2 (42)
Cramling,P (2520)-Hansen,S (2460) Reykjavik 1995} 17. Rd2 Bb7 18. Rfd1 $14)
9... Nd4 (9... Qa5 10. e5 Nd5 11. Bxe7 Ncxe7 12. O-O Nxc3 {1-0 (41) Bukal,V 
(2455)-Rhodin,B (2300) Balatonbereny 1985} 13. Qxc3 Qxc3 14. bxc3 $14 {I.
Tsesarsky}) 10. Qd3 Nxf3+ 11. Qxf3 Qd4 12. Bb3 Qxc5 13. Be3 Qa5 14. O-O Bd7 15.
Bd2 Bc6 16. Nd5 Qd8 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. Bc2 $14 {1-0 (48) Popov,V (2505)-Kruppa,
Y (2540) St Petersburg 1998}) 9. Bf4 {[%csl Gf4][%cal Gf4b8]} (9. h4 {is
hardly appropriate:} Nxc5 10. Bxc4 a6 11. Rd1 Qc7 12. e5 b5 13. Bxe7 (13. Bd3
Nxd3+ 14. Rxd3 {1-0 (30) Abdulla,A (2518)-Rahman,S (2247) Dhaka 2007} Nc6 $1
$13 15. Bxe7 $140 Nxe7) 13... Qxe7 14. Bd3 Nxd3+ 15. Qxd3 (15. Rxd3 Nd7 $13)
15... Nc6 16. O-O h6 $11) 9... b5 (9... Nc6 10. Bxc4 Bxc5 (10... Nxc5 11. Rd1
Qa5 12. a3 Nd7 13. O-O {[%csl Ra8,Rc8]} Nde5 14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15. Be2 Ng6 16. Bg3
a6 17. Kh1 $1 {[%csl Rg8][%cal Yf2f4,Yf4f5]} b5 18. f4 Re8 19. f5 Nf8 20. Bh5
$1 $16 {-> 1-0 (32) Azmaiparashvili,Z (2676)-Portisch,L (2599) Kallithea 2002
CBM 092 [Tsesarsky]}) 11. Rd1 (11. O-O-O $5 Qf6 12. Bg5 Qg6 13. h4 h6 14. h5
Qh7 15. Bf4 $14 {I.Tsesarsky}) 11... a6 12. e5 Be7 13. O-O $14 {[%csl Ra8,Rc8]}
Nb4 (13... Qc7 {[%cal Gb7b5]} 14. Bd3 h6 15. Ne4 $36) 14. Qe4 Rb8 15. a3 b5 16.
Bb3 Bb7 17. Qd4 Nc5 18. Qxb4 $18 {1-0 (40) Srokowski,J (2425)-Arlt,K Germany
1994}) 10. cxb6 Nxb6 11. Rd1 Qe8 12. Be2 $14 {[%csl Rc4] Black's c4-pawn is
rather weak than strong, and he does not have enough compensation as his
pieces are poorly developed.} Na6 13. Ne5 Nb4 14. Qc1 Ba6 15. a3 Nc6 16. b4 $1
{Using a tactical motif, White improves the position of his pawns.} Bf6 (16...
Nxe5 17. Bxe5 Bb7 18. O-O f5 19. f3 $1 {[%csl Rb6,Rb7,Ge4]}) 17. Nf3 $1 {
[%cal Re4e5]} (17. Nxc6 $143 Qxc6 {[%csl Gc6]}) 17... Bxc3+ {Black must get
rid of his bishop (which will be passive after e4-e5 or ...e6-e5) but White's
strong dark-squared bishop now becomes an important factor.} 18. Qxc3 Qc8 (
18... f5 19. Bd6 Rf6 20. Qe3 $1 $16) 19. O-O Bb5 20. Bd6 {Other plans, keeping
the e4-pawn on its square to restrict Black's b6 knight, may be even stronger:}
(20. Nd4 $5 Nxd4 21. Rxd4 {[%cal Yf1d1,Yd4d6]}) 20... Rd8 21. e5 h6 (21... Nd5
22. Qc2 Nf4 23. Ng5 $1 Nxe2+ 24. Kh1 $1 g6 25. Qxe2 $18 {-> A.Tukhaev}) (21...
a5 $142 $1 22. Ng5 h6 23. Ne4 axb4 24. axb4 Nd5 25. Qg3 Kh8 {but, of course,
White keeps strong pressure.}) 22. Nd4 $1 {[%cal Gc3g3]} a6 23. Bf3 Nxd4 $6 {
This exchange, activating White's rook, facilitates his task.} (23... Qd7 24.
Be4 $5 {[%cal Yc3g3]}) (23... Nd5 $5 24. Bxd5 (24. Qc2 $5 $16) 24... exd5 25.
f4 $1 $16 {->} (25. Nxb5 $143 axb5 26. Rxd5 Qa6 $132)) 24. Rxd4 {[%cal Gd4g4]}
Bc6 25. Be2 Bb5 26. Rg4 $1 {[%mdl 128]} Kh8 27. Qg3 $6 (27. Rc1 $142 {A.Tukhaev
}) 27... Rg8 $2 {Black misses a good chance:} (27... c3 $1 {(indicated by GM
Adam Tukhaev)} 28. Rxg7 Rg8 $1 (28... Bxe2 $143 29. Rxf7 Rg8 30. Qf4 Rg6 31.
Rf8+ Qxf8 32. Bxf8 Bxf1 33. Kxf1 Nd5 34. Qe4) 29. Rxg8+ Qxg8 30. Qf3 Nd5 {
- Black's strong c3-pawn makes White's task to convert his material advantage
quite difficult.}) 28. Rh4 Qd8 (28... c3 $2 29. Bxb5 axb5 30. Qe3 {[%cal Re3b6,
Rh4h6]}) 29. Qf4 Re8 (29... g5 $1 30. Qc1 $16 {was relatively better for Black.
}) 30. Rxh6+ gxh6 31. Qxh6+ Kg8 32. f4 $6 (32. Rd1 $142 $18 {[%cal Rd1d4]})
32... Bc6 33. Bf3 $2 (33. f5 $1 exf5 34. Rxf5 Re6 35. Rg5+ Qxg5 (35... Rg6 36.
Rxg6+ fxg6 37. Qxg6+ Kh8 38. Qh6+ Kg8 39. Bg4 $1 Bd5 40. e6 $3 Qxd6 41. Qg5+
Kh8 42. Qf6+ Kg8 43. Qf7+ Kh8 44. Bf5 Ra7 45. Qxa7 Bb7 46. Qxb7 Qd4+ 47. Kf1
Qd1+ 48. Kf2 $18) 36. Qxg5+ Rg6 37. Qe3 {, and White should win.}) 33... Qc8 $2
{Both players missed an excellent defence:} (33... Nc8 $3 {(A.Tukhaev)} {
although after} 34. Bxc6 Nxd6 35. exd6 {White keeps a material advantage and
winning chances, e.g.} Qb6+ ({or} 35... Qxd6 36. Bxa8 Qd4+ 37. Kh1 Rxa8 38. h3
$16) 36. Rf2 Qxc6 37. Rf3 Qxf3 38. gxf3 Red8 39. Qg5+ Kh8 40. Qe5+ Kg8 41. h4
c3 42. Qxc3 Rxd6 43. h5 $16) {After the text move White successfully completes
his attack.} 34. f5 $1 ({Even better than} 34. Bxc6 Qxc6 35. Qg5+ Kh7 36. Qh5+
Kg7 37. Rf3 Qxf3 38. Qxf3 $18) 34... exf5 35. Qg5+ Kh8 36. Bxc6 Re6 (36... Qxc6
37. Rxf5 Re6 38. Qh5+ Kg8 39. Qxf7+ Kh8 40. Rh5+ Rh6 41. Rxh6#) 37. Rxf5 Ra7 (
37... Rg6 38. Qh4+ Kg7 39. Rh5 $18) 38. Qh4+ Kg7 39. Rh5 Qg8 40. Be4 1-0

[Event "Moscow Petrosian Memorial"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2014.11.06"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2731"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2014.11.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 Nh5 8. Bd3
Nxf4 9. exf4 b6 10. b4 a5 11. a3 c6 12. O-O Qc7 13. g3 Ba6 14. Bxa6 Rxa6 15.
Qe2 Rfa8 16. b5 cxb5 17. c6 (17. Nxd5 exd5 18. Qxe7 Rc8 {led to a Kramnik
victory in a very important game between Ivanchuk-Kramnik, Tromso World Cup
2013.}) 17... Qxc6 18. Nxb5 Rc8 19. Rac1 {A new idea that was certainly
prepared at home. White is trying to prove that the lack of coordination of
the two rooks can lead to problems for Black.} (19. Nd6 Raa8 20. Nb5 {was a
draw in Miton-Doettling, 2008}) 19... Qxc1 20. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 21. Kg2 Ra8 22. f5 {
Of course White has to use the little itme he has before Black consolidates
his position to create serious threats.} Rc6 23. fxe6 fxe6 24. Ne1 a4 25. Nd3
Ra5 26. Nf4 Nf8 27. h4 $1 {A strange gridlock. White cannot put further
pressure in the position as his pieces are basically maximized. Black, on the
other hand, cannot improve either.} (27. Nxd5 Bxa3 {looks dangerous for White,
though maybe he has some resources involving Nf4 and d5.}) 27... Bf6 28. Kh3 g6
29. Kg2 Bg7 30. g4 h6 31. g5 h5 32. f3 Kh7 33. Kg3 Kg8 34. Kg2 Kh7 35. Kg3 Kh8
36. Kh3 Kg8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Petrosian Memorial"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2014.11.08"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D80"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2014.11.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bg5 Ne4 6. Bf4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8.
cxd5 cxd4 9. cxd4 Qxd5 10. e3 O-O 11. Be2 Nc6 12. O-O Bf5 13. Qa4 Qa5 14. Qxa5
Nxa5 15. Rfc1 Rac8 {Technically a novelty. Earlier this year Grischuk chose to
play the other rook to c8 against Carlsen. Gelfand must have felt there are
reasons to keep the f8 rook where it is, maybe to go to d8.} 16. Ne1 Nc6 17. g4
(17. Bf3 $5) 17... Be4 18. Bf3 f5 $1 {Nice understanding of the position. The
e4 pawn will be very difficult to attack and it severely restricts White's
position, to the point where he will not be able to avoid the e5 break.} 19.
Bxe4 fxe4 20. Rab1 b6 21. Rc2 e5 22. dxe5 Nxe5 23. Bxe5 Bxe5 24. Kg2 {White's
awkward knight on e1 means that Black is the only one that can be better.} Kf7
(24... Rfd8 $15) 25. Rd1 Rxc2 26. Nxc2 Rc8 27. Nd4 a6 28. f4 exf3+ 29. Kxf3 b5
30. h4 Bxd4 (30... h5 {preserved some advantage, but with good play it should
end in a draw anyways.}) 31. Rxd4 Ke6 32. Re4+ Kd6 33. Rd4+ Ke6 34. Re4+ Kd6
35. Rd4+ Ke6 36. Ke4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Petrosian Memorial"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2014.11.09"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2014.11.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 Nh5 8. Bd3
Nxf4 9. exf4 b6 10. b4 a5 11. a3 c6 12. O-O Ba6 13. Na4 Bf6 14. Ne5 Bxe5 15.
fxe5 Bxd3 16. Qxd3 axb4 17. axb4 bxc5 18. Nxc5 Nxc5 19. bxc5 Rxa1 20. Rxa1 f6
21. Qe3 fxe5 22. Qxe5 Qf6 23. Qe3 Re8 24. Re1 Rb8 25. g3 Kf7 26. Qa3 Kg8 27.
Re5 h6 28. Qe3 Rb1+ 29. Kg2 Rb2 30. h4 Kf7 31. h5 Kg8 32. Kg1 Rb1+ 33. Kh2 Rb2
34. Kg2 Ra2 35. Qe1 Rb2 36. Kg1 Kh7 37. Rxe6 Qf5 38. Qe3 Rxf2 39. Rxh6+ gxh6
40. Qxf2 Qxh5 41. Qe1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Petrosian Memorial"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2014.11.10"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2724"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2014.11.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Nbd2 O-O 5. e3 {This is a quiet alternative.}
(5. a3 {is the main and, objectively, more ambitious line.}) 5... b6 (5... d5 {
is more common. Later on Black can develop in the spirit of the Classical
Queen's Gambit. Here is a recent example:} 6. a3 Be7 7. Bd3 c5 8. dxc5 a5 9.
Rb1 Bxc5 10. O-O Nc6 11. Qc2 Qe7 12. cxd5 exd5 13. e4 h6 $1 14. exd5 Nxd5 $11 {
0-1 (44) Bogdanovich,S (2590)-Kuzubov,Y (2661) Lvov 2014}) 6. Bd3 c5 ({A few
days later the same players continued the dispute in the Tal Memorial, which
was a blitz event this year:} 6... Bb7 7. O-O d5 8. a3 Bd6 9. b4 dxc4 10. Nxc4
Nbd7 11. Bb2 Ne4 12. Qe2 f5 13. Nfe5 Bxe5 14. dxe5 Qe7 15. Rac1 Rfd8 16. f3 Ng5
17. Rfd1 $14 {1-0 (61) Kramnik,V (2760)-Morozevich,A (2724) Sochi 2014}) 7. a3
Bxd2+ 8. Bxd2 Bb7 9. dxc5 {White decided to determine the structure in the
centre. Instead, short castling looks more natural, but Vladimir has a
different idea in mind.} bxc5 10. Bc3 d6 {White has a pair of good bishops,
but Black's position is flexible.} 11. Qc2 Nbd7 12. O-O-O $5 $146 {That's a
new approach in this position! The engine doesn't approve of this choice.
However, from the human point of view, it makes sense to hide the king on the
opposite side, so that White could attack on the kingside. For this purpose
White has to be in an aggressive mood and that was exactly the case in the
current game.} (12. Rd1 Qe7 13. O-O a5 14. e4 e5 15. Nh4 g6 16. g3 Nb8 17. f4
Nc6 $11 {[%csl Gd4][%cal Gc6d4] 0-1 (58) Vocaturo,D (2582)-Vitiugov,N (2737)
Caleta 2014}) 12... Qe7 ({After} 12... h6 {White can go} 13. h4 {and then put
the knight on g5, as in the game.}) 13. Ng5 h6 14. h4 Ne5 $5 {Perhaps too
provocative.} (14... Bxg2 $6 {An engine might capture such a pawn and coolly
defend after} 15. Rhg1 Bc6 {but, hardly any human would dare to try it.}) (
14... hxg5 $2 {is suicide, of course.} 15. hxg5 $18 {[%csl Rg8]}) (14... Rfd8 {
was a logical alternative. Black should meet White's flank attack with
counterplay in the centre. For instance:} 15. f4 d5 $132) 15. Bh7+ {White
should avoid exhanging either of his bishops.} Kh8 16. f4 Neg4 (16... Nxc4 $2
17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Qxc4 fxg5 19. hxg5 Kxh7 20. Rxh6+ Kg7 21. Qc3+ e5 22. Rdxd6 {
with a crushing attack, for example:} Rh8 23. Rd7 $1 Qxd7 24. Qxe5+ $18) (16...
Ned7 {was possible, but then it's not clear what the move 14...Ne5 was made
for.}) 17. Rh3 h5 $6 {Alexander wanted to secure the g4-outpost, but the move
slightly weakens the kingside and also White's knight is no longer under
attack.} ({After} 17... e5 $6 {Kramnik mentioned the following spectacular
line:} 18. Bf5 Bc8 19. Bxc8 Raxc8 20. Rg3 h5 $2 21. Rxg4 $1 hxg4 22. Rxd6 $1
Qxd6 23. Bxe5 Qe7 24. Bxf6 Qxe3+ 25. Kb1 Qe1+ 26. Ka2 Qxh4 27. Nxf7+ Rxf7 28.
Bxh4 $18 {Not a forced line, but it is a good illustration of White's
attacking possibilities.}) ({I suggest bringing the bishop into the defence by:
} 17... Rad8 18. Bd3 Bc8 $1 19. Rg3 (19. Rf1 e5 20. Be2 e4 21. f5 d5 22. cxd5
Rxd5 23. Bxg4 Nxg4 24. Qxe4 Qxe4 25. Nxe4 f6 {[%csl Rf5] Black will get back
the pawn and is, at least, not worse}) 19... e5 20. Be2 (20. f5 $6 d5 $15)
20... Nf2 $1 21. Rf1 hxg5 22. Rxf2 ({After} 22. hxg5 N6e4 {the knights are
covering both h1 and h3 squares.}) 22... g4 23. f5 Bb7 24. Bd3 d5 $15) 18. Rg3
Rae8 19. Bd3 {Now White is threatening 20.Be2; Black's linked knights are not
as stable as they look. Therefore, Black's next move is necessary.} e5 20. Be2
(20. Bf5 {with the same idea seems to be more precise, not allowing the reply
that followed in the game.}) 20... Nf2 (20... exf4 21. Bxg4 Ne4 $1 (21... fxg3
$2 22. Bxf6 Qxe3+ 23. Kb1 Be4 24. Nxe4 Qxe4 25. Qxe4 Rxe4 26. Bf3 Rxc4 27. Be7
Re8 28. Bxd6 Rxh4 29. Bxg3 {and the pair of bishops overcome the rook plus a
couple of pawns}) 22. exf4 (22. Be6 $6 fxg3 23. Qe2 Nxg5 24. Qxh5+ Nh7 25. Bf5
Qxe3+ 26. Rd2 Qg1+ 27. Rd1 Qe3+ $11) 22... hxg4 23. h5 f6 24. h6 Qd7 {The
engine doesn't show anything decisively disastrous here for Black, but the
position looks frightening.}) 21. Rf1 N2e4 22. fxe5 dxe5 (22... Nxg3 $2 {
falls to} 23. Rxf6 $1 $18 {[%cal Gc2h7]} ({But not} 23. exf6 $4 Qxe3+ 24. Kb1
g6 $19)) 23. Rxf6 $5 {It wasn't necessary to go "all in", but Kramnik felt
tempted to eliminate one of black's annoying knights.} (23. Rgf3 g6 (23... Nxg5
24. hxg5 Ne4 25. Rh3 g6 26. Bxh5 $1 Nxg5 27. Rh2 gxh5 28. Rxh5+ Kg8 29. Rfh1
Be4 30. Rxg5+ Qxg5 31. Qxe4 Qg7 32. b4 $1 $14) 24. Bd3 Nxg5 25. Rxf6 Nh7 26.
R6f2 Kg7 27. g3 $14) 23... Nxf6 24. Bxh5 Kg8 (24... Be4 $2 25. Nxe4 Nxh5 26.
Rg5 $1 $18 {[%csl Re5,Rh5]}) 25. Be2 Qd6 26. Rh3 Bxg2 {White has only one rook
left, so it's possible to grab this pawn now.} 27. Rg3 Bb7 28. h5 Re7 $1 (28...
e4 $2 29. Rg1 Qh2 30. Qd1 $1 $40) 29. Rg1 $1 {Moving the rook away to a safer
square. In some cases it can go to the d-file.} (29. h6 $2 g6 {and there is no
good attacking continuation.}) 29... e4 $2 {Closing the diagonal for White's
queen, but opening the diagonal for White's bishop.} (29... Rd8 $1 30. h6 (30.
Qf5 {is met by} Bc8) 30... g6 31. Nxf7 $1 Rxf7 32. Qxg6+ Kf8 33. Rd1 Qe7 34.
Rxd8+ Qxd8 35. Bxe5 Qe7 36. h7 Rxh7 37. Qxf6+ Qxf6 38. Bxf6 Be4 {and this
endgame should end in a draw.}) 30. h6 Qh2 (30... Rd8 31. Rd1 Qc7 32. hxg7 $18
{[%csl Gc3]}) {[%tqu "En","What should White do?","","","g5h3","It seems that
Morozevich overlooked this resource. Now white's attack is crushing.",10]} 31.
Nh3 $1 $18 {It seems that Morozevich overlooked this resource. Now White's
attack is crushing.} Qxh3 (31... Ne8 32. hxg7 Qxh3 33. gxf8=Q+ Kxf8 34. Qd2 $18
) (31... g6 32. Bxf6 Qxh3 {[%csl Re3][%cal Gh3e3]} 33. h7+ $1 Kxh7 34. Qd1 $18
{[%cal Gg1h1]}) 32. Rxg7+ Kh8 33. Bxf6 Qxh6 34. Rg6+ {Great game by Kramnik!}
1-0

[Event "Moscow Petrosian Memorial"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2014.11.11"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2795"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "28"]
[EventDate "2014.11.04"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 c6 6. Ne5 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Qxd4 8.
Bxb4 Qxe5 9. Na3 b5 10. Bc3 Qc5 11. Bd4 Qb4+ 12. Bc3 Qc5 13. Bd4 Qb4+ 14. Bc3
Qc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sochi Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D20"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2014.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. Bxc4 Nb6 6. Bb3 Nc6 7. Ne2 Bf5 8.
Nbc3 e6 9. O-O Qd7 10. Be3 O-O-O 11. Bc2 Bxc2 12. Qxc2 Kb8 13. a3 f6 14. Rfd1
Ne7 15. Nf4 Nbd5 16. Rac1 c6 17. exf6 gxf6 18. Ne4 Nxe3 19. fxe3 Nd5 20. Qf2 f5
21. Nxd5 exd5 22. Ng3 Bd6 23. Nxf5 Rdf8 24. Rf1 Bc7 25. Rce1 Rf6 26. Qc2 Rhf8
27. Ng3 Bxg3 28. hxg3 Qg7 29. Rxf6 Rxf6 30. Rf1 Rxf1+ 31. Kxf1 Qxg3 32. Qxh7
Qxe3 33. Qh2+ Kc8 34. Qh3+ Qxh3 35. gxh3 Kd7 36. Kf2 Ke6 37. Kf3 Kf5 38. h4 a5
39. b4 a4 40. Kg3 Ke4 41. Kg4 Kxd4 42. h5 Ke3 43. h6 d4 44. h7 d3 45. h8=Q d2
46. Qh1 Kd3 47. Qd1 1-0

[Event "Sochi Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2731"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2014.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nf5 8.
c3 Nxe5 9. Rxe5 d6 10. Re1 O-O 11. d4 d5 12. Bf4 Bd6 13. Be5 f6 14. Bxd6 Nxd6
15. Bd3 c6 16. Qf3 g6 17. Nd2 Bf5 18. Bxf5 Nxf5 19. Nb3 b6 20. Re2 Qd7 21. Rae1
Rae8 22. Nc1 Rxe2 23. Rxe2 Re8 24. Nd3 Rxe2 25. Qxe2 Kf7 26. f3 Qe6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sochi Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.13"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Inarkiev, Ernesto"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D18"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2688"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2014.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. a5 Nbd7 8. Bxc4
Bd6 9. O-O O-O 10. h3 Qc7 11. Nh4 Be4 12. Nxe4 Nxe4 13. Qc2 Nef6 14. e4 Be7 15.
e5 Nd5 16. Bxd5 Bxh4 17. Be4 g6 18. a6 Rfc8 19. axb7 Qxb7 20. Bd2 Nb6 21. Rfc1
Nd5 22. Ra5 Rab8 23. Rc5 Qxb2 24. Bxd5 exd5 25. Qxb2 Rxb2 26. Be3 Bd8 27. Rxd5
Bb6 28. Rd6 Rb4 29. d5 Bxe3 30. fxe3 c5 31. e6 Re4 32. exf7+ Kxf7 33. Rf1+ Ke7
34. Ra6 Rxe3 35. Rb1 Rd8 36. Rxa7+ Rd7 37. d6+ Ke6 38. Ra5 c4 39. Rc5 c3 40.
Rc1 Rxd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sochi Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.13"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2714"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "2014.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bb4+ 5. c3 Bc5 6. Be3 Bb6 7. Nf5 Bxe3 8.
Nxe3 d6 9. c4 Nge7 10. Nc3 O-O 11. Be2 f5 12. exf5 Nxf5 13. Nxf5 Bxf5 14. O-O
Qd7 15. Bf3 Kh8 16. b3 Rae8 17. Re1 Rxe1+ 18. Qxe1 Ne5 19. Bd5 Nd3 20. Qe3 b6
21. Rf1 Re8 22. Qd4 Nb4 23. Bf3 Bd3 24. Rd1 Bc2 25. Rf1 Bd3 26. Rd1 Bc2 27. Rf1
Bd3 28. Rc1 Bg6 29. h3 a5 30. Rd1 Bc2 31. Rd2 Bf5 32. Kh2 h6 33. Qf4 Nd3 34.
Qg3 Ne5 35. Bd5 c6 36. Bf3 Nxf3+ 37. Qxf3 Bg6 38. Qf4 Re6 39. Ne2 Rf6 40. Qe3
Qc7 41. Qg3 Qe7 42. Nf4 Bf7 43. Re2 Qd7 44. Qe3 b5 45. cxb5 cxb5 46. Qd4 Qf5
47. Nd3 b4 48. Rd2 Bg6 49. Nb2 Qc5 50. f3 Bf7 51. Na4 Qc7 52. Kg1 d5 53. Qc5
Rc6 54. Qd4 Rc1+ 55. Rd1 Rxd1+ 56. Qxd1 Qf4 57. Kh1 Qe3 58. Qc2 d4 59. Qf5 Be6
60. Qf8+ Bg8 61. Qc5 Qe1+ 62. Kh2 d3 63. Qd4 d2 64. Nb2 Qc1 65. Qd8 Qxb2 0-1

[Event "Sochi Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.13"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D51"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2014.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. cxd5 cxd5 7. e3 Be7 8.
Bd3 b6 9. O-O Bb7 10. Qe2 O-O 11. Rfc1 h6 12. Bf4 Nh5 13. Be5 a6 14. h3 Nxe5
15. dxe5 g6 16. Nd4 Ng7 17. Qg4 Rc8 18. Nce2 Rxc1+ 19. Rxc1 Qb8 20. f4 Rc8 21.
Rf1 Rc7 22. Bxg6 fxg6 23. Qxg6 Qe8 24. Qxh6 Bf8 25. Qg5 Bc8 26. Ng3 Kh7 27.
Qh4+ Kg8 28. Qg4 Kh7 29. Kh2 Qg6 30. Qh4+ Kg8 31. Qd8 Qf7 32. Qg5 Be7 33. Qg4
Kh7 34. f5 exf5 35. Ngxf5 Nxf5 36. Nxf5 Qg6 37. Qxg6+ Kxg6 38. Nd4 Bg5 39. Rf3
Re7 40. Rf8 Bd7 41. Rg8+ Rg7 42. Rb8 Bxe3 43. Nf3 Kh7 44. g4 Bc6 45. Kg3 Rf7
46. e6 Re7 47. Rc8 Bb7 48. Rd8 Bc6 49. Rd6 Be8 50. h4 Bc5 51. Ng5+ Kg6 52. Rxd5
Be3 53. Kf3 Bc6 54. h5+ Kh6 55. Nf7+ Kg7 56. h6+ Kh7 57. Ke4 Rxe6+ 58. Ne5 Bxh6
0-1

[Event "Sochi Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.13"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2724"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2014.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. b3 Nf6 4. g3 d4 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. O-O e5 7. d3 a5 8. Na3 Bc5
9. Nb5 O-O 10. Bg5 Re8 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Qc1 Ne7 13. Na3 Ng6 14. Nc2 f5 15. Nd2
Ra6 16. a3 Rae6 17. b4 Bf8 18. Qb2 Bg7 19. bxa5 e4 20. Nb3 exd3 21. exd3 f4 22.
Rad1 Qf6 23. Nc5 Re2 24. Ne4 R8xe4 25. Bxe4 f3 26. Qc1 Ne5 27. Nxd4 Bh3 28. Qf4
Qxf4 29. gxf4 Ng6 30. Bxf3 Ra2 31. Ne2 Nh4 32. Bh5 Bxf1 33. Kxf1 Rxa3 34. Rb1
Rxa5 35. Ng3 b6 36. Re1 Kf8 37. Bg4 Ng6 38. Re4 Ra1+ 39. Kg2 Ne7 40. f5 Ra5 41.
d4 Nc6 42. d5 Ne5 43. Be2 Nd7 44. Rh4 h6 45. Nh5 Ra2 46. Bf3 Be5 47. Ng3 Bd6
48. Rxh6 Ne5 49. f6 Ke8 50. Nf5 Bc5 51. Be4 Re2 52. Ng7+ Kd7 53. Bf5+ 1-0

[Event "Sochi Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.13"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kosteniuk, Alexandra"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2541"]
[Annotator "Schulz,Andre"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2014.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 b6 3. Bg2 Bb7 4. O-O e6 5. c4 Be7 6. b3 O-O 7. Bb2 d5 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. d4 Nf6 10. Nc3 c5 (10... Na6 11. Ne5 Bxg2 12. Kxg2 Qc8 13. e4 Qb7 14.
Qf3 Rad8 15. Rad1 c6 16. Rfe1 Nc7 17. Na4 Nb5 18. Qe2 Bb4 19. Rf1 a6 20. Qc4 c5
21. dxc5 bxc5 22. f3 Nd7 23. Nxd7 Rxd7 24. Nxc5 Bxc5 25. Qxc5 Rc8 26. Qe5 f6
27. Qxe6+ Rf7 28. Rc1 Nc7 29. Qc4 Re8 30. Rfd1 Qc8 31. Rd6 Rd8 32. Ba3 h5 33.
Rcd1 Rxd6 34. Rxd6 Qe8 35. Rc6 Qd7 36. Rd6 Qe8 37. Qd3 Qe5 38. f4 Qa1 39. e5
Qxa2+ 40. Kh3 Qxa3 41. Qc4 Kf8 42. Rd8+ Ne8 43. b4 Qf3 44. Qc5+ Re7 45. exf6
Qg4+ 46. Kg2 {0-1 (46) Danielian,E (2476)-Kosteniuk,A (2501) Beijing 2012}) 11.
dxc5 Bxc5 12. Qxd8 Rxd8 13. Ne5 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 Nbd7 15. Nd3 Be7 16. Rfd1 Rac8
17. Rac1 a6 18. f4 b5 19. Kf3 Nb6 20. g4 Nfd5 21. Ne4 (21. Nxd5 Nxd5 22. Ne5
$14) 21... a5 (21... f6 $11) 22. Bd4 Ba3 23. Rxc8 Rxc8 24. Bxb6 Nxb6 25. f5 Nd5
26. Rd2 h5 27. fxe6 hxg4+ 28. Kxg4 fxe6 29. Ng5 Rf8 {Es droht Se3, aber
Kramnik bedient nicht.} 30. Nxe6 Ne3+ 31. Kh3 Rf6 32. Ndf4 Rh6+ (32... Rh6+ 33.
Kg3 Nf1+ 34. Kg4 Nxd2 $19) 0-1

[Event "Sochi Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.13"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A04"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "2014.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. g3 Bg7 3. Bg2 c5 4. O-O Nc6 5. Nc3 d5 6. a3 e5 7. e4 d4 8. Nd5
Nge7 9. c4 dxc3 10. dxc3 h6 11. b4 O-O 12. Be3 cxb4 13. axb4 Nxd5 14. exd5 Ne7
15. c4 Nf5 16. Ra3 Bd7 17. c5 Bb5 18. Re1 e4 19. Nd2 Qxd5 20. Nxe4 Qxd1 21.
Rxd1 Bc6 22. Nd6 Bxg2 23. Kxg2 Rfd8 24. Rad3 Nxd6 25. Rxd6 Rxd6 26. Rxd6 a5 27.
bxa5 Bf8 28. Rd7 Rxa5 29. Rd8 g5 30. Rc8 f6 31. Kf3 Kf7 32. Ke4 Be7 33. f4 Ke6
34. f5+ Kd7 35. Rh8 Bxc5 36. Rh7+ Kd6 37. Rxh6 Ra4+ 38. Kf3 Ra3 39. Rxf6+ Ke5
40. Rf7 Rxe3+ 41. Kg4 b5 42. Kxg5 b4 43. Rb7 Rf3 44. g4 Kd5 45. Kg6 Kc6 46. Rb8
Bd6 47. Rc8+ Kd5 48. f6 b3 49. Rc1 Ke6 50. g5 b2 51. Re1+ Be5 52. h4 Rb3 53. f7
Rf3 54. h5 Rxf7 55. h6 Rf2 56. Kh7 Re2 57. Rb1 Rc2 58. g6 Rc1 59. g7 Rc7 60.
Kg6 Rc8 61. h7 Bxg7 62. Kxg7 Rc7+ 63. Kh6 Kd5 1-0

[Event "Sochi Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.13"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2714"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2014.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be2 Bg7 5. h4 c5 6. d5 a6 7. a4 h5 8. Nf3 Bg4
9. Ng5 Bxe2 10. Qxe2 Nbd7 11. Nd1 O-O 12. O-O Ne5 13. f3 Qd7 14. Bf4 Ne8 15.
Ne3 Nc7 16. Bg3 b5 17. axb5 axb5 18. c3 c4 19. Bxe5 dxe5 20. g4 f6 21. Ne6 Nxe6
22. dxe6 Qxe6 23. gxh5 gxh5 24. Nf5 Rxa1 25. Rxa1 Kh7 26. Kh1 Qf7 27. Ra7 Re8
28. Nd6 Qe6 29. Nxe8 Qh3+ 30. Kg1 Bh6 31. Nxf6+ Kg6 32. Qg2+ Qxg2+ 33. Kxg2
exf6 34. Rb7 1-0

[Event "Sochi Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.13"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E70"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2795"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2014.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 O-O 6. Nf3 e6 7. e5 Ng4 8. Ng5
Nxe5 9. f4 exd5 10. fxe5 d4 11. Nd5 Nc6 12. Nf3 Nxe5 13. Nxe5 Qh4+ 14. g3 Qe4+
15. Qe2 Qxh1 16. Nf3 d6 17. Kf2 Bg4 18. Bg2 Bxf3 19. Qxf3 Qxh2 20. Bf4 Qh5 21.
Qxh5 gxh5 22. Bxd6 Rfe8 23. Ne7+ Kh8 24. Bxc5 d3 25. Rd1 Rad8 26. Bd5 Rd7 27.
Nf5 Re2+ 28. Kf3 Rxb2 29. Nxg7 Rxa2 30. Nxh5 f6 31. Bd4 h6 32. Nxf6 Rd8 33.
Rxd3 Kg7 34. Ne4+ Kg6 35. Nc3 1-0

[Event "Sochi Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.13"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2014.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. f3 c5 4. d5 e6 5. c4 exd5 6. cxd5 Be7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Nge2
Nh5 9. g4 Bh4+ 10. Kd2 Nf6 11. Ng3 Na6 12. Kc2 b5 13. Bxb5 Rb8 14. Bxa6 Bxa6
15. Nf5 Nd7 16. g5 Bf2 17. Qd2 Bd4 18. Nxd4 cxd4 19. Qxd4 Qa5 20. Bf4 Rb4 21.
Qe3 Nc5 22. Rhd1 Qb6 23. b3 Rc8 24. Rac1 Bc4 25. Kd2 Bxb3 26. axb3 Nxb3+ 27.
Ke1 Qxe3+ 28. Bxe3 Nxc1 29. Rxc1 a5 30. Bd2 a4 31. Ra1 Ra8 32. Ra3 f6 33. gxf6
gxf6 34. Kd1 Kf7 35. Kc2 Rc8 36. Kd3 Ra8 37. Be3 Rb3 38. Rxb3 axb3 39. Bc1 Ra1
40. Kd2 Ra8 41. Bb2 Rg8 42. Nb5 Rg2+ 43. Kc3 Rf2 44. Nxd6+ Kg6 45. Kxb3 Rxf3+
46. Kc4 Rh3 47. Nf5 Rxh2 48. Bd4 h5 49. d6 Kf7 50. Kd5 Ra2 51. d7 Ra8 52. Bb6
h4 53. d8=Q 1-0

[Event "Sochi Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.14"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E60"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2014.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. b3 c5 4. Bb2 Bg7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. c4 Nc6 7. O-O d6 8. d4
cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bd7 10. Nc3 Qa5 11. e3 a6 12. Qd2 Rab8 13. Rad1 Rfc8 14. a3 Qb6
15. Na4 Qd8 16. Nc3 Na5 17. Nd5 e5 18. Nxf6+ Bxf6 19. Nf3 Be6 20. Qb4 Nc6 21.
Qc3 b5 22. Nd2 bxc4 23. Nxc4 d5 24. Qc2 Bg7 25. f4 Na5 26. Bxd5 Bxd5 27. fxe5
Nxc4 28. bxc4 Qb6 29. Bd4 Qc7 30. c5 Bb3 0-1

[Event "Sochi Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.14"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2014.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 c6 4. O-O Bg4 5. h3 Bxf3 6. Bxf3 e5 7. d3 Nbd7 8. e4
dxe4 9. dxe4 Nc5 10. Nd2 Be7 11. Qe2 O-O 12. Rd1 Qc8 13. h4 Rd8 14. Re1 Ne6 15.
Nb3 a5 16. a4 b5 17. c3 Qb7 18. Qc2 bxa4 19. Rxa4 Qb5 20. Ra2 a4 21. Nd2 Nc5
22. Be2 Qb7 23. Bc4 Ne8 24. Nf3 Nd6 25. Nxe5 Bf6 26. Nd3 Ncxe4 27. Rxa4 Qd7 28.
Rxa8 Rxa8 29. Bb3 Re8 30. Bf4 h6 31. Ba4 g5 32. hxg5 hxg5 33. Be3 Nf5 34. Nb4
Nexg3 35. Bxc6 Nxe3 36. Bxd7 1-0

[Event "Sochi Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.14"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A04"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2731"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2014.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O Nc6 5. Nc3 e6 6. a3 Nge7 7. Rb1 a5 8. d3
O-O 9. e4 d6 10. a4 e5 11. Nd2 f5 12. Nc4 f4 13. Nb5 Rf6 14. c3 Na7 15. Nxa7
Rxa7 16. d4 cxd4 17. cxd4 Qc7 18. b3 Be6 19. Ba3 Bxc4 20. bxc4 Nc6 21. c5 Nxd4
22. cxd6 Rxd6 23. Bxd6 Qxd6 24. Qd3 h5 25. gxf4 exf4 26. e5 Bxe5 27. Be4 b6 28.
Kh1 g5 29. Rfd1 g4 30. Rb5 Nxb5 31. Qb3+ Kg7 32. Rxd6 Nxd6 33. Qe6 Nxe4 34.
Qxe5+ Nf6 35. Qg5+ Kf7 36. Qxf4 Re7 37. Kg2 Re4 38. Qc7+ Kg6 39. Qc2 Kg5 40. h3
Rb4 41. Qd2+ Kg6 42. Qc2+ Kg5 43. Qd2+ Kg6 44. Qc2+ Kg5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sochi Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.14"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Inarkiev, Ernesto"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2688"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2014.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Nbd2 Ne7 8. Re1
Ng6 9. d4 Bb6 10. Bf1 c6 11. Nc4 Bc7 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. Qxd8 Rxd8 14. Bg5 Be6
15. a4 Rd7 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. g3 Rad8 18. a5 Kf8 19. Ne3 Ne7 20. h4 Nc8 21. Kh2
Nd6 22. Nd2 b6 23. Nec4 Nxc4 24. Nxc4 b5 25. Ne3 Rd2 26. Re2 Rxe2 27. Bxe2 Rd2
28. Bg4 Rxf2+ 29. Kh3 h5 30. Bf5 Re2 31. Ng2 Rxe4 32. Bxe6 fxe6 33. b4 f5 34.
Rd1 Ke7 35. Ne1 Re3 36. Kg2 e4 37. Nc2 Rxg3+ 38. Kf2 Rxc3 39. Nd4 Be5 0-1

[Event "Sochi Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.14"]
[Round "16"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D91"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2714"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2014.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 c5 7. d5 b5 8. d6 Bb7
9. e5 Ne4 10. Nxe4 Bxe4 11. Qe2 Bf5 12. g4 Be6 13. Qe4 Nd7 14. O-O-O Rb8 15.
dxe7 Qa5 16. Bf6 Bxf6 17. exf6 c3 18. Qc2 Qxa2 19. Qxc3 b4 20. Qe3 Qa1+ 21. Kd2
Qxb2+ 22. Ke1 Qxf6 23. Nd2 Qxe7 24. Ne4 O-O 25. g5 Rfe8 26. Nd6 b3 27. Nxe8
Qxe8 28. Be2 b2 0-1

[Event "Sochi Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.14"]
[Round "17"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C26"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2014.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 d5 4. exd5 Nxd5 5. Bg2 Nf6 6. d3 Nc6 7. Nf3 Bc5 8.
O-O O-O 9. a3 Re8 10. Re1 h6 11. h3 a6 12. b4 Ba7 13. Be3 Bxe3 14. Rxe3 Bf5 15.
Nh4 Bh7 16. Bxc6 bxc6 17. Nf3 a5 18. Nxe5 axb4 19. axb4 Rxa1 20. Qxa1 Qd6 21.
Qa2 Bg6 22. Qa5 Rb8 23. Nxg6 fxg6 24. Ne4 Nxe4 25. Rxe4 Kh7 26. h4 Rb5 27. Qa8
g5 28. h5 g4 29. Qe8 Rg5 30. Qf7 Qd5 31. Qxd5 cxd5 32. Re7 c6 33. Rc7 Rxh5 34.
Rxc6 d4 35. Rd6 1-0

[Event "Sochi Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.14"]
[Round "18"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2724"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2014.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Nbd2 O-O 5. e3 b6 6. Bd3 Bb7 7. O-O d5 8. a3
Bd6 9. b4 dxc4 10. Nxc4 Nbd7 11. Bb2 Ne4 12. Qe2 f5 13. Nfe5 Bxe5 14. dxe5 Qe7
15. Rac1 Rfd8 16. f3 Ng5 17. Rfd1 Nf8 18. h4 Nf7 19. Qf2 Rd7 20. Be2 Rad8 21.
Rxd7 Rxd7 22. h5 g5 23. hxg6 hxg6 24. Bd4 g5 25. Qg3 Ng6 26. f4 g4 27. Nd2 Kg7
28. Kf2 Rd8 29. Rh1 a5 30. Bc3 axb4 31. axb4 c5 32. b5 Qd7 33. Nc4 Qxb5 34. Nd6
Qb3 35. e4 Bxe4 36. Nxe4 fxe4 37. f5 Rd3 38. Bxd3 Qxc3 39. fxg6 Nxe5 40. Be2
Qd4+ 41. Kf1 Qa1+ 42. Qe1 Qd4 43. Rh7+ Kxg6 44. Qh4 Qa1+ 45. Kf2 e3+ 46. Kg3
Qe1+ 47. Kf4 Qf2+ 48. Qxf2 exf2 49. Rh1 Nc6 50. Ke3 g3 51. Rh3 Nd4 52. Rxg3+
Kf5 53. Kxf2 b5 54. Re3 e5 55. Bd3+ Ke6 56. g4 c4 57. Be4 b4 58. g5 b3 59. g6
c3 60. g7 Kf7 61. Rg3 1-0

[Event "Sochi Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.14"]
[Round "19"]
[White "Kosteniuk, Alexandra"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2541"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2014.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Nxe4 8.
Bxb4 Nxb4 9. Bxf7+ Kxf7 10. Qb3+ Kf8 11. Qxb4+ Qe7 12. Qxe7+ Kxe7 13. O-O Kd8
14. Re1 Nf6 15. Ng5 Rf8 16. Nc3 h6 17. Nge4 Ne8 18. Re3 d6 19. Rc1 Bd7 20. d5
a5 21. Ne2 a4 22. Nd4 Ra5 23. Nc3 Nf6 24. Ne6+ Bxe6 25. dxe6 Re8 26. f4 c6 27.
Rce1 Ke7 28. h3 Rf8 29. Rd1 Ne8 30. Rd4 Nc7 31. g4 g6 32. Rb4 b5 33. Re2 c5 34.
Rbe4 b4 35. Nd1 d5 36. Re5 Rxf4 37. Ne3 c4 38. h4 a3 39. bxa3 Rxa3 40. h5 d4
41. Nd5+ Nxd5 42. Rxd5 Rxg4+ 43. Kf2 Re3 44. Rxe3 dxe3+ 45. Kxe3 Kxe6 46. Rb5
c3 47. hxg6 Kf6 48. Rb6+ Kg7 49. Kd3 h5 50. Kc2 h4 51. a3 h3 52. Rb7+ Kxg6 53.
Rb8 Rh4 54. Rg8+ Kf7 0-1

[Event "Sochi Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.14"]
[Round "20"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2014.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 c6 4. O-O Bg4 5. c4 e6 6. d3 dxc4 7. dxc4 Qxd1 8.
Rxd1 Nbd7 9. Nc3 Bb4 10. Bd2 O-O-O 11. h3 Bxf3 12. exf3 Ne5 13. a3 Ba5 14. b4
Nxc4 15. Be1 Bc7 16. f4 Rxd1 17. Nxd1 Rd8 18. a4 a6 19. Bf1 Nd2 20. Be2 Nb3 21.
Rb1 Nd4 22. Kf1 Nxe2 23. Kxe2 Nd5 24. Nb2 e5 25. f5 e4 26. Nc4 b5 27. axb5 axb5
28. Ne3 Bb6 29. Nc2 Kb7 30. Ra1 Ne7 31. g4 Rd3 32. Ra3 Nd5 33. Bd2 Rxa3 34.
Nxa3 Kc7 35. Nc2 Kd6 36. Bc1 Nc3+ 37. Kd2 Nd5 38. Ke2 f6 39. f3 e3 40. Kd3 0-1

[Event "Sochi Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.14"]
[Round "21"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2714"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2014.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 Bf5 4. d3 Nf6 5. Nh4 Bg4 6. h3 Bh5 7. g4 Bg6 8. e3 e6
9. Qe2 Bb4+ 10. Nd2 Nbd7 11. O-O Ng8 12. Nxg6 hxg6 13. f4 Ne7 14. Nf3 Ba5 15.
a3 Bc7 16. e4 dxe4 17. dxe4 e5 18. f5 O-O 19. Bg5 gxf5 20. exf5 Qe8 21. Rad1
Nd5 22. Rfe1 f6 23. c4 N5b6 24. Be3 e4 25. Nd2 Ne5 26. Nxe4 Nexc4 27. Bf2 Rf7
28. Nxf6+ gxf6 29. Qxe8+ Rxe8 30. Rxe8+ Kg7 31. Bd4 Be5 32. Bxe5 Nxe5 33. Rdd8
Kh6 34. Rh8+ Kg5 35. Rd4 1-0

[Event "Sochi Tal Memorial Blitz"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2014.11.14"]
[Round "22"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A43"]
[WhiteElo "2795"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2014.11.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "22"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2015"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.11.20"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 c5 3. d5 d6 4. Nc3 g6 5. e4 Bg7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. Bd3 Bg4 8. h3
Bxf3 9. Qxf3 Na6 10. Qd1 Nc7 11. O-O b5 12. a3 Rb8 13. Re1 a5 14. Qd2 Nd7 15.
Bh6 b4 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. axb4 cxb4 18. Ne2 Nb5 19. Bxb5 Rxb5 20. Nd4 Rc5 21.
Nb3 Rb5 22. c4 bxc3 23. Qxc3+ Nf6 24. Nxa5 Qb6 25. Nc4 Qb7 26. Re3 Rc8 27. b3
Kg8 28. Ra5 Rxa5 29. Qxa5 Nd7 30. Qe1 Nc5 31. Na5 Qc7 32. Nc6 Ra8 33. b4 Nb7
34. Rc3 Qd7 35. Qe3 f6 36. Qb6 Kg7 37. Nd4 Rc8 38. Rc6 Nd8 39. b5 Nxc6 40. dxc6
Qe8 41. Qa5 Ra8 42. Qc3 e5 43. Nc2 Qb8 44. Qc4 Qb6 45. Ne3 Rb8 46. c7 Rc8 47.
Nd5 Qa5 48. g3 f5 49. b6 Qe1+ 50. Kg2 Qb1 51. Ne7 fxe4 52. Nxc8 e3 53. Nxd6
exf2 54. Qf7+ Kh6 55. Qxf2 1-0

[Event "Qatar Masters op"]
[Site "Doha"]
[Date "2014.11.26"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Halkias, Stelios"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C51"]
[WhiteElo "2519"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2014.11.26"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "QAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteClock "1:30:30"]
[BlackClock "1:30:30"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Be7 6. d4 Na5 7. Bd3 d6 8. dxe5
dxe5 9. Nxe5 Nf6 10. O-O O-O 11. Qc2 Nd7 12. Nxd7 Qxd7 13. e5 g6 14. Nd2 b6 15.
Nf3 Bb7 16. Be4 Bxe4 17. Qxe4 Qc6 18. Qg4 Rad8 19. Bg5 Qc5 20. Qh4 Nc6 21. Rae1
h5 22. Re4 Rd3 23. Rc4 Qd5 24. Bxe7 Nxe7 25. Rxc7 Nf5 26. Qc4 Qxc4 27. Rxc4 Re8
28. Re1 Rd5 29. h3 Kf8 30. g4 hxg4 31. hxg4 Ng7 32. Rc7 Re7 33. Rc8+ Re8 34.
Rc7 Re7 35. Rc8+ Re8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Qatar Masters op"]
[Site "Doha"]
[Date "2014.11.27"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shyam, Sundar M"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2484"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2014.11.26"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "QAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteClock "1:30:30"]
[BlackClock "1:30:30"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. b3 Be7 4. Bb2 Bf6 5. Nc3 dxc4 6. bxc4 c5 7. g4 h6 8. h4
Bd7 9. e3 Bc6 10. Bg2 Nd7 11. Ke2 Kf8 12. g5 Bxc3 13. Bxc3 e5 14. d4 exd4 15.
exd4 Bxf3+ 16. Bxf3 hxg5 17. Bxb7 Qe7+ 18. Kf1 Rd8 19. hxg5 Rxh1+ 20. Bxh1 Qxg5
21. Qf3 Ngf6 22. Re1 Qh4 23. Bg2 cxd4 24. Bb4+ Kg8 25. Be7 Re8 26. Qf5 Qh7 27.
Qxh7+ Kxh7 28. c5 d3 29. Bd6 d2 30. Rd1 Ne4 31. c6 Nb6 32. Bf4 Nc4 33. Bxe4+
Rxe4 34. c7 Re8 35. Bxd2 Nxd2+ 36. Rxd2 Rc8 37. Rd7 Kg6 38. f4 Kf6 39. f5 Kxf5
40. Rxf7+ Ke6 41. Rxg7 Kd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Qatar Masters op"]
[Site "Doha"]
[Date "2014.11.28"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Debashis, Das"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2485"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "162"]
[EventDate "2014.11.26"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "QAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteClock "1:30:30"]
[BlackClock "1:30:30"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nf5 8.
Nf3 d5 9. d4 O-O 10. Nc3 Bb4 11. Bf4 Nce7 12. a3 Ba5 13. b4 Bb6 14. Na4 Ng6 15.
Bc1 Nd6 16. Ne5 c6 17. Nxb6 axb6 18. Rb1 Re8 19. Rb3 Nf8 20. Rbe3 f6 21. Ng4
Be6 22. h3 b5 23. Bd3 Bf7 24. Rxe8 Bxe8 25. Ne3 Bg6 26. Bf1 Qd7 27. h4 h6 28.
g3 Be4 29. Kh2 Qf7 30. Bh3 Re8 31. Kg1 Re7 32. c3 Qe8 33. f3 Bh7 34. Kf2 Ne6
35. Bf1 g5 36. Ng4 Kg7 37. hxg5 hxg5 38. Bg2 Nf5 39. Ne3 Nd6 40. Ng4 Bg6 41.
Re2 Nf5 42. Qe1 Kf7 43. Bh3 Qh8 44. Kg2 Re8 45. Bd2 Qh7 46. Nf2 Nfg7 47. Kg1
Bf5 48. g4 Bc2 49. Bg2 Bb3 50. Nh3 Bc4 51. Re3 Qc2 52. Bc1 b6 53. Qd2 Qxd2 54.
Bxd2 Ra8 55. Bc1 Ne8 56. Re1 Nd6 57. Nf2 Nc8 58. Kh2 Ne7 59. Kg3 Ng6 60. Nh3 c5
61. dxc5 bxc5 62. bxc5 Nxc5 63. Be3 Nd3 64. Ra1 Re8 65. Bd4 Ne1 66. Bf2 Nxg2
67. Kxg2 Re2 68. a4 bxa4 69. Rxa4 Rc2 70. Ra3 Ne5 71. Kg3 Bf1 72. f4 Nd3 73.
Ra7+ Kg6 74. f5+ Kh6 75. Rf7 Ne5 76. Rxf6+ Kg7 77. Re6 Rxc3+ 78. Kh2 Nf3+ 79.
Kg3 d4 80. Rg6+ Kf7 81. Rh6 Nh4+ 0-1

[Event "Qatar Masters op"]
[Site "Doha"]
[Date "2014.11.29"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mista, Aleksander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2616"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2014.11.26"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "QAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{When facing opponents who are rated around 150-200 points below himself,
Kramnik has shown a liking towards going for double fianchetto setups. He
figures out that in these relatively quiet and non-theoretical setups, he can
outfox his opponents.} 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. b3
{After the books of Marin on the English Opening and Delchev on the Reti, this
has become quite a popular setup.} (6. d4 {would of course transpose to the
Catalan in which Kramnik is a big expert but as previosuly mentioned he tries
to avoid well known theoretical paths.}) 6... c5 7. Bb2 b6 (7... Nc6 {is the
more natural move and White can continue with} 8. e3 {with an interesting
position.}) 8. Nc3 Bb7 (8... d4 {of course is impossible due to} 9. Ne1 $1 $16)
9. e3 dxc4 10. bxc4 Nc6 {This is one of the tabiyas in the double fianchetto
variation.} 11. Qe2 (11. d4 {is not so great because of} Na5 $1 {[%csl Rc4]}
12. Qe2 cxd4 13. exd4 Rc8 14. Ne5 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 Nd7 $15 {There is extreme
pressure on the c4 pawn.}) 11... Qc7 {This is a provocative move because Black
is inviting White to play Nb5 with a tempo. But his philosophy is that he can
later kick the knight away from b5 with a6 and regain the lost tempo.} 12. Nb5
{Kramnik goes for it.} (12. Rfd1 {is the most popular move but I like
Kramnik's idea of provoking a6 in order to weaken the b6-pawn. However, there
is one more way of playing such positions and that is to remove the N to e1
and start rolling the kingside pawns forward with f4 and g4.} Rfd8 13. d3 Rac8
14. Rab1 Qb8 15. Ne1 Rd7 16. f4 Rcd8 17. a3 Qa8 18. g4 $36 {1-0 (18) Matlakov,
M (2668)-Kovalenko,I (2556) St Petersburg 2012, with a dangerous attacking
setup.}) 12... Qd7 13. Rfd1 a6 14. Nc3 Qc7 15. Rac1 {White is preparing for
the key break in the centre with d2-d4.} (15. d4 {would be premature thanks to
the pressure on the c4 pawn after} cxd4 16. exd4 Na5 $15) 15... Rfd8 16. Ba1 {
Kramnik makes all those little preparatory moves before going for d4. As you
can see Black has no meaningful pawn breaks in the position.} (16. d4 {could
have been a better idea now but Black can maintain the balance with} cxd4 17.
exd4 Na5 18. Nb1 Re8 $5 {Getting ready to face the d4-d5 break.} 19. Ne5 Bxg2
20. Kxg2 Nd7 $11) 16... Rab8 (16... Rac8 {was also possible but the b6-pawn is
a little loose and hence it makes sense to place the rook on b8.}) 17. Na4 {
Keeping an eye on the b6-pawn.} Ba8 (17... Na5 $1 {was better.} 18. d4 cxd4 19.
exd4 Bc6 20. Nc3 Ba3 21. Rc2 Rbc8 {Black is doing fine here.}) 18. d4 {Finally
Kramnik feels that this is the right time to open the position.} Qa7 (18...
cxd4 19. exd4 {As you can see in such positions, the perfect placement of
white pieces makes the central break of d4-d5 quite dangerous if Black is not
careful.} Ba3 20. Rc3 Bb4 21. Rc2 Qe7 {Black has co-ordinated well.}) 19. Ng5
h6 20. Ne4 Nxe4 21. Bxe4 {[%cal Ga1g7,Ge4h7,Ge2h5] White has two pieces aiming
towards the kingside and the queen is ready to join in. In such situations it
is extremely important for Black to bring some reinforcements to the kingside.
Instead of doing that Mista moves his knight to the far edge of the board.
What follows is a deadly attack.} Na5 $6 (21... cxd4 22. exd4 Bf6 23. d5 Bxa1 {
With one attacker exchanged, things are not so dangerous any more.} 24. dxc6 (
24. Rxa1 exd5 25. cxd5 Na5 $11) 24... Bd4 $11) 22. d5 $1 {From this point
onwards Kramnik conducts the attack to perfection.} b5 23. cxb5 axb5 24. Qg4 $1
{With the Q on a7, N on a5, B on a8, Black's king is looking very lonely on g8.
} Bf8 25. Nxc5 $1 {Of course the c5-knight cannot be taken because of mate on
g7 but Black has prepared this pawn fork with f5.} f5 26. Qg6 $1 fxe4 $2 {
The losing move of the game. Now the attack is irresistible.} (26... Bxc5 {
was forced and after} 27. Rxc5 fxe4 28. Be5 $1 {Not an easy move to see at all.
} (28. Qxe6+ Qf7 $11) (28. Rdc1 Nc4 29. dxe6 Rd5 30. Rxd5 Bxd5 $14) 28... Qf7 (
28... Rbc8 $2 29. Rxc8 Rxc8 30. Qxe6+ $18) (28... Rb6 29. Rc7 $18) 29. Qxf7+
Kxf7 30. Bxb8 Rxb8 31. Rc7+ Kf6 32. dxe6 $14 {Though White is better here, he
is nowhere close to winning and Black has good fighting chances.}) 27. Nxe4 $1
{The immediate threat is the deadly Nf6+ and Black doesn't have a good way to
deal with it.} Ba3 28. Nf6+ Kf8 29. dxe6 $1 {Nd7 is now a huge threat.} Qb7 {
One move mate threat which is easily parried.} (29... Bxc1 30. Nd7+ $1 $18) 30.
e4 gxf6 31. Qxf6+ Ke8 (31... Kg8 32. Qh8#) 32. Qg6+ Kf8 (32... Ke7 33. Qf7#)
33. Qxh6+ Ke8 34. Qh5+ {And Black resigned.} (34. Qh5+ Kf8 35. Qh8+ Ke7 36.
Qg7+ Ke8 37. Qg8+ Ke7 38. Qf7# {would have been a nice mate. The game was
interesting and strategically complicated up till a certain point but once
Kramnik was able to play the d5-break, Black's position went downhill pretty
quickly.}) 1-0

[Event "Qatar Masters op"]
[Site "Doha"]
[Date "2014.11.30"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Vovk, Andrey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A03"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2014.11.26"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "QAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteClock "1:30:30"]
[BlackClock "1:30:30"]

1. f4 d5 2. Nf3 Bg4 3. e3 Nd7 4. Be2 Ngf6 5. Ne5 Bxe2 6. Qxe2 g6 7. Nc3 Bg7 8.
Qb5 Rb8 9. Nxd7 Qxd7 10. Qxd7+ Kxd7 11. d3 b5 12. a3 c5 13. e4 dxe4 14. dxe4
Kc6 15. Bd2 b4 16. axb4 cxb4 17. Nd5 Nxd5 18. exd5+ Kxd5 19. Rxa7 Bxb2 20. Ke2
Rhc8 21. Kd3 Bf6 22. Rb1 Rd8 23. Ke2 Ke6 24. Ra6+ Kf5 25. Kf3 g5 26. g4+ Kg6
27. Rxb4 Rbc8 28. Be3 gxf4 29. Rxf4 e6 30. Ra5 Rc3 31. Rc5 Rxc5 32. Bxc5 Rc8
33. Bf2 Rc3+ 34. Kg2 Rxc2 35. Kg1 Be5 36. Rf3 f6 37. h3 h5 38. gxh5+ Kxh5 39.
Rd3 Bf4 40. Kg2 e5 41. Ra3 f5 42. Kf1 e4 43. Ra5 Kg5 44. Ra3 Bc7 45. Rb3 Bd6
46. Rb5 Kf4 47. Rb3 Bc5 0-1

[Event "Qatar Masters op"]
[Site "Doha"]
[Date "2014.12.01"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Sjugirov, Sanan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2673"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2014.11.26"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "QAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteClock "0:26:04"]
[BlackClock "0:08:34"]

{Kramnik was on a high after three wins in the three previous rounds. (draws
in the first two rounds). Today he played the young Russian Sanan Sjugirov. In
2010, Sanan had beaten Magnus (2826) in Khanty Mansiysk Olympiad 2010. So he
could not be taken lightly.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 c6 4. d3 Bg4 5. O-O {
When I had just started playing chess, my coach advised me to play these exact
five moves from the white side just so that I wouldn't lose the game quickly.
As for Kramnik, he plays this setup just so that he can play an original game
without much opening theory.} Nbd7 6. Qe1 {Kramnik has good experience with
this line as he played it with the white pieces against Vitiugov in the
Alekhine Memorial in 2013 and against Levon Aronian with the black pieces in
2010.} e5 7. e4 {of course the threat is now exd5 followed by taking on e5.}
Bd6 {This idea had not been played by any grandmaster before. It can be
assumed that Sjugirov had analysed this at home and wanted to test Kramnik in
a new line. It turns out that Vladimir was in mood to refute this system of
play by Black.} (7... dxe4 {is the main line in this position.} 8. dxe4 Bd6 9.
Nbd2 O-O 10. h3 Bh5 11. Nc4 Bc7 12. a4 Re8 (12... b5 13. axb5 cxb5 14. Ne3 $14
{[%cal Ge3d5,Ge3f5]} Nxe4 15. Nh4 $1 $16) 13. Nh4 Nc5 14. Nf5 Ne6 15. Be3 $14 {
1-0 (50) Kramnik,V (2801)-Vitiugov,N (2712) Paris/St Petersburg 2013, When
White had a very harmonious development and went on to win.}) 8. h3 Bh5 (8...
Bxf3 9. Bxf3 dxe4 10. dxe4 O-O {After seeing what happened in this game and in
retrospect, I feel that this is the best way for Black to continue. Even
though White has the bishop pair, the symmetrical pawn structure should give
Black good chances to equalise.}) 9. Nh4 {A very interesting idea. The knight
eyes the f5-square and also frees the way for the f-pawn. The development of
the queenside pieces can wait for the time being.} O-O 10. g4 Bg6 11. g5 (11.
Nf5 {is not at all good because of} Bxf5 12. exf5 (12. gxf5 Re8 $15 {when
Black has a very solid and nice position.}) 12... h6 {preventing g5 for the
time being.} 13. Qd1 Re8 14. Re1 (14. h4 $2 Nh7 $17) 14... Qb6 $15 {Once again
a very harmonious position for Black.}) 11... Nh5 12. exd5 {Kramnik indulges
in winning the d5-pawn. In order to win the pawn he has definitely to burn his
bridges. He has pushed his kingside pawns in such a fashion that weaknesses
abound in plenty and one gets the feeling that Black should have enough
compensation for the missing pawn.} cxd5 13. Nxg6 hxg6 14. Bxd5 Nf4 $44 {
Sjugirov makes the most logical move. He attacks the d5 bishop and also the
g5-pawn forcing White to take the knight on f4.} 15. Bxf4 exf4 16. h4 {These
kingside pawns might look weak but one important fact to understand here is
that Black would like to break this structure with f6 at some point but with
the bishop so strongly placed on d5, it is simply impossible. My chess sense
tells me that Black should definitely have compensation here but Kramnik's
subsequent play casts doubt on it.} Qc8 {Openly eyeing the c2-pawn and in a
stealthy way also the g4-square!} 17. Qe4 $1 {Kramnik is a class act. You can
bank on him to find the most challenging and ambitious moves in the position.
After all that's the reason why he played in such aggressive fashion in the
opening.} (17. Nc3 Ne5 18. Qe4 Qg4+ 19. Qg2 Qxh4 $132 {gives Black a lot of
counterplay.}) 17... Qxc2 {Sjugirov goes for the most critical continuation
asking White what exactly is he trying to do.} (17... Re8 18. Bxb7 $5 (18. Qxg6
Ne5 19. Qe4 Ng6 $5 20. Qxg6 Qg4+ 21. Kh1 Qh3+ 22. Kg1 Qg4+ $11) 18... Qc7 (
18... Rxe4 19. Bxc8 $16) (18... Qxc2 19. Qc6 $1 Qxc6 (19... Qxb2 20. Bxa8 Qxa1
21. Qxd6 $18) 20. Bxc6 $16) 19. Qc6 Rac8 20. Qxc7 Rxc7 21. Bd5 Rxc2 22. Na3
Bxa3 23. bxa3 Rc5 $11 {+/=. Black should be able to hold the draw here.}) 18.
Nc3 {This is the most logical way to develop. The knight comes into the centre.
In such positions along with calculation you need to develop a feel for the
dynamics, something which is possessed by Kramnik to a high degree.} (18. Na3 {
might have been interesting.} Bxa3 (18... Qxb2 19. Nc4 $18) 19. bxa3 Rad8 (
19... Rae8 20. Bxf7+ Kxf7 21. Qd5+ $16 Ke7 22. Rac1 Qa4 23. Rc4 Qa6 24. Rb1 $18
{with a fierce attack.}) 20. Qxf4 Nc5 {and in spite of being a pawn down, it
is clear that Black is not much worse because White's position has so many
weaknesses.}) (18. Qxg6 {[%cal Gg6d6]} Bc5 (18... Qxb2 19. Qxd6 Qxa1 20. Qxd7
$18) 19. Qh5 {threatening g6.} Qxd3 20. g6 Qg3+ $1 21. Kh1 Qh3+ {would be a
nice way to end the game.}) 18... Qxb2 (18... Rae8 19. Qxg6 $1 $16) 19. Qxg6
Bc5 (19... Qxc3 20. Qxd6 Ne5 (20... Rad8 {It is extremely difficult to assess
positions like these. But say after} 21. Rac1 Qe5 (21... Qxd3 22. Bxf7+ $18) (
21... Qa5 22. Be4 (22. Bxb7 Qf5 $1 $13) 22... Nf6 23. Qc7 Qxc7 24. Rxc7 Nxe4
25. dxe4 $14) 22. Qxe5 Nxe5 23. Bxb7 Rxd3 $11 {/+=. White has a small edge
thanks to his bishop being the superior minor piece in an open position. But
the number of pawns on both sdes of the board is equal and Black should be
able to hold this one with accurate play.}) 21. Rac1 Qd4 $5 {is the only move
for Black.} (21... Qb2 22. Rfe1 Nxd3 23. Bxf7+ $1 Rxf7 24. Qxd3 $18) 22. Rc4 $1
(22. Bxf7+ $2 Rxf7 23. Qxd4 Nf3+ $19) 22... Qb2 (22... Nxc4 23. Bxf7+ $18) 23.
Re4 (23. Rxf4 Rad8 $19) 23... Nf3+ 24. Kg2 Nxh4+ 25. Kh3 Nf3 26. g6 Ng5+ 27.
Kh4 Nxe4 28. dxe4 $14 {[%csl Gh4] The king on h4 looks quite safe and in this
position White stands better mainly because his bishop is so strong on d5. A
completely non forcing and long variation to show you how tricky and
complicated the position is.}) (19... Be5 {is another option to be considered.
But White has a strong idea with} 20. Qh5 $1 {[%cal Gg5g6]} Qxc3 21. g6 Nf6 (
21... Rfd8 22. Rac1 Qd4 23. Bxf7+ $40) 22. gxf7+ Rxf7 23. Bxf7+ Kf8 24. Qh8+
Kxf7 25. Qxa8 $18) 20. Ne4 Qe5 {Now after Bb3 White has a lot of threats in
the position, but the question is instead of ...Qe5 what should have Black
played? His position looks already quite perilous.} (20... Qd4 21. Bb3 Qxd3 22.
Nf6+ $18) (20... Rad8 21. Rab1 Qd4 22. Bb3 Be7) (20... Ne5 21. Nf6+ Kh8 22.
Qh7#) (20... Rae8 21. Rae1 $18 {[%csl Gd5,Ge1,Ge4,Gg6]}) 21. Bb3 $1 $14 {
The white rook is coming to e1 now. What should Black do?} Bxf2+ (21... f3 22.
Rae1 Qf4 23. Qh5 {With the threat of g6.} g6 24. Qxg6+ Kh8 25. Qh5+ Kg7 {
it is surprising that White does not have a killer blow over here.} 26. Qh6+
Kg8 27. d4 Bxd4 28. Qg6+ Kh8 29. Qd6 Qg4+ 30. Qg3 (30. Ng3 Qh3 $19) 30... Qxg3+
31. Nxg3 $16 {White has a clear advantage.}) (21... Be7 {seems safer but after}
22. Rae1 $16 {you can clearly see who holds the initiative.}) 22. Nxf2 $1 {
Accurately calculated.} (22. Kxf2 {was a possibility.} Qb2+ 23. Kg1 Qxb3 24.
Qxg7+ Kxg7 25. axb3 f6 26. Ra5 fxg5 27. Rxg5+ Kh7 28. Kh1 $16 {with good
winning chances for White thanks to his superior activity.}) 22... f3 23. Ne4 {
Stopping the check on g3.} Qd4+ {Playing for the last trick. But the way
Kramnik was playing in this entire game it is hard to imagine that he will
stumble now.} (23... Qb2 24. Rxf3 $1 (24. Nf6+ Nxf6 25. gxf6 Qd4+ 26. Kh2 Qxh4+
27. Kg1 Qd4+ $11 {would have been a nice draw for Black.}) 24... Qxb3 (24...
Qxa1+ 25. Rf1 Qd4+ 26. Rf2 Qa1+ 27. Kg2 $18 {The threat of Nf6 is a killer and
Black can do nothing about it.}) 25. Qxg7+ Kxg7 26. axb3 $16 {Black is a pawn
down and most probably will lose this ending. But this was the last chance for
him to continue the game.}) 24. Kh1 $1 (24. Kh2 $2 Qb2+ 25. Nf2 (25. Rf2 Qxa1
$13) 25... Qxb3 26. Qxg7+ Kxg7 27. axb3 Nc5 $11 {Black is ok.}) 24... Qb2 25.
Nf6+ $1 {The final check that was well calculated by Kramnik. After Nxf6 gxf6
the queen on g6 will not only threaten a mate on g7 but also defend the mate
on g2. A great game by Kramnik. I cannot really pinpoint where Sjugirov went
wrong. Maybe the entire idea with 7...Bd6 is dangerous for Black and he should
stick to the simple 7...dxe4. But in order to refute Black's play you need a
player like Kramnik who feels the position like a human and calculates like a
machine!} (25. Nf6+ Nxf6 26. gxf6 $18) 1-0

[Event "Qatar Masters op"]
[Site "Doha"]
[Date "2014.12.02"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2014.11.26"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "QAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 ({With White always searching for ways to
combat the solid Slav, the immediate} 4. g3 {has also recently become popular:}
{Perhaps critical is} dxc4 (4... Bg4 5. Ne5 Bf5 6. cxd5 cxd5 (6... Qxd5 7. f3
Bxb1 8. Rxb1 e6 ({Risky, but more consistent is} 8... Qxa2 $5 9. Bd2 $44 (9.
Qc2 $5)) 9. a3 Nbd7 10. e4 Qa5+ 11. b4 Qc7 12. Nc4 e5 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5
Qxe5 15. Qb3 Be7 16. Bf4 Qh5 17. g4 Qg6 18. Bd3 Nd7 19. O-O Qf6 20. Bg3 $16 {
Rombaldoni,A (2505)-Altini,N (2394)/Boscotrecase/2014/}) 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. f3 $5
Rc8 $1 (8... Bd7 9. Nxd7 Qxd7 10. e4 e6 11. e5 Ng8 12. Be3 (12. a3 $5 Nge7 13.
Be3 Nf5 14. Bf2 Be7 15. Be2 $14) 12... Bb4 13. Bd3 (13. Rc1 Nge7 14. a3 Bxc3+ (
14... Ba5 $5 15. g4 $5 $13) 15. Rxc3 O-O 16. Be2 Rfc8 17. Qd2 Rc7 18. O-O Rac8
19. Rfc1 Nf5 20. Bf2 Nb8 21. g4 Rxc3 22. Rxc3 $14 {Lysyj,I (2661)-Prohaszka,P 
(2575)/Iasi/2014/}) 13... Nge7 14. Bf2 (14. g4 $5 Na5 $132) 14... Nf5 15. Bc2
Rc8 16. Kf1 Bxc3 17. bxc3 Na5 18. Rc1 Nc4 19. Qe2 O-O 20. Kg2 f6 (20... Rc7
$132) (20... Na3 21. Bd3 Rc6 $13) 21. exf6 Rxf6 22. Bd3 b5 23. Rhf1 Qf7 $6 (
23... Ne7 $142 $1 $132) 24. Rce1 Rf8 25. g4 Ne7 26. Bg3 Ng6 27. h4 Kh8 (27...
h5 $5 28. Bxg6 Rxg6 29. g5 e5 $14) 28. h5 Nf4+ 29. Bxf4 Rxf4 30. Bxc4 dxc4 31.
Qxe6 $16 {Grischuk,A (2777)-Tomashevsky,E (2697)/RUS-chT Loo/2014/}) 9. g4 Bd7
10. Bf4 (10. Nxd7 Nxd7 $1 (10... Qxd7 $6 11. g5 Nh5 12. e4 e6 13. Bh3 Bb4 14.
O-O Bxc3 15. bxc3 O-O 16. c4 dxc4 17. d5 Rfd8 {Laznicka,V (2679)-Matlakov,M 
(2689)/Dubai rpd/2014/} 18. f4 g6 19. Qe1 $1 Nd4 20. Qe3 Nb5 21. a4 $16) 11.
Bf4 (11. Nxd5 $2 e6 12. Nc3 Qh4+) 11... e6 12. e3 Be7 $15 {[%cal Ye7h4,Yh7h5]})
(10. g5 Nxe5 $5 (10... Nh5 11. Nxd7 Qxd7 12. e4 e6 13. Bh3 Bb4 14. O-O $14) 11.
dxe5 Nh5 12. Qxd5 e6 13. Qxb7 Bc5 $44) 10... e6 11. e3 Bb4 12. Rc1 Nxe5 13.
Bxe5 O-O 14. Qb3 Qa5 15. a3 Be7 16. Bd3 Bc6 17. O-O Nd7 18. Bg3 {Melkumyan,H 
(2647)-Ter Sahakyan,S (2572)/Martuni/2014/} Qd8 $5 $11) (4... Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6.
Nh4 dxc4 (6... Be4 7. f3 Bg6 8. Qb3 Qb6 9. c5 Qc7 10. Bf4 Qc8 11. e4 Be7 12.
Bg2 Nh5 (12... O-O $142 13. Nxg6 hxg6 14. O-O $14) 13. Bd6 $1 Bxd6 14. cxd6 O-O
15. Nxg6 hxg6 16. e5 c5 17. Ne2 Nc6 18. f4 cxd4 19. Rd1 f6 20. g4 $16 {
Laznicka,V (2676)-Perunovic,M (2602)/Tromso olm/2014/}) 7. Nxf5 exf5 8. e3 Nbd7
9. Bxc4 Nb6 10. Bb3 h5 11. Qd3 Qd7 12. Bd2 h4 13. O-O-O O-O-O 14. f3 Bd6 15.
Rhg1 hxg3 16. hxg3 Bc7 17. Kb1 Kb8 18. Bc1 Rhe8 19. e4 fxe4 20. fxe4 $14 {
Mamedyarov,S (2764)-Tomashevsky,E (2701)/Baku/2014/ For more details about
this game see the noets by Marin in CBM 163.}) (4... g6 {is the solid
symmetrical Fianchetto Grünfeld, but not all Slav players have it in their
repertoires.}) 5. Bg2 Nbd7 {and now:} 6. Qc2 ({Ambitious, but also more
committal is to ignore the Pc4 and occupy the centre with} 6. O-O g6 7. Nc3 Bg7
8. e4 O-O 9. Qe2 Nb6 10. a4 a5 11. h3 Ne8 $5 (11... e5 $6 12. dxe5 Nfd7 13. Bg5
Qe8 14. Qe3 Ra6 15. Rfd1 Nxe5 16. Rd8 Nxf3+ 17. Bxf3 Qe5 18. Rad1 Bxh3 $2 (
18... f6 19. Bf4 Qe7 20. Rxf8+ Bxf8 21. Bd6 Qe8 22. Bc7 Nd7 23. e5 fxe5 24. Be2
$40) 19. g4 $1 f5 20. Rxf8+ Bxf8 21. Rd8 Bxg4 {Avrukh,B (2585)-Motylev,A (2655)
/EU Cup Eilat/2012/} 22. Bxg4 (22. Bh6 Ra8 23. Qxb6 Rxd8 24. Qxd8 Qd6 25. Qxd6
Bxd6 26. Bxg4 fxg4 27. Be3 Kf7 28. Bb6 Bb4 29. Nd1 Bd2 30. Kf1 h5 31. Ke2 Bb4
32. Ne3 c3 33. b3 Kf6 34. Kd3 Kg5 35. Bc7 h4 36. Nd1 Bc5 37. Nxc3 Bxf2 38. Ke2
Bd4 39. Nd1 b6 40. Nf2 g3 41. Bd8+ Kh5 42. e5 g2 43. Nh3 Kg4 44. Nf2+ Kf5 45.
Nh3 g1=Q 46. Nxg1 Bxg1 47. Bxh4 Kxe5 48. Bd8 Ke4 49. Kf1 Be3 50. Ke2 g5 51. Bc7
g4 52. Bg3 Bf4 {0-1 (52) Avrukh,B (2585)-Motylev,A (2655) Eilat 2012}) 22...
fxg4 23. Bh6 Ra8 24. Qxb6 $18) 12. Rd1 Nd6 13. g4 f6 14. e5 (14. Bf4 $142 $44)
14... Ne8 15. Ne4 Be6 16. Nc5 Bd5 17. Nxb7 Qc8 18. Nc5 Nc7 19. Re1 f5 20. gxf5
Rxf5 21. Ra3 Nd7 22. Ne4 Ne6 $36 23. Ng3 $2 Rxf3 $1 24. Bxf3 Nxd4 25. Bxd5+
cxd5 26. Qd1 Nxe5 $19 {[%csl Gc4,Gd4,Gd5,Ge5] Manolache,M (2441)-Cheparinov,I 
(2567)/Ortigueira/2004/}) 6... Nb6 (6... b5 $5) 7. Nbd2 g6 ({Simple
development, Black is unwilling to risk} 7... Bg4 8. Nxc4 $5 Bxf3 9. Bxf3 Qxd4
10. Na5 $32) ({or} 7... Be6 8. O-O $44) 8. O-O Bg7 9. Nxc4 Bf5 10. Qc3 Nxc4 11.
Qxc4 O-O 12. Rd1 a5 13. Qb3 Qd6 14. Ne5 Nd7 15. Nc4 Qb4 16. Ne3 Qxb3 17. axb3
Be6 18. d5 cxd5 19. Nxd5 Nc5 20. Ra3 Bxd5 21. Rxd5 Rac8 22. Bg5 e6 23. Rd6 Bxb2
24. Rxa5 Bc1 $11 {Grischuk,A (2764)-Aronian,L (2809)/London candidates/2013/
For more details about this game see the notes by Marin in CBM 154.}) 4... e6
5. g3 $5 {Kramnik goes for the Catalan, which he knows so well. His move-order
is quite rare, as White has already committed his knight to c3.} ({He is in no
mood for either} 5. e3 Nbd7) ({or} 5. Bg5 h6 {Both systems are heavily
analysed mainline theory, to catch up with the confident leader (In Qatar Giri
started with 6/6) he has to come up with something less usual.}) 5... dxc4 {
Anish picks up the gauntlet.} ({Taking on c4 sooner or later is certainly
principled, the shy} 5... Nbd7 6. Bg2 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. b3 b6 9. Nd2 $5 {
[%cal Ye2e4] gives White chances for an edge without much risk - altogether in
the Catalan spirit...}) 6. Bg2 b5 {Protects his booty.} ({Black's main
alternative is} 6... Nbd7 7. a4 Bb4 (7... Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. e4 e5 $5 $132 {
has a solid reputation}) 8. O-O O-O {Here Giri had a pleasant experience in
the past, but with White:} 9. Qc2 Qa5 10. Na2 Bd6 11. Qxc4 Nb6 12. Qc2 Qxa4 13.
b3 Qa5 14. Ne5 Nbd7 15. Nc4 Qc7 16. Nxd6 Qxd6 17. Rd1 e5 18. Nc3 exd4 19. Ba3
c5 20. e3 d3 21. Rxd3 Qb8 22. Nd5 Nxd5 23. Rxd5 b6 24. Bb2 a5 25. Ra4 Re8 26.
Rg5 g6 27. Bd5 Kf8 28. Rf4 {1-0, Giri,A (2720)-Caruana,F (2781)/Wijk aan Zee/
2013/ For the notes to this game by Marin see CBM 153. Naturally Black's play
can be improved, but it's no wonder that Giri prefers to avoid this particular
branch.}) 7. Ne5 a6 (7... Bb7 $2 8. Nxb5) ({Black mostly plays} 7... Nd5 {
, but holding on to the pawn means falling behind in development:} 8. e4 $5 (8.
O-O Bb7 (8... f6 9. Ng4 $5 Be7 10. e4 Nb4 $6 (10... Nxc3 11. bxc3 O-O 12. a4
$44 (12. e5 $5 f5 13. Ne3 Bb7 14. a4 {()})) (10... Nb6 11. a4 $32) 11. a4 bxa4
12. Ne3 Nd7 13. Qg4 $6 (13. Nxa4 $16 {[%csl Rc4,Re6]}) 13... g6 14. Nxc4 Nb6
15. Nxb6 axb6 16. Qd1 O-O 17. Rxa4 Rxa4 18. Qxa4 Qxd4 19. Be3 b5 20. Bxd4 bxa4
21. Nxa4 Rd8 22. Bb6 Rd2 23. Be3 Rd8 24. Rc1 e5 $11 {Eljanov,P (2712)-Gurevich,
M (2617)/Konya/2011/}) 9. a4 a6 {and now:} 10. axb5 (10. e4 {is more popular,
but postponing the swap on b5 can later gives Black a choice to advantageously
take back with the c-pawn:} Nxc3 (10... Nf6 11. d5 cxd5 12. exd5 exd5 13. axb5
axb5 14. Rxa8 Bxa8 15. Nxb5 Bc5 16. Qa4 O-O 17. Qxa8 Qe8 18. Nc3 Qxe5 19. Bf4
Qh5 20. Bxb8 Ng4 21. h4 Nxf2 22. Qb7 $1 Ng4+ 23. Kh1 Nf2+ 24. Kh2 Ng4+ 25. Kh1
Nf2+ 26. Rxf2 Bxf2 27. Bd6 $16 {Mikhalevski,V (2632)-Naiditsch,A (2637)/Heviz /
2008/ For more details about this line see the notes by Mikhalevski in CBM 123.
}) 11. bxc3 Nd7 12. Bf4 Be7 13. Qg4 g6 14. Nxd7 (14. Bh6 Nxe5 15. dxe5 Qc7 16.
Qf4 g5 17. Bxg5 O-O-O 18. Bxe7 $13 {1/2, Nielsen,P (2625)-Goloshchapov,A (2558)
/Istanbul/2003/}) 14... Qxd7 (14... h5 $5) 15. Bh6 f6 (15... e5 {/\} 16. Qxd7+
Kxd7 17. Bg7 exd4 18. Bxh8 Rxh8 19. cxd4 Kc7 $36 {[%csl Ga6,Gb5,Gc4,Gc6]}) 16.
axb5 cxb5 17. Rfe1 e5 $1 18. Qxd7+ Kxd7 19. dxe5 fxe5 20. Bg7 Rhe8 21. Bxe5 Bc5
22. Bh3+ Kc6 23. Bf6 Kb6 24. e5 {Kortschnoj,V (2602)-Wang,Yue (2704)/Amsterdam/
2008/} a5 25. Bd7 Rf8 $15) {Safer is} 10... axb5 {, keeping the centre more
closed for the time being.} (10... cxb5 11. Nxd5 exd5 12. e4 $32 Be7 (12...
dxe4 13. Qh5 Qc7 (13... g6 14. Nxg6 $16 fxg6 15. Qe5+ $16) 14. Bxe4 $1 Bxe4 15.
Re1 g6 16. Nxg6 fxg6 17. Rxe4+ Be7 18. Qd5 Ra7 19. Bh6 Nc6 20. Rae1 $16 {->})
13. exd5 Bxd5 14. Nxf7 $1 Bxf7 15. Bxa8 O-O 16. Bf4 Qb6 17. Be4 Nc6 18. d5 $18
{Ben Menachem,I (2305)-Varga,Z (2480)/Ramat Hasharon/1992/}) 11. Rxa8 Bxa8 12.
e4 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Nd7 14. Bf4 $5 (14. Nxd7 Qxd7 15. Be3 Bb7 (15... c5 16. Qa1
Bb7 17. dxc5 Be7 18. Qa7 Bf6 19. e5 Bxg2 20. Qb8+ Qd8 21. Qxb5+ Qd7 22. Qb8+
Qd8 23. Qxd8+ Kxd8 24. Kxg2 Bxe5 25. Bd4 $14) 16. Qg4 h5 17. Qe2 Be7 18. Ra1 g6
19. Ra7 O-O 20. Qa2 Qc8 21. e5 Rd8 22. h4 Rd7 23. Be4 $44 {Fridman,D (2635)
-Kraemer,M (2570)/Bundesliga/2014/}) 14... Bb7 ({Deserving attention was} 14...
Be7 {/\} 15. Qg4 g6 16. Nxd7 Qxd7 17. Bh6 e5 $5 18. Qf3 $5 (18. Qxd7+ Kxd7 19.
Bg7 Re8 20. Bxe5 c5 $132) 18... exd4 19. Bg7 Rg8 20. Bxd4 c5 21. Bf6 Qc6 22.
Bxe7 Kxe7 23. Qf4 Rd8 $11) 15. Nxd7 (15. Qh5 g6 16. Qf3 f6 17. Nxd7 Qxd7 {
1/2, Wells,P (2517)-Haslinger,S (2468)/Caerleon/2007/} 18. Ra1 Be7 19. Ra7 O-O
20. Bh3 f5 $11 {/=/+}) 15... Qxd7 16. Qg4 Qd8 17. Ra1 h5 18. Qe2 Bd6 19. e5 Be7
20. Be4 g6 21. Qf3 Qc7 22. Be3 O-O 23. h4 Kg7 24. Qf4 Rh8 25. Kh2 Qb8 26. Ra2
Qc8 27. Bc1 Qd7 28. Ra7 Bd8 29. Qf3 Be7 30. Ba3 Bxa3 $6 (30... Rb8 $1 $14) 31.
Qf6+ Kg8 32. Rxa3 $36 {Mikheev,S (2547)-Van Unen,H (2552)/email/2010/}) 8...
Nxc3 (8... Nb4 9. a3 Qxd4 10. axb4 Qxe5 11. Bf4 Qf6 12. e5 Qd8 13. O-O $1 (13.
Qxd8+ Kxd8 14. Nxb5 Bxb4+ 15. Bd2 Bxd2+ 16. Kxd2 a6 17. Kc3 Nd7 18. f4 Rb8 19.
Nd6 Ke7 20. Nxc4 Nb6 $11 {Tregubov,P (2646)-Pavasovic,D (2597)/Kallithea/2008/}
) 13... Qxd1 14. Rfxd1 Bxb4 15. Nxb5 cxb5 16. Bxa8 a6 17. Bd2 Bxd2 18. Rxd2 Ke7
19. f4 Nd7 20. Rad1 f6 21. exf6+ gxf6 {Arngrimsson,D (2385)-Mihok,O (2451) /
Budapest/2013/} 22. Rd6 Nc5 23. Rc6 $36) 9. bxc3 Be7 (9... Bb7 10. Qh5 $1 {/\}
g6 11. Nxg6 fxg6 12. Qe5 $16) 10. Qg4 O-O 11. Bh6 Bf6 12. O-O Kh8 13. Be3 Bxe5
14. dxe5 Nd7 15. f4 Qe7 16. Qh5 b4 17. f5 (17. Qe2 $1 $14) 17... f6 (17... Nxe5
18. f6 gxf6 19. Bd4 Nd7 $5 $13) 18. exf6 Nxf6 19. Qh4 bxc3 20. Rae1 Ng8 21.
Qxe7 Nxe7 22. Bc5 Re8 23. g4 $36 {Nyzhnyk,I (2620)-Graf,A (2605)/Bad Wiessee/
2012/}) (7... Qb6 8. O-O Bb7 9. e4 Be7 10. Bg5 O-O (10... h6 $5 11. Be3 $44)
11. Ng4 Qd8 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. e5 Be7 14. Nxb5 Nd7 15. Nc3 Rb8 16. Qe2 Qb6 17.
Rad1 c5 18. d5 h5 19. Ne3 Nxe5 20. Qxh5 Qxb2 21. Rc1 $36 {Nisipeanu,L (2686)
-Van Wely,L (2685)/Canberra/2014/}) 8. O-O {[%mdl 512] Proceeds in gambit
style. Taking the pawn back releases the tension and is generally a relief for
Black.} (8. Nxc6 Qb6 9. Ne5 Bb7 10. e4 Bb4 11. O-O O-O 12. d5 Nbd7 13. Be3 Bc5
14. Bxc5 Qxc5 15. Nxd7 Nxd7 16. dxe6 Ne5 17. b4 Qxb4 18. Qd4 Nd3 19. Nd5 Bxd5
20. exd5 Qd6 $15 {Vachier Lagrave,M (2721)-Smeets,J (2669) Bundesliga/2010/}) (
8. a4 Bb7 9. O-O Be7 $5 (9... Nd5 {transposes to 7...Nd5 above.}) 10. axb5 axb5
11. Rxa8 Bxa8 12. Nxb5 cxb5 13. Bxa8 O-O 14. Bg2 Nd5 15. f4 Bd6 16. e3 Bxe5 17.
fxe5 Nc6 18. Qg4 Qd7 19. h4 Ncb4 20. h5 {Nyzhnyk,I (2585)-Giri,A (2717)//EU-ch
Plovdiv /2012/} {Now, as Krasenkow points out in CBM 148,} f5 $1 $15 {gives
Black an excellent position.}) 8... Bb7 9. b3 $5 ({We have already had} 9. a4 {
above, Kramnik has a different approach on his mind, often championed by GM
Gleizerov.}) 9... cxb3 {Modest, but solid.} (9... b4 10. Na4 ({Interesting is
also the enterprising piece sacrifice} 10. bxc4 bxc3 11. Rb1 Ra7 12. Be3 Bd6
13. d5 c5 14. Qa4+ Nbd7 15. dxe6 fxe6 16. Bxb7 Bxe5 17. Bxc5 Rxb7 18. Rxb7 Qc8
19. Ra7 {Li,Chao (2697)-Ankit,R (2455)/Graz/2014/} Kf7 $13) 10... c3 11. Nc4
$32 {is very risky, Black's lag in development makes it difficult for him to
retain his powerful pawn-chain after} a5 (11... Nbd7 12. Bf4 a5 13. a3 Nd5 14.
Nd6+ Bxd6 15. Bxd6 Nb8 16. Bc5 Na6 17. e4 Ndc7 18. Bb6 O-O 19. Bxa5 Qe7 {
Gleizerov,E (2549)-Hovhanisian,M (2513)/Charleroi/2014/} 20. axb4 Nb5 21. e5
Nxb4 22. Bb6 Na6 23. Qd3 $36) 12. a3 Ba6 13. axb4 axb4 14. Nc5 Bxc5 15. dxc5
Qxd1 (15... O-O 16. Bf4 Nd5 17. Bd6 Nd7 18. e4 N5f6 19. Ra4 Nxc5 20. Bxc5 Qxd1
21. Rxd1 Bxc4 22. Bxf8 Rxf8 23. Rxb4 Be2 24. Rc1 $18 {Gleizerov,E (2531)-Bruno,
F (2413)/Sibenik/2014/}) 16. Rxd1 O-O 17. Bf4 Nbd7 18. Bxc6 Bxc4 19. Rxa8 Rxa8
20. Bxa8 Bxb3 21. Rd4 $18 {Gleizerov,E (2546)-Solodovnichenko,Y (2543)/Koge/
2013/}) 10. axb3 Be7 (10... Nbd7 $5 11. Qc2 Rc8 12. Rd1 Be7 13. Bb2 Qb6 14. Ne4
Nxe5 15. Nxf6+ Bxf6 16. dxe5 Be7 17. Qe4 (17. Rd6 $5) 17... O-O 18. Bd4 Qc7 19.
Rdc1 Bb4 20. Qe3 h6 21. Bb6 Qe7 22. Bc5 Bxc5 23. Rxc5 Rfd8 24. b4 $44 {
Melkumyan,H (2678)-Duda,J (2599)/Doha/2014/ White's compensation is just
enough to hold the balance, this game was played in Round 4.}) 11. Bb2 (11. Bg5
O-O 12. e3 Ra7 13. h4 c5 14. dxc5 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 Qxd1 16. Rfxd1 Bxc5 17. Nd3
Nbd7 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Nxc5 Nxc5 20. b4 Na4 21. Nxa4 bxa4 22. Rxa4 Rb7 $11 {
Li,Chao (2687)-Tomashevsky,E (2733)/St Petersburg/2012/}) 11... O-O 12. Qc2 ({
A later game went} 12. Ne4 Nd5 13. Qc1 (13. Nc5 $5 Bxc5 14. dxc5 $36) 13... Nd7
14. Nxd7 Qxd7 15. Nc5 Qc7 16. Rd1 Rfd8 17. e3 a5 18. Ba3 b4 19. Bb2 Ba6 20. e4
Nf6 21. Nxa6 Rxa6 22. Qc4 Qb6 23. Rdc1 g6 24. Qe2 Ra7 25. Rc4 Ne8 26. Qc2 (26.
e5 c5 27. Qe3 Rad7 $5 28. dxc5 Rd1+ 29. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 30. Bf1 Qc6 $132) 26... Rc7
27. e5 c5 $132 {Dubov,D (2629)-Shirov,A (2675)/Moscow rpd/2014/}) 12... Nfd7 $6
$146 {This anti-developing move doesn't make a good impression.} ({Black
should have been more generous with} 12... Nbd7 $1 13. Nxc6 (13. Bxc6 Qc7 14.
Bxb7 Qxb7 $11) (13. Nd3 {or}) (13. Rfc1 {retains pressure and compensation,
but White can't justifiably claim an advantage.}) 13... Bxc6 14. Bxc6 Rc8 15.
Bxd7 (15. Rxa6 $6 b4 {[%cal Rd7b8]}) 15... Qxd7 16. Qd3 Qb7 17. f3 Rfd8 18.
Rfd1 h6 19. Ne4 e5 20. e3 exd4 21. Bxd4 Nxe4 22. Qxe4 Qxe4 23. fxe4 Rc6 $15 {
Onischuk,A (2699)-Roussel Roozmon,T (2487)/Montreal/2009/}) 13. Nd3 $1 $36 {
[%csl Rb8,Rd7][%cal Yc3e4,Ye4c5,Yb3b4,Yb2a3] The congestion on the queenside
makes Black's life difficult, while White has many different motifs to improve
his position.} Qb6 14. Ne4 a5 (14... c5 15. dxc5 Qc7 16. b4 $16) 15. Ndc5 (15.
Nec5 $5 Nxc5 16. Nxc5 $44) 15... Bc8 {Another retreat, which doesn't improve
the situation.} ({Most engines insist Black should have taken the plunge with} 
15... f5 $5 16. Nxe6 (16. Nxb7 Qxb7 (16... fxe4 17. Nc5 (17. Qxe4 Qxb7 18.
Qxe6+ Rf7 19. d5 Ra6 20. dxc6 Rxc6 $13) 17... Nxc5 18. dxc5 Qxc5 19. Qxe4 Qf5
20. Qe3 Bc5 21. Qc3 Ra7 22. Rxa5 Bxf2+ 23. Kh1 Qc5 24. Rxa7 Qxc3 25. Bxc3 Bxa7
26. Rd1 $36 {[%csl Rb8,Gc3,Gg2]}) 17. Nc3 (17. Nd2 Nb6 $13 {[%cal Yb6d5,Ya5a4]}
) 17... Na6 18. e4 $44) 16... fxe4 17. Nxf8 Nxf8 18. Qxe4 Qd8 19. Rfd1 $14 {
Although White should be on top with his central pawns, the position remains
sharp.}) 16. Qc3 $5 {[%cal Rd4d5]} b4 17. Qe3 {Kramnik has fixed Black's
queenside pawns and stopped the Na6-b4 option.} Na6 18. Rfc1 Nc7 $6 (18...
Naxc5 19. dxc5 Qc7 20. Rd1 $36 {[%cal Ye4d6,Yd1d2,Ya1d1]}) (18... Qb5 $5 $14)
19. Nxd7 Bxd7 20. Nc5 Be8 $8 {For the time being Black has to keep his Rf8
locked in.} (20... Bc8 21. Na4 $16) (20... Bxc5 21. dxc5 Qa7 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23.
Qg5+ Kh8 24. Qf6+ Kg8 25. Rc4 e5 26. Be4 $1 Rfd8 27. Bxh7+ Kf8 28. Bg6 Be6 29.
Rh4 $18) 21. Ra2 Qb5 22. Qd3 (22. Be4 $5 $36 {[%cal Ye4d3]}) 22... Qxd3 (22...
Bxc5 $142 23. Qxb5 Nxb5 24. Rxc5 Ra6 {/\} 25. e4 {[%cal Yg2f1,Yd4d5]} Ra7 26.
Bf1 Nd6 27. f3 f5 $132) 23. Nxd3 Nd5 24. Ne5 Ra6 25. Bf1 $1 {[%cal Re2e4]} Nc3
$6 {Black will have to return at least one pawn anyway, but now the weaknesses
remain.} ({More resilient was} 25... Ra7 26. e4 (26. Nxc6 Bxc6 27. Rxc6 Rfa8
28. e4 Nc3 $14) 26... Nc3 27. Bxc3 bxc3 28. Rxc3 Bd7 {Here White's Pd4 is
vulnerable, winning the opposite-coloured bishops after} 29. Nxc6 Bxc6 30. Rxc6
Rd8 $14 {/+/- won't be that easy.}) ({Also better than the text was} 25... Nc7
$5 26. e3 Nb5 27. Bg2 Na3 28. Raa1 a4 $14) 26. Bxc3 bxc3 27. Rxc3 $16 {[%csl
Ra5,Rc6]} c5 $6 {Black is in serious trouble, but this is desperation.} (27...
Bf6 28. e3 $16) 28. dxc5 Bf6 29. f4 {[%csl Gc5]} Bb5 30. Bg2 Ra7 31. c6 $16 {
/+- White has a powerful extra passed pawn - the game is more or less decided.}
Be7 32. Be4 f6 (32... Rc8 33. Nf3 {[%cal Yf3d4] is similar}) 33. Nf3 Rd8 (33...
f5 34. Nd4 Ba6 35. Bf3 $18) 34. e3 e5 35. fxe5 fxe5 36. Rc1 {[%csl Re5]} a4 37.
bxa4 ({Black has had enough,} 37. bxa4 Ba6 (37... Rxa4 $2 38. Rxa4 Bxa4 39. c7)
38. Nxe5 $18 {is hopeless.}) 1-0

[Event "Qatar Masters op"]
[Site "Doha"]
[Date "2014.12.03"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Salem, AR Saleh"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D63"]
[WhiteElo "2586"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2014.11.26"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "QAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 {This is a small tweak in the opening.
Main moves are of course Be7 which leads to the QGD and Bb4 which leads to the
Ragozin. With this move Nbd7, Black keeps the game in QGD territory but gets
some additional options.} 5. Bg5 (5. Bf4 c6 6. e3 Nh5 {Though only tried in
blitz by Carlsen and Kramnik, it could be possible that Kramnik was intending
to play this today and that is the reason why he chose 4...Nbd7 move order.})
5... h6 6. Bh4 Be7 7. e3 O-O 8. Rc1 c5 9. cxd5 Nxd5 (9... exd5 10. Bd3 $14 {
is a definite edge for White from the opening.}) 10. Bxe7 Nxe7 {White should
be slightly better here. Black has played the opening quite unambitiously. But
White's advantage is not very threatening as Kramnik proves over the next few
moves.} 11. Be2 {The bishop looks much better placed on e2 than on d3.} (11.
Bd3 b6 12. O-O Bb7 13. Qe2 (13. e4 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Ng6 $15) 13... Bxf3 $1 14.
Qxf3 cxd4 15. exd4 Nf6 $11 {In this IQP position where two pairs of minor
pieces have been exchanged and also the d5-square is under the control of the
knights, Black shouldn't be worse.}) 11... b6 12. O-O Bb7 13. dxc5 Nxc5 14. Nd4
(14. Qxd8 Rfxd8 15. Rfd1 Nd5 (15... Rac8 16. Nb5 Rxd1+ 17. Rxd1 Bd5 $11) 16.
Nxd5 Bxd5 17. b3 $11 {and in this symmetrical position I wonder how Kramnik
would have won. But I am nowhere near Kramnik's technique so it's better that
I do not get into it! The position however looks completely drawish.}) 14...
Nf5 $5 15. Nxf5 exf5 {Why would Kramnik voluntarily double his pawns? Maybe he
just wanted to unbalance the position in some way or the other, no matter how
little.} 16. Bf3 $6 {I dislike this move. It might be objectively fine but if
White wanted to play safely then why not just exchange the queens and play
Rfd1?} (16. Qxd8 Rfxd8 17. Rfd1 $11 {[%cal Gf2f3,Gg1f2]}) 16... Qxd1 17. Rfxd1
Bxf3 18. gxf3 Rfd8 19. Kf1 {Bringing the king into the centre is natural.} (19.
Rxd8+ Rxd8 20. Rd1 Rxd1+ 21. Nxd1 {This position might not hold any advantage
for Black but it is a very timid decision of trying to exchange both the rooks
and bringing your knight to an unfavourable square. Something that Salem Saleh
being an aggressive player would dislike. Also White has no reasons to resort
to such exchanging operations.}) 19... g6 20. Ke2 Kg7 21. Nb5 Kf6 22. Rxd8 Rxd8
23. b4 (23. Nxa7 {I like this variation because it is quite unusual.} Ra8 24.
Nc8 $5 {This is the surprising move.} Rxa2 (24... Rxc8 25. b4 Ra8 (25... Ke5
26. bxc5 bxc5 27. a4 Kd5 28. Kd3 Ra8 29. Ra1 Ra5 30. Kc3 h5 31. h4 $11) 26.
bxc5 Rxa2+ 27. Kf1 bxc5 28. Rxc5 $11 {and even the best technique in the world
cannot win this.}) 25. Rc2 Ra6 (25... Na4 26. Kd2 Ra1 27. b3 Nc5 28. b4 Nd7 29.
f4 Rh1 30. Rc7 $14) 26. Nxb6 Rxb6 27. Rxc5 $11) 23... Ne6 24. Rc6 (24. Nc7 Rd7
(24... Rc8 25. Nd5+ $18) 25. Nxe6 fxe6 $11) 24... Ke7 25. a3 Rd7 26. Rc8 a6 27.
Nc3 b5 28. Ra8 Rd6 29. Rh8 (29. Nb1 {with the idea of placing the knight on b3
via d2 is a good idea. It would tie up the knight on e6.} Kf6 30. Nd2 Kg5 31.
f4+ Kh4 32. Nf3+ Kh3 33. Ne5 {And it is White who is creating some dangerous
play.}) 29... g5 $1 (29... h5 {was also possible but the move g5 has a very
deep idea behind it. Kramnik wants to keep the h5-square free for his king
which would embark on a journey to attack the h2-pawn.}) (29... Rc6 $5 30. Kd3
Ng5 31. f4 Nh3 32. f3 Nf2+ 33. Kd2 Rd6+ 34. Ke2 Nd3 $36 {Black has an edge.})
30. Ra8 (30. Rxh6 $2 Nf4+ $19) 30... Kf6 $1 {[%csl Rh2][%cal Gf6g6,Gg6h5,Gh5h4,
Gh4h3] Kramnik now starts a king march towards the weakest point in White's
camp. Any guesses? Of course the h2-pawn!} 31. Ra7 Kg6 32. Na2 Nd8 33. Ke1 $2 {
Why waste time? It would have been better to execute the manoeuvre of putting
the N on c5 via Nc1-b3-c5.} Kh5 {As Lasker said, "It is better to follow out a
plan consistently even if it isn't the best one than to play without a plan at
all". Here Black has a clear-cut plan of attacking the h2-pawn while White is
doing nothing much. That is the main reason why his position slowly goes
downhill.} 34. Nc1 Kh4 35. Nb3 Kh3 {Doesn't this king route remind you of the
game Cohn-Rubinstein that was played in St.Petersburg in 1909 where the God of
endgame play marched his king to the h3-square in a pure pawn endgame to
attack the weak pawn on h2. It could be possible that Kramnik was motivated to
find this idea from that game of Rubinstein.} 36. Nd4 (36. Nc5 Kxh2 37. Rxa6
Rxa6 38. Nxa6 Kg2 $19 {The h-pawn queens easily.}) 36... f4 37. Ra8 (37. Nf5 {
also doesn't really help.} Rf6 38. e4 (38. Nd4 Kxh2 {is also possible.}) 38...
Kg2 39. Ra8 Nc6 40. Rxa6 Re6 41. a4 (41. Ke2 Nd4+ $19) 41... bxa4 42. Rxa4 (42.
b5 Ne5 43. Rxe6 fxe6 44. Nd4 a3 45. Ke2 a2 46. Nc2 (46. Nb3 Nxf3 47. b6 Nd4+
$19) 46... Nxf3 $19) 42... Ne5 43. Ke2 Nxf3 $19) 37... Kxh2 38. Nf5 Rf6 39. e4
(39. Nxh6 Rxh6 40. Rxd8 Kg2 {is a scary position, particularly because Ke2
doesn't work here.} 41. Ke2 $2 (41. Rg8 $1 {would lead most probably to a draw.
} Kxf3 42. Rxg5 fxe3 43. Rf5+ Ke4 44. Rxf7 exf2+ 45. Kxf2 Rh3 46. Ke2 Rxa3 47.
Kd2 $11) 41... g4 $1 42. fxg4 f3+ $19) 39... Nc6 40. Rxa6 Rg6 {You can bank on
the fact that in this technical phase of the game, Kramnik will be the most
accurate.} 41. Kf1 {Trying to lock the king in on h2.} Ne5 42. Ra5 (42. Rxg6
fxg6 43. Nd4 h5 44. Nxb5 g4 45. fxg4 hxg4 $19 {[%cal Gg4g3,Gg3g2]}) 42... Nxf3
43. Rxb5 {It is a race between the pawns now but Black's pawns supported by
the king are way faster than the white pawns. Also there will be mating nets
being formed around the white king.} g4 (43... h5 {was the more accurate way
to start.} 44. a4 h4 45. a5 h3 46. Rb6 Nd2+ 47. Ke2 Kg2 $19) (43... Nd2+ 44.
Ke2 Nxe4 45. Re5 {gives White unnecessary counterplay.}) 44. Rd5 (44. a4 Rc6 $1
(44... g3 45. Nxg3 $1 Nd2+ 46. Ke2 fxg3 47. fxg3 Nxe4 48. Kf3 Nxg3 49. Rc5 $17
{White has some drawing chances because the black forces are not co-ordinated.}
) 45. Rc5 Rxc5 46. bxc5 g3 47. fxg3 fxg3 48. Nxg3 Kxg3 49. c6 Nd2+ 50. Ke2 Nxe4
51. c7 Nd6 52. a5 h5 53. a6 Nc8 $19) 44... h5 45. Ng3 h4 (45... fxg3 46. Rxh5+
Nh4 47. Rxh4# {would be horrible!}) 46. Ne2 g3 47. fxg3 (47. Nxf4 g2+ 48. Nxg2
Rxg2 $19) 47... fxg3 {Now it is just winning for Black.} 48. b5 Rf6 49. Rf5
Rxf5 50. exf5 g2+ 51. Kf2 Nd4 52. Ng1 Nxb5 53. a4 Nc3 54. Nf3+ (54. a5 Ne4+ $19
) 54... Kh1 55. a5 h3 (55... h3 56. a6 h2 $19 {A nice technical achievement by
Kramnik. The thing that was impressive about this game was that even though
Vladimir was in a must win situation and he was facing an opponent who was
rated 200 points below him, he wasn't afraid to go into equal positions. He
found those little imbalances like the h2-pawn weakness which would help him
to put pressure on the opponent. Using all his technical superiority he ground
out a win!}) 0-1

[Event "Qatar Masters op"]
[Site "Doha"]
[Date "2014.12.04"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Yu, Yangyi"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2705"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[Annotator "Yu,Yangyi"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2014.11.26"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "QAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Before the final round Kramnik, the second seed in this tournament (behind
Giri), was leading the field with 7.0/8, followed by me with 6.5/8. I felt a
bit exhausted after my lucky but deserved five hour victory in round eight
against Giri. Playing the former World Champion, whose games I had studied
extensively ever since I began playing chess, was of course a great event for
me. I approached the last round with excitement and was eager to learn from
one of the most renowned personalities in chess history.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 Nf6 {Not a big surprise - I was expecting either the Berlin or the
Petroff.} 4. d3 {I chose a line that avoids the exchange of too many pieces.
Kramnik is one of the leading experts of the Berlin, and he is particularly
strong in quiet endgames without queens. Thus, I was eager to get a more open
and combative type of position, which suits my strengths much more.} Bc5 5.
Bxc6 $5 {I was happy to exchange my bishop for his knight to create an
unbalanced position with a doubled pawns for Black. I know there are three
other main moves but with this one White avoids simplifications.} dxc6 6. Nbd2
Be6 {I had prepared mainly against 6...0-0.} 7. O-O Nd7 8. Nb3 Bb6 $5 {To my
knowledge 8...Be7 is played more frequently. I then wanted to continue with 9.
Na5 or 9.d4. I didn't spend much time analysing 8...Bb6 during my preparations
and now had to improvise.} (8... Be7 $5 9. d4 (9. Na5 $5)) 9. Ng5 Bxb3 10. axb3
f6 11. Nf3 Nf8 12. Nd2 {My intuition told me that White was slightly better
here.} Ne6 13. Qh5+ {The idea is to provoke ...g6. Later, after f4 from White,
the f6-square would be weak. As Black still has the doubled c-pawns, I felt
the closer we get to an endgame the more superior White's position would
become.} g6 14. Qd1 Bc5 15. Nc4 b5 $6 {Maybe not a good move. It weakens the
queenside and allows my knight to entrench itself on a5, effectively tying up
Black's c-pawns on c6 and c7.} (15... Qe7 16. Kh1 a6 17. f4 exf4 18. Bxf4 Nxf4
19. Rxf4 O-O-O 20. c3 $14) 16. Na5 Qd7 17. Be3 Bb6 (17... Bd6 18. g3 c5 19. f4
exf4 20. gxf4 O-O 21. Kh1 $14) 18. b4 O-O (18... c5 19. bxc5 Bxc5 20. Bxc5 Nxc5
21. b4 Ne6 22. Nb3 $14) 19. Qd2 f5 $6 (19... c5 20. bxc5 Nxc5 21. b4 Ne6 22.
Nb3 $14) 20. exf5 gxf5 21. Qc3 $1 {I had calculated for a very long time
before deciding to play this move. Black obviously wants to launch a kingside
attack, so White must quickly aim for counterplay on the queenside. As the
saying goes, "attack is the best defence"ќ. Here my impression was that I was
the one who spent time calculating, while my opponent was relying more on his
feeling. In hindsight I have to say that I was luckier because this position
really called for precise calculations.} f4 ({I was expecting} 21... Bxa5 22.
Rxa5 f4 (22... Qd5 23. f3 $16) {after which I intended to play} 23. Bxa7 {
. I had calculated up to 25.Qg5+ leading to a draw, but then 26.Be3 secures a
huge advantage for White.} f3 24. Qxe5 Nf4 25. Qg5+ Kh8 26. Be3 $1 $16 (26.
Qe5+ $11)) 22. Bxb6 cxb6 (22... axb6 23. Nxc6 $16 (23. Qxc6 Rad8 24. Qxd7 Rxd7)
) 23. Nxc6 $1 (23. Qxc6 Qc8 $1) 23... Qd6 {I had not considered this move. But
after thinking for five minutes I saw that after 24.Rxa7 Rxa7 25.Nxa7 Nd4, I
could play 26.Nb5!. I think my opponent must have missed this tactical
resource.} (23... f3 24. Nxe5 Qd5 25. Nxf3 (25. Qb3 Qxb3 26. cxb3 fxg2 27. Kxg2
Nd4 28. Rae1) 25... Rxf3 26. gxf3 Nd4 27. Qc7 $1 $18 Kh8 28. Rfe1) 24. Rxa7
Rxa7 (24... f3 25. Ne7+ Kh8 26. Nf5) 25. Nxa7 f3 (25... Nd4 26. Nxb5) 26. Qc6 {
The right and safest choice, avoiding any attempts to fork my queen after ...
Nd4. White's advantage is already very obvious.} Qe7 27. Nxb5 Kh8 $6 {I think
Black should have played 27...fxg2 to attain a bit of counterplay.} (27... fxg2
28. Kxg2 (28. Qxg2+ Kh8 29. Kh1 Qxb4 30. Qd5 Qf4 31. Qe4 $16) 28... Kh8 29. Kh1
$18) 28. g3 {Now I think White's advantage is decisive. After Ra1-a8 and an
exchange of rooks White is simply three pawns up.} Qf7 29. Ra1 Ng5 30. Ra8 Qe7
31. h4 Nh3+ 32. Kf1 e4 (32... Qxb4 33. Qf6+ $18) 33. Qxe4 {I felt happy and
very honoured to win this important game and with it the tournament! But when
euphoria and happiness subsided, I felt terribly exhausted and was longing for
a good rest!} 1-0

[Event "London Classic rapid op 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.06"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Wei, Naomi"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E08"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "1762"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2014.12.06"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 e6 3. Bg2 d5 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. b3 c6 7. Bb2 Nbd7 8. d4
b6 9. Nc3 Bb7 10. Qc2 Rc8 11. Rad1 Qc7 12. e4 dxe4 13. Nxe4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4 Nf6
15. Qe5 Rfd8 16. Qxc7 Rxc7 17. Ne5 b5 18. Bc3 b4 19. Bb2 a5 20. Bc1 Nd7 21. Nd3
Rcc8 22. Rfe1 Kf8 23. Bf4 g5 24. Be3 f6 25. f4 g4 26. f5 exf5 27. Rf1 Kg7 28.
Rxf5 Nf8 29. Nf4 Ra8 30. Rf1 a4 31. Nh5+ Kg8 32. Nxf6+ Bxf6 33. Rxf6 Ng6 34.
Rf7 Ba6 35. d5 Ne5 36. R7f5 Nf3+ 37. Bxf3 gxf3 38. Rg5+ Kf7 39. Rxf3+ Ke7 40.
Rg7+ Kd6 41. Rf6+ Ke5 42. Re6+ Kf5 43. g4# 1-0

[Event "London Classic rapid op 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.06"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Vujatovic, Rajko"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A50"]
[WhiteElo "2222"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2014.12.06"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 g6 6. O-O Bg7 7. Nc3 Ne4 8. Nxe4
Bxe4 9. Bg5 Qc8 10. Qd2 O-O 11. Rac1 d6 12. Bh6 Nd7 13. h4 Nf6 14. Bxg7 Kxg7
15. Rfd1 Qb7 16. Ne1 Bxg2 17. Nxg2 Rad8 18. Nf4 c5 19. d5 e5 20. Nh3 Qd7 21.
Kg2 Ne4 22. Qe3 f5 23. h5 h6 24. hxg6 Qe8 25. Qa3 Qxg6 26. Qxa7+ Rf7 27. Qxb6
Rg8 28. Rd3 f4 29. Rg1 Kh8 30. Kh2 fxg3+ 31. Rdxg3 Rxf2+ 32. Nxf2 Nxg3 33. Rxg3
Qxg3+ 34. Kh1 Qg1# 0-1

[Event "London Classic rapid op 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.06"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Milliet, Sophie"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A08"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2392"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2014.12.06"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. g3 Nc6 3. Bg2 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. d3 d5 6. Nc3 e6 7. Bg5 Nge7 8. Qc1
h6 9. Bd2 g5 10. a3 b6 11. Rb1 Bb7 12. b4 cxb4 13. axb4 Rc8 14. b5 Na5 15. Na4
Qc7 16. Qa3 O-O 17. Rfc1 Nf5 18. e3 Rfd8 19. Bb4 d4 20. e4 Nd6 21. c4 dxc3 22.
Bxc3 Bxc3 23. Nxc3 Qe7 24. Qb2 Ne8 25. d4 Nd6 26. Qe2 Ndc4 27. h3 Rc7 28. Na2
Rdc8 29. Nh2 Na3 30. Rxc7 Rxc7 31. Rd1 Rc2 32. Qh5 Rxa2 33. Ng4 Kf8 34. Qxh6+
Ke8 35. Nf6+ Kd8 36. d5 exd5 37. exd5 Qe2 38. Qf8+ 1-0

[Event "London Classic rapid op 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.06"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Bates, Richard"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2346"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "2014.12.06"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Bg5
b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Ng5 fxg5 11. Bxa8 c6 12. a4 Qxd4 13. axb5 cxb5 14. Rd1 Qb6
15. Nc3 Nd7 16. Be4 f5 17. Bg2 Nc5 18. e4 f4 19. e5 Nb3 20. Rab1 fxg3 21. Ne4
gxf2+ 22. Kh1 Bb7 23. Rd7 Bxe4 24. Qxe4 Nc5 25. Qd4 f1=Q+ 0-1

[Event "London Classic rapid op 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.06"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ghasi, Ameet K"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A15"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2475"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2014.12.06"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O Nf6 5. b3 O-O 6. Bb2 e5 7. c4 Nbd7 8. d3
Nh5 9. Nc3 f5 10. e3 h6 11. Nd2 c6 12. b4 Ndf6 13. b5 d5 14. bxc6 bxc6 15. Qa4
Bd7 16. Qa6 e4 17. Nb3 Qb6 18. Qxb6 axb6 19. cxd5 cxd5 20. Rfd1 Rfc8 21. Nxd5
Nxd5 22. Bxg7 Nxe3 23. fxe3 Nxg7 24. dxe4 Be6 25. exf5 Bxb3 26. axb3 Rxa1 27.
Bd5+ Kf8 28. Rxa1 Nxf5 29. Kf2 Rc2+ 30. Kf3 Rc3 31. Re1 Ke7 32. Kf4 Kf6 33. e4
g5+ 34. Kg4 Ne3+ 35. Kh5 Ke5 36. Re2 g4 37. Kxh6 Kd4 38. Kg5 Rc8 39. Be6 Re8
40. Bf5 Kd3 41. Ra2 Kd4 42. Kf4 Nf1 43. Rf2 1-0

[Event "London Classic rapid op 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.06"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C47"]
[WhiteElo "2776"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2014.12.06"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. h3 Bb4 5. Bd3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. a3 Bxc3 8.
dxc3 Ne7 9. a4 h6 10. a5 Ng6 11. c4 Be6 12. Be3 Nd7 13. b4 Nf4 14. Re1 Qf6 15.
Bf1 g5 16. Kh2 Kh8 17. g3 Nxh3 18. Bxh3 g4 19. Bg2 gxf3 20. Bxf3 Bxc4 21. Kg2
Kg7 22. Rh1 Rh8 23. Rh4 Nf8 24. Qd2 Ne6 25. Qc3 Bb5 26. Rah1 Kf8 27. Bg4 Bc6
28. Bxe6 Qxe6 29. b5 Bxb5 30. Rxh6 Rxh6 31. Rxh6 Qg4 32. f3 Qg7 33. Qxc7 a6 34.
Qxd6+ Kg8 35. Rh5 1-0

[Event "London Classic rapid op 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.07"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Fodor, Tamas Jr"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2502"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2014.12.06"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 Bg4 4. d3 Nd7 5. O-O e6 6. h3 Bh5 7. e4 Be7 8. Qe1
dxe4 9. dxe4 e5 10. Nbd2 Ngf6 11. Nh4 O-O 12. Nc4 b5 13. Na5 Rc8 14. Nf5 Re8
15. Bg5 Bf8 16. Nb3 Qc7 17. a4 a6 18. Kh1 Rb8 19. axb5 axb5 20. g4 Bg6 21. Rd1
c5 22. Nc1 Re6 23. Ne2 b4 24. f4 Rbe8 25. Nxg7 Bxg7 26. f5 Ra6 27. Qh4 Qc6 28.
Bc1 Nf8 29. Qf2 c4 30. fxg6 fxg6 31. Ng3 Qe6 32. g5 N6d7 33. Kh2 Qe7 34. h4 Ne6
35. Qe2 Rc6 36. Nf5 Qd8 37. Qg4 Rf8 38. Nd6 Qe7 39. Nf5 Qe8 40. Be3 Ndc5 41.
Rd5 c3 42. bxc3 bxc3 43. Nxg7 Kxg7 44. Qg3 Nd7 45. Rfd1 Rf7 46. Bh3 Nef8 47. h5
gxh5 48. Bf5 Re7 49. Qh3 Nb6 50. Rd8 Qf7 51. Rf1 Nc4 52. Bc8 Qg8 53. Rdxf8 Qxf8
54. Rxf8 Kxf8 55. Bd7 Rc7 56. Bf5 Nxe3 57. Qxe3 Rc6 58. Qd3 Kg7 59. Qd8 Rcc7
60. Qd6 1-0

[Event "London Classic rapid op 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.07"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Hawkins, Jonathan J"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E54"]
[WhiteElo "2546"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2014.12.06"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 c5 7. O-O cxd4 8. exd4
dxc4 9. Bxc4 b6 10. Bg5 Bb7 11. Ne5 Nbd7 12. Qe2 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Rc8 14. Rac1
Nxe5 15. dxe5 Rc5 16. f4 Rxc4 17. exf6 g6 18. Rfd1 Qc7 19. Rd3 Qc5+ 20. Kh1 h5
21. Qd2 Qf5 22. Rd7 Bd5 23. Kg1 Ra4 24. c4 Bc6 25. Re7 Ra3 26. Qf2 Rd8 27. Rc7
Qe4 28. h3 Rad3 29. Re1 Qxc4 30. f5 exf5 31. Rxa7 h4 32. Rc7 Qd5 33. Bf4 Ba8
34. Rce7 Rxh3 35. a4 Bc6 36. R7e5 Qb3 37. gxh3 Qxh3 38. Qh2 Qg4+ 39. Kf1 Rd4
40. Be3 Rxa4 41. Bxb6 h3 42. R5e2 Rf4+ 43. Bf2 Bb5 0-1

[Event "London Classic rapid op 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.07"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Sadler, Matthew D"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2653"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2014.12.06"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Nf6 7. O-O Be7 8.
dxc5 Bxc5 9. a3 Ne4 10. b4 Be7 11. Bb2 Bf6 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. Qxd5 Be6 14. Qxe4
Qxa1 15. b5 Nd8 16. Qb4 Qf6 17. Nd4 Qe7 18. Nd2 Qxb4 19. axb4 Rc8 20. Ra1 b6
21. Rxa7 Rc1+ 22. Nf1 O-O 23. Ra6 Rb1 24. Rxb6 Rxb4 25. Rd6 Bc4 26. b6 Ne6 27.
Nd2 Rd8 28. Nf5 Rxd6 29. Nxd6 Bxe2 30. b7 Nc5 31. Bd5 Ba6 32. Bxf7+ Kf8 33. Bd5
Nxb7 34. Bxb7 Bxb7 35. Nxb7 Rxb7 36. Kg2 Kf7 37. h4 Ra7 38. Ne4 h6 39. Kf3 Ke6
40. Kf4 Rf7+ 41. Ke3 Ke5 42. g4 Ra7 43. f4+ Kd5 44. Ng3 Ra3+ 45. Kf2 Ra2+ 46.
Kf3 Ra3+ 47. Kf2 Rb3 48. h5 Ra3 49. g5 Ke6 50. gxh6 gxh6 51. Kg2 Kf6 52. Kh3
Ra5 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic rapid op 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.07"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Naroditsky, Daniel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2620"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2014.12.06"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Qe2 Ng5 6. Nxg5 Qxg5 7. d4 Qe7 8.
dxe5 a6 9. Bxc6 dxc6 10. Nd2 Qe6 11. f4 f5 12. Nf3 Be7 13. Ng5 Bxg5 14. Qh5+
Qg6 15. Qxg6+ hxg6 16. fxg5 Be6 17. Bf4 c5 18. a3 a5 19. Rad1 Ke7 20. Rf2 a4
21. g3 Rh3 22. Kg2 Rah8 23. Kg1 b6 24. Rfd2 c6 25. Re2 Bc4 26. Red2 Bd5 27. c4
Be6 28. Rc1 Kf7 29. Rcc2 Rc8 30. Be3 Rhh8 31. Rd6 Rhe8 32. Kf2 Kg8 33. h4 Kf7
34. Rc3 Re7 35. Ke2 b5 36. cxb5 cxb5 37. Rxc5 Bc4+ 38. Kd2 Rxc5 39. Bxc5 Rxe5
40. Be3 Rd5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic Elite blitz 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.08"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2014.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2016"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Bg4 3. Bg2 Nd7 4. O-O c6 5. d3 e6 6. h3 Bh5 7. e4 Bd6 8. exd5
cxd5 9. c4 Ne7 10. Nc3 O-O 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Re1 Rc8 13. d4 h6 14. Qb3 Nb6 15.
Ne5 Nc6 16. g4 Bxe5 17. dxe5 Bg6 18. Be3 d4 19. Rad1 d3 20. Nb5 Na5 21. Qb4 Nd5
22. Qd4 Nxe3 23. fxe3 Rc2 24. Nd6 Qh4 25. Qf4 Rxb2 26. Rf1 Qg5 27. h4 Qxh4 28.
e6 Nc6 29. Nxf7 Qe7 30. Bxc6 bxc6 31. Qd6 Re8 32. Qd4 Re2 33. Nxh6+ gxh6 34.
Rf6 Qg7 35. Rdf1 d2 36. Qd7 Re7 37. Qd8+ Kh7 0-1

[Event "London Classic Elite blitz 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.08"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "173"]
[EventDate "2014.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2016"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Nbd2 a6 7. Nf1 Be6 8. Bb3
Bxb3 9. axb3 d5 10. Qe2 dxe4 11. dxe4 Ng4 12. Ne3 Nxe3 13. Bxe3 Bxe3 14. Qxe3
O-O 15. O-O Qe7 16. Rfd1 Rfd8 17. Rd5 f6 18. b4 Qe8 19. Qc5 Ne7 20. Rxd8 Qxd8
21. g3 c6 22. Qc4+ Kf8 23. Qe2 Qc7 24. Rd1 Rd8 25. Kg2 Rxd1 26. Qxd1 Ke8 27.
Ne1 g6 28. Nd3 Qd7 29. Qe2 b6 30. Ne1 Qc8 31. Qc4 Kf8 32. Nc2 Kg7 33. Ne3 h5
34. h4 Kf8 35. Qd3 b5 36. Nf1 Kf7 37. Nd2 c5 38. c4 cxb4 39. cxb5 axb5 40. Qxb5
Nc6 41. Nc4 Kg7 42. Nd6 Qd7 43. Qd5 Kh7 44. Qc5 b3 45. Nc4 Nd4 46. Ne3 Kg7 47.
Nd5 Kf7 48. Qb6 Ne6 49. Qxb3 Qc6 50. Qa3 Qb7 51. b4 f5 52. Qd3 Nd4 53. Kh2 Qc6
54. Nc3 Kg7 55. b5 Qc5 56. exf5 gxf5 57. Qe3 Kf7 58. Ne2 Qxb5 59. Nxd4 exd4 60.
Qxd4 Qe2 61. Kg1 Qe1+ 62. Kg2 Qe6 63. Qh8 Qe4+ 64. Kh2 Qf3 65. Qd4 Kg6 66. Kg1
Qc6 67. Kf1 Qb5+ 68. Ke1 Qc6 69. Ke2 Qb5+ 70. Ke3 Qb3+ 71. Qd3 Qb6+ 72. Qd4
Qb3+ 73. Kf4 Qb8+ 74. Ke3 Qb3+ 75. Kd2 Qa2+ 76. Kd3 Qb3+ 77. Qc3 Qd5+ 78. Ke2
Qe4+ 79. Qe3 Qc2+ 80. Kf1 Qd1+ 81. Kg2 Kf7 82. Qf3 Qc2 83. Qxh5+ Kg7 84. Qg5+
Kf7 85. Qf4 Qc6+ 86. Kh2 Qe6 87. g4 1-0

[Event "London Classic Elite blitz 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.08"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D78"]
[WhiteElo "2768"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2014.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2016"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 c6 5. O-O Nf6 6. b3 O-O 7. c4 Bf5 8. Bb2
Nbd7 9. Nbd2 Ne4 10. Nh4 Nxd2 11. Qxd2 Be6 12. e4 dxe4 13. Bxe4 Bh3 14. Rfe1 e6
15. Nf3 Nf6 16. Bc2 Bf5 17. Ne5 Bxc2 18. Qxc2 Qa5 19. a4 Rad8 20. b4 Qc7 21. b5
Nd7 22. Nf3 Rc8 23. Rac1 Rfd8 24. d5 e5 25. dxc6 bxc6 26. bxc6 Qxc6 27. Nxe5
Bxe5 28. Bxe5 Nxe5 29. Rxe5 Rd4 30. a5 Rxc4 31. Qxc4 Qxc4 32. Rxc4 Rxc4 33. Re7
a6 34. Ra7 Rc6 35. g4 Kg7 36. Kg2 Kf6 37. Kg3 h6 38. h4 Ke6 39. f3 g5 40. hxg5
hxg5 41. f4 f6 42. fxg5 fxg5 43. Rg7 Kf6 44. Rb7 Ke5 45. Rf7 Rc3+ 46. Kf2 Rc5
47. Rf5+ Kd4 48. Rxc5 Kxc5 49. Ke3 Kb5 50. Ke4 Kxa5 51. Kf5 Kb5 52. Kxg5 a5 53.
Kh6 a4 54. g5 a3 55. g6 a2 56. g7 a1=Q 57. g8=Q Qh1+ 58. Kg6 Qg2+ 59. Kf7 Qd5+
60. Kg7 Qxg8+ 61. Kxg8 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic Elite blitz 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.08"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2768"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2014.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2016"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. b3 Bg7 4. Bb2 c5 5. c4 b6 6. Bg2 Bb7 7. O-O O-O 8. e3 d6
9. Nc3 Ne4 10. d4 Nxc3 11. Bxc3 Be4 12. Rc1 cxd4 13. Nxd4 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 a6 15.
Qf3 Ra7 16. Rfd1 Qc8 17. a4 Rc7 18. Ne2 Nd7 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Nc3 Nf6 21. Rd4
Rc5 22. Rcd1 Rf5 23. Qe2 h5 24. h3 Rc5 25. f4 Re8 26. Qf3 b5 27. axb5 axb5 28.
Nxb5 d5 29. Nc3 dxc4 30. b4 Rc7 31. b5 e5 32. Rd6 exf4 33. Qxf4 Qb7+ 34. Kf2
Ne4+ 35. Nxe4 Qxe4 36. Qxe4 Rxe4 37. b6 Rb7 38. Ke2 Rbe7 39. Rb1 Rxe3+ 40. Kd2
Rxg3 41. b7 c3+ 42. Kc1 Rg2 43. Rd1 Ree2 44. Re1 Rxe1# 0-1

[Event "London Classic Elite blitz 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.08"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2014.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2016"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 c6 4. d3 Bg4 5. O-O Nbd7 6. Qe1 e6 7. h3 Bxf3 8.
Bxf3 h5 9. Bg2 Qc7 10. e4 dxe4 11. dxe4 Bd6 12. f4 e5 13. Nd2 h4 14. Nc4 Bc5+
15. Be3 Bxe3+ 16. Qxe3 hxg3 17. fxe5 Nxe5 18. Qxg3 Nfd7 19. Rad1 O-O-O 20. Nd6+
Kb8 21. Nxf7 Nxf7 22. Qxc7+ Kxc7 23. Rxf7 Kc8 24. Rxg7 Ne5 25. Rxd8+ Rxd8 26.
h4 Rh8 27. Rg5 Nf7 28. Rf5 Nd6 29. Rf4 Nc4 30. b3 Ne3 31. Kf2 Nxc2 32. e5 Kd7
33. Bh3+ Ke8 34. Bc8 b6 35. Bf5 Na3 36. h5 Ke7 37. Bg6 Ke6 38. Rf6+ Kxe5 39.
Rxc6 Nb5 40. Kg3 Nd6 41. Kg4 Kd5 1-0

[Event "London Classic Elite blitz 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.08"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A09"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2014.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2016"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. e3 Nc6 4. exd4 Nxd4 5. Nxd4 Qxd4 6. Nc3 c6 7. d3 Nh6 8.
Be2 g6 9. h3 Bg7 10. g4 f5 11. Be3 Qd6 12. Qd2 Nf7 13. O-O-O O-O 14. f4 b5 15.
d4 bxc4 16. Bxc4 Be6 17. Qe2 Rab8 18. Rhe1 Bxc4 19. Qxc4 Rb4 20. Qa6 fxg4 21.
hxg4 Nh6 22. Qe2 Qe6 23. Rg1 c5 24. d5 Qb6 25. Qc2 Rb8 26. Rd2 Qa5 27. Nd1 Qxa2
28. Rd3 Rxb2 0-1

[Event "London Classic Elite blitz 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.08"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2829"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2014.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2016"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. d4 g6 3. e4 Bg7 4. Bc4 e6 5. O-O a6 6. Re1 Nf6 7. e5 dxe5 8. Nxe5
O-O 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bh4 c5 11. Qf3 cxd4 12. Nd2 Nbd7 13. Nxf7 Rxf7 14. Bxe6 Nf8
15. Bxf7+ Kxf7 16. Ne4 g5 17. Bg3 Bg4 18. Nd6+ Kg8 19. Qxb7 N8d7 20. Qb3+ Kh7
21. Qd3+ Kg8 22. Qxd4 Bh5 23. Nf5 Bf8 24. Bd6 Bg6 25. Ne7+ Kh7 26. Nxg6 Kxg6
27. Re6 Bxd6 28. Rxd6 Qe7 29. h3 Ne5 30. Rd1 Rc8 31. Qe4+ Kg7 32. Qf5 Rc6 33.
Rxc6 Nxc6 34. c3 Ne5 35. Kh1 Ng6 36. Qd3 Qb7 37. b4 Nf4 38. Qf3 Qc7 39. a4 h5
40. b5 axb5 41. axb5 Qc5 42. Rb1 N6d5 43. b6 Nxc3 44. b7 Nxb1 45. b8=Q Nd2 46.
Qfb7+ Kf6 47. Qh8+ 1-0

[Event "London Classic Elite blitz 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.08"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2829"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2014.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2016"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nc6 3. d4 Bf5 4. Bg2 Nb4 5. Na3 e6 6. O-O Nf6 7. Bf4 c6 8. c3
Na6 9. Nc2 Be7 10. Ne5 h6 11. Ne1 O-O 12. N1d3 Rc8 13. b4 Nb8 14. a4 a5 15. Qb3
axb4 16. cxb4 Ne4 17. Nc5 Nd6 18. Rfc1 Bg5 19. Bxg5 hxg5 20. a5 f6 21. Nf3 Qe7
22. Nd2 Na6 23. Nxa6 bxa6 24. Rc5 Nb7 25. Rc3 Bg6 26. Rac1 Nd8 27. e4 Rb8 28.
Rc5 Nb7 29. Bh3 Bf7 30. Qe3 Nxc5 31. Rxc5 Rxb4 32. Rxc6 dxe4 33. Nxe4 Rb1+ 34.
Kg2 g4 35. Bxg4 f5 36. Bxf5 exf5 37. Nf6+ Qxf6 38. Rxf6 Bd5+ 39. f3 Rb2+ 40.
Kg1 Rxf6 41. Qe8+ Rf8 42. Qd7 Rb5 43. Kf2 f4 44. gxf4 Rxf4 45. Qc8+ Rf8 46.
Qxa6 Rxf3+ 47. Ke2 Rb2+ 48. Ke1 Rc3 0-1

[Event "London Classic Elite blitz 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.08"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A01"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2014.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2016"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. b3 g6 2. Bb2 Nf6 3. e4 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 c5 6. Ne2 d6 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4
Bg4 9. Qd2 Qc8 10. h3 Bd7 11. c4 Nc6 12. Ne2 a6 13. Nbc3 b5 14. cxb5 axb5 15.
Nxb5 Ne5 16. Nbc3 Qa6 17. Rd1 Rfb8 18. f4 Nc6 19. O-O Ra7 20. Kh2 Be8 21. Rf3
Nd7 22. Bf1 Nc5 23. Re3 Qa5 24. Bg2 Nb4 25. a3 Nxb3 26. axb4 Nxd2 27. bxa5 Rxb2
28. e5 dxe5 29. Rd3 exf4 30. R1xd2 fxg3+ 31. Kxg3 Be5+ 32. Kf2 Rxd2 33. Rxd2
Bc7 34. Nd5 Bxa5 35. Rb2 Kg7 36. Ne3 Bd7 37. Nc4 Bc7 38. Nc3 Be6 39. Nb5 Ra4
40. Nxc7 Bxc4 41. Nd5 Bxd5 42. Bxd5 e6 43. Bf3 h5 44. Rb7 Rf4 45. Kg3 Rf5 46.
Be2 Kh6 47. Bd3 Rf6 48. h4 g5 49. hxg5+ Kxg5 50. Rb5+ Kh6 51. Ra5 h4+ 52. Kg4
Kg7 53. Kxh4 Rf4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic Elite blitz 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.08"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A80"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2014.12.08"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2016"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.08"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d6 2. Nf3 f5 3. e3 Nf6 4. Be2 g6 5. b4 Bg7 6. Bb2 e5 7. dxe5 Ng4 8. O-O
Nc6 9. c4 Ngxe5 10. Qb3 a5 11. Nxe5 Bxe5 12. b5 a4 13. Qa3 Qf6 14. Nc3 Qg7 15.
bxc6 bxc6 16. Bf3 Ra6 17. Nxa4 Be6 18. Qb3 O-O 19. Bxe5 Qxe5 20. Nb2 Rfa8 21.
Nd3 Qg7 22. a4 Qf7 23. Rfc1 g5 24. g3 Qf6 25. Qc2 Bd7 26. Qb2 Qxb2 27. Nxb2 Rb6
28. Nd3 Rb3 29. Rd1 Ra5 30. c5 Be8 31. cxd6 cxd6 32. Nc1 Rc3 33. Rxd6 g4 34.
Bd1 Kf8 35. Nb3 Ra7 36. Nd4 Ra5 37. Nb3 Ra7 38. a5 c5 39. a6 Ke7 40. Rd5 c4 41.
Nd4 Rd3 42. Bc2 Rc3 43. Bxf5 h5 44. Re5+ Kf8 45. Rxe8+ 1-0

[Event "London Classic Pro Biz Cup 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.09"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Jones, Gawain C B"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C00"]
[WhiteElo "2661"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2014.12.09"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bd3 c5 6. O-O Be7 7. b3 O-O 8.
Bb2 Nc6 9. Ba3 Bg4 10. Be2 d4 11. Na4 b6 12. Re1 Bd6 13. c3 dxc3 14. dxc3 Qc7
15. b4 cxb4 16. cxb4 Rad8 17. Qb3 Bxf3 18. Bxf3 Nd4 19. Qd3 Nc2 20. Qb3 Bxh2+
21. Kh1 Nxa1 22. Rxa1 Qf4 23. g3 Bxg3 24. fxg3 Qh6+ 25. Kg2 Rd2+ 26. Kf1 Ng4
27. Ke1 Re8+ 28. Kf1 Qh3+ 29. Bg2 Qxg2# 0-1

[Event "London Classic Pro Biz Cup 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.09"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E70"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "2014.12.09"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 O-O 5. e5 Ne8 6. d4 c5 7. d5 d6 8. Bf4 Nd7
9. exd6 exd6 10. Qd2 Ne5 11. Be2 a6 12. a4 f5 13. O-O Nf7 14. Ng5 Nxg5 15. Bxg5
Bf6 16. Bh6 Bg7 17. Bg5 Bf6 18. Bh6 Bg7 19. Rfe1 Bd7 20. Bd3 Rf7 21. Re2 Re7
22. Rae1 Rxe2 23. Rxe2 Bxh6 24. Qxh6 Qf6 25. Qf4 Kg7 26. Qe3 Rd8 27. a5 h6 28.
Bc2 Qf8 29. Ba4 Nf6 30. Bxd7 Rxd7 31. Qe6 Qd8 32. f3 Ng8 33. Qe3 Re7 34. Qd2
Qxa5 35. Rxe7+ Nxe7 36. Qe1 Ng8 37. h3 Qc7 38. Ne2 Qe7 39. Qd2 g5 40. b4 Nf6
41. bxc5 dxc5 42. Qb2 Kg6 43. Qd2 Ne8 44. Kf2 Nd6 45. Qd3 Qe5 46. Qa3 Qe7 47.
Kf1 Nxc4 48. Qd3 b5 49. g4 Qe5 50. Ng3 Qa1+ 51. Ke2 Qe5+ 52. Kf1 Nd6 53. Kg2 c4
54. Qa3 f4 55. Nh1 Qxd5 56. Nf2 Qc6 57. Qc3 Qe8 58. h4 gxh4 59. Qd4 Qe6 60.
Qxf4 c3 61. Qd4 Qf6 62. Qc5 Kg7 63. Qc7+ Nf7 64. Nd3 h3+ 65. Kg3 Qd6+ 0-1

[Event "London Classic Pro Biz Cup 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.09"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D34"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2768"]
[PlyCount "205"]
[EventDate "2014.12.09"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. g3 Nf6 7. Bg2 Be7 8. O-O
O-O 9. Bg5 c4 10. Ne5 Be6 11. Rc1 h6 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. f4 Ne7 14. e4 Bxe5 15.
fxe5 Qd7 16. Qd2 Rac8 17. Rcd1 b5 18. a3 Rcd8 19. exd5 Bxd5 20. Be4 a6 21. Rf6
Bxe4 22. Nxe4 Qxd4+ 23. Qxd4 Rxd4 24. Rxd4 gxf6 25. Nxf6+ Kg7 26. Rd6 Ng6 27.
Nh5+ Kh7 28. e6 fxe6 29. Rxa6 Rd8 30. Ra7+ Kh8 31. Nf6 Nf8 32. Rf7 Rd1+ 33. Kf2
Rd2+ 34. Ke3 Rxb2 35. Rxf8+ Kg7 36. Nd7 Rxh2 37. Rf2 Rh1 38. Ne5 Re1+ 39. Kd4
Rd1+ 40. Kc3 Rd5 41. Re2 Kf6 42. Ng4+ Kg5 43. Nf2 Kf5 44. Kb4 h5 45. Re4 e5 46.
Re3 Rd2 47. Rf3+ Ke6 48. Ne4 Re2 49. Nc3 Rb2+ 50. Kc5 Rb3 51. Re3 Kf5 52. Kd5
Kg4 53. Kxe5 h4 54. gxh4 Rxa3 55. Re4+ Kh5 56. Nd5 c3 57. Ne3 c2 58. Nxc2 Rh3
59. Rb4 Rxh4 60. Nd4 Kg6 61. Rb2 Rh5+ 62. Ke6 Rh4 63. Rg2+ Kh5 64. Nf3 Rf4 65.
Ne5 Rf1 66. Rb2 Kg5 67. Rxb5 Rf6+ 68. Kd5 Rf1 69. Rb8 Rd1+ 70. Ke6 Re1 71. Rg8+
Kh5 72. Rg2 Rf1 73. Kd5 Rd1+ 74. Ke4 Ra1 75. Kf4 Kh6 76. Rf2 Kg7 77. Kf5 Ra6
78. Rg2+ Kf8 79. Rh2 Ke7 80. Rh7+ Kd8 81. Rg7 Kc8 82. Ke4 Rd6 83. Nc4 Rd1 84.
Ke5 Kb8 85. Nd6 Rc1 86. Kd5 Rd1+ 87. Kc5 Rc1+ 88. Nc4 Kc8 89. Rf7 Rc2 90. Kd5
Rc1 91. Rh7 Kb8 92. Rg7 Kc8 93. Nd6+ Kb8 94. Nb5 Kc8 95. Kd6 Rd1+ 96. Kc6 Rc1+
97. Kb6 Kd8 98. Nc7 Rc2 99. Ne6+ Ke8 100. Kb7 Rc1 101. Nc7+ Kf8 102. Ne6+ Ke8
103. Nc7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic Pro Biz Cup 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.09"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A47"]
[WhiteElo "2222"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2014.12.09"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 c5 2. e3 Nf6 3. Nf3 b6 4. c4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Bd3 cxd4 7. exd4 d5 8. O-O
Bb7 9. Bg5 O-O 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. cxd5 Bxd5 12. Nxd5 Qxd5 13. Qe2 Qd6 14. Be4
Nc6 15. Ne5 Bxe5 16. Bxc6 Qxc6 17. dxe5 Rac8 18. Rad1 Rfd8 19. h4 Kg7 20. h5
Rd5 21. Rxd5 Qxd5 22. Rd1 Qxa2 23. Qd2 h6 24. hxg6 Kxg6 25. Qd3+ Kg7 26. Qg3+
Kh7 27. Qd3+ Kg7 28. Qg3+ Kh7 29. Qd3+ Kg7 30. Qg3+ Kh7 31. Qd3+ Kg7 32. Qg3+
Kh7 33. Qd3+ Kg7 34. Qg3+ Kh7 35. Qd3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic Pro Biz Cup 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.09"]
[Round "3.3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A04"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2768"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2014.12.09"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. g3 Nc6 3. Bg2 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. d3 e6 6. Bg5 Nge7 7. Qc1 h6 8. Bd2
d5 9. Nc3 g5 10. a3 Ng6 11. b4 cxb4 12. axb4 Nxb4 13. Nb5 Nc6 14. Qa3 Qe7 15.
Qxe7+ Kxe7 16. Ra2 g4 17. Ne1 Bd7 18. c4 dxc4 19. dxc4 a6 20. Nc3 Rac8 21. Ne4
Bd4 22. Nc2 Ba7 23. Rb1 Rc7 24. Bc3 Nge5 25. c5 f5 26. Nd4 Rf8 27. Nxc6+ Nxc6
28. Nd6 Bxc5 29. Nxb7 Bd4 30. Bxc6 Bxc3 31. Bxd7 Rxd7 32. Nc5 Rc7 33. Nxa6 Ra7
34. Ra4 Rd8 35. e3 Rd6 36. Nc5 Rxa4 37. Nxa4 Be5 38. Nc5 Rc6 39. Nd3 Bd6 40.
Rb3 Kf6 41. Kg2 h5 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic Pro Biz Cup 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.09"]
[Round "3.4"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2768"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2014.12.09"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nf5 8.
c3 Nxe5 9. Rxe5 d6 10. Re1 O-O 11. d4 d5 12. Bf4 c6 13. Nd2 Bd6 14. Bxd6 Nxd6
15. Bd3 Bf5 16. Bxf5 Nxf5 17. Qf3 g6 18. g3 Qd7 19. Re2 Rae8 20. Rae1 Nd6 21.
Qf4 Kg7 22. Kg2 f6 23. h4 h6 24. Rxe8 Rxe8 25. Rxe8 Nxe8 26. Nb3 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic Pro Biz Cup 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.09"]
[Round "3.5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2222"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2014.12.09"]
[EventType "k.o. (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "3"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 163 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2014.12.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 c6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Qc2
Nbd7 9. Nge2 Re8 10. O-O Nf8 11. f3 Nh5 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. e4 Be6 14. e5 g6 15.
f4 Ng7 16. Ng3 f5 17. exf6 Qxf6 18. Qf2 Nf5 19. Nxf5 Bxf5 20. Bxf5 Qxf5 21.
Rae1 Nd7 22. h3 h5 23. Kh1 Kf7 24. Qf3 Rxe1 25. Rxe1 Re8 26. Rxe8 Kxe8 27. Qe3+
Kf7 28. Kh2 h4 29. Qf2 g5 30. Ne2 Nf6 31. Qe3 g4 32. Nc3 g3+ 33. Kg1 Qc2 34. b3
Ne4 0-1

[Event "London Classic 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2014.12.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 c6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5
9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. g3 Bb7 12. Bg2 Qb6 13. exf6 O-O-O 14. O-O c5 15.
d5 b4 16. Na4 Qb5 17. a3 Nb8 18. axb4 cxb4 19. Qg4 Bxd5 20. Rfc1 Nc6 21. Bxd5
Rxd5 22. Rxc4 Rxg5 23. Qd4 Kb8 24. Rxc6 Rxg3+ 25. fxg3 Qxc6 26. Rd1 Qc7 27. b3
Kc8 28. Qe4 Kb8 29. Qd4 Kc8 30. Qd3 Bc5+ 31. Nxc5 Qxc5+ 32. Kf1 Qc3 33. Qxc3+
bxc3 34. h4 e5 35. Ke2 c2 36. Rc1 Kd7 37. Rxc2 Ke6 38. Rc6+ Kf5 39. Kf3 e4+ 40.
Ke3 Rb8 41. Rc5+ Kxf6 42. Kxe4 Rxb3 43. Ra5 Rxg3 44. Kf4 Rg1 45. Rxa7 Kg7
1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E92"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2014.12.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Nf3 e5 7. d5 {The
Petrosian variation was my favourite weapon against the King's Indian in the
good old days (1993, 1994) and brought me a few memorable victories including
two against the current world champion at that time Garry Kasparov.} a5 8. Bg5
h6 {The only acceptable move here, otherwise White plays Nd2 next and then
always meets ...h6 with Be3 reaching the best possible setup.} (8... Na6 9. Nd2
h6 10. Be3) 9. Be3 {This is a new, very direct concept. When I was playing
this variation some twenty years ago I always chose 9.Bh4 which is by far the
main theoretical move here.} Ng4 {Practically forced, Nd2 is coming next
otherwise.} 10. Bd2 f5 11. h3 Nf6 (11... Nxf2 $2 {just doesn't work} 12. Kxf2
fxe4 13. Nxe4 Qh4+ 14. Ke3 Qf4+ 15. Kd3 Qxe4+ 16. Kxe4 Bf5+ 17. Ke3) 12. exf5
gxf5 (12... Bxf5 {is not really an option} 13. g4 Bd7 14. g5 $16) 13. Qc1 $1 {
The point of White's play, starting very concrete play.} f4 {The most logical
move. There is no comfortable way to protect the pawn on h6.} (13... Kh7 14. g4
) (13... h5 14. Ng5 {followed by g4 at some point.}) 14. g3 {Again the only
justification of White's play.} e4 15. Nh4 e3 (15... f3 {strangely enough this
tempting move leads to a difficult position for Black after} 16. Bd1 Kh7 17.
Bc2) 16. fxe3 fxg3 17. Ng6 {The critical position of the variation. It is very
complicated and even with the help of the computer it's hard to understand who
is better here and why.} Rf7 {Two other acceptable options are} (17... Re8) ({
and} 17... g2 18. Rg1 Bxh3) 18. Qc2 Nfd7 $2 {This is just too slow, Black has
no time for regrouping.} (18... Na6 {is the only reasonable move here.}) 19.
O-O-O Ne5 (19... Nc5 {doesn't solve the problems} 20. Rhf1 $1 Rxf1 21. Rxf1
Bxh3 ({or} 21... Qe8 22. Rf3 g2 23. Rg3) 22. Rg1 Qg5 23. Nf4 Bf5 24. e4 {
and since Black is lacking development, his position just collapses.}) 20. Rhf1
{The most straightforward move although} (20. Nf4 {was very attractive too:}
Na6 21. Rhg1 Qh4 22. Qe4) 20... Rxf1 (20... Bxh3 {is just losing} 21. Nxe5 Rxf1
(21... Bxf1 22. Nxf7) 22. Bxf1 Bxf1 23. Rxf1 dxe5 24. Qg6) (20... Qe8 21. Rxf7
Qxf7 22. Nf4 Na6 23. Rg1 Nb4 24. Qb3 {taking the key pawn on g3.}) 21. Rxf1
Bxh3 22. Rg1 {Starting a direct attack.} Qf6 {Other moves do not make life
easier, for example} (22... Qg5 23. Nf4 Bf5 24. e4 Bg6 25. Ne6 Qe7 26. Rxg3 Na6
27. Bf4) (22... g2 23. Nxe5 dxe5 24. Qg6 Qg5 25. Qe8+ Bf8 26. Ne4) 23. Rxg3 (
23. Nf4 {is good as well but less direct.}) 23... Nxg6 (23... Qf2 {the
computer shows this resource which I missed during the game but still White is
just a pawn up after} 24. Rxh3 Qg1+ 25. Bd1 Qxg6 26. Qxg6 Nxg6 27. Nb5 Na6 28.
Bxa5 b6 29. Be1 Ne5 30. Be2 {and White must manage to win this endgame.}) 24.
Rxg6 Qf7 (24... Bf5 {loses after} 25. Rxf6 Bxc2 26. Re6 Bf5 27. Re8+ Kf7 28.
Bh5+ Bg6 29. Bxg6+ Kxg6 30. Nb5) (24... Qf2 {is bad as well} 25. Nd1 Qxe2 26.
Rxg7+ Kxg7 27. Bc3+) 25. Rg3 Bf5 26. e4 Bg6 27. Bg4 Qf1+ {This is losing by
force, the only way to keep the game on was the passive} (27... Kh8 28. Be6 Qe8
{at least not losing immediatly.}) 28. Nd1 Be5 ({or} 28... Kh7 29. Bh3 Qf7 30.
Rxg6) 29. Bh3 $1 Qf6 30. Rg1 {White has a powerful attack without being even a
pawn down.} Kh7 (30... Kh8 31. Bf5 Be8 {now anything wins} 32. Be3 (32. Ne3))
31. Bf5 $1 {The final blow.} Bxf5 32. exf5 Nd7 33. Rg6 Qf7 34. Rxh6+ Kg8 35.
Rg6+ Kf8 36. Nf2 {Simple chess, just getting the last piece into the attack,
there is no need to hurry.} b5 {The counterattack is a little late.} 37. Ng4
bxc4 38. Qxc4 Qxf5 39. Rg8+ Ke7 40. Bg5+ (40. Rxa8 {was tempting as well.})
40... Bf6 41. Qe2+ {To my slight disappointment Hikaru decided to call it a
day here instead of finishing it with ...Kf7 Nh6 mate.} 1-0

[Event "London Classic 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.12"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[Annotator "Ftacnik,L"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2014.12.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. h3 Ke8 10. Nc3 h5 11. Bf4 Be7 12. Rad1 Be6 13. Ng5 Rh6 {
The rook move is definitely the main idea used in this position, but some
older analyses has been pleading for the bishop move 13...Bc4.} (13... Bc4 14.
Rfe1 Rd8 $1 15. Rxd8+ (15. b3 Ba6 16. Rxd8+ {-> 15.Rxd8}) 15... Bxd8 16. b3 Ba6
17. e6 Bxg5 18. exf7+ Kxf7 19. Bxg5 Re8 $11) 14. g3 (14. Nce4 c5 15. Nxe6 Rxe6
16. Rfe1 Rd8 17. Rxd8+ Kxd8 18. c3 $14 {Alekseev - Ponomariov, Saratov, 2011.})
14... Bc4 $146 {Black players are not experiencing problems in the Berlin
Defence, but thist does not exclude an active search for the best continuation
in every line. Kramnik is avoiding the immediate exchange on g5.} (14... Bxg5
15. Bxg5 Rg6 16. h4 (16. Bf4 Nh4 17. Kh1 Nf3 18. Kg2 (18. Rd3 $2 Bc4 19. Rxf3
Bxf1 $19) (18. h4 $2 Bh3 $19) 18... Nh4+ 19. Kh1 (19. Kh2 Nf3+ $11) 19... Nf3
20. Kg2 {1/2 (20) Grischuk,A (2747)-Anand,V (2817) Monte Carlo 2011}) 16... f6
17. exf6 gxf6 18. Bf4 Nxh4 19. f3 (19. Bxc7 Bg4 20. Rd3 Nf3+ 21. Kg2 h4 22. Ne4
Kf7 23. Nd6+ Kg8 $11) 19... Rd8 (19... Rg7 20. Ne4 Kf7 21. Kf2 Nxf3 (21... Nf5
22. Bxc7 $14) 22. Kxf3 Bg4+ 23. Kf2 Bxd1 24. Rxd1 $11 {0-1 (57) Efimenko,Z 
(2703)-Bacrot,E (2705) Poikovsky 2011}) 20. Kf2 (20. Rxd8+ Kxd8 21. Kf2 Nf5 22.
Rh1 Ng7 23. Bd2 (23. b3 Bf5 24. Nd1 $1 Be6 (24... Bxc2 $2 25. Ne3 Bf5 26. Ng2
$1 $16 Ne6 $2 27. Nh4 Nxf4 28. gxf4 $18) (24... Bd7 $1 25. c4 Be8 26. Bd2 Nf5
27. Bf4 Ng7 28. Ne3 Ne6 $1 29. Rxh5 Nxf4 (29... Rxg3 30. Rh8 Rg6 31. Bg3 Ng5
32. Bxc7+ Kxc7 33. Rxe8 Nh3+ 34. Ke1 Kb6 35. Re7 a5 $11) 30. gxf4 Rg2+ $1 31.
Kxg2 Bxh5 $11 {1/2 (59) Karjakin,S (2779)-Naiditsch,A (2700) Dortmund 2012/})
25. Bc1 b6 26. Ne3 Bf7 (26... Rg5 $5) 27. Ng2 Ne8 28. Nf4 Rg5) (23. Nd1 Bf7 24.
b3 b6 25. c4 Be8 26. Nc3 Ne6 27. Bc1 Rg8 28. Ne4 Ke7 29. Bb2 Rf8 30. Re1 Bg6
31. Ba3+ c5 32. Nxc5 bxc5 33. Bxc5+ Kd7 34. Rxe6 Kxe6 35. Bxf8 {1/2 (35)
Naiditsch,A (2718)-So,W (2719) Wijk aan Zee 2014}) 23... Bf5 24. Nd1 Bxc2 25.
Ne3 Bd3 26. Ng2 Ne6 27. Rxh5 Rg7 28. Bc3 Ke7 29. Rh6 Rf7 {1/2 (36) Anand,V 
(2817)-Nakamura,H (2753) Sao Paulo/Bilbao 2011}) (20. Rde1 Kf7 21. Kf2 Nf5 22.
Rh1 Ng7 23. Rd1 Rd7 24. Rxd7+ Bxd7 25. Bxc7 Bf5 26. Bb8 Bxc2 {1/2 (38) Motylev,
A (2687)-Bacrot,E (2721) Poikovsky 2014}) 20... Rxd1 21. Nxd1 Nf5 22. Rh1 Bxa2
23. Rxh5 Be6 24. g4 (24. Bxc7 Rh6 25. Rxh6 Nxh6 26. g4 Nf7 27. Ke3 (27. Nc3 f5
28. Kg3 fxg4 29. fxg4 Kd7 30. Bf4 Nd6 31. Bxd6 Kxd6 32. Kf4 {1/2 (32) Mozharov,
M (2557)-Gagunashvili,M (2579) Quezon City 2014}) 27... Kd7 28. Bb8 a5 29. Nc3
b5 30. Ne4 Ke7 $11 {1/2 (42) Solak,D (2610)-Bacrot,E (2739) Yerevan 2014})
24... Nd6 25. Rh7 Nf7 (25... f5 26. g5 Nf7 27. Rh5 Rg8 28. Kg3 Rh8 29. Rxh8+
Nxh8 30. Bxc7 $11 {1/2 (52) Giri,A (2768)-Radjabov,T (2726) Tashkent 2014}) 26.
Ne3 Kd8 27. Nf5 c5 $11 {1/2 (122) Carlsen,M (2863)-Anand,V (2792) Sochi 2014})
15. Rfe1 Rg6 16. Nce4 Rd8 {The former world champion is still working hard on
his openings. It seems that the move which saves the light-squared bishop
leads to comfortable equality for Black.} (16... Bd5 17. h4 Rd8 18. Nc3 Rd7 $11
) 17. Rxd8+ Bxd8 18. b3 Bd5 19. c4 Bxg5 {The exchange of the light squared
bishop must have appealed less to the great technical player.} (19... Bxe4 20.
Nxe4 Be7 21. Rd1 c5 $11) 20. Nxg5 Be6 21. Kg2 c5 22. Nxe6 {Adams has probably
given up any hope for an advantage and was simplifying towards a probable draw.
} (22. f3 Nd4 23. Ne4 b6 $11) 22... Rxe6 23. Rd1 Nd4 24. g4 (24. Be3 Rxe5 25.
Bxd4 cxd4 26. Rxd4 Re2 27. a4 Rb2 28. Rd3 $11) 24... hxg4 25. hxg4 Ra6 {
The best players in the world have problems achieving an advantage against
each other, but it does not usually prevent them from seeking ways to fight on.
It was much safer for Black to attack the exposed e5-pawn.} (25... Nc6 $5 26.
Kg3 (26. Bg3 Nxe5 27. Rd5 Nxg4 28. Bxc7 Rc6 $15) 26... b6 27. Rh1 Nxe5 28. Rh8+
Ke7 29. Rc8 Kd7 30. Rg8 g6 31. Rf8 Ke7 32. Rc8 $11) 26. Rd2 Ra3 27. Be3 a5 (
27... b6 28. Bxd4 cxd4 29. f4 c5 30. Kf3 a5 31. Ke4 Kd7 32. Kd5 a4 33. Rb2 axb3
34. axb3 Ra8 35. b4 Rd8 36. bxc5 Kc7+ 37. Ke4 bxc5 $11) 28. Bxd4 cxd4 29. Kf3
$1 a4 30. Rb2 axb3 31. axb3 Ra1 32. Ke4 Rd1 {[%mdl 4096] The d4-pawn needs
special protection, but Black should be able to use it for the purpose of
dfelecting the white pieces with full equality.} 33. b4 Ke7 (33... d3 $1 34.
Ke3 Kd7 35. Ra2 (35. Rd2 Rxd2 36. Kxd2 Ke6 37. f4 g5 $15) 35... g5 $11) 34. Rb3
b6 35. b5 Rg1 (35... Ke6 36. f4 Rg1 37. g5 g6 38. Rd3 Re1+ 39. Kxd4 Rf1 40. Ke3
Rc1 $11) 36. Rg3 Rf1 37. f4 g5 $6 {The impending time control plays on the
defender's nerves, Kramnik misses the most promising lines.} (37... g6 38. f5
d3 39. Rxd3 Rg1 40. Kf4 gxf5 41. gxf5 Rc1 42. Rd4 $14) 38. f5 (38. fxg5 Ke6 39.
Rh3 Re1+ 40. Kxd4 Rd1+ 41. Ke4 Re1+ 42. Re3 Rxe3+ 43. Kxe3 Kxe5 44. Kf3 Kd4 45.
Kf4 Kxc4 46. Ke5 Kxb5 47. Kf6 c5 48. Kxf7 c4 $11) 38... Rf4+ 39. Kd5 Kd7 $2 (
39... f6 $5 40. e6 d3 41. Rxd3 Rxg4 42. Rh3 $16) 40. c5 $2 {Anybody who
believes that the 40th move (time control) is not cursed has probably played
chess only for few weeks. Too many games have been spoiled and chances missed,
so it is not so surprising that Adams misses the very strong move 40.f6! with
excellent winning chances.} (40. f6 $1 Kc8 41. Rh3 Kb7 (41... Rxg4 $2 42. Kc6
$18) 42. Rd3 Rf1 (42... Rxg4 43. e6 fxe6+ 44. Kxe6 $18) 43. Rxd4 Re1 44. Rd2
Kc8 45. Rh2 Kd7 46. Rh8 $18) 40... bxc5 41. Kxc5 Re4 42. Kd5 Re3 43. Rg2 d3 44.
Rd2 (44. Kd4 Re2 45. Rg3 d2 46. Rd3 Kc8 $11) 44... Rg3 45. Rd1 (45. Kc5 Rf3 $11
) 45... Rxg4 46. Rxd3 Rf4 47. f6 {The key idea of the f-pawn advance comes way
too late under much less favourable conditions. Black will be able to hold
with precise defence.} (47. Kc5+ $5 Kc8 48. f6 g4 49. b6 cxb6+ 50. Kd6 Kd8 51.
e6 Ke8 52. Rc3 fxe6 53. Kxe6 Re4+ 54. Kf5 Re1 55. Kg6 Rf1 56. Kg7 g3 57. Rxg3
Kd7 $11) 47... Rf1 48. e6+ Ke8 (48... fxe6+ 49. Ke5+ Ke8 50. Kxe6 g4 51. Rc3
Kf8 52. Rxc7 Re1+ 53. Kf5 g3 54. b6 g2 55. b7 Rb1 56. Rg7 Rxb7 $11) 49. exf7+
Kxf7 50. Rc3 Rf5+ 51. Kc6 g4 52. Rg3 Rg5 53. Kxc7 Rxb5 54. Rxg4 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.13"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D80"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2829"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2014.12.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bg5 Ne4 6. Bf4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8.
cxd5 Qxd5 9. e3 cxd4 10. cxd4 O-O 11. Be2 Qa5+ 12. Qd2 Qxd2+ 13. Kxd2 Nc6 14.
Rhc1 Rd8 15. Rc5 Bf5 16. Rac1 Be4 17. Bd3 Bd5 18. Bc4 Bxf3 19. gxf3 Nxd4 20.
exd4 Rxd4+ 21. Ke3 Rxf4 22. Kxf4 Bh6+ 23. Rg5 Kf8 24. Kg4 f6 25. f4 fxg5 26.
fxg5 Bg7 27. Be6 Be5 28. h4 Kg7 29. h5 gxh5+ 30. Kxh5 Rf8 31. Rc8 Rxc8 32. Bxc8
b5 33. Ba6 b4 34. Kg4 h6 35. gxh6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic 6th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2014.12.14"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2768"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "2014.12.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. Qxc4
b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 Be4 11. Qc1 c6 12. a4 Nbd7 13. Nc3 Bg6 14. Ne5 Nxe5 15.
dxe5 Nd5 16. axb5 axb5 17. Nxd5 cxd5 18. Rxa8 Qxa8 19. Qc7 Re8 20. Rc1 b4 21.
Bf3 h6 22. Kg2 b3 23. Qd7 Bc2 24. Ra1 Qc8 25. Qa4 Qb8 26. e4 d4 27. Qxd4 Rd8
28. Qc3 Qb7 29. Be1 Rc8 30. Ra7 Qxa7 31. Qxc8+ Kh7 32. Qc4 Bc5 33. Be2 Bd4 34.
Bd3 Qa1 35. Qxd4 Qxe1 36. Bc4 Bxe4+ 37. f3 Bc2 38. Bd3+ g6 39. Bc4 g5 40. g4 h5
41. gxh5 Kh6 42. Qd8 Qxe5 43. Qf8+ Qg7 44. Qxg7+ Kxg7 45. h4 Kh6 46. hxg5+ Kxh5
47. Kf2 Kxg5 48. Ke3 Kf5 49. f4 Kg4 50. Bb5 Kf5 51. Bc4 Kg6 52. Kf2 Kf6 53. Kf3
Kg6 54. Kf2 Bd1 55. Ke3 Kf5 56. Bb5 Kg4 57. Be8 f6 58. Bd7 Kf5 59. Bb5 Bc2 60.
Bd7 Bb1 61. Ba4 Bc2 62. Bd7 Bb1 63. Ba4 Bc2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2015.02.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2015.02.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Bf1 Be7 7. Nxe5 Nf5 8.
Nf3 d5 9. d4 O-O 10. c3 Re8 11. Bd3 Bd6 12. Rxe8+ Qxe8 13. Nbd2 b6 14. Nf1 f6
15. Qc2 g6 16. Ng3 Nce7 17. Ne2 Qf7 18. h3 Bd7 19. c4 dxc4 20. Bxc4 Be6 21.
Bxe6 Qxe6 22. Bf4 Nd5 23. Bxd6 Qxd6 24. Nc3 Nxc3 25. bxc3 Qd7 26. Re1 Re8 27.
Rxe8+ Qxe8 28. Qb3+ Kg7 29. Qc4 c6 30. Qa6 Qd7 31. a4 Nd6 32. Nd2 Qe7 33. Kf1
h5 34. Qd3 Qe6 35. Qa6 Qd7 36. Qe2 b5 37. a5 Kf7 38. Nb3 Qe6 39. Nc5 Qxe2+ 40.
Kxe2 Nc4 41. a6 Ke7 42. g4 hxg4 43. hxg4 f5 44. g5 Nb6 45. Nd3 Nd5 46. Kd2 Kd6
47. Ne5 Ne7 48. f4 c5 49. Kd3 c4+ 50. Kd2 Kc7 51. Kc2 Kb6 52. Kd2 Kxa6 53. d5
Nxd5 54. Nxg6 Kb6 55. Nh4 Nxf4 56. g6 Nxg6 57. Nxg6 Kc5 58. Nh4 f4 59. Nf3 a5
60. Nd4 b4 61. Ne6+ Kb5 62. Nxf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2015.02.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A09"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2015.02.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 e5 5. d3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 a5 7. O-O Nge7 8. Bxb4
axb4 9. Nbd2 O-O 10. a3 bxa3 11. Qb3 Bg4 12. Rxa3 Rb8 13. h3 Bh5 14. c5 Kh8 15.
g4 Bg6 16. Nh4 f6 17. Nxg6+ Nxg6 18. Ne4 Nh4 19. Ng3 Nxg2 20. Kxg2 Ne7 21. h4
Qd7 22. f3 Nd5 23. Rfa1 Ne3+ (23... h5 $1 24. Nxh5 f5 $1 {and Black crashes
through, though this continuation is far from obvious - sacrificing a pawn
doesn't seem so logical, especially after White can close the position with 25.
g5, but that is not where his problems end.} 25. g5 f4 $1 26. Kf2 Qf7 $1 $19 {
Suddenly the knight on h5 is trapped!}) 24. Kf2 Qe7 25. Ra7 f5 $6 26. g5 e4 27.
Rxb7 Rxb7 $2 (27... Rbd8 $1 $19) 28. Qxb7 exd3 29. exd3 Nc2 $4 {Perhaps
overlooking White's defensive resources.} 30. Ra8 Re8 31. Qc8 (31. Qc8 $1 Qe1+
32. Kg2 {and the knight on e2 is very securely protecting his king!} Ne3+ 33.
Kh3 {and Black is getting mated, while Black has no immediate threats.}) 1-0

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2015.02.13"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2015.02.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. e3 c5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bb5+ Nc6 7. O-O a6 8.
Bxc6+ bxc6 9. Qc2 Qb6 10. Nc3 cxd4 11. Na4 Qc7 12. exd4 Bd6 13. Re1+ Ne4 14.
Nc5 f5 15. Nd3 O-O 16. Nfe5 c5 17. f3 cxd4 18. Qxc7 Bxc7 19. Nc6 Bb7 20. Ne7+
Kh8 21. Bf4 Bb6 22. Rac1 Rf7 23. Nc6 a5 24. Be5 Ba6 25. Rcd1 Rc8 26. Bxd4 Bxd3
27. Rxd3 Rxc6 28. Bxb6 Rxb6 29. fxe4 fxe4 30. Rxd5 h6 31. Re2 Rbf6 32. Rd1 e3
33. Rxe3 Rf2 34. Rb3 Rc2 35. h3 Kh7 36. a4 Rc4 37. Ra3 Rf5 38. Rd2 Rb4 39. Kh2
Rg5 40. b3 Re5 41. Rd3 Re2 42. Ra1 Rb2 43. Re1 R2xb3 44. Rxb3 Rxb3 45. Re5 g5
46. Rxa5 Ra3 47. Ra6 h5 48. Kg1 Ra2 49. Kf1 h4 50. a5 Kg7 51. Ra7+ Kg6 52. Ra8
Kg7 53. a6 Kh7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2015.02.13"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C47"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2015.02.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 O-O
8. O-O d5 9. exd5 cxd5 10. h3 c6 11. Qf3 Re8 12. Bg5 Rb8 13. Rad1 Be6 14. Ne2
Be7 15. Nd4 Bd7 16. b3 Ne4 17. Bf4 Rb4 18. Bxe4 dxe4 19. Qg3 Qc8 20. c4 c5 21.
Nc2 Rb6 22. Bd6 Bf6 23. Ne3 Be6 24. Rd2 Bd4 25. Rxd4 $1 {A very nice
positional sacrifice. White, by giving up a rook, destroys the pair of bishops,
creates threats against his opponent king, creates a passed pawn and obtains a
strong dark-squared initiative. Who needs a miserable rook when you can have
all that for it!?} cxd4 26. Be5 f6 27. Bxd4 (27. Bxf6 Qd7 {is not so clear.})
27... Ra6 28. Bxf6 Qb7 29. Be5 Rxa2 30. Rd1 Rf8 31. c5 Qf7 32. Rf1 $6 (32. Rd6
$1 {is very strong as Rxe6 is a far more serious threat than anything on f2,
that being said it is not the easiest move to see in blitz.} Bxb3 (32... Rxf2
33. Rxe6 $18) 33. Nf5 $1 $18) 32... Bxb3 33. Ng4 Ra6 34. Bd6 $1 Qe6 35. Bxf8
Kxf8 36. Qb8+ Kf7 37. Ne5+ Kf6 38. f4 {The attack is clearly decisive.} 1-0

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz 4th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2015.02.13"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A87"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2811"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "146"]
[EventDate "2015.02.13"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 164 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.02"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.02"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. g3 Bg7 3. Bg2 f5 4. d4 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 d6 7. Nc3 c6 8. Rb1
Na6 9. b4 Ne4 10. Nxe4 fxe4 11. Nd2 d5 12. b5 Nc7 13. e3 Bf5 14. bxc6 bxc6 15.
Qa4 Rf6 16. Ba3 Bd7 17. Qa5 Bf8 18. cxd5 cxd5 19. Rb7 Rc6 20. Rc1 e6 21. Nb3
Bxa3 22. Qxa3 Nb5 23. Rxc6 Bxc6 24. Rxb5 Bxb5 25. Nc5 Qd6 26. Bh3 Bd7 27. Qa5
Bc8 28. Qb5 Kf7 29. Bxe6+ Ke7 30. Bxc8 Rxc8 31. Qb7+ Rc7 32. Qb3 Rc6 33. Qa4
Qc7 34. Kg2 Qb6 35. h4 Rc7 36. Qd1 Qf6 37. Qb3 Qc6 38. Qb8 Rc8 39. Qxa7+ Qc7
40. Qa4 Qc6 41. Qa7+ Qc7 42. Qa6 Qc6 43. Qe2 Ra8 44. h5 Kf7 45. a4 Qf6 {
By all means it is clear that White is the one pushin for a win. He has two
pawns for his exchange, and the safer king. However Black should be ok as
White's knight must stay on c5 to defend the a4 pawn and there is no clear way
to add pressure on the kingside.} 46. Qg4 Kg8 47. hxg6 hxg6 48. Nd7 Qf5 49.
Qxf5 gxf5 {With the treate of bishops a draw is the most likely result.} 50.
Nb6 (50. Nf6+ Kf7 51. Nxd5 Rxa4 $11) 50... Ra5 51. g4 Kf7 52. gxf5 Kf6 53. Nd7+
$6 (53. f3 {it was about time to settle down for the draw. Exchanging some
pawns makes the draw trivial.}) 53... Kxf5 54. Nc5 Kg4 55. Kf1 $2 {Too
passive! This gives Black excellent winning chances by swinging his rook to
the kingside.} Kf3 56. Ke1 (56. Nd7 {was necessary, with the small threat of
57.Ne5 mate!} Kg4 57. Kg2 $1 $11) 56... Ra8 {Now it is all over. The White
king must abandon f2 and the a4-pawn provides no counterplay.} 57. Kf1 Rb8 58.
Ke1 Rb1+ 59. Kd2 Kxf2 60. a5 Ra1 61. a6 Ra2+ 62. Kc3 Kxe3 {The rest is trivial.
} 63. Kb3 Ra1 64. Kb2 Ra5 65. Kc3 Kf2 66. Kb4 Ra1 67. Kb5 e3 68. Nd3+ Ke2 69.
Nf4+ Kf3 70. Nd3 e2 71. Kb6 Ke3 72. Nb4 Rb1 73. Kc5 Rxb4 0-1

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge 4th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2015.02.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2015.02.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. Qc2 Be7 7. e3 Nbd7 8.
Nf3 Nh5 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. O-O-O Nb6 11. Ne5 Nf6 12. Bd3 Ng4 13. Nf3 Be6 14. Kb1
O-O-O 15. h3 Nf6 16. Nd2 Kb8 17. Nb3 Ne8 18. Nc5 Nd6 19. f3 f5 20. g4 Bc8 21.
Rde1 Rhf8 22. Qh2 Qc7 23. Rhf1 Rde8 24. b3 g6 25. Bc2 Re7 26. Rf2 Rfe8 27. Rfe2
Nd7 28. Nd3 Nf7 29. Qxc7+ Kxc7 30. gxf5 gxf5 31. Nf4 Nf6 32. h4 Nh8 33. Kc1 Ng6
34. Ng2 Nh5 35. Rg1 a5 36. Kd2 Rg7 37. Ne1 h6 38. Reg2 Reg8 39. Ne2 Kd6 40. a3
b6 41. b4 axb4 42. axb4 Ne7 43. Rxg7 Rxg7 44. Rxg7 Nxg7 45. Nf4 c5 46. bxc5+
bxc5 47. dxc5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge 4th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2015.02.15"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2015.02.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. b3 c5 7. Bb2 Nc6 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. d4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nxd4 11. Qxd4 Bf6 12. Qd2 Bd7 13. Bxd5 exd5 14. Rd1
Rc8 15. Nc3 Bc6 16. Nxd5 Bxb2 (16... Qxd5 17. Qxd5 Bxd5 18. Bxf6 Be6 {is
asking to get tortured for no reason, though the opposite colored bishops and
the incoming rook to c2 give great chances for a draw.}) 17. Qxb2 Bxd5 18. e4
Bxe4 (18... Rc5 19. Qd2 {is not nearly as convincing.}) 19. Rxd8 Rfxd8 {
your computer might give a serious advantage for White, but it is a lie. It's
impossible to break down Black's defenses. White's king is permanently weak
and there are no weaknesses to attack.} 20. b4 a6 21. a4 Rc4 22. Re1 h6 (22...
g6 23. f3 $1 $14) 23. Qe5 Bc6 24. b5 Re8 25. Qxe8+ Bxe8 26. Rxe8+ Kh7 27. Re7
f6 28. a5 Ra4 29. Rxb7 Rxa5 30. b6 Rb5 31. Kf1 a5 32. Kg2 a4 33. h4 h5 34. Rb8
Kg6 35. b7 a3 36. Ra8 a2 37. Kh3 Rxb7 38. Rxa2 Rb3 39. Kg2 Rb5 40. Re2 Ra5
1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge 4th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2015.02.16"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2015.02.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. d4 dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4
Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bg5 a5 {Vladimir goes for an old-fashionable and solid way
to handle this position. Black allows White to seize the centre, relying on
their pair of bishops.} ({In the following top-level game White was able to
secure some stable edge:} 10... Bd5 11. Qd3 c5 12. Nc3 Bc6 13. Rfd1 cxd4 14.
Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Nxd4 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Bxd4 17. Qxd4 Nc6 18. Qc5 Qc7 19. Ne4 $14 {
1/2-1/2 Wang Yue (2752)-Jakovenko,D (2725)/Astrakhan 2010}) 11. Nc3 Na6 12.
Bxf6 {The most ambitious - White immediately seizes a lot of space.} ({The
deviations are hardly dangerous for Black:} 12. Rac1 Bd5 13. Qd3 (13. Nxd5 exd5
14. Qb5 Nb4 $11) 13... Nb4 14. Qb1 Bc4 15. Rfe1 h6 16. Bf4 c6 17. b3 Ba6 $11 {
1/2-1/2 (34) Meier,G (2648)-Sanikidze,T (2585)/Istanbul TUR 2012}) (12. e3 Nb4
13. Rfd1 h6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Rac1 Bxf3 16. Bxf3 c6 17. h4 Qb6 18. Ne4 Be7 19.
Nc5 Qc7 20. e4 Rad8 21. Kg2 e5 $11 {1/2-1/2 Bareev,E (2675)-Shneider,A (2530)/
Moscow 1995}) 12... Bxf6 13. e4 Nb4 14. Rfd1 g6 {A useful prophylactic move -
the bishop gets a safe square for retreat.} ({The common} 14... b6 {can be
strongly met by:} 15. Ne1 $1 (15. Rac1 Bb7 16. e5 Be7 17. Ne1 {1/2-1/2
Kaidanov,G (2640)-Karpov,A (2760)/Tilburg 1993/CBM 039}) 15... Be7 (15... Qd7
16. e5 Be7 17. Bxc6 Nxc6 18. Nb5 Rfc8 19. Nc2 $14) 16. Nb5 (16. d5 exd5 17.
exd5 Bd7 18. d6 Bxd6 19. Bxa8 Qxa8 $44) 16... Qd7 17. Rac1 Rad8 18. Nc2 Bxb5
19. axb5 $14) 15. h4 {Accordingly to his spectacular style, Levon chooses the
most aggressive continuation.} ({After} 15. Rac1 Bg7 {Black often manages to
solve their space problems, while the d4-d5 advancement usually leads to
simplifications. For instance,} 16. d5 exd5 17. exd5 Bd7 18. Nd4 Qc8 (18... Re8
$5 19. Ncb5 Bxb5 20. Nxb5 Bxb2 21. Nxc7 Rc8 22. Bh3 Rxc7 23. Qxc7 Bxc1 24. Qxc1
Qd6 $11) 19. b3 c6 20. d6 Bg4 21. Rd2 Qd7 22. Ne4 b6 $132 (22... Nd5 $2 23. Nc5
Qxd6 24. Nxb7 $16 {1/2-1/2 Gelfand,B (2701)-Svidler,P (2686)/Moscow 2001 (92)})
) 15... Bg7 16. Rd2 ({Levon deviates from his previous successful game in this
line:} 16. h5 b6 ({Possibly,} 16... Rc8 $5 17. hxg6 hxg6 18. e5 Qe7 {offers
Black an adequate play}) 17. hxg6 hxg6 18. Nh2 Qd7 (18... Rc8 19. e5 Bd5 20.
Nxd5 exd5 21. Qe2 c5 $132) 19. e5 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 c5 21. dxc5 Qc6+ 22. Nf3 Rfd8
23. Qh4 $40 {1-0 (38) Aronian,L (2773)-Alekseev,E (2725)/Ohrid 2009/CBM 133/
[Ftacnik,L]}) 16... Rc8 {Vladimir Kramnik has a rich experience of Catalan. He
deviates from the standard b7-b6 advancement, keeping his pawn sturcture more
flexible.} 17. Rad1 Qe7 18. d5 $146 {This novelty doesn't seem very dangerous,
but Black has some concrete problems to solve.} (18. Ng5 h6 19. Nf3 Rfd8 (19...
b6 20. d5 Bd7 21. Nd4 exd5 22. exd5 Bg4 23. Nc6 Nxc6 24. Qxg4 Ne5 25. Qe2 $14 {
1-0 Lputian,S (2605)-Polgar,J (2658)/Wijk aan Zee 2000 (60)}) 20. Bh3 b6 21. d5
exd5 22. Nxd5 Bxd5 23. exd5 Rb8 24. h5 g5 $11) 18... Bd7 $6 {Vladimir's
decision looks natural from human point of view - opening up the e-file should
basically suit White. However, the text move has a tactical drawback.} ({
It looks like after} 18... exd5 $142 19. exd5 Bd7 20. Re1 Qd6 {Black's strong
dark-squared bishop should guarantee an easy equality. For isntance,} 21. Nd4
Rfe8 22. Rxe8+ Rxe8 23. Ndb5 Bxb5 24. Nxb5 Qe7 25. Rd1 Be5 $11) 19. Bh3 $1 exd5
{Releasing the pressure in the centre is practically forced.} (19... Bxc3 20.
Qxc3 exd5 21. Bxd7 Qxd7 22. Ne5 Qd6 23. exd5 $36) 20. Nxd5 Nxd5 21. Bxd7 Nb6 ({
Black would have faced even more problems after} 21... Qxd7 $6 22. Rxd5 Qg4 23.
Kg2 Rce8 24. Qxc7 Qxe4 25. Rxa5 Rc8 26. Qb6 Rc2 27. Rd8 $16 {White has a heavy
extra pawn.}) 22. Qc2 Rcd8 (22... Nxd7 23. Rxd7 Qb4 24. e5 $16) 23. Qxc7 Nxa4
24. e5 $14 {White's pieces are much more active now, but Black has no real
weaknesses.} Nc5 25. Rd5 b6 {It looks like White's bishop is pinned, but
actually it restricts all Black's forces. White is firmly in a control here,
but it's not easy to make progress.} 26. Qc6 {Unpinning the bishop looks most
reasonable.} ({The quiet} 26. Kg2 $5 Rb8 27. Nd4 Rfc8 28. Qxc8+ Rxc8 29. Bxc8
$14 {looks also unpleasant for Black.}) 26... Rxd7 {Vladimir is looking for
simplifications, but it doesn't really solve his problems.} ({Possible, the
lesser evil would be} 26... Rb8 27. Qb5 Nxd7 28. Rxd7 Qc5 29. Qe2 $14) 27. Rxd7
Nxd7 28. Rxd7 Qe8 {After that move Black's pieces desperately lack space.} ({
The more natural} 28... Qc5 {could be strongly met by:} 29. Qe4 $1 ({After} 29.
Qxc5 bxc5 30. Rc7 f6 $1 {Black gets an excellent drawish chances due to a
reduced material ballance. For instance,} 31. Rxc5 fxe5 32. Nd2 (32. Ng5 h6 33.
Ne6 Rb8 34. Rxa5 Rxb2) 32... Rb8 33. Rxa5 Rxb2 34. Ra8+ Kf7 35. Ra7+ Kg8 $14)
29... h6 (29... Qc1+ 30. Kg2 Qxb2 31. h5 Qb4 32. Nd4 $40) 30. b3 Re8 31. Kg2
$14 {with strong pressure.}) 29. Qd5 h6 (29... a4 30. Ra7 Qd8 31. Qxd8 Rxd8 32.
Rxa4 $16) 30. Rb7 ({The patient} 30. Kg2 $5 {deserved a serious attention as
well:} Qa8 31. Rb7 Qd8 32. Qb5 $16) 30... Qd8 31. Qb5 ({Dubious is} 31. Qxd8 $2
Rxd8 32. Rxb6 Rd5 $11) 31... g5 {Being under strong pressure, Vladimir doesn't
mind to complicate the matters.} ({After} 31... Re8 32. Rxb6 Bxe5 33. Nxe5 (33.
h5 $5) 33... Rxe5 34. Rxg6+ fxg6 35. Qxe5 $16 {the arising edngame is rather
difficult for Black in view of vulnerablity of their king.}) 32. hxg5 {This
decision is double-edged. The g-pawn is getting weak now, but any exchange is
definitely in Black's favoure.} ({White would keep an excellent winning
chances after} 32. Rxb6 Qd1+ 33. Kg2 g4 34. Nh2 Qd4 (34... h5 35. Qxa5 Qd4 36.
Rb4 Qxe5 37. Qxe5 Bxe5 38. Nf1 $16) 35. Qc6 Bxe5 36. Rb5 Bg7 37. Rxa5 $16)
32... hxg5 33. Rxb6 (33. Qc4 Qc8 34. Qe4 Re8 35. Ra7 $16) 33... g4 34. Nh4 $6 {
This move doesn't create an immediate threat and spoils the lion's part of
advantage.} ({The more concrete approach was} 34. Nh2 $142 Qd2 35. Kg2 Qd4 36.
Qc6 Bxe5 37. Rb5 Qd6 38. Qxd6 Bxd6 39. Nxg4 $16) 34... Qd1+ 35. Kg2 Qd4 36. Qc6
({Levon is deviating from} 36. Qxa5 Qe4+ 37. Kh2 Qd4 38. Kg1 Rc8 39. Rc6 Re8
40. Qc5 Rxe5 41. Qxd4 Re1+ 42. Kg2 Bxd4 $14 {Indeed, it looks like the
activity of Black's pieces promises an excellent drawish chances. However, it
still could be White's best try.}) 36... Qxe5 37. Qc4 $6 {An unsuccessful
choice.} ({After} 37. Rb5 Qe6 38. Qb7 Qc8 39. Qxc8 Rxc8 40. Nf5 Rc2 41. b3 Ra2
$14 {Black is able to exchange the last q-side pawn.}) ({Possibly, the best
practical chance was} 37. b3 Rb8 38. Rxb8+ Qxb8 39. Qd5 Qb4 40. Nf5 Bf8 41. Ne3
$14) 37... Qd4 $6 {Returning the favoure.} ({Black could have solved all their
problems after} 37... Re8 38. Rb5 Qe4+ 39. Qxe4 Rxe4 $11) 38. Qxd4 {White
manages to win a pawn, but Black's defensive task becomes much easier.} ({
The correct} 38. Qc6 $1 Rd8 39. Nf5 Qe5 40. Ne3 $14 {would allow Levon to
maintain the pressure.}) 38... Bxd4 39. Rb5 Ra8 40. Nf5 Bg7 41. Ne3 a4 {
Finally the Pg4 is lost, but there are not many pawns left on the board.} 42.
Nxg4 Rd8 43. Ra5 Rd4 44. Ne3 Rd2 45. Nf1 ({Avoiding the rook ending:} 45. Rxa4
Bd4 46. Kf3 Bxe3 47. Kxe3 Rxb2 $11) 45... Rd4 {Having such passive pieces,
White hardly may pose Black any serious problems here.} 46. Rb5 Bf8 47. Ne3 Rb4
48. Rg5+ (48. Rxb4 Bxb4 49. Nd5 a3 50. bxa3 Bxa3 {is also pretty much drawish.}
) 48... Kh7 49. Rh5+ Kg8 50. Ra5 Rxb2 51. Rxa4 Bc5 52. Nd1 Rd2 53. Ra1 {
Now White cannot make any progress.} Kg7 54. Kf1 Kg6 55. Rb1 f5 $11 56. Ke1 Rc2
57. Rb8 Kf6 58. Rh8 Bb4+ 59. Kf1 Rd2 60. Ne3 Bc5 61. Rh6+ Kg5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge 4th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2015.02.17"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A04"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2015.02.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. O-O e5 5. e4 Be7 6. Nc3 d6 7. d3 O-O 8. h3
Bd7 9. Nd2 Nd4 10. a4 Nc6 11. Nc4 Nb4 12. f4 exf4 13. Bxf4 Be6 14. Ne3 d5 15.
Nf5 Bxf5 16. exf5 Bd6 17. Ne2 h6 18. c3 Nc6 19. g4 Re8 20. Qd2 Bxf4 21. Nxf4 d4
22. Qf2 Qd6 23. Rae1 Rad8 24. c4 b6 25. Bxc6 Qxc6 26. b3 a6 27. Qg3 Rxe1 28.
Rxe1 Re8 29. Rxe8+ Qxe8 30. Kf2 b5 31. axb5 axb5 32. Qf3 bxc4 33. bxc4 Qe5 34.
Qg3 Qb8 35. Ne2 Qb1 36. Qf3 Kh7 37. h4 h5 38. gxh5 Qc2 39. Ke1 Qb1+ 40. Kf2 Qb2
41. Kg3 Kh6 42. Qf4+ Kh7 43. Qf3 Kh6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge 4th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2015.02.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2811"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2015.02.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Nbd2 a6 7. Bb3 Be6 {
This specific move order is already very unusual. The Italian is interesting
in that, even though the plans are quite repetitive, the specific
implementations and move orders seem to vary greatly.} 8. Bxe6 fxe6 9. O-O O-O
10. b4 Ba7 11. a4 Nh5 12. Nb3 Qe8 13. Qe2 Nf4 14. Bxf4 Rxf4 {Black's pressure
on the f-file coordinated with his bishop on a7 shohuld ive him enough
counterplay for any queenside or central action that White undertakes.} 15. b5
Ne7 16. d4 exd4 17. Nbxd4 Ng6 18. bxa6 bxa6 19. Qc4 Rxe4 20. Qxc7 Qc8 {the
pawn sacrifice is only temporary.} 21. Qxd6 Bc5 22. Qc6 (22. Qg3 e5 {leaves
White in an already dangerous situation since retreating the knight allows Rg4}
23. Nc2 Rg4 $19) 22... Qxc6 23. Nxc6 Rc4 {White cannot defend the pawn on c3
and the discovered attack against the knight on c6.} 24. Ncd4 Nf4 {Black
doesn't even have to rush taking on c3...} (24... e5 $11) (24... Rxc3 $6 25.
Nxe6 $14) 25. g3 Bxd4 26. Nxd4 e5 27. gxf4 exd4 28. cxd4 Rxd4 $11 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Rapid 4th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2015.02.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2797"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2015.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O e5 5. d3 Ne7 6. e4 O-O 7. Nbd2 Nbc6 8. c3
a5 9. Re1 h6 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nc4 Re8 12. a4 Bf5 13. Nh4 Be6 14. Nf3 Bf5 15.
h3 Nb6 16. Nxb6 cxb6 17. Be3 Bxd3 18. Bxb6 Qxb6 19. Qxd3 Qxb2 20. Rab1 e4 21.
Rxe4 Qxc3 22. Rxe8+ Rxe8 23. Qxc3 Bxc3 24. Rxb7 Ne5 25. Nxe5 Rxe5 26. Bf1
1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Rapid 4th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2015.02.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2776"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2015.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 dxc4 4. Bg2 Nd7 5. Qa4 a6 6. Qxc4 b5 7. Qc2 Bb7 8. O-O
Ngf6 9. d3 c5 10. a4 Be7 11. Nc3 Qb6 12. Qb3 b4 13. a5 Qd8 14. Nb1 Bd5 15. Qc2
O-O 16. Nbd2 Nb8 17. Rd1 Ra7 18. e4 Ba8 19. Nb3 Rc7 20. Be3 Nbd7 21. Qe2 Bc6
22. Nfd2 Bb5 23. Nc4 Rc8 24. e5 Nd5 25. Bd2 Nb8 26. h4 Nc6 27. Qg4 Kh8 28. Bg5
Rc7 29. Be4 h6 30. Bd2 f5 31. exf6 Nxf6 32. Qxe6 Nxe4 33. Qxe4 Bf6 34. Be3 Re7
35. Qg4 Bxb2 36. Rab1 Bd4 37. Nxd4 cxd4 38. Bf4 Bxc4 39. dxc4 Qe8 40. Qh3 Re2
41. Qg2 Qg6 42. Qf3 Re4 43. Qg2 Qe6 44. Bd6 Re8 45. Bxb4 Nxb4 46. Kh2 Qd6 47.
Qf3 d3 48. Kg2 Re2 49. Qh5 Rf8 0-1

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Rapid 4th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2015.02.19"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "137"]
[EventDate "2015.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Qa4+ Nc6 8.
e3 O-O 9. Rc1 Qg6 10. Qc2 Qxc2 11. Rxc2 Rd8 12. a3 Bf8 13. Nb5 Rd7 14. Bd3 a6
15. Nc3 Ne7 16. Ke2 Rd8 17. b4 Bd7 18. Rb1 Be8 19. cxd5 exd5 20. a4 Nc6 21. Na2
Bd6 22. b5 axb5 23. Bxb5 Bd7 24. Ne1 Bf5 25. Bd3 Bg4+ 26. Kf1 Bc8 27. Bb5 Nb8
28. Nc3 c6 29. Bd3 g6 30. h3 h5 31. f4 Nd7 32. Nf3 Nf6 33. Ne5 Bc7 34. Rcb2 Ra7
35. Kf2 Kg7 36. Rb3 Re8 37. R3b2 Re7 38. Kf3 Ba5 39. Ne2 Bd8 40. Nc3 h4 41. Kf2
Nh5 42. Bc2 Ng3 43. Ne2 Nf5 44. Rb3 Nd6 45. Nc3 Re8 46. Bd3 g5 47. fxg5 Bxg5
48. Re1 f5 49. g3 Ne4+ 50. Bxe4 fxe4 51. Rg1 Bf6 52. gxh4+ Kh7 53. Ng6 Bxh3 54.
h5 Rg8 55. Ne2 Bf5 56. Nef4 Bc8 57. Rb4 Kh6 58. Rg2 Bf5 59. Ne5 Rxg2+ 60. Kxg2
Kg7 61. Kg3 Bc8 62. h6+ Kh7 63. Nf7 Be7 64. Rb2 Rxa4 65. Kh2 Ra6 66. Rg2 Bf8
67. Rg6 c5 68. Ng5+ Kh8 69. h7 1-0

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Rapid 4th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2015.02.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[PlyCount "135"]
[EventDate "2015.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 c6 4. c4 dxc4 5. O-O Nbd7 6. Na3 Nb6 7. Ne5 Be6 8.
Qc2 g6 9. Naxc4 Nxc4 10. Nxc4 Bg7 11. Rd1 O-O 12. d4 Qc8 13. e4 Rd8 14. Bf4 Ne8
15. Ne5 Bh3 16. Qb3 Nd6 17. Rac1 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Qe6 19. Qxe6 fxe6 20. Kf3 a5 21.
a4 Ra6 22. b3 Nf7 23. Nxf7 Kxf7 24. e5 Rd5 25. Ke4 b5 26. Rd3 Rb6 27. Bd2 bxa4
28. bxa4 Rb2 29. f4 Ra2 30. Rc4 g5 31. h3 gxf4 32. Bxf4 h5 33. h4 Ra1 34. Rb3
Re1+ 35. Kf3 Rd1 36. Be3 Rf1+ 37. Ke2 Ra1 38. Bf4 Kg6 39. Bg5 Ra2+ 40. Kf3 Kf5
41. Bxe7 Bh6 42. Bd6 Rd2 43. Bc5 Rd7 44. Rb8 Rf7 45. Rg8 Rd3+ 46. Kg2 Rd2+ 47.
Kh3 Ke4 48. Rc1 Be3 49. Rh8 Rf3 50. Rxh5 Bf4 51. Re1+ Kd5 52. Kg4 Bxg3 53. Kxf3
Bxe1 54. Rh8 Rf2+ 55. Kg4 Ke4 56. Kg5 Bc3 57. Rd8 Be1 58. Rd6 Rg2+ 59. Kf6
Bxh4+ 60. Kxe6 Ra2 61. Kd7 Rxa4 62. e6 Rc4 63. e7 Bxe7 64. Re6+ Kd3 65. Rxe7 a4
66. Kxc6 a3 67. Ra7 Rc3 68. d5 1-0

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Rapid 4th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2015.02.19"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E60"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2811"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2015.02.19"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 165"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.03.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. b3 Bg7 4. Bb2 c5 5. Bg2 O-O 6. c4 d6 7. d4 Ne4 8. O-O
Nc6 9. h3 Bf5 10. e3 Nf6 11. Nc3 cxd4 12. Nxd4 Bd7 13. Qe2 a6 14. Rfd1 Rc8 15.
Rac1 Qa5 16. a3 Rfe8 17. b4 Qc7 18. Nb3 Qb8 19. c5 Be6 20. Nd4 Nxd4 21. exd4
Bb3 22. Re1 e5 23. dxe5 Rxe5 24. Ne4 Rxe4 25. Bxe4 Be6 26. Bg2 dxc5 27. Be5 Qa7
28. bxc5 Rxc5 29. Bd4 Nd7 30. Bxc5 Nxc5 31. Red1 h5 32. Bd5 b5 33. Qe3 1-0

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 2nd"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2015.04.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[Annotator "Havasi,G"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2015.04.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 166"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.05.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.05.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. d4 {We are in the
Catalan.} dxc4 7. Ne5 (7. Qc2 {is the other big main line.}) 7... Nc6 8. Bxc6
bxc6 9. Nxc6 Qe8 10. Nxe7+ Qxe7 {This position is a very important one for the
evaluation of the whole Catalan.} 11. Na3 $5 (11. Qa4 {is the other line} e5
12. dxe5 Qxe5 13. Qxc4 Be6 {etc.}) 11... c5 (11... Rd8 12. Qc2 (12. Nxc4 c5 {
was good for Black in some games}) 12... c5 (12... Rxd4 13. Nxc4 Qc5 14. b3 Rd8
15. Ba3 $14) 13. dxc5 Qxc5 14. Be3 Qh5 {1-0 (37) Kjartansson,G (2446)-Sabuk,P 
(2206) Legnica POL 2013}) (11... e5 12. dxe5 Qxe5 13. Nxc4 $14 {1/2 (35)
Andrews,S-Arganian,D East Lansing 1991}) (11... Qb4 12. Qc2 $142 (12. Qd2 Rb8
13. Qxb4 Rxb4 14. Rb1 Ba6 {0-1 (28) Epp,E-Salman,J (2198) Bermuda 2005})) 12.
dxc5 Qxc5 13. Be3 Qc6 $146 (13... Qb4 {was played by Nakamura} 14. Qc1 (14. Qc2
Ba6 15. Bd2 Qb6 {1/2 (40) Omelka,R (2115)-Dobes,V (2061) Czechia 2011}) 14...
Ba6 15. Bd4 Rfd8 16. Rd1 Rac8 17. Qc3 Qa4 $13 {1-0 (50) Aronian,L (2797)
-Nakamura,H (2767) Saint Louis USA 2014}) (13... Qh5 {was playec by Anand} 14.
f3 c3 15. bxc3 Qa5 16. Qc1 Ba6 17. c4 Rac8 $44 {1/2 (31) Kramnik,V (2787)
-Anand,V (2770) Khanty-Mansiysk RUS 2014}) 14. Rc1 Bb7 {Black provokes f3 to
weaken the g1-a7 diagonal.} 15. f3 Ba6 16. Nxc4 Bxc4 17. Qd4 Rfc8 18. b3 Qa6
19. bxc4 Qxa2 20. Kf2 $14 {White is already better} a5 21. Bg5 {White attacks
the N and forces Ne8.} (21. g4 {is the thematic move} Qa4 22. g5 Ne8 23. Rfd1
$14) 21... e5 $1 22. Qd6 Rd8 (22... e4 $1 23. Bxf6 exf3 24. Kxf3 gxf6 {leads
to a very unclear position.}) 23. Qb6 Rab8 (23... Rdb8 $1 {was important} 24.
Qe3 a4 $11) 24. Rfd1 $1 Re8 25. Qe3 $14 {White has seized the initiative.} a4
26. Bxf6 gxf6 27. Qe4 {White tries to activate the Q.} (27. c5 $1 $14) 27... a3
28. Rd7 Rbd8 $6 (28... Red8 $1 {the other R should stay on the b-file} 29. Rcd1
Rxd7 30. Rxd7 Qb3 $11) 29. Ra7 $1 {Black's Q can't go away.} Qb2 {If it
nevertheless does so...} 30. Rb1 $1 f5 $2 (30... Qc3 31. Qg4+ $16) (30... Qd4+
$1 31. Qxd4 Rxd4 32. Rb4 $1 Rc8 33. Rb6 Rcxc4 34. Rxf6 $1 $14) 31. Rxb2 fxe4
32. Rxa3 $16 Rd4 33. Rc2 Rc8 34. c5 exf3 35. Rxf3 Rc6 36. Rd3 Rxd3 37. exd3 f5
38. d4 exd4 39. Ke2 1-0

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 2nd"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2015.04.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2788"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2015.04.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 166"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.05.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.05.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. Nbd2 Ne4 7. Nxe4 dxe4 8.
Ng5 Qxd4 9. Qxd4 Bxd4 10. Rd1 Nc6 11. Bxe4 Bg7 12. c3 Ne5 13. f4 Nc4 14. Bd5
Nd6 15. Be3 h6 16. Nf3 e6 17. Bb3 b6 18. a4 Bb7 19. Ne5 Rfd8 20. a5 h5 21. Bc2
Bf6 22. b3 c5 23. axb6 axb6 24. Rxa8 Bxa8 25. b4 Nb5 26. Nd7 Bxc3 27. Nxb6 Bd4
28. Bxd4 cxd4 29. Nxa8 Rxa8 30. Bd3 Nc3 31. Rd2 Kf8 32. b5 Ke7 33. Rb2 Kd7 34.
b6 Rb8 35. Rb4 Nd5 36. Rxd4 Ke7 37. Be4 Nxb6 38. Rb4 Nd7 39. Rxb8 Nxb8 40. Kf2
Nd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 2nd"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2015.04.19"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Mamedov, Rauf"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2658"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2015.04.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 166"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.05.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.05.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nf5 8.
c3 Nxe5 9. Rxe5 d6 10. Re1 O-O 11. d4 d5 12. Nd2 Bd6 13. Nf3 c6 14. Bd3 Nh4 15.
g3 Nxf3+ 16. Qxf3 Bd7 17. Bd2 Qb6 18. Rab1 Rae8 19. b4 Qd8 20. Qh5 g6 21. Qf3
h5 22. Rxe8 Rxe8 23. Re1 Rxe1+ 24. Bxe1 a5 25. a3 axb4 26. axb4 Bg4 27. Qe3 Qa8
28. Kg2 Qc8 29. Kg1 Bh3 30. Bd2 Qa8 31. f3 b6 32. Kf2 Bf8 33. Qg5 Qe8 34. Bf4
Qe7 35. Qxe7 Bxe7 36. b5 Bd7 37. bxc6 Bxc6 38. Bc7 b5 39. Ba5 h4 40. f4 Bd7 41.
Kf3 hxg3 42. hxg3 Bd6 43. g4 f5 44. gxf5 gxf5 45. Bb4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 2nd"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2015.04.20"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E01"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[Annotator "Sumets,A"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2015.04.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 166"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.05.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.05.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. g3 dxc4 6. Bg2 Nbd7 7. O-O ({Another
option was} 7. a4 Bb4 (7... Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. e4 e5 10. dxe5 Ng4 11. Bf4 Qa5
12. e6 {leads to a draw} fxe6 13. e5 Ndxe5 14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15. Qh5 Bd6 16. Ne4
Rf5 17. Qe8+ Rf8 18. Qh5 Rf5 19. Qe8+ {1/2-1/2 (19) Topalov,V (2702)-Kasparov,
G (2851) Sarajevo 2000}) 8. O-O O-O 9. Qc2 Qe7 10. a5 e5 11. Rd1 a6 12. d5 Nc5
(12... Rb8 $5 13. Be3 cxd5 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. Rxd5 e4 16. Nd4 Nf6 17. Bg5 b5 18.
axb6 (18. Nc6 $6 Qb7 $17) 18... Rxb6 $11) 13. Bg5 Bxc3 14. bxc3 $6 ({White
could have got good compensation for the pawn after} 14. d6 $1 Qe6 15. Bxf6
Bxb2 16. Qxb2 Qxf6 17. Nxe5 Be6 $44) 14... Bg4 15. h3 Bxf3 16. Bxf3 e4 17. Bg2
Nb3 18. Ra4 cxd5 19. Rxd5 Qe6 $15 {Giri, A (2784)-Ivanchuk,V (2715) Wijk aan
Zee NED 2015 (102) 1/2-1/2 (102)}) 7... b5 8. e4 Bb7 9. e5 Nd5 10. Ng5 h6 11.
Nxe6 {An interesting knight sacrifice. In my opinion, Black has a reliable
position after 14...N5f6 or 14...N7f6 and he gets some problem if he plays 14..
.hxg5.} ({Black is OK after} 11. Qh5 g6 12. Qh3 Be7 13. Nge4 Qb6 14. Be3 Kf8
15. b3 cxb3 16. axb3 Kg7 17. Nxd5 cxd5 18. Nc3 Rad8 {Harikrishna,P (2727)
-Gelfand,B (2743) Beijing CHN 2014 0-1 (43); and White doesn't have enough
compensation for the pawn.}) 11... fxe6 12. Qh5+ Ke7 13. Ne4 {As we can see
from the following game, the line is rather drawish.} (13. Bg5+ hxg5 14. Qxh8
N7b6 15. Ne4 Kd7 16. Qg8 {Probably the position which has arisen is in Black's
favour.} Qe8 17. Qh7 Rd8 (17... Na4 $2 18. f4 Kc7 19. fxg5 Kb6 20. b3 (20. Rf3
$6 Qd7 $13 {Lesiege,A (2553)-Khenkin,I (2633) Koszalin 1999 1-0 (50)}) 20...
cxb3 21. axb3 Nac3 22. Nc5 Rd8 (22... Ne2+ $6 23. Kh1 Nxd4 $4 24. Rxf8 $18) 23.
Rf2 $40) 18. Nxg5 Kc7 19. Rae1 Kb8 $17 {Black's king is on the safe side and
Black is threatenning ...c5.}) 13... Qe8 14. Bg5+ N5f6 $146 {According to the
database this is a novelty. This line has been played only in correspondence
chess.} (14... N7f6 {leads to the same position that can arise after 14...N5f6.
}) (14... hxg5 $6 {after this move Black has good results but it is too risky.}
15. Qxh8 Kd8 (15... Qg6 $6 16. Nd6 Rb8 17. Be4 (17. f4 $2 Ne3 18. Be4 Qh6 $13 {
Bernasek,J (2530)-Bobras,P (2576) Brno 2008 0-1 (37)} 19. Qg8 $2 Ng4 $17) 17...
Qh6 18. Qg8 Qh5 $8 19. Bxd5 cxd5 20. f4 $16) 16. Qg8 $6 (16. Nxg5 $1 Qg6 (16...
Kc8 $5 {Black wants to protect the e6-pawn after ...Nc7} 17. a4 Nc7 18. Qh7 {
White's chances should be better.}) 17. f4 (17. h4 $5 {White doesn't need to
weaken his king}) 17... Kc7 18. Be4 $1 {White wins the e6-pawn in a better
version.} (18. Bh3 $2 {a terrible mistake} Kb6 $2 $13 {Olszewski,M (2539)
-Korobov,A (2660) Warsaw 2011 0-1 (44)} (18... Bc5 $1 $19 19. Qxg7 (19. Nxe6+
$5 Qxe6 20. dxc5 Rxh8 21. Bxe6 Nxc5 $19) 19... Bxd4+ 20. Kh1 Rg8 21. Qxg6 Rxg6
$19 {the c-pawn will cost White a fortune.})) 18... Qe8 19. Qh3 Rc8 20. a4 $16)
16... Qg6 17. Nc5 Kc7 18. Qxe6 Qe8 $1 19. Bxd5 $6 (19. Qxe8 Rxe8 20. Nxb7 Kxb7
21. a4 $15 {The position is complicated but Black's chances are higher.}) 19...
Nxc5 20. Qxe8 Rxe8 21. Bf7 Re7 $17 {0-1 (35) Lalith,B (2556)-Ding Liren (2755)
Hyderabad IND 2015}) 15. exf6+ gxf6 16. Bxf6+ ({White could have tried} 16.
Qxe8+ Rxe8 17. Bf4 Kf7 18. a4 a6 19. Nd2 $1 {but after} Ra8 20. axb5 axb5 21.
Rxa8 Bxa8 22. Ra1 Be7 23. Ra7 e5 $1 {it seems to me that Black is OK.}) 16...
Nxf6 17. Nxf6 Qxh5 ({Of course Black couldn't play.} 17... Kxf6 $4 18. Qe5+ Kf7
19. Qxh8 $18) 18. Nxh5 Kf7 {Black's bishop on b7 is not very active, but Vishy
Anand managed to make a draw.} 19. a4 a6 20. axb5 axb5 21. Rxa8 Bxa8 22. Ra1
Be7 23. Nf4 (23. Ra7 $5 b4 (23... Rb8 $5 24. Nf4 b4 25. Be4 Kf6 $11) 24. Nf4 c3
$2 25. bxc3 bxc3 26. Be4 Rb8 $2 27. Ng6 $6 (27. Kf1 Kf6 28. Ke2 Bb7 29. Kd3 $18
) 27... c5 28. Nxe7 (28. Ne5+ $2 {leads to an easy draw. White should have
played 28.Nxe7} Kf6 29. Rxa8 Rxa8 30. Bxa8 c2 31. Nd3 cxd4 32. Kf1 Ba3 33. Ke2
c1=N+ 34. Nxc1 Bxc1 35. Be4 {1/2-1/2 (35) Tomazini,A (2340)-Stefansson,H (2515)
Pardubice 2012}) 28... Kf6 $8 29. Bh7 cxd4 30. Ng8+ Rxg8 31. Bxg8 Be4 32. Ra1
d3 33. Kf1 Ke5 34. Ke1 Bf3 35. Ra2 $14 {White will get an extra pawn which
probably will not be enough to win the game.}) 23... Bb7 24. Ra7 ({It can be
dangerous for White to win the pawn.} 24. Bh3 Ra8 25. Bxe6+ Ke8 26. Re1 Bb4 27.
Re2 Kd8 28. Bf5 Kc7 $44 {Black's pawns on the queenside are too dangerous.})
24... Rb8 25. Be4 (25. Bh3 $2 e5 $1 26. dxe5 Bc5 27. Ra1 Bd4 28. e6+ Ke7 {
and White is in trouble.}) 25... Kf6 26. Ng6 c5 $1 $11 {This leads to a draw.}
27. Rxb7 Rxb7 28. Bxb7 Kxg6 29. dxc5 Bxc5 30. Ba6 Bd4 31. Bxb5 Bxb2 32. Bxc4 e5
33. f3 Kf6 34. Kg2 Bc1 35. Bd3 Bb2 36. Bc4 Bc1 37. Bd3 Bb2 38. Bc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 2nd"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2015.04.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2756"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "151"]
[EventDate "2015.04.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 166"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.05.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.05.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8.
cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Rc1 b6 12. Bd3 Bb7 13. O-O {This
system was examined in CBM 136, annotations to Alekseev - Macieja. Some
evaluations should be corrected, however. Here I mostly quote the newest games.
} h6 {According to Levon Aronian - the main move, although it has been rarely
seen in practice. It is useful, and Black waits for White's action to choose
the place for his knight (c6 or d7).} (13... Nd7 {is a bit too passive.
White's best reply is} 14. Qe3 $1 {strengthening the centre} (14. Qf4 {is less
dangerous for Black. The most recent example:} Nf6 15. h4 Rc8 16. e5 Nh5 17.
Qg4 Bxf3 18. Qxf3 Qxh4 19. Rxc8 Rxc8 20. d5 Qg5 21. Qe4 g6 22. d6 Nf4 23. Ba6
Qg4 24. Re1 Rc2 $132 {1/2 (36) Vovk,Y (2588)-Hammer,J (2651) Fagernes 2015})
14... Nf6 (14... h6 15. e5 Rc8 16. Nd2 Qg5 {1/2 (41) Goganov,A (2569)-Socko,B 
(2654) Yerevan 2014} 17. Qxg5 hxg5 18. Nc4 $36) (14... Rc8 15. e5 Bxf3 16. Qxf3
Qh4 17. Qe3 Rfd8 18. f4 Nf8 19. Rxc8 Rxc8 20. f5 $14 {1-0 (52) Aronian,L (2809)
-Kramnik,V (2801) Paris/St Petersburg 2013 CBM 154 [Aronian,L]}) 15. Ne5 {
[%cal Yf2f3]} Rc8 16. Rxc8 Qxc8 17. Rc1 Qb8 18. f3 Rc8 19. Bb5 Rc7 20. Qa3 $14
h6 21. h3 Qc8 $2 22. Rxc7 Qxc7 23. Qxa7 Qc1+ 24. Bf1 Qe3+ 25. Kh2 $16 {1-0 (37)
Gharamian,T (2655)-Saric,A (2565) Biel 2013}) (13... Nc6 {(logical once the
d4-pawn is underprotected)} 14. d5 $1 {now quiet play is harmless, e.g.} (14.
Bb1 Qd6 15. e5 Qd7 16. Qf4 Ne7 17. Ng5 Nf5 18. Rcd1 h6 19. Ne4 Qd5 20. g4 Ne7
21. f3 Ng6 22. Qg3 Qd8 {1/2 (22) Swapnil,S (2445)-Grigoryan,A (2581) Albena
2012}) (14. Qe3 Rc8 15. Rfd1 Qe7 16. Bb1 Rfd8 17. a3 Na5 18. Ba2 Rxc1 19. Rxc1
Rc8 20. Rxc8+ {1/2 (20) Sumets,A (2628)-Kveinys,A (2530) Cappelle la Grande
2014}) 14... exd5 (14... Na5 15. dxe6 fxe6 16. Qe3 $1 (16. Ng5 Qe7 17. e5 h6
18. Ne4 Bxe4 19. Bxe4 Rad8 20. Qe2 Nb7 21. Rc3 Nc5 22. Bb1 Rd4 23. Rg3 g5 24.
Rg4 Rxg4 25. Qxg4 Qg7 26. Qe2 Nd7 27. Re1 Rc8 28. Qa6 Rc7 $11 {1/2 (58)
Onischuk,A (2674)-Hansen,E (2447) Richardson 2011}) 16... Qe7 17. Be2 Rac8 18.
Nd4 Rxc1 19. Rxc1 Rc8 20. Rxc8+ Bxc8 21. Qc3 Qc5 22. Qxc5 bxc5 23. Nb5 $14 {
1-0 (54) Sargissian,G (2671)-Rakhmanov,A (2602) Khanty-Mansiysk 2013}) 15. exd5
Ne7 $1 (15... Na5 16. d6 $1 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Nb7 18. Be4 Rb8 19. Rc6 Nc5 20. Rc7
Qf6 21. Rxa7 Rbd8 22. d7 Qe6 23. Rd1 Nxe4 24. fxe4 Qg4+ 25. Kf1 Qxe4 26. Qd5
Qxd5 27. Rxd5 $14 {1/2 (41) Matlakov,M (2689)-Kveinys,A (2547) Saint Quentin
2014}) 16. d6 Nd5 17. Ng5 $1 h6 $1 (17... Nf6 18. Bc4 Rc8 19. Rfe1 Rc7 20. Qd3
Rd7 21. Qb3 $16 {1-0 (54) Swiercz,D (2631)-Melia,S (2453) Yerevan 2014}) 18.
Ne4 Rc8 19. Bc4 (19. Bb5 $5) 19... Nf6 20. Nxf6+ Qxf6 21. Bd5 Ba6 22. Rxc8 Rxc8
23. Rd1 Bb5 24. g3 Bd7 25. Re1 Re8 $11 {1/2 (37) Espinosa Veloz,E (2494)
-Martinez Romero,M (2408) La Libertad 2015}) 14. Qe3 {Here are two
correspondence games with 13...h6:} (14. Rfd1 Nd7 15. Qe3 Rc8 16. e5 Rxc1 17.
Rxc1 {(so White has lost a tempo)} Nb8 18. Be4 Qd7 19. Bxb7 Qxb7 20. Qc3 Na6
21. Nd2 Qd5 22. g3 Rd8 23. Nb3 Qb5 $11 {1/2 (32) Simal Moreira,L (2194)
-Daurelle,H (2261) Lechenicher SchachServer 2011}) (14. Rfe1 Nc6 15. Bb1 Rc8
16. Qd3 Na5 17. h4 Qf6 18. d5 (18. e5 Qg6 $1) 18... Rxc1 19. Rxc1 Qb2 20. Rc7
Rc8 21. Rxc8+ Bxc8 22. d6 e5 23. Nxe5 Qxe5 24. d7 Bxd7 25. Qxd7 Qa1 26. Qc8+
Kh7 27. Qf5+ Kg8 28. e5 Qc3 $14 {/= 1/2 (39) Wimmer,J (2148)-Bubnov,V (2110)
Lechenicher SchachServer 2010}) 14... Nc6 {White can't play d4-d5 so this move
is appropriate.} 15. Rfd1 Rc8 16. h4 $5 {[%mdl 32] It is useful to advance
this pawn to h5, both to enable threats along the b1-h7 diagonal and to get a
"qualitative pawn advantage" in a future endgame.} (16. d5 exd5 17. exd5 Nb4
$11) 16... Ne7 17. h5 Qd6 18. d5 $5 {This break doesn't look dangerous now.}
Rxc1 19. Rxc1 Rc8 20. Re1 Rc3 21. Qd2 Rc5 22. Bb1 Kf8 {Anticipating a possible
queen invasion on h7.} 23. Qd3 Rc8 24. a3 e5 {Hardly a good idea. Black's
pieces are not properly placed to safely blockade the d5-pawn (his knight
should be on d6 and not queen!); moreover, his bishop and knight are now
extremely passive. Still, Black's position remains solid.} (24... Rd8 $11 {
was simple and good}) 25. Qb3 Rc5 26. Qb2 f6 27. Ba2 Bc8 28. Nd2 Bg4 29. Nc4
Qd7 30. d6 Nc6 (30... Nc8 31. f4 $13) 31. Nxb6 axb6 $2 {[%mdl 64]} (31... Qxd6
$1 32. Na4 (32. Qb3 Be6 33. Qxe6 Qxe6 34. Bxe6 axb6 $11) 32... Ra5 33. Qb3 Be6
34. Qxe6 Qxe6 35. Bxe6 Rxa4 $11) 32. Qb3 Be6 33. Qxe6 Qxe6 34. Bxe6 {[%mdl
4096]} Nd4 35. Bg4 {White has kept an extra (and strong passed) pawn. The
activity of Black's pieces can't compensate that.} Rc6 36. d7 Ke7 37. Rb1 Rd6
38. Kh2 b5 39. a4 bxa4 40. Rb8 f5 41. exf5 Nc6 42. Ra8 a3 43. Rxa3 Nb8 44. f6+
$1 {[%mdl 512] A typical deblockading pawn sacrifice.} gxf6 45. Ra7 $6 (45.
d8=Q+ $5 {was probably even stronger as after} Rxd8 (45... Kxd8 46. Ra8 Rb6 47.
Ra7) 46. Ra7+ Nd7 {Black's rook is completely passive.}) 45... Nxd7 {[%csl Rh6]
Black has recaptured the pawn but his position remains difficult, mostly due
to his weak h6-pawn.} 46. Bf5 Ke8 47. g3 Rd2 48. Kg2 Nc5 $6 {Passive defense
was more appropriate here:} (48... Nf8) 49. Bg6+ (49. Rh7 $6 e4 {[%cal Rc5d3]})
(49. Kf3 $5 e4+ $140 50. Ke3 Rd3+ 51. Ke2) 49... Kd8 50. Ra5 Ne6 51. Ra8+ Ke7
$2 {It was hardly possible to find the best chance:} (51... Kc7 $1 52. Rh8 Ng5
$1 53. Rxh6 e4 54. Kf1 Rd8 55. Bf5 Kd6 $1 {, and Black fights on.}) 52. Re8+ $1
Kd6 ({Here after} 52... Kd7 53. Rh8 Ng5 54. Rxh6 e4 55. Kf1 Ra2 56. Rh8 {
White's h-pawn gets a free way forward. A further possible course:} Nf3 57. h6
$1 Ra1+ 58. Kg2 Rg1+ 59. Kh3 Rh1+ 60. Kg4 Ne5+ 61. Kf5 e3 $1 62. fxe3 $1 Rf1+
63. Ke4 Nxg6 64. Rg8 $1 {regaining the knight and keeping two extra pawns.})
53. Rh8 Nc5 54. Rd8+ (54. Rxh6 e4 55. Kf1 {was quite possible; however, White
wants to prevent all kinds of counterplay.}) 54... Nd7 55. Kf3 Ke7 56. Re8+ Kd6
57. Bf5 e4+ 58. Ke3 $1 Rd3+ 59. Kxe4 Nc5+ 60. Kf4 Rd4+ 61. Kf3 Rb4 62. Rh8 Ke5
63. Bg6 Ne6 64. Rxh6 {White has comfortably captured a second pawn. The rest
is easy.} f5 65. Rh8 Kf6 66. Ra8 Rb3+ 67. Kg2 f4 68. g4 Kg5 69. Bf7 Kh4 70.
Bxe6 f3+ 71. Kh2 Rb2 72. Ra3 Rxf2+ 73. Kg1 Re2 74. Bd5 f2+ 75. Kf1 Rd2 76. Bf3
1-0

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 2nd"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2015.04.23"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D03"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2802"]
[Annotator "Caruana,F"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2015.04.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 166"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.05.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.05.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 {Already a surprise.} Bg7 4. c3 O-O 5. Nbd2 d5 6. e3
Nbd7 7. Be2 c5 {More common is the plan with ...Re8 and ...e5, which also
leads to highly complicated play.} 8. O-O b6 9. a4 a6 10. b4 Bb7 $6 {Too slow.}
(10... c4 $1 {was the correct move, and what I initially wanted to play. My
worry was that after} 11. b5 $5 (11. Ne5 Bb7 12. f4 {can be met by} Ne8 $1 {
, and in the case of} 13. e4 Ndf6 $1 14. exd5 Nxd5 {is strong}) 11... Bb7 12.
Qc2 {I might not get sufficient counterplay and c4 would turn out to be weak
in the long run. Black gets a reasonable position, however, by pursuing
White's bishop:} h6 13. Bh4 (13. Bf4 Nh5 14. Be5 Nhf6 15. Bg3 Nh5) 13... Nh5 {
with the idea ...g5, and knowing Kramnik, he might try something like} 14. g4
$5 Nhf6 15. h3 h5 {, with a messy position.}) 11. a5 cxb4 12. cxb4 b5 {I
thought that I'd be able to reach c4 with my knight and achieve equality. The
first part is true, but the position is still far from equal.} 13. Rc1 Ne8 14.
Nb3 Nd6 15. Ne1 $1 {That's the point. White has no reason to rush to occupy c5;
instead, he will keep the tension, leaving me tied up, and I will have to
reckon with Nc5 at every moment.} (15. Nc5 $6 Nxc5 16. dxc5 Nc4 {is a very
fine position for Black.}) 15... Nc4 16. Nd3 Ra7 {Black can do nothing but
wait passively, so my goal was to arrange my pieces in the most harmonious way.
It is up to White to show a plan. Now a lengthy manuevering phase begins.} 17.
Bh4 (17. Nbc5 Nxc5 18. Nxc5 {would be the choice of most players, but it would
considerably ease my play. Kramnik rightfully keeps more pieces on the board.})
17... Ba8 18. Bf3 Nf6 19. Qe2 Ne8 20. g4 $5 {This feels good. The bishops will
find comfortable posts on g2 and g3 and White can continue to gain space on
the kingside.} Ned6 21. Bg2 Qc8 22. Nbc5 Re8 23. Bg3 Qd8 24. Rcd1 e6 25. f3 {
Kramnik prepares e4, but his play might have been a bit too direct.} (25. h4 $5
{was worthy of consideration.}) 25... Qe7 26. Kh1 Bh6 27. Nf4 $6 {This looks
so awkward. It's really weird that Kramnik, with his fantastic positional
feeling, would misplace his pieces in such a way.} ({The natural} 27. Bf2 {
was the move I expected, and I planned} f5 {, which is necessary to prevent e4.
Black's position is very hard to break but remains under some pressure.}) 27...
Nb7 28. Ncd3 Nd8 $1 {Perhaps he overlooked this. White has lost all
coordination and b4 is starting to look tender.} 29. e4 $4 {After this White's
position is nearly lost. It's astonishing how quickly a position can turn
around.} ({After} 29. Nc5 {I planned to repeat:} Nb7 $11) (29. Qe1 $5 {is an
attempt to keep the game going, but Black is no longer any worse after} Nc6 30.
Nc5 Rd8 {, and ...e5 is coming.}) 29... Nc6 30. exd5 Nxb4 31. dxe6 (31. d6 $5 {
was the toughest defense.} {I was planning the inaccurate} Qf6 $6 ({After the
game, Kramnik suggested the enterprising} 31... Nxd3 $5 32. dxe7 Nxf4 33. Qf2 (
33. Bxf4 Bxf4 {gives Black a terrific grip. White is very nearly dominated and
it would be a tall order to defend his position.}) 33... Nxg2 34. Kxg2 Ne3+ 35.
Kg1 Raxe7 {with a clear positional advantage.}) (31... Qxd6 {is the machine's
cool defense.} 32. Nxg6 Qd8 $1 {, and the g6-pawn turns out to be of little
importance. White is much worse.}) 32. Nh5 gxh5 33. Nxb4 Bf4 {, when Black is
better but the position is highly unclear.}) 31... Nxd3 32. Rxd3 fxe6 $6 ({
We both overlooked} 32... Qf6 $1 {, and I think White's position is just lost.}
33. Nh3 Rxe6 {looks like the end.}) 33. Qe1 Qd8 34. h4 Rf7 ({I was loathe to
part with my bishop, but objectively} 34... Bxf4 35. Bxf4 Qxa5 {was most
technical.} 36. Qg3 {seemed like some sort of compensation, but White's attack
is illusory.} b4 {, and it's winning.}) 35. g5 Bg7 ({To calculate} 35... Bf8 $1
{correctly was asking a bit too much, especially in time trouble:} 36. Bh3 Bd6
$1 37. Nxe6 (37. Bxe6 Kg7 38. d5 Rxf4 $1 39. Bxf4 Bxf4) 37... Qb8 $1 38. Bxd6
Qxd6 {, and the pin is decisive.}) 36. Bh3 Rxf4 $1 {I was very happy to have
seen this in advance, but it's not as decisive as it looks.} 37. Bxf4 e5 38.
Bg3 e4 39. Rd1 Bd5 (39... exf3 $4 40. Be6+ Kh8 41. d5 {would turn the game
around.}) 40. Be5 exf3 41. Qf2 (41. Kg1 $1 {was the best defensive chance,
when I planned} Nxa5 {and with 2 pawns and a monster on f3 for the exchange,
Black has serious winning chances, but the open position of both kings makes
the position highly double-edged.}) 41... Qxa5 $1 {Greedy...and equally strong!
} 42. Bg4 (42. Rfe1 $2 {runs into the fantastic} Nb2 $1 43. Rd2 Nd3 $1 44. Rxd3
Qxe1+ 45. Qxe1 f2+ {, and White's queen is replaced with one of Black's.})
42... Rf8 {I have to keep my most important asset - the f3-pawn - at all costs.
} 43. Rd3 (43. Rfe1 $2 {again loses to} Nb2 $1 44. Rd2 Nd3 45. Be6+ Kh8 $1 46.
Bxg7+ Kxg7 47. Rxd3 Qxe1+ 48. Qxe1 f2+ $19) 43... Qb4 $1 {A very important
move, and what Kramnik overlooked. Now White's position is beyond saving.} 44.
Bg3 (44. Bxf3 Rxf3 45. Rxf3 Nd2 46. Qe1 Bxe5 {wins material.}) (44. Bxg7 Kxg7
45. Bxf3 Be4 $1 {was the main point behind 43...Qb4, and took a fair bit of
time to see in advance.} 46. Bxe4 Rxf2 47. Rxf2 Qe1+ $19) 44... h5 $1 {Other
moves also win, but this is most accurate.} 45. gxh6 (45. Bxf3 Rxf3 46. Rxf3
Nd2 $19) 45... Bxh6 {Now ...Nd2 is a huge threat.} 46. Kh2 Nd2 47. Ra1 Ne4 {
White's position falls apart. The rest is agony.} 48. Qc2 Nxg3 49. Rxa6 Be4 50.
Bxf3 Qe1 51. Qb3+ Kh8 52. Bxe4 Rf2+ 53. Kh3 Qf1+ 54. Kg4 Rf4+ {This win put my
tournament back on track and permitted me to finish on a plus score.} 0-1

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 2nd"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2015.04.24"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2863"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Pavlovic,M"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2015.04.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 166"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.05.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.05.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 {Yet another big clash in the Berlin.} 4. d3 Bc5
5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. h3 Ne7 8. d4 Bb6 9. Bd3 d5 {Trying to use the momentum
to free the game by further exchanges is logical, and we all know this
trademark of Kramnik.} ({Usual is also} 9... Ng6 {with a normal type of game.})
10. Nbd2 dxe4 ({A bit of computer type of chess might be} 10... exd4 11. e5 Nh5
$5 12. Ng5 g6 13. cxd4 Ng7 14. Nb3 f6 15. Nf3 {with interesting play for both
sides.}) 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Bxe4 exd4 13. Qc2 $5 {An interesting new attempt,
the point is that it is not one move but a whole concept that Carlsen found.}
h6 (13... f5 14. Bd3 Nc6 15. Re1 Kh8 16. Bf4 dxc3 17. bxc3 Qf6 18. Bc4 Bd7 19.
Rad1 {with major compensation, Black is facing difficulties in developing his
pieces.}) 14. a4 $1 {Unusual and very deep as we will see. Carlsen came fully
prepared for this game.} c6 {A solid approach, Black could have tried to
defend the pawn or simply take another one.} (14... dxc3 15. Rd1 Qe8 16. Qxc3
a5 17. b3 f6 18. Ba3 Qf7 19. Nh4 {with the initiative, an unpleasant one I may
add.}) (14... c5 15. Rd1 a5 16. Bf4 $5 (16. cxd4 cxd4 17. Nxd4 Bxd4 18. Be3 Nf5
19. Bxf5 Bxf5 20. Qxf5 Qf6 21. Qxf6 Bxf6 22. Rd7 Bxb2 23. Rb1 Bc3 24. Rbxb7 {
looks defendable for Black}) 16... Re8 17. cxd4 cxd4 18. Be5 Nd5 19. Bxd4 Nb4
20. Qe2 Bxd4 21. Rxd4 Qb6 22. Bh7+ Kf8 23. Qd2 {with initiative.}) 15. Rd1 Nd5
16. Nxd4 Re8 17. a5 $3 {Probably this had been worked out by Carlsen, it is
really a nice play.} Bxa5 {Kramnik decides to take the pawn, going back to c7
is also possible.} (17... Bc7 18. Nf3 ({The direct} 18. a6 Qd6 19. Nf3 bxa6 20.
c4 Nb4 21. Qa4 Qe7 {is ok for Black}) 18... Qf6 19. Bd2 Nf4 20. a6 bxa6 21.
Bxf4 Bxf4 22. Qa4 {again Black is confronted with slight but lasting pressure.}
) 18. Nf3 b5 19. Nd4 Bc7 (19... Bb7 20. Bxd5 cxd5 21. Nxb5 Bb6 22. Bf4 Re6 23.
Nd4 Re4 24. Be3 Qf6 25. Qd3 Rae8 26. Nc2 $1 {I guess something like this must
have been the idea, if Black can't play ...d4 to open lines for the bishop
then he is facing problems.}) (19... Bd7 20. Nxb5 $14 {is simply better for
White.}) 20. Nxc6 Qd6 21. g3 Bb7 22. Bf4 $1 {White is better.} Qxc6 ({The
alternative was better:} 22... Qd7 23. c4 $1 (23. Nb4 Bxf4 24. Nxd5 Bd6 25.
Nf6+ gxf6 26. Bxb7 Qxb7 27. Rxd6 Qf3 28. Qd1 Qxd1+ 29. Raxd1 {White is
slightly better}) 23... Bxf4 24. cxb5 Qxh3 25. Bxd5 Bg5 26. Qc4 Rf8 27. Ra3 $16
) 23. Bxd5 {By giving the queen it is just winning now for White.} Re1+ 24. Kh2
Qxd5 25. Rxd5 Rxa1 26. Rd1 Rxd1 27. Qxd1 Rd8 28. Qe2 Bb6 29. Be3 Bxe3 30. Qxe3
Rd1 31. g4 Bc6 32. Qc5 Bd7 33. Qxa7 {This is simply technical now.} Rd2 34. Kg3
Rd3+ 35. Kf4 Kh7 36. Qb7 Rd2 37. Ke3 Rd6 38. f4 g6 39. Qb8 Rd5 40. Ke4 Be6 41.
Qb7 Rc5 42. Kd4 Rc4+ 43. Ke5 b4 44. cxb4 Rc2 45. Kf6 Rxb2 46. Qb8 Rf2 47. f5
gxf5 48. Qg3 Rf1 49. g5 1-0

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 2nd"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2015.04.25"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[Annotator "Mokal,P"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2015.04.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 166"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.05.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.05.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Kramnik comes back after three losses in a row.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 c6
4. O-O Bg4 5. d3 Nbd7 6. h3 Bh5 7. Qe1 e5 8. e4 dxe4 9. dxe4 Bc5 10. a4 O-O 11.
Nh4 {Technically a novelty but similar moves have been played before by
different move orders.} ({One such game saw} 11. Na3 Re8 12. Nc4 Qc7 13. Nh4
Rad8 14. Bg5 (14. b4 $5) 14... Bf8 15. Kh1 Nc5 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. Nf5 Ne6 18. c3
Rd3 19. f3 Red8 20. Qe2 Bg6 21. Nfe3 h5 22. h4 Bh6 {1/2-1/2 Goldin,A (2549)
-Gerzhoy,L (2469)/Nassau 2012/EXT 2014 (42). Black's active pieces compensated
for the structural defects.}) 11... Re8 12. Na3 Nf8 (12... a5 $5 13. Nc4 Qc7 {
Now one method of development would be} 14. Bd2 b6 15. Bc3 $14 {with a slight
pull.}) 13. b4 Be7 14. Nf5 Ne6 15. Nxe7+ $5 Qxe7 16. Be3 {^^} Bg6 {Black could
have delayed this move and continued improving the Rs and Ns.} (16... Red8 $142
17. c3 (17. g4 Bg6 {is fine for Black.}) 17... c5 18. b5 Rac8 19. f3 (19. Nc4
Nd4 $1 $132) 19... Ne8 20. Nc4 f6 21. Rf2 (21. f4 exf4 22. gxf4 Nd4 $1 $132)
21... Nd6 22. Nxd6 Rxd6 {With good chances of equalising.}) 17. f3 {Supporting
the e4-pawn and at the same time making life difficult for the Black B on g6.
Now Black is in a strategic dilemma. He needs to remove the N from f6 and then
move the f7-pawn, in order to get the B on g6 into play via f7. But where to?
Each move has its own drawback.} Nd7 {[%csl Rd7][%cal Rd8d6] This gets in the
way of the R that wants to be on d8. So Black has problems with the d6-square.}
(17... Nh5 {[%csl Rh5] keeps the N on the rim, and as we have heard quite
often, it is actually dim.} 18. c3 f6 19. Kh2 Red8 20. Qe2 Bf7 21. a5 $14) (
17... Red8 {[%cal Ge6d4,Gf6e8] /\Nd4} 18. c3 Ne8 19. Nc4 f6 20. f4 $14 {
[%csl Re8] and now the N on e8 is passive on the last rank.}) 18. Nc4 f5 $6 {
This freeing move has a tactical flaw, which Kramnik spots quite easily.} (
18... f6 19. Rd1 Red8 (19... Bf7 20. Nd6 $16) 20. Rf2 $14 {[%cal Gf2d2]}) 19.
Rd1 f4 (19... Nd4 20. Bxd4 exd4 21. Rxd4 $16 {is just a pawn up.}) (19... fxe4
20. fxe4 $16 {[%cal Gc4d6]}) 20. Rxd7 $1 Qxd7 21. Nxe5 Qc7 22. gxf4 Nxf4 $6 (
22... c5 $142 23. bxc5 (23. f5 $5 Qxe5 24. f4 Qf6 25. fxg6 hxg6 26. bxc5 $16)
23... Nxc5 24. Qc3 Rac8 25. Rb1 {[%csl Rb7]} Re7 (25... Nxa4 26. Qb3+ $18) (
25... Bf7 26. Qxc5 Qxc5 27. Bxc5 Rxc5 28. Rxb7 $16) 26. a5 Bf7 27. Bf1 $16 {
White is better but Black has more fighting chances than in the game.}) 23.
Bxf4 Rxe5 {[%cal Gc7b6,Gb6g1]} 24. Qe3 Rd8 $2 {Giving up a second pawn brings
no respite.} (24... a5 $142 25. bxa5 Raxa5 26. Qd4 $16) 25. Qxa7 Qe7 26. Bxe5
Qxe5 27. Qe3 {Kramnik refuses to take the third pawn. Of course two extra
pawns are easily enough for him to win, but the cautious approach can be
attributed to some obvious psychological reasons. After three losses in a row,
it is not easy to have complete faith in one's nerves.} ({Objectively though
it is hard to find a serious reason to refuse the offer.} 27. Qxb7 Rd2 (27...
Rb8 28. Qxc6 Rxb4 29. f4 $18) (27... Bf7 28. Qb6 Rd2 (28... Rb8 29. Qc5 Qxc5+
30. bxc5 $18) 29. f4 Qe7 30. Rf2 $18) 28. Qc8+ Kf7 29. Kh1 {With Black's B
being unable to join the attack White does not seem to have anything to worry
about.} Rxc2 30. b5 Qd4 (30... Qg3 31. Rg1 $18) (30... Bh5 31. b6 $18) 31. Qc7+
Kf8 32. b6 $18) 27... Qb2 28. Qc5 h6 29. b5 cxb5 30. Qb6 Rd2 $2 (30... Qd4+
$142 31. Qxd4 Rxd4 32. axb5 Rb4 $16 {Black would win back one pawn and at
least provide some resistance.}) 31. Qxg6 bxa4 32. h4 Qd4+ (32... a3 33. Bh3 a2
34. Qe8+ Kh7 35. Bf5+ $18) 33. Kh1 Qd8 34. Bh3 Qxh4 35. Qe6+ Kh8 36. Rg1 {
[%csl Rg7][%cal Ge6e8,Ge8g6,Gg6g7] /\Qe8-g6-g7#} g5 37. Qc8+ Kg7 38. Rb1 (38.
Rb1 Qg3 39. Rxb7+ Kg6 40. Qe8+ Kf6 41. Qe6#) 1-0

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 2nd"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2015.04.26"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "160"]
[EventDate "2015.04.17"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 166"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.05.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.05.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. Qc2 c5 7. O-O cxd4 8. Nxd4
{This way of deviating from the main theoretical lines doesn't promise White
any serious advantage, but definitely leads to fresh, playable positions.} Nc6
(8... e5 9. Nf5 d4 {is a more aggressive way to handle the position.}) 9. Nxc6
bxc6 10. Rd1 Ba6 (10... Qa5 11. b3 Ba6 {provokes White to put the knight on d2
instead of c3. That looks like a concession, but as the following game shows,
Black still has some problems to solve:} 12. Nd2 Qb6 13. Nf3 Rfd8 14. Ne5 Bb7
15. Bb2 c5 16. cxd5 exd5 17. Rac1 Rac8 18. e3 $14 {1-0 (46) Wojtaszek,R (2698)
-Cheparinov,I (2672)/Rhodes GRE 2013}) 11. b3 {The most flexible continuation.}
({The modest-looking} 11. Nd2 {makes Black's task easier:} Qb6 12. b3 Ng4 13.
e3 Bf6 14. Rb1 Rfd8 15. h3 Ne5 16. Bb2 Rac8 $11 {0-1 (35) Wojtkiewicz,A (2525)
-Karpov,A (2775)/Internet 1996/EXT 1998}) 11... Qb6 {The queen isn't really
safe there, but it's quite important to connect the rooks as soon as it is
possible.} 12. Be3 Bc5 ({The alternative is} 12... Qb7 {, but it looks a bit
awkward and hardly offers Black an easy equality:} 13. Bd4 dxc4 14. Nd2 c3 15.
Qxc3 Bxe2 16. Bxc6 Qa6 17. Bxa8 Bxd1 18. Bg2 $14 {0-1 (56) Romanov,E (2627)
-Azarov,S (2667)/Warsaw 2011/CBM 145 Extra}) 13. Bxc5 Qxc5 14. Nd2 (14. Nc3
dxc4 15. e3 Rfd8 16. bxc4 Rab8 $11) 14... Rfd8 {Vladimir Kramnik chooses the
most natural setup for his rooks.} ({The following alternatives didn't offer
him full equality:} 14... e5 15. e3 e4 16. a3 Qb6 17. b4 Ng4 18. Rac1 Rad8 19.
b5 Bb7 20. cxd5 cxd5 21. Qc7 $14) (14... Rab8 15. Rac1 Rfc8 16. e3 h6 17. a3 $1
(17. Nf3 dxc4 18. Qc3 Qb6 19. bxc4 c5 $11) 17... Qb6 18. b4 $14) 15. e3 Rac8
16. Rac1 {[%csl Ra6] The position looks approximately equal, but Black has to
solve the problem of the passive bishop.} Qa5 $146 {Freeing the way for the
c-pawn.} (16... Nd7 17. Qc3 Qb6 {as was played in Bromann,T (2355)-Smirnov,I 
(2459)/Krakow 2006 doesn't look like a convincing way to equalise. For
instance,} 18. Nf3 Nc5 19. Nd4 Ne4 20. Bxe4 dxe4 21. Ne2 $14 {and White's
position is preferable due to his better pawn structure.}) 17. Nf3 c5 {That
move looks very natural, but now White gets clear targets for an attack.} ({
Possibly, a more accurate move was} 17... h6 $5 {in order to meet} 18. Ne5 (18.
Qb2 dxc4 19. Rxd8+ Rxd8 20. bxc4 c5 21. Ne5 Qd2 $11) {with} 18... Nd7 19. Nxd7
Rxd7 20. Qc3 Qxc3 21. Rxc3 Kf8 {and this endgame looks drawish, though White's
position is somewhat more pleasant.}) 18. cxd5 {Anish prefers to clarify the
pawn structure.} ({That decision could be delayed:} 18. Ne5 $5 h6 19. Qb2 Qb4
20. cxd5 exd5 21. Rc2 $14 {with some pressure on Black's hanging pawns.}) 18...
Nxd5 $5 {Vladimir is trying to prove that some activity of his pieces will
compensate for a weak Pc5.} ({The alternatives were} 18... exd5 19. Ne5 Qb6 {
with a slighlty worse, but very solid position.}) ({and} 18... Rxd5 $5 {
intending to meet} 19. Nd2 {with} Be2 $1 20. Bxd5 Bxd1 21. Rxd1 exd5 $11) 19.
Ne5 (19. a3 c4 20. bxc4 Rxc4 21. Qb2 Rcc8 $1 22. Ne5 Nc3 $1 23. Rxd8+ Qxd8 24.
Bf3 Qb6 $11) (19. Ng5 Nf6 20. Rxd8+ Rxd8 $11) 19... h6 {This prophylactic move
definitely makes sense from a human point of view, but it gives White an
important tempo for consolidating.} (19... Nb4 $1 {was stronger:} 20. Qc3 Qb6
21. Qa1 (21. Qb2 f6 22. Nc4 Bxc4 23. Rxd8+ Rxd8 24. Rxc4 Rd1+ 25. Bf1 Qd6 $132)
21... Nd3 22. Nxd3 Bxd3 23. Rd2 c4 $11) 20. Bf3 ({Possibly, it was better to
restrict Black's active possibilities by means of} 20. a3 $5 Qc7 21. Qb2 $14)
20... Qc7 ({It looks like here the more active approach was called for:} 20...
Nb4 $1 {would promise Black excellent chances for equality. For instance,} 21.
Qc3 Qc7 22. Rxd8+ Qxd8 23. Rd1 Qf6 $11) 21. Qb2 Bb7 (21... Nb4 22. Rxd8+ Rxd8
23. a3 Nd5 24. Nc4 $14) 22. Rd2 {GM Giri is not in a rush.} ({There was an
interesting opportunity for changing the character of play:} 22. b4 $5 f6 (
22... Qb6 23. b5 Qc7 24. Rd2 $14) 23. Bg4 $1 Qxe5 24. Qxe5 fxe5 25. Bxe6+ Kf8
26. Bxc8 Rxc8 27. Rxc5 Rxc5 28. bxc5 $14) 22... Nf6 23. Bxb7 Rxd2 24. Qxd2 Qxb7
{[%csl Rc5] The simplifications didn't really solve Black's permanent problems
with the pawn structure.} 25. Qe2 a5 {A double-edged decision. Obviously,
Vladimir was trying to swap one pair of q-side pawns, but the Pa5 is becoming
a cause of worries.} (25... Qd5 26. Nc4 Rd8 27. f3 $14) 26. Nc4 Ra8 27. Nb2 $14
{White has a small, but stable positional advantage now.} Nd7 28. f4 (28. e4 $5
{also deserved serious attention:} Qb4 29. Rc4 Qb5 30. Qe3 $14) 28... e5 29.
Nc4 $6 {For some reason, Anish allows Black to get a rid of weak Pa5 and
activate the pieces.} ({At the same time, the precise} 29. Qg2 $1 e4 (29... Qa7
30. Rd1 $14) 30. Rc4 f5 31. Qd2 $14 {would put Black under strong positional
pressure.}) 29... a4 30. bxa4 Rxa4 ({After} 30... exf4 31. exf4 Rxa4 32. a3 Nf6
$11 {Black should be OK either.}) 31. fxe5 Qa6 (31... Qe4 {was also possible:}
32. Qc2 Rxc4 33. Qxc4 Qxe3+ 34. Kg2 Nxe5 35. Qxc5 Qf3+ {with an immediate draw
by perpetual.}) 32. Qd3 Qe6 33. Qb3 Ra8 34. Qb2 ({A beautiful end of this game
could be} 34. a4 Nxe5 35. Qb7 Rxa4 {(not the only, but quite an effective
response)} 36. Qb8+ Kh7 37. Nxe5 Rb4 38. Qc7 Rb2 39. Nc4 Qe4 40. Nxb2 Qxe3+ $11
) 34... Ra4 35. Qc2 Ra8 36. Qb2 {White has many weaknesses now, so Anish
doesn't mind calling it a day. However, it looks like Vladimir was quite
ambitious at this moment.} Qd5 ({It was possible to disturb White's king by
means of} 36... h5 37. a3 h4 38. gxh4 {but after} Ra4 39. Qc2 Qg4+ 40. Kh1 $11
{White shouldn't be in any danger.}) 37. a3 Re8 38. Qd2 {White is out of
danger.} Qc6 {After this move Black couldn't avoid an endgame anyway.} (38...
Qxd2 39. Nxd2 Kf8 40. a4 Ra8 41. e6 fxe6 42. Ra1 Ne5 43. a5 Ke7 $11) 39. Qd6
Nxe5 40. Qxc6 Nxc6 {The resulting edngame is equal, but the a-passer requires
some accuracy.} 41. Kf2 Kf8 42. Ke2 Ra8 43. Ra1 Ke7 44. a4 Na5 45. Nb6 {
Now Anish isn't satisfied with a draw!} ({After} 45. Kd3 Ke6 46. Nxa5 Rxa5 47.
Kc4 Ke5 $11 {neither side can make any progress.}) 45... Ra6 46. Nd5+ Kd6 47.
Rd1 Kc6 {There was no need to allow the transfer of opponent's knight to f5.} (
47... Ke5 $11 {was simpler.}) 48. Ne7+ Kc7 49. Rf1 {Black's kingside pawns are
in danger, but Kramnik's posiiton is still quite safe at this moment.} f6 ({
Possibly, the easiest way was connected with exchanging the knights:} 49... Nc6
50. Rxf7 Rxa4 51. h4 Ne5 52. Rxg7 Ra2+ $11) 50. Nf5 Nb3 {The first step in the
wrong direction.} (50... g6 {was better:} 51. Nxh6 Nc6 52. Ra1 c4 53. h4 Ne5
54. a5 Kb7 $132 {with sufficient counterplay.}) 51. Nxg7 c4 52. Ne8+ Kd8 53.
Nxf6 Rxa4 54. Rd1+ Kc8 {The king is far away from White's k-side pawns now.} (
54... Ke7 {was safer} 55. Nd5+ Ke6 56. Nc3 Ra8 {and Black is close to a draw
due to his activity.}) 55. Ne4 Ra2+ 56. Kf3 Rxh2 $1 {Correctly liquadating one
of the opponent's pawns.} (56... Kc7 57. h4 h5 58. Rd5 $16) 57. Nd6+ Kd7 58.
Nxc4+ Ke7 59. e4 {As a result, White is a solid pawn up now. However, the
position remains drawish due to the reduced material balance.} Nc5 60. Ne3 Ne6
61. Nd5+ $1 ({The text move is stronger than} 61. Nf5+ Kf6 62. Rd6 Ke5 63. Rd5+
Kf6 {and White cannot make progress.}) 61... Kf7 62. Ra1 Ng5+ 63. Kf4 (63. Ke3
Rg2 64. Ra7+ Kf8 65. Kf4 Nxe4 66. Kxe4 Rxg3 $11) 63... Rf2+ (63... Re2 $1 {
seems more accurate:} 64. Ra4 Kg6 65. Ne7+ Kf6 66. Ng8+ Kg6 67. Ke5 Nf3+ 68.
Ke6 Ng5+ 69. Kd5 Nf3 $11) 64. Ke5 Nf3+ 65. Kd6 Ng5 66. e5 Ne4+ 67. Kd7 Nc5+ 68.
Kc6 Rc2 $2 {Being tired from a tough defence, Vladimir commits a serious
mistake.} ({It was necessary to prevent White from activating the king:} 68...
Ne4 $1 69. Ra7+ Ke6 70. Re7+ Kf5 71. Ne3+ Kg6 72. Re6+ Kh5 73. Re8 Nxg3 74. e6
Re2 $11) 69. Ra7+ Kg6 $1 {Correctly keeping the king active. The resulting
endgame is extremely complicated, but it looks like Black still has good
drawing chances.} (69... Kf8 70. Ne7 $1 Ne4+ 71. Kd7 Kg7 (71... h5 72. Nf5 Rf2
73. Ra8+ Kf7 74. Nd6+ Nxd6 75. exd6 Rf3 76. Ra5 $18) 72. Ke8 Rb2 73. g4 Rb8+
74. Kd7 Kf8 75. e6 Nf6+ 76. Kc6 Re8 77. Ng6+ Kg8 78. Kd6 $18) 70. Ne7+ $1 (70.
Nf4+ {is less convincing:} Kf5 71. Kd5 {was more promising:} Nd7 72. e6 (72.
Rxd7 Rd2+ 73. Kc6 Rxd7 74. Kxd7 Kxe5 75. Ke7 Kf5 76. Kf7 Kg4 77. Ne2 h5 $11)
72... Nf6+ 73. Kd4 Rd2+ 74. Ke3 Rd8 75. Kf3 Ng8 76. Rd7 Ra8 77. Rf7+ Ke5 $16 {
and Black is in the game.}) 70... Kg5 71. Kd5 Nd3 $1 {Kramnik manages to find
the only way to stay in the game.} (71... Rc3 72. Ra8 $1 Kg4 73. Rc8 Na4 74.
Rg8+ Kf3 75. e6 Nb6+ 76. Kd4 Rc4+ 77. Ke5 $18) 72. Ng8 Nb4+ $1 {The best
practical chance.} ({Black correctly rejects} 72... Kg6 73. e6 Nb4+ 74. Kd6
Rd2+ 75. Kc5 Nd3+ 76. Kd4 Nc1+ 77. Ke4 Re2+ 78. Kd5 Rd2+ 79. Kc6 Rd8 80. Nxh6
$1 Kxh6 81. e7 Rb8 82. Kc7 Rg8 83. Ra3 Ne2 84. Re3 Nd4 85. e8=Q Rxe8 86. Rxe8
$18) 73. Ke6 (73. Kd6 Rc6+ 74. Kd7 {led to the same.}) 73... Rc6+ 74. Kd7 Rc3 {
This move looks natural, but actually it made White's task much easier.} (74...
Rc1 $1 {was much more stubborn:} 75. e6 Nc6 {and here the winning way isn't
trivial at all:} 76. Ra4 $1 (76. Rc7 Ne5+ 77. Kd6 Rxc7 78. Kxc7 Ng6 79. Kc6 Kg4
80. Nxh6+ Kxg3 $11) (76. Rb7 Ne5+ 77. Kd6 Nc4+ 78. Ke7 Ne3 79. Ke8 Nf5 80. Rb5
Kg6 81. Ne7+ Nxe7 82. Kxe7 Rc7+ 83. Kd6 Ra7 84. g4 Kg7 85. Rc5 Kf6 86. Rf5+ Kg7
$11) 76... h5 77. Kd6 Rc3 78. Re4 Rc1 79. Rf4 Na7 80. Nf6 Nc8+ 81. Kd7 Nb6+ 82.
Ke7 Kg6 83. Rf3 Rc6 84. Rd3 Nc8+ 85. Kd7 Kxf6 86. Kxc6 Kxe6 87. Re3+ $18) 75.
e6 Rd3+ (75... Nc6 76. Rb7 Ne5+ 77. Kd6 Nc4+ 78. Kd5 Ne3+ 79. Kd4 Rc6 80. Kxe3
Rxe6+ 81. Kf3 $18) 76. Ke8 Kg6 77. Ra4 $2 {Luckily for Vladimir, White failed
to find the most precise moves until the end.} ({Black would be helpless after
} 77. Rd7 $1 Ra3 (77... Rxg3 78. Kf8 Rf3+ 79. Rf7 $18) 78. e7 Kg7 79. Rd4 $1
Ra8+ (79... Nc6 80. Rg4+ Kh8 81. Nf6 Ra8+ 82. Kf7 Ne5+ 83. Ke6 Nxg4 84. Nxg4
Kg7 85. Nf6 Ra6+ 86. Ke5 $18) 80. Kd7 Kxg8 81. e8=Q+ Rxe8 82. Kxe8 Nc6 83. Re4
Kg7 84. Kd7 Na5 85. Rb4 $18) 77... Nd5 $11 {Now the draw is unavoidable.} 78.
Rg4+ ({Or} 78. Ne7+ Nxe7 79. Kxe7 Rxg3 80. Re4 Rd3 $11) 78... Kf5 79. Nxh6+
Kxe6 80. Re4+ Kf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-chT"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2015.05.01"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2691"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[PlyCount "151"]
[EventDate "2015.05.01"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Sverdlovsk Malachite"]
[BlackTeam "Novosibirsk Sibir"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nf5 8.
Nf3 d5 9. d4 O-O 10. c3 Re8 11. Bd3 Bd6 12. Rxe8+ Qxe8 13. Qc2 g6 14. Nbd2 b6
15. Nf1 Bd7 16. Bg5 Qf8 17. Re1 f6 18. Bd2 Re8 19. Ne3 Nce7 20. c4 dxc4 21.
Nxc4 Nd5 22. Be4 Qf7 23. Nxd6 Nxd6 24. Bxd5 Qxd5 25. Qxc7 Nb5 26. Rxe8+ Bxe8
27. Qe7 Qf7 28. Qd8 Nc7 29. Bh6 Nd5 30. Qd6 Ne7 31. g4 Nc8 32. Qd8 Qe6 33. h3
Nd6 34. d5 Nf7 35. dxe6 Nxd8 36. Nd4 a6 37. f4 Nc6 38. Ne2 Ne7 39. Ng3 Bc6 40.
f5 gxf5 41. gxf5 Bb5 42. Ne4 Nxf5 43. Nxf6+ Kh8 44. Bf8 a5 45. Kf2 Bc6 46. e7
Nd6 47. Kg3 Ne8 48. Ng4 h5 49. Ne5 Bd5 50. a3 Kg8 51. Kf4 Bb3 52. Kg5 Bd1 53.
Nc4 Kf7 54. Nxb6 Nd6 55. Nd5 Ne4+ 56. Kh4 a4 57. Nc3 Nxc3 58. bxc3 Be2 59. Kg5
Ke8 60. h4 Kd7 61. Kf6 Bc4 62. Bh6 Ke8 63. Bf4 Bf7 64. Bg5 Bb3 65. Ke5 Kd7 66.
Kd4 Bf7 67. Kc5 Kc7 68. c4 Be8 69. Kd5 Kd7 70. c5 Bg6 71. c6+ Kc7 72. Bf4+ Kc8
73. Ke6 Bf7+ 74. Kf6 Be8 75. c7 Kd7 76. Kg7 1-0

[Event "RUS-chT"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2015.05.02"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A05"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2015.05.01"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Novosibirsk Sibir"]
[BlackTeam "St Petersburg Bronze Horseman"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 g6 4. b3 Bg7 5. Bb2 c5 6. c4 d4 7. b4 Nfd7 8. O-O
Nc6 9. bxc5 O-O 10. d3 Nxc5 11. Nbd2 Rb8 12. Ba3 Qa5 13. Qc1 Na4 14. Nb3 Qc7
15. Qc2 Bd7 16. Rae1 Rfd8 17. e3 dxe3 18. fxe3 h6 19. d4 Bf5 20. e4 Bg4 21. e5
Nb6 22. Nh4 Nxd4 23. Qf2 Qxc4 24. Re4 Be6 25. Nxd4 Bd5 26. Ne6 Bxe6 27. Rxc4
Nxc4 28. Bxe7 Rd2 29. Qxa7 Bxe5 30. Nf3 Bc7 1-0

[Event "RUS-chT"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2015.05.04"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2714"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2015.05.01"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Novosibirsk Sibir"]
[BlackTeam "Moscow Our Heritage"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. Nbd2 O-O 5. e3 d6 6. c3 Nbd7 7. Bd3 e5 8. O-O
h6 9. Bh4 Qe8 10. e4 b6 11. Re1 Bb7 12. a4 a5 13. Bb5 Qc8 14. dxe5 Nxe5 15.
Nxe5 dxe5 16. f3 Rd8 17. Qc2 Qe6 18. Bf2 Nh5 19. b4 Bf8 20. Reb1 Nf4 21. Bf1
Ba6 22. b5 Bb7 23. c4 Bb4 24. Rxb4 axb4 25. c5 Qf6 26. Nc4 bxc5 27. Bxc5 Ne6
28. Bxb4 Nd4 29. Qc3 Bc8 30. Ba5 Qe7 31. Kh1 Bb7 32. Bb4 Qe6 33. Na5 Qb6 34.
Nc4 Qe6 35. Na5 Qb6 36. Rc1 Rd7 37. h3 Kh7 38. Nc4 Qe6 39. a5 Rb8 40. Ne3 h5
41. a6 Ba8 42. Qc5 Qb3 43. Bc3 Qe6 44. Bc4 Qf6 45. Bxd4 exd4 46. Nd5 Qh8 47.
Rd1 d3 48. Rxd3 Qa1+ 49. Qg1 Qxg1+ 50. Kxg1 Kg7 51. Ra3 f5 52. a7 Rb7 53. Ra6
fxe4 54. fxe4 Rf7 55. e5 c6 56. Nb6 Rfe7 57. bxc6 Rxa7 58. Nxa8 1-0

[Event "RUS-chT"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2015.05.05"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D63"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Schulz,Andre"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2015.05.01"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Belorechensk Univ"]
[BlackTeam "Novosibirsk Sibir"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 Be7 7. e3 O-O 8. Rc1
c5 (8... c6 {führt zum alten Orthodoxen Damengambit.}) 9. dxc5 (9. cxd5 Nxd5
10. Bxe7 Nxe7 11. Be2 b6 12. O-O Bb7 13. dxc5 Nxc5 14. Nd4 Nf5 15. Nxf5 exf5
16. Bf3 Qxd1 17. Rfxd1 Bxf3 18. gxf3 Rfd8 19. Kf1 g6 20. Ke2 Kg7 21. Nb5 Kf6
22. Rxd8 Rxd8 23. b4 Ne6 24. Rc6 Ke7 25. a3 Rd7 26. Rc8 a6 27. Nc3 b5 28. Ra8
Rd6 29. Rh8 g5 30. Ra8 Kf6 31. Ra7 Kg6 32. Na2 Nd8 33. Ke1 Kh5 34. Nc1 Kh4 35.
Nb3 Kh3 36. Nd4 f4 37. Ra8 Kxh2 38. Nf5 Rf6 39. e4 Nc6 40. Rxa6 Rg6 41. Kf1 Ne5
42. Ra5 Nxf3 43. Rxb5 g4 44. Rd5 h5 45. Ng3 h4 46. Ne2 g3 47. fxg3 fxg3 48. b5
Rf6 49. Rf5 Rxf5 50. exf5 g2+ 51. Kf2 Nd4 52. Ng1 Nxb5 53. a4 Nc3 54. Nf3+ Kh1
55. a5 h3 {0-1 (55) Salem,A (2586)-Kramnik,V (2760) Doha 2014}) 9... Nxc5 (9...
dxc4 10. Bxc4 Nxc5 11. O-O a6 12. Nd4 Nfe4 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Nxe4 Nxe4 15. Qd3
Nf6 16. Rfd1 Bd7 17. Nf3 Ba4 18. Bb3 {1/2-1/2 (18) Sargissian,G (2668)
-Sethuraman,S (2623) Tsaghkadzor 2015}) 10. cxd5 g5 11. Bg3 Nxd5 12. Nxd5 Qxd5
13. Qxd5 exd5 14. Be5 (14. Be2 Ne4 15. Nd4 Bb4+ 16. Kd1 Re8 17. Nb5 Rd8 18. f3
Nxg3 19. hxg3 Kg7 20. a3 Ba5 21. Nd4 Bd7 22. g4 Bb6 23. Bd3 Re8 24. Kd2 Re7 25.
Rce1 Rae8 26. b3 a5 27. b4 axb4 28. axb4 Bxd4 29. exd4 Rxe1 30. Rxe1 Rxe1 31.
Kxe1 b6 {1/2-1/2 (31) Metelmann,K (2294)-Ginzborsky,L (2275) ICCF email 2008})
14... Bf5 15. Be2 Rac8 {Schwarz hat bequemen Ausgleich erlangt.} 16. O-O Bd3
17. Rce1 (17. Rfe1 Bxe2 18. Rxe2 Nd3) 17... Be4 18. Rd1 a6 19. Bd4 Ne6 20. Bc3
b5 (20... Nc5 $5 {mit der Idee} 21. Z0 Na4) 21. Rc1 b4 22. Be5 f6 23. Bg3 (23.
Nd4 $5 Nxd4 24. Bxd4 a5 25. f3 Bf5 26. Bb5 $14) 23... a5 24. Bb5 Kf7 25. Nd4
Nc5 $2 (25... Nxd4 26. exd4 h5 27. f3 Bf5 $11) 26. f3 Bg6 {Der Läufer steht
hier für den Kampf am Damenflügel etwas abseits.} 27. Rfd1 (27. Nc6 $2 Bd3
$11) 27... h5 28. Nc6 h4 29. Bf2 Ne6 30. Rxd5 Rc7 31. e4 $18 {Diagramm [#]
Weiß hat einen Bauern gewonnen bei anhaltender Initiative. Die schwarzen
Damenflügelbauern stehen nun unter Beschuss.} Ra8 (31... Rb8 32. Be3 $18) 32.
Rc4 (32. Rcd1 $5) 32... Kg8 (32... Nf4 $5 {war vielleicht zäher:} 33. Ne5+
fxe5 34. Rxc7 Nxd5 35. exd5 Kf8 36. Bc6 Rb8 37. Ba7 Rd8 38. Kf2 $18) 33. Bb6
Rb7 34. Bxa5 (34. Nxe7+ $5 Rxe7 35. Bc6 Ra6 36. Bxa5 Bf7 37. Bxb4 Rea7 38. Rd6
Rxa2 (38... Nf4 39. Rc2 Bxa2 40. Bc3 $18) 39. Rc2 $18) 34... Bf8 35. Nd8 $2 {
Diese Abwicklung bringt Weiß wenig ein.} (35. Ba4 $18) 35... Rxb5 ({Am
einfachsten war} 35... Nxd8 36. Bxd8 Rxb5 37. Rxb5 Rxd8 $11) 36. Rxb5 Nxd8 37.
Bxb4 Bf7 38. Rc1 Ne6 (38... Rxa2 39. Rc8 Ra1+ 40. Kf2 Rd1 $16) 39. Rd1 (39. Ra5
Rd8 $16) 39... Bxb4 40. Rxb4 Rxa2 41. Rd7 (41. Rb7 Nc5 42. Rb5 Ne6 43. Kf2 $16)
41... Nc5 42. Rd6 Kg7 43. Rb5 $14 Ne6 (43... Ra1+ 44. Kf2 Rc1 $15) 44. Rb7 Kg6
45. g3 Ra1+ 46. Kg2 Rc1 47. Rd2 (47. Rbb6 Rc2+ 48. Kh3 Rf2 49. Rxe6 Bxe6+ 50.
Rxe6 Kf7 51. Rc6 Rxf3 $14) 47... Nc5 48. Re7 hxg3 49. hxg3 Rc4 50. e5 g4 51.
exf6 gxf3+ 52. Kxf3 Kxf6 53. Re3 Bh5+ 54. Kg2 Ne4 55. b3 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-chT"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2015.05.06"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A35"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2683"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2015.05.01"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Novosibirsk Sibir"]
[BlackTeam "Kazan Ladya"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. e3 Bg7 5. d4 d6 6. Be2 f5 7. O-O Nf6 8. d5 Nb4
9. a3 Na6 10. Rb1 O-O 11. b4 Kh8 12. Qb3 b6 13. Bb2 Nc7 14. Rfd1 Bd7 15. Ba1 a5
16. bxc5 bxc5 17. Qc2 Rb8 18. Rxb8 Qxb8 19. e4 fxe4 20. Nxe4 Nce8 21. Ng3 Ng4
22. Bc3 Qc7 23. h3 Nh6 24. Ng5 Nf7 25. Nxf7+ Rxf7 26. Rb1 Kg8 27. Bg4 Bxc3 28.
Bxd7 Qxd7 29. Qxc3 e6 30. dxe6 Qxe6 31. Re1 Qd7 32. Qxa5 Nf6 33. a4 Rf8 34. Ra1
Qf7 35. Qc3 h5 36. Qd3 h4 37. Nf1 d5 38. cxd5 Nxd5 39. Qc2 c4 40. Qxc4 Qxf2+
41. Kh1 Rf5 42. Nh2 Kg7 43. Ng4 Qd2 44. Rb1 Rf7 45. Ne5 Rc7 46. Qe4 Nf4 47. a5
g5 48. a6 Rc1+ 49. Rxc1 Qxc1+ 50. Kh2 Qa3 51. Nf3 Qxa6 52. Qe7+ Kg8 53. Qxg5+
1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 43rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2015.06.27"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2722"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2015.06.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8.
cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Bc4 Nd7 12. O-O b6 13. a4 Bb7 14. Bd3
a5 15. Rfc1 e5 16. d5 Nc5 17. Qe3 f5 18. Bc4 Qd6 19. exf5 Rxf5 20. Ng5 Rf4 21.
Rab1 Qg6 22. Ba2 Qxg5 23. Rxb6 Raf8 24. f3 Nd3 25. Rd1 Nb4 26. Rxb7 Nxa2 27. d6
Nb4 28. Rb5 Nc6 29. d7 h6 30. Rbd5 Rd8 31. Qc3 Nd4 32. Kh1 Rh4 33. Qc7 Kh7 34.
h3 Nxf3 35. Qc2+ Kh8 36. Qf2 Nd4 37. Re1 Rf4 38. Qb2 Qf6 39. Qb1 Nf5 40. Kh2
Rb4 41. Qc1 Ne7 42. Rxa5 Rxd7 43. Raxe5 Ng6 44. Re6 Qf4+ 45. Qxf4 Nxf4 46. R6e4
Rxe4 47. Rxe4 Nd3 48. Re8+ Kh7 49. Ra8 Rd4 50. g4 Nc5 51. a5 Ra4 52. Kg3 Ra3+
53. Kg2 Ne4 54. a6 Nd6 55. h4 Nb5 56. g5 hxg5 57. hxg5 Nc7 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 43rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2015.06.28"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2676"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2015.06.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. Qe2 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. d3 h6 7. Nbd2 d6 8. O-O
Ne7 9. d4 a6 10. dxc5 axb5 11. cxd6 Qxd6 12. Qxb5 Ng6 13. Re1 b6 {Yifan's
opening was a little suspicious. She is up a pawn right now, but her
develoment is lacking. Black has at least enough compensation for the pawn,
but probably it is even sufficient for a small advantage.} 14. Nc4 Qe6 15. Ne3
Nxe4 $1 {A very strong move!} 16. Qd5 (16. Nd5 Nd6 17. Qd3 e4 $17) 16... Nc5 $1
{This is the beautiful point, otherwise White is even better.} (16... Qxd5 17.
Nxd5 $14) 17. b4 (17. Qxa8 Bb7 18. Qa3 Bxf3 $1 {The lines are complicated
still, but Black's attack is too strong. Taking the bishop loses to:} (18...
Ra8 19. Qb4 Ra4 20. Qb5 Ba6 21. Qxa4 Nxa4 {is also quite strong.}) 19. gxf3 Nh4
20. Kh1 Nd3 {and White cannot hope to keep her position together.}) 17... Bb7
18. Qxe6 Nxe6 19. Nf5 Rfd8 20. a4 Rd3 21. Be3 Rxc3 {Black is up a pawn with
the better position. The rest is easy.} 22. a5 Rb3 23. axb6 cxb6 24. Rxa8+ Bxa8
25. Bxb6 Bxf3 26. gxf3 Ng5 27. Kh1 Nxf3 28. Re4 Nf4 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 43rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2015.06.30"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2720"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2015.06.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 g6 4. c4 Bg7 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 d5 7. Nc3 dxc4 8.
Qa4+ Nbd7 9. O-O O-O 10. Rd1 Nb6 11. Qa3 Qd6 12. Qxd6 exd6 13. a4 a6 14. Bf4
Ne8 15. Rac1 a5 16. Ndb5 Bd7 17. Bxd6 Nxd6 18. Rxd6 Bc6 19. Bxc6 bxc6 20. Rxc6
Rab8 21. Rc5 Rfd8 22. Na7 Rd2 23. Rb5 Nd7 24. Rxb8+ Nxb8 25. Ncb5 Nd7 26. Rxc4
Bxb2 27. Kf1 Nb6 28. Re4 f5 29. Re8+ Kf7 30. Rb8 Nxa4 31. Nc6 Nc3 32. Nxa5 Rd1+
33. Kg2 Nxe2 34. Nc4 Ba1 35. Nbd6+ Kg7 36. Rb7+ Kg8 37. Re7 Nc3 38. h4 Nd5 39.
Rd7 h5 40. Ra7 Bd4 41. Ra8+ Kg7 42. Rd8 Ba1 43. Nb6 Nc3 44. Nbc8 Kf6 $2 (44...
Nd5 $11) 45. Rd7 $1 Nd5 46. Nb6 $1 Be5 $2 (46... Nxb6 47. Ne8+ {is, of course,
impossible.}) (46... Nc3 $1 {is still far from easy, but this is clearly just
a computer move.}) 47. Nb7 {Suddenly Black is in danger of losing his knight.
His saving resource fails:} Nc3 48. Nd8 $1 {A mate threat out of nowhere! The
rooks cant be traded because of the deadly fork.} g5 49. Rxd1 Nxd1 50. Nd7+ Ke7
51. Nxe5 Kxd8 (51... gxh4 52. Nec6+ Kd7 53. gxh4 $18) 52. hxg5 Ke7 53. f4 {
The endgame is easily winning.} Nc3 54. Kh3 Ne4 55. Kh4 1-0

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 43rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2015.07.01"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Meier, Georg"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2654"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2015.06.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nf5 8.
Nf3 d5 9. d4 O-O 10. c3 Bd6 11. Bd3 Nce7 12. Nbd2 c6 13. Nf1 g6 14. h3 Kh8 15.
Bd2 f6 16. Qc2 Bd7 17. b3 Rc8 18. Re2 b6 19. g4 Ng7 20. Rae1 c5 21. dxc5 bxc5
22. Qc1 Bc6 23. Bf4 Ng8 24. Bg3 d4 25. N1h2 Bxg3 26. fxg3 g5 27. Be4 Bxe4 28.
Rxe4 Qd6 29. Kg2 f5 30. Re5 h6 31. Qd2 Rcd8 32. Qd3 f4 33. Nf1 Qc6 34. cxd4
cxd4 35. R1e4 fxg3 36. Nxg3 Nf6 37. Rxd4 Ne6 38. Rxe6 Rxd4 39. Qxd4 Qxe6 40.
Qxa7 Rc8 41. Nf5 Qe2+ 42. Qf2 Qd3 43. Qd4 Rc2+ 44. Kg1 Rc1+ 45. Kg2 Qc2+ 46.
Kg3 Qc7+ 47. Kg2 Rc2+ 48. Kg1 Rc6 49. Kf2 Kh7 50. Ke2 Rc2+ 51. Ke3 Rxa2 52. Qc4
Qb7 53. Qe6 Nd5+ 54. Kd4 Qb4+ 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 43rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2015.07.03"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D78"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2015.06.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{After four rounds Kramnik was jointly leading the tournament with Liviu
Dieter Nisipeanu with 3.0/4. Caruana was half a point behind with 2.5/4.} 1.
Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 c6 {The solid setup
against the Fianchetto Grunfeld is one of the toughest systems for white to
crack. But who better than the big Vlad to give it a try!} 7. Nbd2 (7. Qb3 {
has become quite popular recently.}) (7. cxd5 cxd5 {Even though White has an
extra tempo I don't believe he has serious chances of obtaining an advantage.})
(7. b3 dxc4 8. bxc4 c5 {is quite a heavily analyzed line.}) 7... a5 (7... Bf5 {
is much more common. A typical line of play would go something like this:} 8.
b3 Ne4 9. Bb2 Nd7 10. Nh4 Nxd2 11. Qxd2 Be6 12. e4 dxe4 13. Bxe4 Bh3 14. Rfe1
$14 {with a slight edge for White. This had been played between Nakamura and
Leko in 2012 London GP.}) 8. b3 a4 9. Ba3 $5 (9. Bb2 {is the more common move
but Ba3 is the latest innovation and has been scoring quite decently for White.
} Bf5 {with an interesting position.}) 9... axb3 10. axb3 Bf5 11. Nh4 Be6 12.
Re1 {White prepares the move e4.} (12. e4 $2 dxe4 13. Nxe4 Nxe4 14. Bxe4 Qxd4
$17) (12. Qc2 $5 {has a nice trap of Bxe7 unleashing a discovered attack on
the rook on a8.} dxc4 $2 (12... Nbd7 13. e3 $14 (13. e4 $6 dxe4 14. Nxe4 Nxe4
15. Qxe4 Qb6 $15)) 13. Bxe7 $1 $16) 12... Ne4 13. Bxe4 $5 {A very unorthodox
exchange by Kramnik. He is trying to spice up the position.} (13. e3 {was a
safer choice with a slightly preferable position for White.}) (13. Nxe4 dxe4
14. Bxe4 Qxd4 15. Qxd4 Bxd4 16. Bb2 $1 Rxa1 17. Bxa1 Bg7 $11 {would have lead
to a handshake pretty soon.}) 13... dxe4 14. Nxe4 (14. e3 $11 {was necessary
as the move chosen by Kramnik in the game leads to a clearly inferior position.
}) 14... Qxd4 (14... Bxd4 $2 15. Bxe7 $1 $16 {just drops a pawn.}) 15. Qc2 $5 {
This is objectively a bad move. However, it takes many precise moves from
Caruana to prove that. If Black were to play anything apart from Bf5 on the
next move then White has a fine position.} (15. Qxd4 Bxd4 16. Bb2 Rxa1 17. Bxa1
Bb6 $15 {Keeping the double bishops. Of course, this was not the reason why
Kramnik had given up his light squared bishop on e4.}) 15... Bf5 $1 {An
excellent tactical resource that might have been missed or underestimated by
Kramnik.} (15... Qxa1 $6 16. Rxa1 Bxa1 17. Bxe7 $16 {The queen will prove to
be much stronger in such a position, with the knights on the board, than the
two rooks.}) (15... Nd7 16. Rad1 Qb6 17. Bxe7 Rfe8 18. Bd6 $13 {Black has
compensation but White is not worse.}) (15... Re8 16. Bb2 Rxa1 17. Bxa1 Qb6 18.
Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Rd1 $11) 16. Nxf5 gxf5 17. Ng5 (17. Nd2 Qc3 $1 {is the neat
little point.} 18. Qa2 Qa5 $17 {The exchange is lost.}) (17. Nc5 Rxa3 18. Rxa3
Qxc5 $17) 17... Qg4 {The queen attacks the knight and the bishop on g7
uncovers an attack on the a1-rook.} 18. f4 Bxa1 19. Rxa1 h6 $6 (19... c5 $1 {
would have given Caruana a nearly decisive advantage. The idea is to develop
the knight on c6 where it will be much more active than on d7 as in the game.}
20. Bb2 (20. Qc3 Nc6 21. Bxc5 Rxa1+ 22. Qxa1 Qxe2 $19 {The is the difference
of not playing h6 and pushing the knight back to f3.}) 20... Rxa1+ 21. Bxa1 Nc6
$17) 20. Nf3 Nd7 (20... c5 {would no longer be strong because} 21. Qc3 Nc6 22.
Bxc5 $15 {when Black's advantage is reduced to a minimum.}) 21. Rd1 $1 {
Kramnik takes his best practical chance to keep the rooks on board.} Rxa3 22.
Rxd7 Qh3 $1 {Keeping an eye on the white king.} 23. Qc3 e6 $6 {This terribly
weakens the f6 square and gives White enough counterplay against the f7-point.}
(23... Rfa8 {would have been much stronger as after} 24. Rxe7 $6 (24. Rxb7 $2
Ra1+ 25. Kf2 Rf1+ 26. Ke3 Qg2 $19) 24... Ra1+ 25. Kf2 (25. Ne1 Rb1 (25... Rd1
26. b4 b6 27. c5 bxc5 28. bxc5 h5 $19) 26. b4 b6 {The rook on e7 cannot give
up the e-file is the main reason for the zugzwang.} 27. c5 b5 28. Rd7 Re8 $19)
25... Rf1+ 26. Ke3 Qg2 $19 {The attack against the white king breaks through.
The most critical move Qf6 is refuted in the following manner:} 27. Qf6 Rxf3+
$1 (27... Qf2+ $6 28. Kd3 Rd1+ (28... Rd8+ 29. Kc2 $16) 29. Kc3 Rc1+ 30. Kd2 (
30. Kd3 $2 Rd8+ $19) 30... Ra2+ 31. Kd3 $11 (31. Kxc1 Qf1+ $18) 31... Rd1+ 32.
Kc3 Rc1+ 33. Kd3 $11) 28. exf3 Qg1+ 29. Kd3 Qd1+ 30. Ke3 (30. Kc3 $2 Qa1+ $19)
30... Qe1+ 31. Kd3 Rd8+ $1 32. Kc2 Rd2+ 33. Kc3 Re2+ $19) 24. Rxb7 Rfa8 25. Kf2
Ra1 26. Ke3 $1 {The king is safe on the e3-square.} Rf1 27. Qf6 Rf8 {Once the
rook has to passively defend the f7-point, it is clear that White cannot be
worse.} 28. Rd7 (28. Kd4 $5 {In this age where we are seeing king walks in
almost every other tournament this move would have been really loved by the
spectators. It doesn't really change the assessment of the position but Black
has to quickly find a way to get his queen into the game. Most probably the
game would end something like this} Qg2 29. Qxh6 Qxe2 30. Qg5+ $11 Kh7 31. Qh4+
Kg8 32. Qg5+ $11) 28... Rb1 29. Rb7 c5 30. Rb5 Rf1 31. Nd2 $2 {It is quite
possible that Kramnik was under time pressure as this gives Black the golden
opportunity to get a winning position.} (31. Rxc5 Rxf3+ 32. exf3 Qxh2 $11 {
would have ended in a draw.}) 31... Rc1 32. Qb2 (32. Nf3 Qf1 $1 33. Qxh6 Rc3+
34. Kd2 Qc1#) 32... Rd1 33. Qc2 Rh1 {White has lost all his co-ordination and
now the Black pieces weave a deadly attack.} 34. Nf3 Qg2 35. Qc3 Rf1 36. Qf6
Rf2 37. Kd3 (37. Qb2 Rxf3+ $19) 37... Rxe2 38. Ng5 Rd2+ {What an exciting game.
First Kramnik plays the opening in dubious fashion and gets a minus position.
Caruana makes one inaccurate move and just when we felt that the game was
heading towards a draw, Kramnik makes a very huge mistake by playing Nd2.
After that Caruana finished off the game to perfection.} (38... Rd2+ 39. Kc3
Rc2+ 40. Kd3 Qd2#) 0-1

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 43rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2015.07.04"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2654"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "165"]
[EventDate "2015.06.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Liviu Dieter Nisipeanu was leading the tournament with 3.5/5. But he had to
face Kramnik in round six and Caruana in the final round. Not the easiest of
opponents to maintain your lead against!} 1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 {Kramnik continues
his strategy of playing off-beat systems against players who are not the
absolute elite.} Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. b3 {Usually Kramnik likes to play a doubled
fianchetto system with his pawns on b3 and g3 but today that won't be possible
as he had already committed to e3 on the second move.} c5 5. Bb2 Nc6 6. cxd5
exd5 7. Bb5 Bd6 {Nisipeanu plays in classical fashion, developing his pieces
to the best possible squares.} 8. d4 cxd4 (8... a6 9. Bxc6+ bxc6 10. Qc2 $1 {
puts Black under some pressure as after} Bb7 11. dxc5 Qa5+ 12. Nbd2 Qxc5 13.
Qxc5 Bxc5 14. Rc1 $14 {White has a slightly more easier position to play.}) 9.
Nxd4 O-O (9... Bd7 {was also possible but Nisipeanu's 0-0 is much more
enterprising.}) 10. O-O ({A logical question is - Why can't the pawn be taken?
} 10. Nxc6 $6 bxc6 11. Bxc6 Bg4 $1 12. f3 Rc8 {Black has the most perfect
development while White is struggling.} 13. Ba4 {Lots of moves win here but
the simplest would be} Qe7 $1 14. O-O (14. Kf2 Ne4+ $1 15. Ke2 Qg5 $19) 14...
Qxe3+ 15. Kh1 Qh6 $1 $19) (10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. Nxc6 Qc7 $1 12. Nd4 Ba6 $15 {
and Black has ample compensation for the pawn as the white king cannot 0-0.})
10... Qc7 11. h3 Bh2+ $5 {A very interesting move. Black wants to play Be5 but
he does so after forcing the White king to h1. This can be very useful because
when the f6 N comes to e4, the f2 point will remain in need of protection.} 12.
Kh1 Be5 13. Qc2 Bd7 14. Nf3 ({There is no real way to increase the pressure on
c6.} 14. Rc1 Rac8 15. Nd2 Bxd4 $1 16. Bxd4 Nxd4 17. Qxc7 Rxc7 (17... Rxc7 18.
Rxc7 Nxb5 $15) 18. Bxd7 Rxd7 19. exd4 Ne4 $15) 14... Bxb2 15. Qxb2 {Although
the engines do not agree with me, I somehow feel that it is easier to play as
white here. He can develop with Nbd2 or Nc3 and put his rooks on the 'c' and
'd' files. However, objectively speaking Black is completely fine. He only has
to take care of not playing passively or exchanging too many pieces.} Rac8 (
15... Ne4 $6 16. Nc3 $14) 16. Rc1 Qd6 17. Nc3 Ne5 $6 {It is a well known fact
that the side with the isolated pawn must avoid exchanges. Hence. this move
comes as quite a surprise to me.} (17... Rfe8 18. Rd1 Bf5 $11 {would have been
more in the spirit of the position.}) (17... Ne4 {is possible but not the best.
} 18. Bxc6 Bxc6 (18... bxc6 $6 19. Nxe4 $1 dxe4 20. Qe5 $1 $14) 19. Nxe4 dxe4
20. Rd1 Qe7 21. Nd4 {Once again, nothing special but just a tad easier to play
with the white pieces.}) 18. Be2 (18. Nxe5 {might have been more accurate.}
Qxe5 19. Bxd7 Nxd7 20. Rc2 $14 {[%cal Ga1d1,Gc3e2]} Nf6 (20... d4 $2 21. exd4
Qxd4 22. Rd1 $18) 21. Rd1 Rfd8 22. Ne2 Qxb2 23. Rxb2 $14 {The weakness of
d5-pawn gives White a slightly better position.}) 18... Nxf3 (18... Ng6 {
or Nc6 retaining more pieces was an option but Nisipeanu had made up his mind
that he would exchange his knight for his counterpart on f3.}) 19. Bxf3 {
These are the type of technical positions that Kramnik loves to milk although
they maybe objectively equal. The reason for it is that Black has very little
counterplay. He has to just wait and keep making logical moves. A task which
is not at all easy.} Qe5 20. Qd2 Be6 21. Nb5 Bd7 (21... Ne4 $1 {It's sharp
moves like this that help Black to maintain the balance in the position.} 22.
Bxe4 dxe4 23. Nd4 (23. Nxa7 $2 Ra8 $19) 23... Bd7 {Once again I wouldn't say
the position is completely equal. The knight on d4 is stable and with the
exchange of rooks, the N+Q combo is much deadlier than B+Q but all in all this
is much easier position to defend than the one with the isolated pawn on d5.})
22. Qd4 {Kramnik leaps at the first opportunity to exchange the queens. After
the queen exchange, Black wont have any chances of creating threats on the
kingside and Black will have to play around his isolated d5 pawn.} Qxd4 23.
Nxd4 $14 a5 24. g4 $1 {Gaining space on the kingside and giving the g2-square
for the king. You might argue that it is much better to put the pawns on the
opposite colour of your bishop and g4 is not. But here it is much more
important to gain space. The bishop on f3 is any way active on the other
diagonal and the pawn could always be pushed from g4 to g5.} h6 25. Kg2 Rxc1
26. Rxc1 Rc8 27. Rb1 {Kramnik realises that he wont have enough resources to
put pressure on Nisipeanu if he exchanges the rooks. Hence he decides to
retain them.} (27. Rxc8+ Bxc8 28. Kg3 {with the idea of h4-g5.} g5 29. h4 Kf8 (
29... gxh4+ 30. Kxh4 $14) 30. hxg5 hxg5 $11 {The position is completely equal.}
) 27... Ra8 {Nisipeanu's move is a little confusing. But I guess he played
this as a prophylactic measure against the move b4.} 28. Ne2 $1 {Blockading an
isolated pawn is good but winning it is better. The knight decides to go to
the c3 or f4 square in order to put pressure on d5.} g5 {The f4-square is
denied and at the same time, the h3 and g4 pawns are fixed on the same colour
as the bishop.} 29. Nc3 Be6 30. Rd1 Rd8 {We can see to perfection how bad pawn
or piece, spreads gloom over the entire position. Here all of Black's pieces
passively defending while White has greater activity and generate more threats.
} 31. e4 $1 {Forcing the d5-pawn to advance.} (31. Rd4 {with the idea of e4 is
met with} Rd7 {But White can keep up the pressure with} 32. b4 $14) 31... d4
32. Kg3 $1 {Kramnik makes use of every little opportunity to improve his
position.} (32. Nb5 {would have made sense but the position of the king on g2
isn't the most appropriate.} d3 33. e5 Nd5 $11 {And now White cannot take on
d3 because of a check on f4. This little detail was noticed by Kramnik as he
improved the positioning of his king from g2-g3.}) 32... Rc8 33. Nb5 (33. Nd5 {
could have been a pretty challenging move.} Bxd5 $1 (33... Kg7 34. Rxd4 Rc2 35.
a4 $14 {White has an extra pawn and is slightly better.}) 34. exd5 Ne8 $1 {
A very logical yet difficult move to find.} (34... Rc2 $2 35. d6 $1 Kf8 36.
Rxd4 Ke8 37. Bxb7 $16) 35. Rxd4 (35. d6 $1 {is the right move to keep the
scope of the bishop open.} Nxd6 36. Rxd4 Rd8 $14 {Somehow Black is holding on
but it seems that White should at the very least slightly better.}) 35... Nd6
$44 {Black is happy to blockade the pawn and with the threat of rook
infiltrating, he has excellent chances to hold this position.}) 33... Nd7 (
33... Rc2 {might have been better as after} 34. Nxd4 Rxa2 35. Nxe6 fxe6 36.
Rd8+ Kf7 37. Rb8 Nd7 38. Rxb7 Ke8 {White is a pawn up and better but his
bishop is not so active because of the number of pawns standing on the same
colour as itself. Of course, it is imperative to prevent a knight from
settling on e5.} 39. Rb5 $1 a4 40. bxa4 Rxa4 $14 {I would assess, Black's
chances to hold this position much more than White's chances of winning it.})
34. Nxd4 Ne5 35. Be2 $16 {A pawn up without giving any substantial counterplay
to his opponent. And the player donning the white pieces is Vladimir Kramnik.
Black is doomed!} Rc3+ 36. f3 Kg7 37. Rd2 Kf6 38. Nf5 {I am unsure whether
such drastic measure of exchanging the knight for the bishop was required. But
what are the other options?} (38. Rc2 Rxc2 39. Nxc2 Ng6 40. Bb5 (40. Bc4 Bxc4
41. bxc4 Ne5 42. Ne3 Ke6 {Black's activity is sufficient to hold the balance.})
40... Ke5 {Somehow it is impossible to believe that White can win this.}) 38...
Bxf5 39. exf5 Ke7 {How shall we assess this position? White is a pawn up but
the knight on e5 is pretty well placed there. After Black goes f6 and
consolidates his knight it won't be easy to win but fortunately for Kramnik
the a5-pawn is also undefended and he is able to exchange the minor pieces.}
40. Rd5 $1 Nc6 (40... f6 41. Rxa5 $16) 41. Bb5 (41. h4 f6 42. h5 {fixing the
weakness on h6 would not be sufficient as after} b6 {The knight threatening to
come to e5 when Black would be able to defend his position.}) 41... b6 42. h4
f6 43. Bxc6 {Eliminating the knight before it can settle down on e5.} Rxc6 44.
hxg5 hxg5 45. a4 Rc3 46. Rb5 Rc6 {Mihail Marin in his excellent book "Learn
from the legends" says that in such rook endings, every extra pawn counts for
one point and better positioning of the rook counts for one. If you have two
points then you can be confident about converting your position. Here, the
white rook is definitely better placed than its counterpart which gives him
one point. But the extra pawn is doubled and not so easy to create a passer.
Hence you cannot really claim a full point for it. Maybe half. So White has 1.
5 points. Objectively it may not be enough.} 47. f4 {Kramnik feels that the
only way in which he can prove something here is if he creates a passer on the
kingside but maybe he needed to be more patient.} (47. Kf2 {Trying to bring
his king into the game would have been much more level headed.} Rd6 (47... Kd6
48. Ke3 Kc7 {Trying to free the rook for other active duties.} 49. Rd5 $1 Rc1 (
49... Rc3+ 50. Rd3 Rc1 51. Kd4 Kd6 52. Re3 $18) 50. Rd3 {The threat of later
transferring the rook to e6 is quite deadly and cannot be stopped.} Rb1 51. Kd4
Rb2 52. Re3 Rb1 53. Kd5 Kd7 54. Kc4 $18) 48. Ke3 Kd7 (48... Kf7 {keeping the
rook on the kingside to defend the f6-pawn also does not help.} 49. b4 axb4 50.
Rxb4 Ke7 51. Re4+ Kf7 52. Rd4 Rc6 53. Kd3 $18 {White will make his way to the
queenside.}) 49. b4 $1 {A very strong move giving more room to the rook.} axb4
50. Rxb4 Kc7 (50... Kc6 51. Rd4 $18) 51. Re4 {[%cal Ge4e6]} Kd7 52. Rd4 $18)
47... Rc3+ 48. Kf2 gxf4 49. Rxb6 Kf7 {Nisipeanu finds the g5-square to be the
perfect home for his king.} 50. b4 (50. Rb5 $1 {would have been the easier way
to win.} Kg7 51. Rxa5 Rxb3 52. Ra6 {Preventing ...Kh6.} Ra3 (52... Rg3 53. Ra7+
$1 Kh6 54. Rf7 $1 Rxg4 (54... Kg5) 55. Rxf6+ Kh7 56. Kf3 Rg1 57. Kxf4 $18 {
is an elementary win.}) 53. a5 {Black's defensive task is very difficult here
because he is almost in a zugzwang. He cannot move his rook from the 3rd rank
as then the king would advance. He cannot move the rook from a-file as then
White can just activate his rook to b6 and push his pawn.} Kf7 (53... Ra2+ 54.
Kf3 Ra4 55. Ra7+ Kh6 56. Ra8 Kg5 57. Rg8+ Kh6 58. Rg6+ $18) 54. Ra7+ Ke8 55.
Ra8+ $1 Kf7 56. a6 Ra2+ (56... Kg7 57. a7 Kh7 58. g5 $1 $18) 57. Kf3 Ra4 58. a7
Kg7 59. g5 $1 fxg5 60. f6+ Kf7 (60... Kxf6 61. Rf8+ $18) 61. Rh8 $1 $18) 50...
Rc2+ (50... Ra3 51. b5 Rxa4 52. Rb7+ Kg8 53. Ra7 Ra2+ 54. Kf3 Rb2 55. Rxa5 $18)
51. Kf3 Rc3+ 52. Kf2 (52. Kxf4 {It is unclear why Kramnik didn't go for this
move.} Rc4+ 53. Kf3 axb4 54. a5 Kg7 55. a6 Rc8 56. Rxb4 $18) 52... Rc2+ 53. Ke1
Rc1+ 54. Kd2 f3 55. Ke3 (55. Kxc1 $2 f2 {and the pawn cannot be stopped.})
55... Rc3+ 56. Kf2 axb4 57. Rxb4 Kg7 58. Kg3 $6 (58. Rb8 $5 {was trickier.} Rc4
(58... Kh6 59. Rg8 $18) (58... Rc2+) 59. Ra8 Rxg4 60. Kxf3 Rg1 61. a5 Rf1+ 62.
Ke4 Re1+ 63. Kd5 Kh6 64. a6 Ra1 {and it is unclear how White will make
progress here.} 65. a7 Kg7 66. Kc6 Rc1+ 67. Kb6 Rb1+ $11) 58... Ra3 59. Rb7+
Kh6 60. Ra7 f2+ 61. Kxf2 Kg5 {Black has things perfectly under control and
it's impossible for White to win from here.} 62. Ke2 Kxg4 63. Ra5 Kf4 64. Kd2
Ke4 65. Kc2 Kd4 66. Ra6 Rc3+ 67. Kb2 Rc4 68. Ra5 Rb4+ 69. Ka3 Kc4 70. Ra6 Rb3+
71. Ka2 Rb4 72. Ra8 Kc5 73. Ka3 Rf4 74. Rb8 Rf1 75. Rb5+ Kc4 76. Kb2 Rf2+ 77.
Kb1 Kc3 78. a5 Kc4 79. Rb7 Rxf5 80. a6 Ra5 81. a7 Kc5 82. Rf7 Kb6 83. Kc2 {
Kramnik played the opening quite unambitiously and let Nisipeanu equalize with
ease. But in the middlegame, he showed some great understanding of playing
against the IQP. He won a pawn and had his chances to convert this extra pawn.
But in the rook endgame, he made some mistakes and Nisipeanu defended very
well to take home a half point.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SuperGM 43rd"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2015.07.05"]
[Round "7"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2778"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "151"]
[EventDate "2015.06.27"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 167"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Wesley had been having a topsy turvy tournament in Dortmund. Wins against
Caruana and Nepo were compensated by losses against Nisipeanu and Naiditsch.
But his final round victory against Kramnik would have been especially sweet
because he beat the former World Champion in his favourite Berlin Defence.} 1.
e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8.
Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. h3 {These opening moves require no explanation for active chess
player. The Berlin wall has been played many times in the fast few years but
the move h3 is the product of trying to find the best move order. h3 instead
of Nc3 is the much more fashionable move these days. White keeps his options
open. Sometimes the N goes to f3 via d2.} Ne7 10. Nc3 Bd7 {Kramnik uses a line
that has only been played ten times in the past and one in which Black players
haven't scored a win. But it was never been tried by a 2700+ player.} (10...
Ng6 {is the main move.}) (10... h6 {is the second most played move in the
position.}) 11. Ng5 $146 {This is a new move in the position. A clear
indication that this was not prepared by Wesley is the fact that he used seven
and a half minutes for this move.} Ke8 12. e6 $5 {Played after 20 minutes of
thought. Wesley definitely was trying to weigh the pros and cons of this
sacrifice. On one hand he loses a pawn but on the other he get a very nice
initiative and squares like e4 for his knight.} Bxe6 (12... fxe6 13. Re1 Nf5
14. Nxe6 Bxe6 15. Rxe6+ Kf7 $11 {was also a possible line.}) 13. Nxe6 fxe6 14.
Re1 Kf7 {The computer already likes Black's position but in a practical game
things are not so simple. So would like to place his knight on e4 and create
some problems for the king on f7.} 15. Ne4 h6 {Of course, preventing Ng5.} 16.
Rd1 {Nine and a half minutes for this move. It would definitely not have been
easy for Wesley to play it. But he realises that the d-file is more important
than the e-file.} (16. Nc5 {with a double attack on e6 and b7 is met by} Nd5 $1
17. Nxb7 Rb8 18. Na5 Bb4 $1 19. Nxc6 Bxe1 20. Nxb8 Rxb8 $17) 16... e5 (16...
Nd5 17. c4 Nf6 18. Nxf6 Kxf6 19. Bd2 (19. Rd7 Bd6 $15) 19... Bd6 20. Bc3+ e5
$11 {Black doesn't have too many problems here. A very interesting line could
go something like this.} 21. b4 b6 22. f4 Rhe8 23. Re1 g5 $1 24. fxe5+ Bxe5 25.
Rxe5 Rxe5 26. Re1 Rae8 27. g4 R8e6 28. Kg2 Re7 29. a4 a6 $11 {Black is all
tied up but there is absolutely no way for White to deliver the final blow.})
17. Rd7 Rc8 18. Bd2 b6 {After the c5-square is controlled, Black now threatens
Ke6.} (18... Ke6 $2 19. Nc5+ $14) 19. Re1 Ke6 20. Rd3 c5 ({Maybe it's not such
a huge inaccuracy to play c5, but it made more sense to play g5 followed by
Bg7 to finish the development.} 20... g5 {and with this move Black also
prevents White's f4 which would open up the king in the center.}) 21. f4 $1 Nc6
22. Rg3 Re8 (22... Nd4 23. c3 Nf5 24. Rg4 $13 {[%csl Re5][%cal Ge4g3,Ge1e6]})
23. fxe5 g5 (23... Nxe5 24. Bc3 Kd5 {The king looks pretty cool in the center
of the board. Unlike Bruzon's king against Wei Yi from one of the best games
of 2015, this one is way safer!} 25. Nd2 c4 $13) 24. h4 Bg7 25. hxg5 Bxe5 26.
Rf3 hxg5 27. Bxg5 $6 {The game had reached the pinnacle of excitement with
both players making excellent moves. Here Bxg5 is not the most accurate.
Better would have been} (27. Nf6 $5 Ref8 28. Bxg5 Nd4 $2 (28... Rf7 $142 $11)
29. Rxe5+ $1 Kxe5 30. Nd7+ Kd6 31. Rxf8 Rh5 $1 32. Nxc5 $1 bxc5 (32... Rxg5 $2
33. Ne4+ $16) 33. Bf6 Nxc2 34. g4 $14) 27... Bd4+ $1 28. Nf2+ Kd5 29. Rd1 Rhg8
(29... Ne5 $5 30. Rf5 (30. c3 $2 Nxf3+ 31. gxf3 Rhg8 32. f4 Re2 33. cxd4 cxd4
$17) 30... Rhf8 31. Rxf8 Rxf8 $15) 30. Bf4 Re2 $5 {Kramnik might have assessed
the piece sacrifice in his favour. Objectively White should be better but
practically it's easier to play as Black as the pawns on the queenside just
have to be pushed whereas So has to find the accurate setup of pieces.} (30...
Kc4 $1 31. c3 Be5 $11 {Black has absolutely no problems here.}) 31. c3 Rxb2 32.
cxd4 Nxd4 33. Be3 (33. Ra3 $5 {would have been definitely preferable to retain
the a2-pawn.} Rf8 34. Be3 a5 35. Rd2 Rxd2 36. Bxd2 c4 $44 {Even though Black
has just two pawns for the piece, his co-ordination is excellent and the game
should most probably end in a draw.}) 33... Rxa2 34. Rf4 Ra4 35. Ne4 Kc6 36.
Nc3 Ra3 37. Bxd4 cxd4 38. Ne2 d3 39. Rf3 Ra2 (39... dxe2 40. Rc1+ $18) 40. Nf4
d2 41. Kf2 b5 42. Rc3+ Kb7 43. Nd5 Rg7 44. Rb3 {At this point, we have reached
a critical juncture. The b-pawn is attacked and Black has to decide whether he
must play a6 to defend the b5 and follow it up with c5-c4 or to play c6 and
then push the a-pawn. This important point was brought forward to me by one of
the ChessBase website editors Albert Silver who said that Kramnik's plan of
playing a6 followed by c5-c4 was practically incorrect because it left his
king weak and open to horizontal checks. If instead he would have played his
pawn to c6 and then a5-a4, the c6-pawn would have shielded the king against
the side attacks and given him a nice square on b6. A thought provoking
observation.} a6 (44... c6 $1 45. Nb4 Ra4 46. Rxd2 a5 47. Nd3 Rag4 48. g3 Kb6
49. Ne5 R4g5 50. Re3 a4 51. Rd6 Rc7 {You can see how the c6 pawn shields the
black king and he is pretty safe over there.} 52. g4 (52. Re4 a3 $1) 52... b4
53. Re4 a3 54. Rxb4+ Kc5 55. Rxc6+ Rxc6 56. Nxc6 Kxc6 $11) 45. Nb4 Ra4 46. Rxd2
{White has won an important pawn but now the c-pawn moves ahead with a few
tempi.} c5 47. Nd5 Rd7 {The game is still nicely balanced. It is interesting
to see how top two players in the world are actually playing this weird
material balance to the best of their abilities.} 48. Rf3 Re4 49. Rf6 {Though
the position is equal, Black has to be very alert and accurate because his
king is a little exposed and the rook on f6 is very well placed.} Ka7 50. Rd3
c4 51. Rh3 Rd4 (51... Rxd5 52. Rh7+ Kb8 53. Rf8+ $18) 52. Nb4 R4d6 53. Rhh6
Rxf6+ 54. Rxf6 Rd2+ 55. Kf3 a5 (55... Kb7 $1 56. Nxa6 (56. Rxa6 $2 Rb2 $15)
56... c3 57. Nc5+ Kc7 58. Ke3 (58. Nb3 c2 $11) 58... Rxg2 $11) 56. Ra6+ Kb7 57.
Rxa5 Kb6 58. Ra2 Rd7 (58... Rd8 {It was better to prevent the rook
infiltration to a8.} 59. g4 Kc5 60. Na6+ Kb6 61. g5 c3 62. Kg4 Rd2 $11 {
and white has to be careful not to lose this position.}) (58... Rxa2 59. Nxa2
Kc5 60. g4 b4 61. Ke4 $1 b3 62. Nc3 Kb4 63. Kd4 $18) 59. Ra8 Kc5 60. Nc2 $16 {
The knight and the rook have now started to co-ordinate really well. The
knight prevents, the black king from entering the position and the white rook
will start checking from behind. A deadly combo.} Rc7 61. Rf8 $1 c3 (61... b4
$2 62. Rf5+ $18) 62. Rf5+ Kb6 (62... Kc4 63. Ne3+ $18) 63. g4 $18 {The
queenside pawns have been blockaded and the g-pawn marches ahead!} Ka5 64. g5
Ka4 65. Ke3 Rd7 66. g6 b4 67. Rf4 Kb3 68. Nxb4 Re7+ 69. Re4 Rg7 (69... Rxe4+
70. Kxe4 Kxb4 71. Kd3 $1 {was a cute little point.} Kb3 72. g7 c2 73. g8=Q+ $18
) 70. Rg4 Re7+ 71. Kf3 Rg7 72. Nc6 Rg8 73. g7 c2 74. Nd4+ Kc4 75. Nxc2+ Kd5 76.
Rg6 {A beautiful game by both sides. Firstly So for finding this brilliant
idea with Ng5 and e6 to sacrifice a pawn for initiative in the opening. Then
Kramnik who sacrificed a piece for this mass of queenside pawns. And in the
end, So for using his knight and rooks so well to keep things under control.
An absolute world class contest.} 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2015.09.11"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Cori Tello, Deysi Estella"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2419"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2015.09.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. e3 a6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bd3 Bd6 8. g4
{Aggressiv!} h6 9. Rg1 b5 10. Qc2 Bb7 11. Bd2 Qe7 12. Bf5 g6 13. Bxd7+ Nxd7 14.
O-O-O {[#] Nun steht zuviel auf der c-Linie herum} c5 15. dxc5 Nxc5 16. Be1 (
16. Kb1 $17) 16... Rc8 17. Kb1 d4 $19 {Damit ist die Partie schon vorbei.} 18.
exd4 (18. Nxd4 b4 19. Nce2 Be4 {das drohte auch noch.}) 18... Bxf3 19. dxc5
Bxd1 20. Qxd1 Rxc5 {Zählen: Schwarz hat eine Qualität mehr.} 21. Qf3 O-O 22.
Ne4 Rc4 23. Nf6+ Kg7 24. Bd2 Be5 25. g5 hxg5 26. Nh5+ {Weiß hat noch einen
Trick.} Kg8 (26... gxh5 {ging nicht:} 27. Bxg5 Qb4 $11 (27... Qe6 28. Bf4+ Kf6
29. Bxe5+ Kxe5 30. Re1+ Kd6 31. Rxe6+ Kxe6 $11) 28. Bf6+ Kh6 29. Bg5+) 27. Bxg5
Qb4 28. Nf6+ Bxf6 29. Qxf6 {Droht Lh6 mit Matt, aber...} Rg4 30. Rd1 (30. Bh6
Qe4+ 31. Kc1 Rc8+ {nebst Matt.}) 30... Qe4+ 31. Ka1 Qd5 {Das sieht alles so
leicht aus.} 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2015.09.12"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Cori Tello, Deysi Estella"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B37"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2419"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2015.09.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 c5 7. O-O cxd4 8. Nxd4
Nc6 9. Nc2 Nd7 10. Bd2 a5 11. Re1 Nc5 12. Bf1 Bd7 13. Bg5 h6 14. Be3 Kh7 15. f3
f5 16. exf5 Bxf5 17. Qd2 Ne5 18. Nd4 Bd7 19. Kh1 Rc8 20. Rad1 a4 21. Nd5 Rf7
22. Bf2 e6 23. Nc3 Bc6 24. Nxc6 Rxc6 25. Qc2 Qf8 26. Bg3 Rf5 27. Nb5 Nf7 28. b4
axb3 29. axb3 Be5 30. b4 Na6 31. Qb3 Rh5 32. f4 Bf6 33. Rxe6 Kg7 34. Rxf6 Kxf6
35. Qc3+ Ke7 36. Nd4 Rc8 37. Re1+ Kd7 38. c5 Nc7 39. c6+ bxc6 40. Qxc6+ Kd8 41.
Qb6 Kd7 42. Be2 Nd8 43. Bxh5 gxh5 44. Bh4 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2015.09.14"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bruzon Batista, Lazaro"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2659"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "233"]
[EventDate "2015.09.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. d4 dxc4 7. Ne5 Nc6 8.
Nxc6 bxc6 9. Na3 Bxa3 10. bxa3 a5 11. Bxc6 Rb8 12. Qc2 Ba6 13. Rd1 Nd5 14. e4
Ne7 15. Ba4 f5 16. d5 exd5 17. exd5 Rf7 18. Be3 f4 19. Bxf4 Ng6 20. Be3 Ne5 21.
Qe4 Qe7 22. Bf4 Qxa3 23. Bxe5 Qxa4 24. Bc3 Bc8 25. g4 Qd7 26. h3 h5 27. Rd4
hxg4 28. hxg4 Bb7 29. Qe6 Re8 30. Re1 Ref8 31. f4 Qd8 32. f5 Qg5 33. Bd2 Qh4
34. Kg2 Rd8 35. Rh1 Bxd5+ 36. Rxd5 Qxg4+ 37. Kf2 Rxd5 38. Qxd5 c6 39. Qe6 Qd4+
40. Be3 Qd5 {[#]} 41. Qxd5 $6 {Danach wird die Aufgabe für Weiß viel
schwieriger.} (41. Qe8+ Rf8 42. Rh8+ Kxh8 43. Qxf8+ Kh7 44. Qc5 $18) 41... cxd5
42. Bd4 Rxf5+ 43. Ke3 Kf7 44. Rh7 Rg5 45. Kf3 Kg8 46. Rh1 Kf7 47. a3 Ke6 48.
Rb1 Rh5 49. Kg4 Rh2 50. Rb6+ Kd7 51. Kf5 Rh5+ 52. Kg4 Rh2 53. Be5 Ra2 54. Rd6+
Ke7 55. Ra6 c3 56. Bxc3 Rxa3 57. Bxg7 {[#]} Kd7 {Das Endspiel ist theoretisch
natürlich remis, nur muss Schwarz das auch nachweisen.} 58. Kf5 Kc7 59. Bd4
Kb7 60. Rb6+ Kc7 61. Ke5 Rh3 62. Kxd5 Rh5+ 63. Kc4 Kd7 64. Ra6 Rf5 65. Bc5 Rf4+
66. Kd5 Rf5+ 67. Kd4 a4 68. Kc4 Rf4+ 69. Bd4 a3 70. Kd5 Rf5+ 71. Be5 Rf7 72.
Ra8 a2 73. Ra7+ Ke8 74. Ra8+ Kd7 75. Rxa2 Ke7 76. Ra6 {Mit Let's check hat man
Zugriff auf die dort gespeicherten Tablebases und sieht, dass natürlich auch
dieses Endspiel remis ist.} Kd7 77. Bf6 Ke8 78. Ra8+ Kd7 79. Ke5 Kc6 80. Ke6
Rb7 81. Be5 Kb5 82. Kd5 Rd7+ 83. Bd6 Rb7 84. Ra1 Kb6 85. Rc1 Kb5 86. Bc7 Ka6
87. Kd6 Rb5 88. Kc6 Rb6+ 89. Kd7 Rb5 90. Kc8 Rd5 91. Rb1 Rc5 92. Rb2 Rc4 93.
Kd7 Rc5 94. Bd6 Rb5 95. Ra2+ Kb7 96. Ra4 Kb6 97. Ra1 Kb7 98. Rd1 Kb6 99. Rh1
Kb7 100. Rh6 Rd5 101. Rh8 Rb5 102. Rc8 Kb6 103. Bc7+ Kb7 104. Rg8 Rd5+ 105. Bd6
Rb5 106. Rg6 Rd5 107. Ke6 Rb5 108. Rg1 Kb6 109. Rc1 Kb7 110. Bc5 Kc6 111. Bd4+
Kb7 112. Kd6 Ka6 113. Bc5 {[#] Bis hier ist alles im Lot für Schwarz.} Kb7 $2
{Nach langer Verteidigung einmal fehlgegriffen.} (113... Rb7 $11 114. Ra1+ Kb5
115. Rb1+ Ka6) (113... Ra5 $11 114. Kc6 Rb5 $8) (113... Rb3 $11 114. Ra1+ Kb5 (
114... Kb7 $2 115. Ra7+ Kb8 116. Kc6 Rd3 117. Ra1 Rd2 118. Bd6+ Kc8 119. Ra8#))
114. Ra1 Rb3 115. Ra7+ Kb8 116. Kc6 Rh3 117. Ra1 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2015.09.15"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Bruzon Batista, Lazaro"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2659"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2015.09.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4
g5 9. Bg3 Nh5 10. Nbd2 Qf6 11. Kh1 Ne7 12. d4 exd4 13. Nxd4 Nf4 14. N4b3 Neg6
15. f3 a6 16. Nxc5 axb5 17. Ncb3 c5 18. Nc1 b6 19. Ne2 b4 20. Bxf4 gxf4 21.
cxb4 Ba6 22. Nc3 Bxf1 23. Qxf1 cxb4 24. Nd5 Qxb2 25. Nc4 Qg7 26. Ncxb6 b3 27.
a4 b2 28. Rb1 Qd4 29. Qg1 Qxg1+ 30. Kxg1 Ra5 31. Rxb2 Rb8 32. Rc2 Ne5 33. h3
Ra6 34. Nc8 Rxa4 35. Nxd6 Ra1+ 36. Kh2 Rab1 37. Nc4 Nd3 38. Rd2 R8b3 39. Ra2
Rc1 40. Ra8+ Kh7 41. Nf6+ Kg6 42. Ng4 Kh7 43. Nf6+ Kg6 44. Ng4 Kh7 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2015.09.17"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Andreikin, Dmitry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2720"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[EventDate "2015.09.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. Qc2 h6 7. Bh4 Be7 8. e3
O-O 9. Bd3 c5 10. Nge2 Nc6 11. O-O g5 12. Bg3 c4 13. Bf5 Nb4 14. Qb1 Bxf5 15.
Qxf5 Qc8 16. Qb1 Qc6 17. Nc1 Qe6 18. a3 Nc6 19. b3 cxb3 20. Nxb3 b6 21. Qd3 Ne4
1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2015.09.18"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Andreikin, Dmitry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D78"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2720"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2015.09.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 Nf6 5. c4 c6 6. Qb3 O-O 7. Nc3 Qb6 8. O-O
Be6 9. Na4 Qxb3 10. axb3 Nbd7 11. Nc3 h6 12. Ne5 Nb6 13. c5 Nbd7 14. f4 a6 15.
b4 Bf5 16. h3 h5 17. Be3 Rab8 18. Rfd1 Ne8 19. Bf2 Ndf6 20. b5 axb5 21. Ra7 Bh6
22. Na2 Ng7 23. Nb4 Rfc8 24. Rda1 g5 25. e3 Be6 26. Nbxc6 Rxc6 27. Nxc6 bxc6
28. Rxe7 Nd7 29. Ra7 Rd8 30. Be1 gxf4 31. gxf4 Nf5 32. Ba5 Rc8 33. Rexd7 Bxd7
34. Rxd7 Nxe3 35. Bf3 Nf5 36. Bxh5 Bxf4 37. Bxf7+ Kh8 38. Bd8 Be3+ 39. Kg2 Bxd4
40. b4 Ne3+ 41. Kf3 Nc2 42. Kg4 Nxb4 43. Kf5 Nd3 44. Be7 Ra8 45. Be6 Ra1 46.
Bxd5 Rf1+ 47. Ke4 Bxc5 48. Kxd3 Bxe7 49. Bxc6 Rd1+ 50. Kc2 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2015.09.19"]
[Round "3.3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Andreikin, Dmitry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A09"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2720"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "2015.09.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. c4 d4 4. b4 Bg7 5. d3 e5 6. Nbd2 Ne7 7. Bg2 O-O 8. O-O h6
9. a4 a5 10. b5 c5 11. bxc6 Nexc6 12. Ba3 Nb4 13. Ne1 N8a6 14. Nc2 Re8 15. Bxb4
axb4 16. Nb3 Ra7 17. Qd2 Qe7 18. a5 Bf5 19. e3 dxe3 20. Nxe3 Be6 21. Nd5 Qg5
22. Qe3 Qxe3 23. fxe3 e4 24. Rad1 exd3 25. Rxd3 Kh8 26. Rfd1 Be5 27. Nb6 Bc7
28. Bd5 Kg7 29. Bxe6 Rxe6 30. Nd4 Rd6 31. Nc8 Ra8 32. Nxd6 Bxd6 33. Ne6+ fxe6
34. Rxd6 Nc5 35. Rb6 Rxa5 36. Rxb4 Ra2 37. Rb5 Ne4 38. Rxb7+ Kf6 39. Rf1+ Ke5
40. Rb5+ Kd6 41. Rb6+ Ke5 42. Rb5+ Kd6 43. Rd1+ Ke7 44. Rb7+ Kf6 45. Rb8 Kg5
46. Rf8 Re2 47. Rc1 Nc5 48. Ra1 e5 49. Re8 Nd3 50. c5 Kg4 51. Rd1 e4 52. Rxe4+
Kf3 53. Rf4+ Nxf4 54. Rf1+ Kxe3 55. Rxf4 Rc2 56. Rf6 g5 57. Rxh6 g4 58. Re6+
Kf3 59. Rf6+ Ke3 60. Re6+ Kf3 61. Rf6+ Ke3 62. h3 gxh3 63. Kh1 Rxc5 64. Kh2 Rh5
65. g4 Rh4 66. g5 Rg4 67. g6 Ke4 68. Kxh3 Rg1 69. Kh4 Ke5 70. Ra6 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2015.09.19"]
[Round "3.4"]
[White "Andreikin, Dmitry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2720"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2015.09.11"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. Qe2 Qe7 7. Nc3 Qe6
8. a3 a5 9. Bf4 Bc5 10. O-O-O O-O 11. Bxc7 Re8 12. e5 Ng4 13. Ne4 Ba7 14. Kb1
d5 15. exd6 Qxe4 16. Qxe4 Rxe4 17. f3 Nf2 18. fxe4 Nxd1 19. Ba6 Bxa6 20. Rxd1
Bc5 21. a4 Be2 22. Rd2 Bf1 23. g3 f6 24. d7 Be7 25. d8=Q+ Bxd8 26. Rxd8+ Rxd8
27. Bxd8 Kf7 28. Bxa5 Ke6 29. Bb6 Ke5 30. b3 Kxe4 31. c4 Kd3 32. a5 Bh3 33. a6
Bc8 34. a7 Bb7 35. Kb2 f5 36. Ka3 g5 37. Kb4 f4 38. gxf4 gxf4 39. Bg1 Ba8 40.
Kc5 Kc3 41. b4 f3 42. b5 cxb5 43. cxb5 Kb3 44. b6 Ka4 45. Kd6 Kb5 46. Kc7 1-0

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Guliyev, Namig"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2579"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2015.10.10"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nf5 8.
Nf3 d5 9. d4 O-O 10. c3 Bd6 11. Nbd2 Re8 12. Rxe8+ Qxe8 13. Bd3 f6 14. Nf1 b6
15. Ng3 Nce7 16. Bd2 Qf7 17. Qc2 g6 18. Re1 Bd7 19. Qc1 Re8 20. Bf4 g5 21. Bxd6
Nxd6 22. h4 h6 23. hxg5 hxg5 24. Nh2 Nef5 25. Nxf5 Bxf5 26. Bxf5 Nxf5 27. Ng4
Kg7 28. Qd1 Re6 29. g3 Qe7 30. Rxe6 Qxe6 31. Qf3 Kg6 32. Qd3 Qe4 33. Qxe4 dxe4
34. Kg2 Nd6 35. Ne3 f5 36. Nd5 c5 37. dxc5 bxc5 38. b4 cxb4 39. cxb4 Kf7 40. f4
gxf4 41. gxf4 Nb5 42. Kf2 Ke6 43. Ne3 Nc3 44. a3 Nd5 45. Ng2 Kd6 46. Nh4 Ne7
47. Ke2 Kd5 48. Ke3 Kc4 49. Nxf5 Nxf5+ 50. Kxe4 Ne7 51. f5 Ng8 52. Ke5 Kb3 53.
Kd6 Kxa3 54. b5 Kb4 55. Kc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.10"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ghaem Maghami, Ehsan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A05"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2596"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2015.10.10"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 b5 3. Bg2 Bb7 4. O-O c5 5. d3 g6 6. e4 d6 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4
a6 9. Re1 e5 10. Nb3 Bg7 11. a4 b4 12. a5 O-O 13. Ra4 Bc6 14. Rxb4 Bb5 15. c4
Nc6 16. cxb5 Nxb4 17. b6 Nc6 18. Nc3 Rc8 19. Bf1 Nb4 20. Bg5 Qd7 21. Nd2 Rc5
22. Be3 Rxa5 23. Nb3 Ra4 24. Nd2 Ra5 25. Nc4 Rc5 26. Bxc5 dxc5 27. Qxd7 Nxd7
28. Rd1 Nb8 29. Na4 Bf6 30. Nxc5 Rd8 31. Rxd8+ Bxd8 32. Bh3 f6 33. f4 exf4 34.
gxf4 Kf7 35. Nd6+ Ke7 36. Nc8+ Ke8 37. Kf2 Be7 38. Na4 Kd8 39. Ke3 Bf8 40. Be6
Nd7 41. b7 Nb8 42. Ncb6 Kc7 43. Bc8 Bd6 44. Nc4 Nc2+ 45. Kd2 Nd4 46. Kd3 Ndc6
47. Nab6 Nb4+ 48. Kc3 Bc5 49. Na4 Bf8 50. e5 fxe5 51. fxe5 Nd5+ 52. Kd4 Ne7 53.
Nab6 Kc6 54. Ke4 Bh6 55. e6 Bg7 56. Nd7 Kc7 57. Nxb8 Kxb8 58. Nb6 Kc7 59. Nd7
1-0

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.10"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Malakhov, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2694"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "2015.10.10"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nbd2 Be6 7. Nb3 Bb6 8.
O-O Nd7 9. h3 f6 10. d4 O-O 11. dxe5 Nxe5 12. Nxe5 Qxd1 13. Rxd1 fxe5 14. Be3
Bxe3 15. fxe3 b6 16. Nc1 Rfe8 17. Nd3 c5 18. a3 a5 19. Rd2 Bc8 20. Nf2 Bb7 21.
Rad1 Bc6 22. Rd3 Kf7 23. c4 a4 24. R1d2 Ke6 25. Nd1 Bxe4 26. Rd7 Re7 27. Rxe7+
Kxe7 28. Nc3 Bc6 29. e4 Rf8 30. g3 Rf6 31. Kg2 Rd6 32. Rxd6 cxd6 33. h4 Kf6 34.
Kf3 h5 35. Ke3 g5 36. Kd3 gxh4 37. gxh4 Ke7 38. Kc2 Kd8 39. b3 axb3+ 40. Kxb3
Kc7 41. a4 Bd7 42. Nb5+ Kc6 43. Na7+ Kb7 44. Nb5 Ka6 45. Nxd6 Bc6 46. Kc3 Ka5
47. Kd3 Kxa4 48. Nf7 Kb3 49. Nxe5 Be8 50. Nf3 Kb4 51. Ne5 Kb3 52. Nf3 Bf7 53.
Nd2+ Kb4 54. e5 Be6 55. Kc2 Bg4 56. Kd3 Bf5+ 57. Ne4 b5 58. cxb5 Kxb5 59. Ke3
Bxe4 60. Kxe4 Kc6 61. Kf5 Kd7 62. e6+ Ke7 63. Ke5 c4 64. Kd4 Kxe6 65. Kxc4 Kf5
66. Kd4 Kg4 67. Ke3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.10"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ganguly, Surya Shekhar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2652"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2015.10.10"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 d5 4. Bd3 Bd6 5. Nbd2 c5 6. dxc5 Bxc5 7. a3 a5 8. b3
O-O 9. Bb2 Nc6 10. O-O b6 11. c4 Bb7 12. cxd5 exd5 13. Qc2 h6 14. Rad1 Qe7 15.
Qc1 Ne4 16. Rfe1 f5 17. Qa1 Rad8 18. Nf1 f4 19. Bxe4 dxe4 20. exf4 Rxf4 21.
Rxd8+ Qxd8 22. Qc1 Bxf2+ 23. Kxf2 Qh4+ 24. g3 Rxf3+ 25. Kg1 Qh5 26. Qc4+ Qf7
27. Qxf7+ Kxf7 28. Nd2 Rd3 29. Nxe4 Ne7 30. Nc3 Nf5 31. Rd1 Rxd1+ 32. Nxd1 h5
33. Kf2 g6 34. Be5 Bd5 35. b4 axb4 36. axb4 Ke6 37. Bc7 b5 38. Nc3 Bc6 39. h3
Be8 40. Kf3 g5 41. g4 Bc6+ 42. Kf2 hxg4 43. hxg4 Ne7 44. Ne2 Bd7 45. Bd8 Nc6
1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.10"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ivanisevic, Ivan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2653"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2015.10.10"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Qf3 Bg6 8.
Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Qxf6 gxf6 10. Nf3 Nd7 11. Nh4 Be7 12. g3 Nb6 13. Kd2 Nc8 14. Bd3
Nd6 15. b3 O-O-O 16. f3 Rhe8 17. Rac1 Kb8 18. Ne2 Nc8 19. Nf4 Bb4+ 20. Ke2 Nd6
21. g4 Re7 22. a4 Rde8 23. Nhg2 Nc8 24. Rc2 Bd6 25. Nh5 Bxh5 26. gxh5 h6 27.
Kf2 Bb4 28. Re2 Nd6 29. Rc1 f5 30. f4 Ne4+ 31. Bxe4 fxe4 32. Nh4 Re6 33. Rec2
Rf6 34. Rg1 b6 35. Ke2 c5 36. Rd1 Rd8 37. a5 Kb7 38. axb6 axb6 39. Ra2 Bc3 40.
dxc5 bxc5 41. Rc2 Bb4 42. Ra2 d4 43. Rda1 d3+ 44. Kf2 Rdd6 45. Ra7+ Kc6 46. Re7
Rde6 47. Rea7 Kb5 48. Rb7+ Rb6 49. Rba7 Bc3 50. Rb1 Ra6 51. Rb7+ Kc6 52. Re7
Ra2+ 53. Kg3 d2 0-1

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.11"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Meier, Georg"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2654"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2015.10.10"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 Bg4 6. c3 Qb6 7. dxc5 Qxc5 8.
Qb3 Qb6 9. Qxb6 axb6 10. Bb5 Bxf3 11. Nxf3 Nd7 12. Ke2 e6 13. Rhd1 Be7 14. c4
dxc4 15. Nd4 Bf6 16. Nxc6 bxc6 17. Bxc6 O-O-O 18. Bb5 Nc5 19. Bxc4 Kb7 20. Rxd8
Rxd8 21. Rb1 Ne4 22. Bd3 Nxf2 23. Bxh7 Ng4 24. Be4+ Ka6 25. h3 Ne5 26. Rc1 g5
27. Bg3 Bh8 28. Rc7 b5 29. b4 f5 30. Re7 fxe4 31. Rxe6+ Nc6 32. Rxc6+ Kb7 33.
Rc5 Ka6 34. Be5 1-0

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.11"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kryvoruchko, Yuriy"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2015.10.10"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O a6 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. Bb3
Be6 9. Re1 h6 10. Nf1 Bxb3 11. axb3 d5 12. Qe2 Ng4 13. d4 exd4 14. Nxd4 Qh4 15.
h3 Nf6 16. Nxc6 bxc6 17. e5 Rfe8 18. Ra4 Ne4 19. Be3 Bxe3 20. Qxe3 Qe7 21. Nd2
Nxd2 22. Qxd2 a5 23. f4 Qe6 24. Qd4 Qf5 25. Qd1 f6 26. g4 Qd7 27. exf6 Rxe1+
28. Qxe1 gxf6 29. Qf2 Qe7 30. b4 Qe4 31. Rxa5 Re8 32. Ra1 Qd3 33. Re1 Re4 34.
Kg2 Kf7 35. f5 h5 36. gxh5 Rxe1 37. Qxe1 Qxf5 38. Qe2 Qe4+ 39. Kf2 f5 40. h6
Kg6 41. h7 Kxh7 42. Qh5+ Kg7 43. Qg5+ Kf7 44. Qh6 f4 45. Qxc6 Qe3+ 46. Kf1
Qxh3+ 47. Kf2 Qe3+ 48. Kf1 Qe5 49. Kf2 Ke7 50. b5 d4 51. cxd4 Qxd4+ 52. Kf3
Qe3+ 53. Kg4 Qe6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.11"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dubov, Daniil"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2661"]
[Annotator "Schulz,Andre"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2015.10.10"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 Nf6 3. e3 c6 4. c4 e6 5. Nc3 Bd6 6. Bxd6 Qxd6 7. Nf3 O-O 8. Qc2
Nbd7 9. Rd1 b6 10. Be2 Bb7 11. O-O Qe7 12. e4 dxe4 13. Nxe4 c5 14. Nc3 cxd4 15.
Nxd4 Rfd8 16. Rd2 Nc5 17. Bf3 Bxf3 18. Nxf3 Rxd2 19. Qxd2 Rd8 20. Qe2 Nd3 21.
Rd1 Nf4 22. Qf1 h6 23. g3 Ng6 24. Qe2 Rxd1+ 25. Qxd1 Qb4 26. Qe2 Ne7 27. a3 Qc5
28. b4 Qc8 29. Qd3 Nc6 30. Nb5 e5 31. Nd2 a5 {[#] Wie soll man den b4 decken?}
32. c5 {Gar nicht!} axb4 33. cxb6 Qa6 {[#] Das Spiel steht objektiv vielleicht
gleich. Aber mit dem Freibauern hat Weiß doch etwas einfacheres Spiel.} 34.
Qc4 Qxb6 35. axb4 Nd8 36. Nc3 Ne6 37. b5 Nd4 38. Qc8+ Kh7 39. Nc4 Qa7 40. Kg2 (
40. b6 Qa1+ 41. Kg2 Qxc3 $19 {musste beachtet werden.}) 40... e4 $2 {Nun rennt
der weiße Bauer einfach durch.} (40... Nd7 $14) 41. b6 Qa1 42. b7 Nf3 {
Droht Matt, doch im Hinblick auf die kommende zweite Dame kann das leicht
abgewehrt werden.} 43. Nxe4 Qg1+ 44. Kxf3 Qh1+ 45. Ke2 Qxe4+ {[#]} 46. Ne3 {
Der Springer ist der beste Freund des Königs.} 1-0

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.11"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kovalenko, Igor"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2700"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2015.10.10"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8.
cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Bc4 Nd7 12. O-O b6 13. Rfe1 Bb7 14.
Rad1 Rc8 15. Bb3 h6 16. Qf4 Qc7 17. Qh4 Rfd8 18. h3 b5 19. d5 exd5 20. e5 Re8
21. Qh5 a5 22. Rd4 a4 23. Bd1 Re6 24. Rf4 Nc5 25. Be2 Ne4 26. Bxb5 a3 27. Ba4
Rf8 28. Bb3 Qc5 29. Nh4 Qc3 30. Rexe4 dxe4 31. Rxf7 Rxf7 32. Bxe6 Qc1+ 33. Kh2
Qf4+ 34. Kh1 Bc8 35. Bb3 Qxf2 36. Ng6 Kh7 37. Nh4 Qf1+ 38. Kh2 Qf4+ 39. Kh1 Rf8
40. Qg6+ Kh8 41. Qd6 Qf1+ 42. Kh2 Qf4+ 43. Kh1 Qf1+ 44. Kh2 Qf4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.11"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Riazantsev, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2646"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "2015.10.10"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 b6 4. Bd3 Bb7 5. O-O d5 6. Nbd2 Be7 7. Qe2 O-O 8. b3
Nbd7 9. Bb2 c5 10. c4 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Nc5 12. Bc2 dxc4 13. Nxc4 Qd5 14. f3 Ba6
15. e4 Qb7 16. b4 e5 17. Nf5 Ne6 18. Bxe5 Bxb4 19. Kh1 Nd7 20. Bb2 Qc7 21. Bb3
Ndc5 22. Rfc1 Rfd8 23. Rc2 Bb5 24. Be5 Bxc4 25. Bxc7 Bxe2 26. Bxd8 Nxb3 27.
axb3 Bd3 28. Rca2 Rxd8 29. Rxa7 h5 30. h4 Bb5 31. Ra8 Rxa8 32. Rxa8+ Kh7 33.
Rb8 Bc5 34. b4 Bf2 35. g3 Bf1 36. Rb7 Kg6 37. Rd7 b5 38. Rd2 Ba7 39. Kh2 Bc4
40. Kg2 Bb8 41. f4 Ba7 42. Nd6 Kh7 43. Nxc4 bxc4 44. Rc2 g6 45. Rxc4 Kg7 46. e5
Kf8 47. Kf3 Ke7 48. Ke4 Kd7 49. f5 gxf5+ 50. Kxf5 Bf2 51. g4 hxg4 52. Rxg4 Ke7
53. h5 Be3 54. Ke4 Bd2 55. b5 Nc5+ 56. Kd5 Nd7 57. Re4 f5 58. Re2 Bh6 59. e6
Nf6+ 60. Kc6 Ne4 61. b6 Kxe6 62. Rg2 Kf7 63. b7 Bf4 64. h6 Ng3 65. Rd2 Ne4 66.
Rd7+ Kg8 67. Rc7 1-0

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.12"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2705"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2015.10.10"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. Qe2 Bc5 7. g3 O-O 8.
Bg2 d5 9. Nc3 a5 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 12. Qf3 Qxf3 13. Bxf3 dxe4 14. Nxe4
Bb6 15. O-O Bf5 16. Rad1 Rad8 17. Kg2 Rfe8 18. Rfe1 Kf8 19. Rxd8 Rxd8 20. Re2
Be6 21. b3 a4 22. Nc3 axb3 23. cxb3 c5 24. Na4 c4 25. bxc4 Bxc4 26. Rc2 Rd4 27.
Nxb6 cxb6 28. Be2 Bd5+ 29. Bf3 Be6 30. Rb2 Rd6 31. a4 g5 32. Rb4 f5 33. h4 Kg7
34. hxg5 hxg5 35. g4 fxg4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.12"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Zhigalko, Sergei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2656"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2015.10.10"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 e6 3. e3 d5 4. Nd2 c5 5. Ngf3 Nc6 6. c3 Bd6 7. Bg3 O-O 8. Bd3
b6 9. e4 Be7 10. e5 Nh5 11. a3 a5 12. Qe2 c4 13. Bc2 b5 14. Ng5 Bxg5 15. Qxh5
g6 16. Qe2 f5 17. exf6 Qxf6 18. h4 Bf4 19. Bxf4 Qxf4 20. g3 Qf6 21. f4 Ra7 22.
Nf3 h6 23. Ne5 Nxe5 24. dxe5 Qg7 25. Qg4 Rd8 26. O-O-O b4 27. Qxg6 Qxg6 28.
Bxg6 Rg7 29. h5 Bd7 30. f5 Ba4 31. Rdf1 bxa3 32. bxa3 exf5 33. Rxf5 Be8 34. Rf6
Bxg6 35. hxg6 Re8 36. Rd6 Rge7 37. Rxd5 Rxe5 38. Rxe5 Rxe5 39. Rxh6 Re3 40. Kd2
Rd3+ 41. Kc2 Rxg3 42. Rh4 Rg2+ 43. Kc1 Rg1+ 44. Kd2 Ra1 45. Rxc4 Rxa3 46. Kc2
a4 47. Rb4 Ra2+ 48. Kb1 Rg2 49. Rxa4 Rxg6 50. Rf4 Rg2 51. c4 Kg7 52. c5 Rg5 53.
Rc4 Kf6 54. Kc2 Ke6 55. c6 Rg8 56. Kc3 Kd6 57. Kb4 Rb8+ 58. Ka5 Kc7 59. Rc2
1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.12"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D53"]
[WhiteElo "2726"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2015.10.10"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Bxe7 Qxe7
8. Rc1 Nxc3 9. Rxc3 c6 10. g3 O-O 11. Bg2 e5 12. O-O e4 13. Nd2 f5 14. Qb3+ Kh8
15. Qa3 Qd8 16. Nc4 Nf6 17. Nb6 Rb8 18. Qxa7 Be6 19. e3 g5 20. Rfc1 f4 21. b4
Nd5 22. Nxd5 Bxd5 23. b5 Ra8 24. Qc5 Rxa2 25. bxc6 fxe3 26. fxe3 bxc6 27. R3c2
Ra5 28. Qc3 Qa8 29. Rf1 Rxf1+ 30. Bxf1 Ra3 31. Qe1 Kg7 32. Qb4 Qf8 33. Qxf8+
Kxf8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.12"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2850"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "31"]
[EventDate "2015.10.10"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nf5 8.
c3 Nxe5 9. Rxe5 d6 10. Re1 O-O 11. d4 d5 12. Bf4 Bd6 13. Qf3 Nh4 14. Qg3 Nf5
15. Qf3 Nh4 16. Qg3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Rapid"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.12"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bocharov, Dmitry"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2560"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2015.10.10"]
[EventType "swiss (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 Be7 5. dxc5 Bxc5 6. c4 O-O 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. a3
b6 9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O Be7 11. h3 Rc8 12. Rc1 d6 13. b4 Qd7 14. Qb3 Rfd8 15.
Rfd1 Qe8 16. Nb5 Qf8 17. Nfd4 a6 18. Nc3 Nb8 19. Bf3 Bxf3 20. Nxf3 Rd7 21. e4
Qe8 22. Na4 Qd8 23. Be3 b5 24. Nb6 bxc4 25. Qb1 d5 26. exd5 Nxd5 27. Nxc8 Qxc8
28. Bd4 Bf6 29. Bxf6 gxf6 30. Rd4 c3 31. Qe4 Nc6 32. Rd3 Nce7 33. Nd4 f5 34.
Qe1 Qc4 35. Rg3+ Ng6 36. Nxf5 c2 37. Ne3 Nxe3 38. Rxe3 Nf4 39. Re4 Qb3 40. Re3
Rd3 41. Kh2 Rxe3 42. Qxe3 Nd3 43. Qg5+ Kf8 44. Qd8+ Kg7 45. Qg5+ Kf8 46. Rf1
Qc3 47. Qd8+ Kg7 48. Qg5+ Kf8 49. Qd8+ Kg7 50. Qg5+ Kf8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 9th"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Rasmussen, Allan Stig"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2498"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2015.10.13"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 e6 6. c3 Bd6 7. Bg3 O-O 8. Bd3
Qe7 9. Ne5 Bxe5 10. dxe5 Nd7 11. f4 f6 12. Bh4 Qf7 13. exf6 Nxf6 14. O-O e5 15.
Bxf6 gxf6 16. e4 Kh8 17. exd5 Qxd5 18. Be4 Qd6 19. Nc4 Qe7 20. Qh5 exf4 21.
Rxf4 Ne5 22. Nxe5 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 9th"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Bachmann, Axel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E01"]
[WhiteElo "2593"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2015.10.13"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Bd6 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Bg5 c6 8. Bg2
h6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. O-O Bc7 11. Qb3 Nd7 12. e4 dxc4 13. Qxc4 e5 14. Nd5 Qe6 15.
Ne3 Qxc4 16. Nxc4 exd4 17. Nxd4 Rd8 18. Rfd1 Nb6 19. Ne3 Na4 20. Rab1 Bb6 21.
Nec2 Bg4 22. Rd2 Rd7 23. h3 Be6 24. a3 Rad8 25. Nxe6 Rxd2 26. Nxd8 Bxf2+ 27.
Kh2 Rxd8 28. b4 Rd3 29. g4 Bg3+ 30. Kg1 Rd2 31. Ne1 Nc3 32. Ra1 Re2 33. Nd3 Re3
34. Nc5 b6 35. Na6 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 9th"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.13"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anton Guijarro, David"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2634"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2015.10.13"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 b6 3. Bg5 e6 4. e4 h6 5. Bxf6 Qxf6 6. c3 Bb7 7. Nbd2 d6 8.
Bb5+ c6 9. Bd3 Nd7 10. O-O Qd8 11. Qe2 a6 12. Rad1 Be7 13. e5 d5 14. Ne1 c5 15.
f4 g6 16. c4 cxd4 17. cxd5 Bxd5 18. Ne4 Nc5 19. b3 O-O 20. Nf3 Rc8 21. Kh1 Nxe4
22. Bxe4 Bxe4 23. Qxe4 Qc7 24. Nxd4 Kg7 25. Rd3 Bc5 26. Nf3 Rfd8 27. Rfd1 a5
28. h4 Rxd3 29. Qxd3 Be7 30. Qd7 Qc5 31. Qb7 Rd8 32. Rxd8 Bxd8 33. Kh2 Qe3 34.
g3 Qf2+ 35. Kh3 b5 36. h5 gxh5 37. f5 Qf1+ 38. Kh2 Qe2+ 39. Kh3 Qf1+ 40. Kh2
Qf2+ 41. Kh3 Qf1+ 42. Kh2 Qf2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 9th"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.13"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dubov, Daniil"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A05"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2661"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2015.10.13"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. b3 Bg7 4. Bb2 O-O 5. Bg2 c5 6. c4 Nc6 7. O-O d5 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. Bxg7 Kxg7 10. d4 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Qb6 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Qc1 Qd4 14. Qxc6
Be6 15. Na3 Rac8 16. Qa6 Nc3 17. Kh1 Ne4 18. Kg1 Nc3 19. Nc2 Qd2 20. Ne3 Nxe2+
21. Kh1 Nc1 22. Nc4 Bxc4 23. bxc4 Nd3 24. Qxa7 Rxc4 25. Rad1 Qe2 26. Qe3 Qxe3
27. fxe3 Nb4 28. Rd2 Rfc8 29. a4 R8c7 30. a5 R4c5 31. Rd4 Nc2 32. Rdf4 Rxa5 33.
Rxf7+ Kh6 34. Bf3 Nxe3 35. Re1 Nf5 36. Bg2 Ra2 37. g4 Rcc2 38. Rg1 Nh4 39. g5+
Kxg5 40. Be4+ Kh6 41. Bxc2 Rxc2 42. Rxe7 Nf3 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 9th"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.13"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Volokitin, Andrei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2639"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2015.10.13"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Nbd2 a6 7. Bb3 O-O 8. O-O
Be6 9. Re1 h6 10. Nf1 Bxb3 11. Qxb3 Re8 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Nxe3 Qd7 14. Rad1 b5
15. h3 Ne7 16. Nh2 c5 17. Nhg4 Nxg4 18. hxg4 Qe6 19. Qxe6 fxe6 20. a4 d5 21.
Ra1 d4 22. Nf1 Nc6 23. Nd2 dxc3 24. bxc3 Red8 25. Nb3 b4 26. Nxc5 bxc3 27. Rac1
Nd4 28. Rxc3 Rdc8 29. Kh2 Rc6 30. Rc4 Rb8 31. Nd7 Rb2 32. Kg3 Rxc4 33. dxc4 Nc6
34. Rd1 Rb4 35. c5 Rd4 36. Rxd4 exd4 37. f4 Kf7 38. Kf3 Ke7 39. Nb6 Na5 40. e5
d3 41. Ke3 d2 42. Kxd2 Nb3+ 43. Kc3 Nxc5 44. Kd4 Nb7 45. Nc4 Kd7 46. f5 Kc6 47.
f6 gxf6 48. exf6 Kd7 49. Ke5 Nc5 50. Nb6+ Ke8 51. Kd6 Ne4+ 52. Kxe6 Nc5+ 53.
Kf5 Kf7 54. a5 Nb3 55. Nc4 Nd4+ 56. Ke5 Nc6+ 57. Kd6 Nb4 58. Ke5 Nc6+ 59. Kf5
Nd4+ 60. Ke4 Nc6 61. Ne5+ 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 9th"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.13"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Lagarde, Maxime"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2550"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2015.10.13"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nf5 8.
c3 Nxe5 9. Rxe5 d6 10. Re1 O-O 11. d4 c6 12. Nd2 d5 13. Nf3 Bd6 14. Qc2 g6 15.
Bg5 f6 16. Bd2 Bd7 17. h3 Qc7 18. Bd3 Rae8 19. Rxe8 Rxe8 20. Re1 Qd8 21. Qc1 b6
22. Bf4 Rxe1+ 23. Nxe1 Bf8 24. Nf3 c5 25. Qe1 c4 26. Bf1 b5 27. g4 Ng7 28. Bg2
Ne6 29. Bg3 Bc8 30. Nd2 Kf7 31. Nf1 a5 32. Ne3 Bb7 33. f4 Qd7 34. Qf2 b4 35. f5
Ng5 36. h4 Ne4 37. Bxe4 dxe4 38. fxg6+ hxg6 39. Be5 Qe6 40. g5 b3 41. axb3 cxb3
42. Bxf6 Kg8 43. c4 a4 44. d5 Qh3 45. Qf4 Bc5 46. Qb8+ Bc8 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 9th"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.13"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Belov, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2614"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2015.10.13"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4 e6 4. e3 Bd6 5. Nbd2 c5 6. dxc5 Bxc5 7. Bd3 Nc6 8.
O-O O-O 9. c4 Be7 10. Rc1 h6 11. h3 Nb4 12. Bb1 dxc4 13. Nxc4 Bd7 14. Nd4 Nbd5
15. Bg3 Rc8 16. Qe2 Bc5 17. Nb3 Bb5 18. Rfd1 Qe7 19. Nxc5 Qxc5 20. b3 Qb4 21.
e4 Bxc4 22. bxc4 Nc3 23. Qe1 Rxc4 24. Bd6 Qb2 25. Rc2 Qa1 26. Bxf8 Kxf8 27.
Rdc1 Nfxe4 28. f3 Ng3 29. Kh2 Nge2 30. Rxe2 Nxe2 31. Rxc4 Qe5+ 32. f4 Qe3 33.
Re4 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 9th"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.13"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Riazantsev, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2646"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2015.10.13"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e3 cxd4 7. exd4 Nxc3 8.
bxc3 Qc7 9. Qc2 Nd7 10. Bd3 b6 11. O-O Bb7 12. Ng5 Bd6 13. h3 Bh2+ 14. Kh1 Bf4
15. Re1 Bxg5 16. Bxg5 h6 17. Bd2 Nf6 18. c4 O-O 19. a4 Rfd8 20. Be3 Rac8 21.
Rac1 Qc6 22. Bf1 Nd5 23. Bd2 Ne7 24. Be3 Nf5 25. d5 Rxd5 26. cxd5 Qxc2 27. Rxc2
Rxc2 28. dxe6 fxe6 29. Bd3 Nxe3 30. Rxe3 Rxf2 31. Rxe6 Rxg2 32. Re7 Bc6 33.
Bc4+ Kf8 34. Rc7 Be4 35. Rf7+ Ke8 36. Rf4 Rg4+ 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 9th"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.13"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Cheparinov, Ivan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2681"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2015.10.13"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 Qb6 6. dxc5 Qxc5 7. a3 Bf5 8.
c4 e6 9. b4 Qb6 10. c5 Qd8 11. Bb5 a6 12. Bxc6+ bxc6 13. Qa4 Qc8 14. Ne5 Nd7
15. Qxc6 f6 16. Qxc8+ Rxc8 17. Nxd7 Kxd7 18. Ke2 e5 19. Bg3 Be7 20. Nb3 Bc2 21.
Na5 Ba4 22. Rhc1 g5 23. Rc3 h5 24. f3 Ke6 25. Rac1 Rc7 26. Ke1 f5 27. Bf2 Rg8
28. c6 g4 29. f4 e4 30. Nb7 Rgc8 31. Nc5+ Bxc5 32. Rxc5 Rxc6 33. Bh4 Rxc5 34.
bxc5 Bb5 35. Kd2 Bc4 36. Rb1 Bb5 37. Rc1 Bc4 38. Rb1 Bb5 39. Rc1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 9th"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.13"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Zhigalko, Sergei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2656"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2015.10.13"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O d6 5. c3 Nf6 6. d3 a6 7. Bb3 h6 8. Nbd2
O-O 9. Re1 Be6 10. Nf1 Bxb3 11. Qxb3 Qd7 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Nxe3 Rfe8 14. Rad1 b5
15. h3 Ne7 16. Nh4 c5 17. Qc2 d5 18. Qe2 Rad8 19. Qf3 dxe4 20. dxe4 Qc6 21.
Nhf5 Nxf5 22. Nxf5 Rxd1 23. Qxd1 h5 24. Qf3 g6 25. Ne3 Rd8 26. c4 Rd4 27. Nd5
Kg7 28. cxb5 axb5 29. Nxf6 Qxf6 30. Qc3 Qd6 31. b3 b4 32. Qc1 Rd2 33. a4 bxa3
34. Qxa3 Qd4 35. Rf1 Rd3 36. Qa4 Qc3 37. Qc6 Rd4 38. f3 Rd2 39. Kh1 Qc2 40. Rg1
Qc3 41. Qc7 Rb2 42. Rd1 Rxb3 43. Kh2 Qb2 44. Rd7 Rxf3 45. Rd8 Rf2 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 9th"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.13"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Duda, Jan Krzysztof"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A47"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2658"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2015.10.13"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bf4 b6 4. e3 Bb7 5. Nbd2 Be7 6. h3 O-O 7. Bd3 c5 8. O-O
cxd4 9. exd4 d6 10. c3 Nbd7 11. Re1 a6 12. a4 Re8 13. Bh2 Nf8 14. Nc4 Ng6 15.
a5 b5 16. Nb6 Ra7 17. b3 Nd5 18. Nxd5 Bxd5 19. c4 bxc4 20. bxc4 Ba8 21. d5 Bf6
22. Ra3 exd5 23. Rxe8+ Qxe8 24. cxd5 Bxd5 25. Bxg6 Bxf3 26. Bxh7+ Kxh7 27. Rxf3
Re7 28. Qd3+ Kg8 29. Bf4 Qb5 30. Qxb5 axb5 31. Rb3 Ra7 32. Bd2 Bd4 33. Rxb5 Bc5
34. g4 f6 35. Kg2 Kf7 36. f4 Ke6 37. Kf3 Kd5 38. h4 Kc4 39. Rb1 Kd3 40. Be1 Re7
41. Rd1+ Kc4 42. Bd2 Rb7 43. g5 f5 44. h5 Rb3+ 45. Kg2 Rb2 46. h6 gxh6 47. gxh6
Kd3 48. h7 Bd4 49. a6 Ra2 50. Kf3 Kc4 51. Be3 Bh8 52. Rxd6 Kb5 53. Rd8 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 9th"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.14"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2850"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2015.10.13"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. c4 c6 4. Qa4 Nd7 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. Bg2 Bg7 7. Nc3 Ngf6 8.
O-O O-O 9. d4 b6 10. Bf4 Bb7 11. Rfc1 a6 12. Ne5 e6 13. Qb3 Rc8 14. e3 Qe7 15.
Bg5 Qd6 16. Bxf6 Nxf6 17. Na4 Rxc1+ 18. Rxc1 b5 19. Nc5 Rc8 20. Rc3 Qb6 21. a4
Bf8 22. Ned3 Bc6 23. Bf1 Rb8 24. Ne5 bxa4 25. Qxb6 Rxb6 26. Nxe6 Be8 27. Nxf8
Rxb2 28. Nxh7 Kxh7 29. Bxa6 Rxf2 30. Kxf2 Ne4+ 31. Ke2 Nxc3+ 32. Kd3 Ne4 33.
Bb7 Nf6 34. Kc3 Kg7 35. Kb4 Kf8 36. g4 g5 37. h3 Kg7 38. Bc6 Bxc6 39. Nxc6 Ne4
40. Ne7 Nf2 41. Nxd5 Nxh3 42. Nb6 Nf2 43. d5 Nxg4 44. d6 Kf6 45. Nxa4 Nxe3 46.
Kc5 Nf5 47. d7 Ke7 48. Kc6 Kd8 49. Nc5 Nd4+ 50. Kd6 Nb5+ 51. Ke5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 9th"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.14"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Ghaem Maghami, Ehsan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2596"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "2015.10.13"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e3 cxd4 7. exd4 Nxc3 8.
bxc3 Qc7 9. Bb5+ Nd7 10. O-O Bd6 11. d5 O-O 12. dxe6 fxe6 13. h3 Nf6 14. Re1 e5
15. Ba3 Bxa3 16. Qb3+ Kh8 17. Qxa3 Bd7 18. Rxe5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 9th"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.14"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2734"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2015.10.13"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 cxd4 5. exd4 Nc6 6. Nbd2 Bg4 7. c3 e6 8.
Qb3 Qb6 9. Qxb6 axb6 10. Bb5 Nd7 11. a4 Be7 12. h3 Bh5 13. O-O O-O 14. Rfe1
Rfc8 15. Re3 h6 16. Rae1 Bg6 17. Rc1 Bd8 18. Ree1 Bc7 19. Bxc7 Rxc7 20. Nf1 Be4
21. N3d2 Nf6 22. Ne3 Na7 23. Bf1 Bg6 24. c4 Rac8 25. Rc3 dxc4 26. Ndxc4 b5 27.
Nd6 Rxc3 28. bxc3 Rxc3 29. axb5 b6 30. Nec4 Rb3 31. Nxb6 Rb4 32. Ra1 Rxd4 33.
Nbc4 Nxb5 34. Nxb5 Rd8 35. Ne5 Be4 36. Ra7 Rd1 37. Nc3 Re1 38. f3 Bf5 39. Ra5
Rc1 40. Ne2 Rb1 41. Nd4 Bg6 42. Nxg6 fxg6 43. Nxe6 Nh5 44. Kf2 Rb2+ 45. Ke3 Ng3
46. Bc4 Nf5+ 47. Kd3 Kf7 48. Nd4+ Kf6 49. Nxf5 gxf5 50. g4 fxg4 51. hxg4 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 9th"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.14"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "2015.10.13"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 Bg4 4. O-O e6 5. h3 Bh5 6. d4 Nf6 7. c4 Nbd7 8. cxd5
exd5 9. Qb3 Qb6 10. Qe3+ Be7 11. Nh4 Bg6 12. Nc3 Kf8 13. Nxg6+ hxg6 14. Qd3 Re8
15. Rb1 Kg8 16. b4 a6 17. Re1 Nf8 18. e4 dxe4 19. Nxe4 Nxe4 20. Rxe4 Qd8 21.
Qe2 Rh5 22. Bf3 Rd5 23. Bb2 Rd6 24. Re1 Ne6 25. h4 Bf8 26. Qc4 Re7 27. Kg2 Nc7
28. Bc1 Rxe4 29. Rxe4 Re6 30. Rxe6 Nxe6 31. d5 cxd5 32. Bxd5 Qd7 33. a3 b5 34.
Qc6 Qxc6 35. Bxc6 Bd6 36. Bb7 Nc7 37. Be3 Kf8 38. Bb6 Ke7 39. Kf3 Kd7 40. Ke4
f5+ 41. Kd3 Be5 42. Kc2 Bf6 43. f4 Ne6 44. Bxa6 Kc6 45. Be3 Nd4+ 46. Kd3 Ne6
47. Bc8 Nc7 48. h5 gxh5 49. Bxf5 h4 50. Be4+ Kd7 51. g4 h3 52. g5 Bb2 53. Bf5+
Ke7 54. Bxh3 Bxa3 55. Bc5+ Kf7 56. Kc3 Nd5+ 57. Kb3 Bc1 58. f5 Bxg5 59. Bf1 Nc7
60. Bd6 Bd8 61. Be5 g6 62. fxg6+ Kxg6 63. Bxc7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 9th"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.14"]
[Round "16"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E60"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "2015.10.13"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. b3 Bg7 4. Bb2 c5 5. c4 O-O 6. Bg2 Nc6 7. O-O d6 8. d4
Nd7 9. Qd2 e5 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Rd1 h6 12. Nc3 f5 13. Nb5 Kh7 14. Qd6 a6 15.
Nc7 Rf6 16. Ne6 Qg8 17. Nfg5+ hxg5 18. Nxg5+ Kh8 19. Qc7 Qd8 20. Bxe5 Qxc7 21.
Bxc7 Rf8 22. Rac1 Nd4 23. Kf1 Be5 24. Bxe5+ Nxe5 25. e3 Ne6 26. Nxe6 Bxe6 27.
Rd6 Bc8 28. Rcd1 Kg7 29. R6d5 Nc6 30. Rxc5 Rf6 31. b4 Nxb4 32. Rc7+ Rf7 33.
Rxf7+ Kxf7 34. Rd8 Rb8 35. h4 Nc6 36. Bd5+ Be6 37. Rd7+ Kf6 38. Rd6 Nd8 39. Rb6
Rc8 40. Ke2 Rc7 41. Kd3 Nc6 42. f4 a5 43. a3 Rd7 44. e4 fxe4+ 45. Kxe4 Re7 46.
Kf3 Nd4+ 47. Kf2 Rc7 48. Rxb7 Rxb7 49. Bxb7 Bxc4 50. g4 a4 51. Ke3 Nc2+ 52. Kd2
Bb3 53. Be4 Nxa3 54. g5+ Kg7 55. f5 gxf5 56. Bxf5 Bf7 57. Kc3 Nb5+ 58. Kb4 a3
59. Bb1 Bg6 60. Ba2 Bf7 61. Kxb5 Bxa2 62. Ka4 Bf7 63. Kxa3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 9th"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.14"]
[Round "17"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D79"]
[WhiteElo "2762"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2015.10.13"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 Nf6 5. c4 c6 6. cxd5 cxd5 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Ne5
Bf5 9. O-O Ne4 10. Be3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Nc6 12. Nd3 Rc8 13. Nf4 e6 14. Rc1 Na5 15.
f3 Nc4 16. Bf2 g5 17. Nh5 Bh8 18. e4 Bg6 19. g4 Qa5 20. Qe2 h6 21. h4 Qd8 22.
hxg5 Bxh5 23. gxh5 Qxg5 24. f4 Qxf4 25. exd5 e5 26. Rcd1 Rfe8 27. Rde1 Bg7 28.
Qd3 Qd2 29. Qg3 Qg5 30. Qh3 exd4 31. Rxe8+ Rxe8 32. Qd7 Rd8 33. Qc7 Nd2 34. Rd1
dxc3 35. d6 Be5 36. Qxb7 c2 37. Re1 c1=Q 38. Rxc1 Nf3+ 39. Qxf3 Qxc1+ 40. Bf1
Rxd6 41. Be3 Qxe3+ 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz 9th"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.14"]
[Round "18"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D05"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2015.10.13"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 c5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. O-O d5 6. c3 Bd6 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. Qe2
e5 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. e4 h6 11. exd5 Nxd5 12. Ne4 Bb6 13. Ng3 Re8 14. Re1 Bg4 15.
h3 Be6 16. Bc2 Qc7 17. Qe4 Nf6 18. Qh4 Nh7 19. Bxh6 gxh6 20. Qxh6 f5 21. Nxf5
Bxf5 22. Bxf5 Qg7 23. Qh4 Rf8 24. Qe4 Ng5 25. Qc4+ Qf7 26. Qxf7+ Rxf7 27. Nxg5
Rxf5 28. Ne4 Rd8 29. Rad1 Rxd1 30. Rxd1 Rf4 31. Re1 Ne7 32. g3 Rf8 33. Kg2 Nd5
34. Re2 Nf6 35. Nd6 e4 36. b4 Rd8 37. Nxe4 Nxe4 38. Rxe4 Rd2 39. Rf4 Rxa2 40.
c4 a5 41. c5 Bc7 42. Rg4+ Kf7 43. bxa5 Rxa5 44. Rb4 Rxc5 45. Rxb7 Kg6 46. Rb2
Be5 47. Re2 Rb5 48. h4 Bd4 49. g4 Bf6 50. h5+ Kg5 51. Kg3 Rb3+ 52. f3 Kh6 53.
Re8 Kg7 54. Re4 Bg5 55. Re5 Bf6 56. Rf5 Rb4 57. g5 Be7 58. f4 Rd4 59. Kg4 Bd6
60. Rf6 Be7 61. h6+ Kg8 62. h7+ Kh8 63. Rf7 Ba3 64. g6 Rd6 65. Rf8+ 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 9th"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.14"]
[Round "19"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2774"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2015.10.13"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. b3 O-O 6. O-O b6 7. Bb2 Bb7 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. d4 Nd7 10. Re1 N5f6 11. Nc3 Bb4 12. Qc2 Bxc3 13. Qxc3 Be4 14. Red1 Qc8
15. Bf1 Nd5 16. Qe1 Bxf3 17. exf3 Qb7 18. Rac1 c6 19. f4 a5 20. a3 N7f6 21. Rc2
Rfd8 22. Rdc1 Rd6 23. Qe2 Ne7 24. Bg2 Nfd5 25. h4 Rad8 26. h5 Nf5 27. Rc4 h6
28. a4 Nb4 29. Qe4 Qd7 30. Bf3 Nxd4 31. Bxd4 Rxd4 32. Rxd4 Qxd4 33. Qxd4 Rxd4
34. Bxc6 Nxc6 35. Rxc6 Rb4 36. Rc8+ Kh7 37. Rc7 f5 38. Rc3 Kg8 39. Kf1 Kf7 40.
Ke2 b5 41. axb5 Rxb5 42. Rc7+ Kf6 43. Ra7 g5 44. hxg6 Kxg6 45. Ra6 Kf6 46. Kf1
1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz 9th"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.14"]
[Round "20"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vovk, Yuri"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A49"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2617"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2015.10.13"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O d6 6. b3 e5 7. dxe5 dxe5 8. Ba3
Qxd1 9. Rxd1 Re8 10. Nc3 a6 11. e4 Nc6 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. exd5 e4 14. dxc6 Bxa1
15. Ng5 Bg7 16. Bxe4 bxc6 17. Bxc6 Bg4 18. f3 Bf5 19. Bxa8 Rxa8 20. Ne4 a5 21.
Be7 a4 22. bxa4 Be6 23. a5 Bxa2 24. Rd8+ Rxd8 25. Bxd8 Bd4+ 26. Kg2 Bb1 27.
Bxc7 Bxc2 28. Bb6 Be5 29. a6 Bb8 30. Nf6+ Kg7 31. Nd7 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz 9th"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2015.10.14"]
[Round "21"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D63"]
[WhiteElo "2726"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "141"]
[EventDate "2015.10.13"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.10.29"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 Nbd7 8. Rc1
c5 9. dxc5 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Nxc5 11. O-O a6 12. Be2 b5 13. Ne5 Bb7 14. Bf3 Qxd1
15. Rfxd1 Bxf3 16. gxf3 Rfc8 17. b4 Nb7 18. a3 g5 19. Bg3 Bf8 20. Ne2 Rxc1 21.
Rxc1 a5 22. Nxf7 axb4 23. axb4 Nd5 24. Ne5 Bxb4 25. e4 Nf6 26. Rb1 Ra4 27. Nd3
Bf8 28. Rxb5 Nd8 29. Be5 Nd7 30. Bc3 Ra3 31. Kg2 Nf7 32. Rb1 Bg7 33. Bxg7 Kxg7
34. Rd1 Nde5 35. Nc5 Rxf3 36. Nxe6+ Kf6 37. Nc7 Rd3 38. Nd5+ Kg7 39. Rxd3 Nxd3
40. Nd4 Nd6 41. f3 Kg6 42. Kg3 h5 43. h3 h4+ 44. Kg2 Nc4 45. Ne2 Kg7 46. Nd4
Kg6 47. Kf1 Nce5 48. Ke2 Nc5 49. Ke3 Nc4+ 50. Ke2 Ne5 51. Nf5 Ne6 52. Ke3 Nc4+
53. Ke2 Ne5 54. Nfe7+ Kf7 55. Nf5 Kg6 56. Kf2 Nd3+ 57. Kg1 Ne1 58. Kf2 Nd3+ 59.
Kg1 Ne1 60. f4 gxf4 61. Nxh4+ Kg5 62. Nf5 Nc5 63. Nd6 f3 64. e5 f2+ 65. Kxf2
Ned3+ 66. Ke3 Nxe5 67. Kd4 Ned7 68. Ne4+ Nxe4 69. Kxe4 Nf6+ 70. Nxf6 Kxf6 71.
h4 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-Cup 31st"]
[Site "Skopje"]
[Date "2015.10.20"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2705"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2015.10.18"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "MKD"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Siberia"]
[BlackTeam "SHSM Legacy"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 d5 5. O-O O-O 6. c3 (6. b3 $6 c5 $1 {
(with reversed colours) has been seen in a number of games.} 7. c3 $6 Ne4 {
happened, e.g., in the following encounters:} 8. Bb2 Nc6 9. Nbd2 Qa5 10. Nxe4
dxe4 11. Nd2 (11. Ne5 $6 Nxe5 12. dxe5 Bf5 13. c4 Qc7 14. f4 exf3 15. Bxf3 Rad8
16. Qe1 b6 17. Qc3 Rd4 18. Kh1 Bxe5 $19 {0-1 (54) Doan,T (1994)-Dang,B (2228)
Da Lat 2014}) (11. Ne1 cxd4 12. cxd4 Rd8 (12... Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Rd8 14. Nc2 Bxd4
15. Nxd4 e5 16. Qb1 Rxd4 {1/2 (39) Petran,P (2311)-Saric,A (2565) Split 2013}
17. e3 Rd2 18. Qxe4 $11) 13. e3 e5 $36) 11... cxd4 12. cxd4 Nxd4 13. Nc4 Qc5
14. e3 (14. Bxe4 Bg4 $15 {0-1 (62) Alonso Alvarez,A-Sion Castro,M (2423)
Benasque 1999}) 14... Nc6 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. Bxe4 $11) 6... b6 {Black's attempt
to break the symmetry meets an unexpected response.} 7. c4 $5 c6 {There are
more logical moves:} (7... e6) (7... Bb7 {(after 6.b3 c5 White usually plays 7.
e3 or 7.Bb2 keeping an option to push c2-c4.}) 8. Ne5 Bb7 9. Nc3 Nbd7 10. Qa4
Nxe5 11. dxe5 Ne4 $6 {Ian Nepomniachtchi repeats the inaccuracy committed by
the Vietnamese player (see above with reversed colous).} (11... Nd7 $142) 12.
Nxe4 dxe4 13. Bf4 e3 {This "improvement" doesn't help him too much as his
b7-bishop finds itself encarcerated.} (13... c5 14. Qc2 {- see Doan-Dang above.
}) 14. Bxe3 Bxe5 $14 {[%csl Rb7]} 15. Rad1 (15. Rab1 {is more accurate. The
humble b2-pawn is important.}) 15... Qc7 16. c5 {[%csl Rb7][%mdl 32]} (16. b3
$5) (16. Rd2 $5 Rfd8 17. Rxd8+ Rxd8 18. Qxa7 Ra8 19. Qxb6 Qxb6 20. Bxb6 Bxb2
21. Bc5 $14) 16... Bxb2 17. Qb3 Bf6 18. cxb6 axb6 19. Bxb6 Qc8 20. Rc1 Qg4 21.
Rc2 Ra6 22. Bf3 Qa4 23. Qxa4 Rxa4 {White has an outside passed pawn but at the
moment it is rather weak so his advantage is not yet decisive.} 24. Rd1 (24.
Rb1 $1 {[%cal Yb6c5] looks stronger.}) 24... Ba8 $2 {Passivity is hopeless
here.} (24... Ra6 $142 $1 25. Be3 (25. Rb1 Bc8 $1 26. Bxc6 $140 Be6 27. a4 Rb8
28. a5 Rxa5) 25... Bc8 $1 {[%cal Yc8e6] activating the bishop, e.g.} 26. Rdd2
Bh3 $1 27. Rxc6 Rb8 28. Rc1 Be6 {with a probable draw.}) 25. Bc5 Rb8 26. a3 e5
27. e3 e4 28. Be2 Rb7 29. Rc4 Rxc4 30. Bxc4 Kg7 31. a4 {The pawn moves forward
and becomes White's main trump.} Be7 32. Bxe7 Rxe7 33. a5 f5 34. Rd8 Ra7 35. a6
Kf6 36. Re8 c5 37. Kf1 Kg7 38. Ke2 Bc6 39. Rc8 Bd7 40. Rg8+ Kh6 41. Rb8 Bc6 42.
Rb6 Ba8 43. Bb5 Rc7 44. Kd2 Rc8 45. Kc3 Kg5 46. h3 h5 47. Kc4 h4 48. Re6 hxg3
49. fxg3 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 31st"]
[Site "Skopje"]
[Date "2015.10.21"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2727"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2015.10.18"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "MKD"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Mednyi Vsadnik"]
[BlackTeam "Siberia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 dxc4 7. Ne5 Qd6 $5 {
Vladimir Kramnik employs the rather rare continuation. As usual, it was played
after deep home preparation and came as a real surprise for Peter.} ({The main
alternatives here are:} 7... c5) ({and} 7... Nc6) 8. Nxc4 {The most natural
reply.} ({The resulting position offers different interesting possibilities
for both sides. For instance, White could have opted for} 8. O-O $5 Rd8 9. Bg5
h6 (9... c5 $5) 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. Ne4 Qxd4 12. Nxf6+ gxf6 13. Nxc4 {with
sufficient compensation for a pawn.}) 8... Qa6 {A very concrete approach -
White has to waste a tempo on protecting the knight, while Black is ready to
put pressure on White's centre along the d-file.} 9. Qb3 {After this move
White is well prepared to meet the standard c7-c5 advance, but the
vulnerablity of the Pd4 offers Black more counterplay.} ({After} 9. Qa4 Rd8 10.
e3 c5 (10... Nd5 $6 11. Qxa6 Nxa6 12. O-O Rb8 13. Rd1 Nb6 14. Nxb6 axb6 15. e4
$14 {1/2 Gnusarev,P (2357)-Lutz,C (2596)/Mallorca 2004/CBM 104 (32)}) 11. dxc5
Nfd7 12. O-O Nxc5 13. Qxa6 Nbxa6 14. b3 Rb8 {Black should be able to solve the
problem of passive Bc8 and equalise.}) ({Black's idea is well illustrated in
the following line:} 9. b3 Rd8 10. O-O c5 11. a4 Bd7 ({After} 11... cxd4 12.
Nb5 Ne8 13. Ba3 Bxa3 14. Nbxa3 $44 {White gets full compensation.}) 12. dxc5
Bc6 13. Qc2 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 Bxc5 $11 {with comfortable equality.}) 9... Nc6 10.
e3 {The most natural way of protecting the pawn.} ({After} 10. Be3 Nd5 11. O-O
Nxe3 12. fxe3 Na5 13. Nxa5 Qxa5 $132 {White has some compensation for an
exposed pawn structure, but hardly more.}) 10... Rb8 {Obviously, this move is
aimed at solving the problem of the passive light-squared knight. The
vulnerable state of White's queen gives Black an additional tempo for the
fianchetto.} 11. Qb5 ({Black shouldn't face any problems in the event of} 11.
O-O b5 12. Nd2 Na5 13. Qc2 c5 14. dxc5 Bxc5 15. Nce4 Be7 $11 {- Vaulin,A (2515)
-Ivanovic,B (2470)/Podgorica 1993}) ({The consistent attempt to reduce Black's
q-side activity by means of} 11. a4 {is well met by} b5 $1 12. Nxb5 Bd7 13. O-O
(13. Rb1 Na5 14. Nxa5 Bxb5 15. axb5 Rxb5 16. Qc2 Bb4+ 17. Bd2 Bxd2+ 18. Qxd2
Rxa5 $11) 13... Nxd4 14. exd4 Bxb5 15. axb5 Qxa1 16. Ne5 Bd6 17. Nc6 Qa6 $1 (
17... Rb6 18. Bg5 Qa6 19. bxa6 Rxb3 20. Bxf6 gxf6 21. Nxa7 Rxb2 22. Ra1 c5) 18.
Nxb8 Rxb8 $11) 11... Qxb5 12. Nxb5 Nb4 $146 {A logical novelty - the Nc6 was
clearly misplaced, so Vladimir removes in order to free a way for the c-pawn.}
(12... Bd7 13. O-O Na5 14. Nxa5 Bxb5 15. Rd1 Nd5 16. Bd2 b6 17. Nb3 a5 $11 {
1/2 Pedersen,S (2390)-Wells,P (2485)/Budapest 1993/CBM 036 ext (42)}) ({
Another decent way of handling the position is:} 12... a6 $5 13. Nc3 (13. Nxc7
$2 b5 14. Ne5 Nxe5 15. dxe5 Ng4 $17 {[%csl Rc7]}) 13... b5 14. Bxc6 bxc4 15.
O-O Bb7 16. Bxb7 Rxb7 $11) 13. O-O Bd7 14. Nc3 Rfc8 $1 {Black reasonably
doesn't hurry with the c6-c5 advance.} ({After} 14... c5 15. dxc5 Bxc5 16. a3
Nbd5 17. Bd2 Rfc8 18. Rac1 $14 {White's position would be preferable.}) 15. a3
Nbd5 16. Bd2 c5 17. dxc5 Rxc5 18. Ne5 Be8 $11 {Black has successfully solved
all the opening problems.} 19. Nxd5 ({After} 19. Nd3 Rcc8 20. Nxd5 Nxd5 21.
Bxd5 exd5 22. Nf4 Bg5 $11 {White cannot put any pressure on the isolated pawn.}
) 19... Nxd5 20. Rfc1 Rxc1+ {Vladimir doesn't mind exchanging the rooks, since
White has no squares for penetration along the c-file.} ({There was nothing
wrong with} 20... Rcc8 $11) 21. Rxc1 Bf6 22. Nc4 {The knight is obliged to
leave the central square.} ({Quite risky from the strategic point of view is:} 
22. f4 Bxe5 23. fxe5 Bc6 $11) 22... Rd8 {The position is balanced now, but
White has to take care of the Pb2 now.} 23. b4 {The first step in a wrong
direction.} ({The safest way to equality was:} 23. e4 Nb6 24. Nxb6 axb6 25. Bc3
Bxc3 26. bxc3 e5 27. Bf1 Bc6 28. f3 Ra8 29. Ra1 $11) 23... b5 24. Na5 Nb6 {
Black's pieces are somewhat more active now, but White's position remains very
solid.} 25. Bc3 {A correct choice.} (25. Rc2 {was too passive:} Nc4 26. Bc1
Rd1+ 27. Bf1 a6 $15) 25... Rc8 ({Black achieves nothing after} 25... Bxc3 26.
Rxc3 Rd1+ 27. Bf1 Kf8 28. Kg2 $11) 26. Bc6 ({Obviously, Peter didn't like} 26.
Bd2 Bb2 27. Rxc8 Nxc8 {and the pawn is gone. However, it looks like after} 28.
Nc6 Bxa3 29. Bc3 f6 30. Kf1 Kf7 31. Ke2 $11) 26... Bxc6 27. Bxf6 Bd5 $1 {
The resulting position is almost symmetrical, but White is in definite danger,
since the Na5 is out of moves.} 28. Rxc8+ Nxc8 {[%csl Ra5]} 29. Bd4 f6 30. Bc5
{Black's knight is now restricted by the bishop, but the b6-square is still
vacant.} Kf7 31. Kf1 e5 ({It was worth considering} 31... g5 $5 {seizing more
space on the k-side and intending to occupy the weak light squares later on.})
32. Ke2 Ke6 33. f3 f5 34. h4 g6 35. Kf2 Nb6 36. g4 $6 {Inviting more troubles
- opening up the position would suit Black here.} ({A much safer move was} 36.
f4 Nc8 37. Ke2 a6 38. Kd2 Nd6 39. Bxd6 Kxd6 40. Kd3 h6 41. Kc3 Ke6 42. Kd3 Kf6
43. Kc3 $11) 36... fxg4 37. fxg4 h5 $1 {Vladimir immediately takes advantage
of White's inaccuracy - now Black's king gets much more space.} 38. Kg3 {
The best reply.} (38. gxh5 $6 {is worse:} gxh5 39. Ke2 Kf5 40. Kd3 Nc8 41. Bf8
a6 42. Bc5 Ba8 $17 {[%csl Rh4][%cal Gf5g4]}) 38... Na4 {Vladimir sacrifices a
pawn in order to keep the Na5 trapped. Well, this idea was fully justified in
the game, but it is not the best choice from an objective point of view.} ({
The more patient} 38... Kf6 $1 39. Kh3 {would force White to give up a pawn:} (
{Even worse is} 39. gxh5 gxh5 40. Bd6 Kf5 41. Bc7 Nd7 $17 {and Black is
dominating over the board.}) 39... Be6 40. e4 Bxg4+ 41. Kg2 Bd7 $15 {The
limited material balance leaves White definite drawish chances, but a pawn is
a pawn!}) 39. Bxa7 Nc3 {A critical moment.} 40. Bb8 $4 {As often happens in
chess, the last move before passing the time control turns out to be a
decisive mistake.} ({The correct way was:} 40. gxh5 gxh5 41. Bb6 Nd1 ({Black
cannot make progress after} 41... Kf5 42. Kf2 Kg4 43. Bd8 Nb1 44. Ke2 Nxa3 45.
Kd2 $11) 42. e4 $8 (42. Bc5 Kf5) 42... Bxe4 43. Nb3 Bc6 44. Nd2 {The knight is
back into the game, so White should be able to achieve a draw.}) 40... Ne4+ {
The loss of the k-side pawn is fatal here, since the Na5 is still out of play.}
41. Kh3 (41. Kf3 Nf6+ 42. e4 Bxe4+ 43. Ke3 hxg4 $19) 41... Nf2+ 42. Kg3 Nxg4
$19 43. e4 (43. Ba7 {offers no hope either:} Kf5 44. Bc5 Ke4 45. a4 bxa4 46. b5
Nxe3 47. b6 Nc2 48. b7 Bxb7 49. Nxb7 a3 $19) 43... Bxe4 44. Nb3 {The knight is
coming back too late.} Kd5 45. Nd2 Ne3 {Impressive positional play by Vladimir
Kramnik!} 0-1

[Event "EU-Cup 31st"]
[Site "Skopje"]
[Date "2015.10.22"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2015.10.18"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "MKD"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Siberia"]
[BlackTeam "Socar"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 c5 4. Bd3 b6 5. O-O Bb7 6. c4 cxd4 7. exd4 Be7 8. Nc3
d5 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Ne5 O-O 11. Qg4 {This old theoretical line seems to be
promising for White in general, plus Topalov was not very familiar with it.} f5
{The safest choice.} (11... Nf6 {is more principled but dangerous at the same
time:} 12. Qh4 {/\ Bg5} Ne4 13. Qh3 Qxd4 14. Bf4 {with complicated sharp play
ahead.}) 12. Qe2 Bf6 13. Bc4 {It is clear that White has managed to get a nice
initiative out of the opening although Black's position is solid.} Re8 (13...
Nd7 $2 14. Nc6 $1) 14. Rd1 Nd7 (14... Nc6 15. Nxd5 exd5 16. f4 $1 Qd6 17. Bb3 {
with a clear positional advantage.}) 15. Bb5 (15. Bd2 {was possible, with some
advantage, but I decided to choose a more ambitious move.}) 15... Bxe5 16. dxe5
Qe7 {The only reasonable move.} (16... a6 17. Nxd5 axb5 (17... Bxd5 18. Bxa6)
18. Nb4 $1 Qe7 19. Rd6 $16) 17. Nxd5 Bxd5 18. Qh5 $1 {The point.} g6 {
Weakening, but there is no other way to defend against Bg5.} (18... h6 19. Bxh6
$1 gxh6 20. Qg6+ Kf8 21. Qxh6+ Kf7 22. Rxd5 exd5 23. Qh7+ Kf8 24. Qxf5+ Qf7 25.
Bxd7 Qxf5 26. Bxf5 Rxe5 27. Bd3 Rae8 28. Kf1 {and White is clearly better in
this endgame.}) (18... Nxe5 {was a try although White is better, being an
exchange up even if Black has chances for a draw} 19. Bg5 Qf8 20. Bxe8 Rxe8)
19. Qh6 Rec8 20. Bg5 Qf7 21. Bxd7 (21. Bf4 {was another, more positional
approach, keeping some pressure} a6 22. Bf1 b5 23. b3 {with some advantage.})
21... Qxd7 22. Bf6 {White has good attacking potential in this position and
even if Black might hold with precise defence it is not easy to demonstrate
over the board.} Qf7 {He has to lose a tempo with this move because Rxd5 was
coming otherwise.} (22... Rc2 23. Rxd5 $1 exd5 24. e6 Qc7 25. e7) ({or} 22...
Rc4 23. Rxd5 exd5 24. e6) 23. b3 {It is important to prevent the ...Rc4, ...
Rg4 resource.} (23. Rd3 {is very direct approach but Black seems to have
enough defensive resourses:} Rc2 (23... Rc4 24. b3) 24. Rg3 Rac8 25. h4 R8c4 $1
26. h5 Rg4 27. Rxg4 fxg4 28. Qg5 h6 29. Qxg4 g5 {/\ ...Qh7.}) 23... Qf8 24. Qf4
(24. Qg5 {was tempting, but Black is just in time again to defend his king:}
Rc2 25. h4 Rac8 26. h5 Qb4 $1 {that is why Qf4 was chosen instead of Qg5 in
the game} 27. hxg6 Qg4 28. Qxg4 fxg4 29. gxh7+ Kxh7 30. Rd4 g3 $1 31. Rh4+ Kg6
32. Rg4+ Kf5 33. Rxg3 Rc1+ 34. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 35. Kh2 Rc2 {with a draw.}) 24... Rc2
$2 {The only mistake in the game but quite a serious one. Before starting
counterplay Black should have improved his king position.} (24... h6 $1 25. h4
Rc5 $1 {followed by ...Kh7 next and Black's position is passive but difficult
to break.} (25... Rc2 26. Rxd5 $1 exd5 27. Rd1 Qc5 28. h5 {and mate is near}))
25. h4 Rac8 26. h5 {Now seemingly active rooks and control of the c-file
doesn't help Black to defend against the threats on the kingside.} Qe8 (26...
Qf7 {was slightly more logical but does not change much.}) 27. Rd3 {/\ hxg6.}
R2c3 28. Rad1 gxh5 {Topalov presumably pinned his hopes on this idea but
underestimated the exchange sacrifice; in any case, there was no longer
anything else to do here.} 29. Rxd5 $1 {Strong and logical.} exd5 30. e6 {
More forcing and leads to a forced win in all lines, so I have chosen it.} (30.
Rxd5 $18 {was good enough.}) 30... R3c7 (30... Qg6 31. Bxc3 Rxc3 32. Qb8+ Kg7
33. e7 {game over}) (30... R3c6 31. Rd3 Rxe6 32. Rg3+ Kf7 33. Qh6 $1 {once I
noticed this move in my calculations I understood that my attack is decisive}
Rxf6 34. Qg7+ Ke6 35. Re3+ $18) 31. Rxd5 Qxe6 (31... Qg6 32. Qxc7 $1) (31...
Rc1+ 32. Kh2 Qg6 33. Qxc1 $1) 32. Qg5+ Kf8 ({or} 32... Kf7 33. Rxf5 Rc5 34.
Qxh5+ Kf8 35. Be5+ Ke7 36. Qxh7+ Ke8 37. Rg5 (37. f4) 37... Rxe5 38. Qh5+) 33.
Rxf5 Rf7 (33... Rc5 {does not change anything even if is more resistant} 34.
Be7+ Ke8 35. Bxc5 {was my intention} (35. Rf8+ Kd7 36. Bxc5 {wins on the spot
according to computers}) 35... Rxc5 36. Qxh5+ Kd7 37. Rxc5 bxc5 38. Qxc5 {
with an easy technical win.}) 34. Qh6+ Ke8 35. Re5 Rc6 {Trying to use some
pinning motifs.} 36. Qxh5 {White is counterpinning with devastating effect, so
Topalov resigned.} 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 31st"]
[Site "Skopje"]
[Date "2015.10.23"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2726"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2015.10.18"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "MKD"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Alkaloid"]
[BlackTeam "Siberia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "MKD"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Bb3 a6 7. Nbd2 Be6 8. O-O
O-O 9. Re1 h6 10. Nf1 Bxb3 11. Qxb3 Re8 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Nxe3 Qd7 14. h3 Ne7
15. Nh2 c6 16. Rad1 d5 17. Nhg4 Nxg4 18. hxg4 Rad8 19. d4 exd4 20. Rxd4 Qc8 21.
Red1 b5 22. Qc2 dxe4 23. Qxe4 Nd5 24. Qd3 Qe6 25. Qf5 Qxf5 26. gxf5 Re5 27. g4
Kh7 28. R1d2 {[#]} h5 $1 {Zersplittert die weißen Bauern am Königsflügel,
was sich für das kommende Turmendspiel als vorteilhaft erweist} 29. gxh5 Rd6
30. b3 a5 31. Nxd5 $6 ({Nach} 31. c4 bxc4 32. bxc4 {scheitert} Nxe3 33. Rxd6 {
an} Nxc4 {mit Bauerngewinn.}) ({Die Maschinen empfehlen} 31. a4 $5) 31... Rdxd5
{[#]} 32. c4 $2 {Danach entsteht ein für Weiß ungünstiges Turmendspiel.} (
32. Rxd5 $5 cxd5 33. f6) 32... bxc4 33. bxc4 Rxd4 34. Rxd4 Rxf5 35. Rd7 f6 36.
Ra7 Rxh5 37. Kg2 Kg6 {[#]} 38. f4 $2 ({Besser war} 38. Kf3 {z.B.:} Rc5 39. Ke3
Rxc4 40. Rxa5 $17) 38... Rc5 39. Kf3 Kf5 40. Ke3 Rxc4 41. Rxa5+ c5 42. a4 Re4+
43. Kd3 Kxf4 0-1

[Event "EU-Cup 31st"]
[Site "Skopje"]
[Date "2015.10.24"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A47"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2015.10.18"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "MKD"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 169"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Siberia"]
[BlackTeam "Padova"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ITA"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bf4 b6 4. e3 Bb7 5. Nbd2 Be7 6. h3 O-O 7. Bd3 c5 8. O-O
cxd4 9. exd4 Ba6 10. Nc4 Qc8 11. Ne3 Bxd3 12. Qxd3 Nc6 13. c3 d5 14. Rae1 Qb7
15. Ne5 Rac8 16. a3 Rfe8 17. N3g4 Ne4 18. f3 Nf6 19. Nxc6 Qxc6 20. Ne5 Qb7 21.
Bg5 Nd7 22. Bxe7 Rxe7 23. f4 Rce8 24. Nxd7 Qxd7 25. Re3 Qd6 26. Qe2 f6 27. Qf3
b5 28. h4 a5 29. b4 a4 30. h5 Kf7 31. Rfe1 Kg8 32. Qg4 Qd7 33. Kh1 Kf7 34. Qh4
Qd6 35. Rf3 Rf8 36. Rfe3 Rfe8 37. R1e2 Rf8 38. Qg4 Rfe8 39. Qf3 Kg8 40. Re1 Kf7
41. g4 Kg8 42. Kg2 Kf8 43. Qg3 Kg8 44. Qf3 Kf8 45. R1e2 Kg8 46. Qg3 Kf8 47. g5
f5 48. g6 h6 49. Re5 Qc6 50. Qd3 Qd7 51. R2e3 Qc6 52. Qe2 Qd7 53. Kf2 Qc6 54.
Qd3 Qd7 55. Kg2 Qc6 56. Qe2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Qatar Masters op"]
[Site "Doha"]
[Date "2015.12.20"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Khotenashvili, Bela"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E01"]
[WhiteElo "2496"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "2015.12.20"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "QAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 170"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Bd6 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Bg2 c6 8. O-O
dxc4 9. e4 Be7 10. Qe2 b5 11. Rfd1 Bb7 12. Bg5 Nbd7 13. h4 h6 14. Bf4 Re8 15.
Bh3 b4 16. Na4 Qa5 17. b3 c5 18. Ne5 cxb3 19. axb3 cxd4 20. Nb2 d3 21. Nbxd3
Qb6 22. Nc4 Qb5 23. Bg2 a5 24. Bd6 e5 25. Qe3 Bd8 26. Ndb2 Nb6 27. Qc5 Qxc5 28.
Bxc5 Nxc4 29. Nxc4 Bxe4 30. Bxe4 Nxe4 31. Bxb4 Bxh4 32. Rxa5 Bf6 33. Re1 Rab8
34. Ra4 Ng5 35. Kg2 e4 36. Nd6 Re6 37. Nc4 Nf3 38. Rb1 Bd4 39. Bd6 Rb5 40. Ra8+
Kh7 41. Ra2 g5 42. g4 f5 43. gxf5 Nh4+ 44. Kg1 Nxf5 45. Bh2 e3 46. fxe3 Nxe3
47. Rd2 Bc5 48. Rd7+ Kg6 49. Ne5+ Kh5 50. Nd3 Bb6 51. Kh1 Ng4 52. b4 Re2 53.
Bg1 Bxg1 54. Kxg1 Kh4 55. Nc5 Ne5 56. Rd6 Kg3 57. Rxh6 Nf3+ 58. Kh1 Rxb4 59.
Rf1 Rh4+ 0-1

[Event "Qatar Masters op"]
[Site "Doha"]
[Date "2015.12.21"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Piorun, Kacper"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2637"]
[PlyCount "154"]
[EventDate "2015.12.20"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "QAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 170"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. c3 Nbd7 7. a4 a5 8. Re1
Re8 9. Na3 e5 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Nxe5 Rxe5 12. Bf4 Re7 13. e4 Bg4 14. Qb3 c6 15.
exd5 Nxd5 16. Bxd5 Qxd5 17. Qxd5 Rxe1+ 18. Rxe1 cxd5 19. Nb5 Bd7 20. Nc7 Rd8
21. Bg5 f6 22. Be3 Bxa4 23. Ra1 b5 24. Ne6 Ra8 25. Ra3 Kf7 26. Nxg7 Bc2 27. Bh6
g5 28. Ra1 Kg6 29. Ne6 Kxh6 30. Nd4 Bg6 31. Nxb5 Rb8 32. Rxa5 Bd3 33. Nd6 Rxb2
34. Rxd5 Be2 35. Nf5+ Kg6 36. Nd4 Ba6 37. Rd8 Rb1+ 38. Kg2 Bb7+ 39. f3 h5 40.
h3 Rb2+ 41. Kg1 Rd2 42. Rg8+ Kf7 43. Rb8 Bd5 44. Rb5 Ba2 45. h4 gxh4 46. gxh4
Kg6 47. Rc5 Bf7 48. f4 Ra2 49. f5+ Kg7 50. Rc7 Kf8 51. Rc8+ Ke7 52. Rc7+ Kf8
53. c4 Rd2 54. Rc8+ Be8 55. Rd8 Rd1+ 56. Kf2 Rc1 57. Rc8 Ke7 58. Ke3 Bd7 59.
Rc5 Rh1 60. Ra5 Rh3+ 61. Ke4 Rxh4+ 62. Kd5 Rh1 63. Nc6+ Kf7 64. Ra7 Rd1+ 65.
Nd4 Ke8 66. Ra8+ Ke7 67. c5 Bxf5 68. Ra7+ Ke8 69. Ra8+ Kf7 70. c6 h4 71. c7 h3
72. Rh8 Kg7 73. Rh4 Bc8 74. Kc5 Rc1+ 75. Kd6 Rd1 76. Kc5 Bd7 77. Kd6 Bc8
1/2-1/2

[Event "Qatar Masters op"]
[Site "Doha"]
[Date "2015.12.22"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Vocaturo, Daniele"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2597"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2015.12.20"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "QAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 170"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Bb3 a6 7. O-O h6 8. Nbd2
O-O 9. Re1 Be6 10. Bxe6 fxe6 11. b4 Ba7 12. Nf1 Qe8 13. a4 Ne7 14. Be3 Bxe3 15.
Nxe3 Ng6 16. Ra2 Rd8 17. Rd2 Qf7 18. Kh1 b5 19. Qc2 Nf4 20. axb5 axb5 21. Ng1
d5 22. f3 Qd7 23. Nf1 d4 24. g3 Ng6 25. Rc1 Ra8 26. cxd4 Qxd4 27. Qc5 Qxc5 28.
Rxc5 Rfb8 29. Rxc7 Ra4 30. Rb2 Ra3 31. Nd2 Rxd3 32. Nb3 Nf8 33. Nc5 Rd1 34. Re7
Re8 35. Rb7 Ra8 36. Kg2 g5 37. Rxb5 Rad8 38. Nb3 g4 39. Rxe5 Ng6 40. Rxe6 Kf7
41. Nc5 h5 42. e5 Nd5 43. Kf2 Ra8 44. Ra6 Rxa6 45. Nxa6 Nxe5 46. Nc5 Nc4 47.
Re2 Nce3 48. Re1 Rd2+ 49. Re2 Rd1 50. Re1 Rd2+ 51. Re2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Qatar Masters op"]
[Site "Doha"]
[Date "2015.12.23"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Naroditsky, Daniel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D77"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2628"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2015.12.20"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "QAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 170"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 dxc4 7. Na3 c3 8. bxc3
c5 9. Ne5 Nc6 10. Nac4 Nd5 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Bd2 Ba6 13. Ne5 Qd6 14. Re1 cxd4
15. cxd4 Bxe5 16. dxe5 Qxe5 17. Rc1 Rfd8 18. Qc2 Rac8 19. Qc5 Qd6 20. Qa5 c5
21. Bh3 e6 22. Bg5 Re8 23. Rcd1 Qe5 24. Bd2 Qh5 25. Bf1 Bb7 26. Qxa7 Rc7 27.
Qa4 Ra8 28. Qc4 Nb6 29. Qc1 c4 30. Bg5 Qg4 31. Bd8 Rc6 32. h3 Qh5 33. Bg5 Rc5
34. Bf6 Qf5 35. Bd4 Rb5 36. e4 Qf3 37. Bg2 Qa3 38. Qxa3 Rxa3 39. Rb1 Rxb1 40.
Rxb1 c3 41. Bxb6 1-0

[Event "Qatar Masters op"]
[Site "Doha"]
[Date "2015.12.24"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Matlakov, Maxim"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D63"]
[WhiteElo "2684"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah/CB Website"]
[PlyCount "146"]
[EventDate "2015.12.20"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "QAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 170"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 Nbd7 8. Rc1
c5 9. dxc5 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Nxc5 11. O-O a6 12. Nd4 Nfe4 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Qc2
Nxc3 15. Qxc3 Na4 16. Qc2 Bd7 17. b3 Nb6 18. Be2 Rac8 19. Qe4 Nd5 20. Bd3 f5
21. Qe5 Nc3 22. Nc6 Rxc6 23. Rxc3 Rxc3 24. Qxc3 Rc8 25. Qd2 Rd8 26. Qe2 Bc6 27.
a4 Qg5 28. f3 Rd6 29. Rd1 Kf7 30. Bc2 Rxd1+ 31. Bxd1 {First of all if you want
to learn how to create something from nothing, to squeeze water from a stone,
you must study this game carefully from this point onwards. The position is
very drawish and it is not clear why any side should be better but Kramnik
makes use of his trumps excellently.} f4 $5 {A very counter-intuitive move.
This spoils the structure and isolates the e6 pawn. But there are some upsides
to it too. It White replies e4, all his pawns are fixed on light squares and
if he takes on f4 as in the game then the d5 square is a fixed outpost for the
light squared bishop. Of course it is not much but there is some progress!} 32.
exf4 Qxf4 33. Qd3 Qe5 34. h3 (34. Kf2 Qxh2 $17) (34. g3 {It might be
positionally desirable, to place your pawns on the opposite colour from your
bishop but after} Qb2 {there will always be some problems with the f3 or the
b3 pawns although} 35. Bc2 {might hold out here.}) 34... Ke7 {A micro edge
that Black has in this position is that his king is much more active than
White's king. It is a joy to see how Kramnik makes use of that imbalance. And
also the a4- and b3-pawns are currently on light squares, and so are f3-g2-h3.
Vladimir fixes them so that they will remain targets for his bishop.} 35. Bc2
Qc5+ 36. Kh1 a5 {The b3-pawn is fixed forever. Something to nibble at!} 37. Qd2
(37. Qg6 Qc3 $15) 37... Qe5 38. Bd3 Qa1+ 39. Kh2 Qd4 {Not allowing Bc4 at
least for the time being.} 40. Qc2 Kd6 41. Bc4 {White has been able to
activate his bishop and it stands wonderfully on c4. The position should be
equal now.} Be8 42. Kh1 h5 $1 {The h-pawn threatens to go to h4 to fix more
pawns.} 43. Qc1 Bd7 44. Qa3+ Kc7 45. Qc1 Kd6 46. Qa3+ Kc7 47. Qc1 Kb6 $1 {
No draw!} 48. Qc2 h4 49. Bd3 Bc6 50. Be4 Bd5 $1 {A curious situation: if the
bishop is taken it gives Black a passed pawn and if it is not then there is
constant pressure on the b3 pawn. It's quite a confusing situation for
Matlakov. Besides that his king is caged in on h1.} 51. Kh2 (51. Qc8 $5 Bxe4
52. fxe4 Qxe4 53. Qd8+ {leads to a draw by perpetual.} Kc5 54. Qxa5+ Kd4 {
This is similar to the game, but the pawn is on e6 and not on d5 and this
increases the drawing chances for White.}) 51... Qe3 52. Bxd5 Qe5+ 53. Kh1 exd5
54. Qc8 Qe1+ 55. Kh2 Qe5+ 56. Kh1 Qd6 57. Qe8 Kc5 $1 {A bold decision, playing
for a win. You can see how this position is a picture of complete victory for
Black's play, how he made use of all the imbalances to his favour while White
did not. The king is active on c5 and the white pawns have been fixed by a5
and h4. The margin of error is very small here. Only one move gives equality
and Matlakov wasn't able to find it.} (57... d4 58. Qb5+ Ka7 59. Qxa5+ Kb8 60.
Qd2 $11) 58. Qb5+ $6 (58. Qe1 $1 {Stopping the march of the black king was the
only way to draw.}) 58... Kd4 59. Qxa5 Kd3 $17 {The d-pawn shepherded by the
king and the queen will spell White's doom.} 60. Qb5+ Kc3 61. Qa5+ Kc2 62. Qe1
d4 (62... Qf4 {might have been more accurate as after} 63. Qf2+ Qd2 64. Qc5+
Kb2 $19 {There are no more checks and the d-pawn starts running down.}) 63.
Qe2+ Kxb3 64. Qd1+ Kb4 65. Qb1+ Kxa4 66. Qxb7 d3 67. Qb2 d2 68. Qa2+ Kb5 69.
Qb2+ Qb4 70. Qc2 (70. Qe5+ Kc4 71. Qe4+ Kc3 72. Qe3+ Kc2 $19) 70... Qd4 71.
Qb3+ Kc5 72. Qc2+ Kb4 73. Qd1 Qb2 {A beautiful technical grind by the ex-World
Champion.} 0-1

[Event "Qatar Masters op"]
[Site "Doha"]
[Date "2015.12.26"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D80"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2748"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2015.12.20"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "QAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 170"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 d5 5. Bg5 Ne4 6. Bf4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8.
cxd5 Qxd5 9. e3 O-O 10. Be2 cxd4 11. cxd4 Qa5+ 12. Qd2 Qxd2+ 13. Kxd2 Nc6 14.
Bb5 Bd7 15. Rab1 Rfd8 16. Ke2 Bf5 17. Rb3 Be6 18. Rb2 Rac8 19. Rc1 Bd5 20. Rbc2
Be4 21. Rc5 Rd5 22. Kf1 Rcd8 23. a4 a6 24. Be2 Rxc5 25. Rxc5 e6 26. Nd2 Bd5 27.
Bc7 Rc8 28. Bb6 Bf8 29. Rc2 Ne7 30. Rxc8 Nxc8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Qatar Masters op"]
[Site "Doha"]
[Date "2015.12.27"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Yu, Yangyi"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2015.12.20"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "QAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 170"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5
8. Rxe5 O-O 9. Nc3 Ne8 10. Nd5 Bd6 11. Re1 c6 12. Ne3 Bc7 13. Nf5 d5 14. Ne7+
Kh8 15. Nxc8 Rxc8 16. d3 f5 17. Qf3 Nf6 18. Bf4 Bxf4 19. Qxf4 Qc7 20. Qxc7 Rxc7
21. d4 g6 22. Re6 Kg7 23. Rae1 Kf7 24. f3 Rd8 25. Bd3 b6 26. c3 a5 27. h3 f4
28. R6e5 Re8 29. Kf2 Rxe5 30. Rxe5 c5 31. dxc5 bxc5 32. g3 a4 33. Bb5 Rb7 34.
c4 fxg3+ 35. Kxg3 d4 36. Kf2 Nh5 37. Rxc5 Nf4 38. Kg3 Ne2+ 39. Kf2 Nf4 40. Kg3
Ne2+ 41. Kf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Qatar Masters op"]
[Site "Doha"]
[Date "2015.12.28"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Sjugirov, Sanan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2646"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah/CB Website"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2015.12.20"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "QAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 170"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 cxd4 6. exd4 Bf5 7. c3 e6 8.
Qb3 Qc8 9. Nh4 $1 {At the first possible opportunity Kramnik goes ahead to
create an imbalance. Once he achieves that he will have a much easier task in
outplaying his opponent.} Bg6 (9... Be4 $5 10. f3 Bg6 11. Nxg6 hxg6 {should
have been considered. The move f3 doesn't do anything constructive for White's
position.}) 10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. Bd3 Nh5 12. Be3 Bd6 13. O-O-O a6 14. Kb1 b5 15.
Qc2 Na5 (15... Nf4 16. Bf1) 16. Nf3 Nc4 17. Bc1 $1 {First this bishop retreats
to its initial square and after a few moves the other one also retreats!} Qc7
18. Ng5 Nf4 19. Bf1 $1 {Quite a picturesque position. Both bishops on their
initial squares.} O-O-O $6 {A bad decision by Sanan whose king is not at all
safe on the queenside. Kramnik must have been glad to see the sight of 0-0-0.}
20. a4 Qb7 21. axb5 axb5 22. b3 Na5 (22... Na3+ 23. Bxa3 Bxa3 24. g3 Nh5 25. b4
$16 {and the bishop on a3 has come too far from home.}) 23. Qa2 Nc6 24. g3 Nh5
25. Bd3 Kb8 26. Qe2 Na7 27. Bd2 Rc8 28. Kb2 Rc6 29. Ra1 Rf8 30. Ra2 Ra6 31.
Rxa6 Qxa6 32. Ra1 {By methodical play Kramnik has got everything in his favour.
The bishops are wonderful defenders and at the same time attacking the black
queenside and the rook has controlled the open a-file.} Qb7 33. b4 Nf6 34. Ra5
Bc7 35. Bf4 Bxf4 36. gxf4 Qc7 37. Bxb5 Qxf4 38. Nf3 Ne4 39. Ne5 {The knight,
bishop, rook, and queen will launch a deadly attack against the black king.}
Rh8 40. Nc6+ Nxc6 41. Bxc6 Nxc3 $5 {A desperate attempt to complicate the
position. But Kramnik is alert and up to the mark.} 42. Kxc3 Rh3+ 43. Kc2 Qxd4
44. Qb5+ Kc7 45. Qb7+ Kd6 46. Qb8+ (46. Rxd5+ $1 exd5 47. Qd7+ Ke5 48. Qxh3 $18
{was another way to win.}) 46... Ke7 47. Qa7+ Qxa7 48. Rxa7+ Kd6 49. Ba4 Rh4 (
49... Rxh2 50. Rd7+ Ke5 51. Rxf7 $18) 50. Kb3 Rh3+ 51. Kb2 Rh4 (51... e5 52.
Rxf7 Rxh2 53. Kc3 Ke6 54. Rxg7 Rxf2 55. Rxg6+ Kf5 56. Rd6 $18) 52. Rd7+ Ke5 53.
Ka3 Kd4 54. Rxf7 Rxh2 55. b5 Kc5 56. Rc7+ {A great game by Vladimir but it
must be said that Sanan made his task considerably easier when he castled long.
} 1-0

[Event "Qatar Masters op"]
[Site "Doha"]
[Date "2015.12.29"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2834"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2015.12.20"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "QAT"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 170"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.01.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5
8. Rxe5 O-O 9. d4 Bf6 10. Re1 Re8 11. c3 Rxe1 12. Qxe1 Ne8 13. Bf4 d5 14. Bd3
g6 15. Nd2 Ng7 16. Nf3 Bf5 17. Bxf5 Nxf5 18. Qe2 c6 19. Re1 Ng7 20. Be5 Bxe5
21. Nxe5 Qd6 22. Qf3 f6 23. Nd3 Re8 24. Rxe8+ Nxe8 25. Qe3 Ng7 26. h3 Kf7 27.
Qh6 Kg8 28. Qe3 Kf7 29. Qh6 Kg8 30. Qe3 Kf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Opening Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2016.02.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2798"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2016.02.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. Nbd2 c5 5. e3 b6 6. c3 Bb7 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O
h6 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. dxc5 bxc5 11. Ne4 Qb6 12. Nxf6+ Qxf6 13. e4 d6 14. Qe2 Nd7
15. Rfe1 Rab8 16. Qe3 Kg7 17. e5 dxe5 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. Qxe5 Rfd8 20. Bf1 Bd5
21. b3 c4 22. Qxe7 cxb3 23. axb3 Rxb3 24. Qxf6+ Kxf6 25. c4 Be6 26. Rxa7 Rc8
27. Rc1 Rc5 28. Ra2 g5 29. h3 h5 30. Rac2 Rb6 31. Rc3 Rd6 32. g3 Rd4 33. Rd3
Rxd3 34. Bxd3 Bxh3 35. Be2 Be6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Opening Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2016.02.12"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D03"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2016.02.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bg5 c6 4. e3 Qb6 5. Bd3 Ne4 6. Nbd2 Nxg5 7. Nxg5 e6 8.
Qh5 g6 9. Qf3 Qc7 10. h4 Qe7 11. O-O-O Bg7 12. c3 e5 $1 {Despite White's
apparent lead in development, he isn't well placed to deal with this e5 break.}
13. e4 h6 $1 14. Nxf7 $6 (14. Nh3 exd4 15. cxd4 Bxd4 16. exd5 O-O $17) 14...
Qxf7 15. Qg3 exd4 16. exd5 O-O $1 {A beautiful defense, castling right into it.
After this there is no longer any attack and Black is completely winning.} 17.
Bxg6 Qxf2 18. Qxf2 Rxf2 19. Ne4 Rxg2 {Kramnik could have resigned at any point
after this.} 20. Rdg1 Rxg1+ 21. Rxg1 cxd5 22. Nd6 Nc6 23. Bf5 Bxf5 24. Nxf5 Kh8
$1 (24... Kf7 $1 25. Rxg7+ Kf6 {has a similar idea}) 25. Rg6 (25. Rxg7 Rf8 {
attacks the knight and wins the game.}) (25. Nxg7 Rg8 {is a deadly pin.}) 25...
Bf8 26. cxd4 Re8 27. Kd2 Re4 28. Kd3 Rxd4+ 29. Ke3 Re4+ 30. Kd2 Rf4 31. Rf6 Bg7
32. Rf7 Bxb2 33. h5 Bg7 34. Ke3 Re4+ 35. Kd2 Rf4 36. Ke3 Rf1 37. Kd2 Ne5 0-1

[Event "Zuerich Opening Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2016.02.12"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2684"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2016.02.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5
8. Rxe5 O-O 9. Nc3 Ne8 10. Nd5 Bd6 11. Re2 Nf6 12. Nxf6+ Qxf6 13. d4 b6 14. Qd3
Bb7 15. Bd2 Rae8 16. Rae1 Re6 17. c3 Rfe8 18. Rxe6 Rxe6 19. Rxe6 Qxe6 20. b3 a5
21. Qe3 Qxe3 22. Bxe3 Be4 23. Bc4 c6 24. f3 Bb1 25. a4 Ba2 26. d5 b5 27. axb5
cxb5 28. Bxb5 Bxb3 29. c4 a4 30. Bd4 a3 31. c5 Bf4 32. c6 Bxd5 33. cxd7 Bc7 34.
Kf2 a2 35. Ke2 f6 36. Kd3 Kf8 37. Kc2 Ke7 38. h3 Kd8 39. Kb2 Be5 40. Bxe5 fxe5
41. h4 h6 42. Ba4 Be6 43. Bb5 Bxd7 44. Bc4 Bc6 45. Bxa2 Ke7 46. Kc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Opening Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2016.02.12"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D03"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2016.02.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bg5 Ne4 4. Bh4 Bf5 5. e3 c6 6. Nbd2 Nd7 7. Bd3 Qb6 8.
O-O e6 9. Bxe4 dxe4 10. Nc4 Qa6 11. Nfd2 b5 12. Ne5 Nxe5 13. dxe5 Be7 14. Bxe7
Kxe7 15. Nb3 Rhd8 16. Qe1 Qb6 17. Qb4+ Ke8 18. Rfd1 a5 19. Qc3 Rd5 20. Rxd5
cxd5 21. a3 Kf8 22. h3 Kg8 23. Nc5 h5 24. Qd4 Rc8 25. b4 a4 26. c3 Qc7 27. Rf1
Bg6 28. f3 exf3 29. Rxf3 Qe7 30. Kh2 Rc7 31. Qf4 Rc8 32. Rg3 Rc7 33. Qg5 Qe8
34. Rf3 Qc8 35. g4 hxg4 36. hxg4 Rxc5 37. bxc5 Qxc5 38. Qd8+ Qf8 39. Qxf8+ Kxf8
40. Kg3 Be4 41. Rf2 g5 42. Rh2 Bd3 43. Rh5 Bg6 44. Rxg5 Kg7 45. Kh4 f6 46.
Rxg6+ Kxg6 47. exf6 e5 48. g5 d4 49. exd4 exd4 50. cxd4 b4 51. d5 bxa3 52. d6
a2 53. d7 a1=Q 54. d8=Q 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Opening Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2016.02.12"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2016.02.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. b3 c5 7. Bb2 Nc6 8. cxd5
exd5 9. d4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Qb6 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Nc3 Be6 13. Na4 Qb5 14. Rc1 Rac8
15. Bd4 c5 16. Nc3 Qa5 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Nxd5 Qxa2 19. Nxf6+ gxf6 20. Bd5 Bxd5
21. Qxd5 Qxe2 22. Rfe1 Qb2 23. Rc4 Rfd8 24. Rg4+ Kf8 25. Qh5 Qd2 26. Rge4 Kg7
27. Re7 Rf8 28. R1e4 Rcd8 29. Qxc5 Qd1+ 30. Kg2 Qxb3 31. Rd7 Qb6 32. Rg4+ Kh8
33. Rxd8 Qxc5 0-1

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Rapid 5th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2016.02.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2684"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2016.02.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ne7 10. h3 Bd7 11. Be3 Ng6 12. Rad1 Ke8 13. a3 Be7 14.
Rfe1 Rd8 15. Ne4 b6 16. Bc1 Kf8 17. Neg5 Be8 18. Nd4 Rd5 19. Nf5 Rxe5 20. Rxe5
Nxe5 21. Nxe7 Kxe7 22. Re1 f6 23. Nf3 Bg6 24. Nxe5 fxe5 25. Rxe5+ Kf7 26. Bg5
Re8 27. Rxe8 Kxe8 28. c3 Kd7 29. Bf4 Bc2 30. g4 a5 31. Kg2 a4 32. Kg3 b5 33.
Be5 g6 34. Kf4 Ke6 35. Bxc7 h6 36. Ke3 Kd5 37. Bf4 h5 38. gxh5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Rapid 5th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2016.02.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2016.02.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. d3 O-O 6. Nbd2 Nc6 7. d4 Ne4 8. c3
f5 9. Ne1 e5 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Nd3 Ng6 12. c4 Be6 13. cxd5 Nxd2 14. dxe6 Nxf1
15. Kxf1 c6 16. Qb3 Qb6 17. Qc4 Kh8 18. Be3 Qc7 19. f4 Rad8 20. Rc1 Bf6 21. Qb4
Rfe8 22. Bxa7 Ra8 23. Bb6 Qc8 24. Bd5 Nf8 25. Bb3 Nxe6 26. a4 Nf8 27. Nc5 Nd7
28. Nxd7 Qxd7 29. Rd1 Qe7 30. Qxe7 Rxe7 31. Bc2 g6 32. b4 Rae8 33. Bd8 Rf7 34.
Bb6 Rfe7 35. Bd8 Rf7 36. Bb3 Rxd8 37. Rxd8+ Bxd8 38. Bxf7 Be7 39. b5 cxb5 40.
axb5 Kg7 41. Bd5 b6 42. Kg2 g5 43. Kf3 gxf4 44. Kxf4 Kf6 45. Bc4 Bd6+ 46. Kf3
h6 47. Bd3 Ke5 48. h3 Kf6 49. Bc2 Bc7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Rapid 5th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2016.02.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "143"]
[EventDate "2016.02.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nbd2 Be6 7. O-O Nd7 8.
Nb3 Bb6 9. Ng5 Bxb3 10. axb3 f6 11. Nf3 Nc5 12. Nd2 O-O 13. Nc4 Ne6 14. Kh1 Qd7
15. Qg4 Rad8 16. Be3 Bd4 17. Bxd4 Nxd4 18. Qxd7 Rxd7 19. Rxa7 Nxc2 20. Rxb7
Rxd3 21. h4 Nd4 22. b4 Ne6 23. Rc1 Ra8 24. b5 cxb5 25. Rxb5 Rad8 26. f3 h5 27.
Kh2 Nf4 28. Rc5 R8d7 29. Na3 Rd2 30. R1c2 Nxg2 31. Rxc7 Ne3+ 32. Rxd2 Rxd2+ 33.
Kh3 Rf2 34. Kg3 Rxb2 35. Rc1 f5 36. Nc4 f4+ 37. Kh3 Rf2 38. Nxe5 Nf1 39. Rxf1
Rxf1 40. Kg2 Ra1 41. Ng6 Ra2+ 42. Kg1 Ra1+ 43. Kg2 Ra2+ 44. Kg1 Kf7 45. Nxf4 g6
46. Ng2 Kf6 47. Kh2 Ke5 48. Kg3 Ra1 49. Nf4 Kd4 50. Kg2 Ra2+ 51. Kg3 Ra1 52.
Kg2 Ra8 53. Kf2 Ra6 54. Ne2+ Ke5 55. Kg3 Rf6 56. Kf2 Rf8 57. Kg3 Rf7 58. Kf2
Ra7 59. Kg3 Ra8 60. Nf4 Rg8 61. Ne2 g5 62. hxg5 Rxg5+ 63. Kh4 Rg2 64. Ng3 Rh2+
65. Kg5 h4 66. f4+ Ke6 67. Nf5 h3 68. Kg4 Rh1 69. Ng3 Rh2 70. e5 Rf2 71. Ne4
Rg2+ 72. Kxh3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Rapid 5th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2016.02.14"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D78"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2798"]
[Annotator "Mekhitarian,K"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2016.02.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Usually top-level chess does impress me a lot. Not only the preparation, but
mainly the depth, accuracy and energy that they show in every single game.
What impresses me even more, is masterpieces being played in rapid chess games.
In the Zurich Chess Challenge 2016, the time control was 40 minutes with a 10
second increment, apparently enough time for a genius like Kramnik to create
such a beautiful strategic win against one of the toughest opponents on the
circuit today, the current number 4 in the world, Anish Giri.} 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3
g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 c6 5. O-O Nf6 6. b3 $5 {As a Grünfeld player myself, I
totally understand and approve of this setup - White simply wants to develop
and go for a long positional game, keeping all the pieces on the board, and
avoiding early contact.} O-O 7. Bb2 Bf5 {The most typical setup, Black usually
plays ...a5 to create some play on the queenside, and also ...Ne4 (mostly when
White plays Nc3), in order to exchange a piece with Nxc3, and try to play ...
Be4. This plan is important, because the black light-squared bishop could
eventually look weird on f5 (White could play Nh4 if the e4-square is
controlled by a white knight on d2 or c3, and then play e4, if play retreats
the bishop to e6, let's say).} 8. c4 a5 9. Nc3 Ne4 10. cxd5 Nxc3 11. Bxc3 cxd5
{Now Black wants to play ...Ne4.} 12. Ne5 $5 Nc6 (12... Be4 {was in fact
playable, but I feel like White is supposed to have a small advantage always,
since the knight on b8 looks slightly weird and Black's queenside is somewhat
weakened.} 13. Bxe4 (13. Bh3 $5 {threatening f3} Qb6 {avoiding f3 because of ..
.Bxe5} 14. e3 $14) 13... dxe4 14. Rc1 {threatening d5} (14. d5 $2 Qc7 $1 $19 {
oops, winning a piece}) 14... Qd5 15. Nc4 Nd7 16. Ne3 $14 {followed by d5,
looks good for White.}) 13. Qd2 {White basically wants to play Rac1 and build
up pressure on the queenside. It's not that simple to play as Black, because
taking on e5 (...Nxe5) or allowing Nxc6 has its problems. I feel that Giri
made a good choice here.} a4 (13... Nxe5 $6 14. dxe5 $14 {and it's hard to
defend d5 (14...e6 looks very ugly).}) (13... Qd6 $5 14. Nxc6 bxc6 15. e3 $11 {
/+/= , is similar to the game and it looks somewhat preferable for White
already} (15. Bxa5 $6 Bxd4 $1 $13)) 14. Nxc6 bxc6 15. b4 Bc8 (15... a3 $1 {
possibly was Giri's best chance in the game. This makes it hard for White to
move the c3-bishop after Rac1 (Black could play ...Qb6 and Rab8, for example)}
16. f3 {doesn't look too threatening, now the transfer to the other diagonal
with Bc8 and Ba6 should be good} Bc8 17. Rfd1 (17. e4 {It is too early for
this. White had better prepare it with Rfd1 and Rac1} dxe4 18. fxe4 e5 19. d5
cxd5 20. exd5 $13 {now both Ba6 or Bf5 followed by Qd6 seem to be interesting
for Black, with an unclear position}) 17... Ba6 18. Rac1 Qb6 19. e3 Rab8 $13 {
the position remains unclear, but it looks better than in the game, where
White started to build an advantage and gradually improved it.}) 16. e4 $1 Ba6
17. Rfe1 dxe4 {e4-e5 should not be allowed.} 18. Bxe4 Bb5 19. Rac1 (19. a3 $5 {
It feels like this was better to avoid ...a3 once for all.}) 19... e6 (19... a3
$5 {threatening to play e6 and reach the same position as in the game, with
the difference that now White's b4 could be a possible target. White could try
and act now, but apparently Black holds with some precise moves.} 20. d5 $5
Bxc3 21. Rxc3 Qd6 $1 {threatening e6} 22. g4 $5 {threatening Rh3} (22. Rc5 e6
23. Qc3 exd5 24. Bxd5 cxd5 25. Rxb5 d4 $11 {should be equal}) 22... e6 (22...
cxd5 $5 23. Rh3 Qf6 24. Bxd5 Rad8 25. Qh6 Qg7 26. Qg5 Qf6 $11 {is at least
fine for Black}) 23. Rh3 Ra7 $1 24. Qe3 Rc7 $11 {and everything is in order
for now.}) 20. a3 $1 Qd6 (20... Qb6 $5 {was another possible plan, followed by
Rad8-Rd6 and Rfd8, creating stronger counterplay against d4.}) 21. Bb2 Rfd8 22.
Red1 Rac8 (22... e5 $2 {Black is not ready for this fight} 23. d5 $1 f5 24. Bg2
e4 25. Bxg7 Kxg7 26. Rc5 $16) 23. Rc5 Qb8 24. Rdc1 Qb7 25. Qg5 h6 26. Qf4 Qd7
27. Bf3 {White has been able to create a nice positional grip, but the next
step was not clear, possibly h4-h5 (and if Black plays ...h5, then maybe g4!?
- taking advantage of the fact that Black's light-squared bishop is out of
play on b5).} g5 $2 {This was not necessary at all, Black's king starts to
suffer a lot from now on.} 28. Qe3 Rc7 (28... Bf8 $2 29. d5 $1 Bxc5 30. Qe5 f6
31. Qxf6 Qh7 {White has many winning moves now} 32. Qxe6+ Qf7 33. Qxh6 Qh7 34.
Qxg5+ Kf8 35. bxc5 $18) 29. Qc3 Rdc8 30. Be4 Qd6 31. Bb1 Kf8 32. Qc2 $6 Ke7 $2
(32... Bxd4 $5 {good or bad, Black had to accept the challenge to try
something. It was hard to keep on playing while having to watch out for d5 all
the time (and it eventually happened)} 33. Rd1 (33. Re1 $5 {A truly original
computer move. It is basically suggesting that Black has no good moves at his
disposal, which is extremely bizarre with so many pieces in play} Bxc5 (33...
e5 $2 34. Rcxe5 $1 Bxb2 (34... Bxe5 35. Bxe5 $18 {is an easy win after Qh7})
35. Qxb2 $18 {with the deadly threat of Re8+ followed by Qh8#}) (33... Bxb2 $2
34. Qxb2 $18 {with decisive invasions on the kingside}) (33... Ba6 $5 $13 {
probably the only move that holds together the position - that still remains
highly complex, and I would be happy to evaluate it as unclear}) 34. bxc5 Qe7
35. Qh7 Ke8 36. Qxh6 (36. Qg8+ Qf8 37. Rxe6+ fxe6 38. Qxe6+ Qe7 39. Qg8+ {
is just a draw} Qf8 40. Qe6+ Qe7 $11) 36... Qxc5 37. Ba2 $40 {looks very
dangerous for Black}) 33... e5 34. Rxe5 (34. Qh7 Qf6 35. Bxd4 exd4 36. Rf5 $2
Qg7 37. Qxg7+ Kxg7 38. Rxd4 c5 $1 $17 {and suddenly Black gets the initiative,
because of the weak a3-pawn}) 34... c5 $1 35. Rde1 $1 {threatening Qh7} (35.
Rxc5 Rxc5 36. bxc5 Qxc5 37. Qf5 Qxf5 $1 (37... Bxb2 {allows} 38. Rd8+ $1 {
but after} Ke7 39. Qxc8 Qxc8 40. Rxc8 Bxa3 $14 {This should be a draw after ...
Bd6 and ...a3 (and Be8, if needed, to defend f7)}) 38. Bxf5 Rc5 $1 $11) 35...
Qf6 36. Bxd4 cxd4 37. Qd2 $36 {and White retains the initiative.}) 33. Re1 Kf8
(33... Rb8 $5 {To defend the b5-bishop and answer 34.d5 with ...Bxb2 35.Qxb2
cxd5!} 34. Qh7 Kf8 35. Bc3 {planning d5 at some point} Rbc8 36. Ba2 {This has
to be very bad for Black, but there is still some play.}) 34. d5 $1 {Now the
all the lines are open, and the pressure becomes irresistible, White is
winning by force.} e5 {Forced, because} (34... Bxb2 35. Qxb2 {with a winning
position, since 35...cxd5 loses the bishop, and...} exd5 36. Qh8#) (34... exd5
35. Bxg7+ Kxg7 36. Qh7+ Kf8 37. Qh8#) (34... cxd5 35. Bxg7+ Kxg7 36. Qh7+ Kf8
37. Qxh6+ Ke8 38. Rxb5 $18) 35. Rc1 Bf6 36. Qf5 Bg7 37. dxc6 Bxc6 38. Qc2 Qe6
39. Qf5 Qd6 {I want to remind you that this is a rapid game, so all the missed
chances deserve much more compassion than usual. Now Kramnik makes a mistake
and gets close to wasting an impeccable game. Chess is very hard!} 40. Ba2 $2 {
Allowing Black to survive.} (40. Qd3 $1 Qe7 (40... Ke7 41. Qc4 Rd7 42. Be4 Bxe4
43. Rxc8 $18) 41. Qc3 $18 {and Black collapses.}) 40... Be8 $1 41. Qxc8 (41.
Rxc7 Rxc7 42. Rxc7 Qxc7 43. Qe4 $14 {White still would have the better chances
in the endgame, with the better king, and the better pawn structure.}) 41...
Rxc8 42. Rxc8 Qd2 $2 (42... e4 $1 {was a golden chance to keep the game
balanced, since 43.R1c7 doesn't work now} 43. Bxg7+ (43. R1c7 Qd1+ $1 44. Kg2
Qf3+ {this is the key, now the e4-pawn supports the perpetual check, forcing a
draw} 45. Kg1 Qd1+ 46. Kg2 $11) 43... Kxg7 44. Rxe8 {apparently wins a piece,
but} Qd2 $1 45. Ra1 Qb2 46. Re1 Qxa2 {and despite White's strong passed pawn
on b4, it is hard to defend the a3-weakness, since Black has f5-f4 coming as
well} 47. R8xe4 {seems to be the only chance} (47. Re3 f5 $1 $132) 47... Qxa3
48. b5 Qb3 49. Ra1 a3 50. Re3 Qxb5 51. Rexa3 $14 {Leko,P (2741)-Kramnik,V 
(2770) World Championship 2004 (1) 0-1 From what I knew, this was supposed to
be a draw, but it's funny that the very Kramnik won this exact endgame with
the rooks against Peter Leko, on the 1st game of their 2004 World Championship
match (another reference is Landa,K (2613) - Kornev,A (2511) RUS-ch Higher
League 64th Taganrog 2011):}) 43. R1c7 $1 $18 {And the game is over.} Qxb2 44.
Rxf7+ Kg8 45. Rxe8+ Kh7 46. Bd5 1-0

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Rapid 5th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2016.02.15"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2016.02.13"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O Nd4 6. Nxd4 Bxd4 7. c3 Bb6 8.
Na3 O-O 9. Bg5 d5 10. exd5 Qxd5 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Bc4 Qd7 13. Nc2 Qg4 14. d4
Qxd1 15. Raxd1 Bg4 16. Rd2 exd4 17. Nxd4 Rfd8 18. Re1 Rd7 19. h3 Bh5 20. Be2
Bxe2 21. Rexe2 Bxd4 22. Rxd4 Rxd4 23. cxd4 Rd8 24. Re7 Rxd4 25. Rxc7 Rb4 26. b3
a5 27. g3 b5 28. Kg2 a4 29. bxa4 Rxa4 30. Rc2 Ra3 31. Rb2 Kg7 32. Rxb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2016.02.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2684"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2016.02.15"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Bg4 3. Bg2 Nd7 4. O-O Ngf6 5. h3 Bxf3 6. Bxf3 e5 7. c4 c6 8.
cxd5 cxd5 9. d3 Be7 10. Nc3 d4 11. Nb5 a6 12. Na3 Rb8 13. Bd2 b5 14. Rc1 O-O
15. Rc6 e4 16. dxe4 Ne5 17. Rc1 d3 18. Bg2 dxe2 19. Qxe2 Qd3 20. Qxd3 Nxd3 21.
Rc7 Bd6 22. Rc6 Be5 23. Rxa6 Bxb2 24. Ra5 b4 25. Nc4 Bc3 26. e5 Nd7 27. Rd5
N7c5 28. Be3 Rfd8 29. Nd6 Bxe5 30. Bxc5 Nxc5 31. Rxe5 1-0

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2016.02.15"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2016.02.15"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. b3 b6 7. Bb2 Bb7 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. d4 c5 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. Nbd2 Nd7 12. a3 N5f6 13. b4 Be7 14. Rc1 Rc8 15.
Qa4 Rxc1 16. Rxc1 Qa8 17. Rc7 Bd6 18. Rxd7 Bc6 19. b5 Bxd7 20. Bxf6 gxf6 21.
Qg4+ Kh8 22. Qd4 Qd5 23. Qxf6+ Kg8 24. e4 Qc5 25. e5 Be7 26. Qh6 Qc1+ 27. Bf1
f6 28. exf6 Bxf6 29. Kg2 Bg7 30. Qe3 Qc5 31. Qe4 Qd5 32. Qe3 Bxb5 33. Bxb5 Qxb5
34. Qxe6+ Kh8 35. Ne4 Qf5 36. Qxf5 Rxf5 37. h4 Ra5 38. Nfg5 Rxa3 39. Nd6 Rd3
40. h5 h6 41. Nge4 a5 42. f4 a4 43. f5 a3 0-1

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2016.02.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2016.02.15"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4 e6 4. e3 Bd6 5. c3 c5 6. Bg3 Nc6 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. Bb5
Ne7 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Bd3 b6 11. O-O Bb7 12. Qc2 Ng6 13. Rad1 Nh5 14. c4 Nxg3
15. hxg3 Rc8 16. Qb1 dxc4 17. Nxc4 Qf6 18. Be4 Ba6 19. Rc1 Be7 20. Bd3 Rfd8 21.
Nd4 Bc5 22. Nb3 Bf8 23. Nd4 Bc5 24. Nb3 Bf8 25. Nd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2016.02.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2798"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "134"]
[EventDate "2016.02.15"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4
c5 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Qxc4 b6 11. Nc3 Bb7 12. Bg5 Nbd7 13. Rad1 Qc8 14. Qb3 h6
15. Bxf6 Nxf6 16. Ne5 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Qb7+ 18. Kg1 Rfd8 19. e3 Qc7 20. Nd3 Bf8
21. Nf4 g5 22. Nfe2 Bg7 23. Rxd8+ Rxd8 24. Rd1 Nd7 25. Qb4 Ne5 26. Qe4 Rxd1+
27. Nxd1 Qc8 28. g4 b5 29. axb5 axb5 30. Ndc3 Qc4 31. h3 b4 32. Qxc4 Nxc4 33.
Na2 b3 34. Nac1 Nd2 35. Nd3 e5 36. Nec1 Bf8 37. Nxe5 Bg7 38. Ned3 Kh7 39. Kg2
Kg6 40. Nc5 Bxb2 41. N1xb3 Nc4 42. Nd3 Bg7 43. Nbc5 h5 44. Ne4 hxg4 45. hxg4 f5
46. gxf5+ Kxf5 47. Ng3+ Kg6 48. Kh3 Nd6 49. Ne1 Nf7 50. Nf3 Nh6 51. Kg2 g4 52.
Nd2 Be5 53. Ne2 Nf5 54. Nc4 Bc7 55. Nb2 Nh4+ 56. Kf1 Kf5 57. Nd3 Ke4 58. Ne1
Be5 59. Ng1 g3 60. Nh3 gxf2 61. Kxf2 Bf6 62. Ke2 Kd5 63. Nf2 Ke6 64. Ned3 Nf5
65. e4 Ng3+ 66. Kf3 Nxe4 67. Nxe4 Be5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz 5th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2016.02.15"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2016.02.15"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "2"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 Bg4 4. O-O Nd7 5. d3 Ngf6 6. Qe1 e5 7. h3 Bxf3 8.
Bxf3 e4 9. Bg2 Bc5 10. Nc3 Qe7 11. dxe4 dxe4 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bxf6 Nxf6 14. e3
O-O 15. Qe2 Rad8 16. Rad1 b5 17. a4 a6 18. axb5 axb5 19. Rxd8 Rxd8 20. Rd1 Re8
21. Nb1 Qe6 22. b3 g6 23. Nd2 Qe5 24. Nf1 h5 25. Qd2 Qb2 26. Qe2 Bf8 27. Rd4
Bc5 28. Rd1 Bb4 29. Rd4 Bc5 30. Rd1 Bf8 31. Rd4 Bc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.18"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "2016.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. g3 c5 6. Bg2 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8.
Qxd4 Nc6 9. Bxc6+ bxc6 10. Qxd8+ Kxd8 11. Nf3 f6 12. Nd4 Kc7 13. Nb3 e5 14. f4
Bd6 15. Be3 Re8 16. Kf2 Ba6 17. Rhe1 Bc4 18. Rab1 exf4 19. Bxf4 Bxf4 20. gxf4
Rab8 0-1

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D03"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2016.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bg5 c5 4. e3 Nc6 5. dxc5 e6 6. Bd3 Bxc5 7. Nbd2 Be7 8.
O-O O-O 9. c4 h6 10. Bh4 b6 11. Rc1 Bb7 12. a3 dxc4 13. Nxc4 b5 14. Nce5 Nxe5
15. Nxe5 Qd5 16. Qf3 Qxf3 17. Nxf3 Bxf3 18. gxf3 a6 19. Rc7 Bd6 20. Rc6 Be5 21.
b3 Rfd8 22. Rd1 g5 23. Bg3 Bxg3 24. hxg3 Kg7 25. Kf1 Nd5 26. Ke2 b4 27. axb4
Nxb4 28. Rc4 Nxd3 29. Rxd3 Rxd3 30. Kxd3 Rb8 31. b4 Rb5 32. f4 a5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2790"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2016.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nbd2 Be6 7. O-O Nd7 8.
Nb3 Bb6 9. Ng5 Bxb3 10. axb3 f6 11. Nf3 Nc5 12. Nd2 O-O 13. Nc4 Ne6 14. g3 Qd7
15. Be3 Bxe3 16. Nxe3 a5 17. Kh1 b6 18. f4 exf4 19. gxf4 Rad8 20. f5 Nc5 21.
Qf3 Qd4 22. Rab1 Rfe8 23. Rg1 Rd7 24. Rg3 Ree7 25. Rbg1 Kf8 26. Qh5 Nxe4 27.
dxe4 Qxe4+ 28. Ng2 h6 29. c4 Re5 30. Re3 Qxf5 31. Rxe5 Qxe5 32. Qg4 f5 33. Rf1
Rf7 34. Qd1 Kg8 35. Qd2 Kh7 36. Re1 Qf6 37. Nf4 Qh4 38. Ne6 Qg4 39. Qd3 b5 40.
Rf1 a4 41. cxb5 cxb5 42. Nd4 Rd7 43. Qxf5+ Qxf5 44. Nxf5 axb3 45. Rf3 Rd1+ 46.
Kg2 Rd2+ 47. Rf2 Rd5 48. Ng3 c5 49. Ne4 c4 50. Rd2 Re5 51. Nd6 Rc5 52. Rd4 c3
53. bxc3 Rxc3 54. Rb4 Rc2+ 55. Kg3 Rc3+ 56. Kg2 Rc2+ 57. Kg3 Rc3+ 58. Kg2
1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.18"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2016.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 b6 4. Bd3 Bb7 5. O-O c5 6. c4 Be7 7. Nc3 cxd4 8. exd4
d6 9. d5 e5 10. Re1 O-O 11. Rb1 Nbd7 12. b4 Ne8 13. Bc2 Rc8 14. Qe2 Ba6 15. Nd2
Bg5 16. Bb3 f5 17. Nf3 Bxc1 18. Rbxc1 Kh8 19. a4 Qe7 20. Nd4 Bb7 21. Ncb5 Ra8
22. Ne6 Rf6 23. f4 Rg6 24. fxe5 dxe5 25. c5 bxc5 26. bxc5 Ba6 27. Qf2 1-0

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.18"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2016.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. e3 Nf6 4. b3 Be7 5. Bb2 O-O 6. Be2 dxc4 7. bxc4 c5 8. O-O
Nc6 9. Nc3 b6 10. Qc2 Bb7 11. Rad1 Rc8 12. Qb1 h6 13. Nb5 a6 14. Nc3 Qc7 15.
Na4 Nd7 16. Qa1 Bf6 17. Rb1 e5 18. d3 Nb4 19. a3 Nxd3 20. Bxd3 e4 21. Bxf6 Nxf6
22. Qe5 exd3 23. Nxb6 Qxe5 24. Nxe5 Rcd8 25. Rfd1 Rfe8 26. Na4 Be4 27. Nf3 Nd7
28. Nd2 Bc6 29. Nc3 Ne5 30. Rb6 Rb8 31. Rdb1 Rxb6 32. Rxb6 Bd7 33. f3 Be6 34.
Rxa6 Nxc4 35. Nxc4 Bxc4 36. Rc6 Rxe3 37. Rxc5 d2 38. Rxc4 Rxc3 39. Rd4 Rc1+ 0-1

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2851"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2016.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 c5 7. Nf3 cxd4 8.
cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Bc4 Nd7 12. O-O b6 13. a4 Bb7 14. Bd3 (
14. Rfe1 Nf6 15. Bd3 h6 16. a5 a6 17. axb6 Qxb6 18. Rab1 Qc7 19. Rbc1 Qe7 20.
Qa5 Rfc8 21. Rxc8+ Rxc8 22. Nd2 Qd7 23. Qb6 Rc3 24. Bxa6 Bxa6 25. Qxa6 Qxd4 $15
{1/2-1/2 (97) Topalov,V (2803)-Carlsen,M (2850) London 2015}) 14... Rb8 (14...
a5 15. Rfc1 e5 16. d5 $14 {0-1 (57) Kramnik,V (2783)-Naiditsch,A (2722)
Dortmund 2015}) (14... Rc8 15. a5 Qc7 16. Rfb1 h6 17. h3 Rfd8 18. Ra3 Qd6 19.
Rab3 Rc7 20. axb6 Nxb6 $14 {1/2-1/2 (34) Ding,L (2707) -Kramnik,V (2801) Paris/
St Petersburg 2013}) 15. Rfe1 h6 16. a5 b5 17. Rac1 (17. a6 $5) 17... a6 18.
Qb4 Rc8 19. Nd2 Rxc1 20. Rxc1 {[#]} Ne5 $2 {Too optimistic.} (20... Qb8 {
with the idea} 21. Z0 Rc8 $11) 21. Bxb5 axb5 22. dxe5 Qd3 23. h3 Rd8 24. Rc7
Ba8 (24... Qxd2 25. Qxd2 Rxd2 26. Rxb7 Ra2 27. Rxb5 $18) 25. Qe7 Rf8 26. Qd6
Qe2 (26... Rd8 27. Qxd3 Rxd3 28. Rc8+ Kh7 29. Rxa8 Rxd2 30. Rb8 $18) 27. f3
Qe3+ 28. Kh2 Qf4+ 29. Kh1 b4 30. a6 h5 31. a7 h4 32. Qxb4 Qxe5 33. Qc5 Qxc5 34.
Rxc5 Rd8 35. Nc4 Kh7 ({After} 35... Kh7 36. Nb6 Kg6 37. Rc7 {Black has hardly
any moves - therefore he resigned.}) 1-0

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.18"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Li, Chao B"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2755"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2016.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. e3 O-O 5. Nbd2 d6 6. Bc4 Nbd7 7. O-O b6 8. a4
a5 9. e4 e5 10. c3 Bb7 11. Re1 Qe7 12. d5 c6 13. dxc6 Bxc6 14. Bb5 Rfc8 15. Qe2
h6 16. Bxf6 Nxf6 17. Nc4 Bxb5 18. axb5 Rab8 19. Red1 Rd8 20. Ne3 d5 21. exd5
Nh5 22. g3 f5 23. Nc4 f4 24. Nfxe5 fxg3 25. hxg3 Qc5 26. Qg4 Nf6 27. Qxg6 Rf8
28. Ne3 Rbe8 29. Nf5 1-0

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.18"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "2016.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5
8. Rxe5 O-O 9. Nc3 Ne8 10. Nd5 Bd6 11. Re1 c6 12. Ne3 Bc7 13. Nf5 d5 14. Ne7+
Kh8 15. Nxc8 Rxc8 16. d3 f5 17. g3 Nf6 18. Qf3 Qd7 19. Be3 d4 20. Bf4 Nd5 21.
Be5 f4 22. g4 Nb4 23. Bxc7 Qxc7 24. Re2 Qb6 25. Rae1 Nd5 26. g5 Rcd8 27. Bh3
Qa5 28. a3 Nc7 29. Re5 Rd5 30. Qe4 f3 31. Bg4 Qd2 32. h4 Rdd8 33. Bxf3 Rf4 34.
Qe2 Qxe2 35. Bxe2 Rxh4 36. Kg2 Rf4 37. Kg3 Rdf8 38. Bg4 Rxf2 39. R1e2 R2f7 40.
Re7 Kg8 41. a4 g6 42. a5 Kg7 43. b4 Rxe7 44. Rxe7+ Rf7 45. Re4 Nb5 46. Be6 Re7
47. Kf4 Nc3 48. Re5 h6 49. gxh6+ Kxh6 50. Bc4 g5+ 51. Rxg5 Re2 52. Rg8 Rxc2 53.
Rb8 b6 54. axb6 axb6 55. Rxb6 Rb2 56. Ke5 Kg5 57. Kxd4 Na4 58. Rxc6 Rxb4 59.
Ra6 Kf5 60. Ra5+ Kf6 61. Ra6+ Ke7 62. Kd5 Nb2 63. Kc5 Rb8 64. Re6+ Kd7 65. Rh6
Rc8+ 66. Kd5 Nxc4 67. dxc4 Rg8 68. Kc5 Kc7 69. Rh7+ Kb8 70. Kb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.18"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grandelius, Nils"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2649"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2016.04.18"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 171 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.04.26"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. e3 O-O 5. Nbd2 d6 6. c3 b6 7. Bd3 c5 8. O-O
Nc6 9. Qe2 Bb7 10. Rfd1 Qc7 11. Rac1 Rad8 12. b4 cxb4 13. cxb4 Qb8 14. a3 Rc8
15. h3 Qa8 16. e4 e6 17. Qe3 Rfe8 18. Bh6 Bh8 19. Nc4 Rcd8 20. e5 Nd5 21. Qe1
dxe5 22. dxe5 Rd7 23. Be4 Red8 24. Bg5 Rf8 25. b5 Na5 26. Nxa5 bxa5 27. Qxa5
Rb8 28. a4 Bg7 29. Nd4 Bxe5 30. Nc6 Bxc6 31. bxc6 Bc7 32. Qc5 Rd6 33. Bxd5 exd5
34. Rxd5 Rxd5 35. Qxd5 Re8 36. Qd7 Qb8 37. g3 Re6 38. Kg2 Rd6 39. Qg4 Qe8 40.
Be3 Rxc6 41. Rd1 Re6 42. Qc4 Bb6 43. Bxb6 axb6 44. Qd4 Qe7 45. Qd8+ Qxd8 46.
Rxd8+ Kg7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grandelius, Nils"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2649"]
[Annotator "Iotov,V"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2016.04.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 d5 3. e3 e6 4. c3 c5 5. Nd2 Nc6 6. Bd3 (6. Ngf3 Bd6 7. Bg3 $14
{is the main variation.}) 6... Bd6 7. Bxd6 Qxd6 8. f4 {The slightly modified
move order allows Kramnik to develop his knight behind the f4-pawn. This move
creates a spatial advantage as well as a potential attack on the kingside. The
problem is that White may not be developed well enough to be able to stop any
counterplay motifs such as the manoeuvre Ne7-Nf5 to attack the already
weakened pawn on e3.} cxd4 9. cxd4 O-O (9... Nb4 10. Be2 O-O 11. a3 Nc6 12. Bd3
$11 {Even though this move doesn't change the outcome of the position, it is
worth noting that the trick exists. Eventually White ends up playing a2-a3
anyway, but in some positions that is simply not the case and White ends up
playing it while Black plays a more beneficial move.}) 10. a3 Ne7 $1 11. Ngf3 (
11. g4 {An interesting idea - deny ...Nf5! Unfortunately, it doesn't lead to
an advantage.} Bd7 (11... Qb6 12. g5 Ne8 13. Qb3 $14) 12. g5 (12. Qf3 $6 Qb6
$17) (12. h3 a6 13. Ngf3 Bb5 14. Bxb5 axb5 15. Qb3 Qb6 16. Kf2 Rfc8 17. Rhc1
Ne8 $15) 12... Ne8 13. Ngf3 Nf5 14. Qb3 (14. Qe2 f6 15. O-O-O Ba4 16. Rde1 b5
$132) 14... Rc8 (14... Nxe3 15. Bxh7+ Kxh7 16. Qxe3 g6 17. Ne5 Ng7 18. h4 $40)
15. Kf2 Qe7 16. Rac1 Ned6 $15 {With a better pawn structure and well
established control over the centre, it is a no-brainer to say that Black has
solved all his problems and is the only one in the position who can fight for
the advantage!}) (11. Qe2 Qb6 12. Rb1 Nf5 13. g4 (13. Ngf3 Ng4 14. Nf1 Bd7 $17)
13... Nd6 14. Nh3 Nfe4 15. Nf2 Nxd2 16. Qxd2 Bd7 $15) 11... Qb6 $6 {It seems
like Grandelius has already made his choice of game plan, and it doesn't
involve ...Nf5. The position remains equal but it slowly transforms into a
position in which only Kramnik can fight for an advantage.} (11... Nf5 $1 12.
Qe2 (12. Qb3 b6 $5 (12... Nxe3 13. Bxh7+ Kxh7 14. Qxe3 Bd7 15. O-O Kg8 16. Ne5
Rfc8 $11) 13. Ne5 Bb7 14. g4 Nxe3 15. Bxh7+ Nxh7 16. Qxe3 Rac8 17. O-O Rc2 $15)
(12. Nf1 Qe7 $1 $15 {[%cal Gf5d6]}) 12... Ng4 13. Nf1 (13. Bxf5 exf5 14. h3 Nf6
15. O-O Qb6 16. b4 Bd7 $15) 13... Qe7 $1 (13... Qb6 14. h3 Nf6 15. g4 Nd6 16.
Ng3 Bd7 17. Ne5 Be8 18. O-O Nfe4) (13... f6 14. h3 Ngxe3 15. Nxe3 Ng3 16. Qf2
Nxh1 17. Qh4 h6 18. O-O-O b5 19. Rxh1 $14 {There doesn't seem to be enough
counterplay for Black on the queenside to make up for the material
disadvantage.}) 14. h3 Nf6 15. g4 Nd6 {Simple chess! The idea executed by
Black follows the same concept as the one I talked about in the 9...Nb4
variation.} 16. Ng3 Nfe4 17. Qg2 (17. Bxe4 dxe4 18. Nd2 Bd7 $17) 17... Bd7 $15
{Black has rearranged his pieces perfectly!}) 12. Qb3 Qxb3 13. Nxb3 b6 14. Rc1
$14 Bd7 $6 (14... Nf5 $142 {Once again! This is the last time this idea is
possible. However, if Grandelius hadn't gone for this idea until now it was
clearly not his intention to do so.} 15. Ke2 $8 (15. Kd2 $6 Ng4 16. Rhe1 Nf2
17. Bb5 Nd6 18. Ke2 Nxb5 19. Kxf2 Ba6 $15) (15. Bxf5 $6 exf5 16. Ne5 Ba6 $15)
15... Ng4 16. Bxf5 (16. Rhg1 h5 $1 17. h3 (17. Nbd2 Ngxe3 18. h3 Nc4 19. Nxc4
dxc4 20. Bxc4 Bb7 $15) 17... Ng3+ 18. Kd2 Nf2 19. Bb5 a6 $15) 16... exf5 17.
Ne5 f6 18. Nxg4 fxg4 19. Nd2 Ba6+ 20. Kf2 Rac8 21. Nb1 Kf7 $11 {Unfortunately
for Black there are no weaknesses to be attacked. There are no targets for the
light-squared bishop. Unfortunately for White, the same can be said for the
knight on b1.}) 15. Ke2 (15. Ne5 {There isn't much of a positional difference
between this move and 15.Ke2. However, I believe that the more active approach
would have been the better option.} Ba4 (15... Rfc8 16. Nxd7 Nxd7 17. Ba6 Rxc1+
18. Nxc1 Rd8 19. Ke2 Nb8 20. Bd3 Nd7 $11) 16. Nd2 Rfc8 17. Ke2 Rxc1 18. Rxc1
Rc8 19. Rxc8+ Nxc8 20. g4 Nd6 $14) 15... Nc8 {I cannot say that I approve of
how Grandelius abandoned the c-file. If it were up to me I would have played
15...Rfd8 right away. However, it doesn't seem like White can take much out of
the situation.} (15... Rfc8 $142 16. Ne5 Rxc1 17. Rxc1 Ba4 (17... Rc8 18. Nxd7
Nxd7 $11) 18. Nd2 Rc8 19. Rxc8+ Nxc8 20. g4 Nd6 21. b3 Be8 $1 $11) 16. Ne5 (16.
Rc7 Nd6 17. Rhc1 Rfc8 18. Ba6 Rxc7 19. Rxc7 Bb5+ 20. Bxb5 Nxb5 21. Rc6 Ne8 $11)
16... Ba4 17. Nd2 Nd6 18. b3 (18. Ba6 Bb5+ 19. Bxb5 Nxb5 20. Rc6 Rfc8 21. Rhc1
Rxc6 22. Rxc6 Ne8 23. a4 Nbd6 24. b4 f6 25. Nd3 Rc8 $11) (18. Nc6 $5 Bb5 19.
Ne7+ Kh8 20. Bxb5 Nxb5 21. a4 Nd6 22. Rc7 Rfd8 23. Rhc1 Nfe8 24. R7c3 $14)
18... Bb5 19. Bxb5 Nxb5 20. a4 Nd6 21. Rc6 Rfd8 22. Ra1 $1 {23.a5 is coming!
It's always a good idea to spend some time cautiously preparing an idea when
the opponent is forced to stay in one place.} (22. a5 bxa5 $1 {A typical
example of everyday logic in chess. White has played a5 without preparation,
therefore the best counter option should be to take the pawn!} (22... b5 23.
Rhc1 Nfe8 24. g4 f6 25. Nd3 $16) (22... Nde4 23. Nxe4 dxe4 24. a6 Nd5 25. Rhc1
$14) (22... Nfe4 23. Nxe4 Nxe4 24. Rc7 bxa5 25. Nc6 Rd6 26. Rc1 $14) 23. Ra1
Nde4 24. Rxa5 Rdb8 25. Nxe4 Nxe4 $11) 22... Nfe8 23. a5 f6 24. axb6 (24. Nd3
Rdc8 (24... Rac8 25. Nb4 Rxc6 26. Nxc6 Rd7 27. axb6 axb6 28. Ra6 Nc8 29. Ra8
Ned6 30. g4 $11) 25. Nb4 Rxc6 26. Nxc6 Nc7 $11) 24... axb6 25. Rxa8 Rxa8 26.
Nd7 b5 27. Nc5 Kf7 28. e4 {Not a winning move. Unfortunately for White there
is nothing else that could be done. Black's position is, simply said - solid,
and the rook on a8 is no less active than the one on c6.} (28. g4 h6 29. h4 Ra1
30. g5 Rh1 $132 (30... Rg1 31. Ra6 hxg5 32. hxg5 Rg2+ 33. Kd3 fxg5 34. fxg5
Rxg5 35. Nf3 Rg3 36. Ne5+ Kf6 $11)) (28. Na6 Rc8 29. Rxc8 Nxc8 30. Kd3 Na7 (
30... Ncd6 31. Kc3 Ke7 32. Kb4 h5 33. Kc5 Nf5 34. Nf1 $14) 31. e4 Nc6 32. exd5
exd5 33. Nb1 b4 $11) (28. Rb6 h5 29. h3 Ra1 $11) 28... dxe4 29. Ndxe4 Nxe4 $2 {
A pivotal moment in the game, most likely caused by time trouble.} (29... Ra2+
$1 30. Kf3 (30. Nd2 h6 31. Kd3 g5 $11) 30... Nf5 31. Nxe6 Rb2 32. g4 Rxb3+ 33.
Ke2 (33. Kf2 Rb2+ 34. Kf3 Rb3+ $11) 33... Re3+ 34. Kd2 Rxe4 35. gxf5 Ke7 $11)
30. Nxe4 Ra2+ 31. Kf3 Rb2 32. Nc5 g5 33. Rb6 $6 {There is an unwritten rule in
chess which states that every time a piece takes (or often attacks) a pawn it
takes up a less active position - which is the case with 33.Rb6. That is why
Kramnik should have gone for the endgame where his more active pieces could
have decided the game to his advantage. Activity is key in chess, and more
specifially - in endgames!} (33. fxg5 $1 fxg5 34. h3 Ng7 35. g4 Rc2 36. Rb6
Rc3+ 37. Kg2 Rc2+ 38. Kf1 Rc1+ 39. Ke2 Rc2+ 40. Kd3 Rh2 41. Rxb5 Rxh3+ 42. Kc4
h5 43. Ne4 Rh4 44. Nxg5+ Kf6 45. Ne4+ Kf7 46. Rb7+ Kf8 47. b4 Rxg4 48. Nc5 $14)
33... gxf4 $2 (33... g4+ 34. Kxg4 Rxg2+ 35. Kf3 Rxh2 36. Nxe6 Rh3+ 37. Ke4 h5
38. d5 h4 39. Nd8+ Ke7 40. Nc6+ Kf7 41. Nd4 Rh1 $11) 34. Rb7+ Kg6 (34... Kg8
35. Nxe6 (35. Rxb5 e5 36. Rb8 Kf7 37. Rb7+ Kg6 38. dxe5 fxe5 39. Nd3 Rc2 40.
Nxe5+ Kf5 41. Nc4 Rc3+ 42. Ke2 $16) 35... Rxb3+ 36. Kxf4 b4 37. Re7 Rc3 38. d5
Rc8 39. Rb7 Rc4+ 40. Ke3 $16) 35. Nxe6 Kf5 36. Nc5 Rc2 $2 {At this point it
may be difficult to save the game but not impossible. Chess holds infinite
resources! However, practical chess is very different from theory and in here
time trouble is key in deciding the final result.} ({The last chance for
counterplay was} 36... Rd2 37. Rd7 (37. Rxb5 Nc7 38. Rb7 Nd5 39. Rxh7 Rxd4 40.
Rh5+ Kg6 41. Rh8 Rb4 42. Rd8 Ne7 43. Nd3 Rxb3 44. Kxf4 $16) 37... b4 38. h3 h5
39. Rd5+ Kg6 40. Ne6 Rd3+ 41. Kxf4 Ng7 42. Nxg7 Kxg7 43. Rxh5 Rxb3 44. Rb5 $16)
37. Ne4 $18 Nc7 (37... Kg6 38. Rxb5 $18) 38. Rb6 Nd5 (38... Ne8 39. Rxb5+ Kg6
40. Rb8 Kf7 41. Rb7+ $18) 39. Rd6 {A good game from Kramnik! I still find it
amazing how given all the inaccuracies made by Grandelius, his position
remained solid until the very end. Grandelius fought well but was outmatched
in time trouble.} 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.20"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Li, Chao B"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C26"]
[WhiteElo "2755"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2016.04.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 Bc5 4. Bg2 c6 5. Nge2 d5 6. exd5 cxd5 7. d4 exd4 8.
Nxd4 O-O 9. O-O Bg4 10. Qd3 Bxd4 11. Qxd4 Nc6 12. Qc5 d4 13. h3 Bxh3 14. Bxh3
dxc3 15. bxc3 Re8 16. Qb5 Qa5 17. a4 Qxc3 18. Bb2 Qxc2 19. Rac1 Qe2 20. Bg2 Qe7
21. Bxf6 Qxf6 22. Qxb7 Nd4 23. Rfe1 h5 24. Qxa8 Rxa8 25. Bxa8 h4 26. Rc8+ Kh7
27. Be4+ g6 28. gxh4 Qe6 29. Re8 Qg4+ 30. Kf1 Qxh4 31. Re7 Qh3+ 32. Kg1 Qg4+
33. Kf1 Qh3+ 34. Kg1 Kg7 35. Bd5 Qg4+ 36. Kf1 Qh3+ 37. Kg1 Nf3+ 38. Bxf3 Qxf3
39. Rxa7 Qg4+ 40. Kf1 Qh3+ 41. Kg1 Qg4+ 42. Kf1 Qh3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.21"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A49"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "2016.04.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 c6 7. b3 dxc4 8. bxc4
c5 9. Bb2 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nc6 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Nd2 Qc7 13. Qa4 Rb8 14. Nb3 c5
15. Ba3 Bd7 16. Qa5 Qxa5 17. Nxa5 Rfc8 18. Nb3 Bg4 19. Bxc5 Rc7 20. Bd4 Nd7 21.
e3 e5 22. Bb2 Rxc4 23. Rfc1 Be6 24. Rxc4 Bxc4 25. Na5 Bd3 26. Nb3 Bc4 27. Rd1
Nb6 28. Na5 Bxa2 29. Nc6 Re8 30. Ra1 Bd5 31. Bxd5 Nxd5 32. Rxa7 e4 33. Rd7 Bxb2
34. Rxd5 h5 35. h3 Kg7 36. g4 hxg4 37. hxg4 Rc8 38. Na7 Rc1+ 39. Kg2 Kf6 40.
Rb5 Be5 41. Rb4 Rc7 42. Rb6+ Kg5 43. Nc6 Rxc6 44. Rxc6 Kxg4 45. Rc4 Kf5 46. f3
exf3+ 47. Kxf3 g5 48. e4+ Ke6 49. Rc6+ Bd6 50. Ra6 f6 51. Rb6 Kd7 52. Kg4 Ke6
53. Rb5 Bc7 54. Kh5 Bd6 55. Rf5 Be5 56. Kg4 Bf4 57. Rxf4 gxf4 58. Kxf4 Ke7 59.
e5 fxe5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2788"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2016.04.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. h3 Ne7 8. d4
Bb6 9. Bd3 Ng6 10. Re1 Re8 11. Qc2 c6 (11... exd4 12. cxd4 c5 13. dxc5 Bxc5 14.
Nc3 Be6 15. Be3 Qc8 16. Bxc5 Qxc5 17. Qd2 Ne5 18. Be2 Nxf3+ 19. Bxf3 Rad8 20.
Red1 h5 21. Qd4 Qg5 22. Qd2 Qe5 23. Qe3 a6 24. Rd4 Bd7 25. Rad1 Bc6 26. g3 Re6
27. Bg2 h4 28. gxh4 Rde8 29. Bf3 a5 30. a4 Qc5 31. Qf4 Re5 32. R1d3 R8e6 33.
Kh2 Qb6 34. Rd2 Qd8 35. Qg3 Bxe4 36. Bxe4 Nxe4 37. Nxe4 Rxe4 38. Rxe4 Rxe4 39.
Rxd6 Qxh4 40. Qxh4 {1/2-1/2 (40) Anand,V (2762)-Caruana,F (2794) Moscow 2016})
12. Na3 (12. Be3 d5 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Rxe5 15. Bxb6 axb6 16. f4 Rh5 17. e5
Nd7 18. Qe2 Rh4 19. e6 Nc5 20. exf7+ Kxf7 21. Nd2 Nxd3 22. Qxd3 Rxf4 23. Qxh7
Bf5 24. Qh5+ Bg6 25. Qe5 Rf6 26. Nf3 Kg8 27. Ng5 Qd7 28. a3 Raf8 29. Rad1 Qf5
30. Qe3 Qf2+ 31. Qxf2 Rxf2 32. Re6 Be4 33. Nxe4 dxe4 34. Rxe4 Rxb2 35. Rd7 Rff2
36. Rg4 Rf7 37. Rxf7 Kxf7 38. Rb4 Ra2 39. Rxb6 Rxa3 40. Rxb7+ Kg8 41. c4 Ra4
42. c5 Ra5 43. Rc7 Rxc5 {1/2-1/2 (43) Adams,M (2725)-Anand,V (2780)
Baden-Baden 2013}) 12... Bc7 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 dxe5 15. Be2 h6 16. Nc4 Nh7
17. Rd1 Qf6 18. Ne3 Qg6 19. Bg4 Bxg4 20. Nxg4 Bb6 21. a4 h5 22. Nh2 Nf6 23. a5
Bc5 24. b4 Bf8 {The bishop stood here before.} 25. Re1 a6 26. Nf3 Nd5 27. Qb3
Nf4 28. Bxf4 exf4 29. Rad1 Rad8 (29... Rxe4 30. Rxe4 Qxe4 31. Rd7 Be7 32. Rxb7
$16 {was not to Black's liking.}) 30. e5 Rxd1 31. Rxd1 {[#]} Qf5 {Preparing to
advance the g-pawn.} 32. Re1 g5 33. Nd4 Qg6 34. e6 Kh8 35. Qd1 fxe6 36. Nf3 g4
37. Ne5 Qf5 38. hxg4 hxg4 39. Nxg4 Bg7 40. Qd7 Rf8 41. f3 c5 {[#]} (41... Bxc3
42. Rxe6 $16) 42. Qxe6 (42. Rxe6 cxb4 43. cxb4 Qb1+ 44. Kh2 Qh7+ 45. Kg1 Qb1+
$11) (42. bxc5 $5 Qxc5+ 43. Nf2 $14) 42... Qxe6 43. Rxe6 Bxc3 44. bxc5 Bxa5 45.
Re7 $11 Bb4 46. Rc7 Rf5 47. Rxb7 Bxc5+ 48. Kf1 a5 49. Rb5 a4 50. Nf2 Rh5 51.
Ra5 a3 52. Nd3 Rh1+ 53. Ke2 Bd6 54. Ra6 Rh6 55. Kd1 Kg7 56. Kc2 Rg6 57. Kb3 Kf7
58. Nxf4 Bxf4 59. Rxg6 Kxg6 60. Kxa3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.24"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2016.04.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O a6 7. Re1 h6 8. Nbd2
O-O 9. Nf1 Ba7 10. Bb3 Re8 11. Ng3 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. d4 Re8 14. h3 d5 15.
Nxe5 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Nxe4 17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. Qg4 Rxe5 19. Bxh6 g5 20. Kh1 Qf6 21.
f4 Qxf4 22. Qxf4 gxf4 23. Bxf4 Re7 24. g4 Kg7 25. Rad1 f5 26. Rd5 fxg4 27. hxg4
Rf8 28. Re5 Rxe5 29. Bxe5+ Kg6 30. Rxe4 Rf1+ 31. Kg2 Rf2+ 32. Kg3 Rxb2 33. Rf4
Re2 34. Rf6+ Kg5 35. Rf5+ Kg6 36. a4 c6 37. a5 b5 38. axb6 Bxb6 39. Rf6+ Kg7
40. Rxc6+ Rxe5 41. Rxb6 Re3+ 42. Kf4 Rxc3 43. Rxa6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.25"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2016.04.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. O-O d6 7. a4 Ba7 8. Re1
Ne7 9. d4 O-O 10. h3 Ng6 11. Bd3 Re8 12. Qc2 Bd7 13. Be3 d5 14. Nbd2 exd4 15.
cxd4 dxe4 16. Nxe4 Bc6 17. Bg5 Bxe4 18. Bxe4 c6 19. Qb3 Qb6 20. Qxb6 Bxb6 21.
Bxf6 gxf6 22. a5 Ba7 23. d5 Rab8 24. Rad1 Bc5 25. Bxg6 Rxe1+ 26. Rxe1 hxg6 27.
Rc1 Bb4 28. dxc6 Bxa5 29. Ra1 Bc7 30. cxb7 Rxb7 31. Rxa6 Rxb2 32. Ne1 Bb6 33.
Nd3 Rb1+ 34. Kh2 Rb3 35. Nc1 Rb2 36. Nd3 Rb3 37. Nc1 Rb2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.27"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2851"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2016.04.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Qf3 Bg6 8.
Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Qxf6 gxf6 {Kramnik had played this strategically slightly risky
variation before. Since the Berlin Ruy Lopez is his main weapon against 1.e4,
it is no great wonder that against 1.d4 he does not have doubled pawns either.
But on the other hand the pawns are less compact here and secondly accepting
weaknesses against a subtle positional player like Carlsen looks a bit like
waving a red flag in the front of a bull.} 10. Nf3 Nd7 11. Nh4 Be7 {This is
the main line, preparing to meet f2-f4 with ...f7-f5.} (11... Nb6 12. f4 f5 13.
Bd3 Nc4 14. Bxc4 dxc4 15. a4 $14 {1/2-1/2 (31) Williams,S (2439)-Hawkins,J 
(2563) London 2015}) (11... O-O-O $6 12. f4 h5 13. Kf2 Re8 14. f5 Bh6 15. fxg6
Bxe3+ 16. Kf3 Bxd4 17. g7 Rhg8 18. Nf5 $18 {Bareev,E (2636)-Gorman,D (2289)
Philadelphia 2009 (1-0, 40)}) 12. Ne2 $5 $146 {An early novelty connected with
a deep regrouping plan. Actually the last move is logical since it prepares to
invade f5 before Black carries out the standard knight manoeuvre to d6.} ({
Kramnik's previous games went} 12. g3 Nb6 13. O-O-O (13. Kd2 Nc8 14. Bd3 Nd6
15. b3 O-O-O 16. f3 Rhe8 17. Rac1 Kb8 18. Ne2 Nc8 19. Nf4 Bb4+ 20. Ke2 Nd6 21.
g4 Re7 $11 {Ivanisevic,I (2653)-Kramnik,V (2777) Berlin 2015 (0-1, 53)}) 13...
Nc8 14. Bd3 Nd6 15. Kc2 Kd7 16. f3 Bxd3+ 17. Kxd3 f5 18. Ng2 h5 19. h4 Rag8 20.
Rh3 Ne8 21. Ke2 Bd6 22. Kf2 Nf6 23. Ne2 a5 $11 {Ding,L (2730)-Kramnik,V (2760)
Moscow 2014 (1/2-1/2, 41)}) 12... Nb6 {Since the knight will not reach d6 in
time, this move is now connected woth a queenside plan which will prove
illusory, though.} (12... f5 13. g3 Nb6 14. Nf4 Nc8 15. f3 Nd6 16. Bd3 $14 {
[%cal Ge1f2,Gh1c1,Gb2b4,Ga2a4] /\ Kf2, b4}) ({I have tried making work the
break ...c6-c5 by transferring the knight to e6, but this does not seem to be
entirely satisfactory either:} 12... Bb4+ 13. Kd1 O-O-O 14. Ng3 Nf8 15. Ngf5
Ne6 16. Bd3 Ba5 17. Ke2 (17. Kc2 c5 {[%cal Gg6c2]}) 17... Rhe8 18. g3 Bb6 19.
Rad1 Kb8 {[%cal Ge6d4]} (19... Bh5+ 20. f3 Nxd4+ 21. Nxd4 Bxd4 22. Bf5+ $1 $18)
20. Kf1 (20. b4 Bh5+ 21. f3 Nxd4+) 20... c5 21. dxc5 Nxc5 (21... Bxc5 22. Kg2
d4 23. e4 $14) 22. Kg2 (22. Bc2 Ne6 23. Kg2 d4 24. e4 $6 Nc5 $36) 22... Nxd3
23. Rxd3 Re5 24. g4 (24. Nxg6 hxg6 25. Nd4 Re4) 24... h5 25. h3 $14) 13. Ng3
$14 Bb4+ (13... Nc8 14. f4 $16 h6 15. f5 {leaves the light-squared bishop out
of play for the rest of the game.}) 14. Kd1 Na4 15. Ngf5 $1 {During the game I
was not sure about the meaning of this regrouping. At first sight, the knights
are clumsily placed, being neutralised by one bishop. Everything became clear
a few moves later.} Kd7 (15... Nxb2+ 16. Kc2 Nc4 17. Bxc4 dxc4 18. Rhb1 $16)
16. Rb1 Ke6 $6 {As it turns out in the game, the king is exposed on e6.} (16...
Rhc8 $5 17. Bd3 Bf8 (17... Bd6 18. Ke2 a6 19. g4 c5 20. Nxd6 Kxd6 21. Nf5+ $16)
18. Ke2 a6 19. g4 c5 20. Ng2 Bd6 21. h4 (21. Nxd6 Kxd6 22. Nh4 {would
practically lose a tempo over the previous line.} cxd4 23. exd4 Rc6) 21... h5
22. f3 Rc6 23. gxh5 Bxh5 24. Nxd6 Kxd6 25. Nf4 Rh8 26. Bc2 Nb6 27. dxc5+ Rxc5
28. Bb3 $14) 17. Bd3 Rhc8 18. Ke2 Bf8 19. g4 c5 $6 {This only creates new
weaknesses and no counterplay at all.} (19... Kd7 $5) 20. Ng2 $3 $16 {[%cal
Gh2h4,Gg2f4] The core of Carlsen's whole opening plan. Suddenly Black loses
stability in several sectors of the board.} cxd4 21. exd4 Bd6 {[%csl Gf4]} 22.
h4 h5 $2 {This loses a pawn leading to a hopeless position.} ({But it is
virtually impossible to decide upon a passive move like} 22... Rh8 $8 {[%csl
Gh7] defending the h7-pawn.} 23. h5 Bxf5 24. Bxf5+ Ke7 25. Ne3 Nb6 26. Kf3 h6
27. Rhe1 Kd8 28. Rbc1 $16 {Black's position looks awful, but White still needs
to prove he has a winning plan.}) 23. Ng7+ Ke7 24. gxh5 Bxd3+ 25. Kxd3 $18 {
The control over the f5-square and the threatening h-pawns make Black's
position hopeless.} Kd7 26. Ne3 Nb6 27. Ng4 $5 {Even though one of the knights
belongs to f5, Carlsen's "rodeos" are impressive at least optically.} Rh8 28.
Rhe1 {Playing cat and mouse a bit.} ({There was nothing wrong with} 28. Nxf6+
Ke7 29. Ng4) 28... Be7 29. Nf5 Bd8 30. h6 Rc8 31. b3 {[%csl Gb6]} Rc6 32. Nge3
Bc7 33. Rbc1 Rxc1 34. Rxc1 Bf4 35. Rc5 Ke6 36. Ng7+ Kd6 37. Ng4 Nd7 38. Rc2 f5
{A desperate move, which loses a pawn for nothing.} (38... a6 39. Re2 {[%cal
Ge2e8]}) (38... Ke7 39. Re2+ Kd8 40. Re8+ $5 (40. Nf5 $18) 40... Rxe8 41. Nxe8
Bxh6 42. Nexf6 Nxf6 43. Nxf6 $18 {[%csl Gd5]}) 39. Nxf5+ Ke6 40. Ng7+ {[%csl
Gf5,Gf6] As we see, 38...f5 did not clear space for the black king at all.} Kd6
41. Re2 Kc6 42. Re8 Rxe8 (42... Rh7 43. Nf5 {[%csl Gh7]}) 43. Nxe8 Nf8 44. Ne5+
Bxe5 45. dxe5 Kd7 46. Nf6+ Ke6 47. h5 Kxe5 48. Nd7+ Nxd7 49. h7 Nc5+ 50. Ke2 {
A fantastic game by Carlsen and the ugliest defeat of Kramnik I can remember.}
1-0

[Event "Norway Chess 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.28"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A04"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2016.04.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 {Kramnik has lately more and more often avoided a heated theoretical
struggle and relied on his experience and positional understanding.} ({In
Stavanger we saw also} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 d5 3. e3 e6 4. c3 c5 5. Nd2 Nc6 6. Bd3
Bd6 7. Bxd6 Qxd6 8. f4 $1 {with a good version of the Stonewall:} cxd4 9. cxd4
O-O 10. a3 Ne7 11. Ngf3 Qb6 12. Qb3 Qxb3 13. Nxb3 b6 14. Rc1 Bd7 15. Ke2 Nc8
16. Ne5 Ba4 17. Nd2 Nd6 18. b3 Bb5 19. Bxb5 Nxb5 20. a4 Nd6 21. Rc6 Rfd8 22.
Ra1 Nfe8 23. a5 $36 {Kramnik,V (2801)-Grandelius,N (2649) Stavanger 2016}) 1...
e6 2. g3 b5 3. e3 $5 {A very rare move.} ({White usually without second
thought continues} 3. Bg2 Bb7 4. O-O {, after} Nf6 {the most popular
alternative is} 5. d3 {, striving for structures from the King's Indian
Reversed. With the text move Kramnik gains a tempo to build up a position,
resembling the Queen's Indian.}) 3... a6 4. Bg2 ({Also interesting is} 4. a4 $5
b4 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. d3 c5 7. Nbd2 Nf6 8. e4 d6 (8... Be7 9. e5 Nd5 $13) 9. O-O
Nbd7 (9... Be7 $142) 10. Nc4 Be7 11. Bf4 e5 12. Bd2 O-O 13. Nh4 g6 14. Bg5 $14
d5 $2 15. exd5 Bxd5 16. Bxf6 Nxf6 17. Nxe5 Nh5 18. Bxd5 Qxd5 19. Nhf3 Bf6 20.
Nc4 $16 {Anikaev,Y (2460)-Korzubov,P (2450) Minsk 1983 White went on to
convert his extra pawn.}) 4... Bb7 5. O-O Nf6 6. b3 c5 {The few examples here
arose mostly via a different move order.} ({The choice of alternatives is
still a matter of taste; a fully playable one is} 6... Be7 7. Bb2 O-O 8. Qe2 c5
9. c4 d5 10. d4 Nbd7 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Nbd2 Rc8 13. Rac1 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Rxc1 15.
Rxc1 Qa8 16. Bh3 (16. Bxd5 Bxd5 17. e4 Bb7 18. Rc7 Bc8 $1 $11 {[%cal Ye7d8,
Ye7d6]} (18... Rd8 $2 19. Nxe6 $1 fxe6 20. Qg4 $18)) 16... N5f6 17. N2f3 Rc8
$11 {/=/+, Giri,A (2734)-Ivanchuk,V (2753) Leon blitz 2013}) 7. c4 Be7 8. Nc3 {
The players are gradually entering almost unexplored territory.} ({Apart from
the text White has mostly tried} 8. Qe2 O-O 9. Bb2 {- 6...Be7}) 8... O-O {
The simplest, Black doesn't have to protect b5 yet.} ({Releasing the tension} 
8... b4 9. Na4 d6 {seems a bit premature due to} 10. d4 Nbd7 11. d5 $5 (11. Bb2
O-O 12. Nd2 Bxg2 13. Kxg2 {Tomashevsky,E (2523)-Ostrovskiy,A (2297) Serpukhov
2004} Qc7 $11 {[%csl Ra4]}) 11... e5 12. Nh4 g6 13. e4 O-O 14. Bh6 (14. Nb2
$142 $14) 14... Re8 15. Nb2 $6 Nh5 (15... Nxe4 $1 16. Bxe4 Bxh4 $15) 16. Nf5
Bf8 17. Bxf8 Nxf8 18. Nd3 $14 {(),Stokke,K (2385)-Susak,Z (2200) Split 2013/
Here the King's Indian structure is advantageous for White.}) (8... Qa5 9. Bb2
O-O 10. Qe2 (10. d4 $5 {is more ambitious}) 10... Nc6 11. Rfb1 bxc4 12. bxc4
Rab8 13. d3 Ba8 14. a3 Rfc8 15. Qc2 Nd8 16. Bc1 d6 17. Bd2 Qc7 18. Rxb8 Rxb8
19. Rb1 Bc6 20. Rxb8 Qxb8 21. Ne1 Bxg2 22. Kxg2 Qb7+ 23. f3 Nd7 24. Qb1 Qxb1
25. Nxb1 Nc6 $11 {Karpov,A (2770)-Kamsky,G (2735) FIDE WCh Elista 1996}) (8...
Qb6 9. d4 O-O 10. d5 $5 (10. Qe2 Ne4 11. Bb2 d6 12. dxc5 Qxc5 13. Rac1 b4 14.
Na4 Qc7 15. Rfd1 Nd7 16. Qe1 Rab8 17. a3 bxa3 18. Bxa3 Ndc5 19. Nxc5 dxc5 20.
Bb2 Bf6 21. Bxf6 Nxf6 22. Qc3 Be4 23. Nd2 Bxg2 24. Kxg2 Rfd8 $11 {Georgiev,K 
(2648)-Gloor,R (2335) Zuerich 2013}) 10... exd5 11. cxd5 d6 12. e4 Nbd7 13. h3
{[%csl Gd5,Ge4] [+]} Rfe8 14. Be3 Bf8 15. Nd2 g6 16. a4 Bg7 17. Qc2 Rab8 18.
Rfc1 Nh5 19. axb5 axb5 20. g4 Nhf6 21. b4 Ba6 22. Nb3 h5 23. g5 Nh7 24. Qd2
Rec8 25. f4 $16 {Banusz,T (2585)-Goganov,A (2604) Riga 2014}) 9. d4 $5 $146 {
[%csl Gc4,Gd4][%mdl 8] A natural novelty: White occupies the centre himself
rather than letting his opponent get there before him.} ({After} 9. Qc2 Nc6 10.
Rd1 d5 {it's already late for} 11. d4 $2 bxc4 12. bxc4 dxc4 13. dxc5 Qa5 14.
Rb1 Nb4 15. Qa4 Qxc5 16. a3 Nbd5 17. Qc2 Nxc3 18. Qxc3 Be4 19. Nd2 Rad8 20. Bb2
Bxb1 21. Rxb1 Rd3 $19 {Zygouris,H (2218)-Melia,S (2403) Caleta 2013}) (9. cxb5
axb5 10. Nxb5 $2 Ba6 $17) 9... d5 {[%csl Gc5,Gd5] An equally logical reaction.}
(9... Qb6 {- 8...Qb6}) ({After} 9... cxd4 10. exd4 {the hanging pawns are more
an asset than a drawback, e.g.} d6 11. d5 $5 b4 12. Na4 exd5 13. Nd4 $44 {|^})
10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 (11. Bb2 Nxc3 12. Bxc3 Nd7 $11 {, but even the text
doesn't give White anything tangible.}) 11... Bxd5 12. dxc5 Bxc5 {Playable,
but Black didn't have to move his bishop again.} (12... Nd7 $5 $11 {/\} 13. b4
a5) 13. Qe2 Nd7 14. Rd1 Qe7 15. Bb2 (15. e4 Bb7 16. Bg5 f6 $11) 15... Rac8 16.
Rac1 Bb7 $6 {[%mdl 32] An unnecessary retreat, after which Black's position
starts deteriorating.} (16... Nf6 17. Ne5 $5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 $14) ({However,
White's risk-free strategy (after a heavy loss with Carlsen in the previous
round) hasn't given him much and the natural} 16... Rfd8 $1 $11 {retains
symmetry and approximate equality.}) 17. Ng5 $1 $14 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 {[%cal Rg5h7,
Re2d3,Yg5e4,Ye2h5]} f5 $6 {Radically prevents both Ne4 and Qg4, but weakens
the kingside.} (18... Nb6 $142 19. Qg4 $1 ({The forcing line} 19. Qh5 h6 20.
Ne4 Ba3 21. Nf6+ $5 gxf6 22. Bxa3 Qxa3 23. Rd4 f5 $1 24. Qxh6 Qe7 25. Rh4 f6 {
leads only to a perpetual after} 26. Qh8+ Kf7 27. Rh7+ Kg6 28. Rh6+ $11) {
and only now} 19... f5 (19... h6 $143 $6 20. Ne4 f5 21. Qxg7+ Qxg7 22. Bxg7 $36
) 20. Qh5 h6 21. Nf3 Nd5 22. Qg6 Qf7 $14 {Black is worse, but his position
remains defensible.}) (18... h6 $6 19. Ne4 $36) (18... Rfd8 $2 {runs into} 19.
Qh5 h6 20. Ne4 Bb4 21. Rxd7 $1 Qxd7 22. Qg4 f5 23. Nf6+ Kf7 (23... Kh8 24. Qg6
$18) 24. Qh5+ g6 25. Qxh6 Qb7+ 26. Kh3 $1 Rh8 27. Nh7 $18 {->}) (18... Qxg5 19.
Rxd7 $14) 19. e4 $5 {Active play, Kramnik opens the centre even more.} ({
Komodo indicates an alternative solution} 19. Qf3 Rc7 20. Nh3 $1 {[%cal Yh3f4]
/\} e5 $6 {[%csl Re5,Rf5]} 21. b4 Bb6 22. Qd5+ Rf7 23. a3 $16) 19... h6 (19...
f4 20. Qg4 fxg3 21. f4 $1 Be3 22. Rxc8 Rxc8 23. Qxe6+ Qxe6 24. Nxe6 $16) (19...
e5 $142 $5 20. Nf3 Rcd8 21. a4 $36) 20. Nf3 (20. Nh3 $5 {[%cal Yh3f4] also
deserved attention.}) 20... Nf6 (20... f4 21. Rc2 $14 ({and} 21. Nh4 $5 $36 {
are unpleasant for Black, but now he loses material.})) 21. exf5 exf5 22. Qxe7
Bxe7 23. Nd4 Rxc1 (23... g6 $2 24. Nc6 $18) (23... f4 24. Ne6 $16 (24. Nf5 $16)
) 24. Rxc1 Nd5 25. Ne6 Rf7 26. Rc8+ Kh7 27. Ra8 f4 ({Po} 27... Nb4 $2 28. Ra7
$18 {[%cal Re6d8]}) (27... Bf6 28. Bxf6 Nxf6 (28... Rxf6 $2 29. Nf8+) 29. a3 $5
$16 {White stops b4, the Pa6 won't run away.}) 28. Rxa6 {White gains a healthy
pawn with excellent winning chances.} ({However,} 28. Bxg7 $5 Rxg7 29. Nxg7
Kxg7 30. Ra7 $1 {[%cal Ra7d7] was also very strong. This intermediate move
forces Black's king to abandon the Ph6 and after} Kf7 31. Rxa6 {there is no
time for the blockading b4. White should win the resulting endgame after} h5
32. a4 bxa4 33. bxa4 $16 {/+-}) 28... fxg3 {Simplifies the position, but also
White's task.} (28... f3+ 29. Kf1 (29. Kh3 $5) 29... Bf6 30. Bxf6 Rxf6 31. a3
Nc3 $16 {offered more practical chances}) 29. hxg3 Bf6 30. Bc1 (30. Bxf6 Rxf6
31. a3 $16 {is also good; somewhat later White will return to the idea of the
bishop swap.}) 30... Re7 (30... Nb4 31. Ra5 Bc3 32. Be3 $16) 31. Rd6 Nc3 32. a3
Kg8 33. Bb2 $1 Ra7 ({A more resilient try was} 33... Ne4 $142 34. Bxf6 gxf6)
34. Rc6 Nd5 (34... Ne4 35. Bxf6 gxf6 36. Rc8+ Kf7 37. Rc7+ Rxc7 38. Nxc7 Nc3
39. Kf3 Ke7 40. Ke3 Kd7 41. Kd3 b4 (41... Nd1 42. Nxb5 Nxf2+ 43. Ke3 $18) 42.
Na6 $18) (34... Nb1 35. Bxf6 gxf6 36. Nd4 Nxa3 37. Rxf6 Rd7 38. Nf5 $16 {/+-})
35. Bxf6 Nxf6 (35... gxf6 36. Rc5 b4 (36... Ne7 37. Rc7 $18) 37. Rxd5 (37. a4
$5 $18) 37... bxa3 38. Rd1 $18) 36. Rc7 $1 Rxa3 (36... Rxc7 37. Nxc7 $18 {
[%csl Rb5] However, even now Black loses another pawn.}) 37. Rxg7+ Kh8 38. Rg6
Ne4 (38... Ng8 39. Nd4 b4 40. Rb6 $18 {[%csl Rb4]}) 39. Rxh6+ Kg8 40. Rh4 $18 {
Stops any possible action against f2, the rest requires no comment.} Nd2 41. b4
Nc4 42. Nc7 Ra2 43. Re4 Nd6 44. Rd4 Nf5 45. Rd8+ Kf7 46. Nxb5 Rb2 47. Rd3 (47.
Rd3 Rxb4 48. Nd6+ $18 {is a trivially won rook endgame.}) 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess 4th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2016.04.29"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2016.04.19"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 172"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.05.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. h3 Ne7 8. d4
Bb6 9. Re1 Ng6 10. Nbd2 c6 11. Bf1 exd4 12. cxd4 d5 13. e5 Nh5 14. b4 f6 15. a4
Nhf4 16. a5 Bc7 17. Nb3 a6 18. Nc5 Ne6 19. Nxe6 Bxe6 20. Bd3 Qd7 21. exf6 gxf6
22. Bxg6 hxg6 23. Ra3 Rfe8 24. Rae3 Bd6 25. Bd2 Bf7 26. Nh2 Kg7 27. Qf3 Rxe3
28. Rxe3 g5 29. Ng4 Be7 30. h4 gxh4 31. Re1 Re8 32. Bh6+ Kg6 33. Re5 Bd8 34.
Qd3+ f5 35. Bf4 Kg7 36. Rxe8 Bxe8 37. Ne5 Qe6 38. Qd2 Qe7 39. Bh6+ Kh7 40. Nf3
Qe4 41. Ng5+ Bxg5 42. Bxg5 h3 43. gxh3 Bh5 44. Kh2 Be2 45. Qf4 Qxf4+ 46. Bxf4
Kg6 47. Kg3 Bf1 48. h4 Kh5 49. Bg5 Be2 50. Kf4 Bd3 51. Ke5 Kg4 52. Kd6 f4 53.
Kc7 f3 54. Kxb7 Bb5 55. Kc7 Kh5 56. Kd6 Kg4 57. Kc5 Kh5 58. Kd6 Kg4 59. Kc5 Kh5
60. Kd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-chT 23rd"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2016.05.03"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Sjugirov, Sanan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2674"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2016.05.01"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Novosibirsk Siberia"]
[BlackTeam "Samara region Zhiguli"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]
[TimeControl "6000+1020"]
[WhiteClock "0:24:15"]
[BlackClock "0:00:34"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. e3 {[#]} Nf6 3. d4 g6 (3... e6) (3... d5) 4. d5 Bg7 5. Nc3 O-O 6.
Bc4 d6 7. O-O Re8 8. e4 e6 (8... Bg4 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Qxf3 Nbd7) 9. Re1 exd5 10.
Nxd5 Nc6 11. Bg5 Be6 12. c3 Bxd5 13. Bxd5 Qc7 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Nd2 Rad8 16.
Qb3 {[#]} a6 17. a4 Rb8 18. Nc4 Ne5 19. a5 Nxc4 20. Qxc4 b5 21. axb6 Rxb6 22.
Re2 Reb8 23. Ra2 Rb5 24. g3 Kg7 {[#]} 25. Rxa6 Rxb2 26. Rxb2 Rxb2 27. Qa4 Qd8
28. Ra7 Be7 29. Rd7 Qe8 30. Qa7 Kf8 31. Kg2 h6 32. Bc6 {[#]} Bg5 (32... g5 33.
Qc7 f6) 33. Rc7 Qe6 34. Bd5 1-0

[Event "RUS-chT 23rd"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2016.05.04"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2762"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[Annotator "CB"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2016.05.01"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "St Petersburg Bronze Horseman"]
[BlackTeam "Novosibirsk Siberia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 Nxd5 (4... exd5 {mit diesem Zug erlitt
Kramnik beim Norway Chess vergangenen Monat einen bösen Schiffsbruch gegen
Carlsen.} 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Qf3 Bg6 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Qxf6 gxf6 10. Nf3 Nd7
11. Nh4 Be7 12. Ne2 Nb6 13. Ng3 Bb4+ 14. Kd1 Na4 15. Ngf5 Kd7 16. Rb1 Ke6 17.
Bd3 Rhc8 18. Ke2 Bf8 19. g4 c5 20. Ng2 cxd4 21. exd4 Bd6 22. h4 h5 23. Ng7+ Ke7
24. gxh5 Bxd3+ 25. Kxd3 Kd7 26. Ne3 Nb6 27. Ng4 Rh8 28. Rhe1 Be7 29. Nf5 Bd8
30. h6 Rc8 31. b3 Rc6 32. Nge3 Bc7 33. Rbc1 Rxc1 34. Rxc1 Bf4 35. Rc5 Ke6 36.
Ng7+ Kd6 37. Ng4 Nd7 38. Rc2 f5 39. Nxf5+ Ke6 40. Ng7+ Kd6 41. Re2 Kc6 42. Re8
Rxe8 43. Nxe8 Nf8 44. Ne5+ Bxe5 45. dxe5 Kd7 46. Nf6+ Ke6 47. h5 Kxe5 48. Nd7+
Nxd7 49. h7 Nc5+ 50. Ke2 {1-0 (50) Carlsen,M (2851)-Kramnik,V (2801) Stavanger
NOR 2016}) 5. Nf3 c5 6. g3 (6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+
10. Qxd2 O-O {ist die Hauptvariante}) 6... Nxc3 (6... Nc6 7. Bg2 cxd4 8. Nxd4
Nxc3 9. bxc3 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. cxd4) 7. bxc3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2
Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 b6 {Kramnik wandelt auf den Spuren Rubinsteins, modernere
Interpretationen des schwarzen Aufbaus verzichteten auf b6 um Weiß den Hebel
a4-a5 nicht anzubieten.} (10... Bd7 11. Bg2 Bc6 12. O-O Nd7 13. Rfe1 Nf6 14.
Qf4 Be4 15. Rac1 O-O 16. g4 Qb8 17. Qxb8 Raxb8 18. Ne5 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Rbc8 20.
Kf3 Rfd8 21. e4 Kf8 22. Ke3 g5 23. h4 h6 24. hxg5 hxg5 25. Rh1 Ke7 26. Kd3 Nd7
27. Nxd7 Rxc1 28. Rxc1 Kxd7 29. Rh1 Ke7 30. Rc1 Kd7 31. Rh1 Ke7 32. Rc1 {
1/2-1/2 (32) Grandelius,N (2581)-Roiz,M (2592) Stockholm 2015}) 11. Bg2 Bb7 12.
O-O {Diagramm [#]} O-O (12... Nd7 {wurde bereits 1937 von Rubinstein gespielt.
Dies erlaubt allerdings das sofortige a4 - ob Tfc1 sofort benötigt wird, ist
nämlich nicht klar. Deswegen erscheint mit Kramniks Zugfolge erst einmal
flexibler.} 13. a4 $1 (13. Rfc1 O-O 14. a4 Rc8 15. Rxc8 Qxc8 16. a5 b5 17. Rc1
Qb8 18. Qb4 a6 19. Ne1 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Rc8 21. Rxc8+ Qxc8 22. Nd3 Nb8 23. f3 Qc7
24. Kf2 f6 25. Nc5 Qd6 26. e3 Kf7 27. Ke2 Ke8 28. Qb1 f5 29. Qb3 Qd5 30. Qxd5
exd5 31. Kd2 Ke7 32. Kc3 Kd6 33. Nb7+ Kc7 34. Nc5 Kd6 35. Nb7+ Kc7 36. Nc5 Kd6
37. Nb7+ Kc7 {1/2-1/2 (37) Weinstock,K-Rubinstein,S Vienna 1937}) 13... O-O 14.
a5) 13. a4 (13. Rfc1 Nd7) 13... Nc6 $5 {Vorgänger platzierten den Springer
immer bescheidener auf d7, von wo aus er weniger Einfluss auf das Zentrum
nimmt, jedoch den Läufer nicht versperrt und weniger anfällig steht} 14. Ne5 $1
{ansonsten wir Schwarz mit ...Sa5 fortfahren und der Bauernzug a4 wäre
lediglich eine Schwächung gewesen.} Rc8 15. a5 $1 (15. Rfc1 $2 Qxd4 16. Qxd4
Nxd4 17. Bxb7 Rxc1+ 18. Rxc1 Nxe2+ 19. Kf1 Nxc1 $19) (15. Rfd1 Qe7 16. Rac1 Na5
$11 {Schwarz kontrolliert alle Einbruchsfelder auf der c-Linie und kann bequem
mit der Dame auf b7 wiedernehmen. Langfristig hat Schwarz den entfernten
Freibauern, a4 kann zudem zur Schwäche neigen. Weiß muss hier vermutlich im
Ausgleichssinne den konkreten Durchbruch d5 anpeilen}) 15... b5 16. Qb2 $6 (16.
a6 $5 Ba8 17. Rfd1 (17. Nxc6 {ist zu wenig} Bxc6 18. Bxc6 Rxc6 19. Ra5 Qd5 $11)
17... Qd6 (17... Ne7 $5 18. Bxa8 Rxa8 19. Rac1 {Schwarz steht noch etwas
unkoordiniert, hat jedoch langfristige Trümpfe. Entscheidend wird sein, ob der
weiße Bauer auf a6 oder der schwarze auf b5 schwächer wird.}) 18. Nxc6 Bxc6 19.
d5 $5 {schlägt Houdini vor} exd5 20. Bxd5 Bxd5 21. Qxd5 Qb6 22. Qb7 Rb8 23.
Qxb6 Rxb6 24. Rd7 Ra8 25. Rb7 $14 {wird vermutlich in einem 4-3 am
Königsflügel enden.}) 16... a6 {Kramnik hat seine Stellung nun gefestigt. Der
Bauer auf a5 ist mehr Schwäche denn Stärke, die weißfeldrige Konstellation Lb7,
Bauern a6,b5 ist konkret nicht auszunutzen.} 17. Nd3 $6 (17. Rfd1 Ba8 18. e3
Nxa5 19. Bxa8 Rxa8 20. Qa2 Nb7 21. Rac1 $44 {und Weiß hat Kompensation, doch
keinesfalls mehr}) 17... Ba8 18. Bxc6 (18. Nc5 Nxd4 19. Bxa8 Rxc5 $17) (18. e3
Nxa5 {und Weiß hat nicht genug Kompensation} 19. Qb4 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Nc6 21. Qb1
Nb8 $15) 18... Rxc6 19. Nb4 Rc4 {konkret gespielt} (19... Rd6 $1 {behält den
a6 - Schwarz kann nun mittels h5-h4 den geschwächten weißen König aufs Korn
nehmen}) 20. Nxa6 Qd5 21. f3 Rxd4 22. Nc7 Qc5 23. Kh1 Bc6 24. Rfc1 Rc4 25. Na6
$2 {diesen Zeitverlust hält die weiße Stellung nicht mehr aus} (25. a6 $1 Rc8 (
25... Bxf3+ 26. exf3 Qxc7 27. Rxc4 Qxc4 28. a7 Qd5 29. Kg2 {und Weiß hält dank
des starken Freibauern das Gleichgewicht}) 26. a7 Rxc7 27. Rxc4 $1 Qxc4 28.
a8=Q+ Bxa8 29. Rxa8+ Rc8 30. Rxc8+ Qxc8 31. Qxb5 $11) 25... Qf2 $1 26. Qe5 Bd5
{Es droht f6 nebst Dxe2.} 27. Nc7 f6 28. Qd6 Rxc7 29. Qxc7 Qxe2 30. Ra3 {
und offensichtlich wollte sich Svidler ...b4 nicht mehr zeigen lassen} 0-1

[Event "RUS-chT 23rd"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2016.05.07"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[PlyCount "276"]
[EventDate "2016.05.01"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Novosibirsk Siberia"]
[BlackTeam "Moscow Legacy Square"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. O-O e5 5. c4 d5 6. Qa4 Bd6 7. d4 cxd4 8. cxd5
Qa5 9. Qxa5 Nxa5 10. Na3 Bd7 11. b4 Bxb4 12. Nxe5 Bc3 13. Rb1 Bf5 14. Nb5 Bxb1
15. Nc7+ Kd8 16. Nxa8 Bg6 17. Bf4 Nd7 18. Nxd7 Kxd7 19. Bh3+ Ke7 20. d6+ Kf6
21. Nc7 Bf5 22. Nd5+ Ke6 23. Nc7+ Kf6 24. Bg2 Be6 25. h4 h6 26. Rb1 g5 27.
hxg5+ hxg5 28. Nxe6 fxe6 29. Bc1 Rd8 30. Rb5 e5 31. f4 gxf4 32. gxf4 e4 33.
Bxe4 Nc4 34. Bd3 Nxd6 35. Rg5 b5 36. Rg6+ Kf7 37. Kf2 Bb4 38. f5 Nc4 39. Bg5
Rd5 40. Rf6+ Kg8 41. Re6 Nd6 42. Rg6+ Kf7 43. Kf3 a5 44. Kg4 a4 45. Rh6 Nc4 46.
Kh5 Bf8 47. Rh7+ Kg8 48. Rb7 Nd6 49. Rd7 b4 50. Bc4 Nxc4 51. Rxd5 b3 52. axb3
axb3 53. Rb5 b2 54. Rb7 Ba3 55. Kg6 Ne5+ 56. Kh5 Nc4 57. Bf4 Na5 58. Rb6 Nc6
59. Rb3 Kf7 60. Bg5 Nb4 61. f6 Nd5 62. Rb7+ Ke6 63. f7 Bb4 64. f8=Q Bxf8 65.
Rxb2 Nc3 66. Kg4 Kd5 67. Kf3 Bc5 68. Rb8 Kc4 69. Rc8 Kd5 70. Bf4 Nb5 71. Bh6
Nc3 72. Bg7 Nb5 73. Rb8 Kc4 74. Rc8 Kd5 75. Bh6 Nc3 76. Bd2 Nb5 77. Kg2 Nc3 78.
Kf1 Ne4 79. Ke1 Kc4 80. Re8 Nd6 81. Re5 Nb5 82. Kd1 Bd6 83. Rh5 Bc5 84. Rh8 Nd6
85. Kc2 Ne4 86. Be1 Nd6 87. Ra8 Ne4 88. Ra4+ Kd5 89. Kd3 Bb6 90. Bb4 Nf2+ 91.
Kc2 Ne4 92. Bf8 Nc3 93. Ra6 Bc7 94. Kd3 Ne4 95. Ra7 Nf2+ 96. Kc2 Bb6 97. Rf7
Ng4 98. Rf4 Ne5 99. Bg7 Nc6 100. Kb3 Bc7 101. Rf5+ Be5 102. Rh5 Ke4 103. Bh6
Bf6 104. Bd2 Ne5 105. Rh6 Bg7 106. Rh4+ Kd5 107. Bf4 Nc6 108. Rh5+ Ke4 109. Rc5
Kxf4 110. Rxc6 Ke3 111. Rg6 Bh8 112. Re6+ Kd2 113. Kc4 Bg7 114. Rg6 Bh8 115.
Rg2 Ke3 116. Rg8 Bf6 117. Rf8 Bg7 118. Rf7 Bh8 119. Re7+ Kd2 120. Re8 Bg7 121.
Re7 Bh8 122. Re4 Bg7 123. Re6 Bh8 124. Rh6 Bg7 125. Rh2 Ke3 126. Rg2 Bh8 127.
Rg8 Bf6 128. Rf8 Bg7 129. Rf7 Bh8 130. Re7+ Kd2 131. Kd5 d3 132. e4 Ke2 133.
Rh7 d2 134. Rh2+ Ke3 135. Rh1 Ke2 136. e5 Bxe5 137. Kxe5 d1=Q 138. Rxd1 Kxd1
1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-chT 23rd"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2016.05.08"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Sjugirov, Sanan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C66"]
[WhiteElo "2674"]
[BlackElo "2801"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "2016.05.01"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Samara region Zhiguli"]
[BlackTeam "Novosibirsk Siberia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]
[TimeControl "6000+965"]
[WhiteClock "0:01:17"]
[BlackClock "0:03:58"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 d6 5. O-O Bd7 6. Re1 g6 7. d4 Bg7 8. d5
Ne7 9. c4 O-O 10. Nc3 Bg4 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Qxf3 Kh8 13. Ba4 Nfg8 14. Bc2 f5 15.
exf5 gxf5 16. g4 fxg4 17. Qxg4 Qe8 18. Be3 Bh6 19. Kh1 Nf6 20. Qh4 Bxe3 21.
fxe3 Qh5 22. Qxh5 Nxh5 23. Ne4 Nf5 24. Kh2 a6 25. Rac1 b6 26. a3 h6 27. Bd3 a5
28. Rc2 Nh4 29. Be2 Rf3 30. Rf1 Rxf1 31. Bxf1 Rf8 32. Rf2 Rxf2+ 33. Nxf2 Nf3+
34. Kg2 Ne1+ 35. Kh2 Kg7 36. Be2 Nf6 37. Bd1 e4 38. Kg3 Kg6 39. b4 Kf5 40. bxa5
bxa5 41. Ba4 Nd3 42. Nd1 Nc5 43. Bb5 Nfd7 44. Kh4 Kg6 45. Bxd7 Nxd7 46. Nc3 {
[#]} Ne5 (46... Kf5 47. Kh5 (47. Nb5 Nb6 48. Nd4+ Kf6) 47... Ne5 48. Nb5 Nxc4
49. Nxc7 Nxe3) 47. c5 Kf5 48. cxd6 (48. c6 Nc4 49. Nb5 Nxe3 50. Nxc7 Ke5 51.
Kg3 Nf5+ 52. Kf2 Ne7) 48... cxd6 {[#]} 49. Kh5 (49. a4 Nc4 50. Nd1 Nb6 51. Nc3
Ke5 52. Kh5 Nxd5 53. Nd1 (53. Nxd5 Kxd5 54. Kxh6 Kc4 55. Kg5 d5 56. h4 d4 57.
h5 dxe3 58. h6 e2 59. h7 e1=Q 60. h8=Q Qg3+ 61. Kf5 Qf3+ 62. Ke6 e3) 53... Nb6
54. Kxh6 Nxa4 55. Kg5 Nc5 56. h4 a4 57. h5 a3 58. Nc3 Nd7 59. h6 Nf8) 49... Nc4
50. Kxh6 Nxa3 (50... Nxe3 51. h4) 51. Kg7 Nc4 52. h4 Nxe3 53. h5 Ng4 {[#]} 54.
Nb5 (54. h6 Nxh6 55. Kxh6 e3) 54... Ke5 55. Kg6 e3 56. Nc3 a4 57. Kg5 Nf6 58.
h6 a3 59. Kg6 e2 0-1

[Event "RUS-chT 23rd"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2016.05.09"]
[Round "9.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2801"]
[BlackElo "2762"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2016.05.01"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Novosibirsk Siberia"]
[BlackTeam "St Petersburg Bronze Horseman"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O a6 7. a4 h6 8. Re1 O-O
9. Nbd2 Re8 10. Nf1 Ba7 11. Be3 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. Bxa7 Rxa7 14. Ng3 d5 15.
d4 dxe4 16. dxe5 Qxd1 17. Raxd1 exf3 18. exf6 Rxf6 19. Re8+ Kh7 20. Rd7 b5 21.
Ne4 Rf5 22. a5 b4 23. cxb4 fxg2 24. Kxg2 Nxb4 25. Rf8 Nc6 26. h4 Ne5 27. Re7
Ng6 28. Rexf7 Nxh4+ 29. Kh3 Kg6 30. Rxf5 Nxf5 31. Nc5 h5 32. b4 Ne7 33. f4 c6
34. Kg2 Nd5 35. Kf3 Rf7 36. Rxf7 Kxf7 37. Nxa6 Kf6 38. Ke4 h4 39. Kf3 g5 40.
Nc5 Nxf4 41. a6 Nd5 42. a7 Nc7 43. Na6 Na8 44. Nb8 Ke6 45. Nxc6 Kd6 46. Nd4 Kc7
47. Kg4 Kb6 48. Nf3 Kxa7 49. Nxg5 Kb6 50. Kxh4 Kb5 51. Kh5 Kxb4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.09"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2016.06.09"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 c5 7. Nf3 cxd4 8.
cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Rc1 b6 12. Bd3 Bb7 13. O-O Nd7 14. Qf4
h6 15. e5 Rc8 16. Nd2 Rxc1 17. Rxc1 f6 18. Qg4 Nxe5 19. Qxe6+ Rf7 20. Bf5 g6
21. Nc4 Nxc4 22. Bxg6 Nd6 23. d5 Kf8 24. Bxf7 Nxf7 25. Rd1 Qd6 26. h4 b5 27.
Qe3 a6 28. Qa7 Qc7 29. Re1 Qd7 30. Rd1 Kg7 31. Qb8 Nd6 32. Rc1 Nc4 33. Rd1 Nd6
34. Rc1 Nc4 35. Rd1 Nd6 36. Rd3 Kf7 37. Rd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.09"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D78"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2016.06.09"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 c6 7. Ne5 Ne4 8. Nc3
Nxc3 9. bxc3 dxc4 10. Nxc4 Be6 11. Qd3 Nd7 12. Rd1 Nb6 13. Na5 Qd7 14. c4 Rad8
15. Be3 Qc7 16. Qc2 Rd7 17. Rab1 Bf5 18. Be4 Bxe4 19. Qxe4 Rfd8 20. Rd3 Qc8 21.
Rc1 Re8 22. d5 c5 23. Rb1 Na4 24. Bd2 Nb6 25. Rb5 e6 26. d6 Qb8 27. Rxc5 Rxd6
28. Qxb7 Rxd3 29. Qxb8 Rxb8 30. exd3 Rd8 31. Rc7 Rxd3 32. Be3 Bd4 33. Bh6 Bg7
34. Bf4 Bd4 35. Nb3 Bf6 36. Bh6 Rd7 37. Rc6 Bd8 38. c5 Nd5 39. Rc8 Ne7 40. Ra8
Nc6 41. Bg5 Kg7 42. Bxd8 Rxd8 43. Rxd8 Nxd8 44. Nd4 Nb7 45. Nb5 Nxc5 46. Nxa7
Kf6 47. Nc6 e5 48. Kf1 Ke6 49. Nb4 e4 50. Ke2 f5 51. Ke3 Ke5 52. h4 h6 53. Nc6+
Kd6 54. Nd4 Ke5 55. Nc6+ Kd6 56. Nd4 Ke5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.09"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[Annotator "Mekhitarian,K"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2016.06.09"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 {The super-fashionable Berlin Variation of the
Ruy Lopez.} 4. d3 {This is the most flexible response, maintaining pieces and
avoiding massive exchanges.} Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. h3 Ne7 {A typical idea,
bringing the knight over to g6, from where it will stand better. On c6 the
knight is always somewhat limited, because of White's c3-pawn.} 8. d4 Bb6 9.
Re1 Ng6 10. Nbd2 c6 {Achieving a symmetrical position, but White is always one
slight step ahead, since he has played d4, and Black has yet to show how to
fully equalise the position.} 11. Bd3 Re8 12. Bc2 Bc7 13. a4 a5 14. Nf1 d5 $5
15. exd5 $6 (15. Bg5 $1 $146 {defending against the pressure on e4 in the most
active way} dxe4 (15... h6 $6 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. exd5 cxd5 18. Ne3 Rd8 19. dxe5
Nxe5 20. Nxd5 Nxf3+ 21. Qxf3 Qxf3 22. gxf3 $16) 16. Bxe4 exd4 17. Qc2 $5 {
threatening to play Rad1, and also planning Bxf6 followed by Bxg6, using the
weakness of the 8th rank.} Bd7 {defending the tactical ideas on e8} (17... dxc3
$2 18. Bxf6 $1 (18. Rad1 $6 Qxd1 $1 19. Rxd1 Nxe4 $44) 18... Qxf6 (18... gxf6
19. Rad1 $16) 19. Bxg6 Rxe1 20. Bxh7+ Kf8 21. Rxe1 g6 22. Bxg6 fxg6 23. bxc3
$16) 18. cxd4 (18. Rad1 $6 h6 $1 19. Bxf6 Qxf6 $15 {and Black is even better})
18... Nf8 $5 $13 {followed by ...h6.}) (15. Ng3 {was played in April, But
black also achieved comfortable equality} exd4 16. Qxd4 Bxg3 17. fxg3 Nxe4 18.
Bxe4 dxe4 19. Rxe4 Qxd4+ 20. Rxd4 Be6 $11 {1/2-1/2 (77) Landa,K (2626)-Nyback,
T (2608) Germany 2016}) 15... e4 $1 16. d6 {The only way to avoid a strong
centre for Black with 16...cxd5. In any case, Black's position is preferable
already.} Qxd6 17. N3h2 (17. Ng5 $6 Bf5 {simply threatening ...h6} 18. g4 {
looks suicidal} Be6 19. Nxe6 (19. Nxe4 $2 Nxe4 20. Bxe4 Bd5 $1 21. Bxd5 Qxd5 {
...Nh4 coming} 22. Ne3 Qd6 23. Nf1 Nh4 24. Rxe8+ Rxe8 $19 {with the decisive ..
.Re1 threat}) 19... Qxe6 $40 {and it has to go wrong for White somehow.}) 17...
h5 $5 {Avoiding Ng4 at all costs.} 18. f3 {Risky, but probably the best
decision here, to avoid suffocation.} (18. Bg5 Bf5 $1 19. Bxf6 Qxf6 20. Qxh5
Nf4 21. Qd1 Qh4 {threatening ...Nxg2} 22. Re3 Bg6 {and after ...f5 (and ...
Rad8, ...Nd5), White will be under a huge pressure} 23. Qg4 Qh7 $1 $17) 18...
Bf5 19. fxe4 Bxe4 20. Bxe4 Nxe4 21. Qxh5 Nf6 $5 {An interesting practical try,
that worked out well.} 22. Rxe8+ Rxe8 23. Qf3 $2 (23. Qf5 $1 {the best defence
- not an easy move to find} Nh4 (23... Re1 $2 24. Nf3 $1 $16) (23... Ne4 24.
Nf3 Ng3 25. Qg4 $13) (23... Re2 24. Nf3 Ne4 25. Be3 Ng3 26. Qc8+ Nf8 27. Bf2
Nxf1 28. Kxf1 Rxb2 29. Re1 $132) 24. Qf2 $13 {and White controls Black's
initiative for now}) (23. Qd1 {was also acceptable, keeping an eye on ...Re1}
Nd5 $1 24. Nf3 Ngf4 {threatening ...Re2} 25. Ne5 Qf6 26. Bxf4 Nxf4 $40 {
looks very good for Black.}) 23... Re1 24. Kf2 $2 (24. Bf4 {was the only move
to survive, but sometimes it is hard to realise that you are lost, and that
you have to give material right away. Especially in a position that was
completely normal 5 moves ago.} Rxf1+ 25. Rxf1 Nxf4 $17 {Black is much better
in the endgame, but there's still play.}) 24... Nh4 $1 25. Qd3 (25. Kxe1 Nxf3+
26. Nxf3 Ne4 $19 {and Black still maintains a strong attack, not to mention
the material superiority.}) 25... Qe6 $1 26. Ng4 Nxg4+ 27. hxg4 Nxg2 $1 28.
Kxg2 Qxg4+ 29. Kf2 Qh4+ {Kramnik plays like a computer and gives no survival
chances to Topalov, a very nice attack by the ex-world champion and current
world number 2.} 30. Kg2 Rxc1 $5 (30... Re6 $19 {was also good enough, with a
devastating attack.}) 31. Rxc1 Qg5+ {...and Black is totally winning in the
forthcoming endgame, after taking on c1.} 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.09"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D05"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2789"]
[Annotator "Mekhitarian,K"]
[PlyCount "124"]
[EventDate "2016.06.09"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. e3 Nf6 3. d4 {Kramnik has been testing a lot different systems
with White, with excellent results. This is one of them.} d5 (3... g6 {is a
normal reaction for a Grünfeld player. Kramnik had already faced it, and won
in great fashion:} 4. d5 $5 Bg7 5. Nc3 O-O 6. Bc4 d6 7. O-O Re8 (7... Bg4 8. e4
Nbd7 9. Be2 Bxf3 10. Bxf3 Ne8 11. Be2 a6 12. a4 b6 13. Qd3 $14 {1/2-1/2 (53)
Demidov,M (2506)-Khalifman,A (2614) Sochi 2016. White achieved a great
position in this game too, with the bishop pair, and the pawn still on c2 (it
is important, because later the pawn could go to c3 and limit the g7-bishop
and control more dark squares, not to mention that it gives more freedom to
the e2-bishop).}) 8. e4 e6 9. Re1 exd5 10. Nxd5 Nc6 11. Bg5 Be6 12. c3 Bxd5 13.
Bxd5 Qc7 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Nd2 {with a healthy positional advantage, later
converted into a nice win.} Rad8 16. Qb3 a6 17. a4 Rb8 18. Nc4 Ne5 19. a5 Nxc4
20. Qxc4 b5 21. axb6 Rxb6 22. Re2 Reb8 23. Ra2 $16 {1-0 (34) Kramnik,V (2801)
-Sjugirov,S (2674) Sochi 2016; when the opposite-coloured bishops with major
pieces leave Black in a horrible position, since the white one on d5 is much
more active than its counterpart.}) 4. c3 e6 5. Nbd2 Nc6 6. Bd3 Be7 7. O-O O-O
8. Ne5 {One of the main ideas in this system - White places a strong knight on
e5, and it is not obvious how to deal with it. Taking it allows a white pawn
on e5, and trying to push it with ...f6 is not as easy as it looks.} Nd7 9. f4
(9. Qh5 $6 g6 10. Nxg6 $2 hxg6 11. Bxg6 Nf6 {and Black wins two pieces.}) 9...
f5 (9... f6 10. Qh5 f5 {similar to the game} (10... g6 $4 {now it fails!} 11.
Bxg6 hxg6 12. Qxg6+ Kh8 13. Rf3 $18)) 10. g4 {A typical reaction, White wants
to add to the pressure on his opponent's structure.} Nf6 {Black also takes the
chance to occupy the e4-square.} 11. gxf5 exf5 12. Ndf3 Ne4 13. Qe2 {It looks
like White has the easier play now, with Kh1, Rg1, Bd2, Rg2, Rag1, and even
not having a direct way to break through, White can always take on e4 and/or
create threats against the black king on the g-file. To release the pressure,
Black will need to take the knight on e5 at some point, which leads to another
complex positional struggle.} Rf6 {I am not so sure either about this rook
transfer to h6. At some point it feels like Black will need to play g6, and
that would leave the rook awkardly placed there.} 14. Kh1 Rh6 15. Rg1 Nxe5 16.
Nxe5 c4 (16... Be6 $5 {keeping it flexible, was also possible.} 17. Bd2 Bd6 {
I would like to play like this with Black, because I can also have the option
to take my opponent's strong knight. Kramnik keeps that option and takes on e4
later, in a better situation.} 18. Rg2 $13 {with a complicated game to follow.
White doubles on the g-file, questioning the rook on h6, that may stay totally
out of play, if he plays ...g6.}) 17. Bc2 Bh4 18. Rg2 Qe8 19. Bd2 Qh5 20. Qxh5
Rxh5 21. Be1 Bf6 22. b3 $1 {Creating play on the queenside as well.} Be6 (22...
Bxe5 23. dxe5 cxb3 24. Bxb3 $5 Be6 25. Rd1 $14) (22... cxb3 23. axb3 (23. Bxb3
$6 Be6 {followed by ...Rc8}) 23... Be6 24. Bd3 a6 {preparing ...Rc8} 25. c4 $13
) 23. bxc4 dxc4 24. Bxe4 fxe4 25. Rb2 Rh3 (25... b6 {was safer} 26. a4 Bxe5 27.
dxe5 Rd8 $132) 26. Bg3 h5 $6 {Too optimistic.} (26... Bd5 27. Rb5 Rd8 {looked
safe, probably MVL did not want to allow Kg2} 28. Kg2 Rh6 29. Ra5 {stopping ...
Bxe5 followed by ...Ra6} Bxe5 $5 (29... a6 30. Rb1 $14) 30. fxe5 Rb6 31. Rxa7
Rb2+ 32. Kg1 $13) 27. Rxb7 h4 28. Bf2 Bxe5 29. dxe5 Rd8 30. Rg1 Kf8 {A
practical chance, 30...Rd7 was too passive.} 31. Rgxg7 Rf3 32. Bg1 $1 {keeping
the strong attack} (32. Bxh4 $2 Rd1+ 33. Rg1 Rxg1+ 34. Kxg1 Rxe3 $132) 32... h3
(32... Rb8 {it was again possible to accept passive play, forcing White to
choose precise moves in order to achieve a winning position.} 33. Rxa7 Ra8 34.
Rac7 Rc8 35. Rb7 Rb8 (35... Bd5 36. Ra7 Rxf4 (36... Ra8 37. Rxa8+ Kxg7 38. Rd8
Be6 39. Rd2 Rf1 40. Rf2 {-- 35...Rb8}) 37. e6 $1 Rf6 38. e7+ Ke8 39. a4 $18 {
bringing new forces in!}) 36. Rxb8+ Kxg7 37. Rb2 $1 Rf1 38. Rf2 Rc1 39. f5 Bd5
40. Kg2 h3+ 41. Kxh3 $1 Rxg1 42. Rg2+ Rxg2 43. Kxg2 $18 {easily winning the
endgame.}) 33. Rg6 $6 {He still wins, but this move makes it more difficult.} (
33. Rh7 $1 {was straightforward, creating threats on the 8th rank} Bg8 (33...
Kg8 34. Rbg7+ Kf8 35. Rxa7 Kg8 36. Rag7+ Kf8 37. Rg6 $18 {and White wins}) 34.
Rh8 $18 {with the unstoppable e6 coming.}) 33... Rd7 $1 34. Rb8+ Kf7 35. Rbg8
$6 (35. Rf6+ Ke7 36. Rh8 Rf1 {...Bg4 threatened} 37. Rg6 {defending and
threatening Rg7+ followed by Rxh3, that practically solves all White's issues
to convert the endgame} Bf7 38. Rg7 Ke6 39. Rxh3 $18) 35... Bf5 $1 36. R6g7+
Ke6 37. Re8+ $6 (37. Rg5 Rf7 38. Rd8 $1 {avoiding the king transfer to the
queenside} Rf1 39. Rd6+ Ke7 40. Ra6 $16 {But I still won't take the risk of
evaluating the position as won for White.}) 37... Kd5 38. Rg5 Be6 {Now White's
attack is gone and he has to be watching for the decisive counterplay against
his own king.} 39. Rf8 Rf7 40. Rb8 Rf1 41. Rg6 Re7 42. Rb5+ Kc6 43. Rb2 Re8 44.
Rd2 (44. Rf2 $1 Rxf2 45. Bxf2 $14) 44... Kc5 45. Rd6 (45. Rf2 $5 Rc1 46. f5 Bf7
47. Rg3 (47. Rg5 $2 Bh5 $1 {Rxh5 is not possible in view of ...Rg8!} 48. Rg3
Kd5 49. e6 Bf3+ 50. Rfxf3 exf3 51. Rxf3 Ke5 $19) 47... Bh5 48. e6 Bf3+ 49.
Rfxf3 exf3 50. Rxf3 Kd5 51. Rxh3 Ke4 52. f6 Rxe6 53. Rh4+ Ke5 54. Rxc4 Rxf6 55.
Rg4 {and White should survive, but there is still play} Rxc3 $17) 45... Bf5 46.
Rg7 Re7 $1 47. Rg5 (47. Rxe7 {leads to a draw, which wasn't a bad result after
such a crazy game. In the other hand, it is only natural that Kramnik
continues to push for a win with these strong passed pawns, but things start
to go wrong soon.} Bg4 48. Rc7+ Kb5 49. Rb7+ Kc5 50. Rc7+ Kb5 51. Rb7+ Kc5 $11)
47... Be6 48. a4 Rc1 49. Rg6 $6 (49. f5 $5 Bxf5 $1 50. Ra6 $1 {attacking the
bishop on f5, and having enough time to avoid ...Rxc3 and the king escaping
through b4} (50. Rxf5 $4 Rg7 $19) 50... Be6 51. Rg6 $1 Kd5 52. Ra5+ Kc6 53.
Ra6+ Kd5 $11) 49... Bd7 $1 {Now ...Rxc3 is coming and White is in trouble.} 50.
f5 {too late.} Bxf5 51. Rg5 Be6 52. Rg6 Bd7 $19 53. Ra6 Rxc3 54. e6 Bc8 55.
Rg5+ Kb4 56. Rc6 Bxe6 57. a5 Bd7 58. Rd6 Rd3 59. Rf6 c3 60. Rf2 Ba4 61. Rg8 Bd1
62. Rb8+ Ka3 {A painful loss for White!} 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.09"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2782"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2016.06.09"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. b3 c5 7. Bb2 Nc6 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. d4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Bd7 11. Na3 Bf6 12. Nc4 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Bb5 14. Rc1 Rc8
15. a4 Ba6 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. Bxd5 Rcd8 18. e4 exd5 19. exd5 Qg5 20. d6 b5 21.
axb5 Qxb5 22. Re1 Qc6 23. Na5 Qxd6 24. Qxd6 Rxd6 25. Rc6 Rxc6 26. Nxc6 g6 27.
b4 Bb7 28. Nxa7 Rd8 29. b5 Rd2 30. Nc6 Bxc6 31. bxc6 Rc2 32. Re8+ Kg7 33. Rc8
h5 34. Kg2 Kf6 35. Kf3 Ke7 36. Rc7+ Ke6 37. h4 Rc4 38. Ke3 Rc2 39. f4 Rc3+ 40.
Kd4 Rc1 41. Rc8 Kd6 42. f5 gxf5 43. c7 Ke7 44. Rh8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.10"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2016.06.09"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. O-O d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. a4
a5 9. Nbd2 Nb6 10. Bb5 Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. Ne4 Bd6 13. Re1 Na7 14. d4 Nxb5 15.
axb5 exd4 16. Nxd6 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Qxd6 18. Bf4 Qf6 19. Bxc7 Qxf3 20. gxf3 Nd5
21. Bxa5 dxc3 22. bxc3 Rfc8 23. Red1 Nf4 24. Kh2 h6 25. Bb4 Rxa1 26. Rxa1 Nd5
27. Rd1 Nxb4 28. cxb4 g5 29. Rd4 Kg7 30. f4 Rc3 31. Kg2 Kg6 32. fxg5 hxg5 33.
h4 gxh4 34. Rxh4 Rd3 35. Rc4 Rd5 36. Rc5 Rd4 37. Rc7 Rxb4 38. Rxb7 Rb3 39. Rb8
Kf5 40. Rb6 Kf4 41. Rb8 f5 42. b6 Rb2 43. Rb7 Rb1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.10"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Fressinet, Laurent"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2687"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2016.06.09"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. h3 Ne7 8. d4
Bb6 9. Bd3 Ng6 10. Re1 c5 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Na3 Qe7 13. Qc2 Nh5 14. Bg5 f6 15.
Be3 Nhf4 16. Bf1 Kh8 17. Rad1 Be6 18. Kh2 f5 19. Bxf4 Nxf4 20. Nc4 Bc7 21. Ne3
fxe4 22. Qxe4 Nxh3 23. gxh3 Rxf3 24. Re2 Raf8 25. Bg2 Rxf2 26. Rxf2 Rxf2 27.
Qxb7 e4+ 28. Kh1 Bg8 29. Ng4 Re2 30. Qc8 h5 31. Bf1 hxg4 32. Bxe2 Qe5 33. Kg2
Qh2+ 34. Kf1 e3 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.10"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2804"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2016.06.09"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 c6 5. O-O Nf6 6. b3 O-O 7. Bb2 e6 8. c4 b6
9. Nbd2 Bb7 10. Qc2 Nbd7 11. e4 dxe4 12. Nxe4 Qc7 13. Nxf6+ Nxf6 14. Ne5 Rad8
15. Rad1 Nd7 16. Nxd7 Rxd7 17. Rd2 Rfd8 18. Rfd1 Qd6 19. Bc3 Qa3 20. b4 b5 21.
Qb3 Qa6 22. c5 Ba8 23. h4 h5 24. Be4 Qc8 25. Bb2 Re7 26. Qe3 Qd7 27. Bc3 Qe8
28. Qf3 Bb7 29. Kh2 Rc7 30. Qf4 Re7 31. Bf3 Bc8 32. Rd3 Kh7 33. Qe4 Rd5 34. Qe2
Rd8 35. Bb2 Rc7 36. Bc1 Bd7 37. Bf4 Rb7 38. Be5 Qh8 39. Be4 Kg8 40. Qf3 Rc8 41.
Qf4 Be8 42. Ra3 Rd8 43. Bf3 Kh7 44. Ra6 Rc8 45. Rd3 Rd8 46. Rda3 Bxe5 47. dxe5
Rbd7 48. Rxa7 Rd2 49. Bxc6 R8d4 50. Qe3 Bxc6 51. Rxf7+ Kg8 52. Rc7 Qh6 53. Rc8+
Kg7 54. Ra7+ Bd7 55. Rg8+ Kxg8 56. Qxh6 Rxf2+ 57. Kh3 Rf8 58. Qxg6+ 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.10"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2855"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[Annotator "Sadorra,J"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "2016.06.09"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 Nxd5 {This is known as the Semi-Tarrasch
Defence. It has a solid reputation but White usually gets a small edge in the
middlegame owing to more central control. However, this is not to say that
White always gets better chances in practice, especially against a very
well-prepared player like Kramnik.} 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 c5 7. Nf3 cxd4 8. cxd4
Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Bc4 Nd7 ({The other normal line is} 11... b6
12. O-O Bb7 13. Rfe1 Nc6 14. Rad1 {aiming for more central control.}) 12. O-O
b6 13. a4 $5 {This plan of quickly ramming the queenside seems to give Black
more problems in practice.} Bb7 14. Bd3 e5 {Kramnik's improvement over their
game in Norway Blitz earlier this year.} ({Their previous blitz encounter
continued} 14... Rb8 15. Rfe1 h6 16. a5 b5 17. Rac1 a6 18. Qb4 Rc8 19. Nd2 Rxc1
20. Rxc1 Ne5 $2 (20... Nb8 $1 {aiming for c6 is much better.}) 21. Bxb5 axb5
22. dxe5 Qd3 23. h3 Rd8 24. Rc7 Ba8 25. Qe7 Rf8 26. Qd6 Qe2 27. f3 Qe3+ 28. Kh2
Qf4+ 29. Kh1 b4 30. a6 h5 31. a7 h4 32. Qxb4 Qxe5 33. Qc5 Qxc5 34. Rxc5 Rd8 35.
Nc4 Kh7 {1-0 (35) Carlsen,M (2851)-Kramnik,V (2801) Stavanger NOR 2016}) 15.
Qe3 $1 $146 {The World Champion is well prepared!} (15. d5 Nc5 16. Bc2 (16. Qe3
f5 $132) 16... f5 $1 $11 {and Black gains equal chances in both lines.}) 15...
exd4 16. Nxd4 Nc5 17. Bc2 Re8 18. f3 Qf6 19. a5 Rad8 20. Rfd1 $14 {White is
slightly better due to his better pawn structure, more central control and
room for his pieces.} Ba6 21. axb6 axb6 22. Ba4 $5 {A creative way to get rid
of the strong knight on c5.} (22. Nb3 {trading the knight seems also like a
good idea, but Magnus probably didn't think he could create enough problems
for Black after} Nxb3 23. Bxb3 Rxd1+ 24. Rxd1 Rd8 25. Rxd8+ (25. Bd5 Bc4) 25...
Qxd8 26. Bd5 Qc7 $11) 22... Nxa4 23. Rxa4 b5 (23... Bb7 24. Rb4 $36) (23... Bc8
24. Rb4 $36) 24. Rb4 Rd7 25. Rc1 {Even though Black has defensive resources,
Magnus likes playing positions where he has long-term pressure, creating small
problems for the enemy one after another and taking advantage of inaccuracies.}
Red8 $6 {Just like this.} (25... h6 $142 26. Rc6 Re6 $1 {a small tactic comes
to the rescue} 27. Nxe6 $4 (27. Rc5 Re5 $11) 27... Rd1+ 28. Kf2 Qh4+ $19) (
25... Rc8 {could also keep the balance but it's difficult to judge whether
this trade is beneficial or not during play.}) 26. e5 {Gaining more space, and
introducing e6 ideas in the future.} Qb6 27. Rc6 $1 Qa7 28. Nf5 Qxe3+ ({
Throwing in checks} 28... Rd1+ 29. Kf2 R1d2+ 30. Kg3 $14 {doesn't change the
evaluation of the position.}) 29. Nxe3 {Magnus has converted a slightly better
middlegame game to a superior ending. Now let's watch and learn from the World
Champion's endgame technique.} Ra8 30. Kf2 g6 31. h4 $1 {With the idea of
h5-h6. In case you haven't noticed from his games (any time-control!), Magnus
is fond of using "rook pawn thrusts."} h5 {.} 32. e6 $1 {perfect timing, now
that Black has already weakened g6} fxe6 33. Rxe6 Kh7 34. Rf4 (34. Rb6 $1 $16 {
[%cal Gb4f4,Gf4f6,Ge4e6] making sure the bishop is tied down before activating
the b4-rook} Raa7 35. Re4) 34... Bc8 35. Rb6 Ra2+ 36. Kg3 Re2 37. Re4 Bb7 38.
Nd5 $1 Rxe4 39. Nf6+ Kg7 40. Nxd7 Re7 {A critical moment, as evidenced by
Magnus' long pause before he made his next move.} 41. Nb8 $1 {Magnus chooses
the move that keeps the best practical winning chance.} (41. Nc5 Bc8 42. Rxb5
Re5 {looks drawish due to the unpleasant pin. While White may be able to break
the pin, the resulting minor piece ending gives Black good drawing chances
especially against an endgame virtuoso like Volodya.} 43. Ra5 Kh6 44. Nb3 Rxa5
(44... Re3 {may be more stubborn}) 45. Nxa5 g5 $1 46. Nc4 (46. hxg5+ Kxg5)
46... Ba6) (41. Rxb7 b4 $1 {is Kramnik's defensive trick} 42. Kf4 (42. Nc5 $4
Rxb7 43. Nxb7 b3 {the passed pawn is too fast}) 42... b3 43. Rxb3 Rxd7 $11)
41... Rc7 42. Rxb5 Kf6 {There's different ways to continue here but the next
moves show both sides shuffling pieces to manage their time. The onus is on
White to do something, because he has to extricate his knight from b8 to make
any sort of progress.} 43. Rb2 Kf5 44. Rb6 Re7 45. Rb5+ Kf6 46. Kf4 Rc7 47.
Rb6+ Kg7 48. Rd6 (48. Kg5 Rc5+ 49. Kf4 Rc7 {doesn't do anything.}) 48... Rc4+
49. Kg3 Rc7 50. Rd7+ $1 {A well-judged decision to transform the game into a
minor piece ending.} (50. Nd7 $5 {is also playable} Rc6 51. Rd4 $14) 50... Rxd7
51. Nxd7 {The important thing to see here is the possibility of getting the
white king on to g5 where it'll be winning.} Ba6 (51... Bc6 52. Nc5 Kf6 53. Kf4
{with Ne4 to follow then Kg5.}) (51... Kh6 52. Kf4 $1 {compared to the minor
piece ending arising after 41.Nc5, Black cannot trade a set of pawns here
which changes the evaluation of the situation big time.}) 52. Nc5 (52. Kf4 {
also works} Bf1 53. g3 Be2 54. Nc5 Bd1 55. Ne4 Kf7 56. Nc3 $1 {kicking the
knight out and liberating the king from the defence of f3} (56. Nd2 Kf6)) 52...
Bf1 53. Ne4 Kf7 54. Nd2 Bd3 {It's only a matter of time for White to execute
the winning plan: get the king to g5, then prepare & execute the f4-f5 pawn
break.} 55. Kf4 Ke6 56. Kg5 Kf7 57. Nb3 Bf1 58. g3 Kg7 59. Nd4 Bc4 60. f4 Bd3
61. f5 {Tada!} gxf5 62. Nxf5+ Kh7 63. Ne3 {The h-pawn will eventually drop off,
so Black resigned.} 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A04"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[Annotator "Besenthal,K"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. O-O e5 5. e4 d6 6. d3 g6 7. a3 Bg7 8. Nc3 O-O
9. Rb1 a6 10. b4 b5 11. Be3 cxb4 12. axb4 h6 13. h3 Be6 14. d4 Bc4 15. Re1 Rc8
16. Qd2 Kh7 17. g4 d5 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. dxe5 Nxe4 20. Nxe4 dxe4 21. Bxe4 Qxd2
22. Bxd2 Bxe5 23. Bxg6+ fxg6 24. Rxe5 Rf7 25. Be3 Rd8 26. Ra1 Rd6 27. c3 g5 28.
Bd4 Kg6 29. Re8 Rf3 30. Kh2 h5 31. Ra8 hxg4 32. hxg4 Rf4 {Diagramm [#]} 33.
Rg8+ $4 {Offenbar in höchster Zeitnot gespielt.} ({Nach} 33. Be5 $1 Rxf2+ 34.
Kg3 {hätte Schwarz zunächst eine Qualität verloren. Anschließend wäre
noch das Schlagen auf a6 gefolgt und Weiß hätte die Partie gewonnen.}) 33...
Bxg8 34. Be5 Rxf2+ 35. Kg3 Rdd2 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Bc5 4. Nf3 d6 5. c3 Nc6 6. O-O a6 7. a4 h6 8. Re1 O-O
9. Nbd2 Be6 10. b4 Ba7 11. h3 Bxc4 12. Nxc4 Re8 13. Be3 d5 14. exd5 Qxd5 15.
Bxa7 Rxa7 16. Ne3 Qd7 17. Qc2 Raa8 18. Nc4 Qd5 19. Ne3 Qd7 20. Nc4 Qf5 21. b5
axb5 22. axb5 Rxa1 23. Rxa1 e4 24. bxc6 exf3 25. Ne3 Qc8 26. cxb7 Qxb7 27. g3
Qc6 28. Kh2 Nd5 29. Nxd5 Qxd5 30. Qa4 c6 31. Qd4 Qf5 32. g4 Qe6 33. Kg3 Qe2 34.
Qd7 Qe5+ 35. Kxf3 Re6 36. Qd4 Rf6+ 37. Kg2 Qxd4 38. cxd4 Rf4 39. Ra4 g5 40. Rc4
Rf6 41. f3 Kf8 42. Rc5 Rd6 43. Rc4 Ke7 44. Kg3 Ke6 45. h4 Kd5 46. Ra4 Rf6 47.
hxg5 hxg5 48. Kf2 Re6 49. Rc4 f6 50. Ra4 Re7 51. Rc4 Re6 52. Ra4 Re7 53. Rc4
Re6 54. Ra4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Fressinet, Laurent"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2687"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Qb6 5. Nb3 Nf6 6. Nc3 e6 7. Qe2 Qc7 8.
f4 Bb4 9. Bd2 Bxc3 10. bxc3 d6 11. g4 b6 12. Bg2 Bb7 13. g5 Nd7 14. h4 Na5 15.
Nxa5 bxa5 16. Rb1 Nc5 17. h5 O-O 18. g6 h6 19. gxf7+ Qxf7 20. O-O Rae8 21. c4
Ba6 22. Bxa5 Rc8 23. Bb4 Rfd8 24. Rf2 Nd7 25. Bxd6 Bxc4 26. Qf3 Nf6 27. Be5
Bxa2 28. Ra1 Bc4 29. f5 Qxh5 30. Qxh5 Nxh5 31. Rxa7 Rf8 32. Bh3 Rce8 33. Rc7
Rc8 34. Rxc8 Rxc8 35. fxe6 Re8 36. Bg4 g6 37. Bxh5 gxh5 38. Rg2+ 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.11"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Qc2
h6 9. Bh4 Re8 10. Nf3 Be6 11. Ne5 c5 12. O-O cxd4 13. exd4 Nc6 14. Nxc6 bxc6
15. Bg3 Nh5 16. Na4 Nxg3 17. hxg3 Rc8 18. Rfe1 Qf6 19. Rad1 Bg4 20. Rxe8+ Rxe8
21. Qxc6 Rc8 22. Qa6 Bxg3 23. fxg3 Qxa6 24. Bxa6 Bxd1 25. Bxc8 Bxa4 26. Bb7 Kf8
27. Bxd5 Ke7 28. Kf2 f5 29. Ke3 g5 30. Bb7 Kd6 31. b3 Bd7 32. Bf3 Be6 33. Kd3
Bf7 34. Kc3 h5 35. a4 g4 36. Bb7 Kc7 37. Ba8 Kb8 38. Bc6 Kc7 39. Bb5 Bd5 40.
Bf1 Kd6 41. b4 f4 42. gxf4 h4 43. f5 Ke7 44. Kd3 Kf6 45. Ke3 Kxf5 46. b5 g3 47.
a5 Kg5 48. Be2 Bxg2 49. Bf3 Bf1 50. b6 axb6 51. axb6 Ba6 52. b7 Bxb7 53. Bxb7
h3 54. Kf3 g2 55. Kf2 Kf4 56. Ba8 Kf5 57. Bc6 Kf4 58. Bb7 Kf5 59. Bc8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.11"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C55"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2855"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Re1 d6 7. a4 Na5 8. Ba2
c5 9. Nbd2 Nc6 10. c3 Be6 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. b4 cxb4 13. cxb4 Nxb4 14. Qb3 d5
15. Nxe5 Rc8 16. Rb1 Nc2 17. Rf1 Nd4 18. Qd1 Qc7 19. Ndf3 dxe4 20. dxe4 Nxf3+
21. Nxf3 Nxe4 22. Qe2 Qc4 23. Qxc4 Rxc4 24. Rxb7 Bc5 25. Bb2 Nf6 26. Ng5 Re8
27. a5 h6 28. Nf7 Re7 29. Rxe7 Bxe7 30. Ne5 Rc2 31. Bd4 Bc5 32. Nc6 a6 33. Ra1
Bd6 34. Bxf6 Rxc6 35. Bd4 Bc7 36. g3 Kf7 37. Kg2 h5 38. Kf3 e5 39. Be3 Ke6 40.
Ra4 Kd5 41. g4 g6 42. gxh5 gxh5 43. Rh4 Rf6+ 44. Ke2 Rf5 45. Bb6 Bd6 46. f3 Be7
47. Ra4 Rg5 48. Kf1 Rg6 49. Ra2 Rc6 50. Rd2+ Ke6 51. Kg2 Rc3 52. Re2 Kf5 53.
Re4 Rc2+ 54. Kh3 Bg5 55. Be3 Rc3 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.11"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C66"]
[WhiteElo "2804"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 d6 5. O-O Bd7 6. Re1 g6 7. c3 Bg7 8. Nbd2
O-O 9. Ba4 Nh5 10. Nf1 Kh8 11. h3 f5 12. exf5 gxf5 13. d4 e4 14. Ng5 Nf6 15. d5
Ne5 16. Bxd7 Qxd7 17. Ne6 Nd3 18. Re3 Nxd5 19. Rxd3 exd3 20. Nxf8 Rxf8 21. Qxd3
c6 22. Bd2 Re8 23. Ng3 Rf8 24. Nh5 Be5 25. f4 Bg7 26. Re1 Nf6 27. Ng3 Ng8 28.
Be3 Qe6 29. Bf2 Qg6 30. Bxa7 c5 31. Bb6 Bh6 32. Qf3 Nf6 33. Re6 Qf7 34. Rxd6
Qxa2 35. Bxc5 Qxb2 36. Bd4 Bg7 37. Kh2 Qb1 38. Rb6 Qc2 39. Rxb7 Ne8 40. Rxg7
Nxg7 41. Nh5 Rg8 42. Nxg7 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.11"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2789"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. c3 O-O 5. Nbd2 d6 6. e4 c5 7. d5 h6 8. Bh4 e6
9. dxe6 Bxe6 10. Be2 Nc6 11. O-O Qc7 12. Re1 Rad8 13. Qc2 d5 14. Bb5 g5 15. Bg3
Qb6 16. exd5 Bxd5 17. a4 Na5 18. b4 cxb4 19. cxb4 Nc6 20. Nc4 Nxb4 21. Qf5 Qc5
22. Ne3 Qc8 23. Qxc8 Rxc8 24. Bd6 Nc2 25. Nxc2 Rxc2 26. Nd4 Rd2 27. Bxf8 Bxf8
28. Rad1 Rxd1 29. Rxd1 a6 30. Bd3 Bc5 31. Nf5 h5 32. Rc1 Nd7 33. a5 Kf8 34. g3
Bc6 35. Be2 Be4 36. Ne3 g4 37. h3 h4 38. Bxg4 Bxe3 39. fxe3 f5 40. Bxf5 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.11"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. d4 dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4
Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bg5 Nbd7 11. Nc3 h6 12. Bd2 a5 13. Rfd1 Bb4 14. Qd3 Qe7 15.
Be1 Rfd8 16. Qc2 Nb6 17. b3 Rac8 18. Rac1 Ba3 19. Ra1 Bb4 20. Rac1 Be8 21. Qb1
c5 22. dxc5 Rxc5 23. Rxd8 Qxd8 24. Na2 Rxc1 25. Qxc1 Bxe1 26. Nxe1 Nbd5 27. Nd3
b5 28. axb5 Bxb5 29. Qc2 Qb6 30. Nac1 Qd4 31. Bf3 g5 32. h3 Kg7 33. Qc5 Qxc5
34. Nxc5 Nc3 35. Kf1 a4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.11"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. c4 dxc4 4. Qa4+ Nc6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O e5 7. Nxe5 Bxe5 8.
Bxc6+ bxc6 9. Qxc6+ Bd7 10. Qe4 f6 11. f4 Bf5 12. Qc6+ Bd7 13. Qe4 Bf5 14. Qe3
Qd4 15. fxe5 Qxe3+ 16. dxe3 fxe5 17. e4 Bxe4 18. Nc3 Bc6 19. Bg5 Rb8 20. Rad1
h6 21. Bf6 Rh7 22. Bxe5 Rxb2 23. Rf4 Re7 24. Bh8 Rc2 25. Rdf1 Kd7 26. Rxc4 Bb7
27. Rf8 Re8 28. Rxc7+ Kxc7 29. Rxe8 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.12"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2782"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 c6 4. O-O Bg4 5. h3 Bxf3 6. Bxf3 Nbd7 7. d3 e5 8. e4
dxe4 9. dxe4 Bc5 10. Bg2 Qe7 11. a4 O-O 12. Qe2 a5 13. Nd2 Rfd8 14. Nb3 Bb6 15.
Bd2 Nc5 16. Nxc5 Bxc5 17. Rfd1 h6 18. Be1 Nd7 19. h4 Bb6 20. Qc4 Nc5 21. b3 Ne6
22. c3 Rxd1 23. Rxd1 Rd8 24. Qe2 Qa3 25. Rxd8+ Bxd8 26. Qd1 Bb6 27. Bh3 Nc5 28.
Bc8 Qb2 29. Kf1 Nxe4 30. Bf5 Nxf2 31. Qd7 g6 32. Be6 fxe6 33. Qe8+ Kg7 34. Qe7+
Kg8 35. Qe8+ Kg7 36. Qe7+ Kg8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.12"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 cxd4 5. exd4 Nc6 6. c3 Bf5 7. Nbd2 e6 8.
Nh4 Be4 9. Nxe4 Nxe4 10. Nf3 Bd6 11. Bxd6 Qxd6 12. Bd3 O-O 13. O-O a6 14. Qe2
f5 15. Rfe1 Rae8 16. a4 Re7 17. Rac1 Rd8 18. b4 Rc7 19. b5 axb5 20. Bxb5 Ne7
21. c4 dxc4 22. Rxc4 Nd5 23. Qb2 h6 24. g3 Rdc8 25. Ne5 Ndc3 26. Rxc7 Rxc7 27.
Bc4 Kh7 28. Bf1 Qxd4 29. Nd3 Qxa4 30. Qb6 Qc6 31. Qd4 Qd5 32. Qe3 Qd6 33. Bg2
Rd7 34. Bf1 b5 35. Nf4 Nd1 36. Qb3 Qb6 37. Re2 Ndxf2 38. Kg2 Rd6 39. h3 b4 40.
Qf3 b3 41. Qh5 Qc6 42. Kg1 Nd3 43. Qg6+ Kh8 44. Nh5 Qd7 45. Re3 Ne5 46. Qxg7+
Qxg7 47. Nxg7 Kxg7 48. Rxb3 Rd1 49. Kg2 Rd2+ 50. Kg1 Kf6 51. Bg2 Rd1+ 52. Kh2
Rd3 53. Rb8 Nxg3 54. Rh8 Kg7 55. Re8 Kf6 56. Rh8 Nf7 57. Rg8 Ne4 58. h4 Nf2 59.
Bf1 Rd2 60. Kg1 Ng4 61. h5 Nge5 62. Bg2 Ng5 63. Rh8 Ng4 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.12"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Fressinet, Laurent"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C66"]
[WhiteElo "2687"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 d6 5. O-O Bd7 6. Re1 g6 7. c3 Bg7 8. Bg5
h6 9. Bh4 O-O 10. Nbd2 Qe8 11. Nf1 Ne7 12. Bc4 Kh8 13. Ne3 Ng4 14. d4 Nxe3 15.
Rxe3 f6 16. Re1 Rd8 17. a4 Bc6 18. Qb3 Rb8 19. Be6 a5 20. Nd2 f5 21. d5 g5 22.
Bxg5 hxg5 23. dxc6 bxc6 24. Qd1 Qg6 25. Bb3 d5 26. exf5 Nxf5 27. Rb1 e4 28. Nf1
g4 29. Bc2 Rbd8 30. Qe2 c5 31. Bd1 c4 32. Qxg4 Qf7 33. Qh3+ Nh6 34. f3 Rde8 35.
Ng3 Re5 36. Bc2 Rg5 37. Rf1 e3 38. f4 Rg4 39. Nf5 e2 40. Nxh6 exf1=Q+ 41. Rxf1
Bxh6 42. Qxg4 Qf6 43. Qd7 Rf7 44. Qxd5 Bxf4 45. Kh1 Qh6 46. g3 Bxg3 47. Qd4+
Kg8 48. Qg4+ Qg7 49. Qxg7+ 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.12"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. d4 dxc4 7. Ne5 Nc6 8.
Bxc6 bxc6 9. Nxc6 Qe8 10. Nxe7+ Qxe7 11. Qa4 e5 12. dxe5 Qxe5 13. Qxc4 Be6 14.
Qd3 Rad8 15. Qe3 Qh5 16. f3 Bc4 17. Nc3 Rfe8 18. g4 Qg6 19. Qf2 Nd5 20. Nxd5
Rxd5 21. Re1 h5 22. g5 f6 23. h4 Rde5 24. e4 f5 25. Bf4 R5e7 26. Rac1 Bxa2 27.
Qxa7 Bf7 28. Rxc7 Rxc7 29. Qxc7 fxe4 30. Rxe4 Rxe4 31. fxe4 Qxe4 32. Qe5 Qf3
33. Bg3 Bd5 34. Qe8+ Kh7 35. g6+ Kh6 36. Qh8+ Kxg6 37. Qe8+ Kh7 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.12"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2855"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. h3 Nd7 7. Be3 O-O 8.
Qd2 Re8 9. Nc3 a5 10. Bxc5 Nxc5 11. O-O-O f6 12. Qe3 Qe7 13. d4 exd4 14. Nxd4
Bd7 15. Rhe1 b5 16. f3 b4 17. Nb1 Kh8 18. Nd2 Na4 19. Nc4 c5 20. Nf5 Qe6 21. b3
Bb5 22. bxa4 Bxc4 23. Qxc5 Qf7 24. Qc6 Be6 25. Kb2 h6 26. g4 Rad8 27. Rxd8 Rxd8
28. Qc5 Qd7 29. Qe7 Qxe7 30. Nxe7 c5 31. Nc6 c4 32. Nxd8 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.12"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A05"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2804"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 b5 3. e3 a6 4. b3 Bb7 5. c4 b4 6. Bg2 e6 7. O-O Be7 8. d4 O-O
9. Bb2 d6 10. Nbd2 Nbd7 11. Qe2 c5 12. Rfd1 Qc7 13. Ne1 a5 14. a4 bxa3 15. Rxa3
d5 16. Ra2 cxd4 17. Bxd4 e5 18. Ba1 e4 19. cxd5 Bxd5 20. Nc2 a4 21. Nd4 a3 22.
Nf5 Ne5 23. Nxe7+ Qxe7 24. Nc4 Nxc4 25. bxc4 Bc6 26. Bd4 Rfb8 27. Rda1 Rb3 28.
h3 h5 29. Kh2 h4 30. Qc2 hxg3+ 31. fxg3 Qb4 32. Bc5 Qb8 33. Rxa3 Raxa3 34. Rxa3
Rb2 35. Qd1 Rf2 36. Rb3 Qe5 37. Qd6 Qf5 38. Qd1 Qf3 39. Qg1 Bd7 40. Rb8+ Kh7
41. Bd6 Bxh3 42. Qxf2 Ng4+ 43. Kxh3 Nxf2+ 44. Kh2 Ng4+ 45. Kh3 Qf5 46. Rb5 Qe6
47. Kh4 Nxe3 48. Rh5+ Kg8 49. Bf4 Nxg2+ 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.12"]
[Round "16"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D78"]
[WhiteElo "2789"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 Nf6 5. c4 c6 6. b3 O-O 7. O-O Bf5 8. Bb2
Nbd7 9. e3 dxc4 10. bxc4 e5 11. Nc3 Re8 12. h3 exd4 13. Nxd4 Ne5 14. Nxf5 Qxd1
15. Nxd1 gxf5 16. Bxe5 Rxe5 17. Rb1 Re7 18. Nc3 Rd8 19. Rfd1 Rxd1+ 20. Rxd1 Kf8
21. h4 Ke8 22. Ne2 Ne4 23. Bh3 Re5 24. Nd4 Nc3 25. Rd3 Nxa2 26. Ra3 Nb4 27.
Rxa7 Rc5 28. Nxf5 Be5 29. f4 Bc7 30. Rxb7 Na6 31. Ra7 Ra5 32. c5 Kd8 33. Nd6 f6
34. Nb7+ 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.12"]
[Round "17"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[PlyCount "152"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. d4 dxc4 7. Ne5 Nc6 8.
Bxc6 bxc6 9. Nxc6 Qe8 10. Nxe7+ Qxe7 11. Qa4 e5 12. dxe5 Qxe5 13. Qxc4 Be6 14.
Qd3 Rad8 15. Qe3 Qa5 16. Qa3 Qh5 17. f3 Rfe8 18. Nc3 Bc4 19. Rf2 h6 20. Bf4 Nd5
21. Nxd5 Qxd5 22. Re1 Bxa2 23. Qxa7 c6 24. e4 Qe6 25. Kg2 Bc4 26. Qc5 Bb5 27.
h4 Rd3 28. g4 Red8 29. h5 Rd1 30. Rxd1 Rxd1 31. g5 hxg5 32. Qxg5 Bc4 33. Kh2 f6
34. Qg6 Qf7 35. Rc2 Bb5 36. Rg2 Qxg6 37. hxg6 c5 38. Rc2 Be8 39. Rxc5 Bxg6 40.
b4 Rb1 41. Bd2 Rb2 42. Rd5 Bf7 43. Rd8+ Kh7 44. Kg3 Rb3 45. Kg4 Be6+ 46. Kf4
g5+ 47. Kg3 g4 48. Rd6 Rxf3+ 49. Kg2 Bc4 50. Rd4 Bf1+ 51. Kg1 g3 52. e5 fxe5
53. Rh4+ Kg6 54. Be1 Kg5 55. Rh7 Bd3 56. Rg7+ Kf4 57. Kg2 Bf1+ 58. Kg1 Bc4 59.
Kg2 Bd5 60. Bd2+ Kf5 61. Rf7+ Kg4 62. Rxf3 Bxf3+ 63. Kg1 Be2 64. Kg2 Bf3+ 65.
Kg1 Bc6 66. Be3 Kf3 67. Bc5 Bb5 68. Bd6 e4 69. Bc5 e3 70. Bd4 Bc6 71. Be5 Bb5
72. Bd4 Ke4 73. Bc3 Kf3 74. Be5 Bc4 75. Bd4 Bb5 76. Be5 g2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2016.06.12"]
[Round "18"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2016.06.11"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nf5 8.
c3 Nxe5 9. Rxe5 d6 10. Re1 O-O 11. d4 d5 12. Bf4 c6 13. Bd3 Bd6 14. Qf3 Bxf4
15. Qxf4 Qd6 16. Qf3 g6 17. Nd2 Bd7 18. Re2 Ng7 19. Rae1 Rae8 20. Rxe8 Rxe8 21.
Rxe8+ Nxe8 22. Qe3 f6 23. Nf3 Ng7 24. Kf1 g5 25. h3 h6 26. Ng1 Kf7 27. Ne2 h5
28. Kg1 h4 29. Bc2 Bf5 30. Bxf5 Nxf5 31. Qd3 Qe6 32. Kf1 Qe4 33. Nc1 Nd6 34. f3
Qxd3+ 35. Nxd3 Ke6 36. Ke2 Kf5 37. b3 a5 38. Nc5 Kf4 39. Kf2 b6 40. Nd3+ Kf5
41. a4 b5 42. Nc5 bxa4 43. Nxa4 Kf4 44. Nc5 Nb5 45. Na4 f5 46. Nc5 g4 47. Ne6#
1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT rapid"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2016.06.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. b3 {Vladimir has an
exceptional knowledge of the Catalan, but this time he deviates from playing
d2-d4 so early.} c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Bb2 Nc6 9. d4 {The position contains a
definite strategic danger for Black, who is suffering from a passive
light-squared bishop.} (9. Nc3 {has also been successfully employed by
Vladimir:} Bf6 (9... Nxc3 10. Bxc3 Bd7 11. Qb1 Rc8 12. Rd1 Bf6 13. d4 Qe7 14.
Qb2 cxd4 15. Nxd4 b6 16. Nxc6 Bxc6 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18. Qxf6 gxf6 19. Rac1 Bxg2
20. Kxg2 $14 {Kramnik,V - Anand,V / Leuven BEL 2016}) 10. Qc2 b6 11. Nxd5 exd5
12. d4 $14 {Kramnik,V - Nakamura,H / Leuven BEL 2016}) 9... cxd4 10. Nxd4 Bd7
11. Na3 ({Another game in the same event saw} 11. Nc3 Nxc3 12. Bxc3 Rc8 13. Qd3
Nxd4 14. Bxd4 Bb5 15. Qxb5 Qxd4 16. Qxb7 $14 {Giri,A- Anand,V / Leuven BEL
2016, White was a pawn up, but didn't manage to win.}) 11... Bf6 ({Another way
to simplify matters didn't fully solve the problems:} 11... Nxd4 12. Qxd4 Bf6
13. Qd2 Bc6 14. Nc4 Bxb2 15. Qxb2 $14) 12. Nc4 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Bb5 {Black
manages to find an effective job for the bishop.} 14. Rc1 Rc8 15. a4 Ba6 {
This position was well-known to Vladimir Kramnik, who had to defend Black's
side in the previous event.} 16. e3 $146 {This prophyactic move is a novelty.}
({After} 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 $6 (16... Nxf6 $142 17. Qxd8 Rfxd8 18. Nd6 Rb8 19. Nb5
Bxb5 20. axb5 a6 $11) 17. Bxd5 Rcd8 18. e4 exd5 19. exd5 Qg5 20. d6 $14 {
Giri,A - Kramnik,V / Paris FRA 2016, Black was under pressure.}) 16... b6 (
16... b5 $5 {deserved serious attention:} 17. axb5 Bxb5 18. Re1 Nb4 19. Qd2 Be7
{and Black is close to full equality.}) 17. Bxd5 {Forcing major
simplifications.} Qxd5 ({The more dynamic way of handling the position was} 
17... Bxd4 $5 18. Bxe6 fxe6 19. Qxd4 Qxd4 20. exd4 Rf3 $1 21. Ne5 Rfc3 {
and the activity of the pieces offers Black full compensation for a pawn.}) 18.
Bxf6 Qxd1 $6 {This isn't a serious mistake, but giving up control over the
d-file is a definite concession.} ({Instead, the cool-blooded} 18... gxf6 $1
19. Qxd5 exd5 20. Nd6 Rcd8 21. Nb5 d4 $1 22. exd4 Bxb5 23. axb5 Rxd4 24. Rc7
Rb4 $11 {would allow Black to get half a point quite comfortably.}) 19. Rfxd1
gxf6 20. Rd7 {The rook's penetration to the 7th rank is quite annoying for
Hikaru.} Bxc4 21. bxc4 {[%mdl 4096]} a6 $2 {Mistakes rarely come singly! This
one leads to the loss of a pawn.} ({Instead, the correct} 21... a5 22. Rd6 Rb8
23. Kf1 Rfc8 24. Ke2 Kf8 25. Kd3 Ke7 26. Rd4 Rc6 {would still offer Black a
defendable position.}) 22. Ra7 $2 {Both players are committing mistakes in the
resulting endgame, but this is usual for rapid games.} (22. Rd6 $1 {was much
stronger:} b5 23. axb5 axb5 24. c5 $1 {and the Pb5 would fall soon:} Rfd8 25.
Rb6 Rb8 26. Rb1 $16) 22... b5 $2 {Returning the favour!} ({The patient} 22...
a5 $1 23. c5 Rc6 $1 (23... bxc5 {is less precise:} 24. Rc4 Rfd8 25. Rxa5 Rd1+
26. Kg2 Ra1 27. g4 $14) 24. Ra6 Rfc8 {would have solved all the problems!}) 23.
axb5 axb5 24. c5 Ra8 $2 {A loss of time.} ({The only way to provide resistance
was} 24... Kg7 $1 25. Ra6 ({Now} 25. Rb7 {isn't effective:} Rb8 26. c6 $2 Rxb7
27. cxb7 Rb8 {and suddenly White is in trouble!}) 25... b4 26. Rb6 Rb8 27. Rc4
b3 {Black manages to keep the passed b-pawn, though the position still seems
difficult after} 28. Rg4+ Kh6 29. Rgb4 Rbc8 30. Rc4 Rb8 31. Kg2 Rfc8 32. Rcb4
Ra8 33. Rb7 $16) 25. Rb7 Rfb8 26. c6 $1 {White's passed pawn is too strong now!
} b4 27. Rc4 b3 28. Kg2 $1 {The last precise move. Vladimit doesn't allow
Black to activate the rook.} ({The impatient} 28. Rcb4 $2 {would have spolied
the lion's share of the advantage:} Rc8 29. Rg4+ Kf8 30. Rc4 Ra1+ 31. Kg2 Rb1
32. c7 Ke7 $14) 28... Kg7 29. Rg4+ Kf8 30. Ra4 {Vladimir finds the most
elegant way of collecting the pawn.} (30. Rgb4 {was also possible:} Rc8 31. Rd7
$1 Rxc6 32. Rbb7 Kg8 33. Rxf7 b2 34. Rg7+ Kh8 35. Rxh7+ Kg8 36. Rhd7 $18) 30...
Kg7 31. Rxa8 Rxa8 32. Rxb3 $18 {The rest was quite easy for GM Kramnik.} Rc8
33. Rc3 f5 34. c7 Kf6 35. Kh3 Kg5 36. Rc5 Kg6 37. g4 e5 38. f4 f6 39. Rc6 exf4
40. exf4 fxg4+ 41. Kxg4 h5+ 42. Kf3 Kf5 43. h4 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT rapid"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.17"]
[Round "2"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D61"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2016.06.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Nf3 h6 7. Bh4 O-O 8. Qc2
c5 9. Rd1 Qa5 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. Bxe7 Nxe7 12. Be2 Nf6 13. O-O cxd4 14. Rxd4 Nc6
15. Rd2 Bd7 16. Rfd1 Rfd8 17. Qb3 Rab8 18. a3 a6 19. Bd3 Be8 20. Bb1 Rxd2 21.
Nxd2 Ne5 22. Nc4 Nxc4 23. Qxc4 Bc6 24. Qd4 Rc8 25. h3 Qh5 26. Rd2 Qg5 27. f3 e5
28. Qd3 e4 29. fxe4 Re8 30. Qd4 Nd7 31. Rf2 Ne5 32. Ba2 Rd8 33. Nd5 Bxd5 34.
exd5 Rd6 35. Bb1 g6 36. Be4 Qe7 37. Bf3 Rd8 38. Bg4 Qc7 39. Rf1 h5 40. Be2 Qd6
41. e4 Rc8 42. Bd3 Kg7 43. Qe3 b5 44. Kh1 Rc7 45. Qf4 f6 46. Qd2 Qc5 47. Bb1 g5
48. Qe2 h4 49. Bd3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leuven GCT rapid"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "135"]
[EventDate "2016.06.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 Nh6 5. O-O Nf5 6. c3 Nd7 7. Nbd2 Nd6 8. Re1
Nf6 9. Ne5 O-O 10. f3 Nd7 11. Nxd7 Bxd7 12. e4 dxe4 13. Nxe4 b6 14. Nf2 c5 15.
Bg5 Re8 16. dxc5 bxc5 17. Bxe7 Rxe7 18. Qxd6 Bf8 19. Qd2 Be6 20. Qf4 Qb6 21.
Re2 Bf5 22. Rxe7 Bxe7 23. Re1 Bd6 24. Qc4 Qxb2 25. f4 Rf8 26. Bd5 Kg7 27. a4 h5
28. Be4 Be6 29. Qd3 Rd8 30. Bxg6 c4 31. Qc2 Ba3 32. Re2 Qxc2 33. Bxc2 Bb2 34.
Bf5 Bxf5 35. Rxb2 Re8 36. Rb4 Re1+ 37. Kg2 Be6 38. Rb5 Kg6 39. Rg5+ Kh6 40. Rc5
Ra1 41. a5 Kg6 42. h3 Ra3 43. Ne4 f6 44. Kf2 Bxh3 45. Rc6 Rxa5 46. Rxf6+ Kg7
47. Rc6 Ra2+ 48. Ke3 Rg2 49. Rc7+ Kg6 50. Rxa7 Bf5 51. Ra6+ Kg7 52. Nd6 Bd3 53.
f5 Rxg3+ 54. Kf4 Rg1 55. Ra7+ Kh6 56. Nf7+ Kg7 57. Ng5+ Kg8 58. f6 Rg4+ 59. Ke5
Rxg5+ 60. Ke6 Be4 61. Rc7 Bd5+ 62. Ke7 Rf5 63. Rd7 Kh7 64. Rd6 h4 65. Kf8 h3
66. Rd7+ Kg6 67. Rg7+ Kxf6 68. Rf7+ 0-1

[Event "Leuven GCT rapid"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.17"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2789"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2016.06.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Nbd2 Ne7 8. d4
exd4 9. cxd4 Bb6 10. Re1 Bg4 11. Qb3 Bh5 12. a4 Ba5 13. Bf1 Rb8 14. e5 Nfd5 15.
Rd1 dxe5 16. dxe5 c6 17. Nc4 Bc7 18. h3 b5 19. axb5 Rxb5 20. Qa3 a5 21. g4 Bg6
22. Nd4 Rb8 23. Bg5 Qd7 24. Bxe7 Nxe7 25. Nxc6 Qxc6 26. Qxe7 Rfe8 27. Qd7 Be4
28. Rac1 Qxd7 29. Rxd7 Bxe5 30. Nxe5 Rxe5 31. Rcc7 Bd5 32. f4 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT rapid"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.17"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D77"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[PlyCount "145"]
[EventDate "2016.06.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 dxc4 7. Na3 c5 8. dxc5
c3 9. Nd4 Nfd7 10. bxc3 Nxc5 11. Bg5 Nba6 12. Rb1 Re8 13. Nc4 h6 14. Be3 Bg4
15. Qc1 e5 16. h3 exd4 17. cxd4 Bxe2 18. dxc5 Bxf1 19. Qxf1 Rxe3 20. Nxe3 Nxc5
21. Bxb7 Nxb7 22. Rxb7 Rc8 23. Qb5 Rc1+ 24. Kg2 Rc7 25. Qa5 Rc8 26. Rxa7 Bd4
27. Qxd8+ Rxd8 28. Ra3 Bc5 29. Rc3 Bxe3 30. Rxe3 Rd2 31. a3 h5 32. h4 Kg7 33.
Kf3 Ra2 34. Rd3 f6 35. Rd7+ Kh6 36. Ra7 g5 37. Ra6 gxh4 38. gxh4 Kg6 39. Ra8
Rc2 40. Ra4 Kf5 41. Rf4+ Ke5 42. Re4+ Kf5 43. a4 Ra2 44. Rf4+ Ke5 45. Kg3 Ra3+
46. f3 Ra1 47. Rb4 Rg1+ 48. Kf2 Ra1 49. Rb5+ Kf4 50. Rb4+ Ke5 51. Kg2 f5 52.
Kf2 f4 53. Re4+ Kf5 54. Rc4 Ra2+ 55. Kg1 Ra1+ 56. Kf2 Ra2+ 57. Ke1 Ke5 58. Kd1
Ra3 59. Ke2 Re3+ 60. Kf2 Ra3 61. Re4+ Kf5 62. Rb4 Ke5 63. Kg2 Ra2+ 64. Kh3 Ra1
65. Rb5+ Kd4 66. Rxh5 Ke3 67. Kg4 Rg1+ 68. Kf5 Ra1 69. Rh8 Kxf3 70. Rb8 Rxa4
71. Rb3+ Kg2 72. h5 f3 73. h6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leuven GCT rapid"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2016.06.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. d4 dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4
Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bg5 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 a5 12. Rfd1 h6 13. Bxf6 Nxf6 14. Ne5 Bxg2
15. Kxg2 Qd5+ 16. f3 c5 17. e4 Qxd4 18. Qxd4 cxd4 19. Nb3 Rfd8 20. Rxd4 Rxd4
21. Nxd4 Rd8 22. Nb3 g5 23. Kf1 h5 24. h3 g4 25. hxg4 hxg4 26. Nxg4 Nxg4 27.
fxg4 b6 28. Ke2 Bf6 29. Rb1 Kg7 30. Nd2 Rd4 31. b3 Be7 32. Rf1 Bb4 33. Nc4
Rxe4+ 34. Kd3 Re1 35. Rxe1 Bxe1 36. Nxb6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leuven GCT rapid"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.18"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2016.06.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. b3 c5 7. Bb2 Nc6 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. Nc3 Nxc3 10. Bxc3 Bd7 11. Qb1 Rc8 12. Rd1 Bf6 13. d4 Qe7 14. Qb2 cxd4
15. Nxd4 b6 16. Nxc6 Bxc6 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18. Qxf6 gxf6 19. Rac1 Bxg2 20. Kxg2
Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Rd8 22. Rc7 Rd2 23. Rxa7 Rxe2 24. Kf3 Rb2 25. g4 Kg7 26. h4 e5
27. Ra6 Kg6 28. Rxb6 Rxa2 29. g5 Kh5 30. Rxf6 Kxh4 31. Rxf7 Kxg5 32. Rxh7 Rb2
33. Rb7 Kf5 34. Ke3 Rc2 35. Kd3 Ra2 36. Rc7 Rb2 37. Kc3 Ra2 38. Rd7 Kf4 39. Rd2
Ra8 40. b4 Rc8+ 41. Kb3 Rb8 42. Rd6 Ke4 43. Rd2 Kf3 44. Rb2 e4 45. Ra2 Rh8 46.
b5 Rh2 47. b6 Rh6 48. Ra6 Rh1 49. Kc2 Rh6 50. Ra3+ Kxf2 51. b7 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT rapid"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.18"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2804"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2016.06.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Nbd2 Ne7 8. d4
exd4 9. cxd4 Bb6 10. Re1 Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. a4 a6 13. Bf1 Nc6 14. a5 Ba7 15.
Ra4 h6 16. Qc2 Re8 17. Bd3 Bg6 18. b3 Qd7 19. Bb2 Nh5 20. d5 Ne5 21. Nxe5 dxe5
22. Nf3 Nf4 23. Nxe5 Qd6 24. Ng4 Nxd5 25. Rd1 Nf4 26. Qc3 Ne6 27. Bc2 Qc5 28.
Rc4 Qg5 29. Rd5 Qh4 30. Kh2 c6 31. g3 Qe7 32. Nxh6+ Kh7 33. Nf5 cxd5 34. exd5
Qf6 35. Rh4+ Kg8 36. Nh6+ Kf8 37. Ba3+ Nc5 38. Bxc5+ Bxc5 39. Qxc5+ Qe7 40. Nf5
1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT rapid"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.18"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A04"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2855"]
[Annotator "Mekhitarian,K"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2016.06.17"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 e6 2. g3 b5 3. e4 Bb7 4. Qe2 c5 5. Bg2 a6 6. O-O Nf6 7. e5 Nd5 8. b3 {
One thing is for sure - both players were looking to play original chess from
the 1st move!. We have now a mix of different openings on the board, and a
rich position.} Nc6 9. Bb2 Be7 10. Nc3 $5 (10. c4 {was another way to play the
position} bxc4 11. bxc4 Nb6 12. Nc3 O-O {White wants to play Ne4 now, but ...
Na4 would be annoying then} 13. Rab1 $5 d5 $1 14. exd6 Qxd6 15. Ne4 Qc7 16.
Rfe1 Rad8 $13 {If Black is able to regroup nicely, he could even look for an
advantage, since the d-pawn could be a problem forever.}) 10... Nxc3 11. dxc3
O-O 12. Rad1 Qc7 13. c4 Rad8 14. h4 (14. cxb5 axb5 15. Qxb5 Ra8 $1 $132 {
threatening ...Rxa2 and ...Ba6.}) 14... f6 $5 15. exf6 Bxf6 16. Bxf6 gxf6 {
Carlsen plays very creatively, but the weaknesses around his king will be a
potential problem in any position where the queens are maintained.} (16... Rxf6
$5) 17. cxb5 (17. c3 $5 {limiting the knight on c6 was an interesting idea}
bxc4 (17... b4 $2 18. Qe3 $1 {hitting c5} Ne7 19. cxb4 cxb4 20. Rfe1 $16) 18.
Qxc4 $14) 17... axb5 18. Qxb5 Nb4 $1 $132 19. Qe2 Nxa2 20. Qc4 (20. Ra1 Nb4 21.
Rfd1 $14 {was a better way to organise the pieces. Now Black's centre can't
advance easily and White could claim a small advantage, mostly because of the
better security of his king.}) 20... Kh8 21. Ra1 Ra8 22. Rfe1 $6 d5 23. Qg4 e5
{Black suddenly is taking over the initiative!} 24. h5 Bc8 25. Qh4 Bb7 26. Nh2
$6 (26. Qg4 $5 {I don't know if Black would keep on playing if Kramnik
repeated the position once again.}) 26... Nb4 27. Rxa8 Bxa8 28. c4 Nc2 {
I like this move, without pushing his central structure even more.} (28... e4
$5 29. cxd5 f5 {led to interesting play, now Black will take on d5 and wants
to grab b3 as well. White finds nice counterplay:} 30. Nf1 Bxd5 31. Ne3 Bxb3
32. h6 $1 {and with the pawns on light squares, the black king feels even more
unsafe (since the a1-h8 diagonal is now open)} Qf7 33. Ra1 Be6 34. Qf4 Qf6 35.
Ra7 $44) 29. Rd1 Nd4 30. cxd5 (30. Ra1 $5 {a tough move to play in time trouble
} Bb7 31. Bxd5 Bxd5 32. cxd5 Qd6 33. Qe4 f5 34. Qd3 Qxd5 35. Ra7 $132) (30.
Bxd5 $2 Bxd5 31. cxd5 Qd6 {and the queen achieves a commanding position on d5}
32. Qe4 f5 33. Qe3 Qxd5 34. Re1 Re8 $17) 30... Qf7 31. Qe4 Rd8 32. h6 $2 (32.
Qh4 $1 {threatening Ng4, Black has to act fast} Bxd5 33. Bxd5 Rxd5 34. Ra1 $1 {
there are many ideas connected with the activation through the a-file. A
weakened king will always suffer somehow.} Qf8 (34... Rd8 35. Ra7 $1 Qe6 (35...
Qxa7 $2 36. Qxf6+ $18) (35... Nf3+ 36. Nxf3 Rd1+ 37. Kg2 Qxa7 38. Qxf6+ Qg7 39.
Qe6 $40) 36. Qg4 $16 {with a lot of pressure}) 35. Ra7 $36 {and White clearly
has the better chances against the vulnerable black king.}) 32... Bxd5 33. Qg4
Bxb3 $17 {Now Black is a solid pawn up and has a dangerous passer on the
c-file.} 34. Ra1 Be6 35. Qe4 Qg6 36. Ra8 Rg8 (36... Rxa8 $5 {similar to the
game} 37. Qxa8+ Qg8 $17) 37. Rxg8+ Bxg8 38. Qxg6 $2 {Now White is losing.} (38.
Qa8 $1 {was still very complicated, Black's king does not feel safe, meaning
it is not easy to push the c-pawn forward} c4 39. Be4 Qg5 40. Nf3 Nxf3+ 41.
Bxf3 {threatening the decisive Qf8, followed by Bd5} c3 42. Qc8 Qxh6 43. Qxc3
$17 {with a long endgame to come, where White has great drawing chances.})
38... hxg6 39. Ng4 c4 40. Nxf6 c3 41. Be4 c2 {Doesn't spoil anything, but} (
41... Nf3+ {would force a win right away} 42. Kg2 Nd2 43. Bd3 (43. Bc2 Bb3 44.
Ne4 (44. Bd3 e4 $1 45. Nxe4 Nxe4 46. Bxe4 Bd5 $19) 44... Bxc2 45. Nxc3 Kh7 $19)
(43. h7 Bb3 44. Bd3 e4 $1 $19) 43... Bc4 44. Bc2 Bb3 {-- 43.Bc2}) 42. Bxc2 Nxc2
43. Nd7 e4 44. Nf6 e3 45. fxe3 Nxe3 46. g4 Nd5 47. Nxd5 {You can never blame
anyone for playing this, because the winning plan for Black is subtle.
Probably without time, Kramnik thought he had reached a drawn endgame.} (47.
Ne4 $1 {was the most resilient, since the game sequence loses by force} Nf4 48.
Kf2 Bd5 {achieving the best possible setup} 49. Ng5 (49. Nf6 Bc6 50. Ke3 Ne6
51. Kf2 g5 {now Black simply goes on to take h6 and gradually wins g4, and the
game} 52. Ke3 Nd8 53. Kd4 Nf7 54. h7 Kg7 $19) 49... Ne6 $1 50. Nxe6 Bxe6 51. g5
Kg8 52. Ke3 Kf8 53. Kd4 Bg8 54. Ke5 Ke7 $19) 47... Bxd5 48. g5 Kg8 49. Kf2 Kf8
50. Ke3 Bg8 51. Kd4 Ke8 $3 {A beautiful finesse from the world champion.} (
51... Ke7 {still wins, but Black would need to reach the position with Ke8
anyway. For example:} 52. Ke5 Kf7 53. Kd5 $1 (53. Kd6 {would actually help
Black, because the win becomes very intuitive:} Ke8 54. Ke5 Ke7 55. Kd4 Kd6 56.
Ke4 Ke6 57. Kf4 Kd5 $19 {After reaching the 5th rank, the g5-pawn is lost, and
so is the game}) 53... Kf8+ 54. Kd4 Ke8 $1) 52. Ke4 Kd7 53. Kd3 (53. Ke5 Ke7
$19 {followed by Kd6-Ke6 and the invasion of the black king-}) 53... Ke6 54.
Ke4 Bh7 {Reaching the 5th rank with his king, and winning the game.} 0-1

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Bg4 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Nf6 5. h3 Bxf3 6. Bxf3 Nbd7 7. d3 Bc5 8.
Nd2 O-O 9. Bg2 a5 10. c4 c6 11. e3 a4 12. d4 Bd6 13. Qc2 Re8 14. Rd1 Qc7 15.
Rb1 b5 16. cxb5 cxb5 17. Qxc7 Bxc7 18. e4 dxe4 19. Nxe4 Rab8 20. Nc3 Rec8 21.
Bf1 b4 22. Nxa4 Nd5 23. Bd2 Ra8 24. Nc5 Nxc5 25. dxc5 Be5 26. Bg2 Rcb8 27. Bf4
Bxf4 28. gxf4 Rd8 29. Bxd5 exd5 30. Rd4 Kf8 31. Rxb4 Rxa2 32. Rd4 Rb8 33. b4
Re8 34. c6 Ree2 35. Rxd5 Rec2 36. Rc5 Rxc5 37. bxc5 Ke7 38. Rb8 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 c5 3. e3 Nc6 4. c3 Nf6 5. Bd3 Bg4 6. Nf3 e6 7. Nbd2 Bd6 8. h3
Bxf3 9. Qxf3 Bxf4 10. Qxf4 Qe7 11. Nf3 O-O 12. O-O h6 13. Rfe1 a6 14. e4 dxe4
15. Bxe4 Nxe4 16. Rxe4 cxd4 17. Nxd4 Nxd4 18. Rxd4 e5 19. Qe4 f5 20. Qd5+ Kh7
21. Re1 Rae8 22. Qd7 Rf6 23. Rd5 e4 24. Qxe7 Rxe7 25. c4 f4 26. c5 Rfe6 27. b4
g5 28. a4 Kg6 29. Kf1 h5 30. b5 axb5 31. axb5 g4 32. Rc1 e3 33. c6 bxc6 34.
bxc6 Rc7 35. hxg4 hxg4 36. fxe3 fxe3 37. Rdc5 e2+ 38. Ke1 Kf6 39. R1c2 Kg6 40.
g3 Kf6 41. R5c4 Kf5 42. Rf4+ Kg5 43. Rc5+ Kh6 44. Rxg4 Rcxc6 45. Rxc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.19"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[Annotator "Besenthal,K"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. d3 O-O 6. Bf4 Nc6 7. d4 b6 8. c4
Bb7 9. Nc3 Na5 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 Bxd5 12. Qc2 Rc8 13. e4 Bb7 14. Rad1 Qd7
15. Ne5 Qb5 16. Rfe1 {Diagramm [#]} Rfd8 $2 {Damit bringt sich Schwarz
überraschend in Schwierigkeiten.} 17. Bh3 $1 {Die weißen Figuren sind
hervorragend aufgestellt, was man von den schwarzen nicht behaupten kann.} Bb4
18. Re3 Bd6 19. d5 $1 {Diagramm [#]} Bxe5 20. Bxe5 Nc4 21. Rb3 Qa4 22. Rd4 Ba6
23. dxe6 Rxd4 24. Bxd4 Rd8 25. exf7+ Kf8 26. Qc3 Ne5 27. Bc5+ bxc5 28. Qxc5+
Rd6 29. Qxe5 Rd1+ {Diagramm [#] Da muss man glatt zweimal hinschauen!} 30. Bf1
(30. Kg2 $1 Bf1+ 31. Kf3 Bxh3 32. Rb8+ Kxf7 33. Qh5+ Ke7 34. Qh4+ Kf7 35. Qxh3
Rd3+ 36. Kf4 g5+ 37. Kxg5 Qxe4 38. Qh5+ $18) 30... Bxf1 $2 (30... Rxf1+ $1 31.
Kg2 Qc6 {ebenfalls mit großem Vorteil für Weiß, aber in einer Blitzpartie
wäre das nicht einfach zu realisieren gewesen.}) 31. Qc5+ Kxf7 {Diagramm [#]}
32. Rf3+ $2 (32. Qh5+ $1) 32... Ke6 33. Qf5+ Kd6 34. Qf8+ Kc6 $4 (34... Ke6 $1)
35. Qe8+ Kb7 36. Qxa4 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. b3 Nf6 4. Bb2 c5 5. e3 Nc6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Be2 d4 8. Bb5
Bd6 9. exd4 O-O 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. O-O cxd4 12. Bxd4 Bg4 13. h3 Bh5 14. Nc3 Re8
15. d3 Bc7 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. Ne4 Qf4 18. Qc1 Rad8 19. Qxf4 Bxf4 20. Rad1 f5 21.
Ng3 Bxf3 22. gxf3 g6 23. Kg2 Kf7 24. d4 Bg5 25. Rd3 h5 26. Rfd1 h4 27. Nf1 Re2
28. Nd2 Rd5 29. Kf1 Rxd2 30. R1xd2 Bxd2 31. Rxd2 c5 32. Ke2 cxd4 33. Kd3 g5 34.
b4 Kf6 35. Re2 Rd7 36. a4 g4 37. fxg4 fxg4 38. Re4 Rg7 39. Kxd4 g3 40. fxg3
hxg3 41. Re1 Kg5 42. b5 Kh4 43. a5 g2 44. Rg1 Kxh3 45. b6 a6 46. Kc5 Rg5+ 47.
Kc6 Rxa5 48. Kb7 Ra2 49. Ka7 Kh2 50. Rxg2+ Kxg2 51. b7 Rb2 52. Kxa6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.19"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A04"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2855"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 e6 2. g3 f5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. O-O d5 5. d3 Bd6 6. c4 dxc4 7. dxc4 O-O 8. Nc3
Nc6 9. e4 e5 10. Bg5 Kh8 11. exf5 Bxf5 12. Nh4 Be6 13. Nd5 Qd7 14. Nxf6 gxf6
15. Bh6 Rg8 16. Rc1 Rad8 17. Be3 Qf7 18. Qa4 Rg4 19. Nf3 Rxc4 20. Rxc4 Bxc4 21.
Rc1 Bxa2 22. Qb5 Nb4 23. Nh4 Bd5 24. Rd1 c6 25. Qe2 Bxg2 26. Kxg2 Nd5 27. Nf5
Bf8 28. Kg1 a6 29. Qf3 Re8 30. Qe4 Qg6 31. Kh1 Rd8 32. g4 Rd7 33. Rd3 Qf7 34.
Bd2 Nc7 35. Kg1 Rxd3 36. Qxd3 Qd5 37. Qe2 Ne6 38. Be3 Qe4 39. f3 Nf4 40. fxe4
Nxe2+ 41. Kf2 Nf4 42. Bxf4 exf4 43. Kf3 Kg8 44. Kxf4 Kf7 45. e5 a5 46. b3 b5
47. exf6 Kxf6 48. Nd4 a4 49. g5+ Kg6 50. Nxc6 axb3 51. Ne5+ Kh5 52. Nf3 Bb4 53.
Kf5 b2 0-1

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2789"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Nbd2 Ne7 8. d4
exd4 9. cxd4 Bb6 10. Re1 Bg4 11. Qb3 h6 12. h3 Bh5 13. Bf1 Nc6 14. d5 Ne7 15.
Nc4 Bc5 16. Bf4 Re8 17. Bg3 c6 18. dxc6 Nxc6 19. e5 dxe5 20. Ncxe5 Qb6 21. Qxb6
axb6 22. Bb5 Nxe5 23. Bxe5 Red8 24. g4 Bg6 25. Bxf6 gxf6 26. a3 h5 27. Kg2 hxg4
28. hxg4 Kg7 29. Rad1 f5 30. g5 f4 31. Rxd8 Rxd8 32. b4 Bd6 33. Nh4 Bh7 34. Bc4
Rc8 35. Bd5 Rc3 36. Re8 Rxa3 37. Rd8 Be7 38. Rd7 Kf8 39. Rxb7 Rd3 40. Bc6 Rd6
41. b5 Bxg5 42. Nf3 Bf6 43. Rxb6 Kg7 44. Rb7 Rd1 45. b6 Rb1 46. Rb8 Bf5 47. b7
Rb6 48. Ra8 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A04"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. g3 Nc6 3. Bg2 g6 4. c3 Bg7 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4 d5 7. O-O e6 8. Nc3
Nge7 9. b3 O-O 10. e3 b6 11. Ba3 Ba6 12. Re1 Qd7 13. e4 Rfe8 14. Rc1 Rac8 15.
e5 Bh6 16. Rc2 Nb8 17. h4 Rc7 18. Nh2 Rec8 19. Ng4 Bg7 20. Qd2 Qd8 21. Bd6 Rc6
22. Rec1 Nf5 23. Bxb8 Rxb8 24. Nf6+ Kh8 25. Bh3 Bh6 26. f4 Nxg3 27. Qf2 Rxc3
28. Rxc3 Ne2+ 29. Kh1 Nxc3 30. Rxc3 Rc8 31. Rxc8 Qxc8 32. Qd2 Bg7 33. Ng4 Qd8
34. Qf2 h5 35. Ne3 Bd3 36. Kh2 Be4 37. Bg2 f5 38. Kg3 Qc7 39. Qd2 Bh6 40. Bxe4
fxe4 41. Qc2 Qxc2 42. Nxc2 Bf8 43. a4 Be7 44. b4 b5 45. axb5 Kg8 46. b6 axb6
47. b5 Kf7 48. Kh3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.19"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E61"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2804"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 g6 4. Nc3 Bf5 5. Bg5 Bg7 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd3 Bxd3 8.
Qxd3 Nbd7 9. O-O h6 10. Bh4 g5 11. Bg3 Nh5 12. Rad1 e6 13. d5 Qe7 14. Nd4 a6
15. Qe2 Nxg3 16. hxg3 Rae8 17. Qc2 Qf6 18. b4 h5 19. c5 dxc5 20. dxe6 fxe6 21.
Ne4 Qg6 22. bxc5 Ne5 23. Qb1 h4 24. Qxb7 Rb8 25. Qxc7 Qxe4 26. Nxe6 Qg6 27.
Nxf8 Rxf8 28. Qd6 Qh5 29. gxh4 gxh4 30. Qd5+ Kh8 31. f4 Rg8 32. fxe5 Bxe5 33.
Qf3 Qg5 34. Rd5 Rg6 35. Rxe5 Qxe5 36. Qf8+ 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.19"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2782"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. a4 h6 8. Nbd2
O-O 9. Re1 Be6 10. b4 Ba7 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. Nf1 Nh5 13. Be3 Bxe3 14. fxe3 Qe8
15. Ra2 Nf6 16. h3 a5 17. b5 Nb8 18. g4 Nbd7 19. Rg2 Nc5 20. h4 Nfd7 21. g5
Nxd3 22. Qxd3 Rxf3 23. gxh6 Rf7 24. Qe2 Nf6 25. Nd2 Kh8 26. hxg7+ Rxg7 27. Rxg7
Kxg7 28. Kh2 Qh5 29. Qxh5 Nxh5 30. b6 Nf6 31. Rg1+ Kh7 32. Rf1 Kg6 33. Rg1+ Kh6
34. Rf1 Kg6 35. Rg1+ Kh6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.20"]
[Round "10"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. d4 dxc4 7. Ne5 Nc6 8.
Bxc6 bxc6 9. Nxc6 Qe8 10. Nxe7+ Qxe7 11. Qc2 c5 12. Qxc4 cxd4 13. Qxd4 e5 14.
Qh4 Qb7 15. Nc3 Be6 16. Bg5 Ng4 17. h3 Qxb2 18. Rfc1 h6 19. hxg4 hxg5 20. Qxg5
f6 21. Qe3 Bxg4 22. Rab1 Qa3 23. Rb3 Qa5 24. Qe4 Be6 25. Rb5 Qa3 26. Qb1 Rac8
27. Qb2 Qxb2 28. Rxb2 Rc5 29. Rb5 Rc6 30. Ra5 Rfc8 31. Ra3 e4 32. Kf1 e3 33.
fxe3 Rc4 34. Ke1 R8c7 35. Kd2 Rd7+ 36. Ke1 Rdc7 37. Kd2 Kf7 38. Rb1 Rg4 39. Nb5
Rd7+ 40. Nd4 Rxg3 41. Rb5 Rxd4+ 0-1

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.20"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[PlyCount "145"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. b3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Bb2
Nc6 9. Nc3 Bf6 10. Qc2 b6 11. Nxd5 exd5 12. d4 Ba6 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. Rfe1 Rc8
15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Rac1 c4 17. Qd2 Rfd8 18. e3 Qd6 19. Red1 Qa3 20. Qc3 Nb4 21.
bxc4 Qxc3 22. Rxc3 Nxa2 23. Ra3 Bxc4 24. Ne5 Nb4 25. Rxa7 f6 26. Nxc4 dxc4 27.
Rxd8+ Rxd8 28. Rc7 Rd1+ 29. Bf1 Nd3 30. Rxc4 Ne5 31. Rc8+ Kf7 32. Rc7+ Kf8 33.
Kg2 Rd2 34. h3 h5 35. Ra7 Kg8 36. Ra4 g5 37. Rd4 Rb2 38. Bc4+ Nxc4 39. Rxc4 Kf7
40. Kf3 Kg6 41. Rc3 Ra2 42. e4 Ra1 43. Rc6 Kf7 44. Kg2 Ra4 45. Rc7+ Kg6 46. Re7
Ra2 47. h4 g4 48. Re8 Rb2 49. Kf1 Rb1+ 50. Ke2 Rb2+ 51. Kf1 Rb1+ 52. Kg2 Rb2
53. Re7 Ra2 54. e5 fxe5 55. Rxe5 Rb2 56. Rg5+ Kh6 57. Kf1 Ra2 58. Ke1 Rb2 59.
Re5 Kg6 60. Re2 Rb1+ 61. Kd2 Rb2+ 62. Ke3 Rb3+ 63. Ke4 Rf3 64. Rd2 Rf6 65. Rc2
Re6+ 66. Kd5 Re1 67. Rc4 Re2 68. Rf4 Kg7 69. Kd4 Kg6 70. Kd3 Ra2 71. Ke3 Ra3+
72. Kd4 Ra2 73. Ke4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.20"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nf3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8.
cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Rc1 b6 12. Bd3 Bb7 13. O-O Nd7 14. Qe3
Nf6 15. Ne5 Qe7 16. f3 Rfd8 17. Bb5 Rac8 18. Bc6 Ne8 19. Ba4 Nd6 20. Qa3 Nf5
21. Qxe7 Nxe7 22. Bd7 Rb8 23. Rc7 Ng6 24. Nxf7 Kxf7 25. Bc8+ Ne7 26. Bxb7 Rxd4
27. f4 Rbd8 28. e5 R8d7 29. Rxd7 Rxd7 30. Bf3 Rd2 31. Rf2 Rd4 32. g3 b5 33. Rc2
a5 34. Kf1 Nd5 35. Bxd5 Rxd5 36. Rc7+ Kg6 37. Ke2 b4 38. Re7 Kf5 39. Rxg7 Ke4
40. Re7 a4 41. Rb7 Rd4 42. Rb6 h5 43. Rxe6 Rc4 44. Kd2 b3 45. axb3 axb3 46. Rb6
Rc2+ 47. Kd1 Rxh2 48. Rxb3 h4 49. e6 hxg3 50. Rxg3 Kxf4 51. e7 Rh8 52. Rg7 Re8
1/2-1/2

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.20"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "166"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. c4 c6 4. Qa4 d4 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. d3 Nh6 7. b4 O-O 8. O-O Nf5
9. Nbd2 Nd7 10. Rb1 Re8 11. Ne4 Nd6 12. Nxd6 exd6 13. Qc2 Qc7 14. Re1 Nf8 15.
Bb2 Ne6 16. e3 dxe3 17. Rxe3 Bd7 18. Rbe1 a5 19. a3 axb4 20. Bxg7 Nxg7 21. axb4
Rxe3 22. fxe3 Qb6 23. Qb2 Ra4 24. b5 d5 25. Qf6 Be8 26. cxd5 Qxb5 27. dxc6 Qxc6
28. Qxc6 Bxc6 29. Rb1 Ra2 30. e4 Ne6 31. Bh3 Nc5 32. Ne5 Rd2 33. Bf1 Ne6 34.
Nf3 Ra2 35. Rc1 f6 36. Bh3 Kf7 37. Bxe6+ Kxe6 38. Nd4+ Kd6 39. Rf1 Ke5 40. Nf3+
Ke6 41. Nd4+ Ke5 42. Nf3+ Kd6 43. Nd4 Ba4 44. Rb1 Kc5 45. Ne6+ Kd6 46. Nf8 b5
47. Nxh7 Ke5 48. d4+ Kxe4 49. Nxf6+ Kxd4 50. h4 Ke3 51. Nd5+ Kf3 52. Nc3 Rc2
53. Nxb5 Kxg3 54. Kf1 Rh2 55. Rb4 Bd1 56. Ke1 Bg4 57. Nc3 Kxh4 58. Ne4 g5 59.
Nf2 Rg2 60. Nxg4 Rxg4 61. Rb3 Rg3 62. Rb8 Kh3 63. Kf1 Kh2 64. Rh8+ Rh3 65. Rg8
Rf3+ 66. Ke2 Rg3 67. Kf2 g4 68. Rg7 Rg2+ 69. Kf1 Rg1+ 70. Kf2 g3+ 71. Kf3 Rf1+
72. Ke2 Rf6 73. Rh7+ Kg1 74. Rg7 g2 75. Rg8 Rf5 76. Rg7 Kh2 77. Rh7+ Kg3 78.
Rg7+ Kh2 79. Rh7+ Kg1 80. Rh8 Rf4 81. Rh7 Re4+ 82. Kf3 Re8 83. Rg7 Kf1 0-1

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.20"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2855"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[Annotator "Nielsen,Peter Heine"]
[PlyCount "132"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Kramnik used to be a difficult opponent for Magnus, but while the balance had
obviously changed, 2016 had become an extreme, the score being 7-0 with no
draws before this game! Only 1 was classical chess, but even so, quite an
extraordinary situation between the world ranking nos. 1 and 2!} 1. e4 e5 2.
Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 $5 {Like their game in Qatar (still
2015!), where a draw sufficed for Magnsu to clinch first.} Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7.
Bf1 Nxe5 8. Rxe5 O-O 9. d4 Bf6 10. Re1 Re8 11. c3 Rxe1 12. Qxe1 Ne8 13. Bf4 d5
14. Bd3 g6 15. Nd2 Ng7 16. Nf1 $5 {Deviating from the Qatar game, which went
16.Nf3. This move looks like just swapping down to a draw, but Magnus had a
specific idea in mind.} Bf5 17. Bxf5 Nxf5 18. Ne3 Nxe3 19. Qxe3 Qd7 20. Re1 {
Obviously the small details are in White's favour. Anyhow they seem too small
to matter. Personallly I always suffered as Black against 5.Re1, but told
myself it's you, not the position there is something wrong with. Just give it
to Kramnik, and he will show how to draw I used to think. He, however, also
commits an inaccuracy. Best would be first ...h5! creating "luft" for the king,
and even later maybe the h-pawn can be used positively for an attack. It's
hard to believe Black should be in any trouble; now, however, it is another
matter:} c6 $2 21. Bh6 $1 {Suddenly Black is in dire straits. He can in no way
activate his queen, as White has back rank mate motifs with the queen
sacrifice Qe8+!. Thus there is no alternative to the exchange of bishops:} Bg7
22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Qe7 $1 {The big differance with the disappearance of the
bishops, is that white gets access to e7.} Rd8 ({The computer suggests
exchanging with} 23... Qxe7 24. Rxe7 Rb8 {but any human would say that} 25. f3
Kf6 26. Rc7 Ke6 27. Kf2 {is just terrible for Black who needs to keep b7 and
f7 defended, meaning White can in peace and quiet try and break through with
king and pawns on either side of the board.}) 24. h4 h5 25. Re3 b6 26. Qe5+ Kg8
27. Kh2 a5 28. f3 a4 29. Kg3 b5 30. Kf4 {This position led to quite a
discussion in the players room, where participants used to gather when their
games had finished. The engines shows only a moderate edge for White, but
quite a few said that White should be just winning. There is a lot of logic to
that statement. Kg5 is a threat, and also g4 next could prove very difficult
to handle for Black.} Qd6 $2 ({But turning on the engines, I cannot prove a
deceisive edge against} 30... Rf8 $1 {Much in the style of the game would be}
31. a3 $5 {trying to claim zugzwang!} ({The obvious point is that} 31. Kg5 $2 {
is impossible due to} f6+) ({and after} 31. g4 hxg4 32. fxg4 f5 $1 {Black
seems to hold. The point is} 33. g5 ({and} 33. Qe6+ Qxe6 34. Rxe6 fxg4+ 35.
Kxg4 Kg7 36. Rxc6 Rf2 $1 {seems to create just enough counterplay.}) 33... Qh7
$1 {creates counterplay, and}) {But} 31... Qd8 ({e.g.} 31... Qc8 32. g4 hxg4
33. fxg4 f5 (33... Qd8 $5) 34. g5 {now is completely winning, as now the queen
cannot creat threats in the h-file.}) 32. Qe7 Qb8+ 33. Kg5 Qg3+ 34. Kh6 Qf4+
35. Qg5 {looks like leading to a dominating ending, but there are sublte
differences compared to the game. After} Qxg5+ 36. Kxg5 {looks better, but
after} (36. hxg5 h4 $1 {surprisingly seems very solid for Black, and White's
"active" king on h6, also is somewhat boxed in.} (36... Rc8 $2 37. g3)) 36...
Kg7 37. Re7 Rd8 {Black has a much better defensive setup than in the game, as
the white king will not reach e5. My intuition tells me White must have a way
in these lines, but I do not see it.}) 31. Qxd6 Rxd6 32. Re8+ Kg7 33. Ke5 Rd7
34. a3 $1 {A complete zugzwang! King moves loses to Kf6, rook moves to Kd6,
and 34...f6+ 35.Ke6 threatens the rook, and when it moves, 36.Re7+ forces an
easily winning pawn ending. So Kramnik has no choice, but to start shedding
pawns, just to obtain a bit of counterplay.} g5 {.} 35. hxg5 h4 36. f4 Kg6 37.
Rg8+ Kh7 38. Rc8 Kg7 39. Rxc6 Re7+ 40. Kxd5 Re2 $1 {White is winning, but at
least Black has become active, and after taking either b2 or g2, he can create
a passed pawn of his own.} 41. Rh6 $2 {Now actually it becomes tricky.} ({
The simple way was} 41. Kc5 $1 {combining threats against Black's queenside
pawns, with advancing his own d-pawn winning easily.}) 41... Rxb2 42. Rxh4 Rb3
43. Kc5 Rxc3+ 44. Kxb5 Rxa3 45. f5 Ra1 46. Kb4 a3 47. g4 Rd1 $1 {White might
have missed a possible win, which is understandable in a blitz game. Now
however it seems to be a certain draw, as Kramnik sacrifices his main trump,
the passed pawn, but in exchange gets White's d-pawn and forces a kind of
fortress-like situation, where White despite his 2 extra pawns still can't
make any progress.} 48. Kxa3 Rxd4 49. Kb3 Rf4 50. Kc3 Ra4 51. Kd3 Ra3+ 52. Kc4
Ra4+ 53. Kb5 Rf4 54. Kc6 Ra4 55. Kd6 Ra6+ 56. Kc7 Ra7+ 57. Kb6 Ra4 58. Kb5 Rf4
59. Kc5 Ra4 60. Kc6 Rb4 61. Kd5 Ra4 62. Ke5 Ra5+ 63. Kd6 Ra6+ 64. Kc5 Ra4 65.
Kc6 Rb4 66. Kd5 Ra4 {And here the players agreed a draw.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.20"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2789"]
[PlyCount "132"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. Nbd2 O-O 5. e3 c5 6. c3 d6 7. Bc4 Nc6 8. O-O
Bf5 9. Qe2 d5 10. Bb5 Qb6 11. dxc5 Qxc5 12. Rac1 Ne4 13. Nxe4 dxe4 14. Bxc6
exf3 15. Bxf3 Be6 16. Bh4 Bc4 17. Qc2 Bxf1 18. Rxf1 Rad8 19. Bxb7 Rd7 20. Bf3
Rfd8 21. Qb3 Rd2 22. Qb7 Bf6 23. Bg3 Kg7 24. a4 R8d7 25. Qb3 h5 26. h4 e6 27.
Qb5 Qxb5 28. axb5 Rxb2 29. c4 Rc2 30. Bc6 Rd8 31. e4 Rxc4 32. e5 Be7 33. Ra1
Bc5 34. Kh2 Rd2 35. f3 Bd4 36. Re1 Bb6 37. Kh3 a5 38. Be4 a4 39. Bf4 Rd7 40.
Ra1 Ra7 41. Ra3 Rb4 42. Bg5 Rxb5 43. Bf6+ Kh7 44. Bc6 Rc5 45. Be8 Rc8 46. Bb5
Bd8 47. g4 Bxf6 48. exf6 Ra5 49. Bd7 Rc4 50. g5 Ra7 51. Be8 Rb4 52. Kg3 e5 53.
Bc6 Kg8 54. Bd5 Kf8 55. Bc6 Rd4 56. Bb5 Ra5 57. Bc6 Rc4 58. Bd7 Rc7 59. Rxa4
Rxa4 60. Bxa4 Rc3 61. Bb5 e4 62. Kf4 Rxf3+ 63. Kxe4 Rh3 64. Bd7 Rxh4+ 65. Kf3
Rd4 66. Bc6 Rg4 0-1

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.20"]
[Round "16"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. a4 h6 8. Re1 O-O
9. Nbd2 Be6 10. Bxe6 fxe6 11. Nf1 Nh5 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. fxe3 Qe8 14. b4 Nf6 15.
Ng3 a5 16. b5 Ne7 17. c4 Ng6 18. Rf1 b6 19. Nd2 Rd8 20. Qe2 Rd7 21. Nh5 Rdf7
22. Nxf6+ Rxf6 23. Rxf6 Rxf6 24. Rf1 Qf7 25. Rxf6 Qxf6 26. Qg4 Nf8 27. Qh5 Qe7
28. h3 Nd7 29. Nb3 Nf6 30. Qd1 d5 31. exd5 exd5 32. c5 Nd7 33. cxb6 cxb6 34. d4
Qg5 35. Qf3 Kh7 36. e4 Nf6 37. dxe5 Qxe5 38. exd5 Nxd5 39. Qd3+ Kh8 40. Nd2 Nc3
41. Qd8+ Kh7 42. Qd3+ Kh8 43. Qd8+ Kh7 44. Qd3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.20"]
[Round "17"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2804"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nbd2 Be6 7. Qe2 Nd7 8.
Nb3 Bb6 9. Ng5 Bxb3 10. axb3 f6 11. Nf3 Nc5 12. O-O Ne6 13. Nd2 O-O 14. Nc4 Qd7
15. Kh1 Rae8 16. Be3 c5 17. Qg4 Kh8 18. g3 Qc6 19. f3 a6 20. h4 Ba7 21. Bd2 Nd4
22. Ne3 Rd8 23. Bc3 Nb5 24. Rae1 Qe8 25. h5 c6 26. f4 exf4 27. gxf4 Nxc3 28.
bxc3 Bb8 29. Nf5 Rd7 30. Nh4 Rff7 31. Rg1 Kg8 32. Re2 Bd6 33. Reg2 Bf8 34. h6
Kh8 35. Qh5 Qe6 36. Ng6+ Kg8 37. f5 Qd6 38. Nxf8 Qxf8 39. d4 cxd4 40. cxd4 a5
41. hxg7 Rxg7 42. e5 fxe5 43. f6 Rxg2 44. Rxg2+ Kh8 45. Qxe5 Qh6+ 46. Kg1 Qc1+
47. Kh2 Qh6+ 48. Kg3 Rf7 49. Rf2 Qg6+ 50. Kh2 Qh6+ 51. Kg2 Qg6+ 52. Kf1 h5 53.
Rf5 h4 54. Rh5+ 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2016.06.20"]
[Round "18"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D03"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2016.06.19"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 173"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bg5 Ne4 4. Bh4 c5 5. e3 Nc6 6. Nbd2 g6 7. c4 Nxd2 8.
Qxd2 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bg7 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. cxd5 Qxd5 12. Qxd5 cxd5 13. O-O-O Bf5
14. Bb5+ Kf8 15. Bd3 e6 16. Kb1 Be5 17. f4 Bd6 18. Bf6 Rg8 19. h3 Ke8 20. e4
Bxe4 21. Bxe4 Bxf4 22. Bxd5 exd5 23. Rxd5 Bc7 24. Re1+ Kf8 25. Rd7 1-0

[Event "Dortmund 44th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2016.07.09"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2713"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2016.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5
8. Rxe5 O-O 9. d4 Bf6 10. Re1 Re8 11. c3 Rxe1 12. Qxe1 Ne8 13. Bf4 d5 14. Bd3
g6 15. Nd2 Ng7 16. Nf3 Bf5 17. Bxf5 Nxf5 18. Qe2 c6 19. Re1 Ng7 20. Ne5 Bxe5
21. Qxe5 f6 22. Qe7 Qxe7 23. Rxe7 Re8 24. Rxe8+ Nxe8 25. g4 Kf7 26. Kg2 Ng7 27.
h3 Ne6 28. Bd6 Ke8 29. Kg3 Kd7 30. Bb8 a5 31. f4 a4 32. Kf3 b6 33. Ke3 c5 34.
dxc5 bxc5 35. b3 d4+ 36. Kd3 dxc3 37. Kxc3 Nd4 38. f5 gxf5 39. bxa4 Kc6 40.
gxf5 Nxf5 41. a5 Kb5 42. a4+ Kxa5 43. Bc7+ Kxa4 44. Kc4 Ng7 45. Bd6 Ne6 46.
Bxc5 Nf4 47. h4 h5 48. Bd6 Ng6 49. Kd5 f5 50. Ke6 f4 51. Kf5 f3 52. Bg3 f2 53.
Bxf2 Nxh4+ 54. Bxh4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund 44th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2016.07.10"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2798"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2016.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. h3 Ke8 10. Nc3 h5 11. Ne2 b6 12. Bg5 c5 13. Rad1 Bb7 14. Nc3
Be7 15. Nd5 Bxd5 16. Rxd5 Rd8 17. Rxd8+ Bxd8 18. Rd1 Bxg5 19. Nxg5 Ke7 20. c3
Nh4 21. g3 Ng6 22. f4 h4 23. Kf2 hxg3+ 24. Kxg3 Nh4 25. Kg4 Ng2 26. Kf3 Nh4+
27. Kg4 Ng2 28. Rg1 Ne3+ 29. Kf3 Nf5 30. Ke4 Nh4 31. f5 f6 32. exf6+ Kxf6 33.
Kf4 g6 34. Ne4+ Kf7 35. fxg6+ Nxg6+ 36. Kf5 Nh4+ 37. Kf4 a5 38. Rg3 a4 39. Kg5
Ke6 40. Nf6 Nf5 41. Rf3 Nd6 42. Kg6 Nc4 43. Kg7 Rh4 44. b3 axb3 45. axb3 Nd2
46. Re3+ Kf5 47. Nd5 c4 48. Ne7+ Kf4 49. Nd5+ Kf5 50. Ne7+ Kf4 51. Nd5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund 44th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2016.07.12"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Buhmann, Rainer"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2653"]
[Annotator "Prasanna,V"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2016.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Kramnik has started playing 1.e4 a bit these days. Although typically
at the elite level he has faced mostly 1...e5.} e6 {You don't see the French
at the top level too often, but as always Kramnik is well prepared.} 2. d4 d5
3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 {The most critical continuation for the fight for the
advantage in my opinion.} Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Be7 7. Be3 b6 8. Qd2 (8. h4 {
has also been played, but Kramnik shows his aggressive intentions after the
king has castled.}) 8... O-O ({Life is also not easy for Black even if he
decides to delay castling:} 8... Nc6 9. Bb5 $5 (9. Be2 {is also possible}) 9...
Bb7 10. O-O-O a6 11. Bxc6 Bxc6 12. f5 b5 (12... h6 13. g4 $16) 13. fxe6 fxe6
14. Ne2 (14. Ng5 {is more precise here} Bxg5 15. Bxg5 Qc7 16. Qf4 $16 {White's
attack is quickly developing and is much faster than Black's.}) 14... c4 (14...
Nb6 {is a better try for Black:} 15. Bg5 c4 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Qg5 h6) 15. Ng5
Nf8 16. Rhf1 Bxg5 17. Bxg5 Qd7 18. Qc3 h6 19. Qh3 Rh7 20. Qf3 Rh8 21. Qh3 Rh7
22. Qf3 Rh8 23. Qh5+ g6 24. Qh3 {1-0 (24) Bok,B (2614)-Kjartansson,G (2457)
Gjakova KOS 2016}) 9. h4 $5 {A very aggressive idea.} (9. Nd1 {is another idea
for White and after 10...a5 Black has been doing okay theoretically.}) 9... Nc6
(9... Ba6 {The exchange of Black's bad light-squared bishop does not solve all
his problems.} 10. Bxa6 Nxa6 11. h5 $14) 10. Bb5 Qc7 (10... cxd4 $6 {is not a
good idea for Black.} 11. Nxd4 Nxd4 (11... Bxh4+ 12. g3 $1) 12. Bxd4 Bxh4+ 13.
g3 $1 {is of course White's idea} Bxg3+ $2 14. Ke2 {White has a winning attack}
Bh4 15. Qd3 f5 16. Qh3 $18) 11. O-O-O a6 12. Bd3 (12. Bxc6 {is an alternative
for White, but the move in the game is very strong and I suspect prepared by
Kramnik} Qxc6 13. f5 exf5 (13... Bb7 14. Bg5 $1) 14. dxc5 Bxc5 15. Nxd5 (15.
Bxc5 Nxc5 16. Nxd5 Qb7 17. Nf6+ Kh8) 15... Re8 16. Bxc5 Qxc5 $13) 12... f5 (
12... c4 {is of course answered by} 13. Bxh7+ $1 Kxh7 14. Ng5+ Kg8 15. Qe2 g6
16. Qg4 f5 17. Nxe6 fxg4 18. Nxc7 Rb8 19. h5 {White is winning because of the
extremely bad position of the black pieces.}) 13. g4 c4 14. gxf5 {Again
Kramnik chooses the strongest move in the position. White has other options
which are slightly less precise, but might also lead to an advantage.} (14. Ng5
cxd3 15. Nxe6 Qb7 16. Nxf8 Nxf8 17. Qxd3 $13) (14. Bf1 fxg4 15. Ng5 Ndb8 16.
Qg2 $16) 14... cxd3 15. fxe6 Ndb8 (15... Ndxe5 {A defensive idea is to
returning the material and consolidating the position.} 16. Nxe5 (16. dxe5 dxc2
(16... d4 17. Nd5 Qd8 18. Nxe7+ Qxe7 19. Qxd3 dxe3 20. Ng5 $40) 17. Kxc2 (17.
Rdg1 Bxe6) 17... Bxe6 18. Kb1 Rad8 19. Rhg1 d4) 16... Bxe6 17. cxd3 Nxe5 18.
fxe5 Bb4 19. Kc2 Ba5) 16. Nxd5 Qd8 17. Nxe7+ Nxe7 18. Ng5 h6 19. Qxd3 hxg5 20.
hxg5 Bxe6 21. Qh7+ Kf7 22. d5 Bf5 {Kramnik has been impeccably accurate so far.
} 23. e6+ $2 {White's first mistake of the game and also after which he loses
all his advantage.} (23. Qh5+ $1 {is both the simplest and most precise way to
continue:} Bg6 24. Qe2 Nxd5 25. Qf3 Ke7 (25... Ke6 26. c4 $18) 26. Rxd5 {
White has more than sufficient compensation for the piece} Qc8 27. Qd1 Be4 28.
Rd6 Bxh1 29. Qxh1 Ra7 30. Bxb6 Rd7 31. Qd5 $18) (23. g6+ $5 Ke8 24. Qxg7 Qc7
25. Rd2 Nxd5 26. Qh6 Rg8 27. g7 Qxg7 28. Rxd5 Qg6 29. Qxg6+ Bxg6 30. Rg1 Bh7
31. Rxg8+ Bxg8 32. Rd6 $14) 23... Ke8 24. Qxg7 Qc7 25. Rh2 (25. Rd2 {kept the
balance in the position} Nxd5 26. Qd4 Bxe6 27. Qe4 Qc6 28. Bxb6 $13 {The
position is equal but I believe beyond the scope of human calculation.}) 25...
Nxd5 26. Qxf8+ Kxf8 27. Rxd5 Bh7 $2 (27... Bg6 {is winning for Black} 28. b3
Qc3 29. Bd4 Qe1+ 30. Kb2 Qxe6 $19) 28. b3 {A very hard move to make when you
are a queen down but the move is also the computers top choice.} Ke8 (28... Qc3
29. Bd4 Qe1+ 30. Kb2 Qxe6 {does not work anymore because of} 31. Rd8+ $18) 29.
g6 {The positon is actually equal after this because White regains most of the
material back after this move.} Bxg6 30. Rh8+ Ke7 31. f5 Bxf5 32. Rxf5 Qc3 (
32... Kxe6 {also does not change the evaluation of the position} 33. Rff8 Qc3
34. Kb1 Nc6 35. Rxa8 Qxe3 36. Rhe8+ Ne7 37. Ra7 Qg1+ 38. Kb2 Qd4+ {Black has
nothing better than to repeat for a draw.} 39. Kb1 Qg1+) 33. Bg5+ Kxe6 34. Rf6+
Qxf6 (34... Ke5 35. Re8+ Kd5 36. Kb1 {according to the computer actually gives
some chances for White} (36. Rd8+ Ke5 37. Re8+ {with perpetual})) 35. Bxf6 Kxf6
36. Rh6+ Ke5 37. Rxb6 Kd5 38. Kb2 Nc6 39. a3 Kc5 40. Rb7 {The endgame is drawn
as Black does not have enough material to convert his position and the pawn
will inevitably be exchanged.} Rg8 41. Rh7 Rg2 42. Rh5+ Kd6 43. Kc3 Rg3+ 44.
Kb2 Rg2 45. Kc3 Rg3+ 46. Kb2 Rg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund 44th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2016.07.13"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Ponomariov, Ruslan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2706"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2016.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8.
cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Bc4 Nd7 12. O-O b6 13. a4 Bb7 14. Rfe1
Rb8 15. Bb5 Nf6 16. Bd3 h6 17. Rab1 Ba8 18. h3 Qe7 19. Rb3 Rfd8 20. Qb2 Rbc8
21. a5 bxa5 22. Ra3 Rb8 23. Qa2 Qb4 24. Rb1 Qf8 25. Re1 Qb4 26. Rb1 Qf8 27. Re1
1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund 44th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2016.07.15"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2810"]
[Annotator "Mekhitarian,K"]
[PlyCount "170"]
[EventDate "2016.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Qf3 $5 {
One of the most popular ways to fight the Taimanov variation nowadays. Black
has a number of options here, like ...Ne5, ...Nf6, ...b5, ...Nxd4, ...d6, etc.
Caruana chooses another trendy response:} Bd6 {Intending to place the bishop
on e5.} (7... Nf6 8. O-O-O d6 9. Qg3 Bd7 10. Kb1 b5 11. Bxb5 axb5 12. Ndxb5 Qb8
13. Nxd6+ Bxd6 14. Qxd6 Qxd6 15. Rxd6 Ne5 16. Bf4 Ng6 17. Bg3 e5 18. f3 Ke7 19.
Rd3 Rhc8 20. b3 h5 21. h4 Be6 22. Kb2 $16 {1-0 (52) Balogh,C (2635)-Bellaiche,
A (2499) Biel 2016}) 8. O-O-O Be5 9. g3 $1 {Preparing f4.} Nf6 (9... b5 10. Qe2
Bb7 11. f4 Bxd4 12. Bxd4 Nxd4 13. Rxd4 Qc5 14. Qd2 Bc6 15. Bg2 {White has an
easy game and a comfortable advantage already.} b4 16. Nd5 $5 (16. Nd1 $14 {
was solid and good, following up with Ne3 and Rd1.}) 16... exd5 17. exd5 Bb5
18. d6 Rc8 $2 (18... Bc6 $1 {exchanging the bishops, with excellent chances to
defend the position:} 19. Re1+ Kf8 20. Re5 Qb6) 19. Re1+ Kf8 20. Re5 $44 {
1-0 (69) Sethuraman,S (2639)-Bai,J (2507) Gibraltar 2016}) 10. Qe2 O-O 11. f4
Bxd4 12. Bxd4 Nxd4 13. Rxd4 d6 14. Qd2 (14. Qc4 $5 $146 {looks very good!
White tries to make the pressure on d6 even more discomforting for Black.} Qb8
(14... Qxc4 15. Bxc4 b5 (15... Ne8 16. a4 $5 $16) 16. Bd3 Ne8 17. Re1 (17. e5
$5 {is also an option. In any case, White will play a4 and try to attack
Black's weakness on a6 and/or advance his own queenside as well.}) 17... e5 18.
fxe5 dxe5 19. Rd5 f6 20. Rc5 $1 $16 {preparing a4 (so after ...b4, White has
Nd5)}) (14... Qc5 15. Qxc5 dxc5 16. Rd6 b5 17. e5 Bb7 18. Rg1 Ne4 19. Nxe4 Bxe4
20. Bg2 Bxg2 21. Rxg2 $16 {and after Rgd2, White has a very comfortable
endgame and clear targets on the queenside}) 15. Qb4 Ne8 16. Qb6 $5 {Stopping
Black's ...b5.} Bd7 17. Be2 Bc6 18. Rhd1 $16) 14... b5 15. a3 Bb7 16. Bg2 Rfd8
17. Rd1 {I think White has achieved a very comfortable position here, but it
is not easy to continue improving after Black's next move. And if we compare
with the positions after 14.Qc4, without the queens White has a lot more
freedom to play a4! Here it would be very dangerous to do something like that.}
Ne8 18. Bh3 (18. Bf1 {has also been played already:} Nf6 $2 (18... Rdb8 $1 $132
{- a bizarre move, preparing ...Bc6 and ...a5.}) 19. e5 Nd5 20. exd6 Rxd6 21.
Bg2 $16 {1-0 (34) Hansen,E (2580)-Barbosa,E (2438) Montevideo 2015}) 18... Rab8
19. Rd3 Bc6 {Preparing strong counterplay with ...a5 and ...b4.} 20. e5 {
Something had to be done in the center.} Qb7 $1 (20... d5 $6 21. Ne2 $1 $16)
21. f5 (21. exd6 a5 $1 22. f5 b4 (22... exf5 $5) 23. fxe6 {has to be tried,
but Black's position remains resilient:} bxc3 24. Qxc3 (24. exf7+ Qxf7 25. Qxc3
Be4 $13) 24... fxe6 25. Bxe6+ Kh8 $13) 21... b4 (21... exf5 22. Bxf5 b4 23.
axb4 Qxb4 24. b3 $13) 22. axb4 Qxb4 23. b3 {After having created some action
on the queenside, Black has to do something against f5, since his attack is
hard to continue after b3.} exf5 24. Kb2 (24. Bxf5 {transposes to 21...exf5.})
24... g6 $6 (24... a5 {would lead the position to a balanced endgame:} 25. Bxf5
(25. exd6 a4 $1 26. Nd5 Qxd2 27. R1xd2 Kf8 $1 28. Bxf5 Rxd6 $11) 25... a4 26.
Nd5 (26. Rd4 Qb6 27. Nxa4 Bxa4 28. Rxa4 dxe5 $13) 26... Qxd2 27. R1xd2 Kf8 28.
Ne3 axb3 29. cxb3 Ke7 30. Bh3 {threatening Nf5} g6 31. Nc4 dxe5 32. Nxe5 Rxd3
33. Nxc6+ Kd6 34. Rxd3+ Kxc6 $11) 25. Bg2 $1 {Exchanging bishops to prepare
Nd5, now White obtains the preferable position.} Bxg2 26. Qxg2 Rdc8 27. Nd5 Qe4
28. Qxe4 fxe4 29. Re3 Kg7 30. Rxe4 dxe5 31. Rxe5 Nd6 32. Ne3 $14 {As usual,
Kramnik emerges in a slightly better endgame, with a superior pawn structure
and more active pieces!} Rc6 33. Re7 Nf5 $6 {A delicate decision, ruining his
own pawn structure.} (33... a5 34. Rd4 $14 {would also be uncomfortable for
Black, since his pieces don't have clear squares to go, and the a-pawn could
be a problem.}) 34. Nxf5+ gxf5 35. Rd4 Rh6 36. Rf4 (36. Re2 $5 {was another
way to play it, keeping his own structure and slowly advancing his queenside 
(and also his king to a3, a4, etc.)}) 36... Rxh2 37. Rxf5 Rf8 38. Ra7 Rg2 39.
Rf3 h5 40. b4 $6 {The 40th move! Kramnik needed to be more prophylactic before
starting to push his pawns. He was probably in time trouble and chose a more
obvious continuation.} (40. Rc3 $1 Kh6 41. Rxa6+ Kg5 {Black has some
counterplay, but I feel White has great winning chances with the proper
advance of the queenside pawns:} 42. Rac6 f5 43. b4 $16) 40... Rc8 $1 41.
Rfxf7+ Kh6 $6 (41... Kg6 $1 {keeping an eye on the f7-rook to avoid Rxa6+.} 42.
Rfc7 Rxc7 43. Rxc7 Rxg3 44. Rc6+ Kg5 45. Rxa6 h4 46. Ra8 h3 47. Rh8 Kf4 48. b5
Ke4 $1 {A very important resource! Black wants to play ...Kd4, and if c3 now ..
.Rg5!, which is not possible had the black king moved to e5 directly on move
48.} (48... Ke5 $2 49. c3 $1 Kd5 50. Kb3 Kc5 51. Rh5+ Kb6 52. Kb4 $18) 49. Rh6
(49. c3 Rg5) 49... Kd5 50. b6 Rg7 51. Rxh3 Kc6 {reaching a theoretical drawn
endgame. For example:} 52. Rh6+ Kb5 53. Kb3 Kc5 54. Ka4 Rg1 $1 $11 {the only
move to avoid Ka5.}) 42. Rxa6+ (42. Rfc7 $2 Rxc7 43. Rxc7 Rxg3 44. Rc6+ Rg6 $11
{Probably because of this Caruana played ...Kh6, so that he would have ...Rg6
in this variation.} (44... Kg5 $11 {would be a lot more complicated, but it's
also a draw, as analysed in the line with 41...Kg6.})) 42... Kg5 43. Ra5+ Kg6
44. Rf3 Rcxc2+ 45. Kb3 Rb2+ 46. Ka4 Ra2+ 47. Kb5 Rae2 48. Ra6+ (48. Rd3 $1 {
Preparing Kc6 and then use the d3-rook as a shield for the checks.} Rc2 49. Kb6
$18 {and Black is helpless against the advance of the b-pawn.}) 48... Kg5 49.
Rc6 Kg4 50. Rfc3 Re5+ 51. Kb6 Rb2 $1 52. R6c4+ Kf5 53. Rf4+ Kg5 54. Rd4 Kf5 55.
Kc6 Re6+ 56. Kd7 Rb6 57. Rc5+ $2 (57. g4+ $3 {a counter-intuitive winning move,
and a very difficult one! White exchanges the last two pawns on the kingside
and forces a winning endgame.} hxg4 58. Rc5+ Kf6 59. Rf4+ $1 {This is the key,
the g-pawn can be taken with check.} Kg6 60. Rxg4+ {It is funny that any king
move here runs into a forced exchange:} Kf6 (60... Kf7 61. Rf5+ Rf6 62. Rxf6+
Kxf6 63. Kc6 $18) (60... Kh7 61. Rh5+ Rh6 62. Rxh6+ Kxh6 63. Kc6 $18) 61. Rc6+
Rxc6 62. Kxc6 $18) 57... Kg6 {Now White cannot win the game anymore.} 58. Rc6+
Rxc6 59. Kxc6 Rb3 $1 {With both pawns on the kingside still alive, Black has
this strong counterplay, securing him a very difficult half point.} 60. b5 (60.
g4 {doesn't win anymore:} h4 $1 $11) 60... Rc3+ 61. Kd6 Rxg3 $11 62. b6 (62.
Rb4 {doesn't change anything:} Rd3+ 63. Kc7 Rc3+ 64. Kb8 Kg5 65. b6 h4 66. b7
h3 $11) 62... Rb3 63. Kc6 Kg5 64. Rd5+ Kg4 65. Rb5 Rc3+ 66. Kd7 Rd3+ 67. Ke7
Re3+ 68. Kf7 Rf3+ 69. Kg6 h4 $1 70. b7 Rf8 71. Rg5+ (71. b8=Q Rxb8 72. Rxb8 h3
73. Rb4+ Kg3 74. Kg5 h2 75. Rb3+ Kg2 $11) 71... Kh3 (71... Kf4 $4 72. Rf5+ Rxf5
73. b8=Q+ $18) 72. Rb5 Kg2 73. Rg5+ Kh3 74. Rb5 Kg2 75. Kh5 h3 76. Rb2+ Kg1 77.
Rb1+ Kg2 78. Rb2+ Kg1 79. Kg4 h2 80. Rb1+ Kg2 81. Rb2+ Kg1 82. b8=Q Rxb8 83.
Rxb8 h1=Q 84. Rb1+ Kg2 85. Rxh1 Kxh1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund 44th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2016.07.16"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2674"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "291"]
[EventDate "2016.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. e3 {Of course, this system is quite harmless.}
Be7 5. b3 O-O 6. Bb2 c5 7. Bd3 cxd4 8. exd4 Nc6 9. O-O b6 10. Nbd2 Bb7 11. Rc1
Rc8 12. Re1 Re8 {Simple play: both sides develop their pieces.} 13. a3 Bf8 {
A typical plan here: Black is ready to transfer his bishop to g7.} (13... dxc4
{is the main alternative:} 14. bxc4 Bf8 (14... Qd6 $5 {was played in only one
but classic game:} 15. Nb3 Red8 16. Rc2 Bf8 17. Rce2 g6 $13 18. Ng5 $5 Bg7 19.
h3 Rc7 20. Nxe6 $6 fxe6 21. Rxe6 Qf8 22. d5 Nb8 23. Bc3 Na6 24. Nd4 Nxd5 25.
cxd5 Rxc3 $19 {0-1 (28) Petrosian,T (2635)-Tal,M (2615) Moscow 1976}) 15. Nf1 (
15. Bb1 g6 16. Ba2 Bg7 17. d5 $6 exd5 18. Rxe8+ Nxe8 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. cxd5 Ne7
$17 {[%csl Rd5] 0-1 (86) Torre,E (2550)-Gheorghiu,F (2545) Wijk aan Zee 1981})
(15. Ne4 Nxe4 16. Rxe4 g6 17. d5 Na5 18. Qd2 {1-0 (38) Fridman,R (2378)-Fleck,
J (2408) Essen 2002} f6 $1 $13) 15... g6 16. Ne3 (16. Ng3 Bg7 17. Qe2 Qd6 18.
Rcd1 Red8 19. Qe3 Qf8 20. Qf4 Na5 $15 {1-0 (57) Rotstein,A (2528)-Beliavsky,A 
(2631) Austria 2006}) 16... Bg7 $13 17. Rc2 Na5 18. Ne5 Nc6 19. Nf3 Na5 20. Ne5
Nc6 {1/2 (20) Franco Ocampos,Z (2490)-Korneev,O (2591) Roquetas de Mar 2015}) (
13... g6 $5 {deserves further research; so far Black is doing well:} 14. b4 (
14. c5 $6 a5 $1 15. Bb5 Nd7 16. b4 axb4 17. Bxc6 Bxc6 18. axb4 Bf6 $1 $15 {
1/2 (60) Tregubov,P (2632)-Atalik,S (2568) Istanbul 2003 CBM 096 [Atalik,S]})
14... dxc4 15. Nxc4 a6 16. Qb3 b5 17. Ne3 Bf8 18. Rc2 Bg7 19. Rec1 Qd6 $15 {
0-1 (26) Johnston,A (2182)-Bucinskas,V ICCF WS 2006}) 14. c5 {The same
aggressive continuation as in Tregubov-Atalik but now Black has no manoeuvre ..
.Nf6-d7 and ...Be7-f6.} (14. Nf1 g6 15. Ne3 (15. c5 {is less appropriate now:}
a5 $1 16. Bb5 Nd7 17. Ne3 Bg7 18. Qd2 Nf6 19. Rc2 Ne4 20. Qc1 Re7 21. Ng4 f5
22. Bxc6 fxg4 23. Bxb7 Rxb7 24. c6 Rbc7 25. Ne5 Bxe5 26. dxe5 Nc5 $17 {1/2 (45)
Rombaldoni,A (2502)-Gustafsson,J (2640) Porto Mannu 2015}) 15... Bg7 16. c5
bxc5 $6 (16... a5 $5 17. Bb5) 17. dxc5 a5 18. Bb5 Re7 19. Ne5 Rec7 20. Nxc6
Bxc6 21. Bxc6 Rxc6 22. b4 $16 {1/2 (46) Khairullin,I (2647)-Bukavshin,I (2657)
Khanty-Mansiysk 2015}) 14... a5 $1 {Still, this is Black's principled reply,
preventing b3-b4.} 15. Bc3 $5 $146 {[%mdl 8] This new move provokes the
advance of Black's central pawns, which will be subsequently blockaded.} (15.
Bb5 {is the continuation seen in practice:} Nd7 16. b4 (16. Bxc6 Bxc6 17. b4
Qc7 18. Qe2 bxc5 19. dxc5 Rb8 20. Bc3 e5 $17 {0-1 (48) Butti,E (2071)-Delgado
Ramirez,N (2604) Asuncion 2014}) 16... axb4 17. Bxc6 Bxc6 18. axb4 Bb5 (18...
g6 {1-0 (54) Tolonen,L (2330)-Sorsa,N (2270) Turku 1997} 19. Nf1 {[%cal Yf1e3]}
) (18... Qc7 $5) 19. Nb1 Qc7 20. Nc3 Bc4 21. Nd2 bxc5 22. dxc5 Bd3 $13 (22...
Ne5 $2 23. Nce4 $1 Nd3 24. Nf6+ $1 Kh8 25. Nxc4 dxc4 26. Nxe8 Rxe8 27. Qe2 Nxe1
28. Rxe1 Qf4 29. g3 Qf5 30. Qxc4 $18 {1-0 (47) Franco Ocampos,Z (2490)
-Svetushkin,D (2581) Lorca 2014})) 15... bxc5 16. dxc5 d4 (16... e5 $5 17. Nxe5
Nxe5 18. Bxe5 Rxc5 {[%csl Ra3]} 19. Ra1 $5 $13) 17. Bb2 e5 18. Ng5 Rc7 19. Bc4
$6 {The bishop has nothing to do here, it just obstructs the c1 rook.} (19.
Nde4 $142 $5 Nxe4 20. Nxe4 $36) 19... h6 20. Nge4 Bc8 21. Nxf6+ Qxf6 22. b4 {
This leads to simplifications and equality.} (22. Ne4 $5 Qg6 23. f4 $13) 22...
axb4 23. axb4 Nxb4 24. Bxd4 Bb7 25. Qg4 Kh8 (25... h5 $5 26. Qg3 (26. Qxh5 $6
Qc6 $1 {[%cal Rc6g2,Re5d4]} 27. Nf3 exd4 28. Rxe8 Qxe8 29. Ng5 Be4) 26... h4
27. Qg4 Bxc5 28. Bxc5 Rxc5 29. Bxf7+ Qxf7 30. Qxb4 $11) 26. Ne4 Qf4 27. Qxf4
exf4 28. Nd2 Rxe1+ 29. Rxe1 Rd7 30. Nb3 (30. Re8 $142 Rxd4 (30... Kg8 31. Bc3)
31. Rxf8+ Kh7 32. Rb8 {with a probable draw.}) (30. Bc3 Bxc5 31. Nb3 {should
be enough, too.}) 30... Nc2 $1 31. Re8 Kg8 32. Bb5 $8 Rxd4 (32... Rd5 $5 {
gives Black more chances, e.g.} 33. Bc4 (33. Rb8 Nxd4 34. Nxd4 Rxd4 35. Rxb7
Rd1+ 36. Bf1 Bxc5 37. Rb2 g5 $17) 33... Rg5 {, and White must probably play}
34. h4 $1 Rxg2+ 35. Kf1 Bf3 {[%cal Rg2h2]} 36. Be2 $1 Bc6 37. Rc8 Rg6 $15) 33.
Nxd4 Nxd4 {[%mdl 4096] Black has obtained a material advantage, however, it
proves rather impossible to convert it.} 34. Rb8 Be4 35. Bd7 g5 36. Rc8 f3 37.
g3 Bb7 38. Rb8 Bd5 39. Rd8 Kg7 40. Bb5 Nxb5 41. Rxd5 Nc3 42. Rd3 Ne2+ 43. Kf1
Bxc5 44. Rxf3 Nd4 45. Rc3 Bd6 46. Kg2 h5 47. Rc4 Nf5 48. Ra4 f6 49. Ra5 Kg6 50.
Ra6 Be5 51. Ra5 Nd4 52. Ra4 Kf5 53. Ra8 g4 54. h3 Nf3 55. hxg4+ hxg4 56. Rg8
Bd4 57. Rd8 Ke4 58. Re8+ Be5 59. Rg8 Ng5 60. Ra8 Kf5 61. Ra4 Ne4 62. Ra5 Nd2
63. Ra4 Nf3 64. Ra8 Bd4 65. Rd8 Ke4 66. Re8+ Ne5 67. Re6 Kf5 68. Rd6 Ba7 69.
Rd8 Bb6 70. Rb8 Bd4 71. Rd8 Ke4 72. Re8 Bc5 73. Rg8 Kd3 74. Rc8 Bd4 75. Rd8 Nf3
76. Rg8 Ng5 77. Rd8 Ke4 78. Re8+ Kf5 79. Rd8 Ne6 80. Ra8 Bb6 81. Rb8 Bc5 82.
Rc8 Bd4 83. Ra8 Be5 84. Rc8 Bd6 85. Rc6 Ke5 86. Rc4 Nd4 87. Rc8 Ke4 88. Rg8 f5
89. Re8+ Be5 90. Re7 Nc2 91. Re8 Ne1+ 92. Kf1 Nd3 93. Kg2 Nb4 94. Re7 Nd5 95.
Re8 Nf6 96. Ra8 Bd4 97. Rd8 Ke5 98. f3 Bb6 99. Rb8 Nd5 100. fxg4 fxg4 101. Rg8
Kf5 102. Re8 Bd4 103. Rf8+ Ke4 104. Rg8 Ne3+ 105. Kf2 Kd3 106. Rg6 Nc4+ 107.
Kg2 Ne5 108. Rg5 Ke4 109. Rg8 Bc5 110. Rg7 Kf5 111. Rg8 Nd7 112. Rc8 Be3 113.
Re8 Bb6 114. Rc8 Nf6 115. Rb8 Bd4 116. Rb7 Be5 117. Rb5 Ke4 118. Rb4+ Kd3 119.
Rb3+ Ke4 120. Rb4+ Bd4 121. Rb8 Kd3 122. Rd8 Ke3 123. Ra8 Bc3 124. Rc8 Kd3 125.
Rc7 Bd4 126. Rg7 Be5 127. Rg6 Ke4 128. Rg5 Bd6 129. Kf2 Bc7 130. Kg2 Be5 131.
Kf2 Kd5 132. Kg2 Ke6 133. Kh2 Bc3 134. Kg2 Bd2 135. Rg7 Kf5 136. Rf7 Bb4 137.
Rb7 Bd6 138. Rb5+ Kg6 139. Ra5 Ne4 140. Ra4 Kf5 141. Ra5+ Ke6 142. Ra4 Kd5 143.
Ra8 Ke5 144. Ra5+ Kd4 145. Ra8 Ke3 146. Rg8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund 44th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2016.07.17"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Najer, Evgeniy"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A24"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2687"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2016.07.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. d3 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. g3 d6 5. Bg2 Nf6 6. e4 c6 7. Nge2 a6 8. O-O b5
9. f4 Qb6+ 10. Kh1 Ng4 11. Qe1 Nd7 12. h3 h5 13. b4 Ne3 14. Bxe3 Qxe3 15. d4
Qd3 16. fxe5 dxe5 17. cxb5 axb5 18. d5 Bb7 19. Rd1 Qc4 20. dxc6 Bxc6 21. Nd5
Bxd5 22. Rxd5 Nb6 23. Rc5 Qe6 24. Nc3 O-O 25. Rxb5 Rfc8 26. a4 Nxa4 27. Nd5
Rab8 28. Ra5 Nb6 29. Ra7 Rf8 30. Ra6 Rfd8 31. Qf2 Rd6 32. b5 Rb7 33. Qc2 Kh7
34. Qc5 Kg8 35. Kh2 Kh7 36. h4 Kg8 37. Bh3 Rxd5 38. exd5 Qxd5 39. Qc6 Qd2+ 40.
Bg2 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-42"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.03"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Atabayev, Yusup"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2453"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2016.09.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Turkmenistan"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "TKM"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bd6 6. h3 Be6 7. Nc3 Qe7 8.
Qe2 O-O-O 9. Bd2 h6 10. O-O-O Kb8 11. Kb1 Rhe8 12. g4 Bc8 13. Rdg1 Nd7 14. Nd1
Nc5 15. Ne3 Ne6 16. Nf5 Qf8 17. Qe1 f6 18. h4 Bc5 19. h5 Qf7 20. Rg3 b5 21. Ng1
Bb6 22. Ne2 c5 23. Rf1 Bb7 24. Nc1 Rd7 25. Nh4 Red8 26. Be3 c4 27. Bxb6 axb6
28. Ng6 Nc5 29. Qe2 cxd3 30. cxd3 Rd4 31. f4 exf4 32. Nxf4 b4 33. Re3 Qd7 34.
Qf3 Qa4 35. Nfe2 Rxd3 36. Nxd3 Rxd3 37. Ng3 Ba6 38. b3 Qa3 39. Rd1 Na4 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-42"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.05"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2739"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2016.09.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Ukraine"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "UKR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 Nh5 8. Bd3
Nxf4 9. exf4 b6 10. b4 a5 11. a3 c6 12. O-O Ba6 13. Re1 Bf6 14. Ne5 Bxe5 15.
fxe5 Bxd3 16. Qxd3 Ra7 17. Ne2 Qa8 18. Qc3 Rb8 19. h4 h6 20. Nf4 axb4 21. axb4
bxc5 22. bxc5 Rxa1 23. Rxa1 Qb7 24. g3 Nf8 25. Kg2 Ra8 26. Rxa8 Qxa8 27. Qb2
Nd7 28. f3 Qa6 29. Kf2 Kf8 30. h5 Kg8 31. g4 Qa4 32. Ne2 Qa6 33. Qb1 Qa8 34.
Qb3 Qa7 35. Qb4 Qa6 36. Ke3 Qa8 37. Qb2 Qa7 38. Qb4 Qa8 39. Nf4 Qa1 40. Kf2 Qa8
41. Nd3 Qa6 42. Ke3 Kf8 43. Qb2 Kg8 44. f4 Qa8 45. g5 hxg5 46. fxg5 Nf8 47. Ne1
Nd7 48. Nf3 Qa7 49. Kf4 Qa8 50. Qb1 Qa7 51. Kg3 Qa8 52. Kg4 Qa6 53. Kg3 Qa8 54.
Qb3 Qa7 55. Kg4 Qa8 56. Qb1 Qa6 57. Kg3 Qa8 58. Kg4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-42"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.06"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Adly, Ahmed"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D58"]
[WhiteElo "2603"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "170"]
[EventDate "2016.09.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Egypt"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "EGY"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 Be7 7. e3 O-O 8. Bd3
c5 9. O-O b6 10. Qe2 Bb7 11. Rad1 Ne4 12. Bg3 Nxg3 13. hxg3 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Nf6
15. cxd5 Nxd5 16. Ndb5 Nxc3 17. Nxc3 Qc7 18. Be4 a6 19. Rd2 Rad8 20. Rfd1 Bc8
21. Rxd8 Rxd8 22. Rxd8+ Bxd8 23. Qc2 Kf8 24. Kf1 h5 25. Bd3 g6 26. Ne4 Qxc2 27.
Bxc2 Ke7 28. Nd2 Bc7 29. Ke2 b5 30. a4 bxa4 31. Bxa4 Bb7 32. Nf3 a5 33. Bb5 f5
34. Kd2 Bd6 35. Kd1 Bd5 36. Nh4 g5 37. Nf3 g4 38. Ne1 Bb4 39. Ke2 Kf6 40. f4
Ke7 41. Nd3 Bxg2 42. Nxb4 axb4 43. Kd2 Bb7 44. Ba4 Kd6 45. Bb3 Bd5 46. Ba4 Bc4
47. Bc2 Kd5 48. Bb1 Bb5 49. Bc2 Bd7 50. Kd3 Bb5+ 51. Kd2 Ba6 52. Bb1 b3 53. Ke1
Bc8 54. Bd3 Bb7 55. Bf1 Kc5 56. Bd3 Bc6 57. Bf1 Bb5 58. Bg2 Kd6 59. Bb7 Bd3 60.
Kd2 Bc4 61. Ke1 e5 62. Kd2 Kc7 63. Bg2 e4 64. Ke1 Kd6 65. Bf1 Bd3 66. Be2 Ke6
67. Bd1 Bc4 68. Be2 Bd3 69. Bd1 Bc4 70. Be2 Kd5 71. Bxc4+ Kxc4 72. Ke2 Kd5 73.
Kf1 Kc5 74. Ke1 Kd5 75. Kf1 Kd6 76. Kf2 Ke6 77. Kf1 h4 78. gxh4 Kd5 79. Kf2 Ke6
80. Kg2 Kf7 81. Kf2 Kg6 82. Kg2 Kh6 83. Kh2 Kh5 84. Kg3 Kg6 85. Kg2 Kh6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-42"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.08"]
[Round "6.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Meier, Georg"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2654"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2016.09.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Germany"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. e4 {Throughout his career Kramnik has mostly preferred closed openings, but
more than a decade ago he for about 2-3 years switched almost completely to 1.
e4. The results were not too encouraging an around 2006 Vladimir went back 1.
d4, 1.Nf3 and 1.c4. This year he decided to give the "aggressive serve"
another go and so far it's working nicely for him - both in Baku and Moscow 
(Tal memorial) he scored 2 nice wins against strong opposition.} e6 2. d4 d5 3.
Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 {Meier plays this line regularly even
against top players, so this was hardly a surprise.} ({He was certainly not
tempted by the newer idea} 6... Be7 7. Be3 b6 {where Kramnik recently
demonstrated an excellent idea} 8. Qd2 O-O 9. h4 $1 ({Too soft is} 9. Nd1 a5
10. c3 a4 11. Bd3 Ba6 12. O-O Nc6 13. Bxa6 Rxa6 14. f5 b5 15. fxe6 fxe6 16. Qe2
Qb6 17. Nf2 a3 18. b3 b4 19. dxc5 Bxc5 20. Bxc5 Nxc5 21. c4 Ne4 $36 {Giri,A 
(2790)-Harikrishna,P (2763) Stavanger 2016}) 9... Nc6 10. Bb5 Qc7 (10... Nxd4
11. Nxd4 cxd4 12. Bxd4 f6 (12... Bxh4+ $2 13. g3 $40 {[%cal Gh1h8]}) 13. exf6
Bxf6 14. O-O-O Nc5 15. Qe3 Bd7 16. Be2 (16. Bxd7 Qxd7 17. h5 $14) 16... Qc7 17.
h5 Rae8 (17... h6 $5) 18. h6 g6 19. Rhe1 Bc6 20. Bxf6 Rxf6 21. g3 Qf7 22. Bg4
Qf8 23. Qe5 Rf7 24. Qg5 Qe7 {Brkic,A (2584)-Smirnov,A (2482) Baku olm 2016} 25.
b4 $5 Ne4 26. Nxe4 dxe4 27. Qxe7 Rfxe7 28. c4 $36) 11. O-O-O a6 12. Bd3 f5 (
12... Rd8 $5 {[%cal Yd7f8]} 13. Qf2 $14 {/\} c4 14. Bxh7+ Kxh7 15. f5 Kg8 16.
h5 $36) (12... c4 13. Bxh7+ Kxh7 14. Ng5+ Kg8 15. Qe2 g6 16. Qg4 $40 {[%cal
Rg5e6,Rh4h5]}) 13. g4 c4 14. gxf5 (14. Bxf5 $5 exf5 15. Qg2 Ndb8 16. Nxd5 Qb7
17. gxf5 Bxf5 18. Rhg1 Bd8 19. Nd2 b5 20. Ne4 $40 {Kramnik}) 14... cxd3 15.
fxe6 Ndb8 16. Nxd5 Qd8 17. Nxe7+ Nxe7 18. Ng5 $1 h6 19. Qxd3 hxg5 20. hxg5 Bxe6
21. Qh7+ Kf7 22. d5 Bf5 {Kramnik,V (2812)-Buhmann,R (2653) Dortmund 2016} 23.
Qh5+ $1 Bg6 24. Qe2 $44 {-> For more details see the notes to this game by
Prasanna in CBM 174.}) 7. Be3 a6 {Black has more than one way to treat this
line:} (7... cxd4 8. Nxd4 {There is still no clear refutation of} Qb6 $5 (8...
Bc5 9. Qd2 O-O ({Agianst a technician as Kramnik, Meier is in no mood for the
dry endgame after} 9... Nxd4 10. Bxd4 Bxd4 11. Qxd4 Qb6 12. Nb5 Qxd4 13. Nxd4
Ke7 14. g3 Nc5 15. O-O-O Bd7 16. Bg2 g6 17. g4 h5 18. h3 Rh6 19. f5 gxf5 20.
gxf5 Rg8 21. f6+ Kd8 22. Bf3 Rg5 23. Rde1 h4 24. Rhg1 Rg3 25. Bg4 Ne4 26. Ne2
Re3 27. Nf4 Rg3 28. Rxg3 hxg3 29. Rg1 Bc6 30. Nh5 $14 {Navara,D (2706)-Meier,G
(2637) Belfort 2012}) 10. O-O-O a6 11. Qf2 {This was actually introduced into
top-level practice by Kramnik during his first 1.e4 "outing".} ({Kasparov's} 
11. h4 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 b5 $132 {is not considered too dangerous nowadays, so the
main alternative is}) ({Therefore the main alternative is} 11. Nb3 $5 Bb4 (
11... Bxe3 12. Qxe3 b5 13. Bd3 b4 14. Na4 a5 15. Qh3 g6 16. Qh6 Nb6 17. Bb5 Ne7
18. Nd4 Nxa4 19. Bxa4 f6 20. Rhe1 Ra6 21. exf6 Rxf6 22. Qg5 Qf8 23. Qe5 Nf5 24.
Nf3 Ra7 25. g3 $14 {Carapinha,F (2310)-Dutra Neto,A (2465) email 2013}) 12. Bd3
b5 13. g4 $1 (13. Nd4 Bb7 14. Nxc6 Bxc6 15. Bd4 Nc5 16. Qf2 Nxd3+ 17. Rxd3 Be7
18. Nd1 b4 19. Rh3 Rc8 20. Ne3 f5 21. g4 (21. Rg1 $142 Be8 $15) 21... fxg4 22.
Nxg4 Be8 $1 23. Nf6+ Bxf6 24. exf6 Bg6 25. fxg7 Rf7 $40 {[%csl Rd4,Gg6] Robson,
R (2680)-Vovk,Y (2628) WCup Baku 2015}) 13... Bb7 (13... Na5 $5) 14. Rhg1 Rc8
15. Rg3 {scores excellently for White, especially in email games.}) 11... Bxd4
(11... Nxd4 12. Bxd4 Qc7 13. Bd3 b5 14. Qh4 h6 15. Ne2 f6 16. Qg4 Bxd4 17. Nxd4
Nc5 18. Qg6 Nxd3+ 19. Rxd3 Qc4 20. Rhd1 Ra7 21. Kb1 Qc7 22. f5 $1 $40 {Kramnik,
V (2807)-Radjabov,T (2624) Linares 2003 See the notes to this game in CBM 093
by Finkel.}) 12. Bxd4 b5 13. Be3 Qa5 14. Kb1 b4 15. Ne2 Qc7 16. Nd4 (16. Ng3 a5
17. Nh5 a4 18. Bb5 Ba6 19. Bxa6 Rxa6 20. Rd3 Rc8 21. Rc1 Ne7 (21... a3 $5 22.
b3 Ncxe5 23. fxe5 Qxe5 24. Bd4 Qxh5 25. Rh3 Qf5 26. Rf3 $11) 22. Qd2 Qb7 23. g4
Rac6 24. Bd4 Qb5 25. Rf3 $13 {Caruana,F (2796)-Meier,G (2610) Dortmund 2013})
16... Nxd4 17. Bxd4 a5 18. Bb5 Ba6 19. Bxd7 Qxd7 20. g4 a4 21. b3 Qc6 (21...
Rfc8 22. f5 Qb5 23. Rhe1 axb3 24. cxb3 Rc3 25. Bxc3 $1 (25. Re3 Rxe3 26. Bxe3
Rc8 27. f6 gxf6 28. Qxf6 Qe2 29. Qg5+ Kf8 30. Bc5+ Rxc5 31. Qd8+ {½, Karjakin,
S (2762)-Goganov,A (2575) Nizhnij Novgorod 2013}) 25... bxc3 26. Qd4 Qa5 27. a4
$16) 22. f5 Bb5 23. Rd2 axb3 24. cxb3 Ra3 (24... Qa6 25. Qe3 Rfc8 26. f6 Rc7
27. h4 $14 {is also better for White - he overprotects d3 and can continue his
attack.}) 25. Re1 Rfa8 26. Re3 Rc8 27. Qe1 Rc7 28. Qd1 Ra8 29. Re1 Rac8 30. Qf3
Qa6 31. Red1 Qa3 32. Bb2 Qa6 33. Qe3 Kh8 34. f6 gxf6 35. exf6 Rg8 36. g5 $16 {
Caruana,F (2789)-Meier,G (2632) Dortmund 2014 The whole branch is dangerous
for Black and Meier was not interested in continuing the theoretical fight
here.}) 9. Qd2 Qxb2 10. Rb1 Qa3 11. Bb5 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 a6 13. Bxd7+ Bxd7 14. Rb3
Qe7 15. Rxb7 Rc8 (15... Qd8 16. O-O Rb8 17. Rxb8 Qxb8 18. f5 (18. Rb1 $5 Qc8
19. Qe3 $14 {Negi}) 18... Qc8 19. f6 gxf6 20. Qf4 Qc4 21. exf6 Rg8 22. Nxd5
exd5 23. Re1+ Kd8 24. Qb8+ Bc8 25. Qa7 Be6 26. Bb6+ Kc8 27. Qa8+ Kd7 28. Qb7+
Kd6 29. Ba7 Rxg2+ $1 $11 {Caruana,F (2795)-Robson,R (2663) Saint Louis 2016})
16. O-O (16. f5 Qh4+ 17. g3 Qg4 18. Rf1 Be7 19. Rf4 Qh5 20. Be3 Bc6 21. Rxe7+
Kxe7 22. Qd4 Rhd8 23. Qc5+ Kd7 {½, Motylev,A (2665)-Iljiushenok,I (2450)
Jerusalem 2015} 24. fxe6+ Kxe6 25. Ne2 Qxe2+ $1 26. Kxe2 Bb5+ $11) 16... Qa3
17. f5 Bc5 18. fxe6 (18. Ne2 exf5 19. Qg5 g6 20. Qf6 O-O 21. e6 Bxd4+ 22. Nxd4
{Dourerassou,J (2436)-Alonso Garcia,R (2339) Barcelona 2015} Qe3+ $1 23. Kh1
fxe6 24. Qh4 Rf7 25. Re1 Qc3 $17) 18... Bxe6 19. Ne2 O-O 20. Rb3 Bxd4+ 21. Nxd4
Qxa2 22. Rg3 Qb2 23. Rb3 Qa2 24. h4 $44 {Chigaev,M (2542)-Bykov,O (2378)
Voronezh 2016} Kh8 25. h5 h6 26. Rg3 Rg8 27. Rf6 Kh7 $11) (7... Be7 8. Qd2 O-O
(8... a6 {transposes into the game}) 9. dxc5 (9. Be2 b6 $5 (9... a6 10. O-O b5
{is more usual and also quite playable}) 10. Nd1 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Nxd4 12. Bxd4
Nc5 (12... Nb8 $142 $5 13. O-O Nc6 $132) 13. Nf2 a5 14. O-O-O Ba6 15. Bg4 Rc8
16. Kb1 Rc6 17. Rhe1 Qd7 18. Qe3 Qc7 19. Qh3 Bc8 20. Be2 Ba6 21. Bg4 Bc8 22.
Be2 Ba6 23. Bxa6 Nxa6 24. Ng4 Rc8 25. c3 Nc5 26. f5 exf5 27. Ne3 $36 {
Dominguez Perez,L (2720)-Bareev,E (2675) Baku olm 2016}) 9... Nxc5 10. O-O-O a6
11. Qf2 (11. h4 Qc7 12. Bxc5 Bxc5 13. Bd3 f5 14. exf6 Rxf6 15. g3 h6 16. Qe2
Bd7 17. h5 Re8 18. Rhe1 Bb4 19. Ne5 Bxc3 20. bxc3 Nxe5 21. Qxe5 Qa5 22. Qd6 Bc6
$132 {Harikrishna,P (2762)-Shirov,A (2679) Austria 2016}) 11... b6 12. Nd4 Qc7
13. Kb1 Bb7 14. Nxc6 Bxc6 15. Bd4 Bb7 16. Bd3 b5 17. Ne2 b4 18. Ng3 Rac8 19. f5
f6 $1 20. exf6 Bxf6 21. Bxc5 Qxc5 22. Qxc5 Rxc5 23. fxe6 Re8 24. Rde1 g6 25.
Rhf1 {So,W (2773)-Nakamura,H (2787) Saint Louis 2016} Bg7 $11) 8. Qd2 Be7 (8...
cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bc5 10. O-O-O O-O {- see 7...cxd4}) ({However, Black's most
popular alternative is still} 8... b5 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Bd3 (10. Ne2 Qb6 11.
Bxc5 Nxc5 12. Ned4 Nxd4 13. Nxd4 b4 14. Qe3 Rb8 15. Bd3 a5 16. O-O O-O 17. Nb3
Nxb3 18. Qxb6 Rxb6 19. axb3 Ba6 20. Rxa5 Bxd3 21. cxd3 Rc6 22. Rb5 Rc2 23. Rxb4
Rxb2 24. f5 exf5 25. Rxf5 Rc8 26. Rf2 Rc1+ 27. Rf1 Rxf1+ 28. Kxf1 Kf8 29. Rb8+
Ke7 30. b4 Ke6 31. d4 Kf5 32. Rb7 f6 $44 {Harikrishna,P (2752)-Anton Guijarro,
D (2630) Monzon 2016}) 10... Qb6 11. Bf2 Bxf2+ 12. Qxf2 Qxf2+ 13. Kxf2 Ke7 14.
a3 Nb6 15. Rhe1 Bd7 16. Ne2 Rag8 17. h4 h5 18. Ned4 Nxd4 19. Nxd4 Na4 20. b3
Nc5 21. Ke3 Rb8 22. Re2 f5 23. Kd2 Rhc8 24. Re3 Rc7 25. c3 g6 $11 {Hou,Y (2649)
-Short,N (2670) Hoogeveen 2016/ Black's fortress held strong in the simplified
position.}) 9. a3 $5 {A rare, but tricky continuation.} ({We have shortly
mentioned} 9. Be2 b5 10. O-O O-O {above, here Black is doing more or less OK.
A notable example is} 11. Kh1 (11. a3 $142) 11... Qc7 12. a3 Bb7 13. Rad1 Rac8
14. Qe1 cxd4 15. Nxd4 Nxd4 16. Bxd4 Bc5 17. Qh4 Bxd4 18. Rxd4 f6 19. Bd3 h6 20.
exf6 Rxf6 21. f5 Rcf8 22. Rg1 Nc5 23. fxe6 Nxe6 24. Rg4 Nf4 $17 {Karjakin,S 
(2720)-Carlsen,M (2810) Wijk aan Zee 2010}) (9. O-O-O $6 c4 {[%cal Rb7b4] is
too dangerous, but Kramnik doesn't want to give up the idea of queenside
castling yet.}) 9... O-O (9... b5 10. dxc5 {gives White a useful extra move in
comparison with 8...b5 9.dxc5 above -} Bxc5 (10... Nxc5 11. b4 $36) 11. Bxc5
Nxc5 12. b4 Nd7 13. a4 $14) 10. dxc5 ({White is still not interested in the
transpositional} 10. Be2 b5 11. O-O Bb7) 10... Nxc5 (10... Bxc5 {loses a tempo
with the B, White is slightly better after} 11. Bxc5 Nxc5 12. b4 $5 Nd7 13. Bd3
$14) 11. Qf2 b6 $146 {[%mdl 8] New, but rather passive.} ({Until now Black has
preferred the counterattacking} 11... Qa5 12. O-O-O (12. Bd3 f6 13. exf6 Nxd3+
14. cxd3 Bxf6 15. O-O Bxc3 16. bxc3 Qxc3 17. Qe2 Bd7 18. Rac1 Qa5 19. Qb2 Qb5
20. Qc3 Rad8 21. Rb1 d4 22. Bxd4 {½, Lennartz,M (2430)-Galanov,S (2502) email
2013} Nxd4 23. Qxd4 Bc6 $132) 12... Nd7 {[%cal Ye7a3,Yb7b4]} (12... Bd7 13. f5
d4 14. Bxd4 exf5 15. Bc4 Be6 16. Bxe6 fxe6 17. Qe2 b5 18. Kb1 Rab8 19. Bxc5
Bxc5 20. Na2 Qc7 21. Nc1 Be7 $11 {/=/+, Sethuraman,S (2633)-Korobov,A (2687)
Czech Republic 2016}) 13. Bd3 (13. Bd2 Qc7 14. h4 b5 15. h5 b4 16. axb4 Nxb4
17. Kb1 Nc5 18. h6 g6 19. Nd4 Bd7 20. Rh3 Rfb8 21. g4 Ra7 22. Bc1 Qa5 23. Nb3
Nxb3 24. cxb3 Rc7 $36 {Jankowicz,R (2387)-Galanov,S (2376) email 2008}) 13...
b5 (13... f6 14. Qh4 f5 15. Qe1 Nc5 16. Qg1 Rb8 17. Ne2 Ne4 18. Bb6 Bc5 19.
Bxa5 Bxg1 20. Rhxg1 Nxa5 21. g4 fxg4 22. Bxe4 gxf3 23. Bxf3 Bd7 24. Bg4 Rbe8
25. h4 Re7 26. b3 Bb5 27. Nd4 Bd7 28. Rdf1 Nc6 29. Ne2 Nd8 $132 {Kochemasov,A 
(2507)-Hamarat,T (2604) email 2012}) 14. Nd4 Qc7 (14... Nxd4 15. Bxd4 b4 $132)
15. Nf5 $5 exf5 16. Nxd5 $44 Qa5 17. Bd2 (17. Bxf5 $1) 17... Bc5 $2 (17... Qd8
$13 {/=/+}) 18. Nf6+ $1 Nxf6 19. Qxc5 Qc7 20. exf6 Be6 21. g4 $18 {Salem,A 
(2650)-Svane,R (2552) Douglas 2016}) 12. b4 $5 Nd7 13. Bd3 f6 {Hits the centre
before White fully consolidates.} (13... Qc7 14. Na4 b5 (14... Rb8 15. O-O $14)
15. Nb6 Rb8 16. Nxd7 Bxd7 17. O-O $14) 14. Qg3 (14. Qh4 f5 (14... g6 15. Qh3
$36) 15. Qf2 $14) 14... d4 (14... fxe5 $2 15. Qh3 Nf6 (15... e4 16. Nxe4 $1
dxe4 17. Qxe6+ Rf7 18. Qxe4 Bh4+ 19. Kd2 $18 {[%csl Rc6,Rh7]}) 16. fxe5 g6 17.
Na4 $5 $16) (14... Qc7 $5 15. Qh3 (15. Nd4 {[%cal Rg3g7]} Ndxe5 $5 (15... Nxd4
16. Bxd4 f5 17. O-O $14) (15... Nd8 16. Nxd5 exd5 17. Nf5 Rf7 18. Nh6+ Kf8 19.
Nxf7 Kxf7 20. O-O $13 {/+/=}) 16. fxe5 fxe5 $44) (15. Bxh7+ Kxh7 16. Qh3+ Kg8
17. Qxe6+ Rf7 18. Nxd5 Qb7 $15 {leads nowhere}) 15... f5 16. Ne2 a5 17. b5 Nd8
18. g4 Nc5 $14 {/<=>}) (14... a5 15. Bxh7+ $5 (15. Qh3 f5 16. b5 Na7 17. g4 $5
(17. Na4 Nc5 18. Nxc5 bxc5 19. c4 Bb7 $13 {[%cal Ya7c8,Yc8b6,Yd5d4]}) 17... Nc5
18. gxf5 Nxd3+ 19. cxd3 Rxf5 20. Nd4 $14) {seems crushing, but after} 15...
Kxh7 16. Qh3+ Kg6 $8 17. f5+ exf5 18. Nh4+ Kh7 (18... Kf7 $2 19. e6+ Kxe6 20.
Qxf5+ $18) 19. Qxf5+ (19. Nxf5+ Kg8 20. Qg4 g5 21. Nh6+ Kh7 22. Qh5 Qe8 $17)
19... Kg8 20. Qe6+ Kh7 21. Qxc6 Ra6 22. b5 (22. e6 axb4 23. exd7 Bxd7 24. Qxd5
Ra5 $1 25. Qd3+ f5 $11 {/=/+}) 22... Nxe5 23. Qxd5 Ra7 24. O-O Qxd5 25. Nxd5
Nc4 26. Bf2 Rd7 $14 {/= Black has reasonable chances to hold the resulting
endgame.}) 15. O-O-O $5 {[%mdl 64] Initiates hair-raising complications.} ({
However, White had a simpler road to an advantage with} 15. Bxd4 $1 Nxd4 (15...
Ndxe5 16. fxe5 Nxd4 17. O-O-O fxe5 18. Qxe5 Nxf3 19. Bxh7+ Kh8 20. Qh5 Bg5+ 21.
Kb2 $18) 16. Nxd4 Nxe5 17. O-O-O $1 Nxd3+ 18. Rxd3 Qc7 (18... Qe8 19. Re1 Qf7
20. Qf3 Bd7 21. Qb7 $16) 19. Qf3 $32 {White's lead in development is
overwhelming, Black's ^^ hardly have a chance to show their potential and he
will find it almost imposible to hold the material balance in the long run:}
Rb8 (19... Bb7 20. Nxe6 Qc8 21. Qe3 $16) (19... Ra7 20. f5 $5 (20. Re1 Qc4 21.
Qc6 Qxc6 22. Nxc6 Rc7 23. Nxe7+ Rxe7 24. Rd6 b5 25. Ne4) 20... Qc4 21. fxe6 $16
Bxe6 $2 22. Re1 Bf7 23. Nc6) 20. Re1 Bd6 21. g3 {[%csl Re6]} Re8 22. Ndb5 axb5
23. Nxb5 Bxf4+ 24. gxf4 Qe7 25. Nd6 {[%csl Gd6]} Rd8 26. Red1 {/\} Bb7 27. Qe3
{[%csl Rb6,Re6][%cal Rd6f5]} Kf8 28. Nxb7 Rxd3 29. Qxd3 Qxb7 30. Qxh7 $16)
15... dxe3 (15... dxc3 16. Bxh7+ Kxh7 17. Qh3+ Kg8 $142 (17... Kg6 18. f5+ Kf7
(18... exf5 19. Nh4+ Kh7 (19... Kf7 20. e6+ Kxe6 21. Qxf5+ Kf7 22. Qg6+ $1 Ke6
23. Nf3 Bxb4 24. Ng5+ Ke7 25. Qxg7+ Ke8 26. Qg6+ Ke7 27. axb4 Qe8 28. Qd3 $18 {
and the K can't aurvive in the centre for long.}) 20. Nxf5+ Kg8 21. Qg4 g5 22.
Qc4+ Kh8 23. h4 g4 24. Qxc6 $1 (24. e6 Qe8 25. Qf4 (25. Qxc6 Ne5 26. Qxa8 Qa4
$132) 25... Rf7 26. Nd6 Bxd6 27. Rxd6 Rg7 28. exd7 Bxd7 29. Rxf6 $13) 24... Ra7
25. Qe4 fxe5 26. Qxg4 Rxf5 (26... Rf7 27. Bg5 $18) 27. Qxf5 $16) 19. fxe6+ Kg8
20. exd7 Bb7 21. Qe6+ Rf7 22. Rhf1 $16) 18. Qxe6+ Kh7 19. Qxc6 Ra7 20. e6 Nb8
21. Qe4+ f5 22. Rxd8 fxe4 23. Rxf8 Bxf8 24. Ng5+ Kg8 25. f5 $44 {[%csl Rb6,Re4]
} a5 $5 26. b5 Bxa3+ 27. Kb1 $36) ({Black can't avoid the danger and has to
take one of the pieces:} 15... fxe5 $2 16. Qh3 Rf5 17. fxe5 dxc3 18. g4 Bxb4 (
18... Rxf3 19. Qxh7+ Kf8 20. Qh8+ Kf7 21. Bg6+ $1 Kxg6 22. Qh5#) 19. axb4 Qf8
20. gxf5 Nxb4 21. Rdg1 Nxd3+ 22. cxd3 Qa3+ 23. Kd1 Qb3+ 24. Ke2 Qc2+ 25. Nd2 $5
cxd2 26. Bxd2 $16 {[%cal Rh3g2,Rf5f6]}) 16. Bxh7+ $1 {[%mdl 512] The standard
sacrifice with a new twist.} Kxh7 (16... Kh8 $2 17. Bg6 $18) 17. Qh3+ Kg8 {
The motifs are already known from the 15...dxc3 line, but there are
differences as well:} (17... Kg6 18. f5+ $1 (18. Nh4+ Kf7 19. f5 Ndxe5 $5 20.
Rxd8 Rxd8 $19) 18... Kf7 (18... exf5 19. Nh4+ Kh7 (19... Kf7 20. e6+ $18) 20.
Nxf5+ $1 Kg8 21. Qg4 g5 22. Qc4+ Kh8 23. h4 g4 24. e6 $1 (24. Qxc6 Ra7 25. Qe4
fxe5 26. Qxg4 Rf7 $13) 24... Qe8 (24... Nce5 25. Qf4 Rf7 26. exf7 Nxf7 27. Qxg4
$18) 25. Qxc6 Ra7 26. Nxe7 e2 (26... Qxe7 27. Nd5 $16) 27. Rd6 $5 Qxe7 28. Nd5
$16) 19. fxe6+ Kg8 20. exd7 Bb7 21. Qe6+ Rf7 (21... Kh8 22. Nd5 e2 23. Rd3 fxe5
24. Re1 $5 $36) 22. exf6 Bxf6 23. Nd5 e2 (23... Kf8 24. Qxe3 Rxd7 25. Nxb6
Rxd1+ 26. Rxd1 Bb2+ 27. Kxb2 Qxd1 28. Qf4+ Ke8 29. Nxa8 Bxa8 30. Qe4+ Kd8 31.
Qh7 $16 {White wins the Pg7 and has very good winning chances}) 24. Qxe2 Kh8
25. Nxf6 Qxf6 26. Qe8+ (26. Kb1 $5) 26... Rf8 27. Qh5+ Qh6+ 28. Qxh6+ gxh6 29.
Rhe1 $36 {[%cal Yd1d6,Ye1e6]}) 18. Qxe6+ Kh8 (18... Kh7 $6 19. Qxc6 Ra7 20.
Qe4+ f5 21. Qxe3 $16 {[%cal Yc3d5,Re5e6] Formally material is equal, but
White's forces dominate the board and he has a huge attack.}) 19. Qxc6 Ra7 20.
Nh4 Qe8 21. Nd5 $6 {Tempting, but not ideal according to the engine.} ({
The silicon beast prefers} 21. e6 $142 $1 Nb8 (21... Nc5 22. Qxe8 Rxe8 23. bxc5
Bxe6 (23... Bxc5 24. f5 $16) 24. Ng6+ Kh7 25. Nxe7 Raxe7 26. Rhe1 Bg4 27. Rd3
bxc5 28. Nd5 $16) 22. Qxe8 $1 (22. Qxb6 Rb7 23. Qxe3 f5 24. Qg3 Bxh4 25. Qxh4+
Kg8 26. Rhe1 Bxe6 $13 {/\} 27. Rd6 Qc8) 22... Rxe8 23. f5 Nc6 (23... g5 24.
Ng6+ Kg7 25. Nxe7 Raxe7 26. Nd5 e2 27. Rd2 $14) 24. Ng6+ Kg8 25. Rhe1 Bd8 (
25... Ne5 26. Nxe7+ Raxe7 27. Nd5 Ra7 28. Rxe3 b5 29. Rg3 Kf8 30. Rd4 $14 {
[%cal Rd4h4] /+/- Sooner or later Black will be forced to take on e6 and
grovel in an endgame a pawn down.}) 26. Ne4 Bc7 27. Nd6 Bxd6 28. Rxd6 $36)
21... Kh7 (21... g5 $5 22. fxg5 (22. Nxe7 gxh4 23. Nxc8 Qxc8 24. Qf3 Qc3 {
and White doesn't have more than a perpetual with} 25. Qh5+ Kg7 26. Qg4+ $11)
22... Bb7 (22... e2 $5) 23. Qe6 Bxd5 24. Qh3 Kg8 25. Nf5 Nxe5 26. Rxd5 Qa4 {
and again White doesn't seem to have more than} 27. Nh6+ Kg7 28. Nf5+ $11) (
21... Bb7 $2 22. Qxd7 Qxd7 23. Ng6+ Kg8 (23... Kh7 24. Nxf8+ Bxf8 25. Nxf6+
gxf6 26. Rxd7+ Kg6 27. e6 $18) 24. Ndxe7+ Qxe7 25. Nxe7+ $18) 22. Nxe7 Qxe7 23.
Nf5 Nxe5 $6 {[%mdl 4096] Black decides to avoid direct danger by returning the
piece and simplifying the position. However, this comes at a cost, as in the
endgame he will remain a pawn down.} (23... Qe8 $142 $1 24. Nd6 (24. e6 Nb8 25.
Qxb6 Rb7 (25... Bxe6 $5 26. Nd6 Qe7 27. Rhe1 Rd7 28. Rxe3 f5 $13 {[%cal Ye7f6]}
) 26. Qc5 Qxe6 $5 27. Qxf8 Qxf5 28. Rd8 Rc7 {and White must bail out with} 29.
Qh8+ Kg6 30. Qe8+ $11) 24... Qe6 {with an unforced, but plausible follow-up}
25. Rhe1 Qa2 26. Rxe3 Qa1+ 27. Kd2 Qd4+ 28. Ke2 Qxf4 29. Rh3+ Kg6 30. Rg3+ Kh7
31. Nxc8 (31. Rh3+ $11) 31... Nxe5 32. Qe6 Qe4+ 33. Kf1 Qxc2 $11 {Here White
either gives, or allows a perpetual after} 34. Rd4 Qc1+ 35. Ke2 Qc2+ $11) 24.
Nxe7 Nxc6 25. Nxc6 Rc7 26. Nd4 Re8 (26... Rd8 27. Kb2 (27. Rhe1 Bg4 28. Rd3 Rc4
29. c3 Bf5 30. Rdd1 Bg4 $11 (30... Rxc3+ 31. Kb2 Rdc8 32. Nxf5 Rc2+ 33. Ka1 e2
34. Rb1 R8c3 35. Rb2 Rc1+ 36. Rb1 R1c2 $11)) 27... Re7 28. Rd3 Re4 29. Ne2 (29.
Nf5 Rxd3 30. cxd3 Rxf4 31. Nxe3 Rf2+ 32. Kc3 Re2 $44) 29... Rxd3 30. cxd3 Re8
31. Re1 $14) 27. Rd3 Bb7 $6 (27... Rce7 $5 {seems more resilient. After} 28.
Re1 Kg6 29. h3 $14 {White has reasonable winning chances, but for the time
being Black retains the Pe3 and more tension.}) 28. Re1 Bxg2 29. Rdxe3 $16 {
/+/= White has a healthy extra pawn and although his kingside pawns are split,
Black's queenside is vulnerable as well. All in all with good technique
Kramnik should be able to convert has advantage.} Rxe3 30. Rxe3 Bd5 (30... Rc4
31. c3 Kg8 32. Kd2 Kf7 {was perhaps more stubborn}) 31. Nf5 g5 {Pawn exchanges
should help the defence, but here White gets rid of a potential weakness.} (
31... g6 32. Re7+ $5 Rxe7 33. Nxe7 Be6 (33... Bf7 34. Nc8 b5 35. Nd6 $16) 34.
Kd2 Kg7 35. f5 gxf5 36. Ke3 $16) (31... b5 32. Kd2 $5 $16 (32. Ne7 Bg2 $14) (
32. Re7 Rxe7 33. Nxe7 Be4 34. Kd2 Kh6 35. c4 bxc4 36. Kc3 g5 $16 {/<=>})) 32.
fxg5 fxg5 33. Re5 {[%csl Rg5]} Bf7 34. Kb2 $1 {White first improves his king.}
(34. Nd6 $143 Bb3 {forces the retreat} 35. Re2 $16) 34... b5 35. Nd4 Kg6 $6 {
Drops another pawn and is tantamount to resignation. However, the endgame was
almost certainly beyond saving anyway:} (35... Rd7 36. Ne6 Bxe6 37. Rxe6 Rd2
38. Rxa6 Rxh2 39. Rb6 g4 40. Rxb5 Kg6 41. Rd5 g3 42. Rd1 $18) (35... Kh6 36. a4
$5 bxa4 (36... Rd7 37. Kc3 {/\} Rc7+ 38. Rc5 Rxc5+ 39. bxc5 bxa4 40. Kb4 $18)
37. Ra5 Rd7 (37... Bc4 38. Rc5 $1 $18) 38. Rxa6+ Kh5 39. c3 $18) 36. Nf3 g4 37.
Rg5+ Kf6 38. Rxg4 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-42"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.10"]
[Round "8.2"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D61"]
[WhiteElo "2789"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2016.09.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "US of America"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "USA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 Nbd7 8. Qc2
c5 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Nxd5 exd5 12. dxc5 Nxc5 13. Be2 Bg4 14. O-O
Rac8 15. Nd4 Ne6 16. Qd2 Qg5 17. Bxg4 Qxg4 18. Ne2 Rfd8 19. Rac1 Rxc1 20. Rxc1
d4 21. Nxd4 Nxd4 22. exd4 Qxd4 23. Qc2 h5 24. h3 g6 25. b3 b5 26. Qe2 a6 27.
Qe7 Kg7 28. Rc7 Qd1+ 29. Kh2 Qd6+ 30. Qxd6 Rxd6 31. Ra7 h4 32. a4 Kf6 33. Rb7
bxa4 34. bxa4 Ke6 35. g3 hxg3+ 36. Kxg3 f6 37. h4 Ke5 38. Ra7 Rc6 39. f3 Kf5
40. Ra8 Ke5 41. Re8+ Kf5 42. Ra8 Ke5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-42"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.11"]
[Round "9.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2722"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2016.09.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Azerbaijan"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. Re1 Ba7 8. a4
O-O 9. h3 Ne7 10. Nbd2 Ng6 11. d4 h6 12. Bf1 Re8 13. a5 Bd7 14. b4 Bc6 15. d5
Bd7 16. c4 Nf4 17. c5 g5 18. Nc4 Qe7 19. Be3 Bb5 20. Rc1 Nxe4 21. cxd6 Nxd6 22.
Bxf4 gxf4 23. Ncxe5 Bxf1 24. Kxf1 Nb5 25. Qd2 Qf6 26. Re4 Qg7 27. Rxf4 Rxe5 28.
Rg4 Rh5 29. Rxg7+ Kxg7 30. g4 Rxh3 31. Kg2 Rxf3 32. Kxf3 Rd8 33. g5 Rd6 34.
gxh6+ 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-42"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.12"]
[Round "10.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adhiban, Baskaran"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2671"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2016.09.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "India"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "IND"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 Bf5 4. O-O c6 5. d3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg4 7. h3 Bh5 8. Qe1
Be7 9. f4 Nfd7 10. Nf3 f5 11. e4 Bxf3 12. Bxf3 O-O 13. Nc3 fxe4 14. dxe4 d4 15.
Nd1 e5 16. Nf2 c5 17. Qe2 Nc6 18. Bg4 Kh8 19. Be6 exf4 20. gxf4 g5 21. Ng4 gxf4
22. Bxf4 Qe8 23. e5 Bh4 24. Bc4 Qg6 25. Kh1 Bg5 26. Bh2 Nb6 27. Bd3 Qe6 28. Qe4
Qd5 29. e6 Rae8 30. Rxf8+ Rxf8 31. Ne5 Qxe4+ 32. Bxe4 Nd8 33. a4 Nxe6 34. a5
Nc8 35. Nd7 Re8 36. Be5+ Ng7 37. Rg1 Bh6 38. Bxb7 Ne7 39. Nf6 Rf8 40. Be4 Ng8
41. Nxh7 Re8 42. Ng5 Re7 43. Bd3 Bxg5 44. Rxg5 Nh6 45. Bxg7+ Rxg7 46. Rh5 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-42"]
[Site "Baku"]
[Date "2016.09.13"]
[Round "11.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vocaturo, Daniele"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A49"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2583"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2016.09.02"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Italy"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ITA"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O d6 6. b3 {An quite interesting
sideline, trying to avoid the mass of theory after 6.c4.} e5 (6... c5 {is
another principled move, but things are not easy for Black here either, as I
managed to show in a rapid game against Fabiano:} 7. c4 Nc6 8. Bb2 Ne4 9. h3
Bf5 10. e3 Nf6 11. Nc3 cxd4 12. Nxd4 Bd7 13. Qe2 a6 14. Rfd1 Rc8 15. Rac1 Qa5
16. a3 Rfe8 17. b4 Qc7 18. Nb3 Qb8 19. c5 Be6 20. Nd4 Nxd4 21. exd4 Bb3 22. Re1
e5 23. dxe5 Rxe5 24. Ne4 Rxe4 25. Bxe4 Be6 26. Bg2 dxc5 27. Be5 Qa7 28. bxc5
Rxc5 29. Bd4 Nd7 30. Bxc5 Nxc5 31. Red1 h5 32. Bd5 b5 33. Qe3 {1-0 Kramnik,V 
(2783)-Caruana,F (2811)/Zurich SUI 2015}) 7. dxe5 dxe5 8. Ba3 Qxd1 9. Rxd1 Re8
10. c4 {Actually I had forgotten during this game the following blitz
encounter played a year previously. I just remembered that 10.c4 is the most
principled option.} (10. Nc3 a6 {Too slow, probably there are better moves} 11.
e4 Nc6 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. exd5 e4 14. dxc6 Bxa1 15. Ng5 Bg7 16. Bxe4 bxc6 17.
Bxc6 Bg4 18. f3 Bf5 19. Bxa8 Rxa8 20. Ne4 a5 21. Be7 a4 22. bxa4 Be6 23. a5
Bxa2 24. Rd8+ Rxd8 25. Bxd8 Bd4+ 26. Kg2 Bb1 27. Bxc7 Bxc2 28. Bb6 Be5 29. a6
Bb8 30. Nf6+ Kg7 31. Nd7 {1-0 Kramnik,V (2777)-Vovk,Y (2617)/Berlin GER 2015})
10... e4 (10... Nc6 {this is very logical, but White can still try to fight
for an advantage after} 11. Nc3 e4 12. Ne1 Bf5 13. Rac1 e3 14. f3 {and at some
point the pawn on e3 might become a target.}) 11. Nd4 c6 $6 {Too "solid".
Black should try something active like 11...Ng4 12.Nc3 e3 because if White
manages to consolidate his position he will have a pleasant advantage due to
his more active pieces and rather "sensitive" e4-pawn.} (11... Ng4 $142 12. Nc3
$140 e3) 12. Nc3 Na6 13. e3 Bg4 14. Rd2 Rad8 15. h3 Bc8 (15... c5 {doesn not
work because of} 16. hxg4 cxd4 17. Rad1 $1 Nxg4 (17... d3 18. g5) 18. Nxe4) 16.
Rad1 h5 17. Be7 $1 {A nice tactical trick. Once I saw it I could not resist
playing it even if simply pushing the b-pawn would give White considerable
pressure.} (17. b4 Nc7 18. b5 {is actually good enough and gives White a nice
advantage.}) 17... Rxd4 $8 (17... Rxe7 {is just losing because of} 18. Nxc6
Rxd2 19. Nxe7+ Kf8 20. Nxc8) (17... Rd7 {leaves Black without the e4-pawn
after Bxf6 and Nxe4.}) 18. Rxd4 Rxe7 19. Rd8+ Ne8 $8 (19... Re8 20. Rxe8+ Nxe8
21. Rd8 Kf8 22. Nxe4 Be6 23. Nd6 Ke7 24. Nxb7 {taking on c6 next.}) 20. Nxe4
Be6 (20... Bxh3 {this was my main concern when playing 17.Be7 but I saw that
it should not work:} 21. Nd6 Bd7 (21... Bxg2 22. Nxe8 Bf3 23. Nf6#) 22. Nxb7
Bg4 23. f3 Bf5 24. e4 Be6 25. Na5 Kh7 26. Nxc6 Rc7 27. Nd4 {with a technically
winning position.}) 21. Ra8 {The point of this combination, Black has problems
defending his queenside pawns.} Be5 22. Rdd8 Kf8 23. Rxa7 {Here in my
calculations before move 17 I was thinking that White has a serious advantage.
In fact the computer shows that things are less simple than I thought after
the best defence 23...Bf5! which I had not seen, frankly.} Bc7 (23... Bf5 $1
24. Ng5 Bc7 $1 25. Rda8 Bb6 26. Rxa6 $1 bxa6 27. Rxa6 Bd8 28. Bxc6 Rc7 29. h4
Bc8 30. Rb6 Ke7 31. Nf3 {and although White still retains an advantage Black
has some drawing chances here.}) 24. Rda8 $1 Bb6 $8 25. Rxa6 bxa6 26. Nf6 $1 {
Possibly missed by Black in his earlier calculations.} Bd7 {Sad but it seems
to be the only defence} (26... c5 27. Bc6 {just collecting the piece back.})
27. b4 $1 {The most energetic.} (27. Nxd7+ Rxd7 28. Bxc6 Rd8 29. Rxa6 {is also
very good.}) 27... c5 (27... Bc7 28. c5 $1 Be5 29. Nxd7+ Rxd7 30. Bxc6 Re7 31.
a4 {and nothing can prevent White from queening his pawns.}) 28. Nd5 $1 Bc6 (
28... Re6 {loses because of} 29. Rb8 Ba7 30. Rb7) 29. Rxa6 Bxd5 30. Bxd5 Bd8
31. b5 {Now I just push my pawns and there is not much Black can do trying to
stop them because of his badly situated pieces and very strong white bishop
supporting his pawns.} Rd7 (31... Nc7 32. Rd6 Nxd5 $140 33. Rxd8+ Re8 34. Rxd5)
32. b6 Ke7 33. b7 ({or} 33. a4 Nf6 34. b7 Bc7 35. Rc6) 33... Bc7 34. Ra8 Nf6 (
34... Rd8 35. a4 Nd6 36. a5 Nxb7 37. Ra7 Bxa5 38. Rxb7+ Rd7 39. Rxd7+ Kxd7 40.
Bxf7 h4 41. gxh4 Bd8 42. Bxg6 {should be enough extra pawns to win even in the
opposite-coloured bishop endgame}) 35. Rc8 Bd6 36. Bc6 Rd8 37. a4 {Nice to
play without being forced to use your brain, simply pushing the pawns!} Nd7 38.
a5 Bb8 (38... Nb8 39. Bb5) 39. a6 Ne5 (39... Ba7 40. Bxd7 Kxd7 41. Ra8 Bb8 42.
Rxb8 Rxb8 43. a7 Kc7 44. a8=Q) 40. Rxb8 {Time to promote.} Rxb8 41. Bd5 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 10th Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.09.25"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D03"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2731"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2016.09.25"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bg5 g6 4. e3 Bg7 5. Nbd2 O-O 6. Be2 c5 7. c3 b6 8. O-O
Nc6 9. h3 Bb7 10. Qb1 a5 11. Rd1 e6 12. a4 Qc8 13. Bb5 Na7 14. Bf1 Nc6 15. Qa2
Ba6 16. Bxa6 Qxa6 17. Rac1 cxd4 18. exd4 b5 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. Nb3 Be7 21. Re1
bxa4 22. Qxa4 Rfb8 23. Rc2 Qb5 24. Qxb5 Rxb5 25. Nc1 a4 26. Nd3 Rba5 27. g3
R5a7 28. Kg2 Bd6 29. h4 Na5 30. h5 a3 31. bxa3 Nc4 32. Rh1 Rxa3 33. hxg6 hxg6
34. Rb1 Ra2 35. Rxa2 Rxa2 36. Rb3 Ra3 37. Rxa3 Nxa3 38. Nd2 Nb5 39. Nb1 Bc7 40.
Nc1 Ba5 41. Ne2 Kg7 42. Kf3 Nd6 43. Nd2 Nb5 44. Nb1 Nd6 45. Nd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 10th Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.09.25"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D05"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2795"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2016.09.25"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 c5 4. Bd3 d5 5. O-O Nbd7 6. b3 g6 7. Bb2 Bg7 8. c4
O-O 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Qe2 b6 11. Rd1 Bb7 12. Nbd2 cxd4 13. Nxd4 Nc5 14. Bc4 Qe7
15. Rac1 Rfd8 16. Ba3 Qg5 17. N2f3 Qh5 18. Bxc5 bxc5 19. Nb5 Be5 20. Nxe5 Qxe5
21. Bxd5 Rxd5 22. Nc3 Rxd1+ 23. Qxd1 Qg5 24. Qf1 Rc8 25. Na4 c4 26. Rxc4 Rxc4
27. bxc4 Qa5 28. Qd1 Bc6 29. Nb2 Qxa2 30. Qd8+ Kg7 31. Qd4+ Kg8 32. Qd8+ Kg7
33. Qd4+ Kg8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 10th Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.09.25"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2776"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2016.09.25"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 h6 7. a4 a6 8. Na3 O-O
9. Nc2 Re8 10. Be3 Bxe3 11. Nxe3 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. b4 Ne7 14. c4 c6 15. Re1
Ng6 16. g3 Qd7 17. Rb1 Rd8 18. Nf5 Ree8 19. b5 axb5 20. axb5 d5 21. bxc6 bxc6
22. Qc2 dxe4 23. dxe4 Qd3 24. Qxd3 Rxd3 25. Kg2 Rc3 26. Rb6 Re6 27. Rb8+ Kh7
28. Rb7 Nh8 29. Re7 Rxe7 30. Nxe7 Rxc4 31. Nxe5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 10th Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.09.25"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D03"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2016.09.25"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bg5 g6 4. c3 Bg7 5. Nbd2 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Be2 Re8 8.
O-O e5 9. a4 a5 10. h3 c6 11. Rc1 Qe7 12. Qb3 Qe6 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Qxe5
15. Nf3 Qe7 16. c4 Be6 17. Nd4 dxc4 18. Bxc4 Bxc4 19. Rxc4 h6 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21.
Qc2 Rad8 22. Nb3 Rd5 23. e4 Re5 24. Re1 g5 25. Re3 Kh8 26. g3 Bg7 27. Nd4 Rxe4
28. Nxc6 Rxc4 29. Qxc4 Qd7 30. Rxe8+ Qxe8 31. Na7 Bxb2 32. Nb5 Qe1+ 33. Kg2 Qe6
34. Qxe6 fxe6 35. Kf3 Kg7 36. Ke4 Kf6 37. Nd6 b6 38. Nc4 Bc3 39. Nxb6 Be1 40.
Ke3 Ke5 41. f4+ gxf4+ 42. gxf4+ Kd6 43. Ke4 Kc5 44. Nd7+ Kb4 45. Ke5 Bd2 46. h4
Kxa4 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 10th Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.09.25"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2755"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "154"]
[EventDate "2016.09.25"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nbd2 Be6 7. O-O Bd6 8.
b3 Nd7 9. Nc4 O-O 10. Ne3 Re8 11. Bb2 f6 12. d4 exd4 13. Nxd4 Bf7 14. f3 Bf8
15. Qe2 a5 16. a4 Ne5 17. Rad1 Qc8 18. Ndf5 Qe6 19. Nd4 Qc8 20. Nef5 c5 21. Nb5
c4 22. Bxe5 Rxe5 23. bxc4 Qxf5 24. Nxc7 Rxe4 25. Qxe4 Qc5+ 26. Rf2 Qxc7 27.
Rfd2 Re8 28. Qd3 Bxc4 29. Qd7 Qxd7 30. Rxd7 b5 31. axb5 Bxb5 32. R7d5 Be2 33.
Ra1 Bb4 34. h3 Bc4 35. Rdd1 h6 36. Kh2 Re3 37. Rdc1 Rc3 38. Kg3 Kh7 39. Kf4 Bc5
40. Kg3 Ba3 41. Rd1 Bb4 42. Rdc1 Kg6 43. Kf4 h5 44. Ke4 Be6 45. Kd4 h4 46. Rab1
Bf5 47. Rb2 Kg5 48. Rb3 Rxc2 49. Rxc2 Bxc2 50. Rb2 Bf5 51. Ke3 Bc5+ 52. Ke2 Kf4
53. Rb7 g5 54. Rc7 Bb4 55. Rc6 Ke5 56. Rb6 Be6 57. Kd3 Bd5 58. Rb8 Bc6 59. Ke3
Bc5+ 60. Kd3 a4 61. Rc8 Bb5+ 62. Kc2 Bd6 63. Ra8 Bf1 64. Rxa4 Bxg2 65. f4+ gxf4
66. Kd3 Bf1+ 67. Kd2 Bxh3 68. Ke2 Bg4+ 69. Kf1 h3 70. Kg1 Be6 71. Kh2 Bc5 72.
Ra5 Kd4 73. Ra6 Kd5 74. Ra8 f3 75. Kg3 f2 76. Rd8+ Ke4 77. Rd1 Bc4 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 10th Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.09.25"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Li, Chao B"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D03"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2746"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2016.09.25"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bg5 g6 4. e3 Bg7 5. c3 O-O 6. Nbd2 b6 7. Bd3 c5 8. O-O
Bb7 9. h3 Nbd7 10. a4 Re8 11. a5 c4 12. Bc2 b5 13. a6 Bc6 14. Re1 Qb6 15. Bxf6
Nxf6 16. Ne5 Nd7 17. f4 Rad8 18. Nxc6 Qxc6 19. e4 dxe4 20. Bxe4 Qc7 21. Qf3 Nb8
22. f5 Bh6 23. Nf1 Rd6 24. Qg3 Qd7 25. Nh2 Bg7 26. Rf1 Rxa6 27. Rxa6 Nxa6 28.
fxg6 hxg6 29. Bxg6 fxg6 30. Qxg6 Rf8 31. Rxf8+ Kxf8 32. Qxa6 e5 33. dxe5 Bxe5
34. Qh6+ Bg7 35. Qf4+ Kg8 36. Ng4 a5 37. h4 Qe6 38. Kh2 b4 39. h5 bxc3 40. bxc3
Bxc3 41. Nh6+ Kh7 42. Nf7 Kg8 43. Nh6+ Kh7 44. Ng4 Bh8 45. h6 c3 46. Qc7+ Kg6
47. Kh3 Kh5 48. Qxa5+ Kg6 49. Qc7 Kh5 50. Qc5+ Kg6 51. Qc7 Kh5 52. Qc5+ Kg6 53.
g3 Qe4 54. Qd6+ Kh5 55. Qc5+ Kg6 56. Qd6+ Kh5 57. Qc5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 10th Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.09.25"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D78"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2016.09.25"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 c6 7. Qb3 Qb6 8. Nc3
Bf5 9. h3 Rd8 10. Bf4 dxc4 11. Qxc4 Nbd7 12. Ng5 e6 13. e4 h6 14. Nxf7 Kxf7 15.
exf5 gxf5 16. Rfe1 Nf8 17. Rad1 Rd7 18. Na4 Qd8 19. Nc5 Re7 20. Qb3 b6 21. Nd3
Nd5 22. Bxh6 Ng6 23. Bxg7 Kxg7 24. h4 Qd6 25. h5 Nf8 26. Ne5 Rc8 27. Rc1 Rec7
28. g4 fxg4 29. Qg3 Nf6 30. h6+ Kg8 31. Nxg4 Qxg3 32. Nxf6+ Kf7 33. fxg3 Kxf6
34. Re5 Kg6 35. Be4+ Kxh6 36. Kg2 Kg7 37. Rf1 c5 38. Rg5+ Kh6 39. Rg4 Kh5 40.
Bf3 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 10th Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.09.25"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D03"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2016.09.25"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bg5 Ne4 4. Bh4 c5 5. e3 Nc6 6. Nbd2 cxd4 7. Nxd4 g5 8.
Bg3 Nxg3 9. hxg3 Bg7 10. c3 e5 11. N4b3 Qe7 12. Qh5 Be6 13. Bb5 O-O-O 14. Bxc6
bxc6 15. O-O g4 16. Rac1 Kb8 17. Na5 Rc8 18. b4 f5 19. Ndb3 Qf7 20. Qxf7 Bxf7
21. Nc5 h5 22. c4 h4 23. cxd5 Bxd5 24. Rfd1 h3 25. gxh3 Rxh3 26. Rxd5 Rch8 27.
Nxc6+ Ka8 28. Kf1 Rh1+ 29. Ke2 Rxc1 30. Rd7 Rc2+ 31. Kd3 Rxa2 32. Rxg7 Rc8 33.
b5 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 10th Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.09.25"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "2016.09.25"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 174 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.10.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.10.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5
8. Rxe5 O-O 9. d4 Bf6 10. Re1 Re8 11. c3 Rxe1 12. Qxe1 Ne8 13. Bf4 d5 14. Bd3
c6 15. Nd2 g6 16. Qe3 Ng7 17. Re1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 10th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.09.26"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[Annotator "Sumets,A"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2016.09.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 c5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4
O-O 9. Rd1 d6 10. Bg5 Nc6 ({The main continuation is} 10... Nbd7 11. Nb5 ({
I believe that White doesn't have much after} 11. Rac1 a6 {for instance} 12.
Qd2 Rc8 13. b3 Rc7 14. Bf4 Ne8 15. e4 Qa8 16. Qe2 h6 17. h4 Rc8 $13 {Wang,H 
(2736)-Gashimov,V (2757) Beijing 2011 0-1 (52)}) 11... d5 12. cxd5 Bxd5 13. Nc3
Bc6 14. Qc4 Qc8 15. e4 (15. Rac1 h6 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. e4 Ne5 18. Nxe5 Bxe5 19.
f4 Bxc3 20. Qxc3 ({after} 20. Rxc3 {Black should find the following line:} Rd8
$1 21. Rxd8+ Qxd8 22. Qxc6 Qd4+ $1 23. Kf1 Qd1+ 24. Kf2 Qd2+ 25. Kf3 Qd1+ 26.
Kf2 Qd2+ 27. Kg1 Qd4+ $11) 20... Bb5 21. Qa3 Qa6 22. Qxa6 Bxa6 23. e5 Rac8 $11
{Eljanov,P (2717)-Jakovenko,D (2748) Schwaebisch Hall GER 2015 1/2 (43)}) 15...
h6 16. Bf4 (16. Nd4 $5 Bb7 17. Qxc8 Rfxc8 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. f4 e5 20. Nf5 Rd8
$13) 16... Bb7 17. Qxc8 Raxc8 18. e5 Nd5 19. Nxd5 Bxd5 20. Ne1 Rfd8 (20... f6
$1 21. Bxd5 exd5 22. Rxd5 Nxe5 $11) 21. Bxd5 exd5 22. Rxd5 Nc5 23. Rad1 $16 {
Kramnik,V (2766)-Aronian,L (2744) Monte Carlo 2007 1-0 (52)}) (10... Ne8 11.
Bxe7 Qxe7 12. Qh4 $1 Qxh4 13. Nxh4 Bxg2 14. Nxg2 Nc6 15. Nb5 {This move is a
little premature.} (15. Rd2 $142 Na5 16. b3 Nb7 17. Rad1 a6 18. e4 $14) 15...
Na5 $1 16. Ne3 Nb7 17. Rd3 a6 18. Ra3 f5 $1 19. Rd1 Kf7 $11 20. Nc2 $2 Na5 21.
Nxd6+ Nxd6 22. Rxd6 Nxc4 23. Rd7+ Ke8 $15 {Larsen,B (2580)-Adams,M (2495)
Cannes 1989 1/2 (65)}) 11. Qd2 {This continuation is harmless. White has some
chances for an advantage after 11.Qf4:} (11. Qf4 Ne8 $6 {After this move the
d6-pawn is a weakness. I think that Black shouldn't have traded the
dark-squared bishops.} (11... Qb8 12. Bxf6 (12. Nb5 {leads to a drawish line}
Ne5 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. Nxd6 Nxf3+ 15. Bxf3 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 Bxb2 17. Rab1 Be5 18.
c5 Qc7 19. Qe4 Qxc5 20. Rbc1 Bxd6 21. Rxc5 Bxc5 $11 {Giri,A (2768) -Jakovenko,
D (2747) Tashkent 2014 1/2 (48)}) 12... Bxf6 13. Rxd6 Na5 (13... Nd4 $6 14.
Nxd4 ({White could try} 14. Rxd4 $5 e5 (14... Bxf3 $4 15. Bxf3 e5 16. Qf5 exd4
17. Be4 g6 18. Qxf6 $18) 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 16. Qd2 Bxd4 17. Qxd4 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 {
The knight on d5 + 2 pawns are stronger than a rook}) 14... Bxg2 15. Nc2 (15.
Ndb5 $5 Bh3 16. Ne4 $1 Be7 (16... Bxb2 17. Rb1 a6 18. Rxb2 axb5 19. cxb5 $16)
17. Rd2 {White has an extra pawn without any compensation.}) 15... Bb7 16. Rad1
Qc7 17. R6d3 Qc6 18. f3 Qc5+ 19. Kg2 e5 20. Qf5 Qxc4 21. Ne3 Qc8 22. Rd7 Bc6
23. Ncd5 Bd8 (23... Bxd7 24. Nxf6+ gxf6 25. Rxd7 Rd8 26. Qg4+ Kh8 27. Nf5 Rg8
28. Qa4 $8 b5 29. Qd1 $16) 24. Ne7+ Bxe7 25. Rxe7 $16 {Nakamura,H (2816)
-Gurevich,D (2472) Las Vegas USA 2015 1-0 (53)}) 14. Rad1 Qc7 15. Rd7 Qxf4 16.
gxf4 Bc6 17. Ng5 Bxd7 18. Bxa8 Bxc3 19. Rxd7 Bxb2 20. Be4 h6 $11 {
Nepomniachtchi,I (2740)-Kramnik,V (2808) Moscow RUS 2016 1-0 (47)}) 12. Bxe7
Qxe7 13. Rd2 a6 14. Rad1 Na5 15. b4 Nc6 16. a3 Rd8 17. Qe3 Qc7 18. Na4 b5 19.
cxb5 axb5 20. Nc3 $16 {Postny,E (2647)-Cmilyte,V (2470) Helsingor 2009 1-0 (51)
}) 11... Qb8 12. Rac1 Rd8 13. b3 h6 14. Bf4 Ne5 {Black has got an excellent
version of a hedgehog.} 15. Nd4 $146 {This novelty isn't dangerous at all, but
the other continuations didn't promise anything to White.} (15. Ne1 Ng6 16. Be3
Bxg2 17. Nxg2 Qb7 18. Nf4 Ne5 19. Nd3 Neg4 20. h3 Nxe3 21. Qxe3 Rac8 22. Nf4
Bf8 23. Qd3 h5 24. Qf3 $2 Qxf3 25. exf3 d5 $1 26. cxd5 Ba3 $15 {Stella,A (2442)
-Solodovnichenko,Y (2598) Fano 2012 0-1 (37)}) (15. h3 Ng6 16. Be3 Qc7 17. Qc2
Rac8 18. Qb1 Qb8 19. Nd4 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Qb7+ 21. Kg1 Nf8 22. Nf3 a6 23. a4 N8d7
$11 {Valsecchi,A (2422)-Solodovnichenko,Y (2557) Padova 2012 0-1 (56)}) 15...
Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Qb7+ 17. f3 g5 $6 {Probably Vladimir underestimated the bishop
sacrifice. After 17...Ng6 his chances are at least not worst.} (17... Ng6 18.
Be3 d5 19. cxd5 Nxd5 20. Nxd5 Rxd5 21. Qe1 (21. Qb2 $6 Rad8 $17) 21... Ba3 22.
Rb1 Rc8 23. b4 Ne5 24. Bf2 Qd7 $15) 18. Be3 d5 ({If Kramnik hadn't intended to
play 19...Ne4! then he should have played} 18... Ng6 {however it is not so
easy to admit that your previous move was a mistake.}) 19. Bxg5 $1 {Has
Vladimir overlooked it? The consuquences of the bishop sacrifice are
definitely in White's favour.} hxg5 $6 ({The only way to keep the balance was} 
19... Ne4 $1 20. Nxe4 dxe4 21. Bxe7 exf3+ 22. Kh3 (22. exf3 Nxf3) 22... Qxe7
23. Qxh6 fxe2 24. Nxe2 Nd3 25. Rxd3 Rxd3 26. Nf4 Rd6 27. Nh5 f5 28. Qg6+ Kf8
29. c5 bxc5 30. Rxc5 $44 {White has enough compensation for an exchange.}) 20.
Qxg5+ Ng6 $8 21. Nxe6 $1 Rd6 22. Nf4 Ne4 23. Qg4 Nxc3 ({Black can't be
satisfied with the line} 23... Nf6 24. Qf5 Nxf4+ 25. Qxf4 Rad8 26. Nxd5 Nxd5
27. cxd5 Qd7 28. e4 $16 {White has 4 pawns for the bishop and Black's king is
exposed, so it is obvious that the position which has arisen is in his favour.}
) 24. Rxc3 d4 (24... Qd7 25. Nxg6 fxg6 26. Qxd7 Rxd7 27. cxd5 Bc5 28. e4 Re8
29. h4 {and White should win the endgame.}) 25. Rcd3 Rad8 (25... Bf6 26. Nxg6
fxg6 27. Qxg6+ Qg7 28. Qxg7+ Kxg7 29. e4 Re8 30. Re1 Rde6 $8 31. h4 Kh6 32. Rd2
Kg6 33. Red1 Rf8 34. Rf2 Rd8) 26. Nd5 Bf8 27. Rxd4 Bg7 $8 28. R4d2 ({White
shouldn't be too greedy} 28. Nf6+ Bxf6 29. Rxd6 Rxd6 30. Rxd6 Qe7 31. Rd2 Qe3
$132 {and White has to find} 32. Rc2 $1 Bd4 33. Qe4 (33. Qf5 Qg1+ 34. Kh3 Be3
35. Qe4 Qf1+ 36. Kg4 Qg1 37. b4 Bf2 {is very dangerous for White}) 33... Qg1+
34. Kh3 Qf1+ 35. Kg4 Ne5+ 36. Kg5 $1 f6+ 37. Kxf6 Nxf3+ 38. Ke7 Ne5 $1 39. Qd5+
Kg7 40. Kd6 Qf6+ 41. Kc7 $13) 28... b5 (28... Kf8 29. Qg5 Ne7 30. Rd3 Bh6 31.
Qh4 Bg7 32. e4 $16) (28... Re8 29. e4 Kf8 30. Qg5 Red8 31. h4 Ne7 32. Qe3 $16)
29. Qe4 ({White could have played} 29. Nf6+ {it is more reasonable for him
than 28.Nf6+, but it is still risky if you can't use a computer.} Bxf6 30. Rxd6
Rxd6 31. Rxd6 Qe7 32. Rd2 Qe3 33. Rc2 Bd4 34. Qe4 Qg1+ 35. Kh3 bxc4 36. bxc4 {
and acccording to my computer White is winning.}) 29... Qb8 (29... bxc4 30.
Nf6+ $1 Bxf6 31. Rxd6 Rxd6 32. Qxb7 Rxd1 33. bxc4 Rd2 34. Qxa7 Rxe2+ 35. Kh3
$18) 30. c5 Re8 31. Qg4 ({If Peter could use the advice of a computer he would
easily find} 31. Qxe8+ $1 Qxe8 32. cxd6 Qd7 33. Ne3 {with a winning position.
For instance} Ne5 34. Rd5 Bf6 35. R1d4 a6 36. h4 Kf8 37. Re4 Nc6 38. h5 a5 39.
Nf5 $18) 31... Rde6 32. e4 Qc8 33. Rc2 Ne5 (33... Kf8 34. h4 $16) 34. Qf5 Qb7
35. f4 $6 {Now White's e4-pawn is weak and if he pushes e5 than the knight on
d5 is not supported.} ({Peter should have played} 35. h4 Nc6 36. Rcd2 b4 37. h5
Ne7 38. Qg4 $16 {Black doesn't have any counterplay and I believe that White
should win it.}) 35... Nc6 36. e5 Nb4 37. Rcd2 f6 $6 (37... Nxd5 $5 38. Rxd5
Ra6 39. h4 Rd8 40. Qe4 Rxa2+ 41. Kh3 Re8 $16) 38. Qe4 $6 ({Peter could have
got a winning position after} 38. Kh3 $1 Nxd5 $8 39. Rxd5 Qe7 (39... fxe5 $4
40. Rd7 $18) 40. Rd7 Qf8 41. exf6 Rxf6 42. Qd5+ Kh8 43. c6 Rf5 44. Qd3 Qf6 (
44... Qc5 45. b4 $18) 45. Rd6 $1 (45. Rd8 $2 Qh6+ 46. Kg2 Qxc6+) 45... Qf7 46.
Kg2 $18) 38... Nxd5 39. Rxd5 fxe5 40. f5 Ra6 41. R1d2 Kh8 42. h4 Rh6 $1 {
Setting a small trap.} 43. Kf3 $2 (43. b4 $1 Bf6 44. R5d4 Qxe4+ 45. Rxe4 Rh5
46. Rd6 Rf8 47. Ra6 {with good chances to win the game.}) 43... Rh5 $1 44. Qg4
$2 (44. Rxe5 Rxf5+ 45. Kg4 Qxe4+ 46. Rxe4 Rfe5 47. Rxe5 Bxe5 48. Rd3 Kg7 49.
Kf5 Bb8 $11) 44... Rxf5+ $1 45. Qxf5 Rf8 46. Qxf8+ Bxf8 $15 {Now White needs
to play very precisely in order to avoid big problems.} 47. b4 Qf7+ (47... Kg7
$1 48. Kg2 Kf6 49. Kh2 Be7 $15) 48. Kg2 e4 49. Re5 $1 Qf3+ 50. Kh2 Qc3 $1 (
50... e3 51. Rd8 Kh7 52. Rde8 Qf2+ 53. Kh3 $11) 51. Rdd5 e3 52. Re8 Kg7 53. Kh3
$1 (53. Rd7+ $6 Kg6 54. Rxa7 (54. Rxf8 e2 $17) 54... Qd2+ 55. Kh3 e2 56. Ra6+
Kf7 57. Rae6 Qd7 58. Kg2 Qd5+ 59. Kf2 Qd4+ 60. Kxe2 Qxb4 $17) 53... Qe1 54.
Rde5 Qxb4 55. Rg5+ $1 Kf7 56. Rxe3 {White has managed to win the e3-pawn, the
position is drawish.} Bxc5 57. Rf3+ Ke6 58. Rg6+ Ke7 59. Rg7+ Ke6 60. Rg6+ Kd7
(60... Kd5 $4 61. Rf5+ Ke4 62. Rf4+ $18) 61. Rg7+ Be7 $5 62. Re3 a5 $8 (62...
Kd8 $4 63. Rexe7 Qxe7 64. Rxe7 Kxe7 65. Kg4 a5 66. Kf4 b4 67. Ke4 a4 68. Kd3
$18) 63. h5 Kd8 $8 (63... a4 64. h6 $18) 64. Rg8+ (64. h6 $2 Bf6 $17) 64... Kd7
65. Rg7 Kd8 66. Rg8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 10th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.09.27"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Li, Chao B"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2746"]
[Annotator "Havasi,G"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2016.09.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8.
Nbd2 {A less often played move instead of c4.} Bf5 9. Re1 Nxd2 10. Qxd2 Bxd3
11. Qxd3 O-O 12. c3 (12. Bf4 Qd7 (12... a6 13. Qf5 Bf6 14. c3 Ne7 15. Qh5 c6
16. Be5 Ng6 17. Re3 Be7 18. Rae1 f6 19. Bg3 $14 {1-0 (62) Alekseev,E (2677)
-Bezgodov,A (2508) Tyumen 2012}) 13. Re3 Rae8 14. Rae1 Bf6 15. c3 Rxe3 16. Rxe3
h6 $11 {1/2 (32) Zhou,W (2585)-Bu,X (2681) Danzhou 2010}) 12... h6 (12... Qd7
13. Bf4 a6 14. Ne5 Nxe5 15. Bxe5 f6 16. Bg3 Rfe8 17. Re2 Bf8 18. Rae1 {1/2 (18)
Anand,V (2786)-Gelfand,B (2696) Monte Carlo 2005}) 13. Re2 (13. Bf4 Bd6 {
is also equal.}) 13... Bd6 14. Qf5 Ne7 15. Qh5 Ng6 16. Bd2 (16. Ne5 Qh4 $1 $11)
16... Bf4 (16... Qd7 {was also good with the idea of Rae8.}) 17. g3 Bxd2 18.
Nxd2 Qg5 (18... c6 19. Rae1 Qg5 {is the same.}) 19. Qxg5 hxg5 20. Rae1 f6 21.
Nf1 Rad8 (21... c6 22. Ne3 Rae8 $11) 22. Ne3 Rfe8 23. Nf5 Rxe2 24. Rxe2 Kf7 25.
Kg2 Rd7 26. Kf3 Nf8 $11 {Black has fully equalised. White has had a little bit
of an initiative so far, but now Black is good.} 27. h4 g6 28. Nh6+ Kg7 29. Ng4
gxh4 30. gxh4 Kf7 31. Nh6+ Kg7 32. Ng4 Kf7 33. Re1 Rd6 34. Ne3 Ne6 35. Rh1 Ng7
{Preventing h5. A very precise move.} 36. a4 a6 (36... Nh5 {was also possible.
There is no need to do anything on the queenside.}) 37. b4 Rd8 38. b5 a5 39.
Ng2 Nh5 40. Rb1 b6 {Preventing b6.} 41. Rc1 Ng7 42. Rh1 Nh5 43. Re1 Rd7 44. Kg4
Rd8 45. Kf3 Rd7 46. Ne3 Ng7 47. Ng4 Nf5 (47... Nh5 {was more precise.}) 48. Rh1
Rd8 {Black wants to attack the h4-pawn, but White has a good response.} (48...
Nd6 $11) 49. h5 $1 g5 50. Ke2 Rh8 51. Kd3 Nh4 {Not a bad move, but from a
practical point of view, it is unnecessarily risky.} (51... Ng7 52. h6 Ne6 $11)
52. f4 (52. c4 $1 {is the suggestion of the computer} dxc4+ (52... Ng2 53. cxd5
Nf4+ 54. Ke4 Re8+ 55. Kf3 Nxd5 56. Nh6+ $1 {A very good move. He aims to put
the knight on f5, which is a very good base for the knight.} Kf8 57. Nf5) 53.
Kxc4 Nf5 $1 {... Kd5 Ne7 would be the plan.} (53... Rxh5 54. Kd5 $16) 54. Ne3)
52... Ng2 53. fxg5 Nf4+ 54. Ke3 Rxh5 55. Rxh5 Nxh5 56. gxf6 Nxf6 57. Nf2 Ke6
58. Kf4 Ne8 59. Ng4 Nd6 60. Ne3 Ne4 {A very interesting game.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 10th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.09.29"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2016.09.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 c5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 {As far as I know
Black had two traditional move orders. The differences are mainly relevant
from the point of view of the plan based on Bg5 as played in this game.} ({
I usually play} 6... a6 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4 d6 9. Bg5 Nbd7 {avoiding the lines
with 10.Bxf6 Bxf6. Here is a relatively recent example in which Black held his
own rather well:} 10. Qd2 Rc8 11. b3 Be7 12. Rfd1 O-O 13. Bf4 Ne8 {For the
time being Black's position looks cramped but he will restore his coordination
soon.} 14. Rac1 h6 15. e4 Qc7 16. Qe2 Qb8 17. Be3 Nef6 18. Nd2 Rfe8 19. f4 Qa8
{Grischuk,A (2795)-Perunovic,M (2602) Tromso 2014 (½-½, 32), with a normal
Hedgehog.}) 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4 O-O ({The alternative is} 8... d6 9. Bg5 a6 10.
Bxf6 Bxf6 11. Qf4 {Carlsen,M (2835)-Gashimov,V (2761) Wijk aan Zee 2012 CBM
147 [Carlsen,M] (1-0, 67)}) 9. Rd1 d6 10. Bg5 {One can play the Hedgehog in
various states of mind. If Black is aiming for a long unforcing fight with
chances to outplay the opponent in the long run, this is not the way of doing
it. But of he mainly wants to equalise and is prepared to abandon the typical
Hedgehog structure the line looks OK. Traditionally, Black was supposed to
land up in a unpleasant position but recent findings have slightly changed
this view.} Nc6 {The natural square for this knight is d7. After the last move
one of the main questions is whether he can relocate it with ...Ne5-d7.} (10...
Nbd7 {allows} 11. Nb5 d5 12. cxd5 Bxd5 (12... exd5 {Huzman,A (2574)-Adams,M 
(2755) Neum 2000 CBM 080 [Stohl,I] (1-0, 52), offers White a pleasant fight
against the Isolani.}) 13. Nc3 Bc6 {White has achieved a pleasant Catalan
structure but proving a concrete advantage is no trivial matter.} 14. Qc4 Qc8
15. Rac1 h6 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. e4 Ne5 18. Nxe5 Bxe5 19. f4 Bxc3 20. Qxc3 Bb5 21.
Qa3 Qa6 22. Qxa6 Bxa6 23. e5 Rac8 {Eljanov,P (2717)-Jakovenko,D (2748) Germany
2015 (½-½, 43), and Black managed to hold a draw.}) 11. Qf4 ({More active
than} 11. Qd2 {as faced by Kramnik two rounds earlier:} Qb8 12. Rac1 (12. Bxf6
Bxf6 13. Qxd6 Qxd6 14. Rxd6 Na5 {does not promise much:} 15. Nd2 Bxg2 16. Kxg2
Rfd8 17. Rxd8+ Rxd8 18. Nde4 Bxc3 19. Nxc3 Nxc4 20. b3 Na3 $11 {Mirzoev,A 
(2553)-Solodovnichenko,Y (2557) Milan 2012 (½-½, 31)}) 12... Rd8 13. b3 h6
14. Bf4 Ne5 15. Nd4 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Qb7+ 17. f3 {Black has a proper hedgehog
regrouping and no problems at all.} g5 $6 {Kramnik,V (2799)-Carlsen,M (2733)
Corus Wijk aan Zee 2008 (12) 0-1 But this resolute move creates some! Kramnik
might have been "inspired" by the unpleasant experience in} (17... Ng6 18. Be3
d5 $11) 18. Be3 d5 19. Bxg5 hxg5 $6 ({Black should have looked for
complications with} 19... Ne4 $5 20. Nxe4 dxe4 21. Bxe7 exf3+) 20. Qxg5+ Ng6
21. Nxe6 Rd6 22. Nf4 Ne4 23. Qg4 Nxc3 24. Rxc3 d4 25. Rcd3 Rad8 26. Nd5 Bf8 27.
Rxd4 $16 {Svidler,P (2745)-Kramnik,V (2808) Moscow 2016 (½-½, 66), with four
pawns for a bishop.}) 11... Qb8 12. Bxf6 {Abstractly speaking a concession.} ({
In practice Black has faced problems after the slightly more consistent} 12.
Rd2 Ne5 (12... Na5 $5 $146 13. b3 h6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Rc1 Be7 $11) 13. Nxe5 (
13. Rad1 Nh5 14. Qh4 Nxf3+ 15. Bxf3 Bxf3 $2 16. Bxe7 {1-0 Pantsulaia,L (2612)
-Solodovnichenko,Y (2587) Konya 2016}) 13... dxe5 14. Qh4 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 Qb7+
16. f3 Rac8 17. Rad1 e4 18. b3 exf3+ 19. exf3 $14 {Karpov,A (2725)-Smirin,I 
(2500) Moscow 1988 (1-0, 46)}) ({The forced sequence after} 12. Nb5 {speaks
volumes about Black's main aim in this line:} Ne5 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. Nxd6 Nxf3+
15. Bxf3 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 Bxb2 17. Rab1 Be5 18. c5 Qc7 19. Qe4 Qxc5 20. Rbc1 Bxd6
21. Rxc5 Bxc5 {and Black held a draw in a series of games, the most recent one
being Khairullin,I (2662)-Lysyj,I (2673) Chita 2015 (1/2-1/2, 41)}) 12... Bxf6
13. Rxd6 {This is the difference with respect with 11.Qf4.} (13. Qxd6 {would
just transpose.}) 13... Na5 (13... Nd4 $6 14. Nxd4 (14. Rxd4 e5 15. Qd2 exd4
16. Nxd4 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Bxd4 18. Qxd4 Rd8 19. Nd5 {also offers White a small
edge}) 14... Bxg2 15. Nc2 (15. Ndb5 $5 Bb7 16. Rd3 $14 {is a bit more active.})
15... Bb7 16. Rad1 Qc7 17. R6d3 $14 {Nakamura,H (2816)-Gurevich,D (2472) Las
Vegas 2015 (1-0, 53)}) 14. Rad1 Qc7 (14... Rc8 {is equally good.} 15. c5 $5 (
15. Ne4 Bxe4 16. Qxe4 Nxc4 $11 {[%csl Gb2] Pantsulaia,L (2615)-Drori,S (2173)
Jerusalem 2015 (1/2-1/2, 48)}) 15... bxc5 (15... Rxc5 16. Ne4 Bxe4 17. Qxe4 $14
Bxb2 $4 18. Qxa8 $1 Qxa8 19. Rd8+) (15... h6 16. cxb6 Nc4 17. Rd7 axb6 $44) 16.
Qa4 Nc6 17. Ne4 Be7 {Ghaem Maghami,E (2547)-Papin,V (2506) Rasht 2014 (1/2-1/2,
19)} 18. Rd7 $16) 15. Rd7 Qxf4 16. gxf4 {As in many Catalan lines, the f4-pawn
ensures White better control in the centre than if the queen exchange had
taken place in a different way.} Bc6 $146 (16... Rac8 17. Nd4 Bxg2 18. Kxg2
Nxc4 19. b3 Nb2 20. Rc1 Rc5 21. Rc2 Rfc8 22. Rxb2 Bxd4 23. Rd2 Bf6 24. Ne4 R5c7
{Shimanov,A (2639)-Carlsson,P (2436) Atlantic City 2016 (1-0, 66), with a
symbolic advantage to White.}) 17. Ng5 {The rook had no favourable squares for
retreating.} (17. R7d3 Nxc4 $36 {[%csl Gd1,Gd3][%cal Gc4b2]}) (17. Rc7 Bxc3 18.
bxc3 Rfc8 19. Rxc8+ Rxc8 20. c5 $5 {Geting rid of the weakness.} bxc5 21. Ne5
$11) 17... Bxd7 $5 {This leads to interesting play with opposite-coloured
bishops.} ({At first sight,} 17... Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Nxc4 {looks viable for Black.}
) 18. Bxa8 Bxc3 (18... Rxa8 19. Rxd7 Bxg5 20. fxg5 Nxc4 21. b3 Ne5 22. Rb7 $14)
19. Rxd7 (19. bxc3 $2 Ba4 $19) 19... Bxb2 20. Be4 h6 21. Nf3 Nxc4 22. Rxa7 Rc8
{White's rook is more active and the bishops of opposite colours offer him
chances for an attack if Black plays carelessly. But in principle the position
is balanced.} 23. Kg2 Bf6 24. Bd3 g5 {This shows Kramnik's wish to unbalance
the position.} (24... Nb2 $5 25. Ba6 ({If} 25. Bb5 {the knight can escape the
bishop's domination with} Nd1 {[%cal Gd1c3]}) 25... Rc5 26. Rb7 Ra5 $11) ({
The most solid continuation is} 24... g6 $5 {stabilising the kingside.} 25. a4
Kg7 26. Rb7 (26. e4 Bc3) 26... Nb2 27. Bb5 Ra8 $11) 25. f5 g4 {Another
ambitious move.} (25... exf5 {should lead to a draw:} 26. Bxf5 Rc5 27. Bg4 Ne5
28. Bh5 (28. Nxe5 Rxe5 29. Bh5 Re7 $11) 28... Ra5 29. Rb7 Ng6 $11) 26. Ne1 e5 {
Black has got a mobile kingside majority and the white knight looks passive.
But Kramnik must have underestimated the subsequent manoeuvre Nc2-b4-d5.} 27.
Nc2 h5 28. Nb4 Kg7 29. Nd5 Bh4 $6 {Black will now be too slow in creating
counterplay.} (29... Nd2 $1 {[%cal Ge5e4,Gc8c1,Gf6h4,Gc1f1]} 30. Nxb6 ({
The same move as in the game does not work so well now:} 30. h3 Rc5 31. Rd7 (
31. e4 Nf3) 31... e4 32. Ba6 Ra5 33. Bb7 Rxa2 34. hxg4 hxg4) 30... Rc1 {
[%cal Ge5e4]} 31. Ra4 Bh4 {[%cal Gc1f1]} 32. Nc4 e4 $1 33. Nxd2 exd3 34. exd3
Rd1 35. Ne4 Rxd3 {and due to the kingside weaknesses White has no realistic
winning chances.}) 30. h3 Rc5 (30... Nd2 31. hxg4 hxg4 (31... Rc5 32. e4 hxg4
33. Ne3) 32. Ra4 $16 {[%csl Ge4,Gg4]}) (30... gxh3+ 31. Kxh3 $16 Bxf2 $6 32.
f6+ Kf8 33. Ne7 Rd8 34. Nf5 (34. Bxc4 $2 b5 $1) 34... b5 35. Rb7 $18) 31. hxg4
$2 {White should not have helped Black to clear the h5-square.} ({He should
have played the same plan as in the game without the pawn exchange:} 31. Nc7 $1
Kh6 32. Ne8 Nb2 33. Nd6 Nxd3 34. exd3 Rc2 35. Nxf7+ Kg7 36. hxg4 hxg4 (36...
Rxf2+ 37. Kh3 Bf6 38. g5 $18) (36... Bxf2 37. g5 $18) 37. Nxe5+ Kf6 38. Nxg4+)
31... hxg4 32. Nc7 Kh6 33. Ne8 Nb2 (33... Nd2 34. Nd6 $16) 34. Be4 ({After the
pawn exchange} 34. Nd6 {is inoffensive:} Nxd3 35. exd3 Rc2 36. Nxf7+ Kh5 $1 $11
) 34... Nd1 35. Nd6 Kg5 (35... Nxf2 $2 36. Nxf7+ Kh5 (36... Kg7 37. Nd8+ Kh6
38. f6 $18) 37. Ra8 $18 {The only way of parrying Rh8 mate is} Bf6 38. Kxf2)
36. Rxf7 Bxf2 $2 {The losing move. Most likely Kramnik overlooked White's 38th
move.} ({After} 36... Nxf2 {the position remains unclear.}) 37. Rg7+ Kf4 {
It looks as if Black's attack is breaking through but...} 38. e3+ $3 {Spoiling
Black's coordination.} (38. f6 $2 Bh4 39. f7 $2 Ne3+ 40. Kh2 Bg3+ 41. Kg1 Rc1#)
38... Kxe3 (38... Bxe3 {dismantles the mating mechanism offering White a
decisive tempo.} 39. f6 Bd4 40. f7 Ne3+ 41. Kh2 Nf1+ 42. Kh1 $18 {In this line
it is essential that there is no check on c2.}) 39. Rxg4 Kd2 (39... Be1 40. f6
$18) (39... Nc3 40. f6 Rc7 41. Bf5 Ra7 42. f7 Ra8 43. Ne8 $18) 40. Bf3 Ne3+ 41.
Kxf2 Nxg4+ 42. Bxg4 {The rest is easy.} Rd5 43. Ne4+ Kd3 44. f6 Ra5 45. Be2+
Kd4 46. f7 Ra8 47. Ng5 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 10th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.09.30"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[Annotator "Szabo,Kr"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2016.09.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. h3 d6 7. c3 a6 8. Re1
Ba7 9. Bb3 h6 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. Nf1 Be6 12. Bc2 {The most ambitious
continuation. White avoids the exchange of light-squared bishops and he
prepares for d4.} d5 13. exd5 (13. Qe2 {is far more popular.}) 13... Bxd5 14.
Ng3 Bc5 ({Last year Anand played} 14... Qd7 {in a blitz game,} 15. Nh4 Rad8 16.
Nhf5 Kh8 17. d4 $1 $132 {Giri-Anand, Stavanger blitz 2015, with a double-edged
fight.}) 15. b4 Bf8 16. a4 g6 $146 {A logical novelty by Anand. A typical move,
Black prepares for ...Bg7.} (16... b5 {has been played in a few games,} 17. Be3
(17. Bd2 Rb8 18. Qe2 Qd7 19. Nh2 Be6 $13 {Bologan-Stefansson, Dresden 2008,
with a complicated middlegame.}) 17... Rb8 (17... Qc8 18. Ne4 Nd7 19. Bb3 Bxb3
20. Qxb3 Qb7 21. Qd5 {1/2 Predojevic-Sargissian, Germany 2007, and a draw.})
18. axb5 axb5 19. Ne4 Be7 20. Nfd2 Ra8 21. Qf3 Kh8 22. Nb3 Qd7 23. Nbc5 Bxc5
24. Nxf6 Bxf3 25. Nxd7 Bxe3 26. fxe3 Bd5 27. Nc5 $14 {Petrosian-Melkumyan,
Martuni 2011, and White looks more comfortable.}) 17. Bb2 b5 {A similar idea
to that behind the previous move. White has gained some space on the queenside
and Black tries to rein him in a bit.} 18. Ne4 Rb8 19. Bc1 {Kramnik thought
the bishop was useless on b2, so he activates it on the c1-h6 diagonal.} (19.
Bb3 $5 {was the alternative choice.}) 19... Nd7 $6 {A little bit passive.} (
19... Nh5 {looks more ambitious, for example} 20. Be3 Kh7 {and Black will play
on the kingside with ...f5.}) 20. Bb3 $1 {The right plan. Black's
light-squared bishop was already too strong and White can't continue his
queenside play, so he exchanges the bishops.} Bxb3 (20... Nb6 21. axb5 axb5 22.
Be3 $14 {looks more comfortable for White.}) 21. Qxb3 Re6 22. axb5 axb5 23. Be3
Nf6 24. Rad1 Nxe4 ({I think} 24... Nd5 $5 {was more accurate to keep the
tension, however White controls the c5-square.}) 25. dxe4 Qe8 {The pawn
structure is symmetrical again. White is more flexible, because Black's knight
is passive and difficult to activate. White is obviously slightly better.} 26.
Rd5 Nd8 27. Ra1 Nb7 28. Ra7 c6 29. Rd1 Nd6 30. Nd2 Ra8 31. Rda1 Rxa7 32. Rxa7
Re7 {Black tries to simplify the position, he would have more chances to hold
his position.} 33. Ra6 {Of course White avoids the exchange.} Rc7 34. Qa2 Kg7
35. Bb6 Rb7 36. Bc5 Be7 37. Ra8 Rb8 (37... Qd7 $5 {was the other option and it
is hard to continue the pressure with White.}) 38. Ra7 Rd8 39. Bb6 Rc8 40. Bc7
Qd7 41. Bb6 Qe8 42. g3 Bg5 43. Bc7 Bxd2 $6 ({Probably} 43... Be7 {was more
accurate, however} 44. c4 bxc4 45. Nxc4 $14 {is slightly better for White.})
44. Bxd6 Bxc3 45. Re7 $1 {White has sacrificed a pawn, but he is very strongly
placed on Black's 7th rank.} Qg8 {At first the engine says this is a decisive
mistake, but 45...Qf8 is also similar.} ({In the event of} 45... Qf8 46. Qe6 $1
Ra8 47. Qd7 Bd4 48. h4 {Black is under pressure like in the game and} Ra2 $2 {
loses on account of} 49. Re8 $18) 46. Qe6 $1 {Another strong reply!} Qf8 47.
Kg2 $1 {A very nice cool-blooded move. Black can't do anything, just hold his
position.} ({The engine suggests} 47. Rc7 Rxc7 48. Bxf8+ Kxf8 49. Qd6+ Re7 {
as a clear winning position for White, but by human measures this is a good
chance to survive for Black.}) 47... Rd8 (47... Ra8 {also leads to a similar
position,} 48. Qd7 ({, but not} 48. Bc5 Bd4 49. Qxc6 Ra2 $1 $11 {and a draw.})
48... Bd4 49. h4 Rc8 50. g4 $16 {and it is very difficult to continue with
Black.}) 48. Bc5 Bd4 49. Qxc6 Kg8 $6 {This loses immediately, but Black's
position was difficult.} (49... Bxc5 {was tougher,} 50. Qxc5 Kg8 51. Qxe5 h5
$16 {and White should be much better, but it is not easy to play with his rook,
as the b4-pawn will be hanging.}) 50. Qxb5 Rb8 51. Rxf7 $1 {Nice victory by
Kramnik!} 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 10th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.10.01"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2795"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "166"]
[EventDate "2016.09.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 c5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 7. Re1 d5 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. d4 cxd4 10. Qa4+ Qd7 11. Qxd7+ Nxd7 12. Nxd4 N7f6 13. Ncb5 O-O 14. e4
Nb4 15. a3 Nd3 16. Rd1 Nc5 17. f3 Rfc8 18. Be3 a6 19. Nc3 g6 20. Bh3 Rc7 21.
Rab1 b5 22. Bf4 Rcc8 23. Kf1 Bf8 24. Rbc1 Rd8 25. Nce2 Ne8 26. Bg5 Rd7 27. Rd2
h6 28. Be3 Rdd8 29. Rcd1 e5 30. Nc2 Rxd2 31. Rxd2 Nf6 32. Nc1 g5 33. Bxc5 Bxc5
34. Nb3 Bf8 35. Na5 Bc8 36. Bxc8 Rxc8 37. g4 h5 38. h3 hxg4 39. hxg4 Bc5 40.
Nb7 Bb6 41. Ke2 Ne8 42. Nb4 Bd4 43. Na5 Ng7 44. Nbc6 Kf8 45. Nxd4 exd4 46. Nb3
Ne6 47. Nxd4 Nxd4+ 48. Rxd4 Ke7 49. Kd2 Ke6 50. a4 bxa4 51. Rxa4 Rc6 52. b3 f6
53. Ra5 Rb6 54. Kc3 Rc6+ 55. Kb4 Rb6+ 56. Kc4 Rc6+ 57. Rc5 Rd6 58. Ra5 Rc6+ 59.
Kb4 Rd6 60. Rd5 Rb6+ 61. Kc3 Rc6+ 62. Kb2 Rc8 63. Ra5 Rc6 64. b4 Rd6 65. Kc3
Rc6+ 66. Kb3 Rd6 67. Kc4 Rc6+ 68. Rc5 Rd6 69. Kc3 Rb6 70. Kb3 Rd6 71. Ka4 Rd3
72. Rc6+ Ke5 73. Rxa6 Rxf3 74. b5 Rf1 75. Rc6 Kxe4 76. b6 f5 77. Rc3 Ra1+ 78.
Kb4 Ra6 79. Kb5 Rxb6+ 80. Kxb6 fxg4 81. Kc5 Kf4 82. Rc4+ Kf3 83. Rc3+ Kf4
1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 10th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.10.02"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B96"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2016.09.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Nbd7 8. Qe2
Qc7 9. O-O-O b5 10. a3 Bb7 11. g4 Rc8 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. h4 Qb6 14. Rh3 h5 15.
f5 e5 16. Nb3 hxg4 17. Qxg4 b4 18. axb4 Qxb4 19. Kb1 Nb6 20. Qe2 Bh6 21. Qf2
Rc6 22. Na2 Qa4 23. Rc3 Ke7 24. Rxc6 Qxc6 25. Na5 Qc7 26. Nxb7 Qxb7 27. Nb4 Rb8
28. Qxb6 Qxb6 29. Nd5+ Kf8 30. Nxb6 Rxb6 31. c3 Be3 32. Kc2 Kg7 33. b4 Kh6 34.
Bc4 Bf2 35. Rh1 Rc6 36. Kb3 Rb6 37. Kc2 Rc6 38. Kd3 Rc7 39. Bxa6 Kh5 40. Bc4
Ra7 41. Bd5 Kh6 42. h5 Bb6 43. Kc4 Be3 44. Kb3 Bb6 45. Rh2 Be3 46. Re2 Bb6 47.
Ra2 Rxa2 48. Kxa2 Kxh5 49. Kb3 Bf2 50. Ka4 Kh6 51. Kb5 Kg7 52. Kc6 Kf8 53. b5
Ke7 54. Kc7 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 10th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.10.04"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D61"]
[WhiteElo "2755"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2016.09.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 Nbd7 8. Qc2
c5 9. dxc5 Nxc5 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. Nxd5 exd5 13. Be2 Bg4 14. O-O
Rac8 15. Rad1 Rfd8 16. Nd4 Ne6 17. Qd3 Nxd4 18. Bxg4 Ne6 19. Qb3 Rc4 20. Bf3
Rb4 21. Qa3 d4 22. Rd3 a5 23. Qxa5 Rxb2 24. Qe5 Qb4 25. exd4 Rxd4 26. a3 Qc4
27. Rdd1 Rxd1 28. Rxd1 Qb3 29. Qb8+ Kh7 30. Qd6 Qc2 31. Qd3+ Qxd3 32. Rxd3 Nc5
33. Rd1 g5 34. h4 b6 35. hxg5 hxg5 36. Rd6 Kg7 37. g3 f5 38. g4 f4 39. Bc6 Rb1+
40. Kg2 Rb3 41. Rd5 Kh6 42. Rd6+ Kg7 43. Rd5 Kh6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 10th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.10.05"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2731"]
[PlyCount "215"]
[EventDate "2016.09.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 c6 4. O-O Bg4 5. d3 Nbd7 6. h3 Bxf3 7. Bxf3 e5 8. e4
dxe4 9. dxe4 Bc5 10. Nd2 Qe7 11. a4 a5 12. Qe2 O-O 13. Nc4 Qe6 14. Kg2 Nb6 15.
Ne3 Rfd8 16. b3 Nc8 17. Bb2 Bd4 18. Rad1 Nd6 19. Bxd4 exd4 20. Rxd4 Ndxe4 21.
Rxd8+ Rxd8 22. Nc4 b5 23. axb5 cxb5 24. Nxa5 Rd2 25. Qxb5 h6 26. Nc4 Rxc2 27.
Qb8+ Kh7 28. Qe5 Qxe5 29. Nxe5 Rb2 30. Bd1 Nd5 31. Nc4 Ra2 32. Bf3 Ndc3 33. h4
g5 34. h5 Kg7 35. b4 Ra4 36. Bxe4 Nxe4 37. Rb1 Nc3 38. Rc1 Ne2 39. Rc2 Nd4 40.
Rd2 Nc6 41. Ne3 Rxb4 42. Nf5+ Kh7 43. Rd6 Ne5 44. Rxh6+ Kg8 45. Ra6 Ng4 46.
Ra8+ Kh7 47. Ra7 Nh6 48. Nd6 Kg7 49. Kf3 g4+ 50. Kg2 Rb6 51. Ne8+ Kh7 52. Ra5
Re6 53. Nc7 Rf6 54. Kf1 Rf5 55. Rd5 Rf6 56. Rd7 Rf5 57. Nd5 Kg7 58. Nf4 Re5 59.
Rd5 Re4 60. Ng2 Kf6 61. Ne3 Ra4 62. Ke2 Ra3 63. Rc5 Rb3 64. Nd5+ Kg7 65. Nc3
Rb6 66. Rg5+ Kf8 67. Re5 Kg7 68. Ke3 Rb3 69. Rc5 Rb2 70. Rg5+ Kf8 71. Rb5 Rc2
72. Ne4 Kg7 73. Rg5+ Kf8 74. Nf6 Rc3+ 75. Ke4 Rc4+ 76. Kd3 Ra4 77. Nh7+ Ke7 78.
Re5+ Kd6 79. Rb5 Kc6 80. Rb8 Ra2 81. Ke3 Ra5 82. Nf6 Rf5 83. Ne4 Rxh5 84. Rd8
Kc7 85. Re8 Rf5 86. Rh8 Rf3+ 87. Kd4 Nf5+ 88. Ke5 Ne7 89. Rh7 Ng6+ 90. Kd4 Kd8
91. Ng5 Rxf2 92. Nxf7+ Ke8 93. Ng5 Rf5 94. Ne6 Rf7 95. Rh6 Ne7 96. Rh8+ Kd7 97.
Nc5+ Kc7 98. Ra8 Nc6+ 99. Kc4 Rf1 100. Ne4 Rd1 101. Re8 Re1 102. Kd5 Rd1+ 103.
Ke6 Rd8 104. Rxd8 Kxd8 105. Nc3 Nd4+ 106. Ke5 Nf3+ 107. Kf4 Nh2 108. Nd5
1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 10th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2016.10.06"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2761"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2016.09.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. a3 c5 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. dxc5 Nxc5 11. Be5 Bf5 12. Be2 Bf6 13. O-O Bxe5 14. Nxe5
Qf6 15. b4 Qxe5 16. bxc5 Rac8 17. Rc1 Rfd8 18. Qd4 f6 19. g4 Bg6 20. Rc3 Rc7
21. Rfc1 Re7 22. Rd1 Qg5 23. Qb4 Re4 24. Rd4 Rde8 25. Rcd3 Kh8 26. Rd2 h5 27.
Qxb7 hxg4 28. Rxd5 f5 29. Bf1 Rxe3 30. c6 Rc3 31. c7 Qf4 32. Rd7 Rg8 33. R2d4
Qc1 34. Qb8 Kh7 35. Rd8 Bf7 36. Rxg8 Bxg8 37. Rd8 Be6 38. Rh8+ Kg6 39. Qe8+ Kf6
40. Qf8+ Kg6 41. Qd6 Rc6 42. c8=Q 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 32nd"]
[Site "Novi Sad"]
[Date "2016.11.08"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Inarkiev, Ernesto"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2714"]
[BlackElo "2810"]
[Annotator "Pavlovic,M"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2016.11.06"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SRB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Moscow SHSM Legacy"]
[BlackTeam "Siberia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 {A very popular line, it is
similar to any other Bxc6 ideas in the Ruy Lopez and should be compared and
analysed as such. Obviously White is trying to get the initiative using
entirely different methods, a kind of similar way of playing to the
Nimzo-Indian strategy that Black uses.} dxc6 6. Be3 Bd6 7. h3 Nd7 8. Nbd2 O-O
9. O-O Re8 10. c3 {I will add another game where actually we saw similar ideas
for both sides:} (10. Nc4 Nf8 11. a4 Ng6 12. c3 Bf8 13. Qc2 Qf6 14. Bg5 Qe6 15.
Be3 h6 16. Rfe1 Qf6 17. Ncd2 a5 18. Rac1 Be6 19. Kh2 Rad8 20. Nf1 c5 21. Ng3 b6
$13 {1/2-1/2 (56) Zhao Jun (2616)-Ma Qun (2608) Zaozhuang 2015}) 10... c5 {
Probably best. Other moves that more or less lead to the same type of
positions are presented in the next few games:} (10... b6 11. Qc2 Bb7 12. Rad1
c5 13. Rfe1 Qe7 14. Nf1 Nf8 15. Ng3 g6 16. Bh6 Ne6 17. Qc1 Rad8 18. a3 a5 19.
d4 cxd4 20. cxd4 Nxd4 21. Nxd4 exd4 22. Rxd4 Bxg3 $17 {0-1 (66) Sevian,S (2556)
-Le Quang Liem (2697) Saint Louis 2015}) (10... Nf8 11. d4 Ng6 12. Qc2 exd4 13.
cxd4 Bf4 14. Rfe1 Qf6 15. Nf1 Be6 16. Ng3 Bxe3 17. Rxe3 Nf4 18. a3 a5 19. Qd2
Qh6 20. Rc1 $14 {½-½ (45) Inarkiev,E (2671)-Aronian,L (2783) Mainz 2010.
Even here although we can say that White has achieved something, it's really
not much.}) 11. Qc2 ({Another idea is} 11. a3 a5 12. Re1 Nf8 13. d4 cxd4 14.
cxd4 exd4 15. Nxd4 Bc5 $5 (15... Be5 16. N2f3 Bxd4 17. Bxd4 b6 18. Be5 $1 Qxd1
19. Rexd1 Ra7 20. Rac1 c5 21. Rd6 Rb7 22. Bg3 Rxe4 $4 (22... Bd7 23. Ne5 Bb5
24. f3 Ne6 {should be ok for Black}) 23. Rd8 Bd7 24. Re1 {1-0 (24) Nakamura,H 
(2764)-Kasimdzhanov,R (2706) Baku 2014}) 16. N4f3 Bxe3 17. Rxe3 b6 18. Qc2 Bb7
{Black is fine.}) 11... Nf8 12. Nc4 Ng6 13. Rad1 Bf8 14. d4 {I was never fond
of such ideas for White in this type of structure; they can be played really
only when White can gain some development advantage or concrete action. In
this particular case I don't think that any of those elements are present.} (
14. Rfe1 b6 15. d4 exd4 16. cxd4 Qe7 17. Bg5 f6 18. Bc1 cxd4 19. Nxd4 Qf7 20.
b3 Bb7 $11) 14... exd4 15. cxd4 Qe7 $1 16. dxc5 Qxe4 17. Qxe4 Rxe4 18. b3 Re8
19. Rd2 (19. Na3 c6 20. Nc4 Be6 21. Nd6 Re7 {with ...Bd5 to follow will give
Black good counterplay.}) 19... b6 20. Rc1 Ba6 {Black is fine.} 21. a4 $6 (21.
Rd7 Re7 22. Rd2 Ree8 $11) 21... bxc5 $5 {Taking the pawn was not forced at all,
but Kramnik saw the b3-pawn as a potential target.} 22. Rd7 $2 {Simply
overlooking the next few moves.} (22. Na5 {was better:} Red8 23. Rxd8 Rxd8 24.
Nc6 (24. Bxc5 Nf4 $19) 24... Rd5 25. Nxa7 c4 26. bxc4 Ra5 $11) 22... Bxc4 $1
23. Rxc4 Bd6 {Suddenly the rook is trapped on d7!} 24. Bxc5 Nf8 $17 25. Bxd6
Nxd7 26. Rxc7 Nb6 27. a5 Nd5 28. Rb7 Red8 29. Bg3 a6 {With an exchange up it
is not that easy to win, but we will see that Kramnik does it fast.} 30. Ng5
Nc3 $5 31. Be5 $6 (31. Nxf7 Rd5 32. Be5 Nb5 {and the white pieces are
awkwardly placed.}) 31... Ne2+ 32. Kh2 f6 33. Ne6 fxe5 34. Nxd8 Rxd8 35. Rb6
Ra8 36. g3 Rf8 $1 37. Kg2 Rf6 $19 38. Rb8+ Kf7 39. Rb7+ Kg6 40. Re7 Nc1 41.
Rxe5 Rxf2+ 42. Kxf2 Nd3+ 43. Ke3 Nxe5 44. Kd4 Nc6+ 45. Kc5 Nxa5 46. b4 Nb7+ 47.
Kb6 a5 $1 0-1

[Event "EU-Cup 32nd"]
[Site "Novi Sad"]
[Date "2016.11.09"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedov, Rauf"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B70"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2684"]
[PlyCount "132"]
[EventDate "2016.11.06"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SRB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Siberia"]
[BlackTeam "Odlar Yurdu"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 g6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8.
Re1 Nc6 9. Nb3 a6 10. Bf1 b5 11. a4 b4 12. Nd5 Nd7 13. a5 Rb8 14. Ra2 e6 15.
Ne3 Nf6 16. Nc4 d5 17. exd5 Nxd5 18. Ne3 Nce7 19. Nxd5 Nxd5 20. Re4 Qc7 21. Bg5
Qa7 22. Qc1 Bd7 23. Bh6 Rfc8 24. Bxg7 Kxg7 25. Rc4 Rxc4 26. Bxc4 Bb5 27. Bxd5
exd5 28. Ra1 Bc4 29. Qf4 Bxb3 30. cxb3 d4 31. Qe5+ Kg8 32. Rc1 Rd8 33. Rc7 Qb8
34. Qe7 Rf8 35. Rd7 Qc8 36. g3 Qc1+ 37. Kg2 Qc6+ 38. Kh3 Qe6+ 39. Qxe6 fxe6 40.
Rxd4 Rxf2 41. Rxb4 Kg7 42. Rb6 Rxb2 43. Rxa6 Rxb3 44. Rxe6 Ra3 45. a6 h5 46.
Kg2 Ra2+ 47. Kf3 Kf7 48. Rb6 Rxh2 49. Ke4 Rg2 50. Ke5 Kg7 51. Rb7+ Kh6 52. a7
Ra2 53. Kd6 Kg5 54. Rg7 Kf6 55. Rc7 Kf5 56. Kc5 Kg4 57. Kb5 Kh3 58. Rg7 g5 59.
Kb6 g4 60. Rg5 Rxa7 61. Rxh5+ Kxg3 62. Kxa7 Kf4 63. Kb7 g3 64. Rh4+ Kf3 65. Rh3
Kf2 66. Rxg3 Kxg3 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-Cup 32nd"]
[Site "Novi Sad"]
[Date "2016.11.10"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D63"]
[WhiteElo "2733"]
[BlackElo "2810"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2016.11.06"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SRB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Ashdod"]
[BlackTeam "Siberia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ISR"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. Rc1 Nbd7 8. e3
c5 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Bxe7 Nxe7 11. Be2 b6 12. dxc5 Nxc5 13. b4 Qxd1+ 14. Rxd1
Nd7 15. Nd4 a5 16. b5 Nc5 17. f3 Bb7 18. e4 Rac8 19. Kf2 e5 20. Nf5 Nxe4+ 21.
Nxe4 Nxf5 22. Nd6 Nxd6 23. Rxd6 Rc2 24. Rhd1 e4 25. R1d2 Rxd2 26. Rxd2 exf3 27.
gxf3 Ba8 28. Rd6 Rb8 29. Bc4 Kf8 30. Rd7 Rc8 31. Rxf7+ Ke8 32. Be6 Rc3 33. h4
g5 34. hxg5 hxg5 35. a4 Ra3 36. Kg3 Re3 37. Ba2 Ra3 38. Be6 Re3 39. Bc4 Rc3 40.
Be6 Re3 41. Bc4 Rc3 42. Be6 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-Cup 32nd"]
[Site "Novi Sad"]
[Date "2016.11.11"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D78"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2764"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2016.11.06"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SRB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Siberia"]
[BlackTeam "Alkaloid"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "MKD"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 c6 7. Ne5 Nbd7 8. Nc3
Nxe5 9. dxe5 Ne4 10. cxd5 Nxc3 11. bxc3 cxd5 12. f4 Be6 13. Be3 f6 14. Qb3 fxe5
15. Rad1 Qc7 16. Bxd5 Bxd5 17. Rxd5 Kh8 18. fxe5 Rxf1+ 19. Kxf1 e6 20. Rd3 Qc6
21. Kg1 Bxe5 22. Qb4 Kg8 23. Bxa7 Bg7 24. Be3 h5 25. a3 Kh7 26. Qe7 Qe4 27. Qg5
Rf8 28. Rd7 Kg8 29. h3 Qb1+ 30. Bc1 Qc2 31. Rxg7+ Kxg7 32. Qe7+ Kg8 33. Qxe6+
Rf7 34. Qe8+ Rf8 35. Qe6+ Rf7 36. Qe8+ Rf8 37. Qe6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-Cup 32nd"]
[Site "Novi Sad"]
[Date "2016.11.12"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D78"]
[WhiteElo "2742"]
[BlackElo "2810"]
[PlyCount "174"]
[EventDate "2016.11.06"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SRB"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Mednyi Vsadnik"]
[BlackTeam "Siberia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 c6 7. Qb3 Qb6 8. Nc3
Bf5 9. h3 Na6 10. Qxb6 axb6 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Nxd5 cxd5 13. Bd2 Be4 14. e3 Rfc8
15. Rfc1 Nc5 16. Ne1 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 e6 18. Rc2 Ne4 19. Rac1 Rxc2 20. Rxc2 Bf8
21. a3 Ra4 22. Bc1 b5 23. f3 Nd6 24. b3 Ra8 25. Rc7 b4 26. axb4 Ra1 27. Nd3 Rb1
28. Kf2 Rxb3 29. Ke2 Rb1 30. Kd1 Ra1 31. Kc2 b5 32. Kb2 Ra8 33. g4 g5 34. Kb3
h6 35. Nc5 Ra1 36. Kb2 Ra8 37. Kb3 Nc4 38. Rb7 Ra1 39. Nd3 Nd6 40. Rb8 Kg7 41.
Kb2 Ra7 42. Nc5 Nc4+ 43. Kb1 Na3+ 44. Bxa3 Rxa3 45. Rxb5 Rxe3 46. Rb7 Kg6 47.
Kc2 Bg7 48. Nb3 Rxf3 49. b5 e5 50. Rb6+ Kh7 51. Rd6 Rf2+ 52. Kc1 e4 53. Rxd5 e3
54. Kd1 Rb2 55. Na5 f5 56. Rxf5 e2+ 57. Ke1 Bxd4 58. Rf3 Rc2 59. b6 Bxb6 60.
Nb3 Bc7 61. Rd3 Be5 62. Nd2 Bf4 63. Kxe2 Ra2 64. Ke1 Ra1+ 65. Ke2 Ra2 66. Ke1
Bxd2+ 67. Rxd2 Ra3 68. Rd7+ Kg8 69. Kf2 Rxh3 70. Kg2 Re3 71. Ra7 Kf8 72. Ra6
Kg7 73. Rb6 Re4 74. Kg3 Rf4 75. Ra6 Rf6 76. Ra5 Kg6 77. Rb5 Ra6 78. Rc5 Kf6 79.
Rb5 Ke6 80. Rc5 Ra3+ 81. Kg2 Rd3 82. Ra5 Rd5 83. Ra6+ Ke5 84. Rxh6 Kf4 85. Rh3
Rd2+ 86. Kg1 Kxg4 87. Ra3 Rc2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Medias Kings m rapid 10th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2016.11.28"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Hou, Yifan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2016.11.28"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 e6 3. e3 c5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 d5 6. c3 Bd6 7. Bg3 O-O 8. Bd3
b6 9. Qe2 Bb7 10. Rd1 Ne7 11. O-O Qc7 12. Bxd6 Qxd6 13. Ne5 Rad8 14. Qf3 Ng6
15. Bxg6 hxg6 16. Qh3 Ba6 17. Rfe1 Nh7 18. f4 Bb5 19. Ndf3 Qe7 20. Qg3 Be8 21.
Rf1 Qf6 22. Ng5 Qe7 23. Rf3 f6 24. Nxh7 fxe5 25. Ng5 Rf5 26. Qh4 Bf7 27. g4
Qxg5 28. Qxg5 Rxg5 29. fxg5 cxd4 30. cxd4 Rc8 31. Rdf1 Rc7 32. h4 exd4 33. exd4
e5 34. dxe5 Be6 35. Rf8+ Kh7 36. Re8 Bf7 37. Rd8 1-0

[Event "Medias Kings m rapid 10th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2016.11.28"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C07"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2810"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "2016.11.28"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. dxc5 Nf6 6. Ngf3 Qxc5 7. Bd3 Nbd7
8. Qe2 Qc7 9. Nb3 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. a4 b6 12. Re1 Bb7 13. a5 bxa5 14. Nfd4
Nc5 15. Nxa5 Nxd3 16. Qxd3 Bb4 17. Bd2 Be4 18. Qe2 Bd6 19. Nb5 Bxh2+ 20. Kh1
Qb8 21. Bg5 Be5 22. Ra4 a6 23. Na3 Bxb2 24. Bxf6 Bxg2+ 25. Kxg2 Bxf6 26. Qe4
Qc7 27. Nc6 Rfc8 28. Rc4 Qd6 29. Re3 Qd5 30. Qxd5 exd5 31. Ne7+ Bxe7 32. Rxc8+
Rxc8 33. Rxe7 g6 34. Re3 Kg7 35. Rd3 Rc5 36. c3 a5 37. Kf3 h5 38. Ke3 h4 39.
Kf4 f6 40. Kg4 g5 41. f4 Kg6 42. fxg5 fxg5 43. Re3 a4 44. Rd3 Kf6 45. Rf3+ Kg6
46. Rd3 Kh6 47. Re3 Rc6 48. Rd3 Rf6 49. Rd4 Rf1 50. Nc2 Rg1+ 51. Kh3 Rg3+ 52.
Kh2 Rxc3 53. Rd2 a3 54. Nd4 Kg6 55. Ra2 g4 56. Nb5 Rc5 57. Nxa3 Ra5 58. Ra1 d4
59. Rg1 g3+ 60. Kh3 Rxa3 61. Kxh4 Kf5 62. Kh3 Ke4 63. Re1+ Re3 0-1

[Event "Medias Kings m rapid 10th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2016.11.28"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Hou, Yifan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A45"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2016.11.28"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4 a6 6. dxe6 Bxe6 7. e5 dxe5 8.
Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Bxe5 Nbd7 10. O-O-O Kc8 11. Bg3 Be7 12. Be2 Rd8 13. Nh3 Bxh3 14.
gxh3 b5 15. Rhe1 Bf8 16. a4 c4 17. Bf3 Ra7 18. axb5 axb5 19. Kb1 Ra5 20. Bc6
Bb4 21. Nxb5 Bxe1 22. Nd6+ Kc7 23. Nxf7+ Kxc6 24. Nxd8+ Kb5 25. Rxe1 Nc5 26.
Re5 Nfd7 27. Rg5 g6 28. Nb7 Ra6 29. Nd6+ Kb4 30. f3 Rc6 31. Be1+ Ka4 32. b3+
Nxb3 33. cxb3+ Kxb3 34. Rb5+ Ka3 35. Kc2 1-0

[Event "Medias Kings m rapid 10th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2016.11.28"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C15"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2810"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2016.11.28"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qd3 Ne7 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 O-O 7. Nf3 b6 8.
Qe3 Ba6 9. Bd3 c5 10. dxc5 Bxd3 11. cxd3 Qc7 12. Rb1 bxc5 13. O-O Nd7 14. Qg5
dxe4 15. dxe4 Ng6 16. h4 Nf6 17. Re1 h6 18. Qd2 Rad8 19. Qe2 Ng4 20. h5 Nf4 21.
Bxf4 Qxf4 22. g3 Qf6 23. e5 Qf5 24. Nh4 Qg5 25. Rb2 Rd5 26. Nf3 Qxh5 27. Kg2
Rfd8 28. Rh1 Qg6 29. Nh4 Qg5 30. f4 Qh5 31. Nf3 Qf5 32. Nh4 Qg6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Medias Kings m rapid 10th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2016.11.29"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Hou, Yifan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D05"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2016.11.28"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 b6 5. O-O Bb7 6. Nbd2 Bd6 7. Qe2 c5 8. dxc5
Bxc5 9. e4 Nc6 10. c3 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Be7 12. Bf4 Nd5 13. Bg3 O-O 14. Rad1 Qc8
15. Nd6 Bxd6 16. Bxd6 Rd8 17. Bg3 h6 18. Bb1 Nf6 19. Rxd8+ Qxd8 20. Rd1 Qe8 21.
Nd4 Nxd4 22. Rxd4 Rd8 23. Qd1 Rd5 24. c4 Rxd4 25. Qxd4 Nd7 26. Qd6 Qc8 27. Qc7
Qxc7 28. Bxc7 Kf8 29. b4 Ke7 30. f3 Ba6 31. Bd3 Kf6 32. Kf2 e5 33. a4 Ke6 34.
Ke3 f5 35. a5 Bb7 36. Bc2 bxa5 37. Bxa5 a6 38. Bc7 Bc6 39. g4 g6 40. gxf5+ gxf5
41. f4 e4 42. h3 Nf6 43. Bd8 Ne8 44. Kd4 Ng7 45. Bb3 Nh5 46. Bc7 Nf6 47. Be5
Bb7 48. Ba4 Nd7 49. Bg7 h5 50. Bh6 Nf6 51. Bg5 Nh7 52. Bd8 Nf6 53. Bd1 h4 54.
Be2 e3 55. Kxe3 Bg2 56. Bxf6 Kxf6 57. c5 Bxh3 58. Bxa6 Ke7 59. Bd3 Ke6 60. b5
Kd5 61. b6 Kc6 62. Be2 Kb7 63. Bf3+ Kc8 64. Kf2 Kd7 65. c6+ 1-0

[Event "Medias Kings m rapid 10th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2016.11.29"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C16"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2810"]
[PlyCount "135"]
[EventDate "2016.11.28"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Ne7 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 b6 7. Qg4 Ng6 8. h4
h5 9. Qg3 Ba6 10. Bxa6 Nxa6 11. Ne2 Qd7 12. a4 c5 13. O-O Rc8 14. Qd3 Nb8 15.
Bg5 Nc6 16. Ng3 Nge7 17. Rfd1 cxd4 18. cxd4 Nf5 19. Nxf5 exf5 20. Qg3 g6 21.
Rab1 O-O 22. Rb5 Nd8 23. Qf3 Ne6 24. Bf6 Rxc2 25. Qxd5 Qc8 26. Qb3 Rc1 27. Kh2
Rc3 28. Qb4 Rc4 29. Qd2 Kh7 30. d5 Nc5 31. d6 Qd7 32. Qd5 Rxa4 33. Rxc5 bxc5
34. Be7 Kg8 35. Bxf8 Rxh4+ 36. Kg1 Kxf8 37. Qxc5 Kg7 38. Qc3 Kh7 39. e6 fxe6
40. Qf6 Qa4 41. Rc1 Rc4 42. Qe7+ Kh6 43. Rxc4 Qxc4 44. Qc7 Qf4 45. Qc5 Qa4 46.
Qe3+ Kg7 47. Qxe6 Qd1+ 48. Kh2 Qd4 49. Qe7+ Kg8 50. Qd8+ Kf7 51. Qd7+ Kg8 52.
Qc8+ Kf7 53. Qd7+ Kg8 54. Qe6+ Kg7 55. Qe7+ Kg8 56. Qc7 Qxf2 57. Qc4+ Kf8 58.
Qc8+ Kg7 59. Qc3+ Kf7 60. Qc7+ Ke6 61. Qe7+ Kd5 62. d7 Qf4+ 63. g3 Qf2+ 64. Kh3
Qf1+ 65. Kh4 g5+ 66. Kxg5 Qc1+ 67. Kg6 Qc6+ 68. Kf7 1-0

[Event "Medias Kings m rapid 10th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2016.11.29"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Hou, Yifan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A70"]
[WhiteElo "2810"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2016.11.28"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 b6 4. Bd3 Bb7 5. O-O c5 6. c4 g6 7. d5 exd5 8. cxd5
Bg7 9. e4 d6 10. Nc3 O-O 11. h3 Ba6 12. Bf4 Bxd3 13. Qxd3 a6 14. Rad1 Ne8 15.
e5 Ra7 16. Rfe1 b5 17. Ne4 dxe5 18. Nxe5 Bxe5 19. Bxe5 Nd7 20. Bf4 Ng7 21. Bd6
Re8 22. Bxc5 Nxc5 23. Nxc5 Rxe1+ 24. Rxe1 Nf5 25. Ne4 Rc7 26. d6 Rc4 27. d7 Kg7
28. Nd6 Nxd6 29. Qxd6 Rc7 30. Rd1 Rb7 31. Qe5+ Kh6 32. Qe8 Rb8 33. Qxf7 1-0

[Event "Medias Kings m rapid 10th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2016.11.29"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C17"]
[WhiteElo "2635"]
[BlackElo "2810"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2016.11.28"]
[EventType "match (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "8"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Ne7 5. Bd2 b6 6. f4 O-O 7. Nf3 c5 8. Nb5
Bxd2+ 9. Qxd2 Ba6 10. c3 Nbc6 11. Be2 Na5 12. O-O Qd7 13. Nd6 Bxe2 14. Qxe2 Nc8
15. Nxc8 Raxc8 16. Rad1 Qe7 17. Rd3 h6 18. Kh1 Nc6 19. a3 Rc7 20. h3 Rfc8 21.
Qf2 cxd4 22. cxd4 Na5 23. f5 Rc2 24. Qg3 exf5 25. Nh4 Rc1 26. Rdf3 Qg5 27. Qxg5
hxg5 28. Nxf5 Rxf1+ 29. Rxf1 Rc7 30. Kh2 Nb3 31. Rf3 Nd2 32. Rd3 Rc2 33. b4 Nc4
34. Ne7+ Kf8 35. Nxd5 Rd2 36. Rxd2 Nxd2 37. Ne3 b5 38. Kg3 Nb1 39. Nc2 Ke7 40.
Kg4 Ke6 41. Kxg5 Kd5 42. h4 Nc3 43. h5 Ne2 44. Ne3+ Kxd4 45. Nf5+ Kxe5 46. Nxg7
f6+ 47. Kg6 Nf4+ 48. Kf7 Kd5 1-0

[Event "Medias Kings m blitz 10th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2016.11.30"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Hou, Yifan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D03"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2651"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2016.11.30"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. e3 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. exd4 d5 5. Bd3 Bg7 6. c3 Nc6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Re1
O-O 9. Bg5 Bf5 10. Bxf5 gxf5 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. Nbd2 e6 13. Nb3 Kh8 14. Nc5 Qc7
15. Qd2 Rg8 16. Nd3 Rg4 17. g3 Rag8 18. Kh1 Re4 19. Nc5 Rxe1+ 20. Rxe1 Ne7 21.
Nd3 Nc6 22. Nf4 Qd8 23. b4 a6 24. a4 Ne7 25. Nh5 Nc8 26. Nxf6 Qxf6 27. Qf4 Ne7
28. Qc7 f4 29. Qxf4 Qxf4 30. gxf4 Rc8 31. Ne5 Kg7 32. Rg1+ Ng6 33. Rg3 Kf6 34.
a5 Rc7 35. Rh3 Kg7 36. Rf3 Kf6 37. Rh3 Nxf4 38. Rxh7 Ne2 39. h4 Nxc3 40. h5 Ne4
41. h6 Nxf2+ 42. Kg2 Ne4 43. Rg7 Rc2+ 44. Kf3 Rf2+ 45. Ke3 Rh2 46. Ng4+ 1-0

[Event "Medias Kings m blitz 10th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2016.11.30"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2651"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2016.11.30"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. h3 a5 8. Ba4
Ne7 9. Re1 Ng6 10. d4 Ba7 11. Nbd2 Bd7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 b5 14. Ng3 c5 15. d5
c4 16. Nh2 Rb8 17. Nhf1 Bc5 18. Ne3 Nf4 19. a4 b4 20. Nxc4 bxc3 21. bxc3 Qc8
22. Ne3 g6 23. Bd3 h5 24. Ne2 Bxh3 25. gxh3 Qxh3 26. Nxf4 exf4 27. Bf1 Qh4 28.
Qf3 fxe3 29. Bxe3 Nxe4 30. Bxc5 Nxc5 31. Bb5 Re7 32. Rxe7 Qxe7 33. Kf1 Qe4 34.
Qxe4 Nxe4 35. c4 f5 36. Kg2 Kf7 37. f3 Nc5 38. f4 Rb7 39. Kf3 Kf6 40. Rh1 Re7
41. Rb1 Re4 42. Rb2 Rxf4+ 0-1

[Event "Medias Kings m blitz 10th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2016.11.30"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Hou, Yifan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E12"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2651"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2016.11.30"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. e3 b6 5. Nc3 Bb7 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Bb5+ c6 8. Bd3
g6 9. O-O Bg7 10. e4 Ne7 11. Bg5 O-O 12. Qc1 Nd7 13. Rd1 Rc8 14. e5 c5 15. Be4
Bxe4 16. Nxe4 f6 17. exf6 Nxf6 18. dxc5 Ned5 19. c6 Qc7 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Nxf6+
Rxf6 22. Nd4 Nf4 23. Qe3 e5 24. Ne2 Qxc6 25. Nxf4 exf4 26. Qd2 Rf7 27. Rac1 Qb7
28. Rxc8+ Qxc8 29. f3 Qc5+ 30. Kh1 Kg7 31. h3 h5 32. Re1 Qf5 33. Re4 Qf6 34. a4
a5 35. Kh2 Kh7 36. b4 axb4 37. Qxb4 Qg5 38. Qxb6 Qg3+ 39. Kg1 Rd7 40. Qb1 Rd2
41. Qf1 Qg5 42. Kh1 Qd5 43. Kh2 Qg5 44. Re2 Rd4 45. Qa1 Qd5 46. a5 Qd7 47. Re7+
Qxe7 48. Qxd4 Qg5 49. Qd2 Qf5 50. a6 Qc8 51. Qa5 Qa8 52. a7 0-1

[Event "Medias Kings m blitz 10th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2016.11.30"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2651"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2016.11.30"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. b3 g6 2. Bb2 Nf6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. c4 c5 6. Nc3 Nc6 7. Nf3 d5 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. Qc1 Nxc3 10. Bxc3 e5 11. d3 Bd7 12. Nd2 Rc8 13. Ne4 Qe7 14. h4 Nd4 15.
f3 b5 16. Bd2 c4 17. dxc4 bxc4 18. bxc4 Qe6 19. Bh3 f5 20. c5 Qa6 21. Rh2 Qa4
22. Rb1 Nc2+ 23. Kf1 Rxc5 24. Qb2 Nd4 25. Kg1 Rb5 26. Qc1 Rxb1 27. Qxb1 Qc4 28.
Qe1 fxe4 29. Be3 Nc2 30. Qd2 Qxa2 31. Bf2 e3 32. Bxe3 Qa1+ 33. Qc1 Qxc1+ 34.
Bxc1 Nd4 35. Bb2 Rb8 36. Bxd4 exd4 37. Be6+ Kf8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Medias Kings m blitz 10th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2016.11.30"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Hou, Yifan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A43"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2651"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2016.11.30"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. Nxd5 Nxd5 6. Qxd5 Nc6 7. Ng5 Qe7 8.
c3 d6 9. Bf4 Be6 10. Qd2 d5 11. e3 h6 12. Nxe6 Qxe6 13. O-O-O O-O-O 14. Bd3 Bd6
15. Rhe1 Bxf4 16. exf4 Qf6 17. g3 Kb8 18. Qe2 g5 19. Bc2 gxf4 20. Qf3 d4 21.
Qxf4+ Qxf4+ 22. gxf4 dxc3 23. Rxd8+ Rxd8 24. bxc3 Rg8 25. Be4 Kc7 26. Bf3 a5
27. a4 b6 28. Kc2 Rg6 29. Bd5 Rf6 30. Re4 Kd6 31. Bxc6 Kxc6 32. c4 Kd6 33. Kd3
Rg6 34. Re3 Rf6 35. Ke4 Kc6 36. f5 Rd6 37. Rh3 Kd7 38. Ke3 Ke7 39. Rh4 Rf6 40.
Re4+ Kf8 41. Kf4 Rd6 42. Ke5 Rd2 43. Rh4 Kg7 44. f6+ Kh7 45. Rg4 Rd7 46. Rg7+
Kh8 47. f3 Ra7 48. Kd6 b5 49. cxb5 c4 50. b6 Rb7 51. Kc6 Rb8 52. b7 c3 53. Kc7
1-0

[Event "Medias Kings m blitz 10th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2016.11.30"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2651"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "2016.11.30"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Nbd7 6. Qxc4 c5 7. Qb3 Bd6 8.
O-O O-O 9. Nc3 a6 10. a4 Rb8 11. a5 Bc7 12. Qa3 c4 13. b3 cxb3 14. d4 b5 15.
axb6 Rxb6 16. Rb1 Bd6 17. Qa4 Rb4 18. Qa1 Rb8 19. Nd2 e5 20. Nxb3 exd4 21. Nxd4
Rxb1 22. Qxb1 Qc7 23. Bd2 Ne5 24. Rc1 Qa7 25. Nf5 Bc5 26. Be1 Neg4 27. e3 Bxf5
28. Qxf5 Bxe3 29. Ra1 Bd4 30. Nb5 Bxf2+ 31. Bxf2 Qxf2+ 32. Qxf2 Nxf2 33. Rxa6
N2g4 34. h3 Ne3 35. Nd4 Nxg2 36. Kxg2 h5 37. Nf3 Rd8 38. Ng5 Kf8 39. Ra7 Rd7
40. Ra5 g6 41. Kf3 Kg7 42. Ra3 Rd5 43. h4 Rf5+ 44. Kg2 Ng4 45. Rf3 Rxf3 46.
Kxf3 f6 47. Ne6+ Kf7 48. Nf4 Nh6 49. Ke4 Nf5 50. Kf3 Nd4+ 51. Ke4 Ne6 52. Ne2
Ke7 53. Kf3 Kd6 54. Nc3 Ke5 55. Nd1 Nd4+ 56. Ke3 Nf5+ 57. Kf3 Kd4 58. Nf2 Nh6
59. Kf4 Nf7 60. Ne4 f5 61. Ng5 Nd8 62. Nf3+ Kd5 63. Kg5 Ke4 64. Nd2+ Ke3 65.
Nc4+ Kf3 66. Ne5+ Kxg3 67. Nxg6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Medias Kings m blitz 10th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2016.11.30"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Hou, Yifan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2651"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2016.11.30"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 b6 3. Bg5 e6 4. e4 h6 5. Bxf6 Qxf6 6. c3 Bb7 7. Nbd2 d6 8.
Bb5+ c6 9. Bd3 Nd7 10. O-O e5 11. a4 a6 12. Nc4 g5 13. Re1 g4 14. Nfd2 h5 15.
Qb3 Qd8 16. Ne3 Bh6 17. Ndc4 Qc7 18. Nf5 Bf8 19. Nce3 Nf6 20. Bc4 Bc8 21. Rad1
b5 22. dxe5 bxc4 23. Nxc4 dxe5 24. Ncd6+ Bxd6 25. Nxd6+ Kf8 26. c4 Kg7 27. Qe3
Qe7 28. Qc5 Kg6 29. Qxc6 Bd7 30. Qc7 Rad8 31. Nf5 Qb4 32. Qxe5 Rhe8 33. Nh4+
Kg7 34. Qg5+ Kf8 35. Qxf6 Bxa4 36. Ng6+ 1-0

[Event "Medias Kings m blitz 10th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2016.11.30"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2651"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2016.11.30"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 d5 4. b3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O b6 7. Bb2 Bb7 8. d3 c5
9. e3 Nc6 10. Qe2 Qc7 11. Nc3 Rad8 12. Rad1 Qb8 13. Nb1 e5 14. cxd5 Nxd5 15.
Nbd2 Rfe8 16. a3 h6 17. Rfe1 b5 18. Ne4 Nf6 19. Nxf6+ Bxf6 20. Qc2 Qd6 21. Nd2
Na5 22. Ne4 Bxe4 23. Bxe4 Rc8 24. Bc3 Nc6 25. Ba1 Be7 26. Rc1 Qe6 27. d4 Na5
28. Bh7+ Kh8 29. Bf5 Qxb3 30. Bxc8 Rxc8 31. Qf5 Qe6 32. Qxe6 fxe6 33. dxc5 Nc4
34. Bc3 Bxc5 35. Bb4 Bb6 36. Red1 a5 37. Bd6 Rd8 38. Be7 Rd5 39. Kg2 e4 40. Rb1
b4 41. axb4 a4 42. b5 a3 1-0

[Event "Medias Kings m blitz 10th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2016.11.30"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Hou, Yifan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2651"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2016.11.30"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 g6 4. Be2 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. Nbd2 c5 7. dxc5 Nbd7 8.
Nb3 Qc7 9. Qd4 e5 10. Qh4 Ne4 11. c4 Bf6 12. Qh6 dxc4 13. Bxc4 Ndxc5 14. Nxc5
Qxc5 15. b3 Bg7 16. Qh4 Nd6 17. Ng5 h6 18. Ne4 Nxe4 19. Qxe4 Rb8 20. a4 Bf5 21.
Qh4 g5 22. Qh5 Qc6 23. Ba3 Bg6 24. Qe2 Rfd8 25. Rad1 a6 26. h3 Kh7 27. a5 f5
28. Rxd8 Rxd8 29. Rd1 Qc7 30. Bb4 e4 31. Rd2 f4 32. Qd1 Rxd2 33. Qxd2 Bf7 34.
Qc2 Qc6 35. exf4 gxf4 36. f3 Bg6 37. fxe4 Bd4+ 38. Kh1 Bxe4 39. Qd2 Be3 40. Qd8
Bxg2+ 41. Kh2 Qg6 42. Qe7+ Kh8 43. Bc3+ 1-0

[Event "Medias Kings m blitz 10th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2016.11.30"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Hou, Yifan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C26"]
[WhiteElo "2651"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2016.11.30"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 Bc5 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nge2 Re8 6. O-O a5 7. h3 d6 8. Kh2
Nbd7 9. f4 c6 10. a3 b5 11. f5 Ba6 12. d3 b4 13. Na4 d5 14. Nxc5 Nxc5 15. Be3
Nxd3 16. cxd3 dxe4 17. axb4 Nd5 18. Bc5 Bxd3 19. Nc3 Bxf1 20. Qxf1 Nxc3 21.
bxc3 Qd2 22. bxa5 Qxc3 23. Bb6 e3 24. Re1 e4 25. Rxe3 Qb4 26. Qf4 Qb2 27. Rxe4
Rxe4 28. Qxe4 Rc8 29. Bd4 Qb4 30. Qe5 Qf8 31. Bc5 Qd8 1-0

[Event "Medias Kings m1 fin blitz 10th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2016.11.30"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Deac, Bogdan Daniel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2572"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2016.11.30"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8.
cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Bc4 Nd7 12. O-O b6 13. Rfe1 Bb7 14. a4
Rc8 15. Bd3 h6 16. a5 Qc7 17. axb6 axb6 18. Ra3 Rfd8 19. Qb2 Qd6 20. Rb3 Rc7
21. Ne5 Nf6 22. Nf3 Qf4 23. Qe2 Rc1 24. Qe3 Rxe1+ 25. Nxe1 Qxe3 26. fxe3 Bxe4
27. Bxe4 Nxe4 28. Rxb6 Ra8 29. Rb2 Ra1 30. Kf1 g5 31. Rc2 Kg7 32. Ke2 f5 33. h3
Kf6 34. Nd3 h5 35. Nc1 h4 36. Rc6 Ra3 37. Rc2 Nc3+ 38. Kd2 Nd5 39. Nd3 g4 40.
hxg4 Rxd3+ 41. Kxd3 Nb4+ 42. Kd2 Nxc2 0-1

[Event "Medias Kings m1 fin blitz 10th"]
[Site "Medias"]
[Date "2016.11.30"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Deac, Bogdan Daniel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A06"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2572"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2016.11.30"]
[EventType "match (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "ROU"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 175 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2016.12.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 c5 3. b3 Nc6 4. Bb5 Bd7 5. Bb2 a6 6. Bxc6 Bxc6 7. Ne5 Qc7 8.
O-O e6 9. d3 Nf6 10. Nd2 Bd6 11. f4 b5 12. Nxc6 Qxc6 13. Qf3 Be7 14. Qh3 O-O
15. Nf3 Nd7 16. Rae1 Bf6 17. Bxf6 Nxf6 18. Ne5 Qc7 19. Qh4 Rac8 20. Rf3 Nd7 21.
Rh3 h6 22. Ng4 f6 23. Qh5 Rf7 24. Qg6 Kf8 25. Rf3 f5 26. Nxh6 gxh6 27. Qxh6+
Ke7 28. e4 fxe4 29. dxe4 d4 30. Qg5+ Kd6 31. e5+ Kc6 32. Qg6 Nf8 33. Qe4+ Kb6
34. b4 Rd8 35. f5 cxb4 36. f6 Rd5 37. Qg4 Qxc2 38. Qh5 Rdd7 39. Rf2 Qc3 40. g4
0-1

[Event "London Classic 8th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2016.12.09"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D77"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2760"]
[Annotator "Meier,Georg"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2016.12.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 {To begin the game this modestly has become very popular. It's
an invitation to the Reti Opening, where computer preparation is not very
effective and there is plenty of room to get a positional game.} g6 {From a
theoretical standpoint, this is a clever choice. While White enjoys an array
of options against most other setups, here he will be quickly restricted. It's
either allowing Black to post a claim in the centre with e7-e5 or go into the
rock-solid Symmetrical Grünfeld. It's no coincidence that most of the players
in the London field see this line quite regularly in their games.} 3. Bg2 Bg7
4. d4 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 {Kramnik has played this position so many times
that recently he felt compelled to toy with alternatives like 6.Nbd2 and even
6.c3.} c5 {A very odd choice to me. When Black keeps the centre closed, you
can barely feel White's extra tempo. Now that the position will open up,
speedy development matters and White's chances to get a real edge certainly
improve.} (6... c6) ({and} 6... dxc4 {are far and away the main options.}) 7.
dxc5 dxc4 8. Na3 c3 ({Symmetry won't work for too long:} 8... Na6 9. c6 c3 10.
Qxd8 Rxd8 11. bxc3 Ne4 12. Nd4 {leaves Black struggling.}) 9. Nb5 $1 {In a
moment we'll get to why this is so strong... but here I actually figured out
what Topalov is doing! After the first couple of times I played and lost to
Vladimir in Dortmund I shared my approach with a friend: I would come to the
game, let Vladimir show what he had prepared and then try and see how I would
fare against him at his best. My friend was certainly amused, likening this
ritual to a kind of fetish and closing with the remark: "Certainly there would
also be someone who would try to survive against the Terminator until the
stage of arguments!" To cut a long story short, if you ask Kramnik to show his
improvement in a type of position he likes anyway and you arrive empty-handed,
you won't make it far. As of late, Topalov has claimed that he does not take
tournaments as seriously as before. I believe it shows in moments like these.}
(9. Nd4 Nfd7 10. bxc3 Nxc5 {½-½ (73) Kramnik,V -Giri,A Leuven 2016, and
things worked out for Black.}) 9... cxb2 ({After} 9... Na6 10. Nxc3 Nxc5 11.
Be3 Nfe4 12. Nxe4 Nxe4 13. Bd4 {Black still has to tread carefully with the
Bg2 soon putting pressure on the black queenside.}) 10. Bxb2 $14 {Instead of
giving Black a nice spot for his knight on c5, Kramnik has kept his pawn there.
Supported by superior development, this pawn is an asset, ready to drive a
wedge into Black's queenside at any point.} Bd7 11. Qb3 Bc6 12. Rfd1 Qc8 $6 {
In the early years of my work with the now famous coach Vladimir Chuchelov I
tried to develop a mantra, that I consider still very helpful: When there is
an obvious natural move, try to make it work the best you can. Only if you are
then convinced it fails, look for something else. Chess is a game of harmony,
and I would feel compelled to consider the developing move 12...Nbd7 before
looking at something as clumsy as ...Qc8.} (12... Nbd7 13. Rac1 (13. Ne5 Bxg2
14. Kxg2 Qc8 15. Nxd7 Nxd7 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Rac1 {White will keep trying, but
as so many pieces have come off, Black can breathe and gradually unravel.})
13... Qa5 14. Nbd4 $1 {The key is to break through on c6.} Bd5 15. Qa3 Qxa3 16.
Bxa3 Rfc8 (16... Rac8 17. Bh3 $1 e6 $2 18. c6 {[%csl Rf8]}) 17. c6 bxc6 18.
Bxe7 $14 {[%csl Rc6]}) 13. Rac1 {White's play flows naturally, while his
opponent must already feel cramped.} Nbd7 14. Nbd4 Bd5 15. Qa3 Re8 16. c6 $1 {
All of White's pieces stand well, there can be no other move. White creates
targets to exploit his far superior coordination.} Nb6 $2 (16... bxc6 17. Nxc6
Qb7 {was the only choice, but} 18. Bxf6 Nxf6 19. Nfe5 {leads to a grip that is
already hard to shake off.}) 17. c7 {It is very hard to sharpen play and go
for the throat, when continuing at a leisurely pace conserves a very large
advantage. While c7 is certainly a good move, it passes up on a decisive
assault, starting with} (17. Ng5 $1 h6 (17... Bxg2 18. Kxg2 bxc6 19. Qb3 e6 20.
Nxc6 Qb7 21. Kg1 Rac8 22. Ne5) 18. Bh3 Ng4 19. e4) 17... Nc4 18. Qb4 Nxb2 19.
Qxb2 b6 20. Qa3 $2 {This indecisive move opened a window of resistance for
Topalov, but he was not ready.} (20. Ne5 $1 Bxg2 21. Kxg2 Qb7+ 22. Kg1 Rac8 23.
Qb3 e6 24. Nb5 {is overwhelming} Ne4 25. Nc4 Bf8 26. Qf3 $18) 20... e6 $4 {
[%csl Rd6] Somehow, all 3 decisive games got decided by crude mistakes in this
round. But here I am sure Topalov was already despising his position in any
case. Still, when defending it is crucial to avoid making new weaknesses. The
new hole on d6 is too much for Black.} (20... Bh6 $142 $1 21. Rc2 Qb7 22. Bh3
$1 {White is ready to go to great lengths to provoke the weakening of the
d6-square.} e6 23. Nb5 {is of course no picnic either.}) (20... Qb7 21. Bh3 $1
e6 22. Ng5 h6 23. e4 Nxe4 24. Nxe4 Bxe4 25. Nb5 {looks winning}) 21. Nb5 Bf8
22. Qb2 Bg7 23. Qd2 Qd7 24. a4 {With Ne5 imminent, Black can't avoid
collapsing.} Ne4 25. Qf4 a6 26. Qxe4 axb5 27. Qd3 f5 28. Ng5 {A trademark game
by Kramnik! Powerful play with all the pieces, and only a short moment of
hesitation that didn't spoil anything this time.} (28. Ng5 bxa4 29. Nxe6 Bxe6
30. Qxd7 Bxd7 31. Rxd7 {and all White's pieces push the c-pawn through.}) 1-0

[Event "London Classic 8th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2016.12.10"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2016.12.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. b3 b6 7. Nc3 Bb7 8. d4
Nbd7 9. Bb2 Rc8 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 Bxd5 12. Qd3 c5 13. e4 Bb7 14. Rad1 cxd4
15. Nxd4 Nf6 16. Qe2 Qe8 17. a3 a5 18. Rfe1 Bc5 19. Nb5 Qe7 20. e5 Bxg2 21.
exf6 Qb7 22. Nd6 Bxd6 23. Rxd6 Bh1 24. f3 Qxf3 25. Qd2 Qg2+ 26. Qxg2 Bxg2 27.
fxg7 Rfe8 28. Re2 Bf3 29. Rf2 Be4 30. Re2 Bf3 31. Rf2 Be4 32. Re2 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic 8th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2016.12.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2823"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2016.12.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. a4 d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. a5
a6 9. O-O b5 10. axb6 Nxb6 11. Bb3 Bf5 12. Bc2 Qd7 13. Qe2 Rfd8 14. Nxe5 Qe6
15. d4 Bxc2 16. Qxc2 Bxd4 17. Nf3 Be5 18. Bg5 f6 19. Be3 Nc4 20. Re1 Rab8 21.
Bc1 a5 22. Ra4 Qd5 23. Nbd2 Nb6 24. Rae4 a4 25. Rh4 Qd3 26. Qxd3 Rxd3 27. Nc4
Nxc4 28. Rxc4 a3 29. Rxc6 axb2 30. Bxb2 Rxb2 31. Nxe5 fxe5 32. Rxc7 Rdd2 33.
Rc8+ Kf7 34. Rc7+ Kf6 35. Rf1 h6 36. h4 e4 37. h5 Rb5 38. Ra1 Rd6 39. Kf1 Rxh5
40. Raa7 Rh1+ 41. Ke2 g5 42. Rf7+ Kg6 43. g4 Rdd1 44. Rg7+ Kf6 45. Rgf7+ Kg6
46. Rg7+ Kf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic 8th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2016.12.12"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2804"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2016.12.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 d5 5. O-O O-O 6. Nbd2 Nc6 {This curious
move brings some fresh air to this position.} (6... c6 {is the main line.}) 7.
b3 ({To} 7. c4 a5 $5 {recently gained popularity} (7... Be6 $5 {is possible,
too}) ({while} 7... dxc4 8. Nxc4 {leads to the well-known position from the 6..
.dxc4 7.Na3 line})) 7... e5 $5 {Black tries to take advanatge of White's slow
way of development.} (7... Bf5 8. Bb2 {is "normal"}) 8. dxe5 (8. Nxe5 Nxe5 9.
dxe5 Ng4 {is completely fine for Black.}) 8... Ng4 9. c4 $146 (9. Bb2 Ngxe5 10.
Qc1 Bf5 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. c4 c6 13. Bd4 dxc4 14. Qc3 Qd6 15. Nxc4 Qxd4 $1 16.
Qxd4 Nf3+ 17. Bxf3 Bxd4 $15 {1/2 (57) Csom,I (2485)-London,D (2420) New York
1987}) (9. Ba3 Re8 10. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Ngxe5 12. Nxe5 Bxe5 13. Qxd8 {1/2 (13)
Csom,I (2505)-Smejkal,J (2540) Szirak 1986}) 9... d4 {Apparently, Black has a
lot of options but not all of them are really comfortable:} (9... Ngxe5 10.
Nxe5 Bxe5 11. cxd5 Bxa1 12. Ba3 Bg7 13. Bxf8 Qxf8 14. dxc6 {- White wins a
pawn although he will have hard work converting it after} b6) (9... Ncxe5 10.
Ba3 $1 Re8 (10... Nxf3+ 11. exf3 $1 Bxa1 12. Qxa1 Nf6 13. Bxf8 Kxf8 14. cxd5
$16) 11. Nxe5 Bxe5 12. Rc1 $14) (9... dxc4 10. Ba3 $1 (10. Nxc4 Ngxe5 11. Nfxe5
Nxe5 12. Nxe5 Qxd1 13. Rxd1 Bxe5 14. Rb1 Re8 $11) 10... Re8 (10... c3 11. Bxf8
Qxf8 12. Ne4 Qb4 13. Qd3 Ngxe5 14. Nxe5 Bxe5 15. Rac1 Bf5 16. Qc4 Qxc4 17. bxc4
Bxe4 18. Bxe4 Na5 19. c5 $14) 11. Nxc4 Ncxe5 12. Nfxe5 Nxe5 13. Qxd8 Rxd8 14.
Na5 $1 Rb8 15. Rad1 $14) (9... Be6 {is probably more appropriate but even
there after} 10. Bb2 (10. Ba3 $143 Re8) 10... Ngxe5 11. Nxe5 Bxe5 12. Bxe5 Nxe5
13. Qc2 {the weakness of the dark squares in Black's position remains annoying.
}) 10. Ne4 Ngxe5 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Bg5 {Forcing the advance of Black's f-pawn,
which weakens his position.} f6 13. Bc1 f5 14. Nc5 c6 15. Bb2 $6 {This move is
a bit inaccurate.} (15. Re1 $5) 15... Qd6 $6 ({Black misses an opportunity to
free his position and obtain excellent chances by means of} 15... f4 $1 {since}
16. Bxd4 $2 {loses to} f3 $1 17. exf3 Qxd4 18. Qxd4 Nxf3+ 19. Bxf3 Bxd4) 16. e3
$1 {[%mdl 64]} Nxc4 (16... Qxc5 17. exd4 Qd6 18. c5 $5 Qc7 19. dxe5 Bxe5 20.
Bxe5 Qxe5 21. Re1 $1 Qxc5 $140 22. Rc1 $16) (16... d3 17. Bd4 Rd8 18. Nxd3 (18.
Qd2 $5 {[%cal Ya1d1] may be even more precise}) 18... Nxd3 19. Qxd3 Bxd4 20.
exd4 Qxd4 21. Qe2 $14 {[%cal Ya1d1,Yf1e1] with a development advantage and
initiative}) 17. Bxd4 Bxd4 18. Qxd4 Qxd4 19. exd4 $14 {White has an advantage
in development, and Black's position is compromised with ...f7-f5; those
factors are more important than the potential weakness of White's isolated
pawn.} Nd6 (19... Nb6 20. Rfe1) 20. Rfd1 (20. d5 b6 $1 21. Ne6 Bxe6 22. dxe6
Ne4 23. Bxe4 fxe4 24. Rfe1 Rfe8 25. Rxe4 Rad8 {, and White can hardly win this
rook ending.}) 20... Nb5 (20... Rf6 $5 {[%cal Ya8b8]}) 21. d5 $1 Nc3 22. dxc6
Nxd1 23. Bd5+ $1 (23. cxb7 $143 Bxb7 24. Bxb7 Rad8 25. Ne6 Rd2 26. Nxf8 Kxf8)
23... Kh8 24. cxb7 Bxb7 25. Bxb7 Rad8 26. Ne6 Rfe8 27. Nxd8 Rxd8 {[%mdl 4096]
As a result of his combination, White has won a pawn. It is not easy to
convert it but still...} 28. Kf1 Nc3 29. a3 $6 (29. Ke1 $142 $5 {keeping his
material advantage}) 29... Rb8 30. Rc1 Nb5 31. Rc8+ Rxc8 32. Bxc8 Nxa3 33. Ke2
{White has now given back the pawn but his bishop is stronger than Black's
knight in this open position; besides, his king is more active. On the other
hand, the reduced number of pawns diminishes White's winning chances.} Nb5 34.
Kd3 Kg7 35. Bd7 Nd6 36. f3 Kf6 37. Kd4 Nf7 $1 38. Bb5 Ne5 39. Be2 g5 40. Kd5 h5
{Black is correctly trying to advance and possibly trade his kingside pawns.}
41. b4 Ng6 42. b5 f4 $1 {Black creates his own passed pawn, after which
White's winning chances become zero.} 43. g4 (43. Kc6 fxg3 44. hxg3 h4 45. gxh4
gxh4 46. Bf1 Ne5+ 47. Kb7 {, and now, e.g.} Nf7 48. Kxa7 Nd6 49. b6 Nc8+ 50.
Kb7 Nxb6 51. Kxb6 Ke5 52. Kc5 Kf4 53. Bg2 Kg3 54. Bh1 h3 55. Kd4 Kh2 56. Ke3
Kxh1 57. Kf2 h2 $11) 43... hxg4 44. fxg4 Ne5 45. h3 f3 46. Bf1 f2 47. Ke4 Ng6
48. Ke3 Ke5 49. Bg2 Nf8 50. Kxf2 Kf4 51. Ke2 Kg3 52. Bf1 Ne6 53. Ke3 Nf4 54.
Ke4 Nxh3 55. Kf5 Nf2 56. Kxg5 Nxg4 57. Be2 Ne3 58. Kf6 Nd5+ 59. Ke5 Nc3 60. Bc4
Nxb5 61. Bxb5 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic 8th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2016.12.13"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2016.12.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 Nh5 8. Bd3
Nxf4 9. exf4 b6 10. b4 a5 11. a3 c6 12. O-O Ba6 13. Re1 Bf6 14. Ne5 Bxe5 15.
fxe5 Bxd3 16. Qxd3 Ra7 17. g3 Qa8 18. Rab1 axb4 19. axb4 Ra3 20. Qc2 Rb8 21. h4
h6 22. Kg2 Qa6 23. Rec1 bxc5 24. bxc5 Rxb1 25. Qxb1 Qc4 26. Qb2 Rb3 27. Qd2 Qb4
28. Rc2 f6 29. f4 fxe5 30. fxe5 Nf8 31. Ne2 Qb7 32. Nf4 Qf7 33. Rb2 Rxb2 34.
Qxb2 g5 35. hxg5 hxg5 36. Nd3 Ng6 37. Nf2 Ne7 38. Qd2 Qg6 39. g4 Kg7 40. Nh3
Kh6 41. Kg3 Nc8 42. Qf2 Kg7 43. Qe3 Kh6 44. Qf3 Kg7 45. Qa3 Qe4 46. Nxg5 Qe1+
47. Kf4 Qf2+ 48. Nf3 Ne7 49. Qa7 Kf8 50. Qb8+ Kf7 51. Qb7 Kf8 52. Qd7 Ng6+ 53.
Kg5 Qxf3 54. Qxe6 Nh8 55. Qf5+ Nf7+ 56. Kf6 Qxf5+ 57. gxf5 Nd8 58. e6 Nf7 59.
Kg6 Nd8 60. Kf6 Nf7 61. exf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic 8th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2016.12.15"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D05"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2748"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2016.12.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 b6 5. O-O Bb7 6. Nbd2 Bd6 7. Qe2 Ne4 8. b3
O-O 9. Bb2 Nd7 10. c4 a5 11. Rfd1 Qe7 12. Rac1 a4 13. Nf1 axb3 14. axb3 Ra2 15.
Bb1 Rxb2 16. Qxb2 Ba3 17. Qc2 c5 18. cxd5 Bxd5 19. N3d2 Ndf6 20. f3 Nxd2 21.
Nxd2 g6 22. e4 Bb7 23. Nc4 Bxc1 24. Qxc1 Rd8 25. dxc5 Qxc5+ 26. Kh1 Rxd1+ 27.
Qxd1 Kg7 28. Qd2 Ba6 29. Ne3 Bb5 30. Nc2 h5 31. h4 Nd7 32. b4 Qe7 33. g3 Qf6
34. Nd4 e5 35. Nxb5 Qxf3+ 36. Qg2 Qd1+ 37. Qg1 Qf3+ 38. Qg2 Qd1+ 39. Qg1 Qf3+
1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic 8th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2016.12.16"]
[Round "7"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2794"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2016.12.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. a3 c5 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. dxc5 Nxc5 11. Be2 Qb6 12. b4 Ne6 13. Be5 a5 14. O-O axb4
15. axb4 Rxa1 16. Bxa1 Rd8 17. b5 Bc5 18. Qd2 d4 19. exd4 Nxd4 20. Bxd4 Bxd4
21. Nxd4 Rxd4 22. Qe3 Be6 23. Ra1 h6 24. Ra8+ Kh7 25. Bd3+ g6 26. Ra4 Rd6 27.
Qxb6 Rxb6 28. Rd4 Kg7 29. f4 Kf6 30. Kf2 Bf5 31. Bc4 Ke7 32. Ke3 f6 33. h4 Rd6
34. Rxd6 Kxd6 35. Kd4 b6 36. g3 g5 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic 8th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2016.12.17"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B91"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2771"]
[Annotator "Prasanna,V"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2016.12.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Kramnik has started with this move quite a number of times in 2016 so
it must not have been a complete surprise for Anish Giri. Kramnik in the past
has mentioned he likes to try to outplay his younger opponents in a positional
struggle and this game is no different.} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5.
Nc3 a6 {The most popular modern Sicilian Najdorf is on the board. It is not a
surprise as Anish has been using it with Black in his past 10 games against e4.
} 6. g3 {Even though the game started with the Sicilian Kramnik opts for one
of the quietest responses against the Najdorf.} e5 7. Nde2 Be6 8. Bg2 h5 {
Anish shows the depth of his preparation. Even though ...h5 is no longer a
surprise idea in the Najdorf. It has never been played in the position and it
is usually played to hinder White's g4-plan.} 9. Bg5 {Kramnik refuses to
transpose to familiar theory and keeps the position fresh and novel.} (9. h3 {
transposes to the 6.h3 Fischer variation.}) 9... Nbd7 10. Qd2 Be7 11. a4 Rc8
12. O-O Nf8 13. Bxf6 {Kramnik tries to keep the position under control and in
positional territory.} (13. a5 N8h7 $1 (13... h4 14. Bxh4 Rxh4 15. gxh4 Ng6 16.
f4 Nxh4 17. Nd5 (17. Kh1 Nxg2 18. Kxg2)) 14. Be3 h4 15. f4 Nf8 {leads to a
dynamically balanced position with chances for both sides. Facing a new idea
at the board, Kramnik's decision is both practical and sound.}) (13. Rfd1 N8h7
14. Be3 Ng4) 13... Bxf6 14. Rfd1 {The game moves into the slow manoeuvring
phase.} Be7 15. Nd5 h4 16. Nec3 (16. Nxe7 Qxe7 17. Ra3 hxg3 18. hxg3 Bg4 19. f3
Be6 20. Rd3 Bc4 21. Rxd6 Ne6) 16... Nh7 (16... Rc6 17. Ra3 Nd7 18. Rb3 Qc8) 17.
Ra3 Rc6 18. Rb3 Qb8 19. Na2 (19. Nxe7 Kxe7 20. Nd5+ Bxd5 21. exd5 Rc4 (21...
Rc7) 22. Re1 hxg3 23. hxg3 Qc8 24. f4) 19... Bxd5 20. Qxd5 Qc8 21. Nb4 Nf6 22.
Qd2 Rc5 23. Rc1 hxg3 24. hxg3 g6 25. Rd3 Kf8 26. c3 Kg7 27. Rd1 Qd7 28. b3 Qg4
29. c4 Nxe4 {An interesting decision. Anish decides to solve his positions
dynamically instead of with passive defence.} (29... Rcc8 {was also okay for
Black.} 30. Nc2 Qh5 31. Ne3 Ng4 32. Nxg4) 30. f3 Nxd2 31. fxg4 Nxc4 32. bxc4
Rxc4 33. Nd5 Bd8 34. Ra1 (34. Rb1 {could have given White some chances. It was
important to stay active and on the offensive. After the move in the game
Black has no troubles whatsoever.} Rxg4 35. Rxb7 Rxa4 36. Rf3 Rf8 37. Bh3 $1 {
[%csl Re6]} e4 38. Rf1 Ra3 39. Nf4 Kg8 40. Kg2 Ra2+ 41. Rf2 Rxf2+ 42. Kxf2 {
Of course the most likely result is a draw but Black still has to be careful.})
34... Rxg4 35. a5 e4 36. Rb3 Rh5 37. Ne3 Rgg5 38. Kf2 Rxa5 39. Rxa5 Rxa5 40.
Bxe4 b5 41. Rd3 Be7 42. Kf3 Ra1 43. Nd5 Bd8 44. Nf4 Be7 45. Rc3 d5 46. Bxd5 Ra3
{White has absolutely no objective chances after the exchange of rooks - a
draw was agreed.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "London Classic 8th"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "2016.12.18"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2016.12.09"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 176"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 b6 7. Bd3 c5 8. dxc5
bxc5 9. O-O Nc6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Rc1 h6 12. h3 Be6 13. Bb5 Qb6 14. Qa4 Rfc8
15. Ne5 Nxe5 16. Bxe5 a6 17. Be2 Rd8 18. Bf3 Nd7 19. Bg3 Nf6 20. Rfd1 Rac8 21.
Be5 Nd7 22. Bg3 Nf6 23. Be5 Nd7 24. Bg3 Nf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2017.04.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2811"]
[PlyCount "142"]
[EventDate "2017.04.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 177 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.04.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.04.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. Bf4 Bb4 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Nxc5 8.
Qc2 O-O 9. Be2 Nce4 10. O-O Bxc3 11. bxc3 dxc4 12. Bxc4 b6 13. Rad1 Qe7 14. Nd2
Bb7 15. Nxe4 Bxe4 16. Qe2 Rfd8 17. f3 Bd5 18. Ba6 Qc5 19. Kh1 h6 20. e4 Bc6 21.
Be3 Qa5 22. Bc4 Ba4 23. Rc1 Rac8 24. Bb3 Nd7 25. f4 Nc5 26. Bxa4 Qxa4 27. Bd4
e5 28. Bxe5 Qxe4 29. Qg4 Qg6 30. Qxg6 fxg6 31. Bd4 Ne6 32. Be5 Rd2 33. a4 Rc4
34. Ra1 Re4 35. a5 g5 36. axb6 axb6 37. f5 Rxe5 38. fxe6 Rxe6 39. Rab1 Rc2 40.
Rfc1 Rce2 41. h3 Kh7 42. c4 Rc6 43. Rb4 Rf6 44. Rb5 g4 45. hxg4 Rf4 46. Kh2
Rxg4 47. Rg1 Re6 48. Rc1 Reg6 49. Rc2 Rh4+ 50. Kg1 Rd6 51. c5 Rd1+ 52. Kf2 bxc5
53. Rbxc5 Rf4+ 54. Kg3 Rdd4 55. R5c3 Rh4 56. Kf2 Rdg4 57. Rg3 Rf4+ 58. Kg1 Rf7
59. Rf2 Re7 60. Rh3 Ra4 61. Kh2 Ra6 62. Rg3 g5 63. Rb3 Kg6 64. Rfb2 Ree6 65. g4
h5 66. gxh5+ Kxh5 67. Rh3+ Kg6 68. Rh8 Ra4 69. Rg2 Re5 70. Rg8+ Kf6 71. Rf2+
Rf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2017.04.12"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Oparin, Grigoriy"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2811"]
[BlackElo "2604"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2017.04.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 177 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.04.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.04.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 Bg4 4. d3 Nd7 5. O-O e5 6. h3 Bh5 7. c4 dxc4 8. dxc4
Ngf6 9. Nh4 Bc5 10. Nc3 O-O 11. Qc2 Re8 12. a3 a5 13. e3 Qc7 14. Rb1 Bf8 15. b4
axb4 16. axb4 Nb6 17. g4 Bg6 18. Nxg6 hxg6 19. g5 Nh7 20. Ne4 Be7 21. h4 Qd7
22. b5 Rac8 23. bxc6 Rxc6 24. c5 Qc8 25. Qb3 Nd7 26. Qxb7 Nxc5 27. Qxc6 Qxc6
28. Nf6+ Qxf6 29. gxf6 Nxf6 30. Rb5 Nd3 31. Bd2 Ng4 32. Bc6 Rf8 33. f3 Nh6 34.
Rd5 Nb4 35. Bxb4 Bxb4 36. Rxe5 Nf5 37. h5 Nxe3 38. hxg6 Nxf1 39. Bd5 Ng3 40.
Kg2 Bd6 41. Rg5 Kh8 42. gxf7 Kh7 43. Rg4 g6 44. Rxg3 Bxg3 45. Kxg3 Kg7 46. f4
Rxf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2017.04.12"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2811"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2017.04.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 177 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.04.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.04.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. d3 O-O 6. Nbd2 a5 7. e4 a4 8. Re1
a3 9. b3 c5 10. e5 Nfd7 11. Nf1 Nc6 12. h4 b5 13. h5 f5 14. exf6 Bxf6 15. Rb1
Nb4 16. d4 Nxa2 17. Bd2 cxd4 18. h6 Nc5 19. hxg7 Bxg7 20. Nxd4 Bxd4 21. Qg4+
Bg7 22. Ra1 Qf6 23. Rxa2 Qxf2+ 24. Kh1 Ne4 25. c4 Nxd2 26. Rd1 Ne4 0-1

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2017.04.12"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B08"]
[WhiteElo "2811"]
[BlackElo "2747"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2017.04.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 177 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.04.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.04.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. d4 g6 3. e4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. Be2 O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Be3 e5 8.
dxe5 dxe5 9. Bc4 Qe7 10. Qd2 Nb6 11. Bb3 Bg4 12. Ne1 c5 13. f3 Bd7 14. a4 Bc6
15. a5 Nbd7 16. Nd3 b5 17. axb6 axb6 18. Bc4 Rfd8 19. Rxa8 Rxa8 20. Rd1 Nf8 21.
Nf2 Ne6 22. Qd6 Qxd6 23. Rxd6 Nd8 24. Bg5 1-0

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2017.04.12"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C66"]
[WhiteElo "2786"]
[BlackElo "2811"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2017.04.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 177 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.04.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.04.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 d6 5. O-O Bd7 6. c4 g6 7. Nc3 Bg7 8. Nd5
a6 9. Ba4 Nxd5 10. cxd5 Ne7 11. Bg5 b5 12. Bb3 h6 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. a4 O-O 15.
axb5 axb5 16. Qc2 Rxa1 17. Rxa1 Rc8 18. Ra7 Qd8 19. h3 h5 20. Qc3 g5 21. Nh2 f5
22. exf5 e4 23. Qd2 Bxf5 24. dxe4 Bxe4 25. Bc2 Bxc2 26. Qxc2 Qe7 27. Nf1 Qf7
28. Ne3 g4 29. hxg4 hxg4 30. g3 b4 31. b3 Bc3 32. Qe4 Rf8 33. Qxg4+ Bg7 34. Ra2
Qf6 35. Rc2 Rf7 36. Kg2 Kh7 37. Qxb4 Qg6 38. Rc4 Bh6 39. Rh4 Qf6 40. Ng4 Qf3+
41. Kh2 Kg7 42. Qd4+ 1-0

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2017.04.12"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E01"]
[WhiteElo "2724"]
[BlackElo "2811"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2017.04.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 177 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.04.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.04.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Bd6 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Bg5 c6 8. e4
dxe4 9. Nxe4 Bb4+ 10. Nc3 h6 11. Bf4 c5 12. Bg2 Nc6 13. dxc5 e5 14. Nxe5 Qxd1+
15. Kxd1 Rd8+ 16. Kc1 Nxe5 17. Bxe5 Ng4 18. Bc7 Re8 19. Ne4 Rxe4 20. Bxe4 Nxf2
21. Bd5 Bxc5 22. Kc2 Bf5+ 23. Kb3 Rc8 24. Bf4 Nxh1 25. Rxh1 b6 26. Re1 Kf8 27.
a3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz 6th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2017.04.12"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Pelletier, Yannick"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D03"]
[WhiteElo "2811"]
[BlackElo "2541"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2017.04.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 177 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.04.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.04.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bg5 e6 4. e3 c5 5. Nbd2 Nbd7 6. c3 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O
Qc7 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Bxe4 h6 12. Be3 Nf6 13. Bc2 Bd7 14. dxc5 Bxc5
15. Bxc5 Qxc5 16. Qd4 Qxd4 17. Nxd4 e5 18. Nf3 Rfe8 19. Rfe1 e4 20. Nd4 Re7 21.
Re3 Rae8 22. Rae1 Kf8 23. h3 g6 24. Kh2 h5 25. g3 a6 26. Kg2 Be6 27. Nxe6+ Rxe6
28. R1e2 Rb6 29. Bb3 Rd6 30. f3 exf3+ 31. Kxf3 Rxe3+ 32. Kxe3 Nd7 33. Rd2 Rxd2
34. Kxd2 a5 35. Ke3 Ke7 36. h4 f6 37. Bc2 Ne5 38. Kd4 Kd6 39. b4 b6 40. a3 g5
41. Ke4 gxh4 42. gxh4 Nc4 43. a4 Ne5 44. Kf5 Ke7 45. bxa5 bxa5 46. Bd1 Nc4 47.
Bxh5 Nb2 48. Bg6 Nxa4 49. h5 Kf8 50. h6 Nxc3 51. Kxf6 Kg8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge 6th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2017.04.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2811"]
[BlackElo "2786"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2017.04.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. e3 e6 6. d4 cxd4 7. exd4 O-O 8. Nf3
d5 9. b3 Ne4 10. Bb2 Nxc3 11. Bxc3 b6 12. cxd5 exd5 13. O-O Nc6 14. Ne5 Nxe5
15. dxe5 Be6 16. Re1 Qd7 17. Qd2 Rac8 18. Bd4 Rc7 19. a4 Rfc8 20. Bf1 Bf8 21.
Ba6 Rd8 22. h4 Bc5 23. b4 Bxd4 24. Qxd4 Qe7 25. Bd3 Kg7 26. a5 Rdc8 27. axb6
axb6 28. Bf1 b5 29. Bd3 Rc4 30. Bxc4 Qxb4 31. Rab1 Qxc4 32. Qd2 h5 33. Rbc1 Qb3
34. Rxc8 Bxc8 35. Qf4 Bf5 36. e6 Bxe6 37. Qe5+ Kh7 38. Ra1 1-0

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge 6th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2017.04.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2811"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2017.04.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. e3 O-O 5. Nbd2 d6 6. c3 c5 7. Bd3 b6 8. O-O
Bb7 9. Re1 Nc6 10. h3 Rc8 11. Qe2 Rc7 12. a3 Qc8 13. e4 cxd4 14. cxd4 Nd7 15.
e5 dxe5 16. d5 Nd4 17. Nxd4 exd4 18. Bxe7 Re8 19. d6 Rc5 20. f4 Nf6 21. Nb3 Rc6
22. Rac1 Nd5 23. Bb5 Nxf4 24. Qg4 Rxc1 25. Nxc1 d3 26. Nxd3 Nxd3 27. Qxc8 Bxc8
28. Rd1 Nxb2 29. Rc1 Bd4+ 30. Kf1 Nd3 31. Bxd3 Be6 32. Bb5 Rb8 33. d7 a6 34.
Rd1 Bxd7 35. Bxd7 Be5 36. Rd5 Bb2 37. Bd6 Ra8 38. Rd2 Ba1 39. Bc7 b5 40. Ba5
Bf6 41. Re2 Kg7 42. Kf2 Bd4+ 43. Kf3 Bc5 44. Bc3+ Kf8 45. Bb4 Bxb4 46. axb4 Rd8
47. Bc6 Rd4 48. Re8+ Kg7 49. Re7 Rxb4 50. Bd5 Kf6 51. Rxf7+ Ke5 52. Bb7 a5 53.
Rxh7 a4 54. Bc6 a3 55. Bxb5 Rxb5 56. Ra7 Rb3+ 57. Kg4 Kd4 58. Kg5 Kc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge 6th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2017.04.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2724"]
[BlackElo "2811"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2017.04.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 c5 7. Nf3 cxd4 8.
cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Rc1 b6 12. Bd3 Bb7 13. O-O Nd7 14. Qf4
h6 15. h4 Rc8 16. Rxc8 Qxc8 17. Rc1 Qb8 18. Qxb8 Rxb8 19. Rc7 Nf6 20. Ne5 Bxe4
21. Bxe4 Nxe4 22. Rxf7 a5 23. Rc7 b5 24. f3 Nd6 25. Ra7 a4 26. h5 Nf5 27. Nc6
Rc8 28. Ra6 Kh7 29. Kf2 b4 30. g4 b3 31. axb3 axb3 32. gxf5 b2 33. Rb6 Rxc6 34.
Rxb2 exf5 35. Ke3 Rc3+ 36. Kf4 g5+ 37. Kxf5 Rxf3+ 38. Ke4 Rf1 39. Rb7+ Kg8 40.
d5 g4 41. Rb6 Kf7 42. Rxh6 g3 43. Rg6 Rh1 44. Rxg3 Rxh5 45. Kd4 Ke7 46. Kc5 Rh6
47. Rg7+ Kd8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge 6th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2017.04.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D05"]
[WhiteElo "2811"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "2017.04.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 e6 4. Nbd2 c5 5. b3 cxd4 6. exd4 Nc6 7. Bb2 g6 8. Bb5
Bg7 9. O-O O-O 10. Re1 Qb6 11. a4 Bd7 12. c4 a6 13. Bxc6 Bxc6 14. c5 Qc7 15. b4
Ne4 16. Ne5 Nxd2 17. Qxd2 b5 18. cxb6 Qxb6 19. Rec1 Rfc8 20. Rc5 Be8 21. Nd3
Rcb8 22. Bc3 Qd8 23. Ra5 Bf8 24. Nc5 Rb6 25. g3 Bd6 26. h4 Bc7 27. b5 axb5 28.
Rxa8 Qxa8 29. axb5 Qc8 30. Ba5 Rxb5 31. Bxc7 Qxc7 32. Qg5 Rb8 33. h5 Qd8 34.
Qe5 gxh5 35. Ra7 Rb6 36. Qxh5 Kg7 37. Qg4+ Kf8 38. Qf4 Kg7 39. Qg4+ Kf8 40. Kg2
h6 41. Qf3 Kg7 42. Qa3 Qf6 43. Ra8 Bb5 44. Qa5 Bc6 45. Qxb6 Bxa8 46. Qc7 h5 47.
f3 Qf5 48. Nd7 Bb7 49. Qc5 Ba6 50. Kf2 Kh7 51. Ne5 Kg7 52. Nd7 Bc4 53. Qf8+ Kh7
54. Ne5 Qc2+ 55. Kg1 Qd1+ 56. Kh2 Qd2+ 57. Kh3 Bf1+ 58. Kh4 Qh2+ 59. Kg5 Qxg3+
60. Ng4 hxg4 61. Qxf7+ Kh8 62. Qf8+ Kh7 63. Qf7+ Kh8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge 6th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2017.04.15"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Pelletier, Yannick"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2541"]
[BlackElo "2811"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2017.04.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. d4 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4
Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bg5 Nbd7 11. Nc3 h6 12. Bxf6 Nxf6 13. Rfe1 Bd5 14. Nxd5
exd5 15. Qb3 Rb8 16. Ne5 c6 17. Rac1 a5 18. e3 Bd6 19. e4 Bb4 20. Re2 dxe4 21.
Bxe4 Qxd4 22. Rd1 Qc5 23. Nd7 Nxd7 24. Rxd7 Qh5 25. Re3 Kh8 26. Kg2 f5 27. Bb1
Rbd8 28. Rxd8 Rxd8 29. Re5 Rf8 30. Qe6 Qf7 31. Qxf7 Rxf7 32. Bxf5 g5 33. g4 Re7
34. Rxe7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge 6th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2017.04.16"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Oparin, Grigoriy"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2811"]
[BlackElo "2604"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2017.04.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 e6 3. e3 d5 4. Bd3 b6 5. O-O Bb7 6. b3 Bd6 7. Bb2 O-O 8. Nbd2
c5 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Qe2 Nbd7 11. c4 dxc4 12. Nxc4 Qe7 13. Rad1 Rfd8 14. Nd4 Ne4
15. Kh1 Qh4 16. Bxe4 Qxe4 17. f3 Qh4 18. Nb5 Nf6 19. Be5 Nd5 20. e4 Nf4 21. Qc2
Qg5 22. Bc7 Rdc8 23. Bxf4 Qxf4 24. Qe2 Bc6 25. a4 h5 26. Nd4 Be8 27. Nb5 Bc6
28. Rd3 a6 29. Nbd6 Rd8 30. Rfd1 h4 31. Qd2 Qxd2 32. R3xd2 f6 33. Rd3 Ra7 34.
e5 Rad7 35. b4 Bxb4 36. Nxb6 Ra7 37. exf6 gxf6 38. h3 a5 39. Rd4 Ra6 40. Ndc8
Rxd4 41. Rxd4 e5 42. Rxh4 e4 43. fxe4 Bc5 44. e5 Rxb6 45. Nxb6 Bxb6 46. exf6
Be3 47. Rc4 Bd5 48. Rc7 Bf7 49. h4 Bd4 50. Rc6 Bb3 51. Rd6 Be5 52. Ra6 Bc3 53.
h5 Kf7 54. h6 Kg6 55. f7+ Kxf7 56. g4 Bxa4 57. g5 Bc2 58. Kh2 Bd3 59. Ra7+ Kg6
60. h7 Kxg5 61. Rxa5+ Kh6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge 6th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2017.04.16"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2747"]
[BlackElo "2811"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2017.04.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5
8. Rxe5 O-O 9. Nc3 Ne8 10. d4 Bf6 11. Re1 d5 12. Bd3 c6 13. Ne2 g6 14. c3 Ng7
15. Ng3 h5 16. h3 h4 17. Nf1 Bf5 18. Ne3 Bxd3 19. Qxd3 Re8 20. Bd2 Qd6 21. Ng4
Nf5 22. Qf3 Bg7 23. Bf4 Qf8 24. Bg5 f6 25. Bf4 Rxe1+ 26. Rxe1 Re8 27. Qd1 Rxe1+
28. Qxe1 Kf7 29. Kf1 Qe7 30. Qxe7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz2 6th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2017.04.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2786"]
[BlackElo "2811"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2017.04.17"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. a4 a6 7. O-O h6 8. Na3 O-O
9. Nc2 Re8 10. Re1 Ba7 11. Be3 Bb8 12. Qd2 Ng4 13. b4 Ne7 14. d4 Ng6 15. dxe5
Nxe3 16. Nxe3 Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Rxe5 18. Qa2 Be6 19. Bxe6 Rxe6 20. Nf5 Ba7 21. Nd4
Re5 22. Nf3 Re6 23. Nd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz2 6th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2017.04.17"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2811"]
[PlyCount "157"]
[EventDate "2017.04.17"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. Qc2 h6 7. Bh4 Be7 8. e3
O-O 9. Bd3 Re8 10. Nge2 Nh5 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. O-O Nd7 13. Rae1 Nf8 14. Nc1 Nf6
15. Nb3 Ne6 16. f3 a5 17. Na4 Qd8 18. Nbc5 Nf8 19. Qb3 b5 20. Nc3 Ne6 21. Nxe6
Bxe6 22. Qc2 Qb6 23. Qf2 a4 24. Rc1 b4 25. Ne2 Ra5 26. h3 c5 27. dxc5 Rxc5 28.
e4 Nd7 29. Rxc5 Qxc5 30. Rc1 Qxf2+ 31. Kxf2 Ne5 32. Bb5 Rb8 33. Rc5 Bd7 34. Ba6
Rb6 35. Rxd5 f6 36. Ra5 g5 37. g3 Kf8 38. Nd4 Rd6 39. f4 gxf4 40. gxf4 Rxd4 41.
fxe5 Rxe4 42. exf6 Rf4+ 43. Ke3 Rxf6 44. Bb5 Bxh3 45. Rxa4 Be6 46. b3 h5 47.
Rxb4 Ke7 48. Be2 Rf5 49. Rh4 Ra5 50. Re4 Kf6 51. b4 Ra3+ 52. Kd4 Bf5 53. Rh4
Rxa2 54. Bxh5 Rd2+ 55. Kc3 Rd3+ 56. Kc4 Kg5 57. Rh2 Rd8 58. Bf3 Kf4 59. Bc6 Rd1
60. b5 Bd3+ 61. Kc5 Rc1+ 62. Kd4 Bxb5 63. Bxb5 Kg5 64. Rf2 Re1 65. Be2 Ra1 66.
Bf3 Kf4 67. Be4+ Kg3 68. Rf8 Ra4+ 69. Ke3 Ra3+ 70. Bd3 Kg4 71. Rg8+ Kh5 72. Ke4
Ra4+ 73. Kf5 Kh4 74. Be4 Kh3 75. Kf4 Kh2 76. Rg2+ Kh3 77. Rg1 Ra2 78. Rg8 Kh2
79. Rh8+ 1-0

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz2 6th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2017.04.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D04"]
[WhiteElo "2811"]
[BlackElo "2724"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2017.04.17"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. d4 c5 4. Nbd2 Nc6 5. dxc5 e6 6. a3 a5 7. b3 Bxc5 8. Bb2
O-O 9. Bb5 Qe7 10. O-O Bd6 11. Re1 e5 12. e4 Nxe4 13. Nxe4 dxe4 14. Rxe4 Bf5
15. Re1 Rfd8 16. Qe2 f6 17. Nh4 Be6 18. Bd3 Bc5 19. Kh1 Nd4 20. Qe4 g6 21. f4
Bd5 22. Bc4 Bxc4 23. bxc4 f5 24. Qxe5 Qxe5 25. Rxe5 Nxc2 26. Rxc5 Nxa1 27. h3
Rac8 28. Rb5 Rd7 29. Nf3 Nc2 30. Ne5 Re7 31. c5 Ne3 32. Rxa5 Nd5 33. g3 Nf6 34.
Kg2 Ne4 35. Bd4 Rec7 36. h4 Nxc5 37. Rb5 Ne4 38. h5 gxh5 39. Nf3 Rc1 40. Ng1
R8c2+ 41. Kh3 Nf2+ 42. Kh4 Rxg1 43. Rxb7 Rh1+ 44. Kg5 Ne4+ 45. Kh6 Rc6+ 0-1

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz2 6th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2017.04.17"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2811"]
[PlyCount "151"]
[EventDate "2017.04.17"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 Bg4 4. O-O Nf6 5. h3 Bh5 6. d3 Nbd7 7. Qe1 e5 8. e4
Be7 9. Nh4 O-O 10. Nd2 Re8 11. Nb3 a5 12. a4 Nc5 13. Nxc5 Bxc5 14. Bg5 h6 15.
Bd2 Nh7 16. Kh2 Nf8 17. Be3 Ne6 18. Bxc5 Nxc5 19. Qc3 b6 20. exd5 cxd5 21. d4
Ne4 22. Qd3 exd4 23. Qxd4 Rc8 24. Nf5 Qg5 25. g4 Rxc2 26. f4 Qg6 27. Nh4 Qf6
28. Qxf6 Nxf6 29. gxh5 Nxh5 30. Kg1 Ng3 31. Rf3 Ne2+ 32. Kh1 g6 33. Bf1 Rxb2
34. Rd1 d4 35. Ng2 Re4 36. Re1 Kg7 37. Rxe2 Rexe2 38. Bxe2 Rxe2 39. Rd3 b5 40.
axb5 Rb2 41. Rxd4 Rxb5 42. Kh2 g5 43. Rd6 f6 44. Kg3 Kg6 45. Ne3 gxf4+ 46. Kxf4
Rb4+ 47. Kf3 a4 48. Ra6 Rd4 49. Ng2 Kg5 50. Ra5+ f5 51. Ne3 Rd3 52. Rxa4 Rd6
53. Ra5 Rf6 54. Ng2 Rb6 55. h4+ Kg6 56. Nf4+ Kh7 57. Rxf5 Rb7 58. h5 Ra7 59.
Rb5 Rd7 60. Ke4 Rf7 61. Re5 Ra7 62. Nd5 Ra1 63. Re7+ Kh8 64. Kf5 Rg1 65. Nf4
Kg8 66. Ra7 Rf1 67. Ra6 Kg7 68. Rg6+ Kh7 69. Rg4 Ra1 70. Nd5 Kh8 71. Kg6 Ra5
72. Rc4 Ra6+ 73. Nf6 Rc6 74. Rd4 Rd6 75. Rd5 Rd7 76. Nxd7 1-0

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz2 6th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2017.04.17"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Pelletier, Yannick"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D05"]
[WhiteElo "2811"]
[BlackElo "2541"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2017.04.17"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 d5 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 Bd6 5. Nbd2 b6 6. e4 dxe4 7. Nxe4 Nxe4 8.
Bxe4 c6 9. Bg5 Qc7 10. Qd2 Bb7 11. O-O Nd7 12. Rfe1 h6 13. Bh4 Nf6 14. Bxf6
gxf6 15. c4 O-O-O 16. b4 f5 17. Bd3 c5 18. bxc5 Bf4 19. Qe2 Bxf3 20. Qxf3 Rxd4
21. cxb6 axb6 22. c5 Rhd8 23. Ba6+ Kd7 24. cxb6 Qxb6 25. Bf1 Ke7 26. a4 Bd2 27.
Reb1 Qc5 28. g3 Ba5 29. Rb5 Qc3 30. Qxc3 Bxc3 31. Ra3 Be1 32. Be2 R4d5 33. Kf1
Rxb5 34. axb5 Bb4 35. Ra4 Bc5 36. Rh4 Ra8 37. Rc4 Kd6 38. Rc2 Ra1+ 39. Kg2 Ra4
40. Rd2+ Rd4 41. Ra2 Rb4 42. Ra6+ Kd5 43. Rc6 Rb2 44. Kf1 Rb1+ 45. Kg2 Rb2 46.
Kf1 Rb1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz2 6th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2017.04.17"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Oparin, Grigoriy"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A09"]
[WhiteElo "2604"]
[BlackElo "2811"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2017.04.17"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. c4 dxc4 5. Na3 e5 6. Qc2 Ne7 7. Nxc4 Nbc6 8.
O-O O-O 9. d3 Bg4 10. Qb3 Rb8 11. Qa3 Re8 12. Ne3 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 Nd4 14. Qxa7
Nxf3+ 15. exf3 Qxd3 16. Qc5 Nc6 17. Kg2 e4 18. f4 Qe2 19. Nc2 Rbd8 20. Be3 h5
21. h4 Ne7 22. Rae1 Qf3+ 23. Kh2 Nf5 24. Qb5 Re6 25. Qe2 Bxb2 26. Qxf3 exf3 27.
Rb1 Bf6 28. Rxb7 Rc6 29. Nb4 Rc4 30. Ba7 Nh6 31. Na6 Ng4+ 32. Kg1 Ra4 33. Nxc7
Rxa2 34. Bc5 Bd4 35. Bxd4 Rxd4 36. Nb5 Rd3 37. Ra7 Rb2 38. Ra3 Rdd2 0-1

[Event "Zuerich Chess Challenge Blitz2 6th"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "2017.04.17"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D05"]
[WhiteElo "2811"]
[BlackElo "2747"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2017.04.17"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. e3 Nf6 3. d4 d5 4. Nbd2 e6 5. b3 cxd4 6. exd4 Bd6 7. Bd3 b6 8. Qe2
Nc6 9. a3 Bb7 10. Bb2 Rc8 11. Ne5 Nd7 12. f4 Qh4+ 13. g3 Qe7 14. O-O O-O 15.
Nxd7 Qxd7 16. f5 exf5 17. Bxf5 Qe8 18. Qd3 Rc7 19. Bxh7+ Kh8 20. Bf5 g6 21. Bh3
Re7 22. Nf3 Bc8 23. Bxc8 Qxc8 24. Rae1 Rxe1 25. Rxe1 Ne7 26. c4 Kg8 27. Kg2 Nf5
28. cxd5 Re8 29. Rxe8+ Qxe8 30. Bc1 Ne7 31. Qe4 Qb5 32. Bf4 Bxa3 33. d6 Nf5 34.
Qa8+ Kg7 35. Be5+ f6 36. Qxa7+ Kh6 37. Bf4+ g5 38. Qf7 1-0

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2017.04.21"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2745"]
[BlackElo "2811"]
[PlyCount "165"]
[EventDate "2017.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8.
cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Bc4 Nd7 12. O-O b6 13. a4 Bb7 14. Bd3
Nf6 15. Rfe1 h6 16. a5 bxa5 17. Rxa5 Qc7 18. Rc1 Qd8 19. Re1 Qc7 20. Qb4 Rfb8
21. Rc5 Qf4 22. Qd2 Qxd2 23. Nxd2 Rd8 24. Nb3 a5 25. Rxa5 Rxa5 26. Nxa5 Rxd4
27. Nxb7 Rxd3 28. f3 Nh5 29. Nc5 Rc3 30. Na4 Rc2 31. g3 Nf6 32. Re3 Nd7 33. Rc3
Re2 34. Nc5 Ne5 35. h4 g5 36. hxg5 hxg5 37. Kf1 Ra2 38. f4 Ng4 39. fxg5 Kg7 40.
Rd3 Kg6 41. Nb3 Ne5 42. Rc3 Kxg5 43. Rc5 Kf6 44. Nd4 Ra4 45. Nc6 Ng4 46. e5+
Kf5 47. Nd8 Kg6 48. Nc6 Ra2 49. Rc3 Kg5 50. Ke1 Ra8 51. Ke2 Ra6 52. Kd2 Rb6 53.
Rc4 Rb2+ 54. Ke1 Ne3 55. Rc3 Rb1+ 56. Ke2 Ng4 57. Rf3 Rb2+ 58. Ke1 Rb7 59. Rc3
Rb5 60. Ke2 Rd5 61. Rc4 Nh6 62. Ra4 Rc5 63. Ra6 Kg4 64. Kf2 Rc2+ 65. Ke1 Rc5
66. Kf2 Kh3 67. Kf3 Rc3+ 68. Kf4 Rxg3 69. Nd8 Rg4+ 70. Kf3 Rg3+ 71. Kf4 Rg6 72.
Ra7 Rg4+ 73. Kf3 Rg8 74. Rd7 Kh4 75. Ke2 Rf8 76. Rd6 Re8 77. Rd7 Rf8 78. Rd6
Nf5 79. Rd7 Kg4 80. Nxf7 Kf4 81. Ra7 Nd4+ 82. Kd3 Nc6 83. Rc7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2017.04.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D03"]
[WhiteElo "2811"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "146"]
[EventDate "2017.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. c3 O-O 5. Nbd2 d5 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Be2 Re8 8.
O-O e5 9. Bh4 c6 10. Bg3 e4 11. Ne5 Nxe5 12. Bxe5 Bf8 13. Bg3 Bd6 14. Bh4 h6
15. c4 Be6 16. Rc1 Kg7 17. cxd5 cxd5 18. Nb1 Qb8 19. Kh1 Nd7 20. Bb5 Bxh2 21.
g3 g5 22. Bxd7 Bxd7 23. Kxh2 gxh4 24. Nc3 Qd6 25. Qh5 hxg3+ 26. fxg3 f5 27. Ne2
Rac8 28. Nf4 b6 29. Rg1 Rf8 30. Kh1 Rc6 31. Qh4 Rxc1 32. Rxc1 Rc8 33. Rf1 Rf8
34. Rf2 Rf7 35. Rc2 Rf8 36. Qh5 Rf7 37. a3 Re7 38. b4 Rf7 39. Qh4 Rf8 40. Nh5+
Kg6 41. Nf4+ Kg7 42. Qh5 Rf7 43. Kh2 Re7 44. Qe2 Be8 45. Qa6 Bf7 46. Qc8 Qd7
47. Qb8 Qb7 48. Qxb7 Rxb7 49. a4 Kf6 50. Rc6+ Kg5 51. Kh3 Rd7 52. a5 bxa5 53.
bxa5 Rb7 54. a6 Rb3 55. Rc7 Kf6 56. Rxa7 Rxe3 57. Rc7 Ra3 58. a7 Ra2 59. Rb7 e3
60. g4 fxg4+ 61. Kxg4 h5+ 62. Kf3 Ra3 63. Ng2 h4 64. Nxe3 h3 65. Kf4 Be6 66.
Nf1 Ra4 67. Kg3 Ra3+ 68. Kf4 Ra4 69. Kf3 Ra3+ 70. Ne3 Kg5 71. Rg7+ Kf6 72. Rc7
Kg5 73. Rg7+ Kf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2017.04.23"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D63"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2811"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2017.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. Nf3 Nbd7 8. Rc1
c5 9. dxc5 Nxc5 10. cxd5 g5 11. Bg3 Nxd5 12. Nxd5 Qxd5 13. Qxd5 exd5 14. Be2
Bd7 15. O-O Rac8 16. Be5 g4 17. Nd4 h5 18. Nb5 f6 19. Bd4 Ne6 20. Nxa7 Ra8 21.
Nb5 Rxa2 22. Bc3 Kf7 23. Rcd1 Bc6 24. f3 Bc5 25. Kh1 Bxe3 26. Nd6+ Kg8 27. fxg4
Nf4 28. Nf5 Nxe2 29. Nxe3 Nxc3 30. bxc3 hxg4 31. Rd4 f5 32. Kg1 Bb5 33. Rb1 Bc6
34. Rf1 Bb5 35. Rb1 Bc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2017.04.24"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C77"]
[WhiteElo "2811"]
[BlackElo "2755"]
[Annotator "Hillarp Persson,T"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2017.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 {As far as I can see, this is the first time
Kramnik has entered the Ruy Lopez from the white side in a very long time.} (3.
Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. Re1 d6 7. c3 Na5 8. Bb5 a6 9. Ba4 b5 10. Bc2 c5
{Why give this line? Explanation follows after 8.c3 in the game.}) 3... a6 $1 {
Harikrishna also has the Berlin Defence in his repertoire, but to play it
against Kramnik? I don't think so.} 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 (6. Re1 {
is still the main move, but after} b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 (8. a4 {is the most
challenging move for those who prefer to avoid the gambit.}) 8... d5 {no-one
above 2600 has lost with the black pieces in the last half year.}) 6... b5 7.
Bb3 d6 (7... O-O {is played far less. Perhaps since} 8. a4 {is an option again.
} (8. Nc3 d6 9. a3)) 8. a3 {White must save the light-squared bishop. And
since the other options have been found to set Black few(er) problems, this
seemingly meek move has become the latest fashion.} (8. Nc3 $6 Na5 $1) (8. a4
Bd7 $1 {is a neat point behind 7...d6. After} 9. c3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qb8
12. Bg5 h6 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. axb5 axb5 15. dxc5 dxc5 16. Qd5 Qc8 17. b4 Be6 18.
Qxc5 Qxc5 19. bxc5 Kd7 $1 {Morozevich,A (2680)-Vitiugov,N (2715) 32nd ECC Open
2016, Black was doing very well and went on to win.}) (8. c3 O-O 9. Re1 Na5 10.
Bc2 c5 {is a position that can also arise in the Prussian Defence (3.Bc4 Nf6).}
) 8... O-O (8... Be6 {is an idea that is usually better when White has already
played h3. Then after} 9. Bxe6 fxe6 {Black can aim for Nf6-h5-f4 later on.
When White's pawn is still on h2, White can just stop this with g2-g3; not
worrying about any weaknesses around the king.} {I assume White ought to be a
bit better here, although it is far from clear (to me) how.} 10. c3 O-O 11.
Nbd2 Qd7 12. Re1 Rae8 (12... Nd8 $5) (12... Nh5) 13. a4 $14 {Pavlidis,A (2530)
-Schwarz,D (2290) European Rapid 2016}) 9. Nc3 {There are few positions in
chess where there are more than 4-5 decent moves, but in this position there
are no less than 7 perfectly reasonable moves for Black! It is also notable
that this position was reached 4 times in the last WCh match between Karjakin
and Carlsen, with Magnus, as Black, scoring three draws and one win.} Nb8 $5 {
The start of the Breyer-plan. Black is aiming for a harmonious setup with Nbd7
and Bb7, before continuing - usually - with Re8, Bf8, g6 and Bg7. For someone
who has played the Pirc/Modern for many years, it gives rise to a kind of
déjà vu; haven't I seen something similar somewhere?} (9... Be6 10. Be3 d5
11. Bg5 $1 {has scored well for White.}) (9... Na5 10. Ba2 Be6 {was played by
Carlsen in two of the WCh games.} ({Playing Chigorin-style with} 10... c5 {
, makes more sense when White has spent time on moves like c3 and h3. Here
White is ready to fight for the d5-square immediately:} 11. b4 Nc6 12. Nd5 $36
{This is possibly the reason why Carlsen played Nb8, c5, Nc6 in an earlier
game. Here it actually helps White to have the bishop kicked back to a2.}) 11.
b4 (11. d4 Bxa2 12. Rxa2 Re8 13. Ra1 Nc4 14. Re1 Rc8 15. h3 h6 16. b3 Nb6 17.
Bb2 Bf8 18. dxe5 dxe5 19. a4 c6 20. Qxd8 Rcxd8 21. axb5 axb5 22. Ne2 Bb4 23.
Bc3 Bxc3 24. Nxc3 Nbd7 25. Ra6 Rc8 26. b4 Re6 27. Rb1 c5 28. Rxe6 fxe6 29. Nxb5
cxb4 30. Rxb4 Rxc2 31. Nd6 Rc1+ 32. Kh2 Rc2 33. Kg1 {1/2-1/2 (33) Karjakin,S 
(2770)-Carlsen,M (2850) WCh 2016}) 11... Nc6 12. Nd5 Nd4 13. Ng5 Bxd5 14. exd5
Nd7 15. Ne4 f5 16. Nd2 f4 17. c3 Nf5 18. Ne4 Qe8 19. Bb3 Qg6 20. f3 Bh4 21. a4
Nf6 22. Qe2 a5 23. axb5 axb4 24. Bd2 bxc3 25. Bxc3 Ne3 26. Rfc1 Rxa1 27. Rxa1
Qe8 28. Bc4 Kh8 29. Nxf6 Bxf6 30. Ra3 e4 31. dxe4 Bxc3 32. Rxc3 Qe5 33. Rc1 Ra8
34. h3 h6 35. Kh2 Qd4 36. Qe1 Qb2 37. Bf1 Ra2 38. Rxc7 Ra1 {0-1 (38) Karjakin,
S (2770)-Carlsen,M (2850) WCh Rapid TB 2016}) 10. Ne2 {The start of the most
famous manoeuvre known to chess. The terminus is g3, where the knight is
bolstering e4, stopping ...Nh5, and making sure that a future ...Bg4 will be
truly kicked away with h3; all this while not being in the way of any other
pieces.} Nbd7 {Harikrishna is going for a more traditional interpretation of
the Breyer setup.} ({Carlsen preferred} 10... c5 11. Ng3 Nc6 12. c3 Rb8 13. h3
a5 14. a4 b4 15. Re1 Be6 16. Bc4 h6 17. Be3 Qc8 18. Qe2 Rd8 19. Bxe6 fxe6 20.
d4 bxc3 21. bxc3 cxd4 22. cxd4 exd4 23. Nxd4 Nxd4 24. Bxd4 Rb4 25. Rec1 Qd7 26.
Bc3 Rxa4 27. Bxa5 Rxa1 28. Rxa1 Ra8 29. Bc3 Rxa1+ 30. Bxa1 Qc6 31. Kh2 Kf7 32.
Bb2 Qc5 33. f4 Bd8 34. e5 dxe5 35. Bxe5 Bb6 36. Qd1 Qd5 37. Qxd5 Nxd5 {1/2-1/2
(37) Karjakin,S (2770)-Carlsen,M (2850) WCh Rapid TB 2016}) 11. c3 ({If Black
is worried about the Nb6/c5-plan that Kovalev used against Kobalia (see next
comment), it makes sense to play} 11. Ng3 {first.} Nb6 (11... Nc5 12. Ba2 Be6 {
is probably the reason why Kramnik choose the move order with c3 first.}) 12.
Bd2 c5 13. Ba5 $5) 11... Bb7 {This quite logical move seems new. If we compare
the position with the classical Breyer System, then White has played d3
instead of d4, has added a3, avoided h3 and can play the knight to g3 without
going Re1 first. Black should be ahead on tempi, but not having played d4 is
something of an advantage for White, who is more flexible and doesn't have to
worry about tactical operations revolving around a weak e4-pawn.} (11... Nb6
12. Ng3 c5 13. d4 Qc7 14. Re1 a5 15. h3 Bd7 16. Bd2 a4 17. Bc2 Nc4 18. Bc1 Rfc8
{Kobalia,M (2646)-Kovalev,V (2562) Gjakova 2016, led to a very complex fight.})
12. Ng3 c5 13. Re1 Rc8 {Black would love to get a chance to force the exchange
of the c-pawn for White's d-pawn.} 14. Nf5 $5 {This move changes the flow of
the game and takes it into unclear waters.} ({I would only consider} 14. Ba2 {
or}) (14. Bc2 {Both look quite reasonable.}) 14... c4 $1 15. dxc4 ({If} 15. Bc2
cxd3 16. Bxd3 Re8 17. Bc2 {, then} Nc5 18. Bg5 Bf8 {and Black's pieces are too
harmonious for White even dream of an advantage.} 19. Nd2 g6 20. Ne3 Be7 21.
Bxf6 Bxf6 22. a4 Bg5 $11) 15... Bxe4 ({Black can also consider} 15... bxc4 16.
Bc2 Nc5 {, but after} 17. Bg5 Rc7 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Qxd6 {Black doesn't have
enough compensation for the pawn.}) 16. Nxe7+ (16. Nxd6 $2 Bxd6 17. Qxd6 Nc5 {
leads to a total collapse on the light squares.}) 16... Qxe7 17. cxb5 axb5 18.
Bg5 $1 {This must be played before Black gets to shut it out of the game with
h6.} Nc5 19. Ba2 {Ambitious.} (19. Bc2 Bxc2 20. Qxc2 Ne6 {looks about balanced.
}) 19... h6 20. Bh4 $5 {I might be overly pessimistic here, but to me this
seems like burning bridges. The bishop will be terribly passive on g3, so the
natural thing to do would be to go} (20. Bxf6 Qxf6 21. Re3 {Still, Black has
no complaints here, so I guess Kramnik's choice was in harmony with the bishop
retreat to a2. He is aiming for complications.}) 20... g5 $1 21. Bg3 Bh7 ({
Usually the bishop is better off at g6, from where it supports h5 and leaves
the h7-square for other pieces:} 21... Bg6 {After} 22. Bb1 Nfe4 23. Nd2 d5 24.
Nf3 f6 25. Qxd5+ Kg7 {Black has a nice initiative for the pawn.}) 22. Qe2 (22.
Bb1 $5) 22... Kg7 $1 {Black's plan is to evacuate the knight from f6, play f6
in order to bury the bishop on g3, and then occupy the light squares. White
needs to come up with an antidote to this scenario.} 23. Rad1 {If Kramnik
played this seeing what is coming next, then this is one of the greatest moves
I have ever seen.} (23. Qxb5 $2 Nd3 {and the b-pawn falls.}) (23. Nd4 $5 Qd7
24. Nb3 Nce4 25. Nd2 Nc5 26. Bb1 {is another way to get some grip on the light
squares. If Black is unable to move the central pawns forward, they could turn
out to be weak in the end.}) 23... Nfe4 $1 24. Rd5 {!!!??!?} ({White doesn't
have the time to play} 24. Qxb5 {, since} f5 $1 {leaves Bg3 in mortal danger,
and} 25. h3 Rb8 26. Qe2 f4 27. Bh2 Na4 28. Rb1 Nec5 {is game over-ish.}) ({
To play something like} 24. h3 {, is paramount to resignation:} f5 25. Bh2 f4
26. Bb1 Qb7 27. Nd2 Nf6 {and Black has the most terrible domination.}) 24... f5
{This looks so natural and so strong. How to stop oneself from playing such a
move?} ({I would have played} 24... f6 $1 {, just to realise that I don't have
much choice after} {, so:} 25. Bb1 f5 {and we get a position similar to the
one in the game. How is the sacrifice here? I would not be able to make a
precise evaluation over the board.}) (24... Rfe8 {might be the most flexible
move, planning on f5 while opening a slot for the king on f8. It seems to me 
(and the engine) that Black is just clearly better here.}) 25. Rxe5 $3 {
Daring and genius in one move. I presume Kramnik realised he was sliding into
a bad situation and decided to change the course of the game, whatever the
price.} ({This is much more tricky than} 25. Rxd6 $6 Nxd6 26. Qxe5+ Qxe5 27.
Bxe5+ Rf6 $1 {when there is no obvious way for White to get full compensation.
With no queens on the board, this would be far easier for a human to handle.})
25... dxe5 26. Bxe5+ Nf6 $6 {Not a big, but a step in the wrong direction.
Black should find a way to exchange one of the bishops, as fast as possible,
with no delay. The best way to do that is:} (26... Kg6 $1 {avoids the pins and
prepares for ...Bg8...} 27. Bd4 $1 Bg8 $1 {Now the price to avoid the exchange
is too high:} 28. Bxg8 (28. Bb1 Kh7 29. Qxb5 Nb3) 28... Rxg8 29. g4 $5 (29.
Qxb5 g4 30. Ne5+ Kh7 $19) 29... Rge8 30. gxf5+ Kh7 31. Qc2 Qb7 (31... Qd7 $5)
32. f6 Qd7 $17 {Even here there are still traps to watch out for, so from a
practical point of view Kramnik's move was brilliant.}) 27. Qxb5 $1 {Picking
up a pawn, so as to make the queenside mobile.} Nce4 28. Bd4 Rfd8 {What to do
now?} 29. h3 $1 {What a cool move. It is still not clear what Black should do,
so creating breathing space for the king cannot be wrong.} Rb8 30. Qe2 {
There seem to be so many good moves for Black, but which one wins?} Bg8 $6 (
30... Re8 {is what Karpov would have played. Over protecting the knight on e4,
gives more freedom to the rest of the pieces.} 31. b4 Bg6 32. Qb2 Kh7 33. c4
Rbd8 {...Botvinnik would have liked this one.} 34. c5 {and finally, Black is
ready for} g4 $1) 31. Bb1 Qb7 (31... Rb3 32. Ba2 $1) 32. b4 Re8 33. c4 {
A few moves ago Black only had one problem; how to get out of the pin and get
his pieces active. Now there is a second issue. The pawns are starting to look
menacing.} Qc6 $2 {This move allows White to get fully coordinated. Last
chance for an advantage was} (33... Qa6 $1 {, but things are still not as
clear as the engine would like you to think:} 34. b5 $5 (34. Qb2 Bxc4 35. Rc1
Bd5 36. Rc7+ Kg8 37. Bxe4 fxe4 38. Nh2 Nh5 39. Ng4 Rb7 $17) 34... Qd6 (34...
Qxa3 $6 35. Bxe4 Rxe4 36. Qd2 Rbe8 37. Ra1 $44) 35. Qb2 Bxc4 36. a4 Ra8 {
(There might be something better here)} 37. Bxe4 Rxe4 38. Rxe4 fxe4 39. Ne5 Be6
(39... Rd8 40. Nc6) 40. b6 Rxa4 41. Nc6 Rxd4 42. Nxd4 Kf7 43. b7 Nd7 44. Nxe6
Kxe6 45. Qg7 {and White will probably get a draw.}) 34. Qb2 {Now White's
initiative is terrific. Black would like retreat the knight from e4, but it is
oh so hard.} {With this move Black's position goes from hard-to-handle to just
worse.} Rbd8 $6 (34... Kh7 $1 {is a good chance for Black, but after} 35. c5 {
, Black still needs to find a few exact moves:} (35. Be5 Rbd8 36. Nd4 Qxc4 37.
Nxf5 Rd2 38. Nd6 Rxb2 39. Bxb2 Qb3 40. Bxf6 Qxb1 41. Rxb1 Nxd6 42. a4 $132)
35... Bf7 $1 (35... Nd7 $6 36. Nd2 Bd5 37. Nf1 $36 {[%cal Gf1e3]}) 36. Ne5 Qd5
37. Nxf7 Qxf7 38. f3 Ng3 39. Be5 Nfh5 40. Kh2 Qd5 41. Qc3 Nf1+ 42. Kg1 Nfg3 43.
Bxb8 Qd4+ $1 44. Qxd4 Rxe1+ 45. Kf2 Re2+ 46. Kg1 Re1+ $11) 35. c5 (35. b5 Qd6
36. Rc1 Rc8 37. Bxe4 Rxe4 38. c5 Qe7 39. c6 {is even better. Black is
balancing on the edge of the abyss.}) 35... Qe6 36. b5 $5 (36. Rc1 $1 g4 37.
hxg4 fxg4 38. Bxe4 Rxd4 39. Qxd4 Qxe4 40. Qxe4 Rxe4 41. Nd2 Re2 42. Nf1 $14)
36... Kf8 $2 ({Black's last chance was} 36... Qb3 $1 37. Qa1 Kg6 $1 38. Bxf6 (
38. b6 Nd7 39. Rc1 Rc8 40. c6 Nxb6 41. Bxe4 fxe4 42. Bh8 Qf7 43. Ne5+ Rxe5 44.
Qxe5 Qe6 $11) 38... Nxf6 39. Rxe8 Rxe8 40. Bxf5+ Kg7 41. Nd4 {and this
unbalanced position, to my surprise, seems to be in balance.}) 37. c6 g4 $2 {
This accelerates the ending, but White's pawns were too advanced for a remedy
to be found.} 38. hxg4 fxg4 39. Bxe4 $1 gxf3 ({Or} 39... Nxe4 40. Rxe4 Qxe4 41.
Bg7+ Ke7 42. Qf6#) 40. Bxf6 Rd6 41. Bg7+ Kf7 42. Be5 {and Harikrishna resigned.
A marvelous swindle by Kramnik!} 1-0

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2017.04.25"]
[Round "5"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2822"]
[BlackElo "2811"]
[Annotator "Hillarp Persson,T"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "2017.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 (3... dxc4 {here or on the next move, is the
other direction the game can take.}) 4. Nf3 Be7 5. O-O (5. cxd5 $6 {is a
strategic mistake before Black has committed to b6. After} exd5 6. O-O O-O 7.
d4 c6 8. Nc3 Bf5 {it s hard for White achieve e4, while the Carlsbad minority
attack, with b2-b4-b5 is almost impossible to get working. Black is already a
bit better.}) 5... O-O 6. d4 (6. b3 b6 {After this move cxd5 becomes a
possibility. The point is that the light squares has been weakened and if
Black answers with exd5, then after Nf3-e5 Black will have little choice but
to play ...c5 at some stage and accept a couple of hanging pawns.} (6... d4 7.
e3 c5 8. exd4 cxd4 9. d3 Nc6 10. Re1 {leads to a Benoni setup with colours
reversed, which would be a formidable weapon in the hands of someone who wants
to create an unbalanced game.}) (6... c5 7. e3 (7. Bb2 $5 d4 8. e3 Nc6 9. exd4
cxd4 10. Re1 $1 {[%cal Gf3e5] is another Benoni inspired line where the
drawing tendencies are low.} (10. d3 e5 {and the bishop makes no sense on b2.})
) 7... b6) 7. Bb2 (7. Nc3 Bb7 8. d4 Nbd7 9. Bb2 Rc8 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 Bxd5
12. Qd3 c5 13. e4 Bb7 14. Rad1 (14. Rfd1) 14... cxd4 15. Nxd4 Nf6 16. Qe2 Qe8 {
Kramnik,V (2805)-Aronian,L (2785) 8th London Classic 2016, was not without
complications.}) 7... Bb7 8. cxd5 Nxd5 (8... exd5 9. d4 Nbd7 10. Nc3 Re8 11.
Rc1 {scores quite well for White, perhaps not because White's position is
better, but since it is harder to handle Black's structure for a human.}) 9. d4
Nd7 (9... c5 {was played by Aronian and could be the better move.}) 10. Re1 c5
11. e4 N5f6 12. Nc3 {(Ever noticed how few really strong GMs there are who
place their knight on d2 when c3 is an option?)} cxd4 13. Nxd4 Ne5 14. Qe2 $1
Bc5 (14... Qxd4 15. Nd5 Qc5 16. Rac1 Qd6 17. Nxe7+ (17. Bxe5 $5 {might be even
stronger.}) 17... Qxe7 18. Bxe5 Rac8 19. Bb2 {and White will continue with f3
and enjoy the bishop pair in an endgame with pawns on both sides.}) 15. Red1
Qe7 16. Na4 Bxd4 17. Bxd4 Nc6 18. Be3 Rfd8 19. Nc3 Qb4 20. Qb2 Ng4 21. Bf4 Nce5
22. a3 Qc5 23. Na4 Qb5 24. Nc3 Qc5 25. Na4 Qb5 26. h3 Nd3 27. Rxd3 Rxd3 28.
hxg4 Qxb3 29. Bf1 {So,W (2820)-Onischuk,A (2665) ch-USA 2017, and White went
on to win.}) 6... dxc4 {I dare say that noone understands the Catalan better
than Kramnik, so it is well worth noting which line he chooses with the black
side.} 7. Qc2 ({The other main line goes} 7. Ne5 {, when Black's most reliable
counter was seen today on a adjacent board:} Nc6 8. Bxc6 (8. Nxc6 bxc6 9. Na3 {
has also been played a lot, but it leads to terribly forced variations where
it seems to me that Black is not doing worse.}) 8... bxc6 9. Nxc6 Qe8 10. Nxe7+
Qxe7 11. Qc2 c5 12. Qxc4 cxd4 13. Qxd4 e5 14. Qh4 Qb7 15. Nc3 Be6 16. Bg5 Nd5
17. Nxd5 Qxd5 18. b3 f6 19. Be3 Qb5 20. Rfe1 a5 21. f3 Rfc8 22. Kf2 a4 23. Qe4
axb3 24. axb3 Rxa1 25. Rxa1 Qxb3 26. Ra8 Rxa8 27. Qxa8+ {and draw was soon
agreed.}) 7... a6 8. a4 (8. Qxc4 b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bd2 {was a line that
attracted a lot of attention for many years. However Black came up with a very
solid antidote with} Be4 11. Qc1 Bb7 $1 {when White has been unable to set
Black any real problems.} (11... c6 {is a new continuation for those who shun
draws before move 15.})) 8... Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bf4 (10. Bg5 {has been more
popular. A recent game went} Bd5 11. Qc2 Be4 12. Qc1 h6 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. Nbd2
Bxf3 15. Nxf3 a5 16. Qc3 Nc6 17. Rad1 Nb4 18. Ne5 c6 19. e4 Rc8 20. Ng4 c5 21.
Nxf6+ Qxf6 22. e5 (22. d5 $5) 22... Qe7 23. d5 exd5 24. Bxd5 Rcd8 {Adams,M 
(2760)-Harikrishna,P (2755) Du Te Cup 2017, with a balanced game; (although
White soon went wrong and lost).}) 10... a5 {This has gone from main- to
sub-line in a short time. Black is planning to exchange Bc6 for Nf3 at an
opportune moment and then argue the bishop pair is of little use when the
opponent has such a wonderfully harmonious pawn structure.} (10... Bd6 {
has taken over as the most common. Aronian played two games on the black side
lately:} 11. Qc1 Bxf4 (11... a5 12. Nc3 Na6 13. Bd2 Nb4 14. Qb1 Bxf3 15. Bxf3
c6 16. Rd1 Qe7 17. Ne4 Nxe4 18. Qxe4 Rfd8 19. Bc3 Rd7 20. Rd2 Qd8 21. Rad1 Be7
22. h4 Rb8 23. e3 Nd5 24. Qc2 Qc7 25. Kg2 g6 26. h5 {Ding Liren (2760)-Aronian,
L (2785) Sharjah Grand Prix 2017, and White had managed to ge an initiative.})
12. Qxf4 Qd6 13. Qc1 Bd5 14. Nc3 Nc6 15. e3 Nb4 16. Qb1 (16. a5 $5 Qe7 17. Nxd5
Nbxd5 18. Ne5 $14) 16... Qe7 17. a5 c5 18. Nxd5 Nfxd5 19. e4 Nc7 20. dxc5 Qxc5
21. e5 Qe7 {Eljanov,P (2755)-Aronian,L (2780) 79th Tata Steel GpA 2017. Black
had solved the opening problems and went on to win.}) 11. Nc3 Nbd7 12. Qd3 {
In this part of the game, play is all about whether White gets to play e2-e4.
White threatens to play e4.} Bb4 {Black stops e2-e4.} 13. Rfe1 {White
threatens to play e4.} Re8 {Black can answer e2-e4 with ...Nc5, so he takes a
moment to prepare some activity of his own (e6-e5).} 14. Qc2 {Now e2-e4 is in
the making, again.} (14. e4 $2 Bxc3 15. bxc3 Bxe4 $1 16. Rxe4 $2 Nc5 $17) 14...
Bxf3 {Black finally decides to exchange the bishop. There was no good way to
stop e4 anymore.} (14... Bxc3 $6 15. bxc3 Be4 16. Qb2 h6 (16... c5 17. Ng5 {
and Black regrets the insertion of a4 and a5 since his queenside is quite weak.
}) 17. Bf1 b6 18. Red1 Bb7 19. Ne5 {and White has been able to keep the bishop
pair without compromising the pawn structure, so White is better.}) 15. Bxf3 c6
{This structure arises in most of the games in this line. White has more space
and the bishop pair, but Black lacks weaknesses and has a nice outpost on b4.
Some might find this position to be boring, but at this stage I was basically
jumping up and down from the excitement of seeing two such great players
dealing with it.} 16. Red1 $1 {Black has exchanged the bishop on c6, so White
no longer needs the rook on e1 in order to play e4. Now White plans to improve
the knight...} (16. Na2 $2 Bxe1) 16... Qe7 17. Na2 Bd6 18. Bxd6 Qxd6 19. Nc1 {
Around this point in the game something goes wrong, but I really struggle to
see what it is. Kramnik's moves all seem reasonable.} Nd5 20. e4 Nb4 21. Qc3 e5
(21... f5 $6 {aims to wrestle control of d5 from White, but it is a double
edged victory. After} 22. Nb3 {a5 remains weak and e6 is a new target.}) ({
If Black tries to ride out the game in passive manner with} 21... Qe7 {, then
White will play} 22. Nb3 {and follow up with Bg2 and f4 before deciding on how
to continue. Black has no good way to solve the problem with the weak a5-pawn 
(apart from keeping the rook on a8 and the queen on e7), since b6 just creates
a new set of weaknesses (White will immediately re-route the knight on b3 to
d3 or e3).}) ({Perhaps the whole setup with queen on e7 and rook on a8 is too
passive and Black should try} 21... Rad8 22. Nb3 Qc7 $5 {The advantage of such
a setup is that Black only needs one piece to keep an eye on a5. White keeps a
slight advantage, but needs to come up with an active plan.}) 22. Nb3 Qe7 23.
Bg2 exd4 24. Rxd4 {As I'm watching this game live, I'm prone to proclaim the
opening to be a slight success for White, so it will be very exciting to see
if I'm right. How will Kramnik deal with the a5-weakness and the Bg2/f4/
e5-plan?} Nf8 $5 {Here the knight is out of harm's way when White starts
throwing the f- and e-pawns forward and it can also challenge the rook on d4.
Black's dream scenario is to be able to exchange a couple of knights and enter
a N+Q vs. B+Q endgame. The N+Q has a tendency to be quite good here,
especially if White has weakened his queenside.} ({Black would like to solve
his problems with} 24... b6 {, but then, after} 25. Rad1 Nf6 26. f3 c5 27. R4d2
Red8 28. Bf1 {White is basically a pawn up, since the pawns on the queenside
are immobile. Also, the knight on b4 is out of play, the bishop will find an
excellent square on c4 and later on in the endgame c4 is a juicy square for
the white knight.}) ({Considering how the game continues, Black could try
something drastic, like:} 24... Nf6 25. f3 $1 h5 $5 26. Rad1 h4 {Hard to
believe in though.} 27. Qc5 $5 $14) 25. Rad1 Red8 26. R1d2 $5 {A very tricky
move. So simply threatens to take on d8 and then a5 and perhaps he guessed the
Kramnik would be reluctant to touch the b-pawn.} (26. e5 {is more forceful and
leads to some initiative for White after} b6 27. f4) 26... Ne6 $2 {Such a move
means that Kramnik is not in good shape.} (26... g6 {would prepare exchanges
on d4, so as not to invite the knight to f5. However, after} 27. Rxd8 Rxd8 28.
Nxa5 Ra8 29. Nc4 Rxa4 30. Rd1 {White is still much better.}) (26... b6 $1 {
is not - I'm guessing - to Kramnik's liking since it weakens the light squares
in the long term. However, here there were no good alternatives.} {After} 27.
e5 {White has some initiative still, but Black is close to equality.}) 27.
Rxd8+ Rxd8 28. Nxa5 Ra8 29. Nc4 Rxa4 30. Nd6 {Now Black is in trouble. White's
pieces could not be better placed, while the knight on b4 is suddenly without
support.} Ra1+ 31. Bf1 Na6 $1 {A persistent move.} ({If instead} 31... c5 {
, then} 32. Kg2 Nc6 33. Bc4 b6 34. b4 $1 Ra8 35. Nf5 Qc7 36. bxc5 bxc5 37. Bd5
{looks hopeless for Black. For instance:} Re8 38. Nxg7 Nxg7 39. Qxc5 Rc8 40.
Rc2 {wins two pawns for White.}) 32. Kg2 Nac7 {I often meet players who think
that there is some inherent value in pieces protecting one another. Indeed, it
might seem like strong players have a tendency to keep everything connected.
"Seem" is the operative word here. Harmony and mutual protection is not the
same thing. But, if there is a weak square somewhere and one side directs the
knights towards that square, it is not uncommon for these knights to protect
one another. It is a consequence of another factor; of coordination. Here the
knights protect each other because the knight on e6 is a pillar in the defence
and if you try to protect it from c5, then the knight can be kicked away with
b4.} 33. Nf5 Qe8 34. Bc4 {White's pieces are all on great squares. It is
unlikely that Black can defend this.} Ra8 35. Rd6 $5 (35. Nd6 Qe7 36. Nxb7 {
wins a pawn, but So prefers to keep the pressure.}) 35... Qf8 36. Rd7 Re8 37.
Qe5 $1 {A very strong move, since it forces Black to enter a position that is
lost. The engine likes a number of moves better, but from a human point of
view this is just the best; not allowing any curved balls from Black.} b5 ({
The best defence was} 37... g6 {, when 38.Nd6 is good, but} 38. Qf6 gxf5 39.
exf5 Qg7 40. Qxg7+ Kxg7 41. fxe6 Nxe6 42. Rxb7 {looks like a sure road to
victory. This is probably why So played Qe5.}) 38. Ba2 g6 {This should lose
immediately. However, the alternative} (38... Na6 39. Ra7 Nac5 {is not much
better:} 40. b4 Na4 41. Rxf7 Qxf7 42. Nd6 Qf6 43. Qxf6 gxf6 44. Nxe8 Kf8 45.
Nxf6 $18) 39. Ne3 $2 ({Here So could have ended the game with} 39. Rxf7 $1 Kxf7
(39... Qxf7 40. Nh6+) 40. Qxc7+ Kf6 41. Qxc6 $1 gxf5 42. exf5 {and White is
winning since} Kxf5 {fails to} 43. Bxe6+ Rxe6 (43... Kf6 44. Bd7+) 44. Qf3+ {
[%cal Gf3f8]}) 39... Re7 40. Rxe7 Qxe7 41. Ng4 Qg5 (41... Qd8 42. Nh6+ Kf8 43.
Qh8+ Ke7 44. Qxh7 Ng5 45. Ng8+ Ke8 46. Qh4 $16) 42. Nf6+ Kh8 43. Nd7+ Qxe5 44.
Nxe5 Nd4 45. Bxf7 $18 c5 46. f4 c4 47. Kf2 Kg7 48. Ke3 Nb3 49. g4 Nc5 (49...
Na1 50. g5 Nc2+ 51. Kf3 Ne1+ 52. Kf2 Nd3+ 53. Nxd3 Kxf7 54. Ne5+ Ke7 55. Ke3
$18) 50. h4 Na4 51. b3 cxb3 52. Bxb3 Nc5 53. Bd1 h6 54. Nc6 N7a6 55. Kd4 Ne6+
56. Ke5 Nec5 57. Bc2 b4 58. Nd4 g5 59. hxg5 hxg5 60. f5 Nd7+ 61. Kd6 Nf6 62. e5
Nxg4 63. Ne6+ Kh6 (63... Kf7 64. Nxg5+ Kg7 65. Ne6+ Kf7 66. Bb3 Nh6 67. f6 $18)
64. f6 Nb8 65. Ba4 Kg6 {and the game ended. Whether on time or because 66.Be8+
followed by f7 wins, I don't know. Anyway, a great game. There is still life
in the Catalan.} 1-0

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2017.04.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2811"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "138"]
[EventDate "2017.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. c3 d6 7. Re1 Ba7 8. a4 ({
I find it interesting comparing the following game with the line given in the
comments to 9.Be3 below:} 8. Bb3 h6 9. Nbd2 g5 10. Nf1 g4 11. N3d2 h5 12. Nc4
h4 13. Be3 h3 14. g3 d5 {As Irina told me after the game, this whole variation
was some sort of bluff, but she relied on the fact that the refutation is not
easy to find for White.} 15. Na3 (15. exd5 $1 Qxd5 16. f3 $1 gxf3 17. Qd2 Ng4
18. Nxe5 f2+ 19. Qxf2 $1 $18) 15... d4 16. Bg5 Rh5 17. Qd2 Nxe4 18. Bxd8 Nxd2
19. Nxd2 Kxd8 $17 {Klinova-Bulmaga, Baku 2016.  Unlike in the game below, the
c4-square is available for the knight.}) 8... h6 $5 {Dubois,S-Steinitz,W
British CA-05 Casual Games 1862 0-1 This may mean many things. Black may only
wish to avoid Bg5 or Ng5, which are not dangerous at this point in the game,
or wait for White to disclose his cards by playing a useful move before
castling. But most likely Black may wish to start a kingside attack in the
spirit of, for instance,} ({The main line goes} 8... O-O 9. h3 (9. Nbd2 Ng4 10.
Re2 Kh8 {Topalov,V (2761)-Nakamura,H (2787) Leuven 2016 CBM 173 [Besenthal,K] 
(1-0, 45)}) 9... h6 (9... Ne7 10. d4 Ng6 {Carlsen,M (2853)-Karjakin,S (2772)
New York 2016 CBM 176 [Navara,D] (1/2-1/2, 84)}) 10. Nbd2 Ne7 11. Nf1 Ng6 12.
Ng3 c6 {Giri,A (2793)-Nakamura,H (2790) Moscow 2016 CBM 172 [Mekhitarian,K] (1/
2-1/2, 53)}) 9. Be3 $5 $146 {Aticipating Black's planned attack, White decides
on neutralising the annoying pressure along the g1-a7 diagonal.} ({Here is a
recent example when the kingside plan was successful:} 9. Nbd2 g5 $5 10. Nf1 ({
Actually it makes sense keeping the knight on d2 so as to be able to answer
the later ...Nxe4 with Nxe4. For instance:} 10. b4 g4 11. Nh4 Nxe4 12. Nxe4
Qxh4 13. d4 f5 14. Ng3 e4 15. b5 {The a7-bishop is passive and the king is
exposed in the centre.}) 10... g4 11. Nh4 (11. N3d2 h5 12. Ne3 h4 {[%cal Gg4g3,
Ga7g1]}) 11... Nxe4 12. dxe4 Qxh4 13. Be3 Be6 {Anand,V (2770)-Wei,Y (2694)
Leon 2016 (½-½, 45), with an extra pawn and adequate play for Black.}) 9...
Bxe3 10. Rxe3 O-O ({Actually there are no obvious reasons for refraining from
the initial plan (if this was the plan, indeed). The exchange of bishops has
only increased Black's stability on the dark squares without reducing the
impact of the pawn attack too much:} 10... g5 11. d4 g4 12. Ne1 h5 13. Nc2 h4
14. Nd2 Nh5 $13) 11. Nbd2 Re8 {Taking the usual measures against d3-d4.} ({
Due to the exposed rook on e3, Black could think of breaking in the centre
himself:} 11... d5 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Re4 $5 {This practically wastes a tempo,
but it more or less forces Black into exposing one of his pieces.} (13. Re1 Nf4
14. Nxe5 $2 Qg5 $19) 13... Bf5 (13... Nf4 14. Nxe5 Qg5 15. Rxf4 Qxf4 16. Ng6
$16) (13... Re8 14. d4 $14) (13... Qd6 14. Re1 {[%csl Gd6][%cal Gd2e4] will
retrieve the tempo on the next move with Ne4.}) 14. Re1 Nf4 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 (
15... Qg5 $2 16. Qf3 $16 {is good for White as with the bishop on f5 the
e5-knight is not hanging any more.}) 16. Rxe5 Bxd3 17. Qf3 Qf6 18. Re3 Bxc4 19.
Nxc4 {with just some symbolic initiative for White.}) 12. d4 {The most active
move but} (12. Qb3 Re7 13. a5 {would have offered White a small plus, delaying
the central committment.}) 12... exd4 $5 {An enterprising move.} ({If Black
wanted to play ...Bc8-g4, it is better, indeed, to release the tension first.
If} 12... Bg4 13. Qb3 Qd7 14. dxe5 dxe5 (14... Nxe5 15. Nxe5 dxe5 16. Rd3 Qe7
17. Qxb7 $14) 15. Rd3 Qe7 16. Qxb7 Na5 17. Qb4 Qxb4 18. cxb4 Nxc4 19. Nxc4 Bxf3
(19... Nxe4 20. Nfxe5 $16) 20. gxf3 {Defending e4.} Rab8 21. Rb3 Nh5 22. Rc1
$14 {Black's structure is imperfect but he is a pawn up after all and Black
also has weaknesses on the queenside.}) 13. cxd4 Bg4 {This will eventually
lead to an interesting structure.} (13... d5 {is playable, but Black is mainly
struggling a bit:} 14. exd5 Rxe3 15. fxe3 Nxd5 16. Qe2 Qd6 17. e4 Nb6 18. Qe3
Nxc4 19. Nxc4 Qb4 {White's chances to put his impressive centre into motion
are slightly marred by his queenside weaknesses.}) 14. Qb3 Qd7 15. Bd3 {
The most solid move.} (15. e5 {leads to simplifications and approximate
equality:} Na5 16. Bxf7+ Qxf7 17. Qxf7+ Kxf7 18. exf6 Rxe3 19. fxe3 Kxf6 $11) (
15. a5 Bxf3 {wins one of the central pawns.}) 15... d5 16. e5 (16. exd5 {
only makes sense if White goes for the b7-pawn but this is dubious:} Nxd5 17.
Rxe8+ Rxe8 18. Qxb7 Ndb4 19. Be4 Bxf3 20. Bxf3 Nxd4 $15 {Black has two
excellent knights, dominating the board.} 21. Qxb4 $2 Nc2 22. Qc4 Nxa1 {
[%csl Gd2][%cal Ge1g1]}) 16... Nh5 {[%csl Gd4][%cal Gh5f4,Gf4e6] Black
concentrates his forces on the kingside, believing in his attacking chances.} (
16... Ne4 {is not an entirely sound pawn sacrifice:} 17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. Bxe4
Bxf3 19. Bxf3 Nxd4 20. Qxb7 $14) 17. g3 {[%csl Gh5]} f5 {Adding more strategic
tension.} ({A player with a cautious style might have considered} 17... g6 {
[%cal Gh5g7,Gg7e6]}) 18. Ree1 {By keeping the kingside closed Kramnik shows
that he believes in his space advantage, but takes up the risk that Black's
slow attack would prevail.} (18. exf6 {is simpler and not necessarily less
strong.} Rxe3 19. fxe3 Bxf3 {Clearing the g4-square for the knight in view of
the possible sequence below.} (19... Nxf6 $2 20. Ne5 Nxe5 21. dxe5 Nh7 22. Qxb7
$18) 20. Nxf3 Nxf6 21. Ne5 (21. e4 Qg4 22. Rf1 Rd8 {allows Black to complete
his development with effective pressure against the white centre.}) 21... Nxe5
22. dxe5 Ng4 23. Qxb7 {Black has obvious chances for kingside counterplay but
the plan of grabbing a6 and advancing his own pawn is simple and relatively
quick.}) 18... a5 19. Rac1 $6 {After this indiferrent move, allowing the
c6-knight's activation, Black can solve a big part of his problems.} ({The
only way to prevent Black's next move was} 19. Bb5 {Kramnik might have feared
moving with the bishop far from the kingside (with the possible plan of
exchanging it on c6) but it seems that he could have maintained the control:}
f4 20. Rac1 Qe6 21. Rc5 Rad8 ({White seems to be a bit hanging after} 21... Rf8
22. Rxd5 Kh8 {but} 23. Bc4 $16 {consolidates.}) 22. Bxc6 bxc6 23. Qc3 $16 {
Black's queenside will soon be in ruins and there is no obvious way of
including the passive knight in the attack.}) 19... Nb4 {Black is rock solid
and safe on the queenside and the main events will most likely take place on
the opposite wing.} 20. Bf1 {This passive move absolves Black of any problem.}
(20. Bb1 {inhibits ..f5-f4 but allows the active} Ra6 (20... f4 $6 {[%cal
Gb1g6]} 21. e6 $1 Bxe6 22. Ne5 Qd6 23. Bg6 $16) 21. Kg2 f4 22. Ng1 g5 $132) ({
Kramnik misses the last chance for figthing for the initiative:} 20. e6 $5 Qd6
$5 (20... Rxe6 21. Ne5 Qe7 ({In principle d6 is a better square for the queen,
but} 21... Qd6 {allows} 22. Ndc4 $1 {[%csl Gf5][%cal Gc4e3]} dxc4 $2 23. Bxc4
$18) 22. Bb1 Bh3 23. Ndf3 {[%cal Yf3h4]} g5 24. Nd3 Nf6 25. Nc5 Rxe1+ 26. Rxe1
Ne4 27. Nxe4 fxe4 28. Bxe4 $36) 21. Kg2 $5 {[%csl Gf5][%cal Gh2h3]} (21. Ne5
Bh3 22. Ndf3 Rxe6 23. Nh4 g6 {With the queen on e7 the g6-pawn would be
hanging.})) 20... f4 {[%cal Ge8e7,Gc7c6,Ga8f8,Gg7g5] Black's initiative
threatens to become concrete.} 21. e6 {After Black cleared the path backwards
for his bishop this is less strong than one move earlier, allowing White only
to avoid the worse of it.} Bxe6 22. Ne5 Qd6 23. Qf3 {Retrieving the pawn.} Nf6
24. Qxf4 c6 25. f3 Nd7 26. Nb3 Rf8 27. Qe3 Bf5 28. Qd2 $11 {White has an
advantage on the right half of the board, but Black is better on the queenside.
The position remains complicated but balanced.} Na2 {The move repetition
initiated by this move may hint at Mamedyarov's wish to reach a draw.} ({
But Black could have also played some consolidating moves for instance} 28...
b6 29. f4 Rae8) ({or} 28... g5 29. Nc5 Nxc5 30. Rxc5 b6 $11) ({He could have
also embarked on the strategically riskier but also promising} 28... Nxe5 29.
dxe5 Qc7 30. Nd4 Qb6 {[%cal Gf5h7] It is far from clear whose pawns are
stronger but the b4-knight surely plays an important part.}) 29. Ra1 Nb4 30.
Nxd7 $2 {A serious concession. The knight was a dominant piece restricting
Black's possibilities. In the last line above the exchange on e5 freed the
d4-square for the reserve knight. Kramnik will later install a rook on e5, but
this will put less pressure on Black, who will be able to exchange only when
the circumstances are ripe for it.} Bxd7 31. Qc3 b6 $1 {A move with long term
consequnces. For the time being Black restricts the b3-knight, but in the long
run it will allow ...Rxe5 and if dxe5 then ...c6-c5.} 32. Re5 Rae8 33. Rae1 Qg6
34. Nd2 Qc2 {[%csl Ga4,Gd4]} 35. f4 Rxe5 36. dxe5 Be6 37. Qxc2 Nxc2 38. Rc1 Nb4
39. Nf3 c5 $15 {Black's pawns are more mobile than White's and both his minor
pieces more active.} 40. h4 {If Black would play '''h6-h5 the structure on the
opposite wings would be almost symmetrical (with the main difference that
Black has not played ...d5-d4). But of course it makes no sense offering the
white knight such a good square on g5.} Kf7 41. h5 {Strategically correct but
concretely losing a pawn.} Bg4 42. Nh4 Bxh5 43. Nf5 Bg4 44. Ne3 Bd7 45. Bg2 (
45. f5 Bxa4 $19) 45... d4 {Exchanging the b6-pawn for the a4-pawn.} ({Keeping
the tension was also possible as the maximum White could achieve on the
kingside after losing the h5-pawn was pushing his central pawns to f5 and e6,
thus allowing Black to block them:} 45... Bc6 $17 46. f5 $6 Re8 47. e6+ Kf6 $19
) 46. Nc4 Bxa4 47. Nxb6 Bc2 48. Nc4 d3 $6 {Conceding the control over e3 and
restricting his own bishp too soon.} (48... a4 $1 $17 49. Bf3 Ke7 {[%cal Gg7g5]
} 50. Na3 d3 51. Kf2 Rd8 52. Bd1 Rb8 {[%cal Gb4a2]}) 49. Nd2 $6 (49. Bf3 $1 {
[%csl Gd1] offered good chances for a fortress.} Ke6 50. Kf2 d2 {[%cal Gb4d3]}
(50... g5 51. Ke3 {[%csl Ge3][%cal Gd4d3]}) 51. Ra1 $1) 49... a4 50. Kf2 c4 {
The pawn is temporarily taboo, but later it will be vulnerable.} (50... Ke6 $5)
51. Ke3 (51. Nxc4 d2 $19) 51... Rc8 52. Ne4 Kf8 53. Nc3 Rb8 54. Rf1 $6 {
White's counterplay is too slow. He should have kept his majority as a latent
threat and taken preventive measures to save the b2-pawn.} (54. Bf3 $5 {
[%cal Ge3d2]} Na6 $6 55. Bd1 $1) 54... Na6 55. f5 Rxb2 56. f6 $2 (56. Bd5 $5
$17) 56... Nc7 $19 57. Bh3 d2 $1 58. Bg4 (58. Kxd2 Bd3+ 59. Kc1 Rc2+) 58... a3
59. e6 gxf6 60. Rxf6+ Kg8 61. e7 a2 62. Ra6 d1=Q 63. Nxd1 Bxd1 64. Ra8+ Kg7 65.
Bxd1 Rb1 66. Rxa2 Rxd1 67. Ra7 Ne8 68. Ra4 Rd3+ 69. Kf4 c3 0-1

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2017.04.28"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C50"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2811"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2017.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. a4 h6 7. c3 a5 8. h3 d6
9. Re1 Ba7 10. Nbd2 Ne7 11. Nf1 Ng6 12. Ng3 c6 13. d4 exd4 14. Nxd4 Re8 15. Bd2
d5 16. exd5 Rxe1+ 17. Bxe1 Nxd5 18. Nb5 Bb6 19. Bxd5 Qxd5 20. Qxd5 cxd5 21. Ne2
Bd7 22. Nbd4 Re8 23. Kf1 Ne5 24. Bd2 Nc4 25. Bc1 g5 26. b3 Nd6 27. Ba3 Ne4 28.
Rd1 f5 29. f3 Nf6 30. Ng3 Bxd4 31. Rxd4 f4 32. Ne2 b5 33. axb5 Bxb5 34. c4 Ba6
35. Nc3 a4 36. Kf2 axb3 37. cxd5 Rc8 38. Bb2 Nd7 39. d6 Rc6 40. g3 fxg3+ 41.
Kxg3 Kf7 42. f4 Kg6 43. fxg5 hxg5 44. h4 gxh4+ 45. Kxh4 Rc4 46. Rxc4 Bxc4 47.
Ne4 Kf5 48. Nd2 Bd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2017.04.29"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Adams, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2811"]
[BlackElo "2761"]
[Annotator "Yermolinsky,A"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2017.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 h6 7. Re1 O-O 8. Nbd2
a6 9. Nf1 Re8 10. a4 Ba7 11. b4 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. Be3 Qd7 14. b5 Ne7 15.
bxa6 bxa6 16. Bxa7 Rxa7 17. Qb3 c6 18. Rab1 Ng6 19. g3 a5 20. Ne3 Re8 21. Nc4
Kh7 22. Qc2 Qe6 23. Ne3 d5 24. Kg2 Kg8 25. h4 Rd7 26. c4 $1 {For a long time
White has maintaned a slight but persistent pull, and, finally, as Adams
started getting a bit uncomfortable on the clock, Kramnik turned the screw.}
Red8 $2 {A big error. It was hard enough to contain White's threats to
infiltrate on the b-file, but with two files open it'll become simply
impossible.} (26... d4 {was the only way to continue:} 27. Nf5 Ne7 28. Nxe7+
Rdxe7 {Perhaps, Mickey worried about his a-pawn after} 29. c5 {but then there's
} Nh5 30. Nd2 Qg6 31. Nc4 Qg4 {with some counterchances, provided by the ...
Nf4 idea.}) 27. cxd5 cxd5 28. Rb5 Ne7 $2 ({Once again,} 28... dxe4 29. dxe4 Nh5
{and hope for the best.}) 29. Rc5 Rd6 30. Rc1 Ra6 31. Qb2 Ng6 32. Qb7 Ne7 33.
Nf5 $1 {White drives the stake through the heart of Black's position.} Rd7 ({
The endgame after} 33... Nxf5 34. exf5 Qb6 (34... Qd6 35. Nxe5) 35. Qxb6 Rxb6
36. Nxe5 {wouldn't be any fun to play against Vladimir Kramnik.}) 34. Rc7 Rb6
35. Qa7 Ra6 36. Qb8+ Kh7 37. Rc8 $1 Ng6 (37... Nxf5 38. exf5 Qxf5 39. Nxe5 {
is just mate from h8.}) 38. Rh1 $1 {A very elegant switching of the tracks.}
Nh5 39. Ng5+ hxg5 40. hxg5 Ngf4+ 41. gxf4 1-0

[Event "Gashimov Memorial 4th"]
[Site "Shamkir"]
[Date "2017.04.30"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2811"]
[Annotator "Moradiabadi,E"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "2017.04.21"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "AZE"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 {Kramnik loves the QGD so much that I can say he
is addicted to this move order!} 4. g3 {No QGD for today, The Ukrainian opts
for a Catalan instead, but another opening in which Kramnik is considered one
of its main theoreticians!} Be7 (4... dxc4 5. Bg2 {could lead to very sharp
and long theoretically forced lines, where current theory admits that Black is
doing just fine!} a6 (5... Nc6) (5... b5 $6 {is a risky line that Anish Giri
once punished Morozevich for employing!} 6. a4 c6 7. Ne5 Nd5 8. O-O a6 9. axb5
cxb5 10. b3 $1 cxb3 11. Qxb3 Bb7 12. e4 Nf6 13. d5 $1 Bd6 14. Nxf7 (14. dxe6
fxe6 15. Rd1 Qe7 16. Nd3 e5 17. Nxe5 $1 {is more decisive.}) 14... Kxf7 15.
dxe6+ Ke8 16. e5 Bxg2 17. exf6 Qxf6 18. Kxg2 Qxa1 19. Bb2 Qa4 20. Qf3 Ra7 21.
Rc1 Kd8 22. Bf6+ Be7 23. Qd5+ Nd7 24. Bd4 Rc7 25. Qa8+ {1-0 (25) Giri,A (2720)
-Morozevich,A (2748) Beijing 2012})) 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 {This line is
called the Open Catalan.} 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4 Bd7 9. Qxc4 (9. Rd1 {is another
'less' common though better known line that is losing ground and importance in
contemporary theory for being considered too 'harmless'! The most recent
famous game in this line was between the talented American GM Jeffrey Xiong
against none other than the new Catalan expert, world No.2 Wesley So! You
should read this game's commentary in our US Championship coverage by GM Alex
Yermolinsky!} Bc6 10. Nc3 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 Nc6 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Bg5 Rb8 14. e3 c5
15. dxc5 Qe8 16. Rd4 Nd7 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. c6 Ne5 19. Qe4 Qc5 20. Nd5 Nd3 21.
Nxc7 Nxf2 22. Kxf2 $2 Rxb2+ $19 {0-1 (31) Xiong,J (2674)-So,W (2822) Saint
Louis 2017}) 9... Bc6 10. Bf4 Nbd7 (10... Nd5 11. Nc3 $5 {and it is 'ok' to
let the pawns be doubled and lose the bishop pair. The reason is that in
exchange, White creates a long-term grip with his spatial advantage.} Nxf4 12.
gxf4 a5 13. Ne5 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 c6 15. Rad1 Na6 16. e3 Nb4 17. Rg1 Nd5 18. Kh1 f6
19. Nf3 $14 {1-0 (30) Avrukh,B (2668)-Sanikidze,T (2600) Novi Sad 2009}) 11.
Nc3 Bd6 $5 {A less common move which had been tested successfully by the
'world champion' before in a blitz game.} (11... Nb6 12. Qd3 (12. Qb3 Nbd5 13.
Bd2 Nxc3 14. bxc3 Be4 15. Ne5 Bxg2 (15... c5 $2 16. Bxe4 Nxe4 17. Qxb7 Nxd2 18.
Nc6 Qd6 19. Nxe7+ Kh8 20. Rfd1 $16 {1/2 (63)-1/2 (63) Sargissian,G (2673)
-Svetushkin,D (2560) Rethymno 2010}) 16. Kxg2 Rb8 17. Nd3 Qc8 $1 {and I
believe after ...c5 Black should not have any difficulty.}) 12... Nbd5 13. Bg5
(13. Nxd5 Nxd5 14. Bd2 Nf6 15. Rfd1 Be4 16. Qb3 Bd5 17. Qe3 Rc8 {with equal
play}) 13... Nb4 14. Qd2 Ne4 15. Nxe4 Bxe4 {and Black has equalised.} 16. Qf4
Bc6 17. Bxe7 Qxe7 18. Rfc1 Rac8 (18... a5 $1) 19. Ra3 Qd6 20. a5 Qxf4 21. gxf4
Rfd8 $11 {1-0 (63) Rahman,Z (2492)-Babu,N (2339) Chennai 2004}) 12. e3 (12.
Rfe1 Bxf4 13. gxf4 Nb6 14. Qd3 Nbd5 15. e3 Nb4 (15... Nxc3 16. bxc3 Be4 17. Qf1
c5 {½-½ (33) Postny,E (2625)-Tang,A (2421) Kavala 2016, also looks good!})
16. Qd2 a5 17. Rac1 Qe7 18. Red1 Rfd8 19. Qe2 Bxf3 20. Bxf3 c6 {0-1 (52)
Ragger,M (2632) -Carlsen,M (2881) Dubai 2014, with equal play.}) ({In another
blitz battle between another two opening experts, one of whom was the world
championship finalist, the game took a different path:} 12. Bd2 Ne4 13. Nxe4
Bxe4 14. Ng5 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 Nf6 16. Qc2 Rc8 $5 (16... h6 17. Nf3 Qe7 18. e4 $14
Bb4 19. Bxb4 Qxb4 20. a5 Rac8 21. Rfc1 c5 22. Ra4 Qb5 23. Rc4 Qxa5 24. b4 Qb5
25. dxc5 Qc6 26. Rd4 Rfd8 27. Rcd1 Rxd4 28. Rxd4 a5 29. bxa5 Nd7 30. Rc4 Qb5
31. Nd4 Qa6 32. c6 bxc6 33. Rxc6 Rxc6 34. Qxc6 Qa7 35. Nb5 {1-0 (35) Gelfand,B
(2741)-Kasimdzhanov,R (2704) Berlin 2015}) 17. b4 e5 18. dxe5 Bxe5 19. Rad1 Qe7
20. e4 h6 21. Nf3 c5 22. bxc5 Rxc5 23. Qb3 a5 24. Bc1 Qe8 $1 {should be equal
too but it is not that easy.}) 12... Nb6 13. Qb3 Bxf4 14. gxf4 a5 15. Ne5 Bxg2
16. Kxg2 Nbd5 17. Rg1 {This came after some thought. There should be something
new here for Eljanov.} (17. Qxb7 Rb8 18. Qc6 Rb6 19. Qc4 Rxb2 {looks more
comfortable for Black.}) 17... Rc8 {Kramnik is playing enterprising chess and
opts for ...c5.} 18. Rac1 (18. Qxb7 Rb8 19. Qc6 Rb6 20. Qc4 Rxb2 {is worse
this time as the f2-pawn is not protected anymore.}) 18... Nb4 19. Qc4 g6 20.
Rgd1 c6 {Change of heart for both players. They have gone back to the centre
with a rigid pawn structure. It is hard to claim anything for either side.} 21.
Qe2 Qe7 22. Nc4 Qc7 23. Qf3 Nbd5 24. h4 {Eljanov decided to try something.}
Rfd8 25. b3 Nxc3 26. Rxc3 Qe7 27. Ne5 (27. Nxa5 $4 Qb4 $19) 27... Kg7 28. Kh3 {
White is not really pushing, but in an attempt to create something, Eljanov
managed to provoke Kramnik into 'trying' something as well.} c5 {A natural
reaction. White's king could become weak if Black manages to open up a central
file.} 29. Rdc1 b6 30. dxc5 Rxc5 31. Rxc5 bxc5 32. Nc6 Qb7 33. Kg2 Rd5 34. Nxa5
Qb4 35. Nc4 Qxb3 36. a5 {After a series of forced moves, the players reached
an 'almost' equal endgame. The knight on c4 is strong but it keeps White's
rook tied to c4 and while the a-pawn looks strong too, it is very much under
control.} Qa2 37. Kf1 Rh5 38. Qe2 Qb3 $2 (38... Qa4 {is necessary to stop the
a-pawn.} 39. Kg2 Rxh4 40. Qb2 Rg4+ 41. Kf3 Qc6+ 42. Ke2 Rg2 43. Ra1 Qa6 44. Kf1
(44. Ra4 $4 Rh2 {and White is losing as he cannot make any progress because}
45. Qb6 {loses to} Qa8 46. a6 Qg2) 44... Rg4 (44... Rh2 45. Kg1 Rh5 46. Ne5 {
and White dominates and wins!}) 45. Rc1 Qc6 46. Ne5 Qa6+ (46... Qg2+ 47. Ke2
Rg3 (47... Rh4 48. a6 Qxf2+ 49. Kxf2 Rh2+ 50. Ke1 Rxb2 51. Rxc5 Nd5 (51... Ra2
52. Rc7 Ne4 53. Rxf7+ Kg8 54. a7 Ra1+ 55. Ke2 Nc3+ 56. Kf3 Nb5 {and Black
should be able to hold this position}) 52. e4 Nxf4 53. Ra5 Ng2+ 54. Kf1 Ne3+
55. Kg1 Rb8 56. a7 Ra8 57. Nc6 Nc4 58. Rb5 Kf6 59. Rb8 Ne5 60. Rxa8 Nxc6 {
is a surprising draw too but it is very hard to find.}) 48. Rxc5 {does not
look as if Black has a concrete plan for counter play.}) 47. Nc4 {with a draw
as the most probable result.}) 39. Qc2 $2 (39. Qb2 Qd3+ 40. Kg1 Rxh4 (40... Qe4
41. f3 $3 {be my guest!} Qxf3 42. Qg2 Qxg2+ 43. Kxg2 Rd5 44. a6 Rd7 45. Ra1 Ra7
46. Nd6 Nd5 47. Nb5 Ra8 48. Kf3 {with very good winning chances for White.})
41. f3 $3 {is too insanely hard to see!} Rh5 (41... Qd5 42. Ne5 {and Black's
pieces are scattered around the board and the pin along the diagonal and the
a-pawn would tear them apart!}) 42. a6 Rd5 43. a7 Rd8 44. Qb7 $18 {another
counter-intuitive move! White's queen leaves its allegedly weakened king to
promote the a-pawn to yet another queen.}) 39... Qb7 40. Qb2 Qa8 41. Ke2 Rxh4
42. Rb1 {Time trouble is over and the dust has settled: we have a position
similar to the one analysed earlier on move 38.} Qg2 $6 {A blunder according
to Houdini and colleagues!} 43. Ne5 $6 {Returns the favour once again.} (43. a6
{wins in a collection of fantastic geometry and finesse. I really cannot
expect anyone to see all this unless their intuition leads them to the
solution. The following line, selected out of many possible ones is worthy of
study!} Rh2 (43... Rh3 44. Rf1 {same story} e5 45. Qxe5 Qf3+ 46. Ke1 Rh1 47.
Nd2 Rxf1+ 48. Nxf1 (48. Kxf1 $4 Qd1+ 49. Kg2 Qxd2 50. a7 Qd8 51. Qb8 Qd5+ {
and perpetual!}) 48... Qa8 49. Qa1 $3 {Sheer poetry, fantastic geometry!} c4
50. a7 c3 51. f5 $1 h5 (51... gxf5 52. Ng3 Kg6 53. Qa5 Nd5 54. Qa6+ f6 55. Qe6
Qxa7 56. Qg8+ Qg7 57. Qxd5 {and White wins!}) 52. fxg6 fxg6 53. Qa5 Nd5 54. e4
c2 55. Kd2 {and White wins! I can hardly blame Eljanov for missing all these
beautiful moves!}) 44. Rf1 Qd5 45. Ne5 {and surprisingly, it is once again
Black's pieces which are going to be torn apart. due to the pin and advanced
a-pawn.}) 43... c4 $1 {Kramnik fixes matters. Now Black is safe again!} 44. Qd4
$2 {A serious mistake!} (44. Nd7 Rxf4 45. exf4 Qe4+ {it was time to call it a
day.}) 44... c3 $1 45. a6 (45. Qxc3 {loses on the spot:} Ne4 $19) 45... c2 46.
Rc1 Rh1 $1 {Flawless technique by the ex-world champion} 47. Rxc2 Qf1+ 48. Kd2
Qd1+ $1 {Even better than ...Qxf2+ - great intuition!} 49. Kc3 Qa1+ 50. Kb3
Qxa6 {The a-pawn is gone, and with it all of White's hope! White's king has no
shelter and Black slowly but assuredly converted!} 51. Nc4 Rb1+ 52. Nb2 Ra1 53.
Rc5 Ra3+ 54. Kb4 Ra2 55. Qc3 Qb6+ 56. Rb5 Qd6+ 57. Rc5 Ra8 58. Nd3 Rb8+ 59. Ka4
Qa6+ 60. Ra5 Qb7 {The king is tied up and all White's pieces are defending
mating squares. Black just needs his knight.} 61. Nc5 Qb1 62. Ka3 Kg8 $1 {
Here comes the knight, unpinned!} 63. Nb3 (63. Qxf6 Qb4+ 64. Ka2 Qxa5+ 65. Na4
Qxa4#) 63... Nd5 {A sad loss for Eljanov when he actually could have won the
game! He really needed some intuition more than calculation but it is really
hard to have intuition when your king is not in the safest situation!} 0-1

[Event "RUS-chT"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2017.05.02"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C77"]
[WhiteElo "2811"]
[BlackElo "2664"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2017.05.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Novosibirsk Siberia"]
[BlackTeam "Yekaterinburg Malachite"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a3
O-O 9. Nc3 Be6 10. Nd5 Nd4 11. Nxd4 exd4 12. Nxf6+ Bxf6 13. Bxe6 fxe6 14. a4 c5
15. Qg4 Qd7 16. b3 c4 17. h4 cxd3 18. cxd3 b4 19. Bd2 a5 20. Rac1 Rac8 21. Rc4
Rxc4 22. dxc4 Qf7 23. h5 d3 24. h6 d5 25. hxg7 Bxg7 26. cxd5 exd5 27. e5 Qg6
28. Qd7 Qe4 29. e6 Qf5 30. Be3 Be5 31. f4 d2 32. Qxd5 Bxf4 33. Rxf4 Qxd5 34.
Rg4+ Kh8 35. Bd4+ Qxd4+ 36. Rxd4 Re8 37. Rxd2 Rxe6 38. Kf2 Rc6 39. Ke3 Kg7 40.
Ke4 Kf6 41. Rd5 Rc3 42. Rxa5 Rxb3 43. Ra6+ Ke7 44. g4 Rb1 45. Ra7+ Kd6 46. Kd4
Rg1 47. Rg7 b3 48. Kc3 Rg3+ 49. Kb2 Kc5 50. Ka3 Kb6 51. Rg5 Ka6 52. Kb2 h5 53.
Rg6+ Ka5 54. gxh5 Rh3 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-chT"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2017.05.04"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2755"]
[BlackElo "2811"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "2017.05.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "St Petersburg Bronze Horseman"]
[BlackTeam "Novosibirsk Siberia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8.
cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Bc4 Nd7 12. O-O b6 13. a4 Bb7 14. Bd3
Nf6 15. Rfe1 h6 16. a5 bxa5 17. Rxa5 Qc7 18. Qb4 Rfb8 19. Qa3 Rc8 20. h3 a6 21.
Ne5 Qd8 22. Nf3 Rc7 23. Ra4 a5 24. Ne5 Bc6 25. Rxa5 Bxe4 26. Bxe4 Rxa5 27. Qxa5
Nxe4 28. Kh2 Nc3 29. Rc1 Qxd4 30. Qxc7 Qf4+ 31. g3 Qxf2+ 32. Kh1 Ne2 33. Qxf7+
Qxf7 34. Nxf7 Nxc1 35. Nd8 e5 36. Kg2 Kh7 37. Nc6 Nd3 38. Kf3 Kg6 39. Ke3 e4
40. Kxe4 Nf2+ 41. Kf3 Nxh3 42. Kg2 Ng5 43. Ne7+ Kf6 44. Nd5+ Ke5 45. Nf4 Ne6
46. Nd3+ Kd4 47. Nb4 Ke4 48. Kf2 h5 49. Kg2 g5 50. Kf2 Nd4 51. Kg2 Nf3 52. Na6
Ne1+ 53. Kf2 Nd3+ 54. Kg2 Ke5 55. Nc7 Nc5 56. Ne8 Ne6 57. Kh3 Kf5 58. g4+ hxg4+
59. Kg3 Kg6 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-chT"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2017.05.05"]
[Round "4.3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Malakhov, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2811"]
[BlackElo "2712"]
[PlyCount "136"]
[EventDate "2017.05.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Novosibirsk Siberia"]
[BlackTeam "Moscow Legacy Square"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. h3 Ke8 10. Nc3 h5 11. Ne2 b6 12. Rd1 Ba6 13. Nf4 Bb7 14. a4
Be7 15. e6 Bd6 16. exf7+ Kxf7 17. Ng5+ Kf6 18. Ne4+ Kf7 19. a5 c5 20. Nxd6+
cxd6 21. c4 Bc6 22. Ra3 g6 23. f3 h4 24. Kf2 bxa5 25. Rxa5 Rhb8 26. Nd3 Rb3 27.
Bf4 Kf6 28. Kg1 Rb6 29. Bd2 Bb7 30. b4 cxb4 31. Nxb4 Rc8 32. Nc2 Rxc4 33. Ne3
Rc5 34. Rxa7 Rb2 35. Ra4 Kf7 36. Nxf5 gxf5 37. Rxh4 Rd5 38. Rh7+ Kg6 39. Rh6+
Kf7 40. Kh2 Rd3 41. Kg3 Bd5 42. Rc1 Rdxd2 43. Rc7+ Kg8 44. Rg6+ Kh8 45. Rh6+
Kg8 46. Rg6+ Kf8 47. Rxd6 Rxg2+ 48. Kf4 Bf7 49. Rf6 Rg7 50. Rxf5 Rb4+ 51. Ke3
Rh7 52. Kf2 Rbh4 53. Kg2 Rg7+ 54. Kh2 Kg8 55. Rf6 Rgh7 56. Kg2 Ra4 57. Kg3 Rg7+
58. Kf2 Ra2+ 59. Ke3 Rh7 60. Rf4 Be6 61. Rxh7 Kxh7 62. Rh4+ Kg6 63. Kf4 Rg2 64.
Rh8 Kf6 65. Rh6+ Ke7 66. Ke5 Bd7 67. Rh7+ Kd8 68. h4 Re2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "RUS-chT"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "2017.05.10"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Rozum, Ivan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2606"]
[BlackElo "2811"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2017.05.01"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 178"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.05.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Central Federal District"]
[BlackTeam "Novosibirsk Siberia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 c6 5. O-O Nf6 6. Nbd2 O-O 7. Re1 Ne4 8.
Nxe4 dxe4 9. Ng5 Qxd4 10. Qxd4 Bxd4 11. Nxe4 Na6 12. c3 Bg7 13. Be3 Nc7 14.
Red1 f5 15. Nc5 e5 16. a4 Re8 17. a5 e4 18. Bd4 Bf8 19. f3 b6 20. Nb3 c5 21.
Bf2 e3 22. Be1 Be6 23. Nc1 b5 24. f4 Rad8 25. Rxd8 Rxd8 26. Nd3 Bb3 27. a6 c4
28. Ne5 Rd2 29. Kf1 Rxb2 30. g4 Kg7 31. gxf5 gxf5 32. Bc6 Bd6 33. Bh4 Rd2 34.
Kg2 Bd1 35. Kf3 Bc5 36. Nd7 Bxe2+ 37. Kg3 Rd6 38. Ne5 Bd1 0-1

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 5th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2017.06.05"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2017.06.05"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. g3 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. d3 O-O 6. Nbd2 a5 7. c3 a4 8. Qc2
c5 9. e4 Nc6 10. Rd1 b5 11. Nf1 Qb6 12. Bf4 b4 13. Ne5 Bb7 14. Nxc6 Bxc6 15.
Ne3 a3 16. cxb4 Qxb4 17. exd5 axb2 18. dxc6 bxa1=Q 19. Rxa1 Qd4 20. Rb1 Bd6 21.
Bxd6 Qxd6 22. Rb5 Rfc8 23. Nc4 Qd4 24. Nb6 Nd5 25. Bxd5 exd5 26. Nxa8 h5 27. c7
Qe5 28. Qxc5 h4 29. Qxd5 Qe8 30. gxh4 1-0

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 5th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2017.06.05"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2017.06.05"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. b3 b6 7. Bb2 Bb7 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. d4 c5 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. a3 a5 12. Nbd2 Qe7 13. Ne5 Rd8 14. Nd3 Nc6 15.
Nxc5 bxc5 16. e3 Ba6 17. Re1 a4 18. bxa4 Bd3 19. Qb3 Bg6 20. e4 Nc7 21. Nf3
Rab8 22. Qc3 Nd4 23. Nxd4 cxd4 24. Qd2 Na6 25. Rad1 e5 26. f4 f6 27. Ba1 Nc5
28. a5 Nb3 29. Qe2 Qc5 30. Kh1 Nxa1 31. Rxa1 d3 32. Qd2 Ra8 33. fxe5 Qxe5 34.
Rac1 Rxa5 35. Rc3 h5 36. Rxd3 Rxd3 37. Qxd3 Kh7 38. Rc1 Qb2 39. Qc3 Qxa3 40.
Qxa3 Rxa3 41. Re1 Ra5 42. h4 Re5 43. Kg1 f5 44. Kf2 fxe4 45. Re2 Bf5 46. Ke3
Bg4 47. Rd2 Bf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 5th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2017.06.05"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C01"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2017.06.05"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Bd3 dxe4 4. Bxe4 Nf6 5. Bf3 c5 6. Ne2 Nc6 7. Be3 Nd5 8.
Bxd5 Qxd5 9. Nbc3 Qxg2 10. Rg1 Qf3 11. Nb5 Rb8 12. dxc5 Bd7 13. Nc7+ Kd8 14.
Nb5 Ne5 15. Qd4 Qd5 16. O-O-O Qxd4 17. Bxd4 Nf3 18. Bxg7 Nxg1 19. Bxh8 Nxe2+
20. Kb1 Bxc5 21. Bf6+ Kc8 22. Nd6+ Bxd6 23. Rxd6 Nf4 24. Rd4 Ng6 25. h4 h5 26.
Rc4+ Bc6 27. Rc5 Kd7 28. Rxh5 e5 29. Rh6 Ke6 30. Bg5 Kf5 31. b3 Be4 32. Rh7 Bd5
33. c4 Be6 34. Be3 b6 35. h5 Nf4 36. h6 Kg6 37. Rg7+ Kxh6 38. Rg1 Rd8 39. Kb2
Kh5 40. a4 Rd7 41. a5 bxa5 42. Ra1 Kg4 43. Rxa5 Kf3 44. Ka3 Nd3 45. Bxa7 e4 46.
c5 Rb7 47. Bb6 Nxf2 48. Ra6 Bd5 49. c6 Bxc6 50. Bxf2 Kxf2 51. Rxc6 e3 52. Rf6+
Ke1 53. b4 e2 54. Rf5 Re7 0-1

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 5th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2017.06.05"]
[Round "4"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2017.06.05"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 c5 3. e3 Nc6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. Nbd2 e6 6. h3 Bxf3 7. Nxf3 Bd6 8.
dxc5 Bxf4 9. exf4 Qa5+ 10. c3 Qxc5 11. Bd3 Nf6 12. O-O O-O-O 13. b4 Qd6 14. b5
Na5 15. Ne5 Qc7 16. Qa4 Rhf8 17. Rfe1 Kb8 18. Qb4 Rc8 19. Rac1 Nc4 20. a4 Nxe5
21. fxe5 Nd7 22. a5 Qc5 23. Qf4 Ka8 24. a6 f5 25. c4 Nb6 26. cxd5 Nxd5 27. Qg3
Qxc1 28. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 29. Kh2 Rc7 30. Be2 h6 31. Bf3 Rd8 32. Qg6 Re7 33. Qh5 Kb8
34. Qh4 Red7 35. axb7 Kxb7 36. Qa4 Kb8 37. Qa6 Nb6 38. Qa2 Nd5 39. Bxd5 Rxd5
40. Qa6 Rxe5 41. b6 axb6 42. Qxb6+ Kc8 43. Qa6+ Kb8 44. Qb6+ Kc8 45. Qc6+ Kb8
46. Qb6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 5th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2017.06.05"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B75"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2017.06.05"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 a6 8. Qd2
b5 9. a4 b4 10. Nd5 Nxd5 11. exd5 Bb7 12. Bc4 Nd7 13. a5 Nf6 14. Ne2 O-O 15.
Ra4 Rc8 16. b3 Rc5 17. Rxb4 Rxd5 18. Bxd5 Bxd5 19. Rb6 Qc8 20. O-O Bb7 21. c4
Nd7 22. Rc1 Nxb6 23. axb6 h5 24. b4 h4 25. h3 Qe6 26. Bd4 Rc8 27. Bxg7 Kxg7 28.
c5 Qf6 29. Rc3 dxc5 30. bxc5 e5 31. Qe3 a5 32. Ra3 Ra8 33. Nc3 Bc6 34. Ne4 Qe6
35. Nd6 a4 36. Ra1 Qd5 37. Qc3 Qd4+ 38. Qxd4 exd4 39. Kf2 Kf6 40. Re1 a3 41.
Ra1 Ke6 42. b7 Bxb7 43. Nxb7 Kd5 44. Ke2 Rb8 45. Nd6 Rb2+ 46. Kd3 a2 47. Ne4 f5
48. Nd2 Kxc5 49. f4 Kd5 50. Nf3 Rxg2 51. Nxh4 Rg3+ 52. Kd2 Ke4 53. Rxa2 Rxh3
54. Ng2 Kf3 55. Kd3 Rg3 56. Ne1+ Kxf4+ 57. Kxd4 Rg1 58. Nd3+ Kg3 59. Ke5 Rd1
60. Ra3 Rf1 61. Nf4+ Rf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 5th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2017.06.05"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2786"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2017.06.05"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 d6 5. O-O Be7 6. c4 O-O 7. Nc3 Bg4 8. Bxc6
bxc6 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Qxf3 Nd7 11. Be3 Bf6 12. b4 Re8 13. a4 Nf8 14. b5 Qd7 15.
Rfb1 Ne6 16. bxc6 Qxc6 17. a5 a6 18. Nd5 Bd8 19. Qd1 Qd7 20. Rb7 Qc8 21. Qa4
Qxb7 22. Qxe8+ Nf8 23. Qa4 Rb8 24. c5 c6 25. Nb6 dxc5 26. Bxc5 Ne6 27. Be3 g6
28. Rb1 Kg7 29. Rb2 c5 30. Nc4 Qc7 31. Rxb8 Qxb8 32. Qc6 Qb1+ 33. Kh2 Qxd3 34.
Nxe5 Qb5 35. Qxb5 axb5 36. Nc6 Bc7+ 37. g3 b4 38. a6 b3 39. a7 b2 40. a8=Q b1=Q
41. Ne7 Bd8 42. Bxc5 Qc2 43. Qa1+ f6 44. Be3 0-1

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 5th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2017.06.05"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B08"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2832"]
[PlyCount "144"]
[EventDate "2017.06.05"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 g6 2. e4 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. Be2 O-O 6. O-O a6 7. Re1 Nc6 8. d5
Na7 9. Bg5 h6 10. Be3 b5 11. a3 Bb7 12. Qd2 Kh7 13. Rad1 c6 14. Bxa7 Rxa7 15.
dxc6 Bxc6 16. e5 Ne8 17. Qe3 Rb7 18. Nd4 Bd7 19. Bf3 Rc7 20. exd6 exd6 21. Nd5
Rc5 22. c3 Nf6 23. Nxf6+ Qxf6 24. Qe7 Rd8 25. Nb3 Qxe7 26. Rxe7 Re5 27. Rxe5
Bxe5 28. Na5 Rc8 29. g3 Kg7 30. Kg2 Rc7 31. Nb7 Kf8 32. Nxd6 a5 33. Nxb5 Bxb5
34. Rd5 Bxc3 35. bxc3 Bc6 36. Rd3 Bxf3+ 37. Kxf3 Rc4 38. Ke3 Ke7 39. Kd2 Ra4
40. Kc2 Rxa3 41. Kb2 Ra4 42. Kb3 Ra1 43. h4 g5 44. hxg5 hxg5 45. Rd5 f6 46. Rf5
Ke6 47. g4 Rb1+ 48. Ka4 Ra1+ 49. Kb3 Rb1+ 50. Kc2 Rf1 51. f3 a4 52. Kb2 Rf2+
53. Ka3 Rc2 54. Kb4 a3 55. Ra5 a2 56. Kb3 Rf2 57. Rxa2 Rxf3 58. Re2+ Kd5 59.
Rd2+ Ke5 60. Rg2 Ke4 61. Kb4 Rf4 62. c4 Kf3 63. Rg1 Kf2 64. Rc1 Rxg4 65. Kb5
Re4 66. c5 g4 67. c6 Re8 68. Rc5 Rf8 69. c7 g3 70. Rf5+ Ke3 71. Rxf6 Rc8 72.
Kc6 Rxc7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 5th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2017.06.05"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2017.06.05"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8.
cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Rc1 b6 12. Bd3 Bb7 13. O-O Nd7 14. Qe3
Nf6 15. Ne5 Qe7 16. f3 Rfd8 17. Bb5 Rac8 18. a4 h6 19. h3 Ne8 20. Nc6 Bxc6 21.
Bxc6 Nd6 22. d5 e5 23. Qa3 Qg5 24. a5 b5 25. Qc5 Rc7 26. a6 f5 27. Rce1 fxe4
28. fxe4 Qd2 29. Qf2 Qxf2+ 30. Kxf2 Rb8 31. Ke3 Rb6 32. Ra1 b4 33. Rfb1 Rf7 34.
Ra4 b3 35. Rb2 h5 36. Kd3 Rf4 37. Bd7 Kh7 38. Ke3 h4 39. Bg4 Rf7 40. Be2 Rc7
41. Bd3 Rc8 42. Kd2 Kg6 43. Ra3 Rcb8 44. Kc3 Rc8+ 45. Kd2 Rcb8 46. Kc3 Rc8+ 47.
Kd2 Rcb8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Masters blitz 5th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2017.06.05"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A28"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2017.06.05"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. a3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Qc2 Nxc3 7. bxc3 Bd6 8.
e3 O-O 9. d4 Qe7 10. Be2 b6 11. O-O Bb7 12. Re1 Rfe8 13. Bb2 Na5 14. Bb5 c6 15.
Bf1 e4 16. Nd2 c5 17. c4 cxd4 18. exd4 Qh4 19. g3 Qg4 20. Bg2 f5 21. c5 Bf8 22.
Nc4 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess 5th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2017.06.06"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C50"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2781"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2017.06.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. a4 a6 7. c3 d5 8. exd5
Nxd5 9. Nbd2 Kh8 10. Re1 f6 11. d4 Ba7 (11... exd4 12. Nb3 Ba7 13. Nbxd4 Nxd4
14. Nxd4 {Giri-Tomashevsky, September 2016 where White had the better of it.
White's pressure stems from the space advantage on the queenside and the
weakness on e6. It isn't very serious, and probably Black can hold with
precise play, but it's much more comfortable to play White.}) 12. dxe5 Nxe5 13.
Nxe5 fxe5 14. Nf3 (14. Ne4 {seems natural, but it releases the pressure on e5.
Nf3 is a bit more ambitious but it clearly has a couple of problems, mainly
the weakness on f2.}) 14... c6 (14... Bxf2+ {was already possible, but not
entirely clear} 15. Kxf2 Qh4+ 16. Kg1 Qxc4 17. Rxe5 {and after a forced
sequence White's position is still slightly more comfortable. His pieces are a
bit more active, even though again, Black should be ok.}) 15. Bg5 {Choices
aren't easy in chess, and Kramnik presents his opponent with three distinct
ones:} (15. Bxd5 $5 cxd5 16. Rxe5 Bg4 {looks a bit dodgy. White will retain
extra material (at least one pawn, more if he wants) but his structure on the
kingside will be shattered and his king permanently exposed. These kinds of
positions sometimes boil down to style, and Kramnik here prefers the
initiative.}) 15... Qb6 $6 {Not the most precise. Kramnik ditches the f2-pawn
for piece activity and central control.} (15... Bxf2+ 16. Kxf2 (16. Kh1 Qd6 17.
Re2 Be6 $1 18. Rxf2 e4 {is also wildly unclear}) 16... Qxg5 17. Kg1 Qd8 18.
Nxe5 $14 {seems to be a bit better for White.}) (15... Qd6 $5 {Keeping up the
defence of the e5-pawn; now for example:} 16. Bh4 $5 (16. Re4 Qg6 $1 17. Bxd5
cxd5 18. Rxe5 Bg4 19. Kh1 $1 {with a huge mess}) 16... Bg4 17. Bg3 Bxf3 18.
gxf3 Rf5 $13) 16. Bxd5 cxd5 (16... Qxf2+ 17. Kh1 cxd5 18. Qxd5 {with e5
falling next, White's king is much safer than Black's.}) 17. Be3 $1 Qxb2 18.
Bxa7 Rxa7 19. Qxd5 {Kramnik is a cunning trickster.} b6 (19... Qxc3 $2 20. Qd6
$1 Rg8 21. Qb8 {and the rook cannot be saved!}) 20. Rab1 $6 (20. Qc4 {the pawn
deserved to live. This move also threatens Ra2, winning on the spot} e4 $1 21.
Ra2 Rc7 22. Qxc7 Qxa2 23. Rxe4 $16) 20... Qxc3 21. Rxb6 Raf7 22. Qxe5 Qxe5 23.
Rxe5 {White is up a pawn in the resulting endgame, but because of the pressure
on f2, the superiority of a bishop over a knight, and the reduced amount of
pawns, winning is tough.} Bg4 24. Re3 Kg8 25. Ne5 (25. Rxa6 Bxf3 26. Rxf3 Rxf3
27. gxf3 Rxf3 {is a draw as the rook gets in behind the pawn.}) 25... Rxf2 26.
h3 Bc8 27. Nc6 Rf1+ 28. Kh2 R1f6 29. a5 h6 30. Ne7+ Kf7 31. Nc6 Kg8 32. Rc3 {
White retains some pressure, but now Black can neutralise it and Karjakin has
no problems doing so.} Kh7 33. Ne7 Bd7 34. Nd5 Rf5 35. Rd6 Bb5 36. Nc7 Bf1 37.
Rd7 Rf2 38. Rg3 R8f7 39. Rxf7 Rxf7 40. Rc3 Rf5 41. Rc1 Bd3 42. Rc3 Bf1 43. Rc1
Bd3 44. Rc3 Bf1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 5th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2017.06.07"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C77"]
[WhiteElo "2786"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,A"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2017.06.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 {An Archangel seems to be
a breath of fresh air after multiple Berlins and Marshalls.} 6. Nc3 $5 {
Something Vishy must have cooked up beforehand. A specialty of Dominguez, it
is very rare compared to 6.c3} b5 (6... O-O 7. Bxc6 dxc6 8. Nxe5 Re8 {recovers
the pawn, which makes castling a viable alternative to the move in the game})
7. Bb3 O-O 8. Nd5 (8. d3 h6 9. Nd5 {is much more common, seen in many of
Dominguez's games. Anand has his own idea, involving a pawn sacrifice.}) 8...
Nxe4 {Kramnik isn't one to refuse a challenge. Also, any other move lacks
justification} (8... h6 9. c3 {with the idea of a quick d4, looks dangerous}) (
8... Bb7 9. c3 {again might be an issue.}) 9. d3 Nf6 10. Bg5 Be7 11. Nxe7+ Qxe7
12. Re1 {After a more or less forced sequence we arrive at this position.
White clearly has compensation for the pawn: two bishops, pressure on e5 and
better development. Black must play accurately, but his position is still
solid and it is hard to crack any weakness. Sometimes, recovering e5 will not
be sufficient for an advantage.} h6 13. Bh4 (13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. Bd5 Bb7 15. Nxe5
Nxe5 16. Bxb7 Rae8 {is completely fine for Black, even perhaps better for him
due to the superior piece placement!}) 13... Bb7 14. c3 Rfe8 15. d4 (15. Nxe5
Nxe5 16. d4 Nf3+ 17. gxf3 Qd6 {gives Black an edge. The crippled pawns on the
kingside are worth more than the, for now, uncoordinated bishops.}) 15... e4
16. Nd2 Na5 17. Bc2 g5 18. Bg3 Nc4 {Releasing some of the pressure against e4
seems natural, though Black now has to suffer from the activation of some
important pieces.} (18... d5 19. h4 {gives White obvious counterplay. The
position is still terribly murky.}) 19. Nxc4 bxc4 20. b3 Bd5 21. Be5 $6 {
Despite recovering the pawn, this move isn't precise.} (21. h4 $1 Qe6 22. hxg5
hxg5 23. Qd2 {puts real pressure on g5.}) (21. Bxc7 $5 {is also worth
considering, as the bishop will hide on a5 without problems.}) 21... d6 22.
Bxf6 Qxf6 23. bxc4 Bxc4 24. Rxe4 Rxe4 25. Bxe4 Re8 {Material is even, but
Black retains a nagging edge now that his rook controls the only open file and
his pieces are slightly better placed.} 26. Bd3 Qe6 27. Bxc4 Qxc4 28. Qb3 Qd3
29. h3 Kg7 30. Rd1 Qe2 31. Rf1 Re6 32. Qd5 Qd2 {The situation hasn't changed.
Anand has played very well to get to this position and continues holding on.}
33. Qc4 a5 34. Qxc7 $2 {But this is a mistake. Giving Black the outside passed
pawn proves catastrophic.} (34. a4 Re1 {looks dangerous, but after} 35. Rxe1
Qxe1+ 36. Kh2 Qxf2 37. Qxc7 {there isn't anything but a perpetual.}) 34... Qxa2
35. c4 Qd2 36. Qb6 a4 37. Qa7 Qb4 38. f4 Re1 $1 {The transition to the queen
endgame is perfectly timed. The black king is not easily caught in a perpetual
check.} 39. fxg5 Rxf1+ 40. Kxf1 hxg5 41. Kg1 Qxc4 (41... a3 {immediately was
winning.} 42. Kh2 Qb2 43. Qe7 Qd2 $1 {and White can't prevent the pawn from
advancing.}) 42. Kh2 Qb4 43. Qe7 Qd2 44. Qa7 Qf4+ 45. Kh1 Qc1+ 46. Kh2 a3 47.
Qa5 Qf4+ 48. Kh1 Qc1+ 49. Kh2 Qe3 50. Kh1 f6 $2 (50... Kg6 {made Kramnik's
life slightly easier. The point is that White is almost zugzwanged, as the
queen has to keep an eye on the kingside and the a-pawn. This is easy for
computers to see, but for humans it's a huge headache to calculate queen
endgames.} 51. Qa8 Qb3 52. Qg8+ Kf5 53. Qh7+ Ke6 {and the king escapes
successfully.}) 51. Qa4 (51. Qc7+ Kg6 52. Qc4 $1 {would have made Black's task
much, much harder.}) 51... Qc1+ 52. Kh2 Qf4+ 53. Kh1 Qe3 54. Kh2 Kf7 55. Kh1 (
55. Qa7+ Kg6 56. Qa8 Qb3 $1 {is winning. Black places the king on g7, the
queen on f7 and finally pushes a2.}) 55... Kg6 56. Qa8 (56. Qc4 $1 {is still
winning for Black, but much, much harder.}) 56... Kg7 57. Qb7+ Kg6 58. Qa8 (58.
Qd5 $1) 58... Qb3 {Now the pawn advances without problems.} 59. Qe4+ Kg7 60.
Qe7+ Qf7 0-1

[Event "Norway Chess 5th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2017.06.08"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "141"]
[EventDate "2017.06.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. h3 d6 7. c3 a6 8. Re1
Ba7 9. Bb3 h6 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. Nf1 Be6 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Nxe3 Qd7 14. Bxe6 Qxe6
15. c4 Ne7 16. Nd5 Nexd5 17. cxd5 Qd7 18. d4 c6 19. dxc6 Qxc6 20. Rc1 Qb6 21.
Re3 exd4 22. Rb3 Qa5 23. Rxb7 Qxa2 24. Rcc7 Rab8 25. Rxf7 Rxb7 26. Rxb7 Rxe4
27. Rb8+ Kf7 28. Rb6 a5 29. Qd3 d5 30. Rb7+ Kg8 31. Rb8+ Re8 32. Rb7 Re4 33.
Nxd4 Qc4 34. Qxc4 dxc4 35. Nf5 Re5 36. g4 Ne8 37. Kg2 Rc5 38. Ra7 Nc7 39. f3
Ne6 40. Re7 Re5 41. Re8+ Kh7 42. Kf1 Kg6 43. Nd6 Kf6 44. Ne4+ Kf7 45. Nd6+ Kf6
46. Nxc4 Rc5 47. Ne3 Rb5 48. Nc4 Rc5 49. Ne3 Rb5 50. Nd1 Rb3 51. Kf2 Kf7 52.
Ra8 Ng5 53. Rxa5 Rxf3+ 54. Kg2 Rd3 55. Nf2 Rd2 56. Rf5+ Ke6 57. b4 Rb2 58. Rf4
Ke5 59. Rf8 Kd6 60. Rf4 Ne6 61. Re4 Kd5 62. Re3 Rxb4 63. Kg3 Rd4 64. h4 Rc4 65.
Nd3 Re4 66. Rxe4 Kxe4 67. Nf2+ Ke3 68. Nd1+ Ke4 69. Nf2+ Ke3 70. Nd1+ Ke4 71.
Nf2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 5th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2017.06.10"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2017.06.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d5 6. exd5 Qxd5 7. Bc4 Qd6 8.
Qe2 O-O 9. Bg5 Be6 10. Nbd2 Bxc4 11. Nxc4 Qe6 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Nfd2 b5 14. Ne3
f5 15. a4 f4 16. Qg4+ Qg6 17. Qxg6+ hxg6 18. Nd5 Rad8 19. Nf6+ Kg7 20. Nfe4 Bb6
21. axb5 Ne7 22. Ke2 Nd5 23. g3 f5 24. Ng5 Rfe8 25. Nc4 e4 26. d4 f3+ 27. Kd2
Nf6 28. Ne3 Rd7 29. h4 Kh6 30. Rhd1 Nd5 31. Ra4 Kh5 32. Nh3 Nxe3 33. Kxe3 Kg4
34. Nf4 Rd6 35. Rc4 Re5 36. Rb4 Re8 37. Ra1 Re5 38. Ra6 Re8 39. Raa4 Rh8 40.
Ra1 Re8 41. Ra3 Rh8 42. Rba4 a5 43. Ra1 c5 44. bxc6 Rxc6 45. Rxa5 Bxa5 46. Rxa5
g5 47. hxg5 Rh1 48. d5 Rc8 49. g6 Re1+ 50. Kd2 Rf1 51. Ke3 Re1+ 52. Kd2 Rf1 53.
Ke3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 5th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2017.06.11"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B53"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2785"]
[Annotator "Hillarp Persson,T"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2017.06.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Nc3 {The point of this move is to get Black to put the
knight on f6 before playing d4. In this way White avoids some of Black's most
popular antidotes.} (3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 {and Black has three main options:} a6
(4... Nc6 5. Bb5 Bd7 {(Compare this position to the one that arises after 5...
Nc6 later.)} 6. Qd3 {is one of those awkward lines that are aimed at getting a
Maroczy setup, even at the price of playing some strange moves.} (6. Bxc6 Bxc6
7. Nc3 {, is similar to the game, but here Black can also play} h6 {,
intending e7-e5 and Nf6.}) 6... g6 7. O-O Bg7 8. c4 Nf6 9. Nc3 O-O 10. h3 a6
11. Bxc6 Bxc6 12. Nd4 {could be called a tabiya.}) (4... Nf6 {has become more
popular lately and White usually continues} 5. Bb5+ Bd7 6. c4 $5 (6. Bxd7+ Qxd7
7. c4 Nc6 8. Qd3 Qg4 9. Nc3 (9. O-O Qxe4 10. Qb3 Rb8 $2 (10... Ne5 $1 {and
White has little to show for having squandered the centre.}) 11. Nc3 $36 {
Bozinovic,B (1969)-Vucinic,G (2294) Veliko Gradiste 2016}) 9... Qxg2 10. Rf1
Rc8 {Carlsen,M (2855)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2789) Leuven 2016, was good for Black.
}) 6... g6 7. Nc3 Bg7 8. O-O O-O 9. Qd3 {with another typical Maroczy/
Bb5+-Sicilian.}) 5. c4 Nc6 6. Qe3 $5 {The
let's-put-the-queen-on-a-strange-square has gone so far that "strange" has
aquired a different meaning. If it works it is good and work it does.} g6 7. h3
Bh6 8. Qc3 Qa5 9. Qxa5 Nxa5 10. Bxh6 Nxh6 11. Nc3 Be6 12. b3 (12. Nd5 $1) 12...
O-O 13. Nd4 Nc6 14. Nxe6 $2 fxe6 $15 {0-1 (49) Muzychuk,M (2528)-Edouard,R 
(2636) Cap d'Agde 2015}) 3... Nf6 ({After} 3... a6 $5 {White's only decent way
to avoid the Najdorf is} 4. g3 $5 {when Black can choose between a Dragon
setup and a more traditional Taimanov- or Najdorf-fianchetto.}) 4. d4 cxd4 5.
Qxd4 a6 ({White is hoping for} 5... Nc6 6. Bb5 Bd7 7. Bxc6 Bxc6 8. Bg5 e6 9.
O-O-O {which is a whole different ball game. The last I checked, theory seemed
to agree that Black is all right here, but with the rise of the machines it is
quite possible that this verdict has changed.} Be7 10. Qd3 {[%cal Gf3d4]} Qa5
11. h4 {leads to a sharp game, but whether it is balanced I don't know.}) 6. e5
$1 {Otherwise Black gets a perfect Sicilian with Nc6 on the next move.} Nc6 7.
Qa4 dxe5 8. Nxe5 Bd7 9. Nxd7 Qxd7 {White has gained the bishop pair, but Black
has a harmonious position and develops fast. Intuitively I would not evaluate
this position as "better for White", as my silicon friend does, but the more I
look at it the more I feel that I perhaps should.} 10. Bd2 {A logical move
that paves the way for 0-0-0, but there is also something to be said for the
alternative, more positional way:} (10. Be3 {White is aiming to play g3, Bg2,
Rd1 and then take it from there. Black cannot sit idly by and wait, but needs
to find a way to derail White's effort.} e6 (10... g6 $6 11. Rd1 Qc7 12. g3 Bg7
13. Bg2 O-O 14. O-O Rac8 15. Bf4 Qb6 16. Qb3 Qxb3 17. axb3 $14) 11. Rd1 Qc7 12.
g3 Bb4 (12... Be7 $6 13. Bg2 Rc8 14. O-O O-O 15. Bf4 Qb6 16. Qb3 {and again
White gets a comfortable endgame advantage.}) 13. Bg2 O-O 14. Qb3 Ng4 15. Bf4
e5 16. Be3 Bxc3+ 17. Qxc3 Nxe3 18. fxe3 Rad8 {and Black is closing in on
equality. Still, this line clearly shows that Black is under some pressure.}) (
10. Bg5 {is less logical since it is Black's queenside that ought to be
attacked. After} e6 11. g3 Bb4 {White cannot play} 12. Bg2 $4 {due to} b5 13.
Qb3 Nd4 $1) 10... g6 {With white's king evacuating towards the queenside, it
is a good idea to aim the bishop towards b2.} 11. O-O-O Bg7 12. Bg5 {This is a
new move.} (12. Be3 Qc8 13. h3 $6 (13. g3 $5 {is more to the point, but I feel
Black should be fine here.}) 13... O-O 14. g4 {This arrangement is too slow
for White as it does not threaten the king while Black is not afraid to have
the knight kicked away from f6.} b5 15. Qb3 $6 Na5 (15... e6 $1 {[%csl Rb3]})
16. Qb4 {Blehm,P (2420)-Janssen,R (2345) Calicut 1998, was unclear.}) 12... Qg4
(12... Qf5 {is more ambitious. Perhaps Nakamura wanted to avoid Kramnik's
preparation, thinking "he probably thought I would keep the queens on, so I'll
swap them!". Maybe not.} 13. h4 (13. Bxf6 $2 Qxf6 {is absolutely horrendous
for White}) 13... O-O 14. f3 b5 15. Qf4 Qxf4+ 16. Bxf4 Rad8 {and Black's
pieces are working together very well.}) 13. Bxf6 {From a general
which-piece-ought-to-be-swapped point of view, this move is a bit surprising,
but it soon becomes obvious that it is a good move.} Qxa4 14. Nxa4 ({Not} 14.
Bxg7 $2 Qf4+ 15. Kb1 Rg8 $19) 14... Bxf6 15. c3 $1 {This move restricts both
the knight and the bishop. Black has no equivalent move to neutralise White's
minor pieces and thus Black's queenside comes under pressure.} e6 {At some
point Black must take control of d5 and this is as good a time as any.} ({
The active} 15... b5 {doesn't solve Black's problems:} 16. Nc5 (16. Nb6 Ra7 17.
g3 e6 18. Bg2 Nb8 $5 19. Rd3 O-O 20. Rhd1 $36) 16... O-O {and although there
are other ways to get some advantage, the principled} 17. Nd7 {seems the
simplest. After} Rfe8 18. Nxf6+ exf6 19. g3 Ne5 20. h3 Rac8 21. Kb1 {Black's
knight is not quite at par with the bishop.}) (15... Rc8 16. g3 Rc7 17. Nb6 e6)
16. g3 Rc8 17. Bg2 Be7 18. Rd2 h5 $1 {Since there is no way to exchange one's
way out of the pressure, priority number one becomes getting some counterplay.}
(18... O-O 19. Nb6 Rc7 20. Rhd1 Rd8 21. Rxd8+ Nxd8 22. Kc2 {and White has
terrific pressure on the queenside.}) 19. Rhd1 (19. h4 $2 {would reduce
White's winning chances significantly as the kingside pawns are set to be
chewed on by Black's bishop.}) 19... h4 20. Nb6 (20. g4 $2 Bg5) 20... Rc7 21.
Na8 {This kind of repetition saves time and also sends a message to the
opponent about who is in the driver's seat.} Rc8 22. Nb6 Rc7 (22... Rd8 23. b4
hxg3 24. hxg3 Rxd2 25. Rxd2 Rh2 26. Bxc6+ bxc6 27. a4 {, followed by Nc4, is
difficult for Black as both a6, c6 and - at some point - f7 are weak.}) 23. f4
$1 hxg3 24. hxg3 Rh5 (24... g5 $6 25. f5 $1 exf5 26. Nd5 Rc8 27. Rf2 {is just
awful for Black. Observe that} Rh2 $2 {fails due to} 28. Nb6 $1 {followed by
Bxc6+ and Rxh2.}) 25. Na8 $1 Rc8 26. Rd7 $1 {A wonderful concept built on the
strength of the unopposed bishop.} Rh2 (26... Rxa8 27. Rxb7 Rc8 (27... Nd8 28.
Rxe7+ Kxe7 29. Bxa8 $16) 28. Bxc6+ Rxc6 29. Rb8+ {and Black has to give up the
bishop.}) 27. Be4 $1 Re2 28. Bxc6 $2 {This move ruins it for Kramnik.} ({
The best move is} 28. Bf3 $1 {The point is that if Black plays} Re3 {, then} (
28... Rh2 29. Nb6 Rd8 30. Rxb7 $16) 29. Bxc6 bxc6 30. Nc7+ Kf8 31. Rh1 Bf6 32.
Rh7 Bg7 {looks almost exactly like the game, with the exception of the
placement of Black's active rook. In the game it is on e2, but here it is on
e3. But how can this be better for White? Now the rook is not just active but
also threatening a pawn! However, what is most important is that the rook is
not just on a casual stroll, window shopping for g-pawns, but on an important
mission to protect the e6-pawn. If the rook moves away White will strike with
Nxe6! So, White can continue with} 33. Kd2 $1 {and the rook ends up in a
pickle:} Re4 (33... Rxg3 $1 {might be the best still although} 34. Nxe6+ fxe6
35. Rdxg7 Rg2+ 36. Kc1 $1 (36. Ke3 Rxb2 37. Ra7 Kg8 {is less clear.}) 36...
Rg1+ 37. Kc2 Rg2+ 38. Kb3 Rb8+ 39. Rb7 Rxb7+ 40. Rxb7 Rg4 41. Ra7 Rxf4 42. Rxa6
g5 43. Rxc6 Kf7 44. a4 g4 45. Rd6 {and White should win.}) 34. b3 c5 35. Rh1 c4
36. b4 e5 37. f5 $1 gxf5 38. Rh5 Rg4 39. Rxf5 Rxg3 40. Ke2 $1 f6 41. Kf2 Rg4 (
41... Rxc3 $2 42. Ne6+) 42. a4 {with complete domination.}) 28... bxc6 29. Nc7+
Kf8 30. Rh1 Bf6 31. Nxa6 Ra8 $1 {Black's activity is no less valuable than
White's extra pawn.} 32. Nb4 (32. Rh7 $2 Rxa6 33. Rhxf7+ (33. Rdxf7+ Kg8) 33...
Ke8) 32... c5 33. Nd3 Rxa2 34. Kb1 Ra8 $1 35. Nxc5 Rb8 36. Rb7 Rxb7 37. Nxb7
Rg2 38. Rh3 g5 $1 {Improving the scope of the bishop and opening up a road
towards g4 for the king.} 39. fxg5 Bxg5 40. Nc5 Be7 $1 {If White's knight goes
to d3, the bishop will control it from d6. If the knight goes to e4, then the
bishop is already in the right spot and Black can play f7-f5.} 41. Nd3 Bd6 42.
Nf4 Rf2 43. Rh4 (43. b4 Ke7 $1 {and White cannot go forward with the pawns
without the support of the king.} (43... Bxf4 44. gxf4 Rxf4 45. Kb2 Ke7 46. Kb3
f5 {also works, but there is no reason for Black to hurry with such an
exchange.})) 43... Ke7 44. Rg4 Rf1+ 45. Kc2 Rf2+ 46. Kb3 Rd2 47. Rg8 Rf2 48.
Rg4 Rd2 49. Rg8 Rf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norway Chess 5th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2017.06.12"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[Annotator "Stohl,I"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2017.06.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 (5. e3 {gives Black a wider
choice:} Nc6 ({Plausible alternatives are} 5... dxc4 6. Bxc4 a6 7. O-O b5 8.
Be2 Bb7 9. dxc5 Qxd1 (9... Bxc5 10. Qxd8+ Kxd8 11. Nd2 Nbd7 12. Nb3 Bb6 13. a4
b4 14. a5 Ba7 15. Na2 Bd5 16. Nd4 e5 17. Nf5 Bc5 18. Bd2 Ne4 19. Rfd1 Bxa2 20.
Rxa2 g6 21. Ng3 Nxd2 22. Rxd2 Ke7 23. Ra1 Rhc8 24. Rad1 Nf6 25. b3 h5 26. Bf3
Rab8 27. Ne4 Rb5 $11 {Wojtaszek,R (2749)-Bu,X (2705) Doha rpd 2016}) 10. Rxd1
Bxc5 11. Nd2 Be7 12. Nb3 Nc6 13. e4 O-O 14. Be3 Rfd8 15. Bb6 Rxd1+ 16. Rxd1 Kf8
17. Nc5 Bc8 18. a3 Ke8 19. Nxb5 axb5 20. Bxb5 Bxc5 21. Bxc6+ Bd7 22. Bxa8 Bxb6
23. h3 e5 24. b3 Ke7 $13 {1/2-1/2 (55) Li,C (2720)-Xiong,J (2658)
Khanty-Mansiysk 2017}) ({and also} 5... a6 $5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. g3 (7. Be2 Nc6 8.
O-O Bd6 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. b3 ({or} 10. a3 {is the more usual follow-up})) 7...
Nc6 8. Bg2 Bd6 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. O-O O-O 11. Nd4 Nxd4 12. exd4 Ba7 13. Bg5 Be6
14. Rc1 Rc8 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Nxd5 Bxd5 17. Bxd5 Rxc1 18. Qxc1 b5 19. Qc6 Bxd4
20. Qxf6 Bxf6 21. b3 Rd8 22. Rd1 Kf8 $11 {Aronian,L (2792)-Caruana,F (2807)
Saint Louis 2016}) 6. cxd5 (6. a3 a6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. b4 Ba7 9. Bb2 O-O 10. Qc2
Bd7 11. Be2 dxc4 12. Bxc4 Rc8 13. Ne4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4 Nd4 15. Ne5 Bb5 16. Bxb5
Nxb5 17. O-O Qe7 18. Rad1 Rfd8 19. Nc4 Bd4 $1 20. Bxd4 Rxc4 21. Bc5 Rxd1 22.
Rxd1 Rxe4 23. Bxe7 h5 $11 {Bu,X (2712)-Wei,Y (2728) Beijing 2017}) 6... Nxd5 7.
Bd3 {and now:} Be7 (7... cxd4 8. exd4 Bb4 $6 9. O-O $1 {is extremely risky for
Black:} O-O 10. Bc2 Bd7 11. a3 Bxc3 12. Qd3 f5 13. bxc3 b5 14. a4 a6 15. Re1
Qc7 16. Ng5 (16. Bb3 $5) 16... Qd6 {Grischuk,A (2742)-Mamedyarov,S (2766)
Sharjah 2017} 17. Bb3 $1 $16 {Grischuk For more details see the notes to this
game in CBM 177 by Hillarp Persson}) 8. O-O O-O {is the more flexible
continuation - after} 9. Re1 {Black can retain the tension with} b6 $5 $132)
5... Nxd5 (5... exd5 $2 6. Bg5 $16 {is out of the question.}) ({However,
especially Chinese players have successfully employed} 5... cxd4 6. Qxd4 (6.
Qa4+ Bd7 7. Qxd4 exd5 8. Nxd5 Qa5+ 9. Nc3 Nc6 10. Qd1 Ne4 $44) 6... exd5 7. e4
({White has recently tried the less forcing} 7. Bg5 $5 Be7 8. e3) 7... Nc6 8.
Bb5 dxe4 9. Qxd8+ Kxd8 10. Ng5 Be6 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Nxe6+ fxe6 13. Ke2 Bb4 14.
Na4 Kc7 15. Bf4+ Bd6 16. Be3 Nd5 17. Rac1 Rhf8 18. Nc5 Bxc5 19. Rxc5 Nf4+ 20.
Bxf4+ Rxf4 21. Ke3 Raf8 22. Rc2 Rg4 23. g3 Rf3+ 24. Ke2 Rg6 25. Rhc1 Rgf6 26.
Rxc6+ Kd7 27. Rc7+ Kd6 28. R1c6+ Kd5 29. Rc5+ {½, So,W (2808)-Wei,Y (2706)
Wijk aan Zee 2017}) 6. e4 {The principled main line.} ({The more modest} 6. e3
{has at least in comparison with 5.e3 the advantage of limiting Black's
options (for example White has already avoided positions, in which he would
face the isolated Pd5). This line already arose in a very important game
between the same opponents:} Nc6 7. Bd3 Be7 8. a3 O-O 9. Qc2 ({After the
standard} 9. O-O {Black can again consider} b6 $5 10. Qc2 Nxc3 11. bxc3 g6 12.
Rd1 Qc7 13. Bb2 Bb7 14. dxc5 bxc5 15. c4 f5 16. Rab1 Rad8 17. Be2 Rxd1+ 18.
Bxd1 Ba8 19. Qd2 Rd8 20. Qc3 e5 21. Ne1 Qa5 22. f3 Kf7 $11 {Wang,H (2733)
-Ponomariov,R (2751) Bucharest 2013 See the notes to this game in CBM 157 by
Wang Hao.}) 9... cxd4 10. exd4 f5 $5 11. O-O Bf6 12. Nxd5 Qxd5 13. Be3 b5 $1
14. Qe2 Bb7 15. Rac1 a6 16. Rfd1 f4 17. Rc5 Qd6 {Aronian,L (2809)-Kramnik,V 
(2810) London Candidates 2013} 18. Bxf4 Qxf4 19. Qxe6+ Kh8 20. Rh5 h6 21. Nh4
$1 $132 {For more details see the notes to this game in CBM 154 by Postny.})
6... Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O {The starting
position of a line, which has been around since the 1930s (e.g. in the
Alekhine-Euwe match). It has quite a solid reputation for Black and even 2
high-calibre wins by White in 1969 didn't discourage Black, who subsequently
found ways to sidestep the danger and hold the balance. Although White has a
mobile pawn centre, his chances for a successful attack are lessened by the
swap of two pairs of minor pieces. Further simplification may give Black a
pleasant endgame with the prospect of building a distant passed pawn on the
queenside.} 11. Bc4 {Kramnik has played the Semi-Tarrasch quite a few times
since 2013 and his games are good examples of the modern development of the
line. He played also it against Aronian, in their earlier encounters 
(including the blitz event in Norway 2017) when Levon preferred the other main
move:} (11. Rc1 {and now:} {Currently the more usual reaction is} b6 $142 (
11... Nc6 12. Bc4 {makes it more difficult for Black to fianchetto his B, but
matters are still not too clear:} (12. Bb5 $5 Bd7 13. O-O Ne5 14. Be2 Nxf3+ 15.
Bxf3 Rc8 16. d5 Qf6 17. Qa5 exd5 18. exd5 a6 19. Qa3 Rxc1 20. Rxc1 Rc8 21.
Rxc8+ Bxc8 22. h3 g6 23. Qc5 Qa1+ 24. Kh2 Qe5+ 25. g3 Bf5 26. a4 b5 27. axb5
axb5 28. Qxb5 Qd4 29. Kg2 Kg7 30. Qe8 h5 31. Qe7 Qf6 32. Qe3 Qd6 $14 {Peralta,
F (2574)-Negi,P (2645) Tromsoe olm 2014 In the end Black managed to hold his
fortress.}) 12... Na5 (12... Qa5 13. d5 $1 (13. Qxa5 Nxa5 14. Bd3 Rd8 15. Ke2
Nc6 16. Ke3 Bd7 17. Rc3 Kf8 18. Rb1 Rab8 19. Bb5 f6 20. Ra3 Ke8 21. Bxc6 Bxc6
22. Ne1 Ra8 23. Nd3 b6 24. Rc1 Rdc8 $11 {Tikkanen,H (2360)-Aagaard,J (2445)
Sweden 2002}) 13... exd5 14. Qxa5 Nxa5 15. Bxd5 Be6 16. Bxe6 fxe6 17. Ne5 Rfd8
18. Ke2 Rd4 19. Ke3 Ra4 20. Rhd1 Nc6 21. Nxc6 bxc6 22. Rd2 Rc8 23. Rc5 $36 {
1/2-1/2 (53) Anand,V (2797)-Naiditsch,A (2706) Baden-Baden 2015}) (12... Qd6
13. O-O Rd8 14. Rfd1 Bd7 15. Qe3 h6 16. h3 Na5 17. Bd3 Rac8 18. e5 Qd5 19. Rc5
Qxa2 20. Qe4 Rxc5 21. dxc5 Kf8 (21... Ba4 $142 $1 22. Qh7+ Kf8 {/\} 23. Re1 $1
Bc6 24. Be2 Qa4 25. Qh8+ Ke7 26. Qxg7 Qf4 $13 {Houdini}) 22. Bb5 Ke7 23. Qh4+
Ke8 24. Qd4 Qd5 25. Qa4 Qxd1+ 26. Qxd1 Bxb5 27. Qb1 $16 {Moiseenko,A (2698)
-Romanov,E (2640) Legnica 2013 See the notes to this game in CBM 155 by
Ftacnik.}) 13. Bd3 b6 $5 (13... h6 14. O-O b6 15. h4 Bb7 16. Bb1 Rc8 17. d5
exd5 18. e5 Ba6 19. Rxc8 Bxc8 20. h5 Nb7 21. Qd3 f5 22. Rd1 (22. exf6 {seems
extremely dangerous, but the engine survives the onslaught after} Qxf6 23. Qh7+
Kf7 24. Re1 Be6 25. Ne5+ Ke8 26. Ng4 Qe7 $13) 22... Qe7 23. Qxd5+ Be6 24. Qc6
Rd8 25. Nd4 Bf7 26. Bxf5 Nc5 27. f4 Qh4 28. Qf3 Bxh5 29. g4 Be8 30. Kg2 g6 31.
Bc2 Bf7 $132 {Eilmes,D (2276)-Vecek,M (2210) email 2011}) 14. h4 $5 (14. O-O
Bb7 15. Qf4 Rc8 16. Rxc8 Qxc8 17. Rc1 Qb8 18. Rc7 f6 19. d5 Rf7 20. d6 e5 21.
Qc1 Rxc7 22. dxc7 Qe8 23. Bc4+ Nxc4 24. Qxc4+ Kf8 25. Qd3 Ke7 26. Qa3+ {
½, Kucherov,D (2122)-Popov,V (2216) email 2011}) 14... Bb7 15. Rh3 f5 16. exf5
exf5 17. Qf4 Rc8 18. Rxc8 Qxc8 19. Kf1 Qe6 20. Kg1 Qxa2 21. Ne5 Qe6 22. Rg3 Be4
$132 {Nyzhnyk,I (2629)-Macieja,B (2583) Dallas 2014}) 12. Bd3 Bb7 13. O-O Nd7 (
13... h6 14. Qe3 Nc6 15. h4 $1 (15. Rfd1 Rc8 16. h4 Ne7 17. h5 Qd6 18. d5 Rxc1
19. Rxc1 Rc8 20. Re1 Rc3 21. Qd2 Rc5 22. Bb1 Kf8 23. Qd3 Rc8 24. a3 e5 (24...
Rd8 $5 $11) 25. Qb3 Rc5 26. Qb2 f6 27. Ba2 Bc8 28. Nd2 Bg4 29. Nc4 Qd7 30. d6
Nc6 31. Nxb6 {Mamedyarov,S (2756)-Kramnik,V (2783) Shamkir 2015} Qxd6 $1 32.
Qb3 Be6 $11) 15... Rc8 16. h5 Qe7 17. Bb1 Rfd8 18. d5 exd5 19. e5 Ba6 20. Rfe1
Qd7 21. Qf4 Ne7 22. Nd4 Rxc1 23. Qxc1 $36 {Giri,A (2790)-Harikrishna,P (2763)
Shamkir 2016 See the notes to this game in CBM 173 by Iotov.}) 14. Qe3 (14. Qf4
h6 (14... Nf6 15. h3 Rc8 (15... h6 16. Rc3 Rc8 17. Ra3 a6 18. Rb3 Nd7 19. Rfb1
Qc7 20. Ne5 f6 21. Ng6 Qxf4 22. Nxf4 Kf7 23. d5 (23. Be2 $5 Bxe4 24. Re1 $36)
23... exd5 24. exd5 g5 25. Bg6+ Kg7 26. Bf5 gxf4 27. Bxd7 Bxd5 28. Rxb6 Bxa2
29. Bxc8 Bxb1 30. Bxa6 Bf5 $11 {Stefanova,A (2527)-Socko,B (2637) Antwerp 2009}
) 16. Rxc8 Qxc8 17. Rc1 Qb8 18. Qh4 h6 19. e5 Nd5 20. Qe4 g6 21. Qg4 Rc8 22.
Re1 Ne7 23. Nh4 Qc7 24. Bxg6 Nxg6 25. Nxg6 fxg6 26. Qxg6+ Qg7 27. Qxe6+ Kh8 $13
{/=/+, Dragun,K (2614)-Rausis,I (2617) Teplice 2017}) 15. h4 $5 (15. e5 Rc8 16.
Nd2 Rxc1 (16... Qg5 17. Qxg5 hxg5 18. Ne4 (18. Nc4 $142 $1 Ba6 19. Nxb6 $14)
18... Bxe4 19. Bxe4 Rfd8 20. g3 b5 21. Rxc8 Rxc8 22. Rb1 Rc4 $11 {Gharamian,T 
(2672)-Gyimesi,Z (2651) Belfort 2012}) 17. Rxc1 f6 18. Qg4 Nxe5 19. Qxe6+ Rf7
20. Bf5 g6 21. Nc4 Nxc4 22. Bxg6 Nd6 23. d5 Kf8 24. Bxf7 Nxf7 25. Rd1 Qd6 $13 {
Nakamura,H (2787)-Kramnik,V (2812) Paris rpd 2016}) 15... Rc8 16. Rxc8 Qxc8 17.
Rc1 Qb8 (17... Qa8 $5) 18. Qxb8 Rxb8 19. Rc7 Nf6 20. Ne5 Bxe4 21. Bxe4 Nxe4 22.
Rxf7 (22. f3 Ng3 23. Nxf7 Ne2+ 24. Kh2 Nxd4 25. Rxa7 Rc8 $11 {Gupta,A (2643)
-Golod,V (2561) New Delhi 2012}) 22... a5 23. Rc7 {Gelfand,B (2724)-Kramnik,V 
(2811) Zuerich rpd 2017} Rd8 $132) {Later games featured} 14... Nf6 (14... Rc8
15. e5 $5 Bxf3 (15... h6 16. Nd2 Bd5 17. Ne4 Bxa2 18. Ra1 Bc4 19. Bxc4 Rxc4 20.
Rxa7 Rc7 21. Ra3 f5 {Collas,S (2287)-Cosma,E (2335) Porto Carras 2011} 22. Nc3
$36 {[%cal Yd4d5,Yc3b5,Yb5d6]}) 16. Qxf3 Qh4 17. Qe3 Rfd8 18. f4 Nf8 (18... g6
$5) 19. Rxc8 Rxc8 20. f5 exf5 21. Bxf5 Rd8 22. Rd1 Ng6 23. Bxg6 hxg6 24. d5 Qc4
25. d6 Qe6 26. Qg3 b5 27. h3 $16 {Aronian,L (2809)-Kramnik,V (2801) Paris/St
Petersburg 2013 See the notes to this game in CBM 154 by Aronian.}) 15. Ne5 Qe7
16. f3 Rfd8 17. Bb5 (17. Rc2 Rac8 18. Rfc1 h6 19. Be2 Qd6 20. a3 Rxc2 21. Rxc2
Nd7 22. Nc4 Qc7 23. Bd3 b5 24. Nd2 {½, Hammer,J (2628)-Vallejo Pons,F (2709)
Sharjah 2017} Qb6 $11) 17... Rac8 18. Bc6 (18. a4 h6 19. h3 Ne8 20. Nc6 Bxc6
21. Bxc6 Nd6 22. d5 e5 23. Qa3 Qg5 24. a5 b5 25. Qc5 Rc7 26. a6 f5 27. Rce1
fxe4 28. fxe4 Qd2 29. Qf2 Qxf2+ 30. Kxf2 Rb8 31. Ke3 Rb6 32. Ra1 b4 $36 {
Aronian,L (2793)-Kramnik,V (2808) Stavanger blitz 2017}) 18... Ne8 19. Ba4 Nd6
20. Qa3 Nf5 $6 (20... Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Qg5 22. Rd1 $14) (20... f6 $5 21. Nd3 Ba6
$132) 21. Qxe7 Nxe7 22. Bd7 Rb8 23. Rc7 Ng6 24. Nxf7 $6 (24. Nxg6 hxg6 25. Rd1
$36) 24... Kxf7 25. Bc8+ Ne7 26. Bxb7 Rxd4 27. f4 Rbd8 $11 {Aronian,L (2792)
-Kramnik,V (2812) Leuven blitz 2016}) 11... Nd7 {Currently the attention is
focussed on the text move.} (11... Nc6 {is the older line, here after} 12. O-O
b6 {the dominant continuation is} 13. Rad1 (13. Rfd1 Bb7 14. Qf4 Rc8 15. d5
exd5 16. Bxd5 Qe7 17. Ng5 Ne5 $1 18. Bxb7 Ng6 19. Qf5 Qxb7 20. Rd7 Qa6 $132 {
[%cal Ra6a2] Alekhine,A-Euwe,M WCh Netherlands 1937}) ({Interesting is} 13.
Rfe1 $5 Bb7 14. d5 Na5 15. Bd3 {/\} exd5 16. e5 $1 $44 {Declining the offer
can lead to positions mentioned below.}) 13... Bb7 14. Rfe1 (14. Qf4 Qf6 15.
Qe3 Rac8 16. e5 $6 Qh6 $1 17. Qxh6 gxh6 18. Rfe1 Nb4 19. Bb3 Rfd8 20. Re3 Nd5
21. Re4 Nc3 22. Rg4+ Kh8 23. Re1 a5 24. Nd2 b5 $36 {Gschnitzer,O (2427)-Ribli,
Z (2585) Germany 2005 This game highlights one of Black's strategic goals - an
advantageous endgame.}) 14... Rc8 15. d5 Na5 (15... exd5 16. Bxd5 Na5 $6 (16...
Qe7 $142 $14) (16... Qc7 $5 $14) 17. Qf4 Qc7 18. Qf5 Bxd5 19. exd5 Qc2 20. Qf4
Qxa2 21. d6 Rcd8 22. d7 $36 {[%csl Gd7] Spassky,B-Petrosian,T WCh Moscow 1969})
16. Bd3 Qe7 $142 $5 {is possibly the best move, Black should hold after} (16...
Qd6 17. dxe6 $5 (17. Qg5 h6 18. Qg4 Rcd8 19. h4 Kh8 20. h5 Bc8 21. Qh4 exd5 22.
e5 Qe6 23. Nd4 Qg4 24. Qxg4 Bxg4 25. f3 Bd7 26. e6 Bxe6 27. Nxe6 fxe6 28. Rxe6
Nb7 29. Re7 Nc5 $132 {Klim,K (2357)-Cyborowski,L (2546) Rewal 2012}) 17... fxe6
18. Qg5 Qd8 19. e5 Qe8 20. Nd4 Nc4 21. f4 Nb2 22. Bb5 Qf7 23. Rb1 Nc4 24. Rbc1
Na3 25. f5 $16 {Havumaki,A-Galje,H (2287) email 2012}) (16... exd5 $6 17. e5
Nc4 18. Qf4 $36 h6 (18... Nb2 $6 19. Bxh7+ $1 Kxh7 20. Ng5+ Kg6 21. h4 $3 Rc4 (
21... Qe7 22. Re3 $1 Rc4 23. h5+ Kh6 24. Ne4+ Kh7 25. Qf5+ Kh6 26. Rg3 Rxe4 27.
Rg6+ Kh7 28. Re6+ Kg8 29. Rxe7 Bc8 30. Qg5 Nxd1 31. h6 Rg4 {Mehlhorn,U (2183)
-Drobusch,R (2045) email 2003} 32. Qh5 gxh6 33. e6 $18) 22. h5+ (22. Rd4 $5 $16
) 22... Kh6 23. Nxf7+ Kh7 24. Qf5+ Kg8 25. e6 Qf6 26. Qxf6 gxf6 27. Rd2 $16 {
Polugaevsky,L-Tal,M Moscow 1969}) 19. Qf5 g6 20. Qh3 (20. Qg4 $1 Kg7 21. Nd4
$40) 20... Kg7 21. e6 Qf6 22. exf7 Qxf7 23. Qg3 Rce8 {Bhat,V (2510)-Gerzhoy,L 
(2456) Palma de Mallorca 2009} 24. Nh4 $36) 17. Qf4 (17. dxe6 fxe6 (17... Qxe6
18. Nd4 Qe5 19. Nf5 g6 20. Nh6+ Kh8 21. Ng4 Qe6 22. Qf4 f6 23. Bb5 g5 24. Qg3
Rcd8 25. Rxd8 Rxd8 26. e5 a6 27. Bf1 Rd4 28. exf6 $1 {1-0, Dokhoian,Y (2570)
-Webb,S (2410) Tbilisi 1989}) 18. Bb5 Bc6 19. a4 Rcd8 20. Qe3 Rxd1 21. Rxd1 Rd8
22. Rxd8+ {½, Krzyzanowski,W (2128)-Van Hooff,R (1967) email 2011} Qxd8 $11)
17... Nc4 (17... Rfd8 18. h4 (18. dxe6 Qxe6 19. e5 Bxf3 20. Qxf3 g6 21. Be4
Rxd1 22. Qxd1 Rc5 23. f4 Nc6 24. Qd6 Qc4 25. g3 Qc3 26. Kf2 Nd4 27. Qd8+ {
½, Nickel,A (2579)-Golod,V (2305) Chessfriend.com 2003}) 18... h6 19. h5 Rc5
$5 20. Bb1 Nc4 21. dxe6 fxe6 22. Qg4 Rf8 23. Nd4 Bc8 24. e5 {Leitao,R (2598)
-Eliet,N (2427) Charleroi 2006} Nxe5 25. Qe4 Qf6 26. Qh7+ Kf7 27. f4 Ng4 $13)
18. Rc1 b5 19. a4 a6 20. axb5 (20. Rb1 b4 21. Rec1 e5 22. Qh4 Qxh4 23. Nxh4 Nd2
24. Nf5 Nxb1 25. Ne7+ Kh8 26. Nxc8 Rxc8 27. Rxb1 a5 $15 {Bubnov,V (2182)-Van
Hooff,R (1967) email 2010}) 20... axb5 21. Bxc4 Rxc4 22. Rxc4 bxc4 23. dxe6
fxe6 24. Qe5 Rc8 25. Rc1 Qf6 $11 {Gyimesi,Z (2652)-Pinter,J (2546) Austria 2012
}) 12. O-O b6 13. Rac1 {The placement of the R will indicate White's
middlegame plans. We'll check the alternatives:} (13. a4 Bb7 14. Rfe1 (14. Bd3
Nf6 $5 (14... Rb8 15. Rfe1 h6 16. a5 b5 17. Rac1 a6 18. Qb4 Rc8 19. Nd2 Rxc1 (
19... Nb8 $1 $132) 20. Rxc1 Ne5 $2 21. Bxb5 axb5 22. dxe5 Qd3 23. h3 $16 {
Carlsen,M (2851)-Kramnik,V (2801) Stavanger blitz 2016}) (14... e5 15. Qe3 $1
exd4 16. Nxd4 Nc5 17. Bc2 Re8 18. f3 Qf6 19. a5 Rad8 20. Rfd1 Ba6 21. axb6 axb6
22. Ba4 Nxa4 23. Rxa4 b5 24. Rb4 Rd7 25. Rc1 Red8 26. e5 Qb6 27. Rc6 Qa7 28.
Nf5 Qxe3+ 29. Nxe3 Ra8 30. Kf2 g6 31. h4 h5 32. e6 fxe6 33. Rxe6 $14 {Carlsen,
M (2855)-Kramnik,V (2812) Paris 2016 See the notes to this game in CBM 173 by
Sadorra.}) (14... Rc8 15. a5 Qc7 16. Rfb1 (16. Rfc1 Qd6 17. a6 Ba8 18. h3 h6
19. Rxc8 Rxc8 20. Rc1 Rxc1+ 21. Qxc1 Bc6 22. d5 $6 exd5 23. e5 Qc5 24. Qf4 Nf8
25. Nd4 Bd7 $17 {Melkumyan,H (2633)-Bu,X (2705) Doha blitz 2016}) 16... h6 17.
h3 Rfd8 18. Ra3 Qd6 19. Rab3 Rc7 20. axb6 Nxb6 21. Ra1 f5 22. Qe2 fxe4 23. Bxe4
Bxe4 24. Qxe4 Qd5 25. Qxd5 Nxd5 26. Rba3 Nc3 27. Rxa7 Ne2+ 28. Kh2 Rxa7 29.
Rxa7 Nxd4 $11 {Ding,L (2707)-Kramnik,V (2801) Paris/St Petersburg 2013}) 15.
Rfe1 h6 16. a5 a6 $5 (16... bxa5 17. Rxa5 Qc7 18. Rc1 (18. Ne5 Rfc8 19. f3 Qd8
20. Bf1 Nd7 21. Nc4 Nb6 22. Ne3 Rc7 23. Rea1 Rd7 24. Nc2 Nc8 25. Bb5 Rd6 26.
Qb4 Rb8 27. Bd3 Ne7 28. Rb5 a6 29. e5 {Salem,A (2633)-Hou,Y (2652) Moscow 2017}
axb5 30. Qxd6 Qxd6 31. exd6 Nc8 32. d7 Nd6 33. Ra7 Kf8 34. Bxb5 Ke7 35. Ba4 Ra8
$11) (18. Rc5 Qe7 19. h3 Rfc8 20. Ra5 Qc7 21. Rc5 Qe7 22. Ra5 {½, Schenk,A 
(2463)-Cyborowski,L (2524) Germany 2017}) 18... Qd8 19. Re1 Qc7 20. Qb4 Rfb8
21. Qa3 (21. Rc5 Qf4 22. Qd2 Qxd2 23. Nxd2 Rd8 24. Nb3 a5 25. Rxa5 Rxa5 26.
Nxa5 Rxd4 27. Nxb7 Rxd3 $11 {Wojtaszek,R (2745)-Kramnik,V (2811) Shamkir 2017})
21... Rc8 22. h3 (22. Rxa7 Rxa7 23. Qxa7 Ra8 24. Qc5 Qxc5 25. dxc5 Nd7 26. Rc1
Rc8 $11) 22... a6 (22... Qf4 23. d5 exd5 24. e5 Ne4 25. Qe7 Bc6 26. e6 Rf8 27.
exf7+ Rxf7 28. Qb4 Re8 29. Qd4 Ng5 30. Rxe8+ Bxe8 31. Qxf4 Rxf4 32. Nxg5 hxg5
33. Rxd5 g4 $11 {Radjabov,T (2710)-Karjakin,S (2783) Shamkir 2017}) 23. Ne5 Qd8
24. Nf3 Rc7 25. Ra4 a5 26. Ne5 Bc6 27. Rxa5 Bxe4 28. Bxe4 Rxa5 29. Qxa5 Nxe4
$11 {Svidler,P (2755)-Kramnik,V (2811) Sochi 2017}) 17. axb6 Qxb6 18. Rab1 Qc7
19. Rbc1 Qe7 20. Qa5 Rfc8 21. Rxc8+ Rxc8 22. Nd2 Qd7 23. Qb6 Rc3 24. Bxa6 Bxa6
25. Qxa6 Qxd4 26. Nf3 Qc5 $11 {/=/+, Topalov,V (2803)-Carlsen,M (2834) London
2015}) 14... Rc8 (14... Rb8 15. Bb5 Nf6 16. Bd3 h6 17. Rab1 Ba8 18. h3 Qe7 19.
Rb3 Rfd8 20. Qb2 Rbc8 21. a5 bxa5 22. Ra3 Rb8 23. Qa2 Qb4 24. Rb1 (24. Rxa5
Rxd4 25. Rb1 Qxb1+ 26. Bxb1 Rd1+ 27. Kh2 Rdxb1 $11) 24... Qf8 25. Re1 Qb4 26.
Rb1 Qf8 27. Re1 {½, Ponomariov,R (2706)-Kramnik,V (2812) Dortmund 2016}) 15.
Bd3 h6 16. a5 Qc7 17. axb6 axb6 18. Ra3 Rfd8 19. Qb2 Qd6 20. Rb3 Rc7 21. Ne5
Nf6 22. Nf3 Qf4 23. Qe2 Rc1 24. Qe3 Rxe1+ 25. Nxe1 Qxe3 26. fxe3 Bxe4 27. Bxe4
Nxe4 28. Rxb6 Ra8 $11 {/=/+, Deac,B (2572)-Kramnik,V (2809) Medias blitz 2016})
({The most usual follow-up has long been} 13. Rfe1 Bb7 14. Rad1 Rc8 {and now:}
15. Bb3 {supports the d5-advance:} (15. Bd3 Nf6 (15... Qc7 16. Qe3 Rfd8 17. e5
Bxf3 $5 18. Qxf3 Nf8 19. Ba6 Rb8 20. Qe2 Ng6 21. g3 Qc3 $132 {Kozul,Z (2593)
-Gyimesi,Z (2592) Murska Sobota 2008}) (15... Re8 16. h4 Nf8 17. h5 h6 18. a4
Nh7 19. Qf4 {Mamedyarov,S (2729)-Socko,B (2635) Istanbul olm 2012} Ng5 $11) 16.
Qf4 (16. d5 exd5 17. e5 Ne4 18. Qf4 Nc5 19. Bf5 Ne6 (19... Rc7 $142 $13) 20.
Qg4 Rc6 21. Qh3 g6 22. Bxe6 Rxe6 23. Nd4 $44 {Saldano Dayer,H (2345)-Magem
Badals,J (2535) Linares 1998}) (16. Bb1 Re8 17. Qf4 Qc7 18. Ne5 Red8 19. g4 Rf8
20. Rc1 Qd6 21. Rxc8 Bxc8 22. Qe3 Rd8 23. Rc1 Bb7 24. g5 Ne8 25. Nf3 Qe7 26. h3
Qb4 27. Qc3 Qa4 28. Bc2 Qd7 29. Qd3 Nd6 30. Qe2 Rc8 31. Rd1 Qc6 $17 {[%csl Rc2,
Re4] Solomon,K (2378)-Nakamura,H (2787) Tromsoe olm 2014}) 16... Qc7 17. Qh4 h6
18. h3 (18. e5 Bxf3 19. gxf3 Nd5 20. Kh1 Qe7 21. Qe4 g6 22. Rg1 Kh8 23. Rg3 Rg8
24. Rdg1 Rg7 25. Qg4 Qg5 26. Qxg5 hxg5 27. Rxg5 Rgg8 28. R5g4 Kg7 $44 {
Martinovic,S (2517)-Dragnev,V (2372) Austria 2016}) (18. d5 exd5 19. e5 Ne4 20.
Qf4 f6 21. Qf5 fxe5 22. Qe6+ Qf7 23. Qxe5 Qf6 $15 {Sadkowsky,D (2340)-Van
Herck,M (2214) Brasschaat 2008}) 18... Rfd8 19. Bb1 b5 20. d5 exd5 21. e5 Ne4
22. Nd4 Qxe5 23. Nxb5 Qb2 24. Nxa7 g5 $15 {Rausis,I (2500)-Rotstein,A (2528)
Cannes 2005}) 15... Nf6 (15... h6 16. Qf4 Qc7 17. Qh4 Rfd8 18. h3 b5 19. d5
exd5 20. e5 $6 (20. Nd4 $1 $44) 20... Re8 21. Qh5 a5 22. Rd4 a4 23. Bd1 Re6 24.
Rf4 Nc5 25. Be2 Ne4 $15 {Kovalenko,I (2700)-Kramnik,V (2777) Berlin rpd 2015})
16. d5 (16. Qf4 Qc7 17. Qxc7 (17. Qh4 h6 (17... Rfd8 $6 {Keres,P-Fine,R Ostend
1937} 18. Ng5 $1 {[%cal Re4e5]} h6 19. Nxe6 $36) 18. h3 Rfd8 $132 19. Re3 b5
20. Nh2 $6 Kf8 21. e5 Qc6 22. Rf3 Qe4 $17 {Shchekachev,A (2515)-Moussard,J 
(2439) Le Port Marly 2014}) 17... Rxc7 18. d5 exd5 19. exd5 Rd7 20. Ne5 Rd6 21.
Nc6 a6 (21... Re8 22. Rxe8+ Nxe8 23. Nxa7 Nc7 24. a4 Kf8 25. f3 Ke7 26. Rb1 $14
{Mareco,S (2655)-Mastrovasilis,A (2524) Dubai 2017}) (21... Bxc6 22. dxc6 Rxc6
23. Re7 {[%cal Re7f7,Ye7a7] Gaspar,L-Nestler,D Luxembourg 1993} g6 24. Rxa7 Ne4
25. f3 Nc5 26. Bd5 $14 {/=}) 22. Re7 Nd7 23. Ne5 Nxe5 24. Rxb7 Nd7 25. Rc7 Rd8
26. Re1 Nf6 27. Ra7 b5 28. Ree7 Nd7 29. h4 Kf8 $11 {Vitiugov,N (2692)
-Mastrovasilis,A (2510) WChT Bursa 2010}) 16... exd5 17. exd5 Rc5 $5 (17... Qd7
18. d6 Bxf3 19. gxf3 Rfe8 20. Qf4 h6 21. Rc1 Rxc1 22. Rxc1 Qh3 23. Ba4 Nd7 24.
Bxd7 Qxd7 25. Rc7 Qe6 26. d7 Rd8 $11 {Kratochvil,J (2114)-Andersen,J (2258)
email 2011 holds, but by a thin thread.}) 18. d6 (18. Re5 Qd6 19. h3 h6 20. Qf4
Nd7 21. Re4 Qxf4 22. Rxf4 Nf6 23. d6 Rd8 24. Nh4 Be4 25. Re1 Bc2 26. Bxc2 Rxc2
27. Nf5 Rxa2 28. Nxh6+ gxh6 29. Rxf6 Kg7 30. Rf4 Rxd6 $17 {Li,C (2755)
-Harikrishna,P (2763) Stavanger blitz 2016}) 18... Bd5 19. Bxd5 Rxd5 20. Qf4
Qd7 21. h3 h6 22. Rxd5 Nxd5 23. Qe5 Nf6 24. Rc1 Rd8 25. Rc7 Qxd6 26. Qxd6 Rxd6
{½, Brunello,S (2557)-Basso,P (2417) Rome 2016}) ({The immediate break} 13. d5
{gives Black a choice between} Nc5 $132 ({and} 13... Nf6 $5 14. Rad1 exd5 15.
e5 Be6 16. exf6 dxc4 17. fxg7 Kxg7 18. Nd4 Qf6 19. Nxe6+ fxe6 20. Qd7+ Kh8 21.
Qb7 Rad8 22. Rxd8 Rxd8 23. Qxa7 c3 $44 {Beliavsky,A (2662)-Golod,V (2599)
Netanya 2009})) 13... Bb7 14. d5 (14. Bd3 {loses a tempo in comparison with
the 11.Rc1 line above (the B went to d3 immediately).}) (14. Qf4 Qb8 (14... Nf6
15. Bd3 Rc8 $132) 15. e5 $5 h6 16. Nd2 Rd8 17. Be2 Nf8 18. Bh5 Ng6 19. Qg4 (19.
Bxg6 fxg6 20. Nc4 $14) 19... Ne7 20. Nc4 Nf5 21. Rfd1 Bd5 22. Qf4 g5 23. Qg4
Qb7 24. Ne3 Be4 25. Nxf5 Bxf5 26. Qg3 Rac8 27. h4 Rxc1 28. Rxc1 Qe7 29. Qe3 Kg7
$11 {Plat,V (2454)-Hnydiuk,A (2375) Teplice 2015}) 14... Nc5 15. Rfe1 Qf6 $146
{[%mdl 8] Retaining the central tension is a novelty.} (15... exd5 16. exd5 Qf6
17. Rcd1 Rad8 18. Qe3 h6 19. Ne5 Rd6 20. Rd4 Qg5 21. f4 Qf5 22. g4 Qc8 23. h3
Re8 24. Qd2 Red8 25. a3 b5 26. Ba2 Qc7 27. Rd1 Qb6 28. Kh2 a5 29. Qc2 a4 $11 {
[%cal Yc5b3] Kaszowski,D (2299)-Hnydiuk,A (2366) Opole 2006}) 16. Qe3 Rac8 {
Kramnik opts for an ambitious, but rather risky plan by allowing the advance
of White's central pawns.} (16... exd5 17. exd5 (17. Bxd5 Bxd5 (17... Qe7 $5)
18. exd5 Qd6 $11) 17... Rad8 $11 {can transpose to Kaszowski-Hnydiuk above.}) (
16... Rad8 $5 17. e5 Qg6 18. d6 f6 $132 {is possibly a better version of the
idea from the game.}) 17. e5 {Levon accepts the challenge; his choice is very
natural.} ({White could have played} 17. h3 {, or}) (17. Rcd1 {- but then why
did he initially play 13.Rac1?}) 17... Qg6 18. d6 f6 19. Nh4 $1 (19. exf6 Rxf6
{[%csl Rf3]} 20. Nh4 Qf7 $13) 19... Qg4 $2 {[%mdl 8192] Exposing the Q is a
serious tactical error.} (19... Qg5 20. Qxg5 fxg5 21. Nf3 Bxf3 22. gxf3 Kf7 $14
{/~~ is at best only slightly better for White.} (22... Rxf3 $4 23. Bxe6+) 23.
h4 gxh4 24. f4 Kg6 $13) (19... Qh5 $5 {is also not quite clear, although
perhaps White retains a pull after} 20. Qd4 Kh8 21. g3 Rcd8 22. f4 $5 Qe8 23.
Qb2 Qc6 24. Ng2 $14) 20. g3 {[%csl Rg4]} fxe5 $6 {Seemingly natural, but now
in addition to the weakness on e6, Black's Q will be in desperate trouble.} ({
More resilient moves were:} 20... Rcd8 21. f4 g5 22. f5 gxh4 23. fxe6 Nxe6 24.
exf6 Bc8 25. Bxe6+ Bxe6 26. Qxe6+ Qxe6 27. Rxe6 Kf7 28. Rce1 Rg8 $14 {/+/-}) ({
, or} 20... Qh5 21. f4 {[%csl Gd6]} fxe5 22. Qxe5 Qxe5 23. Rxe5 $36) ({On the
other hand,} 20... g5 21. f3 $8 Qh5 22. Nf5 $16 {doesn't help.}) 21. Qxe5 {
[%csl Re6,Rg4]} Rcd8 (21... Kh8 22. f3 $5 (22. f4 $16) 22... Bxf3 23. Bxe6 Nxe6
24. Rxc8 Rxc8 25. d7 Rd8 26. Qxe6 Qxe6 27. Rxe6 Bh5 28. Rc6 Bg4 $8 29. Nf3 $1
Kg8 (29... Bxd7 30. Rd6 {[%csl Rd7][%cal Yf3e5]}) 30. Ne5 $16 {/+-}) (21... g5
22. f3 (22. h3 Qxh3 23. Qxg5+ Kh8 24. Qe5+ Kg8 25. f3 $1 $18 {[%cal Rc4f1]})
22... Bxf3 23. Bxe6+ Nxe6 24. Rxc8 gxh4 (24... Rxc8 25. Nf5 $1 $18 {[%cal
Re5e6,Rf5h6]}) 25. d7 {[%cal Re5e6]} Nd8 26. Rxd8 Rxd8 27. Qe8+ Kg7 28. Qe7+
Kg6 29. Re6+ $18) 22. f4 Rf6 {There is no easy way out anymore.} (22... Kh8 23.
Be2 Qh3 24. Qh5 {[%cal Rh4g6]} Kg8 25. Bg4 $18) (22... Ba6 23. Bxa6 Nxa6 24.
Kg2 g5 25. h3 $18) 23. Rc3 {By protecting g3, Aronian threatens to trap the
queen with Be2-f1 and h3.} Rh6 (23... Ba6 24. Bxa6 Nxa6 25. Kg2 Rh6 26. Qg5 $1
Qxg5 27. fxg5 Rxh4 28. gxh4 Rxd6 29. Ra3 $18) 24. Be2 ({White has already more
than one way to win. Even more forcing was} 24. Nf5 $1 Rg6 (24... Rh5 25. Bxe6+
Kh8 26. Bf7 $18) (24... Rf6 25. Qxf6 gxf6 26. Nh6+ $18) 25. Ne7+ $18) 24... Qh3
25. Qg5 $1 $18 {[%cal Rg5d8,Re2g4,Re2f1]} Qxh4 {Desperation, but Black gets
mated after} (25... Rxh4 26. Qxd8+ Kf7 27. Qe7+ Kg6 28. Qg5+ Kf7 29. gxh4 Qxc3
30. Qe7+ Kg6 31. Bh5+ $1 Kxh5 32. Qg5#) 26. gxh4 Rg6 27. Rd1 {White has an
extra exchange and quickly converts his advantage.} Bd5 28. f5 Rxg5+ 29. hxg5
Kf8 (29... Rxd6 30. fxe6 Rxe6 (30... Nxe6 31. Bc4 Nf4 (31... Nc7 32. Rcd3 $18)
32. Rf3 $18) 31. Bg4 Re5 32. Rxc5 $1 bxc5 33. Rxd5 Rxd5 34. Be6+ $18) 30. fxe6
Bxe6 31. Bc4 (31. Rf3+ Kg8 32. a3 $18) 31... Bf5 (31... Bxc4 32. Rxc4 Kf7 33.
Rcd4 $18 {prolongs the game, but is still hopeless for Black.}) 32. Re3 g6 33.
Re7 Rd7 34. Rde1 {[%cal Re7e8,Re8g8]} (34. Rde1 Rxe7 (34... Rxd6 35. Rf7+ Kg8
36. Re8#) 35. dxe7+ Ke8 36. Bf7+) 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess 5th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2017.06.14"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2832"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2017.06.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O a6 7. Re1 Ba7 8. a4
O-O 9. h3 Ne7 10. d4 Ng6 11. Nbd2 c6 12. Bd3 Re8 13. Bc2 h6 14. Nf1 exd4 15.
cxd4 c5 16. d5 b5 17. axb5 axb5 18. Ng3 Bd7 19. Be3 Bb6 20. Rxa8 Qxa8 21. b4
Qa7 22. Qa1 Qc7 23. Bxh6 cxb4 24. Bxg7 Qxc2 25. Qxf6 Qxf2+ 26. Kh2 Bd8 27. Qxd6
Nh4 28. Nxh4 Bxh4 29. Nh5 Bxh3 30. Rg1 Bg5 31. Bf6 Bg4 32. Bxg5 Bxh5 33. Qh6
Rxe4 34. Qxh5 Qf5 35. Qh6 b3 36. Bf6 Qf4+ 37. Qxf4 Rxf4 38. d6 Rxf6 39. Rd1
Rh6+ 40. Kg1 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess 5th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2017.06.15"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[Annotator "Yermolinsky,A"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2017.06.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d5 $5 {An intriguing line.} 6.
exd5 (6. Nbd2 {Vachier Lagrave-Hou Yifan, Grenke 2017, is a practical choice.})
6... Qxd5 7. Bc4 Qd6 8. b4 {Energetic.} (8. Qe2 O-O 9. Nbd2 a5 {
Topalov-Aronian, 2016}) 8... Bb6 9. a4 e4 (9... a6 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. O-O h6 12.
Ba3 $14) 10. dxe4 Qxd1+ 11. Kxd1 Nxe4 12. Kc2 Bf5 {Novelty, and a good one.} (
12... Nd6 {Caruana-Xiong, US Ch 2017. Fabiano at some point had a sizeable
advantage only to squander it away and fight for a draw later on.}) 13. Nh4 Bd7
14. Re1 f5 15. Nxf5 (15. f3 Bf2 16. Re2 Bxh4 17. fxe4 fxe4 18. Rxe4+ Be7 {
is equal, because White has to stop ...Bf5, and therefore has no time to
exploit the pin on the e-file.}) 15... Bxf5 16. f3 Ne5 17. fxe4 Bg4 {Black
enjoys full compensation for a sacrificed pawn.} 18. h3 (18. Na3 Bf2 19. Rf1
Rf8 20. Kb3 O-O-O {Same here.}) 18... Nxc4 19. hxg4 O-O 20. Re2 a5 21. Nd2 (21.
Na3 Ne5 22. Bb2 Rf4 23. g5 c6 24. Rd1 Rg4 $11) 21... Ne3+ 22. Kb3 axb4 23. cxb4
Rfd8 24. Bb2 {The ensuing complications kept the game roughly balanced.} ({
However, MVL had a much better move.} 24. Nf3 $1 Nxg4 (24... Nxg2 25. a5 Rd3+
26. Kb2) 25. a5 Bf2 26. b5 $14 {Once Black's threats run out the active king
will help White on the Q-side, while its black counterpart is miles away from
the action.}) 24... Rd3+ 25. Bc3 Bd4 26. Rc1 Nd1 27. Nb1 Nxc3 28. Nxc3 Be5 29.
a5 Rg3 30. Rf2 c6 31. Rf3 Rxg4 32. Na4 Rxg2 33. Nc5 Rb2+ 34. Kc4 Bd6 $2 {
I suspect Vladimir stole a look or two at the Carlsen-Karjakin game, hoping
his teammate could bring the Champ down. Grabbing that Number One Position in
the live rating list would be so sweet.} ({Normally this game should have
ended peacefully after something like this:} 34... Rb8 35. Rd1 h5 36. Rf5 Rc2+
37. Kb3 Rc3+ 38. Ka2 (38. Ka4 $4 b5+ 39. axb6 Ra8+ 40. Na6 Rxa6#) 38... Bf6 39.
Rxh5 Rc2+) 35. Rd1 Bxc5 36. Kxc5 {Suddenly it's Black who's in huge trouble.
From the hunted, harried piece the chameleon king turns into the fearsome
hunter in the blink of an eye.} Re8 37. Rd7 Re5+ 38. Kc4 $1 h5 $2 ({The
salvation was there after a rook trade:} 38... Rxe4+ 39. Kc3 Rbe2 40. Rxb7
R4e3+ 41. Rxe3 Rxe3+ 42. Kd4 Ra3 43. Kc5 g5 44. Kb6 g4 45. a6 g3 46. Re7 h5 47.
Re5 h4 48. Ra5 Rxa5 {and both sides will get their new queens to arrive in a
drawn ending.}) 39. Rxb7 Rxe4+ 40. Kc5 {Not the same script with four rooks
present. Black will find it difficult to advance his pawns as his king falls
behind.} Rc2+ 41. Kd6 Rd4+ 42. Kc7 Ra2 43. Kxc6 h4 44. Rb6 Rg4 $2 (44... Rc2+
45. Kb7 Rd7+ 46. Ka6 Rd5 47. Rb8+ (47. b5 Rb2) 47... Kh7 48. Rff8 g5 49. b5 {
Still, a lot of work left for White.}) 45. a6 Kh7 46. Rf5 $1 Ra4 (46... g5 47.
Re5 h3 48. Re7+ Kg6 49. Kd5+ Kf5 50. Rf7# {is a good visual on why four rook
endings are of a special kind.}) (46... Re4 47. Kd5 Rg4 48. Rh5+ Kg8 49. Kc6 g6
50. Ra5 $18) 47. Rh5+ Kg6 48. Rxh4 $1 {An elegant finish, and MVL finally
lights up the scoreboard!} 1-0

[Event "Norway Chess 5th"]
[Site "Stavanger"]
[Date "2017.06.16"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D05"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2771"]
[Annotator "Yermolinsky,A"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "2017.06.06"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "NOR"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 c5 5. O-O c4 $5 {A relatively obscure idea
that has a lot of ambition behind it. Black goes for space at the cost of
relieving pressure against the d4-pawn.} 6. Be2 b5 7. b3 Bb7 8. Nc3 $6 {
A provocative reply from Vladimir.} (8. a4 a6 9. c3 Nbd7 10. Nbd2 Be7 11. Ba3
O-O 12. Qc2 {Kuraica-Bareev, 2003, which ended in an upset win by the Bosnian
veteran.}) 8... b4 {Anish doesn't hesitate to go for a space grab.} ({
Rakhmanov-Vallejo Pons, 2013 saw a more subtle approach by Black:} 8... a6 9.
Ne5 (9. bxc4 dxc4 $1) 9... Qc7 10. Bd2 Nc6 11. f4 Bd6 12. Bf3 Ne7 13. Rb1 {
and only now} b4 $1 {Here White missed his last chance to make a game out of
his dubious setup.} 14. Nxd5 $5 exd5 15. bxc4 a5 $1 (15... dxc4 16. Bxb7 Qxb7
17. Nxc4 Qc7 18. Nxd6+ Qxd6 19. Bxb4 Qc6 20. Qd3 Qe4 21. f5 {White isn't in
such a bad way here.}) 16. a3 O-O 17. c5 Bxe5 18. fxe5 Ne4 19. axb4 axb4 20.
Rxb4 {but Black is probably better here.}) 9. Na4 c3 10. Ne5 Bd6 $2 ({The
correct} 10... Nc6 11. a3 a5 12. Bb5 Qc7 {would practically compel White to
try the highly speculative} 13. e4 {because otherwise his Bc1 would have no
way out.} Nxe4 14. Qg4 h5 15. Qe2 Bd6 16. Be3 $15) 11. a3 ({Also,} 11. Bb5+ {
right away has its points.} Kf8 12. Nc5 Qb6 (12... Bxc5 {is depressing. After}
13. dxc5 Qa5 14. a4 Qc7 15. Qd4 {White has full control of the dark squares.})
13. Nxb7 Qxb7 14. Qd3 a6 15. Ba4 {How does Black develop here? It won't take
White long to prepare e3-e4.}) 11... a5 (11... O-O {would be a major
concession. White simply goes} 12. axb4 Bxb4 13. Ba3 a5 14. Nc5 Qc7 15. Bxb4
axb4 16. Rxa8 Bxa8 17. Qd3 Nc6 18. f4 {and he has all the play on the a-file
and against the weak b4-pawn. That's the problem with attempting to grab space:
it only works when we get to push his pieces back. Once the opponent finds his
way around the advancing pawns (Na4-c5 in this case), they become terribly
weak.}) 12. Bb5+ Kf8 ({The same story unfolds in the event of} 12... Nbd7 13.
Nxd7 Nxd7 14. Nc5 Bxc5 15. dxc5 Qc7 16. axb4 axb4 17. Rxa8+ Bxa8 18. Qd4 O-O
19. Bxd7 Qxd7 20. Qxb4 $18) 13. Nc5 Qb6 14. Nxb7 Qxb7 15. Qe2 {The black king
is in more trouble than it seems, and, of course, the black rooks aren't
coordinated.} g6 {One of those "positional" moves that at times can meet with
a direct tactical refutation.} (15... h5 16. f3 h4 17. e4 Qb6 18. Kh1 Qxd4 19.
Bf4 {is quite dangerous for Black, yet, it seemed a better choice.}) 16. e4
Nxe4 (16... dxe4 17. Bh6+ Kg8 18. axb4 Bxb4 19. f3) (16... Kg7 17. Nxf7 $1 {
Perhaps, Anish missed that one.} Kxf7 18. e5 $18) 17. Bh6+ Ke7 (17... Kg8 18.
Ng4 Be7 19. axb4 axb4 20. Rxa8 Qxa8 21. f3 Nf6 22. Qe5 $18) 18. f3 $18 {
Black won't last long here.} Nd2 ({Some spectacular lines Anish Giri decided
to leave in the dark:} 18... Bxe5 19. fxe4 Bxd4+ 20. Kh1 dxe4 21. Rad1 e5 22.
Qc4) ({or} 18... Nf6 19. Rfe1 Bxe5 20. dxe5 Nfd7 21. axb4 axb4 22. Rxa8 Qxa8
23. Qf2 Qa5 24. Qh4+ Ke8 25. Qf6 Rg8 26. Bg5) 19. Rfe1 Kd8 20. Bf4 (20. Bf4 Kc7
21. axb4 axb4 22. Rxa8 Qxa8 23. Nxf7 Bxf4 24. Qxe6 Rc8 25. Qf6 $1) 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT rapid"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.06.28"]
[Round "1"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2789"]
[BlackElo "2789"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2017.06.28"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d5 6. Nbd2 dxe4 7. dxe4 O-O 8.
O-O a5 9. Bxc6 bxc6 10. Nxe5 Re8 11. Nxc6 Qd7 12. Nd4 Bxd4 13. cxd4 Qxd4 14.
Nb3 Qxd1 15. Rxd1 Nxe4 16. f3 a4 17. Nd4 Nc5 18. Nb5 Ne6 19. Nc3 Bb7 20. Kf2 c5
21. Be3 f5 22. f4 Bc6 23. Rd6 Rac8 24. Rc1 Kf7 25. Ne2 Bb5 26. Nc3 Bc6 27. Ne2
Bb5 28. Ng1 g5 29. fxg5 a3 30. bxa3 Ra8 31. Rc3 Ra4 32. Rb6 f4 33. Rxb5 Nxg5
34. Rb7+ Kg8 35. Rxc5 fxe3+ 36. Ke1 Rg4 37. g3 Ne4 38. Rc4 Rg6 39. Rbb4 Nd6 40.
Rc6 Nf5 41. Rc5 Nd6 42. Nf3 Ne4 43. Re5 Nf6 44. Rxe8+ Nxe8 45. Re4 Nc7 46. Rxe3
Ra6 47. Nd4 Nd5 48. Rf3 Nf6 49. Kd2 Kf7 50. Nb5 Kg6 51. Rf4 h5 52. a4 Ng4 53.
h3 Ne5 54. Kc3 Rc6+ 55. Kd4 Nf7 56. Kd5 Rc2 57. a3 Rd2+ 58. Rd4 Rb2 59. Rb4
Rd2+ 60. Nd4 Ng5 61. a5 Nf3 62. a6 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT rapid"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.06.28"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2789"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2017.06.28"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. h3 d6 7. c3 a5 8. Re1 h6
9. Nbd2 Be6 10. a4 Re8 11. Bb5 Bd7 12. Nc4 Nb8 13. Bxd7 Nbxd7 14. Bd2 Nb6 15.
b3 c6 16. Rb1 Qc7 17. d4 Nxc4 18. bxc4 exd4 19. cxd4 Bb4 20. Qc2 c5 21. d5 Re7
22. Re3 Rae8 23. Rbe1 Qd8 24. R1e2 Nh5 25. g3 Bxd2 26. Qxd2 Qd7 27. e5 Qxh3 28.
exd6 Rxe3 29. Rxe3 Qd7 30. Rxe8+ Qxe8 31. Qxa5 Nf6 32. Qxc5 Qxa4 33. Qc8+ Kh7
34. Qf5+ Kg8 35. Ne5 Qb4 36. d7 Qd6 37. Qf3 b6 38. Kg2 h5 39. Kg1 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT rapid"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.06.28"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2783"]
[BlackElo "2789"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2017.06.28"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 Be7 8. Nbd2
d6 9. a4 Nh5 10. Bg3 Nxg3 11. hxg3 Nb8 12. Nf1 c6 13. Ne3 Na6 14. g4 Nc7 15.
Nf5 d5 16. Bb3 Bf6 17. Qe2 Ne6 18. g3 Re8 19. Kf1 b6 20. Kg2 Bb7 21. Rh2 c5 22.
Bc2 Rc8 23. Rah1 c4 24. dxc4 Rxc4 25. Rd1 Nc5 26. Nd2 Rxa4 27. b4 Ra2 28. Bb1
Nxe4 29. Bxa2 Nxc3 30. Qf3 e4 31. Nxe4 dxe4 32. Nxh6+ gxh6 33. Qf5 e3+ 34. f3
Bxf3+ 35. Qxf3 Nxd1 36. Qf5 Kg7 37. Qh5 Bg5 38. Qxf7+ Kh8 39. Qg6 Re7 40. Rxh6+
Bxh6 41. Qf6+ Bg7 42. Qh4+ Bh6 43. Qf6+ Bg7 44. Qh4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leuven GCT rapid"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.06.29"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2789"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2017.06.28"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. Nbd2 O-O 5. e3 d6 6. Bd3 Qe8 7. O-O e5 8. c3
h6 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. a4 a5 11. Qc2 Bg7 12. Nc4 Nc6 13. Rfe1 f5 14. e4 f4 15.
dxe5 dxe5 16. h3 Qe7 17. Be2 Be6 18. Rad1 g5 19. Rd5 Rad8 20. Rb5 b6 21. Ncxe5
Nxe5 22. Nxe5 Bxe5 23. Rxe5 Qd6 24. Rb5 Qd2 25. Qxd2 Rxd2 26. b4 axb4 27. cxb4
Ra8 28. Re5 Kf7 29. Bg4 Bxg4 30. hxg4 Rxa4 31. Rc1 c6 32. g3 Raa2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leuven GCT rapid"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.06.29"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A03"]
[WhiteElo "2832"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[Annotator "Nielsen,Peter Heine"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2017.06.28"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 180"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{In an interview Nigel Short referred to an interesting dinner conversation he
had about this game with participants at the closing of the Stavanger
Tournament. Speaking about influences Magnus warmly mentioned Larsen, which
made Kramnik immediately intervene with the remark, we dont study Larsen in
Russia as we consider him a "coffee-house" player. At a visit in Buenos Aires
Larsen himself mentioned to me, that he felt somewhat misportrayed
stylistically in Kasparov's books. As I see it Larsen was a positional player,
who tried to create situations where he could rely on his ability to outplay
his opponents.} 1. f4 $5 {Despite Magnus' flirtations with the Dutch Defence,
playing the Bird was a first.} d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 $5 {Even in such backyard alleys
as this, Kramnik seems to have thoughts of his own. Against Vovk he had played
2...Bg4, generally considered to be a good antidote, but Henrik Danielsen, in
his 1.f4 videos dubbed the "Polar bear system" recommends 3.e3 Nd7 4.h3! Bxf3
5.Qxf3 followed by g4.} 3. g3 {Aiming for a Leningrad structure. Larsen was
successful in the 1964 Amsterdam interzonal beating Spassky after 3.e3 g6 4.
b4!?, but Kramnik most likely would have prevented queenside expansion with 3..
.e6.} e6 $5 {The "normal" way is to financhietto Black's darks-quared bishop,
but in the 2014 candidates Kramnik played 1.d4 f5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3!? vs. Svidler,
and here tries a similar approach a tempo down.} 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O b5 $5 {
In his youth Kramnik played similar things with White, however with the bishop
on g2. It might look less solid than ...b6, but why not grab space as well as
preparing ...Bb7?} 6. d3 Bb7 7. Qe1 $6 c5 8. c3 O-O 9. a4 b4 10. cxb4 cxb4 11.
Kh1 Nc6 12. Be3 {A typical plan, as now ...Ng4 can be answered by Bg1.} Nd7 13.
Nbd2 Bf6 14. Rb1 Re8 $6 {A good common sense move, but not enough to keep
Black's opening advantage. 14...Qa5! threatens the a4-pawn highlighting the
drawback of White's 7th move. Magnus intended 15.Qd1! which would have
minimized the damage, still leaving a playable position for White.} 15. Nb3 a5
16. g4 g6 17. Qf2 {White has now comfortably equalised.} Bg7 18. Nbd4 Nxd4 19.
Bxd4 Rc8 20. Rbc1 Bxd4 21. Nxd4 Rxc1 22. Rxc1 Qb6 {The position has clarified,
and Black is ready to exchange rooks in the c-file with a draw as the likely
result. Magnus' play till now can be fairly evaluated based on one's
subjective opinion, whether one likes his approach or not. From here onwards
however it's undisputably in a class of its own:} 23. Rf1 $1 {Vacating the
open file, which anyway was only suitable for exchanges, White hints at the
posibility of playing f5 next.} f6 $6 {Profylaxis against a white f5, now
having the perfectly safe reply ...e5, but it weakens the black structure.} ({
After} 23... Rc8 24. f5 (24. h4 $5) 24... gxf5 25. gxf5 (25. Bh3 $5) 25... e5 {
the computer upholds the black position, but only with complex tactics:} 26. f6
Qxd4 27. Qf5 Rd8 28. Qg5+ Kf8 29. Bh3 Ke8 (29... Qe3 $5) 30. Be6 Nf8 $1 31.
Bxf7+ Kd7 $1 {But 25.Bh3!? or the calmer 24.h4!? are very playable for White
in a more non-forcing manner.}) 24. h4 $5 {Grabbing space and hinting at
playing either h5 or g5.} Rf8 25. Kg1 $1 {My favourite move of the game 
(except maybe move 1!) White's previous moves very much indicated kingside
action, now however when the game unfolds it feels like Black's queenside has
been critically weak.} e5 {Consistent.} (25... Rc8 {would have been fine with
the black pawn being on f7, but here} 26. g5 {creates strategic problems.}) 26.
Nb3 $1 Qxf2+ $2 {The losing mistake.} (26... Ba8 $1 {still puts up a good
fight, even if} 27. Rc1 e4 {obviously is pleasant for White, but maybe is not
as bad for Black as it looks, now however that the statement is very much
reversed:}) 27. Kxf2 exf4 28. Nxa5 Ba8 29. Rc1 Ne5 {Materially equal and g4
under attack things might not look that hopeless at first sight, but after
White's next move matters are clarified:} 30. Bf3 $1 {Sealing off the kingside,
making Black's two extra pawns there considereably less mobile than White's
a-pawn. Rc7, Nb3-d4 followed by pushing the a-pawn become easy automatic moves,
so Kramnik tries his last chance of complicating things:} d4 31. Nc4 (31. Nc6
$5 {is the computer line, winning after:} Bxc6 32. Bxc6 Nxg4+ 33. Kf3 Ne5+ 34.
Kxf4 {when Black can't go 35...Rc8 due to 36.Bd5+ and if 35...Nxc6 36.Rxc6 the
rook ending is an easy win despite being momentarily materially equal. b4 and
d4 are weak, and the white a-pawn is the passed pawn with potential.}) 31...
Bxf3 32. Nxe5 Bxe2 33. Nd7 Rf7 34. Nxf6+ Rxf6 35. Kxe2 Re6+ 36. Kf2 {As in the
comment above, all the factors are in White's favour, making it a trivial win.}
Kf7 37. a5 g5 38. hxg5 Kg6 39. Rc5 f3 40. Kxf3 Re3+ 41. Kf4 Rxd3 42. a6 Rd1 43.
Ra5 d3 44. Ke3 {And here Kramnik resigned.} 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT rapid"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.06.29"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2789"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2017.06.28"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. c3 a6 7. h3 Ba7 8. Re1
d6 9. Bb3 Kh8 10. Be3 Bxe3 11. Rxe3 Nd7 12. d4 Qf6 13. Na3 Nb6 14. Nc2 Na5 15.
Nb4 Nxb3 16. axb3 exd4 17. cxd4 Bd7 18. Rc1 Rac8 19. Rec3 c6 20. Qd2 Rfe8 21.
Re3 c5 22. Nc2 Qg6 23. Qe1 h6 24. Rd1 Nd5 25. Nh4 Qh7 26. exd5 Qxc2 27. Rc1
Qxb2 28. dxc5 dxc5 29. Nf5 Rxe3 30. Nxe3 b5 31. Qd1 a5 32. Ra1 Ra8 33. Rb1 Qf6
34. Qc1 Qd6 35. Qb2 a4 36. bxa4 Rxa4 37. Rc1 f5 38. Rd1 Ra8 39. Nf1 f4 40. Nh2
b4 41. Nf3 c4 42. Qd4 c3 43. Ne5 Qf6 44. Re1 Re8 45. g3 fxg3 46. f4 Rxe5 47.
fxe5 Qf3 48. e6 Bb5 49. e7 c2 50. d6 b3 51. e8=Q+ Bxe8 52. Rxe8+ Kh7 53. Re1 b2
54. Qd2 Qf2+ 55. Qxf2 gxf2+ 56. Kxf2 c1=Q 0-1

[Event "Leuven GCT rapid"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.06.30"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Jobava, Baadur"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D54"]
[WhiteElo "2703"]
[BlackElo "2789"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2017.06.28"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. Rc1 b6 8. Bxf6
Bxf6 9. cxd5 exd5 10. g3 c6 11. Bh3 Bb7 12. Nge2 Re8 13. O-O Na6 14. Nf4 Qd6
15. Qf3 Rad8 16. Rfd1 Nc7 17. Bf5 g6 18. Bb1 Bg7 19. h4 Qf6 20. Kg2 c5 21. Nce2
Qe7 22. b3 Ba8 23. Kg1 c4 24. Kg2 b5 25. Rh1 Rd6 26. g4 b4 27. Ng3 Ne6 28. h5
Nxf4+ 29. exf4 Bxd4 30. hxg6 fxg6 31. Rce1 Qxe1 32. Rxe1 Rxe1 33. f5 Rf6 34. g5
hxg5 35. Qg4 Be5 36. fxg6 Bxg3 37. Qc8+ Rf8 38. Qd7 d4+ 39. f3 Bxf3+ 40. Kxg3
Rg1+ 41. Kh2 Rg2+ 42. Kh1 Rb2+ 43. Kg1 Rxb1+ 44. Kh2 Rh1+ 0-1

[Event "Leuven GCT rapid"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.06.30"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2789"]
[BlackElo "2757"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2017.06.28"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8.
O-O-O h6 9. Be3 Nxd4 10. Bxd4 b5 11. f3 Qa5 12. Kb1 b4 13. Ne2 e5 14. Bf2 Be6
15. Nc1 Rb8 16. Qe2 Ra8 17. g4 Be7 18. h4 O-O 19. Bh3 Qc7 20. g5 Nh5 21. Bxe6
fxe6 22. Nd3 a5 23. gxh6 g6 24. Rhg1 Kh7 25. Be3 Rf7 26. f4 exf4 27. Qg4 Rg8
28. Nxf4 Nxf4 29. Bxf4 e5 30. Be3 Qc8 31. Qe2 Rgf8 32. b3 Rf3 33. Bg5 Bxg5 34.
hxg5 a4 35. Rgf1 Rxf1 36. Rxf1 Qg4 37. Qc4 Rxf1+ 38. Qxf1 Qxg5 39. bxa4 Qe3 40.
a5 Qc5 41. a6 Kxh6 42. Qh3+ Kg5 43. Qg3+ Kf6 44. Qh4+ Ke6 45. Qg5 Kd7 46. Qxg6
Kc6 47. Qg7 Kb6 48. Qb7+ Ka5 49. a4 bxa3 50. a7 a2+ 51. Ka1 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT rapid"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.06.30"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2764"]
[BlackElo "2789"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2017.06.28"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 Bb4 3. Qc2 c5 4. a3 Bxc3 5. Qxc3 Qf6 6. Qxf6 Nxf6 7. b4 b6 8.
Nf3 Nc6 9. Rb1 d6 10. e3 e5 11. bxc5 bxc5 12. d3 Bf5 13. e4 Bg4 14. Be2 Bxf3
15. Bxf3 Ke7 16. Be3 Rhb8 17. Kd2 Rb6 18. Rb5 Ne8 19. Rhb1 Rab8 20. Bd1 Nc7 21.
Rxb6 axb6 22. f4 exf4 23. Bxf4 Ne6 24. Be3 Ne5 25. a4 Nc6 26. Kc3 f6 27. Bg4
Ned4 28. Bd1 Kd8 29. Rb2 Kc7 30. Rf2 h5 31. g3 Rh8 32. h4 Kb7 33. Rg2 Rh7 34.
Rf2 Kc7 35. Rf1 Kb7 36. Rf2 Ka6 37. Rf1 Kb7 38. Rf2 Rh8 39. Rf1 Kc7 40. Rf2 Ra8
41. Rf1 Kd8 42. Rf2 Kd7 43. Rb2 Ra6 44. Rg2 Ke7 45. g4 hxg4 46. Rxg4 Ne6 47. h5
Ra8 48. Rg2 Ne5 49. Rb2 Nd7 50. Rg2 Rh8 51. Ra2 Ne5 52. Rb2 Nd7 53. Ra2 Ra8 54.
Rg2 Rh8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.07.01"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2771"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2017.07.01"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 Bf5 4. c4 c6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. h3
Nbd7 9. Bd3 Bd6 10. O-O Qe7 11. e4 dxe4 12. Bxe4 O-O 13. Bg5 Qd8 14. Re1 Qc7
15. Qf3 Bb4 16. Bc2 Qa5 17. h4 Rfe8 18. a3 Bf8 19. Rad1 Qb6 20. b4 a5 21. b5
cxb5 22. Nxb5 Rac8 23. Bd3 e5 24. c5 Qc6 25. Qh3 Rcd8 26. d5 Qxc5 27. Rc1 Qb6
28. Nc7 Bc5 29. Nxe8 Bxf2+ 30. Kh1 Rxe8 31. Rb1 Qa7 32. Rf1 e4 33. Bb5 Nh5 34.
Qxd7 Ng3+ 35. Kh2 Re5 36. Rfc1 Kh7 37. Rc8 Rxg5 38. Qe8 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.07.01"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2832"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2017.07.01"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d5 6. Nbd2 dxe4 7. dxe4 O-O 8.
O-O a5 9. Qc2 Qe7 10. a4 Nb8 11. Bd3 h6 12. Nc4 Nc6 13. h3 Rd8 14. Re1 Nh5 15.
Bf1 Qf6 16. Be3 Bf8 17. Kh2 Be6 18. Rad1 g5 19. Rxd8 Rxd8 20. Nfd2 b6 21. g3
Nf4 22. b3 Ng6 23. Be2 Nd4 24. cxd4 exd4 25. e5 Qf5 26. Qxf5 Bxf5 27. Bxg5 hxg5
28. Bg4 Bxg4 29. hxg4 Bb4 30. Rd1 Bxd2 31. Rxd2 Rd5 32. Kg2 Kg7 33. Kf3 Nxe5+
34. Ke4 Nxc4 35. bxc4 Rc5 36. Rxd4 Kf6 37. f4 Ke6 38. Kd3 c6 39. Re4+ Kd6 40.
Rd4+ Ke6 41. Re4+ Kd6 42. Rd4+ Ke6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.07.01"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2017.07.01"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. O-O Ba7 7. Bb3 d6 8. Re1
h6 9. Nbd2 O-O 10. Nf1 Re8 11. Ng3 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. d4 d5 14. Nxe5 Nxe5
15. dxe5 Nxe4 16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. Qh5 g6 18. Qxh6 Rxe5 19. Be3 Bxe3 20. Qxe3 Qf6
21. Rad1 Rd8 22. Rd4 Rxd4 23. Qxd4 Qe7 24. g3 Re6 25. h4 a5 26. Kg2 b6 27. Re3
Rd6 28. Rxe4 Rxd4 29. Rxe7 Rd2 30. b4 Rxa2 31. Rxc7 Rc2 32. bxa5 bxa5 33. g4 a4
34. Kg3 a3 35. f3 Rc1 36. Ra7 Rxc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.07.01"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2786"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "2017.07.01"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5
8. Rxe5 O-O 9. d4 Bf6 10. Re1 Nf5 11. d5 d6 12. Nd2 Re8 13. Ne4 Bd7 14. c3 h6
15. Bd3 Nh4 16. g3 Ng6 17. f4 c6 18. Be3 Be7 19. Bc4 Bf8 20. Bf2 b5 21. dxc6
bxc4 22. cxd7 Qxd7 23. Qd5 Rab8 24. b4 Qg4 25. Qd1 Qf5 26. Qd4 a5 27. a3 Re6
28. Nd2 axb4 29. axb4 d5 30. Nf1 Ne7 31. Ne3 Qe4 32. Qxe4 Rxe4 33. Nc2 g5 34.
fxg5 hxg5 35. Rxe4 dxe4 36. Ra5 f5 37. Nd4 Rd8 38. Nxf5 Rd1+ 39. Kg2 Rd2 40.
Ne3 Bg7 41. Rxg5 Kf7 42. Nxc4 Rc2 43. Nd6+ Kf8 44. Nxe4 Bh6 45. Re5 Kf7 46. Kf3
Ng6 47. Rf5+ Ke8 48. h4 Bg7 49. Bd4 Ne7 50. Rc5 Bxd4 51. cxd4 Rb2 52. d5 Nf5
53. d6 Nd4+ 54. Ke3 Rxb4 55. Nf6+ Kf7 56. Nd5 Ra4 57. Nb6 Rb4 58. Nc4 Ne6 59.
Rf5+ Ke8 60. Ne5 Rb3+ 61. Ke4 Rxg3 62. Rf6 Nc5+ 63. Kd5 Nd7 64. Re6+ Kd8 65.
Nc6+ Kc8 66. Re8+ Kb7 67. Ne5 Nf6+ 68. Kd4 Nxe8 69. d7 Nc7 70. d8=N+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.07.01"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Jobava, Baadur"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2707"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2017.07.01"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 Bg4 4. O-O e6 5. d3 Bd6 6. h3 Bh5 7. c4 Ne7 8. Nc3
O-O 9. Qb3 Nd7 10. d4 Qb6 11. Rd1 Qxb3 12. axb3 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 f5 14. e3 a6 15.
Bd2 Nf6 16. Be1 g5 17. Be2 h5 18. f3 g4 19. hxg4 hxg4 20. fxg4 fxg4 21. Kg2 Nf5
22. Bf2 Kg7 23. Rh1 Rh8 24. Bd3 Rxh1 25. Rxh1 Bb4 26. Ne2 Ne4 27. Nf4 Re8 28.
Rh5 Bd6 29. Bxe4 dxe4 30. Nxe6+ Kg6 31. Rg5+ Kh6 32. Rxf5 Rxe6 33. Rf7 Be7 34.
d5 cxd5 35. cxd5 Re5 36. d6 Bg5 37. Rxb7 Rd5 38. d7 Kg6 39. Kf1 Kf5 40. Ke2 Ke6
41. Rb4 Kf5 42. Rb7 Ke6 43. Ra7 Rxd7 44. Rxa6+ Rd6 45. Ra4 Rb6 46. Be1 Rxb3 47.
Bc3 Kf5 48. Ra5+ Kg6 49. Re5 Rb7 50. Rxe4 Kh5 51. b4 Rc7 52. Kd3 Rd7+ 53. Rd4
Rf7 54. Re4 Rf3 55. Be5 Rf1 56. b5 Rb1 57. Kc4 Bd8 58. Rd4 Bb6 59. Rd5 Rc1+ 60.
Kd3 Kg6 61. Bd4 Bxd4 62. Rxd4 Kf5 63. Rb4 Rd1+ 64. Ke2 Rd7 65. b6 Rb7 66. Kd3
1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.07.01"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D03"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2796"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2017.07.01"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. Nbd2 O-O 5. e3 b6 6. Bd3 Bb7 7. O-O c5 8. c3
d5 9. h3 Nc6 10. Qe2 Re8 11. dxc5 bxc5 12. e4 h6 13. Bh4 g5 14. Bg3 e6 15. Rfe1
Qb6 16. Rab1 Rad8 17. Bh2 a5 18. a4 c4 19. Bc2 Ba6 20. Ne5 Nxe4 21. Nxc6 Qxc6
22. Nxe4 dxe4 23. Bxe4 Qxa4 24. Ra1 Qb5 25. Bc7 Rc8 26. Rxa5 Qd7 27. Be5 Bxe5
28. Rxe5 Qc7 29. Qh5 Kg7 30. Bc2 Qb6 31. h4 Qxb2 32. hxg5 Qxc2 33. Qxh6+ Kg8
34. R1e4 Qd1+ 35. Kh2 Qd6 36. g6 Rc7 37. g7 f5 38. Qh8+ Kf7 39. Qxe8+ Kxg7 40.
Re3 Rc8 41. Qxe6 Qxe6 42. Rxe6 Bb5 43. R6e5 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.07.01"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2017.07.01"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Nbd2 Nd4 6. Ba4 b5 7. Nxd4 bxa4 8.
N4f3 d6 9. c3 Bd7 10. Nc4 O-O 11. Be3 Bb6 12. h3 Re8 13. O-O h6 14. Re1 Bb5 15.
Nfd2 Qd7 16. Qf3 Qe6 17. b3 Bc6 18. Qg3 Rad8 19. Nxb6 axb6 20. c4 axb3 21. axb3
Ra8 22. Nf3 Nh5 23. Qh4 Qg6 24. Qg4 Qxg4 25. hxg4 Nf6 26. Nh2 Nd7 27. Nf1 Rxa1
28. Rxa1 Ra8 29. Rxa8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.07.01"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2732"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2017.07.01"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. Nbd2 O-O 5. e3 d6 6. c3 Bf5 7. Be2 Nbd7 8.
O-O h6 9. Bh4 Re8 10. Qb3 Qc8 11. Rfe1 e5 12. Bc4 d5 13. Bxd5 Nxd5 14. e4 N7b6
15. exf5 Qxf5 16. dxe5 Bxe5 17. Nxe5 Rxe5 18. Bg3 Nf4 19. Nf3 Ne2+ 20. Rxe2
Rxe2 21. Nd4 Rae8 22. Nxe2 Rxe2 23. Rd1 Nd5 24. Qxb7 Rd2 25. Rf1 Nf4 26. Bxf4
Qxf4 27. g3 Qe5 28. a4 a5 29. b4 Qxc3 30. Qa8+ Kg7 31. Qxa5 Rb2 32. Qc5 Qxb4
33. Qxc7 Qd4 34. a5 Ra2 35. Qb6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.07.01"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2793"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "160"]
[EventDate "2017.07.01"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. d4 dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4
Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bf4 Nbd7 11. Nc3 Bd6 12. a5 Bxf4 13. gxf4 Nd5 14. e3 Nxc3
15. Qxc3 Bxf3 16. Bxf3 c6 17. Kh1 Qe7 18. Rg1 g6 19. Rg5 Rad8 20. Rag1 Nf6 21.
b4 Nd5 22. Qc5 Qf6 23. Be4 Kh8 24. R1g3 Rfe8 25. Re5 Ne7 26. Reg5 h6 27. Rh3
Kg7 28. Rg1 Nf5 29. Qe5 Qxe5 30. fxe5 Nxd4 31. exd4 Rxd4 32. Re3 Red8 33. Rb1
Rc4 34. Rd3 Rxd3 35. Bxd3 Rd4 36. Rb3 Rd5 37. Kg2 Rxe5 38. Kf3 f5 39. Bc2 Kf6
40. Rd3 Rb5 41. Rd4 c5 42. bxc5 Rxc5 43. Ba4 Rxa5 44. Be8 g5 45. Rd7 Ra3+ 46.
Kg2 Rb3 47. Rh7 b5 48. Bd7 Rd3 49. Bc8 Rd6 50. Ra7 b4 51. Rxa6 Rxa6 52. Bxa6 b3
53. Kf3 g4+ 54. Ke3 b2 55. Bd3 Kg5 56. f4+ gxf3 57. Kxf3 e5 58. Ke3 e4 59. Bc2
Kg4 60. Kf2 Kf4 61. Ke2 Ke5 62. Kd2 Kd4 63. Bb1 f4 64. Ke2 Ke5 65. Bc2 Kd4 66.
Bb1 e3 67. Bh7 Kc3 68. Bb1 Kb3 69. Kf3 Kc4 70. Ke2 Kc3 71. Bh7 Kd4 72. Bb1 Ke5
73. Kf3 Kf6 74. h4 Ke5 75. Bc2 Kd4 76. Bb1 Kc4 77. Ke2 Kc3 78. Bh7 Kb4 79. Bb1
Kb3 80. Kf3 Kc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.07.02"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2017.07.01"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. d4 dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4
Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bf4 Nbd7 11. Nc3 a5 12. Qd3 h6 13. Qc2 Bb4 14. Rfd1 Rc8 15.
Ne5 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Qe7 17. Nxd7 Nxd7 18. e4 c6 19. Na2 f5 20. Nxb4 axb4 21. Re1
fxe4 22. Qxe4 Rce8 23. a5 Nf6 24. Qe2 Nd5 25. Be5 Rf7 26. Rf1 Ref8 27. a6 bxa6
28. Qxa6 Qd7 29. Rac1 Ne7 30. Qc4 Ng6 31. Qxc6 Nxe5 32. dxe5 Qd2 33. Qxe6 Kh8
34. Qb6 Qxb2 35. e6 Re7 36. Rb1 Qe2 37. Qxb4 Qf3+ 38. Kg1 Rxe6 39. Rb3 Qf7 40.
Qc4 Re1 41. Qc2 Qe6 42. Rb1 Re2 43. Qc5 Qf5 44. Qb6 Qc2 45. Rbc1 Rfxf2 46. Qxf2
Rxf2 47. Rxc2 Rxc2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.07.02"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C55"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2832"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2017.07.01"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Qe7 5. Nc3 Na5 6. O-O c6 7. a4 Nxc4 8.
dxc4 d6 9. b3 Qc7 10. Bg5 Be7 11. a5 O-O 12. Qd3 h6 13. Bh4 Be6 14. Rfd1 Rfd8
15. Qe3 b6 16. axb6 axb6 17. h3 g5 18. Nxg5 Rxa1 19. Rxa1 hxg5 20. Qxg5+ Kh7
21. Qe3 Rg8 22. f4 Nh5 23. fxe5 Bxh4 24. Qf3 Rg5 25. exd6 Qxd6 26. Ne2 Ng3 27.
Nc3 Qd4+ 28. Kh2 Qe5 29. Kg1 Qxc3 0-1

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.07.02"]
[Round "12"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D63"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2017.07.01"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. Nf3 Nbd7 8. Rc1
c5 9. dxc5 Nxc5 10. cxd5 g5 11. Bg3 Nxd5 12. Nxd5 Qxd5 13. Qxd5 exd5 14. Be5
Bf5 15. Be2 Rac8 16. O-O Bd3 17. Bxd3 Nxd3 18. Rcd1 Nxe5 19. Nxe5 Rc2 20. Rxd5
Rxb2 21. Rd7 Bf6 22. Nc4 Rxa2 23. Rxb7 Rd8 24. h3 a5 25. Ra7 a4 26. Rb1 Bg7 27.
g4 Bf8 28. Kg2 a3 29. Rb3 Rc2 30. Nxa3 Bxa3 31. Raxa3 Rdd2 32. Rb6 Rxf2+ 33.
Kg3 Kg7 34. Raa6 Rg2+ 35. Kf3 Rcf2+ 36. Ke4 Rg3 37. Rxh6 Rff3 38. Rh5 Rxe3+ 39.
Kd4 Rd3+ 40. Kc4 Rc3+ 41. Kd4 Rcd3+ 42. Kc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.07.02"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2786"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2017.07.01"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. d4 Bg4 5. h3 Bxf3 6. Qxf3 e6 7. Bd3 Nf6 8.
O-O Bd6 9. c3 h6 10. Nd2 O-O 11. Qe2 Qc7 12. g3 Nc6 13. f4 a6 14. Nf3 b5 15. a3
Na5 16. Ne5 Nc4 17. a4 Rab8 18. axb5 axb5 19. g4 Nd7 20. Ra6 Bxe5 21. fxe5 Ra8
22. Rxa8 Rxa8 23. g5 hxg5 24. Bh7+ Kxh7 25. Qh5+ Kg8 26. Qxf7+ Kh7 27. Qh5+ Kg8
28. Qf7+ Kh7 29. Qh5+ Kg8 30. Qf7+ Kh7 31. Qh5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.07.02"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Jobava, Baadur"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2707"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2017.07.01"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 d5 7. Bb5 Ne4 8. cxd4
Bb6 9. h3 O-O 10. O-O f6 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Be3 f5 13. Qc1 f4 14. Bxf4 c5 15.
dxc5 Nxc5 16. Be3 Nd3 17. Qd1 Ba6 18. Nc3 d4 19. Bg5 Qe8 20. Nd5 Kh8 21. Nxb6
axb6 22. Nxd4 Qxe5 23. Qg4 Rae8 24. Be3 Nxb2 25. Nf3 Qe4 26. Rfc1 Qxg4 27. hxg4
Nc4 28. Rc3 c5 29. Rb1 Re6 30. g5 Kg8 31. Nd2 Rxe3 32. Rxe3 Nxe3 33. fxe3 b5
34. Ne4 Rc8 35. a3 c4 36. Nc3 Rc5 37. g6 hxg6 38. Kf2 Kf7 39. e4 Ke6 40. Ke3
Rg5 41. Kf3 Kd7 42. g4 Rc5 43. Ke3 Kc6 44. Kd4 Rg5 45. Rg1 Bc8 46. Rb1 Bd7 47.
Nd5 Kd6 48. a4 Bc6 49. axb5 Bxd5 50. exd5 Rxg4+ 51. Kc3 Kc5 52. b6 Rg3+ 53. Kd2
c3+ 54. Kc2 Rg2+ 55. Kxc3 Rg3+ 56. Kd2 Rg2+ 57. Ke3 Rg3+ 58. Kf2 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.07.02"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C44"]
[WhiteElo "2796"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "146"]
[EventDate "2017.07.01"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. b4 Bb6 7. Bb2 Bg4 8.
Nbd2 Nf6 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Nxf3 O-O 11. Nxd4 Bxd4 12. Bxd4 Nxe4 13. Bb2 Qh4 14. b5
Ne5 15. Bd5 Nc5 16. f4 Ned7 17. Qd4 Qf6 18. Qb4 Qf5 19. Bf3 Qxc2 20. Rac1 Qg6
21. f5 Qg5 22. Qd4 Rfe8 23. Rce1 Ne5 24. Be2 Qg3 25. Rd1 f6 26. Bc1 Kh8 27. Kh1
Rad8 28. Bh5 Rf8 29. Bf4 Qh4 30. Be2 g5 31. fxg6 Ne6 32. Qe3 Nxf4 33. Rxf4 Qg5
34. gxh7 Ng6 35. Re4 d5 36. Qxg5 fxg5 37. Rg4 Nf4 38. Bf3 Nxh3 39. Rd2 c6 40.
bxc6 bxc6 41. Kh2 Nf4 42. Rxg5 Rd6 43. Rb2 Rh6+ 44. Kg3 Ne6 45. Rg4 Rxh7 46.
Rc2 Rc7 47. Rc1 Rg8 48. Kf2 Rxg4 49. Bxg4 Ng5 50. Ke3 Kg7 51. Kd4 Kf6 52. Rf1+
Ke7 53. Rf5 Ne4 54. Ke5 Nd6 55. Rh5 Nf7+ 56. Kd4 Kd6 57. Bf3 c5+ 58. Ke3 Re7+
59. Kf4 Ne5 60. Rh6+ Re6 61. Rh7 Nxf3 62. Kxf3 c4 63. Rxa7 Kc5 64. Rc7+ Kd4 65.
g4 c3 66. g5 Kd3 67. Kf4 c2 68. Kf5 Re7 69. Rc5 d4 70. g6 Kd2 71. Kf6 Ra7 72.
g7 Rxg7 73. Kxg7 d3 0-1

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.07.02"]
[Round "16"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2017.07.01"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O O-O 5. d4 d5 6. Nbd2 c6 7. c3 Re8 8. Re1
Bf5 9. Nh4 Be6 10. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Bd5 12. Nxf6+ Bxf6 13. Nf3 Nd7 14. Bf4 c5
15. dxc5 Nxc5 16. Qe2 Qb6 17. Be3 Qc7 18. Rad1 Red8 19. Bf4 Qb6 20. h4 Na4 21.
Qc2 Bc6 22. Rxd8+ Rxd8 23. Re2 Qb5 24. Nd4 Bxd4 25. cxd4 Bxg2 26. Kxg2 Nb6 27.
Rxe7 Nd5 28. Re4 Nxf4+ 29. Rxf4 Qd5+ 30. Kh2 Re8 31. Qd2 h5 32. a3 Kg7 33. Qd3
Re1 34. Qf3 Qxf3 35. Rxf3 Rd1 36. Rb3 b6 37. Rb4 Kf6 38. Kg2 Ke6 39. Rc4 Kd6
40. Kf3 Rd2 41. Rb4 Kd5 42. Ke3 Rc2 43. a4 f6 44. a5 bxa5 45. Rb5+ Ke6 46. Rxa5
Rxb2 47. Rxa7 Rc2 48. f3 Rg2 49. Kf4 Rd2 50. Ra6+ Ke7 51. Ke4 Rg2 52. Kd5 Rxg3
53. Ra7+ Kd8 54. Kd6 Kc8 55. d5 Rxf3 56. Ke7 g5 57. d6 Re3+ 58. Kxf6 gxh4 59.
Rh7 h3 60. Rxh5 Kd7 61. Kf5 Kxd6 62. Kg4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.07.02"]
[Round "17"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2732"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2017.07.01"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8.
h4 Qe6 9. g3 d6 10. c4 Nb6 11. exd6 Bxd6 12. Be3 O-O 13. Nd2 Ba6 14. Bh3 Qe5
15. Bxb6 axb6 16. Qxe5 Bxe5 17. O-O-O Bb7 18. a3 c5 19. Rh2 Rad8 20. Bg2 Bc8
21. f4 Bd4 22. Bd5 Rfe8 23. Nf3 Be3+ 24. Kc2 Bf5+ 25. Kb3 Be4 26. Ne5 Bxd5 27.
Rxd5 Rxd5 28. cxd5 Bd4 29. Nc6 Re3+ 30. Kc4 Bf6 31. g4 Re4+ 32. Kb5 Rxf4 33. g5
Bd4 34. Ka6 f6 35. Kb7 fxg5 36. hxg5 Rf7 37. Re2 Kf8 38. Nd8 Rd7 39. Ne6+ Kf7
40. Nxc7 Re7 41. Rxe7+ Kxe7 42. Kc6 Be5 43. Kxb6 h5 44. gxh6 gxh6 45. Ne6 c4
46. a4 Bxb2 47. a5 Bc1 48. Kb5 c3 49. Nd4 Be3 50. Nf5+ Kd7 51. Nxe3 h5 52. a6
Kc8 53. d6 1-0

[Event "Leuven GCT blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.07.02"]
[Round "18"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2793"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2017.07.01"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "BEL"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. Ne5 c5 7. cxd5 exd5 8. e3
Bf5 9. d4 Qc8 10. Nc3 Rd8 11. b3 cxd4 12. Qxd4 Bc5 13. Qf4 Bd6 14. Nxd5 Qe6 15.
Bb2 Nc6 16. Nxc6 Bxf4 17. Nxf4 Qd7 18. Nxd8 Rxd8 19. Bxf6 gxf6 20. Rac1 Kf8 21.
Nd5 Qd6 22. e4 Bd7 23. Rfd1 Bg4 24. Rd3 Be6 25. a4 Qe5 26. Re3 Rc8 27. Rxc8+
Bxc8 28. h4 Be6 29. Kh2 h6 30. Nf4 Qb2 31. Nxe6+ fxe6 32. Kg1 Ke7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund 45th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2017.07.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Fedoseev, Vladimir1"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2726"]
[Annotator "Moradiabadi,E"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2017.07.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 180"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {Kramnik is not anymore ONLY a 1.d4 or 1.Nf3 player! He just won against
Carlsen with 1.e4 in Norway.} c6 {Not a surprise. This is Fedoseev's pet line.}
2. d4 d5 3. exd5 $5 {Kramnik goes for a reversed Carlsbad pawn structure.} cxd5
4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 Qc7 (5... Nf6 6. Bf4 {Remember this game? Fischer beating
Petrosian in the "match of century".} Bg4 7. Qb3 Na5 8. Qa4+ Bd7 9. Qc2 e6 10.
Nf3 Qb6 11. a4 Rc8 12. Nbd2 Nc6 13. Qb1 Nh5 14. Be3 h6 15. Ne5 Nf6 16. h3 Bd6
17. O-O Kf8 18. f4 Be8 19. Bf2 Qc7 20. Bh4 Ng8 21. f5 Nxe5 22. dxe5 Bxe5 23.
fxe6 Bf6 24. exf7 Bxf7 25. Nf3 Bxh4 26. Nxh4 Nf6 27. Ng6+ Bxg6 28. Bxg6 Ke7 29.
Qf5 Kd8 30. Rae1 Qc5+ 31. Kh1 Rf8 32. Qe5 Rc7 33. b4 Qc6 34. c4 dxc4 35. Bf5
Rff7 36. Rd1+ Rfd7 37. Bxd7 Rxd7 38. Qb8+ Ke7 39. Rde1+ {1-0 (39) Fischer,
R-Petrosian,T Belgrade 1970}) 6. Na3 $5 {Kramnik forces a sort of Carlsbad
where an isolated pawn is not a good choice for Black.} a6 7. Nc2 Nf6 8. h3 e6
(8... e5 9. dxe5 Nxe5 10. Nf3 Bd6 11. Nxe5 Bxe5 12. O-O O-O 13. Qf3 {and the
World Champion converted his edge:} Re8 14. Re1 Bh2+ 15. Kh1 Rxe1+ 16. Nxe1 Be5
17. Be3 Bd7 18. Nc2 Re8 19. Bd4 Bxd4 20. Nxd4 Qb6 21. Rb1 Ne4 22. Bxe4 dxe4 23.
Qf4 h6 24. Kg1 e3 25. fxe3 Bxh3 26. Rf1 Qg6 27. Qf3 Bc8 28. Qd5 b5 29. e4 Qxe4
30. Qxf7+ Kh7 31. Qf3 Qg6 32. a3 Re5 33. Qc6 Qxc6 34. Nxc6 Rg5 35. Rf2 h5 36.
Rd2 Bb7 37. Nd4 Bd5 38. Nc2 Bb7 39. Ne3 Re5 40. Kf2 Re6 41. c4 bxc4 42. Nxc4
Rf6+ 43. Kg1 Kh6 44. b4 g5 45. a4 h4 46. b5 axb5 47. axb5 Kh5 48. Nd6 Ba8 49.
b6 Kg4 50. Kh2 Re6 51. b7 Bxb7 52. Nxb7 Re3 53. Nd6 Ra3 54. Rd4+ Kh5 55. Rd5
Kg6 56. Ne4 {1-0 (56) Carlsen,M (2857)-Grischuk,A (2754) chess.com INT 2016}) (
8... g6 9. Ne2 Bg7 10. Bf4 Qd8 11. Qc1 O-O 12. O-O Re8 13. Rd1 e5 14. dxe5 Nxe5
15. Ne3 Bd7 16. Bc2 Bc6 17. Bg5 Qa5 18. b4 Qb6 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. Nf4 Bh4 21.
Rd4 Bg5 22. Nfxd5 Bxd5 23. Nxd5 Bxc1 24. Nxb6 Bb2 25. Rad1 Bxc3 26. Re4 Rad8
27. Nd5 Rxd5 28. Rxd5 Rc8 29. Bb3 Nc6 30. Rd7 {1-0 (30) Moiseenko,V (2528)
-Rozum,I (2590) Sochi 2016}) 9. Nf3 b5 {If it were 10 years ago I would have
considered Black's opening plan a total disaster. Thanks to new engines and
our dynamic understanding of chess today, we learn that Black's plan is
totally fine. Black will not lose the fight over e5-square and in fact ...Bb7
followed by ...Ne4 gives Black enough tactical possibilities to equalize.} 10.
O-O Bb7 11. Re1 Bd6 12. Bg5 Ne4 $1 13. a4 $5 {Kramnik's reaction is aggressive
to Fedoseev enterprising idea.} (13. Bxe4 dxe4 14. Rxe4 h6 15. Bd2 (15. Rh4 Ne7
$1 {and White's pieces are awkward}) 15... Na5 16. Re1 Nc4 17. Bc1 O-O {
and Black has enough compensation thanks to his strong pieces.}) 13... bxa4 $6
{Black gets a bit uncomfortable after this move.} (13... O-O $5 14. axb5 axb5
15. Bxb5 (15. Rxa8 Rxa8 16. Bxb5 Qb6 17. Bxc6 Bxc6 18. Bc1 Ba4 {is not
pleasant for White at all despite the extra material.}) 15... Rxa1 16. Qxa1 Ra8
17. Qb1 Ba6 18. Bxa6 Rxa6 {gives Black enough Benko-type compensation to claim
equality.}) 14. c4 (14. Rxa4 O-O 15. Bxe4 dxe4 16. Rxe4 Ne7 17. Bxe7 Bxe7 18.
Re3 {is definitely a rich and nice position to analyze where I find Black's
chances good enough for the sacrificed pawn.}) 14... Nxg5 15. Nxg5 dxc4 16.
Bxc4 Nd8 17. Ne3 Bf4 $5 {An interesting tactical trick which puts White on the
verge of losing material. Kramnik fails to handle the matter but how could
White maintain the balance?} 18. Qh5 $4 (18. Qxa4+ Bc6 19. Nd5 Qd7 20. Qa5 Bxd5
21. Qxd5 Qxd5 22. Bxd5 Rb8 23. Nf3 Rxb2 24. Rxa6 O-O 25. Be4 {with a probable
draw after White liquidates the d-pawn.}) 18... Bxe3 {Could it be that Kramnik
missed this?} 19. Rxe3 Qxc4 20. Rxe6+ Kf8 (20... Nxe6 21. Qxf7+ Kd8 22. Nxe6+
Kc8 {is also winning but there is no point in weakening Black's king.}) 21. Re5
h6 {Preparing ...g6.} 22. Rae1 g6 23. Qh4 Kg7 {Now the king is safe and the
position is completely won for Black. Kramnik could resign here but he decided
to test Fedoseev for a few moves.} 24. Nxf7 Nxf7 25. Re6 g5 26. Qh5 Rhe8 27.
Qg6+ Kf8 {The knight covers his majesty very well! Black is up two pieces now!}
28. f3 Qxd4+ 29. Kh1 Rac8 {A devastating loss for Kramnik, who fell victim to
his own attempts to complicate things. Fedoseev did not use so much of his
attacking brilliancy but he handled Kramnik's aggressive play quite
comfortably.} 0-1

[Event "Dortmund 45th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2017.07.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Andreikin, Dmitry"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C26"]
[WhiteElo "2712"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2017.07.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 180"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 Bc5 4. Bg2 c6 5. f4 d6 6. Nf3 O-O 7. d3 a5 8. Qe2
Nbd7 9. a3 Re8 10. f5 b5 11. Be3 Qb6 12. Nd1 d5 13. Nd2 dxe4 14. Nxe4 Nxe4 15.
Bxe4 Nf6 16. O-O Bb7 17. Re1 Nxe4 18. dxe4 Rad8 19. Nf2 Bd4 20. c3 Bxe3 21.
Qxe3 Qxe3 22. Rxe3 c5 23. Kf1 f6 24. Ke2 Kf7 25. g4 Rd6 26. Rd3 Rxd3 27. Kxd3
h5 28. h3 Rh8 29. Ke3 Bc6 30. Rd1 Ke7 31. g5 c4 32. h4 Rb8 33. Nh1 Rh8 34. g6
a4 35. Ng3 Bb7 36. Ne2 Rc8 37. Nc1 Bc6 38. Na2 Bb7 39. Nb4 Rc5 40. Kf3 Ba8 41.
Nc2 Bb7 42. Ne3 Ba8 43. Nf1 Rc8 44. Ng3 Rh8 45. Rd2 Bb7 46. Rd1 Ba8 47. Rd2 Bb7
48. Rd1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund 45th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2017.07.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D05"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2017.07.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 180"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 Bd6 5. Nbd2 Nbd7 6. c4 b6 7. e4 dxe4 8.
Nxe4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 Bb7 11. Qe3 O-O 12. Nxf6+ Nxf6 13. Ne5 Nd7 14.
Nxd7 Qxd7 15. O-O-O Rad8 16. f3 Qe7 17. Rhe1 Rd6 18. Bc2 Rfd8 19. d5 Qf6 20. g4
Qh4 21. Bb3 Bc8 22. g5 g6 23. Rd4 Qh3 24. Re4 c6 25. Qf4 cxd5 26. cxd5 Qf5 27.
dxe6 Qxf4+ 28. Rxf4 Bxe6 29. Bxe6 fxe6 30. Rf6 Rc8+ 31. Kb1 Rf8 32. Rxf8+ Kxf8
33. Kc2 Rd5 34. f4 Ke7 35. Re3 h6 36. gxh6 Rh5 37. h3 Rxh6 38. Ra3 Kd6 39. Kd2
Rh4 40. Rxa7 Rxf4 41. Rg7 Rh4 42. Rxg6 Rxh3 43. a4 Kd5 44. b4 Ra3 45. a5 bxa5
46. bxa5 Rxa5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund 45th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2017.07.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2683"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2017.07.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 180"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. e4 d5 6. e5 Ne4 7. Bd3 c5 8. Nf3
cxd4 9. Nxd4 Nd7 10. Bf4 Qh4 11. g3 Qh5 12. O-O g5 13. cxd5 gxf4 14. dxe6 Bxc3
15. bxc3 Nxe5 16. Bxe4 Bxe6 17. Rfb1 Rae8 18. gxf4 Qg4+ 19. Kh1 Qxf4 20. Nxe6
Rxe6 21. Rb4 Kh8 22. Bd5 Qf6 23. f4 Ng4 24. Bxe6 Qxe6 25. Qg2 Rg8 26. Rb2 Nf2+
27. Rxf2 Rxg2 28. Rxg2 Qc6 29. Re1 h6 30. Re3 b5 31. h3 b4 32. Reg3 bxc3 33.
Rg8+ Kh7 34. R8g7+ Kh8 35. Rg8+ Kh7 36. R8g7+ Kh8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund 45th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2017.07.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2017.07.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 180"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O d5 6. c3 a5 7. Bf4 Bf5 8. Qb3
Qc8 9. Rc1 a4 10. Qa3 Re8 11. c4 Nc6 12. Nbd2 e6 13. b4 axb3 14. Qxb3 Ne4 15.
cxd5 exd5 16. e3 h6 17. h4 Ra5 18. Nf1 Be6 19. Rab1 Ra7 20. a4 Qd8 21. N3d2
Nxd2 22. Nxd2 g5 23. hxg5 hxg5 24. Bxc7 Qxc7 25. Bxd5 Bxd5 26. Qxd5 Rxe3 27.
fxe3 Qxg3+ 28. Qg2 Qxe3+ 29. Kh1 g4 30. d5 Ne5 31. Rc8+ Kh7 32. Qe4+ Qxe4+ 33.
Nxe4 Rxa4 34. Nc3 Rd4 35. Rd1 Nd3 36. Kg1 b5 37. Nxb5 Rxd5 38. Nc3 Bd4+ 39. Kh2
Rh5+ 40. Kg2 Nf4+ 41. Kg3 Be5 42. Ne4 Kg6 43. Rg8+ Kf5 44. Nd6+ Bxd6 45. Rxd6
Rh3+ 46. Kf2 Rf3+ 47. Kg1 g3 48. Rd2 Ra3 49. Rd1 Ra2 50. Rxg3 Ne2+ 51. Kf2 Nc3+
52. Ke1 Nxd1 53. Kxd1 Kf4 54. Rb3 f5 55. Ke1 Ra1+ 56. Kf2 Ra2+ 57. Kf1 Ra1+ 58.
Kf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund 45th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2017.07.22"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Wang, Yue"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D61"]
[WhiteElo "2699"]
[BlackElo "2812"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2017.07.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 180"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 Nbd7 8. Qc2
c5 9. cxd5 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nxd5 11. Bxe7 Nxe7 12. Be2 Nf6 13. O-O Bd7 14. Rfd1
Qb6 15. Qb3 Qxb3 16. axb3 a5 17. Bf3 Bc6 18. Nxc6 bxc6 19. Ra3 Rab8 20. Kf1 g5
21. Rc1 Rfd8 22. Ke1 Rb4 23. Bd1 Ng6 24. Rxa5 Rh4 25. h3 g4 26. hxg4 Nxg4 27.
Rca1 Rh1+ 28. Ke2 Rg1 29. Ra8 Rxa8 30. Rxa8+ Kg7 31. g3 N6e5 32. Ra4 Rh1 33.
Rf4 f5 34. Kd2 h5 35. Be2 Rg1 36. Nd1 Nf6 37. Nc3 Rg2 38. Ke1 Rg1+ 39. Kd2 Nfg4
40. Nd1 Nf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund 45th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2017.07.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bluebaum, Matthias"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2812"]
[BlackElo "2642"]
[Annotator "Mokal,P"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2017.07.15"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 180"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.09.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Before this last round Kramnik was in last position with 2.5/6 and that too
in a tournament which he has won 10 times.} 1. Nf3 {Not surprisingly then, the
choice of opening seems to suggest playing more chess and less theory.} d5 2.
g3 Bg4 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 Be7 6. h3 Bh5 7. c4 {[%csl Rh5][%cal Gd1b3]
The idea is well known and seen in similar positions when the black bishop is
developed on f5.} ({A blitz game was played at the top level recently} 7. Nbd2
c5 8. e4 Nc6 9. Re1 dxe4 10. dxe4 O-O 11. e5 Nd7 12. g4 Bg6 13. Nc4 Nb4 $36 {
1-0 Caruana,F (2808)-Carlsen,M (2832)/Paris 2017 (49)}) 7... c6 8. Qb3 Qc8 ({
The natural move would be} 8... Qb6 {but Black has to accept weak squares on
the queenside after} 9. Be3 Qxb3 10. axb3 a6 {[%csl Rb6] which should give
White a slight edge} 11. g4 Bg6 12. Ne5 Nbd7 13. Nxg6 hxg6 14. Nc3 $14 {
0-1 Meier,G (2630)-Karjakin,S (2783)/chess.com INT 2017 (58)}) 9. g4 Bg6 10.
cxd5 cxd5 (10... Nxd5 $6 11. e4 Nf6 12. Ne5 $14) (10... exd5 11. Nh4 $14 {
[%cal Ge2e4,Gf2f4]}) 11. Bf4 Nc6 12. Nc3 O-O 13. Rac1 Qd7 ({A correspondence
game with a different move order went} 13... Nd7 14. Na4 Re8 15. Rfe1 Bd8 16.
Nd4 e5 17. Nxc6 bxc6 18. Bg3 Qa6 $11 {1/2-1/2 Ronat,O -Krebs,J/2014 (50)}) 14.
Ne5 ({An interesting positional sacrifice was suggested by the machines} 14. e4
$5 dxe4 15. dxe4 Nxe4 16. Rfd1 Qc8 17. Nxe4 Bxe4 18. Ne5 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Rd8 20.
Rxd8+ Bxd8 21. Nxc6 bxc6 22. Qa4 $44) 14... Nxe5 15. Bxe5 h5 {A principled
move, targeting the weakened kingside.} (15... Bd6 $5 16. f4 $14 (16. Bxd6 Qxd6
17. e4 $5 (17. Qxb7 $4 Rfb8)) (16. Bxf6 gxf6 $13)) 16. g5 (16. gxh5 Nxh5 $15 {
[%csl Rh3]}) 16... Ne8 (16... Nh7 17. f4 $14) 17. f4 (17. h4 $5 f6 $1 18. gxf6
Bxf6) 17... Bc5+ {Forcing White to close the retreat path of his bishop.} ({
Black could have seriously considered} 17... f6 $5 18. gxf6 gxf6 19. Bd4 Ng7 {
[%cal Gg7f5,Gf5g3,Gf5e3,Gf5d4]} 20. Bf2 $13 {although Black has some
weaknesses, White has been pushed back a little.} (20. e4 $2 {[%csl Rd4]} dxe4
$17 {[%csl Rd4]}) (20. Kh1 Kh8 $132 (20... Nf5 21. Bf2))) 18. d4 (18. Kh1 $6
Be3 19. Rc2 Nd6 $15) 18... Bb6 {[%csl Re5]} 19. f5 $1 (19. Na4 Bf5 {is fine
for Black.} (19... f6 20. Nxb6 axb6 21. f5 Bxf5 22. Rxf5 exf5 23. Bxd5+ $36)) (
19. Qa3 Bf5 {is also solid} (19... f6 20. f5)) 19... Bxf5 20. Rxf5 exf5 21.
Nxd5 {[%csl Rh5][%cal Gg5g6,Gd5f4,Gd5f6,Gb3g3,Gg2a8] For the exchange, White
gets enough compensation in the form of a weakened black structure and dynamic
attacking chances with freedom and creativity for all his pieces.} Qe6 {
[%cal Ge6e5]} 22. Kh1 (22. g6 $4 Qxe5) (22. e3 $5) 22... Rd8 23. Qf3 ({There
was the very tempting and aesthetically pleasing} 23. g6 $5 {but Black has a
way to sort things out with the unnatural} Nf6 $1 {with no fear of the likely
compromise of pawn structure as long as the attack is neutralised.} (23... Qxg6
24. Ne7+ $18) (23... Nd6 24. Nf6+ gxf6 25. gxf7+ Kxf7 26. Bd5 $18) (23... fxg6
24. Rc8 $1 Nc7 (24... Rxc8 25. Ne7+ Kf7 26. Bd5 $18) (24... Qxc8 25. Nxb6+ $18)
25. Rxc7 Bxc7 26. Bxc7 $14) 24. Bxf6 (24. Nxf6+ gxf6 $19 {[%csl Re5]}) 24...
gxf6 $17) 23... g6 24. e3 {[%csl Rb6] Kramnik refuses to get distracted with
queenside material.} (24. Nxb6 {gets back a pawn, and may be a tiny edge but
Kramnik had his eyes set on the black king} axb6 (24... Qxb6 25. Qxb7 Qxb7 26.
Bxb7 Nd6 27. Bc6 Ne4 28. Kg2 $14 {/=}) 25. Qxb7 Rd7 26. Qc6) (24. Nf4 $2 Qxa2
25. Nxh5 Bxd4 $19) 24... Kh7 $6 {Bluebaum misses his moment} ({From a
defensive perspective there was a clear plan for improvement of the bishop
that was biting on the d4-e3 granite with} 24... Rd7 $1 $132 {[%cal Gb6d8]} 25.
b3 (25. Rc8 Rxd5) 25... Bd8 26. h4 (26. Nf4 Qa6 $17) 26... Qa6 27. a4 Qd3 $17)
(24... Ng7 25. Nf6+ Kh8 26. Qxb7 $16) 25. Nf4 Qe7 ({Taking the pawn in the
corner would be dangerous} 25... Qxa2 $6 26. Qxb7 {[%csl Rg6][%cal Gb7h7]} Kg8
(26... Nd6 27. Qe7 Rfe8 28. Qf6 Rxe5 29. Qxe5 $16) 27. Rc6 $18 {[%cal Gc6g6]} (
27. Qe7)) 26. Qg3 (26. Qxb7 Qxb7 (26... Qxg5 27. Rc6 Kg8 28. Nxg6 fxg6 29. Bf4
$18) 27. Bxb7 Nd6 $11 {[%cal Gd6e4]}) (26. Nxh5 $2 Qxg5 $17) 26... Bc7 27. Rxc7
$1 {Fearless Kramnik sacrifices a second exchange, clearly indicating that the
bishop on e5 is more valuable for his attack than the rook on c1!} (27. Bf6 $2
Nxf6 28. gxf6 Qd7 29. Qg5 Bxf4 30. Qxf4 Rc8 $19) (27. Bxc7 $6 Nxc7 $17 28. Nxh5
gxh5 29. Qh4 Kg7 30. Qxh5 Rh8 $19) 27... Nxc7 28. Bf6 ({IF} 28. Qh4 {then after
} Kg8 {Black has a perpetual ready} (28... f6 29. gxf6 Qf7 $14) 29. Nxh5 gxh5
30. Bf6 (30. Qxh5 f6 $19) 30... Qxe3 31. Qxh5 Qc1+ 32. Kh2 Qf4+ $11) 28... Qb4
(28... Qd7 29. Qh4 Ne8 (29... Kg8 30. Nxh5 Ne8 31. Nf4) 30. Nxh5 Kg8 31. Nf4
Nxf6 32. gxf6 Qd6 33. Bd5 $1 (33. Qg5 Rd7 34. Bd5 Rc8 35. Qxg6+ Kf8 36. Qxf5)
33... Qa6 (33... Rc8 34. Qg5 Rc1+ 35. Kh2 Rc2+ 36. Kg3 Kh7 37. Bxf7 $1 $18) 34.
Qh6 Qxf6 35. Nh5 $1 gxh5 (35... Qh8 36. Qxg6+) 36. Qxf6 Rxd5 37. Qg5+ Kh7 38.
Qxh5+ Kg7 39. Qg5+ Kh7 40. Qe7 Kg7 41. Qxb7 $16) 29. Nxh5 $1 gxh5 (29... Ne8
$142 30. Bxd8 (30. Qh4 Kg8) 30... gxh5 31. Qf2 (31. Qf3 Ng7) 31... Ng7 32. Bf6
Rc8 $13) 30. g6+ (30. Qh4 Kg6 31. Bf3 Rh8 $19) (30. Qxc7 Qe1+ 31. Kh2 Rc8 $19)
30... Kg8 (30... fxg6 31. Qxc7+ $18) 31. Qg5 $1 (31. gxf7+ Kxf7 32. Qg7+ Ke8
33. Qg6+ Kd7 $15) (31. g7 Rfe8 32. Qg5 Qe1+ 33. Kh2 Qxe3 $19) 31... h4 $4 {
A miscalculation in a difficult position, probably due to time pressure.} ({
The best defence was} 31... Nd5 $142 32. Bxd8 (32. gxf7+ Kxf7 33. Bxd8 Rxd8 34.
Qxd8 Qe1+ 35. Kh2 Nxe3 36. Bxb7 (36. Qd7+ Kf6 37. Qd6+ $11) 36... Qf2+ 37. Kh1
Qf1+ 38. Kh2 Qf2+ $11) (32. Bxd5 Rxd5 33. Qxh5 (33. Qh6 Qe1+ 34. Kh2 Qf2+ $11)
33... Qe1+ 34. Kh2 Qf2+ 35. Kh1 Qf1+) 32... Qd6 33. gxf7+ Kxf7 34. Qxh5+ Kg8
35. Bh4 $1 {[%cal Gh5g5,Gh4g3,Gh1h2,Rd6h2]} (35. Bg5 Rc8 {[%cal Gc8c1,Gd6h2]}
36. Qd1) 35... Qe6 (35... Nxe3 36. Qg5+ $18 {[%csl Re3]}) (35... Rc8 36. Qg5+
Kh8 37. Bg3) 36. Bg3 Nxe3 (36... Rc8 37. Be5) 37. Qg5+ Kf7 38. Bf3 $36 {
[%cal Gf3h5]}) (31... Qe1+ 32. Kh2 $18) (31... Ne6 32. Qh6 fxg6 33. Qxg6+ $18)
32. Qh6 (32. Qxh4 $2 fxg6 33. Bxd8 Qxb2 $14) (32. Qh5 $2 Qe1+ 33. Kh2 Qg3+ 34.
Kg1 Qe1+ 35. Bf1 Qxe3+ 36. Kh1 Qe4+ 37. Bg2 Qe1+ 38. Kh2 Qg3+ $11) 32... Qe1+
33. Kh2 Qg3+ 34. Kg1 Qe1+ 35. Bf1 Qg3+ 36. Kh1 Qf3+ 37. Bg2 Qd1+ 38. Kh2 {
An aggressive and delightful game by Kramnik to end the tournament!} 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tbilisi"]
[Date "2017.09.03"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Dai, Changren"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[WhiteElo "2427"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2017.09.03"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3
d6 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 c5 12. d5 Qc7 13. Bc2 c4 14. Nf1 a5 15. Ng3
Nc5 16. b3 cxb3 17. axb3 Bd7 18. Be3 Rfc8 19. Qd2 a4 20. bxa4 Nxa4 21. Bxa4
Rxa4 22. Rxa4 bxa4 23. Rc1 Qc4 24. Qc2 h5 25. Nd2 Qa6 26. c4 h4 27. Ne2 Nh5 28.
Ra1 Bd8 29. Nc3 Nf4 30. Ra2 Ra8 31. Qb1 Qc8 32. Qd1 Nd3 33. Nb5 Ra6 34. Qa1 Nc5
35. Qb1 Be7 36. Qa1 Bd8 37. Qb1 Be7 38. Qa1 Kh7 39. Bxc5 Qxc5 40. Rxa4 Rxa4 41.
Qxa4 Bg5 42. Nb3 Qc8 43. Kh2 Bf4+ 44. g3 Bxh3 45. Nxd6 hxg3+ 46. fxg3 Qg4 47.
Nf5 Qh5 48. gxf4 Bxf5+ 49. Kg3 Qg4+ 50. Kf2 Qxf4+ 51. Ke2 Qxe4+ 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tbilisi"]
[Date "2017.09.04"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dai, Changren"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2427"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2017.09.03"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 Nf6 4. e3 Be7 5. b3 O-O 6. Bb2 c5 7. dxc5 dxc4 8. Bxc4
Qxd1+ 9. Kxd1 Bxc5 10. Ke2 b6 11. Rd1 Bb7 12. Nc3 Nc6 13. Nb5 Rfd8 14. Ne5 Nxe5
15. Bxe5 Nd5 16. Bxd5 exd5 17. Bd4 Ba6 18. a4 Rdc8 19. Kf3 Bxb5 20. axb5 Bxd4
21. Rxd4 Rc5 22. Rb4 h5 23. Ra2 g6 24. Ke2 Kg7 25. Kd3 Kf6 26. h4 Ke5 27. g3
Ke6 28. Ra6 Rc7 29. Rba4 Rac8 30. Rxa7 Rc3+ 31. Ke2 Rxb3 32. Rb7 Rc2+ 33. Kf1
Rxb5 34. Ra6 Rc6 35. Raa7 f6 36. Re7+ Kf5 37. Kg2 Re6 38. Rg7 Rb2 39. Rad7 Rd2
40. Kf3 b5 41. Rb7 Rb2 42. Rbd7 Rd2 43. Rb7 Rb2 44. Rgd7 Ke5 45. Rd8 Rc6 46.
Re7+ Re6 47. Red7 Rd2 48. Rb7 Rc6 49. Re7+ Re6 50. Rb7 Rc6 51. Re7+ Re6 52. Rb7
1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tbilisi"]
[Date "2017.09.06"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Demchenko, Anton"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A49"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2017.09.03"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{This is a typical modern day Kramnik game. Relatively fresh opening position,
new ideas found by the World Champion, incessant pressure thanks to one
powerful move after the other, and finally accurate conversion of the
advantage. His 2645 opponent is completely outplayed.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3.
b3 {The double fianchetto is getting quite mainstream these days with theory
developing around it.} Bg7 4. Bb2 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 (5... d5 {is a completely
different setup, not one that KID players would go for.}) 6. d4 Nbd7 (6... c5 {
might be a much more interesting choice. There are possilibities of ...Qa5+
and in general Black has a fine position here.}) 7. O-O Re8 {Black is not
playing very actively, ...Re8 already doesn't seem so good.} (7... e5 {is
mainly played} 8. dxe5 Ng4 {[%cal Gg4e5] I have never really liked this move
as White gets a small but stable edge by normal means.} (8... Nxe5 9. Nxe5 dxe5
10. Qxd8 Rxd8 11. Bxe5 $14) 9. c4 Ngxe5 10. Nc3 $14 {I feel that such
positions are always slightly better for White and very pleasant to play.}) 8.
a4 $5 {This move came as a surprise to me. I was expecting something like c4.
Kramnik's explanation can be that Black has done nothing in the centre, so
instead of revealing my cards, I would like to take more space on the
queenside with a4-a5 and so on.} Rb8 $6 {[%cal Gh1a8] Black wants to get away
from ideas like a5-a6 and issues on the long diagonal. However, all these
moves ...Re8 and ...Rb8 seem quite artificial.} (8... e5 {would have been a
normal continuation to Black's last move ...Re8.} 9. dxe5 Ng4 10. Qd2 (10. c4 {
Now this move doesn't make much sense as} a5 $1 {cements Black's superiority
on the dark squares.}) (10. a5 $5 Ndxe5 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Ra2 {a4 becomes
useful in a weird way!}) 10... Ngxe5 11. Nc3 $11) 9. c4 e5 10. dxe5 Ng4 (10...
dxe5 $5 {A very interesting idea.} 11. Nxe5 Nc5 $1 {The pawn on b3 is quite
weak.} (11... Ng4 12. Nxd7 Bxb2 13. Ra2 $1 $16 {The rook on b8 is not exactly
very happy at this point.}) 12. Qxd8 Rxd8 13. b4 Na6 14. b5 (14. Bc3 Ng4 15.
Nxg4 Bxg4 16. b5 Bxe2 17. Re1 Nc5 $1 18. Rxe2 $2 Rd1+ 19. Bf1 Bxc3 $19) 14...
Nc5 15. Nf3 Nfe4 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 $44 {I would rate this as very decent
compensation for Black. His knights are perched on great squares staring at
the weaknesses in White's position.}) 11. a5 {Kramnik gains more space on
queenside.} dxe5 12. h3 Nh6 (12... e4 {was interesting but White will gain the
advantage after} 13. Bxg7 exf3 14. exf3 Nxf2 15. Qd4 $1 Nd3 16. Nc3 (16. Bh6
$16) 16... N3c5 17. Bh6 Qf6 18. Qxf6 Nxf6 19. Ra3 $16) 13. e4 {Kramnik sees
that the weakness of the d4-square is not going to be quite relevant here and
goes for e4, limiting the knight on h6.} f6 {[%cal Gh6f7]} 14. b4 Nf8 15. Nc3
Be6 (15... Qxd1 16. Rfxd1 Be6 17. Nd5 Rbc8 (17... c6 18. Nc7 $16) 18. c5 $14)
16. Qe2 {[%cal Gf1d1] When you have more space, in general you should avoid
exchanges! Soon Black is going to struggle to find good squares for his pieces.
} Qc8 17. Kh2 Nf7 18. Rfd1 c6 19. Bc1 $1 {[%cal Gc1e3,Ge3a7] The bishop will
stand well on e3. This is the speciality of these great players: they know
when and where to shift their pieces. The bishop on b2 was not doing much, so
Vlad gets it to e3.} ({If I was White I would have gone for} 19. Rac1 Bh6 20.
Rc2 Rd8 {Black seems to be doing alright here.}) 19... f5 {Understandably
Black tries to create some play on the kingside.} 20. Be3 b6 21. axb6 axb6 22.
Rac1 $1 {[%cal Gc1c8] Once again a little counter-intuitive. The rook was
already on an open file, so why bring it to c1? Well, the reason is that it
defends the knight against threats like ...f4 and also prepares Nd5 which,
surprisingly, is not easy to stop.} Qc7 (22... Qb7 23. b5 $1 {[%csl Gd5]} cxb5
{[%cal Gg2b7]} (23... c5 24. exf5 gxf5 25. Nxe5 $18) 24. exf5 Bxc4 25. Qb2 e4
26. Nd4 $16) 23. Nd5 $1 (23. b5 $5 $14 {was also interesting here.}) 23... cxd5
24. cxd5 Qe7 25. dxe6 Nxe6 {In such positions the margin of error is not very
huge. White has to play accurately, or else Black consolidates. For Kramnik,
these are just the kind of positions he likes.} 26. exf5 $1 {When you have the
bishop pair, you must open the position.} gxf5 27. Qb5 $1 {Kramnik is very
good at such positions. He calculates the tactics accurately and does not let
his initiative go.} f4 (27... e4 28. Nh4 f4 29. Nf5 Qg5 30. gxf4 Nxf4 31. Bxe4
$1 Rxe4 32. Rg1 $18) 28. gxf4 exf4 29. Rd7 {White's play just flows!} Qf6 30.
Bd2 {There are just three pawns on the board and materially White isn't ahead,
but there is just so much pressure. It's just impossible to dispute the
quality of White's pieces.} Rbc8 31. Rxc8 Rxc8 32. Qxb6 {Winning a pawn. Now
this position might seem wild, but if you look carefully, there is absolutely
nothing that Black can do. White's pieces are perfectly posted and the exposed
nature of Black's king gives Kramnik a winning advantage.} Rc2 33. Qb7 Bf8 34.
Qe4 Qg6 35. Qd5 {[%cal Gd5g8]} Qf6 36. h4 $1 {[%cal Gg2h3,Gh3e6] Bringing the
last piece into the game with great effect. The bishop on h3 will break
Black's final resistance.} Bg7 37. Bh3 Nf8 38. Rb7 h6 39. Bg4 {[%cal Gg4h5]}
Rb2 40. Bh5 Ng6 41. Bxg6 Qxg6 42. Rb8+ Bf8 (42... Kh7 43. h5 Qf6 44. Qe4+ Qg6
45. Qxg6#) 43. Ne5 Rxd2 (43... Qg7 44. Nd7 $18) 44. Rxf8+ {Powerful play by
Kramnik. Demchenko was so dazed by this performance that in the next game when
he had the white pieces, he agreed to a draw in just 10 moves and was duly
eliminated from the World Cup 2017.} 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tbilisi"]
[Date "2017.09.07"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Demchenko, Anton"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2645"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[PlyCount "19"]
[EventDate "2017.09.03"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. c3 a6 6. a4 d6 7. O-O Ba7 8. Nbd2
O-O 9. h3 Be6 10. Bxe6 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tbilisi"]
[Date "2017.09.09"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2728"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2017.09.03"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. cxd5 exd5 4. d4 c6 5. Qc2 Bd6 6. Nf3 Ne7 7. Bg5 f6 8. Bd2
Na6 9. e4 Nb4 10. Qb3 a5 11. a3 a4 12. Qd1 dxe4 13. Nxe4 Nbd5 14. Bc4 Be6 15.
O-O O-O 16. Re1 Bf7 17. Nh4 Kh8 18. Qg4 Bc7 19. Nc5 g5 20. Nf3 h5 21. Qe4 Bg6
22. Qe2 Re8 23. Qf1 Nf5 24. Bd3 b6 25. Ne6 Qd7 26. Nxc7 Qxc7 27. Rxe8+ Rxe8 28.
Re1 Qf7 29. Rxe8+ Qxe8 30. Qe1 Qxe1+ 31. Nxe1 Kg7 32. Bxf5 Bxf5 33. g3 Kg6 34.
f3 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tbilisi"]
[Date "2017.09.10"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2728"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "142"]
[EventDate "2017.09.03"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 {Famously used by Fischer,
this line may not suit Kramnik's style entirely, as it has a static character,
at least in the initial phase. But the former World champion may enjoy it
because it ressembles a reversed Queen's Gambit (an opening he plays with
Black).} Nf6 ({Kramnik had also faced} 5... Qc7 {preventing Bf4:} 6. Na3 a6 7.
Nc2 Nf6 8. h3 e6 9. Nf3 b5 10. O-O Bb7 11. Re1 Bd6 12. Bg5 Ne4 13. a4 {Kramnik,
V (2812)-Fedoseev,V (2726) Dortmund 2017 CBM 180 [Moradiabadi,E] (0-1, 29)}) 6.
Bf4 Bg4 7. Qb3 Qc8 {Defending the pawn without placing the queen in the
f3-knight's range.} ({A famous Fischer game went} 7... Na5 $6 8. Qa4+ Bd7 9.
Qc2 e6 10. Nf3 Qb6 11. a4 Rc8 12. Nbd2 Nc6 13. Qb1 Nh5 14. Be3 h6 15. Ne5 Nf6
16. h3 Bd6 17. O-O Kf8 18. f4 $16 {Fischer,R-Petrosian,T Belgrade 1970 (1-0,
39)}) ({The main alternative is} 7... Qd7 {, preparing ...Bd6.} 8. Nd2 e6 9. h3
({Curiously this is more rarely seen than} 9. Ngf3 {when play may continue}
Bxf3 10. Nxf3 Bd6 11. Bxd6 Qxd6 12. O-O O-O 13. Rae1 Rab8 14. Ne5 b5 15. a3 a5
16. Re3 Rfc8 17. Qd1 b4 $132 {Lanka,Z-Kasparov,G Leningrad 1977 (½-½, 49)})
9... Bh5 (9... Bf5 $5 {needs further testing as so far it has been tried only
in lower rated games}) 10. Ngf3 Bg6 ({Most games continue with} 10... Bxf3 {
but this means offering White h2-h3 as an extra tempo. Or maybe he usually
wants to keep the h3-square available for the rook in order to attack h7?!})
11. Bb5 $5 Bd6 12. Bxd6 Qxd6 13. Qb4 $5 $146 Qxb4 14. Bxc6+ bxc6 15. cxb4 $14 {
[%csl Ga7,Gc5,Gc6]}) 8. Nd2 e6 9. Ngf3 Be7 10. O-O Bh5 $5 {A refined move (and
by far not the most popular!) The bishop retreats closer to g6 in order to
neutralise the possible pressure along the b1-h7 diagonal.} ({The main line
goes} 10... O-O 11. Ne5 Nxe5 (11... Bh5 12. Qc2 {already forces Black into
giving up the bishop pair in the long run for instance} Qe8 13. Rae1 Rc8 14.
Qb1 Bg6 15. Nxg6 hxg6 16. Nf3 a6 17. Qd1 Qd8 18. h4 Re8 19. g3 Nd7 20. Re2 Nf8
21. Rfe1 Bd6 22. Bc1 Qc7 23. Ng5 $14 {Zhao,J (2613)-Laznicka,V (2666) Ho Chi
Minh City 2016 (1-0, 53), with some pressure.}) 12. dxe5 Nd7 13. Qc2 g6 {
Ivanchuk probably wanted to avoid such weakening moves, even though in
practice White has not proved anything concrete:} 14. h3 Bf5 15. Bxf5 gxf5 {
Rendle,T (2400)-Howell,D (2611) Hastings 2011 CBM 140 Extra [Friedel,F] (0-1,
36)}) 11. Rae1 (11. Ne5 {is not dangerous now:} Nxe5 12. Bxe5 (12. dxe5 Nd7 13.
Qc2 Bg6 $11) 12... O-O $11) 11... Bg6 $5 {It looks as if Ivanchuk anticipated
Kramnik's 13th move. Since he is going to open the h-file, he does not hurry
with castling yet.} ({In practice there had been nothing wrong with} 11... O-O
{, though:} 12. Ne5 Nxe5 13. Bxe5 Bg6 14. Bxg6 hxg6 15. Qd1 b5 16. Re3 a5 17.
h4 b4 18. g4 a4 $36 {Dzindzichashvili,R (2530)-Karpov,A (2715) Mazatlan (rapid)
1988(0-1, 35)}) 12. Bxg6 hxg6 13. h4 $146 {In the endgame it would be useful
to keep the double pawns as they are (preventing ...f7-f6 followed by ..g6-g5,
for instance), but at this point in the game (and especially with a rook on h8)
the merits of this novelty are slightly questionable.} (13. Bg5 {is not
dangerous and actually led to quick disaster:} Qc7 14. Ne5 Bd6 15. f4 O-O-O $5
16. Qa4 Kb8 17. b4 Rc8 18. b5 Na5 19. Bxf6 (19. Nxf7 Qxf7 20. Qxa5 b6 21. Qa4
Rxc3 $15) 19... gxf6 20. b6 axb6 21. Nd7+ Ka7 $19 {Rittemann,S (2150)
-Svetushkin,D (2621) Travemuende 2011 (0-1, 28)}) ({For} 13. h3 O-O 14. Ne5 {
- Perelshteyn,E (2429)-Atalik,S (2575) Philadelphia 2000 EXT 2002 [Atalik,S] 
(0-1, 33).}) 13... a6 {[%cal Gb7b5] Frustrating White of his hopes for a
direct attack against the king, something he had prepared with Rae1.} 14. c4 {
The king's presence in the centre offers some abstract justification for this
break,but concretely there is no way of opening the position under favourable
circumstances. And the rooks should be on e1 or d1 and c1, not as they are. We
can infere that Ivanhuk's move order managed to confuse Kramnik completely.} a5
$5 {Very flexible thinking. After having provoked the weakening of the d4-pawn,
Ivanchuk looks for more.} 15. a3 {And he gets it!} a4 16. Qd3 O-O {There was
no need to stay with the king in the centre anymore, as with the queenside
under tension White cannot think of continuing his attack.} 17. c5 {Since
White cannot sustain this pawn with its neighbouring colleague, this move
fails to ensure a space advantage.} ({More cautious would have been} 17. Rc1
Qd8 18. Rfd1 {even though White would have no trace of an advantage.}) 17... b6
$1 18. cxb6 Qb7 19. Bc7 {With most of the pieces far from the queenside, this
mini-fortress is not fated to resist.} ({White had better chances to achieve
an eventless draw with} 19. Rc1 Qxb6 20. Rc2 Nd7 21. Rfc1 Rfc8 $11) 19... Nd7
$5 {Possibly the most difficult move in the game (see also my article about
difficult moves published on this same DVD!)} ({The point is that} 19... Ne8 {
looks more natural, but for not obvious reasons is less effective.} 20. Rc1
Nxc7 21. bxc7 Rfc8 22. Rc3 Rxc7 23. Rfc1 Rac8 24. g3 Bd6 (24... Na7 25. Rxc7
Rxc7 26. Rxc7 Qxc7 27. Qa6 $16) 25. Kg2 Ne7 26. Rxc7 Rxc7 27. Rxc7 Bxc7 28. Qc2
$11 {In similar lines in the game, the exchanges would take place slightly
differently.}) 20. Rc1 Rfc8 21. b4 {The correct reaction.} ({If, for instance,
} 21. Rc2 Nxb6 22. Bxb6 Qxb6 23. Rfc1 Na7 $1 24. Rxc8+ Nxc8 25. Rc2 Nd6 {
Black is much better regrouped than in the similar exchange line above. And
actually the presence of one rook on each side favours him, as White's b2-pawn
is weak.}) 21... axb3 22. Qxb3 Bxa3 {White seems to be in trouble as after
obstructing the b-file with the knight (...Be7 and ...Nb4 for instance) Black
would win the b6-pawn.} 23. Rc3 $2 ({Actually White had a nice resource:} 23.
Ra1 Be7 24. Rxa8 Rxa8 25. Rb1 Nb4 {Everything according to the plan, is it not?
} 26. Ne5 Nxb6 27. Qf3 $1 {Not entirely. This sudden queen switch offers
chances to maintain the equality.} Rf8 28. Bxb6 Qxb6 29. Nd7 Qxd4 30. Nxf8 Qxd2
31. Nd7 Bxh4 32. Ra1 Nc6 33. Ra8+ Nd8 {Black has a material advantage but his
poor cordination causes him problems proving a constructive plan.}) 23... Be7
$6 {Offering White a second chance of the same nature.} ({For reasons revealed
below a stronger move was} 23... Bf8 $1) 24. Rfc1 $2 (24. Rb1 $1 Nb4 25. Ne5
Nxb6 26. Bxb6 Qxb6 27. Rxc8+ Rxc8 28. Qf3 {is similr to the previous line.
With the bishop on f8 Black could defend f7 from the seventh rank.}) 24... Nb4
25. Ne5 Nxe5 26. Bxe5 (26. dxe5 Na2 $17) 26... Rxc3 27. Qxc3 Qxb6 {Black has
won a pawn and d4 is isolated. It is hard claiming a win yet, but let's put it
this way: Black would be very unhappy if he could not win!} 28. Nf3 Qd8 29. Qb3
Rc8 30. Ra1 Rc4 31. g3 Qc8 32. Kg2 Nc6 33. Qb5 Bf8 34. Ra4 $6 {I believe that
this makes things simpler for Black. Obviously, Kramnik was worried about his
d4-pawn. But it will soon become clear that it would have been better
exchanging queens.} (34. Qa6 $5 Qxa6 35. Rxa6 f6 36. Bf4 Kf7 37. Nd2 Rc2 38.
Nf3 {The d4-pawn is not lost yet.}) 34... Rxa4 35. Qxa4 Nb4 36. Qb5 Qc2 37. Qf1
Qe4 {This is the difference! The queen is very strong on this square and White
will soon be more or less forced to exchange it under unfavourable
circumstances. With rooks Black would not have had this resource.} 38. Qe1 f6
39. Bc7 Nc2 40. Qxe4 {Equivalent to surrendering.} ({But} 40. Qd1 {was not at
all roses:} Bb4 {[%cal Gc2e1]} 41. Kg1 Bc3 42. Bb6 Na3 43. Bc5 Nc4 {[%csl Gf3]
[%cal Gc4b2]} 44. Nh2 (44. Kg2 Nd2 {[%cal Gg6g5]}) 44... Nb2 $5 45. Qc1 Nd3 $1
46. Qxc3 Qe2 $1 47. Ng4 f5 48. Bb4 Qd1+ (48... fxg4 49. Qd2 $17) 49. Kg2 fxg4
50. Qd2 Qf3+ 51. Kg1 e5 {and Black should win.}) 40... dxe4 41. Nd2 f5 {
Black has gained space and the king is heading for d5.} 42. Nb3 Ne1+ 43. Kf1
Nf3 44. Ke2 Kf7 45. Bb6 Bb4 46. Ke3 Ke8 47. Bc5 Bc3 48. Ba3 Kf7 49. Bd6 Kf6 50.
Bc7 Ke7 51. Bb8 Bb2 52. Bf4 Kd8 53. Bd6 Kd7 {After many hesitations, typical
for over-the-board play, especially in decisive games, Ivanchuk decided on
giving up the g7-pawn for the sake of completing the king's centralisation.}
54. Bf8 Kc6 55. Bxg7 Kd5 56. Bf6 Bc3 $1 {[%csl Ga5][%cal Gd5c4]} (56... Kc4 {
is premature due to} 57. Na5+) 57. Ke2 ({Kramnik might have initially planned
retreating with his knight to c1, which is not possible with the king on e3:} 
57. Bg7 Kc4 58. Nc1 Bd2+ {but later changed his mind. Anyway, the last move
does not make anything worse than it was.}) 57... Kc4 58. Nc5 (58. Nc1 Bd2 $1
59. Kd1 Bxc1 60. Kxc1 Kd3 61. Kd1 e3 62. fxe3 Kxe3 $19 {[%cal Ge3f2]}) 58... e5
59. Nd7 {Unfortunately the knight does not get in time to take on g6, as White
has other worries now.} exd4 60. Bd8 d3+ 61. Kd1 Bd4 62. Bb6 Bxb6 63. Nxb6+ Kd4
64. Nc8 Ne5 65. Ne7 Ng4 66. Ke1 Kc3 67. Nd5+ (67. Nxg6 Kc2 $19) 67... Kb3 68.
Kd2 Nxf2 69. h5 {Or anything else.} gxh5 70. Ne3 h4 {This was the move I
expected, but Black has of course alternatives.} (70... Ng4 71. Nxf5 Ne5 72.
Nd4+ Kb2 73. Ke3 Nc4+ $1 $19) 71. Nxf5 (71. gxh4 f4) 71... h3 0-1

[Event "Douglas IoM op"]
[Site "Douglas"]
[Date "2017.09.23"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "2017.09.23"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IOM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. Qc2 h6 {Traditionally
inserting ...h7-h6 was supposed to help White retreat with his bishop on a
safer square and simply weaken Black's kingside. But lately Black has
discovered a few positive aspects of this move.} 7. Bh4 Be7 8. e3 O-O 9. Bd3
Re8 10. Nge2 ({In my article for CBM 156 I examined the position arising after
} 10. Nf3 Nbd7 11. O-O Ne4 {when ...h7-h6 is useful.}) 10... Nh5 {This plan is
traditionally combined with castling long. But with the pawn on h6, Black can
also use it with the king on g8 already. The effects of ...h7-h6 are far from
one-sided. In the early phase it will ensure the king's knight some stability
on f6, but if White manages to carry out g2-g4, h2-h4 and g4-g5, weakening the
kingside may prove dangerous for Black. Black should not delay this knight
move as White might soon play f2-f3 (part of his main plan anyway) and then
answer ...Nh5 with Bf2.} 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. h3 {A half waiting move, but
already a partial committment to castling long. The way I understand it, White
intends keeping his king in the centre until Black plays ...Nbd7, in order to
avoid a later ...Na6 as in some lines below.} ({Kramnik had faced} 12. O-O {
in a blitz game.} Nd7 13. Rae1 ({Actually this position was known a long time
ago:} 13. h3 Nf8 14. Rae1 g6 15. e4 $6 {Black is well regrouped against this
pawn break.} dxe4 16. Bxe4 Be6 17. g4 Nf6 18. Bg2 Qd6 19. Qd2 Kg7 20. Rd1 Bd5
21. Ng3 Ne6 $17 {Boutteville,C-Tartakower,S Paris 1954 (0-1, 42)}) 13... Nf8
14. Nc1 {Unlike in the classical game, White tries combining pressure on the
queenside and in the centre.} Nf6 15. Nb3 Ne6 16. f3 a5 17. Na4 Qd8 18. Nbc5
Nf8 $1 {It is useful to avoid the knight exchange, as after the planned ...
b7-b5 one of White's knights will be superfluous from the point of view of the
fight for the c5-square.} 19. Qb3 b5 20. Nc3 Ne6 21. Nxe6 Bxe6 22. Qc2 Qb6 23.
Qf2 a4 24. Rc1 b4 25. Ne2 Ra5 26. h3 c5 27. dxc5 Rxc5 28. e4 Nd7 $11 {
Nepomniachtchi,I (2751)-Kramnik,V (2811) Zuerich (blitz) 2017 (1-0, 79)}) ({
As mentioned before,} 12. O-O-O {is slightly premature:} Nf6 13. Ng3 ({This is
too slow to be dangerous but even against the standard attack with} 13. h3 {
Black can react in the same way:} b5 14. g4 a5 15. Ng3 a4 16. Kb1 a3 17. b3 Na6
$132) 13... b5 14. Kb1 a5 15. Nf5 Bxf5 16. Bxf5 a4 17. g4 a3 18. b3 Na6 19. h4
Nb4 20. Qe2 Ne4 (20... g6 21. Bd3 Nxd3 22. Rxd3 b4 23. Na4 Ne4 $15) 21. Rc1 (
21. Bxe4 dxe4 22. g5 $40) 21... g6 22. Bxe4 dxe4 23. g5 h5 $1 $15 {
Javakhishvili,L (2461)-Arabidze,M (2379) Doha 2016 (0-1, 42)}) 12... a5 $5 {
Black gladly embarks on the half-waiting game. The advance of the a-pawn is
useful in many cases. If White castles short (which is less recommendable
after h2-h3), the a-pawn would slow down the minority attack. And if White
castles long, Black can continue with the familiar ...b7-b5 and so on.} ({
Even though it looks like a flexible move,} 12... Nf6 {has the drawback of
depriving Black of ...Qh4 after} 13. O-O Nbd7 14. Ng3 Nf8 15. Rfe1 Bd7 16. a3
Qd6 17. Rad1 Rad8 18. b4 Rc8 19. e4 $5 dxe4 20. Ncxe4 Nxe4 21. Nxe4 Qc7 22. Re3
$14 {White has some space advantage and chances to create kingside threats.
With his next move Black underestimates the latter aspect.} Be6 $2 {Jacimovic,
D (2428)-Sablic,B (1997) Obrenovac 2010 (1-0, 47)} 23. Nf6+ $1 gxf6 24. Rg3+
Ng6 (24... Kh8 25. Qc1 {more or less mates.}) 25. Bxg6 Kh8 (25... fxg6 26.
Qxg6+ Kf8 27. Qxf6+ Qf7 28. Qxh6+ Ke7 29. Rg7 $18) 26. Bf5 Qf4 27. Bxe6 fxe6 (
27... Rxe6 $16) 28. Rg6 Rg8 29. g3 Rxg6 30. Qxg6 Qg5 31. Qf7 $18) ({And if} 
12... Nd7 {then of course} 13. O-O-O) 13. a3 {This would be completely natural
if White intended castling short and then starting his queenside attack. But
the way the game goes, it weakens the queenside, offering Black additional
attacking ideas.} (13. g4 Nf6 14. Ng3 {takes the knight away from the
d4-square at a moment when the king is still in the centre.} c5 $5 (14... Na6
15. a3 c5 $5) 15. Nce2 c4 16. Bf5 Nc6 17. O-O b5 18. Nf4 g6 19. Bxc8 Raxc8 20.
Qd1 Qd6 21. Qf3 Ne4 $15 {Novotny,M (2219)-Konopka,M (2424) Zdar nad Sazavou
2007 (0-1, 44)}) ({Trying to cope without a2-a3 by playing} 13. Na4 {at once
does not lead anywhere after} Qb4+ 14. Nec3 $2 Qxd4) 13... Nd7 {Now that Black
has a queenside target, he can return to the normal course of development.} 14.
Na4 (14. O-O Qh4 $5 {sets up unpleasant kingside pressure.}) (14. O-O-O b5 {
offers Black a strong initiative.}) 14... Qh4 $5 {Another refined manoeuvre
typical of Kramnik. In principle, his intention seemed to be retreating with
the queen to d8, but before that he wanted to make sure White was not castling
short after all.} ({But} 14... Qg5 {is a worthy alternative with similar ideas.
} 15. g4 (15. O-O Ndf6 16. Kh2 Qh4) 15... Nhf6 16. Ng3 (16. O-O-O Ne4 17. Nf4
Qe7 18. h4 b5 19. Qxc6 Ra6 20. Qc2 Bb7 21. Kb1 Rc8 22. Qe2 Rc4 $5 $36) 16...
Qf4 17. Qe2 Qc7 $13) ({If} 14... Qd8 {at once he might have been worried about}
15. O-O $5) 15. g3 {Deciding on which square the enemy queen is molesting most
is not easy:} (15. g4 $5 Nhf6 16. Ng3 Ne4 17. Bxe4 (17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. Bxe4 Nf6
19. Bg2 Rxe3+) 17... dxe4 18. O-O-O (18. Nxe4 b5 19. Nac3 Bb7) 18... Qe7 19.
Kb1 Rb8 20. Rc1 Nf6 21. Qc5 {with some light pressure.}) 15... Qd8 {Now, of
course, castling short is not appealing at all.} 16. g4 Nhf6 17. Ng3 Nf8 18.
O-O-O b6 {The start of a consistent plan, which Kramnik will execute in
imperfect form, though.} ({The more adventurous} 18... Ne6 $5 19. Kb1 b5 {
was also viable:} 20. Nc5 Nxc5 21. Qxc5 b4 22. a4 (22. Qxc6 Rb8 23. a4 Bd7 24.
Qc2 b3) (22. axb4 axb4 23. Qxb4 Ne4 24. Nxe4 dxe4 25. Bc4 Ba6 $36) 22... Ba6
23. Qxc6 Bxd3+ 24. Rxd3 Re6 25. Qc2 Rc8 26. Qb3 Rec6 $44) 19. Kb1 ({In
Sicilian positions with castling on opposite sides Wite would think of} 19. g5
hxg5 20. h4 {but here it does not seem offering realistic attacking chances:}
g4 21. h5 Bd7 22. h6 g6 $15) 19... Bd7 20. Nf5 c5 $6 {Prematurely carrying out
the correct idea.} ({Since the b-file was likely to open, Black should have
prepared the pawn break with} 20... Rb8 21. Rhg1 ({One important element is
that White does not seem to be able to use the available tempo for speeding up
his kingside attack:} 21. h4 Nxg4 22. h5 Bxf5 23. Bxf5 Nf6 24. Rhg1 Ne6 25. Rg2
Kh8) 21... c5 {Now this is very strong.} 22. dxc5 (22. g5 hxg5 23. Rxg5 Ne6 24.
Rg2 c4 25. Be2 Kf8 26. Rdg1 g6 {and Black's attacking chances are more
realistic.}) 22... Bxa4 23. Qxa4 bxc5 24. h4 ({A similar idea to that in the
game} 24. Bb5 $2 {loses a piece to} Qb6) 24... c4 $1 {This is also possible
only with the rook on b8.} 25. Bxc4 (25. Be2 c3 26. b3 Re4 27. Rd4 Ne6 $40)
25... Qb6 $1) 21. dxc5 Bxa4 22. Qxa4 bxc5 23. Bb5 (23. h4 $16 {is also strong.}
) 23... Re6 24. Qc2 {White has used the favourable moment for activating his
pieces. Black's pawns are really "hanging".} Rb6 $6 (24... Qb6 $6 25. a4 Rd8
26. h4 Nxg4 27. Rhg1 h5 28. Nxg7 Kxg7 29. f3 $40) ({But Black should have
fought against White's stabilising on the light squares at any cost with} 24...
a4 $1 25. Qxc5 (25. Bxa4 Rb6 $40 {[%cal Ga8a1,Gb6b1]}) 25... Rc8 26. Qa7 Ra8
27. Qc5 Rc8 $11 28. Qd4 $6 Rb8 29. Bd3 Reb6 30. Rd2 Ne6 $36) 25. a4 $14 {
Black has to try hard to find counterplay now.} Ne6 26. h4 Nc7 {It is
essential to dislocate the bishop.} (26... Nxg4 27. Rxd5 $1) 27. Qxc5 Nxb5 28.
axb5 Qb8 $2 {This unnatural move loses a pawn and basically the game.} ({
Things would not be entirely clear after} 28... Rab8 29. Ne7+ Kh8 30. Nc6 Qc8 {
for instance} 31. Qd4 R8b7 32. Nxa5 Rb8 33. Nc6 R8b7 34. g5 $6 Rxb5 $1) 29. g5
$16 Rxb5 30. Qc2 Ne4 31. Ne7+ Kh8 32. Rxd5 Rxd5 33. Nxd5 Qe5 34. Rd1 Rd8 (34...
hxg5 35. hxg5 Re8 36. f4 Qf5 37. Ka1 {preparing Rh1+ and Qh2, leaves Black
under a nasty pin and with his king exposed along the h-file.}) 35. Rd4 Rxd5
36. Rxe4 Rd1+ {Black needs to get a tempo for exchanging on g5, as otherwise
gxh6 would decisively weaken his king. But this will lead to a hopeless rook
ending.} 37. Ka2 Qd5+ 38. Qc4 hxg5 39. hxg5 Kh7 40. Qxd5 Rxd5 41. f4 Kg6 42.
Rd4 Rb5 43. Ka3 {White has a solid kingside structure and a clear target on a5.
Black can never activate his king that much to generate adequate counterplay.}
Kf5 44. b3 f6 45. Ka4 Rb7 46. Rc4 Ra7 (46... fxg5 47. Rc5+ Ke4 48. Re5+ Kf3 49.
fxg5 $18) (46... Rb6 47. Rc5+ Ke4 48. Rb5 Rc6 49. Rb7 fxg5 50. Rxg7 gxf4 51.
exf4 Rb6 52. Rg5 Kxf4 53. Rxa5 {[%csl Rf4][%cal Ga5h5] The king is cut off
horizontally, the game is over.}) 47. Rc5+ Ke4 48. Rxa5 Re7 49. gxf6 gxf6 50.
Ra6 Kf5 {Resigning was a worthy alternative already, but Kramnik probably
needed some time to digest his earlier mistakes.} (50... f5 51. Ra5 {
inevitably defends e3 with Re5 as if} Re6 52. Re5+ Rxe5 53. fxe5 Kxe5 54. b4
$18) 51. Rd6 Ra7+ 52. Kb5 Rb7+ 53. Kc4 Rc7+ 54. Kd4 Rb7 55. e4+ Kxf4 56. Rxf6+
Kg5 57. Rf5+ Kg4 58. Kc4 Re7 59. Rd5 Kf4 (59... Rxe4+ 60. Rd4) 60. e5 Kf5 61.
b4 Ke6 62. b5 Ra7 63. b6 Rb7 64. Rb5 Kd7 65. Kd5 Kc8 66. e6 Kd8 67. Kc6 1-0

[Event "Douglas IoM op"]
[Site "Douglas"]
[Date "2017.09.24"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Balint, Vilmos"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A85"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2281"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2017.09.23"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IOM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 f5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 b6 5. O-O Bb7 6. c4 Be7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. b3
Qe8 9. Bb2 Qh5 10. d5 Na6 11. Nd4 Nc5 12. Qxh5 Nxh5 13. Be2 Nf6 14. dxe6 dxe6
15. b4 Nce4 16. Nxe6 Rfc8 17. Nxe4 Bxe4 18. Rfd1 Bxb4 19. c5 Kf7 20. Bc4 Ke7
21. f3 b5 22. Bb3 Bc2 23. Nxg7 Bxd1 24. Nxf5+ Ke8 25. Rxd1 Nd7 26. Ng7+ Ke7 27.
Rd4 Bxc5 28. Re4+ 1-0

[Event "Douglas IoM op"]
[Site "Douglas"]
[Date "2017.09.25"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Tarjan, James Edward"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A12"]
[WhiteElo "2412"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2017.09.23"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IOM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 {James is a famous grandmaster and a member of American Olympic team in
70s and 80s. From 1984 he gave up professional chess and was working as a
librarian. This, especially after beating the former world champion, can be
considered as a huge comeback!} Nf6 2. g3 c6 3. Nf3 d5 4. b3 {It's not
surprising, that James doesn't choose to challenge his great opponent in the
main theoretical lines.} Bg4 5. Bg2 e6 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Bb2 Bd6 8. d3 O-O 9. Nbd2
Re8 ({Another natural continuation} 9... Qe7 {was recently seen in another
high-level game:} 10. h3 Bh5 11. a3 a5 12. Qc2 Rfc8 13. e4 dxe4 14. dxe4 e5 $11
{Nepomniachtchi,I - Salem,A Moscow RUS 2017, Black was fine and eventually won.
}) 10. h3 Bh5 {Vladimir is sensibly avoiding exchanging his light-squared
bishop.} (10... Bxf3 11. Bxf3 a5 12. a3 Rb8 13. Qc2 Qe7 14. e3 e5 15. Bg2 h6
16. Rfc1 b5 17. cxd5 cxd5 18. Nf3 $14 {Rustemov,A - Solozhenkin,E Sochi RUS
2004}) 11. Re1 {White is getting ready to stabilise the pawn structure in the
centre.} ({Another possible setup} 11. Qc2 e5 12. e3 {also leads to a long
strategic battle:} a5 13. a3 Qe7 14. Nh4 Bg6 (14... Qe6 $142 15. e4 dxe4 16.
dxe4 Red8 17. Nf5 Bf8 $11) 15. Rfc1 Rab8 16. cxd5 cxd5 17. Nb1 $14 {Kurajica,B
- Kuljasevic,D Pula CRO 2004}) 11... a5 12. a3 e5 13. cxd5 (13. e4 {is
inferior:} dxe4 14. Nxe4 Nxe4 15. dxe4 Bc5 $15 {Janzelj,T - Skoberne,J Maribor
SLO 2017}) 13... cxd5 14. Nh4 Nc5 $146 {This aggressive move is a novelty. The
knight isn't only threatening to capture the d3-pawn, but also supporting the
key e5-e4 advance.} ({The previously played} 14... Bc5 15. Rc1 (15. d4 exd4 16.
Ndf3 Ne4 17. Bxd4 Rc8 $132) 15... Qb6 16. Rf1 Rad8 $132 {led to a complex
struggle in Hamdouchi,A - Ionescu Brandis,I Romania 2001.}) 15. Qc2 ({Another
possibility was} 15. Ndf3 e4 16. dxe4 dxe4 17. b4 $1 axb4 18. axb4 Na6 ({
Nor does} 18... exf3 {offer anything special:} 19. Rxa8 Qxa8 20. bxc5 fxe2 21.
Qxd6 Qa5 22. Rxe2 Rxe2 23. Bxf6 Qe1+ 24. Kh2 gxf6 25. Qb8+ Re8 26. Qxb7 Qxf2
27. c6 $11) 19. Ng5 Bxb4 20. Qxd8 Raxd8 21. Reb1 {The pressure along the
b-file enables White to regain the pawn and equalise.}) 15... Ne6 ({In the
event of} 15... Rc8 16. Rac1 {White is just in time to remove his queen from
the c-file. The play might continue:} Qd7 17. Qb1 b6 18. b4 axb4 19. axb4 Na4
20. g4 Bxg4 $5 {A typical piece sac, which is aimed at complicating matters} (
20... Bg6 21. Ba1 $132) 21. hxg4 Qxg4 22. Nhf3 Nxb2 23. Qxb2 e4 24. Rxc8 Rxc8
25. dxe4 dxe4 26. Ne5 Qf4 27. Ndc4 $132 {Tense, double-edged play lies ahead.})
16. Rac1 (16. Ndf3 $5 {also deserved serious consideration:} Rc8 17. Qd1 e4 18.
Nd4 $132) 16... Nd4 17. Qd1 Nb5 18. Nb1 $6 {This is too passive.} ({I guess,
Vladimir was intending to meet} 18. a4 {with} Nd4 $5 ({The quiet} 18... Na7 19.
g4 Bg6 20. Nxg6 hxg6 21. e3 {looks rather comfortable for White.}) 19. Bxd4
exd4 20. Nf5 Ba3 21. Rc2 Qb6 22. Qa1 Bb4 23. Qxd4 Qe6 {Black has sufficient
compensation for a pawn due to his powerful bishop pair.}) 18... Qd7 19. Kh2 (
19. Nc3 Nxc3 20. Rxc3 Ra6 $15) 19... Ra6 $5 {Not the only, but the most
attractive way of extending the initiative - the rook is moving towards the
kingside.} 20. Nf3 e4 21. dxe4 Nxe4 {This continuation is logically connected
with Vladimir's 19th move.} ({However, there was also the promising} 21... dxe4
$5 22. Nd4 Nxd4 $1 (22... Bxg3+ 23. fxg3 Rd6 {doesn't offer Black anything
special:} 24. Rc4 Rd8 25. Qd2 Nxd4 26. Bxd4 Rxd4 27. Qxa5 $132) 23. Qxd4 Qf5
24. Qe3 Bg6 $15 {White would suffer from a lack of space and a passive
g2-bishop.}) 22. Rf1 {A sad necessity. White's position looks solid, but
rather passive now.} Bb8 $6 {This natural move turns out to be a loss of tempo.
} ({Unexpectedly} 22... h6 $1 {seems the best way of extending the initiative:}
23. Kg1 (23. a4 $2 Nxf2 24. Rxf2 Bxg3+ 25. Kxg3 (25. Kg1 Bxf2+ 26. Kxf2 Nd6 $19
) 25... Qd6+ 26. Ne5 Rxe5 27. Kh2 Rxe2+ 28. Kg1 Rxf2 $19) 23... Bxg3 24. fxg3
Nxg3 25. Ne5 Qd6 26. Rf2 (26. Qxd5 Qxd5 27. Bxd5 Nxe2+ 28. Kg2 Nxc1 29. Rxc1
Rd6 $36) 26... d4 27. Ng4 f5 $36) 23. Nc3 $6 {Now Vladimir's idea is fully
justified.} ({Instead} 23. a4 $1 Na7 (23... Nxf2 $2 24. Rxf2 Bxg3+ 25. Kxg3
Qd6+ 26. Ne5 Rxe5 27. Kh2) 24. Nc3 Nxf2 $1 {Otherwise Black would have to
suffer from the isolated d5-pawn.} 25. Rxf2 ({Another possibility is} 25. Qxd5
Qxd5 26. Nxd5 Ne4 27. Nc7 Nxg3 $1 28. Nxe8 Nxf1+ 29. Kg1 Ng3 30. Rd1 Nxe2+ 31.
Kf1 Ng3+ 32. Kf2 $11) 25... Bxg3+ 26. Kg1 Bxf2+ 27. Kxf2 {would lead to an
unbalanced position with mutual chances.}) 23... Nbxc3 24. Bxc3 Rae6 ({The
more aggressive} 24... Rg6 $5 {would force White to play} 25. Be1 (25. Kg1 $2 {
runs into} Nxf2 26. Rxf2 Bxg3 27. Qd4 Bxf2+ 28. Qxf2 Qxh3 29. Bxa5 Bxf3 30.
exf3 Qf5 $19) {, and then} 25... Ba7 26. Rc2 Rh6 $36 {keeping White's king
under strong pressure.}) 25. Be1 ({James is sensibly rejecting} 25. Nd4 Nxc3
26. Rxc3 Rxe2 27. Nxe2 Bxe2 28. Qd2 Bxf1 29. Bxf1 b6 $15 {even though it would
be very difficult for Black to convert the extra pawn into a full point.})
25... h6 $6 {Vladimir is returning the favour and letting James consolidate.} (
{There was the much stronger} 25... Rh6 $1 26. Bd2 Rg6 27. Be1 Ba7 $36) 26. Rc2
({Another possible move was} 26. Nd4 Rg6 27. Qd3 Be5 28. Rc2 $11) 26... Ba7 27.
Qc1 $2 {Inviting fresh troubles - White's setup is losing harmony.} ({Instead,
after} 27. Nd4 Rf6 28. a4 Bg6 29. Rc1 $11 {White would be firmly in control.})
27... Bb6 28. e3 Qb5 $1 29. Nd4 (29. Nd2 {was hardly any better:} Nf6 30. a4
Qd3 $17) 29... Bxd4 30. exd4 {Obviously, the change of pawn structure
definitely favours Black.} Bf3 $2 {Perhaps, this was a blunder - Vladimir
didn't notice, that his queen is going to be trapped.} ({The correct} 30... Be2
31. Rg1 Rf6 $1 {would have put James in a critical situation, since only the
exchange of light-squared bishop allows White to maintain the material balance:
} 32. Bxe4 dxe4 33. a4 Qd3 $17) 31. Bxf3 Nxg3 $2 {Mistakes rarely come alone!
Now Black is losing.} ({Instead} 31... Qxf1 32. Be2 Nxg3 33. Bxf1 Nxf1+ 34. Kg2
Rxe1 35. Qb2 ({Not} 35. Qf4 $2 R8e6 $19 {, and White's king is helpless.})
35... R8e6 {would lead to a forced draw:} 36. Rc1 Rg6+ 37. Kh1 Ng3+ 38. Kh2 Re2
39. Rc2 Nf1+ 40. Kh1 Re1 41. Rc1 $11) 32. fxg3 ({GM Tarjan had a decent
alternative at his disposal:} 32. Rg1 Nf1+ 33. Rxf1 Qxf1 34. Bxa5 $18) 32...
Qxf1 33. Bf2 Qd3 (33... Qxc1 34. Rxc1 Rd8 35. Rc5 Rb6 36. Bd1 $18 {is
absolutely hopeless for Black, whose rooks are tied to protecting the weak
pawns.}) 34. Rc3 (34. Bxd5 Re2 35. Rxe2 Rxe2 36. Qf4 $18) 34... Qf5 35. Kg2 Rf6
36. Qc2 $18 {White's powerful bishops easily decide the game now.} Qd7 37. g4
Rc6 38. Rc5 Rd8 (38... Rxc5 39. Qxc5 a4 40. bxa4 Qxa4 41. Bxd5 $18) 39. Qf5
Rxc5 40. Qxd7 Rxd7 41. dxc5 d4 42. Kf1 ({An equally good move was} 42. Bg3 d3
43. Kf2 d2 44. Bd6 b6 45. b4 $18) 42... d3 43. Ke1 d2+ 44. Kd1 Kf8 45. Bg3 Ke7
46. Bd6+ Ke6 47. Kxd2 b6 48. Ke3 bxc5 49. Bxc5 Rd8 50. b4 axb4 51. axb4 f5 52.
b5 fxg4 53. hxg4 g6 54. b6 h5 55. g5 {It definitely makes sense to keep more
pawns on the board.} ({Still, even after} 55. gxh5 gxh5 56. b7 Kd7 57. Bd4 Re8+
58. Kf4 {Black should resign.}) 55... Kd7 56. b7 {A disappointing defeat for
GM Vladimir Kramnik.} 1-0

[Event "Douglas IoM op"]
[Site "Douglas"]
[Date "2017.09.26"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Enkhtuul, Altanulzii"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B38"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2327"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2017.09.23"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IOM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 c5 7. O-O cxd4 8. Nxd4
Nc6 9. Be3 Bd7 10. Qd2 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Bc6 12. f3 a5 13. b3 Nd7 14. Bf2 Nc5 15.
Rab1 f5 16. exf5 Rxf5 17. Be3 Qf8 18. Nb5 a4 19. b4 Ne6 20. Bd3 Rf7 21. Be4
Bxb5 22. cxb5 Nd8 23. Rbd1 Qe8 24. b6 Bf8 25. Rfe1 e6 26. Bf2 Qb5 27. Bd3 Qh5
28. Re4 Bh6 29. Qe2 d5 30. Re5 g5 31. h4 Rg7 32. Bf5 Qf7 33. Rxe6 Nc6 34. Rxc6
Qxf5 35. Rxh6 gxh4 36. Qe6+ Qxe6 37. Rxe6 h3 38. g3 Rf8 39. Rxd5 Rxf3 40. Re8+
Kf7 41. Re2 1-0

[Event "Douglas IoM op"]
[Site "Douglas"]
[Date "2017.09.27"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Trent, Lawrence"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2427"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2017.09.23"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IOM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nbd2 d5 8.
exd5 Nxd5 9. O-O O-O 10. a3 Bxd2 11. Bxd2 Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 13. g4 Bg6 14. Re1 Qd6
15. Qb3 Rad8 16. Rac1 h5 17. Bxd5 Qxd5 18. Qxb7 Qxf3 19. Rc3 Qd5 20. Qxc6 hxg4
21. Qxd5 Rxd5 22. Rxc7 gxh3 23. Be3 Re8 24. Rec1 Re4 25. Kh2 Rg4 26. Rc8+ Kh7
27. R8c5 Be4 28. Rxd5 Bxd5 29. Kxh3 f5 30. Rc5 Bg2+ 31. Kh2 Kg6 32. Rc1 Bd5 33.
Rg1 Kh5 34. Rxg4 Kxg4 35. Bd2 f4 36. Bb4 Kf3 37. Kg1 g5 38. Be7 g4 39. b4 Ke2
40. Bh4 Bc6 41. d5 Bxd5 42. Be7 Bc6 43. Bc5 a6 44. Bd6 Kf3 45. Bc7 Bb5 46. Bb8
Bc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Douglas IoM op"]
[Site "Douglas"]
[Date "2017.09.28"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kavutskiy, Konstantin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E60"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2390"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2017.09.23"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IOM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. b3 Bg7 4. Bb2 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Bg2 c5 7. c4 Ne4 8. O-O
Nc6 9. e3 e5 10. Ne1 f5 11. d5 Nb8 12. Bxe4 fxe4 13. Nc3 Bf5 14. g4 Qg5 15. h4
Qxg4+ 16. Qxg4 Bxg4 17. Nxe4 Be2 18. Nxd6 Bxf1 19. Kxf1 b6 20. Ke2 Nd7 21. Nd3
Rad8 22. Ne4 Rde8 23. Rg1 Nf6 24. Ng5 Nxd5 25. cxd5 e4 26. Nxc5 bxc5 27. Bxg7
Kxg7 28. Ne6+ Rxe6 29. dxe6 Kf6 30. Rg4 Ke5 31. Rf4 Re8 32. Rf7 h5 33. Rxa7
Kxe6 34. Ra6+ Kf5 35. Rc6 Kg4 36. Rxc5 Kxh4 37. a4 Kg4 38. a5 h4 39. Rc6 g5 40.
a6 h3 41. Kf1 Rd8 42. Kg1 Rd2 43. Rf6 Ra2 44. b4 Ra4 45. b5 Ra5 46. Rf8 1-0

[Event "Douglas IoM op"]
[Site "Douglas"]
[Date "2017.09.29"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Harika, Dronavalli"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A58"]
[WhiteElo "2528"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2017.09.23"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IOM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. g3 d6 8. Bg2
O-O 9. Nf3 Nbd7 10. O-O Nb6 11. e4 Bxa6 12. Re1 Nc4 13. Bf1 Nd7 14. Nd2 Nde5
15. Nxc4 Nxc4 16. Bd3 Qb6 17. Rb1 Rfb8 18. Na4 Qb4 19. Kg2 Ne5 20. Bd2 Qd4 21.
Bc2 Nd3 22. Re3 Bh6 23. Rf3 Bxd2 24. Qxd2 Ne5 25. Qxd4 cxd4 26. Rb3 Bb5 27. a3
Be2 28. Rxb8+ Rxb8 29. b4 Bf3+ 30. Kf1 Rc8 31. Bd1 Bxe4 32. Ra1 Nc4 33. Ke1
Bxd5 34. Be2 Be4 35. f3 Ne3 36. fxe4 Nc2+ 37. Kd2 Nxa1 38. Bd1 f5 39. exf5 gxf5
40. Nb6 Rb8 41. Nc4 Kf7 42. g4 Kf6 43. gxf5 Kxf5 44. Bf3 Kf4 45. Bd5 e5 46. Kd3
Rc8 47. a4 e4+ 48. Bxe4 Rxc4 49. Kxc4 Kxe4 50. a5 Nc2 51. b5 Na3+ 52. Kb4 Nxb5
53. Kxb5 d3 0-1

[Event "Douglas IoM op"]
[Site "Douglas"]
[Date "2017.09.30"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Sethuraman, SP."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D05"]
[WhiteElo "2803"]
[BlackElo "2617"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "2017.09.23"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IOM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 c5 5. b3 Be7 6. Bb2 O-O 7. Nbd2 b6 8. Ne5
Ba6 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. O-O Bxd3 11. Nxd3 Be7 12. c4 Na6 13. Qe2 Nc5 14. Nxc5 Bxc5
15. Rad1 Qe7 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. cxd5 exd5 18. Nf3 Rfd8 19. Qd3 a5 20. Rd2 h6 21.
a4 Rac8 22. Rc2 Qe6 23. Rfc1 g6 24. h3 Re8 25. Rd1 Red8 26. Rc3 Qf6 27. Rc2 Qe6
28. Qb5 Kg7 29. Rcd2 Rd6 30. Nd4 Qf6 31. Qe2 Rcd8 32. Rd3 R6d7 33. g3 Kg8 34.
h4 h5 35. Kg2 Kg7 36. Nb5 Qf5 37. Qf3 Qxf3+ 38. Kxf3 Kf6 39. Ke2 Ke6 40. Rc1
Ke7 41. Kf3 Ke6 42. b4 Bxb4 43. Rc6+ Ke7 44. Rxb6 Rc8 45. Nd4 Rd6 46. Rb7+ Kf8
47. Kg2 Rc1 48. Nf3 Kg7 49. Rd4 Rf6 50. Rxd5 Rc2 51. Rd1 Ra2 52. Rb8 Re6 53.
Rd7 Rf6 54. Rdd8 Re6 55. Rg8+ Kf6 56. Nd4 Rd6 57. Nf3 Rxa4 58. Rb7 Re6 59. Ng5
Re7 60. Rb6+ Ke5 61. Rd8 Bc5 62. Rc6 Ba7 63. f4+ Kf5 64. Kh3 1-0

[Event "Douglas IoM op"]
[Site "Douglas"]
[Date "2017.10.01"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Jones, Gawain C B"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2668"]
[BlackElo "2803"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2017.09.23"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IOM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8.
c4 Ba6 9. Nd2 g6 10. Nf3 Qb4+ 11. Kd1 Ne7 12. Qc2 c5 13. Bd3 Bg7 14. Re1 O-O
15. Qb3 Nc6 16. Bd2 Qb6 17. Qxb6 axb6 18. Kc2 Rad8 19. a3 d6 20. exd6 Rxd6 21.
Bc3 Na5 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Nd2 Rfd8 24. Re3 Bc8 25. Kc3 Bf5 26. Bxf5 Rxd2 27.
Be4 R8d4 28. b3 Rxf2 29. Rf3 Re2 30. Bd5 c6 31. Bxf7 Nb7 32. b4 Nd6 0-1

[Event "EU-Cup 33rd"]
[Site "Antalya"]
[Date "2017.10.10"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2737"]
[BlackElo "2794"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2017.10.08"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Novy Bor"]
[BlackTeam "Globus"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8.
cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Bd3 Nc6 12. Bc2 b6 13. O-O Bb7 14. d5
Na5 15. dxe6 fxe6 16. Qe2 Rc8 17. Rad1 Qc7 18. Nd4 Qe5 19. Rfe1 Rc4 20. Nf3 Qc5
21. Bb1 h6 22. Rd7 Bc8 23. Rd2 Nc6 24. Red1 Rc1 25. Rxc1 Qxc1+ 26. Rd1 Qc3 27.
e5 Rd8 28. h4 Rxd1+ 29. Qxd1 Kf7 30. Qa4 Qc1+ 31. Kh2 Ne7 32. Qe4 Bd7 33. Nd4
Qd2 34. Qf3+ Kg8 35. Qa8+ Kf7 36. Qf3+ Kg8 37. Qa8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-Cup 33rd"]
[Site "Antalya"]
[Date "2017.10.12"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2702"]
[BlackElo "2794"]
[PlyCount "130"]
[EventDate "2017.10.08"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Odlar Yurdu"]
[BlackTeam "Globus"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 d5 7. Bb5 Ne4 8. cxd4
Bb6 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Be3 Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. Qc2 Bg6 13. Qb3 Ne7 14. O-O c6 15.
Bd3 Ng3 16. Rfd1 Bxd3 17. Rxd3 Ngf5 18. Bd2 Ng6 19. Na4 f6 20. exf6 Qxf6 21.
Nxb6 axb6 22. Qxb6 Ngh4 23. Bb4 Nxg2 24. Kxg2 Qg6+ 25. Kh2 Nh4 26. Rg1 Qxd3 27.
Nxh4 Rxf2+ 28. Rg2 Rf7 29. Bd6 Re8 30. Be5 h6 31. Ng6 Qb1 32. Nf4 Qf1 33. Ng6
Qe1 34. Bf4 Kh7 35. Ne5 Rxf4 36. Qc7 Rg8 37. Nd3 Qe4 38. Nxf4 Qxd4 39. Nh5 c5
40. Qe7 c4 41. Qxb7 Qe5+ 42. Ng3 Rb8 43. Qf7 Rxb2 44. Qf5+ Qxf5 45. Nxf5 c3 46.
Nd4 g5 47. Rc2 Rb4 48. Nb3 d4 49. Kg3 Kg6 50. Kf3 Kf5 51. Nc5 Rc4 52. Nd3 h5
53. Rf2 Rc8 54. Ke2+ Ke4 55. Rf7 Re8 56. Rd7 g4 57. hxg4 hxg4 58. a4 g3 59. a5
Rg8 60. Re7+ Kd5 61. Nf4+ Kd6 62. Re6+ Kd7 63. Re4 g2 64. Rxd4+ Kc6 65. Nxg2
Rxg2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-Cup 33rd"]
[Site "Antalya"]
[Date "2017.10.13"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2772"]
[BlackElo "2794"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2017.10.08"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Alkaloid"]
[BlackTeam "Globus"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "MKD"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 c5 7. Rb1 Be7 8.
Nf3 O-O 9. Bc4 a6 10. a4 Qc7 11. Bd3 cxd4 12. cxd4 Nc6 13. O-O Nb4 14. Ba3 Nxd3
15. Qxd3 Bxa3 16. Qxa3 Bd7 17. Ne5 Rfc8 18. Rfc1 Qd8 19. Nxd7 Qxd7 20. Qb4 a5
21. Qb6 Qxa4 22. Rxc8+ Rxc8 23. Qxb7 Qc2 24. g3 h5 25. d5 exd5 26. exd5 Rd8 27.
Re1 Qd3 28. Re5 Qf3 29. Qb5 h4 30. Re8+ Rxe8 31. Qxe8+ Kh7 32. Qd7 f5 33. gxh4
Qg4+ 34. Kf1 Qd1+ 35. Kg2 Qg4+ 36. Kf1 a4 37. Qe6 Qd1+ 38. Kg2 Qg4+ 39. Kf1 Qg6
40. Qc6 a3 41. Qa8 Qd6 42. h5 f4 43. Kg2 Qb4 44. Qe8 f3+ 45. Kh3 Qb1 46. d6
Qf5+ 47. Kg3 Qg5+ 48. Kxf3 Qf6+ 49. Kg2 Qxd6 50. Qa8 Qd3 51. h3 Qb3 52. Qe4+
Kh8 53. Qa8+ Kh7 54. Qe4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU-Cup 33rd"]
[Site "Antalya"]
[Date "2017.10.14"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Inarkiev, Ernesto"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2794"]
[BlackElo "2693"]
[PlyCount "175"]
[EventDate "2017.10.08"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Globus"]
[BlackTeam "Legacy Square Capital"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. c4 e5 2. d3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Nbd2 Qe7 5. a3 Bd6 6. d4 exd4 7. Nxd4 Bc5 8.
N2f3 d5 9. cxd5 O-O 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 12. e3 c6 13. Rc1 Bb6 14. Bc4 Bg4
15. O-O Rd8 16. dxc6 Nxc6 17. Qb3 Rd7 18. h3 Bxf3 19. Nxf3 Rad8 20. Bb5 Rd6 21.
Bxc6 Rxc6 22. Rxc6 Qxc6 23. Rd1 Rc8 24. Ne5 Qe8 25. Nd7 Rc6 26. Nxb6 Rxb6 27.
Qc3 Qe4 28. Rd4 Qb1+ 29. Kh2 Rc6 30. Qb4 Rf6 31. f4 b6 32. Qd2 Rc6 33. Rd8+ Kh7
34. Qd5 Re6 35. f5 Re7 36. f6 gxf6 37. Qa8 Qe4 38. Rh8+ Kg6 39. Qg8+ Kf5 40.
Qh7+ Ke5 41. Qxh6 Ke6 42. Rd8 Qe5+ 43. Qf4 Qxf4+ 44. exf4 Kf5 45. Rd4 Re2 46.
Rb4 Kg6 47. Rb3 Rf2 48. Kg3 Rf1 49. Rd3 f5 50. Rd6+ f6 51. Rd2 Kh5 52. Rd5 Kg6
53. Rb5 Rd1 54. Kf2 Rd3 55. g3 Rd2+ 56. Ke3 Rh2 57. h4 Rg2 58. Kf3 Rd2 59. Rb3
Kh5 60. Ke3 Rd1 61. Rd3 Rb1 62. b3 Ra1 63. a4 Re1+ 64. Kd4 Re4+ 65. Kd5 Kg4 66.
Kc6 Rb4 67. Kb7 a5 68. Ka6 Kh5 69. Rd6 Rxb3 70. Rxf6 Rxg3 71. Rxf5+ Kxh4 72.
Kxb6 Rg8 73. Kxa5 Ra8+ 74. Kb5 Rb8+ 75. Kc6 Kg4 76. Rb5 Ra8 77. a5 Kxf4 78. Kb7
Rh8 79. a6 Rh7+ 80. Kb6 Rh6+ 81. Ka5 Rh7 82. Rc5 Ke4 83. Kb6 Kd4 84. Rc7 Rh1
85. a7 Rb1+ 86. Kc6 Ra1 87. Kb7 Rb1+ 88. Kc8 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 80th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2018.01.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Wei, Yi"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D77"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2018.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"]

1. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 2. g3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} g6 {[%emt 0:
00:00]} 3. Bg2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bg7 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 4. d4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6
{[%emt 0:00:00]} 5. O-O {[%emt 0:00:00]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:00]} 6. c4 {[%emt 0:
00:00]} dxc4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 7. Na3 {[%emt 0:00:00] A good move to play for a
long technical battle!} c5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} (7... c3) 8. dxc5 {[%emt 0:00:00]}
c3 {[%emt 0:00:00] The approved method of gaining equality, but I think Black
might have to take the pawn on the next move to prove it.} (8... Qxd1 {was
tried recently, but it is more unpleasant for Black.} 9. Rxd1 Nfd7 10. Nxc4
Nxc5 11. Be3 $16 {Meier,G-Edouard,R Germany 2017}) 9. Nb5 $1 {[%emt 0:00:00]}
Na6 {[%emt 0:01:46]} (9... cxb2 10. Bxb2 Bd7 11. Qb3 Bc6 12. Rfd1 {was a
previous Kramnik game: Kramnik,V-Topalov,V London 2016; here I think ...Qa5
and then ...Nbd7 offers Black reasonable play.} Qa5 $132 (12... Nbd7)) 10. Nxc3
{[%emt 0:00:00]} Nxc5 {[%emt 0:01:00][%cal Gg2a8,Gg7a1]} 11. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:
00]} Nfe4 {[%emt 0:10:18]} 12. Nxe4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nxe4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 13.
Bd4 $1 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bxd4 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 14. Qxd4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Qxd4 {
[%emt 0:01:35]} 15. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:04:21]} Nd6 {[%emt 0:00:08][%csl Gd6]
Unbelievably, this had all been seen before, and from Wei Yi's next move, it
is clear that he had seen the precedent.} 16. Rac1 $146 {[%emt 0:03:03]} (16.
Rfc1 Rd8 17. Rc7 Kf8 18. Rac1 Ne8 19. R7c4 Nd6 20. Rc5 Bd7 $11 {Ding,L-Giri,A
Palma de Mallorca 2017, was equal and ultimately drawn.}) 16... Rd8 {[%emt 0:
10:01]} (16... e5 17. Nb3 Be6 {was now worthy of note, and while I might think
it's an equalising route, we will just have to wait for Kramnik to beat
another elite player to find out what he had in mind here!}) 17. f4 {[%emt 0:
03:19][%cal Gg1f2] This approach goes better with the rook on f1 than a1, as
White wants to bring it to d1 next.} Kf8 {[%emt 0:20:37]} 18. Kf2 {[%emt 0:05:
11]} Bg4 {[%emt 0:03:04]} 19. h3 {[%emt 0:08:32]} Bd7 {[%emt 0:00:50]} 20. e4 {
[%emt 0:19:50][%cal Ge4e5]} (20. Rc7 $5 {appeals to me, as I think the e4-e5
push gains in strength from there being no rooks on the board.}) 20... Rac8 {
[%emt 0:07:03]} (20... Nb5 $1 {was still objectively equal if a little
unpleasant over the board:} 21. Nxb5 (21. Rfd1 Nxd4 22. Rxd4 Be6 $15) 21...
Bxb5 22. Rfd1 Rxd1 23. Rxd1 Rc8 24. Rd2 f6 $11) 21. Rxc8 {[%emt 0:13:34]} (21.
e5 {may have been good, taking advantage of a moment when Black is not able to
reply with ...Nb5 and must worry about the b7-pawn.} Nf5 22. Ne2 Bb5 $1 {
This accurate move may be needed to hold the balance. There could follow} 23.
Rxc8 Rxc8 24. Rc1 Rxc1 25. Nxc1 b6 26. Be4 {and Black should just be equal
with one or two more good moves.}) 21... Rxc8 {[%emt 0:01:47]} 22. Rd1 {
[%emt 0:00:31] The point seems to be that after ...Nb5 White now intends Ne2!,
a4, and Nc3.} Ke8 {[%emt 0:22:30]} (22... Nb5 23. Ne2 {[%cal Ga2a4,Ge2c3]}) 23.
e5 {[%emt 0:07:21]} Nf5 {[%emt 0:00:42][%cal Gc8c2]} 24. Nb3 {[%emt 0:03:29]} (
24. Nxf5 Rc2+ {[%csl Gg2]}) 24... Bc6 {[%emt 0:07:27]} (24... Rc2+ 25. Rd2
Rxd2+ 26. Nxd2 b6 {would have led to a similar ending to the last note.'} 27.
g4 Nd4 28. a3 $14) 25. Rc1 {[%emt 0:02:57] Now I think White has a little
something!} Kd7 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 26. Nc5+ {[%emt 0:02:27]} Ke8 {[%emt 0:00:19]}
27. Nd3 {[%emt 0:07:15]} (27. Na6 $5 {is rather flashy for a move that is only
trying to inflict pawn weaknesses on the opponent, but Black seems to be fine
after the accurate} Nd4 $1 $11) 27... Kd7 {[%emt 0:01:43]} 28. g4 {[%emt 0:07:
53] Giving Black a major headache - his best move now requires a wrinkle to
make it playable.} Nd4 $6 {[%emt 0:08:05]} (28... Bxg2 29. Rxc8 (29. e6+ {
[%csl Gc8,Gd7]} fxe6 30. Ne5+ Kd8 31. Nf7+ {DF} Kd7 32. Rxc8 Kxc8 33. Kxg2 Nd6
34. Ng5 {looks slightly unpleasant for Black, though the machine notes that he
draws with the only move} e5 $1 35. fxe5 h6 $1 $11) 29... Kxc8 30. Kxg2 $14)
29. Rc4 {[%emt 0:02:00]} Ne6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 30. f5 {[%emt 0:01:15]} gxf5 {
[%emt 0:02:45]} 31. gxf5 {[%emt 0:00:38]} Ng7 {[%emt 0:02:11]} (31... Nd8 $14 {
limited the damage by not allowing another isolated pawn, though the
co-ordination and space deficits are still there.}) 32. Bxc6+ {[%emt 0:02:55]}
bxc6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} (32... Rxc6 33. e6+ $1 Ke8 {[%cal Ge6f7]} (33... fxe6 34.
Ne5+) 34. exf7+ Kf8 (34... Kxf7 35. Ne5+) 35. Rxc6 bxc6 36. b4 Nxf5 37. Ne5 $16
Nd4 {DF} 38. a4 $18) 33. Nc5+ {[%emt 0:02:16]} Kc7 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 34. Rh4 {
[%emt 0:03:31]} (34. Rb4 Nxf5 35. Rb7+ Kd8 36. Rxa7 $16) 34... h5 {[%emt 0:02:
00]} (34... Nxf5 35. Rxh7 Rf8 36. h4 $16) (34... Rh8 {DF} 35. Rb4 Nxf5 36. Rb7+
Kc8 37. Rxa7 $18) 35. f6 {[%emt 0:00:44] Winning a pawn by force} exf6 {
[%emt 0:00:04]} 36. exf6 {[%emt 0:00:18]} Ne8 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 37. Rxh5 {
[%emt 0:01:02]} Nxf6 {[%emt 0:00:48]} 38. Rf5 {[%emt 0:00:15]} Nd5 {[%emt 0:00:
49]} 39. Rxf7+ {[%emt 0:01:27]} Kd6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 40. Ne4+ {[%emt 0:00:00]}
Ke5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 41. Nd2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} a5 {[%emt 0:00:00] Black has
played these last ten moves well, keeping active even at the cost of a pawn,
but unfortunately White's position is probably winning with best play.} 42.
Nc4+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} Ke6 {[%emt 0:00:00]} (42... Kd4 43. Nxa5) 43. Rh7 {
[%emt 0:03:25]} Rb8 {[%emt 0:10:07]} 44. Ke2 {[%emt 0:04:37]} Kf5 {[%emt 0:13:
06]} (44... Rb4 45. Rh6+) (44... a4 $142) 45. Rh6 {[%emt 0:06:04]} Nf6 {
[%emt 0:05:24]} 46. h4 {[%emt 0:01:50]} a4 {[%emt 0:02:27]} 47. Kd3 {[%emt 0:
01:36]} c5 {[%emt 0:01:30]} (47... Rd8+ $16 {would have continued to put up
more active resistance}) 48. Ne3+ {[%emt 0:03:34]} Ke5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 49. h5
$6 {[%emt 0:02:24]} (49. Rg6 $142 $1 $18 {forces Black's king back for
tactical reasons. The position can't be held anymore.}) 49... Rd8+ {[%emt 0:01:
08] In the game again! I suspect there was an element of time pressure here.}
50. Kc4 $6 {[%emt 0:02:05]} Ne4 $4 {[%emt 0:00:28]} (50... Rd2 $1 $11 {is a
sudden draw; the subtlety here is that while Black can't take on b2
immediately, he does have} 51. Kxc5 Ne4+ 52. Kc6 Kd4 $1 53. Nf5+ Ke5 {The
knight has no good way to avoid the attention of the black king, and ...Rxb2
is always on the cards.}) 51. Kb5 {[%emt 0:02:08] Now White picks up the
a-pawn and there should be no further drama.} Kd4 {[%emt 0:01:19]} 52. Nc4 $18
{[%emt 0:02:26]} a3 {[%emt 0:00:22]} 53. Nxa3 {[%emt 0:00:53]} Nd6+ {[%emt 0:
01:47]} 54. Kc6 {[%emt 0:02:40]} Nf7 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 55. Nb5+ {[%emt 0:01:37]}
1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 80th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2018.01.14"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Giri,A"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2018.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 {Fernandez,D} e6 2. Nc3 Bb4 3. Qb3 {Fernandez,D: 'I was intrigued by
this opening, and looked around it a bit, finding that it is indeed played
reasonably often by really top players, but probably should not promise
anything, at least on a cursory investigation.'} Ba5 (3... a5 {(Fernandez,D)
is a stereotypical 'Bogo' way to play, and after} 4. a3 Bxc3 5. Qxc3 Nf6 6. b3
O-O 7. Bb2 d6 8. e3 e5 9. d4 Nc6 $11 {Black was fine in Aronian,L-Riazantsev,A
Sharjah 2017}) 4. Nf3 c5 (4... Nf6 {(Fernandez,D) was played in an old
Conquest-Rozentalis game, but doubtless Giri had something else quite
inventive up his sleeve, for instance} 5. g4 $5 $13) 5. d4 Nf6 6. dxc5 $6 {
Fernandez,D: 'Not holding back, Giri makes a double-edged decision that might
score worse on the engine pane, but is nearly certain to get him the bishop
pair and hence an imbalanced position.'} (6. e3 {(Fernandez,D) might well be
more solid, and Black needs to be careful that he does not transpose to an
awkward Nimzo. This can be acheived with} cxd4 $6 7. exd4 d5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9.
Bd3 $14 {and for this reason Black should prefer something like 6...d6.}) 6...
Na6 7. Be3 Ne4 8. g3 Naxc5 9. Qc2 Bxc3+ (9... Nxc3 {(Fernandez,D)} 10. bxc3 b6
11. Bg2 {is a hard thing for a human to play as Black, with the backward
d-pawn and the wayward bishop on a5.}) 10. bxc3 b6 11. Bg2 Bb7 12. O-O O-O 13.
Rfd1 Qe7 {Fernandez,D: 'Now we have more or less the position that White
signed up for on move 6. A simplistic evaluation would be 'equal', a better
one would be 'equal for kids or blitz players, better for Black from 1800 to
2600 in classical, and messy above that!'} (13... Qc7 $5 14. Nd4 Nd6 15. Nb5
Nxb5 16. Bxc5 bxc5 17. Bxb7 Na3 18. Qa4 Qxb7 19. Qxa3 Qc7 $11) 14. a4 $1 {
Fernandez,D: 'One problem Black has is that he cannot block the a5-push.'} d6 (
14... f5 {(Fernandez,D)} 15. a5 e5 16. axb6 axb6 {might have been preferable
for Black, who intends ...f4 soon - the plan is very easy to grasp.}) 15. a5 f5
$2 (15... Nf6 $1 $11) 16. axb6 (16. Nd4 $5) 16... axb6 17. Nd4 $14 Nf6 18. Bxb7
Nxb7 $6 (18... Rxa1 19. Rxa1 Qxb7 20. Nb5 Ng4 $14) 19. Rxa8 Rxa8 20. Nb5 Rc8 $2
{Fernandez,D: 'Leaving the a-file, which White eventually exploits, and he
could in fact have done so a bit faster.'} (20... Nd7 $1 {Fernandez,D: 'is
sensible, heading for c5 with one knight and either a5 or e5 with the other,
and keeping the Nimzo-typical ...Rc8 in reserve. White wins a pawn with'} 21.
Bf4 (21. Nxd6 {Fernandez,D} Nxd6 22. Qd3 Ne5 23. Qxd6 Qxd6 24. Rxd6 Nxc4 25.
Rxe6 {but after} Rc8 $3 {his pieces are so badly tangled that he must give it
back to get out.} 26. Re7 Kf8 27. Rb7 Nxe3 28. fxe3 Rxc3 29. e4 fxe4 30. Rxb6
$11) 21... Ne5 $14) 21. Qa2 (21. Bxb6 $1 Rxc4 22. Ra1 $16) 21... d5 22. Bg5 $5
{It is obvious that White has a risk-free advantage, but this move, a
temporary pawn sacrifice changes the character of the game, shifting the focus
from the weak pawns to the weak king, which is never pleasant, especially in
time trouble.} Rxc4 {Black can afford this capture, since due to some tactical
finesses he doesn't lose by force.} (22... Qd7 $5 {keeps the position together,
but White keeps the initiative with} 23. Bxf6 gxf6 24. Qa7 Rxc4 25. Nd4 Rc7 26.
Qxb6 Nd8 27. Kg2 {with risk-free torture. Black's position is cramped and his
pieces uncoordinated.}) 23. Qa8+ {This appears to be winning, but Black has a
strong defensive resource.} (23. Bxf6 gxf6 24. Qa8+ Kg7 $1 {is the way for
Black to defend if White chooses to reverse the move order.} 25. Ra1 Na5 26.
Qa6 Qc5 27. Nd4 Kf7 {holding on for now.}) 23... Kf7 $1 (23... Qe8 24. Qxb7
Qxb5 {loses to} 25. Qe7 $1 Qc6 26. Ra1) (23... Nd8 24. Bxf6 gxf6 (24... Qxf6
25. Rxd5 exd5 26. Qxd5+ {is the same. White wins a pawn and the game.}) 25.
Rxd5 $1 {the main point.} exd5 26. Qxd5+ Qe6 27. Qxd8+ Kg7 28. Nc7 {and the
queen+knight combo starts performing.} Qf7 29. Ne8+ Kg6 30. Nd6 Qe6 31. Nxc4
Qxc4 32. Qd3 {with a winning queen endgame.}) 24. Ra1 $1 {The second wave of
the attack.} (24. Qxb7 Qxb7 25. Nd6+ Ke7 $1 26. Nxb7 Rc7 {is the point. The
extra knight is trapped.}) 24... Na5 25. Qb8 $1 {White's queen is attacking
from within the enemy camp.} Rc6 $6 {Natural, but it was better to return the
pawn and try and coordinate the pieces.} (25... Nc6 $1 {was a strong defensive
resource:} 26. Qxb6 h6 $1 27. Bxf6 (27. Bc1 $5) 27... Kxf6 $1 28. Ra8 Qd7 $1 {
a couple of more strong computer moves and Black can be proud of having saved
the position that looked on the verge of being lost, just a couple of moves
ago.}) 26. Nd4 $1 Rxc3 $2 {The losing mistake.} (26... Rd6 $1 {was the only
move. It looks extremely suspect, but it was possible to make it, through the
method known as elimination. The continuation in the game looks even more
dangerous.} 27. Nf3 (27. Bf4 Rd7 $1 28. Nf3 Nc4 $1 29. Ra8 Qe8 $1 30. Ng5+ Ke7
31. Qxe8+ Nxe8 32. Nxe6 Kxe6 33. Rxe8+ Kf7 {and Black should hold this endgame
without many problems.}) 27... Qd8 $1 28. Ne5+ Kf8 $1 29. Qa7 Qe7 $1 30. Qa6
Nc4 $1 {and again the computer performed a miracle escape. White is only
slightly better after capturing twice on c4.}) 27. Qxb6 Nc4 28. Qb8 $1 {
Threatening Ra7 and preparing to meet ...Ra3 with Rb1!. Probably that last
detail is what Black overlooked.} Nd7 $2 {loses on the spot.} (28... Ra3 {
was still the best attempt to continue the game:} 29. Rb1 Kg6 30. Rb7 Qe8 {
and now both the lazy 31.Qxe8+ Nxe8 32.Nxe6 and the more ambitious 31.Qc7 are
winning for White.}) 29. Bxe7 $1 {A surprising idea, leading to a clean finish.
} Nxb8 30. Bb4 {Suddenly the rook is trapped almost in the middle of the board.
} e5 31. Ra7+ Kg8 32. Bxc3 exd4 33. Bxd4 Nc6 34. Rxg7+ Kf8 35. Bf6 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 80th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2018.01.15"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Hou, Yifan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A18"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2680"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2018.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/6000+30:20/3000+30:900+30"]

1. c4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e6 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 2. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {
[%emt 0:01:30]} 3. e4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 4. cxd5 {[%emt 0:00:
04]} exd5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 5. e5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Ne4 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 6. Nf3 {
[%emt 0:00:07]} Bf5 {[%emt 0:01:58]} 7. d3 {[%emt 0:00:16]} Nxc3 {[%emt 0:03:
14]} 8. bxc3 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 9. d4 {[%emt 0:01:10]} O-O {
[%emt 0:04:26]} 10. Bd3 {[%emt 0:00:23]} Qd7 {[%emt 0:02:31]} 11. O-O {[%emt 0:
01:20]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:05:06]} 12. Re1 {[%emt 0:07:54]} b6 {[%emt 0:06:51]} 13.
Bb5 {[%emt 0:05:23]} Qe6 {[%emt 0:04:19]} 14. Ng5 {[%emt 0:03:34]} Bxg5 {
[%emt 0:21:48]} 15. Bxg5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Qg6 {[%emt 0:01:38]} 16. h4 {[%emt 0:
10:07]} a6 {[%emt 0:09:07]} 17. Be2 {[%emt 0:09:24]} h6 {[%emt 0:02:53]} 18.
Bf4 {[%emt 0:04:47]} Qe6 {[%emt 0:07:19]} 19. h5 {[%emt 0:07:57]} Be4 {[%emt 0:
03:08]} 20. Bg4 {[%emt 0:02:20]} Bf5 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 21. Bf3 Rad8 {[%emt 0:05:
54]} 22. Qe2 {[%emt 0:10:49]} Na5 {[%emt 0:05:39]} 23. g4 {[%emt 0:03:50]} Be4
{[%emt 0:02:48]} 24. Bxe4 {[%emt 0:00:17]} dxe4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 25. Bg3 {
[%emt 0:01:55]} c5 {[%emt 0:03:33]} 26. dxc5 {[%emt 0:01:54]} Nc4 {[%emt 0:01:
32]} 27. Qxe4 {[%emt 0:17:39]} Nd2 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 28. Qf4 {[%emt 0:03:36]}
bxc5 {[%emt 0:07:48]} 29. Re3 {[%emt 0:03:06]} Nc4 {[%emt 0:00:51]} 30. Re4 {
[%emt 0:02:52]} Nd2 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 31. Re3 {[%emt 0:02:26]} Nc4 {[%emt 0:00:
25]} 32. Re4 {[%emt 0:01:17]} Nd2 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 80th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2018.01.16"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D78"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2768"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2018.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. d4 O-O 6. c4 c6 {The eternal
problem for White: how to prove anything concrete in the symmetrical Gruenfeld?
} 7. Ne5 {By far not the main line, but not really new either. Besides, it has
been tried by Kramnik a couple of times before this game.} Be6 {Deviating from
his opponent's previous games with this line:} (7... Ne4 8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3
dxc4 10. Nxc4 Be6 11. Qd3 {White's centre looks impressive so far but as so
many times in this opening Black's piece pressure should be enough to keep the
balance even.} Nd7 12. Rd1 Nb6 13. Na5 {White avoids exchanges in order to
give meaning to his space advantage.} Qd7 14. c4 {In view of the
recommendation on the next move, this may be premature.} Rad8 ({Now was a good
time for throwing the pawns into the fight with:} 14... c5 $11) 15. Be3 Qc7 $6
{Once again refraining from the thematic break. In Kramnik,V (2812)-So,W (2770)
Paris (rapid) 2016 (½-½, 56) White could have retained an advantage with} 16.
Rac1 $16 {getting out of the unpleasant pin and thus stabilising the centre.})
(7... Nbd7 8. Nc3 Nxe5 9. dxe5 Ne4 10. cxd5 Nxc3 11. bxc3 cxd5 12. f4 Be6 13.
Be3 f6 14. Qb3 {White has managed to obtain some initiative, but will fail to
convert it into anything palpable.} fxe5 15. Rad1 Qc7 16. Bxd5 Bxd5 17. Rxd5
Kh8 18. fxe5 Rxf1+ 19. Kxf1 e6 20. Rd3 Qc6 {Kramnik,V (2810)-Ding,L (2764)
Novi Sad 2016 (½-½, 37) and Black gradually neutralised White's initiative.})
8. cxd5 Bxd5 {Switching to the genuine Grünfeld spirit, with piece pressure
against White's centre.} (8... cxd5 9. Nc3 {trasposes to a somewhat uusual
version of the Exchange variation. The bishop typically does not land on e6.}
Nc6 (9... Nfd7 $6 {Arkell,K (2450)-Fernandez,D (2450) Crawley e2e4 Gatwick op
10 2016 (9) 1/2} 10. Nxd5 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Bxe5 12. Bh6 Re8 13. Qb3 $36) (9...
Nbd7 10. Nd3 Nb6 11. Nc5 Qc8 12. Nxe6 Qxe6 13. Qd3 $14 {Pedersen,N (2417)
-Kristensen,K (2244) Ballerup 2009 (1-0, 40) White's bishop pair offers him
some advantage, probably something Kramnik would have been delighted to make
use of. Besides, the knight does not stand too well on b6.}) 10. Nxc6 bxc6 {
In fact this position has been reached in numerous games, but most of them via
a different move order (7.cxd5). But still it is not Black's main line,
meaning that for White reaching here would be a small success.}) 9. Nc3 {
Aiming for rapid development.} ({The main alternative is} 9. Bh3 {trying to
prove that the central bishop is exposed. It is interesting mentioning that
Kasparov had played this position with both colours!} Nfd7 ({With Black,
Kasparov tried} 9... c5 10. dxc5 Ne4 11. Nd3 Na6 12. Be3 Bc6 {Speelman,J (2645)
-Kasparov,G (2760) Reykjavik 1988 (½-½, 17)} 13. Na3 $16 {This game might
have inspired Kasparov to try the line with White many years later, but the
opening wasn't a big success for him that time either.}) 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. Nc3
Bc4 12. b3 Ba6 13. Bb2 e5 14. d5 cxd5 15. Qxd5 Nf6 16. Qxd8 Rfxd8 $11 {
Kasparov,G (2830)-Belzberg,S London 2003 (1-0, 28)}) 9... Bxg2 10. Kxg2 Nbd7 {
This not only prepares ...c6-c5 but also puts pressure on the central knight.
On the other hand, if Black does not find a favourable moment for playing ...
Nxe5 his knight will be hanging slightly.} ({The alternative is} 10... Na6 11.
Nf3 ({I do not understand this willing retreat from the centre especially that
the knight is not exposed to an exchange. The consolidating} 11. f4 {deserves
attention:} e6 12. e4 c5 13. Be3 cxd4 14. Bxd4 Ng4 {Otherwise White would
simply retain active play.} 15. Nxg4 Bxd4 16. e5 {with some chances to
endanger the enemy king.}) 11... c5 12. d5 b5 {Wen,Y (2611)-Xu,M (2305) Wuxi
2016 (1-0, 33) with excellent black counterplay.}) 11. Qb3 Qb6 12. Rd1 Qxb3
$146 {This looks like a small concession as it clears the a-file for the white
rook and allows a later b3-b4, stabilising the queenside. But I have failed to
prove this move objectively wrong.} ({The main alternative I analysed is} 12...
Rad8 13. Nd3 Nd5 14. e4 (14. Nxd5 cxd5 15. Qxd5 Ne5 $11) 14... Nc7 15. Be3 Qxb3
{Necessary already in order to prepare the counterplay in the centre.} 16. axb3
a6 17. b4 f5 $132) ({Previously only} 12... e6 {was tried.} 13. Bf4 ({
Apparently not the most effective.} 13. Nc4 Qa6 14. e4 {or}) (13. e4 c5 14.
Nxd7 Nxd7 15. d5 {may be more active.}) 13... Rfd8 ({Too mild. Black should
have used the fact that after} 13... Nxe5 {14.dxe5 Ng4 the e5-pawn is hanging,
while after} 14. Bxe5 Qxb3 15. axb3 Rfd8 {Black would have little to fear due
to the exchange of one knight.}) 14. Nc4 Qa6 15. a4 Nd5 16. Bg5 N7f6 17. e4
Nxc3 18. bxc3 $14 {Palachev,P (2370)-Bocharov,I (2534) Moscow 2018 (½-½, 64)}
) 13. axb3 Rfc8 ({I would find it more appropriate setting up pressure along
the d-file with} 13... Rfd8 {when White's slight delay in development may
count.} 14. Nc4 ({If} 14. f4 Nd5 {the immediate threat is ...Nxc3 followed by .
..Nxe5 winning a pawn while otherwise Blck may consider ...f7-f5.}) 14... Nf8 {
followed by ...Ne6. For instance:} 15. e4 Ne6 16. d5 cxd5 17. exd5 Nc7 18. d6
exd6 19. Nxd6 b6 {and White's initiative has reached a dead end.}) 14. f4 ({
I would consider preveting ...c6-c5 with} 14. b4 {for instance} Nf8 {[%cal
Gf6d5]} 15. e4 Rd8 16. Be3 Ne6 17. f4 $14 {But Kramnik probably wanted to gain
a tempo for his kingside initiative over this line, considering that ...c6-c5
would play into his hands.}) 14... c5 (14... Nf8 15. e4 Ne6 16. Be3 $14 {
is even better for White than in the line above; for instance} Rd8 17. Kf3 Nc7
18. g4) 15. Be3 cxd4 (15... b6 16. Kf3 $14) 16. Rxd4 $1 {The only way to
maintain the initiative.} (16. Bxd4 Nxe5 17. Bxe5 Ng4 $11) 16... Nxe5 17. fxe5
Ne8 18. Rd7 Rc7 $2 ({Hard to say whether Svidler blundered by missing
Kramnik's reply or underestimated his chances after the natural} 18... Bxe5 19.
Rxe7 Bxc3 20. bxc3 Rxc3 21. Rxa7 Rxe3 22. Rxe3 Rxa7 23. Rxe8+ Kg7 24. Re7 Kf6
25. Rc7 {In principle White is better, but Black should draw without major
problems. The most accurate way would be} h5 {Before abandoning the pawn,
Black makes maximal kingside progress.} 26. h4 Ke6 27. b4 f6 28. b5 Kf5 29. b6
Ra3 30. Kh3 (30. Rxb7 Kg4 $11) 30... Re3 31. Rxb7 Rxe2 $11) 19. Rxa7 $1 $16 Rb8
(19... Rxa7 20. Rd8 Kf8 21. Bxa7 Rc6 (21... Bxe5 22. Bb8 Rc5 23. b4 $18) 22.
Bd4 $16) (19... Rxd7 20. Rxa8 Kf8 21. Nb5 $18 {Black is paralyzed and will
soon be in Zugzwang for if} Bxe5 22. Bh6+) 20. Rd5 b6 ({Another mysterious
move. Good or bad, Black should have gained some breathing space with} 20... f5
) 21. Nb5 Rxa7 22. Nxa7 Kf8 23. Rd7 Ra8 (23... Bxe5 24. Nc6 $18) 24. Bd4 (24.
Bd4 {Svidler probably had enough of it already. But since he is not
immediately losing, this reminds me of an old episode: when asking a friend of
mine why he resigned his game, he answered: "It was too dangerous to play on."
For the truth's sake, Svidler had virtually no chance to save the game:} f6 25.
Bxb6 fxe5 26. Bc5 Bf6 27. b4 Kf7 28. b5 Ke6 29. Rd1 Nd6 30. b6 Nb7 31. Nb5 Rd8
32. Nc7+ Kf7 (32... Kf5 33. Rxd8 Nxd8 34. g4+ Kxg4 35. Ne6 Nb7 36. e4 Kh5 37.
Be3 g5 38. Nc5 $18) 33. Rxd8 Nxd8 34. Kf3 $18) 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 80th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2018.01.17"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2834"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "2018.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/6000+30:20/3000+30:900+30"]

{Especially dramatic was the match between Magnus Carlsen and Vladimir Kramnik.
In an Italian game Kramnik reached easy equality with Black} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:
00]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 3. Bc4 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 4. O-O {[%emt 0:00:01]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:
22]} 5. d3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} d6 {[%emt 0:01:10]} 6. c3 {[%emt 0:00:19]} a6 {
[%emt 0:00:11]} 7. a4 {[%emt 0:00:17]} O-O {[%emt 0:01:12]} 8. h3 {[%emt 0:00:
18]} h6 {[%emt 0:02:17]} 9. Re1 {[%emt 0:02:41]} Re8 {[%emt 0:00:58]} 10. Nbd2
{[%emt 0:03:42]} Be6 {[%emt 0:01:14]} 11. Bxe6 {[%emt 0:01:26]} Rxe6 {[%emt 0:
00:25]} 12. b4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Ba7 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 13. Qc2 {[%emt 0:06:43]}
Qd7 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 14. Nf1 {[%emt 0:06:09]} d5 {[%emt 0:01:00]} 15. Ng3 {
[%emt 0:14:26]} Rd8 {[%emt 0:04:39]} 16. exd5 {[%emt 0:16:32]} Qxd5 {[%emt 0:
14:05]} 17. Be3 {[%emt 0:00:09]} Qxd3 {[%emt 0:19:40]} 18. Qxd3 {[%emt 0:00:07]
} Rxd3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 19. Bxa7 {[%emt 0:09:11]} Nxa7 {[%emt 0:01:24]} 20.
Nxe5 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Rd5 {[%emt 0:02:26]} 21. Ng4 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Nxg4 {
[%emt 0:06:14]} 22. Rxe6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} fxe6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 23. hxg4 {
[%emt 0:00:04]} a5 {[%emt 0:01:58]} 24. f3 {[%emt 0:02:26]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:07:20]
} 25. Rb1 {[%emt 0:07:16]} b6 {[%emt 0:08:27]} 26. Ne4 {[%emt 0:00:46]} axb4 {
[%emt 0:04:39]} 27. cxb4 {[%emt 0:00:12]} Rd4 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 28. b5 $6 {
[%emt 0:01:15] After one "impulsive" move (28.b5) — as Carlsen said after
the game — the Norwegian even came under pressure and had to save himself in
a rook ending, where black had two pawns extra — although doubled on the
g-line. With only one g-pawn it would be a theoretical draw, but the second
g-pawn made the matter "tricky" to quote Carlsen. But Carlsen defended himself
precisely and saved the draw} Ne5 {[%emt 0:01:27]} 29. Rc1 {[%emt 0:11:02]}
Nxg4 {[%emt 0:07:22]} 30. fxg4 {[%emt 0:02:50]} Rxe4 {[%emt 0:00:35]} 31. Rxc7
{[%emt 0:00:09]} Rxa4 {[%emt 0:02:44]} 32. Rc6 {[%emt 0:02:10]} Kf7 {[%emt 0:
02:36]} 33. g5 {[%emt 0:01:35]} hxg5 {[%emt 0:00:22]} 34. Rxb6 {[%emt 0:00:02]}
Rb4 {[%emt 0:01:28]} 35. Rb8 {[%emt 0:04:45]} Kf6 {[%emt 0:04:54]} 36. b6 {
[%emt 0:00:21]} Ke5 {[%emt 0:02:25]} 37. Kh2 {[%emt 0:09:23]} Rb3 {[%emt 0:00:
59]} 38. g4 {[%emt 0:08:53]} Kf4 {[%emt 0:07:48]} 39. b7 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Kxg4
{[%emt 0:02:10]} 40. Re8 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rxb7 {[%emt 0:01:14]} 41. Rxe6 {
[%emt 0:01:39]} Rb2+ {[%emt 0:08:12]} 42. Kg1 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Kf3 {[%emt 0:02:
35]} 43. Ra6 {[%emt 0:00:44]} Rg2+ {[%emt 0:04:59]} 44. Kh1 {[%emt 0:00:52]}
Re2 {[%emt 0:02:48]} 45. Kg1 {[%emt 0:08:27]} g4 {[%emt 0:02:28]} 46. Ra1 {
[%emt 0:01:24]} Re8 {[%emt 0:08:00]} 47. Rb1 {[%emt 0:03:54]} g3 {[%emt 0:09:
01]} 48. Rb3+ {[%emt 0:00:40]} Re3 {[%emt 0:03:29]} 49. Rb1 {[%emt 0:00:02]}
Re8 {[%emt 0:04:24]} 50. Rb3+ {[%emt 0:00:05]} Kg4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 51. Rb5 {
[%emt 0:00:11]} Re1+ {[%emt 0:05:22]} 52. Kg2 {[%emt 0:00:01]} Re2+ {[%emt 0:
00:18]} 53. Kg1 {[%emt 0:00:02]} g5 {[%emt 0:05:15]} 54. Rb8 {[%emt 0:00:12]}
Re1+ {[%emt 0:00:24]} 55. Kg2 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Re2+ {[%emt 0:00:04]} 56. Kg1 {
[%emt 0:00:10]} Ra2 {[%emt 0:00:42]} 57. Rc8 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Ra1+ {[%emt 0:01:
28]} 58. Kg2 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Ra2+ {[%emt 0:00:04]} 59. Kg1 {[%emt 0:00:07]} g2
{[%emt 0:02:18]} 60. Rc4+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kh3 {[%emt 0:00:53]} 61. Rc3+ {
[%emt 0:00:18]} Kh4 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 62. Rc4+ {[%emt 0:00:08]} g4 {[%emt 0:00:
35]} 63. Rc3 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Kh5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 80th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2018.01.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Jones, Gawain C B"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A49"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2640"]
[Annotator "Yermolinsky,A"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2018.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/6000+30:20/3000+30:900+30"]

1. d4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:29]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:01]} g6 {
[%emt 0:00:12]} 3. g3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Bg7 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 4. Bg2 {[%emt 0:00:
03]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:08]} 5. O-O {[%emt 0:00:05]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 6. Re1 {
[%emt 0:00:07]} c6 $6 {[%emt 0:09:34]} ({I think} 6... c5 {represents Black's
best option here.}) 7. e4 {[%emt 0:03:48]} Qc7 {[%emt 0:00:07]} ({Probably} 
7... Bg4 {has to be played, but parting with the bishop is a concession,
particularly here where, unlike in the KID, the white c-pawn can give
protection to the d4-pawn.}) 8. e5 {[%emt 0:06:58] A novelty, but the reason
it had not been played before is because good players never had a crack at
this position.} dxe5 {[%emt 0:04:50]} 9. dxe5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} Nd5 {[%emt 0:00:
53]} 10. Qe2 $14 {[%emt 0:01:45] Sometimes White goes from an early e4-e5 in
various variations of the Pirc, but here with the fianchettoed light-squared
bishop he has the perfect version of it.} b5 {[%emt 0:05:17]} (10... Bg4 11. c4
Nb6 12. Bf4 Qc8 13. Nc3 c5) 11. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:11:34]} a5 {[%emt 0:13:23]} 12.
c4 {[%emt 0:09:09]} Nb4 {[%emt 0:09:29]} 13. Nd4 {[%emt 0:03:08]} Rd8 $1 {
[%emt 0:02:15] I have to give credit to Gawain Jones for his spirited defence.}
14. a3 {[%emt 0:01:13]} Rxd4 {[%emt 0:03:37]} 15. axb4 {[%emt 0:00:08]} bxc4 {
[%emt 0:05:53]} 16. Nxc4 {[%emt 0:05:38]} Bg4 $1 {[%emt 0:07:12] Black's
counterplay isn't so easy to contain.} 17. Qf1 $5 {[%emt 0:11:47] Watch
Kramnik's solution to the problem.} (17. Qc2 Bf5 18. Be4 Be6 19. Nxa5 Rxb4 20.
Bd2 Rd4 {is a bit confusing.}) ({And the same goes for} 17. f3 Be6 18. b3 a4
19. f4 axb3 $1 20. Rxa8 Rxc4) 17... Bf5 {[%emt 0:03:11]} 18. Be3 $1 {[%emt 0:
02:23] There's nothing Vladimir values more in chess than an opportunity to
take away the opponent's counterplay, even at the cost of a small material
concession. We have seen many of his games with exchange sacrifices, and now
Kramnik is happy to part with his queen.} Bd3 {[%emt 0:00:47]} 19. Bxd4 {
[%emt 0:00:15]} Bxf1 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 20. Bxf1 {[%emt 0:00:58]} c5 {[%emt 0:10:
30]} 21. Bxc5 {[%emt 0:04:51]} Nd7 {[%emt 0:03:53]} 22. Bd4 {[%emt 0:01:00]} a4
{[%emt 0:00:46]} 23. b5 {[%emt 0:04:53]} Rb8 {[%emt 0:01:51]} 24. Rec1 {
[%emt 0:10:25]} h5 $16 {[%emt 0:06:57]} 25. b6 $6 {[%emt 0:09:07] Perhaps that
pawn spoke too soon.} ({Further preparation, beginning with} 25. Bg2 {was in
order.}) 25... Qc6 {[%emt 0:05:05]} 26. Na5 {[%emt 0:04:41]} (26. Bg2 Qb5)
26... Qe6 {[%emt 0:03:36]} 27. Bc4 {[%emt 0:05:58]} Qg4 {[%emt 0:00:34]} 28.
Nc6 {[%emt 0:01:45]} Rxb6 {[%emt 0:02:15] Jones was happy to get rid of that
pawn no matter the cost.} 29. Bxb6 {[%emt 0:04:37]} Nxb6 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 30.
Nxe7+ {[%emt 0:00:43]} Kf8 {[%emt 0:00:02]} 31. Nd5 {[%emt 0:03:30]} Bxe5 $5 {
[%emt 0:02:35] Now Gawain shows his ambitions.} (31... Nxd5 32. Bxd5 Bxe5 33.
Rc4 Qe2 34. Rcxa4 Bxb2 {would be enough for a draw.}) 32. Nxb6 {[%emt 0:03:03]}
Bxb2 {[%emt 0:00:03]} 33. h3 $6 {[%emt 0:01:43] Being short of time Kramnik
decides to eliminate the a-pawn.} (33. Rab1 Bxc1 34. Rxc1 a3 35. Nd5 Qd4 36.
Ne3 {would be safe for him anyway, but I'm not sure White would have been able
to generate winning chances from there.}) 33... Qxh3 {[%emt 0:04:40]} 34. Bf1 {
[%emt 0:00:20]} Qe6 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 35. Nxa4 {[%emt 0:00:59]} Bxa1 {[%emt 0:
00:39]} 36. Rxa1 {[%emt 0:00:01]} h4 {[%emt 0:00:26]} 37. Nc5 {[%emt 0:01:06]}
Qd5 {[%emt 0:01:05]} 38. Rc1 {[%emt 0:00:34]} hxg3 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 39. Nd3 {
[%emt 0:00:26]} gxf2+ {[%emt 0:05:15]} 40. Kxf2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Qd4+ {[%emt 0:
00:22]} 41. Ke2 {[%emt 0:08:45]} Qg4+ {[%emt 0:04:00]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 80th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2018.01.20"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C50"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2018.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. a4 d6 6. c3 a6 7. Bg5 {When I
started playing 1...e5 some 30 years ago these lines with an early a2-a4 did
not exist at all. But one of the first things I learned was that with Black's
king still in the centre Bg5 is not recommendable, as after ...h7-h6 and ...
g7-g5 the knight sacrfice on g5 is not viable.} h6 8. Bh4 Ba7 9. Nbd2 Qe7 ({
Still preparing the kingside attack. But} 9... g5 10. Bg3 O-O ({If} 10... Nh5 {
White has} 11. Nxe5 Nxg3 12. Bxf7+ Ke7 13. Ng6+ Kxf7 14. Nxh8+ Qxh8 15. hxg3 {
White is not worse from material point of view but Black's king is exposed and
Black's main pride, the a7-bishop, will turn into a mere spectator after d3-d4.
True, 10...Qe7 would probably transpose, but abstractly it is better to keep
the inevitable ...g7-g5 in reserve.}) 11. O-O Nh7 12. h3 h5 {is playable, as
in Topalov,V (2760)-So,W (2794) London 2016 CBM 176 [Stohl,I] (0-1, 27)}) 10.
h3 ({A rare and mysterious move. Since the later bishop retreat to h2 will
prove a waste of time, it means Anand wanted to control g4. His plan for this
game was based on Qe2, so it is worth checking what could have happened after} 
10. Qe2 g5 ({The more solid} 10... Be6 {is entirely playable, but not
essential for the question raised above.} 11. b4 O-O 12. O-O Rfe8 13. Rfb1 Rab8
14. a5 Bxc4 15. Nxc4 Qe6 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. b5 axb5 18. Rxb5 Nd8 19. Rab1 Ra8
20. g3 Qe6 21. Kg2 c6 22. R5b2 Bb8 23. Ra1 Bc7 {Najer,E (2707)-Aleksandrov,A 
(2580) Tbilisi 2017 (1-0, 51) and Black can be content with his position.}) 11.
Bg3 h5 $5 ({A romantic plan.} 11... g4 {is hardly a problem due to} 12. Bh4 $5)
(11... Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 {may be another reason, as the queen would look strange
on e2.}) 12. h4 (12. Nxg5 h4 {may explain why Anand needed the h2-square, but
even this is not entirely clear:} 13. Bxf7+ Kf8 14. O-O-O Kg7 15. Bb3 hxg3 16.
hxg3 Bd7 17. f4 {with reasonable play for the sacrificed piece.}) 12... g4 13.
Ng5 Rf8 14. f4 gxf3 15. gxf3 {This position does not look like a reason to
waste time and weaken the kingside with h2-h3, as White is more active.
Kramnik opined that his opponent had mixed up something in the opening. I
suppose this could be one of the moments he had in mind.}) (10. b4 Bd7 11. Rb1
g5 12. Bg3 Nh5 {Salem,A (2638)-Giri,A (2775) Geneva 2017 CBM 180 [Szabo,Kr] 
(0-1, 43)}) 10... g5 11. Bg3 Nh5 12. Qe2 (12. Nxe5 $2 Nxg3 13. Bxf7+ Kd8 $1 14.
Ng6 {(wthout check!)} Qxf7 {winning the knight due to the threat ...Qxf2#.}) ({
The following game is an illustration about what could have happened had Anand
not played g2-g4 later.} 12. Bh2 Nf4 13. Bxf4 gxf4 14. b4 Rg8 15. Rg1 Be6 16.
a5 Nd8 17. b5 axb5 18. Bxb5+ c6 19. Ba4 f5 $17 {Voigt,R (2381)-Karpatchev,A 
(2461) Leipzig 2004 (0-1, 36)}) (12. Nf1 Nf4 13. Rg1 {is awfully passive.} Be6
14. Bxe6 fxe6 15. Ne3 O-O-O 16. b4 d5 17. exd5 exd5 18. b5 e4 19. bxc6 exf3 20.
Qxf3 Rhf8 $17 {Berenyi,G (2230)-Timoshenko,G (2475) Budapest 1991 (0-1, 27)
with a huge attack.}) 12... Qf6 13. Bh2 ({On the previous move Black refrained
from opening the f-file, but now the exchange on g3 may be a real threat. For
instance if} 13. Kd1 Nxg3 14. fxg3 h5 15. Rf1 {Black is in time to regroup with
} Qg7) 13... Nf4 14. Bxf4 gxf4 15. g4 {Trying to stabilise the kingside. We
already know that playing with a backward pawn on g2 is passive.} Ne7 16. b4 {
Anand seems to have been convinced that Kramnik would castle long. But since
this did not happen, his queenside plan only creates weaknesses.} ({He should
have carried on his regrouping with} 16. Kd1 Ng6 17. Kc2 {One important point
is that} h5 {can be met with} 18. gxh5 $1 Rxh5 19. h4 Nxh4 $6 20. Rag1 $14 {
We can understand now why saving the tempo b2-b4 was useful.}) 16... Ng6 17.
Kd1 h5 18. g5 {Under the given circumstances it is Black already who benefits
from stabilising the kingside.} ({But} 18. gxh5 {does not work anymore:} Rxh5
19. h4 (19. Qf1 Bd7 20. Kc2 Ke7 $17 {followed by ...Rah8 i awfully passive for
White.}) 19... Nxh4 20. Kc2 Ke7 21. Rag1 Bd7 $17 {[%cal Ga8h8]}) 18... Qe7 19.
b5 (19. Kc2 $15 {was better, inviting Black to find a way of opening the
queenside.}) 19... Kf8 20. bxa6 {Continuing the global suicidal plan of
opening the queenside.} ({But by now Black can more or less force the opening
of the queenside anyway:} 20. d4 $5 Kg7 21. Kc2 c6 $5) 20... bxa6 21. d4 Kg7
22. d5 {An obvious positional concession, clearing the path for the bishop on
a7 and restricting his own bishop.} (22. Kc2 exd4 23. cxd4 a5 $36 {[%cal Gc7c6,
Gd6d5]}) 22... Bd7 23. Kc2 Rhb8 ({One more doubt about why did Anand play his
last move is raised by} 23... c6 $17 {opening the c-file.}) 24. Bxa6 {Trying
to build up a fortress on the light squares.} (24. h4 {[%cal Gh1b1]} Qe8 (24...
Bg4 $17 {[%csl Gh4]}) 25. a5 c6 $17) 24... Bxf2 25. Bb5 (25. Qxf2 Rxa6 {
retrieves the a-pawn soon, with a decisive attack along the newly opened files.
.}) 25... Be3 26. h4 (26. Nc4 Bxb5 27. axb5 Rxa1 28. Rxa1 Qd7 29. Nxe3 fxe3 30.
c4 Qxh3 {The h-pawn and the g6-knight (especially after ...Nf4) are very
annoying.}) (26. c4 Rc8 {followed by ...c7-c6 is even stronger than with the
pawn on c3.}) 26... Ra5 {Black has a pleasant choices on each move, but
Kramnik's play is logical and effective.} 27. c4 Rba8 28. Kb3 (28. Nb3 Bxb5 $5
(28... R5a7 29. a5 Bg4 {is also strong.}) 29. Nxa5 Bd7 30. Nb3 (30. Nc6 Bxc6
31. dxc6 Qe6 {followed by either ...Ne7xc6 or ...Ra6.}) 30... Bxa4 31. Kc3 Qd7
32. Rhb1 c6 $19 {[%csl Ga4,Rc3,Ge3]}) 28... Nf8 {[%cal Gf8d7,Gd7c5] The start
of the final and decisive regrouping.} 29. Rhc1 Bg4 30. Kc2 Bxd2 31. Kxd2 Nd7
32. Ra3 Nc5 33. Bc6 Rb8 34. Ke1 Qd8 $1 35. Qc2 Bxf3 36. Rxf3 Qc8 {After ...Qg4
White will soon collapse on both wings.} 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 80th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2018.01.21"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2018.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/6000+30:20/3000+30:900+30"]

1. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 2. g3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {
[%emt 0:02:02]} 3. Bg2 {[%emt 0:00:10]} e6 {[%emt 0:01:30]} 4. O-O {[%emt 0:00:
14]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:49]} 5. c4 {[%emt 0:00:21]} O-O {[%emt 0:01:05]} 6. d4 {
[%emt 0:00:26]} dxc4 {[%emt 0:00:56]} 7. Qa4 {[%emt 0:00:54]} a6 {[%emt 0:00:
29]} 8. Qxc4 {[%emt 0:00:30]} b5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 9. Qc2 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Bb7 {
[%emt 0:00:04]} 10. Bd2 {[%emt 0:00:13]} Be4 {[%emt 0:00:27]} 11. Qc1 {[%emt 0:
02:21]} c6 {[%emt 0:00:10]} 12. Rd1 {[%emt 0:00:58]} Nbd7 {[%emt 0:01:55]} 13.
Nc3 {[%emt 0:02:42]} Bg6 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 14. Bg5 {[%emt 0:01:33]} Rc8 {
[%emt 0:07:30]} 15. a3 {[%emt 0:05:02]} a5 {[%emt 0:07:37]} 16. h4 {[%emt 0:29:
52]} h6 {[%emt 0:08:29]} 17. Bxf6 {[%emt 0:02:14]} Bxf6 {[%emt 0:00:09]} 18.
Qe3 {[%emt 0:03:33]} Qb6 {[%emt 0:05:15]} 19. Ne4 {[%emt 0:02:51]} Be7 {
[%emt 0:08:09]} 20. Rac1 {[%emt 0:03:20]} Rfd8 {[%emt 0:00:25]} 21. Nc5 {
[%emt 0:19:32]} Nxc5 {[%emt 0:08:52]} 22. Ne5 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Nd7 {[%emt 0:07:
29]} 23. Nxg6 {[%emt 0:02:46]} Bf6 {[%emt 0:03:30]} 24. g4 {[%emt 0:12:54]} c5
{[%emt 0:17:41]} 25. dxc5 {[%emt 0:04:38]} Rxc5 {[%emt 0:01:41]} 26. Rxc5 {
[%emt 0:01:10]} Qxc5 {[%emt 0:04:36]} 27. Rxd7 {[%emt 0:00:42]} Qxe3 {[%emt 0:
00:03]} 28. Rxd8+ {[%emt 0:00:04]} Bxd8 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 80th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2018.01.23"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2804"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2018.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/6000+30:20/3000+30:900+30"]

1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e5 {[%emt 0:02:11]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {
[%emt 0:00:28]} 3. Bc4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:47]} 4. c3 {[%emt 0:00:
06]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 5. d3 {[%emt 0:00:07]} O-O {[%emt 0:06:44]} 6. O-O {
[%emt 0:05:57]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:44]} 7. exd5 {[%emt 0:00:17]} Nxd5 {[%emt 0:00:
05]} 8. a4 {[%emt 0:08:11]} (8. Re1 Bg4 9. h3 Bh5 10. Nbd2 {is the main line,
and the jury is still out. Personally, following the trail of most-played
moves, I am sceptical of Black's concept after} Nb6 11. Bb5 f6 12. Ne4 Be7 13.
Ng3 $36) 8... Bf5 {[%emt 0:08:59]} (8... Nb6 9. Bb5 Ne7 {is a fascinating
gambit line which I have already mentioned on this site.}) (8... a5 {is the
most played move, espoused by Aronian among others.}) 9. Re1 {[%emt 0:28:29]}
Nb6 {[%emt 0:02:11]} 10. Bb5 {[%emt 0:01:27]} Ne7 {[%emt 0:01:16] This delayed
implementation of the gambit is based on a Dominguez game from a year ago, and
seems to equalise, albeit in slightly uninspiring fashion if White reacts
correctly.} 11. a5 {[%emt 0:02:56]} (11. Nxe5 c6 12. Bc4 Nxc4 13. dxc4 Qxd1 14.
Rxd1 Ng6 $44 {is more dangerous for White than Black.}) (11. Rxe5 Bd6 12. Re1 (
12. Rxf5 Nxf5 13. d4 $44 {is a maximalist exchange sac, leading to a
strategically confusing game.}) 12... a6 13. Bc4 Nxc4 14. dxc4 c5 $11) 11... c6
{[%emt 0:00:32]} 12. axb6 {[%emt 0:00:44]} cxb5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} 13. Be3 {
[%emt 0:10:58]} (13. Rxa7 Qxb6 14. Rxa8 Bxf2+ 15. Kh1 Rxa8 $15 {Mamedov,
R-Dominguez Perez,L Doha 2016}) (13. bxa7 $5 Bxa7 14. Be3 Bxe3 15. Rxa8 Bxf2+
16. Kxf2 Qxa8 17. Rxe5 $11) 13... axb6 {[%emt 0:04:51]} 14. Rxa8 {[%emt 0:00:
18]} Qxa8 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 15. Bxc5 {[%emt 0:12:08]} bxc5 {[%emt 0:00:14]} 16.
Rxe5 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Qd8 {[%emt 0:00:18]} 17. d4 {[%emt 0:08:36]} (17. Rxc5 {
seems to improve slightly.} Bxd3 (17... Qxd3 18. Qxd3 Bxd3 19. Na3 $14 {
might now have been a little something.}) 18. Na3 $5 ({Following} 18. Nd4 Bxb1
19. Qxb1 b4 20. Rb5 $11 {we have transposed to the game.}) 18... Ng6 (18... Be4
19. Qxd8 Rxd8 20. h3 {is still inexplicably more pleasant for White.}) 19. Ne5
Bc4 20. Qxd8 Rxd8 21. f4 Nxf4 22. Naxc4 bxc4 23. Nxc4 $11 {The endgame is
roughly equal, but the imbalance can only favour White in the event of
slightly sub-optimal play from either side.}) 17... cxd4 {[%emt 0:25:31]} (
17... b6 $5 {tries to keep something in the position, but after the accurate}
18. Qe1 Be6 19. Ng5 {Black is forced into a slightly speculative pawn
sacrifice:} Ng6 20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. Rxe6 Nf4 $44) 18. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:02:46]} Bxb1
{[%emt 0:01:19]} 19. Qxb1 {[%emt 0:00:08]} b4 {[%emt 0:00:34]} (19... Nc6 20.
Rxb5 Nxd4 21. cxd4 Qxd4 22. Rxb7 Re8 23. h3 $14) 20. Rb5 $11 {[%emt 0:03:34]
As far as I can see, White's tenuous grip on an edge has now completely gone,
and there is also 19...Nc6 to think about, but nevertheless for a few moves
his position is marginally more pleasant. We have transposed to the game.} bxc3
{[%emt 0:02:42]} 21. bxc3 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Nd5 {[%emt 0:09:23]} 22. Qd3 {
[%emt 0:02:56]} ({Following} 22. Qb3 Qe8 $1 $11 {Black infiltrates to e1 and
takes c3 for b7 anyway.}) 22... Nf4 {[%emt 0:02:36]} 23. Qf3 {[%emt 0:02:10]}
Ne6 {[%emt 0:03:22]} 24. Rxb7 {[%emt 0:01:35]} (24. Qe4 Nxd4 25. Qxd4 Qxd4 26.
cxd4 Re8 27. Kf1 Re7 $11) (24. Nxe6 $5 {demands a bit of precision.} Qd2 $1 (
24... fxe6 25. Qe2 Qc8 26. h3 $14) 25. h3 fxe6 26. Qe3 Qxe3 27. fxe3 Rc8 28.
Rxb7 Rxc3 29. Kf2 $11 {The proper computer evaluation of this position is +/=
due to White's better king, but in practice this is almost totally drawn.})
24... Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 25. cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Qxd4 {[%emt 0:00:07] Now
two further unnecessary moves were played.} 26. g3 {[%emt 0:00:05]} g6 {
[%emt 0:00:19]} 27. h4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} h5 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 80th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2018.01.24"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Matlakov, Maxim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2718"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2018.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/6000+30:20/3000+30:900+30"]

{[%evp 0,81,38,30,22,22,21,9,17,21,21,15,-13,-13,-18,-38,-8,-5,-6,-12,12,1,-5,
-3,21,9,9,-19,5,1,-5,-4,35,32,16,-27,-27,-43,-10,-1,5,-3,14,-11,17,21,32,33,39,
65,146,78,110,110,146,90,86,31,29,0,49,24,50,40,42,0,5,5,92,107,130,140,99,56,
109,99,124,138,408,446,549,549,556,645]} 1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:
16]} 2. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} 3. Bc4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} Bc5 {
[%emt 0:00:17]} 4. c3 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Nf6 {[%emt 0:00:24]} 5. d3 {[%emt 0:00:
06]} O-O {[%emt 0:00:34]} 6. Bg5 {[%emt 0:00:26] Opting, oddly enough, for a
similar strategy to the one Anand used against Matlakov in the first round,
despite that opening beginning with 3.Bb5. Here it seems like the immediate
idea is probably to prevent Black using a setup with ...d5.} h6 {[%emt 0:04:29]
} 7. Bh4 {[%emt 0:00:15]} Be7 {[%emt 0:00:07]} (7... g5 {led to a draw in a
recent high-profile game.} 8. Bg3 d6 9. a4 a6 10. Qd2 Nh5 11. h4 Nxg3 12. fxg3
g4 13. Qxh6 gxf3 14. Qg6+ Kh8 15. Qh6+ Kg8 16. Qg6+ Kh8 $11 {Vachier Lagrave,
M-Karjakin,S Paris 2017}) 8. Nbd2 {[%emt 0:00:14]} d6 {[%emt 0:00:57]} (8...
Na5 $5 {is not a completely pointless gambit:} 9. Nxe5 Nxc4 10. Nexc4 (10. dxc4
Nxe4 $15) 10... d5 11. Ne3 dxe4 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Nxe4 Be7 $132 {With two
bishops for two knights and a pawn, Black has very reasonable counterplay,
analogous perhaps to the Gajewski line of the Ruy Lopez.}) 9. Bb3 {[%emt 0:00:
53]} (9. a4 {was faced by Kramnik himself from the other side of the board
recently.} Nh5 10. Bg3 Nxg3 (10... Nb8 $5 {could have been played immediately,
not giving White the needed clarity on what is happening on the h-file.} 11.
Nf1 (11. Nxe5 {is obvious, but following} Nxg3 12. Nxf7 Rxf7 13. hxg3 Qf8 $13 {
White will soon have nothing better than to enter a double-edged material
balance of two pawns plus rook against two bishops, which probably should
ultimately favour the bishops.}) 11... c6 12. Ne3 Nd7 $11 {Playing for ...Ndf6
and ...d5. White should probably castle short, but the moment he does that, he
will no longer ever use the h-file.}) 11. hxg3 Nb8 12. Nf1 c6 13. Ne3 Na6 14.
g4 (14. Bxa6 bxa6 15. d4 $14) 14... Nc7 $11 {Vachier Lagrave,M-Kramnik,V
Leuven 2017, Following a slightly complicated opening battle Black had
equalised.}) 9... Nh5 {[%emt 0:03:02]} (9... Na5 10. Bc2 c5 $132 {is another
standard plan, and Black will probably continue with ...Be6, ...Nc6 and
consider ...d5.}) 10. Bxe7 {[%emt 0:00:13]} Qxe7 {[%emt 0:02:36]} 11. Nc4 {
[%emt 0:00:19]} Qf6 {[%emt 0:09:14] Telegraphing a kingside attack rather
clearly, but this then prompts White's overreaction.} (11... Be6 12. Ne3 Nf6 {
was solid in Baramidze, D-Fressinet,L Germany 2009.}) 12. Ne3 {[%emt 0:03:57]}
Nf4 {[%emt 0:13:54]} 13. Bc2 {[%emt 0:00:47]} (13. O-O {followed by g3 could
have been one way to go.} Ne7 14. d4 g5 15. g3 $132) 13... Ne7 {[%emt 0:03:19]}
14. g3 {[%emt 0:07:03]} Nh3 {[%emt 0:00:50]} 15. Qe2 {[%emt 0:01:29] Now we
can see what Kramnik is playing for: a sharp opposite-side castling position.}
c5 {[%emt 0:06:00]} 16. O-O-O {[%emt 0:10:22]} (16. Ng1 $11 {or something was
technically still legal, but who plays chess like this?}) 16... Be6 {[%emt 0:
03:06]} 17. d4 {[%emt 0:17:27]} (17. Kb1 $5 {is almost always useful
preparation, and that holds here too.} Rfc8 18. d4 cxd4 19. cxd4 $132) 17...
cxd4 {[%emt 0:17:53]} 18. cxd4 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Rac8 {[%emt 0:03:50] Missing a
chance.} (18... Bxa2 $5 {is possible here according to the machines, and it
seems to get an edge! The critical line is} 19. b3 a5 20. Kb2 $6 a4 21. Kxa2 $2
axb3+ 22. Kxb3 d5 $19) 19. Kb1 {[%emt 0:08:54]} Rc7 {[%emt 0:08:45]} (19...
Rxc2 {was another noteworthy chance, though not obvious if you're not looking
for it. The point is the non-trivial} 20. Kxc2 $6 Qg6 $3 $17) 20. Rd2 {[%emt 0:
03:36]} Rfc8 {[%emt 0:01:31]} 21. dxe5 {[%emt 0:12:33]} dxe5 {[%emt 0:00:05]}
22. Rhd1 {[%emt 0:00:25] Now everything is under control, and just like in
Anand-Matlakov from round 1, the position is just easier for White, even if
not actually better.} g6 {[%emt 0:07:13]} (22... b5 $5 {is a little bit faster.
}) 23. Rd6 {[%emt 0:09:28]} Rc6 {[%emt 0:01:30]} 24. Bb3 {[%emt 0:03:13]} Rf8
$2 {[%emt 0:12:04]} (24... Rxd6 25. Rxd6 h5 {survives according to the machine,
but White is definitely significantly better after even the simple} 26. a3 $36)
25. R1d3 $2 {[%emt 0:08:44]} ({If I had to guess I would say Black's last move
was based on using the f-file after} 25. Bxe6 {but neither order quite works:}
Rxd6 (25... fxe6 26. Rd8 $1 $16) 26. Bxh3 $1 $18 (26. Rxd6 fxe6 $14)) 25...
Rfc8 {[%emt 0:00:42]} 26. Rd1 {[%emt 0:02:18]} Rf8 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 27. a3 {
[%emt 0:01:12] Missing the same idea again.} h5 {[%emt 0:05:04] It is
generally useful to avoid Ng4 motifs.} 28. Bxe6 {[%emt 0:04:15]} fxe6 {[%emt 0:
00:02]} 29. Rd7 {[%emt 0:00:20]} Nc8 $2 {[%emt 0:02:38]} (29... Qxf3 30. Qxf3
Rxf3 31. Rxe7 Rf7 {almost equalises, and so should be preferred.}) 30. Nc4 {
[%emt 0:09:50]} (30. Nh4 $16 {is another option, cuing up interesting Nd5
ideas.}) 30... Nxf2 {[%emt 0:01:54]} 31. Ncxe5 {[%emt 0:02:51] An alluring and
practically tricky option, but not objectively best.} (31. Rf1 $5 Rxc4 32. Rxf2
{leaves Black with bizarrely few options against Qe3-h6. The only move is} Rd4
$8 {but now if nothing else White acheives a large advantage with} 33. Nxd4
Qxf2 34. Qxf2 Rxf2 35. Nxe6 Rxh2 36. Rxb7 $16) 31... Nxd1 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 32.
Qxd1 {[%emt 0:00:10]} Rc5 {[%emt 0:01:47]} (32... Rb6 33. Qd2 g5 $11 {is the
machine defence.}) 33. Qd4 {[%emt 0:00:52] This is now practically impossible
to defend, but the errors understandably continue from both sides.} Nb6 {
[%emt 0:00:42]} (33... Rb5 34. Rc7 {might look like a lethal battery, but
Black can execute the text move now:} Nb6 $14 {and Black has gained a tempo
over the text.}) 34. Rxb7 {[%emt 0:01:56]} Rb5 {[%emt 0:01:25]} 35. Rxa7 Rd8 {
[%emt 0:00:18]} 36. Qc3 {[%emt 0:02:15]} (36. Rf7 $3 $16) 36... Rc8 {[%emt 0:
00:30]} (36... Nd7 $3 $132) 37. Rc7 {No further accidents.} Rd8 {[%emt 0:00:42]
} 38. Qc6 {[%emt 0:01:28]} Rb3 {[%emt 0:00:39]} (38... Rxe5 39. Nxe5 Qxe5 40.
Qxb6 Qxe4+ 41. Ka2 Qd5+ 42. Qb3 $16 {is basically over too.}) 39. Rf7 $1 {
Enough to force resignation even if this was a time scramble.} (39. Rf7 $1 {
[%emt 0:00:30]} Qxf7 40. Nxf7 Kxf7 41. Ng5+ {wins a rook with the next check.})
1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 80th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2018.01.26"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2018.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. b3 c5 7. cxd5 $5 {
A relatively simplistic continuation.} ({Both} 7. e3 Nc6 8. Bb2 {and}) (7. Bb2
d4 8. b4 $5 {lead to more consistent play, but apparently this is not what
Karjakin wanted to get against Kramnik!}) 7... Nxd5 ({I would also be worried
about} 7... exd5 {transposing more or less by force to a comfortable (for
Black) Tarrasch line after} 8. d4 Nc6 9. Bb2) 8. Nc3 Nc6 9. Bb2 Nxc3 {This may
also look simplistic but keeping the tension in the centre is not without
strategic risk. For instance} (9... Bf6 10. Qc1 b6 11. Nxd5 exd5 12. d4 $5 Ba6
13. Re1 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 cxd4 15. Qa3 Bb7 16. Rad1 Be7 17. Qa4 Qe8 18. Qxd4 Rc8
19. Qf4 Bf6 20. Nd4 Be5 21. Qe3 g6 22. Nb5 {The position is full of life but
Black should be doing fine in principle. Only his next move is wrong.} Qxb5 $6
(22... Bb8 $5) (22... Rc5 $5) 23. Qxe5 Rfe8 24. Qb2 Rc5 25. h4 $16 {Fischer,
R-Filip,M Palma de Mallorca 1970 (1-0, 40) with good play against the Isolani
and the enemy kingside.}) ({Or as in a newer example:} 9... b6 10. Nxd5 exd5
11. d4 Bb7 12. Rc1 Re8 13. Qd2 Qd7 14. Rfd1 $14 {Kovalyov,A (2616)
-Kasimdzhanov,R (2704) Baku 2015 CBM 169 [CB] (1-0, 33)}) 10. dxc3 $5 {This is
rather rare, especially between strong players. White turns the structure
almost symmetrical, hoping that his g2-bishop will keep Black under pressure
yielding him better chances in the fight for the d-file.} ({The position
resulting after} 10. Bxc3 {is rather dull, as White cnnot open the centre
easily, but the following game unexpectedly turned interesting in the
middlegame:} Qc7 11. Qc2 Rd8 12. Qb2 Bf8 13. Rac1 Qb6 14. d3 Bd7 15. Ne5 Nxe5
16. Bxe5 Rac8 17. Rc4 f6 18. Bxf6 $5 gxf6 19. Qxf6 {Salov,V (2645)-Beliavsky,A
(2640) Linares 1991 CBM 022 [Salov,V] (1-0, 37)   Engines are sceptical and
Salov himself considers the position about equal, but at least this is not
boring anymore!}) 10... Qc7 11. Qc2 b6 12. Bc1 $5 $146 {Slightly paradoxical.
White disconnects his rooks temporarily to re-activate his bishop.} ({The
point is that doing everything according to the natural order is inoffensive:} 
12. Rad1 Bb7 13. Bc1 Rad8 $11) ({The following classical games did not pose
Black problems:} 12. Ne5 Bb7 13. Nxc6 Bxc6 14. Bxc6 Qxc6 15. c4 Rfd8 16. Rad1 (
16. Rfd1 {½-½ Flohr,S-Krogius,N Sochi 1965}) 16... Rxd1 17. Rxd1 Rd8 18.
Rxd8+ Bxd8 19. Qd3 Be7 {½-½ Ilivitzki,G-Krogius,N Sochi 1965}) 12... Bb7 13.
Bf4 Qc8 $6 {This is the main cause for Black's later problems.} ({Better
chances for equality were offered by} 13... Bd6 14. Bxd6 Qxd6 {for isntance}
15. Ng5 g6 16. Rad1 Qe7 {with more of a symbolic advantage for White.}) 14.
Rad1 Rd8 15. h4 h6 16. Rxd8+ Nxd8 {The start of an uninspired regrouping.} ({
But} 16... Bxd8 17. Rd1 Bc7 {would not have been all roses either:} 18. Qd2 $14
{planning the invasion along the d-file.} e5 19. Bxh6 $1 e4 (19... gxh6 20.
Qxh6 Qf8 21. Qg5+ Qg7 22. Qxg7+ Kxg7 23. Rd7 Rc8 24. Ng5 $18) 20. Qg5 Qf8 21.
Rd7 exf3 22. Bxf3 Bd8 23. Qxg7+ Qxg7 24. Bxg7 Kxg7 25. Rxb7 $14 {with more
than enough compensation for the piece.}) 17. Rd1 f5 (17... Nc6 {looks a bit
safer, but it would be hard formulating a plan with Black after, say,} 18. h5
$5 $14) 18. Qd2 Nf7 19. Qd7 Bf6 20. Ne5 $1 {A well-timed trick ensuring White
a persistent endgame advantage.} Nxe5 (20... Qxd7 21. Nxd7 Bxg2 22. Nxf6+ gxf6
23. Kxg2 e5 24. Bc1 h5 25. Rd7 $16) 21. Bxe5 Bxe5 22. Bxb7 Qxd7 23. Rxd7 Re8 (
23... Rf8 24. Re7 Rf7 {fails to neutralise White's pressure:} 25. Re8+ Kh7 26.
Bc8 $16) 24. Bc6 a5 (24... Bxc3 $2 25. Rd3 $18) (24... Rc8 $6 25. Bb5 Rc7 26.
f4 Rxd7 27. Bxd7 Bxc3 28. Bxe6+ Kf8 29. Bxf5 $18 {and due to his 4-2 majority
White wins.}) ({But the tricky move order} 24... Rf8 $5 {deserves mentioning:}
25. Rxa7 (25. c4 Rc8 $3 {With the d4-square available this works out well.} 26.
Bb5 Rc7 27. f4 Bd4+) 25... Bxc3 26. Re7 Rf6 27. h5 Kf8 28. Re8+ Kf7 29. Rb8 Ba5
$16 {Just as in the game, Black is very passive and has many weaknesses.}) 25.
Bb5 Kf8 26. f4 Bf6 27. Rd6 Re7 28. h5 Bxc3 29. Rxb6 c4 $5 {[%cal Gc3d4] A
desperate defence forcing White into temporarily releasing the pressure on e6,
thus allowing Black to slightly activate his pieces.} ({If} 29... Kf7 30. Bc4
Kf6 31. Kf2 Kf7 32. Kf3 Kf6 33. g4 fxg4+ 34. Kxg4 Re8 35. e4 $18) 30. Rb8+ Kf7
31. Bxc4 Rd7 32. Kg2 Ke7 33. Kf3 Rd1 34. Rb7+ Rd7 35. Rb5 Rd1 36. a3 Rf1+ 37.
Kg2 Rd1 38. e3 Rd6 39. Kf3 Rc6 40. g4 fxg4+ 41. Kxg4 a4 $6 {This will simplify
White's techical process.} ({But passive play should not save already.} 41...
Rd6 42. e4 Rd4 43. Kf3 Bd2 {[%csl Gf4]} 44. Re5 Rd6 45. Rc5 Rd4 46. Bb5 $18 {
[%cal Gc5c7]}) 42. Rb7+ Kd8 43. e4 Bb2 44. Bb5 Rc7 45. Rxc7 $1 {It turns out
that the pure bishop ending is easily won.} Kxc7 46. bxa4 Bc3 47. e5 Kd8 48.
Kf3 Bd2 49. Ke4 Ke7 50. f5 exf5+ 51. Kxf5 {After White has created another
passer the rest is a formality. The distance between the pawns is of 3 files,
ensuring the win.} Bc1 52. a5 Bxa3 53. a6 Bc5 54. Ke4 Ke6 55. Bc4+ Kd7 56. Kd5
Bf2 57. e6+ Kc7 58. Bb5 Bh4 59. a7 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 80th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2018.01.27"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2811"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "103"]
[EventDate "2018.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Ne5 $5 {Kramnik,V (2787)-Svidler,
P (2768) 80th Tata Steel GpA 2018 (4.3) 1-0 This rare move is in a way similar
to Kramnik's early knight move to e5 in} ({The main lines were Fischer's
favourite} 5. Bd3) ({and the Panov Attack.} 5. c4) 5... Nc6 ({Another game of
a World champion went} 5... e6 {Leaving the c8-bishop passive.} 6. Nd2 Nc6 7.
c3 Bd6 8. f4 {Starting an attack in the spirit of the Colle system.} g6 9. Qf3
Nh5 10. g4 Ng7 11. Qh3 h5 12. Bd3 Kf8 13. Ndf3 Kg8 14. Bd2 Bd7 15. O-O-O $36 {
Anand,V (2803)-Vallejo Pons,F (2684) Leon 2008 (1-0, 46) with consistent
initiative.}) 6. Bb5 Bd7 {In a way this is the most flexible move, parrying
the threat by developing a piece, but its drawbck is giving up the bishops'
pair.} (6... Qb6 7. c4 {offers White some initiative in the spirit of the 
(reversed) Ragozin system.}) (6... Qc7 {has been played only between lower
rated players, but looks sound enough. The point is that} 7. Bf4 {is not as
threatening as it looks:} e6 {[%cal Gf8d6]} 8. Nxc6 (8. Ng6 Qa5+ 9. Bd2 Qxb5
10. Nxh8 {[%csl Rh8]} Qxb2 $5 $17) 8... Qxf4 9. Ne5+ Bd7 10. Nxd7 Qe4+ 11. Be2
Nxd7 12. O-O Bd6 {and Black does not have much to fear.}) 7. Nxd7 Qxd7 8. c3 e6
9. O-O ({The following game features a slightly different move order:} 9. Nd2
Bd6 10. Nf3 O-O 11. O-O Qc7 12. Re1 a6 13. Bd3 Bf4 {The reason why Black is
interested in exchanging these bishops can be found in a line from the comment
to 12...e5 below.} 14. Bxf4 Qxf4 15. a4 g6 16. g3 Qc7 17. Kg2 Kg7 18. Qe2 Rfe8
19. h4 h5 20. b4 (20. Ne5 $14 {looks more natural.}) 20... Ne7 (20... Ng4 $5)
21. Rac1 Rac8 22. Ne5 a5 23. Bb5 Rf8 24. Qb2 b6 25. Ba6 Ra8 26. Bd3 $14 {
Rapport,R (2707)-Salgado Lopez,I (2644) Riadh 2017 (1-0, 52) with some slight
pressure.}) 9... Bd6 10. Nd2 O-O 11. Re1 (11. Nf3 Qc7 (11... Ne4 $5) 12. Re1 {
would transpose to the game above.}) 11... a6 ({The plan of exchanging bishops
is available after other white knight moves, too, of course:} 11... Qc7 12. Nf1
Bf4 13. Bxf4 Qxf4 14. Qd2 (14. Nd2 {planning Qe2, Nf3, Bd3 looks more active.})
14... Qxd2 15. Nxd2 Rfc8 16. Bd3 {½-½ Antipov,M (2584)-Mchedlishvili,M (2604)
Izmir 2016}) 12. Bd3 e5 {Caruana decides on switching to a French Isolani
structure.} ({The main alternative is starting the minority attack, typical
for the Carlsbad structure (even if in reversed form as here):} 12... b5 {
but White's kingside initiative is a bit more effective:} 13. Nf3 b4 (13... Qc7
{does not manage exchanging the dangerous bishop in time:} 14. Bg5 Nd7 15. Qc2
h6 {This weakening is more important than it may look at fist sight, as it
allows White to start an effective attack.} 16. Be3 Nf6 17. h3 Rfc8 18. Qe2 Qb7
19. g4 $1 b4 20. g5 hxg5 21. Bxg5 bxc3 22. bxc3 Na5 23. Bxf6 gxf6 {Safarli,E 
(2639)-Esipenko,A (2564) Riadh 2017 (1-0, 49)} 24. Nh4 $1 Rxc3 $140 25. Qg4+
Kf8 26. Qh5 $18 {planning Nf5 with a decisive attack.}) 14. Bg5 bxc3 (14... Be7
15. Ne5 Qb7 16. Nxc6 Qxc6 17. cxb4 $16) {Puccini,J (2073)-Le,M (1927) Al Ain
2013 (½-½, 29)} 15. Bxf6 gxf6 16. bxc3 $14) 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nf3 Nfg4 $6
$146 {Kramnik rightly considered this "a strange move".} (14... Rfe8 {is more
natural, but since it was played only between low rated players it is too
early to draw any conclusion.} 15. Bg5 Qg4 16. Nxe5 (16. Bxf6 Nxf3+ 17. Qxf3
Qxf3 18. gxf3 gxf6) 16... Qxg5 17. Nf3 Rxe1+ 18. Qxe1 Qf4 {Massironi,M (2193)
-Rorato,G (2039) Venice 2006 (½-½, 66)}) ({Exchanging the knight for any of
White's minor pieces offer White pleasant play against the Isolani.} 14...
Nxf3+ 15. Qxf3 Rfe8 16. Be3 $14) (14... Nxd3 15. Qxd3 h6 16. Be3 $14) 15. Nxe5
Nxe5 {Caruana must have thought the knight was active on this square but as
will be clear soon it is rather exposed.} 16. Bc2 Rfe8 (16... Bc7 17. Bf4 {
is likely to transpose to the game.}) (16... Qc6 17. Bf4 Nc4 18. Bxd6 Nxd6 (
18... Qxd6 19. b3 Na3 20. Be4 Rad8 21. Bf3 $14) 19. Qd4 $14) 17. Bf4 Bc7 18. g3
$3 {The most difficult move in the game. White prepares for winning a pawn
with Bxh7+ by avoiding back rank problems.} ({Immediately carrying out this
operation would offer Black reasonable compensation:} 18. Bxe5 Bxe5 19. Bxh7+
Kxh7 20. Qh5+ Kg8 21. Rxe5 Qb5 $44) ({The purpose of the last move is clear,
but the natural question is why not} 18. h3 {? The answer is that} Nc4 {
works better than in the similar line below. What is really remarkable with
Kramnik's last move is that Black cannot parry the initial threat under
favourable circumstances.}) 18... Rad8 {Practically turning 18.g3 into a gain
of time as Black will soon have to play ...Rd8-e8.} (18... g6 {weakens f6,
which becomes relevant after} 19. Bb3 Rad8 20. Bg5 {Black has to launch the
desperate attack with} Qh3 21. Bxd8 Rxd8 {when White calms down the position
to his favour with} 22. Rxe5 Bxe5 23. Bxd5 Qd7 24. c4 Bxb2 25. Rb1 Bg7 26. a4 {
and the b-pawn will soon be lost.}) (18... h6 {weakens g6, and also leads to
the loss of the d-pawn:} 19. Bxe5 Bxe5 20. Qd3 g6 21. Bb3 Rad8 22. Rad1 $16 d4
$2 23. Qxg6+) ({Or if} 18... Nc4 19. Rxe8+ Rxe8 20. Bxc7 Qxc7 21. Qxd5 Nxb2 22.
Rb1 {we can notice the difference with respect to the similar line with 18.h3:
there is no back rank mating danger.} Qxc3 23. Qb3 Re1+ 24. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 25. Kg2
Qe5 26. Qxb7 g6 27. Bb3 Qf6 {Black has defended with only moves but loses a
pawn anyway:} 28. Bxf7+ Qxf7 29. Qxb2 {With reasonable winning chances.}) 19.
Bxh7+ Kxh7 20. Bxe5 Bxe5 21. Qh5+ Kg8 22. Rxe5 Rxe5 ({Due to the move g2-g3,
White can meet} 22... Qb5 {with} 23. Rae1 Rxe5 24. Rxe5 {for instance:} Qxb2
25. Re7 Rf8 26. Qxd5 Qxc3 27. Rxb7 $16) 23. Qxe5 Re8 24. Qd4 Qb5 25. b3 Re2 {
Black has achieved some activity but White will temporarily return the pawn to
launch a new wave of initiative.} 26. h4 b6 (26... Re4 27. Qd1 $5) 27. Rd1 Rxa2
28. Re1 {White has returned the pawn but has gained the control over the open
file. It is Black's king now who experiences problems.} Qc6 29. Re5 Qf6 30. Qe3
Ra1+ 31. Kg2 Ra5 32. h5 d4 33. cxd4 $1 ({The rook ending resulting after} 33.
Re8+ Kh7 34. Qd3+ Qf5 35. Qxd4 Qd5+ 36. Qxd5 Rxd5 37. g4 Rc5 38. Re3 a5 {
offers Black reasonable drawing chances.}) 33... Rxe5 34. Qxe5 Qd8 35. d5 {
White is well centralised and his d-pawn is dangerous. Besides, Black's
kingside is under pressure. His queenside pawns are too slow to generate
adequate counterplay so White should win with a bit of technique.} a5 36. d6
Qd7 37. Qe7 Qc6+ 38. Kg1 Qc1+ 39. Kh2 Qc5 40. Qe8+ Kh7 41. Qe4+ g6 (41... Kg8
42. d7 Qxh5+ 43. Kg2 Qd1 44. Qe8+ Kh7 45. d8=Q) 42. hxg6+ Kg7 $5 (42... fxg6
43. Qe7+ Kg8 44. Qe8+ Kg7 45. Qd7+ Kh6 46. Kg1 Qd5 47. Qe7 Qd1+ 48. Kh2 Qf3 49.
Qe3+) 43. Qd3 Qxf2+ 44. Kh1 Qf6 (44... Qe1+ 45. Kg2 Qe8 46. d7 Qd8 47. Qd4+
Kxg6 (47... f6 48. Qg4 $18 Qe7 49. Qd1 Qd8 50. Qh5 $18) (47... Kg8 48. Qd5 $18)
48. Qg4+ {[%cal Gg4h4]}) 45. d7 Qd8 46. Qc3+ $1 (46. gxf7 Kxf7 47. Qd6 b5 $5 {
offers Black counterplay.}) 46... Kxg6 47. Qc6+ (47. Qc8 {also wins:} Qe7 48.
d8=Q Qe1+ 49. Kh2 Qe2+ 50. Kh3 Qf1+ 51. Kh4 Qh1+ 52. Qh3 $18) 47... Kh5 (47...
f6 48. Qc8 Qe7 49. Qe8+) (47... Kg7 48. Qc8 Qf6 49. d8=Q Qf1+ 50. Kh2 Qf2+ 51.
Kh3 Qf1+ 52. Kh4 Qh1+ 53. Kg5 Qh6+ 54. Kg4 $18) 48. Qf3+ Kh6 (48... Kg6 49.
Qg4+ {[%cal Gg4h4]}) 49. Qxf7 Qh8 50. Kg2 Qa8+ 51. Kh2 Qh8 52. Qe8 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 80th"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2018.01.28"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Adhiban, Baskaran"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C26"]
[WhiteElo "2655"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2018.01.13"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[TimeControl "40/6000+30:20/3000+30:900+30"]

1. e4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:05]} 2. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nf6 {
[%emt 0:00:07]} 3. g3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Bc5 {[%emt 0:00:16]} 4. Bg2 {[%emt 0:00:
00]} c6 {[%emt 0:00:40]} 5. Nge2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} (5. Nf3 {looks a bit
inconsistent, but may be White's best attempt at trying to use every wrinkle
in the position.} d5 6. Nxe5 (6. d3 d4 7. Ne2 Nbd7 8. O-O O-O 9. h3 {is just a
standard King's Indian Attack}) 6... dxe4 7. d3 $5 Bxf2+ 8. Kxf2 Qd4+ 9. Kf1 $5
({After} 9. Be3 Qxe5 10. h3 (10. Bf4 $11 {is just a repetition}) 10... exd3 11.
Qxd3 O-O 12. Rhe1 $44 {White has full compensation for the missing material.})
9... Qxe5 10. Bf4 Qd4 11. Nxe4 O-O $132) 5... d5 {[%emt 0:02:34]} 6. exd5 {
[%emt 0:00:00]} cxd5 {[%emt 0:00:06]} 7. d4 {[%emt 0:00:04]} exd4 {[%emt 0:00:
06]} 8. Nxd4 {[%emt 0:00:05]} O-O {[%emt 0:02:57]} 9. O-O {[%emt 0:00:12]} Bg4
{[%emt 0:00:12]} 10. Nde2 {[%emt 0:00:07] A standard-looking move, unleashing
some kind of pressure against the d5-pawn, but here the pawn is free to
advance, which was what White should have tried to avoid.} (10. Qd3 Bxd4 11.
Qxd4 Nc6 12. Qc5 d4 13. Ne4 Nxe4 14. Bxe4 Re8 $11 {at least gives White the
bishop pair in exchange for Black's dynamism.}) 10... Qc8 {[%emt 0:01:13]
Perceptively played.} ({After the immediate} 10... d4 {there is a slight
problem with} 11. h3 $1 (11. Na4 Qe8 12. Nxc5 Bxe2 13. Qe1 Nc6 $44) 11... Bxh3
12. Bxh3 dxc3 13. Qxd8 Rxd8 14. Nxc3 Nc6 15. Bf4 $14 {Here Kramnik would have
risked losing the exact same type of game which he won yesterday.}) 11. Bg5 {
[%emt 0:01:05] On this move and indeed the next few Adhiban plays extremely
well.} (11. Be3 $6 d4 $5 12. Bxd4 Rd8 13. Qd3 Nc6 14. Bxc6 Qxc6 $11 {is
unpleasant for White, but playable if he jumps through a few more hoops.})
11... d4 {[%emt 0:04:58]} 12. Na4 {[%emt 0:11:04]} Be7 {[%emt 0:02:30]} 13. Qd3
{[%emt 0:06:14]} h6 {[%emt 0:05:18]} 14. Bxf6 {[%emt 0:10:58]} Bxf6 {[%emt 0:
00:07]} 15. Nf4 {[%emt 0:00:17]} (15. Nxd4 $6 Rd8 16. Qb3 $1 $11 {clings to
equality tactically, but this is hard to calculate.}) 15... Nc6 {[%emt 0:15:38]
} (15... Nd7 $11 {was marginally more accurate.}) 16. Nd5 {[%emt 0:11:14]} Be5
{[%emt 0:06:08]} 17. Qb5 {[%emt 0:12:13]} Bd6 {[%emt 0:06:33]} 18. Nc5 {
[%emt 0:02:51]} Bxc5 {[%emt 0:16:48]} 19. Qxc5 {[%emt 0:00:05] Suddenly the
bishop pair is gone and Black should think about equality.} Re8 {[%emt 0:00:17]
} (19... Bh3 {should have been almost an impulse for a Catalan player like
Vladimir Kramnik!}) 20. b4 $14 {[%emt 0:12:23]} Kh8 {[%emt 0:06:22]} 21. Rfe1 {
[%emt 0:04:00]} Qf5 {[%emt 0:08:48]} 22. Nc7 {[%emt 0:05:12]} Rxe1+ {[%emt 0:
02:44]} 23. Rxe1 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Rd8 {[%emt 0:06:28]} (23... Rc8 {prevents
White's strong next move because} 24. Ne8 Qxc5 25. bxc5 Nb4 $132 {gives Black
too much play.}) 24. Ne8 $1 {[%emt 0:05:53]} (24. Re8+ Rxe8 25. Nxe8 Kg8 26.
Nd6 Qxc5 27. bxc5 $14 {is also good for White, but a bit less convincing.})
24... Qxc5 {[%emt 0:02:14]} 25. bxc5 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Be6 {[%emt 0:04:48]} 26.
Nd6 {[%emt 0:00:06]} Rd7 {[%emt 0:00:19]} 27. a3 {[%emt 0:04:54] The first
hesitation.} (27. Rb1 Bxa2 28. Rxb7 Rxb7 29. Nxb7 $16 {would have left Black
in a lot of trouble.}) 27... Rc7 {[%emt 0:01:56]} 28. Nb5 {[%emt 0:04:39]} Rc8
{[%emt 0:00:56]} 29. Nd6 {[%emt 0:00:08]} Rc7 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 30. f4 {[%emt 0:
01:37]} g6 {[%emt 0:01:16]} 31. Nb5 {[%emt 0:00:05] The second hesitation,
seemingly looking for another move repetition.} Rd7 {[%emt 0:02:41]} 32. Nd6 {
[%emt 0:00:20]} Na5 {[%emt 0:02:35] But Kramnik is mentally tough enough to
not take it, even though his position is far from being better.} 33. Rb1 {
[%emt 0:04:20]} (33. Nxb7 Rxb7 34. Bxb7 Nxb7 35. c6 Nd6 {might have occupied a
fair bit of White's time, and while the position isn't technically winning as
such, Black certainly faces more challenges after} 36. Rd1 $14 {because he
will be unable to hold the d-pawn.}) 33... Rc7 {[%emt 0:01:13]} 34. Rb5 {
[%emt 0:01:48]} b6 $11 {[%emt 0:01:00] Just like that, the advantage is gone.}
35. Rxa5 $2 {[%emt 0:00:48] Imaginative, but not correct.} ({It was a good
time for} 35. cxb6 axb6 36. Rb2 Nc4 37. Nxc4 Rxc4 38. Be4 f5 39. Bd3 (39. Rxb6
fxe4 40. Rxe6 e3 $36) 39... Rc6 40. Rb4 Rd6 $11) 35... bxa5 {[%emt 0:00:16]}
36. c6 {[%emt 0:00:02]} a6 {[%emt 0:01:58] The point is that between this move
and ...Re7, Black is able to both discourage Nb5 ideas and hold off the White
king.} 37. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:20]} (37. a4 Re7 38. Nb5 axb5 39. axb5 a4 $19) 37...
Re7 {[%emt 0:00:23]} 38. a4 {[%emt 0:04:52]} Kg8 {[%emt 0:01:11]} 39. Ne4 {
[%emt 0:00:36]} (39. Nb5 axb5 40. axb5 a4 41. b6 Bc8 42. b7 Bxb7 43. cxb7 Re8
44. Bc6 Rb8 45. Bxa4 Rxb7 $19) 39... Kf8 {[%emt 0:02:36]} 40. Nd6 {[%emt 0:00:
00]} Bg4 {[%emt 0:02:18]} (40... Bf5 {was marginally faster.}) 41. Be4 {
[%emt 0:12:53]} h5 {[%emt 0:08:35]} 42. h4 {[%emt 0:04:45]} f6 {[%emt 0:09:40]
Asking for a move from White.} 43. Bxg6 {[%emt 0:08:55]} (43. Bd3 Rc7 44. Be4
Ke7 45. Nc4 f5 46. Bg2 Bd1 $19) 43... Re2+ {[%emt 0:01:37]} 44. Kf1 {[%emt 0:
00:14]} Re6 {[%emt 0:00:32]} 45. Nb7 {[%emt 0:06:33]} Rxc6 {[%emt 0:01:18]} 46.
Nxa5 {[%emt 0:02:01]} Rc3 $19 {[%emt 0:01:10] The front c-pawn being dead, the
game is now over. A curious feature of this tournament, first in variations
and now in an actual game, seems to be nearly-trapped White knights on a5.} 47.
Nb3 {[%emt 0:00:14]} Rc4 {[%emt 0:01:54]} 48. Bd3 {[%emt 0:01:35]} Rxa4 {
[%emt 0:00:08]} 49. Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:33]} a5 {[%emt 0:00:22]} 50. Ke1 {[%emt 0:
06:46]} Be6 {[%emt 0:02:28]} 51. Nc5 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Ra1+ {[%emt 0:00:06]} 52.
Kf2 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Bf7 {[%emt 0:00:56]} 53. Kf3 {[%emt 0:01:52]} a4 {[%emt 0:
00:29]} 54. Ke4 {[%emt 0:00:06]} a3 {[%emt 0:00:17]} 55. Kxd4 {[%emt 0:00:03]}
Rd1 {[%emt 0:00:11]} 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial rapid 11th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2018.03.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2018.03.02"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 d5 3. Bxf6 exf6 4. e3 c6 5. Bd3 Bd6 6. Nd2 O-O 7. Qf3 a5 8.
Ne2 Na6 9. c3 Nc7 10. h4 Re8 11. g4 Ne6 12. O-O-O b5 13. Rdg1 g6 14. h5 Ng5 15.
Qg2 b4 16. c4 Ba6 17. Kb1 Ra7 18. Nc1 dxc4 19. Bxc4 Bxc4 20. Nxc4 Bf8 21. Rd1
a4 22. Ne2 a3 23. b3 Qd5 24. Qxd5 cxd5 25. Nd2 Bd6 26. Rc1 Rc7 27. Rxc7 Bxc7
28. Kc2 Kg7 29. Kd3 f5 30. gxf5 gxf5 31. Rc1 Bd6 32. f4 Ne4 33. Nxe4 fxe4+ 34.
Kd2 Kf6 35. Rg1 h6 36. Rg2 Rc8 37. Rg1 Be7 38. Rg2 Bd6 39. Ng1 Rc3 40. Rg8 Rd3+
41. Ke2 Rc3 42. Kd2 Rd3+ 43. Ke2 Rc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial rapid 11th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2018.03.02"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2018.03.02"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 g6 3. Bf4 Bg7 4. c3 O-O 5. e3 d6 6. h3 c5 7. dxc5 dxc5 8. Qxd8
Rxd8 9. Bc7 Rd7 10. Bh2 Rd8 11. Nbd2 Nc6 12. Bc4 b6 13. O-O-O Bb7 14. Rhe1 Nd7
15. Kc2 a6 16. Ng5 Nce5 17. Bf1 b5 18. Nb3 Rac8 19. Na5 Ba8 20. f4 h6 21. fxe5
hxg5 22. e6 fxe6 23. c4 b4 24. Nb3 Be4+ 25. Kc1 a5 26. Nxa5 Ne5 27. Rxd8+ Rxd8
28. Nb3 Rc8 29. Rd1 Bf6 30. Be2 Bxg2 31. Bxe5 Bxe5 32. Bg4 Kg7 33. Rg1 Ba8 34.
Bxe6 Rc7 35. Nd2 Bc6 36. Bd5 Bd7 37. Rxg5 Bf6 38. Rg3 Ra7 39. Ne4 Rxa2 40. Nxc5
Bc8 41. Be4 g5 42. Nd3 b3 43. c5 Ra4 44. Bd5 Ba6 45. c6 Bxd3 46. e4 Bxe4 47. c7
Bxd5 48. c8=Q Rc4+ 49. Qxc4 Bxc4 50. h4 Kg6 51. Kd2 Bxb2 52. Rxg5+ Kh6 53. Rc5
Bf7 54. Rb5 Bf6 55. h5 b2 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial rapid 11th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2018.03.02"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C00"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2018.03.02"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. d3 O-O 6. Nbd2 c5 7. e4 Nc6 8. Re1
Qc7 9. e5 Nd7 10. Qe2 b5 11. Nf1 Bb7 12. Bf4 Rfc8 13. Ne3 Qd8 14. h4 h6 15. c3
b4 16. c4 Nb6 17. Rad1 Rc7 18. Ng4 Qf8 19. Qe3 Nd4 20. Nxd4 cxd4 21. Qe2 Rd8
22. b3 a5 23. Nh2 Kh8 24. Qh5 Qg8 25. Ng4 Bf8 26. c5 Nd7 27. Nh2 Nxc5 28. Qe2
Ba6 29. Nf3 Qh7 30. Bf1 Ne4 31. Rc1 Rc3 32. Nxd4 Bc5 33. Qe3 Rxc1 34. Qxc1 Nc3
35. Be3 Bxd3 36. Nxe6 fxe6 37. Bxc5 Bxf1 38. Kxf1 d4 39. Bd6 Qf5 40. Kg2 Rc8
41. Qd2 d3 42. Re3 Ne4 43. Qxd3 Qxf2+ 44. Kh3 Rc3 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial rapid 11th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2018.03.03"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A04"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2018.03.02"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. b3 d6 3. c4 g6 4. Bb2 e5 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Bg7 7. O-O Nge7 8. Nc3
O-O 9. d3 h6 10. Nd2 Be6 11. a3 Qd7 12. b4 cxb4 13. axb4 Nxb4 14. Ba3 a5 15.
Rb1 e4 16. Na4 Ra6 17. Nxe4 b5 18. cxb5 Qxb5 19. Bb2 Ned5 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 21. Rc1
Bd7 22. Nac3 Nxc3 23. Rxc3 Qe5 24. d4 Qe7 25. Qa1 Bf5 26. f3 Qa7 27. e3 Nd5 28.
Ra3 Rc8 29. g4 Bxe4 30. fxe4 Nb4 31. d5+ Kg8 32. Rc3 Re8 33. Qa4 Qe7 34. Rc7
Qxc7 35. Qxe8+ Kg7 36. e5 dxe5 37. Be4 Ra7 38. Bxg6 fxg6 39. Qf8+ Kh7 40. d6
Qg7 41. Qe8 Qd7 42. Qxe5 Qxg4+ 43. Kh1 Qc4 44. Rf8 Rg7 45. e4 Nd3 46. Qe8 Qc1+
47. Kg2 Qd2+ 48. Kg1 Qe3+ 49. Kf1 Qe1+ 50. Kg2 Qe2+ 51. Kg1 Qd1+ 52. Kg2 Qd2+
53. Kg1 Qc1+ 54. Kg2 Qd2+ 55. Kg1 Qc1+ 56. Kg2 Qd2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial rapid 11th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2018.03.03"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2776"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[PlyCount "31"]
[EventDate "2018.03.02"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. Nbd2 d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8.
Ne4 Bb6 9. O-O Bg4 10. h3 Bh5 11. Ng3 Bg6 12. Re1 Re8 13. d4 Nf6 14. dxe5 Qxd1
15. Rxd1 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial rapid 11th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2018.03.03"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dubov, Daniil"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2701"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2018.03.02"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O d5 6. c3 c6 7. Nbd2 Nbd7 8. Re1
c5 9. a4 cxd4 10. cxd4 a5 11. Nb1 Nb8 12. Nc3 Nc6 13. Ne5 Bf5 14. Bg5 Nb4 15.
Rc1 Ne4 16. Be3 Nxc3 17. bxc3 Nc6 18. Qb3 Bxe5 19. dxe5 Be4 20. Bxe4 dxe4 21.
e6 Qc8 22. Bh6 f5 23. Bxf8 Qxf8 24. Qxb7 Ne5 25. Qd5 Ng4 26. h3 Nf6 27. Qe5 Qh6
28. Kg2 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial rapid 11th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2018.03.04"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D78"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2018.03.02"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 c6 7. Qb3 Qb6 8. Nc3
Bf5 9. Ne5 Be6 10. Qd1 dxc4 11. Na4 Qd8 12. Nc5 Qc8 13. Qc2 Bh3 14. Qxc4 Bxg2
15. Kxg2 Nbd7 16. Ncd3 Nxe5 17. dxe5 Nd5 18. b3 Rd8 19. Bb2 a5 20. Rad1 a4 21.
e4 Nb6 22. Qb4 Qc7 23. Bd4 Nd7 24. e6 Bxd4 25. exf7+ Kxf7 26. Qxd4 axb3 27.
axb3 Nf8 28. Qh8 Ke8 29. Nc5 Kf7 30. e5 Qc8 31. e6+ Nxe6 32. Qxh7+ Ng7 33. Rde1
Rg8 34. Re6 Qd8 35. Qxg6+ Kf8 36. Re3 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial rapid 11th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2018.03.04"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D06"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2018.03.02"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Bf5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Bd3 Bxd3 8.
Qxd3 Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Rfd1 Rc8 11. Rac1 h6 12. Bxf6 Nxf6 13. c5 Qc7 14. b4
Nd7 15. Ne2 b6 16. Qa6 Nb8 17. Qa4 Nd7 18. Qa6 Nb8 19. Qd3 Nd7 20. Qc3 a5 21.
a3 axb4 22. axb4 Ra8 23. Nf4 Ra4 24. Nd3 bxc5 25. bxc5 Rfa8 26. Ra1 Bf6 27. g3
g6 28. Kg2 Kg7 29. Rxa4 Rxa4 30. Ra1 Qa7 31. Rxa4 Qxa4 32. Qb2 Qc4 33. Qa3 Qb5
34. h4 g5 35. hxg5 hxg5 36. Qc3 Nf8 37. Nd2 Ng6 38. Qb3 Qa5 39. Nf3 Qa6 40.
Nfe1 e5 41. dxe5 Nxe5 42. Nxe5 Bxe5 43. Qc2 Bf6 44. Qf5 Qc4 45. Nd3 Qe4+ 46.
Qxe4 dxe4 47. Nb4 Be7 48. Nxc6 Bxc5 49. g4 Kf6 50. f3 Bxe3 51. fxe4 Ke6 52. Kf3
Bc5 53. Na5 Ke5 54. Nc4+ Kd4 55. Ne3 Ke5 56. Nf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial rapid 11th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2018.03.04"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2018.03.02"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. b3 d5 2. Bb2 Nf6 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. Nc3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Qc2
b6 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. d4 Nc6 11. Be2 Be6 12. O-O Rc8 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. Rac1 Qb6
15. Rfd1 Rfd8 16. Bd3 h6 17. Qe2 Nb4 18. Bb1 a5 19. h3 Qa6 20. Qd2 Qb7 21. Ba1
Bf8 22. Qb2 f6 23. Nh4 d4 24. exd4 cxd4 25. Qe2 Bf7 26. Rxc8 Qxc8 27. Bxd4 Qe6
28. Be3 Rxd1+ 29. Qxd1 Qd5 30. Qe2 Bc5 31. Nf5 Bf8 32. Qg4 g5 33. Nd4 h5 34.
Qc8 Qc5 35. Qd8 Qc3 36. Be4 Qa1+ 37. Kh2 Kg7 38. Nf5+ Kg8 39. Bd4 Qc1 40. Nh6+
1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial blitz 11th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2018.03.05"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2018.03.05"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. Qc2 d4 7. d3 Nc6 8. a3 a5
9. e3 e5 10. exd4 exd4 11. Re1 Re8 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. Rxe8+ Qxe8 15.
Nbd2 Bf5 16. Re1 Qd7 17. Ne4 Bxe4 18. Rxe4 Re8 19. Bh3 Qd8 20. Qe2 Rxe4 21.
Qxe4 g6 22. Kf1 Kg7 23. Nd2 h5 24. Bg2 Ne5 25. h3 c6 26. Nf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial blitz 11th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2018.03.05"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B50"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2018.03.05"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 Nf6 4. g3 Nbd7 5. d3 g6 6. Bg2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1
e5 9. d4 Qc7 10. a4 b6 11. d5 a6 12. Nbd2 Bh6 13. Nc4 Bxc1 14. Qxc1 Kg7 15. Nh4
h6 16. Ne3 Rh8 17. f4 Rb8 18. c4 b5 19. axb5 axb5 20. Qc3 Re8 21. b3 bxc4 22.
Nxc4 Rb4 23. Nf3 Qb8 24. fxe5 Nxe5 25. Nfxe5 Rxb3 26. Qd2 dxe5 27. Rf1 Rf8 28.
d6 Qb4 29. Qxb4 cxb4 30. Nxe5 Be6 31. Nc6 Rb2 32. Nd4 Rd2 33. Nxe6+ fxe6 34.
Ra7+ Kg8 35. Bh3 Rxd6 36. e5 Rb6 37. exf6 b3 38. Rg7+ Kh8 39. Rxg6 b2 40. Rxh6+
Kg8 41. Rb1 Rfb8 42. Rxb2 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial blitz 11th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2018.03.05"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2018.03.05"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. a4 a6 8. h3 h6
9. Nbd2 Be6 10. b4 Ba7 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. b5 axb5 13. axb5 Bxf2+ 14. Rxf2 Rxa1
15. bxc6 bxc6 16. Nf1 c5 17. c4 Nd7 18. Kh2 Nb8 19. Qc2 Nc6 20. Bb2 Ra2 21. Qb1
Qa8 22. Ng3 Nb4 23. Rd2 Qa4 24. Nh5 Rf7 25. Re2 Qb3 26. Ne1 Rf1 27. Nxg7 Kxg7
28. Bxe5+ dxe5 29. Qxb3 Rxe2 30. Qc3 Nc6 31. Qa3 Rexe1 32. Qxc5 Nd8 33. Qxe5+
Kh7 34. Qxc7+ Nf7 35. c5 h5 36. Qe7 Rc1 37. d4 e5 38. d5 Kg6 39. d6 Ng5 40.
Qe8+ Kh6 41. Qh8+ Kg6 42. Qg8+ Kh6 43. d7 Nf3+ 44. Kg3 h4+ 45. Kg4 Nh2+ 46.
Kxh4 Rf4+ 47. g4 Nf3+ 48. Kg3 Rg1+ 49. Kf2 Rd1 50. Qh8+ Kg6 51. Qg8+ Kh6 52.
Qh8+ Kg6 53. Qg8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial blitz 11th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2018.03.05"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Fedoseev, Vladimir1"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2724"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2018.03.05"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. b3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Bb2
Nc6 9. Nc3 Nc7 10. Na4 b5 11. Nxc5 Bxc5 12. Rc1 Qd6 13. Qc2 Na6 14. d4 Ba3 15.
Ng5 g6 16. Ne4 Qe7 17. Bxa3 Qxa3 18. Qxc6 Rb8 19. Qd6 Qxd6 20. Nxd6 Nb4 21. a3
Nd5 22. e4 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial blitz 11th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2018.03.05"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2018.03.05"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8.
Nge2 Re8 9. Qc2 h6 10. Bh4 Nbd7 11. g4 Nf8 12. h3 b5 13. Rg1 Ne6 14. f4 Bxf4
15. Bh7+ Kh8 16. exf4 Nxd4 17. Qd3 Nxe2 18. Nxe2 Qa5+ 19. Qd2 Qxd2+ 20. Kxd2
Nxh7 21. Rac1 Bd7 22. Nd4 Re4 23. Nxc6 Bxc6 24. Rxc6 Rxf4 25. Rc5 Rf3 26. Rc3
Rxc3 27. bxc3 Ng5 28. Bxg5 hxg5 29. Rf1 f6 30. Rf5 Rd8 31. Kd3 Kg8 32. Kd4 Kf7
33. Kc5 Rc8+ 34. Kb4 Rc4+ 35. Kxb5 Rxc3 36. a4 Ke6 37. Ka6 Rxh3 38. a5 Ra3 39.
Rf1 d4 40. Re1+ Kd6 41. Re8 d3 42. Rg8 Ke5 43. Rxg7 d2 44. Rd7 Ra2 45. Kb5 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial blitz 11th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2018.03.05"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dubov, Daniil"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2701"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2018.03.05"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 c6 2. e4 d6 3. c4 Nd7 4. Nc3 h6 5. g3 e5 6. Nge2 g6 7. Bg2 Bg7 8. O-O h5
9. d5 c5 10. h4 a6 11. a4 Bh6 12. a5 g5 13. hxg5 Bxg5 14. f4 Bh6 15. Bh3 Ngf6
16. Kg2 h4 17. Rh1 Rg8 18. Bxd7+ Nxd7 19. f5 Bg5 20. Kf3 hxg3 21. Kg2 Bxc1 22.
Qxc1 Nf6 23. Qh6 Bd7 24. Rh3 Qe7 25. Rxg3 O-O-O 26. Rh1 Ng4 27. Qh4 Ne3+ 28.
Kf3 Qxh4 29. Rxh4 Nxc4 30. Rh7 Rgf8 31. Rgg7 Be8 32. Ng3 Nxa5 33. Nh5 b5 34.
Nf6 b4 35. Nd1 Nb3 36. Ne3 Nd4+ 37. Kf2 Bb5 38. Rxf7 Rxf7 39. Rxf7 a5 40. Ra7
a4 41. Nh7 Rd7 42. Rxd7 Kxd7 43. f6 Ke8 44. Ng5 a3 45. bxa3 bxa3 46. f7+ Kf8
47. Ng4 Be8 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial blitz 11th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2018.03.05"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E18"]
[WhiteElo "2695"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2018.03.05"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Ne4 8. Bd2
d6 9. d5 Nxd2 10. Nxd2 e5 11. b4 a5 12. a3 Nd7 13. Nb3 f5 14. c5 bxc5 15. bxc5
a4 16. c6 axb3 17. cxb7 Rb8 18. Qxb3 Nc5 19. Qc2 Rxb7 20. Rfb1 Rxb1+ 21. Rxb1
Qa8 22. a4 e4 23. Nb5 Qxa4 24. Qxa4 Nxa4 25. Rc1 Rb8 26. Nxc7 Bf6 27. Rc6 Nc3
28. Bf1 e3 29. fxe3 Be5 30. Ne6 Nxd5 31. Kf2 Nf6 32. Bh3 Ne4+ 33. Kg2 g6 34. g4
fxg4 35. Bxg4 Kf7 36. Rc7+ Kf6 37. Rxh7 Rb3 38. Nf8 Rxe3 39. Nd7+ Kg5 40. Bf3
Nf6 41. h4+ Kf5 42. Nxf6 Kxf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial blitz 11th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2018.03.05"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Andreikin, Dmitry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B46"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2712"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2018.03.05"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 d5 8.
O-O Nf6 9. Qf3 Be7 10. Qg3 O-O 11. Bh6 Ne8 12. Bf4 Bh4 13. Qf3 Bg5 14. Na4 Qf6
15. Bxg5 Qxg5 16. Nb6 Rb8 17. Nxc8 Rxc8 18. Bxa6 Rb8 19. b3 Nd6 20. Bd3 f5 21.
exd5 cxd5 22. a4 Ne4 23. Rfe1 e5 24. a5 Qf6 25. a6 Nc3 26. a7 Ra8 27. Ra6 Qe7
28. Bxf5 Qc7 29. Be6+ Kh8 30. Qxf8+ Rxf8 31. a8=Q Qc5 32. Qxf8+ Qxf8 33. Rc6
1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial blitz 11th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2018.03.05"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2018.03.05"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. b3 O-O 6. Bb2 dxc4 7. bxc4 c5 8. Rg1
Nc6 9. g4 a6 10. g5 Ne8 11. h4 Nd6 12. h5 f5 13. Be2 Rb8 14. a4 Bd7 15. d4 cxd4
16. exd4 Ne4 17. Nxe4 fxe4 18. Nd2 Qa5 19. Qb3 Rxf2 20. Qe3 Rf5 21. O-O-O Qxa4
22. Nxe4 Nb4 23. Rd2 Rc8 24. Nc5 Rcxc5 25. dxc5 Bxc5 26. Qg3 Bxg1 27. Qxg1 Qc6
28. Qd4 Rf7 29. g6 hxg6 30. hxg6 Re7 31. Qh4 Na2+ 32. Kb1 Nc3+ 33. Bxc3 Qb6+
34. Kc1 Qg1+ 35. Bd1 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial blitz 11th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2018.03.05"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2787"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "2018.03.05"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. b3 d5 2. Bb2 Nf6 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. g3 Nbd7 5. Bg2 e6 6. O-O Bd6 7. d3 O-O 8.
Nbd2 Qe7 9. a3 c6 10. h3 Bh5 11. e4 dxe4 12. dxe4 Be5 13. c3 Rad8 14. Qc2 Bc7
15. a4 Rfe8 16. Rfe1 e5 17. a5 h6 18. Nh4 Qe6 19. b4 Nf8 20. c4 Qd7 21. Nb3 Ne6
22. g4 Nxg4 23. hxg4 Bxg4 24. f3 Qe7 25. Qf2 Qxb4 26. Re3 Bh5 27. Ba3 Qxc4 28.
Bf1 Qa4 29. Bf8 Qxa1 30. Nxa1 Bxa5 31. Ba3 Bb6 32. Qe1 Nf4 33. Bc1 Re6 34. Kh2
Red6 35. Be2 g6 36. Nc2 Nxe2 37. Qxe2 Rd1 38. Ng2 Rxc1 39. Rd3 Rxd3 40. Qxd3
Bxf3 41. Qxf3 Rxc2 42. Qf6 Bd4 43. Kh3 Rf2 44. Qd8+ Kg7 45. Nh4 b5 46. Kg3 b4
47. Nf3 Bb6 48. Qe7 b3 49. Qxe5+ Kh7 50. Qe7 Kg7 51. Qe5+ Kg8 52. Qe8+ Kg7 53.
Qxc6 b2 54. Qc3+ Kh7 55. Qb3 Kg8 56. e5 Re2 57. e6 Bc7+ 58. Kh3 Rxe6 59. Qxb2
Bb6 60. Qc2 a5 61. Qc4 Kg7 62. Kg2 Kg8 63. Qc3 Re2+ 64. Kf1 Re6 65. Qc4 Kg7 66.
Qc3+ Kg8 67. Ne5 a4 68. Nd7 Rd6 69. Nf6+ Kf8 70. Qb4 1-0

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial blitz 11th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2018.03.05"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Artemiev, Vladislav"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A50"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2697"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2018.03.05"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 b6 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. c4 Bg7 6. O-O O-O 7. Qd3 c5 8. d5 b5
9. cxb5 Bxd5 10. Nc3 Bb7 11. e4 a6 12. Re1 d6 13. e5 dxe5 14. Qxd8 Rxd8 15.
Nxe5 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 axb5 17. Nxb5 Nd5 18. a4 Nb4 19. Bf4 g5 20. Rad1 Rxd1 21.
Rxd1 N8a6 22. Bxg5 Bxe5 23. Bxe7 Bxb2 24. Rb1 Nd3 25. Nd6 Nab4 26. Ne4 Re8 27.
Rxb2 Rxe7 28. Re2 Kg7 29. Re3 Nc2 30. Rxd3 Ne1+ 0-1

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial blitz 11th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2018.03.05"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Morozevich, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C47"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2018.03.05"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 O-O
8. O-O d5 9. exd5 cxd5 10. h3 c6 11. Qf3 Re8 12. Bg5 Bd6 13. Rfe1 Rxe1+ 14.
Rxe1 Bd7 15. Bf4 Qb8 16. Bxd6 Qxd6 17. b3 c5 18. Nb5 Bxb5 19. Bxb5 Rd8 20. Qc3
g6 21. Qa5 Qb6 22. Qxb6 axb6 23. Re7 Ne4 24. Rb7 Rd6 25. Bd3 Nc3 26. a4 Kg7 27.
h4 h6 28. f3 Re6 29. f4 Rc6 30. Bb5 Re6 31. Kf2 h5 32. Bd3 Kf6 33. Kf3 Na2 34.
a5 bxa5 35. Rb5 Rc6 36. Rxa5 Nb4 37. Ke3 Nxd3 38. cxd3 Kf5 39. Kf3 Ke6 40. Rb5
f6 41. b4 cxb4 42. Rxb4 Rc3 43. Ke3 Rc2 44. Rb6+ Kf5 45. g3 Rg2 46. Kf3 Rd2 47.
Ke3 Rg2 48. Kf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial blitz 11th"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2018.03.05"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2776"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2018.03.05"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 183"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.03.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. c3 d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 8.
Re1 Be6 9. Nbd2 Bd6 10. Ne4 h6 11. b4 a6 12. a4 Re8 13. Qb3 Nf6 14. Bxe6 Rxe6
15. Be3 Ne7 16. Rad1 Ng6 17. h3 Qd7 18. Nc5 Bxc5 19. bxc5 b5 20. cxb6 cxb6 21.
d4 exd4 22. Bxd4 Rxe1+ 23. Nxe1 Qc6 24. Qxb6 Qxa4 25. Rb1 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2018.03.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{The Candidates 2018 was the most anticipated event of the year. Before the
tournament began, all of us got to know a big secret - Anish Giri was working
with Vladimir Kramnik as his second! The combination seemed deadly and we were
all looking forward to some highly theoretical play by Kramnik aided by Giri.
But it turns out the big Vlad had some other ideas.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 {
In the Live Database you find that this move comes at the ninth position in
terms of popularity! Kramnik just wanted a fresh position without too much
theory!} 3. b3 $5 c5 (3... Bg7 4. Bb2 O-O 5. g3 {is quite a normal way to play.
} (5. e3 $5 {is also possible.})) 4. dxc5 {Kramnik doesn't really care about
his centre.} Qa5+ 5. Nbd2 Qxc5 6. Bb2 {One grandmaster encounter which reached
this very position was Boris Grachev against Boris Chaltalbashev in July 2017.}
Bg7 7. e3 {White has the simple plan of placing his bishop on e2, 0-0 and then
c4. One might argue that the knight on d2 is misplaced in such a structure,
but that is the price you have to pay in order to get an original position.} (
7. g3 {might be more ambitious, but simply fails to} Ng4 $1 $19) 7... O-O 8. c4
b6 (8... d5 9. a3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 {The queen on c5 is a tad uncomfortable here.})
9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O Qc7 11. Rc1 d6 {We have transposed into a normal looking
position. I really like Kramnik's next move.} 12. Nb1 $1 {The knight was
misplaced on d2. On c3 it would be perfectly placed eyeing not only the d5
square, but also the one on b5.But can such an undeveloping move be any good.
As you can see, Black also spent nearly three tempi to get his queen from
d8-a5-c5-c7.} Nbd7 13. Nc3 Rac8 14. Rc2 {Another typical manoeuvre. White
would like to place his queen on a1 and connect the rooks. With the queen on
a1, moves like Nd5 gain in power.} (14. Nd5 {looks like a normal move, but
fails to} Bxd5 $1 15. cxd5 Qb7 {It's not so easy to defend the d5-pawn.} 16.
Bb5 Nb8 $1 (16... Nc5 17. b4 $16) 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. e4 a6 19. Bd3 Rxc1 20. Qxc1
Rc8 $15) 14... Qb8 15. Qa1 a6 16. Rd2 Rfe8 17. Rfd1 {White's position looks
more harmonious to my eyes, but perhaps it is just a subjective opinion. Black
has a perfectly fine Hedgehog and should not be worse. The tough part for both
the sides is to pick a plan in the position. Black's idea looks easier to find
with ...b5. What should White really be doing here? Nd5? Well, Kramnik shows
the way.} Ba8 {Grischuk is getting ready for ...b5.} (17... Bc6 $5 18. Ng5 (18.
Nd5 b5 $13) 18... b5 $11) 18. Ng5 $5 {An amazing concept by Kramnik. First he
improved the position of his knight from d2 by bringing it to b1-c3. And now
he moves his f3 knight to g5. His plan is to bring it to h3 and then to f4.
Can White have so much time in the position to execute his plan? As it turns
out Kramnik's knight moves did confuse Grischuk in a big way.} (18. Nd5 b5 $5 (
18... Bxd5 19. cxd5 b5 $13) 19. cxb5 Bxd5 20. Rxd5 Nxd5 21. Bxg7 e6 $15 {
It seems as if White should have compensation here, but nothing more than
equality.}) 18... Rc5 (18... b5 $5 19. cxb5 axb5 20. Nxb5 (20. Bxb5 Rc5 $1 21.
Bxd7 Rxg5 22. f4 Rxg2+ 23. Rxg2 Nxd7 $1 $17 (23... Bxg2 24. Bxe8 Ba8 25. Ba4
Qb7 $40)) 20... Rc5 $1 $17 {[%cal Gc5b5,Gc5g5]}) 19. Nh3 b5 $1 {Grischuk gets
his break in.} 20. Nf4 bxc4 21. Bxc4 {Look at White's control over the
d5-square!} Rg5 $6 {Grischuk gets too ambitious.} (21... Ne5 $1 {was much
better.} 22. Be2 (22. Bxa6 Bxg2 $1 $17) (22. Bf1 Qb7 {The idea is to give ...
Nf3+.} 23. Nfd5 (23. Ncd5 Ne4 24. Rd4 Nxf2 25. Kxf2 e6 $15 {with some insane
complications.}) 23... e6 $1 24. Nxf6+ Bxf6 25. e4 (25. Rxd6 Nf3+ $19) 25...
Rxc3 26. Bxc3 Qxe4 $36) 22... a5 23. Ncd5 Bxd5 24. Nxd5 Nxd5 25. Rxd5 Rc2 26.
R5d2 Nf3+ 27. Bxf3 Bxb2 28. Qb1 Rxd2 29. Rxd2 Bf6 $11) 22. Ncd5 {The triumph
of White's strategy. He controls the d5-square four times!} Ne5 (22... Nxd5 23.
Bxd5 (23. Bxg7 Nxf4 $19) 23... Bxb2 (23... Bxd5 24. Bxg7 $16) 24. Qxb2 Nf6 25.
Bxa8 Qxa8 {This position should be roughly around even, although I have a
feeling that White can still try.} 26. Rxd6 $5 exd6 27. Qxf6 $44) 23. Be2 Ne4
$6 {This move makes the position further complicated with all the knights
facing off against each other in centre, but these complications are in
White's favour. On the other hand, it is not so easy to suggest an alternative
for Black in this position.} (23... Qc8 {Trying to get the queen into the kill
zone doesn't work.} 24. h4 Rf5 25. Rc1 $16) (23... Nxd5 24. Nxd5 e6 25. f4 $1
$16 {Perhaps this is what Grischuk had missed.} (25. Nf4 $6 Nf3+ 26. Bxf3 Bxb2
27. Qxb2 Bxf3 $17)) 24. Rd4 Nc5 (24... Nf6 25. Nxf6+ Bxf6 26. Nd5 Nd7 (26...
Bxd5 27. Rxd5 $16) 27. Nxf6+ Nxf6 28. f3 $16) 25. h4 $1 {The rook which had
gone to g5 to attack White's kingside, is now almost trapped.} Rf5 26. e4 (26.
g4 {is also possible. But with a bishop on a8, you are not always comfortable
making this move.} Rxf4 27. exf4 $16) 26... Rxf4 27. Nxf4 Nxe4 {Initially it
all seems very complicated. The knights in the centre are very strong. The
bishops on the long diagonal seem threatening. But Kramnik has the material.
And the trick in such postions is to slow down and think about the various
possibilities carefully. If you do that, you can see that Black's initiative
can be slowly but surely extinguished without you getting burnt.} 28. Nd5 $1 {
The knight on e4 is hanging.} Nc5 29. Rb4 Qa7 30. Ne3 a5 31. Rb5 Ne6 32. Rxe5
$1 {Kramnik doesn't have to be asked twice! If he can give back material to
gain a long term positional advantage, he will do it without blinking.} (32.
Bc3 $16 {also seems fine.}) 32... dxe5 33. Bxe5 Qc5 34. Bxg7 Nxg7 {So what do
we have here? The material is even, but White has co-ordinated his forces much
better. He has the extra outside passer and all of his pieces are well placed.
Kramnik converts this position well.} 35. Qd4 (35. Qc1 $14 {also seemed like a
nice move.}) 35... Qxd4 36. Rxd4 Bc6 37. Rd2 Rb8 38. Rc2 Be8 39. Rc7 Kf8 40.
Ra7 {Black's pieces really do not know what they are doing here!} a4 41. bxa4 {
A pawn is a pawn!} Rb1+ 42. Kh2 Rb4 (42... Rb2 43. Bc4 Rxf2 44. a5 $16 Nf5 45.
Nxf5 Rxf5 46. a6 Ra5 47. Rc7 $18) 43. a5 Rxh4+ 44. Kg1 Ra4 45. Bc4 Bc6 (45...
Nf5 46. Bb3 Rd4 47. Nxf5 $18) 46. Rc7 Be8 47. a6 Nh5 48. Nd5 {A high class,
top level struggle where the weight was put more on the middlegame than on the
opening. We can say that Kramnik's play was highly imaginative and his
handling of the knights was excellent. The same cannot be sai about Grischuk
though. When he played ambitiously, taking the rook to g5, it got trapped on
the side of the board.} 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2018.03.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 {Going for the principled
line.} ({The line} 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 {is also a frequent guest in
top level events. The structure is symmetrical and most of the games end in a
draw here.}) 5... Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. h3 Ke8 10. Nc3
h5 {There are a lot subtleties in this endgame. Currently, this method is
Black's main path to equality. The move weakens the g5-square, but fights
against the advance of White's pawn majority on the kingside.} 11. Bf4 Be7 12.
Rad1 Be6 (12... Nh4 13. Nxh4 Bxh4 14. Ne2 Bd7 15. Rfe1 Rd8 16. Nd4 Bc8 17. c3
Rd5 18. e6 Bf6 19. exf7+ Kxf7 20. Bxc7 $14 {1-0 (64) Adams,M (2740)-Andreikin,
D (2727) Dortmund 2013}) 13. Ng5 Rh6 {Both players already had experience in
this position.} 14. Rfe1 (14. g3 Bc4 (14... Bxg5 15. Bxg5 Rg6 16. h4 (16. Bf4
Nh4 17. Kh2 Nf3+ 18. Kg2 Nh4+ {is a draw that appeared in numerous games.})
16... f6 17. exf6 gxf6 18. Bf4 Nxh4 19. f3 Rd8 20. Kf2 Rxd1 21. Nxd1 Nf5 22.
Rh1 Bxa2 23. Rxh5 Be6 24. g4 Nd6 25. Rh7 Nf7 26. Ne3 {Anand has played this
position with both colours!} Kd8 (26... b6 27. Ng2 Rg8 28. Bxc7 Rh8 29. Rxh8+
Nxh8 30. Ne3 Nf7 31. Bg3 Nh6 32. Bf4 Nf7 33. Bg3 Nh6 {1/2-1/2 (33) Anand,V 
(2803)-Giri,A (2778) London 2015}) 27. Nf5 c5 28. Ng3 Ne5 29. Rh8+ Rg8 30. Bxe5
fxe5 31. Rh5 Bxg4 32. fxg4 Rxg4 33. Rxe5 b6 $16 {1/2-1/2 (122) Carlsen,M (2863)
-Anand,V (2792) Sochi 2014}) 15. Rfe1 Rg6 16. Nce4 Rd8 17. Rxd8+ Bxd8 18. b3
Bd5 19. c4 Bxg5 20. Nxg5 Be6 21. Kg2 c5 22. Nxe6 Rxe6 $11 {1/2-1/2 (54) Adams,
M (2745)-Kramnik,V (2769) London 2014}) ({In the event of} 14. Nxe6 Rxe6 {
the kingside rook get into play quite effectively. Black experienced no
problems in several games.}) 14... Bb4 15. a3 {Vladimir doesn't mind ruining
his structure on the queenside.} (15. g4 hxg4 16. hxg4 Ne7 17. Nxe6 Rxe6 18.
Kg2 Bxc3 19. bxc3 Rd8 $11 {1/2-1/2 (45) Vachier Lagrave,M (2791)-Karjakin,S 
(2773) Saint Louis 2017}) (15. Bd2 Rd8 16. Nce4 Bxd2 17. Rxd2 Rxd2 18. Nxd2 Bc8
19. f4 c5 20. Kf2 Ke7 $11 {1/2-1/2 (26) Dunlop,G (2578)-Stalmach,K (2557) GER
email 2016}) 15... Bxc3 16. bxc3 Ne7 17. Nf3 Rh8 18. Bg5 $146 {Kramnik made
this move instantly, clearly still in his preparation.} (18. Nd4 a6 19. Bg5 c5
20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. c4 Rd8 22. Rxd8+ Kxd8 $11 {0-1 (50) Yu,Y (2724)-Malakhov,V 
(2706) China 2015}) 18... c5 {After long meditation Karjakin reacts in a most
logical way - covering the d4-square.} (18... Nd5 {was a decent alternative.
The black knight can jump all over the queenside.} 19. c4 Nb6 20. c5 Na4 21.
Be3 Nc3 22. Rd4 Rd8 23. Bd2 Rxd4 24. Nxd4 Nb5 {and Black should equalise.}) 19.
Nd2 Kf8 {In general Black has two major problems in the Berlin endgame: 1) He
can't castle; 2) He has to deal with White's pawn majority on the kingside.}
20. Nf1 Nf5 21. g3 Ne7 22. Kg2 {Kramnik spent a lot of time on this move.} (22.
Ne3 Bxh3 23. Bxe7+ Kxe7 24. Nd5+ Kf8 25. Nxc7 Rc8 26. e6 {doesn't yield White
more than equality.} fxe6 (26... Bxe6 $2 27. Nxe6+ fxe6 28. Rd7 $16) 27. Nxe6+
Bxe6 28. Rxe6 Kf7 $11) 22... Nd5 23. c4 $1 (23. Bd2 $2 {is too passive and
would clearly indicate a failure of White's plan.}) 23... Nb6 24. Ne3 Nxc4 25.
Nxc4 (25. Nd5 c6 (25... Nb2 26. Nxc7 Nxd1 27. Nxa8 Nc3 28. Nc7 $14) 26. Nc7 Rb8
27. Nxe6+ fxe6 28. Rd7 Kg8 29. Re4 Nxa3 30. Be7 b6 31. Rxa7 Nxc2 32. Bd6 Kh7 $1
33. Bxb8 Rxb8 $13) 25... Bxc4 {Black has even won a pawn, but still he is the
one fighting for equality. His forces are not well coordinated and his extra
pawn on the queenside is not so significant.} 26. g4 ({Doubling the rooks
along the d-file is not so effective:} 26. Rd7 Rc8 27. Red1 Kg8 $11) 26... hxg4
27. hxg4 Bb5 28. Kg3 Re8 $6 (28... Ba4 $1 29. Rd2 (29. f4 Bxc2 30. Rd7 Rc8 31.
f5 Kg8 32. e6 fxe6 33. fxe6 Ba4 34. Rd5 Bc6 35. Rxc5 Rh1 $1 $11 {An exchange
of one pair of rooks will reduce White's attacking potential.}) 29... Kg8 30.
f4 Re8 {[%cal Gf7f6]} 31. f5 f6 32. Bf4 g6 $1 33. e6 gxf5 34. gxf5 Rh7 {
and Black should hold this one.}) 29. f4 $6 (29. Bd8 $1 {was a nice way to
level the number of pawns.} Ba4 30. Bxc7 Kg8 31. Rd2 {and then White can
continue his plan of pushing forward his kingside pawns. This means that Black
will suffer for nothing.}) 29... b6 $6 (29... Ba4 $1 {Surprisingly, the Pc2
can't be defended in a satisfactory way.} 30. f5 (30. Re2 $2 f6 {is a problem
for White.}) 30... Kg8 (30... Bxc2 $2 31. Rd7 $16) 31. e6 (31. Rd2 {transposes
to the line mentioned after 28...Ba4.}) 31... fxe6 32. fxe6 Bxc2 33. Rd7 Ba4
34. Rxc7 Bc6 {Black is passive, but White can't improve his position. The
bishop on c6 is very stable, also emphasizing the downside of the move 29...b6.
}) 30. f5 $6 (30. Bd8 $1 {was again a good chance for Vladimir.} Ba4 31. Bxc7
Rh6 (31... Bxc2 32. Rd7 Kg8 33. Bd6 {is also clearly better for White. His
rook has got to seventh rank, which is a serious achievement.}) 32. Rd2 Bxc2 $5
(32... Kg8 33. f5 Bc6 34. g5 Rh1 35. Rxh1 Bxh1 36. Kf4 $16) 33. g5 (33. Rxc2 $2
Rc6 {trapping the bishop.} 34. Bd6+ $2 Rxd6 $17 {[%cal Ge8e1]}) 33... Rc6 34.
Bd6+ Kg8 35. Kg4 $16) 30... Ba4 31. Rc1 (31. e6 f6 32. Bf4 Rc8 33. g5 Bxc2 34.
Rd7 Bxf5 35. Bxc7 Re8 36. gxf6 gxf6 37. Rf7+ Kg8 38. Rxf6 Rxe6 $1 39. Rexe6
Rh3+ 40. Kf4 Bxe6 41. Rxe6 Kf7 {and on the next move Black will capture
White's last pawn.}) (31. Rd2 f6 32. Bf4 fxe5 33. Rxe5 Kf7 $11) 31... Kg8 32.
c4 Bc6 33. Rcd1 Ba4 34. Rc1 Bc6 35. Bh4 Ba4 36. Rc3 Bc6 37. Rce3 Rh6 {White is
sort of dominating, but can't break through.} 38. Bg5 ({After} 38. g5 Rh5 {
the white bishop looks ridiculous.}) 38... Rh7 39. R3e2 Ba4 40. Re3 Rh8 41. Bh4
Rh6 42. e6 {There is no other sensible idea, but it leads to simplifications.}
fxe6 43. g5 Rh8 44. Rxe6 Rf8 45. R6e5 Bc2 46. f6 (46. Kg4 $2 Bxf5+ $1 47. Rxf5
Rxh4+ 48. Kxh4 Rxf5 $17) 46... gxf6 47. gxf6 Rh7 48. Rg5+ Kh8 49. Re7 Rg8 50.
Rxh7+ Kxh7 51. Rxg8 Kxg8 {Now it's a drawish opposite coloured bishops ending.}
52. Kf2 Bb3 53. Bg3 Bxc4 54. Bxc7 Bd5 55. Bb8 {[%mdl 4096]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2018.03.12"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2794"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[Annotator "Kramnik,V"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 {A surprise on the very first move. I suspected that in this tournament
overwhelmingly closed openings would be played against me. And least of all
did I expect 1.e4 in my game against Aronian. Überraschung bereits im ersten
Zug. Ich vermutete, dass man in diesem Turnier gegen mich überwiegend
geschlossene Eröffnungen spielen würde. Und am wenigsten habe ich 1.e4 in
meiner Partie gegen Aronian erwartet.} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 {In our
earlier encounters with 1.e4 played by Levon we continued into the main line
of the Berlin Defence, but without much success – all these games ended as
draws. In unseren früheren Begegnungen mit 1.e4 von Levon ging es weiter ins
Hauptabspiel der Berliner Variante, aber ohne großen Erfolg – alle diese
Partien endeten unentschieden.} Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 {I do not know for what
reasons Levon selected this variation. It is all the more difficult to
understand because he never again played 1.e4 in this tournament. He certainly
had his reasons for this, but his decision seemed somewhat strange to me. On
the other hand, if it had been justified it would have been called correct,
far-sighted, etc.  Ich weiß nicht, aus welchen Gründen Levon diese Variante
auswählte. Das ist umso schwieriger zu verstehen, weil er in diesem Turner 1.
e4 nicht mehr spielte. Bestimmt hatte er seine Gründe dafür, aber seine
Entscheidung kommt mir ziemlich seltsam vor. Andererseits, falls sie sich
gerechtfertigt hätte, würde man sie richtig, weitsichtig usw. nennen.} 6. O-O
{Such a treatment of the opening has always seemed dubious to me. Even after 3.
..a6 the exchange on c6 is not considered dangerous for Black - and in the
variation from our game White is playing free of any compulsion... It is clear
to me that this line is very prevalent in practice and contains some
subtleties, but I will never be able to believe that by playing like this
White can lay claim to an opening advantage. Naturally in today's theory many
variations have been analysed all the way to a draw, so that one feels the
desire to deviate at some point and simply "play chess", but in concrete terms
here White has, in my opinion, absolutely no preconditions for even a minimal
advantage and with my classical chess education I cannot take this variation
seriously. For that reason, moreover, I have also lost some games in this line;
on the other hand, not a few of them ended in a win for me. Solche
Eröffnungsbehandlung schien mir immer fraglich zu sein. Sogar nach 3...a6
gilt der Tausch auf c6 als ungefährlich für Schwarz – und in der Variante
aus unserer Partie spielt Weiß so ganz ohne Zwang... Mir ist klar, dass
dieses Abspiel in der Praxis sehr verbreitet ist und einige Feinheiten
beinhaltet, aber ich werde nie glauben können, dass Weiß bei dieser
Spielweise einen Eröffnungsvorteil für sich beanspruchen kann. Natürlich
sind in der heutigen Theorie viele Varianten bis zum Remis ausanalysiert, so
dass man den Wunsch verspürt, irgendwo abzuweichen und nur "Schach zu
spielen", aber konkret hat Weiß hier m.E. gar keine Voraussetzungen für nur
einen minimalen Vorteil und ich mit meiner klassischen Schachausbildung kann
diese Variante nicht ernstnehmen. Deswegen habe ich übrigens in diesem
Abspiel auch einige Partien verloren, andererseits endeten nicht wenige mit
meinem Gewinn.} Qe7 {There are various possibilities for Black here, but I
have often played and analysed such positions and come to the conclusion that
this queen move is very interesting. If White delays h2-h3, then Black also
holds back with the move Nf6-d7 and first develops his bishop. For example: 7.
Nbd2 Bg4 8.h3 Bh5 9.Nc4 Nd7 – in my opinion this is an ideal setup for Black,
in which he has hardly any problems.  Es gibt hier für Schwarz verschiedene
Möglichkeiten, aber ich habe solche Stellungen oft gespielt und analysiert
und kam dabei zu dem Schluss, dass dieser Damenzug sehr interessant ist. Wenn
Weiß h2-h3 zurückhält, dann hält Schwarz den Zug Nf6-d7 auch noch zurück
und entwickelt zuerst seinen Läufer. Zum Beispiel: 7.Nbd2 Bg4 8.h3 Bh5 9.Nc4
Nd7 – m. E. ist es für den Nachziehenden eine ideale Aufstellung, bei der
er gar keine Probleme hat.} 7. h3 {I analysed this variation 10 years ago,
then 7, then a few years ago – and each time something new revealed itself
to me. Of course Black can simply castle – that is not really linked to any
danger and should suffice for equality. But at some point I hit on the idea of
punishing White for the move h2-h3 and started to analyse 7...h6 with the idea
of attacking with g5-g4. For his part, White then begins with c3, d4 to play
in the centre; I found no advantage for him, and sharp and complicated
positions appear on the board.  Ich analysierte diese Variante vor zehn, dann
vor sieben, dann vor ein paar Jahren – und jedes Mal öffnete sich für mich
etwas neues. Selbstverständlich kann Schwarz einfach rochieren – das ist
mit keiner wirklichen Gefahr verbunden und sollte zum Ausgleich reichen. Aber
irgendwann kam ich auf die Idee, den Weißen für den Zug h2-h3 zu bestrafen,
und habe angefangen, 7...h6 mit der Idee des Angriffs g5-g4 zu analysieren.
Weiß beginnt seinerseits dann, mittels c3, d4 in der Mitte zu spielen; ich
habe für ihn keinen Vorteil gefunden, wobei scharfe und komplizierte
Stellungen aufs Brett kommen.} {Not that I would be dissatisfied with that,
but when I cam back to this variation a few years ago, Nicht, dass ich damit
unzufrieden wäre, aber als ich vor ein paar Jahren zu dieser Variante wieder
zurückkehrte, hat sich etwa als fünfter Computerzug...} Rg8 $1 {...had
appeared as something like the fifth computer move (today's engines award it
first or second place in their list of priorities). I thought about this and
understood that although this continuation looks absurd at first glance, it
makes perfect sense: Black will save a tempo. On further investigation it
became clear to me that it is simply the "refutation" of White's whole system.
After g7-g5 this pawn must not be taken under any circumstances, because Black
then quickly obtains a mating attack. But even if White allows the opposing
g-pawn to survive, Black pre-empts White with his threats – White's play in
the centre is too late. I cannot say whether at that time I went into the
position very deeply: Black was standing so well everywhere that I could not
believe that I would ever meet the line in practice, though if I did – then
in any case it is wonderful to get such a position. I did not go through the
relevant variations in my preparation for the game against Aronian (as I said,
I certainly wasn't expecting him to play 1.e4) and had almost nothing ready
after 7...Rg8. Moreover, when I re-opened my earlier notes after the game I
established that I had not written much at all about it.  ...blicken lassen 
(die heutigen Engines geben ihm in ihrer Prioritätenliste den ersten oder den
zweiten Platz). Ich habe mir darüber Gedanken gemacht und verstanden, dass
obwohl diese Fortsetzung auf den ersten Blick absurd aussieht, sie durchaus
sinnvoll ist: Schwarz will ein Tempo sparen. Bei der weiteren Untersuchung ist
mir klar geworden, dass es einfach die "Widerlegung" des ganzen weißen
Systems ist. Nach g7-g5 darf man diesen Bauern unter keinen Umständen nehmen,
weil Schwarz dann schnell einen Mattangriff erhält. Aber auch wenn Weiß den
gegnerischen g-Bauern am Leben lässt, kommt Schwarz mit seinen Drohungen dem
Anziehenden zuvor – das weiße Spiel in der Mitte geschieht zu spät. Ich
kann nicht sagen, dass ich mich zu jener Zeit in diese Stellung sehr vertiefte:
überall stand Schwarz so gut, dass ich nicht glauben konnte, diesem Abspiel
in der Praxis irgendwann zu begegnen, wenn aber doch – dann ist es in jedem
Fall wunderbar, so eine Stellung zu bekommen. Die entsprechenden Varianten
wiederholte ich bei meiner Vorbereitung zur Partie gegen Aronian nicht (wie
gesagt, ich erwartete von ihm überhaupt kein 1.e4) und hatte nach 7...Rg8
fast nichts parat. Übrigens, als ich nach der Partie meine früheren Notizen
wieder öffnete, habe ich festgestellt, dass ich dazu gar nicht viel
aufschrieb.} 8. Kh1 {I could still remember that this is the best and
practically the only move. If White does not play it he immediately gets a
worse position. Levon took this in no way obvious decision very quickly. So
far I have not yet talked to him on this subject, so I do not know if he had
previously had a look at this variation, but could not believe the power of 7..
.Rg8, or whether he did not want to show that he was not prepared for this
line. Daran, dass dies der beste und praktisch der einzige Zug ist, konnte ich
mich noch gut erinnern. Macht ihn Weiß nicht, bekommt er sofort eine
schlechtere Stellung. Levon traf diese keinesfalls offensichtliche
Entscheidung sehr schnell. Ich habe ihn bis jetzt auf dieses Thema nicht
angesprochen, deswegen weiß ich nicht, ob er sich diese Variante früher mal
anschaute, aber an die Kraft von 7...Rg8 nicht glauben konnte, oder ob er
nicht zeigen wollte, dass er auf dieses Abspiel nicht vorbereitet war.} Nh5 $5
({At the board I could still remember that I had previously analysed Ich
konnte mich am Brett noch daran erinnern, dass ich hier früher} 8... h6 {
here. After the game I established that I had then even somewhat preferred it
over 8...Nh5. A modern computer shows the following variation: analysierte.
Nach der Partie habe ich festgestellt, dass ich ihm damals sogar etwas den
Vorzug gegenüber 8...Nh5 gab. Der moderne Computer zeigt folgende Variante:}
9. Nbd2 g5 10. Nc4 g4 11. Nfxe5 h5 {(a cold blooded attack) (kaltblütiger
Angriff)} 12. d4 Bd6 13. Re1 gxh3 {and White is still hanging on, the
evaluation is approximately "=/+". But I preferred the knight move which
appeared to be ambitious and principled. From this point on my knowledge was
clearly at an end, from then on I was acting "independently". Fortunately
there is no need to be Sherlock Holmes to deduce that if ...Nh5 was played,
the a future g5-g4 is being planned. Play after this was not very complicated.
und Weiß hält sich gerade noch, die Einschätzung ist etwa "=/+". Der
Springerzug gefiel mir aber besser, er schien ambitiös und prinzipiell zu
sein. Ab diesem Punkt waren meine Kenntnisse eindeutig zu Ende, weiter agierte
ich "selbständig". Zum Glück muss man kein Sherlock Holmes sein, um darauf
zu kommen, dass wenn ...Nh5 gezogen wurde, anschließend g5-g4 geplant ist.
Das weitere Spiel war nicht sehr kompliziert.}) 9. c3 $6 {The most natural but
unfortunate reaction. Die natürlichste, aber unglückliche Reaktion.} ({
The computer recommends Der Computer empfiehlt} 9. Nh2 {, but I do not like
this panicky continuation. Black replies , aber diese panische Fortsetzung
gefällt mir nicht. Schwarz antwortet} g6 {and prepares to castle long; his
position is simply one to dream about. und bereitet die lange Rochade vor,
seine Stellung ist einfach traumhaft.}) ({Here, in my view, Meines Erachtens
ist hier} 9. Nc3 {is the best move. As I later discovered, precisely this move
was taken into account as the main continuation in my earlier notes. The play
which follows is similar to the way the game went, but it is much better for
White to have a knight on c3 rather than a pawn: der beste Zug. Wie ich
später entdeckt habe, wurde gerade dieser Zug in meinen früheren Notizen als
Hauptfortsetzung erachtet. Das danach folgende Spiel ist analog dem Ablauf der
Partie, aber es ist für Weiß viel besser, auf c3 einen Springer anstatt
eines Bauern zu haben:} g5 10. Nxe5 g4 11. d4 Bd6 12. g3 Bxe5 13. dxe5 Qxe5 {
Here White may not have the resource Qd4 available to him, but on the other
hand his knight is already developed. After the further moves Zwar steht dem
Anziehenden hier die Ressource Qd4 nicht zur Verfügung, aber andererseits ist
sein Springer bereits entwickelt. Nach den weiteren Zügen} 14. h4 Bd7 {
the position is still more or less level, but playing it with Black is
considerably more pleasant: he will castle long and have the initiative –
White's king and light squares are weak. ist die Stellung noch mehr oder
weniger ausgeglichen, aber es ist wesentlich angenehmer, sie mit Schwarz zu
spielen: er wird lang rochieren und Initiative besitzen – der König und die
weißen Felder des Anziehenden sind schwach.}) 9... g5 10. Nxe5 ({After Auf} 
10. d4 {the move ist} exd4 ({During the game the continuation Während der
Partie schien mir auch die Fortsetzung} 10... g4 $5 11. hxg4 Bxg4 12. dxc5 Qf6
{with a subsequent activation of further reserves appeared to me to be
interesting and I took the decision to think more seriously about it if 10.d4
were actually played. Of course, the computer first thinks that "White is a
piece up", but then it begins to be less and less optimistic. I let it
calculate until it had evaluated the position as level, then I stopped the
analysis of this line. Probably 10...exd4 is stronger, but I cannot exclude
the fact that Black also has a great game after 10...g4. mit nachfolgender
Aktivierung weiterer Reserven interessant zu sein, und ich traf die
Entscheidung, darüber ernsthafter nachzudenken, falls 10.d4 tatsächlich
kommt. Der Computer meint zuerst natürlich, dass "Weiß eine Mehrfigur hat",
aber dann beginnt er immer weniger optimistisch zu sein. Ich ließ ihn solange
rechnen, bis er die Stellung als ausgeglichen eingeschätzt hatte, dann brach
ich die Analyse dieses Abspiels ab. Wahrscheinlich ist 10...exd4 doch stärker,
aber ich kann nicht ausschließen, dass Schwarz auch nach 10...g4 ein tolles
Spiel hat.}) 11. cxd4 Bb6 {(a wonderful place for the bishop) is the simplest.
Moreover, the computer can find nothing better than (ein wunderbarer Platz
für den Läufer) am einfachsten. Weiter findet der Computer nichts Besseres
als} 12. Nh2 Nf6 13. e5 Nd5 {It is irrelevant how great Black's advantage is
here – it is absolutely clear that White has lost the opening duel. Es ist
nebensächlich, wie groß hier der schwarze Vorteil ist – es ist absolut
klar, dass Weiß das Eröffnungsduell verloren hat.}) 10... g4 11. d4 {This is
obviously the only move, Offensichtlich ist dies der einzige Zug,} ({It is
even somewhat embarrassing for me to point out the variation es ist mir sogar
etwas peinlich, auf die Variante} 11. hxg4 Qh4+ 12. Kg1 Ng3 {with mate on h1.
mit Matt auf h1 hinzuweisen.}) 11... Bd6 12. g3 {Once more, the only
continuation according to the computer. Wieder die einzige Fortsetzung laut
dem Computer.} Bxe5 {I think it would not be really appropriate to criticise
this move. I took in the facts that I was facing no threats, but from a human
point of view it seems somewhat strange to be dealing with development when it
is possible to recover the material and be able to remain with an excellent
position. Es wäre, denke ich, nicht wirklich angebracht, diesen Zug zu tadeln.
Ich habe registriert, dass mir gar nichts droht, aber aus menschlicher Sicht
scheint es etwas seltsam zu sein, sich mit der Entwicklung zu beschäftigen,
wenn man das Material zurückerobern und mit einer ausgezeichneten Stellung
verbleiben kann.} ({In reality, after In Wirklichkeit aber beginnt der
Computer sich nach} 12... Be6 $1 {the computer begins to be very worried for
White. In the event of große Sorgen um Weiß zu machen. Im Falle von} 13. hxg4
$2 Bxe5 {White will soon be mated. Otherwise Black plays 0-0-0 and obtains a
powerful attack in return for the pawn. wird der Anziehende bald mattgesetzt,
ansonsten spielt Schwarz 0-0-0 und erhält für den Bauern einen gewaltigen
Angriff.}) 13. dxe5 Qxe5 14. Qd4 {The most logical continuation. Die
logischste Fortsetzung.} ({There is still the possibility of Es gibt noch die
Möglichkeit} 14. Kh2 {but it looks rather eccentric. aber sie sieht etwas
abwegig aus.}) ({And if Und falls} 14. h4 {then dann} Be6 {– the threat is
the capture on g3, when – es droht das Nehmen auf g3, wobei} 15. Kh2 {
can at least be met with zumindest mittels} Qxe4 {winning a pawn. mit
Bauerngewinn beantwortet werden kann.}) 14... Qe7 $5 {The decision, which is
characteristic of my play in Berlin. In this case the plan brought me success;
in a few other encounters it did not work, and in consequence I sometimes lost
half a point, sometime the whole point. Be that as it may, this game turned
out to be rather beautiful, which partially compensates for my losses. Die
Entscheidung, die für mein Spiel in Berlin charakteristisch ist. In diesem
Fall brachte mir diese Spielweise Erfolg; in ein paar anderen Kämpfen hatte
sie nicht funktioniert, wodurch ich mal einen halben, mal den ganzen Punkt
verlor. Wie dem auch sei, diese Partie ist ziemlich schön geworden, was meine
Einbuße zum Teil kompensiert.} ({My seconds wondered why I did not steer the
struggle into an endgame with an extra pawn: Meine Sekundanten wunderten sich,
dass ich den Kampf nicht ins Endspiel mit einem Mehrbauern überleitete:} 14...
Qxd4 15. cxd4 gxh3 16. Kh2 Be6 {Of course, I had also planned specifically
this liquidation a few moves before. Black gets in f7-f5, White exchanges on
f5, plays Nc3, Be3 and reacts to ...Nf6 with f2-f3. Of course Black has an
advantage but his win is still a long way away and in view of the bishops of
opposite colours White has chances of a draw.  During the game I got into a
"reckless mood" and after the moves ...Rg8 and ...Nh5 I felt it a pity to go
into an endgame. I noticed that after the retreat of the queen to e7 Black had
good chances of gradually developing a dangerous attack. To put it like this:
after the exchange of queens Black's advantage is objectively greater but
after 14...Qe7 it is harder for White to play. If Black is lucky, the game can
"win itself". That is what actually happened – my opponent did not manage to
find the best defence. Natürlich habe ich gerade diese Abwicklung vor ein
paar Zügen auch geplant. Schwarz setzt f7-f5 durch, der Anziehende tauscht
auf f5, spielt Nc3, Be3 und reagiert auf ...Nf6 mit f2-f3. Selbstverständlich
hat Schwarz Vorteil, aber sein Gewinn ist noch weit entfernt und wegen der
ungleichen Läufer hat Weiß Chancen auf Remis.  Im Lauf der Partie bin ich in
eine "Leichtsinnsstimmung" gekommen, und nach den Zügen ...Rg8 und ...Nh5 war
es mir bereits zu schade, ins Endspiel zu gehen. Ich habe bemerkt, dass
Schwarz nach dem Rückzug der Dame nach e7 über gute Chancen verfügt,
allmählich einen gefährlichen Angriff zu entwickeln. Sagen wir so: nach dem
Damentausch ist der Vorteil von Schwarz objektiv gesehen größer, aber nach
14...Qe7 ist es für Weiß schwieriger zu spielen. Wenn der Nachziehende
Glück hat, kann sich die Partie "von selbst" gewinnen. Eigentlich war es dann
auch so – meinem Gegner ist es nicht gelungen, sich optimal zu verteidigen.})
15. h4 {As good as forced. If Black were to get in ...gxh3, he would then not
only have a file for the attack but also have obtained an extra pawn. So gut
wie erzwungen. Wenn Schwarz zu ...gxh3 käme, hätte er dann nicht nur eine
Linie für den Angriff, sondern auch noch einen Mehrbauern bekommen.} c5 {
The idea behind this move is to transfer the bishop to c6, to castle and to
start the attack with f7-f5. The knight does not look best placed on h5, but
in the event of play on the light squares it will not be possible for White to
hold on to the pawn on e4, whilst the white king is very weak. I was of the
opinion that Black has very good prospects here.  Die Idee dieses Zuges
besteht darin, den Läufer nach c6 zu überführen, zu rochieren und mittels
f7-f5 den Angriff zu starten. Der Springer sieht auf h5 noch nicht optimal aus,
aber im Falle eines Spiels auf den weißen Feldern wird es dem Anziehenden
nicht möglich sein, den Bauern auf e4 zu behalten, während der weiße König
sehr schwach ist. Ich war der Meinung, dass Schwarz hier sehr gute
Perspektiven hat.} 16. Qc4 $2 {This is practically speaking the decisive
mistake. Das ist praktisch der entscheidende Fehler.} (16. Qd5 {would fail to
würde an} Nf6 {. scheitern,}) ({but during the game I had seen that aber noch
während der Partie hatte ich gesehen, dass} 16. Qd3 Bd7 17. c4 {is ok. It is
probably the only defensive idea here: plant the knight on d5 so that it
fulfils the role of a barrier along the long diagonal even if after geht.
Wahrscheinlich ist es die einzige Verteidigungsidee hier: den Springer auf d5
einpflanzen, so dass er die Rolle einer Barriere auf der großen Diagonale
spielt, auch wenn Schwarz nach} O-O-O 18. Nc3 Rge8 19. Re1 Bc6 20. Nd5 {
Black has without any doubt a wonderful position. zweifelsohne absolut klasse
steht.} {At the board I thought that Am Brett dachte ich, dass} Bxd5 ({I did,
e.g., consider Ich habe z.B.} 20... Qe5 {, but with precise moves the computer
can to some extent hang on: in Betracht gezogen, aber der Computer kann sich
mit genauen Zügen einigermaßen halten:} 21. Kg2 {because weil} f5 {is met
with mit} (21... b6) (21... Rd7) 22. Bg5 {, it suggests for Black to instead
simply improve his position with 21...b6 or 21...Rd7. Black is better, But
White's position is capable of being defended – thus we can understand the
evaluation of 0.5-0.6. beantwortet wird, schlägt er dem Nachziehenden vor,
stattdessen seine Position einfach mittels 21...b6 oder 21...Rd7 zu verbessern.
Schwarz steht besser, aber die weiße Lage ist verteidigungsfähig – so ist
die Einschätzung 0,5-0,6 zu verstehen.}) 21. cxd5 Nf6 22. Bg5 Nxe4 $5 {
was strong, but the computer starts to demonstrate some wonderful balancing
acts: stark ist, aber der Computer beginnt, Wunder der Equilibristik zu
demonstrieren:} 23. Kg1 $1 f6 24. Bf4 {with various tactical resources which
allow White to save the game. mit verschiedenen taktischen Ressourcen, die dem
Anziehenden erlauben, die Partie zu retten.} ({not nicht} 24. Bxf6 Qxf6 25.
Rxe4 Qf5 26. Rae1 h5 {and after the fall of the d5-pawn White is losing. und
nach dem Fall des Bauern d5 steht Weiß auf Verlust.})) {I suppose that Levon
did not particularly like all that and he found another, in itself very
cunning, defensive option. He is planning Bg5, because Black will not now have
the reply f7-f6. Ich vermute, dass Levon das alles nicht besonders gefiel, und
er hat eine andere, an sich recht listige Verteidigungsoption gefunden. Er
plant Bg5, weil Schwarz nun die Antwort f7-f6 nicht haben wird.} 16... Be6 17.
Qb5+ c6 18. Qa4 {And now Black deprives his bishop of the c6-square, so that
it cannot get on to the long diagonal. In addition Black cannot castle because
then the a7-pawn is hanging. As I understand things, that was Aronian's idea
and it would not be a bad one if the specific details did not reduce it to
nothing.. Und jetzt nahm Schwarz seinem Läufer das Feld c6, so dass er auf
die große Diagonale nicht kommt. Außerdem kann der Nachziehende nicht
rochieren, weil dann der Bauer a7 hängt. Wie ich verstehe, darin bestand
Aronians Idee, und sie wäre gar nicht schlecht, wenn die konkreten Details
sie nicht zunichtemachen würden.} ({18.Qa4 could be regarded as the final
mistake, but 18.Qa4 könnte man als den letzten Fehler betrachten, aber} 18.
Qe2 f5 19. Bg5 Rxg5 20. hxg5 f4 {would not help either – that would only be
a slightly better version of what happened in the game. würde auch nicht
helfen – das wäre nur eine etwas bessere Version davor, was später in der
Partie passierte.}) ({The computer recommends Der Computer empfiehlt} 18. Qd3 {
, but firstly, that does not fit in with White's last two moves and secondly
his situation would have remained terrible even then: , aber erstens passt das
mit den zwei letzten Zügen des Anziehenden nicht zusammen und zweitens wäre
seine Lage auch dann schrecklich geblieben:} Rd8 19. Qe3 (19. Qe2 f5) 19... Bc4
20. Rg1 (20. Re1 Rd3 21. Qh6 Qe5) 20... Rg6 21. Qe1 Bd3 {and White has major
strategic, tactical and soon material problems. However, he would not lose
immediately. und Weiß hat große strategische, taktische und bald auch
materielle Probleme. Jedoch würde er dabei nicht sofort verlieren.}) 18... f5
$1 {This is a typical idea, but Levon overlooked it or did not notice in time
its tactical justification – 19.exf5 Nxg3+!.  While he was thinking about
his next move, I wondered what I would do in his place and suddenly I
understood that White's position was absolutely hopeless. I was even amazed at
how bad everything was for him. The computer also recognises that – if it is
allowed some time, it gives roughly "-4" here. It was clear to me that the
business was all over, but in a situation in which all ways appear to lead to
Rome, it is also possible to make the wrong choice. So I used a lot of time
for the rest of the game in order to check over several times even the
simplest variations and not to do anything stupid – I have previously had
sufficient negative experiences in this area. But fundamentally after f5-f4
Black's attack develops on its own. Das ist eine typische Idee, aber Levon hat
sie übersehen oder ihre taktische Begründung – 19.exf5 Nxg3+! – nicht
rechtzeitig bemerkt.  Während er sich seinen nächsten Zug überlegte, habe
ich mich gefragt, was ich an seiner Stelle unternehmen würde, und plötzlich
habe ich verstanden, dass Weiß absolut hoffnungslos steht. Ich habe mich
sogar gewundert, wie schlecht das alles für ihn ist. Der Computer begreift
das auch – wenn man ihm etwas Zeit gibt, schreibt er hier etwa "-4". Mir war
klar, dass die Sache eigentlich gelaufen war, aber in einer Situation, in der
alle Wege nach Rom zu führen scheinen, kann man auch eine falsche Wahl
treffen. Deshalb habe ich für den Rest Partie viel Zeit verbraucht, um die
einfachsten Varianten mehrmals zu überprüfen und keine Dummheit zu machen
– negative Erfahrungen in diesem Sinne habe ich früher ausreichend
gesammelt. Aber im Grunde genommen entwickelt sich der schwarze Angriff nach
f5-f4 von selbst.} 19. Bg5 (19. exf5 Nxg3+ $1 20. fxg3 Bd5+ 21. Kg1 Qe2 22. Rf2
Qe1+ {with mate. mit Matt.}) 19... Rxg5 {This move can hardly be considered a
sacrifice.  Als ein Opfer darf man diesen Zug kaum betrachten.} 20. hxg5 f4 {
White has no counterplay and is simply mated. Weiß hat kein Gegenspiel und
wird einfach mattgesetzt.} 21. Qd1 Rd8 {Of course 21...fxg3 also wins.
Natürlich gewinnt auch 21...fxg3.} 22. Qc1 fxg3 23. Na3 Rd3 $1 {I suppose
that there were simpler ways, but I decided to bring the rook closer to the
main theatre of action. It later turned out that this is the computer's first
continuation.  Ich vermutete, dass es einfachere Wege gab, aber entschloss
mich, den Turm dem Hauptschauplatz näher zu bringen. Es hat sich später
herausgestellt, dass es die erste Fortsetzung des Computers ist.} 24. Rd1 Bd5
$1 {The only way to duff up such a position is by letting oneself be lulled to
sleep by the plethora of available options. So eine Stellung kann man nur dann
kaputtmachen, wenn man sich von der Menge der zur Verfügung stehenden
Möglichkeiten einlullen lässt.} ({It was clear to me that after Mir war klar,
dass Schwarz nach} 24... Rxd1+ 25. Qxd1 gxf2 {Black has an absolutely won
position.  On the other hand, some of the variations arising after 24...Bd5
were so beautiful that I felt the urge to finish the game in style. And so at
this point I spent my time above all not on uncomplicated calculations but on
an inner battle with myself: "That is beautiful! / But why do you need to play
it? Be a professional, take on d1 and f2 and win the game." In the end the
artist had the upper hand. eine absolut gewonnene Position hat.  Andererseits
waren einige nach 24...Bd5 entstehenden Varianten so schön, dass ich die Lust
verspürte, die Partie stilvoll zu beenden. Und so verbrauchte ich an dieser
Stelle meine Zeit in erster Linie nicht für unkomplizierte Rechenarbeit,
sondern für den inneren Kampf mit mir selbst: "Das ist doch schön!/Aber wozu
brauchst du das? Sei ein Profi, nimm auf d1 und f2 und gewinne die Partie." Im
Endeffekt bekam der Künstler die Oberhand.}) 25. f3 ({When looking at the
variation Beim Anschauen der Variante} 25. exd5 Qe4+ 26. Kg1 gxf2+ {for
safety's sake I calculated it out to mate, which was not particularly
difficult. rechnete ich sicherheitshalber bis zum Matt, was nicht besonders
schwierig war.}) 25... gxf3 26. exd5 ({I had been hoping for Ich hatte auf} 26.
Rxd3 {: gehofft:} Qxe4 $1 {of course I wanted to take with the queen, although
26...Bxe4 would also be more than sufficient: natürlich wollte ich mit der
Dame nehmen, obwohl 26...Bxe4 auch mehr als ausreichen würde:} 27. Re3 f2+ 28.
Rxe4+ Bxe4# {, but that would have been somewhat too masochistic of Levon.  In
the final position Black is down by a queen and an exchange. I found it a pity
that the knight is still there on h5. It was even more impressive without it.
When I discovered this variation I could no longer resist the wish to play 24..
.Bd5. , aber das wäre von Levon etwas zu masochistisch gewesen.  In der
Endposition hat Schwarz eine Dame und eine Qualität weniger. Ich fand es
schade, dass der Springer h5 noch vorhanden ist, ohne ihn wäre es noch
beeindruckender. Als ich diese Variante entdeckte, konnte ich dem Wunsch, 24...
Bd5 zu spielen, nicht mehr widerstehen.}) 26... Qe2 {This too I checked over
some five times – in the end the queen is really pinned. Auch das habe ich
etwa fünf Mal überprüft – schließlich wird die Dame doch gefesselt.} 27.
Re1 ({Or Oder} 27. Qc2 g2+ 28. Kh2 g1=Q+ 29. Kxg1 f2+ 30. Kh2 {and here the
simplest is und am einfachsten ist hier} Rh3+ $1 31. Kxh3 Qf3+ 32. Kh4 Qg3+ 33.
Kxh5 Qh3# {Again very beautiful. Wieder sehr schön.}) 27... g2+ {White
resigned. Weiß gab auf.} (27... g2+ 28. Kh2 ({After Nach} 28. Kg1 {the number
of black queens increases. erhöht sich die Anzahl der schwarzen Damen:} f2+
29. Kxg2 (29. Kh2 g1=Q+ 30. Rxg1 f1=Q+) 29... f1=Q# {a rare mating pattern.
Taking on e1 would also be mate, but I would have chosen the double check.
eine seltene Mattkonstruktion; das Nehmen auf e1 wäre auch Matt, aber ich
hätte das Doppelschach gewählt.}) 28... g1=Q+ 29. Kxg1 f2+ 30. Kh1 Rh3+ 31.
Kg2 f1=Q# {This game pleased both experts and spectators. All in all it is not
complicated, but impressive and the plan with ...Rg8 is rather "fresh" and
unexpected. It brought me aesthetic enjoyment, though all that glitters is not
gold: the game I won against Levon with White is more interesting and more
complex, so that I rate it higher from the point of view of the art of chess.
But I understand that the struggle we have just analysed looks very
spectacular and thus is not really such a usual occurrence in supertournaments
- that is why it attracted so much attention. Experten und Zuschauern hat
diese Partie gefallen. Sie ist im großen und Ganzen nicht kompliziert, aber
effektvoll, und das Konzept mit ...Rg8 ist ziemlich "frisch" und unerwartet.
Mir brachte sie einen ästhetischen Genuss, obwohl nicht alles Gold ist, was
glänzt: die Partie, die ich gegen Levon mit Weiß gewann, ist interessanter
und komplexer, so dass ich sie aus der Sicht der Schachkunst höher
einschätze. Aber ich verstehe, dass der von uns gerade analysierter Kampf
sehr spektakulär aussieht und somit für die Superturniere nicht gerade
gewöhnlich ist - daher so viel Aufsehen.}) 0-1

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2018.03.14"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[Annotator "Postny,E"]
[PlyCount "132"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Qe2 {The majority of games end
in an uneventful draw after this move. The current game happened to be a big
exception.} (5. d4) ({and} 5. Nc3 {are more ambitious lines.}) 5... Qe7 6. Nc3
{This is a relatively rare way to handle this boring variation. Normally 6.d3
follows automatically.} ({The following game was played in the same event a
few rounds later:} 6. d3 Nf6 7. Nc3 Qxe2+ 8. Bxe2 g6 9. Bg5 Bg7 10. O-O-O O-O
11. Rhe1 h6 12. Bh4 Nc6 $11 {1/2-1/2 (65) So,W (2799)-Caruana,F (2784) Berlin
2018}) 6... Nxc3 7. dxc3 Qxe2+ 8. Bxe2 Nc6 9. Be3 Be7 {It's clear that the
position is completely equal. However, if both players do not agree to a draw
and continue playing, then anything can happen.} 10. O-O-O O-O {Castling on
opposite sides usually hints at a sharp battle, when the queens are on the
board. Here the queens are off, so not too much excitement. Yet.} 11. Rhe1 (11.
Rhg1 a6 12. g4 Re8 13. h4 Be6 14. Ng5 Bd7 15. Kb1 $6 Ne5 {White already has to
fight for equality.} 16. h5 Bb5 17. Bxb5 axb5 $15 {1/2-1/2 (31) Artemiev,V 
(2697)-Khalifman,A (2614) Moscow 2018}) 11... Bf6 12. Nd2 {[%cal Gd2e4]} Re8
13. Bf3 Ne5 14. Bf4 Kf8 15. Bd5 (15. Be4 h6 $11) 15... c6 16. Bb3 Bf5 17. h3 (
17. f3 h6 18. g4 Bh7 $11) 17... g5 {This pawn will have a glorious career!} 18.
Bh2 Kg7 19. c4 $6 {Kramnik wanted to prevent the advance d6-d5, but his choice
by itself looks quite ugly to me.} (19. f4 gxf4 20. Bxf4 h5 $11 {Black has
good bishops near the king and his slight defects in the pawn structure are
not really noticeable.}) 19... g4 $1 20. Ne4 Bxe4 21. Rxe4 Bg5+ 22. Kb1 gxh3
23. c5 $2 {Consequent, but objectively bad.} (23. f4 $2 Ng4 $17 {[%csl Rh2]}) (
23. gxh3 f5 24. Ree1 (24. Bxe5+ dxe5 25. Rd7+ Kf6 26. Re1 e4 $17) 24... Nf3 25.
Rxe8 Rxe8 26. Bxd6 Re2 $15) 23... f5 $1 ({Less precise is} 23... hxg2 $6 {
because after} 24. cxd6 Nf3 {White has the move} 25. Rg4) 24. Rb4 hxg2 {
Now the g4-square is not available for the white rook. So, he has to grab
everything he can on the queenside.} 25. Rxb7+ Kh8 26. cxd6 Nf3 27. Ba4 $1 (27.
Bg1 $2 Re2 {simply loses, so White has to give the bishop.}) 27... Nxh2 28.
Bxc6 Rad8 $1 (28... Re4 $6 {is spectacular, but less effective in view of} 29.
Rg1 (29. Bxe4 $2 {falls into Black's idea:} fxe4 30. Rg1 e3 $1 31. Rxg2 e2 32.
Rg1 Nf1 {and the pawn queens.})) 29. d7 Re2 30. Bxg2 Rxf2 31. Bc6 Ng4 {So,
Caruana is up a piece for a couple of pawns, but the position remains sharp
and in a mutual time-scramble anything can happen.} (31... Nf1 {was another
way to get the knight to e3.}) 32. Rxa7 (32. c4 Ne3 33. Rg1 Be7 {should be
winning for Black, though not at all easy, of course.}) 32... Ne3 33. Rg1 h6 $2
{Wasting an important tempi in a sharp position. The bishop is not hanging due
to the weakness of White's back rank.} (33... Rxc2 $1 34. Ba4 (34. Rc7 Bf6 $19)
34... Rf2 $19) 34. Rc7 $1 {[%cal Gc7c8]} Kg7 $6 (34... Kh7 $1 35. Bb5 $17 (35.
a4 $2 Rxc2 36. Rc8 Bf6 $19 {Compared to 34...Kg7, here the bishop is not
pinned and can move.})) 35. a4 {Now the engine already shows the evaluation of
0.00, but for a human player it gives very little information. The game is on
for all three possible results.} Kf7 (35... Rxc2 36. Rc8 Rxc6 37. Rxd8 Rd6 38.
Re8 Ng4 39. Rf1 $11) 36. Bb5 (36. a5 Rxc2 37. a6 Ke7 38. a7 Rxc6 39. Rxc6 Kxd7
40. Rgc1 Ra8 41. Rc7+ Ke6 42. R1c6+ Ke5 $11) 36... Ke7 $6 ({The race between
the passed pawns is very exciting:} 36... f4 $6 37. a5 f3 38. Rg3 $1 Nf1 39.
Rxg5 $1 hxg5 40. Rc8 Rxd7 $1 (40... Ke7 $2 41. Rxd8 Kxd8 42. a6 {[%csl Ga6]
the pawn is unstoppable}) 41. Bxd7 Re2 42. a6 f2 43. Bh3 (43. a7 $2 Nd2+ 44.
Ka2 f1=Q 45. a8=Q Qb1+ 46. Ka3 Qa1+ 47. Kb4 Qxb2+ $19) 43... Nd2+ 44. Ka2 Re7
45. Rd8 {and White seems to be on top.}) (36... Nd5 {was the safest way to
force some simplifications.} 37. Rc8 Nb6 38. Rxd8 Bxd8 39. a5 Nxd7 40. Bxd7
Bxa5 $11) 37. a5 Rf4 {[%cal Gf4b4]} 38. c3 $1 Kd6 $6 {Fabiano is eager to
bring his king into play, but actually it only makes things worse for him.} (
38... Rg4 {was preferable. It should be met by} 39. Rh1 $1) 39. Rb7 $6 (39.
Rc6+ $1 {would be a nice geometrical trick by the rook.} Ke7 40. a6 Rxd7 41.
Rc8 Ra7 42. Re8+ Kf6 43. Rxe3 $18) 39... Rg4 40. Re1 f4 41. a6 h5 (41... f3 42.
a7 f2 43. Rxe3 Bxe3 44. Rb8 {Black is up a rook, but it is not sure if he can
save even half a point. White's passed pawns are too strong.} Rg1+ 45. Kc2 (45.
Ka2 $4 Rxd7 46. a8=Q Ra7+) 45... Rg2 46. Bf1 Bxa7 47. Rxd8 Rg7 48. Bb5 f1=Q 49.
Bxf1 Rxd7 $16) 42. a7 {If somebody cares about the evaluation of the position,
then I can tell that currently White is winning. But the race is getting more
and more exciting.} Ra8 43. b4 (43. c4 $1 h4 44. c5+ {Underlining again why it
was better to keep the king away from the fire.} Kxc5 45. Rc1+ Kd6 46. Rc8 Rxa7
47. Rxa7 $18) 43... h4 44. c4 $2 ({White could win a rook and be an exchange
up after} 44. d8=Q+ Bxd8 45. Rd7+ Ke5 46. Bc6 Rxa7 47. Rxa7 $16) (44. Kb2 h3
45. Kb3 {bringing the king into play, to support the passed pawns was also a
sound idea.}) 44... h3 45. c5+ ({Again it was possible to grab the rook after} 
45. d8=Q+ $1 Bxd8 46. Rd7+ Ke5 47. Bc6 Rxa7 48. Rxa7 {though it's already less
effective than on the previous move.}) 45... Ke5 46. Rb8 (46. c6 h2 47. c7 Rg1
{Absolutely spectacular!} 48. Bc6 $1 Rxe1+ 49. Ka2 Nd5 $1 50. Bxd5 Kxd5 51.
c8=Q h1=Q (51... Re2+ 52. Kb3 Re3+ 53. Ka4 h1=Q 54. Qc5+ Ke6 55. Rb6+ Kxd7 56.
Qd6+ Ke8 57. Qg6+ Kd7 $11) 52. Rb5+ Kd4 53. Qc5+ Kd3 54. Qd6+ Ke2 55. Re5+ Kf3
56. Qd3+ Kg4 57. Qf5+ $11) (46. Be2 Rg3 47. c6 h2 48. Bf3 $1 Rg1 49. Rc1 Ng2 $1
50. c7 Rxc1+ 51. Kxc1 h1=Q+ 52. Kb2 Qf1 53. c8=Q Qf2+ 54. Kb1 Qf1+ {with a
perpetual check.}) 46... Rxa7 47. Rg8 Bf6 $1 48. d8=Q $8 ({To Kramnik's horror,
after} 48. Rxg4 $2 Kf5 {[%cal Ga7a1] his king is suddenly in a mating net!} 49.
Rxe3 fxe3 $19 {[%cal Gh3h2]}) 48... Bxd8 49. Rxg4 Bf6 50. Rg6 $8 Rb7 51. Be2
Rxb4+ 52. Ka2 {White has won the exchange, but lost most of his passed pawns.
The position is now balanced.} Nc2 $6 (52... Be7 53. c6 Ra4+ 54. Kb1 Rb4+ $11)
53. Rc1 Nd4 54. Bd3 $6 (54. Bg4 $1 {[%csl Rf6][%cal Gc1e1] would force Black
to fight for a draw. His bishop is clumsy for the moment.}) 54... Ra4+ 55. Kb1
$6 (55. Kb2 $1 {was more precise, though at first sight it doesn't seem
logical to put the king on the long diagonal facing the black bishop.} Ke6 56.
Rh1 $11) 55... Nb3 $1 56. Re1+ Kd5 57. Kc2 (57. Rxf6 Ra1+ 58. Kb2 Rxe1 59. Kxb3
h2 60. Bc4+ Kxc5 61. Rf5+ Kd4 (61... Kd6 62. Bd5 f3 63. Bxf3 Re3+ 64. Kc2 Rxf3
65. Rh5 Rf2+ 66. Kd3 $11 {[%cal Gd3e3]}) 62. Rxf4+ Ke3 63. Rh4 $11) 57... Nd4+
58. Kb1 $6 (58. Kc1 $1 Nf3 (58... Be5 59. Rh6 $11) 59. Rd1 Ra1+ 60. Bb1+ {
Compared to the game White has this important move.}) 58... Nf3 59. Rd1 $2 {
The losing move. It's a pity that Vladimir collapsed under pressure.} ({After} 
59. Rxf6 $1 Nxe1 60. Bf1 h2 61. Rh6 {White could still save the day.}) 59...
Ra1+ 60. Kc2 Rxd1 61. Ba6 (61. Kxd1 h2 62. Rh6 Bh4 $19) 61... Rd2+ 62. Kc1 Bb2+
63. Kb1 Kxc5 64. Bb7 Ne5 65. Rf6 f3 66. Rf5 f2 {A dramatic end for this highly
turbulent game. This game had a great impact on the whole tournament. Kramnik
collapsed in the following rounds, while Caruana gained confidence and
eventually won the event, earning the right to challenge Carlsen in the world
championship match!} 0-1

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2018.03.15"]
[Round "5"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8.
cxd4 Bb4+ {The pseudo-Grunfeld lines are always a little bit difficult for
both sides to play, but when played correctly they are level.} 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10.
Qxd2 O-O 11. Bc4 (11. Rc1 $5 {is a nice subtlety, the point being that Bd3 is
good against ...Nd7 but less so against ...Nc6. Here, Black has to commit
first.} b6 12. Bd3 $32) 11... Nd7 12. O-O b6 13. Rad1 Bb7 14. Rfe1 Rc8 15. Bb3
{We have arrived at a tabiya.} Re8 {Not a novelty, but a sign of preparation
nevertheless.} (15... Qf6 {is the most common move - the idea is just to play
down the long diagonal with ...Qg6, intending maybe ...f5 under certain
circumstances, and ...Nf6 under others.} 16. d5 $5 {To my mind this is the
only move worth being afraid of.} (16. Qe3 Rfd8 $11 {Wang,Y-Li,C China 201,
isn't too troublesome,}) 16... Nc5 17. Nd4 Rfd8 (17... e5 18. Nf5 $1 Nxe4 19.
Nh6+ $1 Qxh6 20. Qxh6 gxh6 21. Rxe4 Rfd8 22. f4 $1 $16 {Ruck,R-Korpa,B
Zalakaros 2015}) 18. f4 $5 exd5 19. e5 Qe7 20. Nf5 $44) (15... h6 $5 {is one
other move which makes total sense - against White's Qf4 Black will be able to
play ...Qf6 with tempo.}) 16. h3 Nf6 17. Qf4 Nh5 18. Qe5 Nf6 19. Qf4 Nh5 20.
Qh2 h6 21. d5 (21. Ne5 $5 {could actually be a better try for an edge.
Depending on circumstances, White intends either Nc4-d6 or f4-f5.} Qd6 (21...
Nf6 22. Qf4 Qc7 23. h4 $36) 22. Ng4 (22. f4 Rc3 {drums up too much counterplay}
) 22... Qxh2+ 23. Kxh2 Kf8 $11 {White still has his space, and I think the odd
dance of the knights at the edge of the board can only be to his benefit.})
21... exd5 22. exd5 (22. e5 $5 {was a remarkable idea suggested on chess24.
Black has to be quite careful his knight doesn't end up trapped.} g6 23. Nd4
Qd7 $1 {Black needs to blockade on e6.} (23... a6 {is too slow:} 24. Re3 {
followed by e6 gives White really good compensation.}) 24. g4 Ng7 25. Qf4 Kh7
26. Qf6 Rc7 $1 $15 {Next Black comes to e6. It can't be stopped.}) 22... Rxe1+
23. Nxe1 Qf6 24. Nd3 Ba6 {Right here the feeling was that Black was doing well,
but a bit of sober computer-aided analysis indicates otherwise.} 25. Qe5 $1
Bxd3 26. Qxh5 (26. Qxf6 Nxf6 27. Rxd3 Kf8 $1 $15 {is a nasty squeeze.}) 26...
Bc2 (26... Qf5 27. Qg4 Qxg4 28. hxg4 Bc4 $11 {is safer.}) 27. Rc1 (27. Qg4 $5 {
requires some accurate play to defuse:} Qf5 (27... Bf5 28. Qf4 $14) 28. Rc1 $5
Qxg4 29. hxg4 Bf5 $1 30. Re1 $1 Bxg4 31. Re7 Kf8 $1 32. Rxa7 Bd1 $3 $11) 27...
Bf5 28. Rxc8+ (28. Rc6 $5 {might just give White a tiny something:} Qa1+ (28...
Rxc6 29. dxc6 g6 30. Qf3 $14) 29. Kh2 Qe5+ 30. g3 Rd8 $1 31. d6 $5 $36 {
and Black will have to play some very precise chess to neutralise all the
tricks.}) 28... Bxc8 29. d6 g5 {At this point, I realised that it was Kramnik
pressing for the win, based on the purist's definition of a better bishop!} 30.
Qd1 Bd7 31. Qd5 Kg7 32. Qb7 Qa1+ 33. Kh2 Qe5+ 34. Kg1 Qxd6 35. Qxa7 h5 36. Qb7
h4 37. Qf3 Qe7 38. Qc3+ f6 {Black has completed his mission and can install
his queen on e5 in various ways to pretend that he's pressing.} 39. Qc4 Qe8 40.
Qb4 b5 41. a3 Qe5 42. Bd1 Bc6 43. Bf3 Be8 44. Kf1 Bf7 45. Be2 Be8 46. Bf3 f5 {
This was the only real try in the position - Black is going to try and arrange
...g4 by fair means or otherwise.} 47. Kg1 Bf7 48. Qd2 Kg6 49. Qc1 Be6 50. Qc6
Kf6 51. Qe8 (51. Qb6) 51... Qa1+ 52. Kh2 Qxa3 53. Qd8+ $1 (53. Qxb5 g4 $1 {
was the point of all the maneouvring. Now Black is at least posing some
questions to his opponent, e.g.} 54. hxg4 fxg4 55. Be2 g3+ 56. Kg1 Qa1+ 57. Bf1
Qd4 $15 {although it will be impossible to ever win against reasonable play.})
53... Qe7 54. Qh8+ Qg7 55. Qd8+ Kg6 56. Qe8+ Qf7 57. Qxb5 Qc7+ {Here Kramnik
offered a draw, having stretched the limits of human endurance in terms of how
long he tried to conjure something out of thin air. Alternatively, maybe the
patch of paint behind Wesley's head had finally finished drying.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2018.03.16"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 Nxd5 {When Fischer took the Semi-Tarrasch
into his repertoire, he also experimented with this anti-Karlsbad move order.
It could lead to a transposition to the Semi-Tarrasch, but also lead to
independent play, as in this game.} 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 c5 7. Rb1 ({Deviating
from his previous win over Kramnik after} 7. Nf3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+
10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Rc1 b6 12. Bd3 Bb7 13. O-O h6 {Mamedyarov,S (2756)-Kramnik,V 
(2783) Shamkir 2015 CBM 166 [Krasenkow,M] (1-0, 76), featuring a complicated
battle.}) {The last move bears some optical similarity to the Grünfeld 8.Rb1
system, but the main idea is different. The rook prevents an early ...Bb4+
forcing the exchange of bishops, while in the Grünfeld it just removes the
queen from the bishop's range. In both cases, the rook also puts some pressure
on b7 but the move itself delays White's kingside development.} 7... Be7 8.
Bb5+ $5 {Forcing Black to deviate from the most natural way of developing,
based on ...Nc6 and ...Bb7.} ({There have been a few recent high level games
with the more neutral} 8. Nf3 O-O 9. Bc4 Nc6 (9... Qc7 {Matlakov,M (2728)
-Aronian,L (2799) Tbilisi 2017 CBM 181 [Krasenkow,M] (1-0, 27)}) 10. O-O b6 11.
Bf4 (11. d5 {Svidler,P (2749)-Hou,Y (2666) Geneva 2017 CBM 180 [Roiz,M] (1-0,
31)}) 11... Bb7 {Svidler,P (2755)-Radjabov,T (2710) Moscow 2017 CBM 179 
[Krasenkow,M] (½-½, 31)}) 8... Bd7 {Kramnik decides to keep the possibility
of ...Nc6, with pressure on d4. Even though d7 is in principle not the best
square for the bishop, after the enemy bishop's retreat it will count as a
whole tempo in the race for development.} (8... Nd7 {is aimed at keeping Black;
s play more flexible but the overall impression is that his position remains
more passive. Here is a brilliant attacking example.} 9. a4 O-O 10. Nf3 Nf6 (
10... b6 {would have two main drawbacks. It would expose the queenside to
a4-a5 and face the knight with the risk of being left out of play after e4-e5.
But the game manoeuvre is time consuming and will allow White develop his
initiative in the centre.}) 11. Bd3 Qa5 12. Bd2 Qc7 13. O-O Bd7 14. Re1 $14
Rad8 $2 {A natural developing move, which... immediately puts Black in a
critical position.} (14... cxd4 {opens the c-file for White, offering him
strong queenside pressure.} 15. cxd4 Rad8 16. a5 $16) ({With hindsight, it was
essential to take the d5-square under control with} 14... Bc6 $14) 15. e5 Nd5
16. c4 Nb4 17. Bxb4 cxb4 18. d5 $16 {WHite has a crushing space advantage and
unsurprisingly the next move will allow him to start a thematic attack.} Bc5
19. Bxh7+ $1 {This classical sacrifrice is a rare guest in modern high level
tournaments.} Kxh7 20. Ng5+ Kh6 21. Qg4 exd5 22. Qh4+ Kg6 23. Qh7+ Kxg5 24.
Qxg7+ Kh5 25. g4+ Bxg4 26. Qh7+ Kg5 27. h4+ Kf4 28. Qh6+ {1-0 Wojtaszek,R 
(2716)-Naiditsch,A (2706) Trzcianka 2014} Kf3 29. Rb3+ {and mates next.}) 9.
Bd3 (9. Bxd7+ {frees Black's position and speeds up his development.} Nxd7 {
Now that Bxh7+ is not available anymore this looks correct.} 10. Rxb7 cxd4 11.
cxd4 Nb6 {Nepomniachtchi,I (2751)-Hou,Y (2652) Moscow 2017 (0-1, 60) Black
soon had to sacrifice the exchange on e7, but Black managed to defend.}) ({
This will eventually cause a new tempo loss, but} 9. Be2 {runs into} Bc6 {
forcing the unnatural} 10. Bf3 {when Black has several ways of developing his
initiative, for instance} cxd4 11. cxd4 Qa5+ 12. Bd2 Qa6 13. Ne2 Bb5 $132) 9...
cxd4 10. cxd4 Nc6 {Black keeps developing as White does not have the time to
take on b7 due to his hanging (more important) pawn on d4.} 11. Be2 $5 $146 {
Defending the bishop and keeping it safe from the knight's attack, but just
throwing away another tempo.} (11. Nf3 {allows Black more or less ot force the
exchange of bishops with} Nb4 12. O-O (12. Be2 {wastes a tempo and places the
bishop on a vulnerable square:} Nxa2 13. Bd2 a5 {Ensuring the knight's retreat.
} 14. Rxb7 Qc8 15. Rb2 Nc3 {exchanging one of the bishops with excellent play.}
) 12... O-O (12... Nxa2 {is dangerous now.} 13. Bd2 a5 14. Rxb7 Qc8 {First of
all, ...Nc3 is not a problem for White in the event of a rook retreat anymore
and secondly} 15. Rxd7 Qxd7 16. d5 {is likely to offer him dangerous
initiative for the exchange.}) 13. Ne5 Be8 14. Be3 Rc8 15. a3 Nxd3 16. Qxd3 f6
17. Nf3 Bc6 $15 {Poghosyan,S (2256)-Harutyunian,T (2520) Yerevan 2017 (0-1, 27)
with excellent play for Black due to his strong bishops and good control in
the centre.}) 11... Rc8 12. Nf3 {White finally tries catching up in
development, but Black can start the typical semi Tarrasch simplification plan
already.} (12. Rxb7 $2 Nxd4 $1 $17) 12... Qa5+ 13. Bd2 Bb4 14. Rb2 ({In one of
the semi-Tarrasch lines with similar black queenside play White reacts with} 
14. d5 {but here Black is a couple of tempi up and his bishop stands well on
d7, neutralising the central pawn. For instance} exd5 15. exd5 Bxd2+ 16. Qxd2
Qxd2+ 17. Kxd2 Na5 18. Rhc1 Ke7 $11) 14... Bxd2+ 15. Qxd2 Qxd2+ 16. Kxd2 Na5
$11 {The game has reached a typical Grünfeld/Semi-Tarrasch ending. WHite has
more space but after exchanging two minor pieces Black has comfortable
development. In the long run, he can count on using his queenside majority and
the weak c4-square.} 17. Rbb1 {Preparing to start the fight for the c-file.} (
17. Ne5 f6 18. Nxd7 Kxd7 {would just help Black complete his development.})
17... Ke7 18. Rhc1 f6 {Restricting the enemy knight and taking measures
against the potential plan e4-e5 followed by a knight transfer to d6. This is
actually the start of a phase in which both sides will be concerned with
gaining space and control on both wings. Logically so, since breaks in the
centre are likely to favour the opponent.} 19. h4 Rhd8 20. Bd3 a6 21. Ke3 b5
22. g4 {Among others, an anticipation of ...Be8-h5.} Be8 {Black has completed
his global regrouping harmoniously. True to his (not always objective)
optimism displayed at the Candidates, Kramnik already thought he should start
playing for a win.} 23. Ng1 {White also has ambitions. The knight retreat
clears the path for the f-pawn, allowing a massive pawn attack and prepares to
block the c4-pawn with Ne2-c3 after ...Nc4+ followed by exchanges on c4.} Nc6 {
Planning to attack d4 with all available forces.} ({Due to the relative
weakness of the f4-square} 23... e5 $11 {comes strongly into consideration.
Whatever White does Black gets good control on the dark squares. For hidden
tactical reasons, Kramnik's plan fails to cross Mamedyarov's intentions.}) ({
But} 23... Nc4+ $2 {would justify White's last move after} 24. Bxc4 Rxc4 25.
Rxc4 bxc4 26. Ne2 $16 {[%cal Ge2c3]}) 24. Ne2 Rd6 25. Rd1 $6 {Prematurely
switching to defence.} ({True,} 25. a4 {is ineffective due to} bxa4 26. Bxa6
Ra8 27. Bb7 Ra7 {(Kramnik) when the passed a-pawn ensures Black at least equal
play.}) ({But White should have continued his attack with} 25. f4 $1 {since}
Rcd8 $6 {is ineffective because of} 26. Rc5 $3 $16 {Taking the d5-square under
control. White plans to increase his space advantage with h4-h5 and e4-e5 and
the tactical point is that} Nxd4 $6 {loses material to} (26... Kf8 {makes the
threat ...Nxd4 real and the point behind White's last move is revealed after}
27. e5 $1 {forcing Black to release the pressure on d4.}) 27. Rc7+ Kf8 28. e5
Rd5 29. Be4 $16) 25... Rcd8 26. Bc2 Na5 27. Bd3 Nc6 28. Bc2 $11 h5 $5 {The
same optimistic approach. For the time being Kramnik stays within the limits
of tolerable risk.} 29. g5 fxg5 (29... Na5 $11 {, returning to the move
repetition plan was still possible.}) 30. e5 R6d7 31. hxg5 {White's space
advantage has turned even more impressive but Kramnik had put (too) big hopes
into his passed pawn.} h4 $4 {Showing a complete loss of objectivity. Where is
this pawn going to all by itself?} ({Once again} 31... Na5 {would have ensured
the equality as White's avoiding the repetition would offer Black counterplay:}
32. f3 Nc4+ 33. Kf2 Rc7 34. Bd3 Bc6 $132 {threatening ...Rf8.}) 32. g6 $2 {
Strategically a desirable move, but concretely an inaccuracy, allowing Black
one more chance to return onto the right path.} ({Since Black is not
threatening much, White should have eliminated once and for all the
counterplay around the c4-square with:} 32. Rbc1 $1 Na5 ({Or if} 32... h3 33.
Bb3 {Black's lack of space prevents him from keeping the pressure on d4, so
after} Na5 34. Rh1 {he simply loses the daring pawn.}) 33. Bd3 Bh5 34. f3)
32... Na5 $1 ({Kramnik thought} 32... h3 {would offer better chances "for an
advantage" but delaying the queenside counterplay once again dooms the h-pawn:}
33. Rbc1 h2 34. f4 $16 {Now that g6 is attacked, White needs to clear the
c-file with Be4, but first he has to prevent ...Nxe5.} h1=Q {fails to bring
any relief:} 35. Rxh1 Nxd4 36. Nxd4 Rxd4 37. f5 exf5 38. Bxf5 $18 {with a
decisive attack based on Rc7+ and Rh8/h7.}) 33. Rbc1 {It is Mamedyarov who
does not agree to a draw, but the position remains balanced.} Rc7 ({If} 33...
Nc4+ 34. Kf4 {the king is safe as Black cannot play ...Rf8 soon.}) 34. Bd3 Rdc8
$2 (34... Nc4+ $6 35. Bxc4 Rxc4 36. Rxc4 bxc4 37. Rh1 Bxg6 38. Rxh4 $14 {
[%cal Ge2c3] offers White the more pleasant play.}) ({From the wide range of
lines suggested by Kramnik as ways to prove an advantage, the best chance 
(actually mainly for... equality) was} 34... Rxc1 35. Rxc1 Bc6 36. Be4 (36. Nf4
{is safer:} Rh8 37. Bf1 Nc4+ 38. Bxc4 bxc4 39. Rxc4 Kd7 $11 {with adequate
compensation for the pawn.}) 36... Nc4+ 37. Rxc4 {Actually the analysis was
abruptly interrupted here as Kramnik switched to something different.} bxc4 38.
Bxc6 h3 39. Nc3 h2 $15 {The rook is at least as strong as the minor pieces,
since the black passers need permanent surveillance and d4 is hanging.}) 35.
Rxc7+ Rxc7 36. Rh1 Nc4+ 37. Kf4 $18 {White wins a pawn and keeps his huge
space advantage.} Nb2 ({Kramnik put the blame for his loss on an optical
illusion. When entering this line he initially thought his rook would be on c8
so after} 37... Bc6 38. Rxh4 {38...Rf8+ he would have got the initiative. But
Mamedyarov rightly pointed out that even in such a hypothetical case White
would retain a big advantage with 39.Kg5 Rxf2 40.Nf4, protecting the king
against checks and threatening Rh7.}) 38. Be4 b4 39. Rxh4 Nd1 40. f3 (40. Rh7
$18 Kd8 41. Kf3 {[%cal Ge2f4]}) 40... Nc3 41. Nxc3 bxc3 42. Rh2 $5 {A patient
move, neutralising Black's chances for counterplay.} (42. Rh7 Kd8 43. Bc2 Rb7
44. Rh8 Ke7 45. Ke3 Rb2 46. Be4 Rg2 $132 {Mamedyarov}) 42... Rc8 43. Ke3 Bb5
44. f4 Bc4 45. Rh7 Rg8 46. a3 ({The post mortem concluded that the thematic} 
46. d5 {would be premature as it offered Black saving chances after} exd5 47.
Bc2 Ke6 48. Kd4 Rf8 49. f5+ Rxf5 50. Bxf5+ Kxf5 {but White wins with} 51. Rh2 {
since} Kxg6 52. Rf2 {leaves the king cut off from the e-pawn.}) 46... a5 (46...
Bb3 47. Kd3 $18) 47. Bc2 (47. d5 $1 $18) 47... Kd7 48. d5 $5 {Clearing the
king's path.} ({But the simple} 48. Ke4 {planning Rc3 is at least as effective
as it does not give away the d-pawn.}) 48... Bxd5 49. Kd4 Ba2 50. Kxc3 Kc6 51.
Rh2 Kc5 {Black has achieved some counterplay, but due to White's huge space
advantage it will not be enough to save the game.} 52. Rd2 Rh8 {Making the
third rank check a first priority.} (52... Rf8 53. Rd7 Rxf4 54. Rxg7 $18) 53.
Rd7 Rh3+ 54. Kb2 Bd5 55. Rxg7 Kd4 (55... Rg3 56. Rd7 Kd4 57. g7 Rg2 58. a4 $3 {
A subtle move preparing the decisive f4-f5.} ({The post mortem went} 58. f5
Kxe5 59. fxe6 Bxe6 60. Re7 {concluding that White wins due to the threat Rxe6+
followed by g8Q and Bb3+, but} a4 $3 $11 {prevents Bb3, saving the game.})) 56.
Rh7 Rg3 57. Rh5 Rg2 58. Rg5 Rf2 59. g7 Be4 60. g8=Q Rxc2+ 61. Kb3 {Black's
perfect coordination does not compensate for the huge material disadvantage,
of course.} Rc3+ 62. Ka4 Rc5 63. Rg2 Bf3 64. Qd8+ 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2018.03.18"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A26"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[Annotator "Yermolinsky,A"]
[PlyCount "147"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d3 g6 5. g3 Bg7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O d6 8. b3 $5
Nd4 (8... e4 9. dxe4 Nxe4 10. Nxe4 Bxa1 11. Bg5 f6 12. Bh6 {favours White.}) 9.
Nd2 c6 10. e3 Ne6 11. Bb2 Nc5 12. Qc2 a5 13. Rae1 Re8 14. h3 Bf5 $5 15. e4 Bd7
16. Ne2 b5 17. d4 exd4 18. Nxd4 {With his trademark deceptive opening play
Kramnik has achieved a favourable structure. The only piece of the puzzle
missing from this picture is his Nd2 that should have really been on c3 to
prevent the d6-d5 idea.} Rc8 19. N4f3 $6 ({An attempt to maintain control with
} 19. Re3 {could be met with} d5 20. e5 Nfe4 21. f4 f6) 19... d5 $1 {[#]
Seeing how solid Ding has been in this tournament so far, we may forget he's
an accomplished Kings Indian player!} 20. exd5 Rxe1 21. Rxe1 cxd5 {It looks
logical to open the c-file for Rc8 against the white queen.} ({However, the
immediate} 21... Bf5 22. Qd1 Nd3 {was even stronger. White then would be
facing a grim defensive task, down the exchange, as} 23. Bxf6 Bxf6 24. Rf1 {
is simply unbearable.}) 22. cxb5 {Now at least White has the favourable pawn
structure which should help him to survive when he goes down material.} Bf5 23.
Qd1 Nd3 24. Bd4 Rc1 25. Qxc1 Nxc1 26. Rxc1 Ne4 27. Nf1 Bxd4 $2 {Ding misses
his chance.} ({Instead,} 27... Bd7 $1 {would have set up a great tactical shot:
} 28. a4 ({Likely White would have to grovel for a draw after} 28. Bxg7 Kxg7
29. N3d2 Nxd2 30. Nxd2) 28... Bxd4 29. Nxd4 Nxf2 $1 30. Kxf2 Qf6+ {winning the
rook in the event of both} 31. Ke3 ({and} 31. Nf3 Qb2+) 31... Qg5+) 28. Nxd4
Qb6 29. Bxe4 $1 dxe4 30. Nxf5 gxf5 31. a4 {Objectively this is a dead draw.}
Qe6 32. Ne3 Qxb3 33. Rc4 h5 34. h4 Kh7 35. Kg2 f6 36. Rd4 Kg6 37. Rc4 Kf7 38.
Kh2 Kg6 39. Kg1 Qb1+ 40. Kg2 Qb3 41. Rd4 Kf7 42. Rd5 Qxa4 43. Rxf5 Kg6 44. b6
Qb3 45. Rxa5 Qxb6 46. Rd5 Qb2 47. Rf5 Qa2 48. Rc5 Qe2 49. Rc4 Qa2 50. Rb4 Qa5
51. Rb8 Qa2 52. Rd8 Qa5 53. Rd5 Qa2 54. Rf5 Qe6 55. Rd5 Qa6 56. g4 {True to
his uncompromising approach to this tournament Kramnik keeps on pushing for a
win. This time there's enough safety margin in the position for him to get
away with that.} hxg4 57. h5+ Kf7 58. Rd7+ Ke6 59. Rg7 Qe2 60. h6 Qf3+ 61. Kg1
g3 62. Rxg3 Qh5 63. Rg7 f5 ({Of course,} 63... Qxh6 $4 {would seem to be a
gross blunder since the queen is lost after} 64. Re7+ Kxe7 65. Nf5+ Ke6 66.
Nxh6 {What is funny is that White still can't win after} f5 $1 {The reason is
that the knight is trapped.} 67. Kf1 Kf6 68. Kg2 f4 $1 {is the correct
continuation.} ({The tempting} 68... Kg6 {would actually lose after} 69. Ng8
Kf7 70. Kg3 $1 {and the black pawns will fall and White will have the
opposition to boot.}) 69. Ng4+ Kf5 70. Nh2 Ke5 71. Kf1 Kf5 72. Ke2 Kg5 73. Nf1
Kf5 {and White cannot progress. The minute White tries to free his knight with}
74. Nd2 e3 {instantly draws.}) 64. h7 f4 65. Ng4 Qh3 66. Rg6+ Kf5 67. Rg7 Ke6
68. Rg6+ Kf5 69. Nh6+ Kxg6 70. h8=Q Qxh6 71. Qe8+ Kf5 72. Qb5+ Kg4 73. Qe2+ Kf5
74. Qb5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2018.03.19"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D26"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "181"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nf3 c5 5. e3 dxc4 6. Bxc4 a6 7. Bb3 b5 8. e4 {
A rare continuation instead of the common} (8. O-O) 8... cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bb7 (9...
Nbd7 $5 10. O-O Bb7 (10... Bc5 $5) 11. Bxe6 $5 fxe6 12. Nxe6 Qb6 13. Nd5 {
1-0 (31) Rasmussen,K (2437)-Matthiesen,A (2282) Aarhus 2003} Bxd5 14. exd5 Kf7
{and White has yet to prove his compensation for the sacrificed piece.}) 10. e5
$146 {[%mdl 8]} (10. O-O {leads to a well-known theoretical position usually
arising from another move order (8.0-0 Bb7 9.e4 cxd4 10.Nxd4).}) 10... Ne4 (
10... Nfd7 11. Bxe6 $1 Nxe5 $1 (11... fxe6 12. Nxe6 Qc8 13. O-O $40) 12. O-O
Bc5 13. Bd5 Bxd5 14. Nf5 O-O 15. Nxd5 {is quite dangerous for Black.}) ({
As well as} 10... Bc5 11. Nxe6 $1 Qxd1+ 12. Nxd1 fxe6 13. exf6 gxf6 14. Bxe6)
11. O-O (11. Nxe4 Bxe4 12. O-O {looks more appropriate as White can make use
of the c-file, e.g.} Nc6 13. Nxc6 Qxd1 14. Rxd1 Bxc6 15. Be3 Be7 16. Rac1 Rc8
17. Rc2 $14 {[%cal Yd1c1]}) 11... Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. a4 Bc5 {Black decides
to sacrifice a pawn (hoping that White's extra c3-pawn will be insignificant)
but complete his development, which would be a problem if he played} (13... b4
14. a5 $1 $36) ({or} 13... Nxd4 14. cxd4 b4 15. a5 $36) 14. axb5 axb5 (14...
Nxd4 $2 15. cxd4 Bxd4 16. Ra4 Bxe5 17. Qh5 {(Chesspro.ru)}) 15. Rxa8 Bxa8 16.
Nxb5 O-O {[%mdl 512]} ({In the event of} 16... Nxe5 17. Qxd8+ Kxd8 18. Bg5+ f6
19. Be3 Bxe3 20. fxe3 Ke7 21. Ra1 {Black needs to work a while to equalise.})
17. Qxd8 Rxd8 18. Bf4 h6 19. h4 Ne7 $14 {Here, too, Black should be careful
although a draw is highly likely.} 20. Rd1 (20. Ra1 Bc6 21. Nd6 Rb8 $132) 20...
Rb8 21. Bc4 Bc6 22. Nd4 Be4 23. h5 Nd5 24. Bxd5 Bxd5 25. Be3 Rc8 26. Re1 Bc4
27. Nf3 Ba3 28. Bd4 Bd3 29. Nd2 Bb2 30. Nf1 (30. Re3 $142 Bf5 31. Nf1 $14)
30... Rc4 (30... Ba6 $5 {[%cal Rb2c3]} 31. Re3 Bc1 $132) 31. Re3 Bf5 $6 (31...
Bxc3 32. Bxc3 Rxc3 {leads to a draw as White is unable to make use of the pin,
e.g.} 33. f4 (33. Kh2 Rc1) 33... Kf8 34. g4 Ke7 35. f5 Ra3 36. Rf3 {and now
even} f6 $11) 32. Ng3 Bh7 33. Kh2 Bc1 34. Re2 Bf4 35. Kh3 Ra4 36. Kg4 Bc1 $6 {
It is more logical to go for an endgame with opposite-coloured bishops. Black
will not get such an opportunity anymore:} (36... Bxg3 37. Kxg3 Bf5 {[%cal
Yg7g6]}) 37. Kf3 $16 Bd3 38. Re1 Bb2 39. Ke3 Bc2 40. Kd2 Bb3 41. Rb1 Ra2 42.
Kd3 Ba4 43. Ne4 Ba3 44. Ke3 Bc2 45. Re1 Bb3 46. g4 Bd5 47. Kd3 Be7 48. Rb1 Ra8
49. f4 Bh4 50. Rh1 Bd8 51. Rb1 Bc7 52. Ke3 Kh7 53. Nd6 Kg8 ({Of course,} 53...
Bxd6 54. exd6 {when White gets another passed pawn, the outlook is poor for
Black despite the opposite-coloured bishops.}) 54. Rb5 Bc6 55. Rb4 Bd8 56. Bb6
Bh4 57. Bd4 Bg2 58. Rb2 Bc6 59. Rb6 Bg2 60. Rb2 Bc6 61. Rb3 Bg3 62. c4 Bh2 63.
f5 exf5 64. Nxf5 $6 {A strange decision giving Black good drawing chances.} (
64. gxf5 $142 {[%csl Ge5,Gf5]} f6 65. Rb6 $16) 64... Kh7 65. Bb2 Re8 66. Nd6
Re7 67. Rb8 f6 $1 68. Rc8 (68. Nf5 Re6) 68... Bh1 $2 (68... Bd7 69. Rc7 fxe5 {
looks ugly but in fact, White can't make progress here. If} 70. c5 (70. Ne4
Bf4+ 71. Kf2 Rf7 72. Nd6 e4 $1) {then} 70... e4 {[%cal Yh2g1]}) 69. Nf5 Rb7 (
69... Re6 {doesn't work anymore:} 70. Nh4 $5 {[%cal Rh4g6]} (70. Rc7 {is
strong, too}) 70... Ra6 (70... Bxe5 71. Ng6 Bxb2+ 72. Kf2 Bd4+ 73. Kg3 Re3+ 74.
Kh4 $18) (70... Bc6 71. Ng6 $18) (70... Rc6 71. Rxc6 Bxc6 72. exf6 $18) (70...
fxe5 71. Ng6 Rxg6 72. hxg6+ Kxg6 73. c5 $18) 71. Ng6 Ra8 72. Rxa8 Bg1+ (72...
Bxa8 73. Kf2 $5 {[%csl Rh2]}) 73. Ke2 Bxa8 74. exf6 gxf6 75. Bxf6 {and White
should win.}) 70. exf6 $2 (70. e6 $1 Rb3+ 71. Bc3 $1 Rxc3+ 72. Kd2 $18) 70...
Rb3+ 71. Bc3 gxf6 (71... Rxc3+ $4 72. Kd4 $18 {[%cal Rd4c3,Rf6g7]}) 72. Kd2
Bf4+ 73. Kc2 Rb8 74. Rxb8 Bxb8 {[%mdl 4096]} 75. Ne7 (75. Bxf6 Bf3) 75... Be4+
$6 (75... Bf3 $142 76. Nd5 Be5 $5 77. Bxe5 fxe5 78. Kd2 ({or} 78. Kd3 Kg7 79.
Ne3 Kf6 80. c5 Kg5 {(Chesspro.ru)}) 78... Kg7 79. Ne3 Kf6 80. c5 Kg5 81. Ke1
Kf4 82. Kf2 Bb7 {- White can't make any progress.}) 76. Kd2 Bf4+ $2 {The way
to a draw was not easy anymore:} (76... Bf3 $1 77. Nd5 Kg7 $3 78. Nxf6 (78.
Bxf6+ Kf7 79. g5 hxg5 80. h6 Kg6) 78... Bf4+ 79. Ke1 Bg3+ 80. Kf1 Kf7 {[%cal
Rg3h4]} 81. g5 hxg5 82. h6 Bf4 $1 {(this bishop must be protected in view of a
possible discovered check)} 83. Kf2 Bb7 84. h7 Kg7 $11) 77. Ke2 Kg7 78. Nf5+
Kf7 79. Bd2 $1 $18 {White wins a second pawn and the game.} Be5 80. Bxh6 Ke6
81. Be3 Bxf5 82. gxf5+ Kxf5 83. h6 Kg6 84. c5 f5 85. Kf3 Kf7 86. Bf4 Bd4 87. c6
Ke7 88. c7 Kd7 89. h7 Kc8 90. Ke2 Kd7 91. Kd3 (91. Kd3 Bf6 92. Kc4 {[%cal
Yc4d5,Yf4e5]}) 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2018.03.20"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 c5 7. Rb1 Be7 8.
Nf3 O-O 9. h4 $5 $146 {According to Karjakin, this move was suggested by one
of his seconds, Riazantsev, during their training before the tournament. It
was not intended specially for Kramnik and he would have used it against
anybody if given the occasion. Confronted with the opening surprise, but not
under immediate threat, Kramnik reacted logically by increasing the pressure
in the centre.} cxd4 10. cxd4 Nc6 ({If} 10... b6 11. h5 h6 {The most
consequent continuation would be} 12. Rh3 ({White does not seem to have the
time to set up the battery along the b1-h7 diagonal:} 12. Bd3 Nc6 13. Be3 Bb7)
12... Bb7 13. Rg3 Kh8 14. Bd3 Nd7 ({Black has to deviate from the most active
way of developing} 14... Nc6 {as after} 15. Qd2 {the threat Rxg7 with a
decisive attack more or less forces the passive and unappealing} Rg8 $14) 15.
e5 {with reasonable attacking chances, while the black knight has no good
squares.}) 11. h5 ({In a game played a few weeks later White deviated with} 11.
Bc4 e5 $6 (11... b6 $5) 12. d5 Na5 13. Be2 Bd6 {Van Wely,L (2663)-Bindrich,F 
(2598) Germany 2018 (½-½, 34)} 14. Bg5 $5 f6 15. Bd2 $14) 11... f5 $6 {
Karjakin did not expect this premature reaction in the centre, at a moment
when Black is incompletely developed and with the threat h5-h6 in the air.} (
11... h6 {looks safer. If} 12. Rh3 {Black could already consider the game plan
as in the meanwhile he had stabilised the kingside at least:} f5 (12... e5 $6 {
allows a promising exchange sacrifice:} 13. d5 Bxh3 14. dxc6 {followed by cxb7
soon.}) 13. exf5 Qa5+ 14. Bd2 Qxf5 15. Rb5 e5 {with excelent counterplay.}) 12.
exf5 $1 {The most principled answer.} (12. e5 b6 {would offer Black chances to
stabilise the centre.}) 12... Qa5+ 13. Bd2 Qxf5 14. Bc3 h6 {It is clear now
that Black's plan was premature. If he has to play this move anyway, it would
have been better to start with it, of course.} ({Against} 14... Qg4 {Karjakin
was planning} 15. Be2 $1 $16 {[%cal Ge1f1] The only move offering an advantage.
WHite plans Kf1 and if} Qxg2 $2 16. Rg1 Qh3 17. d5 $18) (14... b6 {does not
improve Black's development too much:} 15. Bd3 Qf4 16. Qe2 $16 {and the
weakness on e6 causes Black problems.}) (14... Qe4+ 15. Be2 e5 $5 (15... b6 16.
O-O Bb7 17. Re1 $16) 16. O-O exd4 17. Nxd4 Nxd4 18. Qxd4 Qxd4 19. Bxd4 $16 {
The position has simplified but White's advance in development and kingside
space advantage offer White the clearly better play.}) (14... e5 {may still
have been best, even though after} 15. Bc4+ (15. dxe5 Qe4+ 16. Be2 Be6 {
offers Black rapid development and good compensation.}) 15... Kh8 16. h6 $14 {
Black experiences problems along the long diagonal.}) 15. Bd3 Qg4 16. Kf1 e5 {
Not the best moment for this pawn break, but Black's position was difficult
already.} (16... b6 17. Qe2 Bd7 18. Rh3 $16) 17. d5 $1 {The best move,
refuting Black's whole opening play. But things are turning exciting now.} (17.
dxe5 Be6 {once again offers Black reasonable play for the pawn.}) 17... e4 (
17... Nd4 $2 {loses to} 18. Nxe5 Qf4 (18... Qxd1+ 19. Rxd1 {leaves Black
passive, with a pawn less and a hanging knight.}) 19. Bxd4 $18 {Winning a
piece and defending f2.} Qxd4 $6 20. Bh7+ $1) 18. dxc6 exf3 19. gxf3 Rxf3 $6 {
Objectively insufficient but for practical reasons the best chance.} ({If} 
19... Qxf3 20. Qxf3 Rxf3 21. Ke2 Rxd3 22. Kxd3 Bf5+ 23. Ke2 bxc6 (23... Bxb1 $2
24. cxb7 $18) 24. Rb7 Re8 25. Kd1 {Black's weak seventh rank prevents him from
proving compensation for the exchange.}) 20. Be2 {After a basically aggressive
plan, Karjakin starts playing defensively after having won material.} ({
But objectively} 20. cxb7 {could have ended the game quicker, needing just a
bit of accurate calculating:} Bxb7 21. Qb3+ Kh8 22. Qxb7 Raf8 23. Qxe7 Rxf2+
24. Ke1 {[%cal Ge7g7] Due to the threat Qxg7+ returning one of the bishops for
repelling the attack, Black is left without resources.}) 20... Rxf2+ {The only
way of keeping the game on. Black's problem is that he has invested a lot of
material already and his development is incomplete yet. Besides, he has to
waste a tempo on ...bxc6. True, White's king is exposed, but with a rook up he
should manage to protect His Majesty.} ({After} 20... Rh3 $5 {Karjakin
indicated} 21. Rg1 {, the most convincing, but not only winning move.}) 21.
Kxf2 Bc5+ 22. Kf1 Qf4+ 23. Bf3 bxc6 24. Be1 $3 {Paradoxically, this seemingly
passive move, releasing the pressure on g7, is the only winning continuation.
The main idea is to cover the g-file with Bg3.} (24. Rb3 Ba6+ 25. Kg2 Qg5+ 26.
Bg4 Rd8 27. Qf3 Bc4 $11 {with a probable draw by perpetual.}) 24... Be6 {
Karjakin called Kramnik's play in time trouble "creative".} ({The idea behind
White's last move is obvious after} 24... Ba6+ 25. Kg2 Qg5+ 26. Bg3 $18) 25.
Bh4 $5 {[%csl Gd8]} ({Defending d8, as Karjakin was not entirely sure about
the line} 25. Kg2 Qg5+ 26. Bg3 Rd8 27. Qxd8+ Qxd8 28. Rb8 Bc8 29. Bg4 Qg5 30.
Rxc8+ Kh7 {Actually} 31. Be6 {yields White a winning attack with extra
material.}) 25... Rf8 26. Kg2 Kh8 $5 {Another original move, preparing ...Bd5.
But with a rook down the slow mode is not likely to work.} 27. Rc1 (27. Bg3 {
was also strong.} Qg5 {[%cal Gf8f3,Ge6d5]} 28. Re1 $3 ({Karjakin suggested} 28.
Qc1 {but Black saves the day with} Bd5 29. Rf1 Rxf3 30. Rxf3 Bxf3+ 31. Kxf3
Qxh5+ {with a perpetual.}) 28... Bd5 29. Re5 $1 Bxf3+ 30. Qxf3 Qd2+ 31. Qe2 $18
) 27... Rf5 28. Rc3 ({Only not} 28. Bg3 $2 Rg5 $19) 28... Rd5 $5 {Sacrificing
even more material.} ({Karjakin expected} 28... Bd4 29. Rxc6 (29. Rd3 {is
simpler from a practical point of view although somewhat passive.}) 29... Rg5+
30. Bxg5 Qxg5+ 31. Kf1 Bh3+ 32. Ke1 Qg3+ 33. Kd2 Qf4+ 34. Kc2 Bf5+ 35. Kb3 Qe3+
36. Ka4 {and after the king has escaped White can convert his huge material
advantage at his leisure.}) 29. Bxd5 Bxd5+ 30. Rf3 Qg4+ 31. Bg3 Bd6 32. Rh3 $1
{Another only move but an obvious one. White needs to defend g3.} Be7 ({
This can be explained by the fact that a neutral move such as} 32... a5 {
could be answered with} 33. Kh2 $1 {[%cal Gg3d6] leaving the d6-bishop hanging.
}) 33. Qe2 Be4 34. Qf2 a5 35. a4 $5 ({In principle White's plan is based on
recycling his rook via h1, but Karjakin did not want to check the result of
the pawn race after} 35. Rh1 Bc5 36. Rh4 Qxh4 37. Bxh4 Bxf2 38. Kxf2 Bxf3 39.
Kxf3 g6 {(+-) His game move simply gains a tempo for this case.}) 35... c5 36.
Rh1 {The rest is simple.} Bf6 37. Re1 Bc6 38. Ree3 c4 39. Qe2 Qxh5 40. Qxc4 Bd7
41. Rd3 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2018.03.22"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C50"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2794"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 {Recently the Italian has been successfully
employed by Kramnik on the highest level. In particular, Carlsen, Anand and
Radjabov were defeated in great style.} Bc5 4. Nc3 {This time Vladimir takes
the game into relatively unexplored territory.} Nf6 5. d3 a6 {This natural
move is only Black's 4th choice according to statisctics. It is always vital
to secure the bishop's retreat.} ({All} 5... d6) (5... O-O) ({and} 5... h6 {
are equally good.}) 6. Nd5 Nxd5 {The centralised knight should be liquidated
sooner or later.} ({Black can also afford to waste another tempo for
prophylaxis:} 6... h6 7. O-O (7. Be3 d6 8. c3 Bxe3 9. fxe3 Nxd5 10. Bxd5 Ne7
11. Bb3 O-O 12. O-O Ng6 $11 {Nikitenko,M - Kovalev,V Minsk 2015}) 7... d6 8. c3
O-O 9. Be3 Bxe3 10. fxe3 Na5 11. Nxf6+ Qxf6 $11 {Fedoseev,V - Mamedyarov,S
Sochi RUS 2017}) 7. Bxd5 {White reasonably prefers not to lock in the
light-squared bishop} (7. exd5 Nd4 8. Nxd4 Bxd4 9. c3 Bc5 10. O-O O-O {is
absolutely fine for Black.}) 7... d6 $146 {This innovation doesn't change the
assessment of position - it's equal.} ({The previously played} 7... O-O {
might lead to sharper play:} 8. Bg5 Be7 9. Be3 (9. h4 d6 10. Qd2 Bg4 $132 {
Benda,H - Kilgus,G Austria 2007}) 9... d6 10. O-O Kh8 11. c3 f5 $132) 8. Be3 {
This move is aimed at opening up the f-file.} (8. c3 Qf6 9. O-O Ba7 10. h3 h6
11. Be3 O-O 12. Bxa7 Rxa7 $11) 8... Bxe3 9. fxe3 O-O 10. O-O Nb8 $1 {Levon
manages to find an excellent plan - the knight is heading to f6, where it
would neutralise White's pressure along the f-file.} ({Less precise was} 10...
Ne7 11. Bb3 Ng6 12. Qe1 Be6 13. Bxe6 fxe6 14. Qg3 $14 {and the Ng6 is
misplaced.}) 11. b4 {Quite a risky decision - now White's pawn structure is
getting somewhat shaky.} ({I guess, Vladimir rejected the most natural} 11. Qe1
{in view of} Nd7 12. a3 (12. Qg3 $6 c6 13. Bb3 Nc5 14. Rf2 a5 $15) 12... Nf6
13. Ba2 Be6 $11 {Now, when Black's knight is comfortably placed on f6, Black
has nothing to worry about.}) 11... Nd7 12. Qd2 (12. Qe1 c6 13. Bb3 a5 14. a3
Nf6 15. Qg3 b5 $11) 12... c6 13. Bb3 a5 $1 14. a3 {Now it is Black to decide
when to open up the a-file.} Nf6 15. h3 h6 16. Rab1 {A slight concession.} b5
$5 {This ambitious move keeps the positiion tense.} (16... Re8 17. Qf2 axb4 18.
axb4 Be6 $11) 17. Qc3 {The idea behing this somewhat awkward move is provoking
17...Qb6, after that the typical sac on f6 would be on the cards.} ({After} 17.
Rf2 Re8 18. Rbf1 axb4 19. axb4 Be6 20. Bxe6 Rxe6 $15 {White's kingside attack
is questionable, whereas Black has taken control over the open a-file.}) ({
Objectively, Vladimir should have simplified matters by means of} 17. a4 bxa4
18. Bxa4 Qc7 19. bxa5 Rxa5 20. Bb3 $11 {but such a decision wouldn't suit his
aggressive mood!}) 17... Bd7 {Levon isn't in a hurry. Indeed, the Qc3 is
misplaced anyway.} ({However, a more energetic move was} 17... Qb6 $1 18. Qe1
Be6 19. Nh4 a4 $1 20. Bxe6 fxe6 $15 {and the failure of White's approach is
obvious.}) 18. Rf2 $6 {Vladimir's brave play in the event made the Candidates
tournament much more attractive. However, this time it could have backfired.} (
{More to the point was} 18. Qe1 axb4 19. axb4 Be6 20. Bxe6 fxe6 21. Ra1 $11 {
maintaining the balance.}) 18... Qb6 19. Re1 {A sad necessity - there is no
better way of protecting the Pe3.} Rfe8 20. Nh4 c5 $6 {After losing few games
in the previous rounds, Levon feels like he has nothing to lose.} ({A safer
way was} 20... a4 $1 21. Ba2 Be6 22. Bxe6 Rxe6 23. Ref1 Kh7 24. Nf5 d5 $15 {
eliminating any danger and claiming superiority in the centre.}) 21. Ref1 $1 {
This move is connected with a pawn sacrifice.} ({Black's king would be safe in
the event of} 21. Rxf6 gxf6 22. Qd2 Kg7 23. Bd5 Ra7 24. Rf1 Qd8 $15 {though
converting the material advantage into a full point isn't an easy task here.})
21... cxb4 22. Qe1 {Now all White's forces are focused on attacking the
opponent's king.} ({Of course, not} 22. axb4 $2 a4 23. Ba2 Qxe3 $19) 22... d5 {
The play is extremely sharp now!} (22... a4 $5 {deserved serious attention} 23.
Rxf6 $1 ({Only not} 23. Ba2 $2 d5 $1 {and now White is in troubles:} 24. axb4 (
24. Rxf6 gxf6 25. Bxd5 bxa3 $19) 24... dxe4 25. c4 Be6 26. c5 Qd8 $17) 23...
axb3 24. Qg3 $1 ({The timid} 24. Rxf7 $2 {runs into} Qd8 $1 25. Qg3 Qg5 26.
Qxg5 hxg5 27. Rxd7 Rf8 $1 28. Rxf8+ Kxf8 29. Ng6+ Kg8 $19 {, and Black will
promote one of his q-side pawns.}) 24... Rf8 25. cxb3 bxa3 26. Rxh6 {and the
game should end in a draw:} a2 27. Ra1 Qc5 28. Rh5 Qc3 29. Rg5 Qxa1+ 30. Kh2
Qe1 31. Rxg7+ Kh8 32. Qg5 Qxh4 33. Qxh4+ Kxg7 34. Qg5+ $11) 23. axb4 dxe4 24.
bxa5 Rxa5 25. Ng6 $5 {Vladimir is continuing to complicate matters.} ({The
immediate} 25. Rxf6 gxf6 26. dxe4 Kf8 {would offer White sufficient
compensation for an exchange, but not more than that.}) 25... Be6 {Levon is
playing with fire!} (25... Ra6 26. Rxf6 gxf6 27. Qg3 {looks extremely scary
for a human eye, though the cool-blooded} Qd6 $1 28. dxe4 Kg7 29. Nh4+ Kf8 $13
{hardly gives White anything special.}) ({Another possible way of handling the
posiution would be} 25... exd3 $5 26. Rxf6 gxf6 27. Qg3 Ra7 $1 28. cxd3 f5 29.
Nxe5+ Kf8 $13) 26. Nxe5 ({It looks like} 26. Rxf6 $1 {would pose Black the
major practical problems:} gxf6 27. Qg3 {Now it would be very difficult for
Levon to find} b4 $1 ({The more natural} 27... exd3 28. Rxf6 d2 {runs into} 29.
Nh4+ Kf8 30. Nf5 d1=Q+ 31. Kh2 Re7 32. Qg7+ Ke8 33. Bxe6 Qxe6 34. Rxe6 Rxe6 35.
Qg8+ Kd7 36. Qxf7+ Kd8 37. Qxe6 $36 {and Black is in serious danger}) 28. Bxe6
Rxe6 29. Nf4+ (29. Nxe5+ Kh7 30. Nc4 Rg5 31. Qxg5 hxg5 32. Nxb6 Rxb6 $11) 29...
Kf8 30. Nxe6+ Qxe6 31. Qh4 Ra6 32. Qxe4 Qd6 $11 {and a draw seems the most
probable result.}) 26... exd3 27. Rxf6 gxf6 28. Rxf6 {The best practical try.}
(28. Qg3+ Kf8 29. Ng6+ Kg7 30. Nf4+ Kh8 31. Nxe6 Rxe6 32. Bxe6 Qxe6 33. cxd3 b4
$11) 28... d2 $1 {This move is aimed at depriving the Qe1 of the g3-spot.} (
28... dxc2 $2 {would yield White a decisive attack:} 29. Bxc2 Kg7 30. Qf2 $18)
29. Qg3+ ({Of course, not} 29. Qxd2 $2 Ra1+ 30. Kf2 Qa5 $1 31. Qxa5 Rxa5 $17)
29... Kf8 30. Rf1 {The d2-passer is very strong now.} Ra7 31. Ng6+ Kg7 32. Nf4+
Kh8 33. Nh5 f6 {After this move White has no risk at all.} ({The situation
would be double-edged in the event of} 33... Bg4 $5 34. Qxg4 Qxe3+ 35. Kh1 Rg8
36. Qh4 Ra6 $132) 34. Nxf6 Rf8 ({There was the equally good} 34... Rd8 35. Bxe6
(35. Qf4 {Or} Bf5 $1 36. Qxf5 d1=Q 37. Qf4 Kg7 38. Qg3+ Kh8 39. Qf4 $11) 35...
d1=Q 36. Qf4 Rh7 37. Nxh7 Qxe6 38. Nf6 Qxf1+ 39. Kxf1 Qc4+ 40. Qxc4 bxc4 $11 {
with a drawish endgame.}) 35. Qf4 Rh7 {The only, but sufficient defence!} 36.
Qe5 Qc7 $4 {Alas, Levon doesn't manage to withstand the time pressure...} ({
After} 36... Rg7 {this spectacular encounter should end in a draw. For
instance,} 37. Bxe6 Rg5 38. Nh5+ Rxe5 39. Rxf8+ Kh7 40. Rf7+ Kh8 (40... Kg6 $2
41. Rg7+ Kxh5 42. Bf7+ Kh4 43. Rg4#) 41. Rf8+ $11) 37. Ne8+ $1 {A very
dramatic end!} (37. Ne8+ Qxe5 38. Rxf8+ Bg8 39. Rxg8#) 1-0

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2018.03.23"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 c6 4. e4 dxe4 5. Nxe4 c5 $5 {[%mdl 512] Almost a
novelty (this move had been played by a couple of rather weak players).} 6.
Nxc5 Nc6 $146 {[%mdl 8]} ({Of course, after} 6... Bxc5 $6 7. dxc5 Qxd1+ 8. Kxd1
{White is better due to his bishop pair, e.g.} Nf6 9. Be2 Bd7 {1-0 (35) Hutt,A
(2122)-Moas,H Villa Carlos Paz 2003} 10. Be3 {etc.}) 7. Nf3 {Simple and good.}
(7. Nb3 {requires investigation. Most probably, Vladimir Kramnik planned} a5 8.
a4 $140 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Nxd4 $1 10. Bxb4 Nxb3 11. Qxb3 ({or} 11. Qxd8+ $5 Kxd8 12.
Rd1+ Ke8 13. Bd6 Bd7 $13) 11... Qb6 {Black regains the piece but his b4-pawn
will look vulnerable. Further analysis is required but at first glance Black
should equalise.}) 7... Nxd4 8. Qxd4 Qxd4 9. Nxd4 Bxc5 {Black has regained the
pawn but White keeps the initiative.} 10. Nb5 Ke7 11. Bd2 $6 {But not this way.
} (11. Nc7 $142 $1 Rb8 12. Bf4 Bb4+ 13. Ke2 Bd6 14. Bxd6+ Kxd6 15. Nb5+ Kc5 (
15... Ke7 16. Nxa7 Bd7 17. a4 $5) 16. Nxa7 (16. Rd1 $5 {[%csl Rc5]}) 16... Bd7
17. Ke1 {[%cal Ya7b5] and Black does not have sufficient compensation for the
missing pawn.}) 11... Bd7 {Black now consolidates his position and equalises.}
12. b4 Bxb5 13. cxb5 Bd6 14. g3 Rc8 {After this move White gets the important
c6-square for his bishop.} (14... Nf6 $5 15. Bg2 Nd5 $11) 15. Bg2 b6 16. Ke2
Nh6 17. Rac1 Nf5 18. Bc3 f6 19. f4 h5 20. Bc6 {[%csl Gc6] Now Black switches
to the d-file.} Rcd8 21. a4 h4 22. Kf3 (22. g4 {was more challenging for Black:
} Nh6 (22... Bxf4 {is risky as after} 23. gxf5 Bxc1 24. Rxc1 exf5 {White's
bishop pair should not be underestimated, e.g.} 25. a5 g5 26. axb6 axb6 27. Be1
{(S.Grigoriants)}) 23. Kf3 Nf7 {[%cal Yg7g5]} 24. Rce1 g5 25. Bd5 e5 ({or} 
25... Bxf4 26. Rxe6+ Kf8 27. Bxf6 Rxd5 28. Rhe1 Rd3+ 29. Kf2 Nh6 30. Bxh8 Nxg4+
) 26. Bxf7 Kxf7 27. fxe5 fxe5 28. Bxe5 Bxb4 29. Bxh8 Bxe1 30. Rxe1 Rxh8 {
- in both cases Black should not lose but he is certainly on the defending
side.}) 22... hxg3 23. hxg3 Rxh1 24. Rxh1 Bb8 25. Be4 Kf7 26. Rc1 (26. a5 Nd6
27. Bc6 Nf5 $11) 26... Ne7 27. Be1 f5 28. Bb1 Rd4 {Black's counterplay is now
enough for equality.} 29. Bc3 Rc4 30. Ba2 Rc8 31. Bb2 Rd8 32. Bc4 Rc8 33. Bb3
Rxc1 34. Bxc1 Bd6 35. Bd2 Nd5 36. Bxd5 exd5 37. Bc3 Be7 38. a5 Bf6 39. Bxf6
Kxf6 40. Ke3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2018.03.24"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[Annotator "Sumets,A"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Be7 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 c6 6. e3 Bf5 7. g4 ({White
can get only a worse position after} 7. Qb3 $6 Qb6 $1 {Black wants to take on
b3 and then he can win the b3-pawn by playing ...Bc2.}) 7... Be6 8. Qb3 $1 $146
{A very strong novelty. In comparison with 7.Qb3?! Qb6 Black's light-squared
bishop isn't well-placed and White intends to continue f3, h4, Bd3, Nge2
gaining space on the kingside.} ({The main line is} 8. h4 Nd7 ({Wesley So
prefers to take on h4:} 8... Bxh4 $5 9. Qb3 g5 10. Be5 f6 11. Bh2 Bxg4 12. Qxb7
Qe7 13. Qxa8 Qxe3+ {and according to my computer, it's a draw:} 14. Be2 Bxf2+
15. Kf1 Bh4 16. Qxb8+ Kf7 17. Nd1 Bxe2+ 18. Nxe2 Qf3+ 19. Kg1 Qxe2 20. Bg3 Qg4
21. Kg2 Qe4+ 22. Kg1 Qg4 23. Kg2 Qe4+ 24. Kg1 Qg4 {1/2 (24) Ding,L (2732)-So,W
(2762) Wijk aan Zee 2015}) 9. g5 h6 10. g6 (10. Qf3 hxg5 11. hxg5 Rxh1 12. Qxh1
Bxg5 13. Qh8 Kf8 14. Bd6+ Be7 15. Bf4 Ndf6 16. Bd3 Qc8 17. f3 Bf5 18. e4 Bg6
$15 {Zacurdajev,M (2408)-Klimov,S (2483) St Petersburg 2008 0-1 (40)}) 10...
Ngf6 11. gxf7+ Bxf7 12. Bd3 O-O 13. Qf3 Qb6 14. O-O-O c5 15. Nge2 Rac8 16. Rhg1
Kh8 17. Bc2 cxd4 18. Rxd4 Bc5 (18... Rg8 $5 19. Qg3 Bb4 20. Bc7 Rxc7 21. Rxb4
Qxb4 22. Qxc7 Qxh4 23. Ng3 $44) 19. Na4 Qa5 20. Nxc5 Rxc5 21. Bd6 Qxa2 22. Bxc5
Nxc5 $44 {Nepomniachtchi,I (2721)-Aronian,L (2803) Beijing 2013 1-0 (75)}) ({
White can also try} 8. h3 Nd7 9. Nf3 Nf8 $6 (9... g5 10. Bh2 (10. Bg3 h5 11.
gxh5 Rxh5 12. Ne5 Ngf6 13. Qf3 $6 Rh6 14. Bd3 Qa5 15. Bf5 Ne4 16. Bxe6 Nxe5 17.
Bxe5 fxe6 18. Rc1 Kd7 $17 {Bern,I (2375)-Agdestein,S (2590) 0-1 (32) Norway
1991}) 10... h5 11. gxh5 Rxh5 12. Rg1 Rh8 13. Qb3 Nb6 14. a4 a5 15. O-O-O Bxh3
16. Be5 Rh5 17. Bd3 $44 (17. Rh1 $5 Bg4 18. Be2 Bb4 19. Rdg1 $44) 17... Bb4 $2
18. Bf4 $1 g4 19. Ne5 $16 {Grigore,G (2485)-Kayumov,S (2434) Paks 2003 1-0 (94)
}) 10. Qb3 Qb6 11. Qc2 $1 Ng6 12. Bh2 Rd8 13. O-O-O Bd6 14. Bxd6 Rxd6 15. Ng5
$16 {Zubov,A (2612)-Sturua,Z (2548) Gjakova 2016 1-0 (56)}) 8... Qb6 ({The
computer recommends} 8... b5 $5 {You can find the same idea after 1.d4 d5 2.c4
c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 Bf5 7.Qb3 b5.} 9. h3 {It seems to be a
forced move.} Nd7 (9... h5 {is a bit premature due to} 10. g5 $1 Bxg5 11. Bxg5
Qxg5 12. a4 $14) 10. Nf3 (10. Bd3 h5 $5 11. gxh5 Rxh5 12. Qc2 (12. Rc1 $6 Nc5
13. dxc5 d4 14. Qc2 dxc3 15. bxc3 Qd5 $15) 12... Kf8 13. Rc1 a6 $13) 10... g5 {
If Black wants to play ...h5 then he should start with ...g5 first.} (10... h5
$2 11. g5 $16) 11. Bg3 h5 12. gxh5 Rxh5 13. O-O-O Rc8 14. Be2 Rxh3 15. Rxh3
Bxh3 16. Qc2 $44) 9. f3 g5 {Black should play ...g5 and ...h5. For example:} (
9... Nd7 10. h4 Qxb3 11. axb3 f5 12. g5 {according to Vladimir Kramnik Black's
position is unpleasant.} h6 13. Nh3 hxg5 14. hxg5 Nf8 15. Kf2 Ng6 16. Bd3 Kf7
17. Ne2 $14) 10. Be5 $1 (10. Bg3 $6 {I think that 10.Be5 f6 11.Bg3 is stronger
than 10.Bg3.} h5 $1 11. gxh5 Qxb3 12. axb3 Nd7 13. Bd3 Ngf6 $15 14. h4 gxh4 15.
Rxh4 Nxh5 16. Rh2 f5 (16... O-O-O $1 17. Bf2 Nf4 18. exf4 Rxh2 19. f5 Rg8 20.
fxe6 fxe6 21. Kf1 Rgg2 22. Nd1 a6 $17) 17. Nge2 Kf7 18. Bf2 a6 19. Kd2 Bd6 20.
Rg2 Rag8 $11 {Usmanov,V (2464)-Duzhakov,I (2421) St Petersburg RUS 20181/2 (89)
}) 10... f6 11. Bg3 Qxb3 {Sooner or later Black should take on b3.} 12. axb3 h5
13. gxh5 Rxh5 (13... Nh6 $5 {(Wesley So)} 14. e4 Nf7 15. Bd3 Rxh5 16. exd5 cxd5
17. Nge2 Nc6 18. f4 $13) 14. Bd3 Kf7 $6 {This leads to a bad position.} ({
According to Kramnik Black should have played} 14... f5 15. Nge2 Nd7 16. h4 {
for example} Nf8 17. Rh2 gxh4 18. Nf4 Rh6 19. Bf2 Kf7 20. Ke2 Ng6 (20... Bd7
21. Na4 Re8 22. Nc5 Bc8 23. Rxa7 Bd6 24. Kd1 Bb8 25. Ra8 Bxf4 26. exf4 Ng6 27.
Bf1 N8e7 28. b4 Reh8 29. Kd2 $14) 21. Nxg6 Kxg6 22. Na4 Nf6 (22... Re8 23. Nc5
Bc8 24. Rxa7 Bxc5 25. dxc5 d4 26. Kd2 $14) 23. Rxh4 Rxh4 24. Bxh4 Rh8 25. Bg3
$14 {Black still has to play precisely to get an equal position.}) 15. h4 f5
16. Nh3 $1 {Black has got an unpleasant position after opening.} f4 {Wesley
tries to solve his problems by dint of tactics.} (16... gxh4 17. Nf4 Rh6 18.
Bf2 {Sooner or later White takes on h4 with a better position. According to
Vladimir Kramnik Black's position is defendable. For example} Nd7 19. Nce2 Nf8
20. Nxe6 Kxe6 21. Nf4+ Kf6 22. Ke2 Ng6 23. Nxg6 Kxg6 24. Rag1+ Kf6 25. Rxh4 $14
) 17. exf4 $1 Bxh3 (17... gxh4 18. Ng5+ Rxg5 (18... Bxg5 19. fxg5 Ne7 20. Rxh4
Rxg5 21. Rh7+ Rg7 22. Rxg7+ Kxg7 23. Kd2 $16 {White can play Na4, Nc5 or b4,
b5.}) 19. fxg5 hxg3 20. f4 $16 {(Vladimir Kramnik)} Nd7 21. Rh7+ Kf8 22. Kf1
Bb4 23. f5 Bf7 24. Kg2 {White should win the game.}) 18. fxg5 $1 $16 {White
has only 2 pawns for the sacrificed knight but White's pawns seem to be
unstoppable.} (18. hxg5 $2 {doesn't work due to} Bf5 $1 19. Rxh5 Bxd3 $15)
18... Bd7 19. Kf2 Na6 $5 ({Wesley could have tried} 19... Bf8 {with the idea ..
.Ne7, ...Bf5.} 20. Ne2 Ne7 21. Nf4 Rh8 22. h5 Bf5 23. Rae1 Bxd3 24. Nxd3 Nd7
25. Ne5+ Nxe5 26. Bxe5 Rg8 27. h6 (27. f4 $5 Nf5 28. g6+ Ke6 29. g7 Bd6 30. h6
Bxe5 31. Rxe5+ Kf6 32. h7 Rxg7 33. h8=Q Rxh8 34. Rxh8 Nxd4 $16) 27... Rxg5 28.
h7 Ng6 29. h8=Q Nxh8 30. Rxh8 $16) 20. Bxa6 $6 {Not the strongest move. Now
Black can try to blockade White's pawns.} (20. Ne2 $6 Nb4 21. Bg6+ Kxg6 22.
Nf4+ Kf7 23. Nxh5 {(Vladimir Kramnik)} c5 $1 24. dxc5 Bxc5+ 25. Kg2 d4 $13) ({
Vladimir also mentioned} 20. Rae1 $1 Nb4 21. Bb1 {intending Ne2, Nf4.
According to Wesley So Black's position would be very difficult and the
computer confirms his evaluation. Actually Black doesn't have any reasonable
moves. For example} Rf8 (21... Bf8 22. Ne2 Ne7 23. Nf4 Rh8 24. h5 Bf5 25. Rxe7+
Bxe7 26. Bxf5 Bxg5 27. Bg6+ Kg8 28. Ne6 Bf6 29. Bd6 Na6 30. f4 $18) 22. Ne2 Kg7
23. Be5+ $18) 20... bxa6 21. Ne2 Bd8 $1 22. Be5 ({Vladimir could have tried} 
22. Nf4 $5 Rh8 23. Nd3 Rh7 $1 {the strongest continuation} (23... Bf5 24. Ne5+
Kf8 25. Nxc6 $16 {White should win the game}) 24. Rae1) 22... Ne7 23. Nf4 $1 (
23. Ng3 Kg6 $1 24. Nxh5 Kxh5 25. Rxa6 Bb6 26. Rha1 Re8 27. Rxa7 {White can get
a worse position if he doesn't sacrifice an exchange.} (27. b4 Nf5 28. f4 Bxd4+
29. Bxd4 Nxd4 30. Re1 Rb8 31. Rxa7 Bf5 $15) 27... Bxa7 28. Rxa7 Bf5 29. Bf6 Ng8
30. Kg3 Nxf6 31. gxf6 Rf8 32. f7 $11) 23... Rh7 24. h5 Kg8 25. Rag1 (25. g6 $6
{doesn't work due to 26...Bc8:} Rh6 26. Rxa6 Bc8 $1 {For example} (26... Bb6
27. Rha1 Rf8 28. Rxa7 Bxa7 29. Rxa7 Rxf4 30. Rxd7 $18 {(Vladimir Kramnik)}) 27.
Raa1 Nf5 28. b4 Bb6 29. Ne2 Bd7 $11) 25... Nf5 26. h6 Be8 $6 ({I believe that
Wesley should've played} 26... Be7 $1 27. g6 (27. Rh5 Re8 $1 28. Rgh1 Bf8 29.
b4 Bc8 {I can't see how White can improve his position.}) 27... Rxh6 28. Rxh6
Nxh6 29. Rh1 Bf8 30. Nh5 Be7 $1 {It seems to me that Black should make a draw.
For example} (30... Bf5 $2 31. g7 Be7 32. Ng3 $18 {(Kramnik)}) 31. Nf6+ Bxf6
32. Bxf6 Rf8 $8 33. Be7 Re8 34. Bg5 Nf5 35. Bf6 Re2+ 36. Kxe2 Ng3+ 37. Kf2
Nxh1+ 38. Kg2 Be8 $11) 27. g6 $1 (27. b4 $5 {(Kramnik)} Be7 28. g6 Rxh6 29.
Rxh6 Nxh6 30. Rh1 Bf8 31. g7 (31. Ne6 $5 Bxg6 32. Nxf8 Ng4+ 33. fxg4 Rxf8+ 34.
Ke2 $16) 31... Bxg7 32. Rg1 Nf5 33. Ne6 $16) 27... Rxh6 $8 28. Rxh6 Nxh6 29.
Rh1 Bg5 30. Ne6 Bxg6 31. Nxg5 Nf7 32. Ne6 $6 (32. f4 $1 Nxe5 33. dxe5 Rb8 34.
Rc1 Rxb3 35. Rxc6 Rxb2+ 36. Kf3 {White has good chances to win the game.}) ({
I see value in} 32. Nxf7 {(Yermolinsky,A)} Kxf7 33. Ke3 Bf5 34. Ra1 {and White
can play this forever.}) 32... Nxe5 33. dxe5 Re8 34. Nf4 Bc2 $1 {Kramnik said
that he had overlooked it. During the press conference, both grandmasters were
concerned that White still has chances to win the endgame. However the
computer doesn't see any problems for Black.} 35. Rg1+ {Other moves also lead
to a draw.} (35. Rh6 Rxe5 36. Rxc6 Bxb3 37. Rxa6 Re7 $11) (35. Rc1 Bxb3 36.
Rxc6 Rxe5 37. Rxa6 Re7 $11) (35. Rh5 Bxb3 36. Nd3 {(Vladimir Kramnik)} d4 37.
Nc5 Bd5 38. Ke2 Rf8 39. Rg5+ Kh7 40. e6 Rxf3 41. Re5 Rf8 $8 42. e7 Bc4+ 43. Kd2
Rf2+ 44. Kd1 Rf1+ 45. Kd2 Rf2+ $11) 35... Kf7 36. e6+ Kf6 {Sooner or later
Black will take on e6 with a draw.} 37. Nh5+ ({White could have tried} 37. Rc1
Bf5 (37... Bxb3 38. Rxc6 Bc4 39. Ke3 Rb8 40. Rc7 Ke5 41. e7 Rb3+ 42. Kf2 Rxb2+
43. Kg3 Rb8 44. Rd7 Rg8+ 45. Kf2 Re8 $11) 38. Rxc6 Ke5 39. Ne2 Bd3 40. b4 Bxe2
41. Kxe2 Rxe6 42. Rxe6+ Kxe6 43. Ke3 Ke5 44. f4+ Kf5 45. Kd4 Kxf4 46. Kxd5 Ke3
47. Kc6 Kd4 48. Kb7 Kc4 $11) 37... Ke5 38. f4+ Kd6 39. Ng7 Rf8 40. Ke3 d4+ 41.
Kf3 (41. Kxd4 Rxf4+ 42. Kc3 Be4 43. Re1 (43. Rd1+ Bd5) 43... Ke7 $11) (41. Kd2
Bxb3 42. f5 Rh8 (42... c5) 43. Re1 (43. Kd3 c5 44. Ke4 Bd5+ 45. Kf4 d3 $11)
43... Rh2+ 44. Kd3 $4 Kd5 $19 {(Kramnik)}) 41... Ke7 42. b4 Kf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2018.03.26"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[Annotator "Roiz,M"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 c5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 b6 5. e4 {Quite a rare continuation. Ding
Liren is deviating from theoretical discussion in the main lines of Hedgehog.}
Bb7 6. d3 d6 7. Bg2 g6 {The double finachetto makes Black's setup very
flexible.} ({Seemingly, there is also nothing wrong with} 7... Be7 8. O-O O-O {
For instance,} 9. Ng5 Nc6 10. f4 Nd7 11. h4 Nd4 12. Be3 h6 13. Nf3 Nxf3+ 14.
Bxf3 Bf6 $132 {Morozevich,A - Sargissian,G Yerevan 2008}) 8. O-O Bg7 9. Re1 O-O
10. d4 {Eventually White takes the game to Hedgehog paths, but the resulting
position isn't so researched.} cxd4 11. Nxd4 a6 12. b3 Nbd7 13. Ba3 $146 {
This innovation hardly makes this position more attractive for White - the
pressure along the a3-f8 diagonal turns out to be ineffective.} (13. Bb2 {
was checked on a high level a long time ago:} Qc7 14. Re2 (14. Qe2 Rad8 15.
Rad1 Nc5 16. f4 e5 17. fxe5 dxe5 18. Nc2 Rxd1 19. Rxd1 Rd8 20. Nd5 Nxd5 21.
cxd5 a5 $132 {Huebner,R - Spassky,B Solingen 1977}) 14... Rad8 15. Qe1 Qb8 16.
Rd1 Nc5 17. f3 Rfe8 $132 {Portisch,L - Spassky,B Mexico 1980}) 13... Nc5 14. b4
$5 {A committal decision, but there is a concrete idea behind it.} ({The quiet
} 14. Qd2 Qc7 15. Rad1 Rfd8 $11 {wouldn't offer much.}) 14... Ncd7 15. b5 Ne8
$5 {This way of protecting the d6-pawn isn't the most obvious.} (15... Ne5 16.
Nc6 Nxc6 17. bxc6 Bxc6 18. Bxd6 Re8 19. e5 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Nd7 21. Rb1 {leaves
Black's pieces rather passive, even though it's still close to equal.}) ({
I guess, the natural} 15... Nc5 {was rejected by Vladimir in view of} 16. e5
Bxg2 17. Kxg2 dxe5 18. Nc6 Qc7 19. Bxc5 bxc5 20. a4 $44 {The strong Nc6 offers
White full compensation for the pawn.}) 16. Rc1 Ne5 17. Qe2 (17. bxa6 $5 {
deserved some consideration:} Bxa6 (17... Rxa6 18. Bb4 Nxc4 19. Bf1 $36) 18.
Ncb5 Nxc4 19. Rxc4 Bxd4 20. Rxd4 Bxb5 21. Bb4 e5 22. Rd2 {with good play for
the pawn.}) 17... axb5 18. Ndxb5 {In the resulting complex position both sides
have clear targets for the attack.} (18. Ncxb5 Ra4 19. f4 Nc6 $132) 18... g5 $5
{Once again in this event, Vladimir is aiming to complicating matters!} ({
The quieter} 18... Rc8 19. Na4 Ra8 20. Qc2 Ra6 $132 {would have kept the
balance.}) 19. h3 $2 {This is too passive.} ({Black's strategic idea is
well-illustrated in the following line:} 19. Red1 g4 20. Bb4 Qg5 21. Nxd6 Nxd6
22. Bxd6 Rfc8 {The activity of Black's pieces fully compensates for the pawn.
However, White should still go for it!}) 19... f5 $1 {Kramnik takes his chance,
so Black manages to extend the initiative on the kingside.} 20. exf5 Bxg2 21.
Kxg2 Rxa3 {A simple, but nice tactic!} 22. Nxa3 Qa8+ 23. Qe4 Qxa3 24. fxe6 {
The e6-pawn is quite annoying, but White's pieces don't support it.} Nf6 25.
Qe2 $2 {Another mistake, which could have led to a quick loss.} ({A better
move was} 25. Qb7 Nd3 26. e7 Re8 27. Nb5 Qc5 28. Re3 Nxc1 29. Nc7 Qxc4 30. Nxe8
Nxe8 31. Qd7 {and the strong passer leaves White some practical chances.})
25... Qa8+ 26. f3 h5 $1 27. e7 {Now it's too late!} Re8 28. Ne4 (28. Nd5 Nxd5
29. cxd5 Rxe7 $19) 28... g4 $19 {Now White's king is too exposed.} 29. hxg4
hxg4 30. fxg4 Nfxg4 ({Even simpler was} 30... Rxe7 $1 31. g5 Nfd7 32. Kg1 Nc5
$19 {White cannot avoid major losses of material.}) 31. Qd1 Bh6 32. Rc3 Rxe7 $2
{Alas, after this natural move the lion's part of Black's advantage is spoiled.
} ({Instead, after the cool-blooded} 32... Kg7 $1 33. Re2 Rxe7 34. Qd5 Qe8 $1 {
Vladimir would have kept a decisive advantage.}) 33. Qd5+ Qxd5 34. cxd5 Ra7 ({
Possibly,} 34... Rd7 $5 {was more precise, but it would be very difficult to
make progress anyway.}) 35. Re2 Nf7 36. Kh3 $1 {Now Black cannot avoid further
simplifications.} Nge5 37. Nxd6 Nxd6 38. Rxe5 Bg7 39. Rg5 Ne4 40. Rc8+ Kh7 41.
Rh5+ Kg6 42. Rh4 Ng5+ 43. Kg2 Rxa2+ 44. Kf1 Ra1+ 45. Ke2 Ra2+ 46. Kf1 Ra1+ 47.
Ke2 Ra2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Berlin"]
[Date "2018.03.27"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[Annotator "Sadorra,J"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 184"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.05.16"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Ne5 {Kramnik
uses a line that became popular at the top level several years back,
especially after he used it in the 2013 Candidates.} Qd6 $5 {A rare but
playable move. In fact, it has already been played a few times in tournament
practice in 2017 with decent results for Black.} 8. Na3 {Kramnik thought for
about 8 minutes here which means that he had never studied it deeply before or
he was recalling his prep.} Rd8 9. Naxc4 Qa6 (9... Qxd4 $2 {is too risky as
the queen gets too exposed after} 10. Qb3 {[%cal Rc1e3]} Qc5 (10... c6 11. Be3
$18) 11. Bxb7 Bxb7 12. Qxb7 Nbd7 13. Be3 $16) 10. Qc2 $5 $146 {A novelty,
either produced during the game or at home!} ({Another queen move was tried
years back by another player in the Candidates-Wesley So:} 10. Qb3 Rxd4 11. Bf4
(11. a4 Nbd7 12. Be3 Nxe5 13. Nxe5 Rd8 14. Qb5 {with compensation but nothing
more.}) 11... Rd8 (11... Nbd7 12. Rac1 c6 $44 {1/2-1/2 (67) So,W (2674)
-Ljubojevic,L (2572) Amsterdam 2010}) 12. Rfd1 Nd5 $11) 10... Rxd4 11. Bg5 ({
The main point of the novelty would have been revealed if White had followed
up with} 11. a4 $1 Nbd7 $2 (11... Rd8 12. Bg5 Nbd7 13. Rfd1 Nxe5 14. Rxd8+ Bxd8
15. Nxe5 $14 {White has more than enough compensation simply because he has a
better version of what happened in the game.}) 12. Be3 Nxe5 13. Nxe5 {[%csl
Rc7,Rd4][%cal Rc2c7] now White has a double attack.} Rd8 (13... Rb4 14. Qxc7
$16 (14. Rfc1 $5)) 14. Qxc7 Qd6 15. Qxd6 Bxd6 16. Rfd1 $14) 11... Nbd7 12. Rfd1
Rxd1+ 13. Rxd1 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Qa5 $1 {Mamedyarov defends actively and
accurately, not giving Kramnik a chance to obtain an intiative.} (14... c6 $2
15. Be4 $1 $40 h6 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Bh7+ Kf8 18. Qc5+ Ke8 19. Ng6 $1 {with
mate to follow next move.}) (14... Qb6 $2 15. Ng4 $1 $36 {[%csl Re7,Rf6]}) 15.
Bf4 Nd5 16. Be4 (16. Bd2 Qc5 $11) 16... g6 (16... h6 $6 {doesn't look right as
it allows ideas connected with check on h7 followed by a sac on f7 in the
future.}) 17. Bh6 Qc5 18. Qd2 Qb4 19. Qc2 Qc5 {Mamedyarov silently offers a
draw.} 20. Qd3 {True to style in this event, Kramnik keeps the game going and
tries to fight for more!} Qd6 21. Nc4 Qc5 $1 {Accurate again! On c5, the queen
avoids being pinned and keeps watch over the central squares especially d4.} (
21... Qd8 $2 22. Bf3 $1 {[%csl Rd5,Rd8][%cal Ge2e4]} Qe8 23. e4 Nf6 24. Qc3 $1
$40 {[%csl Rc7,Rg7,Rg8]}) 22. Qf3 $5 {White tries to slow down Black's
completion of development by making use of nice tactics.} c6 {Safe and solid.}
({Black could also consider a dynamic solution, but that requires taking
positional risks after:} 22... Nf6 $5 23. Bxb7 Rb8 $1 (23... Bxb7 24. Qxb7 Re8
25. Rc1 (25. b3 Qh5) 25... Qh5 26. Be3 Qxe2 27. Qxc7 $11) 24. Bxc8 Qxc4 25. Bb7
(25. b3 $2 Qb5) 25... Qxa2 {and it is now White who has to play more
accurately.}) ({In the press conference, Kramnik gleefully shared his plan
after} 22... Qxc4 $6 23. Rxd5 c6 $1 (23... f5 24. Rd1 fxe4 (24... Qxe4 25. Qc3
$18) 25. Rd8+ Bxd8 26. Qf8#) 24. Qa3 $5 c5 25. Rd1 (25. Rd2 Qxe4 26. Qxc5 Qb1+
27. Kg2 Qe4+ 28. Kg1 (28. f3 $4 Qxe2+ $19) 28... Qb1+ $11) 25... Qxe2 $1 {
and he admitted that this was the problem with this line, after which he
wasn't sure if White can continue the attack. Black is actually already the
choice of the engine:} (25... Qxe4 26. Qxc5 $18) 26. Bf3 (26. Qa4 b5 $19) 26...
Qb5 $1 27. Qc3 (27. Qe3 Bd7 $17) 27... f6 $17) 23. Bd3 Nf6 $1 {Patient and
careful. Mamedyarov doesn't rush to bring out his bishop but instead prepares
to develop it in the most active way possible.} (23... Bd7 $6 {allows us to
see Kramnik's idea} 24. e4 Nf6 25. Be2 $5 {and White has a pleasant initiative
which Kramnik himself pointed out after the game.} (25. Be3 $1 {retreat moves
are often easy to miss} Qh5 26. Qxh5 Nxh5 27. e5 Be8 28. g4 (28. Be2 Ng7 29.
Nd6) 28... Ng7 29. Be4 $14 {[%csl Ra7][%cal Gc4d6,Ga2a4,Ga4a5]})) 24. e4 e5 {
[%csl Ge6,Gg4][%cal Gc8g4] The point. White is now forced to engage in a
forcing line to avoid being worse.} 25. Be3 Qb4 26. Nxe5 Qxb2 27. Bf4 (27. Nxf7
$6 Kxf7 {is "too much" according to both players.} 28. Qf4 (28. Bc4+ Ke8 $19)
28... Qb4 $1 $19) 27... Be6 ({Maybe Mamedyarov saw} 27... g5 $5 {but probably
thought it's too risky} 28. Nc4 (28. Bc4 gxf4 29. Nxf7 Kg7 30. Qxf4 $13) 28...
Bg4 $1 29. Qxg4 (29. Qe3 gxf4) 29... Nxg4 30. Nxb2 gxf4 31. gxf4 Bc5 32. Rd2
$13) 28. Rb1 Qxa2 29. Rxb7 {Here Kramnik felt that he already has a good
position or has better chances.} Bc5 30. Kg2 $1 {Without any clear counterplay
and counter-tactics involving back-rank checks, White's position is now indeed
easier to play.} Re8 $6 ({The only way to hold the balance for Black was to
tie down White's pieces as much as possible:} 30... Bd4 $1 31. Re7 $5 {[%cal
Ge5c6,Gg3g4] with a messy position in which the better calculator will prevail!
} (31. h3 $2 Bxh3+ $1 32. Kxh3 Qe6+ $17) (31. Nxc6 $4 Bg4 $19)) 31. h3 $5 {
Kramnik likes this slow, controlled move a lot but it underestimates Black's
defensive resources.} ({White must act energetically now with} 31. Bg5 $1 Nh5
32. Nxc6 $16 {Black is in a dangerous position as he cannot stop White's
kingside attack.}) (31. g4 $5 h5 (31... Nd5 32. Bh6 $1 $16 (32. exd5 Bxd5 33.
Be4 Bxe4 34. Qxe4 Qxf2+ 35. Kh3 Qf1+ $19)) 32. h3 $13) 31... Bxf2 $1 {This
tactical sequence is the easiest way to neutralise White's initiative,
something which Kramnik missed.} (31... Nh5 32. Bh6 $16) 32. Qxf2 Bxh3+ 33. Kg1
Qxf2+ 34. Kxf2 Rxe5 35. Bxe5 (35. g4 Nxe4+ $1 (35... Nxg4+ $5 36. Kg3 Rc5) 36.
Kf3 Bxg4+ 37. Kxg4 Nf2+ 38. Kf3 Nxd3 39. Bxe5 Nxe5+ 40. Kf4 f6 $17) 35... Ng4+
36. Kg1 Nxe5 {The forcing moves are over and Black has no problems holding the
subsequent complex ending due to his pawns.} 37. Be2 Kg7 38. Rxa7 Kf6 39. Ra5
Bd7 40. Kf2 Ke6 41. Ke3 Kd6 42. Ra1 h5 43. Rd1+ Ke7 44. Kd4 f6 45. Kc5 Bh3 46.
Ra1 Bg2 47. Ra4 Ke6 48. Rd4 Nf3 49. Rd8 Ng5 50. Bc4+ Ke7 51. Rg8 Nxe4+ 52. Kxc6
Nd6+ 53. Kc5 (53. Bd5 $6 Bxd5+ 54. Kxd5 Nf5 55. Rxg6 $4 (55. Ra8 Nxg3 56. Ra7+
Kf8 57. Ke6 Ne4 58. Kd5 f5 {and it's White who has to be careful.}) 55... Kf7
$19 {Kramnik & Mamedarov}) 53... Nxc4 54. Kxc4 Kf7 {A nice fighting game by
both players in the last round! The rare 7...Qd6 line seems to hold against
the popular 7.Ne5 and we can expect it to be tested out more in future
tournaments.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2018.06.20"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2018.06.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 185"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. b3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Nc3
Nc6 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. d4 b6 11. Ba3 Ba6 12. dxc5 bxc5 13. Rc1 Qa5 14. Qxd5 Qxa3
15. Qxc6 Bxe2 16. Rfe1 Rac8 17. Qa4 Qxa4 18. bxa4 Bxf3 19. Rxe7 Bxg2 20. Kxg2
a6 21. Rc4 Rc6 22. a5 Rb8 23. Ra7 h5 24. h4 Rb4 25. Rxb4 cxb4 26. Rb7 Rc2 27.
Rb6 Rxa2 28. Rxa6 b3 29. Rb6 g6 30. Rxb3 Rxa5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2018.06.20"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2018.06.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 185"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. h3 Be6 7. Nc3 Nd7 8.
Ng5 Nf8 9. O-O Qe7 10. Na4 Bd6 11. Nf3 Ng6 12. Nc3 O-O-O 13. Be3 Nf4 14. Bxf4
exf4 15. e5 Bb4 16. Ne4 f5 17. exf6 gxf6 18. c3 f5 19. Neg5 Bd5 20. Re1 Qf6 21.
Qa4 Bd6 22. c4 Bxf3 23. Nxf3 Rhg8 24. Kh1 Qxb2 25. Qxa7 b6 26. Rf1 Kd7 27. Qa4
Ra8 28. Qb3 Qg7 29. Rg1 Ra3 30. Qb1 Qf7 31. Qc2 Qh5 32. Rae1 Kc8 33. Rb1 Bc5
34. Rb3 Ra5 35. d4 Bd6 36. c5 bxc5 37. Qc4 Re8 38. Rgb1 Kd7 39. Ne5+ Bxe5 40.
dxe5 Qg6 41. Qxf4 Qe6 42. Qd2+ 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2018.06.20"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2018.06.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 185"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. b3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Bb2
Nc6 9. d4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nxd4 11. Qxd4 Bf6 12. Qd2 Nf4 13. gxf4 Qxd2 14. Nxd2
Bxb2 15. Rab1 Bf6 16. Rbc1 Rd8 17. Ne4 Be7 18. Rc7 Kf8 19. Rfc1 Rb8 20. e3 h6
21. Bf3 a5 22. Kg2 g5 23. fxg5 hxg5 24. h3 f5 25. Nc5 b6 26. Na4 Bd6 27. Rh7
Kg8 28. Ra7 Be5 29. Rc6 Rd6 30. Rxd6 Bxd6 31. Nc3 b5 32. Rxa5 b4 33. Nb5 Bc5
34. Nd4 Bxd4 35. exd4 Kf7 36. Ra7+ Kf6 37. Rc7 Ba6 38. d5 Bb7 39. d6 Bxf3+ 40.
Kxf3 Rd8 41. Rb7 Rxd6 42. Rxb4 e5 43. a4 e4+ 44. Ke2 Ke5 45. a5 f4 46. Ra4 f3+
47. Ke1 Rc6 48. a6 Rc1+ 49. Kd2 Rf1 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2018.06.21"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2778"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2018.06.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 185"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 g6 2. Nc3 c5 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. e3 e6 6. b3 Nge7 7. Ba3 b6 8. Nge2
d5 9. cxd5 exd5 10. d4 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Nxd4 12. exd4 Ba6 13. Bf1 Bxf1 14. Kxf1
O-O 15. Rc1 Rc8 16. Kg2 Re8 17. Re1 Nf5 18. Qf3 Rxe1 19. Rxe1 Nxd4 20. Qxd5 Nc2
21. Rd1 Qe8 22. Nb5 Qe2 23. Bc1 Bf8 24. Nxa7 Rc5 25. Qf3 Ne1+ 26. Rxe1 Qxe1 27.
Be3 Rf5 28. Qa8 Qa5 29. a4 Re5 30. Nc6 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2018.06.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2764"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2018.06.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 185"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. O-O d6 6. c3 a6 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. Bb3
Ba7 9. h3 Be6 10. Bc2 d5 11. Ng5 Qe8 12. Ndf3 Rd8 13. Nxe6 fxe6 14. Qe2 Nh5 15.
Kh2 Nf4 16. Bxf4 Rxf4 17. Rae1 Qf7 18. Ba4 b5 19. Bb3 h6 20. a4 Kh8 21. axb5
axb5 22. Bc2 Rf8 23. d4 exd4 24. exd5 exd5 25. Qd3 g6 26. Re2 dxc3 27. bxc3 Bc5
28. Rfe1 Bd6 29. Kg1 Rxf3 30. gxf3 Qf4 31. Kf1 Qxf3 32. Qxg6 Qh1+ 33. Qg1 Qxh3+
34. Qg2 Qxc3 35. Re6 Qd2 36. Rd1 Qf4 37. Rd3 Bc5 38. Rxc6 Qxf2+ 39. Qxf2 Rxf2+
40. Ke1 Rxc2 41. Kd1 Rc4 42. Rxc7 Rd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2018.06.21"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A28"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2018.06.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 185"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e3 Be7 7. Be2 O-O 8.
O-O Be6 9. a3 a5 10. Bd2 Kh8 11. Rc1 Nxc3 12. Rxc3 f6 13. Qa4 Nb4 14. e4 c5 15.
Be3 b6 16. Nd2 Bd7 17. Qd1 Nc6 18. a4 Be6 19. Bg4 Bg8 20. Nc4 Bd6 21. g3 Bc7
22. Na3 Qe7 23. Nb5 Rad8 24. h4 Bb8 25. h5 Qe8 26. Kg2 Ne7 27. Qe2 f5 28. exf5
Nxf5 29. Bg5 Nd4 30. Qd1 Nxb5 31. axb5 Rd4 32. Be3 Bd5+ 33. Kg1 Rb4 34. h6 gxh6
35. Bxh6 Qg6 36. Bxf8 Rxg4 37. Qe1 Rh4 38. f3 Rh3 39. Kg2 Qh5 40. Qe3 Rh2+ 41.
Kg1 Qh3 42. Bg7+ Kg8 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2018.06.22"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2816"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2018.06.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 185"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Nbd2 Nd4 6. Nxd4 Bxd4 7. c3 Bb6 8.
d4 c6 9. dxe5 cxb5 10. exf6 Qxf6 11. O-O O-O 12. a4 bxa4 13. Nc4 Bc7 14. Ne3 b5
15. Nd5 Qd8 16. Qg4 Be5 17. f4 Bb8 18. Be3 Bb7 19. Rad1 a5 20. Nb6 h5 21. Qe2
Qe7 22. e5 d6 23. Nxa8 Bxa8 24. Qxb5 dxe5 25. f5 Qh4 26. Qe2 Bc6 27. Qf2 Qc4
28. f6 g6 29. Qg3 Bc7 30. h3 Rb8 31. Rd2 Qe6 32. Qg5 Qe8 33. Re1 Qf8 34. Bf2
Kh7 35. Kh2 e4+ 36. Bg3 Rb5 37. Qh4 Qb8 38. Bxc7 Qxc7+ 39. Qg3 Qb7 40. Qd6 Rf5
41. Qf8 Qc7+ 42. Kh1 Rxf6 43. Rd8 g5 44. Qh8+ Kg6 45. Rg8+ Kf5 46. Rf1+ 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2018.06.22"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2789"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2018.06.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 185"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. e3 Bg7 4. Be2 O-O 5. O-O d6 6. b3 e5 7. dxe5 Ng4 8. Bb2
Nc6 9. Nc3 Ngxe5 10. Qd2 Re8 11. Rad1 Nxf3+ 12. Bxf3 Ne5 13. Be2 Be6 14. Nb5 a6
15. Nd4 Bd7 16. c4 b5 17. Ba1 bxc4 18. bxc4 Rb8 19. c5 dxc5 20. Nb3 Bb5 21.
Nxc5 Qxd2 22. Rxd2 Red8 23. Rc2 Rb6 24. Bxe5 Bxe5 25. g3 Rc6 26. Rfc1 Bxe2 27.
Rxe2 Bd6 28. Rd2 Be7 29. Rxd8+ Bxd8 30. Kf1 f5 31. Ke2 Kf7 32. Kd3 Rd6+ 33. Ke2
Rc6 34. f3 Be7 35. Nb3 Rxc1 36. Nxc1 Ke6 37. Kd3 Kd5 38. Nb3 Bb4 39. e4+ fxe4+
40. fxe4+ Ke5 41. Nd4 Bc5 42. Nf3+ Kd6 43. Ng5 Bg1 44. Nf3 Bb6 45. Kc4 h5 46.
Kb4 Ke6 47. a4 Bf2 48. Kc4 Bb6 49. h3 Bf2 50. g4 hxg4 51. hxg4 Kd6 52. Kb4 Ke6
53. Kc3 Bc5 54. Kd3 Bf2 55. Ke2 Bc5 56. Kd3 Bf2 57. Kc4 Kd6 58. Kb4 Ke6 59. Kc4
1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT rapid"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2018.06.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "2018.06.20"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 185"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Nbd2 a5 8. h3
Bd7 9. Re1 a4 10. Nf1 Ne7 11. Bxd7 Nxd7 12. d4 Bb6 13. Ng3 Re8 14. Bg5 Nf8 15.
Be3 exd4 16. Bxd4 Bxd4 17. Nxd4 Neg6 18. Qc2 Ne6 19. Rad1 Nef4 20. Nf3 Qf6 21.
Re3 Qe6 22. c4 Nxg2 23. Kxg2 Nf4+ 24. Kg1 Qxh3 25. Ne1 Qg4 26. Ng2 g5 27. Rd2
f5 28. Qd1 Qxd1+ 29. Rxd1 Nxg2 30. Kxg2 f4 31. Re2 fxg3 32. Kxg3 Re5 33. Rd5
Rae8 34. f3 Kg7 35. b3 axb3 36. axb3 h5 37. Ra2 Kf6 38. b4 Rxd5 39. cxd5 Ke5
40. b5 b6 41. Ra7 Rc8 42. Ra4 Rf8 43. Ra7 Rc8 44. Ra4 Rh8 45. Rc4 Rh7 46. Ra4
h4+ 47. Kg4 h3 48. Ra1 Rh4+ 49. Kg3 h2 50. Rh1 Rh8 51. Kg4 Kd4 52. Kxg5 Ke3 53.
f4 Kxe4 54. f5 Kf3 55. f6 Kg2 56. Rc1 h1=Q 57. Rxh1 Rxh1 58. Kf5 Kf3 59. f7 Rh8
0-1

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2018.06.23"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2764"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2018.06.23"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 185"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 Nf6 4. b4 Bg4 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. Qa4+ Bd7 7. Qb3 e6 8.
Bb2 Nc6 9. a3 a5 10. b5 a4 11. Qd1 Na5 12. Nc3 Nb3 13. Rb1 Nc5 14. Be2 Bd6 15.
O-O O-O 16. d4 Nce4 17. Nxa4 Qa5 18. Nc5 Nxc5 19. dxc5 Bxc5 20. Bd3 Bxa3 21.
Ra1 Qb4 22. Bxf6 gxf6 23. Nd4 f5 24. Qh5 Qe7 25. g4 Qf6 26. Kh1 Kh8 27. gxf5 e5
28. Nc2 Bc5 29. Rad1 Ra2 30. f3 Rb2 31. Rg1 Bxb5 32. Bxb5 Rxc2 33. Rde1 Rc3 34.
Rg3 Bxe3 35. Rh3 h6 36. Ra1 Bf4 37. Bf1 Rg8 38. Rd1 d4 39. Bd3 Qg5 40. Qxg5
Bxg5 41. Rg3 Bf4 42. Rxg8+ Kxg8 43. Be4 b5 44. Rb1 Rc5 45. Kg2 Kg7 46. h4 Kf6
47. Ra1 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2018.06.23"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D53"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2018.06.23"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 185"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 h6 7. Bh4 c5 8. dxc5
O-O 9. Rd1 Nxc5 10. Nf3 Bd7 11. Ne5 Rc8 12. Be2 Nfe4 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Nxe4
dxe4 15. Nxd7 Nxd7 16. Qxe4 Qb4+ 17. Kf1 Rfd8 18. b3 Nf6 19. Qc2 Rxd1+ 20. Qxd1
Qa5 21. Bf3 Rd8 22. Qb1 Rd2 23. g3 g5 24. h3 Rxa2 25. Kg2 Qd2 26. Rf1 b6 27.
Qc1 a5 28. c5 bxc5 29. Qxc5 Kg7 30. Qc1 Nd7 31. Qxd2 Rxd2 32. Rd1 Rxd1 33. Bxd1
Nc5 34. Bc2 e5 35. f4 exf4 36. exf4 gxf4 37. gxf4 Ne6 38. Kg3 Kf6 39. Kg4 Nd4
40. Bd1 Kg6 41. Kh4 Nf5+ 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2018.06.23"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2018.06.23"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 185"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. e3 Be7 5. Nc3 O-O 6. h3 b6 7. Bd3 Bb7 8. O-O
dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nbd7 10. Qe2 c5 11. Rd1 Qc7 12. e4 cxd4 13. Nxd4 a6 14. Bg5 b5 15.
Nxe6 Qxc4 16. Qxc4 bxc4 17. Nxf8 Kxf8 18. Rd4 Ne5 19. Rad1 Rc8 20. Na4 Rc6 21.
b3 cxb3 22. axb3 Rc2 23. f3 Ke8 24. R4d2 Rxd2 25. Bxd2 Bc6 26. Ra1 Nfd7 27. Be3
Nd3 28. Nc3 Bb7 29. Rd1 Nb4 30. Na4 f6 31. Nb2 Ne5 32. Bd4 Nbc6 33. Bc3 Bc8 34.
f4 Nd7 35. Nc4 Nc5 36. Nd6+ Bxd6 37. Rxd6 Bb7 38. b4 Na4 39. Ba1 Ke7 40. e5
fxe5 41. fxe5 Nb6 42. Rd3 Nxb4 43. Rg3 g6 44. Rg4 N6d5 45. Rh4 h5 46. g4 Nf4
47. gxh5 g5 48. Rg4 Bc8 49. Rxf4 gxf4 50. h6 Bf5 51. Kf2 Be4 52. Bc3 Nd3+ 53.
Ke2 Ke6 54. h4 Nxe5 55. h5 Ng4 56. Bg7 Kf7 57. Kf1 f3 58. Bd4 Nxh6 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2018.06.23"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C79"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[PlyCount "149"]
[EventDate "2018.06.23"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 185"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 d6 5. O-O a6 6. Bxc6+ bxc6 7. d4 exd4 8.
Nxd4 c5 9. Nc6 Qd7 10. Na5 Qa4 11. Bd2 Nxe4 12. Nc3 Nxc3 13. Bxc3 Be6 14. Qf3
d5 15. Rfe1 O-O-O 16. b3 Qb5 17. Bd2 Qb6 18. c4 Kb8 19. a3 g5 20. b4 g4 21. Qf6
Bd6 22. bxc5 Qxc5 23. Rab1+ Kc8 24. Nb7 Be7 25. Qb2 Qxa3 26. Qc2 dxc4 27. Nxd8
Rxd8 28. Be3 c3 29. Qe4 Rd5 30. g3 h5 31. Rec1 h4 32. Ra1 Qd6 33. gxh4 Bf5 34.
Qc4 c2 35. Qe2 Bd3 36. Qxg4+ Bf5 37. Qf3 Qg6+ 38. Qg3 Bxh4 39. Qxg6 fxg6 40.
Kg2 Kb7 41. Ra2 Bf6 42. Kf3 a5 43. Ke2 Bd3+ 44. Kf3 Rf5+ 45. Kg2 Be4+ 46. Kf1
Rb5 47. Ke2 Rb3 48. Kd2 Bc3+ 49. Ke2 Bb2 50. Rg1 Bd3+ 51. Kd2 c1=Q+ 52. Rxc1
Bxc1+ 53. Kxc1 Ka6 54. Rb2 Rxb2 55. Kxb2 Kb5 56. Kc3 Bf5 57. Bg5 c5 58. Be7 a4
59. Kb2 Kb4 60. Bf6 a3+ 61. Ka1 Kb3 62. Bg5 c4 63. Bc1 c3 64. h4 Be4 65. f4 Bf5
66. Be3 Kc2 67. Ka2 Kd1 68. Kxa3 Be6 69. f5 gxf5 70. h5 Bg8 71. h6 Ke2 72. Bg5
Kf3 73. h7 Bxh7 74. Kb3 Kg4 75. Bc1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2018.06.23"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2018.06.23"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 185"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. Re1 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. d4
cxd4 9. Nxd4 Nc6 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. Qc2 Qb6 12. Bd2 c5 13. Na3 Bb7 14. Nc4 Qa6
15. Na5 Bc8 16. Rac1 Bd7 17. a3 Bb5 18. e4 Nb6 19. b3 Bd3 20. Qc3 Rac8 21. Bf4
Rfd8 22. Red1 c4 23. bxc4 Na4 24. Qe1 Nb2 25. e5 Rc7 26. Qc3 Nxd1 27. Rxd1 Bxc4
28. Rxd8+ Bxd8 29. Qd4 Bd5 30. Bxd5 exd5 31. Qxd5 Qc8 32. Nb3 Be7 33. Nd4 Qd7
34. Qxd7 Rxd7 35. Nc6 Bxa3 36. Be3 a6 37. Kg2 Rc7 38. Nd4 Bc5 39. e6 Bxd4 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2018.06.23"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2778"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2018.06.23"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 185"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Re1 a5 8. h3 h6
9. Bb3 Be6 10. Nbd2 Bxb3 11. axb3 Re8 12. Nf1 d5 13. Qe2 Qd7 14. Nh4 Rad8 15.
Qf3 dxe4 16. dxe4 Qd3 17. Be3 Qxe4 18. Bxc5 Qxh4 19. Ng3 Qg5 20. Be3 Qg6 21.
Rad1 e4 22. Qf5 Qxf5 23. Nxf5 Nd5 24. Bc1 Kh7 25. Kh2 g5 26. f3 exf3 27. Rxe8
Rxe8 28. Rxd5 Re1 29. Be3 Ne7 30. Bf2 Re2 31. Nxe7 Rxf2 32. Rf5 Rxg2+ 33. Kh1
Rxb2 34. Rxf7+ Kh8 35. Kg1 Rxb3 36. Kf2 a4 37. Nd5 Kg8 38. Rxc7 a3 39. Kxf3 a2
40. Rc8+ Kf7 41. Ra8 Ke6 42. Ke4 Rb2 43. Nb4 Rh2 44. Rxa2 Rxh3 45. Re2 Kd6 46.
Nd3 h5 47. Rb2 Kc7 48. Rb5 g4 49. Nf4 Kc6 50. c4 Rh4 51. Ng6 Rh1 52. Ne5+ Kc7
53. Kf4 Rf1+ 54. Kg5 g3 55. Rb2 Rf2 56. Rb1 g2 57. Rg1 Rc2 58. Kxh5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2018.06.23"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C47"]
[WhiteElo "2816"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2018.06.23"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 185"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. a3 d5 5. Bb5 Nxe4 6. Qe2 Qd6 7. Nxe4 dxe4 8.
Qxe4 Bd7 9. d3 O-O-O 10. O-O Re8 11. Qe2 Qg6 12. Be3 Bd6 13. Nd2 a6 14. Ba4 f5
15. f3 h5 16. Kh1 h4 17. h3 Nd4 18. Bxd7+ Kxd7 19. Qd1 Ne6 20. Nc4 Qf6 21. c3
Kc8 22. b4 Rd8 23. Qb3 Be7 24. b5 Nc5 25. Bxc5 Bxc5 26. bxa6 Qxa6 27. Nxe5 Rhe8
28. d4 Bd6 29. f4 Re7 30. a4 Rde8 31. Qb5 g5 32. Ng6 Qxb5 33. Nxe7+ Rxe7 34.
axb5 Bxf4 35. Rae1 Rf7 36. Re6 Kd7 37. d5 b6 38. c4 Rf8 39. Ra1 Bd6 40. Kg1 g4
41. Rf1 g3 42. Rf3 f4 43. Rh6 Ra8 44. Rf1 Ra2 45. Rf6 Be5 46. Rf5 Kd6 47. Re1
Bd4+ 48. Kh1 Be3 49. Rf6+ Kc5 50. Rc6+ Kd4 51. Rd1+ Kc3 52. Rf6 Kxc4 53. d6
cxd6 54. Rf5 d5 55. Rb1 d4 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2018.06.23"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2018.06.23"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 185"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. h3 Bxf3 6. Qxf3 Nc6 7. c3 Nf6 8.
Bd3 g6 9. O-O Bg7 10. Bg5 Qb6 11. b4 O-O 12. Nd2 Rad8 13. Rfe1 Rfe8 14. Nb3 Qc7
15. Rac1 h6 16. Bf4 Qc8 17. b5 Nb8 18. c4 Nbd7 19. c5 Nf8 20. a4 Ne6 21. a5
Nxf4 22. Qxf4 Nh5 23. Qf3 e5 24. dxe5 Rxe5 25. Rxe5 Bxe5 26. b6 Nf4 27. Bf1 Ne6
28. bxa7 Qa8 29. Re1 Bg7 30. Qg4 h5 31. Qb4 Qxa7 32. Qb6 Qxb6 33. cxb6 Bc3 34.
Rd1 d4 35. Bc4 Rc8 36. Bxe6 fxe6 37. Nxd4 Bxa5 38. Rb1 e5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2018.06.23"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2789"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2018.06.23"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 185"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. a4 d6 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1 h6
9. h3 Re8 10. Nbd2 Be6 11. b4 Bxc4 12. Nxc4 Ba7 13. Qc2 d5 14. Ne3 Bxe3 15.
Bxe3 Qd7 16. b5 axb5 17. axb5 Rxa1 18. Rxa1 Ne7 19. Nxe5 Qxb5 20. c4 dxc4 21.
Nxc4 Ng6 22. Rb1 Qa6 23. Bd4 Nh5 24. Be3 Ngf4 25. Kh2 Qc6 26. g4 b5 27. Na3 Qd6
28. Nxb5 Qe5 29. gxh5 Nxd3+ 30. Kg1 Qxe4 31. Rb3 Rd8 32. Nd4 c5 33. Qxd3 Qd5
34. Rb5 Qxh5 35. Qc2 Qxh3 36. Qf5 Qh4 37. Rxc5 g6 38. Qf3 Rb8 39. Kg2 Qe7 40.
Qd5 Re8 41. Rc6 Kh7 42. Nf3 Rd8 43. Qe5 Qd7 44. Rc4 Kg8 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2018.06.24"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2764"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[Annotator "Yermolinsky,A"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2018.06.23"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 185"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Nbd7 6. Nf3 h6 7. Nxf6+ Nxf6
8. Be3 Bd6 9. Bd3 b6 10. Qe2 Bb7 11. O-O-O Nd5 12. c4 Nxe3 13. fxe3 Qe7 14. e4
e5 15. c5 bxc5 16. dxe5 Bxe5 17. Bb5+ c6 18. Nxe5 Qxe5 19. Bc4 Bc8 20. Rhf1 Be6
21. Bxe6 Qxe6 22. Kb1 O-O 23. Rf5 Rab8 24. Rxc5 Rb4 25. Qc2 Rfb8 26. b3 Rxe4
27. Rxc6 Qe8 28. Rc1 Rd4 29. Rc8 Rd8 30. Rxb8 Rxb8 31. Qc5 Qe4+ 32. Rc2 a6 33.
Kb2 Rd8 34. g3 g6 35. Qc3 Qe6 36. Qc6 Qe5+ 37. Qc3 Rd4 38. a4 h5 39. Ka2 Qd5
40. Ka3 Rd3 41. Qc4 Qd6+ 42. Ka2 Kg7 43. Qc6 Qxc6 44. Rxc6 Rd2+ 45. Ka3 Rxh2
46. Rxa6 h4 (46... Rh3 47. a5 Rxg3 48. Rc6 h4) 47. gxh4 Rxh4 48. a5 g5 49. Rb6
g4 50. Rb4 f5 51. a6 (51. Rf4 Kf6 52. Rf1 g3 53. a6 Kg5 54. Rg1 f4 55. b4 Rh8
56. b5 {keeps the pawns on an even course, so a draw is a likely result}) 51...
Rh8 {Kramnik's winning now.} 52. Rf4 Kf6 {This endgame is too complicated for
blitz - mistakes are unavoidable.} (52... Rf8 $1 53. a7 (53. b4 g3 54. Rf1 f4
55. Rg1 Kf6 56. b5 Ke6 57. b6 f3 58. Re1+ Kd7 $19) 53... Kf6 54. b4 Ra8 $19)
53. b4 Kg5 54. Rf1 g3 55. b5 Ra8 56. Kb4 f4 57. Ka5 g2 58. Rg1 f3 59. b6 Kf4 (
59... Rf8 60. a7 Kh4 61. b7 f2 62. b8=Q fxg1=Q $19) 60. b7 Rh8 $4 {Alright,
Kramnik blew a win, but losing it?} (60... f2 61. bxa8=Q fxg1=Q $11) 61. a7 {
White threatens to queen with check.} Ke3 62. b8=Q Rh5+ 63. Ka4 Rh4+ 64. Ka3 f2
65. Qg3+ Ke2 66. Rxg2 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2018.06.24"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C70"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2808"]
[Annotator "Yermolinsky,A"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2018.06.23"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 185"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 b5 5. Bb3 g6 6. d4 exd4 7. Nxd4 Na5 8. O-O
Bg7 9. Re1 Ne7 10. e5 O-O 11. Bg5 c5 12. Bd5 Rb8 13. Nb3 Nxb3 14. axb3 h6 15.
Bh4 Rb6 16. Nc3 g5 17. Bg3 Nf5 18. Ne4 Nxg3 19. hxg3 Bxe5 20. c3 d6 21. Qh5 Bg7
22. Rad1 b4 23. f4 gxf4 24. gxf4 bxc3 25. bxc3 Qd7 26. Rd3 Qf5 27. Qf3 Be6 28.
Ng3 Qg4 29. Qe4 {I bet Kramnik thought he was winning here.} ({A much better
move was} 29. Qxg4 Bxg4 30. Re7) 29... Re8 30. Nf5 Rbb8 31. Rg3 $4 {Logically,
this had to be the concluding move, forcing Black's resignation.} ({In reality
White had to be looking for a bailout:} 31. Nxd6 Bxd5 32. Qxe8+ Rxe8 33. Rxe8+
Kh7 34. Rxd5 Bxc3 35. Ne4 Bg7 36. Nxc5 Qxf4 37. Re4) {However....} 31... Qxf5
0-1

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2018.06.24"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C66"]
[WhiteElo "2782"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[PlyCount "137"]
[EventDate "2018.06.23"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 185"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 d6 5. O-O a6 6. Bxc6+ bxc6 7. Re1 Bg4 8.
Nbd2 Be7 9. h3 Bh5 10. Nf1 Nd7 11. Ng3 Bg6 12. d4 O-O 13. dxe5 dxe5 14. Be3 Bd6
15. Qe2 a5 16. Rad1 Qb8 17. b3 a4 18. Nh4 axb3 19. cxb3 Nc5 20. Nxg6 hxg6 21.
Rc1 Na6 22. h4 Qb5 23. Rc4 Nb8 24. h5 Nd7 25. hxg6 fxg6 26. Qg4 Rf7 27. Re2 Nf8
28. Nf1 c5 29. Nh2 Qe8 30. Nf3 Ne6 31. Qxg6 Rf6 32. Qxe8+ Rxe8 33. Ne1 Kf7 34.
Nd3 Rh8 35. f3 g5 36. Nxc5 Bxc5 37. Bxc5 Rfh6 38. Be3 Rh1+ 39. Kf2 c5 40. a4
Rb1 41. Bxc5 Rhh1 42. Be3 Rhf1+ 43. Kg3 Rxb3 44. a5 Ra3 45. Bb6 Nf4 46. Rc7+
Kg6 47. Rec2 Nh5+ 48. Kh2 g4 49. fxg4 Nf6 50. g3 Nxg4+ 51. Kg2 Rff3 52. R2c6+
Nf6 53. Bf2 Kg5 54. Rg7+ Kh6 55. Rf7 Kg6 56. Rb7 Kg5 57. Rb5 Ng4 58. Be1 Rfd3
59. Rb2 Ne3+ 60. Kh3 Ng4 61. a6 Kh5 62. Rb8 Re3 63. Rh8+ Kg5 64. Bd2 Nf2+ 65.
Kg2 Nxe4 66. Bxe3+ Rxe3 67. a7 Rxg3+ 68. Kf1 Ra3 69. a8=Q 1-0

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2018.06.24"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[PlyCount "159"]
[EventDate "2018.06.23"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 185"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O d6 6. Re1 Nbd7 7. e4 e5 8. Nc3
Re8 9. h3 c6 10. a4 b6 11. Bg5 Bb7 12. Qd2 Qc7 13. Rad1 a6 14. dxe5 dxe5 15.
Qd6 Qxd6 16. Rxd6 h6 17. Bxf6 Nxf6 18. Nd2 Rad8 19. Nc4 Rxd6 20. Nxd6 Re7 21.
Rd1 Bf8 22. Nxb7 Rxb7 23. Rd8 Rc7 24. Bf1 a5 25. Bd3 Kg7 26. Kg2 Be7 27. Ra8
Nd7 28. Bc4 Nc5 29. b3 Nb7 30. Ra7 Bd6 31. Ba6 Nc5 32. Rxc7 Bxc7 33. Bc8 Kf6
34. h4 h5 35. Kf3 Ke7 36. Nd1 Kd8 37. Bh3 Bd6 38. Nb2 b5 39. Ke3 bxa4 40. bxa4
Bc7 41. Bf1 Bb6 42. Kf3 Ke7 43. Bc4 f5 44. exf5 gxf5 45. Be2 Kf6 46. Kg2 Kg6
47. Bf3 e4 48. Be2 Ne6 49. c3 f4 50. f3 fxg3 51. Kxg3 Bc7+ 52. Kf2 Bb6+ 53. Kf1
Nc5 54. fxe4 Bd8 55. e5 Bxh4 56. Bf3 Bg3 57. Nc4 Nxa4 58. Bxc6 Nxc3 59. e6 Kf6
60. Nxa5 Kxe6 61. Kg2 Bc7 62. Nc4 Kf6 63. Ne3 Ke5 64. Be8 Ke4 65. Nf1 h4 66.
Kh3 Bd8 67. Bg6+ Kf4 68. Bd3 Nd5 69. Bc4 Nc3 70. Kg2 Ne4 71. Be6 Ng5 72. Bd7
Ba5 73. Nh2 Be1 74. Nf1 Bc3 75. Bc8 Ke4 76. Bb7+ Kf5 77. Ne3+ Ke5 78. Bc8 Ke4
79. Nd1 Bd4 80. Nf2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2018.06.24"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[Annotator "Yermolinsky,A"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "2018.06.23"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 185"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. b3 d5 3. Bb2 e6 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O c5 7. d4 Nc6 8. e3 b6
9. c4 Ba6 10. Ne5 Rc8 11. Nd2 cxd4 12. Nxc6 Rxc6 13. Bxd4 Rc7 14. Qe2 Bb4 15.
Rfd1 Qe7 16. a3 Bxd2 17. Qxd2 dxc4 18. Be5 Rd7 $4 ({Even I was looking at} 
18... c3 {as the only move.} 19. Qc2 Rd7 20. Rxd7 Nxd7 21. Bxc3 $14) 19. Bxf6
1-0

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2018.06.24"]
[Round "15"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2778"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2018.06.23"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 185"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. b3 c5 7. Bb2 b6 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. d4 Bb7 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. Nc3 Nd7 12. Nxd5 Bxd5 13. Qd3 Qe7 14. Rad1
Rfd8 15. Qc3 Nf6 16. Qe5 Rac8 17. Nh4 Bxg2 18. Rxd8+ Qxd8 19. Kxg2 Bf8 20. Nf3
Rc2 21. Rb1 Qd5 22. Qxd5 Nxd5 23. Kf1 Nb4 24. Nd4 Rc8 25. a3 Nd5 26. Rc1 Rxc1+
27. Bxc1 a6 28. e4 Nc3 29. f3 Bc5 30. Nc6 b5 31. Ke1 f5 32. b4 Bd6 33. Bb2 Na4
34. Bd4 fxe4 35. fxe4 Kf7 36. Kd2 g6 37. Ke3 Ke8 38. Na5 e5 39. Ba7 Kd7 40. Kd2
Bc7 41. Nb3 Nb2 42. Bf2 Nc4+ 43. Kc3 Kc6 44. Nd2 Nxd2 45. Kxd2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2018.06.24"]
[Round "16"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B13"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2816"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2018.06.23"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 185"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 c5 4. c3 cxd4 5. exd4 Nc6 6. Ne5 a6 7. Bd3 g6 8. O-O
Bg7 9. Re1 O-O 10. Nd2 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Nd7 12. Nf3 Nc5 13. Nd4 Bg4 14. f3 Bd7 15.
Bg5 Re8 16. Bh4 b5 17. Kh1 Rc8 18. Bf1 Qb6 19. Qd2 a5 20. a3 Qb7 21. Rad1 Ne6
22. Nxe6 Bxe6 23. Bf2 Rb8 24. b4 Ra8 25. Bc5 axb4 26. Bxb4 Rab8 27. Qd4 Red8
28. Qh4 Rd7 29. Rd4 Qc7 30. Qg3 Bf5 31. Re3 Bc2 32. Qe1 e6 33. h4 Bf8 34. Qf2
Bb3 35. h5 Bc5 36. Bxc5 Qxc5 37. Qh4 Qxa3 38. hxg6 fxg6 39. Kh2 Qc1 40. Re1
Qxc3 41. Rd3 Qc2 42. Qf6 Re8 43. Ra1 Bc4 44. Ra6 Rf7 45. Rxe6 Rxf6 46. Rxe8+
Rf8 0-1

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2018.06.24"]
[Round "17"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2018.06.23"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 185"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5
8. Rxe5 O-O 9. Nc3 Ne8 10. Nd5 Bd6 11. Re1 c6 12. Ne3 Bc7 13. Nf5 d5 14. Ne7+
Kh8 15. Nxc8 Rxc8 16. d3 f5 17. Bd2 Nf6 18. g3 Qd7 19. Qf3 Ng4 20. Bh3 h5 21.
Bf4 Bb6 22. Bxg4 fxg4 23. Qe2 Rce8 24. Qd2 Bd4 25. c3 Bf6 26. Bg5 Be5 27. Re2
Bd6 28. Rxe8 Rxe8 29. Re1 Rxe1+ 30. Qxe1 Kh7 31. Qe3 Qf5 32. Be7 Bxe7 33. Qxe7
Qxd3 34. Qxb7 Qd1+ 35. Kg2 Qf3+ 36. Kg1 Qd1+ 37. Kg2 Qf3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Paris GCT blitz"]
[Site "Paris"]
[Date "2018.06.24"]
[Round "18"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A28"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2789"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2018.06.23"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "22"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 185"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.07.13"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d3 Bb4 5. Bd2 O-O 6. e3 Re8 7. Be2 d5 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. O-O Nb6 10. a3 Bf8 11. b4 Bf5 12. Qc2 Qd7 13. Rfd1 Rad8 14. Ne4 Nd5 15.
b5 Nb8 16. a4 c6 17. Qb2 Qc7 18. Rac1 a5 19. Ng3 Bg4 20. b6 Qe7 21. Bxa5 Nd7
22. h3 Bxf3 23. Bxf3 Ra8 24. Be1 Qa3 25. Qxa3 Bxa3 26. Bxd5 Bxc1 27. Bc4 Bxe3
28. fxe3 Nxb6 29. a5 Nxc4 30. dxc4 Red8 31. Rb1 Rd3 32. Kf2 Rd7 33. Ne4 Ra7 34.
Nc5 Re7 35. a6 b5 36. cxb5 cxb5 37. Rxb5 Ra8 38. Rb7 Ree8 1-0

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2672"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Qf3 Bg6 8.
Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Qxf6 gxf6 10. Nf3 Nd7 11. Nh4 Be7 12. Ne2 {A relatively new move
order in this well-known position, introduced by Magnus Carlsen two years ago.}
({In the event of} 12. g3 Nb6 13. f3 (13. Ne2 {can now be met with} Bb4+ 14.
Kd1 Nc4) (13. O-O-O Nc8) 13... Nc8 14. Kf2 Nd6 {Black rearranges his pieces in
a proper way. A recent example from GM practice:} 15. Rd1 a5 16. b3 Kd7 17.
Bh3+ Kd8 18. Rhe1 f5 19. Ng2 h5 20. Nf4 Bg5 21. Nxg6 fxg6 22. e4 fxe4 23. fxe4
dxe4 24. Nxe4 Rf8+ 25. Kg2 Nxe4 26. Rxe4 Kc7 $11 {1/2 (28) Moiseenko,A (2649)
-Rakhmanov,A (2653) Izmir 2016}) 12... f5 (12... Nb6 {is too late as this
knight can't reach d6 and control the f5-square in time:} 13. Ng3 Bb4+ (13...
Nc8 14. f4 $16 {[%cal Rf4f5]}) 14. Kd1 Na4 15. Ngf5 $1 Kd7 (15... Nxb2+ 16. Kc2
Nc4 17. Bxc4 dxc4 18. Rhb1 c5 19. a3 Ba5 20. Nxg6 hxg6 21. Nd6+ Kd7 22. Nxb7
$16 {1-0 (29) Holt,C (2561)-Miller,D (2219) Norfolk 2017}) 16. Rb1 Ke6 $6 {
[%csl Re6]} (16... Rhc8 $142 17. Bd3 $14 {M.Marin}) 17. Bd3 Rhc8 18. Ke2 Bf8
19. g4 c5 $6 (19... Kd7 $142 {M.Marin}) 20. Ng2 $1 $16 {[%cal Rg2f4,Rh2h4] 1-0
(50) Carlsen,M (2851)-Kramnik,V (2801) Stavanger 2016 CBM 172 [Marin,M]}) (
12... Bb4+ 13. Kd1 O-O-O 14. Ng3 Nf8 15. Ngf5 Ne6 16. Bd3 Ba5 17. Ke2 Rhe8 18.
g3 Bb6 19. Rad1 Kb8 20. Kf1 c5 21. dxc5 Nxc5 22. Kg2 $14 {M. Marin}) 13. g3 $5
{[%mdl 32] White is not concerned about doubling his pawns as he will dominate
on the dark squares.} (13. Nf3 {is less energetic but possible, too:} Nf6 14.
a3 Bd6 15. g3 Ke7 16. Nh4 Ng4 (16... Ne4 17. f3 Ng5 18. Kf2 Kf6 19. h3 Ne6 20.
Rd1 a5 21. Ng2 Rhe8 22. h4 h6 23. Ngf4 Re7 24. Bh3 Rae8 25. Rhe1 $14 {1/2 (69)
Martinovic,S (2551)-Kovacevic,B (2483) Valpovo 2017}) 17. Ng2 a5 18. f3 Nf6 19.
Nef4 Ne8 20. Bd3 Bc7 21. Rc1 a4 22. Kf2 Ra5 23. h4 h5 24. g4 Ng7 25. g5 $14 {
0-1 (71) Parligras,M (2599)-Kovalenko,I (2644) Gjakova 2016}) 13... Bxh4 (13...
Nb6 14. Nf4 Nc8 15. Bd3 Nd6 16. b4 a6 17. Ke2 Ne4 18. a3 Kd7 19. Rhc1 Rhe8 20.
Nhg2 Nd6 21. h4 h6 22. a4 b5 23. Rc2 Ne4 24. Rac1 Rec8 25. axb5 axb5 26. f3 $14
{1-0 (50) Bai,J (2586)-Sethuraman,S (2633) Chengdu 2017}) (13... Nf6 14. Bh3
Ng4 15. Nf4 Bd6 16. Ke2 a5 17. Kf3 Nh6 18. Bf1 Ng8 19. Bd3 Ne7 {1-0 (74)
Volkov,S (2618)-Rakhmanov,A (2664) Khanty-Mansiysk 2016 , and here White
should have probably played} 20. Kg2 $14 {[%cal Yh4f3,Yh2h4]}) (13... Nf8 $5 {
needs closer examination. In the following games GM Miroslaw Grabarczyk held
his ground:} 14. Ng2 (14. Nf4 Bxh4 15. gxh4 Ne6 16. Be2 Nxf4 17. exf4 f6 18.
Rg1 Rg8 19. Kd2 Kf8 20. Rg3 Be8 21. Bd3 Bd7 22. Re1 Kf7 {1/2 (22) Fedorovsky,M
(2498)-Grabarczyk,M (2441) Germany 2017}) 14... h5 15. h4 Nd7 16. Ngf4 Nf6 17.
Nd3 a5 18. Nef4 Bd6 19. Be2 Ke7 20. f3 Nd7 21. Kf2 Kf6 22. Rhc1 Ra7 23. a4 Re8
{1/2 (23) Ahlander,B (2435)-Grabarczyk,M (2402) Bremen GER 2018}) 14. gxh4 Nf6
(14... Ke7 15. Nf4 h6 16. b4 Nf8 17. Rg1 Kf6 18. h5 Bh7 19. Nd3 $6 (19. b5 $5)
19... Ne6 20. f4 a5 21. b5 cxb5 22. Bg2 Rhg8 23. Kd2 Rad8 24. a3 Ke7 25. Bf3
Rxg1 26. Rxg1 Nc7 27. Rc1 Kd6 28. Nc5 Rb8 29. Rg1 {1/2 (29) Moiseenko,A (2648)
-Cyborowski,L (2524) Germany 2016}) 15. f3 {This move is probably unnecessary.}
(15. Rg1 Ke7 16. Nf4 Nh5 17. Be2 Nxf4 18. exf4 h5 19. Rg3 Kd6 20. Kd2 Rae8 21.
Bd3 a5 22. Re3 Rxe3 23. fxe3 b5 24. Rc1 f6 25. Rg1 Rh6 $14 {1/2 (60)
Batchuluun,T (2571)-Usmanov,V (2463) St Petersburg RUS 2017}) (15. Ng3 $5 {
was probably the most promising:} f4 $6 (15... Nh5 $6 16. Be2 $1) (15... Kf8 $5
{[%cal Yf5f4,Ya8e8]} 16. Be2 $5) 16. exf4 Nh5 17. Nxh5 Bxh5 18. Rg1 Kf8 19. Kd2
Re8 20. Bd3 h6 21. Rg3 Re6 22. Rag1 Ke7 23. Rg8 Rxg8 24. Rxg8 Kf6 25. f5 $16 {
1/2 (57) Lorparizangeneh,S (2515)-Usmanov,V (2455) St Petersburg RUS 2017})
15... Ke7 16. Rg1 Nh5 17. Kf2 Rae8 18. b4 f4 {[%mdl 512] This is more to the
point now: Black's bishop becomes active, and White can't push f4-f5 to "kill"
it.} 19. Nxf4 Nxf4 20. exf4 Kf6 21. a4 Bf5 22. Ra2 Re7 23. Re2 Rxe2+ 24. Bxe2
a6 25. Ke3 h6 26. Kd2 Ra8 {Anticipating the opening of the a-file in the event
of b4-b5.} 27. a5 {After this move White can't break through anywhere, and the
game ends in a draw.} Re8 28. h5 Rc8 29. Ke3 Re8+ 30. Kf2 Rc8 31. Ke1 Re8 32.
Kd2 Rc8 33. Bd3 Bxd3 34. Kxd3 Re8 35. h4 Rc8 36. Ke3 Re8+ 37. Kf2 Rc8 38. Re1
Ra8 39. Re5 Rb8 40. Re3 Ra8 41. f5 Rc8 42. Re1 Rd8 43. Kg3 Rc8 44. Kf2 Rd8 45.
Kg3 Rc8 46. Kf2 Rd8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.15"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E21"]
[WhiteElo "2733"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 O-O 5. Bg5 c5 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 cxd4 8. exd4
d5 9. Rc1 Nc6 10. a3 Be7 11. c5 Ne4 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Be2 Rd8 14. O-O e5 15.
Nxe5 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Nxc3 17. Rxc3 d4 18. Rc1 Qxe5 19. Bd3 Bf5 20. b4 a5 21. Re1
Qxe1+ 22. Qxe1 Bxd3 23. bxa5 Rac8 24. Qe7 Ba6 25. c6 Re8 26. Qb4 Rxc6 27. Rxc6
bxc6 28. h4 d3 29. Kh2 Kh7 30. Qd6 Re6 31. Qd7 Rf6 32. Qd4 h5 33. a4 Re6 34.
Kg3 Rg6+ 35. Kf3 Re6 36. Kg3 g6 37. Qa7 Kg7 38. Qd4+ Kg8 39. Qd8+ Kh7 40. Qd4
Re2 41. Qd7 Bc4 42. Qxc6 Rc2 43. Qe4 Rc3 44. Qd4 Rc2 45. Qe4 Rc3 46. Qd4 Rc2
47. Qe4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.17"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Meier, Georg"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2628"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. c3 c5 8.
Be3 Qc7 9. Bb5+ Bd7 10. Bxd7+ Nxd7 11. d5 exd5 12. Qxd5 Nf6 13. Qc4 Bd6 14. Bg5
Qe7+ 15. Kf1 O-O 16. Re1 Qd8 17. g3 h6 18. Bxf6 Qxf6 19. Kg2 Rfd8 20. Re4 Qf5
21. Rd1 Qc8 22. Rd5 Qc7 23. g4 Bf8 24. Rde5 g6 25. h4 Bd6 26. Rd5 Bf8 27. Rxd8
Rxd8 28. h5 gxh5 29. gxh5 Qc6 30. Rg4+ Bg7 31. Rg3 Rd5 32. Qh4 b5 33. b3 Qe6
34. c4 bxc4 35. bxc4 Rd3 36. Rg4 Rc3 37. Qg3 Qf6 38. Qb8+ Kh7 39. Qb1+ Kh8 40.
Qb8+ Kh7 41. Rf4 Qe6 42. Qb1+ Kg8 43. Re4 Qc8 44. a4 Bd4 45. Rf4 Be5 46. Rf5
Bg7 47. Rf4 Be5 48. Rf5 Bg7 49. Rf4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.18"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Duda, Jan Krzysztof"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2737"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Bg2 d6 ({The traditional main
lines are} 5... O-O 6. O-O e4 7. Ng5 ({or} 7. Ne1 Bxc3 8. dxc3) 7... Bxc3 8.
bxc3 {but the English Opening is not flexible from White's point of view only.
Black can also experiment in many ways!}) 6. O-O O-O 7. d3 Bxc3 {Black has
waited with this and the next move until White has exposed his d-pawn to the
exchange.} ({Against the flexible} 7... h6 8. Na4 {has been White's main
choice at top level in a couple of recent games..} (8. Nd5 Bc5 9. e3 {
transposes to a tabyia from the 5.Nd5 line.}) (8. Bd2 {is solid but not very
active. Black's most logical continuation is} a5 {as played in a few games.})
8... a5 9. b3 Qe7 (9... Re8 10. Bb2 Bf5 11. e3 {Svidler,P (2757)-Nakamura,H 
(2790) Moscow 2016 CBM 172 [Sagar Shah/CB Website] (½-½, 30)}) 10. Bb2 Bc5
11. e3 {Aronian,L (2786)-Topalov,V (2780) Moscow 2016 CBM 172 [Mekhitarian,K] 
(½-½, 58)}) 8. bxc3 e4 {The only consequent continuation.} ({If} 8... h6 {
White can consolidate his centre with} 9. e4 {[%cal Gf3e1,Ge1c2,Gc2e3,Gf2f4]
Black's position remains playable, of course, but White's play is preferable.}
Be6 10. Ne1 Nd7 11. Nc2 f5 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Ne3 Bg6 14. Ba3 Kh8 15. Rb1 Rb8
16. Kh1 Nb6 17. Rb2 Qe8 18. c5 $36 {Zvjaginsev,V (2659)-Artemiev,V (2524)
Khanty-Mansiysk 2013 (1-0, 45)}) 9. Nd4 exd3 ({If} 9... Ne5 {White retains
some initiative by provoking radical structural changes:} 10. dxe4 ({Actually} 
10. f4 exf3 11. exf3 $5 $146 {is also promising, even though it is frustrating
that White is basically a tempo down with respect to the line with ...Ne5
after the exchange on d3.} c5 12. Nc2 Re8 13. Ne3 $14 {[%cal Gg3g4,Gd3d4]})
10... Nxc4 11. Qb3) 10. exd3 Nxd4 {The standard reaction in this type of
position. Optically this exchange strengthens White's centre (which would be
absolutely true if he could play d4-d5) but Black will block the double pawns
with ...d6-d5, leaving the final evaluation under some shadow.} (10... Bd7 {
is passive and Black would probably have to take on d4 at some later point
anyway.} 11. Rb1 Rb8 12. h3 Nxd4 13. cxd4 b5 14. Bd2 bxc4 15. dxc4 Bf5 16. Rb3
$14 {Arkhipov,S (2440)-Ilincic,Z (2480) Kecskemet 1990 (½-½, 38)}) (10... Ne5
11. f4 {Now there is no more ...exf3 in the way and this gains space without
waste of time.} Ng6 12. Rb1 c5 13. Nc2 Rb8 14. f5 Ne5 15. Ne3 b6 16. g4 Bb7 17.
Bxb7 Rxb7 18. g5 Ne8 19. h4 $16 {Nepomniachtchi,I (2718)-Savchenko,B (2580)
Sochi 2012 (1-0, 32)}) 11. cxd4 d5 (11... c6 {may be a bit more flexible, as
Bg5 does not make sense before Black has exposed his d-pawn. But it also
offers White a tempo to switch to some other plan.} 12. h3 ({Since in the
lines below I mention Bf4 a couple of times, I would also consider the untested
} 12. Bf4 $5 $14 {as Black cannot really avoid ...d6-d5 in the long run.})
12... Be6 ({This exposes the bishop a bit too early. After} 12... d5 {I would
consider} 13. Bf4 Be6 14. Rc1 $14 {[%cal Gf4e5,Gg3g4]}) 13. g4 d5 14. c5 b6 15.
f4 $1 $14 {Uhlmann,W (2495)-Liebert,H (2395) Germany 1992 (½-½, 55)}) 12. Bg5
{A logical move from the perspective of the fight for the centre. But its
drawback is that it forces matters at an early stage, with the risk of
offering White only the more pleasant side of a draw.} ({Once again the more
neutral} 12. Bf4 {comes into consideration.}) 12... c6 $146 (12... h6 {loses a
pawn without clear compensation.} 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. cxd5 {White's central
pawns are tripled, but Black's problem is that his c7-pawn is vulnerable.} Bd7
(14... Qxd4 15. Rc1 $14 {wins the c-pawn soon.}) 15. Qb3 Rab8 16. Rac1 Qd6 17.
Rfe1 Rfe8 18. Rxe8+ Bxe8 19. Qc4 Bd7 20. Qc5 {[%csl Ga7]} (20. Qxc7 $2 Rc8 $15
{[%cal Rc7f4] wins the queen as if} 21. Qxd6 $2 Rxc1+ 22. Bf1 Bh3 $19) 20... b6
(20... Qa6 21. Qxc7 Rc8 22. Qf4 Rxc1+ 23. Qxc1 Qxd3 24. h3 Qxd4 25. Qc7 $16 {
[%csl Gd5]}) 21. Qxd6 cxd6 22. Rc7 $14 {Malich,B-Hecht,H Skopje 1972 (½-½,
74)}) 13. cxd5 cxd5 {Black has a pawn majority while White does not. But White
is better developed and exerts pressure on d5. Besides, White has the
e5-square for his pieces, while e4 is unavailable for the black pieces. In
principle White's chances are slightly better but in case of simplifications
the tables could turn.} 14. Qb3 (14. Qf3 $5 h6 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Qxf6 gxf6 {
Optically this looks pleasant for White as Black's kingside structure is in
ruins. But Kramnik must have thought this to be irrelevant without queens on
board. And yet, White retains some pressure.} 17. Rfc1 Bf5 18. Rc3 Rfd8 19. Re1
$14) 14... b6 {Preparing ...Be6.} (14... h6 15. Bf4 $5 (15. Bxf6 Qxf6 {[%csl
Gd4][%cal Gf8d8]}) 15... Bf5 16. Be5 $14 {[%cal Gh2h3,Gg3g4,Gf2f4]}) 15. Rae1 {
Kramnik chose precisely this rook, in order to maintain the possibility of
f4-f5.} ({Another possible plan was} 15. Rac1 h6 16. Bf4 $14 {and apart from
Be5 White can plan the intrusion to c7.}) 15... h6 {With hindsight, a correct
move, but not the only one.} (15... Be6 $5 16. f4 Qd7 17. Re5 Bf5 18. Bxf6 gxf6
19. Rxd5 Qe6 $44) 16. Bxf6 (16. Bf4 {makes less sense as Black is in time to
defend against the intrusion along the c-file} Be6) 16... Qxf6 17. Re5 Be6 {
Black's position out of the opening is entirely satisfactory.} 18. f4 {Kramnik
must have planned f4-f5 before taking on d5, but if so he probably overlooked
that this would not avoid the exchange of bishops. The way the game went the
last move is just a weakening of the second rank.} ({But the immediate capture
} 18. Bxd5 {does not seem too annoying, either:} Bxd5 19. Qxd5 Rac8 20. Rfe1
Rfd8 21. Qe4 Rc2 22. Rf5 Qd6 {and White's extra pawn is not too relevant
despite White's optical domination} 23. Qe7 $5 Rc7 $1) 18... Rac8 19. Rfe1 ({If
} 19. f5 Bd7 20. Bxd5 {Black has} Bc6 $11 {with similar play as in the game.
One important detail is that after} 21. Be4 {Black has} Rfd8 {[%csl Gd4] and
White's position is not as solid as it may seem.}) 19... Rc7 $5 {[%cal Gf8c8]
Defending the seventh rank and clearing the c8-square for the king's rook or
bishop.} 20. Bxd5 (20. f5 Bc8 21. Bxd5 Bxf5) 20... Bxd5 21. Qxd5 Rc2 22. Re8 {
The crucial moment. White seems to have some initiative but his weak second
rank restricts his possibilities. Black has to parry Rxf8+ followed by Qa8+
mating soon.} Rc8 $2 {Possibly overlooking the next move.} (22... g6 $44 {
or even}) (22... g5 $5 $44 {would have offered approximately equal chances.})
23. Qd7 $1 $16 {Suddenly Black faces the danger of landing in a very
unpleasant, possibly lost, ending. He can only choose whether it would be a
rook ending or a queen ending or a middlegame with an exposed king. In all the
cases White's double pawns would be strong.} Rd8 $6 (23... Ra8 $6 24. Rxa8 Rxa8
25. Re8+ Rxe8 26. Qxe8+ Kh7 27. Qe5 Qg6 {Otherwise White would simply push his
d4-pawn.} 28. Qe4 Kg8 29. Qxg6 $1 {Not an easy decision to take over the board.
Usually, an extra pawn offers a decisive advantage in pawn endings with many
pawns, but here White's pawns are doubled and Black has an outside majority.
But as we will see White's space advantage will incline the balance to his
favour.} fxg6 30. Kf2 Kf7 31. d5 Ke7 32. Ke3 Kd6 33. Ke4 $5 {Probably the most
precise, anticipating ...g6-g5.} b5 (33... g5 34. Kf5 $1 {Targeting g7.} gxf4
35. gxf4 b5 36. Kg6 a5 37. Kxg7 {and White wins by just one tempo.} b4 38. f5
a4 39. f6 b3 40. axb3 axb3 41. f7 b2 42. f8=Q+) 34. h4 $1 {Blocking the
kingside and putting Black into zugzwang soon.} a5 35. Kd4 h5 (35... b4 36. Kc4
$18) 36. a3 b4 37. axb4 axb4 38. Kc4 b3 39. Kxb3 Kxd5 40. Kc3 $18) ({The best
chance for survival might have been} 23... Rcxe8 24. Rxe8 g5 (24... Rxe8 25.
Qxe8+ {transposes above.}) (24... g6 25. Kf2 Kg7 26. Ke3 $18) 25. Re4 $5 $16 {
with attacking chances.}) 24. Rxd8 Qxd8 25. Re7 Qc8 26. Qxc8 Rxc8 27. Kf2 $18 {
The strength of the double pawns consists of the fact that one could advance
to promotion while the other one would protect the king from checks.} Kf8 (
27... a6 28. Ra7 Rc2+ 29. Ke3 Kf8 (29... Rxa2 30. Ra8+ Kh7 31. d5 {promotes.})
30. d5 Rxa2 31. d6 Ke8 32. Re7+ Kd8 (32... Kf8 33. Re4 $1 {makes the pawn
unstoppable.}) 33. Rxf7 g6 34. h4 b5 35. h5 gxh5 36. f5 $18 {Black's connected
pawns are too slow.}) 28. Rxa7 Rc2+ 29. Ke3 Rxh2 30. d5 g5 (30... Ke8 31. d6
Rg2 32. Kf3 Rd2 33. Ke4 Rg2 34. Kd5 Rxg3 35. Kc6 $18) 31. f5 f6 32. d6 Ke8 33.
Kd4 h5 34. Kd5 b5 35. Ke6 Re2+ 36. Kxf6 h4 37. Re7+ $1 {The most convincing.} (
37. Re7+ Rxe7 38. dxe7 hxg3 39. Ke6 g2 40. f6 g1=Q 41. f7#) ({But there was
nothing wrong with} 37. gxh4 gxh4 38. Rh7 $18) 1-0

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.20"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C78"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[Annotator "Nepomniachtchi,I"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 {I did not expect this. Vladimir usually chooses
the Berlin Defence.  Das kam für mich unerwartet. In der Regel wählt
Vladimir die Berliner Verteidigung.} 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 ({The further
course of the game leads us to the idea that with the more usual move order
Der weitere Partieverlauf bringt uns auf die Idee, dass bei der
gewöhnlicheren Zugfolge} 5... b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. a4 (7. Nxe5 Nxe5 8. d4 Bxd4 9.
Qxd4 d6 $11) {the idea die Idee} 7... b4 {fails to an} 8. Nxe5 Nxe5 9. d4 Bxd4
10. Qxd4 {- in this case the white bishop needs not fear the advance c5-c4.
scheitert - in diesem Fall braucht der weiße Läufer den Vorstoß c5-c4 nicht
zu fürchten.}) 6. c3 b5 ({This year Wojtaszek against Topalov and Carlsen
against Karjakin played In diesem Jahr spielten Wojtaszek gegen Topalov und
Carlsen gegen Karjakin} 6... O-O 7. d4 Ba7 {, although this variation is not
considered to be the safest , obwohl diese Variante nicht als die sicherste
gilt.}) 7. Bb3 (7. Bc2 d5 {leads to very sharp and irrational lines, which, as
I know, have been analysed out to a dtraw. führt zu sehr scharfen und
irrationalen Abspielen, die, wie ich weiß, bis zum Remis ausanalysiert sind.})
7... d6 8. a4 b4 $5 {This move was a revelation for me. Now White's thrust in
the cehtre will follow under less favourable conditions for Black, because in
some variations the b4-pawn will be left hanging. Dieser Zug war für mich
eine Offenbarung. Jetzt wird der weiße Schlag in der Mitte unter für den
Nachziehenden ungünstigeren Bedingungen erfolgen, weil in einigen Varianten
der Bauer b4 hängen wird.} ({Other continuations are seen much more often:
Viel öfter kommen andere Fortsetzungen vor:} 8... Rb8) (8... Bg4) (8... Bb7)
9. d4 Ba7 10. Bg5 ({The exchange of queens looks tempting,but in the
resiulting endgame Black would get counterplay thanks to his active pieces and
the opening of the b-file: Der Damentausch sieht verlockend aus, aber im
danach entstehenden Endspiel bekäme Schwarz dank seinen aktiven Figuren und
dem Öffnen der b-Linie Gegenspiel:} 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Nxe5 dxe5 12. Qxd8+ Kxd8
13. Nd2 (13. Bxf7 Rf8 14. Bd5 Nxd5 15. exd5 a5 16. Be3 Bxe3 17. fxe3 Rxf1+ 18.
Kxf1 bxc3 $11) 13... Ke7 14. cxb4 Be6 (14... Rb8 15. Bc2 Rxb4 16. b3 $16) 15.
Bxe6 Kxe6 16. b3 Bd4 17. Ra2 c5 18. bxc5 Bxc5 {and after the activation of his
rooks Black should achieve equality. und nach dem Aktivieren seiner Türme
sollte Schwarz Ausgleich erreichen.}) ({The immediate Das unverzügliche} 10.
Bd5 {does not look particularly convincing: sieht nicht besonders überzeugend
aus:} Nxd5 11. exd5 Ne7 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. Nxe5 Qxd5 (13... O-O 14. cxb4 Qd6 15.
Nc4 Qxd5 $44) 14. Qxd5 Nxd5 15. Nc6 bxc3 16. Rd1 Be6 17. Nxc3 Nxc3 18. bxc3 Bc5
(18... O-O 19. Ba3 Rfe8 20. a5 $14) 19. Bf4 O-O $11) 10... Rb8 11. Bd5 (11.
dxe5 {still does not promise any advantage: verspricht immer noch keinen
Vorteil:} Nxe5 12. Nxe5 dxe5 13. Qxd8+ Kxd8 14. Bxf7 bxc3 15. Nxc3 (15. bxc3
Rf8 {with obvious compensation for the pawn mit offensichtlicher Kompensation
für den Bauern}) 15... Rxb2 16. Nd5 Bd4 $5 17. Rad1 (17. Nxf6 h6 $1 18. Bh4 g5
19. Bg3 Rf8 20. Rab1 (20. Rad1 Ke7) 20... Rxb1 21. Rxb1 Rxf7 22. Rd1 Bd7 {
and here it is White who has to be thinking about getting equality und hier
ist bereits Weiß derjenige, der sich um Ausgleich Gedanken machen muss}) 17...
h6 18. Bc1 Rb8 $13) ({At the board the following continuation appeared
interesting to me: Interessant schien mir am Brett die Fortsetzung} 11. a5 $5
O-O 12. Ba4 Ne7 (12... Nxa5 13. cxb4 Nc4 (13... Rxb4 14. Bd2 $16) 14. Qc2 Rxb4
15. Bb3 Nb6 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. Nxe5 $16) 13. Nbd2 (13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Nbd2 Ng6 {
- in spite of the compromised pawn structure Black has good play - trotz der
kompromittierten Bauernstruktur hat Schwarz vollwertiges Spiel}) 13... Ng6 14.
h3 {It is probably easier to play with White here, but the main battleground
still lies ahead. Es ist wohl leichter, hier mit Weiß zu spielen, aber der
Hauptkampf steht noch bevor.}) 11... Ne7 12. dxe5 ({I took aim at the e5-pawn
without noticing a good "positional" alternative: Ich habe den Bauern e5 ins
Visier genommen, ohne dabei eine gute "positionelle" Alternative zu bemerken:} 
12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Bc4 Ng6 14. Nbd2 O-O 15. a5 {with comfortable play, but here
too, e.g. after mit bequemem Spiel. Aber auch hier steht dem Schwarzen z. B.
nach} {. hat Schwarz z. B. nach} f5 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. Qc2 Kh8 $5 {Black has a
series of interesting alternatives open to him. eine Reihe interessanter Ideen
zur Verfügung.}) 12... Nfxd5 13. exd5 O-O (13... dxe5 $2 14. Nxe5 $18) 14.
exd6 Qxd6 15. c4 Nf5 {Up till this point Kramnik had been playing like
lightning and at this moment already had a few extra minutes - for that reason
alone I had no great illusions about my position. White's pawn centre is very
unstable, and in addition almost all the opposing pieces are involved in the
action.  Bis jetzt spielte Kramnik blitzschnell und sammelte zu diesem Moment
bereits ein paar Bonusminuten ein - allein aus diesem Grund hatte ich
bezüglich meiner Stellung keine großen Illusionen. Das Bauernzentrum von
Weiß ist sehr instabil, außerdem nehmen bereits fast alle gegnerischen
Figuren am Spiel teil.} 16. Nbd2 {Simple and sensible - White completes his
development. Einfach und vernünftig - Weiß beendet seine Entwicklung.} ({
The computer recommends Der Computer empfiehlt} 16. Qc1 $5 f6 17. Bf4 Qd7 18.
Nbd2 g5 19. Bg3 {and now both und jetzt benötigt sowohl} h5 ({and also als
auch} 19... g4 20. Nh4 Nxg3 21. hxg3 f5) 20. Ne4 Qg7 21. d6 h4 22. dxc7 Rb6 23.
c5 Re6 {require careful analysis. eine sorgfältige Analyse.}) 16... f6 ({
Of course not Natürlich nicht} 16... h6 $2 17. Ne4 Qg6 18. Ne5 $18) 17. Bh4 {
The critical position. Black has a choice:  a) recover the pawn at once and in
doing so retain the advantage of the bishop pair,  b) break open the centre,
before the white pieces can improve their coordination or  c) complete his
development with natural moves. Die kritische Stellung. Schwarz hat die Wahl: 
a) sofort den Bauern zurückgewinnen und dabei den Vorteil des Läuferpaares
behalten,  b) das Zentrum sprengen, noch bevor die weißen Figuren ihre
Koordination verbessern oder  c) mit natürlichen Zügen die Entwicklung
beenden.} Qf4 $6 {Kramnik chooses the first option. Let us take a look at the
other two possibilities one after the other: Kramnik wählt die erste Option.
Schauen wir uns die zwei anderen Möglichkeiten der Reihe nach an:} ({I. I.} 
17... g5 {During the game this move seemed to me rather committal. After it
Black has no more chances to attack the g2-pawn. Additionally: he was able to
recover the material sacrificed without weakening his position. Nevertheless
the idea of g5-g4 adds to his supply of further options. Während der Partie
schien mir dieser Zug ziemlich verpflichtend zu sein. Danach hat Schwarz keine
Möglichkeiten mehr, den Bauern g2 anzugreifen. Außerdem: er konnte doch das
geopferte Material zurückgewinnen, ohne seine Stellung zu schwächen.
Nichtsdestotrotz bereichert die Idee g5-g4 seinen Vorrat von weiteren Optionen.
} 18. Bg3 Nxg3 19. hxg3 Qxg3 (19... g4 20. Ne4 (20. Nh2 {is too passive ist zu
passiv}) 20... Qe7 21. Nd4 $1 (21. Nfd2 $2 f5 $19) 21... Qxe4 ({In the event
of malerische Positionen können im Falle von} 21... Bd7 $5 {picturesque
positions can arise. entstehen} 22. Re1 Qg7 (22... f5 23. Nd2 Qf6 24. N2b3 f4
25. Qd2 $14) 23. Nb5 $5 axb5 24. axb5 Rb7 (24... Ra8 25. d6 c6 26. c5 f5 27.
Qb3+ Kh8 28. b6 fxe4 29. Qxb4 Bf5 30. Qc4 $36) (24... Bb6 25. c5 f5 26. cxb6
fxe4 27. bxc7 Rxb5 28. Rxe4 Rc5 29. d6 Qxb2 $13) 25. d6 c6 26. c5 f5 27. Qb3+
Kh8 28. b6 Bxb6 29. cxb6 fxe4 30. Qxb4 Qe5 $13) 22. Nc6 Bb7 $8 (22... Ra8 {
(22...Rb7 can hardly change matters) (22...Rb7 kann kaum etwas ändern)} 23.
Re1 {and on account of the fork on e7 the black queen is facing the road to
rhe scaffold: und wegen der Gabel auf e7 steht der schwarzen Dame der Weg zum
Schafott bevor:} Qxc4 24. Rc1 Qa2 25. Re2 {winning mit Gewinn}) 23. Nxa7 (23.
Re1 {leads to an amusing draw. führt zu einem witzigen Remisschluss:} Bxf2+
24. Kxf2 Qf5+ 25. Qf3 Qc2+ (25... gxf3 26. Ne7+ Kh8 27. Nxf5 {with a won
endgame. mit gewonnenem Endspiel}) 26. Qe2 Qf5+ $11) 23... Qxc4 24. Nc6 Bxc6
25. dxc6 Rfd8 26. Qe1 {and thanks to the position of the black king having
become too exposed White can still set his opponent some problems. und dank
der zu offen gewordenen Lage des schwarzen Königs kann der Anziehende dem
Gegner noch Probleme bereiten.}) 20. c5 Qf4 21. Nb3 (21. Rc1 g4 $36) 21... Bb7
22. Na5 (22. c6 Bc8 $36) 22... Ba8 {There is not a nice future in store for
all, but at least one of the black bishops will make the break to freedom. For
example: Eine schöne Zukunft ist nicht für alle vorherbestimmt, aber
mindestens einer der schwarzen Läufer wird in die Freiheit ausbrechen. Zum
Beispiel:} 23. Nd4 (23. c6 g4 $19) 23... Bxd5 24. Ndc6 Rbd8 25. Nxd8 ({the
position with the two knights on the edge which occurs after die Position mit
den beiden Springern am Rand, die nach} 25. Nxa7 {looks too risky for White -
entsteht, sieht für den Anziehenden zu riskant aus -} Bxg2 26. Qb3+ Bd5 27.
Qg3 Qe4 28. Kh2 Rde8 29. Rae1 Qxe1 30. Rxe1 Rxe1 {White's position appears
quite terrible, but the computer holds the draw: Die weiße Stellung scheint
ganz schrecklich zu sein, aber der Computer hält Remis:} 31. Qxc7 Rh1+ ({
or oder} 31... Rfe8 32. N7c6 h5 33. Nd4 (33. Qd6 Rh1+ 34. Kg3 h4+ 35. Kg4 Be6+
36. Kf3 (36. Kh5 Kg7 37. Qc7+ Bf7+ 38. Kg4 Rg1+ $19) 36... Rg1 $3 37. Ke4 Bf7+
38. Kf5 Re6 39. Ne7+ Kg7 40. Qxe6 Bxe6+ 41. Kxe6 h3 42. c6 h2 43. c7 Re1+ 44.
Kd6 h1=Q $19) 33... h4 (33... Rh1+ 34. Kg3 Rg1+ 35. Kh3) 34. Kh3 f5 35. Nxf5
Rh1+ 36. Kg4 Rg1+) 32. Kg3 Rg1+ 33. Kh2 $8 (33. Kh3 $2 g4+ 34. Kh4 h5 $3 35.
Kxh5 g3 $19) 33... Rg2+ 34. Kh3 Re8 35. N7c6 g4+ 36. Kh4 Re1 37. Ne7+ Kh8 38.
Qd8+ Kg7 39. Nf5+ Kg6 40. Ne7+ $11) (25. Ne7+ Kh8 26. Nxd5 Qe4 27. Nxf6 Qf5 28.
Qe1 Rxf6 29. Rc1 g4 $36) 25... Rxd8 $13 26. Rc1 Qe4 27. f3 Qe3+ 28. Kh2 (28.
Kh1 g4 $19) 28... g4 (28... Bxc5 29. Rxc5 Qxc5 30. Nb7 $14) 29. fxg4 Qh6+ 30.
Kg1 Qe3+ $11) ({II. II.} 17... c6 {The most precise move. With accurate play
the struggle soon ends in a dead draw: Der genaueste Zug. Bei präzisem Spiel
kommt der Kampf schnell zu einem toten Remis:} 18. Rc1 (18. dxc6 Qxc6 {looks
too dominant: the position which has occurred here can serve as a striking
example of the motif "the strength of the bishop pair" sieht zu anmaßend aus:
die in diesem Fall entstehende Position kann als ein anschauliches Beispiel
zum Thema "die Stärke des Läuferpaares" dienen}) 18... cxd5 19. Nb3 $1 dxc4 (
19... d4 20. c5 ({after bei} 20. Qd3 {the play is more complicated ist das
Spiel komplizierter}) 20... Qd5 21. Nbxd4 Nxh4 22. Nxh4 Bxc5 23. Ndf5 Rd8 24.
Qg4 Bxf5 25. Nxf5 g6 26. Rfe1 Qxf5 27. Qxf5 gxf5 28. Rxc5 Rd2 29. b3 Rb2 $11)
20. Qxd6 Nxd6 21. Bg3 Rd8 22. Na5 Ra8 23. Nc6 Rd7 24. Nxa7 Raxa7 25. Bxd6 Rxd6
26. Rxc4 Bd7 27. Rxb4 a5 28. Rb8+ Kf7 29. b3 Rd3 {intending ...Be6. All
variations are logical enough and up to a certain point forced. mit der Idee ..
.Be6. Alle Varianten sind logisch genug und bis zu einem gewissen Grad
forciert.}) ({Moves III-IV. Die Züge III-IV.} 17... Bd7) ({and und} 17... Re8
{are in my opiniion too slow, but on the other hand they do not spoil things.
White's plan is as previously - get the rook to c1 and if possible the knights
to b3 and d4, let the bishop be exchanged on g3. Complicated, double-edged
play with chances for both sides can be expected. sind m. E. zu langsam,
andererseits verderben sie auch nichts. Der weiße Plan ist dabei wie vorhin -
den Turm nach c1 und die Springer möglichst nach b3 und d4 bringen, den
Läufer auf dem Feld g3 tauschen lassen. Man darf kompliziertes
zweischneidiges Spiel mit beiderseitigen Chancen erwarten.}) 18. Bg3 Nxg3 19.
hxg3 Qxg3 20. c5 $1 {The key idea which holds White's plan together. With its
help the dangerous bishop is pacified. Die Schlüsselidee, die das weiße
Konzept zusammenhält. Mit ihrer Hilfe wird der gefährliche Läufer ruhig
gestellt.} Qg6 ({After Nach} 20... Qf4 21. Rc1 {it would be much better for
Black if his g-pawn were already on g5. wäre es für Schwarz viel besser,
wenn sein g-Bauer bereits auf g5 stünde.}) 21. Rc1 $14 {At first we both
considered this position as more or less level. Vladimir was counting on his
bishops, for my part I was hoping to maintain my hanging pawns. But the more I
immersed myself in this position, the rosier White's prospects appeared to me
and the greater my hopes became. And even when analysing it was not easy to
find a satisfactory reaction for Black. Zuerst haben wir beide diese Stellung
für etwa ausgeglichen gehalten. Vladimir rechnete auf seine Läufer, ich
meinerseits wog mich in der Hoffnung, meine hängenden Bauern zu bewahren.
Aber je länger ich mich in diese Position vertiefte, desto rosiger schienen
mir die Perspektiven des Weißen und desto größer wurden meine Hoffnungen.
Und sogar beim Analysieren war es nicht leicht, für Schwarz eine
befriedigende Reaktion zu finden.} Qf7 {A strong move but Black is now going
on the defensive. His queen is no longer as active as previously. Ein starker
Zug, aber jetzt geht Schwarz zur Verteidigung über. Seine Dame ist nun nicht
mehr so aktiv, wie vorher.} ({The move Ganz schlecht wäre} 21... Rd8 $2 {
would be pretty bad: :} 22. d6 cxd6 23. c6 {. .}) ({Nor does the chancy thrust
Auch der Hasardvorstoß} 21... b3 {promise Black an easy life: verspricht dem
Schwarzen kein leichtes Leben:} 22. Nxb3 Bh3 (22... Rb4 23. Nbd4 Bh3 24. Nh4
Qg5 25. Ndf3 $18 {Dexterity, as it were. Fingerfertigkeit, sozusagen.}) 23. Nh4
Qg5 (23... Qe4 24. Qd4 Rfe8 25. Rfe1 Qxd4 (25... Qxe1+ 26. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 27. Kh2
Rxb3 28. gxh3 $18) 26. Rxe8+ Rxe8 27. Nxd4 Bd7 28. Nhf3 Rb8 29. b3 $16) 24. Rc3
$1 $16) ({In the event of Im Falle von} 21... Bh3 22. Nh4 Qg4 23. Rc4 Qxd1 24.
Rxd1 Bc8 (24... Bd7 25. c6 Bc8 26. Ne4 $16) 25. Nb3 {it tuns out that even the
exchange of queens does not make things any easier for Black. stellt sich
heraus, dass auch der Damentausch es dem Schwarzen nicht leichter macht:} (25.
Nf1 Rd8 26. Ne3 $14) 25... c6 26. d6 Be6 27. Rdc1 {and only a miracle can now
help Black to hold on.. und nur ein Wunder kann dem Nachziehenden helfen, sich
zu halten.}) 22. Ne4 (22. Nb3 {was a move I liked less because in the
variation with gefiel mir weniger, weil in der Variante} Bb7 23. c6 Bc8 {
the idea of d5-d6 is obviously less strong. die Idee d5-d6 offenbar an Kraft
verliert.}) 22... Re8 $6 ({The b3-square has remained vacant for the queen,
which turns out to be useful in the following important variation. Das Feld b3
ist für die Dame vakant geblieben, was sich in der folgenden wichtigen
Variante als nützlich erweist:} 22... Bg4 23. Qb3 (23. Qd3 Rbd8 24. Rfd1 Qg6
$132) 23... Rfe8 (23... Rbd8 24. Nd4 $16) 24. Rfe1 {Now by means of Jetzt kann
Schwarz mittels} h6 $1 {Black can organise his resistance properly seinen
Widerstand in Ordnung bringen} ({after nach} 24... Rbd8 25. Nd4 {the
manoeuvrable knights create too many threats and the white pawns remain
unscathed. erschaffen die wendigen Springer zu viele Drohungen und die weißen
Bauern bleiben unversehrt}) 25. Nd4 f5 26. Nd2 (26. Nc6 fxe4 27. Nxa7 Bd7 $13)
26... Rxe1+ 27. Rxe1 Bxc5 28. Ne6 (28. Nc6 Re8 29. Ne5 Bd6 $5 30. Nxf7 Rxe1+
31. Nf1 Kxf7 $13) 28... Bd6 29. Nc4 f4 30. Nxd6 cxd6 31. a5 (31. Qc4 a5) 31...
Qf6 32. Qc2 {White retains something of an initiative, but with prudent play
Black should be able to hold this position. Weiß behält etwas Initiative,
aber mit umsichtigem Spiel sollte Schwarz diese Stellung halten können.}) 23.
Re1 Bf5 ({Here Hier ist} 23... Bg4 {is no longer as good. nicht mehr so gut:}
24. Qd3 $1 Rbd8 25. Nfd2 ({A weaker move is schwächer ist} 25. Qxa6 Bxf3 26.
gxf3 Qg6+ 27. Kf1 Qh5 28. Kg2 Qg6+ 29. Ng3 Rxe1 30. Rxe1 Bxc5 $132) 25... Bc8
26. d6 cxd6 (26... Bb8 27. Qd4 $16) 27. cxd6 {with tangible pressure.
Astonishingly the move 22...Re8 turned out to be a serious inaccuracy. mit
spürbarem Druck. Erstaunlich, aber der Zug 22...Re8 erwies sich als
ernsthafte Ungenauigkeit.}) 24. Ng3 Rxe1+ (24... Bg4 25. Qd3 $16) 25. Qxe1 Bg4
({After Nach} 25... Qxd5 $2 26. Nxf5 Qxf5 27. Qe7 {Black is helpless. ist
Schwarz hilflos.}) ({After other retreats of the bishop too White's advantage
is obvious, e.g. Auch nach den anderen Abzügen des Läufers ist der weiße
Vorteil offensichtlich, z. B.} 25... Bg6 26. d6 cxd6 27. cxd6 Bb6 28. Nh4 Qd5
29. Rd1 Qe5 30. Qxe5 fxe5 31. Nxg6 hxg6 32. b3 $16) 26. Qe4 $16 {Now we can
come to an intermediate evaluation. White has managed to hold his centre and
position his pieces cleverly. After the exchange of rooks Black's back rank
has become a genuine weakness and the breakthrough d5-d6 an extremely
insistent threat. Nun können wir ein Zwischenbilanz ziehen. Dem Weißen ist
gelungen, sein Zentrum zu bewahren und seine Figuren geschickt anzuordnen.
Nach dem Turmabtausch sind die letzte Reihe von Schwarz zur echten Schwäche
und der Durchbruch d5-d6 zu einer äußerst aufdringlichen Drohung geworden.}
h5 27. Nf5 (27. Nh4 {with the same ideas would have been even stronger. mit
den gleichen Ideen wäre sogar noch stärker gewesen.}) 27... Re8 (27... Bxf5
28. Qxf5 Rd8 29. d6 cxd6 30. cxd6 g6 31. Qd3 Bb8 32. Rc6 a5 33. Nd2 $18) 28.
Qd3 Bb8 $2 {As for the question mark attached to this move, I am not quite
certain, but with this defence against d5-d6 Black is too hard hearted in his
treatment of his once frightening bishop . Bezüglich des Fragezeichens bei
diesem Zug bin ich mir nicht ganz sicher, aber bei dieser Verteidigung gegen
d5-d6 benimmt sich Schwarz seinem einst furchterregenden Läufer gegenüber zu
hartherzig.} (28... Qd7 29. N3h4 Re5 30. Ne3 {and White prevents his
opponent's attempts to become active. und Weiß unterbindet die gegnerischen
Versuche, aktiv zu werden.}) 29. N3h4 Be2 {In the absence of better options,
Black drives the opposing queen away from its optimal square. In Ermangelung
besserer Möglichkeiten vertreibt Schwarz die gegnerische Dame von ihrem
optimalen Platz.} 30. Qd2 Bg4 (30... a5 31. d6 cxd6 32. cxd6 $18) 31. Ne3 $2 ({
Of course I did not miss the obvious continuation Selbstverständlich blieb
die offensichtliche Fortsetzung} 31. Qxb4 {but I had been carried away by
manoeuvring and I did not want to change the character of the position. nicht
unbemerkt, aber ich hatte mich vom Manövrieren fortreißen lassen und wollte
den Charakter der Stellung nicht ändern.} {But in reality White had no reason
to avoid the variation In Wirklichkeit aber hatte Weiß die Variante} Qxd5 32.
Qxb8 Qe6 33. Qxc7 Bxf5 34. Nxf5 Qxf5 {: keinesfalls vermeiden müssen:} {
after the further moves nach den weiteren Zügen} 35. c6 Re2 36. Qb6 {he wins
easily. gewinnt er leicht.}) 31... Bd7 $2 (31... f5 $1 {could have made
White's task palpably easier. After the precise reply hätte die weiße
Aufgabe spürbar erschweren können. Nach der präzisen Antwort} 32. g3 {
with the further continuation mit der weiteren Fortsetzung} Ba7 (32... f4 33.
Nxg4 hxg4 34. Qxf4 $16) (32... a5 33. Rc4) 33. Rc4 {White still has agreat
advantage, but a "mechanical" win is no longer there. hat der Anziehende immer
noch großen Vorteil, aber ein "mechanischer" Gewinn ist nicht mehr in Sicht.})
32. Qxb4 a5 (32... f5 33. c6 $18) 33. Qxa5 c6 34. d6 Qb3 35. Qc3 Qxa4 36. Nhf5
Qe4 37. Ne7+ Kh8 38. Qb3 Rf8 39. Qc2 {For the sake of safety White exchanges
queens. Sicherheitshalber tauscht Weiß die Damen.} Qxc2 40. Nxc2 Kh7 41. Nd4 {
Black resigned. It was a very complicated game. The main events happened in
the relatively short section between moves15 and 23, and the nuances of the
struggle between the nimble knights and the mighty bishops only show up under
later analysis. Schwarz gab auf. Das war eine sehr komplizierte Partie. Die
Hauptereignisse fielen auf den relativ kurzen Abschnitt vom 15. bis zum 23.
Zug, und die Nuancen der Kampfes des flinken Springerpaares gegen die
mächtigen Läufer kommen erst beim Analysieren ans Licht.} 1-0

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.21"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D05"]
[WhiteElo "2792"]
[BlackElo "2782"]
[Annotator "Trent,L"]
[PlyCount "128"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{Kramnik who had the White pieces today was no doubt looking to bounce back
with a win after a rather disappointing loss in the previous round.} 1. Nf3 d5
2. e3 Nf6 3. d4 c5 4. Nbd2 {As we have seen many times before, Kramnik decides
to choose a modest opening setup without delving into deep theory and try to
outplay his opponent from an equal middlegame position.} e6 5. b3 cxd4 6. exd4
Bb4 $5 {I like this move and it wouldn't surprise me at all if Giri had
prepared this beforehand. Previously Vlad played this line twice in Zuerich
scoring but has never faced 6...Bb4. The idea is to immediately stifle White's
development and threaten either Bc3 or Ne4-c3.} (6... Nc6 7. Bb2 g6 8. Bb5 Bg7
9. O-O O-O 10. Re1 Qb6 11. a4 Bd7 12. c4 a6 13. Bxc6 Bxc6 14. c5 Qc7 15. b4 Ne4
16. Ne5 Nxd2 17. Qxd2 b5 18. cxb6 Qxb6 19. Rec1 Rfc8 20. Rc5 Be8 21. Nd3 Rcb8
22. Bc3 Qd8 23. Ra5 Bf8 24. Nc5 Rb6 25. g3 Bd6 26. h4 Bc7 27. b5 axb5 28. Rxa8
Qxa8 29. axb5 Qc8 30. Ba5 Rxb5 31. Bxc7 Qxc7 32. Qg5 Rb8 33. h5 Qd8 34. Qe5
gxh5 35. Ra7 Rb6 36. Qxh5 Kg7 37. Qg4+ Kf8 38. Qf4 Kg7 39. Qg4+ Kf8 40. Kg2 h6
41. Qf3 Kg7 42. Qa3 Qf6 43. Ra8 Bb5 44. Qa5 Bc6 45. Qxb6 Bxa8 46. Qc7 h5 47. f3
Qf5 48. Nd7 Bb7 49. Qc5 Ba6 50. Kf2 Kh7 51. Ne5 Kg7 52. Nd7 Bc4 53. Qf8+ Kh7
54. Ne5 Qc2+ 55. Kg1 Qd1+ 56. Kh2 Qd2+ 57. Kh3 Bf1+ 58. Kh4 Qh2+ 59. Kg5 Qxg3+
60. Ng4 hxg4 61. Qxf7+ Kh8 {1/2-1/2 (63) Kramnik,V (2811)-Nakamura,H (2793)
Zuerich 2017}) (6... Bd6 7. Bd3 b6 8. Qe2 Nc6 9. a3 Bb7 10. Bb2 Rc8 11. Ne5 Nd7
12. f4 Qh4+ 13. g3 Qe7 14. O-O O-O 15. Nxd7 Qxd7 16. f5 exf5 17. Bxf5 Qe8 18.
Qd3 Rc7 19. Bxh7+ Kh8 20. Bf5 g6 21. Bh3 Re7 22. Nf3 Bc8 23. Bxc8 Qxc8 24. Rae1
Rxe1 25. Rxe1 Ne7 26. c4 Kg8 27. Kg2 Nf5 28. cxd5 Re8 29. Rxe8+ Qxe8 30. Bc1
Ne7 31. Qe4 Qb5 32. Bf4 Bxa3 33. d6 Nf5 34. Qa8+ Kg7 35. Be5+ f6 36. Qxa7+ Kh6
37. Bf4+ g5 38. Qf7 {1-0 (38) Kramnik,V (2811)-Svidler,P (2747) Zuerich 2017})
7. Bb2 Ne4 8. Bd3 Nc6 9. O-O Bc3 $5 {Strategically speaking this makes sense.}
10. Bxc3 Nxc3 11. Qe1 Nb4 $1 $146 {It seems as though Black is taking
liberties chasing after the White bishop but with the centre closed he is in
no danger of being attacked. Indeed the engine gives absolutely no advantage
for White at all after this move, making me think that this is more likely to
be home prep than not.} (11... Qb6 12. Qe3 h6 13. a4 Bd7 14. Nb1 Nxb1 15. Rfxb1
a6 16. c3 $14 {1-0 (48) Eidelmann,V (2049)-Gelzenleichter,S (2188) Wingst 2005}
) 12. Nb1 Nxd3 13. Qxc3 Nf4 14. Qe3 Ng6 {After a little knight tour it is
clear that White has achieved zero advantage from the opening. Maybe Giri was
even getting slightly optimistic that he could apply some pressure on the
white position, especially down the c-file.} 15. c4 {Understandable given my
previous comment.} dxc4 16. bxc4 O-O {These hanging pawns are definite targets
now.} 17. Nc3 Bd7 (17... b6 {followed by ...Bb7 was also =/+.}) 18. Rfd1 Rc8
19. Nd2 Nh4 (19... Qh4 $5 20. Rac1 (20. c5 Bc6 $15) 20... b6 $15) 20. Qd3 Nf5
21. Rac1 Qc7 22. d5 {Kramnik decides to try and create some play but Giri
cooly deals with it.} Rfd8 $1 23. h3 (23. dxe6 Bxe6 24. Nd5 Bxd5 (24... Qa5 $5
25. Nb3 Qa3 $15) 25. cxd5 Qxc1 26. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 27. Nf1 Nd6 $15) 23... b6 24. Nf3
$5 {A very good move provoking Black into taking material.} Qxc4 $6 {It's
difficult to overly criticise this move but it does seem to give White an easy
route to equality.} ({Better was} 24... Be8 $5 {or}) (24... h6 $5 {maintaining
some tension and forcing White to find more precise moves.}) 25. Qxc4 Rxc4 26.
dxe6 fxe6 27. Rd3 $1 {Now White can get coordinated very quickly and should be
able to swap down to very drawish endings.} e5 {Black is pretty much forced to
return material on account of Rcd1 coming next.} 28. Nxe5 (28. Rcd1 Re8 29.
Rxd7 Rxc3 30. Rxa7 e4 31. Ne5 $1 $11 {should be equal.}) 28... Rd4 29. Rf3 {
I can't really tell if Kramnik was being (over)optimistic here or not.} (29.
Rxd4 Nxd4 30. Rd1 Be6 {is level.}) 29... Nh4 30. Re3 Nf5 31. Ree1 Be8 32. Ne4
Ra4 33. Rc7 {Kramnik goes for it.} Rxa2 34. Kh2 h6 35. Ng4 $6 (35. Nf3 Bf7 36.
g4 Nd4 37. Nxd4 Rxd4 38. Rc8+ Kh7 39. Rc7 Kg8 40. Rc8+ Kh7 41. Rc7 {is one
possible repetition.}) 35... Kf8 $1 36. Rec1 $6 {Kramnik is starting to lose
the thread.} Re2 37. f3 $2 Nh4 $2 (37... a5 $19 {and White really has no
threats. Black however will just run his pawns up the board.}) 38. Ngf2 $1 {
Now White can potentially double on the 7th with the black knight no longer
defending the kingside.} Bg6 39. Rc8 $6 (39. Kg1 $1 {had to be found} Bxe4 40.
fxe4 {and White can drum up enough counterplay to equalise.}) 39... Re8 $1 40.
Kg3 Nf5+ 41. Kh2 Nd4 42. R1c3 a5 {Black has successfully coordinated his
forces and is once again winning.} 43. R8c4 Rd8 44. Rc7 Ne6 45. R7c6 Nf4 46.
Rc8 Re8 47. Rxe8+ Kxe8 48. Rc8+ Kd7 49. Rg8 Ne6 {keeping things nice and tidy}
50. Kg3 Kc7 51. h4 Rc2 52. Ra8 Kb7 53. Rh8 Rc6 $1 {Now there is no way to stop
the pawns marching.} 54. h5 Bxe4 55. Nxe4 a4 56. Re8 a3 57. Re7+ Ka6 58. Re8
Ka7 59. Nd2 a2 60. Nb3 Rc3 61. Na1 Rc1 62. Rxe6 Rxa1 63. Re2 b5 64. Kf4 Kb6 0-1

[Event "Dortmund 46th"]
[Site "Dortmund"]
[Date "2018.07.22"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kovalev, Vladislav"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C44"]
[WhiteElo "2655"]
[BlackElo "2792"]
[Annotator "Mekhitarian,K"]
[PlyCount "208"]
[EventDate "2018.07.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 186"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 Bc5 5. Ng5 {Back to the old days - This
is called the Sarratt Variation, that is located inside the Haxo Gambit,
itself located inside the Scotch Gambit! What a mix! Jacob Henry Sarratt was a
leading English player from the late 18th century and early 19th century, and
the first professional player to teach in England. He used this move in 1818
against an unknown player and quickly won the game. Sarratt was also known for
his studies in the Muzio Gambit (inside the King's Gambit).} Nh6 {This correct
defence was found only in 1837 by Mr. Ludwig Bledow.} (5... Ne5 $2 6. Nxf7 $1 (
6. Bxf7+ $6 {not the most precise} Nxf7 7. Nxf7 Bb4+ 8. c3 dxc3 9. bxc3 Bxc3+
$2 (9... Kxf7 $1 {time is much more important than a pawn in such positions}
10. cxb4 Nf6 $16) 10. Nxc3 Kxf7 11. Qd5+ Kf8 12. Ba3+ d6 13. e5 $18 {1-0 (31)
Cochrane,J-Deschapelles,A Paris 1821}) 6... Nxf7 7. Bxf7+ Kxf7 8. Qh5+ g6 9.
Qxc5 $16 {1-0 (9) Sarratt,J-NN London 1818. Although Black's position is
horrible, since there are dark-square weaknesses and the d4-pawn will fall,
there was no need to resign the game this early, as happened here.}) 6. Nxf7
Nxf7 7. Bxf7+ Kxf7 8. Qh5+ g6 9. Qxc5 {Now we have a position similar to the
one mentioned on the 5...Ne5 variation, but there is a big difference, Black
has a developed knight on c6, instead of g8, and that knight also defends the
d4-pawn. Black is doing ok here.} d5 (9... d6 $5 {Only here the aforementioned
Bledow game deviated, and with a fine move!} 10. Qc4+ Be6 11. Qe2 Ne5 $6 (11...
Re8 {would be more logical}) 12. b3 c5 13. f4 Bg4 14. Qb5 (14. Qf2 $1 $16 {
[%cal Ge1g1,Gf4f5]}) 14... Qh4+ 15. g3 Nf3+ 16. Kf2 Qe7 $13 {½-½ (40) Von
Heydebrand und der Lasa,T-Bledow,L Berlin 1837, with complex play}) 10. O-O (
10. exd5 $4 {is naturally very bad, White can't allow the very annoying} Re8+
11. Kd1 Re5 $19) 10... dxe4 11. c3 $1 {Trying to open up the position.} Re8 (
11... Qd6 $5 {is also very solid} 12. cxd4 Nxd4 13. Qxd6 cxd6 (13... Ne2+ $1
14. Kh1 cxd6 {(stopping Nc3)} 15. Be3 {(threatens Re1)} b6 $1 $11 {[%cal Rc8a6]
}) 14. Nc3 Re8 $2 (14... Bg4 $1 $132) 15. Bf4 (15. Be3 $1 $16) 15... Bd7 16.
Bxd6 Nb5 17. Nxb5 Bxb5 $11 {1/2-1/2 (69) Szalanczy,E (2420)-Molnar,L (2260)
Balatonbereny 1994}) 12. cxd4 {We are still following games from the 1800s!
Urusov played a different move here in 1853, which is also a good alternative:}
Nxd4 (12... Qxd4 $1 13. Qg5 Bf5 14. Bd2 Ne5 (14... Kg8 $1 {was already
perfectly fine for Black}) 15. Bc3 Qd6 16. Qh6 Ng4 $2 {this was a bit excessive
} (16... g5 $1 $15 {[%cal Gd6h6]}) 17. Qxh7+ Ke6 18. Na3 {[%cal Re8h8,Yc3h8]
Black doesn't have access to the h-file now} Re7 $1 19. Qh4 Rd8 $2 {a very bad
move} (19... g5 $1 {was needed} 20. Qg3 Qxg3 21. hxg3 Kf7 $132 {[%cal Re4e3]})
20. Nc4 Qc5 21. h3 $1 Nxf2 22. Rxf2 Rd5 23. g4 $18 {1-0 (28) Shumov,I-Urusov,D
St Petersburg 1853}) 13. Nc3 (13. Be3 $5 Ne2+ 14. Kh1 $44) 13... b6 14. Qc4+
Be6 15. Qa4 c5 (15... Qd7 $1 {was good enough for a small edge, but Kramnik
wanted more I guess.}) 16. Nxe4 Bd5 17. f3 Bxe4 18. fxe4+ Kg7 19. Qc4 Kh8 20.
b4 $1 {Trying to loosen the knight on d4 by attacking its faithful defender,
the c5-pawn.} Rxe4 21. Bb2 Qg8 22. Rf7 {The position remains complex, but it
is very scary to play as Black! with a bishop on b2.} Rf8 $1 23. Rxf8 Qxf8 24.
bxc5 bxc5 25. Rf1 Qe7 {[%csl Rc5] As long as c5 is defended, Black does not
have direct problems. It is important to remember that the white king is also
awkwardly placed.} 26. Qd5 Kg7 27. h3 g5 (27... Re2 {was possible, giving the
pawn back and soon agreeing to a draw after:} 28. Bxd4+ cxd4 29. Qxd4+ Kg8 {
[%cal Ge7e3]} 30. Kh1 Re1 $11) 28. Bc3 a6 29. Kh1 Kh6 30. Rb1 Nb5 $2 {Perhaps
Kramnik was still optimistic about being a pawn up, and blundered. I assume he
missed White's 33th move.} (30... Re6 {would lead to a draw after:} 31. Bxd4
cxd4 32. Qxd4 Re1+ 33. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 34. Kh2 $11) 31. Bf6 $1 {[%csl Re4]} Qxf6 32.
Qxe4 Nc3 {Apparently Black is in great shape here, since after the queen moves,
...Nxb1 happens and there is an additional c-pawn in the queen endgame, with
huge winning chances. But...} 33. Qf3 $1 {[%cal Rf6f3,Rf3f6] Probably Kramnik
missed this one, now there is a deadly intermmediate check on b6 after Black
exchanges the queens.} Qxf3 34. Rb6+ $1 Kh5 35. gxf3 $18 {White is winning
here, but he has to be precise. Luckily Black is able to take on a2, which
makes the task much harder.} Nxa2 36. Rc6 $1 {It is more important to take on
c5, the a-pawn will be harder to defend, since the knight likes to work better
with pawns closer to the centre.} Nb4 37. Rxc5 Nd3 38. Ra5 Kh4 39. Kh2 Nf4 40.
Rxa6 Kh5 {Black is very solid, and now White gradually starts the winning plan,
bringing his king to the centre.} (40... Nxh3 $4 41. Rh6#) 41. Rd6 Ne2 42. Rd2
Nf4 43. Kg3 Ng6 44. Rd7 h6 (44... Kh6 $2 {it is very awkward for the king to
stay here.} 45. Ra7 {[%cal Rg3g4]} Ne5 46. f4 $1 gxf4+ 47. Kxf4 Ng6+ 48. Kf5
Nh4+ 49. Kg4 Ng6 50. Ra6 Kg7 51. h4 $18 {[%cal Rh4h5] and White wins by slowly
suffocating his opponent.}) 45. Rf7 $1 {Stopping ...Nf4.} Ne5 (45... Nf4 $4 46.
Rxf4 gxf4+ 47. Kxf4 Kh4 48. Ke4 Kxh3 49. f4 Kg2 50. f5 h5 51. f6 h4 52. f7 h3
53. f8=Q h2 {the pawn reaches the 7th rank, but White's king is way too close
here, making this an easy win. For example:} 54. Qf3+ Kg1 55. Ke3 $1 h1=Q 56.
Qf2#) 46. Rf5 Ng6 47. Ra5 Nf4 48. h4 $1 {The only way to break through.} Ne2+
49. Kf2 Nf4 50. hxg5 hxg5 51. Ke3 Ng2+ 52. Kf2 {Kovalev played perfectly after
he won the exchange, but now he starts going astray.} (52. Ke4 $1 {was a
forcing win with the king invasion:} Kg6 (52... Kh4 53. Ra8 Nf4 54. Rh8+ Kg3
55. Rf8 {now the king can't move since White sacrifices on f4} Nh3 56. Ke3 Ng1
(56... Nf4 $2 {makes it all easier:} 57. Rxf4 $1 gxf4+ 58. Ke4 $18) 57. Rf7 Nh3
58. Rg7 {[%csl Rg5]} Kh4 59. Re7 Kg3 60. Re4 $1 {It is interesting to note
that the black knight has trouble finding squares.} Kg2 61. Rg4+ Kh2 62. Ke4
Kh1 63. Kf5 $18) 53. Ra6+ Kh5 54. Ra2 Nf4 55. Kf5 Ng6 56. Rh2+ Nh4+ 57. Ke4 Kg6
58. f4 $1 Kf6 59. f5 $1 Kf7 60. Rh1 Kf6 61. Rg1 $1 $18 {winning either the
g5-pawn or the knight.}) 52... Nf4 53. Ra8 $2 (53. Ke3 $1 {there was still
time to go back to the same position.}) 53... Kg6 $1 {Now the endgame is drawn,
and Kramnik doesn't give any chance to his opponent.} 54. Ke3 Ng2+ 55. Ke4 Nh4
$1 {This is the key, the black king stays on the 7th rank, and the visually
awkward knight on h4 controls the super important f5-square. White can't make
any progress!} 56. Ra6+ Kf7 57. Ra2 Kf6 58. Ra1 Ke6 59. Rh1 Ng6 60. Rh6 Kf6 61.
Rh7 Nh4 62. Ke3 Ng6 63. Ra7 Nh4 64. Ra6+ Kf5 65. Kf2 {Black has to watch out
for White's new plan to bring his king to g4 (after giving check in the 5th
rank). Kramnik reacts correctly:} Ng6 $1 {Now the knight is going to e5,
guarding the g4-square.} 66. Kg3 Ne5 {[%csl Rg4]} 67. Ra8 Ng6 68. Rg8 Ne5 69.
Rf8+ Ke6 70. Kf2 Ng6 71. Rb8 Kf5 72. Rb5+ Kf6 73. Ra5 Ne5 74. Ke2 Ng6 75. Ra6+
Kf5 76. Ke3 Nh4 $1 {Going back.} 77. Ra5+ Kf6 78. Ke4 Kg6 79. Ra1 Kf6 80. Rg1
Nf5 81. Rg2 Nh4 82. Rh2 Ng6 83. Rh5 Nf4 84. Rh8 Ng6 85. Rb8 Nh4 86. Rg8 Ng6 87.
Kd4 Kf5 88. Ke3 Kf6 89. Ke4 Kf7 90. Rb8 Nh4 91. Rc8 Kf6 92. Rc1 Ke6 93. Ke3 Kf5
94. Rc5+ Kf6 95. Rb5 Ng6 96. Ke4 Nh4 97. Rd5 Kg6 98. f4 gxf4 99. Kxf4 {Now we
reach a simple theoretical draw: rook vs knight} Kf7 100. Kg5 Nf3+ 101. Kf4 (
101. Kg4 {[%csl Rf3] apparently wins the knight in a few moves, but Black has
a simple tactical resource:} Ke6 $1 $11 {[%csl Rd5][%cal Rf3e5] followed by ...
Ne5.}) 101... Nh4 102. Kg5 Nf3+ 103. Kg4 Ke6 $1 104. Kxf3 Kxd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-43"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "2018.09.26"]
[Round "3.3"]
[White "Beradze, Irakli"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2495"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[Annotator "Ganguly, Surya Sekhar "]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2018.09.24"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Georgia II"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GEO"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

{The only top player missing from the show after the first two rounds was big
Vlad and now he finally decided to join in by playing a spectacular game.} 1.
d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 {A very
well-known setup which is popular because of its solidity. Like most of the
closed openings there are great move order subtleties and it is well known how
Kramnik pays attention to the tiny detail of move orders in every opening.} O-O
8. Bb2 {If White can get Bb2-d3 setup without allowing e5 then that is ideal.
Normally Black is happy with b6-Bb7 setup but that is mainly when White has
committed his bishop to e2 and not d3.} (8. Be2 b6 {now this is fine as the
white bishop is placed on e2}) 8... Qe7 {A move order finesse. Black remains
flexible for both e5 and b6 plans and for now just waits to see where White
will develop his light-squared bishop to.} (8... b6 {would be a concession and
White gets his ideal setup without having to allow e5}) (8... e5 {is another
way to solve problems but this leads to a totally different kind of position.})
9. Bd3 (9. Be2 {is more popular} b6 {will get to the normal setup with Be2
lines}) 9... Re8 $1 {Now that the bishop is placed on d3 Black immediately
prepares e5. The main difference of having the bishop on d3 is that after e5
White will not have time to take on d5 as Black has the threat of e4.} 10. Ne2
$6 {Until now White was blitzing out his moves and now after 22 minutes of
thought he comes up with a desperate attempt to stop e5... which happens
anyway.} (10. O-O e5 {is the whole point of this move order. No time for cd5
and Black gets a comfortable position.}) (10. O-O-O {was played by Shirov once.
Here the game gets very wild but Black is generally doing totally fine.}) (10.
Rd1 $5 {So that after the mass exchange on e5 Black is not able to take with
queen as the h2-pawn isn't hanging anymore as compared to 10. 0-0. Here also
there are many ways for Black to proceed. h6 and dc4 are two of them.}) 10...
e5 11. dxe5 Nxe5 12. Nxe5 Bxe5 13. Bxe5 Qxe5 {Black has got a very comfortable
position out of the opening. Just some minute inaccuracies follow and Kramnik
shows the precise way to exploit the same.} 14. O-O $6 {Surprisingly this
'most' obvious move is a mistake!} (14. Rd1 {As 0-0 is met tactically it would
have been better to start with Rd1 first.} Qg5 15. O-O Bg4 {practically
Black's position is easier to play but he is not better yet as compared to the
game}) 14... Ng4 $1 {Kramnik doesn't miss his chance. The problem is there is
no concrete way to stop Black's threat without allowing him further activity.}
15. Nf4 {Here Black had two strong options and Kramnik chose the one which
will pose maximum practical problems.} (15. Bxh7+ {Gets three pawns for the
piece but Black's pieces are way too active.} Kh8 16. Ng3 g6 17. Bxg6 fxg6 18.
Qxg6 Rg8 {Now if White doesn't exchange queens then Black can generate a heavy
attack with his pieces on the kingside.} 19. Qh5+ Qxh5 20. Nxh5 dxc4 21. bxc4
Ne5 $17) (15. Ng3 h5 $1 {White doesn't get any time to consolidate} 16. Rfe1 h4
17. Nf1 h3 $36) 15... g5 (15... d4 $5 16. h3 dxe3 17. Bxh7+ Kh8 18. hxg4 Qxf4
19. Bf5 (19. Bd3 Bxg4 $17) 19... e2 20. Rfe1 Bxf5 21. Qxf5 Qd4 22. Rac1 (22.
Qxf7 Qxg4 $19) 22... Kg8 23. Rc2 Re5 24. Qf3 Rae8 25. g5 {Black keeps up the
pressure but its still a long way before the game is won.}) 16. h3 (16. Bxh7+
Kh8 17. h3 Nf6 $19) 16... gxf4 17. exf4 Qxf4 18. hxg4 Bxg4 19. Rfe1 (19. cxd5
cxd5 20. Qc1 Qf6 {Black remains a healthy pawn up.}) 19... h5 (19... d4 $1 $19
{This looked more precise.}) 20. cxd5 cxd5 21. Qc5 Re5 $1 22. Qc3 $6 (22. Rxe5
Qxe5 23. Rf1 Kg7 {Not a good position as White. Things get even worse when one
is playing against Kramnik.}) 22... Rg5 $1 {Suddenly once again the white king
comes into danger. Black is a pawn up and he is attacking too.} 23. Bf1 d4 24.
Qc1 Qf6 {Now that Black's attack is strong it makes sense to avoid the
exchange of queens.} 25. Re4 d3 $1 26. Qe3 (26. Bxd3 Bf3) 26... Rd5 27. Rb1 d2
28. Qg3 Qg6 29. Bd3 Bf5 {A very clean game by Kramnik.} 0-1

[Event "Olympiad-43"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "2018.09.27"]
[Round "4.3"]
[White "Tomczak, Jacek"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2614"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[Annotator "Ganguly, Surya Sekhar "]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2018.09.24"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Poland"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "POL"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8.
h4 {Morozevich has beenplaying this line a lot and then it has recently been
played by Nepo and Hikaru. I had a look from White's side and 8...Qe6 bothered
me - it was played by Grischuk and Kramnik as Black in 2018} Qe6 9. g3 Nb4 $5 {
[%cal Gc8a6] A novelty and a strong one. Tomczak sank into deep thought
immediately after this move.} (9... d6 {Earlier both Grischuk and Kramnik
opted for this.}) 10. c4 Ba6 11. Bf4 (11. a3 Bxc4 $1 {is the tactical
justification} 12. Qxc4 Qxc4 13. Bxc4 Nc2+ 14. Ke2 Nxa1 {It turns out that it
won't be easy to trap the knight on a1.} 15. Nc3 (15. b4 a5) 15... Rb8 16. b4
a5) (11. b3 {would have been a better choice.}) 11... d5 $1 {As early as move
11 Kramnik has managed to get a clear advantage. At this stage it looked like
it would be a repetition of how he crushed Beradse in round 3.} 12. a3 (12.
exd6 Nd3+) 12... Bxc4 13. Qd1 Bxf1 $6 {I wonder what made Kramnik reject both
Qg6 and Qf5 here} (13... Qg6 {[%cal Gg6e4]} 14. Bxc4 dxc4 (14... Qe4+ 15. Be2)
15. O-O {Now among many strong alternatives the most natural and human would
be to play Nd3.} Nd3 (15... Nc2 {The engine prefers this}) 16. Qf3 Qe6 $5 $17 {
[%cal Ge6d5] In order not to calculate any complex line} (16... Bc5 {This is
stronger!} 17. Nd2 O-O-O $1 18. Nxc4 Nxf4 19. Qxf4 Rd4 20. Qc1 Rxh4 $19)) (
13... Qf5 {also with similar lines}) 14. Kxf1 Na6 {Now Black is not better
anymore} 15. Nc3 (15. Nd2 $142 $132) 15... Nc5 $1 16. b4 d4 $1 {Once again
Kramnik has got the initiative back.} 17. bxc5 (17. Qxd4 Nb3) 17... dxc3 18.
Qd4 (18. Rc1 Qc4+) 18... Rd8 $6 (18... Qd5 $1 {One of the simplest ways to
keep the advantage and it is also a typical Kramnik kind of move.} 19. Qxd5
cxd5 $17 {[%csl Rc5][%cal Ga8b8,Gf8c5]}) 19. Qxc3 Qd5 (19... Be7 {[%cal Ge8g8]
I still prefer Black here}) 20. Kg1 Bxc5 21. Rc1 Bb6 22. h5 (22. e6 fxe6 23.
Qxg7 Bd4 24. Qxc7 c5 $132 {[%cal Ge8g8]}) 22... O-O 23. h6 Rfe8 24. hxg7 Re6 {
There is nothing wrong with Black's position. In fact, it’s still slightly
better.} 25. Bg5 Qa2 $6 {Based on an oversight. Clearly Kramnik wanted to keep
his rook on the d-file and also wanted to stop any Qc2-Qf5 idea hence Qa2 made
sense. It gains a tempo and also allows black to keep the rook on the d-file.
Unfortunately, all of a sudden the attack doesn't come on h7 but the f8-square
becomes vulnerable!} (25... Bd4 $1 {Not a very obvious move. Why would Black
force White to move the queen when anyway White wants to move it eventually?
The point is that the white queen is right now protecting the g3-square and
hence it had to be moved! This feels absurd! Why on earth does g3 have to be
protected? With engines on it is very easy to say how come Kramnik didn't see
this two-move tactic but that is not the way human brain functions. Somehow
this move Bd4 looks like an idiotic move just helping White to get onto a
better square unless the forthcoming tactic is spotted.} 26. Qc2 Rg6 $1 $17 {
[%csl Rg3] The point! Now suddenly it appears that Black need not save the
d8-rook after all! g3 is hanging!}) 26. Rh2 {So now Black can keep the rook on
the d-file. White also cannot approach the h7-pawn easily. The important
question is which square to choose?} Rd5 $4 (26... Rd4 {still worse but not
lost yet} 27. Qf3 Qd5 28. Qh5 Qe4 29. Bf6 $36) 27. Qb4 {[%cal Gb4f8,Gb4h4] The
threat on the f8-square came out of nowhere. It was not even a threat all this
while.} c5 (27... Kxg7 28. Qh4 $18) 28. Qh4 {Now it's all over.} h6 29. Bxh6
Qb3 30. Bd2 Kxg7 31. Qh8+ Kg6 32. Qh7# 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-43"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "2018.09.28"]
[Round "5.16"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Martinez Alcantara, Jose Eduardo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2565"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2018.09.24"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Peru"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "PER"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 Bb4+ 4. Nbd2 O-O 5. e3 b6 6. Bd3 Bb7 7. O-O d5 8. a3
Be7 9. b4 c5 10. bxc5 bxc5 11. Rb1 Qc8 12. cxd5 Nxd5 13. Qc2 Nf6 14. dxc5 Na6
15. Bb2 Nxc5 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. Bxh7+ Kg7 18. Rfc1 f5 19. Bxf5 exf5 20. Nd4 Be4
21. Nxe4 fxe4 22. Qe2 Rh8 23. Rb5 a6 24. Qb2 Kg8 25. Rb6 Nd3 26. Rxc8+ Rxc8 27.
Qd2 Rc1+ 28. Qxc1 Nxc1 29. Rxa6 Rh5 30. Ra8+ Bf8 31. a4 Nd3 32. g4 Rc5 33. Kg2
Rc4 34. a5 Nf4+ 35. Kg3 Ne6 36. Nxe6 fxe6 37. g5 Kf7 38. h4 Bd6+ 39. Kg4 Rc1
40. a6 Ra1 41. Ra7+ Be7 42. Kh5 Ke8 43. Kh6 Bf8+ 44. Kg6 Be7 45. Ra8+ Bd8 46.
h5 Ra5 47. Rxd8+ 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-43"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "2018.09.30"]
[Round "6.6"]
[White "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E21"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2018.09.24"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "India"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "IND"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 O-O 5. Bg5 c5 6. Rc1 h6 7. Bh4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 d5 9. cxd5 g5 10. Bg3 Qxd5 11. a3 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Ne4 13. f3 Nxg3 14. hxg3
Kg7 15. e4 Qe5 16. Kf2 Bd7 17. Qd2 Qc5 18. Qe3 b6 19. e5 Nc6 20. f4 f6 21. Rd1
fxe5 22. Nf5+ Rxf5 23. Rxd7+ Rf7 24. Qxc5 bxc5 25. Rxf7+ Kxf7 26. Rxh6 exf4 27.
gxf4 gxf4 28. Kf3 Ke7 29. Ke4 Kd6 30. Bc4 Re8 31. Kxf4 Ne5 32. Be2 Rf8+ 33. Ke3
Rg8 34. Rh7 Rxg2 35. Rxa7 Rg3+ 36. Ke4 Rxc3 37. Bb5 c4 38. Ra6+ Kc5 39. Ba4
Rxa3 40. Kxe5 Kb4 41. Rb6+ Ka5 42. Rb8 Rxa4 43. Kd4 Rb4 44. Rc8 e5+ 45. Kc3 Rb7
1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-43"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "2018.10.01"]
[Round "7.10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Roganovic, Milos"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2527"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2018.09.24"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Serbia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "SRB"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Nd5 Nxd5 8.
exd5 Ne7 9. c4 Ng6 10. Qa4 Bd7 11. Qb4 Bf5 12. h4 a6 13. h5 Nf4 14. Nc3 Be7 15.
Be3 Nd3+ 16. Bxd3 Bxd3 17. h6 O-O 18. Rd1 a5 19. Qb5 e4 20. hxg7 Re8 21. Rxd3
exd3 22. c5 Bg5 23. Qxd3 h6 24. Ne4 dxc5 25. Kf1 Rxe4 26. Qxe4 Bxe3 27. fxe3
Ra6 28. Rh5 Rg6 29. Kg1 Kxg7 30. Rf5 b5 31. Qe5+ Kg8 32. e4 c4 33. Qf4 Qd7 34.
a3 Qa7+ 35. Kh2 b4 36. e5 Qd7 37. e6 fxe6 38. Rf8+ Kg7 39. Ra8 Kh7 40. Qd4 Qd6+
41. Kh1 e5 42. Qxc4 bxa3 43. bxa3 Qxa3 44. Qc7+ Rg7 45. Qc2+ Rg6 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-43"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "2018.10.02"]
[Round "8.3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aleksandrov, Aleksej"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2602"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2018.09.24"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Belarus"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "BLR"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Qf3 Bg6 8.
Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Qxf6 gxf6 10. Nf3 Nd7 11. Nh4 Be7 12. Ne2 f5 13. g3 Bxh4 14. gxh4
Nf6 15. Rg1 Ke7 16. Bh3 Rae8 17. Nf4 Kd6 18. Kd2 Re7 19. a4 a5 20. Ra3 Rhe8 21.
Rb3 Kc7 22. Rc1 Kd6 23. Bg2 Nh5 24. Nxd5 cxd5 25. Rb6+ Kd7 26. Bf1 Kd8 27. Bb5
Re4 28. Rxb7 Nf6 29. b4 f4 30. bxa5 fxe3+ 31. fxe3 Rxh4 32. Bxe8 Rxh2+ 33. Kc3
Ne4+ 34. Kb3 Nd2+ 35. Kb4 Nc4 36. Bb5 Rb2+ 37. Kc5 Nxa5 38. Rd7+ Kc8 39. Kxd5+
Kb8 40. Rd8+ Kb7 41. Kd6 Kb6 42. Ra8 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-43"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "2018.10.03"]
[Round "9.3"]
[White "Brunello, Sabino"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E19"]
[WhiteElo "2552"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2018.09.24"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Italy"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ITA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Ne4 8. Qc2
Nxc3 9. Qxc3 d6 10. Qc2 f5 11. d5 e5 12. e4 Bc8 13. Qe2 Na6 14. exf5 Bxf5 15.
Nd2 Nc5 16. Ne4 a5 17. Nxc5 bxc5 18. Bd2 a4 19. Be4 g6 20. b4 axb3 21. axb3 Rb8
22. Rab1 Bg5 23. Bxf5 gxf5 24. f4 exf4 25. Bxf4 Qf6 26. Bxg5 Qxg5 27. Rf4 Rbe8
28. Qd3 Re5 29. Rbf1 h5 30. Kg2 Kg7 31. R1f2 Kg6 32. R2f3 Ra8 33. Rf2 Rf8 34.
h4 Qf6 35. Qc2 Kg7 36. Qd3 Qg6 37. Qc3 Kh7 38. Qd3 Kg8 39. Qf3 Qe8 40. Qd1 Rf6
41. Qc2 Kg7 42. Kh2 Rf7 43. Qb2 Kg6 44. b4 cxb4 45. Qxb4 Re2 46. Qb1 Re1 47.
Qc2 Qe5 48. Kg2 Re3 49. Kh2 Re4 50. Qd2 Kg7 51. Qd1 Kg6 52. Qd2 Rf6 53. Qa5 Qe7
54. Qd2 Rf7 55. Qc1 Qe5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Olympiad-43"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "2018.10.04"]
[Round "10.3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Howell, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2689"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "2018.09.24"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "England"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "ENG"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. c3 O-O 5. Nbd2 d6 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 c5 8. dxc5
dxc5 9. Qc2 Nc6 10. Bc4 Na5 11. Be2 Be6 12. O-O Qb6 13. e4 Rfd8 14. Rfe1 g5 15.
e5 gxh4 16. exf6 Bxf6 17. Ne4 Bd5 18. Bf1 Kg7 19. Qc1 Nc6 20. Qf4 Bxe4 21. Qxe4
Rd6 22. Bc4 Rg8 23. Qf4 Qd8 24. Qg4+ Kf8 25. Qh5 Rg6 26. Bb3 Qd7 27. h3 Bxc3
28. bxc3 Qxh3 29. Ng5 Qxc3 30. Nxf7 Rdf6 31. Rad1 c4 32. Re3 Qb2 33. Re2 Qc3
34. Bc2 Kxf7 35. Rde1 Qd4 36. Bxg6+ Rxg6 37. Re4 Qf6 38. Qd5+ Kg7 39. Re6 Qg5
40. Rxg6+ Qxg6 41. Qxc4 Qf6 42. Qg4+ Qg5 43. Re4 a5 44. a4 Kh7 45. Qxh4 Qd5 46.
Qg4 Qf7 47. Qd7 Qg6 48. f3 Qg5 49. Qd3 Kh8 50. Qc3+ e5 51. Rg4 Qd8 52. Qb3 h5
53. Re4 Qe7 54. Qe3 Qf6 55. f4 exf4 56. Rxf4 Qg6 57. Kh2 Kh7 58. Qc5 Qe8 59.
Qf5+ Kg8 60. Qg5+ Kh7 61. Rh4 Qg6 62. Rxh5+ Kg7 63. Qxg6+ 1-0

[Event "Olympiad-43"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "2018.10.05"]
[Round "11.3"]
[White "Fressinet, Laurent"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2649"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2018.09.24"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "France"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "FRA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. h3 Ne7 8. d4
Bb6 9. Re1 Ng6 10. Nbd2 exd4 11. cxd4 d5 12. e5 Nh5 13. a4 c6 14. Bf1 f6 15. b4
fxe5 16. a5 Bc7 17. dxe5 Nhf4 18. Ra3 Bf5 19. Bb2 Qd7 20. Rae3 Rae8 21. Kh2 Kh8
22. Nb3 b6 23. Qd2 Ne6 24. axb6 axb6 25. Rc1 Rd8 26. Nbd4 Nxd4 27. Qxd4 Be4 28.
Rxe4 dxe4 29. Qxe4 c5 30. bxc5 bxc5 31. Rxc5 Bb6 32. Rc6 Qb7 33. Rc4 Qxe4 34.
Rxe4 Bxf2 35. Ba3 Rf5 36. Bd6 h5 37. Bd3 h4 38. Rg4 Bg3+ 39. Kg1 Nxe5 40. Bxe5
Rxd3 41. Bxg3 hxg3 42. Rxg3 Kg8 43. Kh2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Douglas IoM op"]
[Site "Douglas"]
[Date "2018.10.20"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Sundararajan, Kidambi"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A25"]
[WhiteElo "2445"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[PlyCount "153"]
[EventDate "2018.10.20"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IOM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. e3 Nc6 4. a3 g6 5. d4 d6 6. Nf3 Bg7 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O e4
9. Nd2 Re8 10. b4 h5 11. b5 Na5 12. Bb2 Bf5 13. Nd5 c5 14. bxc6 Nxc6 15. Qb3 b6
16. Bc3 Rc8 17. a4 h4 18. a5 Nxa5 19. Bxa5 bxa5 20. Nxf6+ Bxf6 21. Qc3 Rc5 22.
Qa3 Rc7 23. Qxa5 Bg7 24. Rfc1 Qe7 25. Nb1 Rb8 26. Nc3 Rcb7 27. h3 Bc8 28. Rcb1
f5 29. Rxb7 Rxb7 30. Rb1 Rxb1+ 31. Nxb1 Bf8 32. Nc3 Qb7 33. Qd8 Be6 34. Nd5
Bxd5 35. cxd5 Kg7 36. Qa5 Be7 37. Qb5 Qc8 38. Qc6 Qd8 39. Bb5 a5 40. Qd7 Qf8
41. Qc7 Kh6 42. Qxa5 Bg5 43. Qc3 f4 44. exf4 Qxf4 45. Bd7 Qf7 46. Be6 Qa7 47.
g3 hxg3 48. Qxg3 Qxd4 49. h4 Bc1 50. Kg2 Qf6 51. Qg4 Bf4 52. h5 gxh5 53. Qf5
Qg6+ 54. Qxg6+ Kxg6 55. Bd7 Kg5 56. Be8 Be5 57. Bf7 h4 58. Be6 Kf4 59. Bd7 Bd4
60. Bc8 Bc5 61. Be6 Ke5 62. Kf1 Bb6 63. Kg2 Kd4 64. Kf1 Kd3 65. Bf5 Kd4 66. Be6
Kc4 67. Ke2 Kc3 68. Bf5 Kd4 69. Be6 Ke5 70. Kf1 Kf4 71. Kg2 Ba7 72. Bd7 Ke5 73.
Be6 Bc5 74. Kf1 h3 75. Bxh3 Kxd5 76. Ke2 Ke5 77. f3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Douglas IoM op"]
[Site "Douglas"]
[Date "2018.10.21"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kashlinskaya, Alina"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A38"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2447"]
[Annotator "Gutman,L"]
[PlyCount "134"]
[EventDate "2018.10.20"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IOM"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,134,20,20,20,-9,14,-33,-33,-17,-14,-14,0,-14,7,21,18,24,29,31,24,39,
20,19,-2,15,67,69,84,84,91,40,107,74,71,71,96,75,118,106,122,143,154,57,43,4,9,
0,-16,-31,7,-33,-52,-32,-46,-45,-15,-46,-27,-88,-128,-105,-59,-59,-57,-58,-76,
-89,-87,-59,-66,-56,-54,-50,-5,-33,-23,-15,-15,-11,0,-71,-37,-87,-123,-109,-90,
-139,-144,-121,-90,-106,-101,-128,-132,-120,-124,-126,-154,-125,-95,-95,-25,
-32,-26,-43,-44,-44,-17,-19,-25,-54,-70,-70,-70,-79,-79,-77,-77,-115,-99,-117,
-39,-99,-37,-37,0,0,0,0,0,-85,-19,-25,-30,-14,0]} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. b3 Bg7
4. Bb2 c5 5. c4 d6 6. Bg2 ({Weiß muss e7-e5 zulassen im Hinblick auf} 6. d4 Ne4
7. Nbd2 Qa5 $15 {Edouard-Ganguly, St Louis 2018}) 6... e5 7. O-O O-O 8. Nc3 Nc6
9. d3 h6 10. Ne1 $5 ({Meist wurde} 10. Nd2 Be6 {gespielt,} 11. a3 $5 (11. Nd5
Qd7 $5 (11... Rb8 12. a3 a5 13. e3 Nh7 14. Qc2 $14 {Hickl-Lutz, Nussloch 1996})
12. Nxf6+ Bxf6 13. Ne4 Bg7 $11) 11... Qd7 12. Nd5 Bh3 13. Nxf6+ $5 (13. Ne4
Nxd5 (13... Nxe4 14. Bxh3 Qxh3 15. dxe4 h5 16. f3 $14) 14. Bxh3 Qxh3 15. cxd5
Ne7 16. Nxd6 Qd7 17. Nc4 Qxd5 $11) 13... Bxf6 14. Ne4 Be7 15. Bxh3 Qxh3 16. Nc3
f5 {Vokarev-Popov, Nizhny Tagil 2016} 17. Kh1 $5 $14) 10... Be6 11. Nd5 Qd7 12.
Qd2 Nh7 (12... Kh7 13. f4 Bh3 14. Bxh3 $5 (14. e4 Bxg2 15. Nxg2 Nxd5 16. cxd5
Nd4 $11 {Sanal-Rajkovic, Wch U18 Khanty Mansiysk 2016}) 14... Qxh3 15. e4 Nxd5
16. cxd5 Nd4 17. fxe5 Bxe5 18. Nf3 Nxf3+ 19. Rxf3 $14) 13. f4 ({Zu direkt.
Besser geschah} 13. a3 $5 Nd4 (13... f5 14. b4 $14) 14. Qd1 Bh3 15. e3 Bxg2 16.
Nxg2 Ne6 17. f4 $14 {Diaz Benitez-Soriano Maya, Mislata 1997}) 13... f5 $5 ({
Voreilig wäre} 13... exf4 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 {, zum Beispiel} 15. Nxf4 ({oder} 15.
gxf4 Bxd5 16. cxd5 Ne7 17. e4 f5 18. Nc2 Nf6 19. Rae1 $14) 15... Rae8 16. Nc2
Ng5 17. Ne3 Nh3+ 18. Bxh3 Bxh3 19. Rf2 Re5 20. Nxh3 Qxh3 21. Nd5 f5 22. Raf1
Qg4 23. e3 Qg5 24. Rf4 $14) 14. Nc2 Rae8 15. Rae1 Kh8 ({Zeitverlust, zum
Ausgleich reichte} 15... exf4 $5 16. Bxg7 {und nun entweder} Kxg7 ({oder} 16...
Qxg7 17. Nxf4 Bf7 18. Nd5 Ng5 $11) 17. Nxf4 Nf6 18. Qc3 Kh7 19. Bh3 Ng4 20. d4
Qg7 $11) 16. b4 $5 {Kramnik hat nun Zeit, Spiel an beiden Flügeln anzuzetteln.
} (16. e4 exf4 17. Bxg7+ Qxg7 18. Nxf4 fxe4 19. Bxe4 Bf7 20. d4 g5 21. d5 Ne5
22. Nd3 Bh5 23. Nxe5 Rxe5 24. Bd3 Rxe1 25. Rxe1 Bg4 $11) 16... exf4 17. Bxg7+
Qxg7 ({Schwächer war} 17... Kxg7 18. Nxf4 Nf6 19. Bh3 Ng4 20. Bxg4 fxg4 21. b5
Ne5 22. Ne3 $14) 18. Nxf4 Bd7 $6 ({Eine falsche Entscheidung. Viel flexibler
war} 18... Bc8 $5 19. bxc5 (19. b5 Ne5 20. Ne3 Nf6 21. Ned5 Nxd5 22. Nxd5 Be6
$11) 19... dxc5 20. Na3 a6 21. Nb1 Nf6 22. Nc3 g5 23. Nfd5 Nxd5 24. Nxd5 b5 $11
) 19. b5 (19. bxc5 dxc5 20. Na3 Ne5 $11) 19... Ne5 20. Qa5 $1 {Dies ist die
Pointe!} Nf6 21. Qc7 $2 ({Kramnik, ziemlich unerwartet, verliert dem
Überblick - "Was sieht sie, was ich nicht sehe?". Er kann sich nicht
entscheiden für} 21. Qxa7 $1 g5 22. Nd5 Ra8 23. Qb6 Nxd5 24. Bxd5 {, obwohl
sowohl} f4 ({als auch} 24... Rxa2 25. Ne3 f4 26. Qxd6 Re8 27. Ng2 $16) 25. a3
Bc6 26. bxc6 bxc6 27. Bxc6 Rfb8 28. Bb7 Rxb7 29. Qxd6 Rb2 30. Rc1 $14 {Weiß
zugute kommt.}) 21... g5 22. Nh3 $6 ({Zu erwarten war} 22. Nd5 Nxd5 23. Bxd5 {
, auch wenn nach} f4 $5 (23... Bc8 24. Qxg7+ Kxg7 $11) 24. Bxb7 (24. Qxd6 b6
$17) 24... Qg6 (24... Qf6 25. Bg2 Rf7 26. Qa5 $11) 25. Be4 Bf5 26. Bxf5 Rxf5
27. Qb7 Rf7 28. Qg2 f3 $15 {Schwarz die Initiative ergreift .}) 22... Bc8 23.
Qxg7+ ({Notwendig, da} 23. Qa5 b6 24. Qd2 Nh5 $17 {Weiß in Schwierigkeiten
bringt.}) 23... Kxg7 24. a4 Neg4 ({Eine Alternative war} 24... Ng6 $5 {mit die
Idee} 25. Nf2 h5 $15) 25. Kh1 $2 ({Vorzuziehen war} 25. Nf2 Nxf2 26. Rxf2 $15)
25... Ne3 26. Nxe3 Rxe3 27. Ng1 g4 28. Rd1 h5 29. d4 h4 30. gxh4 Rh8 ({Klaren
Vorteil sicherte} 30... Rfe8 $5 $17) 31. dxc5 dxc5 32. Rd3 Re5 33. e3 Be6 $6 ({
Viel sinnvoller erscheint} 33... Rhe8 34. Ne2 Rxe3 35. Nf4 Rxd3 36. Nxd3 b6 $15
) 34. Rc1 Ne4 35. Bxe4 Rxe4 36. Ne2 Rxc4 $2 ({Und hier} 36... Kf6 $5 37. Rdc3
Rxh4 38. Ng3 Re5 39. Rd1 Rh8 $15) 37. Rxc4 Bxc4 38. Rd7+ Kf6 39. Nf4 Re8 40.
Rd6+ Ke5 41. Rd2 $6 ({Diese passive Art ist ziemlich untypisch für Kramnik.
Zum Ausgleich reichte} 41. Rd7 b6 42. h5 Ke4 43. Kg2 Kxe3 44. Kg3 Rh8 ({oder} 
44... Bg8 45. h6 c4 46. h7 Bxh7 47. Nd5+ Ke2 48. Rxh7 Rd8 49. Nb4 c3 50. Rc7
f4+ 51. Kxg4 f3 $11) 45. Rxa7 Bd3 46. a5 bxa5 47. b6 Be4 ({auch} 47... c4 48.
b7 Rb8 {ist gut möglich,} 49. h6 Be4 50. h7 c3 51. Ra8 c2 52. Rxb8 c1=Q 53.
Ng2+ Bxg2 54. Kh4 Qc7 55. Re8+ Be4 56. b8=Q Qxh7+ 57. Kg5 Qg7+ 58. Kh5 Qh7+ $11
) 48. b7 c4 49. Ra8 Rxa8 50. bxa8=Q Bxa8 51. h6 c3 52. h7 c2 53. h8=Q c1=Q 54.
Ng2+ Ke2 55. Qxa8 Qc3+ 56. Kh4 Qf3 57. Qxa5 Qxg2 58. Qxf5 $11) 41... Ke4 ({
Etwas einfacher war} 41... Bb3 $5 42. Kg2 Kf6 43. Kf2 Bxa4 44. Rd6+ Ke7 45. Rd5
b6 46. Rxf5 Bxb5 47. h5 Bd7 48. Ng6+ Kd6 49. Rf4 Re6 $15) 42. Rc2 Bb3 43. Rc3
$2 (43. Rxc5 Kxe3 44. Ng2+ Ke4 45. Rc3 Bf7 46. Rc7 Bd5 47. Kg1 f4 48. Kf2 a5
49. bxa6 bxa6 50. h5 Rh8 $15 {wäre das kleinere Übel gewesen.}) 43... c4 44.
Kg2 Ke5 ({Das konsequente} 44... Rc8 $5 45. a5 Ba4 {gewann ziemlich leicht,
man sehe} 46. b6 axb6 47. axb6 Bb3 48. h3 gxh3+ 49. Kxh3 Rc6 50. h5 Rxb6 51.
Kh4 Rc6 52. Kg5 b5 $19) 45. h5 Kf6 46. Kf2 Kg5 47. Rc1 Rc8 48. Ne6+ Kxh5 49.
Nd4 Bxa4 $2 ({Gewinnchancen versprach} 49... Rc5 $5 50. Ne6 Re5 51. Nd4 Bxa4
52. Rxc4 Bxb5) 50. Ra1 c3 51. Rxa4 c2 52. Ne2 c1=Q 53. Nxc1 Rxc1 54. Rxa7 Rc7
55. b6 Re7 56. Ra5 Kg6 57. Ra3 (57. Ra7 Kf6 58. Kg2 Ke5 59. Kf2 $11) 57... Re6
58. Rb3 Kg5 59. Kg3 Rh6 60. Kg2 Rh3 ({Etwas anspruchsvoller wäre} 60... Kf6 61.
Rb5 Rh3 62. e4 fxe4 63. Rc5 Rf3 64. Rc4 Rb3 65. Rxe4 Kf5 66. Re7 Rxb6 67. h4
gxh3+ 68. Kxh3 Kf6 69. Re1 Re6 70. Rb1 b6 71. Rb5 Ke7 72. Kg4 Kd7 73. Kf5 Rh6
74. Ke4 Kc6 75. Rb1 $11) 61. Rd3 Kf6 62. Rd7 Rxe3 63. Rxb7 Rb3 64. Rb8 Ke5 65.
h3 gxh3+ 66. Kh2 Kf4 67. b7 Kf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Douglas IoM op"]
[Site "Douglas"]
[Date "2018.10.22"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Fenil, Shah"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "2411"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2018.10.20"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IOM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Nbd2 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Bd3 O-O 6. O-O Nc6 7. Re1 e5 8. c3
h6 9. dxe5 Nxe5 10. Nxe5 dxe5 11. Nf3 Qe7 12. Bc4 b6 13. a4 Bb7 14. Qc2 Rfd8
15. h3 a6 16. b4 Kh7 17. Ba3 Qe8 18. b5 axb5 19. axb5 Rd7 20. Nd2 Qd8 21. Nf1
Bf8 22. Bxf8 Rxa1 23. Rxa1 Qxf8 24. Ng3 h5 25. Ra7 h4 26. Rxb7 hxg3 27. Ra7 Qc5
0-1

[Event "Douglas IoM op"]
[Site "Douglas"]
[Date "2018.10.23"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dragnev, Valentin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A08"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2508"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2018.10.20"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IOM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 c5 4. O-O Nc6 5. d3 e5 6. e4 dxe4 7. dxe4 Qxd1 8.
Rxd1 Bg4 9. Na3 Nd4 10. Rd3 Bd6 11. Nc4 Bc7 12. Ncxe5 Ne2+ 13. Kf1 Nxc1 14.
Rxc1 Be6 15. b3 O-O 16. Re3 Rfd8 17. Nd3 c4 18. Nf4 Bd7 19. e5 Ng4 20. Re2 cxb3
21. axb3 Bc6 22. h3 Bxf3 23. Bxf3 Nxe5 24. Bxb7 Rab8 25. Bg2 Rb5 26. Rce1 Ba5
27. Bd5 Bxe1 28. Rxe5 Bc3 29. Bxf7+ Kxf7 30. Rxb5 Rd1+ 31. Kg2 Rd2 32. Nd3 Rxc2
33. Rc5 Ke6 34. Rc6+ Kd7 35. Rc4 Kd6 36. Nc5 1-0

[Event "Douglas IoM op"]
[Site "Douglas"]
[Date "2018.10.25"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "L'Ami, Erwin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2639"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2018.10.20"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IOM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Qc2 c6 7. Bg5 h6 8.
Bh4 g5 9. Bg3 Nh5 10. O-O-O Nxg3 11. hxg3 g4 12. Nh4 Nb6 13. e4 Be6 14. e5 Nc4
15. Bxc4 dxc4 16. Nf5 Qa5 17. Kb1 O-O-O 18. Ne3 Bb4 19. Ne2 b5 20. Nf4 c3 21.
Nxe6 fxe6 22. Rd3 cxb2 23. Qxc6+ Kb8 24. Qxe6 Rc8 25. Qb3 Rc7 26. Qxb2 Bc3 27.
Qb3 Rhc8 28. Rhd1 b4 29. e6 Rb7 30. d5 Bf6 31. Nxg4 Bg7 32. d6 Rc3 33. d7 Rxb3+
34. Rxb3 Qd8 35. e7 1-0

[Event "Douglas IoM op"]
[Site "Douglas"]
[Date "2018.10.26"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Artemiev, Vladislav"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A14"]
[WhiteElo "2706"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[PlyCount "128"]
[EventDate "2018.10.20"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IOM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. b3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. Bb2 O-O 7. O-O c5 8. Nc3
d5 9. e3 Qc8 10. Rc1 Rd8 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Nxd5 Bxd5 13. d4 a5 14. dxc5 bxc5
15. Nh4 Bxg2 16. Qg4 Bf8 17. Nxg2 Rd2 18. Bd4 Nd7 19. a4 Qb7 20. Bc3 Rd6 21.
Rfd1 Rxd1+ 22. Rxd1 Nb6 23. Nf4 Qe4 24. h3 c4 25. bxc4 Nxa4 26. Ba1 Nc5 27. Rd4
Qb1+ 28. Rd1 Qe4 29. Rd4 Qc2 30. Nh5 Qg6 31. Qf3 Rb8 32. Bc3 f5 33. Bxa5 Qf7
34. Rd1 Ne4 35. Nf4 h6 36. Qe2 Kh7 37. Qh5 Qxh5 38. Nxh5 Rb2 39. Be1 e5 40. g4
fxg4 41. hxg4 Rc2 42. Rd8 Bc5 43. Kf1 Rxc4 44. Rc8 Rc1 45. Rc7 Kh8 46. Ke2 Bxe3
47. Rxg7 Bg5 48. Rg6 Kh7 49. Rg7+ Kh8 50. Ra7 Bh4 51. Rf7 Nd6 52. Rf8+ Kh7 53.
Bb4 Rc6 54. f3 Bg5 55. Ra8 Nb5 56. Kd3 Rc7 57. Ba5 Rf7 58. Ke4 Nd4 59. Kxe5
Nxf3+ 60. Ke6 Re7+ 61. Kd6 Ne5 62. Bc3 Nf7+ 63. Kd5 Rd7+ 64. Ke4 Re7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Douglas IoM op"]
[Site "Douglas"]
[Date "2018.10.27"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Xiong, Jeffery"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B50"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2656"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "2018.10.20"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IOM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Nc6 5. O-O Bg4 6. h3 Bxf3 7. Qxf3 g6 8. Nc3
Bg7 9. Qd1 O-O 10. a3 a6 11. Ba2 b5 12. Bg5 e6 13. Qd2 Qa5 14. f4 b4 15. axb4
cxb4 16. Ne2 b3 17. Qxa5 Nxa5 18. cxb3 h6 19. Bh4 Rab8 20. b4 Nc6 21. Be1 Nxb4
22. Bb1 Nd7 23. Bc3 Rb6 24. f5 exf5 25. exf5 g5 26. f6 Bh8 27. Bd4 Rc6 28. Ng3
Nd5 29. Ra5 Nf4 30. Nf5 Re8 31. Kh1 Bxf6 32. Nxh6+ Kg7 33. Nf5+ Kf8 34. b4 d5
35. Bf2 Rb8 36. g3 Nxh3 37. Be3 d4 38. Nxd4 Bxd4 39. Bxd4 Rxb4 40. Rd5 Ke7 41.
Ba2 Rc2 42. Bc4 f6 43. Re1+ Kd8 44. Bxf6+ Kc8 45. Bd4 Nf2+ 46. Bxf2 Rxf2 47.
Bxa6+ Kc7 48. Rc1+ Kb6 49. Rd6+ Ka7 50. Ra1 Ne5 51. Rh6 Kb8 52. Rh8+ Kc7 53.
Rc1+ Kd6 54. Rh6+ Kd5 55. Rh2 Rbb2 56. Rxf2 Rxf2 57. Kg1 Rb2 58. Rf1 Kd4 59.
Rf2 Rxf2 60. Kxf2 Ng4+ 61. Ke2 Ne5 62. Kf2 Ng4+ 63. Kf3 Ne5+ 64. Ke2 Ng4 65.
Bb7 Ne5 66. Be4 Ng4 67. Bf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Douglas IoM op"]
[Site "Douglas"]
[Date "2018.10.28"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2636"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "2018.10.20"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "IOM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 187"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.11"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. Bg5 Be7 7. O-O d6 8. h3
h6 9. Be3 a6 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. Nbd2 Re8 12. d4 exd4 13. cxd4 Bf8 14. Qc2 Nxe4
15. Nxe4 Bf5 16. Nfd2 d5 17. Qxc6 dxe4 18. Rfc1 Ra7 19. d5 Bd7 20. Qc4 Rb7 21.
Qxa6 Rxb2 22. Qa7 Bb5 23. Qxc7 Qxd5 24. Nc4 Rb4 25. Nb6 Qe6 26. a4 Bd6 27. Qb7
Be2 28. Qd7 Qe5 29. Qxe8+ Qxe8 30. Rc8 Qxc8 31. Nxc8 Bf8 32. a5 Ba6 33. Nb6 Rb5
34. Rd1 Bb4 35. Rd8+ Kh7 36. Rd7 Bxa5 37. Ra7 Bxb6 38. Rxa6 Rb1+ 39. Kh2 Bxe3
40. fxe3 Rb3 41. Ra7 Kg6 42. Kg3 Rxe3+ 43. Kf4 Re2 44. g4 h5 45. Ra5 hxg4 46.
hxg4 f6 47. Ra1 Rf2+ 48. Ke3 Rb2 49. Ra7 Rg2 50. Kf4 Rg1 51. Rb7 e3 52. Rb2 Re1
53. Kf3 Kh6 54. Rh2+ Kg5 55. Rh5+ Kg6 56. Ra5 e2 57. Ra4 Rg1 58. Kxe2 Kg5 59.
Kf3 Kh4 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2757"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. a4 O-O 8. Re1
Ba7 9. h3 h6 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. b4 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. Bb2 Ne7 14. c4 Ng6 15.
Nf1 b5 16. axb5 axb5 17. Ng3 bxc4 18. dxc4 Re8 19. Qc2 Qb8 20. Reb1 Qb7 21. c5
dxc5 22. bxc5 Qc6 23. Rc1 Nd7 24. Ra5 Reb8 25. Ba3 Nf4 26. Nf5 Re8 27. g3 Ne6
28. Kg2 Nf6 29. Re1 Nd7 30. Rc1 Kh7 31. Qc4 Bxc5 32. Rxc5 Ndxc5 33. Bxc5 Ra4
34. Qd5 Qa8 35. Qd7 Kg8 36. Nxe5 Ng5 37. Nc6 Raxe4 38. Nfe7+ Kh7 39. Ra1 Ra4
40. Rxa4 Qxa4 41. Qxe8 Qe4+ 42. Kf1 Qb1+ 43. Kg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A28"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2783"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 Bc5 8.
Be2 O-O 9. O-O Bb6 10. a4 Re8 11. Qc2 Qf6 12. Kh1 h6 13. Ng1 Qd6 14. f4 Bxg1
15. Rxg1 exf4 16. d4 Ne7 17. Ba3 Qd8 18. Raf1 Ng6 19. e5 b6 20. Bf3 Ba6 21. Rf2
c5 22. g3 fxg3 23. Rxg3 cxd4 24. cxd4 Rc8 25. Qf5 Bc4 26. Bd6 Be6 27. Qb1 Nf4
28. d5 Nxd5 29. Qg1 Kh8 30. Rd2 Nf4 31. Rd4 Ng6 32. Be4 Rc4 33. Rxc4 Bxc4 34.
Qd4 Be6 35. Bc6 Ne7 36. Be4 Nf5 37. Bxf5 Bxf5 38. Kg1 Be6 39. h4 Qd7 40. Qe4
Rc8 41. h5 Rc1+ 42. Kh2 Qd8 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.14"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5
8. Rxe5 O-O 9. d4 Bf6 10. Re1 Re8 11. c3 Rxe1 12. Qxe1 {So far, par for the
course. The battle in this line has tended to revolve around White's attempts
at playing an immediate d5- as if Black is allowed to play ...d5 himself, the
game is almost certain to be drawn.} Ne8 {Slightly more ambitious (or
'ashamed' at being happy with a draw) than, say, ...Qe8.} 13. d5 b6 (13... c6
14. Nd2 (14. Be3 cxd5 $5 15. Qd2 Nc7 16. Na3 d6 17. Nc2 Bf5 18. Nb4 Be4 {
and Black ultimately managed to maintain his grip on the pawn, against the
laws of physics. McShane,L -Radjabov,T Batumi 2018}) 14... cxd5 15. Nf3 d6 16.
Be3 Nc7 17. Qd2 Bd7 18. g3 Bc6 19. Bg2 Ne6 20. Rd1 Qa5 21. a3 h6 22. Nd4 Nxd4
23. Bxd4 Bxd4 24. Qxd4 Re8 25. Bxd5 Bxd5 26. Qxd5 Qxd5 27. Rxd5 Re2 28. b4 Rc2
29. Rxd6 Rxc3 30. Rd8+ Kh7 31. Rd7 Rxa3 32. Rxb7 $11 {Giri,A -Caruana,F Batumi
2018}) 14. Bf4 Bb7 15. Qd2 h6 16. c4 c6 17. Nc3 {It is at this point that
Kramnik begins playing the chess that we saw in Berlin last year: maximalist
and pushing for the tactics to work, even against an energy gradient.} cxd5 (
17... Bg5 {seems more natural, retaining the connected pawn structure for now,
and preferably until the queens come off.}) 18. cxd5 d6 19. Re1 Nc7 20. Bc4 {
The problem with Black's position here is not that it is worse, but just that
whatever he plays requires a stack of tactics to be present- and adequately
calculated- to avoid major calamity.} Bxc3 $5 (20... Qd7 21. Ne4 Be5 {is still
apparently equal, although human players would instinctively not be pleased at
the presence of Qxh6 motifs.}) 21. bxc3 Qf6 $1 (21... b5 22. Bb3 a5 23. a3 Qd7
$14) 22. h3 Rc8 {But this is a little strange. Clearly, Black wants ...b5 and .
..Na6-c5, but there are a number of answers to this.} (22... b5 23. Bb3 a5 24.
a3 a4 25. Ba2 Re8 $11 {leads to a position where White has no easy way of
freeing both his pieces from defending d5.}) 23. Re4 (23. Be3 $14) 23... b5 24.
Bb3 a5 25. a3 Qf5 (25... Re8 $14 {Compared with a few moves ago, White has the
extra chance of playing f3 so as to improve his structure during the rook
trade, but this isn't enough to make his advantage dramatic (Black could put
his knight on c5 in response.)}) 26. Rd4 Qb1+ {This move might look natural,
but with it, Black passes the point of no return.} (26... Qf6 $14 {was still
possible, albeit now White is in a position to play for a4 or c4.}) 27. Bd1 b4
28. cxb4 Nb5 29. Qd3 Qa1 30. Re4 Bxd5 {Presumably visualised when playing ...
Qb1+, but the follow-up is missing.} (30... Nc3 31. Re1 axb4 32. axb4 $14) 31.
Re1 $1 {As with most computer-precise chess games, it makes very little sense
that White's rook had to go to d4, and then back to e1. However, he is now
very much better, because of Black's total lack of co-ordination.} Bc4 32. Qf5
Rf8 33. Kh2 (33. bxa5 Qc3 34. Re3 Qd4 35. Bh5 {is too much computer chess})
33... g6 (33... Qd4 34. Bc2 g6 35. Qg4 Nxa3 36. Rd1 $1 $16) 34. Qe4 d5 35. Qe7
axb4 $2 {A blunder in a hopeless position.} (35... Qd4 36. Bxh6 Ra8 37. bxa5
Qxf2 38. Bg4 $18 {continues to avoid material loss, but Black's pieces are all
terrible and he must lose soon.}) 36. Be5 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C00"]
[WhiteElo "2835"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d5 6. Nbd2 dxe4 7. dxe4 O-O 8.
O-O Qe7 9. b4 Bd6 10. a3 a5 11. Rb1 axb4 12. axb4 Be6 13. Re1 Rfd8 14. Qc2 h6
15. Bf1 Ra2 16. Bb2 Qe8 17. Nc4 b5 18. Ne3 Ne7 19. Ra1 Rda8 20. Rxa2 Rxa2 21.
Ra1 Rxa1 22. Bxa1 Qa8 23. Bb2 Qxe4 24. Qxe4 Nxe4 25. Bxb5 f5 26. Bd3 Nf6 27.
Bf1 g5 28. Nc4 Bxc4 29. Bxc4+ Kg7 30. Nd2 e4 31. Bb3 c6 32. h3 h5 33. Kf1 Kg6
34. Nc4 Bc7 35. Na5 Nd7 36. Ba4 Nb6 37. Bxc6 Nxc6 38. Nxc6 Nc4 39. Bc1 f4 40.
f3 exf3 41. gxf3 g4 42. Kg2 Kg5 43. b5 g3 44. Nb4 Ne3+ 45. Bxe3 fxe3 46. Nd3 e2
47. f4+ Bxf4 48. b6 Kf5 49. Kf3 g2 50. Kxg2 Ke4 51. Ne1 Ke3 52. b7 h4 53. c4
Bg3 54. c5 Kd2 55. Nf3+ Kd1 56. c6 Kc1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.16"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C80"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2817"]
[Annotator "Howell,David"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 {Mamedyarov reverts to
one of his favourite lines, the Open Spanish.} 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6
9. Nbd2 Nc5 10. c3 d4 {The old main line. This was debated for decades amongst
top players.} ({However} 10... Be7 {has taken over in popularity in recent
times and is the pet move of Mamedyarov himself.}) 11. Bxe6 Nxe6 12. cxd4 Ncxd4
13. a4 Bc5 $5 {A strange idea, as Black will have to lose another tempo with
this bishop. Black has many options in this position, and I guess that this
move was chosen mainly in the hope of surprising Kramnik. It is possible that
Mamedyarov based his preparation on the many correspondence games which have
reached this position.} ({I have tried out} 13... Bb4 {with mixed success}) ({
while} 13... Rb8 {and}) (13... Be7 {are also playable.}) 14. Ne4 Bb6 15. Nfg5 {
White attempts to remove the strong blockader on e6.} Qd5 $1 {Mamedyarov was
still blitzing out his moves.} 16. Nxe6 ({The calm yet mysterious} 16. Re1 {
is the engine's suggestion, although it is unclear why this is an improvement.}
) 16... Qxe6 (16... fxe6 $2 {would be a mistake as it exposes the black king:}
17. Qh5+ g6 18. Nf6+ Kf7 19. Qh4 $18 {with an ongoing initiative.}) 17. axb5 a5
{It is likely that this was still preparation.} (17... Nxb5 {should be fine
too, though} 18. Ng5 {would force Black to be accurate.}) 18. b4 a4 19. Be3 {
Both sides have several options on every move. Unfortunately it is impossible
to cover all the variations.} ({While analysing the position, I stumbled
across one dramatic and fascinating line:} 19. Nc5 Qc4 $5 (19... Bxc5 20. bxc5
Nb3 21. Ra3 O-O 22. Be3 $14) 20. Rxa4 Rd8 21. Bg5 $1 {(willingly allowing ...
Ne2+)} f6 (21... Ne2+ $2 22. Kh1 Rxd1 23. Ra8+ Rd8 24. Rxd8#) 22. exf6 Ne2+ 23.
Qxe2+ Qxe2 24. fxg7 Rg8 25. Bxd8 {and despite the material imbalance, play
should end in a draw:} Rxg7 26. Bf6 Rxg2+ 27. Kxg2 Qg4+ 28. Kh1 Qf3+ 29. Kg1
Qg4+) 19... Qxe5 20. Nc3 Ne6 21. Bxb6 {The game now fizzles out.} (21. Qd5 {
is tempting, but also leads to nothing:} Qxd5 22. Nxd5 Bxe3 23. fxe3 O-O 24.
Ne7+ Kh8 25. Nc6 $11 {it appears that this strong knight paralyses Black's
rooks, but in reality White's broken pawn structure means that he cannot hope
to win.} a3) 21... Qxc3 22. Bc5 Nxc5 23. bxc5 O-O 24. Rxa4 Qxc5 25. Rxa8 Rxa8
26. Qc1 Qxb5 27. Qxc7 Qb8 28. Qxb8+ Rxb8 29. h3 h6 30. f3 f6 31. Kh1 {A
well-played game by both sides.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.18"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Rapport, Richard"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C27"]
[WhiteElo "2731"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "187"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Bc5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Nf3 d6 6. h3 O-O 7. O-O Re8 8. Ne2 {
Philosophically, the position is behaving very similarly to the Four Knights
with 4.Bb5.} Nbd7 ({It is possible to break with} 8... d5 {and indeed I wonder
why Kramnik chose not to.} 9. Bb3 h6 {and White must make a determination
about the centre.} 10. Ng3 (10. exd5 cxd5 11. d4 e4 $1 $36) 10... dxe4 11. Nxe4
Nxe4 12. dxe4 Nd7 $11 {Both active bishops will be opposed quite soon by their
rivals for the same colour-complex, and forced to vacate their 'quite long'
diagonals on pain of being traded.}) 9. Ng3 Nf8 10. c3 Bb6 11. Bb3 Be6 12. a4 (
{I can't help thinking White has something in this position: perhaps} 12. Re1 {
and Nf5.}) 12... d5 $1 13. Bg5 (13. Ng5 {is thematic too, but perhaps not that
effective here.} Bd7 $1 $11) (13. Nxe5 dxe4 14. d4 N8d7 15. a5 $5 Bc7 16. a6
Bxb3 17. Qxb3 Nxe5 18. dxe5 Bxe5 19. axb7 Rb8 20. Be3 {would be very tempting
if not for} Qd5 $1 $11) 13... h6 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15. d4 Ng6 16. a5 Bc7 17. dxe5
Nxe5 18. Nd4 ({The human eye is drawn to} 18. Nxe5 Bxe5 19. exd5 cxd5 $44 {
; even if White can't take a pawn, maybe he can magic the g3-knight to d4 and
swap off a pair or two of major pieces. However, this proves impossible.})
18... Rad8 19. f4 Qg6 20. Ngf5 $6 (20. Kh2 dxe4 {ultimately fizzles out after
great complications, though White should still try them.} 21. Bxe6 fxe6 (21...
c5 $5 22. Bf5 Qa6 23. fxe5 Bxe5 24. Qe1 cxd4 25. cxd4 Rxd4 26. Kh1 $14) 22.
fxe5 c5 23. Qc1 $1 Bxe5 24. Nde2 Rd3 25. Rf4 h5 $1 $11) 20... Nd7 (20... Nc4 $1
$15 {could potentially be a bit stronger}) 21. a6 $6 (21. Nxe6 fxe6 22. Nd4 $15
{wouldn't be every Black player's cup of tea.}) 21... Nc5 22. axb7 Nxe4 23. Qg4
Bxf5 24. Nxf5 Qxg4 (24... Qf6 $1 $17 {is more appealing somehow, trying to win
with better piece quality.}) 25. hxg4 Nd2 26. Ba4 $1 {Establishing dynamic
equality-more or less.} Bb6+ (26... Nxf1 27. Kxf1 Re4 28. g3 c5 29. Bb3 $15)
27. Kh2 Nxf1+ 28. Rxf1 Re6 {Possibly thinking that White couldn't take any
pawns.} (28... Re2 {makes a lot more sense, if you've realised that c6 will be
edible in any case.} 29. Nd4 Bxd4 30. cxd4 Rxb2 31. Bxc6 $11 {but Black is the
one playing to win.}) 29. Bxc6 $1 g6 30. Nxh6+ {It transpires that Black
doesn't even have that many ways to win two pieces for a rook, contrary to
appearances.} Kg7 31. Bxd5 Ree8 (31... Kxh6 32. Bxe6 fxe6 33. Rd1 $3 $16) 32.
Bxf7 Re2 $6 {A rather exuberant move.} (32... Rh8 33. g5 Rxh6+ 34. gxh6+ Kxf7
35. Rd1 $18) (32... Re7 {Black has played correctly up to this point, but he
should now just eliminate the b7-pawn and move on.} 33. g5 Rxb7 34. Bc4 $11 {
Both sides are playing to win.}) 33. Bc4 Rxb2 34. Nf7 Rb8 35. Ng5 Bf2 36. Bd5
a5 37. Ra1 Rh8+ 38. Nh3 g5 39. fxg5 $6 {Just before the time control. Now
Black equalises.} (39. f5 $16 {was extremely strong and the logical
culmination of what White's been doing for a few moves.}) 39... Bb6 40. Re1
Bc7+ 41. Kg1 Bd6 42. Ra1 $2 {Throwing away the second half-point.} ({It was
time to start playing for perpetual check:} 42. Re6 Rd8 43. Be4 a4 44. Rg6+ Kf7
45. Rf6+ Ke7 46. Nf4 Bxf4 47. Rxf4 a3 48. Rf1 a2 49. Kh2 $1 $11 {with an
unusual mutual impasse.}) 42... Bg3 43. g6 a4 {Now Black should be winning,
but of course this is a tremendously tricky position.} 44. Kf1 Re8 45. Ng5 Re5
$6 {Assuming that the extra material will guarantee a win in case pieces are
traded, but right here that isn't true.} (45... a3 46. Ne4 a2 $3 $19 {was the
key detail to see here.}) 46. Ne4 Rxd5 47. Nxg3 Rdd2 {After this point, the
game never left the drawing margin.} 48. Nf5+ Kf6 49. g7 Kf7 50. Re1 Rxb7 51.
g5 Rd8 52. Ra1 Ra7 53. Ra3 Kg6 54. g4 Kxg5 55. c4 Rb8 56. Ke2 Ra6 57. Kd2 Rg8
58. Kc3 Kxg4 59. Nd4 Rxg7 60. Kb4 Rga7 61. Nb5 Ra8 62. Nc3 Rb8+ 63. Nb5 Rc8 64.
Rxa4 Rxa4+ 65. Kxa4 Rxc4+ 66. Kb3 Rc8 67. Kb4 Kf4 68. Nd6 Rc6 69. Nb5 Ke4 70.
Nc3+ Kd4 71. Nb5+ Kd3 72. Kb3 Rc4 73. Na3 Rc1 74. Kb4 Rh1 75. Nb5 Rh5 76. Nd6
Kd4 77. Nb5+ Kd5 78. Nc3+ Kc6 79. Kc4 Rh4+ 80. Kd3 Kc5 81. Ne4+ Kd5 82. Nc3+
Ke5 83. Nb5 Rg4 84. Nc3 Rb4 85. Ne2 Kd6 86. Nc3 Rh4 87. Ne4+ Ke5 88. Nc3 Rd4+
89. Ke3 Rd8 90. Ne2 Rh8 91. Kd3 Rh3+ 92. Kc4 Rh2 93. Kd3 Rxe2 94. Kxe2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C50"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2773"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Nd5 h6 7. c3 d6 8. h3 Ba7
9. a4 Be6 10. a5 Bxd5 11. exd5 Ne7 12. d4 exd4 13. Nxd4 O-O 14. g4 Nexd5 15.
Kf1 Qd7 16. h4 Bxd4 17. Qxd4 Ne7 18. Be2 Qc6 19. Rh3 Qd5 20. Qxd5 Nfxd5 21. Bf3
c6 22. Ra4 b5 23. axb6 Nxb6 24. Re4 Rfe8 25. g5 hxg5 26. Bxg5 f6 27. Bc1 d5 28.
Rg4 Nc4 29. Be2 Ne5 30. Rf4 Kf7 31. h5 Rh8 32. Ra4 a5 33. b3 Rab8 34. Bd1 Rb5
35. Bc2 c5 36. Rah4 c4 37. bxc4 Nxc4 38. Kg2 Rc5 39. Rg3 Rcc8 40. Rhg4 Rcg8 41.
Rh3 Ra8 42. Rhg3 Rxh5 43. Rxg7+ Ke6 44. Ba4 Rah8 45. Bf4 Rh2+ 46. Kf1 Rh1+ 47.
Ke2 Ra1 48. Bb5 Ra2+ 49. Kf1 Rh1+ 50. Kg2 Raa1 51. Bxc4 Nf5 52. Bxd5+ Kxd5 53.
Kf3 Nxg3 54. fxg3 a4 55. Kg4 a3 56. Ra7 a2 57. Kf5 Rh2 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.20"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Duda, Jan Krzysztof"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2738"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. O-O d6 6. c3 a6 7. a4 O-O 8. Bg5 h6
9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 Ba7 11. Nbd2 Nh7 12. h3 h5 13. d4 h4 14. Bh2 g4 15. hxg4 Bxg4
16. dxe5 dxe5 17. b4 h3 18. b5 Ne7 19. gxh3 Bxh3 20. Nxe5 Kg7 21. Nxf7 Rxf7 22.
Bxf7 Bxf1 23. Bb3 Bh3 24. Be5+ Nf6 25. Bxf6+ Kxf6 26. Qf3+ Bf5 27. Rd1 Qc8 28.
exf5 Qxf5 29. Ne4+ Kg7 30. Qxf5 Nxf5 31. Rd7+ Kh6 32. bxa6 bxa6 33. Rxc7 Bb8
34. Rf7 Nh4 35. Rf6+ Kg7 36. Kf1 Ra7 37. Rb6 Be5 38. Bd5 Ng6 39. c4 Bd4 40. c5
Nf4 41. Bb7 Nd3 42. Bxa6 Bxc5 43. Re6 Nf4 44. Nxc5 Rc7 45. Re4 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.22"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D05"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "Fernandez,D"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c3 c5 4. e3 {As if forcibly reining in his creative
instincts for one game.} e6 5. Nbd2 Nbd7 6. Bd3 b6 7. Qe2 Bb7 8. O-O Be7 (8...
Ne4 $5 {is the most ambitious move, keeping ...f5 and both bishop deployments
firmly on the table.}) (8... Bd6 {is known to be most ambitious- against the
moves White played in the game, Black would be ready with ...e5, and after} 9.
e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Bxe4 Bxe4 12. Qxe4 {White as usual gets nothing.} O-O
13. Bg5 Be7 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. Rad1 Nf6 $11 {Bakre,T-Prathamesh,S Visakhapatnam
2004}) 9. b3 O-O 10. Bb2 Rc8 11. Rac1 Bd6 {That Black doesn't feel
particularly threatened is evidenced by his choice to move this bishop a
second time.} 12. c4 {The choice between playing c4 and e4 in such positions
is rather nuanced.} (12. e4 e5 $5 $13 {now leads to great mess.}) ({Of course,
there is always the option to not play either pawn break, and instead go for} 
12. Ba6 Qc7 13. Bxb7 Qxb7 {before deciding on} 14. c4) 12... cxd4 13. exd4 Qe7
14. Ne5 Ba3 $5 {Analogous to the last note, Black feels he is now well served
by a bishop trade. White would rather like to shut the h1-a8 diagonal now, to
make Black's remaining bishop worse, but this turns out to be impossible.} 15.
Bxa3 (15. Nxd7 Bxb2 (15... Nxd7 16. Bxa3 Qxa3 17. Qe3 $11 {is also fine}) 16.
Nxf8 Bxc1 17. Nxh7 Bb2 18. Ng5 Bxd4 19. Ndf3 Bc3 $1 $132) 15... Qxa3 16. f4 $5
{A major decision.} ({Probably Kramnik realised that by now the solid option,} 
16. Ndf3 {, still leaves him in a structure which is likely to prove a
long-term vulnerability. Ironically, the position would then become similar to
the Semi-Tarrasch, a line which both players employed in the Berlin Candidates
2018.} dxc4 17. bxc4 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 Rfd8 {Black has a slight initiative. Plus,
wouldn't White like to have the f5-break available here...?}) 16... g6 17. Ndf3
dxc4 18. bxc4 Qd6 ({The computer suggests} 18... Nxe5 {despite the apparent
advantages of White's pawn recapture: this is because} 19. fxe5 Bxf3 20. Qxf3
Nd5 $1 {exists (due to the c-file pin.) It is an interesting bid to take play
into an endgame, which succeeds, mostly because the alternative is playing a
major-piece-only position with the hanging pawns- this last tending to end
badly.} 21. Be2 (21. Rcd1 Nb4 22. Rf2 Nxd3 23. Rc2 Rc7 24. Qxd3 Qb4 $15) 21...
Qxf3 22. Rxf3 Ne7 {Black is more comfortable, but not better. Both sides could
conceivably outplay the other.}) 19. Qe3 Bxf3 {A classy trade!} 20. Nxf3 Rfd8
21. Rcd1 (21. Rfd1 {might be needed, to allow the d3-bishop to retreat along
the b1-h7 diagonal.}) 21... Nb8 22. Kh1 Nc6 23. Be2 Kg7 24. Qc1 h5 25. Qa1 Ne7
26. Ne5 Nf5 {Now Black is slightly better and has acheived a model position
for play against the hanging pawns.} 27. Rd3 Kg8 28. Bf3 Nd7 29. c5 Qc7 (29...
Qf8 $15 {would be remarkably unpleasant to meet: this motif of attacking a
d4-pawn using a queen from g7 was first used on me in a Fort Knox structure by
old English maestro, Keith Arkell.}) 30. Nc6 Re8 31. Ra3 a5 32. cxb6 Qxb6 33.
Rc1 Nf6 34. Rac3 Nd5 35. Rc5 (35. Bxd5 exd5 36. Rc5 Re2 $17) 35... Nxf4 36. Qc3
a4 37. Qd2 Nd5 38. h3 Kg7 39. Qf2 h4 {Establishing perfect control. Could
Black take over the joint tournament lead...?} 40. Kg1 Rc7 (40... a3 {is the
purist move.}) 41. Qe1 Rec8 42. Bxd5 exd5 43. Qb4 Qa6 $2 {Whoops. This loses
the entire advantage. It is very much an attempt to 'hit a winner'- due to the
tactic Qc3 Ng3!- so the reason for missing White's rejoinder is unclear.} (
43... Qb7 $17 {was an 'unseeable move'.}) (43... Rb8 {likewise- unless you had
appreciated that after} 44. Qxa4 Re8 45. Ne5 Rce7 {White's position was in
fact completely disintegrating. A fact which, regrettably, is not immediately
obvious to me.}) (43... Qxb4 {should be the move you play if you have doubts
about the other tactics: after} 44. Nxb4 Rxc5 45. dxc5 (45. Rxc5 Re8 46. Nxd5
Re2 $17) 45... Nd4 {(Other moves are playable too, e.g. ...d4.)} 46. Kf2 Ne6
47. c6 Nc7 $15 {A Black win is still very much on the cards.}) 44. Ne7 $1 {
Luckily, this 'invisible move' only equalises.} Rxc5 {Black bails out and
doesn't try any more.} (44... Rxe7 45. Rxc8 Qe2 {might be worth playing, but
only by a very confident person and one whose psyche was unaffected by the
recent trauma.}) ({The question is whether} 44... Rxc5 45. Nxf5+ gxf5 46. dxc5
{enables White, in his turn, to play for a win, and the answer is probably no-
after a move that covers the e3-square.} Qd3 $11 {Black will soon remind White
that his king safety is not ideal either, and nor is the d-pawn completely
innocuous.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.23"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E25"]
[WhiteElo "2695"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[Annotator "Vidit,S"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,57,80,5,0,-36,0,0,-7,-58,-75,-80,-35,-42,-34,-44,-28,-14,14,-11,-4,5,
1,-12,-10,5,-10,14,25,-16,-2,3,23,23,18,22,39,-5,-5,7,-8,28,9,13,69,28,3,29,13,
-16,28,1,4,12,41,101,101,57,101,107] After the end of Tata Steel Chess
Tournament, Kramnik soon announced his decision of retiring from chess.
Although he was far from his best form, I am lucky that I got a chance to play
against the legend himself. In fact, he was the only player from the
participants who I hadn't faced previously. Kurz nach dem Ende des
Tata-Steel-Turniers verkündete Kramnik seine Entscheidung, sich vom Schach
zurückzuziehen. Obwohl er dort bei weitem nicht in Bestform war, hatte ich
das Glück, die Chance zu haben, gegen die Legende selbst zu spielen.
Tatsächlich war er nämlich der einzige von den Teilnehmern, dem ich zuvor
noch nicht am Brett gegenüber gesessen hatte.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4
4. f3 {After a successful first half, I had scored only half a point in the
next three games. (Yes, ironically that half point was against Anish Giri!) So
I very much wanted to get back in the event, and with this move, I was aiming
for an open fight with three results in mind. Nach erfolgreicher erster
Hälfte hatte ich in den nächsten drei Partien nur einen halben Punkt erzielt
(ja, ironischerweise war dieser gegen Anish Giri!). Daher wollte ich unbedingt
ins Turnier zurückkommen, und mit diesem Zug strebte ich einen offenen Kampf
an, mit drei Resultaten im Sinn.} d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. cxd5 exd5 {
I was a bit surprised by this choice. Although this line was used by Carlsen
to defeat Vishy in their world championship match, it never really caught on.
Ich war ein bisschen überrascht von seiner Wahl. Obwohl bei ihrem
Weltmeisterschaftskampf Carlsen mit dieser Variante Vishy besiegt hatte,
setzte sie sich nie wirklich durch.} 8. e3 c4 9. Ne2 Nc6 10. g4 Na5 {Carlsen
went for castles first and then the same plan with Na5-b3. Carlsen wählte
zunächst die kurze Rochade und dann den gleichen Plan mit Sa5-b3.} (10... O-O
11. Bg2 Na5 12. O-O Nb3 13. Ra2 b5 14. Ng3 a5 15. g5 Ne8 16. e4 Nxc1 17. Qxc1
Ra6 18. e5 Nc7 19. f4 b4 20. axb4 axb4 21. Rxa6 Nxa6 22. f5 b3 23. Qf4 Nc7 24.
f6 g6 25. Qh4 Ne8 26. Qh6 b2 27. Rf4 b1=Q+ 28. Nf1 $4 Qe1 {0-1 (28) Anand,V 
(2775) -Carlsen,M (2870) Chennai IND 2013 0-1 (28) Anand,V (2775) -Carlsen,M 
(2870) Chennai IND 2013}) 11. Bg2 Nb3 12. Rb1 {A novelty for over the board
games. As this game was played on one of the chess on tour days, we had to
leave earlier than usual, and while walking towards the bus, my coach informed
me that the rook on b1 is better placed for a quick e2-e4. That's all I knew
about this line. Eine Neuerung in praktischen Partien. Da diese Partie an
einem der "Chess on Tour"-Tage gespielt wurde, mussten wir früher los als
sonst, und auf dem Weg zum Bus informierte mich mein Coach, dass der Turm auf
b1 besser steht für ein schnelles e2-e4. Das war alles, was ich über diese
Variante wusste.} O-O 13. O-O b5 $6 {This opens the h1-a8 diagonal. Starting
with the counter-intuitive a5 seems better. One advantage is that Black can
play Ra6 and bring the rook in the game. Dies öffnet die Diagonale h1-a8. Mit
dem kontraintuitiven a5 zu beginnen, sieht besser aus. Ein Vorteil ist, dass
Schwarz Ta6 ziehen und den Turm ins Spiel bringen kann.} (13... a5 14. e4 dxe4
15. fxe4 Bxg4) 14. e4 $1 {I played this pawn sacrifice after thinking for 5
minutes. For one pawn White gets a lot of initiative, so it was not hard for
me to convince myself. Peter Leko also remarked in the live commentary that it
doesn't even feel like White is a pawn down! Dieses Bauernopfer spielte ich
nach 5 Minuten Überlegen. Für einen Bauern bekommt Weiß eine Menge
Initiative, daher fiel es nicht schwer, mich dazu durchzuringen. Peter Leko
merkte im Livekommentar auch an, dass es sich nicht mal so anfühlt, als ob
Weiß einen Bauern weniger hat!} dxe4 15. fxe4 Nxc1 {Played instantly. I was a
little surprised by the speed of his play. If it was his preparation, I didn't
understand what I was missing. Sofort gespielt. Ich war ein wenig überrascht
von seinem Tempo. Wenn es seine Vorbereitung war, verstand ich nicht, was mir
entging.} (15... Bxg4 {This felt more natural, but the resulting position
looks ugly. Dies fühlte sich natürlicher an, aber die entstehende Stellung
sieht hässlich aus.} 16. Bg5 Qb6 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. Qe1 {Getting out of the
pin. Geht aus der Fesselung.} Bxe2 19. Qxe2 Kh8 20. Kh1 {Now I just double
rooks on the f-file and sooner or later play e5. What can Black do? Jetzt
verdopple ich einfach die Türme in der f-Linie und spiele früher oder
später e5. Was kann Schwarz tun?}) 16. Qxc1 Bxg4 17. Nf4 Rb8 18. h3 $1 {
An important point, the immediate e5 would allow ...Nh5 when White loses some
momentum. Eine wichtige Pointe, sofortiges e5 würde ...Sh5 erlauben, wonach
Weiß einigen Schwung verliert.} (18. e5 Nh5) 18... Bd7 {Kramnik after the
game told me that he mixed up his preparation and that he had ...Bc8 in his
notes. Either I don't understand the position, or he mixed up some different
line. White's play is still very very easy. Kramnik erzählte mir nach der
Partie, er hätte seine Vorbereitung durcheinander gebracht und in seinen
Notizen ...Lc8 stehen. Entweder verstehe ich die Stellung nicht oder er meinte
irgendeine andere Variante. Das Spiel von Weiß ist so oder so superleicht.} (
18... Be6 {Dieser Zug ergibt mehr Sinn. Der sofortige Bauernvormarsch lässt
das Zentrum fragil werden. Weiß muss zuerst ein paar Vorbereitungszüge wie
De3-Tbe1 machen und erst dann d5-e5 spielen. This move makes more sense. The
immediate pushing of pawns leaves the centre fragile. White has to first make
some preparatory moves like Qe3-Rbe1 and then play d5-e5} 19. Qe3 $1 (19. d5 $6
Bc8 20. e5 Nd7 21. Qe3 Qb6 {is the point. ist die Pointe.}) 19... a5 20. Kh2
$16 {followed by d5-e5. nebst d5-e5.}) (18... Bc8 19. e5 Nd7 20. Qe3 $16) 19.
e5 $1 {I played this intuitively. Apparently move order is important. If I had
played Qe3 first Black has extra defensive possibilities. Dies spielte ich
intuitiv. Offenbar ist die Zugfolge wichtig. Bei zuerst De3 hat Schwarz
zusätzliche Verteidigungsmöglichkeiten.} (19. Qe3 Kh8 $1 20. e5 Ng8 {Too
cheeky for me to see it. Zu frech, als dass ich es gesehen hätte.}) 19... Ne8
20. Qe3 {Finally, after this move, Kramnik thought for a long time. I feel the
position is already very difficult for Black. I once read an interesting
comment about Fischer's play. " His plans are simple and straightforward but
at the same time very hard to stop" The current position gives a very similar
vibe. I am just going to push my central pawns, and I don't see how Black can
prevent it. Nach diesem Zug verfiel Kramnik endlich in langes Nachdenken.
Meines Erachtens ist die Stellung bereits sehr schwierig für Schwarz. Ich las
einmal einen interessanten Kommentar über das Spiel von Fischer: "Seine
Pläne sind einfach und geradlinig, aber gleichzeitig sehr schwer zu stoppen."
Die aktuelle Stellung verbreitet ein ganz ähnliches Gefühl. Ich rücke
einfach meine Zentrumsbauern vor, und ich sehe nicht, wie Schwarz es
verhindern kann.} Rb6 21. d5 Nc7 22. d6 {Kasparov,G (2595)-Pribyl,J (2390) EU
Team-ch07 Final 1980 (5.8) 1-0 I was aware of the classic, Kasparov-Pribyl
where Kasparov played d7! cutting the board in half. So, the decision to allow
...Ne6 at the cost of dividing the defenses was an easy one to make. Ich
kannte sehr wohl den Klassiker Kasparov-Pribyl, wo Kasparov d7! spielte und
damit das Brett zerteilte. Daher fiel die Entscheidung, ...Se6 zuzulassen, um
dafür die Verteidiger zu entzweien, nicht schwer.} Ne6 23. Nd5 Ra6 24. Rf5 $1
{It was important to stop Qg5. Now I have threats like Rh5-Ne7 Be4. The attack
just plays by itself. Es war wichtig, ...Dg5 zu verhindern. Jetzt habe ich
Drohungen wieTh5-Se7-Le4. Der Angriff spielt sich einfach von selbst.} Qh4 25.
Rbf1 $18 Rxa3 26. Ne7+ Kh8 27. Rxf7 Rxf7 28. Rxf7 {I have threats like Qf3 and
Rf8. Black is not in time to create any counterplay with the rook. Ich habe
Drohungen wie Df3 und Tf8. Schwarz schafft es nicht rechtzeitig, irgendwelches
Gegenspiel mit dem Turm aufzuziehen.} Qh5 29. Qf4 $1 {A cute finish! After the
game, my coach Alon Greenfeld and I were walking down the vibrant streets of
Leiden where suddenly a stranger walked up to us and asked if I am Vidit. Upon
confirmation, he congratulated me on the game and the final move. That's what
makes Tata steel chess such a special event! :) Ein schönes Finale! Nach der
Partie spazierten mein Trainer Alon Greenfeld und ich durch die pulsierenden
Straßen von Leiden, als plötzlich ein Fremder auf uns zukam und fragte, ob
ich Vidit sei. Als ich bejahte, gratulierte er mir zu der Partie und dem
letzten Zug. Das macht Tata Steel Chess zu einem so besonderen Event! :)} 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.25"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Van Foreest, Jorden"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A08"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2612"]
[Annotator "Yermolinsky,A"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 c5 4. O-O Nc6 5. d3 e5 6. Qe1 {Kings Indian with
colors reversed.} Be7 7. e4 d4 $5 {Give Jorden credit for entering a full
fight against his still formidable opponent.} (7... dxe4 8. dxe4 Be6 {would be
easier to play for both sides.}) 8. a4 {Now Black needs to be able to figurte
out which system of many he can choose benefits the least from that extra
tempo.} O-O ({A Petrosian treatment, anyone?} 8... Bg4 9. h3 Bh5) 9. Na3 Ne8
10. Nc4 Qc7 11. b3 b6 12. Bd2 Be6 13. Qe2 f6 14. Nh4 Nd6 15. f4 Rae8 (15...
Nxc4 16. bxc4 exf4 17. gxf4 Rae8 18. Kh1 Nb4 19. f5 {with the same idea, Ng6
as in the game.}) 16. f5 Bd7 17. Ng6 Rf7 18. Qh5 Bd8 19. g4 Ne7 {[#]} 20. Rf3 (
{Computers sho the ridiculous} 20. Nxd6 Qxd6 21. Nh8 $3 {whixh forces Black to
lose the exchange, otherwise} Rff8 22. Rf3 Kxh8 23. Rh3 Kg8 24. Qxh7+ Kf7 25.
Qh5+ Kg8 26. Bf3 {steamrolls him.}) 20... Nxg6 21. fxg6 hxg6 22. Qxg6 Nxc4 23.
bxc4 Qc8 24. Rg3 Be6 25. Rf1 Qd7 26. Bf3 Qxa4 27. Bd1 Qd7 28. Rh3 Kf8 29. Rh7
Ke7 30. Rxg7 Rxg7 31. Qxg7+ Kd6 32. Qxd7+ Bxd7 {A very complex ending has been
reached. For a while both players did well enough to keep it within the bounds
of equality.} 33. Kg2 a5 34. h4 a4 35. Bc1 Be7 36. Kg3 Ra8 37. Ba3 Rg8 38. Be2
Bd8 39. h5 Be8 40. Kh3 Rh8 41. Bc1 Be7 42. Bd2 Bd7 43. Kg3 Ra8 44. Rb1 {[#]} b5
{An interesting winning attempt.} (44... Kc7 $11) 45. cxb5 a3 46. b6 a2 47. Ra1
Kc6 48. g5 $1 {excellent from Vlad. Finally he gets to activate his LSB} fxg5
49. Bg4 Be8 $2 {A little too much.} (49... Bxg4 50. Kxg4 Kxb6 51. h6 Bf6 52.
Bxg5 Bh8 53. Kf5 Ra7 54. Kg6 Kb5 55. Bd2 {boils down to a draw, as neither
side can queen their pawn.}) 50. Be6 $1 $18 Kxb6 51. Kg4 c4 52. h6 cxd3 53.
cxd3 Bb5 54. Rxa2 Rxa2 55. Bxa2 Bxd3 56. Kf5 Bf8 57. h7 Bg7 58. Bxg5 Bc2 59.
Bd5 {Last preparation before the king march.} d3 60. Kg6 Bh8 61. Kf7 Kc5 62.
Kg8 Bf6 63. Bxf6 d2 64. h8=Q d1=Q 65. Kf7 Bd3 66. Qh2 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.26"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Fedoseev, Vladimir1"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2724"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[Annotator "Svidler,P"]
[PlyCount "138"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{This game was played in the penultimate round of the tournament - in terms of
results, an easy frontrunner for the worst tournament of Vladimir Kramnik's
life. He lost half of the first ten games, with no wins - all the while
completely determined to not allow himself back to the comfort zone of playing
'correct chess'. We've seen this from him before, but this time around, it
utterly failed to work. Knowing what we know now, it's much easier to
understand what he was trying to do, but watching (and commenting on) it live
was a very weird and jarring experience - a player I greatly admired
throughout my career seemingly losing his way. As a slight uptick in his
fortunes, he won in Rd 11, and in the game you have before you, he was playing
an opponent perhaps uniquely suited for him - Vladimir Fedoseev is also a
player who tries his damnedest to stir things up in every game he plays.} 1. e4
e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 {In most other cases, this
would be very bad news - the Re1 Anti Berlin is perhaps the driest of all the
trendiest openings. However, you could trust these two not to keep it buttoned
up for very long.} 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5 8. Rxe5 O-O 9. d4 Bf6 10. Re2 $5 {
This move has been briefly made famous by Magnus playing it vs Karjakin in
their WC match - and then, somewhat surprisingly, it stayed silent for much of
2017, with no real traction among the top players. However, it is currently
enjoying a bit of a revival - MVL played it in the World R&B in 2017, and
Karjakin himself, Vitiugov, Navara, and Fedoseev himself employed it in 2018 -
with very good results.} Nc4 {The move chosen by Kramnik is also very sensible.
Black uses the fact that the c4 square is available temporarily to make sure
White doesn't have the d4-d5 options available to him, and establishes the
typical symmetry in the center. The knight will go to b6, and from there can
be rerouted to a number of posts.} (10... Nf5 11. d5 d6 12. Nd2 Bg5 13. c3 Bd7
14. Ne4 Bxc1 15. Rxc1 Nh4 16. Qd2 Ng6 {was seen in Vachier Lagrave-Wang Hao,
Riadh 2017}) ({But the main move remains} 10... b6 11. Re1 {, and now Black
chooses between and} Bb7 (11... Re8 12. Bf4 Rxe1 13. Qxe1 Qe7 14. Nc3 Bb7 15.
Qd2 $5 (15. Qxe7 Bxe7 16. a4 a6 {as in Carlsen,M (2857)-Karjakin,S (2769) New
York 2016 should be fine for Black, although Magnus was close to winning later
in the game}) 15... Ne4 16. Nxe4 Qxe4 17. Bxc7 Qxd4 18. Qxd4 Bxd4 19. c3 Rc8
20. Bf4 Bf6 21. a4 d5 22. Be3 {, and White was a bit better in Navara-Sargsyan,
Batumi 2018}) 12. Bf4 (12. c3 Bg5 13. Na3 Bxc1 14. Qxc1 Qh4 {, and Black was
very comfortable in Karjakin-Nakamura, Kolkata 2018}) 12... Ne4 {, which looks
the most natural. White scored 2.5/3 in the recent games, but I feel it's not
entirely to do with the results of the opening:} 13. Nd2 (13. c3 Bg5 14. Qc1
Bxf4 15. Qxf4 Qf6 16. Qxf6 Nxf6 17. f3 {- White eventually won in
Vitiugov-Ragger, Germany 2018, but Black has to be completely fine here}) (13.
Be3 Re8 14. Nd2 d6 15. Bd3 Qd7 16. Nf1 c5 $11 {Fedoseev,V (2724)-Karjakin,S 
(2763) Moscow 2018}) 13... Re8 14. c3 d6 15. Bb5 Re7 16. Nxe4 Bxe4 17. d5 Bf5
18. Bc6 Rb8 19. Qa4 a5 20. Bd2 Bd7 21. Rxe7 Bxc6 22. Qxc6 Bxe7 23. Re1 $14 {
1-0 (36) Fedoseev,V (2719)-Vokhidov,S (2480) St Petersburg 2018}) 11. b3 Nb6
12. c3 (12. a4 {is well met by} Nd5 $1 (12... d5 13. a5 Nd7 14. c3 Be7 15. Ba3
Bxa3 16. Nxa3 Nf6 17. f3 {is also not horrible, but you can make an argument
this is about as much as you can hope for in this line:}) 13. Re1 d6 $11) (12.
Nc3 d5 13. Ba3 Re8 14. Rxe8+ Qxe8 15. Qd2 Bf5 16. Re1 Qd7 $11) 12... d5 13. Re1
{It feels a bit sad to spend this tempo if White will have to take on e8 next,
but the rook just doesn't belong on e2.} Re8 14. Rxe8+ Qxe8 15. a4 Be6 (15...
Bf5 {was also perfectly fine. However, there is not a lot to be said about
this position is things go according to 'norm'. White generally develops the
c1 bishop to f4, the knight goes to d2 and f3, and the only open file provides
for further simplifications. However, doing things quietly wasn't high on the
list of priorities for this game.}) 16. Na3 {This doesn't create any lasting
harm, but objectively I do believe something along the lines of} (16. Bf4 Qd7
17. Nd2 Nc8 18. Nf3 Nd6 {, and things are very level, was a wiser choice.})
16... Nc8 17. Bf4 Qd7 18. Bd3 (18. Nb5 Bd8 {achieves nothing, and White
changes tack.}) 18... c6 19. Nc2 Ne7 20. Qd2 (20. Ne3 {would be a logical
follow up, but it allows} c5 {, and Black is instantly fine}) 20... Bf5 {
I think it's possible to take some stock here. Black has achieved the exact
thing he aims to in these positions - he either trades the light squared
bishops, or forces White to give up the b1-h7 diagonal - and he will have the 
(slightly) better of the remaining bishops. White is still fine, but you can
see the outlines of how Black will be playing for a win later,.} 21. Nb4 {
Swinging this knight over to d3 seems sensible, but resolving the issue of the
f4 bishop should probably take precedence. It's notable that the computer
begins suggesting to move it all the way to a3, for instance:} (21. Bxf5 Qxf5
22. g3 $5 {preemptively safeguarding the kingside from the jumps of the g6
knight} (22. Re1 {(or} Ng6 23. Bd6 h5 24. g3 h4 25. Ba3 h3 26. Ne3) 22... Ng6
23. Bd6 Rd8 24. Ba3 Bg5 25. Qe2 {, and with the bishop out of the way, White
can fight for the control over the e file - or trade along it.}) 21... Ng6 22.
Bg3 ({Sadly, trading all the bishops off is not an options anymore:} 22. Bg5 $2
a5 $1 23. Bxf6 axb4 24. Bg5 bxc3 25. Qxc3 Bxd3 26. Qxd3 Qg4 {and Black is
significantly better.}) 22... Re8 23. a5 h5 24. h3 h4 25. Bh2 {Another five
moves, and Black has assumed control, but the big issue remains - the
structure is so symmetrical, and the material so limited, that it's hard to
make any significant progress.} Bxd3 ({An interesting little turning point. It
makes definite sense to start with} 25... a6 {, and there will be lines where
the a5 pawn will cause White issues, but it also locks the queenside
completely. After} 26. Bxf5 (26. Re1 $2 {would be a mistake:} Rxe1+ 27. Qxe1
Bd8 $1 {, and White's in trouble} 28. Bxf5 Qxf5 29. Qe8+ Kh7 30. Qxd8 Qb1#)
26... Qxf5 27. Nd3 {White will never have any real active ideas - the knight
on d3 needs to watch for the incursions via the f4 square, and won't really
reach c5 - but there is no way to make inroads, and White should hold
comfortably.}) 26. Nxd3 (26. Qxd3 Bg5 {is not an improvement.}) 26... Qf5 27.
a6 {And Fedoseev bites. This move has obvious merits - in endgames the fixed
pawn on a7 and ideas of Bb8 will be important sources of counterplay - but it
also gives Black new ideas, c6-c5 in particular.} ({After} 27. Qd1 Bg5 28. Ra2
{Black would still struggle to come up with a plan.}) 27... b6 28. Bd6 ({
You can understand why Fedoseev didn't want to wait passively, but the
inclusion of a6 and b6 gave him an option of going for forced lines:} 28. Re1
Rxe1+ 29. Nxe1 {would still hold:} Qc8 (29... Qb1 30. Bb8 Qa1 31. Qe2 b5 32.
Kh2 {- a typical idea here, White is more interested in activating his pieces
than in keeping immediate material balance} Qxa6 33. Qe8+ Kh7 34. Qxf7 Qa2 35.
Nf3 {, and White is fine now that all of his pieces are in play.}) 30. Qe2 b5
31. Nf3 Qxa6 32. Qe8+ Kh7 33. Be5 Qb7 34. b4 {, and once again the piece
activity easily compensates for the loss of the a pawn.}) 28... Bg5 29. Qd1 Qe4
{Black is fully extended, but he's still struggling to make inroads. However,
with time trouble encroaching, White starts to go astray.} 30. Ra2 {A logical
move, but also one that creates a temporary issue with the back rank.} Qe6 $1 {
A very unpleasant move to be facing in time trouble.} 31. Bc7 $2 ({It was easy
to see that} 31. Bh2 {is bad because it allows} c5 $1) ({However, steeling
yourself to play} 31. Qg4 $1 {is not easy. It would have held, though: after
the queen trade the bishop on d6 becomes very good, and} Qxd6 32. Qxg5 Re4 33.
Ra1 $1 {is also fine - White is in time to start fighting for the e-file, and
force more trades.}) 31... c5 $1 {Now White is in real trouble. The bishop on
c7 is badly misplaced, and White is struggling to re-establish coordination.
The immediate threat is 32...Bf6, and the White center will start crumbling.
You also need to watch out for c4 ideas.} 32. Qg4 (32. dxc5 bxc5 33. Nxc5 Qc6 {
loses on the spot.}) 32... Qe7 33. dxc5 ({Perhaps White hoped to play} 33. Bd6
{here, but it runs into} Qxd6 34. Qxg5 c4 $1 35. bxc4 dxc4 36. Qb5 Qe6 $1 37.
Nb4 Nf4 {, and White is under severe pressure on the abandoned kingside.})
33... bxc5 34. Ba5 {This natural move ought to have lost the game quite
quickly, but even after the best} (34. Ra1 $1 Bd2 $1 35. Ba5 $8 Ne5 36. Qf5
Nxd3 37. Qxd3 Bf4 $1 38. Rf1 Qe6 {White is in a lot of pain:} 39. b4 c4 40. Qd4
Bb8 41. Qxh4 Qxa6 {, and the bishop on a5 is a sorry sight.}) 34... Ne5 35.
Nxe5 (35. Qd1 Nxd3 36. Qxd3 Qe1+ 37. Qf1 Bf6 $1 {is hardly an improvement -
the bishop is once again totally out of play, and Black should win comfortably}
38. Ra1 Qe4) 35... Qxe5 36. Ra1 Re6 {Very natural and strong - cutting the d7
square from the queen, improving the rook position, hitting the a6 pawn. But
mainly it's impossible to suggest a move for White.} 37. Rd1 (37. Bc7 Qxc3 $1 {
is hopeless.}) 37... Bd2 $2 {But in severe mutual time trouble, Kramnik goes
for a pretty move which gives White new hope. After the quiet} (37... Be7 $1 {
, creating the unstoppable threat of Bd6, White would be hard pressed to get
to the time control alive.}) 38. Qxh4 Rxa6 (38... Rf6 39. Bc7 $1 {this typical
idea, distracting the queen so that the bishop on d2 can be taken, saves White
here:} Qe2 40. Qg4 $1 Qxf2+ 41. Kh2 $11) 39. g3 $2 {Zeitnot mistakes continue.
Fedoseev decides he needs more breathing space for his king, using the fact
that Qd8+ indirectly protects the bishop on a5. But there is no time for that.
He needed to bring the bishop back into play asap: after} (39. Qd8+ $1 Kh7 40.
Bc7 Qe4 (40... Qe2 {is well met by} 41. Qh4+ Rh6 42. Qg4 $1 Qxg4 43. hxg4 Bxc3
44. Rxd5 $11) 41. Kh2 $1 {(once again recreating the threat of Rxd2)} Qe2 42.
Rg1 Qxf2 43. Qxd5 {White will hold.}) 39... f6 $2 {A very logical move - but a
wrong one. However, it's hard to criticize that decision since the way to
refute it is almost impossible to find on move 40, under severe pressure.} ({
Instead,} 39... Rf6 $1 {would have won on the spot - it turns out that g3 is a
fatal weakness, since the threat of Qe2 is now much much stronger.} 40. Bc7 (
40. Qg4 Be1 $1 {is a variation on the same theme}) 40... Qe2 41. Rf1 Bxc3 {
, and Black will win easily}) 40. Bc7 $2 {This looks very logical, but turns
out to lose by force - and Kramnik won't make any more mistakes. White needed
to play} (40. Qa4 $1 {- but a move like that, voluntarily pinning your own
queen, is extremely difficult to even consider. However, it turns out that
Black can't really improve here:} Qe2 (40... Re6 41. Qg4 {, and White is
suddenly fairly well coordinated}) (40... c4 41. Qd7 $1 (41. Qb5 Re6 42. bxc4
Be3 {is much riskier}) 41... Kh7 (41... cxb3 $2 42. Qc8+) (41... Rxa5 42. Qd8+)
42. Bc7 {, and once again the White pieces start to play together.}) 41. Qg4 $1
{, and the queen triumphantly returns to its best outpost, with equality.})
40... Qxc7 $1 {Seems strange at first - allowing the bishop trade that White
begged for - but the remaining two heavy pieces are enough to create a winning
mating attack.} 41. Rxd2 Ra1+ 42. Kg2 Qe5 $1 {With this move, it becomes
obvious White's pieces are too poorly placed to prevent the incursion along
the 1st rank.} 43. Qf4 $8 (43. Qg4 Qe1 44. Qc8+ Kh7 45. Qf5+ g6 $1 46. Qd7+ Kh6
{is NOT a perpetual}) 43... Qe1 44. Kf3 Qh1+ 45. Kg4 Re1 $1 {This, and the
next move, are the only winning moves Black has - but they're very logical.
The deadly threat of Re4 forces White to make further concessions.} 46. Qd6 ({
We will see the position after} 46. f3 Re5 {later.}) 46... Qe4+ {Black had an
immediate win here:} (46... Re5 $1 47. f4 d4 $3 48. Qd7 (48. cxd4 Re3 {[%emt 0:
00:09] is mate in 9 - the point of including d4 was to deny White the saving
49.Qxd5+ here}) (48. fxe5 Qe4+ 49. Kh5 Qf5+ 50. Kh4 Qg5#) 48... Qe4 {and the
king will get hunted down. But the text move spoils nothing.}) 47. Qf4 Qh1 48.
f3 {A somewhat curious decision not to repeat in a bad position - perhaps
Fedoseev had seen the Re5 f4 d4 line by that point? However, this is also very
bad.} Re5 $1 49. h4 a5 {This move, while perfectly fine, will force Black to
make a couple of precise decisions. Instead, he could have chosen} (49... Qb1
$1 {, which leads to an almost zugzwang position - White has no constructive
ideas at all, and Black will have a choice of winning by going after the king,
or picking up on b3 at his leisure}) 50. Rd3 $1 {Now the threat of Qd2 demands
attention, but Kramnik is more than equal to the task:} Kf7 $1 51. Qd2 (51. Re3
{loses to two very different things: a brute force approach - 51...g5! - wins
the rook, while} Qc1 $1 52. Rxe5 Qxf4+ 53. Kxf4 fxe5+ 54. Kxe5 c4 $1 55. bxc4
a4 $1 {creates an unstoppable passer}) 51... Kg6 $1 {Locking the king on g4
even further.} 52. Re3 $8 (52. Rxd5 f5+ 53. Kf4 Re4+ 54. fxe4 Qxe4#) 52... Rg5+
$1 53. Kf4 (53. hxg5 Qh5+ 54. Kf4 Qxg5#) 53... Rf5+ 54. Kg4 Rg5+ 55. Kf4 Qh3 $1
{After gaining some time, Kramnik goes in for the kill} 56. g4 Qxh4 57. Qc2+
Kf7 58. Re2 g6 (58... Qh3 $1 {, creating an unstoppable threat of Rxg4, was
cuter:} 59. Qb1 (59. Ke3 Rxg4) 59... Rxg4+ $1 60. fxg4 g5+ 61. Kf5 Qh7# {
But Kramnik's move is just as winning.}) 59. Qd1 Re5 60. Rxe5 Qh2+ ({Or} 60...
fxe5+ 61. Ke3 (61. Kxe5 Qf6+ $1 62. Kxd5 Qd8+) 61... d4+ 62. Ke4 Qf2 {, and
White is helpless.}) 61. Ke3 Qxe5+ 62. Kd3 {This endgame has to be winning for
Black if he plays slowly - but the ex-World Champion had a concrete idea when
aiming for it:} d4 $1 {The final blow - creating more threats before White has
time to consolidate} 63. Qd2 {Loses quite simply, but keeping the queens on
didn't give any hope either:} (63. Kc2 dxc3 64. Qd7+ Kf8 65. Qd8+ Kg7 66. Qd7+
Kh6 $19) 63... dxc3 64. Qxc3 Qxc3+ 65. Kxc3 Ke6 66. Kc4 Kd6 {As is often the
case, the side with an extra pawn wins the pawn endgame.} 67. f4 (67. Kb5 Kd5
68. Kxa5 c4 {requires no explanation.}) 67... Kc6 68. f5 gxf5 69. gxf5 Kd6 {
And once again. White resigned. A typical Kramnik game in many respects - a
solid opening, followed by subtly outplaying his opponent from a seemingly
very even position. After the horror show of the first ten rounds of Wijk 2019,
the two wins in a row brought back the memories of Vladimir's best chess.
However, Round 13 did not continue the trend - with White against Shankland,
he pressed very hard, got into trouble, then saved the game by very
resourceful defence, only to throw it all away by declining an obvious draw in
a position he must have known he had no hopes of ever winning. Covering it
live, we were completely flummoxed - why would he do that to himself? And then,
a few days after the event was over, we got our answer. Wijk aan Zee was to be
Kramnik's final classical tournament. Knowing he decided to retire before the
tournament even started, it's much easier to understand the 'all-in' approach
he stuck to throughout the event, even if watching it live was at times
difficult. The announcement also means that, unless he decided to reverse this
decision, the game you've just played thru is the last ever classical victory
Kramnik will produce - a great pity, since the chess world is much the richer
with Kramnik playing well (or, if we're honest, simply playing). It's been a
privilege to watch him play, and sometimes play alongside him - and I'm still
struggling to imagine the chess world without VK in it.} 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel-A 81st"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2019.01.27"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Shankland, Samuel L"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[PlyCount "132"]
[EventDate "2019.01.12"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "21"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 188"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.12.21"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 g6 4. Qa4 d4 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. d3 Nd7 7. O-O Nh6 8. Nbd2
O-O 9. b4 e5 10. c5 a6 11. Nc4 f6 12. Qb3 Nf7 13. e3 dxe3 14. Bxe3 Kh8 15. Rae1
Re8 16. Na5 Re7 17. d4 e4 18. Nd2 f5 19. d5 cxd5 20. Qxd5 Qe8 21. c6 Nf6 22.
Qc5 bxc6 23. Ndc4 Be6 24. Rc1 Bd5 25. Bd4 Rb8 26. a4 Re6 27. Nb6 Bf8 28. Qc3
Kg8 29. Nac4 Nd7 30. a5 Nd6 31. Nxd6 Bxd6 32. Rfd1 Nxb6 33. axb6 Be5 34. Bxe5
Rxe5 35. Qe3 Qf7 36. Ra1 Qb7 37. Qd4 Re7 38. b5 cxb5 39. Qxd5+ Qxd5 40. Rxd5
Rxb6 41. Rd8+ Kf7 42. Ra8 Ree6 43. Ra7+ Kf6 44. Rxh7 b4 45. Rc7 b3 46. Bf1 Rec6
47. Rxc6+ Rxc6 48. Rb1 Rb6 49. Bc4 b2 50. Ba2 a5 51. Kf1 a4 52. Ke2 a3 53. Kd2
Rc6 54. h4 Ke5 55. Re1 Kd4 56. Bb1 Rc3 57. Rh1 Rd3+ 58. Kc2 Rc3+ 59. Kd2 Rf3
60. Ke2 Rd3 61. h5 gxh5 62. Ke1 Rc3 63. Kd2 f4 64. Ba2 e3+ 65. fxe3+ fxe3+ 66.
Ke2 Rc2+ 0-1

[Event "Moscow Chess for TV"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.06.11"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Wei, Yi"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2741"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "26"]
[EventDate "2019.06.10"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. O-O a6 6. Qc2 c5 7. Ne5 Ra7 8. a4
b6 9. Na3 Bb7 10. Naxc4 Bxg2 11. Kxg2 Be7 12. b3 O-O 13. Bb2 Nd5 0-1

[Event "Moscow Chess for TV"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.06.11"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Wei, Yi"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A84"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2741"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2019.06.10"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c6 3. e3 e6 4. c4 Bd6 5. Bd3 f5 6. O-O Nf6 7. b3 O-O 8. Ba3 b6
9. Bxd6 Qxd6 10. Nc3 Ne4 11. Qc2 Nd7 12. cxd5 exd5 13. Ne2 Bb7 14. Rac1 Rac8
15. Qb2 Rce8 16. b4 b5 17. a4 bxa4 18. Qa2 Nb6 19. Rc5 Qh6 20. Bxe4 fxe4 21.
Ne5 Ba6 22. Rxc6 Re6 23. Rc5 Kh8 24. b5 Bb7 25. Rc7 1-0

[Event "Moscow Chess for TV"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.06.13"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "2019.06.10"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O O-O 5. d4 d5 6. c3 c6 7. Nbd2 Bf5 8. Nh4
Bg4 9. h3 Bc8 10. Kh2 Re8 11. e4 dxe4 12. Nxe4 Nxe4 13. Bxe4 Nd7 14. Bg2 e5 15.
dxe5 Nxe5 16. Qxd8 Rxd8 17. Bg5 Re8 18. Rad1 Be6 19. b3 h6 20. Bd2 Rad8 21. c4
Nd3 22. Nf3 b6 23. Be3 c5 24. Rd2 Nb4 25. Rfd1 Rxd2 26. Rxd2 Bf5 27. Nh4 Bb1
28. Rd7 Bxa2 29. Rxa7 Bxb3 30. Rb7 Re6 31. Bf1 Ba4 32. Rb8+ Kh7 33. Rb7 Be8 34.
Ng2 Nc2 35. Bd3 Nxe3 36. Nxe3 Bd4 37. Nd5 Kg7 38. Nc7 Re7 39. Nxe8+ Rxe8 40.
Kg2 Ra8 41. Re7 Ra3 42. Be2 Ra2 43. Kf3 Rc2 44. Rb7 Rb2 45. h4 h5 46. Re7 Kf6
47. Rd7 Ke6 48. Rb7 f6 49. Rg7 Rb3+ 50. Kg2 Kf5 51. Re7 g5 52. hxg5 Kxg5 53.
Rh7 Rb2 54. Kf3 f5 55. Rf7 Ra2 56. Rf8 Rb2 57. Rf7 Kg6 58. Rf8 Rd2 59. Rb8 Rb2
60. Rg8+ Kf7 61. Rb8 f4 62. Rd8 fxg3 63. fxg3 Rb3+ 64. Kg2 Rb2 65. Kf3 Ke7 66.
Rd5 Rb3+ 67. Kg2 Rb2 68. Kf3 Rb3+ 69. Kg2 Rb2 70. Kf3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Chess for TV"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.06.13"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "2019.06.10"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bg5 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Nbd7 6. Bxf6 gxf6 7. Nc3 a6 8.
e3 b5 9. Nxb5 axb5 10. Qxa8 Bb4+ 11. Kd1 Nb6 12. Qe4 O-O 13. h4 Nd5 14. Rh3 f5
15. Qc2 Bd6 16. Be2 Kh8 17. Ke1 Bb7 18. Kf1 Rg8 19. a4 c6 20. b3 c3 21. axb5
cxb5 22. Bxb5 Qf8 23. Ra7 Qb8 24. Ra4 Nb4 25. Qe2 c2 26. Ra1 Be4 27. Ng5 Qc7
28. Bc4 Bd5 29. Rc1 f6 30. Nf3 Rc8 31. Ne1 Bxc4 32. bxc4 Qxc4 33. Qxc4 Rxc4 34.
Ke2 Bc7 35. h5 Kg7 36. Rh1 e5 37. Nxc2 Na2 38. dxe5 Nxc1+ 39. Rxc1 fxe5 40. Kd1
Kh6 41. Ne1 Rxc1+ 42. Kxc1 e4 43. Kd2 Ba5+ 44. Ke2 Kxh5 45. Nc2 Kg5 46. Nd4 Bb6
47. Ne6+ Kf6 48. Nf4 Ba5 49. g3 Ke5 50. Kf1 Bb4 51. Kg2 Be1 52. Ne2 Kf6 53. Nd4
Kg6 54. Ne6 Kf6 55. Nf4 Kg5 56. Kf1 Ba5 57. Ke2 Kg4 58. Nd5 Bd8 59. Nf4 Bg5
1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Chess for TV"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.06.13"]
[Round "2.3"]
[White "Radjabov, Teimour"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2019.06.10"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Bc5 4. Nf3 d6 5. O-O O-O 6. c3 Nc6 7. a4 a6 8. b4 Ba7
9. Be3 Bxe3 10. fxe3 Ne7 11. Nbd2 Ng6 12. Bb3 a5 13. b5 c6 14. c4 d5 15. cxd5
cxd5 16. Qe2 Be6 17. Ng5 Bg4 18. Qf2 h6 19. Ngf3 Be6 20. exd5 Bxd5 21. Bxd5
Qxd5 22. d4 Rad8 23. Rac1 exd4 24. Nxd4 Ng4 25. Qf3 Nxe3 26. Qxe3 Qxd4 27. Nc4
Qxe3+ 28. Nxe3 Ne5 29. Rc7 Rd7 30. Rxd7 Nxd7 31. Rc1 Nb6 32. Rc7 Rb8 33. Nf5
Nxa4 34. Nd6 b6 35. Nxf7 Nc5 36. Ne5 Re8 37. Nc4 Re1+ 38. Kf2 Rb1 39. Nxb6 Rxb5
40. Nc4 Ne4+ 41. Kf3 Rc5 42. Rxc5 Nxc5 43. Nxa5 Kf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Chess for TV"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.06.15"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2019.06.10"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 d5 5. O-O O-O 6. a4 a5 7. b3 c6 8. Nbd2
Bf5 9. Ba3 Re8 10. e3 Qc8 11. c4 Bh3 12. cxd5 Bxg2 13. Kxg2 Nxd5 14. Rc1 Nd7
15. e4 Nb4 16. Qe2 Qb8 17. Nc4 Qa7 18. Rfd1 Rad8 19. Qe1 c5 20. d5 Nb6 21. Nxb6
Qxb6 22. Qe3 Rc8 23. e5 Red8 24. Bxb4 axb4 25. Rc4 Qc7 26. Qf4 b6 27. Ng5 Rf8
28. Re1 Qb7 29. Qe4 Rcd8 30. a5 bxa5 31. Rxc5 Rc8 32. Rxa5 h6 33. Nf3 Rfd8 34.
e6 f5 35. Qd3 Rc3 36. Qb5 Qxb5 37. Rxb5 Rxb3 38. Ne5 Bxe5 39. Rxe5 Kg7 40. Re2
Kf6 41. Rc2 Rc3 42. Rxc3 bxc3 43. Rc5 c2 44. Rxc2 Rxd5 45. h4 Kxe6 46. Rc8 Kf6
47. Rf8+ Kg7 48. Re8 Rd7 49. Ra8 g5 50. hxg5 hxg5 51. Ra5 Kf6 52. Ra6+ e6 53.
Rb6 Rd3 54. Ra6 f4 55. gxf4 gxf4 56. f3 Rd2+ 57. Kf1 Rb2 58. Rb6 0-1

[Event "Moscow Chess for TV"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.06.15"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2019.06.10"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Be3 a6 5. h3 b5 6. f4 Bb7 7. Bd3 c5 8. dxc5
dxc5 9. Bxc5 Qc7 10. Be3 Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 Nf6 12. Bd4 Nc6 13. Bxf6 exf6 14. Qd2
O-O 15. Nf3 Na5 16. O-O Nc4 17. Bxc4 Qxc4 18. e5 Rac8 19. exf6 Qxc3 20. Qxc3
Rxc3 21. Ne5 Rxc2 22. Rf2 Rxf2 23. Kxf2 Bd5 24. a3 Rc8 25. Rd1 Be6 26. Rd6 Ra8
27. Rb6 Kf8 28. g4 Ke8 29. Rb7 Rc8 30. Re7+ Kf8 31. Ra7 Ke8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Chess for TV"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.06.16"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2748"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2019.06.10"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O a6 7. Bb3 O-O 8. Re1
Ba7 9. h3 Re8 10. Nbd2 Be6 11. Nf1 h6 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Nxe3 Bxb3 14. Qxb3 Qd7
15. Rad1 Ne7 16. d4 exd4 17. Nxd4 Ng6 18. f3 Rab8 19. Ndf5 Qb5 20. c4 Qe5 21.
Qc2 Nf4 22. Qf2 h5 23. Kh1 g6 24. Nd4 c6 25. h4 Rbd8 26. g3 Ne6 27. Nxe6 Qxe6
28. Kg2 Nd7 29. b3 Ne5 30. Rd4 Qf6 31. Red1 Re6 32. f4 Ng4 33. Nxg4 hxg4 34. e5
Qe7 35. Qd2 f6 36. Qd3 Kg7 37. Rxd6 Rexd6 38. exd6 Qe6 39. d7 Kf7 40. Kf2 f5
41. Qd4 Qe7 42. c5 Qe6 43. Rd2 Kg8 44. b4 Kf7 45. a4 Qe7 46. Qc4+ Kg7 47. Qd4+
Kh6 48. Qe5 Qf7 49. Qd6 Qb3 50. Qd3 Qxb4 51. Qd4 Qb3 52. Rd3 Qa2+ 53. Rd2 Qb3
54. Rd3 Qa2+ 55. Kg1 Qb1+ 56. Kg2 Qa2+ 57. Rd2 Qb3 58. Qf6 Qe3 59. Qxd8 Qxd2+
60. Kg1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Moscow Chess for TV"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.06.16"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C47"]
[WhiteElo "2748"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2019.06.10"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "6"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 190 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.07.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.07.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 O-O
8. O-O d5 9. exd5 cxd5 10. Bg5 c6 11. Qf3 Rb8 12. Rad1 Bg4 13. Qxg4 Nxg4 14.
Bxd8 Rfxd8 15. Na4 Bd6 16. h3 Ne5 17. Rfe1 g6 18. Bf1 Re8 19. b3 Bb4 20. c3 Ba5
21. b4 Bc7 22. Nc5 Bd6 23. Nb3 Bc7 24. a4 g5 25. a5 h6 26. Nd4 Bd6 27. Re3 c5
28. Nf5 Bf8 29. Rxd5 f6 30. b5 Red8 31. Rxd8 Rxd8 32. Re1 c4 33. b6 axb6 34.
axb6 Bc5 35. b7 Nd3 36. Bxd3 cxd3 37. Rd1 Ba7 38. Ne7+ Kf7 39. Nc6 Rd7 40. Nxa7
Rxb7 41. Nc6 Rc7 42. Nb4 1-0

[Event "Amsterdam Levitov blitz"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "2019.08.03"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D04"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2774"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2019.08.03"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. e3 Bg7 4. Be2 O-O 5. O-O d5 6. b3 c5 7. Bb2 cxd4 8. Nxd4
b6 9. Nd2 Bb7 10. c4 Nbd7 11. Rc1 Rc8 12. N2f3 a6 13. cxd5 Nxd5 14. Rxc8 Qxc8
15. Qa1 Qa8 16. Rd1 Rc8 17. Bf1 Nc5 18. Qb1 e6 19. h3 Nb4 20. Nd2 Ne4 21. a3
Nxd2 22. Rxd2 Nd5 23. Qa1 Qb8 24. b4 a5 25. bxa5 bxa5 26. Rd1 Ba8 27. Rb1 Bh6
28. Nf3 Qc7 29. Rc1 Qd8 30. Bd4 Bf8 31. a4 Nb4 32. Ne5 h5 33. Nc4 Qd5 34. Nb6
Rxc1 35. Qxc1 Qc6 36. Qxc6 Bxc6 37. Nc4 Bxa4 38. Nxa5 Nc6 39. Nxc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amsterdam Levitov blitz"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "2019.08.03"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A25"]
[WhiteElo "2643"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2019.08.03"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 Bc5 4. e3 O-O 5. Nc3 Re8 6. Nge2 d6 7. O-O Nc6 8. d3
a6 9. h3 h6 10. Kh2 Ba7 11. Rb1 Ne7 12. b4 Ng6 13. b5 axb5 14. Nxb5 Bb8 15.
Nbc3 c6 16. e4 Ba7 17. Qa4 Bd7 18. Qb3 Rb8 19. Be3 Bxe3 20. fxe3 b5 21. cxb5
cxb5 22. Qb4 Bc6 23. Nd5 Bxd5 24. exd5 Qb6 25. e4 Nd7 26. Nc3 Nc5 27. Qxb5 Qa7
28. Qc4 Rbc8 29. Nb5 Qe7 30. Qb4 h5 31. h4 Ra8 32. a3 Nf8 33. Rfc1 Nfd7 34. Qd2
Nf6 35. Bh3 Reb8 36. Rb4 Qd8 37. Rcb1 g6 38. Qe3 Kg7 39. d4 Rxb5 40. Rxb5 exd4
41. Qxd4 Ncxe4 42. R5b3 Kg8 43. Rf1 Rc8 44. Bxc8 Qxc8 45. Rxf6 Qc2+ 46. Rf2 1-0

[Event "Amsterdam Levitov blitz"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "2019.08.03"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D03"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2729"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2019.08.03"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. c3 O-O 5. Nbd2 d5 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Be2 Re8 8.
O-O e5 9. Rc1 c6 10. h3 e4 11. Nh2 Nf8 12. c4 Qa5 13. a3 dxc4 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15.
Bxc4 Bf5 16. g4 Bd7 17. f3 Bg5 18. Rc3 exf3 19. Qxf3 Kh8 20. Ne4 Rxe4 21. Qxe4
Re8 22. Qf3 f5 23. gxf5 Bxf5 24. Ng4 Nd7 25. Qg3 Qd8 26. Be2 Bxg4 27. Bxg4 Nf6
28. Rd3 Ne4 29. Qf3 h5 30. Bxh5 gxh5 31. Qxh5+ Kg8 32. Qg6+ Kh8 33. Rf7 1-0

[Event "Amsterdam Levitov blitz"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "2019.08.03"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A40"]
[WhiteElo "2686"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2019.08.03"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 b6 3. d4 Bb4 4. e4 Bb7 5. f3 f5 6. exf5 Nh6 7. Bf4 Nxf5 8. Nge2
O-O 9. Qd3 Nc6 10. d5 Nce7 11. dxe6 dxe6 12. O-O-O Ng6 13. Qxd8 Raxd8 14. Rxd8
Rxd8 15. Bxc7 Rc8 16. Bg3 e5 17. Bf2 Ba6 18. a3 Bf8 19. Ng3 Nd4 20. Nge4 Nf4
21. Kb1 Bxc4 22. Bxc4+ Rxc4 23. g3 Nd3 24. Bxd4 exd4 25. Nd5 Ne5 26. Nd2 Rc5
27. Nf4 d3 28. Rd1 Rc6 29. h4 b5 30. Ne4 Rc4 31. Nd2 Ra4 32. Nb3 b4 33. Nxd3
Nxd3 34. Rxd3 bxa3 35. Rd8 Rb4 36. Ka2 axb2 37. Kxb2 Rb7 38. Kc2 Kf7 39. Nd4
Be7 40. Ra8 Bc5 41. Nc6 Rc7 42. Ne5+ Ke6 43. f4 Bd4+ 44. Kd3 Bxe5 45. fxe5 Kxe5
46. Ke3 Kf5 47. Kf3 Rc3+ 48. Kf2 Ra3 49. Rg8 g6 50. Rc8 Kg4 51. Rc4+ Kh3 52.
Rc7 h5 53. Rg7 Rxg3 54. Rxa7 Kxh4 0-1

[Event "Amsterdam Levitov blitz"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "2019.08.03"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2756"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2019.08.03"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. d3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. a3 g6 5. b4 d6 6. Bb2 Bg7 7. e3 O-O 8. Be2 Ne7
9. O-O Re8 10. Nc3 Nf5 11. Ne4 Nxe4 12. dxe4 Ne7 13. Qc2 Nc6 14. Rfd1 Qe7 15.
Nd2 Nd8 16. Nb3 Ne6 17. Rd2 b6 18. a4 Bb7 19. a5 Rab8 20. Rad1 h5 21. c5 dxc5
22. bxc5 bxa5 23. Rd7 Qh4 24. c6 Bxc6 25. Qxc6 Rxb3 26. g3 Qf6 27. Bxe5 Qxe5
28. R7d5 Reb8 29. Rxe5 Bxe5 30. Bc4 R3b6 31. Qa4 Rb4 32. Qa2 Re8 33. Qxa5 Rxc4
34. Qxe5 Ng7 35. Qa5 Rcxe4 36. Qxc7 R4e7 37. Rd7 Rxd7 38. Qxd7 Re6 39. Qxa7 f5
40. Kg2 g5 41. Qd7 g4 42. Kf1 Kh7 43. Ke2 Kg6 44. Kf1 Re4 45. Kg2 Re6 46. h4
Re4 47. Kf1 Re6 48. Qd8 Re4 49. Qg5+ Kf7 50. Ke2 Re8 51. Kd3 Re6 52. Qf4 Re4
53. Qg5 Re6 54. Kc4 Re8 55. Kd5 Re6 56. Qxg7+ Kxg7 57. Kxe6 1-0

[Event "Amsterdam Levitov blitz"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "2019.08.03"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2759"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2019.08.03"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d3 g6 3. Nbd2 Bg7 4. e4 e5 5. exd5 Ne7 6. c4 c6 7. dxc6 Nbxc6 8.
Be2 O-O 9. O-O Nf5 10. Re1 Re8 11. Bf1 h6 12. Rb1 a5 13. a3 a4 14. Ne4 Nfd4 15.
Nxd4 Nxd4 16. Be3 Nf5 17. Bc5 b6 18. Bb4 Bb7 19. g3 Qd7 20. Bh3 Qc6 21. Bg2
Rad8 22. Nf6+ Qxf6 23. Bxb7 Nd4 24. Qxa4 h5 25. Bc3 Re7 26. Bxd4 Rxd4 27. Bd5
h4 28. Qc6 Qxc6 29. Bxc6 hxg3 30. hxg3 Rxd3 31. Be4 Rb3 32. Bc2 Rf3 33. Kg2 e4
34. Bxe4 Rb3 35. Bd5 Rxe1 36. Rxe1 Kf8 37. c5 Rxb2 38. c6 Rc2 39. Be4 Rc4 40.
Rd1 Be5 41. Rd8+ Kg7 42. Bd5 Rc5 43. Rd7 Kh6 44. f4 Bb8 45. g4 Bxf4 46. Kf3 Kg5
47. Ke4 f5+ 48. gxf5 gxf5+ 49. Kd4 Bg3 50. Kd3 Be5 51. a4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Amsterdam Levitov blitz"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "2019.08.03"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2779"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2019.08.03"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 c6 4. Nd2 Bf5 5. b3 e6 6. Bb2 Nbd7 7. e3 a5 8. Ne2 a4
9. O-O Be7 10. c4 O-O 11. Re1 h6 12. bxa4 Nb6 13. Nc3 dxc4 14. e4 Bh7 15. Rb1
c5 16. dxc5 Bxc5 17. Qe2 Nxa4 18. Nxc4 Nxb2 19. Rxb2 e5 20. Rxb7 Qc8 21. Rb5
Bd4 22. Nd5 Nxd5 23. exd5 Qa6 24. Ra5 Qf6 25. Rxa8 Rxa8 26. Nxe5 Bc3 27. Nd7
Qd8 28. Rc1 Bd4 29. d6 Rc8 30. Rxc8 Qxc8 31. Qd2 Qc4 32. Ne5 Bxe5 33. d7 1-0

[Event "Amsterdam Levitov rapid"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "2019.08.04"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Bareev, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2643"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2019.08.04"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 Bf5 4. d3 e6 5. O-O Be7 6. c4 Nbd7 7. Nh4 Bg6 8.
cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxg6 hxg6 10. e4 N5b6 11. d4 O-O 12. Nc3 c6 13. e5 Nd5 14. h4 Qa5
15. Qf3 Rfd8 16. Rd1 Nxc3 17. bxc3 Nb6 18. Rd3 Rd7 19. h5 gxh5 20. Qxh5 g6 21.
Qg4 Kg7 22. Be4 Rh8 23. Rf3 Bd8 24. Kg2 Nd5 25. c4 Ne7 26. Bg5 Ng8 27. d5 Bxg5
28. Qxg5 cxd5 29. cxd5 Qd8 30. Rxf7+ Kxf7 31. dxe6+ Kxe6 32. Qxg6+ Kxe5 33.
Qf5+ Kd6 34. Rd1+ Ke7 35. Qe5+ Kf8 36. Rxd7 Qxd7 37. Qxh8 Qe6 38. Bxb7 Qxa2 39.
Qe5 Ne7 40. Qf6+ Ke8 41. Qa6 Qxa6 42. Bxa6 Nd5 43. Kf3 Nb4 44. Bb5+ Ke7 45. Ke4
a5 46. f4 Kd6 47. g4 Nd5 48. Bc4 Nb6 49. Ba2 a4 50. g5 a3 51. g6 1-0

[Event "Amsterdam Levitov rapid"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "2019.08.04"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2779"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "155"]
[EventDate "2019.08.04"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 Qc8 8. Nc3
Ne4 9. Bd2 d6 10. d5 Nxd2 11. Qxd2 e5 12. e4 a5 13. h4 Na6 14. Kh2 Nc5 15. Bh3
Qd8 16. b3 Bc8 17. Qe2 g6 18. Bxc8 Rxc8 19. h5 Qd7 20. Kg2 Qg4 21. Rh1 gxh5 22.
Nd2 Qxe2 23. Nxe2 Bg5 24. f4 exf4 25. gxf4 Bf6 26. Rag1 h4 27. Kf3+ Kh8 28. Kg4
Rg8+ 29. Kf5 Be7 30. e5 Rg6 31. Nf3 Rcg8 32. Rxg6 fxg6+ 33. Kg4 Nd3 34. Rf1 Rf8
35. exd6 h5+ 36. Kh3 Bxd6 37. Nxh4 Kh7 38. f5 g5 39. Ng6 Re8 40. Nd4 Re3+ 41.
Kg2 Rg3+ 42. Kh1 Rh3+ 43. Kg2 Rh2+ 44. Kf3 g4+ 45. Ke3 Ne5 46. Nxe5 Bxe5 47.
Ne6 Bf6 48. Nxc7 h4 49. d6 Bg5+ 50. Ke4 Re2+ 51. Kd5 g3 52. Ne6 Bf6 53. Rg1 Rf2
54. Ke4 Rd2 55. Nf4 Rd4+ 56. Kf3 Rxd6 57. Nd5 Kg7 58. Kg2 Kh6 59. Re1 Kg5 60.
Re6 Rxe6 61. fxe6 Kf5 62. e7 Bxe7 63. Nxe7+ Kg4 64. Nc6 h3+ 65. Kg1 Kf3 66.
Nd4+ Ke3 67. Ne6 Kf3 68. Ng5+ Kg4 69. Ne6 Kf5 70. Nd4+ Ke4 71. Ne6 Kf5 72. Nd4+
Kf4 73. a3 Ke4 74. Ne6 Kd3 75. c5 bxc5 76. Nxc5+ Kc3 77. b4 axb4 78. axb4
1/2-1/2

[Event "Amsterdam Levitov rapid"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "2019.08.05"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D06"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2774"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2019.08.04"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Bf5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bf4 Bd6 7. Bg3 Nf6 8.
e3 Ne7 9. Bh4 Ne4 10. Bd3 c6 11. Qc2 Qa5 12. Bxe7 Bxe7 13. O-O Nxc3 14. Bxf5
Nb5 15. Ne5 Qc7 16. Bxh7 Bf6 17. f4 O-O-O 18. Bd3 Nd6 19. Rac1 Kb8 20. b4 Qe7
21. a4 Rc8 22. Qb3 Bxe5 23. dxe5 f6 24. Qc3 Nf7 25. Bf5 Rc7 26. exf6 gxf6 27.
Rf3 Nd6 28. Bd3 Rd8 29. Qd4 Ne4 30. Rh3 a5 31. bxa5 c5 32. Qb2 c4 33. Bxe4 dxe4
34. Rh5 c3 35. Rxc3 Rd1+ 36. Kf2 Qd8 37. Kg3 Rd2 38. Qb3 Rg7+ 39. Kh3 Rgxg2 40.
Qf7 f5 0-1

[Event "Amsterdam Levitov rapid"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "2019.08.05"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2756"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2019.08.04"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. a4 Ba7 8. Re1
O-O 9. h3 h6 10. Nbd2 Be6 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. b4 Nh5 13. Ra2 Nf4 14. Nc4 b5 15.
Bxf4 bxc4 16. Be3 Bxe3 17. Rxe3 cxd3 18. Qxd3 Ne7 19. c4 Qb8 20. Qd2 Qb7 21.
Ne1 Rad8 22. b5 Ng6 23. Nd3 axb5 24. cxb5 Ra8 25. Nb4 Nf4 26. Nc6 Kh7 27. Kh2
Rf6 28. g3 Ng6 29. Rb3 Nf8 30. a5 Nd7 31. a6 Qc8 32. Qe2 Qe8 33. Rf3 Qf7 34.
Rxf6 gxf6 35. Rc2 Nb6 36. Na5 f5 37. Rc6 Rf8 38. Qc2 Na8 39. exf5 exf5 40. b6
cxb6 41. Nc4 Kg7 42. Rxd6 f4 43. g4 f3 44. Qe4 1-0

[Event "Amsterdam Levitov rapid"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "2019.08.05"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2686"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2019.08.04"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. h4 Nf6 6. a3 O-O 7. d3 b6 8. Rb1 Bb7
9. b4 d6 10. Nh3 Qd7 11. Nf4 Ne5 12. Kf1 e6 13. h5 Rad8 14. bxc5 dxc5 15. hxg6
hxg6 16. Qe1 Nc6 17. f3 Nd4 18. g4 e5 19. Nh3 Nxf3 20. exf3 Qxd3+ 21. Kg1 e4
22. Nf2 Qxc4 23. Ncxe4 Nxe4 24. fxe4 Qa2 25. Be3 Qxa3 26. g5 Bc8 27. Bh3 Bd4
28. Bxd4 Qg3+ 29. Kf1 Ba6+ 0-1

[Event "Amsterdam Levitov rapid"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "2019.08.06"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "2729"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "2019.08.04"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. b3 b6 4. Bb2 Bb7 5. e3 Be7 6. d4 O-O 7. Bd3 c5 8. O-O
cxd4 9. exd4 d5 10. Nc3 dxc4 11. bxc4 Nc6 12. Rc1 Rc8 13. Qe2 Nb4 14. Bb1 Bxf3
15. gxf3 Nh5 16. a3 Bd6 17. f4 Qh4 18. f3 Nxf4 19. Qd2 Nbd3 0-1

[Event "Amsterdam Levitov rapid"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "2019.08.06"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A28"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2759"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2019.08.04"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 191 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.09.30"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nf6 7. Be2 Bc5 8.
Be3 Bb6 9. h3 Nh5 10. Qd2 Bxe3 11. fxe3 Ng3 12. Rg1 O-O 13. Bd1 Be6 14. Ba4 Nb4
15. Kf2 Nh5 16. g4 Nxd3+ 17. Ke2 Nhf4+ 18. exf4 Nxf4+ 19. Ke1 Qe7 20. Qe3 Rad8
21. Rd1 Nxh3 22. Rg3 Nf4 23. a3 c6 24. Bc2 b5 25. Kf2 f6 26. Ne2 g5 27. Qc3 a5
28. b4 axb4 29. axb4 Rxd1 30. Bxd1 c5 31. Nxf4 cxb4 32. Qb2 Qc5+ 33. Kg2 exf4
34. Nd4 Qe5 35. Qxb4 Bc4 36. Nc6 Qxe4+ 37. Bf3 Qc2+ 38. Kh3 fxg3 39. Ne7+ Kf7
40. Kxg3 Qb3 41. Qe1 Re8 42. Qh1 Kxe7 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.12.29"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Huzman, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2567"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2019.12.29"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. e3 Be7 5. b3 O-O 6. Bb2 c5 7. dxc5 dxc4 8. Bxc4
Qxd1+ 9. Kxd1 Ne4 10. Ke2 Nxc5 11. Nbd2 a6 12. Rac1 b5 13. Bd3 Nxd3 14. Kxd3 a5
15. Ke2 Na6 16. Nd4 Bd7 17. Nc6 Bxc6 18. Rxc6 Nb4 19. Rc7 Nd5 20. Rc6 a4 21.
Bd4 Rfb8 22. g3 Nb4 23. Rc7 Bf8 24. Ra1 f6 25. f4 Ra6 26. e4 Bd6 27. Rd7 Nc2
28. Ba7 Rxa7 29. Rxa7 Nxa1 30. bxa4 bxa4 31. Rxa4 Nc2 32. Nc4 Bc5 33. Ra6 Nd4+
34. Kd3 Rd8 35. Kc3 Nb5+ 36. Kc2 Rc8 37. Kd3 Rd8+ 38. Kc2 Nd6 39. Nd2 Bb4 40.
Nf3 Nxe4 41. Rxe6 Rc8+ 42. Kb2 Bc3+ 43. Kb1 Nd2+ 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.12.29"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Donchenko, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2644"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2019.12.29"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. d3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. a3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e3 Be6 7. Qc2 Be7 8. b4
a6 9. Bb2 f6 10. Be2 O-O 11. Nbd2 Qe8 12. O-O Qg6 13. Rfe1 Rad8 14. Rac1 Kh8
15. Ne4 Bc8 16. Ng3 Qh6 17. Qb1 Bd6 18. Rc4 f5 19. Bf1 f4 20. exf4 Nxf4 21.
Nxe5 Nxe5 22. Bxe5 Bxe5 23. Rxe5 Qf6 24. Qe1 Nxd3 25. Bxd3 Rxd3 26. Rxc7 Qd8
27. Rc1 Rxa3 28. h3 Rd3 29. Ne4 Rd4 30. Ng5 Qf6 31. Rxc8 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.12.29"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Chigaev, Maksim"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2631"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2019.12.29"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. a4 a6 7. c3 h6 8. a5 O-O
9. Be3 Bxe3 10. fxe3 Ne7 11. Nbd2 Ng6 12. Qe1 Be6 13. Bxe6 fxe6 14. Qg3 Qe8 15.
b4 Rd8 16. c4 Nh5 17. Qh3 Nf6 18. Qg3 Nh7 19. h3 Rf6 20. Nh2 Ngf8 21. Rxf6 Nxf6
22. Rf1 Qg6 23. Qh4 Rd7 24. Ndf3 Rf7 25. Qe1 Qh5 26. Qg3 Qg6 27. Qh4 Rd7 28.
Rc1 Qe8 29. Ng4 Nxg4 30. Qxg4 Nh7 31. c5 Nf6 32. Qg3 Kh7 33. c6 bxc6 34. Rxc6
Qa8 35. Rc4 Qe8 36. Qh4 Kg8 37. Qg3 d5 38. exd5 exd5 39. Rc1 e4 40. Ne5 Nh5 41.
Qg4 Qxe5 42. Qxd7 exd3 43. Qxc7 Qxc7 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.12.29"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Dreev, Alexey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2677"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2019.12.29"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 Bg4 4. O-O e6 5. d3 Bd6 6. h3 Bh5 7. e4 Ne7 8. Qe1
O-O 9. Nc3 Nd7 10. Kh1 Re8 11. g4 Bg6 12. Nh4 dxe4 13. dxe4 e5 14. Be3 Bc5 15.
Rd1 Bxe3 16. Qxe3 Qc7 17. Nf5 Nf8 18. f4 exf4 19. Qxf4 Qxf4 20. Rxf4 Nc8 21.
Rf2 Nb6 22. b3 Ne6 23. Rfd2 h5 24. Kh2 a5 25. a4 hxg4 26. hxg4 Rad8 27. Kg3
Rxd2 28. Rxd2 Kf8 29. Ne2 Rd8 30. Rxd8+ Nxd8 31. Nf4 Bh7 32. Kf2 Nd7 33. Ke3
Ne6 34. Nxe6+ fxe6 35. Nd6 b6 36. g5 Ke7 37. Nc4 Bg6 38. Bh3 Bh5 39. Kd4 Bd1
40. Kc3 Bf3 41. Nd2 Be2 42. Kd4 Kd6 43. Ke3 Bd1 44. Nc4+ Ke7 45. Kd2 Bf3 46.
Ke3 Bd1 47. Kd2 Bf3 48. Ke3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.12.29"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A01"]
[WhiteElo "2754"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2019.12.29"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. b3 e5 2. Bb2 Nc6 3. e3 g6 4. c4 Bg7 5. Nf3 Nge7 6. b4 d6 7. b5 Nb8 8. d4 O-O
9. Be2 e4 10. Nfd2 f5 11. Nc3 Nd7 12. a4 Nf6 13. Qc2 Be6 14. h4 Bf7 15. g3 c6
16. Ba3 Rc8 17. bxc6 bxc6 18. Rb1 h5 19. Kf1 Qd7 20. Kg2 Ng4 21. Rb2 c5 22.
dxc5 dxc5 23. Rhb1 f4 24. exf4 Nxf2 25. Ndxe4 Qh3+ 26. Kxf2 Nf5 27. Bf1 Qh2+
28. Ke1 Qg1 29. Qf2 Qh1 30. Qg2 Qxg2 31. Bxg2 Ne3 32. Bf1 Bxc4 33. Bxc4+ Nxc4
34. Ra2 Rfe8 35. Kf2 Nxa3 36. Rxa3 Rcd8 37. Kf1 Rd3 38. Nxc5 Rxg3 39. Nb5 Rg4
40. Rf3 Rxh4 41. Rbb3 Rh1+ 42. Kg2 Ree1 43. Rfe3 Reg1+ 44. Kf3 h4 45. Nd6 Rg3+
46. Ke4 Rg4 47. Ne6 Rd1 48. Rb7 Rxd6 49. Rxg7+ Kh8 50. Re7 Rg1 51. Ke5 Ra6 52.
Kf6 Rf1 53. Kg5 Rg1+ 54. Kh6 Kg8 55. Ng5 Rf6 56. Rg7+ Kf8 57. Nh7# 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.12.29"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Alonso Rosell, Alvar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2548"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2019.12.29"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. g3 Nc6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e3 e5 6. Nge2 Nge7 7. d3 d6 8. a3
Rb8 9. b4 Be6 10. Rb1 h5 11. Ne4 b6 12. N2c3 O-O 13. O-O f6 14. Nd5 cxb4 15.
axb4 b5 16. Nec3 a6 17. Ra1 bxc4 18. dxc4 Nxb4 19. Nxb4 Rxb4 20. Rxa6 Rxc4 21.
Rxd6 Qc8 22. Nb5 Bf7 23. Ba3 Nf5 24. Rd7 Re8 25. Rxf7 Kxf7 26. Bd5+ Re6 27. Qb3
Rcc6 28. Na7 Rb6 29. Qxb6 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.12.29"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Sargissian, Gabriel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2689"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2019.12.29"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Nbd7 6. a4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 a5 8. O-O
O-O 9. Qc2 b6 10. Ng5 Ba6 11. Bxa8 Qxa8 12. Nc3 h6 13. Nf3 Bb7 14. Ne1 c5 15.
Nb5 Be4 16. Qc1 Bxd2 17. Qxd2 Rd8 18. f3 Bc6 19. Rd1 Nf8 20. Qc3 Nd5 21. Qc1
Bxb5 22. axb5 cxd4 23. Rxd4 c3 24. bxc3 Rc8 25. c4 e5 26. Rd1 Nf6 27. Qe3 Qb8
28. Nd3 N8d7 29. Rc1 Re8 30. Rfd1 e4 31. Nf4 exf3 32. Qxf3 Ne5 33. Qf2 Neg4 34.
Qd4 Qb7 35. c5 bxc5 36. Qxc5 Qe4 37. Qd4 Qe7 38. b6 a4 39. Qc5 Qb7 40. Qc6 Qe7
41. Qc5 Qe4 42. Qd4 Qe7 43. Rb1 a3 44. b7 a2 45. b8=Q Rxb8 46. Rxb8+ Kh7 47.
Ra8 Ne3 48. Rc1 Nfg4 49. Rxa2 g5 50. Qd3+ f5 51. Rac2 Nxc2 52. Qxf5+ Kg7 53.
Ne6+ Kh8 54. Rxc2 Qa7+ 55. Qc5 Qa1+ 56. Kg2 Qf6 57. Qd4 Qxd4 58. Nxd4 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.12.29"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanisevic, Ivan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2593"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2019.12.29"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 c5 4. Bd3 d6 5. O-O Nbd7 6. b3 g6 7. Bb2 Bg7 8. c4
O-O 9. Qe2 b6 10. Rd1 Bb7 11. Nc3 a6 12. h3 Qe7 13. a4 d5 14. a5 bxa5 15. Rxa5
Rfc8 16. Rda1 Qd8 17. cxd5 exd5 18. Bxa6 Bxa6 19. Rxa6 Rab8 20. Nb5 Ne4 21. Na7
cxd4 22. Nxd4 Ndc5 23. Nxc8 Nxa6 24. Nc6 Qc7 25. N8e7+ Kf8 26. Bxg7+ 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.12.29"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Savchenko, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2577"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2019.12.29"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Bb3 d6 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. h3
Be6 9. Nf1 Bxb3 10. axb3 d5 11. Qc2 Qd7 12. b4 dxe4 13. dxe4 Bxb4 14. cxb4 Nxb4
15. Qc4 Nd3+ 16. Ke2 Rfd8 17. Ng3 b5 18. Qc3 Nf4+ 19. Bxf4 exf4 20. Nf5 b4 21.
Qc4 Re8 22. N5d4 c5 23. Qxc5 Nxe4 24. Qc6 Ng3+ 25. Kd3 Qxc6 26. Nxc6 Nxh1 27.
Rxh1 a5 28. Nfd4 a4 29. Nxb4 a3 30. b3 Reb8 31. Nbc2 Rb6 32. Ra1 a2 33. Kc3 Rg6
34. Rg1 f3 35. g4 Rh6 36. Rh1 Rd6 37. Kb2 h5 38. gxh5 Rh6 39. Nxf3 Rxh5 40.
Nfd4 Rh4 41. b4 Rf4 42. f3 f6 43. b5 Kf7 44. Ra1 Rb8 45. Rxa2 g5 46. Ra7+ Kg6
47. Kc3 Rh4 48. Kc4 Rxh3 49. Nc6 Rc8 50. N2d4 Rh1 51. b6 Rc1+ 52. Kd5 Re8 53.
b7 Rb1 54. Ra8 Re3 55. b8=Q Rxb8 56. Rxb8 Ra3 57. Ne7+ Kf7 58. Nef5 Ra5+ 59.
Rb5 Ra7 60. Ke4 Kg6 61. Ke3 Ra3+ 62. Kf2 Rd3 63. Rb7 Rd1 64. Rg7+ Kh5 65. Ng3+
1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.12.29"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Sakaev, Konstantin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A11"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2596"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2019.12.29"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Bf5 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. Qb3 Qb6 7. Nc3 e6 8.
Qxb6 axb6 9. Nb5 Ra5 10. Nfd4 Nc6 11. d3 Bb4+ 12. Bd2 Bxd2+ 13. Kxd2 Kd7 14. a4
Bg6 15. f4 Rc8 16. Nf3 Ne8 17. Rhc1 Nd6 18. b4 Raa8 19. Nxd6 Kxd6 20. Rcb1 f6
21. Bh3 Ra7 22. b5 Nd8 23. Nd4 Bf7 24. Rb2 g6 25. Rba2 Rc7 26. a5 Rxa5 27. Rxa5
bxa5 28. Rxa5 Rc8 29. Ra7 Be8 30. b6 Bd7 31. Nb3 Kc6 32. Ra2 Kxb6 33. Rb2 Kc6
34. e4 dxe4 35. dxe4 Kd6 36. Na5 Rc7 37. Rb6+ Ke7 38. Bf1 Bc6 39. Bd3 Rd7 40.
Ke3 Rc7 41. Nc4 Bd7 42. e5 fxe5 43. Nxe5 Nf7 44. Nc4 Bc6 45. Nd2 Nd6 46. g4 Bd5
47. Rb1 Rc3 48. Kd4 Ra3 49. h4 Ra4+ 50. Ke3 Ra3 51. Kd4 Ra4+ 52. Ke3 Ra3
1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.12.29"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kobalia, Mihail"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C50"]
[WhiteElo "2609"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2019.12.29"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. a4 O-O 7. h3 Be6 8. Re1
Bxc4 9. dxc4 Qd7 10. Bg5 Ne8 11. Nc3 Bb4 12. Qd3 Kh8 13. Re2 Bxc3 14. Qxc3 f5
15. exf5 Qxf5 16. Qd3 Qxd3 17. cxd3 Rxf3 18. gxf3 Nd4 19. Re3 h6 20. Bh4 g5 21.
Bg3 Ng7 22. Kg2 Rf8 23. Re4 Nge6 24. c5 Nxc5 25. Rxe5 dxe5 26. Bxe5+ Kg8 27. b4
Nxf3 28. Bxc7 Nxd3 29. Ra3 Nh4+ 30. Kg1 Nxf2 31. Re3 Nf5 32. Rc3 Ne4 33. Rc4
Rc8 34. b5 Ned6 35. Rc5 Kf7 36. a5 Ke6 37. b6 axb6 38. axb6 Ra8 39. Rc3 Ra2 40.
Rd3 Ra4 41. Kg2 Ne4 42. Rd8 Nh4+ 43. Kf1 Ra2 44. Re8+ 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.12.29"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Iturrizaga Bonelli, Eduardo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2597"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "2019.12.29"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. e3 e6 6. b3 Nge7 7. Ba3 d6 8. Nge2
b6 9. d4 Bb7 10. O-O O-O 11. Qd2 Qb8 12. Rad1 Rd8 13. d5 exd5 14. cxd5 Na5 15.
Bb2 Qc7 16. Ne4 Nf5 17. Bxg7 Nxg7 18. Nf6+ Kh8 19. e4 Ba6 20. Qh6 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.12.30"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Petrosyan, Manuel"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2613"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2019.12.29"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Qc2
h6 9. Bh4 Re8 10. Nge2 Nbd7 11. h3 Nf8 12. O-O-O a5 13. g4 b5 14. g5 Nh5 15.
Rdg1 b4 16. Na4 Ba6 17. Bxa6 Rxa6 18. Ng3 Bxg3 19. Bxg3 hxg5 20. Qe2 Nxg3 21.
Rxg3 Ra7 22. Rhg1 Ne6 23. Qf3 Qf6 24. Qxf6 gxf6 25. h4 Kf8 26. Kd2 Ke7 27. Nc5
gxh4 28. Rg4 Nxc5 29. dxc5 Rh8 30. Rh1 Rb7 31. Rhxh4 Rxh4 32. Rxh4 Rb5 33. Rh8
Rxc5 34. Ra8 f5 35. b3 f4 36. exf4 Ke6 37. Kd3 Kf5 38. Kd4 Rc1 39. Rxa5 Kxf4
40. Ra7 f5 41. Rf7 Rc2 42. Rf6 Rxa2 43. Kd3 Rxf2 44. Rxc6 Rb2 45. Kd4 Rd2+ 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.12.30"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Socko, Bartosz"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2618"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2019.12.29"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. d3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. a3 g6 5. b4 d6 6. Bb2 Bg7 7. g3 O-O 8. Bg2 a6
9. O-O Be6 10. Nc3 Qc8 11. Ng5 Bd7 12. Rc1 h6 13. Nge4 Nxe4 14. dxe4 Bh3 15.
Nd5 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Kh7 17. b5 Nd4 18. b6 c6 19. Nc7 Rb8 20. f4 c5 21. f5 gxf5
22. exf5 Qd7 23. f6 Bh8 24. Qd3+ Kg8 25. Nd5 Rfe8 26. Bxd4 exd4 27. Rf4 Re5 28.
Rcf1 Rbe8 29. R1f2 R8e6 30. Qf3 Rg5 31. h4 Rg6 32. Ne7+ Rxe7 33. fxe7 Qxe7 34.
Rxf7 Qe5 35. Rxb7 Bg7 36. Rb8+ Kh7 37. b7 d5 38. Rc8 Rb6 39. b8=Q Rxb8 40. Qd3+
1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.12.30"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C48"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2019.12.29"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nd4 5. Bc4 c6 6. Nxe5 d5 7. exd5 Bd6 8.
Nf3 Qe7+ 9. Be2 Nxf3+ 10. gxf3 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 cxd5 12. d4 Bf5 13. Be3 O-O 14. c3
Rac8 15. Qb3 Rfd8 16. h4 Qe6 17. h5 Rc6 18. Qd1 b5 19. a3 a6 20. Bd3 Re8 21.
Qc2 Bxd3 22. Qxd3 Qf6 23. Rh3 Bf4 24. Kd2 Rce6 25. Re1 h6 26. Kc2 Qe7 27. Kd2
Qg5 28. Re2 Qg2 29. Rh4 Bxe3+ 30. fxe3 Qxf3 31. Rhh2 Re4 32. b3 f5 33. a4 f4
34. Kc2 Rxe3 35. Rxe3 Rxe3 36. Qd2 Qe4+ 37. Kb2 f3 38. Ka3 Re2 39. Rxe2 fxe2
40. Qe1 Qf3 41. Qh4 Qf1 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.12.30"]
[Round "16"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A28"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2736"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2019.12.29"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 Bc5 8.
Be2 Qe7 9. O-O O-O 10. Qc2 Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. Kh1 Rfd8 13. Ne1 Bxe2 14. Qxe2 b5
15. Be3 b4 16. cxb4 Nxb4 17. Rc1 Bxe3 18. fxe3 Rd6 19. Rc4 Rc6 20. d4 exd4 21.
exd4 Re6 22. Qd2 Rb8 23. a3 Na6 24. Nf3 Rxe4 25. Ne5 Qxa3 26. Qc2 Qe3 27. Ra4
Rxd4 28. Rxd4 Qxd4 29. Nc6 Qb2 30. Qc4 Qb3 31. Qxa6 Re8 32. Ne7+ Kf8 33. Nf5
Qe6 34. Qxa7 Qe5 35. Qf2 f6 36. Qc2 g6 37. Nh4 Re7 38. Nf3 Qe4 39. Qc5 Qe3 40.
Qc4 Qe2 41. Qc1 Qe3 42. Qa1 Kg7 43. Re1 Qc5 44. Rxe7+ Qxe7 45. Qc3 c5 46. Qc4
Qd6 47. Qe2 h5 48. Nd2 h4 49. Nc4 Qd4 50. Qe7+ Kh6 51. Qe2 Kg5 52. Nd2 Kh6 53.
Nf3 Qf4 54. Qc2 c4 55. Nd2 Qf2 56. Qc3 Qe1+ 57. Kh2 Kg7 58. Qd4 Qg3+ 59. Kg1
Qe1+ 60. Kh2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wch Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.12.30"]
[Round "17"]
[White "Matlakov, Maxim"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2699"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "164"]
[EventDate "2019.12.29"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. Bf4 Bb4 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Bd2 N5f6 8.
Rc1 O-O 9. g3 b6 10. Bg2 Bb7 11. O-O c5 12. a3 Bxc3 13. Bxc3 Qe7 14. dxc5 Nxc5
15. Bb4 Rac8 16. Qc2 a5 17. Bxc5 Rxc5 18. Qb3 Rfc8 19. Rxc5 Qxc5 20. Rd1 Bd5
21. Qd3 Qc2 22. Ne1 Qxb2 23. e4 Bc6 24. Qa6 Rf8 25. Qc4 Ba8 26. a4 Qb4 27. Qxb4
axb4 28. Rd4 b3 29. Rb4 g5 30. Rxb3 Bxe4 31. Rxb6 Ra8 32. Rb5 h6 33. a5 Bxg2
34. Kxg2 Nd5 35. Nf3 Nc3 36. Rc5 Ne4 37. Re5 Nd6 38. h4 gxh4 39. Nxh4 Nc4 40.
Re4 Nxa5 41. Ra4 Ra7 42. Nf3 Nc6 43. Rg4+ Kh7 44. Rc4 Ne7 45. Ne5 Nf5 46. Rb4
Rc7 47. Rc4 Rxc4 48. Nxc4 Kg7 49. Kf3 Ne7 50. Kg4 f6 51. Nd6 Kg6 52. Kf4 Nd5+
53. Kf3 f5 54. g4 fxg4+ 55. Kxg4 e5 56. Nc4 Nf6+ 57. Kg3 Kf5 58. f3 Ke6 59. Ne3
Nd5 60. Ng4 h5 61. Nf2 Kf5 62. Ne4 Nf6 63. Nd6+ Ke6 64. Nc4 Kd5 65. Ne3+ Kd4
66. Nf5+ Kd3 67. Kh4 Ke2 68. Kg5 Nd5 69. Nh4 Nf4 70. Kf5 Kf2 71. Kxe5 Kg3 72.
Kf5 Nh3 73. Ng6 Kxf3 74. Ne5+ Kg3 75. Ke4 Ng5+ 76. Ke3 h4 77. Nd3 h3 78. Nf2 h2
79. Nh1+ Kg2 80. Ke2 Ne4 81. Ke1 Ng3 82. Nf2 Kf3 0-1

[Event "Wch Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.12.30"]
[Round "18"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2872"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2019.12.29"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 cxd4 6. exd4 Qb6 7. Nb3 Bf5 8.
Be2 e6 9. O-O Be7 10. a4 a6 11. a5 Qd8 12. Ne5 Rc8 13. c3 O-O 14. Re1 Ne4 15.
Bd3 Nxe5 16. Bxe5 Bg6 17. Bf4 Nd6 18. Bxg6 hxg6 19. Bxd6 Bxd6 20. g3 b5 21.
axb6 Qxb6 22. Re2 Rb8 23. Nc1 a5 24. Nd3 Qb5 25. h4 Rfc8 26. Rd2 Ra8 27. h5
gxh5 28. Qxh5 g6 29. Qh6 a4 30. Kg2 Bf8 31. Qf4 Bg7 32. Ne5 Qe8 33. Rd3 f6 34.
Ng4 Qf8 35. Rf3 a3 36. bxa3 f5 37. Qg5 Kf7 38. Rh1 Rxa3 39. Rh7 Rcxc3 40. Nh6+
Ke8 41. Qxg6+ Kd8 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.12.30"]
[Round "19"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Yu, Yangyi"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A05"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2738"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2019.12.29"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. b4 e6 4. a3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. Bb2 Bg7 7. c4 O-O 8. O-O d6
9. d4 Nbd7 10. Nc3 Qe7 11. d5 e5 12. Nd2 h5 13. Nb3 Ng4 14. h3 Nh6 15. a4 h4
16. e4 a5 17. bxa5 bxa5 18. Nb5 Rfc8 19. Qd2 Nc5 20. Nxa5 Ba6 21. Nc6 Qe8 22.
Qg5 f6 23. Qe3 Nf7 24. a5 Bh6 25. f4 Kg7 26. Qf3 exf4 27. gxf4 Rab8 28. Nxb8
Rxb8 29. Nxc7 Qc8 30. Nb5 Bxb5 31. cxb5 Rxb5 32. Qc3 Qd8 33. a6 Rb8 34. a7 Ra8
35. Kh1 g5 36. e5 fxe5 37. fxe5 Nxe5 38. Qf3 Qe7 39. Bxe5+ Qxe5 40. Qf7+ Kh8
41. Rab1 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.12.30"]
[Round "20"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Firouzja, Alireza"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A38"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2723"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2019.12.29"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. b3 d6 4. Bb2 e5 5. g3 Bg7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c5 8. d3 Nc6
9. Nc3 h6 10. a3 Be6 11. b4 cxb4 12. axb4 Nxb4 13. Ba3 a5 14. Rb1 d5 15. Bxb4
axb4 16. Rxb4 dxc4 17. dxc4 Qa5 18. Qb3 Nd7 19. Rb5 Qa3 20. Qxa3 Rxa3 21. Nd5
Ra2 22. e3 Rc2 23. Rxb7 Rxc4 24. Nd2 Rc2 25. Ne4 Bxd5 26. Rxd7 Be6 27. Rd6 Rb8
28. h4 Bf8 29. Rxe6 fxe6 30. Rd1 Rc7 31. Ra1 Kf7 32. Ra5 Rd8 33. Bh3 Bg7 34.
Ra6 Re7 35. Nd6+ Kf8 36. Kg2 Rb8 37. Ne4 Kg8 38. Bxe6+ Kh7 39. Bd5 Rd7 40. Be6
Rc7 41. Nd6 Rf8 42. Ne4 Rb8 43. g4 Rb4 44. h5 gxh5 45. Bf5+ Kg8 46. gxh5 Kf7
47. Bg6+ Ke7 48. Ng3 Kd7 49. Nf5 Kc8 50. Ra8+ Kb7 51. Rg8 Bf6 52. Nxh6 Rh4 53.
Nf5 Rg4+ 54. Kf3 Rg5 55. Nd6+ Kc6 56. Ne4 1-0

[Event "Wch Blitz"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2019.12.30"]
[Round "21"]
[White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2780"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2019.12.29"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.01.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O a6 7. a4 h6 8. Re1 O-O
9. h3 Ba7 10. Nbd2 Be6 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. b4 Nh5 13. Nf1 Qf6 14. Ra2 Nf4 15.
Bxf4 Qxf4 16. Ne3 Ne7 17. Nh2 Qf7 18. g3 Rad8 19. Kg2 d5 20. Neg4 Ng6 21. Nf3
c5 22. bxc5 Qc7 23. d4 dxe4 24. Nfxe5 Nxe5 25. Nxe5 Bxc5 26. Rxe4 Bd6 27. Qg4
Bxe5 28. Qxe6+ Kh8 29. Qxe5 Qxc3 30. Rae2 Qf3+ 31. Kh2 Rc8 32. Rg4 Rf7 33. Qe4
Qxe4 34. Rgxe4 Rc4 35. a5 Ra4 36. Re5 Rxd4 37. Rb2 Rfd7 38. Kg2 R4d5 39. Rxb7
Rxe5 40. Rxd7 Rxa5 41. Ra7 Ra3 42. g4 a5 43. f3 a4 44. Kg3 g5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Play for Russia Prelim"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.05.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Riazantsev, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2638"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2020.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 196 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c3 c6 4. Bf4 g6 5. e3 Bg7 6. h3 O-O 7. Nbd2 Bf5 8. Be2
Nbd7 9. g4 Be4 10. g5 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 Ne8 12. h4 e5 13. Bg3 Nd6 14. Bg4 Re8 15.
Qf3 Nb6 16. O-O-O Nbc4 17. Nxc4 Nxc4 18. Qe2 a5 19. Qc2 a4 20. Be2 b5 21. dxe5
Bxe5 22. Bxe5 Rxe5 23. a3 Qe7 24. Kb1 Re8 25. Bd3 Nd6 26. Rh3 c5 27. Rdh1 b4
28. cxb4 cxb4 29. Qxa4 bxa3 30. Qxa3 Rb8 31. h5 Nc4 32. Qxe7 Rxe7 33. Bxc4 dxc4
34. hxg6 fxg6 35. Kc2 Reb7 36. Kc3 Rc8 37. Rh4 Rb3+ 38. Kc2 Rb5 39. Rg4 Rcb8
40. Rb1 Rf8 41. Rxc4 Rxf2+ 42. Kc3 Rxg5 43. b4 Rf3 44. Re4 Rb5 45. Kc4 Rb6 46.
b5 Rf5 47. Re7 h5 48. Rc7 h4 49. Rc6 Rxc6+ 50. bxc6 Kg7 51. c7 Rf2 52. Kd3 Rf8
53. Rb8 1-0

[Event "Play for Russia Prelim"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.05.12"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2020.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 196 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. e3 e6 6. b3 Nge7 7. Ba3 b6 8. Nge2
O-O 9. O-O Bb7 10. d4 d6 11. Qd2 Na5 12. d5 exd5 13. cxd5 Ba6 14. Bb2 Bxe2 15.
Nxe2 Nf5 16. e4 Bxb2 17. Qxb2 Ng7 18. Rad1 Qe7 19. Rfe1 Rfe8 20. f4 Rad8 21.
Nc3 Qf6 22. e5 dxe5 23. Ne4 Qf5 24. fxe5 Rxe5 25. Rf1 Qxe4 26. Bxe4 Rxe4 27.
Qf6 Rd7 28. Rde1 Ne8 29. Qf3 Rxe1 30. Rxe1 Nd6 31. Qf6 Nab7 32. h4 h5 33. g4
hxg4 34. h5 Kh7 35. Kg2 Nf5 36. hxg6+ fxg6 37. Rh1+ Kg8 38. Rh8# 1-0

[Event "Play for Russia Prelim"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.05.12"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2752"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2020.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 196 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 c5 3. e3 Nc6 4. c3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. Qb3 c4 7. Qc2 Bf5 8. Qc1
e6 9. Nbd2 Qa5 10. Be2 Be7 11. h3 h6 12. O-O O-O 13. Bd1 b5 14. Bc2 Bxc2 15.
Qxc2 b4 16. Rfe1 Rfc8 17. e4 bxc3 18. bxc3 dxe4 19. Nxe4 Nd5 20. Bg3 f5 21.
Ned2 Qxc3 22. Qxc3 Nxc3 23. Rxe6 Bf6 24. Rc1 Nxd4 25. Nxd4 Bxd4 26. Rc2 Re8 27.
Rxe8+ Rxe8 28. Kf1 Rc8 29. Nf3 Bf6 30. Be5 Nd5 31. Bxf6 Nxf6 32. Nd4 g6 33. Nb5
Rc5 34. Nxa7 Nd5 35. a4 Nb4 36. Rc3 Nd5 37. Rc2 Ra5 38. Nc6 Rxa4 39. Ne5 c3 40.
Nxg6 Re4 41. g3 Kf7 42. Nh4 Kf6 43. Nf3 Rc4 44. Ke2 Nb4 45. Rc1 Ke6 46. Ne1 Kd5
47. Ng2 Rc5 48. Ne3+ Ke6 49. Rb1 Nc6 50. Kd3 Ne5+ 51. Kc2 Nc6 52. Rb7 Nd4+ 53.
Kd3 c2 54. Rb6+ Kf7 55. Nxc2 Nxc2 56. Rxh6 Nb4+ 57. Kd4 Rc2 58. f4 Nc6+ 59. Kd3
Nb4+ 60. Kd4 Nc6+ 61. Kd3 Nb4+ 62. Kd4 1/2-1/2

[Event "Play for Russia Prelim"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.05.12"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A21"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2020.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 196 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. g3 e5 4. Bg2 d6 5. d3 f5 6. e3 Nf6 7. Nge2 a5 8. b3 O-O
9. Bb2 c6 10. Qd2 Na6 11. f4 Bd7 12. O-O Re8 13. e4 Nc5 14. Rae1 Qb6 15. Kh1 a4
16. fxe5 dxe5 17. exf5 Bxf5 18. d4 Nce4 19. Nxe4 Nxe4 20. Qd1 a3 21. Ba1 exd4
22. Bxd4 Bxd4 23. Qxd4 Qxd4 24. Nxd4 Nc3 25. Nxf5 gxf5 26. Rxe8+ Rxe8 27. Bf3
Rd8 28. Rf2 Kg7 29. Kg2 Kg6 30. Rc2 Rd3 31. b4 Kf6 32. b5 cxb5 33. cxb5 b6 34.
Bc6 Ke5 35. Kh3 f4 36. Kg4 h5+ 37. Kh4 fxg3 38. hxg3 Kd4 39. Rf2 Re3 40. Bd7
Re5 41. Rf6 Nxa2 42. Rxb6 Nb4 43. Rd6+ Rd5 44. Rxd5+ Nxd5 45. b6 Nxb6 46. Be6
Nd5 0-1

[Event "Play for Russia Prelim"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.05.12"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2723"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "165"]
[EventDate "2020.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 196 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O e5 5. d3 Ne7 6. e4 O-O 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Re1
Nc6 9. Nc3 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Be6 11. a4 Qd7 12. Be3 Rad8 13. Ng5 Bg4 14. Qb1 b6 15.
h3 Bf5 16. g4 Be6 17. Nxe6 Qxe6 18. Qb3 Qd6 19. Rad1 Na5 20. Qb5 c6 21. Qa6 Rd7
22. c4 c5 23. Qb5 Rc7 24. Bd5 Nc6 25. c3 Ne7 26. Bg2 f5 27. d4 exd4 28. cxd4
Bxd4 29. Bxd4 cxd4 30. Qe5 Qxe5 31. Rxe5 fxg4 32. hxg4 Rf4 33. g5 Kf8 34. a5
Rf5 35. axb6 axb6 36. Rxf5+ Nxf5 37. Bf1 Ke7 38. Bd3 Nd6 39. Kg2 Rc5 40. f4
Nxc4 41. Rh1 Ne3+ 42. Kf3 Nf5 43. Rxh7+ Ke6 44. Rb7 Rc6 45. Bb5 Rc3+ 46. Kf2
Nd6 47. Rxb6 Kd5 48. Be2 Ne4+ 49. Kg2 d3 50. Bxd3 Rxd3 51. Rxg6 Kd4 52. Re6 Ke3
53. g6 Kxf4 54. g7 Rg3+ 55. Kf1 Rxg7 56. Re8 Kf3 57. Rf8+ Ke3 58. Re8 Rg6 59.
Re7 Rg5 60. Re8 Rg7 61. Re6 Kf3 62. Re8 Rf7 63. Ke1 Rb7 64. Rf8+ Ke3 65. Kf1
Rb2 66. Kg1 Rc2 67. Re8 Kf3 68. Rf8+ Ke3 69. Re8 Rc6 70. Kg2 Rg6+ 71. Kf1 Kf3
72. Rf8+ Nf6 73. Ke1 Ke3 74. Kd1 Kd3 75. Rd8+ Ke3 76. Kc2 Ne4 77. Re8 Rc6+ 78.
Kb3 Rc7 79. Kb4 Kd3 80. Rd8+ Ke3 81. Re8 Kd3 82. Rd8+ Ke3 83. Re8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Play for Russia Prelim"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.05.12"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Inarkiev, Ernesto"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2661"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2020.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 196 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 cxd4 6. exd4 Qb6 7. Nb3 Bf5 8.
Bd3 Bxd3 9. Qxd3 e6 10. O-O Be7 11. a4 a6 12. Ne5 Rc8 13. a5 Qb5 14. Qxb5 axb5
15. Nd3 Nd7 16. a6 bxa6 17. Rxa6 f6 18. Re1 Kf7 19. h4 b4 20. Re2 Rhe8 21. g3
Bf8 22. Bd2 Ncb8 23. Ra7 Rxc2 24. Kf1 Rec8 25. Nbc5 Bxc5 26. Nxc5 R2xc5 27.
dxc5 Ke7 28. Bxb4 Nc6 29. Rb7 e5 30. Ba3 Ke6 31. b4 d4 32. b5 Na5 33. Ra7 Nc4
34. c6 Ndb6 35. Bc5 Nd5 36. Rc2 Nc3 0-1

[Event "Play for Russia Prelim"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.05.12"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2706"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2020.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 196 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 c6 7. Bd3 Nbd7 8.
Nge2 Nf8 9. Qc2 Ne6 10. Bh4 g6 11. f3 O-O 12. O-O b6 13. Rad1 Bb7 14. Kh1 Rc8
15. Bf2 c5 16. Qd2 Qd7 17. a3 Rfd8 18. Bb1 Qe8 19. Rfe1 Qf8 20. Ng3 Qh6 21.
dxc5 bxc5 22. Nce2 Bf8 23. Qa5 Rd7 24. e4 Bd6 25. exd5 Nxd5 26. Be4 Rcd8 27.
Qb5 Bb8 28. Qb3 Ng5 29. Nc3 Nxe4 30. Ncxe4 Nf4 31. Rxd7 Rxd7 32. Nf6+ 1-0

[Event "Play for Russia Prelim"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.05.13"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Riazantsev, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "2638"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2020.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 196 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 h6 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Qc2 Nd7 8. h4
dxc4 9. Bxc4 c5 10. dxc5 Nxc5 11. Nc3 Bd7 12. O-O Rc8 13. Rad1 O-O 14. h5 Qc7
15. Nd4 Na4 16. Be2 Nxc3 17. bxc3 Qxc3 18. Qe4 Bxd4 19. Rxd4 Bc6 20. Qe5 Bd5
21. a4 Qc7 22. Qxc7 Rxc7 23. e4 Bc6 24. Rb1 e5 25. Rdb4 Rd8 26. Bb5 a5 27. Rc4
Rd4 28. Rc5 Bxe4 29. Rxc7 Bxb1 30. Rxb7 Bc2 31. Re7 e4 32. Re8+ Kh7 33. Rf8 Bb3
34. Kh2 g5 35. hxg6+ Kxg6 36. Rg8+ Kf6 37. Rh8 Bxa4 38. Bxa4 Kg7 39. Ra8 Rxa4
40. Kg3 Ra2 41. Ra6 a4 42. Kf4 Rxf2+ 43. Kxe4 Rxg2 0-1

[Event "Play for Russia Prelim"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.05.13"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2020.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 196 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 Be7 8. Qd2
a6 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O b5 11. Nd1 b4 12. c4 dxc4 13. d5 exd5 14. Qxd5 Bb7 15.
Qxc4 Nb6 16. Qc2 Nd5 17. Bd3 Nxe3 18. Nxe3 Nd4 19. Nxd4 Qxd4 20. Rae1 g6 21.
Kh1 Rad8 22. Bc4 Bh4 23. Re2 Be4 24. Qb3 Bb7 25. f5 Kh8 26. Bxf7 Qxe5 27. Bc4
Qd6 28. Qc2 Bg5 29. Rd1 Qf6 30. h3 Bxe3 31. Rxd8 Rxd8 32. Rxe3 gxf5 33. Qe2 Be4
34. Qf2 Rd1+ 35. Kh2 Qd6+ 36. Rg3 h6 37. Be2 Rd2 38. Kh1 Rxe2 0-1

[Event "Play for Russia Prelim"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.05.13"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A28"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2752"]
[PlyCount "137"]
[EventDate "2020.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 196 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nf6 7. Be2 Bc5 8.
Be3 Bb6 9. h3 O-O 10. O-O Re8 11. Rc1 h6 12. a3 Be6 13. Na4 Qd6 14. Nc5 Bc8 15.
b4 a6 16. Qc2 Nh5 17. Rfd1 Qf6 18. d4 exd4 19. Nxd4 Nxd4 20. Bxd4 Qg5 21. Bxh5
Qxh5 22. f3 a5 23. Qf2 axb4 24. axb4 Qg6 25. Kh1 c6 26. g4 Ra3 27. Ra1 Rxa1 28.
Bxa1 f6 29. Kg2 Bc7 30. Bc3 h5 31. Qh4 b6 32. Nd3 Qf7 33. Qxh5 Qxh5 34. gxh5
Kh7 35. Nf2 Kh6 36. Ng4+ Kh7 37. Bxf6 Be6 38. Bc3 c5 39. bxc5 bxc5 40. h6 Bxg4
41. hxg4 Kxh6 42. Bxg7+ Kg6 43. Bc3 Rb8 44. e5 Rb3 45. Rc1 c4 46. f4 Bb6 47. e6
Be3 48. f5+ Kg5 49. Rc2 Kxg4 50. f6 Bg5 51. e7 Rb8 52. Re2 Re8 53. f7 Rxe7 54.
f8=Q Rxe2+ 55. Kf1 Rc2 56. Qc8+ Kh4 57. Qxc4+ Kh5 58. Qd3 Rc1+ 59. Ke2 Kh6 60.
Qh3+ Kg6 61. Kd3 Rd1+ 62. Ke4 Rd6 63. Qf5+ Kh5 64. Be5 Ra6 65. Qh7+ Kg4 66.
Qf5+ Kh5 67. Bd4 Ra2 68. Be3 Ra4+ 69. Kf3 1-0

[Event "Play for Russia Prelim"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.05.13"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2020.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 196 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d3 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. Nc3 Nc6 7. e4 dxe4 8.
dxe4 Bg4 9. h3 Qxd1 10. Rxd1 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 Rfd8 12. Be3 Nd7 13. Nd5 Rac8 14. c3
e6 15. Nf4 Nb6 16. Rxd8+ Rxd8 17. Rd1 Rxd1+ 18. Bxd1 Nc4 19. Bc1 Bh6 20. Be2
Nd6 21. f3 e5 22. Nd3 Bxc1 23. Nxc1 f5 24. exf5 gxf5 25. Kf2 Kf7 26. Nb3 b6 27.
Nd2 Ne7 28. f4 exf4 29. gxf4 Nd5 30. Kf3 Ke6 31. Bd1 Kf6 32. Bb3 Ne7 33. Nf1
Ne4 34. Bc2 Nc5 35. Ne3 c6 36. Nc4 Nb7 37. Ne5 c5 38. Nd7+ Kg7 39. a3 Nd6 40.
Ne5 Ng6 41. Nc6 a5 42. Bd3 Kf6 43. b4 cxb4 44. cxb4 axb4 45. Nxb4 Ne7 46. Ke3
Ke6 47. Kd4 Nb7 48. Nd5 Nc6+ 49. Kc4 Nd6+ 0-1

[Event "Play for Russia Prelim"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.05.13"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2723"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2020.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 196 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 g6 2. Nc3 c5 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. e3 e6 6. b3 Nge7 7. Ba3 Qa5 8. Bb2
O-O 9. Nf3 d5 10. O-O Rd8 11. a3 Qc7 12. cxd5 exd5 13. d4 cxd4 14. Nb5 Qb6 15.
Nbxd4 Bg4 16. Qd2 Bxf3 17. Nxf3 d4 18. exd4 Nxd4 19. Nxd4 Bxd4 20. Bxd4 Rxd4
21. Qe2 Nf5 22. b4 Rad8 23. Qf3 R8d7 24. Rae1 Rd3 25. Qf4 Qd4 26. Re8+ Kg7 27.
Qb8 Nh6 28. Re4 Qb6 29. Bh3 Rd8 30. Qe5+ Qf6 31. Qc7 Qb6 32. Qxb6 axb6 33. Ra1
Ng8 34. Bf1 Rc3 35. a4 Nf6 36. Re7 Rd7 37. Rxd7 Nxd7 38. Bg2 Rc7 39. Rd1 Ne5
40. h3 Rc4 41. Rb1 Nc6 42. Bxc6 bxc6 43. a5 bxa5 44. bxa5 Ra4 45. Rc1 Rxa5 46.
Rxc6 h5 47. h4 Ra4 48. Kg2 Ra5 49. Kg1 Ra4 50. Kg2 Ra5 51. Kg1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Play for Russia Prelim"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.05.13"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2706"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2020.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 196 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. b3 Bd6 5. Bb2 O-O 6. Nc3 b6 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
Nxd5 exd5 9. Be2 a5 10. O-O Ba6 11. Nd4 Bxe2 12. Qxe2 Be5 13. Bc3 Re8 14. Qg4
Bxd4 15. Qxd4 f6 16. Qg4 c5 17. d4 Nc6 18. dxc5 bxc5 19. Rfd1 Qd6 20. Rac1 a4
21. h3 axb3 22. axb3 Rab8 23. Qa4 Red8 24. Be1 Ne5 25. Qa3 Rbc8 26. Rc2 Qb6 27.
Ba5 Qa7 28. Qa1 Rd7 29. Bc3 Qb8 30. Rcd2 Rcd8 31. Qa5 Qxb3 32. Bxe5 fxe5 33.
Qxc5 d4 34. Qxe5 d3 35. Qb2 Qc4 36. Qa2 Qxa2 37. Rxa2 Kf7 38. Kf1 Ke6 39. Ke1
Rc7 40. Ra3 Rcd7 41. Kd2 g5 42. Rb1 h5 43. Rbb3 Rf7 44. f3 g4 45. hxg4 hxg4 46.
Rb6+ Kd5 47. Rxd3+ Kc5 48. Rxd8 Kxb6 49. f4 Kc5 50. Ke2 Rg7 51. Kf2 1-0

[Event "Play for Russia Prelim"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.05.13"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Inarkiev, Ernesto"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A21"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2661"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2020.05.12"]
[EventType "tourn (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "14"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 196 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. d3 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. g3 Ne7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. h4 h6 7. h5 g5 8. f4 gxf4
9. gxf4 Nbc6 10. fxe5 Nxe5 11. Bf4 d5 12. cxd5 c6 13. Qd2 Ng4 14. Bf3 Kh7 15.
d6 Nd5 16. Bxd5 cxd5 17. Nxd5 Be6 18. Nc7 Rc8 19. Nf3 Qf6 20. d4 Bf5 21. Be5
Qd8 22. Qf4 Bd7 23. Bxg7 Kxg7 24. Rg1 Kh7 25. Rxg4 Bxg4 26. Qxg4 Qxd6 27. Qf5+
Kg7 28. Nd5 Rfd8 29. Nf4 Qf6 30. Qxf6+ Kxf6 31. Kd2 Rg8 32. Rf1 Rcd8 33. e4 Ke7
34. Nd5+ Kf8 35. Ne5 Rg2+ 36. Kc3 Rc8+ 37. Kb3 Rg3+ 38. Kb4 Rg7 39. Rf6 Rh7 40.
a4 Rc2 41. b3 Ke8 42. Rd6 Re2 43. Rd7 Rg7 44. Nf6+ Kf8 45. Kc5 Rf2 46. Neg4
Rg5+ 47. Kd6 Kg7 48. Nxf2 1-0

[Event "Play for Russia Final"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.05.14"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A07"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2020.05.14"]
[EventType "k.o. (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 196 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O e5 5. d3 Nc6 6. c3 Nge7 7. e4 O-O 8. b4
dxe4 9. dxe4 Qxd1 10. Rxd1 Be6 11. Bb2 Rfd8 12. Nbd2 f6 13. Bf1 Nc8 14. a3 Nb6
15. Rab1 a5 16. Rdc1 Bh6 17. Rc2 Rd7 18. Bc1 Rad8 19. Kg2 Kg7 20. Be2 axb4 21.
axb4 Ra8 22. Nb3 Bxb3 23. Bxh6+ Kxh6 24. Rxb3 Nd8 25. Rbb2 Ne6 26. Ra2 Rdd8 27.
Nd2 c5 28. Bg4 Nc7 29. bxc5 Na4 30. Nb3 Nb5 31. Rd2 Nbxc3 32. f3 Nxa2 33. Rxa2
Nc3 34. Rc2 Nd1 35. Rc1 Ra3 36. Be6 Ra2+ 37. Kg1 Re2 38. Bd5 Re1+ 39. Kg2 Ne3+
40. Kf2 Rxc1 41. Kxe3 Rxd5 42. exd5 Rc3+ 43. Kd2 Rxb3 44. d6 Ra3 0-1

[Event "Play for Russia Final"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.05.14"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A54"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2777"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2020.05.14"]
[EventType "k.o. (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 196 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. g3 Nbd7 4. Bg2 e5 5. c4 c6 6. O-O e4 7. Nfd2 d5 8. Nc3
Be7 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. f3 exf3 11. Nxf3 O-O 12. Ne5 Nb6 13. a4 a5 14. Qb3 Be6 15.
Bf4 Rc8 16. Rac1 h6 17. Qb5 g5 18. Be3 Nc4 19. Nxc4 Rxc4 20. Qxb7 Rb4 21. Qa7
Rxb2 22. Rb1 Rxb1 23. Rxb1 Bb4 24. Bd2 Re8 25. Rf1 Kg7 26. Qa6 Bg4 27. e3 Re6
28. Qd3 Bh5 29. Nb5 Bg6 30. Qe2 Qe7 31. Re1 Ne4 32. Bxb4 Qxb4 33. Nc7 Rc6 34.
Nxd5 Qxa4 35. Rf1 Rc2 36. Qf3 g4 37. Qf4 Rxg2+ 38. Kxg2 Qa2+ 39. Kg1 Qxd5 40.
Qe5+ Qxe5 41. dxe5 Nc3 42. Kf2 Bd3 43. Ra1 a4 44. Ke1 Bb5 45. Kd2 Ne4+ 46. Kc2
Ng5 47. Rb1 Bd7 48. Rb7 Be6 49. Kb2 Nf3 50. Ka3 Nxh2 51. Rb1 Bb3 52. Rc1 Nf3
53. e6 fxe6 54. Kb4 Kg6 55. Rc3 h5 56. Kc5 Kf6 57. Rc1 Ke5 58. Rh1 h4 59. gxh4
g3 60. h5 g2 61. Rc1 g1=Q 0-1

[Event "Play for Russia Final"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.05.14"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2777"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2020.05.14"]
[EventType "k.o. (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "2"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 196 Extra"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 O-O 8. Bd3
Re8 9. Nge2 b6 10. O-O Bb7 11. Qc2 Nbd7 12. Rad1 c6 13. a3 Nf8 14. b4 Ne6 15.
Qb2 Rc8 16. a4 Rc7 17. a5 Rd7 18. Ra1 Bd6 19. Bg3 Ng5 20. Rfc1 Nh5 21. Bxd6
Rxd6 22. axb6 axb6 23. Ra7 Qb8 24. Rca1 Nf6 25. h3 Rdd8 26. Qd2 Bc8 27. Nf4 Ne6
28. Nce2 Nxf4 29. Nxf4 Qd6 30. Qc3 Ne4 31. Bxe4 Rxe4 32. Rc1 Bd7 33. b5 Rc8 34.
Qb3 g5 35. Nh5 Re6 36. Ng3 Rf6 37. bxc6 Rxc6 38. Rxc6 Qxc6 39. Qa3 Qd6 40. Nh5
1-0

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.21"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D79"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "195"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. g3 Nc6 3. Bg2 g6 4. c3 Bg7 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4 d5 7. Nc3 Nf6 8. Ne5
O-O 9. O-O Nd7 10. Nxd5 Ndxe5 11. dxe5 Nxe5 12. Bg5 Nc6 13. Rc1 Be6 14. b3 h6
15. Nxe7+ Nxe7 16. Qxd8 Rfxd8 17. Bxe7 Rd2 18. Bxb7 Rb8 19. Bf3 Rxa2 20. b4 Bf8
21. Bc5 Rd8 22. Kg2 h5 23. Ra1 Rdd2 24. Rxa2 Rxa2 25. Rc1 a5 26. bxa5 Rxa5 27.
Bb6 Rb5 28. Be3 Bg7 29. Rd1 Bf6 30. h3 Kg7 31. Rd6 Be5 32. Ra6 Rb2 33. Ra5 Bc3
34. Rc5 Bf6 35. g4 hxg4 36. hxg4 Rb4 37. g5 Bd4 38. Bxd4+ Rxd4 39. e3 Rc4 40.
Re5 Rc1 41. Be4 Re1 42. Rc5 Kf8 43. Rc7 Rd1 44. Bf3 Ra1 45. Rc5 Ke7 46. Kg3 Kd6
47. Rb5 Bc4 48. Rb6+ Ke7 49. Rb4 Be6 50. Bg2 Ra5 51. f4 Ra3 52. Re4 Kf8 53. Re5
Rb3 54. Bf3 Kg7 55. Bc6 Rc3 56. Bb5 Ra3 57. Kf3 Rb3 58. Rc5 Rb4 59. Bd3 Rb3 60.
Bc2 Rb4 61. Ra5 Rb2 62. Be4 Rb4 63. Re5 Rb2 64. Bd3 Rb3 65. Bb5 Rb4 66. Rc5 Kf8
67. Bc6 Rc4 68. Rxc4 Bxc4 69. Ke4 Ke7 70. Ke5 Bd3 71. Be4 Be2 72. Bd5 Bd3 73.
Kd4 Be2 74. e4 Bd1 75. e5 Ba4 76. Bc4 Bd1 77. Bd3 Bg4 78. Be4 Bh3 79. Ke3 Bc8
80. Kf3 Bd7 81. Kg3 Bc8 82. Bf3 Bf5 83. Bg4 Bb1 84. Bh3 Bc2 85. Kf2 Bb1 86. Ke3
Bc2 87. Kd4 Bb1 88. Bg4 Bc2 89. Bf3 Ba4 90. f5 gxf5 91. Ke3 Kf8 92. Kf4 Bc2 93.
Bc6 Kg7 94. Bd7 Kg6 95. Be8 Kg7 96. Bd7 Kg6 97. Be8 Kg7 98. Bd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.21"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Qc2 dxc4 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 Bb4 8. e3
b5 9. a4 c6 10. Be2 Bb7 11. O-O Qb6 12. Ne5 Nxe5 13. dxe5 Nd7 14. Ne4 Nxe5 15.
a5 Qc7 16. a6 Bc8 17. Bg3 O-O 18. b3 f5 19. Qb2 fxe4 20. Bxe5 c3 21. Bxc3 Bd6
22. h3 b4 23. Bd2 Bh2+ 24. Kh1 Be5 25. Qc2 Bxa1 26. Rxa1 Qe5 27. Rf1 c5 28. Bc1
Qd6 29. Qc4 Bd7 30. Rd1 Qc6 31. Kg1 Rad8 32. Bb2 Bc8 33. Ra1 Rd2 34. Bc1 Rd5
35. Ra2 Qd6 36. Rc2 Bxa6 0-1

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.21"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A04"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. b3 d6 3. c4 g6 4. Bb2 e5 5. g3 Bg7 6. Bg2 Ne7 7. O-O O-O 8. Nc3
Nbc6 9. d3 h6 10. Nd2 f5 11. a3 a5 12. e3 g5 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. cxd5 Ne7 15. f4
exf4 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. gxf4 Ng6 18. Kh1 b6 19. b4 Ra7 20. bxa5 bxa5 21. d4 Ba6
22. Rg1 c4 23. fxg5 hxg5 24. Bf1 c3 25. Bxa6 Rxa6 26. Nf1 Rb6 27. Ng3 Qa8 28.
e4 fxe4 29. Nf1 Rf3 30. Rxg5 Rb2 31. Ne3 Qf8 32. Qa4 Rxh2+ 33. Kg1 Rg3+ 34.
Kxh2 Qf2+ 35. Kh1 Rh3# 0-1

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.21"]
[Round "1.4"]
[White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Qc2 dxc4 6. e4 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8.
Bxc4 Qc7 9. O-O O-O 10. Qe2 Ne5 11. Bf4 Bd6 12. Bxe5 Bxe5 13. Nxe5 Qxe5 14. f4
Qc5+ 15. Kh1 e5 16. f5 b5 17. Bxb5 Bb7 18. Rac1 Rac8 19. h3 Rfd8 20. Ba6 Qb6
21. Bxb7 Qxb7 22. Kh2 h6 23. Rcd1 Rd4 24. Rf3 Rxd1 25. Qxd1 Nxe4 26. Nxe4 Qxe4
27. Qd7 Qc6 28. Qxa7 e4 29. Rf4 Qd6 30. Qe3 Rc4 31. Kg1 Qe5 32. Rf2 Kh7 33. Re2
f6 34. b3 Rd4 35. Re1 Qd5 36. Kh2 Qe5+ 37. Kg1 Qd5 38. a3 Rd3 39. Qxe4 Qxb3 40.
a4 Qc3 41. Kh1 Rd8 42. Rb1 Rd3 43. Qg4 Rg3 44. Qf4 Re3 45. Kh2 Qd3 46. Rb7 Qc3
47. Rb5 Re1 48. a5 Ra1 49. Rb7 Rxa5 50. Rc7 Rc5 51. Rxc5 Qxc5 52. g4 Qc3 53.
Qe4 Qd2+ 54. Kg3 h5 55. Qe8 hxg4 56. Qg6+ Kg8 57. Qe8+ Kh7 58. Qg6+ Kg8 59.
Qe8+ Kh7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.21"]
[Round "1.5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A05"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. b3 g6 4. Bb2 Bg7 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 d5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
Bxg7 Kxg7 9. O-O Nc6 10. d4 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Nxd4 12. Qxd4+ Nf6 13. Qe3 Qb6 14.
Qxb6 axb6 15. Nc3 Be6 16. Bxb7 Ra7 17. Bf3 Rc8 18. Nb5 Ra5 19. Nd4 Bd5 20. a4
e5 21. b4 Raa8 22. Nb5 e4 23. Bg2 Rc4 24. Rfb1 Bc6 25. Na3 Rc3 26. a5 bxa5 27.
b5 Bd5 28. b6 a4 29. Nb5 Rb3 30. Nc7 Rb8 31. Rd1 Bc6 32. g4 h6 33. h4 Nxg4 34.
Rd6 R8xb6 35. Bf1 a3 36. h5 gxh5 37. e3 Ne5 38. Kh2 Rb2 39. Kg3 h4+ 40. Kf4
Ng6+ 41. Kg4 Rxf2 0-1

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.22"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A28"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2764"]
[PlyCount "142"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. a3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Qc2 Nxc3 7. bxc3 Bd6 8.
g3 O-O 9. Bg2 f5 10. d3 Kh8 11. O-O Rb8 12. Bb2 Qe8 13. Nd2 b6 14. e3 Bb7 15.
Rae1 Na5 16. Bxb7 Rxb7 17. f4 exf4 18. exf4 Qh5 19. Nf3 Rbb8 20. c4 Rfe8 21.
Qc3 Bf8 22. Kg2 c5 23. Ne5 Rbd8 24. h3 Kg8 25. Qc2 Qh6 26. Qa4 Rc8 27. Qd7 Qe6
28. Qxa7 Red8 29. Qa6 Nc6 30. Qxb6 Rb8 31. Qxc6 Rxb2+ 32. Rf2 Qxc6+ 33. Nxc6
Rxf2+ 34. Kxf2 Rxd3 35. Ra1 Rd6 36. Ne5 Ra6 37. a4 Bd6 38. Kf3 Kf8 39. g4 fxg4+
40. Nxg4 Kf7 41. Ke4 Bc7 42. Ne5+ Ke6 43. f5+ Ke7 44. a5 Kf6 45. Nd7+ Kf7 46.
Rb1 Ke7 47. Nxc5 Rxa5 48. Nd3 g6 49. fxg6 hxg6 50. c5 Ke6 51. Rg1 Ra4+ 52. Ke3
Kf5 53. Rf1+ Ke6 54. Rg1 Kf5 55. Rb1 Re4+ 56. Kf3 Rh4 57. Rf1 Ke6 58. Kg2 g5
59. Re1+ Kd7 60. Nf2 Kc6 61. Rc1 Rd4 62. Rc2 Ba5 63. Kf3 Rf4+ 64. Ke3 Rh4 65.
Kf3 Bb4 66. Ne4 Rxh3+ 67. Kg2 g4 68. Nf2 Rc3 69. Rxc3 Bxc3 70. Nxg4 Kxc5 71.
Nf6 Bxf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.22"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2764"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bf4 dxc4 6. e3 b5 7. Nxb5 Bb4+ 8.
Nc3 Nd5 9. a3 Nxc3 10. Qd2 Bxa3 11. Qxc3 Bd6 12. Bxd6 cxd6 13. Bxc4 O-O 14. d5
e5 15. O-O a5 16. Nd2 Bb7 17. b3 Qb6 18. Ra2 Rfc8 19. e4 Rc5 20. Rfa1 Qd8 21.
b4 axb4 22. Rxa8 Bxa8 23. Qxb4 h6 24. Ra6 Nf6 25. Bf1 Kh7 26. Ra7 Rc8 27. Rxf7
Rb8 28. Qa3 Rb7 29. Rxb7 Bxb7 30. Nc4 Ne8 31. Qa7 Qc7 32. Na5 Bc8 33. Qxc7 Nxc7
34. Nc4 Ne8 35. Nb6 Bg4 36. f3 Bh5 37. Nc8 1-0

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.22"]
[Round "2.3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Giri, Anish"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2764"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Qc2 c6 6. Nc3 Be7 7. h3 O-O 8. Bf4
g6 9. e3 Bf5 10. Qb3 Qb6 11. Nd2 Nbd7 12. g4 Be6 13. Bd3 Qxb3 14. Nxb3 a5 15.
Nd2 a4 16. a3 b5 17. f3 Nb6 18. Ke2 Ra7 19. Bc2 Rfa8 20. Rhc1 b4 21. axb4 Bxb4
22. Bd3 Nc4 23. Bxc4 dxc4 24. e4 a3 25. bxa3 Rxa3 26. Rxa3 Rxa3 27. Ndb1 Rb3
28. Bh6 Ne8 29. Rc2 f5 30. Bd2 fxe4 31. fxe4 h5 32. Ra2 hxg4 33. hxg4 Bxg4+ 34.
Ke3 Bf8 35. Kf4 Be6 36. Kg5 Kf7 37. Kh4 Nd6 38. Ra7+ Rb7 39. Ra6 Nb5 40. d5
cxd5 41. exd5 Bf5 42. Nxb5 Be7+ 43. Bg5 Bxg5+ 44. Kxg5 Rxb5 45. Ra7+ Ke8 46.
Nc3 Rb3 47. Ne2 Rb2 48. Nf4 c3 49. Rc7 c2 50. Nxg6 Kd8 51. d6 Bxg6 52. Kxg6 Rb6
53. Rxc2 Rxd6+ 54. Kf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.22"]
[Round "2.4"]
[White "Giri, Anish"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E61"]
[WhiteElo "2764"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nf3 Bf5 4. Nc3 g6 5. d5 Bg7 6. Nd4 Bd7 7. e4 e5 8. dxe6
fxe6 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O Nc6 11. Be3 b6 12. b3 a6 13. Rc1 Ne5 14. h3 Nf7 15. Qd2
c5 16. Nf3 h6 17. e5 dxe5 18. Qc2 g5 19. Rcd1 Qe7 20. Ne4 Bc6 21. Bd3 Nh5 22.
g3 Rad8 23. Qe2 Nf6 24. Nfd2 Nd6 25. Nxd6 Rxd6 26. Bc2 Qb7 27. f3 Rfd8 28. Bf2
e4 29. fxe4 e5 30. Nf3 Nxe4 31. Rxd6 Rxd6 32. Be1 Rf6 33. Qd3 Rd6 34. Qe3 Rd8
35. h4 g4 36. Nxe5 Bxe5 37. Qxh6 Bd4+ 38. Kh2 Bg7 39. Qe6+ Kh8 40. Rf7 Rd6 41.
Qf5 Rf6 42. Qh5+ Rh6 43. Rxb7 Rxh5 44. Rb8+ Kh7 45. Rxb6 Ba8 46. Rxa6 Bb7 47.
Ra7 Bc6 48. Ra6 Bb7 49. Ra7 Bc6 50. Ra6 Bb7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.23"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[Annotator "Kasimdzhanov,R"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[%evp 0,126,80,26,67,25,37,38,70,49,55,2,8,8,55,-7,57,36,49,29,2,15,15,31,45,
37,38,37,44,26,45,20,47,20,54,16,24,11,13,20,14,22,24,17,34,2,4,-3,-10,2,3,2,
-24,-36,-36,-36,-27,-45,-45,-30,-31,-38,-10,-14,-14,-27,-67,-47,-35,-113,-144,
-209,-81,-2,-2,-17,-17,-17,-17,-17,0,-21,-22,-114,-26,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,-12,-49,
0,16,0,20,7,20,20,33,50,8,8,54,0,-238,-318,0,0,0,0,0,-71,-81,-157,-157,-157,80,
0,0,0,0,0,114,-762,-802] To understand just how extraordinary the game is
you're about to see, bear in mind it was played at 15+10 time control :)} 1. e4
e6 {A rare guest in Kramnik's games.} 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5
6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 Be7 8. Qd2 a6 9. Bd3 b5 10. a3 c4 {This leads to an almost
new position, though the structure is almost as old as chess itself.} (10...
O-O 11. O-O f5 {1-0 (48) Cheparinov,I (2711)-Bluebaum,M (2620) Germany 2019})
11. Be2 Nb6 12. O-O Bd7 {The conflict has already been well-defined. Black is
very strong on the queenside, White will try to get f5 and get to the black
king.} 13. Bd1 $5 {Interesing approach. It looks like White wants to play Ne2,
c3, Bc2, but in fact it's trickier than that.} (13. g4 h5 14. gxh5 Rxh5 {
doesn't feel clear.}) (13. Nd1 a5 14. c3 b4 {is the reason Vishy leaves his
knight on c3 for now.}) 13... g6 (13... Qc7 {looks natural too, but probably
doesn't change too much.}) 14. h3 {Some sort of waiting game, but also a
useful move of course.} (14. Ne2 a5) 14... Qc7 15. Bf2 $5 {And this is,
amazingly, some sort of zugzwang :) Kramnik finds a useful move though.} h6 $1
(15... O-O-O 16. b3 Kb7 17. Be2 {[%cal Gf1b1,Gc3d1,Gd1e3] White is the
favorite to get to Black's king first here.}) 16. Ne2 {Vishy changes his plan
after seeing the pawn on h6.} (16. Kh2 O-O-O 17. b3 (17. Ne2 Kb7) 17... Rdg8
18. Be2 g5 {was the point behind h6, gaining a tempo on counterplay, with a
huge fight.}) 16... a5 $1 {Of course.} 17. c3 O-O-O 18. Bh4 Bxh4 19. Nxh4 Kb7
20. Nf3 Ra8 21. Bc2 Qd8 {The advance ...b4 still needs some work.} (21... b4
22. axb4 axb4 23. cxb4) 22. g4 {Not without dangers potentially, but Vishy
probably felt he can't do without f5 in a long run.} (22. Nh2 h5 (22... Qe7 23.
Ng4 h5 24. Nf6 b4 25. axb4 axb4 26. b3 $13) 23. Nf3 Qe7 24. Ng5 Rhb8 {[%cal
Gd7e8,Gb7c7,Gb5b4] A nice square for the knight, but feels slow.}) 22... Qe7 (
22... h5 {Black should't start a fight where his opponent is stronger.} 23. Ng5
(23. Kg2 Qe7) 23... Qe7 (23... hxg4 24. Nxf7 Qh4 25. Nxh8 Rxh8 26. Qe3 $16) 24.
f5 gxf5 25. gxf5 exf5 26. Bxf5 Raf8 27. h4 f6 28. exf6 Rxf6 29. Bxd7 Nxd7 30.
Ng3 $16) 23. Ng3 (23. Kh2 h5) (23. Rae1 b4 24. f5 b3 (24... gxf5 25. gxf5) 25.
f6 (25. Bb1 Rag8) 25... Qf8 26. Bd1 Na7) 23... b4 24. axb4 axb4 {Kramnik
played his breakthrough first and somewhere around here Vishy loses some ground
} 25. Rxa8 (25. Kg2 b3 26. Rxa8 Rxa8 27. Bb1) ({or} 25. h4 Na5 26. h5 Nb3 {
both lead to a perfect mess}) 25... Rxa8 26. f5 gxf5 27. gxf5 (27. Qxh6 fxg4
28. hxg4 Ra2) 27... Ra2 28. Qc1 bxc3 (28... exf5 $5 {would be interesting, but
also deprive us of all the beauty to come.} 29. Bxf5 (29. Nxf5 Bxf5 30. Bxf5
bxc3 31. bxc3 Qa3) 29... Be6 30. Qxh6 Rxb2 31. Ng5 Nd8 {and it feels easier to
play black here}) 29. bxc3 Qa3 30. Bb1 $2 {This, surprisingly, is a mistake,
but it wouldn't be obvious even in a classical game, let alone at the
breathtaking speed the two giants were playing.} (30. Qxa3 Rxa3 31. Ne2 exf5 {
It's White who still needs to be accurate here.}) 30... Qxc1 $2 {A rare case
when Kramnik doesn't evaluate the queen exchange correctly. After} (30... Rb2
$1 31. f6 Na4 32. Ne2 Na7 {Black is substantially better, aided by his more
active queen and a safer king.}) 31. Rxc1 Rb2 (31... Ra3 {also makes sense.})
32. f6 Na4 {A massively complex ending.} 33. Bh7 {Something tells me it's a
trap.} ({Interesting would be} 33. Bg6 $5 Be8 34. Bh5 {The bishop is well
placed here.} Kc7 35. Nh2 Nxc3 36. Rxc3 Nxd4 {and we went from complex to
complex, with a very tough fight ahead.}) 33... Na5 $2 {That's exactly what
Vishy probably had played Bh7 for.} (33... Be8 34. Kf1 Na7 35. Ne2 Nb5 36. h4
Kc7 37. h5 {and maybe it's better to play White here, cause a bit amazingly
Black ran out of ideas.}) 34. Bg6 $1 {Oh boy, here we go.} Nb3 35. Re1 $1 {
In anticipation of what follows.} Be8 36. Nf5 $3 {The point of it all. Now
pretty much everyone realized Black is in trouble, and Kramnik had to find a
way to hang in there.} fxg6 {Black had other defences, but Kramnik didn't have
all the time in the world, of course.} (36... Nxc3 $5 37. Nd6+ Kc6 38. Nxe8 Nc1
$3 {The point of Black's counterplay.} 39. Bh7 $3 {An amazingly difficult
solution.} (39. Rxc1 Ne2+ 40. Kf1 Nxc1 41. Nd6 $1 Ne2 (41... fxg6 42. f7 Rb8
43. Ne8) 42. Bxf7 (42. Nxf7 Nf4 43. Bh7 Nxh3) 42... Nf4 43. Be8+ Kb6 44. f7 Ng6
{remains very difficult for both.}) (39. Bxf7 N1e2+ 40. Kf2 Nxd4+ 41. Kg3 (41.
Ke3 Nc2+ 42. Kf4 Nxe1 43. Nxe1 Re2 44. Bxe6 Rxe1 45. f7 Rf1+ 46. Ke3 Ne4 47.
Nf6 Nxf6 48. Ke2 $3 Nh7 49. Kxf1) 41... Ne4+ 42. Rxe4 Nf5+ 43. Kf4 dxe4 44.
Bxe6 exf3 45. Kxf5 Rc2 46. f7 f2 47. Kg6 f1=Q 48. Nf6 {with a royal mess, and
the reason White needs his bishop to control c2, e4, and f5!}) 39... N1e2+ 40.
Kf2 Nxd4+ 41. Ke3 Nxf3 {There's nothing better now.} 42. Kxf3 {and White is
doing well here, but I assure you, it wouldn't be obvious during the game to
you, or me, or Anand, or anyone :)} d4 (42... Nb5 43. Bg8 Nd4+ 44. Kf4 c3 45.
Bxf7 Re2 46. Ra1 Re4+ 47. Kg3 Rxe5 48. Bg6) 43. Nd6 d3 44. Nxc4 d2 45. Nxd2
Rxd2 46. Bg8) (36... exf5 37. e6 $18) (36... Kc6 37. Nd6 Kd7 {Another cunning
try.} 38. Bxf7 Bxf7 39. Nxf7 Nxc3 40. Nh8 $3 {There are many lines here, but
only this seems to win.} (40. Nd6 Nc1 41. Rxc1 Ne2+ 42. Kf1 Nxc1 43. f7 Rb8)
40... Nc1 41. Rxc1 (41. f7 N1e2+ $11) 41... Ne2+ 42. Kf1 Nxc1 43. f7 Rb8 (43...
Ke7 44. Nh4 Rb8 45. N4g6+ Kd7 46. f8=Q Rxf8+ 47. Nxf8+ Ke7 48. Nfg6+ Ke8 49.
Nf4 $18) 44. Ng6 {and White wins}) 37. Nd6+ Kc7 38. Nxe8+ Kd7 39. Nd6 g5 $1 {
[%cal Gf6f7,Gf3h4,Gh4g6] Controlling h4 is vital.} 40. Nf5 $3 {I've never seen
this before. After 36.Nf5!! white knight dances all the way back, and again
it's brilliant, and correct, and important!} Ke8 (40... exf5 41. e6+ {White's
pawns queen here.}) 41. Nxh6 Nxc3 {Both players, as well as thousands watching
live, knew it must be winning for White here, but with minutes ticking away,
it was also unlikely to be easy. Black gets counterplay against white king.}
42. Nxg5 Nxd4 43. f7+ Ke7 44. Ra1 {Very natural.} (44. Rf1 $1 {An almost
impossible task, under the circumstances.} Nce2+ (44... Rb8 45. Nh7 $18) 45.
Kf2 {and all the checks are of no avail:} Nc6 (45... Nc3+ 46. Ke3) 46. Ke1 $18
Rb1+ 47. Kxe2 Rxf1 48. Kxf1 Nxe5 49. Ke2 d4 50. Kd1 Nd7 51. h4 {and White wins,
slowly but surely.}) 44... Nce2+ 45. Kf2 Nf4+ 46. Kg3 $2 {most natural, but} (
46. Kf1 $3 {was strong, to keep the king safe from checks.} Nc6 (46... Ng6 47.
Ng8+ Kd7 (47... Kf8 48. Ra8+ Kg7 49. Ne7 $1 {is a very cute point.}) 48. Ra7+
Kd8 49. Ne7 Nf8 50. Ra8+ Kxe7 51. Re8+ Kd7 52. Rxf8 $18) 47. Ng8+ Kf8 48. Nf6
Kg7 49. f8=Q+ $3 {Such a rare theme.} Kxf8 50. Ra8+ Rb8 $1 (50... Nb8 51. Ra7 {
is actually mate.}) 51. Nd7+ Ke7 52. Nxb8 Nxe5 {and whilst my computer assures
me White is clearly winning here, I must confess it still looks messy to me!})
46... Ng6 47. Ra7+ Kd8 48. Ra8+ Kc7 49. Rg8 Ne2+ $1 {Kramnik reinforces his
defences with this vital check, and now it's Vishy who has to fight for his
life. There was't much time left for subtleties...} 50. Kf2 (50. Kf3 {would be
better.} Nxe5+ 51. Ke3 Nxf7 52. Nhxf7 c3 53. Ne5 c2 54. Nd3 Rb3 55. Kxe2 Rxd3
56. Nxe6+ Kd6 57. Rc8 $11) 50... Nef4+ 51. Ke3 c3 52. Nxe6+ $2 (52. Rxg6 Nxg6
53. Nxe6+ Kd7 54. Nf4 {was still okay, but by now they were both blitzing...}
d4+ 55. Ke4 c2 56. e6+ Kc7 57. Nd3 Rb3 (57... Kd6 $5) 58. Kf5 Rxd3 59. Kxg6
c1=Q 60. f8=Q {and the white king being safe, draw is no longer difficult.})
52... Nxe6 53. Rxg6 d4+ 54. Ke4 Re2+ $2 (54... c2 55. Rxe6 c1=Q 56. f8=Q {
Kramnik correctly felt this should be checkmate, but hesitated to go for it
with no time to figure it out with accuracy.} Qe3+ 57. Kd5 Rb5+ 58. Kc4 Qb3+
59. Kxd4 Qa4+ $1 {is the most convincing way, but far from easy.}) 55. Kf3 $1
Re3+ 56. Kg4 Nf8 (56... c2 57. Rxe6 c1=Q 58. Re7+ Kb6 59. f8=Q Qg1+ 60. Kh4
Qg3+ 61. Kh5 $18) 57. Rg8 Nd7 (57... c2 58. Rxf8 c1=Q 59. Rc8+ $11) 58. Nf5 $3
{This move again! I don't know if there's ever been a game in history of games,
where the same knight landed three times on the same square, and it was always
the best move by far, and twice a sacrifice!!} c2 {there's no win} (58... Re4+
59. Kf3 c2 60. Rg1 d3 61. Kxe4 d2 62. e6 d1=Q 63. exd7 {White's pawns are too
strong here.} Qxg1 64. d8=Q+ Kxd8 65. f8=Q+ Kc7 $11) (58... Rxe5 59. Nxd4 Re4+
60. Kf3 Rxd4 61. Ke2 c2 62. Rg1 $11) 59. Nxe3 c1=Q (59... dxe3 60. e6 c1=Q 61.
exd7 $11) 60. Nd5+ Kb7 61. e6 {A fascinating position.} Qd1+ 62. Kg5 Qd2+ $2 {
With seconds left, Kramnik gets unlucky choosing the square to check from.} (
62... Qg1+ 63. Kf5 (63. Kh6 Qc1+ 64. Rg5 Qc6) 63... Qb1+ 64. Kg5 $11) 63. Kg6
$2 {A truly unfortunate moment for Vishy. The knight was still around to crown
his carrer with} (63. Nf4 $1 Nc5 64. Rg6 $1 {and Vishy would have won this})
63... Qg2+ {and Black picks up the full house. White resigned, but in a way
the result seems irrelevant here. An incredible creative achievement by both
players, this game will be the one to remember for years to come.} 0-1

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.23"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A38"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. O-O g6 5. c4 Bg7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. d3 Nc6 8. Bf4
d4 9. Na4 Nd7 10. a3 e5 11. Bg5 f6 12. Bd2 Rb8 13. b4 Qe7 14. bxc5 f5 15. e3
dxe3 16. Bxe3 f4 17. Bd2 g5 18. Re1 g4 19. Nh4 f3 20. Bf1 Qf7 21. Be3 Nf6 22.
Nc3 Rd8 23. Nb5 Bf8 24. Qc1 a6 25. Nd6 Bxd6 26. cxd6 Rxd6 27. d4 Nxd4 28. Bxd4
exd4 29. Qf4 Qc7 30. c5 Rc6 31. Bc4+ Kf8 32. Re5 1-0

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.23"]
[Round "3.3"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 h6 7. Re1 O-O 8. Nbd2
a6 9. a4 Ba7 10. h3 Re8 11. b4 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. Qc2 Qd7 14. Nf1 d5 15. Be3
d4 16. cxd4 Nxd4 17. Bxd4 Bxd4 18. Nxd4 Qxd4 19. Qxc7 Qxd3 20. Rad1 Qb3 21.
Qxb7 Ree8 22. a5 Reb8 23. Qc7 Qxb4 24. Ng3 Rb7 25. Qxe5 Rb5 26. Qf4 Nh5 27.
Nxh5 Rxh5 28. Re3 Rxa5 29. Rg3 Rg5 30. Rgd3 Qb8 31. Qxb8+ Rxb8 32. Rd8+ Rxd8
33. Rxd8+ Kh7 34. Ra8 Re5 35. Rxa6 Rxe4 36. g3 Re1+ 37. Kg2 Re7 38. h4 h5 39.
Rb6 g6 40. Ra6 Rd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.24"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2663"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. b3 Nf6 3. Bb2 e6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 d5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Nc3
Nc6 9. Qc2 Ndb4 10. Qd1 b6 11. a3 Nd5 12. Nxd5 Qxd5 13. d4 Bb7 14. dxc5 Qxc5
15. O-O Rfd8 16. Qb1 Qb5 17. b4 Qxe2 18. Re1 Qd3 19. Qc1 Rac8 20. Qf4 Bd6 21.
Qh4 Be7 22. Qh3 Nb8 23. Rxe6 Bxf3 24. Rxe7 Bxg2 25. Qg4 Qg6 26. Qxg6 hxg6 27.
Kxg2 Rc2 28. Bc1 Nc6 29. Re1 f6 30. Be3 Ne5 31. Rec1 Rdc8 32. Rxc2 Rxc2 33. Rd1
Nc4 34. Rd8+ Kh7 35. Rd3 Ra2 36. Bc1 b5 37. h4 a6 38. Rc3 Kg8 39. g4 Kf7 40.
Kg3 Ke6 41. Rd3 Ra1 42. Rc3 Kd5 43. Rd3+ Ke6 44. Rc3 Kd5 45. Rd3+ Ke6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.24"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2663"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 c6 7. Qc2 h6 8.
Bh4 Be7 9. e3 O-O 10. Bd3 Re8 11. O-O Ne4 12. Bxe4 Bxh4 13. Bh7+ Kh8 14. Nxh4
Qxh4 15. Bd3 Qe7 16. a3 Nb6 17. b4 Be6 18. Ne2 Nc4 19. Bxc4 dxc4 20. Nc3 Rad8
21. Rfe1 Qg5 22. f3 f5 23. Rad1 Qf6 24. Qf2 Qf8 25. e4 a5 26. Qb2 fxe4 27. fxe4
Bg4 28. Rd2 axb4 29. axb4 Qf4 30. Rf2 Qg5 31. Qd2 Qxd2 32. Rxd2 Ra8 33. h3 Bh5
34. e5 Bg6 35. d5 Ra3 36. d6 Rxc3 37. e6 Rd3 38. Rxd3 cxd3 39. e7 Bf5 40. g4
Bd7 41. Kf2 Kg8 42. Ke3 Kf7 43. Kxd3 Kf6 44. Kd4 b6 45. Re2 Ra8 46. Re1 g5 47.
Re2 Be8 48. Kc4 Ra4 49. Kb3 Ra7 50. Re3 b5 51. Re1 Kg7 52. Kc3 Rd7 53. Re6 Bf7
54. Kd4 Be8 55. Kc5 Ra7 56. Kb6 Rd7 57. Kc5 Ra7 58. Kb6 Rd7 59. Kc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.24"]
[Round "4.3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2663"]
[PlyCount "237"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. d3 e6 6. h4 Nf6 7. a3 O-O 8. Rb1 d5
9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Ne4 b6 11. h5 Bb7 12. hxg6 hxg6 13. Nf3 Qe7 14. Kf1 Rfd8 15.
Bh6 Bxh6 16. Rxh6 Kg7 17. Qd2 Rh8 18. Rxh8 Rxh8 19. b4 cxb4 20. axb4 Ncxb4 21.
Qb2+ f6 22. g4 a5 23. g5 Rc8 24. gxf6+ Nxf6 25. Neg5 Bxf3 26. Nxf3 Rc2 27. Qa1
Qd6 28. Nd4 Rc5 29. Nf3 Qf4 30. Kg1 g5 31. e3 Qd6 32. d4 Rc2 33. d5 Rc5 34. e4
Qf4 35. Nd4 Kg6 36. Nxe6 Qh4 37. Qd4 Rc2 38. Qxb6 Nd3 39. Rf1 Nf4 40. Nxf4+
Qxf4 41. Qe6 Kg7 42. Qe7+ Kg6 43. Qe6 Kg7 44. Qe7+ Kg6 45. Qf8 a4 46. d6 Rd2
47. e5 Qxe5 48. Qa8 Qf4 49. Qf3 Rxd6 50. Qxf4 gxf4 51. Ra1 Ra6 52. Ra3 Nd7 53.
Bf1 Ra5 54. Bd3+ Kf6 55. Bc2 Nb6 56. Kg2 Rc5 57. Ra2 Rc4 58. Kf3 Rb4 59. Kg4
Ke5 60. f3 Rd4 61. Ra3 Nc4 62. Rxa4 Ne3+ 63. Kg5 Nxc2 64. Ra5+ Ke6 65. Ra6+ Ke5
66. Ra5+ Ke6 67. Rf5 Rd1 68. Rf6+ Ke5 69. Rf5+ Kd4 70. Kxf4 Ne3 71. Ra5 Nd5+
72. Kg3 Nc3 73. Ra8 Rg1+ 74. Kf2 Rg7 75. Rd8+ Nd5 76. Re8 Nf6 77. Re6 Rf7 78.
Re1 Ng4+ 79. Ke2 Re7+ 80. Kf1 Ne3+ 81. Kf2 Kd3 82. Ra1 Nc2 83. Rd1+ Kc3 84. Rd8
Nd4 85. Ra8 Rf7 86. Ra3+ Kc4 87. Re3 Kd5 88. Ra3 Nc6 89. Ke3 Ke5 90. Rc3 Ne7
91. f4+ Kd6 92. Ke4 Nd5 93. Rf3 Ke6 94. f5+ Kd6 95. Rf2 Re7+ 96. Kf3 Re3+ 97.
Kg4 Ke5 98. Rf3 Nf6+ 99. Kg3 Re2 100. Rf1 Ne4+ 101. Kf3 Rh2 102. Ra1 Rh3+ 103.
Kg2 Rg3+ 104. Kf1 Kxf5 105. Ke2 Ke5 106. Ra8 Nd6 107. Rd8 Ra3 108. Kd2 Nf5 109.
Rd3 Ra2+ 110. Kc3 Nd6 111. Kb3 Ra8 112. Rd1 Rb8+ 113. Kc3 Ne4+ 114. Kc4 Rc8+
115. Kb4 Nc3 116. Rh1 Kd4 117. Rh4+ Ne4 118. Kb5 Rc1 119. Kb6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.24"]
[Round "4.4"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2663"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 c6 7. Qc2 h6 8.
Bh4 Be7 9. e3 O-O 10. Bd3 Re8 11. O-O Ne4 12. Bxe4 Bxh4 13. Bh7+ Kh8 14. Nxh4
Qxh4 15. Bd3 Qe7 16. Rab1 a5 17. Na4 Kg8 18. Rfc1 Qd6 19. a3 g6 20. h3 Kg7 21.
Qc3 h5 22. Ra1 Qf6 23. b4 axb4 24. axb4 Qg5 25. Kf1 Nf6 26. Qc2 Qh4 27. Nb6
Rxa1 28. Rxa1 Bxh3 29. gxh3 Qxh3+ 30. Ke1 Qh1+ 31. Bf1 h4 32. Ke2 Ng4 33. Re1
h3 34. Qc1 Qh2 35. Kd3 Nxf2+ 36. Kc3 Qc7 37. Na4 h2 38. Bg2 Qg3 39. Bh1 Nxh1
40. Rxh1 Rxe3+ 41. Kc2 Re2+ 0-1

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.25"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B92"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Be3
Be6 9. Qd3 O-O 10. O-O Nbd7 11. a4 Rc8 12. a5 Qc7 13. Rfd1 Rfd8 14. Bf3 Nc5 15.
Nxc5 dxc5 16. Nd5 Nxd5 17. exd5 f5 18. Qb3 Bf7 19. d6 Bxb3 20. dxc7 Rxd1+ 21.
Rxd1 Be6 22. Bxb7 Rxc7 23. Bf3 Kf7 24. g3 g5 25. Bh5+ Kf6 26. f4 gxf4 27. gxf4
e4 28. Kf2 Kg7 29. Be2 c4 30. Bb6 Rc8 31. Ke3 Kf7 32. Bh5+ Kf8 33. Bd4 Rc7 34.
c3 Rd7 35. Be2 Kf7 36. h4 Rb7 37. Rg1 Bf6 38. Bb6 Rb8 39. h5 Bd5 40. h6 Ke6 41.
Bh5 Kd6 42. Rd1 Kc6 43. Rg1 Be6 44. Bd4 Bxd4+ 45. Kxd4 Rxb2 46. Ke5 Bd7 47. Rh1
Rg2 48. Bf7 Kc5 49. Bd5 Rg3 50. Bf7 e3 51. Re1 Rh3 52. Rxe3 Rxe3+ 0-1

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.25"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Qc2 dxc4 6. e4 Nb6 7. Be3 Bb4 8.
Be2 Bd7 9. O-O Bxc3 10. bxc3 Ba4 11. Qb1 Bc6 12. Nd2 Na4 13. Qc2 b5 14. Rad1
Qe7 15. Rfe1 O-O 16. f3 h6 17. Qc1 a5 18. Nf1 Rfd8 19. Ng3 Be8 20. d5 Nd7 21.
Bf1 Ndc5 22. e5 Rxd5 23. Nf5 exf5 24. Rxd5 Ne6 25. Bf2 Bc6 26. Rd2 f4 27. Rdd1
Qg5 28. Kh1 Qf5 29. h3 Re8 30. Rd2 Qg5 31. Qc2 Qe7 32. Qc1 Rd8 33. Rxd8+ Qxd8
34. Kh2 Qe7 0-1

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.25"]
[Round "5.3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B86"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2791"]
[PlyCount "203"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3 Nbd7 8.
Be3 Nc5 9. f3 b5 10. Qd2 Qc7 11. O-O-O Be7 12. g4 b4 13. Na4 O-O 14. Qxb4 Nxa4
15. Qxa4 Bd7 16. Qc4 Qb7 17. g5 Nh5 18. Ba4 Bxa4 19. Qxa4 Rab8 20. Nc6 Qxb2+
21. Kd2 Rfe8 22. Nxb8 Qxb8 23. Rb1 Qd8 24. Rhg1 d5 25. Kc1 g6 26. Rb7 Ng7 27.
Kb1 Qc8 28. Qxa6 e5 29. Qa7 Bf8 30. Rxf7 d4 31. Bc1 Ne6 32. Qb7 Qc4 33. Rxh7
Nc5 34. Rc7 d3 35. Qd5+ Qxd5 36. exd5 Rb8+ 37. Ka1 e4 38. Be3 Na6 39. Rc4 Nb4
40. cxd3 exd3 41. Bd4 Nc2+ 42. Rxc2 dxc2 43. Rc1 Rb5 44. Rxc2 Rxd5 45. Bf6 Ba3
46. Rc8+ Kf7 47. Kb1 Rd1+ 48. Kc2 Rc1+ 49. Kb3 Rxc8 50. Kxa3 Ke6 51. f4 Ra8+
52. Kb2 Rb8+ 53. Kc3 Ra8 54. Kb3 Rb8+ 55. Kc3 Ra8 56. Kb2 Rb8+ 57. Ka1 Rb7 58.
Be5 Rh7 59. Kb2 Rxh2+ 60. Kb3 Kd5 61. a4 Kc5 62. a5 Kb5 63. Kc3 Ra2 64. Bc7 Ra4
65. Kd3 Kc6 66. Be5 Kd5 67. Bc7 Kc6 68. Be5 Rxa5 69. Ke4 Ra4+ 70. Kf3 Kd5 71.
Bc7 Ra3+ 72. Kg4 Ke4 73. Bd6 Rf3 74. Bc7 Rf1 75. Kg3 Rg1+ 76. Kf2 Rc1 77. Be5
Rb1 78. Ke2 Rb3 79. Kf2 Rf3+ 80. Ke2 Rh3 81. Kf2 Rh2+ 82. Kg3 Re2 83. Bc7 Re3+
84. Kf2 Rf3+ 85. Kg2 Ke3 86. Be5 Ke2 87. Bd6 Rf2+ 88. Kg3 Rf1 89. Kg2 Rf2+ 90.
Kg3 Kf1 91. Be5 Rg2+ 92. Kf3 Re2 93. Bd4 Rd2 94. Ke3 Re2+ 95. Kf3 Ra2 96. f5
gxf5 97. Kf4 Ra4 98. Kxf5 Rxd4 99. g6 Rd8 100. g7 Rg8 101. Kg6 Rxg7+ 102. Kxg7
1/2-1/2

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.25"]
[Round "5.4"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D36"]
[WhiteElo "2791"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 c6 7. e3 h6 8. Bh4
Be7 9. Qc2 O-O 10. Bd3 Re8 11. Nd2 Nf8 12. O-O Nh5 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Rae1 Ne6
15. f4 Nf6 16. Nf3 c5 17. Qf2 Bd7 18. Ne5 Bc6 19. Bf5 Rad8 20. g4 Ne4 21. Nxe4
dxe4 22. Nxc6 bxc6 23. Bxe4 Qd6 24. f5 Ng5 25. Bg2 Rb8 26. Qf4 Qe7 27. b3 cxd4
28. f6 Qb4 29. fxg7 dxe3 30. h4 e2 31. Qxb4 Rxb4 32. Rf2 Ne6 33. Rexe2 Rxg4 34.
Kh2 Rxh4+ 35. Kg3 Rh5 36. Bxc6 Rc8 37. Bd7 Rc3+ 38. Kg2 Rg5+ 39. Kf1 Nd4 40.
Re4 Nf3 41. Bg4 Ne5 42. Bf5 Rc1+ 43. Re1 Rxe1+ 44. Kxe1 Kxg7 45. b4 h5 46. b5
Rg3 47. a4 Nf3+ 48. Kf1 Rg1+ 49. Ke2 Nd4+ 50. Ke3 Nb3 51. Bc2 Na5 52. Rf5 Rg3+
53. Kd4 h4 54. Rh5 Rg4+ 55. Kd5 Rc4 56. Be4 Rxa4 57. Rxh4 f5 58. Rf4 fxe4 59.
Rxe4 Rxe4 60. Kxe4 Kf6 61. Kd5 Ke7 62. Kc5 Kd7 63. b6 a6 0-1

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.26"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2676"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bf4 dxc4 6. e3 b5 7. Nxb5 Bb4+ 8.
Nd2 Nd5 9. Bg3 N7b6 10. a3 Ba5 11. Rc1 O-O 12. Nc3 Bb7 13. Nxc4 Nxc4 14. Bxc4
Nxc3 15. bxc3 Bxg2 16. Rg1 Be4 17. Qh5 Bf5 18. Ke2 Bb6 19. Be5 Bg6 20. Qg4 Qe8
21. h4 f5 22. Qf3 f4 23. exf4 Rf5 24. Kf1 Rd8 25. Bd3 Rh5 26. Bxg6 hxg6 27.
Bxg7 Qb5+ 28. c4 Qf5 29. Bf6 Rf8 30. Rg5 Rxf6 31. Rxf5 Rhxf5 32. c5 Ba5 33. Rc2
c6 34. Qxc6 Rxf4 35. Qa8+ Rf8 36. Qxa7 Bd8 37. c6 Bf6 38. c7 Bxd4 39. Qa6 Bxf2
40. Qxe6+ Kh7 41. c8=Q 1-0

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.26"]
[Round "6.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A06"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2676"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. b3 d5 3. e3 Nf6 4. Bb2 g6 5. Bb5+ Bd7 6. Bxf6 exf6 7. Bxd7+ Qxd7
8. d4 Bg7 9. Nc3 f5 10. Qd2 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Nc6 12. O-O O-O 13. Nde2 Ne7 14. Nf4
Bxc3 15. Qxc3 Rac8 16. Qb2 Qc7 17. Rac1 Qc3 18. Qa3 Qc5 19. Qb2 Qc3 20. Qb1 Rc5
21. Rfd1 Rfc8 22. Rd4 R5c6 23. h4 h5 24. g3 a6 25. a4 Kh7 26. Qa2 Kg8 27. Ne2
Qa5 28. Qb2 Qc7 29. Rd2 Rc5 30. Qf6 Rc6 31. Qg5 Kh7 32. Nd4 Rc5 33. Rcd1 Qd6
34. Kg2 Ng8 35. Qf4 Qxf4 36. exf4 Ne7 37. Re1 R8c7 38. Nf3 Nc6 39. Re8 Nb4 40.
c4 dxc4 41. bxc4 Nc6 42. Ne5 Nxe5 43. fxe5 Rc8 44. Re7 R8c7 45. Re8 Rc8 46. Re7
R8c7 47. Re8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.26"]
[Round "6.3"]
[White "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E17"]
[WhiteElo "2676"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 Qc8 8. Nc3
Bb4 9. Bd2 d6 10. d5 Nbd7 11. e4 Nc5 12. Qc2 exd5 13. Nxd5 Bxd5 14. cxd5 Bxd2
15. Nxd2 a5 16. Nf3 Re8 17. e5 dxe5 18. Nxe5 Qd8 19. d6 cxd6 20. Bxa8 dxe5 21.
Bc6 Re7 22. Rad1 Qc7 23. Bg2 g6 24. Qd2 Kg7 25. Qd8 e4 26. Qxc7 Rxc7 27. f3 Nd3
28. Re2 exf3 29. Bxf3 Nc1 30. Re5 Nxa2 31. Rb5 Nd7 32. Rbd5 Nc5 33. Rd6 Nb4 34.
Rxb6 Ncd3 35. Rd2 Rc1+ 36. Kg2 Ne1+ 37. Kf2 Ned3+ 38. Ke3 Re1+ 39. Kd4 Ne5 40.
Be2 f6 41. Rb7+ Kh6 42. Kc5 Rh1 43. Bb5 Rc1+ 44. Kb6 a4 45. Ka5 Nbc6+ 46. Kb6
Rb1 47. Kc5 Na5 48. Ra7 Nb3+ 49. Kb4 Nxd2 0-1

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.26"]
[Round "6.4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D04"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2676"]
[PlyCount "146"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 c5 4. dxc5 e6 5. b4 a5 6. c3 axb4 7. cxb4 b6 8. Bb5+
Bd7 9. Bxd7+ Nbxd7 10. a4 bxc5 11. b5 Bd6 12. Bb2 O-O 13. O-O Bc7 14. Nbd2 c4
15. Nd4 Ne5 16. Bc3 Nfd7 17. f4 Nd3 18. Nc6 Qe8 19. a5 e5 20. Kh1 exf4 21. exf4
Bxf4 22. Rxf4 Nxf4 23. Qg4 Ne6 24. Re1 d4 25. Nxd4 Nf6 26. Qg3 Qd7 27. Nf5 Qd3
28. Ne7+ Kh8 29. b6 Qxg3 30. hxg3 Nc5 31. Nxc4 Nb7 32. Bxf6 gxf6 33. Ra1 Nc5
34. Rb1 Nb7 35. Rb5 Rfe8 36. Nd5 Re1+ 37. Kh2 Ra1 38. Nc7 R8xa5 39. Nxa5 Rxa5
40. Rxa5 Nxa5 41. Ne8 Nb7 42. Kh3 f5 43. g4 fxg4+ 44. Kxg4 Kg8 45. Nf6+ Kg7 46.
Nd5 Nd6 47. Kf4 f6 48. Nc3 Kf7 49. Ne4 Nb7 50. Kf5 Ke7 51. Nxf6 Nd6+ 52. Kg5
Nf7+ 53. Kf4 Kd6 54. Nxh7 Kc6 55. Ng5 Nh6 56. Nf3 Kxb6 57. Kg5 Nf7+ 58. Kf6 Nd6
59. g4 Kc5 60. Nd2 Kd5 61. g5 Ne8+ 62. Kg6 Ke5 63. Nf3+ Kf4 64. Nd4 Nd6 65.
Ne6+ Ke5 66. Nc5 Kd5 67. Nd7 Ke6 68. Nf8+ Ke7 69. Kg7 Nf7 70. Ng6+ Ke8 71. Kg8
Nxg5 72. Ne5 Ne6 73. Nd7 Kxd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.26"]
[Round "6.5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2676"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. c4 c5 2. b3 Nf6 3. Bb2 Nc6 4. Nf3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Nc3 e5 7. e3 Nxc3 8.
Bxc3 Bd6 9. Bc4 Qe7 10. h4 h6 11. Qc2 Bd7 12. d3 O-O-O 13. O-O-O g5 14. Kb1 Kb8
15. hxg5 hxg5 16. Nd2 f5 17. g4 f4 18. Rxh8 Rxh8 19. Ne4 Bxg4 20. Rg1 Bf5 21.
Nxd6 Qxd6 22. Rxg5 Bc8 23. Kb2 Rh2 24. exf4 Nd4 25. Qd2 exf4 26. Rd5 Qf8 27. b4
b6 28. bxc5 bxc5 29. Bxd4 cxd4 30. Rb5+ Bb7 31. Bd5 Rh7 32. Qb4 Qc8 33. Rxb7+
Rxb7 34. Qxb7+ Qxb7+ 35. Bxb7 Kxb7 36. Kb3 Kb6 37. Kc4 Ka5 38. Kxd4 Kb4 39. Ke4
a5 40. d4 a4 41. d5 Ka3 42. d6 Kxa2 43. d7 a3 44. d8=Q Kb2 45. Qd4+ Kb1 46.
Qd3+ Kb2 47. Qd2+ Kb1 48. Qd1+ Kb2 49. Qe2+ Kb1 50. Kxf4 1-0

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.27"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2678"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. e3 dxc4 6. Bxc4 a6 7. O-O b5 8. Be2
Bb7 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Qxd8+ Kxd8 11. Nd2 Ke7 12. Nb3 Nbd7 13. Nxc5 Nxc5 14. f3
b4 15. Nd1 a5 16. e4 Ba6 17. Be3 Rhc8 18. Bxa6 Rxa6 19. Rc1 Rac6 20. Nf2 Nfd7
21. b3 f6 22. Rfd1 Nb7 23. Nd3 Nd6 24. Nb2 Rc3 25. Kf2 Ne5 26. Ke2 Nb5 27. Na4
Nd4+ 28. Kf1 Rxc1 29. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 30. Bxc1 Kd6 31. Be3 Nec6 32. Bf2 e5 33. Ke1
g5 34. Kd2 h5 35. Kd3 h4 36. Kc4 h3 37. gxh3 Nxf3 38. Kb5 Ncd4+ 39. Kxa5 Nc2
40. Nb6 Kc6 41. Nd5 Nd2 42. Nxf6 Kd6 43. h4 gxh4 44. Bxh4 Ke6 45. Bg5 Nb1 46.
Nd5 Nc3 47. Nxc3 bxc3 48. h4 Kf7 49. a4 Nd4 50. Kb4 Ne2 51. a5 c2 52. Bd2 Ng3
53. a6 Nxe4 54. Bc1 Nf6 55. a7 Nd5+ 56. Kc5 Nc7 57. Kc6 1-0

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.27"]
[Round "7.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B76"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2678"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 Nc6 8. Qd2
O-O 9. O-O-O d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Bd4 e5 13. Bc5 Be6 14. Ne4 Re8
15. h4 h6 16. g4 Qc7 17. g5 h5 18. Qe1 Nf4 19. Bd6 Qb6 20. Bc5 Qc7 21. c4 Bd5
22. Bd6 Qb6 23. Bc5 Qc7 24. Rh2 Bxe4 25. Bd6 Qc8 26. Qxe4 c5 27. b4 Bf8 28.
bxc5 Qa6 29. Rb2 Qa3 30. Kb1 Bxd6 31. cxd6 Rab8 32. Rb7 Red8 33. c5 Qxc5 34. d7
Nd5 35. Qxd5 Qxd5 36. Rxd5 Rxb7+ 37. Kc2 Rdxd7 38. Rxe5 Rd4 0-1

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.27"]
[Round "7.3"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A32"]
[WhiteElo "2678"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 Qa5 7. Bxf6 gxf6 8.
a3 Nc6 9. e3 h5 10. Be2 h4 11. O-O f5 12. b4 Qe5 13. Rc1 Rg8 14. c5 Bh6 15. Bf3
f4 16. Nxc6 bxc6 17. Qd4 Qxd4 18. exd4 h3 19. Rfe1 Kd8 20. Ne4 Kc7 21. Nd6 f6
22. a4 Rb8 23. b5 axb5 24. axb5 cxb5 25. Ra1 Bf8 26. Ne8+ Kd8 27. Nxf6 Rg6 28.
Ng4 Bg7 29. Ne5 Bxe5 30. Rxe5 b4 31. g3 fxg3 32. hxg3 b3 33. Rb1 Rf6 34. Be4
h2+ 35. Kg2 Rh6 36. Kh1 Rb4 37. d5 b2 38. f3 Rc4 39. Bd3 Rc3 40. Bf1 Rxf3 41.
Bg2 Rf2 42. Re3 Rxg2 0-1

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.27"]
[Round "7.4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2678"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 a6 6. O-O Ba7 7. Re1 d6 8. Bb3
h6 9. Nbd2 O-O 10. Nf1 Re8 11. Ng3 Be6 12. Ba4 b5 13. Bc2 d5 14. exd5 Qxd5 15.
Be3 Bb6 16. h3 Qd6 17. a4 b4 18. a5 Bxe3 19. fxe3 bxc3 20. bxc3 e4 21. Nxe4
Nxe4 22. dxe4 Qg3 23. Kh1 Rab8 24. Ba4 Red8 25. Qe2 Nxa5 26. Nd4 Rd6 27. Qf3
Qg5 28. Qf4 Nc4 29. Bb3 Rxd4 30. cxd4 Rxb3 31. d5 Bd7 32. Rac1 Bb5 33. h4 Qe7
34. Rc2 Rb4 35. Rec1 a5 36. Kg1 a4 37. e5 Nxe5 38. Rxc7 Qxc7 39. Rxc7 Rxf4 40.
exf4 Nc4 41. Rb7 Be8 42. Kf2 Kf8 43. g4 a3 44. Ra7 Bb5 45. Kf3 Nb6 46. d6 Ba4
47. Rb7 Bc6+ 0-1

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.28"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B84"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2723"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. f4 Be7 8. Be3
Qc7 9. Bf3 Nc6 10. g4 Nxd4 11. Qxd4 e5 12. Qd3 Nxg4 13. Nd5 Bh4+ 14. Ke2 Qc6
15. Rag1 Nxe3 16. Nxe3 g6 17. f5 Bd7 18. Rd1 O-O-O 19. c4 Qb6 20. Rd2 Bc6 21.
Qc3 Rhg8 22. b4 gxf5 23. Nxf5 Qf2+ 24. Kd1 Ba4+ 25. Kc1 Bg5 26. Bh5 Bf4 27. Ng3
Kb8 28. Bd1 Bc6 29. Bc2 f5 30. Rhd1 fxe4 31. Kb2 Bxd2 32. Rxd2 Qf3 33. b5 Qxc3+
34. Kxc3 e3 35. Re2 axb5 36. cxb5 Bxb5 37. Rxe3 Rg7 38. Kb4 Bc6 39. Bb3 Rg4+
40. Ka3 Rh4 41. Re2 Rf8 42. Bc2 e4 43. Kb2 d5 44. Kc3 Kc7 45. Kd4 e3+ 46. Kxe3
Re8+ 0-1

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.28"]
[Round "8.2"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D77"]
[WhiteElo "2723"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 dxc4 7. Na3 c5 8. dxc5
c3 9. Nb5 Na6 10. Nxc3 Nxc5 11. Be3 Nfe4 12. Nxe4 Nxe4 13. Bd4 Bf5 14. Bxg7
Qxd1 15. Rfxd1 Kxg7 16. Nd4 Nd6 17. Nxf5+ gxf5 18. Rac1 Rfc8 19. e3 Kf6 20. Kf1
a5 21. Ke2 a4 22. a3 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Ra5 24. Rc2 Rb5 25. Kd2 Ne4+ 26. Kc1 Nc5 27.
Bf1 Ra5 28. Kd1 Ne4 29. Ke1 Nd6 30. Rc7 Rd5 31. Bc4 Re5 32. Bd3 h6 33. Ke2 Rd5
34. Bc4 Ra5 35. Bd3 Ra8 36. Rc5 Rd8 37. Rd5 Rc8 38. Rd4 b5 39. Rh4 Kg7 40. g4
fxg4 41. Rxg4+ Kf6 42. Rf4+ Kg7 43. Rg4+ Kf6 44. Rf4+ Kg7 45. Rg4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.28"]
[Round "8.3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Svidler, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B86"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2723"]
[PlyCount "229"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3 Nbd7 8.
Be3 Nc5 9. f3 h5 10. Qd2 b5 11. O-O-O Bd7 12. Kb1 Qc7 13. a3 Qb7 14. Rhe1 Be7
15. Bg5 b4 16. axb4 Qxb4 17. e5 dxe5 18. Rxe5 O-O 19. Nd5 Nxb3 20. Qxb4 Bxb4
21. Nxf6+ gxf6 22. Bxf6 Kh7 23. Nxb3 Bc6 24. Rd4 Rfb8 25. Rf4 Kh6 26. Rg5 Be1
27. h4 Rg8 28. Nd4 Bd5 29. Rxg8 Rxg8 30. Bg5+ Kg6 31. Ne2 Bd2 32. Rf6+ Kg7 33.
Rh6 Bxg5 34. hxg5 e5 35. Ng3 Kf8 36. Rxh5 Ke7 37. b3 a5 38. Nf5+ Kd7 39. Ne3
Be6 40. g3 Rb8 41. Rh4 Bxb3 42. Kc1 Be6 43. Ra4 Rb5 44. Kd2 Rc5 45. c4 Ke7 46.
Kc3 Bd7 47. Ra1 a4 48. Nd5+ Kd6 49. Nb6 Bc6 50. Nxa4 Ra5 51. Kb4 Ra7 52. Rd1+
Ke7 53. Nb6 Rb7 54. Kc5 Bxf3 55. Rf1 Rc7+ 56. Kb4 Bc6 57. Rf6 Bg2 58. Kc3 Rc6
59. Rxc6 Bxc6 60. c5 Ke6 61. Kd3 Kf5 62. Nc4 e4+ 63. Kd4 Kxg5 64. Ne5 Ba4 65.
Nxf7+ Kg4 66. Kxe4 Kxg3 67. Ne5 Be8 68. Kd5 Kf4 69. Nc4 Bf7+ 70. Kd4 Be8 71.
Nb6 Bc6 72. Nd5+ Kf3 73. Ke5 Ke2 74. Kd6 Be8 75. Nc7 Ba4 76. Kd5 Kd3 77. Ne6
Kc3 78. Nd4 Kb4 79. Nc6+ Kc3 80. Ne5 Kb4 81. Kd6 Bb5 82. Nf3 Ba4 83. Nd2 Kc3
84. Ne4+ Kb4 85. Nf6 Kc4 86. Nd5 Be8 87. Nb6+ Kb5 88. Nc8 Ka6 89. Kd5 Bd7 90.
Nd6 Ka7 91. Ne4 Kb7 92. Kd6 Bc6 93. Nc3 Bh1 94. Na2 Bg2 95. Nb4 Bh1 96. Kd7 Bg2
97. Nc2 Bh1 98. Nd4 Bg2 99. Kd6 Bh1 100. Nb3 Bg2 101. Na5+ Ka6 102. Nc6 Kb7
103. Nd8+ Kc8 104. Ne6 Kb7 105. Ng5 Bh1 106. Nf7 Bg2 107. Nd8+ Kc8 108. Nc6 Kb7
109. Na5+ Ka6 110. Nc4 Kb7 111. Ne3 Bh1 112. Nf5 Bg2 113. c6+ Bxc6 114. Nd4 Ka8
115. Nxc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.28"]
[Round "8.4"]
[White "Svidler, Peter"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B15"]
[WhiteElo "2723"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6+ exf6 6. c3 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8.
Qc2 Re8+ 9. Be3 h6 10. Nf3 Bf4 11. Qe2 c5 12. dxc5 Qc7 13. O-O-O Bxe3+ 14. fxe3
Qxc5 15. Nd4 Nc6 16. Nxc6 bxc6 17. Bc4 Be6 18. Bxe6 Rxe6 19. Rd3 Rae8 20. Re1
Qc4 21. b3 Qc5 22. Kb2 Qe5 23. g3 a5 24. Rd4 c5 25. Ra4 Rd6 26. Rc1 Red8 27.
Rc2 Rd3 28. Rxa5 Qe7 29. e4 Qc7 30. Ra8 c4 31. Rxd8+ Qxd8 32. e5 fxe5 33. Qxe5
Rd1 34. Re2 Qd3 35. Qe8+ Kh7 36. Qe4+ f5 37. Qxd3 cxd3 38. Rf2 Re1 39. Rd2 g5
40. c4 Kg6 41. c5 f4 42. gxf4 g4 43. Rxd3 Re2+ 44. Kc3 Rxh2 45. c6 Rh1 46. Kc2
Rh2+ 47. Kc3 Rh1 48. Kc2 Rh2+ 49. Kc3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.29"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2863"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. a4 h6 8. Re1 O-O
9. Nbd2 Ba7 10. Nf1 Re8 11. Be3 Bxe3 12. Nxe3 Be6 13. Bxe6 Rxe6 14. b4 a5 15.
b5 Ne7 16. Qc2 Ng6 17. g3 d5 18. c4 c6 19. cxd5 cxd5 20. Rac1 Re7 21. Qb3 Rd7
22. exd5 Nxd5 23. Nc4 f6 24. d4 exd4 25. Nxd4 Nf8 26. Rcd1 Kh7 27. Nc6 Qc7 28.
N6xa5 Ng6 29. h4 Rxa5 30. Nxa5 Qxa5 31. Qd3 Nb6 32. Qb1 Rxd1 33. Rxd1 h5 34.
Rd4 Qc3 35. Rd6 Nc4 36. Rd3 Qe5 37. Rd7 b6 38. Qd1 Qf5 39. Qd3 Qh3 40. Qd1 Qf5
41. Qd3 Qe6 42. Qd1 Qf5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.29"]
[Round "9.2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B92"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2863"]
[PlyCount "152"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Bg5
Be6 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. Bg4 O-O 11. O-O Be7 12. Bxe6 fxe6 13. Qg4 Rf6 14. Rad1 Nd7
15. Ne2 Qb6 16. Nec1 Qc6 17. Qe2 a5 18. Nd3 b5 19. Nd2 Bd8 20. c3 Bb6 21. g3
Raf8 22. Kg2 R6f7 23. a3 Nf6 24. f4 exf4 25. Nxf4 Re8 26. Nh5 Bd8 27. h4 Nxh5
28. Rxf7 Nf6 29. Rxf6 Bxf6 30. Nf3 b4 31. axb4 axb4 32. cxb4 Rb8 33. Nd4 Qb7
34. Nxe6 Qxb4 35. Kh3 Re8 36. Qg4 Qxb2 37. Rxd6 Qa1 38. Qf3 Qe5 39. Qb3 Kh8 40.
Qd5 Qa1 41. e5 Qf1+ 42. Kh2 Qe2+ 43. Kh3 Bxe5 44. Rd8 Qf1+ 45. Kh2 Qf2+ 46. Qg2
Bxg3+ 47. Kh3 Qxg2+ 48. Kxg2 Rxd8 49. Nxd8 Bxh4 50. Ne6 g6 51. Nf4 Kg7 52. Kh3
Be7 53. Kg4 Bd6 54. Nd5 h5+ 55. Kg5 Ba3 56. Nc3 Bc1+ 57. Kh4 Bb2 58. Ne4 Bf6+
59. Kh3 Kf7 60. Ng3 h4 61. Ne4 Ke6 62. Kg4 Ke5 63. Nf2 Kd4 64. Kf3 Be5 65. Nh3
Bg3 66. Ng5 Ke5 67. Kg4 Bf2 68. Nh7 Ke4 69. Nf8 g5 70. Ne6 Be3 71. Nxg5+ Bxg5
72. Kh3 Kf3 73. Kh2 Bf4+ 74. Kh1 h3 75. Kg1 h2+ 76. Kh1 Kg3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.29"]
[Round "9.3"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2863"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "123"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 Be7 8. Bd3
O-O 9. Nge2 Re8 10. O-O Nh5 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. Qd2 Nd7 13. Rae1 Nf8 14. Nc1 Nf6
15. f3 Ne6 16. N1e2 b5 17. Ng3 a5 18. Qf2 Ba6 19. Nf5 Qd8 20. Ne2 c5 21. Qg3 c4
22. Bc2 Nh5 23. Qh3 g6 24. Nxh6+ Kg7 25. Nf5+ Kg8 26. Neg3 Nxg3 27. Qxg3 b4 28.
Nh6+ Kg7 29. Nxf7 Kxf7 30. Bxg6+ Ke7 31. Bxe8 Kxe8 32. e4 c3 33. Rf2 Kf7 34.
bxc3 bxc3 35. f4 dxe4 36. f5 Nf8 37. Rxe4 Rb8 38. h3 Rb1+ 39. Kh2 Qb8 40. Qxb8
Rxb8 41. Re3 Bc4 42. Rxc3 Bd5 43. Rc5 Rd8 44. Rxa5 Rd7 45. g4 Nh7 46. Kg3 Nf6
47. Rc2 Re7 48. Kh4 Be4 49. Rb2 Nd5 50. Kg5 Rd7 51. Ra6 Rc7 52. Re6 Nc3 53.
Rf6+ Kg7 54. Rg6+ Kf7 55. Kh6 Rc8 56. Rg7+ Kf8 57. Rb6 Bd5 58. Rh7 Ne4 59. Rh8+
Bg8 60. Rg6 Kf7 61. Rg7+ Kf6 62. Rhxg8 1-0

[Event "Legends of Chess Prelim"]
[Site "chess24.com INT"]
[Date "2020.07.29"]
[Round "9.4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B87"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2863"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2020.07.21"]
[EventType "tourn (rapid)"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[EventCategory "20"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 197"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.07.27"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 b5 7. Bb3 e6 8. Be3
Be7 9. Qe2 O-O 10. f3 Qc7 11. g4 Nc6 12. Nxc6 Qxc6 13. g5 Nd7 14. h4 Nc5 15. h5
Rb8 16. g6 h6 17. Nd5 exd5 18. Bxd5 Qe8 19. Bxh6 gxh6 20. Rg1 Bh4+ 21. Kd1 Qe5
22. c3 Be6 23. f4 Qxf4 24. gxf7+ Kh7 0-1

[Event "PNWCC Online blitz JP 20th"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.09.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Leiva Rodriguez, Jeammarco Giuseppe"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E16"]
[WhiteElo "2391"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[EventDate "2020.09.19"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Nbd2 O-O 7. O-O d5 8. Qc2
a5 9. b3 Na6 10. Bb2 h6 11. Rfd1 c5 12. Ne5 cxd4 13. Bxd4 Rc8 14. Qb2 Qe7 15.
a3 Bc5 16. cxd5 Bxd5 17. Bxd5 Nxd5 18. Ndf3 Bxd4 19. Qxd4 Nc5 20. Rab1 Rfd8 21.
Qg4 Nc3 22. Rxd8+ Qxd8 23. Rb2 Qf6 24. Qd4 Nb5 25. Qd2 Rd8 26. Qc1 Nxa3 27. b4
Nd7 28. Rb3 Nxe5 29. Nxe5 Qxe5 0-1

[Event "PNWCC Online blitz JP 20th"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.09.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kobo, Ori"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A06"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2449"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2020.09.19"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 c5 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. O-O Nc6 6. d4 Nf6 7. Qe2 e6 8.
Rd1 cxd4 9. exd4 Bd6 10. Nc3 O-O 11. Ne5 Bxe5 12. dxe5 Ne8 13. Bf4 Qe7 14. Rd3
f6 15. exf6 Qxf6 16. Bg3 Nd4 17. Rxd4 Qxd4 18. Qxe6+ Kh8 19. Rd1 Qf6 20. Qxd5
Qf7 21. Qxf7 Rxf7 22. f3 Nf6 23. Nb5 a6 24. Nd6 Rd7 25. Re1 Kg8 26. c4 Kf8 27.
c5 Ne8 28. Nc4 Re7 29. Rd1 Re2 30. Nb6 Ra7 31. Bb8 Rxb2 32. Bxa7 Rxa2 33. Bb8
Rc2 34. Rd8 Kf7 35. Bd6 Nf6 36. Nd7 Nd5 37. Ne5+ Ke6 38. Re8+ 1-0

[Event "PNWCC Online blitz JP 20th"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.09.19"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Dhulipalla, Bala Chandra Prasad"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A45"]
[WhiteElo "2441"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2020.09.19"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 c5 3. e3 cxd4 4. exd4 g6 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O d6 8.
Re1 b6 9. a4 Bb7 10. Nbd2 Nc6 11. c3 Rc8 12. h3 Re8 13. Bh2 Bh6 14. Bc4 e6 15.
Bd3 Ne7 16. Nc4 Rc6 17. Ne3 a6 18. Qe2 Qc8 19. Bg3 Bg7 20. Nc4 Nf5 21. Bf4 Qd8
22. Bh2 Bf8 23. Rad1 h6 24. Qd2 Rc8 25. Qe2 b5 26. axb5 axb5 27. Ne3 b4 28. Bb5
Re7 29. Ng4 Bg7 30. c4 Nxg4 31. hxg4 Bxf3 32. gxf3 Nxd4 33. Rxd4 Bxd4 34. Rd1
Qb6 35. Kg2 e5 36. Bg3 Qb7 37. Kh2 g5 38. b3 Kg7 39. Rd2 Ra8 40. Qd3 Ra3 41.
Re2 Bc5 42. Kg2 Qc8 43. Re4 Ra2 44. Re2 Rxe2 45. Qxe2 Qa8 46. Qd3 e4 47. fxe4
Qxe4+ 48. Qxe4 Rxe4 49. Kf3 Re1 50. Kg2 Kf6 0-1

[Event "PNWCC Online blitz JP 20th"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.09.19"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Vokhidov, Shamsiddin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2512"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2020.09.19"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. b3 d6 3. c4 Nc6 4. Bb2 e5 5. g3 g6 6. Bg2 Bg7 7. O-O Nge7 8. d3
O-O 9. Nc3 h6 10. Nd2 Be6 11. a3 Rc8 12. b4 Qd7 13. Nd5 Kh7 14. e3 Bh3 15. Ne4
Nxd5 16. Bxh3 Qxh3 17. cxd5 Ne7 18. Nxd6 Rcd8 19. bxc5 Nxd5 20. Qf3 e4 21. dxe4
Bxb2 22. exd5 Bxa1 23. Rxa1 b6 24. Nb7 Rde8 25. c6 Re5 26. d6 Qc8 27. d7 Qc7
28. Rd1 Rf5 29. Qe4 1-0

[Event "PNWCC Online blitz JP 20th"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.09.19"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Demchenko, Anton"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C05"]
[WhiteElo "2641"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2020.09.19"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nfd7 6. c3 Nc6 7. Be2 f6 8. exf6
Qxf6 9. Nf1 cxd4 10. cxd4 Bb4+ 11. Bd2 Bxd2+ 12. Qxd2 O-O 13. Ne3 Qh6 14. Rd1
Nf6 15. Bd3 Nh5 16. Ng4 Qxd2+ 17. Rxd2 Nf4 18. O-O Bd7 19. Nge5 Nxe5 20. Nxe5
Nxd3 21. Nxd7 Rfd8 22. Rxd3 Rxd7 23. Rc1 Kf7 24. Rdc3 Ke7 25. Rc8 Rxc8 26. Rxc8
Kd6 27. f4 Rf7 28. g3 Kd7 29. Rc3 h6 30. h4 h5 31. Kg2 a5 32. Kf3 Rf8 33. Rb3
Kc6 34. a4 Rb8 35. Rc3+ Kd6 36. Rb3 b6 37. Ke3 Rb7 38. Kd2 Kc6 39. Rc3+ Kd7 40.
Rb3 Kd6 41. Kd3 Rb8 42. Kd2 Kc6 43. Rc3+ Kd6 44. Rb3 Kc6 45. Rc3+ Kd6 46. Rb3
1/2-1/2

[Event "PNWCC Online blitz JP 20th"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.09.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Chigaev, Maksim"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2588"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "2020.09.19"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. c4 O-O 5. Nc3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. h4 h5 8. O-O
Nc6 9. Nxd5 Qxd5 10. d3 Qb5 11. a4 Qb4 12. a5 a6 13. Ng5 Bg4 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15.
Ra4 Qb5 16. f3 Bd7 17. Qc2 c5 18. Rc4 Rab8 19. Kg2 Qxa5 20. Rxc5 Qb6 21. Be3
Qxb2 22. Rc1 c6 23. Ne4 Qxc2 24. R1xc2 Rb5 25. R5c4 a5 26. Nc5 Bc8 27. Bd2 Rd8
28. Ra4 Bf5 29. Rxa5 Rxa5 30. Bxa5 Rb8 31. Bc3 Rb5 32. Bxg7 Kxg7 33. Kf2 Kf6
34. e4 Bc8 35. f4 e5 36. Ke3 Bg4 37. Na4 exf4+ 38. gxf4 Bd7 39. Nc5 Be8 40. Kd4
Rb4+ 41. Kc3 Rb1 42. Ra2 Rh1 43. e5+ Ke7 44. Ra7+ Kf8 45. e6 Re1 46. exf7 Bxf7
47. Kd4 Bd5 48. Ne4 Bxe4 49. dxe4 Rh1 50. Ke5 Rxh4 51. f5 gxf5 52. exf5 Kg8 53.
Kf6 c5 54. Rg7+ Kh8 55. Rc7 c4 56. Kg6 Rg4+ 57. Kxh5 Rg1 58. Rc8+ Kg7 59. Rxc4
Kf6 60. Kh4 Kxf5 61. Kh3 Re1 62. Ra4 Re4 63. Rxe4 Kxe4 1/2-1/2

[Event "PNWCC Online blitz JP 20th"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.09.19"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Swiercz, Dariusz"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "2649"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "2020.09.19"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 Be7 8. Qd2
a6 9. Be2 b5 10. a3 O-O 11. O-O Rb8 12. Nd1 a5 13. Nf2 b4 14. a4 Qb6 15. c3
bxc3 16. bxc3 Qb2 17. Bb5 Qxd2 18. Nxd2 cxd4 19. cxd4 Nb4 20. Rfc1 Nb6 21. Nd3
Nxd3 22. Bxd3 Bd7 23. Nb3 Bb4 24. Nc5 Rfc8 25. Nxd7 Nxd7 26. Ba6 Rc3 27. Rxc3
Bxc3 28. Rc1 Rb3 29. Bb5 Nb6 30. Kf2 h5 31. Rc2 g6 32. Ke2 Kg7 33. g3 Ra3 34.
h3 Nc4 35. Bc1 Rb3 36. Bxc4 dxc4 37. Be3 Kf8 38. g4 hxg4 39. hxg4 Ke8 40. Bd2
Bxd2 41. Kxd2 Rd3+ 42. Ke2 Rxd4 43. Ke3 Rd3+ 44. Ke4 Rg3 45. Rxc4 Rxg4 46. Kf3
Rg1 47. Rc5 Rf1+ 48. Ke3 Kd7 49. Rxa5 Re1+ 50. Kd3 Kc6 51. Ra7 g5 52. fxg5 Rxe5
53. Rxf7 Rxg5 54. Rf8 Ra5 55. Ke4 Kd6 56. Rd8+ Ke7 57. Rd4 Kf6 58. Rb4 Ke7 59.
Rd4 Rh5 60. Ke3 Rh3+ 61. Ke4 Ra3 62. Rb4 Kd6 63. Rb6+ Kc5 64. Rxe6 Rxa4+ 65.
Kf3 Rd4 66. Re4 Rxe4 67. Kxe4 1/2-1/2

[Event "PNWCC Online blitz JP 20th"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.09.19"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "He, Anthony B"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A16"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2337"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2020.09.19"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. c4 O-O 5. Nc3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. h4 h5 8. O-O
c5 9. Nxd5 Qxd5 10. d3 Nc6 11. Be3 Bd7 12. Ng5 Qe5 13. Rb1 Bg4 14. Re1 Rac8 15.
Qa4 a6 16. Qe4 Qd6 17. Qd5 Qc7 18. Qxc5 Nd4 19. Bxd4 Qxc5 20. Bxc5 Rxc5 21.
Bxb7 Rc2 22. Bf3 Bxb2 23. a4 f6 24. Bxg4 fxg5 25. Be6+ Kg7 26. Bb3 Rd2 27. Rbd1
Rxd1 28. Rxd1 gxh4 29. gxh4 Bf6 30. Bc4 Bxh4 31. f3 a5 32. Rb1 Bf6 33. Rb7 Rc8
34. e3 g5 35. Kf2 Rc5 36. Ra7 g4 37. fxg4 hxg4 38. Kg3 Rg5 39. d4 Kg6 40. Bd3+
Kf7 41. Bb5 Kg6 42. Rxa5 e5 43. Bd3+ Kg7 44. Ra7+ Kh8 45. Ra8+ Kg7 46. Ra7+ Kh8
47. d5 e4 48. Bxe4 Be5+ 49. Kh4 Bf6 50. Rf7 Rg6+ 51. Kh5 Rg5+ 52. Kh6 g3 53.
Rxf6 g2 1-0

[Event "PNWCC Online blitz JP 20th"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.09.19"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Fedoseev, Vladimir1"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A08"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2678"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2020.09.19"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 c5 4. O-O e6 5. d3 Be7 6. e4 O-O 7. e5 Ne8 8. Qe2 b5
9. h4 Nc6 10. Bf4 a5 11. a3 Ba6 12. Nbd2 b4 13. Rfe1 bxa3 14. bxa3 Rb8 15. c4
Nc7 16. Nf1 dxc4 17. dxc4 Nd5 18. Bd2 Nb6 19. Qe4 Nd4 20. Bxa5 Bxc4 21. Ne3 Bd3
22. Qg4 Nb3 23. Bxb6 Qxb6 24. Rad1 Rfd8 25. Ng5 Rd4 26. f4 c4 27. Kh2 c3 28.
Nf3 Rdd8 29. f5 exf5 30. Nxf5 Bxf5 31. Qxf5 Qg6 32. Rxd8+ Rxd8 33. Qf4 c2 34.
e6 fxe6 35. Ne5 Qf6 36. Qe3 c1=Q 37. Rxc1 Nxc1 38. Nc6 Rd1 39. Bf3 Bc5 40. Qe4
Rd2+ 41. Kh1 Qf5 42. Qxf5 exf5 0-1

[Event "PNWCC Online blitz JP 20th"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.09.19"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kovalev, Vladislav"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C08"]
[WhiteElo "2648"]
[BlackElo "2753"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2020.09.19"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. exd5 exd5 6. Bb5+ Bd7 7. Bxd7+ Qxd7
8. O-O cxd4 9. Re1+ Be7 10. Nb3 O-O 11. Ne5 Qc8 12. Nxd4 Re8 13. Qf3 Bc5 14.
Nf5 Nc6 15. Nh6+ gxh6 16. Qxf6 Qe6 17. Qxe6 Rxe6 18. Nd3 Rxe1+ 19. Nxe1 Kg7 20.
Kf1 Re8 21. Bd2 Bd4 22. Nd3 h5 23. Rd1 h4 24. c3 Bb6 25. h3 Re4 26. f3 Ra4 27.
a3 d4 28. Nb4 Ne7 29. Be1 Nf5 30. cxd4 a5 31. Nd5 Bxd4 32. Ke2 Bxb2 33. Rb1
Bxa3 34. Rxb7 Bb4 35. Nxb4 axb4 36. Bxb4 Ra2+ 37. Bd2 Kg6 38. Rb1 Nd4+ 39. Kd3
Nf5 40. Rb6+ Kg7 41. Bc3+ Kf8 42. Bf6 Ke8 43. Ke4 Ng3+ 44. Ke5 Rxg2 45. Rb8+
Kd7 46. Rd8+ Kc7 47. Rf8 Re2+ 48. Kf4 Kd6 49. Bxh4 Nh5+ 50. Kg4 Ng7 51. Rxf7
h5+ 52. Kg5 Rg2+ 53. Kh6 Ne6 54. Kxh5 Ke5 55. Bf6+ Kd5 56. h4 Rg3 57. Bg5 Ke5
58. f4+ Ke4 59. f5 Nf4+ 60. Kh6 Rg4 61. f6 Ne6 62. Re7 Kd5 63. f7 Nf8 64. Re8
Nd7 65. Rd8 1-0

[Event "PNWCC Online blitz JP 20th"]
[Site "Lichess.org INT"]
[Date "2020.09.19"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Huzman, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2753"]
[BlackElo "2562"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "2020.09.19"]
[EventType "swiss (blitz)"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "USA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2021"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2020.10.23"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 Nf6 5. c3 O-O 6. a4 Nfd7 7. h4 Nf6 8. a5
Bf5 9. Nbd2 c6 10. b4 Nbd7 11. Qb3 e5 12. e3 Bd3 13. Bb2 Ng4 14. Bh3 h5 15. c4
dxc4 16. Nxc4 Bxc4 17. Qxc4 exd4 18. Nxd4 Nde5 19. Qe2 Re8 20. O-O a6 21. Bg2
Qe7 22. Bc3 Nf6 23. Nb3 Ned7 24. Rac1 Ne4 25. Bxg7 Kxg7 26. Rc4 Ndf6 27. Qb2
Qe5 28. Qxe5 Rxe5 29. Rd1 Rae8 30. Rdd4 R5e6 31. Bxe4 Nxe4 32. Nc5 Nxc5 33.
bxc5 R8e7 34. Kg2 Re5 35. Rd3 f5 36. Kf3 Kf7 37. Ke2 Kg7 38. Rd8 Kf7 39. Kd3
Kg7 40. Kc3 Kf7 41. Kb4 Re4 42. Rcd4 Rxd4+ 43. exd4 Re2 44. Kc3 Rxf2 45. Rd7+
Kf6 46. Rxb7 Rf3+ 47. Kc4 Rxg3 48. Rb6 f4 49. d5 f3 50. Rxc6+ Kf7 51. Rc7+ Kf6
52. Kd3 f2+ 53. Ke2 Rf3 54. Kf1 g5 55. Rc8 Kg7 56. d6 g4 57. d7 g3 58. Rg8+
Kxg8 59. d8=Q+ Kh7 60. Qd7+ Kg6 61. Qc6+ Rf6 62. Qe4+ Kg7 63. c6 1-0

