528
The British Chess Magazine
12 e4?! e5 and Black is more than fine; while 11
e2 e5 12 0–0 e×d4 13 e×d4 b4 is level.
11…×d3 12 ×d3 e5 13 0–0 b4 14
f5!
A great square for the queen.
14…e×d4 15 e×d4 0–0 16 d1
16 f4 looks very nice, but after 16…c8,
with the idea of …b6, it is not clear how to
progress, e.g. 17 fe1 b6 18 ×c8 ×c8 19
e2 e7 20 d6 fe8=.
16…e8
An interesting plan to exchange White’s active
queen. 16…e8 is most natural, after which
Black seems to be fine.
17 f4 e6 18 ×e6 f×e6 19 d6
The former World Champion has a small initiative and must act quickly.
19…fd8 20 f3 ×c3!?
Maxime clarifies the position. This helps
White’s structure, but he has a strong idea in
mind. 20…a6 maintains the tension, preparing the possible doubling of rooks on the a file
in conjunction with …b6 21 e4.
21 b×c3 d5 22 dc1 b5!
A strong pawn sacrifice which was no doubt
planned in advance. White’s pieces become
tangled and also the c-file opens up for Black
as compensation.
23 a×b5 c×b5 24 ×a5 dc8 25 b4 c7
26 ab1 ac8?!
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+-+k+0
9+-trn+-zpp0
9-+-+p+-+0
9sNp+n+-+-0
9-vL-zP-+-+0
9+-zP-+P+-0
9-+-+-+PzP0
9+RtR-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
This move is quite logical, adding pressure to
the c-pawn. However, the rook was already
playing an important role on a8, tying down
the a5 knight. 26…f7 is better: 27 h4 7b6 –
heading to a4 – 28 b3 a2 29 a5 c6 with
sufficient activity.
27 h4 e5 28 d1 e×d4 29 ×d4
Once Black takes on c3, a three against two
ending arises.
29…7f6 30 h2 h6 31 b2 ×c3 32
×c3 ×c3 33 ×b5
This should be drawn, but Black must play very
accurately, especially against Killer Kramnik!
33…c2 34 b3 h7 35 db4 8c3 36
h3 a2
36…e3! is best to control e6: 37 d4 d2 38
f5 ee2.
37 d4
Kramnik proceeds by improving his knight,
pushing up his kingside pawns and exchanging a pair of rooks.
37…c1 38 e6 e1 39 f4 a7 40 h5
ae7 41 g4 1e5 42 g6 ×b5 43 ×b5
e8 44 b7
Black couldn’t really have prevented much
of what has occurred. Now the question is
whether two pawns are enough against three.
Normally, the two should be able to draw
quite easily, but here White has established his
knight on g6, so the task is more difficult.
44…d8 45 g3 g8 46 h4 h7 47
a7 g8 48 f4 h7 49 b7 e4 50 b4
e8 51 g5 d6 52 b6 f7 53 b5 e1!
Active defence.
54 f8+ g8 55 b8
g6 is coming.
55…h×g5+ 56 f×g5 h1+ 57 g3 g1+
58 f4
58 h2 wins the e×change but after 58…
×g5 59 e6+ h7 60 ×g5+ ×g5 61 b6
the second player can hold with 61…f7 62