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Game index
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Game 12 BGN World Championship
Kramnik,V - Kasparov,G [E55]
KK2000 London (12)
Notes by Miguel Illescas
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 c5 7.0-0 dxc4
8.Bxc4 Nbd7 9.a3 cxd4 10.axb4 dxc3 11.bxc3 Qc7 12.Be2
12…Qxc3
Kasparov takes the challenge, otherwise white may play c4.
13.Ba3
13.Bd2 was played in one correspondence game ten years ago. The
move played by Vladimir is more ambitious.
13...Nd5 14.Qb1 Qf6 15.Bd3 h6 16.b5 Rd8 17.Bb2 Qe7 18.Ra4!?
Both sides have accomplished their respective goals. Black is
keeping the pawn and keeps a healthy shield over his king. White
can be also happy: his bishops are very powerful and with his
last move he is ready to launch a dangerous attack on the
kingside.
18...Nc5 19.Bh7+ Kh8 20.Rh4?!
20.Rg4 was probably better, with good prospects for white. Some
crazy lines were possible, for example: 20.Rc4 Bd7 21.Ne5 Bxb5 22.Rh4
Bxf1 23.Rxh6 Bd3 and, in this case, it looks that black may be
winning but of course white’s play can be improved.
20...f6!
This move was necessary to prevent Rh6. Now black has some
weaknesses around his king, but Kramnik was unable to find a way
to break.
21.Rc4
After thinking a long time, white gave up with the attack. It is
not easy to find a direct approach. For example:
21.Rh3 e5 (Safer is 21...Bd7 22.Nh4 Be8 23.Ng6+ Bxg6 24.Bxg6) 22.Nh4
Qe8 23.Bg6 Qxb5 24.Bf7 Qd3;
21.Rc1 Bd7 22.Rcc4 Bxb5 23.Rcg4 Be2;
21.g4 Na4;
21.Rh5 Bd7 22.Nh4 Qd6 (22...Be8 23.Ng6+ Bxg6 24.Qxg6 Qe8) 23.e4
Be8 (23...Nf4 24.e5) 24.e5 Qb6 25.exf6 Nxf6;
21.Rg4 A) 21...f5?! 22.Rxg7 Qxg7 23.Bxg7+ Kxg7 24.Bxf5 exf5 25.Nd4
Ne4 26.Rc1; B) 21...e5!? 22.Nh4 Qc7 23.Bf5 (23.Ng6+ Kxh7 24.Nf8+
Kg8 25.Qh7+ Kxf8 26.Qh8+ Ke7 27.Rxg7+ Kd6; 23.Rg3 g5; 23.Rg6 e4)
23...Ne7 24.Bxc8 Raxc8 25.Ng6+ Nxg6 26.Qxg6 Ne6; C) 21...Bd7 22.Nh4
Be8
21...Bd7 22.Ba3 b6 23.Be4
Not 23.Rfc1 f5 24.Bg6 Qf6 and white has problems with his bishop
23...a6!
This move was underestimated by Vladimir in his previous
calculations. Now black gets the initiative. 23...Be8 24.Rfc1 Rac8
25.Nd4 offered enough compensation
24.bxa6
24.Nh4 Be8; 24.Rfc1 Bxb5 25.Bxc5 bxc5 26.Rxc5 Rab8 27.Bxd5 (27.Qa1)
24...Rxa6 25.Bxc5 bxc5 26.Rfc1 Ra5! 27.Qb2
27.Qb7? Qd6
27...Rb5
27...Qd6!?
28.Qa3 Nb6
28...Rc8!? 29.Nd4 Nb6
29.R4c3
29.Rxc5 was tempting but loses straightaway to 29...Bc6!
29...Rb4 30.Nd2! f5
Interesting was 30...Be8!? but it seems that white may answer
with 31.Rxc5! and after the sequence more or less forced 31...Ra4
32.Qb2 Rxd2 33.Qxd2 Rxe4 white is doing fine with 34.Rc7! Nd7 (34...Bd7
35.Rb1 Nd5 36.Rb8+ Kh7 37.Ra7 f5 38.Rbb7 Nf6 39.Rxd7=; 34...Qf8!?
35.Qd8 with compensation) 35.Rd1 Ra4 36.h3=
31.Bf3
31.Rxc5 was maybe enough for a draw: 31...Rxe4 32.Nxe4 fxe4 33.Qb4
Na4 34.R5c4 Qxb4 35.Rxb4
31...Na4?!
Too hasty. 31...Rc8! would make life more difficult for white.
32.Rxc5!
Now it is a forced draw
32...Rb2 33.Nc4 Qxc5
33...Rxf2?? looks interesting but in fact would be a terrible
blunder after 34.Rc8!
34.Qxc5
with complete equality.
Final Position
½-½