Kramnik - Kasparov London (6th matchgame) 2000

Queen's Gambit Accepted

1. d4 d5 2 c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 e6 4 .e3 c5 5. Bxc4 a6 6. 0-0 Nf6 7. a4 Nc6 8. Qe2 cxd4 9. Rd1 Be7 10. exd4 0-0 11. Nc3



A very well known position arising from the Queen's Gambit Accepted. White's pieces are again on active "e" square, but black also has positional trumps. Earlier on white played a2-a4 to prevent Black expanding on the queenside with ... b7-b5. This has left black with an outpost on b4, which may be used by the Knight on c6.

11. ... Nd5

Black prevents Whites from playing an early d4-d5 by simply blocking the pawn. This is a theoretical position which has been assessed in various places as either equal or a slight advantage to Whites.
11.... Nb4 also preventing d4-d5 is Black's main alternative here.



12 Bb3


Whites has many other moves, including 12. Qe4 and 12. Bd3 Ncb4 13. Bb1 in the latter variation white's rook on a1 looks entombed, but white can often activate it with the imaginative Ra3.

12.... Re8 13. h4!?



Cutting edge stuff! As you may or may not know :-) h2-h4 is a common way for white to play in an attempt to soften up Black's kingside after ... g7-g6 but playing this early is a Kramnik inspired idea...

13. ... Ncb4


In his notes in Informator Kramnik gives the continuation 13. ... Bxh4 14. Nxh4 Nxc3 15. bxc3 Qxh4 16. d5 Na5 17. Bc2, when has good compensation for the pawn.

14. h5

Kramnik continues the charge. The h pawn will be pushed to h6, thus inducing Black to make some sort of permanent weakness in his kingside. This plan is quite double edged, as the pawn itself on h6 can become a weakness, as well as a thorn in Black's side.
14. ... b6 Ne5

Amore recent example is 15.Bd2 Bb7 16.h6 g6
17.Ne4 a5 18.Bc4 f6 19.Rac1 Bc6 20.b3 Qd7 21.Re1 Kh8 22.Nh2 Na2 23.Rcd1 Nab4 24.Ng4 Bd8 25.Bxb4 axb4 26.Qf3 Qf7 27.Nd6 1-0 Stefansson - Izoria European Championship Ohrid 2001
15. .. Bb7 16. a5!



16. ... b5!?

A risky decision as now White has access to the c5 square as an outpost. 16. ... bxa5? 17. B14 Rf8 18. h6 g6 19. Nd7 Re8 20. Qe5 Nf6 21. Nc5 Bc6 22. Nxe6! Is gooid for white, but 16. ...Rc8!? May be Black’s best move.

17. h6 g6 18. Ne4 Nc7?

This unforced retreat is a definite mistake. The natural 18. ... Rc8 is stronger.

19. Nc5?!

19. Bd2 Bd5 ( 19. ... Qxd4 20. Ng5, gives White a powerful attack) 20. Bxd5 Ncxd5 21. Rac1 gives Whites a clear advantage according to Kramnik.

19. ...Nc5 Bd5 20.Ra3 Nc6 21.Bxd5

21. Nxc6!? Bxc6 22. Bc2 keeps an edge according to the Slovakian GM Lubomir Ftacnick.

21. .. Qxd5 22.Ncd7 Rad8!

Kasparov shows defensive ingenuity. 22. ... Qg4 wins the pinned Knight on d4, while 22. ... f6 23. Rad3! Fxe5 24. dxe5 Qc4( or 24. ... Qa2 25. Rc3) 25. Nb6 is very good for white.

23.Nxc6 Rxd7 24.Nxe7+ Rexe7 25.Rc3 f6 26.Be3 Kf7



Black have managed to simplify but White still has control of the c5 square and the c-file, while h6 could yet prove to be either a strength or a weakness.

27.Rdc1 Qb7 28.Rc5 Nd5 29.Qf3 Nb4 30.Qe2 Rc7!?

Perhaps the match situation of being a game down persuades Kasparov to play for a win. Objectively Black should repeat with 30. ... Nd5

31.Bf4 Rxc5 32.dxc5 e5 33.Qd2!

White's passed pawn on c5 gives him the better chances.

Nc6 34.Qd5+ Kf8 35.Be3 Qd7 36.Qf3 Kf7 37.Rd1 e4 38.Qe2 Qf5 39.Rd6 Re6 40.Rd7+ Re7 41.Rd6 Re6 42.Qd1 g5?

42. ... Rxd6 Qxd6 44. Qc7+ Ne7 45. Bd4 Qd5 is equal ( kramnik)

43.Qh5+ Ke7 44.Qd1 Kf7?

44. ... Ke8! 45. Rd7 Re7 46. Rxe7+ Nxe7 47. Qd6. Qd7

45.Rd7+

now kramnik hits upon the right idea

45. ... Kg6 46.Rg7+ Kxh6 47.Qd7 Re5 48.Qf7




Now Black is in virtual zugzwang

48. ... Rd5 49.Kh1 Nd8 50.Rxh7+ Qxh7 51.Qxd5 Kg6+ 52.Kg1 Qc7 53.Qg8+ Kf5 54.Qd5+ Kg6 55.Qxe4+ Kg7 56.Qa8?
in a hurry to win the a6 pawn, Kramnik creates a problem for himself. 56. Qd5! Nc6 57. Bd4 Kg6 58. Bc3 gives white a decisive advantage.

56. ... Qd7




57.Kh2

White still retains some winning chances after 57. f3

57. ... Qd3 58.g3
Or 58. Qxa6 Qh7+ 59. Kg3 Qh4+ 60 Kf3 f5 and suddenly Black has counter play against the White King

58. ... Nf7 59.Qb7 Kg6 60.Qxa6 Ne5 61.Qa8 Ng4+ 62.Kh3 Qf5!

Kasparov counter attack is assuming dangerous position, so much to that Kramnik now decides to bail out by giving perpetual check.

63.Qg8+ Kh6 64.Qh8+ Kg6 65.Qe8+ Kh6 66.Qh8+ 1/2

Analysis by GM Amir Bagheri