kvsk2000 BOOK PDF
kvsk2000 BOOK PDF
kvsk2000 BOOK PDF
2000
by Karsten Müller
1
Kasparov-Kramnik 2000
by Karsten Müller
Copyright © 2000-2006
Russell Enterprised, Inc.
Published by:
Russell Enterprises, Inc.
PO Box 5460
Milford, CT 06460 USA
info@chesscafe.com
http://www.ChessCafe.com
2
Table of Contents
Foreword 4
Game One 5
Game Two 8
Game Three 11
Game Four 16
Game Five 21
Game Six 23
Game Seven 29
Game Eight 30
Game Nine 33
Game Ten 36
Game Eleven 40
Game Twelve 44
Game Thirteen 48
Game Fourteen 50
Game Fifteen 55
3
Foreword
In the fall of 2000, World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov met challenger
Vladimir Kramnik in London in a sixteen game match in defense of his title.
Kasparov had dominated the game since winning the title in 1985 from Anatoly
Karpov. Before the match, Kasparov was favored to retain his title. Indeed, no
one could have predicted that not only would he lose his title, but that he would
do so without winning even a single game.
Hanon Russell
September 2001
4
Game One
Kasparov,Garry (2849) - Kramnik,Vladimir (2770)
BGN World Championship London (1), 08.10.2000 [C67]
A bit of a surprise, since normally the Petroff with 2...Nf6 is Kramnik’s main
weapon against 1.e4.
3.Bb5!?
Kasparov is not to be outdone and plays the Ruy Lopez instead of the Scotch. It
is apparent that both players have worked out some unusual openings strategies
for this match.
3...Nf6
The Berlin Defense is not encountered as often as the main variation with 3...a6,
but it doesn’t have a bad reputation. Initially both players follow well-known
paths to the endgame.
4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8
cuuuuuuuuC
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{0p0wDp0p}
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{$NGwDRIw}
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This is an interesting and often discussed position. White has a vital extra pawn
5
on the kingside, and Black cannot castle. In return, Black has the bishop-pair
and no easily exploitable weaknesses. Opinions about the evaluation of the
position are inconclusive. We will see if the discussion is taken up again in the
course of this match.
This is Garry’s novelty. Kramnik now responds in a way that makes it difficult
for White to achieve g4, because it can be attacked with h7-h5. 12.Rad1 a5
13.h3 b6 14.a4 Bb4 15.Ne2 Re8 16.Nf4 g6 17.g4 Ng7 18.Rd3 Ne6 19.Nxe6
Bxe6 20.Nd4 Bd7 21.Ne2 Bd6 22.f4 f5 23.exd6 Rxe2 24.dxc7 Kxc7 25.Be5+
Kc8 26.Rfd1 Be6 27.Rd6 1–0, Shirov,A-Krasenkow,M Polanica Zdroj 2000.
12...b6 13.Rad1
Kasparov has 1:13 remaining vs. 1:48 for Kramnik, which tells us who stayed
in the main line of his preparation longest. The position is a bit better for White,
but the black bishops are not easy to overcome.
Kasparov has only 39 minutes left, which indicates that he has had problems
finding a plan that would bring serious danger to his opponent. 16.Nf3!? 16
Ng5 was also possible, and takes advantage of the fact that 15...h5 has weak-
ened the g5-square.
16...c5 17.c4!?
17...a5
Kramnik wants to open the a-file for his rook with an eventual a5-a4.
18.a4
Kasparov nails down the queenside in typical fashion. Black can no longer
mobilize his pawn majority because of the doubled pawn (after ...c6 and ...b5,
White simply stays put), while at the same time Kasparov is able to get a passed
pawn on the kingside in the long run. Kasparov has 37 minutes left and strolls
across the stage looking confident, while Kramnik, who has much more time
on his clock, seems quite uncomfortable in his seat.
18...h4!?
6
Kramnik 49:00. 18...Be7?! 19.Ndf4 Nxf4 20.Nxf4 Bf5 21.Nd5 Bd8 22.Ne3±
(Fritz).
Even after 20.f4 Rh5 21.Nd5 Kb7 22.Ne3 Ne7 Black can stop f2-f4-f5.
20...Kb7 21.Ne3
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{Dk0wDp0w}
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{PDPDwDw0}
{DPDNHwDP}
{wGwDw)PD}
{DwDRDRIw}
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21...Rh5!?
Black has achieved a solid blockade; neither side can make any progress
7
Game Two
Kramnik,Vladimir (2770) - Kasparov,Garry (2849)
BGN World Championship London (2), 10.10.2000 [D85]
After the first colorless draw, the two players really got down to business.
1.d4!?
Kramnik wants to go for it. He has prepared a plan against Kasparov’s Grünfeld!
4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5 8.Be3 Qa5 9.Qd2
Bg4 10.Rb1 a6 11.Rxb7
Ivanchuk and Levin give this natural move a “?!” in Chess Informant. Kramnik
apparently sees it differently. 11.Rb3?! b5 with counterplay, as in Timman,J-
Ivanchuk,V Linares 1992 (Informant 54/42).
13.Bc4!? 0-0
8
After 15...Qxd2 16.Bxd2 Nxd4 17.Kg2, the pair of bishops gives White a
small but permanent advantage. The weak a-pawn in particular may cause Black
some headaches.
16.Bd5 Bc3
17.Qc1 Nd4
Kasparov gives up a pawn in order to get one of the white bishops off the
board, going into an endgame with opposite-colored bishops.
Kramnik wants to contest the dark squares and start a kingside attack in the
long run. 21.Qg5 allows 21...Qc3.
21...Qd8 22.Qc3
Kramnik maintains his strategy not to leave the dark squares to Kasparov’s
queen and bishop.
22...Bb8
This endgame is very unpleasant for Kasparov because the rooks are still on the
board. And, in time trouble, all problems are compounded.
34...Rd7?
Allowing the a-pawn to advance farther. But activating the rook also weakens
the h-pawn considerably.
9
38.Rb6+!? was an alternative (Fritz 6).
38...Ra2 39.Rb6+
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{wDwDB0wD}
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{DwDwDwDw}
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39...Ke7??
In time trouble Kasparov gives the game away to a two-mover. With 39...Kg7
he could have defended quite tenaciously, but White wins nevertheless as
Kramnik demonstrated.
I had found this plan as well, and published it in my Endgame Corner column
#3 at ChessCafe.com: 40.a6 Bd4 41.Rg6+ Kf8 42.Bb7 Ra5 43.Rd6 Be3
44.Rd5 normally it is not such a good winning idea to trade rooks in this kind
of endgame, but here it works because of the weak black h-pawn and White’s
far advanced a-pawn: 44...Rxd5 45.Bxd5 Kg7 (45...Ke7 46.Kh4+–) 46.Kg2
Kf6 47.h4! fixing the weak h-pawn on a dark square is very important! 47...Ba7
(47...Ke7 48.Kh3 Kd6 49.Bf7 Kc7 50.Bxh5 Kb6 51.Kg4 Kxa6 52.Bf7 Kb6
53.Kf5 Kc7 54.Ke6 Bd4 55.h5 Bg7 56.Be8 Kd8 57.Ba4 Bh6 58.Kf6 Bf8
59.Kf7 Bh6 60.Kg6 Bf8 61.h6 Bb4 62.h7 Bc3 63.Kf7+–) 48.Be4 Be3 49.Kf1
Ba7 50.Ke2 Bg1 51.Kd3 Bf2 52.Bh7 Kg7 (52...Ke5 53.Ke2 Bg1 54.Bg6+–
) 53.Bf5 Kf6 54.Ke4 Be3 55.Bh3+–.
40.Bd5 1-0
The pawn endgame after 40.Bd5 Rxa5 41.Re6+ Kd7 42.Rxe5 Kd6 43.Rxh5
Rxd5 44.Rxd5+ Kxd5 45.Kg4 is of course hopeless.
10
Game Three
Kasparov,Garry (2849) - Kramnik,Vladimir (2770)
BGN World Championship London (3), 12.10.2000 [C67]
There were two crucial questions before this game: would Kramnik once again
choose the Berlin Defense, and had Kasparov and his team succeeded in find-
ing a way to create more pressure for White in this opening. The answer to both
questions was yes. See for yourself.
Kramnik shows no fear and stays with the Berlin Defense. It served him well in
the first game.
4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8
9.Nc3 Bd7 10.b3 h6 11.Bb2 Kc8 12.Rad1!?
Deviating from game one. In the following, Kasparov puts full emphasis on the
quick development of his pieces and the pawn advance e5-e6. In the first game
he hadn’t forced the tempo and played for the mobilization of a kingside major-
ity with f2-f4-f5. But Kramnik had succeeded in setting up a firm blockade on
the squares e6-f5: 12.h3 b6 13.Rad1 Ne7 14.Ne2 Ng6 15.Ne1 h5 16.Nd3 c5
17.c4 a5 18.a4 h4 19.Nc3 Be6 20.Nd5 Kb7 21.Ne3 Rh5 22.Bc3 Re8 23.Rd2
Kc8 24.f4 Ne7 25.Nf2 Nf5 ½–½, Kasparov,G-Kramnik,V London 2000 (25).
12...b6
Kramnik’s novelty compared to 12...a5 13.h3 b6 14.a4 Bb4 15.Ne2 Re8 16.Nf4
g6 17.g4 Ng7 18.Rd3 Ne6 19.Nxe6 Bxe6 20.Nd4 Bd7 21.Ne2 Bd6 22.f4 f5
23.exd6 Rxe2 24.dxc7 Kxc7 25.Be5+ Kc8 26.Rfd1 Be6 27.Rd6 1–0,
Shirov,A-Krasenkow,M Polanica Zdroj 2000.
15...Kb7
15...Bxf3 16.gxf3 was the other principle possibility. Kramnik would have re-
linquished his bishop-pair, but White’s kingside majority would have been di-
minished in value because of the double pawns on the f-file. However, the
great activity of the white pieces makes Black’s position very uninviting.
18.Nf4
After thinking for twenty minutes, Kasparov pulls his knight from d5 back to f4
in order to support the advance e5-e6. 18.e6?! fxe6 19.Nxe7 (19.Nf4 Bxf3
20.gxf3 Nf5) 19...Bxe7 20.Rxe6 Bxf3 21.gxf3 Bd6 doesn’t get anything for
White.
18...g5
The alternative was 18...Bxf3 19.gxf3 Re8 20.e6 fxe6 21.Rxe6 Rc8 22.Rd7
g5!? (Fritz 6).
19.Nh5 Rg6
Planning to bring the rook into play with Re6, which Kasparov immediately
prevents with his next move.
20.Nf6
21...Bxf6?! looks very dubious, because the rook on g6 has problems getting
into play: 22.exf6 Ng8 23.Ree3 Nxf6? 24.Ne5 Rgg8 25.Nxc6 Kxc6 26.Bxf6+–.
12
White doubtlessly has the advantage after 25.Bxd4 cxd4 26.Rxd4 Rxf6 27.Rd7.
25.Re4 Kc8
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{wDPDRDwD}
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{PGwDw)P)}
{DwDwDwIw}
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26.f4!?
Kasparov now tries to create more weaknesses on the kingside by bringing his
pawn majority and space advantage into play.
26...gxf4
27.Rxf4 Re8
Kramnik prefers to activate his second rook instead of going on a pawn hunt.
Naturally, 27...Nb4 is Fritz’s preference.
This decision costs Kasparov plenty of time. Is the rook good on h3, since it
pressures h6 and makes it easier to mobilize the kingside; or is it bad because
the rook is missing on the central files? Whatever the answer, Kasparov pro-
ceeds with full risk.
30...a5
30...Nd4 31.Bd2; 30...Ne5 31.Rf5 in both cases White has a permanent initia-
tive on the kingside.
31.Rh5!? a4 32.bxa4
All or nothing!
13
34...Rxh6!? 35.Bxh6 c4 also looks very plausible, although I am unable to
work out the pawn races in the short time I have for this commentary.
35.Rh7 Rxa2
Kramnik also has a word to say; he too holds strong trumps in his hand. How-
ever, the white f-pawn is extremely dangerous because it is so far advanced.
35...Nd8 (Fritz 6) seems to be very passive.
36.Rxf7 Ne5!
39.Re7
The last few moves had to be played quickly, and especially Kramnik had just
a few minutes on his clock. The first time control is reached at move 40. The
next moves are forced for both sides.
14
Kasparov is still trying to breathe life into the position, but Kramnik’s counterplay
is enough for the draw.
47.Kh2 Ke5 48.h4 Ke4 49.h5 Ra6 50.Bg1 Kd3 51.Rd7+ Ke2 52.Re7+ Kd3=
(Kramnik).
47...Ra6!
After 47...c2?! 48.Kh2 the black pieces are very awkwardly placed.
The rook ending is a theoretical draw in spite of the black king being cutoff.
Kasparov decides to test Kramnik’s technique for just a few more moves.
Naturally not 52...Rf5?? 53.Rxf5 Kxf5 54.Kf3!+– and mate in 23 (Fritz 6).
After 53...Ke5 54.Kf3, trading down to a pawn ending would be a safe possi-
bility: 54...Rf5+ 55.Rxf5+ Kxf5 56.Kg3 Kg5!=.
15
Game Four
Kramnik,Vladimir (2770) - Kasparov,Garry (2849)
BGN World Championship London, (4) 13.10.2000 [D27]
1.d4 d5
Kasparov refrains from playing the Grünfeld Defense, with which he lost the
second game of the match. This is also an indication that he was not able to
improve that variation.
7...Qxd1 8.Rxd1
11.Nc4 Bb7 12.b3 0-0 13.Bb2 Bd5 14.Rac1 Rfc8 15.Nfe5 b5 16.Nxd7 Nxd7
17.Nd2 Bb4 18.Nb1 Nb6 19.f3 Rxc1 20.Rxc1 Rc8 21.Rxc8+ Nxc8 22.Ba3
Bxa3 23.Nxa3 b4 24.Nc2 a5 25.Ba6 Nb6 26.e4 Bc6 27.Kf2 ½–½, Kramnik,V-
Lautier,J Monte Carlo 1997 CBM 57 ext (27).
16
16...Ne5
16...e5?! 17.Nf5 Rc2 18.Nxe7 Kxe7 19.Bd3 Rc6 (19...Rxb2 20.Nc4 Rb4
21.Bd2 Ra4 22.a3 Ke6 23.Ne3 Nc5 24.Bc2 Rd4 25.Nf5±) 20.Nc4±.
After 21...Rc2, White wins the exchange by 22.Bd4 Nfd7 23.Bc3 Bxh4 24.Nd4.
22.g5 hxg5 23.hxg5 Nfd7 24.f4 Ng6 25.Nf3 Rc2? 26.Bxa6! Bxa6
28...Rxa2?? 29.Ra8++–.
After 30...Bc6? 31.Nbd4 Bxf3 32.Nxf3, the attacked knight on g6 has no re-
treat square because 32...Nh8 33.Ra8+ loses. 30...Nh8?! 31.Ra8+ Be8 32.Bxb6
results in a hopeless position with a pawn less.
31.Nfd4
After 31.Bd4, Black can fight as well: 31...Bc6! 32.Rc7 Bxf3 33.Rc8+
Bd8.
37.Ra8
After 38...Nf4 39.Nd2 Rd1 40.Nc4!, Kramnik proves that White is winning,
with deep analysis in New in Chess Magazine 1/2001.
17
39.Ke2 Rh1
41...Ke7 42.Nxe8
42.Rxe8+? Kd7 43.Rf8 Kxc7 44.Rxf7+ Kd6 45.Rxg7 Bf6 46.Rf7 Bg5
(Kramnik) and Black is still fighting.
18
51...Kb7 52.Rxf5 Be3! 53.Bxe3
53...Rxe3 54.Rxf7?
54.Nd5 (Kramnik) was necessary to protect the a-pawn with the knight from
behind.
54...Re5?
55.a6+?
Kramnik just has to win having a piece and a pawn to his advantage, doesn’t
he?
59.Kb2?
19
61.Kb4 Rxc7 62.Rxc7 Kxc7 63.Kc5 Kb8=.
61...Kxa7
The endgame with rook + knight against the rook is nearly always a draw.
62.Kb4 Kb6 63.Nd5+ Ka6! 64.Rg6+ Kb7 65.Kb5 Rc1 66.Rg2 Kc8
67.Rg7 Kd8 68.Nf6 Rc7 69.Rg5
20
Game Five
Kasparov,Garry (2849) - Kramnik,Vladimir (2770)
BGN World Championship (5) London, 15.10.2000 [A34]
After his miracle escape yesterday, Kasparov again had the serve today.
1.c4!?
Obviously, Kasparov hasn’t yet found a remedy for the Berlin Defense.
6...Nc7 7.d3 e5 8.0-0 Be7 9.Nd2 Bd7 10.Nc4 0-0 11.Bxc6 Bxc6 12.Nxe5
Be8 is unclear, but with compensation for the pawn, as in Piket,J-Kasparov,G
Kasparov Chess Grand Prix 2000.
8...Nb6
8...0-0!? 9.Qc4 (9.Qb5 Qb6! 10.Qxb6 Nxb6 11.d3 c4 12.dxc4 Nxc4 unclear
Ljubojevic,L-Ivanchuk,V Monaco blindfold 1993.) 9...Nxc3 10.dxc3 b6
11.Ng5 Qc7= Hertneck,G-Miles,A Dortmund 1986. (11...Bb7? 12.Ne6!+–
Uhlmann,W-Suetin,A Halle 1981.)
9.Qb5
9.Qh4 0-0 (9...c4!?; 9...h6!?) 10.d3 f6 11.Bh6 with a slight advantage for White,
as in Krasenkow,M-Brynell,S Malmoe 1995. See CBM #48 for commentary
by GM Ribli.
9...Nd7
21
11...a6?! 12.Qc4 b5 13.Qh4 f6?! 14.Ne4! with an initiative for White, as in
Schoenfeld,F-Schosse,T Germany 1994.
12.Bxd4
12...cxd4 13.Ne4
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{0pDn0pgp}
{wDwDwDpD}
{DQDwDwDw}
{wDw0NDwD}
{DwDPDN)w}
{P)wDP)B)}
{$wDwDRIw}
vllllllllV
13...Qb6!?
24...e5 ½–½
The two bishops are not inferior to the knights in spite of the somewhat closed
position. Kramnik has sufficient options: f5-e4, Bg7-h6, Bc8-g4, and Rd5-
b5.
22
Game Six
Kramnik,Vladimir (2770) - Kasparov,Garry (2849)
BGN World Championship (6) London, 17.10.2000 [D27]
While the fifth game was somewhat colorless, this time a ferocious battle again
took place.
Once more Kasparov resorts to the less ambitious Queen’s Gambit Accepted.
3.Nf3 e6
4.e3
7...Nc6 8.Qe2 cxd4 9.Rd1 Be7 10.exd4 0-0 11.Nc3 Nd5 12.Bb3
Re8 13.h4!?
A new move. 13.Ne5?! Nxc3 14.bxc3 Nxe5 15.dxe5 Qc7 16.Rd3 Bd7 17.Rh3
g6 18.Bh6 b5? (18...Red8 Naumkin,I-Sadler,M Oostende 1992 is better.)
19.Qd2 f5 20.Bg7+– Müller,K-Sadler,M Altensteig 1992.; 13.Bd2 Bf6 14.Qe4
Ncb4 15.Ne5 b6 16.Qf3 Bb7 17.Ne4 Qe7 18.Rac1 Rac8 19.Qe2 a5=
Gelfand,B-Ivanchuk,V Monaco 2000.
13...Ncb4
16...bxa5?! 17.Ba4 Rf8 18.Nd7 Re8 19.Nc5 Bc6 20.Bxc6 Nxc6 21.Nxe6.
23
19.Nc5 Bd5
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{pDwDpDp)}
{)pHbHwDw}
{whw)wDwD}
{DBDwDwDw}
{w)wDQ)PD}
{$wGRDwIw}
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20.Ra3!?
23.Nxc6
23.Nb6?? Nxd4–+.
23...Rxd7
23...Qxc6? 24.Qe5 f6 25.Nxf6+ Bxf6 26.Qxf6 Qd7 and White has a pawn to
his advantage (Schulz).
32.dxc5
A small success for White. He gets rid of his isolated pawn on d4, which has
now become a protected passed pawn.
24
32...e5 33.Qd2 Nc6
42.Rd7+ Re7 43.Rd6 would have drawn by the repetition of moves. But
Kramnik wants more.
42...g5?
43.Qh5+?
43...Ke7
43...Kf8 44.g4 Qe5 45.Bf4? Rxd6! 46.Bxe5 Rd1+ 47.Kg2?! Nxe5 48.Qh3
Nf3 49.Qg3 Rg1+ 50.Kh3 Rxg3+–+ (Schulz); 43...Qg6? 44.Qxg6+ hxg6
(44...Kxg6 45.Rxe6+–) 45.Rxe6 Kxe6 46.h7+–.
44.Qd1 Kf7?
45.Rd7+
Kasparov buries his head, while Kramnik looked nervous when making his
move. The analysts in the London Chess Center thought that Kasparov was in
serious trouble.
45...Kg6!
25
46.Rg7+ Kxh6 47.Qd7
49.Kh1!!
49...Nd8
50.Rxh7+
26
cuuuuuuuuC
{wDwhwDwD}
{Dw1wDwiw}
{pDwDw0wD}
{)p)wDw0w}
{wDwDQDwD}
{DwDwGwDw}
{w)wDw)PD}
{DwDwDwIw}
56.Qa8? vllllllllV
56.Bd4!? Nc6 (56...Qxa5? 57.Qe7+ Nf7 58.c6+–) 57.Bc3 Qd7 58.f3±; 56.b4!?.
56...Qd7
56...Qxa5!? 57.b4 Qa1+ 58.Kh2 Nf7 59.c6 Qb1 60.Qc8 Qxb4 61.c7±.
57.Kh2
57...Qd3! 58.g3
58.Qxa6?! Qh7+ 59.Kg3 Qh4+ 60.Kf3 Qh5+ 61.Ke4 Qg6+ 62.Kd4 Qc2 63.b3
Qxb3 64.Ke4 f5+ 65.Kxf5 Qd5+ 66.Kg4 Qxg2+= (Schulz).
60...Ne5
27
In a worse position Kasparov tries to maximize the confusion. Kramnik has to
watch out not to allow a draw by move repetition or even fall into a mating trap.
61.Qa8
63.Qg8+
63.Kg2 Nxe3+ 64.fxe3 Qc2+ and now not 65.Kh3?? g4+ 66.Kh4 Qh2+
67.Kxg4 Qh5+ 68.Kf4 Qf5#.
28
Game Seven
Kasparov,Garry (2849) - Kramnik,Vladimir (2770)
BGN World Championship London (7), 19.10.2000 [A32]
What’s wrong with Kasparov? Tactical reasoning would seem to dictate that he
would have to play aggressively today, doing everything possible to win and
equalize the score. But for reasons that are a complete mystery to me, he
decided to go for a quick draw.
This move, to exploit the dark square weaknesses on the queenside with Be3,
is not in my database. Normally the continuations are: 11.Ne4?! Nxe4 12.Bxe4
g6 13.Be3 f5 14.Bg2 Bg7, which brought White nothing in Sapis,W-Ivanchuk,V
Lvov 1988. And 11.b3 Rd8 12.Qc2 Be7 13.Bb2 00 14.Rad1 with a draw in
Ribli,Z-Ljubojevic,L Linares 1981. I can’t explain why Kasparov offered a draw
with 11.Na4.
29
Game Eight
Kramnik,Vladimir (2770) - Kasparov,Garry (2849)
BGN World Championship London (8), 21.10.2000 [E32]
After the quick draw in the 7th game, Kasparov today switched into a higher
gear. For the first time in this match he was able gain the initiative with black
and actually put pressure on Kramnik.
1.d4 Nf6!?
2.c4 e6
No, Kasparov has prepared a surprise. We are going to see either a Nimzo-
Indian, a Queen’s Indian, or a Queen’s Gambit.
3.Nc3 Bb4!?
So Nimzo-Indian it is. Both players follow a blitz game they played in Moscow
in 1998, with colors reversed.
4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 b6 7.Bg5 Bb7 8.f3 h6 9.Bh4 d5 10.e3
Nbd7 11.cxd5 Nxd5 12.Bxd8 Nxc3 13.Bh4
16.e4
cuuuuuuuuC
{rDw4wDkD}
{0bDnDp0w}
{w0wDpDw0}
{DB0nDwDw}
{wDw)PDwD}
{)wDwDPDw}
{w)wDwGP)}
{$wDwIwHR}
vllllllllV
30
This is as far as the blitz game mentioned above goes. Now comes a novelty
from Kasparov. 16.Ne2 cxd4 17.Nxd4 Nc5 18.00 Nc7 19.Bc4+/= Topalov,V-
Kramnik,V Monte Carlo 1998.
16...Nc7!?N
This pawn sacrifice for activity is vintage Kasparov. It suits his style and also
removes the bishop-pair. 16...Ne7 17.Ne2 Bc6?! (17...cxd4 18.Nxd4 a6 19.Be2
Nc5 20.b4 Na4 21.00 e5 22.Nb3 Nc3 23.Rfe1 Nxe2+ 24.Rxe2 Rd6 25.Rd2
½-½, Anand,V-Karpov,A Monte Carlo 1999 CBM 69 ext (25)) 18.Ba6+/= 1–0
Kasparov,G-Kramnik,V Moscow 1998 CBM 67 ext (61).
After 24.Rad1 Rxb2 25.Rd7 Rc8, I don’t think White has enough compensa-
tion; for instance, 26.Na4? (and 26.Bd4?? Rxg2+ 27.Kh1 Rg4+–+) 26...Rc2
27.Nxb6 Rf8 28.a4 Ba6–+ are not playable. 24.Bxb6?? Rxg2+ 25.Kh1 Rg6+
26.Ne4 Bxe4+ 27.Rf3 Bxf3#.
31
24...Rf8 25.Ra2
After this White can sacrifice a pawn and force the exchange of rooks. 35...Kg6!?
36.Ke2 (36.Be3 Rd5) 36...Rb3 37.Be3 Kf6, I am not sure whether Black can
win the position or not, but keeping rooks on the board would have given him
better practical chances than the game continuation.
White’s position is impregnable. 38.Be5 Kg6 39.Bc7 Kf5 40.Kd4 Kg4 41.Ke3
Bd5 42.Bd6 Kh3 43.Kf2=. Opposite-colored bishop endings are notorious
for their drawing tendencies.
32
Game Nine
Kasparov,Garry (2849) - Kramnik,Vladimir (2770)
BGN World Championship London (9), 22.10.2000 [C67]
After having gotten little out of two attempts with 1.c4, Kasparov returns to his
main weapon. Apparently his team believes they have found something against
Kramnik’s Berlin Defense.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6
7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Nc3 h6!?
cuuuuuuuuC
{rDbiwgw4}
{0p0wDp0w}
{wDpDwDw0}
{DwDw)nDw}
{wDwDwDwD}
{DwHwDNDw}
{P)PDw)P)}
{$wGwDRIw}
vllllllllV
In the previous games Kramnik twice played 9...Bd7. If Kasparov has pre-
pared this variation it doesn’t achieve its goal. Probably Kramnik planned it to
avoid Kasparov’s preparation. In the third game he came under considerable
pressure after 9...Bd7.
10.Rd1+ Ke8
Now it is too late for 10...Bd7?? 11.g4 Ne7 12.e6 fxe6 13.Ne5+–.
11.h3 a5 12.Bf4
12.b3 Bb4 13.Bb2 Bxc3 14.Bxc3 c5 15.Rd2 b6 16.Rad1 Be6 17.a4 Ne7
18.Ne1 g5 19.f3 Nc6 20.Kf2 Ke7 21.Bb2 Rhd8 22.c4 Rxd2+ 23.Rxd2 Bf5
0–1, Fritz5-Anand,V Frankfurt 1998 (93).
12...Be6 13.g4!?
This time Kasparov takes energetic steps against the blockade on e6 and f5,
which led to a draw in the first game.
33
15...h5 16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.c4 Nb6 18.b3 hxg4 19.hxg4 a4 20.Kg2 Be7 21.Nc3+/
= or +/– 1–0, Galkin,A-Yarovik,Y Novgorod 1999 (40).
Restricts the knight on b6 and puts the pawns on the light squares. But Black
gets counterplay on the a-file by playing a5-a4. 18.Bg3 a4 (18...Nxc4? 19.Rdc1
b5 20.b3 Ba3 21.bxc4±) 19.Rac1 Kf7 20.h4 h5 21.gxh5 Rxh5 22.Kg2 Rah8
½-½, Vuckovic,B-Sakaev,K Herceg Novi 2000 (63).
18...a4!
Black can now open the a-file for his rook at any time by playing axb3. The
same doesn’t apply to White.
Kasparov regroups: the bishop vacates the f4-square for the knight. The imme-
diate 20.Nf4? is not possible because of 20...Bd4, with a double attack on the
a1-rook and the e5-pawn.
20...Rhd8 21.Rxd8
Now after 21.Nf4? Rxd1+ 22.Rxd1 axb3 23.axb3 Ra3 24.Rb1, Fritz6 tells us
24...Nxc4 25.bxc4 Rxc3 26.Rxb7 Bb6 27.Kg2 Rxc4–/+ is possible.
21...Rxd8 22.Kg2
22...Rd3 23.Rc1
cuuuuuuuuC
{wDwDwDwD}
{Dp0wDk0w}
{whpDpDw0}
{Dwgw)wDw}
{pDPDwDPD}
{DPGrDwDP}
{PDwDN)KD}
{Dw$wDwDw}
vllllllllV
23...g5
34
Kramnik prevents Nf4 and secures his active rook on d3.
This mobilizes the somewhat unhappily posted knight on b6, to increase the
pressure on White’s queenside.
26.Ra2 Be7
The powerful threat is b3-b4. Less effective is the immediate 28.b4 because of
28...Ne4 29.Ba1 Bxb4 30.Rxb7 Ba5=.
After 30...Rxc3 31.Nb3 Rxc4 (31...Ke8 32.Na5 Bc5=) 32.Rxc7 Ke8 33.Na5
Rc2+=, the position should be about equal.
35
Game Ten
Kramnik,Vladimir (2770) - Kasparov,Garry (2849)
BGN World Championship London (10), 24.10.2000 [E54]
The match is approaching its final phase and every game increases the pressure
on the two opponents. At the moment it looks as though Kramnik has the better
nerves.
After the promising turn of events in game 8, it is not surprising that Kasparov
once again goes for the Nimzo-Indian.
4.e3!?
Kramnik avoids 4.Qc2, which did not turn out so well in the eighth game. It is
very impressive how his team has been able to prepare for the opening duels so
far.
This position is reached in most games that White plays the Rubinstein Varia-
tion with 4.e3.
7...cxd4
The position is similar to the games in which Kasparov played the Queen’s
Gambit Accepted (games 4 and 6). White has an isolated pawn on d4, but also
better development potential for his pieces.
Here Kramnik thought for a long time on how he should proceed. 12...Bxc3?!
13.Rxc3 Qb8 14.Ne5! Nxe5?! 15.Rxe5 Ne4? 16.Qg4± Kumaran,D-Hellsten,J
Copenhagen KS, 1996 1-0 (28), after 16...Nxc3, White wins with 17.Bf6 g6
18.Qg5+–.
13.Qb3!?
36
This not only attacks the bishop on b4, Black must also reckon with the perma-
nent threat of Bxe6. Also playable is 13.Bb3, 13.Qe2, or 13.Bd3 Re8 14.Qe2
Bxc3 15.bxc3 Qc7 16.Bh4 Qd6!?= Gulko,B-Short,N New-York (m/4) 1994
½-½, (34).
13...Be7
14.Bxf6!?
This surprising move is based on tactical motifs like Nb5-d6 and a possible
sacrifice on e6.
14...Nxf6
14...Bxf6 15.Nb5 Ra8 16.Ne5 (16.Nd6 Bxf3 17.Qxf3 with the idea 17...Bxd4
18.Nxf7) 16...Nxe5 17.dxe5 Bg5 18.Rcd1+/=; 14...gxf6?! 15.d5+/= 1–0,
Nielsen,P-Hellsten,J Gistrup 1996 (53).
15.Bxe6
cuuuuuuuuC
{wDr1w4kD}
{0bDwgp0p}
{w0wDBhwD}
{DwDwDwDw}
{wDw)wDwD}
{DQHwDNDw}
{P)wDw)P)}
{Dw$w$wIw}
vllllllllV
15...fxe6?
15...Rc7! (Kasparov) was called for, when matters are far from clear; for
instance, 16.Ng5 Qxd4.
16.Qxe6+ Kh8
17.Qxe7
37
In CBM 55, Kanstler gives White a clear edge in this position.
17...Bxf3 18.gxf3
18.Qxd8 Rcxd8 19.gxf3 Rxd4 20.Re7 with a minimal advantage for White in
the endgame.
18...Qxd4 19.Nb5!
The knight now penetrates into Black’s position with tempo via d6. 19.Qxa7?
Ng4! 20.Ne4 (20.fxg4?? Qxf2+ 21.Kh1 Qf3+ 22.Kg1 Qxg4+ 23.Kh1 Rf2
24.Qb7 Rcf8 with the unstoppable threat 25…Rxh2+ 26.Kxh2 Rf2+ 27.Kh1
Qh3+ 28.Kg1 Qh2#) 20...Ne5.
19...Qxb2?
Kasparov has used up almost ¾ of his time. Nigel Short, who challenged
Kasparov in 1993 in London, said that Black was already completely lost.
19...Qf4 20.Rxc8 Rxc8 21.Nd6 Qxf3? (21...Ra8 22.Ne8 Nxe8 (22...Nh5!?
Langrock) 23.Qxe8+ Qf8 24.Qxf8+ Rxf8 25.Re7±) 22.Nxc8 Qg4+ 23.Kf1
Qh3+ 24.Ke2 Qxc8 25.Kd2 h5 26.Rg1 Ng4 27.h3 Qf5 28.Qd8+ Kh7 29.Qd3
Qxd3+ 30.Kxd3 Nxf2+ 31.Ke3 Nxh3 32.Rg3 1–0, Hazai,L-Danielsen,H Valby
1994.; 19...Qd3!? (Kramnik).
20.Rxc8
20...Rxc8 21.Nd6!
21...Rb8?
38
cuuuuuuuuC
{w4wDwDkD}
{0wDwDN0p}
{w0wDQhwD}
{DwDwDwDw}
{wDwDwDwD}
{DwDwDPDw}
{P1wDw)w)}
{DwDw$wIw}
vllllllllV
23...Rf8?!
23...h5 24.Ng5+ Kh8 25.Qf5+– Fritz6. The attack is based on ideas like Re6xf6,
Re7 and Qg6, and cannot be stopped, since the white king has a safe spot on
g2. For instance: 25...Qxa2 26.Re7 Qa3 27.Rf7 Kg8 28.h4 Rf8 29.Rxf6 Rxf6
30.Qh7+ Kf8 31.Qh8+ Ke7 32.Qxg7+ Ke8 33.Qxf6+–; 23...Re8? 24.Nh6+
Kh8 (24...Kf8 25.Qf7#) 25.Qg8+ Rxg8 26.Nf7#; 23...h6 24.Nxh6+ Kh7
25.Qh3 Re8 26.Nf5+ Kg8 27.Ne7+ Kf8 28.Qe6 g5 29.Re5 (Schulz).
39
Game Eleven
Kasparov,Garry (2849) - Kramnik,Vladimir (2770)
BGN World Championship London (11), 26.10.2000 [C78]
Things are slowly becoming really uncomfortable for Garry Kasparov. With
just six games to go and a 6-4 lead for the challenger, he really needed to win
with white today. But once again Kramnik was able to swap queens early and
defend well in the endgame.
Kasparov stays with the Ruy Lopez. Apparently he has found a way to pen-
etrate the Berlin Wall.
3...a6!?
Kramnik does not want a renewed discussion of the Berlin Defense (with
3...Nf6). Instead, he surprises Kasparov with the Archangelsk Variation, which
is often used by Shirov. Kasparov may have been able to use his preparation for
the match against Shirov, which never came about.
6...Be7 7.Re1 0-0 8.c3 d6 9.h3 leads to the main line of the Closed Ruy Lopez.
14.Ng4 dxe4 15.Nxf6+ Qxf6 16.dxe4 Rd8 17.Qc2 Qg6 18.Be3 Bxe3 19.fxe3
b4 20.Nd5!+/= (Wedberg in CBM 64) Ivanchuk,V-Anand,V Monaco rapid 1995
EXP 46 (36).
14...dxe4
40
The start of a long, forced line in which Kasparov ends up with a rook and two
pawns against two bishops. After 17.Nd5, Shirov played 17...Bxf2+ 18.Kxf2
Nxe4+ 19.Kg1 Nxg5 and got a slightly worse endgame that he was able to
hold. 20.Nd7 Rd8 21.Nxc7 Kh8 22.Nxa8 Rxa8 23.Rd4 Ra1+ 24.Kf2 Rb1
25.Rxb4 Rxb2+ 26.Ke3 h5 27.h4 Ne6 28.g3 Rg2 29.Kf3 Rb2 30.Ke3 Rg2
31.Kf3 Rb2 32.Ke3 ½-½, Topalov,V-Shirov,A Monte Carlo 1997 CBM 57 ext
(32).
Kramnik had probably prepared this novelty, which makes White’s expansion
on the kingside more difficult. 21...Bc6 22.Kf2 Ke7 23.Ra1 Be5! 24.Ke3
Bd7 25.Rc1 Bxh2!= (Malaniuk in Informant 65) Kupreichik,V-Malaniuk,V
Muenster 1995.
22.h4
22...Ke7
23.Kf2 Bb7
41
24.c4
Kasparov uses a typical strategy. The pawn chains b3-c4 and g2-e4 make it
difficult for Black to attack the three weak pawns b3, g2, and h4.
White plans Ke3 and f4 to win the pawn on h5, which is energetically opposed
by Kramnik.
27...c5!? 28.Ke3
Kramnik wants to exchange pawns to open the position for his bishops and get
safe squares for them. Additionally, the white pawn chains will be dissolved
and it becomes easier to attack them.
30.b4
After 30.e5?!, Black has 30...Bd7 31.b4 (31.f4?! Bc6 32.Ra2 Be4+ looks com-
fortable from White’s point of view.) 31...Bxe5 32.Rxc5?! Bd6.
33.c6
cuuuuuuuuC
{wDwDwDwD}
{DwDwipDw}
{wDPDbDwD}
{$wDwDwDp}
{wDPDKDwg}
{DwDwDPDw}
{wDwDwDPD}
{DwDwDwDw}
vllllllllV
33...Kd6!
Wins the pawn on c6, after which Black is no longer in serious danger, because
42
the endgame rook against bishop without pawns is usually a draw. So he can
always sacrifice the second bishop against the last white pawn.
37.Ke5?? Bd6+–+.
37...f6
37...Be7!? was also a real possibility, to allow ...Kc5 and tie down the white
pieces to the defense of the c4-pawn.
38.Rh2
Kasparov activates his rook in order to win the f6-pawn. But there is too little
material left.
38...Bxc4 39.Rh6
Is the match over, or can Kasparov still turn it around? He has five more games,
and Kramnik certainly doesn’t tend to lose easily these days.
43
Game Twelve
Kramnik,Vladimir (2770) - Kasparov,Garry (2849)
BGN World Championship London (12), 28.10.2000 [E55]
Five rounds before the end the question naturally is whether Kramnik will try
to draw the remaining three white games, hoping not to lose both his black
games, or whether he is ready to take a higher risk and try to decide the match
at an earlier stage. To the delight of the public he decided to attack.
Kasparov still seems to have more faith in the Nimzo-Indian than in his usual
Grünfeld.
Now Kasparov deviates from the disastrous course of events in game ten, where
he played 7...cxd4.
Kasparov takes up the challenge and captures the pawn on c3, in spite of the
fact that it leaves him behind in development and opens the position for the
white bishops. 12...e5 13.c4 b6 14.Bb2 Bb7 15.Qb3 Rfe8 16.Rfd1+/= ½-½,
Garcia Gonzales,G-Balashov,Y Leningrad 1977 MCL 06 (95).
13.Ba3!?
In order to play b4-b5 and control the important squares c5 (possible outpost
for a black knight), d6 (weak square in the black camp) and significantly also
f8 (possible retreat square for the king).
13...Nd5!?
After a long think, Kasparov decides to open a retreat for his queen on f6,
centralizing the knight in the process.
44
After 15...g6?!, the black squares become quite weak, which is exacerbated by
the fact that Black no longer has a dark-squared bishop.
All or nothing; Kramnik rejects 18.Ba3 Qf6 (18...Qe8 is also possible, but the
black position seems somewhat cramped after this) 19.Bb2 with a possible
move repetition.
20...f6!
With a cold-blooded defense! 20...Nf6? was bad, in view of 21.Bxf6 Qxf6 22.Rf4
Qe7 23.Ne5 Rf8 24.Rxf7+–.
21.Rc4
Kramnik turns down the heat for fear his rook may get stuck offside. From now
on the point is to try to neutralize Kasparov’s extra pawn.
21...Bd7 22.Ba3
45
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{rDw4wDwi}
{DwDb1w0w}
{p0wDp0w0}
{DPhnDwDw}
{wDRDBDwD}
{GwDw)NDw}
{wDwDw)P)}
{DQDwDRIw}
vllllllllV
Kasparov gets rid of the backward a-pawn and opens the a-file. Does he have
real winning chances?
24.bxa6?
Brings the d-rook into the game and increases the pressure against the pawn on
c5. 26.Qb7? would have put the queen offside: 26...Rb6 27.Qa7 (27.Nh4 Qe8
28.Ng6+ Kg8 29.Qa7 Ra8 30.Ne7+ Kf7–+) 27...Bb5 28.Qxe7 Nxe7–+.
A pretty trick.
29.R4c3
29...Rb4
30.Nd2 f5?!
31.Bf3?!
46
cuuuuuuuuC
{wDw4wDwi}
{DwDb1w0w}
{whwDpDw0}
{Dw0wDpDw}
{w4wDwDwD}
{!w$w)BDw}
{wDwHw)P)}
{Dw$wDwIw}
vllllllllV
31.Rxc5!? Rxe4 32.Nxe4 fxe4 33.Qb4 Nd5 34.Qxe4 Qf6=/+.
31...Na4?
After 33...Qxc5 34.Qxc5 Nxc5 35.Nxb2 Rc8, the situation is fairly even. So
Kramnik has taken one more step towards his goal. If Kasparov does not win
his game as white tomorrow, the matter is as good as decided. Stay tuned for an
exciting finish!
47
Game Thirteen
Kasparov,Garry (2849) - Kramnik,Vladimir (2770)
BGN World Championship London (13), 29.10.2000 [C67]
In the 13th game Kasparov was again unable to turn things around. Astonish-
ingly he offered his opponent a draw on move 14. Has he given up in this
match?
Kramnik returns to the Berlin Defense, after switching briefly to the Archangelsk
Variation in game 11. Will the Berlin wall hold strong until the end of the match?
4.0-0? Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8
9.Nc3 h6 10.h3!?
Kasparov deviates from game 9, where he continued with 10.Rd1+ and only
got a draw.
10...Ke8!?
cuuuuuuuuC
{rDbDkgw4}
{0p0wDp0w}
{wDpDwDw0}
{DwDw)nDw}
{wDwDwDwD}
{DwHwDNDP}
{P)PDw)PD}
{$wGwDRIw}
vllllllllV
Somewhat surprisingly Kramnik decides to play Ke8 of his own accord. The
move h2-h3 makes more sense and should be more useful to White than Rf1-
d1, since the kingside rook can be used on f1 or e1 instead. My surprise was
even greater when I saw Kasparov go into a deep think. Hadn’t he prepared
anything for this fairly obvious position?
11.Ne4
A very rare continuation, which allows Black’s next move, because Nd5 is now
impossible.
11...c5!?
48
11...b6 12.b3 c5 13.Re1 Be6 14.Bb2 Be7 15.c4 Rd8 16.Rad1 Rd7 17.g4
Nh4 18.Nxh4 Bxh4 19.Rxd7 Kxd7 ½-½, Unzicker,W-Troianescu,O Venedig
1969.
After 13...Be7?!, Kasparov would have been able to go for 14.Nf6+ and put
some spice into the game.
14.g4 ½–½
Why on earth did Kasparov offer a draw in this position? He now has to get at
least 2½ points from the last three games to retain his title. But Kramnik very
seldom loses a game and he also has the white pieces in two of the remaining
ones. Is it all over?
49
Game Fourteen
Kramnik,Vladimir (2770) - Kasparov,Garry (2849)
BGN World Championship London (14), 31.10.2000 [A30]
Today’s game was delayed by half an hour because of damage in the theatre
caused by the hurricane-force winds and rain that lashed the south of England
the day before. Would Kasparov emulate the weather and lash out at Kramnik
in a last-ditch effort to keep his chances alive?
1.Nf3
For the first time in this match Kramnik plays his favorite move, even though
he has been doing very will with 1.d4 so far.
1...Nf6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.0-0 g6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.d4 cxd4
8.Qxd4
A hedgehog position has arisen in which Black has fianchettoed both bishops.
Both players know this kind of structure well.
This takes away the b5-square for the white pieces, so as to be able to play
maneuvers like Rc7 and Qa8 or even Qc7 without fear. The weakness of the
pawn on b6 is not relevant at the moment. The pawn can in fact easily push
forward to b5, to challenge the pawn on c4 and to open files on the queenside.
12...Re8 13.b3 a6 14.Bh3 Rc7 15.Bh6 Rc5 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Qd4 Kg8 18.b4
Rc7 19.Nd5 Nxd5 20.cxd5 ½-½, Kramnik,V-Karpov,A Monte Carlo 1994 (57).
13.Ne1?!
A good prophylactic move; now Qb7 is possible, since the pawn on e7 is cov-
ered, and after Bh6 the bishop exchange can be avoided with Bh8. If 14...Qc7?,
15.Nd5+/=.
50
cuuuuuuuuC
{wDrDrDkD}
{DqDn0pgp}
{p0w0whpD}
{DwDwDwGw}
{wDPDwDw!}
{DPHwHw)w}
{PDwDP)w)}
{Dw$RDwIw}
vllllllllV
17...b5!
Kasparov acts before a white knight can appear on d5. Apart from that a draw
will not help him at all. He has to try to win.
18.Ned5?!
This allows the c4-pawn to become very weak after bxc4. After 18.cxb5 axb5,
we can soon expect b5-b4, when the white a-pawn is committed and becomes
weak. At the same time the black pawn mass can begin rolling in the center. On
19.Qb4, there can follow 19...Rc5 with an attack on the g5-bishop. Fritz 6
prefers 18.Ncd5!?.
Kasparov again takes measures against Bh6 and simultaneously gains space on
the kingside.
20.Qf4 Qc6
21.Bxf6
51
The weakening of the pawn on d6 is now irrelevant. Kasparov is slowly and
steadily gaining ground.
After 28.Nh7+ Kg8 29.Nf6+, Kasparov can avoid the draw with 29...Kh8.
28...Qa8!
29.c5
Kramnik sacrifices the c-pawn in order to exchange off the minor pieces. Not
29.Rb6?? because of 29...Rc5 30.Qf4 Rf5 winning a piece; but 29.Qf4 Rc5
30.Nh7+ Kg8 31.Ng5 Rf5 32.Qd2=/+ was possible.
32...Kg8
33.Rb6
33.g4?! Rd5 and White has mainly weakened his own king’s position.
33...Re8
33...Rd1!? 34.e4 Qc8 with the idea c5-c4 was also a possibility. Not 34...Qxe4??
35.Rb8+ Kh7 36.Qh8#.
34.Qf3?!
34...Qxf3 35.exf3
52
cuuuuuuuuC
{wDwDrDkD}
{DwDwDpDw}
{p$wDpDpD}
{Dw0wDwDp}
{wDwDwDw)}
{DwDwDP)w}
{PDwDw)wI}
{DwDwDwDw}
vllllllllV
35...Rc8!
38...c2? is wrong, because after 39.Rc1 Kg7 40.Kg2 the c-pawn becomes weak.
If the white f-pawn were still on f2, we would have a well-researched theoreti-
cal draw, but in this case the white king is cutoff on the back rank. Still, it is also
not easy for Black to make progress without exchanging pawns. So things re-
main exciting!
Kramnik’s second Joel Lautier said that Vladimir had better positions in this
match. But he was convinced that the drawing chances were greater than the
possibility of losing.
Kasparov cannot see any way to make progress without exchanging pawns. He
seeks a decision.
50.hxg5 fxg5
Here Kramnik thought for a long time, searching for the best way to organize
his defense.
53
51.Rg8 g4 (51...h4!?) 52.Rf8+ Ke6 53.Re8+ Kf5 54.Rf8+ Kg6
55.Rg8+ Kf5 ½–½
Was this the final decision? Kramnik has eight points and has secured at least
50% of the prize money. But hardly anyone can doubt that he will score at least
one draw in the remaining two games and win the match. Kasparov’s only chance
to retain his title is to win the last two games. There is still a smidgen of excite-
ment left. 55...Kf7 56.Rg5 Kf6 57.f4 exf4 58.gxf4 Rh2 59.Kg1 Rh3 60.Kg2=.
54
Game Fifteen
Kasparov,Garry (2849) - Kramnik,Vladimir (2770)
BGN World Championship London (15), 02.11.2000 [E05]
It is all over. Vladimir Kramnik has won the Braingames World Championship
and dethroned Garry Kasparov after his fifteen-year rule. And he did it in im-
pressive fashion. Kasparov could not win a single game! This happened only
once before in a world championship match, when Lasker lost to Capablanca in
1921. Congratulations to Vladimir Kramnik for this fantastic achievement! Here
is the decisive 15th game.
The Catalan is regarded as a very safe opening with a high percentage of draws.
But Kasparov was able to use a quiet strategy in 1990, when he desperately
needed to win a game against Karpov. In any case this opening must have been
a surprise to Kramnik.
7.Qc2 a6
Black can hardly hang on to the pawn, because after 7...b5?! there follows 8.a4
b4 (8...c6?! 9.axb5 cxb5? 10.Ng5+– since Nd5 is not playable) 9.Ne5 Nd5
10.Qxc4+/=.
8.Qxc4
With 8.a4 White can also stop the following expansion on the queenside.
8...b5!?
This weakens the c6- and c5-squares in front of the backward pawn on c7, but
it also allows a harmonious development of the minor pieces. It will be impor-
tant to see whether Black can play c7-c5 under more or less favorable circum-
stances.
It is clear that Kasparov will not agree to the move repetition that Kramnik is
offering.
55
12...Bd6 13.Nbd2
13.Nc3 Nbd7 14.Rd1 Qb8 15.Ne5 Bxg2 16.Nxd7 Nxd7 17.Kxg2 c5 18.dxc5
Qb7+ 19.f3 Bxc5 20.Ne4+/= Tukmakov,V-Lalic,B Palma de Mallorca (GMA)
1989 Inf 48 (24).
13...Nbd7
13...Bxf4 14.gxf4 gives White even more control over the dark squares c5 and
e5, and so hardly fits Kramnik’s strategy.
14.Nb3
Kramnik’s second Evgeny Bareev once had this same position: 15...Qb8 16.Be5
Qb6 17.Qf4 Ne4 18.Bxd6 cxd6 19.Ne1 Nef6 1–0, Bareev,E-Lalic,B Sochi
1987 (41).
16.Ne5!?
17...Bxe5?! 18.dxe5 Nd5 19.Bg5 f6+/= (After 19...Qb4?? 20.Rd4+– the queen
surprisingly has no flight square left; 19...Qe8?! 20.e4±); 17...c5?? 18.Nc6 Qe8
19.Bxd6+–.
56
18.Nc6
The biggest weakness in the black camp is the c6-square. 18.Bg5?! f6 19.Nc6
Qe8=.
18...Nxf4+
19.Qxf4!+/=
19...Qe8 20.Qf3
cuuuuuuuuC
{rDwDq4kD}
{Dw0nDp0p}
{pDNgpDwD}
{DpDwDwDw}
{wDw)wDwD}
{DNDwDQ)w}
{P)wDP)K)}
{$wDRDwDw}
vllllllllV
20...e5!?
With this advance Kramnik once again extricates himself from a very constrained
position.
23.Nd4!? with the idea Rd2 and Nc6 was also possible; for instance, 23...c5
24.Nc6 Qxb2 25.Qd5 Bc7 26.Qd7 Bb8 27.Qb7 and the position is unclear.
27.Rc1 g6 28.Rdc2
57
28.Rc6?? Rf5 29.Rxd6 Rxd5 30.R6xd5 Qe4+–/+.
Here Kasparov had ten minutes on his clock, and Kramnik had fifteen.
30...c5
After the rooks have left the d-file and lost their effectiveness, Kramnik can
now accept the exchange of queens.
33...R5e7? 34.e5+–.
58