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(2) Anand,V (2785) - Kramnik,V (2753) [C42]
Mtel Masters Sofia BUL (7), 19.05.2005
1.e4
e5
2.Nf3
Nf6
The Petroff, the most potent weapon against the Sofia rule which denies players the right to offer draws. 3.Nxe5
d6
4.Nf3
Nxe4
5.d4
d5
6.Bd3
Nc6
7.0-0
Be7
8.c4
Nb4
9.Be2
0-0
10.Nc3
Bf5
11.a3
Nxc3
12.bxc3
Nc6
13.Re1
Re8
14.cxd5
Qxd5
15.Bf4
Rac8
16.Qc1N
This is the novelty in a well-known position. Kramnik himself had it twice against Peter Leko in the 2004 world championship match in Brissago, reaping 1.5 points from it. The moves played by White are c4 (with a 50% score), Bd3 (77% in 11 games), h3, Qa4, Nd2. Confronted with Anand's new move Kramnik went on a 40-minute think. 16...Na5
17.c4
Qe4??
The most incredible blunder in this tournament, and one of the most astonishing in Kramnik's adult career. The point is that the knight on a5 and the bishop on f5 are potentially forkable, and the queen is overworked, unable to defend both pieces adaquately. 18.Bd1
Where can the queen go? 18...Qc6 leaves both Na5 and Bf6 open to the rook fork on e5, so Black only has the d3 square, covering the bishop (the knight can be retracted or protected if attacked). [Kramnik had spent his 40 minutes befor 16...Na5 looking at lines like 18.Bf1
Qc2
19.Re5
(of course he had seen the fork) 19...Nc6
20.Qxc2
Bxc2
21.Re2
Bf5
and White is only slightly better.] 18...Qd3
Re5 doesn't work -- yet. But the black queen is in a very uncomfortable position, right in the middle of the hostile and well-protected white camp. 19.Re3
Forcing the queen to abandon the protection of the bishop. Unfortunately she is unable to defend the knight instead. 19...Qxc4
Both pieces are now vulnerable to the rook fork 20.Re5
and Black will lose a piece and the game. 1-0
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