1.d4
d5
2.c4
c6
3.Nf3
Nf6
4.Nc3
No Exchange Slav today, a real fight instead
4...e6
5.e3
Nbd7
6.Bd3
Kramnik invites the sharp Meran Variation
6...dxc4
7.Bxc4
b5
8.Bd3
a6
9.e4
c5
10.e5
cxd4
11.Nxb5
axb5
12.exf6
gxf6
13.0-0
Qb6
14.Qe2
Up to here all well known. Anand's next is a new move in this position and set Kramnik thinking.
14...Bb7
A brilliant novelty and brilliant preparation. Black has always tried to defend the b5 pawn here with Ba6 or b4
15.Bxb5
Bd6
Anand intends Ke7, Rg8 and Ne5
16.Rd1
[Even at this stage I was wondering in my live commentary whether White should play cautiously here with 16.Bd3
Ke7
17.Rd1
Rag8
18.Be4
]
16...Rg8
17.g3
[17.Bd3
Ne5
18.Be4
d3!
; Rxd4 was not good 17.Rxd4
Rxg2+
18.Kxg2
Qxd4
]
17...Rg4
18.Bf4
Credit to Kramnik he comes out fighting [At first sight 18.Nd2
wins material but it does leave the king undefended. Anand may have intended 18...Ke7!!
19.Bxd7
(19.Qxg4
Qxb5
) 19...Rag8
20.Bb5
d3
21.Qxd3
Rxg3+
22.hxg3
Rxg3+
]
18...Bxf4
Vishy was still playing fast, he's been here before
19.Nxd4
What a shot, Kramnik chooses to sacrifice a piece himself and attacks the rook on g4.
19...h5
20.Nxe6
fxe6
21.Rxd7
Kf8
22.Qd3
Now it was clear Kramnik would remain two pawns up but with his king is very exposed
22...Rg7!
[22...Bc8
23.Rh7
Kg8
24.Re7!
threat Qh7 is good for White 24...f5
25.Rd1
]
23.Rxg7
Kxg7
24.gxf4
Rd8
25.Qe2
Kh6!
Look how safe Black's king is from now on
26.Kf1
[26.f5
Rg8+
27.Kf1
Bg2+
28.Ke1
Bc6
29.Qd2+
Kh7
30.Bxc6
Qxc6!
31.Ke2
forced 31...Qb5+
32.Kf3
(32.Qd3
Qxb2+
33.Kf3
Qxa1
34.fxe6+
Kh8
) 32...Rg4
Deep Hiarcs tells me this wins for Black. So we can conclude Kramnik has problems here]
26...Rg8
27.a4?
With time ebbing away Kramnik errs. The silicon consensus is [27.Rc1
Bg2+
28.Ke1
Bh3
when White has time for 29.f5!
Rg1+
30.Kd2
Qd4+
31.Bd3
Qxb2+
32.Rc2
Qb4+
33.Rc3
Bxf5
34.Bxf5
exf5=/+
; 27.Rd1
Bg2+
28.Ke1
Qa5+
29.Rd2
Bh3
wins]
27...Bg2+
28.Ke1
Bh3!
29.Ra3
Desperate but [29.Rd1
Bg4
30.Qe3
Qxe3+
31.fxe3
Bxd1
32.Kxd1
Rg2
should be winning 33.b3
Rxh2
34.a5
Ra2
35.a6
h4
; 29.Kd2
Rg2
30.Rf1
Rxh2!
]
29...Rg1+
30.Kd2
Qd4+
31.Kc2
[31.Rd3
Qxb2+
32.Ke3
Qa1
wins, Re1 follows]
31...Bg4
32.f3
[32.Rd3
Bf5
]
32...Bf5+
[32...Bf5+
33.Kb3
Rc1
with either Qd5+ or e5 and Be6 in reserve surely Vlad can't survive this 34.a5
Qd5+
(34...Rc2
35.Qxc2
Bxc2+
36.Kxc2
Qc5+
37.Kb1
Qxb5
38.a6
saves the game) 35.Bc4
Qb7+
36.Bb5
Rc5
37.Kb4
Rc2
38.Qe3
Rxb2+
39.Rb3
Qe7+-/+
40.Kc4
Rxh2
41.a6
Qc7+
]
33.Bd3??
[33.Kb3
Rc1
34.a5
Bc2+
35.Qxc2!
Rxc2
36.Kxc2
Qc5+
37.Kb1
Qxb5
38.a6
saves the game, but Black can also play; 33.Kb3
Rc1
34.a5
Qd5+
35.Bc4
Qb7+
36.Bb5
Rc5
37.Kb4
Rc2
38.Qe3
Rxb2+
39.Rb3
Qe7+
when it's grim but not totally over. That would have been a spectacular time scramble]
33...Bh3?
Vishy had seen he was winning but he could have ended it now with [33...Bxd3+
34.Rxd3
(34.Qxd3
Rg2+
) 34...Qc4+
35.Kd2
Qc1#
]
34.a5
Kramnik has one swindling idea left
34...Rg2
35.a6
Rxe2+
36.Bxe2
Bf5+
37.Kb3
Qe3+
38.Ka2
Qxe2
39.a7
Qc4+
40.Ka1
Qf1+
41.Ka2
Bb1+
A great game by Vishy. Wins with black are rare. He showed he was not afraid of the sharpest lines and takes the lead 2-1!
Malcolm Pein runs
www.ChessBaseUSA.com and the London Chess Center www.chess.co.uk/shop
To learn more about the opening in today's game see
http://www.classicalgames.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=002242&Category_Code=
or
http://www.classicalgames.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=000445&Category_Code= [41...Bb1+
42.Kb3
Qxf3+
43.Kb4
Be4
wins] 0-1