1.d4
d5
2.c4
c6
3.Nf3
Nf6
4.Nc3
e6
5.e3
Nbd7
6.Bd3
dxc4
7.Bxc4
b5
The sharp Meran again. Vishy is not afraid of what Kramnik might have hav come up with.
8.Bd3
a6
9.e4
c5
10.e5
cxd4
11.Nxb5
axb5
12.exf6
gxf6
13.0-0
Qb6
14.Qe2
Kramnik's analysis clearly came up with an improvement on game three but he is in for a surprise.
14...Bb7
Repeating the novelty in game 3
15.Bxb5
Rg8
Vishy gets his novelty in first! [15...Bd6
Game 3]
16.Bf4
Played quickly and at this point Kramnik dispensed with his jacket
16...Bd6
Also played quickly. Now Kramnik has a problem, Vishy has shown he has two ways to play this position and he is still in his preparation. Once again Kramnik has been out-prepared. Although he gets a perfectly good position Kramnik used 45 minutes on move 18 and was soon in time pressure.
17.Bg3
f5!
Seeking to prise open the g file. 17...Bxg3 18.hxg3 has the opposite effect.
18.Rfc1
After the game Kramnik said he preferred this to 18.Rd1 because he was already concerned about the possibility of Qc5-d5. I think he may also have reasonably assumed that Vishy had prepared for 18.Rd1
18...f4
[In the VIP m Yusupov Norwood and Pein (in pecking order) were having fun with 18...Ke7
19.Nxd4
Qxd4
20.Rd1
Rxg3
21.Rxd4
Rxg2+
22.Kf1
Rag8
23.Qd2
Bf3
but 24.Ke1!
spoilt all the fun]
19.Bh4
Be7
20.a4
Bxh4
21.Nxh4
Now Qd6 to try and play Qd5 was possible but Ke7 has to be played at some point. Suddenly Kramnik has to reckon with Rxg2+. However he is still absolutely fine
21...Ke7
22.Ra3
[Not 22.b4
Rxg2+!
23.Nxg2
Rg8
24.f3
d3+
25.Qf2
Bxf3
26.Qxb6
Rxg2+
27.Kf1
Nxb6
28.Bxd3
Nd5
With threats of Nxb4 Rxh2 and Ne3; However 22.Qh5
Qd6
(22...Nf6
23.Qe5!
) 23.Bxd7
Qxd7
24.f3
suggested by the computers is hard to refute. f3 looks anti positional but Qe5 is coming. Indeed the human 24.Qe5 in this line is not bad. I can't wholly trust this but 22.Qh5 crudely threatens Bxd7 One interesting line is 24...Rac8
25.Rxc8
Rxc8
26.Re1
Rc2
27.Qg5+
Kf8
28.Nf5
exf5
29.Qf6
Kg8
30.Re7
Rc1+
31.Kf2
Rc2+
32.Ke1
Rc1+
33.Kd2+/-
]
22...Rac8
23.Rxc8
Rxc8
24.Ra1
Qc5
25.Qg4
Qe5!
Strongly centralising
26.Nf3
Qf6!
[26...Bxf3
27.Qxf3+/=
Nf6
28.Bd3
]
27.Re1
[27.Bxd7
Kxd7
28.Nxd4
Ke7!
with compensation in the form of a beautiful bishop 29.Rd1
Rc4
30.Ne2
Rxa4
; 27.Rd1
Ne5
28.Nxe5
Qxe5
29.Qh4+
Qf6
30.Qxf6+
Kxf6
is better for Black has Rxd4 loses to Rc1+ and Black plays e6-e5 and Rc2]
27...Rc5
[27...Nf8!?
Yusupov]
28.b4?!
Rc3
Now Black is better. Kramnik is losing control and misses a tactic
29.Nxd4??
Qxd4
30.Rd1
Nf6
31.Rxd4
Nxg4
32.Rd7+
Kf6
33.Rxb7
Rc1+
34.Bf1
Ne3!!
35.fxe3
fxe3
Vishy has outprepared Vlad again and he is playing quicker and more accurately. Kramnik was asked the screamingly obvious question: " Is your position critica " He said " it could be better " His calm and polite demeanour at the press conference did him great credit 0-1