1.d4
Nf6
2.Nf3
d5
3.c4
e6
4.g3
dxc4
5.Bg2
Nc6
6.Qa4
Bb4+
7.Bd2
Nd5
8.Bxb4
Ndxb4
9.Nc3
Bd7
Aronian had played this offbeat variation last year against Adams who chose ...a6 instead. Bd7 is by far the more common choice, but the question remains what Kramnik has prepared for his opponent. He is behind in points and is currently playing catch-up to make the top two and qualify for the grand final next month.
10.0-0
a5
11.Qd1
Time to remove the queen from the line of fire.
11...0-0
12.e3
a4
13.Qe2
Na5
14.Ne5
Nd5
15.Nxd5
exd5
16.Bxd5
Bh3
17.Qf3
Both players are following Rodshtein-Landa (Politiken Cup, 2010) to the T. It is possible the players are aware of it, but it is also perfectly possible that being GMs, their moves happen to coincide with the others, after all, good is good.
17...Bxf1
18.Bxf7+
Kh8
19.Rxf1
Nc6
20.Nxc6
bxc6
21.Qh5
Rb8
22.Bxc4
Novelty! At last! [The young Israeli Rodshtein had continued with 22.Bg6
h6
23.Qe2
Qf6
24.Bb1
but after 24...c5!
was worse, though he managed to draw. Aronian's choice is the simplest and best.]
22...Rxb2
23.Bd3
g6
24.Bxg6
Qe7
25.Bb1
Qf7
26.Qc5
Since this leads to serious problems for White after Rxf2, a better chance might have been [26.Qe5+
Qg7
27.Qc5
Qf6
28.Bc2
and now if 28...Rxa2
29.Qc4!
and if the a-pawn falls, White will have solved his most serious problems. 29...Qf7
30.Qc5
]
26...Rxf2
27.Qe5+
Rf6
28.Rf4
Qg7
29.Bf5
Rd6
30.Bc2
Rxf4
31.Qxf4
a3
32.g4
Qe7
33.g5
c5!
Opening the path for his rook.
34.dxc5
Rd2
35.Bb3
35...Kg7?
[35...Qg7!
was missed by Kramnik. 36.Bc4
(Why not 36.Qf6?
Because after 36...Qxf6
37.gxf6
Re2
38.e4
Rxe4
39.f7
Kg7
40.Kf2
Re5
41.c6
Rc5
Black is won.) 36...Qa1+
37.Bf1
Qxa2
38.Qf6+
Kg8
39.g6
Black may have seen this and feared being stuck in a perpetual, but he would escpae unscathed. Time may also have been a factor. 39...Qb3
40.gxh7+
Kxh7
41.Qh4+
Kg7
42.Qg4+
Kf8
43.Qc8+
Ke7
44.Qxc7+
Rd7
45.Qe5+
Qe6
46.Qg7+
Qf7
47.Qe5+
Kf8
and the checks run out.]
36.h4
Rd3
37.Kg2
[Why not protect the only pawn giving his king cover with 37.Kf2
It is very difficult for Black to make progress as his king is also extremely exposed. For example 37...Qxc5??
38.Qf6#
]
37...Rxe3
38.Qd4+
Re5
39.Bd5
c6
Though this move seems logical and strong, it is going to allow White to exchange almost all his pawns and offer very serious saving chances.
40.Kg3
h6
41.gxh6+
Kxh6
42.Qf4+
Kh7
43.Bxc6
Rxc5
44.Qe4+!
Qxe4
45.Bxe4+
With the h4-pawn removed, the tablebases claim this is a win for Black, however *with* the h-pawn, things stand differently.
45...Kg7
46.Kf4
Kf6
47.Ke3
Ke5
48.Kd3
Rb5
49.Kc4
Rb2
50.Bh7
50...Rh2!
[Black cannot take with 50...Rxa2?
as 51.Kb3
Ra1
is a simple draw]
51.h5
The position is a theoretical win for Black, but requires precise play.
51...Rxh5
52.Bc2
Rh2
53.Kb3
Kd4
54.Bg6
Rh3+
55.Kb4
Rh6
56.Bf7
Ra6
57.Bg8
Ra7
58.Be6
Kd3
59.Bb3
59...Kd2!
Kramnik's technique so far has been utterly flawless, and even the six-piece tablebases have no improvements to suggest.
60.Ba4
Rb7+
61.Kc4
[61.Kxa3?
Kc3
and Ra7 ends it.]
61...Kc1
62.Kc3
Kb1
63.Bb3
Rc7+
64.Kd3
Kb2
65.Kd2
Rd7+
66.Ke3
Kc3
67.Bg8
Re7+
68.Kf2
Kd2
69.Kf3
Kd3
70.Kf2
Re2+
71.Kf3
Re8
White gave up as there is no respite in view. Black will simply push the White king to the h-file, leave him cut off, then bring the king to the a-pawn, capture it, and win. 0-1