Third game drawn in 23 moves
The third game of the Dannemann World Chess Championship ended in a disappointing
draw after 23 moves. Playing the black side of a Petroff, Kramnik produced a
novelty with 17...Qc2. Peter Leko sank into a 40-minute think, without being
able to find anything for White. The two traded pieces and the game was drawn.
Leko,P (2741) - Kramnik,V (2770) [C42]
WCh Brissago SUI (3), 28.09.2004
C42: Petroff Defence 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 Again the Petroff Defense
as in game one. Will Kramnik risk it again in game five? There's an old saying
about not playing the same defense three times in a row. 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3
Nxe4 5.d4 The dynamic modern line as opposed to the old main line 5.Qe2,
which is much more drawish. Mostly thanks to Russian-German GM Artur Jussupow
(a commentator at the match, conveniently enough) the world needed a way to
get better winning chances against the Petroff. Now there are main lines with
piece sacrifices! 5...d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 8.c4 Undermining the knight's
outpost.
8...Nb4 9.Be2 If you want to attack you have to keep pieces on the board.
This retreat gives Black a tempo, but White doesn't want to give up a bishop
for a knight so early. 9...0-0 10.Nc3 Bf5 Black also follows a plan of
rapid development.
11.a3 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Exchanging gives White a pair of dangerously mobile
pawns in the center. His pawn structure is less intact than Black's, and so more
vulnerable in several ways. That's more in the long run, however, and the mobile
pawns can cause trouble if they get moving.
12...Nc6 13.Re1 This sharp move gave new life to this variation and
it has been quite popular in the past few years. Kasparov used it against Adams
in Linares a few years ago and that game can be considered a model. White has
two mobile pawns and he must play aggressively. To generalize, Leko likes to
play for small advantages, so this line may not suit him that well.
[13.cxd5 Qxd5 14.c4 (14.Bf4 Na5 15.Bxc7 Rac8 16.Bxa5 Qxa5 17.c4) 14...Qe4
15.Be3]
13...Re8
14.cxd5 Qxd5 15.Bf4 Rac8 16.c4 In game one Leko played 16.h3. [16.h3
Be4 17.Be3 Na5 18.c4 Nxc4 19.Bxc4 Qxc4 20.Nd2 Qd5 21.Nxe4 Qxe4 22.Bg5 Qxe1+
23.Qxe1 Bxg5 0-1 Leko,P-Kramnik,V/Brissago SUI 2004 (65)] 16...Qe4 17.Be3
Qc2 (diagram)
New on the board, but not in our hearts. Back when Garry Kasparov was preparing
for Vladimir Kramnik for the London 2000 world championship match, this move
was under consideration even before the now-popular 17...Bf6. After all, Kramnik
is known for his misogyny, always wanting the queens off the board!
If the move itself wasn't a big surprise, Leko's long think was. Soon he was
again an hour behind on the clock, just like game one. It's a very bad sign
for his preparation. Not to have looked at this natural move can be considered
a blunder. (See the replay
page for the many top-level games with 17...Bf6.)
18.d5
Na5 19.Nd4 [19.Bxa7? b6-/+] 19...Qxd1 20.Rexd1 Bd7 White has
space and central control, Black has good squares like c5 and f6 for his
pieces, exploiting the weak squares created by the advanced pawns. Unless
White can make something of his initiative, those pawn weaknesses could
be a serious problem. Frustrated, Leko embarks on a piece-trading sequence
and a short draw.
21.Bd2 Bf6 22.Bxa5
Bxd4 23.Rxd4 Rxe2 1/2-1/2 (diagram) If
this isn't a totally dead draw, it's a draw on life support. Neither side
has weaknesses the other side can effectively attack. Kramnik leads the
match 2-1 and will have White on Thursday. – Mig Greengard, ChessNinja.com
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Picture gallery
It is so beautiful, what can we do: a view of the city of Ascona, where the
players reside
The residents of Lago Maggiore getting their dues
Quaint and narrow: the streets of Ascona
Metallic and hard: a damsel in the park
Introducing game three: match director Joel Lautier of the (see sign bottom
left)
It's 15:00h and Peter Leko has not yet arrived. Arbiter Filipowicz starts the
clock for White
Waiting for his opponent: classical chess world champion Vladimir Kramnik
Peter arrives a couple of minutes later, the game can begin
First we must meticulously fill out the scoresheet
The work of one of the world's neatest Grandmasters
And the game is under way
Contacts and further information
Rolf Behovits
Press Officer World Chess Championship
CENTRO DANNEMANN
Via Ruggero Leoncavallo
CH-6614 Brissago
rbehovits@chessgate.de
Links
