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 blacks, 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
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. [ 17...Bf6
18.Ra2
( 18.Rc1
h6N
( 18...b6
19.h3
Bg6
20.c5
Ne7
21.Ba6
Rcd8
22.Bg5
Qc6
23.cxb6
Qxb6
24.Bxf6
gxf6
25.Qa4
0-1 Kasparov,G-Karpov,A/New York USA 2002/The Week in Chess 424 (47); 18...Na5
19.Bd2
b6
20.c5
Qa8
21.Qa4
Be4
22.Bxa5
bxa5
23.Qxa5
1/2-1/2 Goloshchapov,A-Motylev,A/Dubai UAE 2003/(23)) 19.d5
Ne5
1/2-1/2 Shirov,A-Karpov,A/Cap d'Agde 2003/CBM 98/[Huzman] (29) ( 19...Ne7
20.Nd4
Bd7
21.Bf3
Qg6
22.c5+/-
) ) 18...Rcd8
( 18...b6
19.h3
Na5
20.g4
( 20.Bd2
Qb1
21.Qxb1
Bxb1
22.Rxb1
Rxe2
23.Kf1
Rce8
24.Ng1
R2e4
25.Bxa5
bxa5
26.Re2
1-0 Kotronias,V-Marjanovic,S/Kallithea Chalkidiki GRE 2003/(64); 20.Bf1
Qc6
21.d5
Qd6
22.Nd4
Bd7
23.Qd3
c6
24.dxc6
Nxc6
25.Nb5
Qxd3
26.Bxd3
Be5
0-1 Nedev,T-Gustafsson,J/Halkidiki GRE 2002/(85)) 20...Bg6
21.g5
Be7
22.Ne5
Bd6
23.Nxg6
( 23.Bd3
Qh4
24.Nxg6
hxg6
25.Qg4
Qxg4+
26.hxg4
Bf4
27.Rae2
Bxe3
28.fxe3
c5
1/2-1/2 Svidler,P-Gelfand,B/Moscow RUS 2002/ (36)) 23...hxg6
24.c5
Bf8
25.Bg4
1-0 Kasparov,G-Adams,M/Linares ESP 2002/The Week in Chess 382 (47) 25...Rcd8
26.Rae2
Qc6
27.cxb6
1/2-1/2 Anand,V-Adams,M/Linares ESP 2002/(27)) 19.d5
Ne5
20.Nd2
Qh4
21.g3
Qh3
22.Bf1
Qg4
23.Be2
Qh3
1/2-1/2 Grischuk,A-Huzman,A/Rethymnon 2003/CBM 98 (23)]
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
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. 1/2-1/2