1.e4
e5
2.Bc4
[The Bishop's Opening was known to the 16th pioneers of chess (as we know it). It is not fashionable at the higher levels of the game. Though there is nothing specifically wrong with it (and it often transposes into better known openings), it lacks the sort of bite that the super-GMs look for when playing White.]
2...Nf6
3.d3
Bc5
[3...c6
is another move often seen here, planning to drive back the c4 bishop with d7-d5. One snag with the Bishop's Opening is that it doesn't oblige Black to play Nc6 to defend his e-pawn; consequently, Black has a little extra flexibility of choice.]
4.Nf3
0-0
5.Nc3
[Snatching a pawn with 5.Nxe5?
is unthinkable at this level. The game might proceed 5...d5
6.exd5
Re8
7.d4
Bxd4!
(looks clever but most experienced players at club level would know this trick) 8.Qxd4
Nc6
and White is struggling. Elite players would dismiss such a continuation within nanoseconds, but Vlad Kramnik was kind enough to take the trouble to show us this variation in the commentary room. He is a relaxed and entertaining commentator, striking exactly the right note with his audience.]
5...d6
6.Na4
[If you've got one of those old Fred Reinfeld chess books for near-beginners, he would probably tell you that all White's problems stem from this - making two moves with the same piece in the opening. Well... on this occasion, I would be inclined to agree. This looks insipid to me.]
6...Bb6
7.c3
Be6
8.Bb3
[If 8.Bxe6
fxe6
, the doubled pawns aren't much of a problem for Black. He can usually even them out later on by playing d7-d6 and he gets an open file for his f8 rook into the bargain.]
8...Bxb3
9.axb3
[Again, the argument in favour of doubling the pawns is to give the rook some scope.]
9...Nbd7
10.b4
#[White's opening has not been a success but now Black plays rather a surprising move.]
10...Bxf2+!?
[This looks like a tactical blow but in fact Black was probably thinking more of its positional consequences.]
11.Kxf2
b5
[That is the tactical point: the white knight cannot escape the pawn attack, so material equilibrium will be restored immediately.]
12.Bd2
bxa4
13.Qxa4
[The previous sequence may look a little unsophisticated at first sight but I'm quite sure both players would have been already focusing on this position (and perhaps beyond) for a number of moves previously. McShane must have considered it reasonably defensible, but Kramnik now begins to exert his authority on the position.]
13...c5!
14.b5
[Although it would offer him the chance to undouble his pawns, White cannot contemplate 14.bxc5?
Nxc5
15.Qc2
Qb6
when Black has several nasty threats.]
14...d5!
[Black has one eye on White's exposed king on f2 and he is trying to open up a central file in order to menace it.]
15.exd5
[With hindsight, 15.Rhe1
seems better. At least it doesn't leave the h1 rook out of play as in the game. Black has several ways to proceed, e.g. 15...c4!?
16.exd5
Nb6
17.Qc2
Re8
though I'm not entirely convinced.]
15...Nb6
16.Qc2
c4
17.Nxe5?
[After this, White is history: 17.Rhe1
Re8
would transpose to the line given above and at least leave White with his full complement of pieces to play with.]
17...Qxd5
18.d4
Ne4+
19.Kg1
[White has to go backwards and incarcerate his own h1 rook. If 19.Ke3?
Nxd2
20.Qxd2
Rae8
he will lose material.]
19...Rfe8
20.Nf3
[There is no time for 20.Re1
because of 20...Rxe5!
21.dxe5
Nxd2
with a substantial material and positional advantage.]
20...Qxb5
21.h4
#[White has few useful moves and he plays this in a desperate attempt to get his h1 rook into play. Spectating grandmaster were no longer bothering to follow this game, dismissing it as a routine win for Black.]
21...Qb3!
22.Qb1
[22.Qxb3
cxb3
and Black will play Nc4, tightening the grip on White's position.; 22.Qc1
is even worse: 22...Ng3
would threaten the h1 rook and a king/queen fork with Ne2+.]
22...Nd5
23.Rh3
h6
[Removing another square from the scope of White's already desperately restricted bishop.]
24.Qc1
Qb6
25.Ra4
Rab8
26.Ra2
[After 26.Rxc4
Qxb2
27.Qxb2
Rxb2
28.Be1
Rb1
it is becoming clear that the bishop is doomed. Consequently, White is tied to the defence of the b2 pawn.]
26...Qb3
27.Qa1
Rb6
28.Kh2
[The knot is getting tighter. White is running out of moves to play.]
28...Ndf6
29.Be1
[White was now very short of time. If 29.Kg1
Ng4
30.Bf4
Ngf2
31.Rh2
Nd3
it is close to the end.]
29...Ng4+
30.Kg1
Nef6
31.d5
Nxd5
32.Rg3
Ndf6
33.Bd2
Rd6
34.Ra3
Qb6+
35.Kh1
Nf2+
36.Kh2
N6g4+
[36...N6g4+
Let's look at one finish: 37.Rxg4
Nxg4+
38.Kg3
Qf2+
39.Kxg4
Qxg2+
40.Kf4
Rf6#
] 0-1