[Event "WorldCup 2013"] [Site "?"] [Date "2013.08.31"] [Round "56.1"] [White "Andreikin, Dmitry"] [Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2727"] [BlackElo "2784"] [PlyCount "65"] [EventDate "2013.??.??"] {As in the previous rounds, Andreikin avoided mainstream theory - and it can be said successfully, but then he failed to make a tough decision that could have put the Kramnik under pressure.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 { Kramnik sticks to his favourite Queen's Gambit Declined.} 5. Bf4 O-O 6. a3 $5 { Much less played than the ultra theoretical 6.e3, this move has been gaining popularity recently as it 'avoids' the typical solid lines with Nbd7-c5 that black employs after e3.} b6 {Andreikin spent some time trying to choose between going into a typical structure with cxd5-Nd5-Nd5-exd5, or continue to try and maintain the tension in the centre.} (6... Nbd7 7. Nb5 $1 {is the point - and now the use of a3, preventing Bb4+ is clear.}) ({In the previous game Kramnik had continued:} 6... dxc4 {which is probably what Andreikin had mainly prepared against.}) 7. e3 {Eventually Dmitry avoids the typical Queen's Gambit Declined structure, possiby because of Kramnik's vast experience in such structures.} c5 {Instant reply, and once again Andreikin is in a difficult situation: how to avoid the former World Champion's impressive preparation, and yet maintain tension in the game.} 8. Qc2 {An offbeat move. I believe Andreikin had some idea about it, but considering the amount of time he took, he had definitely not prepared it for this game. But he achieved his aim of avoiding any forcing preparation - and now an interesting battle over the board begins.} cxd4 {Black decides against maintaining the tension in the centre, and bringing more tactical options into focus.} 9. Nxd4 (9. exd4 {will just leave White with an eventual isolated pawn.}) 9... Bb7 10. Rd1 Nbd7 11. cxd5 {A critical moment. Black can just make the obivious recapture with Nxd5, and hope to equalise in the ensuing symmetrical position. Or, he could try to win a piece with the pawn fork - e5.} e5 {Kramnik chooses to take the challenge! Unfortunately things aren't as easy for Black - and he possibly underestimated either White's 14th or 15th move.} (11... Nxd5 12. Nxd5 Bxd5 13. Bb5 $1 {Despite the drawish nature of such structures, White's considerably more active pieces, along with a glaring weakeness on c6, and uncomfortable Qd8, don't make Black's life easy yet.}) 12. Nc6 (12. Nf5 exf4 13. d6 Bxd6 14. Nxd6 Qc7 15. exf4 {White wins a pawn, but the King stuck on e1 makes it look only dangerous for him.}) 12... Bxc6 13. dxc6 exf4 14. exf4 $1 {A nice intermediate move! At first sight the suddenly naked king on e1, along with the tantalizing possibility of checks on the e file make it look dangerous for White. But there is no clear way to make use of this temporary weakeness, while White wins back his piece in the next move, followed by a quick consolidation with Be2 and 0-0.} Bxa3 $5 {A nice tactical idea - which can explain Kramnik's e5. Now White needs to make an important decision.} (14... Bd6 15. cxd7 Qxd7 16. Be2 Qc7 17. g3 $14) 15. bxa3 $2 {Andreikin may have missed the nice equalising trick 18...Nce4 - or perhaps he wanted to avoid the murky looking complications after cd7.} (15. cxd7 $1 {Having computers assisting us, it's easy to point out cxd7 as a much stronger move - but during a tense match, it's not that easy to understand that the dangerous looking pawn on d7 will not actually fall!} Bb4 (15... Bd6 16. Bb5 $1 {is an important resource!}) 16. Be2 Qc7 17. Qb3 $1 {A typical, highly effective move of the machine that is hard to find a few moves before. With the concrete trick of 0-0, Nd5 White manages to keep his formidable pawn, and maintain serious winning chances.} ({An obvious} 17. O-O {simply drops the pawn.} Rad8) 17... a5 18. O-O Rad8 19. Nd5 $1 $16) 15... Qe8+ 16. Be2 Nc5 17. O-O Qxc6 18. Bf3 Nce4 $1 {A nice little tactic that saves black by a Whisker. Despite an ominous pin along f3-a8 diagonal, white is unable to avoid the threatened simplifications.} 19. Rc1 (19. Bxe4 Nxe4 20. Qxe4 Qxc3 $11 {was the key point.}) 19... Qxc3 20. Qxc3 Nxc3 21. Rxc3 Rac8 {Now the game enters much calmer waters, and Kramnik easily steers his position to safety.} 22. Rfc1 Rxc3 23. Rxc3 Re8 24. g4 Kf8 25. g5 Ng8 {Despite the temporary passivity of Black's pieces, he is in no real danger. The knight will soon regroup to f5.} 26. Kg2 g6 27. h4 Ne7 28. Rc7 Nf5 29. h5 Re7 30. Rc8+ Re8 31. Rc7 Re7 32. Rc8+ Re8 33. Rc7 1/2-1/2