[Event "Moscow Tal Memorial 7th"] [Site "Moscow"] [Date "2012.06.09"] [Round "2"] [White "Kramnik, Vladimir"] [Black "Grischuk, Alexander"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E97"] [WhiteElo "2801"] [BlackElo "2761"] [Annotator "Ramirez Alvarez,Alejandro"] [PlyCount "57"] [EventDate "2012.??.??"] {Former World Chess Champion GM Vladimir Kramnik plays 1. Nf3 as his favorite setup. He prefers quiet, slow building but solid chess openings in resemblance to his style of play.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 {This 2. c4 move avoids many black aggressive openings such as Benko Gambit, Benoni, other gambit openings and main lines of Nimzo and Bogo Indian.} g6 3. Nc3 {Not 3. d4 otherwise black plays c5 which leads to Benko and Benoni if you push d4 pawn to d5 square.} Bg7 4. e4 {Also, do not allow d5 too, if you play 4. d4 then black can move 4...d5 which transposes to Grunfeld defense.} d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 {Standard Classical setup where the bishop stays at e2 square then castle early.} e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. b4 {The Bayonet Attack.} Nh5 10. g3 {The previous chess blog, white played 9. Re1 then 10. a4. Super GM Kramnik employs a prepared line, therefore, he is ready for black's attempt to pressure white's kingside.} f5 {Yes, this is typical of King's Indian Defense using pawn attack to create an imbalance position to annoy white. But, this will be in no effect to the great World Champ Kramnik.} 11. Ng5 Nf6 (11... h6 12. Ne6 Bxe6 13. dxe6 Nf6 14. f3 Qc8 15. Nd5 Nfxd5 16. cxd5 fxe4 17. fxe4 c6 18. dxc6 Qxc6 19. Qd3 Rxf1+ 20. Bxf1 { TRY TO ANALYZE THE POSITION...4 MOVES AHEAD.}) 12. Bf3 {Yes, this move will penetrate/control the h1 to a8 diagonal and can position at g2 square if needed.} c6 13. Bg2 h6 14. Ne6 Bxe6 15. dxe6 Nxe4 {NOW, I WANT YOU TO ANALYZE AGAIN HERE: WHAT IS THE WEAKNESS OF BLACK'S POSITION? THINK AHEAD.} 16. Nxe4 fxe4 17. b5 {Most of us maybe, will play 17. Be4, but this move 17. b5 is much better.} Rf6 ({IF} 17... d5 18. Ba3) 18. Bxe4 Rxe6 19. Qa4 {The bishop at e4 is white's most active piece as of the moment, while black's bishop at g7 is the weakest link. It's been immobile since the stone age.} d5 20. Rd1 {The pressure is centered at the middle and black is super worried how he can get out from this mess.} Kh7 {ANALYZE THIS: WHY IN THE LATER MOVES, THIS MOVE WILL BE A MISTAKE?} 21. cxd5 cxd5 22. Qb3 {This is a Jedi move coming from the great World Champ Vladimir Kramnik, the force will be with you... GM.} Rb6 23. a4 a6 24. Ba3 {White's two bishops are such a twin-power if the position is OPEN.} axb5 25. Bxe7 Qxe7 26. Rxd5 {White's control over light squared diagonal evidently utilised by GM Kramnik.} b4 27. a5 Qf7 28. h4 {This explains why the move 20...Kh7 is a mistake as you see now, white creates pressure at diagonal b1 to h7.} h5 29. Qd1 {Black resigned due to the threats at h5 and the move Rd7, also the hanging rook at b6 as well. What a game by World Champ Vladimir Kramnik, he is an inspiration to me because his games are brilliant and unpredictable. I hope you learned from this game. Enjoy your day and God Bless You All...} 1-0