[Event "World-ch Anand-Gelfand +1-1=10"] [Site "Moscow"] [Date "2012.05.20"] [Round "7"] [White "Gelfand, Boris"] [Black "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D45"] [WhiteElo "2727"] [BlackElo "2791"] [Annotator "Gelfand/Huzman"] [PlyCount "75"] [EventDate "2012.05.11"] [EventType "match"] [EventRounds "12"] [EventCountry "RUS"] [SourceTitle "CBM 149"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2012.07.17"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2012.07.17"] [SourceQuality "1"] {[%evp 0,75,19,31,43,-4,44,30,30,39,44,40,72,65,66,32,41,37,37,19,16,21,30,27, 11,-19,-2,-12,-7,-31,-15,-3,12,10,11,-6,19,20,10,4,10,0,32,29,37,43,42,29,65, 70,109,99,125,127,121,121,129,120,142,149,177,137,149,155,204,199,199,208,277, 294,324,438,493,504,488,702,698,905]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 a6 6. c5 {In the three previous games of the match, I did not manage to achieve a real advantage after either 6.b3 or 6.Qc2. For this game, I and my seconds prepared a new continuation.} Nbd7 7. Qc2 $5 {The idea of this useful move is prophylactic. Practice in recent years has shown that after 7.b4, Black equalises with 7...b6, and after 7.Bd3, the reply 7...e5 is strong, and gives Black good play. After the text, White is ready to react differently to each of these Black plans.} b6 ({The play assumes a different character after} 7... e5 8. dxe5 Ng4 9. e6 fxe6 10. Bd3 Ngf6 (10... Nde5 $5) 11. Ng5 Nxc5 12. Bxh7 Nxh7 13. Qg6+ Kd7 14. Nf7 {0-1 Radjabov,T (2650)-Grischuk,A (2732)/Bastia 2003/ with advantage to White.}) 8. cxb6 Nxb6 9. Bd2 c5 10. Rc1 {The threat of 11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.Nxd5 forces Black to clarify the pawn structure.} ({The immediate opening of lines does not bring anything real} 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. Rc1 Be7 $11 {Black's pawn majority in the centre gives him good counterchances.}) 10... cxd4 ({If} 10... c4 {then} 11. b3 {White is better prepared for queenside play, thanks to his better development. Evidently, Anand was not ready for the usual passive play and preferred a different type of pawn structure, one seemingly harmless for Black.} cxb3 {Black must agree to this exchange, to avoid a weakness on c4.} 12. axb3 Bb7 13. Bd3 Bd6 14. O-O O-O 15. Ne5 {White preserves a small positional advantage, thanks to his better placed pieces.} Rc8 (15... Qb8 16. Na4 $14) 16. Qb2 $14) 11. exd4 Bd6 {In this position, White has the choice between playing for a positional advantage and an interesting attempt to exploit the tactical features of the position.} 12. Bg5 (12. Na4 $5 {This move forces matters, since Black's reply is practically forced.} Nxa4 (12... Bd7 13. Nc5 $14) (12... Nc4 13. Bxc4 dxc4 14. Ne5 $14) 13. Qc6+ Bd7 14. Qxd6 {At this critical moment, Black has a choice between 14..Nb2 and 14..Ne4 The continuation} Ne4 {leads to simplifications and a small white advantage in the endgame.} (14... Nxb2 {looks dangerous. After} 15. Qa3 Nc4 16. Bxc4 dxc4 17. Ba5 $36 {White keeps the enemy king in the centre, which gives him a dangerous initiative.}) 15. Qa3 Nxd2 16. Kxd2 $5 (16. Nxd2 Qe7 17. Qxe7+ Kxe7 $11) 16... Qe7 17. Qxe7+ Kxe7 18. b3 Nb6 19. Rc5 f6 $14 {White has a small initiative, but Black retains a defensible position.}) 12... O-O 13. Bd3 h6 14. Bh4 Bb7 15. O-O Qb8 $6 {A rather risky strategic decision by Anand.} ({ After} 15... Bf4 {taking the important c1-square away from White, Black has practically equalised.} 16. Rcd1 (16. Rb1 Nbd7 17. b4 (17. Qe2 a5) 17... Rc8 18. Qb3 Nb6 {is ok for Black}) 16... Nbd7 17. Na4 a5 18. Nc5 Qb6 $11) {Black gives White a difficult positional choice: either to play for an attack by means of 16.Bf6, in return for giving Black two bishops and pawn control of the centre, or to follow general positional lines of playing against the bad bishop on c8, which means choosing 16.Bg3. I decided on the second course, in full accordance with my conception of chess strategy, which was formed under the influence of Akiba Rubinstein, my favourite player of the past.} 16. Bg3 $5 (16. Bxf6 $5 gxf6 17. Ne2 $1 {[%CAl Ge2g3,Gg3h5] This is the best way to continue the attack. Black faces a difficult defence.} ({After} 17. Qe2 Rc8 { /\Bf8 White achieves nothing.}) 17... Rc8 (17... Kg7 18. Ng3 Bxg3 19. fxg3 Rc8 20. Qd2 Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Qd6 22. Qf4 Qxf4 23. gxf4 $14) (17... f5 18. Ng3 Qd8 { [%CAl Gd8f6]} 19. Nh5 Nd7 20. g4 $1 $40 fxg4 $140 21. Qd2 $18) 18. Qd2 Bf8 19. Rxc8 Nxc8 (19... Qxc8 20. Nf4 $36) 20. Ng3 Nd6 21. Nh5 Bg7 22. Qf4 $36 Ne4 23. Qg4 Ng5 24. Nxg5 fxg5 25. Nxg7 Kxg7 26. f4 $36 {Despite the numerous exchanges, White retains a dangerous initiative.}) 16... Rc8 17. Qe2 Bxg3 18. hxg3 { The computer does not give White the advantage here, and so many commentators assessed the position incorrectly as a result. Despite the apparent simplicity of the position, Black needs to defend carefully, against a range of White ideas, involving doubling rooks on the c-file and putting the knight on e5. White can also advance on the queenside with a3-b4, or attack on the kingside with g4-g5. No small role is played in Black's problems by the passive bishop on b7, which remains out of play, as a result of Black's previous decisions.} ( {The attempt to play for the attack with} 18. fxg3 {is unconvincing in this position, and only weakens the pawn structure, without giving real attacking chances.}) 18... Qd6 ({Black's problems are not solved after} 18... Rc7 19. Rc2 Qa7 {Now I considered two possibilities for White: In my opinion, the direct plan of queenside play is even stronger:} 20. Rfc1 ({An interesting setup is} 20. Qe5 Bc6 (20... Rc6 21. Qf4 Nbd7 22. b4 $36) 21. Qf4 Rac8 22. Rfc1 {White keeps the status quo on the queenside and may develop play on the other wing, exploiting his better-placed pieces and the communications between them.}) 20... Rac8 21. b3 Nbd7 22. Na4 {In order to bring the Bb7 into play, Black has to play ...a5. Then after Bb5, White can at any moment take play into a favourable knight vs bad bishop position.} Rxc2 23. Rxc2 a5 (23... Rxc2 24. Qxc2 Qb8 25. Nc5 $36) 24. Bb5 Qb8 25. Bxd7 Rxc2 (25... Nxd7 26. Nc5 Nxc5 27. Rxc5 Rxc5 28. dxc5 Bc8 29. Qe3 {In my opinion, Q+N are stronger than Q+B in this position. Even if Black manages to play f6 and e5, White, with the help of the break f4, can solidly blockade the central pawns and the white queenside pawns will decide the game.})) 19. Rc2 ({The tempting move} 19. Ne5 { turns out to be pseudo-active The continuation} Rc7 20. Rc2 Nfd7 21. Rfc1 Nxe5 22. dxe5 Qd8 {gives Black good play.}) 19... Nbd7 ({The formation} 19... Nfd7 20. Rfc1 Rc6 {insures Black against immediate unpleasantness, but White retains the possibility of play on both the queenside, with b3-a4, and on the kingside, with the help of the advance g4-g5. And the simple exchange of rooks by means of 21.Nd1 would retain the advantage for White in the endgame.}) ( 19... a5 {is premature, since surrendering control of b5 helps White's play:} 20. Rfc1 Qe7 21. a3 $14 Nc4 $140 22. Na4 $1 $36) ({White's queenside play is only helped by} 19... Nc4 20. Na4 Nd7 21. Rfc1 $36) 20. Rfc1 Rab8 $6 {A planless move, allowing White to seize the initiative on the queenside.} ({ The attempt to organise counterplay by means of e6-e5} 20... Re8 {allows White to fight for the advantage in two ways: allow or prevent the move 21..e5} 21. Na4 (21. Ne5 $5 Qb4 22. Qe3 {/\a3-b4,Na4} Nxe5 23. dxe5 Nd7 24. Ne2 $14 { and White has a classic advantage}) 21... e5 {White keeps a small advantage after} 22. dxe5 (22. Nc5 {is no good:} Nxc5 23. dxe5 (23. dxc5 Qc7 $15) 23... Nxd3 24. Qxd3 Rxe5 25. Nxe5 Qxe5 26. Qb3 Rb8 27. Rc7 {because of the nice tactic} Re8 $1 28. Rxb7 Qe1+ 29. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 30. Kh2 Ng4+ 31. Kh3 Nxf2+ 32. Kh4 Rh1#) 22... Nxe5 23. Nc5 $14) ({In my opinion, the best setup for Black was} 20... Rc7 $1 {/\Rac8. Now great accuracy is required of White, to obtain even a minimal advantage. I would have had to find the only move} 21. Qe1 $5 { to retain the initiative} ({Black's position is such that nothing comes from} 21. Nb5 Rxc2 22. Nxd6 Rxc1+ 23. Ne1 Rb8 {and only Black can be better}) ({ White gets no advantage from} 21. a3 Rac8 22. b4 a5 $1 $132 {this accurate move, requiring good calculation, allows Black to achieve an equal game.} 23. bxa5 Qxa3 24. a6 Rxc3 (24... Bxa6 25. Bxa6 Rxc3 26. Bxc8 Qxc1+ 27. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 28. Ne1 Rxc8 $11 {is also good enough for equality}) 25. Rxc3 Rxc3 26. Rxc3 Qxc3 27. axb7 Nb8 {Black neutralises the b7-pawn without any problems.} 28. Qe5 Nfd7 29. Qe2 Nf6 $11) ({The immediate} 21. Na4 {allows Black to exchange the most problematic piece, the Bb7} Rxc2 22. Rxc2 Bc6 $1 23. Nc5 Bb5 24. a3 ({ No problems are posed by} 24. Bxb5 axb5 25. a3 b4 26. a4 b3 $1 $132) 24... Bxd3 25. Qxd3 a5 26. Qb3 Qb8 27. Qxb8+ Rxb8 {Black can maintain the balance in the ending without great problems.}) 21... Rac8 22. Na4 Rxc2 23. Bxc2 {/\b4-Nc5} Bc6 24. Nc5 Qb8 25. b4 $36) 21. Na4 ({White can also permit himself to strengthen the position by means of} 21. Qe3 $5 Nb6 22. b3 $14 {and Black is completely without counterplay.}) 21... Ne4 $6 ({Better was} 21... Rxc2 { Now both 22.Qc2, and 22. Rc2 retain the advantage for White, but Black can defend more easily.} 22. Rxc2 (22. Qxc2 Rc8 {Principled.} 23. Nc5 ({The queen sacrifice gives White nothing:} 23. Qxc8+ Bxc8 24. Rxc8+ Nf8 25. Nc5 Qb6 (25... N6d7 $5 26. Nxa6 Nb6 27. Rc2 Nc4 $11)) {A stronger move is} 23... a5 {White can fight for the advantage in two ways:} ({The immediate attempt to break out leaves White with some advantage:} 23... e5 $5 24. Bf5 $5 (24. Nxe5 $2 Nxc5) ({ No advantage comes from} 24. dxe5 Qb6 $1 25. exf6 Rxc5 26. Qd2 Rxc1+ 27. Qxc1 Nxf6 $11 {[%CAl Gf6e4]}) 24... exd4 25. b4 d3 26. Qb2 Rc7 27. Bxd3 $14) 24. a3 (24. Qb3 Ba6 $1 {[%csl Gg1]} 25. Ne1 $1 (25. Bxa6 $140 Qxa6 26. Nxa6 $2 Rxc1+ 27. Kh2 Ng4+ 28. Kh3 Nxf2+ 29. Kh4 Rh1+ 30. Nh2 Rxh2#) 25... Nxc5 26. Rxc5 Ne4 27. Rxc8+ Bxc8 28. Qb5 Qc7 $1 {With the help of active counterplay, Black can count on equalising, but here too, great accuracy is required of him.} 29. Qe8+ Kh7 30. Nf3 Qc1+ 31. Kh2 Qd1 $1 $11 {Only this move saves the day!} 32. Ne5 ( 32. Bxe4+ dxe4 33. Nh4 Qxd4 34. Qxf7 Qf6 35. Qxf6 gxf6 $11) 32... Qh5+ 33. Kg1 Qd1+ $11) 24... e5 25. Qb1 $1 {Thanks to this excellent move, White can continue to fight for the advantage.} (25. dxe5 Qb6 26. exf6 Rxc5 {leads to equality.}) 25... Nxc5 26. dxe5 Qe7 27. exf6 Qxf6 28. Bh7+ Kf8 (28... Kh8 29. b4 axb4 30. axb4 Nd7 31. Rxc8+ Bxc8 32. Bf5 Nb6 33. Bxc8 Nxc8 34. b5 $14) 29. b4 axb4 30. axb4 (30. Qxb4 Qe7 31. Bf5 Rc7 32. Qf4 $36) 30... Na4 31. Rxc8+ Bxc8 32. Qa2 Nb6 33. Bd3 {White has a minimal advantage.}) 22... Bc6 {Black seizes the opportunity to exchange the passive bishop, but even this does not promise full equality.} (22... Rc8 23. Rxc8+ Bxc8 24. Qc2 Bb7 25. a3 $14 (25. Nc5 $5 $14)) 23. Nc5 Bb5 24. Bxb5 {Best} axb5 ({White has a serious initiative after} 24... Rxb5 25. a4 Rb4 (25... Rb6 26. Ne5) 26. Ne5 $36 Rxd4 (26... Nxc5 27. Rxc5 Rb8 28. Qc2 $14 {White has a free advantage.}) 27. Ncxd7 Nxd7 28. Rc8+ Nf8 29. Qh5 Qe7 30. Nc6 Qc5 31. Rc7 Ng6 $8 32. Ne7+ Qxe7 33. Rxe7 Nxe7 34. Qe5 $5 (34. b3 $14) 34... Rxa4 35. Qb8+ Kh7 36. Qe8 $16) 25. Ne5 Nxc5 26. dxc5 Qa6 27. b4 Qa4 {In my opinion, White has an indisputable advantage, but Black retains chances of a successful defence.}) 22. Rxc8+ Bxc8 ({A pawn is lost after} 22... Rxc8 23. Rxc8+ Bxc8 24. Bxe4 dxe4 25. Qxe4 $16) 23. Qc2 $1 { A logical and strong move - White consistently follows his policy of exploiting the bad bishop on c8 which will be especially noticeable in the endgame.} ({Karpov's suggestion also looks strong:} 23. Qe1 $1 {White's queen emerges very effectively on a5, after which Black's defence is extremely difficult.} Bb7 24. Qa5 $16) ({Less convincing, although also leading to an advantage, is} 23. Qe3 Bb7 24. Qf4 $14) 23... g5 $2 {This looks strange, but it is hard to suggest a sensible continuation for Black.} ({White has a clear advantage after} 23... Bb7 24. Nc5 Rc8 25. b4 $16) ({The most stubborn looks to be} 23... Ndf6 {Now White has several promising ways to develop the initiative:} 24. Nc5 {is tempting:} ({After} 24. a3 Bd7 25. Nc5 a5 26. Ne5 Be8 {Black manages to regroup successfully, and it is not easy to develop White's advantage, eg.} 27. Bxe4 dxe4 28. Rd1 Qd5 29. b3 Bb5 30. a4 Bc6 {Black retains chances of counterplay.} 31. Nxe6 Qxe6 32. Nxc6 Qxb3 33. Qxb3 Rxb3 34. Ra1 Rd3 35. Nxa5 Rxd4 36. Nb3 Rd3 37. Rb1 $14) ({It is promising to play the preliminary} 24. Ne5 {with the idea of a subsequent penetration on the c-file, combined with Nc5.} Bd7 25. Nc5 {However, in this case Black retains defensive resources. An interesting move is} Be8 $5 (25... Nxc5 26. Qxc5 Qxc5 27. dxc5 Bb5 (27... Rxb2 {is bad:} 28. Nxd7 Nxd7 29. c6 $18) 28. Bxb5 axb5 {White has the advantage, although it is not fully certain that it suffices for victory. Black transfers his knight from f6 to c7, with chances of a successful defence. }) 26. Nxa6 {is risky:} (26. Qe2 Rb4 $132) 26... Ra8 27. Nc7 Rc8 $1 {and it is hard for White to unpin.}) 24... Nxc5 {however, the concrete circumstances allow White to play for the maximum:} 25. dxc5 $1 ({White should maintain a small positional advantage after} 25. Qxc5 Qxc5 26. Rxc5 Bd7 27. b3 Bb5 28. Bc2 $14 (28. Ne5)) 25... Qc7 26. Qc3 Ng4 $1 {Black must be ready for active counterplay in the centre} 27. Re1 a5 28. c6 $5 {Leading to a clear white advantage, without complications} (28. Nd4 $5 {Stronger} Bd7 ({White has the advantage after} 28... e5 29. Nb5 Qd8 30. f3 Ba6 (30... d4 31. Nxd4 exd4 32. Qxa5 $18) 31. fxg4 Bxb5 32. Bxb5 Rxb5 33. Rxe5 $16) 29. c6 Be8 30. Qc5 h5 $1 $132 {however, the cold-blooded} 31. b3 $1 {leaves Black's counterplay adequate } (31. Rc1 $5 {leads to sharper play, where White also retains chances of an advantage} h4 32. Be2 Nxf2 33. Kxf2 Qxg3+ 34. Kf1 h3 35. gxh3 Qxh3+ 36. Ke1 Qg3+ 37. Kd1) 31... h4 32. gxh4 Qh2+ 33. Kf1 Qh1+ (33... Qxh4 34. Nf3 Qh1+ 35. Ke2 Qxg2 36. Rg1 $16) 34. Ke2 Qxg2 35. Nf3 d4 36. Rf1 $16)) 24. Qc7 {White carries out his plan consistently.} ({White also has the advantage after} 24. Nc5 f5 25. b4 $16) 24... Qxc7 $6 (24... Bb7 {is bad:} 25. Bxe4 Qxc7 26. Bh7+ $1 {An important intermediate move.} Kxh7 27. Rxc7 Kg7 28. Rxd7 Bc6 29. Rxf7+ $1 Kxf7 30. Ne5+ Ke8 31. Nxc6 Rc8 32. Ne5 Rc1+ 33. Kh2 Rd1 34. Nc5 Rxd4 35. Ned3 $16) 25. Rxc7 {White has a strategically winning position. It is hard for Black to avoid the exchange of both his knights for White's bishop and knight, after which the positional idea of the whole game will be seen in full relief - the advantage of the knight over the bad bishop on c8.} f6 $2 {Leading immediately to a hopeless position for Black, however, as Anand said, in a bad position, all moves are bad.} ({After} 25... Nef6 26. Nc5 Ra8 27. b4 {Black is helpless.}) ({Black also has a difficult position after} 25... g4 26. Ne5 Nxe5 27. dxe5 $16 {/\Be4}) ({If} 25... Nd6 26. Nc5 Nf6 27. b3 {Black is paralysed and material losses are unavoidable.}) 26. Bxe4 $1 {This timely exchange leads to a position where White's two knights dominate.} dxe4 27. Nd2 f5 28. Nc4 Nf6 ({Also bad is} 28... Kf8 29. Nc5 Nxc5 30. dxc5 e5 31. c6 Be6 32. Rb7 Rc8 33. Nxe5 $18) 29. Nc5 Nd5 30. Ra7 Nb4 (30... Nf6 31. b3 $18) 31. Ne5 $6 {Not the most accurate, but good enough to win.} (31. Nd6 Nd5 (31... Nxa2 32. Rc7 $18) 32. b3 $18 {White's winning plan is: a4-a5, transfer the Kg1 to the centre to neutralise the black PP and after the exchange on c8, White plays Ra6 and the queenside PP decide the game.}) 31... Nc2 $1 {Anand seizes the micro-chance offered him.} 32. Nc6 Rxb2 33. Rc7 Rb1+ $2 ({Black could have obtained chances to save the game by} 33... e3 $142 34. fxe3 Nxe3 35. Rxc8+ Kh7 36. Rc7+ Kh8 37. Ne5 Rxg2+ 38. Kh1 Rf2 39. Ncd3 $18 ({After} 39. Nf7+ Kg7 40. Nxg5+ Kg6 41. Nh3 Rf1+ 42. Ng1 f4 43. gxf4 Rxf4 {little material remains, but White retains chances to win after} 44. Rg7+ Kf6 45. Rg3)) 34. Kh2 e3 35. Rxc8+ Kh7 36. Rc7+ {White organises a mating attack with minimal forces.} Kh8 37. Ne5 ({Also possible is} 37. Nd7 Kg7 38. Nce5 {/\39.Nf6+ Kxf6 40.Rf7#} Nxd4 39. Nf6+ $1 { This effective move, forcing mate, would have pleased the spectators.} ({ I would probably have played} 39. fxe3 $18) 39... Kxf6 40. f4 Nf3+ 41. gxf3 Rb2+ 42. Kh3 g4+ 43. fxg4 fxg4+ 44. Kxg4 h5+ 45. Kf3 Rf2+ 46. Ke4 {and mate is unavoidable.}) 37... e2 (37... exf2 38. Nxe6 Rh1+ (38... f1=N+ 39. Kh3 g4+ 40. Kh4 $18) 39. Kxh1 f1=Q+ 40. Kh2 $18) 38. Nxe6 $1 {I was pleased that in the world championship match, I managed to play a game in the style of Akiba Rubinstein, where the whole strategic thread was followed from beginning to the end.} (38. Nxe6 e1=Q (38... Rh1+ 39. Kxh1 e1=Q+ 40. Kh2 $18) 39. Ng6+ Kg8 40. Rg7#) 1-0 [Event "Wch-12"] [Site "Havana"] [Date "1921.04.08"] [Round "10"] [White "Lasker, Emanuel"] [Black "Capablanca, Jose Raul"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D61"] [Annotator "Capablanca, J. R."] [PlyCount "136"] [EventDate "1921.??.??"] [EventType "match"] [EventCountry "CUB"] [SourceTitle "J. R. Capablanca"] [Source "Pickard & Son"] [SourceDate "2002.10.01"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2002.10.01"] [SourceQuality "1"] {[%evp 0,136,19,9,26,0,-9,-9,-4,-40,12,17,21,25,36,19,35,-13,21,-8,12,-29,-27, -38,-21,-32,-33,7,-5,11,-4,0,12,-8,24,25,25,1,9,-15,-15,-11,-11,-17,1,-27,-8, -27,-23,-56,-56,-50,-55,-53,-24,-52,-64,-67,-60,-64,-64,-133,-64,-71,-66,-84, -104,-97,-96,-85,-89,-93,-97,-92,-90,-89,-87,-90,-74,-71,-60,-110,-94,-95,-75, -73,-75,-135,-90,-159,-165,-146,-151,-150,-152,-156,-160,-168,-177,-174,-181, -240,-234,-218,-191,-218,-191,-201,-207,-197,-189,-201,-180,-187,-196,-206, -192,-192,-200,-213,-218,-200,-200,-227,-234,-234,-234,-234,-200,-215,-183, -236,-286,-265,-234,-267,-277,-337,-367]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. Qc2 ({The text is considered inferior to} 7. Rc1 { White was probably trying to deviate from the better-known paths.}) 7... c5 { [Considered the best answer to 7.Qc2.]} 8. Rd1 Qa5 9. Bd3 h6 {[To remove the pawn from the line of the Bishop and thus gain time for development. White threatened 10.Bxh7+.]} 10. Bh4 cxd4 11. exd4 dxc4 12. Bxc4 Nb6 13. Bb3 Bd7 14. O-O Rac8 15. Ne5 {[Black has obtained an excellent development. He must now find the way either to exchange the White Bishop at h4 for his Bishop at e7, or to post a piece at d5 so as to bring about some exchanges that will simplify the position to some extent. All this must be done while keeping immobile the White pawn at d4. White's weakness is his isolated d-pawn. On the other hand the central position of the pawn at d4 as compared with the less central position of Black's pawn at e6 gives White more space and in consequence more freedom of maneuver.]} Bb5 ({This is a weak move which might have given Black a great deal of trouble. Black wanted to gain time in order to play ...Nbd5, the pivot square of the whole position for Black. It was the wrong idea, however, as will soon be seen. The simple and logical move} 15... Bc6 {[%CAl Yc6d5] threatening 16...Bd5, would have given Black an excellent game.}) 16. Rfe1 Nbd5 17. Bxd5 ({At first glance Black seems to have the better position. Such, however, is not the case. White could play} 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 ({not} 17... Nxf6 {because of} 18. Ng6 {which would give White a winning game because after} fxg6 19. Rxe6 {regains the piece}) 18. Bxd5 exd5 19. Qf5 { leaving Black with a very hard game to defend.}) 17... Nxd5 18. Bxe7 Nxe7 19. Qb3 Bc6 {[The Bishop has to go back to his natural square. This in itself is a condemnation of Black's 15th move.]} 20. Nxc6 bxc6 {[After the smoke of battle has cleared away, the position is slightly in favor of Black. It is true that Black has two isolated pawns, but owing to the position of the pieces the Black pawns are less easily attacked than the one isolated d-pawn of White.]} 21. Re5 Qb6 22. Qc2 Rfd8 23. Ne2 ({The alternative would be} 23. Na4 {But White does not wish to endanger the safety of his d-pawn. He therefore adopts the text move, which places the Knight in the best defensive position as regards the d-pawn.}) 23... Rd5 24. Rxd5 cxd5 {[Black has consolidated his position. He holds the open file, his pieces are very well placed, and the only weak point - his isolated a-pawn - cannot be attacked because of the general situation of the pieces. The question is, how can Black get the benefit of all this? From now on the student will do well to study carefully every move up to the end. It is one of Black's best efforts in his whole career, and that against one of the strongest players the world has ever seen.] } 25. Qd2 Nf5 {[This keeps two of White's pieces tied up to the defense of the d-pawn and prevents 26.Rc1.]} 26. b3 h5 {[To prevent g2-g4 at any time, thus keeping White from ever dislodging the Knight at f5.]} 27. h3 h4 {[This makes the position of the Knight at f5 as strong as it could be. IN order to dislodge the Knight White will have to play g2-g4, disrupting his Kingside.]} 28. Qd3 Rc6 {[In order to guard the square a6, thus permitting the Queen to go to b4 without letting the White Queen penetrate into Black's position.]} 29. Kf1 g6 {[Since White cannot do anything but mark time, Black, having all the time at his disposal, prepares his position before advancing.]} 30. Qb1 Qb4 31. Kg1 a5 32. Qb2 a4 {[%csl Rb3][%CAl Yc6b6] [By the advance on the Queenside, Black not only removes his only weakness, the isolated a-pawn, but he creates a new weakness in White's game, since White will soon have another isolated pawn besides his d-pawn. The text move threatens to win a pawn by 33...Rb6.} 33. Qd2 {[White decides to exchange Queens, hoping thereby to increase his chances of drawing.]} Qxd2 34. Rxd2 axb3 35. axb3 Rb6 36. Rd3 ({Forced. If} 36. Rb2 Rb4 {would win a pawn.}) 36... Ra6 37. g4 {[Without Queens on the board the disrupting of the Kingside is not dangerous. Besides White to give his King some breathing space.]} hxg3 38. fxg3 Ra2 39. Nc3 Rc2 40. Nd1 Ne7 { [Now the Knight comes to the other side to win one of the two weak isolated pawns.]} 41. Ne3 ({White cannot advance} 41. b4 {because of} Rc1 {[%CAl Yc1b1] followed by 42...Rb1.}) 41... Rc1+ 42. Kf2 Nc6 43. Nd1 Rb1 ({The very tempting } 43... Nb4 {would not be so good. For instance} 44. Rd2 Rb1 45. Nb2 Rxb2 46. Rxb2 Nd3+ 47. Ke2 Nxb2 48. Kd2 {and draws.}) 44. Ke2 ({There is no way for White to save his b-pawn. The text move is not, therefore, a blunder. He might have played now} 44. Ke1 Na5 45. Kd2 Rxb3 46. Rxb3 Nxb3+ {and there would have resulted a rather difficult Knight ending, which should nevertheless be won for Black.}) 44... Rxb3 45. Ke3 Rb4 {[Having his choice, Black prefers this ending to the more simple Knight ending.]} 46. Nc3 Ne7 47. Ne2 Nf5+ 48. Kf2 g5 49. g4 Nd6 50. Ng1 Ne4+ 51. Kf1 Rb1+ 52. Kg2 Rb2+ 53. Kf1 Rf2+ 54. Ke1 Ra2 { [All these moves with the Rook have had for object to obtain this particular position.]} 55. Kf1 Kg7 {[The White pieces are practically tied up as a result of the last few moves. Black can now take his time in arriving with his King at the place where he may want to go.]} 56. Re3 Kg6 57. Rd3 f6 58. Re3 Kf7 59. Rd3 Ke7 60. Re3 Kd6 61. Rd3 Rf2+ {[Again the Rook moves have a definite object, and that is to have the same position as before but with the White Rook at e3, so as to facilitate the advance of the pawns. Black could, of course, have won without these moves, but it would have taken longer.]} 62. Ke1 Rg2 63. Kf1 Ra2 64. Re3 e5 65. Rd3 exd4 66. Rxd4 Kc5 67. Rd1 d4 68. Rc1+ Kd5 {[White resigns]} 0-1 [Event "Tromsoe ol (Men) 41st"] [Site "Tromsoe"] [Date "2014.08.08"] [Round "6.1"] [White "Kasimdzhanov, Rustam"] [Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D37"] [WhiteElo "2700"] [BlackElo "2760"] [Annotator "Ftacnik,L"] [PlyCount "59"] [EventDate "2014.08.02"] [EventType "team-swiss"] [EventRounds "11"] [EventCountry "NOR"] [SourceTitle "CBM 162"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2014.09.17"] [SourceVersion "1"] [SourceVersionDate "2014.09.17"] [SourceQuality "1"] [WhiteTeam "Uzbekistan"] [BlackTeam "Russia"] [WhiteTeamCountry "UZB"] [BlackTeamCountry "RUS"] {[%evp 0,59,19,9,9,-10,0,0,4,1,42,21,24,27,80,43,42,30,41,32,47,31,36,27,26,19, 8,5,28,19,19,15,34,19,21,21,31,49,50,49,73,55,46,1,38,38,38,32,59,87,77,63,40, 113,130,118,172,202,230,440,908,29982]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bf4 {Korchnoi has once remarked, that 4...Nbd7 move is played partly with an idea to take the sting from the Bf4 move. Kasimdzhanov plays it anyway as it has become quite popular in recent years.} dxc4 6. e3 {White sensibly decides, that 6.e4 exposes him too much and that Black will find a way to prove it. The modest move from the game introduces a moment of critical decision for Black, since the defender can choose between a plethora of ideas.} (6. e4 Bb4 7. Qc2 (7. e5 Nd5 8. Bd2 Bxc3 9. bxc3 b5) (7. Bxc4 Nxe4 8. O-O Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bd6 10. Bg5 Be7 11. Bd2 O-O 12. Qe2 c5 13. Rfd1 cxd4 14. cxd4 Nf6 15. Ne5 Nd5 16. Qh5 Bd7 17. Rdb1 Bc6 $11 {1/2 (50) Vescovi,G (2465)-Krasenkow,M (2575) Malmo 1995}) 7... b5 (7... Nb6 $5 8. Be2 (8. Bxc4 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Nxc4 10. Qa4+ c6 11. Qxc4 Nxe4 $17)) 8. e5 (8. a4 $6 Bb7 9. e5 Bxf3) (8. Nd2 c6 9. a3 Ba5 10. Bd6 Bc7 11. Bxc7 Qxc7 12. b3 e5 13. d5 cxd5 14. Nxb5 Qc6 15. a4 a6 16. exd5 Nxd5 17. Qxc4 Bb7 18. Qxc6 Bxc6 19. Nd6+ Ke7 20. Nf5+ Kf6 21. Rc1 Nb4 $11 {1-0 (46) Boruchovsky,A (2472)-Brkic,A (2580) Warsaw 2013}) 8... Nd5 9. Bg5 f6 10. exf6 N7xf6 (10... gxf6 11. Bh6 Bb7 12. Be2 (12. Bg7 Rg8 13. Qxh7 Rxg7 $1 14. Qxg7 Nxc3 $17) 12... Qe7 13. O-O Bxc3 14. bxc3 $15) 11. a4 Bb7 $1 12. Be2 ( 12. axb5 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Bxf3 14. gxf3 Qxd4 $17) 12... a6 13. O-O c6 14. Ne5 O-O 15. Bg4 $5 {xe6} Qd6 16. Bh3 Bxc3 17. bxc3 c5 $1 18. axb5 axb5 19. Nf3 Rxa1 20. Rxa1 Nf4 (20... cxd4 21. Nxd4 $132) 21. Bxf4 Qxf4 $15 {0-1 (32) Van Wely,L (2560)-Sokolov,I (2625) Tilburg 1994}) 6... Bd6 {The theory of the whole line is still in flux and comparison between different ideas is complicated enough. Kramnik shows respect for his opponent in the form of a solid, well referenced choice of move.} (6... Nd5 7. Bxc4 Nxf4 (7... Bb4 8. O-O Nxf4 9. exf4 Bxc3 10. bxc3 O-O 11. Qc2 Nf6 12. Ne5 b6 13. Rfe1 g6 14. Re3 Bb7 15. Rae1 Kg7 16. Rh3 c5 17. Qd2 Bd5 18. Ba6 Qc7 19. c4 Bb7 20. Bxb7 Qxb7 21. dxc5 bxc5 22. Rb3 $14 { 0-1 (68) Aronian,L (2803)-Dominguez Perez, L (2754) Beijing 2013}) 8. exf4 Bd6 (8... Nb6 9. Bb3 Bd6 10. g3 Bd7 11. O-O (11. Qd3 Bc6 12. O-O-O $5 Bxf3 (12... O-O 13. Ng5 g6 14. d5) 13. Qxf3 c6 14. Kb1 (14. f5 Qg5+) 14... g6 (14... O-O 15. f5 exf5 16. Qxf5 $14) 15. f5 $1 exf5 16. Rhe1+ Kf8 17. g4 $40) 11... O-O 12. Qd3 Bc6 13. Rad1 Qf6 14. Ng5 g6 15. Nge4 Qf5 (15... Bxe4 16. Nxe4 Qe7 17. Rfe1 (17. d5 e5 18. f5 (18. Rfe1 exf4 19. Qc3 Nd7 20. Nxd6 Qxd6 21. Re6 Qc5 $11 ) 18... Nd7 $14) 17... c6 18. h4 a5 19. a3 a4 20. Ba2 Nd5 21. h5 $11) 16. d5 exd5 17. Nxd5 Nxd5 18. Bxd5 Bxd5 19. Qxd5 Qxd5 20. Rxd5 $14 {1-0 (77) Gelfand, B (2739)-Adams,M (2727) Paris/St Petersburg 2013}) 9. Qd2 (9. g3 O-O 10. O-O Nf6 11. Qe2 b6 12. Rfd1 Bb7 13. Rac1 Qe7 14. a3 Rfd8 15. Ne5 c5 16. Nb5 cxd4 17. Nxd4 Bxe5 18. Qxe5 Qd6 19. Bb3 Qxe5 20. fxe5 $11 {1-0 (25) Botvinnik, M-Menchik,V/Hastings 1934/HCL}) (9. Ne5 O-O 10. O-O Nb6 11. Bb3 Bd7 12. Qg4 Bxe5 13. dxe5 Bc6 14. f5 exf5 15. Qxf5 Qe7 16. Rfe1 Rad8 17. Rad1 g6 18. Qf4 Kg7 $11 {Ibragimov,I-Smagin,S/Saint Petersburg 1998})) (6... a6 7. a4 (7. Bxc4 b5 8. Be2 (8. Bb3 $1) 8... Bb7 9. O-O c5 10. a4 b4 11. Nb1 Rc8 12. Nbd2 cxd4 13. exd4 Nb6 14. a5 Nbd5 15. Bg3 Bd6 $11 {Saemisch, F-Sprecher,L/Berlin 1920}) 7... Bd6 (7... Nb6 $6 8. a5 Nbd5 9. Bxc4 Nxf4 10. exf4 Be7 (10... Bd6 11. Ne5 O-O 12. O-O Nd7 13. Qf3 Qe7 14. Rfe1 Nxe5 15. fxe5 Bb4 16. Re3 Bxc3 17. bxc3 $16 {Alekhine,A-Lancel,E/France 1923}) 11. O-O O-O 12. Ne5 Qd6 (12... c6 13. f5 $1 exf5 14. Qb3 Qxd4 (14... Qe8 15. Rfe1 $14) 15. Nxf7 Qh4 16. g3 Qh5 17. Rae1 $16) 13. Re1 c6 (13... g6 $1 14. Re3 $5 Rd8 15. Rd3 c6 16. Qf3 $14) 14. f5 $1 exf5 (14... Nd5 15. Qb3 Qb4 16. Qc2 Re8 17. Ne4 $36 {/\Nd3}) 15. Nxf7 $1 (15. Qb3 Be6 16. Qxb7 Ng4 17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. Qxc6 Nxe5 19. Qxd6 Bxd6 20. dxe5 Bb4 $14 ) 15... Rxf7 16. Qb3 Nd5 17. Nxd5 cxd5 18. Bxd5 Qf6 19. Rac1 Bd7 20. Rc7 $5 ( 20. Bxf7+ Qxf7 21. Qxb7 Rd8 22. Qxa6 $16) 20... Rd8 21. Rxb7 Kf8 22. Rb6 Qxd4 23. Bxf7 Bc5 24. Rd1 Qxf2+ 25. Kh1 Be8 $1 (25... Bxb6 26. axb6 $18) 26. Bd5 $1 {1-0 (40) Gelfand,B (2703)-Graf,A (2646) Plovdiv 2003}) (7... c5 8. Bxc4 cxd4 9. exd4 Nb6 10. Bb3 Nbd5 11. Be5 $1 Be7 (11... Bb4 12. Qd3 $14) 12. Nxd5 Nxd5 $2 13. Bxg7 Rg8 14. Be5 Rxg2 15. Bg3 $16) 8. Bg3 (8. Bg5 h6 9. Bh4 c5 (9... b6 10. Bxc4 (10. e4 Be7 11. Bxc4 Bb7 12. e5 Ne4 13. Nxe4 Bxe4 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. O-O O-O 16. Re1 Bb7 17. Bd3 Rfd8 18. Be4 Bxe4 19. Rxe4 c5 20. Qe2 cxd4 21. Rxd4 {1/2 (21) Adhiban,B (2610)-Roiz,M (2572) Biel 2014}) 10... Bb7 11. O-O Qe7 12. d5 e5 13. Qe2 g5 14. Bg3 Nf8 15. Nd2 Ng6 16. f3 h5 17. Nde4 Nxe4 18. fxe4 Bc8 19. Be1 g4 20. Qd3 Qg5 {1/2 (32) Ding,L (2695) -Ipatov,A (2577) Athens 2012}) 10. Bxc4 O-O 11. O-O cxd4 12. exd4 Qc7 13. Bb3 b6 14. Rc1 Qb8 (14... Bf4 15. Rc2 Qd6 $5 (15... Qb8 16. d5) 16. Ne2 (16. d5 Nc5 17. Bxf6 Nxb3 18. Bh4 Bb7 19. g3 exd5 20. gxf4 d4 $132) 16... Bb7 17. Nxf4 Qxf4 18. Bg3 Qf5 19. Rc7 Be4 $11) 15. d5 $1 e5 16. Nd2 $1 e4 $2 (16... Bb7 17. Nde4 Nxe4 18. Nxe4 Kh8 (18... Nc5 19. Rxc5 $1 bxc5 20. Nf6+ Kh8 21. Qd3 e4 (21... g6 22. Qe3 Kg7 23. Ng4 $18) 22. Qxe4 g6 23. Bg3 $16) 19. Rc6 $1 Bxc6 20. dxc6 Nc5 21. Nxd6 Nxb3 22. Be7 Nd4 23. f4 $1 Qc7 24. Bxf8 Rxf8 25. fxe5 Nxc6 $14) 17. Ncxe4 Nxe4 18. Nxe4 Bxh2+ 19. Kh1 Qf4 20. Be7 $1 Qxe4 21. Re1 Qf4 22. Rc4 $1 Qxf2 23. Kxh2 Bb7 24. Bc2 $1 { 1-0 (97) Gelfand,B (2764)-Dominguez Perez,L (2757) Elancourt 2013}) 8... b6 ( 8... Bxg3 9. hxg3 c5 10. Bxc4 Nb6 11. Bb3 cxd4 12. exd4 Bd7 (12... Qd6 13. a5 Nbd5 14. Ne5 Bd7 15. Bxd5 Nxd5 16. Qh5 g6 17. Qf3 Qe7 18. Nxd5 exd5 19. O-O $14 ) 13. a5 Nbd5 14. Bxd5 (14. Ne5 Bc6 15. g4 Nxc3 16. bxc3 Bxg2 17. Rh2 Bc6) 14... Nxd5 15. Nxd5 exd5 16. Qe2+ Be6 {1/2 (86) Grischuk,A (2785)-Ponomariov,R (2756) Elancourt 2013} (16... Qe7 17. Rh5 Qxe2+ 18. Kxe2 Be6 19. Kd2 $14)) 9. Bxc4 Bb7 10. Bh4 (10. O-O Bxg3 11. hxg3 c5 12. d5 exd5 13. Nxd5 O-O 14. Nf4 Qe7 15. Qc2 Ne5 16. Nxe5 Qxe5 17. Rfd1 Bc6 18. Qe2 g5 19. Nd3 Qe4 20. Ne1 $11 { 1/2 (84) Fressinet,L (2710)-L'Ami,E (2645) Germany 2013}) 10... O-O 11. O-O Qb8 12. d5 exd5 13. Nxd5 Nxd5 14. Bxd5 Ne5 15. Rc1 Bxd5 16. Qxd5 c6 17. Qe4 Nxf3+ 18. Qxf3 Bxh2+ 19. Kh1 Be5 20. Rxc6 b5 21. axb5 Qxb5 {1/2 (58) Carlsen,M (2786) -Ivanchuk,V (2786) Cap d'Agde 2008}) (6... Nb6 7. Bxc4 Nxc4 (7... Nfd5 8. O-O Nxf4 9. exf4 Bd6 10. Ne5 Bxe5 11. fxe5 Bd7 12. Bb3 Bc6 13. Qg4 g6 14. Rfd1 Qe7 15. Rac1 h5 16. Qh3 Rd8 17. Qe3 Bd5 18. Nb5 Rd7 19. Qc3 O-O {0-1 (50) Giri,A (2734)-Dominguez Perez,L (2754) Beijing 2013}) 8. Qa4+ Bd7 (8... c6 9. Qxc4 Nd5 10. Be5 f6 11. Bg3 Qb6 12. O-O Qxb2 13. Ne4 Nb6 14. Qd3 Qb5 15. Qc2 Qa4 16. Qd3 Qb5 17. Qc2 Qa4 18. Qd3 Qb5 {1/2 (18) Potkin,V (2626)-Zvjaginsev,V (2656) Irkutsk 2010}) 9. Qxc4 Bd6 10. Bg5 (10. O-O Bc6 11. Ne5 Bxe5 12. Bxe5 Nd7 ( 12... O-O 13. Bxf6 (13. Rac1 a6 14. Rfd1 Nd5 $5 15. Nxd5 exd5 16. Qe2 f6 17. Bg3 Re8 18. Rc3 Re7 19. Rdc1 Qe8 $11 {1/2 Schandorff,L (2563)-Koneru,H (2496)/ Esbjerg 2003/ (58)}) 13... Qxf6 14. e4 Rac8 $14) 13. Bg3 Nb6 $6 (13... O-O 14. e4 Nb6 15. Qc5 $14) 14. Qc5 Nd7 $2 15. Qa5 $1 b6 16. Qa3 $16 {1-0 (34) Bacrot, E (2653)-Jussupow,A (2633) Germany 2001}) (10. Bxd6 cxd6 11. d5 e5 12. Qb4 Qb6 13. Qxb6 axb6 14. Ke2 Ke7 15. Nd2 Rhc8 16. Rhc1 Rc5 17. e4 g6 18. f3 Nh5 19. Ke3 f5 {1/2 Nikolic,P (2635)-Andersson,U (2605)/Debrecen 1992/EU-chT}) (10. Bg3 Bc6 11. O-O Bxf3 12. gxf3 O-O 13. Nb5 Qd7 14. Rfc1 Rfc8 $11 {1/2 Gurevich,M (2625)-Andersson,U (2605)/Madrid 1988/EXT 1997 (80)})) (6... b5 7. Nxb5 Nd5 8. Bxc4 (8. Bg3 Bb4+ 9. Nd2 N7b6 10. Qc2 O-O 11. Be2 Ba6 12. Nc3 c5 13. dxc5 Bxc5 14. a3 Rc8 15. Nde4 Be7 16. Be5 f5 17. Nd2 Bf6 18. Bxf6 Qxf6 19. Rc1 Nxc3 20. Qxc3 Qxc3 21. Rxc3 $11 {1-0 (43) Lenic,L (2634) -Stern,R (2513) Germany 2014}) 8... Bb4+ 9. Kf1 Nxf4 10. exf4 O-O 11. g3 a6 12. Nc3 Bb7 13. Be2 Qe7 14. Kg2 c5 15. a3 Bxc3 16. bxc3 cxd4 17. cxd4 Nf6 18. Re1 Rfc8 19. Kg1 Ne4 $11 {1-0 (41) L'Ami,E (2645)-Rabiega,R (2507) Germany 2013}) 7. Bxd6 (7. Bg5 a6 8. Bxc4 b5 9. Bd3 Bb7 10. O-O Be7 11. Qc2 c5 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Be4 Bxe4 14. Nxe4 cxd4 15. Nxd4 Rc8 16. Qe2 f5 17. Ng3 O-O 18. a4 bxa4 19. Rxa4 Nc5 20. Rc4 a5 21. Rfc1 $14 {1/2 (49) Schandorff,L (2519)-Berkes,F (2619) Gothenburg 2005}) 7... cxd6 8. Bxc4 a6 9. a4 d5 {A move like this deserves some explanation. Black is concerned about White's ability to expand in the centre with his pawns. In order to prevent it the defender is ready to live with a second-rate bishop on b7.} (9... Qa5 10. O-O O-O 11. Qd2 b6 12. Rab1 Qb4 13. Be2 Bb7 14. Ne1 Qa5 $11 {1/2 (14) Ruck,R (2540)-Portisch,L (2533) Szekesfehervar 2006}) 10. Bd3 b6 11. O-O O-O 12. Qb3 Qe7 {In this battle between two former world champions Kramnik would like to play close to perfection. With his timely control of the a3-f8 diagonal he is avoiding annoying moves like Qb4.} (12... Bb7 13. Qb4 Rc8 14. Rfc1 h6 15. Rc2 Rc6 16. Rac1 Qb8 17. Na2 Rxc2 18. Rxc2 Rc8 19. Qb3 Rxc2 20. Qxc2 Qc8 21. Qxc8+ Bxc8 22. Nb4 Nb8 {1/2 (27) Bluebaum,M (2519)-Mirzoev,A (2550) Lueneburg 2014}) 13. Rac1 Bb7 14. Rc2 Rfc8 15. Rfc1 Qd6 16. Ne5 $5 $146 {Kasimdzhanov surprises his adversary with a novelty which might hurt a bit. The current world champion had to face a challenge of more modest proportions in 16.Na2 move.} (16. Na2 Rxc2 17. Rxc2 Rc8 18. Rxc8+ Bxc8 19. Qc3 Bb7 20. b4 Ne4 21. Qc1 h6 22. h3 Kf8 23. b5 a5 24. Nc3 Qc7 25. Qa3+ Qd6 26. Qc1 Qc7 27. Qa3+ {1/2 (55) Gelfand,B (2755)-Carlsen,M (2864) Moscow 2013}) 16... Nxe5 { It might have been attractive to avoid complications, but the natural move 16.. .Rc7 is fraught with some dangers.} (16... Rc7 17. Nxd7 (17. f4 Rac8 $11) 17... Rxd7 (17... Nxd7 18. Bxh7+ $1 Kxh7 19. Nb5 axb5 20. Rxc7 Nc5 21. R7xc5 bxc5 22. dxc5 Qb8 23. axb5 $14) 18. Na2 $14) 17. dxe5 Qxe5 18. Qxb6 Rcb8 {The choice of continuation was suddenly quite difficult, as many lines would simply fail to pass muster. The Russian star tries to minimise the danger.} (18... Ng4 $2 19. Qxb7 Qxh2+ 20. Kf1 Qh1+ 21. Ke2 Qxg2 22. Nd1 $18) (18... Rab8 19. Ne4 $5 (19. f4 Qh5 (19... Nd7 20. Qd4 (20. Qa7 Qd6 21. Qd4 f6 $11) 20... Qf6 21. b4 e5 22. fxe5 Qe6 23. Qf4 g6 24. b5 Nxe5 $11) 20. h3 $14) 19... Rxc2 20. Nxf6+ gxf6 21. Rxc2 d4 22. Qxd4 Qxd4 23. exd4 Rd8 24. Rc7 Rxd4 25. Rxb7 Rxd3 26. g3 $14) ( 18... Qb8 $2 19. Nxd5 Rxc2 20. Nxf6+ gxf6 21. Rxc2 $16) 19. Ne2 Nd7 (19... Ng4 $2 20. Qxb7 $1 Qxh2+ 21. Kf1 Qh1+ 22. Ng1 g6 23. Qc7 Nh2+ 24. Ke2 Qxg2 25. Qg3 $16) (19... d4 20. Qxd4 Qg5 21. Ng3 Rd8 22. Qb4 Rab8 (22... Bxg2 23. Kxg2 Rxd3 24. Rc5 Qg4 25. Rc8+ Rd8 26. Qb7 Raxc8 27. Rxc8 Rf8 28. Qxa6 $16) 23. Be2 Nd5 24. Qa5 f5 25. Rd2 $14) (19... Ne8 20. b4 Bc8 21. Qd8 Bb7 22. Qe7 Qd6 23. Qxd6 Nxd6 24. Nd4 $14) 20. Qd4 {In the era before computers it might have been quite difficult to find out, that the 20.Qb4!? retreat was probably more exact. Black could not have claimed full equality in that case.} (20. Qb4 $5 Bc8 21. Qa3 Nf8 22. Nd4 $14) 20... Qd6 (20... Qxd4 21. Nxd4 Rc8 22. Rc7 Rab8 23. Nf3 Nb6 24. a5 Na8 25. R7c3 Rxc3 26. Rxc3 Rc8 27. Rb3 Rc7 28. Nd4 h6 29. f4 $14) 21. f4 (21. Rc7 e5 22. Qh4 e4 23. Bb1 Nf6 24. Qg3 Qb4 25. Qe5 a5 $11) 21... e5 {Those players who have not been world champions might have been scared to show activity for Black, when his pieces are so passive in the corner of the queenside. Kramnik knows better and it seems as if the equilibrium was not yet truly broken.} (21... Rc8 $1 22. b4 Rxc2 23. Rxc2 g6 $11) (21... f6 22. Rc7 $1 g6 (22... e5 23. fxe5 Nxe5 24. Ng3 Bc8 25. Be4 Be6 26. Nf5 Bxf5 27. Bxd5+ Kh8 28. Bxa8 $18) 23. a5 e5 24. Qa4 $16) 22. fxe5 Nxe5 23. Qf4 Qe7 $2 {It is painful to admit, but tactics decide too many games even on the highest level. One weaker moment can send any decent position into a tailspin and turn it into a difficult one. Black should have found the 24...g6! defence in the critical line with the promise of full equality.} (23... Rc8 $1 24. Qf5 g6 $1 ( 24... Nxd3 25. Rxc8+ Rxc8 26. Rxc8+ Bxc8 27. Qxc8+ Qf8 28. Qxa6 Nxb2 29. Qb5 Nc4 30. Qxd5 Qc8 (30... Nxe3 31. Qe4 Nd1 32. Qd4 $18) 31. Kf2 $16) 25. Rxc8+ Bxc8 26. Rxc8+ Kg7 27. Ng3 Rxc8 28. Qxc8 Nxd3 29. Qc3+ Ne5 30. Qd4 f6 31. e4 Kf7 32. exd5 Nc6 $11) 24. Rc7 $1 Qe8 (24... Nxd3 25. Rxe7 Nxf4 26. Nxf4 $18) ( 24... Qe6 25. Bf5 Qf6 26. Nd4 h6 (26... g6 27. Be6 $18) 27. b3 $16) 25. Bf5 Nc4 {[%mdl 2048] The defender is unable to untangle his bundle of paasive pieces on the a- and b-files. It has to be admitted that White is playing with five pieces against Black's two.} (25... g6 26. Nd4 gxf5 27. Nxf5 Rc8 28. Qg5+ Ng6 29. Qf6 Qf8 30. Rxf7 $3 Rxc1+ 31. Kf2 Rc2+ 32. Kf1 Rc1+ 33. Ke2 Nf4+ 34. exf4 Re8+ 35. Kf2 Rc2+ 36. Kg3 Rxg2+ 37. Kxg2 d4+ 38. Kf2 $18) (25... Bc6 26. R1xc6 Nxc6 27. Bd7 Qe5 28. Bxc6 Qxf4 29. Nxf4 Rc8 30. Bxa8 Rxc7 31. b4 $18) (25... Ng6 26. Bxg6 hxg6 27. Rf1 f6 28. Nd4 $18) 26. Bd7 $1 Qf8 {The tragedy is complete since grabbing the e3-pawn leaves Black in a completely hopeless position.} (26... Qxe3+ 27. Qxe3 Nxe3 28. Nd4 h5 (28... a5 29. b3 h5 30. h3 f5 31. Be6+ Kh7 32. Kf2 f4 33. g3 $18) 29. b3 g6 30. Re1 Ng4 31. Bxg4 hxg4 32. Ree7 Bc8 33. Rxf7 $18) 27. b3 Nb6 (27... Nd6 28. Nd4 $18) 28. Bf5 d4 (28... Bc8 29. Rxf7 $1 (29. a5 Bxf5 30. axb6 Bd3 31. Nc3 Rxb6 32. Qd4 Rxb3 33. Qxd3 $18) 29... Kxf7 30. Bxh7+ Ke7 31. Qb4+ Ke8 32. Bg6+ $18) 29. Rxf7 $1 {The final combination is a fine example of using huge superiority in numbers for a very swift and efficient attack. Please note, that four black pieces are very close to the edge of the board far away from their own king.} Kxf7 (29... Qxf7 30. Bxh7+ Kxh7 (30... Kf8 31. Qd6+ Ke8 32. Bg6 $18) 31. Qxf7 Bd5 32. Qf5+ Kg8 33. a5 Rf8 34. Qe5 $18) 30. Bxh7+ (30. Bxh7+ Ke8 (30... Ke6 31. Nxd4+ Kd5 32. Be4#) (30... Ke7 31. Qe5+ Kd7 32. Bf5+ Kd8 (32... Qxf5 33. Rc7+ Kd8 34. Qe7#) 33. Qc7+ Ke8 34. Bg6+ $18) 31. Bg6+ Kd7 32. Qc7+ Ke6 33. Qxb6+ Qd6 34. Nf4+ Ke7 35. Rc7+ Qxc7 36. Qxc7+ $18) 1-0