apexin: Game Four
Vladimir Kramnik (2807) – Deep Fritz
Brains in Bahrain (4), 10.10.2002 [D34]
Somehow Kramnik again managed to exchange queens and to create a position
that is easy to play. He seems very well-prepared!
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5
It is easy to understand that Fritz did not want another Queen’s Gambit Accepted,
but I am sure the Tarrasch Defense did not come as a surprise to Kramnik.
4.cxd5 exd5 5.g3
This is considered best, as the bishop (from g2) can create further pressure
against d5.
5…Nc6 6.Bg2 Nf6 7.0-0 Be7 8.Nc3 0-0 9.Bg5 cxd4 10.Nxd4 h6
11.Bf4
Kramnik keeps his bishops, as Fritz could be extremely powerful with the bishoppair.
11…Bg4 12.h3 Be6 13.Rc1 Re8 14.Nxe6!? fxe6 15.e4
A typical transformation, which is especially useful against a computer, as the
exchange of queens becomes a possibility.
15…d4 16.e5 dxc3
16...Nh7?! is unconvincing: 17.Ne4 Nf8 18.Qg4 Kh7 19.Qh5 Nd7 20.h4
Ndxe5 21.Nc5 Bxc5 22.Rxc5 Nd7 23.Rg5 Kh8?? 24.Rxg7 Kxg7 25.Bxh6+
Kh8 26.Bg5+ Kg8 1-0, Nogueiras,J-Klinger,J Graz 1984.
21
17.exf6 Bxf6 18.bxc3 Qxd1 19.Rfxd1
White is better because of his two bishops and more active pieces, which is
very nice against Fritz when you lead 2½–½!
19…Rad8 20.Be3
20.Rb1 Rxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Kf7 22.c4 Nd4 23.Bxb7 Ne2+ 24.Kg2 Nxf4+ 25.gxf4
Rd8 26.Rxd8 (26.Rc1!?) 26...Bxd8 27.c5 Be7 28.c6 Bd6 It is completely
drawn now because of the opposite-colored bishops. 29.Kf3 Bc7 30.Ke4 Ke7
31.Bc8 Kd6 32.Bd7 Bd8 33.f3 ½–½, Adler,J-Flueckiger,C Bern 1988.
20...Rxd1+
20...Kf7 21.Rb1 Rxd1+ 22.Rxd1 Bxc3 23.Rc1 Bb4 24.Bxc6 bxc6 25.Rxc6
a5 26.Kf1 Rd8 27.Rc7+ Kf6 28.Ke2 Rd5 29.Bc1 Bd6 30.Rc4 g5 31.h4 gxh4
32.Rxh4 h5 33.Rc4 Kf5 34.Bd2 Rb5 35.Bc3 Be5 36.Rh4 Kg6 37.Bxe5
Rxe5+ 38.Kf3 Rb5 39.Kg2 e5 40.Ra4 Kf5 41.Kh3 Rd5 42.f3 Kg5 ½–½,
Dlugy,M- Petursson,M Nordic-USA 1986; 20...a6 21.c4 Rxd1+ 22.Rxd1 Na5
23.c5 Rd8 24.Rb1 Rd7 25.Kf1 Kf7 26.Ke2y Muir,A-Sathe,B BCF-ch 1987.
21.Rxd1 Bxc3 22.Rd7
Was this still part of Kramnik’s preparation?
22…Rb8 23.Bxc6 (23.f4!? Notkin) 23...bxc6 24.Rxa7 Rb2 25.Ra6 Bd2!
Fritz understands this endgame well and draws it easily because of his active
pieces. 25.a4!? Ra2 26.Ra6 also came into consideration, but Black should be
able to draw this, too.
26.Rxc6
Kramnik plays it safe. This makes perfect sense as he leads. 26.Bd4 Rc2 27.Ra7 g5=.
22
26...Bxe3 27.fxe3 Kf7
27...Rxa2 28.Rxe6 Kf7 is drawn.
28.a4 Ra2 29.Rc4 Kf6 30.Kf1 g5
Fritz starts active counterplay on the kingside, which is an important technique
in such positions, as it may become a race.
31.h4 h5 32.hxg5+
32.Rc5 gxh4 33.gxh4 Rxa4 34.Rxh5 Kg6 35.Rh8 Kg7 36.Rh5 Kg6=.
32...Kxg5 33.Ke1 e5 34.Kf1 Kf5 35.Rh4 Kg6 36.Re4 Kf5 37.Rh4
Kg5 38.Kg1 Kg6 39.g4
Kramnik simplifies into a completely drawn position, with his king on the first
rank he can’t make real progress anyway.
39…hxg4
39...Kg5 40.Rxh5+ Kxg4 41.Rxe5 Rxa4=; 39...Rxa4?? 40.gxh5+ Kg5
41.Rxa4i.
40.Rxg4+ Kf5 41.Rc4 ½–½
Draw offer by Vladimir Kramnik. 41...Re2 42.Rc3 Ra2=.
Kibitzing
