Game #3 has been already published in one of mine previous posts, but I think that it deserves to be published in "re-play" mode and because of the annotations of GM Yannick Pelletier are interesting but the size of file extended the capacity of "generator" I publish both the game in "re-play" mode and annotations separately.
Game #3
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| Swiss GM Yannick Pelletier |
To lose the first game of the match as white came as a big
blow for Kramnik. But in his second white game, he showed how great a champion
he can be! After a rather unsuccessful start in the match, Kramnik needs to
gain back some confidence. We, therefore, expect a solid game from him as
black.
1.e4
In the first two games, Aronian managed to surprise his
opponent. But this time, Kramnik did not give him the slightest opportunity to
do so! He opens with the king's pawn, something he had not done in a classical
game since 2006. 'First move, first surprise! We find it hard to recall when
Aronian played 1. e4 for the last time in a classical game.' 'First move, first
surprise! We find it hard to recall when Aronian played 1.e4 for the last time
in a classical game.' 'First move, first surprise! We find it hard to recall
when Aronian played 1.e4 for the last time in a classical game.' 'First move,
first surprise! We find it hard to recall when Aronian played 1.e4 for the last
time in a classical game.'
1...e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3
[3.Bb5 Nf6
Even though Kramnik had not really prepared anything
concrete, he had decided before the match to react to an unlikely 1.e4 with the
Berlin Defence. Taking into account
that both players are two of the greatest specialists in this system, we can
expect an interesting battle.
4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8
9.Nc3 Be6
This is clearly a secondary move, which Kramnik tries for
the first time.
10.Rd1+ Ke8 11.Ng5 Bc8
Going back like this may look like a beginner's move. But
black understands that the white knight is not ideally placed, as it just left
its best square f3.
12.h3 Be7 13.Bf4
(13.Nf3 could
have been considered, but Aronian does not feel like retreating without being
forced to. His move is a novelty.)
13...Nh4!
(An
excellent reaction. This move is not obvious, but Kramnik has a great feeling
in these positions. Exchanging on g5 was not advisable because white gets the
initiative after 13...Bxg5 14.Bxg5 Be6 15.g4; In case of the
obvious 13...h6 , white goes back to f3 and is ready to play
15.g4 and swap knights on h4. As this exchange operation would be in his
favour, the sense behind Kramnik's move becomes clear.)
14.e6
Aronian felt that he could even get a slightly unpleasant
position without this concrete measure. Indeed, black is now ready to play h6
followed by Be6 and Ng6.
14...f6
(Even though
this reaction seems to lead to comfortable equality, Kramnik thought for a long
time before playing it. Another continuation appealed to him as well: 14...fxe6
15.Nge4 e5! 16.Bxe5 Bxh3 Here, white should probably follow with
17.Bg3 , as 17.Bxg7 Rg8 18.gxh3 Rxg7+ is obviously alright for
black. But even though white will be able take on c7 after 17.Bg3, the balance
should not be disrupted.; While Kramnik pondered over his move, the
commentators got carried away by the computer suggestion 14...Ng6?! Both
players did not consider this artificial move seriously, as white can simply
take on f7 with the pawn and ensure himself of an edge. But in fact, after a
while, the computer refutes its own idea by playing 15.Nxf7 Nxf4
16.Nxh8 It turns out that after16...Bxe6 17.Rd4, black's pieces
are exposed to white's firing rooks on central files. Thus, it will not be easy
to capture the lonely Nh8.)
15.Nf7 Rg8 16.Bxc7 Bxe6 17.Nd6+ Bxd6 18.Bxd6 Kf7 19.f3
Everyone expected a draw soon and an additional rapid game.
Including Kramnik, who played his next move quickly and offered a draw.
19...Nf5
(In the press conference, however, the Russian
criticized his move and admitted he had played carelessly. Objectively, though,
black is still alright after that, even though his practical task is made a bit
more difficult. According to Kramnik, 19...Rgd8 20.Bc5 Bf5 was
more accurate. But it is possible that Aronian would still have turned down the
draw in this case and played on with 21.Rac1)
20.Bc5 b6 21.Bf2 Rgd8 22.a4!
Aronian shows that his wish to continue the fight was not
only of psychological nature. The black queenside is put under pressure.
22...Ne7
(22...Nd6?! followed by Nb7 would be a strong
defensive manoeuvre, but black does not have the time to set it up because of 23.a5)
23.a5 c5 24.Nb5
a) After this or
24.Ne4 , black manages to equalize thanks to 24...Nc6;
b) During
the live commentaries, we tried to make the slightly unnatural 24.g4 work.
Indeed, black cannot yet improve the
position of his knight, as 24...Nc6?! (24...Nd5? 25.axb6) 25.axb6
axb6 26.Rxa8 Rxa8 27.Rd6 is unpleasant. For instance 27...Rc8 28.Na4 Ke7 29.Rd1
and 29...Rb8 fails to 30.Nxb6! Yet, 24.g4 does not contain any threat, and
might even cause some weakening of white's kingside. Therefore, we do not think
that black should really be in danger here;
24...Nc6! 25.Rxd8 Rxd8 26.axb6
(26.Nxa7 was tempting, but after 26...Nxa7
27.axb6 Nc6 28.Bxc5 Bc8 black controls the light squares and keeps the
balance.)
26...axb6 27.Ra6 Rd1+
Black obviously refuses to defend passively. The rook
penetrates into the white camp in order to create threats.
28.Kh2 Rd2 29.Rxb6
(29.Bxc5! could even lead to difficulties
because of 29...Bd5 The bishop simultaneously attacks f3 and
protects the Nc6, so that black now threatens to take the bishop.)
29...Rxc2
(The right
move order! Black loses after 29...Rxf2? 30.Rxc6 Rxc2 31.Rc7+! Kg6
32.Nd4!)
30.Nd6+
Aronian could have simplified immediately, but he
keeps on trying to squeeze the maximum from his position.
30...Ke7 31.Ne4 Nd4!
But Kramnik finds the best defence.
32.Rb7+ Kf8 33.Rc7 Rxb2 34.Rxc5 Nf5 35.Ng3 Rxf2 36.Nxf5 Bxf5
37.Rxf5 Ra2
This draw may have looked insipid at first sight, but it
contained some hidden ideas. Aronian managed to put his opponent under some
pressure, thus showing that he keeps on dictating the pace in the match. But
Kramnik can certainly be satisfied, as he proved that the first game was only
an accident. He will be white in the third game, so that the ball is in his
camp! 1/2-1/2 Aronian,L (2820)-Kramnik,V (2801)/Zurich 2012 'This draw may have
looked insipid at first sight, but it contained some hidden ideas. Aronian
managed to put his opponent under some pressure, thus showing that he keeps on
dictating the pace in the match. But Kramnik can certainly be satisfied, as he
proved that the first game was only an accident. He will be white in the third
game, so that the ball is in his camp!' 'This draw may have looked insipid at
first sight, but it contained some hidden ideas. Aronian managed to put his
opponent under some pressure, thus showing that he keeps on dictating the pace
in the match. But Kramnik can certainly be satisfied, as he proved that the
first game was only an accident. He will be white in the third game, so that
the ball is in his camp!' 'This draw may have looked insipid at first sight,
but it contained some hidden ideas. Aronian managed to put his opponent under
some pressure, thus showing that he keeps on dictating the pace in the match.
But Kramnik can certainly be satisfied, as he proved that the first game was
only an accident. He will be white in the third game, so that the ball is in his
camp!' 'This draw may have looked insipid at first sight, but it contained some
hidden ideas. Aronian managed to put his opponent under some pressure, thus
showing that he keeps on dictating the pace in the match. But Kramnik can
certainly be satisfied, as he proved that the first game was only an accident.
He will be white in the third game, so that the ball is in his camp!']
3...Nf6 4.d4
Again! The Four-Knights could not really be expected by
Aronian...
4...exd4 5.Nxd4 Bc5
... who therefore deviates from the main path (5...Bb4).
6.Be3 Bb6 7.Qd2 0-0 8.0-0-0 Re8 9.f3 d5
[A very natural reaction. 9...d6 would simply allow white to
develop an attack on the kingside thanks to his space advantage.]
10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Bg5
This is about where Kramnik's preparation ended. He quickly
checked this position with his computer and noticed that white was ok.
Therefore, Aronian's decision to sacrifice the queen did not scare him.
11...Nxc3!?
[It certainly looks dangerous to weaken the king's diagonal
with 11...f6 , while; 11...Nde7 fails to impress too. Aronian did not hesitate
long. He thought that the queen sacrifice was entirely correct.]
12.Bxd8 Nxd1 13.Bxc7!?
[Kramnik took a long time for this move, as he needed to
work out the following complications precisely. The computer prefers 13.Bh4
Nxd4 14.Qxd1 Nf5 15.Bg5 , but both players agreed afterwards that black was
close to equality in this case.]
13...Bxc7 14.Nxc6 Ne3 15.Bb5!
[Kramnik finds the best continuation! 15.Nd4? would be bad
because of 15...Bf4 , with the cute idea 16.Bb5 Nf1! 17.Rxf1 (17.Qxf4?
Re1#) 17...Bxd2+ 18.Kxd2 Rd8 , when black obviously has better
chances.]
15...bxc6
[Aronian thought for quite a long time here. He quite liked
15...a6 16.Ba4 Nc4 , but white seems to be better after 17.Qb4 b5 18.Bb3 Bf4+
19.Kb1 He eventually chose the game continuation, assessing it as at least
equal for him. As we shall see, this is overoptimistic. Let us note that
15...Bf4? fails to 16.Ne7+! , when black succumbs to the weakness of his back
rank.; A worthy alternative, however, was offered by the difficult move
15...Bf5 After 16.Nd4 Bf4 17.Bxe8 Nxg2 , white gives back the queen but remains
a pawn up: 18.Bxf7+ Kxf7 19.Qxf4 Nxf4 20.Nxf5 White's technical task is far
from obvious, although one would not like to defend the blakc position against
someone like Kramnik.]
16.Bxc6 Nc4 17.Qd4?!
[A slight inaccuracy, which Kramnik explained by having
overlooked black's 18th move. 17.Qb4 was clearly superior, with the possible
continuation 17...Be6 18.Bxe8 Rxe8 19.Re1 Black finds it hard to increase his
activity because of tactical weaknesses such as his back rank.]
17...Be6 18.Bxa8 Bb6! 19.Qd3
[19.Qe4 only leads to a draw after 19...Be3+ 20.Kd1 Nxb2+
21.Ke2 Bb6 , because white's king is too exposed. The computer proposed other
moves, but Kramnik's choice to keep his queen centralized appears more
natural.]
19...Rxa8
[From a pure practical point of view, 19...Rd8 should not
worry white, who can simplify into a slightly better endgame with 20.Qxd8+ Bxd8
21.g3 Contrary to the game continuation, only two results are possible here.]
20.Re1 Rd8 21.Qe4 g5?!
[Aronian still liked his position, as he admitted in the
press conference. But the problem for black is that all his pieces already
display maximal activity, which makes it hard to find a plan. White, however,
can systematically improve his position by playing c3 and b3. The text move
rather weakens the black king, which is why 21...g6 or; 21...h5 should have
been preferred. But it is still unclear how to face 22.c3 followed by 23.b3]
22.c3 Bc5 23.Re2 h6 24.g3
[Here or at the previous move, white could have played the
obvious 24.h4 . But Kramnik prefers strengthening his position with solid
moves.]
24...a5 25.f4 a4 26.f5!
Exchanging on g5 was also good, but this move leads to
concrete very play.
26...Bd5 27.Qd3 Bb6 28.b3!? axb3 29.axb3 Na5 30.Re8+!?
[30.Qb5 is recommended by the computer, but is 30...Nxb3+
31.Kc2 Nd4+! 32.cxd4 Bxd4 really winning? Kramnik does not wish to answer this
question over the board, and finds an interesting alternative.]
30...Rxe8 31.Qxd5 Rd8 32.Qb5 Rd6 33.Kc2 Kg7?!
[Aronian found himself in acute time-trouble. 33...Bd8 was
more stubborn, although the white pawns should decide the game after 34.Qe8+
Kg7 35.Qe5+ Rf6 36.b4 Nc6 37.Qe4]
34.b4 Nb7 35.c4 Rf6 36.g4
[36.c5 was obviously good enough]
36...Nd8 37.c5 Bc7 38.Qd7 Nc6 39.b5 Na7 40.Qxc7 Nxb5
41.Qe5
Thanks to the eternal pin on the rook, white will easily
break the blockade of his passed pawn.
41...Na7 42.Kd3 1-0
A fascinating game, where Kramnik showed strong nerves in
order to convert the domination of his queen over black's three pieces.
