[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Linares, Spain"]
[Date "2000.02.28"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Khalifman"]
[Black "Kramnik"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Opening "Nimzo-Indian: 4.e3, main line with 8...Bxc3"]
[ECO "E58"]
[NIC "NI.02"]
[WhiteElo "2656"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "GM Einar Gausel/Mindzine"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nf3 d5 7. O-O Nc6 8. a3
Bxc3 9. bxc3 Qc7 10. Bb2 dxc4 11. Bxc4 e5 12. Be2 Rd8 13. Qc2 Bg4 14. dxe5 {
The only way to get Bb2 into the game.} 14... Nxe5 15. c4 Nxf3+ 16. gxf3 Bh3
17. Rfd1 Qc6 {Black's structural advantage compensates for White's two bishops.
I must admit I was expecting a quick draw from this position.} 18. Qc3 Ne8 19.
Kh1 Be6 20. Rg1 $6 {Bringing the rooks to the open g-file looks extremely
natural, but White's attack never materialises.} 20... f6 21. Rg3 $2 {
Consequently pursuing the wrong plan. Opposing in the d-file was the only
sensible thing to do.} 21... Rd7 22. Rag1 Rad8 23. Bc1 {
Not a happy move, but Rd2 had to be prevented.} 23... Bf5 {Black wants to
exchange white-squared bishops with Bd3, thus enabling his rooks to penetrate.}
24. e4 Bg6 25. h4 Nc7 {Heading for the hole on d4.} 26. Bf1 Ne6 27. Rh3 Bh5 $1
28. Rhg3 (28. Qxf6 Rf8 29. Qc3 Nd4 {and f3 is fried.}) 28... Kh8 29. Qe3 Nd4 {
Black has achieved total domination. Khalifman's position quickly disintegrates
in time trouble.} 30. Bg2 Re8 31. Rh3 Qa4 32. Bf1 Qd1 33. Bg2 Qc2 34. f4 Ne2
35. Rf1 Rd1 {and White resigned, since Bc1 is toast.} 0-1

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Linares, Spain"]
[Date "2000.02.28"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kasparov"]
[Black "Shirov"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Opening "Petrov: classical attack, Marshall variation"]
[ECO "C42"]
[NIC "RG.04"]
[WhiteElo "2851"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "GM Einar Gausel/Mindzine"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 {The Petroff enjoys a very solid reputation, although
White usually gets a little something in the main lines.} 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3
Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4 c6 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Nc3 Nxc3 11. bxc3
Bg4 12. Rb1 Nd7 13. h3 Bh5 14. Rb5 Nb6 15. c4 $5 {
A very aggressive move, sacrificing a pawn for the two bishops.} 15... Bxf3 (
15... dxc4 16. Bxh7+ Kxh7 17. Rxh5+ Kg8 18. Nh4 {
and White's attack is looking pretty scary.}) 16. Qxf3 dxc4 17. Bc2 Qd7 18. a4
g6 19. Bd2 {Now White is simply threatening Rfb1 followed by a4-a5.} 19... c3
$1 {Black's best chance is to strike first by creating counterplay on the
queenside.} 20. Bxc3 Rac8 21. Be4 Rc4 22. Rbb1 Rxa4 23. Bxb7 Ra3 24. Rfc1 Qc7
25. Ra1 Rb8 26. Be4 Rb3 27. Bd2 {
At this stage most experts were predicting a draw.} 27... Bh2+ 28. Kh1 Rxf3 29.
Rxc7 Rxf2 30. Kxh2 Rxd2 31. Raxa7 Nc8 $4 {
Time trouble is no excuse for this incredible blunder.} (31... Rxd4 {
would have forced} 32. Rxf7 Rxe4 33. Rg7+ Kf8 34. Rxh7 Kg8 35. Rag7+ Kf8 {
, which leads to a draw after} 36. Rxg6 Nd5 37. Rh8+ Kf7) 32. Rab7 $1 Rxb7 (
32... Ra8 33. Rb4 Rda2 34. Bxa8 Rxa8 35. Rd7 {followed by Rbb7, and White wins.
}) 33. Rxc8+ Kg7 34. Bxb7 Rxd4 {If Black could force the rooks off and
exchange his remaining pawns for White's g-pawn, he would draw, since White's
bishop is on the "wrong" colour with regards to promoting the h-pawn. White,
however, has no intention of co-operating!} 35. g4 h5 36. g5 h4 37. Rc7 Rf4 38.
Bc8 Rf2+ 39. Kg1 Rf4 40. Kg2 Kf8 41. Bg4 Kg7 42. Rc5 Kf8 43. Bf3 Kg7 44. Kf2
Ra4 45. Ke3 {White's king finally joins the battle.} 45... Ra3+ 46. Kf4 Ra4+
47. Ke5 Ra3 48. Bd5 Re3+ (48... Rxh3 49. Rc7 Re3+ 50. Kf4 Re1 51. Rxf7+ Kh8 52.
Kg4 h3 53. Rf3 {and White wins the h-pawn and the game.}) 49. Kf4 Rd3 50. Bc4
Rd7 51. Rc6 Re7 52. Rf6 {
and Shirov resigned, since Kasparov can easily force a winning pawn ending:} (
52. Rf6 Rc7 (52... Kf8 53. Bxf7 Rxf7 54. Ke5 $1) 53. Bd5 Rd7 (53... Re7 54. Kg4
Rd7 55. Rxf7+ Rxf7 56. Bxf7 Kxf7 57. Kxh4 Ke6 58. Kg4 Ke7 59. Kf4 Kf7 60. Ke5
Ke7 61. h4) 54. Ke5 Re7+ 55. Kd6 Ra7 56. Rxf7+ Rxf7 57. Bxf7 Kxf7 58. Kd7 Kf8
59. Ke6 Kg7 60. Ke7 Kg8 61. Kf6 Kh7 62. Kf7 {and White wins.}) 1-0

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Linares, Spain"]
[Date "2000.02.28"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Leko"]
[Black "Anand"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Opening "Caro-Kann: Steinitz variation"]
[ECO "B17"]
[NIC "CK.05"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[Annotator "GM Einar Gausel/Mindzine"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Ng5 Ngf6 6. Bd3 e6 7. N1f3 Bd6 (
7... h6 $2 {is premature because of} 8. Nxe6 $1 {For an instructive
demonstration of White's resources in this line, look up Deep Blue-Kasparov,
New York 1997!}) 8. Qe2 h6 9. Ne4 Nxe4 10. Qxe4 Qc7 11. Qg4 Kf8 {Anand has also
dabbled with Rg8. The text may look a bit strange, but so does White's queen!}
12. O-O c5 13. c3 b6 14. Qh4 Bb7 15. Be4 {Exchanging Black's strongest minor
piece and simultaneously bringing the queen back to safety.} 15... Bxe4 16.
Qxe4 Ke7 {Black has now achieved total co-ordination. White's only trump is
the fact that his king is safer.} 17. dxc5 bxc5 {
The best way of restraining White's queenside majority.} 18. Re1 Nf6 19. Qe2
Rhd8 20. h3 Kf8 21. Nd2 Bh2+ 22. Kh1 Bf4 23. Nc4 {A nice square for the knight,
but then again, it isn't really causing Black any real problems, is it?} 23...
Bxc1 24. Raxc1 Rd5 25. Ne3 Rd7 26. Rcd1 Rad8 27. Rxd7 Rxd7 28. Kg1 {Leko is sti
ll playing for a win, but he never manages to mount an attack against Black's
isolated c-pawn.} 28... Nd5 29. Nc4 Nb6 30. Ne5 Rd6 31. Qe4 Kg8 32. g3 c4 33.
Qf4 Rd5 34. Re4 Rb5 35. Nxc4 {Leading to massive exchanges and a draw.} 35...
Qxf4 36. Rxf4 Nxc4 37. Rxc4 Rxb2 38. Ra4 Rc2 39. Rxa7 {draw agreed. Black will
simply place his rook behind the a-pawn (after taking on c3) and keep an eye
on White's kingside to prevent him from running with his king.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Linares, Spain"]
[Date "2000.02.29"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Khalifman"]
[Black "Kasparov"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Opening "Grunfeld: Russian, Prins variation"]
[ECO "D97"]
[NIC "GI.10"]
[WhiteElo "2656"]
[BlackElo "2851"]
[Annotator "GM Einar Gausel/Mindzine"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 {This variation seems to be all
the rage these days. The basic idea is to take control of the centre without
being saddled with a potentially weak pawn on c3, which is symptomatic of the
lines beginning with} (5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3) 5... dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O
7. e4 Na6 8. Be2 c5 9. d5 e6 10. O-O exd5 11. exd5 {This centralised passed
pawn is definitely an asset. Black's compensation is based on pure piece
activity.} 11... Bf5 12. Be3 Qb6 13. b3 Rfe8 14. Rad1 Rad8 15. h3 Qa5 16. Rfe1
Nd7 17. Na4 Nb4 18. Bg5 (18. Nxc5 {results in a total mess after} 18... b5 19.
Nb7 (19. Qxb5 Qxb5 20. Bxb5 Rxe3 21. Rxe3 Nxc5 {is also unclear.}) 19... bxc4
20. Nxa5 cxb3 21. axb3 Nc2) 18... Nc2 $5 ({
There was probably nothing wrong with the more sedate} 18... Rc8 {
, but Kasparov obviously wants to muddy the waters.}) 19. Bxd8 Qxd8 20. Rf1 Nd4
{Threatening both Nxe2+ and b7-b5.} 21. Nxd4 Bxd4 {This menacing bishop may
not constitute outright compensation for the sacrificed exchange, but the
highly unpleasant threat of a7-a6, followed by b7-b5, certainly does!} 22. Rxd4
$1 {Without a doubt the most practical decision.} 22... cxd4 23. Bg4 $1 Bxg4
24. hxg4 Re4 25. f3 {Khalifman correctly decides to force a draw.} 25... Ne5
26. Qb4 Nd3 27. Qc4 Ne5 28. Qb4 Nd3 29. Qc4 {draw agreed.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Linares, Spain"]
[Date "2000.02.29"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Shirov"]
[Black "Leko"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Opening "Petrov: classical attack, Marshall variation"]
[ECO "C42"]
[NIC "RG.04"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "GM Einar Gausel/Mindzine"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 {Ugh! Another Petroff! I was hoping Leko would go for
something more sexy, like his patented Bc5-Spanish.} 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5.
d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4 c6 9. Qc2 Na6 10. a3 Bg4 $5 {
Now things actually get exciting.} 11. Ne5 (11. Bxe4 dxe4 12. Qxe4 Bxf3 13.
Qxf3 Qh4 14. g3 Qxd4 {and Black has regained his pawn.}) 11... Bxe5 12. dxe5
Nac5 13. f3 Nxd3 14. Qxd3 Nc5 15. Qd4 $5 (15. Qe3 $2 d4) 15... Nb3 16. Qxg4
Nxa1 17. Bh6 g6 18. Nc3 $5 {
Shirov decides to remain the exchange down and play for the attack.} 18... Qb6+
19. Rf2 Rfe8 20. Qf4 {Threatening to mate with Qf6.} 20... f5 21. cxd5 (21.
exf6 $4 Re1#) 21... Nb3 (21... cxd5 $2 22. Nxd5 {
and White wins back the exchange with a clear plus.}) 22. e6 cxd5 $5 {
Certainly not the only move, but the simplest way to neutralise White's
initiative.} 23. Nxd5 Qxe6 24. Nc7 Qc6 25. Nxe8 ({Note that} 25. Nxa8 $4 {
loses the queen after} 25... Re1+ 26. Rf1 Qc5+) 25... Rxe8 26. g4 Qc5 27. Kg2
Nd4 28. b4 Qe5 29. Rd2 Qxf4 30. Bxf4 Ne6 31. Be3 a6 32. gxf5 Ng7 33. Bc5 Nxf5 {
White's B vs N gives him a comfortable advantage, despite his inferior
kingside structure.} 34. a4 Ne3+ 35. Kf2 Nc4 36. Rd7 Ne5 $5 {
Leko chooses to sac a pawn to force a rook ending.} ({After} 36... b5 37. axb5
axb5 38. Rb7 (38. Bd4 Ne5) 38... Na3 {
, White will try to march his king to h6, starting with} 39. Kg3) 37. Rxb7 Nd3+
38. Kg3 Nxc5 39. bxc5 Rc8 40. Rb6 Rxc5 41. Rxa6 Kg7 42. Ra7+ Kh6 {This ending
should be a theoretical draw, but Black will of course have to suffer.} 43. Rb7
Rg5+ 44. Kh3 Rh5+ 45. Kg2 Rh4 46. a5 Ra4 47. Rb5 g5 48. Rb6+ Kh5 49. a6 g4 50.
f4 {White needs to avoid further exchanges to keep his winning chances alive.}
50... Ra2+ (50... Rxf4 $2 {was clearly bad:} 51. Rb5+ Kh4 52. Ra5 Rf8 53. a7
Ra8 54. Kg1 {and Black quickly runs out of moves. For example} 54... h6 55. Kh1
h5 (55... g3 56. Ra4+ Kh3 57. Ra3) 56. Kg2 {. Now} 56... g3 57. hxg3+ Kg4 58.
Ra4+ Kg5 59. Kh3 {is an easy win for White, since Black's h-pawn is doomed.})
51. Kg1 g3 $5 {Active defence!} 52. h3 ({Black has no problems after} 52. hxg3
Kg4) 52... Rc2 53. Rb7 Ra2 54. Rg7 (54. Rxh7+ Kg6 55. Rh4 (55. Ra7 Kf5 56. Ra8
Kxf4 57. a7 Ra1+ 58. Kg2 Ra2+) 55... Kf5 {is an easy draw. For example} 56. Rg4
Rxa6 57. Kg2 Ra3 58. Rxg3 Ra2+ 59. Kg1 Kxf4) 54... Rxa6 55. Kg2 (55. Rxh7+ Kg6
56. Rh4 Kf5 57. Kg2 Ra3 58. Rg4 Rb3) 55... h6 56. Kxg3 {Black can usually hold
this ending even without his h-pawn. White's main trump is the fact that
Black's king is confined to the h-file.} 56... Ra3+ 57. Kg2 Ra2+ 58. Kf3 Kh4
59. f5 Kxh3 60. f6 Ra1 61. Kf4 Rf1+ 62. Ke5 h5 63. Rg5 h4 64. Rf5 Re1+ 65. Kf4
Rf1+ 66. Kg5 Rg1+ 67. Kh6 Rg8 68. Rg5 Rf8 69. Kg7 Ra8 70. f7 Kh2 71. Kf6 Rf8 {
draw agreed.} (71... Rf8 72. Rg8 Rxf7+ 73. Kxf7 h3 74. Kf6 Kh1 75. Kf5 h2 76.
Ra8 Kg2 {and White misses the win by one tempo. He can of course try} 77. Ra2+
Kg1 78. Kg4 {, but after} 78... h1=Q {he'll have to check on a1, since} 79. Kg3
$2 {loses to} 79... Qh8 $1) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Linares, Spain"]
[Date "2000.02.29"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik"]
[Black "Anand"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Opening "QGD Slav: Dutch variation"]
[ECO "D18"]
[NIC "SL.05"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[Annotator "GM Einar Gausel/Mindzine"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 {Yesterday the Caro Kann, today the Slav! Anand will
apparently be restricting himself to a grim diet of solid openings with black
in this tournament.} 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8.
O-O O-O 9. Nh4 Nbd7 $5 10. Nxf5 exf5 {Black has had to part with his light
squared bishop, but he still has a firm grip on e4. This square is the main
point of dispute in the Slav.} 11. Qc2 Nb6 12. Bb3 Qd7 13. a5 Nbd5 14. f3 {
White needs to get in e3-e4 to activate his black-squared bishop. The obvious
downside of this plan is that d4 may well become a target.} 14... Rfe8 15. Nxd5
Nxd5 (15... cxd5 $2 16. Ba4 Rec8 17. Bxd7 Rxc2 18. Bxf5 {
and Black has no compensation for the pawn.}) 16. e4 Nf6 $5 17. Qc4 Bf8 18.
exf5 $5 (18. Bg5 {, threatening to destroy Black's kingside with Bxf6, seemed
more in keeping with the spirit of White's position.}) 18... Rad8 19. Kh1 Re7
20. Qc2 {draw agreed.} ({
A crying shame, since there's still a lot of play after} 20. Qc2 Qxd4 21. Bg5 {
. Black has the superior pawn structure, but White has the two bishops in an
open position. In other words: Both players had grounds tocontinue!}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Linares, Spain"]
[Date "2000.03.01"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kasparov"]
[Black "Kramnik"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Opening "Petrov: classical attack, Jaenisch variation"]
[ECO "C42"]
[NIC "RG.06"]
[WhiteElo "2851"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "GM Einar Gausel/Mindzine"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 b6 {This new move, intending Bb7 or maybe even Ba6,
seems risky, but Kramnik has obviously prepared it well at home.} 11. a3 Nxc3
12. bxc3 Nc6 13. cxd5 Qxd5 14. Re1 Bb7 15. Bd3 Rae8 16. Qc2 ({
After the game, Kasparov said he'd rejected} 16. c4 Qh5 17. d5 {because of}
17... Bd6 {. Question: Does Black really have enough for the piece after} 18.
dxc6 Rxe1+ 19. Qxe1 Bxc6 20. Be2 Bxf3 21. Bxf3 Qxh2+ 22. Kf1 $2) 16... h6 17.
Bh7+ Kh8 18. Be4 Qd8 19. Bb2 (19. Qa4 {
was certainly more testing, but things are far from clear after} 19... Qa8 {
. Kasparov claimed he would be winning after} 20. d5 Na5 21. Bxh6 $5 gxh6 22.
Qd4+ Kg8 23. Bc2 {
, threatening Qg4+ followed by Qf5, but Black is still kicking after} 23... Bc8
{. Heavy analysis might prove White has some way to win here, but in a
practical game I don't think this piece sacrifice would find too many takers.})
19... Bf6 20. c4 Na5 21. Bxb7 Nxb7 {and here Kasparov offered a draw, which
Kramnik accepted. In my opinion, White risks nothing by playing on.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Linares, Spain"]
[Date "2000.03.01"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Leko"]
[Black "Khalifman"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Opening "French: Winawer, advance, 5.a3"]
[ECO "C17"]
[NIC "FR.10"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2656"]
[Annotator "GM Einar Gausel/Mindzine"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5 {I don't trust this line, but
hey, that's just my opinion (which the present game does nothing to change!).}
6. Qg4 Ne7 7. dxc5 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 {
Yes, White's pawn structure is ugly as sin, but he does have the two bishops.}
8... Ng6 9. Bd3 Nd7 10. Nf3 Qc7 11. O-O Ndxe5 {Was this the right pawn to take?
} 12. Nxe5 Qxe5 13. Bb5+ Bd7 14. Bxd7+ Kxd7 15. Qa4+ Ke7 16. Qb4 Rab8 17. f4 $6
({The simple way to gain a clear advantage was} 17. c6+ Qd6 18. cxb7 Qxb4 19.
axb4 Rxb7 20. Be3 Ra8 21. Ra6 {, intending Rfa1.}) 17... Qe4 18. f5 {
Practically forcing Black to swap queens.} 18... Qxb4 (18... exf5 19. Bg5+ Kf8
(19... Kd7 20. Qb5+ Kc8 21. Rae1 Qxc2 22. Re8+ Rxe8 23. Qxe8+ Kc7 24. Qxf7+ Kc6
25. Qe6+ Kxc5 26. Qd7 {and White must be winning.}) 20. c6+ Qxb4 21. axb4 bxc6
22. Rxa7 {leads to an extremely unpleasant ending for Black, since he'll have
a hard time bringing Rh8 into the game.}) 19. axb4 exf5 20. Rxf5 {Black's weak
pawn on d5 makes this ending clearly favourable for White, but Khalifman
defends well.} 20... Ke6 21. Rf2 a6 22. Bf4 Nxf4 {
Or else the bishop will turn into a monster on d6.} 23. Rxf4 f5 24. Rd4 Rbd8
25. Re1+ Kf6 26. Red1 {Now d5 is a goner.} 26... Rhe8 $1 ({
The only way to make counterplay.} 26... Ke6 {is simply answered by} 27. c4)
27. c4 (27. Rxd5 Rxd5 28. Rxd5 Re2 29. Rd7 Rxc2 30. Rxb7 Rxc3 31. Rb6+ Ke5 32.
Rxa6 Rc1+ 33. Kf2 Rc2+ 34. Kf3 Rc3+ 35. Ke2 Rc2+ 36. Kd3 Rxg2 {is just a mess.}
) 27... Re2 $1 28. Rxd5 Rde8 29. R1d2 Rxd2 30. Rxd2 Re1+ 31. Kf2 Re4 32. Rd7 $2
(32. Rd6+ {would have kept White's winning chances alive.}) 32... Rxc4 33. Rxb7
a5 $1 {Now it's clear that Black is holding.} 34. bxa5 Rxc5 35. a6 Rxc2+ 36.
Kf3 Rc3+ 37. Ke2 Rc2+ {draw agreed. The official site, TWIC and ICC all have
the extra moves 38.Ke3 Ke5 in their gamefiles, but this seems absolutely
ludicrous, as Ke3 allows Rxg2 and Ke5 allows Rxg7!} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Linares, Spain"]
[Date "2000.03.01"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Anand"]
[Black "Shirov"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Opening "Petrov: classical attack, Marshall variation"]
[ECO "C42"]
[NIC "RG.04"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "GM Einar Gausel/Mindzine"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4
c6 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Nc3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Bg4 12. Rb1 Nd7 13. h3 Bh5 14. Rb5 Nb6
15. c4 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 dxc4 17. Bc2 Qd7 18. a4 g6 19. Be3 ({
In Kasparov-Shirov in round 1, Black was OK after} 19. Bd2 c3) 19... Rac8 20.
Rfb1 c3 21. a5 Nc4 22. Rxb7 Qe6 {Black is hoping his advanced c-pawn will
provide him with enough compensation for the pawn.} 23. Ra1 ({
Black wins the exchange after} 23. Rxa7 $2 Nd2 {, since} 24. Bxd2 cxd2 25. Qd1
{loses to} 25... Rxc2 $1 {with the tactical point} 26. Qxc2 Qe1+ 27. Rxe1
dxe1=Q#) 23... Bb8 24. Bb3 Qd6 25. g3 Nxe3 26. Bxf7+ ({Very tempting, but} 26.
Qxe3 {might actually have been stronger. The text provides Black with some
serious counterplay in the open f-file.}) 26... Kh8 27. Qxe3 Qf6 28. Be6 Rce8
29. d5 Be5 30. Ra2 $2 ({This might actually be a decisive error!} 30. Ra4 {
, threatening Rh4, was clearly better. Black can try} 30... c2 31. Rc4 Bd4 {
, but White's endgame advantage is obvious after} 32. Qf4 Qxf4 33. gxf4 Rxf4
34. Rxc2 {. For example} 34... Ref8 35. Rcc7 $1 Bxf2+ 36. Kg2 Rh4 37. d6 {
and the d-pawn seems destined for glory.}) 30... Bd4 31. Qe1 (31. Qe2 Qxf2+ $1
32. Qxf2 Rxf2 33. Rxf2 Rf8 34. Bf7 c2 35. Rc7 Bxf2+ 36. Kxf2 Rxf7+ $1 37. Rxf7
c1=Q {and Black wins.}) 31... Qf3 32. Kh2 Qxd5 $1 {Liquidating White's passer
and simultaneously hitting both rooks and the bishop! White has no choice but
to enter a clearly inferior ending.} 33. Bxd5 Rxe1 34. Kg2 Bxf2 $1 {
Misery certainly loves company, eh?} 35. Rf7 (35. Rxf2 Rxf2+ 36. Kxf2 c2) 35...
Rxf7 36. Bxf7 Bc5 {The opposite coloured bishops offer White little hope of
salvation, since Black's c-pawn is too far advanced.} 37. Bb3 Kg7 38. Rc2 Bd4
39. a6 Kf6 40. Ra2 Ke5 41. h4 Ke4 {and White decided he'd had enough.} (41...
Ke4 42. Bc2+ Ke3 43. Bb3 (43. Kh3 Re2 44. Kg4 Rxc2 $1 45. Rxc2 Kd3 46. Ra2 c2
47. Rxc2 Kxc2) 43... Re2+ 44. Rxe2+ Kxe2 {followed by Kd2 and c3-c2.}) 0-1

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Linares, Spain"]
[Date "2000.03.03"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Anand"]
[Black "Kasparov"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Opening "Sicilian: Najdorf, Opocensky variation"]
[ECO "B92"]
[NIC "SI.11"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2851"]
[Annotator "GM Einar Gausel/Mindzine"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.0-0 Be6 
9.f4 Qc7 10.Nd5 {A rare move in this position, but the idea is well known: 
To shift the pawn from e4 to d5, thereby creating a queenside majority.} 
10...Bxd5 11.exd5 Nbd7 12.c4 0-0 13.Kh1 Rfe8 14.Be3 exf4 {In this type of 
position, Black will usually use his kingside majority to create attacking 
chances. The first step is to establish a central outpost on e5.} 15.Bxf4 Bf8 
16.Rc1 Qb6 17.Rc2 g6 18.Bf3 {According to Kasparov, 18.Qd4 would have resulted 
in a roughly equal ending.} 18...Rac8 19.Nc1 Ne5 20.b3 h5 21.h3 Bg7 22.Ne2 Nxf3 
23.gxf3?! {A truly disgusting move which leaves White's kingside in shambles. 
Clearly better was 23.Rxf3 , since 23...Ne4 is easily neutralised with 24.Ng3} 
23...Qc5 24.Rc1 b5 25.Qd2 {A better try may have been 25.Nd4 , heading for c6.} 
25...bxc4 26.bxc4 h4! {This pawn sacrifice guarantees Black a lasting 
initiative.} 27.Bg5 Nh5 28.Bxh4 Rb8 29.Ng1? {29.Rc2 was the only try, although 
Black is having all the fun after 29...Qc8 30.Ng1 Qf5 , intending Nf4. I expect 
White's position will eventually crumble as Black concentrates his forces on 
the kingside.} 29...Rb2 30.Rc2 Qxc4! {Attacking both rooks and the bishop!} 
31.Rxc4 Rxd2 32.f4 Rxd5 {and Anand decided to stop the clock. A bit early, in 
my opinion, but he obviously has a lot of respect for Kasparov's endgame 
technique.} 0-1

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Linares, Spain"]
[Date "2000.03.04"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik"]
[Black "Shirov"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Opening "QGD Slav: Wiesbaden variation"]
[ECO "D17"]
[NIC "SL.04"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "GM Einar Gausel/Mindzine"]

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 c6 3.c4 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 e6 7.f3 Bb4 8.e4 Bxe4 {This 
sacrifice is more or less forced, since the bishop will be doing absolutely 
nothing on g6.} 9.fxe4 Nxe4 10.Bd2 {A well known drawing line is: 10.Qf3 Qxd4 
11.Qxf7+ Kd8 12.Bg5+! Nxg5 13.Qxg7 Bxc3+ 14.bxc3 Qxc3+ 15.Ke2 Qc2+ 16.Ke1 Qc3+ 
etc.} 10...Qxd4 11.Nxe4 Qxe4+ 12.Qe2 Bxd2+ 13.Kxd2 Qd5+ 14.Kc2 Na6 15.Nxc4 b5?! 
{This whole variation is probably poorly suited for a player like Shirov, who's 
natural inclination is to attack. The text, which seriously weakens Black's 
structure, definitely makes it easier for White to find targets for his pieces.}
16.axb5 Nb4+ 17.Kc3 cxb5 18.Rd1 {This forces an ending which seems clearly 
favourable for White. } 18...Qc5 19.Qe5 Nd5+ 20.Rxd5 b4+ 21.Kb3 Qxd5 22.Be2 0-0 
23.Qxd5 exd5 24.Na5 Rfe8 25.Bf3 {Superficially it would seem like Black is 
doing OK, as he currently has a rook and three pawns for bishop and knight. 
However, his queenside pawns are extremely weak, and White's plan is simply to 
mop them up and queen his b-pawn.} 25...Rac8 26.Rd1 Re3+ 27.Ka4 b3 28.Rxd5 g6 
29.Rd7 Rc2 30.Ka3 Kg7 31.Rxa7 h5 32.h3 h4 33.Rb7 Rc5 34.Kb4 Rf5 35.Rc7 g5 
36.Nxb3 {All that remains now, is to get the b-pawn rolling.} 36...Rf4+ 37.Rc4 
Rxc4+ 38.Kxc4 f5 39.Nd4 Kf6 40.b4 Re1 41.b5 Ke5 42.Nc6+ Kd6 43.b6 Rc1+ 44.Kb5 
g4 45.b7 Rb1+ 46.Nb4 Kc7 47.hxg4 fxg4 48.Be4 {Resigns. 48.Be4 h3 49.gxh3 gxh3 
50.Ka4 (50.Bxb1 also wins, of course.) 50...Rb2 51.Ka3 and Black will have to 
play Rxb4.} 1-0

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Linares, Spain"]
[Date "2000.03.05"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Anand"]
[Black "Leko"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Opening "Grunfeld: modern exchange variation"]
[ECO "A48"]
[NIC "GI.07"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "GM Einar Gausel/Mindzine"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.e4 Nxc3 7.bxc3 c5 8.Rb1 0-0 
9.Be2 cxd4 10.cxd4 Qa5+ 11.Bd2 {Practice has shown that sacrificing the a-pawn 
is the only way to play for an advantage.} 11...Qxa2 12.0-0 Nd7 {Attacking 
White's centre with 12...Bg4 is more usual, but Leko seems to have prepared 
Nd7 very carefully at home.} 13.Re1 Nb6 14.Ra1 Qb2 15.h3 f5!? {Play now becomes 
extremely sharp, as Black plays for full control over the central white 
squares.} 16.Rb1 Qa2 17.Qc1 {Threatening Rxb6! followed by Bc4+.} 17...Kh8 
18.Ra1 Qg8 19.Ba5 fxe4!? {The less complicated 19...Be6 deserved serious 
attention.} 20.Bxb6 exf3 21.Bxf3 Bxh3 22.Rxa7 {Leko now sets the board on fire.}
22...Bxg2! 23.Kxg2 {23.Bxg2 was bad because of 23...Rxa7 24.Bxa7 Qa2 25.Bc5 
Qxf2+ 26.Kh1 Rf5 with the decisive threat Rh5+.; 23.Rxa8 was also very 
dangerous, as Black gets two pawns and attacking chances for the exchange 
after 23...Bxf3 24.Rxf8 Qxf8} 23...Qb3 {Hitting both bishops.} 24.Qd1 Qxb6 
25.Rxb7 Qf6 26.Rexe7} It may look as though Anand has won the struggle for the 
initiative, but Leko comes up with an effective rebuttal.} 26...Ra1! 27.Rxg7! 
Rxd1 28.Rxh7+ Kg8 29.Bd5+ Rf7 30.Rbxf7 Qg5+ 31.Kh3 Qxd5 32.Rhg7+} draw. A 
spectacular finish, wouldn't you say?} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Linares, Spain"]
[Date "2000.03.07"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kasparov"]
[Black "Khalifman"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Opening "French: Winawer, advance, 5.a3"]
[ECO "C17"]
[NIC "FR.10"]
[WhiteElo "2851"]
[BlackElo "2656"]
[Annotator "GM Einar Gausel/Mindzine"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5 6. Bd2 Nc6 7. Qg4 ({
A fresh attempt - the normal line being} 7. Nb5) 7... Kf8 8. dxc5 Nxe5 9. Qg3 {
Black has a nice central majority, but White is banking on his superior piece
coordination. Black's main problem will be developing his kingside.} 9... Ng6
10. O-O-O Nf6 11. f3 Bd7 12. Nge2 Bc7 13. Qf2 b6 14. Be3 Ne7 15. g4 bxc5 {
A very sensible decision. Khalifman is trying to unravel by simplifying.} 16.
Bxc5 Bb6 17. h4 Bxc5 18. Qxc5 Qb6 19. Qxb6 axb6 20. Bh3 {I wasn't very
impressed with White's position at this point, but it soon becomes clear that
Kasparov has a little something.} 20... Ne8 $6 ({
A strange retreat indeed. After the game, Kasparov suggested} 20... h6 {
with the idea} 21. f4 $6 h5 $1 22. g5 Ng4 {and Black is doing fine.}) 21. f4 h5
22. g5 g6 {White was probably threatening f4-f5, undermining d5. The downside
of Khalifman's move is that it paralyses his kingside pawn majority.} 23. Nd4
Kg7 24. Nf3 Nc7 25. Ne5 Rhd8 26. Ne2 Nc6 27. Nd4 Nxd4 28. Rxd4 Be8 29. Rhd1 ({
Kasparov was very critical of this move and suggested} 29. Bf1 {
as a clear improvement. The idea is to bring Rh1 into the game via h3 and c3.})
29... Rdc8 30. Bf1 Kf8 31. Rb4 b5 32. Rbd4 Na6 33. Bd3 Nc5 34. Kd2 Nb7 35. Ra1
Ra7 36. Re1 Nd6 37. c3 Nc4+ 38. Kc1 Na5 39. Bc2 Nc6 40. Nxc6 Bxc6 41. Kd2 Bd7 {
If White were able to swap both pairs of rooks, the bishop ending would be an
easy win, but unfortunately for him he has no way of forcing exchanges.} 42.
Rb4 Rca8 43. Bd3 Ra5 44. Re3 Bc6 45. Rd4 Bd7 46. Rb4 Bc6 47. Bc2 Bd7 48. Bb3
Bc6 49. Rd4 R5a7 50. Bc2 Bd7 51. Bd1 Bc6 52. Bf3 Ra4 53. Bd1 R4a7 54. Bb3 Ra5
55. Re5 Rd8 {Draw agreed.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Linares, Spain"]
[Date "2000.03.07"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Leko"]
[Black "Shirov"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Opening "English opening"]
[ECO "A20"]
[NIC "EO.24"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "GM Einar Gausel/Mindzine"]

1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. Nc3 g6 5. e3 Bg7 6. Nge2 h5 7. h3 d6 8. d4 Bd7
9. d5 Na5 10. Qd3 O-O 11. e4 ({Trapping the seemingly stranded knight with} 11.
b4 {was tempting, but Black escapes with} 11... e4 12. Nxe4 (12. Bxe4 Nxe4 13.
Qxe4 Bf5 14. Qf4 Be5 15. Qf3 Nxc4) 12... Nxe4 13. Rb1 Nxc4) 11... c5 12. dxc6
Nxc6 13. Bg5 (13. Qxd6 Nd4 14. Nxd4 exd4 15. Nd5 Re8 16. Nxf6+ Bxf6 17. O-O Bc6
18. Qxd8 Raxd8 19. f3 d3 {and Black has superb compensation for the pawn. In
fact, he's probably clearly better.}) 13... Be6 14. Nd5 Qa5+ 15. Bd2 Qa6 16.
Nxf6+ Bxf6 17. b3 h4 18. O-O (18. Qxd6 Rad8 19. Qc5 Be7 20. Qb5 Qxb5 21. cxb5
Nb4 {and White is in big trouble.}) 18... hxg3 $2 {A very strange decision
which makes it much easier for White to generate play on the kingside.} 19.
fxg3 Bg7 20. g4 Rab8 21. a4 Na5 22. Rf2 Qb6 23. Rb1 a6 24. Ng3 f6 25. Bf3 {
White's main objective is to get something going on the kingside with h4-h5.}
25... Nc6 26. Kg2 Qd4 27. Qf1 b5 {
This thematic break is the only way in which to create counterplay.} 28. cxb5
axb5 29. axb5 Nb4 30. Bxb4 Qxb4 31. h4 Qxb5 32. Qh1 Bh6 33. h5 Qe8 34. b4 Be3 {
Black needs to get his bishop active before closing the kingside.} 35. Rc2 g5
36. Qd1 Qa4 37. Be2 Bd4 (37... Bb3 $2 {runs into} 38. Rxb3 $1 Qxb3 39. Bc4+)
38. Bc4 $1 {Trading off the white-squared bishops gives the knight a wonderful
outpost on f5.} 38... Bxc4 39. Rxc4 Qxd1 40. Rxd1 Ra8 41. Nf5 $6 ({
More accurate was} 41. Rdc1 Ra2+ 42. R1c2 {
denying Black any form of counterplay.}) 41... Ra2+ 42. Kh1 Re2 43. Rdc1 $2 ({
After} 43. Nxd6 {White is a safe pawn up and should be winning. If Black tries}
43... Rd8 {then White can exchange a pair of rooks with} 44. Rdc1 $1 {
(intending Rc8), as} 44... Rxd6 $4 {loses to} 45. Rc8+ Kf7 (45... Kh7 46. R1c7+
Kh6 47. Rh8#) 46. R1c7+ Ke6 47. Re8#) 43... Rxe4 44. Rc8 (44. Rc7 Ra8 45. Rg7+
Kh8 46. Rcc7 Re1+ {and Black has perpetual check.}) 44... Rxc8 45. Rxc8+ Kh7
46. Rc7+ Kh8 47. Rc8+ Kh7 48. Rc7+ Kh8 49. Nxd6 Rf4 (49... Rxg4 $4 {
loses a whole rook:} 50. Nf7+ Kg7 (50... Kg8 51. Nh6+) 51. Nxe5+) 50. Rd7 Bb6
51. Nc8 Be3 52. Ne7 Rf1+ 53. Kg2 Rf2+ 54. Kg3 e4 $1 55. Ng6+ Kg8 56. h6 {
White is now threatening both Rg7 mate and h7 mate, but Black has all the
counterplay he needs.} 56... Rf3+ {Draw.} ({
There's no sensible way of avoiding perpetual check after} 56... Rf3+ 57. Kg2
Rf2+ {, since} 58. Kg1 $4 {runs into} 58... Rd2+ 59. Kf1 Rxd7) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Linares, Spain"]
[Date "2000.03.07"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Anand"]
[Black "Kramnik"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Opening "Petrov: classical attack, Jaenisch variation"]
[ECO "C42"]
[NIC "RG.06"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "GM Einar Gausel/Mindzine"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 {Oh joy, another Petroff.} 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5
6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4 Nb4 9. cxd5 Nxd3 10. Qxd3 Qxd5 11. Re1 Bf5 12. Ne5
g6 13. f3 (13. g4 {is clearly bad:} 13... Bh4 $1 {#} 14. Re2 Bxf2+ 15. Rxf2
Nxf2 16. Qe3 Bxb1 17. Nxg6+ Be4 18. Nxh8 Nxg4 19. Qc3 Qd6 20. Qd2 f5 21. h3 $2
Qg3+ {and White resigned in Rogulj-Forintos, 1997.}) 13... Nf6 14. Qe3 {
Threatening Nxg6 with total devastation, but Black has time to evacuate.} 14...
O-O-O 15. Nc3 ({The only try for an advantage, as} 15. Nxf7 {
leads to absolutely nothing:} 15... Qxf7 16. Qxe7 Qxe7 17. Rxe7 Rxd4 {
and Black has achieved total equality.}) 15... Qxd4 16. Qxd4 Rxd4 17. Be3 ({
Anand ignores the pawn and concentrates on harassing the rook. Black seems to
be completely OKafter} 17. Nxf7 Re8) 17... Rb4 18. b3 Be6 {
Securing the extra pawn, but the rook on b4 is in trouble.} 19. Bf2 $1 (19. Nd3
Rd8 $1 20. Nxb4 Bxb4 21. Rec1 Bxc3 (21... Rd3 22. Nd1) 22. Rxc3 Nd5 23. Rd3 Bf5
24. Bg5 f6 {and White is unable to hold the exchange.}) 19... Bd6 {Now Black is
really losing the exchange, but Kramnik has a very solid defensive setup in
mind.} 20. Nd3 Rd8 21. Nxb4 Bxb4 22. Rec1 Bxc3 23. Rxc3 Nd5 24. Rd3 b6 25. Rad1
{draw agreed. White has no way of evicting the knight from d5 and therefore
little hope of making any progress.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Linares, Spain"]
[Date "2000.03.08"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Khalifman"]
[Black "Leko"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Opening "Grunfeld: modern exchange variation"]
[ECO "A48"]
[NIC "GI.07"]
[WhiteElo "2656"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "GM Einar Gausel/Mindzine"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8.
Rb1 O-O 9. Be2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qxa2 12. O-O Bg4 ({
In his round 6 encounter with Anand, Leko obtained a good position with} 12...
Nd7) 13. Bg5 h6 14. Be3 Nc6 ({This theoretical recommendation may actually be
a mistake. After the present game, Black players might have to start
reinvestigating} 14... b6) 15. d5 Ne5 16. Rxb7 e6 17. d6 {
The main question here is whether White's advanced passer is strong or weak.}
17... Rfd8 18. Re1 Bxf3 19. gxf3 Qa5 20. Rf1 {Black was threatening Rxd6.}
20... Bf8 21. d7 Qa2 22. Bb5 $1 {Almost a novelty, but not quite. It turns out
that the Czech grandmaster Peter Haba beat Khalifman to the punch by playing
this move in Cappelle la Grande just a few weeks ago. Theory has probably
disregarded Bb5 because it loses a pawn. White, however, gets massive
compensation.} 22... a6 23. Ba4 Nxf3+ 24. Kg2 Ne5 (24... Nh4+ 25. Kh3 Qc4 26.
f3 Be7 27. Rf2 Qc3 28. Qd4 Qa5 29. Bxh6 Bf8 30. Bxf8 Rxf8 31. Kxh4 Kh7 32. Kh3
{and Black resigned in Haba-Skytte, Cappelle la Grande 2000.}) 25. Bb6 Qc4 26.
Qd4 $1 (26. Bxd8 Qxe4+ 27. f3 Qxb7 28. Bh4 (28. Ba5 Nc4 $1) 28... g5 29. d8=Q
Rxd8 30. Qxd8 gxh4 {and Black is doing fine.}) 26... Qxd4 27. Bxd4 Nd3 28. Bc6
Nc5 29. Rc7 Bd6 (29... Rab8 {is simply answered by} 30. Bf6) 30. Bxc5 Bxc7 31.
Bxa8 Rxa8 32. Be7 Rd8 ({The only try.} 32... Bd8 {loses a piece after} 33. Rc1)
33. Rd1 f5 {
The grim alternative was to passively watch White march his king up the board.}
34. Bxd8 Bxd8 35. exf5 gxf5 36. Rd6 Kf7 37. Rxa6 Ke7 38. Kg3 Bc7+ (38... Kxd7
39. Ra7+ Kd6 40. Rh7 Bg5 41. f4 {is a fairly easy win for White.}) 39. Kh4 Kxd7
40. Ra7 Kc6 {Now the pawn ending is winning.} 41. Rxc7+ $1 Kxc7 42. Kh5 e5 43.
Kxh6 Kd6 44. Kg5 Ke6 45. h4 f4 46. h5 f3 47. Kg4 Kd5 {
and Leko resigned before Khalifman could push his h-pawn.} 1-0

[Site "Linares, Spain"]
[Date "2000.03.08"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Shirov"]
[Black "Anand"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Opening "Petrov: classical attack, Jaenisch variation"]
[ECO "C42"]
[NIC "RG.06"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[Annotator "GM Einar Gausel/Mindzine"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 {Anand's only ambition at this stage of the tournament
seems to be surviving without any further losses.} 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4
d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4 Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 b6 {
Kramnik's novelty from his round 3 encounter with Kasparov.} 11. Ne5 ({
Kasparov gained a small advantage with} 11. a3 {
, but Anand no doubt had an improvement up his sleeve.}) 11... Bb7 12. a3 Nxc3
13. bxc3 Nc6 14. Bf3 Na5 (14... Nxe5 15. dxe5 c6 16. cxd5 cxd5 {
was no great shakes for White, since} 17. c4 {can be answered by} 17... Qc7)
15. c5 $5 c6 (15... bxc5 $2 {
would leave Black's knight stranded and his queenside exposed after} 16. Qa4 c6
17. Rb1) 16. Re1 Bf6 17. Ng4 Bc8 18. cxb6 axb6 19. a4 Nc4 20. Nxf6+ Qxf6 21.
Ba3 Nxa3 22. Rxa3 Be6 23. Qb3 {draw agreed.} ({
White's bishop is somewhat superior after} 23. Qb3 Rfb8 24. a5 bxa5 25. Rxa5
Qd8 26. Rxa8 Rxa8 {
, but Black's only weakness, the pawn on c6, is easily defended.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Linares, Spain"]
[Date "2000.03.08"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik"]
[Black "Kasparov"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Opening "English opening"]
[ECO "A05"]
[NIC "QP.11"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2851"]
[Annotator "GM Einar Gausel/Mindzine"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. g3 d5 4. d4 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Bd7 6. Qxc4 Bc6 7. dxc5 Bd5 8.
Qa4+ Bc6 9. Qc4 Bd5 10. Qc2 e6 11. Bg2 Be4 12. Qc4 Bd5 13. Qh4 Bxc5 14. Nc3 Bc6
15. O-O Be7 $6 ({The developing move} 15... Nbd7 {
looked like the obvious choice.}) 16. Rd1 Qa5 ({The start of a long adventure
for the black queen. White emerges with a strong initiative after} 16... Nbd7
17. Ne5 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Qc7 19. Nxd7 Qc6+ (19... Nxd7 20. Qa4) 20. f3 Nxd7 21.
Bg5 Bxg5 22. Qxg5 O-O 23. Rac1 {
, since Black's queen and knight are in trouble.}) 17. Bd2 Nbd7 18. g4 $5 h6
19. Qg3 (19. g5 $2 Nh7) 19... Qa6 20. h4 Qc4 21. Bf4 Qb4 22. a3 $5 {
Inviting the queen further into enemy territory.} 22... Qxb2 23. Nd4 g5 24.
Nxc6 $5 ({I think I prefer White after} 24. hxg5 hxg5 25. Bxg5 Bxg2 26. Kxg2 {
, but the situation is far from clear.}) 24... gxf4 25. Qd3 bxc6 26. Bxc6 O-O {
The king wisely vacates the premises.} 27. Bxa8 Ne5 28. Qd4 Rxa8 29. Qxe5 {
White is the exchange up, but his piece coordination is far from ideal.
Kasparov's counterplay appears to be sufficient.} 29... Rc8 30. Rac1 Nd5 $1 31.
Nxd5 ({On the Internet Chess Club, kibitzers were screaming for this move,
claiming that Kasparov had blundered. It turns out, however, that White's king
is unable to hold the fort all by himself. Note that Black's counterplay is
also sufficient after} 31. Rb1 Qxc3 32. Rxd5 Qh3) 31... Qxe5 32. Nxe7+ Kg7 (
32... Kh7 33. Nxc8 Qxe2 34. Nd6 Qxg4+ 35. Kf1 f3 36. Nxf7 Qxh4 37. Ke1 Qe4+ {
also draws.}) 33. Rxc8 Qxe2 34. Rg8+ Kf6 35. Rd7 {White has a clear material
advantage, but the Black queen is strong enough to secure a draw.} 35... Qe1+
36. Kg2 Qe4+ 37. Kh2 Qc2 38. Kg2 Qe4+ 39. Kh2 Qc2 40. g5+ hxg5 41. Rxg5 Qxf2+ {
draw. There's no way out of perpetual check.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Linares, Spain"]
[Date "2000.03.09"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Leko"]
[Black "Kasparov"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Opening "Sicilian: Najdorf, Byrne (English) attack"]
[ECO "B90"]
[NIC "SI.14"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2851"]
[Annotator "GM Einar Gausel/Mindzine"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4
g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. h3 Ne5 11. f3 Nbc6 12. Bf2 Be6 13. Qd2 Qa5 {
Black's idea is to prevent White from castling queenside.} 14. Nb3 Bxb3 15.
cxb3 Nb4 (15... O-O 16. O-O-O {was clearly better for White since he'll have
no problems cooking up a storm against Black's exposed kingside. And his king
will be completely safe after Kb1.}) 16. a3 Ng6 17. Rd1 Nc6 18. Nd5 Qxd2+ ({
Forced, since} 18... Qd8 $2 {runs into} 19. Bb6) 19. Rxd2 O-O 20. b4 {
White intends to liquidate his doubled pawn with b4-b5, giving potentially
dangrerous majority on the queenside.} 20... b5 $6 {
This turns out to be very risky indeed!} 21. Nc7 Rab8 22. Nxa6 Rb7 23. Rd5 $2 (
{White could have created more problems with} 23. Rc2 Nge5 24. Kd2 {
, intending Be2 followed by Rhc1. On} 24... Ra8 {he might try} 25. Bxb5 $5 Rxb5
26. Nc7 Rab8 27. Nxb5 Rxb5 28. Rhc1 {
which seems to give very good winning chances with no risk of losing.}) 23...
Na7 24. Bxa7 Rxa7 25. Bxb5 Bxb2 26. O-O (26. a4 Rfa8 {
and Black wins two pieces for a rook.}) 26... Bxa3 27. Rb1 Rc8 28. Bf1 Bc1 {
Black no longer has any problems to speak of, since White can hardly count on
being able to advance his b-pawn.} 29. Rb3 Bf4 30. Rd1 e6 31. b5 Rb7 32. Nb4 h5
33. Kf2 h4 34. Ra3 Rc5 35. Be2 Ne5 36. Rb1 Kg7 37. Rab3 Bg3+ {draw agreed.}
1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Linares, Spain"]
[Date "2000.03.09"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Shirov"]
[Black "Kramnik"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Opening "Sicilian: Pelikan, Chelyabinsk variation"]
[ECO "B33"]
[NIC "SI.37"]
[WhiteElo "2751"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[Annotator "GM Einar Gausel/Mindzine"]

1. e4 c5 {This is definitely the manly choice. If I never see another Petroff
again, it'll be too soon.} 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 {
Shirov is no stranger to the Sveshnikov as it used to be one of his main
defences to 1.e4.} 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 ({
A more positional approach is} 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 {
The text leads to extremely sharp positions where one slip could be fatal.})
9... gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 11. Bd3 Ne7 12. Nxe7 Qxe7 13. O-O O-O 14. c4 f5 15. Qf3
Re8 16. Rfe1 {White is finally threatening to take on f5.} 16... b4 17. Nc2 f4
18. Be2 ({White's greed would not pay off after} 18. Nxb4 Rb8 19. Nc6 Qg5 {
, threatening both Bg4 (trapping the queen) and Rxb2.}) 18... Rb8 19. b3 Kh8
20. Qh5 {White wants to trade light-squared bishops, which would give him a
nice, juicy square for his rook on d5.} 20... d5 $1 {A truly amazing concept.
Black pitches a big, fat centre pawn to activate his rook along the sixth rank.
} 21. cxd5 Rb6 22. Rad1 a5 $6 ({
In my opinion, Black would be clearly better after} 22... Rh6 23. Qf3 Qh4 24.
h3 Bf8 {, threatening Bc5 followed by Rg8 with a very dangerous attack.}) 23.
d6 $1 {
Shirov does not want to give Kramnik a second chance to swing the rook over.}
23... Rxd6 24. Rxd6 Qxd6 25. Rd1 ({
I think Black has reasonable compensation for the pawn after} 25. Qxf7 Rd8 {
, but the situation is far from clear.}) 25... Qg6 26. Qxg6 hxg6 27. Bc4 Be6
28. Bxe6 Rxe6 29. Rd5 Rc6 30. Ne1 Rc1 31. Kf1 f5 $1 {
Or else White would simply unpin and be better.} 32. f3 (32. exf5 gxf5 33. Ke2
(33. Rxa5 $2 e4 {followed by Bc3.}) 33... e4 34. Rd1 Rc5 {
and Black's advanced pawns and powerful bishop give him a clear edge.}) 32...
Bf6 33. Kf2 {draw agreed.} (33. Kf2 fxe4 34. fxe4 Bh4+ 35. g3 fxg3+ 36. hxg3
Bxg3+ 37. Kxg3 Rxe1 38. Rxe5 Re2 39. Rxa5 Rxe4 {is a dead draw.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Linares, Spain"]
[Date "2000.03.09"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Anand"]
[Black "Khalifman"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Opening "French: Winawer, advance, 5.a3"]
[ECO "C17"]
[NIC "FR.10"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2656"]
[Annotator "GM Einar Gausel/Mindzine"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5 {I must admit I find it a bit
odd that Khalfiman insists on debating this variation. True, he's used it to
secure draws against Leko and Kasparov, but both games were uphill battles for
Black.} 6. b4 {Leko got a substantial plus with 6.Qg4, and Kasparov also
gained an edge with 6.Bd2. Anand chooses the main road.} 6... cxd4 7. Qg4 Ne7
8. bxa5 dxc3 9. Qxg7 Rg8 10. Qxh7 Nbc6 11. f4 Qxa5 12. Nf3 Bd7 13. Rb1 O-O-O
14. Qd3 {White is clearly behind in development, but he does have the two
bishops and a passed h-pawn.} 14... Nf5 $6 ({Theory recommends} 14... d4) 15.
Rg1 d4 16. g4 Nfe7 $6 {Why not Ne3 immediately?} 17. Rg3 Be8 18. h4 Nf5 19. Rg1
Ne3 {Khalifman finally decides to force Anand to open up, clearly banking on
his superior piece coordination.} 20. Bxe3 dxe3 21. Qxe3 Ne7 22. Bc4 Bc6 $2 ({
I think this is asking too much. Black could have kept his c-pawn (his only
soldier in enemy territory)with} 22... Kb8 23. Rb3 Rc8 {, since} 24. Qxc3 {
loses a piece after} 24... Qxc3+ 25. Rxc3 b5) 23. Rb3 Kb8 24. Qxc3 Qc7 25. Be2
Nd5 {Yes, Black has a substantial initiative, but is it really worth two
pawns? I doubt it.} 26. Qc4 Qa5+ 27. Kf2 Ba4 28. Rb2 Rc8 29. Qd4 Rc3 30. Bd3
Rgc8 31. Rc1 Rd8 32. Rcb1 Bc6 33. Rb3 $5 {
This looks extremely risky, but Anand has obviously done some deep calculation.
} 33... Rxb3 34. Rxb3 Nf6 35. Qb4 Nxg4+ 36. Kg3 Qd5 37. Bh7 $1 ({I'll bet Khali
fman had missed this move, which leaves Nf3 protected and at the same time
prevents Rg8.} 37. Bc4 $2 Qd1 38. Kxg4 Rg8+ 39. Kh5 Bxf3+ 40. Kh6 Qg1 {
and White gets mated up a tree.}) 37... Qd1 {
At this point Khalifman only had a few seconds left to reach move 40.} 38. Kxg4
Rd2 {Nice try, but unfortunately no cigar.} 39. Kg5 Bxf3 40. Bd3 Rg2+ 41. Kf6 {
This king is completely safe here (and excellently placed for an endgame!)
since Black is unable to bring his forces back home.} 41... a6 42. Rb1 {
resigns. Black will have to trade queens with Qd2, and the endgame iscompletely
hopeless for him.} 1-0

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Linares, Spain"]
[Date "2000.03.10"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Khalifman"]
[Black "Shirov"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Opening "QGD Slav: Dutch variation"]
[ECO "D18"]
[NIC "SL.05"]
[WhiteElo "2656"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[Annotator "GM Einar Gausel/Mindzine"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O
Nbd7 9. Qe2 O-O ({After} 9... Bg6 {
White can issue a very interesting gambit with} 10. e4 Bxc3 11. bxc3 Nxe4 12.
Ba3 {. Sooner or later Black will have to castle queenside, and this will give
White good attacking chances along the half open b-file. Black's safest option
is to ignore the pawn and play 10...0-0, transposing into the game.}) 10. e4
Bg6 11. Bd3 h6 12. Bf4 Re8 {Possibly intending Bh5 followed by e6-e5.} 13. h3
a6 14. e5 {This new move is no improvement over the standard 14.Rad1. Black
now achieves comfortable equality.} 14... Nd5 15. Nxd5 Bxd3 16. Qxd3 cxd5 17.
Rfc1 {draw agreed. Black has no problems after Qb6 followed by Rac8. One could
actually argue that he's slightly better because of his superior pawn
structure and "good" bishop, but he really doesn't have much hope of winning
since White's main weakness, the d4-pawn, is easily defended.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Linares, Spain"]
[Date "2000.03.10"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik"]
[Black "Leko"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Opening "Old Benoni defense"]
[ECO "A46"]
[NIC "QP.06"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2725"]
[Annotator "GM Einar Gausel/Mindzine"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 d6 {
This position can also arise in the Pirc.} 6. Bb5+ Bd7 7. a4 O-O 8. O-O Bxb5 9.
axb5 Nbd7 {Black has a fairly sound position, although somewhat lacking in
dynamic potential since he's been deprived of the thematic breaks e7-e6 and
b7-b5.} 10. Qe2 Ne8 11. Bf4 {White is preparing e4-e5.} 11... Nc7 12. Rfd1 a6
13. bxa6 Nxa6 14. e5 dxe5 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. Bxe5 Bxe5 17. Qxe5 Qd6 18. Qg5 (18.
Qxd6 exd6 19. Nb5 Rad8 20. c4 {gives White a nice little edge due to the
weakness on d6, but Kramnik wants more.}) 18... Nc7 19. Ne4 $2 ({
I think Kramnik could have maintained a substantial plus with} 19. Rxa8 Rxa8
20. h4 {which gives him good attacking chances and the bonus threat of Ne4.})
19... Rxa1 20. Rxa1 f6 (20... Qxd5 21. Qxe7 Qc6 22. c4 {
and White's pieces dominate the board.}) 21. Nxd6 {There was no other option.}
21... fxg5 22. Nxb7 Rb8 23. Na5 (23. Nxc5 Rxb2 24. c4 Rc2 {
is absolutely nothing for White.}) 23... Rxb2 24. c4 Rc2 25. h3 Ne8 26. Nc6 {
draw agreed.} ({The position is completely equal after} 26. Nc6 Rxc4 27. Nxe7+
(27. Ra8 Kf8) 27... Kf8 28. Nc6 Rc2 {. White can try to get active with} 29.
Ra8 Rd2 30. Rd8 {, but Black's c-pawn gives him sufficient counterplay after}
30... c4) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Linares, Spain"]
[Date "2000.03.10"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kasparov"]
[Black "Anand"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Opening "Petrov: classical attack, Jaenisch variation"]
[ECO "C42"]
[NIC "RG.06"]
[WhiteElo "2851"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[Annotator "GM Einar Gausel/Mindzine"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4
Nb4 9. Be2 O-O 10. Nc3 b6 {
Anand sees no shame in adopting Vladimir Kramnik's latest invention.} 11. a3
Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. cxd5 Qxd5 14. Re1 Bb7 15. Bd3 Rae8 16. c4 $5 ({
In his round three game with Kramnik, Kasparov opted for the less committal} 
16. Qc2) 16... Qd8 ({Anand obviously doesn't believe the piece sacrifice} 16...
Qh5 17. d5 Bd6 $6 {, which was deemed interesting by Kasparov after his game
with Kramnik. The text is of course the most sensible choice.}) 17. d5 Nb8 18.
Qc2 g6 $1 19. Ne5 ({The tactical point was} 19. Bh6 Bf6) 19... Bf6 20. Bb2 Nd7
21. f4 {Kasparov is obviously hell-bent on playing for a win.} 21... Bg7 22.
Qf2 Nc5 23. Bc2 Qd6 24. Re3 f6 25. Ng4 Rxe3 26. Qxe3 Bc8 27. f5 $5 {
The only move that keeps the game interesting.} 27... Bxf5 28. Bxf5 gxf5 29.
Nf2 Ne4 $5 30. Nxe4 ({and here Kasparov offered a draw, which Anand accepted.
The critical position arises after} 30. Nxe4 fxe4 31. Qxe4 f5 32. Qe2 Qc5+ 33.
Kh1 Bxb2 34. Qxb2 Qxc4 35. Qe5 {when White's centralised queen and Black's
exposed king would probably give Kasparov enough compensation for the pawn.
Frankly, I don't know who's better in this position, but I do know that it
deserved to be played out.}) 1/2-1/2

