Kramnik (2770) - Kasparov (2849)
WC London (m/10), 2000
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3
Kramnik got a great, big bowl of nothing with 4.Qc2 in game 8.
4...0-0 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 c5 7.0-0
7...cxd4
This leads to a classic IQP-position (isolated queen pawn), which can also arise from the Caro Kann and the Queen's Gambit Accepted. The main drawback, from Kasparov's point of view, is that is usually gives White some pressure for the pawn weakness. The main alternative is 7...Nc6.
16...Rf7 17.Ne5 Qf8 (17...Bd5 18.Nxd5) 18.Nxf7 Qxf7 19.Qxe7 and White wins.
17.Qxe7 Bxf3 18.gxf3 Qxd4 19.Nb5
19...Qxb2?
After this cheeky pawn-grab, Black seems to be lost. Clearly better was 19...Qf4 20.Rxc8 Rxc8 21.Nd6 Ra8 (21...Qxf3? 22.Nxc8 Qg4+ 23.Kf1 Qh3+ 24.Ke2 Qxc8 25.Kd2 h5 26.Rg1 Ng4 27.h3 Qf5 28.Qd8+ Kh7 29.Qd3 Qxd3+ 30.Kxd3 Nxf2+ 31.Ke3 Nxh3 32.Rg3 1-0 Hazai-Danielsen, Valby 1994) Granted, White's attack looks scary after 22.Nf7+ Kg8 23.Qe6 , but Black might be able to hang on with 23...Rf8. The straight forward 24.Nd8+ Kh8 25.Qe7 Ng8 26.Ne6 does not look too impressive after 26...Nxe7 27.Nxf4 Nf5, as White's extra pawn is practically worthless.
20.Rxc8
White has to settle for a draw after 20.Nd6? Qxc1 21.Rxc1 Rxc1+ 22.Kg2 Kg8 23.Qe6+ Kh8 24.Nf7+ Kg8.
20...Rxc8 21.Nd6 Rb8 22.Nf7+ Kg8 23.Qe6
23...Rf8(?)
This loses on the spot, but Black's king is still in a bad way after 23...h5 24.Ng5+ Kh8 25.Qf5, with the crude idea of Re6 and Rxf6. For example 25...Qxa2 26.Re6 Kg8 27.Qg6! (threatening Re7) 27...Qa3 28.h4! (protecting Ng5) and the threat of Qf7+ followed by Re7 decides the game. White wins a piece after 28...Qf8 (28...Rf8 29.Rxf6 Rxf6 30.Qh7+ Kf8 31.Qh8+ Ke7 32.Qxg7+ Ke8 33.Qxf6) 29.Rxf6 Qxf6 30.Qh7+ Kf8 31.Qh8+ Ke7 32.Qxb8.
24.Nd8+!
Winning the exchange and the game.
24...Kh8 25.Qe7 and Kasparov resigned.
1-0
I can't remember the last time I saw Kasparov get hammered like this.
Related articles
The Kasparov - Kramnik index.
The Kasparov - Kramnik FAQ.
Einar Gausel
