The Week in Chess Magazine
Sponsored by the London Chess Center
TWIC Home | The London Chess Center | Shop | LCC Mini-Site for the Braingames World Chess Championships
Braingames World Chess Championships: Game 3
Players at the start of game 3

Garry Kasparov
    
Vladimir Kramnik
    

Game 3 Thursday 12th October 2000. Garry Kasparov vs Vladimir Kramnik Ruy Lopez: Berlin Variation

Game three might have only been a draw but it was the most exciting game so far. Kasparov played extremely sharply just before the first time control and perhaps missed winning chances. After the time scramble Kramnik remained calm and held on for a draw. Next game Saturday.

Kasparov,G - Kramnik,V [C67] (3), 2000

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Nc3 Bd7 10.b3 h6 11.Bb2 Kc8 12.Rad1 Deviating from game one 12. ..b6 13. Ne2 c5 Kasparov hasn't played h3 as he did in game one. Kramnik obviously still in preparation. Both are playing quickly. 14.c4 (after a few minutes thought) Bc6 Again a little pause before playing this . 15. Nf4 Kasparov 1:50 - Kramnik 1:42 left 15. ...Kb7 16. Nd5 Ne7Kramnik spent some time on his last two moves.17. Rfe1 Kasparov has 1:41 left and Kramnik 1:04. Kasparov seems to have a big advantage. 17. ...Rg8 Kramnik has 54 minutes left. 18. Nf4 After nearly 30 minutes of thought. Kasparov has 1:12 left 18. ...g5 Kramniik 47 mins left. This is now an extremely critical position. 19.Nh5 Rg6 20.Nf6 Kasparov has a 20 minute advantage on the clock. 20. ...Bg7 21. Rd3 Kasparov has the advantage but its not clear how big it is. Also he does have a half hour advantage on the clock. 21. ...Bxf3 22. Rxf3 Bxf6 Kasparov now has a stable advantage, is it enough to win? 23.exf6 Nc6 24.Rd3 Rf8 25.Re4 Kc8 26.f4 gxf4 27.Rxf4 Re8 Is Kramnik heading for equality now? 28. Bc3 Re2 29. Rf2 Re4 Kasparov 33 minutes Kramnik 18 for 11 moves. 30. Rh3 Kasparov 20 minutes left. 30. ... a5 31.Rh5 a4 32.bxa4 This sharp decision sets the board alight and creates tremendous problems for Kramnik in time trouble. Rxc4 33.Bd2 Rxa4 34.Rxh6 Rg8 35.Rh7 Rxa2 36.Rxf7 Ne5 37.Rg7 Rf8 38.h3 38. h4 was better according to Kasparov. c4 39.Re7 Nd3 40.f7 Nxf2 Kasparov complicated in time trouble and is going to be a pawn up. Both players made time control. 41.Re8+ Kd7 42.Rxf8 Ke7 43.Rc8 Kxf7 44.Rxc7+ Ke6 45.Be3 Nd1 46.Bxb6 c3 47.h4 Ra6 48.Bd4 Ra4 49.Bxc3 Nxc3 50.Rxc3 Rxh4 51.Rf3 Rh5 52.Kf2 Rg5 53.Rf8 Ke5 ½-½

Detailed coverage at the LCC Mini-Site