Kramnik - Topalov WCh Playoff Elista RUS (3)

Game 3 in PGN Notes

The between Vladimir Kramnik and Veselin Topalov was in parts a classic battle between the defender and the attacker. This was particularly the case when Topalov was white and he came forward relentlessly while Kramnik tried to fend him off in the middlegame and then seek his chances in the endgame.

Today we will look at the one game of the 16 game contest not yet published here, the third tie break game in which Topalov levelled the score in the 4 game play off before losing the decider.

The opening variation question appeared four times. Kramnik lost horribly with it in game 9 but then held easily in game 11. To everyone’s surprise Topalov then used it himself in game 12 when he needed a draw with black to take the match to a tie break.

V Topalov - V Kramnik
WCC Playoffs Elista (3)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4 Bg6 7.Be2 Nbd7 8.0-0 Bd6 9.g3 dxc4 (The same plan as game nine which led to disaster. Topalov advances on the kingside and in the centre) 10.Bxc4 Nb6 11.Be2 0-0 12.Nxg6 (Now that Black cannot play 0-0-0 Topalov can open the h file and gain the bishop pair) 12...hxg6 13.e4 e5 (Black must challenge the centre) 14.f4 exd4 (14...exf4 15.e5 wins a piece) 15.Qxd4 Qe7 16.Kg2 Bc5 17.Qd3 Rad8 18.Qc2 (The battle lines are drawn. Black's piece activity compensates him for the White centre and bishop pair. Both sides would like to advance their pawn majorities if possible) 18...Bd4 19.e5 Nfd5 20.Rf3 (covering e3) 20...Nxc3 (20...g5!? 21.Bd2 g4 22.Rff1 Qe6) 21.bxc3 Bc5 22.Bd2 (White completes his development over the next few moves and secures a slight advantage) 22...Rd7 23.Re1 Rfd8 24.Bd3! Qe6 25.Bc1 (Unpinning and threatening f4-f5) 25...f5 26.Qe2 Kf8 27.Rd1 Qe7 28.h4 Rd5 29.Qc2 Nc4 30.Rh1 (Intending to undermine Black's structure after h4-h5) 30...Na3 31.Qe2 (31.Bxa3 Bxa3 32.h5 gxh5 33.Rxh5 g6) 31...Qd7! 32.Rd1 (To avoid the exchange of the Bd3 White self pins) 32...b5 33.g4! fxg4 34.Rg3.Ke7? (Spotting one threat in e5-e6 but missing another. If 34...Nb1!? 35.e6 Qe7 36.Bb2 Na3 37.Rxg4 and g6 falls) 35.f5!!

Kramnik

Topalov

Position after 35.f5!!

35... gxf5 36.Bg5+ Ke8 (36...Kf8 37.Bxf5! Qxf5 38.Rf1 wins or 36...Ke6? 37.Bxf5+ Kxf5 38.Qxg4+ Kg6 39.e6 Qd6 40.Bxd8+) 37.e6 Qd6 (37...Qc7 38.Rxg4!! fxg4 39.Bg6+ Kf8 40.Rxd5 cxd5 41.Qxg4 and Black is helpless despite his extra rook eg Qe5 42.Qf3+; In this line 40...Rxd5 41.e7+! Bxe7 42.Qe6! wins. After 37...Qc7 38.Rxg4 Be7 39.Bxf5 Rxd1 40.Rd4!! R1xd4 41.Qh5+ Kf8 42.Qh8#) 38.Bxf5! (Not 38.Bxd8? Kxd8 and Black is winning) 38...Rxd1 39.Bg6+ Kf8 40.e7+ Qxe7 41.Bxe7+ Bxe7 42.Bd3! (This seals it as Black's last vestige of piece coordination is disrupted) 42...Ra1 43.Qb2 Rd1 44.Qe2 Ra1 45.Qxg4! Rxa2+ 46.Kh3 Bf6 47.Qe6 Rd2 48.Bg6 R2d7 49.Rf3 b4 50.h5 1-0

Kramnik

Topalov Final position after 50.h5. There is no defence h5-h6.