Commentary on game 12 will be brought to you by GM Neil McDonald, IM Malcolm Pein and FM Chris Duncan

Kramnik is only two points away from the title of World Champion. The question is how hard he will try for the full point today. Another win would virtually finish matters, but a defeat would bring Kasparov right back into the match. I expect Kramnik to make a cautious winning attempt today- after all, he has never lost a full length game to Kasparov with White so far in his career, so the risks aren't particularly great.

1.d4

Kramnik has opened this way in every game as White so far.

1... Nf6 2.c4 e6

Despite the terrible outcome of Game 10, Kasparov tries the Nimzo-Indian again.

3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 c5 7.0-0 dxc4 8.Bxc4 Nbd7

Kasparov is the first to diverge from Game 10, in which he played 8...cxd4. He must have a new idea ready.

9.a3

This guarantees White the two bishops.

9... cxd4

Black clarifies the situation in the centre. He believes that in the resulting position White's dark squared bishop won't be very dangerous as it will be shut in by his own pawns on b4, c3 and e3.

10.axb4 dxc3 11.bxc3 Qc7

So no early exchange of queens today. A solid response from White would now be 12.Qe2 defending the bishop.

12.Be2

An unexpected and interesting retreat.White offers the c pawn in return for freeing his dark squared bishop. This is a rare move and suggests some 'homework' by the Challenger. If now 12...Qxc3 13.Rb1 Qc7 looks solid for Black, so probably 13.Ba3 is the idea with pressure on the queenside for example 13...Qc7 14.b5 Kramnik doesn't seem to be taking any great risk in offering the pawn: he will be so active that a chance to liquidate and draw is bound to arise if necessary. An old theoretical recommendation by Taimanov is to answer 12...Qxc3 with 13.Bd2 Qc7 14.Qb1 again with pressure for the pawn. Black declined the pawn in Garcia-Balashov, Leningrad 1977, with 12...e5, but he was worse after 13.c4 b6 14.Bb2 Bb7 15.Qb3 etc.

Kasparov now has 1 hour 18 minutes and counting and Kramnik has 1 hour 54 minutes.

12... Qxc3

After very long thought Kasparov takes the pawn.

13.Ba3

As predicted. This is a more active square for the bishop than d2. Now Kasparov has to deal with ideas such as 14.Qa4 threatening to win his queen with 15.Rfc1. IM Ferguson believes that 14.Qb1 also with the threat of 15.Rfc1 may be even stronger.

13... Nd5

This clears the f6 square for the queen and so prevents any immediate disaster. Black has an extra pawn but his bishop on c8 and rook on a8 are both shut out of the game. The question is whether White can exploit his dark square control and his lead in development.

14.Qb1

This defends the b pawn and clears the way for 15.Rc1. This is all very inconvenient for Kasparov, but after all he is a pawn up and in a 'must win' situation an imbalanced position is just what he wants.

14...Qf6

The queen retreats and introduces the idea of Nc3. This would simplify and so weaken White's bind on the position. Kramnik has to find a convincing attacking line or else Black will complete his development with b7-b6 and Bb7, when White's compensation for the pawn will start to evaporate.

15.Bd3

Of course! The bishop aims at h7 to force a weakness on White's kingside. If 15...g6 then the diagonal a1-h8 would be very inviting for White's bishop- Black would tend to be mated somewhere around g7 in that scenario. I imagine Kasparov will play 15...Qh6 here to avoid any structural weakness on the kingside.

15... h6

FM Chris Duncan suggests the game could now end in a draw after 16.b5 Rd8 17.Bb2 Qe7 18.Ba3 Qf6 19.Bb2 etc. with a repetition.

16.b5 Rd8

The best square for the rook with a potential attack on d3 in some lines. Black is now aiming for 17...Ne5 to free his game. The question is whether Kasparov will successfully consolidate or be gunned down by the white bishops. Or will it end in repetition as Duncan suggests above?

17.Bb2

Stopping 17...Ne5.

17... Qe7 18.Ra4

Kramnik spurns the draw with 18.Ba3 Qf6 19.Ba3 etc. This aggressive move aims to get the rook involved in the attack. Now 18...Nc5 19.Rg4? Nf6! looks good for Black, but 19.Bh7+ Kh8 20.Rh4 looks much more dangerous, for example 20...Nf6 21.Bxf6 Qxf6 22.Rf4 planning 23.Ne5 seems to win for White.

18... Nc5

Attacking the rook and the bishop, but doesn't this allow the variation given in the last note? Safer was 18...N7f6.

19.Bh7+ Kh8

Kramnik is being coaxed into an all out attack. It looks dangerous for Black, but if the Challenger fails to deliver the knock out blow then it could all fall apart for him. This is the most exciting moment in the match so far- a moment of destiny for both players.

20.Rh4

Threatening 21.Rxh6, so Black has to block the diagonal a1-h8. Here 20...Nf6 21.Bxf6 Qxf6 22.Rf4 Qe7 23.Ne5 appears to win for White- if 23...Rf8 24.Rxf7! Rxf7 25.Ng6+ etc. so 20...f6 appears forced.

20... f6

Now the g6 square is a massive hole in Black's kingside. However, it can be covered with Bd7 and Be8. Maybe it is time for one of Kramnik's 'g4-g5 specials'. Alternatively 21.Rh5 intending 22.Nh4 keeps up the initiative.

21.Rc4

Kramnik concedes that no tactical blow is possible on the h file. He therefore reroutes the rook to active play on the c file and at the same time clears the h4 square for the knight. White has plenty of long term pressure for the pawn-Kramnik is being sensible and not over pressing.

21... Bd7

The bishop prepares to cover g6 in the event of 22.Nh4.

22.Ba3

Having been frustrated on the a1-h8 diagonal, the bishop finds a more active post. The pin on c5 is awkward for Black.

22... b6 23.Be4 a6

This frees Black's game. The focus of play has switched to the queenside and all Black's pieces are ready for action. IM Malcolm Pein thinks Black now has a clear advantage. It's neck and neck on the clock: Kasparov now has 17 minutes left, Kramnik 18 minutes.

24.bxa6 Rxa6

Black has emerged with an extra passed pawn on the queenside!

25.Bxc5 bxc5 26.Rfc1

A key moment- has White enough pressure to regain the pawn? Black has to watch out for back rank tricks or a queen raid with 27.Qb7.

26... Ra5

Holding onto c5.

27.Qb2

Kramnik decides the best strategy is to wait as he has his ideal defensive set up. It won't be easy for Black to make any progress.

27... Rb5 28.Qa3 Nb6

This forces back the rook as 29.Rxc5 Bc6! wins material as 30.Bxc6 Qxc5 31.Qxc5 Rxc5 exploits the back rank to mate after 32.Rxc5 Rd1+.

29.R4c3 Rb4

The idea is if the bishop retreats say to d3 then 30...Ra8 wins as the queen is cornered on the a file.

30.Nd2

The knight therefore defends the bishop but it can become a target on d2. White is being pushed around but don't forget c5 is hanging.

30... f5

This loosens his centre but on the plus side it forces the bishop to give up control of one of its diagonals. Also blotting it out from h7 will avoid back rank tricks.

31.Bf3 Na4

This allows White to capture on c5 and force a draw. Instead 31...Rc8 or 31...Qd6-attacking the knight- would have kept the game going, though it would have been difficult to utilise the extra pawn.

32.Rxc5 Rb2 33.Nc4

This liquidates all the pieces.

33... Qxc5

Draw agreed. Kasparov had realistic winning chances, but he remains 2-0 down. A very exciting game- the World Champion isn't going to give up his crown without a fight.