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Commentary on game 10 was brought to you by GM Neil
McDonald, IM Malcolm Pein and FM Chris Duncan
With only three Whites remaining Kasparov cannot afford
another loss today- it would be virtually impossible to claw back a two
point deficit in just five games against a player who hardly ever loses.
So I suspect World Champion will try to create complications today, but
there will be no desperate lunge at his opponent. Kramnik meanwhile will
be looking for a knock out blow, but he too won't want to take too many
risks. An interesting psychological battle is in prospect.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4
Obviously Kasparov enjoyed his experience in Game Eight.
4.e3
Kramnik varies from his habitual 4.Qc2.
His choice isn't as sharp as 4.Nf3 but it
indicates he is looking for a heavy weight positional struggle. He is
allowing Black to give him doubled c pawns and create a structural weakness
on the queenside, but in return he will get the two bishops and attacking
chances based on expanding in the centre with an eventual e3-e4.
4... 0-0 5.Bd3 d5
Kasparov isn't interested in the scenario described
above. Instead he claims an equal share of the centre.
6.Nf3 c5
The consistent move adding to the pressure on White's
centre.
7.0-0 cxd4
Heading for another Isolated Queen's Pawn [IQP] position.
8.exd4 dxc4 9.Bxc4 b6 10.Bg5 Bb7 11.Re1
So White has a slight space advantage and Black's bishop
is somewhat misplaced on b4- it would be better on e7. On the other hand
all Black's pieces are fully mobilised and he is looking solid.
11... Nbd7 12.Rc1
White defends c3 in anticipation of Rc8. The key centre
square is d5- both players are fighting to control it, which makes the
pin on f6 annoying for Black and the pin on c equally irritating for White.
12...Rc8
Putting pressure on the c file. Now 13.Qd3
aiming for Ba6 to exchange bishops and attack the a7 pawn is one possible
strategy for White. However, then 13...Bxf3 would
force him to accept doubled pawns with 14.gxf3.
Alternatively,he can retreat his bishop and try to play in the
centre with Ne5 at some point.
13.Qb3
Kramnik attacks the bishop and forces it to declare
its intentions- will it take on c3 to lessen White's control of d5 or
retreat back to e7 to break the pin on f6? In such cases if White achieves
the d4-d5 advance it is either dead equal or a clear advantage to White!
Now 13...Bxc3 14.Rxc3 h6
would be a natural continuation, when 15.Bh4 Qe8,
breaking the pin on f6, seems OK for Black.
13... Be7
The World Champion prefers the cautious retreat. Now
the sacrificial 14.Bxe6 fxe6 15.Qxe6+ gets
White nowhere after 14...Rf7. Meanwhile he
is threatening to double White's pawns with Bxf3- though it isn't clear
whether this is really a threat as Black would miss his light squared
bishop.
14.Bxf6
An unexpected capture. The idea is that after 14...Nxf6
the sacrifice 15.Bxe6 fxe6 16.Qxe6+ looks
very strong as 16...Rf7 can now be answered
by 17.Ng5, winning material
14... Nxf6
Anyway! Kasparov must have found a way to counter the
15.Bxe6 sacrifice.
15.Bxe6 fxe6 16.Qxe6+ Kh8
This seems forced- 16...Rf7 17.Ng5
just wins.
17.Qxe7
So White has won two pawns, but now it is Black's turn
to inflict some damage.
17... Bxf3
18.gxf3
Now Kramnik's idea is becoming apparent- if 18...Qxd4
19.Nb5 looks very unpleasant for Black as the knight attacks the
queen and also threatens to swoop into d6 with an attack. So far Kramnik
has used 30 minutes, Kasparov one hour 10 minutes.
19.Nb5
The key position. If 19...Qxb2
20.Rxc8 Rxc8 21.Nd6 attacks the rook, when
21...Rg8? 22.Nf7 mate and 21...Re8 22.Qxe8+
both lose at once. Even stronger might be 20.Rc7
attacking g7. Perhaps 19...Qh4
is the best chance, but things looks very grim for the World Champion.
It isn't so much White's extra pawn but his attacking chances which makes
this horrible for Black. Will Kasparov find a tactical solution to his
problems?
19...Qxb2
Kasparov gets his pawn back, so that any endgame will
be OK for him. The question is whether Kramnik has a winning combination.
We can't quite see it at the Chess Centre, but it's looking very close!
Can Kasparov hold on? Why not place a flutter now! Click
here.
If 20.Rc7, then 20...Ng8! looks good for Black, while
20.Nd6 Qxc1 21.Rxc1 Rxc1+ 22.Kg2 Kg8!? seems to hold the game. So 20.Rxc8
Rxc8 21.Nd6 Ra8 looks critical. There doesn't appear to be a win here
for White, despite his aggressive pieces.
20.Rxc8 Rxc8 21.Nd6
As predicted. Now Kasparov has to stick his rook in
the corner and hope his position is tough enough to resist any tactical
blows.
21...Rb8
This is puzzling - why give up the a pawn?Perhaps the
idea is to get his pieces working together after 22.Qxa7 Rd8 23.Qe7 Ra8
followed by 24...Qxa2. Note that if 22.Ne8 now 22...Ng8! defends.
22.Nf7+
So Kramnik isn't interested in the pawn. He wants to
keep his attack going, though we can't see anything decisive for him.
22... Kg8
23. Qe6
Threatening a good old smothered mate with 24.Nh6+
Kh8 [24...Kf8 25.Qf7 mate] 25.Qg8+! Rxg8 26.Nf7 mate. Black has
to make a hole for his king on h7.
23... Rf8
I don't believe this- isn't it just a losing blunder:
24.Nd8+ Kh8 25. Qe7 Kg8 26.Ne6 Rf7 27.Qd8+
wins.
24.Nd8+ Kh8 25.Qe7
Kasparov has resigned! His 23rd move was a disaster,
23...h5 kept up the fight with good chances
to hold the position. Could this mark the end of Kasparov's reign as World
Champion?
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