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Game 2 Commentary
1.d4 With this move Kramnik looks
set to take on Kasparov in his main lines. Kramnik normally
plays 1.Nf3, a very transpositional move.
3...d5 Initiating the Grunfeld. An
opening Kasparov has played many times. This is a very bold
choice by Kasparov and will almost certainly lead to a fighting
game
4.cxd5 entering the well trodden
paths of the exchange Grunfeld
5.e4 With this move white takes control
of the centre . Black on the other hand looks for long term
pressure against the white centre and in particular the d4
pawn. He will attack this pawn with a pawn on c5, bishop on
g7, knight on c6 and then his heavy pieces.
6...Bg7 The natural square for the
bishop, putting pressure on the white centre
8.Be3 Kramnik plays the same variation
which Karpov has employed against Kasparov in their previous
Championship matches.
10.Rb1 A useful move hitting the
undefended b pawn. The drawback being that white didn't do
anything to counter blacks threat of capturing on f3 and leaving
white with doubled f pawns.
11.Rxb7 A new move! A very aggressive
idea. Previously the move 11.Rb3 has been seen in the game
Timman-Ivanchuk 1992 Linares. IM Malcolm Pein author of a
book on the Exchange Grunfeld says this move has long been
thought to be harmless, so much so that it is rarely played.
Obviously Kramnik has got something up his sleeve!
Fritz assessment = 0.41 to Kramnik
Clock Times Kramnik 1.53 Kasparov
1.37
11...Bxf3 Black must take the knight,
before white can play Be2 and be able to take back with the
bishop.
12...Nc6 The natural square for
the knight. Guarding the e7 pawn thus enabling black to castle.
Nc6 also puts further pressure on blacks centre.
13.Bc4 Kramnik has obiously prepared
this position as he very quickly makes this developing move.
Fritz Assessment = 0.37 to Kramnik
14.O-O And Kasparov is using up
a lot of time again! Has he been caught out in the opening
for a second time?
Clock Times Kramnik 1.45 Kasparov
0.59
15...Bxd4 This is it! This is why
Kasparov has been thinking long and hard - looks like a great
move - Perhaps Kramnik's team overlooked this! The natural
move would have been 15...Qxd2. After 16.Bxd2 Nxd5 white would
be better due to the plan Kg2 with f4,e5 to follow, blocking
out the black bishop on g7 and utilising the two bishops.
Fritz assessment = 0.22 for Kasparov!
But Kasparov is way behind on the
clock! Kramnik 1.35 Kasparov 0.49
16.Bd5 Attacking the knight on c6.
The knight doesn't have a decent square, so...
16...Bc3 meeting a threat with a
threat.
Is Kramnik winning? Why have a flutter on the match result.
White has a very powerful bishop
on d5 because it is unopposed on the white squares. If black
is able to play e6, then he solves a multitude of problems
like his e7 and f7 pawns. If Kasparov doesn't remove this
bishop from d5 it will torture him for the whole game. We
believe the strongest move for white is 17.Qc2. However Kramnik
has been thinking at the board for over 40 minutes!
17.Qc1 Keeping control of the position
and putting extra pressure on the black pieces along the c
file. 17.Qc1 keeps piece coordination while protecting the
bishop on e3
17...Nd4 Kasparov is sacrificing
a pawn to reach an opposite coloured bishop middlegame. Middlegame
positions with opposite coloured bishops always favours the
attacker. If kramnik can produce some weaknesses in Kasparov's
king position added to his pawn advantage he may have some
winning chances
Clock Times Kramnik 0.45 Kasparov
0.45
19...Ra7 After sacrificing the pawn
Kasparov wants to swap some pieces to hold the draw. This
could be a long game. Kramnik will be looking to squeeze Kasparov
and make his advantage tell. Fritz assessment = 0.66 for Kramnik
21.f4 Kramnik is going to play e5
oe f5 and try to open up the Kasparov king. While Kasparov
will try and take control of the dark squares.
22...Bb8 Kasparov is continuing
with his dark squared strategy.
Clock Times Kramnik 0.31 Kasparov
0.37
23.Qf3 It is all going to happen
on the kingside.
23...Qh4 Forcing white to solve
his problem with the f4 pawn.
Clock Times Kramnik 0.31 Kasparov
0.33
24.e5 g5!? Trying to complete the
dark squared strategy - Black undermines whites pawn centre.
Kasparov had better watch out for e6. This game is exploding
- Kasparov is using his defensive pawns to attack the white
centre a dangerous plan.
25.Re1 Qxf4 Removing the queens
and hoping to hold the draw.
26.Qxf4 gxf4
27.e6 this breakthough wins a pawn
and leads to an endgame where black must suffer
Clock Times Kramnik 0.25 Kasparov
0.21
Fritz now gives Kramnik a 1 pawn
advantage!! The first time this has happened in the match
29.Rxa6 Can Kramnik win this endgame?
He is reknowned for being able to play out positions with
a small advantage and really make the opponent suffer.
29...Rf5. Fritz assessment 1.22
for Kramnik. The computer counts the pieces and reckons white
is clearly winning, but it isn't able to fully evaluate the
drawish effect of opposite coloured bishops.
Kramnik is going to make Kasparov
suffer, IM Ferguson.
30.Be4 Re5
31.f3 Re7
32.a4 advancing the passed pawn.
32...Ra7 Kasparov is very keen to
exchange rooks into a theoretically draw opposite coloured
bishop endgame
33.Rb6 Kramnik is having none of
it. He attacks the black bishop and keeps his winning chances.
Clock Times: Kramnik 0.13 Kasparov
0.06
33...Be5 threating Bd4+.
34.Rb4 Kramnik appears to be manoeuvering
his pieces to give himself winning chances.
35.Kg2 Rd2+ Kasparov is putting his
rook around the back, normally this is the best
36.Kh3 h5 Fritz assessment 1.53!
to Kramnik
37.Rb5 Kf6 Kasparov is in big time
trouble and his position is getting worse.
38.a5 Ra2 What is happening? Kasparov
is really struggling on the clock and the a pawn is getting
closer and closer to queening.
39.Rb6+ Ke7 Kasparov blunders! Under
massive pressure the King cracks!
40.Bd5 winning!
Kasparov sensationally beaten!!
Black resigned as white is threatening Bxa2 and Re6+ winning
the bishop. The only defence Re2 is met by 41.a6 and the pawn
sails through.
Final Clock Times Kramnik 0.10 Kasparov
0.01.
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