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Commentary on game 4 is brought to you by GM Neil McDonald,
GM Elect Jon Parker, IM Mark Ferguson, IM Simon Williams, IM Malcolm Pein
and FM Chris Duncan
After his failure in Game Two, Kasparov has a crucial decision
to make on the first move- should he persevere with the aggressive
Grunfeld and risk losing again or adopt a more solid approach
perhaps with the Queen's Gambit?
1.d4 d5
2.c4 dxc4
This is a real surprise. The commentators can't recall Kasparov ever playing the Queen's Gambit Accepted before. It has a very sound reputation and seems to indicate that Kasparov is only looking for equality.
3.Nf3 e6
4.e3 c5
The QGA is the perfect choice against players looking for long term
pressure. They have the choice of agreeing to an Isolated Queen's Pawn
position- which isn't to everyone's taste- or a liquidation in the
centre with a probable draw.
5.Bxc4 a6
6.0-0 Nf6
7.dxc5 Qxd1
Kramnik heads straight for the endgame as he has played in previous games. A much more fighting approach
was 7.Nc3.
8.Rxd1 Bxc5
This line was played a number of times by Fischer and Spassky in their World Championship of 1972. Then again in their rematch in 1992.
9.Nbd2 An unusual move. The normal moves are 9.Nc3, 9.b3 or 9.a3. Kramnik beat Karpov in this line at the Siemens rapidplay 1999. Kasparov must have expected this line.
9...Nbd7 Both sides develop their pieces in conventional style.
10.Be2 b6
11.Nb3 In the game Kramnik v Karpov the move 11.Nc4 was played. Has Kramnik improved or does he simply want to take Kasparov out of his preparation? Kasparov was obviously ready for 11.Nc4. 11.Nb3 has been played by Bareev against Rublevsky in 1996. The game ended in a draw.
11...Be7
12.Nfd4 Bb7
13.f3 White aims to gain space in the centre, but the pawn structure
is so symmetrical that it is hard to see how White can set Black any problems.
13... 0-0
14.e4 Rfc8
White has neither a lead in development nor any targets to attack
in Black's position. A draw is surely likely as if White tries
something active then the slight weakness on the a7-g1 diagonal could
even lead to trouble for him.
15.Be3 Kf8
The king edges closer to the centre. I guess Kasparov is feeling happy
with his opening choice hereabouts. The real test will be in his next
game with Black after Kramnik has had the chance to look at things at
home and devise a more attacking approach.
16.Nd2
Here is the new move! In the game Bareev against Rublevsky(mentioned above), white played 16.Kf2. The only constructive plan is to aim at the b6 pawn with 17.Nc4
next move. If Black can be cajoled into playing b6-b5 then a
dark square weakness will appear on Black's queenside.
16...Ne5
Kasparov fights for control of the c4 square, but it leaves the b6 pawn
temporarly undefended.
17.N4b3 Rc6
...but no matter, the pawn is easily defended by the rook. This is also
a tacid offer of a draw as now 18.Nd4 Rcc8 repeats the position.
18.Rac1 Rac8
19 Rxc6 Rxc6
White has a minute advantage as the bishop on b7 is the worst piece on the board and the b6 pawn
is the weakest pawn on the board!But everything else suggests the result will be a draw.
20.g4
As everything is static in the centre, White aims to gain space on the kingside. Now there is the
idea of dislodging the knight from f6 with 21.g5.
20...h6
21.h4
Renewing the threat of g5.
21...Bc8
22.g5
The game reaches a critical phase. Black must try to keep his pieces coordinated in the face of
White's kingside pawn advances.
22...hxg5
23.hxg5 Nfd7
Clock Times Kramnik 0.46 Kasparov 0.57
24.f4
The pawns continue to roll forwards. Black's pieces are being forced backwards, but he still
looks solid enough.
24...Ng6
25.Nf3
As predicted by GM Parker.
This clears the d file with the threat of winning a pawn with 26.Bxa6 Bxa6 27.Rxd7. It also increases White's bind on the centre. Things are getting a bit uncomfortable for the World
Champion.
The general opinion at the London Chess Centre is that white is slightly better. Kramnik likes these positions with a slight edge and Kasparov hates them.
Clock Times Kramnik 0.44 Kasparov 0.34
25...Rc2
So Kasparov isn't impressed by 26.Bxa6 given above. He believes that putting the rook on the
seventh rank gives him enough counterplay after 26...Bxa6 27.Rxd7.
26.Bxa6 So Kramnik calls Kasparov's bluff.
26...Bxa6
27.Rxd7
The rook is very strong here, especially as there will be back rank threats looming. The black
pieces are too bunched together.
27...Rxb2
28.Ra7 Bb5
This meets the attack on the bishop and the threat of 29.Ra8+, but Black's position is now
seriously creaking. Don't forget White still has the idea of f4-f5. Kasparov looks in deep
trouble.
29.f5
As predicted. Is this going to be a second defeat for Kasparov?
29...exf5
30.exf5
Kasparov dislodges the bishop to free a central square for his knight, but just exactly how is
he going to prevent the advance of the a pawn after Kramnik captures on b6? This has all the
makings of a disaster for Black unless the World Champion finds an ingenious defence.
30...Re2
31.Nfd4
Has Kramnik found an even stronger continuation?
31...Re1+
32. Kf2 Rf1+
Clock Times Kramnik 0.18 Kasparov 0.18
33.Kg2 Nh4+
34.Kh3 Rh1+
35.Kg4
Finally the king escapes the checks. Black's knight on h4 is looking lousy and b5 is still
attacked.
35..Be8
Will Kasparov last longer than in game 2? - Ferguson
36.Bf2 Ng2
37.Ra8
This pin looks fatal, but maybe 37.Nf3 might have been stronger.
37... Rf1
38.Kf3 Nh4+? The world Champion blunders under pressure! 38...Nf4 was better.
39.Ke2 Rh1
40.Nb5
Surely there is no good answer to the threat of 41.Nc7. Will Kasparov resign? Last time Kasparov was 2 points down in a match was against Karpov in Moscow 1984!
40...Bxg5
This is the only way for Black to resist.
41.Nc7 Ke7
42.Nxe8
So White wins a piece and still has the passed pawn on a2. It seems hopeless for Black.
42...Nxf5
43.Bxb6 Kd7
44.a4
Passed pawns should be pushed! There is no defence against the further advance of this pawn.
44...Rh3
45.Nc5+ Kc6
46.a5
The end is nigh. Black'S passed pawns are harmless and 46...Nd4+ 47.Kd1?? Rh1 mate is a bit too
much to hope for! After 47.Kf2 Black has various checks, but White's king eventually slips out.
Meanwhile White is ready to force the black king away from the passed pawn with Rc8+ when if
Kb5 Nd6+ and then a6 wins. Black could try approaching the white king to try to weave a mating
net, but it looks much too slow.
46...Re3+
47.Kd1
White gets his king away from the attention of the black pieces on the kingside.
47...Re7
Clearing the way for a possible knight check on e3, but it seems a forlorn hope.
48.Rc8+
Which ever of Kasparov's team recommended playing the QGA will not be popular tonight!!
Clock Times Kramnik 0.23 Kasparov 0.12
48...Kb5
Kasparov is fighting hard as 49.Nc7+ Kc4 50.a6? Ne3+ wins White's bishop by a discovered check,
but 50.Nc5-e6!? may be the way to win it.
49.Ne4
Kramnik wants to simplify the position and so offers an exchange of pieces.
49...Rxe4
50.Rc5+ Ka6
51.Nc7+ Kb7
52.Rxf5 Be3
Kasparov continues his stubborn defence. If only he could get rid of the a pawn he would save the
game.
53.Bxe3 Rxe3
54.Rxf7 Re5
55.a6+ Kb6
56.Rg7 Ra5
57.Kd2 Ra1
58.Kc2 Rh1
59.Kb2
This looks like a blunder as 59.Rg8 to answer 59...Kxc7 with 60.a7 looks like a simple win.
For example 59...Ra1 60 Rc8.
59...Rh8
A miracle has occurred! The position is now a stone cold draw. Black has only to play 60...Rc8
and he wins the a7 pawn. Then the endgame rook and knight versus rook is a fairly
straightforward draw, though Kasparov managed to win it against Polgar.
60.Kb3 Rc8
61.a7 Kxa7
62.Kb4 Kb6
63.Nd5+ Ka6
64.Rg6+ Kb7
Besides Kasparov's win against Polgar, one of your commentators Neil McDonald managed to win this
endgame in a tournament a couple of years ago. It takes considerable help from your opponent
to win it, and somehow I don't think Kasparov is feeling very obliging at the moment. An
incredible escape from the World Champion when everyone thought he had an utterly losing position.
65.Kb5 Rc1
66.Rg2 Kc8
67.Rg7 Kd8
68.Nf6 Rc7
69.Rg5
White's king is cut off from the black king and so there is no danger.
69... Rf7
70.Nd5 Kd7
71.Rg6 Rf1
72.Kc5 Rc1
73.Kd4 Rd1+
74.Ke5
Draw agreed. An awesome defensive play by Kasparov, though Kramnik must be kicking himself for
letting his opponent off the hook.
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