Somehow Kramnik once again succeeds in getting the queens off the board, and to create a very clear-cut position. He really seems to have prepared extremely well for this game.
1.d4
d5
2.c4
e6
3.Nf3
c5
It is understandable that Fritz will not go into a Queen's Gambit Accepted once again. So we cannot assume that the Tarrasch Defence would come as a complete surprise to Kramnik.
4.cxd5
exd5
5.g3
is considered the most effective, since the white bishop can apply optimum pressure from g2.
5...Nc6
6.Bg2
Nf6
7.0-0
Be7
8.Nc3
0-0
9.Bg5
cxd4
10.Nxd4
h6
11.Bf4
Kramnik keeps the pair of bishops, which can become very dangerous for Fritz.
11...Bg4
12.h3
Be6
13.Rc1
Re8
14.Nxe6!?
fxe6
15.e4
A typical transformation which is quite advantageous against a computer, because once again a the queen exchange is looming.
15...d4
16.e5
dxc3
[ 16...Nh7?!
is not convincing: 17.Ne4
Nf8
18.Qg4
Kh7
19.Qh5
Nd7
20.h4
Ndxe5
21.Nc5
Bxc5
22.Rxc5
Nd7
23.Rg5
Kh8??
24.Rxg7
Kxg7
25.Bxh6+
Kh8
26.Bg5+
Kg8
1-0 Nogueiras,J-Klinger,J/Graz 1984/MCD-ch (26)]
17.exf6
Bxf6
18.bxc3
Qxd1
19.Rfxd1
The pair of bishops and the more active pieces give White a pleasant position. Fritz will find it very difficult to find tactical shots.
19...Rad8
20.Be3
[ 20.Rb1
Rxd1+
21.Rxd1
Kf7
22.c4
Nd4
23.Bxb7
Ne2+
24.Kg2
Nxf4+
25.gxf4
Rd8
26.Rxd8
( 26.Rc1!?
) 26...Bxd8
27.c5
Be7
28.c6
Bd6
because of the opposite coloured bishops this is a dead draw. 29.Kf3
Bc7
30.Ke4
Ke7
31.Bc8
Kd6
32.Bd7
Bd8
33.f3
1/2-1/2 Adler,J-Flueckiger,C/Bern 1988/CBM 08 (33)]
20...Rxd1+
[ 20...Kf7
21.Rb1
Rxd1+
22.Rxd1
Bxc3
23.Rc1
Bb4
24.Bxc6
bxc6
25.Rxc6
a5
26.Kf1
Rd8
27.Rc7+
Kf6
28.Ke2
Rd5
29.Bc1
Bd6
30.Rc4
g5
31.h4
gxh4
32.Rxh4
h5
33.Rc4
Kf5
34.Bd2
Rb5
35.Bc3
Be5
36.Rh4
Kg6
37.Bxe5
Rxe5+
38.Kf3
Rb5
39.Kg2
e5
40.Ra4
Kf5
41.Kh3
Rd5
42.f3
Kg5
1/2-1/2 Dlugy,M-Petursson,M/Nordic-USA 1986/EXT 86 (42); 20...a6
21.c4
Rxd1+
22.Rxd1
Na5
23.c5
Rd8
24.Rb1
Rd7
25.Kf1
Kf7
26.Ke2+/=
Muir,A-Sathe,B/BCF-ch 1987/TD 87\02 (59)]
21.Rxd1
Bxc3
22.Rd7
Is it possible that Kramnik has prepared all of this?
22...Rb8
23.Bxc6
bxc6
24.Rxa7
Rb2
25.Ra6
[ 25.a4!?
Ra2
26.Ra6
was also possible, even though the position of course remains a draw.]
25...Bd2!
Fritz understands this endgame perfectly. Because of the open position and its active pieces it can hold easily.
26.Rxc6
Kramnik is putting safety first, which is hardly surprising in view of the current score. [ 26.Bd4
Rc2
27.Ra7
g5=
]
26...Bxe3
27.fxe3
Kf7
[ 27...Rxa2
28.Rxe6
Kf7
is also a draw.]
28.a4
Ra2
29.Rc4
Kf6
30.Kf1
g5
Fritz correctly initiates counterplay on the kingside, in order to have options if things become dangerous. It is important to know this technique, even if the position is a draw even if the program doesn't use it.
31.h4
h5
32.hxg5+
[ 32.Rc5
gxh4
33.gxh4
Rxa4
34.Rxh5
Kg6
35.Rh8
Kg7
36.Rh5
Kg6=
]
32...Kxg5
33.Ke1
e5
34.Kf1
Kf5
35.Rh4
Kg6
36.Re4
Kf5
37.Rh4
Kg5
38.Kg1
Kg6
39.g4
Kramnik trades down to a dead draw, which is clear because with his king completely cut off on the back rank he cannot make any progress.
39...hxg4
[ 39...Kg5
40.Rxh5+
Kxg4
41.Rxe5
Rxa4=
]
40.Rxg4+
Kf5
41.Rc4
Here Kramnik offered a draw, which was immediately accepted by the operator. [ 41.Rc4
Re2
42.Rc3
Ra2=
] 1/2-1/2