For the very high standards of this match, the third game can be called... a short uneventful draw. Compared with other matches or top tournaments, it looks more like a very interesting game, though. Topalov did not seem to be too affected by the unfavourable course of events so far and managed to obtain counterchances in what looked like an unpleasant position for him, possibly helped by Kramnik's overcaution. If they continue to play like this, it will be one of the most remarkable matches in the whole of chess history.
1.d4
Nf6
2.c4
e6
3.Nf3
d5
4.g3
In previous matches for the World Title, the Catalan Opening has usually been a sign that White finds himself in a peaceful mood. However, it seems that Kramnik intends it as more than just a one-game surprise weapon.
4...dxc4
5.Bg2
Nc6
[Deviating from 5...Bb4+
which had been played in the first game. According to an old advice regarding general match strategy, one should not repeat a variation that led him to defeat, even if the result of the opening had been satisfactory. The main point is to avoid having bad memories during the new game. On the other hand, Topalov's apparently multilateral preparation against the Catalan makes one think that he did not discard such an opening choice of Kramnik during his pre-match preparation.]
6.Qa4
Here we go again. I have already mentioned in the notes to the first game White's tendency to spend a lot of time on early queen moves in the Catalan.
6...Bd7
7.Qxc4
Na5
8.Qd3
c5
Curiously, the game Kramnik-Naiditsch, Dortmund 2006 reached a similar position with the only difference that the f6-knight had been transferred to b6 already. This had been made possible by a rather tortuous trajectory of the white queen (c4-b5-b3-d3) as an answer to Black's 6...Nd5. Dr. Tarrasch used to evaluate an opening position by counting the tempi needed by the pieces of each side to occupy their actual squares. According to his method, Naiditsch was two whole tempi up (or better) than Topalov, but in fact it seems that the knight is better placed on f6 than on b6! In that game Kramnik captured on c5 and after ...Bxc5 played Qc3, attacking on c5 and g7 at the same time. This should have brought him an advantage but he later avoided the most ambitious continuation and the game ended in a draw after interesting but equilibrated fight.
9.0-0
Bc6
Black has managed to neutralize the Catalan bishop at the cost of several tempi and the awkward placement of his queen's knight. This compensates entirely for the time loss provoked by the white queen.
10.Nc3
cxd4
11.Nxd4
Bc5
12.Rd1
Bxg2
13.Qb5+!
An important intermediate check that finally forces Black remove his king's knight from its optimal square.
13...Nd7
14.Kxg2
a6
15.Qd3
It might look that White just lost two additional moves, but in fact Black faces now problems castling because of the threat Nc2! attacking the d7-knight and enabling the fork on b4. (Nxe6 would be worse because it would open the f-file for the enemy rook).
15...Rc8
16.Bg5!
A nice way to connect rooks. Each player with long experience in the Catalan has probably played such a move at least once.
16...Be7
[The bishop is taboo. 16...Qxg5
17.Nxe6
would lead to a very strong white attack.]
17.Bxe7
[To a certain extent, this can be regarded as a premature release of the tension. 17.Ne4!
was the main alternative.]
17...Qxe7
18.Rac1
White has completed his development, while Black still needs to find a way to remove his king from the centre. For the first time in the match, the outcome of the opening looks very promissing for Kramnik.
18...Nc4
19.Na4
b5
20.b3
0-0
Black could have inserted a knight jump to e5 somewhere, but Topalov seems to prefer simpler ways today.
21.bxc4
bxa4
22.Nc6
Probably the only way to fight for an advantage. If Black was allowed to get his knight to c5, he would hardly faced any problems. In this case, the double pawns would have been quite useful. The a6-pawn would have denied the enemy knight's access to b5-d6 while his colleague would have prevented the exchange of the own knight by means of Nb3.
22...Rxc6
23.Qxd7
Qc5!?
In case of the exchange of queens, Black should probably dispose over sufficient resources to make a draw in spite of his double pawns, but only after long suffering. Topalov's move shows that he does not wish to give away the psychological initiative in the match. By keeping queens on board, he preserves his own chances for active play.
24.Rc3
g6
25.Rb1
h5
26.Rb7
e5
27.e4
White's position looks quite active, especially wth such an outpost for his pieces on d5, but Black's next moves wll force him retreat almost completely.
27...Rf6
28.Rc2
Qa3
29.Qd1
Rd6
30.Rd2
Rfd8
31.Rd5
Rxd5
32.cxd5
[A critical moment. Optically speaking, the position is just asking for 32.exd5
when, for the second time in a row, Kramnik would have obtained two connected passed pawns, quite advanced this time. He probably feared that his far from optimal coordination would not allow him defend them properly, especially in view of the outside passed a-pawn (after an eventual ...Qxa2) as well as of intermediate moves cush as ...e4. It is early to give a definitive verdict yet; for complete analysis please consult CBM 115.]
32...Qxa2
33.Qf3
Rf8
34.Qd3
a3
35.Rb3
Apparently, Black has no way to avoid the loss of both his a-pawns now.
35...f5!
Now that the white pieces have retreated, this move does not present any risk for the black king. In fact, the pressure against the f2-pawn forces White take a draw by perpetual.
36.Qxa6
Qxb3
37.Qxg6+
Kh8
38.Qh6+
Kg8
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