1.d4
d5
2.c4
c6
3.Nc3
Nf6
4.e3
After four games, we can notice a certain pattern in the players' match strategy. Kramnik sticks to the openings that enabled him take the lead (the Catalan with the black pieces and the Slav with Black), while Topalov deviates at a very early stage. Their attitude must have some psychological implications, because logically it is only Topalov who can be content about the outcome of the opening in the first two games.
4...e6
5.Nf3
Nbd7
6.Bd3
dxc4
7.Bxc4
b5
8.Bd3
Bb7
9.a3
[In the main lines starting with 9.0-0
; or 9.e4
White has generally faced problems proving an advantage. By choosing a relatively unexplored line, Topalov shows that he does not intend to question Kramnik's famously accurate preparation and that he prefers to move the accent of the fight on the middlegame. This might be a reason why in the second game he refrained from his habitual 6.Ne5.]
9...b4
10.Ne4
Nxe4
11.Bxe4
bxa3
12.0-0
Bd6
[Another point behind Topalov's choice is that Kramnik had previously played 12...axb2
13.Bxb2
(Ivanchuk-Kramnik, New York rapid 1994). Although the game ended in a draw, accepting the pawn sacrifice at the cost of improving White's development looks quite risky. What is an acceptable choice for a rapid game does not necessarily suit a World Championship match.]
13.b3
[Much more ambitious than the immediate capture on a3. White intends to develop his bishop on the a3-f8 diagonal in order to control the important c5-square. Another interesting move here is 13.b4
as played in a couple of games.]
13...Nf6
14.Nd2
Typical for modern chess: even in rare lines, novelties occur at a relatively advanced stage of the game... Topalov rightly estimates that he does not need to retreat with the bishop, since the capture on e4 would lead Black with problems completing his development.
14...Qc7
[For instance, if 14...Nxe4
15.Nxe4
Bxh2+
16.Kxh2
Qh4+
17.Kg1
Qxe4
then 18.f3
followed by Bxa3 and Black cannot castle short any more.]
15.Bf3!?
[Having failed to convince his opponent win a pawn on the queen side, White repeats the invitation on the opposite wing. The main alternatives are 15.Bxa3
; and 15.h3
. By retreating the bishop to f3 (instead of d3 one move earlier) Topalov intends to keep the enemy queen side under pressure, in order to cause problems with carrying out the freeing move ...c5.]
15...Bxh2+
16.Kh1
Bd6
17.Nc4
Be7
Kramnik's moving around with the bishop bears some similarity with the early queen incursions from his games with White. Black's position is quite solid and the extra-pawn offers compensation for the slight delay in development.
18.Bxa3
0-0
19.Bxe7
Qxe7
Black's extra pawn does not make itself felt yet and White's supremacy in the centre certainly offers him adequate play.
20.Ra5
In the previous games of the match, Topalov's play had generally focused towards the enemy king's castle. It happened in equal, in better and in worse positions and it proved quite effective up to a certain point. In the present game, the regroupment of the minor pieces suggested that he will mainly play on the queen side, but the last move is a clear hint that opposite wings communicate and that the queen side diversion could be just a prelude to a king side attack.
20...Rfd8
21.Kg1
The abstract idea behind this move is clear: before starting concrete action, White removes the king from a relatively exposed square. It is also some sort of proving that White is confident in his positional domination and that he doesnot need to rush up things in spite of being a pawn down.
21...c5!?
Kramnik probably had enough of being submitted to long term pressure by his opponent in the first games of the match and uses the first given opportunity to free his position by returning the extra-pawn.
22.Rxc5
We can see here a point behind leaving the queen on d1 for one more tempo (instead of the natural 21.Qe2). The bishop is protected and White does not need to capture on b7 himself.
22...Ne4
23.Bxe4
Bxe4
24.Qg4
Bd3
25.Ra1
Rac8
26.Raa5
White's activity is impressive, but he cannot find targets in Black's position too easily. The next phase of the game might look a bit boring at a superficial glance, but contains many hidden nuances regarding the mutual interaction between the pieces.
26...Rb8
27.Qd1
Be4
28.Qa1
Rb7
29.Nd2
Bg6
30.Qc3
h6
31.Ra6
Kh7
32.Nc4
Be4
33.f3
Bd5
34.Nd2
Rdb8
35.Qd3+
f5
Finally, White has managed to induce a small weakness in the enemy structure, but this is a price Black is ready to pay for the stability of his centralized bishop.
36.Rc3
White will now try to occupy the centre with e4, which would offer him an advantage, but Black will defend very accurately.
36...Qh4
37.Ra1
Qg3
38.Qc2
Rf7
39.Rf1
Qg6
40.Qd3
Qg3
41.Rfc1
Rfb7
42.Qc2
Qg5
43.Ra1
[One of the nicest hidden lines from this phase is 43.e4?
Bxb3!
when the c1-rook would be hanging.]
43...Qf6
44.Qd3
Rd7
45.Ra4
Rbd8
46.Rc5
Kg8
47.Nc4
Bxc4
48.Raxc4
f4
White cannot avoid complete the complete simplification of the position now.
49.Rc6
fxe3
50.Qxe3
Rxd4
51.Rxe6
Qh4
52.Rxd4
Qxd4
53.Re8+
Kh7
54.Qxd4
Even according to the Sofia rule the position should be considered a dead draw. 1/2-1/2