(1) Kramnik,V (2799) - Polgar,Ju (2707) [A15]
Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (8), 20.01.2008
[Mihail Marin]



1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 Bb7 4.Bg2 e6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Nc3 0-0 7.Re1








More than a decade ago, a young rising star named Kramnik started employing this line with great success, causing nightmares to many specialists of the Queen's Indian, including Anatoly Karpov. The mature ex World Champion Kramnik still believes in the merits of White's position...

7...d5 8.cxd5 exd5 9.d4 Nbd7 [A more common way to dveelop the knight is 9...Na6 followed by ...c5. One of the main ideas is that in case of dxc5 the d5-pawn is protected and Black can opt for the hanging pawns with ...bxc5 rather than for the isolated pawn with ...Bxc5. As will become clear a couple of moves later, Judit has entirely different plans. She does not wish to weaken the d5-pawn at all and will keep the c-pawn on its initial square, aiming for active piece play.]

10.Bf4 Ne4 11.Qc2 Bd6!? [Finally abandoning the territory that was familiar to Kramnik from his own games. After 11...c5 12.dxc5! Bxc5 13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.Ng5 Black had problems protecting his central pawn (ex-d5 pawn) in Kramnik-Van Wely, Tilburg 1997.]

12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.Ng5 Bxf4 14.gxf4 Nf6 15.Nxe4 Bxe4 16.Bxe4 Nxe4 17.Qxe4








Black has reasonable compensastion for the sacrificed pawn. After the exchange of all the minor pieces the white king's residence has been weakened, while the exposed situation of the white queen will allow Black develop some initiative.

17...Re8 18.Qd3 Qf6 19.e3 Rad8








Black completes her development and threatens to undermine White's centre with ...c5. After an eventual exchange on d4, the chronic structural weaknesses would make White's extra-pawn irrelevant, while after d5 the b2-pawn would be hanging. We can notice a curious reversal of scenario: it is Black now who submits the d4-pawn to strong pressure... From psychological point of view, a partial success for Judit.

20.Qc2 Rd5 21.Rad1








White has prepared against Black's counterplay in the centre in the best possible way. However, his queen is a little too far from the kingside, which allows Black hit from the other side with

21...g5!? 22.Qxc7 [22.fxg5?! Rxg5+ 23.Kf1 Qf3 offers Black excellent attacking chances. Not something one would like to test against Judit.]

22...gxf4 23.exf4 Rxe1+ 24.Rxe1 Rxd4








The position has simplified and White's extra-pawn is not too relevant from static point of view. However, the open position of both kings induce certain dynamic elements.

25.Re3 h5 26.Qe5 Qxe5 27.fxe5








White has managed to improve his structure, but the active placement of Black's rook makes a draw look like the most probable result.

27...Rd2 28.Rb3 Kg7 29.Kg2 Kg6 30.Ra3 Rxb2 31.Rxa7 b5 32.Kg3 h4+ 33.Kf3 b4 34.h3 Rc2 35.Ra4 Rb2 36.Ra7 Rc2 37.Rb7 Rb2 38.Kg2 Rxa2 39.Rxb4 Kf5 40.Rxh4 Kxe5








From Black's point of view, the presence of the f7-pawn makes this an improved version of the (basically drawn, but still unpleasant) endgame Aronian had against Kramnik two rounds earlier.

41.Rg4 Kf5 42.Kg3 Ra3+ 43.f3 Ra1 44.Rf4+ Kg6 45.Rb4 Rg1+ 46.Kf2 Rh1 47.Rg4+ Kf6 48.h4 Ra1 49.Kg2 and Kramnik resigned himself to the somewhat surprizing fact that he cannot win any drawn rook ending... 1/2-1/2