Game of the year
Raymond Keene
THE year 2000 was curious in that no one game really stood out as the overwhelming achievement of the year. The pinnacle of the year's chess was a result, rather than a game, and without a doubt it was Kramnik's seizure of the world crown from Kasparov in their London match, As is cus- tomary in The Spectator I now choose the game of the year but it will be the one that rendered Kramnik's victory in the world- title contest a virtual certainty. It was pow- erfully played by Kramnik, who achieved the further distinction of winning a minia- ture against the champion. However, White's ultimate victory was based more on midnight oil than the flames of over-the- board creativity.
Kramnik—Kasparov: World Championship 2000; Nimzo-Indian Defence
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 e3 0-0 It is possible to play this position with ... b7-b6 and . Bb7, but Kasparov prefers a more classical approach. 5 Bd3 d5 6 Nf3 c.5 7 0-0 cxd4 8 exd4 dxc4 9 Bxc4 White now has an isolated queen pawn. This structure is a familiar one which can arise from a number of different openings. Indeed, in game six, where the opening was a Queen's Gambit Accepted, a similar formation arose. White has a slightly worse pawn structure but this is counter- balanced by his extra space and active piece play. 9 ... b6 10 Bg5 Bb7 11 Rel Nbd7 At this point Black should play 11 ... Bxc3 forcing White to recapture with the pawn. 12 Rd Rc8 This posi- tion has been seen a number of times before and now Kramnik chooses an aggressive continuation. 13 Qb3 This is a sharp move which creates possi- bilities to sacrifice on e6 if Black does not defend carefully. White will now meet 13 ... Bxf3 with 14 Qxb4 thus avoiding any further deterioration in his pawn structure. 13 ... Be7 Black must trade on c3 at this point. 14 Bxf6 Nxf6 Kasparov thought for a long time before making this recap- ture. He was probably trying to decide which was the least of three evils: the game continuation; 14 Bkf6 15 Nb5, with threats of Nxa7 and Nd6; or 14 ... gxf6 15 d5. 15 Bxe6 This initiates a forced sequence after which White arrives at a promising position. 15 ... fxe6 16 Qxe6+ Kh8 Not 16
Rf7 17 Ng5 which is too strong for White. 17 Qxe7 Bxf3 18 gxf3 A safe alternative was 18 Qxd8 before recapturing on f3, after which the game would certainly be drawn. However, the world champion's play is hesitant and Kramnik is scent- ing blood. 18 Qxd4 19 Nb5
Remarkably, this has all been seen before. The game Hazai—Danielsen, Valby 1994, now saw 19 Qf4 but after 20 Rxc8 Rxc8 21 Nd6 White won easily. At this point Kasparov had already used one hour and 20 minutes of his two-hour allowance to reach move 40, while Kramnik had used only 40 minutes. This suggests that Kasparov was not familiar with previous play in this varia- tion. 19 ... Qxb2 20 Rxc8 Rxc8 21 Nd6 Although he is no longer materially ahead, Kramnik now has a good initiative and Kasparov will have to defend carefully. At this point Kasparov was down to 35 minutes to reach move 40 whereas Kramnik had almost an hour. 21 ... Rb8 It is dif- ficult to decide whether this move is better than the alternative 21 ... Ra8. Putting the rook on a8 would at least have the benefit of defending the a- pawn, but White may have an awkward Qb7 in some lines. 22 Nf7+ Kg8 23 Qe6 Another plan is 23 Nd8 (threatening 24 Qe8+ mating) 23 h6 24 Ne6 with continuing pressure. 23 ... Rf8 This is a horrible blunder by the world champion which shocked the assembled grandmasters. No better, however, is 23 ... Re8 24 Nh6+ Kh8 and now see this week's puzzle. The best defence is 23
h5. Nevertheless after 24 Ng5+ Kh8 25 0f5 Qxa2 26 Re7 Qa3 27 Rf7 (threatening 28 Rxf6) 27 ... Kg8 and now if 28 Qg6 Black survives by giving up his queen with 28 , Qc1+ 29 Kg2 Qxg5 +. However, much better is the quiet 28 Kg2 and Black is defenceless against White's many threats. 24 Nd8+ Kh8 25 Qe7 Black resigns 25
Rg8 runs into 26 Nf7 mate and 25 Re8 26 Qxe8 + NxeB 27 Rxe8 is mate, so Black must resign himself to 25 ... Rxd8 26 QxdS+ Ng8 27 Qd5. White then has the advantage of rook for knight which, at this level, is an easy win.
This week's puzzle is from the above game. White has two moves that win. I want them both.
Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 2 January or via email to vanes- sa@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7242 0603. The winner will be the first correct answer drawn out of a hat, and each week I shall be offering a prize of a bottle of Ardbeg Malt Whisky.
Last week's solution: d6 Last week's winner: Kevin Kiernan, London.
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