This is a critical game for Kramnik. He needs to regroup fast after 2 consecutive losses. But he has shown that he can come back in the past. Here is the LIVE Board in case if you do not have access to a chess server.

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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7 6.Bg2 O-O 7.O-O c6 8.Bf4 Nbd7 9.Qc2 a5 (This is still theories for the Catalan. However, this is an opening that usually gives White a solid game, something Kramnik would be looking for. Yasser Seirawan added: “The “normal move here is 10.Rd1 although White has played… 10.Nbd2 10 Nc3 10 Ne5 and probably 10.Rc1 as well.”)

10.Rd1 Nh5 11.Bc1 b5 (Once again, Topalov is ahead on the clock by nearly 20 minutes after only 11 moves! This is a serious concern for Kramnik as bad moves came around time pressure. Yasser Seirawan also agrees about the clock situation: “I suppose White’s two main choices are 12.Ne5 and 12.b3 (Why else to retreat the bishop to c1). Yes, again, a huge discrepancy on the game clock.” Yasser also added something which I find very interesting: “I recall an interview Vladimir once gave… Imagine the moves 12.c5 f5 are played… Vladimir said he didn’t think that the g2-Bishop was any better than the c8-Bishop. I thought it an insightful comment…. But wrong.”)

12.cxd5 (I am a little surprised by this move. 12.Ne5 would be another choice.)

12…cxd5 13.e4 dxe4 14.Qxe4 (I think White is a tiny bit better. This is the kind of position Kramnik likes. Black’s problem right now is the a8 Rook. He needs to be careful with it. 3 choices are Rb8, 14…Ra7 or 14…Nb6. I would choose 14…Rb8 though. However, this is a critical moment as to how Topalov wants the game to continue. That is why he is really taking his time. For those of you who do not have access to ICC, PlayChess or FICS, you can watch the LIVE game here. It is the FREE official website.)

14…Rb8 (As I expected. This is the safest place for the Rook for now.)

15.Qe2 (This is the kind of position where Black has to be VERY patient and cautious. Black’s pieces are not coordinated yet. His h5 Knight is unprotected. His b8 Rook could be in a potential danger and his c8 Bishop is still undeveloped. Topalov would need to consolidate his position before doing anything dangerous.)

15…Nhf6 (15…Bb7 is also fine. But I can’t blame Topalov for retreating the unprotected Knight. Here, I think 16.Bf4 would be a sensible choice. That is what I would consider. Another note is Topalov is once again up by around 25+ minutes on the clock. This is really amazing! By the way, I will be on Chess.FM on Tuesday night with Fred Wilson to talk about this match. This is his last show on the match after game 11. I believe it will start at 8:30 PM NY Time.)

16.Bf4 (That is what I expected. It’s a sensible and logical move.)

16…Rb6 17.Ne5 (I think Black should chase the Bishop with Nd5. Otherwise, White would have too much advantage. Yasser noted: “Now the question is how to continue after 17…Nd5 Black readies Bb7 and “good” development. Will Kramnik play 17…Nd5 18.Bxd5, giving up the beautiful g2-Bishop? After 18…exd5 19.Nc3 could win a pawn…“)

17…Nd5 (As I just mentioned above, this is the most sensible move.)

18.Bxd5 (This is where the tough decision comes. Should White trade the g2 Bishop for the Knight? As Yasser commented earlier, Kramnik does not seem to care for the g2 Bishop. He thinks his g2 Bishop is equal to Black’s undeveloped c8 Bishop.)

18… exd5 19.Nc3 (Now the best choice for Black would be to give up the b5 pawn with 19…Bb7 20.Nxb5 a4 or 19…Nf6 20.Nxb5 Ba6..)

19…Nf6 20.Nxb5 Ba6 21.a4 Ne4 (We are seeing once again that Topalov does not have a problem sacrificing materials. It would not be normal if Topalov plays the entire game without sacrificing something. In this position, Topalov is down a pawn. However, his compensation is his Bishop pair, good Knight on e4 and the White Knight is pinned on b5. 22.Rdc1 is the most logical move here. However, Kramnik is spending a lot of time on his 22nd move. The tough question is how to continue this game? He no longer has the lead. Therefore, he cannot waste a game with White by allowing a draw. He needs to score.)

22.Rdc1 Qe8 23.Rc7 (Now Kramnik tries to be aggressive just like Topalov. Black must play Bd8 and chase the Rook away. He cannot allow Nd7. That would mean game over! Kramnik CAN play aggressive chess if he WANTS to. The problem is sometimes he is over cautious and is happy to play safe. But who can blame a guy who was over 2800 and defeated Kasparov in a match?)

23…Bd8 (The only logical move. This is the kind of position that is very suitable for Kramnik, a nice game with good flow and little risk. In the mean time, this is an uncomfortable position for Topalov. He needs to be VERY careful and VERY patient! One wrong move and game over. This is certainly one of Kramnik’s better games. Let’s see if he can capitalize on it and if Topalov can hold it. Will the time issue spoil Kramnik’s game? We shall see.)

24.Ra7 (I am not sure if I am very comfortable with this move. The problem I see is 24…Bxb5 25.axb5 Qxb5 26.Qxb5 Rxb5 27.Ra2 and does White have enough to win here? I am not sure.)

24…f6?? (This is a horrible blunder! This will cost Topalov this game! 25.Nd7 Rf7 26.Nxb6 Rxa7 27.Nxd5 and White has a winning position! Nigel Short said: “Will Kramnik think of moving his knight? What do you think?:-) )

25.Nd7 (Now it would take a miracle or a Kramnik blunder for Topalov to survive this position! I am stunned of the 24…f6 move! And he played it so fast! Big mistake!)
25…Rf7 (Now Nxb6 and game is almost over!)

26.Nxb6 Rxa7 27.Nxd5 (It is completely hopeless for Topalov. All he can hope for is some cheap tactical shots.)

27…Rd7 (Now 28.Ndc3 and there is no more trick for Topalov.)

28.Ndc3 Rxd4 (Now 29.f3 and the game is done. Rxd4 made things even worse. This is a shocking turn of even for Topalov. I had a bad feeling for Topalov some moves ago. As I pointed out earlier, this was a very uncomfortable position for Topalov, a position which required a lot of patience and precision.)

29.Re1 (Just as affective as 29.f3)

29…f5 30.Qc2 (The best move! 30.f3 does offer Black some tactical chances.)

30…Rb4 (All Kramnik has to do is play about 10 moves in 17 minutes and not walk into any cheap shot and the game is his. White is up a pawn and is about to do damage to the pinned Knight on e4.)

31.Nd5 (This is not the most precise move. 32.f3 would have been better.)

31…Rxb5 32.axb5 Qxb5 (Now Topalov is down an exchange. The only thing Topalov has is a pair of Bishops and White has weaknesses on the light colored squares. Kramnik needs to be a bit careful but he still has an overwhelming advantage.)

33.Nc7 (Black can play 33…Bxc7 or 33…Qc4, both are not so great. White should win this without much difficulties.)

33…Qc4 (White can simply trade Queens and he will have a simple endgame. Yasser Seirawan also said: “Yep, trade Queens and Ra1, looks simple to my eyes.”)

34.Qd1 (I am not sure why Kramnik does not choose the simplest endgame win. Why take any chance at all. Yasser also added: “I’m having a real hard time guessing Vladimir’s moves!”)

34…Bxc7 35.Qd7 h6 36.Qxc7 Qb4 (This is still a fairly easy win but Kramnik is making himself work harder.)

37.Qb8+ (Exchanging Queen. He should have done this a while back.)

37…Qxb8 38.Bxb8 Nd2 (Another inacurrate move but it really does not matter anymore. 39.Ra1 looks strong. How will Black defend the pawn?)

39.Ra1 (The strongest move, putting pressure on the a pawn. Black has no play at all. This is completely over. This games shows the weakness in Topalov’s game. As I pointed out earlier, I am not sure if he had the patience to play an inferior position without doing something drastic. As it turned out, he lost it by playing a blunder 24…f6.)

39…g5 40.f4 (Nothing left to play for. Time to resign. Kramnik made time control.)

40…Nb3 (GM Nigel Short said: “The fat lady has taken her position on stage.” GM Jonathan Rowson offered his opinion: “I think Kramnik has probably passed the nervous/anxious lets put the ball in the back of the net phase and is now enjoying himself.” GM Dima Tyomkin said: ” in general, Kramnik is better tactician than Topalov.”)

41.Ra3 Bc4 42.Bc7 (Is there anything left for Black? Nigel added his humor: “Researching my family history I discovered that my great-great grandfather Short had been a toilet cleaner (honestly). He would have come in handy for this match.”)

42…g4 43.Bxa5 and Black finally resigned! The score is officially 5-5 with 2 games to go. It is 3 wins for Kramnik and 2 wins for Topalov on the board + 1 forfeit win.

This was a very well played game by Kramnik. He got the exact position that he’s best with. In the mean time, Topalov got into a position where he was not so comfortable with. I personally believe that it was a bad choice of opening for Topalov today. He got himself in a very uncomfortable position right from the start.

After yesterday’s game, so many were saying that Topalov will now roll over Kramnik. After this game, the tide has turned. Many now go the other way. GM Tyomkin said: “Topalov has horrible blunders every 3-4 games, if you noticed, too much for someone who claims to be a WC.”

And just as I said yesterday, it is FAR FROM OVER. Do not count either one of them out. They are capable of losing or winning consecutive games, especially with their contrasting styles. We have two more games left. It will come down to the wire. Let’s sit back and enjoy the exciting ending.

I will be on Chess.FM on Tuesday night (8:30 PM New York time) to do a big show about this match. It will be the last show of Fred Wilson before the end of this match. Just as on this blog, I will do my best to offer you my fair and balance personal opinion and thoughts about everything that has taken place in this match.
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Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Susan Polgar October 8, 2006 Daily News 237 Comments
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