Hello everyone, I am GM Kamil Miton, one of the six authors of Chess Evolution May 2012 edition. Today I will be commenting the Kramnik – Aronian match for you live, in a situation where everything is equal after 4 games. Game 5 starts in a few minutes! Enjoy!

1. Nf3 The very favorite move of Vladimir Kramnik! Interesting start of the game today

1…
d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 Slav defense on the board, something that Skaev is bringing the top research at the moment in his latest book

4. Nc3 e6 we are into the semi slav options…

5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Be2 In the first game Kramnik played 8. Bd3 maybe with this change Aronian might take even on c4, or back to the old lines with Qd8, transposing.

8…
Qd8 Normally in this kind of position black’s idea is fighting in the center after typical dxc4 and e5 next. In this case when Kramnik put the bishop on e2 Aronian decide to play other plan

9. O-O The main idea of white is play e4 and take advantage in the center

9…
Be7 10. Qc2 Kramnik prepares first the e4 move, probably he will put next the rook on d1. Now is interesting how Aronian will develope the pieces,at this moment he can not play 10…f5 (to stop e4 move) because 11cxd5 cxd5 12Nb5 with initiative for white

10…
O-O after 11. Rad1 black can try 11…a6 with idea 12. e4 dxc4 13. Bxc4 b5 and c5 next

11. a3 typical move, seen before, white prepares b4 with the idea to take space on the queenside and also after potential dxc4- Bxc4-B5 white bishop will have good square on a2 to escape

11…
b6 Yes black simple finishes development, the plan is Bb7 – c5 white has to push at some moment e4 in other case black easy equalize position. Probably now is time to push e4 because if Kramnik will play 12. Rad1 then black has extra possibility to play the interesting 12…Ba6!?

12. Rfd1 Kramnik will keep the possibility to put the other rook on c1, if now 12…Ba6 then 13. cxd5 Bxe2 14. Qxe2 cxd5 15. Rac1 a6 16. e4 with some chances to get initiative on the light squares, especially the c6 square can be weak. So probably Aronian will play the simple 12…Bb7. We see typical style of Kramnik ,simple position with very deep strategical understanding

12…
Bb7 13. Rac1 yes ,before e4 Kramnik puts all the pieces on the optimal places. Anyway Aronian has to wait for e4 because c5 is not good for him because after that black pawns in the center will be under pressure, but before e4 move Aronian can make improvement in his position for example 13…a6!? with idea 14. e4 dxc4 15. Bxc4 b5 16. Ba2 c5 (and pawn b5 is not hanging) but after 17 d5 white has initiative

13…
Qb8 Interesting move with multiple ideas, black’s queen makes space for the rook, protects the bishop on b7 and escapes from d file what is very important when white will push e4 because then black can play dxe4 and c5 next. If 14. cxd5 cxd5 15. Qa4 Nf6 16. Ba6 (16. Ne5 a6 =) 16… Bxa6 17. Qxa6 Qc8 = and white does not manage to take control of the light squares. Not easy now to take decision, white still can wait and try to improve the position after Bd3-Qe2, but it seems to be very slow. 14. e4 dxe4 15. Nxe4 and c5! very important in other case white will play c5 and bishop b7 will be limited, which is more important than losing control of the d5 square

14. cxd5 Aronian is thinking because he wants to be sure that after 14…cxd5 everything is fine

14…
cxd5 15. Qa4 15…Rd8 then 16. Ba6 (in other case black will play a6) 16…Bxa6 17. Qxa6 Qc8 18. Qxc8 Rdxc8 19. Nb8 with some initiative but even here after 19…a5!? ok the position for white is more pleasant thanks to the strong knight on b5 and weak light squares (b5,c6 ) but to improve the position is not easy

15…
Nf6 white can try 16. Qb3 with idea not allow for a6

16. Ba6 Bxa6 17. Qxa6 Qc8 Black equalizes the position, 18Qxc8 (in other case black put queen on b7 :18. Qa4 Qb7 19. Nb5 Rfc8 20. Rxc8 and even 20…Rxc8 21. Qxa7 Qxa7 22. Nxa7 Rc2 with counterplay) 18…Rfxc8 19Nb5 Rxc1 20Rxc1 a6 = or 18. Qxc8 Rfxc8 19. Ne5 here not 19…a6 because 20. Na4 but simple 19…Bd6 =

18. Qxc8 Rfxc8 19. Ne5 19…Bd6 20. Nd3 (20. f4 then even simple 20…Kf8 because after 21. Nb5 always 21…Ne4 =) 20…a6 21. Na4 Nd7 = but not 21…b5? because white will have the strong knight on c5

19…
Bd6 20. Nb5 Bxe5 21. dxe5 Ng4

20. Nd3 now black can play 20…a6 to avoid the only threat in position Nb5 or 20…Ne4 both moves are good

20…
Ne8 this move is also possible, black’s idea is to protect the bishop and to have a6 after 21. Nb5, probably next plan of both sides will be to improve the kings. Also black can transfer the knight on c4 after Be7-Nd6-Nc4. Complete equality in the position.

21. Kf1 Kf8 22. Ke2 Ke7 maybe white can try improve position in the center after f3-e4 but it will not change evaluation

23. h3 white could immediately try 23. f3 because after 23…Bxh2 24. f4! the black bishop is out of play and white has initiative, so after 23. f3 for example 23…Rc4 is good because it does not allow e4

23…
Rc4 24. b3 white take out the rook from c4 but makes weaker queen side

24…
Rcc8 yes, white cannot do anything, probably soon Kramnik will play Nb1 exchange rooks and I suppose players will agree for draw

25. a4 Ba3 26. Rc2 Rc7 27. Ra1 Bd6 28. Rac1 Rac8 (28…Ba3?? 29. Nxd5+-) 29. Kd2 Ba3 30. Ra1 Bd6= can be the finish of the game

27. Ra1 Bd6 ,

28. Kd2 a5 29. Rcc1 Rac8 30. f3 finally white is ready to play e4 but in this case when white pawn is on b3 and the knight on c3 has to be protected by the rook and the king, this idea should not be really dangerous for black. For example now 30…Kd7 with idea if 31e4 then 31…dxe4 32. fxe4 Nf6 33. e5 Rxc3!

30…
f5 31. g4 The open g file does not change anything because anyway the rooks will be exchanged soon.

31…
g6 32. Ne2 Rxc1 33. Nexc1 Kramnik keeps one rook with hope to create some initiative on the kingside, but of course the position is equal. 33…Nf6 34Ne2 g5 =

33…
Nf6 Note: Dortmund full lineup with details is announced

34. Ne2 Nh7 35. Ne5 now after 35…Bxe5 36dxe5 the structure will change, but not the evaluation because 36…Nf8 37. gxf5 gxf5 38. Rg1 Kf7 39. Nd4 Nd7 40. Nb5 Nxe5!! or 40. f4 Nc5 and black improves the knight on the time. Of course 35…Bxe5 is not the only option for black. 35…Ng5 36. Nxg6 Kf7 37. gxf5 exf5 38. Ngf4 Nxf3 39. Kd3 Bb4 (idea Ne1) 40. Ng2 Ke6 41. Rf1 and pawns f5 and d5 can be under pressure at some moment. And first decisive result of the day in the Italian Champ 2012 Vocaturo – Parpinel 1-0 If 35…Bxe5 36. dxe5 Ng5? 37. Nd4 Nf7 38. f4 and the knight on d4 is much stronger than on f7

35…
Ng5 white should take the pawn on g6, if 36. h4 then black gets counterplay after 36…Bb4 37Kd3 Ne4!? The plan Nh7-Ng5 played by Aronian complicates the position, now players have to use a little calculation skills

36. Nf4 Bb4+ The position becomes more interesting because now black can activate the rook after Bb4-Rc3

37. Kd1 37…Rc3 38. Rc1 Rxe3 (38…Rxc1 39. Kxc1 and pawn g6 is weak) 39. Rc6 with totally unclear position

37…
Rc3 If 38. Nfxg6 Kf6 39. gxf5 Kxf5 and too many white pawns is hanging.

38. Rc1 Rxe3 both players have high pieces activity

39. Rc7+ Kd8 40. Rg7 a lot of pawns are hanging from both sides, probably soon most of them will be exchanged, the position all the time remains equal.

40…
Kc8 technical move, the most important for Aronian is to keep the king safe 41. Rxg6 Nxf3 42. Nxf3 Rxf3 43. Nxe6 fxg4 44. hxg4 Rxb3 45. Rxh6 =

41. Rg8+ Kb7 42. Rg7+ Kc8 43. Rg8+ And the game ends in a draw. Thank you for following with me GM Kamil Miton, do not forget to check out the packages in the Chessdom Shop and see you in the next round for more commentary!

43…
Kb7 ½-½

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