Kramnik – Morozevich
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.d4 dxc4 5.Bg2 a6 6.Ne5 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nd5 8.0-0 (Kramnik is sacrificing the 2nd pawn. This is typical for the Catalan. White has compensation with strong center, better development and Queenside counterplay.)
8…0-0 = (Black chose to consolidate his position by castling instead of grabbing the second pawn.)
9.Qc2 b5 (White has enough compensation for the pawn but not much more. I see this as an equal position.)
10.Nxd5 exd5 11.b3 (Kramnik seems to like the Catalan and has had success with it. He almost never loses with White in this opening.)
11…c6 (Moro spent quite a bit of time for this move. It is the strongest reply in this position.)
12.e4 (I like 12…f6 here for Black. Black is OK and has a comfortable position.)
12…f6 13.exd5 (Kramnik is sacrificing material. This is unlike Kramnik. At first glance, it seems that White does not have enough. However, due to the horrible piece development by Black on the Queenside, the compensation is there. But it is certainly dangerous.)
13…fxe5 14.bxc4 (Moro thought forever before he made his next move.)
14…exd4 15.dxc6 Be6 (Now the only playable move for White is cxb5. Threat is c7. Everything else would give Black a huge advantage.)
16.cxb5 (I am not sure if White made a wise decision with the sac. I see White holding for a draw at best. Black needs to bring the Rook out with 16…Ra7.)
16…d3 (I do not like this move at all. White can play 17.Qa4 or 17.c7 now and White has a small edge.)
17.c7 (This is an incredibly complicated position ans Morozevich is extremely low on time. 17…Qd6 is probably the best continuation here.)
17…Qd4?? (Now 18.Qa4! gives White a big advantage. Bad mistake in time pressure. The problem for Black now is the pair of passed pawns for White.)
18.Qa4! (White found the crushing move. Black all of a sudden is lost after only 18 moves. Quite a dramatic turn around.)
18…Nd7 19.Be3 Qd6 (The most forceful and simplest way to win is with 20.Bxa8)
20.Bxa8 Rxa8 (White should protect the c7 pawn now with Rac1. Black is now down in material, time and position.)
21.Bf4?? (Rc1 would have given White a clear edge. However, Bf4 gives Black a chance to hold with Qd5. If White plays Qxb4, Black has Qf3 and Black wins!)
21…Qf8?? (Another horrible time pressure blunder!)
22.b6! Ne5 (A desperate but losing move anyway.)
23.Bxe5 Qf3 (Black can resign now after 24.Qd1)
24.Qd1 Qe4 25.b7 Rf8 26.c8(Q) Bd5 27.f3 Black resigns. (This is a gutsy win for White but Black missed a few opportunities to either draw or even gained an edge. Sometimes you need a win like this to get good momentum. Let’s see if Kramnik can capitalize on it.)
After b3 I like White’s position and I assess this as a position that Kramnik likes. Do you also think so, Susan? I think Kramnik got out of the opening well.
after 13…fxe5 14.bxc4 we have a game too sharp for the taste of Kramnik and nearly as sharp az Moro would like…
I don’t think Kramnik considers 16. c7 as an alternative. Exciting game anyway.
But Kramnik has a huge time advantage!
Naka said on ICC that Qa4 Qa5 Qxa5 Bxa5 c7 Ra7!… so c7 is forced. Do you agree Susan, or do you see a way out?
Yes, the clock.
Your commentary is as illuminating as Fritx X.
17…Qd4 is actually not so “bad”: after 18.Qa4 a good reply is 18…Nd7
I love the commentary – keep it up, Susan
You’re a couple of moves behind.
1-0
im not sure what others think but i think kramniks best move was 12. e4 this was a brillaint move to attack the center and put pressure along the h1 – a8 diagonal. morozevich fell into the trap with 12.f6 exposing his king for the fork. morozevich ignored the white c pawn and played 15. Be6. that was a questionable move. he should have taken that dangerous c pawn when he had the chance. i also enjoyed the kramnik 17.c7 move. what slick move that was. it attacks the rook on a8 and doesnt allow the trade of queens to occur. kramnik attacked the undeveloped queenside of morozovich and made him pay for not brining out some of those pieces. kramnik wanted the center exchange of pawns because he knew after some smoke cleared morozovichs rook was gone and his dangerous pawns would create all sorts of problems. one move i just noticed was morozevich possibly playing 22. nxb6. could have maybe prevented the loss. im not sure. just throwing it out there.
“forever”
How long was forever?
Why is Moro called Moro, and not by his birth name? His nickname sounds a bit stupid, you know. I am sure his parents hate it. Alexander, on another hand, is nice and handsome.