The above is the final position when Kramnik resigned.
Svidler – Kramnik [C42]
2005 Russian Championship – Round 1, December 19, 2005
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 Nxc3 6.dxc3 Be7 7.Be3 0–0 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.0–0–0 Ne5 10.h4 A very interesting move, something which surprised Kramnik. 10…Re8 A move which does not really do much in this position. It would be better to continue to develop his Bishop. [10…Be6 11.h5 h6=] 11.h5 Bf6 12.Kb1 a6 Black cannot afford to play a6 then b5. Way too slow while White has too much play on the Kingside. 13.Nh2 b5 14.Be2 Bb7 [14…Nc4 15.Bxc4 bxc4 16.g4 Rb8 17.g5 Be7 18.g6 Qd7 19.gxh7+ Kxh7 20.h6 Qb5 21.Qc1 +=(21.b3 Bb7 22.f3 cxb3 23.cxb3 Qf5+ 24.Ka1 g6 +=) ] 15.f4 Nd7 [15…Nc4 16.Bxc4 bxc4 =] 16.Bf3 Bxf3 17.gxf3!? [17.Nxf3 a5 18.g4 b4 19.c4 Rb8 (19…b3 20.g5 bxc2+ 21.Kxc2 Qe7 22.Bf2 Qe4+ 23.Qd3 Qxd3+ 24.Rxd3 Re2+ 25.Rd2 Rxd2+ 26.Nxd2 +=) 20.g5 Bc3 21.Qd3 +-] 17…Qe7 18.Ng4 Qe6 19.Rdg1 Kh8 20.h6 g6 += 21.Re1 Qf5 22.Bd4 [22.Nxf6 Nxf6 23.Rhg1 Nd7 24.Rg5± Qh3 25.Qd5 f6 26.f5!! Ne5 27.fxg6!±] 22…Bxd4 23.Qxd4+± f6 24.a3 [24.Ne3!±] 24…Re6? Losing a pawn. [24…Qc5 25.Qxc5 dxc5 +=] 25.Ne3 Qc5 26.Nd5 Rae8 27.Rxe6 Rxe6 28.Qxc5 dxc5 29.Nxc7 Rc6 30.Ne8 Kg8 31.Rd1 Nf8 32.Nd6 f5 33.a4 Ne6 34.axb5 axb5 35.Nxb5 Nxf4+- Excellent endgame techniques by Svidler. 36.Rd8+ Kf7 37.Rd7+ Kf6 38.Rxh7 Kg5 39.b3 Ne6 40.Kb2 [40.Rc7!! Nxc7 41.h7 Nxb5 42.h8Q+-] 40…Kh5 41.Rc7 Rb6 42.h7 Rb8 43.Re7 Ng5 44.f4 Nh3 45.Nc7 Rh8 46.Nd5 g5 47.fxg5 Nxg5 48.Re5 1–0
Replay this game: http://www.christilling.de/chess/svidlerkramnik.htm (thanks to Chris Tilling)
Standing after Round 1:
1- 2 Sergei Rublevsky, Peter Svidler (1)
3-10 Alexey Dreev, Dmitry Jakovenko, Alexander Khalifman, Alexander Morozevich, Alexander Motylev, Evgeny Tomashevsky, Sergey Volkov, Vadim Zvjaginsev (.5)
11-12 Evgeny Bareev, Vladimir Kramnik (0)
All games can be viewed without analysis at http://www.aeroflotchess.com/russia/online
Hi there,
Once again, here is the game with Susan’s annotations.
What a delightful game!
All the best,
Chris
Thanks Chris! It is now up on the main page!
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.PolgarChess.com
http://www.SusanPolgar.com
I had an interesting thought after watching Svidler play this endgame. I have always thought that what people call endgame ‘Technique’ consists of 2 parts i) prophylactic measures ii) tactics. Which part is more important solely depends on the taste of the player. In the latest chesscafe column Mark Dvoretsky said something like this too. Svidler, in my opinion, belongs to the ‘tactics’ group. I got the same feeling after his victory in 2004 dortmund semifinal (tiebreaker to decide 3rd place) win against Leko, where he forced the ending with a mating attack. One the other hand, somebody like Capablanca would be more of a prophylaxis type of person as far as endgame is concerned.
Another thing about Svidler: he is highly ORIGINAL in every phase of the game.
Kramnik should take some time off. He is not even a fraction of his former self. I thought Petrov was his forte.
I think Anand has a better record with the Petrov than Kramnik. I remember Svidler playing this line (which he described as the sharpest line he knew against the Petrov), and getting nowhere against Anand in San Luis
Who found 40.Rc7!! ?
well if Kramnik does not do well here and at WAZ then he can kiss his classical title good bye.
He had better play better than this if he wants anyone to consider him as the world champ.
this is an interesting way to unify the title no one seems to mention. just have Kramnik self destruct.
Hey everyone! Cool site! The customer support seems good and the technology jobs are endless. Maybe I will have a better directmatch searching for human resources
since my keyword “customer care jobs” did not fit as intended.
Glad I found you! Keep on keepin on!
Thank you for the annotations! That is one thing that makes this site great.
xargon said, “Kramnik should take some time off.” He has already taken time off. A ton of it.
His results have been unspectacular for quite a while now. Pretty soon, he needs to demonstrate that he’s still a credible champion.
Hey guys, Read Kramnik article on “Art, Chess, beauty and depth” at chessbase.com.
Its really good.
may by susan should publish this article