08.10.2006 Game X V.Kramnik - V.Topalov

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Bb4 5.Bd2 Be7 6.Bg2 0-0 7.0-0 c6 8.Bf4 Nbd7 9.Qc2 a5 Topalov again chooses a sideway. 9...b6 is the mainline. White should not play 10.Nbd2 because of 10...Nh5 11.Be3 f5, thus white has at his disposal standard 10.Rd1 or 10.b3, the latter alternative may turn out to be a more useful move. 10.Rd1 Nh5 11.Bc1 b5

12.cxd5 This is a novelty. In the only game played in this position white tried 12.c5 and after 12...f5 13.Nc3 g5 14.a3 Bf6 black had no reasons to complain on the results of the opening, Rahman Z.-Ghaem Maghami, Doha 2003 12...cxd5 13.e4 Evidently the idea behind white's 12th move 13...dxe4 14.Qe4 This way white tries to use temporal "sparseness" in black position, Ra8, c6 square, Nh5 and b5-pawn are instant targets.14...Rb8 Another natural move 14...Nb6?! could cause unpleasant consequences: 15.Qe2 or 15.Ne5 Nf6 16.Qe2 wins  b5 -pawn. 15.Qe2 Nhf6

It's difficult to recommend an effective continuation for white, black seems to be consolidating. 16.Ne5 Nxe5 17.dxe5 Nd5 promises nothing, after 16.Bf4 Rb6 17.Ne5 (17.Nc3 is met by 17...Ba6) 17...Nd5 white should proceed with 18.Bxd5 exd5 19.Nc3 Nf6 20.Nxb5, black has enough compensation for a pawn.

16.Bf4 Rb6 17.Ne5

As mentioned above, 17...Nd5 now is a pawn sacrifice, after 17...Nxe5 18.dxe5 Nd5 19.Be3 Rb8 white can win a pawn anyway by 20.Bxd5 exd5 21.Nc3, in comparison to immediate 16.Ne5 white has his bishop on e3 preventing d5-d4.

17...Nd5 18.Bxd5 exd5 19.Nc3 Nf6 20.Nxb5 Ba6 21.a4 Ne4

Having come closer, we have to change the evaluation - black has to prove the equality in this position. White is likely to lose his extra pawn, and a possible somewhat computer-style move 22.Rdc1 has indeed quite human logic: after eventual Ba6xb5 Ra1 will not be rightly employed.

22.Rdc1 Qe8 23.Rc7 Bd8 White has now several options:  agressive 24.Ra7 with possible continuation 24...Bxb5 (24...Re6 is unexpectedly met with 25.Ra6! Ra6 26.Nc7 Bc7 27.Qa6 and white's chances are better) 25.axb5 Qxb5 26.Qxb5 Rxb5 27.Nd7 Re8 28.Ra8 and the pin on the 8th rank demands precise defence from black, or calm 24.Rc2. Risky 24.Rd7 deserves serious attention, though white may have to sacrifice a quality in this case.

24.Ra7

24...f6?

Isn't it a blunder? 25.Nd7 Rf7 26.Nb6 Ra7 27.Nd5 wins one more pawn with clear winning chances.

25.Nd7 Rf7 26.Nb6 Ra7 27.Nd5 Rd7 White is certainly winning here, but black still keeps some practical chances. White should not try now to solve the position tacticall on the spot, 27.f3 Rd5 28.Qe5 Qd7 and 29.Nd6? fails to 29...Rxd6 30.Bxd6 Bb7! and better choose 27.Ndc3

28.Ndc3 Rxd4?

29.Re1 It was played rather fast and is also enough, but why not 28.f3 ?

29...f5 30.Qc2! Rb4 31.Nd5 Clear and simple way, but 30.f3 could win a whole piece and finish it all at once. 31...Rb5 32.axb5 Qxb5 33.Nc7 Qc4 Variation 32...Bxc7 33.Qxc7 Qxb2 34.Qd8 Kf7 35.Qd7 Kg6 36.Qe8 Kf6 37.Rxe4! fxe4 38.Qc6 needs no comment.

34.Qd1!? It was possible to exchange as well, 33.Qxc4 Bxc4, because here 34.Ra1! wins a pawn. 34...Bxc7 35.Qd7 h6 36.Qc7 Qb4 37.Qb8 Qxb8 38.Bxb8 Nd2

We can see here a triumph of pragmatism in converting the advantage to a win. Vladimir Kramnik kept on choosing not the most "blood-thirsty" variations, but the cleanest and simplest lines in order to reach a position which he can win "by hand". "It's better to have an automatic and guaranteed win with just an extra pawn even in  80 moves than even minimal complications with an extra rook" could be a slogan of a player truly skillful technically.

39.Ra1 g5 40.f4! In the same manner 40...Nb3 41.Ra3 Bc4 42.Bc7 g4 43.Bxa5

Black resigned.

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Summary.

A new idea chosen by Topalov with black in Catalan was met by Kramnik concretely and agressively, that allowed Vladimir to achieve a position that required accurate defence from his opponent. And at that moment we all got the most spectacular illustration of what an immense exertion the highest sport achievements do cost. Topalov being clearly on the rise, and yet he makes an unexplaineable blunder, ruining his position instantly. Converting of the advantage to a win by Kramnik aroused a feeling that even the End of the world in process would not allow the victim to escape.