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Deep Fritz - GM V. Kramnik;
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Click here to see an explanation of the symbols that are used.
An important encounter between the contestants in this match. Game # 7.
***
1.d4
Nf6; 2.c4
e6; 3.Nf3
b6; {See the
diagram just below.}
Psychology?
(Kramnik lost to the
in this opening in game # 6. Is he
now trying to force
them to show what the best line is?)
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{Diagram.} The position after 3...b6. Black tries the Q.I.D.
***
The Queen's Indian Defense is a
very hyper-modern opening. Black
tries to solve
the problem of his
problem child by placing it on the
long diagonal. But the second player
must exercise extreme caution that
he is not crushed behind a wall of
White Pawns
during the initial phase of the game.
4.g3
Bb7; {Diagram?}
Hmmm. Apparently Kramnik wants
a completely different type of game.
(The computer used 4...Ba6!? in
the previous encounter.)
[ 4...Ba6!?; - GM A. Nimzovich. ].
5.Bg2
Be7; 6.0-0, {Diagram?}
Obviously there is nothing wrong
with simple development here.
[ Another book I have gives the
line: 6.Nc3
Ne4; 7.Bd2
Bf6; 8.0-0
0-0;
9.Rc1, "+/=" {Diagram?}
I'd stop here and say White has
a slight edge here.
This line has been played literally
hundreds of times at the Master
level, (about 500
times according
to Chess Lab!); but probably first
occurred in the encounter:
GM V. Smyslov - GM F. Olafsson; Alekhine Memorial Tournament,
Moscow, Russia; 1971. ].
6...0-0; 7.Nc3
Ne4; 8.Qc2!?, {Diagram?}
I like this, it seems to be one of
the most steady and flexible options
at White's disposal.
[ The move 8.Bd2, {Diagram?}
could very likely transpose to the
note given
after White's 6th move,
- see just above. 8...Bf6;
9.Rc1
c5; 10.d5
exd5;
11.cxd5
Nxd2; 12.Nxd2
d6; 13.Nde4
Be5!; {Diagram?}
The end of the column.
(In the game, Karpov-Salov; Linares, 1993 ... ...
...
Black got into trouble after retreating the Bishop to e7.)
14.f4!?, {Diagram?}
Seemingly the most aggressive.
(Or 14.Qd2
Ba6; 15.Rfe1
g6; "=" and the
game is equal).
14...Bd4+; 15.Kh1
Ba6; 16.Rf3, {Diagram?}
White seems to be a tad better
in this position.
GM A. Yusupov - GM Z. Almasi; Germany, 1994.
"Now 16...Qe7; gives Black equal
chances." - GM N. de Firmian.
[ See MCO-14; page # 566,
column # 19, and note # (d.). ] ].
8...Nxc3; 9.Qxc3
c5; 10.Rd1
d6; 11.b3
Bf6; 12.Bb2
Qe7;
{See the diagram just below.}
A nice central square for the
Queen in this position.
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We follow a standard, book line.
(The actual position in the game after ...Qe7.)
***
[ MCO gives instead:
12...Qc7; 13.Qc2
Nd7; The end of the column.
14.e4
Rac8; 15.Qe2
Rfd8; 16.Rd2
cxd4; 17.Bxd4
Bxd4;
18.Nxd4
a6; "~" {Diagram?}
(Maybe - "+/=")
"White has a minimal edge in a
hedgehog-like position."
- GM Nick de Firmian.
Grivas - Z. Almasi; Moscow Olympiad, 1994.
[ See MCO-14; page # 566,
column # 22, and note # (n.). ] ].
13.Qc2
Nc6; 14.e4,
{Diagram?}
White grabs the big center ...
BUT!!!
I think - since computers
obviously play closed positions so
poorly, I think it might
have been
wiser for the box to keep the
center of the board more fluid.
[ Maybe wiser was: 14.e3, "=" ].
Now Black virtually forces White
to close the center.
14...e5!; 15.d5!?
Nd4; 16.Bxd4
cxd4!?; {Diagram?}
Black plays a safe move.
But this looks like blind adherence
to principle.
("Always capture
towards the center.")
[ I think a superior plan is:
16...exd4; 17.Qd3
Rae8; 18.Re1
Qc7; {Diagram?}
with a very elastic position for
Black here. He can play a slow,
waiting game.
The second player
can prepare various ideas such
as ...a6; ...Bc8-d7; ...g6; ...Bg7;
and then double his Rooks where
appropriate and break with f5.
Computers are
VERY bad at
handling such long range plans
that are primarily strategic in
nature.
This is why I am certain
this would have been a much
better way of handling the
game,
than what was played in the
actual game. (- LM A.J. Goldsby.) ].
17.Bh3
g6; {Diagram?}
Black prepares a safe retreat for
his Bishop to g7, keeps White's
pieces off the f5-square,
and even
possibly prepares a pawn break
with the move, ...f5.
18.a4, {Diagram?}
According to ChessBase's website,
this was the computer's last book
move in this line.
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The actual game position after 18.a4.
(White is looking to make some inroads on the Q-side.)
***
Up to this point, this had all been
played before, in the (stem) game:
GM Lev Polugaevsky - GM Boris Gulko;
The 44th U.S.S.R. Championships. Moscow, RUS; 1976.
[ I prefer: 18.Qd3!?,
"+/=" {Diagram?}
with a very small advantage
to
the first player in the current
position. ].
18...a5N;
{Diagram?}
Black continues his strategy
of blockade.
This is also (apparently) an improvement over existing Master practice. (TN)
"It seems wise to block the a-pawn." - GM Danny King. (Chess Life)
[ Maybe 18...Qc7!?; "~" with unclear play.
In the stem game, Black allowed:
18...Bg7; 19.a5,
"+/=" {Diagram?}
and White had broken through
on the Q-side and won a very
nice game
in 41 moves. ].
19.Rab1
Ba6!?; {Diagram?}
Black plays as if to confuse the
computer. But this move seems too slow to me.
[ I would have liked to seen the
mighty Kramnik play a line like:
19...Bg7; 20.Qd2
h6; 21.Qd3
Bc8; 22.Bxc8
Raxc8; 23.Nh4!?
Kh7;
24.b4!
Qd7; 25.bxa5
bxa5; 26.Rb5
Rc5; 27.Nf3
Qg4;
"~" {Diagram?}
Black has counterplay in a
very unclear position. This is
another type of game
that most
computer programs handle
do not excel at. ].
Now Black maneuvers, seemingly
without any point. But he is slowly gaining
the upper hand here.
20.Re1
Kh8; 21.Kg2
Bg7; 22.Qd3
Rae8; 23.Nd2
Bh6; {Diagram?}
Now Black seems all set to play
the pawn break, ...f7-f5. And then
maybe even ...f5-f4.
Seeing the position is growing
critical, White grabs some space.
24.f4!
Qc7; {Diagram?}
Black cannot afford to break
down the pawn structure.
[ Bad for Black is: 24...exf4?!;
25.Qxd4+
f6; 26.Qxb6,
"+/=" {Diagram?}
and White is better. ].
Now both sides seem to be forced
to accept a repetition of moves.
25.Rf1
Kg8; 26.Rbe1
Qd8; 27.Kg1
Bb7; 28.Re2
Ba6;
{See the diagram just below.}
Draw agreed.
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The final position of this game.
***
Neither side could find a way to significantly improve their position.
A good game, and not a bad defense for a mindless machine.
1/2 - 1/2
(Code initially) Generated with ChessBase 8.0
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This
is a game I annotated especially for these web pages. I eventually plan to
annotate - in a similar
manner ... all of these games. If you would like a copy of this game to help you
study, contact me.
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Page last updated: January 15th, 2003.
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Copyright (c) A.J. Goldsby I
Copyright (©) A.J. Goldsby, 2002 - 2004 & 2005. All rights reserved.
