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Raymond Keene
THIS week I conclude my coverage of the Brain Games World Chess Championship in London. Kasparov had to win game 15 in order to stay in with an, admittedly slim, chance of survival. As we shall see, though, Kramnik easily thwarted the champion's aims in this respect.
Kasparov was subjected to worldwide criti- cism for his lack of combativeness in games seven and 13, when he threw away the advantage of the white pieces, agreeing a draw virtually at the opening. On the other hand, he has been widely praised for his gen- tlemanly conduct in defeat. Paradoxically, perhaps these two manifestations are in fact consistent. I gained the strong impression that Kramnik, quite early in the match, had succeeded in subliminally persuading Kasparov that he simply could not win a game against his former pupil. I have rarely seen a player so solid as Kramnik, yet with the ability to deal sudden death when the occasion demands. If I am right, Kasparov's lack of fighting spirit at the critical moments and his virtual deference to the new champi- on may just be the opposite sides of the same coin. Kasparov had actually met his match and somehow he knew it.
Kasparov—Kramnik: World Championship, Game 15; Catalan Opening
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 g3 Kasparov chooses to play the Catalan Opening. This is a quiet system that can often create a slight positional pull for White. 3 d5 4 Bg2 Be7 5 Nf3 0-0 6 0-0 dxc4 7 Qc2 a6 8 Qxc4 b5 9 Qc2 Bb7 10 Bd2 Be4 11 Qcl Bb7 12 Bf4 Bd6 13 Nbd2 In this variation White is not con- cerned about the possibility of Black capturing on f4. After 13 ... Bxf4 14 gxf4 White has strength- ened his centre and created a useful open g-file against the black king. 13 ... Nbd7 14 Nb3 Bd5 15 Rdl Qe7 16 Ne5 Bxg2 17 Kxg2 Nd5 Black has a backward pawn on c7 and White has a useful open file to press against this weak spot. There are also some other vulnerable squares in the black posi- tion such as c5, c6 and a5. 18 Nc6 Nxf4+ 19 Qxf4 The fact that the black queen is threatened allows White to make this recapture. Now 19 ... Bxf4 loses to 20 Nxe7+. 19 ... Qe8 20 Qf3 e5 This is the natural freeing break for Black in this position. 21 dxe5 NxeS 22 NxeS Qxe5 23 Rd2 Rae8 Kramnik places his forces in the centre to hamper White's plans to advance there. 24 e3 Re6 25 Radl Rf6 26 Qd5 Qe8 27 Rd. Creating the possibility of Rc6, attacking Black's a-pawn. 27 ... g6 Kramnik pre- vents this threat (28 Rc6 Rf5 wins) and creates some space for his king. 28 Rdc2 Reintroducing the idea of Rc6 as now the white rook would be defended by its colleague on cl and thus ... Rf5 becomes less of a wony. 28 h5 Kasparov was now getting short of time. 29 Nd2 Rf5 30 Qe4 This was Kasparov's last chance to retain a grip on the position based on Black's backward c- pawn and the general weakness of his queenside 1. Kramnik 2. Kasparov Final crosstable; London, October/November 2000 1 2 3 4 5 6
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pawns. The correct move here is the blockading 30 Qc6. After the move chosen Kasparov obtains an optical initiative, but that is the full extent of his gains. A little calculation soon reveals that Black can easily survive. 30 ... c5 31 QxeS Rxe8 32 e4 Kasparov has engineered the exchange of queens in what he must, erroneously, have judged to have been favourable circumstances. His plans to advance on the kingside with f2-f4 can be thwart- ed. 32 ... Rfe5 33 f4 R5e6 34 e5 Be7 And not 34 Bf8 when 35 Ne4 wins a pawn to the dual threats of Nf6+ and NxcS. 35 b3 White prevents the black c-pawn from advancing with .. . c5-c4 and keeps it on c5 as a target. 35 ... f6 Black frees his kingside. The position is now completely equal. 36 Nf3 fxe5 37 NxeS Rd8 38 h4 Rd5 Draw agreed
Ardbeg Malt Whisky Puzzle No. 54 Black to play. This week's puzzle is a varia- tion from the game Kramnik—Kasparov, Game Two. In this position some grandmas- ters recommended 1 . Nxe5 not fearing the response 2 dxe5. Were they right? The answer I need is Black's response to 2 dxe5.
Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 21 November or via email to vanessa@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7242 0603. The winner will be the first cor- rect answer drawn out of a hat, and each week I shall be offering a prize of a bottle of Ardbeg Malt Whisky.
Last week's solution: Rf5 Last week's winner: E.A. Copeman, Worcester.
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