Kramnik, V. (2766) - Carlsen, M. (2690) [D44], Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo (9) 2007

Chess Siberia

Kramnik, V. (2766) - Carlsen, M. (2690) [D44]
Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo (9) 2007
Notes by Boris Schipkov

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 b5

7. a4
A sharp line.
7...c6 8. e5 h6 9. exf6 hxg5 10. fxg7 Rg8

11. g3
11. h4 is also possible, 11...gxh4 (11...g4, 11...Nd7) 12. Rxh4 Qf6 13. Rh5 Nd7 14. axb5 c5, Schipkov, B - Baburin, A, Russia Spartakiada, Makhachkala 1985. Here I could quickly win with 15. dxc5! Bxc5 (15...Nxc5 16. Qd4 Qxd4 17. Nxd4 Rxg7 18. Nc6 Bxc3+ 19. bxc3 Nd3+ 20. Bxd3 cxd3 21. Rh8+ Kd7 22. g3) 16. Rxc5! Nxc5 17. Qd6 Nd7 18. b6 Bb7 19. Nb5.
11...Bb7 12. Bg2 c5 13. O-O g4

14. axb5!!
This knight sacrifice is a good novelty. Before White has continued 14. Nh4 Bxg2 15. Nxg2 Rxg7 (15...cxd4) 16. axb5 cxd4 and after 17. Ne4 f5?! (17...Be7) 18. Nf4! Kf7 Ivanchuk, V beat Vallejo Pons, F in Morelia/Linares 2006 with 19. Rc1!! fxe4 20. Rxc4 Bc5 21. Rxc5 Nd7 22. Rh5 Nf6 23. Re5 Qd6 24. Rxe6 1-0.
14...gxf3?!
14...Rxg7 is better, White can play 15. Ne5!? Bxg2 16. Kxg2 cxd4 17. Qa4 Bxc3 (17...dxc3 18. b6+ Nd7 19. Rfd1) 18. b6+ Kf8 19. bxc3 Qxb6 20. Qxc4 with some advantage or pass to the Ivanchuk-Vallejo game by 15. Nh4 Bxg2 16. Nxg2 cxd4.
15. Bxf3 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 Nd7
In the case of 16...Bxc3 17. bxc3 Qd5 18. Qxd5 exd5 19. Rfe1+ Kd8 20. dxc5 Rxg7 21. Re5 white pawns are superior to the black knight on b8.

17. dxc5!
Winning. White opens the d-file for rook. If Black grabs the main enemy with 17...Rxg7 18. Rfd1 Bxc5 then White attacks with 19. Rxd7! Qxd7 (19...Kxd7 20. Rd1+ Ke7 21. Rxd8 Rxd8 22. Ne4 Bd4 23. Qa3+ Kd7 24. Qb4) 20. Qxa8+ Ke7 21. Rd1 Bd4 22. Kh1 e5 23. Ne2.
17...Bxc3
Or 17...Nxc5 18. Rfd1 Qc8 19. Qh5.
18. bxc3 Nxc5 19. Rfd1 Qc8

20. Rd6!
Threatening Rc6.
20...Qb7
If 20...Ke7 then 21. Rc6 Qb7 22. Qh5 Nd7 23. Qg5+.
21. Qh5 Rc8 22. Rc6!

22...Nd3
After 22...Rxc6 23. bxc6 Qxc6 the first player takes the rook with 24. Qh8 or 24. Qh7.
23. Rxc8+ Qxc8 24. Rxa7
Black resigned. 1-0

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