Destiny

Vladimir Borisovich Kramnik – Gataulla Rustemovich Kamsky
22nd Russian Team Chess Championship; Sochi, May 6, 2015
Dutch Defence A35

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. e3 Bg7 5. d4 d6 6. Be2 f5!? This decision appears somewhat risky, as Black transposes into a not particularly favourable Dutch. 7. 0-0 Nf6 8. d5! Much more energetic than 8. dxc5 dxc5 ½ : ½ Vassallo Barroche – Ninov, Belgrade 2009. 8. ... Nb4 9. a3 Na6 10. Rb1 0-0 11. b4 Kh8 12. Qb3 b6 13. Bb2 Nc7 14. Rfd1 Bd7 15. Ba1. Black’s position is a bit cramped; furthermore, it features one patent weakness: the hole on e6. 15. ... a5 16. bxc5 bxc5 17. Qc2 Rb8 18. Rxb8 Qxb8 19. e4 fxe4 20. Nxe4 Nce8? Conservative, ugly looking and definitely not good. Better was 20. ... Nxe4 21. Bxg7+ Kxg7 22. Qxe4 e5 (getting rid of his weakness), although after 23. Rb1 Qa7 24. Qh4 White retains a glaring initiative.

21. Ng3. Apparently stronger is 21. Neg5! for if 21. ... h6 might follow 22. Ne6 Bxe6 23. dxe6 g5 24. Qg6 Qc8 25. Re1 Qxe6 26. Bd3 Qf7 27. Qxf7 Rxf7 28. Bg6 Rf8 29. Rxe7 and White’s position looks imposing. 21. ... Ng4 22. Bc3 Qc7 23. h3 Nh6 24. Ng5 Nf7 25. Nxf7+ Rxf7 26. Rb1 Kg8 27. Bg4 Bxc3 28. Bxd7 Qxd7 29. Qxc3 e6 30. dxe6 Qxe6 31. Re1 Qd7 32. Qxa5. White has now a Pawn to the good and an excellent position. 32. ... Nf6 33. a4 Rf8 34. Ra1 Qf7 35. Qc3 h5 36. Qd3 h4 37. Nf1 d5 38. cxd5 Nxd5 39. Qc2 c4 40. Qxc4 Qxf2+ 41. Kh1 Rf5 42. Nh2 Kg7 43. Ng4 Qd2 44. Rb1 Rf7 45. Ne5 Rc7 46. Qe4. The most human move! 46. ... Nf4. The ending ensuing after 46. ... Qc2 47. Qxc2 Rxc2 48. Ra1 is lost for Black anyway. 47. a5 g5 48. a6 Rc1+ 49. Rxc1 Qxc1+ 50. Kh2 Qa3 51. Nf3. Again human! 51. ... Qxa6 52. Qe7+ Kg8 53. Qxg5+ 1 : 0. For if 53. ... Ng6 then 54. Nxh4.

Vladimir Borisovich Kramnik