Thoughts Behind the Thoughts

Jacek Tomczak – Vladimir Borisovich Kramnik
43rd Chess Olympiad; Batumi, September 27, 2018
Scotch Game C45

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8. h4 Qe6 9. g3 Nb4. The alternative 9. ... d6 10. c4 Nb6 also gives Black a satisfactory game, Nepomniachtchi – Kramnik, 3rd Grand Chess Tour, 2nd stage (“Your Next Move” Blitz), Leuven 2017. 10. c4!? This is an understandable attempt to improve on 10. a3 Qd5 11. Rg1 Ba6 which gives Black a very comfortable game, Díaz – Arencibia Rodríguez, 58th Cuban Chess Championship, Las Tunas 1996. 10. ... Ba6 11. Bf4. 11. b3 Qg6! is not too exciting either, but the text is probably even worse. 11. ... d5! 12. a3!? (12. exd6 Nd3+) 12. ... Bxc4 13. Qd1 Bxf1. 13. ... Qf5 (or also 13. ... Qg6!?) 14. Bxc4 dxc4 15. 0-0 Nd3∓ is regarded by most engines as a very appealing destination for Black. 14. Kxf1 Na6 15. Nc3 Nc5 16. b4 d4 17. bxc5 dxc3 18. Qd4 Rd8? It’s quite amazing that Kramnik did not go now for 18. ... Qd5! forcing the exchange of Queens and a very favourable ending a Pawn up. 19. Qxc3 Qd5 20. Kg1 Bxc5 21. Rc1 Bb6 22. h5!? 0-0 23. h6 Rfe8 24. hxg7 Re6! 25. Bg5 Qa2? Apparently overestimating his attacking chances. Best seems 25. ... Bd4! 26. Qc2 Rg6! 27. Qf5 Re8 which leaves Black with the upper hand. 26. Rh2 Rd5? Consistently oblivious to the disaster. A much lesser evil was 26. ... Rd4! in order to reply 27. Qf3 with 27. ... Qd5 28. Qh5 Qe4 29. Bf6 Rd5 eventually followed by an Exchange sacrifice on e5.

27. Qb4! It’s strange — but of course possible — that Kramnik may have overlooked this strabic move which threatens both Qb4-f8 mate and Qb4-h4. Instead, after 27. Bf6 Qd2 Black would have avoided the worst. 27. ... c5. Of course, both 27. ... Re8 and 27. ... Kxg7 are met by 28. Qh4 with mate coming soon. 28. Qh4. The End. Kramnik chivalrously allows his opponent to deliver mate: 28. ... h6 29. Bxh6 Qb3 30. Bd2! Kxg7 31. Qh8+ Kg6 32. Qh7 mate.

Vladimir Borisovich Kramnik. Photo: batumi2018.fide.com.