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Kramnik - Leko; WCC-2004 (#14)This was a game that has already been talked about quite a bit, and even annotated on a couple of web sites. So much was said about this game - much of it, I felt had to be incorrect - that I decided to annotate it. I also thought it might be useful to find out where Leko went wrong ... exactly what the losing move was. {There were MANY mistakes in this contest.} [ The official web site. ] [ The ChessBase report. ] [ The LCC/TWIC report. ] This game has (now) been updated ... several times. (10/31/2004 and 12/03/2004) Click here to see an explanation of all the symbols that I commonly use when annotating a game. Click here to re-play this game ... on another server. (This is not my site, please do not write me about the content!) Click here to see Kramnik's analysis of this game. (Link may no longer be valid. Friday, June 15th, 2007.)
2.d4 d5;
3.e5!?, ('!') (Phalanx)
Furthermore, as this game amply proves, White gets an edge and it is not real clear exactly what the best method is for Black to proceed with, in order to gain full equality. Yet another consideration is that these {murky?} theoretical waters are not very well explored.
As I have pointed out to several of
of my Internet students ...
[ The main line is:
3...Bf5;
4.h4!?,
[ The more usual move order for
this line would be:
4...h6!?;
(Escape square ... for the Bishop. Prophylaxis?) *******
[ An alternative here is:
>/= 4...h5!?; {Diagram?} [ See MCO-14; page # 185; column # 47, and all notes. ] *************************************************************************
Black should definitely NOT play: *******
5.g4 Bd7;
('!') Probably the most notable previous use of this position came in a WCS Match ... Mikhail Tal's disastrous title defense against M. Botvinnik in 1961. Tal reached this position twice in that match ... and lost BOTH games!!! {See the CB web site for more details.}
[ If Black goes the other way ...
he courts problems.
It is quite obvious to me that
Kramnik's next move was prepared
well in advance
******************************************* *******************************************
For
those who say that chess is
completely played out, I offer the
court: Only six moves ... and we are out of book!!
[ A good example of previous
- successful! - (recent) master
practice *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
( Or 8...Qb6!?; 9.Nf3, "+/=" {Diagram?}
GM Mikhail Tal - GM Ludek Pachman; /
ICT / Bled, Yugoslavia; 1961. [ See MCO-14, page # 185; column # 47, and note # (s.). ] ) *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
9.Nf3 Qb6; 10.Kf2!?,
"+/=" ('!') {Diagram?}
GM Michael Adams
(2640) -
GM Alexander Khalifman (2645);
6...c5!?; (hmmm)
{See the diagram - - just below.}
******************************************* *******************************************
Maybe this move would not have been so bad ... if Black would have followed it up differently here. [ Maybe (>/=) 6...Qc8; {Diagram?} here instead? **********************************************************
Probably the most solid move would have been:
************************************************************ White could play c3 here, but his response is more challenging and energetic. 7.dxc5,
[
Slower and more solid was:
7...e6!?; (Maybe - '?!')
[ An improvement just might be: ( >/= 8.Ngf3?! Nc6!; "=" )
8...Qxc5;
9.Bg2,
"+/=" 9...e6;
"~" {Diagram?}
8.Nb3 Bxc5!?;
(Probably - '?!')
[ Another idea here was: ***************************************************************************
A possibility mentioned by some commentators was:
9.Nxc5 Qa5+;
10.c3 Qxc5; (Assess this position - who
is better?)
Despite what was said above,
the computer clearly shows a
massive edge
11.Nf3!?,
"D" (D
= Development.) {Diagram?} ******* However, White enjoys a very nice advantage with this flexible move.
Additionally, White also has the
Bishop pair, and can make Black
suffer for
[ After the moves:
(>/=) 11.Be3 Qc7; 12.f4,
"+/=" ('±') {Diag?}
11...Ne7!?;
(hmmm) [ Maybe better is: 11...Qc7. ]
The on-line commentator ...
(GM R. Knaak); for the official website, did not
[
RR
>/=
14...d4!;
"<=>" {Diagram?}
Although I did not know it, many players (and commentators)
{I have received several e-mails about this matter ... I never *** (Editor's
note: for a brief analysis of this move, see the CB article *******
White ignores the chance to
capture on g6 and double Black's
Pawns -
15.Bd4! Nxd4;
16.cxd4 Qxd2+?; (This is totally inept
here ... but why?)
******************************************* *******************************************
After
this - Black's large lag in his development begins to tell. After
the exchange on d2, the latest version of HIARCS shows a swing
in The
change in the "eval's" of the position by most
computer programs ... ******* The REASON(S) that this move is completely wrong are: #
1.) That after the exchange of the Queens, the
second party has left #
2.) Kramnik is now firmly in charge of ALL the {remaining}
open lines ... #
3.) The first party has many times more usable
space than Black does #
4.) We have also gotten one step closer to an
end-game ... ******* Originally
I had only awarded this move a dubious appellation ... *********************
[ Much better than the game,
was the continuation:
17.Kxd2 Nf4;
18.Rac1, Kramnik
could have retreated his Bishop here, but apparently his excellent chess
instincts told him that he had nothing to fear from a
"NxB" trade on the d3-square.
[
Several on-line commentators suggested that White play:
18...h5?!;
(Oh-no!)
{See
the diagram, just below here, please.}
******************************************* *******************************************
It
is also a violation of principle,
when (far) behind in development, (...)
[ After the moves:
19.Rhg1! Bc6;
20.gxh5 Nxh5!?; {See
the diagram ... just below.}
******************************************* *******************************************
After about 30 minutes of machine time, one program awards White more than a one-point edge here.
[ Maybe just 20...Kf8!?; here? ]
White
now plays his position with
great energy - although Ke3 was
also worthy of consideration here.
[
Even worse would be:
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
White's next move might be a double-exclam ... despite what the fish on
(White's next play is an attempt to
completely refute Black's opening
Aside from the text move, Ke3 has also been recommended by several pundits
...
******************************************* *******************************************
Now Leko's position was working against him, as he battled with the clock as well here. (And this was probably one of the reasons that Leko was unable to find the way out of this mess.)
[ After the following continuation:
25.Bh7+ Kh8; 26.Bc2!,
'±' {Diagram?}
23.Ng5 Be8[];
24.b5!?, ('!') [ Maybe 24.Ke3, '±' {Diagram?} is (also) good? ]
24...Nf4;
(hmmm) [ </= 24...axb5?!; 25.Bxb5!, '±' ]
Kramnik's next move ... "made him happy." (LCC)
It is worth noting ... that this is the SIXTH move that this piece has
made in this
[ Black could try to adopt a
defensive blockade, but after: ***************************************************************************
Even worse for Black was: *******
( Bad is:
29.Rc7 Rb8; 30.Nc2 Nxd3; 31.Kxd3 Bf3!?; 32.Nd4 Be4+; *******
27.Kxd3 Bh5; 28.Nd2 fxe5!?;
{Diagram?}
29.dxe5
Rc8; 30.Rxc8+ Kxc8; 31.Rxg7, "±"
(Probably "+/-")
{D?}
Black is soon forced into playing
...Rc8; once Leko loses control
of this
Black has blocked the c-file ... but has not kept
the White Rook out,
[
The endgame that arises after the following moves:
Now
White buries a Knight into the d6-square. In a similar
situation, Not
being able to defend any of the real threats ... and convinced that
[
The strong program, Fritz 8.0 greatly prefers the move:
31...Rh3+;
32.Ke2 Ra3; 33.Rxg7 Rxa4; 34.f4!!,
(nice) A very bold decision.
******************************************* *******************************************
Take a look at this position. This moves might be easy - now - for me to find. But I have already watched this entire game on the Internet today, I heard all the expert commentary, I have had hours to analyze the game, I sit at my desk in complete relaxation, and I also have Fritz running in the background as well here. White will wind up sacrificing many of his Pawns in an almost cavalier fashion. I am sure that finding all of these shots over the board were not nearly as easy as they are for me now! ********* White's
play is now centered around two very pleasing themes: ********************* [ Also possible was: 34.Kd3!?, "+/=" {Diag?} with a tangible edge here. ]
34...Ra2+!?;
[
Black could have tried the following continuation ... which also loses: *******
( Even worse would be: </= 36...a5??; 37.e7+
Kd7; {Diag?} 38.e8Q+ Kxd6[]; 39.Qe7#. ) *******
37.Nxe4 dxe4; 38.Rc7! Ba4;
{Diagram?} *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
Now I do NOT claim that the next series of moves are forced or
best.
39.Ke3! Bb3; 40.e7+ Ke8; 41.Rxb7
a5; 42.Kf4 a4!?; 43.Rc7 Bd5; *******
( After the moves: ("=") 44...e3!?;
45.Kxd5! e2; 46.b7 e1Q;
48.e8Q+ Kf6; 49.Qbd8+, ("+/-") {Diagram?} *******
45.b7! Be6!?; 46.Kxe6!, "+/-"
{Diagram?}
(NOTE: I stuck this line in because I got several phone calls and
*********************************************************************************************
Another idea - that Black does not have time for - would be: *******
( Not </= 35...exf5?; {Diagram?} *******
36.fxe6 Rb2+; 37.Kf3 Be8[];
{Diagram?}
38.Rg8 Rb3+; 39.Kf4 Kc7; 40.Rxe8
b5!?; {Diagram?}
41.Ra8 Kb6; 42.e7,
"+/-" {Diagram?} 35.Kf3 Ra3+;
35.Kf3 Ra3+;
{See the diagram - just below here.}
******************************************* ******************************************* Take a look ... and decide for yourself.
36.Kg4! Rd3?;
(YUK!!)
{See the diagram ... just below.}
******************************************* *******************************************
Now White - playing with truly great, admirable skill - throws away his Pawns to weave a mating web around Peter Leko's King.
[
RR After the moves:
**************
The rest is merely a display of
Kramnik's considerable technique. It was only after Black's next move that the boxes began to grasp that Black was lost.
Note that White's play from this position is VERY thematic
...
41.Nf7+, Black Resigns, (1-0.) {See the diagram ... just below.}
It is now mate in two ... ("+/-")
... definitely a good time to quit!
******************************************* *******************************************
A great game by Kramnik ... but Leko could not have played any worse, I think. Also - his opening was simply horrible - you expect that kind of play from a Class "C" player, but not a WC Candidate!!
Copyright (c) A.J. Goldsby, 2004. All rights reserved.
1 - 0This game - the raw HTML code was {initially} generated with the program, ChessBase 8.0. I started analyzing this game as soon as the first move was made, I finished the great part of my analysis late last night, after the NFL game. (St. Louis defeated Tampa Bay.) But of course, I then had to format the game ... this took approximately 4-5 hours of constant work. (I also had to then create the diagrams for this page.) I was not really planning on analyzing this game ... it was just that many friends/contacts, (as well as yours truly); had so many questions after the game, ("Why did Leko lose?" "Where did he go wrong?") ... that I decided to go ahead and try to tackle this game. (It was not part of my work schedule, and interrupted many regular, paying projects. But what the hay, a WCC Match does not come along every day!!!) I realize that many of the opinions that I have put forth here will be somewhat controversial ... much of what I say may not be accepted. This does not matter to me. I achieved several goals here, with this page. (Timeliness and also some pretty good analysis. I also wanted to find where "the losing move" was played, I think that I have done that as well.) In the end, every page will be judged on its own merit. Certainly this one has something to add to the debate on this game ... it also has many things that other pages do NOT offer. (Like handy links to other sites' analysis of this contest!) Enjoy this game, and please respect my copyright. & Please let me know what you think of my work, as well. (Thanks!) If you have any
questions about this game - please contact me. Tues; October 26th, 2004: I received so much e-mail about this game ... that I decided to update this game in a major way. I spent several days re-analyzing key lines, polishing the wording, etc. It is nice to be timely ... it is even better to take your time and do it right. Hopefully now, more ideas will be explained and more questions answered. Sunday; November 21st, 2004: This game continues to generate interesting comments and e-mail. Thanks to everyone who has written and sent in analysis! I currently have no plans to re-do this particular game. Copyright (c) LM A.J. Goldsby I Copyright (©) A.J. Goldsby, 1985 - 2015. All rights reserved. ******* This page was created in October of
2004. The final formatting of this page
was completed on: Tuesday;
October 19th, 2004. This page was last modified or edited on: Tuesday, April 28, 2015 02:07 PM . [ Home, (for this site). ] [ Return (or go to) to "Annotated Games." (#1) / (Or #2.) ] [ Top of (this) page. ] [ Click HERE to go (or return) to my pages for this match. ] [Return (or go to) to the (page for) "Best Games."] [ Go to my personal domain. ] |