1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6
This is another Grünfeld Defense, but a different
variation than the popular, sharp, exchange variation used in earlier match
games.
3.g3
The g3 move is rather passive for White. Kramnik
fianchettoes his bishop and delays developing his queen's knight until
he can decide upon its best square. In the Grünfeld Defense, Black
keys a lot of his game plan on the placement of the white queen's knight,
so this move order is a little gamesmanship on White's part.
3...c6
Black prepares d5 since it will come under attack
from the bishop at g2.
4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Nc3 d5
White defends d4 because he knows it will come
under attack.
6.Qb3 0-0
White develops the queen to attack d5. Black castles
as soon as he can even though his d5 pawn is under heavy attack.
7. Bg2 Qb6!
White has Black's d5 pawn under attack three times
and four times if the knight at f3 moves. Black can defend directly
by ...e6. Be6 is impossible because that would leave the pawn at
b7 undefended. But by attacking one of the attackers of his d5 pawn,
black indirectly defends it and presents White with the choice of exchanging
queens or losing a tempo when the queen moves.
Black confronts the white queen as discussed above,
indirectly defending the d5 pawn by attacking the most important of the
assaulting pieces. The queen move also guards b5 allowing 8...Bf5 and 9...e6
After 7...Qb6!
8.0-0 Bf5
White chooses neither to exchange, move the queen,
or resolve the center, opting instead for king safety and further development,
leaving the decision to exchange up to Black. Black also opts for
further development casting the exchange decision back to White.
9.Ne5 e6
Both sides are now well developed. The white
knight at d5 is especially aggressive while the black bishop at f5 will
become a target White's king's side pawns.
10.Bf4 Nbd7
Continued development, attacking the knight at
d5 and letting the black knights support each other.
11.Qxb6 axb6
Finally the simplifying queen exchange.
Black has gained an open file and an attack of the a2 pawn as compensation
for doubled pawns. The white pawn at c4 becomes unprotected, but Black
wishes to maintain a strong pawn center.
12.f3
The threat here is to attack the bishop at f5
to break through in the center and/or win material. 13.e4 dxe4 14.fxe4
Bxe4 15.Bxe4 Nxe4 16.Nxd7
After 12.f3
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12...Nxe5
Black defends against the above threat by capturing
with the knight that would have been unprotected if the knight at f6 captured
at e4. 13.e4 still appears uncomfortable for Black but defendable.
13.Bxe5
White recaptures so as not to double pawns and
also confront the black bishop at g7.
13...g5
Black creates a flight square for his bishop.
White's center is becoming mobile.
14.e4 Bg6
White expands in the center and Black retreats
his bishop rather than capture the pawn at e4.
15.b3 Rfd8
White defends his c-pawn while Black moves his
rook to a file he intends to open.
16.Rfd1 dxe4
Black opens the d-file. Notice the attack
on d4 is renewed, a major theme in the Grünfeld.
17.fxe4 Ng4
White retook opening the f-file, and Black threatens
to exchange his knight for the bishop on e5.
18.Bxg7 Kxg7
Trading bishop for bishop
19.Bf3 h5
Black decides to maintain his knight on g4 rather
than retreat. Additionally the black rooks would be able to operate
on the h-file.
20.Rd2 Ne5
The black knight attacks the bishop at f3, threatening
to fork the white king and rook.
21.Bg2 c5 22.d5
The pawn was crying out, "Move me." The strong
point at d5 needed to be occupied; also, white threatens to create a passed
pawn.
22...Nc6 23.Rad1 Nd4
The black knight moves to a new outpost where
it interferes with the rooks' protection of the pawn on d5.
24.e5 exd5 25.cxd5 Re8 26.Re1 Nc2
White now has a passed pawn.
27.Ree2 Nd4
Black keeps the rook under attack.
28.Re1 Nc2
Black is offering a draw by repeating his knight
move to c2.
29.Rxc2 Bxc2
White declines the draw by sacrificing a rook
for a bishop. He has a well protected passed pawn that must be stopped
for black to draw. Shirov leads in the match by a game so he was
willing to settle for a draw. If Kramnik had won, the match would
have been tied.
30.d6 Bf5
White doesn't control the queening square, and
Black moves to blockade the pawn's advance with the bishop.
31.Bxb7 Rad8 32.Bc6 Re6 33.Bd5 Rdxd6
Black captures the passed pawn and the d5 pawn
is pinned against the white rook.
34.Bxe6 ½-½
Final position
Black is a pawn ahead. White's bishop will fall
and the game might have continued. 34...Rxd6 with the e-pawn falling after
35...Kg6 (to move away from g7 where it could be checked by 36.exf6, forcing
the exchange of rooks.) 36...f6, 37...fxe6 or 37...Rxe6
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