[Event "URS-qualJ"]
[Site "Sochi"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Tiviakov, Sergei"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2450"]
[BlackElo "2500"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1990.??.??"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]

1. d4 {E32: Nimzo-Indian: Classical (4 Qc2): 4...0-0} 1... Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3
Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8. Nh3 d6 9. f3 Nbd7 10. e4 e5
11. d5 a5 12. b3 h6 13. Be3 c5 14. Nf2 Nh5 15. g3 {Controls f4} 15... Bc8 16.
Be2 Ra7 17. Qd2 Qf6 18. a4 Re8 19. O-O-O Nf8 20. Kb1 Ng6 21. Rhf1 Qe7 22. Bd3
Qf6 23. Rde1 Nf8 24. f4 exf4 25. gxf4 Ng6 (25... Qh4 $5 $11 {is interesting})
26. f5 $16 26... Ne5 27. Be2 Qh4 28. Bxh6 $1 {Demolition of pawn structure}
28... Ng3 (28... gxh6 29. Qxh6) 29. hxg3 Qxh6 30. Qf4 g5 (30... Nd7 31. Rh1
Qxf4 32. gxf4 $16) 31. fxg6 (31. Qd2 31... Qg7 $18) 31... Qxg6 (31... Qxf4 32.
gxf4 Nxg6 33. f5 $16) 32. Rh1 $18 32... Kg7 (32... Qg7 33. g4 $18) 33. Rh5 f6
34. Reh1 Nf7 35. R5h4 35... Re5 $2 (35... Qg5 $18) 36. Nd3 (36. Bh5 {
and White can already relax} 36... Rxh5 37. Rxh5 37... Re7 $18) 36... Rg5 37.
Bh5 Rxh5 38. Rxh5 Re7 39. Rh7+ Kf8 (39... Kg8 {is not much help} 40. Nf2 $18)
40. Qh4 (40. Qh4 Rxe4 41. g4 $14) (40. Rh8+ {and White has reached his goal}
40... Nxh8 41. Rxh8+ Kf7 42. Rxc8 Qxe4 43. Qxe4 Rxe4 44. Rb8 $18) 1-0

[Event "URS-chJ"]
[Site "Kherson"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ibragimov, Ildar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A88"]
[WhiteElo "2455"]
[BlackElo "2480"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[Source "ChessBase"]

1. d4 {A88: Dutch Defence: Leningrad System: 5 Nf3 0-0 6 0-0 d6 7 Nc3 c6} 1...
d6 2. c4 f5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Qe8 8. b3 Na6 9.
Ba3 c6 10. Qd3 Rb8 11. e4 fxe4 12. Nxe4 Bf5 13. Nxf6+ Bxf6 14. Qd2 Nc7 15. Rae1
Qd7 16. h4 b5 17. Re3 bxc4 18. bxc4 Bh3 19. Rfe1 19... Bxg2 {last book move}
20. Kxg2 Qf5 21. Re4 Rbe8 22. Rf4 Qc8 23. Qa5 d5 24. cxd5 Nxd5 25. Rfe4 {
e7 seems the pivot of the position} 25... Qf5 26. Qd2 (26. Qxa7 $4 {
taking the pawn is naive} 26... Qxf3+ {Annihilates a defender: f3} 27. Kxf3
Bxd4+ 28. Kg4 Bxa7 29. Bxe7 29... Rxf2 $19 (29... Rxe7 30. Rxe7 Bxf2 31. a4 $19
) (29... Nxe7 $6 30. Rxe7 Rxe7 31. Rxe7 Bxf2 32. a4 $19)) 26... Bg7 27. Nh2 Rf7
28. Bc5 {The white bishop on an outpost} 28... Qd7 29. a4 Nf6 30. Re5 Nd5 31.
R5e4 (31. R5e2 31... Rb8 $14) 31... Nf6 $11 32. Re5 Kh8 (32... Nd5 33. R5e2 $14
) 33. Kg1 33... Nd5 {A valuable piece} 34. R5e2 a6 35. Qd3 Qh3 (35... Ra8 $14)
36. Nf3 (36. Qxa6 36... Ref8 37. Qa5 $14 (37. Qxc6 Rxf2 38. Rxf2 Qxg3+ 39. Kh1
Rxf2 (39... Qxf2 $6 40. Rf1 Qa2 41. Rxf8+ Bxf8 42. Kg1 $11) 40. Qa8+ Bf8 41.
Qxf8+ Rxf8 42. Re2 Rf2 43. Rxf2 Qxf2 44. Ng4 Qf1+ 45. Kh2 Nf4 46. Ne3 Qf2+ 47.
Kh1 Qxh4+ 48. Kg1 Qg3+ 49. Kf1 Qxe3 50. Bb6 Qe2+ 51. Kg1 Qg2#) (37. Bxe7 $4 {
White will choke on that pawn} 37... Rxf2 (37... Nxe7 $6 38. Rd1 $19) 38. Rxf2
Qxg3+ 39. Kh1 Rxf2 (39... Qxf2 40. Re2 Qxd4 41. Bxf8 Qd1+ 42. Kg2 Nf4+ 43. Kf3
$11) 40. Qc8+ Bf8 41. Bf6+ Nxf6 42. Qxf8+ Ng8 43. Qxf2 43... Qxf2 $19)) 36...
Nf4 $15 {Do you see the mate threat?} 37. gxf4 37... Rxf4 {
The mate threat is Rg4} 38. Ne5 (38. Re4 $5 {is worthy of consideration} 38...
Qg4+ 39. Kf1 Rxf3 40. Rxg4 Rxd3 41. Re6 $15) 38... Rg4+ $1 $17 {
keeping the advantage} 39. Nxg4 {Theme: Deflection from d3} 39... Qxd3 40. Re4
Qf3 41. Nh2 Qf5 42. Bxe7 (42. Kg2 Rf8 43. f3 43... Bf6 $19) 42... Kg8 43. f3 (
43. R1e3 43... Qd5 $19) 43... Qh3 $19 44. R1e2 (44. Kh1 $19) 44... Qg3+ 45. Rg2
45... Bxd4+ $1 {a devastating blow} 46. Kh1 (46. Rxd4 {A deflection} 46... Qe1+
{Theme: Double Attack}) 46... Qh3 47. Rgg4 (47. a5 47... Bc3 $19) 47... c5 48.
h5 (48. Re1 {does not improve anything} 48... Bf6 49. Rge4 Bxe7 50. Rxe7 Rxe7
51. Rxe7 51... Qxh4 $19) 48... Rb8 49. Re1 Be5 50. Rh4 Qf5 51. hxg6 hxg6 52.
Re2 (52. Bxc5 {doesn't change the outcome of the game} 52... Bg3 53. Rb4 53...
Rc8 $19 (53... Bxe1 $6 {is clearly worse} 54. Rxb8+ Kh7 55. Rb7+ Kh8 56. Rb8+
Kg7 57. Rb7+ Kf6 58. Ng4+ Kg5 59. Be3+ Kh4 60. Kg2 Qc2+ 61. Nf2 $15) (53...
Qxc5 $6 {is much worse} 54. Rxb8+ Bxb8 55. Re8+ Kf7 56. Rxb8 $19)) 52... Rb1+ (
52... Qb1+ $5 {keeps an even firmer grip} 53. Kg2 Rb2 54. Rxb2 Qxb2+ 55. Kg1
$19) 53. Kg2 Bd4 54. Ng4 (54. Rxd4 {no good, but what else?} 54... cxd4 55. Ng4
$19) 54... Rg1+ 55. Kh2 (55. Kh3 {doesn't do any good} 55... Qxf3+ 56. Kh2 Rh1#
) 55... Qf4+ (55... Qf4+ 56. Kh3 Qg3#) 0-1

[Event "URS-ch58"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Neverov, Valeriy"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2540"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1991.11.??"]
[Source "ChessBase"]

1. d4 {D31: Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Slav without ...Nf6 (+ Marshall
Gambit and Noteboom) and Exchange Variation lines without ...Nf6} 1... d5 2. c4
c6 3. Nf3 e6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bb4 6. e3 b5 7. Bd2 a5 8. axb5 Bxc3 9. Bxc3 cxb5
10. b3 Bb7 11. bxc4 b4 12. Bb2 Nf6 13. Bd3 Nbd7 14. Qc2 {White plans c5} 14...
O-O 15. O-O Qc7 16. e4 e5 17. Rfe1 Rfe8 18. c5 exd4 19. Bxd4 19... h6 {
e4 becomes the focus of attention} 20. h3 {White intends e5} 20... Bc6 21. e5 {
last book move} 21... Nd5 22. e6 (22. Bc4 22... Nf8 $15) 22... Rxe6 23. Rxe6
fxe6 24. Bh7+ Kh8 25. Bxg7+ (25. Be4 e5 26. Qc4 exd4 27. Bxd5 Bxd5 28. Qxd5
28... Rd8 $17) 25... Kxg7 26. Qg6+ Kh8 27. Qxh6 {Do you see the mate threat?}
27... Nf8 28. Bf5+ Nh7 29. Bxh7 Qxh7 30. Qxe6 Ne7 31. Ne5 31... Qg7 {
Threatening mate: Qxg2} 32. g4 (32. g3 Be8 33. Re1 $17) 32... Bd5 $4 {
Black is ruining his position} (32... Be8 $19 {Black had this great chance})
33. Qxe7 $1 $16 {Eliminates the defender e7} 33... Qxe7 {A deflection} 34. Ng6+
{A double attack} 34... Kh7 {The mate threat is Qe4} 35. Nxe7 Be4 36. Re1 (36.
f3 $5 {is worth consideration} 36... Bxf3 37. Kf2 $14) 36... a4 $11 37. c6 $4 {
White has let it slip away} (37. Rxe4 a3 38. Re1 38... a2 $19) 37... a3 $4 {
makes life more difficult} (37... b3 $5 {makes it even easier for Black} 38.
Rxe4 a3 39. Kh2 $19) 38. c7 $2 (38. f3 $15 {the rescuing straw}) 38... b3 39.
c8=Q (39. Rxe4 {hoping against hope} 39... b2 40. Ra4 b1=Q+ 41. Kh2 $19) 39...
Rxc8 40. Nxc8 b2 (40... b2 41. Nd6 b1=Q 42. Rxb1 42... Bxb1 $19) 0-1

[Event "Guarapuava"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1991.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Polgar, S."]
[Black "Kramnik, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2430"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "1991.??.??"]
[Source "Andry's Collect"]
[SourceDate "2000.??.??"]

1. e4 {B33: Sicilian: Pelikan and Sveshnikov Variations} 1... c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3.
d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10.
Nd5 f5 11. Bd3 Be6 12. c3 Bg7 13. O-O Bxd5 14. exd5 Ne7 15. Qh5 15... e4 {
Black wins space} 16. Bc2 Qa5 17. Rae1 (17. Nb1 17... b4 $11) 17... Ra7 (17...
Bxc3 18. bxc3 Qxa3 19. Bxe4 fxe4 20. Rxe4 $11) 18. Kh1 (18. g4 Rg8 19. Kh1 Bxc3
20. bxc3 20... Rxg4 $14) 18... Bxc3 19. bxc3 {Deflection from a3} 19... Qxa3
20. Bb3 Qb2 (20... a5 21. f3 a4 22. Bd1 exf3 23. Rxf3 (23. gxf3 23... Qxc3 24.
Qxf5 24... Rc7 $15) (23. Bxf3 $6 23... Kd8 $14 (23... Qxa2 $2 {
is worthless because of} 24. Qxf5 Qc4 25. Bh5 $18)) 23... Qxa2 24. Rfe3 $16)
21. f3 21... Rg8 {Do you see the mate threat?} 22. g3 f4 23. fxe4 23... fxg3 {
The mate threat is g2} 24. Rxf7 Kd8 25. Qh6 (25. Rf3 Rc7 26. hxg3 26... Rxc3
$11) 25... Qxc3 {Threatening mate... how?} 26. Rf8+ (26. Qxd6+ Ke8 27. Rxe7+
Rxe7 28. Qb8+ Kd7 29. Qb7+ Kd8 30. Qb8+ Kd7 31. Qb7+ Kd8 32. Qb8+ 32... Kd7 $11
) 26... Rxf8 27. Qxf8+ 27... Kd7 {Black threatens strongly Qxe1} 28. Rf1 {
With the decisive threat Bd1} 28... Qe3 29. Qf4 Qxf4 30. Rxf4 gxh2 31. Bd1 Kc7
32. Rf7 (32. Rf6 32... Ng6 $15) 32... Kb6 $17 33. Rxh7 Rc7 34. Kxh2 (34. Rxh2
Rc1 35. Rd2 35... Ng6 $17) 34... Nxd5 $1 {Theme: Clearance for c7-h7} 35. Rxc7
(35. exd5 Rxh7+) 35... Nxc7 $19 36. Kg3 Kc5 37. Kf4 Kd4 38. Kf5 b4 39. Ba4 a5
40. Bc6 Kc5 41. Bd7 Nb5 42. e5 dxe5 43. Kxe5 Nc3 44. Be6 44... Nxa2 $1 {
takes home the point} 45. Bxa2 (45. Kf4 {hardly improves anything} 45... a4 46.
Bxa2 46... b3 $19) 45... a4 (45... a4 46. Be6 46... b3 $19) 0-1

[Event "Chalkidiki"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Kramnik, V."]
[Black "Ulibin, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2625"]
[BlackElo "2570"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]

1. d4 {E11: Bogo-Indian} 1... e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Qe7 5. g3 Nc6 6.
Nc3 O-O 7. Bg2 Bxc3 8. Bxc3 Ne4 9. Rc1 d6 10. d5 Nd8 11. dxe6 Nxe6 12. Bb4 Bd7
13. Ne5 N6c5 14. Nxd7 Nxd7 15. O-O a5 16. Ba3 Rfe8 17. b3 b6 18. Bb2 Rad8 19.
Qd4 Qf6 20. Qxf6 Ndxf6 21. Rfd1 21... h6 {last book move} 22. e3 Nd7 23. Kf1
Re7 24. Ke2 Rde8 25. g4 Re6 26. h4 R6e7 27. Bf3 Ndc5 28. Rd5 Na6 29. a3 {
Controls b4} 29... Nac5 30. b4 axb4 31. axb4 Na6 32. b5 {White gets more space}
32... Nac5 {The knight feels good on c5} 33. Ra1 Nf6 (33... Kf8 34. Ra7 $11)
34. Rdd1 (34. Bxf6 gxf6 35. Ra7 35... Nb3 $16) 34... Nfe4 $11 35. Ra7 Kf8 36.
g5 (36. Bxe4 Nxe4 (36... Rxe4 37. Rxc7 Rxg4 38. Rxd6 $16) 37. Rda1 37... Nc5
$14) 36... hxg5 37. hxg5 Nxg5 38. Bc6 {White can be proud of that piece} 38...
Rc8 39. Rh1 Kg8 40. Raa1 Nce6 41. Rh4 {White threatens strongly Rah1} 41... f6
{Consolidates e5} 42. Rg1 {White intends Bd5} 42... Kf7 43. Bd5 {Threatening f4
} 43... Ke8 44. Rh8+ Nf8 45. f4 Nge6 46. Kf3 46... f5 $2 (46... c5 47. bxc6
47... Nc7 $18) 47. Rg6 Nc5 (47... Rd8 {is one last hope} 48. Rxe6 Rxe6 49. Bxe6
Ke7 50. Bxf5 Ne6 51. Rxd8 Nxd8 52. Bxg7 52... Ne6 $18) 48. Bxg7 Rf7 49. Bxf8 (
49. Bxf8 Rxf8 50. Rxf8+ Kxf8 51. Rg8+ Ke7 52. Rxc8 $18) 1-0

[Event "Manila olm"]
[Site "Manila"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Lanka, Zigurds"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E81"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2490"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1992.06.??"]
[Source "ChessBase"]

1. d4 {E81: King's Indian: Saemisch: 6th move deviations (including 6 Be3 c6)}
1... Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 Nbd7 7. Qd2 c5 8. d5 Ne5
9. Bg5 Nfd7 10. Bh6 Bxh6 11. Qxh6 a6 12. h4 f6 13. Qd2 Qa5 14. f4 Nf7 15. Nf3
Rb8 16. a4 16... Nb6 {last book move} 17. Bd3 Bg4 18. Nh2 18... Bd7 {
Can a4 get defended?} 19. b3 Kh8 20. O-O Na8 21. Qb2 Rg8 22. Nf3 Bg4 23. e5 {
Nimzovich: attack the chain at its base} (23. Ne2 Bxf3 24. Rxf3 24... Rbe8 $14)
23... Bxf3 24. exf6 Bg4 ({Not} 24... exf6 25. Rxf3 Qd8 26. Ne4 $16) 25. fxe7
Rg7 (25... Nc7 26. Ne4+ Rg7 27. Nf6 $11) 26. Ne4 $11 26... Nc7 27. Nf6 27...
Bh5 $4 {allows the opponent back into the game} (27... Nh6 $15 {
would keep Black alive}) 28. Rae1 (28. g4 Ne8 29. Rfe1 Bxg4 30. Nxg4 30... Qc7
$18) 28... Ne8 29. Nd7 $4 {White loses the upper hand} (29. g4 {
a pity that White didn't try this} 29... Nxf6 30. Qxf6 $16 (30. gxh5 $6 30...
Ne8 $11)) 29... Ra8 $11 30. f5 g5 (30... gxf5 $5 {and Black can hope to survive
} 31. Bxf5 31... Nh6 $11) 31. hxg5 $16 31... Nxg5 32. f6 {
Threatening mate: fxg7} 32... Rf7 33. Bf5 33... Nc7 $2 (33... Bg6 $5 34. Bxg6
34... hxg6 $16) 34. Nf8 $18 34... h6 (34... Ne8 $18) 35. Re3 b5 36. g4 (36. Ne6
{and White can already relax} 36... Re8 $18) 36... bxc4 (36... bxa4 {
doesn't change the outcome of the game} 37. gxh5 a3 38. Ng6+ Kg8 39. Qe2 $18)
37. gxh5 c3 38. Rxc3 Nxd5 (38... Rb8 39. Be6 Qxa4 40. Rg3 $18) 39. Rd3 c4 40.
bxc4 Qc5+ 41. Qd4 (41. Kh1 {keeps an even firmer grip} 41... Nc7 42. Ng6+ 42...
Kg8 $18) 41... Qxd4+ 42. Rxd4 Ne3 (42... Nxf6 {doesn't change anything anymore}
43. Rxd6 Rfxf8 44. exf8=Q+ Rxf8 45. Bb1 $18) 43. Bg6 (43. Ng6+ Kh7 44. Rxd6
Rxf6 45. Rxf6 $18) 43... Kg8 (43... Rfxf8 44. exf8=Q+ Rxf8 45. Rxd6 Nxf1 46.
Kxf1 46... Nf3 $18) 44. Rxd6 (44. Rxd6 Rfxf8 45. f7+ Kg7 46. e8=Q Rfxe8 47.
fxe8=N+ Rxe8 48. Bxe8 Nxf1 49. Kxf1 $18) 1-0

[Event "BL9293"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Nunn, J."]
[Black "Kramnik, V."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2625"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1993.??.??"]

1. e4 {B66: Sicilian: Richter-Rauzer: 7...a6 8 0-0-0 h6} 1... c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3.
d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8. O-O-O h6 9. Bf4 Bd7 10.
Nxc6 Bxc6 11. f3 d5 12. Qe1 Bb4 13. a3 Ba5 14. Bd2 Qe7 15. e5 Nd7 16. f4 b5 17.
Ne2 Bxd2+ 18. Qxd2 O-O 19. Nd4 Rfc8 20. Bd3 20... Nc5 {last book move} 21. Kb1
(21. f5 21... a5 $11) 21... Bd7 (21... Nxd3 22. cxd3 b4 23. Rc1 $15) 22. g4 (
22. Qa5 Qd8 23. Qxd8+ 23... Rxd8 $14) 22... Rab8 (22... Nxd3 23. Qxd3 b4 24.
axb4 Qxb4 25. g5 $15) 23. g5 {White gains space} (23. Qb4 Qd8 24. g5 hxg5 25.
fxg5 25... Qxg5 $17) 23... b4 24. gxh6 bxa3 25. b3 {Consolidates a4} 25... g6 {
Prevents intrusion on f5} 26. h4 Na4 ({Not} 26... Nxd3 27. Qxd3 Bb5 28. Qd2 $14
) 27. Rdg1 a2+ (27... Nc3+ 28. Ka1 Qc5 29. Nf3 $11) 28. Ka1 28... Qa3 {
Threatening mate: Qb2} 29. Qc1 Qb4 30. Ne2 Nc5 31. Rxg6+ Kh8 32. Rg7 {
Do you see the mate threat?} 32... Nxb3+ {Demolishes the pawn shield} 33. cxb3
{Exploits the pin.} 33... Rxc1+ {A double attack} 34. Rxc1 34... Qxb3 {
The mate threat is Qb2} 35. Rh7+ Kg8 36. Rg1+ Kf8 37. Rh8+ Ke7 38. Rxb8 Qxd3 (
38... Qxb8 39. h7 (39. Kxa2 {is the less attractive alternative} 39... Bb5 40.
Nd4 40... Qb6 $17) 39... Ba4 40. Rg7 $11) 39. Rc1 Qxe2 40. h7 {
Do you see the mate threat?} 40... Qd2 41. h8=Q {The mate threat is Qf6}
1/2-1/2

[Event "Gausdal"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, V."]
[Black "Lerner, K."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A01"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2515"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[Source "Andry's Collect"]
[SourceDate "2000.??.??"]

1. b3 {A01: Nimzowitsch-Larsen Opening} 1... e5 2. Bb2 d6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7
5. e3 Nc6 6. d3 O-O 7. Nf3 h6 8. c4 Be6 9. O-O Qd7 10. d4 exd4 11. exd4 11...
Bf5 {last book move} 12. a3 {Prevents intrusion on b4} 12... Rae8 13. d5 {
White wins space} 13... Nb8 14. Nc3 Bd8 15. Nd4 Bh3 16. Qd3 Re5 17. Nce2 Bxg2
18. Kxg2 Rfe8 19. Nf4 (19. Rae1 c6 20. Nc2 cxd5 21. Bxe5 dxe5 22. cxd5 22...
Nxd5 $14) 19... Re4 20. Rad1 Na6 21. b4 Nb8 22. Nb3 g5 (22... a6 23. Nd2 R4e7
24. Bxf6 gxf6 25. Nf3 $16) 23. Nd2 gxf4 24. Bxf6 Re2 25. Bc3 Qg4 26. Qd4 Kh7
27. Rde1 c5 28. Qd3+ 28... f5 {White now must not overlook the idea Rxe1} 29.
Rxe2 Rxe2 30. bxc5 dxc5 31. Nf3 {White threatens strongly Qxe2} 31... Re4 32.
d6 (32. h3 $5 32... Qg6 33. Ne5 33... Qe8 $18) 32... Nd7 33. Qd5 Qg6 34. Qxb7 {
White gets deadly initiative. .} 34... Qxd6 35. Be5 $1 {
securing the advantage in this game} 35... Qd3 (35... Rxe5 36. Nxe5) 36. Bxf4
$18 36... Bf6 37. Qc6 (37. Rc1 37... Re7 $18) 37... Re7 $16 38. Rc1 Qe4 39. Qd6
39... Qb7 $2 (39... Rg7 $5 $16) 40. Rd1 $18 (40. Rd1 Kg7 41. Rd5 $18) 1-0

[Event "Manila (ol)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1992.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, V."]
[Black "Nunn, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E81"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "1992.??.??"]
[Source "Andry's Collect"]
[SourceDate "2000.??.??"]

1. d4 {E81: King's Indian: Saemisch: 6th move deviations (including 6 Be3 c6)}
1... Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 c5 7. dxc5 dxc5 8. Qxd8
Rxd8 9. Bxc5 Nc6 10. Ba3 a5 11. Rd1 Be6 12. Nd5 Bxd5 13. cxd5 Nb4 14. Bb5 Nc2+
15. Kf2 (15. Ke2 Nxa3 16. bxa3 16... Rdc8 $14) 15... Nxa3 16. bxa3 e6 17. d6 {
He broke from his leash} 17... e5 (17... Rac8 18. a4 $11) 18. Ne2 Bf8 19. d7
Bxa3 20. g4 h6 21. h4 a4 22. Rd3 Bb2 23. g5 hxg5 24. hxg5 Nh7 25. f4 Ra5 26.
Rd5 f6 (26... Nf8 27. f5 27... Nh7 $16) 27. Rxh7 $1 $18 {a brilliant end} 27...
Kxh7 28. gxf6 {White threatens fxe5} 28... exf4 29. e5 Kh6 30. Nxf4 Bxe5 31.
Rxe5 Rxd7 (31... Rxb5 {the only chance to get some counterplay} 32. Rxb5 32...
Rxd7 $18) 32. Bxd7 Rxe5 33. f7 (33. f7 Kg7 34. f8=Q+ Kxf8 35. Nxg6+ Kf7 36.
Nxe5+ Ke7 37. Bxa4 $18) (33. Bxa4 $6 {succumbs to} 33... Re4 34. Nxg6 34...
Rxa4 $11 (34... Kxg6 $4 35. Bc2 $18)) 1-0

[Event "Beograd "]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, V."]
[Black "Romanishin, O."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A17"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1993.??.??"]

1. Nf3 {A17: English Opening: 1...Nf6 with ...Bb4} 1... Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4
4. Qc2 c5 5. a3 Ba5 6. g3 Nc6 7. Bg2 Bxc3 8. Qxc3 Qa5 9. b4 cxb4 10. axb4 Qxb4
11. Qxb4 Nxb4 12. Nd4 d5 13. Ba3 Nc6 14. Nb5 Kd7 15. Nd6 Rf8 16. Rc1 b6 17. g4
{last book move} 17... Ne7 (17... h6 $5 $14) 18. g5 $16 18... Nfg8 19. cxd5
Nxd5 20. Nb5 Ba6 (20... Rd8 21. Bxd5 exd5 22. Rc7+ Ke8 23. Nd6+ Rxd6 24. Bxd6
$16) 21. Nc7 $1 {Theme: Double Attack} 21... Bb7 (21... Nxc7 22. Bc6+ {
A double attack}) 22. Nxd5 (22. Nxa8 Rxa8 23. Bb2 23... Nge7 $16) 22... Bxd5
$14 23. Bxd5 exd5 24. Bxf8 Rxf8 25. Rg1 Ne7 26. Rg3 Nc6 27. Rgc3 Rc8 28. Rh3
Rh8 29. Rhc3 (29. Rf3 29... Rf8 $14) 29... Rc8 30. d4 a5 31. f3 Ne7 32. Kd2
Rxc3 33. Kxc3 b5 (33... h6 $5 $14) 34. Kb2 $16 34... Nf5 35. Rc5 Ke6 36. Kc3
Nd6 37. Kd3 a4 38. Kc3 a3 39. Rc6 Kd7 (39... a2 40. Kb2 $18) 40. Ra6 Nc4 41.
Kb4 (41. Kb4 Ne3 42. Kxb5 $18) 1-0

[Event "Biel izt"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Portisch, L."]
[Black "Kramnik, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D13"]
[WhiteElo "2585"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1993.??.??"]

1. d4 {D13: Slav Defence: Exchange variation without ...Bf5} 1... d5 2. c4 c6
3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bf4 Ne4 7. e3 Nxc3 8. bxc3 g6 9. Be2 Bg7
10. O-O O-O 11. c4 dxc4 12. Bxc4 Bf5 13. Rc1 Rc8 14. Qe2 14... a6 {Controls b5}
15. h3 {Consolidates g4} 15... Na5 16. Bd3 Bxd3 17. Qxd3 Qd7 18. Rc3 {
The rook intends Rc1-c3-c7-c5} 18... b5 19. Rfc1 Nc4 20. Qe2 Nb6 21. Rc7 Qe6
22. Bg5 Nd5 23. R7c5 {An ideal square for the white rook.} 23... h6 24. Bh4 b4
25. Qb2 25... Nc3 {Plans Rxc5. The knight dominates} 26. Rxc8 Rxc8 27. Kh1 Kh7
28. Ra1 a5 29. Qb3 Qxb3 30. axb3 g5 31. Bg3 a4 32. Nd2 a3 33. Rc1 e5 34. d5 $2
(34. Nf3 exd4 35. Nxd4 Bxd4 36. exd4 36... Rd8 $19) 34... a2 (34... Rc5 $5 {
might be the shorter path} 35. d6 Rd5 36. Nf3 $19) 35. Ra1 35... e4 {
Black threatens.... what?} 36. d6 36... Ra8 {Threatens Ne2} 37. Nc4 37... Nb5 {
Black threatens strongly Bxa1} 38. Be5 38... Nxd6 $1 {the knockout punch} 39.
Rxa2 (39. Nxd6 {A deflection} 39... Bxe5 {A double attack}) 39... Rxa2 40. Bxd6
Rxf2 41. Bxb4 (41. Kg1 41... Rf5 $19) 41... Rf1+ 42. Kh2 Rb1 (42... Rb1 43. Bd2
43... Rxb3 $19) 0-1

[Event "PCA-WchQual3 New York"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kamsky, G."]
[Black "Kramnik, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D44"]
[WhiteElo "2695"]
[BlackElo "2710"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1994.??.??"]

1. d4 {D44: Semi-Slav: Botvinnik System} 1... d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6
5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. exf6 Bb7
12. g3 c5 13. d5 Qb6 14. Bg2 O-O-O 15. O-O b4 16. Na4 Qb5 17. a3 Ne5 18. axb4
cxb4 19. Qd4 Nc6 20. dxc6 20... Rxd4 {last book move} 21. cxb7+ {
White gets kings attack} 21... Kc7 (21... Kb8 22. Be3 Qh5 23. h3 $14) 22. Be3
$14 22... e5 23. Nc3 {The mate threat is Nxb5} 23... bxc3 24. bxc3 Bc5 25. cxd4
(25. Rfb1 $5 25... Rd1+ 26. Rxd1 Bxe3 27. fxe3 $14) 25... Bxd4 $11 {
A beautiful square!} 26. Rfb1 Qc5 27. Ra6 Rb8 28. Bc1 c3 (28... Bxf2+ $5 29.
Kh1 29... Kd7 $16) 29. Ba3 $18 29... Qc4 30. Bd6+ Kd7 31. Bc6+ 31... Ke6 $4 {
strolling merrily down the path to disaster} (31... Qxc6 32. Rxc6 Rxb7 33. Rc7+
Rxc7 34. Bxc7 34... Kxc7 $16) 32. Bb5 $18 (32. Bxb8 {
is the less attractive alternative} 32... Qxa6 33. Bd6 Bxf2+ 34. Kg2 Qxc6+ 35.
Kxf2 35... c2 $15) 32... Bxf2+ 33. Kxf2 Qd4+ 34. Kf1 Qe4 (34... Qxd6 {
there is nothing else anyway} 35. Bc4+ Kd7 36. Rxd6+ Kxd6 37. Rd1+ Kc5 38. Bxf7
38... Rxb7 $18) 35. Re1 Qh1+ 36. Kf2 Qxh2+ 37. Kf3 Rxb7 38. Bxe5+ Rb6 (38...
Kd5 {what else?} 39. Bc6+ Kc4 40. Bxb7 40... c2 $18) 39. Bc4+ Kd7 40. Rxa7+ Kc8
41. Rc7+ (41. Rc7+ Kd8 42. Rxf7 Qh5+ 43. g4 Qxf7 44. Bxf7 $18) (41. Ra8+ {
and White can celebrate victory} 41... Kd7 42. Rd1+ Qd2 43. Ra7+ 43... Kc8 $18)
1-0

[Event "Moscow olm  RUS 1-UKR"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, V."]
[Black "Malaniuk, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A87"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2610"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1994.??.??"]

1. Nf3 {A87: Dutch Defence: Leningrad System: 5 Nf3} 1... f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2
d6 4. d4 g6 5. O-O Bg7 6. c4 O-O 7. Nc3 Qe8 8. d5 Na6 9. Rb1 Bd7 10. b4 c5 11.
dxc6 Bxc6 12. Qb3 Ne4 13. Bb2 Nxc3 14. Bxc3 Bxc3 15. c5+ (15. Qxc3 $5 15... Nc7
16. c5 $14) 15... e6 $15 16. Qxc3 dxc5 17. b5 Bxb5 18. Ne5 {
The knight feels good on e5} 18... Rb8 (18... Bxe2 $2 {
doesn't lead to anything significant} 19. Rxb7 Qd8 20. Re1 $18) 19. Rfe1 b6 20.
e4 Nc7 21. exf5 gxf5 22. Qe3 a6 23. Qg5+ Kh8 24. Rbd1 Rg8 25. Qf4 Qe7 (25...
Rg7 $5 $15 {must definitely be considered}) 26. Bc6 $14 26... Rg4 (26... Rbd8
$5 {and Black could well hope to play on} 27. Rxd8 Rxd8 28. Bxb5 28... axb5 $14
(28... Nxb5 29. Nc6 Qd7 30. Nxd8 Qxd8 31. Qe5+ Kg8 32. Qxe6+ Kg7 33. Qxf5 $18))
27. Nxg4 $18 27... Bxc6 28. Rd6 28... Be8 $2 (28... Bb5 29. Rdxe6 $1 {
Clearance to allow e5-b8} 29... Nxe6 30. Qxb8+ Qf8 31. Qe5+ Qg7 32. Qxe6 Qxg4
33. Qxb6 $18) 29. Nh6 (29. Rdxe6 {keeps an even firmer grip} 29... Nxe6 30.
Qe5+ Qg7 31. Qxb8 Nc7 32. Rxe8+ Nxe8 33. Qxe8+ Qg8 34. Qe5+ 34... Qg7 $18)
29... Rc8 $4 {causes even greater problems} (29... Qf6 $5 $16) 30. Rxb6 (30.
Rdxe6 $1 {makes sure everything is clear} 30... Nxe6 31. Qe5+ Qg7 32. Qxe6 $18)
30... Qg7 31. Rb7 (31. Qe5 Qxe5 32. Rxe5 32... c4 $18) 31... Bc6 $16 32. Ra7
Nd5 (32... Bd5 $5 $18) 33. Qe5 {Threatening mate... how?} (33. Rxg7 $6 33...
Nxf4 34. Ra7 Nh3+ 35. Kf1 35... Ng5 $16) 33... Qxe5 34. Nf7+ 34... Kg8 {
Threatening mate: Qxe1} 35. Nxe5 (35. Rxe5 Rb8 36. f3 Rb1+ 37. Kg2 Rb2+ 38. Kh3
Rb7 39. Rxa6 Nb4 40. Nh6+ Kf8 41. Rxe6 Nxa6 42. Rxc6 Nb4 43. Rxc5 43... Ra7 $18
) 35... Bb5 36. a4 Bxa4 37. Rxa6 Bb5 38. Rxe6 c4 39. Rd6 Nb4 (39... Nc3 $18)
40. Rb6 Nc2 41. Rb1 (41. Rb1 Nd4 42. R6xb5 Nxb5 43. Rxb5 $18) 1-0

[Event "Moscow PCA"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, V."]
[Black "Kasparov, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E93"]
[WhiteElo "2710"]
[BlackElo "2805"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1994.??.??"]

1. Nf3 {E93: King's Indian: Classical: Petrosian System with 7...Nbd7} 1... Nf6
2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. d5 Nbd7 8. Be3 Ng4 9. Bg5
f6 10. Bh4 h5 11. Nd2 Nh6 12. f3 Nf7 13. Qc2 Bh6 14. O-O-O c5 15. dxc6 bxc6 16.
Kb1 a5 17. Na4 c5 18. Nc3 Be3 19. Nd5 Bd4 20. Nb3 Bb7 21. Nxd4 cxd4 ({
Inferior is} 21... exd4 22. Nf4 $16) 22. f4 Rb8 23. Rhf1 Nh6 24. c5 {
White launches an attack} 24... Bxd5 25. exd5 Nf5 26. fxe5 Nxh4 ({Weaker is} 
26... dxc5 27. Rxf5 gxf5 28. e6 $16) ({Less advisable is} 26... dxe5 27. Rxf5
gxf5 28. c6 $16) 27. exd6 Ne5 28. Rxd4 Nf5 (28... Nxg2 $2 {
doesn't solve anything} 29. Re4 Rf7 30. Rg1 $18) 29. Rxf5 gxf5 30. Qxf5 Kg7 31.
Bxh5 ({Instead of} 31. Qxh5 31... Rh8 32. Qf5 32... Rxh2 $17) 31... Rh8 $4 {
gives the opponent new chances} (31... Rb5 {was a good chance to save the game}
32. Be2 Rxc5 33. Rg4+ Nxg4 34. Qxg4+ Kh6 35. Qh5+ Kg7 36. Qg4+ Kf7 37. Qe6+ Kg7
38. Qg4+ $11) 32. Rg4+ $1 $18 {the death sentence} 32... Kf8 (32... Nxg4 {
A deflection} 33. Qg6+ {A double attack}) 33. Qe6 {With the decisive threat c6}
33... Rb7 $4 {sad, but how else could Black save the game?} (33... a4 $18) 34.
c6 Rxb2+ 35. Kxb2 Qb6+ 36. Ka3 Qc5+ 37. Ka4 Qc2+ 38. Kb5 Qb2+ 39. Ka6 Qe2+ 40.
Kb7 (40. Kb6 {and White can already relax} 40... Qe3+ 41. Kb7 Rh7+ 42. c7 42...
Nxg4 $18) 40... Rh7+ 41. d7 (41. d7 Qb5+ 42. Kc7 Rxd7+ 43. cxd7 Qc5+ 44. Kb7
Qb5+ 45. Ka8 Qa6+ 46. Qxa6 Nxg4 47. d8=Q+ Kg7 48. h4 Nf2 49. Qb7+ Kh6 50. Qh8#)
1-0

[Event "Sanghi Nagar (m/3)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, V."]
[Black "Gelfand, B."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B52"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2680"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "1994.??.??"]
[Source "Andry's Collect"]
[SourceDate "2000.??.??"]

1. e4 {B52: Sicilian: Moscow Variation with 3...Bd7} 1... c5 2. Nf3 2... d6 {
Prevents intrusion on e5} 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 (4... Nxd7 5. d4 $11) 5. c4
Nf6 (5... Qg4 6. Nc3 Qxg2 7. Rg1 $11) 6. Nc3 Nc6 7. O-O g6 8. d4 cxd4 9. Nxd4
Bg7 10. Nde2 (10. Be3 10... h5 $14) 10... O-O (10... Qe6 $5 {
is worthy of consideration} 11. Nd5 Qxe4 12. Nc7+ Kd7 13. Nxa8 13... Qxc4 $17)
11. f3 {Controls g4} 11... a6 {Consolidates b5} 12. a4 Rfc8 13. b3 Qd8 14. Kh1
Nd7 15. Bg5 Qa5 16. Qd2 Nc5 17. Rab1 17... e6 {Secures d5} 18. Rfd1 Rab8 19.
Bh4 Qb6 20. Qxd6 (20. Bf2 $5 {is noteworthy} 20... Rd8 21. Na2 $11) 20... Be5
$15 21. Qd2 Nxb3 22. Qb2 Nca5 23. Nd5 {Threatening mate: Ne7} 23... exd5 24.
Qxe5 24... Nxc4 {The knight dominates} (24... dxe4 $5 {
should be examined more closely} 25. Nf4 25... Re8 $15) 25. Qxd5 $14 {
White creates threats along the open d-file} 25... Qe3 26. Re1 Nbd2 (26... Nba5
$5 $14 {must be considered}) 27. Rxb7 $16 27... Rxb7 28. Qxb7 {
The mate threat is Qxc8} 28... Re8 29. Qd7 {Do you see the mate threat?} 29...
Rb8 30. Bg3 Nxf3 31. Bxb8 {With the decisive threat Qc8} 31... Qxe4 $4 {
shortens the misery for Black} (31... Nxe1 32. Qc8+ Kg7 33. Qxc4 Nd3 34. Qd4+
Qxd4 35. Nxd4 Nf2+ 36. Kg1 36... Nxe4 $18) 32. gxf3 Qxf3+ 33. Kg1 Qe3+ 34. Kg2
Qe4+ 35. Kh3 (35. Kh3 Ne3 36. Qd8+ Kg7 37. Qd4+ Qxd4 38. Nxd4 $18) 1-0

[Event "Deutschland "]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lutz, Ch"]
[Black "Kramnik, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B33"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1995.??.??"]

1. e4 {B33: Sicilian: Pelikan and Sveshnikov Variations} 1... c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3.
d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10.
Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12. Nc2 Bg5 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 a5 15. Bc4 Rb8 16. b3 Kh8
17. O-O g6 18. Qe2 Bd7 19. Rfa1 19... Bh6 {last book move} 20. g3 {
Consolidates f4} (20. Nde3 20... Be6 $14) 20... f5 $11 21. exf5 gxf5 22. b4
22... e4 {Black wins space.} 23. bxa5 Ne5 24. Rb4 Rxb4 25. cxb4 f4 26. Nd4 e3
27. fxe3 (27. Nxf4 $2 {doesn't work because of} 27... exf2+ 28. Qxf2 28... Bxf4
$19) 27... f3 {He broke from his leash} (27... fxg3 28. hxg3 Qg5 29. Kh2 Nxc4
30. Nf4 $19) 28. Qa2 f2+ 29. Kg2 Qe8 30. Be2 30... Ng4 {
The pressure on the isolated pawn grows} 31. Bf3 $4 (31. Qd2 Qh5 32. Bxg4 Qxg4
33. Nf4 Bxf4 34. exf4 Qh3+ 35. Kxf2 Qxh2+ 36. Ke1 Qxg3+ 37. Kd1 Qg1+ 38. Ke2
Bg4+ 39. Kd3 Qxa1 40. f5 $19) 31... Nxe3+ $19 32. Nxe3 Qxe3 33. Qxf2 $4 {
sad, but how else could White save the game?.} (33. Rd1 Bg7 34. Qb3 Bxd4 35.
Qxe3 Bxe3 36. Be2 $19) 33... Bh3+ $1 {the final blow} 34. Kg1 {
Black now must not overlook the idea Re1} (34. Kxh3 {A deflection} 34... Qxf2)
34... Qc3 35. Re1 Bd2 (35... Bd2 36. Ne2 36... Qxf3 $19 (36... Bxe1 $6 {
is clearly weaker} 37. Nxc3 Bxf2+ 38. Kxf2 $19) (36... Rxf3 $2 37. Nxc3 Rxf2
38. Kxf2 Bxc3 39. Re7 $18)) 0-1

[Event "Dortmund "]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, V."]
[Black "Piket, Je"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E05"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "1995.??.??"]

1. Nf3 {E05: Open Catalan: 5 Nf3 Be7} 1... d5 2. d4 e6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5.
O-O O-O 6. c4 dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4 Nc6 9. Qxc4 Qd5 10. Nbd2 10... Rd8 {
d4 becomes the focus of attention} 11. e3 Qh5 12. e4 Bd7 13. b3 b5 14. Qc3 Be8
15. axb5 axb5 16. Rxa8 Rxa8 17. Bb2 Ra2 18. Qc1 Qh6 19. h3 g6 20. Re1 20... Qf8
{last book move} 21. Qb1 21... Nb4 {A sound move} 22. Ne5 Nd7 23. Bc3 Ra6 24.
Nxd7 Bxd7 25. Nf3 Qa8 26. Ne5 Bc6 27. Qd1 Na2 28. Bb2 b4 (28... Be8 $5 $11) 29.
d5 {White gains space} 29... Be8 (29... Bb5 30. Qc2 $14) 30. Ng4 (30. Bf1 $5
30... Rb6 31. Bd4 $16) 30... Nc3 $14 {Here comes the goal-getter} 31. Qf3 h5
32. Nf6+ Bxf6 33. Qxf6 exd5 34. Qd4 Ra2 35. Qxb4 Nb5 ({Instead of} 35... Nxe4
36. Qd4 Rxb2 37. Qxb2 $16) 36. Bf6 36... Qa7 {Do you see the mate threat?} 37.
Re3 d4 38. Qe7 {Threatening mate... how?} 38... Nd6 39. Rd3 Qa6 40. Rd1 (40.
Rxd4 $4 {Taking that pawn is naive} 40... Qe2 41. Rd2 Qxd2 42. Bd4 Qxd4 43. Qf6
Qxf6 44. f4 Qb2 45. Bf3 Ra1+ 46. Bd1 Rxd1#) 40... Qe2 {Threatening mate: Qxf2}
41. Rf1 41... d3 {Don't underestimate that pawn} 42. Bd4 d2 (42... Qc2 43. e5
Qe2 44. exd6 Qxe7 45. dxe7 $18) 43. Qe5 Kf8 44. Be3 {The mate threat is Bh6}
44... Kg8 (44... f6 {does not save the day} 45. Qxf6+ Bf7 46. Bf3 $18) 45. Bh6
Qxf2+ (45... Nf5 {is one last hope} 46. Qxe8+ Kh7 47. Qxf7+ Kxh6 48. exf5 gxf5
49. Qf6+ Kh7 50. Qxf5+ Kg7 51. Qg5+ 51... Kh7 $18) 46. Rxf2 d1=Q+ 47. Rf1 Rxg2+
48. Kxg2 Qe2+ 49. Kg1 (49. Kg1 Qxf1+ 50. Kxf1 Bb5+ 51. Kg2 $18) 1-0

[Event "Beograd"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, V."]
[Black "Kramnik, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B57"]
[WhiteElo "2640"]
[BlackElo "2730"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1995.??.??"]

1. e4 {B57: Classical Sicilian: Sozin with 6...Qb6} 1... c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4
cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 Qb6 7. Ndb5 a6 8. Be3 Qa5 9. Nd4 Ne5 10. Bd3
Neg4 11. Bc1 g6 12. Nb3 Qb6 13. Qe2 Bg7 14. f4 Nh5 15. Nd5 15... Qd8 {
last book move} 16. Bd2 e6 (16... Bxb2 17. Ba5 b6 18. Bxb6 Bc3+ 19. Kf1 (19.
Nxc3 $6 19... Qxb6 20. Nd5 20... Qa7 $11) 19... Nxh2+ 20. Kg1 Nxf4 21. Qf2 Nxd3
22. cxd3 $18) 17. Ba5 Qh4+ 18. g3 Nxg3 19. Nc7+ Ke7 20. hxg3 Qxg3+ 21. Kd1 Nf2+
22. Kd2 Nxh1 23. Nxa8 Qxf4+ 24. Qe3 Qh2+ 25. Qe2 Qf4+ (25... Bh6+ 26. Kd1 Qg1+
27. Qe1 Qg4+ 28. Be2 Qxe4 29. Nb6 $17) 26. Qe3 Qh2+ (26... Qf2+ 27. Qxf2 Nxf2
28. Nb6 $15) 27. Qe2 Bh6+ 28. Kc3 Qe5+ 29. Kb4 Ng3 30. Qe1 {
If White now only could play Ka3...} 30... Bg7 31. Nb6 d5 32. Ka4 {
If White now would get Bc3 in, he might survive} 32... Bd7+ (32... Nxe4 33.
Qb4+ Nd6 34. c3 $17) ({Inferior is} 32... dxe4 33. Bc3 Qc7 34. Bxg7 Qxb6 35.
Qxg3 $16) 33. Nxd7 b5+ (33... Kxd7 34. Qb4 Rb8 35. Bb6 dxe4 36. Bc4 $17) 34.
Kb4 Kxd7 35. Bb6 $2 (35. Nc5+ Kc6 36. Rb1 Qd4+ 37. Ka3 Nxe4 (37... Kxc5 38. b4+
Kd6 39. Qxg3+ Be5 40. Qe1 $19) (37... Qxc5+ $6 38. Bb4 Qd4 39. exd5+ Kb7 40. b3
$19) 38. Bxe4 Qxc5+ (38... dxe4 $6 39. b4 Qc3+ 40. Qxc3 Bxc3 41. Kb3 $17) 39.
b4 Qc3+ 40. Qxc3+ 40... Bxc3 $19) 35... Qxb2 (35... dxe4 36. Bf1 Nxf1 37. Rd1+
37... Kc8 $19) 36. exd5 $17 36... Rc8 {The mate threat is Bf8} 37. dxe6+ Ke8 (
37... Kc6 38. Rb1 Qxa2 39. Na5+ Kd6 (39... Kxb6 $4 {
taking the bishop will lose the game} 40. Qf2+ Kc7 41. Qc5+ Kd8 42. Qd6+ Ke8
43. Qd7+ Kf8 44. Qxf7#) 40. Qxg3+ Be5 41. Nb7+ Ke7 42. Bc5+ Rxc5 43. Qh4+ Bf6
44. Qxh7 Rc4+ (44... Qxb1+ $6 {is no comparison} 45. Kxc5 Qg1+ 46. Kc6 Qg2+ 47.
Kb6 Bd4+ 48. Kc7 Be5+ 49. Kb6 Bd4+ 50. Kc7 Be5+ 51. Kb6 51... Bd4+ $11) 45.
Bxc4 Qa4+ (45... Qxb1+ 46. Kc5 Qg1+ 47. Kc6 Qh1+ 48. Qxh1 bxc4 49. Nd8 Bg7 50.
Qh4+ Bf6 51. Qf4 Kf8 52. e7+ Kg7 53. e8=Q Kh7 54. Qxf7+ Kh8 55. Q4xf6#) 46. Kc5
Qxc4+ 47. Kb6 Bd4+ 48. Kxa6 Qxe6+ 49. Kxb5 Qd5+ 50. Ka6 Qc6+ 51. Ka5 Bc3+ 52.
Rb4 52... Qc4 $19 (52... Bxb4+ $6 53. Kxb4 Qxb7+ 54. Kc4 $19)) 38. Bc5 $4 {
overlooking an easy win} (38. Bxb5+ {would hold out} 38... axb5 39. exf7+ (39.
Qxg3 39... fxe6 (39... Qxc2 40. exf7+ Kxf7 41. Qf3+ Qf5 42. Qxf5+ gxf5 43. Rh1
$18 (43. Kxb5 {is clearly inferior} 43... Bxa1 44. Nxa1 44... Ke6 $15)) 40. Qf3
Qc3+ (40... Rxc2 41. Qa8+ Kf7 42. Rf1+ Bf6 43. Rf3 $14) 41. Qxc3 Bxc3+ (41...
Rxc3 42. Rc1 $16 (42. Kxb5 42... Rxb3+ 43. cxb3 43... Bxa1 $15)) 42. Kxb5 Bxa1
43. Nxa1 43... h5 $17) 39... Kxf7 40. Qxg3 $11) 38... Bc3+ $3 $19 {
Theme: Double Attack} 39. Qxc3 39... a5+ $1 {a fitting end to a beautiful game}
40. Kxb5 (40. Kxa5 {A deflection} 40... Qxc3+ {A double attack}) 40... Qxc3 (
40... Qxc3 41. Rg1 Rb8+ 42. Ka6 Rxb3 43. exf7+ Kxf7 44. Rxg3 Kg7 45. axb3 Qxc5
46. Bxg6 46... hxg6 $19) 0-1

[Event "Novgorod"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1995.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gulko, B."]
[Black "Kramnik, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A29"]
[WhiteElo "2595"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1995.??.??"]

1. c4 {A29: English Opening: Four Knights Variation with 4 g3} 1... e5 2. Nc3
Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. d4 exd4 6. Nxd4 Bg7 7. Nxc6 dxc6 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. e4
Bg4 10. Be2 Bxe2 11. Kxe2 Re8 12. f3 {Secures g4} 12... Nd7 13. Bg5+ (13. Be3
f5 14. exf5 14... Bd4 $11) 13... Kc8 $15 14. Rac1 a5 (14... f5 15. Rhd1 $15)
15. Rhd1 (15. Rhe1 15... a4 $11) 15... a4 (15... f5 $5 $15 {
should be investigated more closely}) 16. Rd2 Nf8 17. Be3 Ra5 18. a3 Ne6 19.
Kf2 g5 (19... f5 20. exf5 Rxf5 21. Kg2 $11) 20. Rcd1 (20. g4 20... Rd8 $14)
20... f5 $11 21. exf5 Bxc3 22. bxc3 {White threatens strongly fxe6} 22... Rxf5
23. Rd7 h5 24. Rh7 24... g4 {Black gets more space} 25. f4 Ng5 26. Rg7 Ne4+ 27.
Kf1 {With the idea Rdd7} 27... Nd6 28. Bb6 Rf7 29. Rxf7 29... Nxf7 {
Black threatens cxb6} 30. Bd4 Nd6 31. c5 Nc4 32. Kf2 b5 (32... Nxa3 $6 33. Ra1
Nb5 34. Rxa4 Nxd4 35. Rxd4 $11) 33. cxb6 cxb6 34. Bf6 b5 (34... Nxa3 $6 35. Ra1
Nc4 36. Rxa4 $15) 35. Rd4 (35. Ra1 $5 35... Re3 $17) 35... Nxa3 36. Rd6 Kc7 37.
Be5 $2 (37. Rd1 $19) 37... Nc4 38. Re6+ Kd7 (38... Kd7 39. Rh6 Nxe5 40. fxe5
Rxe5 41. Rh7+ Kd6 42. Rh6+ Kc7 43. Rh7+ 43... Kb6 $19) 0-1

[Event "Dos Hermanas"]
[Site "Dos Hermanas"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Ivanchuk, V."]
[Black "Kramnik, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]

1. e4 {B66: Sicilian: Richter-Rauzer: 7...a6 8 0-0-0 h6} 1... c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3.
d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8. O-O-O h6 9. Be3 Be7 10. f4
Nxd4 11. Bxd4 b5 12. Qe3 {White prepares e5} 12... Qc7 13. e5 dxe5 14. Bxe5 Ng4
15. Qf3 Nxe5 16. Qxa8 Nd7 17. g3 Nb6 18. Qf3 Bb7 19. Ne4 {last book move} 19...
f5 20. Qh5+ Kf8 21. Nf2 Bf6 22. Bd3 (22. Rg1 $5 {and White hangs on} 22... Qc5
23. Bg2 Bxb2+ 24. Kxb2 Nc4+ 25. Ka1 Qxf2 26. Qg6 $11) 22... Na4 $17 (22... Bxh1
$6 23. Rxh1 Na4 24. Nd1 $11) 23. Rhe1 Bxb2+ 24. Kb1 Bd5 (24... Qc8 25. Nh3 Bd5
26. Bxb5 axb5 27. Rxd5 Nc3+ 28. Kxb2 Nxd5 29. Qf3 $15) 25. Bxb5 25... Bxa2+ {
Demolition of pawn structure.} (25... axb5 26. Rxd5 {Annihilates a defender: d5
} 26... Nc3+ 27. Kxb2 Nxd5 28. Rxe6 Qc3+ 29. Kb1 Qb4+ 30. Kc1 Qa3+ 31. Kd1 $16)
26. Kxa2 {Threatening mate... how?} 26... axb5 27. Kb1 27... Qa5 {
Do you see the mate threat?} 28. Nd3 $4 {
terrible, but the game is lost in any case} (28. c3 Bxc3 29. Rd7 Qb4+ 30. Kc2
Qb2+ 31. Kd1 Qb1+ 32. Ke2 Qxe1+ 33. Kf3 $15) 28... Ba3 $19 29. Ka2 (29. c4 {
there is nothing better in the position} 29... bxc4 30. Nb2 $19) 29... Nc3+ 30.
Kb3 Nd5 31. Ka2 {If White now only could play Rxe6...} 31... Bb4+ 32. Kb1 Bc3 (
32... Bc3 33. Qe8+ Kxe8 34. Rxe6+ Kf7 35. Re7+ Kxe7 36. Re1+ Kd8 37. Nb2 Qa3
38. Re8+ Rxe8 39. g4 Qxb2#) 0-1

[Event "Dos Hermanas "]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Kramnik, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D48"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2775"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]

1. d4 {D48: Semi-Slav: Meran System: 7...b5 8 Bd3 a6} 1... d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3
Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 Bb7 9. O-O a6 10. e4 c5
11. d5 c4 12. Bc2 Qc7 13. Nd4 Nc5 14. b4 cxb3 15. axb3 b4 16. Na4 Ncxe4 17.
Bxe4 Nxe4 18. dxe6 18... Bd6 {last book move} 19. exf7+ Qxf7 (19... Kxf7 $5 {
should be considered} 20. Qh5+ 20... g6 $11) 20. f3 $16 20... Qh5 {
Do you see the mate threat?} 21. g3 (21. fxe4 Qxh2+ 22. Kf2 O-O+ 23. Ke3 23...
Qxg2 $19) 21... O-O (21... Nf6 $5 22. Ne6 Qd5 23. Nxg7+ 23... Kf7 $16) 22. fxe4
$18 22... Qh3 23. Nf3 (23. Qe2 {and White is on the road to success} 23... Bxe4
24. Bf4 Bxf4 25. Rxf4 (25. gxf4 Bd5 26. Rae1 26... Rae8 $11) 25... Rxf4 26.
gxf4 $18) 23... Bxg3 $14 {Demolishes the pawn shield} 24. Nc5 (24. hxg3 Qxg3+)
24... Rxf3 $17 {Eliminates the defender f3} 25. Rxf3 (25. Qxf3 25... Qxh2# {
The nicest combinations are those leading to mate}) 25... Qxh2+ {
Demolition of pawn structure} 26. Kf1 26... Bc6 {Threatening mate: Bb5} 27. Bg5
(27. Be3 27... Bb5+ 28. Nd3 $17) 27... Bb5+ $19 28. Nd3 {Plans Qd2} 28... Re8
29. Ra2 (29. Rc1 Qh1+ 30. Ke2 Rxe4+ 31. Kd2 Qg2+ 32. Rf2 Bxf2 33. Rc8+ Be8 34.
Nxf2 Rd4+ 35. Ke2 Rxd1 36. Rxe8+ Kf7 37. Re7+ Kf8 38. Kxd1 Qxf2 39. Re1 Qf3+
40. Re2 Qxb3+ 41. Kc1 Qc3+ 42. Kd1 Qd4+ 43. Bd2 $19) 29... Qh1+ (29... Bxd3+
30. Rxd3 Qh1+ 31. Ke2 Qg2+ 32. Ke3 Rxe4#) 30. Ke2 $19 30... Rxe4+ 31. Kd2 Qg2+
32. Kc1 Qxa2 33. Rxg3 Qa1+ 34. Kc2 Qc3+ 35. Kb1 Rd4 (35... Rd4 36. Qd2 Bxd3+ (
36... Rxd3 $6 37. Qxc3 bxc3 38. Bf4 $19) 37. Ka2 Rd5 38. Qxc3 38... bxc3 $19)
0-1

[Event "Berlin "]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gelfand, B."]
[Black "Kramnik, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2665"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]

1. d4 {D45: Semi-Slav: 5 e3} 1... d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7
6. Qc2 Bd6 7. g4 Bb4 8. Bd2 Qe7 9. a3 Bxc3 10. Bxc3 b6 11. Bd3 Ba6 12. Qa4 dxc4
13. Qxa6 cxd3 14. Qxd3 O-O 15. g5 Nd5 16. Bd2 f5 17. O-O-O c5 18. Kb1 18... b5
{last book move} 19. Qxb5 19... Rab8 {Black is in command} 20. Qa5 Rb3 21. Ka2
21... Rfb8 {Attacking the backward pawn on b2} 22. Rb1 (22. Bc1 c4 23. Qa4
23... N7b6 $17) 22... e5 23. Rhc1 (23. Ka1 $5 $11) 23... Qe6 $15 24. Ka1 exd4
25. Rxc5 $4 (25. Ne1 $15 {is just about the only chance}) 25... Nxc5 $19 26.
Qxc5 (26. Nxd4 {praying for a miracle} 26... Qc8 27. Be1 $19) 26... Nc3 {
Demolishes the pawn shield} 27. Nxd4 (27. bxc3 {Exploits the pin} 27... Rxb1# {
A beautiful mate combination}) 27... Rxb2 $3 {Demolition of pawn structure} 28.
Rxb2 {Decoy theme: b2} (28. Qf8+ {desperation} 28... Rxf8 29. Rxb2 $19 (29.
Nxe6 $4 {greedy!} 29... Rxb1#)) 28... Qa2+ $5 {Theme: Double Attack} (28...
Qa2+ 29. Rxa2 Rb1#) 0-1

[Event "Supertorneo Las Palmas"]
[Site "Las Palmas"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Kramnik, V."]
[Black "Anand, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2735"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1996.12.08"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.04.10"]

1. Nf3 {A30: Symmetrical English: Double Fianchetto and Hedgehog} 1... Nf6 2.
c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 e6 5. O-O Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Re1 d5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. e4
Nxc3 10. bxc3 c5 11. d4 Nd7 12. Bf4 cxd4 13. cxd4 Nf6 14. Ne5 Bb4 15. Re3 Rc8
16. d5 exd5 17. exd5 {The passed pawn on d5 will become decisive later} 17...
Bd6 18. Nc6 Bxc6 19. Bxd6 Ba4 20. Bxf8 Bxd1 21. Be7 21... Qc7 {last book move}
22. Rxd1 Nd7 23. Bh3 23... h6 {Secures g5} 24. Bf5 b5 25. Bb4 Rd8 26. Re7 Qc4
27. Rxd7 Rxd7 28. Bxd7 Qxb4 29. d6 Qa4 (29... Qa5 {
doesn't get the bull off the ice} 30. Bxb5 $1 {Clearance to allow d6-d7} 30...
Qxb5 $18) 30. Rd3 (30. Rc1 {and White can already relax} 30... g6 31. Bf5 31...
Qxa2 $18) 30... Qe4 $4 (30... Kf8 $11 {
this is the best bet to save the position}) 31. Bxb5 $18 31... Qe1+ 32. Kg2
Qe4+ 33. Kg1 (33. Kf1 {it becomes clear that White will call all the shots}
33... Qh1+ 34. Ke2 Qe4+ 35. Kd1 Qh1+ 36. Kc2 $18) 33... Qe1+ $11 34. Kg2 Qe4+
35. Kf1 Qh1+ 36. Ke2 Qe4+ 37. Kf1 (37. Kd1 {makes sure everything is clear}
37... Qh1+ 38. Kc2 $18) 37... Qh1+ $11 38. Ke2 Qe4+ 39. Kd1 Qg4+ (39... Qh1+ {
cannot change destiny} 40. Kc2 Qa1 41. d7 Qxa2+ 42. Kd1 Qb1+ 43. Ke2 $18) 40.
f3 Qh3 (40... Qb4 {desperation} 41. d7 Qxb5 42. d8=Q+ 42... Kh7 $18) 41. d7 (
41. d7 Qf1+ 42. Kc2 Qe2+ 43. Kb3 Qe6+ 44. Ka3 $18) 1-0

[Event "Amsterdam"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, V."]
[Black "Topalov, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2775"]
[BlackElo "2700"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]

1. Nf3 {A30: Symmetrical English: Double Fianchetto and Hedgehog} 1... Nf6 2.
c4 c5 3. Nc3 e6 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O d6 7. b3 Nbd7 8. Bb2 Be7 9. d4 O-O
10. d5 exd5 11. Nh4 g6 12. cxd5 Ne8 13. f4 Nc7 14. e4 b5 15. e5 f5 16. a4 (16.
exd6 Bxd6 17. Re1 $15) 16... b4 $15 {Black gets more space} 17. Nb5 {
Black now must not overlook the idea exd6} 17... Nxb5 18. axb5 Qb6 19. Re1 Qxb5
(19... dxe5 20. fxe5 c4+ 21. Bd4 $17) 20. Bf1 (20. exd6 $5 {
is worth consideration} 20... Bf6 21. Bxf6 Nxf6 22. Re7 $11) 20... Qb6 $15 21.
Bc4 {The bishop likes it on c4} 21... Qd8 22. exd6 Bf6 23. Qd2 (23. Qe2 $11)
23... Bxb2 (23... Nb6 $5 $15 {should be examined more closely}) 24. Qxb2 $14
24... Qf6 25. Qf2 25... Nb6 {Attacks the isolani on d5} 26. Rad1 (26. Qxc5 Rfc8
27. Qxb4 Nxc4 28. bxc4 Qd4+ 29. Kg2 Bxd5+ 30. Kh3 Bxc4 31. Qa3 $16) 26... Rfe8
(26... Nxc4 $5 {looks like a viable alternative} 27. bxc4 27... Qxd6 $11) 27.
Rxe8+ $16 27... Rxe8 28. Qxc5 Qc3 29. Ng2 29... Re2 $2 (29... Rf8 $18) 30. d7
$1 {puts the final touch} 30... Nxd7 {Black threatens to counter with Rxg2} 31.
Qb5 {Theme: Double Attack} 31... Rxg2+ (31... Rd2 {does not help much} 32. d6+
Kh8 33. Rxd2 Qxd2 34. Qxb7 Qxd6 35. Qxa7 Qd1+ 36. Bf1 $18) 32. Kxg2 Qc2+ (32...
Bc8 33. Qc6 Qc2+ 34. Kh3 34... Kg7 $18) 33. Be2 (33. Kh3 Qxd1 34. Qxb7 Nb6 35.
Qb8+ Kg7 36. Qxa7+ Kh6 37. Qxb6 Qf3 38. Qxb4 Kg7 39. Qe7+ Kh6 40. Qf8+ Kh5 41.
Qg7 Qg4+ 42. Kg2 Qh3+ 43. Kxh3 h6 44. Be2#) 33... Nb6 $2 (33... a6 34. Qc4 Qxc4
35. bxc4 35... Nc5 $18) 34. Kf2 Kg7 (34... Qe4 {doesn't improve anything} 35.
Bf3 Qc2+ 36. Kg1 $18) 35. d6 (35. Ra1 {secures victory} 35... Qe4 36. Rxa7 Qd4+
37. Kf1 37... Kh6 $18) 35... Bc6 36. Qxb4 (36. Qxb4 Qb2 37. Rd3 $18) 1-0

[Event "Wien"]
[Site "Wien"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, V."]
[Black "Polgar, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2765"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]

1. Nf3 {E97: King's Indian: Classical Main Line (6...e5 7 0-0 Nc6): 8 Be3 and
8 d5 Ne7, not 9 Ne1} 1... Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 e5
7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. Re1 f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. Bf3 Kh8 13. Bb2 a5
14. b5 {White gets more space} 14... Rb8 15. Ne6 (15. exf5 Bxf5 16. Qd2 16...
Qd7 $14) 15... Bxe6 $11 16. dxe6 Ne8 17. Qb3 c5 18. exf5 gxf5 19. Bh5 Nc7 20.
Bf7 {The white bishop is well posted.} 20... Qc8 21. Nd5 Ncxd5 22. cxd5 22...
f4 {Black wins space} (22... c4 23. Qf3 $11) 23. Bh5 {
The bishop aims for Bf7-h5-f3-e4} (23. Rac1 23... Qc7 $11) 23... b6 24. Rad1
Rf5 25. Bf3 Qg8 26. Be4 {A sound move} 26... Rg5 27. Rd3 Bf6 28. Rh3 Ng6 29.
Qf3 Rb7 30. Rh5 Rxh5 31. Qxh5 Rg7 32. g3 {Controls h4} 32... Ne7 (32... a4 33.
Kf1 $11) 33. Kh1 $14 33... Qf8 34. Rg1 Ng8 35. Qf3 Bg5 36. h4 Bf6 37. Rg2 Qe7 (
37... fxg3 38. fxg3 Qa8 39. a4 $11) 38. Qh5 fxg3 39. fxg3 Qf8 (39... Qd8 $5 $11
{is an interesting alternative}) 40. Rf2 $16 40... Qd8 $2 (40... Qe7 41. Rf3
41... a4 $14) 41. g4 $18 41... Be7 (41... Qe7 42. g5 $18) 42. g5 {
Threatening mate... how?} 42... c4 (42... Bf6 $18) 43. Rf7 Qe8 (43... Nf6 {
no good, but what else?} 44. gxf6 Rg1+ 45. Kxg1 Qg8+ 46. Kh1 h6 47. Qxh6+ Qh7
48. Qxh7#) 44. Qxh7+ $3 {Demolishes the pawn shield} (44. Qxh7+ Rxh7 45. Rxh7#)
1-0

[Event "Investbanka"]
[Site "Belgrade"]
[Date "1997.11.12"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2765"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1997.11.11"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.01.31"]

1. Nf3 {D43: Semi-Slav: 5 Bg5 h6} 1... Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 c6 5. Bg5
h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5 9. Be2 Bb7 10. e5 Nh5 11. a4 a6 12. Nxg5 Nxg3
13. Nxf7 Kxf7 14. fxg3 Kg8 15. O-O Nd7 16. Bg4 Qe7 17. Ne4 17... Rh7 {
last book move} 18. Nd6 {A classical outpost} 18... Rb8 19. b4 (19. axb5 {
would keep White in the game} 19... cxb5 20. Nxb7 Rxb7 21. Rxa6 $14) 19... h5
$17 20. Bh3 Bh6 21. Kh1 Bg5 (21... Nf8 22. Qxh5 Bd2 23. Qg4+ Qg7 24. Ne4 Qxg4
25. Bxg4 $19) 22. Qc2 (22. axb5 cxb5 23. Nxb7 23... Rxb7 $17) 22... Rg7 (22...
Nf8 $5 23. axb5 cxb5 24. Nxb7 Rxb7 25. Rxa6 $19) 23. Qe2 Ba8 (23... h4 24. axb5
cxb5 25. Nxb7 Rxb7 26. Rxa6 $15) 24. Qxh5 $15 24... Rf8 25. Ne4 25... c5 {
Black gets strong initiative} (25... Rxf1+ 26. Rxf1 Nf8 27. Nc5 $15) 26. Nxg5
$14 {The isolani on e6 becomes a target} 26... Bd5 27. Nf3 cxb4 28. axb5 axb5
29. Nh4 (29. Ra6 Nb8 30. Rd6 30... Qe8 $14) 29... Qg5 30. Rxf8+ Nxf8 31. Qe8
Rf7 32. Nf3 (32. Qxb5 $5 32... b3 33. Rg1 $15) 32... Qg6 $17 {
Black threatens b3} 33. Qxb5 (33. Rg1 $5 $17) 33... b3 $19 34. Rf1 Qd3 (34...
Rb7 $5 35. Bxe6+ Qxe6 36. Qc5 $19) 35. Kg1 (35. Rg1 $17) 35... Qe3+ (35... Bxf3
$6 {is no comparison} 36. gxf3 Rxf3 37. Rxf3 Qxf3 38. Qb6 Qd1+ 39. Kf2 Qc2+ 40.
Kg1 Qb1+ 41. Kg2 $17) 36. Kh1 c3 (36... Bxf3 $6 {is clearly weaker} 37. gxf3
Rxf3 38. Rg1 $17) 37. Bxe6 (37. Qa6 $19 {what else?}) 37... Bxe6 38. d5 38...
Rxf3 $1 {Demolition of pawn structure} 39. gxf3 {Theme: Deflection from h3} (
39. Rxf3 c2) 39... Bh3 40. Qc4 Bxf1 41. Qg4+ Kh7 42. e6 Ng6 (42... Ng6 43. e7
Qe2 44. Qh5+ Kg7 45. e8=N+ Qxe8 46. g4 Bg2+ 47. Kxg2 Qe2+ 48. Kg3 Qe1+ 49. Kg2
Nf4#) 0-1

[Event "Dortmund "]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramnik, V."]
[Black "Karpov, An"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A15"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2745"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]

1. Nf3 {A15: English Opening: 1...Nf6} 1... Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 e6 5.
O-O Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Re1 d5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. e4 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Nc6 11. d4 Na5
12. h4 Re8 13. h5 h6 14. Ne5 Bd6 15. Bf4 Qe7 16. Qg4 Kh8 17. Nd3 {
White plans e5} 17... Rad8 18. Rad1 Bc6 19. e5 19... Ba3 {last book move} 20.
Bxc6 Nxc6 21. Re4 Qd7 22. Qf3 Bf8 23. Be3 Na5 24. g4 Nc4 25. g5 Nxe3 26. fxe3
hxg5 27. Rg4 Qe7 (27... Qa4 28. Nf2 $11) 28. Rf1 $11 28... Rd7 29. Qg3 (29. Nf2
f5 30. exf6 30... gxf6 $11) 29... f6 (29... Qa3 $5 $17) 30. e4 Qa3 31. exf6
Qxc3 32. f7 (32. Ne5 Qxg3+ 33. Rxg3 Rxd4 34. Nf7+ Kh7 35. Nxg5+ 35... Kh6 $14)
32... Rc8 (32... Qxd4+ 33. Kh2 Red8 34. Ne5 Qb2+ 35. Kh3 $11) 33. d5 exd5 34.
e5 34... c5 $4 {gives the opponent counterplay} (34... Be7 35. Rxg5 Bxg5 36.
f8=Q+ Rxf8 37. Rxf8+ Kh7 38. Qh3 Be3+ 39. Qxe3 Qa1+ 40. Kg2 $18) 35. Rf3 $4 {
not a good decision, because now the opponent is right back in the game} (35.
Rxg5 Qd4+ 36. Kh2 $18) 35... c4 $15 {Black wins space} 36. Nf2 (36. e6 Rxf7 37.
exf7 37... cxd3 $11) 36... Qe1+ (36... Qa1+ 37. Kg2 Rdc7 38. Rxg5 $18) 37. Kg2
$15 37... Be7 $4 {weakening the position} (37... Rdc7 $15 {was possible}) 38.
Rxg5 $18 38... Bxg5 {A deflection} (38... Rdd8 39. Rxg7 39... Qd2 $18) 39.
f8=Q+ {Theme: Double Attack. . . . . . . .} (39. f8=Q+ Rxf8 40. Rxf8+ Kh7 41.
Qxg5 Qb1 42. e6 Re7 43. Qxe7 Kh6 44. Rh8+ Qh7 45. Ng4+ Kxh5 46. Qxg7 Qxh8 47.
Nf6+ Kh4 48. Qg3#) 1-0

[Event "Tilburg Fontys"]
[Site "Tilburg"]
[Date "1997.10.14"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Leko, Peter"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2635"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "1997.09.27"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1997.11.23"]

1. Nf3 {A30: Symmetrical English: Double Fianchetto and Hedgehog} 1... Nf6 2.
c4 c5 3. Nc3 e6 4. g3 b6 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 7. Re1 d6 8. e4 a6 9. d4 cxd4
10. Nxd4 Qc7 11. f4 O-O 12. Be3 Nc6 13. Rc1 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 Rac8 15. b3 Rfe8 16.
a4 Nd7 17. Rc2 Bf8 18. Rd2 Nb8 19. Bf2 Bc6 20. g4 Qb7 21. Bf1 21... Nd7 {
last book move} 22. g5 {This push gains space} 22... Nc5 {
The pressure on e4 grows} 23. Bg2 b5 24. axb5 axb5 25. b4 Na6 26. cxb5 26...
Bxb5 {The passed pawn on b4 will quickly become a dangerous weapon} 27. Nxb5
Qxb5 28. Bf1 Qb7 29. b5 Nc5 30. Qf3 Red8 31. f5 {White gains space} 31... d5
32. exd5 exd5 (32... Rxd5 33. Rxd5 exd5 34. Bxc5 34... Rxc5 $11) 33. Bd4 (33.
Qd1 $5 $14 {is worthy of consideration}) 33... Ne4 $17 {A beautiful square!}
34. Rg2 Bc5 35. Qe3 Bxd4 36. Qxd4 36... Nd6 {
Exerts pressure on the isolated pawn} 37. g6 Nxf5 38. gxh7+ Kh8 39. Qf4 g6 (
39... Qa7+ 40. Kh1 g6 41. Bd3 $15) 40. Bd3 $11 40... Qb6+ 41. Rf2 Qf6 42. Re5
Rc1+ 43. Kg2 {With the decisive threat Rxf5} 43... Nh4+ (43... Qg7 44. Qxc1
Qxe5 45. Bxf5 gxf5 46. Qg5 $11) 44. Kh3 $14 {Threatening mate... how?} 44...
Qxf4 45. Rxf4 Rc3 46. Kxh4 {White threatens Rd4} (46. Rxf7 $4 {
the pawn of course cannot be captured} 46... Nf5 47. Rf6 Rxd3+ 48. Kg4 48...
Rd2 $19) 46... Rxd3 47. Rxf7 Rb3 (47... d4 48. Rfe7 Rf3 49. b6 $14) 48. Rb7 d4
49. Kg5 d3 50. Kxg6 (50. Rbe7 50... Rb2 $14) 50... Rxb5 51. Rbxb5 {
Threatening mate: Rb6} (51. Rexb5 d2) 51... d2 52. Rbd5 d1=Q 53. Rxd1 53...
Rd6+ {A double attack} 54. Rxd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Topalov, V."]
[Black "Kramnik, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2725"]
[BlackElo "2740"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]

1. d4 {D43: Semi-Slav: 5 Bg5 h6} 1... d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. g3
Nbd7 6. Bg2 dxc4 7. a4 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. e4 e5 10. dxe5 10... Ng4 {
Manoeuvre Nf6-g4-e5-d3} 11. Bf4 Qa5 12. e6 fxe6 13. Qe2 Nge5 14. Nd4 14... Nd3
{Menacing} (14... Nb6 15. Bh3 $15) 15. Nxe6 Rf6 (15... Rf7 16. Qc2 $15) 16. Bc7
(16. Nc7 $5 {should not be overlooked} 16... Rb8 17. N7d5 cxd5 18. Bxb8 Nxb8
19. Nxd5 $11) 16... Qb4 $17 {Threatens Rxe6} 17. Nd4 Bc5 18. Nc2 (18. Nf3 Qxb2
19. Qxb2 19... Nxb2 $17) 18... Qxb2 19. Nd1 Qb3 20. Nde3 N7e5 21. h3 Be6 22.
Kh2 Rh6 23. Rab1 Bg4 24. Nxg4 Nxg4+ 25. Qxg4 {
White threatens to counter with Rxb3} 25... Qxc2 26. Qg5 $2 (26. Bf4 26... Nxf4
27. Qxf4 $17) 26... Nxf2 $19 27. Rxf2 (27. h4 b6 28. a5 28... Rg6 $19) 27...
Qxf2 (27... Bxf2 {makes it even easier for Black} 28. Qc1 Qxc1 29. Rxc1 $19)
28. Rf1 (28. Be5 Rg6 29. Qc1 29... Qf7 $19) 28... Qd4 (28... Rg6 $5 {
keeps an even firmer grip} 29. Qe5 Qe3 30. Bb8 $19) 29. Be5 Qd7 30. Qc1 $6 {
puts up no strong fight} (30. Bxg7 Bg1+ 31. Rxg1 31... Qxg7 $19) 30... Qe6 (
30... b5 31. Bf4 Rg6 32. e5 $19) 31. Bxg7 {Demolishes the pawn shield} 31...
Kxg7 {Decoy theme: g7} 32. Qg5+ {Theme: Double Attack} 32... Rg6 33. Qxc5 33...
Qd6 {Threatening mate... how?} (33... Qd6 34. Qe3 34... Rd8 $19) 0-1

[Event "Linares"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "1998.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B57"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2790"]
[PlyCount "148"]
[EventDate "1998.02.22"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.06.15"]

1. e4 {B57: Classical Sicilian: Sozin with 6...Qb6} 1... c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4
cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 Qb6 7. Ndb5 a6 8. Be3 Qd8 9. Nd4 Ng4 10. Nxc6
bxc6 11. Qf3 Ne5 12. Qe2 e6 13. O-O-O Be7 14. Bd4 Qc7 15. Bxe5 dxe5 16. Na4 {
last book move} 16... O-O 17. Rd3 Qa5 18. b3 Rb8 19. Qd2 Qxd2+ 20. Kxd2 g6 (
20... f5 21. exf5 Rxf5 22. Ke2 $11) 21. Rd1 Kg7 (21... f5 22. Nc3 $11) 22. Ke2
a5 23. Rc3 Bb4 24. Rcd3 Be7 25. g3 {Consolidates h4} 25... h5 26. h4 f5 27. Rc3
Bb4 28. Re3 Kf6 29. f4 exf4 30. e5+ 30... Kf7 {
If Black now would get fxe3 in, he might survive} 31. gxf4 Be7 32. Red3 Bxh4 (
32... Rg8 33. Rh1 $14) 33. Nc5 (33. Rd6 Bg3 34. Kf3 34... h4 $16) 33... Be7 $14
34. Rd6 {Increases the pressure on e6} (34. Nd7 Bxd7 35. Rxd7 35... Rfd8 $11)
34... Bxd6 35. exd6 Rd8 (35... Bb7 36. Nxe6 Rh8 37. Nc5+ Ke8 38. Kf2 $16) 36.
d7 $14 {White threatens.... what?} 36... Ke7 37. dxc8=N+ Rbxc8 38. Rxd8 (38.
Rg1 38... Kf6 $14) 38... Rxd8 39. Nxe6 ({Weaker is} 39. Bxe6 39... h4 40. Bc4
40... h3 $17) 39... Rh8 40. Ng5 h4 41. Nh3 Kf6 42. Kf2 Rd8 43. Bd3 a4 44. Ng5
a3 (44... axb3 45. axb3 Rd4 46. Ke3 $14) 45. Nf3 $16 45... c5 (45... Rh8 46.
Kg2 $16) 46. Ng5 (46. Nxh4 $5 46... Rh8 47. Nf3 $16) 46... Rd4 $14 47. Kf3 Rd7
48. Ke3 Rd8 49. Nf3 Re8+ 50. Kf2 50... Rd8 $2 (50... h3 $5 $11 {
should be considered}) 51. Nxh4 $16 51... c4 (51... Rh8 $5 52. Nf3 52... Rh1
$16) 52. bxc4 $18 52... Rb8 53. c5 Rb2 (53... Rc8 54. Nf3 Rxc5 55. Nd4 $18) 54.
c6 (54. Kf3 Rxa2 55. c6 Ke7 56. Nxg6+ 56... Kd8 $11) 54... Ke7 55. Nxg6+ Kd6
56. Ne5 (56. Nh4 Rxa2 57. Nxf5+ (57. Bxf5 57... Rxc2+ 58. Bxc2 58... a2 $15)
57... Kxc6 58. Nd4+ Kd5 59. Nb5 $11) 56... Rxa2 $11 57. Nc4+ Kc7 58. Kg3 Ra1
59. Nxa3 (59. Bxf5 $4 {the pawn is something White will choke on} 59... a2 60.
Kf2 60... Rd1 $19) 59... Rxa3 60. Kh4 Kxc6 61. Kg5 {
The white king gets dangerous} 61... Ra5 62. Bxf5 Kd6 63. Kg4 Ke7 64. Bd3 Rc5
65. Kf3 Kd6 66. Ke4 Rh5 67. c4 Rh4 68. Kf5 {White activates its king} 68... Kc5
69. Ke5 Rh3 70. Ke4 Rh4 71. Be2 Rh2 72. Kf3 (72. Bd3 72... Rh8 $11) 72... Kd4
$15 {Active king in the endgame} 73. Bf1 Rh1 74. Kf2 Rh8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Dortmund SPARKASSE"]
[Site "Alemania"]
[Date "1999.07.15"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Topalov, Vesselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1999.??.??"]

1. d4 {D15: Slav Defence: 4 Nc3 a6 and gambit lines after 4 Nc3 dxc4} 1... Nf6
2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 a6 5. c5 Bf5 6. Bf4 Nbd7 7. e3 e6 8. Be2 Be7 9. Nd2
Bg6 10. b4 Qc8 11. O-O Bd8 12. Rc1 Bc7 13. Bxc7 Qxc7 14. f4 Ng8 15. e4 Ne7 16.
f5 16... exf5 {last book move.} 17. exd5 cxd5 18. b5 O-O 19. b6 (19. bxa6 bxa6
20. Re1 20... Nf6 $11) 19... Qd8 $15 20. Nb3 Nf6 21. Na5 Rb8 22. a4 22... Ne4 {
Black can be proud of that piece} 23. Na2 f6 24. Nb4 Be8 25. Qc2 25... g6 {
Consolidates h5} 26. Rb1 Rf7 27. Nxb7 (27. Ra1 $5 $11) 27... Rxb7 $17 28. a5
Nc6 (28... Bc6 29. Bxa6 Rb8 30. Be2 $17) 29. Nxc6 $15 29... Bxc6 30. Bxa6 Rb8
31. Bb5 Qc8 32. Bxc6 Qxc6 33. a6 {Black has to watch this pawn} 33... Kg7 34.
Rb4 Nd6 (34... Re7 $11 {and Black can hope to survive}) 35. Qa4 $1 $16 {
White stays in the lead} 35... Qxa4 36. Rxa4 Nc8 37. Rb4 37... Na7 $4 {
the final mistake, not that it matters anymore} (37... Rf8 $16) 38. bxa7 $18
38... Ra8 39. c6 Raxa7 40. Rc1 (40. Rc1 Rxa6 41. c7 $18) 1-0

[Event "FIDE Wch"]
[Site "Las Vegas"]
[Date "1999.08.11"]
[Round "4.4"]
[White "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A32"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "1999.07.??"]

1. c4 {A32: Symmetrical English: 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 e6} 1... c5 2. Nf3
Nf6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. g3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 Nc6 8. Bf4 O-O 9. Nc3 a6
10. O-O Nxd4 11. Qxd4 d6 12. Qd3 Qc7 13. Rfd1 {Can d6 get defended?} 13... Rd8
14. Rac1 Nh5 15. Bd2 {last book move} 15... Rb8 16. Ne4 Nf6 (16... f5 17. Qf3
Nf6 18. Nxf6+ Bxf6 19. Bc3 Bxc3 20. Rxc3 $14) 17. Nxf6+ $14 17... Bxf6 18. Bf4
e5 19. Be3 Be6 20. b3 20... h6 {Secures g5} 21. a4 21... b6 {Consolidates c5}
22. Rc2 Be7 23. Bd5 Qd7 24. Bxe6 Qxe6 25. f3 b5 (25... Qh3 $5 $11) 26. cxb5 $14
26... axb5 27. a5 d5 28. Bb6 e4 29. Qxb5 Rd6 30. fxe4 (30. Qa4 30... d4 $16)
30... Bd8 $14 31. exd5 {The passed pawn on d5 quickly leads to threats} (31.
Rxd5 Bxb6+ 32. axb6 32... Rdxb6 $14) 31... Bxb6+ $11 32. axb6 {
The passed pawn on b6 will quickly become a dangerous weapon} 32... Qe3+ 33.
Kf1 Rf6+ (33... Qe4 34. Rd3 Qh1+ 35. Kf2 Rdxb6 36. Qd7 Rf6+ 37. Ke3 $14) 34.
Ke1 $11 34... Rfxb6 (34... Qf2+ $5 {is an interesting idea} 35. Kd2 35... Rfxb6
$11) 35. Qc5 $14 {White plans d6} 35... Qe4 36. Kf2 Rxb3 37. d6 {
Don't underestimate that pawn} 37... R8b5 $4 {
strolling merrily down the path to disaster} (37... R3b7 $16) 38. Rc4 $18 38...
Rf3+ (38... Qg6 {cannot change what is in store for ?} 39. d7 Rxc5 40. d8=Q+
Kh7 41. Rxc5 41... Rb2 $18) 39. Kg1 (39. Ke1 {
and the rest is a matter of technique} 39... Rc3 40. Rxe4 Rcxc5 41. d7 $18)
39... Qxe2 $19 40. Qd4 (40. Qc8+ {the last chance for counterplay} 40... Kh7
41. Rdc1 $19) 40... Rb2 (40... Rb2 41. Rc8+ Kh7 42. Rc2 Rxc2 43. Qe4+ Qxe4 44.
g4 Qxg4+ 45. Kh1 Qg2#) 0-1

[Event "Beograd "]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1999.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2726"]
[BlackElo "2751"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "1999.??.??"]
[SourceDate "1999.11.03"]

1. e4 {C42: Petroff Defence: 3 Nxe5 and unusual White 3rd moves} 1... e5 2. Nf3
Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8. Re1 Bg4 9. c3 f5
10. Qb3 O-O 11. Nbd2 Na5 12. Qa4 Nc6 13. Bb5 Bh4 (13... Bxf3 14. Nxf3 Qd6 15.
Bxc6 Qxc6 16. Qxc6 bxc6 17. Ne5 $16) 14. g3 $16 14... Bf6 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16.
Qxc6 Re8 17. Ne5 {With the idea Nxe4} 17... Bxe5 18. dxe5 Ng5 (18... Rxe5 $5
19. Nxe4 19... fxe4 $16) 19. f4 $18 19... Re6 20. Qc5 Ne4 21. Nxe4 dxe4 22. Be3
a6 23. Qc4 Qd7 24. Rac1 Rd8 25. Rc2 Qf7 26. Rd2 {Threatening mate... how?}
26... Rxd2 27. Bxd2 Rb6 28. Qxf7+ Kxf7 29. b4 Rc6 30. Kf2 Rh6 31. h4 Rc6 32.
Ke3 Bh5 33. Kd4 Ke7 34. c4 Bf7 35. Rc1 Rb6 36. Kc5 Be8 37. Be3 Rc6+ 38. Kd5 Rg6
39. Bc5+ Kd7 40. Rc3 (40. Bf2 Bf7+ 41. Kd4 41... Rb6 $16) 40... Bf7+ 41. Kd4 h6
42. a4 Rg4 43. b5 axb5 44. a5 (44. cxb5 g5 45. hxg5 hxg5 46. fxg5 e3+ 47. Kxe3
Rxg3+ 48. Kd2 48... Rxg5 $16) 44... e3 (44... bxc4 $5 {is worth consideration}
45. a6 45... Kc8 $14) 45. Rxe3 $16 45... g5 (45... bxc4 $4 {
A poison bait which should not be taken} 46. e6+ $1 {Theme: Double Attack}
46... Bxe6 47. a6 $18) (45... Bxc4 $4 {the pawn is indigestible} 46. e6+ $1 {
Theme: Clearance for e3-e6} 46... Bxe6 47. a6 $18) 46. e6+ Bxe6 47. cxb5 gxf4
48. gxf4 Rxf4+ (48... Rxh4 $2 {would be great except for} 49. Ke5 Bc4 50. a6
$18) 49. Ke5 Rc4 50. Rd3+ Kc8 51. Kxe6 Rxc5 52. Rd5 {
Do you see the mate threat?} 52... Rc4 53. Rxf5 Re4+ 54. Kd5 {
Threatening mate: Kxe4} 54... Rxh4 55. a6 55... Ra4 $2 (55... Kb8 56. Rf8+ Ka7
57. Rc8 c6+ 58. bxc6 $18 (58. Rxc6 58... Rh5+ 59. Kc4 Rh4+ 60. Kc5 Rh5+ 61. Kb4
Rh1 62. Rc7+ Kb8 63. Rb7+ 63... Kc8 $18)) 56. Rf8+ Kd7 57. Rf7+ (57. b6 {
and White can already relax} 57... c6+ 58. Ke5 Ra5+ 59. Kf6 Rxa6 60. b7 $18)
57... Kc8 58. Rf8+ $4 {White has let it slip away} (58. Kc5 Ra1 59. Rf8+ Kd7
60. b6 cxb6+ 61. Kxb6 $18) 58... Kd7 59. Ra8 (59. b6 {
and the rest is a matter of technique} 59... c6+ 60. Ke5 Ra5+ 61. Kf6 61...
Rxa6 $18) 59... Ra1 60. a7 Rd1+ 61. Ke4 Re1+ 62. Kf3 Ra1 63. b6 $1 {
Demolishes the pawn shield} 63... cxb6 64. Rh8 (64. Rh8 b5 65. a8=Q Rxa8 66.
Rxa8 $18) 1-0

[Event "SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund GER"]
[Date "2000.07.12"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, V."]
[Black "DEEP JUNIOR 6"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2000.07.07"]

1. d4 {D00: 1 d4 d5: Unusual lines} 1... d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. Bd3 e6 4. f4 Be7 5.
Nf3 c5 6. c3 O-O 7. Nbd2 Ng4 8. Qe2 c4 9. Bc2 f5 10. Rg1 Nc6 11. h3 Nf6 12. g4
12... Ne4 {A beautiful square!} 13. Qg2 g6 14. Qh2 Kh8 15. h4 Nxd2 16. Bxd2
fxg4 17. Ng5 Qe8 (17... Kg7 18. Rxg4 18... e5 $15) 18. h5 $14 {
Theme: Clearance for g4-h4. The mate threat is hxg6} 18... gxh5 19. Rxg4 Rf6 (
19... hxg4 {Exploits the pin} 20. Qxh7#) 20. Rh4 Rh6 21. O-O-O a5 (21... b5 22.
Rh1 $16) 22. Rh1 $18 22... b5 23. Bd1 Ra7 24. Bxh5 Qf8 25. e4 Bd8 26. f5 (26.
exd5 exd5 27. Qg2 Bf5 28. Qxd5 28... Rb7 $18) 26... b4 27. Bg6 (27. fxe6 $6
27... bxc3 28. bxc3 28... Bxe6 $14) 27... Rxh4 28. Qxh4 bxc3 29. bxc3 29... Bf6
$4 {but even a better move would not have saved the game} (29... Qa3+ 30. Kd1
Qxa2 31. Qxh7+ Rxh7 32. Rxh7+ Kg8 33. Bf7+ Kf8 34. Nxe6+ Ke7 35. Bg6+ Kd6 36.
Bf4+ Ne5 37. dxe5+ Kc6 38. Be8+ Bd7 39. Bxd7+ Kb6 40. Be3+ Kb7 41. Nxd8+ Kb8
42. Nc6+ Ka8 43. Rh8+ Kb7 44. Rb8+ 44... Kc7 $18) 30. Qxh7+ $1 {
Demolishes the pawn shield} 30... Rxh7 31. Rxh7+ Kg8 32. Bf7+ Qxf7 33. Rxf7 (
33. Rxf7 Bxg5 34. Rc7 Bxd2+ 35. Kxd2 $18) (33. Nxf7 $2 33... Kxh7 34. e5 34...
Be7 $19) 1-0

[Event "Braingames WCC"]
[Site "London ENG"]
[Date "2000.10.12"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Kramnik, V."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2849"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2000.10.08"]

1. e4 {C67: Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defence: 4 0-0 Nxe4} 1... e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5
Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Bd7 10.
b3 h6 11. Bb2 Kc8 12. Rad1 b6 13. Ne2 c5 14. c4 Bc6 15. Nf4 Kb7 (15... Bxf3 16.
gxf3 Be7 17. Rfe1 $11) 16. Nd5 $14 16... Ne7 17. Rfe1 Rg8 18. Nf4 g5 19. Nh5
Rg6 20. Nf6 (20. Rd3 20... Re6 $14) 20... Bg7 $11 21. Rd3 Bxf3 22. Rxf3 Bxf6
23. exf6 Nc6 24. Rd3 Rf8 25. Re4 Kc8 26. f4 gxf4 27. Rxf4 Re8 28. Bc3 Re2 (
28... Nb4 29. Rd2 $11) 29. Rf2 $14 29... Re4 30. Rh3 a5 31. Rh5 a4 32. bxa4
Rxc4 33. Bd2 Rxa4 34. Rxh6 Rg8 (34... Rxh6 35. Bxh6 Re4 36. Kf1 $11) 35. Rh7
Rxa2 36. Rxf7 Ne5 37. Rg7 Rf8 38. h3 {Consolidates g4} (38. Bg5 Rxf2 39. Kxf2
Ng4+ 40. Ke2 40... Nxf6 $11 (40... Nxh2 $2 {doesn't work because of} 41. Bf4
Rxf6 42. Bxh2 $18)) 38... c4 (38... Nd3 $5 39. f7 39... Kd7 $15 (39... Nxf2 40.
Rg8 Kd7 41. Rxf8 $18)) 39. Re7 Nd3 40. f7 Nxf2 41. Re8+ Kd7 42. Rxf8 Ke7 (42...
Rxd2 $4 {Black cannot capture the bishop} 43. Re8 Rd6 44. f8=Q $18 (44. Kxf2 {
is a weaker possibility} 44... Rf6+ 45. Ke3 45... Rxf7 $17)) 43. Rc8 {
Threatening mate: f8Q} 43... Kxf7 44. Rxc7+ Ke6 45. Be3 Nd1 46. Bxb6 c3 47. h4
(47. Kf1 47... Rc2 $16) 47... Ra6 (47... c2 48. Kh2 $14) 48. Bd4 $16 48... Ra4
49. Bxc3 Nxc3 (49... Rxh4 50. Kf1 $16) 50. Rxc3 Rxh4 51. Rf3 Rh5 52. Kf2 Rg5
53. Rf8 Ke5 1/2-1/2

[Event "SuperGM"]
[Site "Dortmund GER"]
[Date "2000.07.15"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, V."]
[Black "Huebner, R."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2615"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2000.07.07"]

1. d4 {D27: Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical main line: 7 e4!? and 7 a4} 1...
d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. Bb3 cxd4 8. exd4 Nc6
9. Nc3 Be7 10. Re1 O-O 11. h4 Na5 12. Bc2 b5 13. Qd3 Bb7 14. h5 Bxf3 15. Qxf3
Qxd4 16. Bf4 (16. h6 16... Nc4 $11) 16... b4 17. Rad1 Qc4 18. Bd3 Qc6 19. Ne4
Nd5 20. Be5 f5 (20... f6 21. Bg3 f5 22. Nd2 $11) 21. Qg3 {
Do you see the mate threat?} 21... Rf7 22. Nd2 Nb7 23. Nf3 Nc5 24. Nd4 Qb6 (
24... Qc8 $5 $14 {is an interesting idea}) 25. Nxf5 $16 25... exf5 $2 (25...
Rxf5 26. Bxf5) 26. Bc4 $18 {Discovered attack} 26... Nf6 $4 {
leading to a quick end} (26... Ne6 27. Bxd5 27... Rd8 $18) 27. Bc7 (27. Bc7 f4
28. Bxf7+ Kh8 29. Qxf4 $18) 1-0

[Event "Magistral"]
[Site "Linares"]
[Date "2000.??.??"]
[Round "2.3"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Kasparov, Gary"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2000.02.28"]

1. Nf3 {A30: Symmetrical English: Double Fianchetto and Hedgehog} 1... Nf6 2.
c4 c5 3. g3 d5 4. d4 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Bd7 6. Qxc4 Bc6 7. dxc5 Bd5 8. Qa4+ Bc6 9.
Qc4 Bd5 10. Qc2 e6 11. Bg2 Be4 12. Qc4 Bd5 13. Qh4 Bxc5 14. Nc3 Bc6 15. O-O Be7
16. Rd1 Qa5 (16... Qb6 17. e3 $14) 17. Bd2 Nbd7 18. g4 (18. Nd4 Bxg2 19. Kxg2
19... h5 $14) 18... h6 $14 {Controls g5} 19. Qg3 Qa6 20. h4 Qc4 21. Bf4 Qb4 22.
a3 (22. Rd2 h5 23. g5 Nd5 24. Nxd5 24... exd5 $16) 22... Qxb2 $11 23. Nd4 {
White threatens Rdb1} 23... g5 24. Nxc6 (24. hxg5 hxg5 25. Bxg5 Bxg2 26. Kxg2
26... Qb6 $16) 24... gxf4 $11 25. Qd3 {With the idea Nxe7} 25... bxc6 26. Bxc6
26... O-O {Black threatens strongly Ne5} 27. Bxa8 Ne5 (27... Rxa8 28. Rdb1 Ne5
29. Rxb2 29... Nxd3 $11) 28. Qd4 $11 28... Rxa8 29. Qxe5 Rc8 30. Rac1 30... Nd5
$4 {Black loses the upper hand} (30... Rc5 {and Black can hope to live} 31. Qd4
31... Nxg4 $15) 31. Nxd5 $16 {The mate threat is Rxc8} 31... Qxe5 {
If Black now would get Bc5 in, he might survive} 32. Nxe7+ 32... Kg7 {
Plans Rxc1} 33. Rxc8 Qxe2 34. Rg8+ 34... Kf6 {With the decisive threat Qxd1}
35. Rd7 Qe1+ 36. Kg2 Qe4+ 37. Kh2 Qc2 38. Kg2 Qe4+ 39. Kh2 Qc2 40. g5+ hxg5 41.
Rxg5 Qxf2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2001.01.27"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2718"]
[BlackElo "2772"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2001.01.13"]

1. e4 {B12: Caro-Kann: Advance Variation} 1... c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. dxc5 e6
5. Bf4 Bxc5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. Nf3 f6 8. Nbd2 fxe5 9. Bxe5 Nf6 10. Qe2 O-O 11. O-O-O
a5 12. Nb3 Bd6 13. Kb1 Bxe5 14. Nxe5 {A sound move} 14... a4 15. Nc1 (15. Nxc6
bxc6 16. Nd4 16... Qb6 $17) 15... a3 16. b3 Qa5 17. c4 dxc4 (17... Nxe5 $5 18.
Qxe5 dxc4 19. Qxa5 Rxa5 20. Bxc4 20... b5 $17) 18. Nxc4 $15 18... Qc7 19. Rhe1
$2 (19. Nd6 $1 $15 {and White could well hope to play on}) 19... Nd5 $19 20.
Qd2 Ncb4 21. Ne2 Rxf2 22. Be4 b5 23. Qd4 23... Rxe2 $1 {here's the full point}
24. Rxe2 bxc4 25. Bxd5 Nxd5 26. bxc4 Ba6 27. Rc1 Nf4 28. Rd2 28... e5 {
Do you see the mate threat?} 29. Qe3 Bxc4 30. Ka1 Qf7 (30... Rb8 {
makes it even easier for Black} 31. Qc3 Rc8 32. Qb4 $19) 31. g3 Nd3 32. Rxd3
Bxd3 33. Qxd3 h6 (33... e4 $5 34. Qb3 $19) 34. Qb3 Qxb3 35. axb3 Kf7 36. Rc6 (
36. Ka2 36... Ke6 $17) 36... a2 (36... e4 37. Rc4 Re8 38. Ka2 $19) 37. h4 (37.
b4 $5 $17) 37... Ra3 38. b4 e4 (38... Rxg3 39. b5 39... Rh3 $15) 39. Rc4 e3 40.
Re4 Kf6 41. g4 (41. b5 Kf5 42. Re8 42... Kg4 $19) 41... h5 42. gxh5 42... Kf5 {
Threatening mate... how?} 43. Re7 Kf4 44. b5 Rb3 45. Rf7+ Ke4 46. Re7+ Kd3 47.
Rd7+ 47... Kc2 {Threatening mate: Rd3} 48. Rc7+ (48. Re7 {doesn't do any good}
48... Kd2 (48... Rxb5 $6 {is clearly inferior} 49. Rxe3 Rxh5 50. Rg3 $15) 49.
Kxa2 Rxb5 50. Rd7+ Ke1 51. Rxg7 51... Rxh5 $19) 48... Kd2 (48... Rc3 49. b6 e2
50. Rxc3+ Kxc3 51. b7 e1=Q+ 52. Kxa2 Qe2+ 53. Ka3 Qa6#) 49. Kxa2 $19 49... Rxb5
50. Rxg7 (50. Rd7+ {there is nothing better in the position} 50... Ke1 51. Rxg7
Rxh5 52. Kb3 $19) 50... e2 51. Rd7+ Kc2 52. Rc7+ Kd3 53. Re7 (53. Rc1 {
does not help much} 53... Rxh5 54. Kb2 Rxh4 55. Rc3+ Kd2 56. Rc2+ Ke1 57. Rc1+
57... Kf2 $19) 53... Rxh5 (53... Rxh5 54. Kb2 Rxh4 55. Rd7+ Ke3 56. Rd5 e1=Q
57. Re5+ Re4 58. Rxe4+ Kxe4 59. Kb3 Kd3 60. Kb2 Qb4+ 61. Ka1 Kc3 62. Ka2 Qb2#)
0-1

[Event "It"]
[Site "Astana KAZ"]
[Date "2001.05.28"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Kramnik, V."]
[Black "Sadvakasov, D."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2797"]
[BlackElo "2585"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2001.05.20"]
[Source "Mark Crowther"]
[SourceDate "2001.05.28"]

1. d4 {D27: Queen's Gambit Accepted: Classical main line: 7 e4!? and 7 a4} 1...
d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O a6 7. a4 Nc6 8. Qe2 Qc7 9.
Rd1 Bd6 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. b3 O-O 12. Bb2 e5 13. Nc3 e4 14. Ng5 Bd6 (14... Bf5
15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. Bxd5 $14) 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. Rxd5 {With the decisive threat Qh5}
16... Bxh2+ 17. Kh1 {The mate threat is Qh5} 17... Be5 18. Qh5 18... Bf5 $2 (
18... h6 19. Nxf7 $1 {Demolition of pawn structure} 19... Rxf7 20. Rxe5 Nxe5
21. Bxe5 21... Qe7 $16) 19. Nxf7 $18 {Demolition of pawn structure} 19... Rxf7
(19... Qxf7 {Theme: Deflection from e5} 20. Rxe5) 20. Qxf5 $3 {
Annihilates a defender: f5. Eliminates the defender f5} 20... g6 (20... Rxf5
21. Rd8# {Theme: Double Attack}) 21. Bxe5 (21. Bxe5 gxf5 22. Bxc7 $18) 1-0

[Event "Sparkassen Cat XXI"]
[Site "Dortmund GER"]
[Date "2001.07.15"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, V."]
[Black "Morozevich, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2802"]
[BlackElo "2749"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2001.07.12"]

1. d4 {D12: Slav Defence: 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 e3 Bf5} 1... d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3
Bf5 5. Nc3 5... a6 {Covers b5} 6. Bd3 Bxd3 7. Qxd3 e6 8. O-O (8. e4 Bb4 9. e5
Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 10... Ne4 $15) 8... Be7 (8... Bb4 9. Bd2 Bxc3 10. bxc3 $15) 9.
e4 $14 9... O-O 10. Rd1 b5 11. c5 {White gets more space} (11. cxd5 cxd5 12. e5
12... Nfd7 $11) 11... dxe4 12. Nxe4 Nxe4 13. Qxe4 Qd5 14. Qxd5 cxd5 15. Bf4 Nc6
16. Ne5 Nb8 17. Rd3 Rc8 18. Re1 Bf6 19. Ng4 19... Nc6 {Blocks the pawn on c5}
20. Nxf6+ gxf6 21. Bg3 Kg7 22. Bh4 Ne7 23. g4 Ng6 24. Bg3 a5 25. Bd6 h5 26.
gxh5 {The passed pawn on h5 will become decisive later} 26... Nh4 27. Rg3+ (27.
Kh1 Nf5 28. Rg1+ 28... Kh7 $14) 27... Kh6 $11 28. Be7 (28. Bf4+ $5 {
is worthy of consideration} 28... Kxh5 29. f3 $11) 28... Nf5 $17 29. Bxf6 Nxg3
30. fxg3 Rg8 31. Kg2 Kxh5 32. h3 Kg6 33. Rf1 Kh7 34. g4 b4 35. Kg3 b3 (35... a4
36. h4 $11) 36. a3 (36. axb3 Rgb8 37. Rf3 a4 38. bxa4 38... Rxb2 $14) 36...
Rac8 (36... a4 37. h4 $11) 37. h4 (37. a4 37... Rgf8 $14) 37... Rg6 38. h5 (38.
h5 Rgg8 39. g5 $16) 1-0

