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The second half of the match for the title World Champion is to begin. The colors are reversed - now the odd-numbered games Anand will have the White. He is leading 4.5 to 1.5 and is almost for sure going to defend his title. Would Kramnik be able to perform such a feat as to win 3 games out of the remaining 6 and refute such prognosis? Quite unlikely, but that's why sport is so attractive - improbable things happen from time to time. So stay tuned at 15.00 CET.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 Kramnik had more than enough problems in Nimzo-Indian and goes back to the Slav Defense that served him well in the match against Topalov.
3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.e3 (6.Ne5 is the main alternative.)
6... e6 7.Bxc4 Bb4 8.O-O Nbd7 ( More precise move order than 8... O-O 9.Qe2 Bg6 10.Ne5)
9.Qe2 Bg6 10.e4 O-O ( Winning the 'e4' pawn after 10... Bxc3 is too risky.)
11.Bd3 Bh5 12.e5 Nd5 13.Nxd5 (13.Ne4 h6 14.Ng3 Bg6 is fine for Black.)
13... cxd5 14.Qe3 Re8 Up to now the opponents follow the 1st game of the play-off of the above mentioned match.
15.Ne1 (15.Ng5 Bxg6 followed by h6 and g5.)
15... Bg6 Kramnik is the first to deviate. (15... Rc8)
16.Bxg6 hxg6 (16... fxg6 should be playable as well: 17.Nd3 Be7 18.a5 Rc8 19.Qh3 Nf8 and the 'c' file grants sufficient counterplay.)
17.Nd3 Qb6 ( With the obvious intention to keep 'b4' under control. Anyway, 17... Be7 has its merit, as now the Bishop may become very strong on the a3-f8 diagonal.)
18.Nxb4 Qxb4 19.b3 Rac8 Counters the threat Bc1-a3 and Rfc1. The 'c' file is vital for Kramnik's plan.
20.Ba3 (20.Bd2 Qe7 21.Rfc1 Nb8)
20... Qc3 21.Rac1 Qxe3 ( After 21... Qxe3 22.fxe3 f6 Black successfully solves his opening problems.)
22.fxe3 f6 23.Bd6 g5 Denies Anand the possibility by h2-h4 to gain more space.
24.h3 Black position is very solid. As far as Nd7 can't switch to a better square, so is White.
24... Kf7 25.Kf2 Kg6 ( Why not the simple 25... Nf8 26.Ke2 (26.Bxf8 Rxf8 is completely equal) 26... Ng6 planning Nh4-f5, as Ne7 followed by Rxc1 and Rc8. The King has no business on 'g6'.)
26.Ke2 White step by step is trying to improve the position of his pieces. The King goes to 'd3' to prepare e3-e4 at an appropriate moment.
26... fxe5 (26... Rc6 27.Rxc6 bxc6 28.Rc1 Rc8 29.Kd3 a6 30.a5 followed by e3-e4 is not the correct way to fight for the open file.)
27.dxe5 b6 Kramnik once again is spending a lot of time: 1.14 0.46
28.b4 Of course! Nc5 would solve Black problems.
28... Rc4 (28... a5 29.bxa5 bxa5 30.Bc7)
29.Rxc4 dxc4 30.Rc1 (30.Kd2 planning Kd2-c3-d4 is more precise. After 30... Rh8 31.Rc1 Rc8 (31... Rxh4 32.g4) 32.Kc3 White is a tempo up.)
30... Rc8 31.g4 Stopping Kg6-f5 or g5-g4.
31... a5 (31... a6 could be answered by 32.b5 The same is to be expected on 31...a5. But then arises the question how may White progress if Black sacrifices the 'c' pawn to trade the Rooks?)
32.b5 (32.bxa5 bxa5 33.Rb1 Nc5 34.Bxc5 Rxc5 35.Rb5 Rd5)
32... c3 33.Rc2 Kf7 34.Kd3 Nc5+ 35.Bxc5 Rxc5 36.Rxc3 Rxc3+ Draw agreed. Kramnik's play today was fluctuating as in the previous games. Having no problems in the opening, later he created such himself. Nevertheless, after coming up with an unexpected idea to build a 'fortress', he managed to save the day. The sore is 5-2 in Anand's favor with 5 games left.
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