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The game Topalov - Kamsky begins at 14:00 CET. Feel free to join the forum discussion. Topalov achieved a very important win in game 2. He skillfully exploited Kamsky's time trouble and deservedly has the lead. Today he has White pieces and will try to decide the match if possible but without taking unnecessary risks. A lot depends of the quality of the preparation done by the teams during the rest day. The chess thriller goes on - stay tuned at 14.00 CET.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 As in the 1st game Kamsky insists with Gruenfeld Defense.
4.Qb3 ( Fashionable move that leads to positions similar to the Russian system - 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3)
4... dxc4 5.Qxc4 Bg7 6.e4 O-O 7.Be2 a6 (7... Nfd7 was played in Carlsen - Dominguez, Wijkk aan Zee 2009, commented live on chessdom.com. The Norwegian achieved opening advantage.)
8.Bf4 (8.Nf3 would transpose to a main theoretical line that Kamsky played several times against Karpov during their match for the FIDE title.)
8... b5 9.Qxc7 Qxc7 ( Sacrifices a pawn in order to complete faster development and start creating threats. 9... Qxd4 10.Rd1 Qb4 11.Rd2 Nbd7 12.Be3 is definitely better for White.)
10.Bxc7 b4 11.Na4 Nc6 12.d5 Nd4 13.Bd3 The game becomes very tactical. ( Just a sample line: 13.Bd3 Bd7 14.Nb6 Bb5 15.Be5 Nxe4 with complications.)
13... Bd7 Clock readings are about equal: 1.41 1.45, but the very fact that Veselin finally spends some time before move 20 is some achievement for Gata's team.
14.Nb6 Bb5 15.Be5 (15.Nxa8 Bxd3 16.Rd1 Bxe4 17.f3 Nc2+ 18.Ke2 Bxd5 19.Nb6 Bxa2 is no way a serious alternative. Now Kamsky has to choose between 15...Nxe4 and 15...Bxd3 - or 15...Rab8, which is similar.)
15... Nxe4 ( Attractive looking move but the natural 15... Bxd3 is not bad either: 16.Bxd4 Rab8 17.f3 Bb5 18.Ne2 Nh5 (18... Ne8 19.e5 Nd6 20.exd6 exd6 or) (18... Rfd8 19.b3 e6 20.Rd1 Nxd5 lead to equality.) 19.Be3 Bxb2 20.Rb1 Ba3 21.g4 Nf6 seemed promising.)
16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Bxe4 Rab8 18.O-O-O Nf5 19.Bxf5 gxf5 ( A series of forced moves was made, the chances are equal but Black has to play precisely in case of 19... gxf5 20.d6 Rxb6 21.dxe7 Re8 22.Nf3 as his pawn structure would be compromised.)
20.d6 Rxb6 21.dxe7 Re8 22.Nf3 Rxe7 As the challengers are following today every my recommendation, I start to wounder if they were provided access to the live comments xD
23.Nd4 Bd7 24.Rhe1 Rxe1 25.Rxe1 After 15...Nxe4 all the moves were more or less predictable, The endgame is completely equal but as I've already said, Black has to play precisely.
25... Rh6 Live commentary from Linares has just started as well.
26.Re7 Rd6 27.Ne2 Kf6 28.Re3 Ba4 29.b3 Bc6 Now White queenside pawns are vulnerable and Black has sufficient counterplay.
30.Nf4 a5 31.g3 Be4 32.f3 Bc6 33.h4 Rd4 It is hard to suggest any idea for either side how to progress.
34.Kc2 Bb5 35.Nh5+ Kg6 36.Nf4+ Kf6 37.Nh5+ Draw agreed. Kamsky repeated the Gruenfeld Defense and although this time a different line was chosen by his opponent, he demonstrated to be very well prepared. Immense complications began after his pawn sacrifice. At a moment, Black could fight for the initiative, but he chose another option and when things calmed down a drawn ending was reached. After a dozen more moves the draw was agreed. 1/2