Just 18 days until Anand plays Kramnik for the title of World Chess Champion in Bonn, Germany. Below I continue with my preview for this historic match by examining a timeless game played by Kramnik in 1996.
Enjoy!
In 1996 Vladimir Kramnik played an exceptionally brilliant game as black verses a very strong opponent named Vassily Ivanchuk. Kramnik used fantastic opening preparation as well as brilliant tactical play to pressure Ivanchuk to error and finally resign. On move 6. Bg5 Ivanchuk initiates a Richter-Rauzer attack which provides the much needed tactical fuel for Kramnik’s fire. Kramnik move 14…Ng4 was a brand new idea that caught his opponent off guard. The move sacrifices the exchange but gives Kramnik long term pressure on the dark squares as well as some initiative to attack with. On 17. g3 Ivanchuk makes a small error which allows black to gain even more initiative. Ivanchuk should have played 17. Qf3. Kramnik’s 19…f5 was paticulary powerful and kept his attack going. On move 27 Kramnik makes a huge error with only five minutes left on his clock. I believe Kramnik should have tried 27…Qe7. To everone’s shock, Ivanchuk played 28. Nd3 which allowed Kramnik to win easily.
[Event “It (cat.19)”]
[Site “Dos Hermanas (Spain)”]
[Date “1996.??.??”]
[White “Ivanchuk Vassily (UKR)”]
[Black “Kramnik Vladimir (RUS)”]
[Round “8”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “B33”]
1. e4 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 Qc7 13. e5
dxe5 14. Bxe5 Ng4 15. Qf3 Nxe5 16. Qxa8 Nd7 17. g3
Nb6 18. Qf3 Bb7 19. Ne4 f5 20. Qh5+ Kf8 21. Nf2
Bf6 22. Bd3 Na4 23. Rhe1 Bxb2+ 24. Kb1 Bd5 25. Bxb5
Bxa2+ 26. Kxa2 axb5 27. Kb1 Qa5 28. Nd3 Ba3 29. Ka2
Nc3+ 30. Kb3 Nd5 31. Ka2 Bb4+ 32. Kb1 Bc3 0-1
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