Reply #10: Kramnik - Leko, Match, Brissago (Switzerland), 2004

[Jack Rabbit]

This was the final game of the 2004 World Championship Match. To retain his title, Kramnik needed a win over his opponent, Peter Leko, a player with a reputation for being especially hard to defeat.



Vladimir Kramnik
Photo: World Chess Trophy (Czech)

Vladimir Kramnik Vs. Peter Leko
Match for the World Title, Round 14
Brissago (Ticino Canton, Switzerland), October 2004

German Advance Game: Tal Attack (Caro-Kann Defense)

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. h4 h6 5. g4 Bd7

• Often played is 5. -- Be4 6. Nf3 Bxf3 7. Qxf3 e6 8. Bg2 Nd7

6. Nd2 c5 7. dxc5 e6 8. Nb3 Bxc5?!

The move is dubious in that it allows White to swap his semi-offside Knight at b3 for Black's more important "good" Bishop at c5.

Better is 8. -- Qc7 9. f4 Ba4 10. Be3 Nd7 11. Bg2 Nxc5 with equality.

9. Nxc5 Qa5+ 10. c3 Qxc5 11. Nf3

• White has a modest edge in space on the kingside.
• 11. Be3 Qc7 12. f4 Nc6 13. Bg2 f6 14. exf6 Nxf6 15. g5 also gives White more kingside space, but Black is compensated with better development.

11. -- Ne7 12. Bd3 Nbc6

• 12. -- Qc7 13. Bf4 Nbc6 14. Qd2 Ng6 15. Bxg6 fxg6 16. Nd4 0-0 gives Black an equal game.

13. Be3 Qa5 14. Qd2 Ng6 15. Bd4

• The game is level. White has more space. Black has a little bit better piece activity and better King safety.
• 15. Bf4 Qa4 16. Bxg6 fxg6 17. Nd4 0-0 18. b3 Qa5 is level.

15. -- Nxd4 16. cxd4 Qxd2+ 17. Kxd2 Nf4 18. Rac1

• The position is even. White has command of the c-file and Black has a well-placed Knight; if Black chooses, the Knight could be swapped for Black's active Bishop at d3.
• 18. Bc2 Rc8 19. Rac1 Ke7 20. a4 Rc6 21. Rhe1 Rhc8 gives Black a slight edge with control of the c-file.

18. -- h5 19. Rhg1

• White has the advantage with space on the kingside and center and with command of the c-file.
• If 19. gxh5 Bc6 20. Rhg1 Nxd3 21. Kxd3 then:
• 21. -- Kf8 22. Rg5
• 22. -- Rh7 23. Rcg1 Be8 24. R5g3 Rc8 is level.
• 22. -- f6 23. exf6 gxf6 24. Rg6 give White a small edge with the attack on the f-pawn the the opportunity to advance the h-pawn.
• 21. -- Rh7 22. Rg5 Ke7 23. Rcg1 Rg8 24. Ke3 gives White the advantage with more active Rooks.

19. -- Bc6 20. gxh5 Nxh5 21. b4

• White has central space and more active pieces.
• 21. Ke3 Kd7 22. Rc3 Rac8 23. Rgc1 g6 24. b4 gives White more space in the center and more active pieces.

21. -- a6 22. a4 Kd8 23. Ng5 Be8 24. b5 Nf4 25. b6 Nxd3 26. Kxd3 Rc8 27. Rxc8+ Kxc8 28. Rc1+

• White is in command of the c-file and maintains his central space. He is also expanding on the queenside.
• 28. Nf3 g6 29. Rc1+ Bc6 30. Ng5 Rxh4 31. Nxf7 Rh3+ gives Black a more active Rook than in the actual game; this position is approimately equal.

28. -- Bc6 29. Nxf7 Rxh4 30. Nd6+ Kd8 31. Rg1

• White has a slight advantage with active piece and a threat to invade Black's camp with his Rook.
• 31. a5 Rh3+ 32. Ke2 Ra3 33. Rg1 Ra2+ 34. Ke3 Rxa5 35. Rxg7 and White has a small plus after invading the seventh rank; he wins the b-pawn.

31. -- Rh3+ 32. Ke2 Ra3

• 32. -- Rh7 33. a5 Ke7 34. f4 then:
• 34. -- Kf8 35. f5 exf5 36. Nxf5 and White will bring his Knight to d6 and threaten to pawn at b7.
• 34. -- Kd8 35. f5 Ke7 36. Ke3 and White's spactial advantage is beginning to squeeze Black's position like a python.

33. Rxg7 Rxa4 34. f4

• White's winning plan is to advance his forces into Black's territory and push him off the board.
• 34. Nxb7+ Bxb7 35. Rxb7 Rxd4 36. Ra7 Rb4 37. Rxa6 Kc8 lets Black off the hook with a probable draw.

34. -- Ra2+?

• This just forces White to move his King up the board, which was part of his plan anyway. Now, he can realize it.
• Correct is 34. -- Rxd4 35. Rf7 Rb4 36. Rf8+ Ke7 37. Rf7+ Kd8; White is vitrually two pawns down and does best to force a draw by repition by checks check on f7 and f8.

35. Kf3 Ra3+ 36. Kg4

• 36. Kf2 Ra2+ 37. Kf3 Ra1 38. Nxb7+ Bxb7 39. Rxb7 +/-

36. -- Rd3 37. f5!

Black: Peter Leko
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White: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after 36. -- Ra3d3

37. f5!

• Going forward with his plan. Black is now helpless.


• 37. Rh7 Rxd4 38. Kg5 Rb4 39. f5 Rxb6 then:
• 40. fxe6! 40. -- Be8 41. Rh8 and White wins the Bishop.
• 40. f6 Rb1 41. Rh8+ and White has an easy win.

37. -- Rxd4+

• 37. -- Rd1 38. f6 Rxd4+ 39. Kg5 then:
• 39. -- Rd1 40. Kg6 Be8+ 41. Kh7 Rg1 42. Rxg1 +-
• 39. -- Ba4 40. Rc7 Bd7 and Whites forces mate: 41. Nxb7+ Ke8 42. Nd6+ Kd8 43. Nf7+ Ke8 44. b7 Kxf7 45. Rxd7+ Ke8 46. Re7+ Kd8 47. b8Q#

38. Kg5 exf5

• 38. -- Rd1 39. Kf6 Rf1 40. Kxe6 Rg1 41. Rc7 a5 42. Rc8#

39. Kf6 Rg4

• 39. -- Rh4 40. Nf7+ Kc8 41. Rg8+ Be8 42. Ke7 then:
• 42. -- d4 43. Rxe8#
• 42. -- Rh8 43. Nxh8 f4 44. Rxe8#

40. Rc7 Rh4 41. Nf7+ 1-0

• 41. Nf7+ Ke8 42. Rc8+ Kd7 43. Rd8#. Leko resigns.