[Event "WCh"]
[Site "Elista RUS"]
[Date "2006.09.23"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, V."]
[Black "Topalov, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "IM Malcolm Pein"]
[PlyCount "149"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 (4... Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O
c6 8. Bf4 b6 9. Nc3 Ba6 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Rc1 Nc6 12. Nxd5 Qxd5 13. Ne5 Nxd4
14. Bxd5 Nxe2+ 15. Qxe2 Bxe2 16. Bxa8 Rxa8 {And Kramnik ground out a technical
win against Topalov at Dortmund 2005, the last time they played} (16... Bxf1
17. Rc7 $1)) 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 a5 {
Something of a sideline which has been played by Grischuk and Efimenko.} 7. Qc2
{The calmest move which ensures the regain of the c4 pawn. Of the other moves;
7.0-0 is sound; 7.a3 wastes time; 7.Bxb4 doesn't seem right but has been
played, 7.Nc3 gambits a pawn for decent compensation and is not how Kramnik
wants to play against Topalov in game one. 7.Qc1 was played by Jan Gustafsson
against Efimenko and there is also 7.Na3!? when 7...Bxa3 8.bxa3 is also
reasonable compensation.} Bxd2+ (7... b6 8. Ne5 (8. Qxc4 Ba6 9. Qc2 O-O 10. Nc3
{Also looks quite good for White}) 8... Qxd4 9. Nxf7 Kxf7 10. Bxa8 {
Is probably better for White}) ({Trying to keep the pawn with} 7... b5 {
is risky because of} 8. a4 c6 (8... bxa4 9. Ne5 Ra6 10. Qxa4+ Bd7 11. Nxd7 $14
{Tkachiev-Moiseenko 2002}) 9. axb5 Bxd2+ 10. Nfxd2 $1 {and not}) (7... b5 8. a4
c6 9. axb5 cxb5 10. Bxb4 axb4) 8. Qxd2 (8. Nbxd2 {Is the main move but Black
can try and keep the pawn and as the most combative plan, Topalov might well
be attracted to it.} b5 9. a4 c6 10. b3 cxb3 11. Nxb3 {When White has at least
enough compensation but perhaps not a suitable line for the circumstances and
in any event Black has done quite well}) 8... c6 ({
Qxd2 looked odd because it moved the queen twice but the point is} 8... b5 9.
Qg5 $1) (8... Bd7 {going to c6 has been played and 8...b6 was played just once.
1/2-1/2 Wojtkiewicz,A (2554)-Gulko,B (2585)/San Diego USA 2006/The Week in
Chess 592 (31);}) 9. a4 b5 (9... O-O 10. Na3 Ne4 11. Qc2 Nd6 12. Nxc4 $14) (
9... Nbd7 10. Na3 Nb6 11. Ne5 $14) 10. axb5 cxb5 11. Qg5 {Regaining the pawn}
O-O (11... b4 12. Ne5 (12. Qxg7 Rg8 13. Qh6 Bb7 $13) 12... Ra7 13. Nxc4 O-O 14.
e3) 12. Qxb5 Ba6 ({TN} 12... Na6 13. Qxc4 Nb4 14. Qb3 {Did not give Moiseenko
enough compensation against Grischuk at Sochi 2006 TWIC 599. Black sacrificed
a second pawn now with 14...e5 but lost in 102 moves}) 13. Qa4 (13. Qxa5 Bb7 $1
14. Qxd8 Rxa1 15. Qxf8+ (15. Qb6 Rxb1+ 16. Kd2 c3+ $1 {
Is the sweet point of this home preparation} 17. Kxc3 Nd5+) 15... Kxf8 16. O-O
Ra2 17. Ne5 Ba6 18. Nc3 Rxb2 {Should be OK for Black}) 13... Qb6 14. O-O Qxb2
15. Nbd2 Bb5 (15... c3 $2 16. Rfb1) 16. Nxc4 Bxa4 17. Nxb2 {This is the kind
of position White aims for in the Catalan with a stable structure and a target
to aim at however with active play Black cuts across this plan} Bb5 18. Ne5 Ra7
19. Bf3 (19. Nbc4 $5 Nbd7 20. Nxa5 Nxe5 21. dxe5 Nd7 22. f4 Bxe2 {
would be tenable but unpleasant}) 19... Nbd7 20. Nec4 Rb8 21. Rfb1 g5 $1 {
A great move from Topalov, typically aggressive. Kramnik needs to play e2-e3
and Topalov has worked out he can exploit thef3square} 22. e3 (22. Rxa5 Rxa5
23. Nxa5 g4 24. Bg2 Bxe2 $15) 22... g4 23. Bd1 Bc6 $1 24. Rc1 (24. Nxa5 Be4 $1
25. Nac4 Rab7 $17) 24... Be4 25. Na4 Rb4 {With clever tactics Topalov has
covered his weakness on a5 and now he outplays Kramnik to an extent} 26. Nd6
Bf3 27. Bxf3 gxf3 28. Nc8 Ra8 29. Ne7+ Kg7 30. Nc6 Rb3 {The pawn on f3 is not
weak because it cannot be easily attacked and it forces White to worry about
f2 continually} 31. Nc5 Rb5 32. h3 {Making space for the king and if} (32. Na4
Ne4 {Not Rb3 repeating}) 32... Nxc5 33. Rxc5 Rb2 34. Rg5+ Kh6 35. Rgxa5 Rxa5
36. Nxa5 Ne4 37. Rf1 Nd2 38. Rc1 Ne4 {Needless to say Topalov does not want a
draw but this play for a win at all costs is not necessarily good tactics in a
match but of course at this stage Topalov can test Kramnik's resolve at no
risk.} 39. Rf1 f6 40. Nc6 Nd2 41. Rd1 Ne4 42. Rf1 Kg6 {Black has many
interesting ideas here with White completely passive. There are pawn breaks
and a serious possibility of trapping the white knight} 43. Nd8 $1 {Played afte
r a long thought. It is essential to tie one black piece down otherwise he
will have a completely freehand} Rb6 (43... e5 44. dxe5 fxe5 45. Nc6 Kf6 {
was another idea but why hurry ?}) 44. Rc1 h5 45. Ra1 (45. h4 $6 {
would invite the Black king in}) 45... h4 (45... e5) 46. gxh4 (46. g4 {
Kramnik wants to get Black pawns off the board but this entails some risk as
the Black kinggetscloser} e5 47. dxe5 fxe5 48. Ra2 $2 (48. Rc1) 48... Rb1+ 49.
Kh2 Rf1 {In all these lines the h4 pawn restricts the White king even more})
46... Kh5 47. Ra2 {Some progress for Kramnik because now with the rook
covering f2 from a more active spot the knight is unlikely to be snared} Kxh4
48. Kh2 Kh5 49. Rc2 Kh6 50. Ra2 Kg6 51. Rc2 Kf5 52. Ra2 Rb5 53. Nc6 Rb7 {
Introducing the threat of Rg7-g2} 54. Ra5+ (54. Rc2 $2 Rg7 55. d5 e5) 54... Kg6
(54... e5 55. Nxe5 $1) 55. Ra2 Kh5 56. d5 $1 (56. Ra5+ Kh4 $1 {
and Rb2 or Rg7 comes and Black is close to winning} 57. Ra8 Rb2 58. Rh8+ Kg5
59. Rg8+ Kh6 60. Kg1 Rb1+ 61. Kh2 Rf1 62. Rg4 f5 $1 63. Rxe4 (63. Rf4 Rxf2+ 64.
Kg1 Rg2+ 65. Kf1 Rc2 66. Ne5 Rc1#) 63... fxe4) 56... e5 (56... exd5 57. Nd4 Ng5
58. Kg3 {With serious winning chances}) (56... Rg7 {Perhaps this was the
intention but there seems to be a subtle technical win for Kramnik with knight
v rook} 57. dxe6 Rg2+ 58. Kh1 Nxf2+ (58... Ng3+ 59. fxg3 Rxa2 60. e7 Ra1+ 61.
Kh2 Ra2+ 62. Kg1 Ra8 63. Nd8 $18) 59. Rxf2 Rxf2 60. e7 Rf1+ 61. Kh2 Rf2+ 62.
Kg3 Rg2+ 63. Kxf3 Rg8 {
and now Nd4, e3-e4, Nd4-f5 and h3-h4 looks very promising} 64. Nd4 ({
The king march does not quite work} 64. Ke4 Kg6 65. Kd5 Kf7 66. Kd6 {
Threat Nd8+ to e6 and c7 but} Rg3 {draws after} 67. Kd7 Rxe3 68. Nd8+ Kg6 69.
e8=Q+ Rxe8 70. Kxe8 Kg5) 64... Kg6 65. e4 Kf7 66. Nf5 Rg1 {
Defending behind the h pawn does not seem to work} ({
The passive approach also loses} 66... Rh8 67. h4 Rb8 68. h5 Rh8 69. h6 Rg8 70.
Kf4 Rh8 71. Ke3 Rb8 72. Kd4 Ra8 73. h7 Rh8 74. Kd5 Rxh7 75. Kd6 Rh8 76. Kd7 $18
) 67. h4 Rh1 68. h5 Rh2 (68... Rxh5 69. e8=Q+ Kxe8 70. Ng7+) 69. h6 Rh1 (69...
Ra2 70. Kg4 Rh2 71. Nh4 $18) 70. Kg2 $18 {And the rook runs out of squares} Rh5
71. Ng7) 57. Ra4 f5 $4 {The question is what did Topalov miss or was it just
first game nerves? Its not the first time its happened} (57... Nxf2 {
Still draws after the nice line} 58. Kg3 (58. d6 Rb2 59. Rb4 Rd2 {
Leads to a lovely mate} 60. Kg3 Nh1+ 61. Kxf3 f5 62. Nxe5 Rf2#) 58... e4 $1 (
58... Nd3 59. Kxf3 f5 60. d6 Rd7 61. Ne7 Rxd6 62. Nxf5 Rf6 63. e4 {
Black should draw this}) 59. Kxf2 Rb2+ {
and the white king has to submit to perpetual as leaving the f3 pawn loses} 60.
Kf1 (60. Kg3 $2 Rg2+ 61. Kf4 f2 62. Ra1 Rg1) 60... Rb1+ 61. Kf2 Rb2+ 62. Ke1
Rb1+ 63. Kd2 $2 f2) 58. Nxe5 Rb2 59. Nd3 (59. Rxe4 {
Even this gets to knight and three v rook} fxe4 60. Kg3 Kg5 (60... Rd2 61. Kf4
Rxf2 62. Kxe4 Kh4 63. Nxf3+ Kxh3 64. d6 $18) 61. Nf7+ Kf6 62. Nd6 Rb4 63. Kf4)
59... Rb7 (59... Rd2 60. Rd4 $1 ({Not} 60. Ra3 Kh4 $11)) 60. Rd4 Rb6 61. d6 $1
{The simplest solution, giving the d pawn for the f pawn and emerging a clear
two pawns ahead with an active king} Nxd6 62. Kg3 Ne4+ 63. Kxf3 Kg5 64. h4+ Kf6
(64... Kxh4 65. Nc5 {Leads to a technically won R+P endgame}) 65. Rd5 Nc3 66.
Rd8 Rb1 67. Rf8+ Ke6 68. Nf4+ Ke5 69. Re8+ Kf6 70. Nh5+ Kg6 71. Ng3 Rb2 72. h5+
Kf7 73. Re5 Nd1 74. Ne2 Kf6 75. Rd5 (75. Rd5 Rxe2 76. Rd6+ Ke7 77. Kxe2) 1-0

[Event "WCh"]
[Site "Elista RUS"]
[Date "2006.09.24"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Topalov, V."]
[Black "Kramnik, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D19"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "IM Malcolm Pein"]
[PlyCount "126"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 (6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 Bb4
8. e4 Bxe4 {was formerly ventured by Kramnik with White but Black's resources
are thought to be more than adequate}) 6... e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O Nbd7 9. Qe2
Bg6 10. e4 O-O (10... Bxc3 11. bxc3 Nxe4 12. Ba3 {
Forces Black to castle queenside into the teeth of an attack}) 11. Bd3 Bh5 12.
e5 Nd5 13. Nxd5 cxd5 14. Qe3 Bg6 15. Ng5 Re8 16. f4 Bxd3 {TN} (16... Rc8 17. g4
$1 f6 18. Bxg6 (18. f5 $5) 18... hxg6 19. Nf3 $14 {
Pelletier-Deviatkin Moscow 2003 TWIC 433}) (16... Nf8 17. g4) 17. Qxd3 f5 {
trying to close the kingside} 18. Be3 (18. g4 $5 h6 $1 19. Nxe6 Rxe6 20. gxf5
Re7 $17) 18... Nf8 {Kramnik sets up a solid defence, the plans are clear,
White goes for g2-g4 and a kingside attack Black seeks chances on the c file
and if possible a queen exchange} 19. Kh1 Rc8 20. g4 $1 Qd7 (20... h6 21. Nxe6
Rxe6 22. gxf5 Rec6 23. Rg1 Kh8 24. Rg2 Nh7 25. Rag1 Bf8 26. Rg6 $1 {
with dangerous threats like f5-f6}) (20... fxg4 21. f5 $1 Be7 22. Nxe6 (22. f6
gxf6 23. exf6 Bxf6 24. Nf7 $5) 22... Nxe6 23. fxe6) 21. Rg1 Be7 22. Nf3 Rc4 23.
Rg2 $1 {Typical Topalov, us ordinary mortals would play b3 first and avoid
having to give up a pawn} fxg4 24. Rxg4 Rxa4 25. Rag1 g6 (25... Ng6 $2 26. h4
Bf8 27. Ng5 h6 28. h5 $1 {
Black's problem is that he would like to put both his minor pieces on f8}) 26.
h4 Rb4 (26... Bd8 27. h5 Re7 28. Nh4 Rg7 29. f5 $1 Bxh4 30. f6 {wins}) 27. h5
Qb5 {At this stage most people who were analysing with their computers and not
their brains thought Kramnik was clearly better but Topalov clearly had an
idea, and it is soon revealed} 28. Qc2 $1 Rxb2 {Rb3 is answered similarly} 29.
hxg6 $3 h5 (29... Rxc2 30. gxh7+ Kxh7 31. Rg7+ Kh6 32. f5+ Kh5 33. R7g3 $3 Ng6
34. Rxg6 Rh8 35. f6 $3 {mates}) 30. g7 $1 hxg4 (30... Nh7 31. Qg6 hxg4 32.
Qxe6+ Kxg7 33. Qxg4+ {wins}) 31. gxf8=Q+ Bxf8 $4 (31... Kxf8 32. Qh7 Qe2 33.
Qh8+ Kf7 34. Qh5+ Kf8 35. Qxg4 {and now the missable} Bg5 $1 {
keeps the game going} 36. Re1 $1 (36. fxg5 $2 Qxe3) 36... Qc2 37. fxg5 (37.
Qxg5 Re7) 37... Ke7 $1 {
heading for the hills and preparing Rh8+ this looks quite unclear}) 32. Qg6+ $4
{An incredible occurrence of mutual chess blindness, I wonder what Kasparov
must have thought of this} (32. Rxg4+ {Wins trivially after} Bg7 (32... Kf7 33.
Qg6+) (32... Kh8 33. Rh4+ Kg8 34. Qh7#) 33. Qc7 Qf1+ 34. Ng1 $1 $18 {
covers all the checks}) 32... Bg7 33. f5 $1 (33. Ng5 Re7) 33... Re7 (33... exf5
34. Bh6 Qd7 35. Ng5 {with a ferocious attack for example} Rb6 36. e6 Rexe6 37.
Qh7+ Kf8 38. Qh8+ Ke7 39. Qxg7+ Kd8 40. Nf7+ Kc8 41. Rc1+ Kb8 42. Bf4+ Ka8 43.
Nd6 Qxg7 $2 44. Rc8#) 34. f6 Qe2 35. Qxg4 Rf7 (35... Qxe3 36. fxe7 Qh6+ 37. Nh4
Kf7 38. Qxg7+ {wins}) 36. Rc1 $2 {Missing another win} (36. Qh5 $1 {
Calmly intending Bh6 or Rg3 followed by fxg7} Qxe3 (36... Rb3 37. Rxg7+ Rxg7
38. fxg7 Rb1+ 39. Bg1) 37. Ng5 Rc7 38. Qh7+ Kf8 39. Nxe6+ Kf7 40. Qxg7+ Kxe6
41. Qg4+ Kf7 42. Qg8#) 36... Rc2 $1 37. Rxc2 (37. Re1 $5 Qd3 38. Qh5) 37...
Qd1+ {In view of the coming endgame perhaps Qxc2 here was better} 38. Kg2 Qxc2+
39. Kg3 {Amazing, all three results were still possible} Qe4 {Kramnik will
always feel safer with queens off against Topalov, of course in this position
its imperative} 40. Bf4 $6 (40. Qxe4 $1 dxe4 41. Ng5 {Would have produced a
most obscure endgame. Giving up material for the pawns seems to lose in all
lines so 41...Bf8 and most likely 41...Rd7 are the best chances with the
latter possibly surviving} Bf8 (41... Bxf6 42. Nxf7 Kxf7 43. exf6 a5 44. Kf4 a4
(44... Kxf6 45. Bd2 a4 46. Bb4 e3 47. Kxe3 Kf5) 45. Bc1 {wins}) (41... Rxf6 42.
exf6 Bxf6 43. Nxe6 {wins}) (41... Bh6 42. Nxf7 Bxe3 43. Nd8 {is strong because}
Bxd4 44. f7+ Kf8 45. Nxe6+ Kxf7 46. Nxd4 {wins after} a5 47. Kf4 a4 48. Nb5 Ke7
49. Kxe4 {So we have to examine 41...Bf8}) (41... Bf8 42. Nxe6 a5 43. Ng5 Rc7
44. e6 a4 45. d5 a3 46. Bd4 Bd6+ 47. Kg4 {calmly crashing through, a rather
instructive illustration of the power of passed pawns}) (41... Rd7 42. fxg7 (
42. Nxe6 Bxf6 43. exf6) 42... Rxg7 43. Kf4 Rg6 44. Kxe4 a5 (44... b5 $5 {
Avoiding the fork on the long diagonal after promotion} 45. d5 exd5+ 46. Kxd5
b4 47. e6 b3 48. e7 Rxg5+ 49. Bxg5 $11) 45. d5 exd5+ 46. Kxd5 a4 47. e6 a3 48.
e7 Rxg5+ 49. Bxg5 Kf7 50. Kd6 a2 51. Bf6 Kxf6 52. e8=Q a1=Q 53. Qh8+) 42. Nxe6
a5 43. Ng5 {
My instincts were that Black should be doing well but Fritz uncorked} a4 44.
Nxf7 a3 45. e6 $3 a2 46. Nh6+ Bxh6 47. Bxh6 a1=Q 48. f7+ Kh7 49. f8=Q) 40...
Qf5 {Get those queens off but 40...a5!? deserved attention} 41. Qxf5 exf5 42.
Bg5 (42. fxg7 Rxg7+ 43. Kf2 a5 {And White is clearly struggling}) 42... a5 43.
Kf4 a4 44. Kxf5 a3 45. Bc1 Bf8 (45... a2 46. Bb2 Rc7 47. e6 Bf8 48. Ng5 $1 Rc2
$2 49. e7) 46. e6 Rc7 47. Bxa3 $1 {The struggle intensifies yet again Topalov
secures three connected passed pawns but Kramnik should win} ({Not} 47. e7 Bxe7
48. fxe7 Rxe7 49. Bxa3 Re3 $19) 47... Bxa3 48. Ke5 Rc1 49. Ng5 Rf1 (49... Rg1 {
forces the knight to an inferior square} 50. Nf7 b5 51. Kxd5 Rf1 52. Ke5 b4 {
wins}) 50. e7 Re1+ 51. Kxd5 Bxe7 52. fxe7 Rxe7 {The six piece computer
tablebases tell us this is a win but in practice with White's king near
Black's only pawn there are drawing chances} 53. Kd6 Re1 {
53...Re3 is the computer win} 54. d5 Kf8 55. Ne6+ (55. Kd7 {
keeping the Black king away draws according to the computer} b5 56. Ne6+ Kf7
57. Nd8+ Kf6 58. Nc6 Rb1 59. Kd6 $1 b4 60. Kc5 b3 61. Kc4 b2 62. Kc3) 55... Ke8
56. Nc7+ Kd8 57. Ne6+ Kc8 58. Ke7 Rh1 59. Ng5 (59. Kd6) 59... b5 60. d6 Rd1 61.
Ne6 b4 62. Nc5 Re1+ 63. Kf6 Re3 {2-0 to Kramnik, these games are starting to
remind me of Tal and Botvinnik albeit rather obliquely.} 0-1

[Event "WCh"]
[Site "Elista RUS"]
[Date "2006.09.26"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Kramnik, V."]
[Black "Topalov, V."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E02"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "IM Malcolm Pein and James Coleman"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]

1. d4 Nf6 {Topalov should not be too down-hearted he has after all had two
great positions in the match so far. However conventional match strategy
dictates that Kramnik should try and kick his man while he is down.} 2. c4 e6
3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Nc6 (5... Bb4+ 6. Bd2 a5 7. Qc2 {Game 1}) 6. Qa4 {
Kramnik undoubtedly wants to avoid messy lines where Black keeps the c4 pawn
and so Nc6-a5 has to be considered a potential threat. This rules it out.} Bd7
7. Qxc4 Na5 8. Qd3 (8. Qc2 {is not so good} Rc8 {
intending ...c5 and the Q is not well placed on c2.}) 8... c5 9. O-O Bc6 10.
Nc3 cxd4 11. Nxd4 {Following Tkachiev-Solozhenkin France 2000, note that there
was a Tkachiev game in the theory of the first game} Bc5 (11... Bxg2 12. Kxg2
Qd7 13. Rd1 Bc5 14. Bg5 $14 {the Na5 is poor and White is better developed})
12. Rd1 Bxg2 13. Qb5+ Nd7 14. Kxg2 a6 {Still following the aforementioned
Tkachiev game, which White won in 33 moves. Where will Topalov unleash an
improvement?} (14... O-O $4 {would of course be a disastrous blunder} 15. Nf3 {
wins the knight}) 15. Qd3 {If Black can solve the problem of his knight he
should be fine. What he wants to avoid is putting it back on c6 when it can be
captured leading to isolated queenside pawns} Rc8 {In the cold light of day 16.
Bg5 can be met by Be7 but it still looks like a small edge.} (15... Be7 16. Bf4
$1 $14 {Tkachiev-Solozhenkin in view of} e5 17. Nf5 exf4 18. Nxg7+ Kf8 19. Qxd7
) ({There is some concealed venom here in this Bg5 idea} 15... Rc8 16. Bg5 Be7
17. Ne4 Bxg5 18. Nd6+ Ke7 19. Nxc8+ Qxc8 20. Qa3+ $18) 16. Bg5 Be7 (16... Qxg5
17. Nxe6 $1 $16 Ne5 18. Nxg5 Nxd3 19. Rxd3) (16... Ne5 {
is an interesting idea which doesn't work:} 17. Bxd8 Nxd3 18. Bxa5 Nxb2 19.
Rdb1 Bxd4 20. Rxb2 b6 21. Bxb6 $1 Bxc3 22. Rc2 {and White wins.}) 17. Bxe7 {
More interesting was 17 Ne4 The immediate exchange on e7 seems to helpTopalov.}
(17. Ne4 Ne5 (17... Nc4 $1 18. Bxe7 Qxe7 19. b3 Nde5 20. Qb1 Na3 21. Qb2 O-O
22. Rac1 {and the knight still looks like a liability}) 18. Bxe7 Qxe7 (18...
Nxd3 19. Bxd8 Rxd8 20. Rxd3 $18) 19. Nf5 $1 Nxd3 20. Ned6+ Kf8 21. Nxe7 $16)
17... Qxe7 18. Rac1 Nc4 19. Na4 b5 (19... Nde5 20. Qe4 O-O 21. b3 f5 {
also seems better for White.}) 20. b3 O-O {
wisely accepting doubled a pawns in order to finish his development.} (20...
Ndb6 $4 {Simply 20...0-0 or 20...Nde5 are OK} 21. Nxb6 Nxb6 22. Rxc8+ Nxc8 23.
Nc6) 21. bxc4 bxa4 22. Nc6 Rxc6 23. Qxd7 {Kramnik has a safe edge, its not
altogether surprising he went for this he retains winning chances even after
23...Qc5, keeping the queens on Black is still OK maybe then Qb7 idea Rd7} Qc5
(23... Qxd7 24. Rxd7 Rfc8 25. Rb7 Kf8 (25... f6 26. Rb4 a3 27. Rc3 $14) 26. Rd1
R8c7 27. Rxc7 Rxc7 28. Rc1) 24. Rc3 {Preparing Rb1 and eyeing a3 should the a4
pawn go there also Rf3 may be useful one day} g6 25. Rb1 h5 26. Rb7 e5 {
Typically active defence he wants to play Rf6 attacking f2} 27. e4 {
Now Qd5 is a possibility} Rf6 28. Rc2 Qa3 {
Going for counterplay but freeing the c4 pawn and so a double edged move} 29.
Qd1 Rd6 {Now just Rd2 and Black must probably avoid exchanges} 30. Rd2 Rfd8 (
30... Rf6 31. Rc7 {intending c4-c5}) 31. Rd5 $1 {The benefits of 27.e4 come to
fruition. Black now looks to be teetering on the brink of a 3-0 deficit in the
match, which would surely be decisive, even at this early stage.} (31. Rb8 Rxd2
32. Rxd8+ Rxd8 33. Qxd8+ {may have been more testing.}) (31. Rxd6 Rxd6 32. Qc2
{was another alternative.}) 31... Rxd5 {#} 32. cxd5 (32. exd5 {with two passed
pawns was the more ambitious way to play, however with a clear lead in the
match Kramnik sees no reason to take even the slightest risk.}) 32... Qxa2 33.
Qf3 Rf8 34. Qd3 {Black has some hidden resources!} (34. Qf6 Qa1 $1 35. Qxa6 Qd4
$11) (34. Qc3 Qe2 35. Qxe5 a3 {looks double edged}) (34. Qd3 a3 35. Rb3 f5 $3
36. Rxa3 fxe4 $1 $17) 34... a3 35. Rb3 (35. Ra7) 35... f5 $3 {
# Probably forced but nevertheless good.} 36. Qxa6 (36. Rxa3 fxe4 (36... Qxf2+
37. Kxf2 fxe4+ 38. Ke3 exd3 39. Rxa6 {
is flashy but not the best use of the tactic.}) 37. Rxa2 exd3 {
and black is better.}) 36... Qxb3 37. Qxg6+ Kh8 38. Qh6+ Kg8 {
An impressive save from Topalov, he is on the scoreboard !} 1/2-1/2

[Event "WCh"]
[Site "Elista RUS"]
[Date "2006.09.27"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Topalov, V."]
[Black "Kramnik, V."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "IM Malcolm Pein"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 {At some point there was
going to have to be an examination of some sharp lines. Lets see what Topalov
has cooked up.} 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 Bb7 {
There are many alternatives here including 9.e4} 9. a3 b4 10. Ne4 Nxe4 11. Bxe4
bxa3 12. O-O Bd6 13. b3 Nf6 14. Nd2 $146 {
A remarkable novelty. At first sight Bxh2+ is possible} (14. Bd3 c5 15. dxc5
Bxc5 16. Bb5+ Ke7 17. Bxa3 Bxa3 18. Qxd8+ Rhxd8 19. Rxa3 a6 20. Bc4 Rd6 21.
Rfa1 Rb6 22. Nd4 Ne8 23. f3 Nd6 24. Bd3 e5 25. Nf5+ Nxf5 26. Bxf5 Rd8 27. Rc1
g6 28. Bb1 Rd2 29. Ra2 Rxa2 30. Bxa2 Bd5 31. Kf2 Be6 32. Rc7+ Kd6 33. Ra7 Bd5
34. Bb1 Kc5 35. Be4 Bxe4 36. fxe4 Rxb3 37. Rxf7 Kb4 38. Ra7 a5 39. Ke2 Rb2+ {
0-1 Pogorelov,R (2395)-Vera,R (2510)/Andorra la Vella 2006}) (14. Nd2 Nxe4 15.
Nxe4 Bxh2+ 16. Kxh2 Qh4+ 17. Kg1 Qxe4 18. f3 $1 Qg6 19. Bxa3 {would be suicidal
against a well prepared opponent, Kramnik cannot contemplate this.}) 14... Qc7
15. Bf3 (15. Bxa3 $5) 15... Bxh2+ 16. Kh1 {It seems that White will get good
compensation on the queenside for the pawn with pressure on the black squares
and a and c files. Black must retreat the bishop because of the threat of
g2-g3} Bd6 17. Nc4 Be7 (17... O-O $4 18. Nxd6 Qxd6 19. Bxa3) 18. Bxa3 O-O 19.
Bxe7 Qxe7 20. Ra5 {Preventing c6-c5 and preparing Qa1 possibly with Ne5 to
follow. Kramnik will have to work hard to avoid losing both queenside pawns.
Perhaps he should consider 20...c5 to get the bishops off} Rfd8 21. Kg1 {
The king was slightly vulnerable to a check on h1 but this shows Topalov
believes he has plenty of time.} c5 {In the long run Black could not cover
both a7 and c6 now there will be a piece exchange and the Qe7 will be able to
defend a7. This looks like a good practical decision. Kramnik is 30 minutes
down on the clock. 87 minutes to 57 but there is no hint of time trouble} 22.
Rxc5 Ne4 (22... Bxf3 23. Qxf3 Nd5 24. Ra1 {
with good control and chances to play e3-e4, e4-e5 and Nc4-d6}) 23. Bxe4 Bxe4
24. Qg4 {It looks distinctly possible that it will be Kramnik's turn to defend
an inferior heavy piece endgame with rooks and queens} Bd3 25. Ra1 Rac8 26.
Raa5 Rb8 27. Qd1 {Now Bxc4 bxc4 would give White a dream structure and enable
him to preaaure a7 and advance the c pawn. Be4 -d5 looks sound enough now and
if White plays e3-e4 then Black might get play against d4} Be4 28. Qa1 Rb7 29.
Nd2 Bg6 30. Qc3 h6 31. Ra6 Kh7 32. Nc4 Be4 33. f3 Bd5 {White is still slightly
better and Black has to be slightly careful he does not run out of squares for
his bishop} 34. Nd2 Rdb8 35. Qd3+ (35. Ra3 Qh4 36. e4 Qe1+ $11) 35... f5 {
Topalov has provoked a weakness if} (35... Kg8 36. e4 Bxb3 37. Rc3 Qh4 38. Ra1
{Stopping the checks and winning the bishop}) 36. Rc3 Qh4 37. Ra1 Qg3 38. Qc2
Rf7 {Anticipating e3-e4; Black is holding} 39. Rf1 Qg6 40. Qd3 Qg3 41. Rfc1
Rfb7 42. Qc2 Qg5 43. Ra1 Qf6 {Very patient defence continually hampering
White's possible advances b3-b4 and e3-e4} 44. Qd3 Rd7 45. Ra4 Rbd8 46. Rc5 Kg8
47. Nc4 Bxc4 48. Raxc4 {Famous last words but I cannot see Kramnik losing this,
the engines want 48...f4 starting to exchange pawns} (48. Qxc4 {
has been suggested as a better chance for white here [MC].}) 48... f4 49. Rc6
fxe3 50. Qxe3 Rxd4 51. Rxe6 Qh4 52. Rxd4 Qxd4 53. Re8+ Kh7 54. Qxd4 {A great re
sult for Kramnik who was faced with a good novelty from Topalov and while he
did not succeed in defusing it totally he never looked in serious trouble.}
1/2-1/2

[Event "WCh"]
[Site "Elista RUS"]
[Date "2006.09.29"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kramnik, V."]
[Black "Topalov, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]

 0-1

[Event "WCh"]
[Site "Elista RUS"]
[Date "2006.10.02"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Topalov, V."]
[Black "Kramnik, V."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Malcolm Pein"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 {A tacit admission
that he did not have an opening advantage in game 2 although he did have a
winning position} e6 7. f3 {The sharpest line just trying to push Black off
the board. Kramnik had a lot of success with this as white earlier in his
career.} c5 {Avoiding the argument! this is a sideline. The main line is} (7...
Bb4 8. e4 Bxe4 9. fxe4 Nxe4 10. Bd2 Qxd4 11. Nxe4 Qxe4+ 12. Qe2 Bxd2+ 13. Kxd2
Qd5+ 14. Kc2 Na6 {which is terribly dangerous for White but not necessarily
bad for him and ideal for Topalov's needs in this match.}) 8. e4 {White hopes
he will shut this bishop out of the game and gain the advantage. Getting it
back with f7-f5 weakens Black's structure but at the cost of a couple of tempi
he can play f7-f6 and Bg6-f7 if there is time later. Black has some
compensation for the badly placed bishop in White's weakened b3 and b4 squares}
Bg6 9. Be3 cxd4 10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. Bxd4 Nfd7 $1 {
The b8 knight must come to c6 or be ready to go to a6 in case White plays Nb5}
12. Nxd7 (12. Nxc4 Nc6 13. Be3 Bc5 14. Kf2 Ke7 15. h4 f6 16. h5 Bf7 17. Rd1
Bxe3+ 18. Nxe3 Rhd8 19. h6 g5 20. Bb5 Nde5 21. Nc4 Nxc4 22. Bxc4 Rxd1 23. Rxd1
Rd8 24. Rxd8 Nxd8 25. e5 f5 26. Nb5 Nc6 27. Be2 Be8 28. b3 Nxe5 29. Nxa7 Nf7
30. a5 Nxh6 31. b4 Nf7 32. Nc8+ Kd8 33. Nb6 Nd6 34. Nc4 Nxc4 35. Bxc4 Bd7 36.
Bd3 e5 37. g4 fxg4 38. Bxh7 gxf3 39. Kxf3 Kc7 40. Bd3 Kd6 41. b5 Kc5 42. a6
bxa6 43. bxa6 Kd4 44. Bf1 e4+ 45. Kg3 {
1/2-1/2 Nielsen,P (2644)-Hracek,Z (2595)/Hamburg GER 2006/The Week in Chess 589
}) 12... Nxd7 13. Bxc4 a6 (13... Rc8 14. Ba2 (14. Bb5 $5 a6 15. Bxd7+ Kxd7 16.
Ke2 Rg8 (16... Bc5 17. Bxg7) 17. Rhd1 Ke8 18. Bb6 $14) 14... a6 15. Ke2 Nb8 16.
Rhd1 Nc6 17. Bb6 Bb4 18. Rd2 Ke7 19. Rad1 Nb8 $1 20. Bf2 f6 (20... Rhd8 21.
Bh4+ f6 22. Rxd8 Rxd8 23. Rxd8 Kxd8 24. Bxe6) (20... Rc6) 21. Bg3 Be8 22. Rd4
a5 23. Bd6+ Bxd6 24. Rxd6 Bd7 25. Ke3 Rc6 26. R6d4 Rhc8 27. R1d2 Be8 28. Nb5
Bf7 29. Na7 e5 30. Nxc6+ bxc6 31. R4d3 Bxa2 32. b3 Na6 33. Rd7+ Ke8 34. Ra7 Nb4
35. Rxa5 Bxb3 36. Rb2 Nc2+ 37. Kd2 Nd4 38. Ra7 c5 39. Rxg7 Ra8 40. Kc3 Rxa4 41.
Rxb3 Nxb3 42. Kxb3 Rb4+ 43. Kc3 h5 44. Rh7 Ra4 45. Rxh5 Ra2 46. Rf5 Ke7 47. g4
Rxh2 48. g5 fxg5 49. Rxe5+ Kf6 50. Rxc5 Rh3 51. Rf5+ Ke6 52. Kc4 Rg3 53. Kd4
Rh3 54. Re5+ Kf6 55. Rf5+ Ke6 56. Rxg5 Rxf3 57. Rg6+ Kf7 58. Ra6 Rf1 59. Ke5
Rb1 60. Kf5 Rf1+ {1/2-1/2 Cramling,P (2504)-Smyslov,V (2485)/Marbella ESP 1999}
) 14. Ke2 Rg8 {A typical Kramnik line, there is no doubt White is slightly
better but Black can slowly equalise. This prepares Bc5 with more exchanges
possibly} 15. Rhd1 Rc8 16. b3 (16. Ba2) 16... Bc5 17. a5 Ke7 18. Na4 Bb4 $1 {
Interesting decision, This attacks a5 and invites a swap on knights and not
bishops. In the long run Black needs to be able to contest the d-file.} 19. Nb6
Nxb6 20. Bxb6 f6 (20... Bc5 21. Bxc5+ Rxc5 {Should gradually equalise but
Black has slight concerns as his only minor piece remaining is still poor and
the queenside pawns fixed on white squares}) 21. Rd3 Rc6 22. h4 Rgc8 23. g4 {
Not very threatening, Black has Be8 in reserve if White doubles on the d file}
Bc5 24. Rad1 Bxb6 (24... Be8 25. Bd8+ Kf8 26. f4) (24... Rd6 25. Bxc5 $18) 25.
Rd7+ Kf8 26. axb6 Rxb6 27. R1d6 Rxd6 28. Rxd6 Rc6 (28... e5 29. Rb6 Rc7 30. Bd5
Bf7 31. Bxb7 a5 $11 32. Kd3 Rd7+ 33. Kc3 Ke7 {Maybe White can try and press
here but it does not look like much however Kramnik's move is much simpler})
29. Rxc6 bxc6 30. b4 (30. Bxe6 a5 31. Kd3 Ke7 32. Bc4 Kd6 $11) 30... e5 31.
Bxa6 {Both a practical success and moral victory for Kramnik whom many
forecast might collapse today} 1/2-1/2

[Event "WCh"]
[Site "Elista RUS"]
[Date "2006.10.04"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Topalov, V."]
[Black "Kramnik, V."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D27"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Malcolm Pein"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bd3 dxc4 6. Bxc4 c5 7. O-O a6 8. Bb3
cxd4 9. exd4 Nc6 10. Nc3 Be7 11. Re1 O-O 12. a4 {Unusual More often seen is 12.
Re1 though it appears Black is doing fine here also. White also plays a2-a3
here to stop Nb4 and allow the manouevre Bc2 and Qd3} (12. Bf4 Na5 13. d5 Nxb3
14. Qxb3 exd5 (14... Nxd5 15. Rad1 Nxf4 16. Rxd8 Rxd8 17. Rd1 Nd5 18. Ne5 Bf6
19. Nc4 Rb8 $1 {Kramnik-Kasparov, Moscow 2001 (Blitz) Black won}) 15. Rad1 Be6
16. Qxb7 Bd6 17. Bg5 Rb8 18. Qxa6 Rxb2 19. Bxf6 Qxf6 20. Qxd6 Qxc3 $11 {
This was played as Black by Kasparov in 2003. Rather ironically, his opponent
was the computer program X3D Fritz.}) 12... Bd7 (12... b6 {The most solid, if}
13. d5 exd5 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. Bxd5 Bb7 $14) 13. Ne5 (13. d5 exd5 14. Nxd5 Nxd5
15. Bxd5 Bf5 {would soon equalise}) 13... Be8 {
Black prepares for the standard attack on his king and attacks d4} 14. Be3 {
Not as aggressive as on f4 but the pawn must be defended} Rc8 (14... Nxe5 15.
dxe5 Qxd1 16. Bxd1 Nd7 17. Bf3 $1 $14) 15. Rc1 Nb4 {
Standard procedure to control the important square in front of the IQP} 16. Qf3
{A typical plan, heading for g3 or h3. It also attacks d5 and now Nfd5 or Nbd5
would lose a pawn so maybe Bc6 now and if Nxc6 bxc6 is a typical idea
preventing d4-d5 forever} Bc6 17. Qh3 (17. Nxc6 bxc6 {Is very solid for Black,
White will never play d4-d5 and will find it hard to attack}) 17... Bd5 18.
Nxd5 {Topalov is bashing his moves out an incredible rate} Nbxd5 19. Rcd1 {
Topalov always keeps pieces on where he can} Rc7 20. Bg5 Qc8 21. Qf3 (21. Bxf6
Nxf6 22. Nxf7 $1 $16) (21. Bxf6 Bxf6 22. Bxd5 exd5 23. Qf3 Rd8 {Holding}) 21...
Rd8 {Black is quite comfortable the only weak point is f7} 22. h4 h6 23. Bc1 {
In trying to keep the game complex Topalov is taking a slight risk Bxf6 would
lead to equality} Bb4 24. Rf1 Bd6 25. g3 (25. g4 $5 Nc3 (25... Bxe5 26. dxe5
Nd7 27. Qg3 (27. Bf4 Nxf4 28. Qxf4 Rc5 $11) 27... Nc3 28. Rde1 Rc5 29. Bc2 Na2
$1) 26. Rde1 $1 Ncd5 27. g5 $16) 25... b6 26. Qe2 Ne7 {
Aiming for knights on d5 and f5 a la Karpov} 27. Rfe1 Bxe5 28. dxe5 (28. Qxe5
Nc6 {wins the d4 pawn}) 28... Rxd1 29. Qxd1 Nfd5 30. Bd2 Rc5 31. Qg4 Nf5 {
Black is solid} 32. Qe4 b5 {but he cannot just sit there} 33. h5 bxa4 34. Qxa4
Rb5 35. Rc1 Qb7 36. Bc2 (36. Bxd5 Qxd5 37. Bc3 {Would be fine for Black,
Topalov is prepared to keep the bishops particularly the white squared one at
the cost of a pawn.}) 36... Nb6 37. Qg4 Rxb2 38. Be4 $6 (38. Bc3 Rb5 (38... Nd5
$5 39. Bxb2 Qxb2 40. Qd1 Qxe5 41. Bd3 {is += because the a pawn will fall} Nxg3
42. Rc8#) 39. Bxf5 exf5 40. Qxf5 a5 (40... Qd7 41. Qxd7 Nxd7 42. f4) 41. Bd4
Nc4 $1 {White's back row is also exposed} 42. Qg4 $2 (42. g4 $5) 42... Nxe5 43.
Rc8+ Kh7 44. Qf5+ g6 $1 {wins} 45. Bxe5 Rb1+ 46. Qxb1 Qxb1+ 47. Kh2 gxh5) 38...
Qd7 39. Be1 Nd5 {Kramnik had about 2 minutes per move for the last 18 but he
has handled the position superbly, all the winning chances are with black} 40.
Bd3 Nb4 41. Bf1 Nd3 42. Qd1 {White must keep the bishop pair} ({After} 42. Bxd3
Qxd3 {Black would be a pawn up for nothing}) 42... Nxe5 43. Qxd7 Nxd7 44. Rc8+
Kh7 (44... Kh7 45. Rc7 Nf6 46. Bxa6 (46. Rxf7 Rb1 47. Bc3 Ne4 48. Rc7 Nxc3 49.
Rxc3) 46... Rb1 47. Kf1 Nd5 48. Rxf7 Nb4 49. Rb7 Rxe1+ 50. Kxe1 Nxa6 51. Rb6
Nc5 52. Rc6 Nd3+ {with winning chances is one possibility now Topalov must be
a bit fed up, Kramnik has been rock solid}) 45. Rc7 Rb1 46. Rxd7 Rxe1 47. Rxf7
a5 {The danger on the b1-d3 diagonal gives White considerable counterplay and
the h5 pawn hems in the white king} 48. Kg2 (48. Ra7 Kg8 (48... Re5 49. g4 Nd6
50. Bd3+ Kg8 51. f4 Rd5 52. Bc2 Rd4 53. Bb3 Rxf4 54. Bxe6+ Kf8 55. Rxa5 $11))
48... Kg8 49. Ra7 Re5 50. g4 Nd6 51. Bd3 Kf8 {White has enough activity to
hold but he has to watch out for e6-e5-e4. by playing Bg6 then Ra8-g8 he might
force a draw because of the threats to g7} 52. Bg6 Rd5 53. f3 {Just holding,
playing f4 would invited a favourable exchange of pawns for black after e6-e5}
e5 54. Kf2 Rd2+ 55. Ke1 (55. Ke3 Nc4+ 56. Ke4 $11) 55... Rd5 56. Ke2 Rb5 57.
Rd7 Rd5 {The second implicit draw offer if 58.Be4 Nxe4! wins} 58. Ra7 Rb5 59.
Bd3 Rd5 60. Bg6 1/2-1/2

[Event "WCh"]
[Site "Elista RUS"]
[Date "2006.10.05"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kramnik, V."]
[Black "Topalov, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "IM Malcolm Pein"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 {
So this is Topalov's surprise, its a line Kramnik also plays with Black} 8. Be2
Bb7 9. O-O b4 10. Na4 c5 $5 {
Sharper than the standard 10... Be7 Topalov's pre-match preparation emerges.}
11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. Bb5+ Ncd7 13. Ne5 Qc7 14. Qd4 (14. Nxd7 Nxd7 15. e4 (15. b3
Bd6 16. Bb2 Rd8 17. h3 O-O 18. Rc1 Qb8 19. Bxd7 Rxd7 20. Qg4 f5 21. Qg5 Qd8 22.
Qxd8 Rfxd8 23. Nc5 Bxc5 24. Rxc5 Rd2 25. Bd4 Rd7 26. Rfc1 Rxa2 27. Rc7 Rxc7 28.
Rxc7 Bd5 29. Rxg7+ Kf8 30. Rxa7 Rxa7 31. Bxa7 Bxb3 32. Bc5+ Kf7 33. Bxb4 Bd5
34. f3 {1/2-1/2 Taborska,V-Hasek,V (2154)/Czechia 1999}) 15... Rd8 16. Bg5 f6
17. Be3 Qe5 18. Qe2 Bd6 19. f4 Qxe4 20. Rad1 a6 21. Bc4 Bb8 22. f5 Qe5 23. Qh5+
g6 24. Qh3 Bxg2 25. Qxg2 Qxe3+ 26. Kh1 Ne5 27. Rxd8+ Kxd8 28. Qb7 Bd6 29. fxe6
f5 30. e7+ Ke8 31. Qc8+ Kxe7 32. Qe6+ Kf8 33. Qf6+ Ke8 34. Qxh8+ Kd7 35. Qxh7+
Kc6 36. Qg8 Qe4+ 37. Kg1 Qg4+ {
1/2-1/2 Shinkevich,V (2440)-Somkin,E (2309)/Bor 2000/EXT 2001}) 14... Rd8 $1 (
14... Bd6 15. Nxd7 Nxd7 16. Rd1 Ke7 17. Bxd7 Rad8 18. Bd2 Rxd7 19. Bxb4 Rhd8
20. Rac1 Qb8 21. Nc3 f6 22. Bxd6+ Rxd6 23. Qc5 Kf7 24. Rxd6 Qxd6 25. Qxd6 Rxd6
26. Rd1 Ke7 27. Rxd6 Kxd6 28. f3 Kc5 29. Kf2 Ba6 30. Ke1 Bd3 31. Kd2 Bg6 32.
Ne2 Bb1 33. Nc3 Bg6 34. Ne2 Kc4 35. Nd4 Bf7 36. b3+ Kb4 37. Nc2+ Kc5 38. a4 a5
39. Kc3 e5 40. Na3 Be6 41. Nc2 Bc8 42. b4+ axb4+ 43. Nxb4 Kb6 44. Nd3 Ba6 45.
g3 Bb7 46. f4 exf4 47. Nxf4 Kc5 48. Ne6+ Kd5 49. Nxg7 Bc6 50. a5 Ke4 51. Nh5 f5
52. Kd2 Kf3 53. Ng7 Kg2 54. Nxf5 Kxh2 55. Kd3 Kh3 56. Kd4 Kg4 57. e4 Kf3 58. e5
Kg4 59. Kc5 {1-0 Avdeenko,V-Novikov,I (2370)/Rostov on Don 1980}) (14... Rd8)
15. Bd2 ({White may have gained a tempo with Bb5+ but his Na4 is very bad and
taking on a7 would not be advisable after} 15. Qxa7 Bd6 16. f4 O-O {
when the White queen and knight are both badly placed.}) 15... Qa5 $146 (15...
a6 16. Rfc1 Qa5 17. Bc6 Bxc6 18. Nxc6 Qxa4 19. Nxd8 Kxd8 20. a3 Qb5 21. axb4
Nd5 22. Ra5 Qb6 23. Qc4 Nc7 24. Bc3 f6 25. Bd4 Qb7 26. b5 Nxb5 27. Qxe6 Nxd4
28. exd4 Bb4 29. Rxa6 Re8 30. Qa2 Bd2 31. Rf1 Bf4 32. g3 Bb8 33. Re6 Rxe6 34.
Qxe6 Qxb2 35. Qg8+ Kc7 36. Qxg7 Ba7 37. Qxh7 Bxd4 38. Qf5 Qd2 39. h4 Nc5 40.
Qh7+ Kd6 41. Qh5 Ne4 42. Qf3 Ke5 {
1/2-1/2 Cvetkovic,S-Bagirov,V/Vrnjacka Banja 1974}) 16. Bc6 Be7 $1 {
This is the idea} 17. Rfc1 {We are going to get a material imbalance so
Topalov must be pleased and he was moving fast as usual} (17. Bxb7 Nxe5 {
wins as a4 and d2 hang}) 17... Bxc6 18. Nxc6 Qxa4 19. Nxd8 (19. Nxe7 {
was extremely risky but both Kramnik and Topalov seemed to suggest this could
be played.}) 19... Bxd8 20. Qxb4 {Of course Kramnik gets the queens off but
Black can probably unravel. Either way we are} (20. Bxb4 a5 21. Bc5 Qxd4 22.
Bxd4 e5 23. Bc3 Bb6 {looks very comfortable for Black}) 20... Qxb4 21. Bxb4 Nd5
$1 {After the game Kramnik said he'd missed this move and black's next when
committing to this variation.} 22. Bd6 f5 {to play Kf7 and gradually get the
rook into play. In the absence of any obvious targets for the white rooks and
no imminent passed pawn Black must be OK.} 23. Rc8 N5b6 24. Rc6 Be7 (24... Bf6
25. Rac1 Bxb2 26. Rc8+ Kf7 27. Rxh8 Bxc1 28. Rxh7 {
Looks good for Black, a2 may be loose}) 25. Rd1 Kf7 26. Rc7 {Kramnik succeeds
in preventing any activity for the moment. It was interesting to note while
watching this game online how the stronger the spectator the more they liked
Black's long term chances because any change in the pawn structure on the
kingside tends to create better squares for the Black knights.} (26. Bxe7 Kxe7
27. Rdd6 Nb8 28. Rxe6+ Kf7 $1 29. Rxb6 axb6 30. Rxb6 {
was suggested by Kramnik as offering decent drawing chances for white.}) 26...
Ra8 $1 {Keeping rooks on.} 27. Rb7 Ke8 28. Bxe7 Kxe7 29. Rc1 (29. f3) 29... a5
30. Rc6 Nd5 {Black has totally unravelled and can look to expand on the
kingside. Kramnik has been unable to find an active plan. Perhaps he should
have centralised his king quicker.} 31. h4 h6 32. a4 {Fixing the a5 pawn but
making the a pawn slightly more vulnerable. At some point the black rook might
leave a8 to get active and then this pawn is one move closer topromotion} g5 $1
{
A far sighted plan, Black gains space and prepares to move his knights forward.
} 33. hxg5 hxg5 34. Kf1 {Ke2 and f2-f3 is a plan} g4 {
Now f3 can be met by g3 and a Black knight might usefully come to e4} 35. Ke2
N5f6 36. b3 Ne8 $1 {Coming to d6 and forcing a white rook off the b file.} 37.
f3 $2 (37. Rc1 Nd6 38. Rbc7 Ne4) 37... g3 $1 {Of course Topalov wants to keep
pawns on but this pawn may provoke a crisis, in order to attack it Kramnik
must make a concession elsewhere for example by removing the Rc6 from the
queenside. Then the black king couldroam} 38. Rc1 Nef6 39. f4 {To attack the
pawn but White is getting stretched here. Black can unpin the Nd7 and play Ne4.
If he could get knights on e4 and d5 a 'levelling' of the score would be on
the cards} Kd6 40. Kf3 Nd5 $1 {Black has another active possibility e6-e5} 41.
Kxg3 $2 {This seems to be very very bad after Nc5 see the following line} (41.
Rb5 e5 42. Kxg3 Nxe3 43. fxe5+ Nxe5 44. Rh1 Rg8+ {White could get mated if he
is not careful but Kramnik is pretty careful most of the time} 45. Kf4 Nxg2+
46. Kxf5) 41... Nc5 $1 {Suddenly its over the knights spring into action.} 42.
Rg7 (42. Rb5 Ne4+ 43. Kf3 Rg8 44. Rxa5 Rg3+ 45. Ke2 Rxe3+ 46. Kf1 Rxb3) 42...
Rb8 43. Ra7 Rg8+ 44. Kf3 Ne4 45. Ra6+ Ke7 46. Rxa5 Rg3+ {
Two rooks and a knight can deliver mate.} 47. Ke2 Rxe3+ 48. Kf1 Rxb3 49. Ra7+
Kf6 50. Ra8 Nxf4 51. Ra1 Rb2 52. a5 Rf2+ 0-1

[Event "WCh"]
[Site "Elista RUS"]
[Date "2006.10.07"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Topalov, V."]
[Black "Kramnik, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "IM Malcolm Pein and Mark Crowther"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 {
A solid line, Black gets a lead in development and White the bishop pair plus
space. Black must attack the centre at some pointwithc6-c5ore6-e5} 8. a3 Nbd7
9. g3 (9. h3 Be7 10. Bd3 O-O 11. O-O e5 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Bb1 Rc8
15. Ba2 Nc4 16. Qd3 Qd7 17. Rd1 Rfd8 18. e4 dxe4 19. Qxd7 Rxd7 20. Rxd7 Nxd7
21. Nxe4 b5 22. Bg5 Bxg5 23. Nxg5 a5 24. Re1 Kf8 25. Nh7+ Kg8 26. Ng5 Kf8 27.
Nh7+ Kg8 28. Re7 Kxh7 29. Rxd7 f6 30. a4 Ne5 31. Rd4 g5 32. axb5 Kh6 33. Bb3
Rb8 34. Ba4 Rb6 35. Kf1 Nf7 36. Rc4 Ne5 37. Rc8 g6 38. Rc7 Re6 39. Bb3 Rb6 40.
g4 {1-0 Finegold,B (2539)-Zaremba,A (2342)/Philadelphia 2003/EXT 2004}) 9...
Be7 10. f4 $1 {The first real novelty. Topalov told a press conference
afterwards that this was an idea of one of his seconds, Francisco Vallejo.
Kramnik in his seperate conference said: "It is difficult to play well in
positions such as the one I got today. Topalov's novelty turned very strong -
at least for one game. I didn't manage to find adequate response to it."} dxc4
(10... Ne4 11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. Qc2 f5 13. Bd2 {or}) (10... Qc7 11. c5 b6 12. b4
a5 13. Bd2 {and White has space both look preferable.}) 11. Bxc4 O-O 12. e4 b5
$6 {Both players criticised this move after the game.} (12... Nb6 {
was almost certainly a better idea.}) 13. Be2 b4 {
Trying to create counterplay but ruining his pawn structure} 14. axb4 Bxb4 15.
Bf3 Qb6 $2 {Almost universally condemned by commentators.} (15... c5 16. e5 {
Kramnik said he didn't like this move.} cxd4 $1 {with many complications.}) 16.
O-O e5 $6 {This was Kramnik's idea he uses pins on b6-g1 and d8-d1. It was
still not too late to back out with} (16... Rfd8 17. Be3 c5 {
and although white is better he's nothing like as good as he is in the game.})
17. Be3 Rad8 {Kramnik was as good as dead in this position, certainly
psychologically. He admitted in his press conference afterwards: "After the
opening, I continued resisting because it was inconvenient for me to resign
that early, but the game was basically decided by move 17. One could play
brilliantly afterwards, but it wouldn't change anything. So far my openings
are disastrous. It is easy to play good in good positions, and vice versa. If
I manage solving my opening problems, everything should be different."} (17...
exd4 18. Na4 $1) 18. Na4 Qb8 (18... Qb5 19. Qc2 exd4 20. Bxd4 c5 21. Nc3 Qb6
22. Bf2 a5 23. e5 $1) 19. Qc2 $1 {Not} (19. fxe5 Nxe5 {
and Black play c6-c5 with some play due to the strong Ne5.}) 19... exf4 {
This doesn't look all that great either.} 20. Bxf4 Qb7 21. Rad1 Rfe8 22. Bg5
Be7 23. Kh1 Nh7 24. Be3 Bg5 25. Bg1 $1 {
Black has no space White avoids exchanges} Nhf8 26. h4 Be7 27. e5 Nb8 28. Nc3
Bb4 29. Qg2 Qc8 30. Rc1 Bxc3 $2 {With 15 minutes for 11 moves Kramnik cracks}
31. bxc3 Ne6 32. Bg4 Qc7 33. Rcd1 Nd7 34. Qa2 {f7 is horribly weak} Nb6 35. Rf3
Nf8 $2 {Blunder but} (35... Nd5 36. Rdf1 Rd7 37. c4 Nb6 {and}) (35... c5 36. d5
{are both weak.}) 36. Rdf1 $1 Re7 37. Be3 {Threat Bg5.} Nh7 38. Rxf7 $1 Nd5 (
38... Rxf7 39. Rxf7 Qxf7 40. Be6) 39. R7f3 (39. Be6 {also wins out of hand.}) (
39. R7f3 Kh8 40. Bg5 Nxg5 41. hxg5 {
intending Qh2+ 42... Kh8 43.Qc2 and takes on g6.}) 1-0

[Event "WCh"]
[Site "Elista RUS"]
[Date "2006.10.08"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, V."]
[Black "Topalov, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E08"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "IM Malcolm Pein and Mark Crowther"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Bf4
Nbd7 9. Qc2 a5 $5 {Again a wrinkle off the main line. 9...b6 and 9...Nh5 are
the normal moves but this may well lead to the lines where Black plays b5 and
a5} 10. Rd1 Nh5 11. Bc1 b5 (11... b6 12. Nbd2 Ba6 13. e4 Nhf6 14. e5 Ne8) 12.
cxd5 (12. c5 f5 {Gives Black a reasonable Stonewall Dutch where White has no
automatic play on the queenside now it is blocked} 13. Nc3 g5 14. a3 Bf6 15.
Qd2 h6 16. h4 g4 17. Qxh6 gxf3 18. Qxh5 fxg2 19. Qg6+ Kh8 20. Qh6+ Kg8 21. Qg6+
{1/2-1/2 Rahman,Z (2542)-Ghaem Maghami,E (2500)/Doha 2003/CBM 94}) 12... cxd5
13. e4 $1 {The optimal time when the Ra8 and Nh5 are loose but} (13. Ne5 {
was interesting} Bb7 14. Nc6 Bxc6 15. Qxc6 Rb8 16. e4) 13... dxe4 (13... Nhf6
14. Ng5 $5 (14. e5 Ne4 15. Ne1 $1 {is just good}) 14... dxe4 15. Bxe4 (15. Nxh7
$5) 15... Nxe4 16. Qxe4 Bxg5 17. Qxa8 Qc7 18. Bxg5 Bb7 19. Qa7 Ra8 20. Bf4 Qc8
21. Rc1 Qxc1+ 22. Bxc1 Rxa7) 14. Qxe4 Rb8 15. Qe2 Nhf6 16. Bf4 $14 Rb6 17. Ne5
Nd5 (17... Bb7 18. Bxb7 Rxb7 19. Nc6 Qe8 20. Nxa5) 18. Bxd5 $1 {
Before Black can consolidate with Bb7 or Ndf6} exd5 19. Nc3 Nf6 $1 20. Nxb5 Ba6
21. a4 Ne4 {Black has some play because of the pin on the Nb5} 22. Rdc1 Qe8 23.
Rc7 (23. f3 $5 Nd6 24. Qe1) 23... Bd8 24. Ra7 f6 $4 {Kramnik stated at the
press conference that before this error "I think Black holds if he plays
correctly - it should be a draw.". Topalov said about f6, "Just a bad blunder.
There were so many pieces on board. Really, I just blundered."... What did you
overlook? Was it Nd7 or something deeper? - My oversight was a bit deeper, but
it doesn't really matter. I think I had to take on b5, and there is nothing to
worry about. This was my initial idea, but then I decided 24...f6 was
interesting, too." ... "I decided that 24...f6 is a more complex move compared
to taking on b5. After 24... Bxb5 White has certain pressure in the resulting
endgame. I glanced at the clock, saw the opponent running behind on the clock,
and decided to play the sharpest move. "} (24... Bxb5 25. axb5 Qxb5 26. Qxb5
Rxb5 27. Ra2 {White has better coordination and activity and Bb6 can be met by
Rb7 but with active play the White pieces can be driven back} (27. Nd7 Re8 28.
Ra8 Rxb2 29. Bc7 Rb7) 27... f6 28. Nc6 Bb6 29. Rb7 (29. Rd7 Rf7 30. Ne7+ Rxe7
31. Rxe7 Bxd4 32. Kg2 $14) (29. Ra6 Re8 30. Be3 Nd6 31. Nxa5 Nf5 $11) 29... Rf7
30. Rb8+ Rf8 31. Rxf8+ Kxf8 32. f3 g5 $1) 25. Nd7 {
This seems to win, a pawn falls and there is a horrible pin on the e-file.} (
25. Qg4 {Is another very strong move.}) 25... Rf7 26. Nxb6 Rxa7 27. Nxd5 Rd7
28. Ndc3 $1 Rxd4 $6 {Played instantly. Around here f2-f3 wins but gives Black
the possibility of some tricks so Kramnik avoids it in time pressure} (28...
Re7 29. Qc4+ {
Doesn't offer too much for black but at least it doesn't offer a piece.}) 29.
Re1 ({Kramnik said after the game "28...Rxd4 is another error; he had to move
the rook to e7, after which White must display some technique. After Black's
28th move, White wins anyhow. I tried handling the position in the most human
way, avoiding any risk. In principle, I could have taken the piece by playing
f2-f3, but preferred to exchange everything and proceed to a won ending
instead."} 29. f3 Bxb5 30. Nxb5 Rb4 31. Re1 Bb6+ 32. Kg2 {is however crushing
and not particularly complex. Perhaps Kramnik simply couldn't believe his luck.
}) 29... f5 30. Qc2 $1 Rb4 31. Nd5 (31. f3 {
was the last chance to play to win the pinned knight. Its still good.}) 31...
Rxb5 32. axb5 Qxb5 33. Nc7 Qc4 (33... Bxc7 34. Qxc7 Qxb2 35. Qd8+ Kf7 36. Qd7+
Kg6 37. Qe8+ Kf6 38. Be3) 34. Qd1 (34. Qxc4+ {
Kasparov said he didn't know why Kramnik didn't just exchange queens here.})
34... Bxc7 35. Qd7 {But this is strong} h6 (35... Bxf4 36. Qe8#) 36. Qxc7 Qb4 (
36... Qd4 {with a few cheapo tricks for time trouble looks better according to
Kasparov. It does keep the queens on longer} 37. Qc2 Bb7 38. Rd1 Qb6 39. Be3
Qb4 40. Bxh6 gxh6 41. Qc7) 37. Qb8+ {Off with the queens! and its decisive}
Qxb8 38. Bxb8 Nd2 39. Ra1 g5 40. f4 Nb3 41. Ra3 Bc4 42. Bc7 g4 43. Bxa5 {
For a player of Kramnik's ability this is trivial.} 1-0

[Event "WCh"]
[Site "Elista RUS"]
[Date "2006.10.10"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Topalov, V."]
[Black "Kramnik, V."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[Annotator "Malcolm Pein"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 {A big surprise to
me. Kramnik plays the same line that led to disaster in game 9.} 7. Nxg6 hxg6
8. Rb1 $146 {An interesting choice which has the benefit of being new but it
does rule out 0-0-0 for White which can be a useful option There is a huge
choice of moves here. A sample:} (8. Qc2) (8. Qb3) (8. cxd5) (8. g3) (8. Bd3) (
8. Bd2) (8. a3 Nbd7 9. g3 Be7 10. f4 dxc4 11. Bxc4 O-O 12. e4 {was much better
for White in game 9 of the match and led to a fairly easy Topalov victory.})
8... Nbd7 9. c5 a5 {
Played after about 5 minutes thought. Black needs this file for counterplay}
10. a3 (10. f4 b6 $1 {and b4 is not possible}) 10... e5 $1 {
Again essential to get counterplay before f2-f4 rules it out} 11. b4 axb4 12.
axb4 Qc7 13. f4 {The same strategic idea from Topalov. As in game 9 White
tries to take over the whole board. Topalov was moving quickly again.} exf4 (
13... Nh5 {Was a wild idea which Kramnik may have avoided on the principle
that Topalov might have analysed it at home} 14. Ne2 (14. fxe5 Ng3 15. Rg1 Rxh2
$15 16. Qf3 Be7 17. Bd3 Bh4 18. Kd1 $13) (14. Qg4 $2 Be7 $5 15. fxe5 Ng3 $3 {
is a very attractive idea which is much better for Black} 16. Rg1 Rxh2 $17 17.
Qxg3 $2 Bh4) (14. Qf3 $5 e4 {Blocking the position gives White a free hand on
the queenside so Black needs to follow up with b7-b5} 15. Qf2 b5 (15... Be7 $1
16. h4 (16. g3 Nxg3 $1) (16. b5 Ng3 $1) 16... Nhf6 17. Be2 $13) 16. Nxb5 $5
cxb5 17. Bxb5)) 14. exf4 Be7 (14... Ne4 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. d5 {
A great position, all the White pieces are on the back row but he is better})
15. Be2 Nf8 16. O-O Ne6 17. g3 {Black is fully mobilised and although he does
not have much space his knights are OK and his rooks active. White's plan is
b4-b5 but he never gets to carry it out to any great effect} Qd7 $1 {
Preparing Ne4 which will force open the d file and tactically preventing b4-b5}
18. Qd3 (18. Be3 Ne4 19. Nxe4 dxe4 20. Bc4 Nc7 $1 $11) (18. b5 Nxc5 $1 19. dxc5
Bxc5+ 20. Kh1 (20. Kg2 Qh3+ 21. Kf3 Ng4 $19) 20... Qh3) 18... Ne4 $1 {
Kramnik is always comfortable with the queens off even if he is going to be
slightly worse.} 19. Nxe4 dxe4 20. Qxe4 Qxd4+ 21. Qxd4 Nxd4 22. Bc4 {The danger
for Black in these positions is the unchallenged white squared bishop which
has targets on f7, g6, b7 and c6.} O-O 23. Kg2 Ra4 24. Rd1 Rd8 (24... Bxc5 25.
Be3 Ne6 26. Bb3 $1 Rxb4 27. Bxc5 Nxc5 28. Bxf7+ $18) 25. Be3 Bf6 {Black's activ
ity compensates for the bishop pair and White is only marginally better} (25...
Nc2 $5 26. Rxd8+ Bxd8 27. Bf2 Nxb4 (27... Rxb4 $2 28. Bb3 $1 Na3 29. Bxf7+) 28.
Rd1 Bf6 29. Rd7 Nd5 {with good drawing chances} 30. Bxd5 cxd5 31. Rxb7 Rc4) 26.
g4 Kf8 {Interesting, Kramnik is comfortable and avoids} (26... Ra3 27. Bxd4
Bxd4 (27... Rxd4 28. Rxd4 Bxd4 29. Rd1 Be3 30. Rd7 $16) 28. Bb3 Raa8 29. Rd3
Bf6 $11) 27. Bf2 Ne6 28. Rxd8+ Bxd8 {going to c7} 29. f5 $5 {Again attack at
all costs but this relinquishes any advantage and was played pretty quickly} (
29. Bxe6 fxe6 30. h4 Bc7 31. Kf3 Ke7 32. Be3 {
Would give White no winning chances despite Black weakened structure but}) (29.
Be3 Bc7 30. Kf3 {Was the careful way to play then if} Ra3 31. Rb3 Rxb3 32. Bxb3
Bxf4 33. Bxf4 Nd4+ 34. Ke4 Nxb3 35. Kd3 {traps the knight}) 29... gxf5 30. gxf5
Nf4+ (30... Ng5 {was also OK but Kramnik has a nice reconfiguration of his
pieces in mind. This is second nature to him.}) 31. Kf3 Nh5 {
The optimal setup might be Be5 and Nf6} 32. Rb3 Bc7 33. h4 Nf6 34. Bd3 Nd7 35.
Be4 {Preserving the bishop} Ne5+ 36. Kg2 Ra2 {Black is slightly better now,
the pawn on f5 ruins the white squared bishop, this is the key difference. f5
is actually a square the bishop would like to go to, c8 would beckon} 37. Bb1
Rd2 38. Kf1 Ng4 39. Bg1 (39. Be1 {Also holds}) 39... Bh2 40. Ke1 {White has bee
n driven back substantially over the last dozen moves and Black is slightly
better but his rook, bishop and knight are not going to overwhelm White's rook,
two bishops and king.} Rd5 (40... Rg2 {Many commentators and even strong
players who were letting their engines think for them thought this was
stronger but in fact in practical terms its weaker and gives no winning
chances whatsoever, Kramnik's move continues the fight} 41. Bd4 Be5 42. Bxe5
Nxe5 43. f6 $1 gxf6 (43... g6 44. Ra3) 44. Bf5 $11) 41. Bf2 {Around here it
was clear the best Kramnik could get was a pawn up in a rook and opposite
coloured bishop ending. However the b4-b5 break brings about a queenside
liquidation so there are very few winning chances.} Ke7 42. h5 Nxf2 43. Kxf2
Kf6 44. Kf3 Rd4 45. b5 Rc4 46. bxc6 bxc6 47. Rb6 Rxc5 48. Be4 Kg5 {
Its a matter of when, not if the draw is agreed.} 49. Rxc6 Ra5 {
Kramnik plays on, there surely can't be anything here though.} 50. Rb6 Ra3+ 51.
Kg2 Bc7 52. Rb7 Rc3 53. Kf2 Kxh5 54. Bd5 f6 55. Ke2 Kg4 56. Be4 {If Black could
organise Be5, Kf4 and Rg3 he might have some practical chances but because
White can always threaten to swop rooks he can hold easily} Kf4 57. Bd3 Rc5 58.
Rb4+ Kg3 59. Rc4 Re5+ 60. Re4 Ra5 (60... Bb6 {Even if Black reaches bishop,
king plus e and g against bishop and king the endgame is an easy draw} 61. Rxe5
fxe5 62. Be4 (62. Bc4 Kf4 63. Be6 $11) 62... Kf4 63. Kd3 {
even losing the pawn is a draw} Bc5 64. Bd5 Kxf5 65. Be4+ Kf4 66. Bg6 $11) 61.
Re3+ Kg2 62. Be4+ Kh2 63. Rb3 Ra2+ 64. Kd3 Bf4 65. Kc4 Re2 66. Kd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "WCh"]
[Site "Elista RUS"]
[Date "2006.10.12"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, V."]
[Black "Topalov, V."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[Annotator "IM Malcolm Pein"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2006.09.23"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 {
Unexpected but a back handed compliment to Kramnik. Topalov uses his opening
line. Its solid and so it suits forthisgame} 8. g3 Nbd7 9. Bd2 Bb4 10. Qb3 Bxc3
11. Bxc3 Ne4 12. Bg2 Nxc3 13. Qxc3 f5 {Like in the Stonewall the white squared
pawns act as a barrier against the white bishop. Black must be slightly worse
and it feels like the players have swopped roles} (13... dxc4 14. Qxc4 Qa5+ 15.
Qc3 $14) 14. O-O (14. O-O-O $5 {Fritz, would never have occurred to me}) 14...
Qe7 15. cxd5 {
Kramnik opts for clarity and the plan of a minority attack on the queenside}
exd5 16. b4 Nf6 17. Rfc1 (17. b5 cxb5 18. Qb3 Qd7 19. Rfc1 {Actually look
quite good as d5 is very weak because of Rc1-c5 and a2-a4 might be good later.
However its too risky for the circumstances} a6 20. Rc2 O-O 21. Rac1 $44) 17...
Ne4 18. Qb2 O-O 19. b5 Rac8 20. bxc6 bxc6 21. Qe2 {Nice move with many points.
Black's only counterplay is pawn g5 and then pawn f4. The possible pin on the
e file after f4 exf4 holds this up. Also Qa6 is a plan now} g5 22. Rab1 Qd7 (
22... Nd6 23. Rxc6 Rxc6 24. Bxd5+) 23. Rc2 Rf6 {
Black can probably defend this position because he only has one weakness} 24.
Rbc1 (24. Qa6 g4 25. Rb7 Rc7 26. Rcb2 Nd6 {Defends}) 24... g4 25. Rb2 Rh6 26.
Qa6 Rc7 27. Rb8+ Kh7 28. Qa3 {Threat Qf8 but Black's resources are adequate}
Rb7 29. Qf8 (29. Ra8 $5) 29... Rxb8 30. Qxb8 Qf7 31. Qc8 Qh5 32. Kf1 Nd2+ 33.
Ke1 Nc4 34. Bf1 {Black needs to defend f5 before taking on h2} (34. Rxc4 dxc4
35. Bxc6 Rf6 36. Bd5 Qxh2 37. Ke2 {also leads to a draw}) 34... Rf6 35. Bxc4
dxc4 36. Rxc4 Qxh2 37. Ke2 (37. Rxc6 $4 Qh1+ 38. Ke2 Qxc6) 37... Qh1 38. Rc5
Qb1 39. Qa6 Qb2+ 40. Kf1 Qb1+ 41. Ke2 Qb2+ 42. Kf1 Rh6 {As ever Topalov tries
all possible routes to win. Qd3 is forced now when Black can win a pawn but a
rook and pawn ending with a7 and c6 weak is a draw} 43. Qd3 g6 {
now Qc4 or Qb3 keep it level  Qd3  g6} (43... Qa1+ 44. Ke2 Qxa2+ 45. Qc2 Qxc2+
46. Rxc2 Rf6 47. Ra2 Rf7 48. Ra6 Rc7 49. Kd3 {
and the idea of e4 undermining g4 is one way to draw}) 44. Qb3 Rh1+ 45. Kg2
Rh2+ 46. Kxh2 Qxf2+ 47. Kh1 Qf1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "WCh Playoffs"]
[Site "Elista RUS"]
[Date "2006.10.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Topalov, V."]
[Black "Kramnik, V."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D18"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2006.10.13"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O
Nbd7 9. Qe2 O-O 10. e4 Bg6 11. Bd3 Bh5 12. e5 Nd5 13. Nxd5 cxd5 14. Qe3 Re8 15.
Ne1 Rc8 16. f4 Bxe1 17. Rxe1 Bg6 18. Bf1 Rc2 19. b3 Qa5 20. Bb5 Rd8 21. Re2
Rcc8 22. Bd2 Qb6 23. Rf2 a6 24. Bf1 Rc6 25. b4 Rc2 26. b5 a5 27. Bc3 Rxf2 28.
Qxf2 Qa7 29. Qd2 Ra8 30. Rc1 Nb6 31. Bb2 Nxa4 32. Ba3 h6 33. h3 Be4 34. Kh2 Nb6
35. Bc5 a4 36. Ra1 Nc4 37. Bxc4 b6 38. Qe3 Rc8 39. Bf1 bxc5 40. dxc5 Qxc5 41.
Qxc5 Rxc5 42. b6 Rc6 43. b7 Rb6 44. Ba6 d4 45. Rxa4 Bxb7 46. Bxb7 Rxb7 47. Rxd4
1/2-1/2

[Event "WCh Playoffs"]
[Site "Elista RUS"]
[Date "2006.10.13"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, V."]
[Black "Topalov, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D45"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2006.10.13"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. b3 O-O 8. Be2
b6 9. O-O Bb7 10. Bb2 Re8 11. Rad1 Qe7 12. Rfe1 Rac8 13. Bd3 e5 14. e4 dxc4 15.
Bxc4 b5 16. Bf1 g6 17. Qd2 Rcd8 18. Qg5 a6 19. h3 exd4 20. Nxd4 Qe5 21. Qxe5
Nxe5 22. Nc2 g5 23. Bc1 h6 24. Be3 c5 25. f3 Bf8 26. Bf2 Bc8 27. Ne3 Be6 28.
Ned5 Bxd5 29. exd5 Ned7 30. Rxe8 Rxe8 31. a4 b4 32. Ne4 Nxe4 33. fxe4 Nf6 34.
d6 Nxe4 35. d7 Rd8 36. Bxa6 f5 37. a5 Bg7 38. Bc4+ Kf8 39. a6 Nxf2 40. Kxf2
Bd4+ 41. Rxd4 cxd4 42. a7 Ke7 43. Bd5 Kxd7 44. a8=Q Rxa8 45. Bxa8 1-0

[Event "WCh Playoffs"]
[Site "Elista RUS"]
[Date "2006.10.13"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Topalov, V."]
[Black "Kramnik, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D12"]
[WhiteElo "2813"]
[BlackElo "2743"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2006.10.13"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Be2 Nbd7 8. O-O
Bd6 9. g3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Nb6 11. Be2 O-O 12. Nxg6 hxg6 13. e4 e5 14. f4 exd4 15.
Qxd4 Qe7 16. Kg2 Bc5 17. Qd3 Rad8 18. Qc2 Bd4 19. e5 Nfd5 20. Rf3 Nxc3 21. bxc3
Bc5 22. Bd2 Rd7 23. Re1 Rfd8 24. Bd3 Qe6 25. Bc1 f5 26. Qe2 Kf8 27. Rd1 Qe7 28.
h4 Rd5 29. Qc2 Nc4 30. Rh1 Na3 31. Qe2 Qd7 32. Rd1 b5 33. g4 fxg4 34. Rg3 Ke7
35. f5 gxf5 36. Bg5+ Ke8 37. e6 Qd6 38. Bxf5 Rxd1 39. Bg6+ Kf8 40. e7+ Qxe7 41.
Bxe7+ Bxe7 42. Bd3 Ra1 43. Qb2 Rd1 44. Qe2 Ra1 45. Qxg4 Rxa2+ 46. Kh3 Bf6 47.
Qe6 Rd2 48. Bg6 R2d7 49. Rf3 b4 50. h5 1-0

[Event "WCh Playoffs"]
[Site "Elista RUS"]
[Date "2006.10.13"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, V."]
[Black "Topalov, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D47"]
[WhiteElo "2743"]
[BlackElo "2813"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2006.10.13"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Be2
Bb7 9. O-O Be7 10. e4 b4 11. e5 bxc3 12. exf6 Bxf6 13. bxc3 c5 14. dxc5 Nxc5
15. Bb5+ Kf8 16. Qxd8+ Rxd8 17. Ba3 Rc8 18. Nd4 Be7 19. Rfd1 a6 20. Bf1 Na4 21.
Rab1 Be4 22. Rb3 Bxa3 23. Rxa3 Nc5 24. Nb3 Ke7 25. Rd4 Bg6 26. c4 Rc6 27. Nxc5
Rxc5 28. Rxa6 Rb8 29. Rd1 Rb2 30. Ra7+ Kf6 31. Ra1 Rf5 32. f3 Re5 33. Ra3 Rc2
34. Rb3 Ra5 35. a4 Ke7 36. Rb5 Ra7 37. a5 Kd6 38. a6 Kc7 39. c5 Rc3 40. Raa5
Rc1 41. Rb3 Kc6 42. Rb6+ Kc7 43. Kf2 Rc2+ 44. Ke3 Rxc5 45. Rb7+ 1-0