Kasparov-Kramnik, 2000

Game 10

Game 10
October 24, 2000

Move

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3
   Previously Kramnik played 4.Qc2 here, but in game 9 Kasparov used a good novelty and got a better game. So, Kramnik deviates.
O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 c5 7. O-O cxd4
   Maybe that was not the best choice, as the challenger already showed great skills in handling the isolated d-pawn in the match.
8. exd4 dxc4 9. Bxc4 b6 10. Bg5 Bb7 11. Re1 Nbd7
   The game would have completely different flavour after 11...Bxc3 12.bxc3 Nbd7, when Black would play for blockade of the c4-square.
12. Rc1 Rc8 13. Qb3
    This is a rare move, but White scores heavily with it. He applies pressure on e6 - a rather common motive in such positions. Kramnik obviously knew this line very well, while Kasparov spent a lot of time in the opening.
Be7
    13...Qe7? was met with stunning 14.Bd5!! in the game Browne-Ljubojevic, Tilburg 1978, and White eventually won.
14. Bxf6 Nxf6?
   After 14...gxf6 15. d5! Kh8 16.dxe6 Nc5 17.Qd1 Qxd1 18.Rcxd1 Bxf3 19.gxf3 fxe6 20.Bxe6 White got the upper hand in Nielsen-Hellsten, Denmark 1996. Probably safer was 14...Bxf6, but after 15.Nb5 Black would still face problems.
15. Bxe6! fxe6 16. Qxe6+ Kh8 17. Qxe7 Bxf3 18. gxf3 Qxd4 19. Nb5 Qxb2
   Amazingly, so far the players followed the game Hazai-Danielsen, Valby 1994, where after 19...Qf4 20.Rxc8 Rxc8 21.Nd6 Qxf3 22.Nxc8 Qg4+ 23.Kf1 Qh3+ 24.Ke2 Qxc8 25.Kd2 White soon won.
20. Rxc8 Rxc8 21. Nd6 Rb8 22. Nf7+ Kg8 23. Qe6!
    Now White threatens to play 24.Nh6++ Kh8 25.Qg8+! Rxg8 26.Nf7#.
Rf8?
    Kasparov had to play 23...h5 here, although after 24.Ng5+ Kh8 25. Qf5 White's attack is very strong. His move loses on the spot:
24. Nd8+ Kh8 25. Qe7! 1-0