Kramnik 3rd Game Cracker

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 {Kramnik wrote recently the modern GM's are using computers to evaluate middle game positions and not looking for tweaks in the openings. Perhaps his team and robot have find a position that suits their man from this ancient opening.} 4. d4 {The Scotch Four Knights. OK too much to hope that a box had found anything special for White in the 4.Bb5 mainline.} 4... exd4 5. Nxd4 Bc5 {Aronian smells a rat and stops one square short of b4 the accepted mainline that goes on forever and ever. (but maybe that is all about to change if the Kramnik bot is ever allowed to show what it has found....If anything, I'm speculating.)} 6. Be3 Bb6 {The Bishop was loose. Protecting it with 6...d6 meets Nxc6 and Bxc5 and Black has tripled c-pawns against Kramnik. 1-0.} 7. Qd2 {Kramnik is going to 0-0-0. He is down in the match so has decided to try and draw level now. Opposite sides castling! Game on} 7... O-O 8. O-O-O Re8 9. f3 {That is the c3 Knight relieved of e4 defensive duties and g4 is coming...Looking forward to this.} 9... d5 {Meet flank attacks with centre play. Classical stuff.} 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Bg5 {Aronian must have seen this coming when he went for equality with 9...d5. Now 11...f6 most likely meets 12.Bc4. Pulling the Knight back to e7 or f6 is a self pin. It all looks awkward. Black drops the game into a muddy puddle.} 11... Nxc3 {If Aronian was still worried about computer analysis then I bet it never thought of that. Black is going to get piece equality for his Queen but will the pieces function well together.} 12. Bxd8 Nxd1 13. Bxc7 Bxc7 14. Nxc6 Ne3 15. Bb5 {That's a good move. White is going to pick up the exchange then he will have up his sleeve Queen sac-back tricks going into a won ending.} 15... bxc6 16. Bxc6 Nc4 17. Qd4 Be6 18. Bxa8 {Obviously the correct Rook to take. When Black takes it back the Rook will be away from the centre.} 18... Bb6 {The attractive looking Be5 and Bxb2+ wins a pawn but 18...Be5 19.Qxa7 and the a8 Bishop is protected.} 19. Qd3 Rxa8 {Let us pause to reflect. Black has 3 minor bits for the Queen. He needs threats against the King that should hold 2 extra Queenside pawns back. White will be looking to sac the Rook for perhaps a Knight and Bishop then the ending Queen v B & R will be won.} 20. Re1 {Kramnik heard me! He is threatening Rxe6 and QxN.} 20... Rd8 21. Qe4 g5 {Wow! was f3- f4 a threat. Is the idea Bc7 and Bf4+. Were back rank mates creeping into Aronian's analysis. Well f3-f4-f5 then Bd5 it has to stay on the Knight and Qe8+ mates. 21...g5 stops everything.} 22. c3 {To stop Rd4. Black needs to create threats, the Knight has no solid base. It's not looking good but White too needs to win it. One slack move ceding one critical square and Black will be alive.} 22... Bc5 23. Re2 h6 24. g3 {Kramnik is going for the f3-f4-f5 plan to spot that Knight with out a home.} 24... a5 {Black realises he must create a chink in the pawns around the White King for counterplay.} 25. f4 a4 26. f5 Bd5 27. Qd3 Bb6 {Unpinning the d5 Bishop.} 28. b3 axb3 29. axb3 Na5 30. Re8+ {Now that is a good move. It's chief aim is getting that poor Knight. Kramnik has seen that the Queen outplays the 3 pieces. How many of us would have gone this way.} 30... Rxe8 31. Qxd5 {Threat b4.} 31... Rd8 32. Qb5 Rd6 {The Kramnik Queen has tied up the three pieces.} 33. Kc2 Kg7 34. b4 Nb7 35. c4 {Now the Rook and Bishop are in the Kramnik sights.} 35... Rf6 36. g4 Nd8 37. c5 Bc7 38. Qd7 {Something has to go. If Black can give up his Bishop or Knight for the two pawns then there is a slight chance Black can set up a fortress. } 38... Nc6 39. b5 {Kramnik has even spotted that resource and declines the Bishop till it's capture is more favourable to him.} 39... Na7 40. Qxc7 Nxb5 41. Qe5 {Beautiful! White has an everlasting pin on the f6 Rook. (h5 will be answered with h3). Black can only move his Knight.} 41... Na7 42. Kd3 {Black resigned. The Knight is boxed in. A possible finish is.} 42... h5 43. h3 hxg4 44. hxg4 Nc6 45. Qa1 Ne7 46. Kc4 Nc6 {This is the fortress I was mentioning. The Rook and Knight hold c6 and stop the pawn advancing.}47. Kb5 Ne7 48. Qe5 Nc6 49. Qxf6+ {I told you Kramnik would Sac-back his Queen.} 49... Kxf6 50. Kxc6 {The c-pawn wins. A smashing game of chess.}

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 {Now instead of 4.0-0 White can play....} 4. Nc3 {The Four Knights.}