| LoveThatJoker: In "Kramnik: My Life and Games", Kramnik states that 31...Ke7 would have made for a more tenacious defence. Analysis diagram after 31. e5! Ke7
click for larger viewKramnik: <There was no longer any way of saving the game, but of course, 31...Ke7 was a tougher defence after which the most precise is 32. Ne4! fxe5 33. fxe5 Bd5 34. Nc5 Bxg2 35. Kg5 Bf1 36. a4 Be2 37. a5 Bf1 38. b3 Be2 39. c4 Bd1 40. b4 Be2 41. Nxa6 Bxc4 42. Nc5 and wins.> Position after 42. Nc5
click for larger viewHere Stockfish proves the win via
<42...Be2 43. a6 Bxa6 44. Nxa6 Ke6 45. Kf4 g5+> [45...h4 46. Nc5+ Ke7 47. Kf3 g5 48. Kg4 Kf7 49. Kf5 h3 50. Ne4 Ke8 51. e6 h2 52. Nf2 c5 53. bxc5 Ke7 54. Nh1 g4 55. Ng3 Kd8 56. Kf6 Ke8 57. e7 Kd7 (57...c6 58. Nh1 g3 59. Nxg3 h1=Q 60. Nxh1 Kd7 61. Kf7 Kc7 62. e8=Q Kb7 63. Qd7+ Ka6 64. Qxc6+ Ka5 65. Qb6+ Ka4 66. Qb2 Ka5 67. Qb3 Ka6 68. Qb6#) 58. Kf7  ] <46. Ke4 g4 47. Nc5+ Ke7 48. Kf4 Kf7 49. Na6 Ke6 50. Nxc7+ Kd7 51. Na6 Ke6 52. Nc5+ Kd5 53. Nb3 g3 54. Kxg3 Kxe5 55. Kh4 Kd5 56. Na5 Kd6 57. Kxh5 Kd5 58. Kg5 Kd6 59. Kf5 Kd5 60. Kf4 c5 61. b5 c4 62. Nxc4> 1-0 LTJ
PS. <Chuckles> At a depth of 19, Stockfish confirms that there is no problem with 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nxe5 Be6 <+1.37>. Perhaps Kramnik wanted to avoid any possibility of playing against a 'prepared' line and opted for the sound plan of quick development via 8. Bg4. | 
