Messiah: An interesting game, in which Grischuk constantly missed Qb6 ideas, but, instead of getting punished, he got a significant central freedom for free, and that was eventually converted in his favour.1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. h3 O-O 6. Bg5 c5 7. d5 e6 8. Bd3 exd5 9. cxd5 Re8 10. Nf3 c4 11. Bc2 b5 12. a3 Nbd7 13. O-O a6?!
<Very slow, 13...Nc5 is the most concrete. 13...Qb6 could also be played.>
14. Qd2 Bb7
<B Avrukh vs D Reinderman, 2000 saw 14...Nc5. I think 14...Qb6 was the most natural.>
15. Rfe1 Rc8
<15...Qb6 seems to be somewhat better, once again.>
16. Rad1 Qc7?
<16...Qb6 was arguably better. It temporarily shuts down f4 ideas, and supports the queenside pawn roll with the eventual Nc5.>
17. Nd4 Nc5 18. Nc6?
<A very infrequent sight: with improper preparation, Kramnik goes for an illogical plan that loses a pawn on the spot, and even worse, gives central freedom to Black without compensation. The imprisoned stance of the b7 bishop should have been exploited with an immediate attacking plan: 18. Bh6 Bh8 19. Nf5 Qd7 20. Qg5, and in rapid it might be very difficult to defend precisely.>
18...Bxc6 19. dxc6 Re6 20. Bh6?!
<Why not 20. f3, with stability in the center?>
20...Bxh6 21. Qxh6 Qxc6 22. Ne2
<I think 22. Qe3 with an incoming f3 stabilizes the center once again. Later an a4 can make the bishop's stance somewhat more comfortable.>
22...Re5 23. Nd4 Qe8 24. Nf3
<An interesting idea was 24. Nf5 gxf5, where either 25. Qxf6 fxe4 26. Rxd6 Qe7 27. Qxe7 Rxe7 28. f3 or 25. Qg5+ Kf8 26. Qxf6 Qe6 27. Qxe6 Rxe6 28. e5 could be played, and Black has the burden of proof that the position is winnable.>
24...Re7 25. Rxd6
<Probably 25. Qh4 was better, pressing against the points e4 and e7.>
25...Nfxe4 26. Bxe4?!
<This is a strategically flawed exchange: that bishop has a key role in hampering the c4 pawn's movement. 26. Qh4 Nxd6 27. Rxe7 Qf8 28. Re3 was the correct path, with advantage for Black.>
26...Rxe4 27. Red1 Qf8 28. Qxf8+
<Interestingly, 28. Qd2 is not good. The absurd-looking 28...Ree8 defends everything, and the incoming Qe7 is impossible to prevent.>
28...Kxf8 29. Ng5?!
<29. Kf1 maybe.>
29...Re2 30. Rf6?
<30. R1d2 was required. Black is still superior, but not winning yet.>
30...Rc7 31. Rf3 Kg7 32. Rd5 Nd3 33. h4 h6 0-1