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Vladimir Kramnik vs Alexander Grischuk
20th Amber Tournament (Rapid) (2011) (rapid), Monaco MNC, rd 1, Mar-12
King's Indian Defense: Makagonov Variation (E71)  ·  0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Mar-12-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  Penguincw: Oh my gosh! Kramnik is defeated with white! You don't see this everyday!
Mar-12-11  picard: It's a rapid game. Kramnik losing with white in fast games isn't all that rare.
Mar-12-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  Penguincw: Imagine Kramnik lost with white in classical.Here's the most recent time:Kramnik vs Carlsen, 2011 . And the others : http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches.... A few are blitz though.
Mar-14-11  Garech: Wow - Grischuk doing what Kasparov couldn't and beating Kramnik with the King's Indian - very impressive, even if it was rapid. Respect!

-Garech

Mar-14-11  joupajou: Grischuk is known for his excellent rapid play skills.

In this game I think Kramnik made a small mistake with 18. Nc6. Seems to me Kramnik doesn't have enough power behind his attack.

His knight in d4 was in good position controlling the central squares, so why did he give it away?

On the other hand, I can't see many good moves instead of 18. Nc6.

Maybe 18. Bh6 (trying to get rid of the diagonal dominating black bishop in g7), or simply trying to take control of the e file with 18. Re2.

Black would not give away his bishop, though, so after 18. Bh6 he'd most probably play 18. ..Bh8.

If 18. Re2, it might be a good idea to focus on the annoying white bishop in g5. Maybe 18. ..Nfd7?

Any better ideas?

Mar-14-11  ajile: <Garech: Wow - Grischuk doing what Kasparov couldn't and beating Kramnik with the King's Indian - very impressive, even if it was rapid. Respect! -Garech>

It's not really a King's Indian though.
With 6..c5 7.d5 it's really more of a Benoni by transposition.

You still owe me a vote dude so don't forget next World Team match.

:o)

Mar-17-11  Manuel G. Vergara: If Grischuk can beat Kramnik in a rapid game, GM Wesley So might also beat Kramnik in a fast/rapid game! Just hoping! hehe
Jul-12-19  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

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