chessgames.com
Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing
Ivan Sokolov vs Vladimir Kramnik
Corus Group A (2004), Wijk aan Zee NED, rd 12, Jan-24
Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation. Kasparov Attack (E12)  ·  1-0

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a
1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
White to move.
ANALYSIS [x]
Notes by Stockfish 9 v010218 (minimum 6s/ply)10.Bb2 was played in Radjabov vs Grischuk, 2003 (1-0) 10...cxd4 11.cxd4 Rc8 12.Qa2 Bd6 13.Bd3 O-O 14.O-O Na5 = -0.12 (22 ply) ⩲ +0.68 (24 ply)better is 15.Nxd4 cxd4 16.Bxd4 Bxa3 17.Be2 Bb4+ 18.Kf1 Qe7 19.h4 ⩲ +0.63 (21 ply)= 0.00 (24 ply) 22...a6 23.Bc6 a5 24.Kg1 Bxc6 25.Nxc6 Bc5 26.h5 h6 27.e5 = 0.00 (28 ply)better is 23.Nf5 Kh8 24.h5 Qd8 25.h6 g6 26.Qc3+ f6 27.Nd4 Bc8 ⩲ +0.80 (21 ply) 23...a6 24.h6 g6 25.Bc4 b5 26.Qf3 Bxd4 27.Rxd4 Qd8 28.Be2 = +0.07 (21 ply) 24.h6 g6 25.Nf3 g5 26.Rh3 Qf4 27.g3 Qg4 28.Rh1 Rad8 ⩲ +1.38 (23 ply) 24...h6 25.Rh4 Qc8 26.d6 a6 27.d7 Qc7 28.Bc4 Rad8 29.Rg4 = +0.50 (24 ply) ⩲ +1.43 (24 ply)better is 29.g3 f6 30.Kg2 Rf7 31.Bc4 Rd6 32.Qe2 Re7 33.Nd4 Bxd4 ± +1.80 (20 ply) ⩲ +1.29 (21 ply) after 29...Ba6 30.Bd3 Qc5 31.Qb2 Bxd3+ 32.Rxd3 f6 33.Rc3 Qe7 31.Nd4 a6 32.Be2 Bc8 33.Bg4 Qc4+ 34.Kg1 Bxg4 35.Rxg4 ± +1.92 (24 ply) 31...a6 32.Bd3 Qd6 33.g3 Bc8 34.Kg2 Bc5 35.Qc3 a5 36.Rc1 ⩲ +1.16 (19 ply)+- +3.02 (25 ply) 39...Bc8 40.d7 Bxd7 41.Bxd7 a5 42.Ng5 Kf8 43.Nxh7+ Ke7 +- +3.19 (26 ply)+- +7.03 (24 ply)41...Bc6 42.Bxc6 Rxc6 43.e5 Rc5 44.e6 Rxg5 45.d7 Rd5 +- +7.80 (30 ply)1-0

rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
FEN COPIED

Click Here to play Guess-the-Move
Given 12 times; par: 56 [what's this?]

Annotations by Stockfish (Computer).      [35434 more games annotated by Stockfish]

explore this opening
find similar games 8 more I Sokolov/Kramnik games
sac: 33.Rxc7 PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting

TIP: You can get computer analysis by clicking the "ENGINE" button below the game.

PGN Viewer:  What is this?
For help with this chess viewer, please see the Olga Chess Viewer Quickstart Guide.
PREMIUM MEMBERS CAN REQUEST COMPUTER ANALYSIS [more info]

THIS IS A COMPUTER ANNOTATED SCORE.   [CLICK HERE] FOR ORIGINAL.

Kibitzer's Corner
Mar-10-04  csmath: Kramnik decides to use Queen's Indian, possibly preparing against Leko? Anyway after Sokolov avoided usual lines and achieved advantage he blew everything in the middlegame. Not to be outdone Kramnik makes fair share of bad moves only to allow Sokolov a beautiful exchange sacrifice that decided the game. Not exactly high standard game and indicative of Kramnik's weaknesses.
Mar-10-04  Taidanii: 17...Bxa3 is a gorgeous move. If white decides to capture the bishop instead of the d4 pawn black can focus a clear devastating attack with Rxe4.
Dec-16-05  Conde de Montecristo: Kramnik played a misserable game, this is definitely not how a Champion should play.
Feb-18-22
Premium Chessgames Member
  plang: Sokolov after 8..Nc6:
"The black set-up is not logical. His king is still stuck on e8. White has possibilities to open up the centre with d4-d5, play on the black king stuck in the middle of the board, and an unpleasant check or pin along the a4-d8 diagonal may come any moment."

Kramnik's 11..Be7 allowed 12 d5!; 11..cxd is usually played. 13..cxd? would have lost to 14 Bb5..Qc7 15 Bf4..Qc8 16 Nxd4..Bc5 17 Nf5..0-0 18 Qc3..f6 19 Qg3..g6 20 Bc4+..Kh8 21 Bh6. Sokolov considered 15..Re8?! to be the decisive error recommending instead 15..Nxf3+ 16 gxf..Qd6 17 f4..Qg6 and if 18 Bd3? then 18..c4 19 Bd2..f5! and White's center collapses. 16 Nxd4?..cxd 17 Bxd4..Qxd5! 18 exd?..Bb4# is a cute variation.

Sokolov after 20 Kf1:
"White has a strong pawn centre and the h1 rook will be brought into play via the h-file, so the king being on f1 is not a handicap after all. Black's b7 bishop is out of play, while there is no time for Black to start moving his passed pawns on the queenside."

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

  1. No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
  2. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
  3. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
  5. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
  6. No trolling.
  7. The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited.
  8. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

Blow the Whistle

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.


NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific game only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

This game is type: CLASSICAL. Please report incorrect or missing information by submitting a correction slip to help us improve the quality of our content.

Home | About | Login | Logout | F.A.Q. | Profile | Preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | New Kibitzing | Chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | Notable Games | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Store | Privacy Notice | Contact Us

Copyright 2001-2025, Chessgames Services LLC