YouRang: This game demonstrates the difference between a top GM and regular player: After 33...Rb2, we had this position:
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Most regular players would go with 34.Qe2, which double-attacks the knight. Note that the knight can't move since that would uncover the bishop's attack on Pg6 (e.g. 34...Nb4? 35.Qe7+! Kg8 36.Qe8+ Kg7 37.Qxg6+ Kf8 38.Re1 ). Therefore, the best black can do is 34...Rxc2 35.Qxc2 Nb4 36.Qe2, which loses the exchange, but white still finds it difficult to win due to black's advanced passed pawn. But Kramnik didn't play 34.Rb2. He foresaw the difficulties above, and found it far superior to first play <33...Qe7+!!>, forcing the king to retreat <34...Kg8> (better than 34...Kh8 35.Qf8+! Kh7 36.f5!, threatening f6). NOW white plays <35.Qe2> [diagram]
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This is stronger because the king isn't guarding the g & h pawns, and particularly because the g6 pawn can be captured by the queen with check. For instance, if black continues as above with <35...Rxc2 36.Qxc2>, then <36...Nb4 37.Qxg6+! Qg7> (not 37...Kf8 38.Re1+ ) 38.Qe4!> and the knight has nowhere to go. If black tries to save it with <38...Na2>, then <39.Rd1!> will mate soon. And if black doesn't move the knight, then (e.g. <36...Kg7> or <36...Qc4>, then <37.Rd1> is decisive (winning the pinned knight, since the knight is either pinned against its queen, or pinned against a mating attack if Rd8+ is allowed). |