ODT070410

=**Champ wins with eyes closed**=


 * Problem:** Black to play and mate in 3.

World Champion Vladimir Kramnik relied upon his renowned prowess at blindfold play to win the very rich Amber Blindfold and Rapid tournament held in Monte Carlo last month. The event is sponsored by dutch billionaire Joop van Oosterom and is something of a novelty – pitting the best in the world against each other in a double round-robin where one game between each opponent is played at a rapid time control and in the other both players play without sight of the pieces. The players make their moves with a mouse on a computer screen showing only a blank chessboard.

In past appearances Kramnik has dominated the blindfold section and this time was no exception – racing out to a two point lead with an amazing 7½ /8 before drawing his final three games to hold his two point margin over second place. Meanwhile the Rapid section was dominated by soon-to-be world number one, Vishy Anand also by a margin of two points over those in second place, which included Kramnik. Thus Kramnik took out first on the combined standings with Anand second overall, two points behind.

Today's game occurred in the Rapid section when Kramnik was looking to consolidate claim on first place. Thus he unleashes a devastating opening novelty as White against Magnus Carlsen which normally would be reserved for play at a standard time limit. media type="custom" key="26914246" Transposing into the notoriously complicated Queen's Gambit Vienna variation – Black hangs on to the c4 pawn at the expense of loosening his kingside. All this has been seen before, but White's next is a strong novelty compared to the previously played 14 Nh4. The knight is simply sacrificed to break up Black's pawns and lay bare his exposed king. After a forced sequence we see the result of White's sacrifice – Black must spend further time capturing the dangerous passed c-pawn, and the d-file is opened as a line of attack to his immobilised king. He takes the chance to exchange a potential attacking piece while he can. The threat was 21 Rc6 winning the knight, but now White's attack crashes through. Still, while 20 ... Qb8 attacking the rook on d6 would have avoided the game continuation, after 21 Rc6 Nb7 (if 21 ...Nd7 22 b6! wins) 22 Qf6 Nd8 23 Rxc4 and White has an overwhelming attack with three pawns for the knight and Black's pieces huddled on the back rank. Allowing a quick finish, but giving back the knight with 22 ... a5 is hopeless. It is the queen or mate.
 * 1. Nf3 Nf6**
 * 2. c4 e6**
 * 3. Nc3 d5**
 * 4. d4 dxc4**
 * 5. e4 Bb4**
 * 6. Bg5 b5**
 * 7. a4 c6**
 * 8. e5 h6**
 * 9. exf6 hxg5**
 * 10. fxg7 Rg8**
 * 11. g3 Bb7**
 * 12. Bg2 c5**
 * 13. O-O g4**
 * 14. axb5!! gxf3**
 * 15. Bxf3 Bxf3**
 * 16. Qxf3 Nd7**
 * 17. dxc5 ---**
 * 17.--- Bxc3**
 * 18. bxc3 Nxc5**
 * 19. Rfd1 Qc8**
 * 20. Rd6 Qb7?!**
 * 21. Qh5! Rc8**
 * 22. Rc6 Nd3**
 * 23. Rxc8+ Qxc8**
 * 24. Rxa7 Resigns**


 * 1-0**


 * Solution:** 1 ... Qxh2+!! 2 Kxh2 (2 Kf1 Ng3#) Ng3+! 3 Kxg3 (3 Kg1 Rh1#) f4#