ODT091201

=**Rejuvenated Kramnik wins Tal Memorial**=




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

When Russian world champion Vladimir Kramnik lost his title in a one-sided match to India's Vishwanathan Anand a year ago, he made a profound statement: That he needed to rework his approach to opening preparation if he was going to stay competitive at the highest level. In winning the Tal Memorial tournament in Moscow last month, Kramnik reaped the fruits of his labours over the past year. The ten-player event featured eight of the current top ten ranked players in the world, easily the strongest tournament this year and one of the strongest of all time.

In such an even field Kramnik took clear first with just three wins and six draws to finish on 6/9. Next came Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine) and Magnus Carlsen (Norway) on 5½, folllowed by World Champion Anand and Levon Aronian (Armenia) on 5. But it wasn't the margin of victory so much as the change in style that was significant. Kramink sought complex, double-edged positions with both colours, a contrast to his previous safety-first opening repertoire.

Today's game is Kramnik's win with black pieces from the third round in Moscow, at one time a very rare occurrence for him. His opponent, Russian Alexander Morozevich, needed little encouragement to enter a sharp struggle, however. media type="custom" key="26344578" Currently a very popular way of meeting the Nimzo-Indian Defence. White either aims for an early e4, or as here to avoid doubled pawns after the bishop captures on c3. Black would have sufficient compensation after 10 Qxc7 Qxc7 11 Bxc7 Nbd7 12 e3 Bxf1 13 Rxf1 Rfc8. So White takes a far more aggressive approach – forgoing castling and launching a kingside attack! This looks dangerous for Black, as the weak pawn on e6 and knight on d5 seem exposed to a sacrifice. But Black soon shows that it is the white king that is precariously placed.
 * 1.d4 Nf6**
 * 2.c4 e6**
 * 3.Nc3 Bb4**
 * 4.Qc2 ---**
 * 5.--- O-O**
 * 5.a3 Bxc3+**
 * 6.Qxc3 d5**
 * 7.Nf3 dxc4**
 * 8.Qxc4 b6**
 * 9.Bf4 Ba6!?**
 * 10.Qc2!? ---**
 * 10.--- Nbd7**
 * 11.e4 Bxf1**
 * 12.Kxf1 c5**
 * 13.Bd6 Re8**
 * 14.e5 Nd5**
 * 15.h4 cxd4**
 * 16.Ng5 f5!**

Having foiled any Nxe6 tactics, Black now pushes this knight deep into enemy territory. A speculative shot that Black has seen through. Of course not 22 ... exd5?? walking into a classic smothered mate: 23 Qxd5+ Kh8 24 Nf7+ Kg8 25 Nh6+ Kh8 26 Qg8+! Rxg8 27 Nf7#. Black now takes over the initiative to add to his material advantage. Allowing a sacrificial attack. 30 Qd1 was the only chance to defend. Hoping for counterplay with queen and minor pieces. 33 Kg2 Qe2+ 34 Kg1 Qxf3 is just dead. A lively finish – setting up the final mating combination. White resigns – after 46 Ke2 Qe1+ 47 Kf3 Rc3+ it is mate in two more moves.
 * 17.Qc4 Qc8**
 * 18.Qxd4 Nc5**
 * 19.Rd1 Nb3**
 * 20.Qd3 Nc1**
 * 21.Qb5?! ---**
 * 22.--- Qc2!**
 * 22.Rxd5?! a6!**
 * 23.Qxb6 Qc4+**
 * 24.Kg1 exd5**
 * 25.g3 h6**
 * 26.Nf3 f4**
 * 27.g4 Qe4**
 * 28.Kg2 Nd3**
 * 29.Qb3 Qc4**
 * 30.Qb7? ---**
 * 30.--- Nxf2!**
 * 31.Kxf2 Qc2+**
 * 32.Kg1 Qd1+**
 * 33.Kf2 ---**
 * 33.--- Qxh1**
 * 34.e6 Rac8**
 * 35.Qf7+ Kh8**
 * 36.Bc5 Qc1**
 * 37.b4 Qc2+**
 * 38.Kg1 Qe2**
 * 39.Nd4 Qxg4+**
 * 40.Kf2 Qxh4+**
 * 41.Ke2 f3+!**
 * 42.Kxf3 Rf8!**
 * 43.Bxf8 Rc3+**
 * 44.Kg2 Qg3+**
 * 45.Kf1 Rc1+**


 * 0-1**


 * Solution:** 1 ... Qb1+ 2 Bc1 Re1+! 3 Kxe1 Qxc1# (3 Qxe1 Qxc2#).