Leko-Kramnik 2004 Match Game 13

Match Game 13 – 10/16/2004
Leko (2743) - Kramnik (2760)
Benoni Defense [A73]

This game was quite interesting, and it was often unclear who was actually better. Fritz certainly seemed to swing back and forth even though there were no moves that could actually be pointed to as gross errors which would cause this swing. Definitely a game of subtle nuances, possibly the best of the match.

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. Nd2 Bg7 8. e4 O-O 9. Be2 Na6 10. O-O Ne8 [10. ... Re8, Kramnik-Topalov, Dortmund 2001] 11. Nc4 Nac7 [Kramnik played ...Ne8 and ...Nac7 really fast; I have the feeling we will see a novelty. – Wegerle; More common is the immediate 11. ... f5.] 12. a4 [Preventing ...b5. – Wegerle] f5 13. exf5 [We have a terribly complicated position now. – Wegerle; 13. f3 =, Kramnik-Ivanchuk, Belgrade 1995] Rxf5 [Usual is 13. ... Bxf5.] 14. Bg4 Rf8 [TN; 14. ... Rf7.] 15. Bxc8 Rxc8 16. Qb3 b6!? [Kramnik weakens the light squares on the queenside but why? – Wegerle] 17. Nb5 Nxb5 18. axb5 Rc7 19. Bd2 Rcf7 20. Bc3 Qd7 [20. ... Qg4 21. f3 – Wegerle] 21. f3 g5 [Wow, is Kramnik now over-motivated? – Wegerle; Well, that's what ends up happening when you put yourself in this position by giving up a bunch of lifeless draws while a point behind in a short match.] 22. Ne3 Rf4 [Interesting decision. – Wegerle] 23. Rfe1 h5!? [A move for all or nothing. – Wegerle] 24. Qc2 Qf7 [24. ... Qxb5?? 25. Rxa7 - ChessBase] 25. h3 [Preventing ...g4. – Wegerle] Bd4 26. Bxd4 [26. Ra3! – Fritz] Rxd4 [26. ... cxd4 is another game entirely but Kramnik couldn't find anything at the board. – Crowther] 27. Nf5 [Up to this point Fritz was still giving White a small plus (although down from a larger plus earlier in the game). However, with his last few moves Kramnik had been applying a lot of pressure. The grandmaster consensus seems to be that this is the best move for relieving that pressure. This makes me think that Fritz was wrong and White didn't stand even a little better any more.] Qxf5 28. Qxf5 Rxf5 29. Rxe8+ Kf7 30. Rb8 Rdxd5 31. Rxa7+ Ke6 32. Re8+ Kf6 33. g4?! [33. Rh7! – Crowther] hxg4 34. hxg4 Rd1+ 35. Kf2 Re5 36. Rh8 [I have really no good feeling for Leko, 36. Rxe5 Kxe5 37. Rg7 was maybe also worth thinking about. – Wegerle] Rd2+ 37. Kg3 Ree2 38. Rf8+ Kg6 39. Rg8+ Kf6 40. Rf8+ Ke6 [Some quick moves just to reach the time control.] 41. Re8+ Kd5 42. Rxe2 Rxe2 43. Rg7 Re5 [Leko must find the best moves if he wants to save the half point, Leko starts thinking longer, every move has to be the right one now. – Wegerle] 44. Rb7! c4 [44. ... Kc4 is OK for White. – Wegerle] 45. Rxb6 Re2 46. 46. f4! [Leko found it, but it it's not over yet. – Wegerle] Re3+ 47. Kf2 gxf4 48. Rb8 [After thinking for about 10 minutes over 46. f4, Leko (and Kramnik) banged out these moves in seconds. Fascinating rook endgame. Fritz gives the advantage to Black now, but as before when it gave White an edge, I think it is wrong. With best play, this is already a draw.] Rb3 [48. ... Rg3 – Wegerle] 49. b6!? [49. g5 – ChessBase] Ke4 [49. ... Rxb2+ – Wegerle] 50. Re8+ Kd3 51. Re2! d5 52. Kf3! [It looks like the chances for Leko are better than I thought, maybe there is too little material on the board, it looks like that the game will end in a draw. – Wegerle] d4 53. g5 c3 54. bxc3 dxc3 55. Rg2 Rb2 [A tricky try. – Wegerle] 56. b7 Rxb7 57. Kxf4 Rb2 [Now Fritz sees a draw. – Wegerle] 58. Rg1 c2 59. Rc1 Rb1 60. Rxc2 Kxc2 61. g6 Kd3 62. Kf5 Rb5+ 63. Kf6 Rb6+ 64. Kf7 Rxg6 65. Kxg6 1/2-1/2

A fantastic game; too bad they weren't all like this! Leko leads 7-6 with one game to go; the last game is Monday 10/18/2004 at 3:00 pm Brissago time (9:00 am Eastern Time). Kramnik must win to keep the title (as the current title holder, he keeps it if the match ends in a 7-7 tie), so it should definitely be an exciting game.

[updated; edited with additional analysis]