Draw in Game Three

The third game of twelve ended in a draw after Black’s 38th move, with Topalov playing the black pieces.

Now it’s 2.5 to 0.5 in favor of Kramnik, and my starbucks is at stake….hehe

topalov vs. kramnik

PGN of the game follows:

[Event “WCC Match 2006”]
[Site “Elista”]
[Date “2006.09.26”]
[Round “03”]
[White “Game 3”]
[Black “Game 3”]
[Result “”]
[Remark “WCC Match 2006”]
[PresId “liv0”]

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[Event “WCC Match 2006”]
[Site “0:00.28-0:18.50”]
[Date “2006.09.26”]
[Round “03”]
[White “Kramnik, Vladimir”]
[Black “Topalov, Veselin”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[WhiteElo “2743”]
[WhiteCountry “RUS”]
[BlackElo “2813”]
[BlackCountry “BUL”]
[Remark “WCC Match 2006”]
[PresId “live”]

1. d4 {Good day dear spectators! Today we have very important game. Topalov has no right to lose and he needs a victory. At this moment he needs to get first points, Kramnik will try to fix the success} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 {Catalan again. } dxc4 5. Bg2 Nc6 {Topalov continues with the rare continuation 5…Bb4.} 6. Qa4 Bd7 {6…Bb4 is more common } 7. Qxc4
Na5 8. Qd3 c5 9. O-O Bc6 10. Nc3 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Bc5 {This position was met before only once, in Tkachev – Solezhenkin, France,2000, white had chosen 12.Rd1 and after 12…Bg2 13.Qb5 Nd7 14.Kg2 a6 15.Qd3 Be7 16.Bf4 Rc8 17.Nf3 got advantage and had lead game to the victory. } 12. Rd1 {It’s hard to say whether Kramnik remembers this game, but Topalov has wom 20 minutes on this move. Obviously now preparations have finished and game begins. Now black can simplify the position by 12…Bd4 13.Qd4 Qd4 14.Rd4 Bg2 15.Kg2 Nc6 16.Rd1 0-0!? (it is attracting to to leave king in the center, but 16…Ke7 there is unpleasant 17.b3!)). White has initiative, the whle position is close to equal} Bxg2 {Risky move} 13.
Qb5+ {Right! Forcing knight to go to uncomfortable d7, where it would be overseen by rook and queen} Nd7 14. Kxg2 a6 15. Qd3 Rc8 {New. Seems to be invented at the board. 15…Nf6!? worth mentioning, preparing to castle } 16. Bg5 Be7 {Bishop cannot be taken – 16�Qg5? 17.Ne6! Qe7 18.Ng7 Kd8 19.Nd5 Qd6 20.b4 white wins } 17. Bxe7 {17.Ne4!? looks more tough, here black cannot take knight either 17�Bg5? 18.Nd6 18�Kf8 (if 18�Ke7 ?? 19.Nc8 Qc8 20.Qa3! Qc5 21.Qc5 Nc5 22.b4) 19.Nc8 Qc8 20.Nf3 attacking both g5 and d7. Loses pawn and then castling 17�0-0? 18.Ne6 fe 19.Be7 Qe7 20.Qd7.} Qxe7 18. Rac1 {White throws the last piece into fight. Black h8 rook just dreams of a battle}
Nc4 {18�0-0 19.Ne6! leads to a losing of a pawn } 19. Na4 {Trying to prevent black forces consolidation, Nce5 with following 0-0.} b5 {Good solution, after 19�Ncb6 20.Rc8 Nc8 21.Rc1 with the idea of Rc7, white is better} 20. b3 O-O {At last!} 21. bxc4 bxa4 22. Nc6 {Forcing the coming to a successful ending} Rxc6 23. Qxd7 {It’s difficult to avoid exchange 23…Qd7 24.Rd7 and in answer to 24…Rfc8 (if 24…Rb8 then 25.Rb1!) there is nice move 25.Rb7 with the idea of Rb4. White has advantage} Qc5 {There more chance with queens } 24.
Rc3 {White professionally maneuvering with rooks. One goes t b1 then to b7, second is ready to support the attack f7 after f3} g6 25. Rb1 h5 {It’s very difficult to change game flow for black, that’s why opponents still make useful } 26. Rb7 e5 {Preparing defense for the f7 pawn} 27. e4 Rf6 28. Rc2 Qa3 29. Qd1 Rd6 30.
Rd2 Rfd8 31. Rd5 Rxd5 {White has a pleasant choice} 32. cxd5 Qxa2 33. Qf3 Rf8 34. Qd3 {Defended promoting pawn in center, active position, white has advantage. Black has to develop activity, create counter play, otherwise white takes “a” pawns one by one } a3 {White has to play with attention, black has counter strike 35�f5! to natural 35.Rb3? } 35. Rb3 f5 {White has lost all the advantage. It’s possible to make a draw 36.Qa6 Qb3 37.Qg6. }
36. Qxa6 Qxb3 37. Qxg6+ Kh8 38. Qh6+ Kg8 1/2-1/2
*

(Source) Update: Again, this link is broken, the official site has been hacked by online cards games.

2 Comments

Val September 29, 2006 Reply

Wala pala yan si topalov. Kasilyas ang dahilan kaya sya natatalo. Excuses, excuses and another excuses

deuts September 29, 2006 Reply

Oo nga eh. pero wag mo nman sabihing kasilyas, masagwa pakinggan. rest room naman…heheheh

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