1.e4
e5
2.Nf3
Nc6
3.Bb5
The old defense of the Ruy Lopez, already used by Lasker and Tarrasch and recently in 2000, four times by Kramnik in his match against Kasparov for the World Championship. Kasparov didn't succeed to win a single game, with four draws. But GM Alexandrov and Sokolov utilizes it with good results.
3...Nf6
4.0-0
The main line but [4.d3
leads to a closed game, and ; 4.Nc3
transposes to the Four Knights; 4.Qe2
is playable. ]
4...Nxe4
5.d4
Nd6
[5...Be7
is also played.]
6.Bxc6
dxc6
7.dxe5
Nf5
8.Qxd8+
Kxd8
White ends up with a pawn majority on the King side; the Black King can't castle any more. However Black has the bishops pair.
9.Nc3
[9.Rd1+
is also good, with 9...Ke8
10.Nc3
and if 10...Be7
(or 10...Ne7
11.Nd4
; or 10...a5
11.h3
) 11.b3
]
9...h6
[9...Bd7
has been played by Kramnik with the idea to lead the Black King to the Queen side as soon as possible.]
10.Rd1+
Ke8
Practically forced.
11.h3
preparing an eventual g4; White is slightly better.
11...Be6
[11...a5
; or 11...Be7
; or even 11...Ne7
followed by 12...Ng6 have been played resulting in a balanced position.]
12.b3
Planning to develop the Bc1 to b2 supporting the pawn e5 and exerting pressure later on g7 and Rh8
12...g5
13.Ne4!
with Nf6 in mind
13...Be7
14.Bb2
Rg8
15.g4
Blocking the king side and avoiding the activation of the g8 rook by g5-g4
15...Bd5
[The other possibilty was 15...Nh4
16.Nxh4
gxh4
17.Kh2
; But not 15...Ng7?
16.Nf6++-
wins. ]
16.Nf6+
Bxf6
17.exf6
Nd6
[If 17...Bxf3
18.Rd3
Nd6
19.Re1+!
]
18.Re1+
Kd8
[Better than 18...Kf8
19.Ne5
; or 18...Be6
19.Nd4
However with 18...Kd8 the King is taken away from the king side where the battle will take place for White to eventually obtain a passed pawn]
19.Rad1
Occupies the d- file.
19...Kc8
20.Ne5
b5
Black must give some breathing room to his king and find a way to get his rook a8 into the battle.
21.Rd4
Re8
22.f4
With the idea to exchange pawns on the king side and then attack the isolated black pawn on g5 or on h6 with Bc1
22...gxf4
23.Kf2
Rb8
Black finally finds a way to activate his a8 rook by Rb8-b6-a6 and Rxa2 but this will take time and the real battle is on the king side.
24.Rxf4
c5
25.h4
c4
26.Rd4
Be6
[If 26...c6
27.Nxf7
]
27.Bc1
Rb6
[If 27...Rh8
28.Ng6!
]
28.Bxh6
Ra6
29.bxc4
Rxa2
30.cxb5
Rxc2+
31.Rd2
Rc5
32.Bf4
Rxb5
33.Rc2
Rb4
34.Nd3
A defensive move combined with attack.
34...Ne4+
[If 34...Rb6
35.g5
; or if 34...Rd4
35.Bxd6
Rxd6
36.Nf4
]
35.Kf3
Rd4
36.Rxc7+
Kd8
37.Ke3!?
I preferred this move to
[37.Rxa7
Nxf6
38.Ne5
Bxg4+
39.Kg3
Nh5+
]
37...Ra4
38.Rb1
Bc8
39.Rb8
Nd6+[]
40.Re7
Re4+[]
41.Rxe4
Nxe4
42.Kf3
Nxf6
43.Bg5
Ke7
44.Kf4!
[Better than 44.Rb4
Rg8
; or 44.Kg3
Kd7
]
44...Ke6
[If 44...Rg8
45.h5
; Or if 44...Rd8
45.Nc5
; Or if 44...Ba6
45.Bxf6+
]
45.Nc5+
Kd5
46.Bxf6
Kxc5
47.h5
Kd5
48.h6
Re4+
49.Kg5
Rxg4+
50.Kh5
Rg8
51.Rb5+
Even with a material superiority Black is lost.
On 51...Ke4 52.h7 Rf8 53.Rg5 Bf5 and 54. Rg8 Bxh7 55. Rxf8 Kf5 56.Kh6.
1-0