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(875530) Leko,P (2769) - Kramnik,V (2725) [B42]
Corus 2000 Wijk aan Zee (8), 24.01.2000
[Rohde]
1.e4 Leko prefers to open with 1 e4. 1...c5 Kramnik is tied for the lead in this event and sticks with the Sicilian Defense, which suits his style better than drawish openings which he has been experimenting with such as the Petroff's Defense. 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 Leko got a good game against Timman with the King's Indian Attack starting with 3 d3 but he is tired of fooling around with non-Open Sicilians. Timman had tried 3 d3 himself against Kramnik without any notable success. 3...cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 The Kan Sicilian. Kramnik is expanding his repertoire away from the Classical and Sveshnikov Sicilians. 5.Bd3 A flexible reply to the Kan and the main line. White preserves the option of establishing a Maroczy Bind with c2-c4. 5...Bc5 The line 5 ... Nc6 6 Nxc6! is generally quite comfortable for White, so the main lines here are 5 ... Nf6 and 5 ... Qc7. 6.Nb3 Ba7 Generally in this line White will engineer a trade of bishops with Qd1-e2 and Bc1-e3 and play for pressure on the d-file as the square d6 can become sensitive. 7.c4 There is no doubt that this is the ambitious way to play this position, grabbing space. 7...Nc6 8.Nc3 Nge7 This is the special twist that has become available to Black because he developed the bishop so early - the knight can go to e7. It remains to be seen how this affects each player's strategy. 9.0-0 0-0 10.Qe2 A standard move to prepare Bc1-e3 and try to prove that Black will become weak on the dark squares. 10...e5 Clearly this is Kramnik's special preparation. Kramnik has a classical style in that he is always looking to gain space. Plus, with Sveshnikov Variation experience, he is used to having a weak d5 square. If Black's knight was on f6 rather than e7, the pin Bc1-g5 would now be very annoying. 11.Be3 Leko continues with the plan to erase the bishop on a7. 11...Nd4 Tactically, White can only remove this knight with his bishop. 12.Bxd4 Of course not 12 Nxd4?? exd4 and White's pieces are under a double attack. 12...exd4 The alternative 12 ... Bxd4?! would be very undynamic as the strong bishop gets liquidated and Black would have limited compensation for his compromised pawn structure. 13.Nd5 White will base his play on hitting the pawn on d4, but the b3 knight is otherwise quite passive. 13...d6 The indicated move. There is no reason for Black to be in a hurry to exchange on d5 as c4xd5 just improves the scope of White's pieces. 14.Rad1 Solid. 14 Nxe7+ Qxe7 would not generate enough pressure. Something to think about was 14 Qh5. But the text readies White for Bd3-b1, which would force Black to reply with ... Ne7-c6. 14...Nc6 Securing his grip on d4 while eyeing the square e5. Neither side's minor pieces are particularly active here, but White has a chance for kingside expansion. 15.Kh1 A precautionary move. White is obviously planning f2-f4. 15...Be6 This bishop's best use is to keep an eye on the knight on d5. 16.f4 Taking e5 under his control. But it will be hard to move forward as f4-f5 is always answered by ... Be6xd5 and then the Black knight will move to e5. 16...Re8 17.Qh5 To see what weaknesses can be provoked. A move with either Black's g-pawn or his h-pawn will give encouragement to White as he tries to find enough reasons to play f4-f5. 17...g6 I thought Kramnik would be able to avoid this a little longer, playing it only if White played e4-e5. But Black is very constricted here and is going to have to find a way to get some elbow room. 18.Qh6 Bxd5 He cannot wait for the e5 square to open up after f4-f5 and gets rid of the White knight straight away. 19.exd5 A conservative approach as White is not left with any worries about a weak e-pawn after 19 cxd5 Nb4. But also White has no chance for a central steamroller. 19...Nb4 20.f5 To get f-file pressure. On other moves, Black would have time for ... Re8-e3. 20...Qe7 Black would love to get in ... Qe3. 21.f6 Leko offered a draw with this move. The position is very complicated after 21 ... Qf8 22 Qh4. But Kramnik did not see major chances for an advantage here. 1/2-1/2
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