Polgar-Kramnik, 1998, power of two bishops in the Sveshnikov

This is one of the games I remember well from reading Kramnik's collection of games a few years ago. This game was memorable for the breakthrough Kramnik executed in the endgame, using the bishop's advantage over the bishop. Now that I am studying the Sveshnikov, it was of course interesting to go through the game again. Before Vladimir Kramnik started to play the Petroff defence, Sveshnikov Sicilian was his main weapon as black, so this is one of his classical games from the 90's.

Replay Game

Judit Polgar (2670) - Vladimir Kramnik (2790) [B33]

Hoogovens/Wijk aan Zee (11) 1998

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12. Nc2 Bg5 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 a5 15. Bc4

15... Rb8 This position is pretty much a tabia in modern chess. 16. b3 Kh8 17. O-O g6 Rogozenko in "Sveshnikov Reloaded" mentions that this move recently became less popular. If Black plays f5, White should just avoid capturing on f5, and instead try to keep control over f4 (see annotation to move 18.) 17... f5 18. exf5 Bxf5 19. Nce3 Bg6 has now become the main line. 18. Kh1 18. Qd3 f5 19. f3 18... Bh6 19. Qe2 Bd7 20. Raa1 f5 21. exf5 21. f3 21... gxf5 22. f4 Bg7 23. Rad1 Fritz believes that white is better after 23. Qh5 23... Ne7 24. Nce3 Ng6 25. Qh5 Qe8 26. fxe5 Qxe5 26... dxe5 27. Nxf5 27. Be2

27... f4 this advance is typical for Sveshnikov variation, and disrupts the coordination of White knights. 28. Nc4 Qxh5 29. Bxh5 Bb5 30. Bxg6 The knight should not be allowed to come to e5. 30. Rfe1 Bxc4 31. bxc4 Ne5 30... hxg6

31. Rf3 31. Rxf4 Rxf4 32. Nxf4

32... a4! 33. Nxd6 axb3 31... Be5 32. Nxe5 dxe5 33. c4 Bc6 34. Re1 Rfe8 35. g3 35. Re4 a4 and white cannot take on a4 because of weak back rank 35... g5 36. gxf4 exf4 37. Rxe8+ Rxe8 38. h4

38... a4! Black's symmetrical counter-shot on the queenside proves more efficient! 39. bxa4 Re4 40. Kg1 Rxc4 41. Rd3 g4 42. a5 g3 43. Rd1

43... f3 Black's strategy of central pawn advance (which started with 17...g6) has triumphed! 44. Ne7 f2+ 45. Kf1 Bb5 46. Kg2 Rc2

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