Kramnik’s Immortal

Every so often a game is played which is worthy of joining the immortals in the pantheon of chessboard masterpieces. Anderssen v. Kieseritsky, London 1851, Zukertort v. Blackburne, London 1883, Botvinnik v. Capablanca, AVRO 1938; these are the jewels to which every chess player aspires. As Marcel Duchamp once observed: ‘not all artists are chess players, but all chess players are artists’.

The former world champion Vladimir Kramnik played such a game against Levon Aronian, one of the pre-tournament favourites in the Berlin Candidates to determine the challenger to Magnus Carlsen’s crown. The championship match itself is set for London in November.

Aronian-Kramnik: Fidé Candidates Berlin 2018; Ruy Lopez

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 Nf6 4 d3 Bc5 5 Bxc6 This kind of ‘delayed exchange’ is a popular counter to the Berlin Defence. 5 … dxc6 6 0-0 Qe7 7 h3 Rg8 (see diagram 1) This is an extraordinary idea and shows an admirable flexibility of thought. White’s play has been a little passive and Kramnik alertly realises that he can exploit this with a rapid kingside advance. 8 Kh1 Nh5 9 c3 White needs a more robust response to Black’s aggressive plan. The alternative 9 Nc3 fits the bill so that if Black continues as in the game with 9 … g5 10 Nxe5 g4 11 d4 Bd6 12 g3 Bxe5 13 dxe5 Qxe5 then the white e-pawn is protected and he has time for 14 h4 with unclear play. 9 … g5 This shows up White’s 9th move as being too slow. The black attack now develops with terrifying speed. 10 Nxe5 g4 11 d4 11 Nxg4 is destroyed by 11 … Bxg4 12 hxg4 Qh4+ 13 Kg1 Ng3 and mate on h1 is inevitable.