1. e4 As usual Garry chooses his favorite move 1.e4. 1... e5 And Kramnik decides to avoid any opening preparation from Garry! No Sveshnikov Sicilian today. 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 and no Berlin defense either! 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O That is the point! Everybody knows that Garry doesn't like to dispute the highly theoretical Marshall attack after 8.c3 d5!, because of this... Kramnik gets to choose his opening strategy! 8. h3 Garry's Last invitation - now if 8... d6 then 9. c3 - and we have a Classical Ruy Lopez, but Kramnik has something different in mind. 8... Bb7! 9. d3 So - Garry, with no punches exchanged, has lost the psychology battle. Now a position arises that looks similar to the Italian game ( recall the games from Karpov vs Korchnoi WC match in Merano 1981). White has only a slightly better game (the pawn stands less active on d3 then on d4!). 9... d6 10. a3 The only way to keep the bishop on the active diagonal. Less active is... 10. c3 Na5 11. Bc2 c5 12. Nbd2 Re8 with a pleasant game for black. 10... Nb8 11. Nbd2 Nbd7 12. Nf1 Re8 13. Ba2 Garry is patiently waiting for the move c5, then the Knight will occupy the e3 square ( via Nf1-e3) and then the d5 square will be under control. Vladimir understands this trick very well and solves this problem in a unique way. 13... c6!? 14. Ng3 So now the Knight has nothing to do on e3, and the d5 square is under Black's control. However, the N on g3 has his drawbacks also. 14... Bf8 15. Nf5 15.Bg5 will be meet by h6! ( and no Bh4 move because of g5!) and on 15.Ng5 Black just plays d5! lashing out in the center against the flank attack. 15... d5 everything is OK for black ....c5 is coming next. So Garry needs to open the position in the center, however this is also where Black's pieces are well coordinated. 16. d4 c5! The best answer! Kramnik intend to use his good piece coordination. More problematic is... 16... Nxe4?! 17. Rxe4! The point of White's idea. 17... dxe4 18. Ng5 Nf6 19. Bxf7+ Kh8 20. Bxe8 Qxe8 21. dxe5 with a huge advantage 17. dxc5 A mistake would be the brave attempt... 17. exd5?! exd4 18. Bg5 h6 19. Bh4 g6! with an advantage for black - pawn d5 enemy problem 17... Nxc5 18. exd5 e4 19. N3d4 Bxd5 20. Bxd5 Qxd5 21. Bg5 More or less forcing the situation- in the arising position the chances are about equal - White has more active pieces ( Nf5, Bg5) , but Black has no weaknesses. 21... Nfd7! The most precise answer. 21... Ncd7?! 22. Qd2 h6 23. Bf4 and White is keeping some pressure. 22. Qg4 Ne5 23. Qg3 Ne6 Exchanging the active pieces - a good strategy 24. Rad1! 24. Nxe6 Qxe6 25. Nd4 Qg6 and Black has some advantage thanks to the threat of Nc4! 24... Nxg5 25. Qxg5 Qb7 26. Ng3 Objectively speaking, Garry understands that it is time to force a draw - otherwise Black will start making the White pieces more passive, pushing them away from the activity near the Black King. 26... Nc4 27. Ndf5 Re6 28. b3 The last try perhaps would be... 28. Rd8!? Rxd8 29. Qxd8 Nxb2 Black wins a pawn but White has some initiative.(29... Qb6) 30. Nh5 Rg6 31. Nf4 Rf6 32. g4! However 29...Qb6! secures a draw 28... Nxa3 29. Rxe4! White has a perpetual check after this nice piece sacrifice, but not more unfortunately. 29... Rxe4 30. Nxe4 Qxe4 31. Nh6+ Kh8 32. Nxf7+ Kg8 33. Nh6+ Kh8 Game drawn 1/2-1/2 [GM Alterman and J.Doss]