Lesson
White to move. Main line: 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. h4 h6 5. g4 Bd7 6. Nd2 c5 7. dxc5 e6 8. Nb3 Bxc5 9. Nxc5 Qa5+ 10. c3 Qxc5 11. Nf3 Ne7 12. Bd3 Nbc6 13. Be3 Qa5 14. Qd2 Ng6 15. Bd4 Nxd4 16. cxd4 Qxd2+ 17. Kxd2 Nf4 18. Rac1 h5 19. Rhg1 Bc6 20. gxh5 Nxh5 21. b4 a6 22. a4 Kd8 23. Ng5 Be8 24. b5 Nf4 25. b6 Nxd3 26. Kxd3 Rc8 27. Rxc8+ Kxc8 28. Rc1+ Bc6 29. Nxf7 Rxh4 30. Nd6+ Kd8 31. Rg1 Rh3+ 32. Ke2 Ra3 33. Rxg7 Rxa4 34. f4 Ra2+ 35. Kf3 Ra3+ 36. Kg4 Rd3 37. f5 Rxd4+ 38. Kg5 exf5 39. Kf6 Rg4 40. Rc7 Rh4 41. Nf7+
Kramnik advances the h- and g-pawns early, then exchanges queens on d2. The resulting position favors White’s space and active king, while Black’s pieces must defend weaknesses on both wings.
The queenside expansion b4, a4 and b5 fixes targets. Kramnik’s knight reaches g5, f7 and d6, combining threats against the rook with pressure on the black king. The rook enters on c1 and g1 at the right moments.
The final 41.Nf7+ leaves Black unable to stop the coordinated rook, knight and passed pawns. This is must-win chess without unsound gambling: Kramnik created an imbalanced but playable structure, maintained pressure and used precise technique to level the match.