Vladimir Kramnik vs Pentala Harikrishna, Ruy Lopez, Closed. Martinez Variation (C78)
2017 Gashimov Memorial, Round 4, Shamkir
This game was recommended by taseef r. I never saw It before, but I was astonished when I finally did. It’s one of the most instructive middlegames in regards to human chess. It perfectly depicts human strengths and weaknesses in chess and amplifies the difference between humans and engines and the fact that the engines will never be able to fully understand human reactions, emotions and moves. Kramnik was white against Harikrishna in a closed Ruy Lopez. He played d3, the Martinez Variation, a line which is not as common as the main lines with Re1.
Both players went for the common plans in the middlegame and developed their pieces to the most logical squares. Kramnik got a slightly uncomfortable position in which Pentala had a mild initiative and he decided it was time to act! He positioned his rook in the center and sacrificed it for 3 pawns! The sacrifice was completely unjustified according to the engines, but it did give him 3 connected passed pawns which no human would take lightly. The rest of the game brought a few minor mistakes by Kramnik and a few serious blunders by Harikrishna. The reason for that is that, despite the material advantage, black’s position was extremely hard to play for a human.
Game moves:
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5
7. Bb3 d6 8. a3 O-O 9. Nc3 Nb8 10. Ne2 Nbd7 11. c3 Bb7 12. Ng3
c5 13. Re1 Rc8 14. Nf5 c4 15. dxc4 Bxe4 16. Nxe7+ Qxe7
17. cxb5 axb5 18. Bg5 Nc5 19. Ba2 h6 20. Bh4 g5 21. Bg3 Bh7
22. Qe2 Kg7 23. Rad1 Nfe4 24. Rd5 f5 25. Rxe5 dxe5 26. Bxe5+
Nf6 27. Qxb5 Ne4 28. Bd4 Rfd8 29. h3 Rb8 30. Qe2 Bg8 31. Bb1
Qb7 32. b4 Re8 33. c4 Qc6 34. Qb2 Rbd8 35. c5 Qe6 36. b5 Kf8
37. c6 g4 38. hxg4 fxg4 39. Bxe4 gxf3 40. Bxf6 Rd6 41. Bg7+
Kf7 42. Be5 1-0