Kramnik’s Passed Pawns
In the GM Neil McDonald’s book “Chess Secrets: The Giants of Strategy”
“In Kramnik’s games we witness what might be described as a ‘breakthrough style’: he aims for a space advantage and then tries to smash the pawn barriers in his path. Typically this leads to the creation of a passed pawn. His build-up is direct but patient, until the moment arrives for aggressive action.”
I glanced at some Kramnik’s games and was surprised to see how well the author nailed the point. Here is a typical example…
Wijk aan Zee 2003
White has a significant advantage in space and his, apparently weak, Bishop is doing a very important service - it controls d8 square.
The first step for White is to prevent Black from challenging the d-file.
1. Rd8+ Kb7 2. Kf4!
The King is moving closer to the kingside. After few more moves it will become apparent why was this important. Black will make another attempt to remove White Rook from the d-file. There is nothing else to do, either.
2…Rc8 3. Rd7+!
Forcing the Black Rook back to 7th rank to defend the f7-pawn.
3…Rc7 4.Rd3!
A waiting move that actually gains tempo! Black is in some sort of zugzwang and the only thing that he can do is to try to prepare Rc7-d7.
4…Kc8 5. Rd8+ Kb7
This is the same position as after 2. Kf4, only with White to move! This allows Kramnik to execute his crafty plan.
6. Bf6!
GM Glenn Flear: “Black has only one pawn on a dark square and Kramnik finds a way to attack it!”
The point behind the sacrifice is to clear the way for h-pawn and storm it forward (sounds familiar?). The correlation between Kf6, Nf5 and future f6-pawn (after Black takes Bishop) is preventing Black from catching the pawn. White Rook also controls the 8th rank.
In the actual game, Bareev realised what was going on and tried 6…g6, but the game finished only few moves later, 7. hxg6 hxg6 8. Kg5 and Black resigned as g-pawn is falling and soon after the e-pawn as well.
Let’s see what would happen had Black taken the Bishop…
6…gxf6
6…Rc8 is too slow, 7. Rxc8 Kxc8 8. Bxg7 Nxg7 9. h6, the pawn is unstoppable.
7. exf6 Rc8
Another possibility is 7…a3, but White wins in similar fashion, 8. Kg5 Rc8 9. Rxc8 Kxc8 10. h6 and pawn endgame is hopeless for Black.
8. Rxc8 Kxc8 9. Kg5 Kd7 10. h6 Nxh6 11. Kxh6 e5!?
12. Kh7!
Still some precision was needed, as there are two spare tempi in play, from a-pawns and e-f pawns.
12…Ke6 53. Kg7 and now Black is in zugzwang.
