
Alexey Shirov vs Vladimir Kramnik
Corus Group A (2001), Wijk aan Zee NED, rd 12, Jan-27



Click Here to play Guess-the-Move
Given 7 times; par: 80 [what's this?]

Get this game explained with Decode Chess
explore this opening
find similar games 91 more Shirov/Kramnik games
sac: 23...Rxe2 PGN: download | view | print Help: general | java-troubleshooting


PGN Viewer:  What is this?


Kibitzer's Corner
Jan-09-04  PinkPanther: Hahahaha, I can't believe Kramnik beat Shirov with this variation of the Caro-Kann. I king of always thought the 3...c5 lines were kind of the redheaded stepchild of the Caro Kann Advance Variation, but I suppose Kramnik has proved me wrong, lol.
Sep-21-04  cheekymonkey: What are the possibilities after 4c3? Is transposing to the French Advance Variation the best option, or are there alternatives for black?
Sep-21-04  Hanzo Steel: And without moving his light-squared bishop until move 26.
Dec-15-05  chesscrazy: <Hanzo Steel> Kramnik never moved his a-rook until move 37.
Premium Chessgames Member
  Fagin: 4. c3 scores very badly, because Black can play his light-bishop to f5 or g4. Black wins approx. 75% in this line. 4.dxc5 is the best move here.
Apr-24-06  hitman84: A great game by Kramnik playing Caro-Kann for the first time!

This line with the early c5 break was popularised by Christopher Lutz one of my favourite Gms.

The idea behind this line is to deflect the d4 pawn and put pressure on the e5 pawn.

after 7..f6 white's only center pawn gets exchanged and has to blockade the black's central pawns with his N on e5.

here black's d6 pawn though backward is defended by the c8 B(which is moved only after move 25!)

The idea of 11...a5!!,a4,a3 is to weaken the dark squares.A brilliant strategical idea!

Shirov here chose a completely wrong plan going for 0-0-0.He always thrives for double edged positions but underestimates black's strategy here.

An example of how good Kramnik is when it comes to preperation!

Apr-26-06  hitman84: Erratum:This line was popularised by the legendry Mikhail Botvinnik I pasted the wrong link and the name of a german GM Lutz.C appeared.

here are some games in this line which spices the oterwise boring Caro-Kann. Tal vs Botvinnik, 1961

I could'nt find this game in the database..

Tal,M - Botvinnik,M [B12]
World Championship 24th Moscow (8), 31.03.1961

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.dxc5 e6 5.Qg4 Nc6 6.Nf3 Qc7 7.Bb5 Bd7 8.Bxc6 Qxc6 9.Be3 Nh6 10.Bxh6 gxh6 11.Nbd2 Qxc5 12.c4 0-0-0 13.0-0 Kb8 14.Rfd1 Qb6 15.Qh4 a5 16.Rac1 Rg8 17.Nb3 a4 18.c5 Qc7 19.Nbd4 Rc8 20.b4 axb3 21.axb3 Qd8 22.Qxd8 Rxd8 23.b4 Rg4 24.b5 Rc8 25.c6 Be8 26.Rc2 Bg7 27.Ra1 Bxe5 28.Nxe5 Rxd4 29.Nd7+ 1-0

Premium Chessgames Member
  Mateo: Kramnik outplayed his opponent, avoiding all the offers Shirov made to him. The Rook ending was played with all the scientific accuracy we can expect from Kramnik. He should be called Kramnik-the science, one of the greatest players of all time.

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. dxc5 e6 5. Bf4!? <New at the time and nobody played it again since this game...> Bxc5 6. Bd3!? <Inviting Kramnik to win a pawn.> Nc6!? <6...Qb6 with double attack should be considered. But Kramnik declined the gift and prefers to developp first.> 7. Nf3 f6 <Now that White is ready to castle 7... Qb6 8. 0-0 Qxb2 would have been risky.> 8. Nbd2 fxe5 <Still avoiding another White's offer. 7... g5!? 8. Bg3 g4.> 9. Bxe5 <9. Nxe5? Qf6 10. Nxc6 Qxf4 is good for Black.> Nf6 10. Qe2 O-O 11. O-O-O a5 12. Nb3 Bd6 13. Kb1 Bxe5 14. Nxe5 a4 15. Nc1?! <15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. Nd4 Qb6 17. Nxe6? Re8 18. Bf5 c5 19. Rhe1 Ra6 wins the pinned Knight.> a3 16. b3 Qa5 <threatening 16... Qc3.> 17. c4 <17. Qe3? Nxe5 (17... Qc3? 18. Bxh7) 18. Qxe5 Ng4 19. Qh5 Qc3! 20. Bxh7+ (20. Qxh7+ Kf7, the Black King escapes and Black wins) Kh8 21. Nd3 (21. Bg6+ Nh6 22. Nd3 Rxf2! 23. Rc1 Rd2 (threatening 24... Rxd3) 24. Rhf1 Bd7 25. Qe5 Rxd3! wins.> dxc4 18. Nxc4 Qc7 19. Rhe1 Nd5 20. Qd2 Ncb4 21. Ne2 <White is lost. 21. Be4 b5 22. Ne3 Nc3+ 23. Ka1 Nxd1 24. Bxa8 Qe5+ 25. Kb1 Nc3+ 26. Ka1 Ne4+ wins. 21. Ka1 b5 22. Ne5 Nc3 wins the exchange.> Rxf2 22. Be4 b5 23. Qd4?! <23. Ne3.> Rxe2 24. Rxe2 bxc4 25. Bxd5 Nxd5 26. bxc4 Ba6 27. Rc1 Nf4 28. Rd2 e5 29. Qe3 Bxc4 30. Ka1 Qf7! 31. g3 <31. Qxe5? Nd3. 31. Qc3 Ne2! 32. Qxc4 Nxc1 33. Qxc1 e4, the passed pawn combined with threats against the King give Black a winning position.> Nd3?! <31... Ng6. Making the win more difficult.> 32. Rxd3 Bxd3 33. Qxd3 h6 <33... e4! 34. Qxe4? Qb6+ wins.> 34. Qb3 <34. Re1.> Qxb3 35. axb3 Kf7 36. Rc6 a2! <The beginning of the winning idea. Not easy to find.> 37. h4 <37. b4 Ra3 38. b5 e4 39. Rc4 Kf6 40. g4 Kg5 41. b6 Ra6 42. b3 Rxb6 43. Kxa2 Kh4 44. Rxe3 Rd6 45. Kb3 Rd2 46. with winning prospects for Black.> Ra3! 38. b4 e4 39. Rc4 e3 40. Re4 Kf6 41. g4 <41. b5 Kf5 42. Re8 Kg4 43. b6 Rb3 44. Kxa2 Rxb6 45. Rxe3 Rf6 46. Kb2 Rf3, Black wins.> h5 42. gxh5 Kf5 43. Re7 Kf4 44. b5 Rb3 45. Rf7+ Ke4 46. Re7+ Kd3 47. Rd7+ Kc2 48. Rc7+ Kd2 <Missing 48... Rc3 49. Rxg7 Kb3 50. Rg1 Rd3 51. b6 e2 mating in two moves.> 49. Kxa2 Rxb5 50. Rxg7 <50. Rd7+ Kc2 51. Rc7+ Kd3 52. Rd7+ Ke4 53. Re7+ Re5 wins.> e2 51. Rd7+ Kc2 <Threatening mate.> 52. Rc7+ Kd3 53. Re7 <53. Rc1 (53. Rd7+ Ke4 wins) Kd2 wins.> Rxh5 <54. Kb3 (54. Rd7+ Ke5 55. Re7+ Re5 wins) Rxh4 with 55... Re4 coming wins te Rook and the game.> 0-1

Jan-23-07  positionalgenius: Incredible ending,and game,from kramnik.
Jan-23-07  who: <hitman> the game you're refering to is Tal vs Botvinnik, 1961
Aug-29-16  Master M: Beautiful play by Kramnik, quite like Botvinnik. Seemed like white had no counterplay at all.
Premium Chessgames Member
  plang: Not only did Kramnik play the Caro Kann for the first time but he played a rare line (at least at that time) with 3..c5 and 4..e6. 5 Bf4!? had apparently played once in a game between Velimirovic and Kholmov but it seems like a strange square for the bishop in this line. Kramnik thought that 8..g5!? 9 Nxg5..fxg 10 Qh5+..Kd7 11 Bxg5 was OK for Black but he did want to give Shirov that type of position. Kramnik thought thar Shirov should have castled on the kingside. 12 Nb3? was part of a bad plan; 12 a3, 12 h3 or even 12 g4!? were even alternatives. Shirov's 19 Rhe1?!..Nd5 left Black with a winning position; better would have been 19 Ne3 though Black still would have had a clear edge. 21..Nxd3 22 Qxd3..Rxf2 would have been even stronger leading to a routine technical win for Black. 29..Nxg2 would have been more straightforward. In time trouble Kramnik continued to complicate his winning chances with 31..Nd3?; correct was 31..Ng6 32 Qe4..Rf8. 37 h4?! was not the best defense; a better defense would have been 37 Rc2..Ra3 38 b4..e4 39 Rb2..e3 40 b5..Rd3 41 b6..Rd2 though Black would still have likely eventually won.

Kramnik's analysis and explanations to this game were, as usual, outstanding.


Please observe our posting guidelines:

  3. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
  4. Nothing in violation of United States law.
  6. No trolling.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

Blow the Whistle





Featured in the Following Game Collections[what is this?]
from kuna65's favorite games by kuna65
parmetd's Kramnik view
by parmetd
Caro-Kann, Advance Variation
by Gabo5588
rook ending
by caracas1970
from Kramnik - My Life and Games by jakaiden
from Kramnik - My Life and Games by peckinpah
5 Carolina Luves Fredthebear
by fredthebear
Rook Endgames
by SpiritedReposte
Endgame mastery: Rook ending
from Vladimir Kramnik - Immortal masterpieces by Karpova
Vladimir Kramnik's Best Games
by JoseTigranTalFischer
kram mastery
from endings by gmlisowitz
96a The Unbearable Lightness of rook endgames 1
by whiteshark
Wijk aan Zee 2001
from # Greatest Tournaments 2001 by Qindarka
dannieray's favorite games
by dannieray
Book of Samurai's favorite games 7
by Book of Samurai
Kramnik with the Caro-Kann?!
from Caro-Kann games I find interesting. by Chessman1504
Caro-Kann, Advance Variation
by Chessdreamer
Vladimir Kramnik's Best Games
by KingG
Caro-Kann Advance
by Zhbugnoimt
Round Twelve, Game #80
from Wijk aan Zee Corus 2001 by Tabanus
plus 13 more collections (not shown)


Copyright 2001-2020, Chessgames Services LLC