WEBVTT 00:01.110 --> 00:01.860 Hi there. 00:01.980 --> 00:06.900 In this lecture, we see the positional genius of Vladimir Kramnik playing against Peter Leko. 00:07.470 --> 00:10.860 So this is in the 2004 World Chess Championship match. 00:10.860 --> 00:11.720 Round 14. 00:11.730 --> 00:14.370 A must win situation for Vladimir Kramnik. 00:14.550 --> 00:22.760 We have e4c6 on d4d5 now E five the advanced variation. 00:22.770 --> 00:25.120 So this was also favoured by Nimzowitsch. 00:25.140 --> 00:28.890 We have Bishop at five, but unlike Nimzowitsch is Bishop de free. 00:29.010 --> 00:35.270 We have H four, which does seem to have a lot of venom to it. 00:35.280 --> 00:37.390 We have H six and G four. 00:37.410 --> 00:39.180 So one pitfall here. 00:40.440 --> 00:42.840 The bishop went back to D seven. 00:42.870 --> 00:47.610 If it goes to H seven, can you see what white plays here, which is very dangerous for black. 00:48.910 --> 00:49.050 Yeah. 00:49.170 --> 00:55.410 There's a positional pawn sacrifice for 100 points E six after f tanks. 00:55.410 --> 00:57.870 There's enough compensation here to justify things. 00:57.870 --> 01:03.440 Black should really play E5 to get some pieces developed. 01:03.450 --> 01:06.050 So in this position, White still has a nice advantage. 01:06.120 --> 01:08.550 So this is a dangerous pawn sacrifice. 01:09.750 --> 01:13.170 So the bishop goes to D seven and now we have 92. 01:13.680 --> 01:18.600 And this gives the idea that C five is going to be under whites grip. 01:18.600 --> 01:18.910 So. 01:18.920 --> 01:20.850 So C five is played immediately. 01:21.450 --> 01:25.440 If it's played slowly with E six, let's say, might be free. 01:25.690 --> 01:27.480 Quincy seven, 9f3. 01:27.480 --> 01:30.120 Black's going to end up playing C five in any case. 01:30.330 --> 01:33.670 And this situation, if Black gives up the dark square Bishop. 01:33.720 --> 01:36.510 We do have a fundamental downside creeping in. 01:36.510 --> 01:38.670 The dark squares are a bit vulnerable here. 01:39.330 --> 01:40.980 White is overall better. 01:41.550 --> 01:46.770 So C five immediately D tanks we have E six might be free. 01:46.890 --> 01:49.290 And now a tactic to get the pawn back. 01:49.290 --> 01:56.220 Bishop takes C five white obliges Knight 65 of the point is the check to get the knight hair back. 01:57.000 --> 02:03.820 Nevertheless, White has a certain advantage in this position, this advanced pawn which can be overprotected. 02:04.110 --> 02:07.080 Central point the dark squares slightly vulnerable. 02:07.530 --> 02:09.600 We have 97 Bishop D free. 02:11.600 --> 02:14.010 This might be a slight inaccuracy. 02:14.030 --> 02:19.850 H five would stop night G six and does seem pretty reliable. 02:20.000 --> 02:22.070 So one should have an advantage here. 02:22.250 --> 02:28.050 Whatever black place, this position is possible to allow e five to go. 02:28.070 --> 02:33.380 Just in case you're wondering, because of Bishop D four and why it's going to get G seven after with 02:33.380 --> 02:34.250 advantage. 02:34.400 --> 02:43.400 So yeah, H five does seem a slight improvement, but Bishop D free and we have nine BC six black could 02:43.400 --> 02:47.470 have played the energetic D for this positional pawn sacrifice. 02:47.480 --> 02:52.940 Should give black a decent enough game if black applies this strategic bishop exchange. 02:53.690 --> 02:55.940 The position here is pretty interesting. 02:55.940 --> 02:59.690 One should only have a small edge, but not BC six. 02:59.690 --> 03:08.630 We have Bishop e free queen a five queen DD 2g6 and now Bishop D for supporting the E five pawn Knight 03:08.660 --> 03:13.880 takes d4c takes and maybe Peter Leko felt well with the Queen's coming off. 03:14.570 --> 03:16.160 It should be more draw ish. 03:16.160 --> 03:16.580 Right? 03:16.580 --> 03:17.600 We have no effort. 03:17.600 --> 03:26.450 Rook AC 1h5 is played if rook c eight Just the challenge that CFO one could take here. 03:26.630 --> 03:30.590 And this position is slightly better for white. 03:30.740 --> 03:37.250 If we look at this one, it has a nice space advantage and overall is slightly better. 03:38.060 --> 03:44.740 So h five here was played by Black Rook, hg1, Bishop c six and now G takes h five. 03:44.750 --> 03:49.100 Looking at g seven that pushes the knight back to protect G seven. 03:49.190 --> 03:51.260 Rook takes h five looks to be unsound. 03:51.260 --> 03:52.940 There's nothing really going on here. 03:53.540 --> 03:56.000 White just has won a pawn there for not much. 03:56.690 --> 04:01.010 So the knight goes back to H five protecting g7b4. 04:01.010 --> 04:08.960 So B five looks like a nice idea that stopped a four trying to renew the idea offering a pawn to break 04:08.960 --> 04:09.710 into that seven. 04:09.710 --> 04:16.910 Frank Black doesn't want that to happen because if that happens juicy target like on F seven and combining 04:17.060 --> 04:22.550 with Knight G five and other stuff and even things like Knight takes F seven for Bishop G six if the 04:22.570 --> 04:23.120 rotated. 04:23.120 --> 04:31.040 So this looks like an unwise idea to allow Rook C seven so black ignored that pawn King D eight We have 04:31.040 --> 04:35.030 Knight G five here and now Bishop E So black's getting a bit passive. 04:35.060 --> 04:37.910 B five And now Knight of four. 04:37.910 --> 04:38.780 If A times. 04:38.810 --> 04:39.290 B five. 04:39.290 --> 04:40.970 The key here, what would you play with? 04:40.970 --> 04:45.380 White Which would be important for ten points. 04:45.890 --> 04:47.810 If you had this possession, what would you play? 04:48.080 --> 04:49.370 Yeah, tactics are important. 04:49.370 --> 04:54.860 We play the bishop to try and weaken after seven and we should have an advantage here. 04:54.860 --> 04:57.080 This position should be to our favor. 04:57.230 --> 05:03.080 So, for example, this situation, we have authority over the C file and the attack on B six. 05:03.080 --> 05:04.850 And black's pretty passive here. 05:04.850 --> 05:07.790 We're starting to make progress as an example like this. 05:07.790 --> 05:10.910 We're making progress inroads with advantage. 05:10.910 --> 05:12.230 If we'd played. 05:13.190 --> 05:17.510 Instead in that variation, just a taste. 05:17.540 --> 05:20.130 Then there's no problem for black with that active rock. 05:20.150 --> 05:21.860 We can't give that activity. 05:22.010 --> 05:28.760 If rocks get exchanged for drops and is not enough for white here to work on black a counter sanker 05:28.790 --> 05:32.030 pawn and just be equal here. 05:32.330 --> 05:35.600 Looking forward to counterattack. 05:35.780 --> 05:42.020 So anyway, F4 though was played just leaving that B5 pawn and it becomes now a hook. 05:42.130 --> 05:44.510 B6 hooking C7. 05:46.630 --> 05:49.240 Night takes the Frank King sized frame. 05:50.560 --> 05:51.670 And now. 05:52.180 --> 05:55.330 Yeah, Roxy seven looks like a very dangerous idea. 05:55.330 --> 05:55.870 So. 05:56.080 --> 05:57.970 And the bishops tie it down to F seven. 05:57.970 --> 06:01.390 We have Roxy, eight pair of rooks come off. 06:01.750 --> 06:03.310 Roxy one, champ, Bishop C six. 06:03.310 --> 06:05.140 So we're deep into an end game now. 06:05.140 --> 06:10.960 Basically, nine takes F seven now, swapping F seven for H for 996. 06:10.960 --> 06:20.260 Jack King, the eight Rogue one will cage free Tank King E two And now Rook, a free rook takes G seven. 06:20.260 --> 06:21.580 Rob takes a fall. 06:21.580 --> 06:25.810 So here is a moment of absolute genius. 06:25.810 --> 06:29.800 Which reminds me of the classic Capablanca against taunts Goa. 06:30.730 --> 06:36.610 So what can we do if our king in this end game In the end game positional play involving improving the 06:36.610 --> 06:38.470 king is often very important. 06:38.470 --> 06:44.230 We've also got a rook on the seventh, like in the classic Capablanca versus Tasca game. 06:44.230 --> 06:45.580 So what would you play here for? 06:45.580 --> 06:46.780 200 points? 06:53.540 --> 07:00.110 If you're into rugby, it's like we got to try and get a touchdown and get our king somehow across the 07:00.110 --> 07:01.520 Defenders F4. 07:01.550 --> 07:08.480 This provides a bridge potentially to get into the black position on the dark squares offering default. 07:08.510 --> 07:10.970 That's not taken route A to check. 07:11.390 --> 07:17.660 So why if rook takes D for actually even better than the king won't care. 07:18.050 --> 07:21.380 There's something which is more to the point, in fact. 07:21.560 --> 07:22.610 What would you play? 07:24.440 --> 07:27.800 I may have distracted you with King Jeffrey, but there's actually something much better. 07:29.970 --> 07:30.720 Five. 07:30.750 --> 07:32.040 This is so dangerous. 07:33.030 --> 07:38.340 So ideas of either F6 or F are very dangerous. 07:39.060 --> 07:41.050 We're following up with E seven and nine. 07:41.070 --> 07:42.010 Supporting E eight. 07:42.030 --> 07:43.260 Check and double check. 07:43.260 --> 07:49.890 So if E takes E six and the night holds the E for square here, so say Bishop E eight, nine times B 07:49.890 --> 07:52.230 seven check, 96 check. 07:52.410 --> 07:56.280 And this position right now for E seven chat mates. 07:56.910 --> 07:58.500 So that will be a big fat here. 07:59.310 --> 08:03.750 If Bishop B five checked, this position is basically busted. 08:04.620 --> 08:05.820 This is just busted. 08:05.820 --> 08:07.230 The pawns are too slow. 08:07.890 --> 08:10.170 Wait, it's going to be queening fast. 08:10.170 --> 08:12.330 So that is a fascinating position. 08:14.010 --> 08:14.580 Here. 08:15.540 --> 08:17.880 So, yes, let's have a look at that again. 08:18.450 --> 08:25.140 So EF five would be key here, creating a dangerous passport potential. 08:25.740 --> 08:34.890 And we looked at Bishop E one about a five just to show e seven check, e eight double check and mate 08:35.520 --> 08:38.700 mating soon with the extra queen. 08:38.700 --> 08:39.810 Not mate immediately. 08:40.590 --> 08:45.060 So anyway, rook to check was played. 08:46.350 --> 08:52.790 We have King Jeffrey and the king does make a route in now on the dark squares of the UK free checking 08:52.790 --> 08:57.960 g for rook d free and now F five here. 08:58.710 --> 09:03.900 So not only a postpone is of great interest, but a king infiltration rook takes D for check. 09:04.320 --> 09:10.680 If E takes our five check King takes our five bishop dd seven check e six. 09:10.680 --> 09:17.610 And this is just crushing with the king threatening, helping to threaten rook these seven. 09:17.610 --> 09:18.120 Checkmate. 09:18.120 --> 09:19.110 So check. 09:19.110 --> 09:19.290 Yeah. 09:19.320 --> 09:21.450 Black's just completely busted. 09:21.450 --> 09:26.850 So Rook takes the four champ, but now King G five, E takes a five. 09:27.360 --> 09:29.400 So black for the moment, two pawns up. 09:29.400 --> 09:36.170 But look at the possession overall possession when the aggressive king rook g four and we have now rook 09:36.170 --> 09:36.900 C seven. 09:38.440 --> 09:40.630 So big France. 09:40.630 --> 09:47.710 And you know, if E six there not be a let off route takes G seven and the blacks just winning here. 09:48.940 --> 09:58.600 So C seven very important for yeah blacks busted here KING Safety is now a major factor. 09:59.560 --> 10:03.940 And off the F seven check black has to resign blacks actually getting checkmated by force. 10:04.210 --> 10:08.890 So it's not even about the past pawn now it's about the aggressive king and the rook and knight. 10:09.370 --> 10:11.380 If King E eight So why did Black resign? 10:11.380 --> 10:15.030 King eight Can you see what black, white, Why black is being mated? 10:15.040 --> 10:16.810 What does white play here for some points. 10:19.430 --> 10:19.850 Yeah. 10:20.630 --> 10:21.080 Look. 10:21.110 --> 10:25.250 See, I check and we get a common square one that's called killer. 10:25.250 --> 10:25.890 Common square root. 10:25.890 --> 10:26.330 Rudy ain't. 10:26.930 --> 10:28.350 And that is checkmate. 10:28.370 --> 10:31.910 This pawn is actually helping control an escape square. 10:33.050 --> 10:34.610 That would be a wonderful finish. 10:34.610 --> 10:36.590 So nine of seven black resigns. 10:36.620 --> 10:38.930 A very important game to win. 10:39.410 --> 10:45.140 And Vladimir Kramnik kind of giving an early nods up to nimzowitsch with the advance variation in this 10:45.140 --> 10:45.620 game. 10:46.400 --> 10:48.800 But we see in, I would say, an improvement. 10:48.800 --> 10:52.400 This is a much more dangerous idea, considered much more dangerous idea. 10:52.460 --> 10:55.280 H4 But also 94 is a great move as well. 10:56.330 --> 11:01.070 Bishop de Free does does seem to give Black an easy game if the bishops come off. 11:01.070 --> 11:03.970 And then also there's Nigel Short, signer of 1915 Bishop Ito. 11:03.980 --> 11:05.570 But h for early on in the opening. 11:05.570 --> 11:07.520 This is a dangerous weapon of choice. 11:07.730 --> 11:10.100 It looks in a sense, a little bit reckless. 11:10.100 --> 11:14.210 All these pawn moves we say about irreversible damage. 11:14.210 --> 11:15.800 When we do pawn moves, it's quite committed. 11:15.800 --> 11:17.180 We can't take them back. 11:17.180 --> 11:23.450 But there's a justification here in this position for cramping the black pieces in the opening and trying 11:23.450 --> 11:26.330 to get a different kind of concession. 11:26.330 --> 11:34.180 A weakening of the dark squares set out from the very opening echoes later in this game and maybe 85 11:34.190 --> 11:35.570 slightly more accurate. 11:35.570 --> 11:44.210 But yeah, this this really got a nice advantage because of the way it panned out here despite the Queen's 11:44.210 --> 11:44.600 coming off. 11:44.600 --> 11:48.470 So we go quite quickly into the realms of endgame strategies. 11:48.470 --> 11:50.380 But what a marvelous endgame. 11:50.390 --> 11:53.900 Aggressive king, aggressive rook, potential aggressive passport. 11:55.010 --> 11:55.400 Yeah. 11:55.400 --> 11:59.210 So great stuff in the endgame there being featured. 11:59.210 --> 12:01.460 So, yes, wonderful stuff. 12:01.460 --> 12:02.780 I hope you enjoyed this game. 12:02.780 --> 12:06.320 Classic game of Vladimir Kramnik has so much.