Bayonet Attack: Kramnik's Approach

by

Sans Riumin

Kramnik's Bayonet Attack

1.d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. g3 f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. Bf3c6 13. Bg2 N

In the Bayonet Attack of the King's Indian defense, a special variation from Kramnik had made a strong impression towards KID players. The variation runs like this: 1.d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. b4 Nh5 10. g3 f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. Bf3c6 13. Bg2 N. Players from the Black side tried to find new ways to battle it , looking for new alternatives on the previous moves. Here I will discus a sample game played by two strong grandmasters. I shall do my best to provide to you suggestions that may help you get insights and some understanding on this particular line :)

Wojtaszek,Radoslaw (2717) - Morovic Fernandez,Ivan (2575) [E97]

 Istanbul ol (Men) 40th Istanbul (3.1), 30.08.2012

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0–0 6.Be2 e5 7.0–0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.b4 The Bayonet Attack, a favorite of V.Kramnik.

9..Nh5 10.g3

                     

   

10.Re1 f5 11.Ng5 Nf6 12.Bf3 For a long time has been Kramnik's main weapon against the KID., but later Black has able to find some fine method of defending the position.

10...f5 11.Ng5 Nf6 12.Bf3 c6 :

But if Black players tried not to engage Kramnik's novelty 13.Bg2. For example. 12...fxe4 :

                 

         

The move relieves the tension. 13.Ncxe4 Nf5 14.Ne6 Bxe6 15.dxe6 Rb8 16.Bb2 Qe7 17.Nxf6+ Bxf6 18.c5 dxc5 19.bxc5 Qxc5 20.Rc1 Qb6 21.Qe2 Rbe8 22.Bd5 Re7 23.Bxe5 c6 24.Bc4 Bxe5 25.Qxe5 Qd4 26.Qe1 Qf6 , with equal play. Nguyen,DH 2492-Paragua,M. 2533, Ho Chi Minh City HD Bank op (3), 2013.;

and

12...Rb8

                      

     

13.b5 h6 14.Ne6 Bxe6 15.dxe6 Qc8 16.Ba3 Rd8 17.Nd5 Qxe6 18.exf5 gxf5 19.Nxc7 Qxc4 20.Rc1 Qf7 21.Qa4 Nc8 22.Rfd1 e4 23.Be2= Wang,H.2733 -Ding,L. 2660, CHN-chT Beijing(5), 2012.

13.Bg2 :

                      

 

This was Kramnik's novelty played in the same year against A.Grischuk in Moscow. 13.Ba3 was played by Kramnik against Giri game (Hoogeveens 2011), the play continued 13...cxd5 14.exd5 e4 15.Be2 Here Black could have played  15...h6 16.Ne6 Bxe6 17.dxe6 f4! with strong counterplay.

13...h6 14.Ne6 Bxe6 15.dxe6 fxe4

15...Nxe4 16.Nxe4 fxe4 17.b5 Rf6 18.Bxe4 Rxe6 19.Qa4 d5 20.Rd1 White's has the initiative for the missing pawn. Kramnik 2801–-Grischuk 2761, Moscow Tal Memorial 7th(2), 2012.

16.b5 d5

16...Re8 would be better, staying away fron the a3-f8 diagonal.

17.Ba3 Re8 18.cxd5 cxd5 19.Qb3 Qb6 20.Bxe7 Rxe7 21.Nxd5 Nxd5 22.Qxd5 e3 :

                       

22...Rd8 is the correct attacking play for an equality. 23.Qxe4 Qxe6

22.fxe3 Qxe3+ 24.Kh1 Qb6 25.Rad1 Rae8?

If  25...Qxe6 , then 26.Qxe6+ Rxe6 27.Bd5; So 25...Kh8 , moving away from the in is more logical.

 26.Be4

Too many weak spots for Black in the kingside, White should win.

26...g5 27.Bg6 Rf8 28.Rxf8+ Bxf8 29.Bf7+ 1-0

Black resigns, play might continue with 29...Rxf7 [29...Kh8 30.Qxe5+ Kh7 31.Qf6 wins.; 29...Kh7 30.Qe4+ with same outcome as 29...Kh8.] 30.exf7+ Kh8 31.Qxe5+ Kh7 32.Qf5+ Kg7 33.h4. Kramnik's new move proves to be an excellent idea! Only Morovic has the balls to try it but with no avail. Now seems like Black players on the KID tried to avoid it, let's see, time will tell.