Game One

Kramnik (2772) - GM_Anand (2783) [D10] Wch Bonn Ger (1), 14.10.2008

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 cxd5
Kramnik's choice of the exchange slav is rather safe. It has been suggested that it was a test to get Anand's opening preference as black but how hard is it really to predict a slav from Anand when he has had excellent success with it.
5.Bf4 Nc6 6.e3 Bf5 7.Nf3 e6 8.Qb3
8.Bd3 Playing this is equivalent to offering a draw Bxd3 9.Qxd3 Bd6 10.Bxd6 Qxd6 11.0-0 ½-½ Kramnik,V-Anand,V/Groningen 1993
8...Bb4 9.Bb5 0-0 10.Bxc6 Bxc3+ 11.Qxc3 Rc8 12.Ne5

12... Ng4

The following is a rapid game with the advantage swinging from side to side as it often does in rapid but it show's that a draw doesn't have to be the result just because it is an exchange slav. 12...Ne4 13.Qa3 bxc6 14.0-0 f6 15.Nd3 Nd2 16.Rfd1 Nc4 17.Qc3 Bxd3 18.Rxd3 Qe7 19.b3 Nb6 20.Rc1 Qa3 21.Rc2 Nd7 22.Qd2 e5 23.Bg3 Rfe8 24.h3 Qa6 25.Rdc3 Re6 26.Kh2 Rce8 27.a4 Qb6 28.Qd3 Nb8 29.Qf5 Na6 30.dxe5 fxe5 31.e4 d4 32.Rf3 Qb7 33.Bh4 Nb4 34.Rc4 a5 35.Bg5 h6 36.Bd2 Rf6 37.Qh5 Ref8 38.Rxf6 Rxf6 39.Bxb4 axb4 40.Qxe5 Rxf2 41.Rxd4 Kh7 42.Rd8 Qf7 43.Rd3 Rf1 44.Rg3 Rb1 45.Rf3 Qg6 46.a5 Re1 47.Rf4 Re3 48.Rg4 Qf7 49.a6 Rxb3 50.Rf4 Qg6 51.Rg4 Qf7 52.Rf4 Qg6 53.Rf5 Ra3 54.Rf8 Ra2 55.Qg3 Qxg3+ 56.Kxg3 Rxa6 57.Rb8 c5 58.e5 Kg6 59.Kf4 Ra4 60.Ke4 b3+ 61.Kd5 Rb4 62.Rxb4 cxb4 63.e6 Kf6 64.Kd6 b2 65.e7 0-1 Georgiev,K-Kanep,M/Liepaja 2006

13.Nxg4 Bxg4 14.Qb4 Rxc6 15.Qxb7 Qc8 16.Qxc8 Rfxc8 17.0-0

And so we have a typical example of each opponent's style. Kramnik is a pawn ahead and can probably guarantee that he will not lose this position. Anand has activity compensating for the pawn in the doubled rooks on the c-file and with the drawish tendancy of the opposite coloured bishop's, his chance's of losing are about the same as Kramnik's of winning, zero.

17...a5

At the press conference after the game Anand commented that this was an important move to keep white's Queenside majority in check.

18.f3 Bf5 19.Rfe1 Bg6

The chessvibes site has Anand quoted as saying this was another important move because e4 no longer comes with tempo.

20.b3 f6 21.e4 dxe4 22.fxe4 Rd8 23.Rad1 Rc2 24.e5

Here Kramnik acknowledged that after this move the game will now just fizzle to a draw.

24.d5 e5 25.Rd2 Rdc8 26.d6 R2c6 27.d7 Rd8 28.Bg3 White may dream of pushing his d-pawn up the board like this but black will actually win the pawn by marching his king over to e7.

24...fxe5 25.Bxe5 Rxa2 26.Ra1 Rxa1 27.Rxa1 Rd5 28.Rc1 Rd7

28...Rb5 29.Rc8+ Kf7 30.Rc7+ Ke8 31.Rxg7 Rxb3 32.Ra7 Ra3=]

29.Rc5 Ra7 30.Rc7 Rxc7 31.Bxc7 Bc2 32.Bxa5 Bxb3

Game drawn 1/2-1/2

With this being a short match I am a little surprised Kramnik chose such a safe opening especially if it goes to Rapid games because Vishy will definetly have an edge their in my opinion.

My prediction tomorrow is Anand plays e4 and puts a dagger through Kramnik's Petroff loving heart!