Friday, July 19, 2013

At this crucial crossroads

He likes his Kramnik-Leko, does Ray.

Yesterday, we had three different columns with the same Kramnik-Leko game from 2004. Today, we have two different columns with the same Kramnik-Leko game from 2007.

22 October 2010:


21 September 2011:


UPDATE 30 July 2013: Also the Spectator, 13 October 2007, Ray's column Hollow crown.
- - - - - -

Oh, go on, one more. Which naturally means two more (or three more) "one" not being a common phenomenon in the Ray Keene universe.

Here's Ray's Times column for 20 August 2010, annotating the final game in the 2004 world championship match.


And here are some excerpts from his column Caro Can't from the Spectator for 23 October 2004 (as opposed to his column Caro Can't for 21 January 1989 or his column Caro Can't for 16 October 2010).
This is a new move. Black has one way to free himself before White's pawns begin to exert a fatal grip.
Black's position is resilient but White has a promising future on the central dark squares.
From now on White's play is direct and brutal - I would have played 18 Bf1 followed by Ke3. Kramnik has no truck with such sophisticated nuances and goes directly for the jugular
Black must now take on a4.
Creating a terrible outpost on c7 for his rook - Black must prevent such an invasion at all costs.
The decisive coup - White's small but highly efficient army is ready to concentrate its powers and deal the death blow. If now 34...Rxd4 35 f5 cxf5 36 e6 Re4+ 37 Nxe4 fxe4 38 Rc7 threatening Rxc6 and if 37 ... Bb5+ 38 Ke3 when Black's b-pawn is doomed and White's king penetrates.
After 41...Ke8 43 Rd8+ Kd7 42 Rd8 is mate*.
Sophisticated nuances? Direct and brutal? You decide.

[* This article sourced using a library search system. The wrongly-numbered moves appear like that in the article as sourced. I decided to leave them as they are, especially as they're not quite right in the Times version either!]

[Thanks to Angus French]
[Ray Keene index]

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