1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. b3 A very quiet approach of the Semi-Slav with which White mainly seems to try to avoid theory. 5... Nbd7 6. Bb2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O b6 9. Nc3 Bb7 10. Rc1 10. Qc2 Re8 11. Rad1 Qe7 12. e4 dxe4 13. Nxe4 Nxe4 14. Bxe4 Nf6 15. Bd3 Ba3 16. Ba1 h6 Kramnik-Van Wely, Monte Carlo (blind) 2007 10... Rc8 11. Qe2 c5?! Perhaps a bit early. Some preparation with 11... Qe7 12. Rfd1 Rfd8 seems safer. 12. cxd5 Nxd5 13. Nxd5 Bxd5 14. Ba6 Rc7?! Not a great square for the rook. 15. e4 Ba8 16. Rcd1 Black is already in trouble. 16... Qe8 17. a3 Be7 18. d5 exd5 19. exd5 Bd6 20. Qd3 Qd8 21. Rfe1 Bb7 22. Bc4 Bc8?!

23. Re6! A nice move although White could do without it according to Ponomariov. 23... Nf6 23... fxe6 24. dxe6 and Black can already resign. 24. Rxd6! Qxd6 25. Be5 Qd8 26. Ng5 Ook 26. Bxc7 Qxc7 27. d6 Qd8 28. Ne5 is also terrible for Black. 26... g6 27. Bxc7 Qxc7 28. d6 Qd7 29. Re1 It's over. Black could have signed the score sheets here. 29... b5 30. Bxb5 Qg4 31. Ne4 Nxe4 32. Rxe4 Qg5 33. f4 Qf6 34. d7 Bb7 35. Re8 Qa1+ 36. Kf2 1-0

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bg5 h6 5. Bxf6 Qxf6 6. Nc3 c6 7. e3 Nd7 8. Bd3 g6 9. O-O Bg7 10. Rc1 This position is already quite rare at this level. 10. Re1 O-O 11. e4 dxe4 12. Nxe4 Qf4 13. g3 1/2-1/2, Khalifman-Z.Polgar, Pardubice 1994 10... O-O 11. e4 dxc4 12. Bxc4 Rd8 13. e5 Qe7 14. Re1 b6 15. Qe2 a6 16. Bd3 Bb7 17. Be4 Rab8 18. Na4 c5 19. Bxb7 Rxb7 20. Qxa6 Nb8 21. Qe2 cxd4 22. Red1 Qb4 23. b3 Qa5 24. Qd2 Qa7 25. Nc3 b5 26. Ne4 Rc7? Now Black loses a pawn. Necessary was 26... Nd7 27. Nd6 Rxc1 28. Rxc1 Nd7 29. Nxb5 But this might not be the best way to grab that pawn. 29. Qxd4 Qxd4 30. Nxd4 Nxe5 31. N4xb5 29... Qb6 30. Nbxd4 Nxe5 31. Qe2 Ng4 32. Nc6 Ra8 33. h3 Nf6 34. Nce5 Nd5 Black has some compensation here. 35. Rc6 Qb7 36. Rd6?

36... Nf6? Both players missed the tactical idea 36... Nf4 37. Qe3 Bxe5! 38. Qxe5 Nxh3+ 37. Qc2 From here White doesn't go wrong anymore. 37... Qb4 38. Qc7 Rf8 39. Rd8 Rxd8 40. Qxd8+ Kh7 41. Nxf7 1-0