White to move. Kasparov has just played 9...a6, attacking the rook on b7 and seemingly trapping it. Kramnik found the cold-blooded reply that keeps the extra pawn. What is it?
Vladimir Kramnik vs Garry Kasparov
London, 10 October 2000. In the second game of the match, Vladimir Kramnik did something nobody had managed in years: he beat Garry Kasparov with White in Kasparov's own pet defence, the Grünfeld. The novelty 7.Nf3 and the calm 10.Rb1 took the sting out of Black's counterplay, and Kramnik converted the resulting edge with flawless technique. The loss rattled Kasparov for the rest of the match, which Kramnik won to become the 14th World Champion.
The lesson
You don't always need fireworks to beat a great attacker — sometimes you take away their favourite weapon and squeeze. Kramnik neutralised the Grünfeld's dynamism, kept a small structural plus, and traded into an endgame where his extra pawn and active rook did the work. Patience and technique beat brilliance here.
Move by move
7. Nf37.Nf3 — the seed of Kramnik's preparation. A flexible move order that sidesteps the most heavily analysed Grünfeld lines and steers Kasparov toward fresh ground.
9. Qd29.Qd2 supports the centre and prepares to meet Black's pressure on the long diagonal calmly. Kramnik is happy to keep the position solid and slightly better.
10. Rb110.Rb1! Prophylaxis. Instead of defending the b-pawn, Kramnik prepares to grab on b7 and trade the strong Grünfeld bishop, blunting Black's counterplay.
12. gxf311...Bxf3 12.gxf3 — Kasparov ruins White's structure to get activity, but Kramnik's centre and bishop pair give him a lasting pull.
17. Qc117.Qc1 — quietly defending and untangling. Kramnik refuses to be provoked and keeps every piece coordinated.
19. Rxe719.Rxe7 — Kramnik cashes in, winning a pawn and reaching a technical position where his rook is far more active than Black's.
24. e524.e5 fixes the structure and creates a passed pawn. From here it is pure technique: advance, restrict, and convert.
30. Be430.Be4 centralises the bishop and ties Black's rook down. Kramnik never lets the position become double-edged.
36. Kh336.Kh3 — the king joins in. In the endgame the king is a fighting piece; Kramnik walks it forward to support the winning advance.
40. Bd540.Bd5 — the last accurate move before Kasparov resigned. The a-pawn and the dominant pieces decide. A flawless technical win that set the tone for the whole match.
Frequently asked
Why was this loss such a blow to Kasparov?
The Grünfeld was one of Kasparov's most trusted defences. Losing in it with Black, in the second game of a World Championship match, undermined his confidence in his opening preparation — and Kramnik's solid setup gave Kasparov very few chances to fight back in the games that followed.
Did Kramnik win the match?
Yes. Kramnik won the 2000 Classical World Championship in London without losing a single game, dethroning Kasparov, who had held the title since 1985. It remains one of the great upsets in chess history.
Can I try the key move?
Yes — take the board as Kramnik when the b7-rook looks trapped and find the move that keeps the extra pawn, or replay the whole game move by move, no sign-up.