When Kramnik Turned the Scotch Into a King Hunt: Shirov vs. Kramnik, 2011

Some chess games are remembered because of a brilliant combination. Others because of a spectacular attack. And then there are games where the entire character of the position seems to change before your eyes.

Shirov–Kramnik at the 2011 Tata Steel tournament was one of those games.

Played in the sixth round at Wijk aan Zee, the encounter began innocently enough with the Scotch Game. But Vladimir Kramnik had come armed with deep preparation, and what followed was anything but positional chess. The former world champion sacrificed material, chased the white king across the board and eventually finished with a queen-led mating net.

The game was one of four decisive victories by Black in Round 6. More significantly, reports from the tournament noted that Kramnik had prepared an enormous amount of opening analysis, with Shirov spending considerably more time at the board.

The Introduction

After the usual Scot setup which begins with 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6

White accepts a structural imbalance, giving Black doubled pawns in exchange for the bishop pair and a dynamic position. The opening phase continues with 6.e5 Qe7 7.Qe2 Nd5 8.c4 Nb6 as Shirov grabs space and looks ready to seize the initiative.

But Kramnik's response is extremely energetic as he continues to develop and castles on the queen side with 11.Ne4 O-O-O!

Black willingly places his king on the queenside, where White has already begun pushing pawns. Then comes 12.a4 Ba6 13.Qe3 Qxe5! and Kramnik simply takes the pawn.

The position is already becoming uncomfortable for White. Krammnik continues aggressively with 14.Bc3 Bb4 15.Bxb4 Rhe8, bringing the rook onto the open e-file.

The Sacrifice 

Kramnik goes on to effectively sacrifice two bishops and then a rook to keep the initiative, witnessed later with 21...Rxe4! providing the game's defining tactical sacrifice.”

The critical moment arrives with 14...Bb4 15.Bxb4 as the bishop given up by Black followed a very interesting 16.f3 d5! 17.a5 Nxc4 18.Qxa7 Qxb2!

Both players are grabbing material, but Kramnik's pieces are increasingly focused on the white king after having already played 15...Rhe8!

This is important. Kramnik is essentially giving up the bishop to gain activity and attacking chances. So yes, this can reasonably be described as a bishop sacrifice or, more cautiously, a temporary bishop.

2. 18...Qxb2 19.Qxa6+, another bishop falls and after: 17.a5 Nxc4 18.Qxa7 Qxb2 19.Qxa6+

Shirov's queen captures the bishop on a6.Then comes the most important sacrifice of the match 21.Kf2 Rxe4! Kramnik sacrifices the rook and leaves White with little choice but to take. Thanks to the rook sacrifice makes sense. The white king has been dragged into the open, while Black's queen has obtained an endless series of checks.

This is the essence of the game: Kramnik isn't sacrificing material randomly. Every sacrifice buys something more valuable - time, open lines and access to the king.

The King Goes for a Walk

The white king now begins its extraordinary journey: 23.Ke1 Qb4+ 24.Kf2 Qc5+ 25.Ke1 Nb2 26.exd5 Qc3+. The knight joins the attack, and after 27.Rd2 Qc1+ 28.Ke2 Re8+, Black's remaining rook enters with devastating effect. Shirov's king has nowhere safe to hide.

Kramnik wins the rook, and although Shirov continues checking with 30.Qxc6+, Black's attack remains completely under control. The finish is a remarkable king hunt:

32.Kg4 Nd1 33.Qh8+ Kd7 34.Bb5+ c6 35.Bxc6+ Kc7 36.d6+ Qxd6

White's passed pawn disappears, and Kramnik's queen takes over.After 37.Rxd1 Qxd1+, the final phase begins: 38.Bf3 h5+ 39.Kg3 Qe1+ 40.Kh3 Qe6+ 41.Kh4 g5+ 42.Kxg5 Qg6+ 43.Kf4 f6

Shirov finally resigned.

What makes this game particularly memorable is the identity of the attacker. Kramnik was renowned for his positional understanding, opening preparation and technical endgame play. Yet against one of the most tactical players of his generation, he produced a game filled with sacrifices and a relentless king hunt.

The game also illustrated the depth of Kramnik's preparation. Contemporary tournament reports described the Scotch novelty as a major piece of home analysis, and noted that the preparation led directly to the victory.

Shirov was never given the chance to settle into the attacking position he normally loved. Instead, his own exposed king became the target.

Shirov v/s Kramnik, Tata Steel 2011, was a Scotch Game in name, but after two bishop sacs and, more importantly, 21...Rxe4!, it became something entirely different: a full-scale king hunt.