Sac, sac, draw!

Vladimir Kramnik and Rainer Buhmann played an entertaining draw in the third round of the Sparkassen tournament in Dortmund last night. Kramnik decided to play for mate out of the opening, and proceeded to sacrifice a couple of minor pieces to try and achieve his aim. Buhmann defended quite well, beating off the attack and ending up with a piece for two pawns. However this was not going to be enough to win, as he only had one pawn of his own left, and after that went, a draw would be the likely outcome.


Kramnik,V (2812) - Buhmann,R (2653) [C11]
44th GM 2016 Dortmund GER (3), 12.07.2016

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Be7 7. Be3 b6 8. Qd2 O-O 9. h4 Nc6 10. Bb5 Qc7 11. O-O-O a6 12. Bd3 f5 13. g4 c4 14. gxf5 cxd3 15. fxe6 Ndb8 16. Nxd5 Qd8 17. Nxe7+ Nxe7 18. Ng5 h6 19. Qxd3 hxg5 20. hxg5 Bxe6 21. Qh7+ Kf7 22. d5 Bf5 23. e6+ Ke8 24. Qxg7 Qc7 25. Rh2 Nxd5 26. Qxf8+ Kxf8 27. Rxd5 Bh7 28. b3 Ke8 29. g6 Bxg6 30. Rh8+ Ke7 31. f5 Bxf5 32. Rxf5 Qc3 33. Bg5+ Kxe6 34. Rf6+ Qxf6 35. Bxf6 Kxf6 36. Rh6+ Ke5 37. Rxb6 Kd5 38. Kb2 Nc6 39. a3 Kc5 40. Rb7 Rg8 41. Rh7 Rg2 42. Rh5+ Kd6 43. Kc3 Rg3+ 44. Kb2 Rg2 45. Kc3 Rg3+ 46. Kb2 Rg2 47. Re5 Kxe5 1/2-1/2