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David Howell vs. Vladimir Kramnik
The Einstein blitz match
Game 2
Black: David Howell
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 0-0 6.Bg5 a6 7.Bb3 h6 8.Bh4 d6 9.Nbd2 Be6 10.Qe2 Ba7 11.Nc4 Qe7 12.Ne3 Na5 13.Bc2 Nc6 14.0-0 g5
After the game David thought he shouldn't have allowed Vladimir to sacrifice his knight - on the other hand the World Champion wasn't so sure about it!
15.Nxg5 hxg5 16.Bxg5 Kg7 17.f4
Vladimir thought that this was the critical point. "17...exf4 18.Rxf4 Nd5 occurred to me during the game, but David moved before I could work out the consequences. In fact 19.Bxe7 Bxe3+ 20.Kh1 Ncxe7 21.Rf3 would win for White."
Jon Speelman pointed out the fascinating possibility 17...Rh8. The idea is 18.fxe5 Ng4! 19.Bxe7 Bxe3+ 20.Kh1? Rxh2#. So White would play instead 20.Qxe3 Nxe3 21.Bf6+ Kh7 22.Bxh8, when there is still all to play for. Perhaps Vladimir would have replied 18.f5, just keeping up the pressure. In any case, this was probably David's best chance.
17... Bxe3+ 18.Qxe3 Ng4 19.Qg3 f6 20.Bh4 Rg8 21.f5 Bf7 22.Qxg4+ Kh7 23.Qh3 Bh5 24.Bxf6 Qxf6 25.Qxh5+ Qh6 26.Qxh6+ Kxh6 27.Rf3 Rg4 28.h3 Rg5 29.Kh2 Rag8 30.g4 Rf8 31.Kg3 Rgg8 32.h4 Ne7 33.g5+ Kh5 34.Bd1 1-0
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