Game 4 of 12
Viswanathan Anand — Vladimir Kramnik
21 October 2008 · Queen's Gambit Declined · 56 moves
White
Viswanathan Anand
½
vs
Black
Vladimir Kramnik
½
Summary
Kramnik defends tenaciously with the Queen's Gambit Declined. Anand has no way to unbalance the position and the game simplifies into a drawn endgame. Kramnik's solid defensive technique keeps the score at 3–1.
Commentary
Kramnik switches opening with black — a practical choice to get off the Nimzo-Indian terrain where Anand has crushed him twice.
Anand tries to press but Kramnik's pawn structure is resilient; no weakness appears and the game simplifies naturally.
After 56 moves the game is drawn — Kramnik survives his most dangerous opponent with white and restores a measure of dignity.