Botvinnik Semi-Slav, The (Pedersen)

THE MAIN LINE: 17 a3 19
Salov's suggested improvement
upon the game Salov-Illescas, Madrid
1993, which went 24 ... :d6? 25 :abl!
a6 26l:hb5 axb5 27 :al l:td8 28 .te4
with a winning advantage for White.
25 cxd4
Salov's idea was that 25 :fbl
':dl+!? 26 l:txdl.txe3 27 fxe3 would
create weaknesses in White's shelter.
Whether this has any importance at all
is doubtful since Kamsky's continuation
is the real test of Black's 24th
move.
25 ... .txd4 26 l:ttbl 'ifc5 27 ':a6
(D)
B
27 ... l:tb8?!
Kramnik must have missed White's
next move in his preparation. The alternatives
were, however, not very appealing:
a) 27 ... .txe3 28 ':c6+ 'ifxc6 29
.txc6 ± Kramnik.
b) Ftacnik gives 27 ... c3 as the only
try, but thinks White will win the rook
ending after 28 .txd4 exd4 (28 ... 11hd4
29 l:tc6+ ~d7 30 ':c8 c2 31 l:tn lli'b2
321'hh8 el'if 33 l:txcl 'ii'xcl + 34.tn
wins) 29 l:tc6+ 'ii'xc6 30 .txc6 c2
(30 ... 'iii;>xc6 31 b8'if l:txb8 32 l:txb8