GM Mark Taimanov annotates the games of the 4th round: Good evening, friends! Today is on the Supertournament in Linares there are playing the games of 4th round. I must be admitted that the start's impressions still didn't gladden me. It was only one result duel and only one skrimish P.Leko - G.Kasparov which is remembered by its wealthy creative content . Not many for 9 duels between fighting grandmasters. But I have no doubts that further much more exciting events are waiting us. What coming day prepares for us?! A central game of the round is V.Kramnik - P.Leko , a duel with an implication. It's known that this summer the opponents will have a single combat in a principal match associated with the fight for World Champion title and it could happened that today's meeting turned out to be the last 'reconnaissance by a battle'. The opening developed in a scheme already known to the guests of our site from the game of the second round Kasparov - Radjabov. The same variant of the Sicilian defence with a concession of an outpost on d5 and center's blockade by Black. It's true that now Leko gave a more precise definition to an interpretation of an earlier exchange of dark colored bishops but the strategical figure of the struggle remained about the same. Except that instead of a plan of a break-through of the pawn's foundations of the opponent with f-pawn, as it made Kasparov, Kramnik gave this role to d-pawn. It seems that Black has not any specific problems. As we expected V.Kramnik and P.Leko soon convinced that the position arisen after the opening didn't content any fighting potencial and agreed on a draw already on the 18th move. Much more sharp develops the fight V.Topalov - T.Radjabov . Here was plyed Sveshnikov variation in Sicilian defence where Black also gives away a central point d5 in the sake of a counterplay on the kingside. The partners followed a well- developed canons, but on the 15th move Radjabov instead of an approved exchange on c4 embarked upon a risky channel, which is associated with a pawn's sacrifice (15...d5). This idea also was already tested in practice but in games-predecessors Black blocked the passed pawn by way of 17.Qd6. Here a young GM played 17...Rb8 burned down bridges since the central (and an extra!) pawn of White got the movement. Radjabov has only to rest his hopes upon a dashing attack on the kingside. Will it be enough resources for this? Further the events developed absolutely unpredictably. In a critical moment of the fight Radjabov's optimism has got an unexpectible fortune's support. His chances on an attack were extremely limited when Topalov instead of a natural solid maneuver 27.Qe4 and on 27...Qh3 - 28.Rd3 played rushly 27.Nc6?, evidently he didn't notice reply 29...Qh5, after which he was forced to part with both the piece and all hopes on a win... The game passed into an endgame where Topalov had a role of a side who had to save onself. It's true that he had not any specific problems with 3 pawns for a bishop but one needed in a certain accuracy in maneuvers. Topalov has solved his tasks and a draw became evident. In the game Vellejo Pons with A.Shirov the fight didn't shape. Allowing in the Ruy Lopez a releasing movement 13...d5 Spanish GM thus refused from any attempts to capture initiative. The peace was concluded already on the 21st move. In short the 4th round also didn't bring a reviving in the course of tournaments' events. It's a pity...