Kasparov, Garry – Topalov, Veselin

INSIDE CHESS ONLINE http://www.insidechess.com/annotate/YasKaspTop99.html The following analysis is really a joint effort. While I take a lot of credit for the prose and many of the variations I was considerably assisted by GM’s Lubosh Kavalek, Lubomir Ftacnik, Garry Kasparov and Veselin Topalov. IM Gert Ligterink had the most incredible find for which I’m also very appreciative. Michael Greengard (MIG) on the popular web site, The Week In Chess (TWIC) collected a large number of lines from many sources including computers and went to town. While I found some of the analysis at the TWIC site to be pleasure seeking and trimmed accordingly, it was extremely useful and I’m grateful to Michael for his prodigious efforts. I’ve tried to give credit to the players and sources involved but this wasn’t easy and apologies in advance for not giving the credit or the blame to whom it was due! I believe the analysis below is sound and features the most germane lines of play. GM Yasser Seirawan:

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Date: January 20, 1999
Location: Wijk aan Zee
Tournament: ?
Round:
Opening: B07 Pirc Defence
Submitted by: Seirawan
Published on: February 9, 2020

[Event "?"] [Site "Wijk aan Zee"] [Date "1999.01.20"] [Round "?"] [White "Kasparov, Garry"] [Black "Topalov, Veselin"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B07"] [Annotator "Seirawan"] [PlyCount "87"] [EventDate "1999.01.20"] [Source "TaL's Chess"] [SourceDate "1999.01.20"] {INSIDE CHESS ONLINE http://www.insidechess.com/annotate/YasKaspTop99.html The following analysis is really a joint effort. While I take a lot of credit for the prose and many of the variations I was considerably assisted by GM's Lubosh Kavalek, Lubomir Ftacnik, Garry Kasparov and Veselin Topalov. IM Gert Ligterink had the most incredible find for which I'm also very appreciative. Michael Greengard (MIG) on the popular web site, The Week In Chess (TWIC) collected a large number of lines from many sources including computers and went to town. While I found some of the analysis at the TWIC site to be pleasure seeking and trimmed accordingly, it was extremely useful and I'm grateful to Michael for his prodigious efforts. I've tried to give credit to the players and sources involved but this wasn't easy and apologies in advance for not giving the credit or the blame to whom it was due! I believe the analysis below is sound and features the most germane lines of play. GM Yasser Seirawan: } 1. e4 1... d6 {At the highest levels the Pirc Defense is a rare guest as White has a large number of combative systems to choose from. We must already admire Topalov's courage. } 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 4... Bg7 {Against this particular move order by White, Black has to be very careful with how he uses his tempi. } ( { I think the text is a mistake and that} 4... c6 5. Qd2 b5 6. f3 6... Nbd7 { is required. In the first place, White is quickly forced into playing f2-f3 thereby ruling out other options such as Bf1-e2 and f2-f4 or g2-g4 and in the second placeafter} 7. g4 Nb6 8. g5 8... Nfd7 {is convenient for Black as the b8-Knight has already been evacuated. Finally, with the Bishop having moved to g7, the move Be3-h6 is more attractive as Black has used a tempo. }) 5. Qd2 c6 6. f3 b5 7. Nge2 {The same criticism as before also applies here. Kasparov fails to take advantage of the opportunity offered by his opponents inaccurate move order. For instance both d4-d5 and h2-h4 are serious alternatives to the text. } ( {After} 7. O-O-O 7... Na6 8. Bh6 8... Bxh6 9. Qxh6 9... e5 { give's White more opportunities to use his tempo more constructively. }) 7... Nbd7 8. Bh6 Bxh6 9. Qxh6 Bb7 10. a3 e5 11. O-O-O Qe7 12. Kb1 {Kasparov is about to embark on a long maneuver to get his Knight to the a5-square. } ( { It seems more promising to me to play} 12. g3 12... O-O-O 13. Bh3 {immediately. In this way, White could also quickly double Rooks on the d-file. On the other hand, Kc1-b1 is a useful move. }) 12... a6 13. Nc1 O-O-O 14. Nb3 exd4 15. Rxd4 c5 16. Rd1 Nb6 17. g3 Kb8 18. Na5 {White has spent a lot of time getting this Knight to the a5-square, but, I don't know what it does. } 18... Ba8 19. Bh3 d5 20. Qf4+ {In his post game comments, Garry explains that the up-coming double Rook sacrifice had just been spied by himself. Greatly encouraged by the lack of something else in the position, he decided to go for it. } 20... Ka7 21. Rhe1 21... d4 { At first blush Kasparov looks to be in trouble. Kasparov plunges ahead. } 22. Nd5 ( {After a lame retreat of the c3-Knight,} 22. Ne2 22... Nc4 23. Nxc4 23... bxc4 {for instance, it is obvious that Black has seized the initiative having pried open the b-file. }) 22... Nbxd5 23. exd5 23... Qd6 {Once more, the surface of things, Black appears to be in great shape. A line like 24.Nc6+ would just become a lost ending for White. Garry now uncorks his shot. } 24. Rxd4 {Born of necessity the combination is none the less stunning. } ( { After} 24. Qxd6 24... Rxd6 25. Re7+ 25... Kb6 { White is in serious trouble. }) 24... cxd4 {A bad move which is completely understandable. If we go back a diagram or two, it is easy for Black to get caught up in the euphoria of the moment. Veselin was undoubtedly thinking, that somewhere, somehow, Garry has gone wrong. Perhaps it was that Knight trek to the a5-square? Who cares, I like my position! White is obviously desperate and is sacrificing material. } ( {Black can equalize the position by} 24... Kb6 {(Kasparov)} 25. Nb3 25... Bxd5 {or Black can clip a whole Rook. }) { Based on his belief that he was playing from a position of strength, Topalov took the Rook. Who can blame him? } 25. Re7+ { The key follow up. Black's King is forced to march up the board. } 25... Kb6 ( {Taking the second Rook is a second bite of the poisoned apple:} 25... Qxe7 26. Qxd4+ Kb8 27. Qb6+ Bb7 28. Nc6+ Ka8 29. Qa7# {Checkmate. }) ( { Dropping back is also losing:} 25... Kb8 26. Qxd4 Nd7 (26... Rd7 27. Rxd7 {and the h8-Rook drops.}) ( {While} 26... Qxe7 { just transposes into the mate given above.}) 27. Bxd7 27... Bxd5 {As White's -Bishop can't be captured and the threat of Na5-c6+ is winning, the d5-pawn must go. At the same time, Black has the trick of ...Bd5-a2+ in order to bail out.} 28. c4 { A fiendishly clever move. The trick of ...Bd5-a2+ is just stopped.} ( { White had to avoid} 28. Nc6+ 28... Qxc6 29. Bxc6 Ba2+ 30. Kxa2 {and} 30... Rxd4 {when Black has survived the crisis.}) 28... Qxe7 (28... bxc4 29. Nc6+ { is now winning for White. Once more the d7-Bishop is immune due to the h8-Rook. }) 29. Qb6+ Ka8 30. Qxa6+ Kb8 31. Qb6+ Ka8 32. Bc6+ Bxc6 33. Nxc6 Rd7 ( { Now, despite the lopsided material count, Black has to part with his Queen} 33... Qb7 34. Qa5+ {and mate next move.}) 34. Nxe7 Rxe7 35. Qxb5 { winning. Thus the text is forced. }) 26. Qxd4+ 26... Kxa5 {In the apt words of IM Nikolay Minev, "If Black is going to die, he will die with a full stomach!" } ( {The capture is forced:} 26... Qc5 27. Qxf6+ Qd6 28. Qd4+ Qc5 ( {Now:} 28... Kxa5 29. b4+ Ka4 30. Qc3 {makes no sense as we are right back in the game but Black is missing his f6-Knight.}) 29. Qf6+ Qd6 { Now White avoids the repetition and finds the winning move: } 30. Be6 { A marvelous move. White's Queen needs a rest in order to set up a mating net.} {Black would have to play:} 30... Bxd5 ( { Naturally the Bishop is invulnerable as} 30... fxe6 31. Rxe6 Qxe6 32. Qxe6+ 32... Kxa5 33. b4+ {and mate next move.} ) 31. b4 { This is White's magnificent point. He merely wants to play Qf6-d4+ winning.} 31... Bc6 (31... Ba8 ) 32. Qxf7 Qd1+ 33. Kb2 Qxf3 34. Rc7 Qxf7 35. Rxc6+ Ka7 36. Bxf7 {With a winning ending.}) { It's interesting to ask if either Kasparov or Topalov saw the move 30.Be6(!!)? I suspect that Topalov only realized that 26...Qc5 27.Qxf6+ Qd6 28.Qd4+ gave White at least a repetition and he wasn't about to let Kasparov off the hook! After he took the Rook, Topalov was likely set on taking the Knight as well. } 27. b4+ 27... Ka4 { Okay, so far it was easy to calculate. Black's King has been driven up the board and is securely locked in. But what's going on? The extra Rook and Knight are certainly nice for Black. Its easy to see that White's Queen wants to deliver mate on the b3-square, but, this can be covered. How to proceed? } 28. Qc3 {(?!) A natural move or an inaccuracy? It depends on your point of view. According to GM Lubomir Kavalek in his column from the Washington Post, the text is dubious and nearly allows Topalov to escape. Immortality could have been had as follows, I quote Lubosh: "Kasparov is usually very good at weaving mating nets, but he loses the golden thread here. The most elegant and efficient way to finish the game starts with the subtle combining mating threats on the a-file and on the square b3." According to Kavalek, Black has three defenses: A) 28...Nxd5, B) 28...Bxd5 and C) 28...Bb7 all of which fail. } ( {"The most complicated finale comes after} 28. Ra7 {" } { "If after 28.Ra7!! Black plays} 28... Bb7 ( {"The defence,} 28... Nxd5 { loses in a staggering way to} 29. Bd7 { " Okay, this is a bit freakish. I mean my goodness what a move! } ( { In an exchange of e-mail's with Lubosh he confessed that} 29. Rxa6+ 29... Qxa6 30. Qb2 Nc3+ 31. Qxc3 Bd5 32. Kb2 {was a winner. But, he liked the spectacular text even more. Well one win is good enough but the lines are simply extraordinary and I hope the reader will enjoy the fruits of Kavalek's labors. }) {"} 29... Rc8 ( {"On} 29... Rxd7 30. Qb2 {wins either after} 30... Nc3+ ( {or after} 30... Nxb4 31. Rxd7 Qc5 32. Rd4 Qe7 33. Rxb4+ Ka5 34. Qxh8 { with a decisive material advantage.}) 31. Qxc3 Bd5 32. Kb2 Qe6 33. Rxa6+ Qxa6 34. Qb3+ Bxb3 {with the pretty} 35. cxb3# {"}) 30. Qd3 Nc3+ 31. Kb2 Qf6 32. Qd4 32... Nd1+ 33. Kc1 {and the black Queen is out of squares on the 6th rank to avert the mate on a6." }) ( {"Perhaps the simplest win occurs after} 28... Bxd5 {with} 29. Qc3 {and now White mates either on} 29... Rhe8 ( { Or after} 29... Bc4 30. Kb2 Ra8 31. Qb3+ Bxb3 32. cxb3#) 30. Kb2 Re2 31. Qc7 31... Qxc7 32. Rxa6+ Qa5 33. Rxa5# {" }) {all defenses fail to} 29. Rxb7 {:"} {"And finally on} 29... Rhe8 ( {"For example, on} 29... Qxd5 {White does not have to transpose into the game with 30.Qc3. Instead, he can use the extra move for a direct assault with} 30. Rb6 {"} {"Or} 30... a5 ( {"e.g.} 30... Ra8 31. Qxf6 a5 32. Rd6 Qc4 33. bxa5 Kxa5 34. Rc6 {winning."} ) 31. Ra6 31... Ra8 32. Qe3 {And after this quiet move black has no defense despite being two Rooks up. After} 32... Rxa6 ( {On} 32... Rhe8 {comes} 33. Rxa8 {winning.}) 33. Kb2 {(Threatening 34.Qb3+)} 33... axb4 34. axb4 34... Kxb4 { } ( {[Black appears to be a bit too cooperative. He should try} 34... Qa2+ 35. Kxa2 Kxb4+ 36. Kb2 {although he is still lost. -Seirawan]}) { } 35. Qc3+ 35... Ka4 36. Qa3# {"}) ( {"Also after} 29... Nxd5 {White wins with} 30. Bd7 {threatening 31.Bxb5."} {"Or} 30... Rxd7 ( {"For example} 30... Ra8 31. Bxb5+ axb5 32. Ra7+ Qa6 33. Qxd5 Qxa7 34. Qb3# {"} ) 31. Qb2 Nc3+ ( {On} 31... Nxb4 32. Rxd7 Qc5 33. Rd4 {wins.}) 32. Qxc3 Qd1+ 33. Ka2 Qd5+ ( {Or} 33... Rd3 34. Ra7 {winning.}) 34. Qb3+ Qxb3+ 35. cxb3# {"}) 30. Bf1 30... Re1+ 31. Kb2 Rxf1 32. Qc3 Rb1+ 33. Kxb1 Qxd5 34. Ra7 Rd6 35. Kb2 {and White mat es soon." - Analysis by GM Kavalek. This is a lovely piece of work that was quite inspired. Such work deserves a reward and I'm sending Lubosh a box of Pacific Northwest Smoked Salmon post haste. We want to keep Lubosh strong.}) { While the above is a fine piece of analysis it turns out that the move Kasparov chose was also winning, so any criticism is misplaced as we'll see. } 28... Qxd5 29. Ra7 Bb7 ( {Black has to toss his Bishop as} 29... Rd6 30. Kb2 Qd4 31. Qxd4 {wins. }) 30. Rxb7 30... Qc4 {(?) Once more, according to GM Kavalek, this is where Topalov goes astray. He could have punished White's inaccurate twenty-eighth move[28.Qc3(?!)]. } ( { I quote from the Washington Post: "Topalov misses} 30... Rhe8 31. Rb6 31... Ra8 {and now after} {or} 32. Rxf6 ( {either} 32. Be6 32... Rxe6 33. Rxe6 33... Qc4 ( {Not} 33... fxe6 34. Kb2 {with the threat 35.Qb3+ winning.})) 32... Qc4 {he should be able to save the game." - GM Lubosh Kavalek }) ( {Unquestionably , 30...Rhe8 was a key defense. I too mistakenly thought that this defense might be able to save the game but felt it would still be an up hill battle as Black's great material bounty has all but disappeared:} 30... Rhe8 31. Rb6 Ra8 32. Qxf6 {[Seirawan]} 32... Re1+ 33. Kb2 Qe5+ 34. Qxe5 Rxe5 35. Bf1 Re3 36. Bd3 f5 37. f4 {with a rather quizzical position as Black's King is still locked in a vault. White's winning try is to play Rb6-d6 and c2-c4 but there is no guarantee of success here. }) ( {Topalov had a similar thought with a totally different twist. He too believed that} 30... Rhe8 {saved his bacon:} 31. Rb6 Ra8 32. Be6 {[Topalov]} 32... Rxe6 33. Rxe6 Qc4 34. Qxc4 bxc4 35. Rxf6 Kxa3 36. Rxf7 36... c3 {and Black holds. GM Ftacnik too had discovered this line with 32.Be6 and thought that Black could have saved the game. }) ( { What all of us Ftacnik, Kavalek, Topalov and I had missed is a lovely retreat: } 30... Rhe8 31. Rb6 Ra8 32. Bf1 {[Ligterink] This appears to be the tinkering of IM Ligterink who had been working on the lines and had analyzed it the next day with Kasparov. White appears to win by taking a break in the action! The key point is to 'keep' the position and to set up mating patterns utilizing the Bishop. Black's Queen is denied the c4-square and Black seems to be strangely paralyzed. Some of the lines involve a marvelous tactical feast so do your best to plow your way through the lines. You're sure to enjoy them! So what is Black to do after 32.Bf1(!!)? Protect the f6-Knight? Move the Knight? Hit White's Queen? Let's have a look: } {We are now gaining a healthy respect for the problems that Black is facing. Hitting White's Queen, protecting the Knight, moving the Knight all fail. It is time for desperate measures! Black seems to be advised to sacrifice his Rook:} 32... Re1+ ( { Protecting the Knight by} 32... Re6 33. Rxe6 Qxe6 34. Kb2 {is an easy for White as Qc3-b3+ will be mate and Black has lost the key defensive ... Qd5-e5 possibility.}) ( {Hitting White's Queen by} 32... Rec8 33. Qxc8 { is a nasty surprise:} 33... Qd1+ 34. Ka2 Qd5+ 35. Bc4 Qxc4+ (35... bxc4 36. Rxa6+ Kb5 37. Qxa8 {wins.}) 36. Qxc4 bxc4 37. Rxf6 {winning. Black seems to be better off moving his Knight. He has two ways to go: C) 32...Nh5 and D) 32...Nd7. Let's take each move in turn.}) (32... Nh5 {trying to save his skin leaves it up to White to show his hand. Which he promptly does!} 33. Rd6 { This is White's point. After Bh3-f1, he wants to push Black's Queen away from controlling the b3-square:} 33... Rec8 ( {As:} 33... Re1+ 34. Kb2 Qe5 35. Rd4 {Block's Black's Queen and sets up Qc3-b3 checkmate. After} 35... Qxd4 36. Qxd4 Rxf1 37. Qd3 {White wins.}) 34. Qb2 Rxc2 35. Rxd5 Rxb2+ 36. Kxb2 { When Black's King is in a mating net.}) ( { It seems much more reasonable to keep Black's Knight in the action by:} 32... Nd7 33. Rd6 Re1+ 34. Kb2 Re3 ( {The same blocking line as above reappears after: } 34... Qe5 35. Rd4 35... Qxd4 36. Qxd4 {winning.}) 35. Qxe3 Qe5+ 36. Qxe5 Nxe5 37. f4 Nc4+ 38. Bxc4 bxc4 39. Rd5 {wins. }) 33. Qxe1 (33. Kb2 33... Qe5 {is what White must avoid.}) 33... Nd7 ( {After,} 33... Qd4 { the mating net is impossible to overcome:} 34. Rd6 34... Nd5 (34... Qxd6 35. Qc3 Qd5 36. Kb2 {with a favorite checkmate to come.}) 35. Rxd5 Qxd5 36. Qc3 a5 37. Kb2 {and Black can choose how to lose.}) 34. Rb7 34... Ne5 {tries to mee t this stunning Rook shot. Of course, with material equality now re-established White is winning. } ( { The Rook can't be captured this time because of an unusual checkmate:} 34... Qxb7 35. Qd1 { Another brilliant move which keeps Black's Queen out of the defense.} ( { Our favorite checkmate} 35. Qc3 35... Qd5 36. Kb2 36... Qe5 { isn't reached this time.}) 35... Kxa3 36. c3 {Black will soon be mated. Due to White's threat to capture the d7-Knight, it is forced to move.}) 35. Qc3 Qxf3 36. Bd3 Qd5 37. Be4 { A familiar decoy sacrifice as we've seen with Rb6-d6. Black's Queen must move.} 37... Qc4 38. Qxe5 {Winning a piece and the game.}) { The inescapable conclusion seems to be that Topalov's 30...Qc4 is a bad move, not because he missed a save with 30...Rhe8, rather its a bad move because 30...Rhe8 can only be overcome with extraordinary skill. This analysis was discovered only after a few hundred man and silicon hours were spent on this position! } 31. Qxf6 31... Kxa3 { This is at least one of the moves that everyone seems to agree is a bad slip. } ( {Both Kavalek and I think that Black must play:} 31... Rd1+ 32. Kb2 Ra8 33. Qb6 Qd4+ 34. Qxd4 Rxd4 35. Rxf7 {when White has winning chances. This line is similar to the note with 30...Rhe8 and White has to be happy that he clipped the f7-pawn. I suspect that Topalov has missed White's thirty-sixth move. }) 32. Qxa6+ Kxb4 33. c3+ {Another beautiful move which is marvelous in its delivery. Black's King is lured forward this time into a different web. Now White is winning. } 33... Kxc3 ( {The only move as} 33... Kb3 34. Qa2+ Kxc3 35. Qb2+ Kd3 36. Bf1+ {wins easily. }) 34. Qa1+ Kd2 35. Qb2+ 35... Kd1 { Black's weary King seems to have settled down, it is precisely at this moment that White has an incredible study like win! As if it was predetermined, Black is denied a check on the e4-square. } 36. Bf1 36... Rd2 { Allows a breath taking finish but what to do? } ( { Capturing the Bishop allows mate:} 36... Qxf1 37. Qc2+ Ke1 38. Re7+ Qe2 39. Qxe2# {Checkmate.}) ( {While} 36... Qd5 37. Qc1# { Checkmate is rather utilitarian. }) 37. Rd7 { Simply beautiful. Black is neatly pinned and must lose material. } 37... Rxd7 38. Bxc4 38... bxc4 {There is no time to save the h8-Rook. The checkmate on the c1-square hasn't gone away. } 39. Qxh8 Rd3 40. Qa8 c3 41. Qa4+ Ke1 42. f4 f5 43. Kc1 Rd2 44. Qa7 { A fantastic game. Garry was so moved as to crown this game as his finest accomplishment. Destined for the hall of fame. Which leaves me wondering how fleeting immortality truly is. After all, what would have happened had Topalov thumbed his nose and played 24...Kb6 declining the sacrifices?} 1-0