Kasparov, Garry – Topalov, Veselin

SMARTCHESS ONLINE http://www.smartchess.com/smartchessonline/default. asp?theURL=/SmartChessOnline/SmartChessOnline/archive/WAZ99/gkvt04.htm GM Ron Henley, Paul Hodges & David Koval:

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Date: January 20, 1999
Location: Wijk aan Zee
Tournament: ?
Round:
Opening: B07 Pirc Defence
Submitted by: Henley; Hodges; Koval
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 "Henley; Hodges; Koval"] [PlyCount "87"] [EventDate "1999.01.20"] [Source "TaL's Chess"] [SourceDate "1999.01.20"] {SMARTCHESS ONLINE http://www.smartchess.com/smartchessonline/default. asp?theURL=/SmartChessOnline/SmartChessOnline/archive/WAZ99/gkvt04.htm GM Ron Henley, Paul Hodges & David Koval: } 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 Bg7 5. Qd2 c6 6. f3 {The White pawn on f3 supports the White e4-pawn, rules out Nf6-g4, and often allows White to play g2-g4 if needed to support his kingside ambitions. This setup chosen by Garry is very solid and practical. White prepares to meet the Black king with Be3-h6, followed by h2-h4-h5 with an automatic attack should Black castle kingside. Should Black lag in development then White can switch gears and strike in the center with e4-e5. } 6... b5 {Black emulates White's strategy, by advancing on the queenside in order to stir up an attack on the White king after White castles queenside. } 7. Nge2 Nbd7 8. Bh6 Bxh6 9. Qxh6 Bb7 10. a3 {Since White intends to castle queenside it is interesting that he would move a queenside pawn. However, this does delay the annoying b5-b4 harassing the White knight on c3. } 10... e5 11. O-O-O 11... Qe7 {Topalov follows the prescribed remedy for meeting White's opening system - a) Expand on the queenside; b) Establish a spearhead in the center with e7-e5, and; c) Delaying or avoiding castling kingside and running into White's kingside attack. } 12. Kb1 {An interesting prophylactic move, as Garry secures his king, and waits to see where Black will put his king. } 12... a6 13. Nc1 O-O-O 14. Nb3 { Garry has spotted a weak point on a5 in the Black position. } 14... exd4 15. Rxd4 c5 16. Rd1 Nb6 17. g3 { Where else to develop this bishop? Both e2 and d3 were uninviting squares. } 17... Kb8 18. Na5 Ba8 19. Bh3 d5 20. Qf4+ Ka7 21. Rhe1 ( {Not} 21. e5 21... Nh5 22. Qh6 d4 23. Ne4 Qxe5 24. Rhe1 24... Qc7 { with advantage to Black. }) 21... d4 { This optimistic advance allows Garry develop an initiative. } ( { Nor would exchanging in the center have allowed Black a clear path to equality: } 21... dxe4 22. fxe4 {and now: } 22... Nxe4 {with:} (22... Rxd1+ 23. Rxd1 Rd8 (23... Nxe4 24. Rd7+ 24... Nxd7 25. Qc7+ Bb7 26. Qxb7# {mate}) 24. Rxd8 Qxd8 25. e5 Nbd5 26. Nxd5 Nxd5 27. Qxf7+ {and White wins}) {Correct is therefore: } 23. Nxe4 (23. Rxd8 Nxc3+ 24. bxc3 {but} 24... Qxd8 ( {and now not:} 24... Qxe1+ 25. Ka2 {is winning for White} ( {if} 25. Kb2 { it is Black who wins with} 25... Na4+)) 25. Qxf7+ 25... Kb8 {when although White has recovered his pawn, he has the inferior pawn structure. Note that Black's minor pieces are well coordinated, while the White bishop on h3 and knight on a5 could become randomly placed. Should White continue attacking recklessly with} 26. Re7 {Threatening 27.Qf4+, Black would strike first with } (26. c4) 26... Qd1+ 27. Kb2 (27. Ka2 {loses to} 27... Bd5+) 27... Na4+ { and the White king is in a mating net. Therefore White should reconcile himself to correcting his pawn structure and maintaining the balance with 26.c4 }) 23... Rxd1+ 24. Rxd1 Bxe4 ( {or} 24... Qxe4 25. Qc7+ Bb7 26. Rd6 26... Qe1+ 27. Ka2 Qxa5 28. Bg2 Rb8 29. Rd8 {winning}) 25. Re1 Re8 (25... f5 { loses to} 26. Nc6+ Bxc6 27. Rxe7+) 26. Rxe4 Qxe4 27. Qc7+ Ka8 28. Nc6 { and White wins. }) 22. Nd5 Nbxd5 23. exd5 Qd6 24. Rxd4 { The opening shot in what becomes a fabulous king-hunt. } 24... cxd4 { This is not forced. } ( {Perhaps} 24... Kb6 {would be the wisest cource. After} 25. b4 {Black appears to be fine after either} 25... Qxf4 ( {or} 25... Nxd5 26. Qxd6+ Rxd6 27. bxc5+ Kxc5 28. Nb3+ Kb6) 26. Rxf4 Nxd5 27. Rxf7 cxb4 28. axb4 Nxb4 29. Nb3 Rhe8) { By accepting the material, Topalov must have been in the mood to make Garry "prove it" although Black must walk a fine line to do so. } 25. Re7+ 25... Kb6 {The only move. } ( {If} 25... Qxe7 26. Qxd4+ Kb8 27. Qb6+ Bb7 (27... Qb7 28. Nc6# {mate}) 28. Nc6+ Ka8 29. Qa7# {mate}) ( {or} 25... Kb8 26. Qxd4 Nd7 27. Rxd7 Rxd7 28. Bxd7 ( {not} 28. Qxh8+ 28... Rd8) 28... Rd8 (28... Qxd7 29. Qxh8+) 29. Nc6+ 29... Bxc6 ( {or} 29... Kc7 30. Qa7+ Bb7 31. Nxd8 {and White wins}) 30. Qb6+ {winning.}) 26. Qxd4+ Kxa5 ( { Black doesn't have much of a choice, for if} 26... Qc5 27. Qxf6+ Qd6 (27... Rd6 28. Qxh8 {wins}) 28. Qxf7 28... Rhf8 (28... Kxa5 29. Re6 Bxd5 30. Qc7+ 30... Qxc7 31. b4+ Ka4 32. Rxa6+ Qa5 33. Rxa5# {mate}) 29. Qg7 Rde8 (29... Rxf3 {loses to} 30. Re6) 30. Qd4+ Qc5 (30... Kxa5 31. b4+ Ka4 32. Kb2 Qxe7 33. Qc3 Qf6 34. Ka2 Bxd5+ 35. Qb3+ Bxb3+ 36. cxb3# {mate!}) 31. Qxc5+ Kxc5 32. b4+ Kxd5 33. Rxh7 Rh8 34. Rd7+ Ke5 35. f4+ { and Black has a difficult and problematic defense in the ending, for example:} 35... Ke4 36. Bg2+ Ke3 37. Bxa8 Rxa8 38. Rd6 {and White has a clear plus. }) 27. b4+ 27... Ka4 28. Qc3 Qxd5 29. Ra7 {The only way. } (29. Qc7 { allows Black a draw after} 29... Qd1+ 30. Kb2 Qd4+) 29... Bb7 {Forced,} ( {as} 29... Rd6 {fails to} 30. Kb2 {threatening 31.Qb3+ Qxb3+ 32.cxb3 mate} 30... Qd4 31. Qxd4 Rxd4 32. Rxa6# {mate.}) { To this point, Topalov has rolled with the punches, and despite the exceedingly precarious placement of his king, he is still in the game. } 30. Rxb7 30... Qc4 ( {Not} 30... Qxb7 31. Qb3# { mate}) ( {and} 30... Rd6 {fails to the pretty} 31. Rb6 31... Rxb6 32. Kb2 {mating. }) ( {Instead, Black's chances for salvation may be with the move} 30... Rhe8 { removing the rook from its vulnerable spot on the a1-h8 diagonal. For example:} 31. Rb6 31... Ra8 {Black now threatens 32...Qc4} 32. Be6 32... Rxe6 33. Rxe6 33... Qc4 34. Qxc4 bxc4 35. Rxf6 Kxa3 36. Rxf7 { and now Black is able to generate a mating net around the White king with} 36... c3 {Play might continue} 37. Rc7 (37. Rxh7 37... Re8 { wins for Black}) 37... Kxb4 38. Rxh7 {and White with an extra pawn in the rook ending stands better, but this is a better defense than the text which allows Kasparov to wind up the game with authority. }) {After} 31. Qxf6 { we see no satisfactory defense for Black. } (31. Rb6 { would be a terrible blunder in light of} 31... Rd1+ 32. Kb2 32... Qxc3+ { winning for Black.}) 31... Kxa3 ( {The variation with} 31... Rd1+ 32. Kb2 Ra8 ( { if} 32... Qd4+ 33. Qxd4 Rxd4 34. Rxf7 {threatening Bh3-e6 is winning for White} ) 33. Qb6 Qd4+ 34. Qxd4 Rxd4 35. Rxf7 {with the idea Bh3-e6-b3 mate, demonstrates some beautiful outmaneuvering of the Black rooks by the White bishop:} 35... Rd6 (35... a5 {loses to} 36. Be6 axb4 37. Bb3+ Ka5 38. axb4+ Rxb4 39. c3 Rxb3+ 40. Kxb3 {albeit somewhat prosaically}) 36. Rd7 { and now: } 36... Rc6 (36... Rxd7 37. Be6 { threatening 38.Bb3 mate is extra crispy}) (36... Rf6 37. f4 { with the idea Bh3-g2-d5-b3 mate, or Bg4-d1, followed by c2-c3 mate!} 37... a5 38. c3 Re8 39. Bg4 Re1 40. Ra7 {and White wins}) (36... Rb6 37. f4 Re8 38. Bg2 Re3 39. Rd4 39... Rxa3 ( {or} 39... a5 40. Bd5 axb4 41. axb4 {etc.}) 40. Bd5 a5 41. Bb3+ Rxb3+ 42. cxb3# {mate!}) 37. Bf1 Rac8 38. Bd3 { and Black has no useful move, for example:} 38... h6 (38... Rc3 { Black is done after} 39. Rd6) ( {or} 38... a5 39. Ra7) 39. Rb7 { threatening 40.Bxb5+! axb5 41.Ra7+} (39. c4 {is another nice way to win}) 39... Ra8 40. c3 {and wins. }) 32. Qxa6+ Kxb4 33. c3+ 33... Kxc3 ( { White wins after} 33... Kc5 34. Rc7+) ( {or} 33... Kb3 34. Qa2+ Kxc3 35. Qb2+ Kd3 36. Bf1+) 34. Qa1+ Kd2 35. Qb2+ Kd1 36. Bf1 36... Rd2 ( {If} 36... Qxf1 { White wins with} 37. Qc2+ Ke1 38. Re7+) 37. Rd7 {Garry mops up. } 37... Rxd7 38. Bxc4 bxc4 39. Qxh8 Rd3 40. Qa8 c3 41. Qa4+ Ke1 42. f4 f5 43. Kc1 Rd2 44. Qa7 {Black resigned. A sterling effort by Kasparov!} 1-0