Smyslov – Kasparov

The English opening, where White is not as concerned about getting a big advantage as with developing his pieces.

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Date: 1981.??.??
Location: ?
Tournament: Moscow
Round:
Opening:
Submitted by:
Published on: February 9, 2020

[Event "Moscow"] [Site "?"] [Date "1981.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Smyslov"] [Black "Kasparov"] [Result "0-1"] [PlyCount "54"] 1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nf6 3.g3 {The English opening, where White is not as concerned about getting a big advantage as with developing his pieces.} b6 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.O-O e6 6.Nc3 Be7 7.b3 O-O 8.Bb2 d6 9.e3 Nbd7 10.d4 a6 11.Qe2 Ne4 {This well-timed knight sortie gives Black control of the center. 11...Qc7 12.e4 is better for White on account of his space advantage.} 12.Rfd1 Qb8 {12...Qc7 13.Rac1 Ndf6 leads to play with equal chances.} 13.Nxe4 Bxe4 14.Ne5 {White appears to be gaining a material advantage. However, Black will obtain a bind on the light squares for his investment.} Bxg2 15.Nxd7 Qb7 16.Nxf8 Bf3 17.Qd3 Rxf8 {17...Bxd1 would allow White a forced mate.} 18.Rd2 f5 {Although Black has nothing concrete for the lost exchange, his control of the light squares cannot be taken lightly.} 19.Re1 {A mistake, since Black's light squared bishop remains stronger than either of the White rooks. Better was 19.Bc3.} Qc8 {A strong move. Black intends to transfer the queen over to the light squares on White's kingside.} 20.Qc3 Rf6 21.a3 Qe8 22.dxc5 Qh5 {With the horrible threat of 23...Qh3 followed by 24...Qg2++.} 23.h4 {23.cxd6 gives Black has two different ways of forcing mate. One is 23...Qxh2+ 24.Kxh2 Rh6+ 25.Kg1Rh1+} Qg4 24.Kh2 {Forced in view of the threatened 24...Qh3.} bxc5 25.Rh1 Rg6 26.Kg1 Bxh4 {Taking advantage of the pin on the g-file.} 27.Qa5 {27.Rxh4 loses material.} h6 {White resigned, as he has no good defense to 28...Bxg3.} 0-1