This is a game I started to analyze right after it was played. Thanks to some (maybe inaccurate) analysis that was published in one newspaper [chess] column, my initial opinion of this game was not as high as it probably should have been. (Beware other opinions, even those of titled players! ALWAYS think for yourself!!)
I found one analysis in a spiral-bound notebook. (Some of it was done shortly after this game was played. The bulk of it was added in 1991.) I incorporated some of this analysis and a few of my comments into my annotations of this fantastic encounter.
Many of you have written me to ask my opinion of this game. I had renewed interest in this clash when a GM wrote me about this game early in 2003. He stated he thought that this fantastic game might be the finest game Kasparov ever played ... and asked me to take a second look at it. (My analysis took several months.)
Unfortunately this game has been overshadowed by many others that Kasparov has played. This game is not in many of the more famous [book] collections of "Best Games," ... all the more reason that I (and others!) should look at it carefully. Most of Black's moves are VERY plausible ... it is not entirely clear exactly where Black went wrong in this fascinating and very difficult game. (I have chosen to avoid knee-jerk question marks, here.)
Many
mistakes have been made in the analysis of this game. Hopefully there are few
errors in my work here. The reasons for this are twofold: #1.) I took a
great deal of time to perfect this analysis; # 2.) All of my analysis has
been extensively computer checked with the best chess programs. Much of my
analysis is new - I copied it from no one.
(Where I did quote a line from another source, this is clearly
indicated!!)
For an explanation of the symbols that I use, please click here.
This is mostly a text-based page, with only one diagram. Therefore, you will probably need a chess board.
*****************************************************************************************************
The famous twenty-second (22)
match game of the Kasparov-Karpov
WCS Match. (This is their third match
for the title.)
It is a brilliancy that has
few equals. The audience that
witnessed the
finale gave both players
a standing ovation.
This game was picked as the best
of the year by the Informant,
the
(USSR) magazine, '64' ... ... ...
and many other publications as
well.
A GM, who is also a former U.S.
Champion, e-mailed me to opine
that this
might be the finest game
that Kasparov ever played.
(Close study suggests
it is a
great game and a genuine
masterpiece of the chess-board.)
***********
For my annotations here I have
relied mainly on three books.
(A book of brilliant games by
Dankin, {Danish? - mostly symbols} a book
on great
games, {chess brilliancy}; '250 historic games' by Y. Damsky;
and the 1986 issue of the
'INFORMANT.')
I have been over this game literally
dozens and dozens of times.
It is
incredibly brilliant. Most - or all -
of Black's moves are very plausible.
(The annotations here were close
to 15 years in the making.)
*****************************************************************************************************
*****************************************************************************************************
1.d4 Nf6;
2.c4 e6; {Diagram?}
Black threatens a possible
Nimzo-Indian.
3.Nf3, {Diagram?}
A slight variance in move order.
(Avoiding the Nimzo.)
[ The more conventional move
order would have been:
3.Nc3 d5;
4.Bg5 Be7; 5.e3 0-0; 6.Nf3 h6; 7.Bxf6! Bxf6;
8.Rc1,
"+/=" {Diagram?} transposing back to the game.
]
Black now pushes his QP ...
and transposes back into the
main lines
of a Queen's Gambit.
3...d5; 4.Nc3 Be7; 5.Bg5, {Diagram?}
Transposing to the main line
of the QGD, but this move order
encourages Black to try the 'in-between move' of ...h6.
[ Another try is: 5.e3!? ]
5...h6!?;
{Diagram?}
This is considered to be one of
Black's most reliable options here.
It is also a favorite of GM A. Karpov.
(Some books call this ... "The Petrosian Variation.")
[ More often seen is the following
move order:
5...c6;
6.e3 Nbd7; 7.Qc2!?, {Diagram?}
The most modern try.
(The continuation of: 7.Rc1 0-0; 8.Bd3 dxc4; 9.Bxc4, {Diagram?}
leads to the variations most
considered to be the time-honored
main lines.
{See MCO or NCO.})
7...0-0; 8.Rd1 a6; 9.a3,
"+/=" {Diagram?}
White has a very small edge
in this particular position.
S. Ivanov - A. Lugovoi; St. Petersburg Champ.
RUS/1997. (1-0, 64 moves.)
An interesting historic note - this
position actually first occurred in
the game, (by transposition):
R. Reti - R. Spielmann;
Trecianske Teplice, 1926. (!)
]
6.Bxf6!,
{Diagram?}
The best move for White to try
and keep the initiative.
[ The move 6.Bh4!?, {Diagram?} could lead to the Lasker Variation.
(Black also might grab the initiative with an eventual ...g5.) ]
The
next 5-6 moves feature pretty much standard development.
6...Bxf6;
7.e3 0-0; 8.Rc1 c6; 9.Bd3 Nd7; 10.0-0 dxc4;
11.Bxc4 e5!?; {Diagram?}
A solid move.
(A badly needed pawn break
designed to give Black some
space to maneuver.)
But! ... in game twelve, Karpov had
used the other pawn break
of ...c5 instead.
[ Black could also play: 11...c5;
12.Qe2 a6; 13.Rfd1 cxd4;
14.Nxd4 Qe7!;
15.Ne4 Be5; 16.Nf3 Bb8; 17.Qd2,
"+/=" {Diag?}
and White has retained a very
small edge, but the game was
drawn in 34 more moves.
GM G. Kasparov - GM A. Karpov;
12th Match game,
FIDE WCS/London/(ENG)/1986. ]
12.h3,
(Maybe - '!') {Diagram?}
Kasparov plays to maintain as
much play in this position as he
possibly can.
[ The continuation of: 12.Ne4 exd4;
13.Nxf6+ Qxf6;
14.Qxd4, "+/=" {Diagram?}
has been used by many GM's
as a quick drawing line.
I.e.,
GM J. Benjamin -
GM L. Christiansen;
U.S. Championship, 1986. ]
Black now exchanges in the center,
and White takes with the pawn
to
keep a grip on the center.
(Taking with the Knight could
lead to a quick draw.)
12...exd4; 13.exd4, ('!')
{Diagram?}
To maintain a bind.
[ 13.Nxd4 Ne5; "~" ]
13...Nb6; 14.Bb3 Bf5!?;
{Diagram?}
This is OK. Keene calls it
a 'nuance.'
(In his book on this match.)
[ The move 14...Re8!?;
{Diagram?}
could transpose to a game
these two contestants
played
in 1985.
[ See also MCO-14; page # 398, and mainly column # 1. ] ]
15.Re1
a5!?; "~" (TN?) {Diagram?}
"A position well known to theory." - Yakov Damsky
(But this is the first game in this
position that I could find
{in this
variation} by searching several
on-line databases.)
This position is approximately level. (But! ... extremely complex!!)
{A.J.G.}
[ 15...Re8!? ]
16.a3 Re8!?;
{Diagram?}
According to two books I have, this is the main line here.
As
far as I can tell, there hasn't been a huge amount of experience
at the Master level with these lines.
[ Apparently
Karpov can be found on both sides of this position.
I.e., 16...Qd7;
17.Ne5 Bxe5; 18.Rxe5 Rfe8!?; 19.Qe2 Rad8;
20.Re1
Rxe5; 21.Qxe5 a4!?; 22.Qc5! axb3; 23.Re7!
Qd6?; {D?}
This looks foolish.
(Much better would have been: 23...Qc8; 24.Qxb6 Rd7; 25.Rxd7,
25...Qxd7; 26.Qxb3, "+/=" {Diagram?}
and although White is better, Black has chances to draw.)
24.Re8+! Rxe8;
{Diagram?}
This is forced.
(24...Kh7??; 25.Qxf5+ Qg6[]; 26.Qxg6+ Kxg6; 27.Rxd8, "+/-")
25.Qxd6,
"+/-" {Diagram?}
White is winning.
GM A. Karpov - GM A. Belyavsky; European Cup Champ, 1986. ]
17.Rxe8+ Qxe8;
18.Qd2, ('!') {Diagram?}
The best way for White to try
and keep an advantage.
[ 18.Bc2 Bxc2; 19.Qxc2 a4; "=" ]
18...Nd7!?; {Diagram?}
This could be less than best.
(Damsky gives it a dubious.)
Indeed, experience has shown
that Black will come closer to
equalizing by getting this Knight
to the d5-square ... and the sooner,
the better.
Karpov only took about five minutes
on this move and his demeanor
clearly indicated he was very
comfortable with his position up to
this
point in the game. (Possibly he was still in his pre-game preparation?)
{See the book by Keene & Goodman
on this match.}
[ Black could play:
>/= 18...Qd7!?; {Diagram?}
MCO stops here and calls this
position pretty much even.
H. Olafsson - van der Sterren; Wijk aan Zee, 1987.
[ See MCO-14; page # 398, column # 1, and also note # (d.). ]
19.Re1 Re8;
20.Rxe8+ Qxe8; 21.Qf4, "+/=" {Diagram?}
M. Gurevich -
P. van der Sterren; Baku/RUS/1986.
***
Maybe 18...a4!?;
"~" {Diagram?}
but this would transpose
to many of the games that
have
been played in this line. {A.J.G.}
]
Now White maneuvers very
skillfully and slowly increases
his edge and
demonstrates his
slight advantage in space.
(Many of these moves are not
at all obvious.)
19.Qf4! Bg6!?; {Diagram?}
Keene says that ...Be6 had
to be better, but theory, (and most of the GM's
who have bothered to really analyze this position); says otherwise.
"19...Be6; is a minor victory for the player of the White pieces."
- Garry Kasparov.
[ 19...Be6!?;
"~" {Diagram?}
Originally
I stopped here and stated that the position is more
or less unclear. (I stand by
that particular evaluation.)
The following piece of analysis is mostly by Kasparov & Karpov.
20.Bxe6!
Qxe6; 21.Qc7! Qb3!?; {Diagram?}
Other move achieve little.
(21...Rb8; 22.Qxa5, "+/=")
22.Ne4! Qxb2; 23.Re1! Nf8;
24.Nxf6+ gxf6; 25.Qf4!?,
"+/=" {D?}
White has both an advantage and a nice attack against the greatly
weakened position of the Black
King.
(25.Re7, "+/=") ]
20.h4!,
{Diagram?}
Kasparov calls this a valuable multi-purpose move which is
handy for both the attack and restraining Black's possibilities.
(And his pieces.)
[ 20.Re1!? ]
20...Qd8; {Diagram?}
Black's position still seems close
to being OK.
With his next move, White stops
Black from playing ...Qb6;
and
virtually provokes Black into
(eventually) playing the pawn
advance, ...b5.
21.Na4! h5!?; {Diagram?}
Karpov said after the game
that this was (more-or-less)
positionally forced to stop
White from playing g2-g4.
(See the third variation just below.)
Of course...h5 has the slight drawback of just minorly weakening
the Black King-side, however imperceptibly.
[ 21...Rc8!?;
"~" {Diagram?}
The
position is unclear.
***
Or 21...Qc8?!;
22.Ne5, "+/=" {Diagram?}
White
is clearly for choice here.
***
Or 21...Bh5!?; 22.g4, (!)
22...Bg6;
23.h5, Bg6;
24.Ne5,
"+/=" {Diagram?}
with
a clear advantage and an initiative for White.
]
22.Re1 b5; {Diagram?}
Black grabs some Q-side
space here.
(And he also
kicks the White Knight - with a gain of time.)
23.Nc3, {Diagram?}
This retreat is the correct play
here, in this position.
[ A horrible mistake is:
</= 23.Nc5? Nxc5; 24.dxc5 a4!;
25.Ba2
Bxb2; "/+" {Diagram?}
which is (very close to) winning for Black. ]
23...Qb8; 24.Qe3!, (Maybe - '!!')
{Diagram?}
The strongest move, and given
an exclam by GM R. Keene.
(And others.)
[ 24.Ne5!? ]
24...b4; 25.Ne4 bxa3; {Diagram?}
Black tries to relieve some of
the pressure.
It is not advisable for Black to try and win a pawn here.
[ Much too risky is: 25...Bxe4!?;
('?!') 26.Qxe4 bxa3; 27.Qxc6!!,
27...axb2;
28.Qd5!, "+/-" - Kasparov. ]
26.Nxf6+ Nxf6; 27.bxa3 Nd5!; {Diagram?}
The best move, and this is
awarded an exclam by many
different authors here.
'!' - I. Damsky.
[ 27...Ng4!?; 28.Qc3 Qd6; 29.Ba4!, "+/=" - GM A. Karpov. ]
White's next move is virtually
forced. We now reach a position
where
White's Knight is vastly
superior to the Black Bishop.
28.Bxd5 cxd5; 29.Ne5 Qd8!?; {Diagram?}
Perhaps better than ...Qd6.
[ 29...Qd6!? ]
30.Qf3!, {Diagram?}
Kasparov was to later remark that
one might have expected play on
the dark squares here with Qf4. (Or Rc1.) But analysis, intuition, ...
or maybe
just pure genius ... must have led
him to find that this square
was
somehow superior.
---> One funny story - that I did
not know - was emailed to me by a player who
was present when this match was played. Apparently a very important and
respected arbiter nearly stopped the proceedings at this point in the
game.
"Surely the demonstration board is incorrect? How could Garry not
have
played the very strong move, Qf4?" he asked.
[ Also good was:
30.Qf4!?, "+/=" {Diagram?}
with a small but solid advantage
for White in this position. ]
30...Ra6; {Diagram?}
"Probably the only move." - GM A. Khalifman.
(Black wishes to avoid the
doubling of the pawns in front
of his King.)
[ 30...Rc8!?; 31.Nxg6, "±" ]
Garry could
(now) play Nxg6 ... with a
clear advantage here. Instead
he
chooses to slowly ratchet up the
pressure in this position.
31.Rc1! Kh7!?; {Diagram?}
Damsky questions this seemingly
obvious move, and gives instead
{the seemingly more risky} ...Qxh4.
This is based on a lengthy analysis
that was published in a Russian
magazine, but may contain several
errors.
(Apparently Kasparov was of the
same opinion.)
It seems no matter what move
Black plays in this position, White
gets a very
clear and convincing
advantage from this point in
this exciting contest.
[ 31...Rf6!?; 32.Qc3, "+/=" {Diagram?}
Or 31...Qxh4!?; 32.Qxd5,
"+/=" {Diagram?}
(Maybe - "+/") ]
32.Qh3! Rb6; 33.Rc8 Qd6;
34.Qg3! a4!?; {Diagram?}
A reasonable-looking move that
is branded as dubious by Damsky.
[ The continuation of: 34...Rb1+!?;
35.Kh2 Qa6; 36.Re8! Qf1!?;
37.Qf3 a4?;
{Diagram?} This is bad.
(The move, 37...f6; had to be
played in this position.)
{After ...f6; White
wins with Rh8+!!}
38.Nxf7! Bxf7; 39.Qxf7 Qg1+; 40.Kg3 Rb3+;
41.f3,
"+/-" {Diagram?}
wins for White, as the e1-square
is now guarded.
- G.
Kasparov. ]
35.Ra8!,
{Diagram?}
"An unpleasant surprise for
Black in this position."
- GM Garry Kasparov.
(The a-pawn cannot be defended.)
[ 35.Kh2!? ]
35...Qe6;
{Diagram?}
Karpov felt this was forced.
[ Variation #
1.)
A cute tactic is: 35...Ra6; ('?')
36.Nxf7! Bxf7; {Diagram?}
This is forced.
(Not >/= 36...Qxg3??; 37.Rh8#)
37.Qd3+; ("+/-") {Diagram?} which wins for White.
***
Variation # 2.)
Also bad for Black is: 35...Rb3?!;
36.Rh8+! Kxh8; 37.Nxf7+ Bxf7;
38.Qxd6,
'±' {Diagram?} and most programs consider
White's
position to be winning
("+/-") here. ]
36.Rxa4 Qf5;
37.Ra7!!, {Diagram?}
For well over ten years, the best
computer programs all pick (the move)
Ra8
here - in this position. {A.J.G.}
(Many good players choose this
move as well.)
"Which is better, Ra7 or Ra8?
I judged that the Rook would be
capable of
more here. In particular,
it secures the d7-square for the
White Knight,
the appearance of
which at f8 will be fatal for the
Black King."
- GM G. Kasparov.
Most annotators give this move only
one exclam ... but given the extreme
depth of White's plan ... and the fact
that most GM's who were present at
this contest did not have a clue as to
what was happening here ... I am
convinced it fully deserves more. {A.J.G.}
[ 37.Ra8!?, "+/=" ]
37...Rb1+; 38.Kh2 Rc1;
{Diagram?}
Karpov played this move very
quickly, indicating he probably
thought it was forced.
[ 38...Rb2!?;
39.Nf3!, {Diagram?}
Garry says this is best.
(Also good for White is: 39.Nxg6 fxg6; 40.Qe5, "±")
39...f6; 40.Qc7,
"+/=" {Diagram?} (Maybe
"+/")
- GM G.
Kasparov. ]
39.Rb7!,
{Diagram?}
This prevents ...Qb1. Garry could
get a HUGE edge in the ending by
first exchanging on g6, and then by
playing Qe5, but he obviously
wants
more from this position.
[ 39.Nxg6 fxg6; 40.Qe5, "±" {Diagram?}
</= 39.a4? Qb1; "<=>" {Diagram?} ]
39...Rc2;
{Diagram?}
Black doubles up on the
pawn on the f2-square.
(Black has few playable options.)
[ </= 39...Rf1?;
40.Nf3 f6; 41.Qc7, '±' ]
40.f3,
{Diagram?}
The most precise, and if you
wanted to - you could also give
this move an exclamation point.
[ 40.Nf3!? ]
40...Rd2;
(Maybe forced.) {See
the diagram just below.}
The game is very tense. The last
few moves were played rather
quickly, as both players were running short of time.
This was the adjourned
position.
ALL (!!!) the GM's who were watching
this game believed Black stood
very
well here. Even Kasparov's own team
was rather glum, fully feeling
that
Black stood very well at the break.
|
|
(The actual game position after 40...Rd2.)
41.Nd7!!,
(Maybe - '!!!/!!!!') {Diagram?}
The best move ... and the one that
Kasparov sealed here ... meaning
that it had to be discovered while
he was thinking at the board, and is
not the product of adjournment
analysis.
One of the most shocking and
most brilliant of all sealed moves
in the
history of the game. (of chess)
ALL the annotators are universal in
their praise of this move ... and the
fact that this move fully deserves
two exclamation points.
(Even a jaded author like Keene
gives this move two exclams!)
[ After the continuation of: 41.Rb4 f6;
42.Nxg6 Qxg6;
43.Qxg6+ Kxg6;
{Diagram?}
Soviet analysis has shown
that Black could probably
draw this ending.
(With perfect play, I hasten
to add.)
***
The move of: 41.Nxg6!?, {Diagram?}
will probably transpose into the
line that is given above. ]
41...Rxd4; 42.Nf8+ Kh6;
{Diagram?}
This is forced, after ...Kb8??;
Rb8 wins instantly.
43.Rb4!!,
{Diagram?}
Another completely unexpected shot.
All the Masters who were present
were busy analyzing Rook to b6.
(Or they were examining the
consequences of Nxg6.)
White prevents an exchange of
Queens on f4 and tightens the noose
around the Black King.
[ 43.Rb6, "+/=" ]
Karpov thought for a bit, but
apparently could not find any way
to
save his position.
43...Rc4!?; {Diagram?}
GM Raymond Keene calls this
the line of least resistance.
{He labels it as doubtful.}
(But Black has no good moves here.)
[ Variation
# 1.)
Kasparov
provides the following
entertaining line here:
43...Rxb4;
44.axb4 d4; 45.b5 d3; {Diagram?}
There is little else that Black
can do here, his Queen cannot
wander from its current post.
(A check on f4 is curtains.)
( </= 45...Qxb5??; 46.Qf4+, ("+/-") )
46.b6 d2;
47.b7 d1Q; {Diagram?}
Usually the player who promotes first wins handily ... but not here!!
48.b8Q Qc1;
{Diagram?}
Black had to prevent a check
on the c1-h6 diagonal.
49.Nxg6 Qxg6; 50.Qh8+ Qh7; 51.Qgxg7#.
***
Variation
# 2.)
Plain silly is: 43...Rd1?;
44.Rb8 Bh7; 45.Qg5+ Qxg5;
46.hxg5+ Kxg5;
47.Nxh7+, ("+/-") {Diagram?}
and White wins a piece.
***
Variation
# 3.)
A long - but relatively simple
win - is to be found in the line
that follows:
43...Rd3;
44.Rb8, {Diagram?}
The most direct.
( 44.Qe1! "+/=" - Keene. )
44...Bh7;
{Diagram?}
This is forced.
(44...Rxa3??; 45.Nxg6 fxg6?; 46.Rh8#)
45.Qg5+,
{Diagram?}
With this simple tactic, White
wins a piece.
(45.Re8!?)
45...Qxg5;
46.hxg5+ Kxg5; 47.Nxh7+ Kh6; 48.Nf8 Rxa3;
49.Rb7 f6;
50.Rd7 Rd3; 51.f4 Rd1; 52.Ne6 Kg6; 53.Nxg7 h4!?;
The only practical chance.
54.Kh3 f5;
55.Kxh4,
"+/-" {Diagram?}
and White obviously has a won
game. ]
44.Rxc4 dxc4; 45.Qd6! c3; 46.Qd4, {Diagram?}
Black Resigns.
The position is completely hopeless.
**********
Several (most!) of the judges for the panel
of the Informant, scored
this game
as nearly perfect. (!!!)
Living legends of the game ...
- such as Botvinnik, Tal, &
Smyslov - also greatly praised this game.
Najdorf, who was normally a very
harsh critic of most of the Russian
players, (and the way they often
play chess); called this game:
"exceptional and exquisite."
Garry Kasparov, perhaps
understandably exuberant about
this game, said:
"In time the score of this (return) match
may be forgotten, and perhaps even
the name winner; but the move Ne5-d7
... and everything associated with it ...
will remain in chess forever."
(Heady words to be sure, but possibly
he is right.)
***
Copyright (c) A.J. Goldsby I. Copyright (c) A.J.G; 2003 & 2004.
[ After the continuation of: 46.Qd4 Bh7;
{Diagram?}
This is forced.
(46...c2??; 47.Qe3+, and Black will be mated.)
47.Qxc3 g5; {Diagram?}
This
looks close to being forced here.
(Slightly worse for Black is the line:
</= 47...Bg8; 48.Qe3+ g5; 49.hxg5+ Qxg5?!; 50.Qxg5+,
50...Kxg5; 51.a4, "+/" (Maybe "+/-") {Diagram?}
- Iakov
Damsky.)
48.a4!, {Diagram?} A brilliant coup.
( Or 48.Qe3, '±' )
48...gxh4; {Diagram?}
Black has few good moves
in this position. (zugzwang)
49.Qe3+ Qg5; 50.Qxg5+ Kxg5; 51.Nxh7+,
("+/-")
{Diagram?}
and White's position is one
that any amateur could win. ]
(Code Initially) Generated with ChessBase 8.0
************************************
Copyright (©) A.J. Goldsby, 2004. All rights reserved.
May 22, 2003: Tuesday I received an e-mail from a GM. He gave me his name, but did not give me permission to use it. He told me he went over this game. While he confessed that his better playing days might be long gone, he said he enjoyed my analysis. He also told me this was some of the best chess work/analysis that he had ever seen ... anytime, anywhere. He also wished me well.
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