Kasparov, Garry – Topalov, Veselin

RUSSIAN CHESS http://www.ruschess.com/School/Ivanov/tactics.html GM Sergey Ivanov:

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Date: January 20, 1999
Location: Wijk aan Zee
Tournament: ?
Round:
Opening: B07 Pirc Defence
Submitted by: Ivanov
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 "Ivanov"] [PlyCount "87"] [EventDate "1999.01.20"] [Source "TaL's Chess"] [SourceDate "1999.01.20"] {RUSSIAN CHESS http://www.ruschess.com/School/Ivanov/tactics.html GM Sergey Ivanov: } 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 Bg7 5. Qd2 c6 6. f3 6... b5 {The first moves have defined plans of both players. White is ready to carry on his play at the kingside and in the center, and Black - on the queenside. } 7. Nge2 Nbd7 8. Bh6 {Standart action for such a position. Now, if Black performs kingside castling, White exchanges dark-square Bishops and attacks with his pawns - g4, h4 etc. Black King becomes uncomfortable. } 8... Bxh6 9. Qxh6 9... Bb7 { Black prepares to evacuate his King to the opposite side. } 10. a3 { Prophylactic!} ( {In the case of} 10. O-O-O 10... b4 11. Nb1 11... Qa5 { Black would have counter-play.}) 10... e5 11. O-O-O Qe7 12. Kb1 {An important feature. Russians say not without reason, that "long" castling is long not only for that reason that the rook makes a long transit, but also because it must be "completed" with the move Kb1. Besides of this useful prophylactic, White plans (expecting queenside black castling) to transfer his Knight via a route Ne2-c1-b3 to the a5-square. From here it will exert pressure on the Black's queenside, weakened by pawn moves. However, this plan looks somewhat slow, and Black has time for counter-chances. } 12... a6 13. Nc1 O-O-O 14. Nb3 exd4 15. Rxd4 c5 16. Rd1 16... Nb6 {Black is ready to open play in the center with d6-d5 and to take the initiative. } 17. g3 { White need to finish development of his kingside as soon as possible. } 17... Kb8 18. Na5 Ba8 19. Bh3 19... d5 {Players' strategic plans are over. White has set "bridge-head" (Knight a5!) to attack the bared black King, Black has carried out a pawn blow in the center. Now concrete tactical play begins. } 20. Qf4+ Ka7 21. Rhe1 d4 ( {After} 21... dxe4 { an even position would have appeared, but Topalov wanted more.}) 22. Nd5 { Of course, the Knight's retreat would be a refutation of White's strategic line. Kasparov has noticed, that there are too many weak points around the black King, producing ideas for various tactical operations. } 22... Nbxd5 ( {Lost is} 22... Bxd5 23. exd5 Qd6 24. Nc6+ Ka8 25. Re7 ) ( {or} 22... Nfxd5 23. exd5 {Black Queen is OVERWORKED - it couldn't defend the points c7 and f7 simultaneously.} 23... Qd6 24. Qxf7+ ) 23. exd5 Qd6 24. Rxd4 { To begin, White undertakes a rook sacrifice, which could be classified as a BREAKING OF KING'S PAWN COVER.} ( {Kasparov refused equal ending after} 24. Nc6+ 24... Bxc6 25. Qxd6 Rxd6 26. dxc6 Rxc6 27. Re7+ Kb6 28. Rxf7) 24... cxd4 ( { Bad was} 24... Qxf4 25. Rxf4 Nxd5 (25... Rd6 26. c4) 26. Rxf7+ ) ( { More problems White would have had after} 24... Bxd5 {.} { White could fight for advantage only with} 25. Rxd5 { - DISTRACTION and REMOVAL OF DEFENDER simultaneously.} ( {Ending after} 25. Qxd6 25... Rxd6 26. Rd3 c4 27. Rde3 Kb6 28. b4 { is worse for White, because his Knight a5 is badly placed.}) 25... Nxd5 (25... Qxf4 26. Rxd8 {INTERMEDIATE MOVE} 26... Qc7 27. Rxh8 Qxa5 28. Re7+ Kb6 29. Rxf7 ) 26. Qxf7+ 26... Nc7 {(the only move)} 27. Re6 { Black has two possibilities:} (27. Re7 Kb6) 27... Qd1+ (27... Rd7 {(27...Rdf8)} 28. Rxd6 Rxf7 29. Nc6+ Ka8 (29... Kb7 30. Nd8+ {DOUBLE ATTACK} 30... Rxd8 31. Rxd8 {with idea} 31... Rxf3 32. Bg2 {PIN}) 30. f4 { with idea Bg2 with initiative.}) 28. Ka2 Rd7 (28... Qd5+ 29. c4 { COUNTER-STRIKE} 29... Rd7 30. Qf6 Qd2 31. Nc6+ Kb7 32. Qxh8 Nxe6 33. Bxe6 Kxc6 34. Qc8+ Rc7 35. Qxa6#) 29. Re7 Qd5+ (29... Rxe7 30. Qxe7 Kb8 31. Qf6 { DOUBLE ATTACK - on Rook and King, for threatening is mate in two.}) 30. Qxd5 Rxd5 31. Rxc7+ Kb6 32. Rc6+ Kxa5 33. Bc8 {MATING NET} 33... Rxc8 (33... b4 34. Rxa6+ Kb5 35. a4+ Kc4 36. Be6 {PIN}) 34. Rxc8 { }) ( { Seems, the best reply for Black is} 24... Kb6 {COUNTER-STRIKE. Knight a5 is under attack, and Black threats to enter a better ending. For example,} { As we see from the above variants, white pawn d5 (as well as white Knight a5) plays important role in the development of White's attack. Couldn't he defend the pawn, leaving his Knight to the mercy of fate? Let consider possible variations:} 25. c4 (25. b4 Qxf4 26. Rxf4 Nxd5 27. Rxf7 cxb4 28. axb4 28... Nxb4 ) ( {Let try to step back -} 25. Nb3 { But if Black captures a pawn with his Bishop -} 25... Bxd5 { then White has nothing better than} ( {White Rook is "mined", as before:} 25... cxd4 26. Qxd4+ Kc7 (26... Kb7 27. Na5+ Kb8 28. Re7 { - see annotations to the 25th move of Black.}) 27. Qa7+ Bb7 28. Nc5 { Black again has several ways, but no one saves him.} 28... Qb6 (28... Rb8 29. Nxa6+ {DOUBLE ATTACK, PIN, DISTRACTION and SQUARE CLEARANCE simultaneously!} 29... Qxa6 (29... Kd8 30. Nxb8 ) 30. Qc5+ Bc6 (30... Kd8 31. Qe7#) 31. Re7+ Kd8 32. Qd6+ ) (28... Qxd5 29. Nxa6+ Kd6 (29... Kc6 30. Nb4+ { DOUBLE ATTACK}) 30. Qb6+ Qc6 31. Qd4+ Qd5 32. Qf4+ Kc6 33. Qc7#) 29. Re7+ Rd7 ( 29... Nd7 30. d6+ {DISRTACTION and ATTRACTION simultaneously.} 30... Kc6 ( 30... Kxd6 31. Rxd7+ {REMOVAL OF DEFENDER} 31... Kc6 (31... Kxc5 32. Rc7+ Bc6 33. b4+ ) 32. Nxb7 32... Qxa7 (32... Rxd7 33. Na5+ 33... Qxa5 34. Qxd7+ Kb6 35. Qd4+ {DOUBLE ATTACK} 35... Kb7 36. Qxh8 ) 33. Nxd8+ { DISCOVERED ATTACK} 33... Kb6 34. Rxa7 Kxa7 35. Nxf7 ) 31. Bxd7+ Rxd7 32. Qxb6+ Kxb6 33. Nxd7+ ) 30. d6+ {ATTRACTION} 30... Qxd6 31. Qxb7+ Kd8 32. Nxd7 Kxe7 33. Ne5+ {DISCOVERED ATTACK} 33... Ke8 34. Qc8+ Qd8 (34... Ke7 35. Nc6+ ) 35. Qxd8+ Kxd8 36. Nxf7+ {DOUBLE ATTACK} 36... Ke7 37. Nxh8 ) ( { If Black captures a pawn d5 with his Knight -} 25... Nxd5 {then after} 26. Qxf7 (26. Qxd6+ 26... Rxd6 ) 26... Rhf8 27. Qg7 cxd4 (27... Rg8 28. Qh6 ) 28. Re6 {PIN. White wins a Queen and gets advantage.}) 26. Qxd6+ Rxd6 27. Rd2 27... Rhd8 {with a little bit worse ending.}) 25... Kxa5 (25... cxd4 26. Qxd4+ Kxa5 27. c5 ) (25... Qxf4 26. Rxf4 Nh5 27. Rxf7 Kxa5 28. g4 { with an unclear position.}) 26. b4+ {Alas, but after simple} 26... cxb4 ( { Now erroneous is} 26... Kb6 27. bxc5+ Kxc5 28. Qe3 { Threatening is fatal DISCOVERED CHECK with Rook} 28... Kb6 (28... bxc4 29. Ka1 ) 29. Rf4+ Kc7 (29... Kb7 30. Qe7+ ) 30. Qa7+ Bb7 31. cxb5 { and White develops decisive attack.}) 27. c5 Qxf4 28. axb4+ 28... Ka4 { White is short of only one tempo - if his King would nave stayed on b2, then he had Ra1#. And nowafter} 29. Rxf4 29... Nxd5 {Black's material advantage is decisive. So, our scrupulous analysis have shown, that Black was better to refute Rook's sacrifice, and he would have achieved a better ending. But one could hardly reproach Topalov for this move, made in conditions of a practical game, because no danger for Black is immediately evident.}) 25. Re7+ { A stunning strike! One more Rook sacrifice, whose function is only the DISTRACTION of the black Queen from the defence of the b6-square.} ( {Immediate } 25. Qxd4+ 25... Qb6 (25... Kb8 26. Re7 ) 26. Re7+ Nd7 27. Rxd7+ Rxd7 28. Qxh8 28... Bxd5 {LAST RANK MATE would have given White nothing:} 29. c4 (29. Bxd7 29... Qg1#) 29... Be6 ) 25... Kb6 ( { The King has to advance, for lost is} 25... Qxe7 26. Qxd4+ Kb8 27. Qb6+ Bb7 28. Nc6+ Ka8 29. Qa7#) ( {or} 25... Kb8 26. Qxd4 Nd7 (26... Rd7 27. Rxd7 Nxd7 28. Qxh8+ ) 27. Bxd7 {ZUGZWANG!} 27... Bxd5 (27... Rhf8 28. Bh3 ) 28. c4 {CROSSING} ( {Worse is} 28. Nc6+ 28... Qxc6 {COUNTER-STRIKE} 29. Bxc6 29... Ba2+ {DISCOVERED ATTACK} 30. Kxa2 Rxd4 31. Rb7+ Kc8 32. Rxf7 ) 28... Qxe7 (28... bxc4 29. Nc6+ ) 29. Qb6+ Ka8 30. Qxa6+ Kb8 31. Qb6+ Ka8 32. Bc6+ (32. Nc6 Qe1+ 33. Ka2 33... Bxc4+ ) 32... Bxc6 33. Nxc6 ) 26. Qxd4+ Kxa5 ( {After} 26... Qc5 27. Qxf6+ 27... Qd6 { White would have had two ways to support the initiative:} (27... Kxa5 28. b4+ ) (27... Rd6 28. Qxh8 ) {and more energetic} 28. Qxf7 { where White continues to attack retaining Queens. For example:} (28. Rxf7 Bxd5 (28... Qxf6 29. Rxf6+ Kc5 (29... Kxa5 30. b4+ Ka4 31. Rxa6#) 30. d6 Rxd6 31. b4+ Kd5 32. c4+ ) (28... Kxa5 29. Qc3+ b4 30. axb4+ Qxb4 31. Qc7+ Qb6 32. b4+ ) 29. Qd4+ Kxa5 30. b4+ Ka4 31. Rf6 ) 28... Rhf8 (28... Bxd5 29. b4 {MATING NET} 29... Rb8 30. Qg7 ) (28... Kxa5 29. Re6 ) 29. Qg7 { with attack.}) 27. b4+ Ka4 28. Qc3 { The black King is in a terrible situation. Threatened is mate on b3. } 28... Qxd5 (28... Bxd5 29. Kb2 {MATING NET, and Qb3 with mate is inevitable.}) 29. Ra7 Bb7 ( {Lost is} 29... Rd6 30. Kb2 {and the Rook d6 is OVERWORKED:} 30... Qd4 31. Qxd4 Rxd4 32. Rxa6#) 30. Rxb7 {Despite Black having an extra Rook, his King's location in MATING NET appeares to be decisive for the position evaluation. } 30... Qc4 ( {Not saved is} 30... Rd6 31. Rb6 { "task" strike on the topic of DISTRACTION.} (31. Ra7 Qc4) 31... Rxb6 (31... Rhd8 32. Kb2 {again OVERWORK!} 32... Qd4 33. Qxd4 ) 32. Kb2 {with idea Qb3+- }) ( {Black would have had more chances to defence after} 30... Rhe8 31. Rb6 31... Ra8 {, for example:} 32. Bf1 {taking the c4-square under control and threatening 33.Rd6! DISTRACTION. White continues to attack even without a Rook. } (32. Rxf6 Qc4 33. Qxc4 bxc4 34. Bd7+ Kxa3 35. Bxe8 Rxe8 36. Rxa6+ 36... Kxb4 ) (32. Be6 {CROSSING} 32... Rxe6 33. Rxe6 Qc4 (33... fxe6 34. Kb2 ) 34. Qxc4 bxc4 35. Rxf6 35... Kxa3 {with an unclear ending.}) (32. Kb2 Qe5 ( 32... Re2))) 31. Qxf6 Kxa3 ( {Black King bravely moves ahead, towards his death. Now Black loses forcely. After} 31... Rd1+ 32. Kb2 {he could change Queens:} { Also in the case of} 32... Ra8 (32... Qd4+ 33. Qxd4 33... Rxd4 { but it wouldn't have been the better fate -} 34. Rxf7 Rd6 (34... a5 35. Ra7 ) (34... Re8 35. Rf6 Ra8 36. Be6 ) 35. Re7 {with idea Be6+-.}) 33. Qb6 ( 33. Rxf7 Rd2) 33... Qd4+ (33... a5 34. Bd7 Rd5 35. Qe3 ) 34. Qxd4 Rxd4 35. Rxf7 a5 36. Be6 axb4 37. Bb3+ Ka5 38. axb4+ Kb6 (38... Rxb4 39. c3 ) 39. Rxh7 {Black couldn't escape.}) 32. Qxa6+ Kxb4 33. c3+ { And ATTRACTION, and DISTRACTION.} ( {Much worse was} 33. Bd7 33... Rxd7 34. Rxd7 Rc8 35. Qd6+ 35... Rc5 {with an unclear position.}) 33... Kxc3 (33... Qxc3 34. Qxb5+ Ka3 35. Ra7+ ) (33... Kc5 34. Rc7+ ) 34. Qa1+ 34... Kd2 ( 34... Kb4 35. Qb2+ Ka5 36. Qa3+ Qa4 37. Ra7+ ) 35. Qb2+ Kd1 (35... Ke3 36. Re7+ Kxf3 37. Qg2#) 36. Bf1 {DISTRACTION of Queen from the defence of the c2-square and, at the same time, BLOCKADE. } 36... Rd2 { Black had accounted for this COUNTER-STRIKE.} ( { Of course, Black can't capture the Bishop:} 36... Qxf1 37. Qc2+ Ke1 38. Re7+ ) 37. Rd7 {A decisive strike - on the topics of PIN and DISTRACTION. } 37... Rxd7 38. Bxc4 bxc4 (38... Re8 39. Qc1#) 39. Qxh8 Rd3 40. Qa8 c3 41. Qa4+ Ke1 42. f4 f5 43. Kc1 Rd2 44. Qa7 1-0