1.e4
c5
An aggressive choice by the World, using Garry's own defense!
2.Nf3
d6
Inviting a Najdorf Sicilian
3.Bb5+
But Garry has other ideas. Bb5+ has a drawish reputation, but recent games had given new life to the variaition
3...Bd7
4.Bxd7+
Qxd7
The quick exchange of the the light-squared bishops takjes some life out of the position, but white can now set-up a "Maroczy-bind" structure with pawns on c4 and e4
5.c4
The idea of the structure is to prevent black from breaking in the center with ...d5
5...Nc6
Developing the knight to its natural square
6.Nc3
Nf6
[6...g6
7.d4
Bg7
8.d5
Bxc3+
ocurred in the game between A. Shirov and Kasparov in 1996]
7.0-0
g6
And the dark-squared bishop to the long diagonal from which it plays a key, lasting role in the game
8.d4
opening the center of the board. Its now or never, because this move cannot be safely played once Bg7 is played.
8...cxd4
preventing d4-d5
9.Nxd4
Bg7
The threat is ...Nxe4
10.Nde2
overprotecting the Nc3 and taking the Nd4out of the sights of the Bg7
10...Qe6!
A new move that bewcame all the rage for a period of about 3 years. Bringing the queen towards the middle of the board to attack white's central pawns!
11.Nd5
The threat is Nc7 with a family fork
11...Qxe4
12.Nc7+
So Black sacrifices the Ra8 but mops up the central pawns
12...Kd7
13.Nxa8
Qxc4
The Na8 cannot escape
14.Nb6+
So the knight does the most damage it can
14...axb6
creating black's only pawn weaknesses
15.Nc3
Ra8
Solid, but what about ...b5!
16.a4
limits the power of the Ra8 and aims for Nb5
16...Ne4
Every exchange makes the black pawn mass more powerful
17.Nxe4
Qxe4
Now check out the powerful Bg7 and the weaker Bc1
18.Qb3
aiming at f7 and the b6-weakness and freeing up the Bc1
18...f5
Rolling forward the pawns
19.Bg5
Posting the Bc1 to its most aggressive square, targeting the e7-pawn (Rfe1)
19...Qb4
Taking the queen out of the line of fire on the e-file, aiming for an exchange of queens. Kasparaov had feared Qd4
20.Qf7
Avoiding the exchange of queens and aiming to capture black's kingside pawns
20...Be5
The Nc6 holds the e-pawn. If now Qxh7? Rh8 wins!
21.h3
initializing the threat t the h7-pawn
21...Rxa4
White will capture the kingside pawns... black will mop up white's queenside
22.Rxa4
Qxa4
23.Qxh7
Bxb2
24.Qxg6
The dust has cleared. White has a powerful h-pawn passer. Black will push the b-pawn.
24...Qe4
Defending the f5-pawn and centralizing the queen
25.Qf7
To inhibit the advance of the b-pawn
25...Bd4
with pressure on f2 and defending the b6 pawn
26.Qb3
Preventing the advance of the b-pawn
26...f4
In many lines f3 is strong. The f4-pawn blocks the Bg5 from returning to help stop the advance of the queenside pawns.
27.Qf7
To work with the bishop in putting pressure upon e7 and f4
27...Be5
Defending the f-pawn. The race now starts.
28.h4
b5
29.h5
Qc4
Blocking out the Qf7 to aid the advance of the b-pawn
30.Qf5+
Covering the b-pawn's queening square.
30...Qe6
31.Qxe6+
Kxe6
32.g3
to activate the rook
32...fxg3
33.fxg3
b4
[33...Bxg3
34.h6
Be5
35.h7
Bh8
36.Rf8
Ne5
37.Rxh8
Nf3+
38.Kf2
Nxg5
And Kasparov's further analysis suggests excellent winning chances for white]
34.Bf4
Offering a trade since the Be5 controls the h8-queening square.
34...Bd4+
Diagram [34...Bh8!
]
35.Kh1!!
WOW! In the endgame, the kings usually seek activity towards the center. IN this race, the king moves to avoid key checks.
35...b3
36.g4
Kd5
37.g5
e6
Kasparov had analyzed ...e7-e5 to a a win for white. Black must move the Nc6-e7 to hel defend against the advance of the kingside pawns.
38.h6
Ne7
And the Ne7-g6 erects a blockade of the pawns
39.Rd1
pinning the Bd4 and threatening Bxd6
39...e5
Defending against the Bxd6 threat and forcing the Bf4 to move
40.Be3
Working against the pinned Bd4
40...Kc4
Stepping out of the pin
41.Bxd4
exd4
Black's pawns are a mess, but tre sure are a lot of them!
42.Kg2
The rook is busy with the black pawns so the king rushes forward to assist the advance of the kingside pawns. Note that the king simultaneously approaches d4 and h6
42...b2
43.Kf3
Kc3
44.h7
Ng6
forced to prevent h7-h8(Q)
45.Ke4
stopping d4-d3
45...Kc2
46.Rh1
d3
[46...b1Q
47.Rxb1
Kxb1
48.Kxd4!
first, taking the most advanced pawn and then heading towards the Nf6. White is winning here.]
47.Kf5
b1Q
[47...Nh8
48.g6
d2
(48...b1Q
49.Rxb1
Kxb1
50.g7
d2
51.gxh8Q
d1Q
52.Qg8+-
) ]
48.Rxb1
Kxb1
49.Kxg6
d2
50.h8Q
d1Q
Black is a pawn up but white's advanced g-pawn gives white all the winning chances.
51.Qh7
b5
52.Kf6+
Kb2
53.Qh2+
Ka1
54.Qf4
Centralizing the queen, stoping checks
54...b4
55.Qxb4
Qf3+
56.Kg7
d5
57.Qd4+
Kb1
58.g6
Qe4
59.Qg1+
Kb2
60.Qf2+
Kc1
61.Kf6
d4
62.g7
1-0