(1) Kasparov,G (2831) - Vallejo Pons,F (2663) [D45]
XXI SuperGM Linares ESP (7), 26.02.2004



1.d4
Again, with the idea of c4, Nc3, and e4

1...d5
One of three ways (with Nf6 and f5) of stopping 2.e4

2.c4
The Queen's Gambit. White offers a pawn for quick development. If 2...dxc4, white has 3.Nc3 and 4.e4

2...c6
The Slav Defense. 2.e6 is the main line of the Queen's Gambit, but e6 blocks in the Bc8 [2...Nf6? 3.cxd5 Nxd5 4.e4 ]

3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6
Solid chess, though the Bc8 gets locked in. Black will pursue a Catalan formation with Nbd7, Qc7, b6, Bb7, Rc8, Be7 and 0-0.

5.e3
To develop the Bf1-d3, preparing for a later e3-e4

5...Nbd7 6.Qc2 b6 7.Bd3 Bb7
The Bb7 looks awful, but black will often be able to gain space later with c6-c5.

8.0-0 Be7 9.b3 Rc8
[9...Qc7 10.Bb2 Rd8 11.Rfe1 h6 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxe4 0-0 14.Nxf6+ Nxf6 15.c5 bxc5 16.dxc5 Qa5 17.b4 Qc7 18.Qe2 a5 19.a3 axb4 20.axb4 Ra8 21.Ne5 Rxa1 22.Rxa1 Ra8 23.Re1 Bc8 24.Qf3 Bd7 25.Nc4 Nd5 26.Qe4 f5 27.Qf3 Ra4 28.Bxf5 Qf4 29.Qxf4 Nxf4 30.g3 Rxb4 31.gxf4 Rxc4 32.Rxe6 Bf8 33.Re4 Rxe4 34.Bxe4 Bxc5 35.Kg2 Kf7 36.Kf3 Be7 37.Bc3 Bf6 38.Bxf6 Kxf6 39.Ke3 c5 40.Bd5 Kf5 41.f3 Kf6 42.Be4 Bb5 43.Bc2 Ke6 44.Be4 Kd6 45.Bg6 Bc6 46.h4 Bd7 47.Be4 Be8 48.Kd3 Bf7 49.Ke3 Kc7 50.Kd3 Kb6 51.Kc3 Kb5 52.Bd3+ Kc6 53.Be4+ Bd5 54.Kd3 Kd6 55.Ke3 Bc4 56.Kd2 Bf1 57.Ke3 Kc7 58.Kd2 Kb6 59.Kc3 Kb5 60.Bd5 Be2 61.Be4 c4 62.Bd5 Kc5 63.Be4 Bf1 64.Bg6 Kd6 65.Kd4 Ke6 66.Be4 Kf6 1/2-1/2 Grabarczyk,M-Najer,E/Polanica Zdroj 1999/EXT 2000 (66)]

10.Bb2 Qc7
The positions are similar, but white has more activity owing to the c4-pawn and the Nc3

11.Rad1 h6 12.e4 dxe4
Black cannot allow e4-e5

13.Nxe4 0-0
Encouraging Kasparov to attack. Better is Nxe4 Bxe4 Nf6 Bd3 and c6-c5.

14.c5
Garry thoought for a long time. He may have been aware of the above game; he surel;y wanted to take advantage of the fact that black has delayed the capture on e4 and ...c6-c5.

14...Nxe4 15.Bxe4 a5
Trying to prevent b3-b4, but black surely had to play Nf6 to drive back the Be4. [15...bxc5 Black can win a pawn, but the resulting pawn structure will favor white. 16.Ne5 Nxe5 17.dxe5 With good attacking chances. Black's extra pawn is the weak c5-pawn.]

16.Rfe1 Rfd8 17.Bh7+ Kh8 18.Bd3 Kg8
No draw offer... just gaining time on the clock before the mad time-control scramble.

19.Bh7+ Kh8 20.Bd3 Kg8 21.Ba3
The threat is cxb6 and Bxe7

21...Qb8 22.Qc1
Demonstrating white's large advantage in time and space

22...bxc5 23.Bb1
Consolidating. cxd4 meets Bxe7

23...Qa7 24.Qc2
Garry doesn't really think that Vallejo will miss the mate on h7 and h8. But there's no good way to stop it!

24...Nf6
[24...Nf8!? 25.Ne5 With an obvious advantage and the possibility of Nxf7]

25.Ne5 Rd5 26.Ng4
The Nf6 must not move or white will win quickly with Qh7+

26...Rf5
Blocking the queen's access to h7

27.Nxf6+ gxf6
[27...Bxf6 28.g4 Rd5 29.Bxc5+- ; 27...Rxf6 28.Qh7+ Kf8 29.Qh8# ]

28.h4
Threatening rather than playing g4, with the idea of preventing ...Rf5-g5. But 28.g4 does win nicely too. [28.g4 Rg5 29.Qh7+ Kf8 30.Bxc5 Bxc5 31.dxc5 Rxg4+ 32.Kh1 Qxc5 33.Rd7+- ]

28...Kh8 29.Qe2
Trying to force the Rf5 to move, [29.Bxc5 Bxc5 30.dxc5 Qb8 31.Qc3 Re5 32.Rxe5 Qxe5 33.Qxe5 fxe5 34.Rd7+- ]

29...Ba6! 30.Qe3 Rh5
Hanging on by a thread!

31.Bxc5
Both sides are very short of time, but this is the right idea!

31...Bxc5 32.dxc5 Qxc5
[32...f5 33.Bxf5 Rxf5 34.Qxh6+ Kg8 35.Re3+- ]

33.Qf3!
Too many threats!

33...Kg7
Diagram [33...Rd5 34.Qxf6+ Kg8 35.Qxh6+- ]

34.Qg4+
[34.Rxe6!! fxe6 35.Rd7+ Kg8 36.Bh7+ Kf8 (36...Kh8 37.Qxf6# ) 37.Qxf6+ Ke8 38.Qf7# ]

34...Kh8
[34...Kf8 35.Rc1 Qb5 36.a4 Qd5 37.Be4 f5 38.Qxh5+- ]

35.Rd7
[35.Rc1!? Qd5 36.Be4 Rg8 37.Qf3 Qe5 38.Bg6 Rxg6 39.Rxe5+- ]

35...Rg8
[35...Rf8 Best defense, though too passive to survive.]

36.Qf3 Re5
[36...f5 37.Qxh5 ]

37.Qxf6+
It's mate in three [37.Qxf6+ Rg7 38.Rd8+ Qf8 39.Rxf8# ] 1-0