(1) Vallejo Pons,F (2663) - Kasparov,G (2831) [B90]
XXI SuperGM Linares ESP (14), 05.03.2004



1.e4 c5 2.Ne2
Aiming simply to gain some time on Kasparov's clock. Garry's response steers the game right back into the main Najrorf lines

2...Nf6 3.Nbc3 d6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 a6
Transposing to the Najdorf Sicilian

6.f3
The English attack, with the idea is Be3, Qd2, 0-0-0, and g4-g5. with this move order, white avoids Be3 Ng4

6...e5
...e6 is also fine. ...e5 is aggressive, but creates a hole on d5 and the backward d6-pawn. Blac's dark squared bishop will have less mobility in the early middlegame.

7.Nb3 Be6
Quick development is in order, aiming at the d5-hole.

8.Be3 Nbd7 9.g4
launching an immediate kingside attack. Qd2 is also playable, and tranpositions are likely.

9...Nb6
Aiming for Rb8 and Nc4, but also creating an escape square for the Nf6 after g5.

10.g5 Nh5
Kasparov knows that it will be hard to dislodge the Nh5 from this perch. Ne2-g3 is slow, and Be2 and f4 are unthinkable because the Nh5 eyes f4. The main idea is to blunt white's kingside assault by sealing in the g- and h-pawns.

11.Qd2
The usual plan, with 0-0-0 and Qf2

11...Be7 12.0-0-0 Rc8
Nc4 is coming, and Kasparov will consider Rxc3 if white tries Qf2.

13.Kb1
Defense first!

13...0-0 14.Rg1 Qc7 15.Qf2
Two attacks upon b6

15...Nc4 16.Bxc4
Giving up white's "bad" bishop for the aggressive knight, but retaining the strong Be3

16...Qxc4 17.h4
This is the new move in the position. More interesting is Nd5. h4 does not impress, and black seems to gain a slow initiative over the next ten moves. [17.Nd5 Bxd5 18.Rxd5 f5 with lively play.]

17...g6
This may seem ugly, but it simply seals the kingside and anchors the Nh5. How can white now make progress?

18.Qd2
Placing the focus upon the d5-hole and the backward pawn on d6.

18...Qc7
Most of us would have continued forward with b7-b5, encouraging Na5. Instead, Garry carefully prepares the queenside assault.

19.Na4
perhaps Nd5 instead

19...b5 20.Nb6 Rb8 21.Nd5
Entering the hole a few tempi down, but with the black rook on b8.

21...Bxd5 22.Qxd5 a5
Black's attack is very dangerous. Unlike the kingside where the white pawns have been sealed, the queenside pawns remain fluid.

23.Rd3 a4 24.Rc3 Qd8 25.Nc1
Diagram

25...b4 26.Rc4 Qd7
The idea is Rb5

27.Rg4 Rb5 28.Rc7 Qxc7 29.Qxb5 a3 30.Nd3
[30.Qxb4 axb2 31.Qxb2 Rb8 32.Nb3 Qc4 with the initiative]

30...Rb8 31.Qd5 axb2 32.Bd2
[32.Kxb2 Qc3+ ; 32.Nxb2 Rc8 33.Rg2 Ng7 And black's position is coming alive]

32...Nf4
Offering a pawn to pry open the a1-h8 diagonal for the dark-squared bishop

33.Bxf4 exf4 34.Rxf4 Bf8
idea Bg7

35.Kxb2 Bg7+
[35...Rc8!? 36.Qb3 Bg7+ 37.Kc1 (37.e5!? ) 37...Qa7 transposes]

36.Kc1
Very clever defense. The king is migrating towards the kingside [36.e5!? Offering a pawn to block the long diagonal 36...dxe5 37.Rc4 Qa7 ]

36...Rc8 37.Qb3
Defending c2

37...Qa7
g1 is the key entry square

38.Kd2
Diagram

38...Bc3+
One possible improvement: h5 to trap the Rf4 [38...h5 39.e5 (39.gxh6?? Bxh6-+ ) 39...Bxe5 40.Re4 (40.Nxe5 Qf2+ 41.Kd1 Qg1+ 42.Ke2 Qh2+ 43.Ke3 Rc3+ 44.Nd3 Rxb3 45.cxb3 Qxa2-+ ) ]

39.Ke2 Be5 40.Rg4
[40.Nxe5 dxe5 41.Rf6 Rc3 42.Qxb4 Rxc2+ 43.Kd1 Rxa2 44.Rb6 And it's not clear that black can win]

40...Rc3
Time control... Sure looks good for Garry, but Vallejo is up to the defense!

41.Qb1 Qa4 42.Rg2! Rxc2+ 43.Kf1
Material is even, but how can black win?

43...Rc3 44.Rd2 Bg3 45.Qxb4 Qxb4 46.Nxb4 Rxf3+
[46...Bxh4!? 47.Ke2 Bxg5 48.Rxd6 h5 49.a4 Ra3 50.Ra6 h4 51.Kf2= ]

47.Kg2 Ra3 48.Nc2! Rc3 49.Nd4 Bf4
[49...Bxh4 50.Nf3 Rxf3 51.Kxf3 Bxg5 52.Rxd6+- ]

50.Rc2 Rd3
Perhaps Re3

51.Nb5 h6 52.gxh6 d5 53.h7+ Kxh7 54.Rf2 g5 1/2-1/2